Abstract: The invention relates to an installation for conveying products, in particular product slices or product portions combing from a slicing machine for food products, having at least one conveyor which includes a carrier and at least one conveyor section held at the carrier, wherein at least a part of the conveyor section is tiltable relative to the carrier between a conveying position and a safety position about an axis extending in the conveying direction.

Abstract: Conveyor for transporting articles such as a chain conveyor that can be changed between a stretched configuration and a compact configuration, the chain being formed from a plurality of articulated links. Each link includes a trolley provided with lateral guide mechanism cooperating with a track defining a predetermined trajectory, a support carrying a nozzle for the releasable attachment of an article, the support mounted rotatably with respect to the trolley between a straight position corresponding to the deployed configuration of the chain, and an oblique position, corresponding to the compact position of the chain and in which the support is inclined with respect to the straight position; and an actuator coupled to the support, capable of driving the support in rotation from its straight position to its oblique position, and reciprocally.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for loading material comprising: a housing defining a loading conduit and a return conduit wherein the loading conduit and return conduit are operatively connected at a first location configured for material intake and a second location configured for material output; a loading mechanism operative within the housing, said loading mechanism including an endless belt having a plurality of loading devices anchored thereto, the loading mechanism configured to travel within the loading conduit from the first location to the second location and subsequently within the return conduit from the second location to the first location, said loading mechanism picking up material at the material intake and expelling material at the material output; and a drive system operatively connected with the loading mechanism, the drive system configured to provide power to the loading mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus for manipulating particles uses tunable standing surface acoustic waves includes a channel defined on a substrate and a pair of variable frequency interdigital transducers. The channel is disposed asymmetrically between the transducers such that the zero order node location is outside of a working region in the channel.

Abstract: A belt driving device that drives a belt includes a plurality of rollers, an endless belt tensioned on the plurality of rollers, a belt guide member that is mounted on at least one end of at least one roller of the plurality of rollers and that guides a side edge part of the belt, and a belt displacement device that is mounted on the same end of the one roller as the belt guide member in order to displace the side edge part of the belt in a direction away from the belt guide member. Wherein a portion of the belt displacement device is located on a downstream side of the belt guide member in a traveling direction of the belt, and the portion continuously contacts the side edge part of the belt.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a rubber-metal composite, the method including a process of bringing a metal material into contact with a buffer solution having a pH of from 5 to 7.2, followed by a process of causing the metal material and rubber to adhere to each other.

Abstract: There is provided lighted headgear having various configurations, components thereof, other accessories combined therewith.

Abstract: A switching device is disclosed for a switchgear cabinet including a switchgear cabinet door. The switching device includes a housing, a switching unit disposed in the housing, a handle is movable between a first and a second position for actuating the switching unit, and a locking bar that is movable between a locking position and a release position. The locking bar is linked to the handle via a coupling device such that the latter moves the locking bar to the locking position when the handle is moved to the first position and moves the locking bar to the release position when the handle is moved to the second position. A clamping device is provided for clamping the locking bar in the release position, the coupling device including at least one spring element in the force path between the handle and the locking bar.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mechanical switch contact (10) for releasing, disconnecting, or switching over, in particular for an on-load tap changer of a step transformer, comprising at least two contact fingers or contact finger blocks (12, 14), which can each be pivoted between two end positions and which are connected to each other in an electrically conductive manner and which are each operatively connected to a rotatable switching shaft (18) by means of multi-arm joints (16), said switching shaft having all-around guide slots (24) for actuating the multi-arm joints (16) and for thereby deflecting the contact fingers or contact finger blocks (12, 14).

Abstract: MEMS switches and methods of manufacturing MEMS switches is provided. The MEMS switch having at least two cantilevered electrodes having ends which overlap and which are structured and operable to contact one another upon an application of a voltage by at least one fixed electrode.

Abstract: An override device is described for use with a coupler of a circuit breaker. The override device comprising a cam member coupled to the coupler. The cam member comprising a slot. The override device also including an actuator coupled to the cam member and configured to move the cam member between an over-current protection position and an over-current relay override position and a push member coupled to the coupler. The slot configured to guide the push member to a first position when the actuator moves the cam member to the over-current protection position. The slot further configured to guide the push member to a second position when the actuator moves the cam member to the over-current relay override position to permit current flow through the circuit breaker.

Abstract: A switching unit for an electrical switching device is disclosed, in particular for a circuit breaker, in which the pawl and the pawl spring of the switching unit are embodied such that, when a switching lever of the switching unit is moved from an ON position into a TRIP position and/or from the TRIP position into a RESET position, the pawl spring is bent by contact with a lateral face of the pawl. An electrical switching device, such as a circuit breaker, including at least one such switching unit is also disclosed.

