Abstract: A refrigerator and a method of operating the same are disclosed. The refrigerator includes an inrush current preventing unit for preventing an excessive current from being applied when an input power is applied to the refrigerator, a bypass unit connected to the inrush current preventing unit to bypass the input power, a voltage measuring unit for measuring a voltage of the rectified and smoothed input power, and a controller for controlling the input power input through the inrush current preventing unit in response to the voltage measured by the voltage measuring unit, for recovering a function of the inrush current preventing unit, and for driving a compressor. An excessive voltage or an inrush current is prevented from being applied when the refrigerator is operated, and the input power is bypassed when the compressor is driven. Therefore, standby time for the re-driving is decreased and convenience is enhanced.

Abstract: A refrigeration system defines a closed loop that contains a working fluid, at least part of the working fluid being circulated through the closed loop. The refrigeration system includes a first heat transfer device that transfers heat from the first heat reservoir to the working fluid, a second heat transfer device that transfers heat from the working fluid to the second heat reservoir, and an electrochemical compressor between the first and second heat transfer devices. The electrochemical compressor includes one or more electrochemical cells electrically connected to each other through a power supply, each electrochemical cell including a gas pervious anode, a gas pervious cathode, and an electrolytic membrane disposed between and in intimate electrical contact with the cathode and the anode.

Abstract: The present invention relates to fluoroolefin compositions. The fluoroolefin compositions of the present invention are useful as refrigerants or heat transfer fluids and in processes for producing cooling or heat. Additionally, the fluoroolefin compositions of the present invention may be used to replace currently used refrigerant or heat transfer fluid compositions that have higher global warming potential.

Abstract: An air conditioning control device for a vehicle has an air conditioner for conditioning air in a vehicle interior, an input receiving unit for receiving inputs of both planned departure time of the vehicle and a target temperature in the vehicle interior, a pre-air-conditioning control unit for starting operation of the air conditioner at an air conditioning start time before the planned departure time so that the temperature in the vehicle interior at the planned departure time becomes the target temperature, and an outdoor air temperature acquisition unit for acquiring outdoor air temperature. The pre-air-conditioning control unit changes the air conditioning operation start time based on the outdoor air temperature acquired by the outdoor air temperature acquisition unit.

Abstract: A compressor includes a casing accommodating a refrigerant passageway, a compression mechanism and a pipe. The compression mechanism is disposed in the interior of the casing to discharge compressed refrigerant into the refrigerant passageway. The pipe extends from inside of the casing to outside of the casing. The pipe includes two ends. One is a closed end disposed in a predetermined position inside the refrigerant passageway. The other end of the pipe is an opened end disposed outside the casing. The pipe is preferably sized so that a measuring instrument can be inserted into the pipe through the opened end.

Abstract: The invention is a 4 pipe geothermal heatpump heater/chiller device. It includes modular elements each having controllers on every module. A master controller may determine how many modules need to be in heating or cooling mode. The controlling of the modules and the switched four pipe arrangement would allow for any number of the modules to be running alternately in either heating or cooling mode at the same time. In between each module would be a spacer having isolation valves on the input and output side of the load side of each module. The valves would open and close depending on however many modules were desired to be in heating and or cooling mode, respectively. It may be also that a module is redundant, which can then be switched back and forth from either heating and or cooling mode, while the other modules themselves are left in their respective modes.

Abstract: A Motor Cycle personal cooling system is disclosed that utilizes waste heat employing solid adsorption. The system includes an air distribution module and one or more desiccant chambers encircling the exhaust pipes of the Motor Cycle. Air blowers blow ambient air across the heat exchanger, cooling the air, transferring heat to the heat exchanger, transferring heat to the water, causing it to boil, and turning the water into vapor which is then adsorbed by the desiccant. A heat source is then applied to the desiccant which releases the vapor that travels to one of the heat exchangers and condenses the vapor back into water. A cooling garment worn by rider of the Motor Cycle has a cool air input and an exhaust output. The cool air input of the cooling garment receives cooled air from the air blowers, and body heat exits out the exhaust output.

