Abstract: An index filtration method is disclosed for filtering graft polyol dispersions. The method allows for the rapid filtration of large volumes of graft polyol dispersion in an economical manner. The process can be highly automated. The resulting filtered graft polyol dispersion mainly has particles of 25 microns or smaller and is stable under a variety of conditions for at least 9 weeks.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for mixing sewage sludge with spent water-softener lime in a ratio of approximately 10:1 on a wet basis. The mixture is introduced to a rotary pre-dryer kiln and a rotary combuster kiln to kill pathogens. An ash by-product and gases are thereby produced. The ash by-product can be disposed of at much less cost or can be incorporated in a variety of applications such as an aggregate substitute.

Abstract: A cable management assembly includes a first arm assembly pivotally connected with a second arm assembly. Each arm assembly includes a slide lock which may tool-lessly couple to a slide lock receptacle attached to a rack slide chassis member or a rack slide stationary member, allowing the cable management assembly to be chassis independent and reversible. The arm assemblies include basket trays with movable covers that facilitate the storage of cabling.

Abstract: A tool-less rack mounting system includes a grooved bullet attached to a flange on the end of a slide rail assembly. The bullet protrudes through a clearance hole formed on a corner post of a rack. A hand-releasable clip engages the groove, retaining the bullet in the clearance hole and retaining the flange against the post. The clip may be mounted to a bracket, and the bracket may include features for securing equipment in the rack. A hinged cable management arm may be mounted to the post and to the slide rail assembly without using tools. A flange on one end of the arm includes a clearance hole opening into a channel. The channel engages a standoff mounted to one of the rails of the slide rail assembly. A flange on the other end of the arm may be retained against the post by the bullet and the hand-releasable clip.

Abstract: A dishwasher utility basket is provided for holding utensils to be washed in a horizontal orientation. The basket includes a lattice bottom, opposite side walls, and opposite end walls. Handles are formed in each of the side walls and end walls such that the basket can be picked up by the sides or the ends. Upstanding tines hold the utensils in spaced relation for thorough cleaning. Legs on the bottom of the basket prevent the basket from sliding within the dishwasher rack. The handles allow the basket to be easily placed into the rack and removed from the rack. The basket is also dimensioned so as to fit within a standard kitchen cabinet drawer.

Abstract: A frame device for supporting batteries during seismic stress comprising: a pair of facing end frames, a base plate for mounting each end frame to a support surface, means connecting the end frames including elongated support rails for supporting a plurality of batteries and gusset means connected to the end frames to strengthen the joint between the uprights of the end frame and base plate which lie within the footprint of the end frame.

Abstract: A merchandising system is disclosed. The merchandising system provides for the presentation and storage of articles comprising a base having a front and a back, the base being configured to support the articles and defining a first space for containing the articles. In addition, the merchandising system comprises an assembly for advancing the articles toward the front of the base, wherein the assembly comprises a member configured to extend beyond the base to create a second space for containing the articles in addition to the first space.

Abstract: A toothbrush holder is disclosed. The holder comprising a body member having a front end and a back end. The body member has a rigid geometric shape and comprises at least one holding component which is removably located within the body at the front end of the body. The holding component is adaptable to frictionally engage a toothbrush within the holder. The holder of the invention is useful to frictionally engage and store any dental cleaning device having a handle in a hygienic manner.

Abstract: A storage rack which hangs on the upper edge of a base cabinet door. A pair of hanger brackets fit closely on the door edge and are constructed to accommodate the plain edge of a flush mounted door or the stepped edge of a recessed cabinet door. Hooks on the inside parts of the brackets receive mounting fixtures used to attach storage devices such as baskets, trays, shelves, paper towel holders, food wrap dispensers, towel hooks or towel bars. Tabs on the outside parts of the hanger brackets allow a towel bar or other device to be mounted on the outside surface of the base cabinet door.

Abstract: The present invention is a system allowing to permanently expand between one to twelve inches of each side from the bottom from racks for widen the aisles, or top of racks for widen the shelves in a warehouse.

