Abstract: Thermally activated devices, including thermally activated release devices. These devices may be used as part of any device or system in which thermal activation may be desired. In particular, described herein are thermally activated devices configured as sprinkler valves. The thermally activated devices typically include a channel and a plug element, where the plug element is a shape memory material, which may be a single-crystal shape memory alloy. The channel has two connected regions, where the first region has a diameter that is greater than the diameter of a plug element in a first configuration and the second region has a diameter that is less than the diameter of the plug element in the first configuration but greater than the diameter of the plug element in its second configuration.

Abstract: Sprayer devices and related methods. The sprayer devices can be of a type that may be carried or worn on the back of a user. Each sprayer device has a tank, a spray outlet (e.g., a spray nozzle or spray wand) and either a manual or power pump. The sprayers may also incorporate one or more of the following: a) a brace member for deterring bending or deformation of a bottom bracket on the sprayer, b) a pump axle with redundant rotation-limiting stop members useable for either right-handed or left-handed operation, c) system for selective and/or controlled agitation or non-agitation of liquid within the sprayer tank and/or d) an information card holding niche with removable information card.

Abstract: A household appliance constructed in the form of a microwave appliance includes a food treatment chamber having a loading opening which is closeable by a door, with the food treatment chamber being exposable to microwaves. A camera is provided to observe the food treatment chamber through a viewing window. Received in the viewing window is a shielding plate which includes a number of holes. The camera is fastened to holes in the shielding plate and directed onto the shielding plate such that at least one hole is in a field of view of the camera.

Abstract: A portable volatile material dispenser includes a housing having a top wall and at least one side wall and an opening formed within the top wall of the housing. A volatile material actuator is disposed within the housing and a manifold is in fluid communication with and extends between the volatile material actuator and the opening to move volatile material in the form of a mist from the volatile material actuator, through the manifold, and out the opening. A container holding a fluid is disposed within the housing and in fluid communication with the volatile material actuator. An air flow generator disposed within the housing and positioned to create a flow of air out of the dispenser through the opening for moving the mist from the dispenser.

Abstract: An improvement is provided in an actuator for actuating a valve on a container for dispensing a fluent product from the container in a fan spray pattern. The actuator includes a dispensing flow path to direct fluent product from the valve to an exterior of the actuator via an exit orifice located at an end of the flow path, and a post defining a portion of the flow path, the post extending along and centered on a longitudinal axis and having an end face adjacent said exit orifice. The improvement includes a flow channel extending laterally across the end face of the post, the flow channel being symmetric about a lateral axis extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of the post, a portion of the flow channel directly communicating with said exit orifice to direct the fluent product from the flow channel into the exit orifice.

Abstract: Provided is an electrostatic atomizing device which performs atomization at low cost. An electrostatic atomizing device (M4) is installed in an atomization chamber (10) of a separation apparatus. The electrostatic atomizing device (M4) includes a plate-like inclined surface electrode (101) and a plate-like counter electrode (102) parallel to the surface electrode (101). A solution is diffused by diffusers (108) onto an upper end of the surface electrode (101). The solution flows down along a front surface of the surface electrode (101) while being spread in a thin film form, and is atomized by an electric field between the surface electrode (101) and the counter electrode (102).

Abstract: A dry sprinkler assembly capable of providing fire suppression protection, including early suppression fast response protection and storage protection of a commodity having a nominal storage height of at least 20 feet beneath a ceiling of with a maximum nominal 40 foot ceiling height. The dry sprinkler assembly includes an internal passageway and an outlet defining a nominal K-factor of at least 16.8 GPM/PSI1?2. Embodiments of the sprinkler assembly include a deflector having a plurality of tines radially disposed about a central portion to define slots therebetween. Embodiments of the deflector define a non-planar deflecting member and a member with a non-circular perimeter. Installation of the sprinkler assembly provides for a insulation sealing assembly having a insulation ring, planar insert member and a surrounding housing.

