Method for forming the virtual topology of an ATM-layer where the ATM-layer is carried over an optical network, where inputs such as the physical topology and constraints of physical nature are given, thereafter forming node-pairs with end-to-end connections according to some known optimal routing algorithm, and finally applying a non-deterministic mathematical approach to obtain an optimal virtual topology with the objective of minimising the need for necessary electrical processing in the nodes of the network.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method for solving optimisation problems occurring during the design of a mostly optical ATM network.
2. Description of Related Art
The technique of finding new solutions for designing networks based on Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) or on All Optical Networks (AON) is a rapidly growing area of research in telecommunication and computer business. Both ATM and AON have own methodologies for simplifying network management and switching. Whereas ATM networks apply the VP (Virtual Path) concept, i.e many connections which have a common path in a part of the network are handled (managed, switched) together, the AONs assign the wavelengths to connections in such a way that connections of the same wavelength are handled together without any electrical processing during the transmission. Optical networks employ Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) and specially designed algorithms allow a high aggregate system capacity due to spatial reuse of wavelengths.
A known idea, (Mukherjee, Ramamurthy and Banerjee, "Some principles for designing a wide-area optical network" IEEE 1994, pp. 110-119), is to combine the technology of AONs with ATM technique. By using optical amplifiers and switches in a mostly optical ATM network, the number of opto-electrical conversions can be reduced significantely, which leads to better signal quality and lower delays, but from the point of view of ATM there is a problem: the VPI/NCI modification in the cell header becomes impossible. The Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) technique offers a good utilization of the fibre but the transmission capacity is divided into equal parts (channels) defined by the wavelengths used. Because of this partitioned capacity the statistical multiplexing (SM), which is another benefit of the ATM, has limits. SM can shortly be described as the gain accomplished when dynamically multiplexing together channels with bursty traffic into one channel, thereby eliminating those empty timeslots which may occur in the channels due to the burstiness. The larger the capacity, the lower the effective bandwith, therefore the resource usage is more efficient.
Combining the technology of AONs with ATM technique entails a loss of performance due to the loss of SM. The total effect though, is a gain due to the enhanced performance coming from the simplified VP management.
A use of this combined technique implies both advantages and drawbacks. The drawbacks are that the switching must be done on three different levels (instead of two), namely: 1. Pure optical switching for VPLs; 2. VP switching (Cross connects) where the switching is done on the basis of VPIs (VPIs are changed); 3. VC switching. The design procedure is computationally hard as the complexity is about the number of available wavelengths to the power of the number of nodes in the network. The main advantage though, is that many opto-electrical conversions can be avoided so that less CCs are required, thereby enhancing the performance.
There is a problem in how to make the architecture of systems like this optimal, i.e when designing backbone networks for example, one must assume full logical connectivity between the nodes in the network and try to find optimisation algorithms for best using the limited number of wavelengths to accomplish a high aggregate system capacity due to spatial reuse of wavelengths.
The architecture used in the IEEE-paper is a combination of well-known "singlehop" and "multihop" approaches as employed in many other WDM networks/proposals. The paper deals with optimising the cost, efficiency and throughput of the routing node by theorethical analysis. The optimisation is here split into two steps with the objective of minimising the average message delay caused by transfer: 1. They find and map a virtual topology into the given physical; and 2. Assign the wavelengths to links of the virtual topology. This technique brings about that the VP design is already performed in step one, meaning that the optimality criteria could be deteriorated and the delays could increase since if there are more end-to-end streams on a physical link than the allowed number of wavelengths, the paper proposes a rerouting of one of these streams. Hence, the average delay is increased as the wavelength assignment and the virtual topology forming are divided.

Method for optimising a mostly optical network


The present invention includes structure for redirecting the stream flow of a high velocity flow of particulate material. A chamber is mounted between an entrance spout and a discharge spout through which a stream of particulate matter flows. The chamber includes a baffle apparatus which is positioned in the stream flow within the chamber. The baffle apparatus includes two members formed in a "V" shaped pattern with the apex of the "V" positioned closer to the discharge spout than the free ends of the "V". The apex of the "V" is broken away to permit particulate matter to slide from the baffle to the discharge spout when flow into the chamber stops. The baffle is positioned so that the incoming matter strikes the baffle. Particulate matter is collected by the baffle so that further incoming matter strikes the particulate matter instead of the baffle.

This invention relates to an improved wear resistant grain flow control elbow.
When particulate matter such as corn, wheat, barley or the like is delivered to a grain elevator or is directed from the grain elevator to a truck or railroad car, for example, the stream flow of the particulate being transported must often times be redirected through an elbow to the place where the particulate matter is to be deposited. Even though these elbows are made of steel or similar material, the particulate matter, which flows at high velocity through the elbow, acts as an extremely abrasive material as it strikes an inner surface of the elbow. The abrasion caused by the particulate material leads to a rapid deterioration of the inner surface, impacted by the particulate material, which requires frequent repair or replacement.
Wear plates are typically mounted on the appropriate inner wall surfaces to protect conduits from the abrasive nature of the particulate matter such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,110,521 to Rogers et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,645,055 to Griese et al.
Another technique which has been used incorporates baffles which are positioned in the stream flow when the particulate matter is caused to flow in a different direction. In devices using this technique, the baffles collect the particulate material during stream flow which act as a shield to restrict wear of the inner surface. A device incorporating this technique is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,479,743 to Stahl. Such baffles typically collect particulate matter which remains trapped in the baffles when the stream flow to the baffles has stopped. If there is a long delay between successive uses of the devices, any trapped grain may contaminate successive uses. Trapped grain may also attract rodents or insects into the device after a grain flow stops.
Thus, it would be desirable to provide a wear resistant grain flow control elbow through which particulate material flows which overcomes the problems of previous devices. It would be desirable to provide a device which does not need to be replaced at frequent intervals, and is self-cleaning so that particulate matter is not trapped after a grain flow has stopped. Further, it would be desirable to provide an elbow which would reduce the velocity of particulate matter being transported to downstream spouting equipment, and at the same time provide a structure to shield the elbow from abrasive wear. Further, it would be desirable to have a wear resistant elbow which is easily adaptable to various uses and inexpensive to manufacture and maintain.


Apparatus and method for applying heat-sensitive adhesive tape, such as frontal diaper tape, of the type having a layer of heat sensitive adhesive material to a web moving at high speed, such as a web of water-resistant material designed for use as the outer layer of disposable diapers. The apparatus comprises a tape-feed wheel for preheating and feeding the tape to the apparatus from a supply of generally continuous tape, and a tape-applying wheel in rolling engagement with the web for applying tape fed to it from the tape-feed wheel to the web. The tape-applying wheel includes vacuum passageways for providing suction through a circumferential surface of the tape-applying wheel to hold the tape thereon, and a heating mechanism for heating the tape to an elevated temperature at which the heat-sensitive adhesive is tacky and for maintaining the tape at the elevated temperature until it is applied to the web. Successive end portions of the tape are cut against the tape-applying wheel into pieces to be applied to the web, and each successive piece of tape cut from the tape is accelerated by the tape-applying wheel from the relatively slow velocity of the tape-feed wheel to the relatively fast velocity of the web and applied to the web.

Pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes, which have traditionally been applied to moving webs, frequently adhere to adjacent layers of tape on tape-supply reels, making consistent and reliable unwinding difficult. One approach to solving this problem is to use heat-sensitive adhesive tape in lieu of the pressure-sensitive adhesive tape, since they do not adhere to adjacent layers unless heated. The high temperatures required to apply the tape, however, sometimes cause the tape or the web to which the tape is being applied to become overly softened, possibly losing their integrity and stretching or tearing during application of the tape. These problems are particularly aggravating in commercial-production scale apparatus for applying frontal diaper tapes to webs, both of which are relatively thin, because of the desirability of obtaining high production rates without sacrificing quality.

Apparatus and method for applying heat-sensitive adhesive tape to a web moving at high speed

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company


A two transistor gain-type dynamic random access memory (DRAM) cell (8) formed in a trench (30) to optimize wafer area requirements. Formed on a heavily doped semiconductor substrate (20) are alternate layers of P-type and N-type semiconductor material defining the elements of a vertical pass transistor (12) and gain transistor (24). A trench is formed through the alternate semiconductor layers into the substrate (20), and filled with two regions of a semiconductor material defining a storage node (18) and, insulated therefrom, a word line (16). The gain transistor (24) is fabricated having a response time faster than that of the pass transistor (12) so that, during read operations, the gain transistor (24) changes the precharged voltage of the read bit line (26), depending upon the charge stored in the capacitor storage node (18).

