Abstract: A method for controlling the foam produced when a molten material encounters reduced pressure in a vacuum chamber includes passing the molten material through an aging zone in the vacuum chamber in which the molten material is allowed to drain from between the bubbles of the foam and then collapsing the bubbles of the drained foam.

Abstract: A machine for machining sheet of glass has a frame, a movable machining head, a number of sheet supporting/retaining members, a number of sheet locating members, and a number of push members for pushing the sheet against the locating members; the machine having a number of separate modules, each of which has a respective supporting structure connected to the frame to move, with respect to the frame, independently of the other supporting structures, and supports at least some of the supporting/retaining members, locating members, and push members; the position of the supporting structures of the modules and of the members carried by the modules being adjustable by means of the machining head.

Abstract: A system for cooling molds in a glassware forming machine includes a pair of mold arms mounted on a hinge post for movement toward and away from each other, and at least one mold part carried by each mold arm and adapted to cooperate with each other to form a glassware blank mold or blow mold. Each mold part includes at least one coolant passage having an inlet and an outlet disposed at one end of the mold part, and each mold arm has inlet and outlet coolant flow passages operatively coupled to the inlet and outlet of the mold part mounted on that arm. A liquid coolant source and a liquid coolant return are disposed adjacent to the hinge post. A first coolant passage extends through the hinge post between the coolant source and the inlet flow passages in the mold arms, and a second coolant passage extends through the hinge post between the outlet coolant flow passages in the mold arms and the coolant return.

Abstract: Glass fibers, particularly those prepared by flame attenuation, display excellent chemical resistance to both acids and moisture while being highly biosoluble at the same time. The glass compositions used to make the fibers consisting essentially of: 38-52 wt % SiO2, 8-17 wt % A1203, 7-17 wt % B203, 0-7 wt % RO, wherein R is Ca, Mg, in a combination thereof, 20-31 wt R120, wherein R1 is Na, K, or a combination thereof, and 0-2.5 wt % Li20, and has a Final Aged Tensile Value of at least 3000; a HTV of 1700° F. or less and a liquidus temperature at least 200° F. lower than HTV.

Abstract: In an apparatus for producing glass particles deposit according to the present invention, a plurality of glass particle synthesis burners are placed on a front face of a reaction vessel, and at least one exhaust port is provided on a rear face of the reaction vessel. Two wall faces extending from both sides of the exhaust port and being in contact with two side faces of the reaction vessel are provided so that its contained angle is 90 degrees or less. Assuming that the shorter distance between the shortest distance from a rotation axis of a target rod to the side face of the reaction vessel and the shortest distance from the rotation axis of the target rod to the wall face is L, and the outer diameter of the glass particles deposit deposited on the target rod is d, L is greater than d.

Abstract: In a washing machine with a drive apparatus and a suds container on whose rear wall the drive apparatus is disposed, an isolation layer is provided between stator cores of the motor and a stator supporting part or a supporting element to suppress discharge currents that occur during high-frequency conversion in the motor.

Abstract: In a steering lock device 10 according to the present invention is provided a movable member 32 that blocks an engagement groove 30 on a rotor 18 to prevent a lock lever 28 from re-engaging with the engagement groove 30 once engagement of the lock lever 28 with the engagement groove 30 is released with activation of a solenoid 26 and that terminates the prevention of the re-engagement when the rotor 18 is pulled forward.

Abstract: A tool lock, especially useful in preventing theft or unauthorized use of a tool. The tool lock has a housing in which a lock cylinder assembly and locking balls are disposed. The tool lock housing has an opening at one end in which a portion of a tool, such as a pneumatic fitting on a pneumatic tool, may be inserted and secured by the engagement of the locking balls. The tool lock housing may further include a shackle portion which can be used in conjunction with a cable, either integral or separate, padlock, or chain to secure the tool lock to another object.

