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: The assembly element is mechanically connected to two component parts of a device (2) at least once the device is assembled. A shape-memory metal element (6i, 7i), is provided as the assembly element, the metal element having a first form during assembly of the device (2) and a second form, which assures the mechanical connection between the two component parts (3a-3d, 4a-4c) of the device, when the device is assembled. The second form is memorized by the shape-memory metal element before assembly, by its shape-memory properties.

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: There is disclosed a heating apparatus which has an electrostatic adsorption function and which comprises at least a supporting substrate, an electrode for electrostatic adsorption formed on a surface of one side of the supporting substrate, a heating layer formed on a surface of the other side of the supporting substrate, and an insulating layer formed so that it may cover the electrode for electrostatic adsorption and the heating layer wherein a volume resistivity of the insulating layer is varied in a plane. Thus, there can be provided a heating apparatus which has an electrostatic adsorption function wherein uniformity of a temperature distribution in a plane of the wafer when the wafer is heated can be improved, and the wafer can be heat-treated uniformly.

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: A heating apparatus having an electrostatic adsorption function comprising at least a supporting substrate, an electrode for electrostatic adsorption and a heating layer formed on the supporting substrate, and an insulating layer formed so as to cover the electrode for electrostatic adsorption and the heating layer, wherein a surface roughness of the insulating layer satisfies Ra?0.05 ?m and Rmax?0.6 ?m, and Vickers hardness of the surface of the insulating layer is 10 GPa or less. Thus, there can be provided a heating apparatus having an electrostatic adsorption function in which scratches are not generated on a silicon wafer or the like and the generation of particles can be suppressed when heating/cooling the wafer or the like.

Abstract: A carbon heating apparatus utilizing a graphite felt and a method of manufacturing thereof are presented comprising: a carbon heater made of a carbon fiber cut having a preset length and width, being performed heat treatment in a hydrogen gas atmosphere, a pair of terminal parts having a flat portion (31) at one end for connecting to outside power supply lines and clamping brackets (32) with protrusions (33) at opposite end for securely attaching to the carbon heater, and a quartz glass tube (10) with melt-jointing potions (15) for sealing both ends of the carbon heater.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle safety device for melting ice and snow on roadways and in areas immediately adjacent the vehicle tires includes ductwork extending from a heater mounted adjacent the vehicle engine with the ductwork terminating at front and rear undercarriage mounted v-shaped ducts. Each v-shaped duct includes a pair of heating vents disposed adjacent each vehicle tire that blows heated air onto the roadway for melting the ice and snow. A heating grid is securable to the vehicle undercarriage for providing additional radiant heat to melt ice and snow, and a dashboard-mounted control panel provides for the manual activation of the heater and the heating grid while sensors mounted to the undercarriage and electrically connected to the control panel provide for automatic activation of the heater and heating grid upon sensing a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A method for making a heating element adhered to a substrate by applying a photocurable composition to a flexible substrate in a pattern having one or more grid lines is provided. The photocurable composition is curable into an electrically conductive layer and volatile organic compounds are present in an amount of less than about 10% total weight of the photocurable composition. After the pattern is deposited on the substrate is cured by illuminating the photocurable composition with light for a sufficient period of time to cure the photocurable composition. Heating elements made by the method are also provided.

Abstract: Panel (10) for generating and diffusing heat obtained from a heat-radiating board (30) comprising one or more pieces of electrothermal fabric, with strips of fibreglass laid side by side to form the warp, the weft (50) consisting of a continuous copper wire (51), small in diameter and of considerable length, coated with insulating material, that extends serpentinewise passing alternatively above and below the strips of fibreglass, said board (30) being completed by intermediate and external layers (35, 36) of epoxidic thermoadhesive material and clad on both surfaces with sheets of micanite (31, 32), so that on connecting the ends of the wire (51) forming the weft (50) to a source of electric current, boring holes (65, 66) using means, that may be a laser beam, on the thermoadhesive layer (35, 36) covering the weft (50), this latter converts electric energy into thermal energy.

