Abstract: A welding method is provided for forming a weld joint between first and second elements of a workpiece. The method includes heating the first and second elements to form an interface of material in a plasticized or melted state interface between the elements. The interface material is then allowed to cool to a plasticized state if previously in a melted state. The interface material, while in the plasticized state, is then mixed, for example, using a grinding/extruding process, to remove any dendritic-type weld microstructures introduced into the interface material during the heating process.

Abstract: In a fiber-optical strain-gauge of the kind comprising a mechanical construction providing a linear, strain-dependent relative movement of oppositely positioned spaced-apart first and second optical fiber-holding elements in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of the optical fibers, and in which the varying transmission of light between the two fibers is used as an indication of the strain, the main new feature is that the strain-gauge is manufactured using the following steps: a) prestressing an optical fibre by applying a pulling force, or prestressing the mechanical construction by applying a compressing force; b) fixing said optical fiber to the fiber-holding elements in the mechanical construction; and c) cleaving the optical fiber at the interspace between the fiber-holding elements.

Abstract: A welding torch, in particular a tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding torch, comprises a body portion (2) in which is housed an elongate, non-consumable electrode (10) the tip of which projects from the body portion (2), clamping means (8) within the body portion (2) for releasably gripping the electrode (10), control means (18) selectively movable between a first position in which the clamping means (8) hold the electrode (10) in an operative position, and a second position in which the clamping means (8) are released from the electrode (10), and an ejector mechanism (16) which, with the control means (18) in its second position, can be actuated to move the electrode (10) axially within the body portion (2).

Abstract: A channeling device is provided for transferring and compressing a bundle of cigarettes formed into a rectangular configuration by a hopper into a preformed container. The channeling device includes a base having a longitudinal axis and a longitudinal channel through the base. The channel includes an entry portion having a lateral entry cross section which is rectangular and adapted to receive the bundle of cigarettes, and an exit portion having a non-rectangular exit cross section smaller than the entry cross section and adapted to deliver the bundle of cigarettes to a container having a matching non-rectangular cross section. An intermediate portion smoothly connects the entry portion to the exit portion. In one preferred embodiment, the non-rectangular cross section is flask-shaped. In another preferred embodiment, the non-rectangular cross section is polygonal, such as octagonal. In still another preferred embodiment, the non-rectangular cross section is oval shaped.

Abstract: A suspension seat arrangement (1) comprising a lower frame (2) mountable to a seat mounting, an upper frame (3) connected to the lower frame (2) and movable with respect thereto, the upper frame (3) being arranged to mount a seat base (16), and a suspension arrangement (12) suspending the upper frame (3) with respect to the lower frame (2), the upper frame (3) and lower frame (2) arrangement being such that the upper frame (3) is able to move downwardly relative to the lower frame (2) so that the upper frame (3) and lower frame (2) become nested together one within the other. In another embodiment a suspension seat arrangement comprising a suspension adjustment mechanism for adjusting the tension of the suspension. In a further embodiment a suspension seat arrangement comprising a cover arrangement to encapsulate the suspension arrangement.

Abstract: A technique for manufacturing a gear rack (5) for a rack-and-pinion steering gear for automobiles makes use of a blank (18) for the gear rack (5) having at least in the latter's toothed area a form deviating from a circular cylinder. Size and form of the cross-section of the blank (18) are selected in a manner that the contour of the finished gear rack (5) in the toothed area (7) does not project beyond the envelope given by the dimensions of neighboring parts of the rack-and-pinion steering gear. The gear rack (5) is formed from the blank (18) by means of tumble-forging. After tumble-forging, the gear rack (5) in its toothed area (7) outside the toothed section has a convex or concave longitudinal profile, which serves to support the tumbling torques during tumble-forging.

Abstract: A drilling jig is used for a dental implant which dental implant has a bore designed to received a clamp of the drilling jig. The bore enables the drilling jig to be guided for producing one or several lateral holes in the bone and for passing through one or several pins. The dental implant also includes a jig body accurately fixed on a positioning member integral with the dental implant, and an elongated part or socket which slides in the jig body to be urged in contact with the bone.

Abstract: A method of plowing snow from a site using a snowplow with at least two plow blades (5) forming together a plowing angle and there being on the plowing site fixed objects, such as airport lamps (1), rising over the site surface. In the method, when the snowplow faces an object, the plow front end is opened and the area with the object on it is left unplowed by the open front end, with this unplowed area then being cleaned by brushes (6,7) in the rear of the plow front end.

