A steam ironing device (1), comprising: an iron, including a soleplate (18) provided with at least one steam outlet opening (20); soleplate heating means (22) configured to heat the soleplate (18); a steam generator (50) including a heatable steam generation chamber (51) that is fluidly connectable to the at least one steam outlet opening (20) in the soleplate; and control means (24, 56), operably connected to the soleplate heating means (22) and the steam generator (50), and configured to control a soleplate temperature and a steam rate of the steam ironing device, wherein the control means (24, 56) are configured to heat the soleplate to a non user-adjustable temperature in the range of 105-145° C., and to provide for a time-averaged steam rate of at least 50 grams/minute.

The present invention relates to a steamer head for a garment steamer comprising a main body (2) with a front end (8), a steam outlet (11) and an air inlet (25) formed in the front end (8). A suction force is applied to draw air through the air inlet (25) so that a fabric of a garment disposed proximate the front end (8) is drawn against the front end (8) by the suction force. Further, steam is applied to the fabric of a garment through the steam outlet (11). The front end (8) of the main body (2) comprises first and second surfaces (10, 2). The steam outlet (11) is formed in the first surface (10) and the air inlet (25) is formed in the second surface (12), so that the fabric is drawn against the second surface (12) and steam is applied to the fabric at the first surface (10). The first and second surfaces (10, 12) together forma convex surface. The present invention also relates to a garment steamer comprising a 10 steamer head and a method of removing creases from a garment using a garment steamer.

An iron (1), comprising: —a water reservoir (16), configured to hold liquid water; —a heatable soleplate (20); —at least one water outlet opening (24); —a water atomization and distribution unit (30), configured to atomize water from the water reservoir and to distribute the atomized water to the at least one water outlet opening; —at least one sensor (40,42), configured to monitor at least one motion dependent variable of the iron and to generate a reference signal reflecting said variable; —a control unit (50), operatively connected to both the water atomization and distribution unit (30) and the at least one sensor (40, 42), and configured to control a water outflow rate of the at least one water outlet opening (24) by controlling the operation of the water atomization and distribution unit in dependence of the reference signal generated by the at least one sensor.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for generating steam comprising a water heating chamber in which water is heated to generate steam. The apparatus also includes a cavity having an inlet communicating with the water heating chamber so that water in the water heating chamber is received in the cavity and a sealable outlet. The cavity is configured to limit the flow of convection currents in the water received in the cavity so that scales and/or solid particles suspended in the water accumulate in the cavity. Alternatively, a guide member is disposed at the inlet to the cavity which is configured to guide scales and/or solid particles suspended in the water into the cavity.

A clothes-treating apparatus is disclosed. According to the present invention, the clothes-treating apparatus includes a steam spraying unit capable of preventing water condensed from steam from flowing into an accommodating space containing clothes and it has an improved steam spraying unit to enhance work efficiency when a worker assembles parts thereof.

The present invention relates to a laundry refresher unit that can selectively supply various types of dry air as well as steam to laundry, and a laundry treating apparatus having the laundry refresher unit. A laundry refresher unit includes a cabinet that defines an exterior thereof, wherein an air path is formed in the cabinet; a steam generator provided in the cabinet to selectively supply steam outside the cabinet through a steam outlet; and a heated air supply device provided in the cabinet to heat air drawn through an air inlet, such that the air having at least three temperature ranges is supplied outside the cabinet through the air outlet. A laundry treating apparatus includes a laundry refresher unit that includes a cabinet, a steam generator and a heated air supply device.

An iron (1), comprising: a water reservoir (10), configured to hold liquid water; a heatable soleplate (20), including at least one mist outlet opening (22); water atomization means (30), configured to atomize water from the water reservoir so as to generate a mist of water droplets at a mist generation site (32) mist distribution means (40), configured to distribute the mist from the mist generation site (32) to the at least one mist outlet opening (22), comprising: a distribution channel (42), extending from an air inlet (46), along the mist generation site (32), to the at least one mist outlet opening (22); and an air flow generator (44), disposed in or adjacent said distribution channel and configured to generate an airflow that transports the water droplets, from the mist generation site (32), through the distribution channel (42), to the at least one mist outlet opening (22).

A substrate treatment system for treating substrates in a continuous process includes a system chamber delimited by chamber walls, having an entry lock and an exit lock, and also at least one substrate treatment device and a transportation device inside the system chamber. The transportation device has an arrangement of transportation rollers arranged one behind the other in the transportation direction, for vertical or horizontal transportation of substrates. The rotor of the drive device is arranged under the pressure conditions prevailing in the system chamber and the stator of the drive device is arranged outside the pressure conditions prevailing in the system chamber.

