Abstract: A glow plug includes a cylindrical housing having an inward protrusion extending radially inwardly, a threaded portion for screwing the glow plug in an engine plug hole and a sealing portion in a front side of the male threaded portion for airtightly engaging the housing with a given portion of the plug hole, a sheath having a rear sheath end portion airtightly fixed in the housing, a heater disposed in the sheath, a center electrode disposed in the housing and having a front electrode end portion electronically connected with the heater and mechanically connected with the sheath and an outward protrusion protruding radially outwardly, and a combustion pressure sensor having a pressure-sensitive element arranged between a front surface of the inward protrusion and a rear surface of the outward protrusion to generate an electrical signal in response to variations in stress applied thereto.

Abstract: A steel plate splicing facility includes, a steel plate heating apparatus for retrieving and heating a preceding steel plate and a following steel plate, and a shear-joining apparatus for clamping a tail end portion of the preceding steel plate and a leading end portion of the following steel plate in an overlapping condition by a die and a clamp and shearing them with a punch, such that surfaces of the tail end portion and the leading end portion are newly formed and brought in contact with each other in order to them. The shear-joining apparatus joins the preceding and following steel plates at a temperature equal to or higher than 350° C. and at a percentage clearance c/t equal to or lower than 5%, c/t being defined by c/t=D/(t1+t2)×100 where D represents a distance between the punch and the die, and t1 and t2 represent a thickness of respective steel plates.

Abstract: A composite laminate useable in the manufacture of articles having a member responsive to electrical stimuli, e.g. changes transmission, and/or is heated, as current passes through the member includes a pair of spaced bus bars adhesively secured to a major surface of a plastic sheet in a spaced relationship to one another. Each of the bus bars includes, among other things, an end portion having a protective sleeve and an air barrier to prevent air from moving between the inner surfaces of the protective sleeve and the underlying surface of the end portion of the bus bar. A method of making the composite laminate is also disclosed.

Abstract: An upper heat roller with an external heat source and a lower heat roller with an internal heat source are arranged with a paper transport path therebetween, in such a manner as to be pressed against each other. The lower heat roller is heated sufficiently, thereby supplying a paper sheet with sufficient heat when the paper sheet is transported through a contact region between the upper and lower heat rollers to be heated.

Abstract: An automated food handling system for food servings comprising a transfer means for transporting food servings therealong; a plurality of treatment modules coupled in parallel to the transfer means; means for sensing and recognizing the type of food servings being transported on the transfer means; and means for automatically diverting the food serving from the transfer means into one of the treatment modules. The treatment modules may be machines that bring the food servings to the desired temperature. An inventory system is also provided.

Abstract: A warmth-keeping structure of cold cathode lamp comprises a cold cathode lamp, a soft electric heating component and two insulating components. The soft electric heating component is wound around the surface of the cold cathode lamp. Two ends of the soft electric heating component are joined at two sides of the cold cathode lamp with the two insulating components slipped onto the joint portions, respectively. Through holes are formed on the insulating components so that different power sources can be provided for the soft electric heating component and the cold cathode lamp via conducting wires. The soft electric heating component can heat the cold cathode lamp in advance before the cold cathode lamp radiates to let the cold cathode lamp raise its ambient temperature in a few seconds and keep a fixed working temperature, hence stabilizing the brightness thereof and dissipating less power.

Abstract: A metallic resistive heater and a method of production are described. The resistive heater has a metallic component that is electrically conductive (i.e. has low resistivity) and an oxide, nitride, carbide, and or boride derivative of the metallic component that is electrically insulating (i.e., has high resistivity). The resistivity is controlled by controlling the amount of oxide, nitride, carbide, and boride formation during the deposition of the metallic component and the derivative.

Abstract: A heated window including at least one rigid pane, at least two current busbars of different polarity placed substantially parallel close to one edge of the heated window at different distances from the edge, and linear heating resistors electrically connected thereto. The busbars lie sideways to the heating resistors and the heating resistors start from a first current busbar and, passing over the other current busbar while being insulated therefrom, in the direction of the window surface and in at least one loop, return toward the other current busbar and are electrically connected thereto.

Abstract: There are provided an apparatus and an associated method for manufacturing superplastically formed structural assemblies from preforms. The apparatus includes first and second co-operable dies structured to define a die cavity therebetween for at least partially receiving the preform, at least one heater in thermal communication with the die cavity for heating the preform to a forming temperature, and at least one injector in fluid communication with the die cavity. The injector is structured for injecting pressurized gas into the die cavity to urge the preform against one of the dies to form the preform into the structural assembly. Further, at least one of the injectors is structured for injecting a quenchant into the die cavity to thereby heat treat the structural assembly while distortion of the structural assembly is being at least partially restrained by at least one of the dies.

Abstract: A pump includes a cylinder housing having a mouth for a fluid to flow out of the housing and a port for the fluid to flow into the housing, a piston slidably engaged in the housing. A tube is coupled to the piston for allowing the fluid to flow out through the tube when the piston moves away from the mouth. A check valve may block the tube when the piston moves toward the mouth. Another check valve may block the port when the piston moves toward the port. Another housing includes a mouth for coupling and supplying a pressurized fluid to the previous housing.

