SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20160032447 | NICKEL-CHROMIUM-SILICON BASED COATINGS - A method of depositing Ni—Cr and Si coatings onto a turbine component comprising supplying a Ni—Cr target and Si target with a dual-gun magnetron sputtering system; introducing inert gas and negatively biasing the magnet assembly; grounding or negatively biasing the turbine component to be coated; rotating the turbine component, wherein the turbine component has a surface; and forming a Ni—Cr and Si coating on the component surface. | 02-04-2016 |
20150227775 | 3-D Imaging Sensor Based Location Estimation - A system and method for estimating a location of an object or vehicle is provided. Images of a region encompassing the object are obtained, providing a three dimensional (3-D) view frame of the region. 3-D view frames are collected along a direction of travel of the object. A 3-D map is generated along the direction of travel of the object, the map based on the 3-D view frames and further based on an estimate of motion of the object at times associated with the 3-D view frames. A first set of features is extracted from the 3-D map. A geo-referenced feature database is searched for a second set of features that match the first set of features. A geo-location associated with the second set of features is retrieved from the feature database. The location of the object is estimated based on the retrieved geo-location. | 08-13-2015 |
20150143695 | Removal of Liquid from Airfoil of Equipment Having Gas-Liquid Flows - A method of removing liquid from the surface of an airfoil of equipment that handles a wet gas mixture. The airfoil has at least one interior passage, such as a bore, for travel of air or other gas through the interior of the airfoil. A series of holes are cross drilled from one or both exterior surfaces of the airfoil to the passage. Forced air or other gas is introduced into the passage such that the air or other gas is expelled to the surface of the airfoil via the holes, thereby removing the surface liquid. | 05-28-2015 |
20150116147 | Determination of Integrity of Incoming Signals of Satellite Navigation System - A system and method for testing the integrity of signals incoming to a satellite navigation system. The method is implemented with an array of antenna elements, and a receiver connected to each antenna element. The receivers simultaneously and continuously make measurements on all tracked signals. Each receiver measures the carrier phase of an incoming signal. Based on the carrier phase differences between antenna elements and the distance between them, the azimuth and elevation of the signal source can be calculated. This measured angle of arrival can then be compared to an expected angle of arrival to determine if the signal source is legitimate. The system and method can be also applied to determining the angle of arrival of sources of interference, and to mitigating the effects of both illegitimate and interfering signals. | 04-30-2015 |
20150070212 | Detection of Deceptive Navigation Signal - A method and device for detecting the presence of a deception scheme intended to thwart a satellite navigation system (SNS). A detector receives “receiver measurements” of various types from the SNS receiver. It conditions these values, so that they may be readily used by a process that determines whether the receiver is operating in a statistically normal state. | 03-12-2015 |
20150060290 | Dynamic Formation Protocol for Lithium-Ion Battery - A dynamic formation protocol for a lithium-ion battery cell. An “SEI formation end voltage” is identified, which is the voltage reached during formation at which the SEI layer is substantially formed. Charge rates are selected for the formation, with a first charge current rate to be used until the SEI formation end voltage is reached, and a second charge current rate, faster than the first charge current rate, to be used thereafter the SEI formation end voltage. These charge rates are applied to the cell for at least a first cycle of the dynamic formation process. | 03-05-2015 |
20150054497 | System and Method for Measuring Rotation Speed and Direction of Tappets (Lifters) of an Engine Valve Train - A method of measuring direction of rotation of a tappet of an engine valve train. Two opposing notches are machined or otherwise formed in the outer surface of the tappet. Two sensors proximate the outer surface of the tappet are operable to detect the change in distance resulting from the notches as the tappet rotates. There is a predetermined difference angle of separation between the arc distance between the notches and the arc distance between the sensors. Each sensor outputs a square wave output having pulses whose width represents detection of the notches by the sensor. The location of the pulses of the two square wave outputs is compared to determine direction of rotation of the tappet. | 02-26-2015 |
20150027658 | Hybrid Ceramic/Sand Core for Casting Metal Engine Parts with Passages or Holes Having a Cross Section Too Small for Sand Casting - A hybrid ceramic/sand casting method of manufacturing a metal part. The method is especially suitable for manufacturing engine cylinder blocks or cylinder head, which have very small internal passages or other very small internal features. These parts are formed using a hybrid core having at least one ceramic section and at least one sand section, with the ceramic section being used to create the internal feature. A mold cavity is created for the part, and the hybrid core is positioned in the mold. Molten metal is introduced into the mold, and after the metal cools, the core is removed, thereby forming the part with the internal feature. | 01-29-2015 |
20140350262 | Reactivators Of Organophosphorous Inhibited Acetylcholinesterase - The present invention relates to organophosphate-inhibited acetylcholinesterase (AChE) reactivators with central nervous system (CNS) bioavailability and their associated methods of preparation including their use for treatment of exposure to AChE inhibitors such as an organophosphate (OP) insecticides and nerve agents. | 11-27-2014 |
20140333313 | APPLICATION INDEPENDENT MAP-BASED CYCLE LIFE TESTING OF BATTERY CELLS - A method and system for application independent map-based cycle life testing of battery cells is provided. A target depth of discharge (DOD) and a charge/discharge current level is selected for the battery test. The battery is discharged to the target DOD. The battery is cycled within the DOD range one or more times, wherein the cycling comprises a charge pulse and a discharge pulse at the selected current levels. A reference performance test (RPT) is performed on the battery, wherein the RPT comprises a static capacity test and a dynamic power test. The cycling and RPT testing are repeated until an end of test condition is detected. | 11-13-2014 |
20140331669 | EGR Pulse Mixer for Internal Combustion Engine Having EGR Loop - A mixer, for use with an internal combustion engine, for mixing EGR gas from an EGR loop with fresh air from the engine's fresh air intake. The mixer has an outer shell having the general shape of a thin-shelled hollow cylinder with a side entry port. One end of the cylinder provides a straight entry port and the other end of the cylinder provides a straight exit port. An inner sleeve fits inside the outer shell such that a space is provided between the inner sleeve and the outer shell, and a passageway is formed inside the inner sleeve through the length of the mixer. The inner sleeve has a series of flow ribs extending from its outer surface within the space, and has entry holes for providing fluid communication from the space into the passageway. | 11-13-2014 |
20140312888 | Flexible Magnetostrictive Probe Having Sensor Elements Without Permanent Magnets - A sensor for use in magnetostrictive testing of a structure. An array of sensor elements is attached to a flexible backing. Each sensor element has a thin strip made from magnetostrictive material, a first coil wrapped around the width of the strip and operable to provide a DC bias magnetic field, and a second coil wrapped around the width of the strip and operable for MsS generation and detection. Typically, the first coils of all strips are electrically connected to each other and the second coils of all strips are electrically connected to each other, to form two separate coil circuits. The probe may be wrapped around the circumference of a cylindrical structure, and used for magnetostrictive testing. | 10-23-2014 |
20140305416 | Internal Combustion Engine Having Dual EGR Loops (Dedicated EGR Loop and Low Pressure EGR Loop) and Dual Cylinder Intake Ports - A dual EGR loop exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system for an internal combustion engine. The engine has both a dedicated EGR loop and a low pressure EGR loop. This means that one or more engine cylinders is operable as a dedicated EGR cylinder, such that all of its exhaust is recirculated via the dedicated EGR loop. The other cylinders are operable as main cylinders having two intake ports, such that each main cylinder may receive a mixture of fresh air and dedicated EGR through one intake port and a mixture of fresh air and low pressure EGR through the other intake port. A control unit controls this dual loop EGR system to either provide EGR only from the dedicated EGR loop or to also provide additional EGR from the low pressure EGR loop. | 10-16-2014 |
20140302391 | Clathrate Allotropes For Rechargeable Batteries - The present disclosure is directed at clathrate (Type I) allotropes of silicon, germanium and tin. In method form, the present disclosure is directed at methods for forming clathrate allotropes of silicon, germanium or tin which methods lead to the formation of empty cage structures suitable for use as electrodes in rechargeable type batteries. | 10-09-2014 |
20140260242 | Dual Path (Low Pressure Loop and High Pressure Loop) EGR for Improved Air Boosting Efficiency - A method of providing exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) to an air-boosted internal combustion engine. The engine has both a high pressure EGR loop and a low pressure EGR loop. Each EGR loop has a valve that controls the amount of EGR that is delivered to the engine intake from that loop. During low-speed engine conditions, more EGR is delivered to the engine intake from the low pressure EGR loop than from the high pressure EGR loop. During high-speed engine conditions, more EGR is delivered to the engine intake from the high pressure EGR loop than from the low pressure EGR loop. | 09-18-2014 |
20140253110 | Magnetostrictive Sensor Having Crimped Magnetostrictive Strip for High Temperature Operation - A sensor for use in magnetostrictive testing of a structure. The sensor has a thin ferromagnetic strip with a series of parallel crimps across its width. A first wire coil is wrapped around the width of the strip and along its entire length, such that portions of wire that cross the bottom surface of the strip are located inside the crimps, and portions of wire that are wrapped across the top surface of the strip are between the crimps. The sensor further has a second coil wrapped around the length of the strip, or for pipeline applications, around the pipeline. | 09-11-2014 |
20140249345 | Apparatus And Methods For Vaporization And Remediation Of Radioactive Contamination - An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method for collecting volatile radioactive substances. The method includes irradiating a volatile radioactive substance on or under a contaminated material surface using microwave radiation and vaporizing the volatile radioactive substance, wherein the volatile radioactive substance comprises at least one of cesium and iodine. The method further includes recovering the vaporized volatile radioactive substance from the contaminated material. The method may be accomplished with and/or without physically collecting or isolating the contaminated material. | 09-04-2014 |
20140236460 | Methods, Devices And Systems For Glow Plug Operation Of A Combustion Engine - A glow plug control apparatus for an engine of a motor vehicle, comprising at least one glow plug; a power source to apply electric power to the at least one glow plug; and a control unit comprising a microprocessor configured and arranged to determine glow plug supply power to be applied from the power source to the at least one glow plug based on input from stored vehicle data and from a plurality of engine sensors, wherein the input includes data of engine operating parameters including fresh air intake mass airflow, intake manifold total mass airflow, intake manifold temperature, coolant temperature, glow plug temperature and total fuel injection quantity. | 08-21-2014 |
20140202541 | Encapsulaton Of High Temperature Molten Salts - The present disclosure relates to a method of encapsulating microcapsules containing relatively high temperature phase change materials and the microcapsules so produced. The microcapsules are coated with an inorganic binder, film former and an inorganic filler. The microcapsules may include a sacrificial layer that is disposed between the particle and the coating. The microcapsules may also include an inner coating layer, sacrificial layer and outer coating layer. The microcapsules are particularly useful for thermal energy storage in connection with, e.g., heat collected from concentrating solar collectors. | 07-24-2014 |
20140196702 | Ignition and Knock Tolerance in Internal Combustion Engine by Controlling EGR Composition - A method for improving ignition of a spark ignited internal combustion engine by controlling the composition of recirculated exhaust gas. It is assumed that the engine has a spark ignition system and an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) loop such that at least one of the combustion cylinders is an EGR cylinder that generates an EGR stream carried by the EGR loop. Thus, the combustion charge is a mixture of air, fuel and recirculated exhaust. A first step is receiving combustibility data representing the current ignitability of the charge. It is then determined whether the energy of the ignition system is sufficient to ignite the charge. If not, the amount of hydrogen in the EGR stream is increased, which increases the ignitability of the charge. | 07-17-2014 |
20140196697 | Internal Combustion Engine Having Dedicated EGR Cylinder(s) With Intake Separate From Intake Of Main Cylinders - A method and system for using an internal combustion engine with dedicated EGR cylinders to provide an adjustable EGR rate to the main (non dedicated) cylinders. The dedicated EGR cylinder(s) are configured to receive fresh air via a fresh air intake or to receive a portion of the mixture of fresh air and EGR gas via the same mixed intake line that delivers intake to the main cylinders. If the dedicated EGR cylinder(s) receive only fresh air, the main cylinder(s) receive EGR at higher EGR rate. If the dedicated EGR cylinder(s) receive only the portion of fresh air and EGR gas, the main cylinder(s) receive EGR at a lower EGR rate. The EGR rate to the main cylinder(s) may be adjusted between these rates in response to operating conditions of the engine. | 07-17-2014 |
20140190458 | EGR Rate Control For Internal Combustion Engine With Dual Exhaust-Ported Cylinders - A method of using exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) in an internal combustion engine. At least two of the cylinders are “dual exhaust-ported cylinders” having two exhaust ports. For each of these cylinders, one of the exhaust ports is connected to the EGR loop and the other of the exhaust ports is connected to the main exhaust line. These cylinders are controlled such that one exhaust port is open and the other exhaust port is closed during each engine cycle, and are operated, on a cycle-by-cycle basis so that all of the exhaust produced by a cylinder may be delivered to the EGR loop at any cycle. The number of cylinders operating as EGR cylinders per engine cycle is in response to a desired EGR rate. | 07-10-2014 |