Abstract: In a releasable locking device, which is useful at a beam-to-column connection in a storage rack, a housing having a lateral wall with two parallel slots has an end wall at an outer end and is open at the inner end, a locking pin having an internal portion movable within and along the lateral wall is movable between a retracted position and an extended position, toward which the locking pin is biased, and an outer sleeve is movable outside and along the lateral wall of the housing and is connected to the locking pin via a connecting pin extending through the locking pin, through the parallel slots, at each end to the outer sleeve. The outer sleeve has an external flange to facilitate pulling of the outer sleeve to move the locking pin toward the retracted position.

Abstract: A mini-stein bottle cover includes a bottle neck engagement clip including a semi-flexible generally U-shaped arcuate bottle neck engagement section and a lid mount section and a bottle cover lid pivotably mounted on the lid mount section above the bottle neck engagement clip. The bottle neck engagement section of the bottle neck engagement clip includes left and right curved arms operative to be flexed outwards from one another to fit around a bottle neck and to flex towards one another upon being released to frictionally engage a bottle neck thereby frictionally supporting the bottle neck engagement clip on a bottle neck. Finally, the bottle cover lid is pivotable between a covering position to cover a top opening in a bottle and an open position pivoted upwards and outwards from the bottle neck engagement section such that a top opening in a bottle is accessible.

Abstract: A plastic blow molded container (10) is disclosed as including a freestanding base structure (20) that is constructed with a plurality of alternating hollow legs (22) and curved ribs (34), and a hub (41) from which the legs and ribs extend radially with a construction that provides good stability against tipping as well as the capability of withstanding internal pressure. The legs (22) have lower flat feet (24) with an outer diameter Df, and the hub (41) has a periphery connected to the feet and ribs with a height Hp such that the ratio of the diameter Df over the height Hp is in the range of about 25 to 90 to maintain strength without the hub engaging the supporting surface on which the feet rest. The construction disclosed of the legs (22), ribs (34) and hub (41, 41′ and 41″) enhances the capability of the base structure in providing good stability as well as the capability of withstanding internal pressure and stress cracking.

Abstract: A method for controlling CD of etch process defines difference between designed dimension and etched dimension as dimensional displacement and defines target value of the dimensional displacement. A plurality of samples are prepared in each group having different exposure ratios. The plurality of samples of each group are etched until etch end point is detected and then over-etched for uniform time interval after detecting the etch end point. Using etch end point and over-etch time, correlation function of the over-etch time to the etch end point time is determined and the over-etch time to the etch end point is determined using the correlation function.

Abstract: Three fundamental and three derived aspects of the present invention are disclosed. The three fundamental aspects each disclose a process sequence that may be integrated in a full process. The first aspect, designated as “latent masking”, defines a mask in a persistent material like silicon oxide that is held abeyant after definition while intervening processing operations are performed. The latent oxide pattern is then used to mask an etch. The second aspect, designated as “simultaneous multi-level etching (SMILE)”, provides a process sequence wherein a first pattern may be given an advanced start relative to a second pattern in etching into an underlying material, such that the first pattern may be etched deeper, shallower, or to the same depth as the second pattern. The third aspect, designated as “delayed LOCOS”, provides a means of defining a contact hole pattern at one stage of a process, then using the defined pattern at a later stage to open the contact holes.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a fluid ejection device includes the step of forming a plurality of micro-electromechanical fluid ejection devices on a substrate that incorporates drive circuitry such that each device includes a micro-electromechanical actuator that is in electrical contact with the drive circuitry and a fluid ejection member that is positioned on the actuator. A plurality of nozzle chamber walls are formed on the substrate to define nozzle chambers such that each fluid ejection member is operatively positioned with respect to a respective nozzle chamber to eject fluid from the nozzle chamber on receipt of an electrical signal from the drive circuitry by the micro-electromechanical actuator to displace the fluid ejection member. A layer of sacrificial material is deposited on the substrate to cover the nozzle chamber walls.

Abstract: A dry etching apparatus that performs etching on a substrate 1 placed on a tray 13 inside a chamber 18 by covering the substrate 1 with a plate 14 provided with opening portions 15, in which a distance D between the surface opposing the substrate 1 and the substrate 1 in the peripheral portion of the plate 14 is set shorter than the distance D between the surface opposing the substrate 1 and the substrate 1 in the central portion of the plate 14. Textures can be thus formed homogeneously on the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A method of using an amorphous carbon layer for improved reticle fabrication includes depositing a stack of layers including a substrate, an absorber, a transfer layer, an anti-reflective coating (ARC) layer, and a photoresist layer, patterning the photoresist layer, and etching the ARC layer and the transfer layer. The method also includes etching the absorber layer and removing the transfer layer. The transfer layer including amorphous carbon.

