Abstract: A system and method are provided for mounting, removing and retaining brake pads in disc brakes, such as air-operated disc brakes utilized on commercial vehicles, in a manner which does not require the use of separate brake pad retaining devices while providing positive retention of the brake pad. A preferred embodiment includes a brake caliper mount having brake pad abutment surfaces having radially-oriented and lateral grooves which permit a brake pad with corresponding projections on is lateral sides to be inserted through an opening of the brake caliper into the radially-oriented grooves until the backing plate projections are aligned with the lateral groove, and advancing the brake actuator behind the brake pad to place the brake pad in an operating position in which the actuator prevents the brake pad from realigning with the radially-oriented grooves until the actuator is retracted to permit brake pad extraction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rotary damper comprising a hollow housing (10) which is opened at its one end and completely closed at the other end by an end wall (11), a bearing (13) formed at the end wall (11), a shaft (20) fitted to the bearing (13), a plug (30) made of metal, having an aperture (31) supporting the shaft (20) and closing an opening in the housing (10), partitions (40) arranged inside the housing (10) for rotation in accordance with rotation of the housing (10), a viscous liquid filling chambers (71 and 72) defined by the partitions (40), and metal vanes (51 and 52) arranged in the chambers (71 and 72) for rotation in accordance with the rotation of the shaft (20), wherein the vane (51 and 52) includes a check valve, the check valve includes a valve body (84), and the valve body (84) includes a stop 84c made of resin and arranged between the plug (30) and the vanes (51 and 52).

Abstract: A shock absorber includes a cylinder sealingly containing oil, and a piston coupled with a piston rod and inserted in the cylinder. The shock absorber generates a damping force by controlling the oil flow generated according to movement of the piston with the use of a damping force generation mechanism. A separator tube is externally disposed around the cylinder. The oil is transmitted into the damping force generation mechanism via a branch tube integrally formed on a cylindrical sidewall of the separator tube. Both sides of a proximal portion of the branch tube in a circumferential direction of the sidewall of the separator tube are pressed from an inside to concave an inner circumferential surface radially outwardly, thereby forming recesses.

Abstract: A valve assembly of a shock absorber can achieve both an effect of varying an attenuation force according to a frequency region of vibration or shock transferred to the shock absorber during the driving of an automobile and an effect of varying an attenuation force according to an additional pressure and can increase the attenuation force in response to an instantaneous input of a large amplitude behavior. The valve assembly includes: a valve housing coupled to a piston rod having an orifice hole and a space formed therein, the space having an open lower end to communicate with the orifice hole; a frequency sensitive valve unit including a free piston configured to vertically partition the space; and a sub-valve unit coupled to the lower end of the space, wherein operation of the sub-valve unit is controlled by ascending and descending of the free piston.

Abstract: Provided is a piston valve of a shock absorber which can achieve both an effect of varying an attenuation force according to a pressure and an effect of varying an attenuation force according to a frequency region. The piston valve includes: a main valve unit coupled to a lower end of a piston rod formed with an orifice hole, to divide an inside of a cylinder into an extension chamber and a compression chamber, the main valve unit generating an attenuation force according to a difference of pressure between the extension chamber and the compression chamber; and a frequency sensitive valve unit installed at one side of the main valve unit and configured to generate an attenuation force according to a frequency of hydraulic fluid delivered through the orifice hole of the piston rod, wherein the frequency sensitive valve unit is installed within the main valve unit.

Abstract: A shock absorber which can be easily attached and which can reduce the installation space is provided. The shock absorber in accordance with the present invention is characterized by including a front wall to receive shock, a rear wall opposing the front wall, and peripheral walls connecting peripheries of the front wall and the rear wall, and at least one attaching section to attach onto an attaching object is formed to be integral with the rear wall, and shock received by the front wall is propagated via the rear wall to the attaching object.

