Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is directed to an automated laundry system. The system includes a number of perforated clothes drums, each of which holds a single load of laundry, and a washer/dryer unit. The washer/dryer unit includes a loading rack for queuing the drums for subsequent washing, a clothes washing component adapted to sequentially receive the drums from the loading rack and wash the respective loads of laundry therein, a clothes drying component adapted to sequentially receive the drums from the clothes washing component and dry the loads of laundry therein, and a holding rack for sequentially receiving the drums from the clothes drying component and holding the drums for a period of time.

Abstract: A laundry treatment apparatus including a cabinet forming an appearance of the apparatus, a drum rotatably disposed in the cabinet, a housing fixed to the drum, an accommodation space defined within the housing forming a closed loop, a balancing unit movably disposed in the accommodation space, and a housing power line provided at an inner circumferential surface of the housing to supply power to the balancing unit, wherein the balancing unit includes a unit body, a motor for moving the unit body, a brush contacting the housing power line, and a power terminal housing fixed to the unit body and having a space in which the brush is removably installed.

Abstract: A laundry machine may include a casing (2) with a panel (3) having a laundry loading/unloading opening (4), a door (5) hinged to the casing (2) for opening/closing the laundry loading/unloading opening (4), a hinge (6) adapted to pivotably support the door (5) to the casing (2), and one or more apertures (7) in the door frame (8) on the hinge side allowing the rotation of the door (5) with respect to the hinge (6) when opening/closing. The laundry machine (1) may further include at least one closure element (9) for at least partially closing the one or more apertures (7) when the door (5) is in a closed position in which it closes the loading/unloading opening (4).

Abstract: A housing for receiving an impeller is provided. The housing includes a transition duct that extends between a volute of the housing and an exhaust exit of the housing. The transition duct defines a bend between the volute of the housing and the exhaust exit of the housing. Cross-sections of the transition duct upstream and downstream of the transition duct define a substantially rectilinear shape. A related dryer appliance is also provided.

Abstract: A clothes treatment apparatus includes a cabinet configured to define an accommodating space where clothes are accommodated, an air supply device configured to supply air to the accommodating space of the cabinet, an aroma treating part configured to perform aroma treatment toward the accommodating space, and a control part configured to control the air supply device and the aroma treating part. An aroma effect may be given to clothes treated in the clothes treatment apparatus.

Abstract: Provided is a clothes dryer including: a drum; an air circulation passage connected to the drum; a cooling device configured to cool and dehumidify air; a heating device configured to heat the air; an air blowing device configured to circulate air; a base plate configured to collect condensation water generated from the cooling device; a pump chamber accommodating a pump; a water circulation passage connecting the base plate to communicate with the pump chamber; a communication passage provided between the air circulation passage and the base plate and configured to guide the condensation water generated at the cooling device to the base plate; a first ventilation hole configured to provide a first air passage between the air circulation passage and the pump chamber; and a second ventilation hole configured to provide a second air passage between the air circulation passage and the base plate.

Abstract: A method is provided for operating a clothes drying appliance, wherein a moisture content of clothes is determined by measuring a current running through the clothes and wherein the determining takes into account a salt content of the moisture. The clothes drying appliance is adapted to perform the method.

Abstract: A template, such as a quilting template, is configured as a relatively thin piece of material having a first circular portion disposed at a first end of the template and a second circular portion disposed at a second end of the template. The template further includes a concave curve portion disposed between the first end and the second end along a first side edge of the template, a linear curve portion disposed between the first end and the second end along a second side edge of the template, and a set of guide markings. In use, a user can utilize the template to cut, for example, heart-shaped, flower-shaped, or leave-shaped elements, from a piece of material. With such a configuration, the template allows the user to cut a variety of differently sized and shaped elements directly from the material, without requiring the creation of multiple patterns.

