Abstract: A system includes a CMP carrier that includes a resilient flexible membrane upon which a wafer is mounted, at least three ports for supplying air to the resilient flexible membrane to pneumatically pushing on the wafer through pressure applied throughout the surface area of the resilient flexible membrane to have more uniform pressure. Each port provides pressure to different components of the carrier to adjust pressure or vary pressure during processing of the wafer. Further, the system includes a processor and software program for implementing the CMP carrier with existing CMP machines. The software application converts the air pressure applied to the carrier into units that allow the CMP machine to receive expected data and operate in accordance with the existing commands.

Abstract: Autonomous, mobile cleaners for water-containing vessels such as swimming pools and spas are detailed. The cleaners are especially useful for cleaning spas, although they may function adequately in connection with certain other vessels as well. They may be designed and constructed in particular to avoid high centering so as not to become stuck when encountering obstacles within the spas or other vessels.

Abstract: A ball joint press tool having at least one spring-plunger engageable with at least one adapter to releasably couple the adapter to the tool allowing for single handed placement of the tool regardless of orientation of the tool. The ball joint press tool has at least one adapter-receiving aperture and the spring-plunger has an adapter-engagement head, such as a ball, spring biased to at least partially extend into the adapter-receiving aperture on the tool. An adapter having a connecting projection defining a spring-plunger engaging detent, such as a groove, is insertable into the adapter-receiving aperture wherein the adapter-engagement head of the spring-plunger engages with the spring-plunger engaging detent.

Abstract: An autonomous cleaning robot comprises a chassis, at least one motorized drive wheel mounted to the chassis and arranged to propel the robot across a surface, and a pair of cleaning rollers mounted to the chassis and having outer surfaces exposed on an underside of the chassis and to each other. The cleaning rollers are drivable to counter-rotate while the robot is propelled, thereby cooperating to direct raised debris upward into the robot between the rollers. A side brush is further mounted to the chassis to rotate beneath the chassis adjacent a lateral side of the chassis about an upwardly extending side brush axis, and the outer surface of a first of the cleaning rollers of the pair extends laterally beyond the outer surface of a second of the cleaning rollers of the pair and laterally beyond the side brush axis, such that the first cleaning roller defines a cleaning width spanning the side brush axis.

Abstract: In an outer blade cutting wheel comprising an annular thin disc base of cemented carbide having an outer diameter of 80-200 mm, an inner diameter of 30-80 mm, and a thickness of 0.1-1.0 mm, and a blade section disposed on an outer periphery of the base, the blade section comprises diamond grains and/or CBN grains bound with a metal bond having a Young's modulus of 0.7-4.0×1011 Pa and has a thickness which is greater than the thickness of the base by at least 0.01 mm. The outer blade cutting wheel is capable of cutting a workpiece at a high accuracy and a reduced allowance, improves machining yields, and reduces machining costs.

Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus including, a fluid storage container; an outlet for directing fluid from the fluid storage container onto a surface to be cleaned; and a valve configured to regulate the flow of fluid from the fluid storage container to the outlet and including: a body; and a member being moveable relative to the body between a first position and a second position and defining a flow path extending through a surface thereof; wherein the flow of fluid through the valve flows at a first rate when the member is in the first position and at a second rate and along the flow path when the member is in the second position, the second rate of flow being lower than the first rate of flow.

Abstract: Disclosed is a line catcher type water jet cutting apparatus. Portions of a workpiece to be converted into products are processed by water jet cutting in a common manner in an early stage of the water jet cutting. In a final stage of the water jet cutting, product fixing pushers press and fix the workpiece.

Abstract: An insert apparatus for protecting a curved inner surface within a passageway from abrasion during an abrasive machining operation is disclosed. In various embodiments, the insert apparatus includes a shield having a shell shaped to match a curved portion of the curved inner surface of the passageway and a shaft having a first end connected to the shell and a second end connected to a member configured to maintain the shaft within the passageway and the shell positioned against the curved inner surface during the abrasive machining operation.

Abstract: A screw bit body which allows for efficient torque force application onto a socket fastener. The screw bit body includes a plurality of laterally-bracing sidewalls, a first base, and a second base. The laterally-bracing sidewalls are radially distributed about a rotation axis of the screw bit body with each further including a first lateral edge, a second lateral edge, a bracing surface, and an engagement cavity. The engagement cavity creates a gripping point to prevent slippage in between the screw bit body and the socket fastener. The engagement cavity traverses normal and into the concave surface and the convex surface. The engagement cavity includes an angled driving portion and a concave portion. The angled driving portion is positioned adjacent to the first lateral edge with the concave portion being positioned opposite to the first lateral edge, across the angled driving portion.

Abstract: A T-slot mounting and alignment system for non-rigidly mounting a workpiece or fixture to a work-piece positioner table, welding positioner table or machine tool table having one of more T-slots includes a T-dog, a dog nut, at least one bolt, and at least one fastener. The at least one fastener fastens the T-dog to the workpiece or fixture, and a dog stem of the T-dog extends through a guide slot in the workpiece or fixture and into the T-slot in the table. The dog nut mates with the at least one bolt and tightens to engage a distal end of the dog stem, wherein clearance is provided in the assembled structures to prevent the workpiece or fixture from being tightly clamped against the table. Consequently, compensation for misalignments is possible during setup.