A bearing casing assembly for a conveyor roller tube having a casing, a stub axle, bearings, an outer seal member and shield cap, is provided. The casing includes a body having a shoulder at its distal end extending circumferentially and radially outwardly for abutting against an end of the roller tube, an inner flange extending circumferentially and radially inwardly near the distal end from the casing body and an internally threaded a proximal end. The casing also includes a casing seat having a threaded portion for threadingly engaging the threaded proximal end portion of the casing body and a bearing engaging portion adapted to abut the bearing for selectively adjusting a preload on the bearing by rotating the casing seat about the casing body. The bearing casing assembly may further include an inner seal member when fluid lubricating bearings are used.

A replaceable wear liner pad assembly can be used to provide an array of tiles for lining a trough structure, the trough structure being made of a magnetically attractive material. The replaceable wear liner assembly includes magnetic members encapsulated within a resilient polymeric material, the polymeric material being transparent to magnetic fields. The polymeric material may have the general consistency of truck tire rubber. One side of the tile has a sheet or portion of a set gauge thickness such that in use the magnetic members are maintained at a set standoff distance from the underlying trough structure. The resilient material is far more flexible than the magnetic elements, such that the assembly can flex somewhat. The pad assembly is free of mechanical fasteners. Individual elements of the tile array may be replaced when worn, rather than the entire array. The underside of the pad assembly may provide a seal against the underlying trough structure to discourage leakage at the apertures formerly used for conventional wear liner stud assemblies.

An apparatus for distributing a slurry can include a trough configured to be removably attached to a discharge chute of a ready-mix truck and receive a slurry discharged therefrom where the trough has a front including a flange configured to extend under the discharge chute. The apparatus can include an enclosed basin connected to a lower end of the trough proximate to a midpoint of the enclosed basin and an aperture defined within the enclosed basin and configured to enable the slurry to flow from the trough into the enclosed basin. The enclosed basin can include at least one covered access port where the at least one covered access port is configured to be opened and configured to be closed. The apparatus can include a plurality of drainage nozzles disposed along a bottom of the enclosed basin and configured to distribute the slurry to a plurality of locations.

A mobile loading dock for a vehicle including a load-bearing, fixed frame with a support plate connected to diagonal supports and horizontal support members. The dock has a planar ramp member with an underside including a wheel assembly. The assembly has a tension spring and hydraulic member attached to the underside. The tension spring exerts a pulling force and the hydraulic member exerts a pushing force. The combined forces are directionally disposed to erect the assembly when the lower end of the dock is raised from a resting position in contact with the ground surface to a mobile position.

A rebuildable conveyor roller includes a hollow, cylindrical roller tube having a first end opposite a second end. The roller tube has a rebuildable conveyor roller bearing assembly provided at the first end and the second end. The rebuildable conveyor roller bearing assembly is affixed to the roller tube such that at least a part of the rebuildable conveyor roller bearing assembly is removable from the roller tube. A hub of the rebuildable conveyor roller bearing assembly has a generally circular shape that is dimensioned to fit inside the internal diameter of the roller tube. The hub has a centrally located hole through which a stub shaft may be inserted. A bearing holder is inserted in an internal cavity provided within the hub for securing the rebuildable conveyor roller bearing assembly to the roller tube.

A wear indicator apparatus, system and method are provided for allowing wear information from an internal flow surface of a chute to be obtained from outside the chute so as not to require access to the interior thereof for wear inspection purposes. In one form, the wear indicator apparatus has a wear indicator portion that is configured to be fit into a through opening in the chute wall assembly. The wear indicator portion has a layer of wear material that is of the same material as an inner liner of the chute wall assembly, and a mounting portion that is configured to be removably fixed to an exterior surface of the wall assembly. Preferably, the wear indicator apparatus includes a removal mechanism connected to the mounting portion that is operated outside of the chute for retracting the wear indicator portion out from the wall assembly through opening.

Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for a chute arrangement comprising an element for objects, such as, test tubes, caps, etc. released by a gripper unit such that the released objects may be collected in a container. The element may comprise a plurality of slots for a plurality of gripper fingers in the gripper unit to pass through. The element may be configured to restrain the object as the plurality of gripper fingers release the object.