Abstract: A picklock-proof key slot for a lock device and a key thereof, which comprises a rotary cylinder and a lock casing, between which plural upper tumblers and lower tumblers are furnished; the center of the rotary cylinder is provided with a key slot; under lock up condition, the lower tumblers are pushed into the key slot; the center of the tumbler groove is furnished with a salient plate, of which both sides are furnished with symmetrical guide slots; a guide slot is furnished between the two symmetrical guide plates on the key plate; a plurality of unlock-tumbler holes is furnished on the guide slot between the two guide plates; the hole has a curved surface to fit with the curve surfaces on both sides of the lower tumbler so as to reduce the pushing-up space of the lower tumbler, and also to reduce the possibility of unlocking the lock device with a master key to push the lower tumbler.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for producing nitrogenous-potash granulated fertilizers. The inventive method consists in the following: potassium chloride is mixed with ammonium nitrate, the mixture is granulated in a granulating drum. For mixing ammonium nitrate is taken in the form of a fusion cake and 0.5-3.2 mass % of magnesium sulphate is added to the mixture. 37-60 mass % of chloride potash is chosen for mixture. A mass ratio of nitrogen in the mixture upstream from the granulating drum and in the final product is maintained in the range of 1.005 to 1.05. The nitrogenous-potash fertilizer produced in this way comprises (mass %): N 12-25, K2O 16.6-40.

Abstract: The present invention controls the ever-changing thermal crowns to give good strip shapes during rolling without causing any flaws in the rolled surfaces and with quick responses to ever-changing thermal crowns.

Abstract: An actual plate thickness and actual material constants are measured during punching before bending. The measured information is reflected on the bending, so that the bending is performed efficiently and accurately. Punching is carried out for each blank developed based on a nominal plate thickness and nominal material constants in blanking before the bending of a work W. Then, an actual plate thickness distribution and an actual material constant distribution of the work W are calculated based on various data containing a ram stroke and a pressure detected in the punching.

Abstract: A method for bending a work of a plate shape by moving a die with the work being butted against a butting member, and an apparatus for executing the method are provided. The bending apparatus is provided with an input unit for inputting data on bending conditions including respective target values of a bending angle and a bending dimension, as well as respective measured values of a bending angle and a bending dimension of the work obtained in trial bending. A control device installed in the apparatus executes an initial computation for computing an operation amount of the die when the data on bending conditions are inputted. Further, the control device executes computation for a correction value for an operation amount of the die and computation for an estimated value of a bending dimension when the respective measured values of the bending angle and the bending dimension obtained in trial bending are inputted.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for bending probe pins that is semi-automated and uses machine vision to eliminate human error.

Abstract: A method of forming a sheet metal part including a nut structure by providing a sheet of metal, forming a tubular structure projecting integrally from the main body of the sheet, and tapping the tubular structure to form an internal screw thread within the tubular structure. The method is carried out on a press having a plurality of spaced stations including a punch station and a working station. The tubular structure is formed by punching a hole in the sheet at the punch station and thereafter forming the tubular structure in surrounding relation to the hole in a single hit of the press at the working station. The hole is punched in the sheet utilizing a punch and die wherein the diameter of the die is no greater than approximately five percent greater than the diameter of the punch whereby to provide a hole having a cleanly cut sidewall and thereby preclude splitting of the metal of the sheet as the tubular structure is formed at the working station.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a golf club head by which burrs can be removed without causing deviations in configuration and weight of a club head. Burrs 17 produced during a plastic deformation process are removed, using a laser processing machine. By setting the action of the laser processing machine in advance, it is possible to obtain a head body 1A of constant configuration and weight. Further, as all the burrs 17 can be removed at one burr removing step, manufacturing costs can be reduced.

