Abstract: A method of welding at least two metal sheets protected by a zinc coating that has a low vaporizing temperature. The metal sheets are placed on top of each other in such a manner that at least one metal sheet has a curved section beginning at the weld area. The weld is performed partly on the metal sheets in contact and partly at the separation between the metal sheets in order to allow gases generated by vaporization of the protective material to escape from the weld area.

Abstract: A low spring rate multi-convoluted collapsible spacer adapted for use as a bearing preloading element. The collapsible spacer comprises a substantially tubular body compressible in an axial direction thereof from a predetermined free length to a substantially shorter length. The tubular body includes a yielding zone and an elastic zone adjacent to said yielding zone. Each of the yielding and elastic zones has at least one convolution curved in the same radial direction. An average thickness of the body of the spacer in the elastic zone is substantially greater than an average thickness of the body in the yielding zone that provides the collapsible spacer a substantially higher resiliency in the axial direction in the elastic zone than in the yielding zone. As a whole, the collapsible spacer has a relatively low spring rate, thus larger amount of “spring back”, hence less sensitivity to wear and maladjustment.

Abstract: A concentrating chamber in an oxygen concentrating apparatus is provided, in which a process for adsorbing nitrogen to concentrate oxygen is performed in a single case. The concentrating chamber in an oxygen concentrating apparatus includes: a casing having upper and lower openings; an adsorption unit for performing an oxygen concentration through a compressed air and counter-flowing the stored oxygen to perform a nitrogen rinsing in the casing; a check valve operating according to a predetermined pressure, for supplying the oxygen concentrated in the adsorption unit and rinsing the nitrogen adsorbed in the adsorption unit; and upper and lower manifolds for supplying the concentrated oxygen through the upper and lower ends of the casing, or supplying the compressed air and simultaneously exhausting the rinsed nitrogen, through the upper and lower ends of the casing. The concentrating chamber in an oxygen concentrating apparatus includes at least two casings.

Abstract: The invention is a molded flexible heavy-duty floor mat with attached metal wear plates designed to fit in the floor compartment area of a car, van, pick-up truck, sport utility or work vehicle. The floor mat surface is texturized with raised protrusions and ridges to provide non-slip shoe traction and shoe scraping surfaces. The floor mat has recessed areas, indentations, and channels to collect scraped or loosened debris and moisture. A peripheral double lip or wall contains the debris and moisture on the floor mat. The attached wear plates are texturized for additional scraping and traction purposes and are attached in areas of the floor mat which are most susceptible to wear, such as near the vehicle pedals and in the stepping area of the floor mat. The floor mat has back gripping area to secure and maintain the mat against the vehicle floor. The mat may be readily cleaned by removing the entire mat out from the vehicle.

Abstract: A control algorithm provides automatic control of the turn-on angle used to excite the switched-reluctance motor (SRM). The control algorithm determines the turn-on angle that supports the most efficient operation of the motor drive system, and consists of two pieces. The first piece of the control technique monitors the position of the first peak of the phase current (&thgr;p) and seeks to align this position with the angle where the inductance begins to increase (&thgr;m). The second piece of the controller monitors the peak phase current and advances the turn-on angle if the commanded reference current cannot be produced by the controller. The first piece of the controller tends to be active below base speed of the SRM, where phase currents can be built easily by the inverter and &thgr;p is relatively independent of &thgr;m. The second piece of the controller tends to be active above base speed, where the peak of the phase currents tends to naturally occur at &thgr;m, regardless of the current amplitude.