The current invention provides a tube-grasping body for grasping an insert tube in a heat exchanger, and heat exchanger production methods and apparatuses utilizing the tube-grasping body, wherein the tube-grasping body enables to enlarge and connect an insert tube to a heat radiating fin for producing a heat exchanger, still keeping the total length of insert tubes at an almost same level even after the enlargement; and the tube-grasping body is connected at its exterior to the guide-pipe.

Rolling mill bearings incorporate bearing bushings with pluralities of hydrostatic pad recesses, that are preferably in conjunction hydrodynamic bearings also formed within the bushing. Each recess has an isolated lubricant passage that is adapted for coupling to a separate isolated source of pressurized lubricant. In some embodiments herein, the isolated pressurized lubricant source is supplied by a dedicated outlet of a pressure pump. In this manner each hydrostatic pad recess has a dedicated pressurized lubricant supply that is not interrupted by loss of lubricant pressure events in other bearing pads or elsewhere within the rolling mill lubrication system.

A device is provided for collapsing a stented bioprosthetic valve, including first section and second sections, each spanning between first and second ends of the device. The second section of the device is associated with the first section to at least partially enclose an internal cavity formed by the first and second sections, the internal cavity tapering from an open insertion portion at a first end of the device to an open exit portion at a second end of the device. The insertion portion has a larger dimension than the exit portion. When the first section and second section are substantially enclosing the internal cavity, a stented bioprosthetic valve may be inserted into the insertion portion and collapsed as it is moved toward and through the exit portion. The valve may then be loaded on an apparatus for insertion into the body.

A method of manufacturing large diameter tapered roller bearing cages includes beginning with a metal strip, coil or plate of cage blank material and feeding it into a rolling mill. The rolling mill includes a pair of unparallel forming rolls disposed to define a wedge-shaped gap therebetween. As the cage blank material is fed through the wedge-shaped gap, one lateral side of the cage blank material is plastically deformed to reduce its thickness and to elongate its length, while slight or no deformation is introduced into the other lateral side, thus forming the cage blank into an arc shape. A third roll disposed at the exit side of the forming rolls bends the rolled cage blank into a circular conical ring. Adjacent butt ends of the formed conical ring cage blank are aligned and joined together during the assembly process to form the large diameter tapered roller bearing cage.

An apparatus for shot peening blade mounting areas on a disc of a rotor includes a peening nozzle unit which streams shot peening media along a longitudinal axis. The unit includes a nozzle outlet which extends at least partially in a circumferential direction of the unit, and a deflection arrangement with a deflection area for the media. The deflection area is at least partially cone or half-hyperboloid shaped, such that the media passes the nozzle outlet over an angle range in circumferential direction after being deflected by the deflection arrangement. A method for shot peening the blade mounting areas positions the unit in a slot profile of a blade mounting area, and guides the unit along the contour of the slot profile with the nozzle outlet facing the contour of the slot profile to approximately uniformly peen the contour of the slot profile.

An apparatus and method are described for automatically inserting angle plates into duct work and for seaming the duct work.

A method for weaving a carpet including tying a row of knots with a yarn and weaving two or more weft strands next to the row of knots, where the weft strands are 100% cotton and the yarn is wool yarn hand-carded and hand-spun into a single strand is described.

One illustrative method disclosed herein includes forming a plurality of spaced-apart trenches in a semiconducting substrate to thereby define a fin structure for the device, forming a local isolation region within each of the trenches, forming a sacrificial gate structure on the fin structure, wherein the sacrificial gate structure comprises at least a sacrificial gate electrode, and forming a layer of insulating material above the fin structure and within the trench above the local isolation region. In this example, the method further includes performing at least one etching process to remove the sacrificial gate structure to thereby define a gate cavity, after removing the sacrificial gate structure, performing at least one etching process to form a recess in the local isolation region, and forming a replacement gate structure that is positioned in the recess in the local isolation region and in the gate cavity.

Improved self cleaning and lubricating all-weather fishing lines and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The line includes a core line portion of polyester multifilament fiber and a coating portion, the coating formed by a thermoplastic polyester elastomer mixed with a blowing agent . The methods of this invention are characterized by the use of a finely ground powder of copolymer and blowing agent processed through a medical-quality elongated mixing screw at the line coating unit and very low processing temperatures.

