Abstract: In a gate array having a plurality of free transistors and target transistors, a method and apparatus for protecting a gate electrode of a target transistor from gate charge by employing a free transistor as a gate electrode protection device. A target transistor is a transistor that has been determined to need gate charging protection. A free transistor is a transistor in the gate array which is not used to implement the logic design as embodied in the gate array. Initially, a base array is formed without any metal layers. Then, a determination is made as to which transistors require gate charging protection. The gate electrode of each target transistor determined to require gate charging is coupled to an associated drain or source electrode of a free transistor of the gate array. The gate electrode of the free transistor is connected to an appropriate voltage reference to turn the free transistor off.

Abstract: In a method of estimating wire length allowing highly precise estimation of the estimated wire length of a net, an object net is selected. Thereafter, the object net is developed into pin pairs. For each of the pin pairs, a subcircuit satisfying a prescribed relation with the pin pair is extracted from the semiconductor integrated circuit. From the subcircuit, information necessary for estimating wire length of the pin pair (number of nets in the subcircuit and total area of macro cells in the subcircuit) is extracted. Based on the extracted information of the subcircuit, estimated wire length of the pin pair is estimated. Based on the estimated wire length of the pin pair, estimated wire length of the object net is estimated.

Abstract: A method using a generate-and-verify computer program product to generate by repetitive passes a design rules checking computer program, wherein the design rules are described in a file called a runset. The design rules checking program is used for exhaustive testing of VLSI chips for compliance to the design rules of a given VLSI fabrication process. The runset is repeatedly iterated in loop fashion with respect to a testcase file containing groups of layout structures or shapes used for verifying the correctness of the runset. A general purpose shapes processing program creates an error shapes file for storing geometrical errors found in each said layout structure. Two additional shapes are used in the verification process: user boundary shapes for defining areas in which errors are not to be detected for a given design rule, and automated boundary shapes created to surround each said layout structure with a boundary that defines regions where error shapes can occur.

Abstract: A single-opening beer keg is produced from a beer keg of conventional configuration which has a bung hole in the side wall and a dispensing opening in the top wall thereof, by closing the dispensing opening and the bung hole; moving the top wall inwardly to provide a wall of substantially spherical configuration and with an inner peripheral chine; moving the center portion of the bottom wall outwardly until it is in substantial horizontal alignment with the lower end of the side wall; and providing an opening in the center portion of the bottom wall to receive a valve assembly. An annular protective collar can be secured to the lower end of the side wall to protect the valve assembly during shipment of the keg.

Abstract: In a method of explosively welding a metal pipe into a bore in another metal member, such as tube plate or another pipe, the explosive charge is surrounded by a body of impacting medium which is spaced from the inner surface of the pipe wall so that upon detonation of the explosive the impacting medium reaches a high velocity, without disintegrating, before it strikes the pipe wall to effect expansion thereof.

Abstract: One of a member to be reinforced and a reinforcing material is rotated relative to the other and both are made to contact with each other. Under a considerably high initial pressure, the penetration of the reinforcing material into the member to be reinforced is effectuated and under a reduced pressure, frictional welding is done at the contacting portions of the member to be reinforced and the reinforcing material. As the result of the stop of the relative rotation, the welded portion is cooled to be coagulated and the unification of the member and the material results. Before the stop of the relative rotation, the pressure may be raised again.

Abstract: The method of joining the contiguous surfaces of telescoped end portions of tube members wherein at least one of the surfaces to be joined is coated with a layer of solder. A heated forming means is applied to the telescoped end portion to reflow the solder while simultaneously applying sufficient pressure in a radial direction to progressively reduce the radial clearance between the end portions in an axial direction toward the open end of the female member. The temperature and pressure applied is sufficient to provide melted solder between the surfaces to be joined as the crimping action proceeds axially so that excess solder is forced hydraulically out of the open end of the female member as the radial clearance is progressively reduced to a minimum. The scrubbing action of the molten solder as it is forced progressively from the radial clearance is effective in removing the oxide from the surfaces to be joined thereby completing a joint between the members.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of bonding metals to substrates such as ceramics or metals. A bonding agent forms a eutectic alloy with the metal to provide bonding. Several methods of supplying the bonding agent to the system are disclosed. However, regardless of which method of introducing the bonding agent into the system is employed, the quantity of the bonding agent is carefully controlled so that the compound in the region of the bond is hypoeutectic. To form the bond, the metal and the substrate are placed adjacent each other and the bonding agent is introduced into the system. The system is then heated to a temperature between the eutectic temperature and the melting point of the metal for a preselected time. The system is then cooled to form a bond. The heating is carried out in an inert atmosphere or a vacuum.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fluxless soldering, particularly of capillary joints, is provided wherein the part to be soldered is immersed in a bath of molten solder, the solder is caused to cavitate and simultaneously the part is subject to vibratory or impact energy.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a frame structure and a combination grinding and polishing mechanism mounted for horizontal travel thereon. The frame structure includes a bed for supporting welded sheets thereon with the face of the welded seam to be ground and polished facing upwardly. The grinding and polishing mechanism is mounted for horizontal travel on an overhead support beam positioned directly above the bed on which the welded sheets are positioned. The grinding mechanism is comprised of an endless grinding belt rotatably supported between a support wheel at one end where the belt contacts the welded seam and a roller at the other end. The support wheel is mounted for rotation on a pivotally mounted arm and is connected to a drive motor for driving the belt. The motor is mounted with its rotational axis in alignment with the pivot point of the arm. The grinding mechanism further includes a retract mechanism for raising and lowering the grinding belt into and out of its seam grinding position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fluxless soldering, particularly of capillary joints, is provided wherein the part to be soldered is immersed in a bath of molten solder, the solder is caused to cavitate and simultaneously the part itself is set into a sympathetic mode of vibration by means of low frequency amplitude modulated variations or harmonics and sub-harmonic variations imposed on the bath.