Abstract: A manifold for a heat exchanger comprising a tank, a plurality of tubes arranged to receive fluid therein, a plurality of fins for interspacing the tubes, the fins extending along the length of the tubes to thereby define a core section, wherein the header section is formed with multi-point brazing interfaces for securing said header and said core section during a brazing process. One embodiment provides at least one doubled wall area in close proximity to the tube slot areas to form a structure of increased strength, permitting the material to be reduced in relative thickness. The manifold may be formed from flat sheet stock by extended side walls of the header portion joined by a separate cap to close a top portion of the manifold assembly for the purpose of collecting fluid to and from the tubes and said at least one inlet and outlet.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rotating electric machine, especially an alternator or alternator/starter for motor vehicles, including a stator surrounding a rotor (10) equipped with a pack of metal plates, a gap between the stator and the rotor, permanent magnets integrated into the rotor and excitation coils (14) integrated into the rotor, in which the excitation coils are wound around salient poles (1310) cut out in the pack of metal plates of the rotor, and the permanent magnets are accommodated in housings (13110) formed in the pack of plates of the rotor and open towards the periphery of the rotor, characterized in that the housings (13110) are closed axially at each of their ends by a non-magnetic retaining piece (13) equipped with a part intended to come into abutment with the magnets, and in that the retaining piece features recesses for accommodations [sic] of the buns of the excitation coils (14).

Abstract: A pressing cushion (1) for use in laminating presses has a textile support (2) with threads (3, 4, 5), at least some of which constitute thermally conductive threads (3, 4, 5) that bring about, either directly or by contact with other thermally conductive threads (3, 4, 5), a thermal transfer from one outer side to the other outer side of the pressing cushion (1). The support (2) includes a cushion layer (7) made of a flexible rubber material, wherein the thickness of the cushion layer (7) is less than that of the support (2). The cushion layer (7) is embedded into the support (2) in such a way that thermally conductive threads (4, 5) protrude beyond the cushion layer (7) on both outer sides of the pressing cushion (1).

Abstract: Compositions and methods for treatment of focal muscle spasms. Immunotoxin conjugates comprise a toxin conjugated to an antibody reactive to a muscle specific antigen.

Abstract: A friction clutch comprising a pressure plate (12) consisting of tow half-plates (12A, 12B) integral in rotation with the input shaft but axially mobile, relative to each other, under the action of the device compensating play due to wear. The wear compensating device comprises a pair of complementary ramps (17, 18) circumferentially arranged, axially associated respectively with each of the half-plates (12A, 12B), one support ramp (17) being integral in rotation to one (12B) of the half-plates, the other adjustment ramp (18) being adapted to move circumferentially relative to the support ramp (17) in the compensating direction increasing the global thickness of the first plate (12) and prevented form moving in the other direction by one-way means (24). The circumferential movement is controlled by a tripping element (22) sensitive to wear condition, the adjusting ramp (18) being arranged at the periphery of an inertial piece (12A).

Abstract: A method of controlling the fuel quantity injected into an internal combustion engine having a number of injectors; for each injection, the method including the steps of determining a nominal energization time; determining a correction energization time; determining, in the event the required nominal fuel quantity is below a predetermined threshold, a corrected energization time by correcting the nominal energization time as a function of the correction energization time; and exciting an injector for the corrected energization time; the correction energization time being determined by: performing, in the presence of a predetermined series of operating conditions of the engine, a succession of energizations of the injector of gradually increasing energization times; determining a quantity related to the output torque of the engine; and calculating the correction energization time as a function of the quantity related to the output torque.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of detecting the blocking of a three-phase stepper motor featuring three coils, characterised in that, with the stepper motor having its coils connected in star mode, with a common terminal (P), it implements a detection of a said blocking of the rotor of the motor, by supplying two of the said coils (A, B) with electricity in such a way that they are traversed by a current, and by measuring the voltage at an end terminal of the third coil (C). A comparison of the measured voltage is carried out with at least one given threshold.

Abstract: A computer game controller with integrated video display device. The controller has a video device mounted or otherwise integrated into a hand held controller. A communication cable connects the controller with a stand alone computer game device. The cable establishes a communication link to facilitate the transmission of both command signals and audio/video signals between the controller and computer device. The integrated controller and video display device of the present invention provides two-way interaction with the stand-alone computer device within a single accessory device. The integrated controller and video display device may also incorporate a speaker or headphone jack to deliver additional audio stimulation.

Abstract: A composite building component includes a non-planar molded composite web having two outer zones and two angled zones wherein the caliper of the angled zones differs from the caliper of at least one of the outer zones, and a flange disposed on an outer surface of an outer zone. A method of providing a composite building component also is disclosed.