Abstract: A tossing game system includes hand puppets and a ball whose outer surface is covered in loop type material. A tennis or similar type ball is covered with loop type material. Once tossed, the ball is caught in the mouth of a hand puppet, which is worn on the player's arm and makes a sound effect when the ball is caught. The hand puppet preferably takes the form of an animal, cartoon character, or similarly popular figure and produces a corresponding sound effect. The mouth of the hand puppet contains a contact patch of hook type material. The ball is then thrown with the player's uncovered hand, and caught in the mouth of a similar hand puppet worn by another player. The hook and loop type closures on the surface of the ball and hand puppet will enable small children to easily catch the ball.

Abstract: A model includes arm parts each including a rotational shaft portion, and a body part including a shaft supporting portion and being connected to and rotatable relative to the arm part. The arm part includes a projecting portion. The body part includes a recessed portion into which the projecting portion is fitted when the rotational shaft portion is inserted into the shaft supporting portion. The rotational shaft portion and the shaft supporting portion include respective locking members that are engageable with each other and limit the movement of the rotational shaft portion in an axial direction within a range between a first position where the projecting portion is fitted in the recessed portion and a second position where the projecting portion is out of the recessed portion.

Abstract: A play equipment controller for activating a plurality of functions in play equipment includes at least one control and analysis module configured for controlling activation and task allocation of individual devices having functions, the at least one control and analysis module including a primary power supply configured to relay power indirectly to the individual devices as needed; and at least one base module configured to be coupled with the at least one control analysis module directly or via another base module and to indirectly connect at least one individual device to the at least one control and analysis module. The at least one base module includes at least one connection module configured for at least indirectly connecting at least one individual device to the at least one base module.

Abstract: A constructible water toy for recreational use and learning, the water toy comprising a kit of parts having beams, connectors, and connector adapters. A beam comprises a pool noodle with a rigid endoskeleton support extending beyond the ends of the pool noodle. The endoskeleton support enables engagement to other beams via connectors or connector adapters with locking features for removably coupling the beams for forming endless structures.

Abstract: Provided is an infant toy mobile including a hub rotatable about a first axis and at least one object support articulated to the hub and being configured for articulation thereto of at least two geometric objects, and further being configured for rotation with respect to the hub about a second axis different from the first axis.

Abstract: Modular systems for the construction of three-dimensional structures are disclosed. A system includes a first panel, a second panel, and a fixing member. The first panel includes a first edge and a first attachment member. The second panel includes a second edge and a second attachment member. The second edge is configured to mate with the first edge of the first panel. This mating forms a hinge that couples the first and the second panels and enables a relative rotation about a rotation axis through the hinge. The relative rotation defines a relative angle between the first and the second panels. The fixing member is configured to couple to each of the first and the second attachment members when the relative angle between the first and the second panels is equivalent to a first angle, fixing the relative angle at the first angle and forming the structure.

Abstract: A method is provided for attaching two objects, generally toys such as building blocks, to each other. The attachment is enabled by a first attachment means to a planar surface of a first object and a second attachment means to a planar surface of a second object. The first attachment means and second attachment means can be bonded to the corresponding object by an adhesive material such as glue, by traversing a corresponding insert into the object (resulting in an interference fit), and ultimately by any means applied by a manufacturer. The first attachment means serves as a male interface that can be engaged with a female interface of the second attachment means. By engaging the first male interface with the female interface, two objects can be attached to each other. An object can be provided with both a male interface and female interface in order to attach multiple objects.

Abstract: An improved design of interlocking components is disclosed. The components may be used to form arbitrary solid shells with complex curvatures, including, for example, three dimensional puzzle games.

Abstract: A lift assembly includes an article to be lifted between a lowered position and a raised position, a drive element coupled to the article, a power mechanism coupled to the drive element, and a power transfer mechanism coupled between the power mechanism and the drive element. The power transfer mechanism includes control electronics having a first upward limit switch adapted to deactivate the power mechanism when the article is lifted to a first upward height, and a second upward limit switch adapted to deactivate the power mechanism when the article is lifted to a second upward height higher than the first upward height.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for concentrating an ink composition, wherein the method comprises the steps of: (a) providing an ink composition, the ink composition comprising a liquid carrier and particles comprising a resin and a colorant, and wherein the ink composition contains less than 0.

