Abstract: A method of rehabilitating a network of underground water conduits having at least one lateral opening and a membrane for that purpose is disclosed. The method comprising the steps of blocking and sealing the at least one lateral opening with a membrane impregnated with a hardening resin positioned over the at least one lateral opening, and allowing the resin to harden thereby forming a rigid membrane over the at least one lateral opening.

Abstract: This patent provides a series of new and innovative assembled tubular heating elements of large sizes that are divided into three avenues of invention. These avenues of invention yield much higher radiant heat efficiency, than those of the prior art, without excessive use of ceramic type powders, with lower surface temperatures and without the emission of glowing light. These heating elements, when used in radiant heaters for the applications of indoor space heating, furnish the highest radiant heat efficiencies than any other radiant heater of the prior art used for this application, and with equivalent overall heater dimensions, or surface area. For the applications of high ceiling spaces and for spot heating, these new heating element designs render radiant heaters able to provide radiant heat efficiencies near those using quartz lamps, but without their fragility and lack of durability.

Abstract: A seamless tubular liner for repairing an underground or surface pipe is disclosed, including circumferential wefts consisting of slivers comprising a plurality of staple fibers bundled together, the slivers adapted to elongate through disentanglement of the bundled staple fibers when the seamless tubular liner is subjected to an inflation pressure such that the diameter of the tubular liner is able to expand to accommodate variations of diameter of the pipe being repaired.

Abstract: A system has a first transmitter for transmitting a first wireless signal within a first frequency. A second transmitter is for transmitting a second wireless signal with overlapping frequency. The first transmitter and the second transmitter are disposed sufficiently proximate to another such that the wireless signals substantially interfere resulting in a combined wireless signal with negative SNR for each of the first wireless signal and the second wireless signal, the negative SNR being a result of at least the other of the first wireless signal and the second wireless signal. A receiver is located for receiving a received wireless signal comprising substantially interfering encoded data signals having negative SNR. The receiver is for selecting from the substantially interfering encoded data signals a signal of interest and for decoding said signal of interest relative to at least the other substantially interfering data signal within the received wireless signal.

Abstract: A drilling apparatus for drilling from inside a conduit having at least one service entrance is described. The drilling apparatus comprises a robot; an elongated flexible appliance having a first end and a second end, the elongated flexible appliance connected to the robot; a rotatable drill head connected to the second end of the elongated flexible appliance; the elongated flexible appliance driven by the robot to extend the rotatable drill head inside the service entrance by at least 8 cm and to retract the rotatable drill head out of the at least one service entrance. The apparatus further comprises means to bend the elongated flexible appliance to orient the drill head connected thereto perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the conduit.

Abstract: An apparatus for rehabilitating an underground water conduit having at least one service entrance including a plug having a light emitter which is responsive to the presence of an electromagnetic field, wherein the at least one service entrance is plugged with the plug and a semi-transparent membrane lining the internal surface of the underground water conduit thereby covering the plug. A drilling head is disposed on a body moveable within the underground water conduit, the drill head having a drill bit and a coil inductor concentric with the drill bit. The coil inductor is adapted to generate an electromagnetic field near the drilling head, wherein the light emitter of the plug is adapted to be turned on by the electromagnetic field emitted by the coil inductor to allow visual alignment of the drill bit with the light emitted by the light emitter through the semi-transparent membrane.

Abstract: An apparatus for rehabilitating an underground water conduit having at least one service entrance including a plug having a light emitter which is responsive to the presence of an electromagnetic field, wherein the at least one service entrance is plugged with the plug and a semi-transparent membrane lining the internal surface of the underground water conduit thereby covering the plug. A drilling head is disposed on a body moveable within the underground water conduit, the drill head having a drill bit and a coil inductor concentric with the drill bit. The coil inductor is adapted to generate an electromagnetic field near the drilling head, wherein the light emitter of the plug is adapted to be turned on by the electromagnetic field emitted by the coil inductor to allow visual alignment of the drill bit with the light emitted by the light emitter through the semi-transparent membrane.

