A torque tube for use in a disk brake system in accordance with various embodiments includes a backleg having a reaction plate and a foot extending axially away from the reaction plate. The torque tube also includes a barrel having a tubular structure having an axis and an inner surface configured to receive the foot.

A method of treating a carbon structure is provided. The method may include the step of infiltrating the carbon structure with a ceramic preparation comprising yttrium oxides and zirconium oxides. The carbon structure may be densified by chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) and heat treated to form yttrium oxycarbides and/or carbides and zirconium oxycarbides and/or carbides. Heat treating the carbon structure may comprise a temperature ranging from 1000° C. to 1600° C.

A method for forming a vehicular brake rotor involving loading a shaped metal substrate with a mixture of metal alloying components and ceramic particles in a dieheating the contents of the die while applying pressure to melt at least one of the metal components of the alloying mixture whereby to densify the contents of the die and form a ceramic particle-containing metal matrix composite coating on the metallic substrate; and cooling the resulting coated product.

A disc brake rotor including a hub portion and a brake disc is provided. The brake disc extends radially outward from the hub portion and includes an outboard disc face and an inboard disc face. A plurality of channels are disposed in the brake disc that are circumferentially spaced from one another. Any one channel in the plurality of channels is open to either the outboard disc face or the inboard disc face. The brake disc includes an outer ring and an inner ring that are circumferentially continuous and uninterrupted along at least the outboard disc face and the inboard disc face. The outer ring is radially spaced from the inner ring with the plurality of channels disposed radially between the outer ring and the inner ring. Advantageously, this arrangement increases shear strength of the brake disc while providing enhanced cooling.

A railcar brake beam assembly including a brake beam formation having a tension member, a compression member and strut, and with the strut defining an axis for the brake beam assembly. First and second brake head assemblies are disposed to opposite lateral sides of the axis, with each brake head assembly being operably carried by the brake beam formation and includes a guide member extending in a direction away from the axis. The first and second brake head assemblies are generally centered laterally relative to the axis of the brake beam assembly. A distal end of the guide member on the first brake head assembly is disposed a different lateral distance from the axis of the brake beam assembly than is a distal end of the guide member on the second brake head assembly to minimize lateral shifting movements while maintaining adequate clearances for permitting reciprocal moments of the brake beam assembly during application of braking forces. A method of designing a brake beam assembly for a railcar is also disclosed.

A friction disk brake system may comprise a plurality of rotor friction disks and a plurality of stator friction disks. At least one of the friction disks may be a split disk friction disk. The split disk friction disk may comprise a first disk half and a second disk half. A carbon foam damping feature may be located between the first disk half and the second disk half.

A plate assembly for a multi-disk brake system is provided. The plate assembly includes at least one of a pressure plate or an end plate and a floating plate wear liner mounted against the at least one of the pressure plate or the end plate. The floating plate wear liner is configured to contact a contact surface of an adjacent rotatable friction disk in response to the multi-disk brake system being actuated.

A heat dissipation structure for a brake pad is provided for being assembled to a caliper device. The caliper device includes a caliper body, and the caliper body has a receiving space. The heat dissipation structure includes: a main body, integrally extruded from aluminum and cut to have an ultimate appearance, including a plate body and a heat dissipation portion integrally extending from the plate body, the plate body for being disposed on the caliper body and at least partially extending into the receiving space, when the main body is assembled to the caliper body, the heat dissipation portion is exposed outside the caliper body. A brake pad assembly is further provided, including a heat dissipation structure as described above, further including a brake pad, the brake pad disposed on a lateral face of the plate body.

The invention relates to a brake shoe (1) for disk or drum brakes, which comprises a supporting plate (2) with a friction pad (3) attached thereto and at least one wear indicator (4), characterized in that the wear indicator (4) has a wear sensor (6) for continuous or multi-stage measurement of the wear of the friction lining and a receiver and transmitter unit (5) for wireless signal transmission, the receiver and transmitter unit being a passive RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) or SAW (Sound Acoustic Wave) transponder.

