Abstract: A device for controlling the reflection of incident beams to influence navigation of an autonomous device having a navigation sensor comprising a beam emitter and a beam detector for detecting reflected emitted beams. The device comprises at least one surface having a geometry configured to direct a reflection from the emitted beam in a predetermined direction so that a suitable amount of the reflected beam can be detected by the detector.

Abstract: A method and a device for the playback of digitalized audio signals that are transmitted packet-oriented from a signal source to at least one signal sink, especially a loudspeaker unit, in a motor vehicle by means of an asynchronous bus system. Connected upstream of the signal sink is an audio-signal processing unit demonstrating a data rate converter, which is fed the digitalized audio signals destined for the signal sink from a control unit over a data line by means of a first data interface of the control unit. The control unit has a second data interface for the connection to the asynchronous bus system and for receiving the digitalized audio signals. A data buffer and a controller are arranged within the control unit. A first and second clocking signal provide the clock rates for the first interface and the data rate converter. These clock rates can be changed by a logic unit.

Abstract: A method for preparing a substituted 1,4-quinone methide from a 3,5-disubstituted 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde is provided. Also provided is a method to prepare a 3,5-disubstituted 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde from the corresponding 2,6-disubstituted phenol.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the plasma activated vapor coating of large-surface moved substrates, comprising at least one vacuum recipient, one pump system, one evaporator, one device for holding and transporting the substrates to be coated and at least one arc discharge plasma source, whereby at least one device for generating a magnetic field is included, which device can generate a magnetic field between the evaporator and the substrate, the field lines of which magnetic field are aligned approximately perpendicular to the movement direction and parallel to the transport plane of the substrate, and at least one arc discharge plasma source is arranged such that the axis of the arc discharge plasma source is aligned approximately perpendicular to the field lines of the magnetic field.

Abstract: An amine is prepared by cleaving a carbamate of the formula I wherein R1=hydrogen, alkyl, aryl or phenyl group, R2=alkyl, aryl or phenyl group, wherein R1 and R2 are independently substituted or unsubstituted, wherein the cleaving of the carbamate is performed in the presence of an acid of the formula II wherein R3, R4 and R5 are independently alkyl or phenyl group, wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are the same or different.

Abstract: Provided is a process for preparing a heterocycle by catalytic reaction of an aromatic dinitrile with an amino alcohol, wherein the process includes: initially charging into a reaction vessel the amino alcohol and a catalyst to produce a reaction mixture; adding the aromatic dinitrile into the reaction mixture, which is maintained at a reaction temperature, wherein no solvent other than the amino alcohol of formula (III) is added to the reaction mixture prior to and/or during the catalytic reaction; and after completion of the catalytic reaction, completely replacing, or substantially completely replacing, unreacted amino alcohol with a nonpolar solvent to obtain the heterocycle, wherein the unreacted amino alcohol is present in an amount of not more than 20 wt. %, preferably 3-10 wt. % or less, based on a total weight of the heterocycle.

Abstract: An autonomous coverage robot includes a body, a drive system disposed on the body, and a cleaning assembly disposed on the body and configured to engage a floor surface while the robot is maneuvered across the floor surface. The cleaning assembly includes a driven cleaning roller, a cleaning bin disposed on the body for receiving debris agitated by the cleaning roller, and an air mover. The cleaning bin includes a cleaning bin body having a cleaning bin entrance disposed adjacent to the cleaning roller and a roller scraper disposed on the cleaning bin body for engaging the cleaning roller. The cleaning bin body has a holding portion in pneumatic communication with the cleaning bin entrance, and the air mover is operable to move air into the cleaning bin entrance.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing alkyl chlorides by reacting alcohols with gaseous hydrogen chloride in the presence of a catalyst, wherein the catalyst comprises at least one compound of the structure: wherein R1 is a linear alkyl group having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, R2, R3, and R4 is selected from a hydrogen, an alkyl, an alkenyl, an aralkyl or an alkylaryl group from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, wherein the substituents of R2, R3, and R4 are all identical, are all different or two of the substituents of R2, R3, and R4 type are identical.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing substituted or unsubstituted 1,7-diolefins by hydrodimerizing non-cyclic olefins having at least two conjugated double bonds in the presence of a reducing agent and of a catalyst, wherein the catalyst used is a metal-carbene complex.

