A friction-damping energy absorber has at least one sliding post, a sliding sleeve, and two supporting boards. The at least one sliding post has two ends. Each one of the at least one sliding post is composed of multiple first material layers and multiple second material layers arranged in an alternate manner mounted. The sliding sleeve is mounted around at least one part of the at least one sliding post and is composed of at least one sliding unit. The supporting boards are respectively mounted on two ends of the at least one sliding post.

A method for mounting a flexible tube associated with braking hydraulics on a bicycle between a braking control member and a braking member. The method provides a mounting cable for use in locating the flexible tube within a bicycle frame element while the ends of the flexible tube are exposed so a respective end can be connected to the control member and the braking member. The method simplifies the insertion process and reduces damage to the flexible tube. A tool for inserting the flexible tube is also provided.

A brake piston includes a piston pocket. The piston pocket receives a nut that is axially movable along a center axis. The nut is restricted from rotating within the piston pocket when a torque due to a frictional engagement between a nut seal and an inner pocket wall, one or more projections, or both is greater than an input torque at the nut. The nut is rotatable within the piston pocket when a torque due to the frictional engagement between the nut seal and the inner pocket wall, the one or more projections or both is less than the input torque at the nut and is less than the torque due to the frictional engagement between the piston and the piston seal.

A brake caliper is provided with a timing and retraction controller, a brake pad and a lock-connection comprising an engaging component and a locking component. The timing and retraction controller adjusts brake timing, eliminates parasitic brake losses and dampens out-of-plane vibration between the brake pad and rotor. The brake caliper includes a housing disposed over a brake rotor; first and second opposing brake pads extendably and retractably mounted on opposite sides of the caliper housing, brake pistons that extend and retract the brake pads into and out of frictional engagement with the rotor, and brake pad timing and retraction controllers disposed on opposite sides of the caliper housing. Each controller includes a Belleville spring or other resilient member with a short compression travel limited to between about 1.50 mm and 0.025 mm. The short stroke Belleville spring of each controller applies a hold-off force against the extension force of the brake pistons that slightly delays brake pad extension and slightly reduces brake pad clamping force against the rotor, thereby advantageously providing a front wheel braking bias when applied to the rear wheels of a vehicle. The restorative force applied by the short stroke Belleville forcefully and uniformly retracts the brake pad from the rotor, eliminating parasitic brake losses, and dampening out-of-plane vibration between the brake pad and rotor.

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.

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 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 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).

A friction lining for a brake pad of a braking system includes a solid body of friction material having plurality of slots intersecting at a vortex zone formed as a circular recess in the friction lining. The slots open into the vortex zone at offset locations to promote circulation of air within the vortex zone. The slots extend along a horizontal arc that follows the curvature of a rotor of the braking system when in use. Vertical slots may be included that also open into the vortex zone at offset locations.

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 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.

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.

A vehicle suspension damper comprises a cylinder and a piston assembly including a damping piston along with working fluid within the cylinder. A bypass permits fluid to avoid dampening resistance of the damping piston. A fluid path through the bypass is controlled by a valve that is shifted by a piston surface when the contents of at least one predetermined volume is injected against the piston surface which acts upon the valve. In one embodiment, the bypass is remotely operable.

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.

A chemically-modified mixed fuel includes methane gas from at least two methane-production sources and can be utilized in any process that incorporates a Kellogg Primary Reformer. A method for producing the chemically-modified mixed fuel described herein includes providing a first methane-containing gas from a first methane-production source, providing a second methane-containing gas from a second methane-production source and blending the first methane-containing gas with the second methane-containing gas at a suitable pressure to form a chemically-modified mixed fuel. In some cases, at least one additional methane-containing gas can be provided from at least one additional methane-production source and blended with the chemically-modified fuel.

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.

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.

