Abstract: A vehicular heat pump system utilizing intermediate gas recompression is provided. The heat pump system is for use in a vehicle having a battery and a passenger compartment. The heat pump system may include a heating circuit and a cooling circuit each including a compressor having a first inlet and a second inlet and a vapour-liquid separator configured to separate intermediate pressure refrigerant supplied by a first expansion device into refrigerant in a gaseous state flowing therethrough and refrigerant in a liquid state flowing therethrough. The vapor-liquid separator may be configured to selectively inject refrigerant in a gaseous state into the compressor at the second inlet to increase the mass flow rate of the refrigerant. This allows the heat pump system to operate effectively in cold ambient temperatures. A method of operating a heat pump system utilizing intermediate gas recompression is also provided.

Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system has a first variable refrigerant flow outdoor unit, a first ducted variable speed indoor unit configured to selectively exchange refrigerant with the first variable refrigerant flow outdoor unit, and a second indoor unit configured to selectively exchange refrigerant with the first variable refrigerant flow outdoor unit.

Abstract: A system and method according to which ice is automatically disposed in respective bags and the bags of ice are distributed and stacked within a temperature-controlled storage unit, such as an ice merchandiser.

Abstract: An apparatus for retrieving items from a cooler, said apparatus having a cord, a securing mechanism for receiving an item, and a buoy, where the buoy engages the cord, the cooler contains coolant for cooling the item, and the buoy allows for the cord to be obtained without reaching into the coolant.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to mechanically refrigerated retail and vending display systems and methods or use for extending the shelf-life of perishable products in the retail or vending setting. This is accomplished by maintaining an appropriate modified and controlled atmosphere (MA/CA) environment for the perishable product in a retail or vending display unit. The systems and methods of the invention maintain the MA/CA environment for a time period of 10 days or longer, wherein the marketable shelf-life of a perishable product is at least doubled. The systems may also operate in a power generation/power production mode, such that the fuel cells maintain the MA/CA environment while providing both primary and/or back-up power.

Abstract: A cooling system that cools hot rolled long steel bar, provided with a plurality of chambers that are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the rolled steel bar. Each of the plurality of chambers is provided with a blow outlet that, facing from the chamber to the rolled steel bar, blows out compressed air for cooling that is introduced to the chamber from a gas inlet that is connected to the chamber; a nozzle plate having a plurality of nozzle holes that is provided at this blow outlet so as to face the rolled steel bar; a cooling water supply nozzle that supplies cooling water into the chamber; and a rectifying plate that is provided between the gas inlet and the cooling water supply nozzle, and that prevents the compressed gas for cooling that is introduced from the gas inlet from directly striking the nozzle plate.

Abstract: An ice maker comprising a refrigeration system, a water system, and a control system. The control system includes an air fitting disposed in the sump of the water system, a pneumatic tube, and a controller comprising a processor and an air pressure sensor. The air fitting defines a chamber in which air may be trapped and includes openings through which water in the sump is in fluid communication with the air in the chamber. The pneumatic tube is in fluid communication with the air pressure sensor and the air fitting. The air pressure sensor is adapted to sense a pressure corresponding to a sump water level. The controller is adapted to control the operation of the refrigeration system and the operation of the water system based upon the sump water level and to detect one or more failure modes of the water system based upon the sump water level.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system comprising an absorber; the absorber permitting contact between a flue gas stream that comprises carbon dioxide and a solvent to produce a carbon dioxide rich solvent; a regenerator disposed downstream of the absorber; the regenerator being operative to dissociate the carbon dioxide from the solvent; and a compression system disposed downstream of the regenerator comprising a plurality of compression stages; where each compression stage comprises a compressor that is operative to pressurize the carbon dioxide that is dissociated from the solvent; and where at least some of the compression stages comprise a knockout tank disposed upstream of the compressor and an intercooling heat exchanger disposed downstream of the compressor; where the knockout tank is operative to remove liquid present in the carbon dioxide and where the intercooling heat exchanger is operative to remove heat generated during the pressurizing of the carbon.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigeration cycle system including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator through which a refrigerant sequentially passes; a blower fan sending air cooled by the evaporator to a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment; and a damper regulating air sent from the evaporator to the refrigerator compartment, in which when the freezer compartment temperature is not satisfactory and the refrigerator compartment temperature is not satisfactory, the refrigerator operates in a concurrent operation mode in which the compressor is operated, the damper is opened, and first voltage is applied to the blower fan, and when the freezer compartment temperature is not satisfactory and the refrigerator compartment temperature is satisfactory, the refrigerator operates in a freezer compartment single operation mode in which the compressor is operated, the damper is closed, and second voltage lower than the first voltage is applied to the blower fan.

