Abstract: An air intake for an aircraft propulsion system includes a cowl including a longitudinal axis. The air intake includes a compression ramp spaced away from the cowl. The air intake includes an inlet duct formed between the cowl and the compression ramp. The inlet duct defines an inlet airflow path. The compression ramp is non-planar. The compression ramp is movable relative to the cowl to vary compression of the inlet airflow passing through the inlet duct.

Abstract: A propulsion system for an aircraft includes an engine having a central axis. A cowl surrounds the engine and includes a cowl lip. A compression ramp is spaced away from the cowl lip. An inlet is formed by the cowl lip and the compression ramp. The compression ramp is non-planar. The compression ramp is movable relative to the cowl lip to vary compression of an inlet airflow through the inlet.

Abstract: An assembly configuration prevents eddy or other electrical currents from flowing through the bearings that support relative motion of two components by incorporation of a sealing element that includes an electrically conductive additive material, thereby providing a conductive pathway to shunt the electrical currents externally from the bearings or around the bearings. The sealing element is therefore a two-function sealing element that seals the system components and additionally shunts the electrical currents externally from or around the bearings to prevent current flow through the bearings. A material of the contacting sealing element is electrically conductive, and in this manner, the sealing element is sufficiently electrically conductive to provide an electrically conductive path between the two components to shunt the eddy currents around the bearings.

Abstract: A propulsion system for an aircraft includes an engine having a central axis. A cowl surrounds the engine and includes a cowl lip. A compression ramp is spaced away from the cowl lip. An inlet is formed by the cowl lip and the compression ramp. The compression ramp is non-planar. The compression ramp is movable relative to the cowl lip to vary compression of an inlet airflow through the inlet.

Abstract: A seal for installation within a flowline diverter assembly including a housing having a bore, and a spool received within the bore. The seal includes an annular body configured to be received between the spool and the bore. The body also has an inner diameter face disposable opposite the spool, and an outer diameter face disposable opposite the bore. The inner diameter face has a first and a second lip portion which are energizable responsive to fluid pressure. A generally annular first spring member is molded into the outer diameter face adjacent a first end face of the body, and a generally annular second spring member is molded into the body outer diameter face adjacent a second end face. Generally annular third and fourth spring members each also may be molded into a corresponding one of the body lip portions.

Abstract: A Marman clamp is disclosed. The Marman clamp includes a release mechanism with either pins or tubes formed with a shape memory alloy. The release mechanism opens and closes the clamp depending on the temperature of the pins or tubes. The temperature of the pins or tubes may be based on whether a space vehicle including the clamp is in a direct line of sight of radiation from the sun. Alternatively, a heat source may control the temperature of the pins or tubes. The Marman clamp may also open and close as a result of an independent force applied to the release mechanism.

Abstract: A hose draining device that rolls along the ground and raises up a portion of a flexible hose to facilitate draining the hose. The device has a leading roller that is close to the ground, a center roller that is spaced away from the ground, and a trailing roller that is further away from the ground than the center roller. The hose is supported by the rollers while the device moves along the length of the hose. The device has a handle portion that is removable for storage and transportation. A counterbalance may be provided near the leading roller to stabilize the device.

Abstract: Methods, systems and designs are provided for removing mercury from crudes. Crude oil is heated to a temperature above 100° C. in a stabilization column for a time sufficient to convert all of the forms of mercury in the oil into the elemental mercury form. The elemental mercury is then stripped from the crude oil by flashing, or preferably by gas stripping with a gas injected at the bottom of the column. Either process transfers the elemental mercury from the oil phase into the gas phase. Elemental mercury can then be removed from the gas phase by methods such as condensation, precipitation, or absorption either alone or in combination.

Abstract: An elongated and retractable sterile marker apparatus includes a handle assembly, an elongated marker operating assembly a top portion of which is connected to the handle assembly, and a sterile marker assembly which is connected to a bottom portion of the elongated marker operating assembly. Preferably, the sterile marker assembly includes a felt marker tip. The elongated and retractable sterile marker apparatus is particularly useful in pain management procedures to mark needle locations. Preferably, the handle assembly includes a pair of finger-reception members which are connected to an outside portion of the elongated marker operating assembly. A thumb-reception member is received in the elongated marker operating assembly for operating the elongated marker operating assembly. Preferably, a return spring is provided to return the tip of the sterile marker portion into a marker unit housing when the tip is no longer being used for marking.