Abstract: Grooves are formed on a back surface 22 of a tongue part 21 of a rear plate 3 which surface does not guide a flow of air.

Abstract: Provided is an indoor unit of an air conditioner. The structures of the indoor unit, such as the relationship between an inlet and an outlet, the shape of a rear guide, and the relationship between the outlet and a vane, are improved. Therefore, the airflow of the indoor unit is stable, and the noise level of the indoor unit is low.

Abstract: A system for use in creating form-moulded items of edible ice from a mass of ice is provided, the system comprising mould boxes arranged in a circle, wherein a first opening is formed between two neighbouring mould boxes for extraction of one or more created items of edible ice from moulds formed between said two neighbouring mould boxes. An index control is arranged to move the first opening by performing an angular rotation of one of the mould boxes, so that it is moved into the first opening, thereby closing the same, while the neighbouring mould boxes with items of ice in the moulds there between are not moved. Thereby, a new opening for extraction of completed items of edible ice is formed. Thus, it is achieved that the mould boxes do not need to be movable with respect to each other during formation of the first opening.

Abstract: A refrigerating plant includes a coolant fluid, a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, an evaporator, a collecting receptacle for collecting the coolant fluid, and a control device for piloting the expansion valve. The collecting receptacle is interposed between an outlet of the evaporator and an inlet of the compressor.

Abstract: An ice dispenser includes a discharge mechanism (30) provided between an ice storage room (10) having an ice discharge opening (14) provided at a bottom portion, and a chute (20) for guiding ice received at a reception/delivery opening (22) arranged away from a position directly under the discharge opening (14). The discharge mechanism (30) includes a fixed member (32) extending from under the discharge opening (14) to an edge portion of the reception/delivery opening (22), and a moving member (36) which is reciprocated along the fixed member (32) by a drive section (40), and has a plurality of vertically penetrating holes (38) formed spaced apart in a moving direction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lubricating oil for a compression type refrigerator including a polyvinyl ether-based compound containing an alkylene glycol or polyoxyalkylene glycol unit and a vinyl ether unit in a molecule and having a molecular weight in a range of 300 to 3,000, an epoxy compound having 8 or more carbon atoms The lubricating oil for a compression type refrigerator of the present invention has high miscibility and high viscosity index, and is excellent in stability, and does not have an unpleasant odor under carbon dioxide atmosphere.

Abstract: A fluid machine (10) includes: a closed casing (11) having an oil reservoir (16) in its bottom portion; a main compression mechanism (3) supplied with oil contained in an upper portion (16a) of the oil reservoir; a rotation motor (8); a main compression mechanism side shaft (38) for coupling the main compression mechanism (3) and the rotation motor (8); a mechanical power recovery mechanism (5) disposed below the upper portion (16a) and recovering mechanical power from a working fluid; a sub-compression mechanism (2) disposed below the upper portion (16a); a mechanical power recovery shaft (16) for coupling the mechanical power recovery mechanism (5) and the sub-compression mechanism (2); and a heat-insulating structure (80) located between the upper portion (16a) and the mechanical power recovery mechanism (5) and restricting flow of oil between the upper portion (16a) of the oil reservoir (16) and a lower portion (16b) of the oil reservoir in which the mechanical power recovery mechanism (5) is provided.

Abstract: A refrigerant vapor compression system includes a refrigerant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger economizer and a flash tank disposed in series refrigerant flow relationship in the refrigerant circuit intermediate a refrigerant heat rejection heat exchanger and a refrigerant heat absorption heat exchanger. A primary expansion valve is interdisposed in the refrigerant circuit upstream of the refrigerant heat absorption heat exchanger and a secondary expansion valve is interdisposed in the refrigerant circuit upstream of the flash tank. The flash tank functions as a refrigerant charge storage reservoir wherein refrigerant expanded from a supercritical pressure to subcritical pressure separates into liquid and vapor phases. A refrigerant vapor bypass line is provided to return refrigerant vapor from the flash tank to the refrigerant circuit downstream of the refrigerant heat absorption heat exchanger.