Abstract: Disclosed is a separation membrane comprising—an elongated substrate having fluid permeability and a separation layer formed at the surface of said substrate—wherein the aforementioned separation layer comprises a predetermined thickness section having a predetermined thickness and thin sections each positioned on the outside of both edges in the widthwise direction of said predetermined thickness portion and having a thinner thickness than the aforementioned predetermined thickness, and there is a separation-layer-lacking section, at which only the aforementioned substrate is present and the aforementioned separation layer is absent, between the outside edges in the widthwise direction of each of said thin sections and the outer edges in the widthwise direction of the aforementioned substrate. The separation membrane can be produced by using coating bar having a protrusion on both the left and right ends of the surface that contacts a macromolecule solution for forming the separation layer.

Abstract: Sanitary tissue products employing 3D patterned fibrous structure plies having a surface comprising a novel three-dimensional (3D) pattern such that the 3D patterned fibrous structures and/or sanitary tissue products employing the fibrous structures exhibit novel cushiness as evidenced by compressibility of the fibrous structures and/or sanitary tissue products, novel flexibility as evidenced by plate stiffness of the fibrous structures and/or sanitary tissue products, and/or surface smoothness as evidenced by slip stick coefficient of friction of the fibrous structures and/or sanitary tissue products, and methods for making same, are provided.

Abstract: A process of making a paper or nonwoven article is provide. The process comprising: a) providing a fiber furnish comprising a plurality of fibers and a plurality of binder microfibers, wherein the binder microfibers comprise a water non-dispersible, synthetic polymer; wherein the binder microfibers have a length of less than 25 millimeters and a fineness of less than 0.5 d/f; and wherein the binder microfibers have a melting temperature that is less than the melting temperature of the fibers; b) routing the fiber furnish to a wet-laid nonwoven process to produce at least one wet-laid nonwoven web layer; c) removing water from the wet-laid nonwoven web layer; and d) thermally bonding the wet-laid nonwoven web layer after step (c); wherein the thermal bonding is conducted at a temperature such that the surfaces of the binder microfibers at least partially melt without causing the fibers to melt thereby bonding the binder microfibers to the fibers to produce the paper or nonwoven article.

Abstract: A surfactant treated bleached softwood kraft pulp fiber, useful as a starting material In the production of cellulose derivatives including cellulose ether, cellulose esters and viscose, is disclosed. Methods for making the kraft pulp fiber and products made from it are also described.

Abstract: A particle or particles of cellulosic wood pulp fibers having a top and bottom face and a hexagonal perimeter, and methods of using it.

Abstract: A rail assembly including one or more rail bodies formed for supporting rolling engagement of a train wheel thereover, the rolling engagement generating vibrations in the rail body. The rail assembly includes one or more boots formed for attachment to the rail body to substantially electrically isolate the rail body relative to ground material. The boot includes a chamber wall for at least partially defining a chamber between the rail body and the chamber wall when the boot is attached to the rail body. The rail assembly also includes one or more inserts positionable in the chamber, at least a part of the vibrations being transmittable to the insert when the insert is positioned in the chamber, for dissipation of at least a proportion of the part of the vibrations in the insert.

Abstract: A passive switch for a railway track is disclosed. A railway car is moveable along the railway track in a facing direction. The passive switch includes a first track section and a second track section. The first track section includes a first main track, a first diverging track, and a first guard rail. The first guard rail is shaped to guide a first wheel of the railway car from the first main track onto the first diverging track as the first wheel travels in the facing direction within the passive switch. The second track section includes a second main track and a second diverging track. The second main track is shaped to guide a second wheel of the railway car from the second main track onto the second diverging track.

Abstract: This welding method is a flash butt welding method of a pair of track rail steel pieces, having: a preheating process in which electric current is made to flow for a predetermined time in a state in which the welding surfaces of a pair of track rail steel pieces are forcibly brought into contact with each other, and vicinities of the welding surfaces are heated by resistance heating; a former flashing process in which flashing is partially caused in the welding surfaces, and the welding surfaces are heated by the resistance heating and arc heating of the flashing; and a latter flashing process in which the flashing is furthermore caused throughout the entire welding surfaces, and the entire welding surfaces are uniformly heated by the resistance heating and arc heating of the flashing, in which a latter flashing velocity is 2.1 mm/sec to 2.8 mm/sec in the latter flashing process.

