Abstract: A dampening suspension assembly for a washing machine appliance is provided. The washing machine appliance has a cabinet and a tub mounted within the cabinet. The dampening suspension assembly includes a suspension rod extending between the tub and the cabinet. The dampening suspension assembly also includes a foam damper assembly circumferentially surrounding a portion of the suspension rod. The foam damper assembly includes a capsule, a first foam friction element disposed in a first trough of the capsule, and a second foam friction element disposed in a second trough of the capsule radially opposite the first foam friction element. The first foam friction element is compressed between opposing sidewalls of the first trough and is compressed against the suspension rod. The second foam friction element is compressed between opposing sidewalls of the second trough and is compressed against the suspension rod.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for treating fabrics by employing an automatic laundry washing machine to selectively add agitation-sensitive detersive actives into the wash liquor during a wash cycle when the mechanical agitation power applied to the fabrics by said washing machine is more than 12 W/kg, so as to improve or optimize the cleaning performance of such agitation-sensitive detersive actives.

Abstract: A laundry treating appliance includes a chassis defining an interior and having a front panel defining a front panel opening. A rotatable treating chamber is located within the interior and accessible through the front panel opening. A door assembly is movably mounted to the chassis for movement between opened and closed positions to selectively open or close the front panel opening. A compartment is movably mounted to the door assembly for movement between opened and closed positions. A basin is carried by the compartment between an accessible position and a non-accessible position.

Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a drum that processes laundry. A blower delivers process air from a heater to the drum via an airflow path. A structural panel defines a front aperture for accessing an interior of the drum and an air channel that defines a portion of the airflow path. The structural panel includes a lower first portion that is made of a first material and an upper second portion that is made of a second material that is different from the first material. The first and second materials meet at a predetermined seam that extends through the structural panel and the air channel.

Abstract: A clothes dryer has a front support and a filter apparatus. The front support includes a drying air duct having an air outlet that communicates with a circulation air duct arranged inside the clothes dryer. An air inlet of the drying air duct communicates with a clothes treating chamber of the clothes dryer. The filter apparatus is inserted into and mounted in the air duct from the air inlet and covers the whole cross section of the drying air duct. The entire filter apparatus can be accommodated and mounted in the internal space of the front support, so that the area of the filter apparatus blocking thread scraps is increased, and the filtering efficiency is improved.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for determining drying of clothes. The method for determining drying of clothes includes: acquiring an intake air temperature at an air inlet of a drum; calculating a change rate of the intake air temperature at the air inlet of the drum; determining that drying of the clothes is completed when a relationship between the change rate of the intake air temperature and a preset temperature change rate ks satisfies a determination condition. According to the clothes drying determination method of the present disclosure, the determination factors affecting the drying of clothes are reduced, and the accuracy of determination of drying of clothes is improved and the cost of drying clothes is reduced.

Abstract: Systems and methods for attaching large articles of bedding such as bed sheets, blankets, duvet covers, comforters, and quilts, as well as other machine-washable large items such as sleeping bags, tablecloths, shower curtains, and shower curtain liners, in order to prevent or greatly reduce said articles from twisting, tangling, balling and/or wadding either independently or with each other in either or both the automatic washing machine or automatic clothes dryer. Exemplary fabric securing devices include a rigid base having keyholes and slit-holes, and flexible straps or tongues having a hollow post to engage a base keyhole and a crescent-shaped beveled edge to engage a base slit-hole.

Abstract: The present invention relates in part to a method of fabricating a ceramic-polymer composite by contacting a polymer material with an acid solution and depositing a ceramic on the polymer material. The invention also relates in part to ceramic-polymer composites produced using said method and ballistic resistant materials comprising said ceramic-polymer composites.

Abstract: Functionalized fibers adapted to remove contaminants from water and soil are produced in accordance with a single-step process that involves treating an acrylic fiber with an amination reagent to form a functionalized acrylic amino fiber. By way of another single-step process, functionalized acrylic amino fibers are treated with an alkylating reagent to form functionalized acrylic quaternary amino fibers.

Abstract: A pretreatment liquid for water-based pigment textile printing is disclosed, which includes: 1 wt % to 30 wt % of aqueous non-ionic polyurethane; 1 wt % to 20 wt % of a metal salt; 0.1 wt % to 10 wt % of a melamine resin; and the balance being a solvent. A method for forming a pattern on a textile using the aforesaid pretreatment liquid is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for improving the translation efficiency of fiber strength into composite strength is provided. A single unidirectional tape, single unidirectional fiber web or a stack of unidirectional web/unidirectional tape plies formed from partially oriented fibers/tapes is primed under mild conditions followed by subjecting the primed plies to an axial extension stress in the axial fiber direction of each fiber ply by passage through a compression apparatus. The axial extension stress extends the fibers, strengthening them, while also compacting the plies together and thereby forming a composite having improved strength. Production yield is improved by avoiding maximal fiber stretching and thereby avoiding typical manufacturing loss, and low weight composite armor having increased strength is achieved.

