Abstract: A first heat exchanger implements heat exchange between refrigerant and atmosphere. A second heat exchanger implements heat exchange between the refrigerant and air directed to an interior of the vehicle. A third heat exchanger downstream of the second heat exchanger implements heat exchange between the refrigerant and the air directed to the interior of the vehicle. A four-way valve connected among a refrigerant flow restricting device, the first heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger, and the third heat exchanger for changing a flow path of the refrigerant. A bypass device allows the refrigerant to selectively flow through the second heat exchanger and bypass the second heat exchanger. During a first mode of operation, the refrigerant is circulated sequentially through a compressor, the third heat exchanger, the four-way valve, the first heat exchanger, the refrigerant flow restricting device, the four-way valve, the second heat exchanger, and the compressor.

Abstract: An engine mount actuator having an upper casing open at one end, and connected at an opposite end to an engine mounting bolt. The engine mounting bolt extends within the casing and is supported by a bushing which is in turn laterally supported by an elastomeric isolator disk within the upper casing. A lower casing including a frame mounting bolt at one end, and opened at another end faces the opened end of the upper casing. A mounting flange is supported between the upper and lower casing open ends supports a stator, having first and second toroidal windings which define a circumferential space. A circumferential magnet assembly includes a permanent magnet means supported within the circumferential space, and is coupled to the engine mounting bolt through a spherical bearing. The magnet assembly produces a force against the engine mounting bolt in response to a current through the first and second toroidal windings.

Abstract: A semiconductor element including a silicon substrate, a silicon oxide film formed on the silicon substrate, and a top electrode formed on the silicon oxide film, wherein chromium is included only in a region of the silicon oxide film, the region including the interface between the silicon oxide film and the top electrode and the vicinity of the interface, and the method of manufacturing the same.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and an apparatus for vacuum drying of a material, particularly timber or the like. The apparatus comprises a drying chamber (1), a vacuum producing unit (6) coupled with the drying chamber, a cooler structure (2,4), and devices for heating the drying chamber (1). The cooler structure (2,4) and the drying chamber (1) are coupled together by a compression unit (9) that may be placed substantially within the drying chamber (1). The cooler structure (2,4) is placed at least partially in a heat transfer connection with the drying chamber (1).

Abstract: A steering column centering assembly for resisting off-center movement of the steerable wheels of a vehicle and for returning them to a selected center position after each such movement. The centering assembly includes a screw member connected between input and output shafts of the vehicle steering column, a screw follower for engaging the screw member, a centering cylinder containing a pair of pistons, and a reciprocating member for engaging the pistons in response to movement of the screw follower. Movement of each piston in a corresponding centering chamber is resisted by a resilient force, and this resilient force causes the reciprocating member to resist axial movement of the screw follower and rotational movement of the screw member such that off-center movement of the steering column and of the steerable wheels is resisted by the centering assembly. The resistance force, the return force and the selected center position may be varied remotely.

Abstract: An electronic package is provided that includes a flexible polyimide film carrier having electronic circuitry on both of its major surfaces and a plurality of solder interconnection pads on a first major surface; solder mask layers located on both major surfaces, provided that areas between subsequently to be applied individual circuit chips on the first major surface exist that are free from the solder mask; and a plurality of modules attached to the film carrier by the solder balls or bumps. Also provided is a method for fabricating the electronic package that includes reflow of the solder balls or bumps to achieve attachment of the modules.

Abstract: A speed-increasing mechanism and a clutch mechanism are provided between a speed-reduction gear train and planetary gear trains, to realize a small-torque and high-speed rotation during a light load condition and a large-torque and low-speed rotation during a heavy load condition. A motor is actuated by a relay. An auxiliary motor switch, closing a contact of the relay, is provided at a motor housing to facilitate an operation of a shear wrench during a work where a bolt is fastened upward from below.

Abstract: A water purification apparatus for purifying input water and dispensing a user selected quantity of purified water into a portable container in response to deposit of a predetermined amount of money. The apparatus comprises a first purified water path and a second purified water path. The first purified water path includes a reverse osmosis filter and a storage tank. The second purified water path includes an ultraviolet sterilizing unit connected between the tank and a dispensing unit with one or more dispensing valves. A recirculation water path periodically recirculates tank water through the ultraviolet sterilizing apparatus to improve and maintain the purity thereof. Another water recirculation path may be provided to recirculate concentrate from the reverse osmosis filter to a filter inlet line where it is mixed with input water.

