Abstract: A backpack for carrying pets is provided including a main body having a compartment for carrying a pet, a height adjustable shoulder strap system attached to the main body, a brace attached to the back of the main body, and a harness attached to the brace so that a hole or holes are formed between the harness and a top portion of the main body, allowing the limbs of the pet to protrude from the front of the backpack. The backpack includes rigidity bars that can interlock with the shoulder strap system to provide rigidity to the backpack, so that larger pet breeds can be carried. The main body and brace provide rigidity and adjustable compression to allow the pet to sit up in the main body when carried in the backpack. The main body has multiple entry and exit points for loading and unloading the pet.

Abstract: A backpack for carrying pets includes a main body that has a compartment for carrying a pet, shoulder straps attached to the front of the main body, a brace attached to the back of the main body, and a yoke attached to the brace so that a singular hole is formed between the yoke and a top portion of the main body that defines a paw portal allowing the limbs of the pet to protrude from the backpack. A tail port can be included at a bottom of the main body to allow the tail of the pet to protrude from the main body. The main body and brace provide rigidity and adjustable compression to allow the pet to sit up in the main body when carried in the backpack. The main body has multiple entry and exit points for loading and unloading the pet.

Abstract: A backpack for carrying pets includes a main body that has a compartment for carrying a pet, shoulder straps attached to the front of the main body, a brace attached to the back of the main body, and a yoke attached to the brace so that a singular hole is formed between the yoke and a top portion of the main body that defines a paw portal allowing the limbs of the pet to protrude from the backpack. A tail port can be included at a bottom of the main body to allow the tail of the pet to protrude from the main body. The main body and brace provide rigidity and adjustable compression to allow the pet to sit up in the main body when carried in the backpack. The main body has multiple entry and exit points for loading and unloading the pet.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for recycling magnetic material to restore or improve the magnetic performance One of the methods includes fragmenting magnetic material to form a powder, mixing the powder with a) a rare earth material R and b) an elemental additive A to produce a homogeneous powder, wherein the rare earth material comprises at least one of: i) Nd, ii) Pr, and iii) Dy, and the elemental additive A comprises at least one of: i) Co, ii) Cu, and iii) Fe, and sintering and magnetizing the homogenous powder to form a Nd—Fe—B magnetic product.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for recycling magnetic material. One of the systems includes a gas mixing apparatus for fragmenting and mixing waste magnetic material comprising a plurality of reaction vessels, each of the plurality of reaction vessels comprising an internal liner having a plurality of openings defined therein, each of the internal liners configured to receive magnetic material and facilitate the circulation of gas around the magnetic material through the plurality of openings, and a pump and valve assembly operatively coupled to the plurality of reaction vessels to control the introduction of gas into the plurality of reaction vessels and to control transfer of gas between the plurality of reaction vessels.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for recycling magnetic material. One of the systems includes a system for harvesting a waste magnet from an end-of-life product, the system comprising a positioning mechanism that defines a recess to receive and locate the end-of-life product relative to the positioning mechanism, the end-of-life product including the waste magnet, a separating station to substantially separate a portion of the end-of-life product containing the waste magnet from the remainder of the end-of-life product when the positioning mechanism moves the respective end-of-life product through the separating station, and a transport station that receives the portion of the end-of-life product containing the waste magnet from the positioning mechanism when the positioning mechanism moves the respective end-of-life product to the transport station.