Abstract: A steering wheel assembly comprises a plurality of control elements disposed on a user-accessible surface of the steering wheel assembly. Each of the plurality of control elements has a plurality of user-selectable operational states and is electrically coupled to a corresponding branch of an electric circuit. The electric circuit defines an output node and is configured to produce a single output signal at the output node. Each of the plurality of control elements is configured for affecting the single output signal based on an active one of the plurality of user-selectable operational states of the respective one of the plurality of control elements. The single output signal is indicative of the active ones of the plurality of user-selectable operational states for each of the plurality of control elements.

Abstract: An electrical contact device including first and second switching contact units for producing or isolating electrically conductive connections, wherein a first contact side of the first switching contact unit is connected to a first contact side of the second switching contact unit, and a second contact side of the first switching contact unit is connected to a first connection contact of the contact device, and a second contact side of the second switching contact unit is connected to a second connection contact of the contact device, and wherein two switching contact units are designed to be actuable by a movable plunger acting on said switching contact units. The two connection contacts, in relation to the plunger, are arranged opposite one another on the contact device, and the first and second switching contact units are arranged within a mounting unit.

Abstract: A switching apparatus for a low-voltage electrical switch includes a rotary contact with switching pieces bearing at least two end contacts. The switching pieces are mounted at spatially variable pivot points. The rotary contact also includes a biasing member configured to apply a contact-pressure force. The switching apparatus also includes a housing and an arc quenching chamber.

Abstract: A process for forming and maintaining a carbonaceous bed with coke replacement units suitable for use in pyrolytic processes includes the steps of: forming a plurality of non-coke units that are either or both irregularly shaped natural wood blocks and bricks including carbon-containing fines and one or more binders; forming an initial carbonaceous bed by a quantity of particles of coke in which at least about 25% of the carbon content of the initial bed is provided by said quantity of non-coke units and up to about 75% of the carbon content of the initial bed is provided by said quantity of particles of coke; and performing a pyrolytic process with the carbonaceous bed including reacting carbon in the bed with other added process material at an elevated temperature in the bed and supplementing carbon material during the pyrolytic process by adding additional carbon material of which at least 25% of the additional carbon material is not coke.

Abstract: A biomass fractionator and method are described for inputting ground biomass and outputting several vapor streams of bio-intermediate compounds along with syngas and biochar. One such biomass fractionate comprises: means for receiving ground biomass into the system; and a plurality of biomass processing stations including means for heating the biomass and subjecting the biomass to biofractioning, and means for collecting residual carbon and biochar.

Abstract: Method and equipment for producing coke (PC) during indirectly heated gasification, in which coal particles are supplied to a gasification reactor (1) and process gas (P) supplied during the gasification is reduced in it to synthesis gas (S), whereby the synthesis gas (S) is removed from the gasification reactor (1). The method is distinguished in that at the same time a gasification takes place, a coking of coal takes place in an inner reactor (4) arranged inside the gasification reactor (1), that the inner reactor (4) is indirectly heated, that coke (PC) and combustible gases are produced in the inner reactor (4) during the coking, and that the combustible gases are used for the indirect heating in the gasification in the gasification reactor (1).

Abstract: An apparatus and methods of using the apparatus are described to decompose plastic to form a fuel for use in generating energy such as electricity.

Abstract: Provided herein are methane conversion devices comprising a filter means (e.g., one or more filters), a circulation means (e.g., one or more circulating pumps), a reaction means (e.g., one or more reactor assemblies), a control means (e.g., central process unit, thermo-controller, UV controller, and the like), an energy supply means (e.g., ultra-violet lamp, direct sunlight, heating assembly, and the like).

Abstract: The present invention relates to preparation of porous gallium (III) oxide [Ga2O3] photocatalyst for production of hydrocarbons a porous gallium oxide photocatalyst for production of hydrocarbons, manufactured by the foregoing method, and a process of producing hydrocarbons using the porous gallium oxide photocatalyst for production of hydrocarbons, manufactured by the foregoing method.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are titania photocatalysts, titania photocatalytic compositions, and methods of making the same. The photocatalysts may, for example, be represented by the formula of (Ti1-rMr)(O2-x-yCxNy), where M, r, x, are y defined in the specification. The photocatalysts may, in some embodiments, provide superior photocatalytic activity relative to titania. Also disclosed are methods making the photocatalysts. The method may provide economical techniques for obtaining the titania photocatalysts.

