Abstract: In a wafer chuck design featuring pins or “mesas” making up the support surface, engineering the pins to have an annular shape, or to contain holes or pits, minimizes sticking of the wafer, and improves wafer settling. In another aspect of the invention is a tool and method for imparting or restoring flatness and roughness to a surface, such as the support surface of a wafer chuck. The tool is shaped such that the contact to the surface being treated is a circle or annulus. The treatment method may take place in a dedicated apparatus, or in-situ in semiconductor fabrication apparatus. The tool is smaller than the diameter of the wafer pin chuck, and may be approximate to the spatial frequency of the high spots to be lapped. The movement of the tool relative to the support surface is such that all areas of the support surface may be processed by the tool, or only those areas needing correction.

Abstract: The present techniques are directed to a system and methods for operating a gas turbine system. An exemplary gas turbine system includes an oxidant system, a fuel system, and a control system. A combustor is adapted to receive and combust an oxidant from the oxidant system and a fuel from the fuel system to produce an exhaust gas. A catalyst unit including an oxidation catalyst that includes an oxygen storage component is configured to reduce the concentration of oxygen in the exhaust gas to form a low oxygen content product gas.

Abstract: A blind tack fastener includes a pull stem having an elongated shaft with an extended tail portion. The blind tack fastener also includes a crush-initiating washer, a crush sleeve, and a swage collar, surrounding the elongated shaft of the pull stem. The elongated shaft has a breakaway groove configured to create a predictive fracture point below the head-end surface of the swage collar, such that a hole in the swage collar serves as a centering lead-in for a drill that can be used to remove the blind tack fastener.

Abstract: A primary mirror mount assembly includes a body including a mirror surface and a mount surface, with the mount surface having at least one feature formed therein. The mount assembly further includes a hub configured to be secured to the body. The hub includes at least one corresponding mating feature configured to receive the at least one feature of the mount surface of the body therein. The at least one feature and the at least one corresponding mating feature are configured to be welded together. A method of assembling a primary mirror mount assembly is further disclosed.

Abstract: A pipe clamp including an annular clamp housing having an opening for inserting therein a pipe, opposing clamp members located near ends of the annular clamp housing, one or more tightening elements for fastening and tightening the clamp members towards each other in a direction transverse to an axial length of the annular clamp housing, and an annular seal placed in an inner perimeter of the annular clamp housing, wherein one portion of the annular seal is attached to the annular clamp housing with one or more mechanical fasteners and another portion of the annular seal is slidingly attached to the annular clamp housing with one or more mechanical fasteners so that the annular seal is permitted to move and expand radially about as the pipe clamp is tightened by one or more tightening elements.

Abstract: An improved membrane valve and method for manufacturing such membrane valve. The improved membrane valve can be used for transferring fluids or gases in hermetic or semi-hermetic compressors, including a method and system for manufacturing a membrane valve and a membrane valve with applications for use in several motors, particularly in hermetic or semi-hermetic compressors which use, as a refrigeration fluid, an appropriate type of gas thus promoting the refrigeration physical affect. A body and a membrane of the membrane valve are produced from substantially thin metallic plates separately in accordance to an available process and can be subjected to rounding in order to eliminate live corners, and then juxtaposed thus composing the valve, with the above mentioned membrane on one side, fitted to the body which is fixed through a connection process and, on the other side, left free to oscillate.

Abstract: A system and method are provided to automate the assembly of a wing panel, such as utilized by commercial aircraft. In the context of a system, a tacking cell is provided that is configured to tack one or more stringers to a skin plank. The system also includes a riveting cell configured to receive a tacked plank from the tacking cell and to rivet the one or more stringers to the skin plank. The system also includes a splicing cell configured to receive a plurality of riveted planks from the riveting cell and to attach one or more splice stringers to the plurality of riveted planks. Further, the system includes a side of body cell configured to receive a spliced panel from the splicing cell and to attach a side of body chord thereto to produce a wing panel.

Abstract: A method to remove a bushing from a bore includes an alignment tool that fits within an inner cavity of the bushing and a cutter tool aligned by the alignment tool. The method includes forming a groove on an inner surface of the bushing with the cutter tool and guiding the cutter tool with a guide associated with the alignment tool.

Abstract: An apparatus for mounting a coordinate positioning apparatus accessory, such as a tool setter, to the workpiece mounting surface of a coordinate positioning apparatus, the workpiece mounting surface having a slot formed in it. The apparatus includes an insert for inserting into the slot of the workpiece mounting surface, and a mount attachable to a coordinate positioning apparatus accessory. The insert includes structure to fix the insert within the slot; the insert is substantially contained within the slot when inserted therein. The mount includes at least one protruding member for engaging the insert when contained within the slot, thereby fixing the mount, and therefore any coordinate positioning apparatus accessory attached to the mount, to the workpiece mounting surface of the coordinate positioning apparatus.

Abstract: A wastegate valve includes a wastegate flap and a wastegate spindle, in which the wastegate flap and the wastegate spindle are constituent parts of a single, unipartite molded body. The molded body furthermore has a connecting arm which is disposed between the wastegate flap and the wastegate spindle and which has a plasticization region. A method for installing an exhaust-gas turbocharger wastegate valve of this type into a turbine housing which has a wastegate duct, is also provided.

