Abstract: A new plastic encased anti-ballistic material, one which may be tailored for multi-threat protection. Also disclosed is a method for forming such a new anti-ballistic material or article by describing a method of forming plastic particulates into a multiple skin configuration, usually two skins, which may also have contained therebetween either an expandable plastic material, along with the anti-ballistic material reinforcement for strengthening the plastic article, other filler materials, or combinations thereof. In addition to the materials which can be incorporated into the middle layer between two skins, the present invention also discloses the use of multiple layers of various types of anti-ballistic materials to combat any type of ballistic threat which may happen.

Abstract: A hard armor composite includes a rigid facing and a ballistic fabric backing. The fabric backing is carried by the facing, and includes an array of bundled high-performance fibers. The fibers have a tensile strength greater than 7 grams per denier and a denier per filament ratio of less than 5.4.

Abstract: Ballistic-resistant moulded article comprising a compressed stack of sheets comprising tapes of a reinforcing material, characterised in that at least one sheet comprises woven tapes as weft and as warp, at least some of the tapes having a width of at least 10 mm. A method for manufacturing the ballistic-resistant moulded article is also claimed.

Abstract: A protective shelter offering opposite outer supports and a roof structure extending between the supports, wherein the roof structure comprises a plurality of tray members arranged to receive earth, sand or aggregate material defining an inner skin to provide a first level of protection in the roof structure, and the tray members are arranged to be supported by transverse beams, wherein the transverse beams are arranged to be supported at their respective ends by the opposite outer supports and wherein the transverse beams form a transverse beam bridge across the shelter such that the height of the shelter centrally, and away from the opposite supports is substantially the same as the height of said supports.

Abstract: Lightweight blast mitigating composite panels (10) include a first glass composite shell (14; 152), an intermediate, preferably honeycomb layer (56; 156), a reinforcing layer (60; 160), an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene fiber (UHMWPE) layer (64; 164) and a second glass composite shell (15; 168) adhered together with fire resistant adhesive layers (54; 58, 63, 66; 154, 158, 163, 166). The UHMWPE layer (64; 164) includes top and bottom coatings (70, 71) of fire resistant thermoset plastic preferably in the form of a paste. The panels (10) have use in a wide range of applications including in a blast mitigating overhead storage bin (100). The storage bin (100) includes a main body portion (133) defining a storage area formed from composite unarmored and armored panel segments (137, 138; 128-132).

Abstract: The invention relates to the trigger and firing mechanisms for pistols. The inventive pistol comprises a frame (1), a barrel (2) with a cartridge chamber (3), a cartridge feeding mechanism (4), a fired case removing mechanism and a breech block return spring (12). The breech block (13) is slidable parallel to the barrel axis and comprises a firing mechanism, which consists of a firing spring stop (14), a firing spring (15), a striker (16) having a firing pin tip (17), a cocking notch (18) and rest pads for a firing spring (19) and for a striker spring (20). The breech block (13) includes a mechanism for sinking the firing pin tip (17) in a position, which makes possible the chambering of a cartridge, said mechanism having a striker spring (21), the force of which in a precompressed condition is greater than the precompressed force of the firing spring (15). The striker spring stop (22) is installed in the breech block (13) for fixing the precompressed force of the striker spring (21).

Abstract: A hydraulic positive-displacement machine includes at least two radially or axially spaced-apart groups of cylinder-piston units. The cylinders of the primary group can be made to communicate fluidically with cylinders of the secondary group via intermediate valves. At least two intermediate valves can be switched independently of one another.

Abstract: A hinge mechanism (40) of a variable capacity compressor (1) includes an arm (41) protruded toward a tilting member (24) from a rotation member (21), an arm (43) protruded toward the rotation member (21) from the tilting member (24) to receive a rotational torque from the arm (41) of the rotation member, a pin (51) fixed to one of the arm (41) of the rotation member and the arm (43) of the tilting member, and an axial-load receiving surface (53a, 53b) formed on the other of the arm (41) of the rotation member and the arm (43) of the tilting member and configured to be in contact with the pin (51) so as to receive an axial load produced between the rotation member (21) and the tilting member (24). A position where the pin (51) and the axial-load receiving surface (53a) contact with each other when the swash plate (24) has a maximum inclination angle is located within a range of 27 to 90 degrees anterior, in the rotational direction, to a position (TDC) corresponding to the top dead center.