Abstract: A refrigeration system is provided that comprises a compressor, condenser, a thermal expansion valve, an isentropic expansion nozzle, and an evaporator. An isentropic expansion nozzle includes an inlet and an outlet with the isentropic expansion nozzle inlet fluidly coupled to a thermal expansion valve outlet. The evaporator includes an inlet and an outlet, wherein the evaporator inlet is fluidly coupled to the isentropic expansion nozzle outlet and the evaporator outlet is fluidly coupled to the compressor inlet. Using the system, a fluid can be modified prior to evaporation. The fluid is passed through the thermal expansion valve to decrease a pressure and decrease a temperature of the fluid. The fluid is then passed through the isentropic expansion nozzle to increase a velocity of the fluid without substantially changing the temperature of the fluid. The fluid is thereafter passed into the evaporator.

Abstract: A system and method for a CO2 refrigeration system includes a compressor, a heat exchanger, a liquid receiver, a first valve, and a valve controller. The heat exchanger operates as a gas cooler when the CO2 refrigeration system is in a transcritical mode and as a condenser when the CO2 refrigeration system is in the subcritical mode. The first valve controls a flow of refrigerant from the heat exchanger to the liquid receiver. The valve controller monitors an outdoor ambient temperature and a pressure of refrigerant exiting the heat exchanger, determines whether the CO2 refrigeration system is in the subcritical mode or in the transcritical mode, determines a pressure setpoint based on the monitored outdoor ambient temperature, and controls the first valve based on a comparison of the determined pressure setpoint and the monitored pressure when the CO2 refrigeration system is in the transcritical mode.

Abstract: To defrost one barrel of a two barrel FCB dispenser, a refrigeration system defrosts the one barrel, while neither defrosting nor chilling the other barrel, for either a selected time or until a frozen beverage is drawn from the other barrel, whichever occurs first. Once the selected time or beverage draw occurs, the refrigeration system chills the other barrel until beverage within it is properly frozen, while neither defrosting nor chilling the one barrel. Once beverage in the other barrel is properly frozen, the refrigeration system resumes defrosting the one barrel, whereupon the foregoing cycle is repeated until defrost of the one barrel is complete, at which point the refrigeration system chills the one barrel to refreeze product in it. The arrangement keeps beverage in the other barrel properly frozen during defrosting of the one barrel.

Abstract: An air conditioning system includes a refrigerant circuit including a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger, a first expansion valve, a gas-liquid separator, a second expansion valve, and an outdoor heat exchanger which are sequentially connected together to perform a two-stage expansion refrigeration cycle. The refrigerant circuit further includes: a gas injection pipe through which intermediate-pressure gas refrigerant in the gas-liquid separator flows into an intermediate port of the compressor, and a liquid-gas heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between low-pressure gas refrigerant obtained by evaporating refrigerant in the outdoor heat exchanger and travelling toward the compressor and intermediate-pressure liquid refrigerant travelling from the gas-liquid separator toward the second expansion valve.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a centrifugal compressor. In a first example, the compressor includes a first impeller provided in a main refrigerant flow path, a second impeller provided in the main refrigerant flow path downstream of the first impeller, and a recirculation flow path. In the first example, the recirculation flow path is provided between a first location and a second location along the main refrigerant flow path. The first location is downstream of the second location, and the second location is downstream of the first impeller. In a second example, the compressor includes an impeller provided in a main refrigerant flow path, and a recirculation flow path provided between a first location and a second location along the main refrigerant flow path. In the second example, the recirculation flow path includes a recirculation volute. Further disclosed is a method for operating a centrifugal compressor.

