Abstract: A driving control apparatus of a rotary brush, which controls a drive of the rotary brush disposed in a suction body of a vacuum cleaner, is disclosed. The driving control apparatus includes a fixing bracket disposed in a suction body of a vacuum cleaner, a link unit pivotably connected to the fixing bracket, a pedal unit connected to one side of the link unit, and a pulley unit to move in combination with the link unit and to connect or separate a driving belt to or from a driving shaft, and the pulley unit is rotated in the same direction as a rotating direction of the driving belt when coming in contact with the driving belt.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a door check mechanism providing infinite stable positions with applications more specifically in the area of motor vehicles, comprising on the one hand an articulated guiding arm (1), mounted to the vehicle body or to the door, and on the other hand a mechanism (9), mounted to the other part, either the door or the vehicle body, in such a way that guiding arm (1) penetrates through mechanism (9) with a relative displacement between these two parts, the wedging function resulting from a blocking of guiding arm (1) by mechanism (9). (FIG. 1) Mechanism (9) comprises a carriage device (2), including 2 braking-rollers (21) and (22), held against each other as well as against guiding arm (1), in order to ensure the wedging function.

Abstract: A door check (10) check including an arm (12), the arm (12) including an arm mount (22) provided at one end thereof for mounting the arm (12) to one of a vehicle door or vehicle frame. The arm (12) also includes a generally longitudinally extending first surface (28) and an oppositely disposed longitudinally extending second surface (30). The door check (10) further includes an arm guide (16). The arm guide (16) includes a housing (42), the housing (42) including a guide mount (56), (58) for mounting the housing (42) to the other of the vehicle door or vehicle frame, and a guideway (14) for receiving the arm (12) therein. The arm guide (16) also includes first and second generally facing arm engaging structures (64), (66) & (72) mounted to or within the housing (42) for receiving the arm (12) therebetween. The first arm engaging structure (64), (66) is mounted to the housing (42) and faces the first arm surface (28). The second arm engaging structure (72) faces the second arm surface (30).

Abstract: A folding step stool includes a hinge mechanism. The step stool includes a first section connected to the hinge mechanism. The first section having a bottom step. The step stool includes a second section connected to the hinge mechanism. The step stool includes a third section connected to the hinge mechanism, wherein when the folding step is in and unfolded state, the first and second sections form a base on a floor and are in angular relationship with each other, and the third section extends upward from the hinge mechanism relative to the first section, and when the first, second and third sections are in a folded state, they are essentially in parallel with each other, are no more than ¾ as tall and ½ as long as when the step stool is in the unfolded state. A method for using a folding step stool. A hinge for a folding step stool having a folded and unfolded state and having a top rail, front rail and rear rail. A method for using a folding step stool.

Abstract: A foldable electronic device (100) includes a main housing (60) and a cover (80) mounted to the main housing by a hinge (20). The cover is movable between a first position where a side of the main housing is covered by the cover and a second position where the side of the main housing is revealed from the cover. The hinge includes an axle (22), a block (26) retained on the axle with threading engagement therebetween, and an elastic member (24) retained between the axle and the block. When the block is moved to guide the cover to the first position, the elastic member is compressed. When the block is released, the block automatically moves due to decompression of the elastic member to drive the cover to the second position.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a railway car pivot assembly comprises an annular bushing formed with a round-shaped hole and an elongated pivot pin that extends through the hole for rotational movement within. The pivot pin has a flange for releasable securement to an end door of a conventional railway car. The annular bushing is coupled to the railway car via a swivel coupler that provides for orthogonal rotation of the annular bushing relative to the railway car.

Abstract: The present invention is comprised of an elongate piece of first material having flexible qualities with a flexible strip of second, more rigid, and bendable material enclosed within the first material. The apparatus may be twist-tied around equipment for relatively easy transport.

Abstract: A bundling device includes a flexible, frangible strap having a plurality of engagement teeth. Each of the teeth has a notch. A strap engagement portion is connected to the strap. The engagement portion includes flexible wings positioned in opposed relationship and a strap receiving aperture therebetween to receive the flexible strap in a first direction, the flexible wings prevent removal of the strap in an opposite second direction. A raised engagement surface extends from each of the flexible wings, opposed ones of the raised engagement surfaces operable to frictionally contact one of the teeth. The strap is loaded to break at one of the notches, and a portion of the strap is retained between the flexible wings by contact with the raised engagement surfaces.

