Abstract: A device includes a portable chest, a radiator in the chest, a liquid pump in the chest that moves liquid through the radiator, and a fan for providing an airflow across the radiator. The portable chest stores a quantity of chilled water that is pumped through the radiator by the liquid pump to chill the airflow provided by the fan.

Abstract: A cooling system, in particular for use on board an aircraft, includes a first cooling circuit allowing circulation of a two-phase refrigerant therethrough, a first evaporator disposed in the first cooling circuit, a first condenser disposed in the first cooling circuit, and a first heat sink adapted to provide cooling energy to the first condenser. The cooling system further includes a second cooling circuit allowing circulation of a two-phase refrigerant therethrough, a second evaporator disposed in the second cooling circuit, a second condenser disposed in the second cooling circuit, a second heat sink adapted to provide cooling energy to the second condenser, and a cooling energy transfer arrangement which is adapted to transfer cooling energy provided by the first heat sink and/or the first condenser to the second cooling circuit or to transfer cooling energy provided by the second heat sink and/or the second condenser to the first cooling circuit.

Abstract: A cooling system particularly suitable for use on board an aircraft includes a cooling circuit allowing circulation of a two-phase refrigerant therethrough. An evaporator in the cooling circuit has a refrigerant inlet and a refrigerant outlet. A condenser in the cooling circuit has a refrigerant inlet and a refrigerant outlet. A detection device is configured to output a signal indicative of the state of aggregation of the refrigerant in a connecting portion of the cooling circuit which connects the refrigerant outlet of the evaporator to the refrigerant inlet of the condenser. A control device is configured to control at least one of the temperature and the pressure of the refrigerant in the connecting portion of the cooling circuit in dependence on the signal output by the detection device such that the refrigerant in the connecting portion of the cooling circuit is maintained in its gaseous state of aggregation.

Abstract: A method of controlling the operation of an evaporative air cooler where the pads (2) of the cooler are intermittently wetted with an amount of water (14) in excess of the capacity of the pads (2) to absorb and retain during each wetting operation of the pad. The airflow (20) through the pads during intermittent wetting being limited to a velocity so as to not entrain water in the airflow during the wetting operation and the velocity of the airflow through the pads is increased after each intermittent wetting so as to raise the level of cooling output (22) of the cooler between each intermittent wetting operation.

Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus that includes a refrigeration cycle in which a compressor, a heat-source side heat exchanger, an expansion unit, and a load-side heat exchanger are included and are connected with refrigerant pipes, includes cutoff units capable of flowing or cut off a refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle; a detection unit detecting leaking of the refrigerant on the basis of a resistance that changes with densities of plural kinds of leaked refrigerants; a concentration calculation unit calculating a concentration of a refrigerant that has leaked, on the basis of the resistance of the detection unit; a concentration detection unit outputting a calculation result of the concentration calculation unit in order that the calculation result is used for controlling the cutoff units; and a cutoff control unit controlling the cutoff units on the basis of an output of the concentration detection unit.

Abstract: A device for making ice pieces includes an ice piece producing unit, a collection container for receiving ice pieces produced in the ice piece producing unit and a detection device for monitoring a fill level of the collection container. The detection device includes a signal-emitting device and a signal receiving device, where the signal-emitting device is adjustable. Alternatively, the detection device includes a signal-emitting device, a reflector and a signal receiving device, where the reflector is adjustable.

Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit including a low-pressure shell structure compressor into which a refrigerant flowing through an injection pipe flows, a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a first expansion device, a refrigerant flow switching device, and a second expansion device configured to allow the refrigerant which has passed through the first expansion device and flows from the second heat exchanger to the first heat exchanger to have an intermediate pressure, the compressor, the first heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger, the first expansion device, the refrigerant flow switching device, and the second expansion device being connected by pipes to constitute the refrigerant circuit, and further includes a controller that controls an amount of refrigerant flowing through the injection pipe into a compression chamber. A part of a high-pressure refrigerant flowing from the first heat exchanger to the second heat exchanger flows through the injection pipe.

