Abstract: A nozzle box includes a torus, bridge ring and nozzle ring portions wherein steam flowing generally circumferentially in the torus portion is redirected for flow generally axially by the bridge ring portion. The steam exiting the bridge ring portion flows into nozzles formed by adjacent partitions of the nozzle ring portion. Bridges in the bridge ring portion are tangentially leaned to exactly match the angle of inclination of the leading edges of the axially adjacent partitions at like circumferential locations. For strength purposes, there are two bridges for each partition. Every other bridge axially registers with the leading edge of the axially downstream partition matching its angle while remaining bridges are equally spaced between the aligned bridges. In this manner, the steam flow is straightened by the bridges to match the angle of the leading edge of the nozzle partitions with consequent reduction of passage area loss.

Abstract: A centrifugal fan includes a scroll casing having an almost cylindrical shape. The casing consists of first and second casings. The first casing constitutes one base wall and a part of a side circumferential wall of a cylinder, and the second casing constitutes the other base wall and the remaining part of the side circumferential wall. An air inlet is formed on a center portion of the base wall of the first casing, and an exhaust port that is formed on the side circumferential wall. An impeller having many blades and a motor for driving the impeller are contained in the casing. A cylindrical partition that is formed on the inside of the base wall of the second casing over the entire circumference. The partition consists of a high partition formed in at least a region close to the exhaust port and a low partition formed in the other region.

Abstract: A turbine bucket includes a cooling circuit through a dovetail section, a shank section and an airfoil section. The cooling circuit is configured to maximize cooling ability and maximize a useful life at base load operation at firing temperatures of up to 2084° F. while minimizing negative effects on performance. The cooling circuit includes a plurality of cooling holes having predetermined positions and sizes, resulting in increased cooling flow near a trailing edge of the airfoil section and effecting turbulation in the airfoil section to increase bulk and local creep margins throughout the airfoil section.

Abstract: A cooling arrangement comprises a support (20) for a plurality of blades (22). The support (20) comprises a plurality of blade mounting members (28) provided between adjacent blades (22). The blades (22) are mounted upon the blade mounting members (28). The cooling arrangement defines a pathway (36) for a cooling fluid. The cooling arrangement further includes a fluid directing formation (40, 44, 44A) to direct the cooling fluid across the blade mounting member (28).

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of handling wind turbine blades and mounting said blades on a wind turbine, said method comprising the steps of lifting a wind turbine hub to the nacelle of wind turbine with a lifting system and mounting the hub on the nacelle. Further, the method comprises the steps of gripping at least one wind turbine blade with a lifting system including at least one gripping unit for handling wind turbine blades, lifting said at least one wind turbine blade into close proximity to said hub, and mounting said at least one wind turbine blade on said hub. The invention also relates to a gripping unit for handling a wind turbine blade during transport.

Abstract: A rotor, especially for a rotary-wing aircraft, with a rotor mast and one or more adjustable rotor blades includes a rotor blade adjustment device without a swash plate and arranged on a carrier device that automatically rotates synchronously with the rotor blades, the rotor blade adjustment device rotating along with the carrier device in a manner that is free of relative movement with respect to the carrier device as well as with respect to the rotor mast and the rotor blades. The rotor blade adjustment device includes all of the blade actuators and kinematic elements required for a synchronized, cyclic and collective rotor blade adjustment as well as a control signal interface via which the control signals for the blade actuators can be transmitted from a stationary rotor section to the rotor blade adjustment device that is rotating along. Also, a rotary-wing aircraft, especially a helicopter, including at least one such rotor.

Abstract: An impeller for a radial-flow heat dissipating fan includes a hub and a plurality of blades surrounding the hub. The blades are connected to a circumference of the hub to allow joint rotation of the hub and the blades. The impeller includes an air inlet side and a bottom side. Distribution of the blades at the air inlet side of the impeller is sparser than that at the bottom side of the impeller, thereby increasing an air inlet amount.

Abstract: A multiple port, dual diameter piston fluid dispensing pump which includes multiple input and output ports accessed by rotating at least one of the pistons and a dual or multiple diameter piston or set of pistons that cooperate so that they follow each other. The dispensing piston is of smaller diameter than the pushing piston. This diameter difference permits a longer, controllable stroke to dispense micro-liters of fluid accurately.

