Abstract: A charge field-effect linear charger for charging a battery may include a charge pump configured to drive a field-effect transistor external to the charge field-effect linear charger and a variable output impedance for the charge pump, the variable output impedance depending on a mode of operation of the charge field-effect linear charger and an impedance of the field-effect transistor.

Abstract: A cassette for use in concentrating matter in a sample suspension, the cassette comprising a housing having a support and an enclosed sample-receiving channel, the enclosed sample-receiving channel having an upper portion and a base connected by at least two walls; in which the upper portion is configured to have a width less than a width of the base and a depth greater than 400 ?m.

Abstract: A modular valve system having fixed valve ports with frame openings on the exterior of each port. Corresponding connectors or plugs are designed to fit within the valve ports and be locked in place by a clip passing through the framed openings and around the connector or plug. The internal valve component may be electrically or mechanically controlled. The modular valve system may be connected to a vehicle coolant system to control fluid flow to a heat exchanger or bypassing the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A damper valve with an adjustable effective stiffness of a shim. The damper valve includes a piston. The piston has a fluid path formed therethrough. A shim is disposed proximate the fluid path formed through the piston. A stiffness adjustment feature is coupled to the shim, and the shim is disposed between the piston and the stiffness adjustment feature. The stiffness adjustment feature is configured to adjust the effective stiffness of the shim without affecting a preload applied to the shim.

Abstract: An apparatus is presented for attaching a lens to a micro-scope with an optical attachment. The apparatus includes the lens with one or more translational degrees of freedom such that the lens is configured to translate along one or more directions relative to the microscope and/or one or more rotational degrees of freedom such that the lens is configured to rotate about one or more rotational axes relative to the microscope. A system is also presented that includes the apparatus and the optical attachment. The optical attachment includes a lens arm and/or the viewing attachment configured to move the lens and the lens arm relative to the microscope. A method is also presented for using an optical attachment to position a hands-free lens relative to a microscope.

Abstract: A fork assembly including a steerer tube and a crown, wherein the steerer tube is fixedly aligned to the crown in a predefined orientation at a time of manufacture.

Abstract: Role-based access controls (RBAC) are extended to include multi-party authorizations for certain computing cluster operations or data items. Upon receiving a request to perform an operation over a computing cluster or its data, a check is carried out to determine if the operation (e.g., READ, WRITE, EXECUTE, DELETE, etc.) is subject to both a role-based access control as well as a multi-party authorization (MPA) consensus protocol. The determination to allow or deny the request includes (1) accessing a role-based access control record corresponding to the operation or data item, and (2) invoking the multi-party authorization consensus protocol. Prior to performance of the operation, a computer program collects “approve” or “deny” responses from individual ones of the multiple parties. When approval consensus is reached, the operation is performed. If approval is denied, or if an approval consensus is not reached within a time limit, then the operation is not performed.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for launching and recovering a vehicle via a side manway of a tank are provided. A launcher is coupled to a vertical side of the tank via a manway adapter. The launcher includes a first side having a lid and a second side configured to couple with the manway adapter. The lid is removed from the first side of the launcher. An autonomous vehicle is loaded into the launcher via the first side of the launcher. The lid is placed on the first side of the launcher. The launcher can be pressurized with the autonomous vehicle inside the launcher. The manway adapter is opened at the second side of the launcher to release the flammable fluid into the launcher. Subsequent to opening the manway adapter, the autonomous vehicle launches from the launcher into the tank to perform a tank inspection process.

Abstract: A safety apparatus for animal husbandry, especially cows while being milked in stalls in a milking parlour. A frame supports a pair of opposed clamps pivotally mounted to the frame to move towards each other to gain purchase on the hips of an animal. Actuators mounted at a rear end of the apparatus for creating (rearwardly and downwards)/releasing (upwardly) and forwardly) tension of the clamps via a cable assembly. There may alternatively be a chain which is directly actuated by a user, and this may engage teeth for setting desired clamping tension. A tail lifting arm pivots from the rear of the apparatus for movement between an upper position holding an animal's tail upwardly, and a released position, the tail holder being engageable with a tool for causing this movement. In the operative position the tail jack is retained by a pawl engaging a rack on the frame, itself attached to the animal by the tensioned clamps.

Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing data and source validation for equipment output data and/or for equipment failure predict. In various embodiments, in response to receiving a first request for first data that is output by first equipment, a computing system might retrieve and analyze the first data to determine whether the first data can be trusted. If so, the computing system might send the first data to the requesting device. If not, the computing system might send a second request for identifying a blockchain containing a block containing a copy of the first data. In response to the blockchain system identifying such a blockchain, the computing system might receive the identified blockchain; might abstract the block containing the copy of the first data from the identified blockchain; might abstract the first data from the block; and might send the first data to the requesting device.

