text:
|Publication number
|Publication type
|Application number
|Publication date
|Jul 22, 1980
|Filing date
|Jan 24, 1979
|Priority date
|Jan 24, 1979
|Publication number
|Richard G. Haworth
|Original Assignee
|Haworth Mfg., Inc.
|Export Citation
|BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
|Patent Citations (4), Referenced by (33), Classifications (9), Legal Events (1)
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet
This invention relates to an improved space divider panel and, in particular, to an improved retainer structure for securing a sheet of fabric over the exterior side of the panel.
Space divider panels of the type utilized in offices and the like are often provided with sheets of flexible fabric for covering the exterior side surfaces of the panel. These fabric sheets are often provided for decorative purposes, or may be provided in superimposed relationship to an underlying fiberglass layer so that the panel will be capable of absorbing sound waves. To secure the fabric to the panel, it is conventional to staple the fabric to the underlying frame. It is also conventional to wrap the edge of the fabric around an elongated flexible element, specifically a vinyl bead, whereupon the bead and the fabric edge are then inserted into a retainer positioned along the panel edge rail. This invention is normally manually accomplished utilizing a bladelike tool, with the insertion occurring progressively along each edge of the panel until the beads and all of the fabric edges are fully inserted within the respective retainers. Needless to say, this is an inefficient and time-consuming operation in view of the substantial manual labor involved. This technique also makes it difficult to obtain proper tensioning and stretching of the fabric, and often results in undesired wrinkles along the edges or at the corners, which thereby makes the panel unacceptable, or requires that the fabric be at least partially removed and reinserted into the appropriate retainers. In addition, the necessity of having to utilize a separate bead increases the overall cost and manufacturing complexity.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved panel structure which overcomes many of the above-mentioned disadvantages and permits the manufacturing process to be carried out with significantly improved efficiency and dependability.
More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved fabric retainer for use in a space divider panel, which fabric retainer permits the secure retention of a fabric sheet in superimposed relationship over the side surface of a panel while at the same time permitting the fabric edge to be securely retained without requiring the use of a deformable bead or like element.
A further object is to provide an improved fabric retainer for a space divider panel, as aforesaid, which permits the securement of the fabric to a panel by process steps which substantially minimize or eliminate the problem of puckering or wrinking of the fabric, and which greatly minimizes the manual manipulations so that the process can be substantially automated to thereby greatly minimize the manufacturing cost of the panel.
Still a further object is to provide an improved manufacturing process for a space divider panel, which process permits the fabric to be secured to the panel in a more automated manner, thereby greatly minimizing the manual manipulation and operations involved, while at the same time improving the quality of the panels produced.
Other objects of the invention will be apparent to persons familiar with structures similar to the present invention upon reading the following specification and inspecting the accompanying drawings.
This invention relates to a space divider panel having fabric sheets positioned to extend across the side surfaces of the panel, with the edges of the fabric sheets being held by channel-like retainers which extend longitudinally along the panel edges. The improved retainer relies upon a spring-type clip for permitting secure holding of the fabric edge, which clip simplifies insertion of the fabric edge into the retainer while effectively providing a secure one-way holding of the edge to prevent its withdrawal. The spring clip solely holds the fabric edge, and accomplishes this without requiring the use of a deformable bead or strip.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a pair of series-connected space divider panels of conventional construction.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view of a panel edge, as taken substantially along line II--II in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view illustrating a conventional structure for retaining the side fabric of a panel.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the conventional fabric retainer shown in FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but illustrating the improved structure of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the improved fabric retainer shown in FIG. 3.
FIG. 1 illustrates a pair of substantially conventional space divider panels 10 serially connected together, with any suitable number of panels being connected as desired, so as to form a wall structure of the type used for dividing offices into smaller working regions.
The panel 10, as illustrated in FIG. 2, typically includes a rigid rectangular frame formed from elongated channel-shaped frame members 11, one such frame member extending longitudinally along each edge of the panel. The rectangular frame thus formed from the frame members 11 typically has sheetlike skins 12 fixed to and extending across and the opposite sides of the frame. These skins in turn are typically covered by a suitable layer of material 13, such as fiberglass, and these in turn are covered by decorative fabric layers 14 which extend across and define the exterior side surfaces of the panel. The four edges of fabric layer 14 are each suitably secured by a conventional retainer 16. This retainer conventionally comprises an elongated one-piece element which extends longitudinally throughout substantially the full length of each panel edge, and is formed from suitable sheetlike material, such as sheet metal.
As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the conventional retainer 16 includes a central base plate 17 which effectively overlies the side skin 12, which base plate 17 at its outer end terminates in an inwardly opening channel portion 18 which cooperates with the frame member 11 for fixing the retainer 16 thereto. The inner end of the base plate 17 terminates in a further channel portion 19 which is disposed on the opposite side from the channel portion 18, and which opens outwardly.
The channel portion 19 includes a bottom wall 21 which projects perpendicularly outwardly from the inner end of the base plate 17, and which in turn is bent at a 90� angle at its outer edge so as to integrally form an outer wall 22 which is substantially parallel with the base wall 17. Outer wall 22 in turn terminates in an intermediate wall 23 which is inclined inwardly at approximately a 45� angle, and this in turn terminates in a further outer wall 24 which is spaced inwardly from the wall 22 and is also substantially parallel with the base wall 17. The outer wall 24 terminates at a 180� bend portion 26 which, as an extension thereof, forms a further inner wall 27 which defines the free edge of the retainer. This inner wall 27, which is approximately parallel with the outer wall 24, cooperates with the base wall 17 to define an elongated narrow passage 28 therebetween. This passage 28 in turn communicates with an enlarged space or region 29 as defined at the inner end of the channel 19.
The edge of the fabric 14 is secured within the retainer 16 by means of an elongated deformable bead 31, which bead is of annular cross section and is normally constructed of an elastomeric material such as a plastic material. This bead 31 has a normal diameter substantially greater than the width of the passage 28, so that the bead 31 will substantially occupy the larger interior space 29.
During assembly, the edge of the fabric is extended across the passage 28 and the bead 31 is positioned exteriorly over the fabric. Thereafter the bead 31 and the underlying fabric is forced through the passage 28 into the interior space 29, which is accomplished by a substantial deformation and compression of the bead 31 during its passing through the passage 28, followed by a substantial expansion of the bead 31 when it enters into the enlarged region 29. This thus results in the fabric 14 being first wrapped around the curved wall portion 28 and then drawn inwardly into the passage 28 so as to be wrapped around the bead 31, with the free edge of the fabric then again passing outwardly through the passage 28. This thus results in the fabric having two superimposed layers 32 and 33 confined within the passage 28, which layers form a loop which extends around the bead 31. The expansion of the bead 31 when confined within the space 29 causes the fabric to engage with several interior walls of the channel 19 so that the fabric is hence anchored within the retainer. Because of the necessity of having to force the fabric and bead through the narrow passage 28, this operation normally is accomplished manually using a bladed tool, with the bead being progressively forced through the passage a small region at a time until the complete longitudinal length of the bead has been forced into the retainer. This operation is carried out manually and hence is inefficient and time consuming. Further, the nature of this assembly operation makes it difficult to obtain the desired tensioning of the fabric 14, and often causes puckering or wrinkling of the fabric along the edge or at the corners of the panel due to the manner in which edge is progressively inserted longitudinally along the complete length thereof.
To overcome the above disadvantages as associated with the conventional structure shown in FIGS. 2-4, the present invention relates to a panel incorporating thereon an improved fabric retainer 16', as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. This retainer 16' again includes a rather large planar base plate 17' which overlies the skin 12 and, at its outer end, has a channel portion 18' for fixing the retainer to the frame member. The inner end of the base plate 17' again terminates in a channel portion 19' which opens outwardly, and the base of which is defined by an outwardly extending wall 21', same being substantially semicylindrical in the illustrated embodiment. Base wall 21' in turn terminates in an outer wall 22' which extends parallel to the base plate 17', and which at its upper end is suitably bent through an angle less than 180� to thereby form a rounded top wall 26'. This rounded top wall 26' in turn terminates in an inner wall or flange 27' which projects downwardly into the channel-like region 29' formed within the channel 19'. This flange 27' projects into the channel for only a short distance, typically less than one-half the depth of the channel, and is suitably inclined inwardly so that the lower corner or free edge 34 of the flange 27' thus typically bears against the base plate 17' when the fabric is absent from the retainer, as illustrated in FIG. 6. In a preferred embodiment, the flange 27' extends inwardly toward the base plate 17' at an angle of approximately 15�. The flange 27' effectively functions as a resiliently deflectable spring and thereby acts as a fabric holding or retaining element.