The development of dynamic random access memories (DRAMs) has made possible the storage capability of over four million bits in a single integrated circuit chip. The packing density of the cells of such memories has been optimized by reducing the area of components comprising each cell. Typically, MOS DRAM cells include a single transistor and a single capacitor for storing the electrical charge corresponding to a logic high or low level. With such a construction, each cell of the memory array is required to be periodically refreshed so as to maintain the logic level stored on the cell capacitor.
MOS memory arrays can be made smaller in size by scaling the entire array, i.e., reducing the size of each component or feature of the array. This, however, has reached a limiting point, in that with small storage capacitors the charge storage capability is reduced, and thus the electrical signal output therefrom becomes difficult to distinguish from noise and other electrical interference normally found in the array. Hence, complex sense amplifiers are required to distinguish the readout signal from the noise signals.
In view of the inherent limitations which accompany the one-transistor DRAM cell, a new type of DRAM cell, with dynamic gain, has been proposed. The construction and operation of one such DRAM cell is disclosed in a technical article "TITE RAM' A New SOI DRAM Gain Cell For Mbit DRAM's", 16th International Conference on Solid State Devices and Materials, 1984, pp. 265-268, S. Banerjee et al. Disclosed in the article is a planar two-transistor DRAM cell employing a pass transistor during write operations to couple the charge from a write bit line to the small area storage capacitor. The word line capacitance associated with the cell is capacitively coupled to the storage capacitor, thereby forming a capacitor divider. When the word line is driven during read operations of the cell, the voltage on the storage node is boosted to a voltage depending on the charge previously stored thereon. The capacitor forms a part of a gain transistor which is adapted to connect a voltage source to a read bit line. If little or no charge is stored on the capacitor, the boosted voltage on the storage node is insufficient to turn on the gain transistor strongly, whereby a precharged voltage existing on the read bit line is not disturbed significantly. However, if a substantial charge has been previously stored on the storage capacitor, the boosted voltage during read operations is sufficient to drive the gain transistor into conduction, thereby placing a substantial charge on the read bit line.
While the two-transistor DRAM cell provides an internal readout gain not found in the one-transistor cell, several shortcomings are still inherent with the cell. First, with small-area planar cells, the storage capacitor is also limited to a small size. Secondly, because the series capacitances of the word line and cell capacitor are usually constructed in different process steps, such capacitances cannot be carefully controlled and thus the magnitude of the boosted voltage applied to the gain transistor also cannot be carefully defined. In addition, the pass transistor of such a two-transistor DRAM cell is most efficiently fabricated using polycrystalline silicon (polysilicon). Such type of transistor is inherently leaky, and thus needs to be refreshed more frequently.
From the foregoing, it can seen that a need exists for an improved gain-type DRAM cell in which the capacitance of the storage capacitor can be made large without significantly affecting the area required by the cell. An associated need exists for a gain-type DRAM cell which can be constructed with a high quality pass transistor to thereby improve the performance of such a cell.


An electronic component module assembly includes a printed wiring board, and a stiffener assembly affixed to a first side of the printed wiring board. The stiffener assembly includes an outer stiffener secured to the printed wiring board, an inner stiffener removably located in an opening of the outer stiffener. The inner stiffener has one or more inner stiffener pockets formed therein, and one or more electronic components are installed in one or more inner stiffener pockets, and electrically connected to the printed wiring board.

Exemplary embodiments pertain to the art of electrical power systems, and in particular to assembly, disassembly and cooling of such electrical power systems.
Electrical power systems include, for example, one or more half-bridge modules secured to a printed wiring board (PWB). A half-bridge module is a package of silicon carbide field effect transistors (SiCFETs) and diodes. The thermal management of a half-bridge module presents a unique challenge. One of the two larger faces of the half-bridge module is fastened to the PWB to establish electrical connection. But, the heat dissipation from the half-bridge module occurs through a face that is opposite to the face that is in contact with the PWB. The heat dissipation of such a structure occurs through the faces of the four half-bridge modules, opposite the surface of the half-bridge module that abuts and is secured to the PWB.
As such electrical power systems, such as electrical power systems for space applications, become increasingly power dense, there is a need for solutions to adequately cool the components of the electrical power system. Further, it is desired to improve modularity of such systems, thereby making the systems easier to assemble and easier to disassemble or replace components.

Cooling mechanism for electrionic component mounted on a printed wiring board


A damping force control type hydraulic shock absorber includes a plunger having a small-diameter main body portion slidably guided by a first fixed core made of a magnetic material. The plunger has a large-diameter attracted portion at an end thereof closer to a second fixed core. The diameter (D2) of the attracted portion is set larger than the diameter (D1) of the main body portion (D2 greater than D1), thereby increasing the area of the mutually opposing surfaces of the attracted portion and the second fixed core. Accordingly, attraction force acting on the attracted portion can be increased without reducing the magnetic flux density at the main body portion.

The present invention relates to a solenoid-operated driving apparatus and a damping force control type hydraulic shock absorber attached to a suspension system of a vehicle such as an automobile and which uses a driving apparatus of the above-mentioned type.
Hydraulic shock absorbers attached to suspension systems of automobiles or other vehicles include damping force control type hydraulic shock absorbers that are designed so that the level of damping force can be properly controlled in accordance with the road surface conditions, vehicle running conditions, etc. with a view to improving ride quality and steering stability.
As shown in Japanese Patent Application Unexamined Publication (KOKAI) No. Hei 5-149364, by way of example, a conventional damping force control type hydraulic shock absorber includes a cylinder having a hydraulic fluid sealed therein. A piston is slidably fitted in the cylinder to divide the inside of the cylinder into two chambers. The piston is connected with a hollow piston rod to form a piston assembly. The piston assembly is provided with a main hydraulic fluid passage and a bypass passage, which provide communication between the two chambers in the cylinder. The main hydraulic fluid passage is provided with a damping force generating mechanism including an orifice and a disk valve. The bypass passage is provided with a damping force control valve for controlling the passage area of the bypass passage.
The damping force control valve is driven by the displacement of a plunger constituting a proportional solenoid driving device provided in the piston rod. When the damping force control valve is actuated to open the bypass passage, the flow resistance to the hydraulic fluid flowing between the two chambers in the cylinder decreases. Consequently, damping force is reduced. When the damping force control valve is operated to close the bypass passage, the flow resistance between the two chambers increases. Consequently, damping force is increased. Thus, damping force can be properly controlled by opening or closing the damping force control valve.
The proportional solenoid driving device used in the damping force control type hydraulic shock absorber disclosed in Publication No. Hei 5-149364 is arranged as follows. The plunger has a main body portion and a magnetically attracted portion smaller in diameter than the main body portion. The attracted portion is connected to the main body portion through a step formed approximately at right angles to the main body portion. The attracted portion is adapted to enter or withdraw from a tubular projection formed integrally with a fixed core. When a coil is energized, a magnetic path is formed in members made of a magnetic material, such as the fixed core and the plunger, thereby attracting the plunger to the fixed core.
The tubular projection of the fixed core is tapered. The plunger is attracted to the fixed core according to the magnitude of the electric current supplied to the coil, which is controlled through a controller. As the plunger approaches the fixed core, the magnetic flux is allowed to escape to the tapered projection in the radial direction, thereby allowing attraction force approximately proportional to the magnitude of the electric current to be obtained.
The above-described prior art suffers, however, from some problems. The attracted portion is formed smaller in diameter than the main body portion because the proportional solenoid driving device is provided in a small space in the piston rod and because the attracted portion of the plunger is caused to enter or withdraw from the tapered tubular projection formed on the fixed core. As shown by the xe2x80x9cprior artxe2x80x9d attraction force characteristic curve in FIG. 3, as the electric current supplied to the coil is gradually increased, in particular, magnetic saturation occurs at the small-diameter attracted portion and so forth, and attraction force becomes insufficient in the latter half of the control zone (i.e., at a position where the plunger has approached the fixed core). It should be noted that the magnitude of attraction force depends on the area of the mutually opposing surfaces of the attracted portion and the fixed core.
Accordingly, there is a plunger displacement region in which the damping force characteristics do not change linearly even if the electric current supplied to the coil is increased at a fixed rate. To solve this problem, it is conceivable to increase the electric current supplied to the coil from the controller only in this displacement region or to provide a spring or the like for assistively urging the plunger in the direction in which it is magnetically attracted. In the former case, however, the consumed current not only increases, but control also becomes complicated, and the load on the controller and the coil increases unfavorably. In the latter case, because a spring or the like for assistively urging the plunger is needed, costs increase correspondingly, and productivity is degraded correspondingly. Thus, these countermeasures involve various problems.
The present invention was made in view of the above-described problems associated with the prior art.
An object of the present invention is to provide a damping force control type hydraulic shock absorber capable of increasing the magnetic force for attracting the plunger in a limited small space with a solenoid-operated driving device having a simplified structure.
The present invention provides a damping force control type hydraulic shock absorber including a cylinder having a hydraulic fluid sealed therein. A piston is slidably provided in the cylinder to divide the inside of the cylinder into an upper chamber and a lower chamber. A hydraulic fluid passage is formed to provide communication between the upper chamber and the lower chamber. A damping force control mechanism is provided in the hydraulic fluid passage to control damping force by controlling the flow of the hydraulic fluid induced in the hydraulic fluid passage by sliding movement of the piston. A solenoid-operated driving device for driving the damping force control mechanism is accommodated in a casing. The solenoid-operated driving device includes a coil provided in the casing. A tubular member is provided in the coil at one end of the coil to form a magnetic path when the coil is energized. A plunger is slidably guided in the tubular member. An attracting member is provided in the coil at the other end of the coil to form a magnetic path when the coil is energized so as to attract the plunger. The plunger has a small-diameter main body portion slidably guided in the tubular member and a large-diameter attracted portion having a surface facing the attracting member. The large-diameter attracted portion is located between the main body portion and the attracting member. The attracting member has a tubular projection provided on a surface thereof that faces the attracted portion of the plunger so that the attracted portion enters or withdraws from the tubular projection.
Thus, according to the present invention, the main body portion of the plunger is reduced in diameter, and the small-diameter main body portion is slidably guided by the tubular member that forms a magnetic path. Therefore, the magnetic flux density can be increased satisfactorily. In addition, because the attracted portion is made larger in diameter than the main body portion, it is possible to increase the area of the mutually opposing surfaces of the attracted portion and the attracting member that forms a magnetic path. As a result, it is possible to increase the magnetic force for attracting the plunger. In addition, a tubular projection is provided on the surface of the attracting member that faces the attracted portion of the plunger so that the attracted portion enters or withdraws from the tubular projection. Therefore, the tubular projection radially absorbs the magnetic flux from the plunger. Accordingly, it is possible to obtain attraction force proportional to the magnitude of the electric current supplied to the coil. Hence, it is possible to reliably change damping force characteristics in proportion to the magnitude of the electric current supplied to the coil.
Preferably, the plunger in the above-described damping force control type hydraulic shock absorber is inversely tapered so as to gradually increase in diameter from the main body portion toward the attracted portion.
With this arrangement, it is possible to smoothen the flow of magnetic flux between the main body portion and the attracted portion of the plunger and to spread the magnetic flux surely as far as the outermost periphery of the attracted portion. Accordingly, attraction force can be further increased, and the consumed current can be reduced. Consequently, it is possible to suppress the generation of heat from the coil and so forth and to change damping force characteristics stably.
According to one aspect of the invention, the damping force control type hydraulic shock absorber further includes a first bearing situated in the tubular member so that the plunger is slidably guided by the first bearing and a second bearing situated in the attracting member. The solenoid-operated driving mechanism includes an actuating rod having opposite end portions. One end portion of the actuating rod is connected to an end portion of the plunger on the side of the attracting member and the other end portion of the actuating rod extends through the attracting member and is slidably guided by the second bearing.
With this arrangement, the opposing surfaces of the attracted portion of the plunger and the attracting member are positioned between the first and second bearings. Therefore, it is possible to stabilize the radial position in which the plunger engages with the attracting member when the former is attracted by the latter.
According to another aspect of the invention, the tubular member has a bottom wall so that a space filled with a hydraulic fluid is defined by the tubular member and the plunger between the bottom and the plunger and wherein the plunger has an orifice passage axially extending through the plunger and having an orifice.
With this arrangement, abrupt movement of the plunger upon energizing the coil is damped.
The present invention a so provides a solenoid-operated driving apparatus comprising a coil provided in a casing, a tubular member provided in the coil at one end portion of the coil to form a portion of a magnetic path for the magnetic flux created when the coil is energized, a plunger slidably guided in the tubular member, and an attracting member provided in the coil at the other end portion of the coil to form another portion of the magnetic path when the coil is energized so as to attract the plunger. The plunger has a small-diameter main body portion slidably guided in the tubular member and a large-diameter attracted portion having a surface facing the attracting member. The large-diameter attracted portion is located between the main body portion and the attracting member. The attracting member has a tubular projection provided on a surface thereof that faces the attracted portion of the plunger so that the attracted portion enters or withdraws from the tubular projection.
Thus, also in the arrangement stated just above, the main body portion of the plunger is reduced in diameter, and the small-diameter main body portion is slidably guided by the tubular member that forms a magnetic path. Therefore, the magnetic flux density can be increased satisfactorily. In addition, because the attracted portion is made larger in diameter than the main body portion, it is possible to increase the area of the mutually opposing surfaces of the attracted portion and the attracting member that forms a magnetic path. As a result, it is possible to increase the magnetic force for attracting the plunger. In addition, a tubular projection is provided on the surface of the attracting member that faces the attracted portion of the plunger so that the attracted portion enters or withdraws from the tubular projection. Therefore, the tubular projection radially absorbs the magnetic flux from the plunger. Accordingly, it is possible to obtain attraction force proportional to the magnitude of the electric current supplied to the coil and hence possible to reliably change damping force characteristics in proportion to the magnitude of the electric current supplied to the coil.

