Abstract: A compressor including a housing, a shaft configured to be rotated relative to the housing to compress a refrigerant, a motor configured to drive the shaft, a lubrication system configured to supply lubricant to the compressor, and a bearing configured to support the shaft. The shaft includes a wear-resistant sleeve-like treatment on at least a portion of an outer surface of the shaft adjacent the bearing. The lubricant is a lubricant blend composition that includes two or more lubricants, the two or more lubricants including a first lubricant and a second lubricant. The first lubricant is present at a higher volume percentage than the second lubricant, and the first lubricant includes a higher viscosity than the second lubricant.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention is a puncture healing polymer blend comprising a self-healing first polymer material having sufficient melt elasticity to snap back and close a hole formed by a projectile passing through the material at a velocity sufficient to produce a local melt state in the first polymer material. The puncture healing polymer blend further includes a non-self-healing second material that is blended with the first polymer material. The blend of self-healing first polymer material and second material is capable of self-healing, and may have improved material properties relative to known self-healing polymers.

Abstract: A deformable closure mechanism for an aperture that may include an aperture seal that has a seal seat between an internal support structure and an external support structure. A barrier structure may be configured to resealably close the aperture, and have a central membrane and a barrier sealed that is inflatable in order to engage the barrier structure with the aperture seal.

Abstract: A deformable closure mechanism for an aperture that may include an aperture seal that has a seal seat between an internal support structure and an external support structure. A barrier structure may be configured to resealably close the aperture, and have a central membrane and a barrier sealed that is inflatable in order to engage the barrier structure with the aperture seal.

Abstract: An ultra-high temperature optical method incorporates speckle optics for sensing displacement and strain measurements well above conventional measurement techniques. High temperature pattern materials are used which can endure experimental high temperature environments while simultaneously having a minimum optical aberration. A purge medium is used to reduce or eliminate optical distortions and to reduce, and/or eliminate oxidation of the target specimen.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention is a puncture healing polymer blend comprising a self-healing first polymer material having sufficient melt elasticity to snap back and close a hole formed by a projectile passing through the material at a velocity sufficient to produce a local melt state in the first polymer material. The puncture healing polymer blend further includes a non-self-healing second material that is blended with the first polymer material. The blend of self-healing first polymer material and second material is capable of self-healing, and may have improved material properties relative to known self-healing polymers.

Abstract: An ultra-high temperature optical method incorporates speckle optics for sensing displacement and strain measurements well above conventional measurement techniques. High temperature pattern materials are used which can endure experimental high temperature environments while simultaneously having a minimum optical aberration. A purge medium is used to reduce or eliminate optical distortions and to reduce, and/or eliminate oxidation of the target specimen.

Abstract: A core toning method and apparatus allows the core muscles of the torso to be actively engaged during work day activities. The present invention recognizes that, in typical work posture, a worker leans from their chair towards a computer terminal; the mechanism of the present invention provides a resistance against the natural lean of the worker, resulting in a constant engagement of the abdominal core in order to maintain the desired posture. As will be seen from the description of various embodiments below, the concepts of the present invention may be realized in many different forms.

Abstract: A plugging device and system for plugging apertures in panels, and which is particularly useful in plugging irregular apertures in, for example, hulls of water-going vessels. The plugging device includes a body member from which depend a plurality of fingers generally configured in a bundle. When in use, the body member is pushed through the aperture, and the periphery of the aperture forces the fingers to a configuration so as to effectively seal the aperture. The system includes several types of push rods and mechanisms for retaining the plugging device in the aperture.