A wireless load cell monitoring system and method may comprise a remote load cell assembly and a base station. Embodiments of the remote load cell assembly comprise a remote processor, a remote memory, a battery, a remote transceiver, an analog-to-digital converter, and a load cell. Embodiments of the base station comprise a base processor, a base memory, a base transceiver, and a digital-to-analog converter. Embodiments of the remote load cell assembly pair with the base station using a wireless communication protocol, read analog voltage data from the load cell, convert the load cell analog voltage data into digital load data, and transmit the digital load data to the base station. Embodiments of the base station convert the digital load data into analog voltage data and output the analog voltage data.
H04W 4/80 - Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
Floor coverings, such as modular panels or tiles, for installation on interior surfaces include an upper wear layer and a backing layer, where the backing layer includes a filler that includes concentrated carbon. The floor coverings can sequester carbon such that the resulting product has a negative carbon footprint when subjected to a Life Cycle Assessment.
Certain aspects and features relate to using an image modifier to generate digital designs and to printing the digital designs on a structure for flooring or other decoration that can more realistically mimic designs found in nature or otherwise provide designers with the freedom to create aesthetic designs more easily. An image modifier can receive an image, such as an image of a naturally occurring view and generate modified designs based on the image. The modified designs can be slight modifications to the image and printed on the structures for flooring such that together the printed structures exhibit the appearance of a design found in nature or a desired appearance by a designer.
A system and method configured to measure applied force and pressure on a load cell. The system includes an axial force pressure transducer having a hollow cross section comprising at least two strain sensitive regions, and a plurality of strain sensors connected to the at least two strain sensitive regions, wherein applied force and pressure is calculated based on strain measurements using mathematical formulae. A method of calibration of the axial force pressure transducer using known applied force and pressure measurements to calculate a calibration matrix reflecting the strain sensitivities of the at least two strain sensitive regions.
G01G 3/12 - Weighing apparatus characterised by the use of elastically-deformable members, e.g. spring balances wherein the weighing element is in the form of a solid body stressed by pressure or tension during weighing
G01G 3/14 - Weighing apparatus characterised by the use of elastically-deformable members, e.g. spring balances wherein the weighing element is in the form of a solid body stressed by pressure or tension during weighing measuring variations of electrical resistance
G01L 1/20 - Measuring force or stress, in general by making use of electrokinetic cells, i.e. liquid-containing cells wherein an electrical potential is produced or varied upon the application of stress
G01L 1/22 - Measuring force or stress, in general by making use of electrokinetic cells, i.e. liquid-containing cells wherein an electrical potential is produced or varied upon the application of stress using resistance strain gauges
5.
BALANCING YARN USE IN DESIGNING TUFTED PATTERNS FOR TEXTILES
Tools are provided that communicate to a pattern designer how much yarn is being used on every needle for a given tuft height pattern and permit the designer to adjust the pattern accordingly to balance the yarn usage on the needles. An electronic representation of a pattern design is received for controlling a carpet tufting operation. The pattern design includes a pile height per tuft. A grid is provided for representing the pattern design using different visual cues to represent different pile heights. A graph depicting use-of-yarn per needle for the carpet tufting operation is generated. The grid and the graph are on a common user interface and are viewable at the same time on a display device.
A floor covering system can include sensors below a top surface of a floor covering and that can communicate data to a controller for monitoring events occurring in the room with the floor covering. The sensors can include a wireless transmitter associated with a tile connector, a pressure sensor, and a force sensor. The tile connector is positioned between a floor and a floor covering to connect tiles of the floor covering together. The pressure sensor is positioned between the floor and the floor covering. The force sensor is positioned between the floor and the floor covering. The controller is configured for receiving data from the pressure sensor, the wireless transmitter, and the force sensor.
A floor covering system can include sensors below a top surface of a floor covering and that can communicate data to a controller for monitoring events occurring in the room with the floor covering. The sensors can include a wireless transmitter associated with a tile connector, a pressure sensor, and a force sensor. The tile connector is positioned between a floor and a floor covering to connect tiles of the floor covering together. The pressure sensor is positioned between the floor and the floor covering. The force sensor is positioned between the floor and the floor covering. The controller is configured for receiving data from the pressure sensor, the wireless transmitter, and the force sensor.
Polymer blends include bio-based polymers or copolymers with post-consumer and/or post-industrial polymers or copolymers and a compatibilizer. Fibers may be prepared from the polymer blends. In addition, a life cycle analysis of the polymer blends may be superior in at least four of seven categories of the life cycle analysis relative to virgin polyamide 6.6. Methods of making the fibers from polymer blends are also described. The polymer blends are particularly useful in flooring applications, such as carpeting.