Abstract: A method of milling a profile of a railway rail comprises: rotating a milling cutter including a plurality of face mounted cutting inserts mounted about a periphery thereof; milling a railway rail with cutting edges of the cutting inserts rotating in a predetermined plane corresponding to at least a portion of a desired rail profile while controlling the depth of cut of the cutting inserts; traversing the railway rail with the milling cutter while milling the railway rail; and controlling the speed of traverse of the milling cutter along the railway rail.

Abstract: A railroad tie maintenance vehicle is configured to seal spike holes in a railroad tie formed by the removal of railroad spikes. The vehicle includes a chassis with an integrated operator work station. The vehicle may move along railroad tracks with a plurality of wheels that support the chassis and that are configured to engage at least one railroad track. A motive power source, supported on the chassis, may be controlled by an operator within the operator work station to propel the vehicle along the railroad tracks. At least one storage vessel on the chassis contains a chemical solution used to fill the spike holes. At least two injection devices on the chassis are remotely controlled by the single operator, possibly by the operation of a single controller such as a joystick, to move into alignment with respective spike holes and to fill the spike holes with the chemical solution.

Abstract: An industrial mat having a supporting structure; an upper layer provided above the supporting structure for forming an upper surface of the mat, a lower layer provided below the supporting structure for providing a lower surface of the mat; and lifting elements attached to the upper layer, the lower layer or the supporting structure. The lifting elements include D-shaped members, O-shaped members, U-shaped members, eyelets, hooks, circular or polygonal rings, chains, or cables that are configured and dimensioned for attachment to attached to the supporting structure or the upper or lower layer with sufficient strength to provide certified overhead lifting of the mat for installation and reclamation thereof.

Abstract: A dowel placement system including a fastener configured to be engageable with a form, and a radially compressible bushing coupled to the fastener and defining an adjustable outer diameter. The system further includes an elongate dowel sleeve having opposed proximal and distal end portions, and an axial opening having an inner diameter and extending into the dowel sleeve from the proximal end portion to the distal end portion. The bushing is insertable within the axial opening of the dowel sleeve, and the bushing and dowel sleeve are configured such that insertion of the bushing within the dowel sleeve causes the outer diameter of the bushing to compress and conform to the inner diameter of the dowel sleeve and to create a friction force between the bushing and the dowel sleeve to mitigate movement of the dowel sleeve relative to the bushing during formation of the concrete structure.

Abstract: The present invention is a vertical drier which dries the asphalt road upper structural members like aggregate and like asphalt coating which is desired to be recycled (RAP) and which takes the humidity of said asphalt road upper structural members; and which has a vertical body having an end through which said members are discharged and having another end which is opened to an accumulation compartment; and where the hot air, heated by a heat source, is transferred inside said body. Said drier is characterized by comprising at least one drying box which has a chamber form where the poured members are accumulated in the inner part thereof and which extends orthogonally to the flow direction inside the body; in order to keep the members, which pour inside said body from an inlet part, for certain duration and in order to transfer said members from the outlet part to the accumulation compartment step by step.

Abstract: A crossing device aids in crossing from a near side to a far side of an obstacle. It comprises a lead assembly that is projected to the far side of the obstacle and that includes an anchor assembly and a pulley. The anchor assembly has a base, a launch tube that is secured to the base, a spike that is housed within the launch tube, and a propellant charge. The anchor assembly is anchored on the far side of the obstacle by remotely initiating the propellant charge. The explosion force drives the spike through the launch tube and the base, into a landing surface. A bridge is connected to the pulley and is pulled to span across the obstacle. The bridge, lead assembly, and anchor may be collected on the far side for additional uses.

