Abstract: An ignition plug that maintains excellent ignition performance over a long period of time through effective prevention of channeling. The ignition plug includes an insulator having an axial bore, a center electrode inserted into the axial bore, a metallic shell disposed externally of the outer circumference of the insulator, and a ground electrode fixed to a front end portion of the metallic shell. A cavity is defined by the wall surface of the axial bore and the front end surface of the center electrode. The ground electrode includes a body whose distal end portion is disposed away from the front end of the insulator, and a protrusion protruding from the body.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an ignition plug is provided. The method includes: preparing an insulator having a cavity provided at a leading end portion thereof by disposing a leading end of a center electrode more inwards in an axial hole than a leading end of the insulator; building the insulator in an interior of a metal shell; disposing a ground electrode at a leading end portion of the metal shell; positioning a center of a through hole of the ground electrode and a center of the cavity of the insulator; and welding the ground electrode and the metal shell together after the positioning step.

Abstract: A plasma jet spark plug for igniting an air-fuel mixture in a conventional combustion device such as an internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A spark plug having improved durability having a ground electrode comprised of a ground electrode base member and a noble metal tip. A center axis of the noble metal tip slants in relation to the center axis of the ground electrode base member at angle ? which satisfies a relation 2°???25°.

Abstract: A spark plug capable of preventing breakage of a ground electrode. The spark plug is comprised of a ground electrode having a base end portion fixed to a metal shell, a bend portion integrally formed with the base end portion and being bent and a front end portion integrally formed with the bend portion and forming a spark discharge gap “g” with a center electrode. The ground electrode is comprised of a core extending from the base end portion towards the front end portion through the bend portion; and an outer layer disposed outside the core and extending from the base end portion up to the front end portion through the bend portion. The core is made of Hastelloy C serving as a first metal, and the outer layer is made of Inconel 601 serving as a second metal. Hardness of Hastelloy C is higher than that of Inconel 601.

Abstract: An ignition plug having a center electrode, an insulator holding the center electrode in an axial bore, and a ground electrode disposed in contact with a front end portion of the insulator and having a through-hole whose center coincides with the axis of the center electrode. A semiconductor layer in contact with the center electrode and the ground electrode is formed in a portion of the surface of the insulator.

Abstract: The present invention provides a technique of suppressing the generation of radio noise in a spark plug, wherein a high dielectric constant fixation-assisting member, formed of a high dielectric constant material which is higher in dielectric constant than alumina, is provided between a metallic shell and a second conductive portion CP2 which includes a metallic terminal of the spark plug 100.

Abstract: A plasma jet ignition plug that reliably prevents current leakage with restraint on variation in the position of a ground electrode relative to an insulator and on overheat of the ground electrode, for stable generation of plasma. The plug includes an insulator having an axial bore extending in the direction of an axis CL1, a center electrode inserted in the axial bore, a metallic shell disposed externally of the outer circumference of the insulator, and a ground electrode fixed to the metallic shell, and has a cavity defined by the wall surface of the axial bore and the front end surface of the center electrode. Supports intervene between the insulator and the ground electrode. A space formed radially outward of the supports and a space formed radially inward of the support communicate with each other.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention are directed to methods and systems for assigning credit to the external and intermediate inputs of an enterprise-level system or other aggregate process with one or more global outputs that is composed of a number of interconnected local processes. Assigning credit is a mechanism for evaluating the impact of a particular variable, e.g., an input to one of the local processes, on the final output of the aggregate process. In certain embodiments of the invention, credit is assigned to the local inputs of each local process in two steps. First, for each local input, a local credit assignment is obtained. For chained outputs, credit assignment data is provided as calculated for the later stage processes to which the outputs are chained. Second, a global credit assignment is derived for the local inputs from the local credit assignment and the credit assignment information from later stage processes.