Abstract: A system comprising a spray boom including a pair of boom assemblies, means for measuring the position of the boom assemblies relative to the ground, a stabilising device mounted on each boom assembly for stabilising and damping vertical movement of the spray boom, activating means connected to the stabilising device, and computer controlling means, wherein the stabilising device is configured as a block movable on a track along the length of the boom assembly thereby displacing the centre of gravity of the spray boom, the activating means capable of moving the block along the boom assembly, the computer controlling means receiving information from the means for measuring the position of the boom assemblies relative to the ground on the vertical movement of the pair of boom assemblies, whereby the computer controlling means controls the vertical position of the stabilising device through the activating means in response to received information.

Abstract: A foldable storage system is provided. The foldable storage system includes a top panel to cover the system, a middle panel connected to the top panel by the connecting members, a bottom panel to support contents in the system, a first and a second side rotating panel connected to the middle panel through respective rotating members wherein the first and second side rotating panels rotate inwardly and frictionally contact with the bottom panel, a front top and bottom hinge panel with respective hinged and rotating portions, and a back top and bottom hinge panel with respective hinged and rotating portions.

Abstract: An expandable travelling case comprises a back panel, a flexible jacket, and a tensioner. The case can be expanded by moving the expansion arm to an expanded configuration. The expanded configuration involves the tensioner bracing or pushing against the flexible jacket in cooperation with the back panel of the case. The tensioner is therefore compressed between the jacket and the back panel in the expanded configuration. This provides a tension fit for the flexible jacket. There is also provided a retention means and suitable component to maintain the travelling case in an expanded state.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic coupling arrangement, particularly hydrodynamic torque converter, comprises a housing arrangement filled with fluid, an impeller rotatable with the housing arrangement around an axis of rotation (A), a turbine arranged in the housing arrangement, and a torsional vibration damper arrangement with an input area which can be coupled to the housing arrangement by a lockup clutch. The driven hub comprises an inner circumferential toothing for coupling to an outer circumferential toothing of a driven member, such that it is fixed with respect to rotation relative to it. The turbine has a turbine hub with an inner circumferential toothing for coupling in a fixed manner with respect to relative rotation to an outer circumferential toothing at the driven hub and/or the outer circumferential toothing of the driven member.

Abstract: A gear mechanism for motor vehicles includes a double clutch gear mechanism with two part gear mechanisms and a double clutch which transmits torque from the engine optionally to one of the two part gear mechanisms, with a central disk connected to a drive disk, two outer pressure application plates which are also connected to the drive disk and are moveable in the axial direction relative to the central disk, and friction disks arranged between the central disk and the pressure application plates, wherein the friction disks consist of two support carrier disks arranged parallel to each other and moveably in relation to each other, between which leaf-like spring segments are provided. To eliminate vibration problems which can occur on start-up from standstill, on load-change processes and during the gear change, the leaf-like spring segments have different spring characteristic curves with which a multistage spring characteristic is achieved.

Abstract: A dual clutch transmission for motor vehicles, with two subtransmissions, with a dual clutch, with a central disk (3) connected to the driving disk (2) and belonging to the dual clutch, with two outer pressure plates (4, 5) and with friction disks (6, 7) which are arranged between the central disk (3) and the pressure plates (4, 5) and which can be coupled individually to the central disk (3) and transfer the torque selectively to the sub transmissions via one of the clutch output shafts (solid shaft 10, hollow shaft 11). Dual clutch transmissions often suffer from noise and vibration problems which mostly arise during crawling actions, when starting from a standstill, in load alternation processes and during gear changes. In order to avoid this, the central disk (3) is decoupled from the driving disk (2) and is mounted on the hollow shaft (11); furthermore, the central disk (3) is connected cardanically to the driving disk (2).

Abstract: A power transmitting apparatus can include a gear-stage clutch comprising alternately arranged driving clutch discs and driven clutch discs; hydraulic chambers for actuating a hydraulic piston; and hydraulic oil supplying ports communicating with oil passages opening on the side surface of the input shaft for supplying the hydraulic chambers with hydraulic oil from the oil passages to actuate the hydraulic piston. Power can be transmitted at a predetermined gear ratio by engaging clutch discs of the gear-stage clutch by selectively supplying the hydraulic chambers with hydraulic oil. An annular sealing member can be fitted in a recessed portion formed around each opening of the hydraulic oil supplying port on the outer circumference of the input shaft. The recessed portion can have a flattened bottom surface on which the sealing member is seated so that it is contacted with the flattened bottom surface of the recessed portion.