Abstract: A drilling apparatus for drilling from inside a conduit having at least one service entrance is described. The drilling apparatus comprises a robot; an elongated flexible appliance having a first end and a second end, the elongated flexible appliance connected to the robot; a rotatable drill head connected to the second end of the elongated flexible appliance; the elongated flexible appliance driven by the robot to extend the rotatable drill head inside the service entrance by at least 8 cm and to retract the rotatable drill head out of the at least one service entrance. The apparatus further comprises means to bend the elongated flexible appliance to orient the drill head connected thereto perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the conduit.

Abstract: A structural liner for reinforcing existing underground water conduits to resist earthquakes and landslides adapted for insertion into underground water conduits without having to excavate are disclosed. The reinforcement structural device consists of a seamless woven tubular sheath impregnated with a hardening resin which is adapted for insertion into a network of underground water conduits without the need to excavate. The seamless woven tubular sheath consists of continuous longitudinal fiber warp yarn providing tensile strength along the longitudinal axis of the woven tubular sheath and circumferential fiber filling yarn providing tensile strength around the wall of the woven tubular sheath.

Abstract: An apparatus for rehabilitating an underground water conduit having at least one service entrance including a plug having a light emitter which is responsive to the presence of an electromagnetic field, wherein the at least one service entrance is plugged with the plug and a semi-transparent membrane lining the internal surface of the underground water conduit thereby covering the plug. A drilling head is disposed on a body moveable within the underground water conduit, the drill head having a drill bit and a coil inductor concentric with the drill bit. The coil inductor is adapted to generate an electromagnetic field near the drilling head, wherein the light emitter of the plug is adapted to be turned on by the electromagnetic field emitted by the coil inductor to allow visual alignment of the drill bit with the light emitted by the light emitter through the semi-transparent membrane.

Abstract: A method of reinforcing existing underground water conduits to resist earthquakes and landslides and a reinforcement structural device adapted for insertion into underground water conduits without having to excavate are disclosed. The reinforcement structural device consists of a seamless woven tubular sheath impregnated with a hardening resin which is adapted for insertion into a network of underground water conduits without the need to excavate. The seamless woven tubular sheath consists of continuous longitudinal fiber warp yarn providing tensile strength along the longitudinal axis of the woven tubular sheath and spiralling circumferential fiber filling yarn providing tensile strength around the wall of the woven tubular sheath.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for rehabilitating an underground water conduit having at least one service entrance including a plug having a light emitter which is responsive to the presence of an electromagnetic field, wherein the at least one service entrance is plugged with the plug and a semi-transparent membrane lining the internal surface of the underground water conduit thereby covering the plug. A drilling head is disposed on a body moveable within the underground water conduit, the drill head having a drill bit and a coil inductor concentric with the drill bit. The coil inductor is adapted to generate an electromagnetic field near the drilling head, wherein the light emitter of the plug is adapted to be turned on by the electromagnetic field emitted by the coil inductor to allow visual alignment of the drill bit with the light emitted by the light emitter through the semi-transparent membrane.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of iterative multi-layer decoding of a multimedia communication signal, wherein persistent bits from various upper layers of the employed protocol stack are used in error correction decoding at a lower error-correction layer. The method includes saving persistent bits from successfully decoded FEC frames in memory, and using a subset of the saved bits in decoding of future frames. A smart controller is used to analyze frames for the presence and location of persistent bits, for saving thereof in memory, and for inserting saved persistent bits into a next frame at successive decoding iterations thereof.