Abstract: A feed liquid flows into a second-stage humidifier chamber to form a second-stage humidifier bath. A first remnant of the feed liquid from the second-stage humidifier chamber then flows into a first-stage humidifier chamber to form a first-stage humidifier bath having a temperature lower than that of the second-stage bath. A second remnant of the feed liquid is then removed from the first-stage humidifier. Meanwhile, a carrier gas is injected into and bubbled through the first-stage humidifier bath, collecting a vaporizable component in vapor form from the first remnant of the feed liquid to partially humidify the carrier gas. The partially humidified carrier gas is then bubbled through the second-stage humidifier bath, where the carrier gas collects more of the vaporizable component in vapor form from the feed liquid to further humidify the carrier gas before the humidified carrier gas is removed from the second-stage humidifier chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed is an oxidation process to produce a crude carboxylic acid product carboxylic acid product. The process comprises oxidizing a feed stream comprising at least one oxidizable compound to generate a crude carboxylic acid slurry comprising furan-2,5-dicarboxylic acid (FDCA) and compositions thereof. Also disclosed is a process to produce a dry purified carboxylic acid product by utilizing various purification methods on the crude carboxylic acid.

Abstract: A method including: (a) contacting lime with an extract including an S1 solvent carrying a contaminant load to form a lime treated extract; and (b) reducing the contaminant load by removing solids.

Abstract: An adaptor for a chromatography column, the adaptor comprising a substantially circular bottom plate provided with an end surface; a ring shaped wall element arranged at the periphery of the bottom plate. The bottom plate and the wall element having a common axis and the adaptor is provided with a filter connection arrangement for removably connecting a filter on the end surface of the bottom plate of the adaptor.

Abstract: A de-aerator for removing dissolved gasses from water in a water heating system and a water heating system comprising such a de-aerator are disclosed. The de-aerator includes a vessel defining a chamber for receiving water which has been heated by a primary water heater, an inlet through which water can be supplied into the chamber and an outlet through which the water can exit the chamber; and a vent through which gas can exit the chamber. A diameter of the chamber decreases in a direction from the inlet towards the outlet. The chamber side wall being curved and having a non-constant radius of curvature, the radius of curvature being smaller near the outlet than near the inlet, so that water supplied into the chamber is accelerated as it flows from the inlet towards the outlet, to thereby promote de-aeration of the water. De-aeration gasses exit the chamber through the vent.

Abstract: An antifoam device and a method of using the antifoam device are useful to control levels of foam generated on the surface of effluent seawater during aeration of the effluent seawater in a seawater aeration basin. Effluent seawater contained within the seawater aeration basin may be produced in a seawater flue gas desulfurization system associated with a power plant or an aluminum production plant.

Abstract: Filter media suitable for various applications (e.g., hydraulic) and related components, systems, and methods associated therewith are described. The filter media may include a fiber web having a mixture of glass fibers and fibers that are fibrillated. The fibrillated fibers, for example, may be formed of lyocell.

Abstract: A high-strength meshed bag with a ring fits into a seat between downhole or surface connections in a conduit or into a dedicated filter sub assembly. The filter filters a flowing fluid inside the conduit. The bag may be formed of aramid fibers with a molded ring. The bag may have varying mesh properties along its surface. There may be several mesh layers in the bag. The conduit may include surface pipes, hoses, surface fluid handling equipment, a drill string, or production string. The bag may be designed to let drop balls through when desired while catching much smaller particles otherwise.

Abstract: In a rake system, a reamer element is attached to a reamer arm, which is movable backward and forward. A pivot axle of the reamer arm is formed on the distal end of a control arm, which is pivotable around a further pivot axle. During forward movement of the reamer arm, the reamer element pushes raked material collected by the rake to a discharge edge at the upper end of the rake. During backward movement of the reamer arm, the control arm is lifted, and the reamer element is moved back at a distance from the rake.

Abstract: A filter or strainer for a sink has an elevated body that breaks an eddy or whirlpool effect associated with sink drains, while also providing effective filtering of solid materials. The surface area of the device that is positioned above the drain allows water to pass through orifices in the body, while solid debris drops generally vertically in the sink and away from the drain. After the sink is drained of water, solid refuse can be easily removed and discarded.

