Disclosed is a method to form arbitrarily shaped, uniform, lightweight, thermally insulating and acoustically absorptive automotive components with controllable density, thickness, porosity, and surface integrity. The method is based on natural cellulosic fibers such as those found in cardboard and paper and uses a thermoplastic fiber and particle slurry to form fusible components. The method produces components having the benefit of commercially available thermoformed fiber mats or open-cell extruded foam components with excellent acoustical properties, enhanced thermal insulation, and are light weight, which limits engine inefficiency, and the high cost of such products so as to allow large scale implementation.

The present invention provides a new and useful (i) plant root feeding device (ii) plant root feeding system, (iii) method of feeding a plant, and (iv) method of manufacturing a plant root feeding device. The plant root feeding device comprises a fluid container (emitter) formed of semi permeable material that allows fluid to pass from the inside of the container to a plant root located in ground in proximity to the fluid container. The fluid container has a fluid inlet opening, and a fluid inlet tube is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet opening of the fluid container. The fluid inlet tube has a fixed, fluid sealed coupling to the fluid inlet opening of the fluid container, and the fluid container has a configuration that enables it to be located in ground in proximity to an in ground root system of a plant, and a permeability that enables fluid to pass from the inside of the container to the in ground root system of a plant in proximity to the fluid container.

The present invention provides a new and useful (i) plant root feeding device (ii) plant root feeding system, (iii) method of feeding a plant, and (iv) method of manufacturing a plant root feeding device. The plant root feeding device comprises a fluid container (emitter) formed of semi permeable material that allows fluid to pass from the inside of the container to a plant root located in ground in proximity to the fluid container. The fluid container has a fluid inlet opening, and a fluid inlet tube is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet opening of the fluid container. The fluid inlet tube has a fixed, fluid sealed coupling to the fluid inlet opening of the fluid container, and the fluid container has a configuration that enables it to be located in ground in proximity to an in ground root system of a plant, and a permeability that enables fluid to pass from the inside of the container to the in ground root system of a plant in proximity to the fluid container.

A device for stabilizing a concrete form includes an anchoring member with a channel aligned along a first axis, and elongate members with cavities aligned along a second axis, the elongate members coupled to form a frame. The device may include an anchoring post for insertion through the channel of the anchoring member to secure the device to a surface, and sliders with elongate bodies for insertion into the cavities of the elongate members, where the sliders are affixed to an engagement member structurally configured for engaging the concrete form. First retaining members may be structurally configured to engage the anchoring post when inserted through the channel of the anchoring member thereby maintaining a position of the frame along the first axis. Second retaining members may be structurally configured to engage a slider when inserted into the elongate member thereby maintaining a position of the slider along the second axis.

A method of fabricating a fiber preform filled with refractory ceramic particles, includes placing a fiber texture including refractory ceramic fibers in a mold cavity; injecting a slip including a powder of refractory ceramic particles present in a liquid medium, the slip being injected into the pores of the fiber texture present in the mold cavity, injection being performed through at least a first face or a first edge of the fiber texture; and draining the liquid medium of the slip that has penetrated into the fiber texture through the porous material part, the draining being performed at least through a second face or a second edge of the fiber texture different from the first face or the first edge, the porous material part also serving to retain the refractory particle powder in the pores of the fiber texture to obtain a fiber preform filled with refractory particles.

A particulate composite ceramic material may include: particles of at least one first ultra-high-temperature ceramic UHTC, the outer surface of the particles being at least partially covered by a porous layer made of at least one second UHTC in amorphous form; and the particles defining a space therebetween; optionally, porous clusters of the at least one second ultra-high-temperature ceramic in amorphous form, distributed in said space; a dense matrix and at least one third UHTC in crystallized form at least partially filling the space; optionally, a dense coating made of at least the third UHTC in crystallized form, covering the outer surface of the matrix, the matrix and the coating representing 5% to 90% by mass with respect to the total mass of the material. A part may include such a particulate ceramic composite material.

An apparatus for delivering a mould including a first and a second part into a dosing position. The apparatus includes a reorientation conveyor portion comprising first and second opposed retainer members. At least one of the first and second retainer members includes a conveyor. The first and second retainer members are operable to form a separation therebetween and the reorientation conveyor portion is operable to receive the mould into the separation between the first and second retainer members with the first and second retainer members in a first orientation and then move the first and second retainer members into a second orientation while substantially maintaining the first part of the mould in the same position relative to the second part of the mould. The apparatus further includes a mould-separation portion. The reorientation conveyor portion is operable to at least partially eject the mould into the mould-separation portion when the first and second retainer members are in the second orientation. The mould-separation portion is operable to actuate at least partial separation of the first and second parts of the mould.

Methods for forming a unitized crucible assembly for holding a melt of silicon for forming a silicon ingot are disclosed. In some embodiments, the methods involve a porous crucible mold having a channel network with a bottom channel, an outer sidewall channel that extends from the bottom channel, and a central weir channel that extends from the bottom channel. A slip slurry may be added to the channel network and the liquid carrier of the slip slurry may be drawn into the mold. The resulting green body may be sintered to form the crucible assembly.

A process for manufacturing a composite material part includes formation of a fibrous texture from refractory ceramic fibres, placement of the fibrous texture in a mould with interposition of a filtration layer between the fibrous texture and a discharge port, the filtration layer including a partially densified fibrous structure, pressure injection of a slurry containing a powder of refractory ceramic particles into the fibrous texture, drainage by the filtration layer of the slurry solvent having passed through the fibrous texture and retention of the powder of refractory ceramic particles within the texture by the filtration layer to obtain a fibrous preform including the fibrous texture filled with refractory ceramic particles and the filtration layer, heat treatment of the refractory ceramic particles present in the fibrous texture of the preform to form a composite material part including the fibrous texture densified by a refractory ceramic matrix and the filtration layer.

A toilet assembly includes a flush engine having a bowl, a sump at a lower portion of the bowl, and a trapway extending from the sump. The toilet assembly further includes a first polymeric layer at least partially surrounding the flush engine, the first polymeric layer comprising a foam. The toilet assembly further includes a second polymeric layer provided on the first polymeric layer, the second polymeric layer comprising resin.