Abstract: A process for laminating at least one electrode sheet onto an electrically conductive support film is provided. The process comprises heating the electrically conductive support film and laminating the at least one electrode sheet onto at least one side of the heated electrically conductive support film. An apparatus for laminating at least one electrode sheet onto an electrically conductive support film is also provided. The apparatus comprises lamination rollers forming a nip and means for carrying the electrically conductive support film and the at least one electrode sheet to the nip formed by the lamination rollers. The apparatus also comprises a heater for heating the electrically conductive support film before the electrically conductive support film reaches the nip formed by the lamination rollers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for rehabilitating an underground water conduit having at least one service entrance including a plug having a light emitter which is responsive to the presence of an electromagnetic field, wherein the at least one service entrance is plugged with the plug and a semi-transparent membrane lining the internal surface of the underground water conduit thereby covering the plug. A drilling head is disposed on a body moveable within the underground water conduit, the drill head having a drill bit and a coil inductor concentric with the drill bit. The coil inductor is adapted to generate an electromagnetic field near the drilling head, wherein the light emitter of the plug is adapted to be turned on by the electromagnetic field emitted by the coil inductor to allow visual alignment of the drill bit with the light emitted by the light emitter through the semi-transparent membrane.

Abstract: A U-shaped spacer element supporting and retaining a photovoltaic panel assembly spacedly over a rooftop corrugated sheet; one shorter side leg thereof having an oblong bore, the other side leg having an intermediate ridge section. A screw engages into the ridge web and axially clears the shorter leg, anchoring the main body to the supporting rooftop frame elements through the corrugated sheet. The ridge section conformingly abuts against a longitudinal rib of the corrugated sheet. An L-shape bracket inner leg abuts against the main body short leg, the bracket outer leg abutting sideways against a registering portion of the photovoltaic panel assembly. A second oblong bore is made into the outer leg and extends parallel to the plane of the main body base leg. Two bolts engage the oblong bores and adjustably interlock the L-shape bracket to the spacer element main body and to the photovoltaic assembly.

Abstract: A U-shaped spacer element supporting and retaining a photovoltaic panel assembly spacedly over a rooftop corrugated sheet; one shorter side leg thereof having an oblong bore, the other side leg having an intermediate ridge section. A screw engages into the ridge web and axially clears the shorter leg, anchoring the main body to the supporting rooftop frame elements through the corrugated sheet. The ridge section conformingly abuts against a longitudinal rib of the corrugated sheet. An L-shape bracket inner leg abuts against the main body short leg, the bracket outer leg abutting sideways against a registering portion of the photovoltaic panel assembly. A second oblong bore is made into the outer leg and extends parallel to the plane of the main body base leg. Two bolts engage the oblong bores and adjustably interlock the L-shape bracket to the spacer element main body and to the photovoltaic assembly.

Abstract: A system has a first transmitter for transmitting a first wireless signal within a first frequency. A second transmitter is for transmitting a second wireless signal with overlapping frequency. The first transmitter and the second transmitter are disposed sufficiently proximate to another such that the wireless signals substantially interfere resulting in a combined wireless signal with negative SNR for each of the first wireless signal and the second wireless signal, the negative SNR being a result of at least the other of the first wireless signal and the second wireless signal. A receiver is located for receiving a received wireless signal comprising substantially interfering encoded data signals having negative SNR. The receiver is for selecting from the substantially interfering encoded data signals a signal of interest and for decoding said signal of interest relative to at least the other substantially interfering data signal within the received wireless signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of iterative multi-layer decoding of a multimedia communication signal, wherein persistent bits from various upper layers of the employed protocol stack are used in error correction decoding at a lower error-correction layer. The method includes saving persistent bits from successfully decoded FEC frames in memory, and using a subset of the saved bits in decoding of future frames. A smart controller is used to analyze frames for the presence and location of persistent bits, for saving thereof in memory, and for inserting saved persistent bits into a next frame at successive decoding iterations thereof.

Abstract: A stacking apparatus and a method for assembly of electrochemical cells. The stacking apparatus includes at least one stacking head having an adjustable holding member adapted to hold an electrochemical laminate of a pre-determined length and means for adjusting the shape of the electrochemical laminate of the pre-determined length during stacking of a plurality of electrochemical laminates. The electrochemical laminates are assembled in a way that prevents air entrapment between the electrochemical laminates.