Abstract: The invention relates to a thermal supply network (1000) for a process plant, in particular for a painting plant, comprising a fluid connection for supplying consumers (200, 220; 300, 302, 304, 306; 320, 322, 324) arranged therein with heat and/or cold via a heat transfer fluid in the fluid connection, in which at least two consumers (200, 300, 320; 220, 302, 304, 306, 322, 324) are connected fluidically in series, wherein the first consumer (200, 300, 320) is fluidically connected at least temporarily, by means of its first outlet (205, 305, 325) for the heat transfer fluid, to a second consumer (220, 302, 304, 306, 322, 324) via the second inlet (223) thereof.

Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus according to a first aspect includes a heat source device, an air-conditioning unit, a hot water supply unit, and control circuitry configured to perform a first alternate operation of alternately performing a heating operation and a hot water supply operation when a heating request and a hot water supply request are received at the same time, and to perform a second alternate operation of alternately performing a cooling operation and the hot water supply operation when a cooling request and the hot water supply request are received at the same time, in which the control circuitry is configured to perform control to make a first continuous operation time of the hot water supply operation in the first alternate operation different from a second continuous operation time of the hot water supply operation in the second alternate operation.

Abstract: A deployable stabilizer cooperates with a tape of a tape measure to stabilize the tape measure with the tape extended therefrom to facilitate hands free stability of the tape measure. The stabilizer may be pivotally coupled with a body of the tape measure to facilitate pivoting between a deployed and a stowed position. The stabilizer may comprise an extendable member that is guided by channels defined by tape measure body. Locations or orientations of pivot holes or channel guides may result in contact of the bottom of the tape in an extended position with a top of the stabilizer in a deployed position to facilitate stability of the tape measure body.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying pressure to a pipe and measuring internal pressure. The apparatus including jacket disposed on the pipe, one or more of a first set of strain gauges disposed on a wall of the pipe, one or more of a second set of strain gauges disposed on the wall of the pipe, and a temperature sensor disposed on the wall of the pipe. The pipe has an inner diameter, an outer diameter, and a length.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide quantitative brine analysis techniques for mineral extraction. A method includes obtaining parameters of a sample brine extracted from the aqueous source; determining a brine pretreatment score based on one or more of the parameters of the sample brine; determining a brine extraction score based on one or more of the parameters of the sample brine; determining a brine post-extraction score based on one or more of the parameters of the sample brine; determining a brine total score based on the brine pretreatment score, the brine extraction score, and the brine post-extraction score; and outputting a visualization of at least one of: the brine pretreatment score, the brine extraction score, the brine post-extraction score, or the brine total score to a display.

Abstract: A nozzle assembly includes a hollow nozzle body having a central bore and a plurality of ports extending through the body from the central bore; a switching valve assembly disposed in the central bore that directs fluid flow to ports upon application of fluid flow above a predetermined threshold to the inlet and direct fluid flow to different ports upon fluid flow having subsequently dropped below the predetermined threshold and then exceeding the predetermined threshold; and a flow insert configured to replace the switching valve assembly for directing flow through all of the ports when switching functionality is not needed. This flow insert may be made of a low pressure material such as a polymer.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a strapping tool including a tensioning assembly, a scaling assembly, a motor, and a transmission assembly. The transmission assembly operably connects the motor to the tensioning assembly and the sealing assembly. The motor can (via the transmission assembly) alternately drive the tensioning assembly to tension a loop of strap around a load and the sealing assembly to seal the strap to itself. The strapping tool also includes a locking assembly that prevents the motor from driving the sealing assembly via drag torque generated by the transmission assembly while the motor is driving the tensioning assembly.

Abstract: A system and method and fastening tool that utilizes ultrasonic or acoustic energy and a horn that focuses the energy into the fastener at a predetermined location in order to facilitate tightening or loosening the fastener. The system, method and fastening tool comprise at least one flexible ultrasonic joint that permits a horn in the fastener tool to pivot in at least one or a plurality of planes and at least partially about at least one or a plurality of axes. The at least one flexible ultrasonic joint is adapted to facilitate transfer and focus of the ultrasonic energy through the tool and toward the fastener utilizing specially designed surfaces and a “dry” or “wet” environment.

Abstract: A headrest skin material includes a bottom from which a leg of a stay protrudes. The headrest skin material includes: a first skin piece, constituting the bottom; and a seal skin piece, attached to an inner surface of the first skin piece. The first skin piece includes: a first projecting piece, protruding inward of the headrest skin material; a pair of first insertion holes, through which the leg of the stay is inserted; a pair of first slits, extending from the pair of first insertion holes to a tip edge of the first projecting piece; and a first tongue piece, formed by the pair of first slits. The seal skin piece covers an area on the inner surface of the first skin piece that is wider than an area where the pair of first slits and the pair of first insertion holes are formed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heavy load carrier comprising plastics material and including a base part, comprising a number of feet and four side walls, wherein the side walls have positioning surfaces for receiving the feet of an identically designed heavy load carrier in a stack, wherein the positioning surfaces are arranged in a recessed state in relation to protrusions of the side walls, and wherein the protrusions at least partially surround the feet of an identically designed heavy load carrier in the stack circumferentially, wherein a first protrusion may at least partially surround a foot of the identically configured heavy load carrier in the stack on the inside of the foot, and a second protrusion may at least partially surround the foot of an identically configured heavy load carrier in the stack on the end side of the foot.

