Abstract: A niobium powder is described which when formed into an electrolytic capacitor anode, the anode has the capacitance of at least 62,000 CV/g. Methods of making flaked niobium powder which have high capacitance capability when formed into electrolytic capacitor anodes is also described. Besides niobium, the present invention is also applicable to other metals, including valve metals.

Abstract: A powder metal component particularly suited for use as a valve guide in high temperature applications. The powder metal component according to a first embodiment has a chemical composition on a weight percent basis of about 0.1-2.0% C; about 8.0-18.0% Cr; about 1.0-15.0% Mo; about 0.1-3.5% S; about 0.1%-2.0% Si; upto about 5.0% max other elements; and the balance being substantially Fe. A second embodiment according to the present invention includes about 8.0-16.0% Co.

Abstract: Produce titanium-group metal micro-dispersion water that contains ion vapor of titanium-group metal in micro-dispersed state and that can be used as a material for health products, medical products, cosmetics, etc., by using an apparatus comprising a water tank, a high-voltage discharge generator equipped with a titanium-group metal electrode and its counter electrode, a water inlet, an outlet for produced water, and a titanium-group metal electrode feeder, in a manner causing plasma discharge in water between the titanium-group metal electrode and its counter electrode.

Abstract: Various methods have been proposed to separate precious metal from a fluid utilized for plating. The known methods and devices are complicated and expensive. To overcome this problem, a method and a device for plating work pieces with a fluid containing at least one precious metal are provided. According to the invention the work pieces are contacted with the fluid and the fluid is filtered, after use, through at least one ceramic membrane filter in order to separate the at least one precious metal from the fluid. According to the invention a ceramic membrane filter having an exclusion pore size in excess of 10,000 Dalton is utilized.

Abstract: In a process for reducing iron-ore-containing particulate material in at least a two-stage process, reducing gas is conducted through at least two reaction zones consecutively arranged in series and formed by a moving particulate material and the particulate material passes through the reaction zones in reverse order to the reducing gas, with the particulate material being heated in the reaction zone arranged first for the particulate material and being reduced in the further reaction zone.

Abstract: A method of recovering titanium dioxide from a raw material additionally containing aluminium includes the steps of grinding the titanium dioxide raw material, reacting the particulate raw feed material with sulphuric acid under specified conditions, digesting and filtering the resultant cake material containing titanyl sulphate, if present, treating the solution to remove calcium and/or iron, precipitating out the aluminium as aluminium ammonium sulphate, hydrolysing the remaining titanyl sulphate solution and, after washing the hydrolysate, calcining the hydrolysate to produce titanium dioxide.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of zinc metal from a zinc mineral includes the steps of leaching the zinc mineral in a solution including a halide species formed from two or more different halides, to leach the zinc into the solution. The zinc-bearing solution is then electrolysed to yield zinc metal and to generate the halide species. The electrolysed solution including the halide species is then returned to the leaching step. A portion of the electrolysed solution can be removed as a bleed stream from a cathode compartment of an electrolytic cell of the electrolysis process and processed to remove manganese as manganese dioxide precipitate by adding thereto limestone, and the halide species from an anode compartment of the electrolysis process. In this regard, the pH and Eh of the solution can regulated in a manner that favours the formation of the manganese dioxide precipitate over the formation of a precipitate of zinc.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for recovering a precious metal from a precious metal-containing material using a leaching agent and one or more oxidants. The leaching agent is preferably thiosulfate and the oxidants one or more of chlorite (ClO2−), chlorate (ClO3−), bromate (BrO3−), iodate (IO3−), ferric oxide (Fe2O3), chromate (CrO42−) and manganese dioxide (MnO2). The invention is particularly suitable for in situ mining or leaching of precious metal deposits.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing a cutting tool, in particular saws, cutting rules or cutting dies, comprising a carrier material (1) in strip or disk form, to whose edge, which is substantially standing on end, a cutting-edge region (2) in the form of a pulverulent alloy is applied and melted during the application, preferably by means of a laser beam, and then solidifies on the edge.

