Abstract: A heating system may include at least two different types of heating elements. The heating elements may include at least one infrared heating element and at least one halogen lamp. The heating elements may be positioned within a heating section of a duct through which air flows to be heated by the heating elements, which air flow may be driven by a fan. The heating system may be incorporated into a variety of heating devices, such as electric fireplaces and space heaters.

Abstract: This relates to a method of manufacturing a metallic component by additive layer manufacturing. The method comprises the step of providing a layer of granular metallic material. The layer of the granular metallic material is melted by a laser beam or electron beam which applies a defined scanning strategy, which is defined in such a way that a first region of the layer is melted before a second region of the layer such that during the subsequent solidification, residual stresses emerge in the first and the second region. These residual stresses act as integrated crack stoppers of the metallic component.

Abstract: A method of making monolithic carbon nanotube heater elements with geometric shape with multiple, complex curvatures is disclosed. The method includes depositing carbon nanotubes on to a forming surface, draining the carbon nanotubes, and drying the carbon nanotubes. Alternatively, the method includes thermoforming carbon nanotube sheets containing thermoplastic binders. The resulting carbon nanotube heater element is a thin, monolithic carbon nanotube heater sheet having a geometric shape with complex curvatures.

Abstract: A microwave heating system configured for heating a plurality of articles is provided. One or more of the microwave launchers can be offset slightly, such that the microwave energy introduced into the heating chamber is discharged at a launch tilt angle of at least 2°. Additionally, each launcher can include a microwave-transparent window disposed between the microwave chamber and the one or more launch openings and at least 50 percent of the chamber-side surface of the window can be oriented at an angle of at least 2° from the horizontal.

Abstract: An AM continuous welding system (AMCWS) is provided. The AMCWS includes a feedstock dispenser that configured to emit feedstock at a designated location, and a heat source configured to heat the feedstock. The AMCWS also includes a first eddy current sensor array that is configured to generate a first plurality of sensor signals while in current-sensing proximity of a re-solidified feedstock segment. A controller is coupled to the first eddy current sensor array and is configured to determine, based on the first plurality of sensor signals, a first characteristic of the re-solidified feedstock segment. The controller determines that the first characteristic is a first undesirable characteristic, and initiates an action based on the first undesirable characteristic.

Abstract: A device for extracting a substance to be brewed comprising: an extraction compartment in a first and a second portion, movable relative to the first portion to switch the compartment between a closed position and an open position; a linking device between the first and the second portion, comprising a holder with a first link so configured as to produce a rotation of the holder relative to the first portion, and a second link relative to the second portion, and the device comprises an articulation joint so configured as to successively produce, during a rotational motion of the holder about the first link in a first direction of rotation, a first tilting of the second portion in the first direction, then a second tilting of the second portion in a second direction opposite the first direction.

Abstract: An electrical heating device comprising a support and a heating layer made of carbon fibre composite on the support mid connected to an electrical power supply to warm the device. The heating layer has a volume which comprises an electrically conducting circuit part which extends along at least one continuous line, and an electrically non-conducting insulation part which fills the remainder of the volume of the heating layer.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods of use and manufacture are provided for a modular grill and smoker device for cooking food that include a first chamber, a door for opening and sealably closing the first chamber, an airflow corridor creating a hull around the first chamber for channeling air around the first chamber with at least one lower vent and at least one upper vent, as well as integration with electronic user devices.

Abstract: A capsule (6) for use with an electronic smoking device (1) is provided where liquid for atomisation by an electric atomiser is contained within a cavity enclosed by an end wall (50); a lateral wall (50); and a puncturable membrane (34). One or more grooves (54) are provided on the inner face (52) of the lateral wall (50) adjacent the cavity. When the puncturable membrane (34) is punctured the one or more grooves (54) act to provide air channels adjacent the lateral wall (50) facilitating air to pass into the cavity as the liquid leaves the cavity via the puncture in the puncturable membrane (34).

Abstract: A system for manufacturing boiler tubes includes a first spindle for receiving a first tube having a first weld preparation, a second spindle for receiving a second tube having a second weld preparation, the first spindle and the second spindle being rotatable synchronously, and a welding device having a first weld head. The welding device is configured to automatically weld the first tube to the second tube according to a control routine stored in memory to produce a boiler tube.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for mapping a melt pattern of material created during directed energy fabrication. An infrared camera and a video camera are provided to record images of the pattern of melted material. Each frame of the infrared camera's images is processed to generate a first map of pixels identifying pixels indicative of a highest temperature greater than or equal to a liquidus temperature of the meltable material. Each frame of the video camera's images is processed to generate a second map of pixels identifying pixels indicative of a highest temperature greater than or equal to the liquidus temperature of the meltable material. The first map of pixels and said second map of pixels are overlaid on each other wherein a third map of pixels is generated and is indicative of a hybrid image of the pattern of melted material.

