A pneumatic tire comprises a tread portion, a pair of sidewall portions, a pair of bead portions, a radial carcass extending between a pair of bead cores and having a turnup portion, a bead filler rubber, and one or more reinforcing cord layers arranged at a side face zone ranging from the bead portion to the sidewall portion, in which the reinforcing cord layer is a layer of one or more rubberized cords spirally wound about an axial line of the tire and has an inner end in a radial direction of the tire between a position located outward from an outer periphery of the bead core in the radial direction and a position located inward from a tapered end of the bead filler rubber in the radial direction.

1. Filed of the Invention
This invention relates to pneumatic tires, and more particularly to a pneumatic radial tire for use in relatively small-size vehicles such as passenger cars, vans, pickups and the like simultaneously improving steering stability, road noise (hereinafter abbreviated as R/N) performance and ride comfort while dominantly holding tire weight, rolling resistance and the like.
2. Description of Related Art
In the pneumatic tires for automobiles, particularly tires for use in relatively small-size vehicles as mentioned above, it is demanded to improve various performances such as steering stability, ride comfort, indoor noise performance, fuel consumption (rolling resistance) and so on. Recently, it tends to more enhance the demand for simultaneously and highly improving the performances.
As regards such a demand, means for separately improving each of the performances is established as mentioned below. That is, there are the following means:
(1) means for improving steering stability: ensuring of cornering power, increase of tire rigidity, increase of hysteresis loss in tread rubber
(2) means for improving ride comfort and R/N performance: reduction of tire rigidity
(3) means for reducing weight and improving rolling resistance: reduction of tire rigidity, decrease of hysteresis loss in tread rubber
As mentioned above, it is possible to improve the individual performances. However, the means for improving the steering stability and the means for improving the ride comfort and R/N performance are quite conflicting with each other, so that it is obliged to adopt a temporary means such as gauge adjustment of tread rubber or the like in the present circumstances.
On the other hand, as the means for improving the steering stability without so degrading the ride comfort, there is proposed such a structure that a bottom width is made narrower and a height is made lower in a hard bead filler rubber and also a sheet-shaped rubber member having a hardness equal to that of the bead filler rubber is overlapped with the bead filler rubber at a top end portion thereof. Even in this means, the tire rigidity somewhat rises, so that there is still a problem that the ride comfort enough to satisfy the demand can not be obtained.
It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a pneumatic tire simultaneously and drastically improving the steering stability, ride comfort and R/N performance while ensuring at least an existing tire weight and holding an existing low rolling resistance.
According to the invention, there is the provision of a pneumatic tire comprising a tread portion, a pair of sidewall portions, a pair of bead portions, a radial carcass extending between a pair of bead cores embedded in the respective bead portion to reinforce these portions and having a turnup portion wound around the bead core from an inside of the tire toward an outside thereof, a bead filler rubber of a triangular shape at section taperingly extending from the bead core toward an end of the tread portion, and one or more reinforcing cord layers arranged at a side face zone ranging from the bead portion to the sidewall portion, in which the reinforcing cord layer is a layer of one or more rubberized cords spirally wound about an axial line of the tire and has an inner end in a radial direction of the tire between a position located outward from an outer periphery of the bead core in the radial direction and a position located inward from a tapered end of the bead filler rubber in the radial direction.
In a preferable embodiment of the invention, the inner end of the reinforcing cord layer is located in a position separated from the outer periphery of the bead core by a distance in the radial direction corresponding to 3-50% of a tire section height.
In another preferable embodiment of the invention, an outer end of the reinforcing cord layer in the radial direction is located in a position separated from a rim diameter line by a distance in the radial direction corresponding to 10-75% of a tire section height.
In the other preferable embodiment of the invention, the cord of the reinforcing cord layer is a cord selected from nylon cord, polyester cord, rayon cord, aramid cord and steel cord.
In a further preferable embodiment of the invention, the reinforcing cord layer has an end count of 15-60 cords/5 cm.
In a still further preferable embodiment of the invention, the bead filler rubber has a JIS hardness at 30xc2x0 C. of 65-83.
In the other preferable embodiment of the invention, an end of the turnup portion of the radial carcass has a height in the radial direction corresponding to 5-45% of the tire section height.
In a further preferable embodiment of the invention, the reinforcing cord layer is arranged along an outside of the turnup portion of the radial carcass or along an inside of the turnup portion of the radial carcass.
In a still further preferable embodiment of the invention, an outer end of the reinforcing cord layer in the radial direction exceeds an end of the turnup portion of the radial carcass in the radial direction.
In another preferable embodiment of the invention, a reinforcing sheet rubber extending toward the end of the tread portion is arranged along a tapered end portion of the bead filler rubber so as to contact therewith and has an even thickness of not more than 2 mm.
In the other preferable embodiment of the invention, an outer end of the reinforcing sheet rubber in the radial direction is located in a position separated from the rim diameter line to 30-75% of the tire section height.
The term xe2x80x9ctire section heightxe2x80x9d used throughout the specification means xe2x80x9ca half of a difference between an overall diameter of a tire and a rim diameter when the tire is mounted onto an approved rim and inflated under a specified air pressure without loadingxe2x80x9d as defined in JATMA YEAR BOOK (1999). And also, the term xe2x80x9crim diameter linexe2x80x9d used herein means a straight line passing through a position corresponding to a rim diameter and in parallel to an axial line of the tire. Furthermore, the term xe2x80x9cJIS hardnessxe2x80x9d used herein means a hardness of rubber measured according to JIS K6253-1993.

Pneumatic tire with spirally wound reinforcing cord layer


Systems and methods are described for backing up files and directories using a common backup format. The files and directories may be represented by objects within a data stream constructed using the common backup format. The data streams may be traversed and updated using a size tree such that modifications are made to individual objects within the data streams without complete traversal. This process results in efficient management of storage systems as read and write operations are not dependent on exhaustive traversal of data streams.

Data storage utilization is continually increasing, causing the proliferation of storage system in data centers. In order to reduce storage space of a storage system, deduplication techniques are utilized, where data objects or files are segmented in chunks and only the deduplicated chunks are stored in the storage system.
Current techniques and systems for storing data do not allow for the efficient identification and analysis of files and other objects in a data stream associated with a stored file system. In particular, current file storage formats do not facilitate the efficient insertion of markers into data streams to assist in the performance of deduplication heuristics based processing.
Additionally, as changes are made to elements of a data stream, the location of files and objects within the data stream change over time. Accordingly, efficient access to each particular object in a data stream for both read and write applications requires a traversal of the entire data stream to locate a desired object. This process results in inefficient management of the storage system as read and write operations are dependent on exhaustive traversal of the data stream.

Common backup format and log based virtual full construction


A system for improved drive and matching between an RF power source and a plasma tube in a laser system. The system uses standard 50 or 75 ohm quarter wave transmission lines as the sole interconnect and matching elements between discharge electrodes and drive transistors. The drive transistos may be operated in deep saturation or as switches providing near square wave output to approach the 100 percent theoretical electrical efficiency of switching power supplies. The system features better initial breakdown, bettwer discharge uniformity and power stability under narrow drive pulse conditions, lower matching electrical losses, and extreme simplicity and low cost.

Interconnection and matching of an RF excited gas laser to an RF generator is typically accomplished by the use of a 50 ohm coaxial transmission line with separate matching networks at both ends. The matching network at the laser end usually steps up the line impedance to a range between several hundred and several thousand ohms, while the matching network at the RF generator end steps the line impedance down to the low values required for the generator's transistor output stage. Other functions of the matching networks are to account for the two different impedance values of the plasma tube, before and after breakdown. Yet another function of the matching network is to cancel reactive components at source and load. U.S. Pat. No. 4,455,658 by Sutter, U.S. Pat. No. 4,169,251 by Laakmann and U.S. Pat. No. 4,363,126 by Chenausky et al. are typical examples of such interconnect systems.
An exception to these standard techniques is taught by Laakmann in U.S. Pat. No. 4,837,772. In this disclosure a lumped constant matching system is used directly between the RF generator's output stage transistors and the laser. No interconnect cables are used, for reasons disclosed there. However, the main feature of that disclosure is the "self-oscillating technique" that eliminated much of the complexity of matching drive frequency and laser as well as accounting for the two different impedance states of the plasma contained within the laser's plasma tube.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,373,202 by Laakmann, et al., the technique is disclosed of using a 75 ohm quarter wave transmission line within a 50 ohm system to automatically adjust power in order to decrease "hot spots" within the plasma tube and provide a more stable discharge. However, both laser and power source are still matched to 50 ohm impedances and produce sinusoidal waveforms.


The SECURE ANONYMOUS TRANSACTION APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS (“SAT”) transform hardware-verified user authentication requests via SAT components into secure transaction notifications. In one implementation, the SAT obtains a secure anonymous transaction user authentication request. The SAT verifies the authenticity of a user, using the secure anonymous transaction user authentication request. The SAT obtains an authenticated purchase order, in response to which it generates a one-time anonymous card account. Using the one-time card account, the SAT generates an anonymized purchase order for a merchant, and provides the anonymized purchase order. On obtaining a purchase notification for the anonymized purchase order, the SAT provides a real-time notification for a user of the purchase notification. Also, on obtaining notification of a shipment related to the anonymized purchase order to an anonymized address, the SAT generates an order to re-route the shipment from the anonymized address to an actual shipment address of the user.