In operation, the edge of the fabric 14 is permitted to extend across the open mouth of the channel 19', and a suitable inserting element such as a flat-bladed member 35 is preferably utilized for inserting the fabric edge into the retainer 16'. As the blade 35 forces the fabric into the channel 19', which occurs by first forcing the fabric into the narrow converging passage 28', the fabric wraps around the opposite sides of the bladed element 35 and, as the bladed element is pushed deeper into the passage 28', the resilient flange or wall 27' deflects outwardly so that the bladed element and the fabric can be inserted into the retainer to substantially the full depth of the channel 19'. This insertion can be easily accomplished inasmuch as the force need be sufficient only to cause the desired resilient bending of the flange 27', which bending force is built up gradually in view of the slight slope or incline of the flange 27'. After the fabric has been fully inserted, then the bladed member 35 can be easily withdrawn inasmuch as it will readily slide outwardly from between the overlapping fabric layers 32' and 33', thereby leaving the overlapping fabric layers confined within the retainer 16' substantially as illustrated in FIG. 5. This withdrawal of the bladed element will enable the resilient flange 27' to resiliently expand, that is move back toward the base plate 17', so that the overlapping fabric layers 32' and 33' are thus tightly held between the base plate 17' and the flange 27', particularly directly adjacent the free edge 34 thereof. In view of the rather sharp corner or edge 34, the resilient flange 27' effectively functions as a one-way holding device since it permits the fabric to be rather easily inserted into the retainer, but it exerts an extremely strong holding force which effectively prevents the loosening or withdrawal of the fabric from the retainer.
In addition, the insertion force required for inserting the fabric into the retainer 16' is substantially less than that required when utilizing the retainer 16, inasmuch as the latter requires the use of a deformable bead 31. Because of this substantially reduced insertion force, the present invention is particularly desirable for permitting the complete lengthwise edge of the fabric to be simultaneously inserted into the retainer, as by utilizing an elongated inserting blade 35 having a length corresponding to the length of the retainer. This thus permits substantially the complete edge to be simultaneously inserted into the retainer, thereby avoiding the problem of wrinkling or puckering which normally occurs when the edge is progressively inserted, such as is required when utilizing a deformable bead with the conventional structure of FIGS. 3 and 4.
The use of the improved retainer 16' is particularly desirable since it permits the fabric retention operation to be substantially automated inasmuch as the fabric, when positioned over the mouth of the retainer, can be inserted solely by means of a single elongated blade extending longitudinally of the retainer. The fabric retention can thus be automatically carried out by means of one basic operation. In contrast, attempting to automate the retention technique of FIGS. 3 and 4 is further complicated not only by the higher insertion forces, but also by the use of the separate bead which must first be accurately positioned relative to the retainer and relative to the fabric, followed by the proper control over the bead and the fabric during the insertion operation.
A further advantageous result of the improved retainer 16' is that it enables the thickness of the overall panel to be reduced, which is important with some types of panels, inasmuch as the retainer 16' can be of substantially less width than the retainer 16 as is believed apparent from comparing FIGS. 3 and 5. The retainer 16' also can be formed more efficiently than the retainer 16 inasmuch as substantially fewer forming or bending operations are required.
In an advantageous variation of the invention, the free edge 34 of retainer 16' may be formed as a serrated edge (when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the retainer) so as to permit a positive gripping of the fabric.
Although a particular preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in detail for illustrative purposes, it will be recognized that variations or modifications of the disclosed apparatus, including the rearrangement of parts, lie within the scope of the present invention.
|Cited Patent
|Filing date
|Publication date
|Oct 12, 1971
|Oct 30, 1973
|Mont Birum H
|Partition device
|Feb 12, 1973
|Jan 8, 1974
|Assael Marcel
|Device for fixing a covering sheet inside a dihedron formed by two perpendicular surfaces
|Aug 13, 1974
|Jun 8, 1976
|Tombu Gerard J
|Hanging and stretching device for wall covering fabrics
|May 9, 1977
|Sep 12, 1978
|Harter Corporation
|Snub assembly for securing covering material to a wall panel module
|Citing Patent
|Filing date
|Publication date
|Aug 23, 1979
|May 5, 1981
|Abc Extrusion Company
|Display signs
|May 9, 1979
|Oct 27, 1981
|Norman Proud
|Screen panel
|Dec 13, 1983
|Feb 4, 1986
|Knoll International, Inc.
|Space divider system
|Dec 5, 1983
|Nov 25, 1986
|Hauserman, Inc.
|Screen system for offices and method of making and installing same
|Dec 30, 1986
|Apr 4, 1989
|Signcomp, Inc.
|Component sign system
|Apr 22, 1988
|Sep 19, 1989
|Prince Corporation
|Vehicle armrest
|Dec 23, 1988
|Jan 9, 1990
|Haworth, Inc.
|Top cap for panel
|Apr 9, 1990
|Feb 19, 1991
|The Shaw-Walker Company
|Open office system partition panel assembly
|Apr 9, 1990
|Mar 5, 1991
|The Shaw-Walker Company
|Open office system partition panel assembly
|Nov 23, 1988
|Apr 2, 1991
|The Shaw-Walker Company
|Open office system partition panel assembly
|Apr 9, 1990
|Apr 9, 1991
|The Shaw-Walker Company
|Position adjustment leg for partition panel assembly
|Jun 6, 1991
|Jan 5, 1993
|Steelcase Inc.
|Partition panel
|Jan 24, 1994
|Jul 23, 1996
|California Prison Industry Authority
|Hinge and rail connection system
|Oct 7, 1996
|Nov 25, 1997
|Hon Industries, Inc.
|Construction of modular office panel systems
|Apr 11, 1997
|Jul 18, 2000
|Abc Sign Products, Inc.
|Method and apparatus for retaining flexible material in a sign system
|Jul 20, 2000
|Dec 10, 2002
|Steelcase Development Corporation
|Partition wall system
|Jan 23, 2002
|Apr 20, 2004
|Quanex Corporation
|Frame assembly and frame component for tensioning fabric about a panel of a partition system
|Mar 31, 2003
|Nov 23, 2004
|Steelcase Development Corporation
|Ultrasonic tool and method for securing a covering to a frame
|May 28, 2003
|Sep 20, 2005
|Rosemount Office Systems Llc
|Panel construction and fabric retainer
|Nov 6, 2007
|Nov 1, 2011
|Haworth, Inc.
|Structural top cap arrangement for wall panel
|Nov 6, 2007
|May 15, 2012
|Haworth, Inc.
|Wall panel frame arrangement
|Oct 31, 2011
|Sep 25, 2012
|Haworth, Inc.
|Structural top cap arrangement for wall panel
|Mar 14, 2014
|Feb 9, 2016
|Herman Miller, Inc.
|Screen assembly
|May 14, 2002
|Jan 9, 2003
|Weber Jeffrey A.
|Oct 14, 2004
|Apr 20, 2006
|Dykstra Thomas L
|Fabric/rail attachment process
|May 31, 2006
|Nov 8, 2007
|James Chinitz
|Evaluating Genetic Disorders
|Nov 6, 2007
|May 8, 2008
|Jason Deweerd
|Wall panel frame arrangement
|Mar 14, 2014
|Oct 23, 2014
|Herman Miller, Inc.
|Screen assembly
|Oct 11, 2012
|Sep 24, 2015
|Pierre Breese
|Device for Re-Cladding a Removeable False-Wall Panel
|Mar 5, 2009
|Sep 9, 2010
|Haver & Boecker Ohg
|Fassadenelement und Verfahren zur Herstellung
|Sep 3, 2009
|Aug 22, 2012
|Preform GmbH
|Wall element of a mobile partition wall
|Dec 30, 2009
|Jul 7, 2011
|Mccaffery David W
|Novel systems furniture and method of manufacture
|Mar 14, 2014
|Sep 18, 2014
|Herman Miller, Inc.
|Screen assembly
|U.S. Classification
|160/351, 160/395, 160/392
|International Classification
|Cooperative Classification
|European Classification
|Jan 16, 1985
Owner name: HAWORTH, INC., A MI CORP
Free format text: MERGER;ASSIGNOR:HAWORTH MFG., INC.;REEL/FRAME:004351/0101
Effective date: 19841107


text:
Apollos STOWE and Laura TRACEY; ch: Maria and Joseph
Thomas TISDEL / ANTISDEL born 13 Sep 1809 in Willington, CT died 5 Oct 1852 of Madison, OH. He was one of at least 7 children of Curtis ANTISDEL born 29 JAN 1779 in Willington, CT who died 20 NOV 1838 in Madison Co., OH and Sarah PARKER born 2 FEB 1783 she died 20 Mar 1865 in Perry, Lake co, OH.
Thomas TISDEL / ANTISDEL married 3 times. He married in 1833, Maria STOWE born 1812 she died 1837, the dau of Apollos STOWE and Laura TRACEY. Thomas TISDEL married Nancy GILL born 1811 and she died 1841. He married Lois Day GILL born 24 Jan 1820 with whom he had at least 4 daughters, Mary, Sarah, Phebe and Emma between 1845 and 1852.
His wife, Maria STOWE was the sister of my gr-grandfather, Joseph L. STOWE born 1830 in Ohio who married Eliza BIXLEY.
I'd like to know if Apollos STOWE and Laura TRACEY had any other children.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Education, Higher Education, Language Courses, Society & Culture, Places & TravelFollow
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text:
Doctor insights on:
Can Thyroid Problems Prevent Me From Getting Pregnant
Why can't i get pregnant? I'm 20 years old and been trying to get pregnant for the past 2 years, I have thyroid problems i'm taking levothyroxine and still have no clue in why i'm having problems getting pregnant?
