Abstract: The flow control valve used in a variable displacement refrigerant compressor, which is incorporated in a refrigerating system, and arranged in a controlling passage fluidly interconnecting between a crank chamber and a discharge chamber or a suction chamber to regulate an opening formed in a predetermined portion of the controlling passage in a control characteristics in which when the discharge pressure of the refrigerant discharged from a discharge chamber of the compressor increases, the suction pressure of the refrigerant entering from the refrigerating system into a suction chamber increases. The flow control valve has a pressure sensing member for sensing of one of the suction and the crank-chamber pressure, and a valve element movable to increase and reduce the opening of the predetermined portion of the controlling passage on the basis of sensing of one of the suction and crank-chamber pressures by the pressure-sensing member.

Abstract: An apparatus for heating and cooling includes a solar collector for transferring heat energy from incident solar rays to a liquid refrigerant material thereby changing a first portion to a gaseous state. An eductor-venturi reduces a pressure of the gaseous refrigerant material and a condenser removes the heat energy thereby changing the refrigerant material back to the liquid state. A heat exchanger associated with the condenser receives the heat energy removed from the refrigerant material. A float evaporator mounted in a cold chamber transfers heat energy from the atmosphere to the liquid refrigerant material thereby changing a second portion to the gaseous state and cooling the cold chamber atmosphere. A float actuated valve connected to the float evaporator is responsive to a level of the liquid refrigerant material in the evaporator for regulating a flow of the liquid refrigerant material into the evaporator.

Abstract: An electric appliance in a control box mounted within the appliance. The appliance has a planar support wall, which includes first and second mounting rails carried by the support wall. Each of the mounting rails includes an L-shaped structure having a first leg attached to the wall and a second leg supported by the first leg in spaced parallel relationship with the wall. The free edges of the first and second mounting rails are configured to face one another in parallel spaced relationship with one another. The control box is provided with a planar mounting wall, which has a first rail engaging structure formed thereon which is configured to be slidingly received in the space between the second leg of the first mounting rail and the planar support wall. The planar mounting wall includes a second rail engaging structure, which is configured to be slidingly received in the space between the second leg of the second mounting rail and the support wall.

Abstract: A refrigerant recovery system and apparatus to connect with a refrigeration machine to selectively receive liquid and vapor refrigerant therefrom and to clean, purify and dry that refrigerant for present reuse; said apparatus includes a recovery line with an inlet connected with a related refrigeration machine, a particulate matter filter and de-acidifier devise with an inlet connected with an outlet end of the recovery line, a liquid-vapor refrigerant flow control devise operating to selectively conduct and cause liquid refrigerant flowing through it and expand to a gaseous state and to selectively and freely conduct and cause vaporous refrigerant to flow through it, said refrigerant flow control devise has an inlet connected with an outlet of the filter and de-acidifier devise and an outlet connected with an inlet of a refrigerant conducting vapor line, an oil separator devise with a refrigerant inlet connected with an outlet end of the vapor line, a refrigerant dryer devise with an inlet connected with an

Abstract: A heat exchanger within a sheet metal enclosure includes mounting structure that provides double vibration isolation to minimize noise. The mounting structure includes at least one resilient vibration isolator that couples the heat exchanger to a vibration isolation plate, and includes other similar isolators that couple the plate to the enclosure. The mass of the plate is sufficient to somewhat emulate a dual mass/spring system having two degrees of freedom. To this end, the plate is preferably thicker than the sheet metal walls of the enclosure. The double vibration isolated heat exchanger is especially applicable to systems having several heat pumps that are mounted overhead. In some embodiments, the heat pump's refrigerant compressor is also resiliently mounted to the vibration isolation plate.

Abstract: An air conditioning unit. The unit comprises a housing having a first side, a second side, a return air end wall, a supply air end wall, a return air interior, a supply air interior and a heat exchange coil operably connected to the first and second sides and separating the return air and supply air interiors. The first side includes a return air aperture and a supply air aperture, and the second side includes a return air aperture and a supply air aperture. The supply air end wall includes a supply air aperture wherein the supply air and return air apertures are of identical configuration. The air conditioning unit also includes chamfered corners, and a hanger assembly and a U-shaped channel bracket located at each chamfered corner.

Abstract: An air conditioner blowing cool air to many directions includes a housing having a hollow chamber, a face plate formed in a bottom of the housing. The face plate has a wind inlet and plural wind outlets. A wind box is provided on the wind inlet and in the hollow chamber of the housing. The housing and the wind box both have a windpipe connected to a wall and then the windpipe is connected to the air conditioner. Thus a single air conditioner can blow cool air to every corner of a room by means of the wind outlets, having at the same time functions of wind blowing and wind returning, with its cost reduced.

