A thermal interface and a thermal interface as part of a thermal management system that comprises a heat source, and a cooling module. The heat source has an external surface; the thermal interface is a flexible graphite sheet article having two parallel planar surfaces, with the first planar surface of the thermal interface being in operative contact with the external surface of the heat source and the second planar surface being in contact with the cooling module. The graphite sheet contains oil.

The present invention relates to a system for managing the heat from a heat source like an electronic component. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system effective for dissipating the heat generated by an electronic component. Additionally, the present invention relates to a thermal interface sheet article used in conjunction with the heat management system of an electronic component.
With the development of more sophisticated electronic components, including those capable of increasing processing speeds and higher frequencies, having smaller size and more complicated power requirements, and exhibiting other technological advances, such as microprocessors and integrated circuits in electronic and electrical components and systems as well as in other devices such as high power optical devices, relatively extreme temperatures can be generated. However, microprocessors, integrated circuits and other sophisticated electronic components typically operate efficiently only under a certain range of threshold temperatures. The excessive heat generated during operation of these components can not only harm their own performance, but can also degrade the performance and reliability of the overall system and can even cause system failure. The increasingly wide range of environmental conditions, including temperature extremes, in which electronic systems are expected to operate, exacerbates these negative effects.
With the increased need for heat dissipation from microelectronic devices caused by these conditions, thermal management becomes an increasingly important element of the design of electronic products. As noted, both performance reliability and life expectancy of electronic equipment are inversely related to the component temperature of the equipment.
For instance, a reduction in the operating temperature of a device such as a typical SD silicon semiconductor can correspond to an exponential increase in the reliability and life expectancy of the device. Therefore, to maximize the life-span and reliability of a component, controlling the device operating temperature within the limits set by the designers is of paramount importance. A thermal management system is designed to assist with this objective.
One element of a thermal management system is a thermal interface material. A typical use for a thermal interface material is to thermally connect a computer chip to a cooling module (i.e., a heat sink as discussed above) to overcome contact resistance and lack of surface conformity between the heat sink, or the cooling module and the chip or other heat source. Typically, thermal interfaces consist of thermal greases, phase change materials and tapes. Flexible graphite is readily applicable to such applications because of its low thermal resistance and its ability to conform to the surfaces to be interfaced, especially when either or both surfaces are not completely flat. Such characteristics are important in a thermal management system because reducing the thermal resistance as much as possible is of paramount importance.
Although discussed in greater detail below, the process for manufacturing the flexible graphite used in the thermal interface is well-known and the typical practice is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,404,061 to Shane et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. In general, flakes of natural graphite are intercalated in an acid solution. After the flakes are intercalated they are washed and dried and then exfoliated by exposure to a high temperature for a short period of time. This causes the flakes to expand or exfoliate in a direction perpendicular to the crystalline planes of the graphite. The exfoliated graphite flakes are vermiform in appearance and are therefore commonly referred to as worms. The worms may be compressed into sheets or foils with a density approaching theoretical density although a density of about 1.1 g/cc is considered typical for most applications. The sheets of flexible graphite can be cut into any desired configuration to suit a particular application.
Graphites are made up of layer planes of hexagonal arrays or networks of carbon atoms. These layer planes of hexagonally arranged carbon atoms are substantially flat and are oriented or ordered so as to be substantially parallel and equidistant to one another. The substantially flat, parallel equidistant sheets or layers of carbon atoms, usually referred to as graphene layers or basal planes, are linked or bonded together and groups thereof are arranged in crystallites. Highly ordered graphites consist of crystallites of considerable size: the crystallites being highly aligned or oriented with respect to each other and having well ordered carbon layers. In other words, highly ordered graphites have a high degree of preferred crystallite orientation. It should be noted that graphites possess anisotropic structures and thus exhibit or possess many properties that are highly directional such as thermal and electrical conductivity.
Briefly, graphites may be characterized as laminated structures of carbon, that is, structures consisting of superposed layers or laminae of carbon atoms joined together by weak van der Waals forces. In considering the graphite structure, two axes or directions are usually noted, to wit, the xe2x80x9ccxe2x80x9d axis or direction and the xe2x80x9caxe2x80x9d axes or directions. For simplicity, the xe2x80x9ccxe2x80x9d axis or direction may be considered as the direction perpendicular to the carbon layers. The xe2x80x9caxe2x80x9d axes or directions may be considered as the directions parallel to the carbon layers or the directions perpendicular to the xe2x80x9ccxe2x80x9d direction. The graphites suitable for manufacturing flexible graphite sheet, typically natural graphite flake, possess a very high degree of orientation.
As noted above, the bonding forces holding the parallel layers of carbon atoms together are only weak van der Waals forces. Natural graphites can be treated so that the spacing between the superposed carbon layers or laminae can be appreciably opened up so as to provide a marked expansion in the direction perpendicular to the layers, that is, in the xe2x80x9ccxe2x80x9d direction, and thus form an expanded or intumesced graphite structure in which the laminar character of the carbon layers is substantially retained.
Graphite flake which has been greatly expanded and more particularly expanded so as to have a final thickness or xe2x80x9ccxe2x80x9d direction dimension which is as much as about 80 or more times the original xe2x80x9ccxe2x80x9d direction dimension can be formed without the use of a binder into cohesive or integrated sheets of expanded graphite, e.g. webs, papers, strips, tapes, foils, mats or the like (typically referred to as xe2x80x9cflexible graphitexe2x80x9d). The formation of graphite particles which have been expanded to have a final thickness or xe2x80x9ccxe2x80x9d dimension which is as much as about 80 times or more the original xe2x80x9ccxe2x80x9d direction dimension into integrated flexible sheets by compression, without the use of any binding material, is believed to be possible due to the mechanical interlocking, or cohesion, which is achieved between the voluminously expanded graphite particles.
In addition to flexibility, the sheet material, as noted above, has also been found to possess a high degree of anisotropy with respect to thermal and electrical conductivity due to orientation of the expanded graphite particles and graphite layers substantially parallel to the opposed faces of the sheet resulting from very high compression, e.g. roll pressing. Sheet material thus produced has excellent flexibility, good strength and a very high degree of orientation.
Briefly, the process of producing flexible, binderless anisotropic graphite sheet material, e.g. web, paper, strip, tape, foil, mat, or the like, comprises compressing or compacting under a predetermined load and in the absence of a binder, expanded graphite particles which have a xe2x80x9ccxe2x80x9d direction dimension which is as much as about 80 or more times that of the original particles so as to form a substantially flat, flexible, integrated graphite sheet. The expanded graphite particles that generally are worm-like or vermiform in appearance, once compressed, will maintain the compression set and alignment with the opposed major surfaces of the sheet. The density and thickness of the sheet material can be varied by controlling the degree of compression. The density of the sheet material can be within the range of from about 0.04 g/cc to about 2.0 g/cc. The flexible graphite sheet material exhibits an appreciable degree of anisotropy due to the alignment of graphite particles parallel to the major opposed, parallel surfaces of the sheet, with the degree of anisotropy increasing upon roll pressing of the sheet material to increase orientation. In roll pressed anisotropic sheet material, the thickness, i.e. the direction perpendicular to the opposed, parallel sheet surfaces comprises the xe2x80x9ccxe2x80x9d direction and the directions ranging along the length and width, i.e. along or parallel to the opposed, major surfaces comprises the xe2x80x9caxe2x80x9d directions and the thermal and electrical properties of the sheet are very different, by orders of magnitude, for the xe2x80x9ccxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9caxe2x80x9d directions.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,245,400 to Tzeng et al. discloses a release lined pressure sensitive adhesive flexible graphite sheet article that has low thermal resistance properties. The flexible graphite sheet comprises a flexible graphite substrate, and adhesive primer coating thereon, a pressure sensitive adhesive coating on the adhesive primer coating and a release liner applied to the pressure sensitive adhesive coating.
An object of the present invention is to improve the conduction of heat between a heat source and a cooling module.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a thermal interface that has reduced contact resistance and increased thermal conductivity with respect to the heat dissipating component and the heat source.
More specifically, an embodiment of the present invention is a thermal interface material that comprises a flexible graphite sheet article, the sheet article containing oil.
Another embodiment of the present invention is a thermal management system that comprises a heat source having an external surface; a thermal interface which comprises a flexible graphite sheet article that contains oil, the thermal interface being in operative communication with the external surface of the heat source; and a heat dissipating component having a heat collection surface and a heat dissipation surface, the heat collection surface being in operative communication with the thermal interface. In this embodiment, arranging the heat collection surface in operative connection with the thermal interface causes dissipation of heat from the heat source.
Another embodiment of the present invention is a thermal management system that comprises a heat source that comprises an electronic component, a thermal interface, and a heat sink. In this embodiment, the heat source has an external surface; the thermal interface comprises a flexible graphite sheet article having two parallel planar surfaces extending in a direction parallel to the planar direction of the crystal structure of the graphite in the sheet, a first of the planar surfaces of the thermal interface being in operative contact with the external surface of the heat source. Furthermore, the graphite sheet preferably contains at least 2% by weight of oil. In this embodiment, the planar area of the first planar surface of the thermal interface is greater than the area of the external surface of the heat source. Finally, the heat sink has a heat collection surface and at least one heat dissipation surface. The heat collection surface of the heat sink is in operative contact with the second of the planar surfaces of the thermal interface.
Another embodiment of the present invention is a process for preparing a thermal interface material. The process comprises providing a flexible graphite sheet material that has two parallel planar surfaces extending in a direction parallel to the planar direction of the crystal structure of the graphite in the sheet, and providing oil; and contacting said oil with the graphite sheet until from about 2% to about 75% by weight of the oil is absorbed into the thermal interface material.
Finally, another embodiment of the present invention is a method of dissipating heat from a heat source comprising using the thermal interface materials and the thermal management systems of the present invention.
Preferably in the above embodiments, the thermal interface comprises an anisotropic flexible graphite sheet having a planar area greater than the area of the external surface of the heat source. Furthermore, preferably in the above embodiments, the oil is mineral oil.


