Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus for heating the contents of a vessel wherein said vessel has a conducting plate that contacts the interior vessel contents and actuates a thermostat based on the temperature of interior contents.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus for heating the contents of a vessel wherein said vessel has a conducting plate that contacts the interior vessel contents and actuates a thermostat based on the temperature of interior contents.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a food warming apparatus, particularly to a tray, containing the heating elements, and a base that supplies electrical energy to the heating elements that work in conjunction with an accompanying beverage container for warming alcoholic beverages, such as Saké. When at least one Tokkuri (a flask-shaped vessel) containing Saké is placed on the apparatus, the Saké is heated to a desired consumption temperature less than 160 degrees Fahrenheit, with 131 degrees Fahrenheit preferred. Features such as a removable tray allowing portability of the tray and the warm Tokkuri, and presence switches that detect placement of the Tokkuri on the tray are described.

Abstract: A muffler includes a housing having an inlet, an outlet, and at least one variable resonance chamber defined by a slidable member. The slidable member may be actuated by the pressure of exhaust gas flowing through the housing. Actuation of the slidable member changes the length of the resonance chamber, which alters the resonance and/or the flow path of the exhaust to provide varying tuning for acoustic damping.

Abstract: A finger jointing machine in which timber is fed on a horizontal support table and is clamped against this table and against a vertical guide fence adjacent the table. The timber is clamped with the rear end of one piece of timber spaced from the front end of a second piece of timber at a defined spacing.A cutting and gluing unit is movable vertically through the space and carries two rotatable cutters, rotatable about horizontal axes, each cutter having axially spaced teeth, the teeth of one cutter being axially spaced from those of the other by half the spacing between the teeth. The cutters are caused to rotate in opposite directions so that the teeth of one cutter engaging the rear end of the one piece of timber and the teeth of the other cutter engaging the front end of the other piece of timber are both moving upwardly as the cutting and gluing unit is caused to move upwardly.