Abstract: A unit for an ejector-type refrigeration cycle includes an ejector, first and second evaporators connected in parallel to a downstream side of the ejector and configured to evaporate the refrigerant discharged from the outlet of the ejector, and a refrigerant distributor configured to distribute the refrigerant discharged from an outlet of the ejector to a side of the first evaporator and a side of the second evaporator. The ejector draws refrigerant from a refrigerant suction port by a high-velocity refrigerant flow jetted from a nozzle portion, and mixes the refrigerant injected from the nozzle portion with the refrigerant drawn from the refrigerant suction port so as to discharge the mixed refrigerant from the outlet of the ejector. The ejector and the refrigerant distributor are connected to each other such that the refrigerant discharged from the outlet of the ejector directly flows into the refrigerant distributor.

Abstract: A new constructive arrangement inserted into a condensing unit provided with bidirectional flow, thus allowing the flow of the machine to be disposed either vertically or horizontally, according to the required application having a base to which an “L” shaped condensing coil is attached, and further receiving a compressor in the center thereof and a side panel on the side thereof, for receiving a structural “L” shaped air scoop, provided with a motor fan on one of the faces thereof that allows the assembly to be closed with said fan being positioned either vertically or horizontally.

Abstract: There is provided a refrigeration apparatus (100). The refrigeration apparatus (100) includes a liquid suction heat exchanger (LSHX) (110) and a compressor (120). The LSHX (110) and the compressor (120) are formed as an integral module (150). Disclosed combinations include tandem compressors (151, 152) and multiple integral module configurations (185, 186).

Abstract: The present invention is a drainpipe heat exchanger to heat cold water using drainwater heat. A slit in a stiff exterior plastic sleeve with band clamps combine with internal hydraulic pressure to create a very high thermal contact force. Vertical and horizontal embodiments with and without protected heat storage are disclosed including a half jacket design for installation around operating drainpipes. A horizontal embodiment discloses a two-piece plastic-copper design. Double-wall construction and venting for visible leak detection satisfies plumbing code requirements. Use on vehicular or other combustion engine exhaust pipes is also contemplated.

Abstract: Bonds and method for forming bonds for a two-phase cooling apparatus are disclosed. In one aspect of the present disclosure, the two-phase cooling apparatus includes an evaporator. One embodiment of the evaporator includes, a first layer having porous regions and non-porous regions, the porous regions having a plurality of through-holes extending through the first layer, a cap structure formed such that when disposed over the first layer, at least a portion of the plurality of through-holes are unobstructed to liquid or vapor flow, a bonding layer formed between the first layer and the cap structure, the bonding layer in contact with at least a portion of the non-porous regions of the first layer, the bonding layer comprising a bond.

Abstract: A method is described for production of LNG from an incoming feed gas (1) on an onshore or offshore installation, and it is characterised by the following steps: 1) the feed gas is led through a fractionation column (150) where it is cooled a separated in an overhead fraction with a reduced content of pentane (C5) and heavier components, and a bottom fraction enriched with heavier hydrocarbons, 2) the overhead fraction from the fractionation column is fed to a heat exchanger system (110) and is subjected to a partial condensation to form a two-phase fluid, and the two-phase fluid is separated in a suitable separator (160) a liquid (5) rich in LPG and pentane (C3-C5) which is re-circulated as cold reflux to the fractionation column (150), while the gas (6) containing lower amounts of C5 hydrocarbons and hydrocarbons heavier than C5 is exported for further processing in the heat exchanger system (110) for liquefaction to LNG with a maximum content of ethane and LPG 3) the cooling circuit for liquefaction of gas