Abstract: In a method of making a hard sintered body indexable insert, respective hard sintered bodies used as cutting edges are brazed to seating grooves at corners of the upper and lower surfaces of a tool substrate. A brazing alloy that contains Cu and 0.5 to 65 wt % Ti and/or Zr and inevitable impurities first temporarily bonds and fixes the sintered bodies in the seating grooves by evaporating a solvent component of the brazing alloy. Then, the sintered bodies are brazed and permanently fixed to the tool substrate by heating it in a vacuum or in an inert gas atmosphere. The thickness of the tool substrate remaining between the upper and lower seating grooves is preferably 30% to 90% of the entire thickness of the hard sintered body indexable insert, and the cutting-edge length of the hard sintered body is preferably 0.5 mm to 4 mm.

Abstract: A bottle and jar lid opener suitable for single hand operation. The opener includes a jar gripping assembly to restrain the jar which has a band tightened by lengthening or shortening the band to engage the band about the body to secure the jar to said band support and base. A wrench also includes a band of material forming a loop tightened about the lid. Rotation of the wrench tightens the band. Any movement of the jar in response to torque applied to the lid for opening thereof causes the jar to roll along a support leading surface to further tighten the band.

Abstract: A bit for removing a broken fastener comprises a tip from which extend two or more notches separated by scraping surfaces formed from two-sided frusto-conically-shaped regions. The scraping surfaces are bounded on one side by a cutting edge and on the other side by a non-cutting edge and are configured to cut into the fastener when the bit is rotated in a direction opposite to the fastener's direction of engagement. Specific embodiments include configurations where the cutting edges extend at different angles with respect to the bit axis and where the scraping surfaces comprise a plurality of serrations.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for making and breaking tubular connections within a tubular string are disclosed. In certain aspects, a tong assembly includes gated power and back up tongs coupled to a torque bar. Jaws of the tongs may be arranged circumferentially with support members disposed between adjacent jaws to substantially complete a 360° closed circle. A hydraulic circuit may equally distribute fluid and pressure to actuate the jaws. The power tong may include a gated rotor driven by at least three drive motors. The rotor may be selectively physically locked from rotation or movement by one or more rotor locks. Further, the tong assembly may include an interlock that prevents activation of the drive motors until the rotor locks actuate to unlock the rotor. Additionally, gate locks may secure the tongs and rotor when closed, and a releasable coupling arrangement may aid engagement of a motor to a rotor pump.

Abstract: A wrench includes a handle, a clutch, a detent, a controller, a gear and a C-ring. The handle includes an annular head defining a circular space, a pothole not overlapping the circular space, a channel for communicating the circular space with the pothole, a recess and an annular groove both defined in a wall of the circular space. The clutch includes two claws put in the recess and a spring put between the claws. Each of the claws includes a toothed face and a rod. The claws can easily be put into the recess since the rods can be moved through the channel. A controller is put rotationally in the pothole for moving the rods. The gear is put in the circular space. The gear includes a toothed face for engagement with the toothed face of one of the claws. The C-ring includes an external edge put in the annular groove, an internal edge for retaining the annular gear in the circular space and a gate projecting from an upper face for blocking the channel.

Abstract: A wrench for use in connection with a lock nut including outwardly extending protrusions. The wrench includes a base portion and a finger and an engagement tab extending from the base portion. The finger is spaced from the engagement portion with a recess provided between the finger and the engagement portion. To rotate the nut, the finger is positioned over the top surface of the nut. The engagement tab is angled downwardly relative to the finger to engage the outwardly extending protrusions of the nut.

Abstract: An adjustable closed-end wrench is adapted for rotating a threaded fastener. The wrench has a handle and a wheel housing located at a free end of the handle. An engagement wheel is arranged within the wheel housing, and has an inner periphery and an outer periphery. The inner periphery defines a fastener-receiving opening adapted for receiving the threaded fastener. The engagement wheel is mounted for selective one-way rotational movement relative to the wheel housing such that the fastener is rotatable in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction.

