Abstract: A vacuum cleaner including a cleaner head defining a suction chamber and having an agitator arranged to be rotated by an agitator motor, a dirt separator, a vacuum motor arranged to draw air into the suction chamber and then into the dirt separator, and a controller. The controller is configured to monitor the electrical load of the agitator motor, compare the magnitude of the electrical load to a threshold, and selectively adjust the electrical power delivered to the vacuum motor. The controller is configured either to increase the electrical power delivered to the vacuum motor to a predetermined upper power level if the electrical load is greater than the threshold, or to decrease the electrical power delivered to the vacuum motor to a predetermined lower power level if the electrical load is smaller than the threshold.

Abstract: A process for preparing an oxygenate product by direct conversion of a C1-C3 alkane in either the gas or liquid phase, by contacting the selected alkane with hydrogen peroxide or a hydroperoxy species in the presence of a gold-based heterogeneous catalyst on a metal oxide support having a morphology of nanotubes, nanofibers, nanowires, or nanorods. The result is efficient conversion under mild conditions. The hydrogen peroxide or hydroperoxy species may themselves be prepared, in situ, by contacting a hydrogen source and oxygen in the presence of the same type of catalyst. The process may be particularly useful in the conversion of methane to methanol.

Abstract: A yarn package manipulator permits an operator to mechanically grasp and manipulate packages or spools of stranded materials, such as yarn for loading and replenishing such materials in a manufacturing process. The package manipulator is suspended from a lifting device such as a cable hoist and has a control handle coupled to its frame for the operator to maneuver the device and carried materials. Selectively extensible fingers are pivotally attached to a pivot arm extending from the manipulator frame. The fingers are operable to grip the package by its core and pivots about a horizontal axis so that the spool of stranded material may be oriented for loading onto a creel or other station in a manufacturing process.

Abstract: A creel magazine for continuously delivering packaged stranded material to a manufacturing process. A plurality of magazines linearly disposed in substantially parallel alignment are alternately supplied stranded materials fed to the manufacturing process from movable magazine cartridges supporting packages of stranded materials form either side of the magazine frame. The apparatus and method provide for sequential delivery of stranded materials from packages supported by cartridges at the sides of the magazines, intermediate replenishment of the depleted cartridges with cartridges loaded with replenished packages.

Abstract: A creel magazine for delivering packaged stranded material to a creel. The magazine includes magazine frame having guides for directing stranded materials to a creel or manufacturing process. Movable magazine cartridges rotatably support packages of stranded materials and are positioned on either side of the magazine frame. The apparatus and method provide for sequential delivery of stranded materials by alternating delivery sources between cartridges, intermediate replenishment of spent packages by rotation of a full package to a delivery position, and replenishment of spent cartridges.

Abstract: A creel magazine for delivering packaged stranded material to a creel. The magazine includes magazine frame having guides for directing stranded materials to a creel or manufacturing process. Movable magazine cartridges rotatably support packages of stranded materials and are positioned on either side of the magazine frame. The apparatus and method provide for sequential delivery of stranded materials by alternating delivery sources between cartridges, intermediate replenishment of spent packages by rotation of a full package to a delivery position, and replenishment of spent cartridges.

Abstract: A creel magazine for continuously delivering packaged stranded material to a manufacturing process. A plurality of magazines linearly disposed in substantially parallel alignment are alternately supplied stranded materials fed to the manufacturing process from movable magazine cartridges supporting packages of stranded materials form either side of the magazine frame. The apparatus and method provide for sequential delivery of stranded materials from packages supported by cartridges at the sides of the magazines, intermediate replenishment of the depleted cartridges with cartridges loaded with replenished packages.

Abstract: A yarn package manipulator permits an operator to mechanically grasp and manipulate packages or spools of stranded materials, such as yarn for loading and replenishing such materials in a manufacturing process. The package manipulator is suspended from a lifting device such as a cable hoist and has a control handle coupled to its frame for the operator to maneuver the device and carried materials. Selectively extensible fingers are pivotally attached to a pivot arm extending from the manipulator frame. The fingers are operable to grip the package by its core and pivots about a horizontal axis so that the spool of stranded material may be oriented for loading onto a creel or other station in a manufacturing process.

Abstract: A yarn package support for a creel has a support arm that is pivotal about a vertical axis between a loading position and a use position. In the loading position, the package support arm is positioned to load a spool of stranded material, such as yarn or thread. In the use position, the spool and support arm are positioned so that the yarn may be feed into a weaving apparatus. The pivot arrangement permits a laborer to reposition the support arm in a single handed action.

