Abstract: A system and method of rating the arc maintainability of an electric arc welding stick electrode by creating an arc between the electrode and a workpiece; moving the electrode along the workpiece while maintaining the arc; decreasing either the current or the voltage until a point is reached where the arc is extinguished; determining the open circuit voltage at the point; and, rating the electrode based upon at least the open circuit voltage point.

Abstract: The invention provides a produce decontamination apparatus comprising a chamber 10 for accepting produce to be decontaminated and/or sterilized, and means for producing a free radical saturated atmosphere within the chamber 10 so that, in use, the free radical saturated atmosphere decontaminates and/or sterilizes the produce. Preferably, the means for producing a free radical saturated atmosphere comprises one or more first atomizing sprayheads 30a, a supply 32 of ozonized liquid which is supplied to the first sprayheads 30a, and means for breaking down the ozone forming part of the ozonized liquid once discharged from the first sprayheads 30a. Preferably, the means for breaking down the ozone is in the form of one or more UV light emitting devices 48,50. Produce decontaminated using the apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: A system for trimming a lettuce head using a digital imaging system and cutting mechanism. The lettuce head is conveyed between a lower feed conveyor and an upper feed conveyor that is disposed a fixed distance over and substantially aligned with a lower feed conveyor. The digital imaging system is configured to capture an image of the lettuce head and determine a cutting profile using the image. The cutting mechanism is disposed over the lower feed conveyor and includes: a servo motor mechanically coupled to a drive shaft; an armature with a pivot end mounted to the drive shaft and a sweep end disposed a radial distance from the pivot end; a cutting nozzle, mounted to the sweep end of the armature, configured to trim the lettuce head; and servo-control circuitry configured to articulate the cutting nozzle through a cutting arc based on the cutting profile.

Abstract: An aspect of the invention provides a gemstone heating system for expanding capillary vessel. The system comprises a gemstone heating pad, a magnet, a heat conductor, a heating element, and an insulating cover. The gemstone heating pad comprises a front surface, a rear surface, a recess portion provided on a central portion of the rear surface, a enclosing wall portion configured for enclosing the recess portion. The magnet is embedded in the recess portion of the gemstone heating pad. The heat conductor encloses the recess portion of the gemstone heating system. The heating element is disposed in the heating conductor. The insulating cover is configured for insulating the heat conductor and the heating element.

Abstract: A coffeemaker includes a bottom of a coffeemaker adapted to be placed onto and supported by a surface. Three or more wheel assemblies are mounted onto the bottom of the coffeemaker. The wheel assemblies rotate in substantially a straight line. The wheel assemblies are mounted on an imaginary circle on the bottom of the coffeemaker, and the straight line of rotation of each of the wheels is substantially tangent to the imaginary circle.

Abstract: Welding electrodes with a welding face for contact with a metal surface for electrical resistance welding are provided with concentric contoured rings formed into the face. The rings may, for example, be ridges upstanding in the face or grooves depressed into the face. The contoured rings may be radially spaced with relatively flat (depending on the curvature of the face) intervening rings. When the electrode is pressed into contact with the surface of the workpiece for delivery of a welding current, the features of the concentric rings penetrate surface oxides or other conductivity barriers. When ongoing welding operations have eroded the contoured rings they may be rapidly reformed in the weld face in a surface re-dressing operation.

Abstract: A torch for connection to an electric arc welding system having a wire feeder, a power source and a weld process controller for the power source. The torch being connected to the front end of a welding gun, which gun has a rear end with a first unique component of a connector. The welding system has a second component of the connector matching the first component. The gun has a communication channel extending from the torch to the first component for transmitting data to the welding system through the connector. The torch has a memory with an identification code outputted on the communication channel to the first component and the system has a decoder circuit connected to the second component and responsive to a selected identification code.

Abstract: A dual power pin connector assembly for connecting both a MIG welding gun and a spoolgun to a welding machine. The dual power pin connector is comprised of a busbar portion that electrically and mechanically couples the positive output terminal of the welding machine power supply to a wire drive for the MIG welding gun. The connector is further comprised of an integral quick release assembly/clamping portion that electrically and mechanically connects the positive power supply terminal to a power supply cable for the spoolgun. The clamping portion receives and retains a power pin coupled to one end of the spoolgun power cable in a receptacle that is manually tightened and loosened.

Abstract: The invention described herein generally pertains to coupling microwave energy into a tuned multi-section WR-975 waveguide assembly, connected to a waveguide containing a ceramic cylindrical applicator, terminated in a dummy load, for pre-heating fuels to improve vaporization, combustion efficiency, and soot reduction in combustion chamber(s). Designed primarily for processing liquid byproducts produced during biodiesel fuel manufacturing, this invention establishes a charge density in a cross-coupled applicator, according to the applicator's volume, dielectric characteristics of the materials being processed, applied frequency, and voltage. This invention may also be used for preheating or polarization of solids within a pipe-conveyed slurry, such as biosolids, bituminous coal, crude oil sludge, paper pulp or shale oil rock.

Abstract: The invention provides a retainer system for retaining a positive temperature coefficient resistor in a heater housing shaft having a shaft side wall. The retainer system includes a base, a spring, and shaft engagement means. The spring is formed in and spaced apart from the base. The spring extends radially outwardly from a longitudinal axis of the base and the spring has a neck that curves radially backwardly, spaced apart from the base and toward the longitudinal axis of the base. The spring also has a contact surface presented outwardly, away from the base. The shaft engagement means are for engaging the shaft side wall and securing the base within the shaft at a desired distance from the resistor. The retainer system can be secured within the shaft with the spring flexed to a desired extent and with the contact surface urged against the resistor to retain the resistor in the shaft.

