The present invention provides a system and a method for loading/unloading cryogenic fluids between a ship and storage tanks The system comprises a shaft extended upwards to above the sea level, a transfer pipeline extended from the storage tanks to the shaft with a free end free to expand/contract axially inside the shaft, a header fluidly connected to the free end, at least one downward pipe branch from the header, at least one hose coupler attached to the shaft, at least one internal hose freely hung inside the shaft between the downward pipe branch and the hose coupler, and at least one loading arm fluidly connected to the hose coupler and having an end flange for connection with ship manifolds for fluid transfer. The system further comprises at least one vertical support to support the header in the vertical direction, wherein the header is free to move along with the free end of the transfer pipeline.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates generally to loading/unloading cryogenic fluids between a ship and storage tanks Specifically, the present invention provides a loading system that extends from a free end of a transfer pipeline to a ship manifold.
2. Description of the Related Art
Typical LNG terminals have storage tanks onshore and a transfer system extending from the storage tanks to a loading/unloading platform where a ship is docked. The loading platform is located on a coast, a river bank, or offshore. At most terminals the transfer pipelines are supported on trestles (i.e., above the sea level), and terminate at a loading header on a loading platform. Articulated loading arms extend from the loading header to a ship manifold for fluid transfer.
In these conventional systems, the transfer pipelines are fixed at the platform with expansion loops or bellows to accommodate temperature changes, and articulated loading arms accommodate ship motions. These conventional hard arms are made of rigid pipe and swivel joints. They are mounted on a supporting structure/ frame with balancing weight to extend arms toward a ship manifold as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,434,491 to Bily.
Some improvements have been developed for the hard arms. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,857,001 to Kristensen et al discloses a loading system with a spiral and rigid pipe attached to a boom with trolleys to compensate longitudinal movements. U.S. Pat. No. 8,176,938 to Queau and Maurel discloses a loading system with a movable supporting frame that allows end displacements of a transfer pipeline. U.S. Pat. No. 8,181,662 to Pollack et al discloses a loading system with a supporting metal shaft pivotable at its base. Regardless of these improvements, all the systems above have the followings in common: rigid pipes and a number of swivel joints, and a large supporting structure. These arms are not only costly, but also require maintenance with leakage potential from the swivel joints.
At a few terminals where LNG transfer pipelines are inside an underground tunnel, a vertical shaft is used at a loading station near the ship to host a rigid riser and support a loading header on the top. The rigid riser extends from the transfer line below to the loading header above. The same hard arms discussed above are then fluidly connected to the loading header. US2010/0287957 to Liu discloses a similar transfer system with a vertical shaft and a rigid riser inside. The difference is that the Liu's system allows end displacements of a transfer pipeline. However, stresses could develop at rigid riser ends under thermal expansion/contraction of the subsea transfer pipeline.
Flexible hoses for cryogenic fluids have been developed. These cryogenic hoses typically consist of multiple layers of polyester fabric and polymeric film as well as inner and outer spiral wound stainless steel wires as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,417,603 to Argy. Flexible hoses have been disclosed as loading arms for example in U.S. Pat. No. 8,286,678 to Adkins et al, and used for ship to ship transfer of cryogenic fluids by Excelerate Energy.
For ship-to-shore transfer, several systems have been proposed using flexible hoses. U.S. Pat. No. 6,886,611 to Dupont and Paquet discloses a loading system between a LNG ship and a termination point of a transfer pipeline that is fixed on a gantry above a main platform. The loading system comprises flexible loading arm(s) with one end permanently hung at the termination point and a free end hung under another gantry with a winch and cable near a LNG ship. During a loading operation, a connection module is lifted over with a crane and tied in with a ship manifold (first connection). The free end of the flexible arm is then pulled over with another winch and cable, and fluidly connected with the connection module (second connection). This system avoids swivel joints, and provides a mean to break a free fall of the flexible arm in case of emergency. However, the system cannot accommodate end displacements of a transfer pipeline. Moreover, the system doubles the number of flange connection/disconnection for each loading arm that is time-consuming.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,299,835 to Dupont et al discloses a flexible loading system comprising flexible hoses with one end hung at a reel attached to a station and another end extended to a ship manifold. The flexible hoses can be stored by rotating the reel after loading operations. Again, swivel joints are needed at the reel axis or at the rotatable connection.
A single point mooring system has also been proposed for subsea LNG transfer. The system comprises a cryogenic riser connecting subsea pipelines and a turret or the like, and loading arm(s) extended from the turret to a LNG ship. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,438,617 to Poldervaart et al discloses a system comprising a floating buoy, turntable reel as well as rotatable connection between flexible hoses and transfer risers. U.S. Pat. No. 7,836,840 to Ehrhardt et al discloses a system comprising a floating buoy, a flexible riser and a flexible arm with a submersible turret (i.e., rotatable) connection between the flexible arm end and socket at the ship bottom.
Other systems have a vertical post anchored at the seabed. U.S. Pat. No. 3,379,027 to Mowell discloses a fixed tower, a rigid riser, a rigid loading arm partially submerged in water. U.S. Pat. No. 7,147,021 to Dupont and Paquet discloses a system that has a riser attached to a vertical post with a rotatable connection, and piping along the boom that extends from the riser to a LNG ship. EP 1462358 to De Baan uses a vertical post as a riser, and flexible arms extend from the riser top to a ship for fluid transfer.
The drawback of these systems is the need for rotatable connection at an end of a loading arm as well as the difficulty to access underwater components.
In summary, there is a need to develop a loading system that not only allows end displacements of a transfer pipeline, but also overcomes the drawbacks discussed above.

System and method for fluids transfer between ship and storage tank


A dissipating interconnection module for an M.2 form factor expansion card, includes a heat sink, which includes an enclosure including an upper wall for being in thermal contact with the first heat exchange surface of the expansion card and two tabs, each tab for being in thermal contact with the upper wall of the heat sink and for being in thermal contact with the fluid cooling system of the first electronic board, and the upper wall and the two tabs of the enclosure being arranged to form a space in which the expansion card can be received; a mechanical attachment system for removably mechanically attaching the expansion card to the heat sink; an interconnection electronic board including the second M.2 connector, a third electrical connector to be connected to a fourth electrical connector of the first electronic board.

Compute blades for computer cabinets may for example comprise processors, graphics cards, random access memory such as memory sticks, and mass storage such as hard disks. These compute blades are for example used to perform high-performance computing; therefore the components thereof release heat during operation and need to be cooled to ensure their proper operation and lifespan.
Since they are rack-mounted, the air circulation within the computer cabinet is not sufficient to effectively cool the compute blades with air-cooling systems.
For this reason, fluid cooling systems have been developed. These cooling systems comprise, for example, tubes, most often copper, in which a fluid flows. These tubes can be connected directly to the components to be cooled, for example by forming a loop around the components. The fluid can also circulate between two plates, metal for example, at least one of the two plates being directly connected to a component to be cooled. It is also possible to braze channels inside a metal plate, e.g. copper, to pass fluid through them. This allows the fluid to flow within a metal plate connected to a component, e.g. along a memory stick.
These fluid cooling systems are bulky since space is required around the components for the metal plates receiving the fluid.
Other hybrid cooling systems exist, which have the advantages of fluid cooling and those of dry contact cooling. This is the case, for example, of patent FR2,966,318, "Carte électronique pourvue d'un système de refroidissement liquide" (Electronic Board Equipped with a Liquid Cooling System), which proposes a cooling system comprising a cooling module in which a cooling liquid circulates, and a removable conductive heat sink, placed in contact with the surfaces of an electronic component via a thermal material to collect the heat energy produced by the component, where the heat sink is removably in dry contact with the cooling module, for example by screws. This system known from the state of the art is shown in FIG. 1. A reduced dimension around the component is possible with this system since no fluid flows around the component.
FIG. 1 shows a cooling system according to the state of the art.
Thus, in the cooling system 10 shown in FIG. 1, the heat energy produced by the electronic component 11 is recovered by the heat sink 12 through a thermal pad and then transferred to the fluid cooling system 13 via the dry contact points 14. The heat sink 12 and the fluid cooling system 13 are held together by screws 15 by dry contact. This makes the heat sink 12 removable, allowing access to the component 11. The only point of contact between the heat sink 12 and the fluid cooling module 13 is, therefore, the dry contact point 14.
The fluid cooling system 13 is also called a "cold plate" and can for example be metal, for example aluminum. This cold plate can, for example, extend along the entire compute blade and at least some of the compute blade components can be connected to it. The electronic component 11 can, for example, be a memory stick.
The heat sink 12 from FIG. 1 is in thermal contact with the component 11 when the component 11 is connected to the electronic board 1. Thus, if the component is a hard drive, a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth network card or even a satellite navigation card housing a GPS ("Global Positioning System") antenna.
The M.2 form factor was created to support several options for small size expansion cards, including SSD drives ("Solid-State Drive"), network cards or even satellite navigation cards. Initially, the smallest form factor for the SSD was mSATA, but mSATA could not evolve to capacities over 1 TB and keep sufficient profitability. Further, the mSATA connectors are bulky. The M.2 form factor, also called NGFF ("Next-Generation Form Factor") was created in order to maximize the use of the space of an electronic board while also reducing the footprint of the connector.
"Expansion card" is understood to mean an electronic board that can be connected to a computer module, for example to a computer cabinet, comprising a component set with which to extend the capacity of the computer module. According to this definition, an expansion card can be an SSD drive, a memory stick, a network card, a graphic card, a soundboard, or any other electronic board that can be connected to a computer module.
An M.2 form factor expansion card must be in vertical position in order to be cooled by using the cooling system 10 from the state-of-the-art shown in FIG. 1. In fact, the M.2 connector is located on one of two 22 mm wide edges. A semicircular hole is drilled on the opposite edge to allow the attachment of the component to an electronic board 1. It is therefore complex and costly to attach an M.2 form factor expansion card in vertical position on an electronic board 1.
Further, for an M.2 form factor expansion card, the most common dimensions are 22 mm wide and 30 mm long, 22 mm×42 mm, 22 mm×60 mm, 22 mm×80 mm and 22 mm×110 mm. These dimensions involve a significant height dimension when it is connected to an electronic board 1 in vertical position. It is not possible to use such an expansion card in vertical position in a compute blade rack mountable in a computer cabinet with a height of one rack unit (commonly called 1 U), meaning 44.45 mm.
The cooling system 10 from the prior art is not adaptable for a horizontally mounted M.2 form factor expansion card, in particular because it is not possible to cool both hot surfaces of the expansion card and to removably attach the system 10 from the prior art while keeping the expansion card horizontally connected to the electronic board 1. Further, M.2 form factor expansion cards are not hot pluggable and unpluggable. Thus, to perform a maintenance operation on the M.2 form factor expansion card or on the cooling system 10 from the state-of-the-art, it would be necessary to cut power to the compute blade, which is not desirable in the case, for example, of a computer cabinet dedicated to high-performance computing.
There is therefore a need for a system allowing the cooling of both surfaces of an M.2 form factor expansion card and simple maintenance, without the M.2 form factor expansion card having a significant vertical dimension.

