Abstract: One embodiment is directed to an oven for heating fibers. The oven comprises a supply structure disposed within the oven between first and second ends of the oven. The supply structure comprises a plurality of plenums stacked one above each other with gaps therebetween. The plenums are in fluid communication with a heating system. At least one plenum comprises at least one side wall comprising a plurality of passages formed therein, said at least one plenum configured to direct at least a portion of the heated gas into an interior of the oven from the plurality of passages. Each of the plurality of passages formed in said at least one plenum has a respective tapered cross-sectional shape.

Abstract: A system and method for preheating a cooking chamber of an oven appliance is provided. The oven appliance may include one or more heating elements that operate according to a control algorithm that prevents the center oven temperature from exceeding a maximum desired temperature threshold. The control algorithm accounts for discrepancies between the measured oven temperature and the actual center oven temperature, particularly when preheating a cold oven. As a result, the control algorithm selectively operates one or more of the heating elements after the measured oven temperature is above the maximum desired temperature threshold. Preheating the cooking chamber in this manner will improve overall cooking performance.

Abstract: An assembly for cooking onboard a boat or other vessel, having a pot that is suspended outboard of the vessel to reduce hazards and inconveniences while boiling or steaming food such as shellfish or vegetables. A burner or electric heat source is mounted at the bottom of the kettle, and the upper end of the pot is mounted to a gimble assembly so that the pot and heat source remain upright as the vessel pitches and rolls. A support assembly holds the gimble assembly away from the side of the vessel so as to suspend the pot over the surrounding water and away from the deck and the cabin and other enclosed areas. The inboard end of the support may be releasably mountable to a rod holder previously installed on a gunwale of the vessel.

Abstract: A heating system comprises at least one IR heating device 3 and at least one optical element arranged to focus or direct IR radiation emitted by the IR heating device 3 onto an object to be heated 1.

Abstract: A heater according to an embodiment includes a substrate that is formed of a heat resistant insulating material, a heating resistor that is provided on the substrate, a conductor that is provided on the substrate and that is electrically connected to the heating resistor, and a coating film that covers the heating resistor and the conductor. A plurality of groove portions are arranged on an end surface of the substrate along an outer periphery of the substrate, and a coefficient A=100×D/(T×P) satisfies 0.4?A?0.9 where T [?m] is the thickness of the substrate, D [?m] is the depth of the groove portion in a thickness direction of the substrate, and P [?m] is a pitch between the groove portions.

Abstract: A machine for making liquid and semi-liquid products includes a container for processing the products, a mixer operating inside the container, a heat exchanger, operatively associated with the container for exchanging heat with the product inside the container, a motor driving the mixer, and an inverter, connected to the motor for controlling operation of the motor. A control and operating unit, connected to the inverter sends command signals and receives control signals. A communication fieldbus, interposed between the inverter and the control unit allows transmission of the signals. The control unit is programmed to run a first algorithm of the state machine type configured to control the inverter, include the following states: transmission of a command to the inverter, standby for confirmation that the inverter received the command, transmission of a read request for an inverter operating parameter, standby for receiving the inverter parameter.

Abstract: An electronic vapor device is disclosed comprising a vapor outlet, a first container for storing a first vaporizable material, wherein the first container is permanently integrated into the electronic vapor device, a second container for storing a second vaporizable material, wherein the second container is removable from the electronic vapor device, a docking bay configured to receive the second container, wherein the second container is removed from or inserted into the docking bay through a door, and a vaporizer component configured for vaporizing the first vaporizable material or the second vaporizable material to generate a vapor and for providing the vapor to the vapor outlet.

Abstract: An automatic meal preparation apparatus is provided which has a top section with compartments for raw food and at least one spice/sauce cartridge; a middle section with a cooking vessel; and a bottom section with a heating element. The sections are stacked in series within a housing. The compartments of the top section are disposed above the cooking vessel. The cooking vessel is in communication with the heating element. A controller receives a selection of a recipe from a user, and executes instructions of the recipe to selectively heat the heating element at certain times, and selectively dispense at least a portion of the raw food and a pre-determined measure of spice/sauce. The apparatus stirs and cooks the food and the spice/sauce in the vessel for a specified duration, in accordance with the recipe.

Abstract: A method for drilling a hole in a component is provided. The method includes directing a confined laser beam of the confined laser drill towards a near wall of the component and sensing a characteristic of light directed along a beam axis of the confined laser beam away from the component with a sensor. The method also includes determining one or more operational conditions based on the characteristic of the light sensed with the sensor. The one or more operational conditions includes at least one of a depth of the hole being drilled by the confined laser drill and a material into which the confined laser beam of the confined laser drill is being directed. Such a method may allow for more appropriate control of the confined laser drill.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device (30) for monitoring the inert gas (5) during a welding process performed using a welding torch (7), wherein at least one measurement variable (Pi), which is dependent on the type of inert gas (5), is measured by means of at least one sensor (Si). According to the invention, at least two measurement variables (Pi) of the inert gas (5) are measured and the measured values (Mi) of the at least two measurement variables (Pi) of the inert gas (5) are compared with several stored values (Mi?), which are associated with inert gas types (Gi), of the at least two measurement variables (Pi), and the inert gas type (Gi), for which the assigned values (Mi?) of the at least two measurement variables (Pi) are closest to the measured values (Mi) of the at least two measurement variables (Pi) of the inert gas (5), is displayed.