Abstract: In a rodless cylinder 1, a band accommodating depression 60 having a transverse inner surface 62 extending along the width of a slit 12 of an inner hole 10 of a tube 2 and a wall surface 64 inclined with respect to the transverse inner surface 62 is formed on each side of the inner opening of the slit 12. In the case where one of the edges of the inner seal band 42 comes into contact with one of the wall surfaces 64, the other edge of the inner seal band 42 comes into contact with the other one of the transverse inner surfaces 62, while at the same time securing a distance I between the inner seal band 42 and an inner opening 58 of the slit 12. Once a fluid is introduced into the tube 2, the inner seal band 42 can be bent toward the slit 12 due to the distance I even in the case where one of the edges of the inner seal band 42 comes into contact with the transverse inner surface 62 and the other edge comes into contact with the wall surface 64.

Abstract: The invention relates to a two-part piston (1) for an internal combustion engine, consisting of an upper part (2) and a lower part (3) which is screwed to the upper part. The upper part (2) and the lower part (3) are in contact with each other, partially by means of inner bearing surfaces (25, 26) defining the lower side of an upper ring rib (10) and the upper side of a lower ring rib (11), and partially by means of outer bearing surfaces (28, 29) defining the lower side of the ring wall (9) and the upper side of a collar (27) applied to the lower part (29). In order to avoid frictional rubbing, frictional heat sealing and pressure-related material heat sealing, at least one of the bearing surfaces (25, 26, 28, 29) is easily and economically provided with a chrome layer (30) which has a structured surface comprising a plurality of raised parts and recesses.

Abstract: A CO2 recovery apparatus according to the present invention includes: an absorber (1003) that brings CO2-containing flue gas (1001A) into counter-current contact with CO2 absorbent (1002) to reduce CO2, and a regenerator (1005) that regenerates rich solution (1004) that has absorbed CO2, in which lean solution (1006) having CO2 reduced in the regenerator (1005) is reused in the absorber (1003). The absorber (1003) further includes a CO2 absorbing unit (1010) that recovers CO2 contained in the flue gas (1001A), and the CO2 absorbent (1002) that has absorbed CO2 is extracted from a rich side of the CO2 absorbing unit (1010) to exterior, cooled, and then supplied to a position nearer to a lean side of the absorber (1003) with respect to the position at which the CO2 absorbent (1002) is extracted.

Abstract: A method is provided where carbon dioxide is compressed in a multi-stage geared compressor using a substantially isothermic process to a pressure which lies above the pressure of the critical point of carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide is subsequently cooled to ambient temperature in a cooling device and then compressed to a predefined final pressure in a pump device.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for the removal of gaseous acidic contaminants, especially carbon dioxide and/or hydrogen sulphide, in two or more stages from a gaseous hydrocarbonaceous feedstream (1) comprising hydrocarbons and said acidic contaminants, using one or more membranes in each separation stages. The gaseous hydrocarbonaceous feedstream is especially a natural gas stream. The process is especially suitable for feedstreams comprising very high amounts of acidic contaminants, especially carbon dioxide, e.g. more than 25 vol. %, or even more than 45 vol. %. In a first stage (2) a pure or almost pure stream of acidic contaminants is separated from the feedstream, the acidic contaminants (4) stream suitably containing less than 5 vol % of hydrocarbons. The remaining stream (3) comprises the hydrocarbons and still a certain amount of gaseous acidic contaminants.

Abstract: New and useful system and method concepts are provided, for removing carbon dioxide from a flow of carbon dioxide laden air. More specifically, a sorbent structure is used in new and useful structures and techniques to bind carbon dioxide in a carbon dioxide laden air stream, and process heat is used to separate carbon dioxide from the sorbent structure and regenerate the sorbent structure.