Abstract: Methods for the photoreduction of molecules are provided. The methods use diamond having a negative electron affinity as a photocatalyst, taking advantage of its ability to act as a solid-state electron emitter that is capable of inducing reductions without the need for reactants to adsorb onto its surface. The methods comprise illuminating a fluid sample comprising the molecules to be reduced and hydrogen surface-terminated diamond having a negative electron affinity with light comprising a wavelength that induces the emission of electrons from the diamond directly into the fluid sample. The emitted electrons induce the reduction of the molecules to form a reduction product.

Abstract: A photoacid includes a nucleophilic (NuH) moiety having a photodissociable proton, an electron accepting (EA) moiety, and a bridge structure (X) bonded to both the NuH moiety and EA moiety positioned between the NuH and EA moieties. The NuH and EA moieties each include respective structure so that the EA moiety bonds to a proton photodissociated form of the NuH moiety during a reversible photoinduced intramolecular reaction to form a ring, which has been found to significantly increase the lifetime of the proton dissociation state.

Abstract: An apparatus for plasmatizing solid-fuel combustion additive and the method for using the same are provided. The apparatus is made from a reaction vessel, electrodes, a power supply, a carrier gas intake device, a feed device and an outlet of the plasmatization reaction vessel. The method to use this apparatus is as following: The additive is added into the reaction vessel through the feed device in which the carrier gas passes and carries the additive into the electrode region for evaporation and (partially) plasmatization; and the plasmatized gas from the outlet of the reactor is introduced into any combustion chamber. The additive is an organometallic compound or a mixture of the organometallic compounds, or their derivative, eutectic compound or coordination agent containing at least one organometallic compound.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for depositing a metal-containing layer on a substrate are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method of processing a substrate in a physical vapor deposition (PVD) chamber includes applying RF power at a VHF frequency to a target comprising a metal disposed in the PVD chamber above the substrate to form a plasma from a plasma-forming gas; optionally applying a DC power to the target to direct the plasma towards the target; sputtering metal atoms from the target using the plasma while maintaining a first pressure in the PVD chamber sufficient to ionize a predominant portion of the sputtered metal atoms; and controlling the plasma sheath voltage between the plasma and the substrate to form a metal-containing layer having a desired crystal structure and or desired morphology on feature structures.

Abstract: A rotary deposition target bonded to a backing tube such that the bonding material is applied only at the ends of the rotary sputtering target to form a gap between the rotary sputtering target and the backing tube to enable a target cooling fluid used during the deposition process to contact the target directly and to provide a hermetic seal to contain the cooling fluid within the gap and prevent the fluid from being exposed to the environment within the deposition chamber.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy component has a surface region alloyed with an anodic metal to increase corrosion resistance in aqueous environments with high salinity or sulfur content.

Abstract: There is provided a substrate holder which can absorb a change in the thickness between substrates and can hold a substrate while preventing deflection of the substrate and keeping the amount of compression of a substrate sealing member within a certain narrow range. The substrate holder includes a first holding member and a second holding member, both for detachably holding a substrate by holding a peripheral portion of the substrate therebetween; and a substrate sealing member, mounted to the second holding member, for sealing the peripheral portion of the substrate along a substrate sealing line. The first holding member has a thickness absorbing mechanism which biases the substrate toward the second holding member at positions along the substrate sealing line.

Abstract: The NbON film of the present invention is a NbON film in which a photocurrent is generated by light irradiation. The NbON film of the present invention is desirably a single-phase film. The hydrogen generation device (600) of the present invention includes: an optical semiconductor electrode (620) including a conductor (621) and the NbON film (622) of the present invention disposed on the conductor (621); a counter electrode (630) connected electrically to the conductor (621); a water-containing electrolyte (640) disposed in contact with a surface of the NbON film (622) and a surface of the counter electrode (630); and a container (610) containing the optical semiconductor electrode (620), the counter electrode (630), and the electrolyte (640). In this device, hydrogen is generated by irradiating the NbON film (622) with light.

Abstract: An electrode catalyst, including: a metal compound which contains an oxygen atom and at least one metal element selected from a group consisting of Group 4 elements and Group 5 elements in the long-form periodic table, and a carbonaceous material which covers at least part of the metal compound; wherein an oxygen deficiency index, which is represented as an inverse number of a peak value of a first nearest neighbor element in a radial distribution function obtained by Fourier-transforming an EXAFS oscillation in EXAFS measurement of the metal element, is 0.125 to 0.170; and a crystallinity index, which is represented as a peak value of a second nearest neighbor element in the radial distribution function, is 4.5 to 8.0.