Abstract: A forging die for forging a cylindrical rotor having a plurality of vane-accommodating grooves which extend toward the axis of the rotor, includes an upper die; a lower die having a mold cavity in its center portion, and a plurality of vane-accommodating-groove-forming portions which protrude inward from an inner wall which defines the mold cavity; and a spacer having a plurality of shell segments for determining a shape of a side wall of the cylindrical rotor which is segmented by the vane-accommodating grooves, and a flange for joining the shell segments is disclosed. The spacer is provided in the interior of the mold cavity of the lower die. A forging production system for producing the rotor; a method for producing the rotor; and the rotor are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention concerns a press, especially a precision cutting press, for producing precision cut parts from a metal strip or a preform by means of a tool, which is fixed to a top tool clamping plate (38) and a bottom tool clamping plate (29), wherein a tappet (5) is allocated to one of the tool clamping plates (29). The tappet (5) is supported against an element (2) fixed to the machine by means of at least one tappet drive piston unit (8), which is fixedly connected to an opposite element (1) that is also fixed to the machine by means of at least two guide columns (4.1, 4.2), the other tool clamping plate (38) being disposed in said element, whereby the tappet (5) can be displaced along the guide column (4.1, 4.2).

Abstract: A bump disk for accurate glide calibration has a new type of glass laser melt bumps that give the same signal amplitudes as conventional AlMg laser melt bumps for the same bump height. The present invention provides a solution to switch the calibration bumps from AlMg to glass, and can be used in disk manufacturing lines to save 30% on the cost of hard disks from inaccurate glide certification processes. The solution is to trim or burnish away loose and/or high particles on production disks before the glide tests. This additional processing step causes the responses from the glass bumps to become very similar to those of the AlMg bumps, thereby enabling glass and AlMg disks to become materially compatible.

Abstract: A method for analyzing a gas sample is described. The method comprises providing a gas sample, increasing pressure applied to the gas sample to compress the sample to a smaller volume and provide a pneumatically focused gas sample, and analyzing the pneumatically focused gas sample using any of a variety of analytical techniques. Pneumatic Focusing generally means increasing the pressure of the sample, column or cell to a pressure of from about 100 psi to about 15,000 psi, more typically from about 200 psi to about 2,000 psi. Examples including gas chromatography and absorption spectroscopy are illustrated herein. Numerous other examples could be given. The method is well suited for analyzing gaseous samples, such as ambient air samples, both continuously, and remotely, using computer control. Continuously sampling ambient air provides a method for real-time monitoring of air quality. Continuous monitoring allows for pollutant exposure and allows for the identification of emission sources.

Abstract: A gas sensor includes a sensor element for determining at least one physical quantity of a gas, e.g., for determining the concentration of a gas component in an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine or the temperature of the exhaust gas. The sensor element is fixed in position by the sealing system in a housing of the gas sensor. The sealing system includes at least one sealing element, which includes a mixture of a ceramic material and a glass. The hemisphere temperature of the glass is above 750° Celsius.

Abstract: A fixture for testing a sealed container for possible leakage, having a removable cover and a silicon gel gasket affixed to the undersurface of the cover, and having a lower housing with a cavity for receiving the sealed container, the container top surface being isolated from the rest of the container surfaces by the silicon gel gasket.

Abstract: In a method and a device for leak testing of a vessel, e.g., a tank venting system of a motor vehicle, a leak-tightness measurement is performed by introducing a positive pressure or partial vacuum and detecting the variation over time of a positive pressure or partial vacuum in the vessel, and a reference measurement is performed using a reference leak. A conclusion is drawn as to the presence of a leak in the vessel by comparing the results of the leak-tightness measurement and the reference measurement. To avoid faulty diagnoses, the positive pressure or partial vacuum during the leak-tightness measurement and the reference measurement is detected by using a single pressure measuring device.

Abstract: An apparatus to test integrity of a seal of a package. The apparatus includes a height detector detecting a height of the package, a test portion determining the integrity of the seal based upon a position of the test portion as a function of time when contacting the package, and a mover moving the test portion into an initial position of contact with the package based upon the detected height. The test portion includes a test head contacting the package, and the mover includes a servo motor driving the test head, and a ball screw linking the servo motor and the test head.

