Abstract: The present invention refers to a method for preparing a network of nanowires; to a network of nanowires obtainable by said method; to a nonwoven material comprising the network, to an electrode comprising the network, to the use of the network of nanowires and to the use of the nonwoven material.

Abstract: A floating platform for high-power wind turbines, comprising a concrete substructure, said concrete substructure forming the base of the platform, which remains semi-submerged in the operating position, and consisting of a square lower slab on which a series of beams and five hollow reinforced concrete cylinders are constructed, distributed at the corners and the center of said lower slab; a metal superstructure supported on the concrete substructure and forming the base for connection with the wind turbine tower, said tower being coupled at the center thereof; and metal covers covering each of the cylinders, on which the metal superstructure is supported and to which vertical pillars are secured, linked together by beams, which join at the central pillar by an element whereon the base of the wind turbine tower is secured.

Abstract: A floating platform for high-power wind turbines, comprising a concrete substructure, said concrete substructure forming the base of the platform, which remains semi-submerged in the operating position, and consisting of a square lower slab on which a series of beams and five hollow reinforced concrete cylinders are constructed, distributed at the corners and the center of said lower slab; a metal superstructure supported on the concrete substructure and forming the base for connection with the wind turbine tower, said tower being coupled at the center thereof; and metal covers covering each of the cylinders, on which the metal superstructure is supported and to which vertical pillars are secured, linked together by beams, which join at the central pillar by an element whereon the base of the wind turbine tower is secured.

Abstract: A device for protecting against the scouring of granular fillings submerged in gravity structures in which a filling with granular materials must be deposited once the structures are submerged, so that the structures reach a weight sufficient to en sure the stability thereof against the actions to which they are subjected. The device consists of one or more porous covers that sit and/or are secured as an upper closure of the structure to protect the inner filling, each of the covers having a plurality of openings that are distributed on the surface thereof and have a size suitable to allow the passage of the filling material, which filling material is transferred to the inside of the structure simply by pouring until a height close to the cover is reached, leaving a margin or chamber between the two that is suitable for generating an internal turbulence that dissipates wave energy and incident currents, thereby making it difficult for the filling material to escape from the inside through the openings.

Abstract: A gravity-based foundation for the installation of offshore wind turbines, manufactured in a floating dock for towing to the final destination thereof, where it is anchored and finally completely submerged below sea level, comprising a concrete floating caisson, in the shape of a prism, with a hexalobular base, divided into several cells by at least one partition with a significantly circular cross section, concentric with a central cell, determining inner vertical cells interconnected with each other and with the exterior, which is closed at the top by a cover or covers that are removed once the foundation is anchored before being filled with a ballast material.

Abstract: A device for protecting against the scouring of granular fillings submerged in gravity structures in which a filling with granular materials must be deposited once the structures are submerged, so that the structures reach a weight sufficient to en sure the stability thereof against the actions to which they are subjected. The device consists of one or more porous covers that sit and/or are secured as an upper closure of the structure to protect the inner filling, each of the covers having a plurality of openings that are distributed on the surface thereof and have a size suitable to allow the passage of the filling material, which filling material is transferred to the inside of the structure simply by pouring until a height close to the cover is reached, leaving a margin or chamber between the two that is suitable for generating an internal turbulence that dissipates wave energy and incident currents, thereby making it difficult for the filling material to escape from the inside through the openings.

Abstract: A gravity-based foundation for the installation of offshore wind turbines, manufactured in a floating dock for towing to the final destination thereof, where it is anchored and finally completely submerged below sea level, comprising a concrete floating caisson, in the shape of a prism, with a hexalobular base, divided into several cells by at least one partition with a significantly circular cross section, concentric with a central cell, determining inner vertical cells interconnected with each other and with the exterior, which is closed at the top by a cover or covers that are removed once the foundation is anchored before being filled with a ballast material.

Abstract: A method for continuously preparing solvent-free open-cell and closed-cell polyimide foams, firstly, one or a few of dianhydrides dissolve in or suspend in the polyhydric alcohol and form the precursor A. All kinds of additives dissolve in the polyhydric alcohol and form the precursor B. The aromatic isocyanates with different structure mix well and form the precursor C. Finally the three precursors are mixed foaming by one-step, after solidify, the polyimide foams are obtained with advantage performance. The method does not utilize the volatile solvent that does not participate in the reaction, therefore not existing the process of removing the solvent, it can continuously produce with the double-side heat conveyor belt. CO2, the main gas producing in the reaction, causes the system to foam, thus there is no cost on the solvent recovery and it reduces the environment contamination.

Abstract: The finger loop for detaching a charging cable from an electronic device is a device that is attached to the plug of a cable that forms a loop. The loop is used as a grip that the user can use to withdraw the plug from the port it is plugged into. The finger loop for detaching a charging cable from an electronic device is attached to the plug of a cable using an adhesive. The finger loop for detaching a charging cable from an electronic device comprises an elastic tab, a third adhesive, and a fourth adhesive.

Abstract: A method for continuously preparing solvent-free open-cell and closed-cell polyimide foams, firstly, one or a few of dianhydrides dissolve in or suspend in the polyhydric alcohol and form the precursor A. All kinds of additives dissolve in the polyhydric alcohol and form the precursor B. The aromatic isocyanates with different structure mix well and form the precursor C. Finally the three precursors are mixed foaming by one-step, after solidify, the polyimide foams are obtained with advantage performance. The method does not utilize the volatile solvent that does not participate in the reaction, therefore not existing the process of removing the solvent, it can continuously produce with the double-side heat conveyor belt. CO2, the main gas producing in the reaction, causes the system to foam, thus there is no cost on the solvent recovery and it reduces the environment contamination.

