Abstract: A system and method for removing a backing from a ply of composite material is disclosed. The system includes a roller having a roller axis and a roller surface that circumscribes the roller axis. The system also includes an adhesion feature disposed on the roller surface. The system further includes a roller drive to move the roller along a travel path that is perpendicular to the roller axis and to rotate the roller about the roller axis.

Abstract: A system and method for removing a backing from a ply of composite material is disclosed. The system includes a roller having a roller axis and a roller surface that circumscribes the roller axis. The system also includes an adhesion feature disposed on the roller surface. The system further includes a roller drive to move the roller along a travel path that is perpendicular to the roller axis and to rotate the roller about the roller axis.

Abstract: A perforating gun system may include a central support structure and a plurality of charges secured to the central support structure. Each charge of the plurality of charges is configured to perforate a casing and/or sidewall of a wellbore upon detonation. Further, the plurality of charges comprises a first group of charges and a second group of charges, and each charge of the second group of charges is radially offset from each charge of the first group of charges with respect to the central support structure.

Abstract: A drilling assembly for downhole to surface communications is provided. The drilling assembly includes a series of pipe segments coupled in fluid communication between a slip ring assembly and an end pipe portion. The slip ring assembly is coupled in data and fluid communication with the pipe segments. A surface communications link is in data communication with the drilling assembly via the slip ring assembly. An end pipe portion is coupled with the drilling assembly that includes an electronics assembly with electronic components for transferring data to the slip ring assembly via the drilling assembly. A drill bit is operably coupled with the end pipe portion for drilling a borehole. Each pipe segment includes an outer conductor portion, a hollow inner conductor portion, and a dielectric portion for electrical isolation between the outer conductor portion and the inner conductor portion.

Abstract: A drilling assembly for downhole to surface communications is provided. The drilling assembly includes a series of pipe segments coupled in fluid communication between a slip ring assembly and an end pipe portion. The slip ring assembly is coupled in data and fluid communication with the pipe segments. A surface communications link is in data communication with the drilling assembly via the slip ring assembly. An end pipe portion is coupled with the drilling assembly that includes an electronics assembly with electronic components for transferring data to the slip ring assembly via the drilling assembly. A drill bit is operably coupled with the end pipe portion for drilling a borehole. Each pipe segment includes an outer conductor portion, a hollow inner conductor portion, and a dielectric portion for electrical isolation between the outer conductor portion and the inner conductor portion.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for conveying particulate material. A plurality of injector arrangements are arranged along the conveying pipeline, for injecting a continuous flow of conveying gas into the pipeline. Each injector arrangement is operable to increase the flow rate at which conveying gas is injected into the pipeline on of pressure conditions in the conveying pipeline indicative of locally decreased material permeability. Each injector arrangement comprises a piloted shut-off valve positioned between the flow rate adjustment arrangement and the conveying pipeline and operable to close in response to a received pilot signal indicative of a pressure condition in the conveying pipeline below a lower threshold pressure condition. The continuous flow of conveying gas injected by each of the injector arrangements prevents particulate material from entering any part of the injector arrangements, thereby reducing the risk of blockage of nozzles, injection pathway selection valves and the like.

Abstract: A hematology test slide has the same or similar dimensions as a chemical reagent test slide and an immunoassay test slide so that it may be used with these other slides on a single clinical instrument. The hematology slide includes, in order from top to bottom, a slide housing having a top housing member, a top cover slip, a U-shaped, transfer tape spacer, a bottom cover slip, a base gasket and a base plate. The U-shaped spacer has a curved end portion which defines a sample deposit area, where a blood sample is pipetted thereon, and a pair of straight, parallel, spaced apart legs extending from the curved end portion. The legs define a read area. A blood sample deposited on the hematology slide at the sample deposit area will flow by capillary action to the read area, where optical measurements are made on the sample.

Abstract: An apparatus and method according to which a perforating gun includes a volume fill body. The volume fill body is positioned in the space between a charge tube and a carrier tube. The fill body occupies at least part, and sometimes all, of the free volume space between the charge tube and carrier tube thereby reducing the free volume space. In certain downhole applications, large free volume space can lead to significant reductions in wellbore pressure, causing dynamic underbalance, which is undesirable. The presence of the volume fill body prevents, or at least reduces, dynamic underbalance and its effects. Also, the volume fill body aligns the charge tube with the carrier tube, further assisting perforation.

Abstract: A water pressure-activated end line severing device is configured to be attached to a lobster, crab or snow crab trawl end line and to automatically sever the end line if a large marine animal has snagged, bitten, seized, caught, become entangled with, or otherwise somehow attached itself to that end line. When any large marine animal, such as a whale, snags or becomes entangled in the end line, the normal, instinctive response of the large marine animal is to dive rapidly to a greater depth, which pulls the end line and the device attached to the end line to a greater depth in the water column. As the device descends to a greater depth in the water column, the water pressure exerted against the device rapidly increases.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for conveying particulate material. A plurality of injector arrangements are arranged along the conveying pipeline, for injecting a continuous flow of conveying gas into the pipeline. Each injector arrangement is operable to increase the flow rate at which conveying gas is injected into the pipeline on of pressure conditions in the conveying pipeline indicative of locally decreased material permeability. Each injector arrangement comprises a piloted shut-off valve positioned between the flow rate adjustment arrangement and the conveying pipeline and operable to close in response to a received pilot signal indicative of a pressure condition in the conveying pipeline below a lower threshold pressure condition. The continuous flow of conveying gas injected by each of the injector arrangements prevents particulate material from entering any part of the injector arrangements, thereby reducing the risk of blockage of nozzles, injection pathway selection valves and the like.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include bulkheads for perforating guns and perforating gun assemblies. A bulkhead includes a threadless exterior surface that spans a length of a threaded connection of adjacent first and second perforating guns. The bulkhead also includes a first exterior groove having a first sealing element partially disposed in the first exterior groove. The bulkhead further includes a second exterior groove having a second sealing element partially disposed in the second exterior groove, where the first sealing element and the second sealing element are positioned around the threaded connection.

