What are Fuse Blocks?

    Fuse blocks are important electrical components intended to protect a vehicle's electrical devices from shorts or power surges. The fuse blocks contain fuses rated at different amperage values depending upon the electrical device that it is protecting. Upon a sudden voltage spike or short, the fuse will burn out, protecting the affected device.

    Changing an automotive fuse is a straight-forward operation. Once the appropriate blown fuse has been located, it is pulled from its mounting location within the fuse block. A new fuse is simply inserted into the vacated location in the fuse block. It is imperative that the same amperage rated fuse is used when changing any blown fuse.

    Automotive fuse blocks use fuses rated from 15 to 30 amps. This rating coincides with a particular electrical component's ability to withstand damage. The fuse blocks are designed to allow the fuse to blow or burn out before the component can be damaged. Replacing any blown fuse with a fuse of a higher amperage rating could cause irreparable damage to the vehicle's electrical component.

    There are several different types of fuses located within fuse blocks. Vehicles made by manufacturers before 1980 may have glass fuses. The more common plastic, push-in type fuses were used in fuse blocks from the 1980s to present worldwide. Found in limited use are mini-fuses. These fuses resemble the plastic, push-in type fuse; however, they are much smaller.

    Fuse blocks can be found in the dashboard of most vehicles. Some vehicles have fuse blocks located within the engine compartment. Refer to the operator's manual of a vehicle to find the fuse block location. It is a good idea to locate the fuse block as well as to become familiar with the fuse locations during daylight hours. This eases the difficulty of locating a particular fuse in the dark should a problem ever arise.

    While the typical automotive fuse block is designed to operate for the life of the vehicle, there is occasionally the need to replace it. Many after-market companies manufacture replacement fuse block and wiring systems. Many of these are color coded with the particular vehicle manufacturer's wiring colors. Others are labeled on the wire itself as to its purpose.

    Automotive fuse blocks need no particular maintenance. It is, however, important that the fuse block be kept dry and free of any debris. There should be a free flow of air provided to the fuse block to prevent heat build-up. An occasional check of the fuses to locate any loose fuse should be part of a vehicle's preventative maintenance routine.

    What are rocker switches?

    Rocker switches are electrical switches that are equipped with a spring-loaded button. When the button is pressed in one position, a circuit is completed. If the button is released, the spring-loaded operation pushes the button back to its resting position and the circuit is open.

    Some rocker switches operate more than one circuit on the same button. An excellent example is a power door lock switch. When the lock button is pressed, the power lock actuator is commanded to lock. When the button is released, the switch springs back to the resting position and power no longer is sent to the lock actuator to lock the door, though it remains in the locked position. The other end of the rocker switch is the unlock button. When it is pressed and released, the same function occurs with the lock actuator for the unlocked position.

    Some rocker switches activate a timer and when the button is released, the function continues to operate until the timer turns off, such as a rear window defogger grid button.

    How are they used in cars?

    As noted, rocker switches are used in some models as power door lock switches. Other uses include:

    Heated seat switches

    Rear window defogger grids

    Power window controls

    Rocker switches are popular in many kinds of systems because of their ease of use. Because the function usually turns off when the button is released or when a timer automatically turns off, they don’t require the same attention as other switches, such as a toggle switch.

    How to Wire a Light Bar with a 5 Pin Rocker Switch

    Wiring a light bar switch can seem like an intimidating task but it’s actually quite the opposite and you can have all the wiring done under 5 minutes. The most challenging part of the installation process can be understanding where all the different wires go but don’t worry as we will walk you through the process.

    Understanding the light bar switch

    A 5 pin light bar rocker switch is one of the most popular light bar switches because it is rectangle in shape, and typically blends with most vehicles interior’s. The rocker switch operates a light bar by pushing the top portion of the switch and to turn the light bar switch off you simply push it the lower part of the switch.

    Another reason why the 5 Pin rocker switch is popular for light bars is because they have an illuminated light that can work with your factory interior dash lighting. When the light bar switch is on another light will be illuminated on the light bar rocker switch notifying you that the switch is currently powering whichever light bar you have connected to it.

    It’s the law

    When it comes to installing aftermarket auxiliary lighting on your vehicle you need to cognizant of your state’s laws. For example, here in the state of Pennsylvania you are required to have light bar switch that illuminates when the light is on. The purpose of this law is they want to make sure the driver knows when the auxiliary light bar is on, so you don’t blind on coming traffic.

    Lets check out the back

    On the back of a 5-pin light bar rocker switch is 5 pins that all have specific purposes.

    The switch is standing upright so we will start from the top to the bottom:

            #8 Is the Ground for the switches upper light – (This terminal can be grounded together with #7)

            -#7 Is the Ground for the switches lower light - (This terminal can be grounded together with #8, except in the occasions that you are wiring the switch lights with your vehicles factory light dimmer)

            #2 Is the Positive power from the battery or Power source that has a fuse (This terminal can be combined with #6)

            #3 Is the Positive power that goes to the light bar (This is the only terminal that cannot be combined with another terminal)

            #6 Is the Positive power that goes to the lower light (This terminal can be combined with #2)

    How to make the light bar Jumper Cables

    You will need to make two jumper cables:

    Ground Jumper Cables – These will be foe the ground for #8 Ground for the upper light, #7 Ground for lower light

    Positive Jumper Cables – This will be for #2 Incoming Power source, and #6 Power for the lower light

    Once that is complete, run the rest of the light bar wiring and you are good to go.

    If you are trying to convert a 3 pin light bar switch to a 5 pin rocker switch, then please read below.

    To wire a 3 pin switch to a 5pin rocker switch you need to find out what your 3 wires do. Aurora wiring harnesses are set-up as black = ground/negative, red = positive, blue = power to lighting product. If you are using any other wiring harness you will need to test each wire to find out which wire represents power, ground and power to the LED lighting product.

Benefits of Pet Beds & How to Pick the Perfect One!

    There’s nothing we wouldn’t do for our pets. They are a huge part of our lives, they bring us so much joy and they are, most definitely, honorary members of our families. 

    We’ve already covered about a few different pet-related topics for our apartment residents, like the benefits of making homemade dog treats, how to calm hyperactive dogs, apartment pet etiquette and even ways to be an eco-friendly pet owner. Our apartments are pet-friendly, and we provide plenty of amenities to make you and your pets live the best life possible here at AMLI Residential. Bottom line, we love our residents, and we love our pets, and so we love to make sure both are as comfortable as possible!

    Pet bed is just one facet of pet ownership, and it's one that provides a lot of benefit to both the pet and the owner. We’ll delve into what makes a good pet bed, what the benefits of pet beds are and, finally, how you can make some of your own DIY pet beds!

    What are the benefits of pet beds?

    If your pets are the kind that sleep anywhere and everywhere (looking at you, cats!), then you may be wondering if it’s even necessary to provide them with a designated pet bed. As it turns out, however, having a designated sleeping area is as important for pets as it is for us pet owners! 

    Support

    Think about it. We could fall asleep on the couch, on a sofa, a recliner or even on the floor if we are tired enough, but our bodies benefit from a comfortable and supportive bed. Both dogs and cats need beds that support their bones and muscles enough to allow adequate sleep and rest without stiffness or achiness. As your pets get older, it’s even more important for them to have proper support.

    Warmth

    Having a warm bed that’s situated away from drafts can help your pets avoid catching colds. Floors can get cold, sofas next to air vents can get chilly and even your own bed can be too hot or cold for your pets’ liking. If your cat or dog has its own pet luxury bed situated in a warm, comfortable spot, then your pets will be able to rest comfortably and better regulate their internal temperatures. 

    Security

    It’s important for your pet to have a space that they can call their own, especially if you have multiple pets. Your pet should feel safe and secure in their bed, and it should be a place where they can truly relax. 

    Health

    We love snuggling with our pets in bed, we also need to have a proper night’s sleep without a paw in our faces or a tail across our nose. Having clean bedsheets and sleep areas are good for our own health and wellness, especially if you’re prone to allergies. 

    This doesn’t necessarily mean that sleeping next to your pet is bad, per se. It just means that if your pet is negatively affecting your sleep and health, then a pet bed is a great alternative. 

    What type of bed does your pet need?

    Veterinarians are the best resource you have for finding out what’s best for your pet. Since every animal is so different and has such different needs, your vet will be able to give you the most accurate information that’s tailored specifically to your pet. 

    In general, though, there are a few different things you can be aware of that will help inform your decision on what type of bed your pet needs. 

    Size

    Your pet needs a bed that’s big enough for it to shift, turn and settle in comfortably. No heads and/or limbs should have to hang off the edge of the bed. 

    Washable 

    You want your dog’s bed to be washable, trust us, especially if you have young puppies or senior dogs. Pets also bring food, fleas, urine and other regular pet-related smells and sights into their beds with them, so being able to clean the beds regularly will make a huge difference. Plus, you wouldn’t want to sleep in filth for months on end, right? Neither do your pets. 

    Stuffing/support

    Keeping your pets warm and well-supported is crucial for their health, especially as they age. Orthopedic foam is usually a good option for pets of any age, as it's sturdy and reliable over long periods of time. 

    Eco-friendly

    There are a lot of factors when it comes to choosing an eco-friendly pet bed for your pet. Sustainable pet beds could mean chemical-free fabrics or recycled material, or it could mean upcycling something you already had so it gets more use. Whatever your priorities are, there’s definitely something out there already that’s exactly what you’re looking for. 

    Here are a few examples of eco-friendly dog beds!

    Making your own pet bed

    If your pet is healthy and young (i.e. they don’t need special orthopedic support), then making your own pet soft bed can be a great way to upcycle old materials and give your furry friend their own space. 

    As long as the bed is washable and supportive enough for your pet, then it’s a great way to avoid buying new products and keep old products in use for much longer!

    How To Choose a Dog Bed

    Choosing the right dog bed is an important decision. After all, a dog can easily spend 14 hours a day or more sleeping. And as a cherished member of the family, your pet deserves no less than the very best sleeping accommodations. Even a dog who shares your bed at night needs a special place to claim as his own: a quiet sanctuary for peaceful, uninterrupted naps.

    Before you make this important purchase, consider your dog's age, size, health, breed, activity level and sleeping habits. Think about how the dog bed will look in your home. Will the color blend with your décor? Does the size fit your dog and your room? Is the bed easy to launder?

    With so many choices available in the marketplace today, you can rest easy knowing that we've curated an extensive sleep selection that reflects our eye for smart design, uncompromised quality, dog-approved comfort and owner-approved ease.


    For lasting value and satisfaction, we recommend choosing the highest quality dog bed your budget allows, rather than a bargain bed that will soon need replacing.

    Choosing the Shape

    This is an important decision, and one your dog can help you with. Observe him as he sleeps. Does he like to curl up, burrow in, sprawl out or lean back? Most dogs fall into one of these four "sleep personality" categories.