See your doctor: When was your thyroid level last checked? If it is off, it could lead to infertilitly. If wnl then you and your partner should see a fertility specialist for further evaluation. ...Read moreSee 1 more doctor answer
Pregnancy (Definition)
When your due date arrives, you will be more than ready to have your baby! Most women deliver the baby somewhere between 37 and 42 weeks. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, only 5% of babies arrive on the exact due date. Approximately 7% of babies are not delivered by 42 weeks, and when that happens, it is referred to ...Read more
Is it normal to get my period for more than 10 days then get it back 2-3 days after? Can it prevent me from getting pregnant? Please help!
Unusual spotting: The 10 days for a period seems too long to begin with, a 2-3 day episode later sounds like spotting. If this second bleeding episode was heavy at all, I'd go see an OB and ask a lot of questions after they do a good history and physical exam ...Read more
I have a problem in my ovaries which preventing me from getting pregnant, preventing the ovum intering the oviduct, what should I do?
Reproductive doctor: The best thing is to be under the care of a reproductive endocrinologist who can help you get pregnant. ...Read more
I have gall bladder stones and they are preventing me from getting pregnant and i would like to know what to take as in medication to get rid of them?
Why they preventing : Why they are preventing you to have baby, gb removal is a simple minimum risk out patient procedure you do not want complications during your pregnancy due to gall stones, if removed will prevent them. Speak to your doctor. ...Read more
15 and can't get birth control.. Not having sex but doing almost everything else.. How should I prevent getting pregnant?
Continue: Continue to not have sex. Abstinence is a sure fire way to not get pregnant. ...Read more
Can a cyst prevent me from getting pregnant?
Not usually: Depends on the type and if you have pcos. If your baseline Estradiol is elevated, it is not normal, and something has to be producing the estrogen. In most cases it is an ovarian cyst, but that would easily be seen by ultrasound. Ovarian tumors can do the same. That certainly needs to be followed up in an unstimulated cycle. ...Read more
Can pcod prevent me from getting pregnant?
Possible: Pcod results in infrequent ovulation. When you don't ovulate regularly you have fewer chances of conceiving. That means it can take much longer to achieve a conception. There are medications that induce ovulation and greatly increase your fertility, talk to your ob/gyn. Good luck. ...Read moreSee 1 more doctor answer
Will amoxicillin prevent me from getting pregnant?
Absolutely not : Amoxicillin is an antibiotic not a birth control method. It will not prevent you fom getting pregnant. ...Read moreSee 1 more doctor answer
Can a tilted uterus prevent me from getting pregnant?
No: A tilted uterus should not affect your fertility. However on occasion certain gynecological conditions can cause tilting of the uterus and it is these conditions that affect fertility. If you have been trying to conceive for over a year, see your gynecologist or fertility doctor for an evaluation. ...Read more
Can taking Plan B prevent me from getting pregnant in the future?
No: Plan b should not prevent you from conceiving in the future. ...Read more
Thyroid Diseases (Definition)
You can have problems with they thyroid making too much or too little thyroid hormone. You can also have problems with it being too large (goiter) of having nodules or cysts in it. There are also occasional thyroid cancers. Most thyroid problems can be easily diagnosed and treated ...Read more
Getting Pregnant (Definition)
Conception is the act of the man's sperm attaching to and entering ("fertilizing") the woman's egg. This fusion leads to the ...Read more
- Talk to a doctor live online for free
- What is preventing me from getting pregnant?
- Will amoxicillin prevent me from getting pregnant
- What can stop me from getting pregnant?
- Ask a doctor a question free online
- Can drinking orange juice prevent me from getting as sick from the flu?
- Can i get pregnant with thyroid problems?
- Can u get pregnant if u have thyroid problems?
- What can prevent a woman from getting pregnant?
- Talk to a obstetrician and gynecologist online


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|Message view
|« Date » · « Thread »
|« Date » · « Thread »
|Nicolas Lalevée (JIRA) <j...@apache.org>
|[jira] Resolved: (IVYDE-138) Allow ivy settings to be relative to project path
|Tue, 27 Oct 2009 22:04:59 GMT
[ https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/IVYDE-138?page=com.atlassian.jira.plugin.system.issuetabpanels:all-tabpanel ] Nicolas Lalevée resolved IVYDE-138. ----------------------------------- Resolution: Duplicate It has been resolved by adding the support of Eclipse variables, see IVYDE-152 > Allow ivy settings to be relative to project path > ------------------------------------------------- > > Key: IVYDE-138 > URL: https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/IVYDE-138 > Project: IvyDE > Issue Type: Improvement > Components: classpath container > Affects Versions: 2.0.0.beta1 > Reporter: Robert Munteanu > > Sometimes it's convenient to push out settings files inside the project , to insure that all devs have them configured correctly. At the moment I can only specify an absolute path for the settings file. I would welcome being able to set it relative to the project. > For me personally it would be enough to have a ${project.dir} variable, no need for GUI. -- This message is automatically generated by JIRA. - You can reply to this email to add a comment to the issue online.
|View raw message


text: Photo camera icon colorful media element Vector Image LicenseLearn More Standard For Print, Advertising, Design Expanded For Resale & Reproduction The license type determines how you can use this image. Std. Exp. Print / Editorial Graphic Design Web Design Social Media Advertising Edit & Modify Multi-user Resale Items Unlimited Runs Ways to BuyCompare Credits $1 Subscription 69c There are two ways to pay for Standard licenses. Prices are $US. Pay with Image Price Pay-As-You-Go Credits $1 Download images on-demand (1 credit = $1). Minimum purchase of 25. Subscription Plan From 69c Choose a monthly plan. Unused downloads automatically roll into following month. Ways to Buy Credits $25 Download Save to your Dropbox Account… Want to adjust this image? We can help… Includes: Ai EPS PDF JPG Share on Pinterest Facebook Twitter Download JPG Preview Image Image ID1272945 Artist photovsFollow Add to Cart Similar Images — Browse All… More Images…More More by photovs More Images…More Keywords icon digital system camera frame element photography photo media colorful zoom technology squares focus professional electronic lens isometric SLR photographer exposure transfer ISO shutter rhombus aperture dslr photocamera mega pixel 35 mm


text:
Minimal logo
İlgili konuları keşfedin
The simple lines in this logo could take on other forms such as building roof or the lines of an architectural blueprint. I like the ides of having white lines on blue for a logotype.
This Pin was discovered by Little Trailer Studio. Discover (and save!) your own Pins on Pinterest.
Gorgeous minimal identity for Octavia , a womenswear brand in Mexico. Designed by The Welcome Branding Group , I absolutely adore that whit...
Minimal logo // Vanessa Saba | Answers Questioned
Logo More
Wonder if we could work in the T and L from TruLiving??
Clean and minimal logo design inspiration
These logos are very simplistic and nice to look at, I believe that simplistic style would suit Space Craft
12 minimal #geometric monoline #Logo #templates
La fabrica - Branding by Vanessa pepin, via Behance


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Return to index: [Subject] [Thread] [Date] [Author]
Re: 97 UBC 2213.8.5 - mechanical penthouses=stories? braces have str ength f...[Subject Prev][Subject Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next]
- To: seaint(--nospam--at)seaint.org
- Subject: Re: 97 UBC 2213.8.5 - mechanical penthouses=stories? braces have str ength f...
- From: Mlcse(--nospam--at)aol.com
- Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2002 23:40:14 EST
Here are some of my thoughts.
The seismic force is OMEGAo*Eh and not divided by 1.4 even when designing for ASD. Page 89 of the SEAOC Seismic Design Manual, Volume 1 talks about checking for "Design Strength" since it is believed to be more realistic than the arbitrary ASD force levels. You can use the appropriate adjustment factors when checking the adequacy of the member (1.7 increase for ASD and resistance factor Phi = 1.0).
I would try and use and satisfy the AISC Seismic Provisions for Buildings where possible in addition to the 1997 UBC since the 1997 UBC does not consider the resistance factors (phi) which are included in the AISC Seismic Provisions (for both LRFD and ASD). I believe this was an oversight in the 1997 UBC.
Whether a mechanical penthouse is a story or not I think depends upon the size of the penthouse and materials used in construction of the penthouse. If the footprint of the mechanical penthouse is equal to 75% of the building base footprint, then it probably should be considered a story. If the footprint of the mechanical penthouse is less than 25% of the building footprint, than it probably doesn't need to be considered as a story (but make sure to include the mechanical penthouse mass with the roof mass for seismic analysis). Between 25% and 75%, then it is probably left up to engineering judgment.
Types of construction can come into play. Example: If the main building is cast-in-place concrete (floors and roof), and the construction of the mechanical penthouse roof is steel beams and bare steel deck (with no topping slab), the penthouse is rather lightweight compared to the rest of the building. Is it reasonable when doing the vertical distribution of seismic forces acting on the building to consider the penthouse as a story level with the maximum story force occurring at this level? or does the penthouse go along for the ride with the main roof structure during an Earthquake.
In past design for taller buildings, I believe it was common design practice to just lump-sum the penthouse roof mass with the main building mass and disregard the penthouse as a story level if there were significant differences in mass (bare steel deck roof versus cast-place concrete floor). In making the engineering decision, if the mass of the penthouse is comparable to the mass of the floor/roof below, then the penthouse should probably be considered as a story. If the mass is small, then it can probably be neglected as a story level (still include the penthouse mass with the roof level).
