Abstract: An apparatus for making espresso coffee has at least one delivery unit, a hydraulic circuit connected to the delivery unit, and a driving device having a lever movable between a first position and a second position. The delivery unit has a first cylinder with a piston slidably mounted therein and at least one braking device having a second cylinder. The second cylinder is connected to a circuit independent of the first cylinder. The movement of the first cylinder charges water and discharges water from the first cylinder.

Abstract: An air intake assembly includes heating elements. The heating elements include windings arranged in a serpentine configuration and having crest portions and trough portions. At least one crest portion of a first heating element is fastened to a corresponding trough portion of a second heating element. The heating elements are arranged in a honeycomb configuration.

Abstract: A device for evaporating a metal melt, the device comprising a first crucible or crucible portion operative to receive the metal melt comprising at least one aperture, from which the evaporated metal may pass off, a second crucible or crucible portion operative to receive a susceptor material, comprising an electromagnetic radiation source, which is arranged such that it can heat susceptor material comprised in the second crucible or crucible portion through incident electromagnetic induction, wherein it does not or only negligibly heats the metal melt in the first crucible or crucible portion, wherein the first crucible or crucible portion and the second crucible or crucible portion are thermally coupled, such that the metal melt can attain a desired temperature.

Abstract: A connecting element for providing an electrical connection in a processing space of a household appliance, includes a protruding, longitudinally displaceable contact pin configured for displacement between a rest position protruding farther and an operating position protruding less far, wherein the contact pin pushes into the rest position. The connecting element is disposed on a side wall of the processing space, particularly a cooking space. An insert module can be inserted in the processing space of the household appliance and can be operated electrically. The insert module has a mating electrical connection element for contacting the connecting element.

Abstract: A dielectric working fluid processor for processing dielectric working fluid used in a wire electrical discharge machine includes: a dirty liquid tank for storing dielectric working fluid containing machining swarf; a filter for removing machining swarf from the dielectric working fluid in the dirty liquid tank; a clean liquid tank for storing the dielectric working fluid from which the machining swarf has been removed by the filter; a pump for supplying dielectric working fluid from the dirty liquid tank to the filter; an inverter for controlling electric power to be supplied to the pump; a pump controller for controlling the rotation speed of the pump by varying the frequency of electric power supplied from the inverter to the pump; and a feed pressure obtainer for obtaining the feed pressure of the dielectric working fluid supplied from the pump to the filter, based on the frequency of the electric power.

Abstract: In at least another aspect, a method for calculating a humidity level in a cooking apparatus is disclosed. The method comprises heating a food load in a cooking cavity of the cooking apparatus and selectively activating a convection fan in the cooking cavity. The method further comprises monitoring a humidity signal detected by a humidity sensing apparatus in response to the activation of the convection fan. As a result of the activation of the convection fan, the method may determine an actual humidity level from a plurality of humidity levels based on a change in the humidity signal.

Abstract: A smoker for imparting flavor to food comprising at least one smoking chamber, a lower chamber disposed below and in open communication with the bottom of smoking chamber, more than one flat, externally rotatable fire shield disposed below the cooking rack within the lower chamber, at least one firebox removably disposed within the lower chamber below the fire shields, the firebox having an outer door covering the firebox opening when the firebox is deployed inside the lower chamber, a handle, sidewalls and at least one bottom grate defining a support for a combustible material, slider means for supporting the firebox, an air intake below the firebox within the lower chamber, and an ember plate disposed outside of the lower chamber, whereby a combustible material is ignited in the firebox while disposed outside of the lower chamber, then pushed into the lower chamber to smoke the food.

Abstract: A jug and lid for a juicer includes a cylindrical upper portion having an upper rim, with the upper rim having a first opening for receiving a discharge spout, the first opening having a pouring spout, and the lid having a cylindrical body that fits within the upper portion. The body includes a pouring channel and a second opening alienable with the first opening. The body further has an exterior surface that carries a stepped circumferential seal that seals an interior of the jug when the first and second openings are not aligned, and the openings are alignable in a filling orientation upon rotation of the lid.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing head includes: a nozzle configured to discharge material powder; a rotary member connected with the nozzle, including a first material powder passage formed in the rotary member to direct the material powder to the nozzle, and configured to rotate to cause the nozzle to move in the circumferential direction about a laser beam emitted toward the workpiece; and a stationary member including a second material powder passage which is formed in the stationary member and into which the material powder is introduced, the stationary member being disposed directly beside the rotary member in the direction of the rotational axis of the rotary member. A third material powder passage communicating with the first material powder passage and the second material powder passage and extending annularly about the rotational axis of the rotary member is formed between the stationary member and the rotary member.

Abstract: A brewing apparatus is adapted for brewing articles contained in a capsule, and includes a capsule seat, a control device, and at least one drive mechanism. The capsule seat is adapted to receive the capsule therein. The control device has a slide slot. The at least one drive mechanism engages slidably the slide slot and is connected to the capsule seat. The control device is pivotable to drive slide movement of the at least one drive mechanism, thereby moving the capsule seat and converting the brewing apparatus between a brewing state and a standby state.

