The present invention relates to a method for the manufacture of a single mode optical fibre comprising a light-conductive core portion, an internal cladding portion surrounding said core portion and a jacketing portion surrounding said internal cladding portion, in which the refractive index of the core portion is larger than those of the cladding and jacketing portion areas, and in which the refractive indices of the cladding and jacketing portion areas are practically equal.

The present invention relates to a method for the manufacture of a single mode optical fibre comprising a light-conductive core portion, an internal cladding portion surrounding said core portion and a jacketing portion surrounding said internal cladding portion, in which the refractive index of the core portion is larger than those of the cladding and jacketing portion areas, and in which the refractive indices of the cladding and jacketing portion areas are practically equal, by which method a silica substrate tube used as jacketing portion, is internally flushed with one or more reactive gases to form the internal cladding portion and core portion, respectively, after which the substrate tube thus provided with layers is collapsed and drawn into a single mode optical fibre. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a single mode optical fibre comprising a light-conductive core portion, a cladding portion surrounding said core portion and a jacketing portion surrounding said internal cladding portion.
Optical fibres of this type are well known and are mainly applied in the field of telecommunications technology. See, for example, European Patent Application 0 127 227, U.S. Pat. No. 5,242,476 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,838,866. The term xe2x80x98single modexe2x80x99 used in the present description is generally known to experts in this field and needs therefore no further explanation here. Because of their characteristic low attenuation and dispersion such optical fibres are particularly suitable for the formation of long-distance data links, often spanning many thousands of kilometers. Over such considerable distances it is of vital importance that the cumulative signal losses in the optical fibre be kept to a minimum, if transmission of optical signals is to occur with a small number of intermediate amplification stations. At the commonly employed transmission wavelength of 1550 nm the telecommunications industry conventionally requires that the total attenuation in such optical fibres does rot exceed 0.25 dB/km, and preferably does not exceed 0.2 dB/km.
Although the presently manufactured fibres may meet all such requirements with regard to permissible attenuation, it is nevertheless often observed that, after elapse of time, the same optical fibres demonstrate considerable attenuation increases, Extensive investigation has shown that this phenomenon is attributable to the gradual seepage of hydrogen gas into the fibre from its surroundings, with the consequent formation of groups like SiH and SiOH within the fibre. These compounds demonstrate strong infra-red absorption, with attenuation peaks at wavelengths of about 1530 and 1385 nm.
A solution to overcome the problem of such hydrogen-induced attenuation is known from European Patent Application 0 477 435. In the method therein disclosed, a molten optical fibre is extensively exposed to a hydrogen-containing gas during its manufacture, so as to ensure that all structural defect sites in the fibre have already been presented with a hydrogen atom before the actual implementation of the fibre. A disadvantage of this known method is, however, that it only addresses the symptoms of hydrogen-induced attenuation and not the causes thereof. Moreover, this known measure considerably complicates the manufacturing process, and introduces an additional risk of contamination of the product fibre by the hydrogen-containing gas employed.
From U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,979 a method for the manufacture of an optical fibre is known, subsequently comprising of a pure silicon dioxide core portion, an outer layer of fluorine-doped silicon dioxide, a substrate layer of fluorine-doped silicon dioxide, and a carrier layer of pure silicon dioxide, in which the refractive index of the core portion is practically equal to that of the carrier layer.
From U.S. Pat. No. 5,033,815 an optical fibre of the multi-mode type is known, which fibre substantially differs from the present single mode optical fibre. Furthermore, the multi, mode optical fibre known from said publication subsequently contains a GeO2- or Sb2O2-doped core portion, an F-doped cladding portion and finally a possibly TiO2-doped jacketing portion, resulting in the refractive index of the core portion being higher than those of the cladding- and jacketing portion areas, and the refractive index of the jacketing portion being substantially lower than that of the cladding portion, which refractive index profile substantially differs from the present profile. No data with regard to compressive axial stress are known from said publication.
From European Patent Application 0 762 159 a dispersion-compensating fibre is known, subsequently comprising a core portion with at least 10 mol % of GeO2  and a cladding portion, which cladding portion comprises a first fluorine-doped cladding portion, a second chlorine-doped cladding portion, and a third chlorine- or fluorine-doped cladding portion. The doping of the third cladding portion is chosen such that the glass viscosity at the moment of drawing is lower than that of pure silicon dioxide glass, which allows a relatively low temperature during drawing. No data with regard to compressive axial stress are known from this application.
It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide a method for the manufacture of a single mode optical fibre, in which the hydrogen-induced attenuation at a wavelength of 1550 nm is sufficiently low to ensure the total attenuation at that wavelength to be at most 0.25 dB/km, and preferably to be at most 0.2 dB/km.
As mentioned in the preamble, in accordance with the present invention this objective is achieved because the present method for the manufacture of a single mode optical fibre is characterised in that the internal cladding portion is built up from SiO2  comprising a fluorine doping within a range of 0.1-8.5 wt. %, thus resulting in the core portion to be subjected to a compressive axial stress over its full cross section.
The present inventors suppose that the presence of axial compression in the fibre core prevents the occurrence of the defects mentioned before, thus resulting in a significantly lowered hydrogen-induced attenuation. Since, according to the present inventors, the presence of axial tension in a fibre core facilitates the formation of structural defects in the silicon dioxide core, the presence of axial compression in a fibre core will essentially inhibit the occurrence of such defects, thus leading to a substantially lowered hydrogen-induced attenuation.
The present inventors have carried out a number of experiments in which a preform was manufactured by subsequently providing the internal surface of a substrate tube with an internal cladding portion of silicon oxide, which cladding portion is built up of SiO2, comprising fluorine-doping, and a second doped layer of silicon oxide, which second layer has a higher refractive index than that of the internal cladding portion and forms the final core of the fibre. The substrate tube thus provided with a core portion and internal cladding portion was subsequently thermally subjected to a collapse procedure to form a rod, which rod eventually was drawn into the required fibres at one of its molten extremities.
In the present invention the internal cladding portion is preferably doped with fluorine within a range of 0.1-8.5 wt. %, and preferably of 0.2-2.0 wt. %. Fluorine-doping of more than 8.5 wt. % is undesirable since then problems will arise in the deposition of such layers. A fluorine amount of less than 0.1 wt. % does not give a noticeable result with regard to the required compressive axial stress in the core portion. A maximum doping of 2.0 wt. % is particularly preferred if very low attenuation losses are required, which attenuation losses are negatively influenced by the increase of Rayleigh scattering. The fact is that experiments have shown that part of the internal cladding portion also functions as a light path for the light that is transported inside the fibre""s core.
The application of fluorine doping in the internal cladding portion results in a decrease of the refractive index of this layer. In order to adjust the thus lowered refractive index, which refractive index preferably is practically equal to that of the jacketing portion area, the internal cladding portion is provided with so-called refraction-increasing doping materials, like, for instance, P2O5, TiO2, ZrO2, SnO2, GeO2, N or Al2O3, or a combination of one or more of such compounds.
In certain embodiments of the present method it is particularly preferred to insert a buffer layer between the jacketing portion and the internal cladding portion, which buffer layer has a refractive index that is lower than that of the core portion and is practically equal to that of the cladding portion and jacketing portion areas.
Such a buffer layer is particularly required if the optical quality of the jacketing portion is low, which means that the jacketing portion contains impurities. In the successive heat treatments for the collapse for manufacturing the preform and the subsequent drawing of fibres from the preform, such impurities may diffuse to the light-conductive part of the optical fibre, as a result of which a heightened attenuation occurs. The application of a buffer layer therefore prevents the impurities to end up in the light-conductive part of the fibre.
In a special embodiment of the present method it is also preferred to insert an intermediate layer between the core portion and the internal cladding portion, which intermediate layer has a refractive index that is lower than that of the core portion and is practically equal to that of the internal cladding and jacketing portion areas.
The light conduction in the single mode optical fibre partially occurs in the layer directly surrounding the core portion. If this layer is heavily doped, effects of increased Rayleigh scattering are noticeable, leading to an attenuation increase. However, high doping may be required to bring the core portion, under the required compressive axial stress. Thus an intermediate layer with low doping is preferably inserted to prevent possible negative effects of extra Rayleigh scattering.
The internal cladding portion preferably has a thickness 3-21 micrometers in the final fibre.
The required layer thickness depends on the dopings in the layer. Tests have shown that a layer thickness of less than 3 micrometers is insufficient to bring the core portion under the required compressive axial stress, which is required in accordance with the present invention. The upper limit of the maximum layer thickness for the internal cladding portion is mainly determined by the processability of the preform that is eventually drawn into an optical fibre.
In a certain embodiment it is furthermore required that the light-conductive core portion provided with one or more dopings is built up of SiO2, comprising a fluorine doping within a range of 0.2-2 wt. % and one or more dopings that ensure the core portion to possess the refractive index required in accordance with the present invention, which core refractive index is higher than that of the cladding portion, which dopings, for instance, may comprise P2O5, TiO2, ZrO2, SnO2, GeO2, N and Al2O3  or a combination of one or more of these compounds.
In a special embodiment it is preferred that the preform, comprising the core portion, internal cladding portion and jacketing portion, possibly supplemented with a buffer and/or intermediate layer, at the outer surface of the jacketing portion is provided with an additional layer, for instance in the form of a glass tube or a layer applied by means of an external CVD procedure.
In accordance with the present invention the formation of the core portion and internal cladding portion, and possibly the intermediate and/or buffer layer mentioned before, is carried out by means of a chemical vapour deposition procedure, in particular with a PCVD procedure, preferably plasma-induced. Since the axial length of a conventional substrate tube in particular is many times larger than its diameter, a controlled deposition of a uniform layer of material onto the internal surface of such a substrate tube is very hard to achieve with the conventional deposition procedures like sputter deposition or laser ablation deposition. In the PCVD embodiment the applied chemical vapour can successfully be distributed over the full length of the internal surface of the substrate tube, thus enabling a very uniform deposition onto the internal wall. Moreover, by applying the PCVD procedure it is possible to carry out a deposition of layers with controlled doping levels, thus enabling this procedure to be used successfully for the deposition of the core portion and internal cladding portions possibly supplemented with the intermediate and/or buffer layers.
The present invention further relates to a single mode optical fibre comprising a light-conductive core portion, an internal cladding portion surrounding said core portion and a jacketing portion surrounding said internal cladding portion, in which the refractive index of the core portion is larger than that of the internal cladding portion and jacketing portion areas, and in which the refractive indices of the internal cladding portion and jacketing portion areas are practically equal, which single mode optical fibre in accordance with the present invention is characterised in that the internal cladding portion is built up of SiO2  comprising a fluorine doping within a range of 0.1-8.5 wt. %, preferably of 0.2-2.0 wt. %, resulting in the core portion being subjected to a compressive axial stress over its full cross section.
In a special embodiment it is further preferred that the single mode optical fibre is built up in such a way that between the core portion and the internal cladding portion an intermediate layer is inserted, which intermediate layer has a refractive index that is lower than that of the core portion and is practically equal to those of the internal cladding portion and jacketing portion areas.
Moreover, in a special embodiment of the present single mode optical fibre it is preferred that there is a buffer layer between the jacketing portion and the internal cladding portion, which buffer layer has a refractive index that is lower than that of the core portion and is practically equal to those of the internal cladding portion and jacketing portion areas.
Furthermore, in certain embodiments it is preferred that there is an external cladding portion on the outside of the jacketing portion.

