Abstract: An adjustable and controllable electrode wire support and guide mechanism for traveling wire EDM apparatus wherein an electrode wire, longitudinally fed, is stretched between a pair of support and guide members, and wherein at least one of the support and guide members is in the form of a helically grooved cylindrical member directly driven by a servo-motor. The helical groove defines guiding surfaces for the electrode wire which is in engagement with opposite sidewalls of the groove and, by rotating the helically grooved support and guide member by the servo-motor, the electrode wire is caused to take a predetermined inclination relative to the workpiece.

Abstract: An oven controller having a microprocessor for a microwave oven has a first dial for entering time cook data in one embodiment and time or temperature cook data in other embodiments and a second dial for entering duty cycle power data. Analog signals are derived from the dials which are converted into digital signals for entering into the processor using either discrete components, separate integrated circuits or the microprocessor itself. A servo mechanism is shown in one embodiment to rotate the dials in a prescribed manner to display cook data in either time remaining or actual temperature. In other embodiments a digital display is used to provide this information.

Abstract: In a rotary arc-welding method which comprises: directing a nozzle substantially vertically toward a weld zone of objects of welding; feeding a consumable welding electrode through said nozzle eccentrically from the center axis of said nozzle toward said weld zone; feeding welding current to said consumable welding electrode to produce an arc between the tip of said consumable welding electrode and said weld zone to weld said objects of welding with each other by means of the arc heat; rotating said nozzle to cause a circular movement of said arc from the tip of said consumable welding electrode corresponding to the eccentricity thereof; and, feeding a shielding gas toward said weld zone to shield said arc and said weld zone from the open air; the improvement characterized in that: the diameter of said consumable welding electrode is limited within the range of from 0.8 to 1.

Abstract: A system of combining a microwave oven and ventilator over a range top or the like wherein the ventilator comprises an assembly including a central oven receiving compartment and air handling components providing for an exhausting of the range top atmosphere and a maintenance of the oven in a relatively contamination free environment. The ventilator includes a downwardly directed filter-mounting cavity underlying the oven. A pair of vertically extending air directing channels are provided to each side of the oven receiving compartment and extend vertically from communication with the underlying cavity to a pair of chambers located above the oven compartment and in direct communication with an exhaust blower positioned centrally therebetween. The exhaust blower is communicated with the ambient atmosphere above the oven compartment for introduction of cooling uncontaminated air.

Abstract: Pallet nails are subjected to induction heating to char the wood therearound. A pair of induction coils are brought into engagement with the frame pieces of the pallet and with the boards nailed to the frame pieces such as to place the nails within the eddy currents of the electric radio frequency field surrounding the coils. The nails become red hot instantaneously and within a matter of a few seconds the wood is so fully charred along the nails that they either fall from place or can be easily and quickly removed from the soft, highly porous charred substances.

Abstract: A method for uniformly heating an elongated workpiece having a first portion with uniform cross-section over a major portion of the workpiece length and a second portion having a larger cross-section than the first portion. A multi-turn inductor is operatively mounted on a carriage or the like and is coaxially disposed about an elongated workpath. The carriage is selectively movable axially of the workpath from a first or home position. As the workpiece first portion is fed along the workpath at some preselected rate of travel into and through the inductor, it is heated to a desired temperature over the length thereof. The inductor carriage is energized as the enlarged workpiece second portion enters the inductor so that the inductor will travel along the workpath with the workpiece. Such travel increases the heating time for the second portion so that it too is heated to the desired temperature. After a predetermined time interval, the carriage movement is reversed back toward the first or home position.

Abstract: The appliance, e.g. an electric kettle, has a body shell, a heating element within the body shell and a switch housing mounted on the outside of the body shell. A switch operating member or dolly is supported relative to the switch housing and is operable to open and close a pair of switching contacts for interrupting and making respectively an electrically conductive path, which includes the heating element, between a pair of terminal pins. The dolly can rock about a pivot between two positions and is urged against the pivot by a leaf spring acting between the dolly and a support. The housing includes the pivot and the support and is formed as an integral plastics moulding.

Abstract: A microwave oven according to the invention have one-chip microprocessors including a ROM, a RAM and an I/O port. In the ROM a permanent program for controlling the RAM, a data input unit and a display unit is stored. Data is coupled from the data input unit and stored in the RAM according to the permanent program. The display unit is controlled according to the permanent program such that the data stored in the RAM are displayed on the display unit at a constant interval for permitting the checking of the heating program.

Abstract: A multi-electrode boiler, especially for use as a humidifier, comprising water-changing means arranged to allow at least some of the water in the boiler to be changed, monitoring means arranged to monitor the electrical-current which flows through at least one of the electrodes of the boiler, control means responsive to the monitoring means to control the change of at least some of the water in the boiler to maintain the electrical-current in said at least one monitored electrode within a predetermined range of values, in which switching circuitry is provided to switch in and out electrodes of the boiler to vary the boiling rate.