Abstract: This invention discloses device for a socket wrench to be firmly and fixedly combined with a motive tool, where the socket wrench is prevented from falling off from the combining during use. A pin insertion hole is formed in a blind hole with its one end as a closing portion and thus center of gravity for the pin is established toward at the closing portion far from center of the socket wrench whereby shock and excess force are absorbed in this new center of gravity, whereas the combing pin can be surely maintained at the seat avoiding from the condition in which the socket wrench and the motive tool are not separated off with firm combining.

Abstract: Utility is enhanced by an adjustable wrench including a fixed jaw fixedly formed at the body, an adjustable jaw adjustable relative to the fixed jaw, and a fastening unit disposed at one or each of the fixed jaw and the adjustable jaw, the fastening unit including a plurality of sprags such that one end of each of the sprags is linearly aligned facing the opposite jaw.

Abstract: A compact, folding, toolkit includes a central elongate member having a first end and a second end, a left side and a right side; a first tool set pivotally engaging the first end and rotating between a folded position and an extended position along the left side and right side of the central elongate member; and a second tool set pivotally engaging the second end and rotating between a folded position and an extended position along the left side and the right side of the central elongate member.

Abstract: A locking valve stem cap system includes a sleeve, a valve stem cap, and a rotation tool. The sleeve is configured to threadingly engage a valve stem, with a portion of a threaded region of the valve stem protruding into a cap receptacle thereof. The valve stem cap is configured to be inserted into the cap receptacle of the sleeve and to threadingly engage the portion of the threaded region that is located within the cap receptacle. The rotation tool is configured to facilitate rotation of the valve stem cap when the outer periphery thereof is substantially surrounded by the sleeve, thereby facilitating tightening or loosening of the valve stem cap relative to the sleeve. Methods for installing and removing the valve stem cap system from a valve system are also disclosed.

Abstract: A vibration damper has a pair of rollers that engage a shaft rotating about its longitudinal axis while being supported at its ends on centers. The rollers transmit shaft vibrations to the piston rod of a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder in such a manner that the piston rod dampens the vibrations.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for accommodating flat materials when separated by laser, water-jet, cutting torch or milling. The slot provided under the separating device is displaced by enlarging one bearing surface and reducing the size of the other bearing surface when the separating device is moved, whereby damage to the bearing surface is reduced when cutting any particular contours. The invention enables separation, targeted sorting of the separated parts and the clearing away of the remaining materials.

Abstract: A method of making a barbed suture by varying the blade geometry and/or the movement of the blade when cutting a suture is disclosed. The method can also be accomplished with a cutting device to create a plurality of barbs on the exterior of surgical suture. The barbs produced using the method with the cutting device can be the same or random configurations.

Abstract: In a system for cutting glass sheets into shapes there is at least one cutting site (A, B). In order to align the glass sheet which is to be cut or the glass sheet shape into a defined position, on the edge of the support surfaces (I and II) there are contact edges (21, 44, 45). In order to move the glass sheets and the glass sheet shapes along the contact edges (21, 44, 45), the glass sheets or glass sheet shapes which adjoin the contact edges (21, 45) are coupled by force-fit to the conveyor belts (20) which are provided in the area of the contact edges (21, 45) and then moved for example to the cutting sites (A, B).

Abstract: An inserter input system including a web feeder providing a web of printed material to be split by a web slitting knife along the web's direction of travel. The split web is then cut transverse to the direction of travel by a rotary cutter operating at a first velocity, resulting in side-by-side individual sheets. Downstream of the rotary cutter, a right angle turn mechanism receives each of the side-by-side sheets and reorients them by ninety degrees. Further the right angle turn reorients the sheets into a serial shingled arrangement. A high speed separation nip pulls individual shingled sheets out from the shingled arrangement. The speed of the separation nip is such that a predetermined gap between the previously shingled sheets is formed.

Abstract: An inserter input system including a web feeder providing a web of printed material to be split by a web slitting knife along the web's direction of travel. The split web is then cut transverse to the direction of travel by a web cutter, resulting in side-by-side individual sheets. Downstream of the rotary cutter, a right angle turn mechanism receives each of the side-by-side sheets and reorients them by ninety degrees. Further the right angle turn reorients the sheets into a serial shingled arrangement. The right angle turn transport operates at a velocity that is a function of the product of the web cutting rate and the width of the documents. A high speed separation nip pulls individual shingled sheets out from the shingled arrangement. The speed of the separation nip is such that a predetermined gap between the previously shingled sheets is formed. The separation nip speed is further controlled as a function of the product of the cutting rate and the sum of the document length plus the predetermined gap.