Solenoid-operated driving apparatus and damping force control type hydraulic shock absorber using the same


A biomarker monitoring method and system in one embodiment includes a communications network, a portable wellness device configured to form a communication link with the communications network, the portable wellness device including a detector configured to detect at least one biomarker in a biologic sample, a first memory, a plurality of program instructions stored in the first memory, and a processing circuit operably connected to the first memory and configured to execute the program instructions to generate wellness data based upon detection of the at least one biomarker in the biologic sample, and a remote user interface operably connected to the communications network and configured to render the wellness data.

Allergies and asthma have become highly prevalent in the western world. Allergies and asthma now affect about one out of every four Americans, which is three times the number of people suffering from diabetes. Moreover, the prevalence of allergies and asthma has seen a significant increase since about 1960 as reported, for example, by Waltraud Eder, et al., "The asthma epidemic," The New England Journal of Medicine 355, no. 21 (Nov. 23, 2006), pages 2226-2235. Allergies and asthma are two examples of ailments which result from weakened or stressed immune systems.
Health problems associated with weakened or stressed immune systems are frequently exacerbated by the failure of individuals to understand the status of their immune system or factors influencing the status of their immune system. This lack of understanding is discussed, for example, by M Wills-Karp, et al. "The germless theory of allergic disease; revisiting the hygiene hypothesis," Nature Reviews. Immunology 1, no. 1 (October 2001), pages 69-75, and Claire-Anne Siegrist, "Public health: Autoimmune diseases after adolescent or adult immunization: What should we expect?," CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal 177, no. 11 (Nov. 20, 2007), pages 1352-1354.
Treatment of chronic diseases and ailments is also adversely affected by lack of insight into the status of an individual's immune system. For example, when pursuing allergen specific immunotherapy the lack of insight into the individual's immune system increases risks associated with the treatment or necessitates increased medical supervision and subsequent costs. Such adverse effects are discussed, for example, by Rudolf Valenta, "The future of antigen-specific immunotherapy of allergy," National Review of Immunology 2, no. 6 (June 2002), pages 446-453, and Mark Larche, et al., "Immunological mechanisms of allergen specific immunotherapy," National Review of Immunology 6, no. 10 (October 2006), pages 761-771.
In a clinical setting, the reaction of the immune system of an individual's environment or exposure to a substance can be inferred by analysis of various biomarkers such as chemokines and cytokines as reported by K Gelhar, et al., "Monitoring allergen immunotherapy of pollen-allergic patients: the ratio of allergen specific IgG4 to IgG1 correlates with clinical outcome," Clinical and Experimental Allergy: Journal of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology 29, no. 4 (April 1999), pages 497-506.
While detection of the levels of chemokines and cytokines in a biological sample has traditionally required large pieces of equipment, recent advances have enabled diagnostic tests that can be performed at the point of care of an individual, such as at the bedside of a patient, at a care provider location, or at the home of the patient. The promise of such diagnostic tests is described, for example, by Leroy Hood et al., "Systems Biology and New Technologies Enable Predictive and Preventative Medicine," Science 306, no. 5696 (Oct. 22, 2004): 640-643. Depending upon the particular diagnostic test, the substance tested may be human body fluids such as blood, serum, saliva, biological cells, urine, or other biomolecules. Diagnostic tests are not, however, limited to biomolecules since testing may be further desired on consumables such as milk, baby food, or water.
Many diagnostic testing devices incorporate affinity based sensors which are considered to be the state-of-the-art in detection of biomarkers. Affinity based sensors function according to a "key-lock" principal in which a molecule with very high association factor to the marker of interest is used for detection. For example, a pregnancy test kit may incorporate a monoclonal antibody specific to a β-subunit of hCG (βhCG). The antibody is conjugated with a tag, e.g., gold, latex, or fluorophore, which is used for detection. If the targeted molecule binds with the conjugated antibody, the tagged key-lock pair will be detectable such as by a visible test line.
ELISA plates and microarrays (e.g., Nucleic Acid, peptide, and protein) incorporate a similar principal. FIG. 1 depicts an ELISA assay 10 wherein antibodies 12 are immobilized on a substrate 14. The substrate 14 may be positioned within a well (not shown). A blocker 16 is provided to cover the surface of the substrate around the antibody 12. In a typical ELISA assay, a sample 18 is then added to the well in which the primary antibody 12 is immobilized. Next, the sample is incubated for some time. During incubation, the blocker 16 prevents the molecules of interest in the sample from binding to the surface of the substrate 14 in order to avoid false binding. During incubation, some of the molecules of interest 18 become bound with some of the antibodies 12 as depicted in FIG. 2. After incubation, the remaining sample is washed to remove the unbound primary antibodies 18.
Subsequently, a secondary antibody 20 with a bound label 22 is added to the well, incubated, and washed resulting in the configuration of FIG. 3. As depicted in FIG. 3, the labeled secondary antibodies 20 are bound to the molecules of interest 18 that are in turn bound to the antibodies 12. Accordingly, the number of labels 22 bound by the antibodies 20 to the antigen 18 is proportional to the concentration of the target antigen. Depending on the label used, the number of labels can be finally detected using colorimetry, amperometry, magnetometry, voltammetry, luminescence, or fluorescence detection. Other label-free antibody processes such as surface plasmon resonance may alternatively be used.
Accordingly, there is a need for a system and method that allow self monitoring of an individual's immune system. A further need exists for a system including a portable device which can be used to provide insight into the immune system of an individual. It would be further beneficial if such a device could be worn by the individual.