Abstract: A low leakage current fluid heater and systems and methods thereof. The fluid heater has a configuration whereby a heating element is isolated from a fluid channel so as to leak into fluid passing through the channel an allowed amount of leakage current. Fluid passing through the fluid heater can be heated to a desired temperature. A controller can provide control signals to driver the fluid heater to the desired temperature and maintain the temperature at the desired temperature.

Abstract: There is provided an arc welding control method of alternating a feeding rate of a welding wire between a forward feeding period and a reverse feeding period, controlling a welding voltage based on a voltage setting value and alternating short-circuiting periods and arc periods to perform welding. In the arc welding control method a cycle of the feeding rate is changed based on the voltage setting value.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for enabling smokable material to be heated to volatize at least one component of the smokable material. In one example, the apparatus has a capacitive sensor arranged to sense a change in capacitance when an article of smokable material is associated with a housing of the apparatus in use. In another example, the apparatus has a resistive sensor arranged to provide a measure of electrical resistance when an article of smokable material is associated with a housing of the apparatus in use. A combination of capacitive and resistive sensing may be used in some examples. In another example, a sensor makes use of at least two different sensing techniques. There is also provided an article of smokable material having a non-metallic electrically conductive region for detection by a sensor of an apparatus arranged to cause heating of the smokable material.

Abstract: A method of resistance spot welding a steel workpiece and an aluminum or aluminum alloy workpiece, and a welding electrode used therein. In one step of the method a workpiece stack-up is provided. The workpiece stack-up includes a steel workpiece and an aluminum or aluminum alloy workpiece. Another step of the method involves contacting the aluminum or aluminum alloy workpiece with a weld face of the welding electrode. The welding electrode has a body and an insert. The insert is composed of a material having an electrical resistivity that is greater than an electrical resistivity of the material of the body. The weld face has a first section defined by a surface of the insert and has a second section defined by a surface of the body. Both the first and second sections make surface-to-surface contact with the aluminum or aluminum alloy workpiece amid resistance spot welding.

Abstract: This machine tool is provided with: a pump which pressurizes a liquid; a nozzle which ejects the liquid pressurized by the pump toward a workpiece; and a pulsation removing pipe which is provided between a discharge port of the pump and the nozzle and which is formed by being wound a plurality of turns or by being bent zigzagged a plurality of times, wherein the workpiece is processed while the pressurized liquid is ejected.

Abstract: A mask extension welding apparatus for thin film deposition to extend and weld a mask on a frame includes an extension unit configured to extend the mask in a first direction, a pressure unit configured to press the mask towards the frame, and a laser welding unit configured to weld the mask and the frame. The pressure unit includes an upper housing, a lower housing spaced apart from the upper housing with respect to a fluid inlet, and a porous plate disposed at a downstream of the fluid inlet, the porous plate connecting the upper housing and the lower housing, and configured to eject a fluid supplied through the fluid inlet towards the mask.

Abstract: A spot welding electrode of a donut-shaped electrode wherein even when a welded member of a steel sheet is slanted with respect a plane perpendicular to an axis of the spot welding electrode, a cross tensile strength (CTS) of the spot welded joint can be improved. The donut shape spot welding electrode according to the present invention has an electrode tip and an electrode support. The electrode tip contacts the electrode support to be able to move. Due to this, it is possible to strikingly raise the ability of the donut-shaped electrode to track a steel sheet and make the entire surface of the donut shape contact-and-conduction part contact the steel sheet, so it is possible to secure a high CTS value even if the steel sheet is slanted.

Abstract: It is described an arrangement for providing an AC current to a load for direct electrical heating, the arrangement comprising a AC-DC-AC converter cell (133, 433, 533, 633, 733), the converter cell having at least two converter input terminals (111, 112, 113) connected to at least two transformer output terminals, the converter cell having a first converter output terminal (135, 435, 535) and a second converter output terminal (137, 437, 537), wherein the first converter cell output terminal (135) is adapted to be connected to the load (350, 650, 750, 850).

Abstract: The invention relates to a capsule for preparing a beverage, for example, coffee, including a hollow element intended to contain one serving, for example, ground coffee. The hollow element includes a side wall, an upper surface, a lower surface comprising an extraction membrane, and a lip in the shape of a collar. The latter is oriented according to a plane that cuts through the side wall. The lip comprises a material that becomes softened when it is placed in contact with a liquid.

Abstract: An optical heat exchanger and an associated system and method are provided to allow a vehicle, such as an unmanned air vehicle, a rocket or the like, to deliver more payload at a lower cost. The optical heat exchanger includes a support surface defining a plurality of tapered openings. Each tapered opening tapers from the first size proximate an outwardly facing end of the opening to a second smaller size proximate an inwardly facing end of the opening. The inwardly facing end of each tapered opening is in communication with the propellant. The optical heat exchanger also includes a plurality of lenses with each lens positioned proximate the outwardly facing end of a respective opening. Each lens is configured to receive an electromagnetic energy beam and concentrate the majority of the electromagnetic energy beam through the inwardly facing end of the respective tapered opening, thereby heating the propellant.