Abstract: The parts to be welded together are caused to continuously approach each other and their ends are fused by an alternating current, and concurrently an oscillatory motion along the direction of approach is imparted to one of the parts, whereby additional relative movements of the parts towards and away from each other are accomplished. During the stage of a relative movement of the parts being welded together away from each other, the welding voltage is reduced to within the range of 0.7 to 0 of its working value, and during the stage of a relative movement of the parts towards each other, the voltage is restored to its initial value. Reducing the voltage is carried out in a time interval of not less than 1/8 of the period of the oscillatory motion from the beginning of the relative movement of the parts away from each other, and restoring it, in a time interval of not more than 1/8 of the period of the oscillatory motion from the beginning of the relative movement of the parts towards each other.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for heating liquids such as water utilizing microwave energy is disclosed. A microwave fluid heater system comprising a microwave-transparent fluid conductor body is arranged in a microwave-reflective and heat-insulated chamber. The conductor body is provided with a plurality of passages through which the fluid to be heated flows. At least one microwave source is arranged in one wall of the microwave chamber to radiate the fluid conductor body so that fluid passing through the passages in the body is heated primarily by absorption of microwave energy. A water distribution system for a building is also disclosed in which a plurality of microwave fluid heaters are arranged at different locations, each heater being adapted to supply hot or cold water independently of the other heaters.

Abstract: A method of transporting can bodies for a fully automated resistance welding machine comprising a roll former station for rolling the bodies, two successively arranged driven transport systems, and a pair of welding electrodes. The transport systems comprise endless, revolving chains equipped with fixed catches or cams and defining first and second chains. The first chain passes through the roll former station where, during rolling of the blanks into the can bodies, it cyclically and periodically remains at least approximately stationary, whereas the second chain has a sinusoidal velocity course. The can bodies exposed to the intermittent non-continuous mode of operation of the first chain, necessitated by the roll forming operation, are transferred to the second chain and experience a movement which is stabilizing for the can bodies.

Abstract: A resistance welding system having a low-inertia movable welding head coupled to a stationary welding transformer which is of low mutual reactance. Through an appropriate timing circuit and control, a high-energy pulse of current, of very short time duration, is transmitted through the welding transformer to the movable welding head. The welding head, which contacts a projection on overlapping components, effects a rapid welding of the components, and the welding head rapidly follows up the melting of the projection due to its low inertia.

Abstract: A heater for liquid foodstuffs has a pipe through which the foodstuff flows and electrodes spaced along the pipe to drive a heating current through the foodstuff. In the embodiment, the electrode is a platinum coated cylinder arranged transversely in an enlarged part of the pipe so that electric current flows to the electrode only over a smooth surface portion, entirely within the edges of the exposed electrode surface.

Abstract: An electric discharge machining device is provided with detecting means operable to determine when a particular machining operation, e.g. the formation of a through-hole in a workpiece, has been completed. In all cases, the position of the electrode is monitored to determine the present machining depth, and whether this depth is the largest depth thus far achieved.The detection of an increasing machining depth is coupled with at least one other detection factor, such as electrode speed, machining fluid flow or machining fluid pressure, such that the penetration of the electrode through the workpiece can be positively sensed. In response to such an indication, a stop signal is output to the power supply unit, to end the machining operation.

Abstract: A modular induction cooktop cartridge contains a fan which is interlocked with the panel switches so that whenever an induction unit is operative, air is drawn into the cartridge to cool the solid state electronic components. Air is exhausted in a high velocity discharge to minimize recirculation.

Abstract: A microwave oven comprising a heating cavity, a controllable frequency microwave power source, a detector for detecting the intensity of the electric field in the cavity and control means for setting the microwave power source at the frequency as determined by the intensity of the electric field. The frequency at which the loaded cavity is energized is selected by the control means to store high power in the cavity. The dimensions of the cavity are selected for generating only the TE.sub.m0p mode at the frequency of the microwave power source which is limited to 915.+-.13 MHz, where 0 is the mode index in the direction of the height of the cavity.

Abstract: A plurality of silicon pressure transducers 10 are formed by processing two conductive silicon wafers 11, 14, one of the wafers including a layer of borosilicate glass 32, a thin portion of which 17 is on the surface 12 of one of the plates of a capacitor formed by field-assisted bonding together of the two wafers, the thin layer of borosilicate glass avoiding arcing during the field-assisted bonding process.

Abstract: Control system for a microwave oven or a combination microwave and convection oven where the on time of a microwave generating system is decreased while convection heater on time may optionally be increased as a food product cooks to a predetermined, desired temperature. A temperature probe inserted in the product senses temperature and connects to a wheatstone bridge. A differential amplifier connects to the wheatstone bridge, an up/down integrator circuit connects to the differential amplifier, and a comparator connects to the integrator and which includes a latch to generate a signal to control a triac for controlling the microwave generating system and to provide a closed loop feedback signal to the temperature probe. The control system starts the oven cooking with substantially one-hundred percent power and, as the desired predetermined temperature is reached, the microwave power level is decreased through the control system.

Abstract: A pressurized can (3) containing material to be dispensed by evaporation is inserted into a case (1) and secured therein by latches (16). An actuator assembly comprises an annular solenoid (21,22) surrounding a plunger (28). The plunger (28) has an axial bore for receiving a shaft tube (29) which is pressed by plunger (28) on a can valve when the solenoid (21,22) is energized. The shaft tube (29) is provided with a nozzle tube (31) extending toward the opening (37) of an annular electrical heating device (34) comprising a perforated disk (39). Material from the can (3) is released by energizing the solenoid (21,22) automatically at selectable time intervals for preset durations. The material falls on the heated perforated disk (39) and evaporates through the holes (40) in the disk (39) into the atmosphere. Higher amounts of insecticide, deodorant and disinfectant agents can be automatically evaporated into a space of higher volume with less material by this apparatus.