Dissipating interconnection module for M.2 form factor expansion card


A fishing lure assembly includes a body portion having a head end, and a cylindrical neck extending outwardly from the head end. The lure assembly further includes a removable head portion having a cylindrical bore in a first end thereof, and a contoured surface at an opposite second end thereof. The neck of the body has a bayonet slot formed therein. The neck further has a leader eyelet extending outwardly therefrom for attachment of a fishing line. The cylindrical bore of the head portion has a rib element which extends radially inwardly into the bore at the outer end thereof. An inner end of the bore includes a slotted aperture. The neck of the body portion is slidably received into the bore in head portion wherein the rib element is slidably received into the bayonet slot and the leader eyelet extends through the elongated aperture in the inner end of the bore so as to extend outwardly from the second end of the head portion. The head portion is rotatable with respect to the neck portion for releasably engaging the head portion and the body portion in assembled relation wherein the rib element is rotated into locking engagement with the bayonet slot. The lure assembly is provided with a plurality of different interchangeable head portions, each having different contoured end surfaces for creating different types of movement of the fishing lure when it is moved through the water.

The instant invention relates to fishing apparatus and more particularly to a fishing lure assembly with a plurality of interchangeable head portions.
Fishing lures with interchangeable or removable head or body portions have heretofore been known in the art. For example, the U.S. Patents to Gibbs et al U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,220; Keuper U.S. Pat No. 1,867,458; Murawski U.S. Pat. No. 2,994,982; Rogers U.S. Pat. No. 2,295,292; and Morian U.S. Pat. No. 1,288,118 represent the closest prior art to the subject invention of which the applicant is aware.
The Patent to Gibbs et al discloses a multi-part fishing tackle including a first tackle member, such as a sinker or lure body, that can be removed from a fishing line and replaced by another tackle member of different size, shape, or color, etc. without untying or severing the fishing line. The Patents to Keuper, Murawski, Rogers and Morian all provide for the removal of the head portion of the lure from the body portion thereof. In the Morian patent, heads of different designs may be mounted on the body, thereby eliminating the number of treble hooks to be carried by the fisherman. Murawski discloses a head portion which is detachably connected to a hollow body portion by a screw connection, and permits the addition of water or weighting elements to the body portion for varying the weight of the lure. The detachable head includes mounting means for accepting different miniature baits. The head section in the Keuper patent has surface ornamentation thereon, and other head sections having other formations may be substituted therefor. The Keuper patent also provides for removal of the tail section of the lure. In the Rogers patent, a plurality of different head and body portion may be interchanged.
It is pointed out that in each of the above-referenced patents, the leader eyelet of the lure is attached to the head portion and the head portion is releasably connected to the body portion. While this type of arrangement is convenient in that it allows quick assembly and disassembly, it has been found that the body portion sometimes becomes detached from the head portion during use and becomes lost in the water.

Fishing lure assembly with interchangeable head portions


Techniques from computer vision and computer graphics are combined to robustly track a target (e.g., a user) and perform a function based upon the image and/or the identity attributed to the target's face. Three primary modules are used to track a user's head: depth estimation, color segmentation, and pattern classification. The combination of these three techniques allows for robust performance despite unknown background, crowded conditions, and rapidly changing pose or expression of the user. Each of the modules can also provide an identity classification module with valuable information so that the identity of a user can be estimated. With an estimate of the position of a target in 3-D and the target's identity, applications such as individualized computer programs or graphics techniques to distort and/or morph the shape or apparent material properties of the user's face can be performed. The system can track and respond to a user's face in real-time using completely passive and non-invasive techniques.

The present invention generally relates to an image detection and identification system, and more specifically to an apparatus and method for personnel detection, background separation and identification. Based upon the detection and/or identification of a person, applications can perform customized information manipulation that is relevant to such information.
The creation of computing environments which passively react to their observers, particularly displays and user interfaces, has become an exciting challenge for computer vision. Systems of this type can be employed in a variety of different applications. In an interactive game or kiosk, for example, the system is typically required to detect and track a single person. Other types of applications, such as general surveillance and monitoring, require the system to be capable of separately recognizing and tracking multiple people at once. To date, research in such systems has largely focused on exploiting a single visual processing technique to locate and track features of a user in front of an image sensor. These systems have often been non-robust to real-world conditions and fail in complicated, unpredictable visual environments and/or where no prior information about the user population was available.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,642,431 discloses a face detection system that uses an image classifier and an output display device. A training process is employed which uses both face and non-face objects stored in a database to determine whether a face is detected. This system, however, is unable to continuously track the user's face and adjust for real-time movements of the physical objects being detected. U.S. Pat. No. 5,532,741 discloses a camera and video system which are integrally combined. A mirror image of a user is displayed back to the user on a CRT. However this system is merely a passive video playback system which is superimposed on a video screen. There is no visual interactive system which processes displayed images or presents specific information on the basis of detected features of a person who is looking at the system.
In addition to detecting and tracking a person in a scene, various types of image processing, or manipulation, can also be employed in the context of the present invention. One possible type of manipulation that can be employed in this regard is the distortion of the image of the person, in particular the person's face, for amusement purposes. This effect has been explored before on static imagery (such as personal computer imaging tools), but has not previously been applied to live video. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,276,570 discloses a method and associated apparatus for producing an image of a person's face at different ages. Images of old and young faces are mapped to one another, and image transformations are determined. Once these results are stored, a camera receives an image of a user's face (possibly a photograph). The data of the person's face is processed with the previously determined image transformations. Based upon the stored data, an "older face" is then digitally superimposed on areas of the younger face to produce an aged face of the user. This system is unable to perform processing in a real-time fashion, for instance on active video signals. Furthermore, this system does not involve any recognition of the person whose image is being shown, or automated face detection.
Thus, a robust system is still needed to perform accurate image processing, personnel recognition and manipulations in a real-time fashion.
A further complicating factor lies in the time frame over which a person is recognized and tracked. At one extreme, short-term tracking of a person is desirable, e.g. the ability to recognize the person from frame to frame as he or she moves within the scene being viewed. At the other extreme, long term tracking, i.e. the ability to recognize the same person over a hiatus of several days, is desirable in certain applications, particularly where interactivity is dependent upon characteristics of individuals. To be complete, the system should also be capable of mid-term tracking, to recognize when a given individual has momentarily left a scene being viewed and then returned.
It is further desirable, therefore, to provide a tracking and identification system which is capable of providing robust performance over each of these possible tracking periods.

