Abstract: An apparatus for conditioning and dispensing vapor includes an atomizer, a body, and a mouth cap. The atomizer includes a first conduit. The body includes a leading end portion, a trailing end portion, and a second conduit. The second conduit has an internal diameter larger than an internal diameter of the first conduit. The trailing end portion of the body is in fluid communication with the atomizer. The mouth cap includes a leading end portion, a trailing end portion, and a third conduit. The trailing end portion of the mouth cap is in fluid communication with the leading end portion of the body. The leading end portion of the mouth cap has a cross-sectional area approximately equivalent to an internal diameter cross-sectional area of the first conduit.

Abstract: A method for training an encoder that maps data samples of measurement data onto machine-evaluable representations. In the method, a set of training samples is provided, a relation being defined, in the context of a specified application, concerning the degree to which two samples are similar to one another. A function is provided that is parameterized with trainable parameters and that maps samples onto representations. A similarity measure is provided that assigns samples a similarity of representations and/or of processing products of these representations. From the set of training samples, at least one query sample is drawn. For this query sample, the following are ascertained: a set, ordered in a ranked order, of positive samples from the set that are similar to the query sample, and a set of negative samples from the set that are no longer similar to the query sample. At least the parameters are optimized.

Abstract: A method for preparing an ettringite binder from an aluminosilicate source, a calcium sulfate source and a calcium hydroxide (or slaked lime, CH) source, the binder including a catalyst and/or an activator. Also the use of the ettringite binder produced by the method for producing cement, masonry cement, mortar, concrete, road binders and/or formulated lime.

Abstract: Disclosed is a construction material composition including a matrix predominantly containing an aluminum silicate compound, such as a metakaolin, and an alkaline activation solution. The composition is contains less than 10 wt. % cement or clinker and in that the metakaolin is a metakaolin obtained via flash calcination. The reaction between the components is carried out at a temperature less than 30° C. The method for manufacturing the construction material includes mixing the composition with various elements such as granulates, plant fibers, unfired clay, and expanding agents. It is particularly of use in producing floor, wall, or roof coating elements, prefabricated construction elements, or insulation, adhesive, or inorganic sealant modules.

Abstract: Disclosed is a construction material composition including a matrix predominantly containing an aluminum silicate compound, such as a metakaolin, and an alkaline activation solution. The composition is contains less than 10 wt. % cement or clinker and in that the metakaolin is a metakaolin obtained via flash calcination. The reaction between the components is carried out at a temperature less than 30° C. The method for manufacturing the construction material includes mixing the composition with various elements such as granulates, plant fibers, unfired clay, and expanding agents. It is particularly of use in producing floor, wall, or roof coating elements, prefabricated construction elements, or insulation, adhesive, or inorganic sealant modules.

Abstract: A soda water producing device includes: a body; a cap; a bottle; a container inlet provided on a shell of the body for containing a CO2 gas bottle; a rotary cover; a gas passage device; a gas bottle fixing device; a valve device; and a gas bottle unsealing needle mounted inside the gas bottle fixing device, wherein the gas bottle unsealing needle has an axial hole; wherein the rotary cover is mounted at a top portion of the body and is relatively rotatable; the valve device is mounted in the rotary cover; the gas bottle unsealing needle is mounted on a top end of the gas bottle fixing device and inside a bottom portion of the valve device; a top end of the gas passage device is movably mounted in the valve device, a bottom end of the gas passage device is mounted in a bottom portion of the body.

Abstract: A carbonated water manufacturing device, including a sleeve and a bottle cap which are mutually independent, wherein the sleeve includes a sleeve body and a plug body inside the sleeve; the sleeve body and the plug body are provided with a first through-hole and a second through-hole at their side surfaces, respectively; the bottle cap is provided with a perforated through-hole whose bottom is connected with an injection tube; the upper part of the bottle cap is fittingly connected with the lower part of the plug part; the opening at the lower part of the sleeve body is fittingly connected with the lower part of the outer edge of the bottle cap, and the top of the sleeve body acts on the carbon dioxide housing body in the sleeve body; the connection of the lower part of the bottle cap and the injection tube is provided with a check valve.

Abstract: A carbonated water manufacturing device, including a sleeve and a bottle cap which are mutually independent, wherein the sleeve includes a sleeve body and a plug body inside the sleeve; the sleeve body and the plug body are provided with a first through-hole and a second through-hole at their side surfaces, respectively; the bottle cap is provided with a perforated through-hole whose bottom is connected with an injection tube; the upper part of the bottle cap is fittingly connected with the lower part of the plug part; the opening at the lower part of the sleeve body is fittingly connected with the lower part of the outer edge of the bottle cap, and the top of the sleeve body acts on the carbon dioxide housing body in the sleeve body; the connection of the lower part of the bottle cap and the injection tube is provided with a check valve.

Abstract: A method and system for determining trace oversize contaminant particles in a paper-making pulp employs a screen assembly having a screen housing with a screen mounted therein, and ports for introduction of aqueous pulp and rinsing and flushing fluids, and for withdrawal of screened aqueous pulp, the screen housing has no port designated for the sole purpose of removing accumulated contaminant particles from the screen housing; instead the port employed for introduction of aqueous pulp and which may also be employed for introduction of rinsing fluid to the housing, is employed as the flushing port for removal of contaminant particles.

