Abstract: A recovery system for a frozen product dispenser accommodates automatic recovery and continued operation of the dispenser in response to the output torque of a beater bar and scraper assembly drive motor exceeding a selected upper limit due to transient conditions. A controller monitors the output torque of the drive motor and, upon sensing an output torque in excess of the selected upper limit, shuts off the drive motor and operates a refrigeration system to defrost a freeze barrel within which the beater bar and scraper assembly is rotated, for a time sufficient to defrost product in the barrel. The controller then turns on the drive motor, operates the refrigeration system to refreeze product in the barrel and continues to monitor the output torque of the drive motor. The foregoing operation is repeated several times, if and as necessary, before a system error is generated.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus for supercooling and a method of maMng slush thr?gh supercooling which generate a supercooled liquid by supplying cool air and energy, control the state of the supercooled liquid, store and supply the supercooled liquid, generate slush by applying an external force to the supercooled liquid, maintain the state of the slush, and supply the slush.

Abstract: A freeze type dispenser having a refrigeration system including a compressor, condenser, expansion means and evaporator in the form of one or more freeze chambers in an enclosure is provided with a sub-cooler or auxiliary coil. The sub-cooler is located downstream of the condenser but upstream of the expansion means and is supplied with condensed refrigerant liquid. The sub-cooler is located adjacent the freeze chamber enclosure to prevent or reduce condensation of the same, without adversely affecting, and in fact increasing cooling performance or capacity.

Abstract: Refrigerator dispenser control technology, in which user input related to moving a dispensing unit between a received position and a dispensing position is received and it is detected whether a dispensing unit is oriented in the received position or the dispensing position. The dispensing unit is driven based on the user input and the detection of whether the dispensing unit is oriented in the received position or the dispensing position. The dispensing unit may be driven from the received position to the dispensing position based on detecting that the dispensing unit is oriented in the received position. The dispensing unit also may be from the dispensing position to the received position based on detecting that the dispensing unit is oriented in the dispensing position.

Abstract: An apparatus for storing food therein and method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. Space utilization efficiency can be enhanced by configuring a single-body duct diverging to different storage rooms. The present invention includes a first storage room and a second storage room to store food, and a duct unit includes a first duct to guide cold air into the first storage room, and a second duct to guide cold air into the second storage room. A scroll from which the first duct and the second duct diverge is located between the first and second ducts.

Abstract: A display device and method of bead display for mounting an ornamental bead on a piece of jewelry in a bead receipt area having a curved light-reflective area for directing ambient and reflected light through and/or against the ornamental bead to highlight and illuminate the ornamental bead.

Abstract: In order to provide method and apparatus for manufacturing a vitreous silica crucible with little mixing of foreign matter and stable arc during arc melting, the method and apparatus for manufacturing a vitreous silica crucible have a device which blows off air from the side of arc electrodes toward a melting space of a mold, and air discharge ports which discharge the air within the heating furnace, and perform forced supply of air into the melting space during melting to make the atmospheric pressure of the melting space higher than the surroundings, and preferably, form an air pressure difference of 100 Pa or more between the melting space and the surroundings, thereby performing melting.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a vitreous silica crucible by a rotary mold method, which includes performing arc melting in a state in which electrodes are provided so as to be shifted from a mold central line, wherein, by this eccentric arc, the glass temperature difference during melting of a straight body portion, a curved portion and a bottom of the crucible is controlled to 300° C. or below and the thickness of a transparent layer of the straight body portion and the bottom is controlled to 70 to 120% of the thickness of a transparent layer of the curved portion.

Abstract: Methods for controlling thickness variations across the width of a glass ribbon (104) are provided. The methods employ a set of thermal elements (106) for locally controlling the temperature of the ribbon (104). The operating values for the thermal elements (106) are selected using an iterative procedure in which thickness variations measured during a given iteration are employed in a mathematical procedure which selects the operating values for the next iteration. In practice, the method can bring thickness variations of glass sheets within commercial specifications in just a few iterations, e.g., 2-4 iterations.