Abstract: Disclosed is a valve for use in particulate material processing. The valve has a rotatable closure member having a convex sealing surface and a resilient sealing ring moveable between a first configuration in which the sealing ring forms a seal around a circumference of the convex sealing surface; and a second position in which a circumferential gap is defined between the convex sealing surface and the sealing ring. The valve body defines a fluid-directing surface extending around the fluid passage between the inlet and the sealing ring to define an annular clearance which tapers towards the sealing ring and becomes narrower than the annular gap. When there is a pressure drop across the valve and before the closure member is moved to fully open the valve, material flowing through the valve experiences a dynamic pressure rise towards the circumferential gap, decreasing flow velocity and wear.

Abstract: A multi-color retransfer single stamping system includes at least one thermal print head configured to print a color from a donor ribbon onto a retransfer film to print indicia on the retransfer film, and thermal stamps configured to apply pressure onto the retransfer film to transfer the indicia from the retransfer film to one or more target objects.

Abstract: A switching and/or distributing device has at least one receiving housing and a housing cover. Arranged in at least one housing rail region are one or a plurality of power distribution rails which extend substantially in a main plane and arc connected to sub-distribution rails. In at least a first plane, said sub-distribution rails extend substantially in parallel to the main plane and arc electrically insulated from one another and extend in the direction of at least one housing component region, wherein in the housing component region, in particular modular components, which contain electrical/electronic operating means, arc in electrical contact with one sub-distribution rail each. As a result, a switching and/or distributing device is improved in such a way that the arrangement of corresponding components is possible easily without much additional effort even in potentially explosive atmospheres and a plurality of components of different ty pes and of different sizes can be arranged at the same time.

Abstract: A hematology test slide has the same or similar dimensions as a chemical reagent test slide and an immunoassay test slide so that it may be used with these other slides on a single clinical instrument. The hematology slide includes, in order from top to bottom, a slide housing having a top housing member, a top cover slip, a U-shaped, transfer tape spacer, a bottom cover slip, a base gasket and a base plate. The U-shaped spacer has a curved end portion which defines a sample deposit area, where a blood sample is pipetted thereon, and a pair of straight, parallel, spaced apart legs extending from the curved end portion. The legs define a read area. A blood sample deposited on the hematology slide at the sample deposit area will flow by capillary action to the read area, where optical measurements are made on the sample.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include bulkheads for perforating guns and perforating gun assemblies. A bulkhead includes a threadless exterior surface that spans a length of a threaded connection of adjacent first and second perforating guns. The bulkhead also includes a first exterior groove having a first sealing element partially disposed in the first exterior groove. The bulkhead further includes a second exterior groove having a second sealing element partially disposed in the second exterior groove, where the first sealing element and the second sealing element are positioned around the threaded connection.

Abstract: Provided is a pressure cycle actuation assembly. The pressure cycle actuation assembly, in one aspect, includes a housing, a reciprocating piston located within the housing and defining first and second fluid chambers, and a check valve positioned between the first and second fluid chambers, the check valve permitting fluid flow from the first fluid chamber to the second fluid chamber but preventing fluid flow from the second fluid chamber to the first fluid chamber. The A pressure cycle actuation assembly, according to this aspect, further includes a flow restrictor positioned between the first and second fluid chambers, the flow restrictor restricting fluid flow between the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber, and a rotating collet coupled to the reciprocating piston, the rotating collet translating reciprocal axial motion of the reciprocating piston into one-direction rotation and axial lengthening or shortening of the rotating collet relative to the reciprocating piston.

Abstract: An apparatus and method according to which a perforating gun includes a volume fill body. The volume fill body is positioned in the space between a charge tube and a carrier tube. The fill body occupies at least part, and sometimes all, of the free volume space between the charge tube and carrier tube thereby reducing the free volume space. In certain downhole applications, large free volume space can lead to significant reductions in wellbore pressure, causing dynamic underbalance, which is undesirable. The presence of the volume fill body prevents, or at least reduces, dynamic underbalance and its effects. Also, the volume fill body aligns the charge tube with the carrier tube, further assisting perforation.

Abstract: A hematology test slide has the same or similar dimensions as a chemical reagent test slide and an immunoassay test slide so that it may be used with these other slides on a single clinical instrument. The hematology slide includes, in order from top to bottom, a slide housing having a top housing member, a top cover slip, a U-shaped, transfer tape spacer, a bottom cover slip, a base gasket and a base plate. The U-shaped spacer has a curved end portion which defines a sample deposit area, where a blood sample is pipetted thereon, and a pair of straight, parallel, spaced apart legs extending from the curved end portion. The legs define a read area. A blood sample deposited on the hematology slide at the sample deposit area will flow by capillary action to the read area, where optical measurements are made on the sample.

Abstract: A perforating gun including a carrier having a longitudinal length, one or more energetic devices received within the carrier configured to produce one or more mechanical waves, and one or more wave manipulators disposed along the longitudinal length of the carrier. The one or more wave manipulators generate an altered wave in an opposite travel direction of one or more mechanical waves traveling along the longitudinal length of the carrier.