An interdigitated cellular cushioning system includes an array of void cells protruding from each of two sheet layers interdigitated between the two sheet layers. Peaks of each of the void cells are attached to the opposite sheet layer forming the interdigitated cellular cushioning system. The interdigitated cellular cushioning system may be used to absorb and distribute a source of kinetic energy incident on the interdigitated cellular cushioning system (e.g., an impact or explosion) so that the amount of force transmitted through the interdigitated cellular cushioning system is low enough that it does not cause injury to personnel or damage to personnel and/or equipment adjacent the interdigitated cellular cushioning system.

The present application provides a back mixing device for use with a pneumatically conveyed flow of solids having a varying flow rate. The back mixing device may include a nozzle, a chamber in communication with the nozzle, and an exit. The chamber may include an expanded area leading to a restriction such that the chamber creates a recirculation pattern in the flow of solids so as to smooth the varying flow rate though the back mixing device.

In one embodiment, a gasification system component, such as a quench unit or scrubber may retain of pool of a cooling fluid for cooling another fluid. The gasification system component includes a flow damping mechanism designed to dampen flow of the cooling fluid, the other fluid, or both, within the gasification system component. The flow damping mechanism may be disposed in an inner chamber formed between a dip tube and a draft tube or disposed in an outer chamber formed between the walls of the gasification system component and the draft tube. The flow damping mechanism also may be disposed between the inner chamber and the outer chamber.

The present application is directed to gas generators comprising a fuel mixture and a catalyst. The catalyst is contained in a self-regulated reactor or buoy, and selectively opens and closes to produce a gas in accordance with the demand for gas. This fuel mixture is generally a solution formed by dissolving a solid fuel component in a liquid fuel component. The mixing preferably occurs before the first use, and more preferably occurs immediately prior to the first use. The inventive gas generators preferably further comprises a starting mechanism that isolates the solid fuel from the liquid fuel or vice versa before the first use. In one embodiment, the starting mechanism further comprises a catalyst shield mechanism that isolates the catalyst in the reactor or buoy from the liquid and/or the solid fuel prior to the first use.

A gas generator and process for converting a fuel into an oxygen-depleted gas and/or hydrogen-enriched gas. The gas generator is preferably used for generating protection gas or reducing gas for start up, shut down or emergency shut down of a SOFC or SOEC. The process for converting fuel into oxygen-depleted gas and/or a hydrogen-enriched gas includes combusting the fuel in a primary catalytic burner with an oxygen-containing gas to produce a flue gas with oxygen, combusting or partially oxidizing the flue gas comprising oxygen with excess fuel in a secondary catalytic burner to produce a gas with hydrogen and carbon monoxide, and reducing the trace amounts of oxygen from the gas comprising traces of oxygen and obtaining an oxygen-depleted gas, or reducing the carbon monoxide present in the gas by conversion to carbon dioxide or methane to obtain a hydrogen-enriched gas.

A system comprises an injection well for accessing a reservoir containing a native fluid comprising a hydrocarbon. The reservoir is located below one or more caprocks, is at a first temperature, and is accessible without using large-scale hydrofracturing. The system further includes a production well in fluid communication with the reservoir, a supply apparatus configured to feed a non-water based working fluid at a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature through the injection well to the reservoir. The working fluid mixes with the native fluid to form a production fluid comprising at least a portion of the working fluid and at least a portion of the hydrocarbon at a third temperature that is higher than the second temperature. An energy recovery apparatus in fluid communication with the productions well converts energy contained in the production fluid to electricity, heat, or combinations thereof.

Solid carboniferous fuels contain varying quantities of moisture, mercury, chlorine, nitrogen, sulfur, heavy metals and other materials that attain vapor pressure at elevated temperatures. The cost effective removal of these degrading and sometimes hazardous materials is important to the further use of the fuel for combustion as a solid, liquid, or gas. The solid fuel is cut, shredded, ground or sieved to appropriate size, and heated in a chamber that can exclude oxygen and air thus preventing ignition. The unwanted materials are driven in the gaseous state and extracted for disposal. The solid fuel cleaned of pollutants exits the chamber and is cooled below ignition temperature prior to contact with oxygen. The solid fuel thus purified is more appropriate for combustion, liquefaction or gasification due to the reduced costs in use as a fuel or in the post combustion clean up.