Abstract: Air conditioning installation for a motor vehicle with a cold reservoir, which can be charged via an evaporator of a primary circuit, and with a heat exchanger which can deliver cold stored in the cold reservoir via a secondary circuit to the interior of the vehicle, in which the secondary circuit contains at least one further heat exchanger, which is in a heat-exchanging relationship with the evaporator of the primary circuit and preferably also with the cold reservoir.

Abstract: A refrigerating apparatus improves the insulating effect of a refrigerating chamber which is maintained at ultra low temperatures by a twin refrigerating apparatus. A vertical ultra low-temperature freezer 1 is composed of an insulating frame with a composite structure of a vacuum insulating panel and a foam insulating material, an insulating door with a composite structure of vacuum insulating panels and a foam insulating material, and a twin refrigerating apparatus which cools goods stored in the insulating frame. Ultra low temperatures are produced by the twin refrigerating apparatus in which a high-temperature side refrigerant circuit and a low-temperature side refrigerant circuit are in cascade connection.

Abstract: A refrigerant purge system for use with a chiller including a condenser and evaporator to remove noncondensables from the refrigerant comprising a refrigerant separation stage to separate noncondensables from the refrigerant coupled to the chiller by a refrigerant/noncondensables input stage to receive refrigerant and noncondensables from the chiller when noncondensables therein reach a predetermined level and a refrigerant output stage to feed condensed refrigerant to the chiller when condensed refrigerant within the refrigerant separation stage reaches a predetermined level and a noncondensable output stage to release noncondensables to the atmosphere when the noncondensables within the refrigerant separation stage reach a predetermined level.

Abstract: A condenser having an integral receiver dryer includes a first manifold, a second manifold, and a plurality of fluid carrying tubes extending between and in fluid communication with the first manifold and second manifold. The condenser also includes a receiver dryer being internal to and integral with a housing of one of the first manifold and the second manifold and including a dryer material disposed in the housing to dry fluid therein.

Abstract: A cryogenic air separation process for producing liquid oxygen and other liquid products wherein refrigeration generation for the process is decoupled from the flow of process streams and is produced at least in part by at least on multicomponent refrigerant fluid refrigeration circuit.

Abstract: An article of jewelry has a first (5) and a second part (3) and a hinge (7) which articulatedly connects the two parts (3, 5) in such a way that the parts (3, 5) are movable between a first closed position and a second opened position. The article of jewelry is characterized in that a spring (21) is provided which forces the two parts (3, 5) into the closed position.

Abstract: A pierced earring having an earring body with an open space between a top end and another end. The top end is elongated to serve as a pin, which is inserted into a hole in the pierced earlobe. The earring body has the pin in a U-shape design for ornamental purposes, while a shaft base is provided on the bottom end. A clasp is held by a shaft in this shaft base and the tip of the clasp is slipped on the U-shape pin to keep it from falling off. Since this pierced earring makes it impossible for the clasp to be opened easily from the pin of the earring body, it provides a pierced earring which, once it is fixed to the earlobe, will be certain to never slip off the hole in the pierced earlobe. Also, a pierced earring is provided in which the clasp can be easily fixed to or released from the earring body.

Abstract: An integral ring which is contains at least 35 weight percent of a precious metal selected from the group consisting of silver and gold and has a porosity of less than 0.1 percent, a Vickers pyramidal hardness of at least about 120, and a tensile strength at least about 60,000 pounds per square inch. The ring has an inner diameter of from about 0.55 to about 0.93 inches, and outer diameter of from about 0.61 to about 1.09 inches, a thickness of from about 0.03 to about 0.08 inches, and a circumference of from about 1.7 to about 3.5 inches. Disposed about and extending around the entire outer surface of the ring is a first annular groove and a second, spaced apart annular groove, and at least 10 adjoining recessed areas are disposed between and communicate with these annular grooves. Each of the first annular groove and the second annular groove has a width of from about 0.01 to about 0.02 inches and a depth of from about 0.008 to about 0.018 inches.

Abstract: A jewelry setting for securely holding a stone, such as a gem or a diamond, where the stone has at least one peripheral tip. The setting includes a base and a plurality of prongs. The prongs have an inclined portion extending from the base outwardly at an angle, and a vertical portion projecting vertically from the inclined portion. A cavity in one or more of the prongs positioned to receive the peripheral tip of the stone is stamped in the vertical portion of the prongs. The cavity has a plurality of faceted walls adapted such that when the peripheral tip of the stone is received in the cavity, the facets of the cavity engage the facets of the peripheral tip.

