Abstract: An embodiment of the instant disclosure comprises a reversible heat pump and water heating system for conditioning a space and heating water. The system comprises a refrigerant circuit that includes a compressor, a source heat exchanger, a space heat exchanger, and an expansion device. A 4-way reversing valve alternates between heating and cooling modes of operation. The system includes a heat exchanger for heating water in the water heating loop, and a 3-way valve that either actuates the refrigerant flow through the water heater heat exchanger or bypasses at least a portion of the refrigerant flow around the water heater heat exchanger. The heat pump system is operable in at least five modes—space heating only, space cooling only, water heating only, and either space heating or space cooling combined with water heating.

Abstract: An electrical connector that has a conductive shell supporting at least one signal contact therein and that has a front end for mating with a mating connector and a back end opposite the front end for electrically connecting to a coaxial cable. A ground connection is located inside of the conductive shell. A coupling member is rotatably coupled to the conductive shell and has an engagement feature for mechanically engaging a support panel associated with the mating connector. A sealing member is disposed on the conductive shell that is configured to provide an environmental seal between the conductive shell and the support panel when the conductive shell is mated with the mating connector.

Abstract: This disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatus for a locking folding knife having a handle lock and a safety switch arranged around and rotatable around a pivot axis of the knife. In an engaged position the switch overlaps at least a portion of the handle lock and prevents it from moving into an unlocked position. A spring, such as a wire form spring, can be arranged within a pocket of the switch, and when the switch is moved between engaged and disengaged positions the spring can be compressed generating a rotational bias on the switch urging the switch toward either the engaged or disengaged position.

Abstract: Distribution and management of services in virtual environments is described herein. In one or more implementations, a service distribution and management model is implemented in which system services and applications are seamlessly distributed across multiple containers which each implement a different runtime environment. In one or more implementations, a system for distributing access to services in a host operating system of a computing device includes a host operating system configured to implement a host runtime environment, and one or more services implemented by the host operating system. The system further includes a service control manager configured to enable communication between a client stub of a service implemented in a client runtime environment and a service provider of the service that is implemented in a service runtime environment that is separate from the first client runtime environment.

Abstract: A vertical gallium nitride (GaN) PN diode uses epitaxial growth of a thick drift region with a very low carrier concentration and a carefully designed multi-zone junction termination extension to achieve high voltage blocking and high-power efficiency. An exemplary large area (1 mm2) diode had a forward pulsed current of 3.5 A, an 8.3 m?-cm2 specific on-resistance, and a 5.3 kV reverse breakdown. A smaller area diode (0.063 mm2) was capable of 6.4 kV breakdown with a specific on-resistance of 10.2 m?-cm2, when accounting for current spreading through the drift region at a 45° angle.

Abstract: An anti-icing coating having a continuous phase and a discrete phase. The continuous phase includes a fluorine-containing polymer formed from a fluorine-containing precursor having a functionality of greater than 2. The discrete phase includes a plurality of domains having a fluorine-free hygroscopic and/or hydrophilic material. The plurality of domains are dispersed within the continuous phase and are immersible with the continuous phase. At least a portion of the fluorine-free material is bonded to the fluorine-containing polymer with an isocyanate-containing moiety. The fluorine-containing polymer is crosslinked with a crosslinking molecule having at least 4 functional groups. The fluorine-free material is a poly(ethylene glycol).

Abstract: The processes and products described herein optimize transformation of BNNT as-synthesized material into BNNT intermediary materials. Process steps include refining to remove boron particulates, high temperature refining to break bonds between BNNT, h-BN nanocages, h-BN nanosheets and amorphous BN particles, centrifuging and microfluidic separation, and electrophoresis. Resultant BNNT intermediary materials include purified BNNT in solution, BNNT gels, h-BN nanocages, and h-BN nanosheets, gel spun BNNT fibers, hydrophilic defect enhanced BNNT materials, BNNT patterned sheets, and BNNT strands. Applications that will utilize these BNNT precursor feedstock materials include making BNNT based aligned components, thin films, aerogels, thermal conductivity enhancements, structural materials, ceramic, metal, and polymer composites, and removal of PFAS pollutants from water.

