Abstract: A shunt-enhanced decompression and pulsation trap (SEDAPT) for a screw compressor assists internal compression (IC), reduces gas pulsation and NVH (Noise, Vibration & Harshness), and improves off-design efficiency, without using a slide valve and/or a serial pulsation dampener. The SEDAPT includes an inner casing, e.g., an integral part of the compressor chamber, and an outer casing, e.g., surrounding part of the inner casing near the compressor discharge port, forming at least one diffusing chamber with an outflow orifice or nozzle equipped with an ODV (one-direction valve) at the outflow exit and a feedback region that provides a feedback outflow loop between the compressor chamber and the compressor discharge port. The SEDAPT automatically bleeds or compensates cavity pressure to meet different outlet pressures, eliminates or reduces energy waste, gas pulsations and NVH associated with any over-compression and under-compression before the discharge port opens.

Abstract: A shunt-enhanced decompression and pulsation trap (SEDAPT) for a screw compressor assists internal compression (IC), reduces gas pulsation and NVH (Noise, Vibration & Harshness), and improves off-design efficiency, without using a slide valve and/or a serial pulsation dampener. The SEDAPT includes an inner casing, e.g., an integral part of the compressor chamber, and an outer casing, e.g., surrounding part of the inner casing near the compressor discharge port, forming at least one diffusing chamber with an outflow orifice or nozzle equipped with an ODV (one-direction valve) at the outflow exit and a feedback region that provides a feedback outflow loop between the compressor chamber and the compressor discharge port. The SEDAPT automatically bleeds or compensates cavity pressure to meet different outlet pressures, eliminates or reduces energy waste, gas pulsations and NVH associated with any over-compression and under-compression before the discharge port opens.

Abstract: A shunt-enhanced compression and pulsation trap (SECAPT) for a screw compressor assists internal compression (IC), reduces gas pulsation and NVH, and improves off-design efficiency, without using a slide valve and/or a serial pulsation dampener. The SECAPT includes an inner casing (e.g., an integral part of the compressor chamber) and an outer casing (e.g., surrounding part of the inner casing near the compressor discharge port) forming at least one diffusing chamber with a nozzle and a feedback region that provides a feedback flow loop between the compressor chamber and the compressor discharge port. The SECAPT automatically compensates cavity pressure to meet different outlet pressures (hence eliminating under-compression and/or over-compression when the discharge port opens), partially recovers potential energy associated with the under-compression (UC), and traps and attenuates gas pulsations and noise before the discharge port opens.

Abstract: Integrated rotary positive-displacement machinery, for example compressors and/or vacuum pumps, include a compressor core equipped with at least one shunt pulsation trap and at least one absorptive silencer integrated together along with other compressor components (such as inlet/outlet pulsation dampeners, gas filters, safety valves, etc.) into a unit or package with a reduced pulsation, noise, energy consumption, and size and weight. Some embodiments further include at least one 4-way valve and corresponding piping so that the same positive-displacement machine can be operated to selectively provide vacuum and pressure by operation of the valve and piping.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for stacking block games, which may include a game board or base including magnetized portions and a hover platform having at least one magnet connected thereto and being suspended above the game board or base and in a floating or hovering arrangement that can be generated by magnetic repulsion between the magnet of the platform and the magnetized portions of the game board or base. Further, a plurality of game pieces may be arranged in a stacked orientation on the platform.

Abstract: A shunt pulsation trap for a positive-displacement gas-transfer machine having a gas transfer chamber with an intake port and a discharge port and having at least one positive-displacement drive device (such as two cooperating rotors) defining a compression region of the transfer chamber. The trap includes a pulsation-trap chamber arranged for parallel fluid flow with the machine transfer chamber. The trap has a first (e.g., inlet) port in communication with the compression region of the transfer chamber (e.g., at least one lobe span away or totally isolated from the transfer-chamber intake port), a second (e.g., discharge) port in communication with the discharge port of the transfer chamber, and at least one pulsation dampener in the pulsation-trap chamber. In this way, the shunt pulsation trap traps and attenuates gas pulsations before discharge from the machinery transfer chamber, thereby reducing induced NVH and improving machinery efficiency.