Abstract: Recycled Nd—Fe—B sintered magnets. One of the recycled Nd—Fe—B sintered magnets includes a composition of WaRbAc, where waste material W comprises material from a waste Nd—Fe—B sintered magnet, rare earth material R comprises at least one of: Nd or Pr, and elemental additives A comprises at least one of: Nd, Pr, Dy, Co, Cu, or Fe, and indices a, b, and c indicate atomic percentages of the corresponding compositions or elements and the atomic percentages of the rare earth material R and the elemental additives A have values satisfying Nd[0.1-19 at. %*s(Nd), x]Pr[0.1-19 at. %*s(Pr), y]Dy[0.1-19 at. %*s(Dy), z]Co[0 at. %, d]Cu[0 at. %, e]Fe[0 at. %, f] where [m,n] means a range from minimum m and maximum n, s(t) is the atomic percent of element t in starting composition, x=18 at. %-[81,99.9] at. %*(s(Nd)+s(Pr)+s(Dy)), y=18 at. %-[81,99.9] at. %*(s(Nd)+s(Pr)+s(Dy)), z=18 at. %-[81,99.9] at. %*(s(Nd)+s(Pr)+s(Dy)), d=3 at. %-[81,99.9] at. %*s(Co), e=0.3 at. %-[81,99.9] at. %*s(Cu), and f=77 at. %-[81,99.9] at.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for recycling magnetic material to restore or improve the magnetic performance. One of the methods includes demagnetizing magnetic material from a waste magnet assembly by cyclic heating and cooling of the magnetic material, fragmenting adhesives attached to the magnetic material, cracking coating layers of the magnetic material, and subjecting the magnetic material to at least one of: a) a mechanical treatment or b) a chemical treatment, to remove the coating layers and prepare the magnetic material without impurities, fragmenting the demagnetized magnetic material to form a powder, and mixing the powder with a rare earth material R and an elemental additive A to produce a homogeneous powder, wherein the rare earth material R comprises at least one of: Nd or Pr, and the elemental additive A comprises at least one of: Nd, Pr, Dy, Co, Cu, and Fe.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for recycling magnetic material. One of the systems includes a gas mixing apparatus for fragmenting and mixing waste magnetic material comprising a plurality of reaction vessels, each of the plurality of reaction vessels comprising an internal liner having a plurality of openings defined therein, each of the internal liners configured to receive magnetic material and facilitate the circulation of gas around the magnetic material through the plurality of openings, and a pump and valve assembly operatively coupled to the plurality of reaction vessels to control the introduction of gas into the plurality of reaction vessels and to control transfer of gas between the plurality of reaction vessels.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for recycling magnetic material. One of the systems includes a system for harvesting a waste magnet from an end-of-life product, the system comprising a positioning mechanism that defines a recess to receive and locate the end-of-life product relative to the positioning mechanism, the end-of-life product including the waste magnet, a separating station to substantially separate a portion of the end-of-life product containing the waste magnet from the remainder of the end-of-life product when the positioning mechanism moves the respective end-of-life product through the separating station, and a transport station that receives the portion of the end-of-life product containing the waste magnet from the positioning mechanism when the positioning mechanism moves the respective end-of-life product to the transport station.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for recycling magnetic material to restore or improve the magnetic performance. One of the methods includes demagnetizing magnetic material from a waste magnet assembly by cyclic heating and cooling of the magnetic material, fragmenting adhesives attached to the magnetic material, cracking coating layers of the magnetic material, and subjecting the magnetic material to at least one of: a) a mechanical treatment or b) a chemical treatment, to remove the coating layers and prepare the magnetic material without impurities, fragmenting the demagnetized magnetic material to form a powder, and mixing the powder with a rare earth material R and an elemental additive A to produce a homogeneous powder, wherein the rare earth material R comprises at least one of: Nd or Pr, and the elemental additive A comprises at least one of: Nd, Pr, Dy, Co, Cu, and Fe.