Abstract: A CO2 refrigeration system comprises a CO2 circuit. In a compression stage of the circuit, CO2 refrigerant is compressed to a supracompression state. In a cooling stage, the CO2 refrigerant from the compression stage releases heat. A pressure-regulating unit in a line extending from the cooling stage to one side of a heat exchanger maintains a pressure differential. A second refrigerant cycles in a cooling circuit between a second side of the heat exchanger and an ice-playing surface. The second refrigerant absorbs heat from the ice-playing surface and releases heat to the CO2 refrigerant in the heat exchanger.

Abstract: Provided is a driving device for an automatic ice-making machine, the driving device including: a cam gear that rotates a tray; and an operating lever that organically operates along a cam plane for an ice-cube quantity detecting arm formed at the cam gear and allows the ice-cube quantity detecting arm to rotate downward into an ice-cube storage bin, wherein a cam groove for the ice-cube quantity detecting arm is formed in the cam plane for the ice-cube quantity detecting arm of the cam gear and allows the operating level to descend so that the ice-cube quantity detecting arm rotates downward into the ice-cube storage bin, and a protrusion is formed between the cam plane for the ice-cube quantity detecting arm and the cam groove for the ice-cube quantity detecting arm and allows the operating lever to ascend so that the ice-cube quantity detecting arm that rotates downward into the ice-cube storage bin rotates upward.

Abstract: A device capable of storing beverages is provided with a base and a lid. The base includes a central cavity capable of retaining beverage containers and a cooling component. The bottoms of beverage containers may rest in container-retaining pockets molded into the bottom of the base and the tops of beverage containers may rest in one or more pockets protruding from the lid. One advantage is that the beverage containers may come into direct contact with the cooling component located in the central cavity of the base of the device.

Abstract: Refrigeration systems are configured to utilize an operating fluid comprising an activated oil blend. The activated oil blend can comprise one or more precursor oils that are blended in a closed vessel containing a catalyst. Preferred operating fluids also comprise a polar heat transfer fluid such as r-134a, wherein at least some of the polar heat transfer molecules are complexed to a component of the activated oil blend.

Abstract: To increase a heat exchange capacity of an indoor heat exchanger without increasing a pressure loss inside tubes of an outdoor heat exchanger. A heat exchanger is constituted by an indoor machine equipped with an indoor heat exchanger 10 constituted by a plurality of heat transfer tubes 12A, which have a spiral grooves 13A formed with a predetermined lead angle Ra on inner faces of the tubes and are made to pierce a plurality of fins 11, and an outdoor machine equipped with an outdoor heat exchanger 20 constituted by a plurality of heat transfer tubes 22A which have a lead angle Rb of spiral grooves 23A smaller than that of a heat transfer tubes 10A used for the indoor heat exchanger 10 and are made to pierce a plurality of fins 11.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a heat exchanger including an evaporator with a pair of base plates, each base plate having a first surface with channels extending from a manifold at a first end of the evaporator to a manifold at a second end of the evaporator, some of the channels are embedded into the base plate and some of the channels are arranged outside of base plate, a condenser with channels extending from a manifold at a first end of the condenser to a manifold at a second end of the condenser, at least one riser pipe and at least one return pipe.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a carbon dioxide recovery apparatus includes a heat exchanger which heats a first rich liquid, a flow divider which divides the first rich liquid heated by the heat exchanger into a second rich liquid and a third rich liquid, a first release device which heats the second rich liquid and discharges a first semi-lean liquid, a second release device which heats the third rich liquid and discharges a second semi-lean liquid, and a regeneration tower which heats the first and second semi-lean liquids to generate a lean liquid. The first release device heats the second rich liquid, using the lean liquid. The second release device heats the third rich liquid, using a carbon dioxide-containing steam discharged at the regeneration tower. The heat exchanger heats the first rich liquid, using the lean liquid which has passed through the first release device.

Abstract: An apparatus for a heat transfer or mass transfer process, comprising a column or divided column having at least one pair of converging walls or wall portions and, within at least a region of the column or divided column bounded by at least one pair of converging walls or wall portions, a structured packing having a corrugation angle of at least about 50°; a method of heat and/or mass transfer applicable to the apparatus; and a method of installation of structured packing into a relevant apparatus.

