The present invention relates to couplers for transferring fluid between space assets, particularly in a vacuum microgravity environment with radiation exposure. In particular, the couplers provide for transfer of fluids, such as propellants, coolants, pressurant gases, or life-support fluids, preferably between assets in the space environment or in terrestrial environments such as Earth, the Moon, or Mars. The couplers provide self-alignment features which enable their use in blind-mate, telerobotic, fully autonomous robotic systems. The invention provides a common design architecture for different fluids accommodating a variety of flow rates and pressure drops depending upon the particular fluid. The basic wetted component design of the invention involves a rigid, centrally-disposed nozzle on the Passive Side which contacts and opens a poppet valve on the Active Side as the two sides are coupled; and a rigid annular nozzle on the Active Side, coaxially located with but occupying a different radius than the Passive Side nozzle, which contacts and opens a corresponding contamination cover on the Passive Side.

A novel low profile heater apparatus and method of manufacture is disclosed, which provides a lower assembly including a first sheet, a heating sheet including at least one heating element, a dielectric sheet, an intermediate sheet and one or more electrical leads configured to supply electrical power to the heating element, the electrical leads extending through a lead sleeve of an upper assembly. The upper assembly includes a top sheet with one or more split sleeves securely attached thereto, thereby forming one or more strain relief assemblies configured to prevent damage to the electrical leads. One or more stitches or coupling features securely attach the upper assembly to the lower assembly. One or more retention device are be used to securely retain the low profile heater apparatus to one or more pipes, tubes or conduits of a plumbing apparatus.

Fluid connection device, in particular for a motor vehicle, includes a female nozzle having an internal fluid flow passage, and being configured to receive a male nozzle. A sensor senses that the male nozzle is received within the female nozzle, and an electrical plug electrically connects the sensor to an electrical power source. The sensor includes a flexible, electrically conductive dome located within the female nozzle. In a first position, the dome has a generally curved shape. When the male nozzle is inserted into the female nozzle, the male nozzle presses the dome to deform the dome into a second position. In the second position, the dome has a generally flattened shape and provides an electrical connection between two terminals connected to the electrical.

Hydrate remediation systems, apparatuses, and methods of making and using same including at least one pair of electrodes detachably or fixedly attached to a pipeline or flowline in a spaced relationship so that a current may be imposed across a section of the pipeline or flowline between each pair of electrodes resulting in electrical heating of the section for a time sufficient to raise a temperature of a fluid in the section of the pipeline or flowline to a temperature above a dissociation temperature of hydrates formed in the fluid.

Hydrate remediation systems, apparatuses, and methods of making and using same including at least one pair of electrodes detachably or fixedly attached to a pipeline or flowline in a spaced relationship so that a current may be imposed across a section of the pipeline or flowline between each pair of electrodes resulting in electrical heating of the section for a time sufficient to raise a temperature of a fluid in the section of the pipeline or flowline to a temperature above a dissociation temperature of hydrates formed in the fluid.

A heating device for being attached to and heating a heated object that requires to be heated and has an uneven exterior shape. The heating device including: a conductive member having thermal conductivity and being configured to be attached to a recess of the heated object; and a heater configured to cover and heat the heated object and the conductive member in a state where the conductive member is attached to the recess of the heated object. The heater has a portion to be in contact with a bulge portion of the heated object in a state where the conductive member is attached to the recess of the heated object and where the heated object and the conductive member are covered with the heater.

A heating device for being attached to and heating a heated object that requires to be heated and has an uneven exterior shape. The heating device including: a conductive member having thermal conductivity and being configured to be attached to a recess of the heated object; and a heater configured to cover and heat the heated object and the conductive member in a state where the conductive member is attached to the recess of the heated object. The heater has a portion to be in contact with a bulge portion of the heated object in a state where the conductive member is attached to the recess of the heated object and where the heated object and the conductive member are covered with the heater.

A module for a vacuum pumping and/or abatement system includes a top side, a bottom side, a front side, a rear side, and two opposing lateral sides, which together define a space. The module comprises an apparatus located wholly within the space and one or more connection points coupled to the apparatus. Each of the connection points is for receiving an input for the apparatus or receiving an output from the apparatus. The one or more connection points are located at the top side. The module has a maximum size in a first system dimension that is equal to a first integer multiple of a fixed system value, the first system dimension being a dimension between the lateral sides. For each connection point, a distance between that connection point and each lateral side in the first system dimension is a respective second integer multiple of the fixed system value.

A module for a vacuum pumping and/or abatement system includes a top side, a bottom side, a front side, a rear side, and two opposing lateral sides, which together define a space. The module comprises an apparatus located wholly within the space and one or more connection points coupled to the apparatus. Each of the connection points is for receiving an input for the apparatus or receiving an output from the apparatus. The one or more connection points are located at the top side. The module has a maximum size in a first system dimension that is equal to a first integer multiple of a fixed system value, the first system dimension being a dimension between the lateral sides. For each connection point, a distance between that connection point and each lateral side in the first system dimension is a respective second integer multiple of the fixed system value.

A vacuum system pipe coupling includes a first coupling member defining a through passage, a second coupling member defining a through passage and a securing unit. The first coupling member has a first end portion having a first lengthways extending axis, a second end portion having a second lengthways extending axis that is laterally offset with respect to the first lengthways extending axis and a first connecting portion connecting the first and second end portions. The second coupling member has a third end portion having a third lengthways extending axis, a fourth end portion having a fourth lengthways extending axis that is laterally offset with respect to the third lengthways extending axis and a second connecting portion connecting the third and fourth end portions. The securing unit is configured to secure the first end portion to the third end portion with the first and third lengthways extending axes in alignment.