Abstract: A thermoplastic artificial leather includes a thermoplastic composite laminate and a textile base. The thermoplastic composite laminate includes a foamed thermoplastic elastic layer, an unfoamed thermoplastic elastic layer and a thermoplastic adhesive layer. The foamed thermoplastic elastic layer has a first surface, a second surface and a plurality of foamed structures. The second surface is opposite to the first surface. The unfoamed thermoplastic elastic layer is disposed on the first surface of the foamed thermoplastic elastic layer. The thermoplastic adhesive layer is disposed on the second surface of the foamed thermoplastic elastic layer. The textile base is laminated on the thermoplastic adhesive layer of the thermoplastic composite laminate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing artificial leather, the apparatus including an embossing molding device capable of efficiently forming an embossed pattern on the surface of artificial leather through vacuum adsorption molding and a method of manufacturing artificial leather using the apparatus.

Abstract: The invention refers to a fabric finishing method suitable for changing the colour of a coloured fabric thereby providing a vintage look to the fabric. The invention refers also to the fabric obtainable by the above method and to a garment comprising such fabric.

Abstract: A wire including a wire body that is made of metal, and a protector that is made of resin, that covers an outer periphery of the wire body, and that is integrally molded with the wire body.

Abstract: A process for converting lignocellulosic biomass to glucose or ethanol includes subjecting the lignocellulosic biomass to a SO2 pretreatment within the temperature range 110° C.-150° C. Good glucose yields have been achieved when the SO2 pretreatment is conducted for more than 90 minutes and when the total amount of SO2 available is greater than 20 wt % based on dry weight of lignocellulosic biomass.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides novel paper sheet mulch products having benefits over prior sheet mulches, which may include brown or recycled fibers, as well as additives, such as opacity, water-resistant, and strength additives, resulting in mulch products with an improved combination of basis weight, stretch, strength, opacity, and/or water-resistance characteristics.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a web of fibrous material includes a roll having incisions with a depth of 0.01-2.00 mm, a width of 0.01-2.00 mm, and a pitch 0.01-10.00 mm, and rotated at a peripheral velocity v1 equal to the velocity of an upstream apparatus unit; a belt stretched between transmission rollers that advances at a velocity v2 less than v1, wherein v1/v2 lies between 1.05 and 1.40; a presser roller rotating at a peripheral velocity v2, associated with a presser system acting to press the belt against the metal roll with a pressure of 1-200 kg per centimeter; and a system that feeds a sheet of pliable fibrous material between the belt and the roll, the belt having a longitudinal elongation of no more than 5%, dimensional stability along its entire length, a thickness of 1-10 cm, and a hardness 24-70° Shore A.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a paperboard structure includes passing a paperboard substrate through a hot-hard calender to yield a calendered paperboard substrate, the hot-hard calender including a nip defined by a thermo-roller and a counter roller, wherein a contact surface of the thermo-roller is heated to an elevated temperature. The method then includes applying a basecoat to the calendered paperboard substrate to yield a basecoated paperboard substrate, the basecoat includes a basecoat binder and a basecoat pigment blend. The method further includes applying a topcoat to the basecoated paperboard substrate.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a coating composition that can be applied to a substrate, especially a cellulose substrate. A layer of the coating composition applied to the substrate provides an excellent ink receptive layer and can be used as a coating on paper. The disclosure also relates to aqueous compositions and method for applying the layer of the coating composition onto the substrate.

Abstract: Creped fibrous structures having pillows and knuckles, wherein the creped fibrous structures may exhibit improved knuckle properties, such as Knuckle Roughness Ra, Knuckle Roughness Rq, and Knuckle Creping Frequency and methods for making same are provided, and/or may comprise elongate knuckles comprising discrete pillows and/or elongate pillows between first and second elongate knuckles.

Abstract: A coating for paperboard includes polyethylene outer layers and a polyethylene inner layer with calcium carbonate filler. In addition to the lower cost, benefits include a surprising better heat sealing behavior compared with a coating of polyethylene alone.

