Abstract: For bonding pure beryllium to a copper alloy, a functionally gradient beryllium-copper material comprising a single layer or multiple layers having a thickness of 0.3-3.0 mm and containing at least 50 atomic % of Cu is inserted between the pure beryllium and the copper alloy to prevent bonding strength from degrading in the bonding process or during operation of a nuclear fusion reactor, by effectively mitigating formation of brittle intermetallic compounds and generation of thermal stress at the bonding interface.

Abstract: A drum stand for an African drum includes a rigid frame that is connected to a seat. The frame includes at least two legs and an opening to accept the drum wherein the drum rests in the frame and wherein the drum is suspended above the ground whereby an arcuate portion of the lower opening of the drum contacts the ground.

Abstract: A gliding board including:a lower assembly (1) which constitutes the gliding sole (2) and may or may not be bordered by edges (3, 4);an upper assembly (5) comprising at least one outer layer forming the upper face (6) and the flanks (7, 8),a core (10) which is intended to fill the space contained between the lower assembly (1) and the upper assembly (5) and consists of an expanded polyurethane foam;at least one reinforcing element (15, 16) which is arranged under the outer layer (6) and/or on the sole (2) and is impregnated with a cross-linked resin;an intermediate bonding element (17, 18) interposed between the reinforcing element (15, 16) and the filling core (10), wherein said intermediate bonding element (17) consists of a porous sheet, coated and partially sealed on each face with a latex-based solution so that the face in contact with the core (10) is superficially impregnated with polyurethane foam, and the face in contact with the upper assembly (5) is superficially impregnated with the resin of the r

Abstract: A lead-acid battery including a case, a plurality of negative and positive electrode plates arranged in the case, a plurality of separators interposed between the negative and positive electrode plates, and a plenum stabilization material disposed within the case to maintain the positions of the electrode plates relative to one another and to other components within the case. The plenum stabilization material includes a compound that (i) is solid during normal operation of the battery and (ii) can undergo reversible physical change in state from solid to liquid when the battery is subjected to or is operated under abnormal conditions.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus prevents uneven wear of the platen and improves the operating rate of the apparatus. The polishing apparatus provided with a platen 1 divided into an inner peripheral platen portion 11 and an outer peripheral platen portion 13 and with a carrier 5, wherein by making the inner peripheral platen portion 11 and the outer peripheral platen portion 13 rotate in opposite directions and setting the rotational speeds of the inner peripheral platen portion 11 and the outer peripheral platen portion 13 so that the mean relative speed of a wafer 200 and the inner peripheral platen portion 11 and the mean relative speed of the wafer 200 and the outer peripheral platen portion 13 become substantially equal, it becomes possible to make the amount of wear of the polishing pad 11a of the inner peripheral platen portion 11 and the amount of wear of the polishing pad 13a of the outer peripheral platen portion 13 substantially equal.

Abstract: A method of forming a preform which has a glass core surrounded by an outer glass cladding with a coating of an particulate optically active material disposed between the core and cladding. The method includes providing a glass core having a viscosity which lies within a given preselected temperature range, followed by forming a coherent coating of an optically active particulate material over the surface of the core, with the coating material having a viscosity which is equal to or less than the viscosity of the glass core. A glass cladding is formed over the coated layer, with the cladding glass having a viscosity which overlaps the viscosity of the core glass. The optically active material is an inorganic material which includes a metal, metal alloy, ferrite, magnetic material and a semiconductor. The invention includes the product formed by the process.

Abstract: A process for growing a crystalline silicon plate, including the steps of arranging a planar growth member and a growth crucible in which a melt of silicon is placed and which is provided with a melt draw-out opening at a lower side thereof, while at least a tip portion of the growth member is located under the draw-out opening, drawing out the melt from the crucible through the draw-out opening, bringing the drawn out melt into contact with the tip portion of the growth member, and further pulling down the melt through the tip portion of the growth member.

Abstract: A mold assembly for forming a lens blank which gives a contact lens includes an upper and a lower mold half which cooperate with each other to define a substantially fluid-tight mold cavity when the two halves are assembled together. The mold cavity is filled with a monomer liquid which is polymerized to provide the lens blank that is to be subjected to a cutting operation for forming a base and a front curved surface of the contact lens. The upper mold half includes a flexible thin-walled portion which has a downwardly convex shape and which partially defines the mold cavity. The thin-walled portion is deformable to absorb expansion or shrinkage of the monomer liquid during polymerization thereof in the mold cavity. The lower mold half includes a base portion at which the lower mold half is clamped by a chuck of a lathe during the cutting operation. A mold portion of the lower mold half has a molding surface which is provided with a recess or protrusion for holding the lens blank on the lower mold half.

Abstract: A ceramic member has a flat or curved ceramic plate having a plurality of minute through holes of a maximum pore diameter of 150 .mu.m or less, and having electrodes installed on one surface of the plate. The ceramic member controls the ejection of ions carrying either positive or negative charge from the minute through holes by switching the sign of charge carried by the electrodes. The minute through holes are tapered toward the side where ions are ejected. The ceramic member gives an improved property of ejecting charged particle from minute through holes while maintaining high mechanical strength and productivity.

Abstract: A refrigerant management system for use in an absorption cooling and heat machine that includes a holding tank for storing a given amount of refrigerant that is bled from the refrigerant supply line for bringing refrigerant from the evaporator sump into the evaporator header. A return line is located in the top of the tank which returns refrigerant from the tank to the sump when the tank is filled. A drain line containing a control valve is located in the bottom of the tank which, when opened, rapidly discharges the contents of the tank into the sump when the system demands additional refrigerant.