Abstract: A heat pump system for use in a vehicle having a passenger compartment, and a thermal storage medium is provided. A method for providing heat to a vehicle passenger compartment is also provided. The vehicle may have an electric only vehicle mode wherein the vehicle may occupy one of an active electric drive state and an inactive state. The heat pump system may include a thermal storage medium configured to store heat produced during the inactive state. The thermal storage medium may be a device which has a thermal capacity exchangeable with a fluid medium such as an Rechargeable Energy Storage System (RESS) or a phase change material. The heat stored by the thermal storage medium during the vehicle charge event may be transmitted from the thermal storage medium to the passenger compartment via the heat pump system during the active electric drive state.

Abstract: A sorption cooling apparatus for cooling a region in a downhole tool deployed on a wellbore conveyance device includes a container having an interior chamber in which a first region is formed, a liquid refrigerant residing in the interior chamber, a chamber located in a second region of the downhole tool, a compact desiccant body in the chamber, and a refrigerant passage between a first region containing the liquid refrigerant and the second region containing the compact desiccant body. The vapor generated during evaporation of the liquid refrigerant passes through the vapor passage to the compact desiccant in the second region.

Abstract: In a heating medium utilizing apparatus utilizing heating medium heated by a heating device, it is aimed to provide a pipe which achieves both of the strength of a connection part to an external pipe and the ease of pipe layout without increasing a manufacturing time. On a tip portion of an internal pipe through which the heating medium or fluid to be heat-exchanged with the heating medium flows, a pipe expanding process to expand a pipe diameter and a pipe shrinking process to shrink the pipe diameter are carried out, thereby forming the connection part to be connected to the external pipe connected to external equipment by work hardening.

Abstract: A water distributor for an ice maker having a first reservoir comprising a bottom and an inlet passageway, a central wall comprising a first central wall portion and a second central wall portion, and a second reservoir separated from the first reservoir by the central wall, the second reservoir comprising a bottom. A population of teeth separated by a population of gaps are disposed along the central wall. Water flows from the first reservoir to the second reservoir through the population of gaps. A population of outlet passageways are disposed in the second central wall portion proximate the bottom of the second reservoir. Water exits the second reservoir substantially horizontally through the population of outlet passageways.

Abstract: A control module for a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system includes a housing having an air flow conduit formed therein. An evaporator core is disposed in the air flow conduit, wherein at least a portion of the evaporator is configured to receive a fluid from a fluid source therein. An internal thermal energy exchanger is disposed in the air flow conduit downstream of at least a portion of the evaporator core and upstream of a blend door disposed in the air flow conduit. The internal thermal energy exchanger is configured to receive a second fluid from a second fluid source and a third fluid from a third fluid source, wherein the second fluid absorbs thermal energy from a flow of air through the air flow conduit and the third fluid releases thermal energy from the flow of air through the air flow conduit.

Abstract: A control module for a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system includes a housing having an air flow conduit formed therein. An evaporator core is disposed in the air flow conduit, wherein at least a portion of the evaporator is configured to receive a first fluid from a first fluid source therein. An internal thermal energy exchanger is disposed in the air flow conduit downstream of at least a portion of the evaporator core and upstream of a blend door disposed in the air flow conduit. The internal thermal energy exchanger is in thermal energy exchange relationship with a second fluid source through a heat pipe.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for creating and maintaining modified and controlled atmospheres (MA/CA) in a rigid sealable container having at least one refrigeration unit with an integrated oxygen reduction means. The refrigeration unit provides the necessary ambient atmosphere movement for the oxygen reduction means, such as a hydrogen fuel cell. The systems and methods are useful in the, storage, transport, distribution, processing and packaging of fresh perishables with a focus on altering the natural gaseous environment around the perishables such that fresh shelf-life is extended. The systems may operate in a power generation/power production mode, such that the fuel cells maintain the MA/CA environment while providing both primary and back-up power.