If the penthouse is neglected as a story level, what force should be used to design the penthouse level? If the penthouse is small in area or of little mass, then should probably use (Fp = 4.0 Ca Ip Wp) or the more refined version; equation 32-2. If the
mechanical penthouse foot print covers more than 50% of the building footprint, then maybe you could use the building base shear equations and treat it like a one story building. Again, an area for engineering judgment. If I was using Fp, I don't think I would be amplifying the design force by Omega (I would use Fp and not (Omega)Fp).
I believe the brace frame exception for mechanical penthouses design is intended for when you don't consider the mechanical penthouse roof as the uppermost story level of the building. Therefore the exception can apply to small mechanical penthouses on the roofs of both lowrise and highrise buildings. If you did consider the mechanical penthouse roof as a story level, then the two story exception would still be acceptable only if the building was two story in height including the mechanical penthouse level.
Hope this helps,
Michael Cochran, S.E.
In a message dated 2/12/2002 5:04:43 PM Pacific Standard Time, HaanSM(--nospam--at)ci.anchorage.ak.us writes:
For an ordinary braced frame building where the braces do not meet the b/t
or KL/r or <70% tension or compression, 97 UBC 2213.8.5 says "Braced frames
not meeting the requirements of Sections 2213.8.2 and 2213.8.4 may be used
in buildings not over two stories in height and in roof structures as
defined in Chapter 15 if the braces have the strength to resist OMEGAo times
the design seismic forces."
These are ASD provisions, does this section mean the braces need to have
the strength for OMEGAo*Eh/1.4 or OMEGAo*Eh?
Are mechanical penthouses considered stories for the purposes of this
section? The section says and roof structures defined in Chapter 15 - what
is this saying - anyone know a code section?
Scott M Haan P.E.
Plan Review Engineer
Building Safety Division
Development Services Department
Municipality of Anchorage
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Read an Excerpt
The club appeared to be the classier end of the business, though Silje couldn't be sure, since this brought the total number of male strip clubs Silje had visited up to one. Although she had lots of practice hiding any nervousness she might feel, she was finding it hard now. Difficult, she quickly amended, squirming in her seat. She shouldn't let the talent turn her on; she was supposed to be working here. Hard described what every act displayed at the end. She'd never seen so much cock in her life before, much less the erect variety.
This was not her scene, or so she kept telling herself. The first two acts were interesting, but easily resistible, and nothing touched her psi senses, which she extended to detect any unusual activity.
She tried a gentle telepathic probe toward the performers and met two mental brick walls. Nothing, which in itself was odd. Only other Talents could block telepathic contact as decisively as that.
Candy was a shape-shifter, and Diane could receive telepathic communications, a useful skill for a mortal at the Department. Out of the corner of her eye, Silje saw the glitter of the diamante tips of Candy's outrageous manicure as she reached for her drink.
They're Talents, or they know about us, Silje sent to the two other women.
Candy's response was laconic. Yeah, I noticed that.
So do we take one each?
Depends what you have in mind, girlfriend. Candy's laughter echoed through Silje's head. It's your operation. You make the decisions.
So why exactly am I in charge of this? Her question was more from exasperation. She knew the answer.
Cristos likes to test his newoperatives.
Silje gritted her teeth. She'd come highly qualified to the New York branch of Department 57, and the boss wanted to test her?
Fine, she'd pass his fucking test. With flying colors.
She would find whoever was dealing Cephalox in this place. First developed to help shape-shifters, now used against them, Cephalox was the shifters' morphine, necessary but dangerous, volatile, and addictive. It gave mortals a high, and it was the new fashionable designer drug of choice. Closing this particular leak was a priority, before New York really got the taste for the stuff.
Decisions were difficult when the feathers were coming off faster, and she had a very fine male butt in her face. Or nearly in her face.
Oh, it really was a fine ass. Telling herself the dancers wouldn't be interested in her didn't help. Candy claimed all the dancers here were gay, but personally, Silje doubted it. Regardless, they were still fine specimens, and they danced really well. The dancer moved on, but not before she caught a flash of speculative dark eyes glittering behind the bird mask.
She switched back to mortal eyes, and at once felt the loss of the enhanced cat-sense. But she'd seen enough, perhaps too much.
Now she knew what the difference was. These two performers were with the audience, not going through the motions. She felt their heat, their enjoyment of the moment, and knew they weren't acting.
They came together, and their tongues extended to touch just the tips to each other, then the dancers spun away as the music escalated, and other instruments played over the hypnotic drumbeat. Was it getting hot in here? She saw a few other patrons removing jackets, loosening their clothing, and Silje wondered if the management had turned the heating up, just a little. It'd be a good ploy.
No, she was sure they hadn't. The dancers made the temperature rise all on their own. Did they ever!
Their interest in each other and familiarity with each other's bodies enhanced their swaying, sensuous dance. Nearly naked now, except for a small, hip-swinging girdle of feathers, every movement threatened to expose everything they had, but by some miracle, didn't.
They joined spoon-fashion, the shorter one's butt hard against the taller one's cock, and they swayed. The man in front leaned forward. Their movements grew more explicit as the music sped up, and with the one behind leaning back, his mouth taut with ecstasy, he slid his hands around to his partner's stomach and traced his navel in a teasing motion every woman watching wanted to emulate.
This wasn't a hard-core club, so the audience watched, numbly, as two men went through the best imitation of sex anyone had ever seen. If they weren't doing it for real now, they would be soon; nobody had any doubt about that.
Silje heard the collective sigh when the hand slid further down. "No touchee," the signs festooned around the club read. She wondered, along with, she guessed, everyone else, if that was just for show.
The little feather kilt slid away, and at last the audience saw him.
Not that soft-core, then. Not soft at all. Shit, his cock--she hadn't known they came in that size. In her sixty years of life, with her pathetic tally of lovers that barely reached double figures, Silje had never seen one so beautiful, so fucking big. She tried to think aesthetic thoughts, how beautiful they were, how they'd make a good Bernini sculpture, but it didn't work. He was gorgeous, built, ripped. Hot, hard flesh, not cold marble.
When the taller man moved away, he took his partner's remaining feathers with him.
"If those two really are gay, they should be a bit smaller," Candy murmured in her ear. "They must have problems fitting in."
Diane overheard and laughed. "I could help them. Jesus, these guys are hot!" She picked up a coaster and fanned herself. "And you think they're--" she broke off, too experienced to say what she was thinking out loud--Talented?
Either that or they're after the same people we're looking for, Silje responded, on surer ground now. What better way to flush out drug dealers than getting a job at the club? We need to keep in touch with these guys.
Do we go backstage? Diane queried.
What, and show them who we are? An amateur's mistake and she was anything but amateur. The Department paid extremely well for its agents' services. Not that most of them needed the high pay, but it was nice to be appreciated. No, we follow them. Have either of you detected anyone else here who might be Talented?
A pause. Nope. That from Candy, and then another negative came from the only male they'd brought with them, the vampire Dubreis, currently serving at the bar. Dubreis managed to get a temporary job as a barman. She hadn't realized how ripped he was until she saw him in the topless getup the waiters wore here, but he didn't do what these two dancers did to her. She clamped her thighs together, but that only made the sensitivity worse, and she felt moisture seep between them.
She really had to get her mind back on the job and face her problems, as she always did. We'll follow them when they're done.
Oh, God. Just when she thought they couldn't take the audience any higher, they did.


text: Under the guidance of the Petmin Board, the Petmin Executive Committee subscribes to certain values and ethical practices which are applied throughout the organisation. Petmin's Code of Business Ethics provides guidance to Petmin management, employees and contractors on relationships with fellow employees, government officials, communities and business partners. The Code also provides guidelines to employees and contractors on the use of company property and information. These values and ethical practices are underpinned by the Petmin Board's belief in free and fair dealings which are conducted in good faith and with respect for the law and any other regulatory requirements. The Code must be adhered to by all those who work for, act on behalf of or represent Petmin.


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Today's Devotional
Hidden SinsHow have you been trying to deal with your sin?
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Finland's Makela-Nummela wins women's trap
BEIJING -- Satu Makela-Nummela of Finland has won the gold medal in women's trap shooting, hitting 21 targets in the finals to set an Olympic record.
Makela-Nummela hit the first 11 targets of the finals Monday before missing two in a row. She got back on track after that, missing two shots the rest of the way. Makela-Nummela finished with a final score of 91.
Zuzana Stefecekova of Slovakia, who was tied for the lead with Makela-Nummela entering the finals, finished with 89 targets for the silver.
Four shooters qualified for a shoot-off for the bronze medal. Daina Gudzineviciute of Lithuania, Elena Struchaeva of Kazakhstan and Japan's Yukie Nakayama missed before American Corey Cogdell hit the target to nab third place.
Cogdell was the youngest shooter in the finals at 21 years old. She entered the finals one off the lead, struggled early but finished strong to force the shootout. It was a good performance from the Alaskan who finished 50th at the 2007 World Championships.