Known consumer transactions require a customer to select a product from a store shelf or website, and then to check out at a checkout counter or webpage. Product information is selected from a webpage catalog or entered into a point-of-sale terminal, or the information is entered automatically by scanning an item barcode with an integrated barcode scanner at the point-of-sale terminal. The customer is usually provided with a number of payment options, such as cash, check, credit card or debit card. Once payment is made and approved, the point-of-sale terminal memorializes the transaction in the merchant's computer system, and a receipt is generated indicating the satisfactory consummation of the transaction. When consumers make purchases online with a merchant, the merchant will then address the purchased item to the consumer at the consumer's address.
The leading number of each reference number within the drawings indicates the figure in which that reference number is introduced and/or detailed. As such, a detailed discussion of reference number 101 would be found and/or introduced in FIG. 1. Reference number 201 is introduced in FIG. 2, etc.

Secure anonymous transaction apparatuses, methods and systems


An oil pan for an internal combustion engine having an engine lubrication system. The oil pan comprises a shallow bottom section and a sump section. A guide plate is secured at an inner surface to which a crankshaft splashes lubrication oil carried into the shallow bottom section. The guide plate having an inclined and a guide parts extends generally along the axis of the crankshaft and extends generally parallel with a horizontal plane. The inclined part which gradually becomes high in level in the direction toward the sump is continuously connected to the inclined part to be formed in a generally arcuate shape. Therefore, the splashed oil at the inner surface cannot over the guide plate, and the oil is positively returned into the sump section by the guide plate. Accordingly, lubrication in this engine is smoothly carried out without causing a lack of the oil in the sump section.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an oil pan for an internal combustion engine, and more particularly to improvements in an oil pan structure with which the lubrication oil is positively returned into sump.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is well known that an internal combustion engine is provided with an oil pan as shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, a multiple cylinder internal combustion engine 1' comprises a cylinder block 2' which rotatably supports a crankshaft 3'. An oil pan 4' is connected to the under surface of the cylinder block 2'. The oil pan 4' includes a sump section 5' and a shallow bottom section 6' which are disposed along the axis of the crankshaft 3' and under the crankshaft 3'. A baffle plate 7' having a cutout 8' is installed in the sump section 5'. An oil sucking section 9' which has an oil strainer 10' at its end is inserted into the sump section 5' and dipped in lubrication oil through the cutout 8', so that the oil sucking section 9' can suck the lubrication oil.
In recent years, there has been a tendency that a vehicular engines are smaller and more light-weight. Accordingly, the oil pan 4' has become shortened in height. Additionally, counterweights 11' installed in the crankshaft 3' have become located slightly above the oil pan 4'. Therefore, when the oil level 13' of the lubrication oil in the oil pan 4' is changed into an inclined condition under inertial force caused by an outer force such as acceleration, deceleration, turning of the vehicle, he lubrication oil flows into the shallow bottom section 5'. The lubrication oil is then splahsed by blown air pressure caused by the rotation of the counterweights 11'. Under this condition, in case the oil level 13' is further, inclined in the direction to cause the lubrication oil to flow into the shallow bottom section 6', the counter weight 11', which is not dipped in the oil under the normal conditions, becomes dipped in the lubrication oil as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. This causes the counterweight 11' to splash the oil. Therefore, the amount of the oil returned into the sump 5' is reduced, and therefore the oil level 13' is lowered. This causes a problem that an oil pump (not shown) cannot supply the oil to lubricate the required sections. In contrast, it has been proposed that the guide plate 23' returning the splashed oil toward the oil level is installed at a side surface 22' of an oil pan 21' as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Such an arrangement is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,270,497. However, since the guide plate 23' only downwardly guides the splashed oil and does not guide the oil from a shallow bottom section 24' toward a sump 25', a lack of the lubrication oil in the sump 25' is possibly caused under the influence of the oil viscosity or like.


A method and apparatus for managing a dynamic assignment of resources in a storage system. In one aspect, a storage system includes a plurality of storage devices, a plurality of controllers that each is coupled to at least one of the plurality of storage devices and controls access to the one of the plurality of storage devices, a memory that is globally accessible to each of the plurality of controllers; first means for creating in the memory a global table that stores information that specifies dynamic assignments of resources in the storage system, and second means for creating a local table in at least one of the plurality of controllers that includes all of the information stored in the global table. In another aspect, the storage system stores information written by a data processing system that accesses units of information in the storage system using a logical volume address, and the local and global tables are indexed by the logical volume address. In another aspect, each of the plurality of controllers includes updating means, responsive to the one of the plurality of controllers being powered up, for automatically updating the local table in the one of the plurality of controllers. In another aspect, the system includes means for verifying that the information stored within the local tables is consistent with the information stored within the global table.

