Abstract: Provided is the assembly of a watch winder with a moveable attention-attracting mechanism driven from the motor of the watch winder through a transmission mechanism. The attention-attracting mechanism comprises a multilink mechanism that includes a device in the form of a human being, wherein the first link is formed as hands, the second link as a body, and the base support as legs. Rotation of the crank may be further transmitted to another attention-attracting mechanism that is formed as a Ferris wheel. According to the second modification, the multilink mechanism is formed as an oil-extracting pump.

Abstract: Provided is the assembly of a watch winder with a moveable attention-attracting mechanism driven from the motor of the watch winder through a transmission mechanism. According to one modification, the attention-attracting mechanism comprises a multilink mechanism composed of a crank driven into rotation from the watch winder through pulleys and driving belt and pivotally connected to a first link, the other end of which is connected to one end of the second link. The other end of the second link is pivotally connected to the base of the assembly. The multilink mechanism of the device of this modification is made in the form of a human being, wherein the first link is formed as hands, the second link as a body, and the base support as legs. Rotation of the crank may be further transmitted to another attention-attracting mechanism that is formed as a Ferris wheel. According to the second modification, the multilink mechanism is formed as an oil-extracting pump.

Abstract: Proposed is a high throughput system composed from individual computer-controlled sample-processing stations, each of which is assigned at least one instrument identifier (ID). Each sample array that has to be processed in the system is uniquely associated with a specific electronic memory that can be accessed by the sample array processing stations of the system. This memory may be located on memory chips built into or removably attached to sample plates that carry the samples to be analyzed, or in a location remote from the sample plates, e.g., in a CPU. The instrument ID specific records of executable commands that are stored in the memory comprise a set of commands for controlling processing of associated sample arrays on a station the type of which matches the ID. Each executable command for the station of a particular type has to be provided with a command definition record (CDR) that includes at least a command name and the processing station ID to which this command is addressed.

Abstract: A sealer (10) for vacuum containers comprises a valve unit (12) and a removable vacuum-pump head (14). The valve unit consists of a valve housing (24) which can be connected to a vacuum container to be evacuated, for example through a flange (16), and a cylindrical valve element (42) inserted into the valve housing. The valve element has a top transverse opening (46) for interaction with a driving tool, a middle transverse hole (48) for connection to a source of vacuum through the above-mentioned vacuum pump head when the latter is fitted onto the valve element, a bottom transverse hole (52), and an axial bore (50) which connects the middle transverse hole to the bottom transverse hole. The valve element also has a threaded portion (44) which engages an inner thread (36) formed in the valve housing, so that the valve element can be screwed into the valve housing, and can interact with saddle (40) in the valve housing.

Abstract: A sample transfer device (110) for manipulating a sample in a sealed vacuum chamber comprises a tubular housing (112) made from magnetically permeable material. The housing has one end (114) closed and another attached to the vacuum chamber. Located inside the housing is a shaft (116) which is connected to a sample holder. One end of this shaft is connected to a hollow body (140) which is made from a magnetically-permeable and air-tight material. This hollow body (140) forms a sealed cavity which contains an inner permanent magnet (142). The magnet (142) is held in place by two cup-shaped members (152 and 154) and two aluminum blocks (156 and 158). The inner magnet (142) interacts with an outer permanent magnet (166) which slides over the surface of cylindrical housing (112) and moves, through magnetic force, the inner magnet and hence the shaft (116) and the sample holder with the sample in the axial direction of the housing, i.e., into a required position in the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: A device for focusing and positioning a high-energy beam in a vacuum chamber comprises a high-energy beam generator (10), which is sealingly connected to a housing (18) of a high-energy beam generator (20), a focusing unit (12) which consists of two tubular elements (26 and 28) having opposite external threads engageable with inner threads on a sleeve (30), and an adjustable connector unit (14) which is connected at one end to the focusing unit and at the other end to a vacuum chamber (16). Connector unit 14 consists of two skewed rings (60 and 62). One of these rings rotates on the lower end of focusing unit (12), while the other end ring is rotatably installed on the end of vacuum chamber (16). Both rings are rotatably connected to each other by means of a set of balls (68) inserted into a race, which is formed by annular grooves on the mating surfaces of the rings. The ball race between the rings is inclined with respect to the guide element which guides ring (60) during its rotation on the focusing unit.

Abstract: A rotary motion feedthrough mechanism for a sealed chamber comprises a first driven shaft (56) with a through opening (66) and a second driven shaft (96) moveably inserted into the through opening of the first shaft. At its rear end the first driven shaft has a recess (102) which is eccentric and inclined with respect to the axis of rotation of both shafts. The recess rotatingly supports one end of a conical sleeve (110), the other end of which is rotatingly supported in an inclined opening of an external sleeve (68) which is connected to a rotary drive unit through a sprocket (76) installed on the outer surface of the external sleeve. The end of the second drive shaft opposite to the eccentric opening of the first shaft is connected to an independent rotary motion feedthrough mechanism which is capable of transmitting rotation into a sealed space. When the mechanism is sealingly connected, e.g.