Abstract: A plating system for attaching a pair of tie plates to a wooden railroad tie with screw spikes such that the tie plates are aligned and in gauge. A predrilling system is used to predrill holes in the appropriate position on the railroad tie according to the line end of the tie prior to loading the tie into the plating system. The plating system clamps the railroad tie in registration according to the line end of the tie, and holds the tie plates in the appropriate position while a pair of hydraulic screw-presses turn screw spikes to fasten the tie plates to the railroad tie in gauge, centered and aligned on the railroad tie.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mobile device for correction of a vertical position of a pre-measured track, in particular for a track maintenance machine, including a measuring system which comprises a moving chord as reference base, and including a lifting device for lifting the track to a target level prescribed at a work location by means of the moving chord. In this, the moving chord is defined at two reference locations as to its position relative to a non-corrected area of the track, wherein the work location is arranged behind the reference locations in a working direction. In this manner, the position of the moving chord is defined unambiguously and precisely at all times.

Abstract: A method for permeable pavement of dirt interception comprises laying a permeable structure layer with a toothed groove between the base layer and the transition surface of the cushion layer or directly setting the upper surface of the cushion layer as a toothed structure; in the base layer, laying at least one layer of dirt interception trough; providing a water-permeable coating or fine sand at the bottom of the sewage interception trough; the present invention traps the dirt between the base layer and the cushion layer that are most likely to cause void blocking in the base layer, close to the shallow part of the surface layer is used to remove dirt by high-pressure flushing operations.

Abstract: A method of disinfecting an artificial turf structure includes applying to the artificial turf

Abstract: A vibration assembly for a surface compactor machine includes a support subassembly connected to the compacting surface of the surface compactor machine. A primary eccentric shaft is disposed around a secondary eccentric shaft, with the primary and secondary eccentric shafts both rotatable about a common axis of rotation. One or more of primary bearing subassemblies is disposed between the primary eccentric shaft and the support subassembly for supporting the primary eccentric shaft during rotation of the primary eccentric shaft. One or more secondary bearing subassemblies is disposed between the secondary eccentric shaft and the primary eccentric shaft for supporting the secondary eccentric shaft during rotation of the primary eccentric shaft.

Abstract: A water cooling device for saw blade cooling and a road cutting machine.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting grooves in a ground surface includes a wheeled vehicle with a tool carrier connected to the wheeled vehicle. The tool carrier is rotatable about an axis parallel to the direction of travel of the vehicle and perpendicular to the direction of travel of the vehicle. A grinding tool for cutting grooves in a ground surface is rotatably mounted to the tool carrier. The grinding tool may be movable laterally relative to the vehicle. A rotatable cam is configured so that rotation of the cam causes pivotal movement of the tool carrier relative to the forward frame. Rotation of the cam moves the grinding tool into and out of engagement with the ground surface.

Abstract: A method for making a prefabricated, prestressed module includes arranging one or more steel beams atop a supporting formwork element in a direction transverse to the supporting formwork element and arranging one or more precast deck elements across the one or more steel beams to create a substantially continuous surface. The one or more precast deck elements have pockets for receiving connectors that protrude from the one or more steel beams. The method also includes arranging the supporting formwork element to allow the one or more steel beams to bend into a cambered shape to impart compressive stresses to a bottom flange of the one or more steel beams and tension stresses to a top flange of the one or more steel beams and inserting grout into the pockets to hold the cambered shape and to bond the one or more precast deck elements to the connectors and the top flange.

Abstract: A cable road safety fence for installation at a lateral or median side of a road has a series of spaced apart upright posts, and a plurality of tensioned cables provided at different levels on and supported by said posts. At least one noise absorbing panel is mounted onto the cables with at least two mounting points, said points being at different levels.

Abstract: A magnetic marker (1), laid in or on a road so as be detectable by a magnetic sensor (2) attached to a bottom surface side of a vehicle (5), that is used for vehicle-side drive assist control for assisting driving is an isotropic ferrite plastic magnet, molded into a columnar shape, that contains a magnetic powder of iron oxide, i.e. a powder of a magnetic material, dispersed in a polymer material. In a marker system (1S) including this magnetic marker (1), magnetic markers (1) accommodated in holes (530) bored in a road surface (53) are arranged along the center of a lane.

Abstract: A security barrier includes a plurality of barrier islands. Each barrier island has a concrete crash block having at least one pair of opposing side faces and external fixing elements on the opposing side faces. Attachments, which may be flexible attachments, extend between the external fixing elements of adjacent barrier islands of the security barrier. Each barrier island also has one or more load transfer element within the concrete crash block and, under load, the load transfer elements transfer load from the external fixing elements on one side of the concrete crash block to the external fixing elements on the opposing side of the concrete crash block.

