Abstract: An ankle-foot orthosis which is capable of being worn by a user in an acquatic environment which is lightweight, water-resistant, and reduces the amount of hydrodynamic drag during motion of a leg of a user when in water. The ankle-foot orthosis can be fully customizable to the needs of the user. The ankle-foot orthosis including three protective components; a shank shell, a shin plate, and a foot shell. The ankle-foot orthosis optionally including an additional protective component; a dorsal foot plate. At least one flow passage within each of the shank shell and the foot shell. The at least one flow passage providing water drainage and air ventilation, and reducing the overall weight of the shank shell and foot shell.

Abstract: Various methods for controlling EGR rate are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method comprises routing at least a portion of exhaust from a first exhaust manifold to an intake manifold, and not to atmosphere, the first exhaust manifold exclusively coupled to a first cylinder group. The method further includes routing exhaust from at least one additional exhaust manifold coupled to a corresponding at least one additional cylinder group to atmosphere, and during a first engine operating condition where an engine fuel demand is below a threshold demand, not injecting fuel to each of a subset of cylinders in the first cylinder group while injecting fuel to a subset of all cylinders coupled to the at least one additional exhaust manifold, where a number of cylinders of the subset of cylinders in the first cylinder group decreases in response to an increase in a target EGR rate.

Abstract: A method of forming a pocketed spring unit for an upholstered article comprises taking successive strings of pocketed springs and welding at least one sheet of material to at least a first end of the pocketed springs. Anvils 46 are moved from a non-operative position to an operative position, in which they are located between adjacent pockets at upper and lower ends of the springs. This embodiment makes use of the surplus material that is formed at the ends of the pockets in the form of flaps or “ears” of material. These flaps protrude upwardly initially, and then become folded flat as the spring unit advances between the rolls 48 of material. The external anvils are then made to apply heat and pressure to the material flaps trapped between them and the internal anvils at the sides of the pockets, between the springs to weld them to the material from the rolls 48.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a pressure relief valve of a fuel system. In one example, a valve includes a first chamber in fluid communication with a first fuel line, a second chamber in fluid communication with a second fuel line and in fluid communication with a fuel storage tank, a piston separating the first chamber from the second chamber, and a needle coupled to the piston and controlling a flow passage between the second fuel line and the second chamber, where the piston and needle are sized such that a force applied on the piston by the first chamber parallel to an axis of movement of the piston maintains the needle in a closed position when the first fuel line flows fuel at a first pressure and the second fuel line flows fuel at a second pressure, the second pressure greater than the first pressure.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a pressure relief valve of a fuel system. In one example, a valve includes a first chamber in fluid communication with a first fuel line, a second chamber in fluid communication with a second fuel line and in fluid communication with a fuel storage tank, a piston separating the first chamber from the second chamber, and a needle coupled to the piston and controlling a flow passage between the second fuel line and the second chamber, where the piston and needle are sized such that a force applied on the piston by the first chamber parallel to an axis of movement of the piston maintains the needle in a closed position when the first fuel line flows fuel at a first pressure and the second fuel line flows fuel at a second pressure, the second pressure greater than the first pressure.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a pressure relief valve of a fuel system. In one example, a valve includes a first chamber in fluid communication with a first fuel line, a second chamber in fluid communication with a second fuel line and in fluid communication with a fuel storage tank, a piston separating the first chamber from the second chamber, and a needle coupled to the piston and controlling a flow passage between the second fuel line and the second chamber, where the piston and needle are sized such that a force applied on the piston by the first chamber parallel to an axis of movement of the piston maintains the needle in a closed position when the first fuel line flows fuel at a first pressure and the second fuel line flows fuel at a second pressure, the second pressure greater than the first pressure.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are unique systems and methods for remotely located physician specialists to diagnose and treat patients in a non-acute care facility having symptoms typically indicating a need for transfer to an acute care facility. The disclosed principles minimize the transfer of patients from a non-acute care facility to an acute care facility when not needed. The disclosed principles provide for the use of telemedicine units by geographically remote physician specialists to diagnose and treat patients in a non-acute care facility. If the physician specialist determines via the telemedicine unit that transfer of the patient to higher level of facility is needed, then the patient is transferred. If the physician specialist determines that the patient's new, elevated condition may be treated in the current, lower level facility, the physician specialist can prescribe a treatment for the current facility's staff to implement, even under the supervision of the physician specialist if it is needed.

Abstract: A resilient unit (180), such as for a mattress, comprises a folded pad containing rows of resilient elements (120) in discrete pockets formed between superposed sheets of material joined at locations between adjacent resilient elements. Between at least some adjacent resilient elements the sheets form a gusset (160) which acts as a hinge when the pad is folded to form the resilient unit.

Abstract: Various methods for controlling EGR rate are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method comprises routing at least a portion of exhaust from a first exhaust manifold to an intake manifold, and not to atmosphere, the first exhaust manifold exclusively coupled to a first cylinder group. The method further includes routing exhaust from at least one additional exhaust manifold coupled to a corresponding at least one additional cylinder group to atmosphere, and during a first engine operating condition where an engine fuel demand is below a threshold demand, not injecting fuel to each of a subset of cylinders in the first cylinder group while injecting fuel to a subset of all cylinders coupled to the at least one additional exhaust manifold, where a number of cylinders of the subset of cylinders in the first cylinder group decreases in response to an increase in a target EGR rate.

