d MOVING PICTURE ENCODING APPARATUS, MOVING PICTURE DECODING APPARATUS, MOVING PICTURE ENCODING METHOD, MOVING PICTURE DECODING METHOD, MOVING PICTURE ENCODING PROGRAM, AND MOVING PICTURE DECODING PROGRAM By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An object of the present invention is to increase efficiency of information compression in coding and decoding. A moving picture encoding apparatus 10 of the present invention has a motion vector predicting part for performing, based on a temporal relation among adjacent reference frame images 703a, 703b, 703c referred to for detecting motion vectors of adjacent blocks adjacent to a coding target block, a target reference frame image 702 referred to for detecting a motion vector of the target block, and a target frame image 701 being the frame image of the coding target, or based on time information thereof, a correction of scaling the motion vectors 751a, 751b, 751c of the adjacent blocks on the basis of the target reference frame image 702; and a determination of an optimum predicted motion vector based on the motion vectors of the adjacent blocks; and thereby predicting the optimum predicted motion vector after the correction. Full Article
d PICTURE PREDICTION METHOD AND RELATED APPARATUS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A picture prediction method and a related apparatus are disclosed. The picture prediction method includes: determining motion vector predictors of K pixel samples in a current picture block, where K is an integer greater than 1, the K pixel samples include a first vertex angle pixel sample in the current picture block, a motion vector predictor of the first vertex angle pixel sample is obtained based on a motion vector of a preset first spatially adjacent picture block of the current picture block, and the first spatially adjacent picture block is spatially adjacent to the first vertex angle pixel sample; and performing, based on a non-translational motion model and the motion vector predictors of the K pixel samples, pixel value prediction on the current picture block. Solutions in the embodiments of the present application are helpful in reducing calculation complexity of picture prediction based on a non-translational motion model. Full Article
d MOTION VECTOR ENCODING/DECODING METHOD AND DEVICE AND IMAGE ENCODING/DECODING METHOD AND DEVICE USING SAME By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for encoding/decoding a motion vector and a method and apparatus for encoding/decoding video using same. The motion vector encoding method includes selecting a predicted motion vector candidate set including one or more predicted motion vector candidates for a block; determining one or more search ranges for predicted motion vector candidate set; selecting one predicted motion vector candidate among one or more predicted motion vector candidates as predicted motion vector for each search point with respect to each search point within search range by first determination criterion prearranged with video decoding apparatus; selecting one predicted motion vector among the predicted motion vectors for each search point by a second determination criterion not prearranged with the video decoding apparatus, and determining predicted motion vector, differential motion vector, and current motion vector; and generating and encoding the differential motion vector as motion information. Full Article
d MOVING PICTURE ENCODING DEVICE, MOVING PICTURE ENCODING METHOD AND MOVING PICTURE ENCODING PROGRAM AS WELL AS MOVING PICTURE DECODING DEVICE, MOVING PICTURE DECODING METHOD AND MOVING PICTURE DECODING PROGRAM By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A first vector predictor candidate list generating unit generates a first motion vector predictor candidate list from motion vectors of encoded neighboring blocks to blocks to be encoded. A second vector predictor candidate list generating unit generates a second motion vector predictor candidate list from motion vectors of blocks at the same positions as the blocks to be encoded in an encoded image and neighboring blocks to the blocks at the same positions. A combination determining unit determines whether to generate a third vector predictor candidate list combining the first and second vector predictor candidate lists by comparison of a block size of the blocks to be encoded and a threshold size. A vector predictor candidate list deciding unit generates the third vector predictor candidate list from the first vector predictor candidate list. Full Article
d MOVING PICTURE ENCODING DEVICE, MOVING PICTURE ENCODING METHOD AND MOVING PICTURE ENCODING PROGRAM AS WELL AS MOVING PICTURE DECODING DEVICE, MOVING PICTURE DECODING METHOD AND MOVING PICTURE DECODING PROGRAM By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A first vector predictor candidate list generating unit generates a first motion vector predictor candidate list from motion vectors of encoded neighboring blocks to blocks to be encoded. A second vector predictor candidate list generating unit generates a second motion vector predictor candidate list from motion vectors of blocks at the same positions as the blocks to be encoded in an encoded image and neighboring blocks to the blocks at the same positions. A combination determining unit determines whether to generate a third vector predictor candidate list combining the first and second vector predictor candidate lists by comparison of a block size of the blocks to be encoded and a threshold size. A vector predictor candidate list deciding unit generates the third vector predictor candidate list from the first vector predictor candidate list. Full Article
