Abstract: An equalization valve includes a valve body defining an inlet body, an outlet body, and a gate slot, the inlet body defining an inlet passage and the outlet body defining an outlet passage; a gate defining an equalization chamber, a first equalization channel, and a second equalization channel, the equalization chamber and the first and second equalization channels defining an equalization pathway across the gate; and an actuation stem slidable within the equalization chamber between a first chamber position, wherein the actuation stem blocks the equalization pathway, and a second chamber position, wherein the actuation stem unblocks the equalization pathway; wherein the actuation stem is further slidable within the gate slot of the valve body between a first valve position, wherein the gate is seated with the valve body, and a second valve position, wherein the gate is unseated from the valve body.

Abstract: A bypass valve includes a base defining a base sealing surface, the base defining an upstream utility bore, a downstream utility bore, a meter inlet bore, and a meter outlet bore each extending into the base sealing surface; and a selector defining a selector sealing surface and a front surface, a primary passage and a secondary passage defined within the selector between the selector sealing surface and the front surface, the primary passage being isolated from the secondary passage, the selector defining at least one primary passage bore extending into the selector sealing surface and connected in fluid communication with the primary passage, the selector defining at least one secondary passage bore extending into the selector sealing surface and connected in fluid communication with the secondary passage.

Abstract: One embodiment is an aircraft comprising a rechargeable main battery for providing power to a system load of the aircraft; power source for providing at least one of a voltage and a current for recharging the rechargeable main battery; and a controller module connected to the rechargeable main battery, the controller module configured to control a process of recharging the rechargeable main battery using the at least one of the voltage and the current according to a battery type of the rechargeable main battery without removing the rechargeable main battery from the aircraft.

Abstract: A first steer tube has a first upper side and a first lower side. A second steer tube has a second upper side and a second lower side. A first axle mounting structure is configured to connect the first lower side to a first end of an axle assembly of a wheel. A second axle mounting structure is configured to connect the second lower side to a second end of the axle assembly. A first head tube assembly is disposed to the first lower side. A second head tube assembly is disposed to the second lower side. A support structure includes a first pivot connection and a second pivot connection. A first arm connects the first head tube assembly and the first pivot connection. A second arm connects the second head tube assembly and the second pivot connection.

Abstract: Earbuds with one or more enhanced features, including sound quality, perceived auditory effects, audio control, and user interface. Sound quality is improved using multiple speakers and isobaric chambers. Additional speaker and isobaric chamber can be in an ear hook. Elongated scalar coils modify or enhance the audio quality of an earbud and its auditory effects on a user. A users voice is utilized to record and to generate a user-specific audio filter that is applied to stored audio files to generate modified audio files. An earbud can include an array of capacitive sensors arranged on a stem extending from the earbud. An earbud device can also have a user interface that incorporates a rotary switch that is part of a stem that extends from the main body of the earbud. The interface can include a pressure switch positioned on the stem.

Abstract: A light fixture and directional assistive listening device includes a portable lamp fixture, a parabolic sound membrane, and a light and acoustic transducer assembly. The portable lamp fixture includes a stand, a light socket, and a primary power cord. The primary power cord is electrically connected to the light socket through the stand. The parabolic sound membrane is concentrically attached to the light socket. The light and acoustic transducer assembly is electrically connected to the light socket and concentrically positioned within the parabolic sound membrane. When the light and acoustic transducer assembly is communicably coupled with an external audio device, the light and acoustic transducer is able to output greater clarity of speech and directionality of sound due to the configuration and positioning of the light and acoustic transducer assembly and the parabolic sound membrane.

