All The Claims

1. A hose assembly comprising:
a hose having an end;
a fitting having an interior portion, an exterior portion, and a cavity therebetween, the end of the hose being located within the cavity and compressed between the interior and exterior portions, the exterior portion of the fitting having at least first and second circumferential crimped portions axially spaced apart along a length of the fitting, first and second portions of the hose being compressed within, respectively, the first and second circumferential crimped portions, the exterior portion of the fitting further having an annular-shaped bubble portion between the first and second circumferential crimped portions, the bubble portion having a diameter that is larger than diameters of the first and second circumferential crimped portions, the hose having a portion radially expanded into an annular-shaped cavity surrounded by the bubble portion due to the hose being compressed at the first and second portions thereof.
2. The hose assembly of claim 1, wherein the hose has a diameter of at least 5 cm.
3. The hose assembly of claim 1, wherein the fitting has a length of more than 10 cm.
4. The hose assembly of claim 1, wherein the hose is a rotary hose.
5. A process of securing a fitting to an end of a hose, the fitting having an axial extent, the process comprising:
crimping a first circumferential portion of the fitting from an initial diameter to a final crimping diameter to thereby define a first crimp; and then
crimping a second circumferential portion of the fitting axially spaced apart from the first circumferential portion, the second circumferential portion being crimped from an initial diameter to a final crimping diameter to thereby define a second crimp; and then
optionally performing at least a third crimping operation on a third circumferential portion of the fitting from an initial diameter to a final crimping diameter;
whereby the fitting is secured to the hose by the crimps.
6. The process of claim 5, further comprising locating the second circumferential portion at an axial location such that once the second circumferential portion is crimped an uncrimped circumferential portion of the fitting remains between the first crimp and the second crimp, the uncrimped circumferential portion defining a bubble portion of the fitting after crimping the second circumferential portion.
7. The process of claim 6, wherein the hose has a portion radially expanded into an annular-shaped cavity surrounded by the bubble portion due to first and second portions of the hose being compressed at the first and second circumferential portions of the fitting.
8. The process of claim 5, further comprising performing the third crimping operation, the third circumferential portion being axially spaced apart from the first and second circumferential portions.
9. The process of claim 8, further comprising locating the third circumferential portion at an axial location such that once the third circumferential portion is crimped an uncrimped circumferential portion of the fitting remains between the second crimp and the third crimp, the uncrimped circumferential portion defining a bubble portion of the fitting after crimping the second circumferential portion.
10. The process of claim 5, wherein the hose is not skived prior to crimping the first circumferential portion.
11. The process of claim 5, wherein the crimping of the first and second circumferential portions are performed simultaneously with a crimping die comprising more than one crimping surface in an axial direction of the hose.
12. The hose assembly produced by the process of claim 5.

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. An ion source having a discharge chamber which has first and second ends and encloses a discharge region, wherein said first end is closed, and wherein said second end is open;
a means for introducing an ionizable gas into said discharge region;
a high-electrical-conductivity material of an inductor proximate said discharge region, said inductor having first and second ends through which a radio-frequency current is introduced, and said inductor also having a plurality of turns between said inductor ends;
a means for electrostatically accelerating ions that leave said open end of said discharge chamber into a beam of energetic ions;
a means for adding electrons to said beam of energetic ions; and
a high-electrical-conductivity material of a closed circuit proximate said first end of said inductor and having a shape approximating only that of said turn of said inductor closest to said first end of said inductor; and wherein said high-electrical-conductivity material is continuous over said closed circuit and is not connected to a power source.
2. The ion source as defined in claim 1 wherein said first end of said inductor is closer to said second end of said discharge chamber than said second end of said inductor.
3. The ion source as defined in claim 1 wherein said high-electrical-conductivity material of said closed circuit is in electrical contact with said turn of said plurality of turns of said inductor closest to said first end of said inductor at one or more locations.