    Choosing the Support

    While young and healthy dogs will slumber soundly on a bed plumped with resilient, high-quality polyfiberfill, polyfill or foam, many dogs require the extra support that only an orthopedic dog bed can provide.

    Dogs who are aging or arthritic, suffer from hip dysplasia or are recovering from injury will benefit from sleeping on an orthopedic dog bed. High-density orthopedic foam soothes aches and pains, reduces stress on joints, hips and pressure points, and provides superior support. For exceptional comfort and therapeutic relief, look for beds made with authentic, NASA-certified orthopedic memory foam.

    Choosing the Design

    Because a dog bed is a visible part of your home décor, it should reflect your own sense of style as well as your dog's. Our collection includes a beautiful selection of luxe, upholstery-grade fabrics—plush microvelvet, sumptuous chenille, cuddly Sherpa fleece, shaggy faux fur, rugged canvas and lots more—in the newest decorator colors and designer patterns to enhance any room.

    Determining the Correct Size

    Before ordering a dog bed, make sure to measure your dog from nose to base of tail while he's in his sleeping position, then add 8" to 12" to determine the bed length or diameter.

    If in doubt, always round up in size to ensure maximum comfort. Then doublecheck to make sure the bed you've selected will fit into the spot you've chosen in your home.

    Easy Clean Features

    Because every dog bed eventually gets dirty, wet or smelly, we've made sure that every bed we sell is machine washable or has a removable, machine-washable cover.

    Special Beds for Special Dogs

    Is your dog a senior with mobility issues, or one who suffers from arthritis or hip dysplasia? Simple, low-profile dog pet beds such as pillows, nappers, pads and mats are easily accessible to an aging or aching pet.

    If your dog is elderly, incontinent or prone to accidents, look for an easy-to-launder bed with a waterproof liner.

    For the dog-on-the-go, portable travel beds provide instant, familiar comfort and convenience when you're on the road.

    Need a bed you can use outdoors? Our weatherproof dog beds, cots and futons let your dog camp out in comfort on your deck or porch, join you by the pool or relax under a shady tree—and they're so attractive, you can move them into your home as the seasons change.

Doorbells with Intercom: What Are They, Types and Top Picks

    A doorbell with intercom enables you to hear the visitor’s voice when he or she presses your doorbell at your front door, and talk back in real time.

    Some doorbells with intercom and camera can even let you see who and what is at your front porch with your smartphone, so you can, hear and communicate the visitor before opening the door.

    In this article, you will get the main types of doorbell intercom systems in the market, and check the recommendations.

    1. Doorbells with Intercom: What Are They & Types

    2. Doorbells with Intercom Recommendations

    1. Doorbell Intercom Systems: Introduction and Main Types

    Home doorbell intercom systems typically include 2 main types in the market now.

    1. Doorbells with intercoms ONLY are smarter than traditional doorbells that only enable you to hear the “Ding-Dong” voice when someone presses the doorbell on the doorstep.

    Doorbells with voice intercom enable you to communicate with the visitor prior to allowing access to your home.

    Typically this kind of doorbell intercom systems come with 2 parts: the master intercom and door intercom.

    The master intercom enables you to hear and talk to the visitor, while the door intercom is installed on your front door so that your visitors can press the doorbell and talk with you.

    However, this type of doorbells have no cameras, so you can’t see who and what is at your front doorbell.

    There are wired doorbell intercom and wireless doorbell intercom doorbells with intercom in the market now.

    Wired doorbells with audio communication need to be plugged into a power outlet to get power.

    Wireless doorbells with intercom systems are battery powered, so you don’t need to run any wires to install the doorbell systems.

    The above 2 types of doorbells with intercom operate over wireless signal, so you can hear the “Ding-Dong” voice even you are not near the doorbell’s position.

    2. Doorbells with video intercom are the smart type doorbell in the market now.

    This type of smart doorbells can let you see who and what is waiting at your front door via your mobile phone while communicating with the visitors in real time with the built-in speaker and microphone in the doorbell.

    Video doorbell intercom systems come with PoE and wireless types.

    PoE doorbell intercom systems require a Cat 5/6 Ethernet cable to realize both Internet and power connection.

    Wireless video doorbells with intercom are normally powered by battery, and rely on WiFi to provide you with real-time video streaming and two-way audio talk.

    Nowadays, wired or wireless video doorbells with intercom are the most popular doorbell for its versatility and feature-rich design, which combines video streaming, two-way audio, video recordings, and other features into 1 single device.

    Doorbells with intercom only enable you to talk to the visitor before allowing him or her to enter your home. However, if you don’t need to see who is at your front porch but only hear a voice, this type of doorbells is a perfect choice for you.

    You can check the below recommendation on the 2 types of doorbells with intercom respectively to get your preferred choice.

    2. Best Wired and Wireless Doorbells with Intercom: Top Picks with Videos

    Both of the 2 types doorbells with intercom are quite favorable nowadays.

    Many doorbell companies have adopted advanced technology to provide you with high-quality doorbells with the best price.

    You can check the below 3 recommendations.

    1. Aiphone Wireless Doorbell with Intercom

    When opening the package of Aiphone doorbell with intercom, you will see a master intercom and a door intercom.

    This wireless doorbell with voice intercom is a basic and simple doorbell system, that can fit your basic needs.

    Someone presses the button of the door intercom. You push the button of your master intercom, you talk to the visitor, pretty simple and no hassle at all.

    Though this doorbell with intercom is lack of smart features like video streaming, video recordings, etc. it can still act as a qualified doorbell guard for your home.

    2. Ring Smart Wireless Video Doorbell with Intercom and Camera

    Ring Video Doorbell 2, one of the most popular wire-free battery powered smart doorbells in the market now, enables you to see who presses the doorbell via your phone, talk to the person in real time, and store the videos when there are motion events.

    This 3-in-1 smartphone-controlled video doorbell with intercom is super easy to install. With its truly 100% wire-free design, you don’t need to run power cables for it.

    This WiFi doorbell with 2-way intercom and speaker connects to your WiFi, and send you real-time video streaming, so you can simply see if everything goes right around your front door.

    The high-quality doorbell can let you talk to the visitor extremely clearly. You can see how this remote doorbell with intercom works in the video below.

    3. Ring Wired Doorbell with Intercom

    Ring Video Doorbell Pro can let you hear and talk to the visitors with the 2-way audio.

    By connecting this doorbell intercom camera system to the existing doorbell wiring, you don’t need to charge the battery on a daily basis, and no need to worry about the power outage.

    The 1080p Full HD and excellent night vision enable you to see everything clearly via your mobile phone or computer both day and night.

    Please watch the video below to learn more about this doorbell with intercom.

    Installation

    An Analog Door Phone by itself can only provide a bi-directional communication once installed. In order to provide door access an extra remote controller unit need to be installed as well as a matching door latch. Additionally to connect to your office IP network, an analog Door Phone requires an ATA device.

    An IP Door Phone setup is much simpler and only requires a door latch. 

    components
Doorphone - Can be either IP or Analog. An IP phone will connect directly to your office network and will receive power from it using POE technology (power over Ethernet). An analog phone will need to be connected to a power source, which can be a regular phone line.

    Door latch - The door latch allows for a remote opening of a door. There are mechanical types and magnetic types.

    How to choose video intercom?

    Choosing the video intercom the buyers often do not know a lot about this product. This is not surprising because the video intercom appearedrecently in our lives in comparison with other household utilities (such as TV, telephone, notebook etc). That is why to find more information about a video intercom buyers begin to surf the Internet to find the answer: how to choose video intercom? This article can help you to solve the problem. With our help you will find the real answer.

    Color or black-white picture?

    First of all you have to answer the question yourself do you need the video intercom with black-white picture or more up-to-date color video intercom? Both these variants should be discussed. The black-white variant fits perfectly for the office. But for the private house it is better to choose one of the color video intercoms to make the atmosphere at home secure and comfortable. The video intercom as any other thing in your house is the interior design item. That is why it should fit in the interior.

    As far as we began to talk about the interior we should notice that the manufacturers present their equipment in three color schemes, namely: white, black and grey metallic. Everything depends only from your wishes.

    Anyway having chosen do you want a black-white video intercom or the color one we can move along. Farther we will discuss the color video intercom because we should keep up with the times.

    Do you need a handset?

    As far as the model range is very various it’s time to speak whether you need a device with or without handset. At first let’s discuss the one with a handset. What is the main advantage? It is noteworthy that with a help of handset you can talk with a visitor and others around you won’t hear your conversation what is really necessary sometimes. The video intercom without handset also has own advantages. Firstly, it is very convenient. Secondly, it is up-to-date. The manufacturers expanded the model range without handsets and designed models with touchscreen.

    As a result we can say that you have lots of choice. And it would be easily to make up your mind what you like. Someone likes to use the handset whether others want to use up-to-date function ?Hands free?.

    Is the CRT size important?

    So you choose whether you want the black-white or color video intercom and also make up your mind do you want it with or without handset, than it’s time for you to pay your attention what CRT size you want. The manufacturer Commax Co, Ltd. offers you CRT size 3.5, 5, 7 and 10.2 inches. That is why first of all you should measure the place where you want to install your video intercom. It’s important because sometimes people buy devices and during installation they clear up that there is not enough place for installation. Also you should remember that the devices you’re going to use should be handy for you.

    What the diagonal influences on? It influences on the pictures that is why the bigger the image is the more details you can see. If truth to be told, it doesn’t affect anything, but you shouldn’t spare on the outdoor panel. If you choose the video intercom with the diagonal more than 5 inches, you should take the according panel. Selectingthe outdoor panel you should pay your attention on what viewing angle does it have. For example, for the 5-inches video intercoms fit perfectly outdoor panels with viewing angles V 75°, H 55°.This is enough big viewing angle and you will receive quality image. To compare if we choose, for example, the outdoor panel with theviewing angles V 55°, H 40° for the 5-inches intercom you should be ready that the image will be stretched.

    So if you choose the intercom with big diagonal you should remember that you need an according panel. For the monitor with smaller diagonal fits the outdoor panel with smaller viewing angles. Whether you want big or small picture – it’s you to choose.

    Additional features

    Choosing the Tuya video intercom you should remember that it can have additional features. The main function is to monitor the visitors that stand behind your door during the call. If you buy the 4 Wire Analog video intercom only for this reason you can you choose the simplest model. But the manufacturers continue updating the production. For example, you can choose the model with memory it means that if you’re not at home and you have a visitor, the intercom will record the image automatically. Also you can connect additional cameras besides the one which is in an outdoor panel.

    Finall

    Let’s sum up everything. Besides the fact the model range is quite huge, to decide what you want is not so hard thing to do. No one apart from you can decide what do you like most of all. It’s you to choose what 4 Wire AHD video intercom you need because no one except you knows your taste and financial possibilities. We hope that this article will help you to make a choice.

    If you have difficulties you can always address to the specialists of the company Slinex that help you to make your choice and give you qualified consultation. Also you can visit our office and see the whole model range. Slinex offers the large range of video intercoms at the affordable price. Slinex group wishes you great deals and is ready to answer all the questions you have.