20140170117 | Fabrication Of Bone Regeneration Scaffolds And Bone Filler Material Using A Perfusion Flow System - The present disclosure is directed at a process to form bone grafting material. One may provide a porous collagen scaffold and insert the scaffold into a perfusion chamber of a perfusion flow system. This may then be followed by continuously providing a mineralization perfusion fluid flow through the scaffold at a flow rate to provide dynamic intrafibrillar mineralization of the scaffold and form a collagen/hydroxyapatite composite scaffold. One may optionally provide the scaffold with bone tissue forming cells and then deliver a perfusion fluid including oxygen and one or more nutrients through the collagen/hydroxyapatite composite scaffold and to the bone tissue forming cells at a flow rate such that the bone tissue forming cells remodel the collagen/hydroxyapatite composite scaffold and form a bone tissue extracellular matrix. The bone tissue extracellular matrix may then be decellularized to form an acellular bone repair scaffold. | 06-19-2014 |
20140165954 | System and Method for Sampling Fluid From Piston Top Land Crevice of Piston Engine - A system and method for sampling fluid from a top land piston crevice of a reciprocating piston engine. Access into the crevice is via a length of tubing inserted into a bore through the piston wall. Two valves, first a relief valve and then a piloted check valve, operate together to capture a sample of fluid from the crevice at a time just before TDC of the piston on its compression stroke. The sampled fluid flows from the check valve into a sample container. The valves further cooperate to close fluid communication from the crevice after a sample is taken, which allows the engine to operate normally. | 06-19-2014 |
20140161841 | Hybrid Tissue Scaffold For Tissue Engineering - A hybrid tissue scaffold is provided which comprises a porous primary scaffold having a plurality of pores and a porous secondary scaffold having a plurality of pores, wherein the secondary scaffold resides in the pores of the primary scaffold to provide a hybrid scaffold. The pores of the porous primary scaffold may have a pore size in a range of 0.50 mm to 5.0 mm, and the pores of the porous secondary scaffold may have a pore size in a range of 50 μm to 600 μm. The primary scaffold may provide 5% to 30% of a volume of the hybrid scaffold. | 06-12-2014 |
20140142833 | Catalyst Light-Off for Turbocharged Internal Combustion Engine Having Dedicated EGR Cylinder(s) - A method of decreasing the light-off time of a catalytic exhaust aftertreatment device, using exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) in a turbocharged internal combustion engine. The engine has at least one “dedicated EGR cylinder”, whose entire exhaust is recirculated back to all the engine cylinders. The dedicated EGR cylinder(s) may be operated to produce a differently compositioned exhaust gas than the other cylinders. During light-off, EGR gas is optimized for heat, diverted from the EGR loop and routed to a point directly upstream the aftertreatment device. | 05-22-2014 |
20140137976 | Superhydrophobic Compositions And Coating Process For The Internal Surface Of Tubular Structures - A method for depositing a coating includes creating a vacuum within an interior volume of a tubular structure, wherein the tubular structure also includes an internal surface. Gas is supplied to the interior volume of the tubular structure, wherein the gas includes a plasma precursor in the gas phase. The tubular structure is biased relative to ground. Plasma having a density is formed and cyclically positioned along the length of the tubular structure. Positive ions of the plasma precursor gas are generated and are deposited on the internal surface forming a coating on the internal surface, wherein the coating exhibits a water contact angle of greater than 120°. | 05-22-2014 |
20140109553 | Diesel Engine Exhaust Aftertreatment System and Method of Operation - A diesel engine exhaust aftertreatment system and method of use. The system and method combine the attributes of lean or stoichiometric operation, using multiple LNTs (lean NOx traps) with one being capable of acting both as a lean NOx trap and a three-way catalyst. The engine is operated with lean air-to-fuel ratios during times that LNT treatment can efficiently reduce NOx from the exhaust gas. During times that lean NOx treatment is ineffective, the diesel engine is operated at or near a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio, so that three-way catalyst treatment can be used. | 04-24-2014 |
20140101988 | Fuels And Fuel Additives Production From Glycerol Conversion Using A Monohydric Alcohol And Heterogeneous Catalysis - The present disclosure relates to a method of converting glycerol into organic reaction products. The method may include mixing glycerol with a monohydric alcohol. The mixture of glycerol and monohydric alcohol is then reacted in the presence of a heterogeneous nano-structured catalyst, wherein the monohydric alcohol is present at subcritical/supercritical temperatures and pressures. This converts the glycerol into one or more reaction products, wherein the reaction products include an oxygenated organic reaction product. Ninety percent or greater of the glycerol is converted. | 04-17-2014 |
20140069082 | EGR Control in Engine Equipped With Cylinders Having Dual Exhaust Valves - A method and system for controlling recirculated exhaust gas composition and quantity provided to an internal combustion engine, which has one or more separately controllable combustion cylinders, a main exhaust line and an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) loop. A first exhaust valve is connected to the main exhaust line, and a second exhaust valve is connected to the EGR loop. The operation of the exhaust valves is controlled such that exhaust does not flow through both exhaust valves at the same time. Control of the exhaust valves is coordinated with the main fueling event used to control the exhaust composition exiting each valve for every cylinder on every cycle. During each engine cycle, a post-combustion fuel injection event is also used to add fuel to the exhaust in-cylinder, which flows only through the second (EGR) exhaust valve. | 03-13-2014 |
20140066421 | OXIMES FOR TREATMENT OF PERIPHERAL AND CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM EXPOSURE TO ACETYL CHOLINESTERASE INHIBITORS - The present invention relates to non-charged oxime compounds which are acetyl cholinesterase (AChE) reactivators of inhibited AChE and which protect against organophosphate poisoning both peripherally and in the central nervous system. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions and methods for preparing the reactivator compounds and associated intermediates. | 03-06-2014 |
20140044643 | Magnetic Calcium Phosphate Nanoparticles, Applications And Methods Of Preparation Thereof - Magnetic calcium phosphate particles are provided including particles comprising iron oxide and calcium phosphate. A chitosan coating is present on the particles, wherein the particles are less than or equal to 1,000 nm, are magnetic and exhibit a positive charge in the range of 1 mVolts to 60 mVolts. The particles are provided by preparing a calcium hydroxide solution and filtering the calcium hydroxide solution in a membrane filter. An iron chloride solution is formed and combined with the filtered calcium hydroxide solution. In addition, the phosphoric acid solution is combined with the combined solutions of iron chloride and calcium hydroxide, forming a mixture including particles comprising iron oxide and calcium phosphate. | 02-13-2014 |
20140028328 | Method And Device for Measuring Corrosion Metal Loss - A method and system for detecting corrosion metal loss. One may provide a guided wave probe that includes an electromechanical device and a corrosion probe. This may be followed by measuring a baseline guided wave attenuation value of the corrosion probe with no corrosion. One may then periodically measure the guided wave attenuation of the corrosion probe and detect an increase in guided wave attenuation values and identify metal corrosion associated with the increase in guided wave attenuation values. This may then be followed by estimating the corrosion metal loss of the metallic component. | 01-30-2014 |
20140028154 | Method And Device For Long-Term Monitoring Of Components Using Guided Waves - The present disclosure relates to a system for monitoring a structural component. The system may include an electromechanical device to generate guided waves having a measurement surface and a bonding agent disposed on the measurement surface and configured to engage with the surface of the structural component. The system may also include a heating element for heating the measurement surface, the bonding agent, and capable of heating a portion | 01-30-2014 |
20140026843 | Magnetic Bearing For Use In Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines - An internal combustion engine comprising a plurality of reciprocating pistons within an engine block, each piston having linear movement convertable to rotating movement via a connecting rod connecting each piston to a crankshaft; the crankshaft rotatable about a linear axis, the crankshaft having a plurality of main journals, each main journal rotatable on a main bearing which supports the crankshaft within the engine block; and wherein at least one of the main bearings comprises a fluid film bearing and a magnetic bearing. | 01-30-2014 |
20140005932 | Location And Motion Estimation Using Ground Imaging Sensor | 01-02-2014 |
20140004619 | Systems, Methods And Apparatus For Analysis of Multiphase Fluid Mixture In Pipelines | 01-02-2014 |
20130327019 | Particulate Oxidation Catalyst With Dual Pressure-Drop Sensors - A method and system for treating exhaust emitted via an exhaust line from a diesel engine. A POC system is installed on the exhaust line, and has at least one diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC), a set of two or more particulate oxidation catalyst (POC) elements, a first differential pressure sensor (ΔP1) to measure the pressure difference across the first and all but the last POC elements, and a second differential pressure sensor (ΔP2) to measure pressure differences across the last POC element. During operation of the engine, ΔP1 is monitored to determine whether its POC elements require active regeneration, and ΔP2 is separately monitored to determine whether its (the last) POC element requires active regeneration. | 12-12-2013 |
20130304357 | Diesel Engine Operation for Fast Transient Response and Low Emissions - A method for controlling emissions in the exhaust gas of a diesel engine, the engine having an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system. The engine's exhaust aftertreatment system need have only an oxidation catalyst and a particulate filter (with no NOx reduction or adsorption device). In “normal” engine conditions, the engine is operated with a lean air-fuel ratio, with “normal” engine conditions being engine conditions other than transient load increase engine conditions. Also, during normal engine conditions, the EGR system is used to reduce engine-out NOx. During transient load increase engine conditions, the engine is operated stoichiometrically or near stoichiometrically and the use of EGR is interrupted. | 11-14-2013 |
20130280609 | Alloys Of Clathrate Allotropes For Rechargeable Batteries - The present disclosure is directed at an electrode for a battery wherein the electrode comprises clathrate alloys of silicon, germanium or tin. In method form, the present disclosure is directed at methods of forming clathrate alloys of silicon, germanium or tin which methods lead to the formation of empty cage structures suitable for use as electrodes in rechargeable type batteries. | 10-24-2013 |
20130252947 | BMP-2 Upregulating Compounds For Healing Bone Tissue And Screening Methods For Selecting Such Compounds - The present disclosure relates to a method to stimulate endogenous BMP-2 up-regulation in a subject which method comprises administering to a subject an effective amount of an H1 receptor antagonist, whereby endogenous BMP-2 up-regulation is stimulated in said subject. Also provided is a pharmaceutical formulation including an H1 receptor antagonist present in an effective amount to stimulate BMP-2 up-regulation in a subject and a kit. | 09-26-2013 |
20130239547 | Integrated WGS/ECD Exhaust Treatment Device for Internal Combustion Engine Having Dedicated EGR - An integrated water-gas-shift (WGS) and emissions control device (ECD) catalyst for treating exhaust from an internal combustion engine. The engine is assumed to have an EGR loop, such that exhaust is recirculated back to the engine's intake. A WGS catalyst on the EGR loop, for conditioning the EGR flow, is integrated with a catalyzed ECD on the main exhaust line, for reducing pollutant emissions. | 09-19-2013 |
20130220286 | Fuel Injection Strategy for Internal Combustion Engine Having Dedicated EGR Cylinders - A method using exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) in an internal combustion engine. The engine has at least one “dedicated EGR cylinder”, whose entire exhaust is recirculated back to all the engine cylinders. The dedicated EGR cylinder is operated at a rich air-fuel ratio, and the other cylinders are operated stoichiometrically so that a conventional three way catalyst may be used to treat the exhaust. A fuel injector is used to inject fuel into the combustion chamber of the dedicated EGR cylinder after initiation of the main combustion event. This post injection method overcomes flammability limits of a dedicated EGR cylinder, and increases the hydrogen (H2) and carbon monoxide (CO) in its exhaust. | 08-29-2013 |
20130219861 | Use of Braking Energy to Augment Exhaust Heat for Improved Operation of Exhaust Aftertreatment Devices - A method and system for raising the operating temperature of an emissions control device of an automotive vehicle. A generator converts the vehicle's mechanical braking energy to electrical energy. The electrical energy is delivered, without electrical storage, to an electric heater that heats either the emissions control device or the exhaust gas at the input to the device. | 08-29-2013 |
20130210405 | Autonomous Location Of Objects In A Mobile Reference Frame - An apparatus and method for estimating a location of an object within a mobile reference frame. Sensor data is received from an accelerometer associated with an object followed by determining from the sensor data that the mobile reference frame is executing one of a set of pre-determined maneuvers. In response to such determination: (1) the sensor data is applied to a mathematical model associated with the executed maneuver, the model trained with previously obtained data from one or more reference accelerometers positioned at known locations within the mobile reference frame and estimating the location of the object by applying the sensor data to the mathematical model; and/or (2) incorporating reference accelerometers in the mobile reference frame and comparing the sensor data with the reference accelerometers and estimating the location of the object. | 08-15-2013 |
20130195128 | Multiple Wavelength Laser System - A system for generating multiple simultaneous laser wavelengths, said system comprising: a pulsed slave laser comprising a non-linear electro-optic crystal optically coupled to a lasing crystal in a ring cavity configuration, said non-linear electro-optic crystal configured to adjust an optical path length of said ring cavity in response to an applied voltage potential; an energy pump configured to initiate a pulse cycle in said pulsed slave laser in response to a trigger; a cavity control circuit configured to apply said voltage potential to said non-linear electro-optic crystal to generate a cavity resonance condition associated with said adjusted optical path length, said cavity control circuit further configured to provide said trigger to said energy pump in response to a detection of said cavity resonance condition; and one or more seed lasers configured to inject a single frequency laser beam into said pulsed slave laser. | 08-01-2013 |
