Abstract: A user interface is provided for use with a machine which can use a number of natural language instructions to reach one of a plurality of possible machine states. In order to provide information to a user to enable them to more efficiently achieve the current machine state using natural language instructions, the current state of the machine is determined and used to generate information to inform the user of a natural language instruction which can be input to a machine to achieve the current state of the machine.

Abstract: A method of using a fire starter includes providing a fire starter made of a calcium silicate hydrate with an inflammable liquid and a packaging at least partially surrounding the fire starter; removing a portion of the packaging to expose a portion of the surface area of the fire starter less than the entire surface area of the fire starter; and lighting the fire starter so that the inflammable liquid in the fire starter burns without significantly affecting the integrity of the fire starter and a flame burns from the exposed portion of the surface area of the fire starter.

Abstract: A water-based, recyclable metalworking fluid comprises a polyalkylene glycol, an alkanolamine, a polyglycol surfactant, a polyol surfactant, a biocide and a corrosion inhibitor. The biocide may comprise a mixture of biocidal compounds effective against bacterial and fungal organisms. The material may also include an isoalkoxy amine oxide and a glycol ether. The composition may also include ancillary ingredients such as viscosity controlling agents, defoamers, coloring agents and the like. It is a notable feature of the composition of the present invention that it is free of hazardous materials and fatty acids. Also disclosed is a method for using the composition in a metal-shaping operation.

Abstract: A method of using a fire starter includes providing a fire starter made of a calcium silicate hydrate with an inflammable liquid and a packaging at least partially surrounding the fire starter; removing a portion of the packaging to expose a portion of the surface area of the fire starter less than the entire surface area of the fire starter; and lighting the fire starter so that the inflammable liquid in the fire starter burns without significantly affecting the integrity of the fire starter and a flame burns from the exposed portion of the surface area of the fire starter.

Abstract: A variable motor (1) having reduced audible noise. This advantage is achieved by reducing or eliminating ripple torque by making the individual phase torques follow a certain profile, so that when the torques are summed, they are substantially constant. Therefore, the motor (1) back EMF is used as a reference waveform to control the winding currents to achieve reduced ripple torque. The back EMF reference is amplified and provided to the motor windings, and may be derived in a number of ways including use of sense windings, electronic derivation, and approximation by sensing the voltage applied to the windings.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for production of stator windings for dynamoelectric mechines of different configurations is provided. The windings are preferably formed on a bobbin (10) or similar article, which may then be transferred onto an appropriate carrier such as a ferromagnetic core (24). The core (24) may be provided as a substantial linear article and then be bent into an appropriate shape, so that the assembly may be provided as the stator of a dynamoelectric machine. In this configuration, only a portion of each winding will face the magnetic poles of the rotor and thus be operative, as the return path of the windings will not be used. However, the invention as disclosed also shows it is possible to build a drum rotor (39) with both external and internal rotors in order to make use of both portions of the windings on the ferromagnetic core (24).

Abstract: A discoidal brushless DC motor having a stator (507) carrying windings (503) arranged in slots which radiate out from the center of the stator to the periphery. The depth of each slot increases towards the center of the stator. The slot, therefore, is wider (from side to side) and shallower towards the periphery of the stator, and narrower (from side to side) and deeper towards the center of the stator. This arrangement ensures that the windings are contained below the surface (504) of the stator (507). The magnetic circuit includes a backing of a ferromagnetic material (509). This ferromagnetic material (509) can be a watch spring core made from a long strip of soft iron tape.

Abstract: A user interface is provided for use with a machine which can use a number of natural language instructions to reach one of a plurality of possible machine states. In order to provide information to a user to enable them to more efficiently achieve the current machine state using natural language instructions, the current state of the machine is determined and used to generate information to inform the user of a natural language instruction which can be input to a machine to achieve the current state of the machine.

Abstract: A method for concentrating a clay slurry by subjecting the slurry to indirect heat exchange within a heat exchanger to elevate the temperature of the slurry while specifically suppressing boiling of the liquid within the heat exchanger. The heated slurry is subsequently subjected to a rapid pressure reduction which causes flash evaporation of part of the liquid. The rapid pressure reduction can occur in a separation vessel.

Abstract: This invention relates to a carton making machine in which carton blanks having a leading flap attached to a body portion, the line on which the flap is to be folded being at right angles to the direction of movement of the blanks, are fed continuously along a feed path. The leading flap is folded by a hooked finger, which can swing on a fixed pivot, as the blank is fed over a section of the feed path having a convex configuration in the direction of travel.The blanks are fed between cooperating upper and lower bands, but no upper band is provided over the convex section of the feed path so that the leading flap is free to extend in a direction tangential to the curve of the convex section. With such a construction it is possible to feed the blanks in an overlapped formation and still be able to fold the leading flap as a gap will be formed between the underside of the flap and the top surface of the preceding blank, thus allowing the finger to engage the leading edge of the flap.