Abstract: Provided are a method for producing a Cu—Ga alloy powder, by which a high quality Cu—Ga alloy powder to be produced readily; a Cu—Ga alloy powder; a method for producing a Cu—Ga alloy sputtering target; and a Cu—Ga alloy sputtering target. Specifically, a Cu—Ga alloy powder is produced by stirring a mixed powder containing a Cu powder and a Ga in a mass ratio of 85:15 to 55:45 at a temperature of 30 to 700° C. in an inert atmosphere thereby accomplishing alloying. Also a Cu—Ga alloy sputtering target is produced by molding the Cu—Ga alloy powder followed by sintering.

Abstract: A biosensor according to the present invention includes a first base material having an insulating surface; an adhesive layer located on the insulating surface of the first base material; and an electrode system and wiring sections fixed to the first base material via the adhesive layer. The electrode system includes top electrode layers and bottom electrode layers, and the bottom electrode layers are formed of a material having a higher conductivity than that of the top electrode layers; the electrode system includes a working electrode and a counter electrode, and also includes an enzyme reaction section located on the working electrode, the enzyme reaction section containing an enzyme and an electron acceptor; and the bottom electrode layers and the wiring sections are integral with each other.

Abstract: A gas sensor element in which an adhesion layer (101) securing the adhesion of a sensing electrode (62) and protection layer (67) satisfies the following prescriptions (1) to (3): (1) when the number of raised portions (102) formed per mm2 on a surface of a base portion (103) is taken to be N, then 10?N?50; (2) when the average of the heights of the raised portions (102) protruding above the surface of the base portion (103) in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the base portion (103) is taken to be H, then 55?H?75 [?m]; and (3) when the outer diameter of the raised portions (102) is taken to be D, the number of raised portions (102) with 45<D<90 [?m] is 70% or more of the total number of raised portions (102).

Abstract: A micromechanical solid-electrolyte sensor device includes a micromechanical carrier substrate having a front side and a back side. The micromechanical solid-electrolyte sensor device also includes a first porous electrode and a second porous electrode. The micromechanical solid-electrolyte sensor device also includes a solid-electrolyte embedded between the first porous electrode and the second porous electrode.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for constructing tissue from cells or other objects by application of temporally and spatially controlled electric fields. Electric field applicators expose a substrate (32) to the electric field controlled to affect the processing medium (28) to achieve a processing effect on the construction of tissue on the substrate (32). Electrical bias is selected to interact with dipole properties of the medium (28) to control the movement of suspended dielectrophoretic cells or other particles in the medium (28) or at the substrate (32). The motion of suspended particles may be affected to cause suspended particles of different properties to follow different paths in the processing medium (28), which may be used to cause the suspended particles to be sorted. The processing medium (28) and electrical bias may be selected to affect the structure, or orientation, of one or more layers on the substrate (32).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and a method for the concentration of slurry, especially mineral containing slurry. The invention provides a system comprising an electrophoresis unit and a separation unit, where the separation unit comprises a recipient, preferably of half cylindrical form, with adjusted flanks for separating the solid material or cake from the rotating anodes and a sliding carriage suitable for closing the recipient and stripping resting solid material from the flanks into the recipient before the solid material or cake is pressed out of the recipient by a piston.

Abstract: An article is provided, the article including a substrate having a surface, a nano-structure array formed on the substrate, the nano-structure array including a plurality of nano-structures extending from the surface of the substrate, and a cover layer formed on and around the nano-structures to anchor the cover layer to the substrate.

Abstract: An article is provided, the article including a substrate having a surface with a first wettability characteristic. A nano-structure array is formed on the surface of the substrate to provide a nano-structured surface having a second wettability characteristic. A thin-layer surface coating is formed on the nano-structured surface, the thin-layer surface coating being configured to tune the nano-structured surface to a target wettability characteristic.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of duplicating a nano-pattern texture of the surface of an object through electroforming using an imprint mold, including selecting the object having the surface texture to be duplicated; disposing the selected object and pre-treating the surface thereof; nano-imprinting the surface of the pretreated object, thus duplicating it on a plastic mold; metallizing the surface of the plastic mold through vapor deposition, and performing electroforming, thus manufacturing metal module master molds; trimming the edges of the metal module master molds, performing micro-processing, connecting the metal module master molds, and then performing electroforming, thus manufacturing a large-area metal unit master mold; and electroforming the metal unit master mold, thus producing a duplicate having the surface texture, thus exhibiting an effect in which the skin of a selected natural object can be duplicated on metal having a uniform thickness.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the anti-corrosive pretreatment of tinplate, in which an anti-corrosive primer coating is applied in a single step, said primer coating effectively preventing the shiny metal surface of the pretreated tinplate from turning black when the pretreated tinplate of the invention that is provided with a topcoat is in contact with liquids releasing or containing sulfur compounds and with food containing protein. In the disclosed method, the tinplate is anodically polarized in an electrolyte containing silicates of formula M2O.nSiO2, where M is an alkali metal ion or quaternary ammonium ion and n is a natural number between 0.8 and 7. Tinplate pretreated according to the invention can be used in particular for the production of food-safe packaging such as beverage cans or tin cans.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy component has a surface region alloyed with an anodic metal to increase corrosion resistance in aqueous environments with high salinity or sulfur content.

