Abstract: The invention provides a laser working apparatus for effecting optical ablation working by irradiating a work article with laser light from a laser oscillator capable of continuous emission of light pulses of a large energy density in space and in time, with a pulse emission time not exceeding 1 picosecond, wherein control means for controlling the irradiation of the laser light is provided in a position not affecting the temperature control of the laser oscillating portion and a configuration is provided for controlling the irradiation of the laser light continuously emitted from the laser oscillator by the control means thereby effecting optical ablation working on the work article.

Abstract: A friction stir welding machine includes a table for supporting parts to be welded and a frame extending over the table. A first drive is supported by a first element of the frame and is operatively connected to a spindle having a tool. The first drive moves the tool in a first direction, and the first drive disengages from the spindle after the tool contacts the material. A second drive is supported by a second element of the frame and is operatively connected to the spindle for moving the tool into the parts at a joint, thereby initiating friction stir welding process. The friction stir welding machine has a pair of rollers mounted in a roller support with an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the tool. The rollers contact a surface of the material in response to the tool penetrating the material to a desired depth.

Abstract: An automatic soldering machine utilizing many design features which substantially reduces maintenance, simplifies the soldering operation, improves the process reliability, reduces the cycle time, and reduces the cost to fabricate such a machine.

Abstract: A method of producing a semi-solid material without stirring, including heating a metal alloy to form a metallic melt, transferring a select amount of the melt into a vessel, nucleating the melt by regulating the transferring of the melt into the vessel, and crystallizing the melt within the vessel by cooling the melt at a controlled rate to produce a semi-solid material having a microstructure comprising rounded solid particles dispersed in a liquid metal matrix. In one form of the invention, a temperature-controlled shot sleeve is provided for receiving and cooling an amount of metallic melt at a controlled rate to produce the semi-solid material. The shot sleeve has a number of heat transfer zones adapted to independently control the temperature of the melt disposed adjacent various portions of the shot sleeve. The shot sleeve also includes a ram operable to discharge the semi-solid material directly into a die mold to form a near-net-shape part.

Abstract: Process gas is fed from a gas supply means to a plasma generating means in a vacuum chamber, and hydrogen-containing plasma is generated by the plasma generating means under a low pressure. A soft solder alloy on the surface of a workpiece supported by a workpiece exposing means is exposed to the hydrogen-containing plasma so that the soft solder alloy is irradiated with the hydrogen-containing plasma. Either simultaneously with or immediately after the plasma irradiation, the soft solder alloy undergoes reflow treatment in a vacuum by a heating means. As no flux is used, there is no need of a washing process, and the bump-shaped electrode terminals produced by using the inexpensive soft solder alloy on the surface of the workpiece have great reliability.

Abstract: A soldering machine for tape carrier package. The soldering machine includes a cylinder, a linking rod, a cushioning pad, a floating connector and a press head assembly. The cylinder has a first end and a second end. The linking rod passes through the interior of the cylinder. The linking rod also has a first end and a second end. The first end of the linking rod protrudes from the first end of the cylinder while the second end of the first linking rod protrudes from the second end of the cylinder. The first end of the linking rod has a threaded section with an adjusting nut screw onto the threaded section. There is a cushioning pad between the adjusting nut and the cylinder. The second end of the linking rod has a floating connector. The press head assembly and the linking rod is connected together via the floating connector.

Abstract: Superconducting cables and magnetic devices are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for continuously casting grain oriented electrical steel is disclosed. This method utilizes a controlled rapid cooling step, such as one using a water spray, to control the grain orientation in the finished product. The product formed not only has the appropriate grain orientation but also has good physical properties, for example, minimized cracking. In this process, after a continuously cast electrical steel strip is formed, the strip undergoes an initial secondary cooling to from about 1150 to about 1250° C., and finally undergoes a rapid secondary cooling (for example, by water spray) at a rate of from about 65° C./second to about 150° C./second to a temperature of no greater than about 950° C.

Abstract: A second reaction medium is introduced into a first reaction medium flowing in a flow channel and the reaction media are intensively mixed. The second reaction medium (which may be one or more reaction media) is introduced at a plurality or even a multiplicity of positions that are distributed over a cross section of the flow channel. Turbulence flow is induced in the first reaction medium (which may also be one or more reaction media) at the positions where the second reaction medium is introduced. As a result, the intense mixing of the reaction media with one another takes place directly at the locations where the second reaction medium is introduced into the flow channel.