Single mode optical fibre, and method for the manufacture of a single mode optical fibre


A printed circuit board includes an accommodating layer, chip capacitor devices accommodated in the accommodating layer, and a buildup structure formed on the accommodating layer such that the buildup structure covers the chip capacitor devices in the accommodating layer. The buildup structure has mounting conductor structures positioned to mount an IC chip device on a surface of the buildup structure such that the IC chip device is mounted directly over the chip capacitor devices, each of the chip capacitor devices has a dielectric body having a surface facing the buildup structure, a first electrode formed on the dielectric body and extending on the surface of the dielectric body, and a second electrode formed on the dielectric body and extending on the surface of the dielectric body, and the dielectric body is interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode.

In a computer, the length of electric wiring between the power supply and the IC chip is usually long, and therefore, the loop inductance at this electric wiring is extremely large. The variation in the voltage at which the IC is driven in high-speed operation mode becomes very large accordingly, possibly causing malfunction of the IC. In addition, it becomes difficult to stabilize the voltage of the power supply. In an attempt to avoid these troubles, a capacitor is mounted on the surface of the printed circuit board as an auxiliary device for assisting the power supply operation.
Specifically, the loop inductance which causes the variation in voltage depends on the length of electric wire from a power supply shown in FIG. 72(A) to a power supply terminal 272P of an IC chip 270 through a power supply line in a printed circuit board 300, and the length of electric wire from a ground terminal 272E in the IC chip 270 to the power supply through a ground line in the printed circuit board 300 from the power supply. The loop inductance can be reduced by narrowing the distance between the electric wires through which a current in a reverse direction to each other flows, for example, the distance between the power supply line and the ground line.
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 72(B), a chip capacitor 298 is mounted on the surface of the printed circuit board 300, thereby shortening the length of electric wire between the power supply line and the ground line in the printed circuit board 300 which connects the IC chip 270 to the chip capacitor 292 to be the power supply source, as well as narrowing the distance between the electric wires.
However, the degree of the voltage drop, which causes the variation in the IC driving voltage, depends on the frequency at which the IC chip is driven. As the frequency at which the IC chip is driven increases, it becomes impossible to reduce the loop inductance even if the chip capacitor is mounted on the surface of the printed circuit board 300 as is conducted in the case shown in FIG. 72(B). As a result, it becomes difficult to sufficiently suppress the variation in the IC driving voltage.
In this situation, the present inventors have conceived to mount a chip capacitor inside the printed circuit board. As a method for embedding a capacitor into a substrate, techniques described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publications Nos. 6-326472, 7-263619, 10-256429, 11-45955, 11-126978, 11-312868 and the like may be employed.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication 6-326472 discloses a technique in which a capacitor is embedded in a substrate made of resin such as glass epoxy. This structure reduces the noise in the power supply, and eliminates the need of the space for mounting the chip capacitor, thereby reducing the size of insulating substrate. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-263619 discloses a technique in which a capacitor is embedded into to a substrate made of ceramics or alumina. The capacitor is connected between the power supply layer and the ground layer. This structure shortens the length of electric wire and reduces the inductance of the electric wire.
However, these prior art techniques described above cannot satisfactorily shorten the distance between the IC chip and the capacitor, and also cannot reduce the inductance at the higher frequency domain of the IC chip to a level required at present. In particularly, a buildup multi-layer printed circuit board made of resin has problems such as disconnection between the terminal of the chip capacitor and the via hole, the peeling of the chip capacitor from the interlayer resin insulating layer, and the generation of cracks in the interlayer resin insulating layer, resulted from the difference in thermal expansion coefficients between the capacitor made of ceramics, and the core substrate and the interlayer resin insulating layer made of resin. These problems hinder the printed circuit board from having high reliability over a long period of time.
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems of the prior arts, and the objective thereof is to provide a printed circuit board capable of reducing a loop inductance and having high reliability, and a method for manufacturing the same.


A compressor in which an electric motor and a compressing mechanism are accommodated in a case, a main shaft and an auxiliary shaft of a rotating shaft of the motor are supported by a radial plain bearing and a rolling bearing with a predetermined clearance given to the rotating shaft in an axial direction, a flange portion that contacts with a main-shaft receiving member of the radial plain bearing to align the rotating shaft with the compressing mechanism is provided on the main shaft, and preload toward the side of the rolling bearing is given to the rotating shaft. In this constitution, a prevention member for preventing contact and/or collision of the rotating shaft with the main-shaft receiving member is provided between opposing faces of the flange portion and the main-shaft receiving member.

