Abstract: A proportional flow control valve, for controlling fluid flow through a flexible tube, includes first and second jaws on opposing sides of the tube. An actuator drives one of such jaws for adjusting the separation distance therebetween. When the valve is open, the separation distance is small enough to partially deform the tube without significantly restricting fluid flow. When the valve is closed, the separation distance is just small enough to essentially block fluid flow. A control system controls the actuator to determine such separation distance. Such valve can be used within a level control system for controlling the thickness of a work material in a slurry form cast upon a moving belt. A fluid reservoir is disposed above the belt, and the control valve adds slurry to the reservoir. A lens disposed near the moving belt and above the reservoir is coupled by fiber optics to a remote sensor for detecting the height of the slurry.

Abstract: A method of cleaning a casing-lined borehole comprises the steps of: circulating fluid in the borehole to entrain material in the circulating fluid; separating the entrained material from the fluid within the borehole; and then removing the separated material from the borehole.

Abstract: In a liquid crystal display comprising a plurality of pixels each of which has an switching element, a plurality of drain drivers and gate drivers for operating the switching elements and the pixels, and a plurality of drain lines and gate lines supplying signals from the drain drivers and the gate drivers to the switching elements being formed on one of a pair of substrates sandwiching a liquid crystal layer, the present invention provides wiring lines formed on the one of a pair of substrates for transferring display data signals and a clock signal between each pair of the plurality of drain drivers adjacent to one another, and provides at least one gate circuit for at least one of the plurality of drain drivers which is controlled by the clock signal and switches the display data signals and the clock signal either (1) to be acquired by the at least one of the plurality of drain drivers or (2) to be transferred to another of the plurality of drain drivers arranged adjacent to the at least one of the plural

Abstract: The present invention provides a support sleeve for supporting an internal pipeline apparatus in a pipeline. The sleeve is provided with a number of deformable splines around its circumference which keep the pipeline apparatus centralized in the pipeline during operation. The leading edges of the splines have chamfers so that, when the sleeve encounters a reduction in the diameter of the pipeline, the splines deform in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve. It this way, less force is required to move the apparatus and sleeve through a portion of pipeline of reduced diameter than is the case with conventional disc supports.

Abstract: Fresh catalyst particles are added to a slurry hydrocarbon synthesis reactor and their activity increased by contact with hydrogen in-situ in the slurry in a catalyst activity increasing means, while the reactor is producing hydrocarbons. The means may be a simple, vertically oriented and hollow tube, open at the top and bottom, into which slurry and a hydrogen treat gas are passed. The treat gas acts as a lift gas which provides slurry circulation into and out of the means and back into the slurry body, while increasing the activity of the catalyst particles. During the activity increase of the fresh catalyst, partially and reversibly activated catalyst particles are rejuvenated. The activity increasing means may be inside the reactor and at least partially immersed in the slurry or external of the reactor, or both.

Abstract: The present invention provides a wood board for use as flooring panels and a method of making the wood board. The wood board has the strength and outer surface finish of hardwood boards, increased flexibility, and a lower cost than hardwood boards. The wood board of the present invention comprises a core layer having plural veneer layers oriented such that longitudinal grain structures of adjacent layers are perpendicular with respect to each other, and each veneer having longitudinal pierced slots placed therein oriented in parallel with their respective longitudinal grain structures; and a longitudinally sliced face layer placed upon the inner core layer. This wood board and flooring panel of the present invention have high strength, high flexibility and superior surface smoothness. Further, the present invention provides lower manufacturing costs and thus lower costs for the consumer.

Abstract: A graphic processing system has a processor for managing a display area and a character font area both include within an are disposed in the address space. From coded information indicative of a character transferred through a data bus of the system, the processor generates an address at which a character font pattern of the corresponding character has been stored and transfers that character font pattern to a predetermined position on the display area. The graphic processing system realizes high speed development of fonts.

Abstract: A liquid crystal is interposed between a first transparent substrate having first electrodes and a second transparent substrate having other electrodes. Pixel regions are formed at portions where the first electrodes and the other electrodes are opposed to each other. A semitransparent reflecting film is formed between the first transparent substrate and the first electrodes. The semitransparent reflecting film is formed with light transmission apertures in each pixel region. The semitransparent reflecting film also occupies portions corresponding to the gaps between the adjacent pixel regions. Alternatively, in addition to the light transmission apertures, the semitransparent reflecting film is formed with slits at positions corresponding to the gaps between the adjacent pixel regions. A light absorption film is formed between the first transparent substrate and the semitransparent reflecting film at positions corresponding to the slits, or the slits are charged with a light absorption film.