Abstract: A device for detection of undesired objects on surfaces, for example airport runways co-ordinates sensed data from a plurality of sensor units. With radar sensors, synthetic aperture radar processing is found to be advantageous. A vehicle which is configured with a plurality of sensors may be either remotely controlled or autonomous. It may also be provided with communication equipment and debris retrieval apparatus and that includes both mobile sensing devices and fixed installations. A suitable mobile sensing device and a method for operating the debris detection system are also provided.

Abstract: A method of connecting two or more construction elements of a building structure using a profiled wire tie (7) comprising a core from which a plurality of loosely wound helical fins extend radially along its longitudinal axis and which is formed into a point (8) at each end.

Abstract: An active damping arrangement for a power conditioning circuit comprising a converter or an inverter and an electronically driven output line having an output terminal for connecting to an external load, the active damping arrangement comprising an inductor-capacitor low-pass output filter (OPF) for connecting between an output of the inverter/converter (PWMVC or BBHCC) and the output terminal; means for sensing current in or voltage across the capacitor or voltage between one end of the capacitor (C) and an effective neutral point; means for multiplying the sensed voltage or current by a coefficient G to provide a damping signal, and means for feeding back the damping signal to an input of the inverter/converter (PWMVC or BBHCC), thereby to damp the output of the inverter/converter.

Abstract: An apparatus for the improvement of AC waveform comprising means for applying a demand input waveform at an input of a circuit for power conditioning (including an inverter PWMVC or BBHCC) that is operable to provide an output waveform at an output; a feedback loop between the input and output, the feedback loop including means for sampling the output waveform (ADC1), means for subtracting a required waveform (RW) from the output waveform to produce an error waveform, means for processing the error waveform in a pre-defined manner to produce a processed error waveform (Clip1, Disc1, Att1), means for adding or subtracting the processed error waveform from Th. demand waveform to produce a revised demand waveform, and means for applying the revised demand waveform to the input of the power conditioning circuit at a subsequent time as an input demand waveform to produce a new AC output waveform at the output.

Abstract: The “Finned Friction Wall” is an energy absorbing safety wall designed to improve the level of safety in motor racing sports (and can also be used to improve public road safety if implemented). The FFW provides a safer collision due to the fact that it absorbs and dissipates much of the energy created by the impact of the racing vehicle into the wall. A typical FFW is constructed of 4′×8′ steel panels with closely spaced “fins” welded vertically at a deflecting angle of 30 to 45 degrees from the wall leaning in the direction of traffic. The energy absorbing and dissipating features of the FFW set it apart from other safety wall designs.

Abstract: An active damping arrangement for a power conditioning circuit comprising a converter or an inverter and an electronically driven output line having an output terminal for connecting to an external load, the active damping arrangement comprising an inductor-capacitor low-pass output filter (OPF) for connecting between an output of the inverter/converter (PWMVC or BBHCC) and the output terminal; means for sensing current in or voltage across the capacitor or voltage between one end of the capacitor (C) and an effective neutral point; means for multiplying the sensed voltage or current by a coefficient G to provide a damping signal, and means for feeding back the damping signal to an input of the inverter/converter (PWMVC or BBHCC), thereby to damp the output of the inverter/converter.

Abstract: An apparatus for the improvement of AC waveform comprising means for applying a demand input waveform at an input of a circuit for power conditioning (including an inverter PWMVC or BBHCC) that is operable to provide an output waveform at an output; a feedback loop between the input and output, the feedback loop including means for sampling the output waveform (ADC1), means for subtracting a required waveform (RW) from the output waveform to produce an error waveform, means for processing the error waveform in a pre-defined manner to produce a processed error waveform (Clip1, Disc1, Att1), means for adding or subtracting the processed error waveform from Th. demand waveform to produce a revised demand waveform, and means for applying the revised demand waveform to the input of the power conditioning circuit at a subsequent time as an input demand waveform to produce a new AC output waveform at the output.

Abstract: Free perfluorosulfonylmethide compounds and metal salts thereof show strong catalytic activity in carbon-carbon bond formation reactions, in amounts as low as 0.1 mole %. Fluorous media may be used, especially biphasic fluorous media enabling ready recycling of the catalyst. The formula thereof is: M[C(SO2R1)3−(m+q)(SO2R2)m(SO2R3)q]x where M is H, Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Zr, Hf, Th, Nb, Ta, U, Bi, Al, Ga, In or Tl, x is the common oxidation state of a said metal M, R1, R2 and R3 are perfluorinated or polyfluoronated hydrocarbon, ether or amine moieties or mixtures thereof and m+q=0, 1, 2 or 3 (m and q being zero or integers).