4. The ion source as defined in claim 1 wherein said inductor is in the shape of a helix.
5. The ion source as defined in claim 1 wherein said high-electrical-conductivity material of said inductor is copper.
6. The ion source as defined in claim 1 wherein said high-electrical-conductivity material of said closed circuit is copper.
7. A plasma source having a discharge chamber which has first and second ends and encloses a discharge region, wherein said first end is closed, and wherein said second end is open;
a means for introducing an ionizable gas into said discharge region;
a high-electrical-conductivity material of an inductor proximate said discharge chamber, said inductor having first and second ends through which a radio-frequency current is introduced, and said inductor also having a plurality of turns between said inductor ends;
a means for accelerating ions that leave said open end of said discharge chamber into a beam of electrons and energetic ions; and
a high-electrical-conductivity material of a closed circuit proximate said first end of said inductor and having a shape approximating only that of said turn of said inductor closest to said first end of said inductor; and wherein said high-electrical-conductivity material is continuous over said closed circuit and is not connected to a power source.
8. The plasma source as defined in claim 7 wherein said first end said inductor is closer to said second end of said discharge chamber than said second end of said inductor.
9. The plasma source as defined in claim 7 wherein said high-electrical-conductivity material of said closed circuit is in electrical contact with said turn of said plurality of turns of said inductor closest to said first end of said inductor at one or more locations.
10. The plasma source as defined in claim 7 wherein said inductor is in the shape of a helix.
11. The plasma source as defined in claim 7 wherein said high-electrical-conductivity material in said inductor is copper.
12. The plasma source as defined in claim 7 wherein said high-electrical-conductivity material of said closed circuit is copper.
13. A method for constructing an ion source, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a discharge chamber which has first and second ends and encloses a discharge region, wherein said first end is closed, and wherein said second is open;
(b) providing a means for introducing an ionizable gas into said discharge region;
(c) providing a high-electrical-conductivity material of an inductor proximate said discharge chamber, said inductor having first and second ends through which a radio-frequency current is introduced, and said inductor also having a plurality of turns between said inductor ends;
(d) providing a means for electrostatically accelerating ions that leave said open end of said discharge chamber into a beam of energetic ions;
(e) providing a means for adding electrons to said beam of energetic ions; and
(f) providing a high-electrical-conductivity material of a closed circuit proximate said first end of said inductor and having a shape approximating only that of said turn of said inductor closest to said first end of said inductor; and wherein said high-electrical-conductivity material is continuous over said closed circuit and is not connected to a power source.
14. The method in accordance with claim 13 wherein said first end of said inductor is closer to said second end of said discharge chamber than said second end of said inductor.
15. The method in accordance with claim 13 wherein said high-electrical-conductivity material of said closed circuit is in electrical contact with said turn of said plurality of turns of said inductor closest to said first end of said inductor at one or more locations.
16. The method in accordance with claim 13 wherein said inductor is in the shape of a helix.
17. The method in accordance with claim 13 wherein said high-electrical-conductivity material of said inductor is copper.
18. The method in accordance with claim 13 wherein second high-electrical-conductivity material of said closed circuit is copper.
19. A method for constructing a plasma source, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a discharge chamber which has first and second ends and encloses a discharge region, wherein said first end is closed, and wherein said second end is open;
(b) providing a means for introducing an ionizable gas into said discharge region;
(c) providing a high-electrical-conductivity material of an inductor proximate said discharge chamber, said inductor having first and second ends through which a radio-frequency current is introduced, and said inductor also having a plurality of turns between said inductor ends;
(d) providing a means for accelerating ions that leave said open end of said discharge chamber into a beam of electrons and energetic ions; and
(e) providing a high-electrical-conductivity material of a closed circuit proximate said first end of said inductor and having a shape approximating only that of said turn of said inductor closest to said first end of said inductor; and wherein said high-electrical-conductivity material is continuous over said closed circuit and is not connected to a power source.
20. The method in accordance with claim 19 wherein said first end of said inductor is closer to said second end of said discharge chamber than said second end of said inductor.
