Methods and apparatus are presented for spacecraft operation using non-Eigen axis attitude transitions via control momentum gyroscopes (CMGs) to avoid or mitigate singularities by providing a time-varying attitude command vector including a plurality of time-varying attitude command signals or values representing a plurality of spacecraft states and control trajectories as a guidance command input to an attitude controller of the spacecraft without modifying the spacecraft feedback control law.

A method for simulating the movement behavior of a fluid in a closed moving container is provided. The simulation is based on the determination of the potential movement path of the center of gravity of the volume of the fluid as an elliptical trajectory situated in a disturbance plane having certain semi-axes.

A system and method for mitigating an aircraft incident is provided. The invention includes an aircraft panic component coupled to a terminal component. The aircraft panic component facilitates identification of a panic situation and communicates information associated with the panic situation to the terminal component. The aircraft panic component is further operative to at least partially disable a navigation system and/or operational system of an aircraft. The aircraft can then be sent to a safe zone, navigated remotely and/or a course of action for the aircraft can be determined. A safe zone component is adapted to facilitate identification of a course of action for the aircraft based at least in part upon aircraft positional information, aircraft condition information and/or aircraft resource(s). Further, aircraft navigational information and/or aircraft operational information can be sent via an aircraft communication component to a remote system having a remote communication component and a remote analyzing component facilitating transfer of information related to navigational and/or operational system(s) of the aircraft.

The spiroid wing tip according to embodiments of the invention including a continuous segmental assembly having a closed loop frontal profile comprising a lower near vertical segment, a horizontal segment, a vertical segment, a second horizontal upper segment, and a near vertical segment. Accordingly to some embodiments of the invention, the spiroid profile is lowered with respect to the wing chord plane, such that a portion of the spiroid wing tip extends below the wing chord plane.

Fluid treatment systems and compositions are provided including (a) at least one material including (1) at least one carboxylic acid functional group and (2) at least one sulfur-containing group selected from the group consisting of sulfonyl functional groups, sulfonate functional groups and mixtures thereof; and (b) at least one friction reducing agent selected from the group consisting of guar gums, polyacrylamides, hydratable cellulosic materials, viscoelastic surfactants, and mixtures thereof. The fluid treatment systems and compositions can be used to treat aqueous systems, for example as fracturing fluids for use in fracturing subterranean formations. Methods for inhibiting formation and/or precipitation of metal oxides in an aqueous composition using the fluid treatment systems or compositions also are provided.

Fluid treatment systems and compositions are provided including (a) at least one material including (1) at least one carboxylic acid functional group and (2) at least one sulfur-containing group selected from the group consisting of sulfonyl functional groups, sulfonate functional groups and mixtures thereof; and (b) at least one scale control agent. The fluid treatment systems and compositions can be used to treat aqueous systems, for example as fracturing fluids for treating aqueous compositions found in subterranean formations. Methods for inhibiting formation and/or precipitation of calcium salts in an aqueous composition using the fluid treatment systems or compositions also are provided.

A system for diverting fluids from a wellhead in a subsea environment has a capping stack with a connector suitable for connection or interconnection to the wellhead, a flow base fixedly positioned in the subsea environment, and a conduit connected to the outlet of a diverter line of the capping stack and connected to the inlet of an interior passageway of the flow base. The conduit is suitable for passing fluids from the capping stack toward the flow base. The flow base is a modified horizontal Christmas tree. The interior passageway within the horizontal Christmas tree has a plug therein located a level below the level of the inlet to the flow base. The flow base can be attached to a wellhead or to an anchor pile in the subsea environment.

A method and a device for enabling the use of riserless drilling fluid recovery from a seabed-based borehole (1) which is to be drilled by means of a casing (26), the casing (26) being provided with a drill bit (28) at its lower portion and with an inner wellhead (30) at its upper portion, and there being a conductor casing (6), which has an outer wellhead (8), in the seabed (2), the method including: —providing a suction module (12) with a dividable adapter (16) which fits complementarily in the outer wellhead (8); —drilling a length of the borehole (1) by means of the casing (26) extending through the suction module (12), while, at the same time, drilling fluid is flowing via the suction module (12) from the borehole (1); —subsequently pulling the adapter (16) up from the outer wellhead (8) and dividing the adapter (16); and—lowering the casing (26) with the inner wellhead (30) through the suction module (12) and the adapter (16) to its position in the outer wellhead (8).