Abstract: A sealing curtain adapted to seal against a vehicle parked against the sealing curtain is described. The sealing curtain includes a sealing surface for engaging the parked vehicle and a heat shield adjacent the sealing surface. The heat shield has a higher thermal conductivity than the sealing surface to dissipate heat from the parked vehicle across the sealing curtain and includes a plurality of heat shielding layers such that an air interface is present between adjacent heat shielding layers.

Abstract: A truck, trailer or other type of vehicle with a pair of swinging door panels for providing access to a rear cargo bay includes a hinge seal that closes an air gap between the door panels and the side body panels of the vehicle when the door is open. The seal is particularly useful when used in conjunction with a dock shelter at a loading dock. The hinge seal can be mounted to each of the vehicle's rear door panels and sealingly engage the side body panels as the door opens, or the seal can be mounted to the side body panel and sealing engage the rear door panel. In either case, the seal provides substantially no resistance to the operation of the door hinge until just before the door is fully open.

Abstract: A sealing curtain for a loading dock includes a pliable heat shield that helps protect the sealing curtain from concentrated heat generated by a truck's taillight being pressed against the sealing curtain. The heat shield is preferably placed just underneath a sealing surface of the sealing curtain. The heat shield reflects heat away from an inner surface and disperses the heat over a broader area to reduce the peak temperature of any hot spots. The sealing curtain may be height adjustable to position the heat shield at various heights along the loading dock.

Abstract: Flexible structures for use with dock seals and shelters are disclosed. An example flexible structure includes an elongate flexible panel assembly having first and second longitudinal edges and at least one flexible thin-walled member having a length along a longitudinal axis of the elongate flexible panel assembly. The at least one flexible thin-walled member is configured to have a cross-sectional geometry that provides sufficient rigidity to enable the elongate flexible panel assembly to be cantilevered from a surface via the first longitudinal edge without substantial deformation of the cross-sectional geometry of the at least one flexible thin-walled member along the length of the at least one flexible thin-walled member.

Abstract: At a loading dock for a truck, a compressible bumper seal extends across the front face of a dock bumper to help seal an air gap that may otherwise exist between the bumper face and the rear of the truck. Without the seal, the gap may be created by the truck stopping just short of reaching the bumper or by the truck “bouncing off” the bumper before stopping. If left unsealed, such a gap can create a draft into a building that has the loading dock.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved extract of Scutellaria lateriflora, a method of preparing the same, and a pharmaceutical composition prepared from the present extract suitable for treating anxiety, insomnia, convulsions, muscle tension and spasm, and related manifestations and disorders in humans and other mammals. The invention also relates to an improved method of treating anxiety, insomnia, convulsions, muscle tension and spasm, and related manifestations and disorders in humans and other mammals by administering the improved extract of Scutellaria lateriflora.

Abstract: A method and system for determining trace oversize contaminant particles in a paper-making pulp employs a screen assembly having a screen housing with a screen mounted therein, and ports for introduction of aqueous pulp and rinsing and flushing fluids, and for withdrawal of screened aqueous pulp, the screen housing has no port designated for the sole purpose of removing accumulated contaminant particles from the screen housing; instead the port employed for introduction. of aqueous pulp and which may also be employed for introduction of rinsing fluid to the housing, is employed as the flushing port for removal of contaminant particles.

Abstract: A loading dock shelter having rotating seal members is provided for forming a relatively air-tight seal between the dock opening and a truck so as to prevent air movement between the inside and the outside of the building during loading and unloading operations. The loading dock shelter has a frame assembly rigidly attached to the periphery of the dock opening and seal members rotatably mounted to the frame assembly on either side of the dock opening so that the truck may fit therebetween and form a seal between the exterior walls of the truck and the seal member. The seal members are rotatably movable between a first (open) position and a second (sealing) position in response to the movement of the truck into and out of the loading dock. In the first position, the seal members project into the path of the truck so that the truck engages the seal members as it backs into the loading dock.

Abstract: A loading dock shelter having a rotating seal member is provided for forming a relatively air-tight seal between the dock opening and the truck to prevent the movement of air between the inside and outside of the building during the loading and unloading operation. The seal members are rotatably mounted to the frame assembly for rotation between a first (open) position and a second (sealing) position in response to the movement of the truck into and out of the loading dock. In the first position, the seal member is spaced outwardly from the wall and the loading dock so that it does not interfere with the normal operation of the loading dock and so that it projects into the path of the truck for engaging the truck as the truck backs into the loading dock.

Abstract: A vehicle locking system for a secure delivery van having a driver's cabin and a cargo space with respective doors has an electrically operable locking system including a selection member in the driver's cab, and a respective key operated switch at the or each cargo space door. The system immobilizes the vehicle except in one position of the selection member, and all the doors are locked when the selected member is positioned to allow the vehicle to be driven. Furthermore where the vehicle has a plurality of doors to the cargo space, only a selected such door, as selected by the selection member, may be opened. The system is designed to minimize opportunistic theft which might otherwise be permitted by the vehicle driver neglecting to lock doors.

Abstract: An anti-theft arrangement for a motor vehicle comprising an electrically operable device associated with a system or component essential to operation of the engine of the vehicle and which in a first state permits normal operation of the associated system or component and which in a second state does not, and wherein the supply of electrical current to said device is controlled by combination or key-operated switching means and in which the arrangement is such that said electrically operable device is automatically placed in its state preventing normal operation of the engine upon disconnection of the device from a supply of electrical current.