The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained in priority Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-71734, filed on Mar. 14, 2001, the contents of which is herein expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a compressor with a built-in electric motor suitable for mounting on a mobile structure such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, and is used with a battery. The invention also relates to a mobile structure having such a compressor.
2. Description of Related Art
In a vehicle driven only by an engine, a compressor driven by the engine has been used for air-conditioning the vehicle compartment with the compressor being mounted alongside of the engine.
Electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles having both an engine and an electric motor and traveling by use of one of them according to conditions have been practically used for going on public roads. Between the two kinds of vehicles, most of those going on public roads are the hybrid vehicles, and air-conditioning of the vehicle compartment is made by a refrigerating compressor driven by the engine in the same manner as conventional engine-driven vehicles.
It is proposed that the engines of hybrid vehicles should be shut off while they are temporarily stationary at a place such as a traffic light in order to reduce effects of the engine upon the environment. When the proposal is followed with a vehicle where a compressor driven by the engine is used, air-conditioning stops each time when the vehicle stops, causing problem for the driver and passengers in the compartment in summer and winter seasons, and especially in regions with extremely cold or hot climate.
Consequently, an idea of adopting for a compressor driven by an electric motor is conceived. Further, it is natural that, in an electric vehicle, a compressor driven by an electric motor is adopted for conducting air-conditioning. Compressors driven by electric motors include maintenance-free compressors integral with electric motors used for air-conditioning of houses, and it is preferable if such compressors can be used for electric vehicles.
The present inventors made various examinations and studies for finding possibility to use a compressor integral with an electric motor originally designed for air conditioning indoors for electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles. The result showed that a rotating shaft of an electric motor became unstable in position in an axial direction, which caused strong contact, friction, and collision between opposing faces of the rotating shaft and a main-shaft receiving member that receives a main shaft of the rotating shaft, revealing the existence of problems with respect to durability. This is because a compressor for indoor air-conditioning is stored within an outdoor unit and fixedly installed with no consideration made for motions as well as shocks applied from the outside. Vehicles often make sudden start, stop, abrupt acceleration and deceleration, and sharp cornering at high speeds. Also, large inertia force much larger than the magnitude of a preload that is given to the rotating shaft is sometimes applied to the rotating shaft and a rotor of the electric motor unitized with the rotating shaft. When such inertia force acts in the direction opposite to that of the preload, the rotating shaft moves, instantaneously and with large force, together with the rotor toward the main-shaft receiving member, causing strong collision between the opposing faces of the shaft and the receiving member. Also, the opposing faces frequently contact with each other and rub against each other.
An object of the present invention is to provide a compressor with a built-in electric motor, which is constituted such that a rotating shaft of the electric motor of the compressor is made to be stable in an axial direction so as not to cause strong friction and collision between opposing faces of a flange portion of the rotating shaft and a main-shaft receiving member. It is also an object of the invention to provide a mobile structure using the compressor described above.
In order to achieve the above objects, a compressor with a built-in electric motor according to the invention includes an electric motor and a compressing mechanism which is connected to and driven by a rotating shaft of the electric motor, and they are accommodated in a case. In this compressor, a main shaft on the side of the compressing mechanism of the rotating shaft and an auxiliary shaft at the side opposite to the main shaft of the rotating shaft are supported by a radial plain bearing and a rolling bearing so that a predetermined clearance in an axial direction is given to the rotating shaft, a flange portion for aligning the rotating shaft with the compressing mechanism through the contact of the main shaft with a main-shaft receiving member that supports the radial plain bearing, and the rotating shaft is given with preload toward the rolling bearing. The compressor is provided with a prevention member between opposing faces of the flange portion and main-shaft receiving member in order to prevent contact and/or collision of the rotating shaft with the main-shaft receiving member.
As described above, the prevention member is located between the opposing faces of the flange portion of the rotating shaft and the main-shaft receiving member. Consequently, this constitution does not prevent necessary clearance from being provided between the opposing faces, and does not prevent preload toward the rolling bearing from being given to the rotating shaft. Conventional operating performance is therefore guaranteed. When the opposing faces are about to strongly contact with each other to cause friction and collision between them because of large force such as inertia force acting in the direction opposite to that of the preload, such force is prevented by the prevention member between the opposing faces from acting. Thus, the opposing faces do not strongly contact with each other to cause friction and collision between them, so that the deterioration in performance and durability of the compressor is prevented.
While novel features of the invention are set forth in the preceding, the invention, both as to organization and content, can be further understood and appreciated, along with other objects and features thereof, from the following detailed description and examples when taken in conjunction with the attached drawings.

Compressor with built-in motor, and mobile structure using the same

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


An agent for the production of anti-corrosion layers on metal surfaces is produced by producing an aqueous solution, which contains at least oxo-cations and halogen complex anions, and forming nanoparticles in the solution in situ by physical and/or chemical treatment of the solution. The oxo-cations are selected from MnO3+, VO3+, VO2+, WO22+, MoO22+, TiO2+, ZrO2+ and mixtures thereof, and the halogen complex anions have the structure MXab−, wherein M is selected from B, Ti, Zr, Si, Al, X is selected from F, Cl, Br, I, a is an integer of between 3 and 6 and b is an integer of between 1 and 4. The nanoparticles have a mean particle diameter of <500 nm.

To provide protection from corrosion metal parts are for example galvanically coated with base metals such as for example zinc, nickel, chromium, aluminum, magnesium and alloys of the aforementioned, and the resistance to corrosion of the metal coating is further improved by production of a conversion layer, frequently a passivation layer. To produce a passivation layer the metal surfaces are in many cases treated with chromium (VI)-bearing solutions. However, because of the high toxicity and cancerogenity of chromium (VI)-compounds in recent times manufacturers have changed over to producing such conversion layers with chromium (III)-bearing solutions. In many cases large amounts of cobalt (II)-compounds are added to those chromium (III)-bearing treatment liquids, to increase the anti-corrosion action of the conversion layers produced. It will be noted however that those treatment solutions also represent a problem as both chromium (III) and also cobalt (II) are not completely safe in view of their toxicity and it is not possible to ensure on the basis of analytical problems that the conversion layers are free of chromium (VI). There is therefore an urgent need to produce completely chromium- and cobalt-free anti-corrosion layers.
Recent processes produce protective layers having a binder system on an organic or silicon-organic base, to which corrosion-inhibiting or layer-reinforcing additives based on molybdenum, tungsten, titanium, zirconium, vanadium and other metals are added.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,524,403 describes a chromium-free composition for improving the resistance to corrosion of zinc or zinc alloy surfaces, wherein the composition contains a source for titanium ions or titanates, an oxidising agent and fluorides as well as compounds of metals of group II and the composition is substantially free of silicates and silicon dioxide. In particular strontium is used as the metal of group II.
EP 0 760 401 discloses an anti-corrosion composition which contains an oxidising agent, a silicate and/or silicon dioxide and metal cations, selected from Ti, Zr, Ce, Sr, V, W and Mo, oxymetal anions thereof and/or fluorometal anions thereof.
The chromium-free anti-corrosion agents known hitherto suffer from the disadvantage that either they do not provide adequate anti-corrosion properties in respect of the corrosion layers or they are not sufficiently stable to be used in a continuous process, or both.

Agent for the production of anti-corrosion layers on metal surfaces


A double-headed implement insertable by its user into an ear canal, one head (X) functioning to scrape wax from the surface of the canal, the other head (Y) functioning to remove water therefrom. The implement is formed by a handle shank having at one end a loop defining the X-head and at the opposite end a loop defining the Y-head. The X-head loop is provided with an inwardly-directed scraper which when the implement is manipulated by a user to cause this loop to sweep over and massage the surface of the ear canal, it then scrapes off the wax therefrom and collects it for removal from the canal. The Y-head loop has mounted therein a flat insert of absorbent material which when this head sweeps over the surface of the ear canal, absorbs water therefrom which causes the insert to swell like a sponge to store the absorbed water so that it can be removed from the canal.

Field of the Invention
The human ear consists of three major components: an external or outer ear, a middle ear and an inner ear. The concern of the present invention is with the hygiene of the outer ear which is composed of an auricle or ear lobe, an auditory canal and an ear drum which is responsive to sounds entering the auricle and conveyed by the canal to the ear drum.
Wax is exuded from glands in the cartilage portion of the ear canal, the wax acting to protect the ear from infection and to prevent foreign particles from reaching the eardrum. Ear infections often result from bacteria-laden water trapped in the ear canal.
The most commonly used ear hygiene implement is the swab, this being formed by a wad of soft cotton wound about one end of a small stick. Despite its popularity, most ear specialists interdict the use of swabs, for while a swab is effective in removing some wax from the surface of an ear canal, it also acts to push surface wax further into the ear canal. Hence repeated use of swabs ultimately acts to plug the ear canal and in some cases to entrap water therein.
The configuration of an ear canal is such that once water enters the canal in the course of swimming or bathing activity, it then becomes difficult for the water to escape. The presence of water in the canal, as previously noted, is a common cause of ear infections and may lead to a loss of hearing.
Of prior art interest is the ear wax-removing implement disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 147,660, the implement consisting of a twisted wire handle having a loop at either end to which a swab is attached. Of greater prior art interest is the wax extractor disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,334,212 to Karell in which the implement is in the form of a loop-shaped curette.
A curette is an edged instrument which by repeated strokes acts to scrape the surface engaged thereby. But when the surface to be scraped is that of an ear canal having a relatively soft skin, a curette cannot safely be used to scrape wax therefrom, for the outer edge of the curette loop may scratch this surface in the process of scraping wax therefrom.
Also of prior art interest is the British patent GB 2204496 to McMillan which disclosed an implement for scraping exudate from a cervix and collecting this exudate. The McMillan implement is provided with a loop having an outer scraping edge, as in a curette, and inner projections which collect the exudate scraped from the surface of the cervix.
In a wax-scraping implement in accordance with the invention which includes a loop, scraping is effected not by the loop whose surface is smooth and glides over the surface of an ear canal, but by a scraper which projects inwardly from the loop and is enclosed by the loop.
In view of the foregoing, the main object of this invention is to provide an ear hygiene implement adapted to scrape wax from the surface of the ear canal in which the implement is inserted without scratching, cutting or otherwise injuring the surface and without ramming the wax more deeply into the canal.
Among the significant advantages of an implement in accordance with the invention are the following:
A. the implement is safe to use, for it includes a guard which limits the extent that the implement can be inserted into an ear canal.
B. The implement which includes a shank having a loop at one end thereof is molded of a single piece of flexible, biocompatible plastic material which is repeatedly bendable yet virtually unbreakable; hence regardless of how vigorously it is manipulated, the loop of the implement which is then in the ear canal will not break off from its shank.
C. The plastic implement is disposable and can be mass-produced at a relatively low cost.
D. The implement is anatomically designed to accommodate the human ear, yet is aesthetically pleasing.
Briefly stated, in one preferred embodiment of the invention these objects are attained in a double-headed implement insertable by its user into an ear canal, one head (X) functioning to scrape wax from the surface of the canal, the other head (Y) functioning to remove water therefrom. The implement is formed by a handle shank having at one end a loop defining the X-head and having at the opposite end a loop defining the Y-head.
The X-head loop is provided with an inwardly-projecting scraper which when the implement is manipulated by a user to cause the head to sweep over and massage the surface of the ear canal, it then scrapes off the wax therefrom and collects it within the loop for removal from the canal. The Y-head loop has mounted therein a flat insert of absorbent material which when this head sweeps over the surface of the ear canal, absorbs water therefrom which causes the insert to swell like a sponge to store the absorbed water so that it can be removed from the canal.
Alternatively, instead of a double-headed implement in which one head is adapted to scrape wax from the surface of an ear canal and the other to absorb water therefrom, both heads can be wax-scraping heads, or both heads can be adapted to absorb water.


