Abstract: Apparatus and methods for sampling air-borne particles. According to one embodiment a nozzle is used to generate a jet of fog that includes a gas and liquid droplets. The jet of fog is formed by the nozzle in a way to cause particles in the air surrounding the jet of fog to be drawn into the jet of fog and to further cause the particles to aggregate with the liquid droplets inside the jet of fog. A sample collecting surface is located opposite and spaced apart from an outlet of the nozzle. The sample collecting surface is preferably sloped so that the liquid sample can be forced by gravity off the collecting surface and into a liquid sample container. Inside the jet of fog and on the sample collection surface the liquid droplets merge with one another to form larger sized droplets that are collectable in the liquid sample container.

Abstract: Disclosed is a design approach for intrinsically safe electromagnetic devices such as electrically actuated valves, motors, generators, or transformers intended for and capable of safe operation in explosive atmospheres or environments. The design employs a plurality of electrically insulated, intrinsically safe circuits cooperating to induce, or in the case of a generator, create a relatively large magnetic flux in the ferromagnetic core, or iron, of these devices. A method to construct such intrinsically safe devices is disclosed. These devices can be practically used in machines, mechanisms, valves, and manned or unmanned vehicles intended for safe operation in hazardous environments, for example underground coal mines or ATEX or EX classified facilities.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methods for sampling air-borne particles. According to one embodiment a nozzle is used to generate a jet of fog that includes a gas and liquid droplets of different sizes. The jet of fog is formed by the nozzle in a way to cause particles in the air surrounding the jet of fog to be drawn into the jet of fog and to further cause the particles to aggregate with the liquid droplets inside the jet of fog. A sample collecting surface is located opposite and spaced apart from an outlet of the nozzle. The sample collecting surface is preferably sloped so that the liquid sample can be forced by gravity off the collecting surface and into a vial or other liquid sample container. Inside the jet of fog and on the sample collection surface the liquid droplets merge with one another to form larger sized droplets that are collectable in the liquid sample container.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methods for sampling air-borne particles. According to one embodiment a nozzle is used to generate a jet of fog that includes a gas and liquid droplets of different sizes. The jet of fog is formed by the nozzle in a way to cause particles in the air surrounding the jet of fog to be drawn into the jet of fog and to further cause the particles to aggregate with the liquid droplets inside the jet of fog. A sample collecting surface is located opposite and spaced apart from an outlet of the nozzle. The sample collecting surface is preferably sloped so that the liquid sample can be forced by gravity off the collecting surface and into a vial or other liquid sample container. Inside the jet of fog and on the sample collection surface the liquid droplets merge with one another to form larger sized droplets that are collectable in the liquid sample container.

Abstract: Disclosed is a design approach for intrinsically safe electromagnetic devices such as electrically actuated valves, motors, generators, or transformers intended for and capable of safe operation in explosive atmospheres or environments. The design employs a plurality of electrically insulated, intrinsically safe circuits cooperating to induce, or in the case of a generator, create a relatively large magnetic flux in the ferromagnetic core, or iron, of these devices. A method to construct such intrinsically safe devices is disclosed. These devices can be practically used in machines, mechanisms, valves, and manned or unmanned vehicles intended for safe operation in hazardous environments, for example underground coal mines or ATEX or EX classified facilities.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for detecting biological agents suspended in air in real time. A method includes emitting towards an air sample a beam of monochromatic polarized light whose wavelength corresponds to an absorption maximum of a biological molecule. The method further includes receiving, at different scattering angles, the scattered light beam after passing through the sample and determining that there are particles in the sample that contain the biological molecules of interest if the intensity of the scattered light has a substantially higher peak than the rest of the scattered light. The amount of the biological molecules is then estimated according to the amplitude of the peak. The size of the particles containing the biological molecules is also estimated as a function of the scattering angle where the peak was detected.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system, and the method of application thereof, for washing and decontamination comprising nebulizing means (8) of a mixture of at least one first gas and at least one first liquid, and pressurizing means (1) of said first gas, wherein said pressurizing means (1) are in fluid communication with a first pressure-regulating valve (3) and with a second pressure-regulating valve (4), the first pressure-regulating valve (3) being in fluid communication with a first pressurized tank (5) through first inlet means (31) of said first gas, the first pressurized tank (5) being configured to contain the first liquid, and comprising first outlet means (30) of said first liquid to the nebulizing means (8) through a first valve (6), at a first pressure that is greater than atmospheric pressure, and wherein the second pressure-regulating valve (4) is in fluid communication with said nebulizing means (8), and is configured to pressurize the gas at a second pressure that is greater than atmosp

