The present invention relates to the use of an amino compound, which is an esteramine or an amidoamine surfactant with improved biodegradability, as an adjuvant for agrochemically active compounds such as pesticides or fertilizers. The adjuvant has Formula (I) where R1 is an aliphatic group containing 7-22 carbon atoms; EO is an ethyleneoxy group; Y is 0 or NH; R2 and R3 is independently CH2CH2OH or an alkyl group with 1-5 carbon atoms, preferably 1-3 carbon atoms; n is a number between 0-10; x is a number 0-1 provided that when Y is O, then x is 1, and when Y is NH, then x is O; and m is a number 2-6, preferably 2-3, provided that when Y is NH, then m is 3-6, preferably 3; or an adduct obtained by reacting one mole of the compound with 1-5 moles of an alkylene oxide having 2-3 carbon atoms. The esteramines are obtained from an ethoxylated alcohol that has been carboxymethylated and then esterified with a tertiary hydroxyamine (alkanolamine), and the amidoamines are obtained by reaction between a fatty acid or a fatty acid methyl ester and a diamine, such as N,N-bishydroxyethyl-1,3-propylenediamine.

The present application was filed on May 25, 2001 as international application serial number PCT/SE01/01178 and claims priority of Swedish patent application No. 0002230-1 filed on Jun. 15, 2000.
The present invention relates to the use of an amino compound, which is an esteramine or an amidoamine surfactant with improved biodegradability, as an adjuvant for agrochemically active compounds such as pesticides or fertilizers. The esteramines are obtained from an ethoxylated alcohol that has been carboxymethylated and then esterified with a tertiary hydroxyamine (alkanolamine), and the amidoamines are obtained by reaction between a fatty acid or a fatty acid methyl ester and a diamine, such as N,N-bishydroxyethyl-1,3-propylenediamine.
It is well known that the uptake as well as the efficacy of many pesticides and fertilizers can be improved by the addition of so called adjuvants. A variety of surfactants have been used for this purpose, and many of them are nitrogen containing. The surfactant group that has been most widely used in this connection is the fatty amine ethoxylates, but also other types of compounds have been described as adjuvants for pesticides or fertilizers. In EP-A1-0 638 236 is described an agricultural chemical composition containing as an adjuvant compounds of the esteramine type mentioned above. The esteramines disclosed in that publication all referred to compounds having two fatty alkyl chains. In WO 97/05779 plant protection compositions containing water-soluble active materials and one or more polyethoxylated amidoamines containing two carbon atoms between the amido and amino groups were claimed.
However, nowadays there is an increasing demand in most areas for compounds that are readily biodegradable. This is also the case within the agrochemical field, where adjuvants with a better biodegradability combined with a good ability to improve the uptake and efficacy of pesticides and fertilizers are being sought for. Thus, the purpose of the present invention is to provide adjuvants for pesticide formulations and for formulations containing fertilizers that are at least as effective as the prior used amino compounds. Another purpose is to provide adjuvants with an improved biodegradability compared to prior known amino compounds used as adjuvants.