Abstract: This invention relates to interchangeable jewelry, wherein items of jewelry such as pendants and rings may be easily and securely interchanged with other pieces of jewelry. The invention provides a mechanism that allows individual items of jewelry to be attached to each other in a removable manner while providing security while attached. The invention also provides a mechanisms comprises a screw arrangement along with a ball and spring arrangement that provides additional steadfastness to the items that are being connected.

Abstract: To provide a method of manufacturing a porous glass in which the porosity decreases as a function of the distance from the surface in the direction of depth. A method of manufacturing a porous glass includes a step of bringing one or more than one ion species selected from silver ion, potassium ion and lithium ion into contact with a matrix glass containing borosilicate glass as main ingredient and heating the matrix glass to form a glass body having an ion concentration distribution with a concentration of the one or more than one ion species decreasing as a function of a distance from a surface in a direction of depth, a step of heating and phase-separating the glass body to form a phase-separated glass, and a step of etching the phase-separated glass to form a porous glass having a porosity decreasing as the function of the distance from the surface in the direction of depth.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for treating zircon-containing forming structures, e.g., zircon isopipes, with one or more treatment glass compositions in which defect-causing reactions between the zircon of the forming structure and molten glass are suppressed at the delivery temperature of the treatment glass. The treatment compositions can be used during start-up of a forming structure, between runs of the same production glass on a given forming structure, and/or when transitioning between runs of two production glasses on a given forming structure. The treatment compositions can be used with production glasses that are ion-exchangeable.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods and apparatus are provided for predicting/estimating chemical depth of layer (DOL) and maximum surface compressive stress (CS) of glass articles after ion-exchange. The methods and apparatus can, for example, be used to select glass compositions, salt bath temperatures, and/or ion-exchange times which provide desired DOL and/or CS values. One or more manufacturing constraints, e.g., constraints on liquidus viscosity, zircon breakdown viscosity, and the like, can be applied to the process of predicting/estimating DOL and/or CS values so that glass compositions selected based on DOL and/or CS values can, for example, be manufactured commercially by a fusion or float process.

Abstract: A method for producing a vial with low alkali elution by removing a deteriorated region caused by processing on an internal surface of a vial is disclosed. The method involves forming vials from borosilicate glass tubes including a first step of forming a borosilicate glass tube into a cup-shaped body by formation of a bottom of a vial, and a second step of forming the cup-shaped body into the vial by formation of a mouth of the cup-shaped body.

Abstract: A method for producing a vial with low alkali elution by removing a deteriorated region caused by processing on an internal surface of a vial is disclosed. The method is for forming vials from borosilicate glass tubes, which includes a first step of forming a mouth of the vial; a second step of forming the borosilicate glass tube into a cup-shaped body to form a bottom of a vial; and a third step of fire-blasting an internal surface of the cup-shaped body with a flame.

Abstract: A vacuum degassing apparatus for molten glass is comprised of an uprising pipe, a vacuum degassing vessel, a downfalling pipe, an upstream side pit that supplies molten glass to the uprising pipe, and a downstream side pit that receives molten glass from the downfalling pipe. The vacuum degassing apparatus for molten glass is further comprised of a separating mechanism that separates a part of molten glass moving from the downfalling pipe to the downstream side pit, and a returning pipe that returns separated molten glass to the upstream side pit.

Abstract: A double-cylinder circular machine, particularly for knitting hosiery items, with simplified actuation mechanism, comprising a supporting structure which comprises a footing, which supports a lower needle cylinder, and a column which extends substantially vertically, protrudes upwardly from the footing and supports an upper needle cylinder, which is arranged above and coaxially with respect to the lower needle cylinder, and further comprising elements for the actuation of the lower needle cylinder and of the upper needle cylinder with a rotary motion about a common axis, the actuation elements comprising an electric motor which is connected kinematically to the lower needle cylinder and to the upper needle cylinder and is accommodated inside the column.

Abstract: A sock includes a knitted fabric covering at least from a toe portion to a heel portion of a wearer. The knitted fabric, which is arranged in a first region covering at least sections, in a sole, corresponding to phalanges and metatarsal heads of the wearer, is formed by stitches that are knitted only by means of a covering yarn, which is a winding yarn wrapped around a core yarn.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a washing machine having an improved structure that maintains efficiency over a certain level both in washing and dehydration. The washing machine includes a body, a tub disposed within the body, a drum rotatably disposed within the tub, and a motor coupled to a rear surface of the tub to drive the drum. The motor includes a stator including a plurality of stator cores and a plurality of magnets arranged between the stator cores, and a rotor rotatably disposed at an inner side or outer side of the stator.