Abstract: A low-emission combustion chamber for gas turbine engines comprises an outer casing with an upstream end wall with a pilot fuel injector, a first flow swirler, an igniting members for initiating a stable diffusion frame in a pilot zone, at least one second coaxial swirler, main fuel injectors, secondary air inlets, and a main combustion zone. For obtaining a still further reduced emissions of primarily nitrogen oxides, the pilot zone is confined radially outwardly by a surrounding wall which constitutes the radially inner confinement of an axial outlet portion of a radial vaporization channel within the second swirler and a third radial flow swirler is adapted to supply the secondary air in a rotary motion opposite to that of the main flow of fuel and air.

Abstract: An injection cartridge of the dual-chamber type, which comprises a cylindrical cartridge barrel having a front chamber for a solid product and a rear chamber for a liquid product. The chambers are sealingly separated by a displaceable piston of a resilient material, and have an openable bypass connection for liquid from the rear chamber to the front chamber and a resilient sealing closure of the front end of the front chamber.

Abstract: A process of making a biocampatible porous hollow fiber that is made of polyolefine material and is coated with a biocompatible carbon material is disclosed. The biocompatible hollow fiber produced can be used as exchange material, diaphragms and/or semipermeable membranes within devices which will contact blood or plasma outside of the living body. The coated fiber is produced by introducing a preformed porous hollow fiber into an atmosphere of gaseous monomer vinylidene chloride and subsequent induction, e.g. by gamma radiation, of a graft-polymerization reaction to form an uniform polyvinylidene chloride layer. The ultimate coating is formed after a dehydrochlorination reaction in which hydrogen chloride is removed from the layer. The dechlorination reaction is typically performed by treating the fiber with hot concentrated aqueous ammonia solution. The reaction can be continued to reduce the chlorine content of the coating to less than 6% of its original value.

Abstract: A received signal is output to an echo path and, at the same time, it is divided into a plurality of subbands to generate subband received signals, which are applied to estimated echo paths in the respective subbands to produce echo replicas. The echo having propagated over the echo path is divided into a plurality of subbands to generate subband echoes, from which the corresponding echo replicas are subtracted to produce misalignment signals. Based on the subband received signal in each subband and the misalignment signal corresponding thereto, a coefficient to be provided to each estimated echo path is adjusted by a projection or ES projection algorithm.

Abstract: A dispersion electroluminescent device and a switch unit using the same are disclosed. The dispersion electroluminescent device includes three electrodes: first and second electrode layers and a common electrode layer. The common electrode layer is disposed between the first and second electrode layers. An electroluminescent layer and a first dielectric layer are disposed between the first electrode layer and the common electrode layer. A second dielectric layer is disposed between the common electrode layer and the second electrode layer. A voltage source applies first and second ac or dc pulse voltages, which are 180.degree. out of phase with each other, across the first electrode layer and the common electrode layer and across the common electrode layer and the second electrode layer, respectively, for canceling mechanical vibrations produced at the first and second dielectric layers by each other.

Abstract: A self-adjusting bearing assembly comprising a ball member, a connector member, and a bearing seat component having at least two seat members arranged to receive the ball member therebetween. The ball member has a shaped segment providing an outer bearing surface, and the seat members include correspondly shaped inner bearing surfaces for engaging the outer bearing surface of the ball member. A slack removal mechanism is provided to urge a movable one of the seat members toward the ball member and may comprise a pressure chamber having a wall formed by a resilient diaphram positioned adjacent a pressure surface of the movable seat member, and a fitting for pressurizing this chamber with a fluid. The assembly may include a second fitting for feeding lubricant from the pressure chamber to the bearing surfaces. Optionally, a screw member may be provided for exerting an adjustable mechanical force to urge the movable seat member against the ball member.

Abstract: An epidural filter has a planar housing with a flat lower surface taped to the patient's skin. An outlet at one end of the housing is connected to the epidural catheter and opens onto the lower surface of the filter element. The inlet at the other end of the housing is shaped to receive the nose of a syringe and opens onto the upper surface of the filter element. The inlet is either fixed at an angle of about 30.degree. to the lower surface of the housing, or can be displaced upwardly to such an angle by means of a resilient portion, to facilitate connection to the inlet.

Abstract: An elongate supporting part in a replacement construction and a method of production thereof, the replacement construction is intended to be secured in the human body in implants with unique longitudinal courses by using at least one working model in which the longitudinal courses and connection surfaces of the implants are represented by representation members. The method comprising the steps of generating an electrical representation of the outer shape of the working model and providing this information to computer equipment. The computer equipment performs calculations in order to establish an outer shape for the supporting part and generates machining information based on this outer shape which represents the shape of the supporting part. This information is provided to a machining device which machines a blank and an electro erosion tool is created by providing electrodes in a working model at positions of the representation members.