Abstract: A method for etching a wafer having a pattern of photoresist material thereon is disclosed. The method includes curing the photoresist material with a bromine containing plasma. Then a main etch of the wafer is carried out. A method for curing a pattern of photoresist material on a wafer is also disclosed. The curing method includes providing a bromine containing plasma and exposing the photoresist material to the plasma, such that a layer of the wafer below the photoresist material is not etched through. A composition of a plasma for curing a photoresist material on a wafer in a high density plasma processing device includes bromine.

Abstract: A film is deposited on a substrate disposed in a substrate processing chamber. The substrate has a trench formed between adjacent raised surfaces. A first portion of the film is deposited over the substrate from a first gaseous mixture flowed into the process chamber by chemical-vapor deposition. Thereafter, the first portion is etched by flowing an etchant gas having a halogen precursor, a hydrogen precursor, and an oxygen precursor into the process chamber. Thereafter, a second portion of the film is deposited over the substrate from a second gaseous mixture flowed into the processing chamber by chemical-vapor deposition.

Abstract: A process for etching a metal layer. First, a semiconducting substrate having a metal layer and an anti-reflective layer thereon is provided. Next, the surface of the anti-reflective layer is treated with a weak base aqueous solution. Next, a photoresist layer is formed on the treated anti-reflective layer and then patterned. Next, the treated anti-reflective layer and metal layer are etched using the photoresist pattern as a mask. Finally, the photoresist pattern and anti-reflective layer are removed. The present invention prevents undercut and collapse of photoresist pattern, thus obtaining an accurate metal layer pattern.

Abstract: Known electron beam lithography used for manufacturing male molds is cost-intensive and very time consuming. As a result, conventional highly sensitive electron beam resists have an insufficient plasma etching resistance and galvanic molding makes special demands on the structural profile and the thermal stability and solubility of the resist structures. The novel production and use of lithographically produced resist structures as male mold material for use in imprint lithography for producing microstructures and nanostructures should thus overcome the drawbacks associated with the conventional procedure for producing male molds. To this end, a negative resist system is used whose lithographically produced structures correspond to the demands made on a male mold for molding thin polymer layers. Lithographically produced structures comprised of curable materials are thus used for molding, preferably those based on photo-reactive epoxy resins.

Abstract: A gas insulated switchgear capable of performing maintenance and inspection of a breaker without shutting down a bus line. A gas insulated switchgear comprises a first metallic case 9a containing a breaker and having a bushing for leading a load 6a; and a second metallic case 9b containing a plurality of disconnectors and having a plurality of bushings for leading a bus line 6b, 6c to be connected to the disconnectors, wherein the first metallic case 9a and the second metallic case 9b are connected to each other through a gas partition spacer 7a.

Abstract: A welding shield system for reducing air movement about a welding area thereby allowing gas metal arc welding to be utilized in high air flow environments. The welding shield system includes a main body having an upper opening, a plurality of arm members extending from the main body, and a securing device attached to each of the arm members. The main body is positionable over the welding area thereby deflecting air flow thereto while allowing the welding gun to be inserted through the upper opening.

Abstract: In a plasma processing method which comprises supplying a processing gas to a vacuum vessel 2 forming a plasma production part, producing a plasma 6 using an antenna 1 and a Faraday shield 8 which are provided at outer periphery of the vacuum vessel and to which a high-frequency electric power can be applied, and carrying out the processing, a voltage of at least 500 V is applied to the Faraday shield 8 and a sample 12 which is disposed in the vacuum vessel 2 and which is a nonvolatile material as a material to be etched is etched.

