Abstract: A total heat exchanger in accordance with a preferred embodiment includes air-guiding means (21), a heat-pipe heat exchanger (31) and a total heat exchange member (41). The air-guiding means is for providing a first airflow from outdoors and a second airflow from indoors. The heat-pipe heat exchanger includes at least one heat pipe (32) spanning across said first and second airflows simultaneously for conducting a sensible heat exchange between the airflows. The total heat exchange member is capable of exchanging sensible heat and latent heat between said first and second airflows, and defines therein a first air passage and a second air passage intersecting with and isolated from each other. A total heat exchange of sensible heat and latent heat between the first and second airflows is carried out in the total heat exchange member when the airflows flow through the first and second air passages respectively.

Abstract: The present invention relates to HVAC units with condensate drainage systems, for use in motorized vehicles. The present invention provides for at least two or dual condensate drain paths with no extra parts required pre-distribution of the treated air from the HVAC unit, the drainage means or channel situated to allow condensate to ‘fall back’ or, to run upstream back from the evaporator in the opposite direction to the air in the main airflow or stream which continues to run downstream from the drainage area to be conditioned by the heat exchanger.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing expandability to a refrigeration servicing unit which includes one or more integrated modules. The modules can communicate with the unit via a wired or wireless connection. The modules can add functionality such as an information module, a refrigerant identifier module, a communication module, a bar code module, and a diagnostic module.

Abstract: An apparatus and method providing a refrigeration servicing system that comprises a clean refrigerant source, a recovery circuit and a flushing circuit. The recovery circuit can be configured to recover refrigerant from a cooling system. After recovery cycle is completed, the flushing circuit that is coupled to the recovery circuit can flush clean refrigerant through the recovery circuit. A housing can be provided and configured to house the refrigerant source, the recovery circuit and the flushing circuit.

Abstract: A cooling-cycle device and a cold/hot water dispenser comprising the same are disclosed. The cold/hot water dispenser includes a water supply source and a cooling-cycle device in a main body to cool water of the water supply source. The cooling-cycle device includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion unit, and an evaporator arranged to constitute a closed circuit through a refrigerant pipe and to allow the water from the water supply source to be cooled by the evaporator. The compressor comprises a closed container, a compressing unit including a compressing compartment to perform compression of refrigerant, a driving unit including a low-speed motor having four poles or more to supply compressing power according to the compression of the refrigerant, and a turbocharger to increase the amount of the refrigerant flowing to the compressing compartment. Even with the low-speed motor employed as the driving unit, the compressor can remarkably reduce operational noise without deteriorating cooling capability.

Abstract: A refrigerator including a main body cabinet including a storage compartment and a convertible compartment divided from the storage compartment; and a cool air providing part including a storage compartment evaporator to cool the storage compartment, a convertible compartment evaporator connected to the storage compartment evaporator in series to cool the convertible compartment, and a cooling fan providing cool air generated in the convertible compartment evaporator to the convertible compartment so as to function as one of freezing or refrigerating. Thus, the refrigerator includes a convertible compartment divided from a freezing compartment or a refrigerating compartment to store food by being provided with cool air separately. Further, the refrigerator prevents cool air in a freezing compartment or a refrigerating compartment from flowing out when a convertible compartment is open.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an anti-frost evaporator pipe of a drawer type refrigerator for preventing frost from being formed on a ceiling portion of a storage chamber of the refrigerator. It is an object of the present invention to provide an anti-frost evaporator pipe of a drawer type refrigerator, wherein by preventing frost from being formed on a ceiling surface of an inner case through a structural improvement in the evaporator pipe installed to the inner case, excessive cooling and spoilage of foods and food damage due to the conversion of frost into water can be prevented and a drawer container can be more smoothly opened or closed, and wherein more precise operating conditions can be set and temperature variation in the storage chamber cannot be produced by using a sensor installed to more accurately detect a status of the storage chamber.

Abstract: This invention relates to a refrigeration system comprising one compressor (10) that via a closed circuit containing a circulating refrigerant is connected to a condenser (14, 14a) and two or more evaporators (21, 28). The circuit comprises a container (19, 19a) or the like communicating with the condenser (14, 14a) and has at least a first outlet communicating with at least one evaporator (21) via a first valve (22, 22a). The container (19, 19a) is arranged to receive and temporarily store a container (19, 19a) is arranged to receive and temporarily store a certain volume of the refrigerant flowing from the condenser. The container (19, 19a) is also provided with at least a second outlet (26, 26a) communicating with one or several of the additional evaporators (28) to circulate the remaining part of the refrigerant through the at least one of the last mentioned evaporators (28) when said volume has been stored in the container (19, 19a), said second outlet (26, 26a) being positioned above said first outlet.