Abstract: A water retention and disbursement mechanism used for recycling grey water. A housing is used to contain a reservoir which receives water from a grey water source such as a water basin or laundry machine via an inlet port. An overflow opening allows for the discharge of excess water from the reservoir into a sewer system. A pump, ideally contained within the reservoir, is activated by a float mechanism allowing the pump to withdraw from the reservoir and be discharged directly to a landscape irrigation system such as dripper, spray nozzles, or the like.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating particles from a fluid stream includes a flow chamber that has at least one inlet and at least one outlet. At least one ultrasonic transducer is located on a wall of the flow chamber. The transducer includes a piezoelectric array with at least two piezoelectric elements. The piezoelectric array includes a piezoelectric material to create a multi-dimensional acoustic standing wave in the flow chamber. A reflector is located on the wall on the opposite side of the flow chamber from the at least one ultrasonic transducer.

Abstract: A device of an aircraft engine for separating oil from an air-oil volume flow and an apparatus for introducing oil into the air-oil volume flow. An outlet area of the apparatus for introducing oil is provided in a closed line section, into which the air-oil volume flow can be introduced via an inlet area. In accordance with the invention, a flow cross-section of the line section downstream of the outlet area of the apparatus tapers at least partially like a nozzle and at least in some sections inside a confusor area.

Abstract: A roof vent for ventilating the roof of a building to the atmosphere. The roof vent includes a flange portion to lay against the roof, the flange portion having an opening to let air vent from the interior of the building (e.g. an attic). The roof vent can optionally include a collar portion extending from the flange portion and enclosing, at least in part, about a periphery of the opening and a cap dimensioned and configured to cover over the opening (including the hole in the roof) and optionally over the collar portion. The cap is configured to provide a passage (between the flange portion and the cap) through which air can pass between the atmosphere and the opening. The roof vent also includes a corrugated filter plate, e.g. partially enclosed by the cap, and interposed between the central opening and the passage, the corrugated filter plate having a pore size sufficient to permit air to pass through but inhibit the passage of snow particles, cinder particles and/or water droplets there-through.

Abstract: A system for removing undesirable compounds from contaminated air includes a biofilter having sintered glass media. Hydrogen sulfide is removed from contaminated air by passing the contaminated air through the biofilter.

Abstract: A filter pack includes a filter construction and a sealing system for sealing the construction within a duct or housing. The filter construction has first and second opposite flow faces and is configured for a straight-through flow. The sealing system includes a frame construction and a compressible seal member. The compressible seal member is molded around a portion of the frame construction. The compressible seal member is sufficiently compressible to form a radial seal between and against the frame construction and a surface of a housing when the filter pack is inserted within the housing.

Abstract: A multilayer filter with a material structure to allow air flow therethrough is positioned in front of a radiator of a land vehicle for removal of airborne pollutants from the environment. Each layer of the multifilter is formed of a pollutant capture material. Layers of filter material may be formed of a hepa material, a carbon material, a magnetized material or a spongy material. A protective screen may be positioned in front of the filter air intake side.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the disclosure correspond to, for example, a method for controlling a scrubber containing an adsorbent. The scrubber may be configured to cycle between scrubbing at least one pollutant/gas from a stream of gases with the pollutant/gas being adsorbed onto the adsorbent, and regenerating at least some of the adsorbent and thereby purging at least some of the one pollutant and/or first gas from the adsorbent via a regeneration gas flow. The method may include flowing a stream of gases through the scrubber, the scrubber including the adsorbent and adsorbing at least some of the one pollutant/gas from the stream of gases onto the adsorbent during an adsorption phase over a first time period. The method may also include purging at least a portion of the one pollutant/gas from the adsorbent during a regeneration phase over a second time period with a regeneration gas flow, and cycling therebetween.

Abstract: A CO2 recovery system includes an absorption tower that brings gas containing CO2 into contact with a CO2 absorption solution to remove CO2 from the CO2-containing gas; a regeneration tower that regenerates a CO2-absorbed rich solution; and a compression device that re-uses a lean solution, from which CO2 has been removed in the regeneration tower, in the absorption tower and compresses CO2 in gas emitted from the regeneration tower, wherein the rich solution has a high pressure, the high-pressure rich solution is subjected to gas-liquid separation by a flash drum, the rich solution as a liquid component separated in the flash drum is introduced into the regeneration tower, and high-pressure CO2 gas as a gas component separated in the flash drum is introduced into a compression device having a predetermined compression pressure.

Abstract: A process for the removal of components to be separated from technical gases by way of an absorption and desorption processes using liquid absorbents, at least part of the laden solution leaving the absorption device being branched off before being heated and fed to the top of the heat transfer section. This laden part-stream being heated by the steam rising from the bottom part of the desorption device via heat exchange in the heat transfer section. The residual stream of cold, laden solution leaving the absorption device being pre-heated via heat exchange with the hot, regenerated solution leaving the desorption device, with the heat exchange being configured such that the total heat exchange surface required for the absorption and desorption process is reduced.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for removing acid compounds contained in a gaseous effluent having a CO2 partial pressure greater than 200 mbar, using an aqueous solution comprising water, an amine comprising at least one primary or secondary amine function and the following diamine: 1,2-bis(2-dimethyl-aminoethoxy)ethane.

