Abstract: A variable area nozzle comprising a concentric support and a plurality of convexly contoured self sealing vanes is disclosed and claimed. The vanes are circumferentially and rotatably mounted to the concentric support forming a nozzle infinitely positionable between a first position corresponding to a minimum area nozzle and a second position corresponding to a maximum area nozzle. A closer, which is preferably a shape memory alloy (SMA), urges the nozzle toward the first position corresponding to a minimum area nozzle. Periodically spaced openers act between adjacent vanes to urge the nozzle to a second position corresponding to a maximum area nozzle.

Abstract: A tensioner, in which an inner body and an outer body, which can deal with tensioner mounting forms and tension imparting functions required from various engines can be assembled and its efficient production and reliable assembling without wobbling and clattering can be performed. A body 22 of a tensioner 21 is composed of plastic outer and inner bodies 23 and 24 formed by different members respectively. The outer body 23 is provided with a tensioner mounting means and an inner body fitting hole 23a, the inner body is provided with a plunger accommodating hole 24a, a plunger 26 biased by a compression spring 27 is slidably fitted into the plunger accommodating hole 24a, a bottom portion of the plunger accommodating hole 24a is provided with a check valve 31, and at least the inner body 24, the check valve 31, the compression spring 27 and the plunger 26 form an inner body side unit 33, which imparts proper tension.

Abstract: Cable protection and guide devices are susceptible to the generation of wear powders from friction between the cable and front and rear end portions of the connecting plates. The generation of wear powders and damage or disconnection of the cable is prevented and abrasion loss and impact noise due to contact between the side plate units is suppressed. Connecting plates 120 are symmetric such that the inner surface thereof includes small curvature portions, large curvature portions, and a flat surface or approximately flat surface having a radius of curvature which is larger than the large curvature portions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a procedure for etching of materials at the surface by focussed electron beam induced chemical reaction at the surface, with the following steps: a) in a vacuum atmosphere the material which is to be etched is irradiated with at least one beam of molecules and at least one first beam of electrons, whereby the irradiated material and the molecules of the beam of molecules are excited in a way that a chemical reaction takes place and forms a reaction product, which is not gaseous/not volatile—reaction step. The invention is characterized in that b) the reaction product is evaporated from said surface by an second beam of electrons, which heats the material locally to a temperature above the vaporisation temperature of the reaction product —removal step—.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for verifying the performance of a test of the functionality of an actuator (1) with a drive (2) and a valve (3a), where the valve (3a) can be moved by the drive (2), which uses a drive element (3) acting on the valve (3a); where the drive element (3) and thus the actuating element of the valve can be moved by means of a position controller (5) over a portion of the actuating distance to perform the partial-stroke freedom-of-movement test and thus to test the functionality of the actuator (1), and where the position controller (5) has a distance sensor (7)—the primary sensor—and a first evaluation unit (8) for evaluating and storing the signals of the distance sensor (7).

Abstract: A door sensor system (90) for detecting a target object (56) in and/or near a door comprising a door opening (96), and at least one movable door element (76, 76-1, 76-2, 76-3, 76-4), the system comprising at least one light scanner device (10) which is capable of measuring optically the distance to a target to make such a measurement over a given scan angle at regular intervals by deflecting the light with moving mirrors, and which generates at least one vertical plane of detection.

Abstract: An actuator operated microvalve and the method of making same is disclosed and claimed. The microvalve comprises a SiC housing which includes a first lower portion and a second upper portion. The lower portion of the SiC housing includes a passageway therethrough, a microvalve seat, and a moveable SiC diaphragm. The SiC diaphragm includes a centrally located boss and radially extending corrugations which may be sinusoidally shaped. The boss of the SiC diaphragm moves and modulates in a range of positions between a closed position wherein the boss interengages said microvalve seat prohibiting communication of fluid through the passageway and a fully open position when the boss is spaced apart from the seat at its maximum permitting communication of fluid through said passageway. The actuator includes a SiC top plate affixed to the boss of the diaphragm and a first electrode and the second upper portion of the SiC housing further includes a second electrode.

