Abstract: A combined optical profiler, ellipsometer, reflectometer and scatterometer is described which is configured to have user selectable spot sizes. An attached computer allows the user to select via software the desired spot size on the substrate.

Abstract: Medical instruments incorporating solid lubricants are shown to survive an oxidizing sterilization process if they employ solid lubricants free from disulfide and diselenide compounds such as molybdenum disulfide and the instrument is kept free from such compounds. PTFE, powdered graphite and boron nitride are preferred solid lubricants. Of particular importance are flexible endoscope employing solid lubricants on fiber optic bundles encased in elastomeric coverings.

Abstract: A unitized heater and evaporator core for an HVAC system of a vehicle comprises a plurality of pairs of stacked plates joined together to form separate and discrete tube passes for the heater and the evaporator for the air conditioning system with tanks provided at opposite ends thereof. Each tube includes an internal partition wall for separating heater and evaporator fluids in isolated sections of the tubes. Air centers are connected between adjacent pairs of plates for directing an inlet air stream through the combined evaporator and heater core. Tabs extending from the partition wall formed by the plates of the tubes provide support for separating the air center fins to be connected to the heater and evaporator sections of the tube of the core to inhibit the conduction of heat energy therebetween.

Abstract: The tubes of a heat exchanger core are interlocked and spaced from are another prior to brazing in a furnace. Each of the separate plates of each tube is formed with discrete laterally spaced tabs which project transversely to the plane of the plate for spacing and for locking adjacent tubes with one another. These tabs are an integral part of stamped plate and are bent so that they are generally perpendicular to the plane of the plate. The locking tabs have a flat, upturned locking end that is resilient to closely fit over the end of an adjacent plate of an adjacent tube to interlock adjacent tubes together. Straight spacer tabs are used to spaced separate tubes from one another. These spacer tabs are similar to the locking tabs but have straight abutment ends instead of the flattened locking end portions to provide column support. With the locking and spacing tabs in place, the tubes are arrayed in a core which is securely interlocked and accurately spaced.

Abstract: A heat exchanger suitable for use as a condenser in an automotive air conditioning system has a pair of header tanks connected by flat extruded tubes. Air centers are sandwiched between the tubes for extracting heat from refrigerant directed through the flat extruded tubes. Each of the flat extruded tubes are located in spaced parallelism and each of the tubes have an end portion with a tapered outer surface for piloting the tube into contact with a mating tapered surface in a header opening and wherein the axial length of the end portion and the tapered surfaces are selected to define a brazed joint having maximized contact surface and strength. Each of the flat extruded tubes has a peripheral shoulder engageable either with the outboard surface of the header or with a countersunk surface portion thereof to precisely locate the end surface of each of the tube end portions with respect to avoid excessive tube stickout within the header tank volume.

Abstract: A solenoid control valve has a main poppet to selectively open and close a port in a passage and when closed is subject to a fluid pressure differential tending to prevent valve opening. To facilitate valve opening, bypass passages through the main poppet are provided for reducing the net pressure on the main poppet and are controlled by a pilot valve. A solenoid and return spring control operation of a tubular plunger with an intregral pilot poppet. The main poppet is carried on a stem which has a telescoping lost motion connection to the plunger thus allowing the poppet to selectively engage a pilot seat on the main poppet for the closed valve state and for separating from the seat during valve opening.