Abstract: An electric heating system, in particular an auxiliary heating system in automobiles, in which the heating system has several heating rods (1), arranged side-by-side; the heating rods (1) are connected to each other by means of alike metal plates (4) that are slid onto the heating rods (1); the heating rods (1) have for this purpose a series of slotted holes (3) that extend in the longitudinal direction (10) of the metal plates (4); the slotted holes (3) have longitudinal edges, facing each other, that clamp the heating rods (1) between them; and at least one part of the slotted holes (3) in each metal plate (4) is longer by more than the manufacturing tolerance, than the width of the heating rods (1) measured in the longitudinal direction (10) of the metal plates (4).

Abstract: A detection system assembly is provided. The detection system assembly includes a detector system including a housing having a sample port configured to receive a sample of an unknown substance, a detector assembly in flow communication with the sample port, and a pump in flow communication with the detector assembly. The detection system assembly further includes a dryer cartridge removably coupled to an outer surface of the housing of the detector system. The dryer cartridge is in flow communication with the pump and the detector assembly.

Abstract: A sample collection apparatus for use with a collection trap is provided. The apparatus includes a handle and a sample collection assembly coupled to the handle. The sample collection assembly includes a cradle and a cover. The cradle is coupled to the handle at a first end portion of the cradle. The cradle includes an opening defined therethrough by vertical side walls extending between an upper surface of the cradle and a lower surface of the cradle. The cover includes a projection member and a block. The cover is coupled to a second end portion of the cradle. The projection member includes the block configured to be at least partially inserted through the cradle opening.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for detecting and transmitting geophysical data from a plurality of electrodes inserted into the soil utilizing a set of identical dynamically reconfigurable voltage control units located on each electrode and connected together by a communications and power cable. A test sequence is provided in each voltage control unit. Each voltage control unit records data measurements for transmission to a central data collector. Each voltage control unit incorporates and determines its positional relationship to other voltage control units by logging when the unit is attached to the electrode. Each voltage control unit I equipped with a magnetic switch for detecting when they are in contact with the electrode.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heating device comprising at least one tube housing in which at least one PTC heating element is arranged, and heat exchangers which are secured on the tube housing. According to the invention, it is provided that the heat exchangers are secured on the tube housing by stamping.

Abstract: An inhaler (1) for the delivery of a dose of powdered medicament for inhalation by a user comprising a housing (2) containing a cylinder (5) defining a chamber (5a) and a piston (6) movably received in the cylinder to enable a user to generate a charge of compressed air in the chamber to entrain a dose when the charge is released, wherein the cylinder and the piston include co-operating means (8, 9) thereon operable to draw the piston into the cylinder to compress a charge of air in the chamber in response to rotation of the piston.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for detecting and transmitting geophysical data from a plurality of electrodes inserted into the soil utilizing a set of identical dynamically reconfigurable voltage control units located on each electrode and connected together by a communications and power cable. A test sequence is provided in each voltage control unit. Each voltage control unit records data measurements for transmission to a central data collector. Each voltage control unit incorporates and determines its positional relationship to other voltage control units by logging when the unit is attached to the electrode. Each voltage control unit I equipped with a magnetic switch for detecting when they are in contact with the electrode.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for detecting and transmitting geophysical data from a plurality of electrodes inserted into the soil utilizing a set of identical dynamically reconfigurable voltage control units located on each electrode and connected together by a communications and power cable. A test sequence is provided in each voltage control unit. Each voltage control unit records data measurements for transmission to a central data collector. Each voltage control unit incorporates and determines its positional relationship to other voltage control units by logging when the unit is attached to the electrode. Each voltage control unit I equipped with a magnetic switch for detecting when they are in contact with the electrode.

Abstract: An electric heating system, in particular an auxiliary heating system in automobiles, with below characteristics: The heating system has several heating rods (1), arranged side-by-side The heating rods (1) are connected to each other by means of alike metal plates (4) that are slid onto the heating rods (1) the heating rods (1) have for this purpose a series of slotted holes (3) that extend in the longitudinal direction (10) of the metal plates (4) the slotted holes (3) have longitudinal edges, facing each other, that clamp the heating rods (1) between them; at least one part of the slotted holes (3) in each metal plate (4) is longer by more than the manufacturing tolerance, than the width of the heating rods (1) measured in the longitudinal direction (10) of the metal plates (4).

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for detecting and transmitting geophysical data from a plurality of electrodes inserted into the soil utilizing a set of identical dynamically reconfigurable voltage control units located on each electrode and connected together by a communications and power cable. A test sequence is provided in each voltage control unit. Each voltage control unit records data measurements for transmission to a central data collector. Each voltage control unit incorporates and determines its positional relationship to other voltage control units by logging when the unit is attached to the electrode. Each voltage control unit I equipped with a magnetic switch for detecting when they are in contact with the electrode.