Abstract: A light fixture and directional assistive listening device includes a portable lamp fixture, a parabolic sound membrane, and a light and acoustic transducer assembly. The portable lamp fixture includes a stand, a light socket, and a primary power cord. The primary power cord is electrically connected to the light socket through the stand. The parabolic sound membrane is concentrically attached to the light socket. The light and acoustic transducer assembly is electrically connected to the light socket and concentrically positioned within the parabolic sound membrane. When the light and acoustic transducer assembly is communicably coupled with an external audio device, the light and acoustic transducer is able to output greater clarity of speech and directionality of sound due to the configuration and positioning of the light and acoustic transducer assembly and the parabolic sound membrane.

Abstract: A first steer tube has a first upper side and a first lower side. A second steer tube has a second upper side and a second lower side. A first axle mounting structure is configured to connect the first lower side to a first end of an axle assembly of a wheel. A second axle mounting structure is configured to connect the second lower side to a second end of the axle assembly. A first head tube assembly is disposed to the first lower side. A second head tube assembly is disposed to the second lower side. A support structure includes a first pivot connection and a second pivot connection. A first arm connects the first head tube assembly and the first pivot connection. A second arm connects the second head tube assembly and the second pivot connection.

Abstract: A coated material contains a substrate and a protective coating in which the protective coating is formed of a plurality of monomer units covalently bonded to a surface of a substrate such that each monomer unit contains a hydrophobic tail group covalently bonded to the surface of the substrate through an organic linking group. The protective coating is formed by a process including the steps of contacting the surface of the substrate with a surface activator containing a fluoride-containing compound and an organic solvent to form an activated surface, contacting the activated surface with a protective reagent to form an initial coated surface, and contacting the initial coated surface with a thinning agent containing a fluoride-containing compound and a surfactant to form the protective coating.

Abstract: A method for coating a surface of a material involves contacting a surface of a material with a surface activator containing a fluoride-containing compound and an organic solvent to form an activated surface, contacting the activated surface with a protective reagent to form an initial coated surface, and contacting the initial coated surface with a thinning agent containing a fluoride-containing compound and a surfactant to from a final coated surface, wherein the final coated surface is coated with a protective coating that is covalently bonded to the surface of the material.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for creation of discrete corrosion defects with a wide range of diameter to depth aspect ratios for painted test standards. Also provided are methods for use of those test standards to characterize the corrosion under paint detection threshold, statistical reliability, and accuracy of NDI and/or NDT techniques including but not limited to flash thermography, ultrasonic testing, eddy current testing, microwave testing, shearography, and infrared testing.

Abstract: A computer-implemented building design and modeling system and method are provided. In one embodiment, the system comprises a spatial database; means for defining a plurality of parametric objects, each of the parametric objects representing a construction component of at least a portion of a building being modeled and including an interface through which the parametric object communicates information with other ones of the parametric objects; a cost database containing, for each of parametric objects, cost information associated with the parametric object; means for assembling a model of the building utilizing the parametric objects, wherein each of the parametric objects is created in the spatial database; and means for generating in real-time a cost-estimate for the building model based on the cost information associated with the parametric objects as the parametric objects are created in the spatial database.

Abstract: A computer-implemented building design and modeling system, method, and computer program product are provided. In one example, the computer program product includes computer executable instructions for processing by a computer system. The instructions include instructions for creating instances of parametric objects in a spatial database, where each of the parametric objects represents a construction component of a structure to be modeled and includes a user interface for enabling a user to input design data for the parametric object. The instructions also include instructions for initiating assembly of the parametric objects to create a partial building model. The parametric objects include ordinary elements and massing elements, the massing elements being capable of placing instances of other objects into the spatial database and subsequently passing data to and receiving data from the placed objects.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for creation of discrete corrosion defects with a wide range of diameter to depth aspect ratios for painted test standards. Also provided are methods for use of those test standards to characterize the corrosion under paint detection threshold, statistical reliability, and accuracy of NDI and/or NDT techniques including but not limited to flash thermography, ultrasonic testing, eddy current testing, microwave testing, shearography, and infrared testing.

