All The Claims

1. A piezoelectric vibration piece comprising:
a base made of a piezoelectric material;
a first and second vibration arms integrally formed with the base;
elongate grooves formed along longitudinal directions of the first and second vibration arms in principal surfaces of the first and second vibration arms;
inner electrodes disposed in the elongate grooves;
side electrodes disposed on side surfaces of the first and second vibration arms;
wherein widening portions being formed at a junction of the first and second vibration arms and the base;
wherein each of the widening portions includes an inner widening portion located adjacent to a crotch portion between the first vibration arm and the second vibration arm;
wherein a width of an at least one of the inner widening portions being widened toward the base while a widening degree is changed at a change point;
wherein the side electrode formed on a tip side of at least one of the first and second vibration arms from the at least one of the inner widening portions being not led to the principal surface located between at least one of the elongate groove and at least one of the side surface; and
wherein the side electrode formed on the at least one of the inner widening portions being led to the principal surface and the side surface of at least one of the first and second vibration arms at the inner widening portion and covers the change point.
2. A piezoelectric vibration piece according to claim 1,
wherein the at least one of the inner widening portions includes a plurality of straight lines that are connected to each other.
3. A piezoelectric vibration piece according to claim 1,
wherein a width of each elongate groove being constant along an entire length of each groove.
4. A piezoelectric vibration piece according to claim 1,
wherein a connecting electrode formed on the base; and
wherein the at least one of the side electrodes led to the principal surface and the side surface of at least one of the first and second vibration arms at the inner widening portion being connected to the at least one of the inner electrode of the second vibration arm through the connecting electrode.
5. A piezoelectric vibration piece according to claim 1,
wherein each of the widening portions includes an outer widening portion located outside between a first imaginary line along the longitudinal direction passing through a center of the first vibration arm in a width direction and a second imaginary line along the longitudinal direction passing through a center of the second vibration arm in the width direction; and
wherein at least part of the elongate grooves being formed between the inner widening portions and the outer widening portions.
6. A piezoelectric device which receives a piezoelectric vibration piece in a package or a case, the piezoelectric vibration piece comprising:
a base made of a piezoelectric material;
a first and second vibration arms integrally formed with the base;
elongate grooves formed along longitudinal directions of the first and second vibration arms in principal surfaces of the first and second vibration arms;
inner electrodes disposed in the elongate grooves;
side electrodes disposed on side surfaces of the first and second vibration arms;
wherein widening portions being formed at a junction of the first and second vibration arms and the base;
wherein each of the widening portions includes an inner widening portion located adjacent to a crotch portion between the first vibration arm and the second vibration arm;
wherein a width of an at least one of the inner widening portions being widened toward the base while a widening degree is changed at a change point;
wherein the side electrode formed on a tip side of at least one of the first and second vibration arms from the at least one of the inner widening portions being not led to the principal surface located between at least one of the elongate groove and at least one of the side surface; and
wherein the side electrode formed on the at least one of the inner widening portions being led to the principal surface and the side surface of at least one of the first and second vibration arms at the inner widening portion and covers the change point.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

We claim:

1. A pollution control device for reducing harmful emissions found in combustion gases, said device comprising:
a body having a first portion and a second portion releasably connected together to form a chamber therebetween,
an exhaust gas inlet on said body,
an exhaust gas outlet from said body,
at least one web member across said chamber, and
a plurality of catalytic converter elements held in said web member;
wherein said exhaust gases pass through said catalytic converter elements when passing through said chamber from said inlet to said outlet.
2. A pollution control device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said catalytic converter elements define an exhaust gas flow through area which is sufficient to prevent a significant pressure drop between said inlet and said outlet.
3. A pollution control device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said chamber includes at least two webs extending thereacross, each of said webs having a plurality of catalytic converter elements.
4. A pollution control device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said plurality of catalytic converter elements on each of said webs is the same.
5. A pollution control device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said plurality of catalytic converter elements on each of said webs is different.
6. A pollution control device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said catalytic converter elements are releasably held in said web.
7. A pollution control device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said catalytic converter elements are fixed in said web.
8. A pollution control device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said chamber includes a flow control means to improve a flow of said exhaust gases through said chamber.
9. A pollution control device as claimed in claim 8 wherein said flow control means comprises a baffle.
10. A pollution control device as claimed in claim 9 wherein said flow control baffle is a conical baffle extending from said inlet.
11. A pollution control device as claimed in claim 1 further including at least one gas injection port in said chamber.
12. A pollution control device as claimed in claim 11 further including a blower associated with said at least one gas injection port.
13. A pollution control device as claimed in claim 11 wherein said at least one gas injection port is adjacent to said web, said injected gas facilitating a reaction causing a reduction of pollution.
14. A method of servicing a pollution control device comprising:
a) supporting said device in place;
b) separating a first portion from a second portion;
c) removing and replacing a web and associated catalytic conversion elements; and
d) releasably attaching said first and second portions together again.
15. A pollution control device for reducing harmful emissions found in combustion gases said device comprising:
a body having an inlet and an outlet and a chamber formed between;
a web forming a barrier across the chamber between the inlet and the outlet, and having a plurality of openings formed therein; and
a plurality of catalytic converter elements held in said openings in said web member;
wherein said exhaust gases are forced by said web to pass through said catalytic converter elements.