Abstract: A transparent pane having an electrically heatable coating and at least one coating-free zone that can be used, for example, as communication window, is presented. The electrically heatable coating is connected to two collecting electrodes, such that a supply voltage applied to the electrodes generates a heating current that flows via a heating field formed between the collecting electrodes, the heating field containing the coating-free zone whose zone-edge is formed, at least in sections, by the heatable coating. Other implementation details include provision of two electrical supply lines electrically connecting the two collecting electrodes to separate subdivisions of an additional electrode. In one case, the electrical supply lines run, at least in sections, in the heating field, in the coating-free zone, in a coating-free edge strip, in a subregion of the coating outside the heating field, and/or in the zone-edge. Methods for producing the transparent pane are also presented.

Abstract: An additive processing apparatus includes a chamber and an irradiation device that together are operable to additively fabricate an article from a powder layer-by-layer in a work space in the chamber. A gas recirculation loop is connected at a first end thereof to an outlet of the chamber and at a second end thereof to an inlet of the chamber. The gas recirculation loop includes at least one purification device that is configured to remove impurities from a cover gas and generate a clean cover gas.

Abstract: A system for improving a person's sleep includes a bedding layer having a plurality of individually controllable thermally adjustable zones, a plurality of temperature sensors, where at least one temperature sensor per thermally adjustable zone is dispersed throughout the bedding layer. Further, a controller is configured to control the heating power of each thermally adjustable zone, and detect in which the body presence is detected.

Abstract: A liquid storage portion for an aerosol-generating system includes a container configured to hold a liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The container has an opening for dispensing the liquid aerosol-forming substrate, and includes at least one transparent wall portion, such that the liquid level in the container can be visually monitored by the vaper. The container is further configured such that the liquid aerosol-forming substrate is held in a contiguous volume area of the container. The aerosol-forming substrate in the contiguous volume is confined near the dispensing opening of the container without regard to the orientation of the liquid storage portion.

Abstract: The present invention has as its object to provide a spot welded joint and spot welding method which raise the fracture toughness of spot welded metal to raise the strength of the spot welded joint. In the present invention, there is provided a spot welding method comprising a melt zone forming step forming a melt zone by conduction and, after the melt zone forming step, a solidification step of running a current lower than the current run in the melt zone forming step so as to cause the melt zone to solidify, wherein, in the solidification step, electromagnetic vibration is applied to the melt zone, and a frequency fV of the electromagnetic vibration, a solidification speed ?S when the melt zone solidifies, and an arm interval of dendrites ?D when the melt zone solidifies satisfy 0.2??S/(?D·fV)?4.0.

Abstract: Provided herein are food pan fences, methods of using food pan fences, and methods of manufacturing food pan fences. A food pan fence of the invention can, for example, comprise side walls configured to extend above the sidewalls of a food pan and prevent cross-contamination of food to or from an adjacent food pan. Optionally, the food pan comprises an inner lip at the wall base. Optionally, the food pan further comprises one or more lateral walls (e.g. front wall and back wall) connecting the sidewalls, wherein the one or more lateral walls comprises a low section configured to allow dishing food from the food pan there through. In one embodiment, the invention provides a food bar comprising a plurality of food pans and a plurality of fences configured for the food pans. In one embodiment, the invention provides a cafeteria comprising the food bar.

Abstract: The system comprises: capsules (C) of at least a first type and a second type, having outwardly protruding transverse flanges (32), and respective different axial lengths (h1, h2, h3), and a brewing unit (6, 20, 7), in which there is defined a variable-volume brewing chamber (100) with a lateral delimiting part (81, 81a) and a slidable end delimiting part (54, 55), for receiving capsules (C) of said types introduced into the chamber (100). The capsules (C) of the aforementioned different types have flanges (32) of correspondingly different shapes, and the end delimiting part (54, 55) of the brewing chamber (100) carries stop members (70, 71) adapted to be coupled to the flanges (32) of said different types of capsules (C) when the latter are introduced into the brewing chamber (100), so as to allow correspondingly different relative movements of the end delimiting part (54, 55) relative to the lateral delimiting part (81, 81a) of said chamber (100).

Abstract: A welding system includes a welding torch assembly including a body, a first feed roll, a second feed roll, and a lever. The first and second feed rolls are both configured to rotate with respect to the body, and the first and second feed rolls are disposed opposite from one another about a welding wire feed region. The lever is configured to pivot at a first end of the lever about a lever joint of the body, and the second feed roll is movable between a first position and a second position in response to movement of a second end of the lever. The second feed roll is adjacent to the first feed roll in the first position, the second feed roll is not adjacent to the first feed roll in the second position, and the lever is configured to maintain the feed roll in the second position.

Abstract: A method for connecting a first element with a second element, includes coupling a third element with the second element, coupling the third element with the first element by thermal joining, wherein the first element and the second element are made of different materials essentially incapable of being thermally joined with a welding process, and wherein the third element is arranged in an opening of the second element in a form fitting and/or force fitting manner.