Abstract: The invention aims at an aqueous ink for high-temperature electrochemical cell electrodes and/or electrolyte containing particles of at least one mineral filler, at least one binder, and at least one dispersant. It also concerns the electrode and the electrolyte using such an ink.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention is directed to apparatuses for and methods of conducting electrical current in an oxygen and liquid metal environment. In another aspect, the invention relates to methods for production of metals from their oxides comprising providing a cathode in electrical contact with a molten electrolyte, providing a liquid metal anode separated from the cathode and the molten electrolyte by a solid oxygen ion conducting membrane, providing a current collector at the anode, and establishing a potential between the cathode and the anode.

Abstract: A process for oxidizing water using amorphous cobalt tungstate is disclosed. A plurality of amorphous cobalt tungstate nanoparticles are supported on an electrode and are able to catalytically interact with water molecules generating oxygen. The catalyst can be used as part of a electrochemical or photo-electrochemical cell for the generation of electrical energy.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrode arrangement for the defined rounding or deburring of edges of electrically conductive components, in particular turbine components, by means of electrochemical machining with at least one working electrode (5), which has a tubular electrode carrier, through which an electrolyte inflow line (10) is provided, the electrode carrier having on the front end a closure (13, 18), which is arranged such that the electrolyte inflow line in the axial direction of the electrode carrier is closed, and at least one outlet opening (19) being arranged in the radial direction. Also disclosed is a self-centering electrode arrangement and an installation for the defined rounding or deburring of edges of electrically conductive components by means of electrochemical machining with at least one corresponding electrode arrangement and also a method using the electrode arrangements and the described installation.

Abstract: A cleaning system comprising a liquid source configured to provide a feed liquid, an electrolysis cell configured to receive the feed liquid and to electrochemically activate the feed liquid to provide an electrochemically-activated liquid, where the electrochemical activation also heats the feed liquid such that the electrochemically-activated liquid is heated, and a dispenser configured to dispense the electrochemically-activated liquid.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing electrolytic reduced water capable of improving the sterilization performance and a control method thereof, the apparatus including an electrolytic cell configured to produce electrolytic reduced water by electrolyzing purified water that is penetrated through a reverse osmosis filter of a water purifying unit, a water storage tank configured to store the electrolytic reduced water, a sterilization electrolytic cell configured to produce sterilization water by electrolyzing reverse osmosis waste water that is discharged from the water purifying unit, and a control unit configured to perform a control operation to sterilize at least one of the water storage tank, a cork connected to the water storage tank, and a pipe that connect the water storage tank to the electrolytic cell by use of the sterilization water.

Abstract: A device for sensing a property of a fluid comprising a first substrate having formed thereon a sensor configured in use to come into contact with a fluid in order to sense a property of the fluid, and a wireless transmitter for transmitting data over a wireless data link and a second substrate having formed thereon a wireless receiver for receiving data transmitted over said wireless link by said wireless transmitter. The first substrate is fixed to or within said second substrate. Additionally or alternatively, the device comprises a first substrate defining one or more microfluidic structures for receiving a fluid to be sensed and a second substrate comprising or having attached thereto a multiplicity of fluid sensors, the number of sensors being greater than the number of microfluidic structures.

Abstract: A method of testing a system having at least one electrochemical sensor for detecting an analyte gas within a housing of the system, the housing having an inlet, the at least one electrochemical sensor including an electrically active working electrode in fluid connection with the inlet of the system, the method including biasing the electrically active working electrode at a first potential, to detect the analyte gas and biasing the electrically active working electrode at a second potential, different from the first potential, such that the at least one electrochemical sensor is sensitive to a driving force created in the vicinity of the inlet to test at least one transport path of the system. The method may further include creating the driving force in the vicinity of the inlet of the housing of the system and measuring a response of the electrically active working electrode to the driving force.