d PARSING FRIENDLY AND ERROR RESILIENT MERGE FLAG CODING IN VIDEO CODING By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Methods and apparatus for parsing friendly and error resilient merge flag coding in video coding are provided. In some methods, in contrast to merging candidate list size dependent coding of the merge flag in the prior art, a merge flag is always encoded in the encoded bit stream for each inter-predicted prediction unit (PU) that is not encoded using skip mode. In some methods, in contrast to the prior art that allowed the merging candidate list to be empty, one or more zero motion vector merging candidates formatted according to the prediction type of the slice containing a PU are added to the merging candidate list if needed to ensure that the list is not empty and/or to ensure that the list contains a maximum number of merging candidates. Full Article
d SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTING OPTICAL FLOW FIELDS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A system constructs an optical flow field that corresponds with a selected video frame. The optical flow field is constructed based on a first motion of a mobile platform having an imaging device and a status of the imaging device. The first motion and the status are determined with measurements of sensors installed on the mobile platform and/or the imaging device installed on the mobile platform. The first motion includes at least one of a first rotation, a horizontal movement, or a vertical movement of the mobile platform. The status includes a rotation of the imaging device and/or an orientation of the imaging device relative to the mobile platform. Full Article
d METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENCODING/DECODING THE MOTION VECTORS OF A PLURALITY OF REFERENCE PICTURES, AND APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR IMAGE ENCODING/DECODING USING SAME By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A video decoding method using an inter prediction, includes: reconstructing a first differential motion vector and a second differential motion vector of a current block by decoding encoded data; deriving a first predicted motion vector and a second predicted motion vector of the current block from one or more neighboring blocks of the current block; generating a first motion vector of the current block by adding the first candidate motion vector to the first differential motion vector, and a second motion vector of the current block by adding the second candidate motion vector to the second differential motion vector; generating a predicted block of the current block by using the first and second motion vectors; reconstructing a residual block by decoding residual signals included in the encoded data; and adding each pixel value of the predicted block to a corresponding pixel value of the residual block. Full Article
d METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENCODING/DECODING THE MOTION VECTORS OF A PLURALITY OF REFERENCE PICTURES, AND APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR IMAGE ENCODING/DECODING USING SAME By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A video decoding method using an inter prediction, includes: reconstructing a first differential motion vector and a second differential motion vector of a current block by decoding encoded data; deriving a first predicted motion vector and a second predicted motion vector of the current block from one or more neighboring blocks of the current block; generating a first motion vector of the current block by adding the first candidate motion vector to the first differential motion vector, and a second motion vector of the current block by adding the second candidate motion vector to the second differential motion vector; generating a predicted block of the current block by using the first and second motion vectors; reconstructing a residual block by decoding residual signals included in the encoded data; and adding each pixel value of the predicted block to a corresponding pixel value of the residual block. Full Article
d METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ENCODING A FRAME AND/OR DECODING A BITSTREAM REPRESENTING A FRAME By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The present disclosure generally relates to a method and device for encoding a frame. The method and the device comprises a processor configured for: —encoding (12) a backlight frame determined (11) from the frame; —obtaining (13) at least one component of a residual frame by dividing each component of the frame by a decoded version of the backlight frame; —mapping each component (YRes) of the residual frame (Res) such that the mapping of each pixel (YRes,P) of a component (YRes) of the residual frame Res depends on the pixel value (Balp) of either the backlight frame (Bal) or a decoded version of the backlight frame (Bal), associated with this pixel (p); and—encoding (18) the mapped residual frame. The disclosure further relates to a decoding method and device. Full Article
d METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DECODING A VIDEO SIGNAL By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The present invention relates to a method for decoding a video signal, comprising the steps of: acquiring a transform size flag of the current macroblock from a video signal; checking the number of non-zero transform coefficients at each pixel position in a first transform block which corresponds to the transform size flag; changing a scan order of the first transform block by prioritizing the position of the pixel having the greatest number of the non-zero transform coefficients in the first transform block; determining the number of the non-zero transform coefficients at each pixel position in a second transform block, and setting the changed scan order of the first transform block as an initialized scan order of the second transform block; adding the number of the non-zero transform coefficients at each pixel position in the first transform block and the number of the non-zero transform coefficients at each pixel position in the second transform block, and changing the scan order of the second transform block by prioritizing the position of the pixel having the greatest number of the non-zero transform coefficients; and decoding the transform coefficients arranged in the scan order changed in the previous step, wherein the first transform block and the second transform block have sizes corresponding to the transform size flag, and are contained in the current macroblock. Full Article
d METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING THE SEVERITY OF CORRUPTION IN A PICTURE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An encoder encodes pixels representative of a picture in a multimedia stream, generates a first approximate signature based on approximate values of pixels in a reconstructed copy of the picture, and transmits the encoded pixels and the first approximate signature. A decoder receives a first packet including the encoded pixels and the first approximate signature, decodes the encoded pixels, and transmits a first signal in response to comparing the first approximate signature and a second approximate signature generated based on approximate values of the decoded pixels. If a corrupted packet is detected, the multimedia application requests an intra-coded picture in response to the first approximate signature differing from the second approximate signature. The second signal instructs the decoder to bypass requesting an intra-coded picture and to continue decoding received packets in response to the first approximate signature being equal to the second approximate signature. Full Article
d IMAGE DECODING METHOD, IMAGE CODING METHOD, IMAGE DECODING APPARATUS, IMAGE CODING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE CODING AND DECODING APPARATUS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The image decoding method includes: determining a context for use in a current block to be processed, from among a plurality of contexts; and performing arithmetic decoding on a bit sequence corresponding to the current block, using the determined context, wherein in the determining: the context is determined under a condition that control parameters of neighboring blocks of the current block are used, when the signal type is a first type, the neighboring blocks being a left block and an upper block of the current block; and the context is determined under a condition that the control parameter of the upper block is not used, when the signal type is a second type, and the second type is “inter_pred_flag”. Full Article
d TRANSMISSION DEVICE, TRANSMISSION METHOD, RECEPTION DEVICE, AND RECEPTION METHOD By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The present technology relates to a transmission device, a transmission method, a reception device, and a reception method that can improve transmission efficiency. An encoded signal is generated based on realtime data indicated by a waveform L using a predetermined fixed bit rate as a maximum code amount Sx and the encoded signal into which non-realtime data with an insufficient code amount is inserted is transmitted at the fixed bit rate, as indicated by a range Z12, when a code amount of the generated encoded signal is insufficient for the maximum code amount Sx. The present technology can be applied to broadcasting communication. Full Article
d Direct Drive Ceiling Fan By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 08 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A direct drive ceiling fan is described that includes at least one blade and a permanent magnet motor (e.g., PMSM) as a driving source. The permanent magnet motor includes a stator with a 45 to 90 slot construction and multiple stator winding coils and the rotor assembly includes a permanent magnet that has from 50 to 80 magnetic poles. The coils are wound according to a symmetric winding pattern that is selected based on the numbers of slots and poles used in the motor. The resulting motor produces near zero to zero radial forces (Fx and Fy) during operation of the fan. Full Article
d MULTISTAGE TURBOMACHINE WITH EMBEDDED ELECTRIC MOTORS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 08 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A multistage turbomachine is disclosed, comprising a casing with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and a plurality of stages arranged in the casing. A flow path extends from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet through the sequentially arranged stages. Each stage is comprised of a rotating impeller and an electric motor embedded in the casing and arranged for rotating the impeller at a controlled rotary speed. Each electric motor comprises a motor rotor, arranged on the impeller and integrally rotating therewith, and a motor stator stationarily arranged in the casing. Pairs of sequentially arranged impellers are configured for rotation in opposite directions. Full Article
d SEAL ASSEMBLY FOR A SUBMERSIBLE PUMPING SYSTEM AND AN ASSOCIATED METHOD THEREOF By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 08 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A seal assembly for a submersible pumping system is presented. The seal assembly includes a housing and a support tube disposed within the housing. Further, the seal assembly includes a shape memory alloy (SMA) foil disposed within the housing, surrounding the support tube to define a first chamber between the shape memory alloy foil and the support tube. The first chamber is configured to store a motor fluid, and wherein the shape memory alloy foil is configured to restrict a flow of a wellbore fluid to the motor fluid. Full Article