Abstract: Various examples are provided related to heat transfer enhancement using parametric electrostatic forcing. In one example, a heat transfer system includes a cell including fluids; an aluminum electrode clamped on a first side of the cell; and an ITO-coated glass electrode clamped on a second side of the cell. AC excitation of the aluminum electrode and the ITO-coated electrode produces AC electrostatic fields that resonate the fluids enhancing heat transfer across the cell. The heat transfer system can be operated in microgravity environments without gravity driven buoyancy.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a modular hydraulic manifold for controlling an operation of a hydraulic actuator for an earthmoving machine. The manifold has a spool chamber and a load sensing passageway. The body also has a spool positioned axially within the spool chamber. The spool is spring-biased by an end cap. The module also has a pair of spool actuators that are located at a second end of the body and operable to axially displace the spool within the spool chamber. The pair of spool actuators are positioned in parallel and disposed adjacent to one another. The manifold also has an inlet chamber disposed parallel to the spool chamber and in selective fluid communication with the spool chamber via a spool supply passageway. The body includes openings on opposite sides that open directly to inlet and spool chambers of adjacent bodies to reduce passageway constriction within the hydraulic system.

Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for utilizing blockchain to implement named data networking. In various embodiments, a computing system might determine whether a cache that is communicatively coupled to the computing system contains data that is responsive to a first request received from a user. If so, the computing system might retrieve and send (to the client device) data that is responsive to the received first request. If not, the computing system might send, to a blockchain system, a second request for identifying a blockchain containing a block containing data responsive to the received first request. In response to identifying such a blockchain, the computing system might receive a copy of the identified blockchain; might abstract, from the identified blockchain, the block containing the data responsive to the received first request; might abstract the data from the identified block; and might send the data to the client device.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a modular hydraulic manifold for controlling an operation of a hydraulic actuator for an earthmoving machine. The manifold has a spool chamber and a load sensing passageway. The body also has a spool positioned axially within the spool chamber. The spool is spring-biased by an end cap. The module also has a pair of spool actuators that are located at a second end of the body and operable to axially displace the spool within the spool chamber. The pair of spool actuators are positioned in parallel and disposed adjacent to one another. The manifold also has an inlet chamber disposed parallel to the spool chamber and in selective fluid communication with the spool chamber via a spool supply passageway. The body includes openings on opposite sides that open directly to inlet and spool chambers of adjacent bodies to reduce passageway constriction within the hydraulic system.

Abstract: A damper valve with an adjustable effective stiffness of a shim. The damper valve includes a piston. The piston has a fluid path formed therethrough. A shim is disposed proximate the fluid path formed through the piston. A stiffness adjustment feature is coupled to the shim, and the shim is disposed between the piston and the stiffness adjustment feature. The stiffness adjustment feature is configured to adjust the effective stiffness of the shim without affecting a preload applied to the shim.

Abstract: A hand-held, multi-lane racing game comprising multi-lane curve track segments and multi-lane straight track segments assembled together to form closed-circuit assemblies. The assemblies can be interconnected via transition lane-exchange track segments and lanes from different race track circuits can cross via four-way intersection segments. The closed-circuit assemblies can be configured in a number of patterns and can include covers. The closed-circuit assemblies may be stacked with the use of post and sleeve combinations.

Abstract: Systems and methods additively manufacturing an object by applying heat to a first plurality of metallic particles in a powder bed using a first heat source, wherein the first heat source is one of multiple heat sources configured into an array, and the first heat source generates a first melt pool. Heat is simultaneously applied to a second plurality of metallic particles in the powder bed using a second heat source of the multiple heat sources in the array to generate a second melt pool. The first plurality of metallic particles are separated from the second plurality of metallic particles by a distance, wherein the distance and an amount of heat from each heat source is controlled to generate a combined melt pool that is larger in size and encompasses the first and second melt pools. The combined melt pool is allowed to solidify to form the object.

Abstract: A pressure balanced valve with integral pressure relief function is disclosed. The pressure relief valve includes a cap with an opening therein, a plunger configured to fill the opening in the cap, and a spring configured to hold the plunger against the cap. The pressure relief valve providing a fluid pathway through a piston, wherein the fluid pathway extends between a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber and provides a bypass for fluid to flow from the second fluid chamber to the first fluid chamber when a pressure of a fluid in the second fluid chamber is above a blow-off pressure of the pressure relief valve.

Abstract: A user accessible shock travel spacer assembly is disclosed herein. The system is used on a shock assembly having a shaft with an initial predefined stroke length. A retaining cap having a retaining cap thickness and a retaining cap opening therethrough. The retaining cap opening having a diameter that is larger than an outer diameter (OD) of a shaft of a shock assembly. At least one fastener to fasten the retaining cap with a portion of the shock assembly about the shaft, such that the retaining cap reduces a stroke length of the shaft of the shock assembly by the retaining cap thickness.