Abstract: An evaporative chiller utilizes an evaporative-cooled gypsum-ceramic casting to chill air passing through a passageway formed within the casting. Placed within an outer housing, the gypsum-ceramic casting has an outer wicking layer that maintains water saturation of the casting. Nano-evaporation from the casting surface into the air passageway cools the casting. Water is provided to the wicking layer from a supply connected to the outer housing. The chiller may be placed in-line within air ductwork, and blowers may be used to enhance the flow of air to be chilled through the evaporative chiller passageway.

Abstract: A gas processing facility for the liquefaction of a natural gas feed stream is provided. The facility comprises a gas separation unit having at least one fractionation vessel. The gas separation unit employs adsorbent beds for adsorptive kinetic separation. The adsorbent beds release a methane-rich gas feed stream. The facility also includes a high-pressure expander cycle refrigeration system. The refrigeration system compresses the methane-rich gas feed stream to a pressure greater than about 1,000 psia. The refrigeration system also chills the methane-rich gas feed stream in one or more coolers, and then expands the chilled gas feed stream to form a liquefied product stream. Processes for liquefying a natural gas feed stream using AKS and a high-pressure expander cycle refrigeration system are also provided herein. Such processes allow for the formation of LNG using a facility having less weight than conventional facilities.

Abstract: An integrated apparatus for separating a mixture of carbon dioxide and at least one other gas and for separating air by air distillation is provided. The apparatus includes a CO2 separation unit configured to separate the mixture, an air separation unit configured to separate air by cryogenic distillation, a water cooling tower that operates by direct contact, a line for sending water to the top of the tower, a line for sending at least one portion of the nitrogen-enriched gas stream to a lower level of the tower, a cooled water line for withdrawing cooled water from the tower and means for cooling the air upstream of the air separation unit, the cooled water line being connected to means for cooling the air upstream of the air separation unit and to the inlet and/or to the outlet of the unit for separating the gaseous mixture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and air separation plant in which a pumped liquid oxygen stream is heated within a heat exchanger through indirect heat exchange with compressed air to produce an oxygen product. The liquid oxygen stream is pressurized in a range above about 55 bar(a) and no greater than about 150 bar(a) and is a supercritical fluid after having been heated within the heat exchanger. The air is compressed to an air pressure that is a function of the oxygen pressure that will result in a minimum power being expended in the compression of the air. The heat exchanger can be a brazed fin heat exchanger fabricated from aluminum in which the fins located in heat exchange passages have an undulating configuration to increase the flow path length and induce flow separation and thereby increase the heat transfer coefficient within the heat exchanger.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining density or density gradient of molten foamed glass in a glass melter, an apparatus downstream of a glass melter, or both. A molten foamed glass is generated having molten glass and bubbles entrained therein and/or a layer of glass foam on a top surface thereof in a melter. At least a portion of the molten foamed glass is transferred into an apparatus positioned downstream of the melter, and the density or density gradient of the molten foamed glass in the melter or downstream apparatus is determined as a function of distance from a structural feature of the melter or downstream apparatus, or both, using one or more electromagnetic (EM) wave-based sensors.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a diffractive optical element by pressing a glass material with a molding die in which an inverted shape relative to a shape of a diffractive surface of the diffractive optical element is formed. The method includes: preparing the molding die, a molding surface of the molding die being formed with a plurality of raised portions chamfered at tip ends thereof; and pressing, with the molding die, the glass material into the diffractive optical element in which raised portions and recessed portions are alternately arranged on the diffractive surface and valley bottoms of the recessed portions are formed to have a chamfered shape.