The present invention relates to data storage systems. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for managing the dynamic assignment of resources in a data storage system.
Storage systems including devices such as disk drives are used in many different types of computer or data processing systems to store data. Disk drives generally include one or more disks of a recording medium (e.g., a magnetic recording medium or an optical recording medium) on which information can be written for storage purposes, and from which stored information can be read. Large data storage systems commonly include on the order of one-hundred disk drives, with each disk drive including several disks. One such mass storage system is the SYMMETRIX line of disk arrays available from EMC Corporation of Hopkinton, Mass. The SYMMETRIX line of disk arrays is described in numerous publications from EMC Corporation, including the SYMMETRIX model 55XX product manual, P-N200-810-550, rev. F, February, 1996.
Typically, data in a mass data storage system is accessed from a host computer in units called xe2x80x9clogical volumes,xe2x80x9d with the host computer writing or reading data to the storage system using a logical volume address or xe2x80x9clogical device volume numberxe2x80x9d (hereafter DV#). Each physical storage device (e.g., a disk drive) in a storage system may store a single logical volume. Alternatively, it is possible in many systems to configure each physical storage device to store two or more logical volumes. For example, each disk drive may be configured to have two logical volumes stored on it, in which case the system would be said to have a two-to-one logical-to-physical relationship.
Some mass data storage systems allow for one or more resources of the system to be dynamically assigned during operation of the system, resulting in a change from the way these resources were allocated at the time the system was initially configured. One example of this involves the dynamic assignment, during operation, of one or more of the system""s physical devices (e.g., a disk drive or a portion thereof) to store a particular logical volume. To support such dynamic assignment, one or more physical devices may be configured so that they are not statically assigned to store a particular logical volume addressable by the host. Instead, these storage devices are configured to be reserved for special operations during which they may be dynamically assigned by the storage system to temporarily store a particular logical volume addressable by the host. This dynamic assignment may be of the entire physical device, or some portion thereof.
One example of the dynamic assignment of physical resources involves configuring certain storage devices to be reserved as xe2x80x9chot sparesxe2x80x9d that are available to be dynamically assigned to, for example, replace failing storage devices. When it is determined that the number of errors occurring on a particular storage device is excessive and that a hard failure is probable, the storage system can dynamically assign an available one of its hot spares to address the problem. First, the system dynamically assigns the hot spare device as an additional mirror of the logical volume stored on the failing device, so that accesses to the logical volume can be serviced by the spare. The system then dynamically copies the data from the failing device to the available spare without interrupting operation of the storage system. The failing device is then replaced. Thereafter, the system dynamically copies the data from the hot spare to the newly installed device. Once the data is copied to the replacement device, the storage system dynamically reassigns the hot spare device so that it no longer acts as a mirror for the logical volume that was stored on the failing device and is returned to the pool of available spares for use in addressing potential failures with other devices.
Applicant has discovered that a number of problems can arise in handling the dynamic assignment of resources in a storage system, particularly when failures occur in the components of the system that store the information regarding the dynamic assignments. Several specific examples of the ways in which problems can arise are discussed below. However, before discussing those examples, an explanation is provided of the architecture of an existing SYMMETRIX data storage system, and the manner in which the dynamic assignment of devices is handled in that system. It should be appreciated that the challenges associated with the dynamic assignment of devices are not peculiar to the SYMMETRIX architecture, and apply to all types of storage systems that support the dynamic assignment of resources. Thus, the description of the existing SYMMETRIX system is provided below merely for illustrative purposes.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an existing SYMMETRIX data storage system 1 coupled to a host data processor 2. The data storage system includes a number of disk drives (e.g., drives 112, 114, 116, 118, 132, 134, 136, and 138) and a number of controllers. Some of the controllers 102, 104 are referred to as host adapters, and others (110A, 110B, 130A and 130B) are referred to as disk adapters or DA""s. The host adapters and disk adapters operate together, along with a read-write memory 100 that is globally accessible to all of the host and disk adapters, to transfer data between the host data processor 2 and the disk drives. It should be appreciated that the data storage system typically will include many more host adapters, disk adapters and disk drives than are shown in FIG. 1. It should further be appreciated that each host adapter, disk adapter, and disk drive typically has a resident processor (e.g., a microprocessor) and local memory that are used to control its operation. The host adapters 102 and 104 communicate with the host data processor 2 via a bus 3.
Communication between the host adapters 102 and 104, the disk adapters 110A, 110B, 130A and 130B, and the globally accessible memory 100 is accomplished over busses 106 and 108. Each of the disk adapters is coupled to a subset of the disk drives (112, 114, 116, 118, 132, 134, 136, and 138) in the system, and controls communication with the drives to which it is coupled in a manner discussed briefly below. The disk adapters communicate with their respective disk drives via one or more buses 120, 122, 124, 126, 140, 142, 144, and 146, which may be of any type. For example, the buses can be SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) buses.
Globally accessible memory 100 includes three sections. A first section stores a number of tables used by the host and disk adapters to control communication between the host processor 2 and the disk drives (e.g., 112, 114). A second section serves as a data cache that stores read/write data blocks, i.e., the system illustrated in FIG. 1 is a cached storage system. The third section is used as a service area for a service processor 148.
The manner in which the host adapters 102 and 104 and disk adapters 110A, 110B, 130A and 130B operate to enable the host data processor 2 to read data from and write data to the disk drives in the cached system of FIG. 1 will now briefly be described. The caching operations are performed by the host adapters and disk adapters in a manner that is transparent to the host data processor. A read operation typically causes one of the host adapters 102, 104 to scan a directory in the data cache portion of the memory 100 for the requested data, and when the requested data is in the cache, the host adapter transfers the data from the cache to the host processor 2. If the requested data is not in the cache, the disk adapters (e.g., 110A, 110B) determine on which disk drive (e.g., 112, 114) the data is stored, and transfer the data from the disk drive to the cache. One of the host adapters then transfers the requested data from the cache area of memory 100 to the host data processor. For write operations, the data initially is written to the cache by the host adapters, which typically indicate to the host data processor 2 that the write is complete as soon as the data is verified as having been stored, error-free, in the cache. The disk adapter (e.g., 110A) associated with the particular disk drive (e.g., 112) on which the data is to be stored then asynchronously destages the data to the disk drive.
The illustrative storage system shown in FIG. 1 further includes a service processor 148 that is coupled to each of the host adapters 102 and 104 and disk adapters 110A, 110B, 130A and 130B. Service processor 148, which can be implemented as a PC (e.g., a laptop), provides diagnostic and maintenance utilities for the system, as well as a communication channel into the system for service personnel.
To map between the logical volume addresses that the host processor 2 uses to access data stored in the storage system and the physical locations on the disk drives at which the data is actually stored, the storage system includes a number of configuration tables. The existing system illustrated in FIG. 1 employs two types of tables. First, there is a set of static configuration tables that store the configuration information for each disk drive (or portion thereof) when the storage system initially is configured. This configuration information can be loaded into the static tables via the service processor 148. The static information does not change dynamically during operation of the storage system, and generally is stored in non-volatile memory so that it will not be lost if power is interrupted. Second, there is a set of dynamic tables that store configuration information that changes dynamically. Examples of the configuration tables for the existing data storage system of FIG. 1 are discussed below in connection with FIGS. 2-5, with FIGS. 2-3 showing the static tables and FIGS. 4-5 showing the dynamic tables.
In the existing system of FIG. 1, each of the disk adapters stores, in its local memory, two static configuration tables that each includes information concerning the static configuration of the system resources. FIGS. 2-3 are examples of these static configuration tables, and illustrate the static tables for disk adapters 110A and 110B (FIG. 1). The first static configuration table is shown in FIGS. 2A-B. As seen from these figures, the static configuration tables for disk adapters 110A and 10B each includes a number of entries indexed by a xe2x80x9ctarget numberxe2x80x9d of the disk adapter. Each portion of a disk drive that stores a logical volume is assigned a unique target number on each disk adapter to which the disk drive is coupled. Thus, each target number for each disk adapter is an address unique to that disk adapter that identifies a specific group of memory locations (e.g., that can be used to store a logical volume) within the storage space of a disk drive associated with the disk adapter. As seen from FIGS. 2A-B, when a disk drive is coupled to more than one disk adapter (e.g., drive 112 is coupled to disk adapters 110A and 110B), the drive can be assigned different target numbers on the different disk adapters (e.g., drive 112 includes target numbers xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d on DA 110A and target numbers xe2x80x9c4xe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9c5xe2x80x9d on DA 110B).
In FIGS. 2A-B, the parenthetical entry next to each of the xe2x80x9cDA-Specific Target Numberxe2x80x9d entries identifies the physical device in FIG. 1 that stores the target (i.e., the specific group of memory locations that can be used to store a logical volume) identified by the target number. These parenthetical entries are not included in the actual tables, but are shown in FIGS. 2A-B for the purpose of illustration. As shown, the configuration tables of FIG. 2 reflect that the system of FIG. 1 is configured to have a two-to-one logical-to-physical relationship, with each disk drive storing two logical volumes. As discussed above, the logical-to-physical relationship is configurable.
As shown in FIGS. 2A-B, the table entries of disk adapter 110A indexed by target numbers xe2x80x9c0-3xe2x80x9d include entries identical to those of disk adapter 110B indexed by target numbers xe2x80x9c4-7xe2x80x9d. Similarly, the table entries for target numbers xe2x80x9c0-3xe2x80x9d of disk adapter 10B include entries identical to those of target numbers xe2x80x9c4-7xe2x80x9d of disk adapter 110A. The reason for this duplication is that, as shown in FIG. 1, each of disk drives 112, 114, 116 and 118 is coupled to both disk adapters 110A and 110B. This is done for fault tolerance reasons. In this respect, disk adapters 110A and 110B generally do not service requests for access to the same logical volumes simultaneously. Rather, disk adapter 110A only accesses drives 112 and 114 during normal operation, and disk adapter 110B only accesses drives 116 and 118. This is represented in the tables of FIGS. 2A-B in that the table entries for targets that are serviced by each of disk adapters 110A and 110B during normal operation are highlighted (i.e., not xe2x80x9cshadowedxe2x80x9d), whereas the shadowed entries in each of the two tables are used only as standby targets in the event of a failure of the disk adapter responsible for servicing these targets during normal operation.
In the example illustrated in the tables of FIGS. 2A-B, if the storage system were to detect a hardware failure caused by the failure of disk adapter 110A, then disk adapter 110B would service both its highlighted targets (i.e., targets xe2x80x9c0-3xe2x80x9d) and its shadowed targets (i.e., targets xe2x80x9c4-7xe2x80x9d), while disk adapter 110A would be taken off-line. In this manner, targets xe2x80x9c0-3xe2x80x9d of disk adapter 110A, which normally are serviced by disk adapter 110A, could continue to be accessed after disk adapter 110A failed. When the failure was corrected, disk adapters 110A and 110B would return to servicing requests to their highlighted targets in the normal manner.
As should be appreciated from the foregoing, the system of FIG. 1 configures the disk adapters to operate in pairs so that one disk adapter can take over the duties of the other should a failure occur with one of the pair of disk adapters. In the system of FIG. 1, disk adapters 110A and 110B constitute a first DA pair 110 and disk adapters 130A and 130B constitute a second DA pair 130. The use of DA pairs provides fault tolerance in the event that a disk adapter fails, because each disk adapter has the capability of servicing all requests to the targets of the disk adapter with which it is paired. Together, each pair of disk adapters forms a dual-initiator (borrowed from the SCSI convention wherein xe2x80x9cinitiatorsxe2x80x9d are devices that control operations on a bus) system, because each of the buses (e.g., 120, 122, 124, 126) for accessing the disk drives is coupled to two disk adapters.
As shown in the figures, one field for each entry in the static configuration tables of FIGS. 2A-B is a xe2x80x9cmirror number.xe2x80x9d It should be appreciated that many storage systems employ mirroring techniques for fault tolerance and performance reasons. For example, to protect critical data from equipment malfunction or other events that could result in a loss of data, many data storage systems are configured to store multiple mirrors of the same logical volume on two or more disk adapter targets, most typically on different disk drives. When a logical volume is written, the write is carried out to all of the mirrors of the logical volume. By storing data in two or more mirrors, the data is not lost when a disk drive containing a xe2x80x9cmirroredxe2x80x9d logical volume fails, so long as at least one other disk drive containing a mirror of the logical volume remains operational. The use of mirroring techniques also can increase system performance, because two or more mirrors of the same logical volume can be accessed in parallel.
Mirroring operations generally are transparent to the host data processor 2 (FIG. 1), so that the host is unaware that more than one mirror of a particular logical volume exists. From the perspective of the host processor, the logical volume is accessed using a single logical volume address. The logical volumes seen by the host data processor 2 correspond with the logical device volume numbers (DV#) stored in the table entries. However, as seen from FIGS. 2A-B, multiple targets can correspond to the same logical volume (e.g., target xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d on disk adapter 110A and target xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d on disk adapter 110B both correspond to logical volume DV0). The disk adapters store the mirror number in the static configuration tables of FIGS. 2A-B to enable the storage system to distinguish between the mirrors. For example, when mirroring is used to increase system performance by enabling simultaneous access to multiple mirrors of a logical volume, the disk adapters can use the mirror numbers in the static configuration tables to perform load balancing among the multiple mirrors to maximize system performance.
When a target fails while storing a mirror of a logical volume, the storage system, without interruption, can automatically use the target(s) storing the other mirrors of that logical volume to continue to service requests to the logical volume. When the defective disk drive is replaced, the system then may reestablish the replacement disk drive as a valid target and automatically copy the data for the logical volume to the new disk drive. Generally, the new disk drive will be configured identically to the one it replaced so that no reconfiguration of the system is required.
As discussed above, some mass storage systems employ a function called dynamic sparing, wherein a hot spare device can be dynamically assigned as an additional mirror for a logical volume. In the illustrative system described in connection with FIGS. 2A-B, certain targets (e.g., portions of disk drives) are statically configured to serve as hot spares. This designation will not change unless the system is reconfigured. Thus, to enable the disk adapters to identify which of its targets are configured for use as hot spares, the static configuration tables shown in FIGS. 2A-B include a hot spare flag field. Only those targets that are reserved as hot spares have a xe2x80x9cYesxe2x80x9d in this flag field. Because the logical volume number (DV#) and mirror number of the hot spare targets will be assigned dynamically, as explained below, and because the tables shown in FIGS. 2A-B represent only static configurations, the entries in these fields are irrelevant, as indicated by the notation xe2x80x9cdon""t carexe2x80x9d (xe2x80x9cD/Cxe2x80x9d) in the tables.
As discussed above, there are other types of dynamic resource assignments that the storage system may employ in addition to dynamically assigning some targets as hot spares. Another example involves a feature provided in the SYMMETRIX line of disk arrays known as xe2x80x9cdual copyxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cbusiness continuance volumesxe2x80x9d (xe2x80x9cDC/BCVsxe2x80x9d). In accordance with this feature of SYMMETRIX, the storage system is configured to include one or more DC/BCV logical volumes. A DC/BCV volume can be used to establish a logical xe2x80x9cconnectionxe2x80x9d with another logical volume. The DC/BCV volume is used to make at least one additional copy or mirror of the logical volume to which it is logically connected. After the copy is made, the storage system may de-establish the connection to create a snapshot of the contents of the copied logical volume at a particular point in time. The snapshot copy can then be used to perform various operations (e.g., making a backup of the data or generating a report based on its contents) without disrupting or holding up access to the logical volume that was copied. When the desired operations have been completed, the logical connection between the DC/BCV logical volume and the copied logical volume may be reestablished, so that the DC/BCV volume can be updated with all changes that occurred to the copied volume while the logical connection had been de-established. In this manner, the DC/BCV volume can be used to provide a copy of the logical volume at a later point in time. Alternatively, once the need for the point-in-time copy of the logical volume ceases, the DC/BCV volume can be dynamically assigned to another logical volume, or can be kept idle and available for use to make a point-in-time copy of another logical volume.
