Abstract: A thermally manufactured separator for a cell and a method of making the same. The separator includes a polymer matrix and a plasticiser, and the separator is substantially free from electrolyte.

Abstract: A head wearable air purifier has a headgear, and an air purifier assembly supported by the headgear, the air purifier assembly having a filter and an airflow generator for generating an airflow through the filter. The head wearable air purifier has a nozzle assembly having an inlet aperture configured to receive a filtered airflow from the air purifier assembly, and an air outlet for emitting the filtered airflow from the nozzle assembly. The nozzle assembly includes a first end section connected to the headgear, a second end section connected to the headgear, and a midsection connected to the first end section and the second end section. The first end section has a first portion pivotally connected to the midsection about a first pivot axis, and a second portion pivotally connected to the first portion about a second pivot axis substantially orthogonal to the first pivot axis, the second portion connected to the headgear.

Abstract: An electrolyte composition for a lithium ion battery. The composition includes 5-25 wt % of lithium salt, 2-10 wt % of additive and 65-93 wt % of solvent. The lithium salt includes 20-100 mol % lithium tetrafluoroborate, and 0-95 mol % lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide; (b) the additive includes vinylene carbonate, and optionally 30-90 mol % fluoroethylene carbonate; and (c) the solvent includes 70-90 mol % ethylene carbonate and 10-30 mol % propylene carbonate.

Abstract: A brushbar for a vacuum cleaner is described. The brushbar includes a cylindrical body, one or more pairs of bristle strips and one or more plush strips arranged helically about the body. Each pair of bristle strips includes a first strip of first bristles and a second strip of second bristles, the first bristles being stiffer and shorter than the second bristles. The plush strips are arranged on either side of each pair of bristle strips and include a plush of fibres.

Abstract: A method of reducing noise in a device configured to generate an air flow. The device includes an air flow duct arranged to convey a flow of air, a gas-filled cavity disposed beside the air flow duct, and a wall separating the air flow duct and the cavity. The wall includes at least one aperture. The method includes optimising an acoustic property for an acoustic resistive screen that is to be held in tension over the aperture, by: determining geometric properties of the cavity, the aperture and the air flow duct; determining, based on the geometric properties, a noise reduction for the device for each of a series of values for the acoustic property of the screen; and comparing the respective noise reductions for the series of values to determine an optimised value of the series.

Abstract: There is provided an ear cup including a housing containing a filter assembly and a motor-driven impeller for creating an airflow through the filter assembly, the housing including an air outlet downstream from the filter assembly for emitting the filtered airflow from the housing. The ear cup further includes an acoustic driver carried by or mounted to, either directly or indirectly, the housing, a reference internal noise sensor disposed within the housing, and a reference ambient noise sensor carried by or mounted to, either directly or indirectly, the housing. The ear cup further includes active noise control circuitry that is configured, in a first operating state, to use a signal provided by the reference internal noise sensor to operate the acoustic driver and, in a second operating state, to use a signal provided by the reference ambient noise sensor to operate the acoustic driver.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a wheel to contact a surface having a reference surface plane in operation of the vehicle; a chassis; an axle housing having an axis which is normal to the reference surface plane; and an axle. The axle extends from the axle housing, to couple the wheel to the axle housing and to support rotation of the wheel relative to the axle housing to support motion of the vehicle across the surface in operation of the vehicle. A suspension system couples the wheel to the chassis and includes a linkage assembly having a first end pivotably coupled to the chassis and a second end pivotably coupled to the axle housing. The first end of the linkage assembly is spaced apart laterally from the second end of the linkage assembly along a longitudinal axis of the linkage assembly. The suspension system is configured to maintain the axis of the axle housing at an angle normal to the reference surface plane in response to an angular displacement between the chassis and the reference surface plane.

Abstract: A method of determining a position of a rotor of a brushless permanent magnet motor includes measuring phase current flowing through a phase winding of the motor during excitation of the phase winding, and measuring voltage applied to the phase winding of the motor during excitation of the phase winding. The method includes calculating a phase of back EMF induced in the phase winding using the measured phase current and the measured voltage. The method includes determining a zero-crossing point of the back EMF induced in the phase winding using the calculated phase of back EMF induced in the phase winding. The method includes determining an aligned position of the rotor of the brushless permanent magnet motor when the back EMF induced in the phase winding is at the zero-crossing point.