A semiconductor device for a USB Type-C cable includes a first terminal to couple to a first VCONN line from a first end of the cable, a second terminal to couple to a second VCONN line from the second end of the cable, a charge pump, and a switch circuit coupled to the first terminal and the second terminal. The switch circuit includes a first drain-extended n-type field effect transistor (DENFET) coupled between the first terminal and an internal power supply of the semiconductor device; a first pump switch coupled between the charge pump and a gate of the first DENFET; a second DENFET coupled between the second terminal and the internal power supply; and a second pump switch coupled between the charge pump and a gate of the second DENFET.

Electronic circuits may include individual electronic components, such as resistors, transistors, capacitors, inductors, and diodes, among others, connected by conductive wires or traces through which electric current can flow. Electronic circuits may be constructed using discrete components, or more commonly integrated in an integrated circuit (IC) where the components and interconnections are formed on a common substrate, such as silicon.

Dynamic VCONN swapping in dual-powered type-C cable applications


An amplifier circuit structure can include an amplifier located in a main path, and a first switch located in a bypass. One end of a second switch is a signal output end of the amplifier circuit structure, and the other end of the second switch is configured to selectively connect to a signal output end of the bypass or a signal output end of the main path. The first and second switches are configured to control their respective operating states when a first instruction is received, such that the main path is connected to the signal input end and the signal output end of the amplifier circuit structure; and to control their respective operating states when a second instruction is received, such that the bypass is connected to the signal input end of the amplifier circuit structure and the signal output end of the amplifier circuit structure.

In a wireless communication device, a receiver needs to meet a certain dynamic range. When there is a large interference signal in the signal received by the receiver, an Analog-to-Digital Converter may have an overflow phenomenon, and a useful signal cannot be demodulated accurately, and thus the gain of the entire receiving link needs to be reduced, so that an overflow threshold cannot be reached when a large signal enters the ADC, and the useful signal may be demodulated normally.

Amplifier circuit structure and method for controlling circuit

SMARTER MICROELECTRONICS (GUANG ZHOU) CO., LTD.


The present invention provides a recording apparatus wherein recording is performed by reciprocably shifting a carriage on which a recording head is mounted by means of a stepping motor and which comprises a rotational position detection device for detecting a rotational position of a rotor of the stepping motor, and a control unit for performing a closed loop control for the change-over timing of excitation currents to coils of the stepping motor and for the driving speed of the stepping motor, on the basis of the detection signal from the rotational position detection device, and judges whether the initial drive of the stepping motor and the change-over timing are normal, through the control unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a recording apparatus, and more particularly, it relates to a recording apparatus of the serial type, wherein at least a recording head is shifted by a stepping motor as a driving source to scan for a recording operation.
2. Related Background Art
In a conventional recording apparatus of serial type, a hybrid stepping motor or a PM (permanent magnet) stepping motor or a brushless motor has been used as a carriage driving motor for shifting a recording head to scan for a recording operation.
For example, in the brushless motor, generally, for example Hall elements have been used for detecting positions of magnetic poles of a rotor to perform an electric control, and an optical or magnetic encoder has been used for detecting the speed of the rotor.
However, such a conventional brushless motor has the following drawbacks:
(1) It is required that magnetic poles of a stator are correctly positioned with respect to the Hall elements; and
(2) Since the positions of the Hall elements and of the stator are determined unconditionally when the current change-over is effected by the Hall elements, a method for supplying current to the motor is limited to only one way. For example, since in case of a so-called 180.degree. electric control, the positions of the Hall elements regarding the magnetic poles of the stator differ by 45.degree. electrically from those in the case of a so-called 90.degree. electric control, if two kinds of electric controls are effected by a single motor, the number of the Hall elements will be increased twice and all of the Hall elements must be arranged in positions suitable for performing the respective electric controls.
Incidentally, the Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 62-193548 and 62-193549 disclose a stepping motor wherein an electric control is effected by utilizing an encoder. However, these Patent Applications merely disclose the structure of the stepping motor itself including the encoder arranged in a predetermined position, but do not disclose or teach the control circuit or method for driving the stepping motor.
Now, the Applicant has proposed, in the U.S. Pat. Ser. No. 259,259 filed on Oct. 18, 1988, a control apparatus for a stepping motor wherein an encoder having detected portions the number of which is larger by a few times than that of the magnetic poles of the rotor is fixedly mounted on a shaft of the rotor, and when the rotor is rotated the number of the detected portions on the encoder passing through a predetermined position situated at the stator side is counted so that when the counted number coincides with a predetermined value the electric supply to the coil of the stator is initiated.
Conventionally, the drive control for the stepping motor has merely been performed by an open loop control treating the number of driving pulses of the stepping motor and the frequency of such pulse.
However, if the stepping motor is used as the carriage driving motor and the stepping motor is driven by the open loop control, during the movement of the carriage, discordant noise is generated due to the vibration of the rotor of the stepping motor, particularly, the hybrid stepping motor. Further, upon start, stop and reverse of the carriage, and accordingly, upon start, stop and reverse of the stepping motor, since the stepping motor is started o stopped with vibration, large noise is also generated. These noises must be avoided, particularly in an ink jet printer such as a bubble jet printer which generates no substantial noise.
Further, it can be considered that the above-mentioned brushless motor is used as the carriage driving motor. In this case, however, since the brushless motor has a long starting-up time upon start of the motor, it is not suitable for the carriage driving motor which requires the start, stop and reverse of the motor for each printing (recording) line, and therefore, the high speed printing or recording cannot be attained by the use of the brushless motor.
Now, in the U.S. Pat. Ser. No. 302,196 filed on Jan. 27, 1989, a recording apparatus has been proposed wherein the stepping motor is used as a driving source for shifting a recording head to scan for a recording operation and comprises a detecting means for an angular position of the rotor of the stepping motor, and a control means for closed-loop controlling the drive of the stepping motor in accordance with the detected result from the detecting means.
However, in order to closed-loop control the stepping motor, it is necessary to provide an encoder for detecting the angular position of the rotor of the stepping motor and it is also necessary to register the positions of the magnetic poles of the rotor with the positions of the magnetic poles (slits in the magnetic or optical system) of the encoder during assembling of the stepping motor. The reason why such registration of positions between the magnetic poles of the rotor and those of the encoder is required is that the phase change-over of the stepping motor must be synchronous with the output pulses of the encoder. If such positional registration is not obtained with high accuracy, the motor will not be rotated or will have different rotational speeds in opposite directions.
On the other hand, if the number of pulses generated during one revolution of the encoder is increased to improve the resolving power for each pulse, such positional registration will not be required. For example, in a PM stepping motor in which one revolution is achieved by 48 steps, the number of the magnetic poles of the rotor is 24 (twenty-four). In this case, if the number of the output pulses of the encoder is 288 for each revolution, the output having 12 (twelve) pulses can be obtained for each magnetic pole of the rotor. If the encoder is fixedly mounted on the shaft of the rotor at random, since the deviation between the center of the magnetic poles of the rotor and the center of the magnetic poles of the encoder corresponds to a half of a distance of two adjacent pulses at the most, such deviation will be included in the range of .+-.4.2%. In this case, the deviation in the change-over timing of the exciting current can be negligible.
However, in this case, it must be determined which magnetic pole of the encoder corresponds to the particular magnetic pole of the rotor. To this end, first of all, the current is supplied to the coils of the motor for a predetermined time or more. Then, when the rotor of the motor is slightly rotated by the energization of the coils due to such current supply and then is stopped, the magnetic pole in the encoder which is registered with the magnetic pole of the rotor is selected. The other magnetic poles in the encoder may be selected at intervals of twelve pulses on the basis of the firstly selected magnetic pole.
The initialization of the encoder as mentioned above must be effected prior to the action of the stepping motor. That is to say, when such stepping motor is used as the carriage driving motor for a serial printer, it is necessary to initialize the encoder before the printer is powered on.
However, since it is not ascertained where the carriage of the printer is positioned or stopped after the power source is turned OFF, the initializing operation can not often be performed correctly. For example, if the carriage is stopped at the right or left margin of its travel, or if the carriage is not further moved (and, thus, the motor can not be further rotated) in spite of the fact that some of the phases of the motor is energized for the initialization, or if the rotor is in a dead point (where an electric angle is deviated from the normal position by 180.degree. and the torque is zero), the initialization will be effected in a condition that the position of the rotor is not correctly set, with the result that the motor cannot be driven or may be overrun.
Further, when the stepping motor is driven or the rotor of the motor is held to perform the above-mentioned initializing operation, since the motor driving voltage is applied to the stepping motor as it is, it is feared that the excessive current flows through the stepping motor. To avoid this phenomenon, conventionally, a current control circuit as shown in FIG. 15 was prepared to limit the current in the motor drive operation and the rotor holding operation. Incidentally, in FIG. 15, the reference numeral designates a motor drive circuit.
However, when such current control circuit is incorporated, the construction of the motor drive circuit will be complicated, thus increasing the manufacturing cost, the number of parts, space of the substrate or the like.