The invention relates to a method and a device for removing and drawing a synthetic thread to form a fully drawn yarn. The thread is formed by joining a plurality of extruded filaments and is guided by contact on the circumference of heated guide jackets of several driven galette pairs. In order to obtain a gentle and highly homogenized treatment of the filaments, the thread is guided in an S-shaped or Z-shaped thread course by a first galette pair having two guide jackets driven in opposite directions during the removal from a spinning zone and before the drawing. Thus, both sides of the thread can be brought directly into circumferential contact with the guide jackets for in order to heat the thread.

A device comprising: (a) a body portion including: (i) a first end and ii. a second end; (b) for a holder at the first end; (c) a holder at the second end; (d) a rotation device at the first end in communication with the holder at the first end; and wherein the holder is fixedly attached to a split gear having a channel therethrough so that one or more flexible mediums may be placed through the channel and removed from a work area located between the holder at the first end and the holder at the second end.

An excavator tooth mounting member attachable to an abutment of an excavator shovel, for supporting an excavator tooth, wherein the abutment has an opening, and having a tooth mounting member with an opening, attachable to the abutment, a two part wedge secured within the openings which can be operated to expand or contract, and a rotary bolt in the wedge.

Wear assembly for machinery includes wear and support elements and a retaining pin for attaching them to each other. The retaining pin has protrusions and the wear element has cavities such that the protrusions can be passed therethrough. The support element has a recess for receiving one of the protrusions. In a first position the retaining pin can be inserted into the wear and support elements. In a second position one protrusion is snap fitted in one cavity so the retaining pin cannot be rotated to the wear and support elements and the other protrusion is received into the recess abutting an inner surface of the wear element such that the retaining pin cannot be displaced axially to the wear and support elements.

A wear assembly for attachment to a digging device, the wear assembly comprising: a wear member arranged to be assembled with the digging device in an assembled condition; and a lock mounted to the digging device, the lock adjustable between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration, the lock comprising at least one locking element that projects outwardly from its mounting in the extended configuration of the lock and is operative to be displaced inwardly from the extended configuration towards its mounting to adopt the retracted configuration of the lock; wherein, with the wear member in the assembled condition with the digging device, movement of the at least one locking element from the extended configuration towards the retracted configuration causes the wear member to be locked to the digging device in the assembled condition.

A method puts into operation a clearing apparatus suitable for picking up ballast and is disposed in an endless configuration during employment so as to encircle a railroad track. The clearing apparatus has a horizontal cross-duct which, prior to a start of the employment, is intended to be positioned below the railroad track and connected, on the one hand, to a rising duct and, on the other hand, to a return duct of the clearing apparatus. The method includes displacing ties of the railroad track in a longitudinal direction of the railroad track to create a tie gap; lowering the cross-duct through the tie gap between two rails of the railroad track and transferred, below the ties, into a working position extending crosswise to the longitudinal direction of the railroad track; and connecting the cross-duct to the rising duct and to the return duct.

A sheave includes a hub defining an axis, a rim defining at least one circumferentially extending groove, and two plates oriented substantially perpendicular to the axis. Each plate is connected to the hub and to the rim, and a plurality of reinforcing tubular members extend between the plates.

An automated variable speed control system for a cutter head of a dredging cutter has a cutter head and a pump. The pump pumps cuttings from the cutter head through a cuttings discharge line. A sensor monitors amperage draw of the pump. A controller controls speed of movement of the cutter head based upon data received from the sensor. The controller increases a speed of movement of the cutter head through the materials when the amperage draw of the pump falls below the determined amperage range and the controller decreases the speed of movement of the cutter head through the materials when the amperage draw of the pump exceeds the determined amperage range.

An excavator includes a mobile chassis with a first bucket drum and a second bucket drum coupled thereto. The first bucket drum and second bucket drum are coupled to the chassis for positioning thereof on the surface at opposing ends of the chassis. Each first scoop on the first bucket drum is a mirror image of one second scoop on the second bucket drum when (i) the first bucket drum and second bucket drum are on the surface adjacent opposing ends of the chassis, and (ii) the first bucket drum is rotated in one direction and the second bucket drum is simultaneously rotated in an opposing direction.

A wear component for use on, for instance, an excavator formed by a shell formed from a tough metal such as carbon steel and an inner body formed from an abrasion resistant metal such as a chromium white iron. The shell includes cross portions extending through the inner body, the cross portions being made of the tough metal. This has the effect of strengthening the overall toughness of the wear component, while retaining desirable abrasion resistance.