Abstract: Methods, systems, articles of manufacture and apparatus to privatize consumer data are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes a consumer data acquirer to collect original data corresponding to (a) confidential information associated with consumers and (b) behavior information associated with the consumers, and a data obfuscator. The data obfuscator is to determine a degree to which the original data is to be obfuscated and a type of obfuscation to be applied to the original data based on the original data, generate obfuscation adjustments of the original data based on the degree and the type, and generate an obfuscation model based on the obfuscation adjustments.

Abstract: Methods, systems, articles of manufacture and apparatus to privatize consumer data are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes a consumer data acquirer to collect original data corresponding to (a) confidential information associated with consumers and (b) behavior information associated with the consumers, and a data obfuscator. The data obfuscator is to determine a degree to which the original data is to be obfuscated and a type of obfuscation to be applied to the original data based on the original data, generate obfuscation adjustments of the original data based on the degree and the type, and generate an obfuscation model based on the obfuscation adjustments.

Abstract: Methods, systems, articles of manufacture and apparatus to privatize consumer data are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes a consumer data acquirer to collect original data corresponding to (a) confidential information associated with consumers and (b) behavior information associated with the consumers, and a data obfuscator. The data obfuscator is to determine a degree to which the original data is to be obfuscated and a type of obfuscation to be applied to the original data based on the original data, generate obfuscation adjustments of the original data based on the degree and the type, and generate an obfuscation model based on the obfuscation adjustments.

Abstract: Cable pullers are provided. A cable puller includes a frame, and a boom assembly rotatably connected to the frame. The boom assembly includes a drive assembly, a first arm extending in a first direction from the drive assembly, a second arm extending in a second opposite direction from the drive assembly, and a third arm rotatably connected to the second arm. Rotation of the boom assembly relative to the frame causes rotation of the third arm relative to the second arm to a position wherein a longitudinal axis of the third arm is parallel with a longitudinal axis of the second arm.

Abstract: A vibration attenuator is configured for use on an aircraft rotor rotatable about a mast axis and has upper and lower weight assemblies, each comprising a weight with a center of gravity being a radial distance from the mast axis. The weight assemblies are configured for rotation together relative to the rotor at a selected angular rate about the mast axis, the weights being located on opposing sides of the mast axis. A first motor is configured for selective translation of one of the weight assemblies relative to the other weight assembly along the mast axis between a minimum-moment configuration, in which the centers of gravity of the weights revolve about the mast axis in the same plane, and a maximum-moment configuration, in which the centers of gravity of the weights revolve about the mast axis in different planes for producing a whirling moment about the mast axis.

Abstract: A vibration attenuator for a rotor of an aircraft has a first ring with an eccentric weight, a coaxial second ring with an eccentric weight, and a central ring coaxial with the first and second rings and located therebetween. A first post extends from the first ring toward the central ring and is received in a first arcuate groove formed on the central ring, whereas a second post extends from the second ring toward the central ring and is received in a second groove formed on the central ring. A motor is configured for driving the central ring in rotation about the axis relative to the motor. The grooves are equal in length, and a center of the first groove is located on an opposite side from a center of the second groove. Rotation of the central ring by the motor causes rotation of the first and second rings.

Abstract: A lean burn fuel spray nozzle comprises: a lean burn fuel spray nozzle head comprising a pilot fuel injector with a pilot fuel injector outlet and a main fuel injector with a main fuel injector outlet; a feed arm adapted to feed pilot fuel from pilots pipework to the pilot fuel injector through a pilot fuel circuit and feed main fuel from mains pipework to the main fuel injector through a main fuel circuit; and a switching device comprising a switching valve adapted to switch between a Main On position, wherein the main fuel injector is in fluid communication with the mains pipework such that main fuel is sprayed through the main fuel injector outlet, and a Main Off position, wherein the main fuel injector outlet is not in fluid communication with the mains pipework such that main fuel is prevented to flow through the main fuel injector.