A variable lubricant vane pump includes a pump housing, a shiftable control ring, a rotatable pump rotor, a control ring preload spring which preloads and pushes the control ring into a high eccentricity direction, a hydraulic safety control chamber which moves the control ring against the control ring preload spring and which is directly and constantly pressurized with a pressurized lubricant having a pump outlet pressure, a separate hydraulic adjustment control chamber which moves the control ring against the control ring preload spring and which is selectively pressurized with the pressurized lubricant having an over-atmospheric pressure, an electric adjustment valve which selectively directs the pressurized lubricant having the over-atmospheric pressure to the separate hydraulic adjustment control chamber, and a calibrated hydraulic channel which directly connects the separate hydraulic adjustment control chamber with atmospheric pressure. An effective hydraulic cross-sectional area of the calibrated hydraulic channel is less than 5.0 mm2.

A mechanical lubricant vane pump is mechanically driven by an engine, for example, via a gear or a belt, and is fluidically coupled to the combustion engine for pumping the pressurized lubricant having the pump outlet pressure to and through the engine. The pump outlet pressure or the gallery pressure of the lubricant in the engine or at the lubricant outlet of the engine needs to be controlled and stabilized to a set pressure value.
WO 2015 113 437 A1 describes a typical variable displacement lubricant vane pump which is part of a lubrication circuit which also comprises an internal combustion engine and a complex hydraulic control valve for controlling the set pump outlet pressure. The lubricant vane pump is provided with a static pump housing, a shiftable control ring, and a rotatable pump rotor comprising several rotor vanes which rotate within the shiftable control ring. The control ring is shiftable with respect to the pump rotor to thereby vary the eccentricity of the control ring with respect to the pump rotor for controlling the displacement and, as a result, the volumetric pump performance of the pump.
The pump is provided with a control ring preload spring which preloads and pushes the shiftable control ring into the high eccentricity direction. The pump is further provided with a control chamber which is loaded with the pump outlet pressure and which causes the shiftable control ring to move into the low eccentricity direction against the control ring preload spring. The pump is also provided with a complex control valve which allows different set pump outlet pressures to be chosen.
WO 2014 187 503 A1 describes a variable displacement lubricant vane pump as part of a lubrication circuit wherein the set pressure of the pump is the gallery pressure of the engine.

Variable displacement lubricant vane pump


A dog-tooth-face interface for a vehicle includes a first clutch element that has a plurality of recesses distributed on a side of the first clutch element and around an axis through the first clutch element and a second clutch element that has a plurality of teeth configured to engage with the recesses and distributed on a side of the second clutch element adjacent the recesses. At least one of the first clutch element and the second clutch element is configured so as to rotate about the axis, and at least one of the first clutch element and second clutch element is configured so as to move along the axis to engage or disengage the first and second clutch elements. Moreover, the first clutch element has a substantially continuous wall surrounding the recesses, and the recesses have at least one corner relief portion configured to avoid contact with corners of the teeth.

A variety of mechanical interfaces, such as clutches, couplings, differential mechanisms and/or the like are known. In the context of automotive vehicles, such as, e.g., motorcycles, automobiles, trucks, busses and the like, mechanical interfaces are often employed within drive trains or the like, such as, e.g., in the transmission of power from an engine to one or more vehicle drive wheels. By way of example, some mechanical interfaces, known as differential gear interfaces, are employed within vehicles so as to provide a balanced power distribution during operation of a vehicle. In this regard, during vehicle turning, gears may be enabled by such differential gear interfaces to rotate relative to one another (i.e., differentially), allowing higher rotational speeds of outer drive wheels.
By way of example, in some existing vehicles, clutch members include teeth that are moved into and out of engagement during operation of the clutch. In this regard, FIG. 1 shows an illustrative clutch element 100A having clutch recesses 110 that operate in conjunction with another clutch element (not shown) having corresponding clutch teeth (not shown) that engage within the clutch recesses 110.
While a variety of interfaces and clutch designs are known, existing interfaces and clutch designs have notable limitations. For example, in some vehicle applications, such as in certain environments involving large commercial vehicles, including trucks and other commercial vehicles, previous designs were incapable of sufficiently handling stresses imparted to a clutch set in a limited space that was available for the clutch set.
In an effort to establish desirable clutch structures for vehicles, some existing clutches have employed a splined clutch set. However, such splined clutch sets have a number of disadvantages. For example, such splined clutch sets typically rely on having a long engagement depth and typically require that the splines be machined into the clutch parts. Among other disadvantages, these requirements have typically limited that technology to applications with larger working areas.
In addition, a variety of other systems and devices are also known. By way of example, additional background documents include:                a) U.S. Pat. No. 6,551,209, which shows an "electrically actuated locking differential" of the "type in which the differential gearing may be locked in response to an electrical input signal;"        b) U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,971, which shows "a locking differential" "for selectably locking a first axle to a second axle;" and        c) U.S. Pat. No. 1,579,728, which shows a "synchronizer" for "use in situations where . . . clutches or gears are moved relative to each other along the same axis of rotation."
Although a variety of systems and methods are known, there is a continued need to improve these and other existing systems and/or to overcome limitations therein. As set forth below, the preferred embodiments of the present invention provide notable advancements over the systems and methods described in the above-noted documents as well as other existing systems and devices.


An oil separator is provided for separating oil from a refrigerant gas and returning the oil to a compressor. The separator includes a housing which has means associated therewith for conducting a mixture of refrigerant gas and oil into the housing and therein separating the oil from the gas. The separated oil is stored in a reservoir forming a part of the housing. A plurality of oil pickup devices are located within the oil reservoir. Each of the oil pickup devices has an oil pickup opening associated therewith. The oil pickup openings are located at different depths within the oil reservoir. The pickup devices are designed so that they are substantially more receptive to the flow of lubricating oil therethrough than to the flow of refrigerant gas. In one embodiment, the oil pickup devices are capillary tubes having their open ends located at different depths within the oil reservoir.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to oil separation systems for use with refrigeration systems and more particularly to an apparatus for returning oil, separated from a mixture of refrigerant and lubricating oil, to the compressor of a refrigeration system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Refrigeration systems, of the type used in transport refrigeration equipment, include, in the simplest form, a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator serially interconnected to form a closed refrigeration circulation path. Typically, such systems use a reciprocating type compressor which is lubricated by a lubricating oil which mixes with the refrigerant being compressed therein. In such transport refrigeration systems, the refrigerant R-12 has been used almost exclusively with satisfactory results. Since R-12 is completely miscible with the lubricating oils used in such systems, no problem has been experienced with the return of the oil to the compressor crank case during the wide range of operating conditions which a transport refrigeration system experiences. Also, since the oil and refrigerant remain mixed, even at low system temperatures, the thermodynamic characteristics of systems using completely miscible refrigerants are predictable. As a result, it has not been necessary to utilize oil separators in such systems. R-12, and many other completely miscible refrigerants, however, are in the family of refrigerants known as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). For many years CFCs have seen wide spread use in many different refrigeration applications. The reason for such popularity is that CFCs are stable and non-flammable, boil and condense in a useful temperature and pressure range, and were believed relatively inert and free of harmful side effects. Recently, there has been a growing scientific consensus that emissions of CFCs are depleting a layer of stratospheric ozone that protects the earths surface from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation. In response to this concern, international agreements have been entered into which require the parties thereto to reduce significantly their production and consumption of certain ozone--depleting CFCs and halons over the next decade. Further, federal and state bills, that seek to regulate use, manufacture, importation, and disposal of CFCs, are being considered.
A suitable substitute refrigerant for R-12 in low temperature applications, is R-22. R-22 is a member of a chemical family known as hydroclorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). It is believed that because of their hydrogen component, the HCFCs break down substantially in the lower atmosphere and their ozone depletion potential is substantially lower than that of R-12 and other CFC refrigerants.
R-22 is only partially miscible with lubricating oils. Below a certain temperature a partially miscible refrigerant-oil system may separate into two phases. One solution being particularly rich in oil and the other refrigerant rich. Such separation can result in detrimental heat transfer characteristics, as well as problems wherein the oil rich layer separates and collects in pockets or blind passages and thus the oil is not returned to the compressor sump. To alleviate this problem oil separators are frequently required in the discharge line to minimize oil circulation when partially miscible refrigerants are used in systems, particularly those involving low evaporator temperatures.
In such systems it is desirable to extract or separate the entrained oil from the refrigerant as quickly as possible after compression, to minimize the effects of the oil on other parts of the system. Furthermore, it is desirable to remove the entrained oil while the refrigerant is in the gaseous state since less separating effort is required, the refrigerant is easier to handle, and differential pressures are present in the gaseous state portion of the system for aiding the separation process. It is also desirable to provide a means for returning the separated oil back to the compressor sump.
A typical prior art oil separator comprises a housing having an inlet for the refrigerant/oil mixture, an outlet for the substantially oil free refrigerant gas and a return means for conducting the separated oil from the separator back to the compressor. Typically, a strainer is arranged about the inlet for the refrigerant/oil mixture and about the outlet for the refrigerant gas. The strainers are configured such that the one on the inlet catches oil on the inside and the one on the outlet catches oil on the outside. The strainers are typically separated by a baffle and allow separated oil to drip into the lower portion of the housing. In the lower portion, close to the bottom of the housing, a float assembly is positioned. The float assembly typically comprises a float ball attached to a lever arm for operating a needle valve within a valve body to open and close a valve seat and allow oil to be sent through a return line to the compressor oil sump. U.S. patents showing oil separating systems typical of that described hereinabove include U.S. Pat. No. 3,283,532 --Refrigerating Apparatus with Oil Separating Means to Eric J. Kocher and U.S. Pat. No. 4,310,338 --Replaceable Float Oil Separator to Earnest W. Shoemacher, et. al.
The oil separators of the type described above having mechanical float valves are not suitable for transport refrigeration applications because of the shock and vibration which such systems experience when they are on the road.
Other known types of oil return arrangements include the use of an electric solenoid in an oil return line. Such systems are not deemed suitable for a transport refrigeration application primarily because of the large number of operating cycles expected, coupled with, the requirement that such systems be extremely reliable, and capable of providing many years of trouble free operation.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,070,977 --Refrigeration System including Oil Separator and Muffler Unit and Oil Return Arrangement to C.J. Kimmel, et al. discloses the use of a standard orifice in an oil return line wherein the orifice is configured so that it passes oil freely, but restricts the passage of gas therethrough. The theory of the '977 patent is that when no oil is present in the region communicating with the entrance to the orifice and that region is occupied by a refrigerant gas, the difference in pressure across the orifice creates a "pressure shock" or "baffle shock" condition, so that no significant amount of gas flows through the orifice. In other words, the orifice itself acts as an open valve for the oil but acts as a substantially closed valve for the gas. Kimmel also employs a mechanical needle valve arrangement to control flow from the separator.
A capillary tube is another device which is selectively more receptive to the flow of a liquid than a vapor. Basically, liquid passes through a capillary much easier than a vapor, because the pressure drop experienced by vapor causes a decrease in density which in turn causes an increase in velocity to the point where sonic velocity (or "choked flow") is reached.
The use of a capillary in an oil return line of an oil separator is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,800,736 to Weber.
Transport refrigeration systems are subject to an extremely wide range of operating conditions and must be capable of operating reliably and maintaining a desired setpoint temperature over that wide range of conditions. As an example, a transport refrigeration system of the self contained, independent engine-driven type used for cooling trailers may be required to maintain a range of cargo temperatures from 55.degree. F., for bananas, to -20.degree. F. for a cargo of ice cream. The system further must be designed to have the capability of maintaining these temperatures when the ambient temperature ranges from -20.degree. F. to 120.degree. F.
It should be appreciated that during certain operating conditions of a transport refrigeration system, for example, during the initial pull down of the temperature of cargo which has been loaded at a temperature far greater than the desired setpoint, the amount of oil collected within the sump of the oil separator may vary and it is desirable to have an oil return system capable of providing variable rates of oil return from the separator to the compressor sump. It should also be appreciated that during the initial startup and operation of such systems, at the low range of the ambient temperatures which such a system may see, the viscosity of the lubricating oil will be such that return of oil to the compressor sump would be extremely difficult.


