A portable electronic device includes a lower housing and an upper housing slidable relative to the lower housing between closed and open positions. The upper housing includes an auxiliary input device and a display. A primary flex connector electrically connects the lower and upper housings. At least one secondary flex connector may electrically connect the primary flex connector to the auxiliary input device or the display. The upper housing may include a cover plate that is removable to allow access to at least a portion of the flex connectors.

A portable electronic device includes first and second device units and at least one hinge assembly configured to pivotably connect the second device unit to the first device unit. The hinge assembly includes a first fixing unit configured to be fixed to the first device unit, a second fixing unit configured to be fixed to the second device unit, a plurality of shaft members configured to be arranged in parallel with one another and to include first and second outer shaft members respectively mounted on the first and second fixing units and a plurality of inner shaft members arranged between the first and second outer shaft members, and a gear unit mounted on the shaft members to connect the plurality of shaft members with one another through a gear mesh.

A handle has at least one fastening plate or holding part which can be fastened in a through-hole in a thin wall such as a sheet-metal wall by means of snap devices. According to the invention, the fastening plate forms or carries a pivot bearing for the at least one end of a handle, or the like, which is bent, for example, from a round material such as thick wire, this end having a round cross section.

A device is provided to assist the opening of a covering element pivotably mounted relative to an edge of a frame. The device includes an assistance cylinder (6). The assistance cylinder (6) includes a hollow shaft (7), a guide pin (10) inserted in the hollow shaft (7) and comprising at the end thereof opposite the end wall (8) of the hollow shaft (7) a yoke (11), a spring (13) inserted in the hollow shaft (7) surrounding the guide pin (10) and mounted pre-stressed when unloaded between the end wall (4) of the hollow shaft (7) and the yoke (11) of the guide pin (10), and a screw (14) secured to the end of the guide pin (10) and engaging with the end wall (8) of the hollow shaft (7) for keeping the pre-stressed spring (13) in the released state thereof. The invention is useful in the field of road systems.

An electronic device includes first and second bodies. The second body includes a display module and a supporting assembly. The supporting assembly includes a sliding component slidably disposed on the display module and a pivot component pivoted to the first body and the sliding component. When the second body expands from the first body through the rotation of the pivot component relative to the first body, the sliding component and the pivot component are adapted to rotate relative to each other so that a bottom side of the display module moves to a predetermined position on the first body. When the bottom side is located at the predetermined position, the sliding component and the display module are adapted to slide relative to each other so that the display module rotate around the bottom side, so as to change an included angle between the display module and the first body.

An electronic device includes a first body, a supporting arm, at least one first hinge, a first coupling member and at least one second coupling member. The first hinge is connected between the first body and the supporting arm. The supporting arm can rotate relatively to the first body through the first hinge. The first coupling member is disposed in the first body. The second coupling member is disposed in the supporting arm. When the second coupling member moves to at least one predetermined position, the first coupling member and the second coupling member are attracted by each other.

The invention comprises a caster having a yoke having a weight transferring tab and a wheel being rotatably attached to the yoke. The wheel has a groove for receiving the weight transferring tab. The tab transfers the weight of a load applied to the yoke to the groove. The caster includes various accessories, such as various stem, wheel, brake, and axle/hub configurations.

A gear cam mounting device in a dual-hinge device for a portable terminal is provided, in which first and second hinge shafts provide first and second parallel hinge axes, respectively, first and second gear cams are fixed around the first and second hinge shafts, in engagement with each other, and first and second locking units penetrate respectively through the first and second gear cams in a direction that is perpendicular to the first and second hinge axes, for locking the first and second gear cams to surround the first and second hinge shafts.

A lock assembly includes a coupling mechanism connected to a spindle assembly. The coupling mechanism has an outer sleeve having a longitudinal interior opening that extends along a first axis. An operator handle includes a proximal lock core opening, and a distal shaft portion having an axial opening configured to receive the outer sleeve. The distal shaft portion and the outer sleeve are configured to define a through path oriented across the longitudinal interior opening of the outer sleeve. A portion of the through path at the outer sleeve is configured to threadably receive a setscrew to fasten the operator handle to the outer sleeve. A keyed lock core has a tailpiece that is positioned in the longitudinal interior opening of the outer sleeve to obstruct the through path and block access to the setscrew via the through path to prevent unauthorized removal of the operator handle.

