Abstract: A continuous discharge ceramic powered steel shot magnetic sweeper apparatus is disclosed. The magnetic sweeper apparatus consists of at least one handle, a frame, support wheel(s), a frontal debris bin, drive wheels, a finned tube housing a ceramic magnetic assembly. The ceramic magnetic assembly comprises a sealed magnetic drum and rotating non-ferrous finned tubes. The magnet is continuously cleaned off as the magnetic sweeper apparatus is pushed forward. Magnetic debris accumulates on the magnet assembly and is deposited in the frontal debris bin. The magnetic sweeper apparatus design utilizes field differences created by the magnet position and angle to achieve the automatic pick-up and drop-off of debris at different locations of the drum. Furthermore, the apparatus aims to solve this high-cost rare earth magnet problem by using lower cost ceramic magnets as an alternative.

Abstract: A control valve (100) comprises a conduit (102), a controller (104), a sensor unit (106; 146, 148), a cylindrical housing (112) and one or more regulating columns (124, 126). The conduit further comprises a hollow cylindrical body (114) and two smaller and shorter cylindrical extensions (116, 118) for the insertion of the regulating columns which are orthogonal to the hollow cylindrical body and provide a contactless means to control the flow of the medium (101) in the conduit.

Abstract: An assembly for producing partially packaged semiconductor devices is provided. In one embodiment, the assembly includes a magnetic plate; a flexible substrate disposed adjacent the magnetic plate and having two surfaces; a nonstick coating disposed on one surface of the flexible substrate thereby exposing a nonstick surface; and a tape layer having two surfaces. The tape layer is adhesively attached to the nonstick surface to expose a surface of the tape layer. A frame is disposed on the exposed surface of the tape layer, and a plurality of integrated circuit (IC) die is positioned within the frame and supported by the tape layer. A panel is formed within the frame that at least partially surrounds the plurality of IC die and that contacts the tape layer.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for spiral polishing with electromagnetic abrasive has adopted the principle of electromagnetic and magnetic abrasive along with a lead screw to polish the inner or outer surface of a precise screw or a complicated part. The apparatus includes a clamp, a lead screw, a first electromagnet, and a second electromagnet assembled in an airtight space, wherein the airtight space is filled with magnetic abrasive which is driven by the rotation of the lead screw and the electromagnetic function to polish a processed part in a regular shape or in an irregular shape.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for spiral polishing with electromagnetic abrasive has adopted the principle of electromagnetic and magnetic abrasive along with a lead screw to polish the inner or outer surface of a precise screw or a complicated part. The apparatus includes a clamp, a lead screw, a first electromagnet, and a second electromagnet assembled in an airtight space, wherein the airtight space is filled with magnetic abrasive which is driven by the rotation of the lead screw and the electromagnetic function to polish a processed part in a regular shape or in an irregular shape.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an article having polymeric residue that is to be removed during the manufacture of the article is disclosed. The article is introduced into a controlled environment of a processing tool having one or more processing chambers. Free radicals are generated from one or more reactant gases and introduced into at least one of the one or more processing chambers where they react with the polymeric residue. A cryogenic cleaning medium is supplied into at least one of the one or more processing chambers where the cryogenic cleaning medium removes the polymeric residue present after the free radicals react with the polymeric residue. The reactant gases are selected to facilitate removal of the polymeric residue with the cryogenic cleaning medium. The cryogenic cleaning medium is supplied with a pulsating flow via a nozzle implement that sweeps across the article.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method of causing abrasive grains to collide against and contact with an object being treated to form surfaces of the object being treated into a matte, specifically, a rotational magnetic field is applied on magnetic abrasive grains to cause the same to vibratingly move at random to collide against and contact with an object being treated to obtain a matte.

Abstract: A magnetorheological fluid delivery system includes a mixing and tempering vessel. Fluid is admitted to the vessel via a plurality of tangential ports, creating a mixing of the fluid in the vessel and promoting homogeneity. Fluid may be reconstituted in the vessel by metered addition of carrier fluid. A fixed-speed centrifugal pump disposed in the vessel pressurizes the system. Fluid is pumped through a magnetic-induction flowmeter and a magnetic flow control valve having solenoid windings whereby MR fluid is magnetically stiffened to restrict flow. A closed-loop feedback control system connects the output of the flowmeter to performance of the valve. A nozzle having a slot-shaped bore dispenses MR fluid for re-use in the work zone.

Abstract: A system for dispensing magnetorheological fluid to an MR finishing machine includes a pump for pressurizing the system; a first magnetic valve for regulating MR fluid flow by magnetically varying the structure and apparent viscosity of the fluid through a first flow passage; a similar second magnetic valve magnetically controlling a second flow passage in line with the first valve and flow passage; a pressure sensor disposed between the first and second valves; and an electronic control means. MR fluid flow through the system is controlled to a predetermined flow rate solely by the first valve. When the second valve is deactivated, a reference pressure is determined and saved. When the second valve is activated, a second pressure is determined and saved. From the pressure difference, the solids concentration of the fluid is determined, and a computer algorithm adds a calculated amount of water to the fluid reservoir as needed.