Abstract: A power transmitting apparatus configured to connect an input from an engine and an output to a driving wheel side at a predetermined gear ratio and to arbitrarily set the gear ratio during power transmission from the engine to the wheels. The apparatus comprises: a first partition member and a second partition member arranged opposite each other to form hydraulic chambers; a first clutch disc group comprising interleaved driving and driven clutch discs; a second clutch disc group comprising interleaved driving and driven clutch discs; and a hydraulic piston actuated by hydraulic pressure supplied to the hydraulic chambers to engage or disengage the driving and driven clutch discs of either of the first clutch disc group or the second clutch disc group depending on the actuated direction of the hydraulic piston, the driving power transmitted at a desirable gear ratio by selectively actuating the hydraulic piston.

Abstract: A clutch device having at least one torque transmission device, which has at least one pressure plate which is connected non-rotatingly to a housing component, a pressing plate which may be moved non-rotatingly and in an axial direction with respect to the pressure plate, and a clutch plate which may be clamped in a frictionally engaged manner between the pressure plate and the pressing plate, and having at least one wear adjustment device which has at least one ramp ring which is rotatable in a circumferential direction by means of at least one coil spring for sensing and for compensating for wear-induced axial play between the housing component and the pressing plate, wherein the coil spring is mounted on the ramp ring side and on the housing component side, there being a hook-in securing means provided between the ramp ring and the coil spring.

Abstract: A hydraulic control system of an automatic transmission includes a clutch compensator feed circuit that is in communication with clutch apply circuit exhaust fluid. The clutch compensator feed circuit receives exhaust fluid from one or more apply clutches, or other torque transmitting device(s), and feeds the exhaust fluid to the balance side of the clutch or other torque transmitting device. The clutch compensator feed circuit may be open to atmospheric pressure, such that the clutch compensator feed circuit is not pressurized with respect to atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is clutch actuator unit that includes a housing that includes a mounting space and a penetration aperture for receiving an operating rode. A slide pad and slider are disposed along an inner side surface of the mounting space, and are configured to move back and forth within the housing. An operating rod that is connected to the slider through the penetration aperture is moved back and forth, along with the slider and slid pad, through the aperture via a drive portion. A stopper is also integrally formed along the front surface of the slide pad to limit the movement of the slider accordingly. In doing so, the disclosed actuator is able to dynamically locate certain stroke positions and provide an improved shifting operation.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a method for detecting the conveyance status of a banknote, comprising; detecting whether the banknote reaches a first position in a banknote passage within a first predetermined time; detecting whether the banknote reaches a second position in the banknote passage within a second predetermined time when it is determined that the banknote has reached the first position (S14); determining whether the status of the banknote at the first position is changed from Banknote Detected to Banknote Undetected when it is determined that the banknote is withdrawn when it is determined that the status of the banknote at the first position has changed from Banknote Detected to Banknote Undetected (S18). This application can increase the possibility of the banknote processing device in detecting whether the banknote is withdrawn. Meanwhile, the disclosure provides a device for processing a banknote.

Abstract: The invention relates to improved bitumen recovery processes and systems. One process provides for operation of a bitumen froth treatment plant at optimum shear rates in the feed pipe carrying the bitumen froth to the froth settling unit. Another process provides for optimizing the design of a bitumen froth treatment plant by optimizing the diameter of the feed pipe to impart an optimum shear rate to the bitumen froth mixture and further optimizing the volume of the feed pipe to impart an optimum residence time for the bitumen froth stream in the feed pipe. An optimal plant design is also disclosed, the plant including optimal diameter and volume of the feed pipe.