Abstract: The invention relates to a furnace for the continuous melting of a composition comprising silica, the said furnace comprising at least two tanks in series, said tanks each comprising at least one burner submerged in the melt. The invention also relates to the process for manufacturing compositions comprising silica using the furnace, the silica and the fluxing agent for the silica being introduced into the first tank. The invention makes it possible to produce glass color frits, tile frits and enamel with a high productivity, low temperatures and short transition times.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus and method for making a glass preform with nanofiber reinforcement. The apparatus comprises a container for melting one or more glass components in a mixture comprising the glass components and one or more nanofibers. The container has an opening that allows escape of any gas released from the glass components when the glass components are melted in the container. The apparatus further comprises one or more heating elements for heating the container. The apparatus further comprises one or more electric field devices, positioned exterior to the glass components, that create an electric field in a volume of the mixture in order to orient the nanofibers within the glass components when the glass components are melted in the container.

Abstract: A molten glass delivery system is modified to match it with the overflow downdraw process. A substantial number of defects not removed by the finer are diverted to the unusable inlet and distal edges of the sheet. In one embodiment, the stirring device is relocated from the outlet to the inlet of the finer. In another embodiment, the basic shape of the finer is preferably changed from a cylindrical shape to a Double Apex (or Gull Wing) shaped cross-section, whereby the apexes of the finer contain the glass that will form the unusable inlet end of the glass sheet. The finer vent or vents are preferably located at these apexes such that any homogeneity defects caused by the vents are diverted to the unusable inlet end of the glass sheet. The finer cross-section has a high aspect ratio for increased fining efficiency as compared to a cylindrical finer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a holey fiber includes forming a preform and drawing the preform. The forming includes arranging a core rod at a center of a jacket tube and arranging capillary tubes having hollows around the core rod inside the jacket tube. The drawing includes heat melting the preform in a heating furnace while controlling at least one of a gas pressure to be applied to insides of the hollows of the capillary tubes, a temperature of the heating furnace, and a drawing speed, based on a structure of air holes to be formed in a first layer from the core region.

Abstract: Provided are a manufacturing method of an optical fiber base material and an optical fiber base material manufactured in the manufacturing method, the manufacturing method including: a process of combining at least two core base materials 70 by fusion-bonding to produce a single core base material; a process of fusion-bonding a pair of dummy glass rods 61 and 62 at both ends of the core base material 70 to produce a starting glass rod; a process of depositing, at an outer surface of the starting glass rod, glass particles generated by flame hydrolysis, to produce a porous base material 80; and a process of sintering and vitrifying, into transparent glass, the porous base material 80, to produce an optical fiber base material 310 that includes a core portion and a clad portion.

Abstract: Core rod sections useable for production of finished optical fiber preforms are fabricated by inserting one or more core body pieces axially end-to-end inside a glass cylinder, thereby defining joints between adjacent ones of the inserted pieces. The cylinder is mounted with the contained core body pieces in the region of a furnace. The glass cylinder and core body pieces are heated together in the furnace, thereby elongating the cylinder and the core body pieces contained in the cylinder, and the cylinder collapses to form a finished core rod. Core rod sections are cut from the finished core rod at positions that coincide with the joints between the core body pieces. One or more of the cut core rod sections are useable for the production of optical fiber preforms.

Abstract: In a method and a knitting machine for the production of knitting goods with horizontal stripe a comparatively wide thread changing device having a plurality of thread fingers can be associated with two knitting points in such a manner that a first portion of the threads guided by the thread changing device can be fed to one knitting point and another portion of the threads can be fed to the other knitting point or to the knitting tools respectively moved there into a thread pick-up position.

Abstract: A washing machine is disclosed. A laundry machine includes a drum rotatably provided in a cabinet, a substance supply device to generate water based substance and to supply the water based substance to the drum, a water supply source to supply water to the substance supply device, a pump positioned between the substance supply device and the water supply source, a connection unit to connect the pump with the water supply source, and a supporting module to support the water supply source, the pump and the substance supply device. The connection unit is configured of a coupling member having both opposite ends connected with the water supply source and the pump, respectively, the connection unit formed at a predetermined portion of the supporting module.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a drum washing machine. In particular, the drum washing machine includes a rotating tub, wherein the rotating tub has a cylindrical drum having a front formed with a circular opening through which laundry is put into the rotating tub and having a rear that is closed. The drum washing machine further includes a DC brushless motor for generating a driving force for wash, rinse and dehydration operations and a rotor. The drum washing machine further includes a rotational shaft of the motor having a front end directly fixed to the rotating tub and a rear end fixed to a core of the rotor, so that torque developed by the motor is directly transmitted to the rotating tub. A current detector is provided in the drum washing machine for detecting electric current flowing into the motor.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for operating a dispensing system as a non-bulk dispensing system or a bulk dispensing system in a household cleaning appliance.