Abstract: A device (22) for damping vibrations in a cable (16) comprises an arm (25) oscillating about a pivot (26), a first damper (30) for damping the oscillations of the arm, a coupler (27) attached to the cable, a second, linear-travel damper (31) having an upper end connected to the coupler and a lower end connected to the arm, and a guide (28) for sliding the coupler with respect to the arm parallel to the travel of the second damper such that the movements of the cable that are transverse to the travel of the second damper are transmitted to the arm independently of the second damper.

Abstract: A permeable paver and modular light system for making a parking space or a traffic lane using at least one replaceable lighting module or a plurality of replaceable lighting modules, wherein the replaceable lighting module or the plurality of replaceable modules have at least one power supply and at least one light source. The permeable paver and modular light system have a controller configured to turn on and off the replaceable lighting module individually or as a group, change a color of the replaceable lighting module individually or as a group, illuminate a configuration of the replaceable lighting module individually or as a group based on a stored configuration, and change the illuminated configuration of the replaceable lighting module individually or as a group. The permeable paver and modular light system have a plurality of permeable pavers to form a surface for supporting a load of a vehicle.

Abstract: A lighting system for a snow plow is provided. The lighting system has a plurality of lights positioned on numerous light strips. The lighting system may have a first lighting strip and a second lighting strip. While the first lighting strip may be stationary, the second lighting strip may have a first unit and a second unit wherein the first unit remains stationary and wherein the second unit moves with respect to the first unit so as to allow the user to properly direct the light emitted from the second light strip. The lighting strips are slightly flexible so as to allow installment on any curved surfaces of the snow plow and may have a plurality of arched-shaped or wedged-shaped grooves which may be used in any combination at the same time in the system and which act as creases for bending the strips.

Abstract: A Large Area Liquid Solution Application includes a boom equipped with a series of easily removable spray nozzles, for easier cleaning and maintenance, attached to a standard truck trailer hitch receiver with a pump assembly attached onto a reservoir loaded onto a truck bed. This invention presents an effective deicing apparatus and method to spray brine evenly on the pavement. The reservoir is easily secured manually with standard ratchet straps and the boom connects to any standard truck tow hitch without the use of tools. The equipment panel with attached pump is easily removable and the pump fittings and corresponding output hoses manually snap in and out of place to allow easier maintenance and cleaning. Communicating wirelessly, the present invention is activated by a wireless key enabling a truck driver to control the system without needing to exit the vehicle and manually shut of the sprayer.

Abstract: In general, embodiments of the present invention relate to ground anchor assemblies. Specifically, the present invention provides a multi-stage extending ground anchor assembly including wing members that are coupled to a fixing member of the ground anchor assembly. The wing members are configured to make contact with an inner wall of a ground hole such that the earth anchor assembly can be used in surfaces of any consistency, including both bedrock and soft surfaces.

Abstract: A noise-attenuating pile comprising a pile driving shoe, an outer tube that engages the pile driving shoe, and an inner member that extends through the outer tube and engages the pile driving shoe, wherein the pile is configured to be installed in sediment or other suitable material by driving the inner member with a pile driver, without directly impacting the outer tube, such that the radial outer tube is substantially insulated from the radial expansion waves generated by the pile driver impacting the inner member. In some piles, one of the inner member and the outer tube are removable after installation. In some piles, a seal is provided in a lower end of the channel defined between the inner member and the outer tube, which may be biodegradable, or may be an inflatable bladder, for example.

Abstract: A ground anchor system configured for introducing into a borehole, and comprising a plurality of straps each having a length dimension extending along a central longitudinal axis of the ground anchor system. Each of said straps has a width dimension taken along a major axis and a thickness dimension taken along a minor axis. The major axis and the minor axis are disposed at a transverse plane of the ground anchor system and intersect at a middle point. The middle point of each of said straps is intersected by an imaginary line extending through the longitudinal axis at the transverse plane. The imaginary line forms an angle smaller than 90° with the major axis of the respective strap.