Method and apparatus for personnel detection and tracking


A roof having an underlayment of sheathing attached to rafters and a group of discrete roofing elements attached to and substantially covering the underlayment. The roof also includes a net having an open weave and a multiplicity of openings. The openings are smaller than at least one dimension of the discrete roofing elements. The net is secured to the roof in contact with the group of discrete roofing elements and covers at least a portion thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method and device for roofing protection and improvements in roofing integrity.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for containing roofing elements in highly inclement weather and increasing roof robustness with respect to weatherborne water.
In a further and more specific aspect, the instant invention concerns a method and apparatus for containing roofing elements in periods of high wind, avoiding or reducing probability of injury to persons or objects by windborne roofing elements.
2. Prior Art
Roofs of great variety in construction and purpose are often employed for housing, garages, airports, mercantile establishments, religious, educational and other public and private institutions and meeting places. Typically, a roof comprises an underlayment, a membrane and roofing elements such as asphalt and other types of shingles, tiles, wooden shakes, slate or sheet metal pieces and the like, with the roofing elements placed in a fashion intended to reduce both wind stress thereon and leakage of rainwater, snowmelt and the like therethrough. Typically, roofs including pluralities of discrete roofing elements incorporate such roofing elements placed in rows across a roof and held in place by fasteners placed along a top edge. The fasteners along the top edge of the row of roofing elements pose a threat of water leakage because the fasteners penetrate the thickness of the roofing elements in order to secure them to the underlayment.
Accordingly, it is often necessary to overlap the top edge of a first or lower row of roofing elements with a bottom edge of a second or upper row of roofing elements immediately above the first row of roofing elements. This arrangement avoids exposing the fastener and any hole through the roofing element to accommodate the fastener to the elements.
A problem which has been encountered with such approaches is a tendency for the bottom edges of the second or upper row of roofing elements to be exposed to shearing forces and lifting forces in inclement weather conditions because these bottom edges are lifted or canted out from the underlayment. This tendency is exacerbated by weathering, warping of the underlayment, cracking or other deformation of the roofing elements, nesting activities of birds and other animals and other influences which occur over the years of expected service of a roof. These varied weathering and/or ageing effects lead to at least two distinct problems.
A first problem is that the integrity of the roof with respect to weather-related precipitated moisture, in the form of rain, sleet, snow and the like, is compromised. Leakage of moisture through roofs causes damage to interior structures, appliances, decorations and the like and also threatens the structural integrity of the building by allowing water into areas not designed to accommodate moisture. Additionally, the presence of unwanted moisture comprises a nuisance in some areas and a danger in others. For example, it is extremely undesirable to have electrical wiring exposed to uncontrolled amounts of moisture. Such exposure of electrical wiring poses serious risk of electrical shock and/or electrocution and also may engender likelihood of fire.
A second problem is that roofing elements may detach from the roof and become windborne, especially in the event of high winds such as those accompanying and surrounding such natural phenomena as whirlwinds, Chinook winds, tornadoes, cyclones and hurricanes. Such windborne roofing elements become projectiles and may move with considerable velocity in high winds. Areas frequently subject to high winds tend to incorporate heavier materials, e.g., clay or cement tiles or slate, which, when airborne or windborne provide projectiles having considerable destructive potential. When such projectiles intercept a target such as a parked car, a pet or a human being, great damage may be done to the target.
Further, the roofing elements displaced from a roof during natural catastrophes such as the Hurricane Andrew which devastated much of Florida in 1992 pose risks and hazards even after shattering or otherwise coming to rest. These may cause vehicles such as emergency vehicles to skid or to lose air pressure in one or more tires and also provide uncertain footing, especially if present in large numbers.
Accordingly, it is desirable to reduce the likelihood that roofing elements will detach from a roof, even in the event of storms or related natural catastrophes of unusual strength or fury.
Further, some form of water penetration protection for a roof in which some roofing elements have been displaced from their intended positions is strongly desirable.
In order to combat these varied problems, some form of containing structure for roofing elements which does not detract from the aesthetic appearance of the building and is not unsightly is highly desirable. It is also extremely desirable to provide protection against moisture penetration which is not vulnerable to damage to the primary roofing structure as well.
The prior art has also provided variations of the above described apparatus for shedding weather-related precipitated moisture and also has provided sheaths, etc., for protecting structures such as walls and greenhouses.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,283,888 entitled "Method And A Covering For Heat Insulation And Protection Of A Construction", issued on Aug. 18, 1981 to Jacques Cros, describes a method and apparatus "for heat insulating and protecting roofed structures such as residential houses and greenhouses against the action of wind and rain. The exterior of the structure is provided with a covering constituted by interlaced threads of mineral fibers assembled together and preferably by a knitted fabric of glass fiber threads. In the case of a house, the roof and walls are covered in such a manner as to leave a free air space between the covering, the roof or the walls."
A disadvantage of this approach includes the appearance imbued to the home, for example, by covering the home with an envelope of fiberglass. A further disadvantage is the tendency of large sheets of material to act as a sail in high winds, catching the wind and wreaking havoc on and with the covering.
Another example is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,136,192 entitled "Greenhouse", issued on Nov. 8, 1928 to J. H. Kane, which describes a wire guard spaced from a fragile surface, such as a greenhouse, by means of ribs formed therein, for the purpose of enabling the guard to yield toward the surface and thereby to absorb the force of an impact as accomplished by the invention described therein. Again, the disadvantages of conspicuous covering and exposure to winds are present in the invention as described in the above-noted patent.
While the various mentioned prior art devices function as apparatus for reducing hail damage to greenhouses, for example, certain inherent deficiencies preclude adequate, satisfactory performance for either the purpose of retaining heavier roofing elements in high winds or the purpose of reducing or eliminating moisture penetration in light of damage to the roofing elements of a primary roofing structure.
It would be highly advantageous, therefore, to remedy the foregoing and other deficiencies inherent in the prior art.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide improvements in roofing structures incorporating discrete roofing elements.
Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved roofing structure having increased resistance to weather precipitated moisture.
And another object of the present invention is to provide an improved method for roof construction particularly relevant to roofs employing individual roofing tiles or slate pieces.
Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel method for containing roofing tiles and the like even in the presence of severe weather including high winds.
Yet another object of the instant invention is to provide a method for reducing water penetration into buildings through roofs.
Yet still another object of the instant invention is the provision of a method for increasing water resistance of roofs even in the presence of damage to the roof.
And a further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for reducing likelihood of delamination and subsequent projectile action of roofing elements from roofs in highly inclement weather.
Still a further object of the immediate invention is the provision of an apparatus for increasing robustness of moisture protection of buildings.
Yet a further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for an improved roof and method for containing roofing tiles and the like employed therein.
And still a further object of the invention is the provision of method and apparatus, according to the foregoing, which is intended to reduce moisture penetration of roofs whilst capturing roofing elements against wind action.


A method for making a write pole in a perpendicular magnetic recording write head uses a metal mask to pattern the primary resist and only ion milling during the subsequent patterning steps. A layer of primary resist is deposited over the magnetic write pole material and a metal mask layer is deposited on the primary resist layer. An imaging resist layer is formed on the metal mask layer and lithographically patterned generally in the desired shape of the write pole. Ion milling without a reactive gas is then performed over the imaging resist pattern to pattern the underlying metal mask layer, which is then used as the mask to define the shape of the primary resist pattern. Ion milling with oxygen is then performed over the metal mask pattern to pattern the underlying primary resist. Ion milling without a reactive gas is then performed over the primary resist pattern to form the underlying write pole.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to perpendicular magnetic recording write heads, and more particularly to a method for making the write pole of a write head for use in a magnetic recording hard disk drive.
2. Description of the Related Art
Perpendicular magnetic recording, wherein the recorded bits are stored in a perpendicular or out-of-plane orientation in the recording layer, is a promising path toward ultra-high recording densities in magnetic recording hard disk drives. As shown in FIG. 1A, a "dual-layer" medium includes a perpendicular magnetic data recording layer (RL) on a "soft" or relatively low-coercivity magnetically permeable underlayer (SUL) formed on the disk substrate. This type of medium is shown with a single write pole (WP) type of recording head. A thin film coil (C) is shown in section between the WP and the return pole (RP) of the recording head. Write current through coil C induces a magnetic field (shown by dashed line 10) from the WP that passes through the RL (to magnetize the region of the RL beneath the WP), through the flux return path provided by the SUL, and back to the RP. The recording head is typically formed on an air-bearing slider that has its air-bearing surface (ABS) supported above the RL of the medium. In FIG. 1A, the medium moves past the recording head in the direction indicated by arrow 20. The RL is illustrated with perpendicularly recorded or magnetized regions, with adjacent regions having opposite magnetization directions, as represented by the arrows. The magnetic transitions between adjacent oppositely-directed magnetized regions are detectable by the read head (not shown) as the recorded bits.
FIG. 1A also shows a section of a trailing shield (TS) with a trailing shield notch (TSN) that is near the WP but spaced from the WP by a gap of nonmagnetic material. The use of a TS separated from the WP by a nonmagnetic gap slightly alters the angle of the write field and makes writing more efficient. The TSN causes a stronger magnetic field below the WP and sharper magnetic transitions written by the head, which is desirable. FIG. 1B is a view in the direction 1B-1B of FIG. 1A and illustrates the width of the WP to substantially define the trackwidth (TW) of the data recorded in the RL. The TS is substantially wider than the WP in the cross-track direction but the TSN portion is generally the same width as the WP. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the relationship between the WP, the TS with TSN, and the recording medium with the RL and SUL. FIG. 3 is a view of the slider ABS, as seen from the disk, and shows portions of the write head, with details of the WP, the TSN and the gap between the WP and the TSN. The WP has an end 40 generally parallel to the ABS and a trailing edge 42 that is generally orthogonal to the along-the-track direction and generally defines the TW.
FIG. 3 shows a WP, gap layer and TS for a just single write head. However a large number of write heads are fabricated simultaneously from a single wafer using semiconductor fabrication processes. The gap typically includes an oxide mask layer (such as Al2O3 or SiO2) as a result of the conventional fabrication process wherein the oxide mask layer is formed over the layer of magnetic material used to form the WP. A resist is formed over the oxide mask and the structure is then ion milled to form the WP. After removal of the resist, the oxide mask remains above the WP. A thin film 50 of additional electrically conductive gap material, such as Ta or Rh, may optionally be deposited over the oxide mask, followed by electroplating of the magnetic material, typically NiFe, to form the TSN and the remainder of the TS.
The method for patterning the WP to the desired shape and TW requires the use of a silicon-containing hard mask layer, such as silicon dioxide (SiO2), which is used to pattern the resist layer in the desired shape for subsequent patterning of the WP. The hard mask requires the use of an adhesion layer on the resist layer and reactive ion etching (RIE) in a fluorine-containing gas. The RIE process is difficult to control, making it difficult to uniformly pattern a large number of write heads on a single wafer. Additionally, the use of RIE requires the interruption of the fabrication process because the wafer must be removed from the RIE tool for the subsequent ion milling to form the WP.
What is needed is a method for making the write pole of a perpendicular magnetic recording write head that does not require RIE or multiple processing stations and that results in a write pole with a more precisely defined TW.