Abstract: A manipulator for vacuum applications, e.g., for positioning of a specimen at a required point in a vacuum chamber (20) where the specimen can be subjected to ion implantation or similar treatment or measuring procedures, comprises an adjustable angular connector (12) which is formed by two skewed rings (32) and (36) which slide one over another. When the rings rotate, the end of drive shaft (72) describes a planetary path along a circle. The drive shaft (72) has one end connected to a rotary drive mechanism (14) and another end to a driven shaft (92) through a universal joint (90). The lower end of the driven shaft is installed in a rotating manner in a slide (87). The slide (87) is guided in one direction along another slide (84) which in turn is guided in a direction perpendicular to the first one along a rigid frame (80). Planetary motion of driven shaft (92) causes linear motions of the slides (84, 87) in mutually perpendicular directions.

Abstract: A polar-coordinate manipulator for vacuum application, e.g., for positioning of a specimen (S) between several operating positions in a vacuum chamber (16) where the specimen can be subjected to ion implantation or similar treatment or measuring procedures. The device comprises a circular stationary support (12) attached to the flange of vacuum chamber (16). A square-shaped rotary table (22) is rotatingly supported by a circular support (22) and in turn slidingly supports a sliding block (44). The sliding block can be shifted by a micrometer (50) radially with respect to the axis of rotation of the turntable. The sliding block supports a moveable plate (72) which can be shifted along the above-mentioned axis of rotation and carries a rigidly attached rod (92) which penetrates into the vacuum chamber and supports the sample to be treated. The manipulator can position the sample at a target point in a polar coordinate system.

Abstract: A gate valve for controlling the passage of fluid between inlet and outlet openings comprises a housing (40) containing a reciprocating expandable gate element formed of a wedge (54) which is sandwiched between two spring-loaded plates (56 and 58) so that reciprocation of the wedge causes expansion of the plates for closing the valve's openings. In order to facilitate the return stroke of the wedge and to overcome the holding force of the vacuum on one of the plate, the device includes a bleeder valve element (80) which is connected to the first plate and has a seat on the second plate so that when the first plate (56) located on the higher pressure side commences its movement, it opens the bleeder valve element and equilizes the pressures on both sides of the valve. This eliminates the vacuum and thus the holding force. In the second embodiment, the valve has a time-delay mechanism which delays retraction of the plate on the low pressure side until a certain equilibrium of pressure is achieved.

Abstract: A sample transfer device (10) for manipulating a sample (S) in a pair of sealed vacuum chambers (18, 102) comprises a tubular housing (12) made from a magnetically permeable material. The housing has one closed end (14) and another flanged open end (16) for attachment to the vacuum chamber. Located inside the housing is shaft (40) of a square cross section. One end of the shaft is rotatingly connected to an inner permanent magnet (66) which can rotate with respect to the shaft but moves axially together therewith. The other end of the shaft protrudes from the housing into the vacuum chamber (110). The shaft is supported inside the housing by a bevel gear (32) which rotates in a bearing (20) in the housing. The bevel gear (32) has a square opening (38) which guides the above-mentioned square shaft during its axial movements. The gear (32) engages another gear (98) which is attached to an output shaft of a rotary drive unit (80) having its drive element outside the housing.

Abstract: A feed-through apparatus for use in rotating a shaft which typically forms part of a system. The apparatus includes a feed-through shaft which is to be rotated and structure for rotatably mounting the shaft on a panel or wall. A cap rotatably coupled to the mount has a driver coupled with it, the driver including a stub shaft having bearings at one end thereof received within a groove of an end face of the driven shaft. The driver includes a cylindrical member mounted by a bearing in the inner periphery of the cap, such inner periphery being provided with a beveled surface so that the cylindrical member and the stub shaft wobble when the cap is rotated. When the bearings on the outer end of the stub wobble, they move along a circular path surrounding the central axis of the driven shaft, causing the driven shaft to rotate in the direction of movement of the bearings on the driver.

Abstract: A connector unit for a number of different coupling applications such as for interconnecting a pair of pipes or other structural parts which must be mounted near each other and at an angle with respect to each other. The connector unit includes a pair of side members which are spaced apart and to which are mounted the structural parts to be interconnected. Each side member has a respective ring rotatably mounted thereon by a first set of balls, and the two rings are rotatably coupled to each other by a second set of balls. Each set of balls is in an annular race formed by a pair of mating grooves. The balls of each set are fed into a respective race through a hole in the respective ring, then the hole is plugged to keep the balls in place. The race between the two rings is inclined at an angle relative to the race between each side member and the respective ring.

Abstract: A butterfly valve having a body provided with a fluid passage therethrough. The fluid passage includes a tapered inner surface. A circular valve member is in the housing across the passage and is secured to a shaft rotatable on the housing. One end of the shaft is in a portion of an annular groove in the tapered inner surface, and the other end of the shaft is rotatably mounted in a radial hole by a bearing and projects outwardly from the housing. A knob is on the outer end of the shaft for manual rotation of the shaft. The groove is formed in the body by turning the body on a lathe, thereby requiring only a single hole to be drilled in the body, namely, the hole for receiving the bearing and the adjacent portion of the shaft. Provision of the annular groove eliminates the need for drilling a pair of radial holes on opposite sides of the passage, thereby avoiding misalignment of the shaft.