Abstract: A multi-stage product gas generation system converts a carbonaceous material, such as municipal solid waste, into a product gas which may subsequently be converted into a liquid fuel or other material. One or more reactors containing bed material may be used to conduct reactions to effect the conversions. Unreacted inert feedstock contaminants present in the carbonaceous material may be separated from bed material using a portion of the product gas. A heat transfer medium collecting heat from a reaction in one stage may be applied as a reactant input in another, earlier stage.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner bag assembly is adapted to be removably disposed within a tank of a vacuum cleaner, and the bag assembly includes a panel assembly made from a first material and forming an enclosure having an interior volume, and an aperture extends through the panel assembly. A shield member may be disposed within the interior volume and secured to one or more portions of the panel assembly, and the shield member may comprise a second material that is different than the first material. The first material may have a wicking barrier that inhibits wicking when the bag assembly becomes wet. The shield member is adapted to protect a portion of the panel assembly when the vacuum cleaner bag assembly is disposed within the tank and, together with the wicking barrier and a properly chosen first material, enhances performance of the vacuum bag assembly when wet.

Abstract: A heat engine comprising a compressor providing a flow of compressed air from a core flowpath of the heat engine; a cooled cooling air (CCA) heat exchanger system to which the flow of compressed air is provided from the compressor; a coolant supply system providing a flow of coolant to the CCA heat exchanger in thermal communication with the flow of compressed air at the CCA heat exchanger, in which the coolant supply system and CCA heat exchanger together define a CCA circuit through which the compressed air flows in thermal communication with the coolant; and a hot section disposed downstream of the compressor section along the core flowpath through which combustion gases flow, in which the hot section defines a secondary flowpath through which the flow of compressed air from the CCA heat exchanger is provided.

Abstract: Provided is an internal combustion engine lubricating oil composition which comprises a major amount of an oil of lubricating viscosity; one or more oil soluble or oil dispersible organic acid anhydrides, said anhydride comprising at least one hydrocarbyl or hydrocarbylene moiety having from about 10 to about 400 carbon atoms; and an oil soluble or oil dispersible secondary hydrocarbylamine compound, a tertiary hydrocarbylamine compound, or combinations thereof. Also provided is a method for maintaining and/or increasing fresh oil TBN of a lubricating oil composition while at the same time improving seal performance in an internal combustion engine.

Abstract: Methods for making higher-octane fuel components from a feed stream of C8+ paraffins, including catalytically cracking the C8+ paraffins using a Zeolite catalyst to produce a reaction product of mid-chain paraffins and olefins and short-chain paraffins and olefins. The reaction product comprises liquid phase paraffins having an increased Octane Value over the feed stream paraffins. The reaction product further comprises a gas phase of short-chain paraffins which are separated from the liquid phase. In embodiments, the short chain olefins are hydrogenated to form mid-chain paraffins and a gas phase containing short-chain paraffins.

Abstract: A fuel cell system is disclosed in which a fuel or oxidant fluid is used as a coolant fluid that functions as a heat sink a fuel cell.

Abstract: A large capacity magazine apparatus for spherical projectiles, such as toy foam balls that may be used in conjunction with a launcher. The magazine includes drum and clip housings and a rotatable sprocket with longitudinal flutes that together form a smooth pathway for the foam balls to travel in the magazine and to alleviate jams. The smooth pathway includes a helical path, a transition path and a linear path within the housings. A constant force spring provides a rotational force for the sprocket and a plurality of articulated rigid balls function to push the foam balls out of the magazine and into a firing chamber of the launcher.

Abstract: Techniques are described that facilitate automated extraction of lamellae and attaching the lamellae to sample grids for viewing on transmission electron microscopes. Some embodiments of the invention involve the use of machine vision to determine the positions of the lamella, the probe, and/or the TEM grid to guide the attachment of the probe to the lamella and the attachment of the lamella to the TEM grid. Techniques that facilitate the use of machine vision include shaping a probe tip so that its position can be readily recognized by image recognition software. Image subtraction techniques can be used to determine the position of the lamellae attached to the probe for moving the lamella to the TEM grid for attachment. In some embodiments, reference structures are milled on the probe or on the lamella to facilitate image recognition.