Method for making a perpendicular magnetic recording write head

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.


A dynamic vibration absorber is disclosed. The dynamic vibration absorber includes a rotatable first hub, an inertia member, a plurality of elastic members, a plurality of sliders, and a guide member. The inertia member is disposed on an outer peripheral side of the first hub. The inertia member is rotatable relative to the first hub. The plurality of elastic members radially extend between the first hub and the inertia member. The plurality of elastic members are elastically deformable and elastically couple the first hub and the inertia member in a rotational direction. The plurality of sliders are radially movable along the plurality of elastic members. The plurality of sliders are configured to contact the plurality of elastic members. The guide member radially move the plurality of sliders. The guide member determines radial positions of the plurality of sliders.

There is a type of vehicle provided with such a rotational vibration attenuating device (dynamic vibration absorber) as described in Japan Laid-open Patent Application Publication No. 2017-524109 on a power transmission path so as to attenuate rotational vibration occurring due to fluctuation in torque from an engine or so forth.
The rotational vibration attenuating device, described in Japan Laid-open Patent Application Publication No. 2017-524109, includes a carrier to which power is inputted, an absorber mass (inertia member) rotatable relative to the carrier, and a plurality of absorber springs (elastic members). The plural absorber springs are elastic members elastically coupling the carrier and the absorber mass in a rotational direction. The plural absorber springs are composed of a plurality of pairs of flat springs disposed in opposition. Additionally, a plurality of sliders are provided such that each is interposed between each pair of flat springs.
In this device, the sliders are radially moved by centrifugal forces, whereby fulcrums in elastic deformation of the flat springs are shifted. In other words, the flat springs are changed in bending stiffness. Because of this, torsional stiffness for attenuating rotational vibration (i.e., torsional characteristics or vibration attenuating characteristics) is changed in accordance with rotational speed.
In the device described in Japan Laid-open Patent Application Publication No. 2017-524109, the torsional stiffness of the device can be changed in accordance with the centrifugal forces (i.e., rotational speed).
Now, there has been proposed a vehicle equipped with a cylinder deactivation system as a type of engine installed vehicle. In the cylinder deactivation system, part or entirety of cylinders are deactivated in low load operation or idling operation. It is desirable for the vehicle equipped with the cylinder deactivation system herein described to meet a demand of making characteristics for attenuating rotational vibration changeable in accordance with change in number of cylinders to be activated.
However, the device described in Japan Laid-open Patent Application Publication No. 2017-524109 cannot cope with the demand described above. Additionally, it is difficult to accurately regulate relation between change in stiffness of each flat spring caused by shifting of the fulcrum thereof and displacement of each slider moved by a centrifugal force.


Process for preparing a modified aminoorganosiloxane emulsion having improved non-yellowing properties comprising reacting (a) a dialkyl pyrocarbonate, (b) a dialkyl oxalate, or (c) a mixture thereof with an aminoorganosiloxane in an aqueous emulsion in which (a), (b) or (c) ranges from about 0.1% to 15% based on the weight of aminoorganosiloxane in the emulsion.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an aqueous emulsion containing an aminoorganosiloxane modified by reaction with (a) a dialkyl pyrocarbonate, (b) dialkyl oxalate or (c) a mixture thereof, which emulsions impart reduced yellowing of textile fabrics and/or fibers when used as fabric softeners.
2. THE PRIOR ART
Fabrics have been treated for many years to improve their properties and acceptability to consumers. Improved softness (hand), reduction in static and greater ease in ironing are some of the desired properties. Some treatments used to achieve these results, however, are counter-productive. For example, application of durable press resins to improve ease of ironing is known to give fabrics a harsher hand. Also, some treatments to improve softness result in yellowing of the fabric.
It is well known to apply various types of textile conditioners to make textiles softer. By way of illustration, aminoorganosiloxanes and their aqueous emulsions have been widely used to impart superior softness and smoothness to natural and synthetic fibers and fabrics. However, in some applications, these aminoorganosiloxanes have a tendency to yellow fabrics and fibers. It is thought that the aminofunctionality is susceptible to oxidation and that this chemical reactivity may result in a variety of undesired chemical reactions which ultimately cause yellowing in some fabrics and fibers.
Some attempts have been made to modify aminoorganosiloxane. Several examples of modified aminoorganosiloxanes with reduced reactivity are known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,929,829 and 2,928,858 disclose that organosiloxane containing acylamino groups can be prepared by the reaction of the corresponding aminosiloxane with carboxylic acids, esters, halides or anhydrides. Similar amide-modified organosiloxanes have been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,507,455.
Urea has been reacted with an organopolysiloxane having pendant diamine groups to provide organopolysiloxanes with ureido-substitution (U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,209,053; 3,702,860; and 3,772,351).
Japanese Kakai No. 59,179,854 (Chemical Abstracts, Vol 102, 63555 (1985)) relates to the reaction of polysiloxanes containing aminoalkyl groups with epoxy compounds, for example, glycidol. The products of this reaction are resistant to heat and oxidation and useful as softening agents for treating textiles.
Diethyl pyrocarbonate has been demonstrated to be a useful reagent to derivatize water soluble enzymes (Fedoresak I, Natarajan, A. T., Ehrenberg, L., Eur. J. Biochem., 10 450, 1969) and aminoacids (Burch, T. P., Ticku, M. K., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 78 (6), 3945) in situ in aqueous solutions at ambient temperature. The reaction of diethyl oxalate with ammonia or an amine to produce an amide is known (Methods Der Organische Chemie, Houben-Weyl, Volume 8). However, there appears to be no prior art disclosing the use of such pyrocarbonates or oxalates with aminoorganosiloxane emulsions, particularly those for fabrics and fibers.

Emulsions containing modified aminoorganosiloxane impart reduced yellowing when used as fabric softeners

Union Carbide Chemicals and Plastics Technology Corporation


A multi-function timer used to perform multiple input timing measurements and generate multiple timed output events on the I/O pins of the apparatus. The multi-function timer comprises a plurality of slots and a compute engine. Each of the slots represents one of a plurality of timing processes. The compute engine includes a micro-sequencer and a processor. The micro-sequencer identifies a current slot and associated plurality of instructions representing a process, and is configured to serially sequence through each of the slots. The processor performs the functions of the instructions associated with each current slot. Further, each slot is configured to perform any one of the following timing processes: pulse width modulation, high speed input, high speed output, or delta time input. The multi-function timer is advantageous in that it provides application design flexibility by eliminating the need for dedicated logic for input and output timing functions.

The present invention relates, generally, to digital processors, and more specifically, to a multi-function timer with shared hardware for microprocessor-based engine control applications.
Micro-sequencers have commonly been used to sequence through instructions and data for processor usage in a digital system, such as a computer-based system. A difficulty of multiple digital signal input/output functionality implemented by a single micro-sequencer has been the ability of the sequencer to process multiple inputs/outputs with a high degree of resolution. The resolution is generally limited by the instruction throughput of the sequencer coupled with the complexity of the input/output functions. This limitation may result in a latency to reacting to a new input/output events while processing the most current event.
Current systems have typically dedicated a single algorithm in hardware to a single pin in a digital system. Also, in order to utilize different algorithms on the same pin, some systems have stored all potential algorithms with a pin and selection of only one of the algorithms is assigned to the pin. One disadvantage with these systems is that only one algorithm may be utilized on the input/output data at the pin. In other words, in systems such as microprocessor-based engine control systems, separate, dedicated circuits are used to generate multiple timed output events on dedicated output pins, and to perform multiple input timing measurements on dedicated input pins. Disadvantages of such systems include limited design flexibility in terms of die size, pin usage and hardware. Also, another disadvantage is that there is wasted circuitry hardware in the case of multiple algorithms on a selected pin in that only one algorithm will be utilized.

Multi-function timer with shared hardware


A mechanism for sharpening knife blades, including a portable case that forms an elongated trough for supporting (positioning) a rectangular cutting stone. Outwardly flaring support surfaces are formed on the case at upper edges of the trough. During a sharpening operation the knife blade is held flatwise against one of the support surfaces with the edge of the blade in contact with the upper surface of the cutting stone. The blade is moved back and forth so that the blade edge has grinding frictional contact with the stone surface. The angular tilt of the support surface relative to the plane of the stone upper surface determines the angle formed on the knife blade by the sharpening process.