Abstract: A method of making a fiber optic cable termination comprises the steps of clamping an optical fiber between two spaced-apart clamps, heating the optical fiber, moving at least one of the clamps toward the other clamp to bend a first portion of the optical fiber into an S-shaped bend, wherein the S-shaped bend includes two or more bends, each having a radius of curvature of less than the diameter of the optical fiber. The step of heating the optical fiber can include the step of applying heat to the optical fiber before, during and after the step of moving at least one of the clamps toward the other clamp to bend the optical fiber or the clamps can be separated to form a tapered end on the optical fiber. A fiber optic cable termination comprising an optical fiber formed into a S-shaped bend, and/or a tapered portion is also disclosed.

Abstract: A plasma arc torch is provided that comprises torch head connections that are made between consumable components and a torch head independent of rotational alignment of the consumable components. Accordingly, connections for the flow of a cooling fluid, plasma gas, and/or a secondary gas are made independent of rotational alignment. Additionally, electrical connections are also provided that are independent of rotational alignment of the various plasma arc torch components.

Abstract: A continuity device for use in a torch height control system of a plasma arc torch is provided that comprises a reattachable engagement member, a connection member, and a contact member in electrical continuity with the connection member and disposed distally from the reattachable engagement member. Accordingly, when the reattachable engagement member is secured to a proximal component of the plasma arc torch, the contact member is in electrical contact with a distal component of the plasma arc torch, thereby providing electrical continuity to the torch height control system through the connection member. Advantageously, the continuity device is reattachable and thus provides for ease of use and replacement of components, such as consumables, of the plasma arc torch. Additionally, methods of using the reattachable continuity device are provided, wherein a distal component of the plasma arc torch contacts a workpiece and electrical continuity is provided through the reattachable continuity device.

Abstract: A patterned sheet having two long sides is wrapped around a mandrel. The mandrel is provided with at least one flat surface. The long sides of the sheet are secured adjacent to the flat surface of the mandrel and points along the long sides of the sheet are connected by laser welding or other connecting means. The laser beam is directed substantially perpendicular to the welding plane of the points to be welded, even if the weld points do not all lie on a single line parallel to the mandrel's longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A process for producing a lead-acid battery, in which a lead bushing 1 cast in a lid b of an assembled lead-acid battery A and a pole 2 inserted through an insertion hole 3 in the lead bushing 1 are welded together by applying a laser beam 4b thereto. At the time of the laser welding, as desired, a jig 7 is so placed around the lead bushing 1 as to surround it and the laser welding is carried out.

Abstract: A generator for unitary power factor arc welders, of the type that comprises a current transformer (104) that supplies, at a secondary winding thereof, a welding arc and is in turn supplied, at a primary winding thereof, by an input leveling and rectifying unit (101), between the rectifier unit and the transformer being interposed an electronic circuit (103) with two electronic switches that provide a half-bridge structure that performs DC/DC conversion by way of the combination of the transformer and of a rectifier stage (105) connected to the secondary winding of the transformer, and a leveling inductor (106), the circuit having the combination of resonant capacitive and inductive components arranged on the side of the primary winding of the transformer, the components charging the bank of capacitors arranged downstream of the electronic switches, furthermore keeping the voltage across it constant, means being also provided which are suitable to control the welding current and to ensure sinusoidal-type abso

Abstract: Electric arc welder (10) performs a given weld process with selected current waveform performed between electrode (24) and workpiece (26). Welder (10) includes a controller with a digital processor (30), sensor (44) for reading instantaneous weld current, and circuit (56) to convert the instantaneous current into a digital representation of the level of instantaneous weld current. Digital processor (30) has program circuit (64, 66) to periodically read and square the digital representation at a given rate, register (70, 72) for summing a number N of square digital representations to give a summed value, and an algorithm (82, 84, 86, 88) for periodically dividing the summed value by the number N to provide a quotient and then taking the square root of said quotient to thereby digitally construct rms signal (40) representing the root mean square of the weld current.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the present technique a novel ceramic contact tip extension is featured. The ceramic extension may comprise a zirconium-based material. According to another aspect of the present invention, a novel wire-feed welding system is featured. The welding system may feature an electrical power source, a wire-feeder having a wire electrically coupleable to the electric power source, and a welding implement adapted to receive a tubular metal wire from the wire-feeder. The welding implement has a contact tip and a contact tip extension. According to yet another aspect of the present technique, a method for protecting a contact tip is feature. The method comprises thermally insulating the contact tip.

