Abstract: An autonomous solar module installation platform can be used for solar module installation onto a solar tracker. The autonomous solar module installation platform can include an off-road capable base vehicle and a robotic arm, mounted on the off-road capable base vehicle, for the solar module installation onto the solar tracker. The off-road capable base vehicle and the robotic arm can communicate with each other and cooperate their movements to proceed to the solar tracker and align with the solar tracker in order for the robotic arm to pick up and lift the solar module during an installation of the solar module onto the solar tracker.

Abstract: An autonomous solar module installation platform can be used for solar module installation onto a solar tracker. The autonomous solar module installation platform can include an autonomous ground vehicle and a robotic arm for the solar module installation onto the solar tracker. The autonomous ground vehicle can autonomously drive itself to the solar tracker using a global positioning system and align itself with the solar tracker using at least a vision system in order to place one or more solar modules onto the solar tracker.

Abstract: A propulsion system for a marine vessel in a body of water includes an water intake formed in the hull, a impeller disc rotatable about a vertical axis for raising water and increasing the momentum of water in a plenum chamber, and a plurality of control gates located around the periphery of the hull. The impeller disc has a large outer diameter and is formed to enable efficient rotation by an electric motor. One or more of the water intake, the plenum chamber, the impeller disc and the control gates is designed to reduce acoustic noise generated by the marine vessel, direct the acoustic noise to avoid broadband acoustic noise, increase efficiency of the propulsion system and provide additional safety to passengers on the marine vessel and marine life in the body of water.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a porous electrode for a flow-through rechargeable electrochemical cell including a high-porosity metal current collector, an active material surrounding the metal current collector, and a self-supporting synthetic membrane material surrounding the active material. The present disclosure further includes a flow-through rechargeable battery including multiple electrochemical cells, a closed loop, and a pump.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a flow-through rechargeable electrochemical cell including a container housing a cathode and an anode; a closed loop fluidly connected to the container; a fluid electrolyte in the container and closed loop and including a working ion; and a pump configured to cause the fluid electrolyte to flow through the closed loop, the porous cathode, and the porous anode in a first direction during discharge of the electrochemical cell. The present disclosure further includes a flow-through rechargeable battery including multiple electrochemical cells, a closed loop, and a pump.

Abstract: A method of actuating at least one of a plurality of downhole tools connected to at least one hydraulic fluid line is disclosed. The method includes the steps of:— a) providing each of the downhole tools with a control unit comprising a timer which permits fluid communication between the at least one hydraulic fluid line and the downhole tool during a window of time; and b) controlling the pressure in the at least one hydraulic fluid line for at least a sufficient period of time required to at least actuate the said downhole tool, wherein the said sufficient period of time coincides at least partially with the said window of time.

Abstract: A method of actuating at least one of a plurality of downhole tools (10) connected to at least one hydraulic fluid line (L1, L2) is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: a) providing each of the downhole tools with a control unit (20) comprising a timer which permits fluid communication between the at least one hydraulic fluid line and the downhole tool during a window of time; and b) controlling the pressure in the at least one hydraulic fluid line for at least a sufficient period of time required to at least actuate the said downhole tool, wherein the said sufficient period of time coincides at least partially with the said window of time.

Abstract: A method of actuating at least one of a plurality of downhole tools connected to at least one hydraulic fluid line is disclosed. The method includes the steps of:— a) providing each of the downhole tools with a control unit comprising a timer which permits fluid communication between the at least one hydraulic fluid line and the downhole tool during a window of time; and b) controlling the pressure in the at least one hydraulic fluid line for at least a sufficient period of time required to at least actuate the said downhole tool, wherein the said sufficient period of time coincides at least partially with the said window of time.

Abstract: A vehicle side curtain airbag device having front protection function, comprising a side airbag (1) and an auxiliary airbag (2) connected to one side surface of the side airbag (1) and arranged in a left/right transverse direction after being expanded; a dividing hole membrane (3) is disposed between the side airbag (1) and the auxiliary airbag (2); the dividing hole membrane (3) is ensured to be opened only when the internal pressure of the side airbag (1) reaches a certain value, thus realizing self-adaptive opening threshold adjustment, controlling the instant of inflation and inflation speed of the auxiliary airbag (2), and adjusting the stiffness of the auxiliary airbag (2). When a vehicle has a collision, the device protects the head and neck of a passenger in both side collision and front collision traffic accidents, thus effectively absorbing the collision impact energy of the passenger, and reducing injury to the passenger.

Abstract: A vehicle side curtain airbag device having front protection function, comprising a side airbag (1) and an auxiliary airbag (2) connected to one side surface of the side airbag (1) and arranged in a left/right transverse direction after being expanded; a dividing hole membrane (3) is disposed between the side airbag (1) and the auxiliary airbag (2); the dividing hole membrane (3) is ensured to he opened only when the internal pressure of the side airbag (1) reaches a certain value, thus realizing self-adaptive opening threshold adjustment, controlling the instant of inflation and inflation speed of the auxiliary airbag (2), and adjusting the stiffness of the auxiliary airbag (2). When a vehicle has a collision, the device protects the head and neck of a passenger in both side collision and front collision traffic accidents, thus effectively absorbing the collision impact energy of the passenger, and reducing injury to the passenger.