Abstract: A pressure exchange device is provided that utilizes a rotor assembly inside a housing to transfer the pressure of a fluid from one high pressure fluid to another low pressure fluid. The housing may comprise a pressurized fluid contained therein to provide a sealing force to reduce fluid leakage between the spinning rotors and the housing. The sealing force and wear characteristics may be controlled to reduce leakage and wear of the pressure exchange device. The rotor assembly may be driven in either direction and the high pressure ports may be switched with the low pressure ports if desired.

Abstract: A rotating vane vacuum pump has a secondary inlet (4) which permits additional suction after the primary inlet (3) has closed.

Abstract: Within a cam ring (8), a rotor having a plurality of vanes (27) is eccentrically disposed. A metering orifice (136) is provided halfway on a discharge passage (135) of pressure fluid discharged from the pump, and a control valve is activated due to a pressure difference between the upstream and downstream sides of the metering orifice (136). A fluid pressure of the first fluid pressure chamber (21) is controlled by activation of the control valve (123). The second fluid pressure chamber (22) is shut off from the control valve (123) to introduce a pressure on the suction side at any time. To return the cam ring (8) in a direction of expanding a pump chamber (11), an internal pressure of the cam ring (8) is applied in the return direction.

Abstract: When a hybrid compressor starts being driven by an electric motor, the electric current of a capacity control valve is applied at an initial control electric current SS that is greater than a control electric current S, which is from the state of a refrigerating circuit. This triggers a swash plate of the hybrid compressor to be rapidly inclined. Thereafter, the electric current of the displacement control valve is applied at the control electric current S. This structure enables the displacement of the hybrid compressor to rapidly recover when the hybrid compressor starts being driven by the electric motor.

Abstract: A vane pump is disclosed for use with gas turbine engines that is adapted and configured to provide a failure mode similar to that of a traditional gear pump. The vane pump includes a pump housing, a cam member, a cylindrical rotor member and a mechanism for communicating a high pressure fluid from the discharge arc region to the inlet arc region when the tip surface of each vane element has experienced a predetermined amounted of wear so as to prevent pump startup. The tip surface of each vane element wears as a result the sliding contact with the circumferential surface of the pumping cavity.

Abstract: Fuel pump assembly 10 includes a filter 42 that rests on ledge 48, between the pump housing 22 and inlet cap 56. Filter detector 50 has a valve engager 62 for opening the check valve 58 and bearing feet 52 that engage the perimeter of the filter. When the filter is absent from the pump, the bearing feet 52 of the filter detector move beyond the ledge 48 into the recess 54 and the valve engager stem 62 retracts from the check valve 58 and the valve closes to terminate flow of fuel to the pump. The inlet and outlet caps 56 and 76 are rotatably mounted to the intermediate body of the pump to allow the fuel inlet and outlet to be oriented at angular intervals about the pump. A progressive seal is formed at the O-ring 86 between the inlet end cap 56 and the fuel pump housing to continue the seal as the end cap is removed or reassembled with the housing so that the check valve is closed before the housing is opened.

Abstract: A scroll compressor with a backflow-proof mechanism. The scroll compressor comprises a slider disposed on a scroll couple, forming several enclosed spaces. The slider is raised by the working fluid in the spaces, preventing liquid leakage from a high-pressure chamber to a low-pressure chamber, when the scroll compressor starts. The slider descends when the compression ratio of the scroll compressor is exceeded. Thus, the pressure is released, and the performance of the scroll compressor is improved. The slider of the invention further comprises a floating element to prevent reversal of pressurized fluid and damage to the scroll couple.

Abstract: A scroll fluid machine comprises a stationary scroll and an orbiting scroll between which a sealed space is formed. The orbiting scroll is eccentrically revolved with respect to the stationary scroll around a drive shaft via a bearing. An oil-supply hole is formed at the orbiting scroll so that grease may be supplied into the bearing for lubrication; There is a self rotation preventing device for the orbiting scroll and another oil supply hole to that device.

Abstract: A mold plate drive assembly configured to provide a variable motion and fill position of the cavity of a mold plate relative to a fill position of a food product forming machine.

