A pressure switch assembly is used with a furnace controller having a first input and a second input. A first pressure switch is configured to actuate at a first combustion pressure level and is connected to the first input. A second pressure switch is configured to actuate at a second combustion pressure level, and a third pressure switch is configured to actuate at a third combustion pressure level. Pressure signals provided on the second input from at least one of the second pressure switch and the third pressure switch are used by the furnace controller to derive actuation states of the second and third pressure switches.

The present invention relates to the field of gas furnaces, and in particular to a pressure switch assembly for a multistage gas furnace.
With a furnace for heating a residential or commercial space, a thermostat senses when the temperature of an interior comfort space is below a set temperature. When the temperature drops below the set temperature, the thermostat provides a call for heat that turns on a gas burner and, after a delay time, a circulation air blower. The gas burner injects flame and heated gas into a heat exchanger, which heats the circulation air that is then returned to the interior space. An induced combustion fan draws combustion gases through the heat exchanger and exhausts them into a vent pipe for discharge to an outside environment. Heating continues until the thermostat senses that the interior room air has been heated above the set point, at which time it opens and ends the call for heat.
Multi-stage furnaces have gas burners that operate at different flow rates, ranging from a high flow rate (i.e., high fire) to varying levels of partial flow rates. The high fire mode is employed when there is a high demand for heating, such as when the partial flow rates fail to increase the interior room air temperature above the set point in an allotted time or when specifically commanded by the thermostat. The partial flow rates are employed when there is a lower demand for heat, and the gas burners provide a corresponding level of fire proportionate to the demand for heat.
The gas burners can be actuated into the various flow rate modes based on the states of combustion pressure switches in the furnace. Combustion pressure switches, which sense the negative pressure in the furnace combustion chamber, serve to turn the burners on only if the inducer fan is bringing enough combustion air in to support the level of fire provided by the burners. In conventional furnace systems, the furnace control is designed to have the same number of pressure switch inputs as the number of operating modes supported. Thus, a change in the number of operating modes in the furnace typically requires a change to the control circuitry of the furnace.


A system for reconfigurably adapting a dental chair for use, including, e.g., use from the right side or left side, use by right-handed or left-handed practitioners and use in various dentistry practice styles, may include a link arm, a primary arm and a secondary arm. The link arm is pivotably connectible to a rear side of the dental chair. The primary arm is pivotably connectible to the link arm to swing in a generally horizontal plane about a generally vertical axis. The secondary arm is coupleable to the link arm, preferably along substantially the same axis. The secondary arm has multiple pivotably connected segments allowing its distal end to be positioned as desired.

Chair systems for the practice of dentistry and other similar procedures are known. A chair system typically includes a chair that is adjustable in height and is shaped to support the patient's body, generally from the head to the lower legs. The chair can usually be reclined to position the patient, and particularly the patient's mouth, for convenience to the dentist and other attending personnel.
According to one style of dental chair systems, various equipment used in dental procedures is positioned within reach of the attending personnel by movable support arms that are connected to the dental chair, usually near its base. Such equipment traditionally included tools and fluid systems for providing water, compressed air and vacuum. In the past, such support arms have been connected at various points, including either side of the chair, the front of the chair or the rear of the chair. In another style of chair system, such equipment arms are attached to nearby walls and are not attached to the chair itself.
Conventionally, both "two-handed" and "four-handed" dentistry styles are practiced. Two-handed dentistry refers to practices involving a single practitioner (e.g., dentist, assistant or hygienist), whereas four-handed dentistry refers to practices in which two individuals work together. In the past, available dental chair systems have been optimized for either two-handed or four-handed dentistry, and could not easily be adapted to switch between the two modes conveniently, as may be required in a busy practice. Exemplary styles of two-handed and four-handed dentistry are depicted in the schematics of FIGS. 14A–14F.