It has now been found that compounds with the formula (I)
where R1 is an aliphatic group containing 7-22 carbon atoms; EO is an ethyleneoxy group; Y is O or NH; R2 and R3 is independently xe2x80x94CH2CH2OH, xe2x80x94CH2CH(CH3)OH or an alkyl group with 1-5 carbon atoms, preferably 1-3 carbon atoms; n is a number between 0-10; x is a number 0 or 1 provided that when Y is O, then x is 1, and when Y is NH, then x is 0; and m is a number 2-6, preferably 2-3, provided that when Y is NH, then m is 3-6, preferably 3; or an adduct obtained by reacting one mole of the compound with 1-5 moles of an alkylene oxide having 2-3 carbon atoms; can be used as adjuvants in agrochemical compositions. When reacting the compound of formula I and an alkylene oxide having 2-3 carbon atoms, the alkylene oxide will be added to the groups containing active hydrogen atoms, and/or will be inserted into the ester or amide groups by rearrangement reactions. The compounds of the invention are readily biodegradable and are very effective in improving the efficacy of pesticides and fertilizers. Another benefit of the compounds is that they do not show any, or very little, eye irritancy. Some of the compounds can be formulated together with a pesticide or fertilizer, giving clear solutions of low viscosity, whereas others give solutions that are of moderate viscosity or turbid. These latter solutions often separate gradually into two phases. It has been found that also in these cases stable low-viscous solutions can be obtained by the addition of an alkyl glycoside according to the formula ROGp, where R is an alkyl group containing 6-10 carbon atoms, preferably 6-8, G is a monosaccharide residue and p is a number between 1-5. Surprisingly it has been found that the addition of an alkyl glycoside, besides giving rise to clear, stable solutions of low viscosity, also enhances the effect of the adjuvants of the invention. The alkyl glycosides are also readily biodegradable, so there is no disadvantage in adding them to the formulations.
Suitable examples of compounds according to the present invention are the esteramines described by the formula (II)
where R4 is an alkyl group containing 8-22, preferably 8-18, carbon atoms, n is 2-7, m is a number 2-3 and R2 and R3 is independently xe2x80x94CH2CH2OH, xe2x80x94CH2CH(CH3)OH or an alkyl group with 1-5, preferably 1-3 carbon atoms. N,N-Dimethylethanolamine esters of this type have been described in e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 4,228,042, where they were used as intermediates to produce quaternary surfactants for use in laundry detergent compositions.
Other suitable examples of compounds according to the present invention are the amidoamines described by the formula (III):
where R5 is an alkyl group containing 7-21, preferably 7-17, carbon atoms. Such amidoamines have been described in EP-A2-0 265 824, where they were used as intermediates for zwitterionic phosphate ester surfactants for use in personal care, and also in DT-A1-2641286, where they were used as intermediates for quaternary ammonium compounds for use as impregnating agents for cellulose fibre materials.
In formulations containing an active amount of the amino compounds as an adjuvant, the amount of amino compound can vary within wide limits, but is normally from 5% to 500% by weight calculated on the amount of pesticide or fertilizer present in the formulation, preferably between 10% to 200%, and most preferably between 15% to 80%.
The product (II) may easily be produced by reacting an ethercarboxylic acid according to formula (IV),
where R4 and n have the meaning mentioned above for formula II, with an alkanolamine such as N-methyldiethanolamine, triethanolamine, 3-dimethylamino-1-propanol or N,N-dimethylethanolamine. Suitable examples of hydrophobic groups R4 in formula IV are 2-ethylhexyl, octyl, decyl, coco alkyl, lauryl, oleyl, rapeseed alkyl and tallow alkyl.
The product (III) may easily be produced by reacting a fatty acid, or the methyl ester of a fatty acid, with N,N-bishydroxyethyl-1,3-propylenediamine. Suitable fatty acids are 2-ethylhexanoic acid, octanoic acid, decanoic acid, coco fatty acid, lauric acid, rapeseed fatty acid, oleic acid and tallow fatty acid. The product based on coco fatty acid is most preferred.
Suitable processes for the production of the amidoamine compounds (III) are described in e.g. WO 98/47860, DT-A1-2641286 and EP-A2-0 265 824.
The present invention also relates to certain compounds which are novel. These compounds have the formula (II), where R4 is an alkyl group containing 8-22, preferably 8-18, carbon atoms, n=2xe2x88x927, m is 3 and each R2 and R3 independently of each other is an alkyl group with 1-5, preferably 1-3, carbon atoms, or the formula (II), where R4 is an alkyl group containing 8-22, preferably 8-18, carbon atoms, n=2xe2x88x927, m is 2, one of the groups R2 and R3 is xe2x80x94CH2CH2OH or xe2x80x94CH2CH(CH3)OH and the other group is an alkyl group with 1-5, preferably 1-3, carbon atoms, xe2x80x94CH2CH2OH, or xe2x80x94CH2CH(OH3)OH or the formula (III), where R5 is CH3(CH2)3CH(CH2CH3)xe2x80x94.
