Abstract: A heat shield for a casting furnace (e.g., a directional solidification or single crystal casting furnace) includes a plurality of heat insulating plates (e.g., 6 plates), each with a leading edge. The plurality of heat insulating plates are arranged, for example, in an overlapping layout, such that at least a portion of their leading edges define a discharge opening (e.g., a hexagonal discharge opening in the case of a heat shield with 6 heat insulating plates) circumscribed by the heat insulating plates. The heat insulating plates are moveable in a manner that adjusts (i.e., increases or decreases) the size of the discharge opening. The heat shield also includes a rotatable disk operatively coupled to the heat insulating plates such that when the rotatable disk is rotated in one direction, the heat insulating plates are moved in a manner which decreases the size of the discharge opening.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for welding the far ends of two elongated elements together, whereby the above-mentioned far ends are heated up to forging temperature by rotating a ring clamped between them. A flat ring is provided between the far ends, whereby these far ends are axially drawn towards one another and, as soon as the forging temperature is reached, the elements are pushed towards one another with great force by exerting a dynamic force. The device contains driving means to rotate the ring, drawing means to draw the elongated elements towards one another and means to exert a dynamic force.

Abstract: A film-based HTS device comprises a substrate and a superconducting film. A peripheral portion of the film is a-axis-aligned material which is so situated on the substrate as to describe a-b planar barriers which are perpendicular to the substrate and which in parallel fashion border upon the entire periphery of the film. The a-b planar barriers serve to block vortices which nucleate at the film's periphery, thereby attenuating the overall vortex activity associated with the film, thereby attenuating the ELF and white noise which are normally prevalent in superconductor devices. Effectiveness in terms of arresting vortex motion may be increased by providing an interior film portion which is also a-axis-aligned material. It may be preferable to provide an interior film portion which is c-axis-aligned material, since this is easier to make and the a-axis-aligned peripheral portion of the film will be sufficiently effective in terms of “pinning” the vortices.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a container formed of five rectangular metal panels including a bottom panel, opposed side panels and opposed end panels, each panel having peripheral edges there around, including the steps of forming spaced apart notches leaving interpositioned tab portions in peripheral edges of the panels, positioning the bottom panel horizontally, positioning the two side panels and two end panels vertically around the periphery edges of the bottom panel forming four vertical and four horizontal panel intersections with tab portions aligned with mating notches at each of the panel intersections and welding the four vertical and four horizontal panel intersections to physically interconnect the five panels to provide an open top rectangular container.

Abstract: Deterioration and damage to insulator materials in an interconnection structure having vertical connections due to exposure to heat during bonding of lamina is avoided by performing diffusion bonding of metal pads at plated through holes (PTH) at temperatures below the melting points of conductive material in the bond. Diffusion bonding is achieved during time periods required for processing (e.g. curing or drying) of insulating materials in the laminated structure.

Abstract: A method for applying a brazing medium to a configuration, which is formed of a honeycomb body and a jacket pipe is described. First, the honeycomb body is configured by stacking and/or winding of sheet metal layers, at least some of which are structured sheet metals layers such that the honeycomb body has channels for conducting a fluid flow. The honeycomb body is partially placed in the jacket pipe. A section of the honeycomb body that projects out from the jacket pipe is brought by its end face into contact with an adhesive medium. The honeycomb body is further introduced into the jacket pipe. Subsequently, a brazing medium is introduced into the honeycomb body.

Abstract: A leadframe clamping apparatus includes a resilient polymeric membrane which permits self-leveling compensation of a variably movable clamp insert for variations in leadframe thickness. The clamp insert is formed of a polymer such as polyimide to provide further compensation for leadframe variations.

Abstract: The method of making a freeform cut on a work piece made of brittle material, such as glass, includes producing a linear focal point from a laser beam and a cold spot following the linear focal point on the work piece so that at least 60 percent of a laser beam energy output is concentrated at opposite ends of the linear focal point; moving the linear focal point along a specified contour for forming the cut and adjusting a length of the focal point according to a contour line curvature, so that the opposite ends lie on the contour, even when the contour is curved, in order to make the freeform cut. The device for performing this method includes a numerical trajectory control device (4) for positioning the linear focal point as it moves along the contour and a profile control device (3) cooperating with the numerical trajectory control device (4) for controlling a length (S) of the linear focal point (1).

Abstract: An improved porous substrate for zeolite membranes is formed by coating the substrate with a layer of zeolite particles of a narrow particle distribution size of between 20 and 0.01 microns.

Abstract: Methods for making various nickel based superalloys into engineering components such as rings, tubes and pipes by melting of the alloys in a vacuum or under a low partial pressure of inert gas and subsequent centrifugal casting of the melt in the graphite molds rotating along its own axis under vacuum or low partial pressure of inert gas are provided. The molds have been fabricated by machining high density, high strength ultrafine grained isotropic graphite, wherein the graphite has been made by isostatic pressing or vibrational molding.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for high speed, reliable and repeatable delivery and reflow of solder material onto a substrate are disclosed. The apparatus has a repositionable capillary to direct individual solder material to a specific location on the substrate. An energy source is directed through the capillary onto the solder to reflow the solder to the substrate. The apparatus provides for individual introduction of the solder material into the capillary and urging of the solder material from a reservoir to the capillary while preventing unintended jams and blockage of the solder material.

