A ski pole assembly includes a pole and a snow head/scraper mounted toward the lower end of the pole. The snow head/scraper is in the form of disc-like member defining an upper surface and a lower surface, with a peripheral edge extending therebetween. The peripheral edge includes a substantially flat, planar surface. The intersection between the substantially flat, planar surface and one of the surfaces of the snow head/scraper member defines a substantially linear scraping edge, which is used by a skier to scrape snow from the sole of the skier's boot.

This invention relates to a ski pole, and more particularly to a ski pole having a feature for scraping or cleaning a skier's boots.
In skiing, it is not unusual for snow to accumulate on the sole of a skier's boot. This affects the interface between the boot and the ski binding, and accordingly snow must be removed from the sole of the boot before the boot can be properly inserted in the binding. In the past, snow from a skier's boot has been removed using knives and hand scrapers, which must be carried by the skier and which can be misplaced or cause injury to the skier if the skier falls while carrying such devices.
Several issued patents disclose scrapers mounted to a ski pole, which facilitates transportation of the scraper. For example, pole-carried scraper devices are disclosed in Ford U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,710; Lillibridge et al U.S. Pat. No. 3,976,304; Coale U.S. Pat. No. 4,000,909; and Norwegian Patent 75,641.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a ski pole-mounted scraper which is simple in construction and the manner in which it is mounted to the ski pole. It is a further object of the invention to provide such a scraper which functions efficiently and effectively to remove snow from a skier's boot, yet which does not adversely affect the performance, weight or overall construction of the ski pole.
In accordance with the invention, a ski pole assembly consists of an elongated pole defining an upper end and a lower end, and a snow head mounted adjacent the lower end of the pole. The snow head defines a peripheral edge which includes a substantially linear transverse scraping edge oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the pole. The snow head is preferably in the form of a flat, disc-like member defining an upper surface and a lower surface, and the transverse scraping edge is defined by a flat planar surface, forming a part of the peripheral edge, extending between the upper and lower surfaces of the disc-like member. The flat planar surface is preferably disposed at an angle non-perpendicular to the upper and lower surfaces of the disc-like member, and is angled inwardly in a bottom-to-top direction so as to define a substantially linear scraping edge at the juncture of the flat planar surface and the lower surface of the disc-like member. The snow head further includes a mounting hub to which the disc-like member is mounted, with the mounting hub defining an internal passage perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pole through which the pole extends.
The invention further contemplates a method of making a ski pole assembly by mounting a combination snow head/scraper member thereto, substantially in accordance with the foregoing summary.
Various other features, objects and advantages of the invention will be made apparent from the following description taken together with the drawings.


An adjustable prying bar includes a prying head having an arcuate body, a flat tipped lower end a lug at upper end wherein the lug has a circular depression and an inverse stop ring on upper portion and inner thread on lower portion, a handle rotatably engaged with the upper end of the prying head having flat front end with a hexagon hole therein engaged within the lug of the prying head, and a checking mechanism including an upper cover, a lower cover, a hexagon plate and a spring separately engaged with the lug and the hexagon hole of the handle wherein the hexagon plate has a stop ring engageable with stop ring of the lug. Thereby, the angle between the prying head and the handle enables to adjust for larger or smaller than 90 degrees.

The present invention relates to the prying tools and more particularly to an adjustable prying bar which has an upper and lower portions rotatably engaged with each other so as to pry the working object to a highest extent.
As we know, a prying bar can be use to automobile maintenance and/or to pry variety of objects. Conventional prying bar has a prying head perpendicularly and solidly connected to a handle to form an angle about 90 degrees, and couldn't make angular adjustment. So that it could only pry an object to a predetermined height and couldn't make the object a little higher. Sometimes it even couldn't pry up the object. So it causes great inconvenience to the user.


An image processing apparatus includes a region determination unit detecting attributes of image data generated by a reading unit; an image modification unit generating attribute data based on the results of the determination performed by the region determination unit; an image conversion processing circuit performing resolution conversion processing on the image data of a pixel of interest; and an attribute conversion processing circuit performing resolution conversion processing on the attribute data of the pixel of interest. The attribute resolution converter employs attribute data identical to the attribute data before being subjected to the attribute resolution conversion processing as the attribute data for the pixel of interest following the attribute resolution conversion processing, and employs the attribute data after being subjected to the attribute resolution conversion processing as the attribute data for neighboring pixels to the right and left of the pixel of interest following the attribute resolution conversion processing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method used in an image forming apparatus such as an MFP.
2. Description of the Related Art
Image processing apparatuses, which process image data, are conventionally provided in image forming apparatuses called MFPs, or Multi-Function Peripherals.
Such image processing apparatuses execute resolution conversion processing on image data and attribute data, thereby scaling (enlarging or reducing) that data, in order to adjust the image data and attribute data to the print size, resolution of the printer, and so on.
The nearest neighbor method, the bilinear method, and the bicubic method are known as examples of methods for executing scale processing on image data. The nearest neighbor method, also known as the nearest neighbor algorithm, uses the image data (luminance data) of a pre-scaling pixel nearest in distance to the pixel that is to be interpolated (a pixel of interest).
The bilinear and bicubic methods are linear interpolation methods, which interpolate image data having taken the pixels surrounding a pixel of interest into consideration.
While the nearest neighbor method can be applied to both binary image data and multivalued image data, the bilinear and bicubic methods cannot interpolate binary image data (that is, the meaning of the data is altered, and thus the methods cannot be applied).
Generally speaking, image data is multivalued data, and therefore the bicubic method, which can attractively interpolate the image data, is often used for scaling. However, attribute data is typically binary data, as illustrated in FIG. 5 and described later, and therefore the nearest neighbor method is used for the scaling thereof.
FIG. 7 illustrates resolution conversion processing that performs 4× enlargement on attribute data a0 and image data b0 using the nearest neighbor method. In this example, an image interpolation processing circuit 200 converts the resolution of the image data b0, resulting in image data b01, b02, b03, and b04. Meanwhile, the attribute data a0 is simply duplicated into four instances of attribute data a0.
FIG. 8 illustrates resolution conversion processing using the nearest neighbor method on a pixel-by-pixel basis, where the attribute data of pixels of interest P1, P2, P3, and P4 are taken as a0, a1, a2, and a3, respectively. As a result of this processing, the attribute data of the pixel P1, a pixel P11 adjacent to the pixel P1, a pixel P12 adjacent to the pixel P11, and a pixel P13 adjacent to the pixel P12 each take on attribute data a0; the attribute data of the pixel P2, a pixel P21 adjacent to the pixel P2, a pixel P22 adjacent to the pixel P21, and a pixel P23 adjacent to the pixel P22 each become attribute data a1; the attribute data of the pixel P3, a pixel P31 adjacent to the pixel P3, a pixel P32 adjacent to the pixel P31, and a pixel P33 adjacent to the pixel P32 each become attribute data a2; and the attribute data of the pixel P4, a pixel P41 adjacent to the pixel P4, a pixel P42 adjacent to the pixel P41, and a pixel P43 adjacent to the pixel P42 each take on attribute data a3. In this manner, attribute data ZD is simply duplicated when the resolution conversion processing is carried out.
Region determination processing, for determining which region each pixel of inputted image data belongs to, is typically carried out prior to the image data being outputted (see Patent Document 1, JP H11-213152A). According to the image processing apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, the absolute value of the difference in pixel values between a neighboring pixel and either an adjacent pixel, a neighboring pixel located at a predetermined distance from the pixel of interest within a predetermined range, or both is found. The attributes of the predetermined pixel are then identified based on that absolute value.
In addition, in order to obtain a high-quality image for reproduction, determining the image attributes of an image signal, generating an attribute determination signal that indicates the image attributes, and carrying out image processing using a signal in which the attribute determination signal is embedded into the image signal in a predetermined format are disclosed in Patent Document 2, JP 2004-228811A.
However, the following problems arise when resolution conversion processing is performed on attribute data using the nearest neighbor method.
Assuming that, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the image data (luminance data) of pixels P1 to P6, which are pixels of interest, is, in order, b0 (white data), b0, b1 (black data), b1, b0, and b0, the data becomes as follows when enlarged 4× through a predetermined resolution conversion processing (the bicubic method): the image data of pixels P1, P11, P12, and P13 becomes b0; the image data of pixels P2, P21, P22, and P23 becomes, in order, b0, b01, b02, and b03; the image data of pixels P3, P31, P32, and P33 becomes b1; the image data of pixels P4, P41, P42, and P43 becomes, in order, b1, b03, b02, and b01; the image data of pixels P5, P51, P52, and P53 becomes b0; and the image data of pixels P6, P61, P62, and P63 becomes b0.
The stated image data b0, b01, b02, b03, and b1 indicates a gradation, where the tone changes from white to black in that order. For example, the image data b01 is light gray data, the image data b02 is gray data, and the image data b03 is dark gray data.
As opposed to this, assuming that the attribute data of the pixels P1 to P6 is, in order, a0 (a white character), a0, a1 (a black character), a1, a0, and a0, the data becomes as follows when enlarged 4× through the nearest neighbor method: the attribute data of pixels P1, P1, P12, and P13 becomes a0; the attribute data of pixels P2, P21, P22, and P23 becomes a0; the attribute data of pixels P3, P31, P32, and P33 becomes a1; the attribute data of pixels P4, P41, P42, and P43 becomes a1; the attribute data of pixels P5, P51, P52, and P53 becomes a0; and the attribute data of pixels P6, P61, P62, and P63 becomes a0.
When image data is processed using a predetermined resolution conversion method and attribute data is processed using the nearest neighbor method in this manner, the colors indicated by the image data b01 (light gray data), b02 (gray data), and b03 (dark gray data) for the pixels P21, P22, and P23 are clearly different from the colors indicated by the attribute data a0 (white characters) of the same pixels. As a result, post-processing such as edge enhancement cannot be executed properly, which in turn leads to a degradation in image quality. This degradation is particularly apparent when compressing image data into a compact PDF format.
The methods disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 do not carry out resolution conversion processing on image data and attribute data without causing a degradation in image quality.

