Abstract: A multi-pin electrical connector including a first connector portion and a second connector portion. Seal retaining rings snapped into the connector portions seal and retain cavity terminal blocks located within each respective connector portion. A locking collar employs a ramped locking feature to snap and secure the first and second connector portions in an interlocked, assembled state. The multi-pin electrical connector can be composed entirely of non-metallic components.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing (1), conductive terminals (3) retained in the housing, a shielding shell (2) assembled onto the housing, and a spacer (5) defining positioning holes (51) for retaining tail ends of the terminals in position. The housing has two pairs of guiding posts (14) and the spacer has a pair of hollow posts (54) extending upwardly at each elongated end thereof for cooperating with a corresponding pair of the guiding posts of the housing. The spacer is assembled onto the housing by the engagement between the guiding posts and the hollow posts. Each guiding post defines a circumferential recess (141) in the periphery (140) thereof. Each hollow post has a loop-shaped protrusion (541) formed on an inner side thereof. Each guiding post is received in a corresponding hollow post by the engagement between the protrusion and the recess.

Abstract: A cable connector assembly (1) includes a housing (10), a pair of first electrical connectors (20), a pair of second electrical connectors (30), a shielding member (40), a pair of first cables (50) and a second cable (50). The housing has an elongate base (103). The base has a mating face (105) and a rear face (106) opposite to the mating face. The base defines a pair of first cavities (101) and a pair of second cavities (102) arranged side by side and extending inwardly from the mating face. The first cables and the second cable respectively electrically and mechanically connects with the first electrical connectors and the second electrical connectors and extend beyond the rear face for being mounted on a mother board of an electronic apparatus. The shielding member is assembled on the housing. The cable connector assembly can be fastened on a panel of the electronic apparatus for providing input/output ports.

Abstract: A housing system for safety-relevant control devices in vehicles comprises a receptacle (14) for attachment to a car body and a housing part (12) that can be inserted into the receptacle (14). The receptacle (14) and the housing part (12) have complementary form-fitting elements (28, 30) that represent a coding and that engage each other when the housing part (12) is mounted in the receptacle (14), permitting complete assembly of the housing part (12) into the receptacle (14) only when the form-fitting elements (28, 30), of the receptacle (14) and the housing part (12) satisfy a predefined complementarily condition.

Abstract: The invention concerns a bus bar (1) laterally equipped with flat tabs (2) formed in one piece of the comb type, with connector plug sockets (3), the connector plug sockets (3) having at least one pair of elastic arms (4) destined to receive a supplementary contact and an applicator spring (5). The bus bar (1) with flat tabs (2) is made from two layers (1a, 1b), each arm (4a, 4b) of the said pair of elastic arms being formed in one piece onto each layer of the bus bar.

Abstract: An electrical connector protects a pressure sensor stem that protrudes from a pressure sensor capsule. The electrical connector includes a baseplate with a central hole and a peripheral wall joined to the baseplate and protruding below the baseplate. The peripheral wall slidingly engages the pressure sensor capsule as the pressure sensor stem passes through the central hole to protrude above the baseplate. A protective wall joined to the baseplate protrudes above the pressure sensor stem and protects the pressure sensor stem. A lead frame in the protective wall provides electrical connections to sensor contact pads on the pressure sensor stem.

Abstract: An improved press-fit pin having an elastically deformable area 6 to be press-fitted in a selected through hole in a printed circuit board, the elastically deformable area 6 comprising two parallel, opposite beams 8 connected by an connecting deformable bridge 9, thereby permitting the outer corners 8a of each beam 8 to engage the inner wall of the plated through hole while permitting the connecting deformable bridge 9 to be deformed. The connecting deformable bridge 9 comprises, in cross-section, an connecting flat section 10 extending perpendicular to the opposite beams 8, and two oblique sections 11 extending outward from the opposite ends of the upper flat 10a of the connecting flat section 10 to be contiguous to the opposite beams 8. The press-fit pin has a connecting flat section in its pressure-deformable area in place of the “V”-shaped area of a conventional press-fit pin, thus eliminating the necessity of forming acute angles in the die-and-punch.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a set of fixing clamps for fixing a cylindrical element, each clamp being constituted by a block provided on one of its faces with a channel for receiving the cylindrical element, and also provided with clamping means. The set comprises a plurality of clamps having respective channels of different dimensions and connected to one another via at least one breakable element.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, a low impedance surface-mount connector comprises a length of cylindrical rod having an I-shaped cross section. The device permits interconnection by pick-and-place techniques, and the interconnection has advantageous qualities of low resistance, low inductance, mechanical compliance and ease of manufacture. A first circuit device having one or more circuit components is interconnected with a second circuit device by surface mounting such connectors on the first circuit device, providing corresponding solder pads on the second circuit device, and mounting the connectors of the first circuit device onto the pads of the second.