Abstract: To provide a method for the inexpensive manufacture of a deposition burner with small manufacturing tolerances for use in the synthesis of quartz glass, and wherein moreover, when the deposition burner is used as intended, the risk of contamination of the quartz glass to be produced is low, the invention suggests the following method steps: (a) providing a start cylinder of quartz glass (40) which is mechanically provided with longitudinal bores (46, 47); (b) elongating the start cylinder with formation of a burner strand (42), the longitudinal bores being shaped as elongated channels extending in parallel with one another; (c) cutting the burner strand into pieces in the form of cylindrical quartz glass blocks (43), each being provided with passage lines extending in parallel with a central axis of the quartz glass block; and (d) manufacturing the deposition burner by using a respective one of such quartz glass blocks as burner head which has a proximal end and a distal end, the passage lines serving the sup

Abstract: In a known method for producing a tube of quartz glass by elongation, a hollow cylinder of quartz glass is continuously supplied to a heating zone, softened therein zone by zone, and a tube strand is drawn in the direction of a drawing axis out of the softened region by using a roll puller, the roll puller comprising a frame by which a plurality of puller rolls are fixed, which are rotatable around a rotation axis and which are distributed over the circumference of the tube strand and adjoining the tube strand with their cylindrical outer surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a coating for a device for forming glass products, comprising: a first quasicrystalline or approximant or amorphous metallic phase; and a second phase composed of a eutectic alloy having a melting point between 950 and 1150° C. and having a nominal hardness between 30 and 65 HRc; a mould for manufacturing hollow glass products that is provided with this coating; equipment for forming glass in sheets or plates that is provided with this coating; a material constituting this coating; a premixed or prealloyed powder, or a flexible bead or flux-cored wire that makes it possible to obtain this coating; a thermal spraying process for obtaining this coating.

Abstract: The invention relates to a coating for a device for forming glass products, comprising: a first quasicrystalline or approximant or amorphous metallic phase; and a second phase composed of a eutectic alloy having a melting point between 950 and 1150° C. and having a nominal hardness between 30 and 65 HRc; a mould for manufacturing hollow glass products that is provided with this coating; equipment for forming glass in sheets or plates that is provided with this coating; a material constituting this coating; a premixed or prealloyed powder, or a flexible cord or cored-wire that makes it possible to obtain this coating; a thermal spraying process for obtaining this coating.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for manufacturing fibres comprising a melting furnace, a crucible within said furnace comprising at least one orifice (6) and at least one induction coil (4) for heating the melting furnace and the crucible. In a typical system according to the invention, the crucible comprises at least a first part (1) made of graphite and comprising said at least one orifice (6). The invention also relates to the use of the system as well as to a method for manufacturing fibres and to said fibres.

Abstract: Knitted product of the type of briefs, knickers, but mainly tights, including the body part and leg parts, closed in the crotch area by opposite extra courses, in which at least one of the extra courses (7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4) is created in the direction of the top (V1, V2, V3, V4) at first by the extending part (7.1A, 7.2A, 7.3A, 7.4A) and then by the narrowing part (7.1B, 7.2B, 7.3B, 7.4B). The method of knitting of the knitted product of the type briefs, knickers, but mainly tights, closed in the crotch area by at least one pair of opposite extra courses, where the extra courses are knitted by reverse run while in case of extra courses on leg parts, their edge links of the extending part are knitted together with the links of the last continuous line of the leg part, while in case of the extra courses on the body part, the edge links in the extending parts are knitted together with the links of the first continuous line of the body part.

Abstract: A loop element for a hook-and-loop fastener has a substrate layer of a nonwoven having an outer face, a fleece cover layer on the outer face of the substrate layer, and an adhesive layer on the outer face securing the cover layer to the substrate layer. A multiplicity of loops formed of polymer threads are knitted into only the cover layer and project from an outer face thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a washer/dryer (1) comprising a drum (2) wherein the laundry is placed and at least one drum baffle (3) extending in the radial direction towards the center of the drum (2) for tumbling the laundry and wherein the interior of the drum (2) is illuminated effectively.