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press
This story is from ESPN.com's automated news wire. Wire index


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text:
Where does America rank? What about Russia? Or China?
Travel by airplane at high rates of speed, modern maritime transport and faster and faster transit on the ground thanks to high-speed rail and highways that cover almost every part of the globe mean people can get to points a,b and c faster than ever before.
Modern telecommunications mean we can communicate with any willing participant in almost any part of the globe, in real time, anytime.
When we combine these technological wonders with amazing achievements such as the modern computers, space technologies and more, we have truly entered into a golden age of technological wonder with revolutionary implications.
But modern technology's diffusion globally also means the instruments to attack and destroy one another are also advancing--and spreading rapidly.
Nations around the globe are building impressive military capabilities, much of which are aimed to deter or deny the United States in the ability to utilize parts of the global commons to access and transport forces to help our allies or enter a conflict zone. Named anti-access/area-denial, or A2/AD, nations like China, Russia and Iran and others, are developing capabilities to ensure Washington is not able to launch a Gulf-War I style offensive against them with ease. Realizing the challenge, the Pentagon has created operational concepts like Air-Sea Battle (now JAM-GC) and bigger approaches like the Third Offset to retain the ability to dominate the battlefield.
So, considering the above, today, what nations have the top navies, top armies and air forces? Who could challenge the United States in a kinetic conflict? TNI frequent contributor Kyle Mizokami, in a number of pieces several years back, recombined into this one post for your reading pleasure, takes the question head on and comes up with some interesting ideas. Let the debate commence.
It's a universal truth handed down since antiquity: a country with a coastline has a navy. Big or small, navies worldwide have the same basic mission—to project military might into neighboring waters and beyond.
The peacetime role of navies has been more or less the same for thousands of years. Navies protect the homeland, keep shipping routes and lines of communication open, show the flag and deter adversaries. In wartime, a navy projects naval power in order to deny the enemy the ability to do the same. This is achieved by attacking enemy naval forces, conducting amphibious landings, and seizing control of strategic bodies of water and land masses.
----This Story Originally Published in The National Interest----
The role of navies worldwide has expanded in the past several decades to include new missions and challenges. Navies are now responsible for a nation's strategic nuclear deterrent, defense against ballistic missiles, space operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. With that in mind, here are the five most powerful navies in the world.
United States:
First place on the list is no surprise: the United States Navy. The U.S. Navy has the most ships by far of any navy worldwide. It also has the greatest diversity of missions and the largest area of responsibility.
No other navy has the global reach of the U.S. Navy, which regularly operates in the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans, as well as the Mediterranean, Persian Gulf and the Horn of Africa. The U.S. Navy also forward deploys ships to Japan, Europe and the Persian Gulf.
The U.S. Navy has 288 battle force ships, of which typically a third are underway at any given time. The U.S. Navy has 10 aircraft carriers, nine amphibious assault ships, 22 cruisers, 62 destroyers, 17 frigates and 72 submarines. In addition to ships, the U.S. Navy has 3,700 aircraft, making it the second largest air force in the world. At 323,000 active and 109,000 personnel, it is also the largest navy in terms of manpower.
What makes the U.S. Navy stand out the most is its 10 aircraft carriers—more than the rest of the world put together. Not only are there more of them, they're also much bigger: a single Nimitz [3]-class aircraft carrier [3] can carry twice as many planes (72) as the next largest foreign carrier. Unlike the air wings of other countries, which typically concentrate on fighters, a typical U.S. carrier air wing is a balanced package capable of air superiority, strike, reconnaissance, anti-submarine warfare and humanitarian assistance/disaster relief missions.
The U.S. Navy's 31 amphibious ships make it the largest "gator" fleet in the world, capable of transporting and landing on hostile beaches. The nine amphibious assault ships of the Tarawa and Wasp [4] classes can carry helicopters to ferry troops or act as miniature aircraft carriers, equipped with AV-8B Harrier attack jets and soon F-35B fighter-bombers.
The U.S. Navy has 54 nuclear attack submarines, a mix of the Los Angeles, Seawolf, and Virginia classes. The U.S. Navy is also responsible for the United States' strategic nuclear deterrent at sea, with 14 Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines equipped with a total of 336 Trident nuclear missiles. The USN also has four Ohio-class submarines stripped of nuclear missiles and modified to carry 154 Tomahawk land attack missiles.
The U.S. Navy has the additional roles of ballistic missile defense, space operations and humanitarian assistance/disaster relief. As of October 2013, 29 cruisers and destroyers were capable of intercepting ballistic missiles, with several forward deployed to Europe and Japan. It also monitors space in support of U.S. military forces, tracking the satellites of potential adversaries. Finally, the U.S. Navy's existing aircraft carriers and amphibious vessels, plus the dedicated hospital ships USNS [5]Mercy[5] and USNS Comfort, constitute a disaster relief capability that has been deployed in recent years to Indonesia, Haiti, Japan and the Philippines.
The People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has come a long way in the last 25 years. The spectacular growth of the Chinese economy, which fueled a tenfold defense-budget increase since 1989, has funded a modern navy. From a green-water navy consisting of obsolete destroyers and fast attack boats, the PLAN has grown into a true blue-water fleet.
The PLAN currently has one aircraft carrier, three amphibious transports, 25 destroyers, 42 frigates, eight nuclear attack submarines and approximately 50 conventional attack submarines. The PLAN is manned by 133,000 personnel, including the Chinese Marine Corps, which consists of two brigades of 6,000 marines each.
The People's Liberation Army Navy Air Force provides fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters for China's new aircraft carrier, helicopters for surface ships, and shore-based fighter, attack and patrol aircraft. The PLANAF has 650 aircraft, including J-15 carrier-based fighters, J-10 multirole fighters, Y-8 maritime patrol aircraft [6], and Z-9 antisubmarine warfare aircraft.
China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning [7], deserves special attention. It was commissioned into service in 2012. Originally built for the Soviet Navy, after the end of the Cold War, Liaoning's unfinished hull languished in a Ukrainian shipyard. Purchased by a PLA front company, the ship was towed back to China where it spent nearly a decade being refitted. Liaoning is expected to function as a training carrier as China grows accustomed to the complex world of carrier operations.
The People's Liberation Army Navy is well into the process of modernizing its amphibious capability, having commissioned three Type 071 amphibious platform dock ships [8]. Each Type 071 LPD can carry from 500 to 800 Chinese marines and 15 to 18 vehicles, and can get troops ashore via hovercraft patterned on the American LCAC and Z-8 medium transport helicopters. China is also reportedly planning on building amphibious assault ships with full-length flight decks along the lines of the American Wasp-class. A total of six Type 071s and six of the new amphibious assault ships are rumored to be planned.
China's submarine force is a decidedly mixed bag, with up to 60 submarines of varying quality. The core of the force consists of three Shang-class nuclear attack submarines, nine Yuan, 14 Song and 10 Improved Kilo submarines imported from Russia. China's ballistic-missile submarine fleet is made up of three Jin [9]-class missile submarines[9] with a fourth (and possibly fifth) under construction. It is thought the South China Sea will eventually be used as a bastion for China's sea-based nuclear deterrent.
The PLAN continues to grow and learn. At least two more aircraft carriers are planned, and China's carriers could eventually number up to five. In addition to carrier operations, the PLAN is also learning how to conduct extended voyages through its contribution to the international antipiracy effort off the Horn of Africa. China has sent 17 naval task forces [10] to the region, rotating in ships and crews to learn long-distance ship-handling skills.
Third on our list is the Russian Navy. Although traditionally a land power, Russia inherited the bulk of the Soviet Navy at the end of the Cold War. This aging force is at the core of the current Russian Navy, with more ships and fleet-wide improvements slowly being introduced. The Russian Navy has proven useful to show the flag and shore up flagging Russian power worldwide.
The Russian Navy has 79 ships of frigate size and larger, including one aircraft carrier, five cruisers, 13 destroyers, and 52 submarines. With the exception of a handful of attack and cruise missile submarines, virtually all of the Russian Navy's combatants were built during the Cold War. Underfunded for decades, the Russian Navy faces chronic readiness problems. Large Russian ships such as the carrier Admiral Kuznetzov and the Pacific Fleet flagship [11]Varyag [11] are frequently accompanied by tugboats on extended voyages. It is unknown how many of the aging ships are actually seaworthy, and of those, how many are combat effective.
Russia also acquired the bulk of the Soviet Union's amphibious capability. The fleet, a mixture of nearly two dozen Alligator [12] and Ropucha landing ships, was constructed as far back as the 1960s, and is obsolete by modern standards. The purchase of two Mistral [13]-class landing helicopter dock ships [13] from France was meant to address that shortcoming, but the deal could be in peril due to Russia's intervention in Crimea. However, at the present time, Paris seems to be holding to its commitment on the sale, a contract worth $1.6 Billion [14].
Like the Soviet Union before it, Russia's naval strength is in its submarine force. Russia theoretically has 15 nuclear attack submarines, 16 conventionally powered attack submarines, six cruise missile submarines, and nine ballistic missile subs. Although some have been overhauled, nearly all of the submarines are of Cold War vintage and are of unknown readiness. The nine ballistic missile submarines represent Russia's valuable second-strike nuclear capability and are probably at the highest readiness of any ships in the fleet.