Abstract: A waveguide system for passing microwave energy while blocking foreign particles from a moving gas passing through the system is provided. The system includes first and second waveguide sections and a low loss microwave window disposed between the waveguide sections to allow microwave energy to pass from the first waveguide section through the window to the second waveguide section. The system also includes a gas bypass filtration system having a first port in communication with the first waveguide section, a filter element in communication with the first port, and a second port in communication with the filter element and with the second waveguide section. The system of the invention having these features blocks, by means of the window, a gas flowing through the first waveguide section and forces that gas to flow through the gas bypass filtration system so that it enters the second waveguide section only after passing through the filter. A system designed to include a pillbox window is also provided.

Abstract: Preset electric powers are distributed and continuously supplied to a plurality of coils to uniformly heat a fixing member in a warm-up period, and the preset electric power is supplied only to the coil corresponding to a region whose temperature is lowered in a ready state.

Abstract: A heating element made from flexible circuit technology with a single contiguous heating zone for uniform heating or multiple temperature heating zones is described. These flexible heating elements can conform to three dimensional object surfaces with irregular shape. The heating element's overall flexibility and its thickness (in the region of 10 mils) allow for heating many object shapes in an efficient, compact and light-weight manner. Each thermal sensor or thermostat is used to regulate each heating zone and provide a unique temperature setting. A thermostat can be mounted directly on an object's metallic surface. In addition, using diodes connected to the flexible heating element is described here to allow the use of two or multiple voltage sources. The technique permits one heating element to be powered from either AC or DC sources with comparable heating characteristics from both.

Abstract: An RFID-based induction heating/vending system for quickly and efficiently heating, vending, and recollecting stadium seats (10) or other objects. The system includes a plurality of objects each including an induction-heatable body (22), a charging/vending station (12) for heating and vending the objects; a self-serve warming station (14) that may be used by consumers to reheat their objects; and a check-out station (16) that automatically collects objects from consumers after use.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is described in which an integrated circuit executes dummy operating cycles in order to generate heat if the temperature of the semiconductor device drops below a lower limit value. In this manner the semiconductor device can be rated for lower temperatures than the construction tolerances of the semiconductor device would allow.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for inhibiting longitudinal expansion of a body portion of an endoscopic sheath during inflation of an inflatable member are disclosed. In one embodiment, a sheath assembly includes a body portion adapted to encapsulate a distal end of an insertion tube, and an inflatable member coupled to the body portion and adapted to be inflated radially outwardly from the body portion. The sheath assembly further includes an expansion-inhibiting mechanism coupled to at least one of the inflatable member and the body portion. The expansion-inhibiting mechanism advantageously inhibits a longitudinal expansion of the body portion during inflation of the inflatable member. The expansion-inhibiting mechanism may assume a variety of embodiments, including, for example, a non-compliant member, a longitudinally-stretched portion, a reinforcing spring member, a pressure relief device, or a suitable detent mechanism.

Abstract: A workbench for an air compressor that includes a work surface as its top surface. The workbench is provided on wheels, such as caster wheels. The workbench may be closed by panels to attenuate sound. The panels may be removable to provide access to the compressor for maintenance or repair. A mechanism may be provided whereby a drain for the air compressor may be remotely actuated so that the compressor tank may be drained without opening the panels or having to reach under the workbench. The power feed to the motor may be used to power an outlet on the workbench when the motor is not running. The outlet may be provided on the outer shell of the workbench (e.g., on a panel on the outside of the workbench). A switch may be provided that routes the power to the outlet instead of the motor.

Abstract: A heater having a frame rail and clips, attached to the rail, for securing insulators for supporting a heater coil. Each clip has a main body having a structural member for securing to the rail, and having a pair of flanges symmetrical about a central axis. Each flange has a cut-out for supporting an insulator, the cut-out having an open end, a back abutment edge and a pair of side abutment edges. A bendable tab is located at either side of the open end, each having a first and a second position. In the first position an insulator is insertable into the cut-out, and the insulator is secured by bending the tabs to their second position. Optionally the main body has a cross-section that accommodates the cross section of the rail and the rail is welded to the channel. Alternatively, a plurality of clinching flaps extend from the main body, the flaps shaped and dimensioned for bending around and clinching the rail.

Abstract: A halogen lamp coupling structure for an electric heater allowing a fitting plate of a halogen lamp to be fitted into and coupled with a lamp fixing recess of a base serving as an insulation block. The halogen lamp coupling structure comprises a strap coupling type of elastic fixing member having a fixing strap fixed to the halogen lamp to surround the halogen lamp and an auxiliary fixing strap supported by an inner wall of the lamp fixing recess of the base. The fixing strap and the auxiliary fixing strap are connected with each other in a vertical direction by a bent piece.

Abstract: A pump including a reciprocating piston movable in a piston chamber by pneumatic pressure. The pneumatic pressure is directed through air channels by one or more valves. At least one of the valves and/or air channels is located in a removable portion of the pump.