Abstract: A downhole tool includes a tubular having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a flowbore having a longitudinal axis. A backpressure valve is arranged in the flowbore. The backpressure valve includes a flapper valve including a first side and an opposing second side pivotally mounted to the inner surface to selectively extend across the flowbore and a locking system including a spring clip mounted to the inner surface. The flapper valve is pivotable between a first position, wherein the flapper valve is free to pivot relative to the inner surface, and a second position, wherein the flapper valve is pivoted away from the flowbore and locked open by the spring clip such that the first side forms part of the flowbore.

Abstract: A downhole tool includes a tubular having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a flowbore having a longitudinal axis, and a backpressure valve arranged in the flowbore. The backpressure valve includes a flapper valve including a first side and an opposing second side pivotally mounted to the inner surface to selectively extend across the flowbore, and a locking system mounted to the inner surface in the flowbore and selectively engageable with the flapper valve. The flapper valve is pivotable between a first position, wherein the flapper valve is free to pivot relative to the inner surface, and a second position, wherein the flapper valve is pivoted away from the flowbore and locked open by the locking system such that the first side forms part of the flowbore.

Abstract: A downhole tool includes a tubular having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a flowbore having a longitudinal axis, and a backpressure valve arranged in the flowbore. The backpressure valve includes a flapper valve having a first side and an opposing second side pivotally mounted to the inner surface to selectively extend across the flowbore and a locking system mounted to the inner surface in the flowbore and snap-fittingly engageable with the flapper valve. The flapper valve is pivotable between a first position, wherein the flapper valve is free to pivot relative to the inner surface, and a second position, wherein the flapper valve is pivoted away from the flowbore and locked open by the locking system such that the first side forms part of the flowbore.

Abstract: A downhole tool includes a tubular having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a flowbore having a longitudinal axis, and a backpressure valve cartridge arranged in the flowbore. The backpressure valve cartridge includes a passage, a valve seat arranged in the passage, and a flapper valve pivotally mounted relative to the valve seat in the passage. The valve seat is shiftable within the backpressure valve cartridge along the longitudinal axis to shift the flapper valve between a first position, wherein the flapper valve is free to pivot relative to the valve seat, and a second position, wherein the flapper valve is pivoted away from the valve seat and maintained in an open configuration.

Abstract: A downhole tool includes a tubular having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a flowbore having a longitudinal axis, and a backpressure valve cartridge arranged in the flowbore. The backpressure valve cartridge includes a passage, a valve seat arranged in the passage, a flapper valve pivotally mounted relative to the valve seat in the passage, and a piston member configured to shift the flapper valve between a first position, wherein the flapper valve is free to pivot relative to the valve seat, and a second position, wherein the flapper valve is pivoted away from the valve seat and maintained in an open configuration.

Abstract: A downhole tool includes a tubular having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a flowbore having a longitudinal axis and a backpressure valve arranged in the flowbore. The backpressure valve includes a flapper valve including a hinge end, a cantilevered end, a first side and an opposing second side pivotally mounted to the inner surface at the hinge end to selectively extend across the flowbore, and a locking system mounted to the inner surface adjacent to the hinge end of the flapper valve in the flowbore. The flapper valve is pivotable between a first position, wherein the flapper valve is free to pivot relative to the inner surface between an open configuration and a closed configuration, and a second position, wherein the hinge end of the flapper valve activates the locking system to lock the flapper valve in the open configuration.

Abstract: A downhole tool includes a tubular having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a flowbore having a longitudinal axis, and a backpressure valve cartridge arranged in the flowbore. The backpressure valve cartridge includes a valve seat and a flapper valve pivotally mounted relative to the valve seat. The backpressure valve cartridge is shiftable along the longitudinal axis to shift the flapper valve between a first position, wherein the flapper valve rests on the valve seat, and a second position, wherein the flapper valve is pivoted away from the valve seat.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an energy-absorbing structure according to various aspects of the present disclosure via a two-step molding process includes molding first and second portion precursors including thermoset polymers (e.g., thermoset polymer composites) to a first degree of cure (DOC) less than one so that the portion precursors are in a gelled glass state. The method further includes joining the first and second portion precursors by applying heat and pressure in a joining region such that the thermoset polymers have a second DOC greater than the first DOC and are cross-linked in the joining region. The energy-absorbing component therefore has a unitary structure. The method may further include coupling the energy-absorbing structure to a housing. In certain aspects, energy-absorbing structures may have tailored stiffness and/or tailored crush initiation.

Abstract: A circulation sub and method of operating a circulation sub. The circulation sub includes a support member having a longitudinal axis and a piston movable along the longitudinal axis of the support member. A release member secures the piston to the support member. A force is applied along a length axis of the release member greater than a selected decoupling force threshold to decouple the support member from the piston, thereby allowing the piston to move along the longitudinal axis of the member.

Abstract: A method for operating a fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell assembly of a plurality of fuel cells configured to generate electrical power from a fuel flow and an oxidant flow to the plurality of fuel cells, the fuel cell assembly arranged in combination with a coolant storage module configured to supply the fuel cell assembly with a flow of coolant, the method performed when the temperature of the coolant in the coolant storage module is below a coolant temperature threshold and comprises; a first phase performed prior to activation of a coolant pump configured to deliver coolant from the coolant storage module to the fuel cell assembly and a second phase performed after activation of the coolant pump.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cooling module for use in a fuel cell system, the module includes a tank configured to receive a coolant therein, a coolant, a pump in fluid communication with the coolant in the tank and the fuel cell system, the pump being configured to transport the coolant to the fuel cell system, a heating element within the coolant in the tank, the heating element configured to heat the coolant, and at least one sensor in signal communication with a controller and in fluid communication with the tank. The sensor is configured to detect a change corresponding to the presence or absence of sufficient liquid coolant to initiate said pump, and the controller processes sensor data and is configured to actuate the pump.

