Abstract: An apparatus for carrying out size reduction of battery materials under immersion conditions having a battery inlet and at least a first comminuting device disposed within a housing and configured to cause a size reduction of the battery materials to form reduced-size battery materials and to liberate electrolyte materials and a black mass material comprising anode and cathode powders from within the battery materials. An immersion liquid can be within the housing and can submerge the first comminuting device so the black mass material and the reduced-size battery material are entrained within the immersion liquid to form a sized-reduced feed stream. A feed outlet may be downstream from the first comminuting device.

Abstract: A process for recovering component materials from lithium battery materials, the process comprising the steps of: a) processing lithium battery materials in a comminuting apparatus comprising at least a first comminuting device that is submerged in an immersion liquid, thereby creating reduced-size battery materials and liberating electrolyte material and a black mass material comprising anode and cathode powders from within the lithium battery materials and providing a sized-reduced feed stream comprising the reduced size battery materials and the black mass material and electrolyte materials entrained within the immersion liquid; and b) processing the size-reduced feed stream to obtain at least a black mass solid stream that comprises the black mass material and a retained portion of the immersion liquid having entrained electrolyte materials.

Abstract: A social media platform stores immersive videos and embedded affordances for each immersive video. Each embedded affordance has a temporal location, a spatial location, and a corresponding reward. A viewer selects and plays a first immersive video. While playing the first stored immersive video, the viewer navigates to different spatial portions of the first immersive video using a spatial visibility window. The viewer activates a first embedded affordance of the first immersive video according to the spatial and temporal location of the first embedded affordance. In response, the platform initiates the reward corresponding to the first embedded affordance. The reward includes a reward token deposited into an account corresponding to the viewer. The viewer later uses a redemption user interface to redeem a plurality of reward tokens from the account (including the deposited reward token) for a single aggregated reward.

Abstract: A computing device has memory, a microphone, and an image sensor. A process plays an immersive video in a user interface region, which displays a portion of the immersive video according to a user selected visibility window. While playing the immersive video, the user adjusts the window, and the process records information that identifies placement of the window within the immersive video. The process records audio provided by the user and records video of the user. The process uses the information that identifies placement of the window to form a customized video including what was displayed in the window while playing the immersive video. The customized video also includes a visual overlay in a peripheral portion of the customized video, which includes the recorded video of the user. The customized video also includes an audio overlay using the recorded audio. The process transmits the customized video to another computer.

Abstract: Engine blocks and methods of forming the same are disclosed. The engine block may comprise a body including at least one cylindrical engine bore wall having a longitudinal axis and including a coating extending along the longitudinal axis and having a coating thickness. The coating may have a middle region and first and second end regions, and a plurality of pores may be dispersed within the coating thickness. The middle region may have a different average porosity than one or both of the end regions. The method may include spraying a first porosity coating in a middle longitudinal region of the bore and spraying a second porosity coating in one or more end regions of the bore. The first porosity may be greater than the second porosity and the first and second porosities may be formed during the spraying steps. The pores may act as wells for lubricant.

Abstract: A microfluidic test apparatus including a microfluidic device having a first reservoir for receiving a first fluid containing a sample of cells, a microfluidic test region, a first microfluidic pathway provided between the microfluidic test region and the first reservoir; and a port for connection to a pump, the apparatus including a first pump connected to the port and configured to pump a priming fluid into the port, a second pump connected to the port and configured to apply suction at the port when operated and a controller configured to control operation of the first and second pumps, where the controller operates the first pump to prime the microfluidic device and operates the second pump to draw a test volume from the first reservoir into the microfluidic test region.

Abstract: Engine blocks and methods of forming the same are disclosed. The engine block may comprise a body including at least one cylindrical engine bore wall having a longitudinal axis and including a coating extending along the longitudinal axis and having a coating thickness. The coating may have a middle region and first and second end regions, and a plurality of pores may be dispersed within the coating thickness. The middle region may have a different average porosity than one or both of the end regions. The method may include spraying a first porosity coating in a middle longitudinal region of the bore and spraying a second porosity coating in one or more end regions of the bore. The first porosity may be greater than the second porosity and the first and second porosities may be formed during the spraying steps. The pores may act as wells for lubricant.

Abstract: The present application provides a process to recover materials from rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, thus recycling them. The process involves processing the batteries into a size-reduced feed stream; and then, via a series of separation, isolation, and/or leaching steps, allows for recovery of a copper product, cobalt, nickel, and/or manganese product, and a lithium product; and, optional recovery of a ferrous product, aluminum product, graphite product, etc An apparatus and system for carrying out size reduction of batteries under immersion conditions is also provided.

Abstract: A microfluidic device has a cavity in which a functionalized mesh is arranged in a layered configuration to provide a high surface area. The cavity is housed in a body that is easily configured for sample flow to concentrate the analyte, heat release of the analyte from the mesh, and elution of the released analyte. The microfluidic device can be used in a variety of applications by functionalizing the mesh with a suitable affinity media.

Abstract: A method of controlling deposition of material from at least one plasma transferred wire arc (PTWA) torch within at least one bore includes: directing a fluid through a duct; and directing the fluid through a number of cannons N disposed adjacent and downstream from the duct. The fluid is directed through the duct and N cannons and past the PTWA torch while the PTWA torch is spraying downstream from N?1 cannons.

