Abstract: A method is disclosed for suppressing propagation of a metal in a solid state electrolyte during cycling of an electrochemical device including the solid state electrolyte and an electrode comprising the metal. One method comprises forming the solid state electrolyte such that the solid state electrolyte has a structure comprising a plurality of grains of a metal-ion conductive material and a grain boundary phase located at some or all of grain boundaries between the grains, wherein the grain boundary phase suppresses propagation of the metal in the solid state electrolyte during cycling. Another method comprises forming the solid state electrolyte such that the solid state electrolyte is a single crystal.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for sinter forging a precursor powder to form a film may reduce or eliminate the stress in the film and may facilitate processing of continuous length of films such as ceramic films for use in batteries. The precursor powder can be provided on a substrate and is simultaneously heated and pressed in a pressing direction parallel to a thickness of the film so as to sinter and densify the precursor powder to form the film in a sinter forging area. Notably, in a plane perpendicular to the pressing direction, there are no lateral constraints on the sinter forging area or the material received therein.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for suppressing propagation of a metal in a solid state electrolyte during cycling of an electrochemical device including the solid state electrolyte and an electrode comprising the metal. One method comprises forming the solid state electrolyte such that the solid state electrolyte has a structure comprising a plurality of grains of a metal-ion conductive material and a grain boundary phase located at some or all of grain boundaries between the grains, wherein the grain boundary phase suppresses propagation of the metal in the solid state electrolyte during cycling. Another method comprises forming the solid state electrolyte such that the solid state electrolyte is a single crystal.

Abstract: Three-terminal (3T) photoelectrodes with cathodic protection capability are described. The 3T photoelectrodes utilize the third (i.e., the “extra”) electrode to bypass the diode in a semiconductor circuit and pass current with significant reductions in corrosions or reverse bias. The 3T photoelectrodes may be operated in diode mode when exposed to illumination and switched to an ohmic mode when light is significantly reduced (i.e., in the dark) to enable cathodic protection. The 3T photocathodes may maintain photoelectrochemical (PEC) activity in methyl viologen electrolyte under light/dark cycling. The 3T photoelectrodes may enable PEC in conditions where variable illumination is a regular occurrence.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ice dispensing system comprising an ice hopper, an ice chute for transporting ice from the ice hopper to a dispensing outlet or a waste outlet, an ice dispensing element for dispensing ice from the hopper into the ice chute, an ice directing element having a first position for directing ice to the waste outlet and a second position for directing ice to the dispensing outlet, and a controller for controlling the ice dispensing element and the position of the ice directing element. Also provided is a beverage dispensing machine comprising the ice dispensing system of the invention and a method for dispensing ice from the ice dispensing system or beverage dispensing machine of the invention.

Abstract: A method for determining discharge area in hydraulic stimulation operations is provided that includes obtaining one or more treatment data inputs from a well system, and determining a discharge area by applying the one or more treatment data inputs to a function that determines discharge area in terms of volumetric flow rate of the fracturing fluid, wherein the discharge area is a total area of all downhole exits through which the fracturing fluid exits a wellbore into a subterranean formation.

Abstract: Disclosed are electrochemical devices, such as lithium ion battery electrodes, lithium ion conducting solid-state electrolytes, and solid-state lithium ion batteries including these electrodes and solid-state electrolytes. Also disclosed are methods for making such electrochemical devices. Also disclosed are composite electrodes for solid state electrochemical devices. The composite electrodes include one or more separate phases within the electrode that provide electronic and ionic conduction pathways in the electrode active material phase.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an autonomous cart is provided. The method includes determining a mission type for the autonomous cart and determining a power system for powering the autonomous cart based on the mission type. The method further includes determining a drive system suitable for converting a power delivered by the power system into motive power suitable for moving the autonomous cart based on the power system and the mission type. The method further includes installing the power system onto a chassis of the autonomous cart and installing the drive system onto the chassis of the autonomous cart, wherein the autonomous cart comprises a control system configured to drive the autonomous cart autonomously via the power system and the drive system.

Abstract: A fuel-fired furnace incorporates specially designed fuel/air mixing and combustion structures. The fuel/air mixing structure is of a mixing sound-attenuating design and includes a venturi having a perforated sidewall portion and being surrounded by a noise-damping housing chamber communicating with the interior of the venturi via its sidewall perforations. During use of the mixing structure, air is flowed through the venturi in a swirling pattern while fuel is transversely injected internally against the swirling air. The combustion structure includes a burner box housing into which the fuel/air mixture is flowed, combusted, and then discharged as hot combustion gas into and through the heat exchanger tubes. The fuel/air mixture entering the burner box housing initially passes through a non-uniformly perforated diffuser plate functioning to substantially alter in a predetermined manner the relative combustion gas flow rates through the heat exchanger tubes.

Abstract: A method for determining discharge area in hydraulic stimulation operations is provided that includes obtaining one or more treatment data inputs from a well system, and determining a discharge area by applying the one or more treatment data inputs to a function that determines discharge area in terms of volumetric flow rate of the fracturing fluid, wherein the discharge area is a total area of all downhole exits through which the fracturing fluid exits a wellbore into a subterranean formation.

