Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a toy system with multiple character units that are adapted to play different recordings, and may include a first character unit and a second character unit. Each character units may include an actuator, a transceiver, and having a plurality of character recordings, and wherein actuation of a character may cause multiple character recordings to be selected and played.

Abstract: The animation puppet includes a body core, a head configured for friction-fit engagement with the body core and forming a head joint therebetween, a pair of upper limbs configured for friction-fit engagement with the body core and forming a respective pair of upper limb joints therebetween, and a pair of legs configured for friction-fit engagement with the body core and forming a respective pair of leg joints therebetween. Each of the joints include a pair of articulable surfaces in said friction-fit engagement by way of a surface interface pre-tension having a coefficient of friction relatively greater than the weight of the animation puppet such that each joint independently supports the weight of the animation puppet while simultaneously permitting relative independent position posing of one or more of the head, the pair of arms, and/or the pair of limbs relative to the body core for stop-motion animation.

Abstract: A toy glider includes a slim, longitudinally extending strut, fuselage or frame having front and rear end portions. A nose portion is placed at the front end portion. A cylindrically shaped wing is attached to the frame at the nose portion. A tail section is provided at the rear end portion. In one embodiment, the tail section includes a pair of rings (e.g., cylinders) on opposing sides of the fuselage. In another embodiment, the tail section has a horizontal and two inclined components.

Abstract: The invention is generally a burstable balloon entertainment device comprised of a burstable balloon filled with articles or party items such as toys, confetti, candy, and the like. The burstable balloon may be inflated using one or more hand-held pumps in fluid communication with an interior of the balloon, which are generally configured to pump air into the balloon so that the balloon eventually explodes once the inflation has reached a certain threshold. In exemplary embodiments, the burstable balloon will explode or burst once the balloon has sufficiently expanded so as to touch a balloon bursting device, which may include an extended rod having a protruding pointy or sharp tip.

Abstract: A self-righting flier includes a battery residing at a rounded bottom of a flier body, propellor blades and louvers below the propellor blades. The louvers include rounded projections extending down of bottom most corners. The bottom location of the battery and the louvers provide the self-righting of the flier. The flier further includes a top most guard preventing or reducing damage from ceiling impacts.

Abstract: A light toy that is divided into hilt and blade may be used as a science fiction light saber, a signaling device, or illumination marker is disclosed. A light source sends a beam of light into a non-opaque tube along its axis. The elongated tube also known as the blade extends out in at least two sections by remote with an electric motor and can retract back into the hilt of the hollow structure of the device to be unseen. The light emitting device emanates a glow through the walls of the tube making the device highly visible. The motor that actuates the blade is hidden within hilt of the device. In addition, a sound board may be added to transmit sound while in use or play.

Abstract: In a first aspect, a construction toy element is provided and includes a body and a first circumferential row of arms extending from the body. The body has an axis, and has a first axial end and a second axial end. A first circumferential row of arms extends from the body. Each arm includes a root end and a free end, and has a first connecting member thereon that is configured for connecting the construction toy element to another construction toy element. The root end projects from the body in a direction that is angled towards one of the first and second axial ends relative to a normal direction to a surface of the body.

Abstract: The present invention is a bubble, fog, haze, and fog-filled bubble machine. In particular, the present invention is directed to a single unit machine that can produce bubbles, fog, fog-filled bubbles or haze. The machine preferably comprises a housing having a front portal, a bubble section, a fog section, and a control interface, where the housing is connected to a power source. The bubble section is located behind the front portal and has a bubble wand motor attached to a rotatable wheel with a number of bubble wands. The bubble wands pass through a bubble fluid reservoir. The fog section is located behind the bubble section and comprises a fog outlet in front of a fan, where the fog outlet is connected to a fog heater core and a fog pump is in turn connected to a fog fluid reservoir. The control interface controls the selection of effects.

Abstract: A desalination system that includes a plurality of evaporators that are fluidly connected in series, a primary compressor that is fluidly connected to the evaporators to provide a compressed vapor to the evaporators to run the desalination system, and a secondary compressor that is arranged in parallel relative to the primary compressor, wherein the secondary compressor extracts a portion of vapor from a first evaporator and/or one intermediate evaporator in the series and delivers the vapor to the first evaporator. Various combinations of embodiments of the desalination system are provided.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a process wherein two different unit operations (absorption and distillation) take place on either side of a top dividing wall column. One side of the dividing wall column uses absorption to separate non-condensable components from the feed; the other side of the dividing wall uses distillation to separate heavier liquid components.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a humidification-dehumidification desalination system. A humidification subsystem of the humidification-dehumidification desalination system includes a thermal element and a bubble column, in series. The thermal element further comprises a thermal energy storage unit including a phase change material and a thermal conductor. The thermal element can be supplemented by a Fresnel lens canopy. The thermal element and the bubble column of the humidification design are arranged in staircase design such that gravity drives the system.

