Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention pertain to determining the cleanliness of a part used in manufacturing by selectively detecting particles substantially comprised of hard contaminant. According to one embodiment, filtered particles captured on a filter are received at a selective particle detection device. The selective particle detection device determines if at least one of the filtered particles is substantially comprised of hard contaminant. Examples of hard contaminant include silicate, carbide, and ceramic. The determination does not require detecting particles which are not substantially comprised of hard contaminant.

Abstract: The present invention relates a method of making a coated cellulosic textile, whereby a silk peptide is polymerized with a building block to develop a silk peptide/building block nanoparticle, said nanoparticle then being used to coat the textile. The resultant textile exhibits a high level of wrinkle recovery angle and/or tear strength, all without the use of N-methylol compounds, including ureas and formaldehydes.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention pertain to extracting particles from a slider to enable particle quantification. According to one embodiment, a slider, which is associated with a head stack assembly, is submerged into a solution. Particles are extracted from the slider without extracting particles from the entire head stack assembly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for controllably producing silk particles including the steps of designing a particle size, setting parameters to create the particle size except one unknown parameter, calculating the unknown parameter using algorithm, dissolving a silk peptide in a solvent, adding a cleavage agent, and hydrolyzing the peptide to produce the particle in the desired size.

Abstract: A method for analyzing particulate contaminant on a part comprises: applying a pressurized liquid onto the part on which the particulate contaminant is to be analyzed, wherein applying the pressurized liquid provides a dispersed spray of pressurized liquid; collecting an applied volume of the pressurized liquid; providing the applied volume onto a filter apparatus; and providing the filter apparatus for performing analysis of the particulate contaminant.

Abstract: A system and method for using a spray/liquid particle count (LPC) to measure particulate contamination is disclosed. Initially, a component for particulate extraction is received. A sprayer is provided for spraying a liquid on the component. In addition, a container is provided for catching the liquid spraying on the component. The container is clean prior to receiving the liquid and the liquid is collected for later analysis of a number of particles extracted from the component.

Abstract: A technique allowing manufacturers to produce woven moisture management fabrics with good moisture transfer properties is based upon a model of the fabric construction, thereby avoiding a manufacturing trial-and-error process. An initial woven fabric design including hydrophilic and hydrophobic yarns is modelled, the warp and weft yarns generally lying in a plane of the fabric. By orthographic projection onto respective planes substantially parallel to the plane of the fabric, a first view and an opposing second d view of a unit cell of the model is produced. If the total projected area of hydrophobic yarn on one of the first and second views is between 40% and 70% of the total projected area, and total projected area of hydrophilic yarn on the other of the first and second views exceeds 50% of the total projected area, then a fabric according to the fabric design will have near optimum moisture wicking properties and is manufactured to the design.

Abstract: A solution for treating fabrics or fibres consists of between 0.1 and 10 percent natural fibre material suspended in distilled water. The solution is used to wet fabrics or fibres for a period of between 1 and 60 minutes. After wetting the fabrics or fibres are dried at a temperature of between 80 and 160 degrees Celsius for between 1 and 10 minutes.

Abstract: A power supply apparatus comprising a plurality of planar fuel cell assemblies is disclosed. Each planar fuel cell assembly comprises two fuel cell members, a channel-forming member interposed between the two fuel cell members and defining a first channel for flowing a fluid fuel along with the two fuel cell members, and a coupling member to be coupled with an adjacent planar fuel cell assembly to define a second channel for flowing an ambient air, wherein the coupling member has a plurality of openings for flowing the ambient air therethrough.

Abstract: A draining device for use with a fuel cell system includes a recovery tank, a water-absorbing article and a blower. The fuel cell system performs an electrochemical reaction to produce water and heat. The recovery tank is in communication with the fuel cell system and includes a plurality of openings and a receptacle for accommodating the water. The water-absorbing article is disposed within the receptacle of the recovery tank for absorbing and dispersing the water. The blower is in communication with the recovery tank for introducing ambient air into the recovery tank. The water is vaporized into steam by the heat produced from the electrochemical reaction of the fuel cell system. The ambient air introduced by the blower forces the steam to discharge to the surroundings via the openings of the recovery tank.