In the existing SYMMETRIX system described above in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2A-B, information regarding the assignment of particular logical volumes as being dedicated DC/BCV volumes is included in a separate static configuration table stored in the local memory in each of the disk adapters. This table is identical for each disk adapter. A simplified example of this second static table that includes only the logical volumes (DV0-DV2) statically configured for the targets of disk adapters 110A and 110B (FIG. 1) is shown in FIG. 3. This table is indexed by logical volume number and includes two fields for each logical volume listed. One of these fields is a xe2x80x9cDC/BCV Assignment Flag,xe2x80x9d and indicates whether the logical volume is statically configured to be a DC/BCV logical volume. In the example shown, only logical volume DV2 is assigned to be a DC/BCV logical volume. The other field in the table of FIG. 3 is a xe2x80x9cMirror Maskxe2x80x9d that identifies the number of mirrors statically assigned to mirror each of the logical volumes. In the example shown, each of the logical volumes in the table (DV0-DV2) is configured to have two mirrors, as indicated by the designation of a xe2x80x9c2-wayxe2x80x9d mirror in the mirror mask field.
The tables discussed above in connection with FIGS. 2A-B and 3 address only static assignments. To support dynamic resource assignments, such as the hot spare targets and DC/BCV volumes discussed above, the existing system described above further employs additional tables that reflect the dynamic configuration of the system. FIGS. 4A-B and 5 illustrate examples of these dynamic configuration tables. A table of the type shown in FIGS. 4A-B is stored in the local memory of each disk adapter. A table of the type shown in FIG. 5 is stored in a memory location (e.g., globally accessible memory 100 of FIG. 1) that is accessible to both disk adapters in each DA pair (e.g., the table in FIG. 5 is accessible to each of the disk adapters 110A and 110B of DA pair 110). For the sake of simplicity, the locally stored dynamic configuration tables of only disk adapters 110A and 110B are shown, respectively, in FIGS. 4A and 4B, and the globally accessible dynamic table of only DA pair 110 is shown in FIG. 5. It should be understood that similar tables are provided for each disk adapter and DA pair in the system.
The tables in FIGS. 4A-B, like the static tables of FIGS. 2A-B, are indexed by target number. However, unlike those static tables, the dynamic tables of FIGS. 4A-B include entries only for those targets that the disk adapter accesses during normal operation, i.e., the targets that correspond to the DA""s highlighted entries in the static tables of FIGS. 2A-B. Each of the entries in the tables of FIGS. 4A-B can be changed dynamically in response to the dynamic assignment of resources in the system. Using the two examples discussed above, these dynamic assignments include the assignment of hot spares to replace failing targets, and the dynamic establishment of DC/BCV connections. The manner in which each of these dynamic assignments is handled is discussed below.
As reflected in the tables of FIGS. 2A-B, target xe2x80x9c3xe2x80x9d of disk adapter 110A and target xe2x80x9c3xe2x80x9d of disk adapter 110B each is reserved as a hot spare. As mentioned above, the logical volume fields in the static configuration tables for these xe2x80x9chot sparexe2x80x9d targets are meaningless, as these targets are assigned, only dynamically to store a particular logical volume. Thus, the dynamic configuration tables of FIGS. 4A-B include a field for each target that indicates the logical volume to which the target is assigned. For those targets that are not hot spares (e.g., target xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9dof DA 110A), the value stored in this field will be the logical volume to which the target was statically assigned in the configuration table of FIGS. 2A-B. However, for the hot spare targets, this field will be dynamically updated to control the dynamic assignment of the hot spare to a specified logical volume. For the hot spare targets, each of the disk adapters looks to the dynamic configuration table of FIGS. 4A-B in its local memory to determine whether its hot spares have been assigned to mirror a logical volume, and if so, which logical volume each has been assigned to mirror.
In addition to the logical volume field, the dynamic tables of FIGS. 4A-B also include two additional fields that are used to support the dynamic assignment of hot spare targets. First, a xe2x80x9cmirror maskxe2x80x9d indicates the total number of mirrors of the logical volume. When a hot spare has been dynamically assigned, this number will equal the number of mirrors that were statically assigned to the logical volume, plus one to reflect the addition of another mirror in the form of the dynamically assigned hot spare. Second, a xe2x80x9cmirror numberxe2x80x9d indicates the mirror number of the target, which is analogous to the mirror number in the static table of FIGS. 2A-B. When a hot spare is dynamically assigned, the mirror number for the hot spare target will equal the highest mirror number statically assigned to the logical volume, plus one.
For example, referring to the examples of FIGS. 2A-B and 4A-B, if hot spare target xe2x80x9c3xe2x80x9d of disk adapter 110A were dynamically assigned to logical volume DV1, then in the table entry for target xe2x80x9c3xe2x80x9d in the locally stored dynamic table for disk adapter 110A: (1) the DV# entry would reflect that target xe2x80x9c3xe2x80x9d was dynamically assigned to mirror logical volume DV1; (2) the mirror number entry would reflect that target xe2x80x9c3xe2x80x9d was mirror M3 of logical volume DV1 (since mirrors M1 and M2 already exist); and (3) the mirror mask entry for target xe2x80x9c3xe2x80x9d would reflect that a total of three mirrors now exist for logical volume DV1.
In addition to the entry for each dynamically assigned hot spare target, one field of the table entries for the other targets in the tables of FIGS. 4A-B can be dynamically updated to support the use of hot spares. Specifically, it should be appreciated that when a hot spare is dynamically assigned to a logical volume, the number of mirrors assigned to that volume is increased over the number that was statically configured. Thus, the mirror mask field in the dynamic tables of FIGS. 4A-B for the targets that are not hot spares can be dynamically updated to reflect an increase in the number of mirrors of the logical volume stored by the target. Referring to the example discussed above wherein a hot spare is added for logical volume DV1, the mirror mask entries for target xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d on DA 110A and target xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d on DA 110B are updated to reflect that a total of three mirrors now exist for logical volume DV1.
As mentioned above, the existing SYMMETRIX system also employs a dynamic configuration table (shown in FIG. 5) that is globally accessible to each disk adapter in the system. As shown in FIG. 5, the globally accessible dynamic configuration table is a collection of the identical information included in the locally stored dynamic configuration tables of FIGS. 4A-B. The primary purpose of this globally accessible dynamic configuration table is to support the fault tolerant capabilities provided by using dual-initiator DA pairs. As discussed above, when one disk adapter of a DA pair fails, the other disk adapter in the pair will take over control of its shadow targets that were previously controlled by the failed disk adapter. To do so, the portion of the globally accessible dynamic assignment table reflecting dynamic assignments (made by the failed disk adapter) for those shadowed targets is copied to the disk adapter taking over the failed disk adapter""s targets. Updating of the globally accessible dynamic configuration table is controlled by the disk adapters. For example, after a dynamic assignment of a hot spare is altered, the disk adapter whose local dynamic configuration table was changed in assigning or removing the hot spare updates the globally accessible table of FIG. 5 with the appropriate changes to the entries for the hot spare target and any other targets (of this or another disk adapter) for the impacted logical volume (e.g., the mirror mask entries are updated for targets of other disk adapters that store the same logical volume). For example, if target xe2x80x9c3xe2x80x9d of disk adapter 110A were invoked as a hot spare for logical volume DV1, then when disk adapter 110A updated the globally accessible dynamic configuration table, it would update not only the entries that correspond to the targets referenced in its local table, but also would update the entry in the global table for target xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d of disk adapter 110B, so that the mirror mask of this target reflects that logical volume DV1 now has three mirrors.
Each of the disk adapters periodically polls the contents of the globally accessible dynamic configuration table to determine whether any changes have been made to the mirror mask entries for any of its targets. If, pursuant to this polling, a disk adapter determines that the mirror mask entry for one of its targets has been changed, the disk adapter will update its local dynamic configuration table to reflect this change. Referring to the above-discussed example, after disk adapter 110A updates the globally accessible dynamic configuration table in response to target xe2x80x9c3xe2x80x9d of disk adapter 110A being invoked as mirror M3 of logical volume DV1, a periodic polling routine performed by disk adapter 110B will detect that the mirror mask entry for target xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d of disk adapter 110B has been changed in the globally accessible table. Thus, disk adapter 110B will detect this change in the globally accessible table and change its local table (FIG. 4B) accordingly.
The dynamic tables of FIGS. 4A-B and 5 also include an additional field (xe2x80x9cDC/BCV Flagsxe2x80x9d) that is used to support the dynamic assignment of DC/BCV volumes. The specific manner in which these flags operate is specific to the manner in which DC/BCV operates, and is not relevant to the present application. However, it should be appreciated that each entry in the dynamic configuration tables of FIGS. 4A-B and 5 that corresponds to a target that stores a DC/BCV volume (e.g., target xe2x80x9c2xe2x80x9d of DA 110A stores a logical volume DV2 that is configured as a DC/BCV volume in FIG. 3) can change dynamically depending upon whether a DC/BCV is established. A DC/BCV connection is established between logical volumes by updating the entries in the local dynamic configuration tables of the disk adapters that have targets that are impacted by the establishment of the DC/BCV connection. In a manner similar to that described above with hot spare assignments, if the DC/BCV Flags or any of the other entries in the local table of a disk adapter are changed during the establishment/de-establishment of a DC/BCV connection, then the disk adapter updates the globally accessible dynamic configuration table to reflect the necessary changes. Subsequently, the other disk adapters in the system, pursuant to periodic polling routines, will detect any changes made to the globally accessible dynamic configuration table that affect their targets and will update their local tables accordingly.
Although the above-described existing SYMMETRIX system works well, Applicant has discovered some unusual situations, discussed below, wherein the dynamic assignment of resources can be handled in a better manner. What is needed, therefore, is an improved method and apparatus for managing the dynamic assignment of resources in a data storage system.
In one embodiment of the invention, a storage system is provided, including: a plurality of storage devices; a plurality of controllers that each is coupled to at least one of the plurality of storage devices and controls access to the one of the plurality of storage devices; a memory that is globally accessible to each of the plurality of controllers; first means for creating a global table, in the memory, that stores information that specifies dynamic assignments of resources in the storage system; and second means for creating a local table in at least one of the plurality of controllers that includes all of the information stored in the global table.
In another embodiment of the invention, a storage system is provided, including: a plurality of storage devices; a plurality of controllers that each is coupled to at least one of the plurality of storage devices and controls access to the one of the plurality of storage devices; and a memory that is globally accessible to each of the plurality of controllers, the memory including a global table that stores information that specifies dynamic assignments of resources in the storage system. At least one of the plurality of controllers includes a local table that includes all of the information stored in the global table.
In another embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for managing dynamic assignments of resources in a storage system including a plurality of storage devices, a plurality of controllers that each is coupled to at least one of the plurality of storage devices, and a memory that is globally accessible to each of the plurality of controllers. The plurality of controllers control the dynamic assignments of resources based upon information stored within the plurality of controllers. The method comprises steps of: (A) creating a global table, in the memory, that stores information concerning all the dynamic assignments of resources in the storage system; (B) creating a local table in each of the plurality of controllers that includes all of the information stored in the global table; and (C) controlling the dynamic assignments of resources based upon the information in the local tables.
In yet another embodiment of the invention a storage system is provided, including: a plurality of storage devices; a plurality of controllers that each is coupled to at least one of the plurality of storage devices and controls access to the one of the plurality of storage devices; and a memory that is globally accessible to each of the plurality of controllers, the memory including a global table that stores information that specifies dynamic assignments of resources in the storage system. At least one of the plurality of controllers includes a local table that includes all of the information stored in the global table.
In another embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for managing dynamic assignments of resources in a storage system. The storage system includes a plurality of storage devices, a plurality of controllers that each is coupled to at least one of the plurality of storage devices, and a memory that is globally accessible to each of the plurality of controllers. The plurality of controllers control the dynamic assignments of resources based upon information stored within the plurality of controllers. The method includes the steps of: (A) creating a global table, in the memory, that stores information concerning all the dynamic assignments of resources in the storage system; (B) creating a local table in each of the plurality of controllers that includes all of the information stored in the global table; and (C) controlling the dynamic, assignments of resources based upon the information in the local tables.
In another embodiment of the invention, a storage system is provided to store information written by a data processing system that accesses units of information in the storage system using a logical volume address. The storage system includes: a plurality of storage devices; a plurality of controllers that each is coupled to at least one of the plurality of storage devices and controls access to the one of the plurality of storage devices; and a memory that stores a dynamic configuration table that includes information specifying dynamic assignments of resources in the storage system, the dynamic configuration table being indexed by the logical volume address.
In another embodiment of the invention, a storage system is provided to store information written by a data processing system that accesses units of information in the storage system using a logical volume address. The storage system includes: a plurality of storage devices; a plurality of controllers that each is coupled to at least one of the plurality of storage devices and controls access to the one of the plurality of storage devices; a memory; and means for creating, in the memory, a dynamic configuration table that includes information specifying dynamic assignments of resources in the storage system, the dynamic configuration table being indexed by the logical volume address.
In another embodiment of the invention, a storage system is provided that includes: a plurality of storage devices; a plurality of controllers that each is coupled to at least one of the plurality of storage devices and controls access to the one of the plurality of storage devices, each of the plurality of controllers including a local memory to store a local table that includes information that specifies dynamic assignments of resources in the storage system; and a memory to store a global table that stores information that specifies the dynamic assignments of resources in the storage system, the memory being accessible by each of the plurality of controllers. Each one of the plurality of controllers includes updating means, responsive to the one of the plurality of controllers being powered up, for automatically updating the local table in the one of the plurality of controllers.
In another embodiment of the invention, a method of managing a storage system is provided. The storage system includes a plurality of storage devices, a plurality of controllers that each is coupled to at least one of the plurality of storage devices and controls access to the one of the plurality of storage devices, each of the plurality of controllers including a local table that includes information that specifies dynamic assignments of resources in the storage system, and a global table that stores information that specifies the dynamic assignments of resources in the storage system and is accessible by each of the plurality of controllers. The method comprises the step of: (A) when one of the plurality of controllers is powered up, automatically updating the local table in the one of the plurality of controllers.
In another embodiment of the invention, a method of managing dynamic assignments of resources in a storage system is provided. The storage system includes a plurality of storage devices and a plurality of controllers, each of the plurality of controllers being coupled to at least one of the plurality of storage devices, at least one of the plurality of controllers being arranged to control the dynamic assignments of resources based upon information stored within a first table in the storage system. The storage system further includes a second table including information specifying the dynamic assignment of resources. The method includes the step of: (A) verifying that the information stored within the first table is consistent with information stored within the second table.
In another embodiment of the invention, a storage system includes: a plurality of storage devices; at least first and second dynamic assignment tables that each includes information specifying dynamic assignments of resources in the storage system; a plurality of controllers, each coupled to at least one of the plurality of storage devices, wherein at least one of the plurality of controllers is arranged to control the dynamic assignments of resources in the storage system based upon the information stored within the first dynamic assignment table; and verification means for verifying that the information stored within the first dynamic assignment table is consistent with the information stored within the second dynamic assignment table.
In another embodiment of the invention, a method for managing dynamic assignments of resources in a storage system is provided. The storage system includes a plurality of storage devices and a plurality of controllers that control the dynamic assignments of resources, each of the plurality of controllers being coupled to at least one of the plurality of storage devices. The method comprises the steps of: (A) creating first and second copies of a table that specifies the dynamic assignments of resources of the storage system; and (B) storing the first and second copies of the table in two different locations in the storage system.
In another embodiment of the invention, a method for managing dynamic assignments of resources in a storage system is provided. The storage system includes a plurality of storage devices and a plurality of controllers that control the dynamic assignments of resources, each of the plurality of controllers being coupled to at least one of the plurality of storage devices, each of the plurality of controllers having a local memory that stores information specifying the dynamic assignments of resources of the storage system. The method comprises the steps of: (A) identifying which one of the plurality of controllers has stored in its local memory a most current version of the information specifying the dynamic assignments of resources; and (B) using the contents of the local memory of the one of the plurality of controllers identified in step (A) to update the contents of the local memory in the other controllers.