Abstract: A fastener assembly configured to secure a first panel with respect to a second panel includes a base having lateral wings connected to a central post. The lateral wings and the central post converge at a distal tip. Each of the lateral wings includes a first outer surface and a second outer surface, wherein the first outer surface is inwardly angled toward the distal tip. The fastener assembly also includes angled retaining ledges located between the first outer surface and the second outer surface. The angled retaining ledges are canted in a non-parallel fashion with respect to a plane of at least one of the first and second panels. The angled retaining ledges allow for safe and easy removal of the base from at least one of the first and second panels.

Abstract: A sculpted interconnected split piece of jewelry is connected in a variety of ways through magnets that are placed in recesses where the connection is invisible from the outside; in another embodiment a second connecting means is provided for connecting and stabilizing the piece of jewelry.

Abstract: A quick release buckle of the type having a male portion which cooperates with and fits into a female portion of the buckle wherein the male portion of the buckle is provided with a pair of spring arms and a central guide which are receivable in the female portion of the buckle, the center guide being receivable in a center channel in the female portion of the buckle and the spring arms being received in and expandable into release openings in the female portion of the buckle when the two are interfitted and wherein a shoulder on each spring arm will lock against an inner rim on the release openings, the improvement which comprises a drawstring connected to the outer end of the central guide on the male portion of the buckle through the center channel of the female portion of the buckle, the drawstring, when pulled being capable of pulling the center guide into the center channel of the female portion of the buckle whereby the spring arms will lock into the release openings, the center guide on the male porti

Abstract: A bottom end stop (10) for a slide fastener (1) is disclosed, which comprises a pair of stringer tapes (2) defining a gap (3) therebetween and provided, on their respective inner edges, with respective longitudinal rows of coupling elements (5). The bottom end stop (10) comprises a rivet member (11) and a corresponding backplate (12). The backplate (12) is provided with at least one through aperture (12a). The rivet member (11) has at least one integral protruding pin (11b) adapted to be engaged through said at least one aperture (12a) of the backplate (12) and to be permanently deformed beyond and against the backplate (12).

Abstract: A slider 20 for a fluid tight slide fastener has upper and lower plates 21, 22 joined together by a guide post 23. A guide plate 24 is formed on the guide post 23 to cooperate with the upper and lower plates 21, 22 to guide the coupling elements and sealing lips of the slide fastener into engagement in conjunction with side flanges 27, 28 on the upper and lower plates 21, 22. The slider is integrally formed; such as by die casting or moulding. To facilitate moulding the guide plate 24 may be thickened at its leading end 32 and provided with a tapered edge, and connected to the upper plate 21 by a web 29 at its trailing end.

Abstract: An insert tongue (10) for a safety belt buckle includes an insert section (12) which is intended to be inserted into the belt buckle and a safety belt section (14) which has a slot for receiving the safety belt (5). The safety belt section (14) generally extends in the extension of the insert section (12) and the slot extends at an angle of less than 25° relative to a plane defined by the insert section (12).

Abstract: A closure system for braces, protective wear and similar articles is disclosed. The closure system includes a plurality of opposing lace guide members and a tightening mechanism. The closure system further includes a lace extending through the guide members and coupled to the tightening mechanism. In some embodiments, a quick release apparatus is included to facilitate opening of the closure system. The tightening mechanism in some embodiments includes a control for winding the lace into a housing to place tension on the lace thereby tightening the closure system.

Abstract: An adjustable lace assembly includes a lace, a tubular member, two stop members, and two spaced apart inserting pins. The lace is composed of two separate lace segments each having a tagged end and an opposite bent end portion. The tubular member has a passage for receiving the bent end portions. The stop members are mounted pivotally inside the tubular member at two axially spaced apart positions and span the passage. Each of the stop members has an engaging part engageable with one of the bent end portions. The inserting pins are insertable removably into the tubular member, are capable of disengaging the bent end portions, respectively, from the engaging parts of the stop members, and permit movement of the bent end portions so that a length between the tagged end of each of the lace segments and a corresponding one of the stop members can be adjusted.

