Abstract: A system obtains health data corresponding to a plurality of patients from one or more first data sources and occupational data from one or more second data sources. The system processes the health data and the occupational data to identify at least one patient of a plurality of patients for inclusion in a behavioral modification program for a health condition of the patient. The system also generates graphical user interfaces of the behavioral modification program for display at a client device to display content associated with the health condition. The system monitors user interactions with the content and integrates additional content based on the monitored user interactions.

Abstract: A piston assembly, particularly suitable for use in a free piston internal combustion engine, is provided with a piston including at least one oil coolant passage therein. The plunger shaft is substantially rigidly attached to the piston and axially extends from the piston. The plunger shaft includes at least one oil supply passage fluidly connected with at least one oil coolant passage.

Abstract: For property that does not have an established value, parties can have difficulty in agreeing on value. In some cases, the transaction costs of the parties can exceed the value of the rights in the property that are at issue. This deters the conclusion of such transactions on an economical basis. Such issues might arise, for example, with respect to transactions involving the transfer of rights to intangible or intellectual property. Provided are systems, steps and methods that enable the resolution of value by taking different risks of valuation into account. In one embodiment, property is given an assigned value based upon calculated actual value. In another, a property may not be subject to the value resolution methodology where its value does not fit one or more pre-set parameters. The systems, steps and methods lend themselves to computer implementation.

Abstract: A hydraulic system, particularly suitable for use in a work machine, is provided with a hydraulic pressure source. A hydraulic transformer has an inlet and an outlet, with the inlet being coupled with the pressure source. A bypass valve operatively couples at least one hydraulic motor selectively either with the pressure source or the hydraulic transformer outlet, depending upon an operating characteristic associated with at least one hydraulic motor. Each hydraulic motor is operated at a high efficiency by providing the inlet hydraulic fluid at an amplified or non-amplified state.

Abstract: A piston assembly, particularly suitable for use in a free piston internal combustion engine, is provided with a piston including at least one oil coolant passage therein. The plunger shaft is substantially rigidly attached to the piston and axially extends from the piston. The plunger shaft includes at least one oil supply passage fluidly connected with at least one oil coolant passage.

Abstract: A free piston internal combustion engine, particularly suitable for use in a vehicle having an electric motor as a prime mover, has a combustion cylinder, a piston reciprocally disposed within the cylinder, and a piston rod coupled with a piston. A linear electric generator/motor includes at least one magnet carried by the piston rod and at least one coil positioned in association with the at least one magnet. An electrical circuit is coupled with each of the at least one coil and a battery. The at least one magnet induces an electrical cutrent within the coil to energize a capacitor within the electrical circuit. The charge from the capacitor may be used to charge the battery. The capacitor and/or battery provides output electrical current which is used to drive the electric motor.

Abstract: A hydraulic system, particularly suitable for use in a work machine, is provided with a hydraulic pressure source. A hydraulic transformer has an inlet and an outlet, with the inlet being coupled with the pressure source. At least one hydraulic motor has an inlet. The hydraulic transformer and each hydraulic motor are disposed within a housing. The housing defines at least one fluid conduit which fluidly interconnects at least one hydraulic motor inlet with the hydraulic transformer outlet and/or pressure source. Since the housing defines the fluid conduits interconnecting the various components therein, the hydraulic pressure may be increased over conventional operating pressures.

Abstract: A free piston internal combustion engine, particularly suitable for use in a vehicle, is provided with a combustion cylinder and a piston assembly. The piston assembly includes a piston and a plunger shaft. The piston is reciprocally movable within the combustion cylinder. The piston includes a crown, a skirt extending from the crown and having a piston ring groove therein, a hub attached to the plunger shaft, and at least one support block. Each support block is positioned adjacent to the crown and extends from the hub toward the skirt. Each support block, skirt and piston ring groove defines a cut-out there between. The cut-out provides mechanical support to the piston during acceleration, and also provides effective heat transfer for cooling the piston ring groove.

Abstract: A method of operating a free piston internal combustion engine includes the steps of: providing a housing with a combustion cylinder and a second cylinder, the combustion cylinder having a bore with an inside diameter; providing a piston including a piston head reciprocally disposed within the combustion cylinder, a second head reciprocally disposed within the second cylinder, and a plunger rod interconnecting the piston head with the second head; and moving the piston between a top dead center position and a bottom dead center position during a return stroke, the return stroke having a stroke length between the top dead center position and the bottom dead center position, the moving step being carried out with a bore/stroke ratio represented by a quotient of the inside diameter divided by the stroke length which is between 1.2 and 1.5. An air scavenging port is in fluid communication with the bore during between 50 and 70 percent of a cycle time period.

Abstract: A free piston internal combustion engine includes a housing with a combustion cylinder and a second cylinder. A piston includes a piston head reciprocally disposed within the combustion cylinder; a second head reciprocally disposed within the second cylinder; a plunger rod with a first end attached to the piston head, a second end attached to the second head, and a longitudinal axis; and a plurality of radially extending vanes attached to the plunger rod and the second head. The radially extending vanes face toward the piston head and are disposed at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A free piston internal combustion engine includes a housing with a combustion cylinder and a second cylinder. A piston includes a piston head reciprocally disposed within the combustion cylinder, a second head reciprocally disposed within the second cylinder, and a plunger rod rigidly attached to each of and interconnecting the piston head and the second head. The piston head defines a bearing with the inside surface of the combustion cylinder. A single bearing is carried by the housing within the second cylinder and reciprocally carries the plunger rod. The single bearing is the only bearing which directly carries the plunger rod.