Abstract: Reinforcement assemblies, reinforcement fixtures, methods of constructing a reinforcement assembly, and methods of constructing a reinforcement fixture are described herein. An example embodiment of a reinforcement assembly comprises a plate, a plurality of connectors, and a plurality of elongate members. The plate comprises a plate lengthwise axis, a plate center axis, a plate top surface, a plate bottom surface, and a plate outer surface. Each connector of the plurality of connectors is attached to the plate outer surface and each elongate member of the plurality of elongate members is attached to a connector of the plurality of connectors.

Abstract: A retainment wall for underground horizontally extending mine shafts wherein a spaced vertical series of horizontal support ribs are secured to one or more upright supports that are secured in the mine shaft between the side walls thereof. Porous material covers and is secured to the forward retaining face of the wall structure. If the retainment wall structure is to be used as a fill retainment barrier the porous material is spray coated with a settable sealant which covers the forward face of the wall structure and the perimeter thereof to seal off the mine shaft.

Abstract: Working machine that includes a machine frame, an operator seat, and a boom disposed on each side of the operator seat. The boom includes a boom base portion disposed on a position corresponding to a rear portion of the machine frame. A boom tip end portion is disposed opposite to the boom base portion. A boom intermediate portion is disposed between the boom base portion and the boom tip end portion. A boom cylinder is connected to the boom base portion at one end and to the machine frame at the other end. The boom cylinder is configured to swing the boom upward and downward. A hose insertion hole is disposed in the boom base portion and is opened backward or downward. A hydraulic hose is inserted into the hose insertion hold and is internally disposed in an inside of the boom intermediate portion.

Abstract: A snubber for a machine is provided. The snubber includes a frame that is mounted on an implement of the machine, a shaft that is operatively coupled to a movable component of the implement and a housing that is coupled to the shaft and rotatably received within the frame. The housing defines a cavity that is configured to store a fluid therein in a sealed manner. The snubber also includes at least one brake disc disposed within the housing and configured to rotate with the shaft and at least one brake pad disposed within the housing and configured to frictionally engage with the at least one brake disc to oppose rotational movement of the housing relative to the frame. The fluid is configured to at least partly remove heat generated due to the frictional engagement between the at least one brake disc and the at least one brake pad.

Abstract: A method for correcting a position of an excavation vehicle, the excavation vehicle comprising a cab, a boom, a stick, and a bucket, is provided. The method detects vehicle tilt angle data; calculates tilt-compensated position output for the boom, based on a current boom angle and the detected vehicle tilt angle data; and adjusts the position, based on the tilt-compensated position output.

Abstract: A work vehicle includes a vehicular body, a work implement, an angle sensor, and a work implement control unit. A bucket is rotatable with respect to an arm around a bucket axis in parallel to an arm axis and a tilt axis orthogonal to a bucket axis. The angle sensor is provided in the bucket and detects an angle of inclination of the bucket with respect to a horizontal plane. The work implement control unit starts control of the work implement in which an operation of the work implement is controlled at least partially automatically when an angle of inclination of the bucket detected by the angle sensor is smaller than a first threshold value, and does not start control of the work implement when an angle of inclination of the bucket detected by the angle sensor is equal to or greater than the first threshold value.

Abstract: A work vehicle includes a vehicle body, a blade supported on the vehicle body, a pair of first hydraulic cylinders for moving the blade upward and downward, a pair of second hydraulic cylinders for tilting the blade forward, backward, leftward, and rightward, a pair of stroke sensors for detecting stroke amounts of the pair of first hydraulic cylinders, and a controller for controlling a position of the blade based on a difference in the stroke amounts of the pair of first hydraulic cylinders when, in a state where one second hydraulic cylinder is at the one stroke end or the other stroke end, the other second hydraulic cylinder is driven from one stroke end to the other stroke end.

Abstract: An excavator for earthmoving and construction includes a main frame, a rotatable cabin mounted on top of the main frame, a boom, a stick, a digging bucket, and a slidable plate assembly attached to the main frame that is capable of distributing the weight of the rotatable operator's cabin. The excavator optionally includes a removable dump bed mounted to the main frame for receiving material from the digging bucket.