Abstract: An amphibian bridge-forming and ferrying vehicle has a self-propelled main floating body having a main deck and two foldable lateral floating bodies having a lateral deck, respectively. Two foldable, hydraulically liftable and lowerable folding ramps with a ramp base and a ramp tip are provided. The folding ramps are connected to the lateral floating bodies. The ramp tips rest against the topside of the ramp bases, respectively, when the folding ramps are in a folded position. The main deck, the lateral decks, and the folding ramps together form a continuous roadway.

Abstract: A watercraft includes an improved braking device to assist slowing the watercraft when operated. The braking device includes a baffle plate and a guide plate. The baffle plate is movable between a non-braking position and a fully braking position. The guide plate cooperates with the baffle plate and is movable between a normal position and a fully deployed position. With the guide plate in the fully deployed position and the baffle plate in the fully braking position, the guide plate directs water against the baffle plate in order to slow the watercraft.

Abstract: The ullage space gases of a ship's ballast tanks (i) are depressurized to a pressure less than atmosphere—called an “underpressurized” condition—of most preferably about 14.7 PSIA or lower, simultaneously that (ii) they are inerted, preferably to <4% O2 and more preferably to <2% O2. Oxygen within the ballast water is rapidly, preferably within hours, substantially depleted, preferably to <1% PPM and more preferably to <0.6 PPM, by circulating these inerted ullage space gases through the ballast water as bubbles, removing oxygen from the ballast water more by outgassing than by diffusion. The rapidly de-oxygenated ballast water is preferably so maintained for the substantial portion of the ship's voyage, which is effective in killing most aerobic aquatic life within the ballast water.

Abstract: A marine jet drive having through-the-nozzle engine exhaust, thereby to avoid or minimize noxious odors, noise and heat problems. A method for improving marine jet drive engine performance, including producing suction to facilitate exhaust flow from the engine by discharging exhaust within the water outflow in the nozzle; exhaust is most preferably discharged at a position flush with the position of water discharge.

Abstract: In a flat-panel display structure having a spacer with laterally segmented face electrodes, one embodiment of the present invention defines the length of the laterally segmented face electrode sections to minimize zero current shift variation in electron trajectories. Advantageously, the present embodiment of the invention prevents image quality degradation. In one embodiment, values for variation in the uniformity of and dicing tolerance are combined to calculate a design optimum for the length of laterally segmented face electrodes. Zero current shift variation from fluctuations in wall resistance falls off with the length of laterally segmented face electrodes. Zero current shift due to first order angular alignment during dicing varies linearly with the dashed electrode length. In one embodiment of the present invention, an optimal value is calculated by combining these effects to minimize zero current shift. Advantageously, in one embodiment, the electrode segments are individually testable.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a field emission display (FED) that includes a first substrate with electrodes of an anode structure and a luminescent material that at least partly covers these electrodes. The electrodes of a cathode structure are affixed on a second substrate and include field emitters. The anode structure and the cathode structure are aligned with one another and interconnected in spaced-apart disposition in a gas-tight manner along their lateral edges, except for a gas inlet opening and a gas outlet opening. The field emitters are deposited by heating only the electrodes of the cathode structure while flowing a carrier gas through the gas inlet opening and the gas outlet opening.

Abstract: A flat-panel display is hermetically sealed by a process in which a first plate structure (30) is positioned generally opposite a second plate structure (32) such that sealing material (34) provided over the second plate structure lies between the plate structures. In a gravitational sealing technique, the first plate structure is positioned vertically below the second plate structure. The sealing material is heated so that it moves vertically downward under gravitational influence to meet the first plate structure and seal the plate structures together. In a global-heating gap-jumping technique, the plate structures and sealing material are globally heated to cause the sealing material to jump a gap between the sealing material and the first plate structure. When the first plate structure is positioned vertically above the second plate structure, the sealing material moves vertically upward to meet the first plate structure and close the gap.

