Abstract: A soft-to-hard goods connector is provided which includes an elastomeric bladder having a preform layer and an outer textile layer enclosing the preform layer. The outer textile layer has at least one skin extension layer extending beyond a periphery of the elastomeric bladder. The skin extension layer has a chord attached at a distal end with the chord being perpendicular to the skin extension layer. The connector includes a host rigid structure with a receiving component. The receiving component has a mounting track with the chord mounted in the mounting track. The receiving component permits the chord to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the chord with a limited range of motion.

Abstract: Provided are containers that are useful for the collection and analysis of materials, which typically comprise solid material, such as geologic material samples, such as drill cuttings, core samples, drilling muds, or similar materials. Such containers comprise a barrier component that forms an inner chamber for isolating a material and a compressible or collapsible section that is adapted to be compressed by application of a force, but without rupture or other disruption that would result in the loss of volatile compounds contained in the container (such as volatile compounds released from the material). The containers can be sealed by a seal component, which can be punctured by a component (e.g., a needle) permitting the flow of gaseous material from the interior of the container when a force is applied through the puncturing component. In aspects, the containers comprise a sample material, such as a drill cutting or other geologic material.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for identifying a region of a geologic area comprising a fault or other feature associated with a pressure loss. Such methods can comprise (1) subjecting rock samples from separated sites in an area to condition(s) that can cause the release of carbon dioxide (CO2), one or more volatile carbon dioxide-related, or both, if present, while not causing the release of a significant amount of CO2 or the one or more CO2-related compounds associated with the crystalline structure of the material, (2) measuring the amount of CO2, the one or more related compounds, or both, and (3) identifying regions in the geologic area associated with a relatively low CO2, related compounds, or both, or similar or alternative methods involving the analysis of such compositions associated with materials provided here.

Abstract: An inflatable deployable mast fairing assembly is provided with a rigid foundation, a hydrodynamic fairing and at least one soft actuator. The hydrodynamic fairing is shaped to close an aperture formed between a deployable hardware system and a sail bay opening. A first soft actuator connects to the rigid foundation at one end and to the hydrodynamic fairing at another. Fluid pressurization elongates a first soft actuator coaxial to the deployable hardware system to fittedly position the fairing in the aperture with a void in the fairing to receive the hardware system. If the rigid foundation is sail-mounted, a second soft actuator connects to the sail-mounted foundation opposite the first soft actuator and to a counter flange mechanically connected to the hydrodynamic fairing. A second pressurization elongates the second soft actuator coaxial to the deployable hardware system to retract the hydrodynamic fairing from the aperture.

Abstract: An electric apparatus is provided that includes a fiber optic system and an electric conductor. The fiber optic system includes an inner cladding, an outer cladding and a fiber optic core between the inner cladding and the outer cladding. The electric conductor extends longitudinally along a centerline within the fiber optic system. The centerline may be a centerline of any one or more or all of the fiber optic system, the inner cladding, the outer cladding, the fiber optic core and/or the electric conductor.

Abstract: The invention described here provides new methods of analyzing materials, e.g., geologic materials, to identify wettability characteristics of such materials. Methods of the invention comprise analyzing the amount of easily extracted water obtained from samples of a material, such as a geologic area, analyzing release resistant water obtained from such samples or co-located samples, and/or optionally calculating or analyzing the combined water in or obtained from such samples, and utilizing such values alone or in comparison to one another to assess the wettability characteristics of the material.

Abstract: A method of operation is provided. During this operating method, a parameter of an engine of an aircraft is determined. The parameter is compared to a threshold using a monitoring unit controller onboard the aircraft. The threshold is established by an electrical resistance of a circuit component onboard the aircraft which is external to the monitoring unit controller. An action is initiated using the monitoring unit controller where the parameter is greater than or equal to the threshold.

Abstract: A method is provided for operating an aircraft system. During this method, a shaft of an aircraft powerplant is rotated. A torque signal is received indicative of a torque applied to the shaft while the shaft is rotating. A noise parameter is determined indicative of noise in the torque signal. A fault is identified in the torque signal when the noise parameter is equal to or greater than a threshold.

Abstract: A container system includes at least one flexible wall defining a compartment containing a dissolvable solid or concentrate, a support adjacent a first end of the at least one flexible wall, and a nozzle assembly coupled to a second end of the at least one flexible wall. The second end of the wall is distal from the first end. The nozzle assembly comprises a hollow body defining a longitudinal axis. The hollow body further defines a plurality of orifices through a wall thereof. Each orifice is able to form a fluid connection between an interior volume within the hollow body and the compartment. Each orifice is configured to deliver liquid from the interior volume to the compartment in a direction having an angle of between 5° and 85° from a direction of the longitudinal axis. Related nozzles and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A soft-to-hard goods connector is provided which includes an elastomeric bladder having a preform layer and an outer textile layer enclosing the preform layer. The outer textile layer has at least one skin extension layer extending beyond a periphery of the elastomeric bladder. The skin extension layer has a chord attached at a distal end with the chord being perpendicular to the skin extension layer. The connector includes a host rigid structure with a receiving component. The receiving component has a mounting track with the chord mounted in the mounting track. The receiving component permits the chord to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the chord with a limited range of motion.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of characterizing rock qualities, such qualities of rock obtained as cuttings from petroleum operations. One embodiment comprises determining the carbonate grain size of one or more rock samples by subjecting the samples to conditions that cause release of carbon dioxide or carbon dioxide-related compound(s) and quantifying the amount thereof. In another embodiment, the invention provides a method of identifying regions of a geologic area likely to be associated with faults by identifying regions of low carbon dioxide or other target volatile compound(s) compared with expected properties and/or the surroundings of the low volatile compound region. Other methods involve analyzing differences in the amounts of compounds of different sizes in different geologic areas. The methods can aid in guiding petroleum exploration and/or production operations.