Abstract: A drum for processing nonwovens has a perforated lateral surface and an interior divided into first and second compartments, respectively associated with first and second lateral surface portions of the drum. A partial vacuum in each of the compartments aspirates and secures a tangentially-engaged nonwoven preform against the lateral surface of the drum for further processing. The drum may be incorporated in a production unit or installation including a spunbond tower for spinning filaments to form the nonwoven preform for tangential delivery to the drum. The resulting nonwoven may thereby be provided with uniform properties.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for decorating and fixing a non-woven material (15) in the form of a web of endless fabric, said device comprising a screening drum (6) and a decoration shell (7) which surrounds the screening drum (6) from outside. The fibres (15) of the non-woven material, located on the decoration shell (7), are needled and fixed according to the decoration formed by the holes of the decoration shell (7) by means of energy-rich water jets (14) or air flows. The invention is characterised in that the decoration shell (7) and the screening drum (6) are interconnected by mechanical means (8, 9, 10) that can be easily detached. In a preferred embodiment, the decoration shell (7) comprises a counter-toothed ring (9) and the screening drum (6) comprises a toothed ring (8), said rings positively engaging in each other in such a way that a rotation of the decoration shell (7) and the screening drum (6) in relation to each other is prevented.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of producing an automobile interior material or construction sheet with excellent processability, and its product made therefrom. More particularly, a method comprises by carding short fibers wherein short fibers are mixed with polypropylene fibers and polyethylene fibers in a mixing ratio of 3 to 7:7 to 3, on one side or both sides of a foamed layer produced by foaming any one selected from the group consisting of polypropylene chips, polyethylene chips, polyurethane chips, and expanded polystyrene chips; setting the short fibers with a shape of a truss in the foamed layer by interlacing the short fibers through a needle punching process; and thermally forming the short fiber layer(s) on the foamed layer by heating the portions of the short fibers exposed on the outside the foamed layer to 120 to 250° C. and pressing thereby melting, cooling and hardening the fused portions of the short fibers.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method for manufacturing a window covering 50 for an architectural opening. The apparatus includes a support structure handling assembly 92, an operating element handling assembly 94, and a vane handling assembly 96. The handling assemblies process the respective materials to an assembly station 100 to attach one portion of a vane 54 to the operating elements 56, and another portion of the vane 54 to the support structure 52, allowing movement of one portion of the vane 54 relative to other portion of the vane.

Abstract: On embodiment includes a first capacitor stack including a first plurality of substantially planar anodes and a first plurality of substantially planar cathodes, a second capacitor stack including a second plurality of anode layers and a second plurality of cathode layers, an interconnect coupling the first capacitor stack and the second capacitor stack electrically in parallel, the interconnect adapted to permit rotation of the first capacitor stack with respect to the second capacitor stack, wherein the first capacitor stack and the second capacitor stack are adapted to deliver a defibrillation pulse to the anode terminal and the cathode terminal at a voltage of from approximately 410 volts to approximately 610 volts.

Abstract: A novel surface acoustic wave device with a decreased velocity dispersion and a low insertion loss as well as the fabrication method therefor is provided. The surface acoustic wave device includes a substrate, an insulating layer with an indentation on the substrate, a silicon layer with a first portion on the insulating layer and a second portion suspended above the indentation, a piezoelectric layer on the first and the second portions of the silicon layer, and at least an electrode on the piezoelectric layer.

Abstract: A device of a descaler head is described with circumferentially following and longitudinally following rows of descaler parts (22, 24, 26) where the descaler head comprises: a shaft (12) onto which are fed a number of holding elements for the descaler parts (22, 24, 26), said holding bodies are held together in axial direction with the help of adjustable gripping appliances on the carrier shaft, and each descaler part is connected to associated holding bodies via connecting means that are each in the form of a relatively short length of chain, piece of wire or similar flexible connecting means, at a distance from the rotational axis of the descaler head.

Abstract: A pair of linkage bushing installation pliers includes two pivotally coupled, elongated handles with opposing clamping jaws, one presenting an annular clamping anvil for engagement around a receiving aperture on one side of a lever, the other presenting a seating anvil having a perpendicularly extending stool for coaxially forcing a linkage bushing, coaxially placed around the stool, into and through the receiving aperture from the opposite side of the lever.