20130186175 | Two Stage Thermal Modulator For Gas Chromatography With Thermally Matched Grounding Point - Disclosed herein are two stage thermal modulators that are useful in the separation of the components of an analyte sample in an analytical method, such as gas chromatography. In some embodiments, the thermal modulators described herein include a modulator column coupled to at least one ground point so as to define a plurality of stages that may be independently temperature modulated. In some cases, the modulator column (or stages thereof adjacent to a ground point) and the ground point are thermally matched, so as to limit or eliminate the formation of a temperature differential between the modulator column and a ground point. | 07-25-2013 |
20130186064 | Exhaust Aftertreatment for NOx-Containing Exhaust From an Internal Combustion Engine - A method of treating NOx-containing exhaust from an internal combustion engine. An exhaust aftertreatment system has the following devices arranged in the following order downstream the exhaust manifold: a lean NOx trap (LNT), a particulate filter (PF) and a selective reduction catalyst (SCR) device. At least the LNT is located in the engine compartment. The SCR temperature at the input to, or in, the SCR is monitored to determine whether the aftertreatment system is to be operated in a cold mode or warm mode. Only during warm mode is reductant provided to the SCR, and during warm mode the LNT is not regenerated. | 07-25-2013 |
20130175006 | HYDROGEN TRANSFER HEATING/COOLING SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF - A system is provided to change a temperature of an environment. A first plurality of containers store metal hydride, while a second plurality of containers store metal alloy capable of absorbing hydrogen atoms at a pressure less than a storage pressure of the metal hydride. Valved conduits link container pairs of metal hydride and metal alloy. When the valves are opened, hydrogen atoms desorbed from the metal hydride are transported through the conduit and are absorbed by the metal alloy. Desorption of the hydrogen cools the metal hydride containing container and heats the metal alloy containing container, which are each in thermal communication with the environment to cool or heat the environment via fluid circulation means. One or more container pairs may be operated to cool/heat the environment, while one or more other container pairs may be regenerated using a renewable power source. | 07-11-2013 |
20130164381 | Nanoparticle-Based Targeted Drug Delivery For In Vivo Bone Loss Mitigation - The present invention is directed to nanoparticle-based targeted drug delivery system for treatment of bone-loss. An enantiomeric phenothiazine is formulated into an in-vivo nanoparticle delivery system which may contain bone-targeting functionality. The nanoparticle formulations and their associated influence on whole bone porosity may now also be evaluated utilizing nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and relaxation time profiles, and in particular, median T | 06-27-2013 |
20130137886 | Extraction Of Lipids From Living Cells Utilizing Liquid CO2 - A process for the extraction of lipids from living cells utilizing liquid carbon dioxide optionally in the presence of a porous inorganic matrix or polymer coating as well as additional solvents to improve extraction efficiency. The cells may also optionally be treated a photosensitive material to promote cellular photosynthesis. | 05-30-2013 |
20130133440 | Diluter for Measuring Engine Exhaust Emissions - A diluter for diluting a sample flow of a test gas to allow subsequent measurement of emissions in the test gas. During a calibration mode, a first flow control element receives and controls the dilution flow, a second flow control element receives and measures only the dilution flow, and a third flow control element is closed. Also during calibration, the second flow control element is calibrated to the first flow control element. During a measurement mode, the same dilution flow rate is maintained in the first and second flow control elements, the sample flow and dilution flow are mixed, and the mixed flow flows into both the second flow control element and the third flow control element. Also during measurement, the third flow control element controls sample flow, and the second flow control element delivers a portion of the mixed flow to the instrument. | 05-30-2013 |
20130133308 | Apparatus And Methods For Determination Of Total And Solid Carbon Content Of Engine Exhaust - The present disclosure provides apparatus and methods to determine real-time total carbon content, non-inclusive of carbon dioxide, and/or solid carbon content of engine exhaust. For a total carbon content determination, substantially all carbon dioxide is removed from the exhaust, and thereafter substantially all the remaining carbon of the exhaust is oxidized to provide a quantity of carbon dioxide which then may be used to determine total carbon content of the exhaust. For solid carbon content determination, in addition to substantially all carbon dioxide being removed from the exhaust, substantially all carbon-containing non-solid substances are also removed from the exhaust, and thereafter substantially all the remaining carbon of the exhaust is oxidized to provide a quantity of carbon dioxide which then may be used to determine solid carbon content of the exhaust. | 05-30-2013 |
20130114919 | Fluid Bearings With Adjustable Frictional Load Characteristics - An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a fluid bearing having an adjustable effective surface area and a method of adjusting the load carrying capacity of a fluid bearing. The fluid bearing may include a bore defining a central longitudinal axis and lubricating fluid provided within the bore. The fluid bearing may also include a bearing including a bearing surface, wherein at least a portion of the bearing is positioned within the bore. An adjustable effective bearing surface area may also be provided. The method includes adjusting effective bearing surface area of the bearing. | 05-09-2013 |
20130104862 | Enhanced Combustion for Spark Ignition Engine Using Electromagnetic Energy Coupling | 05-02-2013 |
20130104861 | Enhanced Combustion for Compression Ignition Engine Using Electromagnetic Energy Coupling | 05-02-2013 |
20130090802 | WAYPOINT SPLINING FOR AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE FOLLOWING - A method for defining a following path for a following vehicle to autonomously follow a leader, the method including acquiring waypoints associated with a path that the leader traverses; filtering the acquired waypoints, wherein the filtering removes waypoints located outside an area of interest; generating intermediate waypoints by interpolating between adjacent pairs of the filtered waypoints if the adjacent pairs of the filtered waypoints are separated by a distance that exceeds a threshold distance; and defining a following path through the filtered waypoints and the intermediate waypoints using a least-squares spline fit to calculate the following path. | 04-11-2013 |
20130077739 | Portable 3-Dimensional X-Ray Imaging System - An x-ray imaging system and method for providing three-dimensional data representing the contents of an object. An x-ray source and x-ray screen are used to acquire multiple x-ray images of the object from different perspectives. The different perspectives are obtained by placing the x-ray source at one end of a moveable arm. These images are processed by back-projecting each perspective image at known distances between the object and the x-ray source, and superimposing the back-projected images at each distance, thereby providing a set of image slices of the object along the z-axis. | 03-28-2013 |
20130069639 | Flexible Magnetostrictive Sensor - A flexible printed circuit board (PCB) magnetostrictive (MS) sensor comprising a first direct current (DC) bias PCB layer comprising a first plurality of conductive traces, a first alternating current (AC) PCB layer disposed on the first DC bias PCB layer, the first AC PCB layer comprising a first AC coil, a pocket PCB layer disposed on the first AC PCB layer, the pocket PCB layer to receive a strip of MS material, a second AC PCB layer disposed on the pocket PCB layer, the second AC PCB layer comprising a second AC coil, and a second DC bias PCB layer disposed on the second AC PCB layer, the second DC bias PCB layer comprising a second plurality of conductive traces. The traces from the first plurality of conductive traces are electrically coupled to traces from the second plurality of conductive traces. | 03-21-2013 |
20130064724 | Composition And Process For Manufacture Of A High Temperature Carbon-Dioxide Separation Membrane - A membrane composition and process for its formation are disclosed from the removal of carbon dioxide (CO | 03-14-2013 |
20130035842 | Fueling Systems, Methods And Apparatus For An Internal Combustion Engine - The present disclosure provides a method to operate an internal combustion engine comprising storing a fueling command map having fueling index values, each of the fueling index values defining values for a plurality of fueling parameters, and a plurality of predetermined non-linear relationships that directly relate fueling index values to in-cylinder oxygen mass values; determining a temporary fueling index value; determining an in-cylinder oxygen mass value; identifying a predetermined relationship that directly relates fueling index values to in-cylinder oxygen mass values from the plurality of predetermined relationships to provide an identified predetermined relationship; determining that a current relationship of the temporary fueling index value to the calculated oxygen mass value differs from the identified predetermined relationship; and adjusting the temporary fueling index value using at least one fueling correction model to provide a revised fueling index value that approaches the identified predetermined relationship. | 02-07-2013 |
20130035351 | Oximes For Treatment Of Peripheral And Central Nervous System Exposure To Acetyl Cholinesterase Inhibitors - The present invention relates to non-charged oxime compounds which are acetyl cholinesterase (AChE) reactivators of inhibited AChE and which protect against organophosphate poisoning both peripherally and in the central nervous system. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions and methods for preparing the reactivator compounds and associated intermediates. | 02-07-2013 |
20130030548 | Engineered Tissue Implants And Methods Of Use Thereof - A engineered tissue implant comprising a perfusion chamber formed with a biocompatible flexible tubular member having a wall defining an internal fluid flow passage and a porous scaffold within the fluid flow passage of the tubular member, the porous scaffold arranged such that, in a presence of a perfusion fluid, the perfusion fluid will flow through the porous scaffold and be inhibited from flow between the porous scaffold and the wall of the tubular member. The engineered tissue implant may be understood as a transplantable cell construct or as an implantable bioreactor for cell growth both in vitro and/or in vivo. A method to provide tissue for reconstruction may comprise forming the engineered tissue implant containing a scaffold, introducing and seeding cells to the scaffold, introducing a perfusion fluid to the scaffold which flows through the fluid flow passage and scaffold, proliferating the cells within the scaffold and forming blood vessels within the scaffold. This may be followed by transplanting the engineered tissue implant in vivo where nutrition and oxygen are provided to support the preloaded cells. | 01-31-2013 |
20130018566 | Effectiveness Modeling and Control Methods for EGR CoolerAANM Khair; Magdi K.AACI San AntonioAAST TXAACO USAAGP Khair; Magdi K. San Antonio TX USAANM Lu; QilongAACI San AntonioAAST TXAACO USAAGP Lu; Qilong San Antonio TX US - A method of modeling and testing the effectiveness of an EGR cooler. The cooler effectiveness is mathematically modeled as a function of various temperatures and over an operation history that includes one or more engine shut-downs. | 01-17-2013 |
20130016931 | Fluid Bearings With Adjustable Frictional Load CharacteristicsAANM ROBERTS, JR.; Charles E.AACI HelotesAAST TXAACO USAAGP ROBERTS, JR.; Charles E. Helotes TX US - An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a fluid bearing and a method of adjusting the load carrying capacity of a fluid bearing. The fluid bearing may include a bore defined in the fluid bearing and a rotatable bearing including a rotatable bearing surface. Lubricating fluid in the bore may be contacted with at least a portion of the rotatable bearing surface, wherein an effective bearing surface area is provided where the lubricating fluid contacts the rotatable bearing surface. The effective bearing surface area may be altered by either increasing or reducing the area of the rotatable bearing surface which is contacted by the lubricating fluid. | 01-17-2013 |
20130014560 | Sample System For Gaseous Emission MeasurementAANM WEI; QiangAACI San AntonioAAST TXAACO USAAGP WEI; Qiang San Antonio TX US - Disclosed herein are sampling systems and sampling methods for regulating the provision of sample gases to downstream analytical equipment, such as an exhaust bench for analyzing exhaust gases emitted from an internal combustion engine. In some embodiments, the described systems and methods can enable accurate measurements to be taken from a source of gaseous samples, regardless of the gaseous sample inlet pressure. | 01-17-2013 |
20130006498 | Fuel Injection During Negative Valve Overlap for Stoichiometric Diesel Operations - A method of stoichiometrically operating a diesel-fueled internal combustion engine. During a main (conventional) fuel injection event, fuel is injected into the cylinders. The air-fuel ratio during this main fuel injection event is stoichiometric. The cylinders are operated by either advancing the exhaust valve closing or modifying the phasing of the exhaust and intake valve lift events, to achieve a negative valve overlap period between the end of the exhaust phase and the beginning of the intake phase of the engine cycle. Fuel is injected into the cylinders during the negative valve overlap period, which results in highly reactive fuel and reduces ignition delay during the main fuel injection event. | 01-03-2013 |
20130000620 | Internal Exhaust Gas Recirculation for Stoichiometric Operation of Diesel Engine - A method of stoichiometrically operating a diesel-fueled internal combustion engine. A control unit is provide with stored data representing, within a range of exhaust valve timing or event modifications, an amount of fresh air flow and exhaust gas residuals resulting from each modification. During operation of the engine, the control unit is used to determining a desired amount of exhaust gas residuals for a given engine load; accessing the stored data to determine a modification that will provide the desired amount of exhaust gas residuals; and generating a control signal that will result in the desired modification. | 01-03-2013 |
20120316111 | BMP-2 Upregulating Compounds For Healing Bone Tissue And Screening Methods For Selecting Such Compounds - The present disclosure relates to a method to stimulate endogenous BMP-2 up-regulation in a subject which method comprises administering to a subject an effective amount of one or more of the following compounds prazosin, quinacrine, emetine, apomorphine, and debrisoquine, whereby endogenous BMP-2 up-regulation is stimulated in said subject. The endogenous BMP-2 up-regulation may enhance bone formation and/or cartilage formation. | 12-13-2012 |
20120295160 | Clathrate Allotropes For Rechargeable Batteries - The present disclosure is directed at clathrate (Type I) allotropes of silicon, germanium and tin. In method form, the present disclosure is directed at methods for forming clathrate allotropes of silicon, germanium or tin which methods lead to the formation of empty cage structures suitable for use as electrodes in rechargeable type batteries. | 11-22-2012 |