Abstract: A transparent container for holding an article made of a precious metal is disclosed. The container includes a body made of a transparent material. The body includes an interior. The body comprises a closure mechanism sealed with heat to the body to prevent air from entering the body. The body includes a first section and a second section. The first section is wider and positioned above the second section. The second section becomes narrower as it goes down towards the bottom of the body. The interior receives an article made of precious metal. The closure mechanism closes and prevents air from entering the interior and keeps the article from getting tarnished. In one example, edges of the body are sealed with heat to form the body as a single unit.

Abstract: In the first and second embodiments of the process for synthesizing synthetic graphite from expanded polystyrene (EPS), EPS is sulfonated with a solvent and sulfuric acid to obtain stabilized expanded polystyrene. The stabilized EPS is then graphitized using a catalyst to obtain synthetic graphite. In the second embodiment of the process, the stabilized EPS is carbonized at a predetermined elevated temperature to obtain carbonized EPC, and the carbonized EPS is mixed with a boron catalyst and heated in a furnace to obtain the synthetic graphite.

Abstract: A method of selectively inhibiting aldehyde dehydrogenase 1a1 (ALDH1a1) relative to aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) in a subject may include administering to the subject in need thereof, an effective amount of a disulfiram derivative having a structure which may be substituted and is optionally a salt, solvate, tautomer, stereoisomer, or mixture thereof, thereby selectively inhibiting the ALDH1A1 relative to ALDH2 in the subject. An aldehyde dehydrogenase 1a1 (ALDH1a1)-selective antagonist composition, may include such a disulfiram derivative and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and/or excipient.

Abstract: Provided is a door which has a first sash, at least a second sash slidable along rails, and at least one automatic fastening device for automatically fastening the at least one second sash to the first sash when the at least one second sash reaches an engagement position with an abutment part of the first sash. A control system moves the rails relative to frame cross-pieces between a forward position in which the rails are engageable with the at least one second sash, and a retracted position in which the rails are non-interfering with the at least one second sash, allowing a sash pack formed by the first sash and the at least one second sash fastened to the first sash to rotate about a vertical axis.

Abstract: A damping apparatus may include a plurality of weights, a plurality of dampers, a plurality of springs and a plurality of pressurizing modules. The plurality of the weights may be connected to a spindle. The plurality of the dampers may be arranged between adjacent lower weights among the plurality of the weights to attenuate a vibration of the spindle. The plurality of the springs may be arranged between adjacent upper weights among the plurality of the weights. The plurality of the pressurizing modules may be configured to selectively connect each of the springs with adjacent upper weights. Thus, a natural frequency of the damping apparatus may be controlled to effectively attenuate the vibration of the spindle.

Abstract: A sensor device includes: a sensor layer including first sensors, and second sensors forming a capacitance with the first sensors; and a sensor driver configured to transmit driving signals to the first sensors, and receive sensing signals from the second sensors, during a touch sensing period. The sensor driver is further configured to transmit first driving signals to at least some of the first sensors, and second driving signals to at least some of the second sensors, during an object sensing period different from the touch sensing period. During the object sensing period, the first driving signals applied to the first sensors located at an edge of the sensor layer are different from the first driving signals applied to the first sensors located at a central portion of the sensor layer in at least one of a voltage level, frequency, phase, or code.

Abstract: A method of operating a display includes performing a non-synchronized touch scan pattern on a display with a controller coupled to the display. The non-synchronized touch scan pattern schedules touch scans independent of a refresh rate of the display. Upon the controller detecting a first synchronization pulse from a display controller coupled to the controller and the display, a first pulse-checking timer is started. Upon detecting a second synchronization pulse from the display controller and before the first pulse-checking timer expires, a first display refresh rate for the display is obtained from an interval between the first synchronization pulse and the second synchronization pulse. A synchronized touch scan pattern is performed with the controller, and is scheduled to avoid touch scans coinciding with refreshes of the display performed at the first display refresh rate.

Abstract: Provided are a method and an apparatus for implementing batch extraction of human anatomical feature parameters. The method includes: obtaining a to-be-measured sample; generating an average model; calculating a point correspondence of a spatial location formed by the average model and each to-be-measured sample; measuring each to-be-measured sample on the average model; and outputting feature parameter data of each to-be-measured sample in batch. Calculation time is reduced by combining feature point extraction with affine transformation, and corresponding points are calculated through a non-rigid registration method to achieve batch and quick measurement.

Abstract: A model of a flexible document for use in a mechanized flexible document transport process. The flexible document is decomposed into at least one layer comprising parallelepiped-shaped rigid bodies, and each rigid body is connected to all rigid bodies that are adjacent to it by connecting elements connected to connection edges of adjacent rigid bodies. Each connection edge is connected to an edge connecting a rigid body adjacent to it by: (1) a first connection spring having a rotational stiffness about a rotation axis orthogonal to the thickness axis of said connected rigid body and to the axis where the connected rigid body is connected to the adjacent rigid body, and (2) a connecting structure selected from: three springs having a translational stiffness along the connected rigid body's longitudinal axis, the connected rigid body's transverse axis, and the connected rigid body's thickness axis, respectively. and a ball joint.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for managing baggage and a method for managing baggage with which improved usability can be obtained. In order to solve the problem, an apparatus for managing baggage is provided with: a reader unit which reads tag information of a wireless tag attached to a baggage; a storage unit in which the tag information read by the reader unit is stored; and a control unit which makes a determination of a forgotten baggage by comparing the tag information stored in the storage unit with tag information newly read by the reader unit.