A surgical frame and method for use thereof is provided. The surgical frame is capable of reconfiguration before, during, or after surgery. The surgical frame includes a main beam that can be rotated, raised/lowered, and tilted upwardly/downwardly to afford positioning and repositioning of a patient supported thereon. The main beam is capable of be reconfigured between a left configuration and a right configuration to support the patient in different positions thereon.

An air intake apparatus for an internal combustion engine, the air intake apparatus includes: an air intake apparatus main body portion introducing air into a cylinder; a port portion provided integrally with a downstream side end portion of the air intake apparatus main body portion and inserted into an air intake port in a cylinder head; an air intake passage formed inside the air intake apparatus main body portion and the port portion, and through which an air-fuel mixture containing air and fuel flows; an injector provided in the air intake apparatus main body portion and introducing the fuel into the air intake passage; and a heater heating the fuel introduced by the injector. The injector is disposed at a position where the fuel is capable of being injected into the heater.

A surgical frame and method for use thereof is provided. The surgical frame is capable of reconfiguration before, during, or after surgery. The surgical frame includes a main beam that can be rotated, raised/lowered, and tilted upwardly/downwardly to afford positioning and repositioning of a patient supported thereon. The main beam is capable of be reconfigured between a left configuration and a right configuration to support the patient in different positions thereon.

A surgical frame and method for use thereof is provided. The surgical frame is capable of reconfiguration before, during, or after surgery. The surgical frame includes a main beam that can be rotated, raised/lowered, and tilted upwardly/downwardly to afford positioning and repositioning of a patient supported thereon. The main beam is capable of be reconfigured between a left configuration and a right configuration to support the patient in different positions thereon.

An air intake apparatus for an internal combustion engine, the air intake apparatus includes: an air intake apparatus main body portion introducing air into a cylinder; a port portion provided integrally with a downstream side end portion of the air intake apparatus main body portion and inserted into an air intake port in a cylinder head; an air intake passage formed inside the air intake apparatus main body portion and the port portion, and through which an air-fuel mixture containing air and fuel flows; an injector provided in the air intake apparatus main body portion and introducing the fuel into the air intake passage; and a heater heating the fuel introduced by the injector. The injector is disposed at a position where the fuel is capable of being injected into the heater.

An internal combustion engine is operated at fuel-rich conditions by adjusting one or more operating parameters such as, for example, a throttle, an ignition timing, a load coupled to the engine, a fuel pressure, power to a supercharger, and power to a preheater to maintain a specified engine speed and a temperature of an exhaust gas. Operating the engine under these conditions allows the engine to function as a reformer producing a synthesis gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide.

A fuel vaporizer including fuel injectors is described herein. The vaporizer includes a housing having a plurality of baffles defining a plurality of chambers, with each of the plurality of baffles defining an aperture between adjacent chamber, and the apertures define a flow path from the air inlet, through the plurality of chambers, and to the vapor outlet. A conduit extends through the baffles and chambers, and the conduit is adapted to accept a flow exhaust gas and transfer thermal energy from the exhaust gas to an airflow along the flow path A fuel injector is positioned in the housing to inject fuel into the flow path in the first chamber, the thermal energy from the conduit vaporizing the fuel injected into the airflow and producing the flow of vaporized fuel. The fuel vaporizer may include a heat exchanger pre-heating the airflow and electric heating elements supplementing the conduit heating.

A fuel vaporizer including fuel injectors is described herein. The vaporizer includes a housing having a plurality of baffles defining a plurality of chambers, with each of the plurality of baffles defining an aperture between adjacent chamber, and the apertures define a flow path from the air inlet, through the plurality of chambers, and to the vapor outlet. A conduit extends through the baffles and chambers, and the conduit is adapted to accept a flow exhaust gas and transfer thermal energy from the exhaust gas to an airflow along the flow path A fuel injector is positioned in the housing to inject fuel into the flow path in the first chamber, the thermal energy from the conduit vaporizing the fuel injected into the airflow and producing the flow of vaporized fuel. The fuel vaporizer may include a heat exchanger pre-heating the airflow and electric heating elements supplementing the conduit heating.

Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing a heating element coupled to a canister of an evaporative emissions control (EVAP) system. In one example, a method (or system) may include evacuating the canister at different temperature conditions, and diagnosing the heating element based on the different times taken to evacuate the canister at the different temperature conditions.

Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing a heating element coupled to a canister of an evaporative emissions control (EVAP) system. In one example, a method (or system) may include evacuating the canister at different temperature conditions, and diagnosing the heating element based on the different times taken to evacuate the canister at the different temperature conditions.