There are provided a dividing wall distillation column for producing high-purity acrylic acid, and a fractional distillation method using the same. The dividing wall distillation column includes a condenser, a reboiler and a main column having a dividing wall. Here, the main column is divided into a column-top zone, an upper feed zone, an upper outflow zone, a lower feed zone, a lower outflow zone and a column-bottom zone. Accordingly, since one distillation column can be used to realize the same effect as that obtained from the use of two distillation columns, the dividing wall distillation column can have an effect of reducing the costs of equipment to produce high-purity acrylic acid, as well as an energy-reducing effect, compared to a conventional process system.

For purifying a liquid, the liquid is caused to evaporate in a cyclone in a recirculation circuit. Vapor is discharged via a discharge channel in which a compressor is included. In a heat exchanger downstream of the compressor, supplied vapor condenses and heat thereby released is transferred to liquid in the recirculation circuit. A liquid inlet of the cyclone is placed and directed for delivering a jet having a directional component tangential with respect to an inner surface of the cyclone. The liquid inlet has a section shaped such that in operation the delivered jet is a flat jet having a cross section which in a direction parallel to a nearest generatrix of the inner surface of the cyclone is greater than in a direction perpendicular thereto. The jet contacts the inner surface of the cyclone before drop formation occurs in the jet. A method for purifying a liquid is also described.

A process for the physical refining of edible oils and fats, said process comprising three consecutive stages, whereby in a first stage at least 60% by weight of the volatiles are evaporated in a flash vessel, in a second stage some residual volatiles are evaporated by countercurrent steam stripping using a packed column (3), and in a third stage further residual volatiles are evaporated in a cross-flow tray system (2), wherein the pressure in said flash vessel is maintained at a value below the pressure prevailing above said packed column (3); and an apparatus for the physical refining of edible oils and fats comprising a flash vessel, a packed column (3), sparging trays (2) and the means to maintain the pressure in said flash vessel at a value that is below the pressure prevailing above said packed column.

This invention relates to a high efficiency apparatus for manufacturing an aqueous wood smoke solution in the form of a liquid smoke desired concentration by burning wood, wooden chips or sawdust in a limited amount of air. Wood consumption per unit of liquid smoke is significantly smaller comparing to conventional methods, while the air pollution is reduced to a negligible level.

An improved rapid thermal conversion process for efficiently converting wood, other biomass materials, and other carbonaceous feedstock (including hydrocarbons) into high yields of valuable liquid product, e.g., bio-oil, on a large scale production, is disclosed. In the process, biomass material, e.g., wood, is fed to a conversion system where the biomass material is mixed with an upward stream of hot heat carriers, e.g., sand, that thermally convert the biomass into a hot vapor stream. The hot vapor stream is rapidly quenched with quench media in one or more condensing chambers located downstream of the conversion system. The rapid quenching condenses the vapor stream into liquid product, which is collected from the condensing chambers as a valuable liquid product.

The present invention relates to a method for purifying a liquid comprising liquid particles and residual particles. It is hereby possible to generate substantially pure water from, for instance seawater.

An apparatus for producing a solid fuel which may be made by a method involving mixing porous coal with a mixed oil containing heavy oil and solvent oil to prepare a raw material slurry; heating the raw material slurry to promote dehydration of the porous coal while impregnating the mixed oil into pores of the porous coal to obtain a dehydrated slurry; separating the resulting upgraded porous coal and mixed oil from the dehydrated slurry; drying the separated upgraded porous coal with carrier gas, and subsequently condensing vaporized mixed oil in the carrier gas by cooling, while capturing the porous coal in the carrier gas by atomization of the condensed mixed oil, thereby recovering the mixed oil; and returning the mixed oil separated and recovered in the separating to the mixing, further involving supplying the mixed oil recovered in the final drying to the separating.

One exemplary embodiment can be a system for separating a plurality of naphtha components. The system can include a column, an overhead condenser, and a side condenser. Generally, the column includes a dividing imperforate wall with one surface facing a feed and another surface facing at least one side stream. Typically, the wall extends a significant portion of the column height to divide the portion into at least two substantially vertical, parallel contacting sections. Typically, the overhead condenser receives an overhead stream including a light naphtha from the column. Usually, a side condenser receives a process stream from the column and returns the stream to the column to facilitate separation. A cooling stream may pass through the overhead condenser and then the side condenser.

