A build material container outlet structure comprises: a first connector portion to connect to a build material container; a second connector portion comprising an adaptor to receive a nozzle structure of an external aspiration system; and an aspiration channel to aspire build material from the build material container to the nozzle structure of the external aspiration system; wherein the first connector portion is rotatably connected to the second connector portion to align the adaptor in a predetermined orientation.

A system for selectably fastening a female member with a male member adapted to fit inside the female member, the female member having one or more inward-facing recesses and the male member having one or more outward-facing recess, the recesses being of similar cross-sectional dimensions, includes one or more moveable, ferromagnetic locking elements housed within the inward-facing recesses of the female member; and a locking magnet mounted onto the male member, in magnetic proximity to the one or more outward-facing recesses, wherein, in the presence of a magnetic force applied by the locking magnet, mating of the male and female members bringing the outward-facing and inwardly-facing recesses into mutual registration causes the locking elements to move inwardly into the outward-facing recesses so as to extend across both of the inward- and outward-facing recesses, thereby to lock the male and female members together.

A fastening structure includes a circular sleeve and a coupling member. One end of the circular sleeve has a receiving trough. A bottom of the receiving trough is provided with a first magnetic member. A wall of the receiving trough is provided with a protruding post. At least one guide groove is formed on an outer wall of one end of the coupling member. One end of the guide groove is an open axial groove having an opening. Another end of the guide groove is a closed axial groove having a stop end. The guide groove has a transverse groove between the open axial groove and the closed axial groove. Another end of the coupling member is a pivot end that has a central passage extending inwardly. A second magnetic member is disposed in the central passage. The first and second magnetic members have repulsive magnetic poles.

A rotary introducer is provided for introducing a trackable element and/or contaminant onto a flow path of a food-transit system without adjusting a flowrate. The introducer comprises an inlet and an outlet which is communicable with a food-transit conduit; and a pair of rotatable driving/drivable members. In a trackable-element receiving condition, the inlet is open to receive a trackable element in the device cavity, and the outlet is closed by at least one of the driving/drivable member. However, in a discharge condition, the outlet is open such that a trackable-element discharge force is directed radially inwardly through the outlet to discharge the trackable element from the device cavity, thus enabling outlet to close. A food-transit system using the rotary introducer and a method of introducing a trackable element and/or contaminant into food-transit system without adjusting a flowrate of foodstuffs therethrough are also provided.

A waste separator for attachment to a sink drain pipe is provided, the waste separator comprising: a transverse pipe, the transverse pipe including a proximal end, a distal end, a sidewall therebetween, a solid waste outlet at the distal end and a magnetic flange on the sidewall, the transverse pipe defining a transverse bore, the transverse bore housing a motor-driven auger and a cylindrical filter between the motor-driven auger and the transverse pipe sidewall; a sink wastewater inlet in a vicinity of the proximal end, the sink wastewater inlet normal to the transverse bore and in fluid communication with the transverse bore; a normally-closed solenoid valve, the normally-closed solenoid valve in a vicinity of the distal end of the transverse pipe; a lower vessel, the lower vessel including a waste water outlet, the lower vessel defining an interior, the interior in fluid communication with the transverse bore proximate the proximal end; and a microprocessor, the microprocessor in electronic communication with the normally-closed solenoid valve.

Connector assemblies including a first subassembly having a recessed portion and a pair of locator tracks and a second subassembly having a pair of locator projections, vacuum assemblies including these connector assemblies, and methods of using the same are provided herein.

A magnetically positioned and engaged clothes dryer vent coupling (14, 30), having magnetic material (12, 36) arranged around the opening of a tube (22, 32) such that as the two halves of the coupling are brought into proximity, the magnetic forces minimizing repulsion and maximizing attraction align the two duct paths and bring the magnets together, forming a seal. The short length of flexible tubing (20) allows freedom of motion of the magnetic end during engagement and provides the necessary flexibility required to maintain a seal through dryer operational movement. The advantages of such a coupling are: simplified and faster dryer installation; elimination of the long length of flexible duct typically used in dry installations; shorter, more easily maintainable dryer exhaust duct path; increased dryer efficiency and increased fire safety.

A magnetic hose coupling system for a helmet includes first and second coupling conduit segments magnetically coupled to each other. The first segment includes a hinged clamp at a first end to attach to a forced air intake barb on a motorsport helmet and an angled polygonal mating surface at a second end with magnetic attractors in the polygonal mating surface. The second segment includes an internally threaded first end to attach to a forced air hose and an angled polygonal mating surface at a second end with magnetic attractors in the polygonal mating surface. The polygonal mating surfaces of the first and second segments magnetically couple together and resist rotational and sheer movement of the first and second segments with respect to each other.

A vacuum joint has a simple structure and thus is capable of connecting and disconnecting vacuum pipes very easily and quickly. A vacuum utilization device includes this vacuum joint. A vacuum joint of the present invention includes: a first coupling member having a tubular shape and adapted to be attached to a connection end of a vacuum pipe; and a second coupling member having a tubular shape and adapted to be attached to a connection end of a vacuum pipe. The first coupling member has an axial front end with a substantially flat contact surface that contains a ferromagnetic material, and the second coupling member has an axial front end with a substantially flat contact surface that contains a ferromagnetic material. At least one of the contact surface of the first coupling member and the contact surface of the second coupling member includes a magnet.

Connector assemblies including a first subassembly having a recessed portion and a pair of locator tracks and a second subassembly having a pair of locator projections, vacuum assemblies including these connector assemblies, and methods of using the same are provided herein.