Abstract: Method and apparatus for heating plastic by laser beams with the aid of a number of laser points on the focal plane, the laser points being produced by an optical arrangement with the aid of a multiple wedge plate. The arrangement can be integrated in a processing head.

Abstract: An operating device is provided which includes an instrument insertion conduit, having a distal end connectable to the operating channel input of a handle of an endoscopic probe, the proximal end of the instrument insertion conduit forming an instrument input for the operating device, a suction assembly comprising a suction conduit communicating with the insertion conduit and a control device for selectively connecting the suction conduit to a pump, to suck out fluids through the operating channel, and a connecting conduit putting the suction conduit into communication with the insertion conduit, and the length of which is such that when the operating device is fixed on the handle, the suction control device is positioned close to the control means located in a proximal part of the handle.

Abstract: There are provided a thin wire grid polarizer having a high transmittance, a high quenching ratio and a high degree of polarization, and a method for producing the same at low costs. A fluoridated polyimide thin film 12, a hydrophilic thin film 13 and a hydrophobic thin film 14 are sequentially stacked on a glass substrate 11 to be pressed by a die 1 from the side of the hydrophobic thin film 14 to transfer the fine pattern of groove forming protrusions 3 of the die 1 to the hydrophobic thin film 14 and hydrophilic thin film 13 by the nano-imprinted lithography technique, and then, metal fine wires are caused to grow by plating.

Abstract: There is provided a method for producing a reliable metal/ceramic bonding substrate at low costs by forming a desired fillet on the peripheral portion of a metal circuit by a small number of steps. After an active metal containing brazing filler metal 12 is applied on a ceramic substrate 10 to bond a metal member 14 thereto, a resist 16 is applied on a predetermined portion of a surface of the metal member 14 to etch unnecessary portions, and then the resist is removed. Thereafter, unnecessary part of a metal layer 12b, which is formed of a metal other than an active metal of the active metal containing brazing filler metal 12, is etched with a chemical to be removed. Then, unnecessary part of an active metal layer 12a, which is formed of the active metal and a compound thereof, is selectively etched with a chemical, which inhibits the metal member 14 and the metal layer 12b from being etched and which selectively etch the active metal layer 12b, to form a metal circuit on the ceramic substrate 10.

Abstract: Pre-molding of wax or similar sacrificial material over one or more cores facilitates a subsequent molding over a core assembly. Individual cores or groups thereof may be pre-molded in a wax body. One or more such wax bodies may be assembled with other bodies and/or other cores to facilitate a main wax molding of such assembly.

Abstract: The invention concerns a converter which includes two input terminals and two output terminals, a main transformer presenting primary and secondary windings connected between the input terminals and the output terminals respectively, a switching device, a first inductance and a first capacitance forming a first resonant circuit with the primary winding of the main transformer, a wound regulation transformer, presenting a primary winding, and a secondary winding connected in series with one of the windings of the main transformer, a switching device, a second inductance and a second capacitance forming a second resonant circuit with the primary winding of the regulation transformer and with this switching device and a command forming the first and second resonant circuits at a resonance frequency less than or equal to the resonance frequencies of the resonant circuits.

Abstract: Physical vapor deposition is utilized to deposit repair material on Ti alloy turbine components.

Abstract: An improved engine construction, such as a rocket engine construction is provided. The engine construction comprises a combustion chamber, a smooth wall nozzle, and a transition zone between the chamber and the smooth wall nozzle. The transition zone has a coolant system which includes a manifold formed from a non-copper material through which a coolant flows. In a high heat transfer embodiment, the transition zone includes an additional manifold formed from a copper based material.

Abstract: A turbine engine component has a substrate formed from a nickel based superalloy and a Ni—Pt—Al—Hf bondcoat applied to a surface of the substrate. Two methods for forming the platinum modified Ni—Pt—Al—Hf bondcoat are described herein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and a method for developing an engine model. The system broadly comprises a module for generating a state variable model of an engine, which module receives a plurality of inputs to an engine representative of a particular flight condition and generates a set of estimated engine parameters representative of the model. The system further comprises a comparator for comparing the set of estimated engine parameters to a set of measured engine parameters for generating a set of residuals and an artificial neural network module to be trained and to be used in an implementation configuration after training has been completed. The artificial neural network receives the set of residuals and the engine inputs during a training phase and generates a set of estimated residuals representative of the engine condition.

