Abstract: The present invention provides a method for brazing a metal object to a ceramic surface defining a recess for receiving the metal object where the space between the metal object and the ceramic surface defining the recess inhibits the establishment of the oxygen depleted environment necessary to establish a reliable braze joint. The present invention includes the use of a material having a high affinity for oxygen that is positioned adjacent to the space between the metal object and the ceramic surface defining the recess and serves to pull or draw oxygen from the space to establish the oxygen depleted environment required to produce a reliable braze joint.

Abstract: The present invention provides a chop mode operated mass spectrometer that substantially reduces the effects of line signals on the operation of the mass spectrometer by admitting gas samples to the analyzer of the mass spectrometer at a frequency that is a sub-multiple of the line frequency. The signal output by the analyzer is sampled at a frequency that is a multiple of frequency at which the gas is being admitted to the analyzer and processed using a digital filter that results in the line signal being isolated from the signal or signals of interest.

Abstract: An actuator system is provided which includes a force transfer element and a force receiving element. A viscous material interconnects the force transfer element and the force receiving element. A workpiece, such as a valve member, is connected to the force receiving element. When a controlled force is applied to the force transfer element, the controlled force and resulting movement are rigidly coupled using the viscous material to the force receiving element so that the workpiece can be moved or otherwise operably controlled. When an uncontrolled force is received by the force transfer element, in which the movement of the force transfer element is slow relative to the deformation of the viscous material, there is no coupling of the uncontrolled force and resulting movement to the workpiece. As a result, the actuator system is able to couple rapid movements using the viscous material, while relatively slow movements are not coupled.