Abstract: Certain embodiments described herein are directed to separation systems and methods effective to separate two or more solvents in a solvent mixture. In certain examples, a system effective to separate two or more azeotrope forming solvents is provided. In some embodiments, the system can be effective to remove at least about 95% of one of the solvents from the solvent mixture.

Abstract: The invention is a process of extracting ?9-THC from cannabis, the method comprising, gathering a quantity of plant parts, shredding the quantity of plant parts into a particulate matter, heating the particulate matter at a temperature, wherein the particulate undergoes a decarboxylation process converting a quantity of the THCA-A within the particulate matter to a quantity of ?9-THC, combining the decarboxylated particulate matter with a quantity of a predetermined liquid within a sealed pressurized container, wherein the pressure ranges from 10 to 15 PSI for a predetermined time period, wherein the quantity of the ?9-THC is extracted from the decarboxylated particulate matter and the quantity of ?9-THC is chemically bonded with the liquid, and a ?9-THC liquid is formed, sifting the particulate matter from the ?9-THC liquid, and cooling the ?9-THC.

Abstract: A method of exchanging fluids with suspended particles includes providing a microfluidic device with a first inlet channel operatively coupled to a source of particles and a second inlet channel operatively coupled to an exchange fluid. A transfer channel is connected at a proximal end to the first inlet channel and the second inlet channel. First and second outlet channels are connected to a distal end of the transfer channel. The source of particles is flowed at a first flow rate into the first inlet channel while the exchange fluid is flowed at a second flow rate into the second inlet channel wherein the ratio of the second flow rate to the first flow rate is at least 1.5. Particles are collected in one of the first and second outlet channels while fluid substantially free of particles is collected in the other of the first and second outlet channels.

Abstract: A ballast water production method is provided. The method includes a filtering step that passes raw water supplied into a housing through a filter from a primary side that is upstream of the filter to a secondary side that is downstream of the filter; a volume-increasing step after the filtering step that increases a volume of water present in a space on the secondary side of the housing while the supply of the raw water into the housing is stopped; a pressurizing step after the volume-increasing step that pressurizes an inside of the housing from the secondary side while the supply of the raw water into the housing is stopped; and a rinsing step after the pressurizing step that passes a fluid through the filter from the secondary side to the primary side while the supply of the raw water into the housing is stopped.

Abstract: The ability to estimate a filter clog by a means other than measuring fluid pressure is presented. The filter monitoring system of the present disclosure comprises a vibration data transmission unit, which is mounted on a filtration device, detecting filter vibrations associated with the operation of filtration device described above, sending such as vibration data, and a clog estimation unit, which detects the phenomenon of declining vibration value caused by a filter clog, estimating the degree of blockage for the filter described above.

Abstract: A fluid filter assembly that is defined by a head portion, a base portion, and a filter tube housing that is captured therebetween. Each head portion includes more than one fluid inlet and more than one fluid outlet that are oriented relative to the respective head portion such that a plurality of fluid filter assemblies can be fluidly connected to one another to provide a desired degree of filtration of the fluid passed therethrough and such that the fluid filter assemblies can be oriented in a plurality of orientations relative to one another to provide a desired configuration of the fluid filter assembly.

Abstract: A water purifying filter has a cylindrical inner housing to receive a filter therein, and an outer housing to receive the inner housing. The inner housing and the outer housing are spaced apart from each other to form an insulation space configured to suppress heat transfer and to reduce the filter freezing inside the inner housing.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are a filtering element, a filtering equipment and a water circulation cleaning system. In an embodiment, a filtering element includes a filtering screen and filter particles adhered to one side of the filtering screen, sizes of the filter particles being gradually increased in a direction from the one side to the other side of the filtering screen. Meanwhile, there also provides a filtering equipment including the abovementioned filtering element and a water circulation cleaning system including the abovementioned filtering equipment.

Abstract: An air cleaner includes a first housing, a second housing, and a filter element. The first housing has an opening. The second housing has an opening that is opposed to the opening of the first housing. The filter element is arranged between the opening of the first housing and the opening of the second housing. At least one of the first housing and the second housing includes a corner portion, a sound reducing member, and an air chamber. The corner portion is constituted by at least two mutually intersecting inner surfaces of the housing. The sound reducing member includes a sound absorbing portion made of an air permeable material. The sound reducing member bridges the at least two inner surfaces and covers the corner portion. The air chamber is defined between the sound reducing member and the corner portion.

