Abstract: A reactor is provided for removing polymer from a backside of a workpiece. The reactor includes a vacuum chamber having a ceiling, a floor and a cylindrical side wall. A workpiece support apparatus within the chamber is configured to support a workpiece thereon so that the workpiece has its front side facing the ceiling. The support apparatus leaves at least an annular periphery of the backside of the workpiece exposed. A confinement member defines a narrow gap with the outer edge of the workpiece, the narrow gap being on the order of about 1% of the workpiece diameter, the narrow gap corresponding to a boundary dividing the chamber between an upper process zone and a lower process zone. A vacuum pump is coupled to the lower process zone.

Abstract: A bevel etcher incorporating a vacuum chuck used for cleaning the bevel edge and for reducing the bending curvature of a semiconductor substrate. The bevel etcher includes a vacuum chuck and a plasma generation unit which energizes process gas into a plasma state. The vacuum chuck includes a chuck body and a support ring. The top surface of the chuck body and inner periphery of the support ring form a vacuum region enclosed by the bottom surface of a substrate mounted on the support ring. A vacuum pump evacuates the vacuum region during operation. The vacuum chuck is operative to hold the substrate in place by the pressure difference between the top and bottom surfaces of the substrate. The pressure difference also generates a bending force to reduce the bending curvature of the substrate.

Abstract: A plasma reactor includes an electrostatic chuck in the chamber for supporting the workpiece, a ceiling electrode facing the electrostatic chuck and an ESC electrode in the electrostatic chuck with an electrostatic clamping voltage supply coupled to the ESC electrode. The reactor further includes at least a first RF bias source of an LF or HF frequency coupled to the pedestal electrode, and first and second VHF power sources of different frequencies coupled to the same or to different ones of the electrodes. The first and second VHF power sources are of sufficiently high and sufficiently low frequencies, respectively, to produce center-high and center-low plasma distribution non-uniformities, respectively, in the chamber.

Abstract: A reversible transmission mechanism for laminator and laminator having same in which a motor is mounted on a spring-supported lever at one side of the laminator body for driving a transmission gear train through a pinion on the output shaft of the motor to rotate two sheet-transfer rollers, and a press member is provided for pressing by the user to bias the lever and to further change the engagement between the pinion and the transmission gear train for reversing the sheet-transfer rollers upon a paper jam.

Abstract: A toner image transfer apparatus in a printer is provided. The toner image transfer apparatus comprises a transfer belt structure, a rotatable transfer rod and a transfer roll retraction mechanism. The transfer belt structure comprises a driven toner image transfer belt and a rotatable backup roll engaging an Inner surface of the transfer belt. The rotatable transfer roll is adapted to define a nip with the belt and backup roll. The transfer roll refraction mechanism comprises motion transfer structure coupled to the transfer roll and drive apparatus associated with the motion transfer structure.

Abstract: An apparatus for fitting or removing tyre to or from a rim 1 of a vehicle wheel comprising a hooked tool 2 which is controlledly moved in a pivotal connection location 4 along a sliding guide 11 and in a second pivotal connection location connected to a link lever, on a tool holder 5, wherein the control movement of a rod-shaped control portion 10 is transmitted to the tool 2 by way of the gear transmission 9.

Abstract: A cornice includes a substantially U-shaped return having a substantially horizontal base plate with a first end and a second end. A first substantially vertical plate has an upper end attached to the first end of the base plate. A second substantially vertical plate has an upper end attached to the second end of the base plate. A façade is removably coupled to the return via at least one fastening device. Each fastening device is configured to be repeatedly fastened and unfastened.

