Abstract: The present disclosure describes brake rotor preforms and brake pads configured to reduce fracturing and failure of brake rotors by distributing the axial force applied during braking across butt joints between abutting segments of preforms and rotors manufactured therefrom. The preforms comprise a spiral annular structure formed about a longitudinal axis from a plurality of carbon fiber precursor tow segments having a partial annular shape. Each segment is asymmetrical when viewed in the longitudinal axis direction and configured so planes defined by the segment's ends are never coplanar with planes extending radially from the longitudinal axis. The brake pads have a partial annular shape and ends adapted to prevent planes defined by the ends from being coplanar during use with a plane extending radially from a brake rotor longitudinal axis.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a low density cloth preform, and apparatuses and methods for manufacturing the same. The low density cloth preform has a lower density than other preforms manufactured using prior apparatuses and methods, thereby rendering the low density cloth preform more amenable to the addition of matrix carbon thereto through the use of less expensive carbon sources and more rapid processes for adding matrix carbon. The apparatuses and methods for manufacturing the low density cloth preform comprise preform needling machines configured and preform needling processes operable to provide a more uniform and lesser needling depth with the result being a preform having a lower density. The preform needling machines utilize foam bases formed from resilient materials having appropriate rebound rates, arrangements of barbed needles in one or more groups and needling stages, and positioning of the barbed needles to minimize deflection of the foam bases and preform material.

Abstract: An apparatus for trapping flying insect pests, including: a device for diffusing in the surrounding ambient air a gaseous lure the composition of which is suitable for attracting the insects; a device for sucking a flow of surrounding ambient air containing the insects attracted by the diffused gaseous lure, an insect trap arranged with the suction device so the insects sucked by said device are retained in said trap.

Abstract: A method of calcination includes providing a raw material including whitlockite Ca9(Mg,Fe2+)[PO3(OH)|(PO4)6], and/or iron phosphate FePO4, and/or aluminum phosphate AlPO4 and/or fluorapatite Ca5(PO4)3F; providing an alkaline-sulfuric compound as an additive; and calcining a mixture of the raw material with the additive to obtain a product, including a citrate soluble phosphate compound.

Abstract: Railway comprising sleepers and rails supported thereby, wherein each sleeper has a holding piece anchored in or to the sleeper, and a clip or spring is connected to the holding piece and simultaneously presses on the rail to provide a downward holding force to the rail and maintain it on the sleeper. The holding piece and the clip or spring are supplemented with a mounting body and a mounting piece, which mounting body is placed over or adjacent to said holding piece, and which mounting body is arranged to cooperate with said mounting piece.

Abstract: A stretching device comprises a shoulder or body harness with an adjustable central hold arranged around the upper body connected with an adjustable extension strap configured to engage a foot at a distal end. The extension strap is slidably connected to the central strap to move along the length of the central strap. The wearable device and method of using the device provides a comfortable tension and facilitates hands free stretching in the supine position, for improving duration of the stretching and range of motion. The device straps may be quickly disassembled with a strap independently used, or in a combination rearranged for connection by interlocking the central strap with either a shoulder strap or the extension strap, for upper body and shoulder stretching.

Abstract: A stretching device comprises a wearable body harness with an adjustable central hold arranged around the upper body connected with an adjustable extension strap configured to engage a foot at a distal end. The extension strap is slidably connected to the central strap to move along the length of the central strap. The extension strap comprises a non-elastic material, divided by a single elastic segment. The extension strap having incremental markings designating amount of adjustment. The device and method of using the device provides a comfortable tension, facilitates hands free stretching in the supine position, improving duration of stretching and range of motion. An independent adjustable stretching strap for upper body and shoulder stretching, further comprises a non-elastic material looped at each distal end, divided by a discrete elastic segment and having incremental visual markings designating amount of adjustment.

Abstract: A high-voltage device for receiving a high-voltage cable having a conductor designed to conduct an electrical current and a cable insulation surrounding the conductor, includes an insulation and a waveguide. The insulation includes an at least partly transparent or translucent field control unit from a siloxane polymer which is designed to at least partly surround the cable insulation of the high-voltage cable, the siloxane polymer including, in at least one portion of the field control unit, covalently bonded fluorophores and/or dielectric pigments. The waveguide is arranged such that a light signal caused by a partial discharge in the field control unit can be coupled from the field control unit into the waveguide.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fluorescent siloxane elastomer, to a method for producing same, and to the use. The fluorescent siloxane elastomer contains the following structural elements in the network structure thereof: (I) and (II) or (III), wherein: R1 and R2 are the same or different and mean, independently of each other, a methyl, phenyl, vinyl substituent or an H atom; X means a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group having 2 to 6 C atoms; A is an oxygen, nitrogen, or sulfur atom; R3 is a fluorescent dye substituent from the families of the BODIPY or BODIPY and coumarin or BODIPY and naphthalimide or coumarin and naphthalimide fluorophores. The polysiloxanes according to the invention cause a shift in the emission range out of the UV light or expansion of the emission range into the range of visible light having wavelengths of up to 800 nm, and therefore the polysiloxanes are especially suited for detectors having the maximum efficiency thereof in the range.

