Abstract: A thermal spray assembly (10) for transforming precursor material (60) into a layer of deposited material joined to a substrate body. A plasma torch (20) produces a plasma jet from a plasma nozzle (28). A feeder mechanism (30) guides the precursor material (60) into the plasma jet in use and provides a feeder orifice (70) when in an open condition. The feeder mechanism comprises a guide chamber (34) and a moveable guide mechanism (32), and the guide chamber is capable of guiding the precursor material to the feeder orifice, through which the precursor material can move from the guide chamber and enter the plasma jet at a variable mean distance from the plasma nozzle (28) in response to movement of the guide mechanism (32).

Abstract: Disclosed is a control apparatus for controlling power supply from a power source to a glow plug, including a plurality of semiconductor switching elements arranged to turn on and of power supply to the glow plug, a temperature fuse actuated by a temperature rise thereof to interrupt power supply to the semiconductor switching elements, a failure detection portion that detects the occurrence or non-occurrence of an ON failure in each of the semiconductor switching elements, and a control portion that performs drive control of the semiconductor switching elements. When the failure detection portion detects the ON failure in at least one of the semiconductor switching elements, the control portion increases the amount of heat generation of either the at least one of the semiconductor switching elements in which the ON failure is detected or any of the semiconductor switching elements in which the ON failure is not detected.

Abstract: A system for heating a pipeline comprises a heater operable to heat a fluid, a supply line and a return line. A first strap is positioned at a first portion of a pipeline. A first pocket of the first strap holds the supply line in thermal contact with the first portion of the pipeline. A second pocket of the first strap holds the return line in thermal contact with the first portion of the pipeline. A second strap is positioned at a second portion of the pipeline. A third pocket of the first strap holds the supply line in thermal contact with the second portion of the pipeline. A fourth pocket holds the return line in thermal contact with the second portion of the pipeline.

Abstract: A device for sustaining a plasma in a torch is provided. In certain examples, the device comprises a first electrode configured to couple to a power source and constructed and arranged to provide a loop current along a radial plane of the torch. In some examples, the radial plane of the torch is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the torch.

Abstract: A thermal system includes a plurality of thermal elements. In one form, each of the thermal elements define a resistor and a current limiting device. The plurality of thermal elements have at least a first subset of parallel thermal elements and at least a second subset of parallel thermal elements. The system also has a plurality of power lines connected to the plurality of thermal elements. The power lines are configured in pairs for providing power to a subset of the plurality of thermal elements that are connected in a parallel set. Each of the pairs of power lines share a common power line with an adjacent parallel set of thermal elements within a subset. Additionally, each of the current limiting devices in the adjacent parallel sets of thermal elements within a subset are opposed. The first and second subsets of parallel thermal elements share the common power line.

Abstract: A thermal spray assembly (10) for transforming precursor material (60) into a layer of deposited material joined to a substrate body. A plasma torch produces a plasma jet from a plasma nozzle (28) and a feeder mechanism (30) guides the precursor material into the plasma jet in use and is capable of providing a feeder orifice when in an open condition. The feeder mechanism (30) is provided with a distribution chamber configured for guiding moving precursor material azimuthally around the plasma torch, a plurality of deflector structures (38) configured for deflecting the precursor material (60) from the distribution chamber and guiding it into a guide chamber configured for guiding the precursor material (60) to the plasma jet in use.

Abstract: A heating device is provided. A temperature sensing unit is configured to sense an ambient temperature and accordingly output a temperature sensing voltage. A driving unit is coupled to a heating transistor unit and the temperature sensing unit, and configured to drive the heating transistor unit for performing heating based on the temperature sensing voltage. An activating unit is coupled to the temperature sensing unit, configured to output an activating signal based on the temperature sensing voltage when a temperature of the printed circuit board has risen up to a preset temperature. The heating device as provided can assure that the activating signal can be normally outputted by the heating device under an ambient at an extremely low temperature.

Abstract: A processing system for forming a cross-section of an object. The processing system comprises a focused ion beam system for forming the cross-section from a pre-prepared surface region of the object and a laser and a light optical system for forming the pre-prepared surface region by laser ablation of a processing region of the object with a first and a second laser beam. The light optical system is configured to direct the first and the second laser beams onto common impingement locations of a common scanning line in the processing region for scanning the first laser beam and for scanning the second laser beam. For each of the impingement locations, an angle between a first incidence direction along an axis of the first laser beam and a second incidence direction along an axis of the second laser beam is greater than 10 degrees, measured in a stationary coordinate system.

Abstract: A plasma arc cutting system includes a power supply and a plasma torch attachable to the power supply. The plasma torch generates a plasma arc for cutting a workpiece. A reader is associated with the plasma torch. The reader is capable of reading stored data from an identification device located on a cartridge or a consumable component of the plasma arc cutting system. A controller is within the plasma arc cutting system and in communication with the power supply. The controller is capable of automatically establishing operating parameters of the plasma arc cutting system based upon the data stored on the identification device. An override feature allows a user of the plasma arc cutting system to override the automatically established operating parameters of the torch and to input user selected operating parameters.

