Abstract: Internal welding head apparatus, wherein a welding torch is mounted on a pivotal support for movement of the torch toward and away from the weld site, and wherein the torch is carried on a rotative shaft to be oscillated transversely by oscillation of the rotative shaft, oscillation of the rotative shaft being accomplished by rotation of an eccentric in a yoke fixed to the rotative shaft, and wherein the oscillations are dampened by spring means disposed at opposite sides of the rotative shaft. The apparatus is compact, and is adapted to be mounted on a carrier to be rotated about the interior of a pipe or tank, or the like.

Abstract: Automotive ignition wire with a high temperature rating, excellent electrical insulating properties, heat resistance, oil resistance and abrasion resistance is described. The wire utilizes a conductor made up of either a helically wound metal conductor on a radio frequency insulating polymer overcoated on a polymer adhesive layer on a glass fiber bundle; or a glass fiber-cotton fiber braid on a graphite impregnated glass layer. Overcoating either one of the conductors is a semiconducting polymer layer, and a polymer jacket material. The polymer jacket material comprises a polymeric mixture of ethylene vinyl acetate and ethylene-propylene-diene monomer stabilized with a mixture of a phenolic antioxidant and a metal salt antioxidant.

Abstract: The leak-tight welding of elongated joints, particularly of circular, interlocked joints, such as, for example, the fluid-tight welding of plugs on drums is achieved by folding over the edge (11), or the circular margins around a circular opening, of the sheet (1) onto which, e.g., a plug (27) or other workpiece is to be welded liquid-tightly, laying the workpiece against the folded-over edge (11), and then applying electrodes (28, 30) on opposite sides of the workpiece and sheet, with sufficient pressure that the folded-over sheet margin (11) is further deformed. In this way, the surface-parts not lying flat against each other at the contact-surface (35/32) of the workpiece and sheet margins are forced into accommodation and an even distribution of pressure along the contact-surface results. When the welding-current is switched on, the current density is essentially uniform throughout the contact-surface and hence a simultaneous welding along the entire contact-surface occurs, producing a a leak-tight joint.

Abstract: A reflux condensing start-up system includes a steam generator, a start-up vessel connected parallel to the steam generator, a main steam line connecting steam outlets of the steam generator and start-up vessel to a steam turbine, a condenser connected to an outlet of the turbine and a feedwater return line connected between the condenser and inlets of the steam generator and start-up vessel. The start-up vessel has one or more heaters at the bottom thereof for heating feedwater which is supplied over a start-up line to the start-up vessel. Steam is thus generated to pressurize the steam generator before the steam generator is supplied with a heat transfer medium, for example liquid sodium, in the case of a liquid metal fast breeder reactor. The start-up vessel includes upper and lower bulbs with a smaller diameter mid-section to act as water and steam reservoirs.

Abstract: A linear potentiometer with a sandwich type construction. A pair of conductive strips are carried on a pair of non-conductive flexible plastic substrates which are affixed to a spacer to form a sealed unit. Each substrate includes a pair of tabs which cooperate with the tabs on the other substrate to define a pair of terminal receiving slots for connecting the potentiometer in an electrical circuit.

Abstract: The humidity-sensitive element of this invention is composed of an insulating substrate (1), a pair of electrodes (2, 3) mounted thereon, and a humidity-sensitive material (8) covering the electrodes. The humidity-sensitive material (8) has a property to change its electric resistance depending on the moisture content in the atmosphere and is formed from fine particles each having a hydrophobic core and a hydrophilic group-containing surface layer covering the core. This humidity-sensitive element exhibits a nearly linear relationship between logarithum of electric resistance and relative humidity and small hysteresis, permitting a precise measurement of relative humidity. Insulating substrate (1) and electrodes (2,3) are preferred to form from an insulating layer of silicon semiconductor and conductive monosilicon formed on it, respectively. This permits size reduction of humidity-sensitive elements or devices.

Abstract: Process for the combustion of bitumen, wherein the bitumen is softened by preheating and is then introduced into a combustion chamber, traversed by oxygen in excess subject to ionization by an intense ultra-high frequency field, so as to raise the surface of the bitumen to a temperature above 1000.degree. C., thereby ensuring its vaporization and rapid combustion in the thus produced oxygen plasma.

Abstract: Welding head apparatus, wherein a welding head assembly is mounted on a support plate which can be adjustably moved both vertically and horizontally, and of which the welding tip may be angularly adjusted and may be oscillated transversely of the weld joint. The apparatus is compact and light in weight so that it may be mounted on a welding carriage, either singly or in plural units for forming multiple weld beads in a single pass. The apparatus is self contained, including a wire feeder, so that separate assemblies for supporting the welding apparatus are not needed.