Abstract: A molten metal infiltrating method for infiltrating a linear material with a molten metal, wherein a linear material previously coated with a flux is used.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of zeolitic catalysts comprising zeolite and oligomeric silica, which can be used in industrial reactors. The process consists in directly mixing the suspension, resulting from the synthesis of the zeolite, with an oligomeric silica sol, obtained from the hydrolysis of a tetra-alkyl ortho silicate in the presence of tetra-alkylammonium hydroxide, and in subjecting the mixture to rapid drying, by feeding to a spray-dry.

Abstract: Disclosed are an insert of pour-around die casting, which is incorporated by an aluminum alloy die casting and has an organic film formed on the surface of the insert, wherein the organic film contains a higher fatty acid ester, a petroleum sulfonate and a mineral oil and has a thickness of from 0.5 to 2 &mgr;m, a rust preventive oil used therefor, and a method for incorporating the insert with an aluminum alloy die casting.

Abstract: A system for joining a pair of structural members having widely differing coefficients of thermal expansion is disclosed. A mechanically “thick” foil is made by dispersing a refractory metal powder, such as molybdenum, niobium, tantalum, or tungsten into a quantity of a liquid, high expansion metal such as copper, silver, or gold, casting an ingot of the mixture, and then cutting sections of the ingot about 1 mm thick to provide the foil member. These foil members are shaped, and assembled between surfaces of structural members for joining, together with a layer of a braze alloy on either side of the foil member capable of wetting both the surfaces of the structural members and the foil. The assembled body is then heated to melt the braze alloy and join the assembled structure. The foil member subsequently absorbs the mechanical strain generated by the differential contraction of the cooling members that results from the difference in the coefficients of thermal expansion of the members.

Abstract: Methods and articles for controlling the surface of an alloy substrate for deposition of an epitaxial layer. The invention includes the use of an intermediate layer to stabilize the substrate surface against oxidation for subsequent deposition of an epitaxial layer.

Abstract: A bonding tool for bonding a wire to a substrate. The bonding tool has a body portion, a working tip coupled to one end of the body portion, an orifice extending along a longitudinal axis of the body and the working tip, and a polymer coating disposed over at least a portion of a surface of the orifice.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an antivibration device for motor vehicles, the device comprising at least one metal insert having at least one fixing surface bonded to an elastomer, the method including a cleaning step during which the fixing surface is scanned with a laser beam that is sufficiently powerful to eliminate the impurities present on said surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing printed circuit boards including a system for measuring and controlling solder wave height generally comprises conveyor system for transporting printed circuit board through a number of processing stations. The system for measuring and controlling the wave height of solder includes a sensor which is mounted in close proximity to the interface defined between the surface of the solder wave and the bottom surface of the printed circuit board. The sensor is coupled to a micro-controller and the micro-controller is coupled to a pump motor. The pump motor is coupled to a solder bath which generates the solder wave and is controlled to operate at a predetermined speed to maintain a predetermined solder wave height during the process of wave soldering printed circuit boards. The sensor provides a number voltages to the micro-controller representing the distance between the sensor and the top surface of the solder wave. The voltages are converted into a number of values.

Abstract: The slurry for carrying zeolite of the present invention is slurry for attaching zeolite to a carrier and comprises zeolite and an organic emulsion binder dispersed in water. This slurry for carrying zeolite has viscosity not excessively high in spite of a large content of zeolite and binder and has a pH at which the zeolite and binder are stable. The slurry therefore can be stored for a long time in a stable manner.

Abstract: The present invention provides a catalyst for oxidizing reformed gas, which catalyst can selectively oxidize carbon monoxide—which is contained in the reformed gas used as a fuel of a solid polymer fuel cell and which acts as a catalyst poison of the fuel cell—into carbon dioxide with high performance. The reformed gas is oxidized by use of the catalyst of the present invention, which catalyst is characterized in that M-type mordenite, among different types of zeolite, is used as a carrier and a bimetallic alloy metal system containing platinum and an alloy-forming metal other than platinum is supported by the carrier, wherein the amount of the alloy-forming metal in the alloy is 20-50 at. %.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for controllably dispensing flux on a substrate having a plurality of conductive terminals. Flux having a viscosity range between 10 centipoises and about 150 centipoises is sprayed on the substrate and the conductive terminals at a valve pressure range between about 1.5 psi and about 30 psi via a dispense nozzle of a flux dispenser. Upon a subsequent high temperature solder reflow process, the sprayed flux on the substrate is mostly removed by thermal decomposition to volatile species, thereby significantly reducing flux residue remaining on the surface of the substrate between the conductive terminals.