Abstract: A method and a burner for manufacturing silica-containing soot is disclosed. The method includes providing a liquid silicon-containing feedstock and a gas mixture and ejecting the liquid-gas mixture from an orifice into a combustion site to convert the silica-containing feedstock into silica containing soot. The burner includes a plurality of channels for delivering a gas to provide a flame, an effervescent atomizer for atomizing a liquid, silicon-containing feedstock and a rail for guiding the atomized liquid, silicon-containing feedstock into the burner flame. The method and burner can be used to produce silica-containing articles such as high purity fused silica optical members and waveguides.

Abstract: Glass preforms are cleaned by contacting each preform (11) with supercritical carbon dioxide which dissolves residual index-matching oil on the preform. The liquefied carbon dioxide is then converted to gaseous carbon dioxide which conveniently separates the index-matching oil so that it can be recovered and reused. The gaseous carbon dioxide is likewise recycled for use in cleaning other preforms, and so there is substantially no waste.

Abstract: A method for making preforms for use in a glass lens molding process and molding lenses is disclosed. A glass rod is formed preferably by dipping a bob into a homogeneous melt of a predetermined optical glass, maintaining the temperature of the homogeneous melt at least the melt temperature and producing a rod of glass from the homogeneous melt, allowing the rod of glass to cool and solidify, and then cutting the rod of glass into predetermined lengths. By withdrawing the bob at a predetermined pull rate the rod of glass can be produced with a predetermined diameter. Using a constant pull rate, the rod of glass will be cylindrical in shape and can be cut into a series of individual cylindrical preforms. The preforms can be inserted into a compression molding apparatus for the forming of a glass optical element therewith. The orientation of the preform is such that the cut planar surfaces of the preform are parallel to the direction of compression of the molding process.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making a photonic crystal using a combination of extruding and drawing techniques. The method is contemplated as being capable of producing both two and three dimensional crystals due to the maturity and diversity of extruding and drawing technology. The method allows the drawing of relatively large photonic crystals and is flexible enough to provide a periodic array of channels or filaments as the crystal features. After the extruding step or steps and before the step of heating and drawing, a plurality of elongated extruded bodies can be bundled and drawn as a unit.

Abstract: A method for threading a lead end of a fiber through the drawing apparatus of a fiber draw process. A prethread filament is fed through the apparatus of a draw process. One end of the prethread filament is then attached to the lead end of the fiber and used to pull the fiber through the apparatus of the draw process.

Abstract: A dry cleaning process and system for cleaning articles disposed in a cleaning chamber having a rotatable member therein, using carbon dioxide (CO2) from a storage tank. The process includes causing a pressure differential between the storage tank and the cleaning chamber, filling the cleaning chamber with a predetermined amount of liquid CO2 enabling flow of liquid CO2 from the storage tank to the cleaning chamber in response to the pressure differential, and rotating the rotatable member.

Abstract: Conventional laundry centrifuges are loaded with laundry in a upwardly slanted position, spin-dry in the same position and are then swiveled to an oblique downward angle to unload. The drum (16) of the centrifuge according to the invention receives the laundry in an upwardly slanted position, spin-dries in an upright position and swivels from that position to a downwardly directed position to unload the laundry.

Abstract: A lock, especially for a lock installation, having a housing (3) mounted inside a door (2) of a clothing locker or the like, the housing (3) being for a locking bolt (7) which is moveable by a rotary handle (14) projecting outwardly through the door (2), and, the occurrence, after activation of an electronic verification apparatus (21) and subsequent queries regarding the locking entitlement of a transponder (19), of electrical guidance applying to a locking-assist element (26) to release the locking actuation, whereby for activation in the rotary handle (14) which supports an antenna (18) for querying the transponder, there is provided a switch (20) which is sensitive to rotation and/or pressure.

Abstract: A punch assembly for a high-pressure shaping tool having a seat opening into the tool has a guide sleeve fitted in the seat, centered on an axis, and having a radially outwardly directed outer surface radially confronting an inner surface of the seat. A punch is axially displaceable in the sleeve. A clamping element engaged radially between the inner seat surface and the outer sleeve surface retains the sleeve in the seat. The seat is formed with a radially inwardly open groove and the element is a ring engaged in the seat. A screw can serve for pressing the ring radially against the punch. Alternately the ring is pressed radially against the punch by fluid pressure applied radially outside the ring. The ring is elastomeric and is normally of C-section.

