Abstract: A cooking appliance with touch pad controls is protected against inadvertent turning of a cooking facility such as a hob ring to full power by a spillage on an UP pad (increase temperature). A control circuit turns the facility off if the UP pad signals that it is touched for longer than say 5-7 seconds. Similarly a warning can be given if a DOWN pad remains touched too long, to prevent inadvertent turning off of a facility.

Abstract: A power control method and system for a cooking appliance using a high inrush current element in which the instantaneous glow from the heater element is utilized to inform the operator of appliance turn-on. The power control includes a logic arrangement for detecting the transition of the appliance from an OFF condition to a selected one of a plurality of power level settings. Prior to energizing the heating element at the selected power level, the control energizes the element for a preselected transient time at a level to produce a visible glow.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of reinforcing an aluminium alloy piston ring groove wherein the piston body is fused to a certain depth around the periphery thereof in the zone where the ring groove is to be cut, with simultaneous introduction of an alloying addition into the fused aluminium alloy of the piston body, thus forming an annular wear-resistant weld therein, whereupon the ring groove is cut in the periphery of said weld.

Abstract: Non-continuous forms are welded on an automatic device using a continuous welding process (e.g., Tungsten Inert Gas Process (TIG) with a continuous welding arc. The noise level of the welding system is below that which is prescribed by the Operational Safety and Health Act (OSHA). The device includes apparatus for indexing and positioning the non-continuous forms relative to the welding electrode. The device further includes apparatus for chilling the non-continuous forms during the welding process, and apparatus for periodically shunting the welding arc away from the non-continuous forms so as to maintain a continuous welding arc.

Abstract: A digital clock device includes data storage units and produces switching signals in response to the data stored in accordance with predetermined functions, such as time of day and lapse of time. Switching signals responsive to quantities not related to time can also be produced. Data being stored is displayed as it is being entered into the device. In a disclosed embodiment, the device is used for the control of an electric range. Start of cooking time and duration of cooking for the oven and the individual heating plates can be controlled. Programmed control of oven temperature is also possible.

Abstract: The power control circuit described functions to vary the duty cycle of the alternating current signal supplied to the load. The duty cycle is varied by periodically generating a first signal, each half cycle of the alternating current signal, that is proportional to the actual power supplied to the load as a function of the duty cycle and wave form of the alternating current signal. A comparator compares this first with an error signal to vary the duty cycle in accordance with the power demanded by the error signal. The first signal is derived by evaluating the integral of the square of the voltage over each half cycle of the alternating current signal.

Abstract: A high temperature reactor is fitted with a plasma gun at an anode chamber and is provided with a graphite cathode. The reactor is cooled by means of pipes in the refractory lining of the reactor, and rests on essentially horizontal bearings. The charge to be melted e.g. oxides or oxide mixtures is fed from above at an angle .alpha. at most 90.degree. to the main axis of the reactor in the direction of the plasma stream, and the molten product is tapped off at an exit port which is also close to the entry port of the plasma stream so that the plasma stream covers and therefore heats the area around the exit port.

Abstract: Temperature regulating apparatus for the control of temperature within an enclosure including a temperature measuring circuit which measures the temperature within the enclosure and a semiconductor heating circuit for generating heat responsive to the temperature measuring circuit. The temperature measuring circuit includes a resistive bridge with a temperature sensitive element as one of its legs, the output of the bridge being coupled to an amplifier for developing a temperature signal which varies as a function of the temperature within the enclosure. The heating circuit includes a plurality of transistors having their respective collector-emitter paths coupled in series so that a heating current can flow through the collector-emitter paths of all of the transistors. One of the transistors, designated the control transistor, has its base coupled to the output of the amplifier for controlling the heating current by the temperature signal.

Abstract: Two different types of circuits, the first a coil operation circuit and the second an operating circuit can be effectively used together in connection with an assembly such as a desoldering tool having a remotely located, associated structure for use in regulating when a vacuum is available at the tool in response to manipulation of the tool. The operating circuit employed utilizes a current control circuit capable of being actuated through the use of a switch on the tool to pass a full or a half wave AC current and a load such as a heating element located on the tool. The operating circuit also includes a detection circuit for determining whether a full or half wave current is being utilized to supply power to the load which is positioned within the associated structure. The coil operation circuit is located within this associated structure and includes a bidirectional solid state switch is series with a coil, another solid state switch in parallel with the coil, and the first noted switch.

Abstract: A control instrument is provided for electric cooker plates. The instrument comprises an adjustable quantizing power control instrument having an expansion element with an electric heating element and a time switch member for increasing the power adjusted on the power control instrument for a period in the initial cooking phase. The time switch member comprises an electronic counter timing member and at least one divider which, via an electronic switch element, reduces the power supplied to the heating element in a predetermined division ratio.

Abstract: A power controller for controlling the intermittent supply of current to a load, such as a cooker hotplate, has a pivotally mounted snap switch controlled by a heated bimetal member which is heated in dependence upon the connected power. A compensating bimetal strip, for taking ambient temperature into account, is arranged on the snap switch and parallel thereto. A control cam acts on the free end of the compensating bimetal strip. The latter is shielded from the heat of the heated bimetal member.