Electric heat for generating smoke from tobacco or the like in a hookah type smoking pipe. Electric heat is obtained from an electrically powered heating element which may be placed proximate the tobacco. The heating element may be contained within a housing which in turn may be placed above the smoking chamber of the hookah. The housing may have adjustably damped holes disposed to pass air over the heating element. Electrical circuitry serving the heating element may comprise a step down transformer and a voltage adjusting switch. The heating element may be integral with the hookah, may take the form of a separate component which is mountable over the smoking chamber of the hookah, or may comprise a free standing assembly which may be placed to stand adjacent to the hookah.

A method of thermally processing a tobacco material is provided, the method including the steps of (i) mixing a tobacco material, water, and an additive selected from the group consisting of lysine, glycine, histidine, alanine, methionine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, proline, phenylalanine, valine, arginine, di- and trivalent cations, asparaginase, saccharides, phenolic compounds, reducing agents, compounds having a free thiol group, oxidizing agents, oxidation catalysts, plant extracts, and combinations thereof, to form a moist tobacco mixture; (ii) heating the moist tobacco mixture at a temperature of at least about 60° C. to form a heat-treated tobacco mixture; and (iii) incorporating the heat-treated tobacco mixture into a tobacco product. Heat-treated tobacco composition prepared according to the method are also provided, such as heat-treated smokeless tobacco composition comprising a tobacco material, water, flavorant, binder, and filler, the heat-treated smokeless tobacco composition having an acrylamide content of less than about 2000 ppb.

Delivery of additives in a smoking article is provided through thermally degradable, robust immobilized additive inserts. Additives can be immobilized in an elongated device or an insert, wherein the elongated device or the insert is sufficiently robust to allow the elongated device or the insert to be manually or machine inserted into a smoking article while maintaining the structure of the elongated device or the insert. By providing additives in the form of thermally degradable immobilized additive inserts, migration and/or loss of the additives in a smoking article prior to smoking can be reduced.

A method of converting tea leaves into a smoking product suitable for use with a smoking device such as, but not limited to, a hookah. In one embodiment the method comprises the steps of heating a batch of sundried tea leaves in water to provide a batch of wetted tea leaves; fermenting the wetted tea leaves to provide a batch of fermented tea leaves; rinsing the fermented tea leaves with water to provide rinsed fermented tea leaves; drying the rinsed fermented tea leaves to provide dried fermented tea; and adding glycerine to the dried fermented tea leaves to provide a tea leaf based smoking product. In another embodiment a nicotine free smoking product is provided comprising of glycerin treated dried fermented tea leaves.

A pouch with multiple tear areas is provided. In one embodiment instructions are provided for resealing with heat. In one embodiment a zip-lock type reseal can be used in place of one of the multiple tear areas.

An orally-enjoyable tobacco product includes a portion of smokeless tobacco comprising an active ingredient and either: (1) a collection of tobacco particles at least partially enclosed by a coating comprising a water-soluble non-crosslinked component and a substantially water-insoluble cross-linked component, or (2) a pouch comprising smokeless tobacco enclosed in a water-permeable wrapper. The active ingredient is selected from the group consisting of a mercaptan, camphor, borneol, isoborneol, bornyl acetate, isobornyl acetate, mono-bornyl succinate, mono-isobornyl succinate, mono-bornyl formate, and mono-isobornyl formate. The active ingredient is present in an amount effective to reduce or eliminate the sensory irritation arising from the smokeless tobacco. Also disclosed is a method of making such a product.

Method of applying phase transition substance to impart reduced ignition propensity to a smoking article comprising a tobacco column and a wrapper surrounding the tobacco column and having a porous structure with a base permeability. The method comprising forming a pattern of phase transition material on the wrapper such that, when subjected to the heat of the tobacco column burning firecone, the phase transition material at least partially fills the wrapper porous structure in the vicinity of the burning firecone to form an area on the wrapper having reduced permeability lower than that of the wrapper base permeability. The reduced permeability of the wrapper in the vicinity of the burning firecone imparts reduced ignition propensity such that there is insufficient air flow to sustain combustion of the firecone or insufficient air flow to sustain an intensity of the burning firecone necessary to ignite the substrate.

A cleaning device is provided for removing debris from rotating conveyor rollers, and includes a housing constructed and arranged for insertion between two adjacent rotating rollers, the housing having a first set of cleaning wheels at a first housing end associated with a first of the conveyor rollers, and a second set of cleaning wheels located on an opposite end of the housing and associated with a second of the conveyor rollers. At least one of the cleaning wheels is reciprocable relative to the housing between a retracted position permitting insertion of the housing between the rollers, and a extended position extending the reciprocating wheel towards the adjacent roller for limiting lateral movement of the housing between the rollers. Upon movement of the housing between the rollers in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the rollers, the cleaning wheels operationally engage and remove residue collected on the rollers.