Image processing apparatus and image processing method

Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.


A suspension apparatus for a motor vehicle having a chassis, and a steerable wheel and tire assembly rotatably supported on a tall knuckle. The tall knuckle is pivotally connected to the chassis by a single upper control arm, a tension strut and a lateral link, each being independently pivotally attached to the knuckle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to suspension systems for motor vehicles. More specifically, the present invention relates to a suspension system for a steerable wheel which increases adjustability of performance characteristics.
2. Disclosure Information
In a conventional suspension system for a motor vehicle having a steerable wheel and tire assembly, the wheel is rotatably supported on a spindle which extends from a knuckle. Typically an upper and a lower control arm pivotally interconnect the knuckle to a chassis. A single ball joint pivotally connects the upper arm to the upper portion of the knuckle and a single ball joint pivotally connects the lower arm to the lower portion of the knuckle. This configuration allows both steerable motion of the wheel in the horizontal plane of the vehicle, and jounce and rebound motion in the vertical plane of the vehicle.
In such a suspension system, a line extending from the upper ball joint to the lower ball joint defines a "kingpin" axis. Orientation of the kingpin axis defines certain operational characteristics of the suspension. In designing a suspension system as described above, the placement of the kingpin axis is limited by the package space available for the arms. Space for the upper and lower arms must be shared with other components, including the engine, brake hardware, spring and shock absorber assembly, and supporting chassis structure.
One solution providing greater design flexibility for locating the kingpin axis is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,688. This patent discloses a suspension system providing an upper pair of lateral links and a lower pair of lateral links. Each link attaches to the knuckle with a separate ball joint. Utilizing ball joints this way creates an instant center of velocity located at the intersection of coaxial lines extended along the longitudinal axis of each of the independent links. The instant center is an imaginary point that does not have physical package constraints, thereby obviating to some extent the packaging restrictions imposed by neighboring componentry. The kingpin axis for such a system is defined by connecting a straight line through the instant centers. This flexibility does allow designers to orient the kingpin axis to pass througth the center of the wheel, thereby providing zero kingpin offset, and still provides a negative scrub radius at the contact patch. While this system does allow the kingpin axis to be defined where packaging space otherwise would not allow it, the system presents several objectionable characteristics. First, the system is costly. Each ball joint used adds significantly to the cost of the suspension. Second, steering system sensitivity to undesirable force variations is increased. Third, the kingpin orientation is overly susceptible to manufacturing tolerance variations in both the upper arm to chassis mounts, and to the upper arm construction and installation.
It would be desirable to have a suspension system that would allow greater flexibility for orienting the kingpin axis that simultaneously overcomes the deficiency of the prior art. Specifically, it would be desirable to provide an uncomplicated, low cost, lightweight suspension while reducing the sensitivity of the steering system to undesirable vibrations.

Suspension apparatus for a motor vehicle


One or more LED panel is used as a light source of a light projector. The LEDs are mounted on a panel and arranged as a matrix array. The light emitted from the LEDs are reflected by a reflecting cup. The LEDs are connected to two separate metal parts each connected the two electrodes of the LEDs. The spaces between the LEDs are utilized for light passage.

(1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to projection lamp, particularly to projection lamp using light emitting diodes (LED)
(2) Brief Description of Related Art
FIG. 1 shows a prior art projection lamp. A light bulb SO is located at the focal point of a reflecting cup. The light rays from the light bulb SO is reflected by the wall of the cup 1 as light rays L1, L2. The drawback of such a lighting system is that when high intensity light is required, the light bulb must be of high wattage, which consumes a great deal of energy, generates a great deal of heat and shortens the life of the light bulb.
An object of the present invention is to increase the efficiency of a projection lamp. Another object of this invention is to reduce overheating of a projection lamp. Still another object of this invention is to increase the life of the light source of a projection lamp.
These objects are achieved by using a panel of light emitting diode (LED) matrix array as a light source. The LEDs face the inner surface of one or more reflecting cups or surfaces. The reflected light rays beam through the space between the LEDs for projection away from the reflecting surfaces. The LED panel has two metal parts, each connected separately to the two electrodes of the LED. The two metal parts are separated by wide air space to allow light passage.

No.15, Lane 13, Alley 439, Her-Chiang Street


There is disclosed a microscope viewing arrangement adapted for exhibition use comprising a plurality of microscopes, each of said microscope comprising console enclosing a microscope arrangement and affording a common viewing position, remote focussing means operable from the viewing position, and a lamp arrangement adapted to illuminate a specimen position, the focussing means, the lamp arrangement and the specimen position being, in use, inaccessible from the viewing position, and information display means adapted to display information relevant to a specimen mounted in the specimen position and to be changed with such specimen.

Microscopes are fascinating but often delicate instruments that can help stimulate interest in matters scientific or biological in those who have no adequate training, or even responsibility, such as small schoolchildren, to be able to use them properly. To foster such interest the concept of the micrarium, which is essentially a museum or exhibition of microscopy has been developed. Despite supervision, however, the instruments are at risk, at least of becoming mis-adjusted and require constant attention.
The present invention provides a microscope viewing arrangement which avoids the major risks, yet allows viewers to have control over the microscope.


The object of the invention is to travel backward by an engine alone in a state where an electric motor is disconnected. Thus, external teeth are formed on the outer periphery of a ring gear which meshes with a first sun gear via a first pinion gear and a second pinion gear and to which power input from an electric motor is transmitted; a power transmission mechanism further includes a gear meshing with the external teeth of the ring gear; and a second clutch capable of non-rotatably fixing the ring gear at the time of causing a vehicle to travel backward with power input from an engine is provided between the ring gear and a transmission case.

In recent years, a hybrid vehicle equipped with an internal combustion engine (hereinafter also referred to as an engine) and an electric motor (hereinafter also referred to as a motor generator, or simply a motor) as drive sources and capable of achieving engine single travel, motor single travel, and combined travel in which the power of the engine and the power of the motor are combined has been put into practical use.
As a drive device for a hybrid vehicle, PTL 1 discloses a configuration example of a hybrid vehicle based on a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The hybrid vehicle of PTL 1 has a planetary gear mechanism and a clutch combined so that a required drive force can be obtained without co-rotation of a continuously variable transmission mechanism at the time of motor single travel and without relying on expansion of the ratio coverage (change gear ratio width) of a continuously variable transmission mechanism at engine single travel.
As a drive device for a hybrid vehicle, PTL 2 discloses a configuration example of a hybrid vehicle based on an automated manual transmission (AMT) having a manual transmission (MT) structure. The hybrid vehicle of PTL 2 is provided with a clutch capable of cutting a path for transmitting power to the driving wheels so as to be able to generate electric power even in vehicle stop time.


An apparatus and method comprising a fan nozzle sleeve, a plurality of slider mechanisms, and a fan nozzle actuator system. A flow of gases generated by an engine moves through and exits the engine at an aft end of the fan nozzle sleeve. The plurality of slider mechanisms is configured to connect the fan nozzle sleeve to a translating sleeve for a thrust reverser for the engine. The fan nozzle actuator system is configured to activate the plurality of slider mechanisms to move the fan nozzle sleeve in an aft direction to change a direction of the flow of gases exiting the engine at the aft end of the fan nozzle sleeve.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates generally to aircraft and, in particular, to aircraft engines. Still more particularly, the present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for changing the direction of gases exiting a nozzle for an aircraft engine.
2. Background
Noise caused by aircraft near airports is a source of noise pollution. As an engine for a jet operates, the engine generates a flow of gases to move the aircraft. The flow of gases generated by the engine may also be referred to as a plume or exhaust for the engine. With respect to the noise caused by aircraft, the engine exhaust in aircraft makes up a large amount of the noise produced by the aircraft during takeoff.
A number of different mechanisms have been used to reduce the amount of noise. These mechanisms include altering the flow of the gases generated by the engine. The exit area of the fan nozzle may be increased during takeoff to reduce the noise from the exhaust.
One mechanism includes moving the nozzle of the engine in a linear direction towards the aft of the aircraft. This movement of the nozzle is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the engine. This type of movement of the nozzle may increase the exit area of the nozzle and reduce the speed of the exhaust. The reduction in the speed of the exhaust reduces the noise generated by the engine.
However, this type of mechanism may have a number of drawbacks. For example, by moving the nozzle in a direction towards the aft of the aircraft, an opening may be created. This opening may result in a leakage through the engine that reduces the thrust generated by the engine. As a result, the performance of the engine may be reduced. This reduction may reduce the fuel efficiency and increase the cost of operating the engine.
If seals are used to reduce leakage, maintenance of the seals is performed. This maintenance may increase how long an aircraft is out of service and increase the operating costs for the aircraft.
Further, this type of mechanism may involve a movement of the nozzle between a stowed and deployed position to provide a desired amount of noise reduction and a desired amount of thrust during takeoff. This type of movement may have clearance issues between the movement of the nozzle and control surfaces on the trailing edge of a wing of the aircraft.
Another approach currently used may include increasing the exit area by implementing flaps that expand. These flaps may be pivoted outward and reduce the exhaust velocity. These types of flaps may be biased to one side or the other side to provide the desired amount of thrust in the desired direction for maneuvering the aircraft. This type of mechanism, however, may increase the weight, maintenance, complexity, and cost of an aircraft engine.
Therefore, it would be desirable to have a method and apparatus that takes into account one or more of the issues discussed above, as well as possibly other issues.