An improved gasoline engine using a spark plug and a spark plug wire is disclosed. The improved gasoline engine includes a cylinder having a cylinder wall and an upper end, a piston movably disposed within the cylinder, a gasoline injector for supplying the gasoline charge into the cylinder, a single tube exhaust valve movably mounted to the cylinder, a single overhead camshaft having duel exhaust cams for the cylinder with each exhaust cam having duel exhaust lobes, and a plurality of port holes contained in the cylinder around the cylinder wall in a ring-like fashion.

1. Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates to a gasoline engine.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a gasoline engine with a single overhead camshaft having duel exhaust cams per cylinder wherein each exhaust cam has duel lobes.
2. Description of the Prior Art:
The gasoline engine is an internal combustion engine. The thermal energy which is released when the gasoline is burned is converted into mechanical energy. In the gasoline engine, the liquid gasoline is mixed with air to form a combustible mixture, which is compressed in the cylinder and finally ignited by an electric spark produced between the electrodes of a sparking plug. The gases which are formed in the cylinder by the combustion of the gasoline and air mixture expand and thrust the piston downwards. Acting through the connecting rod, the piston imparts a rotary motion to the crankshaft. The spent burned gases must then be removed from the cylinder and be replaced by fresh gasoline and air mixture, so that a fresh cycle can begin. The energy needed for effecting this change in the contents of the cylinder is provided by the flywheel, which stores up some of the mechanical energy released by the combustion that takes place in the cylinder. The additional energy developed by the engine can be taken off at the end of the crankshaft.
With internal combustion engines, a distinction is made between four stroke and two stroke operation. To perform a full cycle of operations, the four stroke engine requires four, and the two stroke engine requires two strokes of the piston.
Four Stroke engine
1st stroke: induction stroke: while the inlet valve is open, the descending piston draws fresh gasoline and air mixture into the cylinder.
2nd stroke: compression stroke: While the valves are closed, the rising piston compresses the mixture to a pressure of about 7-8 atm, the mixture is then ignited by the sparking plug.
3rd stroke: power stroke: While the valves are closed, the pressure of the gases of combustion forces the piston downwards.
4th stroke: exhaust stroke: the exhaust valve is open and the rising piston discharges the spent gases from the cylinder.
Since power is developed during one stroke only, the single cylinder four stroke engine has a low degree of uniformity, i.e., the rotation of the crankshaft is subject to considerable accelerations and decelerations during a cycle. More uniform, that is to say, smoother, running is obtained with multi-cylinder engines because the "cranks" of the crankshaft are staggered in relation to one another so that the various cylinders do not develop their power strokes simultaneously, but successively, and sometimes in an overlapping sequence. Depending on the cylinder arrangement, various types of engine, for various types of usage, are available.
In this type of engine, the piston periodically covers and uncovers opening known as ports in the cylinder wall. The two stroke engine is seldom equipped with valves.
At the start of the first stroke, the piston is in its highest position. When the compressed gasoline and air over the piston is ignited, the latter is thrust downwards and, in so doing, releases the exhaust port. The burned gases in the cylinder, which are still under high pressure, can thus escape through this port. When the piston descends further, its upper edge releases the inlet port, which admits fresh gasoline mixture into the cylinder, so that the remaining burned gases are flushed out. When the piston rises again, second stroke, all the ports are closed for a time, and during this period the gasoline and air mixture is compressed, so that a fresh cycle can commence.
The crankcase scavenged two stroke engine has no scavenging fan. Instead, the crankcase is hermetically sealed, so that it can function as a pump in conjunction with the piston. When the piston ascends, a partial vacuum is produced in the crankcase, until the lower edge of the piston releases the inlet port and thus opens the way to the fresh gasoline and air mixture into the crankcase. When the piston descends, the mixture in the crankcase is compressed a little so that, as soon as the top of the piston releases the transfer port and overflow duct connecting the crankcase to the cylinder, it can enter the cylinder. Meanwhile, what happens above the piston is, as above.
In the latter type of two stroke engine the fan adds to the cost. However, as the overflow duct between the cylinder and crankcase is eliminated, the crankshaft is provided with forced oil lubrication without involving a risk that the oil in the crankcase can find its way into the cylinder. In the cheaper crankcase-scavenged engine, the lubricating oil is mixed with the gasoline, or is, alternatively, supplied to the points of lubrication dropwise by small lubricating oil pumps. The oil which enters the crankcase is liable to be carried through the overflow duct and transfer port into the cylinder, whence it passes through the exhaust port and into the exhaust system, where it may manifest itself as blue smoke in the exhaust.
Numerous innovations for gasoline engines have been provided in the prior art that are adapted to be used. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described.

Gasoline engine with single overhead camshaft having duel exhaust cams per cylinder wherein each exhaust cam has duel lobes


A method, computer program product and system for estimating the number of internationalization faults, e.g., errors, warnings, in a software program. The number of internationalization faults may be estimated by scanning a subset of the total lines of code in a software program. A first factor may be calculated based on a count and the number of faults identified in the lines of code scanned. A second factor may be calculated based on the number of faults remaining after subtracting the number of faults identified in error from the number of faults identified in the lines of code scanned as well as the number of faults identified in the lines of code scanned. An estimate of the number of faults in the entire software program may be calculated based on the first and second factor and the count of the total number of lines of code in the software program.

The present invention relates to the field of software program development for internationalized programs, and more particularly to a method for estimating the number of internationalization faults in an internationalized software program.
Internationalization is a process of enabling a program, e.g., Java, to run internationally. That is, an internationalized program has the flexibility to run correctly in any country. An internationalized program must be able to read, write and manipulate localized text. Furthermore, an internationalized program must conform to local customs when displaying dates and times, formatting numbers and sorting strings.
Typically, the development of an internationalized software program involves the initial steps of analyzing a problem and then designing the overall structure of the internationalized software program to solve the problem analyzed. After the general structure of the internationalized software program has been designed, it is then constructed, i.e. coded, after which it undergoes a period of testing and debugging. Finally, after the internalized program has been successfully tested, it is released for general use.
The total time spent testing and debugging an internationalized software program may vary from program to program. Unfortunately, software developers when asked to test and debug a particular internationalized software program may not be able to estimate the number of internationalization faults, e.g., errors, warnings, in the particular internationalized software program to be debugged thereby being unable to estimate the number of hours to be spent testing and debugging the internationalized software program. Furthermore, a project manager may assign multiple software developers to test and debug a particular internationalized software program. Unfortunately, the project manager may not be able to determine the exact number of software developers to be assigned since the project manager may not be able to estimate the number of internationalization faults, e.g., errors, warnings, in the particular internationalized software program to be debugged thereby being unable to estimate the number of software developers to be assigned to test and debug the particular internationalized software program.
It would therefore be desirable to develop a method to estimate the number of internationalization faults, e.g., errors, warnings, in a particular internationalized software program.
The problems outlined above may at least in part be solved in some embodiments by calculating an estimated number of internationalization faults, e.g., errors, warnings, in the software program based on a first and a second factor as well as a count of the total number of lines of code in the software program. The estimated number of internationalization faults, e.g., errors, warnings, in the software program may be based on scanning a subset of the total number of lines of code in the software program rather than scanning the total number of lines of code in the software program. Upon scanning a subset of the total number of lines of code in the software program, a number of internationalization faults, e.g., errors, warnings, as well as a count of the number of lines of code scanned may be identified. The first factor may be calculated based on the number of internationalization faults, e.g., errors, warnings, identified in the code scanned as well as the count of the lines of code scanned. Upon identifying the internationalization faults, e.g., errors, warnings, in the lines of code scanned, a manual analysis may be performed to identify internationalization faults, e.g., errors, warnings, that should not have been identified. These incorrectly identified internationalization faults may then be subtracted from the internationalization faults, e.g., errors, warnings, identified in the code scanned. The number of internationalization faults, e.g., errors, warnings, remaining after subtracting the incorrectly identified internationalization faults from the internationalization faults identified in the code scanned along with the number of internationalization faults identified from the code scanned may be used to calculate the second factor. An estimate of the number of internationalization faults, e.g., errors, warnings, in the entire code of the software program may then be calculated based on the first and second factor as well as the count of the total number of lines of code in the software program.
In one embodiment, a method for estimating the number of internationalization faults in a software program comprises the step of scanning a subset of the total number of lines of code in a software program. A number of internationalization faults, e.g., errors, warnings, may then be identified in the lines of code scanned. A first factor may then be calculated based on a count of the lines of code scanned and the number of internationalization faults, e.g., errors, warnings, identified in the lines of code scanned. Upon scanning a subset of the total number of lines of code in the software program, an analysis may be conducted to identify internationalization faults, e.g., errors, warnings, that should not have been identified. The internationalization faults, e.g., errors, warnings, identified in error may be subtracted from the internationalization faults identified, e.g., errors, warnings, in the lines of code scanned. A second factor may then be calculated based on the number of internationalization faults, e.g., errors, warnings, remaining after subtracting the number of internationalization faults identified in error from the number of internationalization faults identified in the lines of code scanned as well as the number of internationalization faults identified in the lines of code scanned. An estimate of the number of internationalization faults, e.g., errors, warnings, in the entire software program, i.e. in all the lines of code of the software program, may then be calculated based on the first and second factor as well as the count of the total number of lines of code in the software program.
The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention.

