Abstract: An apparatus and system for reducing or controlling water consumption in bathrooms includes a housing and is configured to receive data from water consumption locations. The housing includes a motion sensor to detect movement in a threshold distance from the apparatus as a first indication of activity, an audio sensor to monitor sound of running water as a second indication of activity, optionally a humidity sensor to monitor ambient humidity as a third indication of activity, optionally an ambient temperature sensor, a controller to qualify data received from the sensors by an algorithm, a transmitter to transmit data to an external unit, optionally via a mobile device, by low power signals, and an identification mechanism readable or scannable by a mobile device and configured to include output data based on qualified data for reducing or controlling water consumption.

Abstract: A method for the production of a clay or cementitious construction unit, such as a paving block or slab, having a textured face surface, comprising contacting the intended face surface of an incompletely hardened, free-standing, self-supporting clay or cementitious construction unit (2), (3), with a water-absorbent porous membrane (6), for example of paper or other non-woven fibrous material, contacting the membrane-covered surface of the unit with the contact surface of a vibratable element (9), the contact surface of the vibratable element having a non-relief surface, or carrying a reverse image of a desired relief pattern to be applied to the face surface of the unit, vibrating the vibratable element with vibration head(s) (10), (11), (12) at a frequency greater than 14 KHz while it is in contact with the membrane-covered face surface of the unit, breaking contact between the textured face surface of the incompletely hardened unit and the membrane, and hardening the construction unit.

Abstract: A method for the surface treatment of clay, ceramic or cementitious articles, especially roofing tiles, comprising providing a hardenable, water-containing mass (1) shaped in the form of the article, then covering an exposed surface area of the article with a vibratable plate (3), for example of steel or acrylic, having an upper-surface and a smooth under-surface, such that the latter is in intimate contact with and conforms to the contours of that surface area of the article, thereby providing a plate-covered area of the article, vibrating the plate-covered area of the article, for example via a vibrator head (6), such that vibration is transmitted through the plate, to the surface of the article, and either removing the plate then hardening the article, or at least partially hardening the article with the plate in place.

Abstract: A method for the surface treatment of a substrate, for example concrete roof tiles, comprising spreading a layer of water-containing hardenable paste containing binder and other particles, for example a cement based slurry, covering the paste layer with (a) a flexible membrane or (b) a plate or (c) first a flexible membrane then superimposed thereon a plate, the plate or membrane having an upper-surface and a smooth under-surface, optionally vibrating the membrane-covered or plate-covered area of the paste layer, such that vibration is transmitted through the membrane or plate, to the paste layer, and either removing the membrane, plate or plate and membrane then hardening the paste layer on the substrate, or at least partially hardening the paste layer on the substrate with the membrane, plate or plate and membrane in place.

Abstract: A method for the surface treatment of clay, ceramic or cementitious articles, especially roofing tiles, comprising providing a hardenable, water-containing mass (1) shaped in the form of the article, then covering an exposed surface area of the article with a flexible membrane (3), such as a plastics film, having an upper-surface and a smooth under-surface, such that the latter is in intimate contact with and conforms to the contours of that surface area of the article, thereby providing a membrane-covered area of the article, vibrating the membrane-covered area of the article, for example via a vibrator head (6) applied to a rigid plate (5) overlaid on the membrane, such that vibration is transmitted through the membrane, to the surface of the article, and either removing the membrane then hardening the article, or at least partially hardening the article with the membrane in place.