High tensile strength steels that have both favorable delayed fracture resistance and a tensile strength of 600 MPa or higher and are suitably used in construction machinery, tanks, penstocks, and pipelines, as well as methods for manufacturing such steels are provided. The safety index of delayed fracture resistance (%) is 100×(X1/X0), where X0: reduction of area of a specimen substantially free from diffusible hydrogen, and X1: reduction of area of a specimen containing diffusible hydrogen.

Recently, in the fields involving the use of steels, such as construction machinery (e.g., moves and chassis for cranes), tanks, penstocks, and pipelines, the increasing size of structures urges steels to be stronger and also the use environment of such steels has been becoming progressively harsher.
However, strengthening of steels and a harsher use environment are generally known to increase the susceptibility of steels to delayed fractures. For example, in the field of high tensile bolts, JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards) B 1186 stipulates that the use of F11T bolts (tensile strength: 1100 to 1300 N/mm2) should be avoided whenever possible, indicating that the use of high strength steels is limited.
In response to this, methods for manufacturing steels with favorable delayed fracture resistance have been proposed in publications including Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H3-243745, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-73737, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-239041, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-253376, and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-321743. These methods are based on various techniques, such as optimization of components, strengthening of grain boundaries, decreasing the size of crystal grains, the use of hydrogen-trapping sites, control of structural morphology, and fine dispersion of carbides.
However, the methods described in the publications listed above, including Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H3-243745, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-73737, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-239041, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-253376, and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-321743, do not produce sufficiently strong steels achieving a delayed fracture resistance level that is required in applications where they are exposed to a severely corrosive environment. Thus, steels having both better delayed fracture resistance and a high level of tensile strength, in particular, a tensile strength of 900 MPa or higher, and methods for manufacturing such steels are demanded.
Delayed fractures reportedly occur when hydrogen able to diffuse in steel at room temperature, namely so-called "diffusible hydrogen," gathers at a stress concentration zone and reaches the threshold limit value of the material. This threshold limit value depends on material strength, its structure, and other parameters.
In general, a delayed fracture of high strength steels starts from non-metallic inclusions, such as MnS, and grows along grain boundaries, such as prior austenite grain boundaries.
Thus, ways of improving delayed fracture resistance include reduction of the amount of non-metallic inclusions, such as MnS, and strengthening of prior austenite grain boundaries.
It could therefore be helpful to provide a high tensile strength steel having delayed fracture resistance better than that of known steels with the tensile strength thereof being 600 MPa or higher, in particular, 900 MPa or higher, as well as a method for manufacturing such a steel.

High tensile strength steel having favorable delayed fracture resistance and method for manufacturing the same


To provide a power switchover apparatus for a hybrid vehicle, which can perform power switchover smoothly. Target follow-up control is started, and when the engine speed reaches a clutch-in speed of a starter clutch, the input power shaft of a continuously variable transmission starts rotation. The speed of the output power shaft also begins to gradually rise in response to the starting of rotation. The engine speed then reaches a target, and transmission ratio raising control of raising the transmission ratio based on the difference between the motor speed of a drive shaft and the speed of a driven side pulley is started. The motor speed Nm of the drive motor and the speed of the driven side power transmission pulley then become equal to each other and the one-way clutch is placed into a connected state. Consequently, the transmission ratio raising control is stopped and normal control is entered.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a power switchover apparatus for switching over the power source from a motor to an engine in a hybrid vehicle of the parallel type or the parallel and serial combined type wherein a drive shaft of the engine and a drive shaft of the motor are mechanically connected to each other.
2. Description of Background Art
An electric automobile using a motor as a power source provides no atmospheric pollution and low noise pollution and is high in acceleration and deceleration when compared with a conventional automobile, which uses an engine as a power source. However, presently, the cruising distance of an electric automobile is sometimes short due to a limitation in capacity of the batteries. Therefore, a hybrid vehicle, which uses a motor and an engine, has been put into practical use.
As such hybrid vehicles, those of a "series hybrid type", a "parallel hybrid type", and a "series-parallel combined type" are generally known. The hybrid vehicle of the series hybrid type uses a motor as the power source and uses an engine as a power source for a generator for charging the battery. The hybrid vehicle of the parallel hybrid type uses both a motor and an engine as the power source for the vehicle and uses them in response to a traveling condition and so forth. The hybrid vehicle of the series-parallel combined type selectively uses the two types in response to a traveling situation.
Since a motor is superior in low speed torque and efficiency in a low speed region when compared to an engine, a hybrid vehicle of the parallel hybrid type or the series-parallel combined type performs switchover control of the power source such that the motor is used as the power source in a low speed region whereas the engine is used as the power source in a middle or high speed region.
However, if the torque of the engine is added simply to the torque of the motor upon such power switchover, then the driving torque of the vehicle changes suddenly and a switchover shock occurs. Also when the rotational speeds of the engine and the motor do not coincide with each other, the driving torque of the vehicle changes suddenly and a switchover shock occurs similarly.
In order to reduce such a shock upon power switchover as just described, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-23311 discloses a technique wherein an electromagnetic power clutch is interposed between an engine and a drive motor. When the power source is to be switched over, the output power of the motor is controlled so that the rotational speeds and the output torques of the engine and the drive motor may coincide witch each other. Then, at a point of time when the rotational speeds and the output torques become coincident with each other, exciting current is supplied to the clutch to establish connection of the engine and the drive motor.
According to the background art described above, it is necessary to provide an electromagnetic clutch between the engine and the drive motor, and it is necessary to provide a feed line for supplying exciting current to the electromagnetic clutch and a control apparatus for controlling the excitation current. Therefore, the background art described above has a configuration that is complicated and a weight that is increased.

Power switchover apparatus for a hybrid vehicle


A method for introducing at least one gaseous reducing agent for a nitrogen oxide into a gas mixture, and a device for carrying out the method. Thermal energy is supplied to a body made from a starting material of the reducing agent, so as to form the reducing agent. The starting material used is urea. The reducing agent formed is ammonia. This method is used in particular to reduce nitrogen oxides in the exhaust gas from internal-combustion engines.