The amino compounds of the present invention could be added as adjuvants to both liquid, such as aqueous, and solid agricultural compositions containing pesticides, such as herbicides, acaricides, fungicides and insecticides, as well as plant growth regulators and fertilizers. The liquid composition could be in the form of a solution, a microemulsion, an emulsion or a suspension. Typical examples of herbicides are different amine salts of glyphosate, such as the isopropylamine salt, the dimethylamine salt and the ethylenediamine salts; other salts of glyphosate, such as the sesquisodium salt and the trimethylsulphonium salt; glufosinate, salts of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, salts of 4-chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetic acid, bialaphos, dicamba, diphenylethers, imidazolinones and sulphonyl ureas. The amino compounds of the present invention are excellent adjuvants for the water soluble herbicides, e.g. the widely used herbicide glyphosate (glyphosate=N-(phosphonomethyl)-glycine), and the salts thereof. Suitable examples of fungicides are e.g. azoxystrobin, epoxiconazole, kcresoximmethyl and propiconazole.
Other examples of formulations where the amino compounds may be used as adjuvants are micronutrient solutions containing one or several micronutrients, such as iron, manganese, copper, zinc, boron and molybdenum. The micronutrients may be complexed to e.g. aminocarboxylates, such as EDTA, DTPA, HEDTA, EDDHMA and EDDHA. In addition to micronutrients and chelating agents, the formulations may also contain macronutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and sulphur, and pesticides may also be included. These above-mentioned formulations are particularly suitable for foliar applications.
The formulations according to the invention may also contain other additives, such as other surfactants, hydrotropes and preservatives; additives to further enhance pesticidal activity, such as ammonium sulphate; solvents, corrosion inhibitors, thickeners, sequestering agents, anti-freeze agents, anti-foam agents, anti-gelling agents and dyes.
The compositions could also contain viscosity reducing agents such as glycerol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol and low molecular weight polyethylene or polypropylene glycols.
The compositions could be concentrates as well as diluted, xe2x80x9cready to usexe2x80x9d, solutions. The concentrations may vary within wide limits, and a pesticide formulation could contain 0.01-99.9% by weight of a pesticide, 0-40% by weight of ammonium sulphate and an amount of 0.01-70% by weight of an amino compound according to the invention. A suitable herbicide is glyphosate, or a salt thereof, which is preferably present in an amount of 0.02-70% by weight. An adjuvant according to the present invention can also advantageously be used in combination with solid agrochemical substances such as strobilurin analogues
wherein R6 is an aromatic or heteroaromatic substituted or unsubstituted group, R7 is H or C1-C10 alkyl, A is CH or N and B is O or NH (e.g. azoxystrobin) and sulphonyl ureas to form granules or dispersions. The stability of the dispersions may be further enhanced by the addition of other conventional surfactants, such as nonionics, e.g. ethoxylated fatty alcohols or amines, or alkyl glycosides containing more than 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain. As a concentrate, the concentrations are normally in the range of 4-70% for the pesticide, 2-50% for the adjuvants and 0-40% of ammonium sulphate, whereas for the ready-to-use solutions the corresponding ranges are 0.01-4%, 0.01-8% and 0-40%. The components could all be mixed in the concentrate or be tank-mixed just before spraying the solution.
A fertilizer formulation could contain 0.0001-99.9%, preferably 0.001-99.9%, by weight of a fertilizer and an amount of 0.0001-70%, preferably 0.001-70%, by weight of an amino compound according to the invention. In a ready-to-use formulation the concentration of micronutrients are usually in the lower area of the range.
The following examples are illustrative of the invention and are not to be construed as a limitation of the scope.

Use of amine compounds with improved biodegradability as adjuvants for pesticides and fertilizers


Moisture curable reactive hot melt adhesive compositions are prepared using a novel two-step polymerization process. Resulting adhesives have improved green strength.