Abstract: A method of using a hanger and marking device includes holding an article adjacent to a wall and determining the exact desired location on the wall for hanging the article; exerting pressure on the article so as to cause a support marker of the device to create a small indent in the wall at the desired location; temporarily anchoring the article to the wall with the support marker of the device; stepping back from the wall and observing the temporarily anchored article on the wall; removing the article from the wall; nailing a nail into the wall at the location marked by the device; hanging the article on the wall by mounting the device with article onto the wall-mounted nail.

Abstract: A binding apparatus including a plurality of generally coaxially arranged binding coils. Each binding coil includes a pair of generally parallel wires terminating in a tip. Each binding coil is coupled to an adjacent binding coil by a connection portion extending generally parallel to an axis of the binding apparatus. At least one binding coil is directly circumferentially attached to itself, or to a connection portion.

Abstract: A method for the attachment of a hollow element such as a hollow rivet or a nut element to a component consisting of a composite material, with the element having a flange part and a shaft part or rivet section extending away from the flange part, wherein a rivet section can also be formed at the free end of a shaft part. The hollow element has a central passage which is optionally provided with a thread cylinder. In the method an auxiliary tip is either passed from the flange side of the element remote from the shaft part and/or the rivet section through the passage or is introduced from the side of the free end of the shaft part and/or of the rivet section into the passage such that a conically converging region of the auxiliary tip projects from the free end of the shaft part or of the rivet section.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to constructing a heat exchanger using nanoink as a thermal bond interface between portions of the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger may comprise fins and at least one base. A nanoink may be applied to at least a portion of the fins. The pieces of the heat exchanger may be sintered such that the nanoink melts and forms a bond between the pieces of the heat exchanger. Some embodiments include a second base. Some embodiments incorporate dissimilar materials within the heat exchanger construction.

Abstract: A thin heat pipe structure and a manufacturing method thereof. The thin heat pipe structure includes a tubular body and a mesh body. The tubular body has a chamber and a working fluid. At least one first channel and at least one second channel are formed on an inner wall face of the chamber. The first and second channels extend to intersect each other. The mesh body is attached to the inner wall face of the chamber. The thin heat pipe structure is able to transfer heat in both axial direction and radial direction. By means of the manufacturing method, the heat pipe can be slimmed and the ratio of good products can be greatly increased.

Abstract: A document which may be a security document has a thermochromic coating which may be a thermochromic ink on the substrate of the document. The ink may include several thermochromic materials which transition from various different colors to substantially clear in appearance as the ink is warmed to various temperatures. The combination of the colors of the thermochromic materials can give the document a different color at a number of different temperatures, until the coating is warmed to the highest color change point. When at or above the highest color change temperature, the coating becomes substantially transparent and the printed area assumes the color of the underlying substrate. The coating may also include non-reactive materials of yet another color that mixes with the colors of the thermochromic materials.

Abstract: A universal automation line is configured for the assembly of electronics and mechanical devices. The universal automation line includes universal cells or stations that can be programmed to perform a variety of automated assembly tasks such as glue dispensing, screw driving, pick and place, etc. The stations are interchangeable by different module design such as selective soldering, heat stacking, bottom lead trimming, bottom screwing and ultrasonic welding. Each station can also include an automated robot, which is also interchangeable, to perform different tasks and complete fully automated assemblies. The stations can be sequenced inline for a fully automated line or combined with some manual operation. The stations can communicate by standardized interfaces and local networks, and can be expanded to an intranet or the internet for remote control.

Abstract: Provided are a highly-versatile plate-like-workpiece twisting and retaining apparatus, plate-like-workpiece twisting and retaining method, and plate-like-workpiece twisting and shaping method that can give a freely-chosen twisted shape or curved shape to a plate-like workpiece with a simple, highly-versatile configuration without having to prepare a die member and that can also be applied to an integral skin. A twisting and retaining apparatus includes at least two support points that are contactable with a first surface in a twisting range of a plate-like workpiece; a plurality of pressing points that are similarly contactable with a second surface in the twisting range and that flank a line connecting the at least two support points in plan view of the plate-like workpiece; and an advance-retract driving apparatus (support unit, pressing unit) that causes at least the support points or the pressing points to advance and retract in a thickness direction of the plate-like workpiece.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing tailored sheet-metal strips, in which at least one sheet-metal strip having a substantially planar surface is integrally connected along its longitudinal edge to at least one further web-shaped semifinished product made of metal, wherein the at least one further web-shaped semifinished product differs from the at least one sheet-metal strip in terms of at least one of its properties, and wherein the at least one sheet-metal strip and the at least one further web-shaped semifinished product are fed continuously to at least one joining station, characterized in that a web-shaped semifinished product having a three-dimensional structure, a hollow profile and/or a multiplicity of recesses and/or holes in succession along its longitudinal edge is used as the at least one further web-shaped semifinished product which is fed to the joining station. An apparatus for carrying out the method is furthermore claimed.

Abstract: A tensioner system may be replaced by selecting replacement components. Components such as a housing, roller arm, pulley, and index plate locating pin may be selected from a group of housings, roller arms, pulleys, and index plate locating pins, respectively. The selection of the components allows a user to assemble multiple variations of tensioner that are commercially available. The location of the index plate locating pin on the index plate allows for proper orientation of the tensioner in the vehicle in order to apply the proper tension to a belt. The selection of the components may be based on current tensioner model, or based on dimensions measured from the current tensioner.