Abstract: A vacuum cleaner with a reduced frictional force between a vacuum base and a cleaning medium is described. The vacuum has a handle, yoke, body, and base. A handle and yoke distinct from, and behind, the base provides a moment arm anterior to the base when a force is applied. The handle and yoke assembly reduce the friction between the cleaning surface and the vacuum, allowing for larger motor and debris capturing capabilities, with easier handling and maneuverability resulting in advanced and superior cleaning capabilities.

Abstract: A floor care apparatus includes a body having a nozzle assembly and a handle assembly. The handle assembly is pivotally attached to the nozzle assembly. Both a suction generator and a dirt collection vessel are carried on the body. A cord reel is carried on the nozzle assembly in a cord reel compartment. A rotary agitator drive motor is carried on the nozzle assembly in an airflow pathway which directs cooling air toward the cord reel in the cord reel compartment.

Abstract: A liquid cooled wheel system includes a wheel, an axle bolt arranged in mechanical and supportive communication with the wheel, the axle bolt defining an internal chamber configured to hold and transmit a working fluid, a pump arranged in fluid communication with the axle bolt through the working fluid and arranged in mechanical communication with the wheel such that rotational movement of the wheel is translated into internal pumping movement of the pump, and a heat exchanger in fluid communication with both of the axle bolt and the pump and configured to exchange heat from the working fluid to an external environment.

Abstract: A patch fitting with auto-return function for a glass door includes a clamping seat, a damper and a misalignment adjuster. The clamping seat is adapted for clamping and being mounted on the top edge of the glass door and comprises a shaft body and an eccentric cam connected with the shaft body. The damper is installed in the clamping seat and contacted with the eccentric cam. The misalignment adjuster comprises a mounting plate, a plurality of adjustment members and an adjustment plate. The mounting plate has a concave space and a plurality of adjustment holes communicated with the concave space. Each of the adjustment members is disposed in each of the adjustment holes. The adjustment plate is arranged in the concave space of the mounting plate, connected with the shaft body and stopped by at least one of the adjustment members.

Abstract: A utility tool handle is provided for use with a hand tool shaft. The handle has curved upper and lower surfaces and a curved termination end. The two side surfaces are parallel to each other. The upper surfaces of the handle slants upwardly relative to the longitudinal axis of the hand tool shaft. The lower surface spline is configured to provide a relaxed wrist grip such that the shaft centerline is generally aligned with a user forearm centerline.

Abstract: A storage device for electrical cords which provides an easy and secure method to contain the cords' length into a small bundle for economy of space and travel is described. By folding the length of cord over itself and inserting the cord into and through an open end of the flexible, semi-rigid hollow cylinder, it is grasped and held by a plurality of inwardly projecting flexible teeth, formed by multiple slits made perpendicular to the interior wall, at the opposite end of the device. In another embodiment, the storage device has the same characteristics but also has an interior wall of prehensile material that further secures the cord in place. Cords can be removed from the device as quickly as they were inserted. Various sizes of the same design are suitable for short and small diameter personal appliance cords, as well as for large industrial electrical cords.

Abstract: Traditional fixing of raising cords on pleated blinds occurs by sewing plastic flaps in place that hold knots on the raising cords. Adjustment of tension in the raising cords is difficult, because it may be required to loosen the knot and re-tie it in a better location. Loosening and re-tying is avoided in that a plastic clip has slits, in which the raising cords are pinched and locked after being wound 1½ turn around an interjacent tongue in the plane of the plastic clip.

Abstract: A quick-action closure for the end fitting of a safety belt, whereby the quick-action closure includes an insertion tongue which can be inserted into a closure housing and which can be locked therein by means of a locking element disposed in a mobile manner between a locking position and a release position, and whereby the locking element can be transferred from its locking position into its release position by means of an actuating element which can be inserted into the closure housing. A safety element (21) is disposed in the closure housing (11) mounted at its center of gravity (35) rotatable between a safety position and a rest position, the safety element in its safety position fixing the locking element (20) in its locking position and, in its rest position, releasing the locking element (20), whereby the safety element (21) is held in its safety position by the action of a spring (25).