Abstract: In plasma deposition processes for producing an optical preform according to the POD method, a cladding glass layer composed of fluorine-doped quartz glass is produced by means of a plasma torch on a cylindrical substrate body composed of quartz glass, said substrate body rotating about the longitudinal axis thereof. In this case, the plasma torch performs a reversing relative movement between two turning points (A; B) along the substrate body. In order, proceeding therefrom, to achieve a high fluorine doping in conjunction with a dopant distribution that is as uniform as possible axially, the invention proposes that a heat element has a heating effect on the region of one turning point (A; B) when the plasma torch is situated in the region of the other turning point (B; A).

Abstract: The present invention concerns a bushing assembly including a tip plate supported by reinforcing ribs. The reinforcement ribs have a planar portion having a shape inscribed in a triangle of vertices ?1, ?2, ?3, wherein ?1 is the smallest angle of the three vertices, and the side of the triangle opposed to the smallest vertex, ?1, matches exactly one side of the planar portion. It also concerns a bushing assembly including a tip plate reinforced with the reinforcing ribs discussed supra, wherein the reinforcing ribs are coupled to the bushing assembly by three sides, adjacent two by two.

Abstract: The yarn cylinder includes a hollow cylindrical body; a groove, almost annularly disposed around the cylindrical body, being formed with four sections of teeth to define four segments; and a plurality of recesses, located beside the groove one by one, each recess having a tapered end, and all tapered ends being toward the same direction.

Abstract: A balancer includes a balancer housing having an annular channel defined therein, at least one mass movably disposed in the channel, at least one magnet coupled to one side of the balancer housing to restrain movement of the mass along the channel when rotational speed of a drum of the washing machine is within a predetermined range, and an inclined sidewall formed at an inner surface of the balancer housing to support the mass in a direction resisting centrifugal force applied to the mass during rotation of the drum.

Abstract: A balancer includes a balancer housing coupled to a drum of a washing machine, the balancer housing having an annular channel defined therein, at least one mass movably disposed in the channel, at least one magnet to restrain movement of the mass along the channel when rotational speed of the drum is within a predetermined range, and at least one magnet fixing rib formed at one side of the balancer housing to fix the magnet.

Abstract: A washing machine having a balancer to offset unbalanced load generated during rotation of a drum. The washing machine includes a cabinet, a drum rotatably disposed in the cabinet, and a balancer mounted to the drum to offset unbalanced load generated in the drum during rotation of the drum. The balancer includes a balancer housing having an annular channel defined therein, at least one mass movably disposed in the channel, a magnet provided at one side of the balancer housing to restrain the mass, and a magnet case to receive the magnet.

Abstract: A balancer includes a balancer housing coupled to a drum of a washing machine, the balancer housing having an annular channel defined therein, at least one mass movably disposed in the channel, at least one magnet to restrain movement of the mass along the channel when rotational speed of the drum is within a predetermined range, and at least one magnet fixing member coupled to an outside of the balancer housing to receive and fix the magnet.

Abstract: A balancer includes a balancer housing having an annular channel defined therein, at least one mass movably disposed in the channel, and at least one magnet coupled to one side of the balancer housing to restrain movement of the mass along the channel when rotational speed of a drum of the washing machine is within a predetermined range. The magnet includes a plurality of unit magnets arranged in a circumferential direction of the balancer housing.

Abstract: A drum for a laundry washing machine (W) has side walls (50, 51, 52, 53; 110, 111, 112, 113) defining a laundry receiving space (53, 113). At least one of the side walls is circular and comprises a plurality of openings (41, 61) for the passage of a liquid therethrough. The drum comprises at least a circular member (55, 65, 115) circumferentially associated to an inner portion (50a, 110a) of the circular side wall. The circular member defines a chamber (59, 119) for receiving the liquid from at least one receiving opening (43, 163) of the openings and comprises at least one aperture (66, 126, 266) facing the laundry receiving space suitable to modify the flow of the liquid from the at least one receiving opening to the laundry receiving space.