Method and apparatus for managing the dynamic assignment resources in a data storage system


Disclosed is a stand-up type personal watercraft capable of easily discharging water in an engine room of a body that is limited in space even when the watercraft is beached. The stand-up type personal watercraft comprises a bulkhead 12 that defines an engine room 10 in the body 2 surrounded by a hull 3 and a deck 4; a water intake 16 formed in the hull 3, through which water is sucked by a water jet pump; a penetrating hole 26 formed in a lower portion of the bulk head 12; a fitting member 27 mounted to the penetrating hole 26, a plug 28 removably attached to the fitting member 27; a hollow drain plug 24 provided at the periphery of the water intake 16, for mounting the grate plate 19; and a hose 29 connecting the fitting member 27 to the drain plug 24.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a stand-up type personal watercraft (PWC). More particularly, the present invention relates to a personal watercraft steered by a rider who operates a steering handle standing on a floor at a rear portion of a deck.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, so-called stand-up type personal watercraft have been used in leisure, sport activities, and the like. The stand-up type personal watercraft is provided with a flat floor called a standing deck at a rear portion of a deck of the watercraft. The rider stands on the floor and operates a steering handle located in front of the floor. In general, one rider rides on the stand-up type personal watercraft.
As a propulsion mechanism, a water-jet propulsion device is used. Specifically, the personal watercraft is configured to have a water jet pump that pressurizes and accelerates water sucked from a water intake generally provided on a hull bottom surface and ejects it rearward from an outlet port. Thereby, the watercraft is propelled. In this personal watercraft, an engine is contained in a body constituted by a deck and a hull. An engine room which contains the engine is formed in a front space separated by a bulkhead in the longitudinal direction of the body.
The rider enjoys active steering while the personal watercraft is planing on a water surface. Sometimes, during cruising, water ingress into the engine room occurs. For the purpose of discharging the water in the engine room, the conventional stand-up type personal watercraft is provided with a bilge discharge mechanism obtained by connecting the engine room to the water jet pump by means of a pipe member. The bilge discharge mechanism serves to discharge the water in the engine room to outside the watercraft by a function of the water jet pump.
However, the bilge discharge mechanism functions only while the watercraft is cruising, i.e., the water jet pump is operating, and does not function when the watercraft is beached. With this bilge discharge mechanism, it is therefore difficult to discharge the water remaining in the engine room when the watercraft stops cruising and is beached. When the watercraft is beached, the water remaining in the space-limited engine room is commonly discharged through an operator""s manual effort using a sponge, a hand-operated pump, or the like. This work is troublesome.
The present invention addresses the above-described conditions and an object of the present invention is to provide a stand-up type personal watercraft comprising a discharge mechanism capable of easily discharging water from an engine room of a body of the watercraft even when the watercraft is beached.
According to the present invention, there is provided a stand-up type personal watercraft comprising: an engine; a body constituted by a deck and a hull; an engine room for containing the engine; a bulkhead that defines a front portion of the body as the engine room for containing the engine; and a drain passage formed in a lower portion of the engine room so as to communicate with an outside of the watercraft, wherein the drain passage is adapted to be opened/closed.
With such a configuration, when the watercraft is not cruising, for example, when the watercraft is beached, the water can be easily discharged. As defined herein, the lower portion of the engine room includes a bottom portion of the engine room.
Preferably, the stand-up type personal watercraft may further comprise: a water jet pump driven by the engine; and a water intake formed in the hull, from which water is sucked by the water jet pump, and one end of the drain passage is opened in the vicinity of the water intake.
Preferably, the stand-up type personal watercraft may further comprises a grate plate, wherein a concave portion for mounting the grate plate may be formed in a portion of the hull at a periphery of the water intake, a first penetrating hole is formed in the concave portion and a second penetrating hole is formed in a lower portion of the bulkhead, and the drain passage may be formed such that the first penetrating hole and the second penetrating hole are connected to each other by a first pipe member.
With such a configuration, the drain mechanism is provided by using the existing structure, i.e., the concave portion for mounting the grate plate, without substantially changing the shape of the planing surface of the hull, which is an important factor in cruising. Advantageously, the drain mechanism is attained by simply connecting the penetrating holes to each other by means of the first pipe member.
Preferably, the drain passage may have an openable closing member in at least one of an end portion thereof on the concave portion side and an end portion thereof on the bulk head side.
The end portion on the concave portion side or the end portion on the bulkhead side, where the operator can easily open/close the closing member, can be selected.
Preferably, the end portion of the drain passage on the concave portion side may be opened, the drain passage may have the closing member in the end portion thereof on the bulkhead side, and the watercraft may comprise: a transmission member connected to the closing member and extending to the deck, for opening/closing the closing member; and an operation member mounted to the deck, for operating the transmission member.
In this structure, remote operation that makes it easy to open/close the drain mechanism becomes possible by providing the operation member in an operation panel or the like in front of the rider.
Preferably, the stand-up type personal watercraft may further comprise a fastening member provided for mounting the grate plate to a portion of the hull at a periphery of the water intake, the fastening member may be comprised of a second pipe member having a penetrating hole inside thereof and mounted to the concave portion and a drain plug removably attached in the penetrating hole of the second pipe member with the grate plate retained between the end portion of the second pipe member and the drain plug, and one end portion of the first pipe member may be connected to the second pipe member.
In this structure, the drain mechanism is provided by using the fastening member of the grate member without substantially changing the existing external appearance of the watercraft.
Preferably, the drain passage may have an openable closing member in an end portion thereof on the bulkhead side, and the plug may have a hollow portion through which an inside of the second pipe member communicates with an outside of the watercraft.
With such a configuration, since the end portion of the drain passage located in the vicinity of the periphery of the water intake is opened and the end portion of the drain passage on the bulk head side is openable/closable, the operator need not get under the hull and open/close the drain passage when discharging the water.
The above and further objects and features of the invention will be more fully be apparent from the following detailed description with accompanying drawings.