Abstract: A refrigeration system for cooling or heating an area includes a condenser for removing heat from the system to an external environment, an evaporator for receiving heat from the area to be cooled or delivering heat to the area to be heated, and a compressor for raising the pressure and the temperature of a refrigerant. Prior to placing the system in a cooling or heating/defrost mode, it is desirable to run a pretrip routine to determine the operational condition of the refrigeration system. In the present invention, a pretrip device determines a refrigeration system parameter, and from this parameter selects one of at least two possible pretrip routine variations. Finally, the pretrip device executes the selected pretrip routine in order to determine the operational condition of a refrigeration system.

Abstract: A workpiece surface processing apparatus capable of processing the surface of a workpiece without being limited as to the shape of the workpiece and further capable of measuring the state of polish of the workpiece with a high precision. The workpiece surface processing apparatus includes three platens 1-1 to 1-3 arranged substantially point symmetrically and being rotated in the same direction by motors 17 to 19, a carrier head 2 holding a wafer W and rotating in an opposite direction to the platens 1-1 to 1-3, a rocking mechanism 3 for making the wafer W rock in a diametrical direction of the platen 1-1 so that the entire surface of the wafer W is polished. A measuring device 4 continuously measures the state of polish of the entire surface of the wafer W.

Abstract: An illumination beam director for use with a diagnostic instrument having an optical lens system including a camera aperture for observing along an optical viewing axis passing through the camera aperture, and an illuminator including an illuminator aperture for projecting illumination along a first illumination axis passing through the illumination aperture. The light beam director includes a pair of opposed redirecting surfaces which receive the light from the illuminator along a first illumination axis and redirect the light onto a second illumination axis, wherein the second illumination axis is closer to the optical axis than is the first illumination axis to overcome shadowing effects on the viewing axis.

Abstract: A hydrogen production plant includes an electrochemical autothermal reformer (EATR) that provides hydrogen to an electrochemical hydrogen compressor. The EATR includes an autothermal reformer region, a mixed ion conductor membrane or metal or metal alloy membrane, and an anode supply region. An anode gas loop between the anode supply region of the EATR and anode section of the electrochemical hydrogen compressor cell circulates a mixture of hydrogen and a carrier gas therebetween. The carrier gas ensures proper partial pressures of hydrogen in the two regions. A difference in operating temperature between the EATR and the electrochemical hydrogen compressor is exploited by heat exchangers which efficiently enable certain heating and cooling functions within the combined system.

Abstract: A reel seat for a fishing rod includes a hollow tubular body having attached first and second cylindrical foot holders for detachably securing a reel foot thereto. The first cylindrical foot holder is slidably engageable with a threaded end on the tubular body and includes an interior surface having a first arcuate region for receiving a leg of a reel foot having a first size and a second arcuate region for receiving a leg of a reel foot having a second size that is different from the first size. The first foot holder is linearly and rotatably adjustable so as to allow either the first or second arcuate region to be aligned with the second cylindrical foot holder, which is separately and fixedly mounted to the hollow tubular body and has an interior surface capable of receiving the remaining leg of the reel foot of either size.

Abstract: A composite insulator includes an insulating rod, end fittings crimped to opposite end portions of said insulating rod, and an elastic insulating material molded around the outer periphery of the insulating rod, wherein each of the end fittings has a flange around the outer periphery of an end fitting body on an axially external side thereof, and the elastic insulating material is molded around the outer periphery of the insulating rod and those of the end fitting bodies such that the elastic material extends up to and between the flanges. A process for the production of such a composite insulator is also disclosed.

Abstract: A vibration gyro sensor is constructed as follows. Namely, a detecting piezoelectric/electrostrictive element 12, which detects displacement generated in a direction perpendicular to a direction of vibration of a vibrator 2 when the vibrator is rotated, is provided on a detecting section. The detecting section is constructed by an integrated fired product made of ceramics together with the vibrator 2 and a support base 4. The detecting section is constructed by a first plate-shaped section 6 which is more thin-walled than the vibrator 2 and which has its principal surface extending in the direction of vibration. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive element 12 is formed in an integrated manner on the first plate-shaped section 6 in accordance with a film formation method.

Abstract: A method and related apparatus are provided for detecting the presence of a call waiting signal on a telephone line, where the call waiting signal is embedded in various signals. The call waiting signal frequency is isolated from the various other frequencies. The isolated call waiting frequency is then biased so that only the positive voltage portions of the signal are allowed to pass. Each positive voltage pulse as well as the zero voltage pulses are then sampled to determine whether they are representative of a biased call waiting signal. Each time a determination is made, one is added to a count on an up-down counter. When the count reaches a predetermined number, a call waiting signal is detected on the telephone line. Preferably an alarm signals the presence of a detected call waiting signal to the user. A disconnect switch interrupts a modem so that a person using the modem on the same telephone line will have sufficient time to answer a detected incoming call.

Abstract: The invention relates to a low-temperature refrigerator (1) for producing temperatures in a defined low-temperature range, with a cold head (3) which is fitted with a regenerator (6).sup.6) and in which a thermodynamic circulation process (regenerative cold generation process) is carried out to generate cold. To reduce the technical complexity of the cold generation process, it is proposed that the cold head (3) should be a single-stage unit and the physical characteristics of the regenerator (6).sup.7) in the cold machine (1) should be so selected as to ensure that the cold head (3).sup.8) has an optimal cold output in the desired temperature range. (drawing FIG. 2).sup.6) Translator's note: The German text states "7" here whereas "6" would be more in line with the remaining text and the drawing figures. Therefore "6" has been assumed for the translation..sup.7) Translator's note: The German text states "7" here whereas "6" would be more in line with the remaining text and the drawing figures.