In addition, most prior dental chair systems were optimized for either a right-handed practitioner or a left-handed practitioner and could not be easily switched between the two configurations. Thus, in modem practices where multiple dentists might each oversee a number of patients, scheduling each patient according to the dedicated equipment required by the supervising dentist can be quite cumbersome.
Also, in typical modem dentistry practice, much more equipment is made available to the dentist and to the patient than in the past. Such equipment may include information displays (such as one or more computer monitors), controls, lights, cuspidors, amalgam collection units, as well as traditional dentistry tools such as drills and compressed air, water and vacuum tools. Thus, providing such equipment in a safe and flexible handling arrangement that allows for its use in various modes presents additional challenges.

Modular dental chair equipment mounting system


A glasses frame having a first part for receiving lenses, and an arm that is respectively laterally connected to cheek ends on each side of the frame part in an articulated manner by a hinge. The arm has a first partial cylinder shell, on the end thereof facing the frame part, the cylindrical axis corresponding to the rotational axis of the hinge, and the first partial cylinder shell is applied, in a sliding manner, to a second partial cylinder shell provided on the frame part and forming a first sliding surface. The arm on the end facing the frame part has at least one spring tongue which is applied to a second sliding surface on the frame part in an elastic manner so that the region of the frame part having the second partial cylinder shell is elastically received between the first partial cylinder shell and the spring tongue.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a glasses frame with a frame for receiving eyeglass lenses and with a temple piece on each side of the frame, which are coupled laterally to cheek ends of the frame by means of a hinge.
2. Description of Related Art
In such glasses frames usually both of the temple pieces are fixed at the frame of the eyeglasses by means of hinge screws or pins, wherein the screws or pins are coupled to openings at the glasses frame which have a circular cross-section. For example, the openings can be implemented as bores, which if necessary (when hinge screws are used) are provided with corresponding threads.
Other known glasses frames are designed without pins or hinge screws. For example, European Patent Application EP 0 863 424 B1 shows a glasses frame of this type wherein the temple piece comprises a notch at the end facing towards the frame and wherein, in the opened condition of the eyeglasses, a correspondingly formed frame bridge snaps into this notch. The thus formed connection between the temple piece and the glasses frame is fixed by a spring tongue of the temple piece as the spring tongue snaps into a corresponding opening at the glasses frame. Thus, this frame is a screwless three-pieces glasses frame having a spring-hinge system of the plug-in type that provides for a connection without pins or screws between the temple piece and the frame.
European Patent Application EP 1 023 626 B1 discloses a glasses frame, wherein likewise a glasses frame and a pair of temple pieces are connected by means of hinges that provide for a corresponding connection without pins or screws. In this case, the temple pieces are provided each with extensions at their ends facing the frame, which are wound up in a manner so that a tube is formed which engages into corresponding openings at the glasses frame. Additionally the tube is provided with a two-piece hinge core, which serves as a friction element when the eyeglasses are opened or shut.


The tape dispenser has a handle (1) for storing a supply of tape (18). The tape (18) consists of a backing ribbon carrying a coating composition, and backing ribbon from which the coating composition has been removed. An applicator (12) having en edge (10) around which the tape (18) passes is arranged for pressing the tape (18) against a surface to transfer the coating composition from the backing ribbon to said surface.

This invention is concerned with tape dispensers of the kind used to apply a strip of a coating composition to a surface. The invention is described herein in relation to so-called correction tape dispensers which are used to lay down onto a paper surface a layer of thin material to cover a writing or typing mistake and hence facilitate correction of that mistake. However, the tape dispensers disclosed herein could be used for applying other coating layers to a surface. Tape dispensers have an applicator tip defining an edge around with the tape passes and which is used to press the tape against the paper surface. The tape consists of a backing ribbon, e.g. of paper or plastics, which carries on one side a continuous layer of the coating composition. When the tape is pressed against the paper surface by the applicator edge and the edge is caused to move over the surface fresh tape is drawn from a supply of tape contained within a body of the dispenser, as the tape passes around the edge the coating composition is transferred from the backing ribbon to the paper surface so that a continuous strip of composition is deposited onto the paper, and the spent ribbon from which the coating composition has been removed is drawn back into the dispenser body for storage until the entire supply of tape has been consumed when the used ribbon, or possibly the entire dispenser is discarded. The body of the dispenser forms a handle by means of which the dispenser is gripped in the hand by the user.
