Abstract: In a method for renewing a track (2) and cleaning a ballast bed (3), the old track (2) is lifted off the ballast bed in sections as a track panel (15), transported forward in a working direction (4) and deposited on track panel wagons (8). The exposed ballast bed (3), forming a renewal gap (17), is cleaned by a cleaning machine (11), spoil (32) accruing in the process is transported forward underneath the track panels (15) deposited on the track panel wagons (8), and stored in hopper cars (10). New rails (29), pre-deposited underneath new sleepers (27) positioned on sleeper wagons (14), are pulled forward into the renewal gap (17) by the cleaning machine (11) and deposited on the cleaned ballast bed (3). The new sleepers (27) are laid down on the cleaned ballast bed and connected to the new rails (29) lifted off the ballast bed (3).

Abstract: An egg printing system comprises a printer (30, 31, 32) and an endless egg conveyor (1) that is adapted to move the eggs (50) past the printer. The conveyor including an endless element running around a set of rotational wheels and a drive unit defining a conveying direction of the conveyor. The egg conveyor includes a lane of egg retaining pockets (10) coupled to the endless element, said lane of retaining pockets in use moving in the conveying direction. Each retaining pocket has a central axis and an upper receiving opening to receive an egg with a longitudinal axis of the egg generally aligned with said central axis of the pocket. The pocket has a side opening at a side thereof facing in the conveying direction and/or in the opposite direction, leaving a side surface area exposed of the egg that is received in the pocket. The retaining pockets remain in an upright position in every position in the lane.

Abstract: A magnet-based angular displacement measuring system for measuring a rotational movement of a driveshaft. The magnet-based angular displacement measuring system includes a drive shaft comprising a free end. The free end has a coaxial recess so as to form a hollow shaft section. An exciter unit is rotationally coupled to the free end of the drive shaft. A stationary sensor unit functionally cooperates with the exciter unit to measure the rotational movement of the drive shaft.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for recovering hydrocarbons from plastic wastes, in particular polyolefin-rich waste, by means of purely thermolytic cracking without the use of catalysts, comprising melting the plastic waste in two heating devices (3) and (4), wherein a recycle stream derived from the cracking reactor (5) and purified in a separator system (8, 9) is admixed with the molten plastic waste from the heating device (3). The mixed plastic stream is further heated in the second heating device (4), and from there is guided into the cracking reactor (5), where the plastic materials are cracked, and by means of subsequent distillation are separated into diesel and low boilers. A special entry system allows the prior separation of water and acidic gases, and the saving of inert gas. The invention further relates to a system for carrying out the method.

Abstract: A exercise roller device including a center roller portion provided with shaped end roller portions, and the center roller portion provided with a centered circumferential groove. A method of making the exercise roller device.

Abstract: A method of determining electromagnetic scattering properties of a finite periodic structure has the steps: 1002: Calculating a single-cell contrast current density, within a unit-cell supporting domain of a single one of a finite collection of unit cells. 1004: Calculating a scattered electric field outside the finite collection of unit cells, by integrating, over the single unit cell's supporting domain, a Green's function with the determined single-cell contrast current density. 1006: The Green's function is obtained for observation points outside the finite collection of unit cells by summation across the finite collection of unit cells. The Green's function integrated with the determined single-cell contrast current density is obtained for observation points above the supporting domain with respect to a substrate underlying the finite periodic structure.

Abstract: This is an upright heater igniting combustible gas to induce a naturally aspirated flame within a glass tube. Air channels producing the naturally aspirated flame enters the glass tube in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the flame thus creating a twirling flame. Heat waves generated by the twirling flame within a glass tube rises to a heat concentrator and projected onto a parabolic heat shield thus reflecting the heat wave radially downward and outward.

Abstract: Granular compositions comprising at least one herbicide that inhibits microtubule assembly, at least one herbicide that inhibits cell wall synthesis, and a surfactant, and methods for making and using such compositions, are generally described.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed that, in an embodiment, are related to goal-oriented generation of advertising spot sets. The system and method each involve: receiving spot inventory data associated with a plurality of TV stations; receiving a rule variable associated with an advertising rule; receiving a goal variable associated with a goal; applying the advertising rule to select a plurality of spots that are eligible to form one or more spot sets; forming or generating at least one of the spot sets depending, at least in part, on a proximity to the goal; and generating an output associated with the generated spot set.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a steerable instrument for endoscopic and/or invasive type applications, the instrument including an elongated tubular body having a proximal end part, a distal end part and an intermediate part between proximal and distal end parts, the proximal end part having at least one actuation proximal zone. The distal end part has at least one flexible distal zone, and the elongated tubular body is configured such that a movement of an actuation proximal zone is transferred to a corresponding flexible distal zone for a corresponding movement thereof. The elongated tubular body includes an inner, outer, and intermediate cylindrical elements having longitudinal elements between the inner and outer cylindrical elements. Inner, outer and intermediate cylindrical elements are coupled so movement of an actuation proximal zone is transferred by the longitudinal elements of one of the intermediate cylindrical elements to a corresponding flexible distal zone.