Abstract: An injection molding nozzle is disclosed in which the body has a front end and a central bore terminating at the front end, the front end receiving a needle assembly. The needle assembly has an outer retaining piece adapted to be removeably secured to the front end of the body. The inner piece of the needle assembly is adapted to be received within the outer retaining piece and includes a gating needle that extends through the central opening of the outer retaining piece so as to be in close proximity to the gate of the mold cavity. One or more spacers are provided that are selectively positioned between the inner piece and a shoulder in the front end of the body and a shoulder in the outer retaining piece, thus permitting adjustable axial positioning of the gating needle with respect to the central opening of the outer retaining piece.

Abstract: Described is an apparatus for the production of transversely ribbed tubes comprising mold jaw halves which are movable in a condition of bearing against each other along two guide. The guide paths have a common mold section, a respective return section and two respective direction-changing sections. The respective direction-changing section has a direction-changing member which is linearly movably guidedly arranged on a base element fixed with respect to the machine and which is connected to a compensating device which is provided to compensate for the tolerance play of the mold jaw halves which circulate along the associated guide path, said tolerance play being dependent on the temperature and/or the speed of the mold jaw halves.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an expansion tube that has a plurality of expansion slits on the outer peripheral surface thereof long a longitudinal direction, each of the expansion slits having a predetermined width and a relatively larger length than the predetermined width, and an apparatus for manufacturing a heat shrinkable tube, having the expansion tube, that can regularly and fast expand the heat shrinkable tube, and after the expansion, regularly and fast cool the heat shrinkable tube by the cooling water sprayed through the slits, thereby rapidly and stably manufacturing the heat shrinkable.

Abstract: A method of forming a composite panel includes the steps of supplying a material to a forming station, supplying a dry additive to the material at the forming station, producing a mat comprising the material and the additive, and applying heat and pressure to the mat to produce a composite panel. An apparatus for forming a composite panel includes a reservoir of raw material and at least one forming station configured to form a mat of the raw material. A dry material dispensing assembly introduces an additive to the forming station, and press applies heat and pressure to transform the mat into a panel.

Abstract: A pouch production apparatus includes a pouch forming apparatus operable to form pouches from an elongate web of material and zipper tape and an extrusion apparatus responsive to operation of the pouch forming apparatus and operable to extrude zipper tape. A pneumatic transport apparatus is operable to transport the zipper tape from the extrusion apparatus to the pouch forming apparatus during operation of the pouch forming apparatus. A method of producing a pouch using such apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A series of injection molding nozzles, one series having a two-piece nozzle and the other series having a three-piece nozzle. The two-piece nozzles include an inner and an outer insert portions, and the three-piece nozzles include an inner insert, an outer insert and a retaining thermal ring portions. The nozzles in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention include one, or more novel feature and which include: an extended thermo-barrier, a thermo-barrier access gap, threaded engagements between the nozzle pieces and/or between the nozzle and the nozzle housing, as well as structure elements that enable an improved methods for the removal and/or replacement of the nozzles from their housing. In addition, different performance conditions are encouraged in the nozzle designs by use of different or same thermal conductivity and/or hardness type materials.

Abstract: Coinjection molding nozzle apparatus and method includes structure and/or steps whereby a first nozzle melt channel is kept thermally separated from a second nozzle melt channel. Preferably, grooves in the nozzle body or a separate nozzle pipe keep the first and second nozzle melt channels thermally separated. Preferably, a highly thermally conductive nozzle tip is removably coupled to the nozzle body and includes first and second nozzle tip melt channels that merge together before the mold gate.

Abstract: An oven (10) has a rotatable portion (12, 14) comprising an outer chamber (20) and an inner treatment chamber (22) within the outer chamber. The inner treatment chamber is adapted to receive material for treatment and the oven has means (28, 32, 34, 36, 38, 42) to heat the inner treatment chamber externally. Preferably, the inner treatment chamber is heated by means of a flow of hot gases through the outer chamber, which passes over the external surfaces of the walls of the inner treatment chamber. The oven may also include means (44, 48) for introducing a flow of hot gasses through the inner treatment chamber. The flow rate of the hot gasses passing through the inner and outer chambers can be varied according to the nature of the material being treated. The oven is particularly suited to thermally de-coating scrap materials.