Abstract: A lubricating oil composition having a sulfated ash content of from greater than 1.0 wt. % to about 2.0 wt. %, a phosphorus content of from about 0.07 to about 0.12 wt. % and a sulfur content of 0.4 wt. % or less, the lubricating oil composition comprising: (a) an oil of lubricating viscosity in a major amount; (b) an overbased magnesium detergent, in an amount providing the lubricating oil composition with at least 600 ppm of magnesium; (c) a boron-containing compound, in an amount providing the lubricating oil composition with at least 250 ppm of boron; and (d) a molybdenum-containing compound, in an amount providing the lubricating oil composition with at least 50 ppm of molybdenum, wherein the composition has a B/Mo mass ratio in a range of 2 to 10 and a S/Mo mass ratio in a range of 10 to 25.

Abstract: Techniques disclosed herein describe performing client-requested disk management operations to storage disk units of a storage area network (SAN). A proxy service receives a request from a client of a SAN provider to perform a disk management operation on one or more storage disk units of the SAN provider. The proxy service evaluates a configuration of storage disk units allocated to the client to determine whether the request is valid. If valid, the proxy service performs the requested action to the specified storage disk units on behalf of the client.

Abstract: Techniques disclosed herein describe performing client-requested disk management operations to storage disk units of a storage area network (SAN). A proxy service receives a request from a client of a SAN provider to perform a disk management operation on one or more storage disk units of the SAN provider. The proxy service evaluates a configuration of storage disk units allocated to the client to determine whether the request is valid. If valid, the proxy service performs the requested action to the specified storage disk units on behalf of the client.

Abstract: A vacuum insulated glazing can be manufactured using a variety of methods. In one embodiment, a glass substrate is patterned and etched to form recesses in the surface of the glass substrate. The recesses or etched areas form a chamber when the glass substrate is bonded to another glass substrate. In another embodiment, nanoparticles and/or microparticles that absorb laser light are positioned between two glass substrates and heated to bond the glass substrates together. In another embodiment, a tempered glass substrate is bonded to another glass substrate to form a chamber between the substrates. The curved edges of the tempered glass are removed to produce a flat vacuum insulated glazing.

Abstract: Some aspects of this disclosure generally are related to improving the robustness of a flexible circuit structure, for example, by providing fault-tolerant electrical pathways for flow of electric current through the flexible circuit structure. In some embodiments, such fault tolerance is enhanced by way of a conductive mesh provided between an adjacent pair of resistive elements. Some aspects are related to improved voltage, current, or voltage and current measurement associated with various pairs of adjacent resistive elements at least when the various pairs have differing distances between them.

Abstract: A motor vehicle according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a sensor, a headlamp, and a controller configured to adjust an aim of the headlamp based on a signal from the sensor. The controller is configured to account for a zero drift of the sensor. A method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for managing thermal transfer in at least one of an aircraft or a gas turbine engine includes a first engine system utilizing an oil for heat transfer. The oil of the first system has a temperature limit of at least about 500° F. The system additionally includes a fuel system having a deoxygenation unit for deoxygenating fuel in the fuel system, as well as a fuel-oil heat exchanger located downstream of the deoxygenation unit. The fuel-oil heat exchanger is in thermal communication with the oil in the first engine system and the fuel in the fuel system for transferring heat from the oil in the first engine system to the fuel in the fuel system.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for coordinating multiple vehicle diagnostic testers. An example vehicle includes communication buses, an electronic control unit (ECU) coupled to one of the communication buses, and a gateway module. The a gateway module is configured to receive a request for communication with the ECU from a first in-vehicle diagnostic (IVD) tester, and responsively prevent communication with a second IVD tester while facilitating communication between the first IVD tester and the ECU.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for coordinating multiple vehicle diagnostic testers. An example vehicle includes an off-board diagnostic tester port, an in-vehicle diagnostic (IVD) tester, and a gateway module. The gateway module is configured to enable communication with the IVD tester, determine that a diagnostic tool is coupled to the off-board diagnostic tester port for greater than a threshold number of ignition cycles, and responsively prevent communication with the off-board diagnostic tester port.

Abstract: A blending system includes a container and a tamper. The container includes a lid. The tamper may be inserted into the container through an aperture of the lid. The tamper extends towards but does not touch a blade assembly. The tamper is positionable in a vertical position and an angled position. The tamper includes a stop that prevents the tamper from touching the blade assembly in the first position. Another stop prevents the tamper from touching the blade in a second position. The tamper may reach toward the edges of the container in an angled position to manipulate foodstuffs.