Abstract: An optical fiber manifold arrange to orientate a plurality of optical fibers from a single dimensional ribbon array to a two dimensional block array, wherein the fiber spacing (X) in the block array is the same as the fiber spacing in the ribbon array.

Abstract: A portable carpet binding machine comprising a housing defining an interior region, a drive mechanism supported by the housing and at least partially disposed in the interior region, a prime mover operatively coupled to the drive mechanism for providing motive power to the drive mechanism, a sewing assembly driven via the drive mechanism for sewing a strip of material to a piece of carpet. The portable carpet binding machine includes a carpet feeding assembly including a feed driver mechanism and a coacting puller mechanism operating in substantially synchronous movement to linearly feed the piece of carpet relative to the sewing assembly. The feed driver mechanism includes a feed-dog driven via the drive mechanism that intermittently engages the bottom of the piece of carpet to thereby advance the piece of carpet forward. The coacting puller mechanism includes first and second feed rollers driven via the drive mechanism.

Abstract: A hose assembly including an elongated flexible metal hose attached to a hose fitting having a fitting body defining a passageway for conveying material. The fitting body has a mating portion for connecting the hose assembly to a corresponding fitting which delivers or accepts material passing through the hose assembly. A sleeve engages a surface of the fitting body and secures an end portion of the metal conduit to the fitting by trapping the end portion of the metal conduit between the sleeve and the fitting body. During installation, the sleeve is inserted into the body and subsequently the hose is inserted into a gap between the sleeve and fitting body. A fixture having a radially expanding member is slipped into the sleeve and brought into contact with the sleeve to deform the sleeve and consequently trap an end of the hose between the sleeve and the fitting.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a chemical additive for use with treatment fluids suitable for removing contaminants from oil and gas wells. In one preferred embodiment, the additive includes: a first surface-active agent having an HLB in a range of about 5 to about 9; a second surface-active agent having an HLB in a range of about 11 to about 13; a third surface-active agent having an HLB in a range of about 14 to about 33; a coupling agent; and a coalescing solvent.

Abstract: A lens structure for use with an ion beam implanter. The lens structure includes first and second electrodes spaced apart along a direction of ion movement. The lens structure extends across a width of the ion beam for deflecting ions entering the lens structure. The lens structure includes a first electrode for decelerating ions and a second electrode for accelerating the ions. A lens structure mode controller selectively activates either the accelerating or decelerating electrode to to cause ions entering the lens structure to exit said lens structure with a desired trajectory regardless of the trajectory ions enter the lens structure.

Abstract: A shower head with structural features for providing a water spray pattern having revolving characteristics is disclosed. The shower head includes an inlet assembly connectable to a water source and a cooperatively engaged outlet assembly including a body having a front facing surface, an impeller having a plurality of blades and a rotator assembly having a spray surface defining a plurality of spray apertures. The rotator spray surface forms a portion of the front facing surface. A seal spacer disposed between the inlet assembly and the front facing surface has a plurality of radially spaced ports. Each port is axially transverse to a plane of the seal spacer. Water flow through the ports creates a multi-directional water current downstream from the spacer to drive the impeller and consequently, cause rotation of the rotator spray surface and water emission in a revolving spray pattern.

Abstract: An ion implanter having a source, a workpiece support and a transport system for delivering ions from the source to an ion implantation chamber that contains the workpiece support. The ion source has an arc chamber for ionizing a source material routed into the arc chamber that defines an exit aperture for routing ions to the transport system and including an arc chamber flange attached to the arc chamber and including a first surface that defines a gas inlet which accepts gas from a source and a gas outlet which opens into the arc chamber. An arc chamber support includes a support flange having a conforming surface that sealingly engages the first surface of arc chamber flange at a region of the gas inlet and further includes a throughpassage that aligns with the gas inlet. A gas supply line routes gas from a gas source through the throughpassage of the support flange and into the gas inlet of said arc chamber flange.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying aligned decorative tape patterns to opposite sides of a glass sheet. The glass sheet is positioned such that the first side of the glass sheet is accessible to a tape application head. A first tape pattern is automatically applied to the first side of the glass sheet with the tape application head by referencing a location and orientation of a first corner of the sheet. The sheet of glass is then turned over such that the second side is accessible to the tape application head. A second tape pattern is automatically applied to the second side of the glass sheet with the tape application head by referencing the location and orientation of the first corner. The first and second tape patterns are precisely aligned as a result of referencing the same corner of the glass sheet.

Abstract: A vertical rapid thermal processing system includes a processing chamber and an elevator structure providing for vertical movement of a workpiece within the processing chamber. The elevator structure includes a workpiece support for supporting the workpiece and an elevator shaft coupled to the workpiece support and extending externally from the processing chamber. An end portion of the elevator shaft, external to the processing chamber, has a selected magnetic polarity. The elevator structure also includes moveable carriage coupled to the shaft to provide vertical movement of the workpiece within the processing chamber. The carriage includes a shaft support having the selected polarity. The shaft support is positioned adjacent the polarized end portion of the elevator shaft such that repulsive magnetic forces maintain a gap between the end portion of the elevator shaft and the shaft support as the shaft support and elevator shaft move vertically along a path of travel.

