Abstract: An improved vision system is provided for identifying and assessing features of an article. Systems are provided for developing feature assessment programs, which, when deployed, may inspect parts and/or provide position information for guiding automated manipulation of such parts. The improved system is easy to use and facilitates the development of versatile and flexible article assessment programs. In one aspect, the system comprises a set of step tools from which a set of step objects is instantiated. The set of step tools may comprise machine vision step objects that comprise routines for processing an image of the article to provide article feature information. A control flow data structure and a data flow data structure may each be provided. The control flow data structure charts a flow of control among the step objects.

Abstract: A method of constructing a glass panel which comprises two confronting edge sealed glass sheets, the method comprises the steps of providing a solder glass band around the margin of one surface of each glass sheet, forming, at a first temperature, an hermetic bond between the solder glass band and the associated surface of each glass sheet, positioning the glass sheets in spaced-apart confronting relationship, forming, at a second temperature which is lower than the first temperature, an hermetic seal between the two solder glass bands whilst maintaining the spaced apart relationship between the glass sheets.

Abstract: A thermally insulating glass panel comprises two spaced-apart sheets of glass enclosing a low pressure space and interconnected by a glass solder edge seal and an array of support pillars, wherein the glass sheets are sized or configured, or both, such that their edges are not in registration, and, at any point around the periphery of the panel, the edge of one of the sheets extends beyond the edge of the other in order to provide a peripheral stepped cavity in which solder glass material for forming the edge seal is deposited prior to being melted and fused.

Abstract: An improved vision system is provided for identifying and assessing features of an article. Systems are provided for developing feature assessment programs, which, when deployed, may inspect parts and/or provide position information for guiding automated manipulation of such parts. The improved system is easy to use and facilitates the development of versatile and flexible article assessment programs. In one aspect, the system comprises a set of step tools from which a set of step objects is instantiated. The set of step tools may comprise machine vision step objects that comprise routines for processing an image of the article to provide article feature information. A control flow data structure and a data flow data structure may each be provided. The control flow data structure charts a flow of control among the step objects.

Abstract: Vacuum glazing comprising two sheets of glass, hermetically sealed around the edge, with a thermally insulating internal vacuum, and an array of support pillars placed between the glass sheets to be in contact therewith, wherein the pillars are one piece elements consisting of a core or central body, made of a material of higher compressive strength, and at least one contact layer, made of a softer metallic or carbon material, the contact layer being arranged to provide an integral interface between at least one of the ends of the central body and the adjacent glass sheet, the contact layer being arranged to absorb shear forces.

Abstract: A vacuum glazing comprises two sheets of glass hermetically sealed around the edge with a thermally insulating internal vacuum, and an array of support pillars placed between the glass sheets, wherein one of the sheets of glass is laminated, after the vacuum glazing has been manufactured.

Abstract: A thermally insulating glass panel comprises two spaced apart sheets of glass enclosing a low pressure space and interconnected by a glass solder edge seal and an array of support pillars, and further comprises a pump-out tube which penetrates one of the glass sheets and has a radial flange which is cemented to the inner surface of that glass sheet. A method of constructing a thermally insulating glass panel includes the step of installing a pump-out tube through one of the glass sheets of the panel with the pump-out tube having a radial flange that is sealed to the interior surface of the glass sheet.

Abstract: The inventions described in this specification concern a number of improvements to the design of thermally insulating glass panels (10, 11). The first improvement concerns the support pillars (12), and in particular a method of designing the pillar radius and spacing, and a panel (10, 11) constructed in accordance with the design constaints of the method. The second improvement concerns the edge seal (13), and in particular a method of constructing a thermally insulating glass panel (10, 11) with a superior edge seal (13), and a panel (10, 11) incorporating the superior seal (13). The third improvement concerns the evacuation of the panels (10, 11), and in particular method of improving the evacuation of the panels (10, 11) during construction, and a panel (10, 11) produced by the improved method. The fourth improvement concerns the pump-out tube, in particular a panel (10, 11) incorporating the improved pump-out tube, and a method of constructing such panels (10, 11).

Abstract: Vacuum glazings and methods of manufacture thereof are described; the glazings provide improved shear stress resistance in that the vacuum glazing comprises two sheets of glass (2, 3), hermetically sealed around the edge (4), with a thermally insulating internal vacuum, and an array of support pillars (5) placed between the glass sheets (2, 3), wherein the pillars (5) consist of a core (13), made of a material of higher compressive strength, with at least one end covered by a layer of softer material (14). Alternatively, the vacuum glazing comprises two sheets of glass (2, 3), hermetically sealed around the edge (4), with a thermally insulating vacuum, and an array of support pillars (5) placed between the glass sheets (2, 3), wherein the array includes a small number of fused solder glass pillars located over the surface of the glazing, between pillars of higher compressive strength.