Russia has big plans for its naval forces, but for the most part they remain just that—plans. Russia plans to acquire at least one more aircraft carrier, a new, unnamed class of guided missile destroyers, the Borey II [15]ballistic missile submarines [15], Yasen II nuclear attack submarines, and the Improved Kilo and Lada conventional attack submarines. While the submarines are under construction, the aircraft carrier and destroyers are unfunded and exist only as blueprints.
The United Kingdom:
This list catches the Royal Navy at a historic ebb in firepower. Like much of the British Armed Forces, the Royal Navy has seen successive waves of equipment and personnel cuts. The recent retirement of two Invincible-class aircraft carriers and the Sea Harriers of the Fleet Air Arm have greatly reduced the Royal Navy's abilities. Nuclear firepower, as well as future aircraft-carrier plans earn it fourth place on the list.
The Royal Navy is the smallest on this list, with only 33,400 personnel on active duty and 2,600 in the reserves. The Royal Navy currently fields three large amphibious assault ships, 19 frigates and destroyers, seven nuclear attack submarines, and four nuclear-powered ballistic-missile submarines. The Royal Navy's aviation force, the Fleet Air Arm, fields 149 aircraft, primarily helicopters.
The core of the Royal Navy's surface force is its six Type 45 guided missile destroyers [16]. Each destroyer of the Daring class is equipped with an advanced SAMPSON air tracking radar, similar to the SPY-1D radar of the U.S. Navy's radar Aegis system. Paired with up to 48 Aster surface-to-air missiles, the destroyers can handle a wide spectrum of aerial threats, including ballistic missiles.
The Royal Navy's submarine force has dwindled to less than a dozen submarines. The force of seven nuclear attack submarines is being upgraded by the introduction of the HMS [17]Astute [17] class. Astute and her sister ships carry Spearfish torpedoes and Tomahawk land attack missiles, and are among the most advanced submarines in the world. Four Vanguard [18]-class ballistic-missile submarines [18] constitute the U.K.'s nuclear deterrent. Each Vanguard weighs up to 15,900 tons submerged and is equipped with 16 Trident D II long-range ballistic missiles.
The Royal Navy will soon receive a quantum leap in capability with the construction of two new aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales. The two carriers, each weighing up to 70,000 tons fully loaded, will be the largest ships ever to sail in the Royal Navy. The carriers will each be capable of embarking up to 36 F-35B fighter-bombers and a number of helicopters.
The fifth navy on this list is unusual, because technically, it is not really a navy. Japan's Maritime Self Defense Force (MSDF) is not a military force; its personnel are civil servants, not sailors. Largely under the radar, Japan has built up one of the largest, most-advanced and professionally manned naval forces in the world.
The MSDF has a total of 114 ships and 45,800 personnel. The core of the force is its large fleet of destroyers, designed to keep the sea-lanes to and from Japan from being cut as they were in the Second World War. This fleet of 46 destroyers—more than the British and French navies combined—has been expanded in recent years to accommodate new missions. Since the mid-2000s, the MSDF's force of Aegis destroyers has been tasked with providing a defense umbrella against North Korean ballistic missiles.
Even more recently, Japan has constructed three so-called "helicopter destroyers [19]", each twice as large as the average destroyer with a strong external (and internal) resemblance to aircraft carriers. Indeed, these helicopter destroyers are carriers in all but name, designed to embark helicopters and—possibly in the future—F-35B fighter-bombers.
Japan has a modest, but growing amphibious capability. It has three tank landing ships [20] of 9,000 tons that can move 300 troops and a dozen vehicles off-ship via helicopter and hovercraft. The helicopter destroyers can embark up to a battalion's worth of marines from the new marine brigade to be based at Nagasaki, transport helicopters to carry them, and transport Apache attack helicopters to give them air support.
Japan's submarine force is—ship-for-ship—one of the best in the world. There are 16 submarines in the JMSDF, the latest of the Soryu [21]-class. Featuring an advanced air independent propulsion system, the Soryu submarines can remain submerged longer than other conventional submarines. The Japanese submarine fleet is young, with submarines retired at the average age of eighteen to twenty years. Japan has recently announced that the fleet would be increased to 22 submarines in response to the growing might of the PLAN.
Prioritizing the five most powerful armies on Earth is not an easy task. Each country has its own unique security situation that shapes its military in general and land power in particular, accordingly.
Geographic, political, diplomatic and fiscal issues all determine army size. Does it exist in a bad neighborhood like India, Afghanistan or Jordan, or a nice neighborhood like the United States, Luxembourg or Canada? Is it internally focused, externally focused or both? How much in military spending can the government afford?
The end of the Cold War marked shift of hard military power eastward. The British Army is projected to drop from 120,000 in 1990 to just 82,000 [22] in 2020. The French Army has been cut from 236,000 in 1996 to just 119,000 personnel. The most striking cuts have appeared in Germany, where the army has declined from 360,000 in 1990 to 62,000 today.
At the same time, several Asian armies are well north of half a million troops: India, Pakistan, North Korea, South Korea and China. Honorable mention goes to Myanmar, Iran and Vietnam, all of which have armies at least five times larger than Germany's.
Manpower isn't everything: North Korea has an estimated army size of 950,000, but is antiquated and unable to project land power beyond the Korean peninsula. Neither is technology, for that matter.
Could the German Army of 62,000 beat the Indian Army of 1.1 million? That's probably not the right way to look at it. Switch armies between the two countries and both would be poorly served. With all of that in mind, here are five suggestions for the most powerful armies on Earth.
The United States:
The undisputed land power on the planet is the United States Army. The Army has 535,000 soldiers [23], many of which are combat veterans, backed up by modern, cutting-edge equipment and a robust logistical system. The result is the only land power capable of multidivisional combat operations outside of its hemisphere.
At the core of the U.S. Army are ten combat divisions, backed up by a handful of separate combat brigades. Each division consists of three armor, mechanized infantry, light infantry, Stryker, airborne, and air assault brigades, complemented by one aviation and artillery brigade each. Manpower is from roughly 18,000 to 14,000 each, depending on the particular unit.
The U.S. Army is still reliant on the so-called "Big 5" weapons systems introduced during the Carter-Reagan era. The M1 Abrams main battle tank, M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, AH-64 Apache attack helicopter, M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System and Patriot Missile systems are all soldiering on thirty years after their introduction. Significant upgrades have maintained the lethality and relevance of these systems on the modern battlefield.
A significant portion of the U.S. Army is devoted to special forces and commando-type troops. U.S. Army special operations forces include three battalions of Rangers, seven Special Forces Groups, the brigade-sized 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment and Delta Force. Total manpower for Army Special Operations Command alone is 28,500.
The People's Liberation Army Ground Forces (China):
China's Army—officially the People's Liberation Army Ground Forces (PLAGF)— is the largest army in Asia. Numbering 1.6 million active duty troops, the PLAGF is charged with securing China's borders, providing a capability to project land power in China's neighborhood and increasingly, on a global scale.
The 1991 Persian Gulf War [24], in which the United States and its coalition allies made short work of a larger Iraqi Army shocked the PLAGF leadership. The Chinese Army's traditional reliance on manpower had clearly been negated by advances in technology.
As a result, the Chinese Army has undergone significant changes in the past two decades. Active manpower has been slashed by several million troops. The number of field armies and combat divisions has been dramatically cut. At the same time, China's rapid economic growth has allowed it to rapidly increase defense spending, funding high-tech upgrades.
Although the PLAGF lags behind China's naval and air forces in priority, it has introduced a number of modern weapons systems. The Type 99 series of tanks has undergone several major revisions in the past decade, as the Chinese Army seeks to deploy a tank on par with the American M1 Abrams. The WZ-10, China's first real attack helicopter, has begun to enter service. Despite the influx of new equipment, the PLAGF still counts vast amounts of obsolete equipment, such as Type 59 tanks in its active-duty inventories. Full modernization will take at least another decade, and possibly two, as the Chinese economy slows [25].
Rapid deployment forces are a key part of the PLAGF. PLAGF units could be called upon to operate on the border with India in the Himalayas, in the East and South China Seas or to invade Taiwan [26]. In addition to armor and mechanized and infantry units earmarked for rapid response, the PLAGF has three airborne divisions, two amphibious divisions and three amphibious brigades. In addition, the divisions of the Shenyang Military Region may be called upon to secure the border with North Korea on short notice, or even intervene internally.
Indian Army:
At 1.12 million troops, the Indian Army is the second largest army in Asia. India, sandwiched between traditional rivals Pakistan and China, requires an army capable of defending long territorial boundaries. Native insurgencies and the requirement to conduct operations with the country of 1.2 billion people also pushes the country to a large, infantry-heavy force.
The Army's best divisions are split among their four "Strike Corps", with three such corps facing Pakistan and one facing China. India has two amphibious brigades, the 91st and 340 Infantry Brigade Groups [27], and also operates three airborne and eight special-forces battalions.
India's Army has undertaken a considerable modernization effort over the last decade, primarily to improve its ability to operate conventionally against Pakistan. The so-called "Cold Start" doctrine, in which the Indian Army's Strike Corps can execute a short-notice attack on Pakistan, requires a highly mobile army along Western lines. Indian-made Arjun and Russian-made T-90 tanks, alongside American-made AH-64 Apache helicopters will be expected to defeat the Pakistani Army before nuclear weapons could be employed.