Due to their overall shapes and configurations, many correction tape dispensers are awkward to hold in use. In our prior patent No. GB 2275042 there is described a tape dispenser with a tape guidance arrangement enabling the dispenser handle to be so orientated relative to the applicator edge that the handle can be held in use in similar manner to the way in which a writing instrument is normally held. Thus, in use the dispenser handle can extend upwardly away from the paper in a direction inclined generally towards the user. This configuration makes the dispenser convenient and easy to use, but it has a drawback in that it is xe2x80x9chandedxe2x80x9d, meaning that a dispenser intended to be used while held in the right hand cannot be easily used while held in the left hand.
The present invention addresses this problem and as a solution it provides a tape dispenser comprising a handle within which are means for storing a supply of tape consisting of a backing ribbon carrying a coating composition, and backing ribbon from which the coating composition has been removed, an applicator with an edge around which the tape passes and arranged for pressing the tape against a surface to transfer the coating composition from the backing ribbon to said surface, the handle being coupled to the applicator to permit selective adjustment of the handle relative to the applicator edge between positions inclined in opposite directions with respect to a plane normal to the edge.
Most conveniently the handle is pivotally adjustable relative to the applicator between the positions which are most suitable for left hand and right hand use. A detent mechanism may be provided to retain the handle in the selected adjustment position during normal use, so that the user is not required to take special steps, such as tightening any parts, to secure the handle position.
In a presently preferred embodiment the detent mechanism is in the general form of a ratchet enabling the handle to be adjusted to any of several positions. In addition to enabling the dispenser to be configured to facilitate left or right hand use, this has the advantage of allowing the user to select a range of handle inclinations according to personal preference for convenience and comfort in use.
Because the handle is adjustable the areas from which the tape is fed to the applicator and to which the spent backing tape is delivered from the applicator, are not predetermined. The tape guide means are therefore preferably arranged to guide the tape through a position substantially coincident with the axis about which the handle is adjustable relative to the applicator. In this way the tape can be guided between the applicator edge and a position which is fixed relative thereto irrespective of the adjusted position of the handle.
Conveniently the tape guiding means comprises a pair of cylindrical rollers with their rotational axes parallel to the pivot axis and their surfaces spaced apart sufficiently to enable the tape to run freely between them.


A cold gas spraying method and device, whereby the sprayed particles are accelerated in a gas flow. A powder tube and an outer nozzle body together form a Laval nozzle that produces high gas flow velocities. The injection of the sprayed particles occurs in the divergent section of the Laval nozzle.

The invention relates to a method and a system for producing a coating or a structural part by means of cold gas spraying, during which powdery spraying particles are injected by means of a powder tube into a gas jet for which a gas is brought to a output pressure of up to 6.3 MPa and is expanded by way of a Laval nozzle. When the gas jet is expanded in the Laval nozzle, the spraying particles are accelerated to speeds of up to 2,000 m/sec.