Abstract: A cable protection and guide device includes an engagement mechanism for securing connecting plates in a bridged arrangement over flexional inner and outer circumferential sides of side plates of the device. The connecting plates are not inadvertently disengaged because the engagement mechanism includes several features for securing the connecting plates to the side plates. The connecting plate engagement mechanism has a louver body and a louver type connecting plate which pivots about a pair of right and left supporting shafts which are formed at both ends of the louver type connecting plate. The louver type connecting plate is attachably fitted onto the pair of right and left side plates.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cable or the like protection and guide device which accommodates a cable or the like while allowing for examination of the cable. Smooth linear and flexional movement is achieved while not compromising the form stability of the cable accommodation space. Partial or local wear is suppressed. The device is made of a synthetic resin and accommodates a cable in a rectangular cable accommodating space. The accommodating space is surrounded by the outer circumferential wall portion, which is openable, a pair of side wall portions, and an inner circumferential wall portion. Inserting protrusion mechanisms, engagement mechanisms, slits, opening windows and flexion restricting piece portions contribute to the stability and usefulness of the device.

Abstract: A tension measuring apparatus and method for a chain by which tension applied to the chain is correctly and reproducibly measured is disclosed and claimed. A tension measuring method for a chain (10) comprising a pair of right and left inner plates (11), bushes (12) press-fit between the inner plates (11), a pair of right and left outer plates (13) disposed on both outsides of the inner plates (11), connecting pins (14) loosely inserted into the bush (12) and press-fit between the outer plates (13), and connected to each other characterized in that a strain gauge is applied to a position having a relation of a ratio of 1 to 1 between tension applied to the chain and an output of the strain gauge (16).

Abstract: A magnetorheological device comprising a housing having a divider within the housing is disclosed and claimed. A rotary impeller having two paddles is rotatably mounted within the housing. The rotary impeller sealingly engages the divider and the paddles in combination with the divider forms a first chamber and a second chamber. Magnetorheological fluid resides in the chambers and a passageway interconnects the first and second chambers. A coil surrounds a portion of the passageway such that when energized the magnetorheological fluid solidifies plugging the passageway. As the impeller rotates, it pushes the incompressible fluid against the divider in the housing and the plug in the passageway and retards and/or stops the motion of the impeller.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a device for the controlling the position of a pneumatic actuator comprising: a pneumatically adjustable actuating element (5); a pneumatic actuating drive (6) for adjusting the actuating element (5); an electro-pneumatic position controller (1) for pneumatically driving the actuating drive (6) as a function of a position controller set point and a controlled variable; and at least one main pneumatic power amplifier (10) with bypass throttle for amplifying the power output of the position controller (1) and for pneumatically driving the actuating drive (6). In addition, a pilot control pneumatic power amplifier (9) with a bypass throttle for preamplifying the pneumatic power output of the position controller (1) is installed between the position controller (1) and the main power amplifier (10).

Abstract: A cable or the like protection and guide device can be applied to various conditions at a mounting fixed end and a mounting movable end. A cable or the like protection and guide device (100) in which mounting brackets (140, 140) are detachably connected to a pair of right and left side plate units (110, 110) adjacent to the mounting fixed end through fixed end side adaptors (130, 130) respectively, and mounting brackets are detachably connected to a pair of right and left side plate units (110, 110) adjacent to the mounting movable end through movable end side adaptors, (150, 150), respectively.

Abstract: A cable or the like protection and guide device is disclosed which prevents inadvertent disconnection due to repeated flexure. Excellent fatigue resistance is exhibited. A cable or the like protection and guide device in which pairs of side plates are respectively formed of a highly-rigid resin front side plate portion connected to a preceding side plate and a highly-rigid resin rear side plate portion is connected to a subsequent side plate. A flexible fatigue resistant resin coupling portion is interposed between the front side plate portion and the rear side plate portion in an integrated manner by using a using two-color molding.