Abstract: A blind device includes a flexible screen body with interconnected shielding sections, and a counterweight unit provided on a lowermost one of the shielding sections. The counterweight unit includes a horizontally extending top bar retained at a top edge of the lowermost shielding section, a horizontally extending bottom bar retained at a bottom edge of the lowermost shielding section, and at least one foldable component connected to the top and bottom bars and convertible from an unfolded state, where the lowermost shielding section is stretched by the counterweight unit in a vertical direction, to a folded state, where the counterweight unit folds the lowermost shielding section in the vertical direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a window shade or a window covering having a control mechanism for raising and lowering the window covering. The control mechanism is provided with a separator system. In particular, the present invention relates to a control mechanism with a separator system that provides a disengagement function to prevent or minimize damage to the control mechanism as a result of unintended force on the window shade or window covering. The separator system utilizes a body movable between a mated position where a clutch axle and a winding axle move synchronously, and an unmated position where the winding axle is allowed to rotate independent of the clutch axle.

Abstract: Magnetic tilt and raise/lower mechanisms for a venetian blind disposed between the glass panes of a multi-pane window are disclosed. The magnetic mechanisms act on tilt lines and a raise/lower line coupled to the venetian blind. An inner follower carriage is magnetically coupled to an external carriage moveable over one of the glass panes. Movement of the external carriage imparts movement of the follower carriage, which in turn actuates the tilt or raise/lower lines, causing the venetian blind to move. The inner follower carriage and the external carriage include at least one magnet assembly mounted on at least one wheel set to facilitate movement of the carriages over the glass panes as well as to reduce the force required to raise or lower the venetian blind. A multiplier is employed to reduce the stroke length required to raise or lower the venetian blind.

Abstract: A blind includes a headrail, a bottomrail, a plurality of slats positioned between the headrail and the bottomrail, a plurality of ladders, a plurality of lift cords and a plurality of connectors. Each ladder is composed of two vertical portions and a plurality of rungs in parallel between the two vertical portions. The lift cords are positioned at two opposite sides of the slats and near the vertical portions of the ladders. Each slat has at least a hole near a longitudinal side edge, and a connector is deposited between the ladder and each slat. Then the connectors can combine the ladders and the lift cords with the slats in such a way that the slats can be kept from moving so as to shut off light effectively.

Abstract: A multi-fold door for an enclosed railcar comprising a first panel, a second panel and a third panel is disclosed. The first panel is pivotally attached to the second panel at an edge of each panel and the third panel is pivotally attached to the second panel at an edge of each panel. A posterior edge of the first panel is attached to a corner post of an end of the enclosed railcar by hinges that are positioned externally to the enclosed railcar.

Abstract: A guide system for a roller blind of a sliding roof system has a guide rail and a slider that is fixed on the roller blind. The slider is accommodated in the guide rail such that the slider is displaceable in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle and carries the roller blind. A pretensioning device is arranged between the guide rail and the slider. The pretensioning device presses the slider outwards transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle in order to tension the roller blind.

Abstract: A tonneau cover unit includes: a tonneau cover that covers a luggage floor which is formed on the rear side within a vehicle; a board that is fitted to an end portion of the tonneau cover, and that is provided with an engaging portion; and a rail along which the engaging portion slides in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The rail has a first engaged portion that locks the board at the prescribed position with the board kept substantially parallel to the luggage floor when the engaging portion is engaged in the first engaged portion; and a second engaged portion that locks the board at a prescribed position with the board kept substantially upright at a predetermined angle with respect to the luggage floor when the engaging portion is engaged in the second engaged portion.

Abstract: A window covering device includes a top rail, a middle rail, and a bottom rail. A window covering is connected to the middle rail and the bottom rail. Multiple roller groups are mounted in the top rail. Two cord controllers are mounted on the top rail, as well as two cord groups. Each cord group includes inner cords and outer cords. One of the inner cords winds the rollers and is mounted on the middle rail through the top rail and the other inner cord winds the rollers and is mounted on the bottom rail through the top rail, the middle rail and the blind. The top rail, middle rail and the bottom rail are all made of plastic and are tubular, which is convenient to adjust the lengths of the rails by cutting the pipe off with knife.