A disposable, absorbent “moisture management” drain pad for use on IV sites, tracheotomy tube sites, chest tube sites, catheter sites, g-tube sites, and drain sites. The pads will protect drain sites/skin area around drain sites from exudates/drainage by absorbing large amounts of fluid and locking it into a super absorbent core that remains dry on the outer surface next to the skin/drain site. The drain pad will contain an ultra-thin core containing super absorbent polymer and two layers of tissue substrates, a water impervious hydrophobic non-woven back sheet and a water pervious (hydrophilic) non-woven top sheet. Various materials can be substituted for these listed as long as they perform the required criteria need for the material.

The present invention relates to a disposable absorbent moisture management pad of the kind which is intended for daily use and comprises of a non-woven top sheet, an absorbent core containing Gelok super absorbent laminate, a fluid impervious back sheet non-woven that covers at a minimum the absorbent core, and an insertion slit and fixation/positioning hole for tubes. The design of the pad is such that the pads can be treated with an antimicrobial and be sterile if needed.
Currently, there are many absorbent gauze/sponges being produced and used for absorbent dressings around g-tubes, tracheotomy tubes, IV sites etc. These products all lack the ability to absorb fluid and to lock the fluid into the core so that the skin remains dry, clean, and free of contaminations. The pad of the present invention will absorb wound leakage while maintaining a dry surface on the skin. The skin will remain healthy and the wearer will see a decrease in unhealthy skin issues relating to moisture accumulation.

Disposable absorbent moisture management dressing


An exhaust gas treatment device for a diesel engine capable of starting the generation of a combustible gas is provided. The device includes a combustible gas generator. A core member is fitted in the center portion of an annular wall to form an air-fuel mixing chamber between the inner peripheral surface of the annular wall and the outer peripheral surface of the core member. An air-fuel mixture gas in the air-fuel mixing chamber is adapted to be supplied from the end of the air-fuel mixing chamber to a combustible gas generating catalyst to a portion near the center thereof. A heater is used as the core member. The heat dissipating outer peripheral surface of the heater is exposed to the air-fuel mixing chamber. Heat is dissipated directly from the heat dissipating outer peripheral surface of the heater to the air-fuel mixing chamber when starting the generation of the combustible gas.