Abstract: A mark is displayed to a manually scrapped component capable of being disassembled manually without disassembling or crushing by machine at the time of discard or recovery of an electric appliance after use, and the manually scrapped component is manually scrapped from a product, and in the case of crushing by machine thereafter, the mark display is a mark capable of separation into plural kinds of substance on which a cost burden is imposed and valuable substance after recovery, and scrapping can be performed easily at low cost.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a vehicle in which a blind cutting machine is installed. A supply of blinds in different sizes, styles, fabrics and finishes is also maintained in the vehicle. The vehicle travels to the customer premise. Once the blind is selected by the customer, the installer measures the architectural feature to be covered to determine the final dimensions of the blind. The installer then cuts the selected blind to the desired size using the cutting machine. After the blind is cut to the proper size, it is mounted on the architectural feature. The selection, measurement, sizing and installation of the blind are accomplished during a single visit to the customer premise.

Abstract: A device for separating opposed ceramic elements from a metal base member, the device including a rigid body shaped complementarily to an inside surface of the base member and receivable therein. Opposed wedge members are mounted are in the body wall. The body includes a threaded interior surface. A bolt is included for threaded engagement with the interior surface and has a conically-shaped end. Each wedge member is engageable with one of the ceramic elements, such that upon inserting of the body in the base member and threaded movement of the bolt inward to the body, the end of the bolt engages the wedge members to urge the wedge members outward through a body wall to engage the ceramic elements to urge the ceramic elements apart and to separate from the base member.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing structures having a continuous sidewall includes a stationary inner work station having at least one working level and a stationary outer work station having at least one working level. The outer work station surrounds the inner work station. A shaft is disposed between the inner work station and the outer work. A lift or hoist is provided for raising and lowering a work piece in the shaft as work progresses.

Abstract: An apparatus for riveting two or more sheets together that includes a punch and a die. The die has an expandable cavity that is formed by a tip and a plurality of movable blades. The blades are retained on the die, in part, by an elastomeric blade collar that biases the blades inwardly toward the tip. A method of riveting a plurality of sheets together with the apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A functional element (10), for fixing to a piece of sheet metal (40), such as for example, a nut element or a bolt element with a body section or head section, comprising an annular flange (14) which transforms into a cylindrical rivet section, is characterized in that the transformation from annular flange into the rivet section is formed by an at least essentially conical surface, forming a contact surface for a corresponding conical region of a piece of sheet metal, which, on fixing the functional element to a piece of sheet metal, is clamped between the side of the annular flange facing the rivet section and an annular bead (50) formed from the rivet section. An assembled component and a method for the fixing of a functional element are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for applying a high temperature anti-fretting wear coating is disclosed. The method includes providing a gas turbine engine blade as a substrate in which the gas turbine engine blade has a mating surface for contacting a corresponding gas turbine engine component and applying a high temperature bond coat overlying the substrate using air plasma spraying, resulting in an inspectable, repairable turbine blade.

Abstract: A manufacturing method is proposed for a bracket which is formed by bending a flat plate (11) into a predetermined shape including a pair of flat parts (4, 5a) disposed in parallel with each other. The pair of flat parts (4, 5a) has a through-hole (6, 6a, 6b) for inserting a bolt. The method comprises forming a weak portion (12, 14) in advance in the flat plate (11) in positions corresponding to a through-hole (6, 6a, 6b). The weak portion (12, 14) is a portion which is structurally weaker than an adjacent portion of the plate (11). The method further comprises bending the flat plate (11) into the predetermined shape, and forming the through-holes (6, 6a, 6b) by stamping out the weak portion (12, 14). By forming the weak portion (12, 14) in advance, the stamping force required for forming the through-hole (6, 6a, 6b) is reduced.

Abstract: An improved convenience closure that is adapted for sealing an end of a can includes an end panel having a peripheral score, a rivet formation, a mustache score and a flex line score defined therein. The mustache score may include a central portion that is positioned radially inwardly on the end panel relative to the rivet formation. The central portion is preferably curved, with a concave side of the curvature facing the rivet formation. The mustache score also may include first and second preferably symmetrical end portions, each of which is continuous with the central portion. Most of the total length of each of the end portions may be curved away from a nearest portion of the peripheral score, with a convex side of curvature facing the nearest portion of the peripheral score. Tooling for making the convenience closure and a method of making such a convenience disclosure are also disclosed.