Abstract: Various methods for controlling EGR rate are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method comprises routing at least a portion of exhaust from a first exhaust manifold to an intake manifold, and not to atmosphere, the first exhaust manifold exclusively coupled to a first cylinder group. The method further includes routing exhaust from at least one additional exhaust manifold coupled to a corresponding at least one additional cylinder group to atmosphere, and during a first engine operating condition where an engine fuel demand is below a threshold demand, not injecting fuel to each of a subset of cylinders in the first cylinder group while injecting fuel to a subset of all cylinders coupled to the at least one additional exhaust manifold, where a number of cylinders of the subset of cylinders in the first cylinder group decreases in response to an increase in a target EGR rate.

Abstract: A reactor for reforming a liquid hydrocarbon fuel, and associated processes and systems, are described herein. In one example, a two stage process is disclosed in which a first reactor is coupled to a second stage reactor having a reaction volume greater than the first reactor. In the first reactor, the liquid hydrocarbon fuel is partially reformed and thereafter is inputted into the second stage reactor for complete partial oxidation. The reaction product is at last partially synthesis gas, a mixture of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, as well as other low hydrocarbons such as methane, ethylene, ethane, and acetylene. The low hydrocarbons can be reformed further in a solid oxide fuel cell. A portion of the gaseous, rotating contents of the second stage reactor may be input into the first reactor to help generate and sustain rotation within the first reactor.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are unique systems and methods for remotely located physician specialists to diagnose and treat patients in a non-acute care facility having symptoms typically indicating a need for transfer to an acute care facility. The disclosed principles minimize the transfer of patients from a non-acute care facility to an acute care facility when not needed. The disclosed principles provide for the use of telemedicine units by geographically remote physician specialists to diagnose and treat patients in a non-acute care facility. If the physician specialist determines via the telemedicine unit that transfer of the patient to higher level of facility is needed, then the patient is transferred. If the physician specialist determines that the patient's new, elevated condition may be treated in the current, lower level facility, the physician specialist can prescribe a treatment for the current facility's staff to implement, even under the supervision of the physician specialist if it is needed.

Abstract: An audible alarm detector constituted of: a microphone generating an electronic signal from an audible signal; a phase locked loop locking onto a frequency component present in the generated electronic signal to output a demodulated signal; and a pattern detector for comparing the demodulated signal against each template of a known set of templates, each template representing a standard pulse stream, wherein upon detection that the demodulated signal matches one of the known templates, the audible alarm detector is arranged to output an alarm detected signal indicating a presence of one of the standard pulse streams.

Abstract: Methods and systems for distributing engine output among vehicles of a consist are disclosed. One example system comprises a controller including non-transitory media having instructions stored on the media and executed by the controller for adjusting distribution of engine output between at least a first engine and a second engine in response to a regeneration mode, wherein the regeneration mode regenerates an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cooler that is coupled to the first engine.

Abstract: A system for distributing changes to a replica file system on a client workstation is disclosed including a master file system, a journal database, and an application server. The journal database stores a journal table and a client timestamp, where the journal table includes a plurality of entries listed in chronological order that each represent a modification to the master file system made at a specific point in time. The client timestamp indicates a last point in time when the replica file system was updated. The application server is in communication with the master file system and the journal database. The processor executes instructions for determining the last point in time when the replica file system of the client workstation was updated based on the client timestamp, querying the journal table based on the client timestamp, and locating a specific entry within the journal table based on the client timestamp.

Abstract: Various systems and method for controlling exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) in an internal combustion engine are provided. In one embodiment, a method includes during a first operating condition, directing exhaust gas from a first cylinder group into an engine air intake stream and directing substantially no exhaust gas from a second cylinder group to the engine air intake stream. The method further includes during a second operating condition, directing exhaust gas from the second cylinder group through a turbocharger bypass into the engine air intake stream and reducing a fuel injection amount of the first cylinder group relative to a fuel injection amount of the second cylinder group.

Abstract: An audible alarm detector constituted of: a microphone generating an electronic signal from an audible signal; a phase locked loop locking onto a frequency component present in the generated electronic signal to output a demodulated signal; and a pattern detector for comparing the demodulated signal against each template of a known set of templates, each template representing a standard pulse stream, wherein upon detection that the demodulated signal matches one of the known templates, the audible alarm detector is arranged to output an alarm detected signal indicating a presence of one of the standard pulse streams.

Abstract: A wire supply station comprises a container 34 in which the wire is retained in a multitude of loops (not shown) of substantially the same diameter around a cylindrical inside surface of the drum. The wire 16 emerges from the drum 34 under no tension and substantially straight. It is then fed between guide or feed rollers 20 into the coiling head 12. The wire 16 is formed into a continuous coil, from which lengths are cut by a cutter (not shown) to form individual coil springs 24. The individual coil springs 24 are then carried by the spring transfer station 26 to the fabric pocket welding station 28 where they become encased in individual pockets when the welding heads 30 weld the material. Pre-straightening the wire before storing it in loops inside the cylindrical drum 34 allows for a more consistent pocket spring, and ultimately a flatter spring unit/mattress as any pre-stressing of the wire, caused by the drawing process used to manufacture it, is neutralised leaving the wire largely stress-free.

Abstract: A method of forming a pocketed spring unit for an upholstered article comprises taking successive strings of pocketed springs and welding at least one sheet of material to at least a first end of the pocketed springs. Anvils 46 are moved from a non-operative position to an operative position, in which they are located between adjacent pockets at upper and lower ends of the springs. This embodiment makes use of the surplus material that is formed at the ends of the pockets in the form of flaps or “ears” of material. These flaps protrude upwardly initially, and then become folded flat as the spring unit advances between the rolls 48 of material. The external anvils are then made to apply heat and pressure to the material flaps trapped between them and the internal anvils at the sides of the pockets, between the springs to weld them to the material from the rolls 48.