Abstract: An electromagnetic fuel injection valve includes a valve housing coupled to at one end thereof to a valve seat member; a stationary core coupled to the other end of the valve housing; and a valve assembly comprised of a movable core slidably accommodated in the valve housing, and a valve member connected to the movable core through a rod portion and adapted to cooperate with the valve seat. In the electromagnetic fuel injection valve, the valve housing is provided with a guide portion on which the valve assembly is axially slidably carried, and a high-hardness coating of diamond-like carbon including silicon is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the valve assembly contacting with the guide portion. The surface roughness Rmax of the high-hardness coating is set in a range of 0.05 to 0.2 ?m.

Abstract: A deicing system for use with a vehicle. Apparatus of the system has an inlet port for receiving a fluid; an outlet port for dispensing a heated fluid; an electrically conductive tube connecting the inlet port and the outlet port for heating fluid passing through the tube from the inlet to the outlet; and a control circuit for energizing opposite ends of the coiled tube with a voltage to heat the tube and the fluid passing through the tube.

Abstract: A fire suppression system for a substantially enclosed area comprises: a plurality of solid propellant aerosol generators disposed about the enclosed area for exhausting a fire suppressant aerosol that is substantially void of an ozone depleting material into the enclosed area. Each aerosol generator including an ignition element for igniting the solid propellant thereof. Each ignition element of the aerosol generators being coupled to a fire control unit which is operative to ignite the solid propellant of at least one aerosol generator utilizing the ignition element thereof to exhaust fire suppressant aerosol into the enclosed area.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for dispensing chemical material, and in particular, granular, agricultural material, from a moving device driven over terrain to be treated with the material. A metering system for dispersing the material includes on apertured metering disk positioned above a rotatable impeller. The apertured disk meters material from a product container, by gravity feed, onto the impeller below at a rate proportional to the linear speed at which the apparatus is driven to dispense material at a uniform density over the terrain. The metering disk is a component of a product container which is removably mounted to the device. The impeller rotates at a constant speed to disperse the deposited material at a uniform distance from the apparatus, and the position on which the material is deposited on the impeller is adjustable.

Abstract: A nozzle ring assembly comprising a nozzle ring having a plurality of recesses for accepting a plurality of nozzle tips; a plurality of a first type of nozzle tips from which water emanates, the first type of nozzle tips being arranged about the face of the nozzle ring so that water emanating therefrom contacts the fireproofing material at a first distance from the nozzle ring, wherein the first type of nozzle tips provides a water spray for at least essentially uniformly mixing water and the fireproofing material; and a plurality of a second type of nozzle tips from which water is emanates, the second type of nozzle tips being arranged about the face of the nozzle ring so that water emanating therefrom contacts the fireproofing material at a second distance greater than the first distance, wherein the second type of nozzle tips provides a water spray that provides additional impact pressure of the fireproofing material against the surface.

Abstract: A household food warmer for keeping foods and beverages warm includes a housing, a drawer which can be inserted into the housing, an interior chamber which is bounded by the housing and the inserted drawer and which is used to accommodate foods placed on plates, a heating element, an electrical circuit in which is arranged a first electrical switch for switching on the heating element, and a temperature sensor for measuring the interior chamber temperature. A convection fan is provided. The convection fan can be switched on via a second electrical switch arranged in the electrical circuit and can be switched off via the second electrical switch upon the occurrence of a switching condition that is dependent on the temperature sensor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a DC thermal energy generator for heating localized regions of an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes a pair of static circuits whose outputs are shorted, and are in contention. Contention causes current to flow through the circuits, generating heat. Integrated-circuit temperatures can be varied by turning on more or fewer thermals energy generators. The thermal resistance of a, packaged integrated circuit is computed using a well-known relationship integrated circuit's measured temperature, power consumption, and the ambient temperature.

Abstract: An ergonomic hopper holder for use with spray application equipment includes a vertical support member having a holster end, an opposite hopper end, and a hopper hanger proximate to the hopper end. The holder also includes an arm member having a support end, a spray gun end, and a spray gun support proximate to the spray gun end for supporting a spray gun. The arm member is pivotably joined to the vertical support member. The holder further includes a holster and belt combination capable of being worn by an artisan.

Abstract: The electric heating arrangement (1) has a tubular housing (2) in which is provided at least one PTC heating element (20) and at least one pair of metallic heat dissipators (9) between which the at least one heating element (20) is clamped and which for this purpose each comprise a base portion (10) facing the at least one heating element and one or two curved legs (15) projecting from said base portion, which adapt themselves resiliently to the inner surface of the surrounding wall of the housing (2). The invention provides that the legs (15) taper toward their free ends and/or that the base portion (10) is thicker than the legs (15) projecting it.

Abstract: A tower has a concrete base (14) supported within the Earth and a frame (5) extending vertically from the base into the atmosphere. A ground conductor (12) runs alongside the frame. A first ground rod (10) is driven into the Earth and is connected to the ground conductor to charge the ground conductor electrically negative. A second ground rod (10) extending vertically above the frame is connected to the ground conductor to be charged electrically negative. A positive conductor (21) running alongside the frame is connected to a positively charged generator (16). A positive rod (22) extending vertically above the frame is connected to the positive conductor to be charged electrically positive. The second ground rod discharges protons from lightning into the Earth via the ground conductor and the first ground rod, and the positive rod attracts and discharges electrons remaining its vicinity into the generator via the positive conductor.