Abstract: A Marman clamp is disclosed. The Marman clamp includes a release mechanism with either pins or tubes formed with a shape memory alloy. The release mechanism opens and closes the clamp depending on the temperature of the pins or tubes. The temperature of the pins or tubes may be based on whether a space vehicle including the clamp is in a direct line of sight of radiation from the sun. Alternatively, a heat source may control the temperature of the pins or tubes. The Marman clamp may also open and close as a result of an independent force applied to the release mechanism.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for facilitating a shared activity conducted by multiple participants via remote devices, particularly when there are more players then available remote devices. For example, the shared activity may be users playing electronic versions of a variety of card games or board games (or other game types). Users interact with a central device and one or more remote devices. The central device may be used to present “public” information on a central game play field—such as a game board, draw and discard piles, place cards, current scores, whose turn it is, etc. And the remote devices are used to present “private” game information to individual players—such as a player's “hole cards” or letter tiles. Further, users may make game choices and provide game input by interacting with the handheld device.

Abstract: Methods, systems and designs are provided for removing mercury from crudes. Crude oil is heated to a temperature above 100° C. in a stabilization column for a time sufficient to convert all of the forms of mercury in the oil into the elemental mercury form. The elemental mercury is then stripped from the crude oil by flashing, or preferably by gas stripping with a gas injected at the bottom of the column. Either process transfers the elemental mercury from the oil phase into the gas phase. Elemental mercury can then be removed from the gas phase by methods such as condensation, precipitation, or absorption either alone or in combination.

Abstract: A vehicle comprises a first stage supersonic aircraft, and a second stage hypersonic aircraft. The second stage aircraft is in tandem with the first stage aircraft.

Abstract: A vehicle comprises a first stage supersonic aircraft, and a second stage hypersonic aircraft. The second stage aircraft is in tandem with the first stage aircraft.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for facilitating a shared activity conducted by multiple participants via remote devices, particularly when there are more players then available remote devices. For example, the shared activity may be users playing electronic versions of a variety of card games or board games (or other game types). Users interact with a central device and one or more remote devices. The central device may be used to present “public” information on a central game play field—such as a game board, draw and discard piles, place cards, current scores, whose turn it is, etc. And the remote devices are used to present “private” game information to individual players—such as a player's “hole cards” or letter tiles. Further, users may make game choices and provide game input by interacting with the handheld device.

Abstract: A seal for installation within a flowline diverter assembly including a housing having a bore, and a spool received within the bore. The seal includes an annular body configured to be received between the spool and the bore. The body also has an inner diameter face disposable opposite the spool, and an outer a fluid face disposable opposite the bore. The inner diameter face has a first and a second lip portion which are energizable responsive to fluid pressure. A generally annular first spring member is molded into the outer diameter face adjacent a first end face of the body, and a generally annular second spring member is molded into the body outer diameter face adjacent a second end face. Generally annular third and fourth spring members each also may be molded into a corresponding one of the body lip portions.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for facilitating a shared activity conducted by multiple participants via remote devices, particularly when there are more players then available remote devices. For example, the shared activity may be users playing electronic versions of a variety of card games or board games (or other game types). Users interact with a central device and one or more remote devices. The central device may be used to present “public” information on a central game play field—such as a game board, draw and discard piles, place cards, current scores, whose turn it is, etc. And the remote devices are used to present “private” game information to individual players—such as a player's “hole cards” or letter tiles. Further, users may make game choices and provide game input by interacting with the handheld device.

Abstract: Hypersonic inlet systems and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, an inlet for an airbreathing propulsion system includes an inboard surface at least partially shaped to conform to a plurality of streamline-traces of a design flowfield approaching an aperture, an outboard surface spaced apart from the inboard surface, an upper surface extending between the inboard and outboard surfaces, and a lower surface extending between the inboard and outboard surfaces, wherein leading edges of the inboard, outboard, upper, and lower surfaces cooperatively define the aperture.

Abstract: Methods, aircraft, and engine nacelles are disclosed. A wing leading edge of a planform is superimposed on a wing shockwave that extends in a first direction from a shockwave apex toward the wing leading edge. A waverider shape is streamline traced between the wing leading edge and a trailing edge of the planform to form a waverider wing. A position of an engine inlet vertex relative to the waverider wing is identified. An inlet shockwave is projected from the inlet vertex in a second direction generally opposed to the first direction. The inlet shockwave intersects the wing shockwave. An inlet leading edge of an engine inlet includes a lower leading edge including a plurality of points where the inlet shockwave intersects the wing shockwave.

Abstract: An elongated and retractable sterile marker apparatus includes a handle assembly, an elongated marker operating assembly a top portion of which is connected to the handle assembly, and a sterile marker assembly which is connected to a bottom portion of the elongated marker operating assembly. Preferably, the sterile marker assembly includes a felt marker tip. The elongated and retractable sterile marker apparatus is particularly useful in pain management procedures to mark needle locations. Preferably, the handle assembly includes a pair of finger-reception members which are connected to an outside portion of the elongated marker operating assembly. A thumb-reception member is received in the elongated marker operating assembly for operating the elongated marker operating assembly. Preferably, a return spring is provided to return the tip of the sterile marker portion into a marker unit housing when the tip is no longer being used for marking.