Abstract: A shade arrangement for a motor vehicle with a shade which has a shade material (10) one end of which is attached to a take-up tube (12) which is supported on a take-up shaft (14), and the other end of which is connected to a pull (16). Furthermore, with a motor I provided within the take-up tube for turning the take-up shaft. The shade arrangement also has at least one flexible drive element (20, 26) which is not directly connected to the take-up shaft and is connected to the pull such that rotation of the take-up shaft in the unwinding direction of a shade material leads to a force being applied by the drive element on the pull to move it. The motor is a tube motor which is extends within the take-up tube.

Abstract: An on-line process for manufacturing a multi-ply hygienic paper product is provided which involves the steps of supplying at least two separate webs to a processing station, applying to at least one of the surfaces of a web forming an outer ply a softening composition, adjoining the webs by gluing and/or embossing to manufacture a multi-ply hygienic paper product and directly transporting such paper to a cutting and/ or further processing station.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing security paper, comprising at least one main forming roller, which is provided with a lower portion or forming portion, which is arranged inside a forming box that contains a paper paste, an upper portion or deposition portion, which is arranged below a collecting wire that can move along an advancement direction and is designed to receive, at a collecting face, the sheet formed on the forming roller, and a device for depositing security elements that is arranged upstream of the main forming roller along the advancement direction of the collecting wire and is adapted to deposit the security elements at the collecting face.

Abstract: A cellulose pulp particle having the shape of a general prismatoid having two parallel bases, the pulp particle comprising pulp fibers in a wet laid pulp sheet form, one of the bases having an area that is equal to or greater than the area of the other base, the area of the larger base being equal to or less than 30 mm2 and equal to or greater than 8 mm2, the height of the particle, the perpendicular distance between the bases, being equal to or greater than 0.9 mm and equal to or less than 5 mm.

Abstract: The present invention provides an automatic control system, method and paper manufacturing machine using such control system for automatically controlling the amount of press section dewatering via the metered application of chemical dewatering agents applied to a paper web in a paper manufacturing process. The control system includes a feedback controller for controlling the amount of chemical dewatering agent applied to a paper web, and a monitoring device for obtaining a measurement of the moisture of the paper web exiting the press section.

Abstract: The invention presents a cleaning method and a cleaning method for realizing a used paper recycling apparatus of furniture size, being installed in a room of a small shop or general household, friendly to the environment, and low in running cost. In the cleaning system, the white water dewatered and collected in the paper making section is used as cleaning water, and circulated in the pulp making section and pulp concentration adjusting section, so that the pulp making section and pulp concentration adjusting section may be cleaned. As a result, used paper pulp remaining in the parts of apparatus sections can effective cleaned and removed, troubles due to drying of remaining used paper pulp can be avoided, such as sticking of valves and failure of pumps due to dried used paper pulp, and occurrence of error in concentration adjustment due to residual pulp may be prevented.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an industrial fabric comprising the steps of knitting a first fabric strip portion having two widthwise edges and a width that is narrower than the industrial fabric to the desired length of the industrial fabric, forming the first fabric strip portion into an endless loop by joining the widthwise edges with a CD seam, placing the first fabric strip portion around two rotatably mounted rolls and knitting a second fabric portion to the desired length of the industrial fabric, where knitting of the second fabric portion proceeds along the first edge of the first fabric portion and is a knitted continuation thereof. Alternatively, knitted fabric strips can be joined together in a spiral fashion to create a full width industrial fabric.

Abstract: To present a paper machine for a used paper recycling apparatus small enough to be installed in a room of small shop or the like, friendly to the environment, low in running cost, and high in confidentiality. The paper machine includes a paper making process unit for manufacturing wet paper from slurry pulp suspension sent from the pulp making section in preceding process, a drying process unit for drying and regenerating the wet paper manufactured in the paper making process unit, and a calender roll unit for calendering the dry paper dried in the drying process unit, in which the calender roll unit is disposed adjacently to the downstream side position of the drying process unit, and calenders the dry paper discharged from the drying process unit by rolling and pressing from both face and back sides.