A mechanical optical switch with a first port for holding a first optical fiber and a second port for holding a second optical fiber and a lensing element positioned in front of the first and second ports. The switch has a signal port holding a signal or input fiber which emits a light beam to be switched between the first and second fibers. The light beam propagates along a free beam path to the first lensing element and is in-coupled into the first optical fiber. The switch is equipped with a beam guiding element, such as a wedge, which can be moved in and out of the free beam path for directing the light beam to the second fiber. The wedge is designed to shift the light beam by an offset and rotate it by an angle.

Optical switches play a fundamental role in optical systems and in optical communications systems in particular. The function of optical switches in optical communications is to connect and disconnect transmission paths to rout light beams modulated with information. In other systems optical switches can be used to pulse a light source, e.g., a laser or to perform other functions with modulated or unmodulated light beams. Because optical signals propagate at the speed of light it is important that the optical switches have high switching rates such that they not impede the intrinsically high speed operation of optical systems.
Mechanical optical switches are known. For example, an electro-optically switched directional coupler is proposed by M. Papuchon et al. in "Electrically Switched Directional Coupler: Cobra", Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 27, No. 5, Sep. 1, 1975, pp. 289-291. Further modifications to this switch and similar devices are found in numerous subsequent publications. Although these types of mechanical optical switches are capable of relatively high switching rates, they suffer from many limitations. These limitations include high insertion losses, high susceptibility to temperature variations and other detrimental effects due to external factors. Prior art solutions to the high insertion loss have resulted in devices which are low speed.
In optical communications systems optical switches have to be able to switch the light path of a light beam between optical fibers. Hence, fast switching rates have to be supplemented by high switching precision and low insertion losses to achieve efficient in-coupling into the fibers. Because of these additional requirements the early mechanical optical switches are not suitable for optical communications systems.
Mechanical optical switches adapted to optical communications systems are known. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,239,330 Ashkin et al. teach a multiple optical switch built of two quarter-period graded refractive index lenses sharing a common lens axis. An input fiber delivers a light beam to one of the lenses at a radial offset from common lens axis. A number of output fibers are positioned at the same radial offset and at certain angular displacements on the second lens about the common lens axis. Rotating the lenses relative to each other results in in-coupling of light from the input fiber to different output fibers. The disadvantages of this approach are high insertion loss, low switching speed, low level of reliability and difficulties in making this type of switch.
Another mechanical optical switching device for use with optical fibers is taught by Aoyama in U.S. Pat. No. 4,239,331. This switch utilizes at least one movable transparent dielectric plate positioned between an input fiber and output fibers. The output fibers have associated lenses for in-coupling the light into them. The plate, when placed in the optical path of the light changes its optical transmission path by shifting or offsetting the optical axis of the light from one output fiber to another. U.S. Pat. No. 4,322,126 to Minowa et al. presents a similar mechanical optical switching device which can take advantage of additional prism elements to alter the light path. In a similar vein, U.S. Pat. No. 4,303,303 to Aoyama discloses a variation of the mechanical optical switching device using a parallelogram prism and additional triangular prisms. Unfortunately, the use of additional optical prism elements increases the size of the switching device and introduces a number of additional reflective surfaces in the light path which lead to alignment problems and increased insertion losses.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,634,239 Buhrer teach a multiple optical fiber electromechanical switch utilizing a rhombic prism. The prism exchanges the optical paths of two parallel beams by means of four refractions and at least two internal reflections. This exchange operation is performed by shifting the beams. The prism's rhombic geometry minimizes the size of the prism and the shift distance to the prism's activated position.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,361,315 Lewis et al. teach a refractive element optical transmission switch with a fixed position concave reflector and an array of optical input and output waveguides. Rotation of the refractive element is used to couple light from one of the input waveguides to one of the output waveguides.
In fact, none of the prior art mechanical switches are suitable for fast and precise switching between optical fibers. The solutions relying on reflectors are very sensitive to angular variations, while the prism-based solutions are sensitive to variations in shift or offset. Thus, small mis-alignments, thermal effects, mechanical vibration as well as other typical perturbations make it very difficult for those devices to couple light between fibers rapidly while maintaining low insertion losses. The light emitted from the core of the input fiber or waveguide has to be redirected and in-coupled into the core of the output fiber or waveguide. In optical fibers, and especially in single-mode optical fibers, the acceptance cone and the area on which the in-coupling beam has to be focused are small. The low tolerances of in-coupling angle or offset found in the prior art devices limits their usefulness in these applications. What is desired is a device which is relatively insensitive to variations in beam shift and beam angle. Such device should be capable of fast switching rates and use few optical elements in the path between the input fiber and the output fibers.


A permeable paver and paving slab that have water permeability of on average about 1 inch per hour and compressive strength of an average of about 5000 psi to 8000 psi, the paver and paving slab manufactured by forming a mixture comprising blast-furnace slag, sand, gravel and Portland cement into predetermined sizes, shapes and colors as desired utilizing a hydraulic-type or equivalent compacting block forming machine.

