Abstract: A feed box for a decanter centrifuge has a housing with a hollow interior, the housing having a top with an inlet therethrough, a bottom, sides, and opposing open ends, wherein the inlet and the open ends are in fluid communication with the hollow interior. A liner shaped complementary to the hollow interior of the housing, has a top, a bottom, sides, opposing ends, an opening through the top of the liner below the inlet, and a channel through the liner between the opposing ends in fluid communication with the inlet.

Abstract: Reductions in flow resistance, associated with the results of a turbulent airflow in the atomization chamber, are provided through the use of at least one of air inlets and pre-wick airflow passages that make use of a curved sidewall connecting an input face larger than an output face. In some embodiments, a hyperboloid shaped inlet is used to reduce the turbulence associated with forcing an airflow around sharp corners. These shaped inlets and shaped pre-wick air flow passages can be used together or independently.

Abstract: A method is provided for configuring a touch sensor controller coupled to a touch panel and a host computing device. The method includes receiving, by the controller, first input for starting a configuration mode of operation. The first input may be received independent of the host computing device. The controller initiates the configuration mode of operation responsive to the first input. The controller receives at least one second input via the touch panel for configuring at least one operational setting of the controller. The method also includes configuring, by the controller, the at least one operational setting according to the received at least one second input.

Abstract: A system is provided for making a beverage capsule for use in a beverage preparing machine. The system includes a filter station for sealing a filter to an interior space of a body for the beverage capsule to define an ingredients chamber; an ingredients station for depositing a desired volume of desired ingredients into the ingredients chamber; and a cover sealing station for sealing a cover to the body. The cover being sealed to the body to define a hinge zone and a peel zone, wherein the hinge zone has a stronger seal than the peel zone.

Abstract: An interchangeable electronic lock mechanism provides selective access to a motor controlled latching system including a motorized pin to lock and unlock a knob assembly. The lock mechanism may be used to replace key operated locking cores, on the exterior of a storage unit, with a plug and optional adapter inserted into a remaining shell housing, and a driver to control access to a storage unit. Manual rotation of the knob activates the drive assembly to control access to the storage unit. An optional break away security feature in the knob inhibits unauthorized unlatching of the lock. When the lock is unlatched, the knob rotates the drive assembly including the plug and adapter within the shell housing, and in turn, activates the driver to operate the lock assembly in the storage unit. An optional modular chassis assembly includes a removable array of components for testing, maintenance and repair.

Abstract: A cartridge or pod for use in an electronic cigarette, or electronic vaporizer, makes use of a displacement member to reduce or eliminate air bubbles within the pod after filling. During assembly, liquid is filled to a desired level in a pod, and an end cap is inserted. The end cap makes use of the displacement member, which may be integrated with a wick holder, to displace e-liquid. The displacement of the e-liquid further displaces air left in the pod before it is sealed.

Abstract: A wick having a predominant material and a secondary material, for use in a vaping environment, makes use of characteristics of each of these materials to provide reliable wicking and a desired heat transfer characteristic. Many materials known to have good wicking characteristics act as insulators, which can result in a buildup of heat in the wick near a heater. This buildup of heat can result in the burning of one or both of the wick and the e-liquid carried by the wick. The inclusion of a secondary material having improved heat transfer characteristics allows for the wick to transport heat through at least one of the length and depth of the wick. In one embodiment, a cotton wick is supplemented by the addition of metal strands making up approximately 25% of the wick by volume.

Abstract: Optical touch sensors may be adversely affected by noise, such as modulated sunlight incident on the touch sensor. An analog optical detector is provided that includes a frequency dependent emitter feedback circuitry that does not substantially reduce the gain for a first modulation frequency range of the photodiode current and provides, for a second modulation frequency range of the photodiode current, a current feedback to reduce the gain of the first transistor. The second modulation frequency may include one or more expected noise modulation frequencies. A touch sensor device including a plurality of such optical detectors is also provided. Also provided is a touch sensor device comprising sampling disable circuitry operable to disable sampling of the output from the optical detectors for a duration of time.