A stovetop wok cooking system, including a wok support assembly and a flame focusing ring. The wok support assembly includes a conical shaped fireproof main structure and spaced leg assemblies. The main structure includes a top wok support end portion and a bottom wok support end portion. The top wok support end portion includes a series of spaced bumps thereon to provide clearance for flames, and an upper lip. The bottom wok support end portion has a circular bottom support opening and a rounded rim. A clip is configured to slideably engage the rounded rim. Each leg assembly slides about the top wok support end portion and the bottom wok support end portion during use to an operative position for supporting the wok support assembly on varying stovetop designs. The flame focusing ring is adapted to be placed upon a stovetop and nested within the wok support assembly. In some embodiments the wok has a fixed handle. In other embodiments the wok is adjustably connected to the handle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to gas burner attachments and more particularly to a stovetop wok cooking system utilizing a wok support ring with a versatile leg assembly for utilization on varying stovetop designs; and, a flame focusing ring for encircling a gas burner and directing the flames upwardly and inwardly to concentrate the flame on the bottom center of a wok.
The present invention also relates to improvements in utensils, especially household utensils, and more particularly to improvements in household utensils including those known as woks and analogous cookware which can be utilized for stir-frying meats, fish, vegetables and/or other edible foodstuffs.
2. Description of the Related Art
The development of the traditional wok by the Chinese over 2,500 years ago was necessary from the tough living conditions in China. Scarce supply of firewood forced the frugal Chinese to devise the present day methods of flash-flame cooking or better known as stir-fry.
The stir-frying technique involves the use of a Chinese wok, which usually requires cooking of vegetables and meats for very short time periods at high heat. In a typical stir-fry recipe, the cooking time is three to five minutes, or less. The health benefits of short-time cooking with minimal use of fats are substantial. Less fat is absorbed by the food being cooked in a wok than with western methods and resulting fat intake by the consumer is at a minimum. In addition to the health benefits, the flavor of the food, particularly vegetables, is substantially retained by the high heat searing of the food surfaces.
Chinese restaurants can attain these high temperatures by using commercial burners that reach over 200,000 BTU's (British Thermal Units). The typical American gas stove burner outputs an average 7,000 to 18,000 BTU's maximum. The commercial burners are able to bring the surface temperature of the wok to over 700 degrees F. to impart what Chinese experts say is the elusive "Wok Hei". "Hay", the Cantonese Chinese pronunciation, or "chi" or "qi", the Mandarin Chinese pronunciations (the ones most familiar to the non-Chinese reader), is breath—the Chinese concept of vital energy that flows through the body. Chinese chefs stress that Wok Hei must be achieved on the surface of the wok as the primary directive. This is not an issue for Chinese restaurants.
For wok cooking on a regular gas stovetop, Wok Hei is quite elusive because of the insufficient amount of BTU's generated by the average domestic gas stove. This has given rise to a number of innovative wok designs in addition to the traditional cast-iron or stamped carbon steel woks that have entered the market. Today's Asian woks are manufactured in stainless steel, flat bottom, layered-steel/aluminum/steel, aluminum Teflon coated and electric/Teflon bottom. These types of woks have lured cooks away in the past, however, many devotees are returning to the faithful old cast iron or stamped carbon steel wok, because they respond most readily to changes in heat. Their thin gauge allows less time to heat up in preparation for cooking. Most commercially available Asian woks address certain aspects; heating, convenience and utility, however, they all are band-aids and miss their mark on the biggest issue in wok cooking: hi-temperature heat or Wok Hei.
Present day conventional gas stove burners are designed to take on all types of currently mass produced cookware. Practically all cookware is flat bottomed in nature. The typical western style stove burner emits a flame that fans outwardly as a pot or pan is placed on it. This design is most effective because it takes advantage of the entire flat surface area of the cookware.
In the case of the Asian wok, it's the opposite. The wok's unique round bottom and western burner causes the flame from a typical stovetop gas jet to mushroom out to its edges. This is an inherent design flaw of a round bottom type wok working in conjunction with a stove. The wok and the conventional stovetop jet burner are not a compatible match.
One of the main problems with the use of the wok in western kitchens is that it does not adapt well on electric and gas ranges. The wok was developed for use by placing it directly on rings with a wide based fire built underneath. However, the cooking surfaces utilized, particularly in the west, are typically flat for delivering heat to flat bottomed cooking vessels such as frying pans or sauce pans. The round dome surface of the wok does not adapt well to cooking on modern electric and gas ranges. Various methods have been utilized in attempts to overcome this problem.
One method involves modifying the structure of the wok itself. The production of flat bottomed woks for resting in a stable manner on a flat range top, has been done either by making the wok wall a uniform thickness and having both inside and outside have a flat bottom, in which case the wok is a little more than a high sided frying pan with all its inherent disadvantages, or by building the outside of the wok up only to leave a spherical cooking surface with a flat exterior surface. The disadvantage of this method is the cooking technique in spatula manipulation, i.e., movement of a metal spatula from a round surface to a flat plane. This can be discerning to those more accustomed to round bottomed woks. Flat bottomed woks do not permit the sweeping, surface-scooping motion of the round-edged spatulas used in wok cooking; where rapid, fluid motions are essential for effective stir-frying; and, flat bottomed woks do not permit the user to rock the wok smoothly over the heating surface in order to efficiently spread other ingredients to the food being cooked in the wok while keeping the wok in full contact with the heating surface. The other disadvantage of this method is that the weight and mass of the wok is increased.
Another modification to the wok has been the use of electric woks wherein the heating elements are arrayed in a partially spherical design at the bottom of the wok to provide even heat distribution. These woks are typically quite expensive and have the same disadvantages as the flat bottomed wok's unwieldiness. Their heat control thermostats are not sensitive enough for the quick temperature changes stir-frying demands. Another disadvantage of electric woks is that most of them are Teflon coated, which give rise to a potential health issue associated with the inhaling of toxic fumes when the surface temperature exceeds 450 degrees F.
Those who wish to attain the advantage of cooking in a traditional thin walled wok have been forced either to abandon the use of modern ranges or else to utilize some form of interface adapter between the range and the wok. The alternate heating methods are less than desirable since they force the user to abandon the range top, the most commonly used cooking area in the kitchen. Thus, interface adapters have become popular.
The interface adapters manufactured to date have been rings or collars which are adapted to fit on the range element surface to provide a circular ring upper surface into which the wok bottom nests in a fairly stable fashion. Lack of stability is a major disadvantage of prior art interface adapters.
Electrical range elements are typically spiral elements with spaces between different portions of the element. In this manner, the bottom surface of the adapter ring will typically rest partially on the element and partially on the spans between portions of the element. Since the shape and size of the electrical elements varies drastically from stove to stove, this can often result in an unstable circumstance. Instability can be a great disadvantage since spillage of cooking oil can lead to kitchen fires and severe burns to the user.
The problem is even more notable in gas ranges which typically have only an open latticework frame to support the cooking vessel with wide spaces between the various elements of the frame. There is a greater danger of instability of the adapter rings on this sort of latticework than even on the electrical elements.
Another disadvantage of prior art adapter rings or collars is that the heat is delivered to the wok in an uneven fashion. Thermal energy is delivered directly by conduction to the ring portion of the wok where the top of the adapter ring and the wok directly interface. However, the remaining portions of the wok must either be heated by radiant energy or by indirect conduction. Consequently, a hot ring area may develop part-way up the sides of the wok, particularly if the wok is constructed of less than optimal material. This provides for uneven cooking and does not provide the maximum heat to the very bottom of the wok where most of the actual cooking takes place.
In summary, a regular home stovetop gas jet burner normally spreads flames outwardly away from the center to cover a large area on a flat pan, which is not effective for a wok which needs a very hot flame in the bottom center of the wok, and ordinary home stoves are unsatisfactory for supporting spherical bottoms of Asian wok cooking vessels.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,006,676, issued on Feb. 8, 1977 to Adamis, discloses a crepe pan that is adapted to distribute the batter over the flat exposed bottom surface of the bottom of the pan. A base locates and supports the pan in position and is so dimensioned as to surround the flame and distribute the heat evenly over the flat bottom of the pan; the weight distribution of the pan and its handle being such that the pan will be firmly seated around a suitable flange on a shoulder adjacent the flange of the substantially cylindrical base.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,315,983, issued May 31, 1994 to Law, describes a wok support ring comprising a two-piece support ring structure for supporting a wok cooking vessel on top of a burner cylinder of a cooking range. The structure features two components: a top ring of a substantially circular shape upon which sits a wok; and a base ring having a substantially circular shape that removably rests on the burner cylinder. The top ring removably rests on the base ring. The base ring itself comprises a first ring and a first mating means disposed on top of the first ring for removably coupling the base ring to the top ring. The top ring comprises a second ring upon which sits the wok and a second mating means projecting from the bottom of the second ring for removably coupling the top ring to the first mating means. The base ring further comprises a third mating means for removably coupling the base ring to the burner cylinder.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,316, issued Jul. 7, 1998 to Jones, describes a cooking range with interchangeable grate and wok ring mounted thereon. The range supports the wok ring and the grate over a gas fired burner element. The grate and the wok ring include a support plate which selectively engages the cooking range in a preferred orientation. The wok ring includes a preferred configuration of the support ring.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,345,062, issued Sep. 6, 1994 to Maudal, discloses a support stand which adapts an Asian WOK to a Western kitchen range. The stand provides an upper ring to receive a round bottomed WOK; the ring has sufficient diameter to accommodate the WOK securely in the stand. The base of the stand adapts to prior art drip pans placed in heating wells, where the well has gas or electrical heating elements located according to the type of range, and thus anchors the stand to the kitchen range top. A second concept modifies existing drip pans to provide both the functions of drip pan and support stand in a single, combined support stand. This stand replaces existing stands and drip pans and anchors the WOK to the kitchen range top. A third concept converts a prior WOK fire ring into a trivet allowing use of the WOK at a dinner table.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,718,967, issued Apr. 13, 2004 to Luther, discloses a wok support for use in a wok range which incorporates a refractory insulating material into its structure. The wok support includes a tubular support structure having internal space in its wall. The refractory insulating material is disposed in the internal space.
U.S. Pat. No. D250,931, issued Jan. 30, 1979 to Pierce, provides the ornamental design for a gas saving grate.
U.S. Pat. No. D364,534, issued Nov. 28, 1995 to Brown, discloses the ornamental design for an adapter for elevating an accessory above a stove heating element.
U.S. Pat. No. D545,124, issued Jun. 26, 2007 to Hawkins, discloses the ornamental design for a wok ring.
While a number of prior art wok supports have been attempted to be used with gas burners on stove tops (as well as some for use with electric coils) and a number of rings of various types for focusing flames of stovetop gas burners, none of the aforementioned patents provide a ring for focusing gas jet stovetop burners in combination with a universal wok support to fit a wide variety of stovetop grates and suspend a wok an effective distance above the gas jet to receive the full effect of the focused gas jet on the bottom center of the wok.
In partial response to this problem, present applicant invented and is the patentee of U.S. Pat. No. 7,694,671, issued on Apr. 13, 2010, entitled, "Flame Focusing Ring for Stovetop Gas Burner and Universal Wok Support." The '671 patent discloses a very effective flame focusing ring.
As will be disclosed below, the present invention can be utilized with the flame focusing ring, providing an enhanced more secure and safe platform for the wok and enhanced performance of the focus ring. The present invention serves to optimize the flame signature at the optimal height. Laterally sliding leg assemblies provide for varying stove grates. As will be disclosed below, the present invention includes embodiments for varying the height of the wok support assembly depending on the size of the focus ring used and the grating of the stovetop.
A high percentage of the work of a chef in a Chinese restaurant, of a housewife or of one or more persons in another establishment which serves stir-fried foods consists in the manipulation of a wok, heavy with food, over a high flame. Such persons frequently or invariably experience arm and wrist pains after long hours of working, with the wok in hand, to turn out hundreds or even smaller numbers of courses of entrees consisting of or containing stir-fried foodstuffs. The result is a repetitive motion-induced injury known as or similar to the so-called carpal tunnel syndrome. In addition, the hand of a chef who is in charge of manipulating a wok is often burned by droplets of hot oil and/or sauces which are normally admixed to the solid foodstuffs in the bowl of a wok. As will be disclosed below, certain features of the present invention will mitigate these problems.