Abstract: Metal working compositions which contain rhamsan gum as a mist suppressant exhibit good anti-mist performance and good retention of performance in the presence of prolonged times of shearing.

Abstract: A thermally insulating glass panel comprising two spaced-apart sheets of glass enclosing a low pressure space, and interconnected by a peripheral joint of fused solder glass and an array of pillars transversely between the glass sheets. The pillars may be made entirely of metal. Alternatively, the array may be made of a combination of solder glass-containing pillars and non-solder glass-containing pillars. Additional support pieces may be arranged between the glass sheets before the peripheral joint of solder glass is fused.

Abstract: A thermally insulating glass panel comprises two spaced apart sheets of glass enclosing a low pressure space and interconnected by a peripheral joint of fused solder glass and an array of support pillars, and a pump-out tube used to provide communication between the low pressure space and the exterior of the panel during the creation of the low pressure space. The support pillars each comprise a preformed core of a selected geometry and a selected material and a coating of solder glass at least in the areas between the preformed core and the sheet glass. Preferably the preformed core is spherically shaped and completely coated by solder glass. The preformed core serves to separate the glass sheets during the heating process of the panel's fabrication when the solder glass is in its molten state, and the solder glass serves as a mechanical joint to support the glass sheets after solidification.

Abstract: For use in replacing a bearing in a machine that has a body, a shaft extending from the body, a bearing by which the shaft is mounted to the body, a wheel mounted on the shaft outside the body for rotation with the shaft, and a belt passing circumferentially around the wheel and exerting on the wheel a force that is perpendicular to the shaft, a fixture that includes a base, first means for attaching the base to the body of the machine, second means connected to the base for applying a counterforce to the wheel equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the force exerted by the belt, and third means connected to the base for supporting the wheel in a fixed position with respect to the body of the machine after the counterforce has been applied and while the bearing is being replaced.

Abstract: Electrorheological fluids of a hydrophobic liquid phase and, dispersed therein, electrorheologically active particles comprising a core particle and a coating of a metal carbonate, sulfate, thiosulfate, or sulfite exhibit reduced electrical conductivity compared with similar fluids containing uncoated particles.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of using constrained layer sound damping. A composition and a laminated structure are provided for the reduction of noise coming from housings such as oil pans for automobiles. The composition comprises a rubbery polyurethane, an olefin polymer, and a filler. The laminated structure comprises the housing, the composition, and a sheet metal liner. The composition contains a blowing agent which is activated to provide a single unitary structure which dampens noise. The polyurethane and olefin polymer are thoroughly intermixed with each other, but maintain their separate identities in the blend.

Abstract: The invention concerns constrained layer sound damping. A composition and a laminated structure are provided for the reduction of noise coming from housings such as oil pans for automobiles. The composition comprises a rubbery polyurethane, an olefin polymer, and a filler. The laminated structure comprises the housing, the composition, and a sheet metal liner. The composition contains a blowing agent which is activated to provide a single unitary structure which dampens noise. The polyurethane and olefin polymer are thoroughly intermixed with each other, but maintain their separate identities in the blend.

Abstract: The invention concerns constrained layer sound damping. A composition and a laminated structure are provided for the reduction of noise coming from housings such as oil pans for automobiles. The composition comprises a rubbery polyurethane, an olefin polymer, and a filler. The laminated structure comprises the housing, the composition, and a sheet metal liner. The composition contains a blowing agent which is activated to provide a single unitary structure which dampens noise. The polyurethane and olefin polymer are thoroughly intermixed with each other, but maintain their separate identities in the blend.

Abstract: A robot arm with a vision system affixed thereto. A gripper acquires and object at an acquisition site and carries the object to a target site. During travel the position of the object is determined by the vision system viewing the object in two positions.

Abstract: An automatic minimum discernible signal level analyzer for evaluating the low signal level detecting capabilities of a pulse-type receiver and including an RF frequency source phase-locked to the radar transmitter frequency and capable of being adjusted in power output by circuitry which automatically measures the statistical noise content of the receiver video and adjusts the power output of the RF source so that the video signal meets preset values of probability of false alarm and probability of detection, the absolute RF power being then a direct measure of the minimum discernible signal sensitivity of the receiver under test.