It is conventional to apply coatings by means of thermal spraying to many different types of materials. Conventional methods used for this purpose are, for example, flame spraying, arc spraying, plasma spraying or high-speed flame spraying. More recently, a method—the so-called cold gas spraying method—was developed by which spraying particles are accelerated to high speeds in a "cold" gas jet. The coating is formed by impacting particles with a high kinetic energy on the workpiece. The particles, which do not melt in the "cold" gas jet, form a dense and firmly adhering layer at impact, the plastic deformation and the resulting local heat release providing the cohesion and adhesion of the sprayed layer on the workpiece. A heating-up of the gas jet warms the particles for better plastic deformation during the impact and increases the flow rate of the gas and thus also the particle speed. The related gas temperature may amount to up to 800° C. but is clearly below the melting temperature of the coating material, so that melting of the particles does not take place in the gas flow. An oxidation and/or phase transitions of the coating material can therefore largely be avoided. The spraying particles are added as a powder that typically at least partially comprises particles of a size from 1 to 50 μm. The spraying particles obtain their high kinetic energy during the gas expansion. After the injection of the spraying particles into the gas jet, the gas is expanded in a nozzle, the gas and the nozzle being accelerated to speeds above the speed of sound. Such a method and a system for cold gas spraying are described in detail in European Patent Document EP 0 484 533 B1. In this case, a de Laval nozzle, in the following abbreviated Laval nozzle, is used as the nozzle. Laval nozzles consist of a convergent section and of a divergent section adjoining the latter in the flow direction. In the divergent area, the contour of the nozzle must be shaped in a defined manner in order to avoid flow separations and compression shocks and to ensure that the gas flow observes the laws according to de Laval. Laval nozzles are characterized by this contour and the length of the divergent section and furthermore by the ratio of the outlet cross-section to the narrowest cross-section. The narrowest cross-section of the Laval nozzle is called the nozzle neck. Hydrogen, helium, argon, air or mixtures thereof are used as the process gas. However, nitrogen is used in most cases. Higher particle speeds are reached by means of helium or helium/nitrogen mixtures.
Currently, systems for cold gas spraying are designed for pressures from approximately 1 MPa to a maximal pressure of 3.5 MPa and for gas temperatures to approximately 800° C. The heated gas, together with the spraying particles, is expanded in a Laval nozzle. While the pressure decreases in the Laval nozzle, the gas flow rate rises to values of up to 3,000 m/s, and the particle speed increases to values of up to 2,000 m/s. As known, the spraying particles are injected into the Laval nozzle by means of a powder tube—viewed in the flow and spraying direction—in front of (or upstream from) the nozzle neck in the inlet area of the Laval nozzle. A pressure condition exists there which is close to the output pressure; pressures of up to 3.5 MPa are therefore possible. At least such a pressure has to be applied during the injection of the powdery coating material. However, at such high pressures, the conception and the operation of a powder conveyer present considerable problems which have not been satisfactorily solved technically. Disturbing turbulences of the spraying particles at the end of the powder tube, by means of which the particles are injected into the Laval nozzle, are also disadvantageous. These turbulences hinder the acceleration and reduce the quality. In addition, the production of a Laval nozzle, in which the high gas and particle flow rates are achieved, requires high expenditures and costs, because of its smallest, narrowest cross-section of a diameter of only 1.5 to 3.5 mm.
International Patent Document WO 98/22639 and U.S. Patent Document 2002/0071906 contain systems for cold gas spraying which are characterized in that the feeding of the spraying particles takes place laterally in the divergent section of the Laval nozzle. For this purpose, an opening is provided in the divergent section of the Laval nozzle, which opening is lockingly connected with the powder tube.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method and a system of the initially mentioned type which carries out the injection of the spraying particles while avoiding the above-mentioned disadvantages.
This and other objects and advantages are achieved by the injection of the spraying particles axially and centrically within the Laval nozzle and not before the divergent section of the Laval nozzle. In an embodiment, the invention comprises expanding a gas jet using a Laval nozzle, injecting powdery spraying particles into the gas jet, and accelerating the spraying particles to a speed of up to 2000 m/s. The spraying particles are injected into the gas jet axially and centrically. Additionally, the spraying particles are injected at a location in the gas jet that is downstream in the spraying direction from a nozzle neck of the Laval nozzle.