Abstract: A miniaturized Schottky diode hydrogen and hydrocarbon sensor and the method of making same is disclosed and claimed. The sensor comprises a catalytic metal layer, such as palladium, a silicon carbide substrate layer and a thin barrier layer in between the catalytic and substrate layers made of palladium oxide (PdOx). This highly stable device provides sensitive gas detection at temperatures ranging from at least 450 to 600° C. The barrier layer prevents reactions between the catalytic metal layer and the substrate layer. Conventional semiconductor fabrication techniques are used to fabricate the small-sized sensors. The use of a thicker palladium oxide barrier layer for other semiconductor structures such as a capacitor and transistor structures is also disclosed.

Abstract: To provide a cable or the like protection and guide device in which even if link frame bodies receive torsion and deflection during a linear movement or a bending movement, a mutual connection can be reliably maintained and a connection and assembly operation for the link frame bodies is easy and a stable molding accuracy and a small cost load on a molding mold can be obtained.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermally sensitive array device for detecting a presence of a target object in a surveillance area. The device comprises a plurality of at least two thermally sensitive sensors provided in an array arrangement, each thermally sensitive sensor being associated with one of a corresponding plurality of at least two surveillance spots comprised in the surveillance area. Each thermally sensitive sensor comprises a sensitive element adapted to absorb a portion of thermal infrared radiation emitted from one of said plurality of targets located inside the surveillance cone corresponding to the thermally sensitive sensor. The thermally sensitive sensor can be a thermopile, a bolometer, or any other type. Electronic circuits in each thermally sensitive sensor are adapted to measure a signal generated in the thermally sensitive sensor as a consequence of the temperatures of the target.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a light scanner device (10) for measuring a range and an angular direction of a target object (56), the device (10) comprising a pulsed source (12) adapted to transmit light pulses, a transmitter deflection means (20) adapted to reflect and sweep the transmitted light pulses in variable sweep directions across a sweep sector in a sweep plane (15), a photodetection means (42) adapted to detect received light pulses that have been reflected in the sweep plane (15), a receiver deflection means (24) adapted to reflect light pulses that have been reflected in the sweep plane (15) and to re-direct the reflected light pulses to the photodetection means (42).

Abstract: A bus seat comprising an aisle support having a first hexagonally shaped aperture or cavity and a window side support having a second hexagonally shaped aperture or cavity. A seat is hinged to the aisle support and the window support. A seat back is employed which has hexagonally shaped apertures or cavities which each interengage hexagonal shaped torsion members which in turn interengage the cavities in the aisle and window supports. The first and second hexagonally shaped torsion members in combination with the apertures inhibit rotation of the seat back with respect to the aisle and the window side supports and absorb energy when the seat back is rotated relative to the aisle and window supports. The hexagonally shaped cavities are manufactured without significant knit lines formed as the flowability of fiber reinforced polymeric material is enhanced.

Abstract: A cable or the like protection and guide device is disclosed in which inadvertent disconnection in a coupling portion of a side plate due to the repetition of flexional movements is avoided. Stress concentration is reduced in a flexion portion during restriction of flexional movements whereby excellent endurance on repeated flexion fatigue can be exhibited and in which the number of parts and the assembly operation can be reduced. Plates disposed in a right and left pair are integrally formed by a front side plate portion 111, a rear side plate portion 112, and a flexible coupling portion 113 interposed between the front side plate portion 111 and the rear side plate portion 112. The coupling portion 113 includes a thin plate-shaped central flexion allowable region 113a and base end continuous regions 113b, 113b with gradually increased plate thickness from the central flexion allowable region 113a side toward the front side plate portion 111 and rear side portion 112, respectively.