Abstract: Heat-exchangers and biogas conditioners including a heat exchange member disposed between upper and lower flanges of the apparatus in which at least the heat exchange member is formed of a highly thermally conductive material (e.g., at least 50 W/m?K) such as aluminum or aluminum alloy. A bed of zeolite is loaded within the apparatus so as to be in contact with the heat exchange member. The heat exchange member is shaped and configured so that any given location of the zeolite bed is no more than about 3 inches from the heat exchange member comprising the highly thermally conductive material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for simultaneously removing alkali chlorides from an industrial process and purifying vaporizable contaminants such as mercury from a particulate material. Gases containing alkali chlorides are cooled to a temperature above the boiling point of the contaminants and below the boiling point of the alkali chlorides. Particulates rich in alkali chlorides are removed from the gas stream with a first dust collector. The gas stream cleaned of alkali chlorides is directed to a reaction area where particulate material containing mercury contaminants is inserted into the gas stream to vaporize the contaminants from the material and entrain the cleaned material in the gases. The gases are directed to a second dust collector to remove the entrained particulate material, after which a sorbent or chemical reagent is injected in the gases to interact with the contaminants and form a contaminant containing product that is entrained in the gases and thereafter separated from the gases.

Abstract: In order to provide a device for separating wet paint overspray from a stream of crude gas containing overspray particles which comprises at least two filter devices each of which has an inlet opening through which a partial stream of crude gas enters the respective filter device and each of which comprises at least one filter element for separating the overspray from the partial stream of crude gas, which allows one to maintain the fluidity of the mixture consisting of filter aid material and wet paint overspray that has been cleansed from the filter elements in the filter aid material reservoirs in a simple and efficient manner, it is proposed that the device should comprise at least one reservoir for receiving material which has been cleansed from the filter elements of a plurality of filter devices and a mixing device for mechanically blending the cleansed material from a plurality of filter devices.

Abstract: To improve in pulse cleaning of filters, a filter element includes a media pack of Z-media having first and second opposite flow faces and a side wall extending between the first and second flow face. A gasket is secured to the side wall. The gasket has a sealing portion and an attachment portion. The sealing portion has a flat surface at least one inch long and is located between being planar with and 0.5 inches recessed from the first flow face, inclusive. A dust collector includes a housing with a dirty air inlet, a clean air outlet, and an interior; a tubesheet in the housing interior having a plurality of openings; a plurality of panel-style filter elements mounted in a respective one of the openings in the tubesheet; and a plurality of blowpipes, with each being oriented to direct a fluid pulse at a respective one of the panel-style filter elements. The filter elements include a media pack of Z-media, a gasket that is between planar with and 0.

Abstract: An article comprising a microporous membrane. A first porous fabric is laminated to a first side of the microporous membrane. A second porous fabric is laminated to a second opposite side of the microporous membrane to form a laminate with the membrane and the first porous fabric. The laminate has two fabric sides separated by the microporous membrane. A treatment material is applied to the laminate to form a treated laminate. The treated laminate has an oil resistance of at least a number 7 determined by AATCC 118 testing on both fabric sides and has an air permeability through the treated laminate of at least 0.01 CFM per square foot determined by ASTM D737 testing.

Abstract: A device for at least one self-heated and dense ceramic tube for gas separation. The device includes at least one dense ceramic tube in an environment accessible to a mixture of gases, the at least one tube acting as a diffusion membrane for separating at least one gas from the mixture of gases. Two electrical contacts are provided which allow connecting a power supply to the ceramic tube and driving an electric current through the ceramic tube. The contacts can be in the farm of short coils wrapped around the ceramic tube at difference places. When a voltage is applied to the contacts, an electrical current flows from one contact to the other through the ceramic tube. The current in the ceramic tube heats the tube. Thus, the tubes heat themselves. The hot tube allows separating a gas from the mixture of gases. The driving force for the diffusion is achieved by a pressure difference generated by pumping at the side of the separated gas and pressing at the side of the mixture of gases.