The displacing of the injection point into an area where the nozzle widens again means that the injection takes place at a pressure which is clearly below the maximal output pressure because the expansion of the gas already starts in this area. The considerable pressure drop, which starts in the area of the nozzle neck, even permits the increasing of the gas inlet pressure to up to 6.3 MPa. Because of the pressure drop, the injection of the powdery spraying particles is significantly facilitated, allowing for the use of conventional injection methods. Particularly, the conception and the operation of the powder conveyer are simplified and current powder conveyers, which normally operate in a range of up to 1.5 MPa, can be used. Since not only the pressure drops in the divergent part of the Laval nozzle but also the temperature of the gas, the gas can be preheated to higher temperatures. As a result, the flow rate of the gas can be increased. However, the spraying particles first come in contact with the "cold" gas. This prevents a baking of the particles onto the nozzle wall, which occurs at higher gas inlet temperatures.
In another embodiment of the invention, the combination of the shapes of the outer contour of the powder tube together with the inner contour of the outer tube results in a nozzle which corresponds to the interrelationships of de Laval. In this case, the powder tube is advantageously mounted axially and centrically in the outer nozzle body. By means of this Laval nozzle, the cold gas spraying method can be implemented in an advantageous manner. The preheated gas is accelerated to flow rates of up to 3000 m/s. High gas flow rates are a prerequisite for high particle speeds. The contact of the particles with the gas takes place at high flow rates and at temperatures at which the spraying particles are only warmed up. As a result, the warmed-up spraying particles are optimally accelerated before they impact on the workpiece. In an embodiment, the particles are accelerated to at least 100 m/s, preferably at least 350 m/s, and more preferably at least 500 m/s.
In still another embodiment, the injection of the spraying particles takes place at a location which is situated in the area between a quarter of a distance and half a distance whose starting point is defined by the nozzle neck and whose end point is defined by the nozzle outlet, the measuring taking place from the direction of the nozzle neck.
The injection site for the spraying particles is advantageously selected such that the injection of the spraying particles takes place in the divergent section of the Laval nozzle at a pressure of less than two thirds of the output pressure. This ensures that simple spraying particle injection methods and current powder conveyers can be used. Even injection of spraying particles at pressures which are below the normal pressure can be achieved. This means that no pressure has to be applied for the injection because the spraying particles are pulled into the gas jet. On the other hand, the inlet pressure for the gas can be selected to be clearly higher than in the case of cold gas spraying methods customary today. A high gas inlet pressure which, in the case of the method according to the invention, may amount to up to 6.3 MPa, preferably between 1.0 and 3.5 MPa, results in high gas flow rates and thus permits high speeds for the spraying particles.
In a preferred embodiment, the gas passage has a circular-ring-shaped (annular) cross-section at the narrowest point. This cross-section is bounded on the inside by the outer contour of the powder tube and is bounded on the outside by the inner contour of the nozzle tube. The gas is accelerated in this gas passage. The size of the gas passage also defines the gas consumption during the cold gas spraying. Since, without creating any problem, the circular-ring-shaped cross-section can be selected to be small, the method suggested here can be applied in an economical manner.