Abstract: A front panel constituted by a synthetic resin molded product is used with respect to a base panel, side panels, and a top panel which are formed of a metal, first retaining means for the side panels and second retaining means for the top panel are provided on the front panel to effect fixation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a unit cooler adapted for use in a refrigerated environment. The unit cooler includes a housing adapted to be positioned within the refrigerated environment and at least one microchannel evaporator coil supported by the housing. The at least one microchannel evaporator coil includes an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold. The inlet manifold has an inlet port for receiving refrigerant, and the outlet manifold has an outlet port for discharging the refrigerant.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a main body cabinet having a first storage room and a second storage room to be divided with the first storage room and respectively cooled, an evaporator having a first evaporating part disposed at the main body cabinet and cooling the first storage room, a second evaporating part disposed at the main body cabinet to be apart from the first evaporating part and cooling the second storage room, and a refrigerant moving pipe connecting the first and second evaporating parts, and a duct guiding cooling air generated by the first and second evaporating parts to the first and second storage rooms to respectively cool the first and second storage rooms, the first and second evaporating parts and the refrigerant moving pipe are formed with one evaporating pipe. The refrigerator forms integrally an evaporator for cooling a first storage room and a second storage room respectively.

Abstract: A cryogenic gas is liquefied using a refrigeration system [101] thermally coupled at an evaporator [125] to a cold end of a gas supply system [103] within a dewar [116]. The refrigerator has a minimum temperature at an evaporator [125] above the boiling point of the gas at atmospheric pressure but below the boiling point of the gas at a high pressure. Thus, the gas is compressed [128] to high pressure so it condenses when cooled by the evaporator [125]. As it expands at a flow restrictor [148], a portion evaporates and cools a fraction to the temperature of the boiling point of the gas at atmospheric pressure, producing liquefied gas. Opening a purge valve [142] sends warm gas upward through heat exchange section [146] and out through a three-way valve [138] for defrosting. To reduce clogging, the gas supply valve [138] is controlled by a gas purity sensor [158].

Abstract: The invention includes a process and apparatus for separating a liquefied natural gas (LNG) stream containing methane and lighter components and heavy hydrocarbon components into a more volatile gas fraction containing a substantial amount of the methane and lighter components and a less volatile fraction containing a large portion of the heavy hydrocarbon components. The process includes splitting the LNG stream into two feed streams, preheating the resulting first feed stream and providing the feed stream to a fractionation tower at two locations.

Abstract: The invention includes a process and apparatus for separating a liquefied natural gas (LNG) stream containing methane and lighter components and heavy hydrocarbon components into a more volatile gas fraction containing a substantial amount of the methane and lighter components and a less volatile fraction containing a large portion of the heavy hydrocarbon components. The process includes splitting the LNG stream, preheating and providing to a fractionation tower at two locations. A tower reflux stream is utilized.

Abstract: A substrate protective film composed of chromium metal is formed on a molding surface of a mold base material composed of cemented carbide. The substrate protective film is oxidized by heat-treatment or ion implantation, so that a surface protective film composed of chromium oxide is formed. A pair of molds having such a constitution are prepared. Softened glass is pressed between the surface protective films of the paired molds, so that optical glass elements are molded.

Abstract: The coefficient of absorption of a pre-selected region of a glass sheet is preferentially increased. The glass sheet may thereafter be sealed to a substrate using a sealing laser. In one embodiment, the coefficient of absorption sheet is increased by irradiating the glass sheet at a wavelength of about 248 nm, preferably through a mask, to produce an irradiated pattern on the glass sheet having a pre-determined shape. The glass sheet is then heat treated, placed over a substrate and sealed to the substrate by exposing the irradiated pattern to a sealing laser light having a wavelength in the range between about 355 nm and 532 nm to produce a glass envelope. The method disclosed herein is useful, inter alia, for manufacturing electro-luminescent devices, such as light emitting diodes (LEDs) and in particular organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs).

Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing glass products of predetermined shape. In the method, a perform is introduced into a furnace and heated to a temperature above the softening point of the glass. The heated portion is subjected to tensile forces and drawn from the furnace through an outlet opening. During processing, inert gas is fed into the furnace. According to the invention, the concentration of gaseous impurities in the furnace is maintained on the same level as in the inert gas fed into the oven. To prevent inflow of undesired gaseous components from the ambient air, a diffusion barrier is established by generating a barrier flow of inert gas in the inlet or outlet openings. This barrier flow has a direction of flow, which is opposite to the direction of the diffusion. The invention provides non-contacting sealing between the furnace and the preform while optimizing the consumption of protective gas. The invention also allows for simultaneous rotation of the preform.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a process for producing a glass tube, preferably continuously. The device comprises a shaft (9) into which a glass melt is introduced, so that the outer profile of the glass tube (1) is determined at least in sections by the shaft, and a shaping means (10), which extends coaxially in the interior of the shaft, for determining the inner profile of the glass tube (1). The shaping means (10) is cooled and the shaft is disposed vertically. The glass melt is cast freely into the shaft (9) while forming a free meniscus. According to the invention, the shaping means (10) is cooled so that the glass melt solidifies in the shaft to form the glass tube (1). The glass passes through the temperature range which is critical for crystal formation within a very short time, so that precise glass tubes can also be produced from readily crystallising glasses. It is also possible to precisely shape glass tubes with any desired inner and/or outer profiles.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for bending glass panels. An upper tier of successive mould carriages defines a number of heating compartments, the last one constituting an actual bending compartment. A lower tier of successive mould carriages defines a number of cooling compartments, which are located underneath the heating compartments. The mould carriages are provided with an open-structured or otherwise highly heat transmissive bottom. The mould supporting carriage is provided with mould bearer elements and the final bending compartment has its lower section provided with ascendable and descendable brace elements, which provide bracing for the bearer elements during a pressing operation performed by means of a male mould. In connection with the brace elements are further provided lifting and lowering mechanisms for brace elements.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a mold for glass press, characterized in that silicon carbide is deposited on the surface of a silicon mold, subsequently the deposited silicon carbide is bonded to a silicon carbide substrate, and thereafter the silicon mold is removed by etching. In this method of fabricating a mold for glass press, the bonding between the silicon carbide deposited on the silicon mold surface and the silicon carbide substrate can be strengthened by interposing a metal thin film.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a hole assisted fiber includes forming one or more slots in the perimeter of the cladding region. A tube is overcollapsed around the perimeter of the cladding region to form one or more channels, where the one or more channels bounded on one side by the overcollapsed tube. A fiber is drawn from the overcollapsed preform. An internal pressure is applied to the one or more channels during the fiber drawing step to form one or more holes of a pre-selected shape within the cladding region.

Abstract: A method for processing a silica-containing soot article includes exposing a silica-containing soot article to a removal gas including bromine such that the removal gas removes chlorine from the soot article.

Abstract: A method of making an optical fiber precursor includes generating vapors from an alkali metal source comprising compound containing oxygen and one or more alkali metals and applying the vapors to a surface of a glass article comprising silica at a temperature that promotes diffusion of the alkali metal into the surface of the glass article. An optical fiber has a core comprising silica and an alkali metal oxide of the form X2O, where X is selected from the group consisting of K, Na, Li, Cs, and Rb, wherein a concentration of the alkali metal oxide along a length of the core is uniform.

Abstract: A deposition burner for an optical fiber preform includes: a first body including a plurality of injection tubes for fusing and emitting raw materials; a second body assembled with the first body in a shape to envelope the outer surface of the first body; a moving member disposed in a vertical orientation between the inner surface of the second body and the outer surface of the first body for moving in a longitudinal direction; and a switch type injection tube opened and closed along the rim of the one end of the first body in response to a movement of the moving member in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for knitting fabric with bare spandex comprising: providing bare spandex yarn; providing hard yarn; drafting the bare spandex; knitting fabric from the hard yarn and the drafted bare spandex with the hard yarn and the drafted bare spandex plated in every course; and contacting the knit fabric with a continuous phase aqueous solution under conditions of temperature and pressure for a time sufficient to set the bare spandex without heating the knit fabric on a tenter frame above 160° C. in air having a relative humidity of less than 50%. The invention further provides a bare spandex-containing knit fabric containing spandex in every knit course that has been exposed to manufacturing process temperature no higher than 160° C. as shown by molecular weight analysis of the spandex and that exhibits wash shrinkage of less than about 14%.