Method for estimating number of internationalization faults in software code

International Business Machines Corporation


A solid powdered peroxyhydrate is provided which is an adduct of hydrogen peroxide and a polymeric electrolyte, said polymeric electrolyte having the formula: ##STR1## wherein Y is selected from CO.sub.2.sup.- M.sup.+ and C.sub.6 H.sub.4 SO.sub.3.sup.- M.sup.+ ;. X and Z are independently selected from H, OCH.sub.3, CO.sub.2 R.sub.8 and Y; PA1 R.sub.1 through R.sub.7 is independently selected from H and C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl; PA1 R.sub.8 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl; PA1 m and n are the same or different integers ranging from 0 to 20,000; and PA1 m+n is at least 3.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is directed at novel polymeric electrolye-hydrogen peroxide adducts and mixtures of adducts with selected bleach precursor compounds. These materials are useful for bleaching laundry and hard surfaces.
2. The Related Art
Commercially the most common source of dry peroxide is that available in the form of sodium perborate tetrahydrate or monohydrate. Perborate is a material within the class of peroxyhydrates which are mixed salts of inorganic or organic acids forming peroxide containing compositions through hydrogen bonding. Perborate is somewhat special among these materials in that the peroxide is bound chemically as the cyclic diperoxy anhydride of boric acid rather than a comparatively weaker hydrogen bonded peroxyhydrate. Although the inorganic perborates are widely available at economical prices, by themselves they are inefficient bleaches.
A number of patents have reported dry organic hydrogen peroxide sources. U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,875 (Rapko et al.) discloses ethane tetracarboxylate perhydrates having a 1:4 ratio of peroxide to carboxylate. U.S. Pat. No. 4,279,769 (Yagi et al.) reports a bleaching composition of tetrasodium ethane tetracarboxylate/hydrogen peroxide adduct in combination with a class of carboxyimino compounds. Polycarboxylates and/or sulfonate such as disodium diglycolate were reported in U.S. Pat. No. 4,655,975 (Snoble) to form peroxyhydrates which could serve as a solid source for hydrogen peroxide. All the organic peroxyhydrates of the foregoing art provide additional building benefits over current common commercial peroxygen sources, especially in comparison to perborates and urea peroxyhydrate. Unfortunately, the materials reported in these patents are typically of lower oxygen activity. Larger doses are therefore required to deliver equivalent performance. Not only is there an economic penalty but the greater proportion required cuts down on the formulation space thereby hindering formulation flexibility. Moreover, the methods by which these peroxyhydrates are formed require mild processing conditions and, especially, low temperatures to avoid decomposition.
Several patents have focused upon stable liquid hydrogen peroxide bleach systems. U.S. Pat. No. 4,079,015 (Paucot et al.) discloses a liquid composition of hydrogen peroxide, a surfactant, and a salt of a polymer derived from an alpha-hydroxyacrylic acid. With this composition there is achieved stability against phase separation and reduced oxygen loss. DD 252 378 A1 (Lehmann et al.) is somewhat similar disclosing polymeric percarboxylic acids. Another patent, U.S. Pat. No. 4,772,290 (Mitchell et al.), discloses laundry bleaching compositions containing a dispersion of solid particulate peracid activator in an acidic aqueous hydrogen peroxide media.
A problem with the polymeric percarboxylic acids is the difficulty in achieving complete peroxidation. Normally there would be a very low ratio of peracid to each potentially available carboxylate group. Thus, there again arises the need for incorporating large dosages rendering the formula uneconomic and constricting the remaining room for other desirable formulation components.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a solid peroxyhydrate capable of delivering economic levels of active oxygen.
Another object of the present invention is to provide peroxyhydrates having improved storage stability.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a peroxyhydrate that delivers high levels of active oxygen yet requires a low dosage level in a product formulation.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a peroxyhydrate that would not only deliver bleach performance but exhibit calcium sequestration and dispersant properties.
These and other objects of the present invention will become more readily evident in light of the following detailed description.

Polymeric electrolyte-hydrogen peroxide adducts

Lever Brothers Company, division of Conopco, Inc.


The disclosed systems and methods relate to improved cases for securely storing and shipping products. A case can include a back panel, an upper foldable section, and a lower foldable section. Each of the features of the case can be manufactured on a single sheet of material. The upper and lower foldable sections include panels having apertures for holding the top and bottom of a product, respectively. The case is foldable into a closed configuration such that a lower holder panel, a lower front panel, and a bottom panel form a lower box configured to hold the bottom of the first product, and an upper holder panel, an upper front panel, and a top panel form an upper box configured to hold the top of the first product.

Wine and other beverage producers commonly use rectangular cases made of either wood or cardboard to transport bottles. These cases comprise internal compartments separated by wood, cardboard, plastic, or foam to provide a certain level of protection for the bottles inside. After the bottles are placed within the cases, the cases are closed and set out for shipment to the wholesaler, retailer, or customer. These closed cases of bottles present several problems due to the inherent flaws of the case designs. For example, a wholesaler, retailer, or customer may have difficulties viewing the contents of the case, determining if someone has tampered with the contents of the case, displaying the contents of the case, or any combination of these limitations.
Ordinarily, to view the contents within a bottle case, each individual bottle must be removed from the case. The handling of each bottle creates an opportunity to damage the bottle. Since each bottle in the case can be removed, a fraudster could also tamper with the contents of the bottle case. For example, someone inspecting the bottles can replace a bottle, or the liquid therein, with a different, less-valuable product. Finally, current methods do not provide an aesthetic system for displaying the bottles. The wooden case, for example, requires tools to wedge open the lid, which can be easily damaged when being pried apart from the body of the case. What is needed, therefore, is a system that prevents tampering, provides bottle viewability, and maintains an aesthetic form for displaying the bottles.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A gear shift mechanism for tilt cab trucks comprises a lever-receiving structure disposed on the engine/transmission structure. The lever-receiving structure includes a ball joint. The shift lever is removably received in a socket of the ball. When the cab is tilted, the lever becomes detached from the ball joint and is centered in its through-hole in the cab floor or engine hood by bands or wires and tensile springs, which are fixed or tensioned between the lever and the edges of the through-hole.

The present invention relates to a gear shift mechanism in a motor vehicle with a cab tiltable relative to the vehicle chassis and engine/transmission, comprising a lever receiving mounting arranged under the cab floor of the engine hood with a bearing for a gear shift lever, which extends into the cab through a through-hole in the floor or engine hood.
In trucks with front mounted tiltable cabs, in which the engine is usually mounted under the cab and is covered by a hood between the seats, the gear shift lever and associated linkages must be arranged so that they do not present an obstacle to the tilting movement. The arrangement should be such that the gear selector has distinct positions and it should only be minimally affected by the movements of the cab, which can, in todays modern trucks with comfortable spring mounted cabs, be relatively large in all directions relative to the chassis and engine/transmission. Furthermore, the gear selector mechanism should be sealed off effectively so that a low noise level can be maintained in the cab. Finally, the gear shift mechanism should be simple and reliable and permit tilting of the cab without any additional "releasing operations".
None of the solutions presented up to now fulfill all of these conditions. While it is true that gear selector mechanisms with the lever mounting fixed to the transmission usually have distinct positions and are only minimally effected by cab movements, they have either sealing problems (in unarticulated lever designs) because the hole in the engine hood or floor must be large or they require extra blocking mechanisms for the release means (for articulated lever designs) Swedish Patent No. 439,464.
Gear shift mechanisms with the shift lever bearing joined to the cab are simpler to seal in order to keep the noise level low, but in this case the shift lever must be able to somehow be released from the rest of the shift mechanism when the cab is tilted. These mechanisms are, however, affected by cab movements with indistinct gear speed positions as a result as well as problems with the gear selector being jolted out of gear when driving on uneven surfaces.
Gear shift mechanisms, in which the shift lever bearing is resiliently joined to the cab, are shown in German Patent No. 2,110,310 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,269,282, for example. In both of these mechanisms, the shift lever has a spherical end portion which is normally received in an opening in the gear transfer mechanism. This end portion is removed from this opening when the cab is tilted. The spring loaded mounting of the bearing in the cab permits limited shock absorbing movement of the cab without any problems, but large vertical cab movements or lateral movements present the risk that the spring loaded shift lever mounting housing will lose contact with its stationary support surface in the gear lever socket in the engine/transmission, resulting in play, misalignment and malfunctioning. Hard and rapid gear shifting can have the same result. Another disadvantage is that it is not possible to provide a connection free from play between the lever and the gear transfer mechanism. In order to permit disengagement and engagement, there must be a certain amount of play between the spherical end of the lever and the complementary socket in the gear transfer mechanism. This play increases with time due to wear and produces an even larger effect at the shift lever handle which produces indistinct gear selection.
The purpose of the present invention is to remove all of the above mentioned disadvantages and provide a shift mechanism of the type described by way of introduction, which is simple and reliable, has distinct gear positions, is simple to seal off to provide low noise level inside the cab, and which does not require any additional release steps prior to tilting the cab or any engaging steps after tilting the cab back to its operating position.