d Fan Motor Controller for Use in an Air Conditioning System By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 08 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT One aspect provides an air conditioning system that includes a compressor housing, a motor having fan blades rotatably coupled thereto and located within the compressor housing. The motor has a rotation sensor associated with it that is configured to sense a rotation of the fan blades. This embodiment further comprises a controller coupled to the motor and is configured to increase a torque of the motor when the rotation sensor indicates that the fan blades are not rotating after an on command signal is received by the motor. Full Article
d PIEZOELECTRIC DRIVING DEVICE, MOTOR, ROBOT, AND PUMP By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 08 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A piezoelectric driving device includes: a substrate including a fixed portion, and a vibrating body portion which is provided with a piezoelectric element and is supported by the fixed portion; and a contact portion which comes into contact with a driven body, and transmits movement of the vibrating body portion to the driven body, the contact portion is provided at an end portion in the longitudinal direction of the vibrating body portion, and a difference between a distance between the end portion when the contact portion is not pressed against the driven body and a tip end of the contact portion, and a distance between the end portion when the contact portion is pressed against the driven body and the tip end, is smaller than a total amplitude in the longitudinal direction in a case where the vibrating body portion is driven. Full Article
d MOTOR AND A HANDHELD DEVICE HAVING A MOTOR By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 15 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A handheld device comprising a motor for generating an airflow through the device, the motor including: a frame for supporting a rotor assembly and a stator assembly, the frame including an inner wall and an outer wall and a plurality of diffuser vanes extending between the inner wall and outer wall; a rotor assembly including a shaft, a magnet, a bearing assembly and an impeller; and a stator assembly including a bobbin, a stator core and a winding wound around the bobbin; the frame being formed of zinc and the impeller being formed of aluminium. Full Article
d AXIAL PUMP AND HYDRAULIC DRIVE SYSTEM By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 15 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A hydraulic device having an input shaft and an output shaft, the device comprising: a housing having the input shaft mounted at one end and the output shaft mounted at the other end; an axially reciprocating hydraulic pump mounted on the input shaft within the housing, the axially reciprocating hydraulic pump having: a plurality of pistons located in respective piston bores and configured for axial reciprocation therein; a cam plate connected to the input shaft, the cam plate having a plurality of cam surfaces distributed about the cam plate for driving the plurality of pistons towards Top Dead Center (TDC) of the piston bores; a rotating hydraulic motor mounted on the output shaft within the housing for rotating with the output shaft; and a pair of shared fluid conduits, one of the pair directly and fluidly connecting a fluid outlet of the axially reciprocating hydraulic pump with a fluid inlet of the rotating hydraulic motor and the other of the pair for directly and fluidly connecting a fluid outlet of the rotating hydraulic motor with a fluid inlet of the axially reciprocating hydraulic pump, such that the pair are contained within the housing; wherein flow of hydraulic fluid between the axially reciprocating hydraulic pump and the rotating hydraulic motor bypasses any fluid reservoir external to the housing. Full Article
d ELECTRIC-MOTOR-DRIVEN LIQUID PUMP By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 15 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A liquid pump has a housing with a suction connection, a pressure connection and a electric motor for rotationally driving a conveying device that has a suction inlet and pressure outlet which communicate with the suction connection and the pressure connection respectively. An electronic power unit for the electric motor is adjacent to the motor and extends transversely to the axis of rotation and is on the rear side of the partition wall of the housing. The suction inlet is arranged at a height smaller than an inner radius of an annular gap between the stator and rotor, whereas a rotor passage extends at a constant height, so that a liquid inducted by way of the suction connection is guided in part via the annular gap and undergoes a deflection at the partition wall, cooling the latter before it passes through the rotor passage to the suction inlet. Full Article
d METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN ELECTRIC VENTILATOR By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 15 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A method for controlling an electric ventilator includes: setting a first threshold temperature T1D of a microcontroller lower than a maximum threshold temperature T3D of the microcontroller; monitoring a temperature TD of the microcontroller; setting a first threshold temperature T1M of an electronic power device lower than a maximum threshold temperature T3M of the electronic power device; monitoring a temperature TM of the electronic power device; preparing a counter of a predetermined time X; activating the counter if the temperature TD or the temperature TM exceeds respective first threshold temperatures T1D, T1M; reducing a speed V of rotation of an electric motor to a second value V1 lower than a first value V1 if after the predetermined time X, the temperature TD or the temperature TM is higher than the respective first threshold temperatures T1D, T1M. Full Article
d HYBRID VENTILATOR By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 15 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A ventilator (10) comprises a ventilator stator (12) for mounting to a structure and a ventilator rotor (14) for mounting and rotation with respect to the stator. One or more wind drivable elements (44) are mounted to the ventilator rotor. A motor (20) is provided for operation between the ventilator rotor and ventilator stator for selective motor-driven rotation of the ventilator rotor. Full Article
d SUPERCHARGER AND MOTOR COOLING METHOD By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 15 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Provided is an electric-assist supercharger configured such that a motor (30) is attached to the end portion of a rotor shaft (15) close to a silencer (26), the rotor shaft (15) being connected to a compressor portion. Such a supercharger includes a suction air introduction path (24) formed in the silencer 26 such that a main suction air flow flows in the radial direction of the silencer (26) toward a connection portion between the silencer (26) and the compressor portion, and a cooling air intake path (40) formed in the silencer (26) in which at least an outlet thereof is on the center axis of the rotor shaft (15). Full Article
d INTEGRATED FUEL CELL AIRCRAFT PRESSURIZATION AND COOLING SYSTEM By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 15 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT According to one embodiment of this disclosure an integrated fuel cell and environmental control system includes a turbo-compressor. The turbo-compressor includes a rotatable shaft, a compressor rotatable with the shaft to generate a flow of compressed air, a motor connected to the shaft, and a turbine connected to the shaft. The system further includes a fuel cell connected to the compressor by a first compressed air supply line that supplies a first portion of the flow of compressed air to the fuel cell. The fuel cell is connected to the turbine by a fuel cell exhaust line that supplies a flow of fuel cell exhaust to the turbine and causes the turbine to rotate. The system further includes an environmental control system connected to the compressor by a second compressed air supply line that supplies a second portion of the flow of compressed air to the environmental control system. Full Article
d OBSERVER BASED SENSORLESS CONTROL FOR U-SHAPE SINGLE PHASE SYNCHRONOUS PERMANENT MAGNET MOTORS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 15 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A method for controlling a U-shape single phase synchronous permanent magnetic motor having a rotor and a stator and coupled to a single phase alternating current (AC) power source through a switch includes estimating back-electromotive force and the position of the rotor based on a voltage feedback signal, a current feedback signal, and a phase feedback signal indicative of a zero-crossing of the single phase AC power source. Once the speed and position of the rotor are determined, a controller can trigger a switch to supply power to the motor. Full Article
d BELLOWS INSTALLATION AND RETENTION METHOD By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A reciprocating pump includes a housing, a rod, a sleeve, a bellows, and a nut. The housing includes a bellows chamber and a working chamber. The rod extends into the reciprocating pump such that the rod extends through the bellows chamber and partly into the working chamber. The rod includes a shoulder. The sleeve is connected to the rod such that the sleeve surrounds a portion of the rod. The bellows is connected to the sleeve such that the bellows surrounds a portion of the sleeve. The nut is attached to a bottom end of the sleeve such that the nut clamps an end of the bellows to the bottom end of the sleeve. Full Article
d ENVIRONMENTAL SENSOR AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A gaseous-fluid environmental sensor having a gaseous-fluid flow system that defines a flow path coupling an intake port to an exhaust port. The gaseous-fluid flow system includes a blower and a flow sensor. The blower includes a motor and the flow sensor is for sensing a flow parameter. The gaseous-fluid environmental sensor further includes a controller electrically coupled to the flow sensor and the motor. The controller is configured to drive the motor with a first commutation sequence and to drive the motor with a second commutation sequence different than the first commutation sequence. The controller is further configured to select the first commutation sequence and the second commutation sequence based on the sensed flow parameter. Also discloses is a method for controlling the gaseous-fluid environmental sensor. Full Article
d SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A FLUID TRANSPORT SYSTEM By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A fluid transport system includes at least one flow control device and a multiphase pump configured to transport fluid. At least one pump sensing device is configured to measure at least one operating characteristic of the multiphase pump. A controller is programmed with a pump map including a correlation of the at least one operating characteristic of the multiphase pump with at least one operating characteristic of the fluid. The controller is configured to determine an estimated value of the at least one operating characteristic of the fluid based on the measured value of the at least one operating characteristic of the multiphase pump and the pump map. At least one regulating device coupled to at least one flow control device is modulated based on the estimated value of the at least one operating characteristic of the fluid. Full Article
d METHODS AND APPARATUS TO CALIBRATE ROD PUMP CONTROLLERS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Methods and apparatus to calibrate rod pump controllers are described. An example method includes obtaining initial values related to a pumping unit, determining parameters based on the initial values, the parameters including at least one of a leaked off load value, a residual friction value, and a buoyant rod weight value, and based on one or more of the initial values and the parameters, calculating one or more dimensions of a rod string, the one or more dimensions to be used to determine a pump card of the pumping unit. Full Article
d INTEGRATED SUMP PUMP CONTROLLER WITH STATUS NOTIFICATIONS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A sump pump system having a primary pump, a fluid level sensor, and a primary controller electrically connected to the primary pump for activating the pump when the fluid level sensor indicates a predetermine fluid level has been reached, the primary controller having a primary interface for communicating with a secondary pump. In some forms, the system includes a secondary pump having a secondary controller electrically connected to the secondary pump and having a secondary interface, the primary and secondary interfaces allowing the primary and secondary pump controllers to communicate with one another and allowing at least one of the primary and secondary pump controllers to assume control of both the primary and secondary pump. Related methods are further described herein. Full Article
d SHOCK ABSORBING AND WEAR RESISTANT BALL CHECK SEAT FOR ABRASIVE MEDIA By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A check valve includes a ball and a seat. The seat includes a body and a hole extending through the body. The hole is smaller in diameter than the ball. The body of the seat is formed from ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene. The ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene of the seat has an ASTM D648 heat deflection temperature of 46.7° C. at 1.8 MPa. Full Article
d PRECONDITIONING FLOW TO AN ELECTRICAL SUBMERSIBLE PUMP By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A system and method of producing fluid from a wellbore by pressurizing the fluid and then directing the pressurized fluid to a centrifugal pump. Pressurizing the fluid compresses gas or vapor within the fluid, thereby decreasing the volume ratio of the gas or vapor within the fluid, which in turn increases operating efficiency of the centrifugal pump. A positive displacement pump, such as a gerotor pump, is used for pressurizing the fluid prior to sending it to the centrifugal pump. Full Article
d MICRO SCALE ELECTRO HYRDODYNAMIC (EHD) MODULAR CARTRIDE PUMP By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An electro hydrodynamic pump apparatus includes a cartridge body member including an interior cavity portion and openings on either end of the cartridge body member; a first electrode member disposed within the interior cavity portion of the cartridge body member, the first electrode member including a conductive bar member with a plurality of spaced apart elements extending therefrom; a second electrode member disposed within the interior cavity portion of the cartridge body member, the second electrode member including a conductive bar with a plurality of spaced apart element extending therefrom; and wherein the elements of the first electrode member are configure to be interspersed with the elements of the second electrode member when the first electrode member and the second electrode member are disposed within the interior cavity portion of the cartridge body member. Full Article
d Electrical Control Valve for an Air Conditioning Compressor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A control valve for an air conditioning compressor is disclosed. The control valve comprises a control piston, an electric motor, a sensor, and a control unit. The control piston connects a refrigerant flow between a high-pressure area and a crankcase pressure area of the air conditioning compressor in a first position. The control piston further connects the refrigerant flow between the crankcase pressure area and a low-pressure area of the air conditioning compressor in a second position. The electric motor moves the control piston between the first position and the second position. The sensor determines the position of the control piston. The control unit is connected to the sensor and the electric motor. The control unit controls the electric motor to move the control piston and control the refrigerant flow based on the position of the control piston determined by the sensor. Full Article
