Abstract: Engine blocks and methods of forming the same are disclosed. The engine block may comprise a body including at least one cylindrical engine bore wall having a longitudinal axis and including a coating extending along the longitudinal axis and having a coating thickness. The coating may have a middle region and first and second end regions, and a plurality of pores may be dispersed within the coating thickness. The middle region may have a different average porosity than one or both of the end regions. The method may include spraying a first porosity coating in a middle longitudinal region of the bore and spraying a second porosity coating in one or more end regions of the bore. The first porosity may be greater than the second porosity and the first and second porosities may be formed during the spraying steps. The pores may act as wells for lubricant.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to digitally converting physical form documents to electronic surveys. For example, a survey system receives an image capture of a physical form document and analyzes the image capture to identify fields including questions within the physical form document. The survey system creates an electronic survey corresponding to the physical form document based on the contents of the fields (e.g., text, objects). Specifically, the survey system generates electronic survey questions for the fields based on the contents of the fields. After generating electronic survey questions for the fields in the image capture, the survey system provides the electronic survey for display to a respondent. Additionally, the survey system can complete an electronic version (e.g., an image) of the form document including the responses.

Abstract: A hinge assembly for mounting a door to a frame of a motor vehicle includes (a) a hinge bracket, having a first receiver and a second receiver, (b) a hinge pin pivotally connecting the door to the hinge bracket at the first receiver, (c) an actuator, having an output shaft, (d) a retention feature, connecting the output shaft to the hinge bracket at the second receiver, and (e) an actuator mounting feature securing the actuator to the door. A method of assembling an actuator in a hinge assembly that mounts a door to a frame of a motor vehicle is also provided.

Abstract: This disclosure generally covers systems and methods that, in some embodiments, provide an electronic survey template for creating a user customizable electronic survey including authentication features. Those authentication features include, in some embodiments, authenticating questions with elements that capture a digitally drawn signature, digital image, fingerprint, or voiceprint. Certain embodiments of the disclosed systems and methods provide a graphical user interface comprising an electronic survey template with a menu of survey question types, including an option to create authenticating questions within the electronic survey template. Some embodiments of the disclosed systems and methods also provide functions and features that allow users to preview a customized electronic survey template as an interactive electronic survey or to preview individual electronic survey questions as interactive electronic survey questions.

Abstract: A method of cleaning a superplastic-forming or a hot-forming die includes exposing a surface of the die having a lubricant thereon to electromagnetic energy. The electromagnetic energy removes the lubricant without removing an oxide layer between the die surface and the lubricant.

Abstract: Engine blocks and methods of forming the same are disclosed. The engine block may comprise a body including at least one cylindrical engine bore wall having a longitudinal axis and including a coating extending along the longitudinal axis and having a coating thickness. The coating may have a middle region and first and second end regions, and a plurality of pores may be dispersed within the coating thickness. The middle region may have a different average porosity than one or both of the end regions. The method may include spraying a first porosity coating in a middle longitudinal region of the bore and spraying a second porosity coating in one or more end regions of the bore. The first porosity may be greater than the second porosity and the first and second porosities may be formed during the spraying steps. The pores may act wells for lubricant.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a door frame coupled to a vehicle frame at a hinge. A door operating mechanism is coupled to the door and vehicle frames for applying rotational force to the door frame about the hinge. The door operating mechanism including external cogs of an inner gear that mesh with inner cogs of an outer gear and a single oblong bearing that biases the inner gear in partial engagement with the outer gear.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed toward systems and methods for dynamically generating a single survey representation document that includes the disparate components of an electronic survey maintained across one or more repositories by an electronic survey system. Furthermore, the systems and methods described herein provide the survey representation document for collaboration to one or more author computing devices, and synchronize any edits made to the survey representation document with the original electronic survey.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for mechanically attached connections of conduits may include a conduit gripping member, a drive member, and a seal member, the drive member causing axial movement of the conduit gripping member to indent into an outer surface of the conduit when the assembly is pulled-up, the drive member causing the seal member to form a zero clearance seal at a location that is axially spaced from the conduit gripping member. The zero clearance seal may comprise a face seal arrangement including a gasket, and the conduit gripping member may be a ferrule, ring or other device that can grip and optionally seal against the conduit outer surface. The assembly may include a sensing function for detecting or sensing a characteristic or condition of an assembly component or the fluid or both. In one embodiment, a body coupling member has a two piece construction of a main body and a conduit socket insert. A flared fitting embodiment is also provided.

Abstract: Valves with a removable central section for access to parts of the valve, the valve securable between corresponding ends of a line, e.g. a flowline, process fluid line, or pipeline; such valves which are ball valves; and methods to access parts of a valve and/or a line interior.

Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to compositions, methods, and systems for heat transfer and methods of preparing heat transfer mediums. In various embodiments are described heat transfer mediums comprising a plurality of microparticles suspended in a bulk material with each microparticle containing a phase change material. In other embodiments are described fluids comprising of a slurry of microparticles containing phase change fluid in a carrier liquid for a fast charger system.

