Abstract: The present invention relates to a magnetic guiding device having a stator and a slide movable along a guiding direction relative to the stator, the stator and the slide being magnetized or magnetizable such that a magnetic field extending through the stator and the slide generates a magnetic supporting force on the slide acting along the guiding direction. To improve the running properties of the slide by avoiding differential slip, jerking and varying friction, according to the invention, the magnetic field extending through the stator and the slide simultaneously generates a magnetic pretensioning force which urges the slide and the stator against each other.

Abstract: The present application is directed to an asphalt pavement product comprising: a reclaimed asphalt pavement product (RAP); and an emulsified product mixed with the RAP, said emulsified product comprising: water; one or more surfactants; one or more stabilizers; one or more polymers; and one or more compounds of formula (I): wherein R and A are as described herein. The present application is also directed to methods of paving a road course using the emulsified product.

Abstract: A method for transmitting electrical energy from a supply facility to a domestic appliance via an electrical connection, includes delimiting electrical energy provided via the connection to a first predetermined amount, operating at least one electrical consumer of the domestic appliance with energy from the connection according to a predetermined sequence, determining a temporal progression of energy transmitted via the connection during the sequence, and terminating the delimitation to the first amount if the specific temporal progression corresponds to a predetermined temporal progression. A supply facility for a household appliance and a household appliance for connection to a supply facility, are also provided.

Abstract: A method of using a cleaning robot for improved cleaning of edges of a wall having a projecting baseboard, includes using the robot to strike the baseboard in a first cleaning pass, causing an impact sensor to generate a first signal and a distance sensor to detect a first distance from the wall. The robot continues its first cleaning pass and strikes the baseboard a further time, causing the impact sensor to generate a second signal and the distance sensor to detect a second distance from the wall. A computer of the robot uses the signals to calculate two spatial points and a first straight line running through the points. The computer uses the distances and the two spatial points to establish an approach boundary of the cleaning robot relative to the wall. The computer controls the cleaning robot during subsequent cleaning passes exclusively using the one distance sensor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a magnetic guiding device having a stator and a slide movable along a guiding direction relative to the stator, the stator and the slide being magnetized or magnetizable such that a magnetic field extending through the stator and the slide generates a magnetic supporting force on the slide acting along the guiding direction. To improve the running properties of the slide by avoiding differential slip, jerking and varying friction, according to the invention, the magnetic field extending through the stator and the slide simultaneously generates a magnetic pretensioning force which urges the slide and the stator against each other.

Abstract: A hybrid crucible comprising a frame and a bottom plate. The crucible is characterized by the selection of material of these two components, which have been optimized in terms of thermal conductivity. The crucible is adapted to produce crystalline materials. Moreover, a method for producing crystalline material is disclosed.

Abstract: A standing platform for an industrial truck includes a spring arrangement abutting the platform when subject to a weight. A first spring section with a soft characteristic is initially deformed under load, and after a predetermined spring path of the first spring section, a second spring section with a harder spring characteristic is deformable. A sensor detects deformation of the first spring section for generating a release signal. The platform can be folded on a horizontal shaft including a lever arm arranged on a side of the shaft opposite the platform, and abuts the spring arrangement from below which is supported on the truck frame. The first spring section is arranged between a seat for the first spring section and a spacer supported on the second spring section. The spacer acts on the second spring section when the first spring section is initially deformed under a load upon the platform.

Abstract: A hybrid crucible comprising a frame and a bottom plate. The crucible is characterized by the selection of material of these two components, which have been optimized in terms of thermal conductivity. The crucible is adapted to produce crystalline materials. Moreover, a method for producing crystalline material is disclosed.

Abstract: A standing platform for an industrial truck includes a spring arrangement abutting the platform when subject to a weight. A first spring section with a soft characteristic is initially deformed under load, and after a predetermined spring path of the first spring section, a second spring section with a harder spring characteristic is deformable. A sensor detects deformation of the first spring section for generating a release signal. The platform can be folded on a horizontal shaft including a lever arm arranged on a side of the shaft opposite the platform, and abuts the spring arrangement from below which is supported on the truck frame. The first spring section is arranged between a seat for the first spring section and a spacer supported on the second spring section. The spacer acts on the second spring section when the first spring section is initially deformed under a load upon the platform.

Abstract: An automated sequential reaction system that can be used to either sequentially produce a plurality of different products each requiring a single reaction, or to produce a desired product that requires a series of sequential reactions. A system controller controls an automated reactant supply, a solvent supply, a reaction module, a detector, and a product collector. Prior to initiating any reaction, the system is flushed with solvent and a heat exchanger supplies the reaction module with a temperature-conditioned fluid to maintain the reaction module at a desired temperature. For single reactions, a plurality of reactants are injected into a chemical reactor included in the reaction module. As fluid exits the chemical reactor, the detector determines if the fluid is a desired chemical product or solvent, and routes the fluid to the appropriate receptacle.

Abstract: An automated vehicle suspension system includes an elongated and linear drive axle having opposed end portions pivotally connected to a selected portion of a vehicle and laterally extending outwardly therefrom respectively. The system further includes a mechanism for detecting uneven road surfaces. The detecting mechanism is coupled to the drive axle and housed proximate to a vehicle's wheel. The system further includes a mechanism for automatically articulating the wheel about the drive axle such that the wheel can be selectively raised and lowered from equilibrium to offset an impact force associated with the uneven road surfaces when the vehicle travels thereover during driving conditions. A wheel hub interface is laterally secured to the detecting mechanism such that the drive axle can be maintained at a substantially stable position. A wheel mount is threadably coupled to one end portion of the drive axle and outwardly spaced from the wheel hub interface.