Abstract: This cyclone device performs diphasic gas-oil separation to remove oil from the recirculated crank cases of an internal combustion engine. Mounted such that it can move vertically inside the cyclone is a body (7) exhibiting symmetry of revolution, particularly one of cylindro-conical overall shape. The body (7) delimits, with the walls of the cylindrical collecting zone (2) and/or of the conical zone (3) for recuperating the liquid oil, an annular gap (13) such that the passage cross section can vary according to the self-adjusting heightwise position of the body (7), as a function of the gas flow rate. The speed of the gases thus remains constant for variable gas flow rates.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a beverage preparation machine by providing a group of components a) to f), with the components including a brewing unit for receiving an ingredient of the beverage and for guiding an incoming flow of liquid, through the ingredient to a beverage outlet; b) an in-line heater for heating the flow of liquid to be supplied to the brewing unit; c) a pump for pumping the liquid through the heater; d) one or more fluid connecting members for guiding the liquid from a source of liquid to the beverage outlet; e) an electric control unit for receiving instructions from a user via an interface and for controlling the heater and pump; and f) one or more electric sensors for sensing at least one operational characteristic of the brewing unit, the heater, the pump, a liquid reservoir, an ingredient collector, a flow of the liquid, a pressure of the liquid and a temperature of the liquid, and for communicating the characteristic(s) to the control unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a brewing unit (1) for a coffee maker for brewing a ground coffee portion (10), comprising a brewing unit housing (2), an upper plunger (3) firmly connected to the brewing unit housing (2), a holder (4) for receiving the ground coffee portion (10), said holder being open at the top and closed at the bottom by a base (7), and a brewing plunger (6) for compressing the ground coffee portion (10) in a brewing chamber (5). The holder (4) and the brewing plunger (6) are disposed movably and pivotally in the brewing unit housing (2). Mechanical operating elements are provided in the brewing unit housing (2) for raising, lowering, and pivoting the holder (4) and the plunger (3). The brewing plunger (6) is hydraulically guided displaceably in the holder (4) relative to the holder (4). Between the brewing plunger bottom side (14) and the base (7) of the holder (4) a lower chamber space (13) is provided, into which the hot water supply (8) opens.

Abstract: A device for preparing a beverage from a capsule containing an ingredient of the beverage, includes a housing with a cavity to which used capsules are evacuated; and a collection receptacle in the cavity of the housing. The receptacle has an opening for receiving the evacuated used capsules and collecting the capsules. The receptacle has a reception orientation in which the receptacle is arranged to be filled with capsules up to a maximum level of fill in the cavity which extends above the opening of the receptacle in the reception orientation of the receptacle. The receptacle being tiltable or pivotable in the cavity into a removal orientation for allowing removal of the collection receptacle filled with capsules from the cavity.

Abstract: According to embodiments described in the specification, a brewing chamber for a beverage machine is provided comprising a housing having upper and lower ends and a channel extending between the upper and lower ends; an outlet portion of the channel configured to direct liquid towards the lower end; an extraction member extending from an inner surface defined by a wall of the outlet portion, the extraction member having an upper penetrating end for penetrating a cartridge and an anchoring end abutting the wall; the extraction member further having guide means for guiding liquid from the penetrating end onto the inner surface. The brewing chamber can include at least one spring coupled to the housing at the inlet end, the at least one spring receivable within a pocket of a support insert supporting a cartridge. The spring centers the support insert over the housing and facilitates ejection of the support insert.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a device for preparing a nutritional composition by supplying water to ingredients provided to the device comprising a pump (2) being connected to an integrated or external water supply (1), a water discharge head (4) designed for providing water to a cartridge containing ingredients (7) for interaction between water and the ingredients in the cartridge (7), wherein the pump (2) and the water discharge head (74) are in water communication via a water flowpath (50), whereby the pump can supply water under pressure through the water flowpath, a rigid filter assembly (20) comprising at least one antimicrobial filter membrane (30) and filter enclosing means (40a, 40b), wherein the filter assembly (20) and the filter enclosing means (40a, 40b) are complementary configured such that the filter assembly (20) is insertable into the filter enclosing means (40a, 40b) across the water flowpath (50) in a fluid tight manner before the water discharge head (4), and is removable from the filte

Abstract: This invention relates to an automatic pod-conveyor and brewer assembly for fresh hot beverage. The brewer sub-assembly (100) includes a pneumatic cylinder (110) with its piston rod (120) fitted to a brewer plunger (130). An injection nozzle (180) is detachably fixed from underneath to the brewer base (195) with its conical tip protruding into the brewer chamber (150). The single serving pod (160) is a receptacle (510) containing the brewing, infusible or other material (520), covered and sealed with a porous membrane (530). The injection nozzle (180) injects hot pressurized water, received through its interior from a suitable water heating system, into a single serving pod (160) placed within the brewer sub-assembly (100), and the brewed beverage flows out to a dispensing cup through a liquor outlet port (190) in the brewer base (195). The pneumatic cylinder (110) is operated by air solenoid valve (165) with compressed air from a compressed air storage tank (170).