Abstract: A shadow mask is formed from a plate member comprising an outer frame portion, a body portion of a shadow mask having an outer peripheral line formed through an etching process and a plurality of connection portions through which the body portion of the shadow mask is supported by the outer frame portion. The shadow mask is formed from the plate member by removing the outer frame portion from the body portion of the shadow mask. In this process, a break portion is formed to the shadow mask by removing the outer frame portion so as to be recessed inward from the outer peripheral line of the shadow mask.

Abstract: An intermittent actuator of moving bear toy, which can continue a dancing motion of the moving bear toy, is disclosed. The intermittent actuator is to operate the existing moving bear toy capable of performing motions of walking, standing with roaring, and dancing with front legs. The intermittent actuator, which can continuously perform the above motions by operation of a stopper, a timing cam and a plate for an intermittent operation, can be manufactured at a low price and strengthen the price competitiveness.

Abstract: Torsion Spring Powered Toy Vehicle comprised of a chassis, a torsion spring assembly attached to the top side of the chassis, the torsion spring assembly consisting of a flat plate having a pair of centrally located perpendicular tabs, a torsion spring and an integral spring axle and lever arm retaining post a front and rear axle and attached wheels. The rear axle has a centrally located string receiving pin mounted to the axle so that when the user forces back the lever arm and attaches the string loop to the axle pin and turns the rear wheel set counter clockwise thereby winding the string about the rear axle and then releases the vehicle, the vehicle is propelled forward when the the torsion spring forces the lever arm to return to a rest position thereby causing the string to unwind thereby causing the rear wheels to rotate in a clockwise fashion.

Abstract: A magnetic coupler for joining a first toy vehicle to a second toy vehicle is claimed. The magnetic coupler comprises a pair of spaced connectors. The connectors extend from an end wall of the first vehicle. A disk-shaped magnet is fixedly attached within a space formed between the pair of connectors. The disk-shaped magnet is mounted so that it is substantially perpendicular to the end wall of first toy vehicle.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a planarization device and methods of using the same are provided. In one aspect, a device for planarizing a surface of a semiconductor workpiece is provided that includes a table for holding a quantity of an electrically conducting solution thereon. A member is included for holding the semiconductor workpiece such that the surface is in contact with the solution and operates as a working electrode. The member has a first conductor for establishing electrical connection with the semiconductor workpiece. A counter electrode is provided for making electrical connection with the solution and a reference electrode is provided for making electrical connection with the solution with a known electrode potential. A power source is operable to control the electric potential between the working electrode and the counter electrode. Slurry consumption may be dramatically reduced and static etch rate due to aborts may be virtually eliminated.

Abstract: Machines with solution dispensers and methods of using such machines for chemical-mechanical planarization and/or electrochemical-mechanical planarization/deposition of microelectronic workpieces. One embodiment of such a machine includes a table having a support surface, a processing pad on the support surface, and a carrier assembly having a head configured to hold a microelectronic workpiece. The carrier assembly can further include a drive assembly that manipulates the head. The machine can also include a solution dispenser separate from the head. The solution dispenser can include a support extending over the pad and a fluid discharge unit or distributor carried by the support. The fluid discharge unit is configured to discharge a planarizing solution onto a plurality of separate locations across the pad.

Abstract: An apparatus for and process of attaching a lens holder to an uncut lens for a spectacle lens which enables efficient attachment of the lens holder at a position without the processing interference when the lens holder is attached to a progressive multifocal lens or a multifocal lens. The lens holder can be attached to the uncut lens at a position set outside of a range of processing interference when the positions of hidden marks or an edge of a segment are obtained by inputting and processing an image of the uncut lens by the apparatus for image processing, the obtained positions of the hidden marks or the edge of the segment, data of the spectacle frame and lens holder buildup area shape are processed and the lens holder is attached to the uncut lens.

Abstract: The invention is an endface polishing method and an endface polishing apparatus improving polishing accuracy of an optical fiber and making polishing time and polishing work shorten. Polishing is performed making a boundary line center axis while observing the boundary line of brightness and darkness formed at outer circumference face of an optical fiber by irradiating substantial parallel light from the predetermined direction crossing at the right angle to the axis of the optical fiber in an endface polishing method polishing a tip end of the optical fiber held by a jig by a polishing member attached at a polishing disk in an apparatus providing the polishing disk supported by a main body of the apparatus and the jig holding the optical fiber.