Skid steer loader – Different models for multiple applications

    Skid steer loader is used for digging, the skid steer is a versatile machine that is light and easily maneuvered, with a range of attachments available for application. It’s commonly found in construction sites and its arms can utilize a range of tools for various landscaping functions. A skid loader can be described as a small, rigid-frame machine with lift arms used to attach a wide variety of labor-saving tools or attachments.

    A skid-steer loader can sometimes be used in place of a large excavator by digging a hole from the inside. The skid loader first digs a ramp leading to the edge of the desired excavation. It then uses the ramp to carry material out of the hole. The skid loader reshapes the ramp making it steeper and longer as the excavation deepens. This method is particularly useful for digging under a structure where overhead clearance does not allow for the boom of a large excavator, such as digging a basement under an existing house.

    Several companies make backhoe attachments for skid-steers. These are more effective for digging in a small area than the method above and can work in the same environments. Other applications may consist of transporting raw material around a job site, or assisting in the rough grading process.

    Different models of skid steer loaders

    Skid steer loader with Fuel Efficient Engine

    A modern skid steer is designed to work efficiently. These models have the best in class fuel efficiency, lowest maintenance cost and very high productivity. Its unmatched structure & design helps the machine to perform in tougher applications and work in confined areas. All large platform machines are powered by an Ecomax engine, using up to 9% less fuel. These Ecomax engines achieve Tier 4 Final emissions standards without the need for a diesel particulate filter (DPF). An optional electric quick-hitch permits faster attachment and bucket changes, reducing downtime. The system also reduces the chance of hydraulic oil leakage during attachment change-over.

    Manufacturers have come up with the cab-forward design which allows the operator to see the bucket edge or attachment without leaning forward and thereby resulting in safe and efficient operation. Visibility has been significantly increased in all directions. A lowered rear screen and cooling package improve rear visibility which is critical while reversing at high speed. Also, the side windows are made larger increasing the visibility to the tires and the sides when the loader arms are raised. The design, balance, and weight distribution deliver more usable horsepower, powerful breakout forces, and faster cycle times. The machines work quicker, lift more, and outperform to meet various job site requirements.Newer hybrid skid steer loaders boost productivity and increase operator comfort. The cabs feature increased headroom and lap-bar width, along with improved forward, side, rear, and overhead visibility. Ergonomically positioned controls, industry-first side lighting, and improved reliability and serviceability help you get more work done daily. The wide door repositioned grab handles and a lower threshold provide easy access to the cab. These kid steer loaders benefit from a cab with up to 25% more internal width, providing greatly improved operator comfort. The cylinder geometry optimizes the skid steer and compact track loader push and pulls power, while the bucket support bearing directly on the chassis of the machine further adds to its pushing power.

    In newer models, the extended bucket is different in a way that it increases dump height by one meter(1m). An extended reach design allows the vertical movement to be more straight-up vertical, to keep the bucket forward of the operator’s cab and allows safe dumping into the heightened or tall containers. New models come with an extended bucket built with more power and torque which accelerates productivity and increases operator comfort. The Extended Bucket is beneficial for the task which requires high dumping height.

    The new skid steer loader is the perfect machine when maneuverability and controllability become critical. The variable flow of the Closed-Load Sensing System (CLSS) ensures precision and smoothness to all movements and provides quick and reliable power for any required operation. The servo-controls included as standard, make the SK510-5 fast and easy to use. Natural movements and maximum precision guarantee unique efficiency and greatly contribute to reducing operator fatigue. The right joystick controls the movements of the arm and the bucket; the left one controls the translation. With easy access for periodic maintenance, this is an efficient and reliable skid steer loader.New age radial lift design helps in delivering excellent digging performance, superior mid-lift reach, and higher forward reach. Low profile boom provides optimal side-to-side visibility. High-power drive chains powered by heavy-duty drive trains coupled with powerful 60hp engines give the best performance with clean emissions. With only 63 inches in width, 1700R is capable of performing well in cramped and constrained spaces.

    A skid steer loader, also called a skid steer or nicknamed a bobcat, is a small engine-powered construction machine used on a variety of job sites. Skid steers can move soil on a building site, dig holes, help with landscaping gardens, clean stalls on a farm, and more tasks. Some skid steers have tracks and are often called compact track loaders. Other skid-steer loaders have wheels.

    The two different types of skid steers suit different jobs and job sites. With two different options available, you may be wondering which is better on a skid steer: tracks or wheels. We compare skid steers with tracks and wheels to help you make a choice.

    Wheels Work Best on Even Ground

    When you’re working on even, hard ground, skid steers with wheels are the superior choice. Wheels don’t like to be challenged too much. They thrive on paved ground, concrete areas, and landscaped sites. That’s why you’ll usually see skid steers with wheels on renovations and extensions instead of new building sites. On these developed surfaces, the extra traction of a skid steer with tracks gets wasted.

    Skid steers with tracks are also slower to move on a developed ground than varieties with wheels, and faster-wheeled machines are more efficient on flat ground job sites. Wheels also wear less on hard surfaces than tracks will. Skid steers with tracks call for regular replacement of tracks, bogey wheels, sprockets, and other components. These parts will naturally wear out more quickly over hard surfaces, such as pavers or concrete, than softer surfaces.

    The greater the distance your skid steer covers, the greater the wear. When you choose a skid steer with wheels for these job sites, you’re making an economical choice.

    Tracks Suit Difficult Terrain

    While wheels excel in ideal, flat conditions, tracks love a challenge. Skid steers with tracks make light work of difficult surfaces such as muddy, sandy, and snowy ground. They’ll also do well in wet and uneven ground that wheels alone can’t handle.

    “While uneven terrain, slopes, and muddy or snowy ground conditions can be very challenging and tough on skid-steer loaders, compact track loaders are designed and built to handle these types of conditions,” confirmed Rick Harris, senior product manager of Terex Construction, in an interview with Forester Daily News.

    Bob Beesley, a product manager for Komatsu, recalled driving one of the company’s skid steers with tracks into an area with soft ground. He got out of the machine and sank to his knees in the soil. However, the skid steer stayed afloat.

    Skid steers with tracks do well where wheels can’t because they disperse their weight over a larger surface area. This weight distribution improves their stability.

    Skid steers with tracks won’t simply move over a challenging terrain. They’re also easy to maneuver in less than perfect conditions. When you need to steer through narrow clearings between trees, for example, a skid steer with tracks has you covered.

    A track skid steer loader that can handle difficult terrain helps boost productivity on your job site. When using a skid steer with tracks, you don’t need to wait for your site to dry out after rain or for winter snow to clear. These tough machines will happily take on the challenge.

    You can buy snow tires for your skid steer with wheels. Snow tires won’t usually do as well as tracks will. However, they can make your skid steer with wheels more useful during winter.

    Tracks Can Work Under Any Conditions

    While tracks do their best work on difficult terrain, they can also work on the flat, even ground wheels like. In contrast, skid steers with wheels can’t work safely on challenging terrain. Having skid steers with wheels makes them a better investment for some builders.

    Skid steers with tracks are a relatively new addition to the marketplace. However, their versatile nature has helped them claim 30 percent of the skid steer market, as Chris Giorgianni, vice president of product support government and defense for JCB, told Forester Daily News.

    People who rent skid steers don’t have to worry about choosing a versatile machine. They can simply rent the right skid steer for any given project.

    You can also buy tracks to put over the tires of skid steers with wheels. This add-on will help your skid steer with wheels tackle the type of tough terrain it’s not usually suited for. Slip-on tracks usually cost between $2,000 and $5,000, and you can install and remove them in 30 minutes. The price depends on variables including the following:

            Machine model

            Track width
        
            Track length

    Think carefully about the type of over-the-tire tracks you choose.

    “Over-the-tire steel tracks can add productivity to existing equipment, but they can also damage sidewalks and curbs,” Mike Fitzgerald, a loader product specialist for Bobcat, explained to Total Landscape Care magazine. “You want to use rubber tracks in areas under development, which have improved surfaces, and use steel tracks in areas that are primarily dirt or new construction.”

    Tracks Suit Bulldozing and Dig Jobs

    Track skid steer loader can tackle your bulldozing and dig jobs better than skid steers with wheels can. Tracks have more traction than wheels so that they can push into piles of soft or muddy soil more effectively. Tracks have more area in contact with the ground than wheels do.

    Skid steers with wheels can do these jobs like skid steers with tracks, as both machines use the same attachments. Common skid steer attachments include the following:

            Buckets

            Bulldozer blades

            Mulchers

            Trenchers

            Augers
 
            Levelers

            Snowblowers

            Box rakes

    Skid steers with wheels take more time to bulldoze or dig than skid steers with tracks do. When time is money, the efficiency of skid steers with tracks is worth considering.

    Wheeled Skid Steer Loader Cost Less

    Wheel skid steer loader cost less to buy and run than skid steers with tracks. The higher costs come because skid steers with tracks:

            Have a higher purchase price

            Have higher priced parts

            Use more fuel

            Need more frequent maintenance

    Tires cost less to replace than tracks. However, they don’t last quite as long. A new set of skid steer wheels usually costs between $600 and $1,000, stated Total Landscaping Care magazine. Depending on their quality, skid steer tires usually last between 600 and 1,000 hours. Rubber tracks last longer, between 1,200 and 1,600 hours. But they are pricier, usually costing $3,000 to $4,500 per set.

    Since tracks can work in a wider range of conditions, they can be more productive. This greater productivity can offset their higher purchase and running costs. However, for businesses operating on a shoestring budget, the upfront costs may be the most important. In fact, we’ve seen a swing back to cheaper skid steers with wheels after the global financial crisis, according to Jamie Wright, product manager for Terex Construction Americas.

    The cost of purchasing and maintaining skid steers don’t need to concern you if you rent your construction equipment. When you rent your construction equipment, you can always get the skid steer that suits your conditions and jobs best.

    Skid Steer Loader Tracks Make Minimal Mess

    Skid steers with tracks make far less mess than wheeled skid steers. Wheels typically leave ruts as they travel across a job site. In contrast, skid steers with tracks seem to float on the top of the ground without sinking down and making an impact.

    You can repair the ruts that skid steers with wheels leave behind. However, fixing the impact of wheeled skid steers takes more time and effort. Repair and cleanup can keep your crew on the job site for longer, which means they won’t be working as efficiently.

    Wheeled Skid Steer Loader Require Less Maintenance

    Skid steers with tracks need more maintenance than wheeled skid steers do. When you own a skid steer with tracks, you’ll spend much time cleaning the undercarriage and checking track tension.

    While you also need to clean the undercarriage of skid steers with wheels, this task is much easier and faster than cleaning underneath a skid steer with tracks. Skid steers with wheels usually don’t get as dirty as skid steers with tracks because the machines with wheels typically work on clean, developed surfaces. The undercarriage is also more accessible on a skid steer with wheels. Wheels don’t cover as much of the undercarriage as tracks do, which makes cleaning easier.