Slag has many commercial uses, and is rarely discarded. It is often reprocessed to separate any other metals that it may contain. The remnants of this recovery can be used in railroad track ballast and as fertilizer. It has been used as a road base material and as a cheap and durable means of roughening sloping faces of seawalls to progressively arrest the movement of waves. Blocks of slag have been used in the construction of retaining walls and foundations.
What was once an unwanted by-product of the steel making process can now be recycled and used in the manufacture of high performance concretes. When iron ore is heated in a blast furnace the impurities or 'slag', which include large quantities of calcium and silica, become molten and are separated from the raw iron.
As the slag is channeled out of the furnace, thousands of gallons of water are poured over it. This rapid cooling, often from a temperature of around 2,600° C., is the start of the granulating process. This process causes several chemical reactions to take place within the material, and gives the slag its cementitious properties.
The water carries the slag in its slurry format to a large agitation tank from where it is pumped along a piping system into a number of gravel based filter beds. The filter beds then retain the slag granules while the water filters away and is returned to the system.
When the filtering process is complete, the remaining slag granules, which now give the appearance of coarse beach sand, can be scooped out of the filter bed and transferred to the grinding facility where they are ground into particles that are finer than portland cement
This previously unwanted recycled product is used in the manufacture of high performance concretes, especially those used in the construction of bridges and coastal features where its low permeability and greater resistance to chlorides and sulfates can help to reduce corrosive action and deterioration of the structure.
An interlocking paver is a pre-cast piece of concrete or brick commonly used as an alternative to plain concrete or asphalt or other paving materials. Pavers can be assembled to cover walkways, patios, pool decks and driveways and airport or loading docks. Interlocking pavers are available in a wide range of shapes such as rectangular, hexagonal, etc. and each allows them to be jointed fittingly to create a paving surface. The advantage of using interlocking pavers over the asphalt and poured concrete are high compressive strengths which can reach 7000+ psi, pleasant look, time saving, easy removal and relaying etc.
There are quite a few traditional interlocking pavers available in the market. They are available in different shapes, sizes and made of different materials. Common building materials are concrete and clay, and by adapting different manufacturing methods pavers of various physical properties can be achieved. For example, pressing the dry concrete-mix into molds rather than pouring a wetter mix results in their 8000+ psi compressive strength, making concrete paving stones a more durable choice than clay bricks or poured-in-place concrete. Clay pavers have an advantage with resistance to fading from the sun and deterioration from long term exposure to the elements. Because clay pavers are fired, the pores of the paver are at least partially vitrified closed, therefore creating an almost non-permeable surface. Another disadvantage of clay pavers is lack of choice of color spectrum. Clay pavers are formed from a natural material, so the feasible range of colors is more limited. Concrete, in contrast, has an essentially limitless color spectrum when starting with white portland cement and using pigments.
Installation of interlocking pavers starts with a compacted stone sub-base and a leveling bed of sand, pavers of desirable size, shape and material. Instead of connecting the pavers by pouring grout between the joints, as one would with tiles, sand particles are spread over the pavers and tamped down. The sand stabilizes the interlocking pavers yet allows for some flexibility. This type of pavement will absorb stress such as small earthquakes, freezes and thaws, and slight ground erosion by shifting each paver slightly. Therefore they are less likely to crack or buckle like poured cement.
Due to the increasing environment concerns, however, there has been a upward demand on permeable paving materials, which provide water permeable properties as well as strength for use as paving materials. Permeable paving materials allow moisture to filter through and replenish underground water tables and other water sources. It also helps to drain water into the ground and relieve stress on over taxed storm water systems during high rain conditions.
In the past, concrete pavers have contributed to the LEED ("Green Building") rating system. Originally developed for the U.S. Department of Energy and standing for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, LEED is growing in use by design professionals in response to federal, state, and local government agencies, and by private developers. LEED uses a point rating system to recognize sustainable site and building design. Depending upon geographical location due to varying enabling legislation and practice in the different states, complying with the rating system is voluntary and it aims to improve environmental and economic performance of buildings and sites. Developed by consensus with the participation of many organizations, the rating system and certification program based on providing evidence of compliance to the rating system is administered by the U.S. Green Building Council. A complete description and downloads can be found on the Internet at www.usgbc.org/LEED.
Importantly, concrete pavers and permeable interlocking concrete pavers can earn points or "credits" in the LEED rating system. Credits are earned under several categories of use including stormwater management, local/regional materials, and exterior design to reduce heat islands. For stormwater management, Credit 6.1 (1 point) can be earned for building sites where the existing impervious area is greater than 50%. Permeable interlocking concrete pavement can meet this requirement. In some urbanized areas with this extent of impervious cover, permeable interlocking concrete pavement may be more cost-effective than separate water detention and/or retention facilities due to space and configuration constraints. The LEED requirement is that runoff rate and quantity be reduced by at least 25%. In the past, permeable interlocking concrete pavements have been able to reduce runoff to zero for the most frequent storms.
Credit 6.2 provides 1 point for treatment systems designed to remove 80% of the average annual post development total suspended solids (TSS), and 40% of the average annual post development total phosphorus (TP). The ability of permeable interlocking concrete pavements to reduce these pollutants is typically greater than these percentages according to references in the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute's manual, Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavements—Selection, Design, Construction, Maintenance. The ICPI manual references studies on infiltration trenches (similar to permeable pavement bases) and porous pavements with reductions in TSS as high as 95% and TP as much as 70%.
Another source of credit is designated as Credit 5 (1 to 2 points), local regional materials: specify a minimum of 20% of building materials that are manufactured regionally within a radius of 800 km (500 miles). An additional point is earned if 50% of the regionally manufactured materials are extracted, harvested or recovered within this same radius. Most interlocking concrete pavers and permeable pavers will be manufactured within this distance from the project site.
Yet another Credit is 7.1 (1 point), landscape and exterior design to reduce heat islands. An option for meeting this requirement is to use light colored/high albedo materials with a reflectance of at least 0.3 for 30% of the sites non-roof impervious surfaces, i.e., pavements. Concrete paving units can be manufactured in practically any color, so they can be tailored to register an albedo of at least 0.3.
Albedo is defined as the ratio of outbound or reflected solar radiation to inbound radiation. It is measured with a pyranometer. A pyranometer is a type of actinometer used to measure broadband solar irradiance on a planar surface and is a sensor that is designed to measure the solar radiation flux density in watts per square meter from a field of view of 180 degrees. The name pyranometer stems from Greek, "pyr" meaning "fire" and "ano" meaning "above" or "sky". A typical pyranometer does not require auxiliary power to operate. Long-term measurements should be done with two pyranometers rather than one to better understand and compare diurnal changes in the radiation flux of pavements.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,419,740, issued Jul. 16, 2002 to Kinari et al. teaches a water-permeable solid material which can be used as paving materials. However, the materials are not and cannot be made into paver form. U.S. Pat. No. 6,824,605, issue Nov. 30, 2004 to De Buen-Unna, et al. also teaches ecological permeable concretes with high compression, bending and abrasion resistance for paving purposes, but again, the materials are not made into a paver form.
The American Concrete Institute defines a Supplementary Cementitious Material (SCM) as an "inorganic material such as fly ash, silica fume, metakaolin, or ground-granulated blast-furnace slag that reacts pozzolanically or hydraulically." A material that reacts with by-products of the portland cement reaction to form additional binder material is a pozzolan. SCMs including fly ash and ground-granulated blast-furnace slag are often used to replace portland cement. Other SCMs, such as silica fume and other high silica content materials, are used to enhance various properties of concrete.
Processes for producing SCMs include mineralization via aqueous precipitation are known. FIG. 1A (Prior Art) shows one such process which utilizes carbon dioxide and other pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, fly ash, salt and other manufacturing process brines, waste water and sodium hydroxide to produce calcium carbonates, other green building materials and clean flue gas. Carbon dioxide from waste flue gas, such as that produced by typical energy plants which burn coal or other organic compounds, is converted into stable or metastable, solid calcium and magnesium carbonate and bicarbonate minerals, similar to those found in the skeletons of marine animals and plants. Typical mineralization via aqueous precipitation involves contacting flue gas from the power plant with natural waters found in abundance on Earth. Many of the crystallographic forms synthesized utilizing these processes make it possible to produce high reactive cements.
Unfortunately, prior uses of SCMs to replace portland cement in typical concrete have been unable to produce building materials having compressive strengths greater than 8000 psi using testing under ASTM C 1157 "Standard Performance Specification for Hydraulic Cement". FIG. 1B (Prior Art) shows the results of testing done in accordance with ASTM C 109. This data shows that SCMs produce compressive strengths similar to portland cement at up to a 20% replacement of portland cement. These compressive strengths of between 2000 and 6000 psi are insufficient for use as paving stones in which compressive strengths of 8000+ psi are required.
A carbon credit is a generic term for any tradable certificate or permit representing the right to emit one tonne of carbon or carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e). Carbon credits and carbon markets are a component of national and international attempts to mitigate the growth in concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHGs). One carbon credit is equal to one ton of carbon dioxide, or in some markets, carbon dioxide equivalent gases. Carbon trading is an application of an emissions trading approach. Greenhouse gas emissions are capped and then markets are used to allocate the emissions among the group of regulated sources. The goal is to allow market mechanisms to drive industrial and commercial processes in the direction of low emissions or less carbon intensive approaches than those used when there is no cost to emitting carbon dioxide and other GHGs into the atmosphere. Since GHG mitigation projects generate credits, this approach can be used to finance carbon reduction schemes between trading partners and around the world.
A carbon offset is a reduction in emissions of carbon dioxide or greenhouse gases made in order to compensate for or to offset an emission made elsewhere. Carbon offsets are measured in metric tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent (CO2e) and may represent six primary categories of greenhouse gases. One carbon offset represents the reduction of one metric ton of carbon dioxide or its equivalent in other greenhouse gases.
There are two markets for carbon offsets. In the larger, compliance market, companies, governments, or other entities buy carbon offsets in order to comply with caps on the total amount of carbon dioxide they are allowed to emit. This market exists in order to achieve compliance with obligations of Annex 1 Parties under the Kyoto Protocol, and of liable entities under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. In 2006, about $5.5 billion of carbon offsets were purchased in the compliance market, representing about 1.6 billion metric tons of CO2e reductions. In the much smaller, voluntary market, individuals, companies, or governments purchase carbon offsets to mitigate their own greenhouse gas emissions from transportation, electricity use, and other sources. For example, an individual might purchase carbon offsets to compensate for the greenhouse gas emissions caused by personal air travel. Many companies offer carbon offsets as an up-sell during the sales process so that customers can mitigate the emissions related with their product or service purchase, such as offsetting emissions related to a vacation flight, car rental, hotel stay, consumer good, etc. In 2008, about $705 million of carbon offsets were purchased in the voluntary market, representing about 123.4 million metric tons of CO2e reductions. Offsets are typically achieved through financial support of projects that reduce the emission of greenhouse gases in the short- or long-term. The most common project type is renewable energy, such as wind farms, biomass energy, or hydroelectric dams. Others include energy efficiency projects, the destruction of industrial pollutants or agricultural byproducts, destruction of landfill methane, and forestry projects. Some of the most popular carbon offset projects from a corporate perspective are energy efficiency and wind turbine projects.

Permeable paving slab and paver and manufacturing method therefor


An apparatus and a method automatically cook food, for example, a hulled grain such as buckwheat, thereby conveniently providing the uniform and optimal cooking quality of the food to a user. The cooking apparatus includes a cooking cavity that contains food to be cooked and water therein, and a heating unit that heats the food and the water. The cooking apparatus further includes a control unit operated in such a way as to heat the food and the water at a preset initial output of the heating unit, first to reduce the output of the heating unit to a first reduced output and allow the heated high temperature water to be absorbed into the food after a first preset time has elapsed, and second, to reduce the output of the heating unit to a second reduced output and cook an inside of the food using the high temperature water absorbed into the food after the water has simmered.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to an apparatus and a method of automatic cooking, and, more particularly, to an apparatus and a method of automatic cooking of food using an automatic cooking algorithm.
2. Description of the Related Art
A basic method of cooking buckwheat, which is a type of hulled grain, is to put buckwheat and a proper amount of water in a vessel, and steam the buckwheat by heating the vessel. If heat is directly applied to the vessel that contains the buckwheat and the water, the heat is transmitted through the vessel, so the water contained in the vessel is boiled. While the water is boiling, the buckwheat is cooked to become edible. However, if the buckwheat is heated at an extremely high temperature for a long time during cooking, an optimal cooking quality of the buckwheat may not be obtained. Accordingly, the cooking of the buckwheat should be carried out while heating power is reduced in stages in order to obtain a satisfactory cooking quality of the buckwheat. Additionally, a cooking result depends on respective durations of the cooking stages.
When buckwheat is cooked, a gas/electric equipment, such as a cooking top, is generally used to heat a vessel containing the buckwheat. Notwithstanding that the cooking quality of the buckwheat depends on the precise control of applied heating power and cooking time for which the buckwheat is cooked, the cooking of the buckwheat is carried out depending on the judgment of a cook, so the optimal and uniform cooking quality of the buckwheat is not easily obtained. Additionally, a cook should control heating power and ascertain the cooking state of the buckwheat while standing by beside the cooking equipment, so the cook may not do other things until cooking is terminated. That is, the cook may not effectively manage the cooking time of the buckwheat.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Apparatus and method of automatic cooking of buckwheat


A device for measuring dispersion of a link between two switching nodes of an optical network comprises a phase measuring unit PMU for determining a first phase of a data signal traveling on a first wavelength xcex1, and a second phase of the same data signal traveling on a second wavelength xcex2, received consecutively over the link under measurement. A dispersion measurement controller controls operation of the phase measuring unit and characterizes the dispersion of the link at a wavelength of interest xcex=(xcex1+xcex2)/2, based on the first and second phases. The PMU includes a frame detector for determining a first and a second rotation signal indicative of the digital offset between the first and second test clocks with a respective frame start, and a phase detector for measuring the phase of these test clocks with respect to a static reference. The static reference is provided by the same data signal transmitted continuously over a reference wavelength. The test and reference clocks are 1:n divided to extend the range of the measurement. A method for characterizing the dispersion of a link of an optical network is also provided.