C08L 77/02 - Polyamides derived from omega-amino carboxylic acids or from lactams thereof
D01F 6/90 - Monocomponent man-made filaments or the like of synthetic polymers; Manufacture thereof from mixtures of polycondensation products as major constituent with other polymers or low-molecular-weight compounds of polyamides
D01F 8/12 - Conjugated, i.e. bi- or multicomponent, man-made filaments or the like; Manufacture thereof from synthetic polymers with at least one polyamide as constituent
Rectangular carpet modules or "planks" and installation of such planks having the continuous appearance of broadloom carpet or a wide variety of other effective, human scale designs. "Planks" sized approximately 1/4 meter (25 cm) by 1 meter (100 cm) (or approximately 9 inches by 36 inches) are particularly effective.
Header assemblies generally used to handle yarns, for example, to facilitate connection of yarns feeding into a tufting machine or other device. In some embodiments, the improved header assembly (42, 40) includes at least a detachable header (122, 22) and a collector plate (123, 23). The improved header assembly simplifies the process of loading yarn through a detachable header (122, 22) by positioning the detachable header so that it abuts the collectable plate so that individual yarns can be blown through the collector plate through the appropriate holes (128, 28) in the detachable header. In some embodiments, the header assemblies are configured for use with varying gauges, different alignment requirements, different devices, and/or to otherwise be more universal in nature.
Methods of tufting a pattern in a backing material using a plurality of different yarns A, B,.... n that are threaded in the needles of a needle bar in a non-repeating sequence or pattern of yarn sets across the width of the needle bar.
Method of cutting and installing carpet tiles on a floor of a mass transit vehicle, particularly including aircraft. The tile lengths in an installation are the same and the tile widths are customized to a particular section of the aircraft or other vehicle in which they are installed.
Systems and methods that facilitate the creation and harvesting of algae using tufted products. One exemplary tufted product comprises a substrate and tufts tufted through the substrate. The use of a tufted product provides various advantages with respect to the creation and harvesting of algae. Among other things, such products can be configured to improve the amount of algal-growing surface area provided and other growing environment characteristics and to facilitate the harvesting of the algae from the tufted product by facilitating the release of all or most of the algae from attachment to the tufted product.
Creels having frames configured to receive one or more trays of yarn packages. The trays of yarn packages are removable from the frame and can be loaded with packages of yarn when not inserted into the frame. Separately loading trays with yarns can simplify and provide other benefits with respect to the process of loading a creel with yarn packages. Also disclosed is an assembly that is positioned with respect to a detachable header and a stationary header on a creel and that comprises an air flow unit that causes yarns to move through to an alignment mechanism that aligns the yarns for attachment to yarns already feeding into a tufting machine.
Yarn package sorting conveyer systems and methods using multiple conveyers based on weights, colors or other characteristics of the packages or yarns. The system may include a first conveyer that serves as a timing belt, a second conveyer that serves as a weighing belt, and a third conveyer that serves as a sorting/exit belt, but fewer or more conveyers and alternative conveyer mechanisms may be used. The conveyers may be controlled by programmable logic controllers (PLCs) with touch screen interfaces or other suitable control mechanisms and systems.
Carpet tiles of varying sizes and/or shapes that are connected together using connectors to form a carpet tile installation. The carpet tiles used in the carpet tile installation have different colors, patterns, shapes, and/or styles. Carpet tiles of a standard size and shape, such as one-half square meter carpet tiles, are partitioned into carpet tile fractions. These carpet tile fractions are used in conjunction with larger carpet tiles in a carpet tile installation. These carpet tile fractions may be connected to other carpet tile fractions to form a combination carpet tile that is then used in a carpet tile installation. The use of different sized and/or shaped carpet tiles increases the randomness or diversity and/or improves other aspects of the appearance of the floor coverings formed by the carpet tile installations.
Embodiments of the invention provide carpet tile patterns and techniques for making carpet tile patterns that provide diversity of color, texture, and/or other pattern attributes. In some embodiments, a color attribute changes along a dimension of a web from which the carpet tiles are cut. In other embodiments, a yarn pile height changes along a dimension of a web from which the carpet tiles are cut. In some embodiments, carpet tiles mimic in some respects the appearance of wood flooring having natural variations in the appearance of the wood elements.
Connectors for joining adjacent modular floor covering units. The connectors include a base or film and one or more attachment members. As an exemplary use of a connector to install tiles, a first tile is placed on the floor and a connector is positioned so that an attachment member faces upward and attach's to the first tile. One or more other tiles are then positioned adjacent the first tile so that the same or other attachment members of the connector attach to the adjacent tiles. In certain embodiments, an attachment member comprises projections that form a mechanical connection with the undersides of the tiles. For example, a connector may comprise a plastic unit with raised ridges that interact with corresponding indentations on the undersides of the tiles. A connector can also or alternatively form a connection with tiles and/or the underlying floor surface by having a high coefficient of friction.
