Abstract: An electrical switch device includes a thick film switch element having a low temperature co-fired dielectric substrate, electrical conductor tracks embedded in the substrate and having a surface substantially flush with the substrate surface, and wiper contacts in sliding engagement with the conductor tracks. The switch is useful for position sensors, throttle controls, and digital encoders. A method of manufacturing a thick film switch element includes providing a low temperature co-fired dielectric substrate in a green state, depositing an electrically conductive material onto a face of the substrate, pressing the conductive material into the substrate until the material is substantially flush with the substrate face, and then firing the substrate and conductive material.

Abstract: Techniques are described for semiconductor chips with reduced capacitive power dissipation as a result of improved conductor line spacing. The approaches are particularly applicable to 0.25 micron chip design processes and below. According to one aspect, where there are n available metallization layers available to the designer, a smaller number of layers, such as n−1, are utilized initially in developing a routing design. Then, at least one further metallization layer is used to systematically route conductors, such as bus conductors, to increase the number of metal pitches between conductors, by promoting conductors from one layer to another.

Abstract: A motor protection trip unit for a circuit breaker includes an electrically conductive strap, a yoke including a body including a first side wall, a second side wall, a third side wall, and a fourth side wall. The third side wall extends between the first and second side walls, the fourth side wall extending from the first and second side walls and comprising a yoke gap extending therethrough. A motor protection trip unit for a circuit breaker also includes a flapper holder coupled to the strap, a flapper pivotally coupled to the flapper holder, and a biasing mechanism coupled between the flapper holder and the flapper. The biasing mechanism is configured to maintain the flapper a distance from the yoke such that a yoke-flapper gap is defined between the yoke and the flapper.

Abstract: A fiber optic acoustic sensor system including an optical conductor having low reflectivity mirrors is provided. Optical sensors are provided by sections of the optical conductor bounded by pairs of the low reflectivity mirrors. Pulses of light are injected into the optical conductor and reflected by the low reflectivity mirrors. The reflected pulses of light are processed using a compensating interferometer to generate interference patterns representative of the environmental conditions acting upon the optical conductor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of using an apparatus for restricting access to ports that may be disposed in a bonnet that houses valves on a railcar. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method of using a template that may be lowered over the bonnet of the railcar wherein the template has a plurality of differently-sized holes to allow access to specially-sized nozzles. In addition, the valves may be eduction valves and/or vapor valves, and the apertures may allow a specific-sized nozzle to have access to the eduction valves, the vapor valves or both. The template may lower onto the bonnet via a frame that may be pivotally attached to a structure. Further, joints and bearings may be provided to allow the template to be movable so as to precisely fit over the bonnet of the railcar.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for restricting access to ports that may be disposed in a bonnet to house valves on a railcar. More specifically, the present invention relates to a template that may be lowered over the bonnet of the railcar wherein the template has a plurality of differently sized holes to allow access to specially-sized nozzles. In addition, the valves may be eduction valves and/or vapor valves, and the apertures may allow a specific-sized nozzle to have access to the eduction valves, the vapor valves or both. The template may lower onto the bonnet via a frame that may be rotatably attached to a structure. Further, joints and bearings may be provided to allow the template to be movable so as to precisely fit over the bonnet of the railcar.

Abstract: This invention relates to an optical fiber management device that allows optical fiber to be placed in very restricted areas such as small modules. This device also provides an embedded conduit system that prevents the optical fibers from over bending and inhibits optical transmission. Moreover, the device of the present invention allows free movement of the optical fibers therethrough, if necessary. The result is a flexible and useful way to manage the location of the optical fibers and facilitate the connection of optical adapters.

Abstract: Techniques are described for semiconductor chips with reduced capacitive power dissipation as a result of improved conductor line spacing. The approaches are particularly applicable to 0.25 micron chip design processes and below. According to one aspect, where there are n available metallization layers available to the designer, a smaller number of layers, such as n-1, are utilized initially in developing a routing design. Then, at least one further metallization layer is used to systematically route conductors, such as bus conductors, to increase the number of metal pitches between conductors, by promoting conductors from one layer to another.

Abstract: This invention relates to an optical fiber management device that allows optical fiber to be placed in very restricted areas such as small modules. This device also provides an embedded conduit system that prevents the optical fibers from over bending and inhibits optical transmission. Moreover, the device of the present invention allows free movement of the optical fibers therethrough, if necessary. The result is a flexible and useful way to manage the location of the optical fibers and facilitate the connection of optical adapters.

Abstract: A portable microphone stand for a large number of microphones is provided. This microphone stand is especially suitable for large press conferences that need to be set up and taken down quickly. A light weight “U” shaped support member is provided with two rows of openings of various sizes for receiving and holding microphones. The arrangement of the holes may be configured to orient the microphones towards the desired sound source.

