Abstract: An electric heating device has several PTC heating elements that are arranged in a circulation chamber. The electric heating device includes a heating element casing which fits as a structural unit at least one PTC element and contact plates that energize said PTC element and form contact strips for an electrical plug connection. A partition wall separates the circulation chamber from a connection chamber in which the contact strips of the PTC heating element penetrating the partition wall are exposed and are electrically connected. A plug connection is formed between the partition wall and the PTC heating element and via which the PTC heating element is held in a frictionally engaged and/or in positive fit manner on the partition wall in the direction of insertion.

Abstract: An automated plasma cutting system is provided that includes a positioning system mounted to a support, an automated plasma arc torch mounted to the positioning system, and at least one power supply operatively connected to the automated plasma arc torch. The power supply may provide electrical power and fluid flow to the automated plasma arc torch for operation. The system further includes a controller in communication with the automated plasma arc torch and the power supply, and an auxiliary plasma arc torch operatively connected to the power supply, wherein the power supply provides electrical power and fluid flow to both the automated plasma arc torch and the auxiliary plasma arc torch. The automated plasma arc torch may process the workpiece to generate a set of features, while the auxiliary plasma arc torch may process/cut a residual framework of the workpiece remaining after formation of the set of features.

Abstract: A control system for controlling an operation of a resistive heater includes a dielectric parameter determination module for determining a dielectric parameter of the resistive heater when the resistive heater is in an active mode, and a diagnostic module for diagnosing performance of the resistive heater based on the dielectric parameter.

Abstract: An injection system includes a reservoir for containing liquid, and a gating plate having a circular array of gating plate apertures. The injection system additionally includes a faceplate positioned adjacent to the gating plate and having a circular array of faceplate orifices. The injection system also has a motor to rotate the gating plate, and a controller to control the motor for rotating the gating plate into an aligned clocking orientation in which the gating plate apertures and the faceplate orifices are aligned to initiate the formation of a cylindrical array of liquid jets, and rotate the gating plate into a non-aligned clocking orientation terminate formation of the liquid jets after a predetermined discrete quantity of the liquid is injected.

Abstract: An actively heated or cooled portable container has a body with a chamber that receives and holds a liquid, and one or more heating or cooling elements in thermal communication with at least a portion of the chamber. An outer surface of the body has one or more electrical contacts. A module is removably coupled to a portion of the body. The module has one or more electrical contacts on an outer surface of the module that contact the one or more electrical contacts on the outer surface of the body, control circuitry, and one or more power storage elements that provide power to the control circuitry and/or the one or more heating or cooling elements. The control circuitry wirelessly communicates with a mobile electronic device to wirelessly transmit information to the mobile electronic device associated with the operation of the module and/or wirelessly receive instructions from a user via the mobile electronic device.

Abstract: In some aspects, a consumable for plasma arc torch that generates a predetermined plenum pressure from a substantially constant preset gas supply pressure from a plasma arc torch power supply, where the substantially constant preset gas supply being used to support plasma generation for a selection of multiple consumable components that each generate a different plasma plenum pressure for carrying out different processes, can include a proximal portion shaped to connect to the plasma arc torch and define a plasma gas inlet region; a distal portion shaped to define a gas outlet; and a pressure-matching stage comprising a pressure wall defining at least one flow path between the gas inlet region and the gas outlet configured to establish sufficient fixed pressure drop of a flow of gas flowing through the pressure-matching stage to reduce a pressure of the flow of gas to the predetermined plenum pressure.

Abstract: A multi-beam laser material processing system for processing a target includes a beam splitting system situated to receive an input beam, the beam splitting system including a beam splitter situated to receive and split the input beam into a plurality of subbeams, a focus lens situated to receive the subbeams and cause the subbeams to converge, a zoom lens system situated to receive the subbeams and adjust the magnification of the subbeams at the target, and a dispersion compensation system situated to receive the subbeams and compensate for dispersion associated with the subbeams, the dispersion compensation system including a negative diffractive lens and a positive diffractive lens.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an oven. The oven includes a case having a cooking chamber therein, a door unit connected to the case, configured to open or close the cooking chamber, and having a transparent portion configured to enable a user to see the inside of the cooking chamber, a handle protruding from the door unit to the outside, and a camera module configured to photograph the inside of the cooking chamber, and disposed to be biased toward one end of the handle from the center in longitudinal direction of the handle.

Abstract: Disclosed is a demountable tube for a plasma torch assembly, such as an ICP torch assembly. The tube includes an open tubular body for radially surrounding a plasma within the tubular body. The tubular body may comprise a wall; and a mounting feature projecting from the tubular body for at least one of: (i) controlling alignment of the tubular body with respect to a mounting portion of the torch assembly, and (ii) releasably securing the tubular body to a portion of the torch assembly. The tubular body may also have a transmission zone that is partially devoid of said wall and includes at least one hole through said wall. The tube may be opaque. A plasma torch and ICP spectroscopy system are also disclosed.