Abstract: A mechanized dental instrument includes an active part (2) and a sleeve (3) arranged on an end of the dental instrument which opposes the active part. The sleeve (3) is provided with a rotary drive means (4) that can, when assembled with the head of a handpiece, directly engage with a rotary drive means located upstream of the head of the handpiece. The drive means (4) is produced from a flat metallic piece which is fixed to the active part (2) by being slid over the axle (2a) of the active part (2), and which is provided with at least one opening (5) that is shaped to enable the circulation of plastic material forming the sleeve (3) when the sleeve (3) is molded over the axle (2a) to ensure the connection of the rotary drive means (4) on the axle (2a).

Abstract: Dental prosthesis support apparatus includes a plurality of dental implants having self-tapping threads on a lower portion thereof for seating in a jawbone and an upper portion for enabling engagement therewith. An armature is provided having sufficient flexibility to be aligned with the jawbone and engaged along the upper portions of each of the plurality of dental implants seated in the jawbone. The armature is formed from a material enabling subsequent rigidization. The method includes installing a plurality of dental implants into a jawbone in a spaced apart relationship and thereafter removably disposing an armature onto each of the plurality of dental implants and aligning the armature with the jawbone. The armature is removed and rigidized to the jawbone alignment and thereafter affixed onto each of the implants.

Abstract: A dental implant assembly with an an abutment head integrally joined to an implant body. The top section of the abutment head a shape formed by a linear wall adjacent to an arcuate wall; a ledge is located beneath the top section of the abutment; and the abutment head extends above the ledge a distance of from about 2 to about 4 millimeters. The implant body has a base section and a neck section, each of which has a different degree of roughness.

Abstract: An assembly for handling a bone implant includes a transfer cap which can be snapped onto the implant, and an adapter which engages with the implant. The head of the implant has a polygonal socket, an outer implant shoulder, and a shoulder edge located beneath the shoulder, while the transfer cap has an elastic lip that snaps over the shoulder edge, and the adapter has a polygonal drive projection adapted to engage within the polygonal socket. The adapter also has a plug-type extension for attaching a screw-in instrument. When the transfer cap is snapped onto the implant and the adapter is inserted, the polygonal projection engages with the polygonal socket on the implant, while the plug-type extension of the adapter that projects through the transfer cap is located on the outside. The transfer cap and the adapter plugged therein are detachably connected to one another.

Abstract: An Earth globe is provided for studying continental position theories. The globe comprises graphical image representations of a plurality of land masses at locations representing the current position of the land masses on Earth. A plurality of at least a portion of great circle indication lines are graphically marked on the globe that generally correspond to linear portions of geographic features on the globe. Globes having at least one graphically marked intersection zone corresponding to an area within about 5° of defined geographic points are also provided. Methods for marking globes are also described.

Abstract: An educational globe assembly is provided comprising a globe and a base cradle for the globe configured to removably and rotatably support the globe. The base cradle comprises a great circle ring, and the great circle ring comprises at least one annular indicia surface that is capable of rotation in the plane of the great circle ring. Base cradles are separately provided. Methods of use of the educational globe assembly are also described.

Abstract: A multi-media method and system performs psychological assessment of an individual for suitability for particular jobs, whereby the individual is shown and provided with discrete visual and auditory stimuli on a multi-media computer screen, so that the individual's responses can be monitored in conjunction with physiological responses received by biofeedback sensors. The computer tallies the test subject's recorded responses. Virtual work environments are optionally displayed, to enable the tested individual to simulate a real work environment. Unlike other job evaluation systems, the system evaluates a job candidate's ability to maintain task focus under pressure. It directly measures performance under pressure, rather than only inferring potential performance based upon selective input from a job candidate.

Abstract: A writing board support tray comprises a support tray having an end portion coated with an elastomeric material with the support tray and the elastomeric material being substantially inseparably bonded or attached to each other. Further, a writing board support tray comprises a support tray substantially completely coated with an elastomeric material with the support tray and the elastomeric material being substantially inseparably bonded or attached to each other. Additionally, a further preferred embodiment, a writing board support tray comprises a support tray with a front end substantially completely coated with an elastomeric material with the support tray and the elastomeric material being substantially inseparably bonded or attached to each other. In addition, a writing board comprising a writing surface and a support tray, wherein the peripheral edge of the writing surface is encapsulated by an elastomeric material and the support tray is constructed completely out of the elastomeric material.