Abstract: A soft water forming device includes; a capacitive deionization stack (“CDI”) stack including at least one anode and at least one cathode that are separately and alternately stacked to adsorb ions contained in water, and a pumping unit which pumps one of water supplied to the CDI stack and water which has passed through the CDI stack, the pumping unit including; a casing have a water inlet and a water outlet and a rotor which rotates due to motive power supplied by an external motor and pumps the water supplied into the casing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a washer/dryer (1) comprising a drum (3) wherein the laundry is placed, a loading port (5) for loading and unloading the laundry from the drum (3), a door (6) that covers the loading port (5) and a transparent part (7) situated in the door (6) for monitoring the laundry and wherein the interior of the drum (3) is illuminated effectively by consuming a small amount of energy.

Abstract: A washing machine capable of preventing scattering of washing water supplied to a tub through a tub cover. The washing machine is provided with a washing water supply unit that supplies the washing water to the tub cover. The washing water supply unit includes washing water inlet ports that allow the washing water to flow into the tub, and at least one anti-scattering protrusion that prevents scattering of the washing water supplied to the washing water inlet ports.

Abstract: A key interlock system for use in a vehicle may include a start key having a locking groove and inserted into a start key receiving groove formed in an operating knob which is rotatably received in a switch box, a stopper selectively connecting the switch box with the start key, wherein the stopper includes a body configured to be inserted into the locking groove of the switch key through the switch box and the operating knob, an elastic member resiliently supporting the stopper in a direction against the operating knob, and an actuator generating an operating force to the stopper against an elastic force of the elastic member to selectively insert the stopper into the locking groove of the start key when a shift lever is in any position except for a parking position and the start key is rotated from an ON position to an ACC position.

Abstract: An electronically controlled solenoid lock mechanism that remains locked when subjected to an impact type force. The lock utilizes the kinetic energy of a sliding bar during an impact to push on a lever with a fixed fulcrum such that the opposite end of the lever pushes against the core of the solenoid to keep it engaged with a latching mechanism. This prevents the unintentional opening a device to which the lock is attached with a mechanism that is energy, weight and cost efficient.

Abstract: A method for operating a locking device, wherein the locking device disposed in a first main body includes a first locking element. In an embodiment, when the first locking element is forced to separated from a second locking element disposed on a second main body, a pushing element connecting the second main body through an elastic element receives an elastic force by the elastic element to push the second locking element, so that the second main body moves with respect to the first main body. In another embodiment, when a first force is applied onto the first locking element so that the first locking element exits the locking position of the first locking element and the second locking element, a damping restoration element pivoted between the first locking element and the first main body drives the first locking element to be resumed to the locking position after a time interval.

Abstract: The invention concerns a releasable lock (10), in particular for a motor vehicle locking system, comprising a fixed stator (14), an intermediate tubular sleeve (16) which is mounted rotating about its axis in the stator and which is axially fixed in the sleeve and which comprises springs (32) radially mobile under the action of a key designed to be axially introduced into the rotor, the rotor (12) and the intermediate sleeve (16) being locked in rotation relative to each other by the springs when the key is not compatible, a driving element (26) coupling the rotor (12) and a control lever (24), called flat latch, when the key is compatible and an indexer (28) which is axially mobile between a rest position and a releasing position, under the effect of a rotation of the socket (16) relative to the stator (14) resulting from the rotation of the rotor with a non-compatible key, to move axially the driving element towards a released position.

