Abstract: The present invention relates to a polishing pad which is characterized in that it is of micro rubber A-type hardness at least 80°, has closed cells of average cell diameter no more than 1000 &mgr;m, is of density in the range 0.4 to 1.1 and contains polyurethane and polymer produced from a vinyl compound. When planarizing local unevenness on a semiconductor substrate with the polishing pad relating to the present invention, the polishing rate is high, the global step height is low, dishing does not readily occur at the metallic interconnects, clogging and permanent set of the surface layer region do not readily occur and the polishing rate is stable.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a pinion bearing move to correct pinion-to-gear alignment based on pinion &Dgr; t overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks are provided. Using a realistic visual representation of a gear to pinion mesh showing pressure angles of the gear and pinion as well as the angle of the pinion down from the mill center line allows for a quick and accurate determination of a pinion bearing to align a pinion-to-gear assembly move. Using temperature differential data of the pinion under load conditions, the present invention allows for an easy and efficient means of determining a pinion bearing move to align a pinion-to-gear assembly without requiring complicated manual calculations or data input to a computer program. Furthermore, the present invention is lightweight and portable thereby avoiding the drawbacks often associated with handheld electrical devices and laptop computers.

Abstract: A magnetic device having an optimized geometry provides maximum beneficial physical effects of applying a magnetic field to a fluid. The device includes three relatively powerful magnets located radially about a fluid conduit approximately 60° apart from one another. One of the magnets has an opposite pole to the other two facing inwardly toward the fluid conduit. In order to shield electrical equipment near the device, additional magnetic strips are included having poles aligned opposite that of the neighboring, larger magnet. These magnetic strips not only shield nearby electrical equipment, they also serve to better focus the magnetic field.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of fiber optics, and more particularly to birefringence in single-mode fibers. The sensitivity of a fiber optic sensor coil for a current sensor may be increased by winding the sensing fiber, without torsion, around a current-carrying wire to form the coil, wherein the pitch angle of the fiber may be selected to result in a phase shift due to Berry's phase of circularly polarized light propagating through the fiber. Preferably, the pitch angle may be approximately 60°.

Abstract: Platelet-shaped substrates that are coated with metal oxides and that are useful in the laser marking of plastics are disclosed. The platelet-shaped substrates may be employed as an additive to plastic for laser marking of a wide variety of plastics and for use with a number of different laser types.

Abstract: A system for verifying a part disclosed. The system comprises a virtual part and a virtual gage associated with the virtual part. A physical part corresponds to the virtual part. A digitized part is generated from the physical part, and the virtual gage evaluates the digitized part. A method for verifying a part is disclosed. A virtual part is provided. A virtual gage associated with the virtual part is generated. A physical part corresponding to the virtual part is produced. A digitized part is generated from the physical part. The digitized part is evaluated with the virtual gage.

Abstract: A six station rotary thermoforming machine includes a first oading station for first or upper panels, a second loading station for second or lower panels, two adjacent stations for heating the panels, a thermoforming station, an unloading station and a carousel for transferring thermoformable panels between such stations. The carousel includes a rotating circular frame which is driven by a centrally disposed drive assembly. The circular frame carries and supports six carrier assemblies having peripheral clamping members which receive panels of thermoformable material and rotates to sequentially move them from one station to the next. The two heating stations each include upper and lower radiant heaters. The thermoforming station includes a pair of opposed, vertically translatable platens which receive respective molds which engage and form the panels and may include a device for loading performs or inserts.

Abstract: An electric water heater for use with a livestock water tank includes a heating element, a housing including a drain plug fitting, and a power cord. The power cord is interconnected with the heating element through a temperature control device, e.g. a thermostat, for delivering electrical power to the heating element in a controlled fashion so as to regulate the temperature of the contents of the tank. The heating element and housing are sized and configured for insertion through the drain plug opening from the outside of the tank. The housing includes a drain plug fitting for affixing the heater to the tank through the drain plug opening in a sealed manner, thereby preventing inadvertent removal of the heater and also preventing the contents of the tank from leaking out of the drain plug opening. The fitting includes a threaded portion or boss sized for insertion through the drain plug opening and a back wall which is larger than that of the drain plug opening.

Abstract: A tertiary positioner system (80) of this invention employs X- and Y-axis translation stages (86, 88), galvanometer-driven mirrors (64, 66), and a fast steering mirror (“FSM”) (120) to direct a laser beam (90) to target locations (121) on a workpiece (92). A positioning signal is received by a low-pass filter (103) that produces filtered position data for driving the X- and Y-axis translation stages. The actual positions of the X- and Y-axis translation stages are subtracted from the unfiltered positioning data to produce an X-Y position error signal for driving the galvanometer-driven X- and Y-axis mirrors. The actual mirror positions are subtracted from the actual positions of the X- and Y-axis translation stages to generate a positional error signal representing the difference between the commanded and actual positions of the laser beam. The positional error signal drives the FSM to rapidly correct any positional errors.

Abstract: A scale having a load platform suspended by multiple horizontally spaced suspension members. Tensions on the suspension members apply torques to a load transfer linkage comprising a plurality of horizontally extending, torsionally rigid torque transfer members arranged for additive transfer of the torques to a lever counterbalancing and indicating device. Equality of the torque arms at all connections of the suspension members to the rigid members is achieved by allowing the suspension members to extend substantially vertically and to bear with minimal lateral forces on calibrating sleeves of predetermined uniform and equal diameters received on the rigid members.