Gear shift mechanism for tilt cab vehicles


A semiconductor device includes a first conductive type semiconductor substrate, a second conductive type active region formed on a top surface side of the semiconductor substrate, a second conductive type inside VLD region formed to contact the active region on the top surface side in a plan view, and a second conductive type well region formed to contact a portion opposite to the portion contacting the active region of the inside VLD region on the top surface side in a plan view. The well region is formed to be deeper than the active region. The inside VLD region has the same depth as that of the active region in the portion contacting the active region, the depth gradually increasing from the active region toward the well region and becoming the same as the depth of the well region in the portion contacting the well region.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a high withstand voltage semiconductor device used for high current switching or the like.
2. Background Art
Semiconductor devices for power applications such as IGBT are widely used, for example, for inverter circuits for home appliances such as air-conditioners, refrigerators or washing machines for which efforts for energy-saving are being increasingly made, motor control of rolling stock such as the Shinkansen (bullet train) or subway, control of an inverter/converter of hybrid cars or converter circuits for photovoltaic power generation or wind power generation or the like.
It is important that such semiconductor devices have stable and high withstand voltage characteristics during operation (use). For this reason, a variety of structures for alleviating an electric field in outer regions of semiconductor devices have been proposed so far. A guard ring provided in the outer region of a semiconductor device is a typical structure thereof. As another structure, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-84830 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-123478 disclose a VLD (variation of lateral doping) region formed in the outer region. The VLD region is effective compared to the guard ring or the like in that excellent withstand voltage characteristics can be realized while reducing the area thereof.
Semiconductor devices for power applications are each provided with a device region where a device is formed on a top surface side of a semiconductor substrate and an electric field limiting region that surrounds a perimeter thereof. The range of this device region includes an active region where a main current flows as well as a portion where a control electrode pad or the like is formed when the device is a transistor, for example. When an end of the active region in a cross-sectional view is in contact with a region having a conduction type opposite to that of the active region, a PN junction having a large curvature may be formed. This is because the depth of the active region is normally determined in accordance with operating characteristics of the device, and when the depth of the active region decreases, the curvature of a PN junction increases, making it more likely to produce a problem that an electric field and a current concentrate. Therefore, the end of the active region is covered with a well region which has the same conductive type as that of the active region and which is formed deeper than the active region to prevent formation of any PN junction having a greater curvature.
However, since the well region is formed deeper than the active region, a curved portion is also formed in the portion on an inner circumferential side (active region side) of the well region, resulting in a problem that a PN junction partially having a large curvature is formed depending on a pattern shape. There is another problem that an electric field and a current concentrate on a PN junction having a large curvature.


An oxygen delivery method for delivering oxygen stored in an oxygen tank to a recipient according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: receiving a prescription flow that is an oxygen delivery flow prescribed to the recipient; receiving a saving ratio, the saving ratio being input by the recipient and being a ratio of a prescription flow and an average delivery flow; selecting an oxygen delivery mode among a plurality of preset oxygen delivery modes based on the saving ratio; detecting a breathing pressure of the recipient; and controlling an oxygen delivery flow to the recipient based on the prescription flow, the saving ratio and detected breathing pressure.

With the rapid aging of population, air pollution and smoking, patients of lung diseases and respiratory diseases are rapidly increasing. An oxygen delivery apparatus is widely used in respiratory assistance for the patients of lung diseases and respiratory diseases in breathing. In particular, oxygen therapy is almost the only effective way for treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
The oxygen therapy means a treatment for preventing saturation of oxygen in blood from being lowered by facilitating an increase in the fraction of inspired oxygen (FIO2) in lung by delivering oxygen of a higher concentration than atmospheric oxygen to patients of lung diseases. In the conventional oxygen therapy, a continuous flow oxygen (CFO) method and a demand oxygen delivery (DOD) method are used.
In the CFO method, a constant amount of oxygen is continuously supplied to a patient. According to the CFO method, since oxygen delivery is performed even when oxygen is not required by the patient, the oxygen may be considerably squandered. In the DOD method, a high flow oxygen stream is supplied to a patient for a short time by sensing a patient's inhale time. According to the DOD method, a considerable oxygen saving effect can be achieved. However, the patient may feel uncomfortable due to abruptly induced oxygen, making it difficult to employ the DOD method for a long time or in patient's sleep.

Apparatus and method for oxygen delivery


An X-control gage for measuring the X-dimension of hydraulic tube fittings comprises a pin slidably engaged in a body part. In use, a lowermost end of the pin makes contact with the tube stop of the fitting port while the body part makes contact with the inner taper of the fitting along a circle having a specified "B"-diameter. An upper end of the pin extends beyond an upper end of the body part, and measurement of the distance of extension is simply related to the X-dimension of the fitting using a calibrated overall length of the pin and a calibrated dimension of the body part. Methods of calibrating and using the X-control gage are presented, as well as a method of connecting two hydraulic tubes so that there is no loss of hydraulic liquid or pressure at the connection.

This invention relates to measurement tools useful in the quality control of hydraulic tube fittings, and in particular to an X-control gage used in measuring the X-dimension of hydraulic tube fittings.
On Oct. 4, 1951 the original design drawings for flareless hydraulic tube fittings were issued by the United States Department of Defense under part numbers MS33514 and MS33515. The MS33514 drawing covers the standard flareless fitting end design whereas the MS33515 drawing covers the same fitting end design but has a central flange for use in mounting on a bulkhead, with one end of the fitting meant to protrude through a wall or other surface.
Both types of fittings are used to connect lengths of tubing together in aircraft to convey hydraulic fluids, fuels, and the like. The fittings are also used in land vehicles and other ground support equipment, both military and commercial. In addition, prime contractors to the government design their own special parts utilizing the MS33514 and MS33515 end design.
The government procurement specification used in buying fittings using the MS33514 and the MS33515 end design is MIL-F-18280. This procurement specification refers to MIL-STD-1655, which describes and classifies the various defects that may occur in manufacturing these parts and the effect that the defects might have on usability and safety. The defects are classified in order of importance as "major," "minor A," and "minor B." Major defects have a definite effect on safety and usability. Minor A defects could have an effect and minor B defects should have no effect.
Researching MS33514 and MS33515 in MIL-STD-1655 shows that both of these drawings have only one listed major defect, namely the "X" dimension. This "X" dimension can be defined as that distance from the theoretical sealing area on the 12-degree taper to the tube stop shoulder at the bottom of the port. If the "X" dimension is not within the appropriate tolerance, the parts can leak, causing a loss of hydraulic pressure with a subsequent loss of control functions depending upon that pressure. Obviously, if the "X" dimension is not correct the parts cannot and should not be accepted or used.
Historically, since 1951 when the drawings were originally issued, the only way to determine whether or not the "X" dimension was within tolerance was to use a so-called "X-control gage." These gages were manufactured by several source but they all utilized the same specific design. The design included a spring-loaded plunger inside a body with one end tapered and the other having a 0.010 step ground into the other end of the body.
Testing for part acceptance of a hydraulic fitting with these prior-art gages consisted of inserting the spring-loaded plunger into the port and resting it on the tube stop with the tapered end in contact with the internal taper in the fitting. Theoretically, if the opposite end of the plunger occupied a position anywhere between the upper and lower boundaries of the step created by the 0.010 slot, a part under test could be accepted.
This type of gage has defects which render it not only inaccurate but physically inappropriate for its intended function. The "B"-diameter shown on MS33514 and MS33515 is the theoretical diameter where the sealing function takes place during connection between a hose and the end of he fitting. This diameter must be accurate to within 0.0002 (plus or minus 0.0001). The way the taper on existing gages is formed, it is virtually impossible to determine where the "B"-diameter lies along the taper.
A full degree of tolerance (plus or minus 0.5 degree) on the sealing taper is allowed by MS33514 and MS33515. The tolerance exists to accommodate the tool grinders who manufacture the porting tools. It also allows for tool wear during production.
The only possibility for even moderately accurate use of an existing X-control gage is if the taper on the gage matches the taper on the tool exactly. If the tool taper is ground at the low-taper limit of 11 degrees 30 minutes and the gage taper is ground to 12 degrees 30 minutes, the gage will not work at all. If the tool taper is ground to the high-taper limit of 12 degrees 30 minutes and the gage taper is at the low-taper limit of 11 degrees 30 minutes, the "B"-diameter will never make contact on the taper.
The use of the 0.010-inch ground step at the back end of the gage only allows a visual "pass-fail" indication. Conventional X-control gages provide no way to determine actual numerical values of the quantity being measured. In the best case, using a properly calibrated, properly produced gage, one can effectively reject blatantly defective parts but in the process will also reject a quantity of acceptable parts manufactured to the outer limits. In the worst case, a gage which is improperly produced and calibrated will allow the acceptance of all defective parts. Without the provision of specific numerical readings it is impossible to uncover trends or differences in defects.
The manufacturers of conventional X-control gages have historically failed to provide specific calibration verification results to purchasers. This has occurred systematically due to the inherent flaws in the manufacture and application of these gages. The gages have been sold strictly through the use of "certificates of conformance" which state only that the gage meets the requirements of MS33514 and MS33515. Actual calibration results are never supplied because the results would show that the gage in fact does not meet the requirements.
Despite the defects and inadequacies of conventional X-control gages, they have been used without any substantial change in design for over 30 years. There has been a long-felt need for a gage that will yield actual numerical values that corroborate the accuracy of the "X" dimension and that can be calibrated easily and specifically for accuracy.