20120287239 | Robot Vision With Three Dimensional Thermal Imaging - A robot vision system provides images to a remote robot viewing station, using a single long wave infrared camera on-board the robot. An optical system, also on-board the robot, has mirrors that divide the camera's field of view so that the camera receives a stereoscopic image pair. An image processing unit at the viewing station receives image data from the camera and processes the image data to provide a stereoscopic image. | 11-15-2012 |
20120286147 | WIDE-ANGLE LASER SIGNAL SENSOR - A laser sensor comprising a sensor head to receive laser light. The sensor head may have a globe-shaped optical member, the globe-shaped optical member may be optically coupled to an optical-to-electrical converter, the optical-to-electrical converter may be configured to convert laser light from the sensor head to an electronic output signal, and the sensor head may be configured to provide a 360 degree field of view in a horizontal plane and a positive (+) 90 degree field of view in a vertical plane above the horizontal plane. | 11-15-2012 |
20120274616 | Electrophoretic Display Using Fibers Containing a Nanoparticle Suspension - A composite textile for generating an electrophoretically driven image. The textile has at least three layers. An outer (relative to an observer of the image) electrode layer is made from a transparent and electrically conductive material. A fibermat layer is under the outer electrode layer, and comprises a mat of one or more fibers, each fiber being transparent and dielectric and having a hollow core that contains a fluid suspension of particles (typically nanoparticles) of at least two color types. A pattern layer is under the fiber mat layer, and has an arrangement of features made from an electrically conductive material. When voltage is applied to the pattern layer, the particles respond by migrating toward the outer electrode or pattern layer, depending on their charge. | 11-01-2012 |
20120254093 | Detection of Network Links in a Communications Network - A method or system for detecting associations between nodes of a communications network. “Node events” are defined as being communications from one node to another, each event having an origination time. For a given node, and for a number of time windows, event originations from other nodes after the occurrence of an event from that node are counted. Then for that node, these counts may be used to determine the probability that any other node is in a time window of that node. The probability data may then be used to determine the likelihood of a communications link with that node. The process may be repeated for a number of nodes to determine links within the network. | 10-04-2012 |
20120253057 | Continuous Production Of Bioderived Esters Via Supercritical Solvent Processing Using Solid Heterogeneous Catalysts - A method for the continuous production of ester based organic compounds from renewable natural products via supercritical solvent processing in the presence of heterogeneous nano-structured catalysts. Fatty acid triglycerides may therefore be transesterified using heterogeneous nano-structured catalysts in the presence of supercritical alcohols to provide alkyl ester compounds and glycerine. | 10-04-2012 |
20120252130 | Particulate Matter Generator For Use With An Emissions Control Device Aging System - A particulate matter generator implemented as a “mini-burner”, and used in conjunction with a larger test system for the specific purpose of enhancing the particulate matter content of exhaust gas. The exhaust stream of the larger system is supplemented with exhaust from the mini-burner to produce exhaust with desired particulate matter characteristics. The exhaust gas may then be used for various test purposes, such as testing emissions control devices. | 10-04-2012 |
20120242971 | Omnidirectional Image Detection System With Range Information - An omnidirectional image detection system, which uses a single camera to acquire distance information from dual images. In addition to the camera, an upper mirror and a lower mirror are all arranged coaxially. Both mirrors have reflective outer surfaces, symmetric about the axis, and both are generally conical in shape, with the apex toward the camera. The lower mirror (nearest the camera) is truncated at the apex and has an opening in its center that permits light from the upper mirror to pass to the camera. The camera receives an image from each mirror, and these images form a concentric dual image. The disparity between the images can be used to provide distance data or to generate a three-dimensional image. | 09-27-2012 |
20120239298 | Geological Stress Inversion Using Fault Displacement and Slip Tendency - A computer-implemented method of determining the stress state associated with a geological fault is described. The source data comprises measured fault displacement values, or proxy displacement values, associated with the fault. An error function calculates error as a function of normalized fault displacement and normalized slip tendency. Candidate stress states are used to determine slip tendency values, which are used in the error function to calculate an error value. This value is minimized to determine the “best” candidate stress state. | 09-20-2012 |
20120231177 | Depositing Coatings In Long Hollow Substrates Using A Heated Center Electrode - A method and system for plasma immersion ion processing including providing a hollow substrate having an interior surface defining an interior and a gas feed tube extending through the interior, wherein the gas feed tube is hollow and includes a wall having a plurality of holes defined therein. The method and system may also include heating the gas feed tube to a temperature in the range of 50° C. to 650° C.; supplying a precursor gas to the interior of the hollow substrate through the plurality of holes in the gas feed tube and generating a plasma; and applying a negative bias to the hollow substrate relative to the gas feed tube to draw ions from the plasma to the interior surface to form a coating on the interior surface. | 09-13-2012 |
20120226441 | Sensor Network for Detecting Riverbed Scour - A riverbed scour detection system, comprising a wireless sensor network embedded in areas of potential scour. The scour detection network has one or more vertical stacks of sensor nodes placed in the riverbed at known locations. The sensors detect each other, and non detection of a sensor indicates its removal by scour activity. | 09-06-2012 |
20120204845 | EGR Distributor Apparatus For Dedicated EGR Configuration - The present disclosure relates to methods, apparatuses and systems to manage exhaust gas expelled from an internal combustion engine. More particularly, the present disclosure provides an exhaust gas recirculation apparatus to distribute recirculated exhaust gas in an air stream to be introduced to an internal combustion engine, with the apparatus comprising an intake passage defined by a wall structure, the wall structure including a plurality of apertures therein configured to distribute recirculated exhaust gas into the intake passage. | 08-16-2012 |
20120204844 | Dedicated EGR Control Strategy For Improved EGR Distribution And Engine Performance - The present disclosure relates to methods, apparatuses and systems to manage exhaust gas expelled from cylinders of an internal combustion engine. An exemplary system may comprise at least one cylinder of the engine configured to operate as a dedicated exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cylinder, and wherein substantially all exhaust gas expelled from the dedicated EGR cylinder is recirculated to an intake system of the engine. In one embodiment, the system may include a flow restrictor configured and arranged to restrict a flow of the recirculated exhaust gas to the dedicated EGR cylinder without restricting a flow of the recirculated exhaust gas to the remaining cylinders of the engine. In another embodiment, exhaust gas may be expelled from the dedicated EGR cylinder in pulsations, and the intake system may be configured to reduce an amplitude of the pulsations of the exhaust gas expelled from the dedicated EGR cylinder. | 08-16-2012 |
20120193580 | Enhancement Of Syngas Production In Coal Gasification With CO2 Conversion Under Plasma Conditions - A process and apparatus for enhancement of syngas production (CO and H | 08-02-2012 |
20120186225 | Methods And Apparatus To Detect And Inhibit Low-Speed Pre-Ignition In An Engine - The disclosure provides a method of detecting and inhibiting an abnormal combustion event in an internal combustion engine, comprising operating the internal combustion engine to produce exhaust gas from the cylinder at a break mean effective pressure greater than or equal to 10 bars at a speed less than or equal to 2,000 revolutions per minute; monitoring the exhaust gas from the cylinder with an oxygen sensor while the internal combustion engine undergoes a pre-ignition combustion event; obtaining an output from the oxygen sensor, the output from the oxygen sensor providing an indicator of the pre-ignition combustion event; and adjusting at least one operating parameter of the internal combustion engine in response to the output of the oxygen sensor, wherein the at least one operating parameter is adjusted to inhibit an occurrence of a subsequent pre-ignition combustion event. | 07-26-2012 |
20120161077 | Synthetic Hydrocarbon Production By Direct Reduction Of Carbonaceous Materials With Synthesis Gas - A process for the liquefaction of carbonaceous material is described that utilizes a single liquefaction reactor that accepts mixtures of carbon monoxide and hydrogen (syngas) at any ratio and which provides for a water gas shift reaction and a hydrogenation reaction of the carbonaceous material to provide a desired hydrocarbon. The process avoids the use of a separate reactor for the water gas shift reaction and applies to carbonaceous material such as any type of coal and/or biomass containing plant and/or animal matter for conversion to a synthetic fuel. | 06-28-2012 |
20120150493 | Sensor Array Processor with Multichannel Reconstruction from Random Array Sampling - A method and system for reconstructing random samples taken across multiple sensors of a sensor array, so that each sensor's output is reconstructed. The samples are processed using a compressive sensing process. The compressive sensing process uses a time-space transform basis that represents the multi-channel data in terms of both a frequency component and an azimuthal component. | 06-14-2012 |
20120148762 | NANOCOMPOSITES CONTAINING NANODIAMOND - The present disclosure relates to a method of coating a substrate, with the method comprising: providing a substrate; dispersing nanodiamond powder in a liquid to provide a coating precursor; converting the liquid of the coating precursor to a vapor; introducing the coating precursor to a vapor deposition process; and operating the vapor deposition process to produce a nanocrystalline diamond-containing nanocomposite coating on the substrate, the nanocomposite coating produced using the coating precursor and comprising the nanodiamond particles. | 06-14-2012 |
20120147356 | White Light Optical Profilometer for Measuring Complex Surfaces - A white light optical profilometer having a measurement head that is separated from the base unit by means of a fiber optic bundle. The measurement head contains a Michelson objective, whose reference path is folded so that the measurement head may be compact. The measurement head also contains a tilting mirror, which directs light from the surface of interest to the objective, and may be adjusted to allow the measurement head to scan complex surfaces. The base unit contains the other elements of the profilometer, such as an image detector and illuminator. | 06-14-2012 |
20120142954 | Surface Treatment And Exchange Of Nanostructures From Aqueous Suspension Into Organic Media And Into Polymer-Matrix Composites - The present invention is directed to a method of exchanging nanostructures from within aqueous liquid media into organic liquid media. The steps comprise first supplying solid nanostructures in an aqueous liquid media, adjusting the pH, incorporating an ionic surfactant sufficient to reduce nanostructure aggregation, followed by concentrating the nanostructures in the aqueous liquid media. The nanostructures may them be placed in organic liquid media followed by introduction of a coupling agent capable of covalent attachment to the nanostructure surface while providing a functional group capable of polymerization to covalently bond the nanostructures to a selected monomer and/or polymer resin. | 06-07-2012 |
20120114926 | ELECTROPHORETIC DEPOSITION OF ADSORBENT MEDIA - A method of electrophoretic deposition of adsorbent media onto an electrically conducting substrate. The adsorbent media may include one or more porous coordination polymers and/or one or more secondary adsorbing particles. The adsorbent media may be continuously applied from a liquid composition at a selected thickness and at a controlled rate and as a function of voltage profiles | 05-10-2012 |
20120114871 | Method And Apparatus For Producing An Ionized Vapor Deposition Coating - A vapor deposition coating system including a metal vapor source, a power supply coupled to the metal vapor source, at least one thermionic ionizing grid including one or more thermionic filaments, wherein the ionizing grid is at least partially located within a region having a metal atom flow density in the range of 1E14m | 05-10-2012 |
20120095666 | Adaptive Desulfation and Regeneration Methods for Lean NOx Trap - An adaptive method is used for LNT desulfation and regeneration. The desulfation method involves adapting the amount of sulfur loading to trigger a desulfation event in accordance with the current adsorption capacity of the LNT. The method involves monitoring the current sulfur loading and the current LNT adsorption capacity. This data is used to calculate a loading amount “trigger”, whose value varies over the LNT lifetime. Whenever this trigger amount is reached, a desulfation event is performed. The regeneration method is similar, with the baseline data and loading threshold being determined by NOx loading rather than sulfur loading. | 04-19-2012 |
20120092474 | Scaleable, Compact, High Resolution Optical Fingerprint Reader - A fingerprint reader for acquiring a fingerprint image has a platen with a micro prism sheet on its underside. An arrangement of fold mirrors is used to receive light from the platen and fold the optical path twice before reaching the imagers. The reader has multiple imagers, each imager having at least an imaging lens and an image sensor. Each imager is configured so that the image plane of the image sensor is tilted relative to the optical axis of the imaging lens, such that keystone distortion in the fingerprint image is corrected. | 04-19-2012 |
20120090352 | Methods And Apparatus For An Oxy-Fuel Based Power Cycle - Methods and apparatus for an oxy-fuel combustion power cycle are provided, including converting gaseous carbon dioxide to liquid and/or supercritical carbon dioxide which may include the use of a cryogenic pump, removing a portion of the liquid and/or supercritical carbon dioxide from the cycle, combusting oxygen and a combustion fuel with the remaining liquid and/or supercritical carbon dioxide in an oxy-fuel combustor to generate steam and additional liquid and/or supercritical carbon dioxide which replaces the portion of the liquid and/or supercritical carbon dioxide sequestered from the cycle. | 04-19-2012 |
20120070503 | Nanoparticle-Based Targeted Drug Delivery For In Vivo Bone Loss Mitigation - The present invention is directed to nanoparticle-based targeted drug delivery system for treatment of bone-loss. An enantiomeric phenothiazine is formulated into an in-vivo nanoparticle delivery system which may contain bone-targeting functionality. The nanoparticle formulations and their associated influence on whole bone porosity may now also be evaluated utilizing nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and relaxation time profiles, and in particular, median T | 03-22-2012 |
20120063882 | Internally-cooled centrifugal compressor with cooling jacket formed in the diaphragm - An internally-cooled centrifugal compressor ( | 03-15-2012 |