Abstract: An article is made by preparing an elongated preform having a net metallic composition, and including a tubular sheath made of a sheath nickel-base alloy, and a core disposed within the tubular sheath and including consolidated powder particles made of a core nickel-base alloy. The net metallic composition is preferably a nickel-base superalloy, and most preferably a high-gamma-prime nickel-base superalloy. The preform is wire drawn to a final maximum transverse size that is less than the initial maximum transverse size, to produce a drawn article. The drawn article may be used as a weld filler material.

Abstract: A vehicle is provided with an external mirror which is, in turn, equipped with a defroster. Means are provided for displaying a visual indication on the mirror when the defroster is activated. When a driver operates a manual switch within the vehicle, current is supplied from the vehicle's source of potential to the defroster and to the display means causing it to display an appropriate symbol or symbols.

Abstract: A control circuit (20) for controlling electrostatic discharge in an electric component includes a heater (28) that is thermally coupled to the component. A sensor (30) is used for sensing a sensed condition. A controller is coupled to the heater and the sensor. The controller (24) heats the component in response to the sensed condition. The sensor (30) may include an electron flux level near the component or a surface potential of the component itself.

Abstract: A pin heater (1) in a sheathed-element glow plug (5) and a sheathed-element glow plug (5) for internal combustion engines, which have improved electrical and mechanical properties, are described. The pin heater (1) has at least one essentially internal insulating layer (10) and one essentially external first conductive layer (15, 16), both layers (10; 15, 16) including ceramic composite structures. The pin heater (1) includes a second conductive layer (20), which also includes a ceramic composite structure. The second conductive layer (20) is bonded to the first conductive layer (15, 16) in the region of a combustion chamber side tip (40) of the pin heater (1). The second conductive layer (20) runs inside the insulating layer (10).

Abstract: In a system for thermal processing of a semiconductor substrate, a reflector plate has a stepped surface facing the substrate during heating and cooling of the substrate. The raised surface of the reflector plate has reduced reflectivity, providing advantages during, among other things, cooling of the substrate. The reflector plate also includes a number of recesses to which one or more pyrometers are coupled. These recesses have a highly reflective surface, providing advantages in the performance of the pyrometers.

Abstract: This invention discloses a portable electric heating cooker comprising a handle, a cover, a cooker bowl and a base, inside said base are installed heating means and control means, wherein, two or more than two joining means are provided on said cooker, said joining means can be used to make said cooker into an integral and portable body when necessary. A sealing ring may be further included. With said sealing ring, said cover can be pressed on said cooker bowl tightly, so as to prevent leakage when carrying. A partition board may be installed inside said cooker bowl, so that, different kinds of food or food of different tastes may be braised or broiled in the same cooker.

Abstract: A proportional and staging control circuit is provided for a FPTU including heating element(s) selected so that the maximum heating capacity that can be provided by the unit is the highest practical for its size. Portions of this maximum heating capacity are switch selected for a given application of a FPTU with the switches each corresponding to portions (10% to 100%) of the selected maximum heating capacity so that a portion of the total heating capacity of a FPTU most closely equal to a desired heating capacity can be selected by operation of that switch. Each selected heating capacity is in turn staged with the heating capacity staging again being switch selected. FPTUs including the proportional and staging control are quickly switch configured for a given application without the need of a skilled electrician or technician.

Abstract: A water heater for providing heated water to one or more users includes a first and second tank enclosed in a shell an a mode selection device that is operable to switch between a first selected mode and a second selected mode. The first tank is for storing water in a heated state and for providing water in the heated state during the first and second selected modes. The second tank is for storing water in an unheated state during the first selected mode and for storing water in a heated state and for providing water in the heated state during a second selected mode.

Abstract: A fixing device for an electrophotography system, which is capable of efficiently and uniformly heating an object to be heated, which has a coil capable of being easily produced and which is capable of being stably fixing a fixed material, is provided by preventing the distance between the going and returning portions of a certain turn of the coil from being too close to each other, by preventing the diameter of the coil from changing when the coil is wound, by providing a uniform gap between the coil and the inside surface of the heating roller over the whole length, by preventing the fixing performed by the heating roller to be affected by the turning ON/OFF of a power supply, by preventing noises from being generated from the coil ejecting portion, and by devising the procedure for efficiently winding the coil.