A vehicle lift jack is provided. The jack may include: a frame; a lifting arm attached to the frame; a saddle attached to an end of the lifting arm; and a video camera attached to the jack and oriented to capture video footage of an area proximate to the saddle. A method of lifting a vehicle using a jack may be provided. The method may include: positioning the jack under the vehicle; capturing an image of the vehicle; viewing the image; determining the jack is in a desired position with respect to the vehicle; and raising the vehicle with the jack.

A manual marine winch includes a safety knockout override preventing release of winch tension without the handle in stowed position. The winch includes a housing; a rotating drum on the housing; a winch line on the drum; a control for spooling and un-spooling the winch line on the drum, wherein the control includes a handle for selectively tensioning the drum and moveable between a position engaged with the drum and a disengaged stowed position; a tension holding mechanism on the housing comprising a ratchet gear coupled to the drum, a pawl selectively engaged with the ratchet gear, and a knockout configures to selectively disengage the pawl from the gear to allow for release of winch tension; and a safety knockout override coupled to the housing and selectively engaged by the handle and configured to prevent release of winch tension when the handle is not in the stowed position.

Keratinous fiber treatment formulations and methods of providing a long lasting set in keratinous fibers such as hair by applying a polymer system to the hair which provides a stable set to the hair which will last at least until the hair is thoroughly washed. The set is made more permanent by incorporating a reducing agent such as L-cysteine into the polymer system and allowing the system to air oxidize over time or optionally applying a second chemical oxidizing system to the treated hair which will accelerate the oxidation process and the setting rate of the hair.

A kit for decorating a toothbrush includes the toothbrush having a base portion, and at least one decorative band sized to fit around the outer perimeter of the base portion of the toothbrush. A second embodiment of the kit includes the toothbrush, a writing instrument and an area designated on the base portion for marking with the writing instrument. A third embodiment of the kit includes the toothbrush, a writing instrument, an area designated on the base portion for marking with the writing implement and at least one decorative band sized to fit around the outer perimeter of the base portion of the toothbrush. Any of the kits may include at least one sticker sized to fit on the base portion of the toothbrush. Any of the kits may also include a panel including one or more stickers and/or one or more decorative bands.

The present invention relates to a device for applying a fluid or pasty product to keratin fibers, comprising an elongate core (1) extending on a longitudinal axis XX. Advantageously, the device additionally comprises at least one pliant and flexible rod (2), which is oriented longitudinally and is embedded, at least at a first and a second point, on said longitudinal core (1), so as to form at least one zone of flexion perpendicular to the longitudinal axis XX; it is made in one piece and preferably from a plastic material.

Solutions formed by combining poly(α(1→3) glucan) with CS2 in aqueous alkali metal hydroxide solution have been shown to produce the xanthated form of the poly(+(1→3) glucan). The solutions so formed have been shown to be useful for solution spinning into fiber of poly(α(1→3) glucan) when the spun fiber is coagulated in an acidic coagulation bath. The fibers so produced exhibit desirable physical properties. The poly(α(1→3) glucan) employed was synthesized by fermentation.

An object is to overcome the drawbacks of conventional blue phthalocyanine pigments upon the formation of images, and to develop a blue pigment that can satisfactorily exhibit a greenish blue color high in chroma and excellent in colorfulness, brightness, dispersibility, hue, tinting power and the like and that is applicable to various image recording methods. The object can be achieved by a greenish blue pigment, which exhibits a greenish blue hue of high chroma and contains a pigment represented by the following formula (I): wherein the number, m, of substituent phthalimidomethyl group(s) is in a range of 1.0≦m≦5.0, and the number, n, of a substituent sulfonic group R1 is in a range of 0.05≦n≦1.0.

The invention relates to CO2 capturing binder with an amortized environmental cost, the method of manufacture thereof by means of selecting, purifying and optimizing the carbide lime paste for use as a cementing material, and aggregates for the manufacture of lime paints and slurries, stuccos, mortars and concretes having multiple applications in the construction industry, in architectural restoration, in public works and land conditioning, object of the present invention. It is basically characterized in that the raw material is the residue in the form of sludge generated in the industrial manufacture of acetylene (C2H2) from calcium carbide (CaC2) the fundamental component of which is calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) in highly reactive nanometric formations treated in a specific manner according to the invention.