Abstract: An apparatus for trimming the width of blinds of the type having a headrail, and a bottom rail and blind slats, and having a support body with a headrail opening, and a bottom rail opening, and a blind slat opening the blind components being insertable into their openings from one side of the support body, a die located adjacent to the support body, a headrail cutting recess in the die, guides on the support body for the die, enabling the die to move relative to the headrail opening between two positions and a bottom rail and blind slat cutter operable to cut the bottom rail and the blind slats. A modified apparatus can be used to trim the width of a vertical blind having a headrail and control rods. Also disclosed is a method of trimming the width of blind, having a head rail, a bottom rail and blind slats.

Abstract: A blade assembly having blades, side members, urging members, and a coating is provided. The blades have a retaining member disposed at each end. The side members have slots and a pocket. The blades are disposed in the slots so that the retaining members are received by the pocket. The urging member urges the side members away from one another so that the retaining members abut the pockets and induce a selected tension to the blades. The coating covers one or more areas of the blade assembly to increase the ease of cleaning, protect the blade assembly component, and/or prevent the urging member from loosening.

Abstract: A table saw includes a worktable turnable relative to a mounting frame, a support seat journalled on bearing members of the mounting frame and slidable relative thereto along a sliding path, and a saw blade rotated with a blade shaft driven by a motor. A spindle is rotatably mounted to the support seat and is coupled to the blade shaft so as to move the blade shaft when rotated, thereby adjusting height of the saw blade relative to the worktable. An inclination adjusting member is disposed to actuate the support seat to move along the sliding path so as to change an angular position of the saw blade relative to the worktable.

Abstract: A table saw has a height and inclination adjustable saw blade which is mounted on and rotatable with a blade shaft that is driven by a motor. A support seat is movable relative to a mounting frame, and supports the blade shaft. A shaving collecting member is disposed in the vicinity of the saw blade to collect wood shavings. A casing is secured to the support seat, and is communicated with the shaving collecting member. An impeller is disposed rotatably in the casing, and is mounted on a driven shaft that is coupled to the blade shaft so as to permit rotation of the impeller when the motor is in operation, thereby drawing wood shavings from the shaving collecting member to the casing and out of a discharge port in the casing.

Abstract: A photo cutting apparatus includes a support, a press, a linkage and a cutting device. The press is movably mounted on the support. The linkage is for pressing the press. The cutting device is arranged between the support and the press for separating photos developed on a sheet from one another in a single action.

Abstract: A paper cutter including a cutting arm having a pivot pin that allows for locking to the paper cutter's base using a snap/retaining ring. The snap ring retains the cutting arm on the base while permitting pivotal motion. No threaded parts, nuts or lock nuts are required. The mounting boss may include an internal surface that is configured to cause an interference fit with the pivot pin, and corresponding friction. Such friction and/or interference between the mounting boss and pivot pin is sufficient to support the cutting arm, and any blade, in an elevated position above the base to prevent falling of the cutting arm/blade and resulting injury to a user. The pivot pin may be integrally formed with the cutting arm as a unit, e.g. by injection molding with a synthetic resin.

Abstract: A dispenser for sheet material includes a box having a lid section, a container section, and a wall having a mouth formed between an edge of the lid section and an edge of the container section. The dispenser further includes a cutter attached to the wall of the box on the container section below the mouth, wherein the cutter includes a track assembly and a slider disposed in the track assembly for movement therealong and where the slider includes a blade.

Abstract: An improved cutting head for a food product on a slicing machine including upper and lower mounting rings, a plurality of cutter support segments connected to the mounting rings, a cutting blade attached to a front edge portion of each cutter support segment, and opposed first and second pivot pins extending from upper and lower portions of the cutter support segment and through the upper and lower mounting rings. Each of the pivot pins are positioned at a location closely adjacent to a forward edge of the cutter support segment and substantially near a cutting edge of the cutting blade.