Abstract: A fuel-fired furnace incorporates specially designed fuel/air mixing and combustion structures. The fuel/air mixing structure is of a mixing sound-attenuating design and comprises a venturi having a perforated sidewall portion and being surrounded by a noise-damping housing chamber communicating with the interior of the venturi via its sidewall perforations. During use of the mixing structure, air is flowed through the venturi in a swirling pattern while fuel is transversely injected internally against the swirling air. The combustion structure comprises a burner box housing into which the fuel/air mixture is flowed, combusted, and then discharged as hot combustion gas into and through the heat exchanger tubes. The fuel/air mixture entering the burner box housing initially passes through a non-uniformly perforated diffuser plate functioning to substantially alter in a predetermined manner the relative combustion gas flow rates through the heat exchanger tubes.

Abstract: An autonomous grain cart includes a width less than or equal to a distance from an end of the header of an agricultural vehicle to a lateral side of the agricultural vehicle, wherein the end and the lateral side are on a same longitudinal side of a lateral centerline of the agricultural vehicle, wherein the autonomous grain cart is configured to receive grain from the agricultural vehicle. The autonomous grain cart also includes a controller, comprising a processor and a memory. The autonomous grain cart further includes a drive system communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to instruct the drive system to propel the autonomous grain cart. The autonomous grain cart also includes a steering system communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to instruct the steering system to steer the autonomous grain cart.

Abstract: A method for determining discharge area in hydraulic stimulation operations is provided that includes obtaining one or more treatment data inputs from a well system, and determining a discharge area by applying the one or more treatment data inputs to a function that determines discharge area in terms of volumetric flow rate of the fracturing fluid, wherein the discharge area is a total area of all downhole exits through which the fracturing fluid exits a wellbore into a subterranean formation.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ice dispensing system comprising an ice hopper, an ice chute for transporting ice from the ice hopper to a dispensing outlet or a waste outlet, an ice dispensing element for dispensing ice from the hopper into the ice chute, an ice directing element having a first position for directing ice to the waste outlet and a second position for directing ice to the dispensing outlet, and a controller for controlling the ice dispensing element and the position of the ice directing element. Also provided is a beverage dispensing machine comprising the ice dispensing system of the invention and a method for dispensing ice from the ice dispensing system or beverage dispensing machine of the invention.

Abstract: An embodiment of an analyzer is described that comprises a first conduit configured to channel an annular flow of a first gas; a second conduit positioned within the first conduit, where the outer dimension of the second conduit is separated from an inner dimension of the first conduit by a gap configured to channel an axial flow of a second gas; a reaction chamber fluidically coupled to the first conduit and the second conduit, where the reaction chamber comprises a window on a side opposite from an orifice of the first conduit into the reaction chamber; and a detector positioned adjacent to a side of the window opposite from the reaction chamber, wherein the detector is configured to receive light produced from a reaction of the first gas and the second gas in the reaction chamber.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to user interfaces for recording and playing audio and video. In one example, a first application requests a second application to initiate recording one or more data streams of the first application. The second application displays a confirmation affordance. In response to detecting activation of the confirmation affordance, the second application initiates a recording of at least one of the data stream of the first application.

Abstract: An agricultural system includes a carrier configured to transport an agricultural cart to a position proximate to or within an agricultural field. The carrier includes a rotatable base and is configured to receive the agricultural cart on the rotatable base in a docking position. The carrier is configured to move the agricultural cart from the docking position to an unloading position to unload agricultural product from within the agricultural cart to a storage bin via rotation of the rotatable base.

Abstract: A method for continuously conveying agricultural product from an agricultural vehicle to an agricultural product storage tank includes receiving a signal at an autonomous grain cart indicating that another autonomous grain cart is moving to the agricultural product storage tank from the agricultural vehicle. The method also includes determining an expected location of the agricultural vehicle based on a harvesting map for the agricultural vehicle. The method further includes determining a route to the expected location of the agricultural vehicle based on the expected location of the agricultural vehicle and the location of the autonomous grain cart. The method also includes controlling the autonomous grain cart based on the route to the expected location of the agricultural vehicle after the signal indicating that the other autonomous grain cart is moving to the agricultural product storage tank from the agricultural vehicle is received.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for sinter forging a precursor powder to form a film may reduce or eliminate the stress in the film and may facilitate processing of continuous length of films such as ceramic films for use in batteries. The precursor powder can be provided on a substrate and is simultaneously heated and pressed in a pressing direction parallel to a thickness of the film so as to sinter and densify the precursor powder to form the film in a sinter forging area. Notably, in a plane perpendicular to the pressing direction, there are no lateral constraints on the sinter forging area or the material received therein.

Abstract: A method for determining discharge area in hydraulic stimulation operations is provided that includes obtaining one or more treatment data inputs from a well system, and determining a discharge area by applying the one or more treatment data inputs to a function that determines discharge area in terms of volumetric flow rate of the fracturing fluid, wherein the discharge area is a total area of all downhole exits through which the fracturing fluid exits a wellbore into a subterranean formation.