Abstract: There is provided a fan assembly comprising a motor-driven impeller arranged to generate an airflow, an air outlet arranged to emit the airflow, at least one filter assembly that is arranged to purify the airflow, a plurality of sensors arranged to measure a value for each of a plurality of air quality characteristic, and a processor. The processor is configured to receive measured values for each of the plurality of air quality characteristics, identify one of a corresponding set of intervals within which the measured value falls, select an air quality index value associated with the identified interval, and generate a corresponding speed value using the selected air quality index value. The processor is then configured to set a speed of the motor-driven impeller in dependence upon the highest of the speed values.

Abstract: An actuator component for a droplet ejection head; wherein said actuator component comprises a substrate and one or more strips of piezoelectric material fixedly attached to said substrate; wherein said one or more strips of piezoelectric material comprise one or more layers of piezoelectric material, and an array of fluid chambers defined within said one or more strips of piezoelectric material and extending in an array direction; wherein said actuator component further comprises one or more cover parts; wherein the or each cover part extends in said array direction and is fixedly attached to at least one of a side face of one of said strips of piezoelectric material and/or at least a portion of said substrate; and wherein said one or more cover parts comprise a plurality of openings so as to enable fluid to be supplied to selected ones of said fluid chambers through said openings. Associated methods of manufacturing an actuator component for a droplet ejection head are also provided.

Abstract: A stairlift includes a rail and a carriage. The carriage includes a frame, a central drive unit mounted to the frame, the central drive unit including a drive motor and a drive gear, a yoke assembly pivotably mounted to the frame, and a first bogie unit attached to the yoke assembly and a second bogie unit attached to the yoke assembly, wherein each bogie unit includes a bogie socket mounted to the yoke assembly, and a bogie ball spherically pivotable within the bogie socket, the bogie ball including a plurality of bogie ball rollers configured to hold the bogie ball to the rail, and further wherein the plurality of bogie ball rollers are configured to maintain the bogie ball in a generally perpendicular travel orientation relative to the rail.

Abstract: A rail segment for a stairlift and its method of formation are provided. The rail segment includes an elongate tube made of a first material, the tube comprising a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal retaining slot extending from the first end to the second end; a rack made of a second material, the rack comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the rack is held within the retaining slot; and anchor securing the rack within the retaining slot to the tube at or adjacent to ends of the tube.

Abstract: A stairlift includes a rail and a carriage. The carriage includes a frame, a central drive unit mounted to the frame, the central drive unit including a drive motor and a drive gear, a yoke assembly pivotably mounted to the frame, and a first bogie unit attached to the yoke assembly and a second bogie unit attached to the yoke assembly, wherein each bogie unit includes a bogie socket mounted to the yoke assembly, and a bogie ball spherically pivotable within the bogie socket, the bogie ball including a plurality of bogie ball rollers configured to hold the bogie ball to the rail, and further wherein the plurality of bogie ball rollers are configured to maintain the bogie ball in a generally perpendicular travel orientation relative to the rail.

Abstract: A rail segment for a stairlift and its method of formation are provided. The rail segment includes an elongate tube made of a first material, the tube comprising a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal retaining slot extending from the first end to the second end; a rack made of a second material, the rack comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the rack is held within the retaining slot; and anchor securing the rack within the retaining slot to the tube at or adjacent to ends of the tube.

Abstract: A rock bolt device that includes a non-anchoring elongation section that allows elongation of the rock bolt device under tensile load to accommodate rock movement after installation of the rock bolt device.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine and an apparatus for operating the gas turbine engine includes at least one microphone to detect the sound of impacts of particles, a recorder to record the sound of the impacts, an analyzer to analyze the sound of the impacts of the particles, and a store of sounds of impacts, the stored sounds of impacts correspond to unfavorable weather conditions. A comparator compares the sound of the impacts of particles with one or more sounds of impacts stored in the store 68 sounds of impacts and if the comparator determines that the sound of the impacts of particles matches one or more stored sounds of impacts, a signal is sent to a control system for the gas turbine engine to adjust the operation of the gas turbine engine such that it operates in a safe mode of operation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to stable anti-parallel heteropolynucleotide duplexes, comprising a plurality of complementary purine-purine nucleobase dyads, wherein the nucleobase is coupled to a pentose sugar backbone. The present invention further relates to methods of hybridizing two heteropolynucleotide molecules to form such purine-purine nucleobase dyads, as well as kits and solid supports comprising such purine-purine nucleobase dyads.