Abstract: A capsule for the preparation of a coffee extract from coffee contained therein and hot water injected under pressure in the capsule by a water injection device. The capsule has a frusto-conical body with a rim, sidewall, and an inlet wall and a lower delivery wall sealed to the rim and contains a predosed amount of coffee. The inlet wall may have a flat or convex portion and a structure in relief or in recess arranged for facilitating penetration of blades belonging to the injection device and extending on a substantially circular path of predetermined radius R1 equal to the radius R2 of the circular path along which the blades of the injection device extend.

Abstract: A drip-style coffee maker includes a stand, a frame projected from the stand and a brewing device on the frame. The brewing device includes a hot water pipe having a spout, a brewing container under the spout of the hot water pipe, and a spray member connected to the spout of the hot water pipe. The spray member has a bottom plate and a plurality of apertures distributed on the bottom plate. A diameter of the spray member is equal to or greater than 45% of a maximum diameter of the brewing container that coffee grounds received in the brewing container maybe brewed in a consistent brewing condition.

Abstract: A device for stirring, frothing and optionally heating liquid foods, particularly for frothing milk, including at least two device parts: First, a freely movable fluid container, which has no electric machine parts and is therefore waterproof and dishwasher-safe, and secondly, a machine part, into the housing of which a motor for a driving magnet and further machine parts, such as a heater and a temperature sensor, can be installed.

Abstract: A spiral continuous-flow heater unit for electrical appliances for preparing hot beverages including a tubular support having at least one thick-film electrical heating conductor structure on an outer side thereof; a core element within the tubular support having at least one helically extending web on an external surface thereof, wherein two adjacent web edges of the web and the external surface of the core element together form a flow channel that is substantially sealingly closed off in the outward direction with respect to a flow duct by an inner side of the tubular support; and a first and a second end member each having a connector port which communicates with the flow duct, wherein each of the end members is fixedly connected to the core element at their a respective end of the tubular support to form a water-tight and vapor-tight seal between at least the tubular support and end members.

Abstract: A chocolate manufacturing machine includes a chocolate dispenser and a chocolate cooler downstream from the chocolate dispenser. There is also a walking beam conveyor to advance a plurality of chocolate molding trays along a path of travel from the chocolate dispenser toward the chocolate cooler. The walking beam conveyor may comprise a pair of spaced apart tray guide rails to guide the plurality of chocolate molding trays. There may be at least one pair of walking beams adjacent the pair of spaced apart tray guide rails. A drive arrangement may cooperate with the at least one pair of walking beams to advance the plurality of chocolate molding trays along the path of travel.

Abstract: A circular wok support structure 112, constructed in the shape of a hollow cylinder, with a bottom end adjacent to a wok burner assembly 605 and a top end located above an upper deck plate 111, is used as an inner circular wall area within a surface cooling tank 300 to cool a wok table. The surface cooling tank 300 circulates cooling water or fluid within a closed system and transfers wok heat and wok burner heat by use of a wok table top or upper deck plate 111 integrated as a top wall to the surface cooling tank 300. A wok burner assembly 605 is centered under the wok support structure 112 allowing the wok support structure 112 to directly transfer both wok heat and wok burner heat into the surface cooling tank 300.

Abstract: Cookware in the form of a grill plate, griddle plate, waffle iron, panini press or the like is made from a cast composite including a graphite core plate encapsulated within a cast metal shell of aluminum or stainless steel, and a method for manufacturing same.

Abstract: An apparatus for making cheese including a whey conduit, a milk conduit, and a heat exchange device between the whey conduit and the milk conduit. Preferably, the heat exchange device includes a heat transfer circuit including a heat transfer conduit, heat transfer medium in the heat transfer conduit, a whey heat exchanger between the whey conduit and the heat transfer conduit, and a milk heat exchanger between the heat transfer conduit and the milk conduit. A thermal storage device can be in thermal contact with the heat exchange device to allow heat energy from the whey to be accumulated and stored for future use in heating incoming milk. The thermal storage device includes a thermal storage conduit, a thermal storage heat exchanger between the heat exchange device and the thermal storage conduit, thermal storage medium in the thermal storage conduit, and a thermal storage tank (e.g.

Abstract: A centrifugal egg separator that has a plurality of user-selectable discrete rotational speeds for performing a corresponding plurality of egg separation operations. Up to two speeds may correspond to centrifugal egg breaking: one for separating yolk and albumin from shell and chalazae and one for separating yolk, albumin, and chalazae from shell. Up to three speeds may correspond to separating components of broken eggs: one for separating out only albumin, one for separating out the yolk and albumin, and one for separating out the yolk, albumin, and chalazae. May be used with a customized food processor base. Various lid designs are included.