Abstract: The machine (1) for the treatment of fabrics according to the invention comprises a treatment tank (3) arranged for containing the fabric or other material to be treated (TC) and a treatment liquid. The head losses that the treatment liquid undergoes along the different collecting ducts (37A, 37B) between the treatment tank (3) and the relative entry nozzle (370A, 370B) in the collector (39) mutually differ at most of ±10% of the losses themselves. The head losses that the treatment liquid undergoes between each entry nozzle (370A, 370B) in the collector (39) and the entry (410) in the chamber (41) of the pump impeller differ at most of ±10% between the various entry nozzles (370A, 370B). The level of liquid on the bottom of the tank (3) is more even, and it is thus possible to make the machine (30) work with very low bath levels.

Abstract: It describes the patent of the utility model belonging to the field of products that block or prevent access to a particular area or thing, consisting of a body (1) made of anti-flame plastic, comprising a cylindrical curved metal rod (2), internally locked by two plastic tabs (3) orthogonally fitted, so that said tabs (3) are moved by a zamac trigger (4), which has a predominantly cylindrical shape, consisting of channels in the base which engage in the cylinder (5) for opening and closing located just below. Said cylinder (5) is fixed to the main body by means of a screw (6) and nut (7). The lower cover (8) of the lock is made of anti-flame plastic. The shape of the plastic tabs (3) is predominantly trapezoidal and they have a verve (9) for engaging the guide axis (10) of the trigger (4), and they have, at one end, an is inclined and curved face (11) that facilitates sliding on the recesses (12) for locking the metal rod (2).

Abstract: A container comprises a hollow body portion, a hinged lid member pivotally attached to the body portion, an automatic latch assembly fixed to the body portion or the lid member, and a locking strap provided with an engagement member. The latch assembly comprises a casing and a lock bolt reciprocating between locked and unlocked positions. The lock bolt engages the engagement member of the locking strap in the locked position and is disengaged from the engagement member in the unlocked position. The latch assembly further comprises an actuator for moving the lock bolt out of engagement with the engagement member, a signal receiver for receiving a wireless signal or an accelerometer for monitoring acceleration of the container, and an electronic control module electrically connected to the signal receiver or the accelerometer for controlling the operation of the actuator in response to the wireless signal or data from the accelerometer.

Abstract: A method of producing an organic based fertilizer and usable water from animal waste includes the step of separating the animal waste into liquid waste and solid waste. The liquid waste is clarified to produce a supernatant and a sludge which is pressed into a filter cake. Ammonia is extracted from the supernatant to produce ammonium sulfate and an aqueous solution. The aqueous solution is filtered to produce a concentrate and water filtrate. The water filtrate may be used as drinking and washing water. The filter cake, ammonium sulfate, and concentrate may be used to supplement to the solid waste which is pelletized into the organic based fertilizer. In alternative embodiments a portion of the supernatant and aqueous solution may be used as a liquid fertilizer.

Abstract: A system and method for providing fertilizer for crop production in an aqueous solution comprising nano-sized fertilizer particles, which are free of any chemical side chain and free any micelle to protect the nano-sized particle from re-agglomeration, suspended therein for improved uptake by the population of the crop.

Abstract: For aging deformation of a reaction vessel used for production of titanium sponge by the Kroll method, the deformation of the reaction vessel can be corrected to a desired deformation. The apparatus for correcting the deformation corrects by being inserted inside of the cylindrical deformation of the reaction vessel, the apparatus has multiple cylinder arms radially extendable to a circumference, a deformation-correcting head arranged on a top part of the cylinder arm, a hydraulic power unit connected to the cylinder arm and driving the deformation-correcting head, a detecting means for the stroke of the deformation-correcting head, and a measuring means for the pressing force against the reaction vessel. Furthermore, the method for correcting the deformation of the reaction vessel using the apparatus has a step of pressing the reaction vessel while adjusting stroke of the deformation-correcting head depending on an amount of deformation of the reaction vessel.