Abstract: A container system includes at least one flexible wall defining a compartment containing a dissolvable solid or concentrate, a support adjacent a first end of the at least one flexible wall, and a nozzle assembly coupled to a second end of the at least one flexible wall. The second end of the wall is distal from the first end. The nozzle assembly comprises a hollow body defining a longitudinal axis. The hollow body further defines a plurality of orifices through a wall thereof. Each orifice is able to form a fluid connection between an interior volume within the hollow body and the compartment. Each orifice is configured to deliver liquid from the interior volume to the compartment in a direction having an angle of between 5° and 85° from a direction of the longitudinal axis. Related nozzles and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Provided herein are new methods of analyzing release-resistant water in materials, such as geologic materials. The methods of the invention typically comprise removal of extraneous water, e.g., by drying, preparing the material for the release of release-resistant water (e.g., by crushing the material, but typically not so greatly as to cause the release of fluid from hermetically sealed components, such as fluid inclusions), and then analyzing the amount of release-resistant water in the sample, either directly in-situ or by the additional step of extracting the release-resistant water and measuring the extraction. The invention also provides new devices and/or systems useful in the performance of such methods.

Abstract: Provided are containers that are useful for the collection and analysis of materials, which typically comprise solid material, such as geologic material samples, such as drill cuttings, core samples, drilling muds, or similar materials. Such containers comprise a barrier component that forms an inner chamber for isolating a material and a compressible or collapsible section that is adapted to be compressed by application of a force, but without rupture or other disruption that would result in the loss of volatile compounds contained in the container (such as volatile compounds released from the material). The containers can be sealed by a seal component, which can be punctured by a component (e.g., a needle) permitting the flow of gaseous material from the interior of the container when a force is applied through the puncturing component. In aspects, the containers comprise a sample material, such as a drill cutting or other geologic material.

Abstract: Methods for determining the hardness and/or ductility of a material by compression of the material are provided as a first aspect of the invention. Typically, compression is performed on multiple sides of a geologic material sample in a contemporaneous manner. Devices and systems for performing such methods also are provided. These methods, devices, and systems can be combined with additional methods, devices, and systems of the invention that provide for the analysis of compounds contained in such samples, which can indicate the presence of valuable materials, such as petroleum-associated hydrocarbons. Alternatively, these additional methods, devices, and systems can also stand independently of the methods, devices, and systems for analyzing ductility and/or hardness of materials.

Abstract: A soft-to-hard goods connector is provided which includes an elastomeric bladder having a preform layer and an outer textile layer enclosing the preform layer. The outer textile layer has at least one skin extension layer extending beyond a periphery of the elastomeric bladder. The skin extension layer has a chord attached at a distal end with the chord being perpendicular to the skin extension layer. The connector includes a host rigid structure with a receiving component. The receiving component has a mounting track with the chord mounted in the mounting track. The receiving component permits the chord to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the chord with a limited range of motion.

Abstract: A propulsion system for an aircraft is provided that includes an electric generator, a compressor, an internal combustion (IC) engine, a turbine, an electric power storage unit, and an electric motor. The compressor is configured to selectively produce a flow of compressor air at an air pressure greater than an ambient air pressure. The IC engine is configured to selectively intake compressor air during operation and produce an exhaust gas flow during operation. The turbine, powered by exhaust gas flow, is in communication with and configured to power the compressor and the electric generator. The electric power storage unit is in communication with the electric generator. The electric motor is in communication with the IC engine. The electric motor is powered by the electrical power produced by the electric generator, and the electric motor is configured to selectively provide motive force to the IC engine.

Abstract: A sensor platform is provided with a rigid hull having a planar shape having a bow, stern, a port and a starboard side. The platform includes an inflatable perimeter tube having sides extending along a perimeter of the hull. A tow connection is at the bow and rigid control surfaces are at the stern. A planar sensor array is disposed within the platform. The planar sensor array includes inflatable sensor panels attached to the port and a starboard side of the perimeter tube. Each of the inflatable sensor panels has a plurality of sensors embedded with electrical conductors for power and data transfer. A manifold disposed within the platform operationally connects to the inflatable perimeter tube and the inflatable sensor panels. An electrical controller disposed within the platform connects to the sensors and the manifold.

Abstract: An electric apparatus is provided that includes a fiber optic system and an electric conductor. The fiber optic system includes an inner cladding, an outer cladding and a fiber optic core between the inner cladding and the outer cladding. The electric conductor extends longitudinally along a centerline within the fiber optic system. The centerline may be a centerline of any one or more or all of the fiber optic system, the inner cladding, the outer cladding, the fiber optic core and/or the electric conductor.

Abstract: Methods for determining the hardness and/or ductility of a material by compression of the material are provided as a first aspect of the invention. Typically, compression is performed on multiple sides of a geologic material sample in a contemporaneous manner. Devices and systems for performing such methods also are provided. These methods, devices, and systems can be combined with additional methods, devices, and systems of the invention that provide for the analysis of compounds contained in such samples, which can indicate the presence of valuable materials, such as petroleum-associated hydrocarbons. Alternatively, these additional methods, devices, and systems can also stand independently of the methods, devices, and systems for analyzing ductility and/or hardness of materials.