Abstract: Equipment for a continuous casting operation includes a closed chamber having first and second connecting holes, a furnace unit disposed in the chamber, a horizontal casting apparatus connected to the first connecting hole and including at least one first die having a first passage connected to the melting furnace, a first drawing unit disposed downstream of the horizontal casting apparatus, an upcast casting apparatus disposed above the chamber and connected to the second connecting hole, and a second drawing unit disposed downstream of the upcast casting apparatus. The upcast casting apparatus includes at least one second die having a second passage connected to the melting furnace. With the equipment, either horizontal casting or upcasting may be performed.

Abstract: An artificial bone includes a bone-shaped hollow metal body confining a sealed space and having two opposite closed ends, and a porous structure disposed in the sealed space. A method for making the artificial bone includes the steps of: positioning a metal tube in a bone-shaped mold cavity of a mold, hydro-forming the metal tube into a bone-shaped hollow tube in the bone-shaped mold cavity by injecting a high pressure fluid into the metal tube, disposing a crumple of metal wire into the bone-shaped hollow tube, depositing a metal coating on the metal wire and an inner surface of the bone-shaped hollow tube to form a porous structure in the bone-shaped hollow tube, and sealing the bone-shaped hollow tube.

Abstract: An electromechanical actuator structure is disclosed to include an electric actuator affixed to a base, a resilient drive member, which has a fixed segment fixedly connected to the electric actuator for synchronous reciprocating movement and a resilient segment extending out of the electric actuator and terminating in a conduction portion, a passive member mounted in the conduction portion of the resilient drive member, and a spring member mounted on the resilient segment of the resilient drive member and forcing the passive member into friction engagement with the conduction portion for enabling the passive member to be moved with the resilient drive member. By means of the amplitude of oscillation produced by the resilient drive member during displacement, the amount of displacement of the passive member is enlarged, and therefore the displacement speed of the passive member is increased and the working frequency of the drive pulse is lowered.

Abstract: In order to provide a hand held lighter which is difficult to operate accidentally and which is difficult for children to operate, the hand held lighter comprises a fuel container 1 a fuel valve 9 for allowing fuel to be fed from the fuel container to an ignition point, a lever 4 for operating the fuel valve 9, a flint 5, a rotatably mounted sparking wheel 6 contacting the flint 5 and for generating sparks when the sparking wheel 6 is rotated, the sparks being projected to the ignition point. The lever has an operating surface, 10 for contacting a user's thumb or finger. The lighter defines an operating axis A passing tangentially to the sparking wheel at X and passing through the operating surface of the lever 4 at a point Y, at least part of the operating surface 10 of lever being inclined outwardly with respect to the axis A.

Abstract: In order to provide a hand held lighter which is difficult to operate, thereby preventing accidental operation or operation by children, the hand held lighter comprises a fuel container 1, a fuel valve 4 for allowing fuel to be fed from the fuel container to an ignition point 5, a lever 6 for operating the fuel valve 4, a flint 10, a rotatably mounted sparking wheel 9 contacting the flint 10, so that when the sparking wheel 9 is rotated by a user, sparks are generated by the flint 10 and projected to the ignition point 5, at least one side wheel 12, 13 being provided, adjacent to the sparking wheel, wherein the circumferential surface of the sparking wheel is smooth, so that, if a force is applied by a user's thumb or finger, to the circumferential surface of the side wheel and the sparking wheel 9, which force would in the absence of the side wheel 12 or 13 be just sufficient to rotate the sparking wheel and generate sparks, the user's thumb or finger will slip on the side wheel 12 or 13.