d Radial Bearing Arrangement in a Refrigeration Compressor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The compressor includes a bearing hub, defining a radial bearing having a first and a second end portion and supporting a crankshaft having an eccentric end portion supporting the larger eye of a connecting rod coupled to the piston, for example, by a smaller eye mounted around a piston pin. The second end portion and, optionally, the first end portion of the bearing hub and the larger and smaller eyes of the connecting rod are internally provided with bushings. End portions of the bearing hub and of the larger and smaller eyes may have their structure resistant to the pressing of a confronting compressor component supported on said end portions, or further present a terminal portion elastically deformable together with a confronting terminal portion of the associated bushing. Full Article
d UTERINE DISTENSION FLUID MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WITH PERISTALTIC PUMPS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A pump cartridge for mounting on a drive rotor includes a roller assembly having first and second hubs maintained in a spaced apart relationship and defining an axis, and a plurality of planetary rollers arranged in a circumferentially spaced orientation about the axis, the rollers mounted to the hubs displacement radially outward. One or more compressible tubing lines are interposed between the rollers and an interior wall of the pump cartridge housing. The housing and the first and second hubs collectively define a passageway through which a spreader on the drive rotor extends and may be rotated relative to the roller assembly to displace the rollers radially outward to thereby compress the tubing lines against the interior wall. A coupling feature on the first hub engages a roller driving feature of the rotor, so that rotation of the rotor causes rotation of the roller assembly about the axis. Full Article
d Rotary Hydraulic Pump with ESP Motor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A submersible pumping system includes an electric motor and a pump driven by the electric motor. The pump includes a rotatable shaft driven by the motor, one or more piston assemblies configured for linear reciprocating motion and a mechanism for converting the rotational movement of the shaft to linear reciprocating movement in the piston assemblies. In one aspect, the mechanism for converting the rotational movement of the shaft includes a tilt disc assembly. In another aspect, the mechanism for converting the rotational movement of the shaft includes a camshaft assembly. Full Article
d INTEGRATED DISPLACEMENT CONTROLLED PUMP By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A pump system includes a motor, a pump, and a single shaft extending from the motor into the pump, the single shaft being configured to operate simultaneously as both a motor output shaft and a pump input shaft. A first end of the single shaft interacts with the motor, and a second end of the single shaft interacts with the pump, to configure the shaft to operate as the motor output shaft and the pump input shaft. The pump system further may include a mounting accessory configured to support the motor and the pump. The motor may be an electric motor, and the pump may be a hydraulic pump. A drive controller is configured to generate commands for controlling the electric motor, which in turn drives the pump to achieve a desired flow of hydraulic fluid. Full Article
d PUMP SYSTEM, USE OF A PNEUMATIC RESISTANCE AND MEDICAL DEVICE OR GAS-MEASURING DEVICE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A pump system (120) has a central pump unit (110), with which at least one hook-up unit (130). The least one hook-up unit (130) is from a group of a plurality of hook-up units (130) that can be combined in modular form for setting an operating point of a pump (10) that forms the pump unit (110). A method uses such a hook-up unit (130) in a pump system (120) for setting an operating point of the pump unit (110) thereof. A medical device is provided with such a pump unit (110) or with such a pump unit (110) and at least one hook-up unit (130) combined with the pump unit (110). Full Article
d FLUID CONDITIONING MODULE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A fluid conditioning module having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet is provided. The fluid conditioning module includes a first pump element, a second pump element, a pressure regulator, a controller, and a prime mover to impart rotational motion in the first and second pump elements. A first pump inlet is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet. A filter inlet is in fluid communication with a first pump outlet and a second pump outlet, and a filter outlet is in fluid communication with the fluid outlet. A pressure regulator inlet and a pressure regulator outlet are in fluid communication with the filter outlet and a recirculation conduit, respectively. The control valve has a first position and a second position, which allows fluid flow through the recirculation conduit. The controller adjusts operation of one or more of the prime mover and the control valve based upon a predetermined parameter. Full Article
d Non-Welded Suction Chamber for Surface Pumping Systems By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A suction chamber for use in a surface pumping system includes a central housing that is substantially cylindrical and has a motor end and a pump end opposite the motor end. The suction chamber includes a motor-end plate bolted to motor end of the central housing and a pump-end plate bolted to the pump end of the central housing. The suction chamber also includes an inlet branch connected to the central housing. A method for assembling a non-welded suction chamber is also disclosed. Full Article
