Abstract: An ultrasonically assisted coating method for applying a smooth layer of coating material on a surface of a moving web are disclosed. A coating material is applied onto one web surface. An ultrasonic energy generator excites the line of initial contact between the coating material and the web at a uniform ultrasonic intensity selected in combination with the properties of the coating material. The coated web has a thin, uniform crossweb thickness with low thickness variations.

Abstract: An emission-free process is described for cleaning precision optics and components of precision optics including the steps of first pretreating a surface of precision optics or a surface of components of precision optics by cleaning the surface in a cleaning bath to which surfactants have been added as wetting agents, circulating the cleaning bath and exposing the surface to ultrasound exposure. The surface then is rinsed with buffered water containing no wetting agents. The cleaning and rinsing steps then are repeated and the surface is rinsed with buffered, deionized water simultaneously with ultrasound exposure, and then sprayed with deionized water simultaneously with fresh water microfiltration. The pretreated surface then is subjected to short-wave UV radiation, highly accelerated electrons or glow discharge to degrade or convert organic impurities and surfactant residues present on the surface of the pretreated surface into carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A process for tinning plated wire involves first the placing of the wire in a suitable chemical flux for a period of time, the wire is then immersed for a period of time into a static solder pot having molten solder therein, the wire is then re-immersed into the chemical flux for a period of time, and finally the wire is immersed for a period of time into an ultrasonic solder pot having molten solder therein, the wire when removed from the ultrasonic pot being sufficiently tinned such that the solder has formed a suitable intermolecular bond to the plating in accordance with typical bonding criteria.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for uniformly coating a fiber or tow of fibers (10) with a powder at relatively high speed to produce a prepreg. The apparatus uses an elongated chamber (401) in a container (400) for confining the fiber which is coated by an aerosol of powder dispensed from a powder dispensing apparatus (500) in counter-current mode. A fiber tensioning apparatus (300) for the fiber maintains the proper tensioning of the fibers spread by a speaker (201) below the fibers on roller bars (203) so that the uniformly spread fibers are fed to the chamber (401). A heater apparatus (600) fuses the powder to the fiber and then is taken up on a spool (700).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an X-ray tube comprises the steps of applying the bearing portions with liquid metal lubricant and heating the bearing portions defined by a rotary structure and a stationary shaft to a temperature of 200.degree. C. or more in a vacuum condition. An apparatus for manufacturing an X-ray tube comprises a vacuum bell jar having a heating unit, a metal lubricant injector provided in the vacuum bell jar and a holding and controlling device for holding the rotary structure and the stationary shaft and controlling the movement and the mutual connection of the rotary structure and stationary shaft externally of the vacuum envelope.

Abstract: In a process for manufacturing a rigid magnetic recording disk, the disk's rigid substrate member is subjected to a force that produces plastic deformation in a manner so as not to remove material therefrom. In this way, the disk is provided with a surface topography that contains a controlled texture, for example in the area of the disk's start/stop track. In an embodiment of the invention, an ultrasonic probe and a disk shaped substrate member are placed in close proximity within a container that holds a fluid abrasive slurry, i.e. a suspension of hard particles in a liquid. Operation of the ultrasonic probe, as the substrate member rotates, causes the slurry to texture an adjacent portion of the substrate member by means of plastic deformation and in the absence of material removal from the substrate member. Operation of the probe thus provides texturing of the disk at an inner diameter track area thereof, for example in the disk's start/stop area.

Abstract: An ultrasonically assisted coating method for applying a smooth layer of coating material on a surface of a moving web are disclosed. A coating material is applied onto one web surface. An ultrasonic energy generator excites the line of initial contact between the coating material and the web at a uniform ultrasonic intensity selected in combination with the properties of the coating material. The coated web has a thin, uniform crossweb thickness with low thickness variations.