Abstract: A returning spring of the electronic control throttle and a default spring for securing an initial opening degree (default opening degree) of the throttle valve have diameters different from each other, and both of the springs are held around a shaft of the throttle valve shaft and arranged between a gear attached to the throttle valve shaft and a wall portion of the throttle body. A shaft supporting gap of the throttle valve shaft is filled with an air leak preventing material, and a minimum opening degree of the throttle valve is set to a value larger than an amount of overshoot of the throttle valve occurring when the opening degree of the throttle valve is changed from a maximum opening degree to the minimum opening degree.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermoplastic resin composition comprising a thermoplastic resin and hollow carbon fibrils dispersed in the thermoplastic resin, the hollow carbon fibrils being present in an amount of 0.1 to 20% by weight based on the total weight of the composition, comprising independent fibrils and agglomerated fibrils, and having such a dispersing condition, when represented by indices based on the measurement of transmission electron microphotograph, that the ratio of the independent fibrils to the agglomerated fibrils lies within the range of 8/92 to 40/60 and the independent fibrils have an average length of 20 to 200 nm.

Abstract: A semiconductor wafer device is provided in this invention. The semiconductor wafer device includes a plurality of chips, circuits, cutting streets, and a polymer layer. The cutting streets include a plurality of longitudinal cutting streets and transverse cutting streets, which are formed between the neighboring chips, and the polymer layer is formed on the cutting streets. In addition, this invention also provides a semiconductor wafer device with a plurality of bumps formed thereon and the bumps are encompassed with a polymer layer.

Abstract: A throttle device is provided for driving to open and close a throttle valve which controls an intake air flow rate of an internal combustion engine via an electric actuator. A motor casing receives a motor forming the electric actuator, and a gear casing receives gear mechanism transmitting a driving force of the motor to a valve shaft. Both casings are integrally formed within a throttle body. A motor insertion opening of the motor casing is opened to the gear casings. The motor is mounted by securing a motor bracket by tightening threaded fasteners into a plurality of threaded holes formed on the peripheral edges of the motor insertion opening. The motor bracket has a curved edge between one thread fastening position to another thread fastening position, and the gear casing is provided a curved portion adapting to said curved edge of the motor bracket.

Abstract: A cutter assembly includes a cutting bit, a replacable wear surface in the form of a washer, and a sleeve. The cutting bit has a forward cutting tip, a rearward extending shank adapted to be received in a tool holder, and a rearward facing shoulder. The sleeve surrounds the shank and includes a forward edge. The washer includes a central hole receiving the cutting bit shank, a front surface and a back surface joined by an outer asymmetrical edge of angularly variable radius. A portion of the washer front surface is in sliding contact with the rearward facing bit shoulder. The washer back surface includes a lip extending rearward from only a segment of the asymmetric edge for engaging an outer shoulder of a holder to inhibit rotation of the washer relative to the holder.

Abstract: A liquid crystal light valve includes a semiconductor substrate having a region for a plurality of switching elements formed in a matrix form. A first metal layer is formed on the surface of the semiconductor substrate through an insulating layer and divided into a plurality of parts by first slits. A second metal layer is formed on the first metal layer through another insulating layer and divided into a plurality of parts by second slits. A third metal layer is formed on the second metal layer through still another insulating layer and divided into a plurality of parts by third slits. An opposite substrate has an opposite electrode on a surface thereof, disposed so as to be opposite to said third metal layer through an interval on the opposite electrode side. Liquid crystal fills the interval between said opposite electrode and the third metal layer.

Abstract: The invention includes a composition of matter which is resistant to metal dusting and a method for preventing metal dusting on metal surfaces exposed to carbon supersaturated environments.

Abstract: An applicator dispenses a pressurized fluid to a workpiece to be processed with an elongate housing having a first end and a second end. An enlarged annular flange extends radially from adjacent the first end of the housing and is connectable to a source of pressurized fluid. A tapered cone is formed on the second end to define a reduced diameter relative to the housing to enable streaming of the pressurized fluid to be applied. A separate mixer is positionable within the housing. Preferably, the mixer is moveable longitudinally with respect to the housing during use. The mixer includes a valve member connected to one end for movement relative to a valve seat defined by an inner surface of the cone. The valve member moveable between an opened position and a closed position. A piston is connected to an opposite end of the mixer from the cone to move the mixer longitudinally within the housing. The piston is moveable within a chamber between first and second end limits of movement.

Abstract: A viscometer for measuring liquid viscosities based upon rotational deflections of a suspended bob. The viscometer comprises a deflection indicator, a deflection reader located at a spaced relative position with respect to the indicator, a rotating element which rotates in unison with the bob and includes either the deflection indicator or the deflection reader, and a magnetic bearing assembly which prevents any substantial change in the spaced, relative position of the deflection reader with respect to the deflection indicator.

Abstract: A semiconductor wafer cassette has a first side wall, a second side wall opposite the first side wall, a front surface, and a back surface opposite the front surface. A body defines an internal bay portion with slots for vertically receiving wafers, each slot of the internal bay portion having one support slab. The body also includes two parallel legs for supporting the cassette and a handle for handling the cassette.