d LOW NOISE TURBINE FOR GEARED TURBOFAN ENGINE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A gas turbine engine has a fan section including a fan. A turbine section has a first turbine and a second turbine. A gear reduction between the fan and the first turbine includes an epicycle gear train. The gear reduction is configured to receive an input from the first turbine and to turn the fan at a lower speed than the first turbine in operation. The first turbine further includes a number of turbine blades in each of a plurality of rows of the first turbine. The first turbine blades operate at least some of the time at a rotational speed. The number of blades and the rotational speed is such that the following formula holds true for at least one of the blade rows of the first turbine: (number of blades×speed)/60≧5500. A turbine section is also disclosed. Full Article
d Methods of filtering multiple contaminants, mitigating contaminant formation, and recycling greenhouse gases using a humic and fulvic reagent By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A highly alkalized humic and fulvic filter reagent for the removal of multiple contaminants from a gas is provided. The contaminants removed from the gas stream may include, but are not limited to, Carbon Dioxide, Sulfur Oxide, Nitrogen Oxides, Hydrogen Sulfides, radionuclides, mercaptans, ammonia, toxic metals, particulates, volatile vapors, and organics. The present invention further includes the disposal of the filter reagent by way of using the highly alkalized humic and fulvic filter for soil fertility, releasing the carbon dioxide from the filter reagent, converting the liquid filter reagent into a solid for disposal or for use as a contaminant removal filter for waters, wastes, and chemicals. Full Article
d Integrated processes for refining syngas and bioconversion to oxygenated organic compound By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Integrated processes are provided for syngas refining and bioconversion of syngas to oxygenated organic compound. In the integrated processes ammonia contained in the syngas is recovered and used as a source of nitrogen and water for the fermentation. The integrated processes first remove tars from syngas by scrubbing using a first aqueous medium under conditions that ammonium bicarbonate is unstable. With tars removed, contact between the syngas and a second aqueous medium enables ammonia and carbon dioxide to be removed from the syngas without undue removal of components adverse to the fermentation, processing or oxygenated product such as benzene, toluene, xylene, ethylene, acetylene, and hydrogen cyanide. At least a portion of the second aqueous medium is supplied as a source of water and ammonia for the fermentation. Full Article
d Hydrogen purifier By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Techniques are generally described herein for the design and manufacture of hydrogen generation apparatuses and systems. Other embodiments may also be disclosed and claimed. Some methods described herein pressing together a first end plate, one or more intermediate plates, and a second end plate using a press to form a hydrogen purifier module, and placing a plurality of clips around the hydrogen purifier module to hold the first end plate, the one or more intermediate plates, and the second end plate together. Full Article
d Process and apparatus for the production of synthesis gas By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Reactive diluent fluid (22) is introduced into a stream of synthesis gas (or “syngas”) produced in a heat-generating unit such as a partial oxidation (“POX”) reactor (12) to cool the syngas and form a mixture of cooled syngas and reactive diluent fluid. Carbon dioxide and/or carbon components and/or hydrogen in the mixture of cooled syngas and reactive diluent fluid is reacted (26) with at least a portion of the reactive diluent fluid in the mixture to produce carbon monoxide-enriched and/or solid carbon depleted syngas which is fed into a secondary reformer unit (30) such as an enhanced heat transfer reformer in a heat exchange reformer process. An advantage of the invention is that problems with the mechanical integrity of the secondary unit arising from the high temperature of the syngas from the heat-generating unit are avoided. Full Article
d Coil arrangement for air intake system for gas turbine and methods By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An air intake system for a gas turbine includes one or more coils in airflow communication with an inlet arrangement. Each coil is constructed and arranged to have a respective upstream face velocity that is intended to be within 20% of the other coils. Each coil utilizes a working fluid of a predetermined temperature range conveyed there through and a plurality of spaced fins. The fins are spaced apart to permit air to flow between adjacent fins as air flows through the coil. At least one of the coils has a number of fins per inch that is different from the number of fins per inch of the other coils. Alternatively, each individual coil has at least one section with fewer or greater numbers of fins per inch that the other sections of that coil. Full Article
d Membrane-based gas separation process using ejector-driven gas recycle By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A gas separation process that utilizes ejector recycle with a membrane separation step in combination with a second separation step. The second separation step may be a second membrane separation, or may involve a different type of separation process. At least a portion of the non-product (i.e. residue) stream withdrawn from the second separation step is directed back to the ejector to form a processing loop. The ejector drives the gas flow in the loop and recycles the non-product stream to the first separation step. Full Article