Abstract: A hydraulic actuator includes a piston housing having a head end and a base end opposite the head end and a drive piston movable between a first piston position proximate to the head end and a second piston position proximate to the base end. The hydraulic actuator further includes a control valve positionable between a first control valve position, in which the control valve directs fluid into the base end, and a second control valve position, in which the control valve directs fluid into the head end. A pressure-based position feedback system configured to facilitate transition of the control valve between the first control valve position and the second control valve position in response to predetermined head end and base end pressures.

Abstract: A method of determining of the presence or absence of a target RNA component in a sample, the method comprising steps of: (a) contacting the sample with a composition comprising (i) a quaternary ammonium compound or a precursor thereof, which should extract/release the nucleic acid from the sample; (b) optionally storing and/or transporting the composition obtained in step (a); (c) contacting the composition obtained in step (a) with a composition comprising a proteinaceous washing agent, e.g. BSA or casein for stabilizing the RNA for transport and/or storage; and (d) using the composition obtained in step (c) in an amplification method, e.g. RT-PCR.

Abstract: A downhole manifold assembly includes a manifold body defining a longitudinal axis and having a first end face, a second end face, and an outer surface extending therebetween. A fluid circuit is defined in the manifold body and includes a plurality of axially extending fluid passages and a plurality of radially extending fluid passages. The radially extending fluid passages extend to the outer surface of the manifold body. Each radially extending fluid passage defines a respective aperture in the outer surface. The manifold assembly also includes a control valve coupled to the manifold body. The control valve is positionable between a first position in which a flow of pressurized fluid is channeled through the fluid circuit in a first direction, and a second position in which the flow is reversed and the pressurized fluid is channeled through the fluid circuit in a second direction.

Abstract: A hydraulic actuator for a downhole pump system includes a piston housing having a head end and a base end. A drive piston is movable within the piston housing between a first piston position proximate to the head end and a second piston position proximate to the base end. The hydraulic actuator includes a control valve that translates between a first control valve position in which fluid is directed into the base end and a second control valve position in which fluid is directed into the head. When the piston moves to the first piston position, a mechanical positon feedback system translates the control valve from the first control valve position to the second control valve position. When the piston moves to the second piston position, the mechanical positon feedback system translates the control valve from the second control valve position to the first control valve position.

Abstract: An actuator for use with a fluid transfer device is provided. The actuator includes a piston cylinder having a longitudinal axis and defining a piston chamber having both a head end and a longitudinally opposite base end. The actuator further includes a piston disposed within the piston chamber. The piston movable between a first piston position proximate the piston chamber head end and a second piston position proximate the piston chamber base end. The piston includes a piston head end having a first indexing mechanism, a first piston seal, and at least one first feed hole. The piston further includes a base end longitudinally opposite the head end having a second indexing mechanism, a guide tooth, a second piston seal, and at least one second feed hole. The piston defines a plurality of channels that extends from proximate the first piston seal to proximate the second piston seal.

Abstract: A centrifugal separator for separating a mixed stream including a first fluid and a second fluid. The separator includes a housing that extends from a first end to a second end. A first flow opening is at the first end, a second flow opening is at the second end, and a third flow opening is at the second end. A rotor assembly within the housing includes a rotor shaft and a cylindrical drum. The cylindrical drum includes an interior including an outer radial portion and an inner radial portion. The outer radial portion is in flow communication with the first flow opening and the second flow opening, and the inner radial portion is in flow communication with the third flow opening. The cylindrical drum is rotatable within the housing such that the first fluid flows along the outer radial portion, and such that the second fluid flows along the inner radial portion.

Abstract: A shaft coupling is useful for connecting a distal end of a first shaft with a proximal end of a second shaft. The shaft coupling includes a body, a first receiving chamber within the body and a second receiving chamber within the body. The first receiving chamber receives the distal portion of the first shaft and the second receiving chamber receives the proximal portion of the second shaft. A pin maintains the axial positioning between the body and the distal portion of the first shaft. An axially adjustable connection is used between the second receiving chamber and the proximal portion of the second shaft.

Abstract: An electric submersible pumping system includes a motor filled with motor lubricant, a pump driven by the motor, and a fluid expansion chamber connected to the motor. The fluid expansion chamber includes a seal bag filled with a seal bag lubricant and a bellows contained within the seal bag. The bellows includes an interior in fluid communication with the motor and an exterior in fluid communication with the seal bag lubricant.

Abstract: An electric submersible pumping system for use in pumping fluids from a wellbore includes a motor, a pump driven by the motor, and a fluid expansion module connected to the motor. The fluid expansion module includes a piston seal housing and a piston assembly contained within the piston seal housing. The piston assembly includes a piston body having an exterior surface, a plurality of seals connected to the exterior surface of the piston body and a pressure equalization system. The pressure equalization system reduces a pressure differential between fluid in an annular space between the plurality of seals and fluid surrounding the first piston assembly.