Abstract: The input/output system of the present invention includes a sheet-like input/output unit that includes wiring and a connection box that is attached to an edge of the sheet-like input/output unit. The connection box includes a housing that is attached so as to sandwich the sheet-like input/output unit and internally encloses a circuit board that is connected to the wiring. The housing includes a slit through which the sheet-like input/output unit passes and whose upper and lower edges are curved and means for fixing the sheet-like input/output unit that is disposed inside to the slit. Since the means for fixing the sheet-like input/output unit is disposed inside to the slit, the edges of the slit are narrow but formed with large radii of curvature, so that the sheet-like input/output unit is not folded over at the slit part. The slit can also be sealed by attaching packing to the edge of the slit.

Abstract: An irrigation system controller communicates with peripheral sensors using control valve wires as the medium over which to send and receive electronic signals. Various types of sensors such as soil moisture, temperature, etc., can be interfaced to this system. A sensor that is near a control valve can be connected to the control valve wires, eliminating the need to run additional sensor wires back to the controller. Installation costs are reduced because of less wire to run.

Abstract: The invention provides a heater for flip chip bonding. The heater transfers more heat to the periphery of a die than to the center. This results in a more even temperature profile along the die and helps prevent epoxy voiding problems.

Abstract: Disclosed is a heating element which can also absorb gas, especially a heating element usable as an interior material for buildings which serves both as a heater and an absorber capable of absorbing harmful gas present in the room. This heating element comprises: a molded product comprising a high-temperature carbonized charcoal which has been carbonized at a temperature of about 800° C. or above; and at least two electrodes which can energize the molded product, wherein current is applied to the electrodes to generate heat. The molded product comprising a high-temperature carbonized charcoal, which has been carbonized at a temperature of about 800° C. or above is excellent as a heating element and, at the same time, has an excellent capacity capable of adsorbing various gases. Mixing a low-temperature carbonized charcoal, which has been carbonized at a temperature of about 500° C.

Abstract: An electric heating device that is constructed in a unique fashion that allows it to be drapeable so that its three-dimensional, ‘scoop-like’ shape fits the curvature of a relaxed shoulder, a crooked knee or a crooked elbow, and is held in place by an adjustable strap whose ends are attached to the device. The heating element configuration that is contained within a singular, sealed, water-tight vinyl envelope that is produced as one piece, with the three panels briefly connected at a point where the heating element wiring crosses from one panel to the other.

Abstract: An electrically heatable glow plug and a method for manufacturing an electrically heatable glow plug are proposed that enable a protection of a heating coil of the glow plug against nitridation and evaporation of the aluminum from the heating conductor alloy. The glow plug includes a glow tube that is closed at the end, into which the electrically conductive heating coil is inserted, the heating coil being formed at least partially of aluminum, in particular of an aluminun-iron-chromium alloy. In the glow tube, oxygen donors are provided in order to form an aluminum oxide layer on the surface of the heating coil before or during the heating of the heating coil.

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 sheathed element glow plug having an ionic current sensor and a method of operating such a sheathed element glow plug are provided. The sheathed element glow plug includes a housing and a rod-shaped heating element arranged in a concentric bore in the housing. The heating element has at least one insulation layer, a first feeder layer, and a second feeder layer, the first feeder layer and the second feeder layer being connected by a web on the combustion chamber-side end of the heating element, the first and second feeder layers and the web being made of an electrically conducting ceramic material, and the insulation layer being made of an electrically insulating ceramic material. The heating element has at least one ionic current detection electrode made of an electrically conducting ceramic material.

Abstract: A system and method for heating materials is provided. Generally, the system contains a first layer upon which a material may be placed for heating the material, wherein the first layer has sufficient conductivity to allow heat to travel through the first layer. The system also contains a heater layer provided on the first layer, which is capable of providing heat to the first layer for heating the material. In addition, the system has an insulator layer for protecting the heater layer from contaminants.

Abstract: A heating pad system useable in one embodiment for warming a person on a support structure. In this embodiment, the heating pad system comprises an upper foam pad, a lower foam pad, and a thermal-electric heating element sandwiched between the upper and lower foam pads. A form-fitting waterproof cover encloses at least a portion of the upper and lower foam pads and the thermal-electric heating element. In one aspect of this embodiment, the heating pad system includes a power unit for providing electrical power to the thermal-electric heating element, the power unit including a control panel having at least one temperature selector, the temperature selector for selecting at least one heating pad temperature.