Abstract: A biological indicator and method of making same. The biological indicator includes a carrier having a recess formed therein in order to restrict movement of an inoculum deposited onto the carrier. The inoculum includes microorganisms (e.g., bacterial spores) suspended in a suspension medium. The microorganisms are prepared by removing extraneous material and subjecting the microorganisms to sonication to break up agglomerations. The suspension medium includes a wetting agent to reduce surface tension, thereby facilitating flow of the suspension medium to prevent stacking of microorganisms on the surface of the carrier, and to allow the inoculum to more evenly “plate out” on carrier surfaces. The carrier, with inoculum deposited thereon, is enclosed in an envelope made of a material permeable to a vaporous deactivating agent (e.g., vaporized hydrogen peroxide, ozone, chlorine dioxide, ethylene oxide, etc.), thereby facilitating exposure to the vaporous deactivating agent.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for transferring structures which are provided in a mask onto a substrate, with at least one illumination device, for homogeneous illumination of a section of the mask, and with a mask holding device, for holding a mask in a mask plane which is defined by an X axis and a Y axis which is perpendicular to it, and with at least one lens device, which is arranged on the side of the mask plane facing away from the illumination device, for mapping the structures onto the substrate, and with a substrate holding device, for holding the substrate in a substrate plane which is parallel to the mask plane and at a distance from the lens device, and with means for synchronous movement of the illumination device and lens device in parallel, relative to the mask plane and substrate plane, along the X axis and/or along the Y axis.

Abstract: A process of manufacturing the spark plug that includes a step in which a receiving die having an insertion hole and a taper portion is used, wherein a thread portion of the spark plug is inserted into the insertion hole and a seat portion of the spark plug is brought into contact with the taper portion, and a pressing force is applied to a rear end portion of a metallic shell of the spark plug so as to bend a rear end opening portion of the metallic shell, and to thereby form a crimped portion, whereby an insulator and the metallic shell are fixed together.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for treating drops in a microfluid circuit, comprising at least one microchannel (12) through which the drops flow, characterized in that a laser (26) is brought to bear on the interface of said drops in the transport liquid (F3), or on the interface of drops in contact, in order to carry out a sorting of the drops, to form nanodrops from a larger drop or to fuse drops (60, 64) in contact and initiate reactions between the fluids contained in said drops.

Abstract: The present invention provides a connection system for attaching and detaching a device to and from a support arm. The connection system is comprised of a key member having a keyed portion. A first section is attachable to a support arm. The first section is dimensioned to receive the keyed portion of the key member. A second section is attachable to a device. The second section is dimensioned to attach to the first section. An actuator is operable to move between a first position and a second position. The second section is locked to the first section when the actuator is in the first position. The second section is detachable from the first section when the key member is locked to the first section and the actuator is in the second position.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sterilizer having a housing defining a sterilization chamber. An opening in the housing communicates with the chamber. A surface surrounds the opening, and a door is movable between one of an open position allowing access to the chamber through the opening and a closed position covering the opening. A seal element is associated with the surface for forming a fluid-tight seal between the door and the surface when the door is in the closed position. An operating system is provided for applying pressure to one side of the seal from a first source external to the operating system to force the seal into engagement with the door. Sensing means are provided for monitoring the pressure applied to the seal from the first pressure source. A second source of pressure is provided in the operating system and is connectable to the seal.

Abstract: A spark plug having an electrode, an insulator, a metallic shell, a main ground electrode, and at least two auxiliary ground electrodes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for removing chemical sterilant molecules from a medium, such as a carrier gas. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a housing that defines an internal cavity. The housing has an inlet and an outlet fluidly communicating with the internal cavity. An electrode is dimensioned to be received in the internal cavity of the housing. The electrode is made of a material that is chemically active with respect to molecules of a chemical sterilant and conductive to electricity. The electrode is connected to a source of an electrical charge such that an electrical field gradient is formed in a region of space surrounding the electrode. The electrical field gradient is operable to force the chemical sterilant molecule toward the electrode.

Abstract: A plasma jet ignition plug including an insulator having an axial hole extending therethrough in the direction of an axis CL1, a center electrode inserted into the axial hole, and a ground electrode disposed frontward of the front end of the insulator. The insulator has a cavity defined by the wall surface of the axial hole and the front end surface of the center electrode and opens frontward. The ground electrode has a through hole for establishing communication between the cavity and an ambient atmosphere. A front end portion of the center electrode is formed into a taper portion whose diameter reduces frontward in the direction of the axis CL1. The outside diameter of a front end of the taper portion is smaller than the diameter of the through hole. The cavity has a substantially constant diameter with respect to the direction of the axis CL1.

Abstract: A plasma jet ignition plug having high ignition performance and high durability. The plasma jet ignition plug comprises a center electrode wherein at least a front end portion including a front end surface of the center electrode contains an oxide of at least one of the rare earth elements in a total amount of 0.5% by mass to 10% by mass inclusive and tungsten (W) in an amount of 90% by mass or greater, or contains iridium (Ir) in an amount of 0.3% by mass to 3% by mass inclusive and W in an amount of 97% by mass or greater.