Abstract: An actively heated or cooled portable container is provided. The container has a portable body with a receiving portion defined by an inner wall that receives a liquid. A heating and cooling system housed in the portable body has a cooling element in thermal communication with at least a portion of the inner wall to remove heat from the liquid. The heating and cooling system also has a heating element in thermal communication with at least a portion of the inner wall, control circuitry to control the operation of the heating element and one or more power storage elements to provide electrical energy to the heating element and/or control circuitry. The control circuitry controls the heating element to add heat to the liquid in the receiving portion to maintain the temperature of the liquid at a predetermined temperature or increase the temperature of the liquid above said predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A consumable set is provided that is usable in a plasma arc torch to direct a plasma arc to a processing surface of a workpiece. The consumable set comprises a nozzle and an alignment surface. The nozzle includes: 1) a nozzle body defining a longitudinal axis extending therethrough, and 2) a nozzle exit orifice disposed in the nozzle body for constricting the plasma arc. The nozzle exit orifice defines an exit orifice axis oriented at a non-zero bevel angle relative to the longitudinal axis. The alignment surface is generally parallel to the exit orifice axis and dimensioned to align the exit orifice such that the plasma arc impinges orthogonally on the processing surface of the workpiece. The alignment surface is configured to lay at least substantially flush against a guiding surface angled relative to the processing surface of the workpiece.

Abstract: A heat mat with thermostatic control having a reference voltage generating source that provide high voltage DC for a power controller and low voltage for a temperature sensor and hysteresis circuit. The sensor and hysteresis circuit establish a temperature threshold signal that is delivered to the resistance heating element. The resistance heating element is sandwiched between two layers of material with adhesive. Two layers of PVC protects the sandwich. In manufacturing the heat mat, the resistance heating element is placed with adhesive between two layers of material then cured and degassed under vacuum. The thermostatic control is sealed within an overmold housing or flat pack.

Abstract: A power contact for a liquid-cooled plasma arc cutting system is provided. The cutting system includes a torch body and a lower torch assembly. The power contact comprises a substantially hollow body including an upper portion and a lower portion, and an external surface of the upper portion of the hollow body configured to matingly engage the torch body. The power contact further includes a thread region disposed on an internal surface of the hollow body. The thread region is configured to retain an electrode holder of the lower torch assembly of the plasma arc cutting system to matingly engage the lower torch assembly and secure the lower torch assembly to the torch body.

Abstract: A method and system of igniting one or more filaments for silicon production includes applying an output voltage to the one or more filaments using a transformer connected with the one or more filaments. In addition, the method includes supplying, in combination with the application of the output voltage, a current to a primary winding of the transformer via a choke to limit the current to a first predetermined current threshold range. The combination of the supplied current and applied output voltage allows a predetermined output range to be generated from a power supply device initially required to ignite the one or more filaments.

Abstract: Power outputs in a heating control and/or regulation device are each electrically connectable to a heating element, especially a radiant heater. A power input is able to be connected electrically to a power supply for the heating elements. A power distribution device is connected electrically on its input side to the power input and is connected electrically on its output side via a branch to each of the power outputs to supply the power outputs with electric power from the power supply. A switching element is disposed in each of the branches or between each of the power outputs and the heating elements. A control and/or regulation unit is configured such that it controls and/or regulates the switching state of the switching elements as a function of set values. An interface receiving set values has at least one additional connection to a temperature measurement device that measures actual values of temperature.

Abstract: Methods and systems for heating a space deployed membrane assembly are provided. The membrane assembly can include one or more framed sections. Each section can include a composite membrane having a membrane substrate and a transparent, electrically conductive resistive coating. The composite membrane is held within a frame. Electrically conductive bus bars are provided and are placed in intimate electrical contact with the resistive coating. The electrically conductive bus bars are generally arranged, on opposite sides of the perimeter of the membrane. A controller passes current between selected bus bars, with different bus bars operative to pass current between them at different times. The magnitude of the voltage applied to the bus bars, the location of the bus bars, the operational sequence of powering the bus bars, and the time over which current is passed between a selected pair of bus bars, are selected to provide substantially uniform time averaged heating of the membrane.

Abstract: A fluid system of an internal combustion engine is provided with a heating device in a heating chamber. An electric heating element of the heating device is arranged between two holding bodies such that the heating element electrically and thermally contacts a contact section of at least one of the holding bodies. The heating chamber has an inner volume region between the holding bodies and at least one outer volume region arranged on an outer side of the holding bodies. The inner and outer volume regions allow fluid to flow through. The inner volume region has an enlarged section with a first spacing measured between the holding bodies. The holding bodies have a second spacing measured in a region of the contact section. The first spacing is greater than the second spacing at least at a circumferential side of the contact section facing the enlarged section.

Abstract: A plane heating element includes a mesh that has warp threads and weft threads. A coating containing carbon nanotubes can be applied to the mesh. A water-repellent and electrically-insulating protective layer made of styrene butadiene copolymer can be additionally applied to the mesh.

Abstract: A heating panel for a vehicle includes a plate-shaped heating layer and a heat insulation layer attached to the heating layer. The heating panel is spaced apart from an occupant in an interior space of the vehicle and positioned to face the occupant. The heat insulation layer is directed toward the panel in the interior space and the heating layer is directed toward the occupant.

Abstract: A tool including a tool body, the tool body including a substrate having a tool-side surface, an intermediate layer positioned over the tool-side surface, and an outer layer positioned over the intermediate layer, the outer layer including a metallic material.