Abstract: A method for the recognition of spatial proximity relationships in a modular system having module assemblies, each module assembly having a transmitter and a receiver arranged so that the transmitter of a first module assembly corresponds to the receiver of a second module assembly, and each of the module assemblies having a network connection for connection via a communication network to other of the module assemblies, includes: automatically requesting and allocating a network address for each of the respective network connections via the communication network so as to enable an addressing of the module assemblies via the network; and determining spatial proximity relationships of the module assemblies by triggering and evaluating the transmitters and receivers using the communication network via the network connection.

Abstract: A system for providing a Swift Storage Node includes a media library having drives and tapes formatted according to a Linear Tape File System (LTFS). A management system is connected over a first interface to the media library and over a second interface to a Swift Proxy Server. The management system provides a Swift-On-Disk File System Application Programming Interface (API) over the second external interface, uses a Virtual File System (VFS), stores and registers objects in the VFS, controls the media library to move a respective tape into a respective drive, moves the object from the cache data store to the respective tape using the LTFS and updates the VFS. The management system also receives a request over the Swift-On-Disk File System API to read an object, determines in the VFS the location of the object, loads the object using the LTFS and provides the object.

Abstract: A heating device for single cylindrical laboratory vessels (e.g., laboratory test tubes), the heating device including a clamp-like element using a force-fit to encompass at least a part of each cylindrical laboratory vessel, one or more electrical resistance heating circuits located at the interior of the clamp-like element, and grab handles to open and close the clamp-like element, thereby to insert or release the cylindrical laboratory vessel from the heating device.

Abstract: A method for the recognition of spatial proximity relationships in a modular system having module assemblies, each module assembly having a transmitter and a receiver arranged so that the transmitter of a first module assembly corresponds to the receiver of a second module assembly, and each of the module assemblies having a network connection for connection via a communication network to other of the module assemblies, includes: automatically requesting and allocating a network address for each of the respective network connections via the communication network so as to enable an addressing of the module assemblies via the network; and determining spatial proximity relationships of the module assemblies by triggering and evaluating the transmitters and receivers using the communication network via the network connection.

Abstract: A heating device for single cylindrical laboratory vessels (e.g., laboratory test tubes), the heating device including a clamp-like element using a force-fit to encompass at least a part of each cylindrical laboratory vessel, one or more electrical resistance heating circuits located at the interior of the clamp-like element, and grab handles to open and close the clamp-like element, thereby to insert or release the cylindrical laboratory vessel from the heating device.

Abstract: A single-use fractionating device (53) is provided including a laboratory test container (43) for the substances to be fractioned (55), and a receiving container (27) for receiving fractioned substances (57). The containers (27, 43) are interconnected by the fractionating device (53). For the fractionating process, the two containers (27, 43) or the fractionating mechanism (1) with the laboratory container (43) and the fractionating mechanism body (11) with the receiving container (27) are rotated relative to each other. The product to be fractioned is hermetically sealed from the environment during the entire fractionating process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the mixing, homogenizing, extraction, or slurrying of materials, in particular infectious, or malodorous or chemically-aggressive materials (71) in a laboratory test vessel (70) which may be hermetically sealed with a lid (10). A stirrer element (30) is provided in the lid (10) for processing of the material (71) placed in the laboratory test vessel (70), with the stirrer element being connected to a coupling piece (50). Cutting and/or crushing elements (31; 33, 35) arranged directly adjacent to cutting edges (42, 44; 41, 43, 45) on a retainer sleeve (40), comminute the material. The stirrer element (30) is a hollow cylinder (53) and is provided with a central sealing cap (32) such that the homogenate (71) can be manually or automatically diluted or pipetted from the laboratory test vessel (70) by means of a pipette or a needle or disposable tip without removing the disposable lid (10), or analyzed with a sensor or heated or cooled by means of a heating or cooling bar.

Abstract: The aircraft comprises a central cabin, which is located in the center of a circular wing. Several pivotal electric drive units are arranged in a gap between the central cabin and the circular ring. In hover flight, the drive units are pivoted to generate a lift. When the aircraft goes into cruise flight, the drive units are pivoted to generate a forward thrust. Attitude and movements of the aircraft can be controlled by individual or common adjustment of the thrust and pivot angle of the drive units. Due to its simple design, the aircraft is economic and safe in operation. Still it has a high payload for its size.

Abstract: The aircraft comprises a rotor with a vertical axis arranged in a housing for generating a lift exceeding the weight of the aircraft. The housing is essentially shaped as a circular wing. A first way of guiding air is provided for controlling the air stream generated by the rotor, by means of which the position of the aircraft can be controlled in hovering flight. From hovering flight, the aircraft can be moved into a cruise flight, where the lift of the aircraft is generated aerodynamically by the circular wing of the housing and its forward thrust by a propeller. For the transition between hovering flight and cruise flight, a second way of guiding air is provided for controlling the pitch of the aircraft. The structure for the second way of guiding air is arranged outside a zone defined by the air stream of the rotor.

Abstract: The aircraft has a pair of rotors driven to counter-rotate within a housing. The housing has adjustable air guiding discuss for the rotor stream and a airfoil-like outer shape to generate lift at horizontal flight. The air guiding devices include a circular arrangement of a plurality of individual sectors having tangentially extending blades arranged in a zone below the rotors. In each sector the blades are adjustable in their position relative to the rotor stream. In at least some of the sectors, the blades are arranged in pairs for an adjusting movement in opposite relative sense. The air guiding devices allow precise and easy control of the aircraft maneuvers.

Abstract: A reinforcing insert for a tension zone of a ferroconcrete member comprises two or more closely juxtaposed, parallel rods of different lengths and with staggered extremities, each shorter rod being connected at least at its ends to an adjoining longer rod by elongate weld joints of sufficient strength to transfer its tensile stress to that longer rod. The weld joints may be formed by transversely inserting a fusible wire between two reinforcing rods and pressing the latter together with the aid of two electrodes between which a heating current is being passed. Laterally projecting parts of that wire, left in place after the welding operation, may serve as anchor studs and/or as spacers establishing the requisite separation from associated falsework.