Abstract: A compressor assembly, including a compressor, at least one pipe having ends and an intermediate portion between the ends, the at least one pipe being connected to the compressor at the ends, and at least one support member for supporting the intermediate portion of the at least one pipe relative to the compressor.

Abstract: A method for joining workpieces made from plastic, the upper workpiece, facing a laser source, consisting of a material transparent to the laser beam, and the lower workpiece consisting of a material absorbent to the laser beam, such that the mutually bordering contact surfaces for the two workpieces melt and are joined to one another under pressure during a subsequent cooling, the guiding of the laser beam onto the site to be joined, and the mechanical compression of the workpieces being carried out simultaneously by a machining head. The corresponding device comprises a machining head with focussing devices for the laser beam onto the contact surface, and pressure-exerting devices for compressing the workpieces. A rotatably mounted glass ball or roller is particularly suitable as pressure-exerting device. The invention permits welding quality to be assured in conjunction with flexibility of the welding operation without expensive and complicated damping balls.

Abstract: A control circuit 6 of a resonance type switching power source comprises a drive circuit 21 for supplying drive pulses to each gate terminal of first and second MOS-FETs 2,3; a PWM circuit 9 for causing drive circuit 21 to produce drive pulses; an input voltage detector 7 for detecting input voltage from DC power source 1 and comparing the input voltage and input reference voltage Vref1; and a frequency adjuster 8 for adjusting oscillation frequency of PWM circuit 9 in response to output level from the input voltage detector 7. With adjustment in oscillation frequency of PWM circuit 9 in response to input voltage Vin from DC power source 1, control circuit 6 can modify on-off timing of first and second MOS-FETs 2, 3 to keep good resonating action and prevent off-resonance although DC power source 1 produces fluctuating input voltages.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stacking column for storing goods on top of each other or next to each other on pawls (1) which rotate about a rotational axis (2) from an idle position into a working position. The respective successive pawls (1) are mutually coupled by means of at least one link plate (9). In order to reduce the gap or pitch (T) between adjacent pawls (1), the at least one link plate (9) is angular, elbowed or arc-shaped.

Abstract: A method for constant-current generation by means of a rotational energy source, a generator and a control circuit connected to the generator. Mechanical rotational energy is generated by the energy source and the mechanical rotational energy is transmitted to the generator rotor. The magnetic field distribution produced in the generator is controlled by the control circuit that controls the current distribution in the generator between load current and generator current by feedback control by generating an opposing magnetic field. The power uptake and the current output are adapted without losses and the alternating current generated by the generator is transferred to an averaging direct-current circuit. A suitable device for carrying out the method is also provided.

Abstract: A wax or similar material may be molded to a base plate of an investment casting shelling fixture. The molding may provide for enhanced positioning of wax patterns or may provide a precise surface shape for the shell.

Abstract: A bypass air metering valve is provided with a stationary case flange having a plurality of slots, a bushing positioned within each of the slots, and a metering ring positioned so as to ride on a surface of each respective bushing. Each bushing creates a gap between the stationary case flange and the metering ring. Each bushing has an internal opening which is sized to create an open area flow for cooling or operating the nozzle and its attaching flap hardware. The metering ring covers and uncovers the internal opening of each bushing as required by the engine operating schedule.

Abstract: A substrate is coated by applying a first layer atop the substrate and comprising, in major weight part, a non-refractory first metal. A second layer is applied atop the first layer and comprises, in major weight part, a carbide and/or nitride of a second metal. A third layer is applied atop the second layer and comprises, in major weight part, a ceramic. The substrate may be a refractory metal-based investment casting core.

Abstract: A self-priming rapid curing chromate free corrosion resistant coating composition based on a random polyvinyl terpolymer and an alkyd resin with a hydroxyl number between 80–200 in association with a mineral acid catalyst, at least one organic solvent and a drying agent wherein the vinyl terpolymer is predominantly a polyvinyl formal with polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl acetate as the other two co-polymers, the terpolymer cross linking through its hydroxyl groups with the alkyd resin in the composition during curing. The composition can be applied as a clear coat or as a pigmented composition with addition of pigments on ferrous and non-ferrous metallic substrate and is suitable for continuous coil coating lines. A method of coating a ferrous and non-ferrous metallic substrate by applying a coating composition on its surface and coated articles so produced.

Abstract: A substrate is coated by applying an essentially pure aluminum first layer to a surface of the substrate. At least a first portion of the first layer is oxidized so as to provide a protective coating of desired properties. The substrate may be a refractory metal-based investment casting core.