There is a conventional device in which a combustible gas is generated by a combustible gas generator, the combustible gas is discharged from a combustible gas discharge port to an exhaust passage in the upper stream of a DPF, a temperature of an exhaust gas is raised by combustion heat generated by burning the combustible gas using oxygen in the exhaust gas, and a PM accumulated in the DPF is burnt and removed by the heat of the exhaust gas (refer to Patent Document 1).
This type of a device is advantageous in that the PM accumulated in the DPF can be burnt and removed by raising the temperature of the exhaust gas by using the combustible gas even when the temperature of the exhaust gas is low.
The conventional technology, however, is problematic in that a thermal conduction plate and the central wall of an air-fuel mixing chamber are interposed between the heat-dissipating outer peripheral surface of a heater and the air-fuel mixing chamber and thus heat is indirectly radiated from the heat-dissipating outer peripheral surface of the heater to the air-fuel mixing chamber sequentially through the thermal conduction plate and the central wall of the air-fuel mixing chamber when the generation of the combustible gas is started.

Exhaust gas treatment device for diesel engine


Methods and features for repairing CMC components are provided. Methods include positioning a plurality of CMC plies at a damaged area of a CMC component and densifying the component and plies. For example, each ply may be a unidirectional ply positioned at the damaged area such that the plurality of plies is oriented in a plurality of directions. As another example, each ply may define a ply direction and comprise a plurality of ceramic fibers substantially extending along the ply direction, and the ply directions of at least two plies may be differently oriented. A repair patch for a CMC component also is provided that comprises a plurality of CMC plies. Fibers forming a first ply extend substantially along a first ply direction and fibers forming a second ply extend substantially along a second ply direction. The first and second plies of the repair patch are oriented in different directions.

Ceramic matrix composite (CMC) materials are more commonly being used for various high temperature applications. For example, because CMC materials can withstand relatively extreme temperatures, there is particular interest in replacing components within a combustion gas flow path of a gas turbine engine with components made from CMC materials. Typically, CMC materials comprise ceramic fibers embedded in a matrix material such as silicon carbide (SiC), silicon, silica, alumina, or combinations thereof. Plies of the CMC material may be laid up to form a preform component that may then undergo thermal processing, such as a cure or burn-out to yield a high char residue in the preform, and subsequent chemical processing, such as melt-infiltration with silicon, to arrive at a component formed of a CMC material having a desired chemical composition.
Damaged CMC components can be difficult to repair. For example, typical CMC repairs utilize repair plugs made from a stack of CMC plies, and for small CMC parts requiring small repair plugs, it may be difficult to stack plies to form a small repair plug. Further, the ceramic fibers within the repair plug may not optimally align with the stress orientation of the CMC component, particularly in a CMC component operating in a multidirectional load path environment, where the local stress state at the area to be repaired varies from the global stresses for which the component's architecture was designed. As such, the repair plug may not be able to control stresses along one or more load paths. Moreover, some CMC materials may not be suitable for all methods of processing a CMC repair patch with the CMC component. As an example, some processes for densifying CMC materials such as melt infiltration require temperatures that would attack, degrade, or essentially burn up individual CMC fibers such that using individual randomly oriented CMC fibers may be unfeasible. As another example, melt infiltration may produce voids in the intertow regions of CMC materials utilizing woven fibers rather than substantially unidirectional fibers, such that the use of such woven fiber CMC repair patches may be undesirable.
Accordingly, CMC repair patches and methods for repairing CMC components that overcome one or more shortcomings of typical repairs would be desirable. For example, a repair patch utilizing unidirectional CMC plies that provides more alignment options for repairing a CMC component operating in a multidirectional load path environment would be beneficial. In particular, a repair patch utilizing randomly oriented unidirectional CMC plies would be useful. Additionally, a repair patch utilizing unidirectional CMC plies in which the CMC plies are oriented such that ceramic fibers of the plies extend in a plurality of directions would be helpful. Further, methods for repairing CMC components utilizing randomly oriented unidirectional CMC plies would be advantageous.

Methods and features for CMC component repairs


A method for calculating sheet conductivity with an absolute working distance measurement includes selecting a motor frequency fM for a motor having a first magnet disposed on a shaft, tuning a motor voltage VM for the motor, measuring a no-load power of the motor, inserting a material adjacent the first magnet, tuning the motor frequency to fM, measuring the on-load power of the motor, measuring the absolute working distance and calculating the sheet conductivity of the material.

The present invention relates to semiconductor device testing, and more specifically, to systems, methods and computer program products for making sheet conductivity measurements.
Electrical conductivity (or resistivity) and thickness measurement of materials is a common and critical measurement in many applications such as, for example, manufacturing, metallurgy and semiconductor industries. If the material under test is a thin conductor or thin film, sheet conductivity (σS), which is the product of conductivity σ and thickness t: σS=σ×t, is often measured. Thus, for a material with known conductivity the sheet conductivity measurement could also yield the thickness, which is also an important metrology activity in many applications.
The sheet conductivity (or sheet resistivity) can be measured by simple resistance measurements, implementing electrical contacts, which require good Ohmic connections at the contacts. Achieving good contacts can be difficult due to the presence of insulating layer covering the material under test.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Non-contact sheet conductivity measurements implementing a rotating magnetic braking system

International Business Machines Corporation


A shaker screen for attachment to a bed of a shaker includes a screen frame having at least one mesh screen attached to the top side of the screen frame, wherein the screen frame is preferentially bowed prior to attaching the mesh screen to the screen frame.

1. Field of the Disclosure
Embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to oilfield shakers. More particularly, embodiments disclosed herein relate to apparatus and methods for pre-tensioned screens for oilfield shakers.
2. Background Art
Oilfield drilling fluid, often called "mud," serves multiple purposes in the industry. Among its many functions, the drilling mud acts as a lubricant to cool rotary drill bits and facilitate faster cutting rates. Typically, the mud is mixed at the surface and pumped downhole at high pressure to the drill bit through a bore of the drillstring. Once the mud reaches the drill bit, it exits through various nozzles and ports where it lubricates and cools the drill bit. After exiting through the nozzles, the "spent" fluid returns to the surface through an annulus formed between the drillstring and the drilled wellbore.
One significant purpose of the drilling mud is to carry the cuttings away from the drill bit at the bottom of the borehole to the surface. As a drill bit pulverizes or scrapes the rock formation at the bottom of the borehole, small pieces of solid material are left behind. The drilling fluid exiting the nozzles at the bit acts to stir-up and carry the solid particles of rock and formation to the surface within the annulus between the drillstring and the borehole. Therefore, the fluid exiting the borehole from the annulus is a slurry of formation cuttings in drilling mud. Before the mud can be recycled and re-pumped down through nozzles of the drill bit, the cutting particulates must be removed.
Apparatus in use today to remove cuttings and other solid particulates from drilling mud are commonly referred to in the industry as "shale shakers." A typical shaker is shown in FIG. 1. In typical shakers, a screen 102 is detachably secured to the vibrating shaker machine 100. With the screen or multiple screens secured in place, a tray is formed with the opposed, parallel sidewalls 103 of shaker 100. The drilling mud, along with drill cuttings and debris, is deposited on top of screen 102 at one side. Screen 102 is vibrated at a high frequency or oscillation by a motor or motors for the purpose of screening or separating materials placed on screen 102. The liquid and fine particles will pass through screen 102 by force of gravity and be recovered underneath. Solid particles above a certain size migrate and vibrate across screen 102 or screens where they are removed. Filtering elements attached to screen 102 may further define the largest solid particle capable of passing therethrough.
Due to the conventional design of and installation methods for pre-tensioned screens, sealing between the screen frame and shaker bed may be insufficient to prevent drilling fluid from bypassing the screen frame and/or filtering element. Accordingly, there exists a need for a shaker screen without excessive bowing.


The present disclosure relates to a vacuum filter that incorporates a large area pleated filter element having pleated hydrophilic membrane configured along slanting surface in pyramid shape and incorporated with in a filter housing that can be accommodated in neck of a filtrate container. The disclosed configuration reduces overall height of the filtering system improving its stability and reducing space requirement. Further, top portion of the filter housing is configured to receive either a feed cup for direct feeding of feed liquid by pouring in the cup or a fitting with tube that can be used to suck the feed from a feed solution container under action of a vacuum thus allowing universal use. In another embodiment, a single hydrophobic membrane is provided to avoid problems of low flow due to bubbles coming with the feed solution and also to allow restart of filtration without air lock.

Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
It is often necessary to filter fluids in laboratories rapidly and without risk of leakage and contamination. This is especially true for biological solutions such as tissue culture media, additives etc. which need to be sterilized before use. Although large area pressure driven devices are available for use in labs but they are difficult to use as these require assembly of tubes and clamps in addition to set up of peristaltic pumps and pressure gauges etc.
The Bottle Filter described in European Patent 0321-064 A1 consists of separately fabricated funnel, filter membrane disc and adapter. The membrane is secured on the bottom wall of the funnel. An adapter secured to the downstream side of the membrane is mounted directly on the bottle. When vacuum is applied to the nipple on the adapter, the liquid in the funnel is filtered into the bottle.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,689,147 and 4,702,834 disclose biological filter assemblies consisting of a container for unfiltered feed liquid, a container for filtrate and membrane disc secured in between the two containers. While the above patents describe convenient ways of filtering biological solutions, there are a number of drawbacks. Such as, above assemblies are very bulky increasing the packaging, transportation and storage costs. Further, filling the feed liquid container is inconvenient specially when the volume of filtrate container is large and the feed funnel has to be refilled again and again. A large container is very difficult to lift again and again for pouring the solution in feed funnel.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,141,639 addresses the above problems by providing a bottle cover with filter, attachable to the filtrate container and a feed nipple for attachment to feed tube for dipping in feed liquid container. Additionally a vacuum port is located in the bottle cover to provide vacuum to the filtrate bottle. To avoid problems of blockage by accidental air bubbles and when restarting the filtration, portions of the hydrophilic filter membrane is made hydrophobic. U.S. Pat. No. 7,806,274B2 uses a hydrophilic membrane but provides a curved dome shape of the top of housing to accumulate air bubbles in the dome.
The major drawback of above bottle top filters is that because of small area and further reduction in area due to hydrophobic zones, the membrane filter gets choked quickly. The air bubbles are not easily removed from the membrane surface because these bubbles tend to stay over hydrophilic zones since the flow over the filter surface is not turbulent. The dome does not answer the problem of air lock experienced due to bubble point phenomena of wet membranes, on renewed start of filtration.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,623,631 B1 describes a cartridge like pleated filter element enclosed in a cylindrical housing to form an inlet chamber with inlet fitting connected to the feed container. The outlet of the filter element is in communication with the filtrate container. In addition a hydrophobic membrane is sealed at the upper end cap of the cartridge like filter element as also another in the top portion of the inlet chamber. This device gives high flow rates but cannot be used with a feed cup. It also suffers from high cost of manufacture due to several hydrophobic membranes required to be sealed at various angles to make the device.
There is therefore need in the art of a universal large area vacuum filtration device which is not bulky and can be used with a feed cup or a tube assembly without risk of air lock of filter surface by bubbles coming with the solution to be filtered and which allows unimpaired filtration even in case of renewed startup of filtration by vacuum.
All publications herein are incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. Where a definition or use of a term in an incorporated reference is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply.
In some embodiments, the numbers expressing quantities of ingredients, properties such as concentration, reaction conditions, and so forth, used to describe and claim certain embodiments of the invention are to be understood as being modified in some instances by the term "about." Accordingly, in some embodiments, the numerical parameters set forth in the written description and attached claims are approximations that can vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by a particular embodiment. In some embodiments, the numerical parameters should be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of some embodiments of the invention are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as practicable. The numerical values presented in some embodiments of the invention may contain certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements.
As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of "a," "an," and "the" includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of "in" includes "in" and "on" unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
The recitation of ranges of values herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling with in the range. Unless otherwise indicated herein, each individual value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g. "such as") provided with respect to certain embodiments herein is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the invention.
Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each group member can be referred to and claimed individually or in any combination with other members of the group or other elements found herein. One or more members of a group can be included in, or deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and/or patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is herein deemed to contain the group as modified thus fulfilling the written description used in the appended claims.


One exemplary embodiment involves receiving, at a server, a request for a document key for accessing a document on a client device, wherein the request comprises an identity of an access policy and information about the document. The exemplary method further comprises determining, at the server, whether access to the document is permitted according to the access policy. If access to the document is permitted, the exemplary method involves computing, at the server, the document key using the information about the document, wherein the document key is document specific, wherein, prior to the computing of the document key, the document key is not stored for access by the server. The exemplary method further involves responding to the request by providing the document key for use in accessing the document on the client device.

There are various techniques available to control the use of text, graphics, computer aided designs and other electronic documents. In many circumstances, it is desirable to ensure that a given document can only be used by one or more specific persons. Additional limitations on use are also often desirable. For example, a particular person's use of a document may be limited with respect to time of use such that that person can only use the document until a specified date. As another example, a person's use of a document may be limited with respect to type of use such that the person can view the document but cannot edit, copy, or print the document.
Documents are commonly encrypted to ensure that unauthorized persons cannot access the contents of the document. Distribution of the encryption keys that allow use of such encrypted documents can be controlled in various ways. Such encryption keys can, for example, be maintained at a separate network location and accessed by remote client devices when an authorized person attempts to use a document. The client device can send the person's credentials to a remote server, receive an encryption key from the remote server, and use that key to access the document. The person using the client device may be unaware of this process and may not have access to the provided encryption key. For example, the person may simply enter a username and password and the client device application may use that information to access the server, obtain the key, and open the document for the person to use. The remote server may have also provided particular policy information that defines how that person may use the document. The client device may receive this policy information and enforce the policy details, for example, by preventing the person from editing the document.
Existing servers that maintain document encryption key and policy detail information for documents require the storage and use of information about each individual document. For example, a database is used to store one or more records for each document that identifies whether a particular person has access to the document and defines the particular uses for which the person has permissions. One deficiency of such systems is that they can require a large amount of storage and communication. The storage and communication requirements can require significant resources particularly in circumstances in which the number of documents and persons is very large. As a particular example, if a service provider sends out monthly statements to hundreds of millions of customers where each such document requires a record in a database, the volume of storage and communication can be particularly burdensome.

Systems and methods for controlling electronic document use


One or more anchors are engaged intravertebrally for attachment of one more constructs thereto to correct or treat spinal conditions or deformities. Methods for inserting the anchors are also provided along with constructs for attachment to the anchors.

Several systems and devices are available from various manufacturers to provide correction and stabilization of the spine. Such systems and devices can include screws engaged to the vertebral bodies and configured for engagement with elongated rods or plates that extend along the vertebral bodies. Device for fusing adjacent vertebrae and artificial disc replacement are also available. Furthermore, nonoperative devices and methods, such as bracing and observation, can be used whenever applicable.
Although these prior systems and devices exist, there remains a need for improved devices, systems and methods for treating spinal deformities and other conditions of the spine. There also remains a need for improved devices for connecting implants, plates, elongate members and other devices to one or more vertebral bodies. The present invention satisfies these needs, among others, in a novel and non-obvious way.

Devices and methods for the correction and treatment of spinal deformities


In a metallurgical furnace of the type for re-heating metal billets and slabs, a pair of composite refractory tiles for insulating fluid-cooled structural members of the furnace. The tiles are a composite of a cast refractory shell which extends radially inward at selected portions to contact the furnace member. Attachment assemblies are embedded in the cast refractory shell and maintain proper alignment of each tile with the furnace structural member. In portions of the tile where contact with the furnace member is not made, a ceramic fiber insulating blanket fills a hollow between the refractory shell and the furnace member. Incorporating the ceramic fiber insulating blanket into each tile decreases furnace heat loss as compared to solid cast refractory tiles of comparable thickness.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to metallurgical furnaces of the type used to reheat metal prior to hot working, wherein certain water-cooled furnace members are covered with refractory material so as to insulate and protect them from the hot furnace gases.
2. Description of Related Art
Furnaces for heating metal during processing often operate at temperatures up to about 2400.degree. F. At such elevated temperatures it is necessary to protect furnace structural members from such intense heat. Furnace members providing support for heavy metal sections, such as billets or slabs being heated in such furnaces, are insulated and cooled internally with circulating fluid so as to maintain the strength required to support such loads.
Furnace support members for heavy metal sections, commonly referred to as skid rails, typically consist of horizontally oriented water cooled pipes having an upwardly projecting wear surface along their length. The heavy metal sections to be heated are slid along the wear surfaces of such support members as they move from the furnace entrance to the furnace exit. Insulation for the support members is commonly of a single refractory material or can be made up of layered composite materials. A multitude of different means are employed to secure the insulation to the furnace members in a manner to withstand the high temperature, thermal shock, vibration, and other forces to which the furnace members and insulation are subjected. Relative ease of installation is of importance due to the requirement for periodic replacements.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,881,864 describes a refractory tile surrounding an inner fibrous refractory material about a furnace skid rail wherein two complimentary c-shaped blocks inter-engage beneath the skid rail to secure the insulation in place. No additional means is provided for securement.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,393,569 describes a module wherein the support member is wrapped with refractory fiber insulating material which is protected by an outer refractory ceramic fiber blanket folded into at least two layers.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,140,484 describes a tubular supporting member sheathed by refractory sheathing comprising an inner layer of fibrous refractory material and an outer layer of refractory tiles held in place by metal links which are secured together around the supporting members.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,071,311 describes a metal tubular supporting member sheathed by an inner layer of refractory fibrous material and an outer layer consisting of pairs of semi-cylindrical refractory tiles. The refractory tiles are held in place by metal coupling links covered and positively engaged by adjacent tiles.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,015,636 describes a three-layer insulating assembly comprising an inner fibrous thermal insulation, an intermediate split ceramic refractory, and an outer protective ceramic covering.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,450,872 describes a covering comprising an inner layer of thermal insulating ceramic refractory fiber blanket, an open weave ceramic cloth about the blanket, an inner layer of veneering mortar, compressed rings of ceramic fiber material, and a hot face layer of veneering coating.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,881,864 describes a refractory tile for sheathing a furnace member, preferably around an inner layer of fibrous refractory material. "C" shaped complimentary tiles interengage each other underneath the member to hold them in position.
All of the listed prior art insulating tiles incorporate at least two layers of insulating material with each layer having generally concentric inner and outer cylindrically shaped surfaces.

Composite refractory tile for metallurgical furnace members