Abstract: A welding technique closely contacting a light transmissive second member to a first member and radiating deflection-controlled laser light from a second member side to weld both first and second members at a weld interface thereof. A reflectance reducing means is formed by an incident angle adjusting step provided in a cover plate that is disposed on a light radiating surface side of the second member. The reflectance reducing means reduces incident angles of the light at the light radiating surfaces of the first and second members, thus reducing the reflection loss of the laser light at the light radiating surfaces and improving the welding efficiency.

Abstract: An apparatus for heating an operating fluid, the apparatus comprising a closed circuit for a working fluid, the closed circuit having first and second heat exchangers and a compressor therebetween, the first heat exchanger having a heat input side for connection to an external fluid heat source and a heat output side for vaporizing working fluid within the closed circuit, the compressor being a vapor compressor adapted to compress the vaporized gaseous working fluid from the first heat exchanger to form a higher pressure gaseous working fluid, and the second heat exchanger having a heat input side for receiving and condensing the higher pressure gaseous working fluid from the compressor and a heat output side for heating an external operating fluid. A corresponding method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A device for preparing a heated liquid for use with a beverage-making appliance includes a liquid transport channel in communication with a liquid reservoir which discharges into a first chamber. The first chamber includes a steam inlet which is connectable to a steam generator. A second chamber of the device is connected to the first chamber via a restriction and has a liquid outlet. The device is in the form of a cartridge n which the liquid reservoir, the liquid transport channel, the first chamber, the steam inlet, the restriction, the second chamber, and the liquid outlet are provided. All components of the device are integrated into one cartridge, so the cartridge can be discarded after use.

Abstract: A portable baking oven for a pizza or other food item includes a food item heating plate, a base having a heating chamber, and a top cover having a moisture vent and a heat reflector structure extending across the inside of said top cover. When placed on said base, the top cover forms a baking chamber above the heating plate. Heat produced in the base's heating chamber circulates up through air passageways in the base into the baking chamber above the food item heating plate. This circulated heat is reflected back down toward the food item heating plate by the top cover's heat reflecting structure to accelerate baking of the top of a food item placed on the heating plate. The top cover's moisture vent can be located above the heat reflector structure in the top cover, and openings can be provided in the heat reflector structure which allow moisture emitted by a food item being baked in the oven to pass through the reflector structure and out through the top cover moisture vent.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for varying a mechanical property of a material at two depths. The method involves the application of at least two laser pulses of different durations. The method involves a determination of the density of the material from the surface to each depth, a determination of the heat capacity of the material from the surface to each depth, and a determination of the thermal conductivity of the material from the surface to each depth. Each laser pulse may affect the density, heat capacity, and thermal conductivity of the material, so it may be necessary to re-evaluate those parameters after each laser pulse and prior to the next pulse. The method may be applied to implantation materials to improve osteoblast and osteoclast activity.

Abstract: A resistance heater is shown and described. The resistance heater may include a body. The body may include at least one heating surface, the heating surface being generally smooth and generally flat and a recess formed in the body, at least a portion of the body having a cross-sectional shape selected from the group consisting of: generally U shape, generally I-shape, and generally H-shape, and where the cross-sectional shape extends along at least a portion of the body.

Abstract: A rotary drier for plants for the production of bituminous macadams with the use of recycled materials comprises a hollow rotary cylinder (2), heating means (9) connected to one end (4) of the cylinder (2), an aggregates infeed section (7) connected to one end (3), (4) of the cylinder (2), and a dried material outfeed section (8) connected to the other end (3), (4), an insertion section (24) for inserting recycled material into the cylinder (2), the insertion section being connected to an intermediate portion of the cylinder (2). The inside of the cylinder (2) is axially divided into a first, convection heat exchange zone (12), equipped with material tipping blades (14), and into a second, radiation and conduction heat exchange zone, and the cut material insertion section (24) is positioned inside the first heat exchange zone (12). A first group (25) of tipping blades (14) is mounted circumferentially inside the cylinder (2) between the insertion section (24) and the second heat exchange zone (13).

Abstract: A steam cooking appliance apparatus includes a muffle unit which at least partially bounds a cooking chamber. The muffle unit has a muffle element which forms a boundary surface of the cooking chamber in at least one operating state. The boundary surface of the cooking chamber has a cooking fat adhesion which is lower than a cooking fat adhesion of stainless steel. At least one cleaning unit is provided for cleaning at least part of the muffle unit.

Abstract: A system and method for dispensing a final fluid product using optimal parameters are disclosed. The dispensing system includes a pumping system and a capsule holder operatively coupled to the pumping system, the capsule holder configured to receive a capsule containing a product to be dissolved, the capsule holder further configured to receive a fluid through the capsule from the pumping system. The capsule holder includes one or more encoding recognition systems configured to interact with encoding means of the capsule, and the encoding recognition systems determine parameters based on the encoding means. The parameters control the pumping system and are used for dispensing of the fluid through the capsule holder and through the capsule to produce the final fluid product by dissolving the product to be dissolved using the parameters. The dispensing system may further use user information to adjust the parameters.

Abstract: The invention under consideration relates to an electric heating device for heating a flowing medium with a housing, in which the at least one electric heating element of the electric heating device is held securely and fully shielded from the medium held in the circulation chamber by a separating wall that divides the housing into a heating chamber and a circulation chamber. The circulation chamber has inlet openings and outlet openings for introducing and removing, respectively, the medium. The heating element is preferably a PTC heating element and is held by means of a clamping force in a recess formed by the separating wall, said recess preferably projecting into the circulation chamber. The invention furthermore relates to a recuperator for converting electrical energy into thermal energy, particularly for an electric drive in a vehicle.