Abstract: A headbox apparatus for a papermaking machine is disclosed. The headbox apparatus defines a flow path for stock flowing between an upstream location and a downstream slice lip. The apparatus includes a plurality of blocks which are anchored within the flow path between the upstream location and the slice lip. Each block and an adjacent block of the plurality of blocks define therebetween a flow tube for the flow therethrough of the stock. The flow tube has an upstream portion having an upstream and a downstream end. The flow tube has a downstream portion having an upstream and a downstream extremity, the upstream extremity of the downstream portion extending from the downstream end of the upstream portion. The downstream portion of the flow tube has a volume which is greater than a further volume of the upstream portion of the flow tube such that when the stock flows from the upstream portion to the downstream portion of the flow tube, the stock is mixed within the downstream portion.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for producing large diameter superalloy ingots are disclosed. A material comprising at least one of a metal and a metallic alloy is introduced into a pressure-regulated chamber in a melting assembly. The material is subjected to a wide-area electron field within the pressure-regulated chamber to heat the material to a temperature above the melting temperature of the material to form a molten alloy. At least one stream of molten alloy from the pressure-regulated chamber is provided from the melting assembly and is fed into an atomizing assembly, where particles of the molten alloy are generated by impinging electrons on the molten alloy to atomize the molten alloy. At least one of an electrostatic field and an electromagnetic field are produced to influence the particles of the molten alloy. The particles of the molten alloy are deposited onto a collector in a spray forming operation to form an alloy ingot.

Abstract: One non-limiting embodiment of an apparatus for forming an alloy powder or preform includes a melting assembly, an atomizing assembly, and a collector. The melting assembly produces at least one of a stream of a molten alloy and a series of droplets of a molten alloy, and may be substantially free from ceramic in regions contacted by the molten alloy. The atomizing assembly generates electrons and impinges the electrons on molten alloy from the melting assembly, thereby producing molten alloy particles.

Abstract: A flexible nozzle for injection molded solder and a method of utilizing a flexible nozzle for injection molded solder applications. In order to be able to efficiently carry out the injection molded soldering process, there is utilized a compliant or flexible solder-dispensing nozzle structure, which is particularly advantageously adapted to be utilized with circular or round molds. In this connection, the tip of the nozzle, which provides for the discharge of the solder, provides a series of small holes or apertures for extruding the solder under pressure from at least one solder reservoir. In one embodiment, there may be employed a single solder reservoir with which there communicates a plurality of discharge apertures or holes for extruding the solder so as to fill suitable cavities or recesses formed in a facing surface of a mold for injection molded solder.

Abstract: A steel slab caster having a mold with movable opposing mold faces, and methods of using the steel slab caster for casting steel slabs. The movable opposing mold faces may be laterally positioned with respect to each other in a predefined configuration. Molten steel may be introduced into the mold of the slab caster. The lateral positions and/or pressures of the opposing mold faces are monitored at two vertically spaced locations on at least one of the movable mold faces of the opposing mold faces as casting proceeds, and data is generated in response to the monitoring. The opposing movable mold faces may be adjusted in response to the generated data.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method for casting a silicon ingot by using a continuous casting method by means of an electromagnetic induction, and a method for cutting the silicon ingot as a starting material into plural silicon blocks. When the silicon blocks with a square section are cut out, the sectional shape of the silicon ingot is set to be rectangular. Not less than 6 pieces of equal-sized silicon blocks are cut out from the silicon ingot, thereby enabling to enhance the manufacturing efficiency to a great extent. And since the amount of excision of the edge per silicon block is reduced, the production yield can be enhanced. Further, since the proportion of columnar crystals with large grain size inside the ingot can be increased, it becomes possible to enhance the conversion efficiency of a solar battery using the silicon block as a substrate material.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuous casting of magnesium billets or slabs using an electromagnetic field, and a method thereof compensates small solidification latent heat of magnesium, controls a solidification speed, and stirs molten metal within a mold via an electromagnetic field, thereby enabling continuous casting. The apparatus comprises a mold for continuous casting an as-cast billet or slab, a coil positioned outside the mold and adapted to allow electric current to be applied thereto, and a cooling nozzle positioned outside the mold and the as-cast billet or slab. During casting, electric current having a frequency of 2˜1,000 D or electric current of 50˜10,000 A having a frequency of 200˜200,000 D is applied to the coil. A magnesium billet or slab having enhanced inner quality can be produced at a high casting speed without surface defects by applying a low frequency or high frequency electromagnetic field to the mold during continuous casting of magnesium.