Hot melt adhesives are solid at room temperature but upon application of heat, melt to a liquid or fluid state in which form they are applied to a substrate. On cooling, the adhesive regains its solid form. The hard phase(s) formed upon cooling the adhesive imparts all of the cohesion (strength, toughness, creep and heat resistance) to the final adhesive. Curable hot melt adhesives, which are also applied in molten form, cool to solidify and subsequently cure by a chemical crosslinking reaction. An advantage of hot melt curable adhesives over traditional liquid curing adhesives is their ability to provide "green strength" upon cooling prior to cure. Advantages of hot melt curable adhesives over non-curing hot melt adhesives include improved temperature and chemical resistance.
The majority of reactive hot melts are moisture-curing urethane adhesives. These adhesives consist primarily of isocyanate terminated polyurethane prepolymers that react with surface or ambient moisture in order to chain-extend, forming a new polyurethane/urea polymer. Polyurethane prepolymers are conventionally obtained by reacting polyols with isocyanates. Additives are commonly included in reactive hot melt adhesive formulations to provide improved properties, such as improved green strength before solidification and increased cure speed. Cure is obtained through the diffusion of moisture from the atmosphere or the substrate into the adhesive and subsequent reaction. The reaction of moisture with residual isocyanate forms carbamic acid. This acid is unstable, decomposing into an amine and carbon dioxide. The amine reacts rapidly with isocyanate to form a urea. The final adhesive product is a crosslinked material polymerized primarily through urea groups and urethane groups.
Moisture curing adhesives are generally prepared in a one-step polymerization method. While two step-polymerization method are know in the art, such as the processes disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,365,700 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,074,297, there continues to be a need in the art for novel polymerization manufacturing processes for forming moisture reactive hot melt adhesives. The present invention addresses this need.

Method for preparing a moisture curable hot melt adhesive


A variable speed ratio multiple sprocket and chain drive, particularly applicable to bicycles, using stacks of resilient sprocket rings, each of which is radially split to define resilient sectors. For shifting, the resilient sectors are axially deflected so that the rows of teeth of adjacent sprockets are aligned with one another, thereby permitting a roller chain entrained around one sprocket ring to transfer to an adjacent sprocket ring of different pitch diameter, thus changing the drive ratio. A control system is mechanically linked to a resilient sector deflection mechanism. The control system tracks which driving sprocket ring and which driven sprocket ring are engaged by the chain, and selects either the stack of driving sprocket rings or the stack of driven sprocket rings for shifting so as to allow a rider to change the drive ratio up or down at will.

The present invention relates generally to variable ratio roller chain drives such as are commonly employed on bicycles and, more particularly, to variable ratio roller chain drives which can be shifted under load.
Perhaps the most common variable speed ratio roller chain drive employed on bicycles is usually termed the derailleur system. The derailleur system has a stack of sprocket rings on the rear wheel, usually referred to as either free-wheel cogs or sprockets, and a stack of sprocket rings on the pedal shaft, usually referred to as chain rings. The free-wheel sprockets typically can number as many as eight, and chain rings usually number either two or three.
To compensate for the change in length of chain path as various pairs of driving and driven sprocket rings are entrained by the chain, a chain tightener is mounted in the slack pass of the chain near the rear wheel. The chain tightener typically comprises a pivoted, spring loaded pair of small sprockets S-wrapped by the chain, and is mounted on a parallelogram linkage such that it can be moved laterally, i.e., in a direction parallel to the rear wheel shaft.
The chain tightener also serves the purpose of effecting shifting, and is referred to as the rear derailleur. Thus the bicycle rider, by means of a suitable lever and cable device, laterally moves the pair of tightener sprockets comprising the rear derailleur while the chain is traveling, thereby exerting a lateral force on the chain. This causes the chain to jump in the direction of the lateral force from the sprocket about which it is wrapped to an adjacent sprocket. Since the sprocket thereby newly entrained is of a different pitch diameter, i.e., a different number of teeth, than the sprocket previously entrained, the driving ratio of the driving chain ring with reference to the driven free-wheel sprocket is changed.