20120047576 | Hardware-Implemented Hypervisor for Root-of-Trust Monitoring and Control of Computer System - A system and method for modifying a processor system with hypervisor hardware to provide protection against malware. The processor system is assumed to be of a type having at least a CPU and a high-speed bus for providing data links between the CPU, other bus masters, and peripherals (including a debug interface unit). The hypervisor hardware elements are (1) a co-processor programmed to perform one or more security tasks; (2) a communications interface between the co-processor and the debug interface unit; (3) a behavioral interface on the high-speed bus, configured to monitor control signals from the CPU, and (4) an access controller on the high-speed bus, configured to store access control data, to intercept requests on the high-speed bus, to evaluate the requests against the access control data, and to grant or deny the requests. | 02-23-2012 |
20120046852 | Closed Loop Control of Fuel Viscosity in Multi-Fuel Engine - A system and method for controlling the viscosity of liquid fuel delivered from a fuel tank to the fuel injectors of an internal combustion engine. A viscosity sensor is placed in the fuel line, or in a bypass fuel line, in close proximity downstream the fuel injectors. A heat exchanger is placed on the fuel line downstream the sensor. The sensor is a rotating cylinder having a nominal rotation velocity, and is configured to rotate such that the nominal rotation velocity increases or decreases in response to fuel viscosity. The sensor delivers a measurement signal to a control unit, which performs a closed loop algorithm to adjust the heat provided by the heat exchanger until the measured rotation matches a target rotation. | 02-23-2012 |
20120043981 | Corrosion Monitoring of Concrete Reinforcement Bars (Or Other Buried Corrodable Structures) Using Distributed Node Electrodes - Systems and methods for real time detection of corrosion of rebars embedded in a concrete structure. Test bars are selected for corrosion testing purposes, and may or may not also be part of the concrete reinforcement structure. These test bars are coated, and exposed sections of these test bars form a network of node electrodes. Electrical measurement from a counter electrode near a node electrode provides an indication of corrosion at that node electrode. Using a system of node electrodes and counter electrodes, a large concrete area may be monitored, and if corrosion is indicated, a methodical selection of electrodes can be used to locate the corrosion. The same concepts may be applied to detect corrosion in buried structures, such as pipelines and tanks. | 02-23-2012 |
20120038376 | Local Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (LEIS) for Detecting Coating Defects in Buried Pipelines - A system and associated methods for acquiring and analyzing LEIS data from a buried structure, such as a pipeline. A special probe having adjustable electrodes is placed in the soil above the structure. A voltage is applied to the structure, causing more current to emanate from a coating defect than from intact coating. The probe electrodes acquire a response signal, which is analyzed to detect the defect. | 02-16-2012 |
20120029789 | Methods of detecting pre-ignition and preventing it from causing knock in direct injection spark ignition engines - A method of preventing a pre-ignition event within a cylinder ( | 02-02-2012 |
20120021283 | Silicon Clathrate Anodes For Lithium-Ion Batteries - The present disclosure is directed at an electrode and methods for forming such electrode for a battery wherein the electrode comprises silicon clathrate. The silicon clathrate may include silicon clathrate Si | 01-26-2012 |
20120006686 | ELECTROPHORETIC FORMATION OF NANOSTRUCTURED COMPOSITES - The present invention is directed to composite films containing nanostructures within a polymer or monomeric matrix which composite may be formed on a metallic substrate and subsequently removed to provide bulk material. The nanostructures and polymer or monomer matrix may be assembled electrophoretically by initially providing a mixture of the nanostructures and polymer or monomer matrix material within generally anhydrous environments such as polar aprotic solvents followed by deposition of the composite film material. | 01-12-2012 |
20120003106 | TUNABLE CHOKE TUBE FOR PULSATION CONTROL DEVICE USED WITH GAS COMPRESSOR - A method and system for reducing pulsation in a gas compressor system. A pulsation control device, such as a filter bottle or side branch absorber, is installed at a port into some location on the compressor system. The pulsation control device has a choke tube with a variable cross-sectional area, such as by having multiple conduits that may be opened or closed or a diameter that may be varied. In operation, the cross sectional area of the choke tube is varied depending on the compressor speed. | 01-05-2012 |
20110306754 | Aligned Polymers Including Bonded Substrates - The present disclosure relates to the present disclosure relates to a method of fabricating an aligned polymer containing a bonded substrate and related compositions. The method involved placing a polymer in solution which is capable of alignment wherein the polymer is also bound to a selected substrate. This may then be followed by placing the polymer solution in an electrochemical cell wherein the polymer solution is in contact with at least one electrode and applying an electric field/voltage to the polymer solution and generating a pH gradient wherein the polymer and bonded substrate positions at the isoelectric point of the polymer in solution. | 12-15-2011 |
20110301925 | Optical State Estimation And Simulation Environment For Unmanned Aerial Vehicles - The present disclosure relates to a method and system for simulating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and simulating an environment in which the UAV may be flying. A plurality of visual sensors, e.g., cameras, positioned on the UAV, may be simulated. A UAV simulator is configured to simulate the UAV and a graphical simulator is configured to simulate the environment. The UAV simulator may be configured to: estimate pitch, roll and/or groundspeed based, at least in part, on outputs from the visual sensors, determine a position and/or an orientation of the simulated UAV in the simulated environment based, at least in part, on the estimate(s) and provide the position and/or orientation to the graphical simulator. The graphical simulator may be configured to display the simulated UAV at the position and/or orientation in the simulated environment and/or to display the simulated camera view(s). | 12-08-2011 |
20110291900 | Portable Pop-Up Direction Finding Antenna - An easily transportable multiband antenna array. The antenna array is fabricated on a multi-sided structure, such as a four-sided cube, made from a wire frame and fabric. The multi-sided structure is constructed so that it may be folded by first folding the faces against each other, and then twisting them to form a stack of loops. The antenna elements are fabricated on the faces, and comprise at least a loop antenna around the perimeter of each face, and a bow-tie antenna attached to each face. The antenna elements are fabricated and attached so that they do not inhibit the folding of the structure. | 12-01-2011 |
20110278458 | Compact Handheld Non-Laser Detector For Greenhouse Gasses - Techniques are disclosed relating to gas leak detection. The techniques can be deployed, for example, in compact, handheld portable devices usable for detecting leaks in space-confined applications. The devices generally include a non-laser light source and thermal imaging camera that allow for detection of a target gas (or gasses) that absorbs at least some of the light source's wavelengths of operation. The light source can be implemented, for example, with an incoherent infrared (IR) light source, such as a resonance lamp configured with a gas cell containing a volume of a gas that, when excited by electric discharge, emits a wavelength that is absorbed by the target gas. | 11-17-2011 |
20110277457 | Energy Storage and Production Systems, Apparatus and Methods Of Use Thereof - Systems, apparatus and methods of compressed air energy storage and electrical power generation are provided. In one embodiment, an apparatus is provided having a magnetic piston within a cylinder and an air chamber at each end of the piston; an electromagnetic coil is operable with the piston to convert an input of electrical power to a first reciprocating movement of the piston sufficient to generate compressed air in the chambers for storage in a compressed air storage reservoir; and the electromagnetic coil is operable with the piston to convert a second reciprocating movement of the piston to an output of electrical power connectable to a power grid, with the second reciprocating movement of the piston generated by bursts of the compressed air from the storage reservoir introduced into the chambers. | 11-17-2011 |
20110271931 | Piston Bowl With Flat Bottom - A piston for a direct injection engine is provided, the piston having a bowl at an upper end, the bowl forming a portion of a combustion chamber. The bowl includes an inner surface that defines a volume configured to receive a fuel-air mixture, the inner surface of the bowl including a generally concave portion including a flat bottom surrounding a central protruding dome. The relatively flat bottom portion is bounded by two radial concave surface portions which are disposed below two convex separation features for the injected fuel spray. Such surface geometries may reduce soot and improve fuel-air mixing. | 11-10-2011 |
20110265761 | Method and related system of dithering spark timing to prevent pre-ignition in internal combustion engine - Methods of mitigating the occurrence of a low-speed pre-ignition event in a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine ( | 11-03-2011 |
20110262837 | Two-Dimensional Composite Particle Adapted For Use As A Catalyst And Method Of Making Same - The present invention is directed to a composite particle that is microscopically two-dimensional with a third nanoscopic dimension, and to methods of making same. The particle may include a support and a metal layer. The metal layer may be catalytically active such that the particle is adapted to act as a catalyst. | 10-27-2011 |
20110259297 | Piston Bowl With Deflecting Features - A piston for a direct injection engine is provided, the piston having a bowl at an upper end, the bowl forming a portion of a combustion chamber. The bowl includes an inner surface and a dome that defines a volume configured to receive a fuel-air mixture, the inner surface of the bowl and the dome each including at least one surface feature as a target for the fuel spray. The surface feature may protrude from the inner surface of the bowl or may be recessed into the inner surface. Such surface features may reduce soot and improve fuel-air mixing. | 10-27-2011 |
20110259092 | Corrosion Sensor - A corrosion sensor may include a sensor body, a chloride probe held in the sensor body, a pH probe held in the sensor body, a reference electrode for the chloride probe and the pH probe held in the sensor body, a multiple array sensor held in the sensor body and a resistivity probe held in the sensor body. A method of measuring corrosion in a reinforced concrete structure may include inserting a corrosion sensor into a reinforced concrete structure and monitoring chloride ions with the chloride probe, pH with the pH probe, localized concrete resistivity with the resistivity probe and corrosion current density with the multiple array sensor. | 10-27-2011 |
20110256417 | Oxidation Resistant Nanocrystalline MCrAl(Y) Coatings And Methods of Forming Such Coatings - The present disclosure relates to an oxidation resistant nanocrystalline coating and a method of forming an oxidation resistant nanocrystalline coating. An oxidation resistant coating comprising an MCrAl(Y) alloy may be deposited on a substrate, wherein M, includes iron, nickel, cobalt, or combinations thereof present greater than 50 wt % of the MCrAl(Y) alloy, chromium is present in the range of 15 wt % to 30 wt % of the MCrAl(Y) alloy, aluminum is present in the range of 6 wt % to 12 wt % of the MCrAl(Y) alloy and yttrium, is optionally present in the range of 0.1 wt % to 0.5 wt % of the MCrAl(Y) alloy. In addition, the coating may exhibit a grain size of 200 nm or less as deposited. | 10-20-2011 |
20110253095 | Piston Bowl With Spray Jet Targets - A piston for a direct injection engine is provided, the piston having a bowl at an upper end, the bowl forming a portion of a combustion chamber. The bowl includes an inner surface that defines a volume configured to receive a fuel-air mixture, the inner surface of the bowl including at least one surface feature as a target for the fuel spray, the surface feature angled 20° to 80° from the piston face. The surface feature may protrude from the inner surface of the bowl or may be recessed into the inner surface. Such surface features may reduce soot and improve fuel-air mixing. | 10-20-2011 |
20110253094 | Piston Bowl With Spray Jet Targets - A piston for a direct injection engine is provided, the piston having a bowl at an upper end, the bowl forming a portion of a combustion chamber. The bowl includes an inner surface that defines a volume configured to receive a fuel-air mixture, the inner surface of the bowl including at least one surface feature that forms at least one edge portion as a target for the fuel spray, the edge portion defined by two or more surface portions. The surface feature may protrude from the inner surface of the bowl or may be recessed into the inner surface. Such surface features may reduce soot and improve fuel-air mixing. | 10-20-2011 |
20110244587 | QUANTIFICATION OF LUBRICANT REACTIVITY USING CONSTANT VOLUME COMBUSTION DEVICE - A method for identifying a lubricant composition that reduces the propensity for knock in an engine. The lubricant composition is mixed with a solvent to reduce the viscosity of the lubricant composition, thereby forming a lubricant-solvent mixture having a viscosity similar to or less than that of engine fuel. A sample of a lubricant-solvent mixture is then subjected to a constant volume combustion test to determine the reactivity associated with the lubricant-solvent mixture. The test is repeated for a range of lubricant-solvent ratios, and statistical methods are used to calculate the reactivity of the lubricant composition without solvent. | 10-06-2011 |
20110235032 | Chiral Plasmonic Structures For Mediating Chemical Transformation And Detection Of Molecules With Spatial Chirality - Three-dimensional metal dielectric structures are disclosed with chiral symmetry that elicit surface plasmons. The plasmons may have propagational circular polarization wherein the frequency of such propagating plasmons may be tuned by design to couple with the electronic transitions or fundamental vibrations, including phonons, of a molecular species. The plasmon-molecule coupling, combined with the propagational polarization afforded by the chiral structure may be further exploited to mediate the chemical transformations involving molecules with spatial chirality and/or to detect molecules with spatial chirality. | 09-29-2011 |
20110232519 | Shaped Explosive Charge - A shaped charge explosive device is provided having a front, a rear and an axis of symmetry with the device comprising an explosive charge, a liner lining a front of the explosive charge, the liner having a recess in the form of a groove encircling the axis of symmetry; and the groove arranged to provide an axis of projection for the liner at an angle A relative to the axis of symmetry. A method of cutting a structure is provided comprising the steps of providing the foregoing device, detonating the explosive charge to create a detonation wave; forming the liner into an formed projectile in the shape of an annular ring with the detonation wave; directing the formed projectile towards the structure; and forming an annular ring cut pattern in the structure with the formed projectile. | 09-29-2011 |