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 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 method and apparatus for upgrading coal and other carbonaceous fuels includes subjecting the carbonaceous fuel to a pyrolyzing process, thereby forming upgraded carbonaceous fuel and a flow of lean fuel gases. Auxiliary fuel is combusted in an auxiliary fuel combustor to produce auxiliary fuel combustion gases, and the lean fuel gases are heated with the auxiliary fuel combustion gases. The heated lean fuel gases are combusted in a lean fuel combustor, thereby producing a gas stream of products of combustion, and at least a portion of the gas stream of products of combustion are directed to the pyrolyzer.

A process for advantageously efficiently treating a sulfureous combustible effluent stream by recovering the sulfur in elemental form comprises a step of combustion of the sulfureous combustible effluent stream with an oxidant gas in excess, and then a step of post-combustion of the effluents from the combustion step with an acidic gas. The stream of the post-combustion effluents, free of chemical compounds that are harmful to the efficacy of the Claus catalysts, is treated in a Claus unit, which performs the recovery of the sulfur in elemental form.

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.

This invention relates to a process and apparatus for the production of pure hydrogen by steam reforming. The process integrates the steam reforming and shift reaction to produce pure hydrogen with minimal production of CO and virtually no CO in the hydrogen stream, provides for CO2 capture for sequestration, employs a steam reforming membrane reactor, and is powered by heat from the convection section of a heater.

A system, including a gasifier comprising a wall defining a chamber, an inlet, an outlet, and a port, a combination feed injector coupled to the inlet, wherein the combination feed injector is configured to inject a first fuel and air or oxygen into the chamber to preheat the gasifier, and the combination feed injector is configured to inject a second fuel and oxygen into the gasifier after preheating to gasify the second fuel, an optical device coupled to the port, a sensor coupled to the optical device, and a monitoring system coupled to the sensor, wherein the monitoring system is configured to acquire data from the sensor, process the data, and provide an output representative of a condition of the gasifier based on the data.

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 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.

An odorant addition device for adding odorant to fuel gas in a gas system that consumes the fuel gas, the device including: an addition unit for adding the odorant to fuel gas to be consumed by the gas system; an environmental condition detection unit for detecting in the gas system an environmental condition regarding diffusion of odorant in fuel gas; and an addition adjustment unit for adjusting mode of odorant addition by the addition unit based on the environmental condition detected by the environmental condition detection unit. In this way, it is possible to detect leakage of fuel gas more reliably and improve safety dramatically, in a gas system that consumes the fuel gas as fuel.

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.

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.

An electrical connector has two portions, a first portion connectable to a device and a second portion having a contact point which is movable in relation to the first portion. The second portion having the contact point comprises a magnet configured to attract the corresponding connector. The contact point does not require a counteracting force, whereby the side magnets may be smaller or the connector may lack the side magnets entirely.

Disclosed are electronic devices and connectors, including: a first main body, a second main body; the first magnet being arranged at a first end of the first main body and the second magnet being arranged at a second end of the second main body; the first magnet having a magnetic property opposite that of the second magnet; the first main body being pluggably connected to the second main body through the interaction between the first magnet and the second magnet; the first number of spacers is arranged at a preset position of the first magnet, and the first number of spacers is arranged at a preset positions of the second magnet; and the spacers are non-magnetic. Other embodiments, including manufacturing methods, are described and claimed.

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.

A connector includes a connector main member and an operation member. The operation member covers the connector main member at least in part in a plane perpendicular to a front-rear direction, The operation member is movable between a front limitation position and a rear limitation position. The operation member has, therein, a front regulating portion accommodation portion accommodating the front regulating portion, and an operated portion accommodation portion accommodating the operated portion. The front regulating portion accommodation portion is provided, therein, with a front regulated portion which is brought into abutment with the front regulating portion when the operation member is positioned at the front limitation position. When the operation member is moved to the rear limitation position, the operated portion accommodation portion is provided, therein, with an operating portion which presses the operated portion inward of the connector main portion and moves the lock portion to a released position.

In one example an electronic device comprises at least one electronic component, a chassis comprising a first section, a connector to connect the first section of the chassis to a second section, the connector comprising a housing defining a first shaft, a retention structure disposed in the shaft, and a plurality of electrical contacts positioned within a corresponding plurality of channels in the retention structure. Other examples may be described.