1. A side-locking clamp, comprising:
a lower band, including:
an arcuate body with a hinge portion disposed at a proximal end, and
an extension with a mounting hole and a curved locking tab disposed on a curved distal end; and

an upper band, including:
an arcuate body with a hinge portion, disposed at a proximal end, to engage the lower band hinge portion and form a hinge about which the upper band rotates from an open position to a closed position, and
an extension, with a mounting hole and a curved locking tab disposed on a curved distal edge, to slidingly engage the lower band locking tab from right to left when viewed from the front and lock the clamp when the upper band is disposed in the closed position.
2. The clamp according to claim 1, wherein, when the upper band is disposed in the closed position, the inner surface of the lower band arcuate body and the inner surface of the upper band arcuate body define a cylindrical cavity.
3. The clamp according to claim 1, wherein the lower band hinge portion is an arcuate tab and the upper band hinge portion is a slot in which the arcuate tab is cooperatively disposed.
4. The clamp according to claim 1, wherein the upper band arcuate body includes at least one lightening hole.
5. The clamp according to claim 1, wherein the lower band arcuate body includes at least one lightening hole.
6. The clamp according to claim 1, wherein the lower band locking tab thickness is substantially the same as the upper band extension thickness, and the upper band locking tab thickness is substantially the same as the lower band extension thickness.
7. The clamp according to claim 1, wherein, when the upper band is disposed in the closed position, the lower band mounting hole and the upper band mounting hole substantially overlay one another.
8. The clamp according to claim 1, further comprising a cushion substantially surrounding the lower band arcuate body and the upper band arcuate body.
9. A method for mounting an object to a support using the side-locking clamp according to claim 1, the method comprising:
disposing the side-locking clamp in an open position such that the upper band and the lower band substantially surround the object;
rotating the upper band toward the lower band;
as the upper band approaches the lower band, translating the upper band laterally, in an unlocking direction, so that the upper band locking tab clears the lower band locking tab;
translating the upper band laterally, in a locking direction, so that the upper band locking tab slidingly engages the lower band locking tab; and
mounting the side-locking clamp to a support.
10. A side-locking clamp, comprising:
a lower band, including:
an arcuate body with a hinge portion disposed at a proximal end, and
an extension with a mounting hole and a curved locking tab disposed on a curved distal end; and

an upper band, including:
an arcuate body with a hinge portion, disposed at a proximal end, to engage the lower band hinge portion and form a hinge about which the upper band rotates from an open position to a closed position, and
an extension, with a mounting hole and a curved locking tab disposed on a curved distal edge, to slidingly engage the lower band locking tab from left to right when viewed from the front.
11. The clamp according to claim 10, wherein, when the upper band is disposed in the closed position, the inner surface of the lower band arcuate body and the inner surface of the upper band arcuate body define a cylindrical cavity.
12. The clamp according to claim 10, wherein the lower band hinge portion is an arcuate tab and the upper band hinge portion is a slot in which the arcuate tab is cooperatively disposed.
13. The clamp according to claim 10, wherein the upper band arcuate body includes at least one lightening hole.
14. The clamp according to claim 10, wherein the lower band arcuate body includes at least one lightening hole.
15. The clamp according to claim 10, wherein the lower band locking tab thickness is substantially the same as the upper band extension thickness, and the upper band locking tab thickness is substantially the same as the lower band extension thickness.
16. The clamp according to claim 10, wherein, when the upper band is disposed in the closed position, the lower band mounting hole and the upper band mounting hole substantially overlay one another.
17. The clamp according to claim 10, wherein the upper band locking tab slidingly engages the lower band locking tab from left to right when viewed from the front.
18. The clamp according to claim 10, further comprising a cushion substantially surrounding the lower band arcuate body and the upper band arcuate body.
19. A method for mounting an object to a support using the side-locking clamp according to claim 10, the method comprising:
disposing the side-locking clamp in an open position such that the upper band and the lower band substantially surround the object;
rotating the upper band toward the lower band;
as the upper band approaches the lower band, translating the upper band laterally, in an unlocking direction, so that the upper band locking tab clears the lower band locking tab;
translating the upper band laterally, in a locking direction, so that the upper band locking tab slidingly engages the lower band locking tab; and
mounting the side-locking clamp to a support.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A bottom nozzle brick comprising at least partly an outer jacket of metal and a flow aperture for molten metal, a lower part of the brick being formed conical for at least part of the way; wherein the lower part of the bottom nozzle brick, its outer surface, is provided with an area formed for an annular seal.
2. The bottom nozzle brick according to claim 1, wherein the area for the seal is a cylindrical recess built to the conical lower part of the bottom nozzle brick.
3. The bottom nozzle brick according to claim 2, wherein the cylindrical recess extends from a lower end of the bottom nozzle brick upwards essentially in a range corresponding to a height of the seal.
4. The bottom nozzle brick according to claim 1, wherein the area for the seal contains grips for the seal.
5. The bottom nozzle brick according to claim 4, wherein the grips are at least partly protrusions encircling the bottom nozzle brick.
6. The bottom nozzle brick according to claim 1, wherein the metal jacket does not extend under the seal.
7. The bottom nozzle brick according to claim 1, wherein the metal jacket extends at least partly under the seal.
8. The bottom nozzle brick according to claim 1, wherein the cross-section of the ring seal is essentially a rectangle, square, circle, ellipse, triangle, or quadrangle.
9. The bottom nozzle brick according to claim 1, wherein the seal is made of aluminium oxide, graphite or some other heat-resistant material.
10. A method for sealing the contact between a bottom nozzle brick and a shroud, comprising:
arranging the bottom nozzle brick with at least a partly metal surface, on a side of a lower part of which there is an area substantially on a range corresponding to a height of a seal to be used and that the area comprises a cylindrical recess for installing the seal into the area or grips for installing the seal;
installing the seal to the bottom nozzle brick;
installing the bottom nozzle brick with its seal under the pouring ladle; and
bringing the bottom nozzle brick into sealed contact with the shroud.
11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:
arranging the bottom nozzle brick without the metal jacket in the area of the seal.
12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:
arranging the bottom nozzle brick so that the metal jacket extends at least partly into the area of the seal.