Abstract: A filter element, a safety element and fluid cleaner assembly. The fluid cleaner assembly generally includes a housing having a cover and a primary fluid cleaner section. The element generally comprises z-filter media, arranged in a straight through configuration, and an axial seal gasket positioned to extend continuously around at outer perimeter of the straight through flow construction. The fluid cleaner assembly can have a precleaner positioned therein. Methods of assembly and use are provided.

Abstract: Provided are an air permeable vent filter, and a headlight assembly comprising the same. The air permeable vent filter has a body in which a nanofiber web, which comprises a plurality of pores and is formed by accumulating a nanofiber electrospun from a spinning solution in which a polymer material and a solvent are mixed, is spirally wound, and the air permeable vent filter implements an air permeable filter function of allowing air to pass through from one lateral side of the body to the other lateral side and blocking liquids and solids.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for removing submicron particles from a gas stream, in particular from urea prilling off-gas, wherein a Venturi ejector is used. A method comprises contacting a gas stream containing submicron particles in a Venturi ejector with an injected high velocity scrubbing liquid to provide a pumping action, wherein the scrubbing liquid has an initial velocity of at least 2 m/s and wherein the ratio of scrubbing liquid and gas flow is between 0.0005 and 0.0015 (m3/h)/(m3/h). The disclosure also pertains to a prilling tower having a gas stream treatment system comprising a Venturi ejector at the top of the prilling tower, and to a method of modifying an existing prilling tower.

Abstract: A packed bed for a heat exchanger may comprise a frame and a first fin layer disposed within the frame. A second fin layer may be disposed within the frame. A first perforated sheet may be disposed between the first fin layer and the second fin layer. A sorbent material may be disposed within a volume of at least one of the first fin layer or the second fin layer.

Abstract: An air breather system to dehydrate atmospheric air entering an oil tank includes first and second breathers, first and second desiccator tanks, a control unit, a ventilation fan, four conduits, plurality of valves, moisture absorbent, two heating elements, and two moisture sensors. The first and second breathers work one at a time. The atmospheric air entering the first breather is dehydrated by moisture absorbent present in first desiccator tank and is released to the oil tank. When the moisture absorbent of the first breather absorbs moisture to its full capacity, it is regenerated, and the second breather starts functioning. During regeneration, moisture absorbent is heated by the heating element. Hot air along with the vapours of moisture absorbed by the absorbent generated during regeneration process is sucked by the ventilation fan and released out of the air breather system, without allowing moisture in the hot air to condense.

Abstract: Systems and processes for use of concentric adsorbent beds with rotary valve assemblies are provided.

Abstract: An emissions control system including a fluidized bed apparatus containing a reactive sorbent material is disclosed for gaseous and non-gaseous contaminated emissions. The reactive sorbent material may be CZTS, CZTS-Alloy, or a carbon-based sorbent material. The fluidized bed apparatus is configured with one or more closed loop sorbent recycling subsystems. The sorbent recycling subsystems include the capability to separate sorbents from each other, separate contaminates from sorbents for disposal and/or recycling, clean and/or rejuvenate sorbents for return to the fluidized bed apparatus, dispose of spent and exhausted sorbents, and replace the spent and exhausted sorbents with new sorbent to maintain consistent sorbent function in the fluidized bed apparatus. Monitoring sensors provide information useful in a method for establishing and maintaining consistent process parameter controls.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for dehumidifying a moist gas mixture. The invention further relates to an apparatus for dehumidifying a moist gas mixture and to the use of said apparatus in the process according to the invention.

Abstract: A chemical absorbent comprising a hydrated mixture of a major proportion of a pharmaceutically acceptable hydroxide of a Group II metal and a minor proportion of a Group I metal-containing zeolite. The chemical absorbent is substantially free of hydroxides of Group I metals.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system for treating flue gases comprising generating a superimposed DC time-varying pulsed wave by superimposing a direct current on a low frequency time-varying pulsating electromagnetic wave signal, providing a treatment medium comprising water, using the superimposed DC pulsed wave to treat the treatment water medium, negatively charging the treated treatment water medium, and passing the negatively charged treated treatment water medium into a chamber containing flue gas such that the negatively charged treated treatment water affects the gas components of the flue gas and converts the gas components respectively to one or more of sulphates, nitrogen, oxygen, bicarbonates, carbonates and carbon, which can then be removed with used treatment water or exhaust gases.