Abstract: A reusable tamper indicating bag closure for transporting most items in a bag such as documents and portable computing devices including laptops, PDAs, mobile phones, iPods® . . . etc. that would appeal to a broad spectrum of customers including the individual buyer, the business user, and the government user. The tamper-evident bag closure is defined by a lid with multiple hasps and a base with knobs that attach to the bag and is secured by a locking mechanism placed through an opening on the base and inserted within an insertion aperture such that locking the lock mechanism causes the lid to slide into alignment with the base and engages the plurality of hasps with the plurality of knobs thus securing the bag. The bag closure also has several tamper indicating features including the use of tamper indicating markers, wire seals and tamper indicating labels.

Abstract: A method corrects a head suspension by irradiating an objective part of the head suspension with a laser beam. The method is capable of precisely correcting the head suspension even when correcting the head suspension a plurality of times. The method removes residual stress created by the preceding correction from the head suspension, and then, carries out the next correction. Accordingly, the method can precisely correct the objective part of the head suspension with a laser beam even if the objective part has once been irradiated with a laser beam in the preceding correction.

Abstract: A bending device for two working rolls of a rolling stand. Guide blocks provided in lateral roll housings for guiding two pressure-transmission bodies vertically adjustably with respect to each other and, on which the working rolls are supported via chocks. Bending cylinders are arranged in pairs between the pressure-transmission bodies at each end of the rolls. Each cylinder has a piston rod acting on one pressure-transmission body and a cylinder at the respective other pressure-transmission body. Each pressure-transmission body is supported on a respective guide block in a sliding manner. So that loads acting on the pressure-transmission bodies can be introduced into the guide block free of edge pressure, the pressure-transmission bodies are supported on the respective guide blocks in a sliding manner by self-adjusting wearing plates which include surfaces that enable both sliding and pivoting of the bodies with respect to the guide blocks.

Abstract: A lead forming apparatus has a function of bending leads of a semiconductor device having leads into a gull wing shape. The lead forming apparatus includes: a lead bending die, as a lower die, allowing thereon placement of the semiconductor device and accepting the leads in the bending leads; a lead bending punch, as an upper die, descending towards the lead bending die so as to move the leads of the semiconductor device towards the lead bending die, to thereby bend the leads into a gull wing shape; and a first stopper specifying the bottom dead center of the lead bending punch, so as to ensure a distance not smaller than thickness of the leads between the bottom surface of the lead bending punch and the top surface of a portion, allowing thereon placement of the leads, of the lead bending die.

Abstract: A prover mounted upon a supporting lower framework includes a piston supporting rod extending longitudinally through a cylinder, which cylinder receives and discharges a fluid to measure the flow rate of the fluid by translation of the piston from the fluid receiving end to the fluid discharging end. Motive means supported on a frame mounted on the lower framework draws the rod toward the fluid receiving end of the cylinder. Upon such movement of the rod, a poppet valve formed as part of the piston opens to permit fluid flow through the piston. A clutch serving as part of the motive means permits travel of the piston from the fluid receiving end to the fluid discharging end of the cylinder and serve the flow rate measuring function of the prover. An upper framework is attached to the lower framework through a plurality of stanchions. Various I-beams formed as part of the upper framework enhance rigidity to the combination of lower framework and upper framework.

Abstract: A sled carriage is configured to move in a direction of an axis. A platform is attached with the sled carriage and a sled buck is attached with the platform. Upon acceleration of the sled carriage, the sled buck and platform move relative to the sled carriage.

