Abstract: A sorbent pellet comprising a sorbent material. The sorbent pellet is suitable for use in a sorbent rotor device, for example to capture water or water vapour from a gaseous or liquid composition comprising water or water vapour. The sorbent material has a unit cell density of at least 0.8 g/cm3 and may therefore be considered to be a high density sorbent material. A plurality of sorbent pellets may provide a high capacity media for a sorbent rotor device, which may be particularly effective in dehumidification, desalination or water purification processes. Also disclosed are a cartridge for a sorbent rotor device, a sorbent rotor device for capturing water from a liquid or gaseous composition comprising water, a method of capturing water from a composition comprising water and/or water vapour, and a use of a sorbent material having a density of at least 0.8 g/cm3 in pellet form to capture water from air.

Abstract: A method of obtaining water from a liquid composition comprising water, the method comprising: (a) providing a sorbent material; (b) contacting the sorbent material with the liquid composition comprising water; (c) separating the sorbent material and the liquid composition comprising water; and (d) desorbing water from the sorbent material; wherein the sorbent material is a metal-organic material.

Abstract: A system for obtaining water and carbon dioxide from an incoming first gas stream. The system comprises a first inlet for said incoming first gas stream, a first sorbent station comprising a first sorbent material for removing water vapour from said first gas stream, a second sorbent station comprising a second sorbent material for removing carbon dioxide from said first gas stream; and a first exhaust for said first gas stream. The system is configured to flow said first gas stream through the first inlet, the first sorbent station, the second sorbent station and the first exhaust. The system may be used in an environmentally controlled facility for growing plant material or in a building space conditioning. The present invention may therefore enable plant cultivation and/or building space conditioning whilst removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and therefore may help to combat climate change and benefit the environment, if implemented on a sufficient scale.

Abstract: A vehicle ventilation system includes an airflow circuit providing a flow pathway between a blower, an evaporator core, a heater core and an airflow restrictor. The airflow restrictor is provided downstream from the heat or cold and functions to increase the residence time of the air in the heater core to enhance heating performance of the vehicle ventilation system.

Abstract: An integrated optical waveguide circuit apparatus having an optical processing area, waveguide ports for optical processing, and at least one waveguide structure, the at least one waveguide structure going around the optical processing area. Methods for making the integrated optical waveguide circuit apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: An integrated optical waveguide circuit apparatus having an optical processing area, waveguide ports for optical processing, and at least one waveguide structure, the at least one waveguide structure going around the optical processing area. Methods for making the integrated optical waveguide circuit apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method of connecting an integrated optical waveguide circuit component to an optical fiber array. The invention includes the steps of: providing an integrated optical waveguide circuit component having an array of N wave guide ports for optical processing that contain a subset of u-waveguides (one or more) structures for optimizing optical alignment; providing an optical fiber array having an array of at least N optical fibers, and positioning the optical fiber array adjacent to the circuit component so that photons emitted from the optical fiber array ports are coupled into the respective individual corresponding u-waveguide port(s) and then back into the corresponding optical fiber coupling ends of the optical fiber array.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method of connecting an integrated optical waveguide circuit component to an optical fiber array. The invention includes the steps of: providing an integrated optical waveguide circuit component having an array of N wave guide ports for optical processing that contain a subset of u-waveguides (one or more) structures for optimizing optical alignment; providing an optical fiber array having an array of at least N optical fibers, and positioning the optical fiber array adjacent to the circuit component so that photons emitted from the optical fiber array ports are coupled into the respective individual corresponding u-waveguide port(s) and then back into the corresponding optical fiber coupling ends of the optical fiber array.

Abstract: The present invention provides a package for hermetically sealing optical fibers such that they optically communicate with other optical elements/devices. First and second substrates include one or more grooves formed in a surface for retaining individual optical fibers in opposing grooves. The substrate/fiber assembly is coated with at least one layer of material to assist in providing a substantially hermetic seal between substrate/fiber assembly and a housing bonding material. This material layer(s) is/are typically selected to minimize the material differences between the substrate/fiber assembly and the housing. The housing surrounds at least a portion of the fiber/substrate assembly and may contain one or more optical elements/devices for optically communicating with optical fibers positioned in the first and second substrate grooves.

Abstract: The present invention provides a package for hermetically sealing optical fibers such that they optically communicate with other optical elements/devices. First and second substrates include one or more grooves formed in a surface for retaining individual optical fibers in opposing grooves. The substrate/fiber assembly is coated with at least one layer of material to assist in providing a substantially hermetic seal between substrate/fiber assembly and a housing bonding material. This material layer(s) is/are typically selected to minimize the material differences between the substrate/fiber assembly and the housing. The housing surrounds at least a portion of the fiber/substrate assembly and may contain one or more optical elements/devices for optically communicating with optical fibers positioned in the first and second substrate grooves.

Abstract: Disclosed is a single-cast, thin wall structure capable of withstanding impinging gases at temperatures of 4300° F. and higher, and method of making the same.

Abstract: A single-cast, thin wall structure capable of withstanding impinging gases at temperatures of 4300.degree. F. and higher, and method of making the same.

Abstract: A switch mechanism for an electronic mechanism, particularly in an automobile or other vehicle. The switch member or button has a pair of post members which are positioned on supporting members on a retainer member. The support members also position the switch member or button in the retainer member and hold it fictionally in alignment along its side surfaces. Pad members also can be provided on the support members. The switch mechanism minimizes noise, undesirable side-to-side movement and undesirable twisting movement of the button member. The switch mechanism also allows control of the "feel" of the button actuation.

Abstract: A rapid prototyping process and apparatus by which prototype components can be fabricated for conceptual evaluations. The rapid prototyping process entails the steps of forming a prototype within a process chamber that generates the prototype on a platform of a build chamber through sequentially depositing a layer of material on the platform, fusing the layer of material together, and then lowering the platform so as to allow depositing of a subsequent layer of material on the platform. In this manner, the depositing, fusing and lowering steps are repeated until the desired prototype is obtained. Thereafter, the build chamber, housing the prototype, is detached from the process chamber, and the prototype is cooled while remaining within the build chamber. The prototype is preferably cooled within the build chamber using a nonreactive cooling medium that is caused to flow around the prototype.

Abstract: A stereolithography process for developing a prototype part in which inserts of a non-photopolymer material are included within the resulting part so as to develop a functioning prototype part. In order to allow the inserts to be placed within the developing prototype part, a series of STL files are defined for forming the prototype part in individual sections. A non-photopolymer insert is manually positioned on one section of the developing part each time a section is formed. In order to align one section to a subsequent section, alignment structures are developed by the STL files. In order to prevent the STL files from developing supporting structures in the cavities intended for the inserts, a supporting structure file is defined for a parent design, and then later combined with the STL files.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for producing a cast structure. In one embodiment of the present invention an alloy casting mold has molten alloy injected therein to facilitate completely filling a part cavity within the mold. Further, an alloy charge pressure control device is utilized to reduce the charge pressure of the molten alloy during its injection into the mold cavity to minimize distortion and creep of the ceramic shell. In one form of the present invention the charge pressure control device removes excess alloy so as to reduce the head pressure of the molten alloy thereby eliminating the undesirable creep of the ceramic shell.