Abstract: A laser scanner for reading a bar code having a plurality of bar code elements. The laser scanner includes a digitizer which receives as an input an analog signal from photodetector circuitry and digitizes the analog signal to produce a digital bar code pattern (DBP) signal representative of the bar code. The DBP signal is input to a decoder which reads and decodes the DBP signal thereby decoding the bar code. The digitizer imposes a short duration correction impulse on the DBP signal whenever successive edges of the same polarity are sensed wherein both of the edges are above a threshold level and further wherein the second edge is of greater magnitude than the first edge. When a correction impulse is received on the DBP signal by the decoder, the decoder corrects the DBP signal by removing the first edge and toggling on the second edge.

Abstract: A fuel level sensor for sensing and monitoring the level of remaining fluid in a container such as a fuel tank for a motorized vehicle is disclosed. The fuel level sensor incorporates an improved float and pivot arm member attached to a hub that rotates about a pivot base. The conventional resistor card technology, commonly found in automotive applications for translating the position of the float into an electrical signal, is replaced by a more reliable non-contact magnetic flux sensing circuit. The fuel level sensor incorporates a magnetic sensor and magnetic circuit in a commonly known and practiced rotational position sensor configuration for determining the angular position of a hub relative to its pivot base, where the hub is attached to a conventional float-arm member and the base remains stationary relative to the fuel container. The preferred embodiment includes a magnetic flux sensor positioned between two movable magnets.

Abstract: A toilet plunger assembly having telescopic features is disclosed. The plunger assembly includes a cup assembly, a tubular member and an elongated rod. The tubular member has a first end portion and a second end portion. The second end portion is fixed to the cup assembly. The elongated rod has a first end portion, a second end portion, and an outer diameter. The rod is slideably engaged within the tubular member such that the rod is moveable between a collapsed position and an extended position. In the collapsed position, the rod second end portion is removably joined to the cup assembly, while in the extended position, the rod second end portion is removably joined to the tubular member first end portion.

Abstract: Picking fingers suitable for use in automatic defeathering machines. The picking fingers are suitable for mounting to circular openings in a mounting plate. The picking finger includes an elastomeric picking finger body and a retainer for securing the picking finger to the mounting plate. Three embodiments are disclosed which provide for installation of the picking finger body from a back side of the mounting plate. Each embodiment features a different retainer component. A fourth embodiment is disclosed which provides for installation of the picking finger body from a front side of the mounting plate.

Abstract: A workpiece is supported on a gas cushion to reduce mechanical stresses on the workpiece during processing. A plenum having a workpiece support flange for receiving the workpiece is connected to a gas supply. When gas flows into the plenum and pressure increases sufficiently to lift the workpiece, the workpiece is lifted and the gas flows out of the plenum between the flange and the workpiece edge. The workpiece is thus supported above the flange by the gas during processing.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method and system for applying decorative tape to a glass sheet. The disclosed system and method allow tape segments that are shorter than a distance between a cutter and a glass engagement position to be applied by an application head to the glass sheet. The system includes the application head, a tape supply, a drive roller, a cutter, and a controller. The application head applies tape segments cut from the tape supply to the glass pane. The drive roller advances the tape dispensed by the application head. The cutter cuts end portions of each tape segment. The controller is programmed to sort moves of the application head, tape supply, drive roller, and cutter to allow tape segments that are shorter than a distance between the cutter and the glass engagement position to be applied to the glass sheet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing incentives for oligopolistic collusion comprises making managerial compensation dependent on relative profits rather than absolute profits. Since the managers of the firms in the industry are thereby placed in a zero-sum game, their compensation will be totally insensitive to gains in absolute profits resulting from collusion.

Abstract: A magnetic latching switch. The switch includes a pair of switch terminals, a switch actuator, an electromagnet and a biasing member. The switch actuator is manually moveable from a first position where the switch terminals are in a first state to a second position where the switch terminals are in a second state. The electromagnet selectively applies a magnetic field. Applying the magnetic field with the electromagnet when the switch actuator is in the second position maintains the switch actuator in the second position. The biasing member is coupled to the switch actuator such that the biasing member automatically returns the switch actuator from the second position to the first position when the magnetic field is removed.

Abstract: An integrated fuel management system and method for controlling the fuel storage and delivery in a vehicle. The fuel management system includes a fuel storage tank for storing fuel in a vehicle, a vapor collection canister located within the fuel storage tank, a vent actuator coupled to the vapor collection canister for venting gas from the canister during a vent operation, and a purge actuator is coupled to the vapor collection canister for purging fuel vapor from the vapor collection canister during a purge operation. A variable speed fuel pump is disposed within the fuel storage tank for delivering fuel to a fuel delivery line for an engine. The fuel management system has a controller provided in a module disposed in communication with the fuel for controlling the amount of fuel pumped with the variable speed fuel pump to deliver fuel to the fuel delivery line and further controlling the purge and vent actuators.

Abstract: A security screw fastener, e.g. a nut or bolt having a head (3) around which is a curved exterior surface (5) which is at least partially conical or dome-shaped on which several left-handed and right-handed grooves (12, 13) are formed which are designed to receive a projection (31) from an interior surface (30) of a co-operating tool (20).

Abstract: The system includes a nozzle, a drive, a metering pump, a supply of material and a controller. The nozzle dispenses material into contact with one or more surfaces of a window sash. The drive relatively moves the nozzle with respect to the window sash along a path of travel defined by a perimeter of the window sash at controlled speeds. The metering pump delivers the material to the nozzle at controlled volumetric rates that correspond to the controlled speeds of relative motion between the nozzle and the sash. The supply of material delivers the material to the metering pump. The controller controls the relative motion between the window sash and the nozzle and controls the flow rate of material dispensed by the nozzle.