Abstract: A connection assembly provides an electrical connection from a coaxial cable to planar circuitry. The connection assembly includes an innermost connector node, configured to connect electrically to an innermost conductor of a coaxial cable, having one opening that allows for the innermost conductor to pass through the one opening and having a first contact extending perpendicular to a center line of the coaxial cable, a braided connector node, configured to connect electrically to a braided conductor of the coaxial cable, having two openings that allow for portions of the coaxial cable to pass through the two openings and having a second contact extending perpendicular to the center line of the coaxial cable and a connection module, connected to the innermost connector node and the braided connector node and configured to maintain an orientation of the innermost and braided connector nodes and the first and second contacts.

Abstract: An electrical connector is provided that includes a housing having a mating interface. Contacts provided in the housing are organized in differential pairs with the contacts in each of the differential pairs being located along an associated differential pair contact line. The differential pairs are aligned wherein the differential pair contact lines of adjacent differential pairs are non-parallel to one another.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrical socket connector (1) including an insulative housing (10) having a base (100) with a mating surface (100a) adapted to face a chip package (2), and a mounting surface (100b) adapted to face a printed circuit board. The base includes a peripheral wall (101) extending from edges thereof. A plurality of passageways (12) extends from the mating interface toward the mounting interface, with a plurality of terminals (14) each inserted into the passageways from the mating interface to the mounting interface. A detachable aligning key (16) is assembled to the base.

Abstract: In a terminal manufacturing method of the present invention, first a thin plate-like body including a thin plate-like terminal portion and a thin plate-like leg portion is formed with a die. The thin plate-like terminal portion has a shape corresponding to a terminal portion 24 of an upper-level terminal 22 and a terminal portion 30 of a lower-level terminal 28. The thin plate-like leg portion has the shape corresponding to a leg portion 26 of the upper-level terminal 22 and a leg portion 32 of the lower-level terminal 28. Then, the upper-level terminal 22 is formed by bending the thin plate-like leg portion toward one side of a plate-thickness direction. Also, the lower-level terminal 28 is formed by bending the thin plate-like leg portion toward the other side of the plate-thickness direction. Thus, by simply changing the bending direction of the thin plate-like leg portion, either the upper-level terminal 22 or the lower-level terminal 28 can be formed.

Abstract: A card connector assembly (1) includes an insulating housing (21, 22), a number of contacts (211, 222), a daughter board (7), a rear socket (8) and a spacer (6). The insulating housing (21, 22) defines a card receiving space. Each contact (211, 222) comprises a contacting portion and a soldering portion. The daughter board (7) comprises a plurality of conductive portions. The rear socket (8) is adapted to be mounted to a mother board and to electrically connect with the daughter board (7) to establish an electrical connection between the contacts (211, 222) and the mother board. The spacer (6) is formed with a holding portion (65) on lateral side faces thereof with one end assembled to the insulating housing (21, 22) and the other end mating with the daughter board (7) to securely hold the soldering portions of the contacts.

Abstract: An electrical connector having an electrically non-conductive carrier, the carrier having a plurality of contact pin mounting holes extending there through. Each hole has a square cross-section. An electrically conductive contact pin is passed through each hole. A retainer is provided on the pin separating a leading pin section from a trailing pin section. The trailing pin section has a length slightly longer than the length of the hole and a diameter slightly less than the width of the hole. The retainer and the contact head both have a diameter at least slightly greater than the width of the hole to retain the pin in the hole. An electrical contact pin for use with such a multi-pin electrical connector, a method of inserting such contact pin may be provided.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for securing a cover to a housing is provided. The housing includes an electrical socket. The mechanism includes a locking plate, a casing for enclosing the locking plate, and an engaging member. The locking plate has a securing member and a protruding member. The engaging member extends from the cover. When the locking plate is in a first position, the securing member is engaged with the engaging member to secure the cover to the housing. When the locking plate is in a second position, the securing member is disengaged from the engaging member and the protruding member is extended into the electrical socket.

Abstract: A connector is provided for coupling a computer peripheral device with a RJ11 or RJ45 data communication socket. The computer peripheral device has a rectangular recess. The connector includes an elongated main body including a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal has a shape mating with the data communication socket. The second terminal has a shape mating with the rectangular recess of the computer peripheral device. As a consequence, the computer peripheral device is attached onto the notebook computer in a cost-effective manner.