Abstract: CO2 is absorbed from a gas mixture by bringing the gas mixture into contact with an absorption medium comprising water and at least one amine of formula (I) R1R2NCH2CH2CHR4NHR3,??(I) where R1, R2 and R3 are, independently of one another, C1-C3-alkyl radicals, R4 is hydrogen, methyl or ethyl and the radicals R1, R2, R3 and R4 together comprise not more than 5 carbon atoms.

Abstract: The present application relates to a membrane separation device. According to the separation device of the present application, components to be separated using a separation membrane having a small area size can be separated with high selectivity and consequently processing efficiency and economical efficiency can be superbly improved; and according to a method for producing an expanded polystyrene which includes the membrane separation device, components to be separated using a separation membrane having a small area size, in particular, a volatile organic compound (VOC), can be separated with high selectivity and consequently processing efficiency and economical efficiency can be superbly improved, and also, by separating and recovering VOC, an effect in preventing environmental pollution caused by global warming is exhibited.

Abstract: This invention presents a metal-doped zeolite membrane-based apparatus containing molecular sieving zeolite thin film on the seeded porous substrate. The metal-doped zeolite membrane exhibits high selectivity to olefin over paraffins. The membrane is synthesized by seed coating and secondary growth method, followed by metal doping and post treatment processes.

Abstract: A canister including a canister body containing a bottom wall and at least one sidewall with inner and outer sidewall surfaces and an upper rim, and a closing element containing a top wall with an outer surface and an inner surface, and a fixing portion surrounding the top wall. The top wall or the bottom wall or at least one sidewall include a membrane region with a predetermined permeability. The fixing portion includes an elevated or recessed snap portion around its outer periphery shaped to correspond to the inner sidewall surface of the sidewall of the cylindrical canister body and form a snap connection with the canister body. The closing element is fixed to the canister body such that the outer surface of the top wall does not extend beyond the upper rim of the sidewall of the canister body.

Abstract: A system treats off gas from a waste incinerator to decrease potentially negative aspects of the off gas to the environment. The system includes a waste incinerator and a plasma oxidizer. The waste incinerator includes an incineration chamber to contain a waste material during at least a portion of an incineration process of the waste material. The waste incinerator also includes an exhaust outlet to exhaust an off gas from the incineration process of the waste material. The plasma oxidizer is coupled to the waste incinerator to receive and oxidize the off gas from the exhaust outlet of the waste incinerator. The plasma oxidizer includes a non-thermal gliding electric arc oxidation system to generate the plasma.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of selectively removing hydrogen sulfide H2S from a gaseous effluent comprising at least H2S and CO2, wherein a stage of selective absorption of hydrogen sulfide over CO2 is carried out by contacting said effluent with a solution comprising (a) water and (b) at least the following diamine: 1,2-bis(2-dimethylaminoethoxy)ethane and wherein the absorption selectivity is controlled by adding (c) a viscosifying compound to the absorbent solution.

Abstract: A method of treating NOx-containing exhaust from an internal combustion engine of an automotive vehicle. Urea solution is stored on-board the vehicle and delivered to a reactor/injector unit. The reactor/injector unit is operable to thermally decompose the urea solution into reductant gases suitable for direct application to an SCR catalyst without further reaction. The reactor/injector unit injects these reductant gases into the exhaust line upstream the SCR catalyst, which reacts them with the NOx in the exhaust.

Abstract: A composite membrane includes a hydrophobic porous membrane and a high water content hydrogel layer disposed on the surface of the hydrophobic porous membrane facing the hot end. The surface active agents contained in the wastewater at the hot end are blocked by the high water content hydrogel layer, thus the problem of pore wetting of the hydrophobic porous membrane can be prevented. Therefore, the membrane distillation technique can be utilized for processing wastewater containing surface active agents.

Abstract: Structures comprising a first sheet of perforated two-dimensional material and a first plurality of spacer elements disposed between a surface of the first sheet of perforated two-dimensional material and at least one of a surface of a structural substrate and a surface of a second sheet of perforated two-dimensional material are disclosed, as well as related methods. The structures may further comprise a structural substrate, a second plurality of spacer elements, additional sheets of perforated two-dimensional material in direct contact with the first and/or said second sheet of perforated two-dimensional material and/or relief features in the surface of the structural substrate.