Abstract: Ultrasound transducers can be fabricated by bonding a block of piezoelectric material having a conductive coating to a flex circuit that has a conductive region and at least 20 conductive traces disposed on an insulating substrate. The block of piezoelectric material is then diced so as to cut all the way through the block of piezoelectric material and all the way through the conductive region, and part way through, but not completely through, the insulating substrate. The dicing is performed so that the first conductive region is divided into at least 20 regions that are electrically isolated from each other, and each of the at least 20 regions is in electrical contact with a respective one of the at least 20 conductive traces.

Abstract: Some embodiments include methods of forming capacitors. A metal oxide mixture may be formed over a first capacitor electrode. The metal oxide mixture may have a continuous concentration gradient of a second component relative to a first component. The continuous concentration gradient may correspond to a decreasing concentration of the second component as a distance from the first capacitor electrode increases. The first component may be selected from the group consisting of zirconium oxide, hafnium oxide and mixtures thereof; and the second component may be selected from the group consisting of niobium oxide, titanium oxide, strontium oxide and mixtures thereof. A second capacitor electrode may be formed over the first capacitor electrode. Some embodiments include capacitors that contain at least one metal oxide mixture having a continuous concentration gradient of the above-described second component relative to the above-described first component.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for removing a centrifugal compressor diffuser case from a turbofan gas turbine engine case which may be used while the engine is installed on an aircraft or when the engine has been removed from the aircraft. The tool includes movable gripping members at least one force member for exerting a pushing action on the engine structure on which the diffuser case is mounted the method includes gripping a peripheral portion of the diffuser case and applying an axial pushing force on the case relative to the engine case to thereby overcome an interference fit between the diffuser case and the engine case.

Abstract: A mandrel extraction tool includes an actuator assembly and a first mandrel interface arm operably associated with the actuator assembly and adapted to engage a first mandrel. The mandrel extraction tool further includes a second mandrel interface arm operably associated with the actuator assembly and adapted to engage a second mandrel, the second mandrel interface arm being slidingly coupled with the first mandrel interface arm, such that the first mandrel interface arm moves generally linearly with respect to second interface arm when the actuator assembly is actuated. A method for extracting a mandrel includes providing a mandrel extraction tool, engaging the mandrel extraction tool with a mandrel, and applying a force to the mandrel to linearly extract the mandrel from a first portion of a structure.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a brush seal assembly is disclosed. The method includes circumferentially arranging bristles about an axis. A plate is arranged adjacent to the bristles. Unwelded ends of the bristles are aligned with a periphery of the plate to provide a flush surface across the plate and bristles. The unwelded ends are laser welded to the periphery at the flush surface to provide a unitary subassembly.

Abstract: A method and a device for exchanging roller batteries on supports of cableway installations, include driving a service vehicle towards the support, lifting a cable which runs on the roller battery from the roller battery, then dismounting the roller battery and installing a new roller battery and finally relaying the cable on the roller battery.

Abstract: A method for attenuating vibration in a driveline having a shaft assembly that transmits torque between first and second driveline components. The shaft assembly can have a hollow shaft member and at least one liner. The liner has a mass and a stiffness that are tuned such that the liner is a tuned resistive absorber for attenuating shell mode vibrations as well as at least one of a tuned reactive absorber for attenuating bending mode vibrations and a tuned reactive absorber for attenuating torsion mode vibrations. The tuned liner is inserted into the shaft member.

Abstract: A method and device are provided to accurately align a machine component of generally circular cross-section within a surrounding machine casing that includes bottom and top halves of the casing. The bottom half and top half, in use, are bolted together at a split line occupying a horizontal plane. The component and the bottom half of the casing include complementary interdigitating members at three circumferentially spaced-apart locations, which include first and second locations at the split line on respective first and second horizontally opposed sides of the component, and a third location at bottom dead center. After lowering the component into the bottom half to engage the interdigitating members at the three locations, jacking apparatus is operated independently at each location to incrementally reposition the component within the bottom half. Shims are then inserted between the interdigitating members at the three locations to maintain the jacked position of the component.

