Abstract: A system for thermionic energy generation, preferably including one or more thermionic energy converters, and optionally including one or more power inputs, airflow modules, and/or electrical loads. A thermionic energy converter, preferably including an emitter module, a collector module, and/or a seal, and optionally including a spacer. The thermionic energy converter preferably defines a chamber and/or a heating cavity. A method for thermionic energy generation, preferably including receiving power, emitting electrons, and/or receiving the emitted electrons, and optionally including convectively transferring heat.

Abstract: A blower includes a housing including an inlet and an outlet, a bearing-housing structure provided to the housing and adapted to rotatably support a rotor, a motor provided to the bearing-housing structure and adapted to drive the rotor, and an impeller provided to the rotor. The bearing-housing structure includes a bearing shaft having a bearing surface that rotatably supports the rotor. The bearing shaft provides only a single bearing of the non-ball bearing type for the rotor.

Abstract: A power restoration system comprising a feeder, a plurality of power sources available to provide power to the feeder, a plurality of normally closed reclosing devices electrically coupled along the feeder, at least one normally open recloser electrically coupled to the feeder, and a plurality of normally closed switches electrically coupled along the feeder between each adjacent pairs of normally closed reclosing devices. Each switch is assigned a position code having a value for each of the plurality of power sources that determines when the switch will open in response to the fault current and which power source the switch is currently receiving power from, where timing control between the reclosing devices and the switches allows the switch to be selectively opened to isolate the fault within a single feeder section between each pair of adjacent switches or between each switch and a reclosing device.

Abstract: A packaging insert includes first and second insert members each having a first layer or surface including at least one first container receiving opening and a second layer or surface spaced from the first layer or surface and includes at least one second container receiving opening. The at least one first container receiving opening is offset from said at least one second receiving opening so as to retain an inserted container in an angular orientation. At least the first container receiving opening is sized and configured to receive two different types of containers. A method making and using the same is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides a calcined Fex—Aly—Oz based catalyst for the decomposition of hydrocarbons such as methane to produce hydrogen and carbon. The catalyst comprises iron oxide mixed with aluminum oxide and calcined at temperatures above 1100° C., where Fex—Aly—Oz is a chemical composition with x>0.1, y>0.1, z?0 and 0<x/y<200. Reaction of the calcined Fex—Aly—Oz catalyst with methane generates a product stream comprising at least 40 vol. % H2 and carbon. In an embodiment, carbon is separated from the catalyst and the catalyst is reused for continuous methane decomposition to produce H2.

Abstract: A system and method of testing, recording, tracking, and verifying the health of an individual to other persons while providing confidence that the individual user has taken and reported to at least one medical measurement, and this measurement has been identified as normal or not normal to the specific individual user, is provided. A medical instrument which is self-administered by the said individual user and a Green Screen Health Verification System (GS-HVS) server are provided. Software that contains prearranged decisions and protocols to provide guidance to said individual user and to an individual user's supervisor and records any abnormal reporting from said individual user and provides alerts based on said protocol. Software returns guidance from said GS-HVS server to said individual user, and upon said GS-HVS indicting that said individual user has good health, software displays a good health status or “Green Screen” on said individual user's said mobile device.

Abstract: Disclosed are multi-ply tissue products comprising a non-crosslinked binder that are durable, smooth and with low levels of Slough. In certain instances the creped tissue product have a geometric mean tensile (GMT) from about 700 to about 1,500 g/3? a basis weight from about 45 to about 60 gsm and a Slough less than about 2.00 mg, more preferably less than about 1.50 mg, such as from about 0.10 to about 2.00, such as from about 0.25 to about 1.50 mg. The inventive tissue products also have good durability, such as a Durability Index from about 10.0 to about 20.0, smooth surfaces, such as a TS750 value from about 15.0 to 40.0 and low stiffness, such as a Stiffness Index less than about 10.0.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel assembly comprises a wheel for mounting a tire thereon and having an inner space; and an in-wheel motor mounted in the inner space of the wheel and comprising: a rotor connected to the wheel and configured to rotatable relative to a stator, the stator configured to drive the rotor, an electronic device comprising a circuit board and electronics mounted on the circuit board and configured to control the in-wheel motor, two-phase dielectric material, and covers coupled with the stator to form a hermetic enclosure. The electronic device and the two-phase dielectric material are contained in the hermetic enclosure formed by the wall of the stator and the covers coupled with stator, and the two-phase dielectric material is in contact with the wall of the stator and the electronic device to cool the stator and the electronic device by transitioning between a liquid phase and a gaseous phase, conduction, and convection.