Abstract: A hammer is provided that includes a handle, a head, a striking insert, and a claw. The hammer provides for a head with a keyed hole to couple to a keyed projection on a striking insert. The head also includes a dovetail projection that couples to the dovetail connection of the claw. Each component may comprise a different material. For example, the striking insert and the claw comprise one material, and the handle and the head comprise another material. In some embodiments, a slotted punch with a magnetic retainer creates a bore through the face of the head and the striking insert to support a fastener (e.g., a nail) within the head.

Abstract: A tactical entry multi-tool for first responders is disclosed. The tool can be used to breach encountered obstacles. The tool can include an axe blade, hammer head, breaching wedge, “T” slot connector/wrench, and a handle assembly. The axe blade and hammer head are located at the top of the tool with the breaching wedge located at the bottom at a fixed angle. The axe blade is located opposite of the hammer head with a sturdy handle located between the two in a generally T shaped orientation. The handle assembly is located along the shaft of the tool. The “T” slot is located between the axe and hammer, and has the dual function of being a wrench to open/close valves, and acting as a slot to insert the breaching wedge of a second tool for additional force. The multi-tool may be configured from a single piece of high-performance metal.

Abstract: A panel support assembly is presented herein. The panel support assembly includes a support base, a fixed support structure and a swing arm assembly. The fixed support structure extends from the support base and defines at least one vertical panel engaging surface. The swing arm assembly is pivotally attached to the base and is disposable between a normally biased, at least partially raised position and a lowered, clamped position. The swing arm assembly includes a base, a swing arm panel and a pivoting pressure plate. A biasing device is attached to the base of the swing arm assembly and is configured to normally bias the swing arm assembly into the at least partially raised position until an opposing weight is applied to the base of the swing arm assembly that will oppose the biasing force and automatically position the swing arm assembly into the lowered clamped position.

Abstract: An outdoor surface treating apparatus having a body having a handle and a head arranged to be removably connected with an accessory tool assembly. The head includes a first engagement arrangement for releasably engaging with a second engagement arrangement in the accessory tool assembly. A drive unit, arranged in the head, includes a first coupling member for drivingly coupling with a second coupling member in the accessory tool assembly. The first engagement arrangement is fixed. The second engagement arrangement is movable between an extended position and a retracted position. The accessory tool assembly includes a biasing element for biasing the second engagement arrangement into the extended position.

Abstract: Provided is an automatic grinding apparatus, comprising a grinding wheel, a support, a feeding device, a control device, a first detector, a second detector, a third detector, and a fourth detector, wherein the control device is further configured to, before processing using the grinding wheel is started, calculate a range in which the grinding wheel and the support are relatively moved on the basis of information on positions of a surface of a workpiece and an outer peripheral end portion and an end surface of the grinding wheel detected by the first detector, the second detector, the third detector, and the fourth detector, to move the grinding wheel or the support by controlling the feeding device, and to automatically start the processing using the grinding wheel.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus including a vacuum cleaner and a docking station is provided. The cleaning apparatus includes a vacuum cleaner including a dust collecting chamber in which foreign substances are collected, and a docking station configured to be connected to the dust collecting chamber to remove the foreign substances collected in the dust collecting chamber. The dust collecting chamber is configured to collect foreign substances through centrifugation, and configured to be docked to the docking station, and the docking station includes a suction device configured to suction the foreign substances and air in the dust collecting chamber docked to the docking station.

Abstract: An impeller manufacturing method includes: integrally forming an impeller by an additive manufacturing method using a metal powder, the impeller including a disk which has a disk shape about an axis, a plurality of blades which are formed on a surface facing a first side in an axial direction of the disk with gaps therebetween in a circumferential direction about the axis, and a cover which covers the plurality of blades from the first side in the axial direction; processing the integrally formed impeller by a hot isostatic pressing; and causing a polishing fluid containing abrasive grains to flow through a flow path formed between the disk, the cover, and the blades in the impeller after the processing with the hot isostatic pressing and while pressurizing the polishing fluid to perform fluid polishing.

Abstract: A polishing head having a simple construction and a compact size is disclosed. The polishing head includes: a polishing-tool pressing member for supporting a polishing tool; a movable shaft coupled to the polishing-tool pressing member; a housing which houses the movable shaft therein; and a diaphragm which forms a pressure chamber between an end portion of the movable shaft and the housing, the diaphragm including a central portion in contact with the end portion of the movable shaft, an inner wall portion connecting with the central portion and extending along a side surface of the movable shaft, a folded-back portion connecting with the inner wall portion and having a curved cross section, and an outer wall portion connecting with the folded-back portion and located outside the inner wall portion.

Abstract: A dual cyclonic stage hand vacuum cleaner has a handle provided on a side of the hand vacuum cleaner.

Abstract: A driving mechanism for an autonomous planar surface cleaning robot is disclosed. The driving mechanism includes a first transmission component and a second transmission component spaced apart in parallel relationship relative to the first transmission component. Each of the first and second transmission components defines first and second ends and first and second sides, wherein the first sides face each other and the second sides face away from each other in a direction transverse from the direction of motion and the first and second ends are oppositely spaced along the direction of motion. Each of the first and second transmission components are independently controllable by a control unit of the autonomous planar surface cleaning robot.