The invention resides in the field of optical telecommunications networks, and is directed in particular to dispersion measurement in optical networks.
In optical transmission systems, the user traffic is carried by one or more channels traveling between a transmitter and a receiver in optical format. The receiver task is to convert the optical signal back into an electrical format and to extract the user signal. A channel is defined as a carrier wavelength modulated with a user signal. Ideally, a light pulse (representing a digital xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d) is a surge of light of a certain power at wavelength xcex0; in fact, the pulse of light has a certain xe2x80x9cwidthxe2x80x9d comprised of a small range of wavelengths about the central wavelength, as shown in FIG. 1A.
The optical fibers used as the transmission medium and most optical components (optical amplifiers, filters) are dispersive, that is, different wavelengths of light travel at slightly different phase velocities Vph=xcfx89/k=c/n(xcex), where c is the vacuum speed of light. The propagation characteristics of each wavelength depend on the effective mode index n(xcex), or the effective propagation parameter k=2xcfx80n(xcex)/xcex. The mode index changes with wavelength, polarization and mode profile, due to material dispersion and due to the waveguide dispersion of the confined mode. The effective mode index n(xcex) shows a non-linear wavelength dependence over an extended spectral domain. As a result, not only the phase velocity, but also the group velocity vg=∂xcfx89/∂k=c/[nxe2x88x92xcex(dn/dxcex)] changes with wavelength. The group velocity is the speed at which non-uniformities in the field intensity, such as an information-carrying modulated pulse train, move through the medium. As an initially short pulse requires some spectral width as dictated by the fundamental property of Fourier transforms, the wavelength-dependence of the group velocity tends to broaden the pulse as it propagates through the fiber, because different spectral components of the pulse travel at different velocities.
This wavelength dependency of the propagation parameter and consequently of the group velocity is termed chromatic dispersion CD, or intra-modal dispersion. FIG. 1B shows a signal xe2x80x98100101xe2x80x99 at the input of an optical link, and FIG. 1C illustrates how the light pulses representing xe2x80x981""sxe2x80x99 widen as the signal travels down the fiber. As a result, the pulse energy of symbols xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d spreads into the neighboring symbols xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d (ISI or intersymbol interference), so that the receiver could interpret the signal correctly as xe2x80x98100101xe2x80x99, or erroneously as xe2x80x98100111xe2x80x99.
It is evident that reconstructing the user signal from the received optical pulses can pose problems, especially in WDM (wavelength division multiplexed) systems, where a plurality of channels travels over the same link.
The chromatic dispersion parameter D(xcex) is defined as:                               D                                (            λ            )                          =                                            ∂              τ                                      ∂              λ                                ·                      1            L                                              EQ                          xe2x80x83                        1
where ∂xcfx84 is the differential group delay (DGD) of two pulses, i.e. the variation of the travel time (in picoseconds) from the transmitter to the point of measurement, ∂xcex is the differential spectral separation of the two carrier wavelengths (in nanometers) and L is the length of the fiber (in kilometers) over which the dispersion is measured. The target dispersion for a fiber link is defined as:
DT(xcex)=D(xcex)xc2x7Lxe2x80x83xe2x80x83EQ2
For example, for every km of fiber traveled through, two pulses with a 1 nm initial separation of wavelengths will experience a differential group delay of 1 ps, if the dispersion parameter of the fiber is 1 ps/(nm km). Similarly, the two outlying spectral components of a 10 Gb/s pulse with a 0.2 nm spectral width will widen by a whole bit period (100 ps) after some propagation distance, and will then cause bit errors by spreading the pulse energy into the neighboring symbol.
Since the dispersion parameter D is wavelength-dependent, another parameter is defined to characterize dispersion, namely the dispersion slope, given by:
S=∂D/∂xcexxe2x80x83xe2x80x83EQ3
If we assume a linear dispersion dependence on wavelength in some interval xcex94xcex, the slope can be expressed as the ratio of change in the dispersion to the change in the wavelength xcex94D/xcex94xcex calculated with respect to a reference wavelength.
Chromatic dispersion can be corrected, or xe2x80x9ccompensated,xe2x80x9d through the use of specially designed optical components (such as fibers, Bragg gratings) inserted at given locations along the transmission path. For a comprehensive compensation, the total dispersion of the compensating component (which could be packaged e.g. as a dispersion compensating module DCM) must have the same value, but opposite sign to the dispersion of the preceding transmission section, which is obtained if the dispersion is xe2x88x92DT(xcex), namely
DDCMxc2x7LDCM fiber=xe2x88x92Dfiber sectionxc2x7Lfiber section.xe2x80x83xe2x80x83EQ4
With the data rates of optical communication systems increasing through techniques such as dense WDM (DWDM), and network reach increasing through techniques known as ultra long reach (ULR), determination of chromatic dispersion of the fiber and optical components within the systems becomes increasingly important, but also more difficult. Thus, dispersion of each transmission section needs to be determined with as much accuracy as possible to provide accurate compensation, for achieving longer un-regenerated reach and ultimately a less expensive network.
Accurate link dispersion values are particularly useful in wavelength switched network. In these networks, end-to-end physical routes (paths) are dynamically set-up and removed arbitrarily (based on users"" requests), without interruption of the co-propagating traffic. Agility requires accurate knowledge of the link parameters, since matching an end-to-end path to a connection request is based, among other rules, on individual link/path performance. The chances of setting-up a connection along a path increase (and the time-to-service decreases) if the selection process uses accurate path performance parameters, which include end-to-end (link) dispersion.
Fiber cable manufacturers provide chromatic dispersion parameters by wavelength windows for each fiber cable type. Also, most device specifications include CD information. A simple way to determine the total dispersion over a link is to multiply the dispersion coefficient for a certain type of fiber by the fiber length in km and to add to this the specified dispersion of the optical components connected in the respective link.
This method is often used in current point-to-point networks, where each span/link is provisioned based on estimated data, using in addition generous engineering margins to ensure that the span/link will successfully carry the traffic over the specified distance. This is clearly not the best way of using network resources. In addition, in many cases the fiber type is not known; there are no reliable methods to detect the type of the fiber buried in early days of the optical networking. Also, this method assumes a uniform dispersion along the entire fiber cable length, which is not generally true. While this assumption can be used in systems with a small channel-count and short links, it is not satisfactory for wavelength switched DWDM (dense WDM) systems.
A more accurate value of dispersion is evidently obtained by measuring the dispersion. Chromatic dispersion can be determined by performing time domain measurements and frequency domain measurements, as described for example by P. J Dean in xe2x80x9cOptical Fiber Communications, Principles and Practicexe2x80x9d, published in 1985 by Prentice-Hall International, Inc, London, pages 196-202.
However, current dispersion measurement methods cannot be readily used in wavelength switched (agile) networks, for at least the following reasons.
The current networks have a point-to-point architecture that uses span equalization, so that the existing dispersion measuring methods can provide accurate dispersion measurements for a span, which is a relatively short length of fiber (100-150 km) and does not include optical amplifiers.
In agile switched networks, a channel travels for much longer distances in optical format (without regeneration) than in point-to-point networks, passing through a plurality of optical amplifiers and intermediate switching nodes and/or optical add/drop nodes. The current dispersion measuring methods are not suitable for links with multiple optical amplifiers since the amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) accumulated along the link reduces the received signal-to-noise ratio and may introduce severe measurement errors.
As well, the current dispersion measurement methods may not be able to cope with the bandwidth-limiting effects introduced by spectral filters in end-to end links.
Some traditional dispersion measurement methods require bi-directional transmission. An optical amplifier however, contains optical isolators prohibiting bidirectional transmission of probe or reference signals.
Still further, the traditional dispersion measurement methods require special test equipment.
There is a need to provide a method for measuring dispersion of an end-to-end link of an optical network that is reliable, inexpensive and uses standard agile network equipment.
It is an object of the invention to provide a reliable and inexpensive method of measuring dispersion in a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) network, or/and a dense WDM (DWDM) network.
Accordingly, the invention is directed to a device for measuring dispersion of a link between two switching nodes of an optical network comprising: a phase measuring unit for determining a first phase of a data signal received over the link on a first wavelength xcex1 and a second phase of the data signal received over the link on a second wavelength xcex2; and a dispersion measurement controller for controlling operation of the phase measuring unit, and characterizing the dispersion of the link at a wavelength of interest xcex=(xcex1+xcex2)/2 based on the first and second phases.
According to another aspect, the invention provides a method for characterizing the dispersion of a link of an optical network comprising:
(a) transmitting over the link a data signal over a first test wavelength xcex1 and thereafter over a second test wavelength xcex2; (b) at the output of the link, measuring a first phase of the data signal received on the first wavelength xcex1 and a second phase of the data signal received on the second wavelength xcex2; and (c) characterizing the dispersion of the link at a wavelength of interest xcex=(xcex1+xcex2)/2 based on the difference between the first and second phases . . . .
The measured values for dispersion of each link provided by the invention can be advantageously used to optimize network operation. Knowing the link dispersion allows to accurately select the fixed dispersion compensating modules DCMs and to adjust the tunable DCMs such that the network reach is optimized for each connection. Thus, measuring dispersion at each amplifier site or across multiple fiber spans, allows selection of appropriate fixed span DCMs to accurately compensate the span dispersion. The fixed DCMs may be selected in an open loop; semi-automated closed loop testing can be performed where software selected DCMs are replaced until the target is achieved. Full closed loop adjustment of tunable DCMs (when available) to the link target value can be performed at the switching nodes to accurately compensate for the residual link dispersion. Furthermore, the measured link dispersion helps in selecting the power targets for each wavelength. As well, the measured link dispersion can be stored in a database to provide the dispersion values for post dispersion compensation.
Still further, the dispersion measurement of the invention can be used in agile networks to automate recording of span, link or path dispersion, which in turn can be used by the routing mechanism.
The dispersion measurement unit may use installed network equipment or may be implemented on a dispersion measurement card, that can be temporarily inserted in a shelf at remote sites, or a portable test set may be used.
In addition, the method according to the invention uses standard agile network equipment, resulting in less costly and faster measurements.