Abstract: A system for conveying material is disclosed. The system may include a base assembly including at least one proximal leg movably, and a plurality of wheels configured to move between a transport position in which the plurality of wheels is adjacent to the base, and a working position in which the plurality of wheels is spaced from the base relative to the transport position, wherein the at least one proximal leg is configured to move between a retracted position in which the plurality of wheels supports the system on a ground surface, and an extended position in which the at least one proximal leg supports the system on the ground surface and at least one wheel of the plurality of wheels does not support the system on the ground surface; a conveying assembly; and a support assembly configured to move the conveying assembly between storage and operating positions.

Abstract: A movable processing apparatus for mineral material processing comprises a movable frame and a side conveyor which is attached to the frame, and a pivot joint for the side conveyor which pivot joint is attached between the side conveyor and the frame, and the side conveyor is pivotable horizontally around the pivot joint to one or more operating positions at least on one side of the processing apparatus and to a transportation position.

Abstract: Provided is a package automation apparatus including: a detection unit configured to detect package information of a package conveyed to a tray; a chute operation unit configured to operate a package loading chute so that the package is loaded on at least one of a plurality of sorting spaces formed at a pallet adjacent to the tray; and a control unit configured to transfer an operation control signal of the package loading chute to the chute operation unit so that the package is loaded on any one of the plurality of sorting spaces, based on the package information, in order to easily sort the package automatically.

Abstract: A divider dividing products into parallel lanes comprises a support frame; at least one guide channel for receiving the products, carried by the frame and extending parallel to a longitudinal direction; a fixed first guide connected to the frame and extending parallel to a transversal direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction; second guide carried by the frame and extending parallel to the longitudinal direction; first actuator for moving the guide channel parallel to the transversal direction; and second actuator for moving one of two telescopically coupled channel portions of the guide channel relative to the other in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction; the second guide connected to the frame in a fixed position; the first/second actuators comprising a first/second motorized cursor slidably coupled to the first/second guide and connected to the guide channel/one of the two channel portions to move it parallel to the transversal/ longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A postal sorting machine for flat articles on edge, said machine comprising first belt conveyor means suitable for conveying said flat articles along a first path, a plurality of sorting outlets, each of which is associated with a separator flap mounted to move about a pivot axis between a first position in which it does not interfere with said first path and a second position in which it intersects said first path so as to direct said flat articles along a second path, said separator flap being suspended by a pivot rod extending on one side of said flap only, so that the zone under said separator flap is left free.

Abstract: An installation for processing articles, the installation comprising an article-transfer device extending between two processing stations, the transfer device comprising a rail having at least one rectilinear segment and defining a closed travel path for carriages that are mounted on the rail to move freely therealong, each of which is provided with means for driving at least one article, the transfer device comprising a screw extending along the rectilinear segment of the rail and having a thread that co-operates with fingers secured to the carriages in order to drive the carriages along the rectilinear segment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing material cascading through a treatment chamber uses a plurality of vertically stacked shelves divided into trays by spaced apart openings. As the shelves rotate, material contained with each tray is discharged through one of the openings to one or more trays of an underlying shelf. The material to be processed is supplied to the uppermost shelf through one or more material inlets, and discharged from the lowermost shelf through one or more material outlets. The material that enters each feed opening stays substantially together as it spirals down through the chamber. The multiple trays provide for shorter retention time of material within each tray which is adaptable for processing heat sensitive materials along separate material flow paths within the treatment chamber.

Abstract: In one example embodiment, a conveyor apparatus includes a belt, a drive pulley, a troughed pulley, and a motor configured to operate with the belt, the drive pulley and the troughed pulley to drive the belt.

Abstract: A system, mechanism, and method for physically manipulating media, especially in a data storage environment.