Abstract: A forming method of forming a plate-shaped workpiece using a female tool having a concave section of a desired shape and a male tool which matches with the female tool, includes the following steps: providing an elastic punch in a cylindrical holder provided in the male tool; pressurizing and compressing the elastic punch relatively by a pressuring member; pressing the holder against the workpiece by means of one portion of the elastic punch; and projecting one portion of the elastic punch from the holder so as to deform a portion of the workpiece to be processed according to the shape of the concave section of the female tool so that the workpiece is formed in a state such that the workpiece is nipped pressingly between the female tool and the holder.

Abstract: A vertically oriented tube bending apparatus includes a vertically oriented support frame, which takes up less floor space than the previously known tubing benders. A tube bending apparatus in accordance with the invention, generally, includes a support frame having a length, a width, and a height, wherein the greatest of these is the height. The apparatus further includes a tubing advance mechanism, attached to the support frame, for advancing a tubing workpiece along a substantially vertical path. A bend die is also provided which is rotatably attached to the support frame and pivotally movable about a pivot axis. The bend die has an outer side edge with an arcuate peripheral groove formed therein to receive a portion of a tubing workpiece. The apparatus also includes a pressure die movably attached to said support frame.

Abstract: A 2-roll piercing mill for producing hollow blocks from a rolled material comprising high alloy steels has guide tools for the rolled material. The guide tools are arranged for closing a reforming zone of the piercing mill transversely with respect to the rolling axis as the hollow block is pierced. In this arrangement, each of the guide tools includes a base body made of a carrier material and a working face made of a material that has antiadhesive properties with respect to high alloy steels and high hot strength. Prior to the piercing operation, the temperature of either the working face or the entire guide tool is raised above room temperature to avoid high thermal stresses.

Abstract: A high-precision rolling mill with the flexture of the roll being controlled two-dimensionally which mainly comprises a mill stand, roll systems and roll supports. To minimize the flexural deformation of the rolls during rolling, the inventive rolling mill is also provided with a two-dimensional supporting system which is commonly composed of the mill stand, the roll supports and intermediate supporting means between the mill stand and the roll supports. The intermediate supporting device comprises pressing devices and horizontal pads, as well as vertical pad sets. The configuration of rolling mill results in the great reduction of the flexure, thus reducing the thickness error of cross-section of rolled plate and strip.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming hollow extrusions. Specifically, a method and apparatus for imparting one or more bends and/or twists in a hollow extrusion under stretch. The apparatus may perform all of these formation and stretch functions as the result of one single physical or mechanical force imparted on the apparatus from either an internal or an external source. The forming apparatus and method may provide an easy way to mount and/or dismount the hollow extrusion form the machine by way of separate or integral gripper mounts. The single-force stretch-bend-twist apparatus may be used in a mass production manufacturing environment where the machine and method can perform complex formation steps and may automatically reset itself back to a starting position after formation.

Abstract: A full enclosed forging apparatus comprising a construction in which an upper die holder and a lower die holder are respectively disposed as to face a press machine, at least one of the upper die holder and the lower die holder is composed of a holder main body holding a die and a holder base attached to the press machine, and the holder main body is attached to the holder base through plural spring mechanisms with an aperture as an interference of the spring mechanisms as that an upper punch proceeds into the upper die and a lower punch proceeds into the lower die after the upper die held by the upper die holder and the lower die held by the lower die holder contact.

Abstract: When a flaring punch 2 is pressed into a pipe P from an end thereof to form a concentric or eccentric flared portion Pa, the taper angle &thgr; of the flaring punch is adjusted to apply axial compressive forces to the flared portion Pa thereby to maintain the wall thickness of the flared portion Pa at 70% or greater of the wall thickness of the blank pipe. If the flared portion is formed by a plurality of flaring punches 2A, 2B, 2C having different maximum diameters at a plurality stages, then regions where the elongation is maximum are not localized, preventing the wall thickness from being locally reduced. If an eccentric highly flared pipe where the center of the flared portion Pa and the center of the pipe P are displaced from each other is formed, then a seam-welded region s of the pipe P is aligned with the direction in which the amount &egr; of eccentricity is maximum, making the flared pipe resistant to being ruptured.