An object of this invention is to provide a cellulose ester film which satisfies the requirement 0.95

A method of forming an opaque layer includes forming a first layer by discharging droplets of an ink composition containing a metallic pigment on a record medium by an ink-jet recording process and forming a second layer by discharging droplets of an ink composition containing a white pigment on the record medium by an ink-jet recording process. The opaque layer is formed on the record medium on the side where the first layer and the second layer are formed in a region where the first layer and the second layer overlap each other.

A coating liquid comprising: an oxazoline group-containing resin; an alkanediol having 7 or more carbon atoms; a surfactant; and water.

A non-aqueous drywall compound being the combination of a first component mixture of acetone, a non-aqueous liquid adhesive containing ethyl cyanoacrylate, and a powder containing calcium sulfate hemihydrate (plaster of Paris), the mixture being a pliable putty capable of adhering to gypsum wallboard or similar work surfaces. The second component of the drywall compound is an accelerator or activator containing acetone and toluene. The first component is applied to a defect in a work surface using a spreading tool and the second component is then applied to the exposed surface of the first component, such as by spraying or brushing, whereupon the drywall compound cures, hardens or sets within less than ten minutes to a state capable of being sanded into a smooth, hard surface and painted.

Disclosed are fast-curing, inexpensive corn-gluten resin compositions, methods for making them, methods for forming them into solid articles. In some embodiments, the resin composition includes corn meal gluten and a non-toxic organic acid.

A polypeptide solution of the present invention is a polypeptide solution in which a polypeptide derived from natural spider silk proteins is dissolved in a solvent. The solvent contains at least one selected from the following (i)-(iii): (i) DMSO; (ii) DMSO with an inorganic salt; and (iii) DMF with an inorganic salt. Further, in the present invention, an artificial polypeptide fiber is obtained by: using the polypeptide solution as a dope solution; and extruding the dope solution from a spinneret into a desolvation bath so as to eliminate the solvent from the dope solution and form a fiber to produce an undrawn yarn. Moreover, in the present invention, a polypeptide is purified by subjecting the polypeptide solution to heat treatment and thereafter removing an undissolved substance therefrom. Thus, the present invention provides the polypeptide solution whose solute has high solubility and solvent itself is low cost, and that allows dissolution at high temperatures and has high safety: a method for producing an artificial polypeptide fiber: and a method for purifying a polypeptide.

The invention concerns a composition comprising as component (A): 10% to 97% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of one or more monocarboxylic esters of the general formula R1—CO—OR2, in which R1 is a saturated or unsaturated, branched or straight-chain, aliphatic group having 11 to 23 carbon atoms and R2 is a branched or straight-chain aliphatic group, a cycloaliphatic group or aromatic group having 1 to 13 carbon atoms, and the sum of the carbon atoms of the groups R1 and R2 is not more than 30, the monocarboxylic ester or esters possessing a boiling point of more than 250° C. under a standard pressure of 101.3 kPa, and as component (B): 3% to 90% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of one or more dispersants, the composition possessing a viscosity at 25° C. of less than 5000 mPas. The invention further concerns the use of the composition as a dispersion medium, millbases obtained from the composition, and the use of the millbases.

A medical guidewire having distal tip coil that includes a twisted ribbon wire construction. The distal tip coil is mounted to the distal end of the distal core section of the guidewire. The coil is made from a flat ribbon wire with a polygonal, preferably rectangular, cross-section that is twisted along the length of the wire. The twisted, flat ribbon wire creates a tip coil that has a roughened, undulating surface at the outer circumference that, whether coated or bare, is perceptible to the physician or cardiologist when pushing or torquing the guidewire in an interventional procedure.

A guide wire includes a wire body having a first wire disposed at a distal end and a second wire joined to a proximal end of the first wire at a joint by welding. The joint is curved. In the joint, at least one component (e.g., Ti) of the material of the first wire decreases toward the proximal end and at least one component (e.g., Fe) of the material of the second wire decreases toward the distal end. When a tensile test is conducted on a region of the wire body including the joint, the region of the wire body has, in a tensile load and elongation diagram, an elastic section extending substantially straight upwardly to the right, a yield section extending substantially horizontally or upwardly to the right from the elastic section, and a substantially straight section extending upwardly to the right from the yield section.