Abstract: A computer-implemented automated building design and modeling and construction project cost estimating and scheduling system (“DMES system”) is described. The DMES system provides a central source for all of the design and construction information for a construction project in a coordinated two-dimensional and three-dimensional spatial database that is freely accessible by all of the members of an interdisciplinary construction project team as a means to produce automatically coordinated design development and construction document information. The DMES system acquires and stores all of the appropriate design, engineering, and construction expertise and information available for any building type for use in automatically assembling and coordinating the design, cost-estimating, and scheduling for a construction project. In one embodiment, the DMES system consists of a plurality of objects, comprising elements and massing elements arranged in an assembly hierarchy.

Abstract: An alarm event generation method and apparatus for signaling an alarm (436, 1400) for a process control system (100). The process control system (100) monitors a production run using a computer system (108). The computer system (108) collects process data corresponding to the production run from operator workstations (104, 106) and stores the process data in a process data database (110). The process data includes a plurality of process parameter counts (430) each corresponding to a process parameter type (428). The process parameter counts (430) are polled from the computer system (108). Each process parameter count (430) has a corresponding manufacturing limit (434) to which it is compared. When a polled process parameter count (430) exceeds its corresponding manufacturing limit (434), an alarm (436, 1400) is signaled. While an alarm (436, 1400) is being signaled, the computer system (108) is prevented from collecting and storing process data.

Abstract: An alarm event generation method and apparatus for signaling an alarm (436, 1400) for a process control system (100). The process control system (100) monitors a production run using a computer system (108). The computer system (108) collects process data corresponding to the production run from operator workstations (104, 106) and stores the process data in a process data database (110). The process data includes a plurality of process parameter counts (430) each corresponding to a process parameter type (428). The process parameter counts (430) are polled from the computer system (108). Each process parameter count (430) has a corresponding manufacturing limit (434) to which it is compared. When a polled process parameter count (430) exceeds its corresponding manufacturing limit (434), an alarm (436, 1400) is signaled. While an alarm (436, 1400) is being signaled, the computer system (108) is prevented from collecting and storing process data.

Abstract: An alarm event generation method and apparatus for signaling an alarm (436, 1400) for a process control system (100). The process control system (100) monitors a production run using a computer system (108). The computer system (108) collects process data corresponding to the production run from operator workstations (104, 106) and stores the process data in a process data database (110). The process data includes a plurality of process parameter counts (430) each corresponding to a process parameter type (428). The process parameter counts (430) are polled from the computer system (108). Each process parameter count (430) has a corresponding manufacturing limit (434) to which it is compared. When a polled process parameter count (430) exceeds its corresponding manufacturing limit (434), an alarm (436, 1400) is signaled. While an alarm (436, 1400) is being signaled, the computer system (108) is prevented from collecting and storing process data.

Abstract: An alarm event generation method and apparatus for signaling an alarm (436, 1400) for a process control system (100). The process control system (100) monitors a production run using a computer system (108). The computer system (108) collects process data corresponding to the production run from operator workstations (104, 106) and stores the process data in a process data database (110). The process data includes a plurality of process parameter counts (430) each corresponding to a process parameter type (428). The process parameter counts (430) are polled from the computer system (108). Each process parameter count (430) has a corresponding manufacturing limit (434) to which it is compared. When a polled process parameter count (430) exceeds its corresponding manufacturing limit (434), an alarm (436, 1400) is signaled. While an alarm (436, 1400) is being signaled, the computer system (108) is prevented from collecting and storing process data.

Abstract: A hammer-head comprising an optimally designed set of nail extraction claws oriented at a predetermined tangency angle relative to an integrally mounted anvil. The hammer-head is to be used with an integral or removable handle to minimize the forces required in extraction of nails and in exercising prying forces by such tools as a common hammer, a crowbar, or a lever with a stationary or movable fulcrum point. An optimization methodology based on minimization of the nail extraction energy or minimization of the nail extraction energy is implemented in a design methodology and an algorithm for the synthesis of the optimal contour shape of the claws.