Abstract: The methods and systems described provide for an in-situ endpoint detection for material removal processes such as chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) performed on a workpiece. In a preferred embodiment, an optical detection system is used to detect endpoint during the removal of planar conductive layers using CMP. An optically transparent polishing belt provides endpoint detection through any spot on the polishing belt. Once endpoint is detected, a signal can be used to terminate or alter a CMP process that has been previously initiated.

Abstract: A lapping machine comprises a lapping surface plate (1) rotated by a rotating mechanism, a lapping jig (28) having a plurality of projections to bottom surfaces of which a work (30) to be lapped by a lapping surface on the lapping surface plate (1) is fitted, amount-of-projection adjusting elements (29) for adjusting the variation of the plurality of projections (28c) to the lapping surface plate (1) individually, and a control circuit (36) for outputting variation-of-projection control signals to the variation-of-projection adjusting elements (29).

Abstract: A modification to a chemical mechanical polishing conditioner of a type having a member with a conditioning surface adapted to apply a force to and condition a polishing pad. The conditioner includes at least one sensor disposed within the member, where the at least one sensor is adapted to sense at least one of an amount of the force applied to the polishing pad and a uniformity across the member of the force applied to the polishing pad. In this manner, the force applied by the conditioner to the pad, and the uniformity of the force applied by the conditioner to the pad, can be sensed. These sensed forces can be monitored, reported, and controlled, thus providing a better controlled chemical mechanical polishing process.

Abstract: A ventilated platen/polishing pad assembly for chemical mechanical polishing copper conductors on a semiconductor wafer is disclosed. The ventilated platen is constructed by a platen having a multiplicity of apertures through a thickness of the platen, and a polishing pad that has a multiplicity of apertures for fluid communication with the multiplicity of apertures in the platen such that a gas can flow through the ventilated platen and the ventilated polishing pad to mix with a polishing slurry solution dispensed on top of the polishing pad. When an oxidizing gas is mixed with the slurry solution, the mass transfer process during the chemical mechanical polishing can be improved and thus improving the polishing uniformity of the copper surface.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include methods and apparatus for electrodialytic polishing of various layers formed on semiconductor substrates. In certain embodiments the use of electrodialytic processes in conjunction with chemical mechanical forces to achieve a copper interconnect with a desired level of planarity and process performance. In certain embodiments electrodialytic polishing uses an electrodialytic polish pad, which is an active pad which has copper binding groups provided in its core structure and has an added capability of allowing electrical conductivity. An electrodialytic polish pad allows transfer of cations or anions through a membrane in the presence of an electric field and into a cathodic electrolyte. Under the influence of an electric field the electrodialytic polish pad and/or electrodialytic pads are continuously refreshed to bind cations.

Abstract: A method for lapping which eliminates lapping damage includes a high-speed lapping operation at a high torque which is continuously performed after performing intermittently a low-speed lapping operation under low torque on a workpiece. Therefore, the excessive load during a first lapping stage due to the projection on the surface of the workpiece is greatly decreased. A continuous lapping is performed after the projection becomes smooth to some extent, and thus the lapping damage is prevented.

Abstract: An abrasive article is provided which comprises a backing and at least one three-dimensional abrasive coating bonded to a surface of the backing. The abrasive coating comprises a binder formed from a cured binder precursor having dispersed therein a plurality of diamond bead abrasive particles and a filler which comprises from about 40 to about 60 percent weight of the abrasive coating. The abrasive article is particularly suitable for abrading a glass or a glass ceramic workpiece in the presence of a lubricant.

Abstract: An abrasive liquid feed apparatus comprises a supply tank for storing an abrasive liquid having a predetermined concentration, an abrasive liquid pipe for transferring the abrasive liquid from the tank to a polishing means and an additive feed means which feeds an additive having a predetermined concentration to the tank. It further comprises an additive concentration measurement means which measures a concentration of the additive in the abrasive liquid in the supply tank, a measurement means which measures an amount of the abrasive liquid in the tank and a control which calculates an amount of the additive to be supplemented to the tank, based on the concentration of the additive measured by the additive concentration measurement means and the amount of the abrasive liquid measured by the metering means. To maintain the concentration of aqueous hydrogen peroxide in the abrasive liquid.

Abstract: Distribution of machining ability in periphery surface is grasped and evaluated through measuring the machined depth at several positions of the peripheral portion by use of a wafer for the evaluation of the ability of machining the peripheral portion thereof.