    Thorough maintenance is essential for lengthening a skid steer’s life. However, some equipment operators can find the level of maintenance needed for skid steers with tracks inconvenient. If you rent your skid steer, the rental company will take care of much of that maintenance for you.

    Most construction equipment makers believe no type of skid steer is better than the other. Instead, skid steers with tracks and skid steers with wheels have their strengths and weaknesses. Understanding these strengths and weaknesses is important when you’re renting the best skid steer for your next project.

    Whether you want a skid steer with tracks or wheels, BigRentz has you covered. For more about skid steers, visit the BigRentz website to read more about our skid steers and rent the one that best suits your needs.

    Remote control skid steer and skid steers are not as sophisticated as Google’s driverless cars, but their seats are just as empty when the machines are operating. That is the whole point — getting compact equipment operators out of the cab so they can work more safely and accomplish some tasks more easily. These are the reasons why mining operations have relied on remote-controlled digging machines for years. More recently, some full-sized quarry equipment has been modified to run remotely to scoop up aggregate in precarious locations. It’s no wonder then that more and more compact and mini loaders are being operated by walking-around joystick jockeys.

How Does a Rectifier Work?

    Rectifier, device that converts alternating electric current into direct current. It may be an electron tube (either a vacuum or a gaseous type), vibrator, solid-state device, or mechanical device. Direct current is necessary for the operation of many devices such as laptop computers, televisions, and certain power tools.

    If only one polarity of an alternating current is used to produce a pulsating direct current, the process is called half-wave rectification. When both polarities are used, producing a continuous train of pulses, the process is called full-wave rectification.

        You may wonder how power lines send electric currents across long distances for different purposes. And there are different "types" of electricity. The electricity that powers electric railway systems may not be appropriate for household appliances like phones and television sets. Rectifiers help by converting between these different types of electricity.

    Bridge Rectifier and Rectifier Diode

        AC DC rectifier lets you convert from alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC). AC is current that switches between flowing backwards and forwards at regular intervals while DC flows in a single direction. They generally rely on a bridge rectifier or a rectifier diode.
    
        All rectifiers use P-N junctions, semiconductor devices that let electric current flow in only a single direction from the formation of p-type semiconductors with n-type semiconductors. The "p" side has an excess of holes (locations where there are no electrons) so it is positively charged. The "n" side is negatively charged with electrons in their outer shells.

        Many circuits with this technology are built with a bridge rectifier. Bridge rectifiers convert AC to DC using its system of diodes made of a semiconductor material in either a half wave method that rectifiers one direction of the AC signal or a full wave method that rectifies both directions of the input AC.

        Semiconductors are materials that let current flow because they're made of metals like gallium or metalloids like silicon that are contaminated with materials like phosphorous as a means of controlling current. You can use a bridge rectifier for different applications for a wide range of currents.

        Bridge rectifiers also have the advantage of outputting more voltage and power than other rectifiers. Despite these benefits, bridge rectifiers suffer from having to use four diodes with the extra diodes compared to other rectifiers, causing a voltage drop that decreases the output voltage.

    Silicon and Germanium Diodes

        Scientists and engineers generally use silicon more frequently than germanium in creating diodes. Silicon p-n junctions work more effectively at higher temperatures than germanium ones. Silicon semiconductors let electric current flow more easily and can be created with lower costs.

        These diodes take advantage of the p-n junction to convert AC to DC as a sort of electric "switch" that lets current flow in either the forward or reverse direction based on the p-n junction direction. Forward biased diodes let current continue to flow while reverse biased diodes block it. This is what causes silicon diodes to have a forward voltage of about 0.7 volts so that they only lets current flow if it's more than volts. For germanium diodes, the forward voltage is 0.3 volts.
    
        The anode terminal of a battery, electrode or other voltage source where oxidization occurs in a circuit, supplies the the holes to the cathode of a diode in forming the p-n junction. In contrast, the cathode of a voltage source, where reduction occurs, provides the electrons that are sent to the anode of the diode.

    Half Wave Rectifier Circuit

        You can study how half wave rectifiers are connected in circuits to understand how they work. Half wave rectifiers switch between being forward biased and reverse biased based on the positive or negative half cycle of the input AC wave. It sends this signal to a load resistor such that the current flowing through the resistor is proportional to voltage. 

    You can measure the voltage across the load resistor as the supply voltage Vs, which is equal to the output DC voltage Vout. The resistance associated with this voltage also depends on the diode of the circuit itself. Then, the rectifier circuit switches to being reverse biased in which it takes the negative half cycle of the input AC signal. In this case, no current flows through the diode or the circuit and the output voltage drops to 0. The output current is, then, unidirectional.

        Full wave rectifiers, in contrast, use the entire cycle (with positive and negative half cycles) of the input AC signal. The four diodes in a full wave rectifier circuit are arranged such that, when the AC signal input is positive, the current flows across the diode from D1 to the load resistance and back to the AC source through D2. When the AC signal is negative, the current takes the D3-load-D4 path instead. The load resistance also outputs the DC voltage from the full wave rectifier.

        The average voltage value of a full wave rectifier is twice that of a half wave rectifier, and the root mean squared voltage, a method of measuring AC voltage, of a full wave rectifier is √2 times that of a half wave rectifier.

    Rectifier Components and Applications

        Most of the electronic appliances in your household use AC, but some devices like laptops convert this current to DC before using it. Most laptops use a type of Switched Mode Power Supply (SMPS) that lets the output DC voltage more power for the size, cost and weight of the adapter.

        SMPS work using a rectifier, oscillator and filter that control pulse width modulation (a method of reducing the power of an electric signal), voltage and current. The oscillator is an AC signal source from which you can determine amplitude of current and the direction it flows. The laptop's AC adapter then uses this to connect to the AC power source and converts the high AC voltage to low DC voltage, a form it can use to power itself, during charging.

        Some rectifier systems also use a smoothing circuit or capacitor that lets them output a constant voltage, instead of one that varies over time. The electrolytic capacitor of smoothing capacitors can achieve capacitances between 10 to thousands of microfarads (μF). More capacitance is necessary for greater input voltage.

        Other rectifiers make use of transformers which alter voltage using four-layered semiconductors known as thyristors alongside diodes. A silicon-controlled rectifier, another name for a thyristor, uses a cathode and an anode separated by a gate and its four layers to create two p-n junctions arranged one on top of the other.

    Uses of Rectifier Systems

        The types of rectifier systems vary across applications in which you need to alter voltage or current. In addition to the applications already discussed, rectifiers find use in soldering equipment, electric welding, AM radio signals, pulse generators, voltage multipliers and power supply circuits.
 
        Soldering irons that are used to connect parts of electric circuits together use half wave rectifiers for a single direction of the input AC. Electric welding techniques that use bridge rectifier circuits are ideal candidates for providing supply steady, polarized DC voltage.

        AM radio, which modulates amplitude, can use half wave rectifiers to detect changes in electric signal input. Pulse generating circuits, which generate rectangular pulses for digital circuits use half wave rectifiers for changing the input signal.
    
        Rectifiers in power supply circuits convert AC to DC from different power supplies. This is useful as DC is generally sent across long distances before it is converted to AC for household electricity and electronic devices. These technologies make great use of the bridge rectifier that can handle the change in voltage.

    Electric vehicles have lots in common with gasoline-powered cars—room for four-plus passengers, range of several hundred miles, good safety—plus that one big difference: recharging with a plug at versus refueling from a pump. We’ve all pumped gas and know it’s a five- to 10-minute process; we suspect recharging takes longer and we know there are far fewer charging stations than the 125,000 U.S. public gas stations. 

    Here’s what you need to know about buying, installing and using the right EV charger. The more you know, the clearer it becomes that the unique aspects of EVs aren’t automatic disqualifiers. 

    Clearing Up the Range-Anxiety Misconception

    With a gas-engine car, most owners drive until it’s low on fuel because gas stations are everywhere and gassing up is a quick stop. But empty-to-full charging is not what EV owners do most of the time. They top off every night or two, and as long as the car is charged in the morning, charging time doesn’t matter and range anxiety isn’t an issue for daily driving. Some use public charging, which means you do have to wait on the car. But 80% of charging is done at home, according to the JD Power U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience (EVX) Home Charging Study

    Range and charging time may be less of an issue if an EV is the second car. If an EV is the only car, for long summer or holiday trip, owners can do what owners of compact gasoline-powered sedans may do: Rent a midsize or larger SUV for that two-week vacation. Or find a hotel with on-site charging.

    For those who charge at home, you need to have the right charging equipment, and the proper electrical supply. 

    With EV charging, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Electric vehicles have different charging capabilities and requirements and every owner also has their own driving needs. 

    Here’s a look at key aspects of choosing the right charging equipment, installing it properly and best practices for using EV charging accessories at home. 

    Do You Need to Buy an EV Charger When One Comes Free?

    Every electric car comes standard with a portable charger. (This thick cable that plugs into a wall outlet and the car counts as a charger.) However, every manufacturer provides a different unit, with varying levels of charging capabilities. In some cases, the same manufacturer provides different standard charging equipment depending on which of its EV offerings you purchase or lease. 

    EV charging connector types: what they are and how they compare

    Moving to an EV from a petrol car is fairly straightforward. All the controls are in the same place, and the steering wheel hasn't changed into a large carrot or anything like that.

    The thing that is different, however, is the fuel - and that means a new type of fueling connector. EV charging connector is broadly similar to a petrol hose - they're a pipe the electricity comes down - but there are three distinct types of charger, and they might need an adapter depending on what's fitted on your new electric car.

    Those types are Rapid, which is the fastest. Fast, which is not the fastest. And Slow, which you probably get the idea about. 

    Mercedes EQC review: shows how good premium EVs can be

    Volvo XC60 Recharge review: this PHEV is great for space, comfort and family

    Polestar 2 review: all-electric performance, powered by Google

    Charging comes in either AC (for home chargers) or DC, and the amount of energy is measured in kilowatts. 

    Rapid chargers always have captive cables, so no need to bring your own, but the other kinds may require you to bridge the gap between charger and car yourself - your EV will come with a set of cables and adapters to do just this.

    The market has yet to coalesce around one type of plug, and it can be quite complicated working out what goes where. We're here to help, and these are the most common connectors used on electric cars.

    GB/T Charging Connectors

    China, which has the world's largest electric car fleet, has its own charging connection. GB/T charging connectors again comes in AC and DC variants, the former with seven pins, and the latter with nine. Its plugs are circular, with a flattened edge, and larger than other types.

    Type1 / CCS1 Conenctors

    CCS, or combined charging system, is a beautifully elegant solution for fast DC charging. These are the original plugs, either Type 1 or Type 2, to which two more pins are added at the bottom. In the case of DC charging, these two lower pins participate in the charging itself and from the upper part only the communication pin and the earth conductor, which provides the reference point for the protection systems, are used. These connectors can withstand power of up to 350 kW.