Abstract: The fibre-optical strain gauge comprises a mechanical construction (1) providing a strain-dependent relative movement of oppositely positioned, spaced apart first and second optical fibre ends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of the optical fibres (7a, 7b) and uses the varying transmission of light between the two fibres (7a, 7b) as an indication of the strain. The mechanical construction comprises fibre-holding elements (6a, 6b) for securing the two fibres (7a, 7b) to the mechanical construction (1) in an aligned relationship in the unstrained condition.

Abstract: When extracting the castings (5, 6) produced in a mould foundry plant, comprising an extraction station receiving the moulds (1, 2, 3) with solidified castings (5, 6) positioned in the mould cavities at the mould-parting surface between mould parts a part of the casting (5) to be extracted is gripped in a fixed position and orientation before opening the mould cavity containing said casting, said gripping providing a positive, fixed engagement between the gripping tool (8) and the casting (5), the mould cavity containing the gripped casting (5) is opened by removing a first mould part (1), the gripped casting (5) is extracted from the mould cavity, and the casting (5) is moved to a delivery position for further processing thereof. This provides a possibility of delivery of the extracted casting (5) in a well-defined position and orientation for the further processing thereof.

Abstract: A resonant sensor for determining structural property changes, in particular for detecting the presence of chemical or biological species, comprises a structure (2) mounted to be capable of resonating and having a cyclically symmetrical configuration with two independent degenerative modes of vibration of a common natural frequency (f), and means (24,26,28,30,32,34,36,38) for exciting the structure (2) to resonate according to the two degenerative modes, regions (8,12,16,20) of the structure (2) being modified such that, on changes in the structural properties of the modified regions (8,12,16,20), for example by the addition or subtraction of mass, the natural frequencies (f1, f2) of the two modes of vibration become different, the difference in frequencies (?f) being proportional to the change in structural properties.

Abstract: For a pressure reduction, an aerosol spray can filled with a compressed pressure gas requires, upstream of its spray valve (14), a pressure regulation valve (10) with a closing point (28). In known embodiment types a flow occurs around the outside of the pressure reduction valve, which requires a complicated housing structure. It is therefore proposed that the connection between the closing point (28) and the spray valve (14) take place via a central bore (58) in the piston (22) of the pressure reduction valve (10), preferably without a flow through the pressure chamber (26), but instead past the latter. The simple construction is advantageous, with which it is also possible to provide easy access to the piston (22) from the outside in order to maintain it in its opened position for easier filling under pressure.

Abstract: A female coupler for a fueling structure includes a body, an oil seal with an annular wing, and a sealing member. A flange is formed on an inner periphery of the body and located adjacent to an open end of the body. An annular wall projects from a bottom wall of the sealing member. The oil seal is mounted inside the annular wall and includes an annular wing on a face thereof. The annular wing includes a top face and a bottom face. The top face and the bottom face of the oil seal are respectively pressed against by the annular wall of the sealing member and the flange of the body. A whole annular face of the open end of the body and the bottom wall of the sealing member are welded together by ultrasonic welding, providing dual leakage prevention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing mold parts (5) on a string molding apparatus comprising a molding chamber (1) between a squeeze plate (2) and a pivoted squeeze plate (3) in which both the squeeze plate (2) and the pivoted squeeze plate (3) can move in a direction towards each other and a direction away from one another comprising the steps of introducing a compressible particulate molding material (4) in the molding chamber (1) and then squeezing the molding material (4) by moving the squeeze plate (2) and the pivoted squeeze (3) towards one another wherein the velocity of the squeeze plate and the velocity of the pivoted squeeze plate are controlled independent from one another during the squeezing of the mold part (5).

Abstract: A method for storing nuclear fuel in a container (10) including a concrete body and a fuel receiver embedded in the concrete body, comprises the steps of: providing formwork (62) for the concrete body and supporting the fuel receiver within the formwork; placing the formwork in an immersed position in a pool (54) containing a body of water; placing concrete in the immersed formwork (62); and removing the formwork with the concrete body cast therein from the pool (52).

Abstract: The invention relates to an actuator (22) for a seat, of the type comprising, on the one hand, a body (40) and a control element (38) displaceable relative to the body (40), under the control of an actuating motor (36), and, on the other hand, a transducer (42) disposed between the body (40) and the control element (38), said transducer (42) being suitable for providing a raw measurement value representative of the current position of the control element (38) relative to the body (40). It has a unit (46) for correcting said raw measurement value, said correction unit (46) being suitable for implementing a correction algorithm which is specific to said actuator and which is suitable for providing a corrected value for the current position of the actuator on the basis of said raw measurement value. Said correction unit (46) is specific to said actuator and is integrated therein.