Abstract: A brew basket for a brewing apparatus is disclosed having a housing adapted to couple the brew basket to a brewing apparatus and a platform extending from the housing, the platform including a brewing chamber defined by a continuous peripheral wall and a perforated floor. The perforated floor is coupled to a vertically reciprocating member at a first end for raising and lowering the perforated floor of the brew basket with respect to the continuous peripheral wall, the vertically reciprocating member extending below a lowermost surface of the platform so that it can be raised by lowering the platform onto a flat surface.

Abstract: There is provided a juicer for extracting juice from fruits and vegetables comprising a lower base, an upper base, a top cover with a hollow cylindrical feeding tube, a grating-disk and mesh filter assembly, a pulp collector, and a pusher. The upper base is mounted on a lower base and receives the grating-disk and mesh filter assembly. The grating disk is a concave shape and tooth-like cutters are arranged into rows on an inclined surface of the grating disk. The top cover is fitted on the upper base and houses a hollow cylindrical feeding tube. Inside the feeding tube is an anti-rotation protrusion, located at the bottom of the feeding tube made an integral part of the feeding tube to prevent the food from spinning inside the tube. The pusher is inserted into the feeding tube and contains a opening that matches the anti-rotation protrusion and into which rests the anti-rotation protrusion. The bottom of the pusher is convex-shaped and matches the concave grating disk.

Abstract: Provided is a conductive film suitable for use in a transparent heating element having superior visibility and heat generation properties. A conductor of a first conductive film has a mesh pattern which has a plurality of lattice cross points (intersections) formed by a plurality of first metal nanowires and a plurality of second metal nanowires. The conductor between intersections is formed in a wave-like shape having at least one curve. The array period of an arc of one first metal nanowire from among parallel adjacent first metal nanowires is one period. The array period of an arc of another first metal nanowire constitutes two periods. Similarly, the array period of an arc of one second metal nanowire is one period. The array period of an arc of another second metal nanowire constitutes two periods.

Abstract: A heating device has a heating chamber 3. An initial temperature distribution is created in a surface of a substrate (wafer W) when the substrate is carried into the heating chamber 3 . . . Temperature distribution creating means (heating lamps 2) creates a preheating temperature distribution in the substrate supported on a cooling plate 4 at a waiting position before the substrate is carried into the heating chamber 3 so as to level out the initial temperature distribution.

Abstract: Provided is a sealing gasket for a cooking utensil, the utensil includes a vessel and a lid; at least one first locking member and at least one second locking member, the sealing gasket being designed to be interposed between the lid and the vessel and being characterized in that it is designed so that, while the lid is docking with the vessel, said sealing gasket fits over the top rim and comes into contact with said lid and with said vessel while the first locking member is situated at a first height (h61) greater than or equal to the height (h8) at which the second locking member is situated, and is then depressed under the weight of the lid alone to bring the first locking member to a second height (h62) that is less than the height (h8) at which the second locking member is situated.

Abstract: A microhole electric discharge machining apparatus that forms a conical inverse-tapered hole on a workpiece by a thin wire electrode, includes, an electrode holder that holds an upper part of the thin wire electrode and feeds a lower part of the thin wire electrode downward to stretch the lower part to the workpiece by rotating the thin wire electrode; a first guide member that is arranged near the workpiece upper surface and is provided with a first guide hole through which the thin wire electrode is penetrated on a hole-machining axis; a second guide member that is arranged between the first guide member and the electrode holder and is provided with a second guide hole through which the thin wire electrode is penetrated at a position eccentric from the hole-machining axis; and a swivel driving unit that circularly swivels the second guide member around the hole-machining axis.

Abstract: A coffee machine including a boiler for producing hot water and steam for the preparation of coffee or coffee-containing beverages. A coiled tubing is located in the boiler for producing hot milk or milk froth. Thus, no separate heating element is required for producing the hot milk or milk froth, as the milk or milk froth is heated by the water heated in the boiler for preparing the coffee. The coiled tubing is connected alternately to a milk container and a rinsing water source, so that potential milk residue is flushed out after each milk heating process. A predetermined amount of milk or rinsing water is fed to the coiled tubing by a pump. Thus the milk and rinsing water usage is optimized and the energy consumption is reduced.

Abstract: A food tray is provided with an upper tray and a lower tray containing food products, in which the upper tray rests snugly in the lower tray and a lid seals the upper tray. Vent holes in the lower tray allow steam released from the food product in the lower tray to escape out of the lower tray. Each of the upper tray and lower tray may have flanges to allow the upper tray to be lifted out of the lower tray without difficulty.

Abstract: There is disclosed a heater which does not excessively heat a lubricating fluid but can rapidly raise a temperature of the lubricating fluid, even when a size thereof is small. A heater includes a honeycomb structure section including partition walls which contain a ceramic as a main component and generate heat by electrical conduction, and a plurality of cells which are partitioned and formed by the partition walls and extend through the honeycomb structure section from one end to another end to become through channels of a lubricating fluid; and a pair of electrodes which become an anode and a cathode to come in contact with the honeycomb structure section, thereby conducting the electricity through the partition walls of the honeycomb structure section.

Abstract: A cooking vessel top according to the present invention is presented in that at least the contact surfaces of the cooking vessel top with the different cooking vessels are formed from an elastic material, especially silicone, that the passage opening or passage openings have at least one flat closure part connected to the cooking vessel top, which in the rest state not in contact with the boiling or foaming liquid essentially closes the passage opening or passage openings allocated to it and can be moved into an opening position by the opening force that develops on contact with the boiling or foaming liquid, in which the passage opening or passage openings are at least partially released and is configured and connected to the cooking vessel top so that it offers a slight resistance to the opening movement.