A skinning apparatus and a method of skinning a porous ceramic. The apparatus includes an axial skinning manifold. The axial skinning manifold includes a curved adaptive pipe to flow cement in a circumferential direction from an inlet at a first position and through an adaptive opening along an inner bend of the curve through a land channel disposed along the inner bend. The land channel emits the cement at a constant velocity from a land opening extending proximate the first position to a second position spaced apart from the first position. The land outlet emits cement at a constant velocity around the outer periphery of the porous ceramic to dispose a uniform skin thereon as the porous ceramic moves axially relative to the land outlet.

A method of applying a circumferential coating material on a circumferential surface of a ceramic honeycomb structure to form a circumferential coat layer. The method includes vertically aligning the longitudinal axis of the ceramic honeycomb structure, rotating the ceramic honeycomb structure around the vertically-aligned longitudinal axis, and applying the circumferential coating material on the circumferential surface of the rotating honeycomb structure at a discharge speed of 50 to 120 mm/s, calculated by
Discharge speed V [mm/s]=Supplied amount q [g/s] of circumferential coating material(Density [g/mm.sup.3] of circumferential coating materialArea S [mm.sup.2] of discharge opening).

A method of applying a circumferential coating material on a circumferential surface of a ceramic honeycomb structure to form a circumferential coat layer. The method includes vertically aligning the longitudinal axis of the ceramic honeycomb structure, rotating the ceramic honeycomb structure around the vertically-aligned longitudinal axis, and applying the circumferential coating material on the circumferential surface of the rotating honeycomb structure at a discharge speed of 50 to 120 mm/s, calculated by
Discharge speed V [mm/s]=Supplied amount q [g/s] of circumferential coating material(Density [g/mm.sup.3] of circumferential coating materialArea S [mm.sup.2] of discharge opening).

A method and system for forming vertical wall construction units in one or more provided forms provides environmentally-manageable construction with reduced labor burden over existing non-traditional construction techniques. The method is a method of operation of the system, which includes a programmable controller, a reciprocating tamper head, a positioner that is guided to position the tamper head, and a filling mechanism for introducing loose material to a form in pre-determined layer volumes to provide loose material for individual layers of the prefabricated vertical construction unit. The programmable controller operates the filling mechanism to introduce the loose material for the current layer, then operates the three-axis positioner to guide the reciprocating tamper head over a horizontal cross-section of the form at a height determined for the current layer and along a program-determined path to compact the current layer. The process is repeated until the compacted material reaches a programmed height.

A method and system for forming vertical wall construction units in one or more provided forms provides environmentally-manageable construction with reduced labor burden over existing non-traditional construction techniques. The method is a method of operation of the system, which includes a programmable controller, a reciprocating tamper head, a positioner that is guided to position the tamper head, and a filling mechanism for introducing loose material to a form in pre-determined layer volumes to provide loose material for individual layers of the prefabricated vertical construction unit. The programmable controller operates the filling mechanism to introduce the loose material for the current layer, then operates the three-axis positioner to guide the reciprocating tamper head over a horizontal cross-section of the form at a height determined for the current layer and along a program-determined path to compact the current layer. The process is repeated until the compacted material reaches a programmed height.

Various embodiments for a median barrier finishing machine are described. A median barrier finishing machine may include a housing configured to encapsulate at least a portion of a median barrier, where the housing comprises a first vertical wall, a second vertical wall, and a horizontal wall. The median barrier finishing machine may include at least one adjustable member configured to couple the housing to the vehicle and retain the housing a predetermined distance relative to the vehicle while the vehicle is in motion. Further, the median barrier finishing machine may include at least one finishing device disposed within the housing, where the at least one finishing device is configured to contact a surface of a median barrier at least partially positioned within the housing and treat the surface as the vehicle moves the housing along a length of the median barrier.

Process for the production of a hydrophobic thermal-insulation moulding, where a hydrophilic thermal-insulation moulding is brought into contact with a hydrophobizing agent in vapour form with formation of a thermal-insulation moulding coated with hydrophobizing agent, and this is then subjected to a press process and during the press process and/or after the press process is reacted with the hydrophobizing agent with formation of the hydrophobic thermal-insulation moulding, where a) the density of the hydrophobic thermal-insulation moulding after the press process and after the reaction with the hydrophobizing agent is from 100 to 250 kg/m.sup.3, and b) the density of the hydrophilic thermal-insulation moulding on contact with the hydrophobizing agent is from 50% to less than 100% of the density of the hydrophobic thermal-insulation moulding.

Process for the production of a hydrophobic thermal-insulation moulding, where a hydrophilic thermal-insulation moulding is brought into contact with a hydrophobizing agent in vapour form with formation of a thermal-insulation moulding coated with hydrophobizing agent, and this is then subjected to a press process and during the press process and/or after the press process is reacted with the hydrophobizing agent with formation of the hydrophobic thermal-insulation moulding, where a) the density of the hydrophobic thermal-insulation moulding after the press process and after the reaction with the hydrophobizing agent is from 100 to 250 kg/m.sup.3, and b) the density of the hydrophilic thermal-insulation moulding on contact with the hydrophobizing agent is from 50% to less than 100% of the density of the hydrophobic thermal-insulation moulding.

A system for delivering and applying a flowable mixture to an article (311-313) is disclosed. The system includes a mixture delivery system (200) and a skinning system (300). The mixture delivery system (200) includes a mixer (220) configured to mix a dry material and a fluid to produce the flowable mixture, and a pump (235) configured to pump the flowable mixture to a delivery line. The skinning system (300) receives the flowable mixture from the mixture delivery system (200) through the delivery line. The skinning system (300) includes a skinning pipe (310) configured to apply the flowable mixture to the article (311-313) and a manifold (305) that supports the skinning pipe (310). The skinning system (300) also includes an article feeding mechanism (315) configured to push the article (311-313) into the skinning pipe (310). The skinning system (300) includes a transfer system (320) configured to hold the article (311-313) and move the article (311-313) out of the skinning pipe (310).

A system for delivering and applying a flowable mixture to an article (311-313) is disclosed. The system includes a mixture delivery system (200) and a skinning system (300). The mixture delivery system (200) includes a mixer (220) configured to mix a dry material and a fluid to produce the flowable mixture, and a pump (235) configured to pump the flowable mixture to a delivery line. The skinning system (300) receives the flowable mixture from the mixture delivery system (200) through the delivery line. The skinning system (300) includes a skinning pipe (310) configured to apply the flowable mixture to the article (311-313) and a manifold (305) that supports the skinning pipe (310). The skinning system (300) also includes an article feeding mechanism (315) configured to push the article (311-313) into the skinning pipe (310). The skinning system (300) includes a transfer system (320) configured to hold the article (311-313) and move the article (311-313) out of the skinning pipe (310).