The rise of China and what India has considered territorial violations along the Himalayan border between the two countries has prompted India [28] to deploy an additional 80,000 troops—as many as the British Army in 2020—to its border with China.
Russian Ground Forces:
The Russian Ground Forces were formed from remnants of the Soviet Army. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, many units were simply transferred to the Russian Army. Underfunded for decades, much of the Russian Ground Forces are still equipped with Soviet-era weapons. The Ground Forces are receiving, and projected to receive, an influx of new, modern equipment.
The Russian Ground Forces number 285,000, or roughly half of the U.S. Army. The Ground Forces are fairly well equipped and fully mechanized. Despite this, the sheer size of Russia (one soldier per 23 square miles of territory) means the Ground Forces are spread thin.
Despite their relative paucity, the Ground Forces have had considerable combat experience since the end of the Cold War, from ill-fated operations in Chechnya in the early 1990s to the current situation in eastern Ukraine [29].
The Russian Army inherited the Soviet Union's airborne and marine forces, which by the mid-2000s, had been reduced from six to four divisions. At 6,000 troops, each division is light on manpower but highly mobile, equipped with BMD airborne infantry fighting vehicles. There are also roughly 9,000 naval infantry spread among Russia's major fleets, although these are technically part of the Russian Navy.
The Russian Ground Forces are set to receive the Armata Universal Combat Platform in a few years' time [30]. A break from a present dominated by legacy T-72/80/90 tanks, BMP infantry fighting vehicles and BTR armored personnel carriers, Armata will be a whole new family of vehicles dedicated to the tank, infantry fighting vehicle, artillery and recovery vehicle missions.
The British Army
Although fairly small by global standards, the British Army is probably the most capable land force in Europe. Well rounded with a mixture of light infantry, airborne, tank, mechanized and aviation units, the British Army is capable of a broad spectrum of operations.
The British Army currently numbers 102,000 troops. The army is currently facing a reorganization by 2020 that will cut active duty manpower to 82,000 [31] while increasing the role of army reservists. By 2020, the British Army's deployable land forces will amount to seven brigades: one air assault, three armored/mechanized infantry and three infantry brigades.
Like the U.S. Army, the British Army relies on a legacy force of upgraded Cold War equipment. Challenger II main battle tanks and Warrior infantry fighting vehicles equip the mechanized forces. Although proven and reliable, these are getting on in age and will have to be eventually replaced at considerable cost.
The British Army's special-purpose and special-operations forces are small, but among the best in the world. The British Army has three parachute battalions under 16th Air Assault Brigade plus the world-famous 22nd Special Air Service Regiment. An additional 8,000 Royal Marines, an infantry-centric force, operate under Royal Navy control and can deploy 3 Commando Brigade.
Qualifying the five most powerful air forces in the world is certainly a difficult and challenging proposition. There are large, well-trained and well-equipped air forces that are obvious candidates for such a list. Then there are less-obvious candidates—like Russia. The Russian Air Force, while plane-for-plane older than many air forces, has numbers, the ubiquity of the largest country by size on Earth, a modernization plan [32] and nuclear weapons [33]. It cannot be ignored, and thanks to Putin and his repeated sorties near NATO and Japanese air space, it certainly won't be. China is in many ways similar.
After that, however, the road gets murky. Vulnerabilities become apparent. There are air forces that are well equipped and trained, but for budgetary reasons, are too small to adequately fulfill national roles and requirements (think all of Europe.) There are also air forces that are magnificently equipped, but poorly trained. (Think virtually all of the Middle East.)
For the purpose of this article, we'll judge air forces by the following criteria: size, influence and doing the best job of matching capabilities to the mission.
United States:
The U.S. Air Force
The preeminent air arm of the United States, the U.S. Air Force (USAF), is the primary service responsible for air and space missions. It manages everything from intercontinental ballistic missiles to X-37 space planes to A-10 Thunderbolt tank killers. It coordinates military space launches, airdrops of Army paratroopers and drops bombs on ISIS insurgents.
The USAF operates 5,600 aircraft of all types, including F-22 Raptors, F-35, F-15 and F-16 fighters. It operates B-2, B-1 and B-52 strategic bombers, as well as C-5, C-17 and C-130 airlifters. It operates these aircraft from bases in the continental United States and overseas bases from the United Kingdom to Japan.
The Air Force has roughly 312,000 active-duty members [34], coming in just behind the People's Liberation Army Air Force, and yet it operates more planes than the PLAAF.
The USAF was the first air force worldwide to fly stealth combat aircraft, the first to fly fifth-generation fighters, and the first to commit to an all-stealth combat aircraft force. The USAF plans on preserving its edge by purchasing 1,763 [35] F-35s and up to 100 optionally manned Long-Range Strike Bombers. Unmanned aerial vehicles, increasingly with stealthy profiles and attack capabilities, will gradually represent a larger proportion of the overall aircraft fleet.
The USAF also manages two legs of the U.S. nuclear triad, including 450 intercontinental ballistic missiles and the strategic bomber force.
The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps
Worthy of separate mention due to their size and capabilities, the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps are combined the world's second-largest air force, with a total of over [36]3,700 aircraft of all types [36]. This includes 1,159 fighters, 133 attack aircraft, 172 patrol aircraft, 247 transports and 1,231 helicopters.
The aircraft of the U.S. Navy are responsible for protecting the U.S. fleet and conducting air missions from and often over the world's oceans and seas. Most of the aircraft of the Navy and Marine Corps operate from ships at sea, a difficult and dangerous job that requires a high level of training and proficiency.
The most visible aspect of U.S. naval aviation are the carrier air wings that fly off eleven nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. Each wing typically consists of around sixty aircraft divided into three squadrons of F/A-18 Hornets and Super Hornets, one E-2C Hawkeye airborne early-warning squadron, one EA-18G Growler electronic warfare squadron, and one helicopter squadron.
Other aspects of naval aviation include the helicopters that fly off U.S. Navy cruisers, destroyers and other surface ships, P-3 Orion and P-8 Poseidon maritime control aircraft, and variants of the P-3 that conduct electronic surveillance missions. US navy aviation also contributes to the U.S. strategic nuclear force, flying TACAMO (Take Charge And Move Out [37]) aircraft whose mission is to provide command and control in the event of a nuclear war.
U.S. Marine Corps aircraft are counted under the Navy total and serve on Navy ships, but are oriented towards Marine combined air-ground operations, with an emphasis on supporting marine ground forces.
The dissolution of the Soviet Union left the bulk of Soviet air power in the hands of the new Russian state, and Russia has coasted on this prodigious inheritance for decades.
Altogether, Russia has 1,500 combat aircraft and 400 military helicopters. The bulk of these aircraft, however, are old and have neither been substantially upgraded, nor consistently serviced. MiG-29, Su-27 and MiG-31 fighters that predate the end of the Cold War predominate.
Although the Russian Air Force does not control the country's ICBM force, it does control strategic nuclear bombers, including aging Tu-95 "Bear", Tu-22 "Backfire" and Tu-160 "Blackjack" bombers.
The Air Force has finally entered a period of sustained modernization, with new fighters coming online and in development. One example is the Su-35 fighter [38], a new combat aircraft that combines the agility and versatility of the venerable Su-27 Flanker platform with new, cutting-edge technologies, is entering service in limited numbers.
Russian defense contractors are currently working on the T-50/PAK-FA fighter [39], which promises to be Russia's first fifth-generation fighter. Russia is also reportedly working on a new strategic bomber [40], PAK-DA.
The Russian Air Force has recently adopted a high-profile role as President Vladimir Putin's rattling sabre, flying extensive missions [41] near NATO, Swedish and Japanese airspace. These missions are primarily designed as demonstrations of Russian power.
The People's Liberation Army is an umbrella designation for China's armed forces, and the two main flying branches of the PLA are the People's Liberation Army Air Force and the People's Liberation Army Navy Air Force.
Combined, the PLAAF and PLANAF possess 1,321 fighter and attack aircraft, 134 heavy bombers and tankers and twenty airborne early-warning aircraft. China also operates 700 combat helicopters, mostly of the medium-lift category.
While this may sound like a sizable air force, despite large increases in the defense budget, the majority of those aircraft are obsolete. Only 502 aircraft are modern, variants of the 1980s-era Russian Su-27 Flanker and the indigenously developed J-10 multirole fighter. The remaining 819 fighters date to the 1970s and would not present a serious threat to foreign air forces.
China's air forces continue to modernize [42], however, and China's aviation industry is cranking out new designs quite rapidly. The country is simultaneously developing not one, but two fifth-generation fighters—the heavy J-20 fighter and the smaller J-31 fighter bomber. It is also developing the Y-20 strategic transport and is rumored to be working on a strategic bomber to replace the Xian H-6. Like the American air forces, China is also pushing forward with a variety of unmanned combat aircraft, such as the Dark Sword [43].