Abstract: One or more closed perimeter openings are formed in the compression area of a flange of a member that is to be bent transversely to the flange. The member is bent along a transverse bend line, and the flanges are bent inwardly on themselves. The bending of the member along the transverse bend line is done with a great force, and because portions of the side flanges are supported on their distal and proximal side, the material of the side flanges in the compression area plasticizes and flows into the closed perimeter opening, causing them to deform. Because the closed perimeter opening or openings are present, the side flanges are compressed in a more controlled manner, reducing cracking, wrinkling and thinning during the bending of the member along the transverse bend line.

Abstract: A pipe arching apparatus, comprising an internal means for flattening and elongating the lower circumference of a pipe, while said pipe is positioned upon the ground. The apparatus is retractably compactible to be towably transportable and will arch pipes of larger size and longer lengths than traditional pipe arching equipment. It is powered by an internal combustion engine, has hydraulically extendible radius forms for forcibly reshaping the inside of a pipe, and is steerably drivable into and out of a pipe.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a cylinder interior fuel injection valve and an apparatus for adjusting a fuel injection amount used therefor may sufficiently cope with a fluctuation in fuel pressure or combustion gas pressure that would occur in an actual engine. According to this manufacturing method, a position of an adjuster is adjusted (step 110), a fuel injection amount is measured (step 111), and it is judged whether or not the measured value of the fuel injection amount falls within a range of a rated value (step 112). Then, if the fuel injection amount is out of the range of the rated value, the process is returned back to the step 110, and if it falls within the range of the rated value, the process shifts to a subsequent step 113. Subsequently, a spring force of a valve closing spring is measured (step 113), and it is judged whether or not the measured value of the spring force falls within a control range (step 114).

Abstract: Abnormality of a yaw rate sensor, including a state in which the neutral point is normal, but the sensitivity is abnormal, is detected with high accuracy, irrespective of the situation of a road surface traveled. A lower one of an output from a dividing device for dividing a vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed detecting device by a minimum radius of turning of a vehicle and an output from a dividing device for dividing a gravitational acceleration by the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed detecting device, is selected in a low-select device. It is determined in an abnormality determining device that the yaw rate sensor is abnormal when a yaw rate detected by the yaw rate sensor exceeds a value selected in the low-select device.

Abstract: A densitometer using microwaves, which measures the density value of a to-be-measured substance in a to-be-measured liquid on the basis of a reception signal obtained by transmitting/receiving a microwave in/from the to-be-measured liquid by applicators, includes a clock source for generating a reference signal as a phase reference, an oscillator formed from a PLL circuit for generating a microwave having a frequency f in synchronism with the reference signal from the clock source, an oscillator formed from a PLL circuit for generating a microwave having a frequency f+&Dgr;f in synchronism with the reference signal from the clock source, a mixer for mixing the microwave from the oscillator, i.e.

Abstract: Rapid characterization and screening of polymer samples to determine average molecular weight, molecular weight distribution and other properties is disclosed. Rapid flow characterization systems and methods, including liquid chromatography and flow-injection analysis systems and methods are preferably employed. High throughput, automated sampling systems and methods, high-temperature characterization systems and methods, and rapid, indirect calibration compositions and methods are also disclosed. In preferred high-temperature embodiments, the polymer sample is maintained at a temperature of not less than about 75° C. during sample preparation, loading into a liquid chromatography or flow-injection analysis system, injection into a mobile phase of a liquid chromatography or flow-injection analysis system, and/or elution from chromatographic column. The described methods, systems, and device have primary applications in combinatorial polymer research and in industrial process control.

Abstract: Techniques for determining the properties of a liquid include placing one or more acoustic crystal resonators in contact with the fluid. An oscillator circuit drives each of the resonators at one or more different modes. A frequency counter connected to the oscillator monitors the operating frequencies of the resonators before and after the surfaces are placed in contact with the liquid. A computer, which is responsive to the outputs of the frequency counter, includes a liquid property system for determining difference frequencies by comparing the operating frequencies measured by the frequency counter with predetermined reference frequencies. The computer calculates the properties of the liquid from the difference frequencies.

Abstract: Methods are described for measurement and prediction of site specific scour around a structure obstructing a flow. Representative soil samples are collected from an area proximate the structure location and tests are conducted on the samples to determine the erosion rate and hydraulic shear stress imposed. The maximum shear stress and initial scour rates around the structure are also obtained. Next, the maximum depth of scour is calculated, and the depth of scour versus time curve for the structure is then predicted. In a preferred embodiment, the methods described are used to predict a scour depth versus time curve around a cylindrical bridge support standing in the way of a constant velocity flow and founded in a uniform cohesive soil. An erosion function apparatus is also described which can be used to test representative samples of soil in the area where a structure is located.