Abstract: An electrical card connector (100) includes a housing (1) having a rear wall (11), and first and second side walls (12 and 13) substantially parallel extending forwards form the rear wall; a shielding member (5) covering on the housing and defining a receiving cavity together with the first and second side walls for receiving an electrical card (6), the receiving cavity having a font entry from which the electrical card is inserted into the receiving cavity; and a number of terminals (2) disposed in the housing and each having a contact portion (22) extending into the receiving cavity for contacting the electrical card. The shielding member is provided with a pair of guiding plates (56) at the front entry of the receiving cavity and disposed between the first and second side walls for guiding the electrical card into the receiving cavity.

Abstract: A card connector for connecting an expansion card to a circuit board and including a long insulating body with a central slot and a plurality of conductive terminals. The card connector also includes a metal casing with a covering function covering the insulating body. The metal casing prevents electromagnetic interference.

Abstract: A gas-tight electrical connection comprises a conductive substrate with at least one socket for receiving an associated wire, at least one slot in the conductive substrate that penetrates each socket and at least one SMA force ring that slides over the conductive substrate near each slot to clamp the electrical connection when heated to its austenitic state.

Abstract: A communication socket includes a hollow casing, a connection socket and an enclosure. The casing is provided with a rear wall extending from a rear side thereof and two cutouts defined in a front side thereof. The connection socket is received in the hollow casing and has two fingers formed on a front portion thereof to correspond to and to be received in the two cutouts of the casing, terminals extending from a rear side thereof and two seats formed on opposite sides of the rear side of the connection socket. The enclosure is provided to enclose the rear wall and configured to be supported by the two seats of the connection socket so that arcing between the terminals and the rear wall is prevented.

Abstract: A telecommunications module has a front and a rear side and at least two contacts which are in disconnectable contact with each other at a disconnection point, wherein at least one contact has at least two projections in the vicinity of the disconnection point and on either side of the disconnection point. The contacts can be separated by inserting an external component or a portion thereof in an insertion direction between the projections. This manner of separation of the contacts without contacting any of the disconnection points results in less abrasion at these points. At least one of the projections formed on a contact of a telecommunications module in the vicinity of a disconnection point may be used as a test access to the contact.

Abstract: An electrical connector (100) for electrically connecting with a mating connector, includes an insulative housing (1) defining a cavity (16), a number of contacts (2) extending into the cavity, and a detective switch (3) accommodated in the housing (1). The detective switch includes a stationary switch (31) and a movable switch (32). The stationary switch and the movable switch respectively include a first and a second engaging portion (313, 323) for connecting/disconnecting with each other. The movable switch (32) includes a spoon-shaped projecting portion (324) positioned in a free end of the second engaging portion (323) and extending into the cavity (16) for engaging with the mating connector.

Abstract: A connecting assembly has a first connector with a first connector part, a second connector with a second connector part, and a sealing assembly. The first and second connector parts are joinable to place the first and second connectors into a joined operative state wherein at least one conductive path is defined through the joined first and second connectors. The sealing assembly has at least one deformable component that is changeable from an assembly state into a sealed state by compression thereof with the first and second connectors in the operative state. The at least one deformable component defines a seal to block migration of moisture to between the first and second connector parts with the at least one deformable component in the sealed state.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an electrical connector including: an insulating body provided with a plurality of receiving holes; a plurality of electrical terminals received in the receiving holes; and a clamping part for clamping a chip module, provided with a suction portion having an elastic arm on its side, wherein there is a gap between the suction portion and the elastic arm. The electrical connector according to the present invention provides highly stable electrical contact between its electrical terminals and electrical devices.

Abstract: An LGA socket (1) is provided for electrically connecting an IC package to a circuit substrate. The LGA socket includes a housing (2) having a number of conductive terminals (3) and a stiffener (4) formed with a pair of clasping ribs (420) bent inwardly towards the housing disposed around the housing. A load plate (5) having a hook (520) is pivotally attached to the stiffener and moveable relative to the stiffener between an opening position and a closed position. A lever is pivotally connected to the hook. The lever is rotatable with respect to the hook so as to abut against the clasping ribs and successively lock the load plate in position.