Abstract: The invention relates to a phase change material (PCM) heat exchanger device comprising heat exchanger cells (1a, 1b) operating on the regenerative countercurrent principle, phase change material (PCM) accumulators (2, 3) provided in the heat exchanger cells and a vortex tube (6, 7, 8). When the directions of the air, gas and liquid flows are cyclically reversed in the apparatus, energy is recovered into the heat exchanger cell and the PCM accumulator, and during the subsequent cycle, the energy is released from the heat exchanger cell and PCM accumulator. While one heat exchanger cell and PCM accumulator is being charged, the other heat exchanger cell and PCM accumulator are simultaneously discharged. The cool/hot flow from the vortex tube is used to enhance/create needed temperature differences.

Abstract: A battery heater/cooler increases mileage, comfort and/or safety in a conventional, electric or hybrid electric vehicle. An enclosure around the battery or batteries includes an inlet for heated or cooled air or liquid and an outlet to facilitate the transfer of heated or cooled air into a passenger compartment. A second battery unit may be used in conjunction with a timer or a remote controlled device to pre-heat or pre-cool itself and the primary battery or batteries and/or passenger compartment before commute times.

Abstract: A heat dissipating device includes a heat sink, a pump connected to the heat sink, and a radiator connected to the heat sink and the pump. The radiator includes spaced apart first and second side tanks. The second side tank defines an inner space therein and is formed with a coolant-refilling opening in fluid communication with the inner space. The radiator further includes a cap mounted removably on the second side tank for closing sealingly the coolant-refilling opening, a plurality of conduits interconnecting and in fluid communication with the first and second side tanks, and a fin structure disposed between the first and second side tanks and connected to the first and second side tanks and the conduits.

Abstract: The present invention includes an apparatus for watertight sealing of a steam generator nozzle and methods for installing the apparatus. The apparatus comprises a nozzle dam, a nozzle dam attachment ring, and a seal. The attachment ring is provided in an interior of the nozzle and has a plurality of retaining tabs and a nozzle dam landing. The nozzle dam is adapted for insertion into the attachment ring and abutment against the nozzle dam landing. The nozzle dam has a plurality of radial protrusions adapted to interlock with the retaining tabs for fixing the nozzle dam in the attachment ring upon rotation of the nozzle dam in the attachment ring. The seal covers at least one side of the nozzle dam for effecting a seal between the nozzle dam and the attachment ring. The present invention also provides methods and apparatus for the pressurization and control of nozzle dam seals.

Abstract: A heat sink fin with joining structure is provided, the heat sink fin is joined with and spaced from other heat sink fins mutually, so as to from a heat sink. The heat sink fin includes a plate and at least one inserting piece. The plate has at least one inserted slot formed in the plate near an edge thereof. The inserting piece extends from the edge of the plate corresponding to the inserted slot and has a buckled hole and a deformable buckling portion. The position of the inserted slot is corresponding to that of the inserting piece of another heat sink fin, and the inserted slot is provided for the inserting piece of the neighboring heat sink fin to be inserted into, and then the buckling portion of the heat sink fin is deformed and buckled into the buckled hole of the neighboring heat sink fin.