One growth area for Chinese air forces is naval aviation. China's first carrier, the Liaoning [44], will likely be followed by additional carriers, although reports concerning capabilities and numbers vary dramatically. The J-15 fighter, a domestic derivative of the Su-27, is currently China's main carrier fighter, with reports that the multirole J-31 fighter will take on a role similar to the F-35C on American aircraft carriers.
The dark horse on this list is the Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF). Japan has more than 300 air superiority and multirole fighters that are finely tuned toward defending the island-nation from threats in the air, land and at sea.
Reflecting the nation's defense-only military policy, the JASDF is highly specialized towards defensive combat. First and foremost is the mission of air defense: Japan remembers very well what happened the last time it lost air superiority over the Home Islands.
Japanese pilots also practice ground attack against invading forces on Japanese territory and anti-shipping missions against enemy transports and fleets. They do not, however, practice offensive missions such as long-range strike missions.
Japanese pilots are well trained and regarded by their peers. Japanese pilots routinely attend the U.S. Air Force Red Flag exercises, and are kept on their toes by a growing number of scrambles against foreign aircraft nearing Japanese airspace — 533 scrambles in the first half of 2014 [45] alone against a mix of Russian and Chinese aircraft.
Japan buys only the very best air superiority fighters from the United States, having purchased 223 F-15J single-seat and two-seat DJ fighters in the 1980s. These were set to be replaced by the F-22 Raptor; however, Japan was disappointed by U.S. law preventing the F-22 from being exported overseas.
Japan is now set to procure forty-two F-35A Joint Strike Fighters, with the first four aircraft ordered just last month. It is continuing development of the indigenous F-3 fighter project to replace the F-15, under the assumption that future first-line American fighters will be off limits. Meanwhile, F-15J and F-2 fighters are receiving upgrades to boost their air-to-air capability.
To provide early-warning capabilities, as well as command and control, Japan has a fleet of America-sourced aircraft. Japan has four E-767 airborne warning and control system aircraft, and thirteen E-2C Hawkeye airborne early-warning aircraft. The JASDF is set to acquire the latest E-2D Hawkeyes to help deal with the growing number of air intercepts.
----This Story Originally Published in The National Interest----


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Lutheran missionaries began their work in Lafayette in 1848. The formal organization of the Church and school was on September 29th 1850. Rev. David R. French currently serves as the Senior Pastor. St James was originally located on Ferry Street near 9th street. Growth of the congregation led to its present location at 9th and Cincinnati streets in 1884. Our Day School was constructed in 1914 with additions coming in 1965 (Cafeteria and Library), 1983 (Gymnasium) and 1996 Offices and Fellowship Hall.
St. James is a member of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod and is committed to the teaching and proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. A broad range of ministries are offered at St. James from Pre-school to basketball and music camps. Our food pantry serves over 10,000 people each year. Our offerings to District and Synod, with other LC-MS congregations, help fund foreign missions around the world.
St. James is home to many hundreds of families in Lafayette and the surrounding communities and our current professional staff includes two Pastors, a Directors of Christian Education, Director of Early Childhood Education, a Principal and 9 teachers. We are also served by a Music and Athletic Director as well as the Early Childhood and Daycare staff.
Three Divine Services are offered each weekend at St. James: Sat 6:00 p.m., Sun 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. often with the musical offering of the Adult or one or our many Children's choirs. We offer Adult Bible Study and Sunday School each Sunday morning 9:15 – 10:15.
We look forward to meeting you and by God's grace to walking with you to the cross of Jesus Christ and the eternal life He has won for all and freely offers to you. May God grant that St. James be for you what she has been for so many for over a century and a half, God's house and your home.


text: bigjimcambo ALTERNATIVE FRIDAY Spreading the word about great new music Enjoy exploring new & emerging musicians? For a selection of some of the best, follow me here, via Alternative Friday, on Twitter, & through the Spotify Evolving Tunes playlist. Aside from the above, my other musical activities include being a pair of eyes and ears at "cutting-edge tastemakers" Fresh on the Net, and "super cool label" End of the Trail Records.


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I work with many new and aspiring coaches who are ready to build and step into having a successful business.
There are lots of things that we work on, including clarity on their packages, messaging, copywriting, sales, creating a business model that works for them, and building the business infrastructures for consistent income. However, there are also things to note upfront when it comes to building your own business.
This week, I'm sharing the 3 things you must know about having a successful and thriving business.
1. Clarity & Confidence = Essential.
Clarity is medicine.
When you're clear on what exactly you're offering, and how exactly you can help in – it's like the fog lifts.
Confidence enters.
And sales becomes natural – almost effortless.
(I've designed my 3-hour Skype intensives to help you get the clarity and confidence you require to launch into the freedom and success you desire. Find out more here.)
2. It takes hard work, time, and effort.
Remember the saying: "If it were easy, everyone would be doing it?"
Running your own business takes dedication – and devotion. It's work, takes time, and requires investment of effort and heart. Of course, it's easier when it's something that you're emotional about. Something you value. Something you believe in. ;)
Think back to the time where you had a goal. Maybe you wanted to eat well and improve your physical strength. You drag yourself to the gym, show up no matter how much you're aching, struggle yet say No to less healthy choices, and eat well regularly. Soon, you look and feel amazing. What a win!
Is it work? Yes. Is it worth it? You bet.
(Side note: I had a conversation with a colleague once about entrepreneurs in businesses and we came to the conclusion that people who start their own businesses are slightly mental. :)
3. You require support.
Surrounding yourself with people who are as committed to both personal and business mastery is also as important, which is why I make sure I am.
On top of that, having a mentor who's ahead of me to closely guiding me on my path – continues to be one of my biggest blessings.
Hiring a business coach to support me in my journey has been one of the best investment I have made (and continue to!).
Are you a new coach looking to hire your first business coach so that you can create consistent income, stand out in the marketplace, and sky-rocket your confidence through your work with clients?
Click here to request a complimentary discovery session to find out how we can work together to help you get there in the next 6 months!


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Taylor Swift, Hailee Steinfeld NOT "Denied Entry" to Venice Restaurant, Despite Claim
"Taylor Swift & Hailee Steinfeld Are Denied Entry At Venice Restaurant!" screams a headline of a Perez Hilton story that goes on to claim the two women couldn't get into a California restaurant named Gjelina "because of full reservations and a booked house."
The blogger further writes, "Gjelina knew Taylor was trouble when she walked in…but only because there was no way they could give her and her Hailee seats, even though Tay Tay probably pleaded for them to please just say yes!" Perez then nastily editorializes, "After she got rejected, she probably told them to shut the f*ck up, like she does."
And pointing out the hat she wore (see photo at right), the blogger then tries to be funny, noting, "The last time someone with that Indiana Jones hat was in Venice, they were searching for the Holy Grail. While they eventually found it, unfortunately Taylor was not lucky enough to find a table in that snazzy fedora. She chose…poorly!" Actually, the only thing that's repeatedly done "poorly" is Perez's reporting.
A source close to Swift tells Gossip Cop his "denied entry" claim is "completely false." We're told when the picture was taken, Steinfeld and Swift "had already been out to eat," and that they were later photographed shopping. Our insider adds not only didn't they "even try to go [to Gjelina]," but "Taylor doesn't even know where this restaurant is." Once again, more bad dish from Perez.


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This is a value study done with a mix of French Ultramarine Blue and Burnt Umber. I found the nice Italian Decanter at a thrift shop for only $6. The lines are nice and the glass is really well shaped.I ordinarily don't do studies like this but since glass on dark grey gives such a good approximation of a value study, I thought I would try it.
Acrylic painting by Rod Norman
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We are innately a creation of nature. Our Western way of living serves to separate us from an everyday experiencing of being-in-nature. Dancing the Rhythms is a natural pathway to 'reset' ourselves into harmony with nature once again. We are gathering on the earth, surrounded by the natural elements, to heal the separation so that we can again experience the connectedness, the joy and the ecstasy of being-in-nature; to feel One with Life.
£60 per person (includes water, hot drinks and snacks through the day).
£50 per person early discount for tickets bought before 11 April.
Please bring food to share for Saturday evening meal.
Dress for comfort, warmth and outdoors.
A limited number of camping spaces are also available in the woods. Please book in advance. Remember to bring your own tent, sleeping bag etc. £10 per person per night (includes water and a hearty campfire).
This year there is an on site wood fired sauna. If you wish to use it please bring a towel to sit on.
Email Tim Sanderson: firstname.lastname@example.com
Cancellation Policy:
Please let us know as soon as possible if something comes up and you cannot attend this camp. We always endeavour to treat cancellations fairly and sympathetically.
~ We will refund the full amount you have paid less an administration fee of £30 if you cancel 3 months BEFORE the camp begins.
~ If you cancel between 3 months and 30 days before the camp begins, we charge half the costs of the workshop fee.
~ If you cancel WITHIN 30 days of the camp beginning, no refund will be given unless we find a replacement for the vacancy created by your cancellation. If we do find a replacement, we will refund to you the full amount you have paid less an administration fee of £30. In exceptional circumstances it may be possible to transfer your payment to a future workshop or camp.
~ If you leave the camp before the end, there is no refund.
~ We reserve the right to cancel the camp (eg if there are not enough participants or in the case of illness of a group leader, in which case we will refund to you all payments made to us by you.