    It is currently the most popular type of DC connector. Type1 / CCS1 conenctors are common in the United States, while Type 2 CCS is used in Europe. The European Parliament's efforts to allow only CCS 2 and other plugs to be phased out of Europe have not been successful, but this standard is still winning, mainly because the car has only one socket. When using the CHAdeMO connector, the car must always have two sockets.

    CCS are not compatible with CHAdeMO and GB / T charging stations because they use different communication protocolsa, so special adapters are needed and they are not easy to obtain.

How to Make Shoe Cutting Dies

    Mass production of footwear requires cutting every type of shoe material. Shoe leather, fabric, foam, and reinforcing materials must all be cut into the shoe pattern shapes. While there are many new technologies for cutting shoe materials such as a 男同志按摩, water jet, and CNC drag knife; the steel rule cutting die is still the most common for footwear production.

    Shoe parts cutting dies

       

            Used to cut out shoe parts, these steel cutting dies and shoe sole cutters look just like cookie cutters. Each mould and dies is made of sharpened rule steel then coated with rust proof paint and marked with the shoe size and model number. Making a shoe requires hundreds of dies. One die for each part, for every size of a shoe. For high volume shoe production, the shoe factory may need many sets of cutting dies.

            Making footwear cutting dies

            The cutting die maker starts with the cut paper pattern templates of the shoe pattern. The worker will then bend the rule steel into shape using the paper pattern as a guide.
 
            The worker uses a special bench that will help bend the metal. The bench has a foot-operated anvil that moves the tool head to make the bends. A skilled worker can make each cutting die outline in just a few minutes.

            The final operations to make the shoe cutting dies include coating it with rust proof paint and a final check to make sure the cutting edge is very sharp. While there are many operations required to make shoe cuttings dies the production is fast, the materials and labor are relatively inexpensive. For small orders, a cutting die fee may be charged by the shoe factory, but usually, the cost of the cutting dies are accounted for the LOP (labor, overhead and profit) charges.

            What is Tungsten Carbide Nozzle?

            Cemented carbide nozzle is made of precision machinery and cemented carbide material (superhard alloy). The bending resistance is 2300n / mm and the hardness is hra90 degree. When machining cemented carbide nozzle, we achieve precision grinding and surface treatment to achieve the hole roughness of ra0.1 and the roughness of both ends of R is Ra0.025. There is a scientific radius of curvature design at the two entrances. This design ensures the smooth passage of the thread. Due to the whole material processing, there is no elevation angle on the drilling hole, and the bending and blocking phenomenon has been improved compared with ruby nozzle. Cemented carbide nozzle is made by hot pressing and sintering hot straight hole and hill hole. Because of its hardness, low density, excellent wear resistance and corrosion resistance, cemented carbide nozzle has been widely used in sand blasting and shot peening equipment, which ensures that the product can be used in the best air and abrasive for a long time.

            advantages

            Advantages of cemented carbide nozzle: corrosion resistance, long service life, excellent performance, high cost performance, not easy to wear.

            Carbide nozzle and other nozzles: common nozzle materials include cast iron, ceramics, tungsten carbide, silicon carbide, boron carbide. Ceramic nozzles are only used in non aggressive light equipment and abrasive in explosion cabinets. Tungsten, silicon, and boron carbide are the most popular blasting applications due to their long service life. The following is a list of carbide nozzles and their comparison with other nozzles.

            The shape of nozzle hole of cemented carbide determines its air flow pattern. The nozzle generally has a straight hole or a limiting hole, a hill hole.

            1. Straight hole (cemented carbide nozzle 1): the straight hole nozzle forms a sealed air flow mode for on-site or internal air flow. This facilitates the realization of small tasks, such as cleaning parts, weld forming, cleaning handrails, steps, plaques, or stone carvings and other materials.

            2. Traditional long hill design (carbide nozzle 2)

            3. The orifice nozzle forms a sufficient airflow pattern, and the grinding speed can be increased up to 100% for a given pressure. The best choice of Venturi surface is to improve the productivity of the nozzle. Compared with the straight hole nozzle, the productivity of the long mound nozzle can be increased by 40% when the abrasive consumption is about 40%.

            4. Double venturi (carbide nozzle 4): Double venturi and wide throat nozzle are the enhanced version of long venturi nozzle. The double dome style can be thought of as having two nozzles between a set of slits and holes to allow the incoming atmosphere to enter the downstream section. The outlet end is also wider than the traditional nozzle. These two modifications are made to increase the size of the airflow pattern and minimize abrasive loss at a speed.

            5. Wide throat nozzle (carbide nozzle 5): wide throat nozzle is equipped with a large outlet and a large divergent outlet. When matched with the same size hose, they can increase productivity by 15% over a smaller throat nozzle. When wide throat nozzles also have large divergent holes, they can use a lower abrasive mode under higher pressure, and the yield can be as high as 60%.

            For some lattice bridges, the back of the flange, the inside of the pipe type of shrink point, can effectively use angled nozzles. Many operators spend a lot of time and abrasive to wait for a bounce to complete the job. The use of angle nozzle as long as hair less time is always able to repair quickly, reducing the overall time.

            Application

            Cemented carbide has a series of excellent properties, such as high hardness, wear resistance, good strength and toughness, heat resistance and corrosion resistance. Especially, its high hardness and wear resistance remain unchanged even at 500 ℃ and high hardness at 1000 ℃. Cemented carbide is widely used as tool material, such as turning tool, milling cutter, planer, drill bit, boring tool, etc. it is used to cut cast iron, non-ferrous metal, plastic, chemical fiber, graphite, glass, stone and ordinary steel, as well as refractory materials such as heat-resistant steel, stainless steel, high manganese steel and tool steel.

            Cemented carbide nozzles offer the advantages of economy and longer service life when it is unavoidable to rough load and unload and media used to cut abrasives (glass beads, steel balls, steel sand, minerals or cinders). Traditionally, cemented carbide is the preferred material for cemented carbide nozzle.

            Cemented carbide nozzle is widely used in surface treatment, sandblasting, spray painting, electronic, chemical process and other industries.

            Cemented carbide nozzles are also used in different applications, such as for wire straightening, wire guides and other aspects.

            WHEN TO USE A CONCRETE SCARIFIER

                A Concrete Scarifier is one of the most productive pieces of surface prep equipment for heavy removal jobs and to prep for overlay. Some people find it difficult to identify when using a scarifier is a better option over another piece of equipment such as a grinder or shot blaster. It is important to remember that there isn’t necessarily one piece of surface prep equipment that is better than others, each machine has its benefits and will work better in certain situations. Understanding when different machines are most effective will ensure maximum efficiency and optimum results.

                In this blog, we highlight a few of the situations where a scarifier would be the most effective option. Obviously, the use of a scarifier is not limited to the following situations.

                TRIP HAZARDS

                Trip hazards can occur in many different environments, but one of the most common is sidewalks. Sidewalk slabs can often become uneven and raised at the expansion joints because of continuous exposure to varying, and even extreme weather, as well as frequent traffic. As a result, you end up with trip hazards that need to be reduced.
            
            
                These trip hazards can be drastically uneven between each sidewalk slab. If you were to use a concrete grinder, it would take much longer than a scarifier. The speed and aggressiveness that scarifier cutters offer, makes reducing these trip hazards fairly quick and painless.

                We’re not saying that you can’t use a grinder - depending on the size of the trip hazard you may be able to get away with using a grinder, but generally a scarifier is more effective and productive.

                Lastly, since it’s a sidewalk, the aggressive profile left behind by a scarifier is ideal for helping to prevent someone from slipping when its wet.

                REMOVAL OF CONCRETE GREATER THAN 1/8” (3MM)

                When you need to remove concrete that is greater than 1/8” (3mm) thick because of a bad pour or other demolition, a scarifier will be able to do this much faster than a grinder. A scarifier will not only save you significant money in time spent, but also in tooling costs.
 
                THICKER COATINGS

                When it comes to coating removal, you could use a shot blaster, grinder or scarifier depending on the coating being removed, operator preference, surrounding conditions etc. However, if you are removing a thick coating and are not needing to polish the floor after, a scarifier will be the fastest most effective form of removal. Not to say that a grinder with PCD tooling can't remove some of these coatings as well, its just that generally for this coating removal a scarifier is faster and more effective because of its aggressiveness.

                END GOAL

                What is being done with the floor after the concrete is planed down, or the coating is removed, will have impact on what type of equipment you choose for the job. Because there are so many variables that come into play, its difficult to make a generalized statement that one is always better than another. In some situations, like if you’re looking to achieve a polished finish after a coating removal, a scarifier may be too aggressive, especially if the user is inexperienced. In other situations, grinding will take way too long and won’t give you the profile you need for certain overlays, so a scarifier is a better option. Sometimes using multiple types of equipment is the best option.

                Ultimately, choosing your equipment depending on the end goal and the situation is the best way to ensure maximum efficiency and the best results. If you’re ever unsure about what process, or what equipment to use for your job, do some research, or talk to the equipment manufacturer, rental house or dealer you’re getting your equipment from.

                At the end of the day, scarifiers are extremely effective for many different types of removal and surface prep jobs. As you gain experience, you will develop your own way of doing things and find which equipment is most effective for your business. However, keeping an open mind about all the options you available to you in the industry will prove to be a benefit.

What are wet wipes?--Definition/history and classification.

    There is a lot more to wiping products than meets the eye. Through this series will be providing you a guide into the world of wipes and provide answers to the questions you might be asking. Today we are going to have a peek at what wet wipes is, its history and its applications.

    Wet wipes are a familiar sight today. You can find them perhaps on your kitchen counter or in purses of mothers with a baby or kid in tow. Even offices, commercial establishments, and industrial facilities include wet wipes in their list of cleaning supplies. The fact is, these pieces of disposable, moist cloth or paper have become somewhat of a necessity in our lives.

    From delicate cleaning to tough scrubbing, there is a wide variety of wipes and towels for your cleaning needs.

    So what exactly are wet wipes, and how did they evolve?

    Wet wipes, also known as wet towels, disinfecting wipes, or moist towelettes, are small, pre-moistened pieces of paper or fabric that often come folded and individually wrapped for convenience. They are mainly used for cleaning or disinfecting.

    Wipes can be a paper, tissue or nonwoven; they are subjected to light rubbing or friction, in order to remove dirt or liquid from the surface. Consumers want wipes to absorb, retain or release dust or liquid on demand. One of the main benefits that wipes provide is convenience – using a wipe is quicker and easier than the alternative of dispensing a liquid and using another cloth/paper towel to clean or remove the liquid.

    Most wipes are made of non-woven fabric similar to those used in dryer sheets. These are then saturated with a solution of water and gentle cleansing agents such as isopropyl alcohol. For that added scent, softness or moisturizing capability, the paper or cloth may also be treated with lotion and softeners. The finished product is then folded and placed inside packets, boxes or handy dispensers.