20110221428 | Magnetostrictive Sensors for Surface Wave Testing of Thick Walled Structures - An ultrasonic probe that uses the magnetostrictive effect to generate and detect a surface-coupled guided wave for the purpose of inspecting a thick-walled structure for surface defects. A transmitter probe and a receiver probe are especially designed to generate and detect short wavelengths that will couple to only one surface of the plate. | 09-15-2011 |
20110220490 | Apparatus And Method Utilizing A Double Glow Discharge Plasma For Sputter Cleaning - The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method utilizing double glow discharge for sputter cleaning of a selected surface. The surface may include the inner surface of a hollow substrate such as a tube which inner surface may then be coated via magnetron sputter deposition. | 09-15-2011 |
20110217351 | COATING FOR MEDICAL IMPLANTS - A medical implant for drug delivery comprising an inner layer of polymer material including a drug dispersed therein and an outer layer which may then mediate the release of the drug in a controllable manner. The outer layer may adhere and/or penetrate the underlying layer and offer a protective coating along with improved mechanical strength along with the ability to hydrate and become permeable to water and allow for drug release. | 09-08-2011 |
20110216188 | Optical Velocity Tracking for Paint Spray Gun - A method of tracking and reporting the velocity of a hand-held paint spray gun. The object to be painted is placed in a room having one or more fiducial walls. A camera is installed on the spray gun, with its field of view toward the one or more fiducial walls. As the object is painted, the camera detects fiducials, calculates their current position, and compares current positions to previous locations to determine movement and velocity. The current velocity is compared to a stored target velocity, and audible or visible feedback is provided to the spray gun operator. | 09-08-2011 |
20110213538 | Method and related system of using crankcase pressure to to detect pre-ignition in spark ignition engine - Methods and a related system of preventing a pre-ignition event in a spark ignition engine. Unusual crankcase pressure fluctuations often occur prior to a Low-Speed Pre-Ignition (LSPI) event. A high speed high resolution pressure transducer ( | 09-01-2011 |
20110208033 | FRACTURE RISK ASSESSMENT - The present disclosure relates to a bone fracture risk assessment method and system. The method may include generating a volumetric model corresponding to a three-dimensional image of a bone structure for each bone structure in a set of bone structures. The method may further include defining a vector of variables for each bone structure. Each variable in the vector of variables may include a three-dimensional position of one of a number of volumetric vertices and at least one parameter associated with the one volumetric vertex. The method may include generating a set of individual vectors and performing variable reduction on the set of individual vectors. The method may further include determining a discriminator based at least in part on a result of the variable reduction. | 08-25-2011 |
20110195125 | Nanoparticles For Drug Delivery To The Central Nervous System - The present disclosure relates to compositions and methods for producing nanoparticles to provide relatively more rapid delivery of such particles across the blood-brain barrier. The nanoparticles may be formed from bis-quaternary pyridinium-aldoxime salts that may also be of a specific polymorphic structure and which may be formed in either hydrophobic or hydrophilic type liquid media. In addition, the nanoparticle for transport across the blood-brain barrier may comprise a polymeric resin encapsulating a bis-quaternary pyridinium-2-aldoxime salt of the formula: | 08-11-2011 |
20110181767 | Vision System - The present disclosure relates to a vision system which may include a plurality of lenses coupled to an image sensor by a plurality of optical fiber bundles. Each of the plurality of lenses is configured to capture at least a portion of the scene. The image sensor may be located a distance from the plurality of lenses. The optical fiber bundles are configured to transmit optical image data from each lens to the image sensor. The image sensor is configured to convert the optical image data from each lens into corresponding electrical image data (“electrical image data”) for each lens. | 07-28-2011 |
20110180386 | PLASMONIC STRUCTURES FOR MEDIATING CHEMICAL TRANSFORMATION - The present invention relates to plasmonic structures of metal dielectrics and their use in corresponding processes that elicit surface plasmons which may then be employed to influence a chemical transformation. The frequency of a plasmon may be tuned to couple with a selected vibrational mode of a selected molecule to undergo a selected transition, such as transitions to a metastable state, bond rearrangement and/or chemical transformation via the breaking and reforming of bonds. | 07-28-2011 |
20110174983 | System And Method For Acquiring Radiation Spectral Data In A Radiation Field And Determining Effective Dose Rate And Identifying Sources Of Localized Radiation - The present disclosure relates to a system and survey method for acquiring radiation spectral data in a radiation field and optionally determining effective dose rate based on the radiation spectral data. The method may include acquiring energy-dependent radiation spectral data at a location of interest in a radiation field using a detector, wherein the energy-dependent radiation spectral data may include counts versus energy. The method may further include acquiring radiation spectral data at least one other location wherein the at least one other location is positioned relative to the location of interest. | 07-21-2011 |
20110174055 | Evaluation Of Non-Fuel Components On Engine Knock Performance - The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for the evaluation of non-fuel components within a selected fuel with respect to engine knock performance. A non-fuel component such as a lubricant oil is now evaluated to determine onset of engine knock relative to baseline oil formulations that indicate relative low reactivity and optimum engine performance and those engine oils that exhibit relatively high reactivity and sub-optimum engine performance. | 07-21-2011 |
20110169486 | Magnetostrictive Sensor for Tank Floor Inspection - A method of testing for defects in the bottom of an above ground storage tank, the tank bottom having a lip extending outwardly from the tank wall around the circumference of the tank. A special magnetostrictive sensor is designed to be placed on this lip. The sensor is placed over a strip of magnetostrictive material, which generally conforms in length and width to the bottom of the probe, with a couplant being applied between the strip and the lip surface. The sensor is then operated in pulse echo mode to receive signals from defects in the bottom of the tank. It is incrementally moved around the circumference of the tank. | 07-14-2011 |
20110111190 | Method For Applying A Diffusion Barrier Interlayer For High Temperature Components - A coated substrate and a method of forming a diffusion barrier coating system between a substrate and a MCrAl coating, including a diffusion barrier coating deposited onto at least a portion of a substrate surface, wherein the diffusion barrier coating comprises a nitride, oxide or carbide of one or more transition metals and/or metalloids and a MCrAl coating, wherein M includes a transition metal or a metalloid, deposited on at least a portion of the diffusion barrier coating, wherein the diffusion barrier coating restricts the inward diffusion of aluminum of the MCrAl coating into the substrate. | 05-12-2011 |
20110095933 | Detection and Location of Radio Frequency Weapons From High Altitude Glider System - A method and system for detecting and locating RF weapons being used against aircraft. Large geographic regions may be defended by equipping a constellation of high-altitude airborne platforms with RF detectors, GPS receivers and a communications unit. The communications unit downlinks data indicating an RF weapon pulse and associated time and location data. From this data, a ground station performs a time difference of arrival (TDOA) location fix of the RF weapon. | 04-28-2011 |
20110083624 | Cylinder Head For An Engine - A cylinder head for an engine is provided comprising a monolithic structure forming an upper deck, a fire deck, at least one coolant jacket and a cavity to accommodate a fuel injector or an ignitor therein, the cavity defined by a wall connecting the fire deck with the upper deck. The wall connecting the fire deck with the upper deck, as well as other features of the cylinder head, are preferably arranged to support the fire deck against a deflection thereof by transmitting a mechanical load introduced on a flame face of the fire deck to the upper deck. A method of increasing the stiffness of the cylinder head is also provided. | 04-14-2011 |
20110083622 | Cylinder Head Sleeve For A Fuel Injector Or Ignitor Of An Engine - A cylinder head sleeve for an engine is provided comprising a sleeve first part and a sleeve second part which form a cavity to contain a fuel injector or an ignitor, and wherein the sleeve first part and the sleeve second part which form a joint for the sleeve first part and the sleeve second part to move relative to each other. A cylinder head assembly is also provided comprising the sleeve and a cylinder head, as well as a method of providing the cylinder head assembly. | 04-14-2011 |
20110059878 | Lubricant Oil Compositions To Optimize Internal Combustion Engine Performance - The present disclosure relates to lubricant oil compositions formed from base stock oils to optimize internal combustion engine performance. Base stock oils are identified that have selected cetane number characteristics and relatively reduced reactivity to improve their associated combustion characteristics and reduce engine knock without the need to modify the engine fuel or engine parameters such as compression ratio and/or ignition timing. The base stocks may specifically include esters of dicarboxylic acids, esters of trimellitic anhydride and/or alklyated naphthalene compounds. | 03-10-2011 |
20110054791 | POSITION ESTIMATION FOR GROUND VEHICLE NAVIGATION BASED ON LANDMARK IDENTIFICATION/YAW RATE AND PERCEPTION OF LANDMARKS - A landmark-based method of estimating the position of an AGV (autonomous ground vehicle) or conventional vehicle, which has an onboard database of landmarks and their location coordinates. During travel, the AGV looks for and identifies landmarks. It navigates according to position estimations that are based on measured yaw rate and speed. When a landmark is encountered and recognized, its true location coordinates are looked up from the database. These true coordinates are then used to enhance position estimation accuracy between landmarks. | 03-03-2011 |
20110048123 | Techniques To Measure Strain Development And Failure In A Fabric - The present disclosure relates to a system and method for characterizing an impact in a fabric. The system may include a sensing element woven in the fabric wherein a parameter of the sensing element depends on a strain in the sensing element; a transducer coupled to the sensing element wherein the transducer is configured to generate an output based on the parameter of the sensing element; and a controller coupled to the transducer, the controller configured to receive the output of the transducer, to determine a strain in the sensing element based, at least in part, on a change in the output of the transducer, and to characterize the impact in the fabric based on the strain in the sensing element. | 03-03-2011 |
20110041929 | Squeeze Film Damper Valve For Compressor Cylinders - A compressor plate valve having a valve seat, a valve guard and a valve plate. The valve plate is moveable between the valve guard and valve seat to control fluid passage through passages in the seat, the guard, and the plate. A valve stem passes through the center of the valve guard and is attached to the center of the valve plate. The valve stem provides guidance for the plate valve to ensure parallel motion. In addition to sealing surfaces that oppose passages, the seat and plate have landing surfaces that provide a braking effect when the valve closes through squeeze film action. | 02-24-2011 |
20110029026 | Micro-Structure Particles For Load Bearing Bone Growth - The present disclosure relates to methods of facilitating bone growth. The method may include positioning a device around at least a portion of a bone exhibiting a defect, the device capable of retaining bone segments and micro-structured particles. The method may also include applying micro-structure particles within the device to the defect, wherein each of the micro-structure particles include at least one pore therein. In addition, the method may include aligning at least a portion of the micro-structure particles and applying a polymer to the particles and solidifying the polymer. | 02-03-2011 |
20110015591 | Wound Healing Sensor Techniques - The present disclosure is directed at methods and apparatus to evaluate and monitor healing progress of wound and/or to generate data to modify or identify a treatment protocol. Fluid exudate removed from the wound by a negative pressure therapy device may now be analyzed to identify the progress of wound healing, such as whether healing is progressing in a positive manner or experiencing one or more impediments. The fluid exudates may be specifically analyzed for one or more analytes indicative of one or more of the biochemical reactions that may occur during wound recovery. In addition, one may separately utilize optical sensors integrated into a dressing enclosure, optionally in those dressings employed in a negative pressure therapy device. Such optical sensors may then illuminate the wound and collect information regarding the wound via a light scattering type response. | 01-20-2011 |
20110015568 | Dry To Wet Injector - The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for combining a solid particulate with a solvent prior to an injection protocol within an injector device. The solid particulate may be a pharmaceutical compound and the microcapsules contain a solvent for such particulate. Upon application of pressure, the microcapsules may be configured to burst and release the solvent, thereby dispersing and/or partially dissolving the particulate. The injector therefore allows for the use of relatively unstable pharmaceutically active compounds in a device that requires relatively long storage times and the use of pharmaceutical compounds that are relatively stable in the dry state. | 01-20-2011 |
20110011082 | Emissions Control System Having External Turbocharger Wastegate and Integrated Oxidation Catalyst - A method and system for reducing undesired exhaust emissions during cold start of a turbocharger-equipped internal combustion engine. A bypass line in the engine compartment has a bypass valve that permits exhaust to be bypassed around the turbocharger's turbine during cold start. An oxidation catalyst is closely coupled to the bypass valve. | 01-20-2011 |
20110009332 | Therapeutic Treatment Of Wounds - The present disclosure relates to compositions and methods for treating wounded skin and/or increasing the mechanical strength of wounded skin through the administration of an effective amount of a proteasome inhibitor to such wounded skin. | 01-13-2011 |
20100329899 | MULTI-FREQUENCY PULSATION ABSORBER AT CYLINDER VALVE CAP - A multi-chambered pulsation absorber for attachment over the valve cap opening of a compressor cylinder. Each chamber is in fluid communication with the valve cap opening (or cylinder internal gas passages) via an associated choke tube. Each pairing of a chamber with a choke tube is tuned, in the manner of a Helmholz resonator, to attenuate and nearly eliminate a different cylinder-related pulsation frequency, such as those resulting from internal cylinder pulsations or cylinder nozzle pulsations. | 12-30-2010 |