Abstract: An artificial lift system and a method of operating and installing such an artificial lift system are disclosed. The artificial lift system includes a reciprocating driver and a reciprocating pump. Further, the reciprocating driver includes a driver-shaft and the reciprocating pump includes a pump-shaft detachably engaged to the driver-shaft. In one embodiment, the artificial lift system further includes a coupling member, where the pump-shaft is detachably engaged to the driver-shaft through the coupling member.

Abstract: A submersible pumping system has an electric motor, a rotary hydraulic pump driven by the electric motor, and a linear hydraulic pump that is configured to move a production fluid. The rotary hydraulic pump produces a pressurized working fluid that drives the linear hydraulic pump. In another aspect, a method is disclosed for controlling the temperature of an electric motor within a submersible pumping system disposed in a wellbore. The method includes the steps of circulating motor lubricant through a hydraulically driven production pump to reduce the temperature of the motor lubricant.

Abstract: A submersible pumping system includes an electric motor and a pump driven by the electric motor. The pump includes a rotatable shaft driven by the motor, one or more piston assemblies configured for linear reciprocating motion and a mechanism for converting the rotational movement of the shaft to linear reciprocating movement in the piston assemblies. In one aspect, the mechanism for converting the rotational movement of the shaft includes a tilt disc assembly. In another aspect, the mechanism for converting the rotational movement of the shaft includes a camshaft assembly.

Abstract: A seal assembly for a submersible pumping system is presented. The seal assembly includes a support tube configured to surround a shaft. Further, the seal assembly includes a first bag positioned surrounding the support tube to define a first chamber between the first bag and the support tube, wherein the first chamber is configured to contain a motor fluid. Also, the seal assembly includes a second bag positioned surrounding the first bag to define a second chamber between the first bag and the second bag. In addition, the seal assembly includes an impermeable device disposed in the second chamber and configured to isolate the motor fluid from a wellbore fluid.

Abstract: An electric submersible pumping system includes an electric motor and a motor lead cable. The motor lead cable includes a plurality of leads that each includes a conductor, an insulator and a sealing sleeve around the insulator. The sealing sleeve is constructed of metal in preferred embodiments. The electric submersible pumping system further includes a pothead connector attached to the electric motor and the motor lead cable. The pothead connector includes a sealing mechanism around the metal sleeve of each of the plurality of leads.

Abstract: A fluid intake for a system includes a support structure defining an interior space and configured for fluid to pass into the interior space. The system includes a pump for pumping fluid from a well including a well casing defining a passageway for the fluid to flow therethrough in a flow direction. The fluid includes liquid and gas. A porous member extends over a portion of the support structure. The fluid intake extends inside the passageway in the flow direction such that the porous member and the well casing define an annular space therebetween. The porous member defines pores for liquid to wick through. The interior space is in flow communication with the pores such that liquid wicking through the porous member passes into the interior space.

Abstract: An intuitive technique for inputting user gestures into a handheld computing device is disclosed allowing a user to better manipulate different types of screen display presentations, such as desktops and application windows, when performing tasks thereon, wherein a window stack for application windows and/or desktops can be navigated and sequentially displayed according to the window stack ordering without disturbing or changing this ordering.

Abstract: A dual-screen user device and methods are disclosed for revealing a combination of desktops on single and multiple screens. A determined number of desktops and/or running applications are displayed on dual screen displays conditioned upon inputs received and the state of the device. Desktop displays and applications can be shifted between the screens by user gestures, and/or selected desktop displays. Applications can be moved off of the screens by other user gestures and therefore hidden. Hidden desktops and screens can be re-displayed by other gestures. Desktops and applications are arranged in a window stack that represents a logical order therefore providing a user with an intuitive ability to manage multiple applications and desktops running simultaneously. The user gestures prevent the user from having to open and close the running desktops and applications that otherwise may require laborious efforts by the user to manage the multiple running desktops and applications.

Abstract: A seamless cross-environment workflow is provided in a multi-operating system computing environment. The multi-operating system computing environment may include a mobile operating system and a desktop operating system running concurrently and independently on a mobile computing device. Two or more application programs, running in independent operating systems, share user interaction state information including user data, user settings, and/or application context information. Interaction state information may be shared for applications that are used primarily to access and edit local user content as well as applications that communicate to a remote server or access and navigate other remote content (e.g., Internet-based application, browser, etc.). The mobile computing device may be a smartphone running the Android mobile operating system and a full desktop Linux distribution on a modified Android kernel.

Abstract: A mobile computing device with a mobile operating system and desktop operating system running concurrently and independently on a shared kernel without virtualization. The mobile operating system provides a user experience for the mobile computing device that suits the mobile environment. The desktop operating system provides a full desktop user experience when the mobile computing device is docked to a secondary terminal environment. The mobile computing device configures the mobile operating system and/or the desktop operating system to take advantage of a docked secondary terminal environment. The mobile computing device may be a smartphone running the Android mobile OS and a full desktop Linux OS distribution on a modified Android kernel.

Abstract: A multi-screen user device and methods for controlling data displayed are disclosed. The data displayed by the multiple screens of the device is dependent on the physical orientation of the device, whether the content for an application is displayed across a plurality of the multiple screens, and whether the data being displayed for the application originated from a single-screen application or a multi-screen application.