Abstract: A highly shrinkable fiber composed of nylon-MXD6 polymer and nylon-6 polymer, characterized in that a weight ratio therebetween is in the range of 35:65 to 70:30, and that each thereof exhibits a breaking strength of 4.00 cN/dtex or greater. Preferably, the weight ratio between nylon-MXD6 polymer and nylon-6 polymer of the highly shrinkable fiber is in the range of 45.55 to 55:45. The highly shrinkable fiber exhibits a high shrinkage ratio in boiling water, so that when the highly shrinkable fiber is used in a woven fabric, there can be realized a high density.

Abstract: The apparatus is equipped with cover unit (1) fixed to a head portion of worker so as to cover at least the regions of nose and mouth of the worker, the cover unit capable of trapping the worker's breath. The cover unit has an exhaust opening and an air supply opening. Further, the apparatus is equipped with moisture recycle unit (2) fitted to the worker so as to simultaneously carry out the two processes consisting of the adsorption process of introducing moist air, effecting adsorption of the water contained in the air on an adsorbent and emitting dry air and the regeneration process of introducing dry air, effecting evaporation of the water adsorbed on the adsorbent into the dry air and emitting moist air. Still further, the apparatus is equipped with exhaust hose (3) connecting the exhaust opening of the cover unit to the moisture recycle unit and with air supply hose (4) connecting the moisture recycle unit to the air supply opening of the cover unit.

Abstract: A weighted mounting arrangement stably supports a motion-sensitive, image capture device incorporated in a cellular telephone. The arrangement includes a handheld equipoising structure having a platform and a handle connected to the platform at a handle connection, a mount on the platform for holding the device during image capture, and a ballast weight mounted on the mount with the held device as an assembly. The assembly and the equipoising structure together have a combined center of gravity positioned in close adjacent proximity below the handle connection for balancing the arrangement during image capture.

Abstract: An electrical machine has at least two separate groups of at least two circumferentially adjacent magnet poles. One of the circumferentially outer magnet poles in one of the groups of magnet poles is defined as being in its reference position. The reference position of each other magnet pole is defined as the position each other magnet pole would occupy if all the magnet poles were equally circumferentially spaced around the first or second body and the one circumferentially outer pole was in its reference position. At least one of the circumferentially outer magnet poles in each group is sited in its reference position. At least one magnet pole in each group is a displaced magnet pole and is sited in a position that is displaced from its reference position by an amount that is not equal to an integral multiple of the reference angular pitch of the winding slots. The displacement of the magnet poles provides a pronounced reduction in cogging.

Abstract: A press plate (8) with a cover (12) is moved upwardly from a standby position to a press position to press the cover against a book block (4) by first and second elevation units. The book block (4) is clamped by nip plates (9, 10), together with the cover (12). The height of each of first and second ends (X, Y) of the press plate (8) at the press position can be set separately by separately controlling the first and second elevation units by a control section (30).

Abstract: An exciter assembly for supplying a field current to the rotor windings of a superconducting synchronous machine includes a pulse transformer having a stationary primary winding, a secondary winding and a tertiary winding. A switched mode power supply supplies a pulsed voltage to the primary winding of the pulse transformer. The pulsed voltage developed at the secondary winding of the pulse transformer is supplied to the rotor windings through a pair of transfer leads. A controller controls synchronous rectification of the pulsed voltage supplied to the rotor windings based on a signal from the tertiary winding of the pulse transformer.

Abstract: Water treatment method and apparatus according to which supply water containing dissolved matter is delivered to at least one treatment surface. An electric field is created in the vicinity of the treatment surface to cause a hydration layer to be established due to the bipolar nature of the water molecules. Water is then extracted from the hydration layer. Such extraction may be effected by osmosis or by removal of the element (s) from the supply water with the hydration layer water thereon, dehydration layer water subsequently being extracted from the element (s). The method has been devised to reduce energy consumption for the purpose of providing potable water from seawater.

Abstract: A method of controlling a plurality of power converters 1a, 1b and 1c can be used to interface to a supply network, ac busbar etc. Each power converter includes a network bridge 14 operating in accordance with a pulse width modulation (PWM) strategy having the same switching period and which causes at least one unwanted harmonic in the supply network voltage. The method includes the step of providing the switching period of the PWM strategy of each network bridge with a different time offset relative to a time datum such that the at least one unwanted harmonic in the supply network voltage is at least partially cancelled. Two alternative ways of providing the time offset are described.

Abstract: A golf practice and exercise device has an elevated arm from which an impact object is suspended for swinging movement. The object is positioned with a clubhead impact target in position for striking by the clubhead of a golf club swung by a golfer. The resistance to the impact of the golf club is adjustable. A sensor detects the magnitude and velocity of the striking force, and a display displays an indication as to how far a golf ball would have gone after being struck with a force and velocity of the detected magnitude.

Abstract: An aluminium cooking vessel comprises a vessel bottom coupled to a steel plate for providing an electric induction plane heating, the steel plate including a plurality of plate holes and being subjected, about each plate hole to a force applied with an annular pattern to deform the steel plate about each hole with a Z deforming arrangement, the vessel material, displaced as the steel plate is deformed assuming a mushroom arrangement to cover the perimeter of the plate holes.

Abstract: An optical network node for an n-channel dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) optical communications network, includes an add path for adding an n-channel wavelength multiplex onto the network. The add path has an n-channel signal combiner for combining the n signal channels. An optical amplifier amplifies an output of the signal combiner. A multichannel wavelength selective filter with variable-per-channel attenuation filters out noise from the amplifier on a channel which carries no content to be added to the network, and controls amplitude of signals in channels to be added to the network. An add coupler couples the add path to the network.

Abstract: A method of, and a system for, controlling, managing and maintaining a client's weight are performed by placing a weight sensor device in a location that is convenient to the client, periodically generating weight signals at the sensor device, providing a computer system remote from the location of the sensor device, storing information associated with the client at the computer system, using a wired or wireless connection to connect the sensor device to the computer system, receiving and processing the weight signals in accordance with weight maintenance algorithms at the computer system, and reviewing the processed data by a professional manager to monitor the client's progress. The weight sensor device is provided with no indicator of the client's weight. The client is prompted to step on and off the sensor device. There is no visual display or other indication at the sensor device to indicate the client's weight.