Abstract: A build cell for manufacturing products according to customer orders includes a build station at which components are assembled according to a customer order to form an assembled product. The build cell also includes a burn station at which the assembled product is configured and tested to form a configured product. In addition, the build cell includes a finishing station at which the configured product is inspected to produce a finished product. A transportation device transports the finished product from the build cell to a transportation system for delivery to a boxing facility, such that the product is assembled, configured, tested, and inspected in the build cell and packaged at the boxing facility. In an illustrative embodiment, the product is a computer, the components include hardware components, which are assembled at the build station, and software is installed at the burn station.

Abstract: A securement mechanism includes a tie down cleat assembly for engagement with a mating component, the tie down cleat assembly including a pin, a lock plate adjacent one of the ends of the pin, and a housing with an aperture receiving the pin. An actuating member is operationally connected to the pin and causes selective movement of the pin and lock plate between a secured and unsecured orientation. The lock plate includes two dimensions, a first dimension permitting the lock plate to be inserted into a channel associated with the mating component and a second dimension permitting the securement of the mating component between the housing and locking plate. The pin and locking plate and preferably the housing all rotate as a single unit.

Abstract: A food winding apparatus, system, and method of forming a rolled food item utilizing a slotted spool or cup and a push plate to eject the rolled food item from the spool. A food winding unit utilizes a motor to rotate a slotted spool. The leading end of a supported strip of food is detected by a sensor and directed into the slot of a spool. A micro-controller triggers a motor in response to the sensor signal to rotate and form a rolled food item after a predetermined number of rotations. An actuator is activated to displace an ejection plate to eject the rolled food item from the slotted spool. The winding unit can be integrated into a system including an extruder to deposit food onto support strips, a series of conveyors, and a rotary knife to cut the supported strip of food into predetermined lengths suitable for being rolled into a food item by the winding unit.

Abstract: A manufacturing facility for manufacturing products according to customer orders includes a kitting facility at which components are collected for a product in a customer order. The manufacturing facility also includes a build cell in which the component are assembled, configured, and tested according to the customer order to form a product. The manufacturing facility also includes a boxing facility at which the product is packaged. A transportation system transports the two or more components from the kitting facility to the build cell and transports the product to the boxing facility, whereby the product is assembled, configured, and tested in the build cell and packaged at the boxing facility.

Abstract: This invention relates to a hydraulic pig advance system comprising a control volume chamber containing hydraulic fluid and a force transmitting member. The system further comprises two directional control valves which can be selectively repositioned to cause hydraulic fluid to cycle the force transmitting member back and force such that in each cycle, a metered amount of hydraulic is transmitted into a pig housing where it causes a pig to move a predetermined distance.

Abstract: A manufacturing facility for manufacturing products according to customer orders includes a kitting facility at which components are collected for a product in a customer order. The manufacturing facility also includes a build cell in which the component are assembled, configured, and tested according to the customer order to form a product. The manufacturing facility also includes a boxing facility at which the product is packaged. A transportation system transports the two or more components from the kitting facility to the build cell and transports the product to the boxing facility, whereby the product is assembled, configured, and tested in the build cell and packaged at the boxing facility.

Abstract: A manufacturing facility for manufacturing products according to customer orders includes a kitting facility at which components are collected for a product in a customer order. The manufacturing facility also includes a build cell in which the component are assembled, configured, and tested according to the customer order to form a product. The manufacturing facility also includes a boxing facility at which the product is packaged. A transportation system transports the two or more components from the kitting facility to the build cell and transports the product to the boxing facility, whereby the product is assembled, configured, and tested in the build cell and packaged at the boxing facility.

Abstract: A tubular instrument, e.g., a catheter including a hollow wall portion forming the distal end of the instrument and terminating at a distal opening, having a connector arranged to be used with a guide-wire. The guide-wire has a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, the distal end portion of the guide-wire being arranged to be extended to some interior position within the body of a living being, with the proximal end portion of the guide-wire being located outside the being's body. The connector is located at the distal end of the instrument and is arranged to be readily manipulated by a twisting action to connect the instrument onto the guide-wire for sliding movement therealong. In particular, the connector establishes a path into which a portion of the guide-wire can be inserted from a lateral direction by merely twisting the instrument, without requiring access to either end of the guide-wire. In one embodiment the path is a spiral channel formed in the hollow wall portion of the instrument.

Abstract: A tubular instrument, e.g., a catheter including a hollow wall portion forming the distal end of the instrument and terminating at a distal opening, having a connector arranged to be used with a guide-wire. The guide wire has a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, the distal end portion of the guide-wire being arranged to be extended to some interior position within the body of a living being, with the proximal end portion of the guide-wire being located outside the being's body. The connector is located at the distal end of the instrument and is arranged to be readily manipulated by a twisting action to connect the instrument onto the guide-wire for sliding movement therealong. In particular, the connector establishes a path into which a portion of the guide-wire can be inserted from a lateral direction by merely twisting the instrument, without requiring access to either end of the guide-wire. In one embodiment the path is a spiral channel formed in the hollow wall portion of the instrument.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a blowout preventer stack. The apparatus comprises a control pod having a plurality of direct operated solenoid valves in electronic communication with a surface controller through one or more dedicated electronic control wires. The solenoids translate electronic control signals from the controller into hydraulic control signals that are in communication with a hydraulically operated pilot valve to cause delivery of hydraulic fluid from a power fluid source to a critical function of the blowout preventer stack (i.e., closing of a blowout preventer). The system also provides a plurality of hydraulically operated pilot valves that deliver hydraulic fluid from a power fluid source to a non-critical function of the blowout preventer stack upon receiving a hydraulic control signal directly from the controller through the umbilical.