Abstract: An inhaler for dispensing medicament in the form of a dry powder is powder is provided with an airway (50) through which a dose travels from an ejection zone to an outlet of the airway. The airway (50) has an inlet means which is so arranged as to create a jacket of air, flowing through a part of the airway extending from the ejection zone to the outlet. The jacket of air surrounds said dose and thereby prevents it form impinging on the airway walls. This reduces accumulation of material on the airway walls, and thus improves the consistency of performance of the inhaler. Preferably, the inlet means includes a throat for producing a stream of fast flowing air which creates a zone of low pressure in front of the ejection zone, thereby to facilitate ejection of a dose.

Abstract: An automotive braking system (10) comprises wheel brakes (12), a master cylinder assembly (18) and a pedal assembly (16) to actuate the master cylinder. The master cylinder comprises fast-fill and high pressure cylinder portions. The pedal assembly is adapted to change progressively the mechanical advantage or velocity ratio of the assembly throughout pedal travel so that in the first part of the movement its mechanical advantage is greater than in the second part of the movement. This is the opposite of what would be expected in a system which is not servo-assisted since the greatest force would be expected to be required in the second part of the movement when braking is occurring.

Abstract: An inhaler for dispensing medicament in the form of a dry powder is powder is provided with an airway (50) through which a dose travels from an ejection zone to an outlet of the airway. The airway (50) has an inlet means which is so arranged as to create a jacket of air, flowing through a part of the airway extending from the ejection zone to the outlet. The jacket of air surrounds said dose and thereby prevents it form impinging on the airway walls. This reduces accumulation of material on the airway wails, and thus improves the consistency of performance of the inhaler. Preferable, the inlet means includes a throat for producing a stream of fast flowing air which creates a zone of low pressure in front of the ejection zone, thereby to facilitate ejection of a dose.

Abstract: An inhaler for dispensing a plurality of doses of particulate material has means for receiving and retaining a container (20) having a plurality of compartments, each for holding a respective dose (or part thereof). The container is moved by an indexing mechanism so as to bring successive compartments into registry with an airway to enable the contents of each compartment to be dispensed through the airway (50). The indexing mechanism is operated by a control member (6) which is movable through a series of alternating advance and return strokes (preferably rotational movements), the inhaler including a non-return mechanism (112, 114, 116 and 104) for preventing movement of the member in the direction of each return stroke before the completion of the respective preceding advance stroke, thereby to help to ensure that the indexing mechanism is properly operated.

Abstract: A water transport plate is provided with optimized physical characteristics to greatly improve fuel cell operation. In a preferred method of manufacturing, graphite powder, reinforcing fibers, cellulosic fibers, and a thermosetting resin are mixed with a liquid to form a slurry and showered onto a screen to form a planar sheet which is dried to form paper. The paper is cut into the desired size and is laid-up. The lay-up is laminated with pressure and heat, carbonized, and graphitized to form a water transport plate for later machining as desired. The finished water transport plate exhibits optimal physical characteristics for bubble pressure, water permeability, median pore size, porosity, thru-plane resistivity and compressive yield strength.

Abstract: A flash device includes a micro-optic array for concentrating light from the flash lamp on a radiation-absorbing dye carrier, thereby sublimating or vaporizing the dye from the radiation-absorbing dye carrier onto a receiver element, e.g. a glass plate or the like.

Abstract: A flash device includes a micro-optic array for concentrating light from the flash lamp on a radiation-absorbing dye carrier, thereby sublimating or vaporizing the dye from the radiation-absorbing dye carrier onto a receiver element, e.g. a glass plate or the like.

Abstract: A method for preparing a color filter array element is disclosed which includes coating an image receiving layer on one surface of a thin support, with the thin support being rigid in the horizontal plane. Thereafter, a colored pattern of pixel cells is transferred from a colorant donor sheet onto the image receiving layer. The method further includes laminating to a surface of a rigid, transparent support either the coated surface of the thin, rigid support carrying the colored pattern of pixel cells or the other surface of the thin, rigid support, to thereby form the color filter array element.

Abstract: A method of making black matrix grid lines for a color filter array for use with a liquid crystal display device or the like, comprising providing a photo-thermally sensitive black layer over a support layer; exposing a pattern of electromagnetic radiation onto the photo-thermally sensitive black layer corresponding to the desired pattern of the black matrix grid lines; and peeling off the unexposed portions of the photo-thermally sensitive black layer to thereby form the grid lines.