Abstract: A casing including: a first casing section and a second casing section configured to be joined to the first casing section to form the casing; a first hole extending through a portion of the first casing section; a second hole extending through a portion of the second casing section, wherein the first and second holes are configured to be in alignment while the first and second casing sections are joined; a bushing seated in the second hole; a fastener having a shaft configured to extend through the first hole, extend into the second hole, and seat in and engage the bushing, wherein a thermal expansion coefficient of the bushing is greater than a thermal expansion coefficient of the shaft of the fastener, and the thermal expansion coefficient of the fastener is greater than a thermal expansion coefficients for each of the first and second casing sections.

Abstract: Engine blocks and methods of forming the same are disclosed. The engine block may comprise a body including at least one cylindrical engine bore wall having a longitudinal axis and including a coating extending along the longitudinal axis and having a coating thickness. The coating may have a middle region and first and second end regions, and a plurality of pores may be dispersed within the coating thickness. The middle region may have a different average porosity than one or both of the end regions. The method may include spraying a first porosity coating in a middle longitudinal region of the bore and spraying a second porosity coating in one or more end regions of the bore. The first porosity may be greater than the second porosity and the first and second porosities may be formed during the spraying steps. The pores may act wells for lubricant.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling deposition of material from a plasma transferred wire arc (PTWA) torch within a bore is provided. The apparatus includes a duct and a plurality of cannons. The duct includes a plurality of fluid passageways separated by cross-members. The plurality of cannons are disposed adjacent and downstream from the plurality of fluid passageways of the duct. The flow of fluid is simultaneously directed through all of the fluid passageways and the plurality of cannons and past the PTWA torch in the bore.

Abstract: Lens coatings and coated lenses which offer full-spectrum protection by reducing back-side reflection of all light spanning from the ultraviolet sub-band B (UVB) to infrared (IR-A) region are provided. The full-spectrum back-side anti-reflective coatings disclosed herein are comprised of multiple thin-film layers of high refractive index (HighIndex) and low refractive index (LowIndex) materials. In many embodiments, the penultimate layer distal from the substrate lens is a HighIndex layer, and the final layer distal from the substrate lens is a LowIndex layer.

Abstract: A lottery ticket is printed on a substrate sheet material having a front surface with lottery game indicia printed thereon and a removable covering material, typically scratch-off material, covering the lottery game indicia which is removable by a player to expose the game indicia for playing the game and other game information printed on the substrate sheet material where at least part of the substrate sheet material is formed of a translucent synthetic material to enable viewing through the part by the player. In order to allow the ticket to be dispensed in a row of the tickets from a dispensing machine with an optical sensor, a patch of an opaque or semi-opaque material is applied onto the substrate at a location to cooperate with the sensor while it is operating to detect ticket location.

Abstract: A ramp bracket assembly for selectively storing a ramp in a rear of the vehicle is disclosed. The ramp bracket includes a mounting plate, a support plate, and a retaining channel. The mounting plate is spaced away from and fixedly connected to the support plate. The mounting plate further includes a key member that engages with a mounting bracket connectable to the vehicle sidewall. The retaining channel, which selectively receives a ramp, is fixedly connected to the support plate.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing shipping records are described. A system includes a record access circuit structured to interpret a plurality of records, each including multiple shipment description values. A container representation circuit is structured to determine a container volume value corresponding to each of the plurality of records, and to further determine the container volume value in response to a weighting between the shipment description values. A shipping volume reporting circuit is structured to update each of the records with the container volume value. A related method includes interpreting a plurality of records, each record including multiple shipment description values. The method includes determining a container volume value corresponding to each of the records, in response to a weighting between the shipment description values, and updating each of the plurality of records with the container volume value.

Abstract: A device and related method for removing debris from a metal wire formed by a process utilizing a lubricant is provided. The device includes at least two segments forming a passage through which the wire passes, each having a leading edge for stripping debris from the wire, and a resilient member positioned around the at least two segments and applying a force to the segments sufficient to cause contact between the leading edges and at least the debris on the metal wire passing through the passage. The method broadly includes the steps of moving the metal wire through a passage formed by a plurality of segments, contacting the wire moving through the passage using a leading edge of each of the at least two segments, and applying a force to the at least two segments to cause contact between the leading edge of each of the at least two segments and at least the debris on the wire passing through the passage.

Abstract: A ramp member is disclosed that cooperates with a connection member mounted to a portion of a vehicle, such as a tailgate. The ramp member comprises a first ramp section defining a connection end and a connector element fixedly secured to the connection end. The connector element defines a mounting channel that is configured to engage the connection member mounted to the vehicle. An opening to the mounting channel that has a width smaller than a width of the mounting channel to selectively secure the ramp member to the connection member.

Abstract: A social media platform stores immersive videos and embedded affordances for each immersive video. Each embedded affordance has a temporal location, a spatial location, and a corresponding reward. A viewer selects and plays a first immersive video. While playing the first stored immersive video, the viewer navigates to different spatial portions of the first immersive video using a spatial visibility window. The viewer activates a first embedded affordance of the first immersive video according to the spatial and temporal location of the first embedded affordance. In response, the platform initiates the reward corresponding to the first embedded affordance. The reward includes a reward token deposited into an account corresponding to the viewer. The viewer later uses a redemption user interface to redeem a plurality of reward tokens from the account (including the deposited reward token) for a single aggregated reward.