Abstract: A water filtration system (100) is provided. The water filtration system (100) includes: a filter cartridge assembly (10), a water-intake pipe (20), a purified-water pipeline (30), a pure-water pipeline (40) and a waste discharge pipeline (50). The filter cartridge assembly (10) has a water inlet (110), a purified-water outlet (120), a purified-water return port (130), a pure-water outlet (140) and a waste discharge port (150). The pure-water pipeline (40) is communicated with the pure-water outlet (140), and the pure-water pipeline (40) has a pure-water external port (410) and a second valve (420) configured to control on and off of the pure-water pipeline (40). The waste discharge pipeline (50) has a first end communicated with the waste discharge port (150) and a second end communicated with an outside.

Abstract: An example water purification system for purifying high concentration feed solutions includes a high rejection forward osmosis module, one or more low rejection modules, and a high rejection reverse osmosis module. The low rejection modules may have different rejection levels. The system may be pressurized by one or more pumps. One or more of the low rejection modules may include one or more nanofiltration (NF) membranes. The draw solution may comprise a monovalent salt, a multivalent salt, or a combination of both.

Abstract: A siphon-type air diffusion device for intermittently performing aeration, comprising: at least two siphon-type air diffusion pipes; and an air supply member that supplies air to the siphon-type air diffusion pipes, wherein the siphon-type air diffusion pipe includes a siphon chamber which includes a first siphon chamber and a second siphon chamber on the downstream side of the first siphon chamber, a communication portion which communicates the first siphon chamber and the second siphon chamber with each other, an air diffusion hole which is provided on the downstream side of the siphon chamber, a path which extends from the siphon chamber to the air diffusion hole, and a treatment water inlet which is provided on the upstream side of the siphon chamber, wherein the air supply member includes a distribution pipe which extends in an arrangement direction of the siphon-type air diffusion pipe, and an introduction portion which is branched from the distribution pipe and includes at least one air supply port sup

Abstract: It can be difficult to remove atomically thin films, such as graphene, graphene-based material and other two-dimensional materials, from a growth substrate and then to transfer the thin films to a secondary substrate. Tearing and conformality issues can arise during the removal and transfer processes. Processes for forming a composite structure by manipulating a two-dimensional material, such as graphene or graphene-base material, can include: providing a two-dimensional material adhered to a growth substrate; depositing a supporting layer on the two-dimensional material while the two-dimensional material is adhered to the growth substrate; and releasing the two-dimensional material from the growth substrate, the two-dimensional material remaining in contact with the supporting layer following release of the two-dimensional material from the growth substrate.

Abstract: Described embodiments include a graphene membrane film for solvent purification and related method, and a solvent purification system using same. The graphene membrane film for solvent purification is formed having a plurality of stacked graphene plate-shaped flakes, and at least one pair of the plurality of stacked graphene plate-shaped flakes comprises a physical bond or a chemical bond connecting layers. The graphene membrane film for solvent purification is produced by preparing a graphene oxide dispersion liquid by dispersing graphene oxide in distilled water; confining the graphene oxide dispersion liquid between a pair of substrates; and applying heat and pressure to the graphene oxide dispersion liquid between the substrates to perform a hydrothermal reaction to concurrently thermally reduce the graphene oxide and bind graphenes.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are asymmetric multilayer carbon molecular sieve (“CMS”) hollow fiber membranes and processes for preparing the membranes. The processes include simultaneously extruding a core dope containing a polymer and suitable nanoparticles, a sheath dope, and a bore fluid, followed by pyrolysis of the extruded fiber.

Abstract: A membrane for the purification of blood, or a dialysis membrane, in hollow-fiber membrane or flat membrane geometry, made of a composite assembled from at least a base membrane based on at least one polysulfone or a polyphenylsulfone with at least one pore-forming hydrophilic additive and at least one functional layer arranged on the base membrane, whereby the functional layer is formed from at least one polymeric polycationic bonding agent and at least one polymeric polyanion, whereby the base membrane is made of a material which is selected from: a polysulfone [PSU], a sulfonated polysulfone [SPSU], a polyethersulfone [PES], a sulfonated polyethersulfone [SPES], a polyphenylsulfone [PPSU], a sulfonated polyphenylsulfone [SPPSU]; and mixtures of these.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a static mixer (9) for installation in a fluid line, in particular exhaust line (5) of a combustion engine (1), with an annular body (10) comprising at least one blade row (11) with a plurality of guide blades (12) standing away from the annular body (10) to the inside. A cost-effective producibility is obtained when the annular body (10) in the circumferential direction (13) consists of at least two part bodies (14), when part bodies (14) adjacent in the circumferential direction (13) are fastened to one another and when each part body (14) comprises a plurality of guide blades (12).