Gage and method for measuring the X-dimension of hydraulic tube fittings


A method for backlight control includes: receiving a display synchronization signal; generating a backlight control signal according to the display synchronization signal; and driving a backlight source according to the backlight control signal. An apparatus for backlight control includes: a signal receiving circuit, for receiving a display synchronization signal; a control circuit, coupled to the signal receiving circuit, for generating a backlight control signal according to the display synchronization signal; and a driving circuit, coupled to the control circuit, for driving a backlight source according to the backlight control signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to illuminant controls, and more particularly, to a method for backlight control and an apparatus thereof.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Traditional display methods of liquid crystal display (LCD) devices need to determine if a received frame signal corresponds to a dynamic/motion frame or a still/static frame; therefore, additional detecting circuits, memories and/or temporary storage devices are required for determining the corresponding type (i.e., dynamic frame or still frame) of the received frame signal by comparing the received frame signal with a frame signal that precedes the received frame signal. Once the received frame signal is judged to correspond to a dynamic frame, a flashing backlight source will be enabled to display the frame signal(s). This flashing backlight control leads to extra loading of the central processing unit (CPU), the timing controller, and the data bus of the LCD device. Moreover, the conventional backlight control also consumes huge power due to the necessity of an additional detecting circuit and data buses.

Method for back light control and apparatus thereof


A new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant named ‘KROUTRE01’, characterized by its broadly upright and mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; moderately freely branching habit; dark greyed green-colored leaves; large single-type red-colored flowers that are positioned above and beyond the foliar plane; and continuous flowering throughout the summer.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant, botanically known as Begonia boliviensis x Begonia x tuberhybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name 'KROUTRE01'.
The new Begonia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Ermelo, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Begonia plants with uniform plant habit and numerous attractive flowers.
The new Begonia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Ermelo, The Netherlands in September, 2014 of a proprietary selection of Begonia boliviensis identified as code number KV13H1260-004, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Begonia x tuberhybrida 'Nonstop Mocca', not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Begonia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Ermelo, The Netherlands in October, 2015.
Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia plant by terminal vegetative cuttings taken in a controlled greenhouse environment in Ermelo, The Netherlands since March, 2016 has shown that the unique features of this new Begonia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.


When AV playback and an operation of BD-J application are executed in conjunction with each other, the playback apparatus saves values stored by the currently executed BD-J application into a nonvolatile memory upon termination of the BD-J application or the like. Next time the playback starts, the playback apparatus restores the values to an area accessible by the BD-J application, and subsequently, activates the BD-J application.

Status saving is a technique to write data required for resuming an operation, onto a nonvolatile storage medium. This is performed in case of an unexpected event of a sudden cutoff of power supply to an apparatus. As with conventional measures against power outages, this processing is considered essential for stable operations of the apparatus. On the other hand, status restoring is a technique to resume the operation which was being executed before the power cutoff, after the power supply to the apparatus is restarted, based on the data written onto the nonvolatile storage medium. In playback apparatuses which execute AV playback of DVD-Video, the status saving and the status restoring are performed as follows: before AV playback stops, a physical or a logical playback position is written onto the nonvolatile storage medium; and the next playback is resumed from the playback position written onto the nonvolatile storage medium.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 3438729    Patent Document 2: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2003-77222    Patent Document 3: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. S62-169218

Reproduction device, reproduction method, and program


Heterocyclic acids and esters useful as inhibitors of mammalian blood platelet aggregation characterized by Formula I are disclosed. EQU HET.sub.1 --(CH.sub.2).sub.n CO.sub.2 R (I). Formula I compounds are those wherein n is 6-9, R is hydrogen, lower alkyl or an alkali metal ion, and HET.sub.1 is the heterocyclic radical 3,4-diphenyl-1H-pyrrol-1-yl.

This invention generally pertains to heterocyclic carbon compounds having drug and bio-affecting properties and to their preparation and use. in particular, the invention is concerned with various heterocyclic derivatives characterized by Formula I, infra., which are inhibitors of blood platelet aggregation.
United States patents relating to the heterocyclic carboxylic acid and ester derivatives disclosed herein are as follows:
Pyrrole compounds in Field of Search 514/427, 428, and 548/562, 563. PA1 (a) hydrolyzing a compound of Formula (I.sup.a) EQU HET.sub.1 --(CH.sub.2).sub.n CO.sub.2 R.sup.a (I.sup.a) PA1 (b) esterifying a compound of Formula (I.sup.b) EQU HET.sub.1 --(CH.sub.2).sub.n CO.sub.2 H (I.sup.b) PA1 (c) alkylating HET.sub.1 --H wherein HET.sup.1 is as defined above with a compound of Formula (III) EQU X--(CH.sub.2)CO.sub.2 R.sup.a (III)
Chinn, U.S. Pat. No. 3,471,513 discloses 2-(2-carboxyethyl)-5-phenyl-1-pyrrolebutyric acid and congeners with antibiotic and ulcer-inhibiting properties of formula (1) ##STR1## Ohsumi, et al , U.S. Pat. No. 4,336,194 discloses carboxylic acid esters having insecticidal properties of formula (2). ##STR2## Maldonado, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,563,477 discloses alpha-(N-pyrrolyl)-derivative acids having platelet antiaggregation and analgesic activity of formula (3). Chinn, U S. Pat. No. 4,694,018 discloses substituted 1,5-diphenyl-2-pyrrolepropionic acids having 5-lipoxygenase inhibiting properties of formula (4). ##STR3##

Pyrrole carboxylic acids and esters for blood platelet aggregation inhibition


A clutch cover assembly is equipped with a clutch cover that is fixed to a flywheel, a pressure plate, a diaphragm spring, an wear-amount detecting mechanism, and a wear tracking mechanism. The wear-amount detecting mechanism has a contact member, an opposing member, and a wedge member. The contact member is attached to the pressure plate and is in contact with the flywheel. The opposing member is attached to the contact member and opposes the pressure plate. The wedge member fits between the opposing member and the pressure plate and moves in a circumferential direction in accordance with the wear-amount of a friction member. The wear tracking mechanism moves the pressing member to an initial posture side in accordance with the amount of movement of the wedge member.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a clutch cover assembly and particularly a clutch cover assembly for pressing a friction member of a clutch disc assembly against a flywheel of an engine and releasing the pressing.
2. Background Art
A clutch cover assembly is generally attached to a flywheel of an engine and used for transmitting the driving force of the engine to a transmission side. The clutch cover assembly is mainly equipped with a clutch cover, a pressure plate, and a diaphragm spring. The clutch cover is fixed to the flywheel. The pressure plate is pressed to the flywheel side by the diaphragm spring and holds a friction member of a clutch disc assembly with and the flywheel. The diaphragm spring has the function of pressing the pressure plate and also has a lever function for releasing the pressing on the pressure plate.
Here, when the wear of the friction member of the clutch disc assembly advances due to the load characteristic of the diaphragm spring, the pressing load on the friction member becomes greater. For this reason, when the friction member wears, a large load becomes necessary to perform the release operation, and the clutch pedal pressure ends up becoming greater.
Thus, as described in patent citation 1 for example, there has been proposed a wear compensating mechanism that is configured to suppress the pressing load from becoming greater by returning the posture of the diaphragm spring to an initial state even in a case where the friction member has worn. The wear compensating mechanism mainly has a fulcrum ring that is placed between the pressure plate and the diaphragm spring, a biasing mechanism that biases the fulcrum ring in a direction away from the pressure plate, and a wear-amount detecting mechanism that detects the wear-amount of the friction member. Here, the diaphragm spring is capable of pressing the pressure plate via the fulcrum ring, and by moving the fulcrum ring to the side away from the pressure plate in accordance with the wear-amount of the friction member, the diaphragm spring is maintained in its initial set posture.
Further, in order to remedy instability in the operation of the wear-amount detecting mechanism caused by vibration, the wear compensating mechanism described in patent citation 2 has also been proposed. Here, a cone spring for absorbing vibration is disposed in the wear-amount detecting mechanism to stabilize the operation for wear compensation.