Abstract: A rope includes a head at a first end, and a handle at a second end. The rope comprises wire strands within a flexible coating. The coating terminates before the head, exposing the strands at the head. The head is generally cone shaped, having a narrowest width at a distal end thereof. The distal ends of the strands at the head are each bent twice to form a hook.

Abstract: An infinitely adjustable seat track assembly is provided with a lower track assembly and an upper track assembly releasably slidable on the lower track assembly. The lower track assembly comprises at least one lower track, and a wrap spring wrapped around a rod and aligned with the lower track. The upper track assembly has at least one upper track which can slide in forward and rearward directions over the lower track. A lever is mounted on the upper track assembly. The lever is pivotable from a latching position where the wrap spring wraps tightly around the rod, to an unlatching position where the lever urges the wrap spring to partially unwrap around the rod, thereby permitting the wrap spring to slide along the rod.

Abstract: There are described a method, an apparatus and an ignition pellet for the ignition of combustible gases, for example from a flare or flare tower, where an ignition pellet is launched in a direction toward a region of combustible gas, characterized in that the ignition device is propelled by means of a pressure medium through a guidance tube to the gas cloud region, that the ignition device undergoes a reaction for the purpose of active ignition of the gas in the region, the time for its activation and reaction being predetermined and adapted to the particular flare and application. The reaction of the ignition device is in the form of a shower or cloud of sparks where at least parts of the shower of sparks will strike the cloud of gas.

Abstract: In an ignition assembly for a flare vent having an open terminal end for venting waste gases, a hollow tubular stripper is located adjacent a generally upright exterior wall of the flare vent and has a lower opening and an upper opening proximate to the terminal end of the flare vent. A conduit for diverting some of the waste gases from the flare vent to the stripper is located below both the upper opening of the stripper and the terminal end of the flare vent. A pilot has an ignition end to ignite the diverted waste gases in the stripper to produce an ignition flame at the upper opening of the stripper, which in turn ignites the waste gases exiting the terminal end of the flare vent. The pilot is housed in a sleeve having an open first end for receiving the pilot and an open second end for exposing the ignition end of the pilot to the waste gases in the stripper.

Abstract: A glass frit for firing in reducing environments includes an unusually large amount of calcium fluoride melted therein. Also, a copper conductive composition includes the glass frit with an unusually large amount of calcium fluoride. This copper conductive composition may be a paste prepared for screen printing, in which case an appropriate screening agent known to one of ordinary skill may be incorporated, or the composition may be a fired film formed upon a suitable substrate. A high power surge resistor also incorporates the glass frit.

Abstract: Fine copper and nickel powders are well mixed in a preselected ratio with bonding agents and carriers as appropriate. The composition then may be patterned upon a substrate by screen printing and subsequent firing in a nitrogen atmosphere to produce a low sheet resistance, low TCR electrical resistor. Various alloy powders, inert materials, and glass frits may be used depending upon the desired characteristics.

Abstract: In a method for burning evaporated waste liquor obtained at pulp production in accordance with cooking processes on sodium basis for recovering sodium carbonate and sulphide, the liquor (10) is injected towards the inlet end side (4) of a cylinder-shaped reaction chamber with mainly tangential gas supply (6). In this cyclone (2) the liquor is dried and pyrolysed by hot fumes recirculated from the outlet portion (12) and obtained through the ejector action of the liquor injection. After ignition of the pyrolysis gas and rests of the liquor the formed smelt (16) is discharged after sulphuration from the outlet portion of the cyclone. The fumes of the cyclone are oxidized in a separate furnace (14) after the cyclone (2). A stable and, from a process technical point of view, suitable combustion without support firing with any other fuel can be maintained with liquor including 25-40 % of water.

Abstract: In a system for buffering data, a buffer memory is provided for buffering data output from a data source to an asynchronous data store. When a storage medium is provided in the data store and its storage capacity is exhausted, the data still contained in the buffer memory might not be recorded on the storage medium. Independently of the physical storage capacity of the buffer memory, the logical storage capacity thereof is dynamically adapted to the storage capacity of the data store which is still available. As long as the available storage capacity of the data store is greater than a maximum physical storage capacity of the buffer memory, the buffer memory remains unmodified. When, however, the storage capacity still available in the data store becomes less than the maximum storage capacity of the buffer memory, its logical storage capacity is reduced so that all data intermediately stored in the buffer memory can still always be stored on the storage medium.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for installing underground utilities using an offset head fluid jet drilling and reaming apparatus. The drill is maneuverable and provides means for remote sensing of orientation and depth. Embodiments are illustrated with single and multiple jet cutting orifices.