Abstract: Disclosed is an illumination source for generating measurement radiation for an inspection apparatus. The source generates at least first measurement radiation and second measurement radiation such that the first measurement radiation and the second measurement radiation interfere to form combined measurement radiation modulated with a beat component. The illumination source may be a HHG source. Also disclosed is an inspection apparatus comprising such a source and an associated inspection method.

Abstract: Drop-weight tower (110) for reproducibly initiating a crack in a material sample for fracture mechanics testing comprising a base (120) with a top surface upon which a sample holder (124) is mounted to grip a material sample, an attachment column (140) having a linear rail (142), a carriage (162) attached to the linear rail (142) and a stage (164) is attached to the carriage. The stage (164) includes a vertical rod (184) and a razor-blade holder (178). A weight is slidably mounted to the vertical rod (184). The carriage is used to adjust the height of the stage (164) relative to the material sample. A hammer (180) slides up and down the vertical rod (184) to apply consistent and reproducible force on the razor (178) that then initiates the crack in the material sample.

Abstract: A magnet-based angular displacement measuring system for detecting a rotational movement of a driveshaft. The magnet-based angular displacement measuring system includes the driveshaft which includes an axial first shaft end region. The axial first shaft end region includes a magnetically non-conductive material. An exciter unit is rotationally coupled to the axial first shaft end region of the driveshaft. A stationary sensor unit functionally cooperates with the exciter unit to detect a rotational movement of the driveshaft.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a crushing device comprising a jaw crusher provided with two jaws, at least one jaw of which moves reciprocally toward the other jaw and away from the other jaw in use, a supply device for supplying material to be crushed to the jaw crusher and a discharge device for discharging crushed material. The crushing device comprises a housing that encloses the jaw crusher, a ventilation device provided with air outlet openings that open into the crushing space, by means of which ventilation device air can be blown under pressure between the jaws of the jaw crusher device, and an exhaust device, which exhausts air mixed with fine material produced by the jaw crusher from the housing. The exhaust device is configured to convey the fine material mixed with the air to a collecting location. The invention further relates to a method for crushing material by means of such a crush device.

Abstract: There is provided a pick-and-plant head for planting plant cuttings in a cultivation medium. The pick-and-plant head is provided with a grasper comprising opposed grasping surfaces for grasping a portion of a cutting between them and with an abutment that abuts a cutting. The grasper and abutment are moveable relative to one another and are arranged so that during release of a cutting from the grasper the abutment passes between the opposed grasping surfaces and the cutting is abutted by the abutment.

Abstract: A jetting device includes an ejection unit arranged to eject a droplet of a liquid. The ejection unit includes a nozzle, a liquid duct connected to the nozzle, and an electro-mechanical transducer arranged to create an acoustic pressure wave in the liquid in the duct. The jetting device further includes a filter arranged to filter the liquid being supplied into the duct and a filter status detection system arranged to detect an obstruction status of the filter by measuring a property of the liquid in the duct. The filter status detection system includes a circuit configured for measuring the electric response of the transducer, for recording changes in the electric response that represent pressure fluctuations induced by the acoustic wave in the form of a time-dependent function, and for judging the obstruction status of the filter on the basis of that function.

Abstract: A method includes determining topographic information of a substrate for use in a lithographic imaging system, determining or estimating, based on the topographic information, imaging error information for a plurality of points in an image field of the lithographic imaging system, adapting a design for a patterning device based on the imaging error information. In an embodiment, a plurality of locations for metrology targets is optimized based on imaging error information for a plurality of points in an image field of a lithographic imaging system, wherein the optimizing involves minimizing a cost function that describes the imaging error information. In an embodiment, locations are weighted based on differences in imaging requirements across the image field.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for manufacturing a premix for a frozen confection, the process comprising the steps of: (i) forming an oil-in-water emulsion comprising fat in an amount of at least 45% by weight of the emulsion; (ii) providing an adjunct composition comprising saccharides, non-saccharide sweetener, protein or a combination thereof; (iii) providing an aqueous liquid; and (iv) combining the emulsion, adjunct composition and aqueous liquid.

Abstract: A vessel adapted to perform subsea wellbore related operations involving a riser string that is assembled from releasably interconnected riser sections and extends between a subsea wellbore and the vessel. The riser string vertical handling system of the vessel includes a controlled motion device that is adapted to displace the riser string lifting tool in at least one horizontal direction relative to the riser spider device at least whilst travelling between the elevated and lowered position thereof loaded by the riser string suspended from the riser string lifting tool, thereby allowing to establish an inclined travel path with selectively variable inclination of the riser string lifting tool relative to an imaginary vertical line through the riser string passage of the riser spider device, e.g. said inclined travel path having an inclination selected to correspond to an actual water current induced inclination of an upper portion of the riser string during the riser string assembly process.

Abstract: An assembly for protecting and cleaning a medical instrument having an operational part and a hand grip part. The assembly has a protection element with cooperating retention parts for fixing the hand grip of the medical instrument in the protection element. A cavity is formed by a wall for protecting the operational part of the medical instrument. The assembly further has a cleaning assist element with a tubular shape and being fixable to the wall of the protection element.