Abstract: The machine (M) comprises a support structure (S), inside which there is suspended a washing chamber or tub (T) wherein there is rotatably mounted a basket (B) for clothes and the like, and a pressure transducing device (1), which includes a support casing (2, 3) connected to the washing chamber or tub (T), and connected to a pipe or hose (P) which extends inside this chamber or tub (T), and with which there are associated electronic circuit means (17) predisposed for processing signals generated by the transducer (1) to provide an indication of the level of the washing bath (WB) in the chamber or tub (T). The machine (M) comprises further an electronic accelerometer (30) solid with the support casing (2, 3) of the pressure transducing device (1) and associated with said electronic circuit means (17), for generating electrical signals indicative of the amplitude of the vibrations of the washing chamber or tub (T).

Abstract: A balance ring for an appliance, such as e.g., a washing machine, is provided. The balance ring can reduce or eliminate features such as sink marks that might otherwise impede the movement of counterweights in the balance ring. The counterweights are used to stabilize a rotating element of the appliance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a laundry device including: i) a flexible waterproof housing for housing a textile item, water and cleaning material; ii) an opening in the housing for inserting or removing the textile item; and iii) a seal for sealing the opening; wherein an inner surface of the housing includes a frictional washing surface against which the textile item is rubbed to effect cleaning by gripping or pressing on an outer surface of the housing to press and rub the textile item against the frictional washing surface.

Abstract: An ultrasonic washing machine is disclosed. The ultrasonic washing machine can have a machine body and a drum housed within the machine body, the drum having an opening for loading and unloading laundry. The ultrasonic washing machine can include a front door attached to the machine body and covering the opening. The ultrasonic transducers can be placed on an interior surface of the front door so as to be in direct contact with washing fluid when the washing machine is in operation. A control unit coupled to the one or more ultrasonic transducers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a lock (1) with disengageable lock cylinder of a mechanism for locking the door of a motor vehicle, characterized in that it further comprises means (13, 15, 29) for detecting an attempt at breaking in to the lock (1) which means are intended to be connected to a security device of the vehicle.

Abstract: Embodiments of an anti-theft apparatus for deterring theft of an article is disclosed. In one embodiment, an anti-theft apparatus comprises a post and a cage removably lockable to and cantileverly extendable from the post for removably enclosing at least a portion of the article to be protected from theft. The cage comprises a top portion formed from a plurality of top members and a plurality of side members extending downwardly from respective outer ends of the top members, and a plurality of spaced apart bands oriented approximately perpendicularly and connected to respective side members of the top portion.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for a door includes an outside actuator, an inside actuator, and a housing removably fixed to the door. A locking bar is selectively engageable with the housing. A first cam member is operable to move the locking bar from an unlocked position wherein the locking bar is released from the housing and a locked position wherein the locking bar is fixedly coupled to the housing. A spindle is rotatably coupled to the inside actuator and selectively coupled to the outside actuator. A second cam member is coupled to the first cam member and to the spindle and operable to move the locking bar from the locked position to the unlocked position in response to rotation of the inside actuator from a neutral position to one of a first clockwise position and a second counterclockwise position.

Abstract: In an opening/closing operation device for a vehicle open/close door, a handle and a lever for transmitting an unlock operation force to a latch mechanism are turnably supported by an open/close door, and one end portion of the lever is brought into contact with a contact surface formed in the handle. In the contact surface, at least a portion to be in contact with the one end portion of the lever at an initial stage of the manipulation of the handle is formed in an inclined manner or curvedly: in a way that makes the portion situated more forward in a movement direction, in which the contact surface moves in response to the turn of the handle, as the portion comes closer to a rotary fulcrum of the lever in a direction along a plane orthogonal to the movement direction such that the portion intersects the plane.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a tamper-evident cargo container seal bolt lock are disclosed herein. The device can include a bolt member having a conductive medium running the axial length of the bolt, and a receiving member for locking the bolt into place. A battery-driven sensory circuit including a memory means, a processor, and a timing circuit can be disposed within the receiving member such that a continuous circuit is formed from one circuit pin over the conductive medium through the length of the bolt and back to a second pin. The sensory circuit is configured to sense whether the circuit has been interrupted (e.g., if the bolt has been cut). In the event of an interruption, the circuit can record the time and/or date in memory. This information can then be transmitted to an RFID reader/interrogator if a dispute arises as to when the lock had been broken.