Abstract: A composite heating device for homogeneous heating of surfaces, especially curved surfaces, such as in particular for homogeneous heating of steering wheels, the composite heating device having a heating element and a multipart thermally conductive layer that includes at least two thermally conductive portions with different thermal conductivities, a first portion of the thermally conductive portions being in contact with the heating element. Steering wheel integrating such a composite heating device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for melting snow and/or ice on a vehicle comprises a precipitation sensor, a surface temperature sensor, an ambient temperature sensor, a heater, and a programmable controller. The programmable controller comprises a memory unit to store a cut off surface temperature Tc, and a set of program modules. The programmable controller further comprises a processor to execute the set of program modules. A heater control module, executed by the processor, is configured to deactivate a heater based on a surface temperature being greater than the cut off surface temperature. Further, heater control module is configured to activate the heater based on an ambient temperature being lower than freezing point of water and precipitation being present outside the vehicle, thereby melting snow and/or ice on the vehicle. The snow melts off because of heat generated by the heater upon activation.

Abstract: A water heater has a tank and at least one heating element. A switch is disposed in an electric circuit between the heating element and a power source so that, if the switch is in a first state, the circuit is in an electrically conductive state and, if the switch is in a second state, the electric circuit is in an electrically non-conductive state. A controller is in operative communication with the switch and is responsive to a key so that actuation of the controller by the key transitions the switch between the first state and the second state.

Abstract: A welding system includes an interface having a first input element configured to receive an input relating to a parameter of power delivered to a welding torch from a welding power supply and to alternatively receive an input relating to a thickness of a work piece, a second input element configured to receive an input relating to a rate of advancement of an electrode delivered to the welding torch from a welding wire feeder and to alternatively receive an input relating to a diameter of the electrode, and a third input element configured to receive an input relating to a welding process type. The welding system also includes control circuitry configured to automatically adjust the parameter of the power and the rate of advancement of the electrode based on the input relating to the welding process type selected with the third input element when the second input element receives the input relating to the diameter of the electrode.

Abstract: Certain embodiments described herein are directed to devices that can be used to sustain a capacitively coupled plasma. In some examples, a capacitive device can be used to sustain a capacitively coupled plasma in a torch in the absence of any substantial inductive coupling. In certain embodiments, a helium gas flow can be used with the capacitive device to sustain a capacitively coupled plasma.

Abstract: A system for monitoring performance of an aircraft windshield includes a sensor comprising a sensory contact and an evaluation unit. The sensory contact is in physical contact with one or more components of the windshield, and generates a signal representative of the performance of the component(s) of the windshield. An electrical connector is secured to the surface of the windshield facing the interior of the aircraft. The signal from the sensory contact passes through the connector to the evaluation unit. The evaluation unit acts on the signal to determine the performance of the component(s) of the windshield, wherein the evaluation unit is spaced from and out of physical contact with the windshield and the electrical connector, and is in electrical contact with the electrical connector.

Abstract: A fusion splicer includes: a first gear including a first eccentric cam unit; a first rotating member including a first main body having a first abutting surface abutting on the first eccentric cam unit, a first arm unit extending from the first main body and rotatably supported by a main base, and a second arm unit extending from the first main body; a second gear including a second eccentric cam unit; and a second rotating member including a second main body having a second abutting surface abutting on the second eccentric cam unit, a third arm unit extending from the second main body and rotatably supported by the second arm unit, a fourth arm unit extending from the second main body, and a placing unit at a tip end of the fourth arm unit with a groove for receiving one of optical fibers.

Abstract: A heating arrangement has a positive temperature coefficient (“PTC”) heater. A resistor is electrically in series with the PTC heater sized and configured to limit current through the PTC heater and the resistor below a selected value.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a thermal system that includes an array of heating resistor circuits having first termination ends and second termination ends, and a plurality of nodes connected to the heating resistor circuits at the first and second termination ends. The thermal system further includes power wires to provide power to the heating resistor circuits and signal wires to sense a temperature of each of the heating resistor circuits. Each node is connected to a power wire and to a signal wire, and a number of heating resistor circuits is greater than or equal to a number of power wires and to a number of the signal wires.

Abstract: Aircraft and aircraft windshield heating systems are provided. An aircraft windshield heating system includes a windshield, first and second heating elements, and a power bus controller. The windshield has a main portion and a reduced portion, the first and second heating elements are thermally coupled with the main portion and the reduced portion, respectively. The power bus controller is operatively coupled with the first heating element and the second heating element and is configured for coupling to a primary power supply and a backup power supply. The power bus controller is configured to determine when the primary power supply is available, to direct power from the primary power supply to the first heating element when the primary power supply is available, and to direct power from the backup power supply to the second heating element when the primary power supply is not available.

Abstract: A central control panel for vehicles and a method of controlling the same are provided. The central control panel for vehicles includes a touch pad, a PCB disposed under the touch pad and a lighting unit that is mounted on the PCB and includes a plurality of LEDs. An outdoor air temperature sensor senses an outdoor air temperature of a vehicle and a controller adjusts a temperature of the touch pad by changing a temperature of the lighting unit based on the sensed outdoor air temperature. The central control panel for vehicles further includes a top ring that transmits light emitted from the LEDs to the outside and to surround a perimeter of the touch pad.