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus and a process for mixing a gas/vapour with a process liquid comprising a material and a carrier liquid. The apparatus comprises a passage (10) having an inlet (14), an outlet (16) for a process liquid comprising the material, and an inlet (24) for introducing supersonic steam at a mixing zone (42). The profile of the mixing zone (42) can be varied to optimise mixing.

Abstract: A decant device includes a tubular body being hollowed and having an upper end and a lower end being open. The lower end is capable of combining with a mouth of a cup. A dispenser is assembled in the tubular body. The dispenser has a plate body laterally connected to an inner wall of the tubular body. The plate body has a center portion and the plate body has a curved surface downwardly protruding from a bottom of the plate body and a recessed surface concaved from a top of the plate body. The plate body has a plurality of fan-shaped through holes surrounding the center portion, so as to form the plate body as turbine-shaped.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing fine-bubble water by resonance foaming and vacuum cavitation, and a device for manufacturing each of ultra-fine-bubble water of hydrogen gas having a reducing radical function, ultra-fine-bubble water of air and oxygen gas having an oxidizing radical function, ozone ultra-fine-bubble water having a sterilization function enabled by ozone, and fine-bubble water of nitrogen/carbon dioxide gas for increasing the ability to preserve the freshness of raw agricultural products, livestock products, and marine products.

Abstract: A system for receiving a single-use vessel containing a mixing device has a support structure adapted to receive the single-use vessel and a drive-unit adapted to power, to control, or to power and control a mixing of contents of the single-use vessel when the single-use vessel is arranged in the support structure. The support structure and the drive-unit are provided as separate components that may be arranged both in an operating position, where the drive-unit is connectable to the mixing device of the single-use bag in the support structure, and in a separated position, where the drive-unit is separated from the support structure. The drive-unit comprises a tag reader that, in the operating position, is arranged to read a vessel tag of the single-use vessel arranged in the support structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a process for forming substantially dust-free additive granules, comprising the steps of: a) extruding or otherwise processing an additive or blend of additives to provide an substrate; b) cooling the substrate; c) conveying the substrate onto a profiled surface; and d) fragmenting the substrate into granules by means of a first rotating roller bearing on the substrate on the profiled surface.

Abstract: Horizontal adiabatic reactor (1) for heterogeneous catalytic reactions, comprising an outer cylindrical shell (2), an inlet (6) for reagent gases and an outlet (7) for gaseous products, a basket (10, 13) containing a catalytic bed (5a, 5b) positioned horizontally inside said reactor, wherein said reactor is configured in such a way that the gases cross said catalytic bed in a radial or axial-radial manner, said shell (2) has a cover (4) which can be opened and which defines an opening (20), and said basket (10, 13) is extractable horizontally from said opening.

Abstract: Internally reinforced aerogels, articles of manufacture and uses thereof are described. An internally reinforced aerogel includes an aerogel having a support at least partially penetrating the aerogel and having the aerogel penetrating the porous structure of the support.

Abstract: Spherical microcapsules including light reflecting solid integral particles reflecting incoming light in a defined direction for determining the position and orientation of the microcapsule are produced by preparing a first liquid phase containing a first polymerization partner; preparing a second liquid phase containing a second polymerization partner, the first liquid phase not being soluble in the second liquid phase, and the second polymerization partner being configured to polymerize with the first polymerization partner under polymerization conditions; dispersing the solid particles in the first liquid phase; forming droplets of the first liquid phase including at least one solid particle; and immersing the droplets in the second liquid phase under the polymerization conditions.

Abstract: Dehydrogenative coupling can be achieved in nearly quantitative conversions and yields using a membrane reactor.

Abstract: Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for processing cellulosic and lignocellulosic materials into useful intermediates and products, such as energy and fuels. For example, conveying systems and methods, such as highly efficient vibratory conveyors, are described for the processing of the cellulosic and lignocellulosic materials.

Abstract: A passive NOX adsorbent includes: palladium, platinum or a mixture thereof and a mixed or composite oxide including the following elements in percentage by weight, expressed in terms of oxide: 10-90% by weight zirconium and 0.1-50% by weight of least one of the following: a transition metal or a lanthanide series element other than Ce. Although the passive NOX adsorbent can include Ce in an amount ranging from 0.1 to 20% by weight expressed in terms of oxide, advantages are obtained particularly in the case of low-Ce or a substantially Ce-free passive NOx adsorbent.