Hoisting crane (20), comprising a substantially hollow jib (24,-124; 324) having a longitudinal axis, and comprising one or more hoisting cable guides (47, 48, 49; 147; 347). The jib comprises at least one jib leg (29; 129; 329) extending between a jib connection member (26) and a jib hoisting end (27; 127; 327), wherein the at least one jib leg comprises one or more hybrid portions (160; 360) comprising two elongated hollow casings (170; 370) substantially parallel to each other and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the jib, and wherein between the two casings a truss (171 371) is provided to rigidly connect the two castings.

The invention relates to a liquid supply system wherein liquid, such as for example, a supply of warm water, circulates. Said system consists of thick outer tubes, the inner chamber of said thick outer tubes allowing a liquid to flow through, a thin inner tube is respectively placed inside the outer tube in which the liquid can flow in the direction counter to that in the inner chamber. In the path of at least one outer tube, a first tube branch is introduced enabling the first inner tube to be withdrawn, and in said first branch, at least one functional component, such as a shut-off valve, is introduced into the inner tube and guided to a second tube branch in the path of an outer tube and extends further through said tube branch and then into the inner chamber of the latter outer tube.

A fluid coupling includes a socket with a socket main body, a fixed valve, a guide which is engaged with the fixed valve and biased to be pressed against an inner surface of the socket main body, and a guide spring which biases the guide, and a plug with a plug main body, a movable valve, a valve spring, and a valve holder which supports the movable valve and the valve spring. When the plug is inserted into the socket, the guide moves rearward against a biasing force of the guide spring to connect a flow path between the plug and the socket. A fitted portion, which is fitted into the distal end of the plug, is disposed at the end portion of the guide. First seal members are disposed between the fitted portion and a distal end of the plug.

A one-handle valve cartridge has a low point of contact for installing the valve cartridge in a valve body. A retention nut bears down on the low point of contact to secure the valve cartridge in the valve body.

A water divider includes a water divider shell with openings formed on two ends and sides. A fixed water dividing device and a rotated water dividing device are provided within the water divider shell. A first through hole extends between the side and the bottom end of the fixed water dividing device, the side through hole opening position of the first through hole corresponds to the position of the opening provided on the side of the water divider shell. A second through hole extends between the top end and the bottom end of the fixed water dividing device, the top end through hole opening of the second through hole corresponds to the top end opening of the water divider shell. The rotated water dividing device includes a third though hole having a through hole opening that corresponds to the bottom end opening of the water divider shell.

A device for vibrating tubing as it is inserted into a wellbore is disclosed. The device has a fluidic switch that has no moving parts. The fluidic switch is connected to a piston that oscillates back and forth in a cylinder. The piston is the only moving part. As the piston oscillates, it blocks and unblocks openings in the cylinder or other components. The movement of the piston controls the timing of the oscillation, and also generates an impulse or vibration. The vibration may reduce the friction between the tubing and the wellbore.

In a fluid control device, a check valve includes a first valve housing and a first diaphragm. The first diaphragm defines a first valve chamber and a second valve chamber. An exhaust valve includes a second valve housing and a second diaphragm. The second diaphragm defines a third valve chamber and a fourth valve chamber. The check valve is opened and closed by a difference in pressure between the first valve chamber and the second valve chamber. The exhaust valve is opened and closed by a difference in pressure between the third valve chamber and the fourth valve chamber.

A control valve having a retainer for securing a seat ring within the valve body of the device is disclosed. The seat ring is disposed within a bore in the fluid flow path of the valve body of the control valve, and the retainer is attached to the inner surface of the valve body to retain the seat ring within the bore. The retainer includes threaded openings therethrough for receiving bolts that are tightened down on the seat ring to hold the seat ring against the inner surface of the bore and/or a gasket to form a tight seal and prevent leakage when the control device is in the closed position.

A method and apparatus for fabricating microbraided structures is provided. A microbraiding device includes first and second carrier members that are movable with respect to each other. Each carrier includes a plurality of shelters. Spool-less strands of microfiber are retained in shuttles that are movable between the first and second shelters under magnetic forces. The microbraid structure is fabricated as the shuttles move between the first shelters, and as the first carrier member moves relative to the second carrier member.

A braided carbon nanotube thread includes at least three carbon nanotube filaments braided into a thread. The carbon nanotube filaments include a plurality of carbon nanotubes, each of the carbon nanotubes having a length L. The carbon nanotube filaments are braided such that the carbon nanotube thread has at least 8 intersections per the length L of each carbon nanotube. The carbon nanotube thread has a tensile strength greater than the tensile strength of the constituent carbon nanotube filaments.