A vehicle door locking apparatus is equipped with a movable wedge, a fixed wedge, and an elastic member. The movable wedge is movable in the open/close direction of the vehicle door towards the vehicle body opening. The elastic member impels the movable wedge toward the fixed wedge. A slanted surface on the movable wedge and a slanted surface on the fixed wedge are configured to come into contact when the door is closed. The movable wedge is assembled on the end surface on the vehicle body opening side along with the base plate of a door lock striker that is assembled on the end surface on the vehicle body opening side. The fixed wedge is immovably assembled on the mounting section of the end surface on the vehicle door side, which is involved in a door lock assembly that is assembled on the end surface on the vehicle door side.

An electronic device includes: a housing provided with an opening that accommodates a component; a cover member that covers the opening; a projecting part that projects from an inside face of the housing; a slide knob slidably provided to a surface of the housing; and an elastic slide lock member that fixes the cover member to the housing, wherein the elastic slide lock member includes: a movement part that is coupled to the slide knob, moves together with the slide knob, and is provided with a fixing projection; a fixing part that is rotatably supported by the projecting part of the housing; and a coupling part that couples the movement part and the fixing part and is elastically deformable.

An image forming apparatus includes a first casing, a second casing, an arm, a guide unit, a support part, and an urging member. The second casing is supported on the first casing and configured to pivot relative to the first casing. The arm has a first end portion rotatably coupled to one of the first casing and the second casing and a second end portion slidably coupled to the other of the first casing and the second casing. The guide unit is provided at the other of the first casing and the second casing and configured to slidably guide a shaft. The guide unit includes a first guide and a second guide. The support part supports the first guide such that the first guide is movable toward and away from the second guide. The urging member is configured to urge the first guide toward the second guide.

A strut assembly is provided including a holding and releasing mechanism adapted to be attached to a cylinder-type closer. The mechanism comprises the strut assembly including a strut cylinder, a strut rod, a pivot block, and a locking tube. The strut assembly further comprises a stop tube including a clip at a first end and a collar at a second end. The stop tube further includes a rigid angled ramp connecting the clip and the collar. The clip moves from a first position to a second position while pivoting the locking tube at a first end in order to engage the locking tube at another end with the strut cylinder thereby holding the strut assembly in an extended position.

A covering of a building opening includes a rail, a first sash having a guiding slot, a second sash hinged with the first sash and having a center of rotation at an end thereof, a pulley assembly, and a restricting assembly. The pulley assembly is movably received in the rail and has a rod. The rod has a protrusion section extending out of the rail, and the protrusion section enters and leaves the guiding slot while the pulley assembly is moving. The restricting assembly has a moving member and a locking base. The moving member is provided on one of the first sash and the second sash, and the locking base is provided on the other. The moving member is moved by the rod and engages the locking base when the rod leaves the guiding slot.

An exemplary rotating mechanism for positioning a rotation angle of a second body relative to a first body is provided. The first body includes a pair of sidewalls. The second body includes a pair of connecting arms rotatably connected to the sidewalls. The rotating mechanism includes a pair of positioning gears rotatably connected to the sidewalls, a brake slidably connected to the first body, and a button fastened to the brake. Each of the positioning gears includes a positioning block extending out of the sidewalls. The brake is driven to brake the positioning gears by the button when the button is moved towards the sidewalls. The positioning block is fixed at a predetermined position to position the rotation angle of the second body when the positioning gears are braked.

A dishwasher includes a washing compartment, at least one dishware container, and a guide assembly to allow the dishware container to be moved out of the washing compartment and into the washing compartment. The movement of the dishware container in relation to the washing compartment is cushioned by at least one damping device which is arranged inside the washing compartment.

A grommet device and method of using a grommet device is provided. A top structure has a top surface. An aperture having a central axis is positioned interior of the top structure. A sidewall is formed around the aperture and connected to the top structure. The sidewall is positioned substantially perpendicular from the top surface of the top structure. At least two upper protruding structures are connected to the top structure at different locations along the top structure, wherein each of the upper protruding structures extends into the aperture. At least two lower protruding structures extend from the sidewall at different locations along the sidewall, wherein each of the lower protruding structures have a flexing portion extending into the aperture, wherein each of the upper protruding structures are substantially radially aligned with the flexing portion of each of the lower protruding structures, respectively.

A hanger for a sash of a window to detachably engage the sash with a rail of the window, and the hanger includes a pulley assembly and a restricting assembly. The pulley assembly has a base and a plurality of pulleys mounted on the base for rotation. The pulleys engage the rail so that the pulley assembly moves in the rail. The base is provided with a slot. The sash is provided with a rod. The rod engages the slot of the pulley assembly to engage the sash with the rail, and the rod leaves the slot via a lateral opening thereof while the covering rotates for a predetermined angle. At this time, the sash is disengaged with the rail to be moved off the window.

