Abstract: A line voltage thermostat having a multiple heatsink switch. A total switch may have a semiconductor switch mounted on each heatsink of the multiple heatsink switch. The semiconductor switches of the respective heatsinks may be connected in parallel to represent the total switch. Each of the two or more heatsinks, having a semiconductor switch for switching, and in total conveying the same power as one equivalent switch with one total heatsink, may have higher maximum operating temperatures and higher thermal resistances than twice the thermal resistance of the one total heatsink. The two or more heatsinks may be situated within a housing of the line voltage thermostat, and be easier to distribute in the housing to achieve an efficient layout of a display and control buttons for the thermostat.

Abstract: An operating device includes at least one panel unit which has at least one operating region and a lighting unit configured to back-light and/or to transilluminate the at least one operating region. A sensor unit including at least one at least partly transparent support element and at least one sensor element which is arranged on the at least one support element as an etched structure is arranged at least partly between the lighting unit and the panel unit.

Abstract: A heated appliance generally includes a pair of arms and a hinge attaching the arms together such that the arms are openable and closeable relative to one another via the hinge. Each of the arms includes a heating element having a multi-pane glass substrate and an electrically conductive material deposited on the glass substrate.

Abstract: The invention is a plasma torch (1; 101; 201) of the type comprising: a first element (20) provided with a through opening (21) serving as an outlet for a plasma flow; a hollow electrode (19) that is developed longitudinally along a main axis (X) and is suited to be positioned with respect to said first element (20) in such a way as to define a striking area, of the type comprising a hollow cavity (25) that extends at least partially along the main axis (X); a first conveyance way (51, 52, 53) suited to convey a carrier gas towards said striking area; a second conveyance way (56, 56a, 56b) suited to convey a portion of the carrier gas towards the inner cavity (25) of the hollow electrode (19), the portion of the carrier gas being suited to cool the hollow electrode (19). This torch comprises conveyance means (59, 60a, 60b) suited to convey the carrier gas from the inner cavity (25) of the hollow electrode (19) towards a way so as not to affect the striking area.

Abstract: A battery heater system for a battery used in cold weather operations and methods for using the battery heater system are described. Embodiments of the battery heater system may incorporate a heater switch with an indicator, a timer circuit, a controller, a voltage meter, a temperature transducer, and a heating element. In some methods of using the device, the battery powers the heating element for a fixed cycle time based on the time to discharge the battery at a cold-soaked temperature. In other methods of using the device, the battery powers the heating element for a varying cycle time as necessary to discharge the battery to a discharge cut-off voltage value. In other methods of using the device, the heating element is operated using a duty cycle that is varied based on the battery temperature.

Abstract: A welding parameter derivation device of a welding machine having a torch and a weaving mechanism derives welding parameters in accordance with the cross-sectional shape of a weld portion of a new base metal. A database stores welding parameter data, and a welding parameter computation unit computes welding parameters for the shape of a groove or joint of a new base metal. Based on past welding parameter data for a shape similar to that of a groove or joint of a new base metal, and input data pertaining to the specifications of the welding machine, the computation unit derives welding parameter data for the new base metal, taking into account a parameter of the cross-sectional area of the weld portion formed on the new base metal, the bead height of the weld portion, the quantity of heat inputted to the new base metal, and a torch weaving parameter.

Abstract: A welding machine power supply apparatus outputs welding current in accordance with welding conditions set through operation of a display and setting unit (20). When a welding operation is ended while the welding machine power supply apparatus is operating, the welding conditions effective at the time the welding operation is ended are automatically stored in a memory (16). When any ones or more of the welding conditions at the time when the welding operation is resumed by the use of the welding machine power supply apparatus are different from the one or ones which were effective when the welding operation was ended, a load button (70), a rotary encoder (64) and a set button (72) are operated to cause a control unit (14) to read out the welding conditions stored in the memory (16) which were effective when the welding operation was ended, and to set the read-out welding conditions in the welding machine power supply apparatus.

Abstract: There is provided an arc welding control method of alternating feeding of a welding wire between forward feeding and reverse feeding periodically to generate a short-circuiting period and an arc period in a manner that shifting to the arc period is performed by reducing a welding current in the reverse feeding during the short-circuiting period. Reduction of the welding current is started from a time where a state of the reverse feeding reaches a predetermined reference state.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for managing the heating of water in a tank of a water heater which comprises a device for electrically heating the water in the tank, characterized in that it comprises, when a water heating phase is actuated: activation of heating by the heating device, determination of a variation of the temperature in the tank over time and determination of at least one water filling state in the tank according to the variation over time.

Abstract: A method for controlling a metalworking operation. The method includes measuring a force feedback from a wire being fed from a feeder, the wire contacting a workpiece, determining a change in the force of the force feedback, and adjusting either a heating of the wire or a feed rate of the wire based at least in part on the change in the force of the force feedback. Also disclosed are apparatus for effecting the foregoing.