Abstract: Various methods for installing an article of fabric to a frame to provide an improved seating product, which can be integrated in essentially any type of seating unit, are provided. These methods include a pre-forming operation that deforms the frame prior to securing the fabric article thereto, and a securing operation that leverages post-mold shrinkage properties of the frame to secure the fabric article thereto. The pre-forming operation generates tension in the fabric article, which spans the frame, by initially deforming the frame utilizing compression mechanisms of an assembly fixture and subsequently loading the fabric article to the frame in a loose condition. Upon releasing the compression mechanisms, the fabric article assumes a taut condition that expresses the tension. The securing operation involves inserting a segment of the fabric article into a groove in the frame and allowing the groove to naturally clamp the segment during post-mold shrinkage.

Abstract: An improved system for inserting blind attachments has an entry point and an exit point for a seal. The seal enters by way of the entry point and continues its guided course by being moved by a pair of servo pullers. A linear drive servo drill makes a first hole into the seal and, as the seal is moved by the servo pullers, the first hole is in position to have a blind attachment inserted therethrough byway of an insertion tool. At the same time that the blind attachment is inserted, a second hole is made in the seal by having the servo drill moved at the appropriate location.

Abstract: A conduit coupling system, sealing device, bell and method of use are disclosed herein. The system comprises at least two piping components, and a sealing device. A first component has a bell and a second component has a spigot, the spigot is adapted to mate with the bell. The bell comprises a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the first component. The bell has a concave annular inner surface and a diameter of the annular inner surface adjacent to the first end of the bell is greater than a diameter of the annular inner surface adjacent to the second end of the bell. The sealing device comprises a locking segment comprising a convex outer surface and a K-type gasket coupled to a locking segment or a non-restraining anti-extrusion segment. The sealing device is adapted to fit between the bell and the spigot.

Abstract: A bi-stable sensor is provided that includes a frame upon which electrical and optical components may be disposed and a coating, such as an overmold coating, provided about the frame. A resistance-providing component is provided integral with or external to the coated bi-stable sensor such that the bi-stable sensor has two mechanically stable configurations that may be transitioned between by overcoming the resistance provided by the resistance-providing component and/or the by the coating. In one embodiment, the resistance-providing component comprises an elastic band provided about a hinge of the frame, either within or external to the coating. In one embodiment, the sensor may be placed on a patient's finger, toe, ear, and so forth to obtain pulse oximetry or other physiological measurements.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for securing a conduit to relatively inaccessible structures, for example, oil tanks on submerged ships. The method involves providing a conduit with a neck, temporarily securing the conduit to the surface, for example by means of magnets, etc, drilling a hole through the structure and passing the neck of the conduit through the hole in the structure, and passing an expander device through the neck of the conduit through the hole in the structure to widen a portion of the internal passage of the conduit in the region of the neck.

Abstract: A method of joining multiple components includes stacking the components vertically. Each component includes two opposite substantially planar surfaces that are arranged in a column when the components are stacked. The method also includes placing the stacked components in a clinch-crimping apparatus having a first punch, a second punch, and a crimping element. The method also includes displacing a section of the substantially planar surfaces of the stacked components by driving the first punch in a first direction that is substantially perpendicular to the surfaces. The method additionally includes retracting the first punch from the displaced section and crimping the displaced section by the crimping element to form a crush initiator. The method additionally includes disengaging the crimping element from the crimped, displaced section. Furthermore, the method includes clinching the crimped, displaced section by driving the second punch in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a fastening device with a stem which is engaged on a first end by a cross-dowel with a transverse threaded aperture and on a second end by a cylinder with a set-screw. The second end of the stem includes an aperture surrounded by an oval-shaped longitudinally elongated countersunk region. This aperture can capture the set-screw within a small range of longitudinal positions, thereby allowing for fine adjustments to be made to align the sidewalls of adjacent post segments joined by the fastening device.

Abstract: A method of installing a vibratory conveyor into a confined space includes fabricating a modular vibratory apparatus as individual subassemblies, comprising at least first and second side wall subassemblies, first and second end wall subassemblies, at least one cross-member subassembly, a mounting bracket subassembly, a drive subassembly, and a liner subassembly. The method also includes transporting the individual subassemblies to an installation site as separate subassemblies, and attaching the individual subassemblies to each other to define an assembled modular vibratory apparatus using a bolting technique at the installation site.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a power module on a substrate. In one embodiment, the method includes providing power conversion circuitry including providing a magnetic device having a magnetic core and at least one switch on the substrate. The method also includes placing a shielding structure with a baffle over the magnetic core to create a chamber thereabout. The method also includes depositing an encapsulant about the power conversion circuitry. The shielding structure limits the encapsulant entering the chamber and the baffle directs the encapsulant away from the magnetic core thereby limiting an amount of the encapsulant that contacts the magnetic core within the chamber.

