A potter's wheel stand that includes a supporting frame and a vertically adjustable stage with a tray to support a potter's wheel is described. The potter's wheel stand can be configured in free-standing and wall-mounted configurations. The potter's wheel stand can include a backsplash, a plurality of wheels, an integrated overhead lamp, and integrated power outlets or data ports.

A system may be used with a pottery wheel to facilitate the shaping of a workpiece. The system may have a support assembly coupled to a rotatable wheel of the pottery wheel, and a template holder that holds a template relative to the wheel. The support assembly may have a rotary coupling to which the template holder is coupled; thus, the template holder may be used to keep the template stationary as the wheel, workpiece, and support assembly rotate. The template may be used for jiggering and/or jollying, and may have a plate with a shaping surface that contacts the workpiece during relative rotation to provide the desired contour. The template may have a plate that is insertable into a slot of the template; the template may be retained by the template holder at multiple displacements from the rotatable wheel.

A pottery wheel with an improved throwing arm that pushes the clay towards the center of the spinning plate, in an arc shaped motion, defined by four directions of motion, with the throwing arm providing an inward force towards the direction of rotation and towards the axis of rotation, that also allows for micro-adjustments to be easily made, is disclosed. Various tool accessories can then be used to open the pottery and form the pottery. The embodiments of the present invention are suitable for use by children, individuals unskilled in the art of pottery, and individuals lacking fine motor skills due to the assistance provided by the features of present embodiments, including an improved throwing arm removably attached to the housing. Embodiments of the present invention also include numerous attachments designed to work in tandem with the improved pottery wheel and throwing arm assembly.

In a general aspect, suction anchors are presented for securing structures to an underwater floor. The suction anchors include a tubular body formed at least in part of cementitious materials and having a closed end and an open end. The tubular body includes an edge defining an opening for the open end. The edge is configured to penetrate the underwater floor. The suction anchors also include a port configured to fluidly-couple a cavity within the tubular body to an exterior of the tubular body. The suction anchors additionally include a pad eye extending from an outer surface of the tubular body and configured to couple to a mooring line. In another aspect, methods of manufacturing the suction anchors are also presented.

A pottery wheel with an improved throwing arm that pushes the clay towards the center of the spinning plate, in an arc shaped motion, defined by four directions of motion, with the throwing arm providing an inward force towards the direction of rotation and towards the axis of rotation, that also allows for micro-adjustments to be easily made, is disclosed. Various tool accessories can then be used to open the pottery and form the pottery. The embodiments of the present invention are suitable for use by children, individuals unskilled in the art of pottery, and individuals lacking fine motor skills due to the assistance provided by the features of present embodiments, including an improved throwing arm removably attached to the housing. Embodiments of the present invention also include numerous attachments designed to work in tandem with the improved pottery wheel and throwing arm assembly.

In a general aspect, suction anchors are disclosed that include a tubular body formed at least in part of cementitious materials. The tubular body has a closed end, an open end, and a perimeter wall. The perimeter wall defines a shape of the tubular body and is former at least in part of the cementitious materials. The tubular body also includes a channel internal to the perimeter wall defining a spiral around a longitudinal axis of the tubular body. The tubular body additionally includes an edge defining an opening for the open end. The edge is configured to penetrate the underwater floor. The suction anchors also include a post-tensioning device through the channel in a tensioned state and a port configured to fluidly-couple at least part of a cavity within the tubular body to an exterior of the tubular body.

Method for collecting water vapor from air as liquid water. The method includes a refrigerant compressor circulating refrigerant through a controlled dimensioned condenser into a tubing loop. A portion of the tubing loop functions as a condenser. This tube conveys the pressurized refrigerant through an expansion valve. The refrigerant pressure and temperature decreases. Ambient water vapor collects on the exterior surface of the cooled section of tube now functioning as an evaporator. The water drops from the tube surface into a reservoir for use. The tube loop extends through a multiport control valve. The method includes a control valve that cyclically and sequentially directs the refrigerant pumped from the compressor into alternate ends of the tubing loop. The cycles continually repeat. The cycles can be controlled by fluid temperature. The device can include a power supply and microprocessor controlling the generator and valves. The device may utilize a switch that detects water or ice deposits on the tube. The device can comprise a moveable frame supporting all above components.

Station for the realization of coloring effects in a mix for the production of slabs, includes: a working surface intended to accommodate a temporary support with a basic mix layer for the formation of a slab; at least one dye dispensing device for emitting dyes towards the working surface so as to deposit them on the basic mix layer on the temporary support accommodated on the working surface; movement means for the relative movement of the dispensing device above the working surface; a control system connected to the movement means for controlling the displacement of the dispensing device so as to follow trajectories along which dyes are emitted towards the mix layer; at least one tool movable with the movement means (18, 118) and intended to interact mechanically with areas of the mix layer for receipt of the dyes emitted by the dispensing device to achieve coloring effects in the mix.

Method for collecting water vapor from air as liquid water. The method includes a refrigerant compressor circulating refrigerant through a controlled dimensioned condenser into a tubing loop. A portion of the tubing loop functions as a condenser. This tube conveys the pressurized refrigerant through an expansion valve. The refrigerant pressure and temperature decreases. Ambient water vapor collects on the exterior surface of the cooled section of tube now functioning as an evaporator. The water drops from the tube surface into a reservoir for use. The tube loop extends through a multiport control valve. The method includes a control valve that cyclically and sequentially directs the refrigerant pumped from the compressor into alternate ends of the tubing loop. The cycles continually repeat. The cycles can be controlled by fluid temperature. The device can include a power supply and microprocessor controlling the generator and valves. The device may utilize a switch that detects water or ice deposits on the tube. The device can comprise a moveable frame supporting all above components.

Device for collecting water vapor from air as liquid water. Included is a refrigerant compressor circulating refrigerant through a controlled dimensioned condenser into a tubing loop. A portion of the tubing loop functions as a condenser. This tube conveys the pressurized refrigerant through an expansion valve. The refrigerant pressure and temperature decreases. Ambient water vapor collects on the exterior surface of the cooled section of tube now functioning as an evaporator. The water drops from the tube surface into a reservoir for use. The tube loop extends through a multiport control valve. The control valve can direct the refrigerant pumped from the compressor into alternate ends of the tubing loop. The device can include a power supply and microprocessor controlling the generator and valves. The device may utilize a switch that detects water or ice deposits on the tube. The device can comprise a moveable frame supporting all above components.