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 heating pad with a thermostatic control circuit coupled to a resistance heating element. The resistance heating element and an acrylic based polymer adhesive are glued between polyester film layers. The film layers and heating element are contained with a plastic sleeve. The thickness and properties of the polyester film and adhesive forms a fuse. The adhesive delaminates the polyester film at excessive temperatures causing the resistance heating element to sever thereby creating an open circuit that halts operation of the heating pad. The thermostatic control circuit includes a hysteresis circuit that compares analog signals across two thin film resistors to provide a control signal to a power controller to selectively vary the power output to the heating element. The thermostatic control circuit is an integrated circuit board disposed within the fused plastic sleeve.

Abstract: This disclosure discloses a constant-temperature controlled circuit for an electric heating device, comprises an AC/DC switching circuit, a heating strip and a temperature controlled circuit; the heating strip comprises a heating line, a temperature sensing line and a NTC layer located between the heating line and the temperature sensing line; the temperature controlled circuit comprises a central processing unit, a voltage sampling circuit, a TRIAC circuit and a load detection circuit. Compared with existing technology, in the heating process, resistance of the NTC layer decreases as the temperature increases, since the heating strip and the voltage sampling circuit are connected in series, the output sample voltage of the voltage sampling circuit reflects the current temperature, and then the central processing unit outputs controls to switch the TRIAC circuit on or off according to the sample voltage, keeping the device at a constant temperature. Constant temperature control is realized.

Abstract: Humidity control method and apparatus are disclosed. The humidity control apparatus may include a water holding tank for holding water therein, a nozzle positioned adjacent to the water holding tank for escape of the water therethrough, a first electrode connected to the nozzle, and a second electrode positioned opposite to the first electrode. The humidity control apparatus may include a first electrical power control unit for applying a voltage to the first electrode and the second electrode, and a first insulator formed on the second electrode.

Abstract: A battery temperature raising system and a control method thereof are provided. The battery temperature raising system includes a power supply that operates a heater attached to a battery module. The heater is configured to increase a battery temperature and a variable resistor mounted on a circuit between the heater and the power supply adjusts a heating value of the heater based on an adjustment state of a resistance value. A heater relay is mounted on the circuit between the heater and the power supply and opens and closes the circuit to selectively turn on/off the heater. A first sensor senses the battery temperature and a second sensor senses a heater temperature. A controller outputs a control signal to operate the heater relay to selectively turn on/off the heater based on temperature information sensed by the sensors and a control signal to adjust the resistance value of the variable resistor.

Abstract: A vaporizer assembly is shaped and configured to fit partially into a downstem of a water pipe. The vaporizer assembly includes a housing including an upper portion and a lower portion. The lower portion has a smaller diameter, and fits in the downstem. The upper portion of the vaporizer assembly includes a bowl or dish, and a heat source is enclosed within the housing and positioned and configured to selectively heat the bowl or dish. A body of the vaporizer adjacent the bowl includes vapor passages. One or more passages are also formed in the lower portion. Thus, essential oils or waxes placed in the bowl can be vaporized by the heat. The generated vapor may flow from the bowl into and through the vapor passages and lower portion passage and into the waterpipe's downstem.

Abstract: A laser surface treatment method for treating a surface of a workpiece having an irregular shape includes radiating a laser so that the surface of the workpiece which is placed in a direction forming an acute angle with respect to the laser becomes an untreated plane. The method also includes scanning with the laser so that the surface of the workpiece which is placed in the direction forming an acute angle with respect to the laser becomes an untreated plane.

Abstract: A movement device, particularly for cutting torches, comprising a working head that can move along three Cartesian axes which are mutually perpendicular and supports a cutting torch for cutting mechanical pieces, elements being further comprised for combined rotary and translational motion of the cutting torch with respect to the working head which comprises a first pinion which is adapted to transmit the motion to a disk-like element supporting an articulated parallelogram structure which in turn supports the cutting torch, and a second pinion which is arranged coaxial to the first pinion and is actuated by further drive elements, the second pinion actuating a conical pair formed by a third and a fourth pinion, the fourth pinion transmitting the motion to mechanical transmission elements which are integral with the articulated parallelogram structure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a plasma torch including: a tube including: a first diameter part provided with a hollow channel; and a second diameter part provided at a predetermined position on the outer circumferential surface of the first diameter part; a body including: a housing part receiving the tube therein; and a plurality of first and second discharge holes formed at predetermined positions in longitudinal directions of the body; an insulator including a plurality of first discharge flow lines formed at predetermined positions vertically located from the body; an amplification tube including a space part communicating with the second discharge holes; a housing including a plurality of second discharge flow lines formed at predetermined positions of an inner circumferential surface of the housing; an inner cap combined with an outer circumferential surface of the housing; and an insulation cap engaged with an outer circumferential surface of the inner cap.

Abstract: A modular electronic and/or electric apparatus including a plurality of circuit units connected by an internal communication bus. The circuit unit includes at least two serial resistor elements forming a voltage divider. The resistor elements of the circuit units are serially connected and form an ID wire. The ID wire is interconnected between a first voltage terminal and a second voltage terminal. The circuit unit comprises at least one analog-digital converter. A connection point between two resistor elements of one circuit unit is connected to an analog input terminal of the analog-digital converter. A digital output terminal of the analog-digital converter is connected to the internal communication bus. The modular electronic and/or electric apparatus includes a master unit connected to the internal communication bus. In particular, the present invention relates to a modular domestic appliance including a plurality of circuit units connected by an internal communication bus.