The disclosed embodiments include systems for using an expander. In a first embodiment, a system includes a flow path and a gasification section disposed along the flow path. The gasification section is configured to convert a feedstock into a syngas. The system also includes a scrubber disposed directly downstream of the gasification section and configured to filter the syngas. The system also includes a first expander disposed along the flow path directly downstream from the scrubber and configured to expand the syngas. The syngas comprises an untreated syngas.

An integrated reformer and combustion apparatus for use in a fuel cell system comprises at least one reformer plate (3) at which in use a reforming reaction can take place and at least one combustion plate (1) at which in use a combustion reaction can take place. The plates are arranged in a stack such that the reformer plates (3) and combustion plates (1) are interspersed. The apparatus is arranged such that in use a reforming reaction and a combustion reaction can take place simultaneously, the combustion reaction providing heat for the reforming reaction. A further fluid circuit (19, 29) may be provided in thermal communication with at least one of the reformer unit and the combustion unit so as to allow the temperature of that unit to be controlled.

A fuel processor for generating hydrogen rich gas or cleaned hydrogen rich gas from hydrocarbon fuel includes an inner housing and an outer housing defining a mantel space between them, wherein at least one fuel reformer unit for reforming hydrocarbon fuel to a hydrogen rich gas and optionally a gas-cleaning unit for cleaning the hydrogen rich gas from unwanted by-products are arranged in the inner housing. The fuel processor further includes a processor inlet for introducing hydrocarbon fuel into the inner housing and a processor outlet for releasing cleaned hydrogen rich gas from the inner housing. The outer housing further includes a fluid inlet for introducing a heat transporting fluid into the mantel space. The inner housing includes at least one opening for providing a fluid-connection between the inner housing and the mantel space. A method for operating such a fuel processor is also provided.

Described herein are systems and methods for achieving fast pyrolysis of wood and other carbonaceous solids in rotary reactors. Novel heating, feeding and condensing methods result in high oil yields near those currently achieved with more complicated fast pyrolysis systems. High intensity burners are arranged and controlled to produce high heating rates and uniform temperature of the rotating cylindrical walls of the reactors. The feeding system delays the onset of pyrolysis until the solids fall onto the heated kiln walls. The pyrolysis gases and vapors are rapidly withdrawn and quenched with recycled liquids. The first condenser incorporates a clean out nozzle. Char products are readily separated and discharged into a heat exchanger where heat is recovered and used together with heat from reactor flue gas to dry the solids prior to being fed to the reactor.

Provided are an apparatus and a method for rapidly producing a synthetic gas from a bio-diesel byproduct using microwave plasma, in which, while a plasma flame is generated by a plasma generator and waste glycerin, a bio-diesel byproduct, as fuel, is gasified by being supplied to the generated plasma flame of high temperature, the fuel is supplied in various types to increase the contact time or the contact area with the plasma flame and thus promote gasification thereof and the contents of steam and oxygen supplied and the plasma power are controlled to increase the collection amount of combustible gas and thus allow rapid production of the synthetic gas.

The present invention relates to a process and system for gasifying biomass or other carbonaceous feedstocks in an indirectly heated gasifier and provides a method for the elimination of condensable organic materials (tars) from the resulting product gas with an integrated tar removal step. More specifically, this tar removal step utilizes the circulating heat carrier to crack the organics and produce additional product gas. As a benefit of the above process, and because the heat carrier circulates through alternating steam and oxidizing zones in the process, deactivation of the cracking reactions is eliminated.

Processes for the catalytic conversion of a carbonaceous composition into a gas stream comprising methane are provided. In addition, the processes provide for the generation of a hydrogen-enriched gas stream and, optionally, a carbon monoxide-enriched gas stream, which can be mixed or used separately as an energy source for subsequent catalytic gasification processes.