A parallelepipedal package, especially one made of a composite of cardboard and plastic, for liquids, soups, and similar products, with a front wall, a rear wall, and two side walls, with a square or rectangular top wall and a square or rectangular bottom wall, and with its edges drawn in to create at least one convex area. The drawn-in edges of the package extend over an area located strictly at the top of the otherwise still parallelepipedal package.

The invention concerns a parallelepipedal package, especially one made of a composite of cardboard and plastic, for liquids, soups, and similar products, with a front wall 1, a rear wall 2, and two side walls 3 and 4, with a square or rectangular top wall 5 and a square or rectangular bottom wall 6, and with its edges 14 and 15 drawn in to create at least one convex area.
A parallelepipedal package of this type is known from German Patent 1 215 576. The point of departure for the known package is the realization that, when it is made out of a relatively thin material in a parallelepipedal shaping cell, it tends to buckle out at the bottom and collapse at the top. The buckling out at the bottom is due to the weight of the product in the package, and the collapse at the top derives from the package being so tightly welded that the bottom draws the top in when it buckles. Packages in this condition are unattractive and are not strong enough to resist squeezing. The aforesaid German patent accordingly proposes making the side walls of the package slightly convex and drawing the longitudinal edges in while keeping the top and bottom walls precisely rectangular in order to plump the package out from top to bottom and make it strong enough to resist squeezing, whereby the perimeter of the package will remain constant in all horizontal sections. This approach accordingly involves consciously exhausting the deformation potential of the packaging material from the very beginning within limits dictated by the dimensional stability of the top and bottom walls due to the slight convexity at the top and bottom of the side walls of the package to the extent that further buckling at the bottom and hence drawing in of the side walls at the top will no longer be possible because it will be counteracted by the volume of the product at the top of the package slightly exceeding that of the parallelepiped.

Parallelepipedal package, especially one made of a composite of cardboard and plastic, for liquids, soups, and similar products, and method of manufacture


An arrangement for modifying impressed radars signals with an internally generated signal to establish a misrepresentative return signal which is confusing as to actual range, size and position.

Aircraft, vehicles and other objects operating in hostile territory or airspace are often subject to enemy radar monitoring and illumination.
To prevent them from being correctly identified, positioned and otherwise monitored, it is desirable to confuse the enemy by partially or completely modifying the received or impressed radar signal and to produce a return or echo which is unrepresentative or unrelated in whole or part to the actual nature or character of the illuminated vehicle.


Provided is a remote control command setting device capable of regulating some operations while being easy to handle for children. The device reconfigures a correspondence between an operation for an operation area having multiple operation buttons arranged therein and a control command for an electric device. The device includes an operation history holding unit (180) for accumulating operation history for the operation area, a control command setting unit (200) for reconfiguring an available control command on the basis of the operation history, and an operation area setting unit (210) for reconfiguring a sub-area in the operation area on the basis of the operation history and the available control command.

A remote controller (hereinafter, referred to as "remote control" as appropriate) is often used to operate AV equipment such as a television set or a recorder. In a residence, there are many cases where a child performs a remote control operation or an infant plays at imitating a remote control operation.
Meanwhile, if an infant or child (hereinafter, collectively referred to as a "child") is allowed to freely handle a remote control, there is concern that a control command that an adult does not want the infant or child to enter, such as deletion of a file, is input to AV equipment.
In this respect, for example, PTL 1 to PTL 3 disclose a technique for resetting a correspondence between an operation in an operation region where a plurality of operation buttons are disposed and a control command for electrical equipment.
In techniques disclosed in PTL 1 and PTL 2, some of a plurality of control commands associated with the respective operation buttons in a one-to-one relationship are disabled. In a technique disclosed in PTL 3, in a remote control having a liquid crystal touch panel as an operation region, operation buttons displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel are changed depending on the age of the user.
According to the related art, it is possible to prevent a control command that an adult does not want a child to enter from being input to AV equipment by an operation of a child.