A vertically adjustable hinge includes a first leaf rotatably connected to a leaf assembly. The leaf assembly defines an opening with at least a first inclined surface and includes a block received in the opening. The block defines a threaded hole and at least a second inclined surface abutting the first inclined surface. A leaf assembly housing receives the leaf assembly and the block. The leaf assembly housing defines screw holes for receiving a screw that passes through the threaded hole. A rotation of a screw in the threaded hole causes a horizontal translation of the block, which in turn causes a vertical translation of the leaf assembly.

The fatigue reduction device includes a frame configured to receive a handle substantially perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the frame. A user-faceable portion of the frame is inwardly concave to conform to an arm of a user.

A castor with separate brake device and brake release device is provided with a shell, a brake piece, a brake unit and a brake-release unit. The brake unit and the brake-release unit are two separate members, while they are interactively linked by a push portion and the notch portion, so as to ensure the accuracy of the brake operation. Whenever the castor is in a brake-activated status or brake-deactivated status, the brake pedal and the brake-release pedal pivot in opposite direction to present different angles, which makes it easier for the user to see the status of the castor (in brake position or non-brake position), and prevents confusion or accidental operation.

The invention relates to a device (10) for actuating the closure of a movable part (12) of a motor vehicle, in particular a door, or hatchback, or similar, comprising a support (11) that can be fixed to the inner face of the movable part (12), a bearing unit (20) that can be pivoted about a first axis (13) provided on the support (11) and a handle element (40) with a first (41) and a second end (42), the second end (42) being fixed to the bearing unit (20), whereby the handle element (40) can be pivoted together with the bearing unit (20). According to the invention, the first end (41) is pivotally mounted on the first axis (13) and at least one bearing element (22, 22a, 22b) is provided for the horizontal bearing of the first end (41), said bearing element being located in the region of the first axis (13).

A brake disk for a motor vehicle includes a friction ring and at least one insert portion. The insert portion is located within and arranged coaxially with the friction ring, and is configured so as to possess an annular disk shape and define a plurality of openings. The friction ring is configured such that material of the friction ring fills the plurality of openings.

A vehicle brake pad includes a back plate layer, an underlayer, an adhesive layer that mediates between the back plate layer and the underlayer, and a friction material layer, wherein the vehicle brake pad does not include a shim and wherein at least one of the back plate layer, the adhesive layer, and the underlayer has a loss factor of 0.2 or higher, calculated according to the following Equation 1, at temperatures from −100 to 300° to damp noise of a frequency range of 200 to 20,000 Hz at temperatures from −100 to 300°: (Equation 1) Loss factor η=(f2−f1)/f0, where η is a loss factor, f0 is a noise frequency, f1 is a minimum value of amplitude of a noise frequency when a noise level is reduced by 3 dB, and f2 a maximum value of amplitude when the noise level is reduced by 3 dB.

An adjustable damping valve device with a damping valve has an elastic element, applies an axial relative force between two elements which are constructed so as to be axially movable relative to the valve housing, or the elastic element applies a relative force between an element of the damping valve, which element is constructed so as to be axially movable relative to the valve housing, and the valve housing, or the elastic element applies a relative force between an element of the damping valve, which element is constructed so as to be axially movable relative to the valve housing, and an element which is constructed so as not to be displaceable relative to the valve housing, so that one of the axially movable elements releases a flow passage for the flow of damping medium through the damping valve at least in a neutral state of the damping valve device.

The invention relates to an electromechanical-magnetically integrated braking assistance device, comprising an electrical motor, an oil holder, a braking main cylinder, an assistant force generating portion, and a pedal input rod, an absolute displacement sensor or a relative displacement sensor is connected to the pedal input rod; a lead screw is sleeved over the pedal input rod, and a ball nut is sleeved over the lead screw; a ball nut bushing is fixed to the ball nut by being sleeved over the ball nut; a driven gear is fixed to the ball nut bushing by being sleeved over the ball nut bushing; and the electric motor meshes with the driven gear via a transmission mechanism. An end of the lead screw which passes through the ball nut bushing has an aperture, into which a feedback disc is installed; an end of the feedback disc is connected to an end of an output rod which is coaxially arranged with the lead screw inside the assistant force generating portion, and another end of the output rod extends into the braking main cylinder and is connected to a piston of the braking main cylinder.