Abstract: An abrasive article backup plate assembly and grinder system having an abrasive article backup plate assembly is disclosed. The abrasive article backup plate assembly includes an abrasive article having an abrasive surface that includes a viewing window within the abrasive surface. A support member is provided including a first major surface which supports the abrasive article. At least a portion of the support member is made of materials sufficiently clear to collectively see through the support member and the viewing window. A method of abrading a surface using a grinder system including the abrasive article backup plate assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: A finishing grindstone member (20) is fixed to a spindle (10) by a bolt. In the spindle (10), there is formed a tool mounting portion (25) into which a rough grindstone member can be mounted. Into the tool mounting portion (25), there can be mounted not only the rough grindstone member but also a cover member (36). After a silicone wafer is roughly ground using the rough grindstone member, when finish grinding the silicone wafer using the finishing grindstone member (20), the cover member (36) is mounted onto the tool mounting portion (25) to thereby prevent the tool mounting portion (25) from being soiled.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for planarizing a microelectronic substrate. In one embodiment, the apparatus can include an elongated, non-continuous polishing pad oriented at an angle relative to the horizontal to allow planarizing liquids and materials removed from the microelectronic substrate to flow off the polishing pad under the force of gravity. Two such polishing pads can be positioned opposite each other in a vertical orientation and can share either a common platen or a common substrate carrier. The polishing pads can be pre-attached to both a supply roll and a take-up roll to form a cartridge which can be easily removed from the apparatus and replaced with another cartridge.

Abstract: An apparatus and a process for recovering an abrasive from a waste fluid of a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process. The apparatus comprises a pre-filter into which a waste fluid of a CMP process is introduced, a membrane separation apparatus into which filtered waste fluid obtained from the pre-filter is introduced, a washing unit wherein a concentrated slurry obtained from the membrane separation apparatus is washed with water and a post-filter wherein the concentrated slurry obtained from the washing unit is filtered. Particles of the abrasive are thereby efficiently recovered from a waste fluid discharged from a CMP process in semiconductor manufacturing factories and are reused.

Abstract: A glass plate tooling apparatus has independently driven loading and unloading tools which presents raw workpieces to, and removes finished workpieces from a centrally located machining station. The machining station holds the workpiece in a fixed orientation on first and second planes. Machine tools, such as a grinder apparatus and a drill apparatus are independently movable on the first plane to engage with and tool the workpiece. The machining station rotates to provide tool accessibility on a third plane.

Abstract: An apparatus for sizing and sanding a workpiece, the apparatus comprising a housing having a horizontally throughgoing passage, a feed conveyor for advancing the workpiece through the passage, the workpiece having an upper surface that advances through the passage along a pass line, a sanding station for finishing the upper surface, and a planing station for sizing the workpiece along the upper surface. The planing station of the present invention has a driven planer head, an antikickback assembly, a chip-break assembly, and means for disengaging the planing station to convert the apparatus from a planing and sanding configuration to a sanding-only configuration.

Abstract: It comprises a plurality of carrying units mounted on a turntable, with each of the carrying units securing a wheel rim or the like to be polished, and a plurality of polishing units, each one of which includes a polishing element that carries out a polishing operation on the wheel rim, in such a way that for each position of the turntable each one of the carrying units is situated facing a polishing unit. It is characterized in that the central shaft of each carrying unit is inclined with respect to the horizontal by a predetermined angle. It permits to polish a wheel rim or the like completely, and it is not necessary to polish manually the parts of the wheel rim which it is more difficult to reach.

Abstract: Disclosed is a polishing system used for polishing a surface to be polished of an object to be polished by a polishing pad, which is capable of improving uniformity of the surface to be polished of the object to be polished by positively, accurately adjusting a polishing pressure, and a polishing method using the polishing system. Concretely, the surface to be polished of a wafer as the object to be polished is polished by relatively moving, along a plane, a polishing surface of the rotating polishing pad and the surface to be polished of the wafer in slide-contact with each other, and adjusting a pressing force applied from the polishing pad to the wafer in accordance with a polishing pressure previously set depending on a relative-positional relationship between the polishing surface of the polishing pad and the surface to be polished of the wafer.