Abstract: A laundry machine (1) in which metal ions produced by an ion eluting unit (100) can be input into water at the last rinsing step. The time for the last rinsing step at which metal ions are input is longer than that for the step at which no metal ions are input. When metal ions are input, in the rinsing step, a strong flow time and a weak flow time are provided, or a strong flow time and a rest time are provided. If any imbalance during drying rotation of the washing tub (30) after metal ion input is detected, a processing different from that carried out if an imbalance is detected when no metal ions are input is carried out.

Abstract: An electrovalve unit for filling a washing machine with a washing liquid has a first inlet for a washing liquid coming from a water supply, and a second inlet for heated liquid, at least one outlet for the liquid coming from the first and second inlet, apparatus for directing the washing liquid towards the outlet, and a device for measuring the temperature of the washing liquid passing through the outlet.

Abstract: A modular laundry system comprises first and second laundry appliances in a horizontal arrangement and first and second single width horizontal modules. The first single width horizontal module is vertically arranged with the first laundry appliance, and the second single width horizontal module is vertically arranged with the second laundry appliance. At least one of the first and second single width horizontal modules is a laundry care module having an associated laundry care function.

Abstract: The flush-in device (1, 1?) is especially provided for a washing machine (W) and has at least one flushable chamber (2) open at the top. In order that during flushing-in, the liquid does not enter into the outer area of the flush-in device so easily, for example, as a result of leakage and/or water of condensation and in order to simplify the construction of the flush-in device, especially in the sealing area and to reduce assembly expenditure, at least one annular channel (3, 3?) at least partially surrounding the upper opening of the flushable chamber (2) is provided, and any liquid which has already penetrated into the annular channel (3, 3?) can be led away from this channel.

Abstract: In order to obtain a low cost washing clothes case capable of washing a delicate clothes stored therein without damage and with sufficiently removing dirt from the clothes, the washing clothes case is for storing laundry therein on washing by a clothes washing machine. The washing clothes case comprises a container made of hard plastics and having at least one opening portion capable of opening and closing, a floating member attached on one of an outer surface and an inner surface of the container, and a plurality of water holes formed on a region of the container at which the floating member is not attached.

Abstract: A double locking handcuff includes an interior spring laterally moveable between single- and double-lock positions. A finger-operated, pivoting cam is disposed within a slot extending through the cuff frame, and has a wide upper end accessible from the top of the cuff and a narrow, leg-like lower end positioned for movement against the spring. For double locking the handcuff, the cam upper end is moved downwards by hand. This causes the cam leg to press against and laterally shift the spring to its double-lock position. Because the cam is movable by hand and without the need for the handcuff key or for finding a double lock slot or pinhole, the double lock mechanism can be easily and quickly actuated. Also, when the handcuff is double locked the cam can be freely pivoted back and forth, providing direct tactile feedback that the handcuff is double locked.

Abstract: A padlock comprises a shackle having a first end and a second end and an arm, the arm being extendable along an axis of the arm. The arm further includes a locking mechanism having an axle pivotally connected to the second end and a plurality of tumblers sleeved into the axle, in which the axle defines an inner channel; and a movable connection component having a head and a shaft connected to the head, and when the locking mechanism is in a first position, the head is attached to the first end and when the locking mechanism is in a second position, only the movable connection component is movable along the axis of the arm and the head is detached from the first end.

Abstract: A padlock having dual unlocking modes includes a body having a movable arm, at least one dialing wheel pivotally coupled on the body, a cam rotated by the rotation of the dialing wheel, a holding plate pressing against the dialing wheel, an elastic element for driving the holding plate in contact with the cam, a lock member being adapted to pressed by the holding plate, and a lock cylinder having an actuation member. The lock member may be driven by the holding plate or by the lock cylinder turned by k key, wherein the lock member may be at a first position interfering with the movement of movable arm or be at a second position without interfering with the movement of the movable arm.

Abstract: A personal property lock assembly mountable to a vehicle may comprise a cable lock, a protrusion with a plateaued surface of a lockbox, a mount coupler comprising a seating surface to seat against the plateaued surface and a mounting mechanism, and a fastener. The lock assembly may comprise one or more locking mechanisms to provide securement to a cable lock that is anchored to a vehicle by way of a coupler. The lock assembly further comprises a cable reel assembly and a cable receiving mechanism operable together to retractably store and allow extension of a length of a cable. A cable locking mechanism removably binds and locks an end portion of the cable operably inserted in the cable receiving mechanism. As referenced herein, various mount couplers are effective for binding the cable lockbox to respective vehicles, which may also be disclosed with alternative embodiments.

