Abstract: A ceramic substrate has a surface structure capable of suppressing diffusion of Ni into an Au plating layer by providing an NiAu alloy layer between the substrate and the Au plating layer, whereby the thickness of the Au plating layer may be reduced. Such a surface structure is formed by applying the following layers to the substrate, a metallized layer (12), Ni an layer (13) and Au layer (14) in this order. The substrate (11) is heated in a non-oxidizing atmosphere to cause an alloying reaction between the Ni layer (13) and the Au layer (14). Thereafter, an Au plating layer (16) is formed on the NiAu alloy layer (15). Since Ni in the NiAu alloy layer is not easily released, diffusion of Ni into the Au plating layer is suppressed sufficiently.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing trim panels which are made of several trim components or trim materials, such as door trim panels of automobiles, the trim panel is essentially finished in a single work operation in one work station. A vinyl cover film (12) is formed, trim inserts (10, 11) are laminated onto the cover film with the aid of a nesting die (8a, 8b), soft touch inserts (26) are laminated underneath the cover film and the so produced laminate is further laminated onto a rigid substrate (2 or 2'). The substrate may be a prefabricated substrate (2), or may be a rigid foam substrate (2') back-foamed onto the formed vinyl film (12). An apparatus for carrying out the method is essentially a forming station with an upper form or mold (1) and a lower form or mold (15). The lower mold (15) includes nest dies (8a, 8b) for securely holding and then pressure laminating the trim inserts (10, 11), whereby a high placement precision of the inserts (10, 11) is achieved.

Abstract: A mechanism for lifting a wheel set, such as a railroad wheel set, is constructed for cooperation especially with wheel truing machines for lifting a wheel set into a machining position or out of the machining position. In order to facilitate the chip removal, the lifting mechanism is tiltably mounted in a chip removal pit. In its uplifting working position a cover of the lifting mechanism substantially closes the chip pit except for the wheel carriers. In the recessed position of the lifting mechanism the cover tilts along with the lifting mechanism thereby guiding any chips accumulated on the cover onto a chip removing conveyor in the pit. For this purpose the lifting mechanism has a movable frame hinged to a stationary frame so that the hinging axis extends outside of a lifting plane passing through the rotational axis of the wheel set.

Abstract: An onboard kitchen for an aircraft includes at least one kitchen unit with a counter top, a kitchen sink and a venting hood connected to an air exhaust conduit. A cyclone type separator is connected with its inlet and outlet ports into the exhaust air conduit thus connecting the separator to the venting hood. The cyclone type separator divides the airflow into a clean airflow which is led into a clean air discharge conduit and into a contaminating particles carrying airflow which is led into a discharge pipe connected to a drainage duct which connects the kitchen sink, preferably to a drainage pylon outside the aircraft body. The use of filters is thus avoided and the maintenance costs are minimized.

Abstract: A strain relief device for a multipole electrical plug connector, is constructed for holding a bunch of conductors either axially or at a right angle to its main axis. The device is also simplified in its structure so that the manufacture of its components and their assembly is facilitated. The device has a cap nut with a radially inwardly extending flange, and a housing with a radially outwardly facing circumferential channel. The housing has a through slot in its wall for temporarily and elastically compressing the housing radially inwardly so that the channel may engage the flange of the cap nut which is then locked in place, but rotatable relative to the housing. The flange either directly or indirectly helps compressing a sealing member in the connector proper. A conductor bundle holder includes a bail which can be secured to the housing in several different positions for holding a bundle of conductors either to extend axially or at an angle out of the housing.

Abstract: A mounting assembly facilitates the installation of dowels in layered compound panels. A dowel is held in its installed position in a hole in the panel by anchoring elements including at least one flange and by casting a curable casting resin mass around the dowel. The upper facing surface of the dowel inserted in the hole in the panel and the lower surface of a mounting member for facilitating the installation of the dowel are both located in a plane in common with an outer layer of the panel. The mounting member extends outside the circumference of the dowel and is connected to the dowel body (2, 41) thereby forming a casting dish or ring (21, 59) around the dowel. The dowel body (2, 41) has a cornered portion (6, 45) located centrally around the axis of a threading in a threaded bushing, whereby the flange (5, 43) merges into the cornered portion and whereby the cornered portion has flattened corners (15) defining an outer circle having a diameter equal to or larger than the diameter of the flange.

Abstract: A structure for supporting an obstacle, such as a so-called fence for use in equestrian show jumping, includes upright posts, each with a guide rail and a vertical row of holes in the guide rail. One or several obstacle support members are slidably adjustable up and down along the guide rails and arrestable in predetermined positions by a spring biased bolt which may be withdrawn manually from a hole for the adjustment movement. After adjustment the spring bias again urges the bolt into the respective hole.