Abstract: An excavator machine that includes components such as: a suspended casing having a top end and a bottom end; at least one cable that extends above the casing, where the cable is under tension and has a bottom end that is fastened to the top end of the casing; and a cutter device that is arranged at the bottom end of the casing. The excavator machine further includes: a carriage that is mounted to slide along the cable; a device for moving the carriage along the cable; and a locator device for determining the three-dimensional position of the carriage.

Abstract: A control device of an electric actuator adapted to perform a forward-reverse movement includes a control unit adapted to be operated in a forward direction or a reverse direction in accordance with the forward-reverse movement of the electric actuator. It also includes a pilot circuit, which is connected to the control unit and which generates a forward pilot pressure or a reverse pilot pressure in accordance with the forward operation or the reverse operation of the control unit. The control device has a differential pressure acquiring unit that acquires a differential pressure between a pilot pressure corresponding to an operation direction of the control unit and a pilot pressure, in a direction opposite to the operation direction, and it has a control command generator that generates a control command for controlling the electric actuator based on the differential pressure acquired by the differential pressure acquiring unit.

Abstract: The hybrid constructions machine has an engine rotation speed sensor 11A to detect a rotation speed NE of an engine 11, an engine state determination unit 20B to determine the state of output torque TE of the engine 11, a load torque estimation unit 20C to calculate load torque TP of a hydraulic pump 13, and an engine assistance limiting unit 20E to, when the rotation speed NE detected with the engine rotation speed sensor 11A is equal to or greater than a rotation speed N0, and the engine state determination unit 20B determines that the output torque TE of the engine 11 has not become minimum torque Tmin, or the load torque TP calculated with the load torque estimation unit 20C is lower than torque T1, limit motive-power assistance with the motor generator 12 to the engine 11.

Abstract: A construction machine including an internal combustion engine controlled based on a torque command, an electric motor mechanically connected to the internal combustion engine, and an electric energy storage device that supplies electric power to the electric motor, the construction machine performing work by driving a hydraulic pressure generator using the internal combustion engine and the electric motor, the construction machine including: a speed control device that controls a speed of the electric motor based on a speed command; and a torque limiter that limits the torque command relative to a torque target, wherein the torque command is limited by the torque limiter in such a manner that a rate of change with time of the torque command is limited to be equal to or less than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A work vehicle includes: a hydraulic pump driven by an engine; a rotational speed detection unit that detects an actual rotational speed of the engine; an exhaust gas purification device that purifies nitrogen oxide in exhaust gas discharged from the engine using a reducing agent solution stored in a reducing agent tank; a torque control unit that decreases output torque of the engine according to decrease of a detected remaining amount of the reducing agent solution; and a storage device that stores a threshold value not less than an engine rotational speed at which the hydraulic pump starts discharge, wherein when the actual rotational speed of the engine is not more than the threshold value, the torque control unit does not decrease the output torque of the engine regardless of the remaining amount of the reducing agent solution detected by the remaining amount detection device.

Abstract: A construction machine control system controls a construction machine including a traveling device, a work machine having a working tool, and a swing structure to which the work machine is attached and which is attached to the traveling device to swing with respect to the traveling device. The construction machine control system includes a position detection device that detects a first position which is a position of a partial portion of the construction machine and outputs the first position as first position information; a state detection device that detects and outputs operation information indicating an operation of the construction machine; and a processing device that calculates a second position corresponding to the position of the partial portion using the first position information and the operation information and calculates a position of at least a partial portion of the work machine using second position information.

Abstract: A digging tooth mounting assembly has an adapter, a digging tooth and a retainer assembly. The adapter includes a front surface facing the digging tooth, a recess formed on the front surface, an inserted part projecting from the front surface, and a insertion through hole formed in the inserted part for receiving the retainer assembly. The digging tooth includes a rear surface facing the front surface of the adapter, a projecting part formed on the rear surface for insertion into the recess, an insertion hole formed on the rear surface for receiving the inserted part, and a pair of shaft bores for receiving the retainer assembly. An outer peripheral surface of the projecting part is spaced apart from an inner bottom surface and an inner side surface of the recess.