    According to Wikipedia, There is a story about the invention of wipes going on that American Arthur Julius is seen as the inventor of the wet wipes. Julius worked in the cosmetics industry and adjusted 1957 a soap portionor machine, putting it in a loft in Manhattan. Julius trademarked the name Wet-Nap in 1958, a name for the product that is still being used. After fine tuning his newfangled hand-cleaning aid together with a mechanic, he unveiled his invention at the 1960 National Restaurant Show in Chicago and in 1963 started selling Wet-Nap products to Colonel Sanders for use in his KFC restaurant.

    The need for these handy, cleaning wipes started when people began traveling a lot. During these trips, they realized a necessity to clean up quickly and easily without stopping at a hotel or motel.

    The first companies to take advantage of this new product were major brands such as Kimberly-Clark and Procter & Gamble, who had the ability to purchase the costly specialized equipment needed for manufacturing cleaning products. But as technology progressed, producing these moist towelettes became more affordable, allowing smaller brands to venture into this business.

    By the 1990s, a number of large supermarket chains began selling their own brand of wipes. Due to their lower prices, these store brands successfully lured consumers of other brands.

    As the popularity of these scrubbing wipes increased, their use eventually shifted. What were once considered as primary hygienic tools for the body when on the road eventually became the number one means of cleaning babies instantly and conveniently.

    Wipes started at the bottom or more precisely, the baby’s bottom. Yet, during the past decade, the category has grown to include hard surface cleaning, makeup applications and removal, dusting and floor cleaning.In fact, applications other than baby care now account for about 50% of sales in the wipes category.

    Wipes mainly cater into 3 categories:

    1.Personal Care wipes

    2.Household cleaning wipe

    3.Industrial cleaning wipe

    Individual care wipe led the market for many years (with baby wipes being the largest sector) but household wipes dominated by 2005 accounting for 45% of sales in North America.1 Pet care wipes have also entered the market, such as Pawtizer, an antibacterial paw wipe because ‘there are as many germs on paws as on human hands’.2 The manufacture of wet wipes is specialised requiring bulky equipment for the manufacturing of the wipe substrate, its subsequent dosing with the ‘wet’ phase and final packaging. The formulating of the wet wipe solutions may be conducted inhouse or contracted out but the application to the substrate for personal care and household products is generally contracted out to manufacturers with the experience and equipment to handle the work. The main areas of use for wet wipes are set out in Table 1. The design of wet wipes, the often long term storage of partly used packs, evaporation of the solution, and the interaction between the various components of the wipes and packaging makes them more susceptible to contamination than most other personal care products.

    ARE BABY WIPES SAFE TO USE ON YOUR BABY’S FACE?

    The concerns of new parents are too numerous to list here, but among them is the need for safe, effective baby wipes. While this may seem like a simple thing to find, the market is saturated with any number of products that could have unknown effects on a child’s sensitive skin. Choosing the right beauty and baby care wipe for your baby can mean the difference between comfort and irritation – and the difference between quiet nights and fussy ones.

    WHAT TYPES OF BABY WIPES ARE AVAILABLE?

    Parents looking to select a brand of baby wipe have a lot of options to choose from, and our skincare product manufacturers can work with you to create something that fits your needs. Wipes can vary based on a number of characteristics, including the type of solution, thickness of the wipe, design of the packaging, and product’s environmental impact. Here are a few of the common kinds of baby wipes:

    BASIC DISPOSABLE WIPES

    Simple, easy-to-use baby wipes are available in abundance from an array of sources, both online and in retail stores. While many of these wipes are inexpensive and available in bulk, they tend to be very thin and less effective than other types of wipe. Also, because they are cheaply made, they can sometimes contain chemicals that irritate a baby’s skin. Still, they can work well in a pinch and are easy to find.

    NATURAL WIPES

    As with many products these days, a variety of baby wipes made with natural ingredients are available to discerning parents. These wipes can sometimes come at a greater cost than the more basic alternatives, but the advantages they offer can be significant. Instead of the chlorine, alcohol, and perfumes that come with lower priced wipes, natural wipes use plant-based ingredients like aloe vera and lavender to soothe the skin without the need for irritating chemicals or scents.

    WATER-BASED WIPES

    The ultimate in hypoallergenic skin care, water-based baby wipes go even farther than natural wipes in their commitment to simplicity. As the name implies, water-based wipes use solutions made from up to 99. percent water, often with just a drop of a natural ingredient – a fruit extract or natural oil, for example – to soothe the skin without irritating it. If your child has especially sensitive skin or a condition like eczema, water-based wipes may be your best bet; they tend to be more expensive, but the results speak for themselves.

    CLOTH WIPES

    Although they require a bit more work on a parent’s part, cloth wipes stand alone among baby wipes for a number of reasons. For one thing, they can save money in the long run because they’re reusable, so you won’t need to buy seemingly endless amounts of wipes as your child goes through diaper changes. Cloth wipes are also the strongest of wipes, so you won’t have to worry about tearing them during a particularly messy cleanup. The downside is the added laundering it takes to keep yourself stocked up in cloth wipes just as you would using cloth diapers.

    WHAT TYPES OF WIPES SHOULD I USE ON MY BABY’S FACE?

    Broadly speaking, any hypoallergenic baby wipe is safe to use on your baby’s skin unless your child has a particular sensitivity or skin condition. This is true of their face as well as any other part of their body. In recent years, however, many parents have begun moving away from products that contain chemicals and toward those made with fewer ingredients, especially those that occur naturally.

    The reason parents prefer these wipes is simple: fewer chemicals means fewer irritants that can affect a child’s sensitive skin. It is not uncommon for babies to break out into rashes when exposed to certain types of cleaning agents, such as those found in certain brands of baby wipe, so if this happens to you, don’t panic. Instead, try a new type of baby wipe – one with fewer ingredients is usually safer to use, and natural ingredients are even better.

    The bottom line is that every baby is different, and parents should plan their choice of baby wipes accordingly. Your baby may not need the most expensive wipe on the market – but then again, they might. For the best results, both for your baby’s skin and your wallet, try the one that sounds best to you and make adjustments as needed.

    MANUFACTURING CUSTOM BABY WIPES FOR BUSINESSES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES

    With more than a decade of manufacturing experience, Anthem United States of Beauty has the facilities and expertise to create custom wipes for businesses, whether they are meant for babies or adults. Our engineers can formulate solutions to a customer’s exact specifications using a wide range of ingredients, including those from natural sources. Our skincare product packaging is among the most innovative in any industry, and we provide lightning-fast solutions from conception to delivery.

Valves 101: Two Types of Ball Valves

    Small-size valve balls are a type of piping equipment that shuts off or controls the flow in a pipeline by using a hollow sphere and round seats held in a valve body. There are two basic technologies for the design of ball valves, floating ball design and trunnion mounted ball design.

    The major components of a ball valve include:

    Valve body – A pressure vessel that contains the components needed to control or shut off the flow through a pipe. It is designed to connect two or more sections of pipe or tubing to each other.

    Ball – A sphere with a flow path (hole or tunnel) through the center of it and a connection point for a shaft to rotate it.

    Seats – Round donut-shaped discs that form a seal between the body and ball.

    Stem – A shaft that connects the internal ball to the outside of the valve to facilitate rotation of the ball.

    Packing – Flexible seals that fit around the shaft and prevent the media traveling through the valve from escaping externally.

    Bonnet – The part of the valve body that houses the stem and packing.

    Operator or Actuator – An external device designed to rotate the stem of the valve. This can be a lever, a gear, a motor-operated gear (electric actuator), or a pneumatic/hydraulic actuator.

     Floating Ball Design

    A floating design ball valve sandwiches the hollow ball between two or more cupped seats that form a tight seal between the body and the ball at the inlet and outlet ports of the valve body.
                        
      The floating valve balls are rotated (usually 90 degrees) by a shaft that protrudes outside of the valve body and is connected to some form of operator. For this reason, most ball valves are referred to as quarter-turn valves. This shaft is not rigidly attached to the ball in order for the ball to pivot on the end of the shaft as it rotates on the axis of the ball. This is usually accomplished with a slot on top of the ball, perpendicular to the ball’s flow path. The cupped portion of the seats cradle the ball prevents it from moving down in the valve body.

    The valve packing prevents the media from escaping the valve body through the stem opening in the bonnet. The most common type of packing today is chevron v-ring type packing. If you look at the cross section profile of this packing, it resembles the letter “V”. The outer diameter of the packing matches the bore of the bonnet. The inside diameter matches the outer diameter of the stem. Multiple rings of this packing are stacked on top of each other and the stem is inserted through the packing. A packing gland on top of the bonnet pushes down on the top of the “V” and causes the packing to expand and seals agains the stem and bonnet.

    When the ball is in the closed position, the flow path in the ball is perpendicular to the flow path in the valve body. The solid parts of the ball covers both upstream and downstream cupped seat openings. The pressure in the upstream pipe pushes against the solid part of the ball which moves on its pivot point and is forced tightly against the downstream seat. This shuts off flow.

    As the operator rotates the ball from the closed position, the ports in the body in relation to the ports in the ball create a variable size orifice which, as it gets larger, will increase the flow through the pipe. When moving from open to close, this orifice gets smaller and decreases flow.

    Floating ball design valves are the most economical valves, but are limited by the amount of pressure the seats can handle.

    Trunnion Mounted Ball Design
        
    The Trunnion Valve Balls work nearly the same way as the floating ball except the seats are spring loaded against the ball and the ball does not pivot. The ball only rotates on its axis in this design.
                        
      In the trunnion mounted ball valve, the ball utilizes a second shaft and bearing on the bottom of the ball. This stem or “post” holds the bottom of the valve in place. The top of the ball is not slotted and the upper stem is rigidly attached to the ball. This prevents the ball from moving into the downstream seat.

     Since the ball does not move into the seats, the seats must move towards the ball. Springs behind the seat push them tightly into the ball in order to make the seal.

       Trunnion valves are very effective at sealing off very low pressures that would not be strong enough to move a floating ball into the downstream seat. They are also required on large diameter valves and high-pressure valves. The reason for this is the contact area of the seats in a floating ball is relatively small. From physics, we know force = Pressure x Area. The force on the downstream seat in a floating ball is derived from the process pressure in the upstream pipe pushing on the solid area of the ball in the closed position. If the pressure is high or the area is large, the downstream seat will be destroyed.

      The tradeoff is that trunnion valves are much more expensive than floating ball designs.

      Both floating ball and trunnion designs are available as multi-port valves by using elaborate flow paths in the ball and additional ports in the body.

      Are you looking for ball valves for your facility? Our team has years of experience in selecting the perfect valve for any application.  Contact us today to discuss your specific valve needs!

      HOLLOW VS. SOLID BALL VALVE

     The ball valve is available with many different options, and one of the most important distinctions is in how the ball is made. Manufacturers either join two hollow hemispheres or machine a hole through a solid ball. Machining takes more work, but it produces a valve with better flow characteristics. Here’s why.
        
