Abstract: An insert assembly for fluid management includes an engagement mechanism and a fluid distribution mechanism with a plurality of fluid connectors configured to transmit fluid therethrough, and a sleeve defining an opening. The fluid distribution mechanism is rotatably coupled to the engagement mechanism such that the two are rotatable relative to each other around a longitudinal axis of the engagement mechanism. An elongated tube extends through the sleeve and at least one valve is coupled to the plurality of fluid connectors by a corresponding fluid line. At a distal end of elongated tube, the elongated tube and valve are coupled via an attachment mechanism, which includes at least one receiving region for releasably receiving the valve. The attachment mechanism, elongated tube and valve form a distal assembly, which distal assembly is configured to be inserted into a port and rest at or near a bottom surface of a covered container.

Abstract: An optical chemical level-sensing device includes an elongated tube for insertion into a top opening of a storage container, with a portion extending above the top of the storage container, which couples to a sealed control unit. A float device resides in the elongated tube in the storage container containing a liquid chemical solution, which includes a target surface configured to reflect optical signals. The sealed control unit includes an optical time-of-flight sensor and a lens that serves as a physical barrier between the liquid chemical solution and the optical time-of-flight sensor, while also allowing optical signals to pass through. The optical time-of-flight sensor emits optical signals through the lens toward the target surface of the float device and measures a return time of reflections of the optical signals off of the target surface to determine a level of the liquid chemical solution within the storage container.

Abstract: This application relates to improvements in environments for microbial testing. Exemplary embodiments provide a uniquely configured tray containing an environment conditioning material, such as an oxygen scavenger material, for use with a cassette assembly. Furthermore, some embodiments provide a cutting mechanism that allows the tray to be reliably breached, thereby exposing the material inside to the environment. Some embodiments can cut open the material with specially-configured cutter teeth, which can easily be deployed by twisting or pushing two halves of the cassette assembly.

Abstract: This application relates to improvements in environments for microbial testing. Exemplary embodiments provide a uniquely configured tray containing an environment conditioning material, such as an oxygen scavenger material, for use with a cassette assembly. Furthermore, some embodiments provide a cutting mechanism that allows the tray to be reliably breached, thereby exposing the material inside to the environment. Some embodiments can cut open the material with specially-configured cutter teeth, which can easily be deployed by twisting or pushing two halves of the cassette assembly.

Abstract: A system of food and/or beverage preparation comprises a base station which is configured to down-link signals representative of items available for consumption from a venue, and a user interfacing network unit which is configured to display selectable options representative of food and/or beverage items and which is configured to allow a user to input selections from the items, the inputted selections being up-linked in the form of representative signals to the base station, the base station being further configured to communicate signals representative of the selections to a preparation station, wherein the base station comprises a filtration module which is configured to exclude a selection of down-link signals in response to a user input; whereby the down-link signals are reduced in accordance with the selection and thereby leading to a reduction of displayed selectable options.

Abstract: An arrangement for removing dust from the atmosphere during cleaning of a generally flat surface, such as floor, includes a reservoir for providing water to a nozzle. Also included is an air compressor and a compressed air tank. Compressed air is provided in a controlled manner at an elevated pressure to the nozzle to reduce the water to minute droplets which absorb/encapsulate the dust particles and deposit them on the floor surface under the influence of gravity. A manual or automatic pressure regulator coupled to the outlet of the compressed air tank allows for selecting the air velocity and the size of the water droplets to match the size of the dust particles to increase the extent of dust removal. This dust removal approach can be used with virtually any type of generally flat surface and the compressed air has a siphoning effect to increase the water droplets produced and the dust particles removed.

Abstract: In a mobile floor sweeper/scrubber, a closed hydraulic system directs hydraulic fluid, or oil, to power various subsystems, such as the drive, steering, sweeping, scrubbing, etc., subsystems, which results in heating of the hydraulic fluid to an elevated temperature. The heated hydraulic fluid is provided to a heat exchanger, to which is also providing the scrub water for heating the water prior to application to the floor for improved, more efficient cleaning of the floor. This arrangement allows for the use of higher scrub water temperatures without using a dedicated system limited to the generation of higher scrub water temperatures, or without operating the sweeper/scrubber's drive motor at elevated temperatures higher than its specified normal operating temperature. The use of heated or ambient scrub water can be selected as desired by the sweeper/scrubber operator.

Abstract: An arrangement for removing dust from the atmosphere during cleaning of a generally flat surface, such as floor, includes a reservoir for providing water to a nozzle. Also included is an air compressor and a compressed air tank. Compressed air is provided in a controlled manner at an elevated pressure to the nozzle to reduce the water to minute droplets which absorb/encapsulate the dust particles and deposit them on the floor surface under the influence of gravity. A manual or automatic pressure regulator coupled to the outlet of the compressed air tank allows for selecting the air velocity and the size of the water droplets to match the size of the dust particles to increase the extent of dust removal. This dust removal approach can be used with virtually any type of generally flat surface and the compressed air has a siphoning effect to increase the water droplets produced and the dust particles removed.