A medical balloon with a variable diameter that is reinforced with continuous fibers woven to form a fabric with a varying number of layers and fiber densities. Portions of the balloon having a relatively smaller diameter are reinforced with a fabric having a reduced fiber density and an increased number of layers to facilitate the placement of the layers. The fabric also includes a braiding pattern that facilitates the transition from a single layer fabric to a multiple layer fabric. Also described is a manufacturing method for the braiding and layering.

A self-expanding, pseudo-braided device embodying a high expansion ratio and flexibility as well as comformability and improved radial force. The pseudo-braided device is particularly suited for advancement through and deployment within highly tortuous and very distal vasculature. Various forms of the pseudo-braided device are adapted for the repair of aneurysms and stenoses as well as for use in thrombectomies and embolic protection therapy.

A toothed cable is provided in which a strand can be securely joined to a core cable while maintaining flexibility of the strand. The toothed cable includes the core cable, a wire disposed spirally around the core cable at a fixed pitch, and the strand having a core thread and piles fixed to the core thread, the strand being disposed spirally along a groove having side walls and a bottom formed by the wire and the core cable. The toothed cable is obtained by a manufacturing method of disposing a meltable filament thread in the groove, disposing the strand in the groove with tension after the filament thread is disposed, melting the filament thread after the strand is disposed, and joining the strand to the core cable by solidifying the melted filament thread.

A braider for braiding wires to a tube comprising an iris assembly having stacked iris plates. Each of the iris plates includes a center aperture, a wire orifice disposed radially outward from the center aperture, and an arcuate channel. The iris plates are rotatable relative to each other to adjust a circumferential orientation of the wire orifices relative to each other. The arcuate channel(s) of each respective iris plate is coincident with the wire orifice(s) of the remaining iris(es). The braider comprises a feeder assembly configured for advancing the tube through the center apertures, and advancing the wires through the respective wire orifices. The braider further comprises a braiding assembly configured for braiding a plurality of filaments around the tube and the plurality of wires as they are fed through the iris assembly, thereby creating a braided tube assembly.

This invention provides new above knee (AK) and below the knee (BK) prosthetic sockets and implements specific manufacturing processes for the production of prosthetic sockets through the automated, computer controlled bi-axial and tri-axial braiding of sockets, over a mold or mandrel made of carved foam, plaster material or wax that is a replica of the patient's truncated limb, and is created by a Computer Aided Design (CAD) file controlling a Numerically Controlled (CNC) machine tool. This method of manufacture using aerospace fibers such as graphite or Kevlar, and high performance resins, is used to create a socket which is stronger and lighter weight than conventionally manufactured sockets. Braiding also allows incorporation of woven cloth, tapes and other reinforcements into the braiding process for added strength at selected areas. The method dramatically decreases the production time and cost of the prosthetic relative to conventional methods.

A system for making braided barbed sutures includes a filament winding assembly, and a guide assembly including at least one barbed insert dispenser opening defining a passageway for orienting a barbed insert. The guide assembly is adapted to dispense at least one barbed insert from the dispenser opening into the filament winding assembly for winding a plurality of filaments around the at least one barbed insert for making a braided barbed suture. The passageway of the dispenser opening is adapted to allow longitudinal movement of the barbed insert relative to the passageway while simultaneously preventing twisting movement of the barbed insert relative to the passageway. As the barbed insert is being dispensed, the barbed insert dispenser opening is selectively rotatable for imparting rotation to the barbed insert as the filaments are wound about the barbed insert. The passageway may be an elongated slit having a greater width than height.

A braider comprises a plurality of horngears. The horngears can be arranged for forming at least two closed paths for braiding. Each horngear has a driving gear and a hornplate. Each horngear can be selectably operated in a first mode, to rotate with the driving gear, and in a second mode, in which the driving gear rotates, but the hornplate does not. Bobbin carriers are positioned on some of the horngears. A track is configurable in: a first flat braiding mode with the carriers arranged on the horngears, so that there is one or more separate closed path for forming a first flat braid configuration; and a second flat braiding mode for forming a second flat braid configuration different from the first flat braid configuration. A switch is provided for changing a configuration of the track between the first and second flat braiding modes.