Abstract: A mounting assembly for a vehicle side door motor includes an upper hinge element configured for receiving a side door motor drive shaft and a motor mounting bracket configured to receive the side door motor drive shaft and to allow a radial adjustment of the drive shaft for alignment of an axis of the motor with a side door hinge axis. The upper hinge element may define a clevis including a lower clevis portion having a motor drive shaft mounting aperture dimensioned to allow the radial adjustment feature. The motor mounting bracket includes one or more mounting apertures dimensioned to allow a vehicle fore/aft adjustment and in/out adjustment of the side door motor element. The motor mounting assembly is further configured to allow a vehicle up/down adjustment of the side door motor.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for mechanically attached connections of conduits may include a conduit gripping member, a drive member, and a seal member, the drive member causing axial movement of the conduit gripping member to indent into an outer surface of the conduit when the assembly is pulled-up, the drive member causing the seal member to form a zero clearance seal at a location that is axially spaced from the conduit gripping member. The zero clearance seal may comprise a face seal arrangement including a gasket, and the conduit gripping member may be a ferrule, ring or other device that can grip and optionally seal against the conduit outer surface. The assembly may include a sensing function for detecting or sensing a characteristic or condition of an assembly component or the fluid or both. In one embodiment, a body coupling member has a two piece construction of a main body and a conduit socket insert. A flared fitting embodiment is also provided.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to generating, conducting, and reporting digital surveys utilizing augmented reality devices and/or virtual reality devices. In particular, in one or more embodiments, the disclosed systems and methods assist administrators in generating digital surveys utilizing interactive virtual environments via a virtual reality device and/or augmented reality elements via an augmented reality device. Similarly, the disclosed systems and methods can provide digital surveys via augmented reality devices and/or virtual reality devices, for instance, by monitoring user interactions via the augmented reality and/or virtual reality devices and providing digital surveys based on the monitored user interactions. Furthermore, the disclosed systems and methods can present survey results and allow administrators to interact with survey results utilizing augmented reality devices and/or virtual reality devices.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for analysis of a repair for a structure by identifying component parts of the structure that have common material properties and geometric constraints, and based thereon determining a generic repair component for the component parts that also have the common material properties and the geometric constraints. A set of loads are extracted from a loads model of the undamaged structure and redistributed in a loads redistribution model at a damaged or defective portion of the component part. The set of redistributed loads indicate loading incurred by the generic repair component under an external load. The apparatus then uses the redistributed loads to perform an analysis to determine a margin of safety of the generic repair component and, in instances in which the margin of safety is positive, outputs the material properties and geometric constraints of the generic repair component to a fabrication system for production thereof.

Abstract: A system configured to provide a transcription building interface may be usable by transcribers to produce versions of textbooks and other works in accessible formats such as braille. The interface may receive data from a publisher of a work, such as a NIMAS file set, which provides a starting point for transcription but must be further modified to produce a production ready braille version. The interface presents a print display, a braille display, and a style display of the underlying data, and may receive input modifying the content of one or more of those displays, with any changes synchronized across each. The interface further provides toolsets that may be used to automate the creation of certain complex content in braille, including tools for describing lists, mathematical concepts, and images, which have conventionally been manually encoded.

Abstract: Methods of honing a surface are disclosed. The method may include spraying a coating having an initial average bulk porosity onto an engine bore wall and honing the coating to create an intermediate honed surface. The method may then include cleaning the intermediate honed surface and honing the intermediate honed surface with a cutting force of, for example, 110-130 kgf after the cleaning step. This may create a honed surface having an average porosity greater than the initial average bulk porosity. The methods may create a honed surface having a porosity that is more porous than the initially sprayed coating. The increased porosity of the honed surface may allow for increased oil retention in, for example, engine bores.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to digitally converting physical form documents to electronic surveys. For example, a survey system receives an image capture of a physical form document and analyzes the image capture to identify fields including questions within the physical form document. The survey system creates an electronic survey corresponding to the physical form document based on the contents of the fields (e.g., text, objects). Specifically, the survey system generates electronic survey questions for the fields based on the contents of the fields. After generating electronic survey questions for the fields in the image capture, the survey system provides the electronic survey for display to a respondent. Additionally, the survey system can complete an electronic version (e.g., an image) of the form document including the responses.

Abstract: A vehicle door system is disclosed. The system comprises an actuator, a power source, and a controller. The actuator is configured to adjust a position of a door. The controller is configured to control the actuator with energy provided by the power source. The controller is further configured to identify a charge level of the power source and compare the charge level to at least one threshold. In response the charge level being less than the at least one threshold, the controller is configured to output a warning signal.

Abstract: A power assist device is provided herein. The power assist device includes a motor that is operatively coupled to a door of a vehicle, a display for displaying as swing path of the door, a controller for controlling the motor, and a touchscreen device for supplying to the controller one or more user-inputted selections for controlling door swing, wherein the user-inputted selections are received by the touchscreen device via one or more touch events.