Abstract: A bead mill for performing wet comminuting including a stationary vessel having an internal wall and forming a milling chamber to be filled at least partly with milling bodies, raw particles and a carrying liquid to form a suspension within the milling chamber; an activator shaft, rotatable around an axis concentric with the stationary vessel and a rotating activator connected to the activator shaft, to comminute said raw particles to produce milled particles; characterized in that said bead mill further comprises a separator, containing a separator chamber disposed substantially vertically, a laminarization portion providing an upward laminar suspension flow within the separator chamber, to separate the milled particles from the milling beads and raw particles depending on the flow velocity of said upward laminar suspension flow.

Abstract: A bead mill for performing wet comminuting comprising a stationary vessel having an internal wall and forming a milling chamber to be filled at least partly with milling bodies, raw particles and a carrying liquid to form a suspension within the milling chamber; an activator shaft, rotatable around an axis concentric with the stationary vessel and a rotating activator connected to the activator shaft, to comminute said raw particles to produce milled particles; characterized in that said bead mill further comprises a separator, containing a separator chamber disposed substantially vertically, a laminarization portion providing an upward laminar suspension flow within the separator chamber, to separate the milled particles from the milling beads and raw particles depending on the flow velocity of said upward laminar suspension flow.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine and an apparatus for operating the gas turbine engine includes at least one microphone to detect the sound of impacts of particles, recorder to record the sound of the impacts, an analyser to analyse the sound of the impacts of the particles, and a store of sounds of impacts, the stored sounds of impacts correspond to unfavourable weather conditions. A comparator compares the sound of the impacts of particles with one or more sounds of impacts stored in the store 68 sounds of impacts and if the comparator determines that the sound of the impacts of particles matches one or more stored sounds of impacts, a signal is sent to a control system for the gas turbine engine to adjust the operation of the gas turbine engine such that it operates in a safe mode of operation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to stable anti-parallel heteropolynucleotide duplexes, comprising a plurality of complementary purine-purine nucleobase dyads, wherein the nucleobase is coupled to a pentose sugar backbone. The present invention further relates to methods of hybridizing two heteropolynucleotide molecules to form such purine-purine nucleobase dyads, as well as kits and solid supports comprising such purine-purine nucleobase dyads.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for treatment of raw grain particles for conversion of the grain nutrients to the condition in which they are readily digestible by a living organism are provided. The apparatus includes a mixture chamber in which the raw grain particles are fed, a gas heat source, and a blower fan for providing a hot gas low through two or more gas ducts connecting the gas heat source to the mixture chamber.

Abstract: A system and method for treatment of wastewater containing heavy metals, oil products, detergents, phenols, dyes, complexions, complexionates, etc. are described. The system includes a static mixer configured for continuous mixing the wastewater supplied thereto with desired reagents; a feeder of a magnetic powder; at least one coagulator apparatus; at least one oxidizer apparatus; at least one flocculant apparatus; and a magnetic separator configured for applying a magnetic field across an effluent of the wastewater and separating the magnetic sludge from the water. The method includes introducing powder of a ferromagnetic particulate material into the wastewater; adjusting a value of a pH of the wastewater, to form a liquid effluent of the wastewater having an adjusted value of the pH; oxidizing the wastewater having an adjusted value of the pH; flocculating the wastewater, to form flakes of magnetic sludge in water; and separating the magnetic sludge from the water.

Abstract: A garment for protecting the head and neck of a user including a garment body with a neck opening. A hood attached to the garment body. A stretchable tubular knitted collar, attached to the garment body approximate to the neck opening of the garment body and inside at least a portion of the hood.

Abstract: A medical training manikin having a body, a model of a lung including inflatable airways communicating with the lung model, and fastener means for selectively attaching the model of a lung to the body. The model of a lung is used to demonstrate various lung functions and ailments.

Abstract: An umbrella with an integral anchoring structure is provided. The umbrella includes a post having a lower end for insertion into the ground, and an upper end for supporting an umbrella top. The umbrella includes an integral spiral shaped anchoring structure formed on the lower end of the post. The anchoring structure is formed with a width, W, greater than a diameter of the post and a length, L, which is adapted to stabilize a weight of the umbrella and secure the umbrella and the post in a variety of earthen conditions such as sand, lawn, and soil even in a prevailing breeze or stormier conditions. The umbrella further includes one or more retractable levers integrally attached along the post.

Abstract: An umbrella with an integral anchoring structure is provided. The umbrella includes a post having a lower end for insertion into the ground, and an upper end for supporting an umbrella top. The umbrella includes an integral spiral shaped anchoring structure formed on the lower end of the post. The anchoring structure is formed with a width, W, greater than a diameter of the post and a length, L, which is adapted to stabilize a weight of the umbrella and secure the umbrella and the post in a variety of earthen conditions such as sand, lawn, and soil even in a prevailing breeze or stormier conditions. The umbrella further includes one or more retractable levers integrally attached along the post.