Remote control command setting device and method for setting remote control command


This invention comprises an auxiliary light apparatus for use in combination with a backup light apparatus of a truck or other vehicle. The auxiliary light apparatus comprises a male or female electrical plug for connection to a mating plug on the original vehicle backup light apparatus; an electrical voltage relay element in the auxiliary plug apparatus; a toggle switch in the auxiliary apparatus and auxiliary lights mounted on the vehicle. The auxiliary lights function simultaneously with the original vehicle backup lights in response to activation of the reverse gear apparatus of the vehicle transmission, with the voltage relay acting to deliver sufficient voltage to activate both the original vehicle backup lights and the auxiliary lights. In another embodiment of the invention, the toggle switch is closed to access directly the vehicle 12 volt source to power the auxiliary lights for use as work lights, even when the vehicle reverse gear is not engaged. Another embodiment of the invention comprises a pass-through auxiliary connector having a towed vehicle auxiliary connector plug end opposite the auxiliary plug end connected to the towing vehicle, which towed vehicle auxiliary connector plug includes a plurality of either pin or blade female connection apertures, or male connector pins or blades, adapted to receive a mating connector from a towed vehicle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an auxiliary light apparatus for use in combination with an electric power supply outlet and plug apparatus commonly mounted on the rear of a truck or other vehicle to provide electric power to the vehicle backup lights and to provide an electric power source connection for trailers or other vehicles connected to the truck for towing or other purposes.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Many present day trucks and similar vehicles are equipped with electrical outlet apparatus and receptacles, usually including a female plug, mounted in or on the rear of the vehicle. Such prior art apparatus often is employed to supply electric power to the vehicle backup lights, usually at a current lower than the maximum current available from the twelve volt vehicle power supply. Often illumination provided by the original backup light apparatus is not adequate for the conditions presented by the environment in which the vehicle is used. In addition, the current supplied by such original backup light apparatus is not sufficient to provide illumination from the vehicle backup lights to provide a well illuminated working environment outside the vehicle.
A number of prior patents disclose adapter apparatus to connect an outlet plug on a towing vehicle to the electrical system of a towed vehicle. None of those references discloses a combination of apparatus elements adapted to provide auxiliary rear power or light assemblies on the towing vehicle when operating from the power source of the towing vehicle. For example, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. U.S. 2005/0152145, issued to Currie et al on Jul. 14, 2005, describes an adapter plug connected to the existing tail light plug or trailer hitch plug of a towing vehicle and also connected to the twelve volt power supply of the towing vehicle through electrical components and circuitry adapted to lower the voltage delivered to the towed vehicle to operate light emitting diodes (LEDs) and other low voltage electrical elements and components. The adapter plug module can be activated by the park light voltage or the tail light voltage or, alternatively, may be separately operated by a manual switch. The adapter may operate LEDs and other low voltage equipment on the towing vehicle. The adapter plug may contain seven prongs. That publication does not disclose apparatus for providing a higher operating current through the vehicle rear electrical connection apparatus; does not disclose apparatus responsive to activation of the reverse gear of the vehicle and does not disclose apparatus capable of delivery of increased current to a vehicle rear light assembly separately operable as work lights.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,626,479, issued May 6, 1997 to Hughes, describes a unified connector interface adapter including a plurality of pins or blades providing a greater number of heavier electrical interconnections to accommodate the more complex accessories included in a towed vehicle, such as electrical braking systems, separate air conditioners, stoves and refrigerators. That patent does not disclose auxiliary apparatus for use in combination with the vehicle rear electrical connection apparatus which is activated by engagement of the vehicle reverse gear; which includes provision of additional auxiliary lights for back-up illumination; or which provides separately operable activation of the auxiliary lights as work lights at the rear of the vehicle.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,749,438, issued Jun. 15, 2004 to Scheller, et al, describes an electrical interface device for coupling with an existing master connector mounted on a towing vehicle to allow for connection of the electrical systems of differently configured towed vehicles without modification of the interface device. That patent also describes an electrical interface connecting device which includes a central terminal and six circularly arranged terminals disposed about a central terminal. That patent describes further an electrical connection adapter having one end adapted to engage with the electrical connection apparatus on a towing vehicle and having the other end of different configuration adapted for connection to the electrical connection apparatus on a towed vehicle. That patent does not describe auxiliary apparatus for combination, with the existing electrical outlet apparatus on a towing vehicle, of auxiliary light apparatus adapted to provide greater back-up illumination; adapted for activation by engagement of the vehicle reverse transmission gear; and separately operable to provide work lights powered by the towing vehicle twelve volt system even when the vehicle reverse gear is not engaged.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,443,389, issued Aug. 22, 1995 to Hughes, discloses a unified connector apparatus between the electrical system of a towing vehicle and the electrical system of towed vehicle, including 6 or 7 pin or blade connectors adapted to energize an electrical braking system, separate air conditioners, stoves and refrigerators on the towed vehicle, all requiring higher electrical currents and power. That patent does not describe an auxiliary light and connector apparatus adapted for use in combination with the existing electrical connection apparatus on a vehicle to provide auxiliary back-up lights and illumination responsive to engagement of the vehicle's reverse transmission gear, and also containing a switch element to enable separate operation of the auxiliary lights to provide illumination of a work area without engagement of the vehicle reverse gear.
Accordingly, a need exists for auxiliary light apparatus for use in combination with existing vehicle backup light and trailer electrical connection apparatus to provide additional backup lights and exterior work lights that provide greater illumination than that provided by the original vehicle equipment.
It is an object of the present invention to provide auxiliary light apparatus that is easily and readily connected in combination with the original vehicle backup light and trailer electrical connection apparatus without use of complicated, difficult and expensive additional wiring and modifications of the vehicle electrical system.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide auxiliary light apparatus for vehicles for use in combination with the original backup light and trailer electrical connection apparatus, which auxiliary light apparatus includes a selectively operable switch element that enables use of brighter auxiliary vehicle lights as work area lights capable of operating independently of the vehicle backup lights and without activation of the vehicle reverse gear.
It is another object of the present invention to provide auxiliary light apparatus for vehicles in use in combination with the original back-up light and trailer electrical connection apparatus, which auxiliary light apparatus includes pass-through connector apparatus which provides not only auxiliary light apparatus and auxiliary lights for increased back-up light illumination and for separately operable work light illumination, but also can be installed and used simultaneously as an electrical connector apparatus between a towing vehicle and a connected towed vehicle.


This invention relates to a method of preparing a multicomponent bismuth molybdate catalyst by changing the pH of a coprecipitation solution upon coprecipitation and a method of preparing 1,3-butadiene using the catalyst. The multicomponent bismuth molybdate catalyst, coprecipitated using a solution having an adjusted pH, the preparation method thereof, and the method of preparing 1,3-butadiene through oxidative dehydrogenation using a C4 mixture including n-butene and n-butane as a reactant are provided. The C4 raffinate, containing many impurities, is directly used as a reactant without an additional process for separating n-butane or extracting n-butene, thus obtaining 1,3-butadiene at high yield. The activity of the multicomponent bismuth molybdate catalyst can be simply increased through precise pH adjustment upon coprecipitation, which is not disclosed in the conventional techniques. This method can be applied to the increase in the activity of multicomponent bismuth molybdate catalysts reported in the art.