The invention relates to a method for introducing at least one gaseous reducing agent for a nitrogen oxide into a gas mixture, thermal energy being supplied to at least one solid starting material of the reducing agent, so as to form the reducing agent, and the reducing agent and the gas mixture being brought into contact with one another. A method of this type is known, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 4,731,231. As well as the method, the invention provides a device for carrying out the method.
The combustion of a fossil energy carrier in the presence of air involves the formation of the undesirable byproduct nitrogen oxide. With a view to making the combustion environmentally friendly, it is desirable to suppress the formation of nitrogen oxide or to subsequently remove nitrogen oxides from an exhaust gas from the combustion. Subsequent removal of the nitrogen oxides is achieved, for example, by admixing a reducing agent for the nitrogen oxides with the exhaust gas. In the method which is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,731,231, cyanuric acid is introduced into the exhaust gas as reducing agent. On a surface of a catalytic converter, the cyanuric acid reacts with nitrogen oxide to form molecular nitrogen and carbon dioxide. According to this method, the reducing agent (cyanuric acid) is obtained through sublimation of a solid starting material of the reducing agent, for example cyanuric acid. The cyanuric acid is prepared in a heatable vessel.
For effective reduction of nitrogen oxide, it is necessary to introduce into the exhaust gas a quantity of reducing agent which corresponds to a level of nitrogen oxide in the exhaust gas.
It is an object of the invention to provide a method for introducing a gaseous reducing agent for nitrogen oxides into a gas mixture, in which the amount of reducing agent which is to be introduced into the gas mixture can be adjusted in a simple way.
To achieve the object, the invention provides a method for introducing at least one gaseous reducing agent for a nitrogen oxide into a gas mixture, thermal energy being supplied to at least one solid starting material of the reducing agent, so as to form the reducing agent, and the reducing agent and the gas mixture being brought into contact with one another, characterized in that the thermal energy is supplied to at least one body made from the starting material.
The gas mixture is, for example, the exhaust gas from an internal-combustion engine, in particular a diesel or spark-ignition engine. The gas mixture may also be the off-gas from a fossil-fired powerplant.
The gaseous reducing agent, is, for example, ammonia. Ammonia has the advantage that it reacts (in the presence of a catalyst) with nitrogen oxides to form molecular nitrogen. The only byproduct formed is carbon dioxide.
One example of a starting material of the reducing agent is urea. Urea liberates ammonia at a temperature which lies above the melting point of the urea. The only byproduct of hydrolysis of the urea (decomposition in the presence of water, which is automatically present in the exhaust gas from an internal-combustion engine) is carbon dioxide. To this extent, urea can be regarded as an ideal starting material for ammonia. However, urea is hygroscopic and there are therefore restrictions on its storage.
A hygroscopic property of a material can be diminished by reducing a reactive surface area of the material for the absorption of water. Therefore, the starting material is provided in the form of a body. In particular, a body with a compacted starting material is used. The body consists, for example, of a compressed powder of the starting material. Melted-down starting material is also conceivable. The starting material may also be embedded in a solid matrix. The material of the matrix is preferably hydrophobic. Moreover, it should be easy to convert the material into environmentally friendly reaction products.
In a particular configuration of the invention, the thermal energy is provided by a means for controlling the temperature of the body. The thermal energy is supplied to a surface of the body. In particular, the thermal energy is supplied with the aid of a temperature-controllable holding device for the body by thermal conduction.
By way of example, it is also possible to supply the thermal energy by convection or thermal radiation. In a further configuration, the thermal energy is provided by the gas mixture.
In a particular configuration of the method, a surface of the body at which the formation of the reducing agent takes place and the gas mixture are brought into contact with one another. By way of example, the exhaust gas from the internal-combustion engine flows within an exhaust pipe. The flowing gas mixture, which has been heated by the combustion, is guided past the body. The temperature of the gas mixture fluctuates, for example, between 350xc2x0 and 600xc2x0 C. These temperatures are sufficient to liberate ammonia from urea. In this configuration, the thermal energy is provided through convection by the gas mixture.
In a further configuration, the temperature-control means functions as a catalyst for the formation of the reducing agent. By way of example, the temperature-control means is a device for holding the body comprising the starting material. The holding device functions, for example, as a hydrolysis catalyst for urea.
In a particular configuration, ammonia is formed as reducing agent in the method. Aliphatic ammonia derivatives (amines) are also conceivable. In particular, the starting material of the reducing agent used is urea. Other starting materials, such as for example ammonium carbonate, ammonium carbamate, ammonium hydrogen carbonate, ammonium formate, ammonium oxalate, ammonium hydroxide, cyanuric acid, urea-formaldehyde, melamine and mixtures of these compounds.
In particular, a body which consists of a compacted starting material is used in the method. This is, for example, a compressed powder of the starting material or the starting material in melted-down form, in which case the body is formed through solidification of a melt in a mold or on a device for dissipation of heat. A body of this type has a less hygroscopic nature than pulverulent, loose starting material. The body can be stored successfully.
To carry out this method in practice, it is also advantageous to monitor the amount of starting material which is present. Monitoring takes place, for example, with the aid of a light barrier which indicates a filling level of the starting material or a size of the body made from the starting material.
In a particular configuration of the method, the body is pressed against the holding device. This ensures that the body is in constant contact with the means for controlling the temperature of the body. In particular, in the method a level of nitrogen oxide in the gas mixture is measured, and a quantity of thermal energy is supplied as a function of this level. This ensures that as much nitrogen oxide as possible is broken down. At the same time, this prevents excessive quantities of reducing agent, which could pollute the environment, from being released. The level of nitrogen oxide is determined, for example, using a gas sensor.
The quantity of thermal energy is determined, for example, by means of a heating output of the temperature-control means.
In a further configuration of the invention, it is also possible to cool the body comprising the starting material. By way of example, the body is heated by the exhaust gas from the internal-combustion engine to such an extent that too much reducing agent is liberated. By cooling the body, therefore, it is possible to reduce or regulate the amount of starting material which is converted. The cooling is effected, for example, by a Peltier element connected to the temperature-control means or by an increased supply of air. It is therefore possible to achieve optimum reduction of the level of nitrogen oxide in any phase of operation of an internal-combustion engine.
The introduction of gaseous reducing agent into the gas mixture can also be influenced by an additional gas flow, for example by means of compressed air.
The method described is carried out in particular for the purpose of introducing the reducing agent into the exhaust gas from an internal-combustion engine.
As indicated above, an internal-combustion engine of this type is in particular a diesel or spark-ignition engine. However, this method can also be used for the reduction of nitrogen oxides in the off-gas from a power plant. Moreover, the method is not restricted to internal-combustion engines fired with fossil energy carriers. Nitrogen oxide may also be formed in an internal-combustion engine in which, for example, hydrogen is oxidized by atmospheric oxygen. Nitrogen oxides in the corresponding exhaust gas are removed in the manner described above.
A further aspect of the invention provides a device for carrying out a method for introducing at least one gaseous reducing agent for a nitrogen oxide into a gas mixture, thermal energy being supplied to at least one solid starting material of the reducing agent, so as to form the reducing agent, and the reducing agent and the gas mixture being brought into contact with one another. The device, which is suitable in particular for carrying out the method described above, is characterized in that a body made from the starting material and a means for controlling the temperature of the body are arranged against one another.
The temperature-control means is, for example, a temperature-controllable holding device for the body. The holding device has in particular a resistance heating element.
In a particular configuration, the temperature-control means has at least one opening for the reducing agent. The reducing agent passes through this opening into the gas mixture. The means is, for example, a metal plate with a plurality of holes.
In a particular configuration, the temperature-control means has at least one coil. The coil may consist of a metal strip or a wire. The coil may also be shaped into a coil screw.
In a further configuration, the temperature-control means has at least one grid or a screen. The grid is, for example, a wire mesh. The wire mesh has, for example, a metal.
In particular, the temperature-control means is inert with respect to the starting material and/or the reducing agent.
The body comprising the starting material is situated, for example, in a vessel. The vessel is attached, directly or indirectly, to a location on the exhaust pipe, a wall of the exhaust pipe having at least one opening at this point. The reducing agent passes through this opening into the exhaust gas. The exhaust pipe may itself be the means for controlling the temperature of the body. The temperature-control means may also be arranged in the opening in the wall of the exhaust pipe.
In particular, the vessel is equipped in such a way that the body comprising the starting material is shielded from ambient air. Water from the ambient air is not absorbed by a possibly hygroscopic starting material. To additionally suppress the hydrophilicity, the vessel may be equipped with a drying agent, such as silica gel. The body itself may also have a drying agent. It is also conceivable for the body to have a hydrophobic layer on its surface.
The device has, for example, a prestressing means for the body. This prestressing means ensures that a defined arrangement of the body on the temperature-control means is ensured. By way of example, the prestressing means is a spring which presses the body against a heatable holding device for the body. The spring is, for example, integrated in a cap of the vessel which contains the body. In this way, the body and the temperature-control means are in constant contact with one another. It should be noted that this is also achieved by utilizing the force of gravity which presses the body onto the temperature-control means.
In a further configuration, the device has at least one means for monitoring the quantity of starting material which is present. This means is in particular a light barrier. The light barrier consists, for example, of a light-emitting photodiode and a photodetector which records the light. When only a certain amount of starting material is left, i.e. when a certain proportion of the body comprising the starting material has been consumed, a signal is generated informing an operator, for example a vehicle driver, of the quantity of starting material which is present. Information may be linked, for example, to a request to xe2x80x9crefuelxe2x80x9d with the starting material. It is also conceivable for an ignition operation to be interrupted. The consumption of starting material can be accurately determined with the aid of a plurality of means for monitoring the quantity of starting material which is present.
In a further configuration, the device is designed in such a way that mixing of the gaseous reducing agent with the gas mixture is promoted. By way of example, the holding device is positioned in a gas flow of the gas mixture. This leads to turbulence being imparted to reducing agent and gas mixture. The reducing agent may also be introduced via a nozzle or a ventilator.
To summarize, the present invention for introducing a reducing agent for nitrogen oxides has the following advantages associated with it:
A solid starting material of the reducing agent is provided. If an aqueous solution of the starting material were to be introduced, there would be a risk, for example, of a means for metering the starting material, for example a nozzle, becoming blocked by crystallized starting material.
The starting material is used in a form which is not very hygroscopic and is therefore easy to handle.
A simple device which is not prone to defects and is therefore inexpensive is provided.
The reducing agent can be metered easily and accurately.
A method for introducing a gaseous reducing agent into a gas mixture and a device used for this purpose are presented below on the basis of a plurality of exemplary embodiments and the associated drawings. The figures are diagrammatic and not to scale.