Abstract: Described herein is a mineral-releasing compost prepared by combining a prebiotic material, a probiotic material, and one or more mineral gluconate salts to form a composting mixture, controlling composting conditions to allow for the composting mixture to decompose, and allowing the composting mixture to fully stabilize and mature, wherein the compost includes one or more minerals as digested products of the respective mineral gluconate salts. The mineral-releasing compost is particularly suitable for remediation of soil contaminated with heavy metals and for amendment of soil deficient of certain minerals.

Abstract: Methods for converting waste streams from the wood pulping industry to high-value fertilizers are described. For example, isolated lignin and lignosulfonate or waste streams containing lignin and lignosulfonate can be converted to methylol derivatives and treated with further reagents to produce controlled release fertilizers, hydrogel fertilizers, and soil stabilizers.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for producing an oxygenated biochar material possessing a cation-exchanging property, wherein a biochar source is reacted with one or more oxygenating compounds in such a manner that the biochar source homogeneously acquires oxygen-containing cation-exchanging groups in an incomplete combustion process. The invention is also directed to oxygenated biochar compositions and soil formulations containing the oxygenated biochar material.

Abstract: A pre-rounding element (14) is used in a rounding apparatus (4) for rounding can body blanks from sheet metal blanks. The lower element part (22) of the pre-rounding element (14) is displaceable by an actuation element (23). This allows the adjustment of the pre-rounding element even during operation of the rounding apparatus. Preferably a measurement of sheet metal blank properties takes place. The measurement may include a thickness measurement and/or a strength measurement of blanks. The pre-rounding element is controlled in dependency of the measurement result. This allows a constant rounding result even with varying sheet metal properties.

Abstract: Systems and methods to generate beneficial residual stresses in a material, clean, strip coatings from, or roughen surfaces by generating cavitation shock waves without damaging the surface of the material. Shock waves emanate through the target material from collapsing cavitation voids in and around a liquid jet to generate residual stresses without impinging the jet against the material, or by impinging the material at shallow angles, and without significantly damaging or deforming the surface of the target material.

Abstract: A system and method forming a ground bonding strap. A length of cable is measured to determine a segment of cable to stamp to form a pair of connectors. The segment is heated. The segment is stamped to form the pair of connectors. The pair of connectors defining an indentation and a pair of receptacles disposed through the cable. The pair of receptacles being each adjacent to and separated by an indentation. The indentations being positioned to allow a user to cut between the pair of connectors to form a ground bonding strap of a length selected by the user.

Abstract: A device for configuring foil as it is dispensed comprising a first section comprising a first configuration; a second section comprising a second configuration; the foil dispenser adapted to dispense foil between the first and second sections, the first and second sections imparting a grill-like configuration to the foil as the foil exits the dispensing device. A method of creating a cross sectional configuration in foil comprising: passing the foil through an opening; the opening having first and second sections which impart a configuration to the foil; the first and second sections being configured to create a grill-like configuration along the longitudinal axis of the foil.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for verifying calibration of a tool used in a repetitive applications, the tool having at least one part that moves with respect to another part of the tool during each repetitive application. An electronic sensor and a microcontroller operatively coupled to the tool detects and counts each repetitive application. A motion sensor provides an indication to the microcontroller of each repetitive application. The microcontroller stores a continuous count of the number of repetitive applications and compares that count to a predetermined maximum number of counts allowed during a calibration cycle, and provides a signal indicating when the stored continuous count reaches the predetermined maximum count. The signal may be a local visual indicator and a transmitted signal to a remote location to indicate that the tool is in need of re-calibration.