Dispersion measurement in optical networks


A cooling system for an electrical machine includes a substantially closed housing, a first heat exchanger arranged inside of the housing, a second heat exchanger arranged outside of the housing, a conduit assembly for transferring a heat exchange medium in a closed circuit between the first and the second heat exchangers, a first air circulating means configured to circulate air inside of the housing over the first heat exchanger, and a second air circulating means configured to circulate air outside of the housing over the second heat exchanger, wherein the conduit assembly includes a pump for actively circulating the heat exchange medium between the first and the second heat exchangers.

During the operation of large electrical machines such as motors and generators a substantial amount of heat is generated in the active parts i.e. the stator and the rotor of the machines. The excess heat has to be transferred out of the machine in order to avoid malfunction because of overheating. Therefore, large electrical machines are provided with cooling systems that implement the heat transfer function.
Cooling systems may comprise a great variety of technical principles and practical solutions depending on the amount of heat, access to a cooling medium, requirements of the machine, etc. One typical machine requirement is that the interior of the machine housing should not be in direct contact with the ambient air. Some of the conventionally used cooling principles in the case of such closed housing are disclosed in the following patent publications.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,700,237 discloses in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 8 an electrical machine in which the machine housing is provided with cooling fins such that the housing itself functions as a heat exchanger to the ambient air. In further embodiments U.S. Pat. No. 6,700,237 discloses external heat exchangers where the air circulated through the interior of the machine is cooled.
U.S. 2002/0149273 discloses an electric motor comprising an internal cooling air circuit and an annular heat exchanger with ducts for a cooling liquid. U.S. 2002/0149273 does not thoroughly describe the cooling liquid circuit outside of the motor housing, but in a typical arrangement the ducts are connected to an external water pipe network.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,844,333 discloses an electric motor air cooler using an air-to-air heat exchanger. The air cooler comprises an ambient air fan for circulating ambient air over the heat exchanger, and an internal fan for circulating the air inside of the motor housing and over the heat exchanger.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,499,532 discloses an electric motor cooling system comprising a first blower for circulating the air inside a motor housing and over a first half of a heat pipe array, and a second blower for forcing the ambient air over a second half of the heat pipe array.
Some of the aforementioned cooling principles have the drawback that they assume the use of an external cooling medium such as water. While it often is burdensome to install the water piping to the machine, in some circumstances there is not even access to external water. The remaining conventional cooling principles have the drawback that the efficiency is poor and the dimensions of the resulting heat exchangers are huge compared to the machine dimensions.

Cooling system for an electrical machine


The location of a mobile terminal associated with a user is determined using GPS or by monitoring signals generated and received by the mobile terminal, etc. Coordinates for at least one hot spot defined by the user are accessed to determine whether the location of the mobile terminal is within the hot spot. When an incoming contact is received for the user, a determination is made as to whether there are any contact routing rules associates with the user. If so, the record of contact routing rules associated with the user is accessed. If the record of contact routing rules includes at least one contact routing rule assigned to a hot spot, the contact is routed according to the at least one contact routing rule, based on whether or not the mobile terminal is determined to be within the hot spot.

In a telecommunications network, "call routing" or "call forwarding" refers to a calling feature that allows a telephone user to have incoming calls routed to an alternate phone number based on certain predefined user-specified rules. For example, a person may elect to have all calls to a first phone number (e.g., a home phone number) routed to a second phone number (e.g., a work phone number) during the hours of 9:00 am and 5:00 pm. Some existing implementations of call routing or forwarding features require the user (i.e., the called party) to manually update or change the call routing rules to reflect modifications in the user's schedule. By way of illustration, if the person in the prior example will not be present at work at some point during the hours of 9:00 am and 5:00 pm on a given day and still wants to receive calls to the user's home or work phone numbers, the person will need to update the call routing rules to specify a third phone number (e.g., a cell phone number) to which the incoming calls are to routed.
Another example of a call routing feature is sometimes referred to as a "find-me/follow-me" feature. In this type of feature, generally implemented in a Voice over IP portion of a telecommunications network, calls placed to a user may be routed to one of a number of network terminals depending upon which terminal the user is currently logged-in to. For example, the user may associate a phone number or user name with multiple network addresses, each corresponding to a different network terminal (e.g. home computer, work computer, mobile device, etc.) and a call routing application may be configured to determine which of the terminals the user is logged-in to and to route calls to that terminal. In these types of systems, the called party is required to manually provide an indication of the location to which a call is to be routed at a given time, e.g., by logging-in to a network terminal.
Therefore, what is needed is a more efficient implementation of a contact routing feature that can automatically (i.e., without manual user interaction) be adjusted based on the location of the contacted party.


Methods are disclosed to make coke, graphite, graphene and other materials from biomass derived bio-oil.

Pyrolysis is the thermal decomposition of biomass occurring in the absence of oxygen. It is the fundamental chemical reaction that is the precursor of both the combustion and gasification processes and occurs naturally in the first two seconds. The products of biomass pyrolysis include biochar, bio-oil and gases including methane, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide. Depending on the thermal environment and the final temperature, pyrolysis will yield mainly biochar at low temperatures, less than 450° C., when the heating rate is quite slow, and mainly gases at high temperatures, greater than 800° C., with more rapid heating rates. At an intermediate temperature and under relatively high heating rates, the main product is bio-oil.
Pyrolysis processes can be categorized as slow pyrolysis or fast pyrolysis. Fast pyrolysis is currently the most widely used pyrolysis system. Slow pyrolysis takes several hours to complete and results in biochar as the main product. On the other hand, fast pyrolysis yields 60% bio-oil and takes seconds for complete pyrolysis. In addition, it gives 20% biochar and 20% syngas. Fast pyrolysis processes include open-core fixed bed pyrolysis, ablative fast pyrolysis, cyclonic fast pyrolysis, and rotating core fast pyrolysis systems.
Bio-oil residue is the bottoms from fractional distillation of pyrolysis oil and is a very low value and difficult to upgrade material. Bio-oil is a dark brown liquid and has a similar composition to the biomass starting material. It has a much higher density than woody materials which reduces storage and transport costs. Bio-oil is not suitable for direct use in standard internal combustion engines.
The current technology for producing graphite from petroleum or mineral sources is extremely inefficient, costly, and environmentally problematic.


The present invention relates to a p75NTR neurotrophin binding protein, p75NTR(NBP), for use in the treatment of pain and/or a symptom of pain.

The neurotrophins, neurotrophic growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin 3 (NT-3), and neurotrophin 4/5 (NT-4/5) act via four receptors: the low affinity p75 neutrophic receptor (p75NTR), and the high affinity tyrosine kinase receptors; TrkA, TrkB, and TrkC. The low affinity receptor p75NTR binds and is activated by all four neurotrophins and has been reported to function independently from the other receptors. However, the Trk receptors are more selectively activated i.e. NGF is the selective ligand for TrkA, BDNF the ligand for TrkB and NT-3, 4/5 the ligands for TrkC. In addition it has been reported, when p75NTR and Trk proteins are co-expressed, they form complexes, which alter the signaling of both receptors (Huang and Reichardt, 2003). Indeed, it has been suggested that p75NTR facilitates the selectivity of each of the neutrophins for their respective Trk receptor.
The p75NTR is a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily (TNFR-SF) and was the first member of this superfamily to be characterized fully. The superfamily (encoded by some 30 genes in humans) is defined by ligand-binding domains consisting of one or more (typically four) repeats of a 40 amino acid cysteine-rich domain (CRD) that was first identified in p75NTR (Johnson et al., 1986; Radeke et al., 1987). In contrast, no sequence motif is shared by the intracellular domains of all TNFR-SF family members. Consequently, signaling mechanisms of TNFR-SF proteins vary significantly.
An unusual feature of p75NTR structure is the existence of a disulfide-linked p75NTR dimer, formed via cysteinyl residues within the transmembrane domains. This disulfide linkage is required for effective neurotrophin-dependent signaling by p75NTR and plays an important role in the formation of an intracellular and extracellular domain (Vilar et al., 2009b). Neurotrophins exist physiologically as noncovalently associated dimers (Bothwell and Shooter, 1977) with a distribution half-life of approximately 5 min (Tria et al., 1994). Neurotrophin-dependent p75NTR activation involves association of a neurotrophin dimer with CRDs 2-4 of the two extracellular domains of a p75NTR dimer (He and Garcia, 2004). Recent studies support a model in which neurotrophin binding causes the two extracellular domains of p75NTR dimers to move closer together, forcing the intracellular domains to splay apart in a snail-tong-like motion centered on the disulfide bond and permitting association of the intracellular domains with the signaling adapter proteins, NRIF and TRAF6 (Vilar et al., 2009a, 2009b). Intra-transmembrane domain disulfide bonds, such as are present in p75NTR, have not been described previously in other TNFR-SF family members, or in any other membrane protein.
p75NTR undergoes sequential proteolytic cleavage by α-secretase and γ-secretase activities and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), releasing its intracellular domain (ICD) into the cytoplasm, in a manner analogous to the cleavage-dependent signaling pathway of Notch and β-amyloid precursor protein (Jung et al., 2003; Kanning et al., 2003). Cytoplasmic release of the p75NTR ICD by this pathway promotes signaling by associated NRIF (Kenchappa et al., 2006). The role of the extracellular domain of p75NTR, following the proteolytic cleavage by α-secretase and γ-secretase activities and MMPs isn't fully understood.
It has been documented that NGF and other neurotrophins (BDNF, NT-3 and NT-4/5) play a significant role in pathology for example pain due to osteoarthritis, pancreatitis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, pruritis and multiple sclerosis (Watanabe et al., 2010; Raychaudhuri et al., 2011; Barthel et al., 2009; Truzzi et al., 2011; McDonald et al., 2011; Yamaoka et al., 2007). It was been demonstrated that selective antibodies to any of the neutrophins; either NGF or BDNF, NT-3 and NT-4/5 significantly reduce pain. Furthermore, antibodies directed to the neurotrophin receptors p75NTR Trk A, Trk B or Trk C have also been demonstrated to be efficacious in models of pain (Orita S et al., 2010; Svensson P et al., 2010; Iwakura et al., 2010; Cirilio et al., 2010; Pezet et al., 2010; Hayashi et al., 2011; Chu et al., 2011; Ueda et al., 2010; Ghilardi et al., 2010; Fukui et al., 2010). Fukui et al., (2010) in a model of pain (mechanical allodynia following sciatic nerve crush) demonstrated significant efficacy on pain related endpoints following treatment with an anti-p75NTR antibody. It was concluded from this study that the treatment with a p75NTR inhibitory antibody reduced CGRP and p75NTR expression resulting in a significant reduction in pain.
The current invention demonstrates the extracellular domain of p75NTR, exogenous or endogenous following cleavage from the cell membrane, acts as a neurotrophin binding protein or soluble receptor to each of the neurotrophins NGF, BDNF, NT-3 and NT-4/5 and plays a significant role in the function, physiology and homeostasis of neurotrophin function. Moreover, we describe the use of the extracellular domain of p75NTR for modulating or neutralizing the pathological actions of the neurotrophic factors including NGF, BDNF, NT-3 and NT4/5, for example in models of static allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia. Thus the p75NTR neurotrophin binding protein finds use in the treatment of pain and other neurotrophic factor related pathologies such as psoriasis, eczema, rheumatoid arthritis, cystitis, endometriosis and osteoarthritis.