Abstract: A vibration attenuator for a rotor of an aircraft has a first ring with an eccentric weight, a coaxial second ring with an eccentric weight, and a central ring coaxial with the first and second rings and located therebetween. A first post extends from the first ring toward the central ring and is received in a first arcuate groove formed on the central ring, whereas a second post extends from the second ring toward the central ring and is received in a second groove formed on the central ring. A motor is configured for driving the central ring in rotation about the axis relative to the motor. The grooves are equal in length, and a center of the first groove is located on an opposite side from a center of the second groove. Rotation of the central ring by the motor causes rotation of the first and second rings.

Abstract: A vibration attenuator is configured for use on an aircraft rotor rotatable about a mast axis and has upper and lower weight assemblies, each comprising a weight with a center of gravity being a radial distance from the mast axis. The weight assemblies are configured for rotation together relative to the rotor at a selected angular rate about the mast axis, the weights being located on opposing sides of the mast axis. A first motor is configured for selective translation of one of the weight assemblies relative to the other weight assembly along the mast axis between a minimum-moment configuration, in which the centers of gravity of the weights revolve about the mast axis in the same plane, and a maximum-moment configuration, in which the centers of gravity of the weights revolve about the mast axis in different planes for producing a whirling moment about the mast axis.

Abstract: Methods, systems, articles of manufacture and apparatus to privatize consumer data are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes a consumer data acquirer to collect original data corresponding to (a) confidential information associated with consumers and (b) behavior information associated with the consumers, and a data obfuscator. The data obfuscator is to determine a degree to which the original data is to be obfuscated and a type of obfuscation to be applied to the original data based on the original data, generate obfuscation adjustments of the original data based on the degree and the type, and generate an obfuscation model based on the obfuscation adjustments.

Abstract: A vibration attenuator for a rotor of an aircraft has a track housing adapted for rotation relative to the rotor and configured for rotation at a second angular velocity greater than a first angular velocity of the rotor. A track is located within the track housing and has a reaction surface, a pair of weights being configured for movement within the track and in contact with the reaction surface. A stop assembly has a pair of stops spaced 180 degrees apart, the stops separating the weights from each other, and each weight being allowed to travel within the track between the stops. A motor rotates the track housing relative to the rotor. The weights are free to travel relative to each other between a minimum-force configuration, in which the weights are positioned 180 degrees apart, and a maximum-force configuration, in which both weights are adjacent one of the stops.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a float bag comprising an air bladder configured to inflate when an aircraft lands in the water, a girt coupled to the air bladder and configured to attach the air bladder to the aircraft via at least one airframe fitting, and a load attenuator coupled to the girt and configured to be positioned between the girt and the airframe fitting when the float bag is attached to the aircraft, wherein the plurality of load attenuators are configured to mechanically deform in a progressive failure fashion from a first effective length to a second effective length greater than the first length in response to an applied tensile load on the load attenuators coupled to the plurality of girts and the aircraft airframe, wherein the load attenuators are selected to reduce the force with a total length that minimizes buoyancy depth of the aircraft.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a valve for a fuel system having a body with at least one inlet and one outlet, the inlet fluidly connected to a pressurised fuel source in use. A shuttle is mounted within the body, the shuttle having a cavity of fixed volume and movable between a first position where fluid is permitted to flow through the inlet and is prevented from flowing through the outlet and a second position where fluid is prevented from flowing through the inlet and is permitted to flow through the outlet. A piston is configured to engage the fluid within the shuttle cavity to move the shuttle between the first and second position. A biasing mechanism biases the shuttle towards the first position and where the shuttle moves towards the second position when the fluid within the shuttle reaches a critical pressure.