Method and device for introducing a gaseous reducing agent of a nitrogen oxide into a gas mixture


A knock-down transport device (10) for retrieving downed game animals from remote locations wherein the transport device (10) comprises a plurality of generally rigid intermediate plate members (20) (20xe2x80x2) (20xe2x80x3) having leading (22) and trailing (23) edges that cooperate with one another to interlock the intermediate plate members (20) (20xe2x80x2) (20xe2x80x3) together; wherein, the forwardmost intermediate plate member (20) is operably associated with an elongated front panel member (40) having a curved front portion (49) and the rearwardmost intermediate plate members (20xe2x80x3) is operatively associated with a generally L-shaped rear plate member (30); and, wherein all of the plate members (20) (30) and (40) are provided with hinged loop members (27) (37) (47) adapted to receive an elongated tether member (50) for securing a load (100) to the transport device (10).

This invention was the subject matter of Disclosure Document Program registration number 475,724, filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Jun. 19, 2000.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of collapsible transport devices in general and in particular to a knock-down sled construction for transporting a game animal from a kill site to a vehicle.
2. Description of Related Art
As can be seen by reference to the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,941,541; 3,771,808; 4,335,891; and, 3,982,748, the prior art is replete with myriad and diverse sled style transport devices employed for a wide variety of purposes.
While all of the aforementioned prior art constructions are more than adequate for the basic purpose and function for which they have been specifically designed, they are uniformly deficient with respect to their failure to provide a simple, efficient, and practical knock-down transport sled for hunters to retrieve downed game from the field.
As most avid hunters are all too well aware, due-to hunting pressure, it is now necessary to go deeper into the woods and further afield in order to harvest trophy caliber animals. Unfortunately, once the animal is down, the truly difficult part of the hunt begins in packing the meat, hide and horns out of the field over fairly rough and challenging terrain.
As a consequence of the foregoing situation, there has existed a longstanding need among hunters for a new and improved lightweight knock-down transport device that can easily be packed into a kill site and quickly assembled in the field to allow for the rapid retrieval of game before the meat becomes spoiled; and the provision of such a construction is a stated objective of the present invention.
Briefly stated, the transport device comprises in general a plurality of intermediate panel units, a rear brace unit and a front curved panel unit that are joined together in a releasable interlocking fashion that can be broken down for transporting the device in a compact configuration to a point of use and quickly assembled on site without the need for specialized tools.
As will be explained in greater detail further on in the specification, all of the intermediate panel units comprise generally rectangular intermediate plate members having leading and trailing edges that define oppositely facing channel openings in a releasable interlocking fashion.
The front panel unit comprises in general an elongated rectangular front plate member having a curved front portion and a trailing edge that is adapted to releasably engage the leading edge of one of the intermediate plate members in an interlocking fashion; and, the rear panel unit comprises a generally L-shaped rear plate member having a bottom edge which is adapted to releasably engage the trailing edge of one of the intermediate plate members.
In addition, all of the plate members are provided with hinged loop elements that are adapted to receive a portion of an elongated tether member for lashing an animal carcass or portion thereof to the transport device.


A system and method are provided for producing segmented tubular products such as filters from nonwoven fibers. The system includes a die assembly, a collector assembly including a rotating mandrel, a withdrawer assembly, and a post-treatment assembly. The withdrawer assembly utilizes at least one threaded roller contacting either the inner or outer periphery of a tube formed on the mandrel to withdraw the tube from the mandrel in a controlled manner. The post-treatment assembly smoothes the outer surface of the tube prior to cutting by melting loose fiber strand strands extending therefrom. The properties of the finished product can be varied by altering the operation of the collector assembly and/or the withdrawer assembly.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to methods and apparatus for forming tubular products and, more particularly, relates to methods and apparatus for forming tubular products such as filters from nonwoven polymer fibers, and also relates to assemblies for withdrawing such products from the mandrels on which the products are formed.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
The production of tubular products such as filters from nonwoven fibers is becoming increasingly popular. Such products are typically manufactured by discharging nonwoven polymeric fibers such as polypropylene from a die head or spinnerette and depositing the fibers onto a rotating mandrel. The fibers are intertwined and wrapped around the surface of the mandrel as they are deposited onto the mandrel, thus forming a tube. The tube is pulled axially along the mandrel as the fibers are deposited, thus producing a layered tubular element the thickness of which and porosity of which is determined by, among other things, the rotational velocity of the mandrel and the speed at which the tubular element is moved axially along the mandrel.
The production of a tubular element of the type described above requires that the element be withdrawn from the distal end of the mandrel during the manufacturing process, thus producing a continuous tube which is sawed or cut in some other manner to form the final tubular product. Several devices for withdrawing a tube from a mandrel are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,933,557, which issued to Pall on Jan. 20, 1976 (Pall '557), U.S. Pat. No. 4,116,738, which issued to Pall on Sep. 26, 1978 (Pall '738), and U.S. Pat. No. 4,847,125, which issued to Schwarz on Jul. 11, 1989 (Schwarz). Each of these patents discloses a process whereby a tube formed from nonwoven fibers is withdrawn from the mandrel via contact with a rotating element located at or downstream from the mandrel. Pall '557 and Pall '738 use canted rollers to withdraw the tube, and Schwarz uses gears of an unspecified construction. While each of these devices adequately withdraws the tube from the mandrel, each exhibits several drawbacks and disadvantages.
For instance, these systems are relatively bulky and complex. Moreover, because of slippage between the roller or other element and the tube, it is difficult to vary or even to control the speed at which the tube is withdrawn from the mandrel. Such control can be important because the rate of withdrawal can affect the properties of the tube being produced. Controlling the rate of withdrawal thus controls the properties of the tubes.
Moreover, none of these systems is capable of heat treating the tube in an in-line process.

Method for producing tubular products from nonwoven fibers


Provided is an actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition comprising (A) a specific compound represented by a general formula, (B) a resin which is alkali-insoluble or sparingly alkali-soluble and becomes easily alkali-soluble in the presence of an acid, and (C) a compound capable of generating an acid upon irradiation with an actinic ray or radiation; a film formed using the composition; and a pattern forming method using the same.

A chemical amplification resist composition is a pattern forming material of forming a pattern on a substrate by producing an acid in the exposed area upon irradiation with radiation such as far ultraviolet light and through a reaction using the acid as a catalyst, changing the developer solubility of the area irradiated with an actinic ray or radiation and that of the non-irradiated area.
In JP-A-2003-327560, JP-A-2004-310121, JP-A-2006-343704, JP-A-10-120628 (the term "JP-A" as used herein means an "unexamined published Japanese patent application"), studies are made to apply a compound having an anthracene structure to the resist so as to improve the performance of the chemical amplification resist composition. The application of a compound having an anthracene structure is studied from the aspect of: reducing the change in the line width of a pattern in JP-A-2003-327560; enabling use of a substrate with high reflectance and enhancing the storage stability (good sensitivity even after aging) in JP-A-2004-310121; suppressing the change in the line width of a resist pattern due to thickness variation of a resist film on a highly reflective substrate and enhancing the latitude in the depth of focus in JP-A-2006-343704; and enabling suppression of standing wave and halation in using a highly reflective substrate in JP-A-10-120628.
In JP-A-2004-334165, it is disclosed to add a compound having specific light absorption so as to suppress standing wave when a highly reflective substrate is applied.
However, conventional chemical amplification resist compositions cannot succeed in improving the line edge roughness and development defect while at the same time, improving the sensitivity, dissolution contrast (γ) and pattern profile and reducing the standing wave.

Actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition, film formed using the composition and pattern forming method using the same


The present invention pertains to a process for the manufacture of a porous membrane, said process comprising the following steps: (i) providing a composition [composition (F)] comprising: —at least one fluoropolymer [polymer (F)] comprising recurring units derived from at least one (meth)acrylic monomer (MA) having formula (I) wherein: —R1, R2 and R3, equal to or different from each other, are independently selected from a hydrogen atom and a C1-C3 hydrocarbon group, and —RX is a hydrogen atom or a C1-C5 hydrocarbon moiety comprising at least one functional group selected from a hydroxyl, a carboxyl, an epoxide, an ester and an ether group, and —at least one poly(alkylene oxide) (PAO); (ii) processing said composition (F) to provide a film; (iii) treating the film so obtained with an aqueous composition to provide said porous membrane. The present invention also relates to films and compositions used in said process, to porous membranes obtained from said process and to use of said porous membranes as separators in Lithium-ion batteries, as filtration membranes or in biomedical applications.

Porous membranes based on fluoropolymers are known in the art which are endowed with outstanding chemical, thermal and mechanical resistance.
Among frequently used methods for producing porous membranes of vinylidene fluoride (VDF) polymers, methods wherein the surface of the membrane is coated or crosslinked with (meth)acrylic monomers are known in the art.
For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,774,132 (PALL CORPORATION) 27 Sep. 1988 discloses a method for manufacturing porous membranes based on vinylidene fluoride polymers obtained by graft-polymerizing onto a polyvinylidene fluoride substrate a vinylic monomer. Preferred vinylic monomers include, notably, acrylic acid, 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate.
Also, membranes of VDF polymers have been proposed in the past which do not require any further grafting/coating step; thus, EP 1621573 A (KUREHA CORPORATION) 1 Feb. 2006 discloses porous membranes prepared by a composition comprising a vinylidene fluoride (VDF) copolymer with 0.01-10% by moles of a monomer, said monomer having at least one group selected from an epoxy, a hydroxyl, a carboxyl, an ester, an amide and an acid anhydride group, a plasticizer and a suitable solvent. The composition so obtained is melt-extruded into a film, the film is cooled to be solidified, then subjected to extraction of the plasticizer and further stretched.
Further, WO 2008/129041 (SOLVAY SOLEXIS S.P.A.) 30 Oct. 2008 discloses porous membranes of a linear semi-crystalline VDF copolymer with 0.05-10% by moles of a (meth)acrylic monomer, wherein recurring units derived from (meth)acrylic monomers are randomly distributed throughout the whole vinylidene fluoride backbone. Commonly used processes for the manufacture of said porous membranes of VDF copolymers typically include at least one step including one of irradiation, film expansion, template leaching, solution precipitation techniques.
Membranes based on ethylene/chlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE) or ethylene/tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) polymers have been also disclosed in the past.
Thus, U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,836 (ASAHI KASEI) 27 Oct. 1987 discloses porous membranes made of a fluorinated resin selected from ECTFE, ETFE and/or polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE). These membranes are obtained by melt-moulding a composition comprising the fluorinated resin, an inorganic fine powder material and a mixture of a chlorotrifluoroethylene oligomer and certain organic heat resistant substances, removing by extraction with a suitable solvent the chlorotrifluoroethylene oligomer and the organic heat resistant substance from the molded product obtained and further removing by extraction therefrom with a suitable solvent the inorganic fine powder material.
Also, WO 03/068374 (US FILTER WASTEWATER GROUP) 21 Aug. 2003 discloses porous polymeric ultrafiltration or microfiltration membranes including ECTFE and methods of production thereof wherein a mixture of ECTFE with a solvent system is heated and then rapidly cooled so that a non-equilibrium liquid-liquid phase separation occurs to form a continuous polymer rich phase and a continuous polymer lean phase, then removing the polymer lean phase from the solid polymeric material.
Finally, EP 1236503 A (AUSIMONT S.P.A.) 4 Sep. 2002 discloses porous membranes of a semi-crystalline fluoropolymer comprising (a) ethylene, (b) chlorotrifluoroethylene or tetrafluoroethylene, and (c) an hydrogenated monomer, which can be notably an acrylic monomer, such as, inter alia, acrylic acid, hydroxyethylacrylate, hydroxypropylacrylate, (hydroxy)ethylhexylacrylate. These membranes are prepared by processing a solution of said fluoropolymers with suitable plasticizers and then by extracting therefrom the plasticizer by dipping the membrane into a suitable solvent.
Nevertheless, due to certain environmental concerns, efforts are now devoted to find out methods wherein porous membranes of fluoropolymers are manufactured using alternative solvents having a more favourable toxicological profile.
There is thus still a need in the art for a process for manufacturing porous membranes based on fluoropolymers which advantageously enables obtaining porous membranes in a convenient way, while also avoiding use of polluting solvents and thus eliminating cost, safety and environmental concerns related to handling of large volume of said solvents.

Process for manufacturing porous membranes


An anti-crack method for a network-locked mobile terminal is provided. The method includes the following steps: when a mobile terminal starts up, a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card reports first network lock information to the mobile terminal; when the mobile terminal is in an activated network-locked state, it judges whether the first network lock information is legal; if the first network lock information is illegal, the mobile terminal locks the SIM card; and if the first network lock information is legal, the mobile terminal initiatively read the second network lock information and judge whether the second network lock information is legal; if the second network lock information is legal, the mobile terminal begins to search the network; and if the second network lock information is illegal, the mobile terminal locks the SIM card. Accordingly, a network-locked mobile terminal is provided, which includes: a SIM card, an activation judging module, a network locking module, a network searching module, a card locking module, and an anti-crack device. An anti-crack device for the network-locked mobile terminal is also provided, which includes: an initialization judging unit, a reading unit, and a judgment unit. Thus, the present method is able to prevent the network-locked mobile terminal from being cracked.

With the development of mobile communications, mobile terminals have been widely used around the world. Vigorous competitions exist among different mobile communication operators in order to seize the markets. At present, in order to enlarge market shares, operators usually purchase a large number of mobile terminals from mobile terminal manufacturers in a centralized way, and require the purchased mobile terminals to be locked to the networks operated by them. Then, the operators bind the purchased mobile terminals to a very favorable set and sell them with the mobile terminals marked at junk prices (which is referred to as subsidies), in a bid to quickly increase their market shares.
The foresaid mobile terminals are all network-locked mobile terminals, so they cannot work normally and find a network unless a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card from a specific operator is inserted. However, an Unlock SimCard that can crack network-locked mobile terminals has been developed. The Unlock SimCard is similar to the SIM card and can crack almost all network-locked mobile terminals of predominant brands in the market. The Unlock SimCard paralyzes the network-locked function of mobile terminals, brings the huge amount of subsidies made by operators to naught, affects the market shares of the operators and seriously impairs their interests. To tackle this problem, operators urgently need an anti-crack method for network-locked mobile terminals to protect their interests from being infringed.

Anti-crack method and device for network-locked mobile terminal, and network-locked mobile terminal


A tiller constructed in accordance to the present teachings includes a frame, a drive mechanism, and a tilling implement. The drive mechanism can be supported by the frame and include a motor having an output member. The tilling implement can have a drive shaft that is driven by the output member. The tilling implement can comprise a first tine plate and a second tine plate that are both selectively configurable along the drive shaft at a plurality of positions and orientations.

Due to concerns regarding urban air pollution, as well as other factors, electric outdoor power equipment has been gaining in popularity. Moreover, due to the inconveniences and operating limitations of corded electric outdoor power equipment, battery operated equipment may be preferred. However, such electric and/or battery operated tillers can have drawbacks.
By way of example, some of these drawbacks can be associated with the functionality of the battery. Such drawbacks can include insufficient battery life, and inconvenient battery manipulation (i.e., such as during installation and removal of the battery from the tiller.


Systems and methods for detecting and improving writeability of a static random access memory (SRAM) cell. A bias voltage value corresponding to an operating condition, such as, a process, a voltage, or a temperature operation condition that indicates a cell write failure condition of an external SRAM array comprising the SRAM cell is generated. This bias voltage value is applied to word lines of SRAM cells in a model SRAM array. A first delay for a trigger signal rippled through the model SRAM array is detected and compared to a reference delay. A write assist indication is generated if the first delay is greater than or equal to the reference delay. Based on the write assist indication, a write assist is provided to the SRAM cell.

