Abstract: A power system for an aircraft engine provides rotational drive to propeller driven and turbofan jet engine powered aircraft by use of a propeller or fan drive motor. Electrical power is provided to the drive motor by a high efficiency electrical power generator with reduced electromagnetic drag or reverse torque. The electric generator utilizes a solid state rotor that does not rotate which allows for power generation without reverse torque or the usual energy required to rotate the rotor inside the stator of the generator. Only the magnetic poles of the disclosed rotor rotate to generate the power. The fan blades of the turbofan jet engine are driven by the electric drive motor in which the rotor is a part of the fan as well as the drive from the high pressure turbine.

Abstract: Solid proppants are coated with a coating that exhibits the handling characteristics of a pre-cured coating while also exhibiting the ability to form particle-to-particle bonds at the elevated temperatures and pressures within a wellbore. The coating includes a substantially homogeneous mixture of (i) at least one isocyanate component having at least 2 isocyanate groups, and (ii) a curing agent comprising a monofunctional alcohol, amine or amide. The coating process can be performed with short cycle times, e.g., less than about 4 minutes, and still produce a dry, free-flowing, coated proppant that exhibits low dust characteristics during pneumatic handling but also proppant consolidation downhole for reduced washout and good conductivity. Such proppants also form good unconfined compressive strength without use of an bond activator, are substantially unaffected in bond formation characteristics under downhole conditions despite prior heat exposure, and are resistant to leaching with hot water.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for decreasing the difficulty of executing a “pop-up” maneuver on a water sport board, such as a surfboard, is disclosed. Said apparatus consists of either one or two devices attached to the surfboard at the location where a user places his hands to execute the pop-up maneuver. Said devices move the user's hands away from the deck of the surfboard, creating more space between the surfer and the board during the pop-up maneuver, facilitating the user to swing the user into position and execute the pop-up maneuver.

Abstract: A uni-pole rotor for an electrical power generator includes two separate electromagnets formed on rotor laminates and separated by a mu metal shield. The laminates further include two separate winding wire slots on either side of the mu metal shield which slots are wound with magnet wire to serve as rotor coils of the two separate electromagnets. The two separate electromagnets, when excited, create magnetic fluxes of a first polarity and a second polarity such that outer fluxes of the rotor are of the first polarity and the inner fluxes of the rotor are of the second polarity. The uni-pole rotor further includes electrical leads to the rotor coils such that leads are used to excite in an alternating fashion a positive and negative DC current in the rotor coils which allows alternation of 360° north pole with 360° south pole generation on the outer portion of the rotor laminates of the rotor.

Abstract: A method of providing a ramp system, said method comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of ramp members that are adapted to be coupled to a rigid portion of a trailer, wherein a first of the ramp members extends from the rigid portion of the trailer to a flat surface of an automotive vehicle that is attached to the trailer for pulling said trailer, wherein the second ramp member extends from the rigid member to a flat surface of the trailer, an incline exists from where the second member touches the flat surface of the trailer to where the first member touches the flat surface of the automotive vehicle; permitting the first ramp member to pivot from the flat surface of the automotive vehicle to a more vertical first orientation; and permitting the first ramp member to lock in the more vertical position.

Abstract: A generator with reduced reverse torque which may be used as a singular, point of use, compact electric generator that produces power with high efficiency and very low reverse torque. The generator comprising a stator having slots and stator coils and a series of slot rotors placed in relation to the stator coils such that minimal destructive interaction is caused between magnetic fields of each rotor and induced magnetic fields of the stator when the power generator is connected to an electric load with at least a portion of that power being sent to a storage device where a portion of the stored power is provided to excitation circuitry utilized to re-excite a motor to drive the slot rotors.

Abstract: One variation of a method—for controlling a breathing mask comprising a flow control module configured to mate to nostrils of a user and comprising an actuator configured to adjust obstruction to airflow out of the flow control module—includes: accessing a wake alarm time; accessing a sleep delay duration; at a first time, receiving an indicator that the user is preparing for sleep; in response to receiving the indicator, triggering the actuator to transition from a minimum-restriction position toward a maximum-restriction position at a second time succeeding the first time by the sleep delay duration, the actuator minimally obstructing airflow out of outlet port in the minimum-restriction position and maximally obstructing airflow out of outlet port in the maximally—restriction position; and, prior to the wake alarm time, triggering the actuator to transition back to the minimum-restriction position.

Abstract: One variation of a method—for controlling a breathing mask comprising a flow control module configured to mate to nostrils of a user and comprising an actuator configured to adjust obstruction to airflow out of the flow control module—includes: accessing a wake alarm time; accessing a sleep delay duration; at a first time, receiving an indicator that the user is preparing for sleep; in response to receiving the indicator, triggering the actuator to transition from a minimum-restriction position toward a maximum-restriction position at a second time succeeding the first time by the sleep delay duration, the actuator minimally obstructing airflow out of outlet port in the minimum-restriction position and maximally obstructing airflow out of outlet port in the maximally-restriction position; and, prior to the wake alarm time, triggering the actuator to transition back to the minimum-restriction position.

Abstract: A control system for a haul vehicle, includes a first transceiver configured to receive a first signal from a second transceiver, wherein the first signal is indicative of a first determined position and a first determined velocity of the target vehicle. The control system includes a controller communicatively coupled to the first transceiver, wherein the controller automatically controls the speed of the haul vehicle by determining a desired position and a desired speed of the haul vehicle based at least in part on the first determined position and the first determined velocity of the target vehicle, instructing an automated speed control system to establish the ground speed of the haul vehicle to reach the target position, and instructing the automated speed control system to control the ground speed of the haul vehicle to maintain the target position, including during turning of the target and haul vehicles.