Abstract: A heating paste composition, and a sheet heating element, a heating roller, a heating unit and a heating module, which use the composition, are disclosed. In one aspect, the heating paste composition includes 0.2 parts to 6 parts by weight of carbon nanotube particles, 0.5 parts to 30 parts by weight of graphite particles, 5 parts to 30 parts by weight of a binder mixture, 29 parts to 80 parts by weight of an organic solvent and 0.5 parts to 5 parts by weight of a dispersant, wherein the weights are with respect to 100 parts by weight of the heating paste composition.

Abstract: A cone-type spiral slicer includes a blade along the sidewall for cutting a vegetable into thin strips. The housing is formed in a first portion and a second portion that are separable from one another. A retractable set of julienne blades allows the user to selectively use the slicer for cutting either wide strips or narrow julienne strips.

Abstract: A device for providing a liquid additive into an exhaust line includes a tank, a delivery line, a heating element formed of a posistor or PTC material for heating the additive in the tank and/or the delivery line, and a dosing device or doser for dosing the liquid additive. The dosing device has a coil and a movable component and the movable component can be moved by the coil. The coil can be connected electronically in series with the heating element by a first switching element. It is thus possible for an activation current through a heating element formed of a posistor material to be limited in magnitude in an inexpensive manner.

Abstract: An electric wine decanter comprises a housing, an air pump, a spout, the retaining base and a control switch. The retaining base is provided with a vent hole for communicating with the air in the wine container and a wine guide tube for extending to a bottom of the wine container. The housing further includes a directional control valve therein for controlling an air flow switch of the air pump and a drive device for controlling the operation of the directional control valve. The directional control valve includes a valve body and a valve seat mounted to a bottom of the valve body. It is only necessary to install the electric wine decanter on the mouth of the wine container. By the opening and closing of the different valve mouths, the flow path of the air flow is changed to realize the functions of pressure-holding, vacuumizing and decanting.

Abstract: Beam processing machines such as laser beam or fluid jet processing machines (1) for processing workpieces (5) include a frame (3), a workpiece rest (4) held by the frame (3), and a beam tool (2) movable relative to the workpiece rest (4). Incorporated in a vibration-transmitting connecting path between the beam tool and the rest surface for workpieces defined by the workpiece rest are a plurality of damping elements that decouple vibrations between the rest surface and beam tool, its mounting, or the frame.

Abstract: An automatic tea brewing system may include a first container configured to hold a first liquid; a second container configured to hold a second liquid; a brew pot configured to be fluidly coupled to the first container and to the second container; a heating element; and a controller programmed to dispense the first liquid from the first container to the brew pot at a first time, heat the first liquid in the brew pot to a first temperature, dispense the second liquid from the second container to the brew pot at a second time later than the first time to produce a liquid combination in the brew pot, heat the liquid combination in the brew pot to a second temperature, and, at a third time later than the second time, begin decreasing the temperature of the liquid combination.

Abstract: The example methods and apparatus reduce and/or eliminate adverse effects of welding work pieces having dissimilar compositions. An example method includes depositing a first weld layer on a first end of a first work piece. The first work piece has a first content of a metallic element and the first weld layer has a second content of the metallic element higher than the first content. The example method includes depositing a second weld layer between the first weld layer and a second end of a second work piece to couple the first work piece to the second work piece. The second weld layer has a third content of the metallic element higher than the second content, and the second work piece has a fourth content of the metallic element higher than the first content.

Abstract: An appliance for frying has a frying pot disposed within a housing for containing oil or fat and having a normally-closed valve disposed at a bottom thereof. An oil receiving tank is removably receivable within the housing below the frying pot, and has an oil receiving hole positionable below the draining valve such that when the valve is opened, the or fat may flow from the frying pot into the oil receiving tank. An actuation mechanism disposed entirely on the housing has a first condition wherein the activation mechanism allows removal of the oil receiving tank relative to the housing, a second condition wherein the activation mechanism prevents removal of the oil receiving tank relative to the housing while not opening the valve, and a third condition wherein the activation mechanism prevents removal of the oil receiving tank relative to the housing while opening the valve.

Abstract: A counter top electric appliance optimally performs a variety of cooking modes with both radiant and convective heat sources as well as control means for controlling the timing and intensity of the heat sources. A driver turns food about either a horizontal or a vertical axis of rotation suitable for the specific food and recipe. A hinged door supports the food to be cooked so that in one location the food is caused to be turned by the drive means and in another location the food is loaded into or removed the appliance, external of the cooking compartment, to be easily handled by the operator.

Abstract: Through the present invention, the load of a torch (16) applied to a welding workpiece (W) in a touch start method is reduced, and stability is significantly enhanced. A welding head (10) has a rigid straight-advancing movable part (12), an elevator drive tower (14) for moving the straight-advancing movable part (12) straight forward in the vertical direction, and a torch (16) mounted on the straight-advancing movable part (12) so as to be able to move in the vertical direction. One end part of a balance arm (28) rotatably attached to a multi-purpose support part (22) of the straight-advancing movable part (12) is connected to a torch body (30), and a balance weight (98) is attached to the other end part of the balance arm (28).