Abstract: The disclosed invention relates to the field of ceramics and concerns an open-cell expanded ceramic which may be used in the form of a deep-bed filter, and a process for the production thereof. The primary object is to produce an open-cell expanded ceramic by a simple and economical process. This object is attained by an open-cell expanded ceramic in which the inner cavities, cracks and the porosity of the ceramic members are filled partially or completely by one or a plurality of metal and/or ceramic phases and/or glass phases. The open-cell expanded ceramic is also produced in that during or after sintering the cavities, cracks and the porosity of the ceramic members are partially or completely filled with a melt or a suspension which melt below the melting temperature of the expanded ceramic, have a coefficient of expansion similar to the coefficient of expansion of the expanded ceramic, and a very good wetting capacity, and only react partially or not at all with constituents of the expanded ceramic.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a process for pretreating a catalyst used in hydrocarbon conversion processes, comprising the following steps: a) pretreating a catalyst containing at least one zeolite with structure type EUO and at least one hydrodehydrogenating metal in the presence of a hydrocarbon feed, at a temperature such that a catalyst comprising carbon is obtained; b) then treating the hydrocarbon feed and the catalyst at a temperature which is lower than the temperature applied in step a). The invention also concerns an activated catalyst and its use in a process for isomerizing aromatic compounds containing 8 carbon atoms.

Abstract: To provide a strip connecting apparatus and a method therefor which are less costly, short in welding time and high in welding quality. A strip connecting apparatus is provided with: a surface coating removing device for removing insulative surface coating of end portions, to be welded, of a leading strip and a trailing strip before cutting the strips; a cutting device for cutting the end portions, to be welded, of the leading strip and the trailing strip; and a welding device for overlapping the cut end portions of the leading strip and the trailing strip and seam welding the cut end portions with each other.

Abstract: The invention is an apparatus comprising an ultrasonic horn. The horn is mounted to a support structure and includes a first mounting surface. An anvil is mounted to the support structure and spaced from the ultrasonic horn. The anvil has a first bearer surface. A bearer assembly supportably links the first mounting surface to the first bearer surface.

Abstract: A continuous extrusion machine has a chassis (1) supporting a wheel (2) for rotation by a motor. An endless groove (7) extends around the periphery of the wheel (2). A shoe (3) is mounted in the chassis (1) and has an enveloping surface shaped to closely envelop an arc of the wheel (2) periphery so that the groove (7) co-operates with the shoe (3) to form a passage. An abutment is mounted on the shoe (3) to extend into the passage at a downstream end. Tooling is mounted in the shoe (3) including a die such that a material such as aluminium or copper bar fed into the groove (7) is extruded through the die as a consequence of the energy transfer via friction from the rotating wheel (2). A gap (12) exists between the enveloping surface and the wheel (2). The gap (12) is used to provide the orifice of a sonic gap (12) sensor whereby the size of the gap (12) can be accurately and directly measured.

Abstract: A silicon carbide powder which can increase the densities of a green body and a sintered silicon carbide, a method of producing a green body having a high density and excellent handling properties, and a method of producing a sintered silicon carbide having a high density, in which methods the silicon carbide powder is used. The silicon carbide powder includes at a particulate volume ratio of 20% to 80% a silicon carbide powder whose model ratio is 1.7 &mgr;m to 2.7 &mgr;m and a silicon carbide powder whose model ratio is 10.5 &mgr;m to 21.5 &mgr;m. The silicon carbide powder is used in the method of producing a green body and in the method of producing a sintered silicon carbide powder.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a printed circuit board includes the steps of: fabricating a printed circuit board having at least one collapsed portion; depositing a first solder resist in the collapsed portion; exposing the first solder resist-coated printed circuit board at a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure for a predetermined time; coating a second solder resist on the entire surface of the printed circuit board; and drying and hardening the first and the second solder resists. With this method, when a solder resist is coated, since an air space does not remain in a blind via hole, the reliability of the attachment between a printed circuit board and the solder resist layer is increased.

Abstract: The low stability of some molecular sieves can be overcome during calcination by a solid state reaction between the molecular sieve and a salt. Molecular sieves including zeolites, metal substituted aluminosilicates, and metallosilicates can be stabilized by this method. The inventive process comprises mixing such molecular sieve with a salt, either directly or as a slurry; and then heating the resulting mixture to remove water, organics and adsorbed species.

Abstract: The method of preparing an oxide superconducting wire comprises steps of preparing a wire by coating raw material powder for a Bi—Pb—Sr—Ca—Cu—O based oxide superconductor including a 2223 phase with a metal and heat treating the wire in a pressurized atmosphere containing oxygen in a prescribed partial pressure, and the total pressure of the pressurized atmosphere is at least 0.5 MPa. The pressure heat treatment apparatus comprises a pressure furnace storing and heat treating a target in a pressurized atmosphere, a pressure regulator for measuring the total pressure in the pressure furnace, an oxygen concentration meter for measuring the oxygen concentration in the pressure furnace and a controller for controlling the oxygen partial pressure in the pressure furnace in response to the total pressure measured by the pressure regulator and the oxygen concentration measured by the oxygen concentration meter.