Abstract: A positioning drive has a first stepper drive unit having a first stepper drive controller and a first stepper motor, and a second stepper drive unit having a second stepper drive controller and a second stepper drive. The two stepper drives and the power take-off element are force-coupled and drive-coupled by a mechanical coupling unit. A central unit controls the two stepper drive controllers by a control signal, in each instance. The control signals predetermine the stator reference field angle and the rotor reference field angle set by the stepper drive controller. The central unit has an overriding regulator for the position of the power take-off element, and a subordinate regulator for setting a tensioning moment for each stepper motor. The tensioning moments occur by setting a load actual angle at the stepper drive.

Abstract: A system and method for recursive propagating application access control relate to managing third-party application access to content files and folders on a cloud storage system. The access control system may receive an access authorization indication to grant a third-party entity access to a parent folder containing a first file, and then modify an access control rule associated with the parent folder based on the access authorization indication. The modified access control rule is propagated to a child folder of the parent folder, and thus the third-party entity is granted access to a second file in the child folder based on the modified access control rule. The second file shares a common attribute with the first file, and the modified access control rule specifies the common attribute.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a portable storage and locking apparatus that permits towing hitches and hitch-mountable accessories to be stored and locked to trailers, vehicles, buildings and other locations having exposed frames, beams, channels or other structures and storage locations. The apparatus does not require tools or hardware to mount and uses a pair of spaced-apart side plates joined to form a u-shaped mount that slides over a frame. The side plates have at least one pair of square-shaped aligned holes near the open ends, which extend past the frame and are configured to insert a towing hitch or accessory. With the apparatus over a frame, and a towing hitch or accessory inserted in the square holes, the apparatus is effectively secured to the frame and cannot be removed. A trailer hitch locking pin may be used to lock the hitch or accessory to the apparatus, and therefore to the frame.

Abstract: A control system may be provided for operating a machine having a rotary cutting head. The control system may include a wrist capable of rotating about a wrist axis, a gear mechanism capable of driving rotation of the wrist. A cutting head may be attached to the wrist and capable of rotating about a cutter axis that is substantially perpendicular to the wrist axis. The control system may also include primary and redundant angular sensors capable of generating signals indicative of angular orientations of the wrist. The control system may additionally include a controller, capable of controlling operation of the wrist and the cutting head, comparing an actual angular orientation of the wrist to a target angular orientation, as indicated by the primary and secondary signals, and selectively inhibiting the cutting head from operating when the actual angular orientation differs from the target angular orientation by an operation threshold.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a portable storage and locking apparatus that permits towing hitches and hitch-mountable accessories to be stored and locked to trailers, vehicles, buildings and other locations having exposed frames, beams, channels or other structures and storage locations. The apparatus does not require tools or hardware to mount and uses a pair of spaced-apart side plates joined to form a u-shaped mount that slides over a frame. The side plates have at least one pair of square-shaped aligned holes near the open ends, which extend past the frame and are configured to insert a towing hitch or accessory. With the apparatus over a frame, and a towing hitch or accessory inserted in the square holes, the apparatus is effectively secured to the frame and cannot be removed. A trailer hitch locking pin may be used to lock the hitch or accessory to the apparatus, and therefore to the frame.

Abstract: A positioning drive has a first stepper drive unit having a first stepper drive controller and a first stepper motor, and a second stepper drive unit having a second stepper drive controller and a second stepper drive. The two stepper drives and the power take-off element are force-coupled and drive-coupled by a mechanical coupling unit. A central unit controls the two stepper drive controllers by a control signal, in each instance. The control signals predetermine the stator reference field angle and the rotor reference field angle set by the stepper drive controller. The central unit has an overriding regulator for the position of the power take-off element, and a subordinate regulator for setting a tensioning moment for each stepper motor. The tensioning moments occur by setting a load actual angle at the stepper drive.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method of performing an operation in a wellbore is disclosed that in one embodiment may include: placing a first device at a first location in the wellbore, wherein the first device includes a plurality of circumferentially placed tags at known orientations in the wellbore, conveying a second device in the wellbore, the second device including a sensor that provides signals in response to detecting signals from each of the tags in the first device, determining from the signals from the sensor orientation of the second device in the wellbore. In another aspect the method may include a plurality of axially placed tags on a first device and the sensor on a second device, wherein the sensor provides signals when it passes proximate each of the axially spaced tags and determining from the sensor signals location of the second device relative to the first device.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method of performing an operation in a wellbore is disclosed that in one embodiment may include: placing a first device at a first location in the wellbore, wherein the first device includes a plurality of circumferentially placed tags at known orientations in the wellbore, conveying a second device in the wellbore, the second device including a sensor that provides signals in response to detecting signals from each of the tags in the first device, determining from the signals from the sensor orientation of the second device in the wellbore. In another aspect the method may include a plurality of axially placed tags on a first device and the sensor on a second device, wherein the sensor provides signals when it passes proximate each of the axially spaced tags and determining from the sensor signals location of the second device relative to the first device.

Abstract: A casing patch includes a deformable seal configurable to a deformed and undeformed position for sealing and unsealing respectively with a target stub and a pressure based subsystem in operable communication with the deformable seal. The patch may also contain a stop ring to prevent overcompression of the seal.