Abstract: A conveyor take-up device may include a carriage, a pulley, a counterweight assembly, at least one connector, and at least one safety restraint. The carriage may be movably joined to a support structure and may support the pulley, which may be configured for operative association with an endless conveyor belt. The counterweight assembly may include a counterweight arm, a tension arm, and a counterweight. The counterweight arm may be pivotally joined to the support structure and configured to move between upper and lower limit positions. The tension arm may extend generally transversely from a first end portion of the counterweight arm with the counterweight supported by the counterweight arm distal from the tension arm. The connector may be joined to the carriage at one end portion of connector and to the tension arm at a second end portion that is distal the first end portion of the connector.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a unit for container return machines, having a conveying means for the longitudinal drive of a container in the direction of its longitudinal axis, and a rotational body arranged on each side of the conveying means, wherein, when the unit is in transportation mode, the container rests on the conveying means and is driven longitudinally, and, when the unit is in identification mode, the container rests on the rotational bodies and is driven rotationally. Each rotational body has the cross-section of a flattened circle, such that when the unit is in transportation mode, the container bears against at least one of the flattened surfaces of the rotational bodies.

Abstract: A link member having a curved bearing surface and a conveyor belt comprising a link member having a curved bearing surface are described. The link member can be comprised in any type of conveyor belt, including a grid-type conveyor belt, a smaller-radius grid-type conveyor belt or a flat-wire conveyor belt. The link member eliminates the objectionable noise caused by pivot rods jumping the corner of conventional links having curved bearing surfaces. According to one embodiment, the link member comprises a pair of leg portions, each leg portion comprising a first opening at a distal end and a second opening at a proximal end, and a connecting portion that connects the pair of leg portions, the connecting portion comprising a curved bearing surface between first and second side surfaces.

Abstract: A switch mechanism includes a sliding track disposed inside a host module, and a sliding component. An end of the sliding component is pivotally connected to a display module and the other end of the sliding component is slidably installed inside the sliding track. The sliding component slides in a first direction relative to the sliding track while the display module pivots in a first rotary direction relative to the host module. The switch mechanism further includes an activation component for moving to a first position corresponding to a first switch component to activate a first switch component while the sliding component slides in the first direction.

Abstract: On aspect of the present invention, a strip type off-circuit tap changer includes an insulating rod and a support, where an operation positioning device is arranged on the support, a rack mobile frame is disposed on the insulating rod, the rack of the rack mobile frame is engaged to a drive gear of the operation positioning device, columnar fixed contacts are longitudinally arranged at a spacing on the insulating rod, the rack mobile frame is connected to a moving contact frame, and a moving contact assembly is arranged on the moving contact frame and fits with the fixed contacts on the insulating rod, the moving contact assembly is formed by an annular moving contact and an elastic pin, and the annular moving contact spans between two adjacent columnar fixed contacts.

Abstract: A micromechanical device and a method for forming the device is disclosed, wherein the micromechanical device has a laterally movable mechanically active element that has a quiescent position in which it is in physical contact with a second structural element. The device is fabricating by disposing the mechanically active element on a first substrate and disposing the second structural element on a second substrate. After the two substrates are aligned and joined such that both the mechanically active element and the second structural element are in contact and affixed to one of the substrates, the other substrate is removed leaving all structural elements disposed on a single substrate.

Abstract: A high-voltage disconnection knife insulated by air for external use in high-voltage electrical transmission and distribution networks, the disconnection knife includes two copper arms for the disconnection or contact, mounted in a parallel relation to each other, a front and rear contact base, a turning support in the vicinity of the rear base such that the arms turn at one of its ends about an axis perpendicular to them, a central copper block for distribution of the current flowing through the copper arms; the distance between the arms is defined by the set of stainless steel axes, the copper block and the turning mechanism. At the ends of the disconnection arms an aluminum spring of with transverse section of gradually reduced thickness is connected to the external surface, said spring being fixed to the ends of the arms by means of a pair of stainless steel axes. The front and rear L-shaped bases are formed by the bending of a copper sill with rounded edges to define an area of contact.

Abstract: Keyboard keys are outfitted with alignment features whose configuration, placement and geometry on a key serve to allow the key to automatically self-locate when the key returns from a pressed down, accessed, position, to its home, resting, position. In this manner, keyboards can be designed with keys with minimal keycap gaps that reduce the perceptible variance in the keycap spacing to be ascetically pleasing with minimal manufacturing costs.