Abstract: A refitting mechanism for measuring a flatness value of a workpiece and refitting the workpiece includes a worktable, a refitting assembly, a measuring unit, and a controller. The refitting assembly is movably assembled to the worktable. The holding assembly is assembled to the worktable and adjacent to the refitting assembly for holding the workpiece on the worktable. The measuring unit is assembled to the refitting assembly. The controller is electrically connected to the refitting assembly, the holding assembly, and the measuring unit. The measuring unit measures a flatness value of the workpiece and transfers the flatness value to the controller. The controller compares the flatness value with a preset value range to determine whether the workpiece is qualified or not. When the workpiece is not qualified, the controller controls the holding assembly to hold the workpiece, and controls the refitting assembly to refit the workpiece.

Abstract: A system and method of making a forged part. A flange may be forged between first and second ends of the part. The flange may extend away from an axis along which an upset punch is actuated.

Abstract: A device for shaping a metal sheet by die stamping, the device including first and second trunnions configured to be fastened respectively to two opposite ends of a sheet, the sheet being configured to be shaped by die stamping, wherein the first and second trunnions define respective first and second bearing surfaces configured respectively to guide turning of the trunnions, the first bearing surface defining a peripheral groove around a pivot axis of the first trunnion while the second bearing surface is smooth along a pivot axis of the second trunnion.

Abstract: A lever bender includes a first handle pivotally attached to a second handle. The first handle includes a forming mandrel around which a pipe is bent and a stop member for receiving and substantially holding the pipe in place prior to bending. The second handle includes a forming head that engages and bends the pipe around the forming mandrel. The stop member includes a pipe-engaging member that receives a pipe and a locking member adjacent to the pipe-engaging member. The locking member includes a retaining member moveable between a projecting position where the retaining member secures the pipe between the pipe-engaging member and the locking member and a retracted position permitting a pipe to either be received within the pipe-engaging member or removed from the pipe-engaging member.

Abstract: A method for re-calibrating installed downhole sensors used in hydrocarbon wells by the application of a calibration string inserted in the wells and deployed in close proximity to the installed downhole sensor.

Abstract: A system and a method detect contamination of a diaphragm in a capacitance diaphragm gauge wherein a contaminated diaphragm deflects less in the presence of pressure than an uncontaminated diaphragm. The system and method measure a base pressure. A DC voltage is applied between the diaphragm and a fixed electrode to cause the diaphragm to deflect to simulate an effective pressure. The system and method measure a combined pressure caused by the base pressure and the effective pressure. The system and method subtract the base pressure to determine the effective pressure caused by the static diaphragm deflection. If the measured effective pressure is less than an acceptable effective pressure, the system and method determine that the diaphragm is contaminated.

Abstract: A multi-axis microelectromechanical-systems (MEMS) inertial measurement unit (IMU) is fabricated in a vacuum sealed single packaged device. An FM vibratory gyroscope and an FM resonant accelerometer both for generating FM output signals is fabricated in the silicon chip using MEMS. A signal processor is coupled to the an FM vibratory gyroscope and to the FM resonant accelerometer for receiving the FM gyroscopic output signals and the FM accelerometer output signals. The signal processor generates simultaneous and decoupled measurement of input acceleration, in put rotation rate, and temperature and/or temperature distribution within the IMU, self-calibration of the biases and scale factors of the IMU and its support electronics against temperature variations and other common mode errors, and reduction of the cross axis sensitivity by reducing acceleration errors in the gyroscope and rotation errors in the accelerometer.

Abstract: The invention regards a method for calibrating a sample distribution apparatus for distribution of liquid samples (e.g. a hand held pipettor or a pipetting robot). The method comprises the steps of transferring a volume of liquid from the sample distribution apparatus to a container with a temperature sensor, measuring a first temperature value via, the temperature sensor, changing, the temperature of the liquid in the container, measuring a second temperature value via the temperature sensor, and determining from the first and second temperature values the volume of the liquid in the container.