Abstract: A hazardous substance guarantee acquiring method acquires a hazardous substance guarantee of a part forming a product. The method registers information that enables a part to be specified in correspondence with information that enables judgement as to whether or not a guarantee has been acquired for the part, merges a parts table indicating parts forming the product at a designing stage and a parts table indicating parts forming the product at a manufacturing stage to create a merged parts table, judges whether or not there exists a part for which the guarantee has not been acquired, within the parts forming the product, by collating the parts indicated on the merged parts table and the parts guaranteed by the registered guarantees, and automatically requests issuance of the guarantee for the part for which the guarantee has not been acquired when it is judged that the guarantee has not been acquired for the part.

Abstract: An electric motor is equipped with a housing. The housing comprises a main housing body, with which a cylindrical part and a base are formed integrally in one piece, and an end member. An opening at a central part of the base is blocked by a cover. A first subassembly, in which the main housing body and a stator, and the like are assembled together, is held by a first holding member. A second subassembly, in which an output shaft, a rotor, the end member and the like are assembled together, is held via first and second end parts of the output shaft by a second holding member. By relative movement of the first and second holding members, the first and second subassemblies are assembled together.

Abstract: Coils are electrically connected to a commutator, which includes commutator segments that are arranged one after another in a circumferential direction of a dielectric body along an outer peripheral surface of the dielectric body. Each commutator segment includes a slidably contacting portion, a claw portion and a bending fulcrum portion. The slidably contacting portion is provided in one axial side of the commutator segment and is slidably contactable with each brush. The claw portion is provided in the other axial side of the commutator segment and is engageable with the corresponding coil. The bending fulcrum portion is formed on a claw portion side of the slidably contacting portion and is bent upon radially inwardly pressing the claw portion by a fusing electrode.

Abstract: A simple method is provided for protecting slider mounted read/write transducers from electrostatic discharge damage during the manufacture of disk drives. The method involves placing a ball of conducting thermoplastic resin, such as a gold or silver epoxy, between the terminal pads of the transducer and using the ball to shunt the pads to read-head shields and the slider substrate and thence to ground. The epoxy ball is easily applied and easily removed and can be used at different stages in the manufacturing process.

Abstract: For forming an annular magnetostrictive coat on an outer peripheral surface of a rotational shaft associated with a magnetostrictive torque sensor, a magnetostrictive-coat forming method comprises a step of fitting a cylindrical masking jig over the outer peripheral surface of the rotational shaft and securing the masking jig to the outer peripheral surface, a step of placing the rotational shaft in a plating tank to thereby form the magnetostrictive coat by plating on the outer peripheral surface, and a step of detaching the masking jig from the rotational shaft.

Abstract: There are provided a method for manufacturing an electric heating mirror and the mirror thereof. An electrode pattern is printed on a metal-coated surface of the mirror in which the metal-coated surface is formed on a rear surface of a glass plate, or printed on a rear surface of the glass plate of the mirror in which the metal-coated surface is formed on a front surface of the glass plate using a conductive paste. Thereafter, a current input terminal is connected to the electrode pattern in parallel after protecting the electrode pattern by a PTC paste. Alternatively, the current input terminal is connected to the electrode pattern in series after forming a passivation layer on the electrode pattern by any of printing, coating, and deposition process. According to the method, the manufacturing process is simplified and the manufacturing cost decreases. In addition, environmental pollutants are not produced at all and the durability of the plane heater is enhanced.

Abstract: A lithium-ion polymer battery, and methods and apparatus for manufacturing the same, are disclosed. The methods include forming an anode with a porous material having spaces that contain an electrolytic solution, placing the anode surface in contact with a layer of lithium metal, and shorting the layer of lithium metal to a current collector so that lithium ions are released from the layer of lithium metal and forming SEI layer on the anode surface through the reaction with the electrolyte reduction products.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for identifying defective lithium-ion polymer battery electrodes are disclosed. The methods include assembling a stack of electrodes, monitoring voltage of the stack during the assembling, and identifying defective electrodes based on the voltage monitoring.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a hydrogen separation membrane-electrolyte membrane assembly which includes the steps of applying a hydrogen permeation treatment at a predetermined temperature to a hydrogen separation membrane substrate, and forming an electrolyte membrane on the hydrogen separation membrane substrate after the hydrogen permeation treatment has been applied. At the time the electrolyte membrane is formed, the shape of the surface of the hydrogen separation membrane substrate has already changed. Therefore, the surface of the hydrogen separation membrane substrate will not easily deform even if hydrogen moves through the hydrogen separation membrane substrate after the electrolyte membrane is formed.