Abstract: A sweeping machine for mounting to a blower is adapted for sweeping debris, e.g., snow, from an area around an obstacle, e.g., fire hydrant. The sweeping machine comprises a rotating brush having an axis of rotation which is horizontal, a frame for the rotating brush, an arm extending from a proximal end to a distal end to which the frame is secured, a blower, and a pivoting mechanism secured to the blower. The pivoting mechanism is adapted to swivel the arm upwardly to lift the rotating brush and to swivel the arm within a horizontal plane to move the rotating brush horizontally relative to the blower. Thereby, the sweeping machine is adapted to sweep debris from the area around the obstacle by the rotating brush toward the blower which is itself adapted to blow the debris away from the obstacle.

Abstract: A snow plow apparatus including at least one pivotable plow wing that is capable of removing snow or debris adjacent to a vehicle. The pivotable plow wing is operable to deploy from a stowed configuration behind the vehicle to a deployed configuration where the plow wing substantially extends beyond a side of the vehicle and is in contact with a surface to be plowed to remove snow adjacent to the footprint of the vehicle. Once deployed, the pivotable wing is configurable to direct snow or debris away from or toward the vehicle by adjusting the angle of the plow wing relative to the direction of travel of the vehicle. The snow plow apparatus includes powered actuators and an electronic control unit that coordinate to operate the snow plow apparatus without the need for an operator to manually deploy, stow, or position the snow plow apparatus.

Abstract: A soil drainage device includes a host, at least one water collecting assembly and a piping unit. The host includes a host housing for receiving a control module and an air pump. The water collecting assembly includes an assembly housing defining a water collecting chamber and a water reservoir chamber, and having an upper penetrating bore and a plurality of openings for entering of water into the water collecting chamber through a filter unit. The water flows into and is stored in the water reservoir chamber. At least one air conducting pipe is disposed to introduce compressed air from the air pump into the water reservoir chamber to form a pressure so as to force water flow out of the water reservoir chamber through a water draining pipe.

Abstract: A squid-type marine oil containment device includes a track and four oil containment booms. A robotic arm is provided in an elliptic area formed by the track. Sliders are provided on the track. Ends of oil containment booms slide along the track through sliders. Each oil containment boom includes an oil suction pipe, propellers and a plastic separating layer. A middle of the oil suction pipe forms an oil channel. Booster pumps are spacedly provided inside the oil suction pipe and are respectively connected to a hose. Pairs of propellers are spacedly provided at a lower end of the oil suction pipe. Oil suction holes are provided on the oil suction pipe. The plastic separating layer is provided under the oil suction holes. A counterweight is provided at a bottom of the oil containment boom. The invention further provides a method of containing oil using the device.

Abstract: An energy-supply rotary inertia driver system for an offshore platform includes an annular fixed plate, an active control module, a wind power generation module and a solar power generation module. The system can monitor a motion state of the offshore platform in real time, and can generate a force through the active control module if necessary to apply a force torque of the offshore platform to further achieve the vibration suppression. Moreover, when the offshore platform is under normal operation, the system can act as an energy supply device via wind and solar power generation to feed electric energy to the active control module and other electrical equipment on the offshore platform when needed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming cemented ground support columns is disclosed. Namely, driving mandrels are provided for the efficient construction of incrementally enlarged diameter support columns. For example, the driving mandrel includes a feed tube that has a top portion and an expansion head portion. The expansion head portion further includes an expansion (or compaction) chamber and a flexible tubular egress port. Further, construction methods are provided of using the driving mandrels for the efficient construction of incrementally enlarged diameter support columns.

Abstract: A method for the construction of an improved tank base. A tank base is constructed for protection against accidental spills and/or leaks associated with a tank battery. The improved tank base comprises at least one part of a suitable substrate, which allows for the adhesion of an elastomer such as polyurea. Polyurea is preferably applied using a spray device which yields an average coverage of about 50-80 mils, and most preferably 60 mils. If more than one substrate is used, one or more substrates can be bound together with a fastening system. Once pressure is applied in the form of weight, the fastening system can be removed, resulting in an improved tank base having at least one seam and impervious to the fluid of the tank battery.