Abstract: An apparatus for planarizing a microelectronic substrate. In one embodiment, the apparatus can include a membrane formed from a compressible, flexible material, such as neoprene or silicone, and having a first portion with a thickness greater than that of a second portion. The membrane can be aligned with the microelectronic substrate to bias the microelectronic substrate against a planarizing medium such that the first portion of the membrane biases the microelectronic substrate with a greater downward force than does the second portion of the membrane. Accordingly, the membrane can compensate for effects, such as varying linear velocities across the face of the substrate that would otherwise cause the substrate to planarize in a non-uniform fashion or, alternatively, the membrane can be used to selectively planarize portions of the microelectronic substrate at varying rates.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus and method has a function of polishing a surface of a film formed on a substrate to a flat mirror finish and a function of polishing unnecessary metal film such as copper film deposited on an outer peripheral portion of the substrate to remove such unnecessary metal film. The polishing apparatus comprises a surface polishing mechanism comprising a polishing table having a polishing surface and a top ring for holding the substrate and pressing the substrate against the polishing surface of the polishing table to thereby polish a surface of the substrate, and an outer periphery polishing mechanism for polishing an outer peripheral portion of the substrate.

Abstract: A carrier head for a chemical mechanical polishing apparatus includes a flexible membrane that applies a controllable load to a substrate in an area with a controllable inner diameter.

Abstract: A sand-belt finishing machine having a reciprocal movement mechanism includes a main body, a swingable support rack, a finishing device, and an eccentric device. Thus, the eccentric unit of the eccentric device produces a driving force to pull and push the first roller of the finishing device, so that the first roller is oscillated successively and produces a vibration or shock force on the sand belt of the finishing device, so as to remove and clear the powder chips attached on the surface of the sand belt.

Abstract: A resilient sanding mechanism is provided for sanding the contours of a working surface, such as an aircraft body. The mechanism comprises an elongate frame having a frame axis, a sander mechanism pivotally engaged to the frame and having a sanding surface disposed distal to the frame. A resilient biasing apparatus is engageable to the sander mechanism and to the frame, for biasing the sander mechanism sanding surface in a predetermined orientation with respect to the frame axis.

Abstract: An attachment for a bench grinder having at least one grinding surface, a tool rest fastener and a tool rest is described. The attachment includes a tool-receiving plate having a bottom surface and a top surface. The bottom surface is configured to matingly engage the tool rest surface. The top surface includes one of a flat surface and a surface having an angled V-shaped groove that is shaped and configured to receive a drill bit or and hold it at a fixed elevation and angle relative to the grinding surface. A slotted flange is normally attached to the tool-receiving plate, is configured to engage the slot with the tool rest fastener while the tool-receiving plate rests on the tool rest surface, and to abut the flange against the attachment surface to hold the attachment immobile during use.

Abstract: A precision micro taxidermy cutting instrument is provided which includes a single hold tailless frame member to which a pivotable body member is attached. The body member can provide a blade element which is concave and through which a lifting edge which cuts and a retention edge which cuts can both combine to provide a centering feature. This centering feature can be enhanced by blade body designs which also center through the use of an offset concave element. A chisel element can separate the hide from the viscera and through the selection of appropriate angles and the like, a continuous and precise cut can be made in taxidermy operations. The frame member can include a thumb rest as well as a rotational restraining element which are diametrically opposed and which can present roughly orthogonal forces. Flared separators can be included on the blade body member to further enhance the operation of the device.

Abstract: In a vehicle air conditioner, a blower case for accommodating a blower is connected to an air conditioning case for accommodating an evaporator and the like by a connection duct made of a vibration-absorption material. Therefore, a vibration, transmitted from the blower case to the air conditioning case, can be effectively absorbed by the connection duct, thereby reducing the vibration transmitted from the air conditioning case to a steering wheel unit through a supporting member.

Abstract: A fan carrier defines one or more enclosures with each enclosure receiving a fan unit. A first wall of the carrier includes at least one air vent that can be covered by a fire mesh. A second wall is substantially perpendicular to the first wall. The first and second walls form two walls of an enclosure for a fan unit. The second wall extends outwardly from the enclosure to define ears with locating lugs for locating the fan unit in a housing of the computer system. A fan subassembly includes the fan carrier and at least one fan secured therein, whereby the fan assembly can be installed in the computer system much more easily that a fan without the carrier. The fan subassembly can be located adjacent a vented portion of a housing wall of the computer system in a gap in a flange of that housing wall. The ear of the fan carrier is configured to overly a portion of that flange adjacent the gap and with the lug being received in a hole in said portion of the flange.