Abstract: A power supply apparatus includes a fuel cell assembly, a feeding device, a blower, a detecting circuit and a converting circuit. The fuel cell assembly performs an electrochemical reaction to generate an input voltage. The feeding device has therein a fluid fuel and in fluid connection with the fuel cell assembly so as to introduce the fluid fuel into the fuel cell assembly. The blower is used for introducing ambient air into the fuel cell assembly. The detecting circuit is electrically connected to the load, detects an operating voltage of the load, and generates a triggering signal in response to the detecting result. The converting circuit is electrically connected between the fuel cell assembly and the detecting circuit, converts the input voltage into the operating voltage in response to the triggering signal, and offers the operating voltage to the load.

Abstract: A planar fuel cell assembly includes a plurality of fuel cell units and a first channel-forming plate. The plurality of fuel cell units are connected in series. Each fuel cell unit includes a meshed metal plate and a membrane-electrolyte assembly. The membrane-electrolyte assembly of each fuel cell unit has a first side in contact with a second portion of the meshed metal plate and a second side in contact with a first portion of the meshed metal plate of an adjacent fuel cell unit. The first channel-forming plate cooperates with the plurality of fuel cell units to define a channel for flowing a fluid fuel therethrough.

Abstract: A woven fabric consists of a generally uniformly woven structure of hydrophobic and hydrophilic materials and has inner and outer exposed surfaces of hydrophobic and hydrophilic materials. The inner exposed surface is between 40% and 70% hydrophobic material, and the outer exposed surface is predominantly hydrophilic material.

Abstract: A single fabric testing apparatus is capable of measuring mechanical and thermal characteristics of a specimen previously carried out in separate testing apparatuses. The single apparatus is provided with a plurality of mechanical and temperature sensors and a heatable top plate. In use, a ram moves the top plate vertically downwards to press a fabric specimen against a bottom plate. The plate is surrounded by a fixed upstanding peripheral skirt against which an outer periphery of the specimen is bent to enable shearing and bending characteristics to be measured. The bottom plate is biased upwards by a spring which is compressed until the top plate is arrested by a fixed frame member. Further downward movement of the ram enables compressibility of the specimen to be determined. A rotatable section of the top plate can be turned by a stepping motor to determine the surface friction characteristics of the specimen.

Abstract: A single fabric testing apparatus is capable of measuring mechanical and thermal characteristic of a specimen previously carried out in separate testing apparatus. The single apparatus is provided with a plurality of mechanical and temperature sensors and a heatable top plate 10. In use, a ram 9 moves the top plate 10 vertical downwards to press a fabric specimen against a bottom plate 14. The plate 14 is surrounded by a fixed upstanding peripheral skirt 15 against which an outer periphery of the specimen is bent to enable shearing and bending characteristics to be measured. The bottom plate 14 is biassed upwards by a spring 16 which is compressed until the top plate is arrested by a fixed frame member 18. Further downward movement of the ram enables compressibility of the specimen to be determined. A rotatable section 11 of the top plate 10 can be turned by a stepping motor 13 to determine the surface friction characteristics of the specimen.

Abstract: A composition for forming an electrolyte for a solid electrolytic capacitor having excellent electric properties (capacitance, equivalent series resistance, dielectric loss, impedance, etc.) in a frequency zone ranging from a low frequency to a high frequency, and is capable of easily forming a high yield of the solid electrolytic capacitor having an excellent resistance to stress in the steps and a high thermal resistance, and a solid electrolytic capacitor produced from the electrolyte. The composition comprises (A) an aniline compound, (B) an organic sulfonic acid, (C) water, (D) an organic solvent, and if necessary, (E) a specified compound.