Abstract: A method is described for the mounting of a bearing block of a coupling plate on a mounting plate, with the bearing block having a bridge-like shape, being provided with bores at its opposite front and rear ends to accommodate fixing screws and being kept in place on the mounting plate by means of the fixing screws, and the coupling plate engaging with the bearing block in a central area, with the attachment of the bearing block to the mounting plate comprising at least one additional form fitting element. The invention was based on the task of providing a secure attachment of a self-supporting bridge-like bearing block to a mounting plate even under the extreme operating forces that are to be expected. The task is solved in accordance with the invention by means of a method in which by tightening the fixing screw together with the at least one form fitting element causes a deformation of the mounting plate.

Abstract: An electric motor is equipped with a housing. The housing comprises a main housing body, with which a cylindrical part and a base are formed integrally in one piece, and an end member. An opening at a central part of the base is blocked by a cover. A first subassembly, in which the main housing body and a stator, and the like are assembled together, is held by a first holding member. A second subassembly, in which an output shaft, a rotor, the end member and the like are assembled together, is held via first and second end parts of the output shaft by a second holding member. By relative movement of the first and second holding members, the first and second subassemblies are assembled together.

Abstract: A package substrate for carrying a chip with a plurality of bumps thereon is provided. The package substrate includes a first substrate, and an interposer. The first substrate has a first circuit layer disposed on a surface thereof. The interposer includes a second substrate and a second circuit layer formed thereon. The second circuit layer comprises a plurality of bonding pads and traces. The traces are electrically connected to the corresponding bonding pads. Furthermore, the bonding pads are used for being connected to the bumps. The second circuit layer of the interposer is physically and electrically connected to the first circuit layer of the first substrate, and the second substrate and the first substrate are made of different materials.

Abstract: A semiconductor package that includes a conductive can, a power semiconductor device electrically and mechanically attached to the inside surface of the can, and an IC semiconductor device copackaged with the power semiconductor device inside the can.

Abstract: The present invention provides a number of techniques for laminating and interconnecting multiple substrates to form a multilayer package or other circuit component. A solder bump may be formed on the conductive pad of at least one of two or more substrates. The solder bump preferably is formed from an application of solder paste to the conductive pad(s). Adhesive films may be positioned between the surfaces of the substrates having the conductive pads, where the adhesive films include apertures located substantially over the conductive pads such that the conductive pads and/or solder bumps confront each other through the aperture. The two or more substrates then may be pressed together to mechanically bond the two or more substrates via the adhesive films. The solder bump(s) may be reflowed during or after the lamination to create a solder segment that provides an electrical connection between the conductive pads through the aperture in the adhesive films.

Abstract: A sensor, and methods of making, for determining the concentration of an analyte, such as glucose, in a biological fluid such as blood or serum, using techniques such as coulometry, amperometry, and potentiometry. The sensor includes a working electrode and a counter electrode, and may include an insertion monitoring trace to determine correct positioning of the sensor in a connector. The sensor is calibration-adjusted, eliminating the need for a user to enter a calibration code or for the meter to read a calibration code.

Abstract: Disclosed is a heat staking process using a configuration to join two conductive yarn traces or pads by piercing them with a thermo plastic stud shaped somewhat like a rivet with a pointed post to pierce the fabrics. A properly designed tool can be lowered to meet the pointed tip of the stud and by using the proper heat and proper compression will join the two fabric pieces mechanically and electrically. The heat and compression formed stud 50 will provide mechanical strength and actually seal the connection if so required.

Abstract: A method for making catalytic converters with automated crack detection includes forming a rigid housing, providing a substrate shaped for reception in the housing, and forming a mat shaped to cover the exterior surface of the substrate and having a thickness which creates a tight friction fit between the substrate and the housing when the same are assembled. The mat is wrapped around the substrate, and the wrapped substrate is then stuffed into the housing using a reciprocating ram or the like that extends at a relatively constant speed. The stuffing force and the ram position are measured and recorded regularly to define an array of data. The data is analyzed for any abrupt changes in the stuffing force as a function of the ram position indicating a crack in the assembled substrate.