Therapeutic use of p75NTR neurotrophin binding protein


A base plate for a disc drive incorporates a printed circuit board and connector assembly into an integral composite base that is bonded together to form a single composite structure. This structure provides the strength, stiffness and rigidity necessary to permit a reduction in overall thickness of a miniature disc drive to that substantially required for a Type I compact flash form factor data storage device.

Current disc drives store information on rotating discs that are typically either optical or magnetic. Magnetic discs are coated with a magnetizable medium on which data is recorded. The recorded information is arranged typically on concentric tracks around the axis of rotation of the discs. One or more transducers, commonly referred to as "heads", are movably positioned over the disc surfaces to read and write data from and to the rotating discs. The heads are mounted on an actuator that positions the heads over and moves them from one track to another on the disc. The sheer volume of magnetic disc drive production is increasing every year. In addition, the data density on each of the disc surfaces is being increased every year that require drive designs to be easily manufacturable. The size, or "form factor", of each generation of disc drives is continually getting smaller. The smallest drive currently in the market is a one-inch drive, which is in the form factor of a CF card (Compact Flash, type II). The type II CF form factor requires an overall thickness of no more than 5.5 mm. However, there is a continuing need to reduce the size of the drive even smaller without sacrificing capacity and performance.
An exploded view of the primary components of a base plate and printed circuit board assembly 100 for a conventional one-inch disc drive is shown in FIG. 1. A cross sectional view of the assembly 100 is shown in FIG. 2. The assembly 100 includes a base plate 102 to which various components of the disc drive will be subsequently mounted. Fastened to the bottom of the base plate 102 is a printed circuit board assembly 104. Finally, fastened to the bottom of the printed circuit board (PCB) assembly 104 is a printed circuit board (PCB) shield 106. These three components, the base plate 102, the PCB assembly 104, and the PCB shield 106, are mechanically assembled together in a conventional manner as is shown in the cross sectional view of FIG. 2. Here it can be seen that the PCB assembly 104 is spaced from both the PCB shield 106 and the base plate 102 by gaps 108 and 110. The drive motor coils 114 are installed in the base plate 102 before the PCB assembly 104 is installed on the base plate 102, thus requiring a drive motor connector having pins 116 to be present to contact with pads on the PCB assembly 104 when the PCB assembly 104 is joined with the base plate 102. This current base plate 102, at its thinnest, is about 0.5 mm thick. Reducing this thickness further leads to very severe structural instabilities.
One current challenge is to design a disc drive in a CF type I size. Such a drive has an overall thickness requirement of only 3.3 mm. There are no disc drives available that have a 3.3 mm thickness. A drive having a design thickness of only 3.3 mm has a number of problems. The base plate upon which the actuator and disc spin motor both are mounted becomes so thin as to be unacceptably structurally weakened. Thus a new concept of a base plate is needed that is both thin enough and strong enough to adequately support the moving components within the disc drive yet and, at the same time, permit a maximum thickness of the drive to be limited to 3.3 mm total form factor. The present invention provides a solution to this and other problems, and offers other advantages over the prior art.

Composite base plate for a data storage device having an integral printed circuit board


The present invention aims to provide novel therapeutic agents for achondroplasia caused by mutations in FGFR3.

(i) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to agents and methods for treating achondroplasia.
(ii) Description of the Related Art
Achondroplasia is one of the most common congenital diseases responsible for micromelic dwarfism characterized by short limbs relative to trunk. It is diagnosed by X-ray photographs in addition to growth failure in the major axes of the long bones of extremities and typical physical features such as a large frontally projecting cranium and a short nose. The disease is said to occur at an incidence of one to 10,000-25,000 people. This disease is an autosomal dominant hereditary disorder, but 80-90% of cases are found to be sporadic. Current therapies include orthopedic surgeries such as artificial hip joint replacement or leg lengthening and growth hormone therapy. Leg lengthening involves cutting bones at the age of 10 years or after and gradually increasing body height using a special device (leg lengthening device) over several courses of about six months. However, this procedure inflicts a great pain on patients. Growth hormone therapy increases body height by means of periodic growth hormone injections starting from childhood. However, growth ceases when injections are stopped. Neither therapy is curative, and neither are considered ideal from the viewpoint of patients"" QOL (American Journal of Medical Genetics 72: 71-76, 1997; European Journal of Endocrinology 138: 275-280, 1998). Consequently, it is desirable to develop a achondroplasia therapy based on a new mechanism.
Recent reports show that achondroplastic patients have mutations in fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) located at chromosome 4p16.3, and two mutations are currently known. Of these mutations, 97% represents G1138A (change of 1138th G to A) and 2.5% represents G1138C (change of 1138th G to C), resulting in a change of the amino acid Gly at the 380-position to Arg (G380R) (Nature 371: 252-254, 1994; Cell 78: 335-342, 1994). To examine the relation of this mutation to achondroplasia, G380R FGFR3 (sometimes hereinafter referred to as FGFR3ach) transgenic mice were bred to provide an animal model for human achondroplasia. The mice showed short limbs and craniofacial hypoplasia (Development. 125: 4977-4988, 1998).
On the other hand, the natriuretic peptide (NP) family consists of three peptides, ANP (atrial natriuretic peptide), BNP (brain natriuretic peptide) and CNP (C-type natriuretic peptide), and is thought to show biological activity by increasing intracellular cGMP through two guanylyl cyclase coupled receptors (GC-A receptor for ANP and BNP, and GC-B receptor for CNP) (Annu. Rev. Biochem. 60: 229-255, 1991). NPs are reported to have important roles in the regulation of body fluid homeostasis and blood pressure control (J. Clin. Invest. 93: 1911-1921, 1987; J. Clin. Invest. 87: 1402-1412, 1994), but also they are known by their expression and physiological activity in various tissues other than cardiovascular system (Endocrinology. 129: 1104-1106, 1991; Annu. Rev. Biochem. 60: 553-575, 1991). Among them, they have a role as bone growth factor. In organ cultures of tibiae from fetal mice, CNP significantly promotes longitudinal bone growth (J. Biol. Chem. 273: 11695-11700, 1998). CNP is more potent than ANP and BNP in the production of cGMP in organ cultures of tibiae from fetal mice, cultured chondrocytes and cultured osteoblasts (J. Biol. Chem. 269: 10729-10733, 1994; Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 223: 1-6, 1996; Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 215: 1104-1110, 1995). CNP and its receptor GC-B are expressed in the growth plates of bones (J. Biol. Chem. 273: 11695-11700, 1998; Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 95: 2337-2342, 1998). CNP was also found to have a role in thickening the cartilage layer of the growth plate in transgenic mice expressing CNP specifically in cartilage (Yasoda et al., Abstracts of the 72nd meeting of the Japan Endocrinology Society, 1999).
The relation of CNP to dwarfism was also indicated because CNP knockout mice developed dwarfism (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 98: 4016-4021, 2001), but nothing has been described about its relation to achondroplasia caused by FGFR3 mutations and no positive evidence has shown that CNP is effective for achondroplasia caused by FGFR3 mutations. That is, it is known that FGFR3 mutations are related with achondroplasia and that CNP is involved in chondrogenesis, but nothing has been known so far about the relation between them, particularly which of FGFR3 and CNP is located upstream in the regulatory pathway of endochondral ossification and whether or not CNP has a therapeutic effect for achondroplasia.
An object of the present invention is to provide novel agents and methods for treating achondroplasia caused by mutations in FGFR3.
On the hypothesis that a substance (e.g., CNP) activating guanylyl cyclase B (GC-B) may be applied to diseases involving chondrogenesis, we searched for a suitable achondroplasia model and mated this animal model with CNP-transgenic mice to prepare double transgenic mice for testing whether the symptoms of achondroplasia can be corrected. As described above, G380R FGFR3 (FGFR3ach) transgenic mice had been bred as an animal model of human achondroplasia, which showed short limbs and craniofacial hypoplasia (Development. 125: 4977-4988, 1998). Thus, we obtained such FGFR3ach-transgenic mice and mated them with our CNP-transgenic mice to prepare CNP/FGFR3ach-double transgenic mice, which were found to remedy the bone growth inhibition caused by FGFR3ach, whereby we achieved the present invention relating to agents and methods for treating achondroplasia with CNP.
Accordingly, the present invention provides therapeutic agents for achondroplasia caused by the cartilage growth inhibition resulting from mutations in the gene for fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3), containing a substance activating guanylyl cyclase B (GC-B) as an active ingredient, as well as methods for treating achondroplasia comprising administering a substance activating guanylyl cyclase B (GC-B).
As used herein, the expression xe2x80x9cachondroplasia caused by the cartilage growth inhibition resulting from mutations in the gene for fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3)xe2x80x9d means achondroplasia caused by hyperactivity or function control failure of FGFR3 or overexpression of the FGFR3 gene resulting from mutations in the FGFR3 gene, and achondroplasia is synonymous with chondrogenesis disorder. As used herein, FGFR3ach means fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) containing a mutation of the amino acid Gly at the 380-position substituted to Arg (G380R), which is known to induce hyperactivity of FGFR3 (Development. 125: 4977-4988, 1998).
As used herein, the expression xe2x80x9csubstance activating guanylyl cyclase Bxe2x80x9d means a substance (peptide or low molecular compound) capable of binding to GC-B known as a receptor for CNP (C-type natriuretic peptide) to activate it, preferably a substance (peptide or low molecular compound) having CNP (C-type natriuretic peptide)-like activity, such as mammalian CNP (CNP-22 (Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 168: 863-870, 1990, WO91/16342), CNP-53 (Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 170: 973-979, 1990, JPA 1992-74198, JPA 1992-139199), avian CNP (JPA 1992-120094), amphibian CNP (JPA 1992-120095) and CNP analog peptides (JPA 1994-9688), preferably mammalian CNP, more preferably CNP-22. Identification of the xe2x80x9csubstance activating guanylyl cyclase Bxe2x80x9d is performed by, for example, expressing GC-B receptor in cultured cells such as COS-7, incubating the medium with a candidate substance (peptide or low molecular compound) at a given temperature for a given period (e.g., 37xc2x0 C., 5 min) and then determining the concentration of cGMP in the cell extracts (Science 252: 120-123, 1991).