This invention relates to a mechanism for manually sharpening knife blades. The mechanism comprises a portable case that defines an upwardly facing trough adapted to removably receive a cutting stone. Upper wall areas of the case proximate to the trough flare outwardly and upwardly to form support surfaces for knife blades to be sharpened.
A knife blade is sharpened by resting the blade flatwise on one of the flaring support surfaces, with the cutting edge of the blade in contact with an upper flat face of the cutting stone (located within the trough). The knife is then moved back and forth parallel to the trough axis, such that the blade cutting edge experiences a grinding engagement with the stone surface.
The flaring support surfaces on the case are angled to the exposed surface of the stone at about twenty seven degrees. By keeping the blade in flatwise engagement with a support surface it is possible to form a precise cutting angle on the blade edge. The case is formed with two flaring support surfaces at each side edge of the cutting stone; the knife blade can be selectively (sequentially) engaged with the two surfaces to form a V-shaped cutting edge on the blade.
The mechanism is designed as a relatively low cost device for obtaining a relatively sharp precise cutting edge on a knife blade. The device can be used on a variety of different sized knife blades. In a preferred form of the invention the cutting stone and trough structure are designed so that the stone can be reoriented in the trough with different flat surfaces of the stone facing upwardly to serve as blade grinding surfaces. This feature somewhat increases the useful life of the mechanism. Also, it permits the stone to be formed with coarse and fine grinding surfaces, thereby permitting relatively dull knife blades to be sharpened in a minimum time period (by first using the coarse surface and then using the fine surface).


A method of forming a bearing assembly is set forth. A PCD disk typically of circular construction is joined to a cylindrical plug formed of support metal. The plug is registered with respect to an internal shoulder in a passage formed in a ring for the bearing assembly. Multiple PCD disks are installed in the same fashion. In assembly, the disk is attached to the cylinder, the cylinder is wrapped in brazed material, then the cylinder with the brazed material wrapping is registered on an internal shoulder in a drilled passage in the bearing assembly. A brazing temperature which is too low to damage the material is applied to complete joinder. Then, multiple disk faces supported by individual disk in a circle around the bearing assembly can be lapped to assure that they are brought to a common height with respect to a reference plane.

This disclosure is directed to a method of making a bearing assembly and also describes a bearing assembly with an insert for that bearing assembly whereby improved performance can be obtained. It is particularly intended for use in rotating devices such as turbine motors and the like which are exposed to drilling fluids in a well borehole.
In a typical downhole device operated at the lower end of a drill string, a flow of several hundred gallons of drilling fluid per minute is typically pumped down a drill string to lubricate the equipment at the bottom of the drill string and to wash cuttings away from the area where the drilling fluid returns to the surface. This upward flow is in the annular space on the exterior of the drill string. Ordinarily, drilling is occasioned by the use of a three cone drill bit that is mounted on the drill string which is rotated from the surface. In recent years, special drilling circumstances have enhanced the necessity of drilling a well borehole through the use of downhole motors and the like. This requires rotating equipment to be affixed to the drill string which is mud powered so that the rotating equipment must operate in this environment completely surrounded by the drilling fluid. Drilling fluid is typically formed of various earth materials such as clay and may include heavier particles such as barites. It is intended to lubricate the surfaces. Inevitably, the material is an abrasive even though the particles might be relatively small.
The drilling fluid is therefore circulated down the drill string and flows all around the rotating equipment. The present disclosure is directed to a bearing assembly which is formed of individual bearing surfaces. The bearings are formed of crystalline material and one preferred material is synthetic diamonds, a material believed to be well known and referred to generally hereinafter as PCD. The PCD can be shaped in the form of a circular button. It has an exposed surface. The exposed surface is ideally contacted against an opposing or rotating surface so that the relative motion between the two surfaces engenders continued polishing of the PCD material making up the bearing assembly. In this disclosure, a metal ring is disclosed which serves as a housing or collar on which the buttons are mounted, and the buttons are in turn polished by an opposing surface. Generally, the buttons are described as having a lapped surface which means that they have been polished to provide a very smooth bearing surface. It is possible to make such a bearing assembly by use of techniques to be currently employed. As a generalization, a steel ring is drilled with a number of parallel cylindrical holes. A PCD disk is joined to a cylindrical plug. The plugs are placed in the matching holes in the ring while braze material is placed in the bottom of the hole below the plug. Several such plugs equipped with PCD disks are mounted in like fashion. They have slightly different heights, but differences in height are accomodated by differences in the thickness in the brazed material. Differences in height are avoided as the brazed material is melted. This is normally accomplished by placing the steel ring in a furnace or even between two support plates, one above and one below the ring. The ring is inverted so that the ring is above the individual PCD disks and support plugs on which they are mounted, and all are brought into registration. However, the registration involves, considered vertically from the top to bottom, the disk on the supportive plug, a layer of brazed material of differing thicknesses, and then the steel ring. The layer of brazed material represents a weak area mechanically because it is not as strong as the other materials, and also because the use of the equipment typically encounters chattering and vibration which acts on the brazed metal to cause failure. Therefore the present disclosure sets forth a method of fabrication which has advantages over that procedure, and is more readily implemented in the manufacture of an assembly with the multiplicity of bearing surfaces formed of PCD disks.
This disclosure sets forth a bearing assembly formed in a steel ring which has a number of PCD disk which become lapped in use so that the surfaces are able to support a coacting rotating surface. Heat is liberated in the friction of the two surfaces contacting one another during rotation. Preferably, the equipment is operated in a bath of lubricant material which can in most instances be drilling fluid. The cooling of the disk involves heat transfer from the PCD material into a supporting cylindrical plug and then a supporting steel ring. The steel ring generally transfers heat quite well. In like fashion, the heat transfer characteristics of the supporting plug are normally quite good. The supporting plug can be formed of any number of materials, but in many instances, they are formed of tungsten carbide fabricated into a cylindrical plug. The plug is tungsten carbide in a matrix of support metals which form a plug. The plug is required to transfer heat out of the bearing surface, or restated, transfer heat away from the PCD disk. Heat transfer is a limitation of the device. Thus, very large PCD disks run the risk of damage from excessive heat build up. One approach to reduction of this is to place scored grooves across the face of such disk. This is difficult to achieve because it requires machining the PCD disk with some type of machining device; machining must be carefully controlled, and increases the cost dramatically. The grooves will introduce fluid flow across the face of the PCD disk so that cooling can be obtained.
One advantage of the device of this disclosure is the arrangement of the disks so that they are supported by a cylindrical plug. The plug can be formed in the known fashion of tungsten carbide bits or particles in a supportive alloy matrix which forms the cylindrical plug. The cooperative disk and plug are structurally modified to increase exposure to the circulating fluids about the disk and the supportive plug. The disk is formed of a piece of material which is normally cut in circular fashion and is mounted in the ring so that there is a locus of contact area forming a band around the bearing elements. This defines across the center of the disk a diametric region. It is this region which sustains most of the wear and which provides most of the bearing contact area. In this region, the surface is frictionally engaged and therefore creates most of heat. The portions of the circular disk remote from the diametric region are less significant, and in fact, can be omitted. Accordingly, rather than a circular disk, one version of the present equipment utilizes a simple diametric strip. It can be formed of such a disk which is trimmed so that the remaining portion is a simple strip, ideally having a common width, or having a fixed width in one embodiment. It is not however required that the width of the strip be fixed; if the marginal edges which define the strip are approximately parallel, they need not be straight lines and they need not be parallel; they can be formed of curved segments. They can be formed of many types of curves; they can even be formed of straight line segments. In fact, the strip which provides the diametric support region can be mounted with the support cylinder also broken away or beveled in that region. This increases the proximity of the cooling fluid to the diametric strip which carries the weight.
Going now to the shape of the plug, it can be beveled to reduce its mass immediately adjacent to the diametric support strip. As will be developed, this permits the drilling fluid to circulate closely to the PCD disk. In this construction, the plug and disk are both modified so that they are both exposed to a greater flow of lubricant.
In a modified embodiment, the support plug beneath the PCD disk is fashioned in the shape of an undercut upstanding mounting stem which flares below the PCD disk to support the PCD disk. The upstanding support plug has a nether shoulder which is exposed for fluid flow. This markedly increases the exposed area permitting fluid flow to lubricate and cool the PCD disk and enhances heat transfer from it. In this particular embodiment, the support plug is undercut, defining the nether shoulder or face, and providing a fluid flow channel when multiple similar cooperative support plugs are installed in a single ring.

Bearing assembly with sidewall-brazed PCD plugs


A metal-insulator-semiconductor transistor comprises an insulator layer, a semiconductor body provided on the insulator layer and comprising a source region, a drain region and a channel region extending in a first direction between and interconnecting the source region and the drain region, a gate insulator film provided on the semiconductor body so as to cover the channel region except for the part of the channel region in contact with the insulator layer, and a gate electrode of a conductive material provided in contact with the gate insulator film so as to cover the channel region underneath the gate insulator film except for the part of the channel region in contact with the insulator layer. The channel region has a width substantially smaller than twice the maximum extension of the depletion region formed in the channel region.