       Ball construction

      In a solid ball valve, the hole is the same diameter all the way through. That helps the fluid flow smoothly at a constant velocity. Hollow valve balls are, as the name implies, hollow inside. That creates a bigger space for the fluid to fill, which changes its velocity and creates turbulence.
        
        Turbulence is almost always undesirable. It creates noise and it’s inefficient. The Cv drops, and it takes more energy to pump fluid through the system.
        
        In a few applications, valve weight is an issue. In such cases, the hollow ball may have an appreciable advantage, especially in larger valves.
        
        Solid ball, better flow
        
        When evaluating ball valves, check the Cv values and be sure to compare identical port formats. In most cases, the solid ball will give a higher Cv than the hollow ball.
        
        Advantages of V-Ball Valves
        
        Ball valves are designed to be used in a variety of applications and markets, but V opening valve balls offer the added ability to be used as a control valve where necessary. The main differentiator is a contoured V-port in the ball, most commonly available with a 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, or 90° angle, which produces an equal percentage flow characteristic for better control. V-ball valves are known to offer a variety of advantages in flow control applications, especially when compared to larger and more expensive control valves.

    Low Pressure Drop

    The V-port design allows material to flow straight through the valve, minimizing pressure drop across the valve. V-ball valves also have higher flow coefficients (Cv) compared to other control valve types of a similar size; this means that a smaller V-ball valve can be used to achieve the same flow rates as a comparable control valve of a larger size.

    Bubble Tight Shut-Off

    V-port ball valves use the “floating ball principle, which will provide a bubble tight shut-off in addition to the modulating flow control. When the valve is closed, upstream pressure pushes the ball against the downstream seat, thus enhancing the seal. These can control or shut off bi-directional flow, which proves to be especially beneficial in gas applications. Comparable control valves often require additional shut-off valves; V-ball valves eliminate the need for these additional valves, saving the user cost and reducing the number of overall components in the system.

    Precise Flow Control

    Precision machined V-ball valves are available with 60° and 90° V openings and offer equal percentage flow characteristics. As the ball rotates, desired flow rates can be achieved by positioning the ball anywhere between 0° and 90°. Response time is also increased due to the ability to use smaller actuators with these valves.

    High Shut-Off Pressure

    V-ball valves feature a quarter turn (90°) ball rotation, allowing them to operate and shut off at much higher working pressures. Because of this, smaller lower torque actuators can be used, which results in cost savings and higher efficiency in the user’s application.

    Ball Valves Defined

    Ball valves use a handle to turn a ball in the valve, with a hole or port through it. The ball is used to allow or prevent flow through the valve depending on its position. If the hole is aligned with the pipe, flow continues through the valve; if the hole is perpendicular to the pipe, flow will stop at the valve. It’s really that simple!

    Not all ball valves look the same and some have special uses, but they all have the same concept.

    Did you know? Ball valves are considered ? turn valves because of the quarter turn that is required to close the valve.

    The Benefits of Ball Valves

    Easy to see if it is open or closed. When the handle is in line with the pipe you can easily tell that the valve is open; and when the handle is perpendicular to the pipe the valve is closed. This is a great visual indication of whether there is flow through the valve or not.

    Operation after years of disuse is easy. The durability of ball valves allows them to work and completely shut off flow after years of disuse. This provides extra peace of mind.

    Quick shut off. The motion that is required to operate a ? turn the valve is quick and minimal compared to gate valves. Water hammer is a possibility if the flow through the valve is strong enough to vibrate the line when it comes to an abrupt stop as the valve is quickly shut off.

    A more compact and economical valve. Thanks to the design of ball valves they are more compact than gate valves. Gate valves are taller and require more space, as the gate needs a place to go to allow the flow to travel through the valve. By using a rotating ball, ball valves are smaller and require less material.

    Different Types of Balls

    There are three different types of balls that can be found in ball valves. For each of these three types, the outside of the ball needs to be smooth and the surface gets ground down to remove any dips or imperfections on the surface. As the material cools, the shape may change, resulting in more or less grinding. The three types are hollow, solid, and cored, so let's take a closer look at each of them.

    Hollow Ball

    The hollow ball has a cavity that goes from an open hole in the bottom of the ball to the top where the valve stem is inserted. Hollow balls require less material to construct, making them more economical, but may require more grinding to get the dips out.

    Solid Ball

    The solid ball is molded as one solid ball, larger than required, to account for any shrinkage and grinding. Solid balls are usually more expensive to manufacture as they require more raw material and grinding to get them to the perfect round shape.

    Cored Ball

    The cored ball is cored through the center, leaving a consistent wall thickness around the whole ball. This ensures that the ball cools more evenly, again decreasing the amount of grinding required once it has fully cooled. These types of balls are becoming more popular due to the cost savings compared to solid balls.

Valves 101: Two Types of Ball Valves

    Small-size valve balls are a type of piping equipment that shuts off or controls the flow in a pipeline by using a hollow sphere and round seats held in a valve body. There are two basic technologies for the design of ball valves, floating ball design and trunnion mounted ball design.

    The major components of a ball valve include:

    Valve body – A pressure vessel that contains the components needed to control or shut off the flow through a pipe. It is designed to connect two or more sections of pipe or tubing to each other.

    Ball – A sphere with a flow path (hole or tunnel) through the center of it and a connection point for a shaft to rotate it.

    Seats – Round donut-shaped discs that form a seal between the body and ball.

    Stem – A shaft that connects the internal ball to the outside of the valve to facilitate rotation of the ball.

    Packing – Flexible seals that fit around the shaft and prevent the media traveling through the valve from escaping externally.

    Bonnet – The part of the valve body that houses the stem and packing.

    Operator or Actuator – An external device designed to rotate the stem of the valve. This can be a lever, a gear, a motor-operated gear (electric actuator), or a pneumatic/hydraulic actuator.

     Floating Ball Design

    A floating design ball valve sandwiches the hollow ball between two or more cupped seats that form a tight seal between the body and the ball at the inlet and outlet ports of the valve body.
                        
      The floating valve balls are rotated (usually 90 degrees) by a shaft that protrudes outside of the valve body and is connected to some form of operator. For this reason, most ball valves are referred to as quarter-turn valves. This shaft is not rigidly attached to the ball in order for the ball to pivot on the end of the shaft as it rotates on the axis of the ball. This is usually accomplished with a slot on top of the ball, perpendicular to the ball’s flow path. The cupped portion of the seats cradle the ball prevents it from moving down in the valve body.

    The valve packing prevents the media from escaping the valve body through the stem opening in the bonnet. The most common type of packing today is chevron v-ring type packing. If you look at the cross section profile of this packing, it resembles the letter “V”. The outer diameter of the packing matches the bore of the bonnet. The inside diameter matches the outer diameter of the stem. Multiple rings of this packing are stacked on top of each other and the stem is inserted through the packing. A packing gland on top of the bonnet pushes down on the top of the “V” and causes the packing to expand and seals agains the stem and bonnet.

    When the ball is in the closed position, the flow path in the ball is perpendicular to the flow path in the valve body. The solid parts of the ball covers both upstream and downstream cupped seat openings. The pressure in the upstream pipe pushes against the solid part of the ball which moves on its pivot point and is forced tightly against the downstream seat. This shuts off flow.

    As the operator rotates the ball from the closed position, the ports in the body in relation to the ports in the ball create a variable size orifice which, as it gets larger, will increase the flow through the pipe. When moving from open to close, this orifice gets smaller and decreases flow.

    Floating ball design valves are the most economical valves, but are limited by the amount of pressure the seats can handle.

    Trunnion Mounted Ball Design
        
    The Trunnion Valve Balls work nearly the same way as the floating ball except the seats are spring loaded against the ball and the ball does not pivot. The ball only rotates on its axis in this design.
                        
      In the trunnion mounted ball valve, the ball utilizes a second shaft and bearing on the bottom of the ball. This stem or “post” holds the bottom of the valve in place. The top of the ball is not slotted and the upper stem is rigidly attached to the ball. This prevents the ball from moving into the downstream seat.

     Since the ball does not move into the seats, the seats must move towards the ball. Springs behind the seat push them tightly into the ball in order to make the seal.

       Trunnion valves are very effective at sealing off very low pressures that would not be strong enough to move a floating ball into the downstream seat. They are also required on large diameter valves and high-pressure valves. The reason for this is the contact area of the seats in a floating ball is relatively small. From physics, we know force = Pressure x Area. The force on the downstream seat in a floating ball is derived from the process pressure in the upstream pipe pushing on the solid area of the ball in the closed position. If the pressure is high or the area is large, the downstream seat will be destroyed.

      The tradeoff is that trunnion valves are much more expensive than floating ball designs.

      Both floating ball and trunnion designs are available as multi-port valves by using elaborate flow paths in the ball and additional ports in the body.

      Are you looking for ball valves for your facility? Our team has years of experience in selecting the perfect valve for any application.  Contact us today to discuss your specific valve needs!

      HOLLOW VS. SOLID BALL VALVE

     The ball valve is available with many different options, and one of the most important distinctions is in how the ball is made. Manufacturers either join two hollow hemispheres or machine a hole through a solid ball. Machining takes more work, but it produces a valve with better flow characteristics. Here’s why.
        
       Ball construction

      In a solid ball valve, the hole is the same diameter all the way through. That helps the fluid flow smoothly at a constant velocity. Hollow valve balls are, as the name implies, hollow inside. That creates a bigger space for the fluid to fill, which changes its velocity and creates turbulence.
        
        Turbulence is almost always undesirable. It creates noise and it’s inefficient. The Cv drops, and it takes more energy to pump fluid through the system.
        
        In a few applications, valve weight is an issue. In such cases, the hollow ball may have an appreciable advantage, especially in larger valves.
        
        Solid ball, better flow
        
        When evaluating ball valves, check the Cv values and be sure to compare identical port formats. In most cases, the solid ball will give a higher Cv than the hollow ball.
        
        Advantages of V-Ball Valves
        
        Ball valves are designed to be used in a variety of applications and markets, but V opening valve balls offer the added ability to be used as a control valve where necessary. The main differentiator is a contoured V-port in the ball, most commonly available with a 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, or 90° angle, which produces an equal percentage flow characteristic for better control. V-ball valves are known to offer a variety of advantages in flow control applications, especially when compared to larger and more expensive control valves.

    Low Pressure Drop

    The V-port design allows material to flow straight through the valve, minimizing pressure drop across the valve. V-ball valves also have higher flow coefficients (Cv) compared to other control valve types of a similar size; this means that a smaller V-ball valve can be used to achieve the same flow rates as a comparable control valve of a larger size.

    Bubble Tight Shut-Off

    V-port ball valves use the “floating ball principle, which will provide a bubble tight shut-off in addition to the modulating flow control. When the valve is closed, upstream pressure pushes the ball against the downstream seat, thus enhancing the seal. These can control or shut off bi-directional flow, which proves to be especially beneficial in gas applications. Comparable control valves often require additional shut-off valves; V-ball valves eliminate the need for these additional valves, saving the user cost and reducing the number of overall components in the system.