Abstract: A light assembly for use in cold and/or inclement weather. The light assembly includes a lens having a hood wherein the hood is formed as a one piece formation with the lens. The hood and/or lens includes at least one aperture in communication with a supply of fluid. The supply of fluid being a windshield washing fluid (or similar) configured to melt and ice and/or snow on the lens of the light assembly.

Abstract: An embodiment includes a valve with a filter in which the flow of water through the valve is stopped by lowering a filter within the valve. This movement of the filter allows a poppet valve to close, stopping the flow of water. Subsequent raising of the filter holds the poppet valve in the open position, allowing the flow of water through the filter for further use. Embodiments are found in drinking fountains and facilitate the maintenance of the drinking fountain by allowing a technician to shut off the water using a screwdriver without requiring the removal of the fountain cover.

Abstract: A sanitary insert part includes an insert housing, which includes in a housing interior thereof a functional element that controls throughflow and that has at least one throughflow orifice. At least one throughflow opening is delimited by a peripheral wall, the shape of which can be changed against a restoring force as a result of the pressure of the inflowing water in such a manner that the at least one throughflow orifice has a variable orifice cross section which can be changed, in dependence on the pressure of the inflowing water, between an open position and a minimized position having a reduced orifice cross section by comparison.

Abstract: A high rotation atomizer functioning with inner charging includes a high-voltage circuit which generates a high voltage that can be applied to a bell cup, from a low voltage. This high-voltage circuit includes a measuring resistor in a circuit path between the turbine casing of the turbine driving the bell cup and ground. A first measuring voltage can be tapped at this first measuring resistor, which voltage is a measure for the voltage applied at the turbine casing. A second measuring resistor is placed in a circuit path between the turbine casing and ground. A second measuring voltage is tapped at this resistor, which is likewise a measure for the voltage applied at the turbine casing. If the information gained from the two measuring voltages deviates too strongly from each other, then the control device triggers an error signal. By this means, the safety of the entire system is increased.

Abstract: An aerosol generator (100) has a vibratable plate (1) with apertures therein and an annular piezo (2) which causes movement of the vibratable plate (1). An annular support member (3) supports the piezo (2) and the vibratable plate (1). A first electrical power conducting pin (10) engages directly with a first, top, surface of the piezo (2). A second electrical power conducting pin (11) indirectly conducts electrical power to a second surface of the piezo (2), by contacting an extension tab (103) of the support member (20), also on its top side. There is a film of cured epoxy adhesive on the tab (103), providing excellent gripping force between the pin (11) and the support (3). The aerosol generator (100) avoids need for soldered joints for electrical contact, and the pins are conveniently mounted parallel to each on the on the same lateral and top side of the piezo and support member. The pins may have multi-point tips (50) for particularly effective electrical contact.

Abstract: A nozzle for injecting liquid includes a nozzle body defining a plurality of injection point orifices and an annular prefilmer positioned downstream of the injection point orifices for prefilming impingement of spray from the injection point orifices on the prefilmer. A swirl antechamber can be defined upstream of the injection point orifices for supplying a swirling liquid flow to the injection point orifices for impingement of a swirling flow on the prefilmer.

Abstract: A laser machining method for cutting or cutting grooves on a workpiece using an apparatus having an X-Y table for mounting the workpiece, a laser source emitting a continuous wave or a quasi-continuous wave laser beam, modulator forming a pulsed laser beam by a high-speed modulation of the continuous wave or quasi-continuous wave laser beam, and an optical system capable of converging the pulsed laser beam on the workpiece, wherein the method comprising cutting with the pulsed laser beams along a locus including a portion where the moving speed of the X-Y table is decreased, and the pitch of holes machined with said laser pulses is kept constant by adjusting the intervals between successive said laser pulses in accordance with the moving speed of said workpiece, the method further comprising increasing the pulse widths of the laser pulses in accordance with the decrease in moving speed of the X-Y table in the portion where the moving speed of the X-Y table is decreased.