A process for producing mixed esters of fatty acids as biofuel or additive to a petroleum fuel for use in a compression ignition (CI) engine. The process preferably provides a partial transesterification of a mixture of fatty acid methyl esters with at least one alkyl alcohol containing 2 to 8 carbon atoms in the presence of a heterogeneous solid acid catalyst to produce a mixture of the fatty acid methyl esters and alkyl alcohol esters of the fatty acids.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a process producing mixed esters of fatty acids as biofuels particularly for use in a compression ignition (CI) (particularly diesel) engine.
(2) Description of Related Art
Biodiesel has been considered as an alternative to petroleum based diesel for many years. Biodiesel is a general term referring to a fuel comprising methyl-esters of long chain fatty acids derived typically from vegetable oils or animal fats. It can be used per se as fuel, or as an additive in a blend with petroleum-based diesel fuel.
The biodiesel industry in the U.S. currently suffers from a lack of consumer confidence in the quality of the biofuel. The uncertainty in fuel quality stems from lack of experience on the part of producers in being consistent in their production methods, and the all-too-often absence of careful fuel analysis to ensure that quality standards such as ASTM specifications are achieved. Although several measures of biodiesel quality can be used, the limiting factor is often the cold-weather performance properties of biodiesel, manifested as a cloud point and pour point temperature that is too high for the climate. A high cloud point temperature in biodiesel is typically observed because of (1) glyceride impurities present and (2) the presence of only methyl esters of unsaturated and saturated fatty acids. If residual glyceride impurities are not removed from the finished product, the biodiesel forms crystals at low temperature and those crystals plug fuel filters and injectors. Even if the impurities are removed, the saturated fatty acid methyl esters crystallize at some point as temperature is reduced, thus leading to solids formation. Thus, auto and diesel engine manufacturers at present will only warrant biofuel compositions up to a biofuel content of B5 (5% biodiesel/95% petroleum). Ideally, a high quality biofuel for the North American climate would contain at least B20 (20% biodiesel, 80% petroleum).
Biodiesel offers several advantages. In particular, when compared to petroleum diesel, biodiesel provides similar fuel economy, horsepower and torque while providing superior lubricity. Moreover, biodiesel provides a substantial reduction of emission of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter. Typically, it is free of sulfur and aromatics which are major pollutants. Accordingly, biodiesel is considered a renewable, non-toxic and biodegradable fuel alternative or additive.
Previous methods associated with producing mixed esters of fatty acids include reaction of (1) a mixture of different triglycerides with methanol; or (2) an oil (triglycerides) with a mixture of different alcohols, namely ethanol, methanol, n-butanol and n-propanol, in the presence of a base catalyst chosen from sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide and sodium methylate. In presence of a base catalyst (sodium or potassium hydroxides), the rate and extent of ester formation are directly proportional to the formation of sodium or potassium alkoxide from the alcohol in situ in the reaction mixture.
Upon completion of the reaction, ideally two distinct phases, 1) glycerol (a trihydroxy alcohol) and 2) esters of fatty acids, are observed. The following limitations are typically associated with this process: 1) the transesterification reaction proceeds smoothly only when methanol is used as an alcohol and fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) is synthesized, and the reaction is adversely affected when higher alcohols such as ethanol, n-propanol and n-butanol are used; 2) use of higher alcohols also creates a problem of readily separating glycerol from the alkyl esters of fatty acids, which requires additional processing steps including alcohol separation from the reaction mixture and dilute acid wash to facilitate glycerol phase separation from fatty acid ester; and 3) use of base catalyst increases the prospect of soap formation (saponification of the fatty acids) which is quite detrimental to overall process and its economy. It is a further disadvantage of existing processes that the base catalysts used in the reaction system are not re-usable, thereby generating a considerably significant quantity of salt waste.
U.S. Patent Application No. 2007/0056213 to French et al. describes a method which includes operating a two-stroke engine with a lubricating fuel. A fuel/lubricant formulation is disclosed for the operation of the two-stroke engines with improved emissions and performance. The lubricating fuel includes at least one fuel selected from the group including C1-6 alcohol, gasoline, ether, ketone, nitromethane, and a mixture thereof, and at least one lubricant selected from the group including biodiesel, lipid fatty acid alkyl ester, fatty acid and a mixture thereof. Diesel fuels are not described.
Patent application WO 2006/107407 to Clements describes processes and systems for producing biodiesel or fatty acid esters from multiple triglyceride feedstocks using a two step reaction with an alcohol and acid catalyst and then an alkaline catalyst. The first step forms an acid alcohol layer and an ester-triglyceride layer. The second step reacts the ester triglyceride layer with a base to form the fatty acid esters.
Patent application WO 2006/128881 to Despeghel describes alkyl-ester compositions derived from rapeseed and sunflower, in particular from Brassica napus and Helianthus annuus using an acid catalyst in a batch process. Despeghel further discloses a process for preparation of the alkyl-esters. The alkyl-ester compositions can be used in diesel engines in its pure form or blended with another composition such as fuel.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,468,319 to Yeh et al. describes various esters used in diesel fuel to reduce emissions. U.S. Pat. No. 5,268,008 to Kanne describes esters used in diesel fuels to reduce emissions.
While the related art teach processes for generating biodiesel, there still exists a need for improved processes and compositions for generating biodiesel.

Process for producing mixed esters of fatty acids as biofuels

Board of Trustees of Michigan State University


According to an aspect, a sever system includes a non-volatile storage device with a plurality of loadable configuration data and a configurable sever logic circuit configured responsive to a transfer of the loadable configuration data to perform a plurality of operations. The operations include mapping a plurality of module-level sever logic inputs to a plurality of module-specific sever logic functions as defined in the loadable configuration data. The module-level sever logic inputs are monitored by the configurable sever logic circuit based on the module-specific sever logic functions for a sever condition. A sever command to disconnect one or more outputs of a plurality of modules is triggered based on the module-specific sever logic functions and the module-level sever logic inputs.

The subject matter disclosed herein generally relates to the field of control systems, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for a configurable sever system.
Critical embedded controllers typically include sever logic that disables controller outputs when normal processing functions of the controller have malfunctioned. Sever logic varies between controller designs and is typically customized in a fixed format for a desired end use or application.

Controlling an aircraft comprising a plurality of loadable configuration sever data based on detecting one or more diagnostic test interfaces


Sealing composition for repairing tires comprising: 15 to 80% of natural latex, 5 to 50% of synthetic latex, 10 to 60% of a glycol selected from ethylene glycol and propylene glycol and 0.05 to 5% of a mineral chosen from a phyllosilicate and silica having an average granulometric distribution in the range between 5 and 95 nm.

When a tyre is punctured, it is now common practice to use a sealing composition. Said composition is poured into the tyre to repair the puncture from the inside, thus ensuring an air-tight seal of the tyre.
Different sealing compositions are known in which a rubber latex, generally natural rubber, is mixed with an adhesive and an anti-freeze agent.
The drawback, however, is that said compositions, if kept for long periods, are subject to phenomena of aggregation between the latex particles and the adhesive particles resulting in the composition taking on a creamy look. Generally, therefore, when said creamy composition is dispensed, it obstructs the dispenser valve and is not able to adequately repair the puncture.
Studies carried out by the inventors have shown that one of the causes of obstruction of the dispenser valve appears to be the large dimension of the natural rubber particles of approximately 1 micron and their non-uniform and unstable granulometric distribution.
Compositions are also known which do not contain an adhesive agent. However, also said compositions cause obstruction of the dispenser valve.
Therefore the need is felt in the art for a new sealing composition for repairing tyres which is without the drawbacks of the known compositions.


A bearing puller that pulls an alternator bearing from a shaft. The bearing, when pulled, travels over slip rings on the shaft which are not affected by the pulling action. A "U" shaped frame has a pair of laterally spaced legs with free ends that abuttingly engage a pole piece of the alternator and an elongate screw is threadedly received by the frame so that rotation of the screw translates into axial travel of the screw and a bearing gripper member secured to the screw. The gripper member performs the pulling function when the screw is rotated.

Bearings are typically press fit onto shafts by machines, making it difficult for a repair person to pull a worn bearing from its shaft.
Accordingly, inventors have developed numerous tools having utility as bearing pullers. Generally speaking, a bearing-engaging frame has an internally threaded aperture through which extends an elongate externally threaded screw member. The screw bears against the shaft that carries the bearing that is to be pulled so that rotation of the screw effects rearward travel of the frame and hence of the bearing due to the axial immobility of the shaft. There are many variations of this principal, with tools being adapted to fit differing shafts and bearings.
For example, the same principal applies where the shaft is axially movable. In that case, the frame that screw threadedly receives the shaft is stationary as the screw advances. The advancing screw bears against the movable shaft and the shaft recedes from the bearing. An example of this type of bearing puller, which is perhaps more accurately termed a bearing pusher, appears in U.S. Pat. No. 3,887,989 to Maynard.
Of course, many pullers do not remove bearings from shafts at all, but are used to pull apart items that are mounted on shafts in tight press fit relation thereto. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,182,385 to Esposito, the pole pieces of an automobile alternator are pulled apart from one another. A first pole piece is held against axial displacement by a cylindrical frame member, and an elongate screw member drives the shaft that carries both pole pieces away from the first pole piece to accomplish the separation.
In some puller devices, the elongate screw does not bear against the shaft. For example, in German patent no. 1078959 to Muller, a first frame is telescopically received by a second frame. The first frame has a leading end that bears against an immobile surface and the second frame has a leading end that engages the item to be pulled. A screw is screw threadedly received within an internally threaded aperture formed in the second frame and said screw's leading end bears against the first frame and not the shaft. Accordingly, rotation of the screw causes the second frame to retract with respect to the first frame, and said second frame carries the item to be pulled along with it.
Thus, the principals of mechanical extraction have been embodied in differing ways.
Certain automobiles, however, have alternators with a bearing and slip ring design that renders all of the known pullers useless, i.e., none of the known pullers have utility in connection with such designs. Thus, there is a need for a bearing puller having utility in connection with such alternator designs, but the prior art, taken as a whole, neither teaches nor suggests how an efficient puller for such bearings could be built.