Abstract: A sensor arrangement for detecting a safe installation state of an automated installation has an input circuit designed to receive a first input signal and at least one further input signal. The first input signal depends on the safe installation state to be detected. The further input signal depends on a further operational state. The sensor arrangement also has a first output and at least one second output and an evaluation unit for outputting a first output signal and a second output signal at the first and second outputs, respectively. The evaluation unit is designed to evaluate the first input signal in a failsafe manner and on the basis thereof produce a redundant signal pair at the first and second outputs to signal a safe installation state, and to evaluate the further input signal and on the basis thereof generate non-redundant output signals different from the redundant signal pair.

Abstract: A force-transmitting mechanism (110) has stationary and load-receiving portions (111, 112). The load-receiving portion is joined to a measurement transducer on the stationary portion through a force-transmitting connection, directly or through at least one coupling element (119) and at least one lever (116). The force-transmitting mechanism has a parallel-guided coupling means (124), a calibration lever (120) with a fulcrum on the stationary portion, and calibration lever arms (121, 122), one of which is rigidly connected to a calibration weight (123). The parallel-guided coupling means (124) is arranged between the second calibration lever arm and the at least one coupling element or an arm (117, 118) of the lever. The parallel-guided coupling means is divided into fixed and parallel-guided coupling parts (126, 125), which allows a force to be transmitted between the coupling parts. Parallel elements of the parallel-guided coupling part absorb relative traverse displacements from transmitted forces.

Abstract: An inertial force sensor of the present invention includes a detection element, a detection circuit for detecting the amount of inertia corresponding to the inertial force applied to the detection element; a first low-pass filter connected to the output side of the detection circuit; and a correction circuit for correcting the output of the first low-pass filter. The correction circuit includes a correction amount generation unit connected to the output side of the first low-pass filter; a correction amount storage unit connected to the output side of the correction amount generation unit; and a correction unit to connected to the output side of the first low-pass filter and to the output side of the correction amount storage unit. The correction unit corrects an output value of the first low-pass filter based on a correction amount stored in the correction amount storage unit.

Abstract: A liquid consumption device includes a replaceable liquid container, a sensor, a fault finding section, an estimation section and a determination section. The sensor detects whether or not liquid has reached a predetermined amount. The fault finding section finds whether there is a fault in the sensor. The estimation section calculates an estimated value of a consumption amount of the liquid. The determination section carries out determination based on the estimated value of the liquid container and a threshold value which is specified based on threshold value information when a fault in the sensor has been found. The determination section carries out the determination based on the sensor when a fault in the sensor has not been found and to calculate the threshold value information based on the estimation value when the sensor detects that the liquid has reached the predetermined amount.

Abstract: A self-test method by rotating the proof mass at a high frequency enables testing the functionality of both the drive and sense systems at the same time. In this method, the proof mass is rotated at a drive frequency. An input force which is substantially two times the drive frequency is applied to the actuation structures to rotate the proof mass of the gyroscope around the sensitive axis orthogonal to the drive axis. An output response of the gyroscope at the drive frequency is detected by a circuitry and a self-test response is obtained.

Abstract: Method for assessment of friction properties of fibers or substrate. The method is useful for assessing the degree of damage of hair fibers, for demonstrating the efficacy of a composition for minimizing the friction properties of fibers or substrate and/or for supporting advertising claims.

Abstract: A test apparatus collects performance data for a seat belt system having components providing operating stages of pre-tensioning, locking, and load limiting of the seat belt. A bench plate mounts the components of the seat belt system and includes first and second pulleys spaced apart on the bench plate and having the seat belt extending horizontally therebetween. At least one load sensor senses the load experienced by the seat belt. A resistor engages the seat belt between the first and second pulleys and pulls downwardly to introduce slack in the seat belt. An impactor mass is suspended above the seat belt and is released to free-fall onto the seat belt and impose a load on the seat belt simulating the load of a seated occupant being imposed on the seat belt. A control module energizes the pre-tensioning stage and a plotter records force versus time performance data.

Abstract: A system including a channel; a particulate matter sensor disposed in fluid communication with the channel, the particulate matter sensor having a sensitivity that increases in response to exposure to particulate matter; and a controller coupled to the particulate matter sensor and configured to monitor the channel in response to the sensitivity of the particular matter sensor.