21. The method in accordance with claim 19 wherein said high-electrical-conductivity material of said closed circuit is in electrical contact with said turn of said plurality of turns of said inductor closest to said first end of said inductor at one or more locations.
22. The method in accordance with claim 19 wherein said inductor is in the shape of a helix.
23. The method in accordance with claim 19 wherein said high-electrical-conductivity material of said inductor is copper.
24. The method in accordance with claim 19 wherein said high-electrical-conductivity material of said closed circuit is copper.

1. A system for imaging a target medium, the system comprising:
a transducer array comprising an acoustic transducer operable to transmit acoustic energy into said target medium in response to a first stimulus, an acoustic transducer operable to receive from said target medium an echo of said acoustic energy and to generate a first electrical signal in response thereto, an electromagnetic transducer operable to transmit electromagnetic energy into said target medium in response to a second stimulus, and an electromagnetic transducer operable to receive from said target medium an echo of said electromagnetic energy and to generate a second electrical signal in response thereto;
an acoustic transceiving unit connected to said transducer array to provide said first stimulus thereto and to receive said first electric signal therefrom;
an electromagnetic transceiving unit connected to said transducer array to provide said second stimulus thereto and to receive said second electrical signal therefrom; and
a processing unit connected to said acoustic and electromagnetic transceiving units and operable to produce an image of said target medium in response at least in part to said first and second electrical signals.
2. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said acoustic transducer comprises an ultrasound transducer and said electromagnetic transducer comprises a microwave transducer.
3. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said acoustic transducer operable to transmit and said acoustic transducer operable to receive are the same acoustic transducer.
4. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said electromagnetic transducer operable to transmit and said electromagnetic transducer operable to receive are the same electromagnetic transducer.
5. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said acoustic transducer operable to transmit and said acoustic transducer operable to receive are different acoustic transducers.
6. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said electromagnetic transducer operable to transmit and said electromagnetic transducer operable to receive are different electromagnetic transducers.
7. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said transducer array comprises a column comprising acoustic transducers and electromagnetic transducers.
8. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said transducer array comprises a column consisting of acoustic transducers and a column consisting of electromagnetic transducers.
9. The imaging system of claim 1, further comprising:
a scan head comprising said transducer array; and
a motor coupled to said scan head to step said scan head to scan said target medium.
10. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein one of said acoustic transducers and one of said electromagnetic transducers have a stacked arrangement.
11. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said transducer array additionally comprises an additional acoustic transducer and an additional electromagnetic transducer.
12. A system for imaging a target medium, the system comprising:
a transducer array comprising an ultrasound transducer operable to transmit ultrasound waves into said target medium in response to a first stimulus, an ultrasound transducer operable to receive from said target medium an echo of said ultrasound energy and to generate a first electrical signal in response thereto, a microwave transducer operable to transmit microwave energy into said target medium in response to a second stimulus, and a microwave transducer operable to receive from said target medium an echo of said microwave energy and to generate a second electrical signal in response thereto;
an ultrasound transceiving unit connected to said transducer array to provide said first stimulus thereto and to receive said first electric signal therefrom;
a microwave transceiving unit connected to said transducer array to provide said second stimulus thereto and to receive said second electrical signal therefrom; and
a processing unit connected to said ultrasound and microwave transceiving units and operable to produce an image of said target medium in response at least in part to said first and second electrical signals.
13. The imaging system of claim 12, wherein said ultrasound transducer operable to transmit and said ultrasound transducer operable to receive are the same ultrasound transducer.
14. The imaging system of claim 12, wherein said microwave transducer operable to transmit and said microwave transducer operable to receive are the same microwave transducer.
15. The imaging system of claim 12, wherein said ultrasound transducer operable to transmit and said ultrasound transducer operable to receive are different ultrasound transducers.
16. The imaging system of claim 12, wherein said microwave transducer operable to transmit and said microwave transducer operable to receive are different microwave transducers.