Abstract: A hydrogen sensor assembly is disclosed. The hydrogen sensor assembly includes a sensing element within a sensor housing. The sensor housing includes an opening to facilitate a fluid communication between the sensing element and an exhaust stream of a fuel cell. A substantially water-vapor-impermeable membrane is disposed within the opening between the sensing element and the exhaust stream to militate against water vapor from the exhaust stream entering the sensor housing. The sensor housing may include a second opening to facilitate a fluid communication between the sensing element and an external environment to evacuate water vapor generated by the sensing element.

Abstract: A micro discharge device (MDD) capable of low voltage discharges in a variety of carrier gases for detection and/or ionization includes a sample introduction capillary having a first open end connected to a gas system and a second open end connected to a cylinder comprising a high dielectric constant material. A high voltage electrode can be placed in close proximity to the outer diameter of the cylinder and at a close linear distance to the second open end of the sample introduction capillary. A region can be formed inside the cylinder between the second end of the sample introduction capillary and the high voltage electrode wherein discharge can be located. An optical emission collector can be located through the flow manifold to a receiving location near the high voltage electrode within a region from inside the cylinder between the high voltage electrode and the manifold.

Abstract: A sample vaporization unit that attains enhancing of reproducibility through fixing of the sample vaporization unit. Sample vaporization unit (4) at its one end is connected to the distal end of glass insert (2) and at its other end is connected via glass tube (5) to one end of capillary column (6). The other end of the capillary column (6) is led to detector (8). The sample vaporization unit (4) is comprised of base frame (22), flow channel (24) provided in the base frame (22), and rugged portion (26) for sample vaporization provided by microfabrication within the flow channel (24). Any liquid sample flowing through the flow channel (24) is vaporized by feeding of energy to the rugged portion (26), and the vapor is subjected to separation by means of the column (6) and detection by means of the detector (8).

Abstract: There is provided a technique that can increase sensitivity of a resonator. A ratio Rb/Ra between an inner diameter Rb and an outer diameter Ra of the resonator 20 is appropriately selected, and thus there may be a fixed point where an r component (U(Ra) or U(Rb)) of displacement in a radial direction and an r component (V(Ra) or V(Rb)) of displacement in a tangential direction are 0 on an outer diameter portion or an inner diameter portion of the resonator 20. In this case, the resonator 20 is supported by a holding member 22 constituted by a single-span beam set so that a boundary condition on a side of the resonator 20 is pinned and a boundary condition on a side of an anchor that supports the resonator 20 is clamped at the fixed point, and this prevents vibration energy of the resonator 20 from being lost through the holding member 22, avoids a state to disturb a vibration mode, and achieves a sensor having high sensitivity.

Abstract: A system is provided for collecting data during vacuum molding of a composite part using a mold including an air tight, flexible membrane sealed to a tool. The system comprises a plurality of MEMS sensors coupled with the interior of the mold at different locations over the part. Each of the sensors produces signals related to a process parameter, such as pressure within the bag, that is sensed at the location of the sensor.

Abstract: A laminated sensor comprises a base stratum and a terminal stratum. The base stratum has a first surface that is affixed to a surface of a structure to be monitored. The terminal stratum is affixed to the opposite second surface of the base stratum. A connector is attached to the terminal stratum. The base stratum is provided with first and second channels and that are cut through the thickness of the base stratum. The terminal stratum is provided with holes that extend through the thickness of the terminal stratum. A first pair of the holes are positioned to register with the first channel, while a second pair of the holes are positioned to register with the second channel. A first conduit is formed by the first channel and the holes; while a second conduit is formed by the second channel and the holes. The connector connects with tubes to provide fluid communication between the conduits and a differential pressure monitoring system.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing a protective mask. The apparatus includes a testing unit for testing a protective mask. The testing unit includes a headform upon which a protective mask to be tested is mounted. The testing unit is configured to take a sample of the challenge from two different locations about the protective mask. The testing unit may also be configured to inflate and deflate a neck seal protective mask when mounted on the headform prior to performing a mask leakage test to eliminate or significantly reduce pockets or folds that may hide a leak.