20100315329 | WEARABLE WORKSPACE - The present disclosure relates to a wearable workspace system which may include an input device and a head worn display coupled to a wearable computer. The input device may be configured to detect user input data wherein the user input data is provided by a user hands-free. The computer may be configured to: store an electronic technical manual, receive the detected user input data and generate an output based on the recognized user input data. The head worn display may be configured to display at least a portion of the electronic technical manual to the user while allowing the user to simultaneously maintain a view of a work piece. The display may be further configured to receive the output from the computer and to adjust the at least a portion of the electronic technical manual displayed to the user based on the output. | 12-16-2010 |
20100307439 | Fuels For Homogenous Charge Compression Ignition Engines - A fuel for a homogeneous charge compression ignition engine having a 95 V % distilled temperature by boiling point measurement in the range of about 35.degree. C. to about 350.degree. C., a cetane number in the range of about 2 to about 120, and an octane number in the range of 10 to about 110. The invention also relates to a method of operating a homogeneous charge compression ignition engine of mixing a fuel with air and feeding the fuel into a combustion chamber. | 12-09-2010 |
20100300073 | PASSIVE NOx AND PM AFTERTREATMENT FOR DIESEL ENGINE - A method of reducing emissions by operating a diesel engine in a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio mode. To achieve an optimal stoichiometric mode, intake throttling, boost air intake control, fuel injection adjustments, and exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) are used. This mode of operation permits an aftertreatment system that has only an oxidation catalyst and a particulate filter. | 12-02-2010 |
20100297446 | Layer By Layer Modification Of Microcapsules With Inorganic Materials - The present disclosure relates to a microcapsule and a method of forming a microcapsule which may be used for oxygen sensitive materials. The microcapsule may comprise a shell encapsulating a core material having a surface, wherein the shell comprises a first organic or inorganic polyelectrolyte providing a plurality of cationic or anionic charges. This may then be followed by forming a first layer comprising an inorganic or organic polyelectrolyte on the microcapsule surface, where the polyelectrolyte of the first layer provides a plurality of cationic or anionic charges, opposite to the charge of the shell polyelectrolyte. This may then be followed by forming a second layer comprising a second organic or inorganic polyelectrolyte providing a plurality of cationic or anionic charges, opposite to the charge of the first layer polyelectrolyte. | 11-25-2010 |
20100293929 | EXHAUST AFTERTREATMENT SYSTEMS FOR GASOLINE AND ALTERNATIVE-FUELED ENGINES, WITH REDUCTION OF HC, CO, NOx, AND PM - An exhaust gas emissions aftertreatment system for spark-ignition engines, which simultaneously reduces the particulate matter, HC, CO, and NOx content of the exhaust. Various embodiments of the system have both a closely-coupled TWC device, and an under-floor treatment device. The under-floor device has either TWC or NOx reduction functionality, depending on whether the engine is run under stiochiometric or lean burn operating conditions. | 11-25-2010 |
20100292907 | SLIDING MODE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - A system and method for using a sliding mode control algorithm to control flow rates from air handling actuators and fuel injectors of an internal combustion engine. The sliding mode control is based on an engine model that represents the engine in terms of pressure and oxygen content states of the intake and exhaust manifolds (as a linear term) and controllable flow rates (as a nonlinear term). | 11-18-2010 |
20100288249 | Internal Combustion Engine With Ammonia Fuel - The invention provides methods of providing fuel to an internal combustion engine, fuel systems for an internal combustion engine and a fuel injector for an internal combustion engine. Ammonia may be heated and pressurized to a selected condition and may used as fuel which is supplemented with hydrogen to assist with ignition, flame propagation, and/or combustion speed. | 11-18-2010 |
20100287915 | Integrated PM Filter and SCR Catalyst for Lean Burn Engine - A wall-flow exhaust gas emissions aftertreatment device for simultaneously reducing the particulate matter and NOx content of the exhaust. The device comprises a number of longitudinal inlet channels and outlet channels, the inlet channels being plugged at the exit face, and the outlet channels being plugged at the entry face. The interiors of the inlet channels are coated with a particulate matter catalyst coating, and the interiors of the outlet channels are coated with a selective catalyst reduction catalyst coating. | 11-18-2010 |
20100281948 | Spiral, Microchanneled Chromatographic Column And Detection Systems - The present disclosure relates to a spirally wrapped chromatographic structure, a system incorporating such structure and a method of providing such structure. The structure may include an absorber layer having a first surface and a second surface, wherein one or a plurality of channels are defined in the first surface. The structure may also include a support layer having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface of the support layer disposed on the second surface of the absorber layer, wherein the absorber layer and the support layer comprise a spiral configuration such that at least a portion of the first surface of the absorber layer contacts at least a portion of the second surface of the support layer. | 11-11-2010 |
20100274488 | Neutrally buoyant sensor apparatus and method for mapping a water pathway - An apparatus and method for mapping a water pathway. A group of sensors can be employed for detecting one or more features associated with the water pathway in a direction of flow through the water pathway. A buoyant vessel maintains the sensors, and the sensors assist in compiling data indicative of the detected features. The velocity in the direction of flow through the water pathway can be then determined based on data indicative of the detected feature(s). A mapping of the water pathway can be thereafter generated utilizing the velocity with respect to the features detected by the sensors. | 10-28-2010 |
20100231722 | Compact handheld detector for greenhouse gasses - Techniques are disclosed relating to gas leak detection. The techniques can be deployed, for example, in compact, handheld portable devices usable for detecting leaks in space-confined applications. The devices generally include an unstablized laser and thermal imaging camera that allow for detection of gas that absorbs at least some of the wavelength of operation of the unstablized laser. The devices can be operated at a low-power density for safety and/or may be configured to mitigate wavelength hopping associated with unstablized laser light sources. | 09-16-2010 |
20100230593 | Compact handheld non-laser detector for greenhouse gasses - Techniques are disclosed relating to gas leak detection. The techniques can be deployed, for example, in compact, handheld portable devices usable for detecting leaks in space-confined applications. The devices generally include a non-laser light source and thermal imaging camera that allow for detection of a target gas (or gasses) that absorbs at least some of the light source's wavelengths of operation. The light source can be implemented, for example, with an incoherent infrared (IR) light source, such as a resonance lamp configured with a gas cell containing a volume of a gas that, when excited by electric discharge, emits a wavelength that is absorbed by the target gas. | 09-16-2010 |
20100225529 | UNSWITCHED, ULTRA LOW POWER, LONG RANGE RADAR SYSTEM - An ultra low power, long range, robust radar system, for applications such as ionospheric sounding. The HF transmit signal and the received (reflected) signal are both unswitched and high frequency and share a path to a common loop antenna. The transmit signal originates at a local oscillator (LO), and is sufficiently low power to not saturate the receive signal path. A balun divides the local oscillator signal between the transmit path forward to the antenna and a mixer path, and also divides the received signal between the mixer path and the LO path. A mixer converts the mixed LO and received signal to baseband. | 09-09-2010 |
20100224913 | One-dimensional FET-based corrosion sensor and method of making same - A field effect transistor corrosion sensor ( | 09-09-2010 |
20100214085 | COOPERATIVE SENSOR-SHARING VEHICLE TRAFFIC SAFETY SYSTEM - A method and system for using vehicle-to-vehicle cooperative communications for traffic collision avoidance. One vehicle detects a “situation”, such as a pedestrian within the crosswalk, where an “offending object” is in or near a roadway feature, which could result in a collision. The detecting vehicle informs a second vehicle via wireless communications, of the detecting vehicle's GPS location, the GPS location of the detected object, and the GPS location of the roadway feature, i.e., a crosswalk boundary. Additional data about the “offending object” can include its speed and heading. A receiving vehicle receives this data and takes appropriate avoidance action. | 08-26-2010 |
20100205136 | System and Method for Modeling and Predicting Security Threats - A computer-implemented system and method of organizing, storing, and analyzing intelligence data. The intelligence data is structured as “SDO” (standardized data object) data, each SDO containing data representing source intelligence or target intelligence or both. The system receives threat definitions from the user, and processes the SDOs and threat definitions to determine if there are location/time coherencies that indicate a security threat. A “threat map” displays one or more SDOs in that location, each SDO having a geographical radius and a time bar. | 08-12-2010 |
20100187439 | Fluorescent Monitoring Of Microcapsule Oxidation - The present disclosure relates to microcapsules that include a shell material and a core material. The core material of the microcapsules contains an environmentally sensitive luminescent colorant which exhibits characteristics of an emitted wavelength bandwidth, a peak intensity for emission and a time for luminescence decay, one or more of the characteristics capable of changing upon exposure to a given environment, and a luminescent standard which exhibits characteristics of an emitted wavelength bandwidth, a peak intensity for emission and a time for luminescence decay, one or more of the characteristics do not change upon exposure to said given environment. | 07-29-2010 |
20100143089 | System For Autonomously Dispensing Media On Large Scale Surfaces - The present disclosure relates to a system, method and article which may be configured to autonomously dispense a medium onto a relatively large surface relatively accurately. | 06-10-2010 |
20100139479 | VARIABLE COMPRESSION RATIO PISTON WITH RATE-SENSITIVE RESPONSE - A hydraulic variable compression ratio (VCR) piston for use in an internal combustion engine. The piston is a two-part piston, in which a gudgeon pin carrier slides within an outer sleeve. A variable volume upper chamber is formed between the top of the gudgeon pin carrier and the end of the outer sleeve. When the upper chamber fills with oil, its volume increases, and the overall piston geometry is longer. This reduces the piston clearance in the cylinder and increases cylinder pressure. At a given maximum cylinder pressure or at a given rate of increase of cylinder pressure, oil from the upper chamber is relieved by using a rate-sensitive pressure relief valve. | 06-10-2010 |
20100138085 | HYBRID SYSTEM FOR MOTOR VEHICLE WITH INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE AND MOTOR-GENERATOR - A hybrid system for powering a vehicle and a method of controlling the hybrid system. The hybrid system has both an internal combustion engine and a motor/generator. The vehicle is controlled in response to the combination of states of five control parameters of the vehicle: polarity of the MG (positive or negative), relative rotor/stator speed, fueling of engine (on or off), clutch (on or off), and transmission shift position (drive, reverse, park). A control unit receives data from the vehicle representing these states, and determines an associated control mode. In at least one of the control modes, the engine both drives the vehicles and provides power to the generator. | 06-03-2010 |
20100132598 | Corrosion Resistant Coatings Suitable For Elevated Temperature Application - The present invention relates to corrosion resistance coatings suitable for elevated temperature applications, which employ compositions of iron (Fe), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni) and/or aluminum (Al). The compositions may be configured to regulate the diffusion of metals between a coating and a substrate, which may then influence coating performance, via the formation of an inter-diffusion barrier layer. The inter-diffusion barrier layer may comprise a face-centered cubic phase. | 06-03-2010 |
20100125038 | Carbon Material For Hydrogen Storage - The present invention relates to carbon based materials that are employed for hydrogen storage applications. The material may be described as the pyrolysis product of a molecular precursor such as a cyclic quinone compound. The pyrolysis product may then be combined with selected transition metal atoms which may be in nanoparticulate form, where the metals may be dispersed on the material surface. Such product may then provide for the reversible storage of hydrogen. The metallic nanoparticles may also be combined with a second metal as an alloy to further improve hydrogen storage performance. | 05-20-2010 |
20100124509 | RECIPROCATING GAS COMPRESSOR WITH SPEED MODULATION OF COMPRESSOR DRIVER FOR PULSATION AVOIDANCE - A method for reducing pulsation in a gas compressor system. The compressor driver (engine or motor) is operated at a modulated engine speed. The average of the modulated speed is selected to achieve a desired pipeline flow. The modulation characteristics are determined to optimally reduce the pulsation response of the compressor system. | 05-20-2010 |
20100098754 | PROCESSING OF HEAT-SENSITIVE ACTIVE AGENTS - The present disclosure relates to a method of melt processing an active agent. The method may include encapsulating an active agent in a first polymer material exhibiting a first processing temperature T | 04-22-2010 |
20100086601 | Modified Calcium Phosphate Nanoparticle Formation - The present disclosure relates to non-aggregating nanoparticles and their associated methods of preparation. The nanoparticles may have a surface and a size range of 1 nm to 999 nm, along with a zeta potential of −50 to 50 millivolts. A polycation and/or polyanion may be disposed on the nanoparticle surface. In addition, an active ingredient may be encapsulated within the nanoparticles or associated with the polycation or polyanion on the nanoparticle surface. | 04-08-2010 |
20100083873 | Encapsulation Of Active Agents For On-Demand Release - The present disclosure relates to a method of forming microcapsules. The method may include combining an active agent in a first solvent S | 04-08-2010 |
20100082305 | PROCESS FOR COMPUTING GEOMETRIC PERTURBATIONS FOR PROBABILISTIC ANALYSIS - A method for computing geometric perturbations for probabilistic analysis. The probabilistic analysis is based on finite element modeling, in which uncertainties in the modeled system are represented by changes in the nominal geometry of the model, referred to as “perturbations”. These changes are accomplished using displacement vectors, which are computed for each node of a region of interest and are based on mean-value coordinate calculations. | 04-01-2010 |