Abstract: Integrated air conditioning and water-harvesting systems are disclosed. In these systems, one subsystem (air conditioning or water-harvesting) may be a primary subsystem and the other subsystem may be a secondary subsystem. As load on the overall system increases to the point the cooling demands for both subsystems cannot be met simultaneously, the system automatically reduces output of the secondary subsystem. In certain embodiments, an atmospheric water-harvester may be connected into the (potentially pre-existing) chilled-water system that provides cooling throughout a building, either via distributed fan-coil units or a centralized air-handling unit. Additionally, providing cooled-air exhaust from an atmospheric water-harvester to a building's cooling system allows substantial quantities of water to be produced at nominal incremental operating cost over a simple, straightforward air conditioning system.

Abstract: A backflow resistant stop valve for an aircraft galley plumbing system comprises a valve body defining an inlet, and inlet chamber, a transfer chamber, an outlet chamber, and an exit. The valve incorporates an anti-backflow device at the exit to prevent backflow, and flow through the body is controlled by a pivoting paddle disposed within the valve body having an upper flap, a spindle, and a lower flap, where the upper flap seals against the inlet chamber and the lower flap seals against the outlet chamber when the paddle is rotated to a first position. The valve utilizes a negative pressure at the outlet chamber that biases the valve closed until a sufficient column of water overcomes the bias.

Abstract: A system for receiving and transporting bio-waste without the use of water as a carrier of the bio-waste is disclosed. The system comprises a bio-waste receptacle configured to receive bio-waste and is associated with an exterior wall of a structure. The system further comprises a bio-waste cart receivable at least partially within the bio-waste receptacle and comprising a base and a collection bucket for receiving the bio-waste, the base having a plurality of wheels for transporting the collection bucket. The system further comprises a transport system for moving the bio-waste cart along a pre-defined pathway, the transport system comprising a tunnel-like structure and a mechanical, manually operated locomotive device and wherein the tunnel-like structure conceals the pre-defined pathway and at least a portion of the mechanical, manually operated locomotive device. The system further comprises a bio-waste depository positioned on the pre-defined pathway for receiving the transported bio-waste.

Abstract: A manhole base assembly and a method for making the same, in which a non-cylindrical, low-volume concrete base is fully lined to protect the concrete against chemical and physical attack while in service. This lined concrete manhole base assembly may be readily produced using a modular manhole form assembly which can be configured for a wide variety of geometrical configurations compatible with, e.g., varying pipe angles, elevations and sizes. The form assembly is configurable to provide any desired angle and elevation for the pipe apertures using existing, standard sets of form assembly materials, and may also be used in conjunction with industry-standard cylindrical casting jackets for compatibility with existing casting operations. The resulting system provides for flexible construction of a wide variety of lined manhole base assemblies at minimal cost, reduced concrete consumption and reduced operational complexity.

Abstract: A trench drain with a trench body and a grate for use with a flush-threshold or low-threshold shower. The trench body is rectangular, with a drain hole positioned in the bottom. Front and back flanges extend from the bottom of the front and back sides for an absolute flush installation of the trench drain to the shower body and the bathroom flooring. The trench body may extend under the shower walls on each side. A grate fits into the top of the trench body onto a lip or edge on the interior of the front and back sides. Protrusions may extend inward to help provide support and stability for the grate.

Abstract: A plurality of panel subassemblies are used to erect a building on a footing or foundation. Each panel subassembly includes at least one column formed of a thermally-insulating material, and a concrete portion at least partially attached to the at least one column. The concrete portion may be formed as a single precast unit. The panel subassemblies are secured together and to the foundation, and may be secured to a floor element of the building to at least partially support the floor element.