Abstract: A polishing material for chemical mechanical polishing has a mesh of fibers and a binder material holding the fibers in the mesh. The binder material coalesced among the fibers to leave pores in the interstices between the fibers of the mesh. The fibers and binder material provide the polishing material with a brittle texture. The fibers can be cellulose, and the binder material can be a phenolic resin.

Abstract: A wrench having two driving stems pivotally connected with each other. One of the driving stems has a main stem and a female joint protruding from a rectangular or cylindrical section of the main stem with a hole at a center thereof. The other driving stem has the other main stem and a male joint projecting out of the center of a rectangular or cylindrical section of the main stem. The male joint and the female joint are engaged with each other via a coupler such as a roll pin. Therefore, without using an additional hinge or other mechanical coupler, these two driving stems are pivotally connected with each other.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing metallic support beams for windscreen wiper blade assemblies, which includes a supply of metallic strip feedstock in a cold condition, the feedstock being passed in a cold condition through a pair of opposed, spaced apart, cold forming rollers. A spacing between the cold forming rollers is cyclically varied during to cyclically vary a thickness reduction of the feedstock and provide a rolled strip with a cyclically varying thickness. The thickness of the rolled strip is varied in a single pass between the cold forming rollers and the feedstock is worked so that the thickness of the rolled strip varies cyclically along its length in a ratio of least 2:1. Support beams are produced from the rolled strip, each support beam having a thickness which varies along its length.

Abstract: A fastener detection system is provided for both internal combustion and powder actuated fastener driving tools, and similar powered fastener driving tools. A sensor disposed at a portion of a fastener supply path detects the presence or absence of a fastener. In the combustion tool, either or both of fuel delivery and combustion ignition are disabled when no fastener is detected. In the powder actuated tool an indicator notifies an operator when the sensor detects the absence of a fastener. The indicator may also be incorporated into the combustion tool.