Abstract: A door of a microwave oven comprising: a door panel which is installed on a front surface of a casing having a cavity corresponding to a cooking space of food to be opened and closed; a door frame which is combined with the door panel to be located at a front of the cavity; a choke cover which is inserted in the door frame, for covering a choke seal; and a frame subsidiary plate which is positioned to opposed to the choke cover and is combined with the door frame to remove a gap formed between the choke cover and a lateral surface of the door frame.

Abstract: A welding structure for a fuel tank including a resin inner shell and a resin outer shell interposed by a fuel permeation prevention layer such that they are laminated, and a resin component attached to the fuel tank. The resin component includes a body formed from a resin having low permeability to hydrocarbon gases, a packing material having low permeability to hydrocarbon gases which is fixed to the body, and a resin which is insert molded to at least a connecting portion of the body that connects with a connecting portion of the fuel tank, and which can be welded to the fuel tank.

Abstract: A plurality of container assemblies are provided. Each container assembly has substantially identical external dimensions. However, the internal volumes of certain container assemblies differ from the internal volumes of other container assemblies. The container assemblies are configured in accordance with the required volume of material to be collected or maintained in the respective container assemblies and to enable uniform head spaces despite the different volumes of materials in the respective container assemblies. Each container assembly may have an inner container and an outer container. The inner and outer containers may be assembled together or formed integrally by molding.

Abstract: A plastic barrel, embodied as a bung barrel or a lid barrel, is manufactured as a single-layer container or multi-layer container by extrusion blow molding. The plastic barrel has a barrel body having an inner surface and an outer surface. The barrel body has sections integrated into the barrel body, wherein the sections are made of electrically conducting plastic material and form electric connections between the inner surface and the outer surface of the barrel body so that electric charges of the interior of the barrel can be dissipated to the outer surface.

Abstract: A multi-functional lid for cookware having a rotatable disc element and a stationary disc element. The rotating disc element of the lid allows for access related cooking tasks to be performed without removing the lid. The segmented rotating disc element includes an opening that allows for access to the pot, a perforated opening which allows for the controlled release of heat, and a segment that has no openings which allows the lid to contain all heat and moisture under the lid.

Abstract: A fuel inlet apparatus is provided for a personal watercraft of the type having a fuel tank 13 disposed in a craft body 11, and a fuel supply hose 81 extending from the fuel tank 13 with an end thereof connected to a fuel filler member 82 on a deck 20. One end of a chain 83 is fastened inside the fuel filler member 82, and the other end of the chain 83 is fastened to a fill cap 84 used for sealably closing the top of the fuel filler member 82. The chain 83 has a protective tube 86 surrounding a portion thereof, to contact the fuel filler 85 when the fill cap 84 is removed. The provision of the protective tube 86 reduces the risk of damage to the fuel filler or the deck, and the chain itself can also be protected by the tube.

Abstract: A container (22) includes a container body (26) having an open end (34) bounded by a thickened rim (32) having a linear part (36) defining a pintle; a lid body (40) overlying the rim (32) in a closed position and having a channel (46) which includes a linear part (42) defining a socket (66) and having a concave wall (67) extending in close-fitting relation through greater than 180 degrees of the circumferential extent of the pintle around an axis defined thereby to hingably couple the lid body (40) to the container body (26). A container flange (28) extends outwardly around the container body (26) in spaced relation to the rim (32). A skirt (38) is detachable from the lid body (40), and extends therefrom in surrounding relation to the container flange (28) and has a lid flange (56) which extends around and grips the underside of the container flange (28) such that, upon detachment of the skirt (38), the lid body (40) is pivotally movable about the axis to an open position apart from the open end (34).

Abstract: When a coin(s) is inserted and an article selection button is further pressed, article carrying-out processing is started, and an article carrying-out device performs a carrying-out operation. An article is dropped and received in a receiving section by this carrying-out operation. When the article is received in the receiving section, the article collides with the receiving section, and vibrations are generated. The vibrations are detected by a vibration detection unit, and it is judged that the article is received in the receiving section. In the series of article carrying-out operations, when unexpected vibrations are applied to the receiving section after the article carrying-out processing is started, since a microcomputer excludes the vibrations, only vibrations at the time of receiving the article can be detected accurately.