Abstract: A distribution facility according to the present disclosure includes a less-than-trailer-load (LTL) dock and a virtual bill-of-lading system having a display within the LTL dock. The display provides a pallet identifier and a box count for each pallet in a shipment of products, such that a carrier representative can determine how many boxes belong on each pallet by reference to the display. The LTL dock includes a pallet staging area that occupies no more than approximately thirty-five square feet. A manufacturing facility according to the present disclosure receives components and packaging through portions of first and third walls and discharges finished products though a second wall and a portion of the third wall.

Abstract: A multiple pig subsea pig launcher is disclosed. The pig launcher can be assembled on a production pipeline subsea with the aid of an ROV. In the preferred embodiment, the pigs are connected to each other and spaced apart by a spine. The pig launcher is configured to capture the next pig to be launched in such a manner that the spine behind it is in alignment with a shearing valve; for example, coiled tubing or wireline. Sequential valve operation shears the spine and applies pressure behind the pig to launch it from the launcher past the pig detector and onto a platform for recapture.

Abstract: A subsea pig launcher, that can launch either 1 or more pipeline pigs simultaneously. The pig launcher can be assembled on a subseas production pipeline with the aid of an ROV. In the preferred embodiment, the pigs are connected to each other and spaced apart by a spine. The pig launcher is configured to capture the next pig to be launched in such a manner that the spine behind it is in alignment with a shearing valve; for example, coiled tubing or wireline. Sequential valve operation shears the spine and applies pressure behind the pig to launch it from the launcher past the pig detector and onto a platform for recapture.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a blowout preventer stack. The apparatus comprises a control pod having a plurality of direct operated solenoid valves in electronic communication with a surface controller through one or more dedicated electronic control wires. The solenoids translate electronic control signals from the controller into hydraulic control signals that are in communication with a hydraulically operated pilot valve to cause delivery of hydraulic fluid from a power fluid source to a critical function of the blowout preventer stack (i.e., closing of a blowout preventer). The system also provides a plurality of hydraulically operated pilot valves that deliver hydraulic fluid from a power fluid source to a non-critical function of the blowout preventer stack upon receiving a hydraulic control signal directly from the controller through the umbilical.

Abstract: A reversible electrochemical mirror device includes a substantially transparent first electrode having a textured surface, and a second electrode which may be distributed in localized areas. An electrolytic solution, disposed between the first and second electrodes, contains ions of a metal which can electrodeposit on the electrodes. A negative electrical potential applied to the first electrode causes deposited metal to be dissolved from the second electrode into the electrolytic solution and to be electrodeposited from the solution onto the textured surface of the first electrode, thereby affecting the reflectivity of the device for electromagnetic radiation. Because of the textured surface, light striking the first electrode is diffusely reflected, making the device desirable for architectural and automotive glass applications. A surface modification layer applied to the first electrode ensures that the electrodeposit is substantially uniform.

Abstract: An electrochemical mirror includes a transparent first electrode and a second electrode. An electrolytic solution, disposed between the first and second electrodes, contains ions of a metal which can electrodeposit on the electrodes. A negative electrical potential applied to the first electrode causes deposited metal to be dissolved from the second electrode into the electrolytic solution and to be electrodeposited from the solution onto the first electrode, thereby affecting the reflectivity of the mirror for electromagnetic radiation. A surface modification layer applied to the first electrode ensures that the electrodeposit is substantially uniform, resulting in a mirror layer which increases the reflectivity of the mirror. A positive electrical potential applied to the first electrode causes deposited metal to be dissolved from the first electrode and electrodeposited from the solution onto the second electrode, thereby decreasing the reflectivity of the mirror.

Abstract: A reversible electrochemical mirror (REM) includes a first electrode and a second electrode, one of which is substantially transparent to at least a portion of the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation. An electrolytic solution, disposed between the first and second electrodes, contains ions of a metal which can electrodeposit on the electrodes. The electrolytic solution also contains halide and/or pseudohalide anions having a total molar concentration ratio of at least 6:1 compared to that of the electrodepositable metal. A negative electrical potential applied to the first electrode causes deposited metal to be dissolved from the second electrode into the electrolytic solution and to be electrodeposited from the solution onto the first electrode to form a mirror deposit, thereby affecting the reflectivity of the REM device for electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: A door assembly for a vehicle includes a door subassembly hinged to the vehicle having a window opening and a window subassembly hinged to the vehicle adapted to cover the window opening; the door subassembly and window subassembly having a common hinge axis and the door assembly operable between a closed position, a window subassembly open and door subassembly closed position, and a window subassembly and door subassembly open position.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of conductive, electronegative, submicron polymeric particles comprised of a first polymer optionally containing from about 1 to about 50 percent by weight of a conductive filler and a second electronegative, contrast polymer, and wherein said conductive polymer particles with optional filler are prepared by mixing at least one monomer with a polymerization initiator, a crosslinking component and a chain transfer component; effecting bulk polymerization until from about 5 to about 50 weight percent of the monomer has been polymerized; terminating polymerization by cooling the partially polymerized monomer; adding thereto from about 1 to about 50 weight percent of a conductive filler or conductive fillers, followed by mixing thereof; dispersing the aforementioned mixture of conductive filler or fillers, and partially polymerized product in water containing a stabilizing component to obtain a suspension of particles with an average diameter of from about 0.

Abstract: The protection to the backside of the semiconductor wafer is accomplished by applying a layer of silicon oxide or silicon nitride or other deposited material to the back surface of a semiconductor wafer to protect against particles, scratches, and etching by mild caustic solutions. The layer remains in place during all three processes, edge pre-polish, mirror edge polish, and wafer polish.