Abstract: This method comprises the following steps, which are compatible with thin-film technology: forming a bottom electrode (2) on an insulating substrate (1), depositing a humidity-sensitive polymer layer (5) of uniform thickness on the bottom electrode (2) leaving contact areas (3a, 3b) uncovered, activating surface bonds of the polymer layer (5), applying a colloidal dispersion of SiO.sub.2 or Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 particles (6) of uniform grain size as a thin layer to the polymer layer (5) and subsequently drying it, depositing a cover electrode (7) on the particles (6) still evenly distributed on the polymer layer (5) after the drying of the dispersion, and removing the particles (6) together with the portions of the cover electrode (7) overlying them.

Abstract: An improved stereolithographic apparatus and method is described. In one embodiment, the improvement includes immersing at least a portion of a part in a volume of a liquid solvent in a vapor degreaser while subjecting the portion to ultrasonic agitation to substantially remove excess resin. Several examples of solvents are provided, including ethanol, and Freon TMS. In a second embodiment, the improvement includes building the part on a layer of liquid resin supported by a volume of a dense, immiscible, and UV transparent intermediate liquid, and integratably immersing at least a portion of the built part in the intermediate liquid, and then either subjecting the immersed portion to ultrasonic agitation to substantially remove excess resin, or subjecting the immersed portion to UV light. Several examples of intermediate liquids are provided, including perfluorinated fluids, such as Fluorinert FC-40, and water-based salt solutions, such as solutions of magnesium sulfate or sodium chloride in water.

Abstract: A surface of a non-magnetic base plate is first coarsened to a required surface roughness and an ultrasonic vibration is then applied to the surface of the non-magnetic base plate while the non-magnetic base plate is immersed in a liquid. Thereafter, a magnetic recording layer and a protective layer are successively formed on the surface of the non-magnetic base plate thereby to produce a magnetic recording medium. It is preferable that the frequency of a ultrasonic vibration is within a range from 200 kHz to 1600 kHz. Surface fractional properties of the magnetic recording medium can adequately be controlled without variation of the floatation height of a magnetic head during its running by varying an ultrasonic oscillation output and an ultrasonic processing time.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) process for depositing silicon dioxide. In particular, the present invention describes a process involving a pre-cleaning step in which all impurities are removed from the substrate followed by a LPCVD step performed at temperatures of between 200.degree. C. and 300.degree. C. The process of the present invention is intended to replace higher temperature LPCVD and thermal processes for depositing silicon dioxide.More particularly, the present invention involves a process in which a substrate is washed using a predetermined cleaning process. The substrate is then exposed to a dilute hydrofluoric acid solution which removes native oxide and contaminants from the surface. Next, the substrate is rinsed with, for example, de-ionized water or ultra-clean water to remove any hydrofluoric acid or other residue from the previous process steps.

Abstract: A method for measuring the plating on the inside of a gun barrel, including he steps of providing ultrasonic pulses against a gun barrel to be plated, and plating the inside while monitoring the echoes from said waves from the inside and outside diameters of the barrel with a plurality of transducers aligned to reflect ultrasound waves from the outside and the inside surfaces of the gun barrel. Change in time for the return of waves from the inside surface indicates the change in thickness of plating on the inside of the barrel. The change is calculated by measuring the change in time for the wave to return to its source, and multiplying by the sound velocity.

Abstract: A coating type, magnetic disk is produced by applying a magnetic paint containing magnetic powders in a dispersed state to a non-magnetic substrate, thereby forming a magnetic recording film thereon, and applying surface waves to the magnetic recording film in an undried state. By applying the surface waves to the magnetic recording film, dispersibility and orientation of the magnetic powders are improved and a longitudinally oriented, coating type magnetic disk with distinguished electromagnetic properties, such as a high S/N ratio, etc. can be obtained.

Abstract: A diamond film of the vapor phase process is produced by a method which comprises a step of (1) electrolytically polishing the surface of a hard metal substrate with a pulse voltage or, after electrolytic polishing, further subjecting it to a scratching treatment with an abrasive powder or (2) electrolytically polishing the surface of a hard metal substrate with a constant voltage and thereafter subjecting it to a scratching treatment with an abrasive powder, thereby heightening the adhesive force of the surface of the substrate, and then effecting deposition of dense diamond of high adhesive strength by the vapor phase process on the substrate.