Abstract: An annular air flow passage, particularly for a turbine engine, comprising two radially internal and external annular walls. A measuring element is elongated in a direction between the internal and external annular walls, and a first of the internal or external ends of the element is fixed rigidly to a first of the internal or external walls. The element includes at least one tubular cavity extending along the element and supplied with pressurized fluid.

Abstract: A method for preparing a crystallized solid material of formula LiCl.2Al(OH)3.nH2O with n being comprised between 0.01 and 10, includes mixing in an aqueous medium, at least one source of alumina and at least one source of lithium in order to obtain a suspension, filtering the resulting suspension obtained for obtaining a slurry, followed by drying the obtained slurry and shaping the dried slurry after the drying to obtain a shaped solid material. The shaping is carried out in absence of a binder followed by drying and a hydrothermal treatment to obtain the shaped crystallized solid material of formula LiCl.2Al(OH)3.nH2O. A method for extracting lithium from saline solutions uses the thereby prepared material.

Abstract: A method for preparing a crystallized solid material of formula LiCl.2Al(OH)3,nH2O with n being comprised between 0.01 and 10, includes mixing in an aqueous medium, at least one source of alumina and at least one source of lithium in order to obtain a suspension, filtering the resulting suspension obtained for obtaining a slurry, followed by drying the obtained slurry at a temperature between 20 and 80° C. for a period between 1 h and 12 h, then shaping by extrusion the resulting dried slurry, directly after the drying to obtain extrudates, where the shaping was carried out without any binder, and then the drying of the obtained extrudates at a temperature comprised between 20 and 200° C. for a period between 1 hour and 20 hours, in order to obtain the crystallized solid material of formula LiCl.2Al(OH)3,nH2O as extrudates. A method for extracting lithium from saline solutions uses the thereby prepared material.

Abstract: This invention relates to the field of paper coating, more in particular to means and methods for providing paper with at least one layer of pigment using film coating to obtain a well printable surface. Provided is a method for preparing coated paper comprising the steps of: a) providing a pigmented wet coating formulation comprising water, 2-20 parts of a binder and 100 parts of pigment, wherein at least 50% of the binder is highly branched starch (HBS) characterized by a molecular weight of between 0.5*105 and 1*106 Daltons and having a molecular branching degree of at least 6% and which is obtained by treatment of gelatinized starch or starch derivative with a glycogen branching enzyme (EC 2.4.1.18); and wherein at least 70% of the pigment is calcium carbonate; and b) applying the pigmented wet coating formulation to paper by film coating and drying the coated paper.

Abstract: Improved motor starters and/or overload electronics are presented for industrial automation systems, HVAC systems, pumping systems, and/or similar implementations. Protective devices can be configured to offer substantially automatic control and/or protection for motors without first being manually calibrated, or properly calibrated, for the motor. An overload, motor starter, and/or other motor protection and/or control device can accommodate substantially universal voltage input, true power characteristic sensing for status output/annunciation, integrated damper control, and substantially automated protection and/or trip point selection and/or protective parameter calculation and implementation with reference to startup values and/or system parameters such as full load amperage (FLA), motor classification, motor horse power, monitored current, monitored voltage, and true power characteristics, including power factor values.

Abstract: A method, system, and/or apparatus is described for controllably providing operating power to, and indicating proper operating status of, a load. Novel functionality can be provided via discrete electronic components or components can be integrated into a unified enclosure as a starter apparatus. Operation can be based, at least in part, on an operating mode selected via a user interface. An electronic overload relay or overload circuit interconnected with a control board assembly and a contactor relay can sense one or more aspects of the operating power supplied to the load and the control board assembly can operate one or more relays to indicate operating status of the load and control the load in response to various manual or remote automation system inputs.

Abstract: Starter apparatuses are provided for multiple-winding motors. Such starters can function with a single/combined overload device/circuit, rather than requiring multiple overloads relays and separate overload trip circuits for each motor winding. A microcontroller can keep track of the applicable overload trip points and can control multiple discrete contactors appropriately, via a single/combined overload relay. For a specific implementation, additional and/or alternative desirable functionality can also be afforded, including universal voltage input, true power characteristic sensing for status output/annunciation, integrated damper control, and substantially automated trip point selection and/or implementation.

Abstract: In the field of motor protection for industrial automation systems, HVAC systems, pumping systems, and/or similar implementations, improved motor starters and overload electronics can be configured to offer substantially automatic levels of protection for motors, independent of such starters and/or overload electronics first being calibrated for, or properly calibrated for, the motor.

Abstract: In the field of variable-speed motor control, a bypass circuit and corresponding bypass electronics can be integrated advantageously with a variable-frequency drive (“VFD”) circuit and corresponding electronics. Such an integrated bypass can be disposed within a single unitary enclosure housing the VFD. Some advantages of the integrated bypass include reduced size, cost, and/or complexity in the combined VFD/bypass assembly, the ability to manage airflow in bypass without running a fan motor full time, and support for integrated power metering.