Abstract: A punch (1) with a shell (2) having an insertion opening (35) for material, which is to be punched, and punching pins (26) in connection with the opening as well as a lever mechanism (55), driven by an electric motor and designed to transmit punching force to the punching pins, which motor drives a gear reduction set with a small gear wheel (66) and a large driven gear wheel (64). An eccentric shaft (62) is eccentrically mounted in the latter wheel with concentric pins (63) in relation to the driven wheel, which concentric pins are mounted in the shell (2).

Abstract: The present invention is an extractable fastener and a method of use thereof used with a pocket or mounting block of a tool holder used to secure a cutting tooth to a cutting wheel of a stump cutting apparatus. The extractable fastener has a head portion, a shank portion having a threaded portion and an end face. The end face includes an engagement portion that receives a suitable tool whereby force applied to the tool rotates the broken portion of the fastener to remove it from the threaded bore on the pocket or mounting block.

Abstract: A digital audio player and a method for processing encoded digital audio data, wherein the digital audio data is encoded using one of a plurality of encoding formats. The exemplary audio data player includes a hard disk or other data storage medium for storing data files, a microcontroller, buffer memory for anti-skip protection, and an audio decoder. The encoded audio data files and associated decoder files are downloaded from a personal computer or similar device to the audio data player hard drive. The player provides a menu-driven user interface for selection, sorting, and playback of stored audio data files. The audio decoder, generally a digital signal processor, provides various preset equalization modes. The preset modes are specific to audio genres such as jazz, pop, and rock.

Abstract: A bow guide for a violin is made from resilient material, such as a unitary piece of foamed plastics, and comprises a support means for elastically securing under the overhang of the fingerboard and upstanding guide means protruding in use upwards from ends of the support means so as to guide a bow in a desired region of the strings. One, two or four guide means are possible, two being preferred.

Abstract: This application relates to the field of music, and more specifically to stepped pitch stringed instruments such as guitars crafted for tone generation to a particular fret spacing arrangement, a particular placement of the bridge, and the use of pitch altering devices for the strings. The preferred embodiment implements a series of frets placed at traditional length ratio spacings for a portion of the neck combined with another series of frets not adhering to the original length ratio. This double series of frets is used in tandem with a micropitch alteration device for the strings. The bridge is crowded closer to the nut than the prior art distance historically producing standard 100 cent intervals between the initial twelve chromatic frets. This crowded bridge is useful for allowing the use of alternate intonation schemes by way of the strings when fretted and sounded.

Abstract: Magnetic guitar pick or plectrum used to play stringed musical instruments. The magnet is imbedded in the pick by means of a milling or molding process which allows the pick or plectrum to be magnetically attached to any metal surface such as a microphone stand, guitar stand or any other metal object.

Abstract: A thumb pick comprises a pick body for a guitar and a belt body which fixes the pick body to a finger. The pick body is extended integrally with a protruding portion for picking the strings from a base end portion made into contact with the thumb. The belt body is separately formed from the belt body. Both end portions of the belt body is adjustably connected to the pick body. There is provided a cut bent from the protruding portion to the base end portion of the pick body, a substantially tongue-like connecting piece is formed within the cut, and the connecting piece and the one end portion of the belt body 2 are detachably connected. with such construction, a disadvantage of displacing the position of the thumb pick by heat generation and perspiration of the fingers during a performance is solved, and picking suitable for each kind of performing method becomes possible.

Abstract: A guitar stand includes a standing device having a main tube upwardly extending therefrom. A telescope tube is partially and reciprocally movably and received in the main tube, the telescope tube having a first end movably received in the main tube and a second end having a connector pivotally connected to the telescope. A U-shaped fork longitudinally is secured on a free end of the connector and holds a neck of the guitar in place. A supporting device is pivotally mounted to the main tube supports a body of the guitar. The supporting device includes a shaft and a seat securely mounted to of the shaft. Two supporting rods are respectively pivotally connected to the opposite ends of the seat. Each supporting rod includes a flat section pivotally received in the seat and an expanding section forward extending from each of the supporting rod.