The present disclosure is generally directed to process of gasification of carbonaceous materials to produce synthesis gas or syngas. The present disclosure provides improved methods of gasification comprising: adding one or more carbonaceous materials, adding a molecular oxygen-containing gas, adding a methane-containing gas and optionally adding water or steam into said gasifier. This disclosure is also directed to process of production of one or more alcohols from said syngas via fermentation or digestion in the presence of at least one microorganism.

The invention provides a method and apparatus for incinerating waste, wherein the waste is one or more of an organic waste and an inorganic waste. The apparatus includes a grinder for grinding a mixture of the waste and calcium carbonate. The ground mixture is then fed to a molten metal bath contained within a crucible. Thereafter, a heating member configured proximal to the crucible combusts the mixture of the waste and the calcium carbonate to form one or more of slag and one or more acidic gases. On combustion, the one or more acidic gases are neutralized by calcium hydroxide produced as a result of combusting the calcium carbonate. Additional metal compounds usable as fertilizers are also produced in response to reacting with the one or more acidic gases.

The invention relates to a gasifier comprising a syngas generation section, a coal methanation section and a syngas methanation section in the order from bottom to top. The invention also relates to a process for preparing methane by catalytically gasifying coal using such a gasifier. Optionally, the gasifier is additionally provided with a coal pyrolysis section above the syngas methanation section.

The disclosed embodiments provide systems for the removal and use of tar from a biomass gasification system. For example, in one embodiment, a biomass gasification system includes a reactor configured to gasify a biomass fuel in the presence of air to generate a producer gas. The system also includes an absorber configured to receive a mixture of the producer gas and tar and to absorb the tar into an organic solvent to produce treated producer gas and a rich solvent mixture containing at least a portion of the tar. The system further includes a recycle line configured to direct the rich solvent mixture to a biomass gasifier.

A hydrogen generator system and a fuel cell system including the hydrogen generator system are disclosed. The hydrogen generator system includes a replaceable cartridge that is removably contained within the system, and an external pump disposed outside the cartridge housing and configured to pump a fluid. The cartridge includes a cartridge housing, a liquid reservoir disposed within the cartridge housing and configured to contain a liquid including a reactant, a reaction area disposed within the cartridge housing and within which the reactant reacts to produce hydrogen gas, a liquid flow path disposed within the cartridge housing and through which the reactant liquid can flow from the liquid reservoir to the reaction area, and an internal pump disposed within the cartridge housing that can be operated by the external pump and is configured to transport the reactant liquid through the liquid flow path.

The present application is directed to a hydrophobic membrane assembly (28) used within a gas-generating apparatus. Hydrogen is separated from the reaction solution by passing through a hydrophobic membrane assembly (28) having a hydrophobic lattice like member (36) disposed within a hydrogen output composite (32) further enhancing the ability of the hydrogen output composite's ability to separate out hydrogen gas and prolonging its useful life.

Various processes and apparatus are discussed for an ultra-high heat flux chemical reactor. A thermal receiver and the reactor tubes are aligned to 1) absorb and re-emit radiant energy, 2) highly reflect radiant energy, and 3) any combination of these, to maintain an operational temperature of the enclosed ultra-high heat flux chemical reactor. Particles of biomass are gasified in the presence of a steam carrier gas and methane in a simultaneous steam reformation and steam biomass gasification reaction to produce reaction products that include hydrogen and carbon monoxide gas using the ultra-high heat flux thermal energy radiated from the inner wall and then into the multiple reactor tubes. The multiple reactor tubes and cavity walls of the receiver transfer energy primarily by radiation absorption and re-radiation, rather than by convection or conduction, to the reactants in the chemical reaction to drive the endothermic chemical reaction flowing in the reactor tubes.