Abstract: A weld head for spot welding two or more components together. The weld head includes first and second electrode assemblies and a linear actuator motor to drive the first electrode assembly into a desired position and apply a desired clamping force. The weld head may include a sensor configured to measure a temperature of the motor and a controller configured to monitor the temperature and adjust the current supplied to the motor to maintain the desired clamping force. The weld head may include linear encoder to measure the position of the linear actuator motor and an algorithm that correlates the position of the motor with a force constant of the motor. Based on the position of the motor and the corresponding force constant of the motor, the controller is configured to adjust the current supplied to the motor to maintain the desired clamping force.

Abstract: A marker airbrush device for transferring marking solution from a marking device onto a writing surface using air is provided. The airbrush device includes a housing with an air outlet, a trigger for controlling an amount of air travelling through the air outlet, and a marker positioner coupled to the housing. The marker positioner positions a marking device relative to the air outlet such that air traveling through the air outlet contacts at least one surface of the marking device to transfer marking solution onto a writing surface. In embodiments, rotation of a portion of the marker positioner advances and/or retracts the marking device with respect to the flow of air through the air outlet, thereby altering the angle and/or amount of air that contacts the marking device during spraying.

Abstract: A portable movable discharge processing system by short electric arc, including a power supply cooling water tank, a short electric arc cutting power supply, a ring current device a feeding mechanism, a hanging bracket and a pneumatic ring current tool mounted on the hanging bracket, which are successively and cooperatively mounted on a horizontal plane; an air compressor and a sewage pump, which are successively connected to the feeding mechanism; a self-priming pump and a movable short-electric arc cutting device control cabinet, which are successively connected to the air compressor; an anode device which is connected to the movable short-electric arc cutting device control cabinet through an anode cable; a cathode device which is connected to the movable short-electric arc cutting device control cabinet through a cathode cable; and a water pump which is connected to the anode device through a pipeline.

Abstract: A fire protection sprinkler system and method of inerting a fire protection sprinkler system includes connecting an inerting system to the piping network of a fire protection sprinkler system having a piping network and at least one sprinkler head connected with the piping network. The inerting system includes an inert gas source that is adapted to supply inert gas to the piping network and an inerting gas vent assembly. The gas vent assembly has a gas vent adapted to discharge gas, a solenoid and a control. The solenoid is adapted to selectively open the gas vent and to close the gas vent. The gas vent discharges gas when the solenoid opens the gas vent and does not discharge gas when the solenoid closes the gas vent. The control is adapted to operate the solenoid in a manner that allows the gas vent to discharge gas for a limited amount of time.

Abstract: A pneumatically powered foam sprayer is provided. The foam sprayer includes a spray hose having a spray nozzle, a trigger assembly proximate the spray nozzle, and a pressure-actuated valve responsive to the trigger assembly. An air conduit extends between the pressure-actuated valve and an opening in the trigger assembly. Obstructing the opening with a hand, a finger or a thumb creates a change of air pressure within the air conduit and actuates the pressure-actuated valve to selectively allow the supply of foam into the spray hose. The air conduit may extends longitudinally through an interior portion of the spray hose, or along an exterior portion of the spray hose, and can include a laminar, chemical-resistant outer surface. An internal pump is powered by compressed air through the pressure-actuated valve, and the spray nozzle remains open both during and between uses to prevent the accumulation of pressurized foam within the spray hose.

Abstract: To provide a spout apparatus whereby expansion and deformation of the inner wall surface of the vortex generating portion such that a desired Karman vortex cannot be generated are prevented, even when the port portion is formed of an elastically deformable soft member. A spout apparatus for discharging hot or cold water with reciprocal motion, having a spout apparatus body and a vortex generating passage; whereby the oscillating element has a supply passage, a vortex generating passage, and a spout port passage, and the spout port passage is formed by an elastically deformable soft member, and is attached to the spout apparatus body so that a user can manipulate and deform the spout port passage, and the vortex generating passage is formed so as not to expand and deform even if internal pressure rises due to the supply of hot or cold water from the supply passage.