Abstract: A weather resistant tumbler lock has an elongated body, and defines a longitudinal axis. The lock is interchangeable with another lock having a corresponding asymmetrical perimeter profile with an opening in a top surface sealed with a cap, the other lock having a different rotatable core and a different configuration of tumblers. A drainway provides a channel for water to flow outwardly from the interior of a shell housing, a rotatable core and a keyway within the core, to a drain below the lock. The drain connects to a channel through a lower edge. The core provides an arcuate gap in a lower quadrant adjacent the interior surface of the shell for fluid communication with the drainway. A method includes identifying a substitute tumbler lock with an impermeable outer wall for replacing another lock having an identical outer perimeter profile and a permeable closed opening on its top surface.

Abstract: A vortex generator in the air flow path, within a pod for use with a vaporizer, interrupts laminar air flow to create a vortex within the air flow, allowing entrained droplets above of threshold size to be favorably removed from the air flow. The creation of a vortex modifies the air flow path to include turns, which are somewhat resisted by droplets having larger size and thus a higher momentum. As the droplets above a threshold size rotate in the vortex, they have an increased likelihood to be pushed out of the airflow and into the walls of a post wick air flow passage, whereby they are removed from the airflow.

Abstract: A hollow preform impact extruded from a metal billet to produce a progressing wall at a transition wall thickness. An axially forward portion of the progressing wall is ironed by extrusion past an extrusion point to form a sidewall portion of a lesser thickness. Extruding is stopped while some of the billet remains to form the closed bottom end. The preform has a bottom portion, a sidewall portion and a transition wall portion extending between the bottom portion and the sidewall portion. The transition wall portion is thicker than the sidewall portion and can be formed into at least part of the rim of an expansion shaped container. An impact extrusion punch has a central axis, an axially forward, impact surface for impacting metal to be extruded, a transition region for directing material displaced by the impact surface and a rear extrusion point for ironing material extruded past the transition region.

Abstract: A slidable trigger assembly for a firearm is described. The slidable trigger comprises a main body housing a trigger and a sear and a slider, slidably coupled with the main body. The slidable trigger assembly may include a slide adjuster configured to set the sear at a target position with respect to the slider. Alternatively, the slider moves laterally in response to physical manipulation of the slidable trigger assembly to set the sear at a target position with respect to the slider.

Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating a graphene membrane includes a first section having a first fluid chamber for housing a suspension of graphene platelets in a fluid. A second section is positionable adjacent the first section. The second section has a second fluid chamber and a porous support housed in the second fluid chamber for supporting a porous substrate. When the first section is positioned adjacent to the second section and the porous substrate is supported by the porous support, the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber are in fluid communication via the porous substrate. The apparatus further includes a pressurizer for creating a pressure differential between the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber and thereby forcing the fluid through the porous substrate and into the second fluid chamber and lodging the graphene platelets in the pores of the porous substrate.

Abstract: An example sewer preparation from the main (PFM) device provides for the inspection and preparation of the sewer pipe from the main sewer pipe. The PFM device provides for the insertion of one or more individual and separately controllable tools into the sewer pipe. The tools include a clean out tool and a camera.

Abstract: A beverage dispenser is for dispensing a consumable beverage. A processing line having a fluid path with an input end is fluidly connectable to a source container of liquid for receiving liquid from the container via a driving force, and for processing the liquid into the consumable beverage to be dispensed. A Venturi injector is provided along a fluid segment of the fluid path of the processing line, the Venturi injector being configured for selectively and adjustably injecting gas bubbles into the consumable beverage to alter at least one resulting parameter of the consumable beverage to be dispensed. The beverage dispenser also includes a tap fluidly connectable to an output end of the fluid path of the processing line for receiving the consumable beverage with at least one resulting parameter having been altered, and for selectively dispensing the consumable beverage via an activation of the tap.

Abstract: A system and method that enhances spoken utterances and provides entertainment by capturing one or more microphone signals containing echo and decomposing the one or more microphone signals into a plurality of signal paths through a synthesizer that adds or makes non-linear modifications to some of the captured one or more microphone signals. The system and method and estimates multiple echo paths from each of the one the one or more microphones. The system and method processes the captured microphone signals in response to the estimated plurality of echo paths by subtracting the echo contributions of each of the plurality of echo paths from the captured one or more microphone signals. The system and method also provide signal separation and post processing functions that renders speech recognition gaming applications.