Generally, methods of obtaining 1,3-butadiene, the demand for which is gradually increasing in petrochemical markets, include naphtha cracking, direct dehydrogenation of n-butene, and oxidative dehydrogenation of n-butene. However, the naphtha cracking process, which is responsible for 90% of the 1,3-butadiene that is supplied, entails high energy consumption due to high reaction temperatures. As well, because this process is not a single process for producing only 1,3-butadiene, investment in and management of a naphtha cracker are difficult to optimize in order to meet the production demand of 1,3-butadiene. That is, to meet the increased butadiene demand through the above process, more novel naphtha crackers need to be established, and accordingly, raffinate components other than 1,3-butadiene are produced in surplus. In addition, the direct dehydrogenation of n-butene, which is an endothermic reaction, requires high-temperature and low-pressure conditions to produce 1,3-butadiene at high yield, and is thermodynamically disadvantageous, and is thus unsuitable for commercially producing 1,3-butadiene [M. A. Chaar, D. Patel, H. H. Kung, J. Catal., vol. 109, pp. 463 (1988)/E. A. Mamedov, V. C. Corberan, Appl. Cata. A, vol. 127, pp. 1 (1995)/L. M. Madeira, M. F. Portela, Catal. Rev., vol. 44, pp. 247 (2002)].
In addition, the oxidative dehydrogenation of n-butene is a reaction between n-butene and oxygen that produces 1,3-butadiene and water. This reaction is thermodynamically advantageous because water, which is stable, is produced as a product, and is also commercially advantageous because 1,3-butadiene may be obtained at high yield even at decreased reaction temperatures, without the need to additionally apply heat, thanks to exothermic properties. Further, this process additionally produces steam and is thus advantageous in terms of energy reduction. Hence, the oxidative dehydrogenation of n-butene for the production of 1,3-butadiene is considered to be an effective alternative that enables the production of 1,3-butadiene through a single process. In particular, when a C4 raffinate-3 or C4 mixture including impurities, such as n-butane, is directly used as a source of n-butene without an additional separation process, an advantage of adding high value to surplus C4 raffinate components may be realized. Specifically, the C4 raffinate-3 mixture, which is the reactant used in the present invention, is an inexpensive C4 raffinate remaining after the separation of useful compounds from a C4 mixture produced through naphtha cracking. More specifically, a first mixture remaining after extracting 1,3-butadiene from a C4 mixture produced through naphtha cracking is called raffinate-1, a second mixture remaining after extracting isobutylene from the raffinate-1 is called raffinate-2, and a third mixture remaining after extracting 1-butene from the raffinate-2 is called raffinate-3. Therefore, the C4 raffinate-3 or C4 mixture is composed mainly of 2-butene (trans-2-butene and cis-2-butene), n-butane, and 1-butene.
As mentioned above, according to the oxidative dehydrogenation of n-butene (1, butane, trans-2-butene, cis-2-butene), n-butene reacts with oxygen, thus producing 1,3-butadiene and water. Although the oxidative dehydrogenation of n-butene is an effective alternative that produces 1,3-butadiene through a single process, this reaction is supposed to cause many side-reactions, including complete oxidation, etc., due to the use of oxygen as the reactant. Thus, the development of catalysts that maximally inhibit such side-reactions and have high selectivity for 1,3-butadiene is of utmost importance. The catalysts for use in the oxidative dehydrogenation of n-butene, known to date, include ferrite-based catalysts [R. J. Rennard, W. L. Kehl, J. Catal., vol. 21, pp. 282 (1971)/W. R. Cares, J. W. Hightower, J. Catal., vol. 23, pp. 193 (1971)/M. A. Gibson, J. W. Hightower, J. Catal., vol. 41, pp. 420 (1976)/H. H. Kung, M. C. Kung, Adv. Catal., vol. 33, pp. 159 (1985)/J. A. Toledo, M. A. Valenzuela, H. Armendariz, G. Aguilar-Rios, B. Zapzta, A. Montoya, N. Nava, P. Salas, I. Schifter, Catal. Lett., vol. 30, pp. 279 (1995)], tin-based catalysts [Y. M. Bakshi, R. N. Gur'yanova, A. N. Mal'yan, A. I. Gel'bshtein, Petroleum Chemistry U.S.S.R., vol. 7, pp. 177 (1967)], bismuth molybdate-based catalysts [A. C. A. M. Bleijenberg, B. C. Lippens, G. C. A. Schuit, J. Catal., vol. 4, pp. 581 (1965)/Ph. A. Batist, B. C. Lippens, G. C. A. Schuit, J. Catal., vol. 5, pp. 55 (1966)/M. W. J. Wolfs, Ph. A. Batist, J. Catal., vol. 32, pp. 25 (1974)/W. J. Linn, A. W. Sleight, J. Catal., vol. 41, pp. 134 (1976)/W. Ueda, K. Asakawa, C.-L. Chen, Y. Moro-oka, T. Ikawa, J. Catal., vol. 101, pp. 360 (1986)/Y. Moro-oka, W. Ueda, Adv. Catal., vol. 40, pp. 233 (1994)/R. K. Grasselli, Handbook of Heterogeneous Catalysis, vol. 5, pp. 2302 (1997)].
Among these catalysts, the bismuth molybdate-based catalyst includes bismuth molybdate catalysts composed exclusively of bismuth and molybdenum oxide and multicomponent bismuth molybdate catalysts further comprising various metal components. Pure bismuth molybdate is present in various phases, and, in particular, three phases including α-bismuth molybdate (Bi2Mo3O12),β-bismuth molybdate (Bi2Mo2O9) and γ-bismuth molybdate (Bi2MoO6) are known to be useful as catalysts [B. Grzybowska, J. Haber, J. Komorek, J. Catal., vol. 25, pp. 25 (1972)/A. P. V. Soares, L. K. Kimitrov, M. C. A. Oliveira, L. Hilaire, M. F. Portela, R. K. Grasselli, Appl. Catal. A, vol. 253, pp. 191 (2003)]. However, a process of preparing 1,3-butadiene through oxidative dehydrogenation of n-butene in the presence of a pure bismuth molybdate catalyst having a single phase is unsuitable for commercialization, attributable to the production of 1,3-butadiene at low yield [Y. Moro-oka, W. Ueda, Adv. Catal., vol. 40, pp. 233 (1994)]. As an alternative thereto, in order to increase activity for the oxidative dehydrogenation of n-butene, attempts to prepare multicomponent bismuth molybdate catalysts comprising not only bismuth and molybdate but also various metal components have been made [M. W. J. Wolfs, Ph. A. Batist, J. Catal., vol. 32, pp. 25 (1974)/S. Takenaka, A. Iwamoto, U.S. Pat. No. 3,764,632 (1973)].
Some patents and literature have reported multicomponent bismuth molybdate catalysts for the oxidative dehydrogenation of n-butene. Specifically, many reports have been made of the oxidative dehydrogenation of 1-butene at 520° C. using a mixed oxide catalyst composed of nickel, cesium, bismuth, and molybdenum, resulting in 1,3-butadiene at a yield of 69% [M. W. J. Wolfs, Ph. A. Batist, J. Catal., vol. 32, pp. 25 (1974)], of the oxidative dehydrogenation of a C4-mixture including n-butane and n-butene at 470° C. using a mixed oxide catalyst composed of cobalt, iron, bismuth, magnesium, potassium, and molybdenum, resulting in 1,3-butadiene at a maximum yield of 62% [S. Takenaka, H. Shimizu, A. Iwamoto, Y. Kuroda, U.S. Pat. No. 3,998,867 (1976)], and of the oxidative dehydrogenation of 1-butene at 320° C. using a mixed oxide catalyst composed of nickel, cobalt, iron, bismuth, phosphorus, potassium, and molybdenum, resulting in 1,3-butadiene at a maximum yield of 96% [S. Takenaka, A. Iwamoto, U.S. Pat. No. 3,764,632 (1973)].
In this way, when the multicomponent bismuth molybdate catalyst disclosed in the above literature is used, 1,3-butadiene may be obtained at a very high yield, but limitations are imposed on increasing the catalytic activity because the catalyst can be prepared only through the addition of simple metal components and changes in the ratio thereof. Further, the catalytic activity is drastically decreased over the reaction time, and thus, to increase the catalytic activity, additional metal components must be continuously added, and thus the catalyst has a very complicated composition and it is difficult to ensure reproducibility. In the above conventional techniques, only pure n-butene (1-butene or 2-butene) is used as the reactant, or otherwise, even if a mixture of n-butane and n-butene serves as the reactant, a C4 mixture including n-butane in a small amount less than 10 wt % is used. Accordingly, in the case where the amount of n-butane is increased, the yield of 1,3-butadiene is expected to decrease. In order to use a C4 mixture including a large amount of n-butene as the reactant in an actual petrochemical process, a process of separating n-butene from the other C4 mixture components should be essentially performed, remarkably decreasing economic efficiency. As a typical example, in a commercial process using a ferrite catalyst, a C4 mixture in which the amount of n-butane is maintained as low as less than 5 wt % is used as the reactant.
As mentioned above, the literature and patents regarding the catalyst and process for preparing 1,3-butadiene through the oxidative dehydrogenation of n-butene are characterized in that pure 1-butene, 2-butene or a mixture thereof is used as the reactant, or otherwise, a C4 mixture including a very large amount of n-butene is used as the reactant, and further, multicomponent metal oxide having a very complicated composition, resulting from the addition of simple metal components and changes in the ratio thereof, is used as the catalyst. However, cases in which 1,3-butadiene is prepared from a C4 raffinate, including C4 raffinate-3 or a C4 mixture having a high concentration of n-butane, in the presence of a multicomponent bismuth molybdate catalyst comprising relatively simple metal components prepared through coprecipitation using a coprecipitation solution, the pH of which is adjusted, have not yet been reported.

Method of preparing multicomponent bismuth molybdate catalysts with controlling pH and a method of preparing 1,3-butadiene using thereof


To enable high-speed CRC operation and flexible use of various generating polynomials without causing significant increase in circuit scale, the CRC operation unit uses circuits generally provided for a DSP and some additional circuits. The CRC operation unit includes: a generating polynomial supply section having a first general register for storing an arbitrary generating polynomial and a selector for selectively outputting the generating polynomial or data of which all bits has a value of 0; an operation data supply section having a memory, a shift register, a second general register, and a barrel shifter, for outputting operation data for CRC operation based on transmitting/receiving data; an operation section for performing CRC operation using the generating polynomial output from the generating polynomial supply section and the operation data output from the operation data supply section; and an operation instruction execution control section for controlling the operations of the above sections.