The present invention generally relates to field effect transistors and more particularly to a metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) transistor having increased conductance between the source and drain regions.
Typical MOS transistors uses a semiconductor substrate in which a source region and a drain region are defined in the semiconductor substrate at opposite sides of a channel region also defined in the substrate. A gate insulator is provided on the channel region and a gate electrode is provided on the gate insulator and thus above the channel region. When a number of such MOS transistors are assembled on a common semiconductor substrate, as in the case of a large scale integrated circuit (LSI), there appears a leakage path between the MOS transistors formed in the substrate. Such a leakage path deteriorates the operation of the MOS transistors and hence the operation of the integrated circuit.
In a conventional LSI, the MOS transistors are isolated from each other by providing a field insulator region between the transistors. Such an insulator region is formed by oxidization of surface of the substrate. However, the field insulator region for isolating the MOS transistor occupies a large area on the substrate and presents the problem that the number of the MOS transistors which can be assembled on the LSI is reduced.
On the other hand, there is another type of MOS transistor having a so-called semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) structure in which the transistor is formed on an insulator. Referring to FIG. 1 showing a typical example of such a MOS transistor having the SOI structure, the transistor comprises a silicon single crystal film 1 provided in the form of an island on an insulator layer 2 formed on a substrate 3. Because of this reason, the silicon single crystal film 1 will be referred to as a silicon island 1. The silicon island 1 is divided into a source region 1a and a drain region 1b with a channel region therebetween which is covered by a gate insulator 4. Further, a gate electrode 5 is provided so as to cover the gate insulator 4. The gate electrode 5 extends from the silicon island 1 and forms a gate contact area 5' on the insulator layer 2 for contact with a wiring electrode. In such an SOI structure, each MOS transistor is provided on the insulator layer 2 and the problem of isolation of plural transistors is eliminated.
FIG. 2 shows a cross section of the silicon island 1 taken along a line 3--3', of FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 2, a channel 4a for passing carriers through the silicon island 1 from the source region 1a to the drain region 1b (see FIG. 1) is formed immediately below the gate insulator 4. It should be noted that the gate width which is defined as the width of the silicon island 1 measured perpendicularly to the gate length of the MOS transistor, is represented by W.sub.O and the height of the gate defined as the height of the silicon island 1, is represented by W.sub.H.
In such a conventional MOS transistor having the SOI structure, there is a problem in that the total current which can flow between the source region and the drain region is limited by the cross sectional area of the channel 4a. As the channel 4a is formed immediately below the gate insulator 4 in the form of thin layer, the overall cross sectional area of the channel 4a is approximated by the total gate width WG which is represented by using the gate width W.sub.O and the gate height W.sub.H, as WG=W.sub.O +2W.sub.H. In order to increase the current or the conductance between the source and of the gate width W.sub.O or the size of the gate height W.sub.H. However, such an increase results in an increase in the size of the MOS transistor which is undesirable from the view point of assembling the MOS transistors in an LSI form.
FIG. 3 shows another prior art MOS transistor proposed to solve the aforementioned problem. In FIG. 3, parts corresponding to those parts in the preceding drawings are given identical reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.
Referring to FIG. 3 showing the cross section of this another prior art MOS transistor device, there is provided another gate electrode 6 directly on the insulator layer 2 which in turn is formed on the substrate 3 similarly to the previous case. The gate electrode 6 is buried under an insulator layer 7 and a silicon island 10 is provided on the insulator layer 7. The silicon island 10 is covered by the gate insulator 4 except for its bottom surface, which is in contact with the insulator layer 7 and a pair of doped regions 10a and 10b, which are formed in the silicon island 10 as the source and drain regions. These source and drain regions 10a and 10b are connected to wiring electrodes through respective contact holes (not shown) provided in the gate insulator 4. Similarly to the device of FIG. 1, the gate electrode 5 is provided on the gate insulator 4. Further, the silicon island 10 is buried under an insulator layer 8 together with the gate insulator 4 and the gate electrode 5.
In this prior art transistor, there is formed a channel 4b along the bottom of the silicon island 10 in correspondence to the gate electrode 6 and another channel 4c along the top of the silicon island 10 in correspondence to the gate electrode 5. As the channels are formed along the top and bottom of the silicon island 1, the overall cross sectional area of the channel is nearly doubled and the conductance of the MOS transistor is increased correspondingly.
However, even with such a structure, it is easily understood that there is a practical limitation in the increase in the conductance of the transistor because of the resulting excessive increase in the size of the transistor. Further, such a transistor has a problem in that the structure becomes complex and needs many steps in manufacturing.

MIS transistor structure for increasing conductance between source and drain regions


An SRAM memory device having improved stability including two series connected devices, at least one of the devices being a chalcogenide device exhibiting differential negative resistance characteristics. One of the two devices serves as the load of the other. A switch is provided to bias a middle input node and switch the memory device between two logic states.

There are a variety of different memory devices available for use in electronic systems. The type of memory device chosen for a specific application depends largely upon what features of the memory are best suited to perform the particular function. For instance, dynamic random access memories (DRAMs) and static random access memories (SRAMs) are used to temporarily store program information and data "actively" being used by a microprocessor or other control device.
Random access memories tend to provide greater storage capability and programming options and cycles than read only memories, but they must be continually powered in order to retain their content. Most dynamic random access memories store data in the form of charged and discharged capacitors contained in an array of memory cells. Such memory cells, however, are volatile in that the stored charges will dissipate after a relatively short period of time because of the natural tendency of an electrical charge to distribute itself into a lower energy state. For this reason, most dynamic random access memories must be periodically refreshed, that is, the stored value must be rewritten to the cells, for example, every 100 milliseconds in order to retain the stored data in the memory cells. Even SRAMs, which do not require refreshing, will only retain stored data as long as power is supplied to the memory device. When the power supply to the memory device is turned off, the data is lost.
Efforts have been underway to create a commercially viable memory device that is programmable, randomly accessed, and nonvolatile. To this end, various implementations of such nonvolatile random access memory devices are presently being developed which store data in a plurality of memory cells by structurally, chemically, or magnetically changing the resistance across the memory cells in response to predetermined voltages respectively applied to the memory cells. Examples of such variable resistance memory devices include those based on polymers, perovskites, doped amorphous silicon, magnetic devices, and chalcogenide glass.
In many variable resistance memory cells, a first value may be written thereto by applying a voltage having a predetermined level to the memory cell, which changes the electrical resistance through the memory cell relative to the condition of the memory cell prior to the application of the voltage. A second value, or the default value, may be written to or restored in the memory cell by applying a second reverse polarity voltage to the memory cell, to thereby change the resistance through the memory cell back to the original level. The second voltage may or may not have the same magnitude as the first voltage. Each resistance state is stable, so that the memory cells are capable of retaining their stored values without being frequently refreshed.
Memory cell structures employing chalcogenide materials as the resistance switching backbone may also be suitably conditioned to exhibit a differential negative resistance (DNR) property. DNR chalcogenide devices have a larger peak-to-valley current-voltage ratio than chalcogenide devices used as memory cells as well as other properties which make them exhibit a differential negative resistance. As a result, DNR chalcogenide devices have greater stability, and hence less power consumption and faster switching speed than conventional devices. The properties and methods of making DNR chalcogenide devices are described in greater detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/410,567, filed Apr. 10, 2003 to Campbell (Pub. No. US 2004/0202016) and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/193,529, filed Jul. 10, 2002, to Campbell (Pub. No. U.S. 2004/0007749), the entirety of which are incorporated herein by reference.
RAM cell densities have increased dramatically with each generation of new designs and have served as one of the principal technology drivers for ultra large scale integration in integrated circuit manufacturing. Typically, SRAM devices consist of at least four transistors. For example, FIG. 1a illustrates a basic six transistor cell with NMOS load devices and FIG. 1b illustrates a four transistor cell with resistor load pull-up devices. With four or six transistor cells, SRAM cell density is limited.
One attempt to reduce the circuit components and thus the size of an SRAM is shown in FIG. 2. A pair of Esaki diodes or resonant tunneling diodes are connected in series; however, their peak-to-valley current-voltage ratio is typically less than 9, thus sacrificing circuit stability for a smaller chip size. Thus, an SRAM circuit having improved stability, non-volatility and decreased power consumption is desirable.

Static RAM memory cell with DNR chalcogenide devices and method of forming


A lipstick-type cosmetic case with inner and outer coaxial sleeves with respective axial and helical cam tracks receiving cam followers for reciprocating a cosmetic pomade support within the sleeves. The axial cam tracks in the inner sleeve have inner restricted sections with upper tapered end pockets for receiving the cam followers and restricting inward axial movement therefrom. The helical cam tracks in the outer sleeve have upwardly facing continuous helical cam edges on one edge thereof and, on the opposite edge thereof, two inwardly facing stepped helical edge sections and an intermediate inwardly facing locking edge section for locking the followers against outward axial movement from the pockets.

The present invention relates generally to lipstick-type cosmetic cases having a cosmetic pomade carrier adapted to be reciprocated between an inner, fully retracted or storage position and an outer, fully extended or cosmetic apply position. More particularly, the present invention relates to a new and improved cam track mechanism for reciprocating the carrier between its fully retracted and extended positions and for positioning and retaining the carrier in a predetermined stable intermediate position.
Lipstick-type cosmetic cases of the type described conventionally employ a carrier with a cosmetic pomade support cup and a pair of coaxial sleeves surrounding the support cup. The support cup has one or two cam followers received within one or two pairs of axial and helical cam tracks in the sleeves for reciprocating the carrier between its fully retracted and extended positions by relative rotation of the sleeves. Typically, the sleeves are rolled or drawn sheet metal parts or injection molded plastic parts.
Various proposals have been advanced for positioning and retaining the carrier in a predetermined stable position intermediate its fully retracted and extended positions. The primary purpose of such proposals is to enable the cosmetic case to be assembled and marketed with the carrier in the intermediate position for displaying the cosmetic pomade partly extended. The display of the partly extended cosmetic pomade may be accommodated by using a transparent cap and/or a transparent package.
For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,108,558, dated Aug. 22, 1978 and entitled "Lipstick Dispenser", a circumferentially extending section is provided in an axial cam track for positioning and retaining the carrier in an intermediate display position. In another example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,380,402, dated Apr. 19, 1983, entitled "Lipstick-Type Cosmetic Case With Display Position" and assigned to the assignee of the present invention, a circumferentially extending pocket is provided in a helical cam track for positioning and retaining the carrier in an intermediate display position.