Abstract: Recycled Nd—Fe—B sintered magnets. One of the recycled Nd—Fe—B sintered magnets includes a composition of WaRbAc, where waste material W comprises material from a waste Nd—Fe—B sintered magnet, rare earth material R comprises at least one of: Nd or Pr, and elemental additives A comprises at least one of: Nd, Pr, Dy, Co, Cu, or Fe, and indices a, b, and c indicate atomic percentages of the corresponding compositions or elements and have values satisfying Nd[0.1-19 at. %*s(Nd), x]Pr[0.1-19 at. %*s(Pr),y]Dy[0.1-19%*s(Dy),z]Co[0,d]Cu[0,e]Fe[0,f] where [m, n] means a range from minimum m and maximum n, s(t) is the atomic percent of element t in starting composition; f(t) is the atomic percent of element t in final composition, x=18?[81, 99.9] at. %*(s(Nd)+s(Pr)+s(Dy)), y=18?[81, 99.9] at. %*(s(Nd)+s(Pr)+s(Dy)), z=18?[81, 99.9] at. %*(s(Nd)+s(Pr)+s(Dy)), d=3?[81, 99.9] at. %*s(Co), e=0.3?[81, 99.9] at. %*s(Cu), and f=77?[81, 99.9] at. %*(s(Fe)+s(Co)).

Abstract: A method of improving nitrification in a wastewater treatment plant is provided. The method comprises the steps of a) providing a trickling filter effluent water basin having biological filter media placed on a support platform positioned at least three feet above a bottom of the basin; and (b) contacting the filter media with the wastewater. Nitrification (removal of ammonia by conversion to nitrate) can be improved at least 30% as compared to a trickling filter without the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydraulic pump or hydraulic motor having an orbiting cardan shaft. The hydraulic pump or motor includes a housing having an end cover and a port plate. The cardan shaft is mounted in the housing and extends through the port plate. A rotation speed sensor is fixed to the port plate and includes a sensor probe obtaining its signal from the orbiting cardan shaft. A piston may be in contact with the cardan shaft and moving forward and back due to the orbital motion of the cardan shaft. The sensor probe then obtains its signal from the movement of the piston.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for a washing machine having a basket rotatably mounted within a tub includes a motor having a first pulley. A washing apparatus is mounted within the basket. A rotatable shaft has first and second ends, the first end being directly coupled to the washing apparatus. A second pulley is mounted on the second end of the shaft. A drive belt connects the first pulley to the second pulley. An inverter is operatively coupled to the motor. A controller is operatively coupled to the inverter and the motor. The controller is configured to control the motor based on a predetermined agitation profile.

Abstract: A low profile broadband antenna capable of measuring shielding effectiveness (SE) of a shielded boundary above or below ground for permanent installation behind walls, under floors, above ceilings and other areas with limited transverse (as opposed to lateral) available space is provided. A spiral antenna having a wide operating bandwidth is positioned within the interior of an environmentally sealed enclosure. The enclosure likewise has a low profile suited for installation in such locations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling water flow in a wastewater treatment plant is provided. The method comprises the steps of providing a trickling filter effluent water basin having filter media provided over a storage space for water. Water outlet flow from the basin is controlled via a flow weir or other suitable structure, thereby enabling the trickling filter effluent water basin to fill with water and store water when desired. Such storage is particularly useful during wet weather and/or overflow events. A trickling filter effluent basin modified so as to accommodate water storage and methods of modifying existing trickling filter effluent basins are also provided.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for a washing machine having a basket rotatably mounted within a tub includes a variable speed motor including a first pulley. An agitator is mounted within the basket. A rotatable shaft has first and second ends. The first end is directly coupled to the agitator. A second pulley is mounted on the second end of the shaft. A drive belt connects the first pulley to the second pulley. An inverter is operatively coupled to the motor. A controller is operatively coupled to the inverter and the motor. The controller is configured to control the motor based on a predetermined agitation profile.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for a washing machine having a basket rotatably mounted within a tub includes a motor having a first pulley. A washing apparatus is mounted within the basket. A rotatable shaft has first and second ends, the first end being directly coupled to the washing apparatus. A second pulley is mounted on the second end of the shaft. A drive belt connects the first pulley to the second pulley. An inverter is operatively coupled to the motor. A controller is operatively coupled to the inverter and the motor. The controller is configured to control the motor based on a predetermined agitation profile.