Abstract: Provided is a U-shaped iron core transfer/assembling method, by which a first leg iron core, a second-leg iron core and a lower-yoke iron core are housed in a first leg iron core tank, a second leg iron core tank and a lower-yoke iron core tank, respectively, and those iron cores are individually transported in sideways attitude. Next, the lower-yoke iron core is transferred into a lower-yoke iron core assembling tank. While the first leg iron core, the second leg iron core and the lower-yoke iron core being kept in the tilted postures, the first leg iron core tank, the second leg iron core tank and the lower-yoke iron core assembling tank are individually opened at their openings and are jointed to each other.

Abstract: A fixture for removing slip ring assemblies from rotating electrical machinery. The fixture attaches directly to the slip ring assembly through bolted connection points for ease of installation and removal. A jacking mechanism provides mechanical leverage to pry the slip ring from its heat-shrunk fit mounting location in a manner that is reliable and safe for the service worker and the slip ring assembly. The fixture is lightweight and portable, facilitating use with electrical generators in the field and especially with wind turbine generators located on a wind turbine tower.

Abstract: A device suitable for producing an image of an object disposed in an object space by means of a sensor comprises at least the sensor, a first lens assembly disposed in front of the sensor, a stop plate comprising a light passage disposed in front of the first lens assembly, a second lens assembly disposed in front of the stop plate and the object space disposed in front of the second lens assembly. The device further comprises a light source, as well as a diffuser which is disposed on a side of the object space that is averted from the light source.

Abstract: It is described an apparatus for removing a flexible film seal (12) from a tubular specimen container (3), comprising a vertical mounting shaft (5) upon which is mounted a holding member (6) for a head assembly (9) having a cavity (13) and pinch means (14, 15). There is provided driving means for causing coupling motion of said head assembly (9) and said specimen container (3) towards each other to receive the seal (12) into said cavity (13), then operating said pinch means for pinching the flexible film seal (12), and finally causing removing motions of said head assembly (9) and said specimen container (3) away from each other to remove the flexible film seal (12) from the head of the specimen container (3).

Abstract: A layout method for electronic components of a double-sided surface mount circuit board is presented, which includes the following steps. At least one first electronic component is fixed on a first side surface of a circuit board through a reflow soldering process. At least one second electronic component is inserted on the first side surface of the circuit board. The other first electronic component is placed on a second side surface of the circuit board, and the other second electronic component is inserted on the second side surface of the circuit board. Finally, a reflow soldering process is performed on the circuit board disposed with the first electronic components and the second electronic components, thereby completing a layout process for the electronic components on the two side surfaces of the circuit board at the same time.

Abstract: A component mounting apparatus for mounting components on a plurality of mounting regions placed on an edge part of a substrate along a first direction that is a direction along the edge part of the substrate, comprises component placing units for holding components placed in component delivery positions that are spaced from the edge part of the substrate in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, moving the held components in the second direction, and placing the components onto the mounting regions, component feeding units for sequentially feeding the components to component feeding positions spaced from the component delivery positions, and component carrying units for holding the components fed to the component feeding positions, moving the held components, and placing the components in the component delivery positions. Therefore, the components can be placed even onto a large substrate with satisfactory working efficiency.

Abstract: An electronic part mounting method including introducing electronic parts in a bulk form into a bulk feeder, transferring the introduced electronic parts to at least one inspection unit by use of a rotatably installed positioning wheel, inspecting and aligning the electronic parts, transferring the inspected and aligned electronic parts to a part insertion unit by use of the positioning wheel, inserting the electronic parts, determined as good ones by the inspection unit, into the part insertion unit, and picking up the electronic parts received in the part insertion unit to mount the electronic parts on a board.