Abstract: Apparatus (20) for cooking food by contact comprising a continuous cooking surface (26) heated on its underside by one or more gas burners (33) which are housed in one or more combustion chambers (25) and which are supplied with fuel gas by a portable tank (B). The continuous cooking surface (26), the combustion chambers (25), the burners (33) and the valvular means (34) constitute a cooking unit (21) that is removably mounted on a supporting cart (22) suited to house said portable tank (B) and to allow the use of the apparatus (20) either in an indoor or in an outdoor environment.

Abstract: In a method of repairing a structural component, especially a stator-side structural component such as a housing or a guide vane ring of a gas turbine, a damaged section is separated-out along a separating line and removed from the structural component, and a new section that replaces the removed damaged section is connected with the structural component by welding along the separating line to produce a weld seam. The damaged section is separated-out from the structural component so as to minimize the length of the separating line and thus the weld seam. Depending on the material thickness distribution of the component along the separating line, material is removed from the structural component to provide the most uniform possible material thickness along the weld seam. After connecting the new section with the structural component by welding, at least the removed material is renewed by laser powder deposit welding.

Abstract: An automated belt cooking machine (10) for pancakes and the like food products has upper and lower overlapping, thermally conductive belts (12, 14), counter-rotatably mounted to a frame (16) so that, in use, a bottom run (30) of the upper belt (12) and a top run (32) of the lower belt (14) co-operate to convey food (40) to be cooked. The lower belt (14) extends a predetermined distance to one side of the upper belt (12) so as to provide a dispensing platform portion (38) for dispensing thereon the food to be cooked (40), so that the food (40) is conveyed towards a mouth (52) formed between the upper belt and lower belts (12, 14) and thereafter is conveyed sandwiched between the bottom and top run (30, 32). Upper and lower heating platens (26,28) are mounted to the frame (16) and are in thermal contact with the bottom and top run (30, 32), wherein the food to be cooked (40) is initially exposed to heat from the lower platen (28) conducted through the dispensing platform portion (38).

Abstract: A flexible, plastic thin film food package is provided having an elongate opening check valve with an air removal port that allows repeated opening and resealing of the package followed by removal of air and moisture by vacuuming. The top open edge of the food package is bonded to a flexible but rigid frame that fits a lid with the air removal port flat valve. The flat valve is a compressed foam sponge and a thin film housed in a rigid case that is bonded to the lid. Air is removed with a spatula attachment of the vacuum pump that is inserted into the space between the lid and the flat check valve. Once vacuum is induced in the interior of the food package, the film covering the frame is sucked against the lid thereby shutting off influx of air into the package.

Abstract: A method of rating the arc maintainability of an electric arc welding stick electrode by creating an arc between the electrode and a workpiece; moving the electrode along the workpiece while maintaining the arc; decreasing either the current or the voltage until a point is reached where the arc is extinguished; determining the open circuit voltage at the point; and, rating the electrode based upon the open circuit voltage point.

Abstract: A food processing system includes a food processing chamber for processing a food product, such as meat products such as hot dogs, sausages, poultry, fish, and other food items. A high speed serial to parallel loading station delivery system is provided. The food product is loaded onto a conveyor in the processing chamber having a plurality of two-piece food product cradles having openings receiving the food product at the loading station and discharging the food product at the unloading station and having gaps between food product carriers distally oppositely spaced from the openings and defining food product cavities therebetween, the width of the openings varying during traversal of the conveyor through the chamber from the loading to the unloading stations.

Abstract: A food processing system includes a food processing chamber for processing a food product, such as meat products such as hot dogs, sausages, poultry, fish, and other food items. A high speed serial to parallel loading station delivery system is provided. The food product is loaded onto a conveyor in the processing chamber having a plurality of two-piece food product cradles having openings receiving the food product at the loading station and discharging the food product at the unloading station and having gaps between food product carriers distally oppositely spaced from the openings and defining food product cavities therebetween, the width of the openings varying during traversal of the conveyor through the chamber from the loading to the unloading stations.

Abstract: The flow sensor comprises a heater arranged between two sensing thermopiles. In addition, at least one monitoring thermocouple is provided for measuring the temperature of the heater. The signal from the monitoring thermocouple can be used to improve the accuracy of the device in several ways. In particular, the signal from the monitoring thermocouple depends on changes of the Seeback constant and other inherent properties of the thermopiles in the same way as the signal from the sensing thermopiles, which allows a compensation of such effects. The signal from the monitoring thermocouple can also be used as a reference voltage to an A/D converter for converting the signals from the sensing thermopiles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a portable household food cooker capable of receiving a food mixture and producing food items in a continuous fashion. The continuous food cooker generally includes a housing and a hopper. The hopper is disposed above the housing for receiving the food mixture and for dispensing the food mixture into the cooker. The continuous food cooker also includes a hot roller assembly for forming and cooking the food mixture, a hot roller drive assembly operatively attached to at least one roller, and a cutter for cutting the produced food item at a desired length. The hot roller assembly includes at least one rotatable roller and at least one heating element for heating the at least one roller. The at least one roller and the at least one heating element are disposed internally to the housing.

Abstract: A smoking system for cooking food products includes a controller, a smoke generator electrically coupled to the controller, a smoke chamber including first and second trolleys juxtaposed side-by-side, and a first duct with opposed ends directly coupled to the smoke generator and the smoke chamber. The system further includes a plurality of circulation motors, second and third ducts directly coupled to the motors and the trolleys respectively, and a cleaning section in fluid communication with the first and second trolleys. A ventilation motor is directly connected to the cleaning section, and a fifth duct is provided with an associated damper.