Abstract: An article compaction apparatus is described which comprises a fixed compaction surface and a movable compaction surface substantially parallel to the fixed compaction surface, the movable compaction surface being movable relative to the fixed compaction surface by means of an actuation mechanism. The actuation mechanism comprises at least one scissor jack mechanism arranged for horizontal operation within the apparatus which may also utilize a compaction zone which may expand in one dimension during the compaction cycle. Compacted articles are removed from the compaction zone under the action of gravity.

Abstract: The invention presents a method for controlling the composition of an ink mixture (11, 31) for at least one printing press (2), in which actual optical values (I) of light (7) are obtained, whereas the light (7) has interacted at least with parts of the printing picture, which is generated by the printing press (2) on the printing substrate (6) using an ink mixture which is provided by an ink supply system, and in which, due to the deviation of the actual optical value from optical reference values (S), a corrective ink mixture (31) is created, which is added to the ink mixture (11) which is provided by said ink supply system and which changes the ratio of the amounts of ink pigments therein. The ink mixtures (11, 31) used in the method are provided by different ink mixing devices (16, 24).

Abstract: A distributor or transfer roller is provided for printing machines, in particular for offset printing machines. The roller has at least a substantially rigid core and a cover made of a polymeric material applied on and permanently fixed to the core. The cover is applied directly on the core or on a hard-elastic intermediate layer having a hardness of ?10 Shore D, optionally by an adhesion promoting layer. The cover is at least substantially made of a fluorinated polymer and has a hardness of ?15 Shore D and/or a scratch hardness according to ISO 15184 of 6B or harder. The polymeric material can be a duroplastic material, a fluorinated polyurethane resin, polyester resin, epoxy resin, acrylate resin and/or polyether resin, a highly cross-linked non-elastic fluoropolymer, a fluorothermoplastic, a polymeric non-elastic fluorosilicone, or a fluoropolymer lacquer.

Abstract: A square ink filter vessel for a printing press, like a rotogravure printing press, a flexographic printing press, or other like printing presses, includes a container having a substantially rectangular shaped cross-section with an open top, an outlet port on one side approximate the bottom of the container, a sloped bottom, where the sloped bottom being toward the outlet port, an inlet port on one side approximate the top of the container, and an internal ledge. A lid is adapted to close the open top of the container. A hinge couples the lid to the container, where the lid is hinged to the container on one side. A lid compression device is adapted to compress the lid to the container. A containment basket is adapted to fit inside the container, and has a plurality of holes on all sides and a lip adapted to rest on the internal ledge of the container.

Abstract: A flexographic printing composition which comprises a carrier-swellable particle composition, such as a microgel particle composition, has improved printing performance and printing resolution, especially where the flexographic printing composition is an aqueous printing composition and the carrier is water. The composition is particularly beneficial for flexographic printing of such an aqueous printing ink onto low-energy surface substrates or impermeable substrates, in which the ink has improved adhesion, even in the absence of corona discharge treatment. The use of surfactant in an amount of at least 0.5% by weight of the ink composition enhances printed density and/or reduces mottling in solid printed areas.

Abstract: A workpiece processing system and method, the workpiece processing system comprising at least one workpiece processing module (3), each workpiece processing module comprising: a workpiece processing unit (11) for processing workpieces (W); and a feed unit (37) which is operable to transfer workpieces to and from the workpiece processing unit, wherein the feed unit comprises input and output feed assemblies (38, 39) which are operable to transfer workpieces to and from the workpiece processing unit and a processing zone feed assembly (40) which interconnects the input and output feed assemblies and is operable to transfer workpieces from the input feed assembly (38) to the workpiece processing unit and from the workpiece processing unit to the output feed assembly (39).

Abstract: To provide a plate supply and discharge device and a printing plate forming device which are capable of transferring plates and printing plates of various sizes and preventing the plates and printing plates from being damaged in the plate supply and discharge device (printing plate forming device). A plate supply and discharge unit (4) which supplies a plate (P1) to a drawing unit (3), receives a printing plate P2, which is obtained by drawing an image on the plate P1, from the drawing unit (3), and delivers it to a processor. The plate supply and discharge unit includes a plate supply table (41) for allowing the plate (P1) to float at atmospheric pressure, moves the plate (P1) in a state of being allowed to float at atmospheric pressure above the plate supply table (41), and supplies it to the drawing unit (3).