Abstract: In one aspect, the embodiments discussed herein are directed to a building brick toy/system including a power brick with a power supply, a motor driven by the power supply, and a receiver coupled thereto; a universal connector with one or more surfaces having a series of mating connectors arranged at spaced intervals therealong configured to mate with corresponding mating connectors of the power brick so as to allow for a releasable connection between the universal connector and power brick; and a remote with a manipulatable control switch that can control the motor of the power brick. In addition, at least one driven element can also be coupled to the power brick so as to be driven in response to operation of the motor.

Abstract: A shunt pulsation trap for a scroll compressor reduces gas pulsations, NVH and improves off-design efficiency. Generally, a scroll compressor with the shunt pulsation trap has a pair of orbiting and stationary scrolls for forming a compression chamber that moves gas pockets from a suction port to a discharge port with internal compression. The shunt pulsation trap is configured to trap and attenuate as pulsations before the discharge port and comprises a pulsation trap chamber adjacent to the compression chamber, therein housed various gas pulsation dampening means or gas pulsation containment means, at least one trap inlet port branching off from the compression chamber into the pulsation trap chamber and a trap outlet port communicating with the compressor discharge chamber after the discharge port.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for stacking block games, which may include a game board or base including magnetized portions and a hover platform having at least one magnet connected thereto and being suspended above the game board or base and in a floating or hovering arrangement that can be generated by magnetic repulsion between the magnet of the platform and the magnetized portions of the game board or base. Further, a plurality of game pieces may be arranged in a stacked orientation on the platform.

Abstract: A shunt pulsation trap for a positive displacement (PD) internal combustion engine (ICE) reduces pulsation, as well as noise, vibration and harshness (NVH), and the overall size of the exhaust system, and also improves cycle (fuel) efficiency. A shunt pulsation trap for a PD-ICE is configured to trap and attenuate gas pulsations before discharge to engine outlet and includes a chamber (trap volume) adjacent to the PD-ICE cavity. The chamber houses at least one pulsation dampening device, at least one relief port (trap inlet) branching off from the PD-ICE cavity into the pulsation trap chamber and a feedback region (trap outlet) communicating with the PD-ICE outlet. The associated methods of reducing pulsations are included as another aspect of the invention.

Abstract: A shunt pulsation trap for a positive-displacement gas-transfer machine having a gas transfer chamber with an intake port and a discharge port and having at least one positive-displacement drive device (such as two cooperating rotors) defining a compression region of the transfer chamber. The trap includes a pulsation-trap chamber arranged for parallel fluid flow with the machine transfer chamber. The trap has a first (e.g., inlet) port in communication with the compression region of the transfer chamber (e.g., at least one lobe span away or totally isolated from the transfer-chamber intake port), a second (e.g., discharge) port in communication with the discharge port of the transfer chamber, and at least one pulsation dampener in the pulsation-trap chamber. In this way, the shunt pulsation trap traps and attenuates gas pulsations before discharge from the machinery transfer chamber, thereby reducing induced NVH and improving machinery efficiency.

Abstract: A shunt pulsation trap for a scroll compressor reduces gas pulsations, NVH and improves off-design efficiency. Generally, a scroll compressor with the shunt pulsation trap has a pair of orbiting and stationary scrolls for forming a compression chamber that moves gas pockets from a suction port to a discharge port with internal compression. The shunt pulsation trap is configured to trap and attenuate gas pulsations before the discharge port and comprises a pulsation trap chamber adjacent to the compression chamber, therein housed various gas pulsation dampening means or gas pulsation containment means, at least one trap inlet port branching off from the compression chamber into the pulsation trap chamber and a trap outlet port communicating with the compressor discharge chamber after the discharge port.