A solids circulation system receives a gas stream containing char or other reacting solids from a first reactor. The solids circulation system includes a cyclone configured to receive the gas stream from the first reactor, a dipleg from the cyclone to a second reactor, and a riser from the second reactor which merges with the gas stream received by the cyclone. The second reactor has a dense fluid bed and converts the received materials to gaseous products. A conveying fluid transports a portion of the bed media from the second reactor through the riser to mix with the gas stream prior to cyclone entry. The bed media helps manipulate the solids that is received by the cyclone to facilitate flow of solids down the dipleg into the second reactor. The second reactor provides additional residence time, mixing and gas-solid contact for efficient conversion of char or reacting solids.

A method for producing a synthesis-gas product gas and a vapor stream includes catalytic steam reforming a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock in a steam reformer. The hot synthesis-gas product gas stream is cooled in a heat exchanger to form a cooled synthesis-gas product gas stream and a first partial vapor stream, which is supplied to the product vapor stream. The reforming furnace is operated so as to burn a burner feedstock in burners, cool a hot flue gas stream from the burners in a heat exchanger to form a cooled flue gas stream and a second partial vapor stream, and separate the cooled flue gas stream into a waste gas stream and a flue gas recirculation stream. The flow of the recirculated flue gas is increased with decreasing flow of the synthesis-gas product gas to obtain an approximately constant product vapor stream by increasing the second partial vapor stream.

A method for production of hydrogen from organic matter, includes: pyrolysis of a feed of organic matter by passing a gaseous treatment stream essentially having carbon dioxide through the organic matter, the pyrolysis producing, on the one hand, a pyrolysis gas stream having the gaseous treatment stream, steam and volatile organic compounds originating from the organic matter, and on the other hand pyrolysis chars having carbon components; oxycombustion of at least a proportion of the volatile organic compounds present in the pyrolysis gas stream, by injection of oxygen, upstream of a layer of redox filtering matter comprising high-temperature carbon components; and after the oxycombustion, passing the oxidized pyrolysis gas stream through the redox layer, the passage producing a synthesis gas stream comprising hydrogen obtained by deoxidation of steam by the high-temperature carbon components.

Hydrogen-producing assemblies, fuel cell systems including the same, methods of producing hydrogen gas, and methods of powering an energy-consuming device. Hydrogen-producing assemblies may include a monolithic body that defines at least a reforming conduit, and in some embodiments a plurality of reforming conduits, in which a feed stream is catalyzed into a reformate gas stream containing hydrogen gas, and a burner conduit, in which a fuel-air stream is combusted. The monolithic body is constructed to conduct heat generated by the exothermic reaction of the combustion from the burner conduit to the reformer conduit. In some hydrogen-producing assemblies, the monolithic body further defines a vaporizing conduit, in which liquid portions of the feed stream are vaporized prior to being delivered to the reformer conduit, and the monolithic body may be constructed to conduct heat from the burner conduit to the vaporizing conduit.

A method of forming a synthesis gas utilizing a reformer is disclosed. The method utilizes a reformer that includes a plasma zone to receive a pre-heated mixture of reactants and ionize the reactants by applying an electrical potential thereto. A first thermally conductive surface surrounds the plasma zone and is configured to transfer heat from an external heat source into the plasma zone. The reformer further includes a reaction zone to chemically transform the ionized reactants into synthesis gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide. A second thermally conductive surface surrounds the reaction zone and is configured to transfer heat from the external heat source into the reaction zone. The first thermally conductive surface and second thermally conductive surface are both directly exposed to the external heat source. A corresponding apparatus and system are also disclosed herein.

A solid feed system may comprise a supersonic nozzle, an isolated injection section having a port for injection of solid feedstock positioned downstream from the supersonic nozzle, and a supersonic diffuser positioned downstream from the isolated injection section. Additionally, a gasification system may comprise such a solid feed system and a reaction chamber downstream thereof. Furthermore, a method of reacting a solid feedstock under pressure may include directing a fluid flow through a supersonic nozzle to provide a supersonic flow stream, and directing the supersonic flow stream through an isolated injection section at a static pressure at least fifty percent (50%) lower than an operating pressure within a reaction chamber (e.g., at a static pressure near ambient pressure).