Lake Eyelet Manufacturing Company, Incorporated


An object detecting apparatus includes an emission unit that emits measurement light to a monitoring area in a travelling direction a vehicle, the monitoring area being widened radially in a vehicle width direction; a photoreceptor unit that receives reflected light of the measurement light from a plurality of directions in the monitoring area; a detection unit that detects a distance to an object in each direction in the monitoring area, based on a time difference from emission of the measurement light to reception of the reflected light; and a determination unit that identifies the object detected by the detection unit. The determination unit determines whether there is a probability of the detected object being a hill, based on a change of the detected distance in the vehicle width direction among the directions in the monitoring area.

In the related art, when a vehicle starts, a driver steps erroneously on a brake and an accelerator or steps excessively on the accelerator, and thus an accident of collision of the vehicle with the surrounding object occurs. Regarding this occurrence, a vehicle having a built-in system in which collision occurring by such an erroneous start is avoided or damages in collision are reduced has come on the market. The following technologies have been proposed.
For example, a technology in which a position of a shift lever is fixed to "parking" when an obstacle is detected around a stopped vehicle, and thus moving of the vehicle is prohibited has been proposed (for example, see JP-A-2008-140013).
A technology in which an upper limit value of a revolution count of an engine is limited in accordance with a distance to an obstacle and a stepping speed of a throttle when the obstacle is detected within a predetermined distance from a vehicle has been proposed (for example, see JP-A-5-124453).
A technology in which a vehicle is controlled not to be allowed to start when a distance to an obstacle is smaller than a distance D1, and the vehicle is controlled to start slowly when the distance to the obstacle is greater than the distance D1 and smaller than a distance D2 which has collision risk, in a case where the obstacle is detected during stopping of a vehicle has been proposed (see JP-A-2004-280489).

Object detecting apparatus and vehicle collision avoidance control apparatus


An electronic device includes a proximity sensor and a controller configured to determine a direction of a gesture by a user on the basis of an output from the proximity sensor and in accordance with the hand the user uses to operate the electronic device.

Electronic devices, such as smartphones and tablets, typically include a touch panel. A user typically controls such an electronic device by touching the touch panel. An electronic device that, for example, detects a gesture performed by the user at a distance from the terminal using a proximity sensor such as an infrared sensor and then processes an input operation corresponding to the gesture has been proposed in recent years.

Electronic device, recording medium, and control method


The present invention provides a sterilization confirmation tester and a test pack which enables effective sterilization to be confirmed in a simple and sure manner by providing a simulation of the structure of an endoscope and so forth. The sterilization confirmation tester according to the present invention has a function of confirming effective sterilization treatment after sterilization performed by a sterilization apparatus. The sterilization confirmation tester includes a structure corresponding to at least one of the components which form the endoscope.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sterilization confirmation tester and test pack, and particularly to a sterilization confirmation tester and test pack including an indicator to confirm sterilization employed in sterilization treatment for medical devices, particularly for a medical device and so forth having a lengthy tubular structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, medical devices used for the purpose of examination or treatment have been subjected to cleansing and sterilization in order to prevent infection and so forth. In particular, in a case of using a medical endoscope, it is indispensable to sterilize the endoscope in a sure manner after the use thereof.
Examples of recently employed sterilization techniques include high-pressure and high-temperature steam sterilization (which will be referred to as "autoclave sterilization" hereafter), and ethylene oxide gas sterilization (which will be referred to as "EOG sterilization" hereafter), which provide the advantage of enabling medical devices to be used immediately after sterilization without involving troublesome operations, and which are also advantageous in terms of running costs.
In sterilization such as autoclave sterilization, EOG sterilization, or the like, in general, operation is performed to confirm whether or not the sterilization treatment has effected satisfactory sterilization.
Examples of conventional confirmation methods for confirming effective sterilization in sterilization treatment using autoclave sterilization or EOG sterilization include: a method in which a tape-shaped chemical indicator (which will also be referred to as "CI" hereafter) is attached to a medical device (sterilization apparatus); and a method in which a sheet-shaped chemical indicator or biological indicator (which will also be referred to as "BI" hereafter) is introduced among the objects to be sterilized.
Examples of the types of the aforementioned BIs and CIs used in conventional sterilization confirmation methods include: a type formed in a tape shape for installation outside of a medical device; and a sheet-shaped type which can be installed at a portion within a medical device (at a portion having a certain space relatively near the opening). Also, examples of the aforementioned CIs include linear type CIs used for lengthy tubular medical devices. Also, testers (test packs) are conventionally known having a configuration in which such a liner type CI is provided within a predetermined tube beforehand, thereby offering a function of confirming effective sterilization.
As a conventional example of such a type of tester, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-355297 has proposed a sterilization confirmation indicator having a configuration in which a flocculent member which has adsorbed a sterilization confirmation indicator component is inserted into a slender tube, thereby providing a function of confirming effective sterilization of the tube.
Also, various proposals have been conventionally presented with respect to the structure of a sterilization confirmation tester in which a biological indicator and a culture medium are integrally formed, which are disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 10-201466, and so forth, for example.

Sterilization confirmation tester and test pack


A sewage treatment plant for use aboard ship comprises a vacuum assisted fresh water flush system delivering sewage to a collection tank. Sewage is collected from the collection tank in batches for treatment. The sewage first enters a settlement tank and is then transferred to an aeration tank. After aeration, treated sewage is then transferred out in batches. The batch processing overcomes the difficulties of operating a continuous flow arrangement on a moving platform where liquid can move back and forth, which presents difficulties in controlling the level of biological activity. A controlled amount of sewage transferred to the aeration tank is diluted with grey water. A sludge storage tank is provided and suspended solids probes are provided in the aeration and settlement tanks such that sludge is automatically withdrawn from these tanks to the storage tank to maintain the level of suspended solids within predetermined limits. The sludge storage tank is provided with aerators and its temperature is controlled such that aerobic digestion renders the sludge inert. Small batches of aerated liquid are drawn from the aeration tank into a chlorination tank via a separation system at controlled intervals between successive sewage batch transfers from the collection tank to the aeration tank via the settling tank prior to discharge from the plant.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the treatment of sewage and in particular, though not exclusively, to sewage treatment for use on a mobile platform such as a ship.
2. Discussion of Prior Art
Disposal of sewage from ships alongside or in coastal waters is a considerable current problem. Some harbours have sewage collection facilities, however, these are not always available. Thus sewage collection and treatment plant is required where port facilities are unavailable. Such plant is desirably highly efficient such that a small plant will allow a ship to remain alongside for a long period. Currently there are three types of sewage treatment plant in common use. These are:
(a) Collect, hold and transfer (CHT) with either gravity or vacuum collection systems. PA0 (b) Solid separation treatment plant (SSTPS). PA0 (c) Biological sewage treatment plants (BSTPS). PA0 (1) Changes in the salinity of the flush water. PA0 (2) High hydraulic loads caused by defective toilet flushing valves or leaking tank cleaning spray cross connection valves. PA0 (3) Variations in the load cycle imposed by the operating pattern of the ship. Low loads are particularly detrimental as the bacterial population necessary for aerobic digestion of the sewage cannot be sustained. PA0 (4) Excessive use of detergents and cleaning agents which destroy the bacterial population. PA0 (a) The level of biological activity of the discharge does not meet the standard expected to be set by international regulations. PA0 (b) The filters have proved to be particularly troublesome. They block frequently and require considerable and unpleasant maintenance. PA0 (c) The plants have a relatively short holding time of only 5-7 days. PA0 (d) The plants use a lot of disinfectant (151 lbs/day).

The Secretary of State for Defence, in Her Britannic Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland


A battery pack control module for balancing a plurality of cells or groups of cells connected in series includes a controller assembly, a disconnect circuit, a pack sensing circuit, a balancing circuit, and computer instructions for instructing the controller assembly to control the disconnect circuit and the balancing circuit. The disconnect circuit engages the controller assembly and a plurality of cells or groups of cells connected in series. The pack sensing circuit connects to the controller assembly and the plurality of cells or groups of cells connected in series. The balancing circuit connects between the plurality of cells or groups of cells connected in series, and engages the controller assembly. The plurality of cells or groups of cells connected in series is balanced when the battery pack control module operates in a charging phase, a discharging phase, a quiescent phase, or a storage phase.

Lithium ion battery technology is becoming the standard for rechargeable energy storage systems. Lithium ion batteries are able to store up to three to four times as much electric energy as currently used rechargeable batteries.
However, current lithium ion battery pack balancing technology has the disadvantage that it requires complex and costly electronic control and balancing circuitry that may be inactive for long periods of time.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a battery pack control module which can continuously balance cells using continuously active control circuits.
Currently, balancing the capacities of series connected lithium ion cells in a battery pack system is accomplished using resistors connected by switches across each cell combined with cell voltage monitoring and computer control. The resistors dissipate a relatively small amount of power and are activated infrequently. Large battery packs with multiple sources of differential leakage currents cause the battery pack capacity to diminish and not be available for rapid use at all times.
A need exists for a battery pack control module to continuously minimize the loss of capacity that occurs in large lithium ion battery pack systems.
The present embodiments address these needs.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An apparatus is for directing a fluid into a radial reactor is and which maintains a bed of solid particulate material within a reactor. The apparatus comprises a duct for directing fluid into a reactor and has a screenless face for the egress of the fluid, while providing for the retention of solid particles.