Abstract: A heat dissipating device includes: a heat sink including a casing having upper and lower chambers, the casing being formed with a fluid inlet in fluid communication with the upper chamber, and a fin unit provided in the lower chamber; a pump mounted on the casing for withdrawing fluid from the lower chamber; and an external cooling unit including a radiator mounted on the casing and including first and second side tanks, conduits connected to the first and second side tanks, and a fin structure connected to the first and second side tanks and the conduits. The first side tank is in fluid communication with the pump. The second side tank is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet of the casing. A cooling fan faces toward the fin structure of the radiator.

Abstract: A liquid cooled heat sink includes: a casing defining an inner space and provided with a partitioning wall dividing the inner space into upper and lower chambers and formed with a fluid passage in fluid communication with the upper and lower chambers, the casing being formed with a fluid inlet in fluid communication with the upper chamber and adapted to be connected to an external cooling device; a fin unit provided in the lower chamber; and a pump mounted on the casing and having a suction end disposed in the upper chamber, extending through the partitioning wall, and in fluid communication with the lower chamber, and a discharging end disposed in the upper chamber and adapted to be connected to an external cooling device.

Abstract: In a cooling apparatus, a heating element is thermally connected to a container that defines a first channel through which a coolant flows. A porous block having a large number of pores is accommodated in the container so as to block the first channel. The porous block has second channels formed in the porous block along the first channel and each having an opening on an upstream side of the first channel. Further, third channels are formed in the porous block along the first channel, each have an opening on an upstream side of the first channel, and communicate with the second channels via the pores.

Abstract: A cooling apparatus for cooling an electronic device to be cooled includes a heat collector device which is in thermal contact with the electronic device, a heat sink for absorbing heat which is emitted from the heat collector device and comprising a condenser unit and a thermal interface unit, wherein the condenser unit is cooled down via the thermal interface unit, and a heat transfer device made from a flexible material for transferring heat which is emitted from the heat collector device to the heat sink. The thermal interface unit is designed as a thermal plug for connecting the condenser unit of the heat sink thermally and removably to an external cooling means.

Abstract: A louver fin (11) has a corrugated shape by alternately forming bent portions (15) and flat portions (17) in a strip thin sheet (13). In the louver fin (11), a plurality of louvers (19, 21) cut and bent out of the flat portions (17) along the longitudinal direction Y of the strip thin sheet (13) are arranged parallel to each other along the width direction X of the strip thin sheet (13). In the louver fin (11) the louvers (18, 19) are cut and bent at an approximately same angle with respect to the longitudinal direction Y of the strip thin sheet (13).

Abstract: A stacked plate heat exchanger includes a core having an outer periphery and a longitudinal axis, a shell having an inner periphery and at least partially surrounding the core to define a fluid gap therebetween. A seal between the shell and the core at least partially divides the fluid gap into an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber, and includes at least one core fin projecting generally radially outwardly and having at least one core fixed end proximate the outer periphery of the core and at least one core free end distal the outer periphery of the core, and also includes at least one shell fin projecting generally radially inwardly and having at least one shell fixed end proximate the inner periphery of the shell and at least one shell free end distal the inner periphery of the shell, and being interleaved with the at least one core fin.

Abstract: A water generation system for the generation of water on board an aircraft, in one example, may be used for the cooling of the fuel cell exhaust air cabin air which is drawn off through the condenser due to the pressure difference between the cabin pressure and ambient pressure and may not require extensive cooling circuits or pumps.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a header for a heat exchanger that has an inflow side, an outflow side, a bypass port therebetween, and a pressure-sensitive flapper valve proximal the bypass port. As pressure increases at the inflow side of the header, the flapper valve opens proportionally, and, as pressure decreases at the inflow side, the flapper valve closes proportionally. The flapper valve is preferably included as part of a service cartridge assembly to facilitate easy repair and/or replacement of the flapper valve. In some embodiments of the invention, a differential pressure is measured between the inflow and outflow sides, and activation of the heat exchanger is initiated in response to the differential pressure having exceeded a set point.