Abstract: The invention relates to a textured surface covering having a hot melt wear layer and methods of applying the hot melt wear layer to a textured or embossed surface without distortion of the visual image of the textured substrate. The wear layer substantially follows the contours of the substrate with minimum change in thickness of the wear layer over the textured surface and provides an aesthetically pleasing three dimensional appearance to the textured surface of the substrate. Melt applying the melt processable polymer resin to the textured substrate with a conformable pressure roll deter entrapment of bubbles between the wear layer and the textured substrate. Therefore, the wear layer exhibits significant clarity and visual depth, as well as improved maintenance (cleanability) properties. The resulting product has a visual image clarity reflecting any texture in the substrate including very light reflective (lenticular moray) embossings.

Abstract: A muzzleloading firearm with a barrel having a rearward end with a breech plug fastened to the rearward end of the barrel, a nipple that extends rearwardly from the breech plug, a receiver positioned rearward of the barrel and having an opening for receiving a firing element, and having an elongated bore extending through from a forward end to a rearward end, the rearward end receives the percussion element and the forward end receives the nipple such that a forward end of the percussion element is in alignment with the nipple.

Abstract: A shopping cart, which is nestable into a preceding, similarly constructed cart and into which a following, similarly constructed cart is nestable, comprises a chassis having front and rear casters, having a transversely extending bar, and having similarly shaped, transversely spaced, camming elements,

Abstract: A double-face velour fabric article consists of a fabric body having a technical face formed by a filament stitch yarn and a technical back formed by a filament loop yarn. The filament stitch yarn includes a heat sensitive material, e.g. a hot melt material or a heat shrinkable material, and/or an elastomeric material, such as spandex. The fabric body has a velour surface formed at both the technical back and the technical face. Raised fibers of at least one of the technical face and the technical back may be entangled, including in and/or through interstices of the fabric body, toward the other of the technical face and the technical back, e.g., by a hydroentanglement process applied after finishing. The fabric body has permeability of about 80 ft3/ft2/min, or less, under a pressure difference of ½ inch of water across the fabric body.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a Faraday-type current sensor which is less susceptive to effects caused by rotation, acceleration and vibration of the sensor coil. The sensor coil of the invention includes a first coil section which forms the current sensing coil and a second coil section which is optically connected to the first coil section and forms a compensation or “bucking” coil. The optical fiber of the first coil section preferably has an almost zero birefringence and is connected in series with the optical fiber of the second coil section which preferably has a large birefringence. The illuminating radiation propagates through the sensor coil in such a way, as viewed along the coil axis, that the propagation direction of the radiation in the first coil section with respect to the coil axis is opposite from the propagation direction in the second coil section.

Abstract: A composition comprising a polymer containing a compound represented by Formula (1) or a salt thereof as a constituent monomer, or a polymer containing a structure represented by Formula (9) as a partial structure is used for protecting or improving skin. In the formula, R1, R2 and R3 each independently represent hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxyl group, or an alkylamino group; R4 represents an amino acid residue, a polyamine residue, or an aminoalcohol residue; and X represents oxygen atom or a group represented as NH. In the formula, R1, R2 and R3 each independently represent hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxyl group, or an alkylamino group; R4 represents an amino acid residue, a polyamine residue, or an aminoalcohol residue; and X represents oxygen atom or a group represented as NH.

Abstract: The present invention provides a surface material comprising a fibrous structure having a weight average single fiber thickness of from 0.0001 to 1 dtex, a thickness of from 0.10 to 5 mm and a unit weight of from 50 to 500 g/m2, and disposed on a surface of a body in order to convert at least a part of a surface wave, generated on the surface of the body by vibration of the body, into a vibration of the fibrous structure, and a method for suppressing the influence due to the surface wave. In the present invention, by disposing the surface material on surfaces of various members receiving vibration, a modulation of the vibration originating from the surface wave which greatly influences a human acoustic sense can be efficiently suppressed, and a sound quality and an image quality can be prevented from being deteriorated.

Abstract: A non-fiberglass containing sound absorbing moldable laminate of a fibrous batt and stiffening mats formed from chopped mono-filament polyester bonded by a thermoplastic binder is provided. The mono-filament mats stiffen the batt and allow use of all thermoplastic material in the composite.

Abstract: A system comprising a base unit and a remote unit for transmitting telephonic data on AC power lines is disclosed. The base unit includes a transmitter section, a receiver section, a power line interface, a telephone line interface, a power supply, and a first microcontroller. The telephone line interface is coupled to a telephone line to apply the telephonic data signals to and receive signals from the telephone line. The telephone line interface has a ring detector, a muting circuit, and a hook switch. The transmitter is coupled to the telephone line interface and the power line interface. The transmitter has a modulator, an oscillator, an amplifier, and a filter. The receiver is coupled the telephone interface and the power line interface. The receiver has a filter, an amplifier, and a detector. The remote unit includes a transmitter section, a receiver section, a power line interface, a telephone interface, a power supply, and a second microcontroller.