Abstract: A sensor to detect the presence of water or moisture in bulk materials includes a standard circuit board and a three element transmission line. The sensor electronics include an oscillator responsive to a direct current voltage supply which provides a square wave voltage signal. The sensor electronics further include a phase detector which detects the difference in phase between the reference square wave voltage signal and a signal provided to the transmission line buried in a medium. The phase difference is proportional to the dielectric constant of the medium surrounding the transmission line.

Abstract: Methods and systems for ascertaining the roughness of a print media surface are described. In one embodiment, a print media roughness detection mechanism comprises a surface-engaging member that is configured to physically engage a print media surface. A reflective member is provided and is joined with the surface-engaging member. One or more light sources are provided in operable proximity to the reflective member and are configured to project light energy toward the reflective member. A position detector is mounted in operable proximity to the reflective member and is configured to receive light energy that is reflected from the reflective member. The surface-engaging member is configured for displacement by the print media's surface in accordance with variations in the roughness of the surface sufficiently so that light that is reflected by the reflective member and received by the position detector can be utilized to ascertain a measure of the print media's roughness.

Abstract: An automobile engine misfire detecting method adapted to use a wide-range oxygen sensor mounted at a gas exhausting system wherein an abrupt man-made concentration change of oxygen is generated prior to entry of conventional misfire detection judging logic and response characteristic of wide-range oxygen sensor is measured therefrom, on which standard value of misfire detection judgment and standard phase angle range for distinguishing misfired cylinder are corrected to perform the misfire detection and misfired cylinder discrimination, thereby enabling to minimize the influence caused by aged wide-range oxygen sensor and characteristics of each sensor and to effect a more accurate detecting operation.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards an apparatus for monitoring and displaying characteristic values of certain parameters of the automatic transmission fluid in the automatic transmission system or the automatic transaxle system of a land motor vehicle. The apparatus has several elements to it: a sensor, which is placed into a conduit carrying the automatic transmission fluid to read the characteristic values, microprocessor, which receives these values, and finally a readout component, which displays them. The characteristic values of the automatic transmission fluid may include the values for the flow rate, pressure, temperature, and others. The readout component may be a diagnostic tool used for maintenance and/or repair or a dashboard display component used by the driver or the operator of the motor vehicle while the vehicle is in motion.

Abstract: There is provided a compact rotary sensor which can be assembled easily by improving the shape and mounting of a spring member. There is provided a housing, a rotary body rotatably supported in the housing, a detection unit operated by rotating the rotary body, and a driving shaft inserted in a recess formed on the rotary body for rotating the rotary body. A spring member made of metal having at least a pair of arm sections and a connecting section for connecting the arm sections is disposed in the recess of the rotary body, and the driving shaft is elastically pressed and sandwiched by the pair of arm sections.

Abstract: A system is provided for detecting faults occurring in the course of influencing the handling characteristics of a vehicle having at least two brake circuits, at least one return pump for each brake circuit and an arrangement for detecting the fault, the arrangement for detecting the fault including wheel-speed sensors and an evaluation unit, a fault being detectable by comparing the speeds of wheels allocated to different brake circuits. Furthermore, a method is described for detecting a fault occurring in the course of influencing the handling characteristics of a vehicle.

Abstract: In a device for measuring a tire pressure in a pneumatic tire of a vehicle by means of a measurement value sensor which is acted upon by the tire pressure and which is associated with a receiver, at the rim bed of a rim for the pneumatic tire, which rim accommodates the tire valve (20), connected to the tire valve (20) which has a retaining nut (32) is an electronics or signal housing (50) which is associated with the rim base and which has base bar portions (62) and which includes an electronic transmitter means as the measurement value sensor for the tire pressure and is connected to the tire valve (20) by a hollow screw (42) engaging into the valve bore (28) and can be adjusted with respect thereto. Disposed at the inside (33) of the retaining nut (32) is a projection (34) as a desired-rupture element, and the base bar portions (62) of the signal housing (50) are pressed against the rim base by the hollow screw (42).