Abstract: A set of methods and computer-aided music education system to accelerate conceptual comprehension in learning and technical proficiency in performing a musical piece or lesson. A musical piece is comprised of various interwoven musical concepts, which serve as the basis for identifying performance issues with particular musical concepts. Based on this identification, customized lessons are created that focus on the improvement of these specific musical concepts. Thus, through the iteration of the above process, a series of lessons is dynamically generated based specifically on the user's performance. This series constitutes a feedback loop that can be presented continuously, in real-time, or in discrete steps. An interactive three-dimensional visualization of the lessons helps the user to understand the relationship between the various musical concepts in the piece or lesson and to perform them on a musical instrument.

Abstract: Live musical performances are archived for presentation on multimedia. Multiple cameras record multiple views of the performance and multiple audio tracks are professionally mixed for audio clarity. The recording on the media of music information from the performance includes one of video, audio, and textual content from a musical instrument played by a performer. The display to the viewer of the music information on the media is through a plurality of windows. One window depicts a detailed view of the musical instrument being played by the performer. The media are a CD, DVD, or any other media capable of recording audio, video, and text. The textual information could be music notes, performer's name, the place and date of performance, composer and composition information.

Abstract: MIDI data representing a musical performance may be altered to substitute one instrument for another, change the parameters applicable to individual instruments, and change the genre of a piece by collectively implementing predetermined changes of instruments and instrument parameters. The changes may be made in an automated real time fashion so that desired changes can be implemented during performance.

Abstract: Generally, a mood-based playlisting system may select content to maintain a mood consistency between selections of content. In one example, electronic content may be made available to users by determining a mood indicator indicating a present mood state of a user, determining a mood spectrum describing mood indicators that are consistent with the mood indicator for the track, and selecting a next track having a mood indicator that lies within the mood spectrum. In another example, content may be selected by determining a coordinate mood location indicating the present mood state of a user, determining a compatible mood volume indicating potential mood indicators for a next track that is compatible with the present mood, identifying one or more tracks having mood indicators that lie within the compatible mood volume, and enabling the user to access one or more of the identified tracks.

Abstract: A pair of braiding threads 11, 12 and having braiding angle ±&thgr;° to the axis of the mandrel are composed of wide yarns WY having a band shape with a wide width, and the wide yarns are braided around the mandrel without any gap in the width direction to form a cylindrical braiding layer 15 so that the resulting layer is cut in the axis direction of the mandrel to be formed into sheets; thus, a braiding composition backing is formed by these sheets. The objective of the present invention is to provide a braiding composition backing made of thin, uniform braiding layers that are formed by braiding wide yarns having a band shape with a wide width (prepreg slit yarns) around a mandrel without any gap.

Abstract: This invention describes techniques for thwarting terrorists from successfully performing their destructive missions. The suspected person is identified through sniffers that can detect the presence of ammunition and/or chemicals on the person, and produce an electrical signal upon detection, which signal is amplified, closing a relay circuit with a power supply which then is applied to solenoid-operated fluid valves that blast out high pressure air and Mace at the suspect, rendering the suspect temporarily paralyzed, so the suspect can be apprehended. Persons with sniffers also could help detect terrorists and call 911 with a cell phone to alert authorities of danger, and to come to the rescue. Unmarked police vehicles would have both sniffers and fluid valves mounted on all four sides of the vehicle, ready to blast on the suspect and render him disabled, so he can be apprehended.

Abstract: A defence system for a land area, intended as an alternative to land mines. The system includes sensors for detecting intrusions in the area, a weapon having multiple barrels and multiple projectiles ready for firing, and a controller that receives signals from the sensors to fire the weapon. The controller preferably requires intervention of an operator in order to trigger the weapon. The weapon may contain a range of projectiles for different purposes.

Abstract: Fibrous composites comprising corrugated elements having improved resistance to penetration by ballistic projectiles/threats. The composites of the invention are useful in vehicle and aircraft armor, breastplates, hand-held shields, helmets, architectural shields, explosion containment, explosion management and other applications.