Abstract: The microwave heating apparatus of the present invention enables microwaves to be propagated onto an object to be heated through a waveguide such that the microwaves propagate to a microwave space reduced by a wavelength controller which is arranged, as a solid-state object, to occupy a predetermined space in the waveguide. Thus, the microwave heating apparatus of the present invention heats the object to be heated which has been placed in the reduced space. The microwave heating apparatus of the present invention utilizes the effects of lengthening the wavelength of the microwaves propagating to the reduced space so as to be longer than the wavelength before entering the reduced space by a predetermined multiple depending on a near-cutoff condition.

Abstract: Provided is a projection bolt welding method, which involves welding a projection bolt to a steel sheet component by electric resistance welding. The projection bolt includes a shank, a circular enlarged diameter portion, and a welding projection including an initial fusion portion with a tapered portion and a main fusion portion. A ratio of a volume of the initial fusion portion to a volume of a portion of the steel sheet component having the same diameter as a diameter of the initial fusion portion is selected, or a ratio of a circular area of the initial fusion portion to a sheet thickness of the steel sheet component is selected.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for sharing capsule image data and beverage preparation parameters, from one or more beverage preparation machines with a remote computer system via a network, such as the Internet, is disclosed. The remote computer system may process the capsule image data to determine characteristics of the capsule (e.g., a type of capsule, such as a brand, or beverage ingredients in the capsule), thereby relieving the beverage preparation from having to determine information about the capsule. The remote computer may track a user's consumption of capsules, may compare this value to the user's past capsule purchase history, and may determine if the user's supply of capsules is below a threshold value (e.g., below a week's worth of capsules).

Abstract: A system, in one embodiment, may include a portable welding unit having an engine, a generator coupled to the engine, a compressor coupled to the engine, and a smart battery charger coupled to the generator. A system, in another embodiment, may include a battery charger, wherein the battery charger is configured to monitor a temperature of a battery, an ambient temperature, a battery charge time, or a combination thereof. A system, in a further embodiment, may include at least one circuit having a welding control circuit and a battery charge circuit. The battery charge circuit may be configured to adjust an output based on a battery type, a battery voltage rating, a sensed feedback, a battery test, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A system and method for generating combustion aerosols from liquid fuel. The system includes a furnace with an inner heating tube having a heating tape wrapped thereabout. Further, the system includes a fuel line extending through an inlet end of the heating tube and into the heating tube, and a means for dripping the liquid fuel onto a plurality of different locations on an inner surface of the heating tube. The system further includes a power supply to power the heating tape to heat the inner heating tube to a temperature which can ignite the liquid fuel dripped onto the inner surface of the inner heating tube whereby there is an immediate combustion to form combustion products. Finally, the system includes an air line connected to the heating tube for directing compressed air through the inner heating tube to mix with the combustion products and transport the formed combustion aerosols out of an outlet end of the inner heating tube.

Abstract: There is provided a fluid heating device for an engine with increased heating efficiency of fluid. The fluid heating device for an engine includes: a holder; a heater; and a radiator pipe, the radiator pipe is inserted into the holder, the heater is housed in the holder, heat of the heater is radiated to fluid passing through the radiator pipe via the radiator pipe. The radiator pipe is formed by an outer pipe and an inner pipe in the outer pipe, the heat generated by the heater is transferred to the outer pipe and the inner pipe, the fluid passing inside and outside the inner pipe in the outer pipe is heated by heat radiation from the outer pipe and the inner pipe.

Abstract: An assembled heatable media line having a media line having at least two heating elements arranged on the exterior of the media line and at least one line connector. In order to heat the at least one line connector, only one of the heating elements is arranged at or on said line connector and at least partially surrounds the same.

Abstract: A radiant heater device includes: a heater main body having a heating portion that generates heat by being supplied with electric power to radiate radiation heat due to the heat supplied from the heating portion; an output control unit that controls an output of the heating portion; and a maximum output determination unit that determines an upper limit of the output of the heating portion depending on a heat load around the heater main body. The output control unit controls the output of the heating portion depending on the heat load not to exceed the upper limit of the output determined by the maximum output determination unit.

Abstract: The wafer stack (100) comprises a first wafer (OW1) referred to as optics wafer and a second wafer (SW) referred to as spacer wafer, said optics wafer (OW1) having manufacturing irregularities. The spacer wafer (SW) is structured such that it at least partially compensates for said manufacturing irregularities. The corresponding method for manufacturing a device, which in particular can be an optical device, comprises carrying out a correction step for at least partially compensating for manufacturing irregularities. Such a correction step comprises providing a wafer (SW) referred to as spacer wafer, wherein that spacer wafer is structured for at least partially compensating for said manufacturing irregularities. Those manufacturing irregularities may comprise a deviation from a nominal value, e.g., a irregularities in focal length. The invention can allow to mass produce high-precision devices at a high yield.