Abstract: An olefinically unsaturated monomer is stabilized by a retarder-containing composition which comprises a solvent and a quinone methide as a retarder.

Abstract: A continuous process for decarboxylating carboxylic acids proceeds by I.) initially charging a carbonyl compound as a catalyst in a solvent at reaction temperature, to obtain a catalyst solution; II.) metering a carboxylic acid into the catalyst solution as an aqueous solution, aqueous suspension or as a water-comprising solid, to obtain a reaction mixture; and III.) continuously removing a mixture of CO2, solvent, water and a reaction product or mixture of reaction products from the reaction mixture as a vapor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing an alcoholic solution of an alkali metal alkoxide from alkali metal hydroxide and alcohol in a reaction column, the alcohol and the alkali metal hydroxide being conducted in countercurrent, which is characterized in that a reflux ratio of at least is established in the reaction column.

Abstract: An amine is prepared by cleaving a carbamate of the formula I wherein R1=hydrogen, alkyl, aryl or phenyl group, R2=alkyl, aryl or phenyl group, wherein R1 and R2 are independently substituted or unsubstituted, wherein the cleaving of the carbamate is performed in the presence of an acid of the formula II wherein R3, R4 and R5 are independently alkyl or phenyl group, wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are the same or different.

Abstract: A device for filling cigarette tubes with tobacco, wherein the device comprises at least one separating means adapted to detach a tobacco portion from a tobacco block and at least one portioning means adapted to portion the tobacco block, at least one transport means adapted to transport the tobacco block towards the separating means, wherein the portioning means and the transport means are coupled such that the transport means transports the tobacco block in a number of transport steps, and at least one filling means adapted to fill a cigarette tube with the detached tobacco portion. The device further comprises at least one blocking means adapted to block the transport means after each transport step until the at least one filling means has been operated.

Abstract: A continuous process for decarboxylating carboxylic acids proceeds by I.) initially charging a carbonyl compound as a catalyst in a solvent at reaction temperature, to obtain a catalyst solution; II.) metering a carboxylic acid into the catalyst solution as an aqueous solution, aqueous suspension or as a water-comprising solid, to obtain a reaction mixture; and III.) continuously removing a mixture of CO2, solvent, water and a reaction product or mixture of reaction products from the reaction mixture as a vapor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for filling cigarette tubes with tobacco, wherein the device comprises at least one suitable separating means by means of which the tobacco can be detached from a tobacco block, and also at least one suitable filling means with which the cigarette tube can be filled with the tobacco, wherein the device comprises at least one suitable portioning means for the portioning of a tobacco block.

Abstract: A process for isolating purified 2-methoxypropene from a mixture which comprises 2,2-dimethoxypropane, 2-methoxypropene, methanol, acetone, and optionally other carbonyl group-containing compounds, which process involves subjecting the mixture to distillation, adding 2-aminoethanol and at least one base as assistants in the distillation, and isolating purified 2-methoxypropene.

Abstract: 4-alkylpyrimidine is produced by reacting formamide with a formyl methyl alkyl ketone diacetal without the addition of water at a temperature that allows removal of the 4-alkylpyrimidine from the reaction mixture by distillation. The process is readily applicable on an industrial scale and succeeds without the addition of water or ammonium chloride as a catalyst and permits the production of 4-alkylpyrimidine in good yields and excellent purities without time-consuming extraction steps.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing alkyl chlorides by reacting alcohols with gaseous hydrogen chloride in the presence of a catalyst, wherein the catalyst comprises at least one compound of the structure: wherein R1 is a linear alkyl group having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, R2, R3, and R4 is selected from a hydrogen, an alkyl, an alkenyl, an aralkyl or an alkylaryl group from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, wherein the substituents of R2, R3, and R4 are all identical, are all different or two of the substituents of R2, R3, and R4 type are identical.

Abstract: A process for isolating purified 2-methoxypropene from a mixture which comprises 2,2-dimethoxypropane, 2-methoxypropene, methanol, acetone, and optionally other carbonyl group-containing compounds, which process involves subjecting the mixture to distillation, adding 2-aminoethanol and at least one base as assistants in the distillation, and isolating purified 2-methoxypropene.