Abstract: Systems and methods for chemoremediation or mechanical destruction of undetonated explosive materials. An explosive apparatus contains an explosive material in close proximity to a chemical reagent selected for its chemoremediative properties. A barrier is interposed between the explosive material and the chemical reagent to delay the chemoremediation of the explosive material. Alternatively a water expandable material may be incorporated into the explosive material, whereby upon exposure to moisture the water absorbing material will expand sufficiently to fragment the explosive material into initiation insensitive particles. Initiation insensitivity is achieved by incorporation of water, which acts as a desensitizing agent as well as fragmenting the explosive material into particles sufficiently small that they are below the critical diameter for explosive initiation.

Abstract: The Inertial Accumulators, which transform G-forces and/or rotational energy of a projectile into rotational energy of flywheel, store it and convert into electrical one to feed onboard electronics and/or high-energy emitter of Directed Energy Projectiles.

Abstract: A method for operating a guided munition with a switchable fuse arrangement includes launching the guided munition towards a target. During flight of the guided munition, images are provided to a remote operator, who supplies a switching input. Responsive to said switching input, the fuze arrangement is switched to either of at least two of the following states: a delayed detonation state in which detonation of the explosive charge is delayed by a time delay after impact of the guided munition, an impact detonation state in which detonation of the explosive charge occurs on impact of the guided munition, a proximity detonation state in which detonation of the explosive charge is triggered by a proximity sensing arrangement, and a disabled state in which the guided munition functions as a guided kinetic shell without detonation of the explosive charge.

Abstract: A rail train for supporting multiple sticks of ribbon rail comprises a plurality of rail support cars having a single, centrally positioned rail support stand wherein adjacent rail support cars are supported on shared trucks. End cars include a tunnel for supporting the rails near their ends and one or more rail support arms pivotal at a first end about two axis and supporting a rail guide assembly at a second end for supporting a rail as it is pulled of the rail train. A rail tie-down car utilizes spring-loaded, hydraulically actuated clamp assemblies to clamp individual rails to the tie-down car. Each clamp assembly incorporates at least two clamp members which act opposite one another to prevent the rail secured in place by the clamps from sliding in either longitudinal direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a magnetic levitation vehicle comprising a body (2) mounted on a levitation chassis (5) by means of pneumatic springs (4), said levitation chassis being supported, in turn, on pairs of levitation magnets (35A, 35B) by means of adjacent supporting points (5b). According to the invention, control devices (14) are associated with the pneumatic springs (4) in such a way that the air pressure of the springs can be automatically reduced to a pre-selected fraction of the nominal air pressure if one of the two levitation magnets (e.g. 35A) fails.

Abstract: An electrical energy capture system, as may be carried on a hybrid energy, electro-motive, self-powered traction vehicle, is provided. The system may be used for storing electrical power generated on the vehicle and for discharging the stored electrical power for use on the vehicle. The system includes circuitry connected to a plurality of electrical energy storage devices connected in parallel circuit to one another. The circuitry may be configured to establish a respective circuit path for charging and discharging electrical energy from each energy storage device with respect to a DC bus. The circuitry is further configured to block a flow of electrical current from any one of the storage devices to any of the other storage devices, thereby avoiding flow of currents that could otherwise circulate among the electrical energy storage devices due to electrical imbalances that may occur in one or more of the electrical energy storage devices.

Abstract: A railroad gondola car has a hopper carried between two trucks. The hopper has convergent end and side slope sheets that feed a bottom discharge. The bottom discharge has a pair of longitudinal doors. The door closing mechanism is a mechanical transmission that includes a set of linkages running from the door to a reciprocating pneumatic cylinder. The linkages run generally parallel to the slope sheet. The car has a very short draft installation that includes a removable coupler carrier bar, and the main shear plate has a removable draft gear installation panel. There is a machinery space above the end section shear plate. It is overhung by the slope sheet that is substantially unobstructed by any other primary structure. The pneumatic cylinder is mounted on an angle in this unobstructed machinery space, oriented longitudinally over the draft sill beneath the main drag link of the mechanical transmission, and above the main pivot of the driving input lever of the transmission.