Abstract: A method of operating a free piston engine with a housing including a combustion cylinder and a second cylinder. A piston includes a piston head reciprocally disposed within the combustion cylinder, a second head reciprocally disposed within the second cylinder, and a plunger rod interconnecting the piston head with the second head. The second head and the second cylinder define a variable volume pressure chamber on a side of the second head generally opposite the interconnecting plunger rod. The piston is moved between a bottom dead center position and a top dead center position during a compression stroke. A fuel and air mixture is combusted in the combustion cylinder when the piston is at or near the top dead center position. The piston is moved between the top dead center position and the bottom dead center position during a return stroke. A hydraulic accumulator is coupled with the pressure chamber during the return stroke.

Abstract: A free piston internal combustion engine includes a housing with a combustion cylinder and a compression cylinder. A fluid inlet port is disposed in communication with the compression cylinder for transporting a pressurized fluid into the compression cylinder. A piston includes a piston head reciprocally disposed within the combustion cylinder, a compression head reciprocally disposed within the compression cylinder, and a plunger rod attached to each of and interconnecting the piston head and the compression head. The compression head includes a plurality of radially extending vanes which are positioned to be at least intermittently disposed in association with the fluid inlet port, whereby pressurized fluid which is transported into the compression cylinder from the fluid inlet port causes the piston to rotate.

Abstract: A piston is provided for use in a free-piston engine and includes a crown portion having a predetermined thickness, a plunger connection portion having a passage extending therethrough along the axis of the piston and being connected to the crown portion, a sealing portion extending from the crown portion, and a strut portion having a plurality of struts disposed between the sealing portion and the plunger connection portion. The piston of the subject invention provides a compact, high strength, low weight design that is effective in use to provide efficient operation and effectively conduct heat from the piston during use.

Abstract: Hydraulic apparatus including hydraulic supply means and an accumulator with an accumulator piston and a means for sensing the accumulator piston position to indicate a load requirement to a control means to selectively actuate the hydraulic supply means to satisfy the hydraulic load requirement and to provide a relatively pressure pulse-free operation by actuating the hydraulic supply means in response to the position and motion of the accumulator piston.

Abstract: A two cycle engine comprises an engine casing that defines a hollow piston cavity, a first gas passageway and a second gas passageway. The hollow piston cavity is separated from the first gas passageway by a valve seat. A piston is positioned in the hollow piston cavity and is moveable between a top position in which the second gas passageway is blocked to the hollow piston cavity, and a bottom position in which the second gas passageway is open to the hollow piston cavity. A gas valve member is positioned adjacent the valve seat and is moveable between an open position and a closed position relative to the valve seat. The gas valve member defines a nozzle outlet that opens directly into the hollow piston cavity. A needle valve member is positioned in the gas valve member and is moveable between an inject position in which the nozzle outlet is open, and a blocked position in which the nozzle outlet is blocked.

Abstract: The design and construction of past piston assemblies having a wrist pin bolted to a connecting rod have excessive weight and structural components, and requires more complex machining techniques and tooling. The present invention overcomes these problem by providing a piston assembly (30) with a wrist pin (36) attached to a piston member (32). Thus, the length of the leg members (80) are short and do not require a portion surrounding the wrist pin (36). The results being reduced piston member (32) and piston assembly (30) weight and lower inertia, a simplified forging or casting process, a more easily machinable cavity (86) within the piston member (32) and a higher quality piston assembly (30).

Abstract: The design and construction of past piston assemblies having a wrist pin retained by a pair of snap rings positioned in a groove. Other past piston assemblies have a stubpin or cap positioned within a bore of a piston member or the wrist pin. In these applications the stubpin or cap is in continuous contact along the interface between the bore and the stubpin or cap. The present invention provides a device for retaining a wrist pin within a pair of bores of a piston member during operation of an engine. The device includes a shank portion having an outer portion thereon and only the outer portion of the shank portion being in contact with an inner surface of the wrist pin. The device and the wrist pin forming a wrist pin assembly. Thus, the device remains positioned within the inner surface and properly positioned the wrist pin assembly within the bores during operation of an engine within a bore of a cylinder liner.

Abstract: Existing cooling jets used with present day engines must be manufactured and assembled to precisely direct the coolant to the proper location within the engine to insure efficient cooling of the components within the engine. Many of the present day cooling jets include a structural body having a piece of tubing bent in a preestablished configuration to direct the coolant to the appropriate area within the engine. The cooling nozzle (60) of the present invention includes a non-metallic body (64) and a metallic insert (110). The non-metallic body (64) includes a single passage (84) therein which has a first transition area (92) for directing a cooling fluid (50) into a pair of passages (86) to provide smooth, reduced turbulences and reduced eddie currents.