Semiconductor memory devices include, for example, static random access memory (SRAM) and dynamic random access memory (DRAM). A DRAM memory cell generally includes one transistor and one capacitor, thereby providing a high degree of integration. DRAM, however, requires constant refreshing, which limits use of DRAM to computer main memory. An SRAM memory cell, by contrast, is bi-stable, meaning that it can maintain its state indefinitely, so long as an adequate power is supplied. SRAM also supports high speed operation, with lower power dissipation, which is useful for computer cache memory.
One example of an SRAM memory cell is a six transistor (6T) SRAM memory cell that includes six metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) transistors. As processes for fabricating MOS devices migrate to nanometer technologies, the use of conventional 6T SRAM cells within processor cache memories prohibits compliance with performance requirements. To meet these performance requirements, eight transistor (8T) SRAM cells are being used in place of the 6T SRAM cells. Use of an 8T SRAM cell may enable independent sizing of the devices on the read and write ports of the memory cell for supporting a lower minimum write voltage (Vmin), while enabling a high performance read operation.
However, process variations in nanometer technology on read port devices for large size SRAM cache memory arrays may lead to weak bits. A weak bit is a memory cell that has a relatively low current capacity as compared to a normal bit due to process/voltage/temperature (PVT) device variations. Unfortunately, the use of 8T SRAM memory cells does not overcome the effect of weak bits in conventional implementations
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for overcoming aforementioned drawbacks associated with weak bits while maximizing the benefits of 8T SRAM cells.


Novel bicyclic tetrahydroxylated pyrrolizidines are disclosed which are inhibitors of glycosidase enzymes. A preferred inhibitor is 1.alpha., 2.alpha., 6.alpha., 7.alpha., 7.alpha..beta.-1,2,6,7-tetrahydroxypyrrolizidine. It is synthesized from D-glycero-D-gulo-heptono-1,4-lactone.. Novel Intermediate compounds prepared during this synthesis are 7-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2,3:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-D-glycero-D-gulo-h ept ono-1,4-lactone and 1.alpha., 2.alpha., 6.alpha., 7.alpha., 7.alpha..beta.-1,2:6,7-di-O-isopropylidene-1,2,6,7-tetrahydroxypyrrolizidi ne.

This invention relates to novel bicyclic tetrahydroxylated pyrrolizidines and methods for their chemical synthesis. These compounds are useful inhibitors of glycosidase enzymes.
Several naturally occurring polyhydroxylated pyrrolidines, pyrrolizidines and indolizidines are powerful and specific inhibitors of glycosidases [Fellows and Fleet, Alkaloidal Glycosidase Inhibitors from Plants, in Natural Products Isolation (Ed. G. H. Wagman and R. Cooper), Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1988, pp. 540-560; Evans et al, Phytochemistry, 24 1953-1956 (1985)]. In recent years, plagiarism of plant chemistry has led to the synthesis of powerful inhibitors of other glycosidases [Fleet et al,, J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1, 665-666, (1989); Bashyal et al, Tetrahedron 43, 3083-3093 (1987), and Fleet et al, Tetrahedron 43, 979-990 (1987)]. It is now clear that, although changes in stereochemistry of the hydroxyl groups have profound effects on the selectivity of glycosidase inhibition, it is not easy to predict the effects of such changes [Fleet et al, Tetrahedron Lett., 26 3127-3131 (1985)]. For example, 6-episcastanospermine (2) is a glucosidase inhibitor even though the stereochemistry of the four adjacent chiral centres in the piperidine is similar to those in the pyranose form of mannose [Molyneux et al, Arch. Biochem. Biophys., 251, 450-457 (1986)]. Similarly, 1,7a-diepialexine (3), structurally very similar to the powerful mannosidase inhibitor swainsonine (4), is an inhibitor of fungal glucan 1,4-.alpha.-glucosidase [Nash et al, Phytochemistry, submitted for publication]. Also, .beta.-C-methyl deoxymannojirimycin (5) is a strong and specific .alpha.-L-fucosidase inhibitor and has no effect on human liver .alpha.-mannosidase [Fleet et al, Tetrahedron Lett., 30, In Press (1989)]. ##STR1##
With a few exceptions [Raymond and Vogel, Tetrahedron Lett., 30 705-706 (1989)], sugars have been the starting materials used in the synthesis of such compounds as castanospermines [such as (2)], Setoi et al, Tetrahedron Lett., 26 4617-4620 (1985), Hamana et al, J. Org. Chem., 52, 5492-5494 (1987) and Fleet et al, Tetrahedron Lett., 29, 3603-3606 (1988); alexines [such as (3)], Fleet et al, Tetrahedron Lett., 29, 5441-5445 (1988); and homonojirimycins [such as (4)], Anzeneno et al, J. Org. Chem. 54, 2539-2542 (1989). Invariably in the syntheses of these compounds with five adjacent chiral centres and six or seven adjacent functional groups, the strategy chosen has been to start from a hexose and to introduce the additional chiral centre late in the synthesis. An alternative is to start from derivatives of heptoses, that is by very early introduction of the additional chiral centre.
Relatively few studies have been reported on the protecting group chemistry of even readily available heptonolactones [Brimacombe and Tucker, Carbohydr. Res. 2, 341-348 (1966)]. Likewise, only a few examples of syntheses from heptose derivatives have been reported. One neat example is described by Stork et al, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 100, 8272-8273 (1978). Recently, a research group led by co-inventor Fleet herein has found that suitably protected heptonolactones can be powerful and readily manipulatable chiral pool materials. See Bruce et al, Tetrahedron 45, In press 1989, and copending application Ser. No. 07/352,068, filed May 15, 1989.


An endoscope includes an insertion section, a bending section, a bending operation section and a shift mechanism. The bending section includes a first bending section and a second bending section provided at a proximal end of the first bending section. The second bending section includes an actuation pipe interposed between an angle wire extending in the second bending section and a wire guide through the angle wire and guiding the angle wire, and supported to be moved in the extending direction of the wire guide with respect to the wire guide. A rigidity of the second bending section is shifted while the actuation pipe is moved in the extending direction of the wire guide.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an endoscope including a bending section.
2. Description of the Related Art
Endoscopes generally include a bending section at the distal end of the insertion section inserted into a body cavity, and flexible endoscopes or rigid endoscopes, each having a bending section, such as a bending lever operated to bend the bending section, at the operation section coupled to the insertion section. In the small diameter flexible endoscopes, such as bronchoscopes inserted into the bronchi, a bending section is provided at the distal end of a small diameter flexible tubular section, and a distal end rigid section is provided at the distal end of the endoscope. In the flexible tubular section, a metal mesh tube (braid) is mounted on an outer circumferential surface of a metal helical tube (flex), and a resin outer coat is mounted on the outer circumferential surface of the metal mesh tube. Therefore, the flexible tubular section can be flexibly bent according to a shape of an insertion path.
In the bending section, a plurality of bending pieces is collaterally arranged in the central axis direction of the insertion section. One end of operation wires are coupled to a distal end of a most distal end bending piece among the bending pieces. The other end of the operation wires extend toward the operation section and are coupled to the bending operation section, such as a bending lever. Wire guides through the wire are placed in the flexible tubular section. Distal ends of the wire guides are secured to the distal end of the flexible tubular section. As the bending lever is rotated, the operation wire is pulled, applying a traction force to the most distal bending piece. The bending pieces of the bending section are therefore turned around their each rotation axis. The bending section is thereby arched as a whole. The illumination window, the observation window and the opening of the instrument insertion channel provided at the distal end rigid section are therefore directed in any desired direction.
Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2007-61377 discloses a configuration in which a flexible section being shorter than the bending section and able to bend in any desired direction is provided between the distal end rigid section and the bending section, and a flexible-section bending means for bending the flexible section is provided in the operation section. Herein, the flexible-section bending means bends the flexible section by a remote-control. If it receives an external force, the flexible section remains rigid and is not bendable, or the flexible section can be bent according to the external force, when the remote-control of the flexible-section bending means is not performed. Hence, the flexible section can be switched to any one of three states, i.e., bendable by the flexible-section bending means, not bendable by the flexible-section bending means, and freely bendable if it receives an external force.
Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2003-116779 discloses an endoscope having a flexible tubular section that can be changed in stiffness. A wire and a coil are inserted into the flexible tubular section. In the flexible tubular section, a distal end of the wire is secured at a proximal end of the bending section. In the flexible tubular section, a distal end of the coil is secured adjacent to the distal end of the wire, and a proximal end of the coil is prevented by a coil stopper from moving backwards. The proximal end of the wire extending backwards from the rear end of the coil is pulled, as a rigidity adjusting knob is rotated at the operation section. At the same time, the wire stopper provided at the rear end of the coil is moved as the rigidity adjusting knob is rotated. So moved, the coil is compressed, thus the rigidity of the flexile tubular section is adjusted.