Abstract: When a component mounting process by mounting heads is executed on substrates which are positioned alternately by two substrate carrying lines, a determination is made on whether or not a mounting turn can be completed every time the mounting heads perform the mounting turn, and when it is determined that one of the mounting turns performed by the mounting head cannot be completed, a component mounting process is executed on the substrate which is positioned by the substrate carrying line which is opposite to the substrate carrying line.

Abstract: For inserting terminals into each connector housing and reducing working area in processes by eliminating rearrangement of wires with terminals, a manufacturing method for wiring harnesses, including the steps of: picking up both ends of a wire at a predetermined position in a transferring direction from a transferring device by a pair of chucks, each chuck picking up one of the both ends of the wire; chucking the both ends of the wire with terminals fed through the pair of chucks, each end of the wire being fed through one of the pair of chucks, by a pair of terminal inserting heads as the terminal inserting device, the pair of terminal inserting heads moving freely independently of each other at least in a direction of a row of a connector housings; and inserting the terminals at the both ends simultaneously into each of the connector housings.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a printed wiring board includes forming a pad for mounting an electronic component on a resin layer, forming a solder-resist layer on the resin layer and the pad, exposing an upper surface of the pad and a portion of a side wall of the pad from the solder-resist layer, and forming a metal layer on the upper surface of the pad and the portion of the side wall of the pad.

Abstract: One aspect relates to a method for producing an electrical bushing for an implantable device, an electrical bushing, and an implantable device. The method according to one embodiment includes forming a base body from a ceramic slurry and introducing a bushing conductor made of a metal powder, metal slurry, cermet powder and/or cermet slurry into the base body. The metal fraction in the bushing conductor is provided to decrease towards the base body. It includes sintering the green blank that includes the base body and the bushing conductor.

Abstract: A molding pin for a metal die is prevented from breaking, solder is surely deposited, and thus, a circuit pitch can be reduced to the limit. On the front plane of a circuit board, prescribed circuit patterns made of a conductive material are formed, and on the rear plane, prescribed circuit patterns are also formed. On the circuit board, a through hole is formed to carry electricity between the circuit patterns on both planes. The inner shape of the through hole is narrow in a direction between the adjacent circuit patterns and wide in a circuit extending direction.

Abstract: An enhanced mechanism for via stub elimination in printed wiring boards (PWBs) and other substrates employs laser resin activation to provide selective via plating. In one embodiment, the resin used in insulator layers of the PWB contains spinel-based non-conductive metal oxide. Preferably, only insulator layers through which vias will pass contain the metal oxide. Those layers are registered and laser irradiated at via formation locations to break down the metal oxide and release metal nuclei. Once these layers are irradiated, all layers of the PWB or subcomposite are laid up and laminated. The resulting composite or subcomposite is subsequently drilled through and subjected to conventional PWB fabrication processes prior to electroless copper plating and subsequent copper electroplating. Because metal nuclei were released only in the via formation locations of the appropriate layers, plating occurs in the via barrels only along those layers and partially plated vias are created without stubs.

Abstract: 2N (where N=1, 2, 3, . . . ) rod-shaped terminals, having overall lengths that vary in sequence, are formed out of a single metal plate by press punching. In the metal plate, rod bodies bridging between a first carrier and a second carrier are arranged so that the lengthwise direction of the rod bodies is perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the metal plate, the 2N terminals are divided such that the first N in descending order of length are in a first group, and the remaining N are in a second group, the n-th shortest terminal and the n-th longest terminal are selected from the terminals of the first and second groups and combined one by one, and each combined pair of terminals is disposed in series over one rod body.

Abstract: A dual interface separable insulated connector comprising a faraday cage molded over a bus bar for use in an electric power system and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The faraday cage can be disposed within a semi-conductive shell. The configuration of the separable insulated connector can provide for easier bonding between the faraday cage and insulating material. Additionally, the configuration can eliminate or reduce the need to coat the bus bar with an adhesive agent and to smooth the metal bus bar to remove burrs, other irregularities, and sharp corners from the bar. Manufacturing the dual interface separable insulated connector can include molding a semi-conductive rubber faraday cage over a conductive bus bar, inserting the faraday cage into a shell, and injecting insulating material between the faraday cage and shell.