20100052670 | Magnetostrictive Sensor Probe for Guided-Wave Inspection and Monitoring of Wire Ropes/Cables and Anchor Rods - An economical, flexible, magnetostrictive sensor (MsS) probe assembly for use on longitudinal cylindrical structures, for guided-wave, volumetric inspection of the structures is described. The paired flexible plate MsS probes each include a flexible strip of magnetostrictive material that is positioned and/or adhered to the base of a generally flat, flexible, conductor coil assembly, preferably with an elastomeric adhesive. The conductor coil assembly has a core composed of a thin flexible layer of metal and a thin bendable permanent magnet circuit. The flexible core is surrounded by a flat flexible cable (FFC) that is folded and looped over the layers of the core. The exposed conductors at the ends of the FFC are shifted from each other by one conductor spacing and joined together so that the parallel conductors in the FFC form a flat, flexible, continuous coil. The probe assemblies may preferably be utilized in pairs and conformed to match the curved contours of the cylindrical surface of the structure under investigation in a manner that is specifically tailored for wire rope, cable, and anchor rod type applications. | 03-04-2010 |
20100052669 | Flexible Plate Magnetostrictive Sensor Probe for Guided-Wave Inspection of Structures - An economical, flexible, magnetostrictive sensor probe for use on planar and/or curved structural surfaces, for guided-wave volumetric inspection of the structure is described. The flexible plate MsS probe includes a flexible strip of magnetostrictive material that is adhered to the base of a generally flat, flexible, conductor coil assembly, preferably with an elastomeric adhesive (such as silicon) or with double sided tape. The conductor coil assembly has a core that is composed of a thin flexible strip of metal, a layer of an elastomeric material (such as rubber), and a thin permanent magnet circuit. The flexible core is surrounded (top, bottom, and on the longitudinal ends) by a flat flexible cable (FFC) that is folded and looped over the layers of the core. The exposed conductors at the ends of the FFC are shifted from each other by one conductor spacing and joined together so that the parallel conductors in the FFC form a flat, flexible, continuous coil. The entire probe assembly may be bent to match the curved contours of the surface of the structure under investigation. | 03-04-2010 |
20100042284 | DIAGNOSIS OF SENSOR FAILURE IN AIRFLOW-BASED ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM - An air-flow based control system for an internal combustion engine has various sensors that are used to calculate various control commands. By comparing pairs of values calculated from different sensors, errors in connection with the sensors can be detected. | 02-18-2010 |
20100040692 | TWO PHASE BIOACTIVE FORMULATIONS - The present invention relates to two-phase systems of a bioactive ingredient in particle form that has limited or no solubility in a liquid medium, which provides stability to the active ingredient that is similar to the active ingredient when in the solid state. The active ingredient may be capable of therapeutically treating for the presence of a cholinesterase inhibitor. | 02-18-2010 |
20100006421 | Processing Tubular Surfaces Using Double Glow Discharge - A method of sputtering a component includes positioning a conductive substrate into a vacuum chamber, wherein the conductive substrate is tubular and has a surface. A source electrode including a source material may be inserted into the conductive substrate. A first bias voltage ΔV | 01-14-2010 |
20090318756 | System And Method For Overlaying Ultrasound Imagery On A Laparoscopic Camera Display - The present disclosure relates to a system for overlaying ultrasound imagery on a laparoscopic camera display. The system may include a laparoscope configured to capture a laparoscopic image of a surgical field and a laparoscopic ultrasound probe configured to capture an ultrasonic image of a structure in the surgical field. The system may further include a tracking system configured to detect a position and orientation of the laparoscope and a position and orientation of the laparoscopic ultrasound probe. The system may further include data associated with the laparoscope wherein the data indicates a distortion in the laparoscopic image. The system may further include a computer configured to receive the laparoscopic image, the ultrasonic image and the distortion data associated with the laparoscope. The computer may be configured to position and orient the ultrasonic image relative to the laparoscopic image, adjust the ultrasonic image based upon the distortion data, combine the adjusted ultrasonic image with the laparoscopic image, and output the combined images. | 12-24-2009 |
20090308070 | EGR SYSTEM WITH DEDICATED EGR CYLINDERS - Improved exhaust gas recirculation system and methods that use one or more of the engine's cylinders as dedicated EGR cylinders. All of the exhaust from the dedicated EGR cylinders is recirculated back to the engine intake. Thus, the EGR rate is constant, but the EGR mass flow may be controlled by adjusting the air-fuel ratio of the dedicated EGR cylinders or by using various variable valve timing techniques. | 12-17-2009 |
20090286012 | Method and Apparatus for High Rate, Uniform Plasma Processing of Three-dimensional Objects - A method of performing plasma immersion ion processing (PIIP), particularly suited for processing three-dimensional objects. One or more such objects are placed in a conductive cage having solid or mesh walls. The cage completely encloses the objects. A voltage is applied to the cage, and the plasma is generated, resulting in the plasma being contained within the cage. | 11-19-2009 |
20090281144 | Bis-quaternary pyridinium-aldoxime salts and treatment of exposure to cholinesterase inhibitors - Bis-quaternary pyridinium-aldoxime salts are disclosed, and their associated polymorphic character, along with their methods of preparation. Such polymorphic salts may then be used for treatment of exposure to cholinesterase inhibitors, such as a phosphorous containing cholinesterase inhibitor type compound. | 11-12-2009 |
20090277259 | ESTIMATION OF ENGINE-OUT NOx FOR REAL TIME INPUT TO EXHAUST AFTERTREATMENT CONTROLLER - A method and system for estimating engine-out NOx from a diesel engine. The estimation is calculated from a mathematical model that expresses engine-out NOx as functions of cylinder pressure, intake oxygen, and effective temperature, respectively. Input data for each of these functions may be obtained from fuel quantity data and from measured data, the latter including intake pressure, cylinder pressure, intake oxygen concentration, coolant temperature, and intake manifold temperature. | 11-12-2009 |
20090276111 | Autonomous Ground Vehicle Control System For High-Speed And Safe Operation - The present disclosure relates to a reference yaw rate generator for an autonomous ground vehicle control system. The reference yaw rate generator is configured to generate a reference yaw rate (r | 11-05-2009 |
20090276070 | METHOD TO CONSTRUCT AND PHYSICALLY JOIN BUILDING BLOCKS INTO A NEAR-NET SHAPED PART USING AN INTERFACIAL REACTION-ACTIVATION MECHANISM - The disclosure provides a method to construct and physically join near-net shaped structural building blocks into a composite part using an interfacial reaction-activation mechanism. | 11-05-2009 |
20090266344 | Stratified Charge Gasoline Direct Injection Systems Using Exhaust Gas Recirculation - An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method and system for reducing emissions and improving knock-tolerance in an engine. Air, including exhaust gas present at levels greater than 20% by total air mass, may be introduced into a combustion chamber having a volume including a piston and a cylinder head. A first amount of fuel and a second amount of fuel may be directly injected into the combustion chamber at various points during the cycle, wherein the ratio of the air, including the exhaust gas, to the first and second amounts of fuel is 14.0:1 to 15.0:1. The first and second amounts of fuel may then be ignited. An electronic control unit may be utilized to time the injections and control the introduction of exhaust gas. | 10-29-2009 |
20090255499 | Surface Ignition Mechanism For Diesel Engines - The present disclosure relates to combusting fuel during cold start. A glow-plug may be provided within a combustion chamber having a volume including a piston, wherein the glow plug may provide a localized heated region. Air may then be provided into the chamber and compressed. A mass of fuel may also be provided into the combustion chamber, wherein an amount of the fuel mass may be directed towards the localized heated region of the glow plug, wherein the heated region of the glow plug may have a temperature T | 10-15-2009 |
20090214787 | Erosion Resistant Coatings - The present disclosure relates to a method for producing a coating on a substrate. The method may include depositing metal atoms on one or more surfaces of a substrate, subjecting the metal atoms to a reactive gas, and producing a coating layer of a metal compound, wherein the metal compound may include nanocrystals of a transition metal compound in a ceramic matrix, wherein the transition metal compound may be selected from the group consisting of metal nitrides, metal carbides, metal silicides and combinations thereof. The reactive gas may be supplied from a precursor containing silicon, carbon and hydrogen, wherein the precursor may have a MW of greater than or equal to 100. | 08-27-2009 |
20090191076 | TUNABLE CHOKE TUBE FOR PULSATION CONTROL DEVICE USED WITH GAS COMPRESSOR - A method and system for reducing pulsation in a gas compressor system. A pulsation control device, such as a filter bottle or side branch absorber, is installed at a port into some location on the compressor system. The pulsation control device has a choke tube with a variable cross-sectional area, such as by having multiple conduits that may be opened or closed or a diameter that may be varied. In operation, the cross sectional area of the choke tube is varied depending on the compressor speed. | 07-30-2009 |
20090178405 | HCCI COMBUSTION TIMING CONTROL WITH DECOUPLED CONTROL OF IN-CYLINDER AIR/EGR MASS AND OXYGEN CONCENTRATION - A method of controlling homogenous charge compression ignition (HCCI) combustion timing and pressure rise rate. A constant volume air pump, such as a supercharger, is equipped to provide a variable amount of fresh air to a turbocharger. The also turbocharger drives a high pressure exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) loop. The fresh air intake and the EGR ratio are independently controlled. This combination of hardware allows for good control of combustion timing by providing for EGR variations without undue effect from varying oxygen concentration. Additionally, by adjusting the EGR ratio, the pressure rise rate during combustion can be controlled to reduce combustion noise. | 07-16-2009 |
20090158813 | Monitoring Of Exhaust Gas Oxidation Catalysts - The present disclosure is directed at a method, system and apparatus that may include an oxidation catalyst, a first sensor positioned upstream of the oxidation catalyst, a second sensor positioned downstream of the oxidation catalyst. The first and second sensors may respond differently to the concentration of NO and NO | 06-25-2009 |
20090155108 | HYPERBOLIC HORN FOR PULSATION FILTER DEVICE USED WITH GAS COMPRESSOR - A method and system for reducing pulsation in a gas compressor system. A side branch absorber, which may be installed on the lateral piping of either the suction or discharge side of the cylinders, has a hyperbolic horn at the input end. | 06-18-2009 |
20090128801 | MEASUREMENT OF CONSTITUTIVE PROPERTIES OF A POWDER SUBJECT TO COMPRESSIVE AXIAL AND RADIAL LOADING, USING OPTICAL SENSING - A method and system for measuring radial strain on powder or other granular material while the powder is subject to compressive axial and radial loading. The powder is contained within a pliable sleeve. As pressure is applied to the powder, the sleeve changes diameter. An optical emitter emits a beam of light, which is intersected by the entire diameter of the sleeve. An optical sensor receives the intersected beam, and generates a response signal that indicates the diameter of the sleeve. This change in diameter can be related to a constitutive property such as strain. | 05-21-2009 |
20090126710 | DUAL COIL IGNITION CIRCUIT FOR SPARK IGNITED ENGINE - An electrical circuit for extending the duration of the spark provided by a spark plug. Instead of a single coil (and a single pair of windings), a dual coil unit is used. The dual coil unit may be operated in a “multi-strike” mode in which the discharge of each coil is shortened and offset from that of the other coil. This provides an effective spark for an extended duration. | 05-21-2009 |
20090125209 | Process And System For Controlling Effective Compression Ratios In An Engine Cylinder - The present disclosure is directed at the control of an effective compression ratio setting in an engine which may use a variety of fuels or fuel blends. The effective compression ratio may be selected based upon information from a fuel sensor and stored information regarding the detected fuel composition. The effective compression ratio may be adjusted for a selected cylinder by intake or exhaust valve timing. | 05-14-2009 |
20090102746 | Real-Time Self-Visualization System - The present disclosure relates to a system which may allow a user to visualize and/or monitor motor activities during, e.g., rehabilitation exercises and/or athletic training. The system may include a camera that may be configured to capture images of a user performing a motor activity. The system may also include a computer configured to receive the captured images from the camera while the user is performing the motor activity. The computer may be further configured to provide static and dynamic augmentation of the captured images. The system may further include a display for the user. The display may be configured to receive the augmented captured images from the computer and to display the augmented captured images to the user. | 04-23-2009 |
20090099870 | Automated Interpretation Of Medical Prescription Text - The present disclosure relates to a device, system and method of automated interpretation of medical prescription text. Prescription text may be entered into a user interface that may be analogous to a paper prescription entry such as manually written text. The system may then provide parsing, prompts and/or hints along with validity feedback as the prescription information is entered by the user. | 04-16-2009 |
20090087677 | Amorphous Aluminum Alloy Coatings - The present disclosure relates to an amorphous aluminum alloy coating. The aluminum alloy coating may specifically include one of cerium, cobalt and/or molybdenum as alloying elements and be applied by a physical vapor deposition process to a desired thickness. The coating may supply improved corrosion resistance to a given environmental condition. | 04-02-2009 |
20090046095 | Image Analogy Filters For Terrain Modeling - The present disclosure relates to the development of terrain image analogy filters which may be used to convert visible terrain imagery from a first condition to a second condition. For example, from a seasonal “daytime/summer” view to a “nighttime/winter” appearance. The image analogy filters may be generated using processors such as one or more graphics processing units. | 02-19-2009 |
20090045047 | Conformal Magnetron Sputter Deposition - An apparatus and method for magnetron sputter coating of an interior surface of a hollow substrate defining at least one irregular contour. The apparatus may contain a vacuum chamber and a target containing one or more metals having an exterior surface defining at least one irregular contour. The exterior surface of the target may be configured to conform to at least a portion of an irregular contour of the interior surface of the hollow substrate to be coated. A magnet assembly may be supplied which may include a plurality of magnets where the magnets are positioned substantially within a metallic target alloy. | 02-19-2009 |