Abstract: A heating circuit comprises input terminals for connection to an AC supply, an elongate heating conductor and a switch connected in series between the input terminals, a switch control operative to close the switch to cause AC current to flow from the supply through the heating conductor, an elongate sensor conductor spaced from the heating conductor, and a temperature sensitive element disposed between the heating and sensor conductors and responsive to over-heating at any position along the length of the heating conductor to drop substantially in impedance at that position to connect the sensor conductor to the potential of the heating conductor at that position.

Abstract: An improved, relatively permanent operating head for stud welding guns is provided which eliminates the need of ferrule replacement after each welding sequence, thereby greatly speeding up and facilitating the welding operation, and lowering the cost thereof. The head includes an elongated, metallic, notched, dielectric-covered ferrule surrounding the usual stud-conveying chuck provided with the gun, along with air cooling apparatus for directing circumferentially spaced air currents through and exteriorly of the permanent ferrule to extend the life thereof and minimize buildup of slag thereon. In preferred forms, an inner, electrically insulating phenolic sleeve is disposed between the chuck and ferrule, and the work end of the latter is coated with an initial layer of tungsten carbide and an outer layer of tantalum for maximum heat resistance and electrical insulation.

Abstract: A method for regulating the parameters of thermal cycles in electroslag welding in which the entire area of the zone affected by heating is cooled. The area is limited by isotherms of maximum heating temperatures within an interval from temperatures close to the melting temperature point up to a temperature A.sub.1. The cooling is effected so that the cooling rate would increase in the direction of movement away from the area heated up to the melting point towards the area heated up to the temperature A.sub.1. The device for realizing the method of regulating the parameters of thermal cycles has jets secured on the side and bottom faces of the slide block, with outlet spraying nozzles for the jets located such that the cooling medium flowing out from those nozzles would cool the entire surface of the metal of the seam and the zone subject to heating effect the surface is limited by the isotherms of maximum heating temperatures within an interval from the melting point up to the temperature A.sub.1.

Abstract: An electrical heating apparatus such as an electrically heated bedcover protected against an overheating condition by an overheat protective circuit which utilizes a pair of solid state switching devices in the heating element circuit. The solid state switching devices are so connected that should one switching device fail in a shorted or closed mode, a second switching device will be in the circuit to control the heating element and provide normal protection against an overheating condition. The solid state switching devices are employed in a manner which permits the use of relatively small light weight temperature sensors in the form of positive temperature coefficient devices such as PTC resistors, which avoids the need for using relatively bulky bimetallic thermostatic switches as are conventionally employed for sensing overheating conditions.

Abstract: A set comprising a pan having a flat bottom and an oblique rim divergently extended from the bottom, and a cookstove having a broad brim, wherein when the pan is placed on the cookstove, a clearance of several millimeters is formed between an outside surface of the oblique rim and an inside end of the broad brim, and a combustion gas flows up through this clearance forming an air curtain thereby protecting the people surrounding this set from the direct smell, and maintaining cooked food temporarily placed on the broad brim at a certain temperature.

Abstract: A method for a definitive fixing of the breadth of magnetic layers in the vicinity of the end face of a recording carrier, which breadth determines the track breadth, in which an integrated magnetic head structure is carried on a substrate and has a large number of thin magnetic, non-magnetic, insulating and electrically conductive layers stacked one upon an another, and in which originally broader magnetic layers are partially worn down by ion bombardment, the zones not to be worn down being first covered with a mask. Ion bombardment is carried out at right angles to the thin layers, i.e. at right angles to the plane of the substrate, with the mask suitably disposed.

Abstract: In an electronic control device for electric ranges having a plurality of individual heat settings to selectively energize a heating element of the range under the control of a digital input to produce switching pulses having different on-off ratios, each heat setting has an associated time controlled constant power period in the start-cooking or roasting range, and in the subsequent finish-cooking range there are produced switch-on and switch-off pulses having a constant time pattern at every heat setting, while the time duration of the constant power period and the duration of the switch-on pulses in the finish-cooking range are different from one heat setting to another.

Abstract: An automotive electric quick heat system utilizing a resistive heating element connected in series between the DC output terminal of a driven alternator and the voltage regulated terminal of the main storage battery. A shunting relay is controllable to bypass the resistive heating element when the conventional engine generated heat reaches a predetermined temperature. A first embodiment utilizes the automatic electric quick heat system in the carburetor air intake of an automotive engine. A second embodiment utilizes the automatic electric quick heat system for supplying heat to the passenger compartment following disconnect of the air carburetor intake quick heat.

Abstract: An automatic heat control apparatus for use with an electric heating element in a kiln or the like comprises a first power controller having a plurality of on and off intervals. The first controller supplies electric current to the kiln heating element during its on intervals, and further includes means for adjusting the duration of the on intervals relative to the off intervals. A constant speed electric motor is mechanically coupled to the first power controller for gradually increasing the duration of the on intervals and decreasing the duration of the off intervals; such control ensures that the temperature inside the kiln increases very gradually to lessen the risk of breaking the ceramic material being fired. Furthermore, the average speed of the motor may be controlled by means of a second power controller, similar to the first controller, having a plurality of on and off intervals which intermittently energize the motor for rotation thereof.