Abstract: A heating element made from flexible circuit technology with a single contiguous heating zone for uniform heating or multiple temperature heating zones is described. These flexible heating elements can conform to three dimensional object surfaces with irregular shape. The heating element's overall flexibility and its thickness (in the region of 10 mils) allow for heating many object shapes in an efficient, compact and light-weight manner. Each thermal sensor or thermostat is used to regulate each heating zone and provide a unique temperature setting. A thermostat can be mounted directly on an object's metallic surface. In addition, using diodes connected to the flexible heating element is described here to allow the use of two or multiple voltage sources. The technique permits one heating element to be powered from either AC or DC sources with comparable heating characteristics from both.

Abstract: A piezoelectric element and an injector using the same piezoelectric element are disclosed, which are so high in reliability as not to be shorted even in a high humidity environment, are small in size, are low in cost and are high in heat radiation capability. The piezoelectric element comprises a ceramic laminate (10) including a plurality of ceramic layers of a piezoelectric ceramic (11) and a plurality of internal electrode layers (21, 22), stacked alternately. At least an organic insulating layer (41) of an organic material is formed on at least a part of the surface of the ceramic laminate (10), and at least an inorganic insulating layer (42) of an inorganic material is formed on the organic insulating layer (41).

Abstract: A temperature-measuring device for a microwave oven, which is capable of easily measuring the temperature of an object outside of a cooking cavity of the microwave oven, as well as the temperature of food inside of the cooking cavity. The microwave oven includes a control unit which controls an entire cooking operation of the microwave oven, and a temperature-measuring device having a variable-length wire which is electrically connected to the control unit at its one end. The temperature measuring device further includes a temperature sensing probe connected to the other end of the variable-length wire, and a rotating member which winds the variable-length wire therearound. The rotating member is electrically connected to the control unit.

Abstract: In a glow plug configured such that a metallic, tubular member having a heater fixedly provided therein is joined to a metallic shell, an external-thread portion is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the metallic shell so as to allow the glow plug to be screwed into a plug-mounting hole formed in an engine head. An annular protrusion is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the metallic, tubular member in such a manner as to protrude radially outward, to annularly extend in the circumferential direction, and to be located in the vicinity of a distal end of the metallic shell. A distally-facing end face of the annular protrusion abuts an annular seat face in the mounting hole, and the metallic, tubular member and the metallic shell are joined such that a distal end face of the metallic shell abuts a rearward-facing end face of the annular protrusion.

Abstract: An electric belly-band heater includes at least one conduit fitting housing. The housing is located on the heater to surround one or more lead wires and provide a securement point for a conduit end. The conduit end can be secured to the housing using the appropriate fittings so that the lead wire exiting the heater sheath is totally encased in the conduit to meet installation codes.

Abstract: A concealed sprinkler head is mounted above the ceiling of a fire protected zone. The sprinkler head includes a housing within which a valve and other operative parts are contained. A decorative cover plate is secured to the housing to conceal the sprinkler head within the ceiling so that none of the operative parts is visible. The cover assembly includes a thin metallic cover plate made of a heat conductive material such as copper, and a metallic skirt including a cylindrical wall threaded on the housing, an annular flange extending outwardly from one end of the cylindrical wall, and a plurality of tabs extending downwardly from the flange. A plurality of heat insulative elements are disposed between the tabs and the cover plate. A metallic layer is attached to the lower surface of each of the insulative elements. A layer of fusible material is disposed between the metallic layer and the cover plate to secure each of the insulative elements to the cover plate through the metallic layer.

Abstract: Using a swirl type fuel injection valve, a concentrated spray area and a thin spray area are formed, the position thereof are adjusted, and the spray is made to conform to the geometric shape of the engine and mounting position of the fuel injection valve, so as to reduce the fuel consumption and control the unburnt components in exhaust gas. The fuel injection valve is so constructed that a step is formed on the injection hole opening of the fuel injection valve, so as to provide two or more edge transition portions at the injection hole opening, resulting from the step, and the line connecting the edge transition portions forms an oblique angle relative to the wall formed by the step perpendicular to the injection hole center axis and the angled wall.

Abstract: A hydraulic control valve for a fuel injector for an automotive engine, which includes a piezoelectric actuator and a hydraulic valve mechanism. The hydraulic valve mechanism converts a mechanical deformation of the piezoelectric actuator produced as a result of application of a voltage into a hydraulic pressure to move a valve member for opening and closing a fluid port. The hydraulic valve mechanism is so designed that the piezoelectric actuator produces a maximum output force which works to develop the hydraulic pressure when opening the fluid port through the valve member and decreases after the fluid port is opened and which is set smaller than one-half of a maximum possible output force of the piezoelectric actuator under application of a maximum working voltage to said piezoelectric actuator, thereby ensuring a maximum movement of the valve member at high energy efficiency under application of the voltage within a working voltage range.

Abstract: A liner for an article of footwear, particularly a ski-boot, comprises a thermally formable material which can be selectively heated by means of an insert comprising electrical resistance heating elements. The latter in turn are sandwiched between heat spreading material.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a nozzle type atomizer with two or more aligned “horn” stages. The definition of a “horn” stage is well known in the prior art as an effectively half wavelength length and a tapering shape with a central conduit. The present invention uses two to five, or more, horn stages integrally attached end to end. The dramatic improvement in amplitude of the vibration at the tip of the nozzle is without precedence in the prior art. The present invention makes application of transducer vibration at greater than 200 kHz possible. The present invention reduces the required applied energy for generating the necessary amplitude at the tip by the discovery of amplitude multiplication with two or more horn stages.