Abstract: A method of producing fertilizer out of sludge, in which method sludge is heated with superheated steam for achieving hygienization to destroy pathogenic microorganisms. In the method, the sludge is heated to a temperature of 60 to 100° C. with superheated steam having a temperature of 200 to 600° C. to activate increasing of the amount of soluble carbon in the sludge and to restart biodegradation of the sludge by using non-pathogenic microorganisms still remaining in the sludge after the heating.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for the combined production of (i) a fertilizer selected from the group consisting of ammonium nitrate, ammonium phosphates or a combination thereof, (ii) a concentrated stream of CO2 through an indirect neutralization of ammonia with an acid selected from the group consisting of nitric acid, phosphoric acid, a salt thereof and a combination thereof; said method comprising: (I) reacting a carbonate product with a reagent selected from the group consisting of nitric acid, phosphoric acid, a salt thereof, and a mixture thereof to form CO2, and a fertilizer containing an ammonia component; and (II) separating at least a portion of said carbon dioxide from said fertilizer in a condensed and relatively concentrated stream.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for improving vermiculite's intake of ammonium, in which method heating of the crude vermiculite is conducted to a temperature where vermiculite's third dehydration step takes place, the temperature being lower than the temperature where vermiculite's fourth dehydration/dehydroxylation step takes place. The invention relates also to use of the obtained vermiculite and to an absorption material, comprising vermiculite material and additives, where at least 50% of the vermiculite material comprises vermiculite, which has undergone the third dehydration step but not the fourth dehydration/dehydroxylation step. The invention relates also to use of thermally treated and ammonium doped vermiculite as fertilizer/soil conditioner.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cooling device (100) for cooling a metal strip (200) after a forming in a cold rolling stand (200) having at least one nozzle (112) for spraying a cooling medium (400) onto the surface of the metal strip (200). In order to make such known cooling device more effective and efficient, it is proposed according to the invention to provide a plate (500), which in an operating position is arranged parallel to the surface of the metal strip (200) in the run-out of the cold rolling stand (300,) and to arrange the nozzle in the operation position in such a manner that the cooling medium is sprayed at an acute spray angle ? into a cavity between the surface of the metal strip and the opposing plate, with a spray direction (R) opposite to the running direction (L) of the metal strip.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a mandrel mill capable of producing a seamless pipe without flaws such as necking. The mandrel mill of the present invention includes a plurality of consecutively provided grooved-roll stands and a mandrel bar 3 provided in a roll groove array formed by the grooved-roll stands so as to continuously elongate a hollow shell 2. Roll grooves 4 of at least a first stand and a second stand are arranged so as to satisfy conditions represented by the following formulas (1) to (4): b?10a+1.5 ??(1) b?10a?0.2 ??(2) b??a+1.5 ??(3) b??a+1.15 ??(4) wherein a=S/R1, b=C/(R1?S).

Abstract: The invention pertains to a device for influencing the temperature distribution over the width of a slab or a strip, particularly in hot strip rolling mill, wherein at least one cooling device is provided that features nozzles for applying a cooling medium, wherein the nozzles are arranged and/or actuated in such a way that the cooling medium is applied, in particular, at positions at which an elevated temperature is determined. The invention furthermore pertains to a device for influencing the state of the surface evenness of the strip by means of strip cooling, wherein the cooling device is controlled in dependence on the state of surface evenness of the strip in such a way that the surface unevenness is reduced or eliminated. In addition, this invention makes it possible to purposefully influence the strip contour, wherein the strip or the slab is cooled widthwise in such a way that the strip contour approximates a desired target contour more closely.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lubricant comprising an alkali soap and a cold working method, in which the lubricant layer can be easily formed on the surface of a steel pipe prior to cold working the reduces the work load during cold working of the steel pipe, and whose layer can be easily removed by washing the surface of the steel pipe after cold working. After that, an alkali soap aqueous solution or aqueous pasty alkali soap is applied to the working surface of the steel pipe, cold working of the steel pipe is performed, and thereafter the alkali soap layer is removed by washing with water. The alkali soap aqueous solution or aqueous pasty alkali soap is preferably prepared within a vessel having an inner surface consisting of a non-metal material.