Abstract: Thermal cycling devices are provided. In one embodiment, a thermal cycling device includes a packed tube comprising an inlet portion defining an inlet and an outlet portion defining an outlet. The packed tube is provided in a double coil arrangement, wherein the double coil arrangement causes radially neighboring turns of the packed tube to have opposing flow directions therethrough. The thermal cycling device further includes a cooling device disposed axially adjacent to the packed tube, and a heating device disposed axially adjacent to the packed tube opposite the cooling device.

Abstract: A liquid food or beverage preparation machine that includes a fluid arrangement and a printed circuit board for controlling one or more functions of the fluid arrangement, with the printed circuit board being enclosed within a substantially impervious housing to protect the printed circuit board from fluid or vapor emissions from the fluid arrangement.

Abstract: A combination of a flow meter and printed circuit board or flex-print for a liquid food or a beverage preparation machine, which board or flex-print is rigidly connected to the flow meter. This combination is used in a liquid food or beverage preparation machine that includes an in-line heating device in which machine liquid is circulated through the heating device and then guided into a brewing chamber that includes a capsule or pod housing for brewing a food or beverage ingredient supplied into the brewing chamber.

Abstract: The invention provides a switching electrode which has a small variation in resistance value even when a large amount of current is repeatedly cut off and can carry a stable amount of current even when it is continuously used. In the invention, the switching electrode is used in a switch which includes a first switching electrode tip (21) and a second switching electrode tip (22), brings the first switching electrode tip (21) and the second switching electrode tip (22) into surface contact with each other to carry a current, and separates the first switching electrode tip (21) and the second switching electrode tip (22) to cut off the current. At least one of contact surfaces of the first switching electrode tip (21) and the second switching electrode tip (22) is a flat surface having an uneven portion.

Abstract: A microwave heating system comprises a bowl, dome and rotor device. The dome is fit to the bowl. The bowl and dome form a volume. The bowl is connected to a microwave source such that a microwave field is supplied to the volume. The microwave field is attenuated in a region between the rotor device and the dome compared to a region between the bowl and the rotor device. The rotor device is rotatably supported by the bowl and supports a reaction vessel. The rotor device includes a base plate with a through-hole and a tubular member that receives the reaction vessel. The base plate and tubular member are metal. The rotor device is coupled to the base plate so that a longitudinal axis of the tubular member passes through the through-hole.

Abstract: The invention provides a switching electrode which has a small variation in resistance value even when a large amount of current is repeatedly cut off and can carry a stable amount of current even when it is continuously used. In the invention, the switching electrode is used in a switch which includes a first switching electrode tip (21) and a second switching electrode tip (22), brings the first switching electrode tip (21) and the second switching electrode tip (22) into surface contact with each other to carry a current, and separates the first switching electrode tip (21) and the second switching electrode tip (22) to cut off the current. At least one of contact surfaces of the first switching electrode tip (21) and the second switching electrode tip (22) is a flat surface having an uneven portion.

Abstract: Beverage brewer (10) with a control system (FIGS. 5, 6) has a brew basket (22) with a central axis (38), a bottom with an offset drain hole (41) radially, outwardly spaced from the central axis (38) for passing the hot beverage or beverage concentrate to a container (34, 36) and a position detectable element(52). A circular collar (24) mounts the brew basket (22) to the housing (12, 18) in at least two different angular positions (FIG. 3) in which the drain hole (41) is respectively located in at least two different positions outwardly spaced from the central axis (38) to pass brewed beverage to the container (34, 36) when in two different positions (FIG. 1). A sensor (56) detects the angular positions of the brew basket (22, and a controller (66, FIG. 6) responds to the sensor (56) to enable only preselected functions of associated with the sensed angular position.

Abstract: Electric rice pressure cooker without rubber packing includes a case, an inner pot inside case, and a cover coupled to case. Inner pot has flange portions provided on a top portion along a circumferential direction and the top end has a tapered surface. Cover includes a sealing member having a hole in its center and a bottom surface seated on inner pot. An inner cover includes a space for sealing member to move vertically, inner surface of space maintains a seal with the end portion of sealing member. The surface of inner pot tapers inwards, a bent portion of sealing member contacts the sloped surface and inner surface of inner cover, and part of bent portion contacting the sloped surface acts as a sealing surface corresponding in shape to the sloped surface, so steam from cooking passes through the hole and presses sealing member downward to maintain a seal.

Abstract: A removable pan used to adapt a cooking grill to a meat smoker. The pan can be placed into a conventional backyard cooking grill to convert the grill into a meat smoker. The pan has a central section, a raised perimeter, and at least three tabs extending outwardly from a center of the pan. The tabs can be positioned on the horizontal surface that supports the cooking grate of the grill. The cooking grate is then positioned atop the pan. The pan functions as a heat sink and provides indirect heating. The pan can also optionally be filled with a liquid like water for additional temperature control and to affect the humidity within the grill. The presence of the liquid can impact the moisture and flavor profile of the meat being smoked.