Abstract: Polymer coated proppants for hydraulic fracturing of oil and gas wells have an outer layer portion that comprises an organofunctional coupling agent, preferably an organofunctional silane coupling agent. The use of an organofunctional silane coupling agent in the outer layer portion of the proppant coating is preferably chosen to expose functionalities that will be reactive towards similar functionalities of adjacent and similarly coated proppants so that, when introduced downhole, these proppants form interparticle bonds at the temperatures and crack closure pressures found downhole in fractured strata. Such enhanced interparticle bonding helps keep the proppant in the fracture and maintains conductivity with reduced flowback. The invention also helps proppants designed for low temperature well to bond more firmly and allows proppants designed for high temperature wells to bond well even at lower downhole temperatures, thereby extending their useful range.

Abstract: Solid proppants are coated with a coating that exhibits the handling characteristics of a precured coating while also exhibiting the ability to form particle-to-particle bonds at the elevated temperatures and pressures within a wellbore. The coating includes a substantially homogeneous mixture of (i) at least one isocyanate component having at least 2 isocyanate groups, and (ii) a curing agent. The coating process can be performed with short cycle times, e.g., less than about 4 minutes, and still produce a dry, free-flowing, coated proppant that exhibits low dust characteristics during pneumatic handling but also proppant consolidation downhole for reduced washout and good conductivity.

Abstract: A solid-state electromagnetic rotor, including a plurality of salient pole pieces arranged around a supporting structure, wherein a first end of each salient pole piece is attached to the support structure and a second end of each salient pole piece points outward away from the sup-porting structure. The wires wound around each salient pole piece, wherein when the wires of the plurality of salient pole pieces are sequentially excited by an excitation circuit. The salient pole pieces are energized to provide a moving polar magnetic field in the form of distinct magnetic poles as desired to accomplish power generation.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to systems, compositions and methods for providing nutrients, fertilizers, crop protection agents and other crop inputs for a plant. The disclosure also relates to methods for increasing the uptake of a crop active compound into a growing plant.

Abstract: A computing device is configured to carry out actions including: generating, in a graph database, an access role vertex that defines an access role of a user, where the access role vertex is connected to a user vertex representing the user; generating a query vertex including a traversal clause that represents a query of the graph database; generating a permission edge between the access role vertex and the query vertex, where the permission edge defines the access role's permission to access the results of the query; receiving a request to execute the query on behalf of the user; in response to the request, traversing the graph database according to the traversal clause to locate a set of vertices; and generating a set of results based on the set of vertices.

Abstract: Ridge vents configured to cover an open ridge of a roof and allow a flow of air to exit from the open ridge through the ridge vents are provided. The ridge vents include a center portion having a length and a plurality of grooves. Left and right portions are connected to the center portion. The center portion is configured to flex along it's length, thereby forming a ridge vent angle between the left and right portions. The formed ridge vent angle is configured to correspond with a slope between roof decks defining the open ridge.

Abstract: A method includes generating, in a graph database, an access role vertex that defines an access role of a user, where the access role vertex is connected to a user vertex representing the user; generating a query vertex including a traversal clause that represents a query of the graph database; generating a permission edge between the access role vertex and the query vertex, where the permission edge defines the access role's permission to access the results of the query; receiving a request to execute the query on behalf of the user; in response to the request, traversing the graph database according to the traversal clause to locate a set of vertices; and generating a set of results based on the set of vertices.

Abstract: A control system is configured to receive a first signal indicative of a current position of a vehicle and a second signal indicative of a desired path for the vehicle. The control system is configured to calculate a virtual path between the current position and a target position on the desired path and to output a third signal indicative of curvature command corresponding to an initial curvature of the virtual path to cause a steering control system of the vehicle to adjust a steering angle of the vehicle. The control is also configured to iteratively receive an updated current position, receive any updates to the desired path, calculate an updated target position, calculate an updated virtual path based on the updated current position and updated desired path, and output an updated curvature command corresponding to a respective initial curvature of the updated virtual path as the vehicle travels across a surface.

Abstract: A method of providing a ramp system, said method comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of ramp members that are adapted to be coupled to a rigid portion of a trailer, wherein a first of the ramp members extends from the rigid portion of the trailer to a flat surface of an automotive vehicle that is attached to the trailer for pulling said trailer, wherein the second ramp member extends from the rigid member to a flat surface of the trailer, an incline exists from where the second member touches the flat surface of the trailer to where the first member touches the flat surface of the automotive vehicle; permitting the first ramp member to pivot from the flat surface of the automotive vehicle to a more vertical first orientation; and permitting the first ramp member to lock in the more vertical position.

Abstract: Proppants for hydraulic fracturing of oil and gas wells are coated with a polyurea-type coating. In a preferred embodiment, the polyurea-type coating is formed by contacting a polymeric isocyanate with an amount of water a blowing catalyst at a rate and quantity sufficient to generate a reactive amine in situ on the outer surface of the proppant which thereby reacts with unconverted polymeric isocyanate to form a thin polyurea-type surface coating that is substantially solid and lacks foam or substantial porosity. Alternatively, the polyurea-type can be produced by selecting reactive amine compounds and isocyanates to develop the coated proppant. The coated proppants retain the discrete, free-flowing character of the original core solids but with the beneficial effects of the polyurea-type coating of the present invention.

Abstract: Disclosed is a registration object for computed radiographic tomography. The object has a body portion defining a void for including at least part of a target object. The registration object comprises one or more relatively radiopaque or relatively radiolucent features. Said feature or features provide, in a suitable proportion of radiographic projections of the registration object with respect to angle about a predetermined axis, a pair of identifiable registration points which are spaced apart in a direction parallel to the predetermined axis by a first distance, and whose positions in that direction are each either a constant or a function only of the angle of the projection about the predetermined axis.