Abstract: A mandrel assembly is provided for testing the peel strength between an outer layer and an adjacent inner layer of a tubular laminate. The assembly includes a cylindrical mandrel rotatably mounted to a clamping bracket. The mandrel has a retaining surface on its outer periphery which frictionally retains a sleevedly mounted sample of the laminate. The mandrel is attached to an axle by a pair of rotational bearings. The axle is fixedly attached to the mounting bracket. The mounting bracket is generally L-shaped and has a radial leg radiating from the axle and a clamping leg for being clamped into a testing machine. Testing the peel strength of the laminate includes mounting a test sample onto the mandrel assembly, mounting the assembly in a conventional tensile testing machine, attaching a starting end of the outer layer of the sample to the testing machine, starting the machine and measuring the force required to peel the outer layer from the inner layer.

Abstract: A method of the invention allows the determination of aircraft sideslip using an air data probe and an inertial reference unit. A lateral sideslip component &bgr;L of the aircraft is calculated as a function of inertial flight information. An angular sideslip component &bgr;A of the aircraft is also calculated as a function of inertial flight information. The lateral sideslip component &bgr;L and the angular sideslip component &bgr;A are combined to obtain a total sideslip angle &bgr;TOTAL for the aircraft. The total sideslip angle &bgr;TOTAL can be used to compensate static pressure, angle of attack and other aircraft parameters for sideslip effects.

Abstract: A sensor includes a first insulating layer, a second insulating layer having an opening, a plurality of metal wirings, and a plurality of electrodes. Each metal wiring has a contacting area. Each metal wiring is located between the first and second insulating layers. Each electrode has a bonding region located separately from the contacting area. The electrodes are in electrical connect with the contacting areas through the openings. A part of each metal wiring is located beneath each bonding region. The electrodes include any of aluminum, two metals of gold and titan, or three metals of gold, nickel, and titan. When the electrodes include aluminum, the electrodes are annealed such that the surface roughness of the electrode is smaller than 100 angstroms. When the electrodes include the two or three metals, the electrodes are annealed in an atmosphere that a partial pressure of oxygen is lower than 10−1 Pa.

Abstract: A thin-film type flow sensor having a thin-film part in which a plurality of patterned resistor films are sandwiched between a pair of insulator films. The resistance ratios among the resistor films are minimized from one sensor to another made from the same wafer. The flow sensor has a lower insulator film, the resistor films, and an upper film laminated in succession on a substrate. The resistor films include a patterned fluid thermometer, a temperature detector, and a heater. The heater has a wiring configuration in which resistor elements are connected in a parallel manner. The wiring widths of the heater and the thermometer can thus be made identical, so that the resistance ratios become invariant over the wafer surface, irrespective of a disparity in etching variations.

Abstract: A low-power, inexpensive acoustic apparatus for levitation and/or concentration of aerosols and small liquid/solid samples having particulates up to several millimeters in diameter in air or other fluids is described. It is constructed from a commercially available, hollow piezoelectric crystal which has been formed with a cylindrical cross-section to tune the resonance frequency of the breathing mode resonance of the crystal to that of the interior cavity of the cylinder. When the resonance frequency of the interior cylindrical cavity is matched to the breathing mode resonance of the cylindrical piezoelectric transducer, the acoustic efficiency for establishing a standing wave pattern in the cavity is high. By deforming the circular cross-section of the transducer, the acoustic force is concentrated along axial regions parallel to the axis of the transducer. The cylinder does not require accurate alignment of a resonant cavity.