A disc brake, preferably a compressed air-actuated disc brake, in particular for a motor vehicle, has a brake application mechanism with a brake rotary lever, at least one spindle unit having a threaded rod screwed into a bridge, and a brake caliper. The caliper frames an edge region of a brake disc. The brake caliper has a brake application portion and a caliper back which are connected together via tie bars. The brake application mechanism with the brake rotary lever is received in the brake application portion of the brake caliper from an application face side of the brake disc. The brake application portion of the brake caliper has a first region, in which the application mechanism and a force transmission portion of the brake rotary lever are arranged, a second region, which is formed as a lever housing, and a lever portion for the brake rotary lever. A support wall with a bearing portion, which forms a pivot bearing with a brake rotary lever axis that runs parallel to the brake disc, for the brake rotary lever is arranged between the first region and the second region.

An adjusting device for a disc brake, in particular for utility vehicles, is provided. The adjusting device includes a freewheel having an inner ring and an outer ring. The inner ring and outer ring together with multiple rolling bearing balls form an axial ball bearing. The inner ring is rotatably supported relative to the outer ring by the rolling bearing balls. The freewheel further has a cage in which multiple clamping rollers are biased with compression springs and compression pieces, the cage being arranged between the inner ring and the outer ring in a radial direction relative to a through-bore passing through the inner and outer rings. The compression springs may be pretensioned by rotating the cage relative to the inner ring and then fixing the cage to on the inner ring with a locking device.

A brake device of a transmission includes a first brake provided in a transmission including an outer cone and an inner cone, a second brake provided at one end of the first brake and operated at the time of a low stage or backward movement, and an elastic body provided between the first brake and the second brake to operate the first brake or the second brake depending on a spring load.

A bicycle fork includes a pair of fork leg assemblies, each of the leg assemblies having an upper leg telescopingly engaged with a lower leg. A damping assembly is provided in at least one of the legs. The damping assembly includes lock-out and blow-off compression circuits. These compression circuits are externally adjustable without tools. Furthermore, these two compression circuits may be adjusted independently of each other.

A damper assembly includes a housing and rod supported by the housing. A piston assembly is attached to the rod, and is positioned to separate an interior chamber of the housing into a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber. The piston assembly includes an annular plate that defines at least one orifice. The orifice interconnects the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber in fluid communication. The damper assembly includes a piezoelectric device that is moveable between a disengaged position and an engaged position, in response to a control signal. When disposed in the disengaged position, the piezoelectric device does not affect fluid flow through the at least one orifice. When disposed in the engaged position, the piezoelectric device does affect fluid flow through the at least one orifice, to adjust a damping rate of the piston assembly.

A one-piece rail vehicle brake disk is made of steel or cast iron, comprises at least one effective surface with which a friction element comes in contact during a braking maneuver, and is designed in such a way that the effective surface has a plurality of blind holes.

An electro-mechanical brake device may include: a driver configured to generate rotary power; a first gear connected to an output shaft of the driver, and the first gear configured to rotate with the output shaft; a second gear installed in a direction crossing the first gear, engaged with the first gear, and configured to rotate with the first gear; a third gear engaged with the second gear and configured to rotate with the second gear, the third gear having a rotating gear bar installed in parallel to the output shaft and configured to rotate with the output shaft; a moving nut engaged with the third gear and configured to move linearly; and a piston installed in a shape covering an outside of the moving nut, and pushed by the moving nut so as to pressurize a brake pad.

An adjustment control for adjusting a damping curve of a shock absorber includes an aperture seat coupled to a base of the shock absorber. The aperture seat defines a flow tube. A plug, in mechanical communication with a spring, slidably engages the flow tube. A plug nut is threadably coupled to an adjustment nut shaft stud and is in mechanical communication with the spring. An adjustment nut is coupled to the base. The adjustment nut has a non-circular cavity to receive at least a portion of the adjustment nut shaft stud and at least a portion of the non-circular region of the plug nut such that the plug nut cannot rotate relative to the non-circular cavity of the adjustment nut. An adjustment knob causes rotation of the adjustment nut shaft stud. The rotation of the adjustment nut shaft stud causes axial movement of the plug nut.

The present disclosure provides a torque tube comprising a barrel portion disposed between a flange and a back leg, the flange extending radially inward towards an axis of rotation and the back leg extending radially outward from the barrel portion. The torque tube further comprises a channel defined by a channel wall and disposed in at least one of the barrel portion and the flange, the channel being configured to receive a sacrificial member.