Abstract: A touch panel includes a protective cover with a lower surface herein, and an active region and a periphery region defined on the lower surface. A first sensing structure is disposed on the lower surface and covers the active region. A shelter layer is disposed on the lower surface and in the periphery region, wherein the shelter layer includes a highlight region and a highlight contrast region, a first pattern is disposed in the highlight region, and a non-transparent layer with a second pattern is disposed in the highlight region, wherein the first pattern is overlapped by the second pattern.

Abstract: Input device equalization techniques are described. In one or more implementations, an input device includes a sensor substrate having a plurality of sets of one or more conductors of a respective plurality of pressure sensitive keys, a spacer layer disposed proximal to the sensor substrate and having a plurality of openings that expose the plurality of sets of conductors, respectively, a flexible contact layer, and a press equalization device. The pressure equalization device is formed as a series of connected channels that connect one or more of the plurality of openings to an outside area of the input device to permit air pressure of the outside area to generally equalize with air pressure within the one or more of the plurality of openings.

Abstract: Switch assemblies that mitigate stack up variations and methods of making the same are provided. The stack up variations are mitigated by embodiments that use a floating switch design. The floating switch design may eliminate height variations in the stack up by directly mounting an activation assembly to a support bracket. This ensures that the stack up height of the activation assembly and support bracket remain fixed, independent of a flexible printed circuit board (PCB) that may also be secured to the activation assembly. This way, regardless of the thickness of the flexible PCB and any height variations in solder used to secure the flexible PCB to the activation assembly, the stack up height of the activation assembly and support bracket remains fixed.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a transparent conductive laminate including a transparent substrate layer, a first transparent conductive layer and a second transparent conductive layer formed on both surfaces of the transparent substrate layer, a first conductive pattern area and a first nonconductive pattern area formed on the first transparent conductive layer, and a second conductive pattern area and a second nonconductive pattern area formed on the second transparent conductive layer, wherein at least one layer formed between the first transparent conductive layer and the second transparent conductive layer is a layer including an ultraviolet absorbing agent or a resin in which a non-reactive ultraviolet absorbing agent to which at least one functional group selected from a vinyl group, an acryloyl group, a methacryloyl group, an alcoholic hydroxyl group, an amino group, a carboxyl group, an epoxide group and an isocyanate group is added is copolymerized.

Abstract: A coke oven includes an oven chamber, an uptake duct in fluid communication with the oven chamber, the uptake duct being configured to receive exhaust gases from the oven chamber, an uptake damper in fluid communication with the uptake duct, the uptake damper being positioned at any one of multiple positions, the uptake damper configured to control an oven draft, an actuator configured to alter the position of the uptake damper between the positions in response to a position instruction, a sensor configured to detect an operating condition of the coke oven, wherein the sensor includes one of a draft sensor, a temperature sensor configured to detect an uptake duct temperature or a sole flue temperature, and an oxygen sensor, and a controller being configured to provide the position instruction to the actuator in response to the operating condition detected by the sensor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of reducing emissions of byproduct gas when charging oven chambers of a battery of coking ovens, on the proviso that the oven chamber (1) to be charged is opened on the machine side (MS) of the battery of coking ovens, and a block of compressed coal (10) is introduced into the opened oven chamber (1). Byproduct gases released during introduction of the block of compressed coal (10) into the hot oven chamber (1), are discharged through a byproduct-gas manifold (11) attached to the oven chamber (1) and are then preferably freed of dust and incinerated. Crude gases formed in the closed oven chambers during coking are discharged through a crude-gas manifold (3) attached to the oven chambers (1) and are passed on for treatment by at least one gas scrubber.

Abstract: A volatile matter sharing system includes a first stamp-charged coke oven, a second stamp-charged coke oven, a tunnel fluidly connecting the first stamp-charged coke oven to the second stamp-charged coke oven, and a control valve positioned in the tunnel for controlling fluid flow between the first stamp-charged coke oven and the second stamp-charged coke oven.