Abstract: An installation for the automatic feed of welding wires for a welding torch provided for the treatment of workpieces, in which means are provided to weld together the welding wires supplied in rod shape in a fully automatic manner by welding the same together into an endless rod with simultaneous continued forward movement of the welding wires in the direction toward the welding torch.

Abstract: A soldering iron holder system for a soldering station is disclosed which includes a protective, insulated chamber into which the working shaft and heated tip of the soldering tool may be inserted. A self locking cradle supports the tool from its handle portion and prevents its undesired removal from the holder system. For additional security, the system includes hold-down for fastening the entire system to the bench top. The holder also includes means for dispensing wire solder on demand. A built in reservoir and pump are also provided to supply cleansing fluid as for cleaning the soldering tip. To assist in the latter, a sponge is affixed to the body of the holder and is wetted from the reservoir by operation of the pump.

Abstract: A method is provided for eliminating "icicles" or ligaments and other manifestations of dripping solder from articles which are dip soldered by vibrating the articles simultaneously with removing them from the solder bath and continuing to vibrate the articles until the solder thereon has at least levelled.

Abstract: A bulldozer blade comprises a push plate having a cutting edge mounted on a lower end thereof and a plurality of structural members secured on the back of the push plate and welded together to increase the structural integrity thereof. Each adjacent pair of such members are joined together at a weldment comprising a groove and contiguous dam formed on a surface of one member to have a corner of the other member disposed adjacent thereto and common weld means at least substantially filling the groove and securing the members together. The groove and dam are preformed on an arcuate portion of the first member during a cold forming operation.

Abstract: A solder removal device has air under pressure supplied thereto. The device has a hollow handle in which is disposed a Venturi structure for creating a vacuum where the vacuum is applied through a solder collection chamber also disposed in the handle and a solder extraction tube in communication with the solder collection chamber and extending outside of the handle. The air discharged from the Venturi structure is directed around the solder collection chamber and out an opening in the handle whereby heat is removed from the solder collection chamber, the heat having been generated by hot air and solder sucked into the chamber. Hence, the device may be used continuously for solder extraction without discomfort to the operator's hand.

Abstract: A method for welding two thick-walled metal pieces of tubing of a pipe-line to one another, in which at the joint to be formed between said pieces of tubing overlapping portions thereof extending radially over a small marginal portion of the wall thickness adjacent to the internal cavity of the pipe-line are bonded to each other by the explosion of an internal explosive charge and the portions of the pieces of tubing extending radially over the rest of the wall thickness thereof are thermally welded to one another.

Abstract: A process for making orthodontic assemblies such as brackets and buccal tubes which permits simultaneous heat treating of the assembly while brazing the assembly together. The process consists of assembling a plurality of aligned bases with caps and a brazing insert. The caps are then tack welded (temporarily fastened) to the bases to produce a strip of orthodontic assemblies which can be easily handled. The strips are then heat treated to a brazing temperature in a specified atmosphere. The individual orthodontic assemblies are either automatically separated during the heat treatment or may be easily separated by cutting after removal from the furnace. The bases and caps for the buccal tube assemblies are of a unique design which is readily adaptable to the multiple strip brazing process.

Abstract: A method of jointing a copper pipe to an aluminum pipe by soldering, comprising the steps of:Flaring one end of one of said two pipes and applying a solder-cover to at least one end of the other pipe;Coupling each one end of both pipes to each other;Heating each one end of both pipes;Imparting ultrasonic vibrations to the coupled portion while solder is molten at the coupled portion; andCooling said coupled portion.

Abstract: A method for soldering a pipe comprises the following steps: forming a concave portion on a flat metal sheet with solder coated thereon uniformly over its whole surface, opening an aperture at the bottom of the concave portion, making said flat metal sheet circular to make a pipe, inserting a member into said concave portion and heating said pipe and member together to melt said solder so that it infiltrates into the clearance between the inner surface of said concave portion and outer surface of said member.