Abstract: Acoustic volume indicators of this invention comprise a resonator for causing a liquid container to vibrate, a detector for receiving vibration data from the liquid container, a frequency detector for converting the vibration data to frequency and comparing the frequency to stored frequency v. volume data to obtain the liquid volume, and an indicator for providing a desired output based on the liquid volume. The resonator can be provided in the form of an impactor that is actuated to strike the side of the liquid container to momentarily vibrate the tank, or in the form of a vibration generator that is operated to generate a sweep frequency signal in the tank. The detector is designed to respond to vibration signals provided from the tank wall, which signals will show a significant increase in amplitude at the resonant frequency of the tank and its contents. The detector can be in the form of an accelerometer designed to record the received signal.

Abstract: An ultrasound transducer array (408) includes at least one transducer element (412) having a first (604) and second (606) portions separated by an acoustical discontinuity (520). The first portion (604) has the desired length to form a half-wave k31 resonance, while the second portion (606) has a resonant length for an undesired very low frequency out-of-band k31 resonance. The thickness of the transducer element (412) is designed for k33 half-resonance. Given the design, the transducer element (412) can operate and provide for both forward-looking (514) and side looking (512) elevation apertures. A method is also disclosed for using the disclosed ultrasound transducer (412) in ultrasound imaging.

Abstract: A ground anchorage testing arrangement having an impulse imparting apparatus connectable to a ground anchorage tendon (20) or element thereof to be tested, the impulse imparting apparatus comprising an attachment means (22) for attachment to the ground anchorage tendon (20), a movable mass (31), a guide (28, 34) for guiding movement of the mass in the direction substantially aligned with the axis 0 of the ground anchorage to be tested and a drive means for imparting a driving force to move the mass in said direction (not shown). A method of assessing the integrity of ground anchorages, the method comprising the steps of (a) imparting a load impulse to a ground anchorage tendon to be tested, (b) monitoring the vibrational response signal of the anchorage to the imparted load impulse, (c) conditioning the vibrational response signal and (d) applying the conditioned vibrational response signal to an artificial neural network.

Abstract: A vibration detecting apparatus includes a bobbin having a moving path of desired length in an inner periphery of the bobbin; a core movable along the moving path in the inner periphery of the bobbin by vibration applied from exterior or vibration applied to the bobbin; and a coil wound on an outer periphery of the bobbin, the inductance of which being changed in accordance with the shift of the core.

Abstract: On a substrate, first and second capacitive portions are formed to have movable diaphragms having different areas for pressure measurement and diagnostic, wherein a communication structure is provided between the cavity spaces of the first and second capacitive portions to equalize the pressure in the first capacitive space to that of the second capacitive space. The different sizes provide different sensitivity for efficient diagnostic. The first and second capacitive portions can be made in one diaphragm, wherein the second capacitive portion is formed around the first capacitive portion. The cavity spaces of the first and second capacitive portions are connected. Moreover, between the first and second capacitive spaces, an insulation portion may be formed in a ring shape to support the diaphragm portion of the first capacitive portion and the diaphragm portion the second capacitive portion with communication portions.

Abstract: A torsional sensing load cell, suitable for mounting at support locations of an automotive seat in order to determine weight and sitting position of an occupant of a motor vehicle. The load cell has the shape of a tuning fork, with one arm fixed to a foot attached to a chassis and a second parallel arm, not contacting the first arm, arranged to support a quadrant of a seat by means of a flange on the side of the second arm, causing torsion in the arm. A stop pin arrangement is provided in the load cell to prevent overloading the cell in a high force situation such as a collision.

Abstract: A magnetoinductive flowmeter for moving fluids, incorporating a sensor unit and a processing and power supply unit, the sensor unit encompassing a measuring tube, field coils which serve to generate a periodically alternating magnetic field in a direction at least essentially perpendicular to the axis of the measuring tube, and two measuring electrodes positioned along a line that extends at least essentially in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the measuring tube and perpendicular to the vector of the magnetic field, with field-coil feed lines connecting the field coils of the sensor unit to the processing and power supply unit. The sensor unit encompasses a sensor-data memory module in which specific parameters of the sensor unit are stored and from which the stored specific parameters can be transferred to the processing and power supply unit. This permits the simple adaptation of an existing sensor unit to a new processing power supply unit or vice versa.