Abstract: Therapeutic agents for achondroplasia caused by the cartilage growth inhibition resulting from mutations in the gene for fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3), comprising a substance activating guanylyl cyclase B (GC-B) as an active ingredient are disclosed.


A knee pad system includes a knee pad attached to a base that includes integrated roller balls on its exterior surface. The roller balls can roll within the base and facilitate movement of the knee pad over a flat surface when worn by a user. The improved knee pad system can include a locking mechanism selectively preventing the roller balls from moving within said base. The knee pad of the improved knee pad system can be selectively detached from and reattached to the base.

Knee pads are commonly used to protect knees from hard surfaces and to provide padding and comfort to users of knee pads engaged in activities that may require the user to rest on his/her knees for long periods of time. Knee pads are generally strapped around a person's leg at the knee. Attachment can be with any combination of flexible straps and/or buckles. The straps assure that knee pads remain in contact with the front of a person's leg at their knee. Furthermore, straps keep a knee pad on a knee if a person had to stand up and walk to another location.
The problem with knee pads is that they can sometimes limit a person's movement over a hard surface. Knee pads are often made of a rubbery material so the knee pads tend to stick to a smooth surface such as floor tile or concrete as a person moves along the surface to work. The user must often pick up their knee/leg and move over the surface to adjust their position on the work surface (e.g., flooring). What the present inventor believes there is a need for are knee pads that can move easily over a flat surface such as flooring. The present inventor believes that an improved knee pad system would ease a user's required effort when working on a flat surface.

Knee pad attachable to a base including rollers and a brake to assist with user movement on a flat surface


An OFDM based communications system is provided, in which a scheduler is configured to estimate the load of existing bearers and the load increase that will arise from a new requested bearer if that bearer is accepted. Several techniques are described for estimating these loads and their advantages and disadvantages are also discussed. Estimators are also provided that can estimate the loads from a previous estimate and current load conditions.

Load estimation is the problem of estimating what fraction of the cell's available physical radio resources each user needs in order to meet its required Quality of Service (QoS). This may be different from the amount of resources it is currently consuming. Load estimation is a prerequisite for many radio resource management functions, including call admission control, congestion control and load balancing (between cells). For example, when deciding on whether or not to admit a new bearer in a cell, the base station (or eNB (evolved NodeB) using LTE (Long Term Evolution) terminology) will estimate the current load of the cell and the load increase caused by the new bearer and will then make a decision of whether or not to admit the new bearer depending on available system resources. The task of estimating the current load and the load increase is not trivial and depends upon, among other things, the number of existing radio bearers and their class of service (guaranteed bit rates etc), the type of new bearer requested and channel conditions between the base station and the respective User Equipment (UE).
Similar requirements were defined for admission control in WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) communications systems. However, one of the difficulties in admission control for WCDMA is that the resource is interference based, meaning that the interference due to the introduction of a new bearer can potentially affect the quality of other bearers. As a result the power levels of other bearers may have to go up, causing further interference in a further set of bearers etc. Thus estimating the effect of a new bearer is an iterative process that continues until either the interference level converges (ie the desired qualities of all bearers are reached) or one or more bearers are dropped. The techniques used in WCDMA systems are not generally applicable to OFDMA systems.
US-A-2008/0080378 describes a technique that can be used to estimate the load in an OFDMA system for the purposes of admission control. The system maintains, for each class of service, an average block requirement for that class. When a new bearer is requested, the system determines the class of the requested bearer and then determines the number of required resource blocks from the stored data and then determines whether or not to admit the new bearer depending on whether or not the required number of resource blocks is less than the available number of resource blocks.


The present invention provides a tacking rivet for fastening work pieces together which have aligned apertures therethrough. The tacking rivet includes a head portion and an elongated sleeve portion extending from the head portion. Both the head portion and the sleeve portion have openings therethrough which are in alignment with one another. The tacking rivet further includes a plurality of rib portions positioned on an outer surface of the sleeve portion which are capable of engaging with walls of the apertures of the work pieces when the sleeve portion is expanded within the apertures of the work pieces. Because the rib portions engage with the walls of the apertures of the work pieces, the tacking rivet will not rotate within the apertures during a drilling operation to remove the tacking rivet from the apertures prior to the installation of a permanent fastener to fasten the work pieces together.

The present invention relates to a rivet for temporarily fastening two adjacent work pieces together.
Rivets are typically used for permanently fastening adjacent work pieces together. The work pieces typically have apertures therethrough which are in alignment with one another and rivets are then inserted into the apertures. The rivets are then connected to walls of the apertures by expansion of a sleeve of the rivet by suitable means. The expansion of the sleeve against the walls of the apertures provides a tight fit to permanently fasten the work pieces together.
In many operations, such as in the construction of a fuselage of an airplane, panels are attached to a frame by the use of hundreds and thousands of rivets. Prior to the fastening of the rivets to the frame and the panels, though, the operator must ensure that the apertures of the panels and the frame stay in alignment. Thus, prior to the permanent fastening of rivets to the apertures of the panels and the frame, tacking rivets are inserted into a percentage, i.e., 1 in every 10, of the aligned apertures to ensure proper alignment of all of the apertures.
After the tacking rivets are inserted into a percentage of the apertures, the operator begins to attach rivets to the apertures of the panels and the frame to permanently attach the panels to the frame. When the operator comes upon apertures which have previously been attached by the tacking rivets, the operator removes the tacking rivet by drilling through a head and sleeve of the tacking rivet and the work pieces with a drill of a proper diameter. Once the tacking rivet is removed from the apertures of the work pieces, the operator installs a permanent rivet within the apertures of the work pieces to permanently attach the panels to the frame.
It has been found that during the drilling of such tacking rivets, the tacking rivets often succumb to the rotation of the drill by turning or spinning with the drill during the drilling operation which can interfere with and cause problems with the drilling operation. Thus, there is a need for a tacking rivet which will not present the problems caused by prior art tacking rivets which turn or spin with the drill during the drilling operation. The present invention provides a tacking rivet which overcomes the disadvantages and problems of prior art tacking rivets, such that it will not turn or spin with the drill during the drilling operation.
A primary object of the invention is to provide a tacking rivet used for attaching work pieces together which does not turn or spin during a drilling operation.
An object of the invention is to provide a tacking rivet which effectively and temporarily attaches work pieces together by expansion of a sleeve of the tacking rivet against walls of apertures within the work pieces.
Another object of the invention is to provide a tacking rivet which effectively prevents turning or spinning of the tacking rivet during a drilling operation by embedding a plurality of ribs on a sleeve of the tacking rivet into walls of apertures within the work pieces during the expansion of a sleeve of the tacking rivet.
Briefly, and in accordance with the foregoing, the present invention provides a tacking rivet for fastening work pieces together which have aligned apertures therethrough. The tacking rivet includes a head portion and an elongated sleeve portion extending from the head portion. Both the head portion and the elongated sleeve portion have openings therethrough which are in alignment with one another. The tacking rivet further includes a plurality of rib portions positioned on an outer surface of the elongated sleeve portion which are capable of engaging with walls of the apertures of the work pieces when the elongated sleeve portion is expanded within the apertures of the work pieces. Because the rib portions engage with the walls of the apertures of the work pieces, the tacking rivet will not rotate within the apertures during a drilling operation to remove the tacking rivet from the apertures prior to the installation of a permanent fastener to fasten the work pieces together.