The invention is a hydrogen generator including a housing, a reaction area, a fluid reservoir, a pellet comprising a first reactant within the reaction area, a fluid comprising a second reactant within the fluid reservoir, a fluid flow path between the fluid reservoir and the reaction area, and a hydrogen outlet. The fluid flow path comprises a follower assembly biased toward the pellet, the follower assembly includes an articulated joint and a follower, and the second reactant can react with the first reactant in the reaction area to produce hydrogen gas and byproducts.

Methods are disclosed for generating electrical power from a compound comprising carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen. Water is combined with the compound to produce a wet form of the compound. The wet form of the compound is transferred into a reaction processing chamber. The wet form of the compound is heated within the reaction chamber such that elements of the compound dissociate and react, with one reaction product comprising hydrogen gas. The hydrogen gas is processed to generate electrical power.

A system includes a carbon dioxide treatment system that includes a catalyst configured to treat carbon dioxide to produce a treated carbon dioxide. The system also includes a gasifier injector configured to inject the treated carbon dioxide, a fuel, and oxygen into a gasifier. The gasifier injector may be coupled to or located inside the gasifier.

A gasification quench chamber is disclosed. The gasification quench chamber includes a reservoir that contains liquid coolant in its lower portion and an exit for the cooled syngas in its upper portion; a dip tube that is configured to introduce a syngas mixture to contact the liquid coolant which produces the cooled syngas; a cooling device configured to further cool the cooled syngas in its upper portion; and a stability device in the lower portion that is configured to mitigate coolant level fluctuation and sloshing. In an embodiment of the quench chamber, the cooling device includes a heat exchanger pipe. A quench chamber and scrubber assembly is also disclosed.

A process and system for cooling syngas provides effective syngas cooling and results in reduced levels of fouling in syngas cooling equipment. A process for cooling syngas includes blending syngas with cooled recycled syngas in an amount effective for providing a blended syngas with a temperature at an inlet of a syngas cooler of about 600° F. to about 1400° F. The blended syngas changes direction of flow at least once prior to the inlet of the syngas cooler.

The present invention provides a reformer tube apparatus, including: an axially aligned tubular structure including a flange section, a top section, a middle section, and a bottom section; wherein the top section of the axially aligned tubular structure includes a first portion having a first wall thickness; wherein the top section of the axially aligned tubular structure includes a second portion having a second wall thickness; and wherein the top section of the axially aligned tubular structure includes a third portion having a transitioning wall thickness that joins the first portion to the second portion. The flange section includes a concentric flange disposed about a top portion thereof. The bottom section of the tubular structure includes a plurality of concentric wedge structures disposed about the interior thereof. The bottom section of the tubular structure also includes a recess disposed about the exterior thereof. The axially aligned tubular structure further includes a secondary flange section coupled to the flange section, wherein the secondary flange section includes a concentric flange disposed about a top portion thereof. Optionally, the reformer tube apparatus is disposed within a reformer used in a direct reduction process.

A reforming process for synthesis gas (12) production from a mixture of hydrocarbons (14) comprises a first step, or pre-reforming step, in which a process mixture 18), comprising said mixture of hydrocarbons :14: and steam (16), is subjected to a preliminary catalytic conversion reaction, obtaining a partial conversion product (22) comprising hydrogen, carbon oxides and hydrocarbons, and a second step, or main reforming step, in which said partial conversion product (22) is subjected to a conversion completion reaction, obtaining said synthesis gas (12), said pre-reforming step being carried out in pseudo-isothermal conditions.

A method for producing a chemical reaction is provided. This method includes providing at least two helical tubes, wherein the helical tubes comprise: a first axis and a second axis; wherein the first axis and the second axis are normal to each other; a cross-sectional shape of a predetermined contour; and an inlet end and an outlet end. The method includes reforming a first gas stream and a second gas stream into a third gas stream in the presence of a catalyst. The method includes surrounding a heat source with the helical tubes are, and operating the tube with an average catalyst temperature of above 500 F. An apparatus for producing a chemical reaction is also provided. This apparatus comprises at least two helical tubes, wherein the helical tubes comprise: a first axis and a second axis; wherein the first axis and the second axis are normal to each other; a cross-sectional shape of a predetermined contour; an inlet end and an outlet end, wherein the helical tubes contain a catalyst capable of reforming a first gas stream and a second gas stream into a third gas stream. The helical tubes are designed to surround a heat source, and the tube operates with an average catalyst temperature of above 500 F.