The present disclosure provides systems for mitigating brake vibration. In various embodiments, a brake force distribution arrangement may comprise: a member in operable communication with an actuator having at least two contact surfaces such that as one of the at least two contact surfaces moves in a direction of actuation of the actuator the other moves in a direction opposite to the direction of actuation of the actuator.

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 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 piston manufacturing device includes a first forming device (42) configured to form an annular groove (61) in a piston (11), and a second forming device (52) configured to press an edge (15) of an opening (14) of the piston (11) toward other end side in an axial direction of the piston (11) and to form a thick section (65) extruded from an inner circumferential surface (12b) arranged between the edge (15) and the groove (61) toward an axial center side of the piston (11), wherein a recessed section (53) is formed at a portion of the second forming device (52) that is arranged to abut the edge (15) so that an inner circumferential side of the edge (15) is plastically deformed toward the other end side in an axial direction of the piston (11).

The invention relates to a vehicle disk brake having a brake-application device which provides the braking force and which is composed of a force element, preferably a pressure medium cylinder, and of a pressure-boosting lever arrangement, and having a readjustment device for compensatory readjustment of the wear-induced air clearance of the brake. The readjustment device comprises, as constituent parts, a rotatably arranged drive element (25) which can be actuated by the brake-application device, a readjustment element (26) arranged rotatably on the same axis, and a transmission device arranged in the movement path between drive element (25) and readjustment element (26). To provide a vehicle brake which is equipped with a readjustment device for compensatory readjustment of the wear-induced air clearance and in which the readjustment means is of structurally simple design and has a small number of parts, the transmission device is in the form of a helical wrap spring (30) which, along a first helix section (31), is supported radially with respect to the drive element (25) and, along a second helix section (32), is supported radially with respect to the readjustment element (26), wherein the former radial support is realized at the inner side, and the latter radial support is realized at the outer side, of the wrap spring (30).

A cylinder (1), particularly for a vibration damper, includes a base (3) and a sleeve-shaped add-on part (5) which at least partially surrounds the cylinder (1) and which has at an end of the cylinder a radially inwardly directed edge profile. The edge profile (11) contacts an end face of the cylinder (1) in a noncontacting manner with respect to the base.

A mounting section mounted on a rod side is provided at one end side of a protective cover in an axial direction. At least the other end side of the protective cover in the axial direction has reduced diameter parts and enlarged diameter parts, the reduced diameter parts and the enlarged diameter parts being alternately formed in the axial direction via small diameter parts in between. An end surface of the other end side of the protective cover is formed by a surface that is cut at a position. The end surface and an outer circumferential surface of a cylinder are situated at a position at which they are not in contact with each other in the radial direction in a state in which the small diameter part closest to the end surface comes into contact with the outer circumferential surface of the cylinder.

A shock absorber is disclosed having a pressure tube forming a working chamber, and a piston assembly slidably disposed within the pressure tube. The piston assembly may divide the working chamber into upper and lower working chambers. The piston assembly may have a piston body defining a first fluid passage extending therethrough and a first valve assembly controlling fluid flow through the first fluid passage. A second fluid passage, separate from the first fluid passage, extends from one of the upper and lower working chambers to a fluid chamber defined at least in part by the pressure tube. A plurality of digital valve assemblies are included and configured to exclusively control all fluid flow through the second fluid passage, and thus all fluid flow between the one of the upper and lower working chambers to the fluid chamber.

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 metal matrix composite article that includes at least first and second regions, first and second reinforcement materials, a metal matrix composite material occupying the second region of the body and comprising a metal matrix material and the second reinforcement component, a preform positioned in the first region of the body and infiltrated by at least the metal matrix material of the metal matrix composite material. The article further includes a transition region located proximate an outer surface of the preform that includes a distribution of the second reinforcement component comprising a density increasing according to a second gradient in a direction toward the outer surface of the preform.

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 energy conversion process that exports by-product CO2 at elevated pressure where a fuel gas feed stream is mixed with a reactant stream and additional CO2 is added to at least part of, the fuel gas feed stream, the reactant stream or both through desorption by contacting with a CO2-rich solvent stream in a first stage contactor to produce a mixed feed gas stream and a CO2-lean solvent stream; passing said mixed feed gas stream to a chemical conversion step, where further CO2 is produced; chilling at least part of the products of said chemical conversion step and thereby produce a CO2-lean gas stream; and passing at least part of said CO2-lean gas stream said to a second stage contactor where further CO2 is removed, by absorption, to produce a product gas stream and a solvent stream rich in CO2 from which said CO2-rich solvent stream is subsequently derived.

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.

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.

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.