Abstract: Landscaping walls, systems and methods of manufacturing and installation of such walls include in aspects a fiberglass based wall having a decorative front side and a back side having at least one conduit where the conduit receives a cable or fastener extending outward from both ends of the conduit to connect to a stake to be inserted into ground adjacent the wall. The conduit in one aspect is a PVC tube mounted vertically against the wall and in aspects is embedded within the wall. The conduit allows for self-adjustment of the cable while also providing solid anchoring of the wall to prevent movement. The wall and system is lightweight, good looking and easy to install.

Abstract: Various embodiments of methods and apparatus for detecting a change in an orientation of a portion of a structure. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a processor, an energy storage unit, a location reporting unit, a wireless communication module and one or more inclination sensors. In some embodiments, each of the one or more inclination sensors is configured to measure inclination by measuring an orientation of the each of the one or more inclination sensors relative to a gravitational acceleration vector.

Abstract: Systems and methods for supporting a concrete slab are disclosed. The disclosed systems and methods may comprise an array of coupled hollow boxes to support a concrete slab monolithically poured on the array. The array of hollow boxes may be particularly suited for supporting a concrete slab to be emplaced at a construction site on expansive, collapsible, compressible, and/or rocky soils. The disclosed systems and methods may be more economically feasible and more reliable than other methods of preventing damage to a concrete slab in an expansive soil setting.

Abstract: A coupler for a work machine that has a first coupler hook pin defined along a hook pin axis, a first coupler engaging pin defined along a first axis, a second coupler engaging pin defined along a second axis, the second axis being different from the first axis. Wherein, the first coupler engaging pin is coupleable to a first device and the second coupler engaging pin is coupleable to a second device.

Abstract: A working machine includes a controller device to set an allowable-stroke range of the arm cylinder moving the arm toward the boom depending on a turn position of the boom such that a shortest trajectory distance that is a shortest distance between the boom cylinder and a turn trajectory of the tip end portion of the bucket is kept at a predetermined value even when the turn position of the boom changes, in a case where the boom is turned in a direction separating from a boom reference position.

Abstract: A shovel includes a lower traveling body, an upper turning body turnably mounted on the lower traveling body, an attachment attached to the upper turning body, and a hardware processor on the upper turning body and configured to execute automatic control. The hardware processor is configured to stop the automatic control when information on the movement of the shovel or information on the state of a nearby machine shows an unusual tendency.

Abstract: A coupler assembly for rotatably coupling a moldboard of a grader machine includes a bracket, a beam, a pin, a retainer, and an apparatus. The bracket is adapted to support the moldboard. The beam extends from a circle member rotatably coupled relative to a drawbar of the grader machine. The pin is adapted to rotatably couple the bracket and the beam to each other. Further, the pin defines an end adapted to extend outwardly from an assembly of the bracket and the beam. The retainer is adapted to be engaged with the end to retain the pin with the assembly of the beam and the bracket. Moreover, the retainer defines at least one end portion extending outwardly from the end. The apparatus is adapted to be mounted around the pin at the end to shield the at least one end portion of the retainer extending outwardly from the end.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a material moving machine comprises a pilot hydraulic switching system. The pilot hydraulic switching system comprises a control unit, a first directional valve, and a second directional valve. The control unit is configured to operate the first and second directional valves to shift a variable position actuator valve between a static state, a retract state, and an extend state. The actuator valve comprises a first and second control element. In the retract and extend states, the first and second directional valves control fluid flow to the variable position actuator valve with a positive net pressure on either the first or second control elements and a negative net pressure on the other control element to move the material moving implement. In the static state, the first and second directional valves control fluid flow equally on the first and second control elements.

Abstract: A pin for a coupler assembly for rotatably coupling a beam of a circle assembly of a grader machine with a bracket of a moldboard assembly of the grader machine includes a body defining a head portion and a shank portion. The shank portion integrally extends from the head portion. The head portion is adapted to be seated over one or more of the beam and the bracket. The shank portion is adapted to pass through the beam and the bracket to rotatably couple the beam and the bracket about the shank portion. A grease gallery is defined through the head portion, extending into the shank portion. The body defines multiple grease passages branching out from the grease gallery up to corresponding sections of an outer surface of the shank portion where the beam and the bracket are correspondingly adapted to lie in rotatable registration with the shank portion.

Abstract: Provided is a cab for a work machine capable of preventing an actuator from being damaged by vibration. A cab body is formed with a doorway. A door is rotatably supported on the cab body. The door opens and closes the doorway. A closed position locking unit locks the door so as to disable it from rotating relative to the cab body. The actuator generates a driving force to unlock the door locked by the closed position locking unit. The actuator is mounted on the cab body and is supported by the cab body.