The cold gas spraying system according to the invention is characterized in that the powder tube ends axially and centrically in the divergent section within the Laval nozzle. The powder tube therefore ends in an area in which the pressure already has already dropped as a result of the gas acceleration. The construction of the powder conveyer will thereby be considerably simplified because the latter only has to be dimensioned for the lower pressure which exists at the end of the powder tube. Because of the insertion of the powder tube into an outer nozzle body, according to the invention, the Laval nozzle now consists of two parts which are easy to manufacture. The outer nozzle body, whose inner side has to be machined, is relatively large, and the powder tube, which forms the second part of the Laval nozzle, has to be machined only on the outer side. The Laval nozzle required according to the invention is therefore clearly easier to manufacture than the nozzles used so far because particularly the manufacturing of the inner contour of a nozzle presents problems if this contour is very narrow. This is a great advantage because, during the cold gas spraying, the nozzle is subjected to considerable wear and therefore has to be exchanged at regular intervals. The gas consumption of the cold gas spraying system according to the invention is not increased by the larger cross-section of the Laval nozzle because this cross-section is defined by way of the narrowest distance between the outer edge of the powder tube and the inner contour of the outer nozzle body. This is beneficial because the gas consumption, which is already very high for the methods corresponding to the state of the art, should not be increased further in order to be able to implement the method suggested here in an economical manner. Quality-reducing turbulences of the spraying particles, which occur at the outlet site, are also prevented by such a design of the Laval nozzle consisting of the powder tube and the outer nozzle body.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the inner shape of an outer nozzle body together with the outer shape of a powder tube arranged coaxially in the outer nozzle body and oriented in the spraying direction result in a Laval nozzle. The powder tube is advantageously arranged axially and centrically in the outer nozzle body. A Laval nozzle designed in this manner—in comparison to the nozzles used according to the state of the art—can be produced without any problems because, as a result of the construction according to the invention, the inner contour of the outer nozzle body and/or the outer side of the powder tube can be manufactured. In comparison, this is not problematic because the outer nozzle body is large in comparison and can therefore be manufactured relatively easily and, in the case of the small powder tube, only the outer surface, which is easy to machine, is to be machined and not the inner contour.
In yet another embodiment, the cold gas spraying device is designed such that the ring-shaped area for the gas passage, which is defined by the distance between the outer contour of the powder tube and the inner contour of the outer nozzle body, at its smallest point, has a size of from 1 to 30 mm2, preferably from 3 to 10 mm2. As a result of this characteristic, it is ensured that the gas consumption, which is defined by this ring-shaped area, is comparable to the gas consumption of a cold gas spraying system according to the state of the art, and the remaining function also takes place in a favorable manner. This is beneficial for ensuring the economic efficiency of the system.
Other configurations can be used to create the Laval nozzle from the powder tube and the outer nozzle body. For example, the powder tube situated on the inside may have a contour on its outer side which is designed such that, together with a smooth cylindrical inner contour of the outer nozzle body, a Laval nozzle is formed.
Alternatively, a Laval nozzle can be obtained which consists of a powder tube, which is situated on in the interior and has a smooth cylindrical outer side, and a nozzle body which is situated outside and is correspondingly shaped on its inner side.
As another possibility, the required contour for the Laval nozzle can be formed partially by the outer side of the power tube and partially by the inner side of the outer nozzle body.
In an advantageous embodiment, the opening ratio of the Laval nozzle, that is, the ratio of the cross-sectional area for the gas passage at the narrowest point to the cross-section at the outlet of the nozzle, is between 1:2 and 1:25, preferably between 1:5 and 1:11.
In a preferred variant, the outer nozzle body has a circular-ring-shaped cross-section in the convergent area, which cross-section changes in the divergent area of the nozzle into a rectangular cross-section. By means of rectangular shapes, narrow areas and large surfaces are coated in an advantageous manner.
Advantageously, the powder tube as well as the outer nozzle body each consist of a metallic material, a ceramic material or a plastic material.
In an embodiment, the powder tube and the nozzle body consist of different materials. Different metal alloys, different ceramic materials, different plastic materials, or a combination thereof, for example, metal/ceramics, metal-plastics, plastics/ceramics, can be used for this purpose. The outer nozzle body preferably consists of metal, while the powder tube situated on the inside is made of ceramics.
In an advantageous variant, the powder tube and/or the outer nozzle body—viewed in the flow direction—are joined together of two or more parts, the first part comprising the area around the nozzle neck, which is adjoined by a second part reaching to the nozzle outlet. In this case, the second part can easily be exchanged and, with respect to its shape and material, is selected according to the requirements of the different spraying materials.
The two above-mentioned parts advantageously consist of different materials.
In the following, the invention will be described in detail by means of two schematically illustrated examples:

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.