The present invention relates to a CRC operation unit and a CRC operation method for generating a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) code that is an error detection code for detection of an error occurring in transmitting/receiving data when the transmitting/receiving data is transmitted via a communication path or when the data is processed for transmission, or detecting a code error in transmitting/receiving data to which such an error detection code has been added.
CRC is an error-detecting system frequently used in digital communication, which detects an error in the following manner. On the transmitter side, transmitting data, which is considered as a high-order polynomial, is divided by a predetermined generating polynomial. The resultant remainder is added to the end of the transmitting data as a CRC code (encoding). On the receiver side, the transmitted data is divided by the same generating polynomial (decoding). If the remainder is zero, the transmitted data is determined as having no error. If the remainder is not zero, the transmitted data is determined as having an error (error detection). As the generating polynomial, the following are used in actual CRC, for example.
(1) CRC-12
(2) CRC-16
(3) CRC-CCITT
The encoding and error detection as described above, which are hereinafter called CRC operation, may be implemented by a CRC operation unit that executes CRC operation by hardware. The CRC operation unit uses a divider constructed of a combination of a shift register and an exclusive OR gate. In this type of unit, the generating polynomial is determined by how the shift register is connected with the exclusive OR gate. Therefore, this type of unit is not allowed to change the generating polynomial within one unit. That is, a different unit is required if a different generating polynomial is used. Moreover, it is necessary to provide units capable of using the same generating polynomial on the transmitter and receiver sides.
A unit that executes CRC operation by software is known as a CRC operation unit capable of flexibly using various generating polynomials. This type of unit can easily use various generating polynomials by only changing a program or data. This type of unit however has the following problems. CRC operation, which is normally executed by a processor in a communication terminal, tends to put a great load on the processor, resulting in lowering the processing capability of the communication terminal. Moreover, CRC operation by software is low in operation speed and thus is not suitable for high-speed communication.
Units capable of realizing both flexible use of generating polynomials and high-speed CRC operation have been disclosed. For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 5-151007 discloses a unit constructed of a combination of a generating polynomial setting register, a shift register, and an exclusive OR gate. This unit performs CRC operation by hardware and thus enables high-speed processing. In addition, the unit can use various generating polynomials by changing the generating polynomial set in the generating polynomial setting register.
The CRC operation unit as described above uses exclusive circuits specialized for CRC operation. This disadvantageously increases the circuit scale of a communication unit and the like. In addition, while it is possible to use various generating polynomials having the same bit length as that of the generating polynomial setting register, no consideration is made for use of generating polynomials having different bit lengths.
An object of the present invention is providing a CRC operation unit capable of performing high-speed CRC operation and flexibly using various generating polynomials without causing significant increase in circuit scale.
The CRC operation unit of the present invention includes: generating polynomial supply means for holding data representing a generating polynomial and selectively outputting the data representing a generating polynomial or zero data of which all bits have a value of 0; operation data supply means for outputting operation data to be subjected to CRC operation; and arithmetic and logic operation means for performing exclusive OR operation between the data representing a generating polynomial or the zero data and the operation data, wherein the generating polynomial supply means selects the data representing a generating polynomial or the zero data depending on a value of the MSB of operation results from the arithmetic and logic operation means, and the operation data supply means outputs, as the operation data, data composed of: values of bits in lower order than the MSB of the operation results from the arithmetic and logic operation means as values of higher-order bits of the operation data; and a value of the MSB of unprocessed data to be subjected to CRC operation as a value of the LSB of the operation data.
The generating polynomial supply means may include: a first register for holding the data representing a generating polynomial; and a selector for selectively outputting the data representing a generating polynomial or the zero data, for example, and the operation data supply means may include: a second register for holding the operation results from the arithmetic and logic operation means; a shifter for shifting the operation results held in the second register leftward by one bit and outputting results; a memory for holding the unprocessed data to be subjected to CRC operation; and a shift register for holding part of the unprocessed data to be subjected to CRC operation transferred from the memory, outputting a value of the MSB of the held data, and shifting bits of the held data leftward one by one, for example.
With the above construction, the CRC operation unit can easily use various generating polynomials flexibly by changing the data representing a generating polynomial to be held in the generating polynomial supply means. In addition, the selection of the data representing a generating polynomial or the zero data to be input to the arithmetic and logic operation means and the generation of the operation data to be subjected to CRC operation are performed automatically, not by executing a program instruction. This realizes high-speed CRC operation. Moreover, since components provided for normal processors can be primarily used for the generating polynomial supply means, the operation data supply means, and the arithmetic and logic operation means, it is possible to minimize the circuit scale of the entire apparatus including the CRC operation unit.
The CRC operation unit may further include operation instruction execution control means, wherein the operation instruction execution control means controls, under a predetermined operation instruction, output of the data representing a generating polynomial or the zero data by the generating polynomial supply means, output of the operation data by the operation data supply means, and execution of the exclusive OR operation by the arithmetic and logic operation means.
The operation instruction execution control means may control, under a predetermined operation instruction, operations of the generating polynomial supply means, the operation data supply means, and the arithmetic and logic operation means for one-time execution of the exclusive OR operation by the arithmetic and logic operation means.
Alternatively, the operation instruction execution control means may control, under a predetermined operation instruction, operations of the generating polynomial supply means, the operation data supply means, and the arithmetic and logic operation means for execution of the exclusive OR operation for all the unprocessed data to be subjected to CRC operation by the arithmetic and logic operation means.
Otherwise, the operation instruction execution control means may control, under a predetermined operation instruction, operations of the generating polynomial supply means, the operation data supply means, and the arithmetic and logic operation means for execution of the exclusive OR operation for values of all bits held in the shift register by the arithmetic and logic operation means.
With above constructions, it is possible to enhance the flexibility of the CRC processing by increasing the degree of freedom in the combination of operation instructions or enhance the speed of the CRC processing with a small number of operation instructions.
After completion of the exclusive OR operation for all of the unprocessed data to be subjected to CRC operation by the arithmetic and logic operation means, the values held in the second register may be stored in the memory.
Alternatively, after completion of the exclusive OR operation for all of the unprocessed data to be subjected to CRC operation by the arithmetic and logic operation means, whether or not the unprocessed data to be subjected to CRC operation has an error may be determined by examining whether or not the values held in the second register are 0.
The above constructions facilitate CRC encoding and data error detection.
When the number of bits of the data representing a generating polynomial is smaller than the number of bits allowed to be held by the generating polynomial supply means, the generating polynomial supply means may left-justify the data representing a generating polynomial and give 0 to the remaining lower-order bit(s).
The above construction enhances the flexibility of use of various generating polynomials in the number of bits, in addition to the type.
The CRC operation unit of another embodiment of the present invention includes: generating polynomial holding means for holding data representing a generating polynomial; and CRC operation means for performing CRC operation based on the data representing a generating polynomial and data to be subjected to CRC operation, wherein, when the number of bits of the data representing a generating polynomial is smaller than the number of bits allowed to be held by the generating polynomial holding means, the generating polynomial holding means left-justifies the data representing a generating polynomial and gives 0 to the remaining lower-order bit(s).
The above construction enhances the flexibility of use of various generating polynomials in the number of bits, in addition to the type, even in the case of using exclusive circuits specialized for CRC operation.

CRC operation unit and CRC operation method

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A method of forming a metal sheet into a target shape by press-forming, such that the metal sheet is formed into an intermediate shape that is different from the target shape and then the target shape is formed from the intermediate shape, the method includes: when forming the intermediate shape from the metal sheet, forming the intermediate shape by forming a first region including at least a portion at which a ratio of sheet thickness reduction from the metal sheet is larger when the target shape is formed via the intermediate shape than when the target shape is formed directly from the metal sheet.

A reduction in sheet thickness is not necessarily uniform across portions deformed by pressing in press-forming a metal sheet. For example, when a metal sheet is press-formed to form a bulging portion of protrusion shape, the greatest sheet thickness reduction occurs at an apex portion in the bulging portion, and necking (localized narrowing) or cracking sometimes occurs. There is accordingly demand for technology to distribute sheet thickness reduction over the entire component and to utilize material to the maximum (completely use material). In particular with high tensile strength steel, cracking occurs even when there is a slight reduction in sheet thickness. It is therefore necessary to lower the maximum value of the ratio of sheet thickness reduction in the metal sheet.
Japanese Patent No. 4879588 discloses a method for press-forming a metal sheet. A large amount of spring-back occurs when there is a ridge line portion where a large residual stress is generated in a press-formed component. Accordingly, in a drawing process that is a process preceding a press-forming process, a shape having a radius of curvature at least 1 mm smaller than the final shape of a location is employed for the shape on a die corresponding to such a location. Then, when subsequently forming the final shape in a stamping process, residual tensile stress at the ridge line portion is alleviated by forming so as to push a portion that is overhanging at the outside back in. However, in the method of Japanese Patent No. 4879588, there are limitations to the radius of curvature of the ridge line portion and to the tensile strength of the metal sheet (metal sheet prior to forming) of a blank, and this is an issue in that is imposes limitations on the shape of press-formed components. Moreover, countermeasures to necking and cracking caused by sheet thickness reduction are not mentioned in Japanese Patent No. 4879588.
Moreover, a press-forming method is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2007-326112 in which a blank is held by a die and a blank holder, and pre-forming is performed by overhanging a blank in a state in which a movable punch has been projected out from a die. This leads to an increase in surface area due to sheet thickness reduction also occurring in regions, such as the bottom face of a product, which are barely deformed by traditional methods. Uniform deformation is thus imparted over a wide area of a forming panel. However, the method described in JP-A No. 2007-326112 is a method suited to press-forming cylindrical containers, and application to shapes other than cylindrical containers is not considered. The method disclosed in JP-A No. 2007-326112 forms a formed article using a single pressing process and so the shape of the die is complicated. Moreover, the regions over which strain is distributed are limited to a punch shoulder and a vertical wall portion, and so the issues of necking and cracking that accompany sheet thickness reduction are not conclusively resolved.

Metal sheet forming method, intermediate shape design method, metal sheet forming die, computer program, and recording medium