Abstract: A hydraulic press is provided that includes a frame having a base, an upper member positioned above the base and a pair of laterally spaced side members extending upwardly from the base to the upper member. The hydraulic press also includes a cross-member extending between the pair of side members, with the cross-member being configured to support a work piece and moveable along the side members.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cold-work die steel useful as a material of dies for cold pressing, which has basic properties such as hardness, toughness and dimensional change by heat treatment, and besides, which causes no problem in terms of machined surface roughness and cutting tool life, and also its dies for cold pressing. The invention relates to a cold-work die steel comprising: 0.5 to 0.7 mass % of C; 5.0 to 7.0 mass % of Cr; 0.5 to 2.0 mass % of Si; 0.1 to 2.0 mass % of Mn; 0.001 to 0.010 mass % of Al; 0.25 to 1.00 mass % of Cu; 0.25 to 1.00 mass % of Ni; 0.5 to 3.0 mass % of Mo+0.5×W; 0.5 mass % or less of V; 0.05 mass % or less of P; 0.1 mass % or less of S; 0.005 mass % or less of O, wherein the following requirements are satisfied: [C]×[Cr]?4; FP=[Si]/5+[Cr]/5+2×[Mo]+[W]+2×[V]+10×[Al]?5.0; and AP=[Mn]+3×([Cu]+[Ni])?2.5, and also relates to a die for cold pressing which is manufactured by using the cold-work die steel.

Abstract: An extrusion die device includes a first die having a shaping hole. An inner periphery of the shaping hole has a plurality of twisted guiding portions. A second die includes a plurality of guiding holes. A bridge is formed between two adjacent guiding holes. A plurality of tongues extends from a surface of each bridge and each includes an input end face contiguous to the bridge and an output end face whose projection on the surface of the bridge has an angular shift relative to the input end face. A side of the second die is coupled to an input side of the first die. The tongues are received in the shaping hole. Material is squeezed through a passage between each tongue and the inner periphery of the shaping hole and rotates according to the twisting direction of the tongues, forming a hollow object with an integrally formed helical rib.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a flex fuel sensing apparatus having a fuel passage involves the use of a generally solid test blank having a size and shape configured to match that of the fuel passage. The test blank comprises material having a known, predetermined dielectric constant. The test blank is inserted into the fuel passage where the dielectric constant of the test blank is operative to simulate the presence of various gasoline and ethanol fuel blends. The test blank may also comprise a deformable/compressible solid such as rubber where the test blank is compressed during calibration to eliminate air gaps or the like, improving accuracy. The use of the solid test blank reduces complexity compared to using actual gasoline/ethanol blends for calibration as well as reduces post-calibration cleanup.

Abstract: A method of operating a coordinate positioning apparatus having a surface sensor that is rotatable about at least a first axis. The method comprises obtaining a first measurement with the surface sensor at a first angular orientation and obtaining a at least a second measurement with the surface sensor at a second angular orientation. The first and second angular orientations are different to each other such that any offset of the surface sensor from an expected position will have at least a partially opposing affect on the first and second measurements. The method then compensates and/or establishes for the offset using the first and second measurements.

Abstract: The Field Testing Instrument (FTI) is designed for use in the regular maintenance and installation of airport Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI). The FTI is a self-contained and portable instrument that accurately measures the most important PAPI parameters, such as vertical aiming angle, transition angle, and light intensity. In addition to working with the current incandescent PAPIs, the FTI also measures parameters specific to the next generation LED PAPI. The FTI uses modern, efficient technology to reduce the life-cycle cost of approach lighting systems. The FTI improves on traditional PAPI testing methods by directly measuring the PAPI light beam focused to a target plate, as if seen from the pilot perspective. Due to significantly improvements in measurement accuracy and reliability, the FTI may supplement and even replace costly flight checks for PAPI maintenance with ground based operation.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods for forming the apparatus, and methods for operating the apparatus provide a modular unit of hardware to make measurements in a well. The modular unit may include a housing arranged for placement in a drill-string element, where the housing includes a sensor and is structured such that the housing is transferable to another drill-string element without a calibration of the sensor during or after the transfer. The drill-string elements associated with the transfer may be of different sizes.