Abstract: A coke plant includes multiple coke ovens where each coke oven is adapted to produce exhaust gases, a common tunnel fluidly connected to the plurality of coke ovens and configured to receive the exhaust gases from each of the coke ovens, multiple standard heat recovery steam generators fluidly connected to the common tunnel where the ratio of coke ovens to standard heat recovery steam generators is at least 20:1, and a redundant heat recovery steam generator fluidly connected to the common tunnel where any one of the plurality of standard heat recovery steam generators and the redundant heat recovery steam generator is adapted to receive the exhaust gases from the plurality of ovens and extract heat from the exhaust gases and where the standard heat recovery steam generators and the redundant heat recovery steam generator are all connected in parallel with each other.

Abstract: A device for increasing the interior surface of a compact coke charge in a receiving trough, which device increases the interior surface of a coke cake or coke leaving the coking chamber by mechanically breaking apart or roughening it, resulting in a break-up of the coke structure and the formation of crevice-type cavities in the compacted coke charge so that an increased amount of water can flow into the interior of the coke charge during the subsequent quenching step through these crevices, resulting in a high profitability of the method due to reduced quenching times and lower water consumption. A method for increasing the interior surface of a compact coke charge in a receiving trough, which serves to break up a fresh coke cake or to roughen the coke in order to reduce water consumption during quenching is disclosed.

Abstract: A multi-effect evaporator, having an upstream and a downstream end, adapted for distillation of water. It includes a plurality of effects connected in a series manner and arranged into groups. Each group has a common parallel water feed inlet adapted to supply all effects in the group with feed water. The evaporator further includes a main feed water line in fluid communication with the most upstream group. An array of heaters is disposed along the line, adapted for heating the feed water before its entry into the effects of the latter group. Each effect includes means for forwarding the second outlet vapor into one of the heaters for heating the feed water. Each group includes a pump adapted to extract the concentrate from the effects of the group and pump it into the common parallel water feed of an adjacent downstream group.

Abstract: A tailings solvent recovery unit (TSRU) recovers a solvent from a solvent diluted tailings and includes a separation apparatus which has a flash vessel, tailings outlet, solvent outlet and an inlet spray system for supplying the diluted tailings to the flash vessel. The spray nozzle system may include multiple nozzles arranged around the periphery of the flash vessel for flash-atomization over its cross-section of the flashing chamber, a nozzle sized and configured to provide choked flow of the diluted tailings, multiple nozzles each being operable in an on/off mode to regulate a total feed flow, or multiple nozzles associated with a distributor and multiple feed conduits.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of generating oxygen. The method addresses the objects of reducing the servicing work and improving the purity of the generated oxygen. According to the invention, the method comprises the steps of: providing an oxygen comprising gas at a primary side of a dense voltage drivable membrane (12); applying a voltage between a conductive element at the primary side of the membrane (12) and a conductive element at a secondary side of the membrane (12), the conductive elements being electrically connected to the membrane (12), wherein a plasma (18, 20) is generated at at least one of the primary side and the secondary side of the membrane (12), the plasma (18, 20) being used as conductive element.

Abstract: A device for the excitation of a gas medium (10) contained in a casing (12), the device being coupled to the casing (12) and disposed outside same and including an applicator that can generate lateral excitation inside the casing (12) over at least a portion thereof. The device is characterized in that the casing (12) is a hollow-core photonic dielectric structure (16), in which the core has a diameter smaller than 300 ?m, and in that the applicator is of the microwave type and can be used to generate a surface wave that can create and confine a micro-plasma from the gaseous medium contained in the casing (12).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for restoring properties of graphene includes exposing the graphene to plasma having a density in a range from about 0.3*108 cm?3 to about 30*108 cm?3 when the graphene is in a ground state. The method and apparatus may be used for large-area, low-temperature, high-speed, eco-friendly, and silicon treatment of graphene.