Abstract: An electric motor having a frame, a rotor assembly, and a stator assembly. The rotor assembly has a magnet, a bearing assembly, an impeller, and a shaft. The bearing assembly has a first bearing, a second bearing, and a biasing element between the first and second bearings. The first bearing is mounted to the frame by an o-ring, and the second bearing is mounted to the frame by adhesive.

Abstract: An electrolyte composition for a lithium ion battery. The composition includes 5-25 wt % of lithium salt, 2-10 wt % of additive and 65-93 wt % of solvent. The lithium salt includes 20-100 mol % of lithium 2-trifluoromethyl-4,5-dicyanoimidazolide or lithium bis(oxalato) borate or a mixture thereof, and 0-95 mol % lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide. The additive includes 30-90 mol % fluoroethylene carbonate and 10-70 mol % vinylene carbonate. The solvent includes 70-90 mol % ethylene carbonate and 10-30 mol % propylene carbonate.

Abstract: A haircare appliance has an air inlet, an air outlet, an airflow generator for generating an airflow from the air inlet to the air outlet, and a heater assembly for heating the airflow. The heater assembly has a heater and a heater housing. The heater is mounted to the heater housing at a plurality of discrete mounting points.

Abstract: A heater coupon including a ceramic block having a first surface and a second surface, at least one heater trace formed within the ceramic block and a connector for electrically connecting the at least one heater trace to an external wire wherein the connector comprises a first connecting arm for connecting with respect to the first surface of the ceramic block and a second connecting arm for connecting with respect to the second surface of the ceramic block. The connector may be located at an end of the ceramic block. The ceramic block may be formed from a plurality of layers of ceramic material. The at least one heater trace may be screen printed onto one of the layers of ceramic sheet that form the ceramic block. The ceramic block may be provided with a first recess for accommodating the first connecting arm and a second recess for accommodating the second connecting arm.

Abstract: A heater coupon is disclosed having a ceramic block with a first surface and a second surface, at least one heater trace formed within the ceramic block and a connector for electrically connecting the at least one heater trace to a PCB (printed circuit board). The connector may connect at one end to the heater coupon and at the other end to the PCB. The connector may provide a direct connection between the heater coupon and the PCB. The connector may include a first connecting arm for connecting with respect to the first surface of the ceramic block and a second connecting arm for connecting with respect to the second surface of the ceramic block.

Abstract: An electrolyte composition for a lithium ion battery. The composition including: (a) 5-35 wt % of lithium salt; (b) 2-10 wt % of additive; and (c) 55-93 wt % solvent. The lithium salt includes: (ai) a salt selected from lithium 2-trifluoromethyl-4,5-dicyanoimidazolide, lithium difluoro(oxalato)borate, lithium bis(oxalato) borate and lithium tetrafluroborate; (aii) and optionally, a co-salt selected from lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide and/or lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide. The molar ratio of the salt to co-salt is between 100:0 and 5:95. The composition does not include lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide alongside lithium difluoro(oxalato)borate or lithium tetrafluroborate. The additive includes vinylene carbonate and optionally, fluoroethylene carbonate. The solvent includes either (ci) ethylene carbonate and 10-30 mol % propylene carbonate, or (cii) ?-butyrolactone and optionally ethylene carbonate.

Abstract: A dental cleaning appliance includes a handle, a fluid reservoir for storing a working fluid, and a fluid delivery system. A motorised drive unit drives movement of a bristle carrier relative to the handle. At least part of an inlet conduit of the fluid delivery system lies adjacent to the external surface of the motor, and at least part of an outlet conduit of the fluid delivery system extends through the motor.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a vacuum motor configured to draw air through the vacuum cleaner; a battery configured to supply electricity to the vacuum motor; and a control system configured to control the supply of electricity from the battery to the vacuum motor. The control system is configured to switch the vacuum cleaner between a first power mode in which electricity is delivered from the battery to the vacuum motor at a first power level, and at least a second power mode in which electricity is delivered from the battery to the vacuum motor at a second power level which is lower than the first power level. The control system is configured to monitor the extent of operation of the vacuum cleaner in the different power modes, and to provide an alert if usage of the vacuum cleaner in the first power mode exceeds a threshold.