Abstract: An apparatus for storing and dispensing a fluid from a flexible portable fluid container is provided. The apparatus includes a bottom surface and at least one sidewall that defining a cavity configured to receive a flexible portable fluid container. A support member extends from the bottom surface of the body into the cavity to help support the flexible portable fluid container. An extruding member extends outwardly from the outside portion of the sidewall and defines a channel that extends from the inside portion of the sidewall through the extruding member. The channel is sized to receive the spout of the flexible portable fluid container.

Abstract: A method for producing a molded body is proposed, comprising: applying a layer of particles and applying a binder and curing a molded body; and a device for producing a metallic or ceramic molded body, having a storage volume, which is configured for receiving a suspension of metallic or ceramic particles that are dispersed in a suspension fluid, a layer-forming application device, which is configured for removing an amount of suspension repeatedly from the storage volume and transferring it into a working volume and applying it there as a layer, a dehumidifying device, which is configured for dehumidifying the applied layer in the working volume, a binder application device, which is configured for applying a binder locally to the dehumidified layer in accordance with a layer model of the molded body to be produced, in such a way that particles in the dehumidified layer are adhesively bonded locally to one another and optionally in addition to particles of at least one layer lying under the dehumidified laye

Abstract: An apparatus for trapping flying insect pests, including: a device for diffusing in the surrounding ambient air a gaseous lure the composition of which is suitable for attracting the insects; a device for sucking a flow of surrounding ambient air containing the insects attracted by the diffused gaseous lure, an insect trap arranged with the suction device so the insects sucked by said device are retained in said trap.

Abstract: A railway comprising rails that are at least in part at regular places along their longitudinal direction supported by and mounted on baseplates, wherein each baseplate is fixed to a sleeper resting on ballast, and wherein each rail is clamped to the baseplate with a clamping plate that is fitted to the baseplate with a clamping bolt, and which clamping plate has opposite extremities of which a first extremity rests on a cam provided on the baseplate and a second extremity rests on and presses the rail to the baseplate, wherein the first extremity and the cam have first contact surfaces and the second extremity and the rails have second contact surfaces, wherein the first contact surfaces and the second contact surfaces each have imaginary perpendicular lines that cross each other at an imaginary center line of the clamping bolt.

Abstract: A method for marking an item including a shape memory polymer (SMP) having a visual readable and/or machine readable graphic element on the surface of the item. The method includes pretreating the surface of the item; coloring the surface of the item with a dye solution containing an organic dye and an organic solvent; cleaning and drying the surface of the item; and engraving by at least partially ablating the surface of the item. The dyeing process is suitable for coloring the surface of a shape memory polymer (SMP), wherein the information is engraved in a form of a code or other label on the colored surface. The coloring causes an increased contrast and thus facilitates machine readability of marking and coding without affecting the other properties of the SMP.

Abstract: A sinterable and/or fusible ceramic mass is disclosed, having a long-term stable compound of crystalline phases of apatite, wollastonite, titanite and optionally cristobalite, which is stabilized by a glass phase, and a production process therefor. The ceramic mass can be obtained by sintering a mixture comprising at least the constituents SiO2, CaO, P2O5, MgO, CaF2 and TiO2, on their own or in combination with at least one alkali oxide, the alkali oxide being chosen from NaO2 and K2O. The invention further relates to uses of the sintered material in the form of shaped articles for strengthening, cleaning, roughening or polishing surfaces of medical implants or as a final prosthesis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a corresponding apparatus for identifying a product (1) or information relating to the product (1). In the method, a concealed code on the product (1) is identified, wherein the code is given by a set of ellipsometric parameters, and the method comprises the following steps of: measuring ellipsometric variables for at least one defined point (8) on a surface (9) of the product (1), comparing the measured ellipsometric variables with at least one reference code, and determining a match between the measured ellipsometric variables and the reference code or one of the reference codes or determining a mismatch with each reference code.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for stabilizing a powder bed by means of low pressure for an additive manufacturing method, wherein the device comprises: a container open at least on one side, comprising a bottom, at least one side wall and a container opening; a filter in or above the bottom and/or in the at least one side wall, wherein an area occupied by the filter corresponds to the area of the bottom or the area of the side wall and wherein the filter is substantially impermeable to a powder comprising the powder bed; and a connection at the bottom and/or at the side wall of the container or on a side of the filter facing away from the container opening, wherein the connection is suitable for connection to a suction pump, such that a powder bed arranged in the container is pressed against the filter and stabilized by means of a vacuum produced by the suction pump.