Abstract: An automatic TW (traveling-wire) electroerosion machining system for machining a plurality of workpieces of different types required to acquire different contours includes a TW machine having a wire setting unit and located adjacent a predetermined path. A work dispensing unit successively dispenses the different workpieces onto the path from a store thereof located adjacent the path. This unit and a work handling and transfer unit operate under control commands from an NC unit and, in conjunction with the TW machine, with the wire setting unit to carry out a plurality of work processing operations sequentially. In each operation, each individual workpiece selected from the store is transferred as it is carried on a pallet for loading onto and unloading from the TW machine. The tank of the TW machine has a movable front wall to facilitate this operation. The electrode setting unit on the machine acts both to form a start hole and thread a wire-type electrode through the formed hole in the workpiece.

Abstract: A rice cooker has a main body storing a pot therein. A lid is pivotally mounted on the main body by a hinge. An operation panel is provided on the lid to face upward. At the operation panel are provided operation switches for operating the rice cooker and light-emitting elements for indicating an operation process of the rice cooker.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for polishing a workpiece by electrical discharges by way of an electrode tool, machining pulses of relatively low power being obtained from a machining pulse generator. A cross-slide table provides the workpiece with a translation cyclical motion during polishing. Input control circuits enable the machine operator to program a chosen speed of translation for the cyclical motion, the radius of circular translation and the time of duration of machining. A counter counts the number of cycles being effected and a discriminator stops the pulse generator as soon as the chosen number of desirable cycles is obtained, such number being inversely proportional to the amplitude chosen for the translation motion.

Abstract: An electrode apparatus for an electric arc vapor deposition machine has an electrode body with a coaxially aligned stud threaded into its rear surface and projecting substantially perpendicularly thereto. The distal end of the stud is threaded for rapid detachable fastening to an electrode support means such that the periphery of the rear surface of the electrode is uniformly drawn toward engagement with the electrode support means. A seal member forms a fluid tight seal between the peripheral rear surface of the electrode body and the electrode support means, which cooperatively define a coolant cavity for actively and efficiently cooling substantially the entire lower surface of the electrode. The electrode support means includes means for directly bathing the seal with liquid coolant from the coolant cavity. The simple threaded stud mounting configuration allows a spent cathode to be rapidly replaced.

Abstract: An improved microwave drying apparatus comprising a drying chamber provided with a microwave generator and a layer of a weak dielectric substance laminated on at least a part of the inner surface of the wall of the chamber is provided, whereby the occurrence of moisture condensation on the inner wall of the chamber during the drying procedure can be prevented.

Abstract: A stationary case has a resistive track. An elastic wiper is carried by a rotor mounted to rotate in the case and able, during operation, to rub against the resistive track, and a spring is placed between the stationary case and the rotor to pull the rotor to a rest position. The case provides at least one housing able to receive the wiper without initial stress or deformation in an initial position of introduction of the rotor in the case and to allow the wiper to come in contact with the track during mounting of the rotor in the case by rotation of said rotor between its introduction position and its rest position. Application is to measuring the angular position of the throttle valve of an internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A moisture sensitive element having on an insulating substrate a moisture sensitive section that changes its electrical resistance according to the humidity of atmosphere. The moisture sensitive section is prepared by mixing a polymerized organic silicon compound with particles of a moisture sensitive, electrically resistant material, applying a coat of the resulting blend onto the insulating substrate, and sintering the coat. The element is strong, has good moisture sensitivity characteristics and can be used for an extended period with little decrease in the moisture sensitivity and little change in the value of resistance.

Abstract: An improved method of manufacturing multilayer helical seam pipes from strips or bands lying loosely over each other to prevent porous welding seams due to heated air escaping from resultant gaps between the layers of strips, comprising feeding the strips to a deformation station at an angle of entry corresponding to the pipe diameter, arc welding seams of the band edges with several arc welding heads, and arc welding a seam to the inside contact points of the area containing the band seams with another welding head to connect the adjacent bands.

Abstract: A microwave heating apparatus is arranged such that the output from a single semiconductor oscillator is divided into two parts by a power divider and the parts are amplified by a pair of respective amplifiers and the amplified parts are fed into a heating chamber by two antennas, the phase of the two microwave parts being adjusted so as to combine their power in the heating chamber.

Abstract: A floor covering having a built-in heater which includes a planar sandwich structure including an underlining layer of heat insulating material, at least one heating element provided on one surface of the underlining layer, an electric conductor provided on the one surface of the underlining layer so as to cover the heating element, a surfacing layer overlaying the conductor on one side of the heating element opposite to the underlining layer, and a lead wire for connecting the conductor to ground.

Abstract: In a semiconductor pressure transducer in accordance with the present invention, an oxide film is formed on a semiconductor base having a strain gauge resistor element for the purpose of protecting the strain gauge resistor element. Over the oxide film, a conductive metal film is formed which does not overlap with the strain gauge resistor element through said oxide film.

Abstract: A heater assembly includes a housing which both channels air flowing around a heating element and provides support structure for the elements holding the heating element. In one embodiment, a lower U-shaped channel has recesses in opposed sidewalls to engage down-turned ends of holding elements. A second U-shaped channel is attached to form a hollow duct open at opposite ends. In a second embodiment, a U-shaped channel is made of flexible material so that the spacing between opposed sidewalls may be varied. A holding element is secured between the sidewalls by separating the sidewalls to allow insertion of the holding means.