Abstract: An on-board evaporative emission leak detection system and method that detects leakage from an evaporative emission space of a fuel system of an automotive vehicle. A test includes an initialization, or stabilization, phase during which a differential between pressure in the evaporative emission space and atmospheric pressure is created, and then varied, over time, within a range of differential pressures suitable for performing a leak detection test. This varying of pressure differential alternately increases the created pressure differential above a nominal pressure differential and decreases the created pressure differential below the nominal pressure differential. The leak detection test is then performed.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an on-board diagnostic method wherein a fault is detected but is only registered as a fault when a delay time span has elapsed since its first-time occurrence in an operating phase of an internal combustion engine and when the fault then still continues to occur. The delay time span is measured on the consumption of the quantity of fuel which the vehicle can still consume for an almost empty tank. In this way, detected faults, which are attributable to an empty tank, are not registered.

Abstract: A universal Noid light for testing the output control voltage of an electronic fuel injector system includes a body with a lead wire wound on the body, a resistance light bulb maintained within the body and pins mounted on adjustable pin mounting arms.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device which determines aerodynamic characteristics of a wall. The device comprises a drum secured to a shaft, an enclosure defining with the drum at least one test zone (10a; 40a), a test fluid delivery line communicating with this test zone and means which determines a parameter representative of the friction factor of the fluid in the at least one test zone. The at least one test zone has a determined width 1 or gap width, for a given rotating speed of the drum and a test fluid having known characteristics (visosity, density . . . ), so that the fluid has a turbulent flow in the vicinity of the wall(s) to be tested, the turbulent flow corresponding to a given Reynolds value Re.

Abstract: A cholesteric liquid crystal fluid level indicator that determines the level of a cooled liquid, such as beer, in a closed, opaque keg when placed in thermal contact with the exterior surface of the keg, by producing a color change that is a function of the liquid temperature when the liquid is within a predetermined temperature range, the indicator comprises a multiple level strip having a top transparent layer, liquid crystal layer, a black background layer and an attachment layer employing a protected adhesive on its bottom surface for removably attaching the strip to the keg, the instant invention employs a heat conducting adhesive on the attachment layer and for securing certain layers in the strip, such as the liquid crystal layer.

Abstract: A material, such as a fiber composite material, has embedded inside at least one, preferably more, surface acoustic wave filters of piezoelectric material for receiving testing energy in a wireless manner and for retransmitting a material quality signal in a wireless manner which is evaluated in a system that has a wireless transmitter for sending testing energy into a material and a wireless receiver for receiving the material quality signal which is then processed and evaluated by a respective processor of the testing system. An output of the processor provides information regarding the nature and quality of the material tested and of the presence and location of any material faults that may be displayed on display screen.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for measuring and/or detecting the internal pressure of lumens or flexible tubes. The inventive device has a cage which surrounds the outer wall of the lumen or the tube, and at least one sensor for measuring the force exerted on said cage by the internal pressure.

Abstract: A semiconductor pressure sensor chip is mounted on a recess of a resin package, and is electrically connected to bonding pads on the bottom of the recess through bonding wires. The recess is filled with a first protective member having a relatively large Young's modulus and a second protective member having a relatively small Young's modulus. The first protective member covers the bonding pads, and the second protective member is disposed on the first protective member and covers a diaphragm of the sensor chip. Accordingly, voids are prevented from being produced without preventing displacement of the diaphragm.

Abstract: Support members are provided on the terminal portions of a sensor main body. In this state, a seal portion is formed by molding, and the seal portion seals the terminal portions of the sensor main body. During molding, external pressure acts on a housing. However, since four electrode wires pulled out from the housing are supported by insulating support members, the four electrode wires do not contact one another due to the pressure applied during molding, and thus do not short-circuit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for conducting a hardness test on test specimens (7, 7′, 7″, 28, 28′), specially tablets. The direction in which the hardness test is conducted by pressing a pressure piston (3, 3′, 3″, 26, 26′) and a thrust bearing (4, 4′, 4″, 27, 27′) against each other, is actively adjusted to the preferred axis (12, 2′, 12″) of the test specimen (7, 7′, 7″, 28, 28′). This enables measurement errors to be avoided, specially in relation to asymmetrical test specimens, resulting from variations in the direction of testing (13, 13′). The position and orientation of the test specimen (7, 7′, 7″, 28, 28′) are detected by means of a position signaling device (10).