Abstract: Expanded products, more specifically, rigid or semi-flexible foams of low density from 1.5 to 12 lbs/ft3 or more, with closed cells can be manufactured. The products have a PVC backbone with branches with methacrylate crosslinked with isocyanate through a reaction activated by ultraviolet or microwave radiation. The use of polyfunctional monomers that are sensitive to irradiation yields a higher cross-link density, which improves the physical and mechanical properties such as hardness, resistance to abrasion, ductility, and resistance to friction. The selection of monomers and oligomers allows the manufacturer to determine of the final properties of the foam. The process yields foams with extreme hardness and better shear factors making the foam an ideal product for aerospace and windmill use. These physical properties emerge during the post-curing process, preferably by use of compounds based on methacrylates in dispersion with PVC and isocyanates.

Abstract: Expanded products, more specifically, rigid or semi-flexible foams of low density from 1.5 to 12 lbs/ft3 or more, with closed cells can be manufactured. The products have a PVC backbone with branches with methacrylate crosslinked with isocyanate through a reaction activated by ultraviolet or microwave radiation. The use of polyfunctional monomers that are sensitive to irradiation yields a higher cross-link density, which improves the physical and mechanical properties such as hardness, resistance to abrasion, ductility, and resistance to friction. The selection of monomers and oligomers allows the manufacturer to determine of the final properties of the foam. The process yields foams with extreme hardness and better shear factors making the foam an ideal product for aerospace and windmill use. These physical properties emerge during the post-curing process, preferably by use of compounds based on methacrylates in dispersion with PVC and isocyanates.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a steam iron (1) equippped with an electrically heatable soleplate (9) and having a residual heat warning device (16) which operates preferably independently of the line voltage and issues a flashing warning signal via a light emitting diode (17) when the temperature of the soleplate (9) exceeds a threshold temperature of about 60° C. Due to a capacitor which is chargeable during operation of the iron, a preferred warning system is operable also when the iron is disconnected from the supply after use.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an electric pressing iron having a pressing iron body portion made of silicon containing cast aluminum and equipped with an electric heating unit and with a plate-shaped soleplate made of low-silicon aluminum and secured to the pressing iron body portion in a heat-conducting relationship thereto. In order to utilize the advantages of good formability and thermal conductivity afforded by the aluminum soleplate while at the same time obtaining high corrosion and wear resistance and excellent hardness characteristics with reasonable economy of manufacture, it is proposed providing the soleplate with a nickel and/or chromium containing coating applied by electrodeposition to the soleplate to a thickness of more than 40 &mgr;m, said coating being structured to increase progressively in hardness outwardly towards the ironing side of the aluminum soleplate. Furthermore, the invention is directed to a method of manufacturing such an electric pressing iron.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a steam iron with a water reservoir for the supply of water to an evaporation chamber in which the fed water is convertible into steam and which is connectable to at least one first and one second steam discharge port (18, 15), with a heating element (14) for heating both the evaporation chamber and a soleplate (1-12, 46), said soleplate having an ironing surface (39) and a nose (20) at its forward end when viewed in the direction of movement, and said first steam discharge port (18) being arranged in such close proximity to the iron's nose (20) that the steam propagates in the area adjacent to the iron's nose (20). The first and the second steam discharge port (18, 15) are formed in the soleplate (1-12, 46) such as to be at a height of less than 10 mm relative to the ironing surface (39). Further, the first and the second steam discharge port (18, 15) are in balanced pressure communication with each other. Provision is made for distinct steaming and drying zones.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a smoothing iron having a shoe and a soleplate, in which the shoe and the soleplate are joined to each other by an adhesive. The spacing between the shoe and the soleplate varies across the shoe. The space between the shoe and the soleplate is filled with the adhesive. No prior mechanical treatment or heating of the shoe and/or the soleplate is required.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a smoothing iron having an approximately triangular metal soleplate including a sliding surface 4 and an edge area 6 encircling the sliding surface and overlapping it partially. The edge area 6 is bent in an upward and inward direction at an angle of 35.degree., maximum, relative to the sliding surface 4. At the tips of the triangle, the edge area includes a slot 8 formed by the side edges of a notch cut in the blanked metal soleplate. The edge area is angled by a forming operation involving several steps.

Abstract: A soleplate for a steam iron includes a plurality of beads. Each bead incorporates therein at least two steam outlet openings. The steam outlet openings located on the side close to the outer edge of the soleplate are larger than the steam outlet openings located on the side remote from the outer edge of the soleplate. The larger steam outlet openings are arranged in the front portion of the soleplate, with the smaller steam outlet openings arranged in the rear portion. The number of steam outlet openings per bead increases towards the pointed end of the soleplate.

Abstract: An insulated wire is wound into a cylindrical coil by being continuously introduced into an annular space between a cylindrical core and a cylindrical sleeve coaxially surrounding same above a supporting surface which is rotated about their axis at an angular velocity W, the wire being fed in at a linear speed V. A processor is programmed to vary the ratio V/W according to the relationship(V/W).sub.i =.pi.[D+2d)(a.sub.i -1)]where D is the diameter of the core, d is the wire diameter and a.sub.i is an integer representing the order number of the i.sup.th turn of a spiral path, counted from the core surface, along which the wire is laid in a succession of flat layers piled one atop the other. Each layer consists of n contiguous turns following one another in a radially outward direction in odd-numbered layers and in a radially inward direction in even-numbered layers, with decrementation or incrementation of the ratio V/W at the end of each turn.