Abstract: A cleaning system and a cleaning method is provided with a cleaning medium comprising a magnetic substance and a magnetic field generating device for applying a magnetic force to the magnetic substance in the cleaning medium so that the magnetic substance and the area to be cleaned are rubbed together. The area to be cleaned is cleaned by the rubbing action of the cleaning medium. The interior of the cleaned object not reachable by hands or instruments can be easily cleaned with this device. The cleaning medium, made of a magnetic substance, is guided into the interior of the cleaned object. The magnetic field generating device generates a magnetic field in the cleaning medium and thereby applies a force to the magnetic substance. By rubbing the magnetic substance on the inner wall surface of the area to be clean, the object can be cleaned efficiently.

Abstract: An improved vane for use with a centrifugal throwing apparatus. The vane has a convex leading surface and flared edges to provide a consistent, broad blast pattern and improved vane wear characteristics. In one embodiment, the vane includes a pickup end, a discharge end opposed to the pickup end, and a leading surface connecting the pickup end to the discharge end. A portion of the leading surface is convex in cross section. Two opposed longitudinal edges define the leading surface, with at least one of the edges being outwardly flared. In an alternative embodiment, the vane includes a longitudinal raised rail formed near one edge of the leading surface, the rail being outwardly flared.

Abstract: An automatic grinding device for sharpening the knives of a forage harvester chopper drum includes a controller including a counter for counting the number of times the grindstone is adjusted toward the chopper drum during sharpening operation. The controller includes a microprocessor having a non-volatile memory in which may be stored a threshold value, determined by the type of grindstone, to which the count of the counter may be compared for generating a signal indicating the degree of wear of the grindstone so that it may be replaced when worn out.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for filtering a slurry used in a chemical mechanical polishing apparatus is disclosed. Magnets are provided along the piping network between a slurry reservoir and the CMP apparatus. A magnet may also be placed adjacent to the slurry reservoir to prevent iron oxide particles from traveling with the slurry to the CMP apparatus. The magnets attract iron oxide particles from the slurry and remove those particles from the slurry prior to polishing. This reduces the amount of defects caused by the iron oxide particles in the slurry.

Abstract: A fluid having magnetorheological (MR) properties and including a finely-divided abrasive material is directed through a non-ferromagnetic nozzle disposed axially of the helical windings of an electric solenoid. The MR fluid may contain magnetosoft or magnetosolid particles or mixtures thereof. A magnetic field created by the solenoid orients and aligns the magnetic moments of the particles to form fibrils thereby stiffening the flowing MR fluid which, when ejected from the nozzle, defines a highly-collimated jet. Collimation of the MR material persists for a significant time outside the magnetic field, permitting use of the abrasive jet to shape and/or polish the surface of a workpiece at some distance from the nozzle. The jet is directed into a shroud against a workpiece mounted for multiple-axis rotation and displacement to meet predetermined material removal needs for shaping. The solenoid may be similarly mounted to also move the jet over the surface of the workpiece.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for finishing a workpiece surface using MR fluid is provided wherein the workpiece is positioned near a carrier surface such that a converging gap is defined between a portion of the workpiece surface and the carrier surface; a magnetic field is applied substantially at said gap; a flow of stiffened MR fluid is introduced into said converging gap such that a work zone is created in the MR fluid to form a sub-aperture transient finishing tool for engaging and causing material removal at the portion of the workpiece surface; and the workpiece or the work zone is moved relative to the other to expose different portions of the workpiece surface to the work zone for predetermined time periods to selectively finish said portions of said workpiece surface to predetermined degrees.

Abstract: A fluid jet accelerator/pressurizer apparatus for accelerating and pressurizing a fluidized stream of particulate matter, e.g. for ice blasting, has a nozzle housing defining a main conduit, forming a passage for the flow of the fluidized stream through the nozzle housing. The main conduit has a constriction formed by a convergent-divergent region of the main conduit for effecting acceleration of the fluidized stream, and an inner blast nozzle is provided in the main conduit and directed in a downstream direction towards the constriction. In operation, a blast medium is discharged from the inner blast nozzle at a speed sufficient to form within the fluidized stream a flow front which is impenetrable by the fluidized stream and which co-operates with the constriction to accelerate the fluidized stream.

Abstract: A magnetic-abrasive machining of a part includes generating a magnetic field; introducing a part to be machined into the magnetic field; supplying a magnetic-abrasive powder into a machining zone toward a surface of the part to be machined; and generating a vacuum between the magnetic-abrasive powder and the surface of the part to be machined so that the magnetic-abrasive powder is moved relative to the surface of the part to be machined.

Abstract: A method of and a device for magnetic-abrasive machining of parts has an external magnetic field providing a magnetic flux, a supply of a magnetic-abrasive powder to the part in the magnetic field. The part is rotated and oscillated about the longitudinal axis so that magnetic-abrasive powder is displaced by the rotating part in a circumferential direction. A fluid jet is directed toward the magnetic-abrasive powder so as to press the magnetic-abrasive powder against a surface of the part. The fluid jet is to improve the material removal rate of machining.

Abstract: A process for removing paint by high pressure waterjet blasting of painted surfaces wherein the waterjet comprises a ferrofluid or other liquid containing tiny magnetic particles suspended therein. The particles may be in colloidal suspension or be suspended by agitation and are preferably polymer coated. The liquid-magnetic particle mixture lends itself to electromagnetic process control, run-off maintenance and waste processing capabilities. Thereby, the process can employ process control and waste remediation options.