Abstract: A lock device includes a lock body operable between a locked state and an unlocked state, a housing mounted on a side of the lock body and having an inside formed with an insertion slot, and a carrier slidably inserted into the insertion slot of the housing. Thus, the carrier is used to support a name card, a key, an illumination assembly or other tiny article, thereby enhancing the versatility of the lock device.

Abstract: A lock 10 for a sliding door or window. The lock 10 includes a hollow body 11 within which there is pivotally mounted a pair of hook tongues 14 and 15. The tongues are driven by rack gears 54 which are operated by a lock cylinder 19. The rack gears 54 move linearly in opposite directions to cause angular movement of the tongues 14 and 15 in opposite rotational directions.

Abstract: A security device for engaging an threaded element includes an inner body configured to engage the threaded element and an outer body operatively coupled to the inner body. A lock is configured to engage the outer body and is operable such that the outer body moves with the inner body when the lock is in an extended configuration and freely rotates relative to the inner body when the lock is in a retracted configuration.

Abstract: There are provided a method of treating organic waste, which is excellent in the smooth temperature elevation in the early stage of the treatment and satisfactory in temperature-maintenance in a high temperature range, and by which the stable treatment of organic waste is achieved and the evaporation of moisture is promoted, thereby a stable effect of treating organic waste and an increased treatment scale being achieved; an agent for treating organic waste; and microorganisms to be used therein. The method is characterized by the use of a mesophilic bacterium showing its activity at 15 to 50° C. and a thermophilic bacterium showing its activity at 50 to 70° C. in the organic waste. As the mesophilic bacteria, bacteria which have an exothermic action and form spores under a temperature of 50° C. or higher are preferable and Bacillus subtilis is more preferable. Among these bacteria, a C-3102 strain (FERM BP-1096) is especially preferable.

Abstract: A method for producing a fertilizer containing organics is described. The method comprises the steps of: a) industrially processing organic material biologically to form an activated sludge or a humus like material; b) removing water from the humus like material to form a synthetic humus and a first intermediate water stream; and c) forming the synthetic humus into agglomerates wherein the agglomerates are suitable for transportation and large scale application as a fertilizer. The method allows the production of organic fertilizers on an industrial scale and allows the products produced by the method to be utilised in composing green waste.

Abstract: By touching a band type transfer mold member 13 formed with micro protrusion and recess parts 13a thereon on a can 11 and holding and pressing the can 11 and the band type transfer mold member 13 with a pattern surface forming mold member 14 and a press-supporting mold member 15, a micro protrusions and recesses pattern 12 is transferred to the can. By using separate transfer mold members of the band type transfer mold member having the micro protrusion and recess parts and the pattern surface forming mold member having the pattern surface forming part to form the micro protrusion and recess patterns, the band type transfer mold member can be moved little by little or by a length equivalent to the circumference of the can or can be replaced in accordance with the number of cans to be processed whereby continuous transfer can be realized without being affected by build-up due to clogging or wear of the micro protrusions and recesses and a large scale production at a high speed can be achieved.

Abstract: By employing a Cr-plated mandrel bar for producing hot seamless tubes according to the present invention wherein centerline average roughness Ra in axial and circumferential directions as well as maximum depth Rv in axial and circumferential directions is specified and further maximum height Rp in axial and circumferential is specified, surface defects such as seizure unlikely generate in an elongation-rolling process by a mandrel mill so that the service life can be dramatically extended, thereby the remarkable reduction of tool cost can be achieved. Moreover, it contributes greatly to improve the inner surface quality of hot seamless tubes to be rolled by a mandrel mill rolling process. Also, the manufacturing method by the present invention makes it possible to efficiently manufacture Cr-plated mandrel bar for producing hot seamless tubes.

Abstract: An apparatus that continuously processes a metal workpiece without substantially altering its cross section includes a wheel member having an endless circumferential groove, and a stationary constraint die that surrounds the wheel member, covers most of the length of the groove, and forms a passageway with the groove. The passageway has a rectangular shaped cross section. An abutment member projects from the die into the groove and blocks one end of the passageway. The wheel member rotates relative to the die in the direction toward the abutment member. An output channel in the die adjacent the abutment member has substantially the same cross section as the passageway. A metal workpiece is fed through an input channel into the passageway and carried in the groove by frictional drag in the direction towards the abutment member, and is extruded through the output channel without any substantial change in cross section.