Abstract: A method for the production of a piston (1) made of steel, for an internal combustion engine, in which the upper piston part (3) is produced using the forging method, and the lower piston part (4) is produced using the forging or casting method, and they are subsequently welded to one another. To simplify the production method and make it cheaper, the upper piston part is forged using the method of semi-hot forming, to finish it to such an extent that further processing of the combustion bowl and of the upper cooling channel regions can be eliminated.

Abstract: A method for confirming the position of at least one variably positionable turbine vane is disclosed herein. The method includes the step of mounting at least one camera on an exterior of an at least partially assembled turbine engine. The method also includes the step of generating visual data with the at least one camera corresponding to a position of a turbine vane actuation structure positioned on the exterior of the at least partially assembled turbine engine.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating coated components using multiple types of fillers are provided. One method comprises forming one or more grooves in an outer surface of a substrate. Each groove has a base and extends at least partially along the outer surface. A sacrificial filler is deposited within the groove, a second filler is deposited over the sacrificial filler, and a coating is disposed over at least a portion of the outer surface and over the second filler. The method further includes removing the sacrificial filler and at least partially removing the second filler from the groove(s), to define one or more channels for cooling the component.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a discharge port member used in a liquid discharge head, comprising in the following order, preparing a substrate at least whose surface is conductive, the substrate having, formed on said surface, a first insulating resist for forming a discharge port and a second insulating resist for forming a recessed portion of a wall of a flow path, forming on surface a first plating layer by plating using said first resist and said second resist as a mask, removing said second resist, forming a second plating layer on an exposed portion of said substrate from which said second resist has been removed, said second plating layer being formed by plating using said first resist as a mask, said second plating layer forming said recessed portion of said wall, and removing said first resist to form said discharge port and removing said substrate.

Abstract: There is provided a universal magnet roller press apparatus, assembly, and method for removing and installing a magnet and a hub of a magnet roller of a toner printer cartridge. The apparatus has a mounting base, a screw drive assembly, an alignment cradle, a front support assembly, a back support assembly, and a first rod stop and a second rod stop. The assembly has the universal magnet roller press apparatus and a plurality of magnet roller adaptors for attached to the magnet roller during removal and installation of the magnet and the hub.

Abstract: A method of attaching a cabinet assembly to a spa. The method includes providing a frame that has a channel that forms a perimeter. A spa is placed on the frame such that a flange or lip of the spa extends past the perimeter created by the channel. A plurality of slats are then secured between the flange of the spa and the channel of the frame in order to form a cabinet around the spa.

Abstract: A method manufactures a frame assembly, which supports a fenestration article. The frame assembly includes a stile member having a stile tab. The frame assembly also includes a rail member coupled substantially transverse to the stile member. The rail member has a rail tab. The method comprises the step of inserting a portion of the stile member into an interior of the rail member such that the stile tab extends beyond the rail member. The method also comprises the step of inserting a portion the rail member into an interior of the stile member such that the rail tab extends beyond the stile member. The method further comprises the steps of bending the stile tab about the rail member to couple the stile member to the rail member and bending the rail tab about the stile member to couple the rail member to the stile member.

Abstract: Razors and systems for wet shaving are provided. The razors include a heating element and a heating material that may be heated by the heating element. Some systems include a holder for the razor, comprising contacts positioned to engage electrical contacts of the razor and deliver power from a power source to the heating element.

Abstract: A razor blade and support assembly is provided which flexes in response to shaving forces near slots in the blade support. A razor cartridge includes one or more of the aforementioned razor blade and support assemblies positioned in a housing. The razor cartridge may be permanently or removably coupled to a handle to provide a shaving razor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pocket tool with a housing, a compartment region, pins (11a, 11b) and an implement (13) interchangeably mounted on one of the pins (11a, 11b) by means of a coupling mechanism (22) and which can be moved by means of a pivot bearing (18) between an inwardly pivoted transport position and an outwardly pivoted functional position, which is mounted against a spring element and can be moved relative to the pin (11a, 11b) into an uncoupling position and removed from the pocket tool. The coupling mechanism (22) has a guide track guiding the implement (13) in the uncoupling position at an angle with respect to a longitudinal axis (68) of the housing (2) during its uncoupling movement along the compartment region.