Abstract: An electrical device protection apparatus, such as an overload relay, can include a microprocessor 102 that can receive a wide range of current signals from a current transformer or other current sensor. Also microprocessor 102 can employ a voltage sensor 112 to measure line voltage, for representing true power, and as a power supply 114 source for the microprocessor 102. The microprocessor can then generate annunciation signals 118, control signals 120, and/or communication signals 122 as necessary for the control and/or protection of an attached electrical device.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical device (2) for characterising a diffraction grating (14) which is formed by first and second interferometric diffractive sensors (4, 6) which are integral, spaced apart from each other at a determined first distance, and each comprise a reading grating (10a, 10b) and at least one light intensity detector, these first and second sensors providing respectively first and second electrical signals which, during a relative displacement (&Dgr;x) between the device and the diffraction grating, vary as a function of the spatial frequency of this grating in first and second regions of the latter, which regions are located respectively opposite two reading gratings and each receive light supplied by at least one light source. In particular, the first and second electrical signals define first and second phases of the first and second sensors.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a composition including propolis, oregano and at least one essential oil and methods of making said composition. The compositions may be applied to the skin and/or mucous membranes and are useful for treating microbial infections including viral infections.

Abstract: Variable optical filter, at least consisting of an optical filter structure (2) with different zones (3A-3B-3C-3D-3E) and/or reflection surfaces (4A-4B-4C-4D-4E-4F) which are made such that light (L1) with a well-defined wavelength passes, whereas light (L2) with another wavelength is reflected, in particular according to the so-called Bragg principle, whereby this filter (1-1A-1B-1C) also is provided with means (7) for altering the optical characteristics of the filter structure (2), characterized in that the aforementioned means (7) at least consist in that, on one hand, the optical path of the aforementioned filter structure (2) comprises a portion (6) based on one or more polymers, which is configured as an optical cavity enclosed by refractive surfaces of the aforementioned filter structure, and the optical characteristics of which can be changed under the influence of an electric potential, an electric field (E), respectively, or under the influence of light and, on the other hand, the filter (1) is pro

Abstract: The present invention relates to an individual subaquatic diving apparatus with self-contained recharging. This apparatus is constituted of a bottle pressurized with air by means of a manual pump integrated into the bottle or of a filler valve.

Abstract: Computer systems may be used to generate and display objects represented by triangles defined by coordinates of vertices. The present invention generates coordinates of a simplified vertex based upon coordinates of vertices adjacent to a first vertex and to a second vertex that define an edge of the triangles. First, a set of triangles that are adjacent to the edge is identified, Second, a first volume associated with the set of triangles is calculated. Finally, the coordinates of the simplified vertex are calculated such that a second volume associated with the simplified vertex corresponds to the first volume. In addition, a technique is presented that generates a second object which is a simplified representation of a first object. The technique begins by identifying first and second vertices that define an edge. The coordinates of a simplified vertex that corresponds to first and second vertices of the edge is determined. Error values and tolerance values are assigned to vertices.

Abstract: An encapsulated material is described of which at least a part of the material is kept encapsulated during heat treatment in an aqueous environment and is released during cooling after a heat treatment. The material is encapsulated in a layer of a hydrophobic film-forming material and a layer of a material having a low critical solution temperature (LCST) below the treatment temperature. The layer containing the hydrophobic material may be situated inside the layer having the LCST and have a melting point below the LCST, but it may also be situated outside the layer having the LCST and have a melting point above the LCST of said layer. Said layers may also be applied together.

Abstract: Computer systems may be used to generate and display objects represented by triangles defined by coordinates of vertices. The present invention generates coordinates of a simplified vertex based upon coordinates of vertices adjacent to a first vertex and to a second vertex that define an edge of the triangles. First, a set of triangles that are adjacent to the edge is identified, Second, a first volume associated with the set of triangles is calculated. Finally, the coordinates of the simplified vertex are calculated such that a second volume associated with the simplified vertex corresponds to the first volume.

Abstract: Computer systems generate and display objects represented by triangles defined by coordinates of vertices. The present invention generates potential coordinates of a simplified vertex based upon coordinates of a first vertex and a second vertex that define an edge of the triangles. A first set of triangles that are adjacent to the edge are identified, and a first set of error values corresponding to the vertices of the first set of triangles are derived. A second set of triangles tat share the simplified vertex are identified, and a second set of error values corresponding to the vertices of the second set of triangles are derived. The coordinates of the simplified vertex are stored in memory for reuse based upon a predetermined criterion involving the second error values and, preferably, one or more tolerance values. The second error values are derived from error values of a plurality of planar polygons corresponding to the first set of triangles.

Abstract: Disclosed is a representation and file format for a multi-level progressive transmission or display of a triangular mesh, referred to as a Progressive Multi-Level Representation (PMR). Methods are disclosed for generating the PMR, for progressively building a triangular mesh from a PMR representation, and for extracting a particular level of detail of a triangular mesh from the PMR representation.

Abstract: A is a computer implemented method for converting a non-manifold surface to a manifold surface. The method includes the steps of (a) providing data in a memory of a computer for representing a non-manifold polyhedral surface comprised of a plurality of triangles each bounded by edges and having vertices; (b) analyzing the data to determine and record singular edges and singular vertices; and (c) cutting through the singular edges and singular vertices, and optionally other edges and vertices, to provide a plurality of connected polygonal surfaces that are free of singularities. The step of analyzing may include the initial steps of analyzing the data to remove isolated vertices and repeated triangles. The step of cutting operates in accordance with one of a local cutting method or a global cutting method, and may further include a step of stitching the cut surface along boundary edges.