Abstract: A shunt pulsation trap for a screw compressor reduces gas pulsation and NVH, and improves off-design efficiency, without using a traditional serial pulsation dampener and a sliding valve. A screw compressor has a pair of multi-helical-lobe rotors that are housed in a compressor chamber that propel gas flow from a suction port to a discharge port of the compressor chamber. The shunt pulsation trap includes an inner casing as an integral part of the compressor chamber, and an outer casing oversized and surrounding the inner casing. The shunt pulsation trap houses at least one gas pulsation dampening device, and includes at least one injection port (trap inlet) branching off from the compressor chamber into the pulsation trap chamber and a feedback region (trap outlet) communicating with the compressor outlet.

Abstract: A shunt pulsation trap for a rotary lobe blower (pump) or vacuum pump reduces pulsation and NVH, and improves efficiency, without increasing overall size of the blower or pump. A rotary lobe blower (pump) or vacuum pump has a pair of synchronized parallel multi-lobe rotors that are housed in a transfer chamber and that propel flow from a suction port to a discharge port of the transfer chamber. The shunt pulsation trap includes an inner casing as an integral part of the transfer chamber, and an outer casing oversized and surrounding the inner casing. The shunt pulsation trap houses at least one various pulsation dampening device, and includes at least one injection port (trap inlet) branching off from the transfer chamber into the pulsation trap chamber and at least one feedback port (trap outlet) communicating with the blower outlet pressure.

Abstract: A shunt pulsation trap for a positive displacement (PD) internal combustion engine (ICE) reduces pulsation, noise, vibration and harshness (NVH), and overall size of the exhaust system and improves cycle (fuel) efficiency. Generally, a shunt pulsation trap for a PD-ICE is configured to trap and attenuate gas pulsations before discharge to engine outlet and comprises a chamber (trap volume) adjacent to the PD-ICE cavity, therein housed various pulsation dampening means or pulsation containment means, at least one relief port (trap inlet) branching off from the PD-ICE cavity into the pulsation trap chamber and a feedback region (trap outlet) communicating with the PD-ICE outlet. The associated principles, methods and embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A game controller for a tablet computing device is disclosed. The controller includes a control console. A groove on a top portion of the control console configured and arranged to capture an edge of a tablet computing device in an upright orientation. A number of controls are included on the control console for transmitting game control inputs to the tablet computing device.

Abstract: A shunt pulsation trap for a screw compressor reduces gas pulsation, NVH and improves off-design efficiency without using a traditional serial pulsation dampener and a sliding valve. Generally, a screw compressor with the shunt pulsation trap has a pair of multi-helical-lobe rotors housed in a compressor chamber for propelling gas flow from a suction port to a discharge port of the compressor chamber with internal compression. The shunt pulsation trap comprises an inner casing as an integral part of the compressor chamber, and an outer casing oversized surrounding the inner casing, therein housed various gas pulsation dampening means or gas pulsation energy recovery means or gas pulsation containment means, at least one injection port (trap inlet) branching off from the compressor chamber into the pulsation trap chamber and a feedback region (trap outlet) communicating with the compressor outlet.

Abstract: A game controller for a tablet computing device is disclosed. The controller includes a control console. A groove on a top portion of the control console configured and arranged to capture an edge of a tablet computing device in an upright orientation. A number of controls are included on the control console for transmitting game control inputs to the tablet computing device.

Abstract: A shunt pulsation trap for a Roots supercharger reduces pulsation, NVH and improves efficiency without significantly increasing overall size of the supercharger. Generally, a Roots supercharger with the shunt pulsation trap has a pair of interconnected and synchronized parallel multi-helical-lobe rotors housed in a transfer chamber with the same number of lobes for propelling flow from a suction port to a discharge port of the transfer chamber without internal compression. The shunt pulsation trap comprises an inner casing as an integral part of the transfer chamber, and an outer casing oversized surrounding the inner casing, therein housed various pulsation dampening means or pulsation energy recovery means or pulsation containment means, at least one injection port (trap inlet) branching off from the transfer chamber into the pulsation trap chamber and a feedback region (trap outlet) communicating with the supercharger outlet pressure.