17. The imaging system of claim 12, further comprising:
a scan head comprising said transducer array; and
a motor coupled to said scan head to step said scan head to scan said target medium.
18. The imaging system of claim 12, wherein said transducer array additionally comprises an additional ultrasound transducer and an additional microwave transducer.
19. A method for imaging a target medium, the method comprising:
transmitting acoustic energy and electromagnetic energy into said target medium;
receiving echoes of said acoustic energy and echoes of said electromagnetic energy from said target medium;
generating respective electrical signals in response to said echoes of said acoustic energy and said echoes of said electromagnetic energy received from said target medium; and
processing said electrical signals to produce an image of said target medium.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein said transmitting includes transmitting ultrasound energy and transmitting microwave energy into said target medium.
21. The method of claim 19, wherein said transmitting and said receiving are performed using a transducer array comprising an acoustic transducer and an electromagnetic transducer.
22. The method of claim 21, further comprising moving said array to scan said target medium.

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 step down gear train, for an adjusting device of an automotive vehicle seat, comprising: an output shaft that rotates about an output axis, a housing that is rotatable relative to the output shaft,
a toothed washer having a circumferential first toothed surface, an eccentric that is rotatably disposed on said output shaft and has an eccentric driving surface which is offset relative to the output axis by an eccentricity, the eccentric comprising a driving region, an annular gear comprising a circumferential second toothed surface, a circumferential third toothed surface and an eccentric driven surface cooperating with the driving surface, a gearwheel comprising a circumferential fourth toothed surface,
said first toothed surface of the toothed washer and said second toothed surface of the annular gear meshing together in a first angular position and forming a first nutating gear having the eccentricity and the third toothed surface of the annular gear and the fourth toothed surface of the gearwheel meshing together in a second angular position that is offset by 180 degrees relative to the first angular position with respect to the output axis and forming a second nutating gear also having the eccentricity, wherein there is provided a driver member that is connected to the ouput shaft and a driver surface that is formed in the gearwheel and configured to cooperate with said driver member and configured to provide a non-rotatable, releasable connection between the driver member and the gearwheel.
2. The step down gear train according to claim 1, wherein the second toothed surface of the annular gear is an externally-toothed surface and the third toothed surface of the annular gear is an internally-toothed surface or, conversely, the second toothed surface of the annular gear is an internally-toothed surface and the third toothed surface of the annular gear is an externally-toothed surface.
3. The step down gear train according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a housing part and the housing part forms either the toothed washer or the gearwheel.
4. The step down gear train according to claim 1, wherein the gearwheel comprises a bearing shoulder and the housing comprises a housing part that forms a bearing hole for said bearing shoulder.
5. The step down gear train according to claim 1, wherein the driving region of the eccentric is configured to be a worm wheel and there is provided a worm that meshes with said worm wheel.
6. The step down gear train according to claim 1, wherein the driving region is configured to be a handwheel.
7. The step down gear train according to claim 1, wherein the first through fourth toothed surfaces lie in one common radial plane.
8. The step down gear train according to claim 1 wherein there is provided a pinion that is connected.
9. The step down gear train according to claim 1, wherein the eccentric driving surface of the eccentric is located, as viewed in an axial direction, in immediate proximity to the second toothed surface and to the third toothed surface of the annular.
10. The step down gear train according to claim 1, wherein either the two toothed surfaces of the first nutating gear or the two toothed surfaces of the second nutating gear have a same number of teeth.
11. The step down gear train according to claim 1, wherein the second toothed surface and the third toothed surface are configured differently.
12. The step down gear train according to claim 1, wherein the first toothed surface and the second toothed surface are geometrically matched together and have involute form gear teeth.
13. The step down gear train according to claim 1, wherein the third toothed surface and the fourth toothed surface are geometrically matched together and have involute form gear teeth.
14. The step down gear train according to claim 1, wherein the second and third toothed surfaces differ by at most one tooth.
15. The step down gear train according to claim 1, wherein the first and fourth toothed surfaces differ by at most two teeth.