    Precise Flow Control

    Precision machined V-ball valves are available with 60° and 90° V openings and offer equal percentage flow characteristics. As the ball rotates, desired flow rates can be achieved by positioning the ball anywhere between 0° and 90°. Response time is also increased due to the ability to use smaller actuators with these valves.

    High Shut-Off Pressure

    V-ball valves feature a quarter turn (90°) ball rotation, allowing them to operate and shut off at much higher working pressures. Because of this, smaller lower torque actuators can be used, which results in cost savings and higher efficiency in the user’s application.

    Ball Valves Defined

    Ball valves use a handle to turn a ball in the valve, with a hole or port through it. The ball is used to allow or prevent flow through the valve depending on its position. If the hole is aligned with the pipe, flow continues through the valve; if the hole is perpendicular to the pipe, flow will stop at the valve. It’s really that simple!

    Not all ball valves look the same and some have special uses, but they all have the same concept.

    Did you know? Ball valves are considered ? turn valves because of the quarter turn that is required to close the valve.

    The Benefits of Ball Valves

    Easy to see if it is open or closed. When the handle is in line with the pipe you can easily tell that the valve is open; and when the handle is perpendicular to the pipe the valve is closed. This is a great visual indication of whether there is flow through the valve or not.

    Operation after years of disuse is easy. The durability of ball valves allows them to work and completely shut off flow after years of disuse. This provides extra peace of mind.

    Quick shut off. The motion that is required to operate a ? turn the valve is quick and minimal compared to gate valves. Water hammer is a possibility if the flow through the valve is strong enough to vibrate the line when it comes to an abrupt stop as the valve is quickly shut off.

    A more compact and economical valve. Thanks to the design of ball valves they are more compact than gate valves. Gate valves are taller and require more space, as the gate needs a place to go to allow the flow to travel through the valve. By using a rotating ball, ball valves are smaller and require less material.

    Different Types of Balls

    There are three different types of balls that can be found in ball valves. For each of these three types, the outside of the ball needs to be smooth and the surface gets ground down to remove any dips or imperfections on the surface. As the material cools, the shape may change, resulting in more or less grinding. The three types are hollow, solid, and cored, so let's take a closer look at each of them.

    Hollow Ball

    The hollow ball has a cavity that goes from an open hole in the bottom of the ball to the top where the valve stem is inserted. Hollow balls require less material to construct, making them more economical, but may require more grinding to get the dips out.

    Solid Ball

    The solid ball is molded as one solid ball, larger than required, to account for any shrinkage and grinding. Solid balls are usually more expensive to manufacture as they require more raw material and grinding to get them to the perfect round shape.

    Cored Ball

    The cored ball is cored through the center, leaving a consistent wall thickness around the whole ball. This ensures that the ball cools more evenly, again decreasing the amount of grinding required once it has fully cooled. These types of balls are becoming more popular due to the cost savings compared to solid balls.

Oxygen Absorbers: Their Function and Use

    Oxygen absorbers are little packets of iron powder packaged in a material that keeps the iron in, but allows oxygen and moisture to enter and be absorbed. The iron absorbs the oxygen causing the iron to rust. As it rusts, or oxidizes, it absorbs any oxygen that may be present.

    Why do I need Oxygen Absorbers?

    Oxygen and moisture are two factors that destroy the value of dehydrated and freeze-dried foods. Theses elements have a detrimental effect on color, flavor, vitamin content, and fats of stored foods. Oxygen will enhance the growth of insects, bacteria, mold, and yeast in your food, accelerating spoilage. Oxygen absorber help to remove the oxygen in your container, leaving nitrogen. Dry foods are protected against spoilage and bacteria growth in a nitrogen environment. A “nitrogen flush” is often used to force the oxygen out of a product before it is sealed for storage. But even when a nitrogen flush has been done, it's still wise to include an oxygen absorber inside the container to help eliminate any remaining moisture. During the freeze-drying or dehydrating process, much of the moisture causing molding or spoilage is eliminated. An oxygen absorber will help to mitigate any moisture that remains once the food is packaged. Foods with a high moisture or oil content should not be stored in reduced oxygen packaging because it can cause botulism poisoning. Only store foods with in low moisture (10% or less) with oxygen absorbers. Oxygen absorbers actually remove oxygen more effectively than vacuum packaging because they only remove the oxygen rather than all the air.

    What Type of Containers do I Need?

    [Metallized cans] with seamed lids, [metallized bags], PETE plastic bottles with airtight, screw-on lids, and glass canning jars with metal lids and gaskets all do well with oxygen absorbers. Do not use plastic containers that are not identified as PETE or PET under the recycling triangle on the bottom of the container. Metallized cans and bags prevent light, another source of spoilage, from reaching your food with the added help of your oxygen absorbers. Oxygen absorber packets come in different sizes, two of the most common are 500cc and 2000cc. To decide which size is right for you, consider the size of the container you'll store your food in and the amount of empty space between the food particles and between the top of the food and the lid of the container. Some companies that manufacture absorber packets rate them according to their oxygen absorption capacity in milliliters, while others do so by the equivalent air volume (the actual total amount of air between the product pieces).

    How do I Preserve the Life of my Absorbers?

    Store unused absorbers in small glass jars that have a lid and ring seal. A one-pint jar will hold 25 absorbers. You can also heat-seal them back into the bag they came in. Or you can store them in plastic freezer bags, but you must use them within the next few months because the plastic will slowly admit oxygen and shorten the lifespan of your absorbers. When using a combo like the Do-it-Yourself Superpail Kit, do not plan to package more food than you can in 20 minutes. Prolonged exposure to air in the room will speed up the demise of your absorbers. Instead, place the number of absorbers you expect to need for one batch of packaging on a tray . Use one absorber per package of food, and work as quickly as possible to preserve the life of the absorbers. When you are ready to do another batch, remove enough absorbers from their bag or jar for that batch. You'll know the lifespan of your oxygen absorber by its color. Some absorber packages turn pink when they're working properly and are still absorbing the oxygen in your can. Some turn purple or blue when they're used up.

    COMMON DESICCANTS AND THEIR PROPERTIES
    
        A desiccant is a substance that promotes drying by absorbing moisture or water vapor from the air. Consumers are probably most familiar with small paper packets of desiccants that are often packed with items so that they will not rust or mold during shipment, especially for imported items that will spend time in the hold of a ship between the time they leave the factory and arrive at the store.

        In industrial settings, desiccants are used for the same reason in compressed air systems: to dry the air. The changes in pressure when air is compressed will cause water to condense, and this moisture must be removed. To do this, compressed air is passed over desiccant material to dry it out. There are several types of desiccants:

        Silica Gel

        Silica occurs in nature as Silica dioxide, SiO2. It is processed into gel-like beads for use as a desiccant dryer. Silica gel was first used in World War I to absorb vapor in gas mask canisters. Pure silica gel is one of the few desiccants that is safe for use around food.

        Indicating Silica Gel

    Indicating silica gel is silica gel that is processed with cobalt chloride. The cobalt chloride will change color from blue to pink as the silica gel absorbs moisture. This ‘indicates’ when the silica gel is becoming saturated. Because cobalt chloride is a heavy metal salt, it cannot be safely used around food.

        Clay

        Clay that is high in magnesium aluminum silicate, a naturally occurring mineral, is processed into Montmorillonite clay for use in drying. It works best at room temperature or below. Clay is one of the most inexpensive desiccants, which makes it popular for industrial use

        Quicklime and Gypsum

        Quicklime is a common term for Calcium Oxide. It is alkaline and highly caustic, so special care in handling is necessary. Its chief benefit is that it can be used to gradually drop the humidity to a very low state. Gypsum is Calcium Sulfate.

        Molecular Sieve

        Molecular Sieve is a synthetic desiccant manufactured from alumino silicates. Like the name sounds, it has many tiny holes or pores the absorb liquid and gas. It is a highly effective desiccant that can absorb water up to 22% of its own weight.
Most of these various types of desiccant dehumidifiers can be recharged and recycled by using a heating process to dry them for reuse.

        Ethylene Absorber

    Through extensive research, ethylene absorber has been able to provide innovative technologies that extend the freshness and quality of fresh food and flowers. Such thorough research has enabled us to launch our first commercialised product, a discreet but high-tech filter that removes the ripening hormone from around fresh produce.This is helping the global supply chain maximise value from growing, transporting and retailing top-quality produce for consumers, by extending quality, prolonging freshness and enhancing flavour in a secure and sustainable way.
                
      It's Fresh! helps to address the key industry challenges of food security, profitability and global food waste.
                
      It's Fresh! is a division of Food Freshness Technology Holdings a world class business that has invested over $20min areas such as the research and development of unique technologies and delivery systems, to bring to market a range of ground-breaking products that help leading retail groups and their supply chains to make a positive change to the fresh produce industry and to people around the world. These unique technologies are delivered via state-of-the-art materials science developed in partnership with world leading research & technology organisations.
                
      To learn more about our research and what it means for the future of the 'fruit industry', check out our research page here
    
       Our filter absorbs the ethylene gas given off normally as fruit ripens. By capturing this gas (before the fruit does) research has shown that your fruit will be kept in peak condition for longer, naturally. Proven across five continents to reduce waste and costs within the supply chain network It's Fresh! can deliver enhanced yields and returns;
                
       For Growers and suppliers, by helping them to benefit from consistency and management of maturity, reducing grade-outs and rejections to deliver superior quality and extended product life.
                
       For Retailers, by providing extended quality freshness and shelf-life, delivering reduced in-store waste, greater availability on-shelf and increased sales as satisfied consumers return to buy more fruit more often.

    CO2 absorber has been used in anesthesiology for many years. However, this process is not limited to this field of medicine. Removing carbon dioxide from human environment is used in other areas as well: mining industry, submarines, scuba diving, space travel and many others. The rationale to remove carbon dioxide from confined spaces is that cannot be eliminated otherwise. Anesthesia practitioners are well aware of this component of the circle system, the carbon dioxide absorber. In daily practice the clinician is less concerned with what kind of substance fills the dedicated canister, as this is usually in the care of the maintenance personnel. The appearance of Sevoflurane and Desflurane, with their own chemical characteristics, prompted the clinician to dedicate new attention to these absorbents. The classical substances used for this purpose are different combinations of limes. The practical concern of the anesthesiologist is to notice when the absorbent is consumed and call for its replacement. Still, many other aspects remain: compound A formation with Sevoflurane, carbon monoxide formation with Desflurane and dry absorbent for instance. The latest member of these products in the medical field is the LiOH carbon dioxide absorbent. Although used for many years in the space exploration, its way into the operating room is a rather recent achievement. Special chemical properties and high absorptive capacity make this new type of absorbent an attractive option for modern anesthesia practice.