Abstract: A thumb wheel mechanism includes a thumb wheel with upper and lower surfaces, the lower surface including a bore with a ball connected to it, and an handle half with upper and lower surfaces, the upper surface including a divot, the thumb wheel lower surface being aligned with the handle half upper surface so that the ball rests in the divot of the handle half upper surface when the thumb wheel mechanism is in the neutral position, thereby minimizing the compression load on the thumb wheel mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the detection of gas leaks from a gas-filled disk drive. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, gas leaks from a disk drive can be detected by monitoring certain disk drive parameters. Furthermore, different types and instances of disk drive parameters may be monitored. No or few additional hardware components are required to be added to a disk drive in connection with implementing embodiments of the present invention.

Abstract: A method for heat treating at least one workpiece, such as a coated turbine engine component, is provided. The method comprises the steps of cleaning a furnace to be used during the heat treating method, which cleaning method comprising injecting a gas at a workpiece center location and applying heat, and diffusion heat treating the at least one workpiece in a gas atmosphere with the gas being injected at the workpiece center location. After the diffusion heat treatment step, the coated workpiece(s) may be subjected to a surface finishing operation such as a peening operation.

Abstract: A low torque tap includes a shank portion with a driving square and a thread cutting portion. The thread cutting portion includes a threaded body with one or more asymmetrical straight flutes that run essentially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tap. The thread cutting portion also includes one or more short angular flutes or spiral points and a tapered chamfer. For tapping steel alloys, the cutting edges of the straight flutes and the spiral points have a rake or chordal hook angle of between about 5 and 15 degrees. For tapping ferrous materials, the tap is made from molybdenum-enriched high-speed steel and may be coated with a wear-resistant, friction-reducing layer. A second, outer layer, such as molybdenum disulfide, may be applied over the wear-reducing layer for further reduction in friction. For tapping non-ferrous materials, the tap may be coated with a layer of material containing carbon.

Abstract: An electrophysiology catheter and method of use for mapping and ablation procedures. The catheter includes a braided conductive member at its distal end that can be radially expanded. The catheter can be used in endocardial and epicardial mapping and ablation procedures.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an overlay coating which has improved strength properties. The overlay coating comprises a deposited layer of MCrAlY material containing discrete nitride particles therein. The nitride particles are present in a volume fraction in the range of 0.1% to 15.0% and have a particle size in the range of from 0.1 microns to 10.0 microns. The coating may also have oxide particles dispersed therein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for coating one or more workpieces such as components to be used in jet engines or industrial turbines. The apparatus comprises a device for simultaneously manipulating a workpiece about multiple axes while holding a center of the workpiece at a fixed position with respect to a source of coating material. The device for manipulating the workpiece preferably comprises a modular fixture while allows the workpiece to be simultaneously rotated about a first axis, rotated about a second axis at an angle to the first axis, and titled through a range of motion such as from +45 degrees to ?45 degrees with respect to the first axis.

Abstract: A rectangular drawer has an upstanding partition extending between the drawer side walls and dividing the drawer into front and rear compartments. A rectangular tray has a bottom wall and upstanding front, rear and opposed side walls, the tray side walls having lateral flanges at their upper edges, slidably supported on upper edges of the drawer side walls for movement of the tray between an open and closed positions, respectively uncovering and covering one of the compartments. A key-actuated lock mechanism locks the tray to the partition in the closed position. In one embodiment, the lock mechanism is mounted forwardly of the tray and has a movable latch member movable into engagement in a slot in the partition and, in another embodiment, the latch mechanism is on the partition and the latch member moves into engagement with one of two different slots in the bottom wall of the tray, arranged so that the tray can be reversibly mounted.

Abstract: A method of operating a power conversion device comprises the steps of operating the power conversion device in sequential switching cycles, each switching cycle including a first conduction period during which an amount of power to be passed from the power conversion device is defined, a second conduction period during which the amount of power is passed from the power conversion device, and an idle period. Substantially constant initial conditions are established at the start of each switching cycle.

Abstract: Rigid polyurethane foams are prepared from an isocyanate composition containing diphenylmethane diisocyanate, three ring oligomers of polyphenylene polymethylene polyisocyanate and higher homologues of polyphenylene polymethylene polyisocyanate.

Abstract: Rigid polyurethane foams are prepared from an isocyanate composition containing diphenylmethane diisocyanate, three ring oligomers of polyphenylene polymethylene polyisocyanate and higher homologues of polyphenylene polymethylene polyisocyanate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a programmable impedance driver that includes two sets of impedance devices, two primary counters and two test counters. The primary counters selectively activate individual ones of the impedance devices to vary an overall impedance of the driver and the test counters verify the counting operation of the primary counters during manufacturing testing of the driver. Therefore, the built-in self-test (BIST) aspect of the invention easily detects if one of the counters will become stuck during normal usage.

Abstract: Rigid polyurethane foams are prepared from an isocyanate composition containing diphenylmethane diisocyanate, three ring oligomers of polyphenylene polymethylene polyisocyanate and higher homologues of polyphenylene polymethylene polyisocyanate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a programmable impedance driver that includes two sets of impedance devices, two primary counters and two test counters. The primary counters selectively activate individual ones of the impedance devices to vary an overall impedance of the driver and the test counters verify the counting operation of the primary counters during manufacturing testing of the driver. Therefore, the built-in self-test (BIST) aspect of the invention easily detects if one of the counters will become stuck during normal usage.

Abstract: A method of verifying operation of a plurality of power supply modules comprises the step of commencing operation of each power supply module at a predetermined time, wherein no more than one power module commences operation at any one time. A power supply system comprises a plurality of power supply modules, each power supply module being operable to commence operation at a unique predetermined time.

Abstract: A rectangular drawer has an upstanding partition extending between the drawer side walls and dividing the drawer into front and rear compartments. A rectangular tray has a bottom wall and upstanding front, rear and opposed side walls, the tray side walls having lateral flanges at their upper edges, slidably supported on upper edges of the drawer side walls for movement of the tray between an open and closed positions, respectively uncovering and covering one of the compartments. A key-actuated lock mechanism locks the tray to the partition in the closed position. In one embodiment, the lock mechanism is mounted forwardly of the tray and has a movable latch member movable into engagement in a slot in the partition and, in another embodiment, the latch mechanism is on the partition and the latch member moves into engagement with one of two different slots in the bottom wall of the tray, arranged so that the tray can be reversibly mounted.

Abstract: Rigid polyurethane foams are prepared from an isocyanate composition containing diphenylmethane diisocyanate, three ring oligomers of polyphenylene polymethylene polyisocyanate and higher homologues of polyphenylene polymethylene polyisocyanate.

Abstract: Rigid polyurethane foams are prepared from an isocyanate composition containing diphenylmethane diisocyanate, three ring oligomers of polyphenylene polymethylene polyisocyanate and higher homologues of polyphenylene polymethylene polyisocyanate.