Abstract: A tennis ball including a spherical core. The spherical core including an outer surface and a raised wall integrally molded as part of the outer surface.

Abstract: A hypersonic aircraft includes one or more leading edge assemblies that are designed to manage thermal loads experienced at the leading edges during high speed or hypersonic operation. Specifically, the leading edge assemblies may include an outer wall tapered to a leading edge or stagnation point. The outer wall may define a vapor chamber and a capillary structure within the vapor chamber for circulating a working fluid in either liquid or vapor form to cool the leading edge. In addition, a thermal energy storage reservoir positioned within the vapor chamber contains a phase change material for absorbing thermal energy.

Abstract: An artifact mitigation system includes a projector assembly and a set of imaging optics optically coupled to the projector assembly. The artifact mitigation system also includes an eyepiece optically coupled to the set of imaging optics. The eyepiece includes a diffractive incoupling interface. The artifact mitigation system further includes an artifact prevention element disposed between the set of imaging optics and the eyepiece. The artifact prevention element includes a linear polarizer, a first quarter waveplate disposed adjacent the linear polarizer, and a color select component disposed adjacent the first quarter waveplate.

Abstract: A firearm for firing case-telescoped (CT) rounds includes a barrel configured for transit of a bullet of a live CT cartridge in a live-fire operating mode. The live CT cartridge is chambered and fired from a live-fire chamber installed in the live-fire operating mode. The firearm further includes a blank-fire chamber configured to chamber and fire a blank CT cartridge in a blank-fire operating mode, wherein the blank-fire chamber has a second diameter less than a first diameter of the live-fire chamber, to prevent chambering of the live CT cartridge in the blank-fire operating mode. The arrangement can enhance safety by preventing accidental firing of a live round during operation when it is assumed that only blanks are being fired.

Abstract: A remote pulse TDR liquid level measurement system and method may include inserting a probe into a body of water. The probe has a probe/air interface, and the body of water includes an air/water interface. A narrow pulse is remotely transmitted to the probe via a coaxial cable. A first impedance mismatch is received from the probe/air interface in a form of a positive reflected pulse, and a second impedance mismatch is received from the air/water interface in a form of a negative reflected pulse. A time between the positive reflected pulse and the negative reflected pulse is calculated, and the time is converted to a distance, the distance being indicative of the water level.

Abstract: An implant includes a first plate and a second plate, a first wedge member and a second wedge member spaced from the first wedge member that couple the first and second plates together. The first and second wedge members configured to translate along the first and second plates from a first contracted configuration into a second expanded configuration. The implant includes an actuation member coupled to the first wedge member and the second wedge member. The actuating member defines a flange extending toward the first and second plates. The actuation member configured to move the first and second wedge members from the first contracted configuration into the second expanded configuration so that the first and second plates separate from each other.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for providing network access services to mobile users via mobile terminals over a satellite system. In embodiments, dynamic multiplexing of traffic from fixed terminals and mobile users on the same satellite beam can take advantage of statistical multiplexing of large numbers of users and on different usage patterns between fixed terminals and mobile users. In embodiments, quality-of-service (QoS) is controlled for mobile devices at a per-user level. Mobile users may be provisioned on the satellite system according to a set of traffic policies based on their service level agreement (SLA). System resources of the satellite may be allocated to mobile users based on the demand of each mobile user and the set of traffic polices associated with each mobile user, regardless of which mobile terminal is used to access the system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a non-lead conductive cap for a battery terminal and battery. The battery may comprise a battery housing and a positive and negative terminal, the positive and negative terminal being accessible through the battery housing; wherein the positive and negative terminal further comprise an electrically conductive cap mounted on both the positive and negative terminal, wherein the electrically conductive cap does not comprise lead.

Abstract: An exhaust system assembly including a catalyst housing, a catalyst core, and a swirler tube positioned inside the catalyst housing. The swirler tube has a plurality of openings that permit radial exhaust flow into an inner volume of the swirler tube from the catalyst housing. One end of the swirler tube has blades that extend inward and include oblique surfaces arranged at oblique angles relative to a centerline axis of the swirler tube. These blades induce a vortex in the exhaust gases exiting the first swirler tube end. The swirler tube is arranged inside the catalyst housing such that a sequential flow path is created where the exhaust gases flowing through the catalyst housing must first pass through the openings in the swirler tube and then by the blades at the first swirler tube end.