Abstract: A robotic bending apparatus for bending archwires and other types of elongate, bendable medical devices into a desired configuration includes a first gripping tool and a moveable gripping tool. The first gripping tool can be either fixed with respect to a base or table for the robot or positioned at the end of robot am. The moveable gripping tool is mounted to the end of a moveable robot arm having a proximal portion also mounted to the base. The robot preferably comprises a six axis bending robot, in which the distal end of the moveable arm can move relative to the fixed gripping tool about three translational axes and three rotational axes. The gripping tools preferably incorporate force sensors which are used to determine overbends needed to get the desired final shape of the archwire. The robot may also include a resistive heating system in which current flows through the wire while the wire is held in a bent condition to heat the wire and thereby retain the bent shape of the wire.

Abstract: A sheet of material formed for bending along a bend line including a sheet of material (30) includes a plurality of dividing slits (37) and a plurality of strap slits (39) formed therethrough. The dividing slits extending substantially along a desired bend line (35) and divide the sheet of material into first and second planar regions (32, 33). The strap slits intersect the desired bend line and adjacent pairs of strap slits form a bending strap therebetween. The bending strap has a longitudinal strap axis intersecting the desired bend line. The sheet of material may be formed of composite materials. A method of forming and using the sheet of material is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for adjusting the static attitude of a head suspension by scanning a region of the head suspension with a laser. A head suspension having a gimbal region is provided that permits a head slider attached thereto to gimbal about pitch and roll axes in response to fluctuations in an air bearing over which the head slider flies. One or more predetermined regions of the head suspension are irradiated by a laser beam by scanning the laser beam across the head suspension regions to affect the static attitude of the head suspension. In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of parallel spaced apart lines are scanned on the leaf spring arms of a flexure with the laser to correct pitch errors in static attitude, and a plurality of parallel spaced apart lines are scanned with the laser in the cross section attached to the leaf spring arms to correct roll errors in static attitude. One or both sides of the head suspension can be scanned to create a desired pitch and/or roll correction.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of highly loadable components by precision forging, e.g., of gas turbine compressor blades with different stress zones, initially provides for the production of a preform in a one-step forming operation, e.g., casting or sintering, with further deformable volume zones with a certain volume concentration in the highly loaded areas. The preform is subsequently finish-forged at a deformation rate which is limited by the respective volumes and is merely directed to the load and strength-specific recrystallization and structural requirements in the critical stress zones of the component.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for applying a working force to a workpiece, using a working cylinder. The device includes a working piston, an actuation chamber that can be supplied with a hydraulic medium, a recirculation chamber that can be supplied with a gaseous medium and a force transmission device that co-operates with the working piston. This allows a transmission or an application of the working force to a workpiece that is as rapid as possible with a technical construction that is as simple as possible.

Abstract: Method of arranging transducers, including non-coplanar interferometer antennas on the outer surface of an aircraft, to minimize phase ambiguities when determining the direction of arrival of a signal received by an array of the transducers and emitted by a source remote from the array.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for measuring the static and/or dynamic friction coefficient of a surface, in particular a natural or artificial grass surface, which device comprises a housing placed on supports, which is to be positioned on the surface to be examined; a rotatable shaft, which is vertically disposed in said housing; a body connected to the end of said shaft that faces towards the surface, which body comprises a contact surface which can be brought into contact with the surface to be examined; as well as measuring means for measuring, during operation, the torque caused by the friction between the surface to be examined and the contact surface of the rotating body. The object of the present invention is to provide a device for measuring the static and/or dynamic friction coefficient of a surface which provides a more reliable and reproducible measuring result and which is furthermore user-friendly and easy to transport.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing the health of an individual by collecting a breath sample from the individual and measuring the amount of each of a plurality of analytes in the sample. The amount of each analytes is measured by fitting a time response curve of a sample-evaluation fuel cell in which the fuel cell sample electrode is contacted with the sample with the analysis based on a function of standard time response curves for an equivalent fuel cell configuration obtained separately for each of the analytes on a fuel cell with equivalent construction as sample-evaluation fuel cell. Each of the plurality of analytes is generally indicative of an aspect of the individual's health. Suitable analytes include, for example, inorganic compounds as well as compositions that exhibit negative reduction reactions at least for a portion of the time response curve.