Abstract: A separation membrane including: a separation membrane main body having a feed-side face and a permeate-side face; and a plurality of channel members adhered to the permeate-side face of the separation membrane main body, in which a weight W (g) of the plurality of channel members and a volume V (cm3) of the plurality of channel members, exclusive of portions impregnated into the permeate-side face, satisfy the following relational expression: 1.0?W/V?2.5, and the channel members have a melting temperature of 200° C. or lower as measured with a differential scanning calorimeter.

Abstract: Embodiment methods for creating a selective membrane using at least one anisotropic porous material are provided. Following fabrication and selection of high aspect ratio porous structures, creating the selective membrane includes aligning the at least one anisotropic porous material in an aligned position by introducing a first signal input, and fixing the at least one anisotropic porous material in the aligned position by introducing a second signal input. In some embodiment methods, the at least one anisotropic porous material is one or more of carbon nanotubes, aquaporin, and synthetic aquaporin pore structures.

Abstract: An acidic gas-containing gas treatment separation membrane is provided which is capable of separating acidic gas or methane gas from biogas containing acidic gas, such as carbon dioxide or the like, and methane gas to obtain a gas having a high methane concentration. The acidic gas-containing gas treatment separation membrane includes a polysiloxane network structure having an introduced hydrocarbon group, doped with a metal salt having affinity for acidic gas. The polysiloxane network structure having the introduced hydrocarbon group is a composite polysiloxane network structure obtained by a reaction of a tetraalkoxysilane with a trialkoxysilane containing the hydrocarbon group. The tetraalkoxysilane is tetramethoxysilane or tetraethoxysilane. The trialkoxysilane containing the hydrocarbon group is trimethoxysilane or triethoxysilane whose Si atom is bonded with an alkyl or phenyl group having 1-6 carbon atoms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a reverse osmosis membrane including: a porous support; and a polyamide active layer formed on the porous support and including zeolite, surface-treated with a compound having at least one functional group selected from a group consisting of an amino group and a glycidyl group, and a method of manufacturing the same.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides a method for fabrication of a membrane on a surface. The method includes: providing a surface interfacing two environments, wherein one of the environments is a liquid; providing a flow-recirculating fluidic device having channel exits in the liquid environment in proximity of the surface; and delivering locally one or more processing solutions. The one or more processing sources including one or more membrane sources adapted and configured to form a membrane on the surface.

Abstract: A bubble cap assembly for an air distribution grid includes a stem having a top region and a bottom region, a bubble cap connected to the top region of the stem, a membrane having an opening, the bottom region of the stem communicating with the opening; a flange connected to the bottom region of the stem; at least one clamp for pressing the flange against the membrane, and a gasket squeezed between the flange and the membrane by the clamp to provide an air-tight connection between the flange and the membrane.

Abstract: A stirrer is capable of finely dispersing or emulsifying well. A stirrer in which: the stirrer is provided with a rotating rotor equipped with multiple blades and a screen that is placed around the rotor and has multiple slits; the blade and the slits are provided at least with matching regions that are at the same position in the axial direction of the rotor rotation axis; and the fluid being processed is discharged outward from inside the screen as an intermittent jet flow through the slits as a result of the rotation of the rotor.

Abstract: A fuel delivery system is provided. The system includes a natural gas reformer configured to receive a flow of natural gas and a flow of air. The natural gas reformer combines the natural gas and the air in a reaction to produce a flow of reformate gas. The system also includes a mixing device coupled downstream from the natural gas reformer. The mixing device is configured to selectively mix amounts of the reformate gas, vaporized liquid fuel, and natural gas to produce a flow of mixed product fuel having predetermined operating parameters.

Abstract: A micro-scale heterogeneous emulsion is provided. In some examples, the micro-scale heterogeneous emulsion can include at least two internal phases and an external phase. A method of producing a micro-scale heterogeneous emulsion is also disclosed herein. A method of providing a stable, custom cosmetic composition is also disclosed herein.

Abstract: An apparatus to generate nitric oxide is disclosed in one embodiment in accordance with the invention as including a heat source and a vessel containing the heat source. A tablet may be placed within the vessel such that it is in thermal communication with the heat source to receive heat therefrom. The tablet may contain reactants that are substantially non-deliquescent and form nitric oxide in response to heat from the heat source.