Abstract: A sensor element carrier for use in a mass-sensitive chemical sensor instrument comprises a base component and a lid component, the base component being adapted to receive, in use, a sensor, the signal generated by which depends on the mass of material adsorbed at a sensing surface thereof, the base component or the lid component having formed therein, in a recessed area, at least one channel for the ingress of sample fluid, the recessed area forming, in use and in conjunction with the sensing surface of the sensor, a sample chamber, the sensor being held, in use, between the base component and the lid component and the approach of the base component and lid component being limited on assembly of the sensor element by means of substantially rigid portions of each which come into abutment, thereby limiting the minimum height of the sample chamber for a given set of sensor, base and lid components.

Abstract: An autosampler for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a high-pressure injection valve (1, 2) having improved life, particularly in high pressure operation. The geometry of the valve components and the connections of the high-pressure injection valve are provided such that the switching processes do not take place in a deleterious direction. The grooves in rotor (2) and/or the port opening cross sections (131, 151) in stator (1) and the rotational direction are selected such that fluid flows from grooves under high pressure in the direction of narrow, substantially pressure-free ports are avoided. This applies in particular to the switching process from INJECT to LOAD, since the sample loop contains a relatively large dead volume of compressed fluid. In addition, the valve can be controlled according to the invention in such a manner that an appropriate time is available for reducing harmful or undesired pressure differences.

Abstract: A surface texture measuring device comprises a display control unit operative to display a drawing symbol entry screen having entry areas of drawing symbols. An entry acceptance unit is provided to accept the input of the drawing symbol into the entry area provided in the drawing symbol entry screen. An arithmetic unit is provided to calculate surface texture information that indicates a surface texture of an object to be measured, from the measurement result of surface displacements of the object, based on the drawing symbol accepted at the entry acceptance unit.

Abstract: A new type of indenter is described. This device combines certain sensing and structural elements of atomic force microscopy with a module designed for the use of indentation probes, conventional diamond and otherwise, as well as unconventional designs, to produce high resolution and otherwise superior indentation measurements.

Abstract: The spark plug comprises: —a central electrode (2), —an insulating core (6) bearing the central electrode (2), —an external body (8) in which the insulating core (6) is mounted and which has a region (18) where the external body (8) is crimped onto the insulating core (6), and—a force sensor (30). The force sensor (30) is mounted at the periphery of the external body (8) between, on the one hand, a bearing element (38) secured to a first peripheral region of the external body (8) and, on the other hand, a second peripheral region (24) of the external body (8). The second peripheral region (24) of the external body (8) is further away from the crimping region (18) than the first peripheral region. The bearing element (38) is prestressed against the force sensor (30).

Abstract: In relation to a jump (SP_J_LR) from a lean air-to-fuel ratio to a richer air-to-fuel ratio, a measurement signal of the exhaust gas probe is detected after a predetermined lean-to-rich delay (t_R) as a lean-to-rich signal value (SV_LR) and is placed in relation to a lean-to-reference signal value (L_REF). In relation to a jump (SP_J_RL) from a richer air-to-fuel ratio to a leaner air-to-fuel ratio, the procedure is performed equivalently. Depending on the lean-to-rich and lean-to-rich signal value put in relation, either an asymmetrically aged or non-asymmetrically aged exhaust gas probe is detected.

Abstract: A method for checking the referencing of at least two measuring heads of a contactless chassis measuring system includes: detecting at least one geometry detail of a vehicle using the measuring heads; determining an initial position of the geometry detail in the coordinate system associated with each measuring head; transforming the initial position into a shared coordinate system; executing a relative movement between the measuring heads and the vehicle; determining a final position of the at least one geometry detail in the coordinate system associated with each measuring head; transforming the final position of the geometry detail into the shared coordinate system; determining the movement vectors from the difference between the final position and the initial position of the at least one geometry detail; checking the movement vectors for coincidence.

Abstract: A method of tire testing comprising applying a drive torque to a tire and a wheel assembly about an axis of rotation to drive the tire and wheel assembly and a rotatable drum with the tire in rolling contact with the rotatable drum; controlling a load pressure of the tire against the rotatable drum; and adjusting a lateral position of the tire across a surface of the rotatable drum.