The invention provides a M.2 interface memory device and a M.2 interface connection seat insertedly provided thereof. The M.2 interface memory device comprises a M.2 interface card and a housing provided with at least one guide groove. The M.2 interface connection seat is disposed on a circuit board, and comprises two arms and a base comprising a M.2 interface slot. At least one arm is provided with a guide rail. An opening direction of the M.2 interface slot is horizontal to a surface of the circuit board. When the M.2 interface card is inserted into the M.2 interface slot in a horizontal direction, the M.2 interface memory device will be fixed within the M.2 interface connection seat by embedding between the guide groove and the guide rail. Thus, M.2 interface memory devices of a variety of specification lengths are able to be inserted into the M.2 interface connection seat.

Connector latch used to securely hold together a connector apparatus, such that the connector apparatus has at least a first connector assembly and a second connector assembly which can be mated together. Initially, after the connector latch is manufactured, the connector latch is in an undeflected position. After manufacture, the connector latch is subjected to a pre-mating deflection process, in order to move the connector latch into a preloaded position. After the pre-mating deflection process has been completed, the connector latch is locked in the preloaded position. The preloaded connector latch provides a number of desirable characteristics, including at least an extra loud “click” sound when the first connector assembly and the second connector assembly are mated together.

Connector latch used to securely hold together a connector apparatus, such that the connector apparatus has at least a first connector assembly and a second connector assembly which can be mated together. Initially, after the connector latch is manufactured, the connector latch is in an undeflected position. After manufacture, the connector latch is subjected to a pre-mating deflection process, in order to deflect the connector latch into a preloaded position. After the pre-mating deflection process has been completed, the connector latch is locked in the preloaded position. The preloaded connector latch provides a number of desirable characteristics, including at least an extra loud “click” sound when the first connector assembly and the second connector assembly are mated together.

A flexible flat cable structure capable of improving crosstalk interference includes plural telecommunication signal conductors separated from one another and provided for transmitting differential signals, two support members installed on two lateral sides of the telecommunication signal conductor respectively, at least one filled material disposed between the telecommunication signal conductors. The ratio of the equivalent dielectric constant of the filled material to the equivalent dielectric constant of the support members falls within a range of 0.39˜0.27, and the ratio of the thickness of the filled material to the thickness of the support members falls within a range of 1.49˜1.37. Therefore, the flexible flat cable structure achieves the effects of reducing the time delay of the signal transmission of the flexible flat cable (FFC), suppressing the ringing noise of resonance, and improving the eye height of amplitude measurement, so as to suppress crosstalk interference and improve signal transmission quality effectively.

In one implementation, a device includes: one or more data terminals, where each of the one or more data terminals provides a respective mating interface between a respective data transmission path and a corresponding device data port; a first power terminal having a power portion and a ground portion separated by a dielectric, where the ground portion is arranged in association with the one or more data terminals in order to shield the one or more data terminals from electromagnetic interference from the power portion, and where the first power terminal provides a respective mating interface between a respective power transmission path and a corresponding device power port; and a support member provided to maintain the arrangement of the one or more data terminals in combination with the first power terminal.

An electrical assembly has a lead frame with a plurality of elongated conductor sets and an insulative housing. Each conductor set has two differential signal pair conductors between a first ground conductor and a second ground conductor. A slot extends through the insulative housing and at least partially exposes the first ground conductor of a first conductor set and the second ground conductor of a second conductor set. A first ground shield has a first tab bent inward that extends into the slot from a first side of the lead frame. A second ground shield has second tab bent inward that extends into the slot from a second side of the lead frame. A conductive medium is provided in the slot to electrically connect the first tab, the second tab, the first ground conductor and the second ground conductor.