A wide variety of processes use radial flow reactors to provide for contact between a fluid and a solid. The solid usually comprises a catalytic material on which the fluid reacts to form a product. The processes cover a range of processes, including hydrocarbon conversion, gas treatment, and adsorption for separation.
Radial flow reactors are constructed such that the reactor has an annular structure and that there are annular distribution and collection devices. The devices for distribution and collection incorporate some type of screened surface. The screened surface is for holding catalyst beds in place and for aiding in the distribution of pressure over the surface of the reactor to facilitate radial flow through the reactor bed. The screen can be a mesh, either wire or other material, or a punched plate. For a moving bed, the screen or mesh provides a barrier to prevent the loss of solid catalyst particles while allowing fluid to flow through the bed. Solid catalyst particles are added at the top, and flow through the apparatus and removed at the bottom, while passing through a screened-in enclosure that permits the flow of fluid over the catalyst. The screen is preferably constructed of a non-reactive material, but in reality the screen often undergoes some reaction through corrosion, and over time problems arise from the corroded screen or mesh.
One type of inlet distribution device is a reactor internal having a scallop shape and is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,224,838 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,366,704. The scallop shape and design provides for good distribution of gas for the inlet of a radial flow reactor, but uses screens or meshes to prevent the passage of solids. The scallop shape is convenient because it allows for easy placement in a reactor without concern regarding the curvature of the vessel wall. The screens or meshes used to hold the catalyst particles within a bed are sized to have apertures sufficiently small that the particles cannot pass through. A current inlet duct design, OptiMiser™ by United States Filter Corp., WO 01/66239 A2, has an improved shape, but still uses a screen comprised of wires having a sufficiently narrow spacing to prevent the passage of catalyst. A significant problem is the corrosion of meshes or screens used to hold catalyst beds in place, or for the distribution of reactants through a reactor bed. Corrosion can plug apertures to a screen or mesh, creating dead volumes where fluid does not flow. Corrosion can also create larger apertures where the catalyst particles can then flow out of the catalyst bed with the fluid and be lost to the process increasing costs. This produces unacceptable losses of catalyst, and increases costs because of the need to add additional makeup catalyst.
The design of reactors to overcome these limitations can save significantly on downtime for repairs and on the loss of catalyst, which is a significant portion of the cost of processing hydrocarbons.


A dual-footboard scooter in a tricycle format having a front wheel or ski coupled to a steering post passing through a steering column to join a steering handle and a bifurcated frame extending rearwardly from the steering column forms two branches, extensions of which each support a rear wheel or ski, respectively. In operating the scooter, the rider grasps the steering handle, rests one foot on either footboard and swings the other foot extending through the extended free space between the footboards and bifurcated frame, making pushing contact with the ground or snow to propel the scooter.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates generally to foot-propelled scooters and ride-on devices, particularly to a dual-footboard scooters and devices in a tricycle format.
2. Description of the Related Art
A standard scooter is a child""s vehicle which includes a long footboard supported by front and rear end wheels. The scooter is controlled by an upright steering post coupled to the front wheel and provided with a steering handle. In riding the scooter, the child grasps the handle and rests one foot on the footboard. The child puts the scooter in motion by means of his other foot, which is swung to repeatedly make pushing contact with the road on one side of the footboard.
A single footboard scooter is a somewhat hazardous vehicle in the hands of an inexperienced rider, for like a two-wheel bicycle, the scooter is inherently unstable. When the scooter is in motion the rider""s weight is balanced on the footboard, otherwise, the scooter will tip to one side, throwing the rider. If the scooter should jump in the course of travel and the front wheel becomes raised above the ground, the scooter may then swing backward about the rear wheel, throwing the rider.
Far more stable and controllable than a scooter is a conventional tricycle, which has a front wheel to which a steering handle is coupled through a steering post, and a pair of rear wheels above which is a seat to accommodate the rider. The feet of the seated rider engages pedals mounted on the axle of the front wheel.
A tricycle, however, is a relatively tame vehicle, for its pedal operation precludes the tricycle from traveling very fast. The advantage of a scooter is that it cannot only be propelled to travel at high speed, but the rider can also execute various maneuvers or tricks with a scooter, such as jumping over steps to go from a raised to a lower road surface. However, performing tricks on a conventional single footboard scooter frequently entails unacceptable risk.
Inasmuch as a scooter in accordance with the invention is in a tricycle format, Powell (U.S. Pat. No. 2,597,748) discloses a walking and riding vehicle provided with a bifurcated or V-shaped tubular metal frame on whose diverging legs are mounted rear end wheels. A front wheel controlled by a steering handle is supported below the apex of the frame. The child grasping the handle can walk the Powell vehicle by walking between the legs, or the vehicle can be used for coasting by standing on foot rest plates attached to the diverging legs.
The tri-skater is disclosed by Holter in U.S. Pat. No. 5,039,121 with a v-shaped frame on which footboards are mounted, and rear skate casters coupled to the rear of its footboards. A handle-controlled front wheel is coupled to the apex of the frame. The Holter vehicle is propelled by a rider performing a cambering motion, similar to an ice skater, grasping the handle simultaneously standing on both of the footboards, and shifting his or her weight alternately from side to side.
The three-wheeled scooter type vehicle disclosed in the Shelton patent, U.S. Pat. No. 4,540,192, is forwardly propelled by body movement of the rider by means of two rearwardly extending foot support frames pivotally connected to a front steering column. The foot support frames are provided with caster wheels which are yieldably tensioned to propel the vehicle in a direction of forward travel when the foot support frames are laterally moved, also akin to the cambering motion of an ice skater.
Disclosed in the Winchell U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,071,261, 4,076,270 and 4,088,338, in the Biskup U.S. Pat. No. 4,165,093 and in the Williams U.S. Pat. No. 4,047,732 are three-wheeled cambering vehicles. In these cambering vehicles, foot rests are also provided in a bifurcated or V-formation, the vehicle being propelled by the rider shifting his weight in a timed sequence from one foot to the other.
My above-identified applications disclose standard and off-road dual-footboard scooters and related ride-on devices, all in a tricycle format and most with a front wheel mounted under a steering post that passes through a steering column and joins a steering handle that is provided with a hand brake operatively coupled to the front wheel. Footboards are attached at each of their front ends to the rearward extensions of the bifurcated frame, from the steering column. Secured to the underside of each footboard is a rear end wheel, behind which is a skid brake adapted to engage the ground when the footboard is upwardly tilted.
The bifurcated frame defines separate bifurcated branch members, to which rearwardly extending branch members attach, the bifurcated branch members having a first free space therebetween which merges with a second free space between the rearwardly extending branch members, forming in their uninterrupted part an extended free space. This volume of extended free space allows, regardless of where a rider stands with one foot on either footboard, the rider to swing his or her propelling foot in an unimpeded fashion, as necessary to propel the scooter, which is especially useful to propel the scooter at high rates of speed. The third dimension of the volume of the first free space is generally defined by the lower part of the sloping bifurcated branch members up to the top-most portion of the steering column. The third dimension of the volume of the second free space is similarly generally defined at a height of below the top-most portion of the steering column to the bottom-most portion of the rear wheels, or more specifically, the volume through which the rider will thrust his or her propelling foot during the high speed travel that the scooter is designed for, as further described below.
In operating the scooter, the rider grasps the steering handle, one foot then resting on either footboard, the other foot extending (or swinging) through the extended free space making pushing contact with the ground and propelling the scooter forward.
A scooter of the type disclosed in my above-referenced applications are suited for use on smooth paved roads that are free of ruts and other surface disruptions, as well as for off-road operations.
Scooters previously known in the art prior to my above-referenced applications would swing backward about the rear wheels and throw or otherwise endanger the rider when, during the course of travel, their footboards become upwardly inclined. The scooters of my inventions avoid this action by the rear skid brakes which then engage the ground to cause the scooter to swing forward to return the front wheel to the ground, as well as providing other benefits described herein. The scooters of my invention further allow for quick disassembly and assembly, which is especially useful for transport of the scooter in another vehicle.
In view of the foregoing, an object of this invention is to provide a dual-footboard scooter in a tricycle format which is propelled by a rider who rests one foot on either rearwardly extending branch member and swing the other foot through an extended free space to make pushing contact with the ground.
An advantage and significant feature of a dual-footboard scooter in accordance with the invention include that the scooter has the inherent stability of a tricycle, yet is more maneuverable and is capable of being propelled to travel at a much faster speed; the scooter is safe to operate under both standard or off-road conditions, with wheels having standard or deep-tread tires, if necessary to provide good traction on a dirt path or an unpaved road; the scooter is of simple design and can therefore be mass produced at low cost, using for this purpose standard tricycle components; and, the rearwardly extending branch members are removable to facilitate compact transport, and the rider can selectively position the rear wheels.
The front and rear wheels may either be relatively smooth or may be provided with deep-tread tires for improved traction on unpaved surfaces. In operating the scooter, the rider grasps the steering handle, with ne foot then resting on either footboard and the other foot extending through the free space between the footboards and swinging to make pushing contact with the ground to propel the scooter.