Abstract: A fog injection nozzle able to generate a swirling cone of fog. The nozzle includes an internal cavity into which a pressurized liquid and a pressurized gas are introduced. The pressurized liquid is introduced into the cavity via a central axial duct of a cylindrical block and the pressurized gas is introduced into the cavity via a plurality of axial through holes disposed about the central axial duct. The axial through holes and radial arms are arranged such that a mixture of the liquid and gas inside the cavity is asymmetrically deflected by the radial arms to cause a swirling tangential component to appear in the conical flow of fog discharged from the nozzle.

Abstract: A system and method for the detection of objects concealed beneath the clothing of a person that includes at least one acoustic wave emitter directed toward the person, where the waves are non-stationary low frequency near-field acoustic waves. At least one acoustic wave detector is oriented towards the person in order to receive any acoustic waves reemitted by the person in response to interaction with the non-stationary low frequency near-field acoustic waves, in such a wat that analysis of the reemitted acoustic waves detected by at least one detector enables the determination of whether the person is carrying any object concealed beneath their clothing.

Abstract: Atomizing nozzle which combines two or more substances introduced through at least a first inlet (10) and a second inlet (50), and sprays the resulting atomized droplets through an outlet (110), capable of optimized flow rate and droplet size through a modular design based on interchangeable disk-shaped modules. When stacked in a hollow cylindrical casing conformed by a first housing (20) and a second housing (120), the plurality of modules conform a first mixing chamber (200) and a second mixing chamber (210) connected through a swirl module (60). Furthermore, when said stacking occurs, the first inlet (10) is connected to the first mixing chamber (200), the outlet (110) is connected to the second mixing chamber (210); and the second outlet may be connected to the first mixing chamber (200) or the second mixing chamber (210) depended on the configuration selected by the user.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system, and the method of application thereof, for washing and decontamination comprising nebulizing means (8) of a mixture of at least one first gas and at least one first liquid, and pressurizing means (1) of said first gas, wherein said pressurizing means (1) are in fluid communication with a first pressure-regulating valve (3) and with a second pressure-regulating valve (4), the first pressure-regulating valve (3) being in fluid communication with a first pressurized tank (5) through first inlet means (31) of said first gas, the first pressurized tank (5) being configured to contain the first liquid, and comprising first outlet means (30) of said first liquid to the nebulizing means (8) through a first valve (6), at a first pressure that is greater than atmospheric pressure, and wherein the second pressure-regulating valve (4) is in fluid communication with said nebulizing means (8), and is configured to pressurize the gas at a second pressure that is greater than atmosp

Abstract: Magnetic vibration damper includes three coaxial elements: a first coaxial element with first permanent magnets, a second coaxial element with first soft magnets and a third coaxial element with second permanent magnets. The first soft magnets are located between the first permanent magnets and the second permanent magnets in a radial direction. The spacing of the second permanent magnets is larger than the spacing of the first permanent magnets. The damper further includes an energy conversion component, such as conductive layers or coils to convert the mechanical movement of the magnets into heat or electric current.

Abstract: Magnetic vibration damper includes three coaxial elements: a first coaxial element with first permanent magnets, a second coaxial element with first soft magnets and a third coaxial element with second permanent magnets. The first soft magnets are located between the first permanent magnets and the second permanent magnets in a radial direction. The spacing of the second permanent magnets is larger than the spacing of the first permanent magnets. The damper further includes an energy conversion component, such as conductive layers or coils to convert the mechanical movement of the magnets into heat or electric current.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for modulating freezing of a liquid substance, said liquid substance being in the presence of a gas phase, the method comprising modulating the temperature of the liquid substance, of the gas phase or of both, and controlling the concentration of vapor of the substance present in the gas phase. The invention further comprises a method for preservation, for example, food or other biological material, and an apparatus for putting said method into practice.