Abstract: An Electronically-Controlled Register vent (ECRV) that can be easily installed by a homeowner or general handyman is disclosed. The ECRV can be used to convert a non-zoned HVAC system into a zoned system. The ECRV can also be used in connection with a conventional zoned HVAC system to provide additional control and additional zones not provided by the conventional zoned HVAC system. In one embodiment, the ECRV is configured to have a size and form-factor that conforms to a standard manually-controlled register vent. In one embodiment, a zone thermostat is configured to provide thermostat information to the ECRV. In one embodiment, the zone thermostat communicates with a central monitoring system that coordinates operation of the heating and cooling zones and provides heating and cooling to the various zones according to a cost budget.

Abstract: A zone thermostat for use in connection with an Electronically-Controlled Register vent (ECRV) that can be easily installed by a homeowner or general handyman is disclosed. The ECRV can be used to convert a non-zoned HVAC system into a zoned system. The ECRV can also be used in connection with a conventional zoned HVAC system to provide additional control and additional zones not provided by the conventional zoned HVAC system. In one embodiment, the ECRV is configured have a size and form-factor that conforms to a standard manually-controlled register vent. In one embodiment, the zone thermostat is configured to provide thermostat information to the ECRV. In one embodiment, the zone thermostat communicates with a central monitoring system that coordinates operation of the heating and cooling zones.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for expandable storage and metering are disclosed. In some embodiments, the expandable storage and metering device comprises a body with a storage cavity therein, a chassis upon which the body is mounted, and at least one port in communication with the storage cavity, wherein the body is expandable and collapsible to change the internal volume of the storage cavity. Some method embodiments for operating the expandable storage and metering device comprise expanding the device and collapsing the device, wherein said expanding and said collapsing comprises utilizing actuators to raise/lower or extend/retract the walls of the device. In other method embodiments for operating the device, said expanding comprises removing the roof of the device and positioning at least one stackable module on top of the device and said collapsing comprises removing the at least one stackable module and replacing the roof.

Abstract: A flow control packer (FCP) includes a packer mandrel, and an inflatable element fixedly attached at each end to the mandrel. The inflatable element includes circumferential grooves and flow control grooves formed on an outside surface thereof configured to press against the inside diameter of a conduit to provide a flow resistant surface for controlling the flow rate of a fluid through the conduit. A system can include one or more flow control packers (FCP) configured to control fluid flow through different sections of the conduit.

Abstract: Systems for assessing health and performance of actuators and sensors in process equipment system. In one example, the equipment system comprises subsystems (preferably physically coupled subsystems), at least some of which are characterizable by transmitted signals. Some of these signals are transformed into a comparable form and compared, so as to identify signals that are outside of operating bounds.

Abstract: Hollow non-porous metallic spheres may be used in treatment of subterranean formations, including hydraulic fracturing and sand control methods, such as gravel packing. The spheres typically having a diameter ranging from about 4 mesh to about 100 mesh. When employed in deep water environments having high closure stresses, the spheres have a thicker wall and are characterized by the higher ASG, typically between 2.5 to about 4.0. The ASG of the spheres, when less harsh environments are encountered, is generally ultra lightweight (ULW) with an ASG less than or equal to 2.0. Fracture conductivity may be increased by the placement of the hollow non-porous metallic spheres as a partial monolayer.

Abstract: For use with a top drive power unit supported for connection with a well string in a well bore to selectively impart longitudinal and/or rotational movement to the well string, a feeder for supplying a pumpable substance such as cement and the like from an external supply source to the interior of the well string in the well bore without first discharging it through the top drive power unit including a mandrel extending through a sleeve which is sealably and rotatably supported thereon for relative rotation between the sleeve and mandrel. The mandrel and sleeve have flow passages for communicating the pumpable substance from an external source to discharge through the sleeve and mandrel and into the interior of the well string below the top drive power unit. The unit can include a packing injection system, clamp, and novel packing configuration.