Abstract: An apparatus for indicating a volume of liquid flow, comprising a liquid sensor for sensing the presence of a liquid, a timer activated when the liquid sensor indicates the presence of a liquid, a calculator to calculate the volume of liquid flow dependent upon the time for which the timer is activated, and an indicator to provide an indication of the volume of fluid calculated by the calculation means.

Abstract: Wear of a pump is estimated using a process that involves operating the pump to drive a hydraulic actuator that moves a member. The actual speed of the member is determined and the speed of the pump is sensed. Pressure of fluid conveyed from the pump to the hydraulic actuator also is sensed. A predicted speed of the member is calculated based on the speed of the pump and the pressure of the fluid. The predicted speed is compared to the actual speed and the result is employed to provide an indication of a degree of wear of the pump. The difference between the predicted speed and the actual speed increases as the pump wear increases.

Abstract: An apparatus for ascertaining and monitoring the fill level of a medium in a container by means of a travel-time measuring method. The apparatus includes: A coupling unit for coupling measurement signals onto/from at least one conductive, first element extending into the container; a first securement element provided in the region of the coupling unit for securing the apparatus at the container; and a control/evaluation unit for ascertaining a fill-level measurement signal. The apparatus has a high transfer quality, while, at the same time, being mechanically and chemically stable.

Abstract: A sensor for measuring fluid level is provided that includes a float, which may be steel or another material that affects magnetic flux. The sensor further includes a housing defining a cavity configured to receive the float. The housing may be, but need not be, tubular, and the cavity may be cylindrical. At least one magnetic coil is wound to the housing along the cavity. The coil may be wound around the housing. The float is positionable in the fluid to move within the cavity in relation to fluid level.

Abstract: In a method of detecting an angular velocity V? of an angular velocity sensor including a vibrating body, a monitoring signal Vm(t) sensing a displacement of the vibrating body in a first direction and a sensing signal Vs(t) sensing a displacement of the vibrating body in a second direction crossing the first direction are detected. A difference in time between a first feature point where the monitoring signal Vm(t) crosses a first reference level and a second feature point where the sensing signal Vs(t) crosses a second reference level is set as ?t, a sensing direct-current voltage corresponding to an amplitude of the sensing signal Vs(t) is set as Vsd, a driving frequency is set as fd, and the angular velocity V? is calculated from formula of V?=Vsd×sin(2·?·fd·?T).

Abstract: A vibration sensor includes a base, a conducting ring, a number of cantilevers, a number of resistors, a number of helical springs, and a number of pairs of first and second pins. One end of each cantilever is connected to the base; the other end of each cantilever defines a guiding cutout. The resistors are correspondingly inserted in the guiding cutout. The helical springs are correspondingly deposited between the conducting ring and the holding block. The conducting ring slides in the guiding cutout due to a vibration and contacts with the resistor. The first and second pins formed in the base for correspondingly connecting to a pair of resistors in each cantilever. The vibration sensor senses the direction of the vibration by detecting a resistance that changes with a position of the conducting ring.

Abstract: A rail scanning system and certified method of use thereof are described. The rail scanning system comprises a control unit, a probe carriage, and an encoder. The probe carriage comprises two or more phased array probes. The control unit is communicatively coupled with the encoder and phased array probes of the probe carriage.

Abstract: An interface adapted for use with an audiometer, including a digital wireless interface supported by a base unit and a remote unit wherein the base unit receives signals from the audiometer and provides the signals to the remote unit via the digital wireless interface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ultrasonic probe for producing a real-time three dimensional live action image (a four dimensional image), which has a long lifetime, and an improved image quality, can prevent malfunction.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe apparatus for detecting flaws in a tubular includes a probe house. The probe house has an axial axis, a central cavity lying along the axial axis, and a bottom face adapted for placement on the tubular. The bottom face of the probe house has an opening in the middle. A probe support is disposed within the central cavity and rotatable about the axial axis of the probe house. An ultrasonic probe is mounted on the probe support and has a scanning face exposed to the opening of the bottom face of the probe house. The scanning face is tiltable relative to a selected plane of the tubular by rotation of the probe support about the axial axis of the probe house.