Abstract: An electrode layer is formed on the upper surface of a first substrate, and a processing for partially removing the substrate is carried out in order to allow the substrate to have flexibility. To the lower surface of the first substrate, a second substrate is connected. Then, by cutting the second substrate, a working body and a pedestal are formed. On the other hand, a groove is formed on a third substrate. An electrode layer is formed on the bottom surface of the groove. The third substrate is connected to the first substrate so that both the electrodes face to each other with a predetermined spacing therebetween. Finally, the first, second and third substrates are cut off every respective unit regions to form independent sensors, respectively. When an acceleration is exerted on the working body, the first substrate bends. As a result, the distance between both the electrodes changes. Thus, an acceleration exerted is detected by changes in an electrostatic capacitance between both the electrodes.

Abstract: A sheet vinyl flooring asbestos sampling method includes taking a sample of sheet vinyl flooring without dispensing airborne asbestos fibers. The process includes selecting and cleaning a floor sampling site for attaching a floor sampling template to guide the cutting of the flooring and to limit the liberation of asbestos fibers to the ambient air. A sampling container has an opening thereinto with a flat cutting surface adjacent the opening and a cap to fit over the opening so that the sample may be removed by pushing the cutting edge into the vinyl flooring to cut loose a sample which is pushed into the opening of the container. A cap is then placed over the opening of the container and the sampling container and sample is placed within a storage bag for delivery to a testing lab. The process also includes covering the sampling site with a seal having identification material thereon and also the placing of identification information in the storage bag.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a particle counter that can count particles in aerosol having a particle size of from 2 nm to 50 nm in an operating pressure range from an atmospheric pressure through a reduced pressure to a low vacuum and calculate a particle size distribution. The present invention provides a particle counter that charges particles existing in the aerosol and then applies an electrostatic field to the particles, and a particle counter that charges the particles existing in the aerosol and then mixes the aerosol with a non-charged sheath gas flow shaped like a laminar flow and applies an electrostatic field to the particles. This can get the respective particles into traces depending on their particle size. Thus, it is possible to count the number of particles having specific traces.

Abstract: A jackscrew apparatus for converting reciprocal rotational motion into reciprocal linear motion includes a nut threaded on a screw for reciprocal translational motion and against rotational motion. A motor is connected to the screw and reversibly rotates the screw about a longitudinal screw axis to drive the nut through its reciprocal translational motion. A lost motion drive linkage is connected between the motor and the nut and allows lost rotational motion between the motor and the nut. The lost rotational motion allows the motor to accelerate before bearing the load of rotating the screw and driving the translational motion of the nut.

Abstract: A self-backdriving jackscrew apparatus including a biasing member connected to a screw portion of a jackscrew that exerts backdriving force on the screw to turn the screw in a rotational direction that returns a nut portion of the jackscrew to a home position on the screw.

Abstract: A transmission with an essentially unloaded neutral position includes two curved-path carriers each having a curved path and a coupling element configured to engage with the curved paths of the curved-path carriers. The coupling element includes an engaging element which engages with the curved paths of the curved-path carriers. The engaging element is biased by a prestress against the curved path of each of the curved-path carriers in the essentially unloaded neutral position of the transmission.

Abstract: A booster actuator 10 may be positioned between the solenoid 12 and a valve 14, and increases the energy output from the solenoid to activate the valve. The booster actuator 10 may include a force input member 28 and a force output member 30 each linearly movable with respect to a body 20 from an initial position to an activated position. A coil spring 46 biases the input member to the initial input position, while a plurality of disk springs 48 bias the output member 30 to the activated output position. A plurality of linking members 32 each pivotable with respect to the body normally retain the force output member in the initial position, but upon movement of the input member to the activated position release the force output member in response to the disk springs.