Abstract: A modular chemical production system that preferably includes a microreactor for producing a product by reacting two or more reactants. Modularization enables components such as controllers, pumps, valves, microreactors, and processing modules to be added or removed from the system as required to produce a desired product. A minimum system includes a control module and a reaction module, which has a mixing volume and a reaction volume. Various pumping modules and residence time modules may also be included in the system. Modules can be changed if malfunctioning, or for producing a different product, or to change a quantity of the chemical produced. The control module preferably accesses a database in which data define parameters for a plurality of different reactions that are optimized for the production of different chemical products.

Abstract: A device for the emulsification and separation of small amounts of immiscible liquid phases has essentially a cover plate (2), which can be tightly connected to a base plate (1), where microchannels (4,4a,5,6,6a) in the form of grooves are cut out on the inner surface (3,3a) of the base plate (1) and/or cover plate (2). In a mixing zone, two microchannels (4,4a) run in a wave shape crossing one another a number of times. In a subsequent separation zone, they run essentially straight combined in a common microchannel (5). The otherwise tightly sealed-off microchannels (4,4a,5,6,6a) can be filled and emptied again via inlet apertures (8,8a) and outlet apertures (9,9a).

Abstract: An interconnection support for plate-like microcomponents (1) has a support rail (2) which is attached to a support plate (3). An insertion slot (4) for the support rail (2) accommodates an insertion edge (5) of a plate-like microcomponent (1). Like connections (10, 10a), which can be connected to associated connections (11) in an outside (1a) of the plate-like microcomponent (1), are provided in at least one side wall (9) of the insertion slot (4) of the support rail (2).

Abstract: A device for the emulsification and separation of small amounts of immiscible liquid phases has essentially a cover plate (2), which can be tightly connected to a base plate (1), where microchannels (4,4a,5,6,6a) in the form of grooves are cut out on the inner surface (3,3a) of the base plate (1) and/or cover plate (2). In a mixing zone, two microchannels (4,4a) run in a wave shape crossing one another a number of times. In a subsequent separation zone, they run essentially straight combined in a common microchannel (5). The otherwise tightly sealed-off microchannels (4,4a,5,6,6a) can be filled and emptied again via inlet apertures (8,8a) and outlet apertures (9,9a).

Abstract: A stacked plate chemical reactor in which simple plates, each incorporating no surface features other that an opening, are stacked together. When openings in adjacent plates are properly aligned, a fluid pathway is defined between inlet ports for each chemical reactant and an outlet port for a chemical product. In one embodiment of the invention, sixteen simple plates are stacked to provide a reactor incorporating three heat transfer fluid pathways, two reactant fluid pathways, one product fluid pathway, multiple mixing chambers, multiple reaction chambers, two reactant pretreatment heat exchangers, two reaction chamber heat exchangers, and multiple temperature sensor pathways. Precise dimensional control of the reactant fluid pathway height enables stacked laminar flow paths for the reactants to be achieved, allowing efficient and rapid diffusion mixing to occur. Because the simple plates incorporate no features other than openings, fabrication of such plates is easily achieved.

Abstract: A variable residence time chamber module that provides an additional residence time for a reaction of mixed reactants to reach completion. The module includes a thermally insulated housing in which are disposed a plurality of residence time chambers. A rotary inlet valve and rotary outlet valve select among the plurality of chambers, coupling them respectively to an inlet port through which the mixed but incompletely reacted reactants are supplied and an outlet port through which a desired product of the reaction is withdrawn. A heat transfer media is preferably used to control the temperature of the residence time chambers, so that an optimal reaction temperature is provided. The mixed reactants pass through the inlet valve into a selected one of the plurality of residence time chambers. Once the selected residence time chamber is full, the inlet valve is actuated to supply the mixed reactants to a successive residence time chamber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a stream of molten material. The apparatus includes a melt container having a bottom wall in which is formed an aperture. A funnel is adapted and constructed to receive molten material from the aperture in the container, and includes a plurality of fluid-cooled metallic segments. The funnel segments define an inner funnel contour that decreases in cross-sectional area from the inlet end to the outlet end of the funnel. An electrically conductive coil surrounds the funnel, and has a shape corresponding to the outer shape of said funnel. A source of medium-frequency current in selective electrical connection with the coil. The method begins with the step of providing a predetermined quantity of molten material in a melt container. A metallic funnel is provided in fluid communication with the melt container, and includes a plurality of fluid-cooled funnel segments. The method also includes the step of providing an electrically conductive coil surrounding the funnel.

Abstract: Device which serves to atomize a solid or liquid medium with the aid of a standing ultrasonic wave that is generated between two ultrasonic transmitters. This allows one to tune the standing ultrasonic wave automatically when the temperature of the medium or other process parameters should change.

Abstract: For a process for the manufacture of powders from molten materials by atomizing the melt to particles by means of fluid media and cooling the particles as they fall, a melting chamber (3) is provided which has a melting system (4) disposed in the melting chamber (3) and an atomizing tower (8) is provided which is associated with the atomizing system (9) and attached to the melting chamber (3). For the production of powders of finest particle size with high purity and uniformity, a plurality of nozzles (11, 12, . . .) which can be aimed in their holders at the molten stream, are used for projecting a low-boiling liquefied gas under a pressure of 50 to 700 bar against the molten stream (23) entering the atomizing tower (8).