Low weight and non-square carpet tile suitable for use in mass transit vehicles, particularly passenger aircraft. The carpet tile preferably weighs less than about 82 ounces per square yard. The carpet tile of this invention may have a carpet pile and at least one backing layer. The backing layer may use low weight filler material. Secondary backing plastic material may be compressed into the tile structure with pressure rollers or other pressure applying process on an improved tile production line. The carpet tiles satisfy transportation industry standards for flame, smoke and toxicity. Tiles may be sized during manufacture and installed in configurations that minimize the number of tile sizes needed and minimize the need for cutting tiles during installation. The patterns used for such tiles may be orthogonally ambiguous or otherwise suitable for "random" installation. In other embodiments, a passenger aircraft cabin includes a floor having rectangular carpet tiles installed thereon, and the carpeting can be installed in the aircraft without removing seats from the aircraft.
Connectors for joining adjacent modular floor covering units. Embodiments of the connectors include a film and an adhesive layer coated on one side of the film. The connectors can have a conductive component that allows electrical continuity to be maintained between adjacent tiles. In yet another embodiment, the connectors can be equipped as radio frequency identification tags by including radio frequency transponders. To install tiles using the connectors, a first tile is placed on the floor and a connector is positioned so that the adhesive layer faces upward and does not contact the floor. The connector is typically positioned so that only a portion of the adhesive layer adheres to the underside of the tile, leaving the remainder of the connector extending from the underside of the tile. One or more tiles are then positioned adjacent the first tile so that a portion of the connector adheres to the adjacent tiles. In this way, the connectors span adjacent tile edges. The tiles are assembled on an underlying flooring surface without the need to attach them to the floor surface. Rather, the tiles are linked to each other with the connectors, so that the tiles create a floor covering that 'floats' on the underlying floor surface. Additionally, the tiles need not be installed directly on the floor surface. Rather, an underlayment, such as a film or cushion or cushion composite, may be positioned on the floor surface prior to the installation of tiles.
Methods and apparatuses for making improved carpet are disclosed comprising the use of plasma discharge units to treat carpet backing surfaces to improve the adhesion of carpet backing layers, the adhesion of carpet backing to the carpet segments and to improve the adhesion of the exterior of the carpet backing to surfaces to which the carpet is applied.
Methods and apparatuses for making improved carpet are disclosed comprising the use of plasma discharge units to treat carpet backing surfaces to improve the adhesion of carpet backing layers, the adhesion of carpet backing to the carpet segments and to improve the adhesion of the exterior of the carpet backing to surfaces to which the carpet is applied.
Connectors for joining adjacent modular floor covering units. The connectors include a film and an adhesive layer coated on one side of the film. To install tiles using the connectors, a first tile is placed on the floor and a connector is positioned so that the adhesive layer faces upward and does not contact the floor. The connector is typically positioned so that only a portion of the adhesive layer adheres to the underside of the tile, leaving the remainder of the connector extending from the underside of the tile. Tiles are then positioned adjacent the first tile so that a portion of the connector adheres to the adjacent tiles. In this way, the connectors span adjacent tile edges. The tiles are assembled on a underlying flooring surface without the need to attach them to the floor surface. Rather, the tiles are linked to each other with the connectors, so that the tiles create a floor covering that 'floats' on the underlying floor surface.
The invention relates to a method for recovering nylon from a nylon-containing material by contacting the nylon-containing material with an alkanol-containing solvent at elevated temperature and at a pressure higher than the equilibrium pressure of the alkanol-containing solvent at the elevated temperature, thereby dissolving the nylon in the alkanol-containing solvent, removing the alkanol-containing solvent containing dissolved nylon from any undissolved solids, and decreasing the temperature of the alkanol-containing solvent containing dissolved nylon to precipitate the dissolved nylon.
A flooring system (10) including a modular frame (12) surrounding modular floor covering units (14). Frame members (16) attach easily to one another, providing stability to the flooring system (10) and ease of installation.
B32B 3/02 - Layered products essentially comprising a layer with external or internal discontinuities or unevennesses, or a layer of non-planar form; Layered products essentially having particular features of form characterised by features of form at particular places, e.g. in edge regions
B32B 3/10 - Layered products essentially comprising a layer with external or internal discontinuities or unevennesses, or a layer of non-planar form; Layered products essentially having particular features of form characterised by a discontinuous layer, i.e. apertured or formed of separate pieces of material
patents