A hygienic drive system for a belt conveyor. The drive system has a stator rigidly mounted in a housing having an outer bearing surface that is continuous with the outer surface of mounting supports and avoids hard-to-clean nooks. A rotor assembly formed by drive wheels rotatably mounted on the outer surface of the housing or by a magnetic belt wrapped around a portion of the outer surface is rotated by a rotating magnetic wave produced by the stator. The stator and rotor can form an induction motor or a synchronous motor.

A meat-processing system includes a production station for producing meat products, a processing station for processing the meat products, and a conveying system configured for conveying the meat products in a conveying direction along a conveying path from the production station to the processing station. The conveying system includes a supply conveyor and a discharge conveyor. The supply conveyor is configured for transferring the meat products to the discharge conveyor in such a manner that the discharge orientation with which the meat products are delivered by the production station differs from the orientation with which the meat products are supplied to the processing station.

A unit for transferring and up-ending at least one sealed package containing a pourable food product and having a first axis, comprising: at least one push member which cooperates with package to feed it along a first path from an in-feed station to an out-feed station; the path extending about a second axis; the unit further comprising a guide cooperating with a first side of package along first path to up-end it from an in-feed position, in which it is positioned with first axis oriented in a first direction, to an out-feed position, in which it is positioned with first axis oriented in a second direction crosswise to first direction; and an anti-rotating mechanism cooperating with package along path to prevent package from rotating about first axis; an anti-rotating mechanism comprising a pressure element rotatable about second axis and adapted to cooperate, in use, with package.

Sterilization and cleaning of an escalator hand rail are performed. A sterilization and cleaning device including a hand rail; a plasma source for irradiating the hand rails with ions or radicals or UV light; an enclosure for housing the plasma source; a power source for generating plasma; a fan for generating relatively negative pressure in the enclosure; filter units for removing removed bacteria, viruses, and organic matters such as hand marks; and filter plates located backward and forward of a moving direction of the hand rail in the enclosure along the hand rail is provided.

A mechanic's leaning device includes a base, an upper torso support having an adjustable first height above the base, and a combination step and knee support having an adjustable second height above the base which is less than and adjustable relative to the first height. The mechanic's leaning device can be used by mechanics of all sizes for working on a wide variety of vehicles, ranging from very small to very large.

Tree stands are disclosed for providing an elevated standing location. The tree stand can include a support post, a seat rotatably coupled to the first end of the support post, and a platform rotatably coupled to the second end of the support post. The platform can comprise a plurality interconnected polygonal shapes defining a top standing surface. The platform can be a grating that has load bearing properties and that can be cast from a mold. The platform includes a perimeter wall, a surface portion, and one or more reinforcement walls. A height or thickness of the surface portion is less than a height or thickness of the perimeter wall and/or the reinforcement walls.

Self-locking bi-foldable load bearing segments are disclosed that can be used in applications such as ladders or ramp. First and second sections of the segment are foldably coupled to transition between an open configuration and a folded configuration. The first and second sections can include rungs pivotally attached to rails that can be further transitioned from the folded configuration to a collapsed configuration, but not transitioned from the open configuration to the collapsed configuration. Openings in the side walls of the rails allow the rungs to pivot in one direction, but not an opposite direction. In the open configuration, the openings of the first and second sections may be oriented opposite, and the direction of allowed rotation of the rungs of the first section and second section are opposite, restricting compression of the rails together. In the folded configuration, the openings of the first and second sections can be oriented the same to allow rotation of the rungs and compression of the rails together.

A linear alternator assembly is provided that includes a block defining a cylinder. The cylinder block has inlet ports at which fluid enters the cylinder, exhaust ports at which fluid is exhausted from the cylinder, and a fuel port. Energizable coils surround the cylinder. A first and a second magnetic or magnetizable piston are contained within the cylinder and are positionable within the cylinder in response to energization of selective ones of the coils and combustion of fuel within the cylinder to selectively establish a four-stroke working cycle having an intake stroke, a compression stroke, an expansion stroke, and an exhaust stroke, producing at least one of compressed gas and electrical energy. The four-stroke working cycle may be varied to adapt to changes in power demanded, thereby balancing required output power with efficiency considerations.