Abstract: A steerable wheel diverter system having a plurality of diverter wheels pivotally mounted at least partially within a common assembly and a powered roller mounted external to the common assembly may be provided in series with an ingress conveying apparatus and one or more egress conveying apparatuses. Providing the powered roller outside of the common assembly enables maintenance evaluations on the powered roller, or on a motor associated with the powered roller, to be performed quickly and easily, and without having to disassemble the common assembly.

Abstract: A method of actuating at least one of a plurality of downhole tools (10) connected to at least one hydraulic fluid line (L1, L2) is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: a) providing each of the downhole tools with a control unit (20) comprising a timer which permits fluid communication between the at least one hydraulic fluid line and the downhole tool during a window of time; and b) controlling the pressure in the at least one hydraulic fluid line for at least a sufficient period of time required to at least actuate the said downhole tool, wherein the said sufficient period of time coincides at least partially with the said window of time.

Abstract: A food cooking device generally comprises two sections: a cooking section and a liquid removal section. The cooking section houses and/or heats liquid for cooking the food, and the liquid removal section is operable to reduce the liquid content of the food. The cooking device may further comprise a centrifugal liquid removal device locatable within the liquid removal section. The cooking device comprises a slidable drawer for moving the centrifugal liquid removal device into and out of a housing. A frame is disposed within the slidable drawer, and the frame houses the centrifugal liquid removal device. A translational motor moves the food from the cooking section to the liquid removal section when the slidable drawer positions the centrifugal liquid device in the housing. The cooking device further comprises a hinged door that is in a closed position when the centrifugal liquid removal device is in the housing.

Abstract: A cooking device comprises a rotatable food basket disposed within the cooking device and a damping mechanism configured to reduce a vibration generated by the rotatable food basket rotating within the cooking device. An aspect of the cooking device includes a basket partition in the rotatable food basket, and the basket partition is configured to maintain a substantially equal distribution of a food within the rotatable food basket. The cooking device includes a motor in a hood for rotating the rotatable food basket, and it further includes a lifting plate and a lifting mechanism operable to move the rotatable food basket between a cooking section and a spinning section. The cooking device may also comprises a first basket portion and a second basket portion configured to be disposed within a first section and a second section of the rotatable food basket.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a food fryer. The food frying apparatus generally comprises two sections: a frying section and an oil removal section. The frying section houses and/or heats oil for frying the food, and the oil removal section is operable to reduce the oil content of the food. The fryer device may also comprise a drawer configured to be slidably removable from the fryer device. Various aspects of the fryer device are configured to be automatically controlled.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a food fryer. The food frying apparatus generally comprises two sections: a frying section and an oil removal section. The frying section houses and/or heats oil for frying the food, and the oil removal section is operable to reduce the oil content of the food. Exemplary embodiments of the invention comprise a basket well that is configured to be movable between a cooking section and a spinning section. The basket well may be configured to comprise a bearing surface and a basket well gear. The fryer device may further comprise a frame that comprise a bearing configured to interface with the bearing surface. Further, the fryer device may comprise a rotational motor that comprises a spinning gear configured to interface with the basket well gear. The fryer device may also comprise a drawer configured to be slidably removable from the fryer device. The fryer device may also comprise a retrofit fryer device configured to be adaptable to pre-existing fryer devices.

Abstract: A food cooking device generally comprises two sections: a cooking section and a liquid removal section. The cooking section houses and/or heats liquid for cooking the food, and the liquid removal section is operable to reduce the liquid content of the food. The cooking device may further comprise a centrifugal liquid removal device locatable within the liquid removal section. The cooking device comprises a slidable drawer for moving the centrifugal liquid removal device into and out of a housing. A frame is disposed within the slidable drawer, and the frame houses the centrifugal liquid removal device. A translational motor moves the food from the cooking section to the liquid removal section when the slidable drawer positions the centrifugal liquid device in the housing. The cooking device further comprises a hinged door that is in a closed position when the centrifugal liquid removal device is in the housing.

Abstract: A retrofit apparatus for a preexisting cooking device comprises a hood that defines a liquid removal section, a motor disposed within the hood, and a motor gear rotatable by the motor to facilitate rotating a centrifugal liquid removal device. The motor gear may comprise a plurality of teeth configured to engage a motor gear coupling on a shaft of the centrifugal liquid removal device, and the motor gear may be configured to automatically engage the motor gear coupling to facilitate rotating the centrifugal liquid removal device. In other embodiments, a lifting mechanism in the preexisting cooking device is configured to move the centrifugal liquid removal device from a cooking section to the liquid removal section.

Abstract: A cooking device comprises a rotatable food basket disposed within the cooking device and a damping mechanism configured to reduce a vibration generated by the rotatable food basket rotating within the cooking device. An aspect of the cooking device includes a basket partition in the rotatable food basket, and the basket partition is configured to maintain a substantially equal distribution of a food within the rotatable food basket. The cooking device includes a motor in a hood for rotating the rotatable food basket, and it further includes a lifting plate and a lifting mechanism operable to move the rotatable food basket between a cooking section and a spinning section. The cooking device may also comprises a first basket portion and a second basket portion configured to be disposed within a first section and a second section of the rotatable food basket.

Abstract: A ceramic thermocouple (10) in which the hot junction is defined by the junction between a first element (3) of molybdenum disilicide and a second element (2) of silicon carbide. The molybdenum disilicide element is formed by a layer of molybdenum disilicide on a molybdenum support.