Similarly, there is a lever and cable operated device called the front derailleur, which straddles the chain on its tight, or loaded pass in a location where the chain as it travels approaches the chain ring stack. The front derailleur likewise can be moved laterally so as to cause the chain to jump from one chain ring to another of different pitch diameter, thereby again changing the driving ratio.
Mechanical stops on both the front and rear derailleurs prevent the chain from being pushed off the extreme inboard and outboard sprocket rings of each stack.
A refinement of the derailleur system, generally called index shifting, utilizes detents in the lever mechanism to which the cable operating either the rear or the front derailleur is connected. The detents are spaced such that the interval through which the derailleur is moved laterally ideally transfers the chain accurately from one sprocket ring to another selected by the rider.
The system summarized above has the following four disadvantages in particular:
(1) A roller chain, while able to flex freely in the plane in which it and its entrained sprockets operate, is not designed to flex in a direction perpendicular to that plane. Hence, exerting a lateral force on the chain, i.e., a force perpendicular to the plane of operation, creates undesirable stresses and produces excessive wear in the chain.
(2) The lever and cable mechanisms which operate the front and rear derailleurs are subject to wear and dimensional distortion. Further, because of the mechanical advantage inherent in the parallelogram linkages which allow both rear and front derailleur to move laterally, a very small travel of the cable produces a relatively large movement of the derailleur. Consequently, the mechanisms are sensitive and prone to needing readjustment, particularly if subjected to frequent or heavy use.
(3) In transferring from one sprocket to another, the chain rollers usually do not fall immediately in the grooves of the newly entrained sprocket. More often than not, the rollers must ride over the crests of several successive sprocket teeth before falling in the grooves. It is not unusual for a receiving sprocket to rotate through more than 270.degree. before the chain meshes with it properly. Not only does this aggravate chain and sprocket wear, but it creates a lack of shifting precision and an undesirable distance of bicycle travel before the newly selected drive ratio is achieved.
(4) Index shifting works reasonably well on the free-wheel sprockets. This is not only because it operates on the slack pass of the chain, but also because the free-wheel sprockets are smaller in pitch diameter than the chain rings and therefore the transfer from one sprocket to an adjacent one takes place through a relatively small radial displacement. With the chain ring stack, however, accurate index shifting is more difficult. First of all, the transfer must be done with the tight pass of the chain, i.e., the pass which transmits the driving load. This makes lateral deflection of the chain more difficult. Moreover, the radial displacement from one chain ring to an adjacent one is much greater than it is with the free-wheel sprockets. This greater radial displacement makes chain transfer particularly difficult when transferring from a smaller to a larger diameter chain ring. Such a transfer normally requires that the chain be laterally deflected more to effect the transfer than the lateral displacement which is required once the transfer has been achieved. The front derailleur may therefore continue to drag against the chain after transfer, and achieving the transfer is often accompanied by an extended period during which the chain and sprocket are not properly meshed, and by undesirable chatter of the chain before it finally transfers to the receiving sprocket.
Alternatives to the derailleur system have been proposed, for example in Browning U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,127,038, 4,894,046 and 5,073,152, and in Browning et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,997. These Browning and Browning et al patents disclose bicycle shifting mechanisms which involve hinged sprocket sectors arranged such that the hinged sprocket sector can pick up the chain load from an adjacent sprocket in a sprocket stack, and have the characteristic of being able to shift under load. A disadvantage of the Browning and Browning et al mechanisms, however, is that a relatively wide space in the axial direction is required if a number of individual sprockets are to be included for a range of gear ratio. There is limited axial space available in a bicycle; a typical standard rear wheel fork is only 130 mm in width. Another disadvantage of some of the Browning and Browning et al mechanisms is a tendency to force a sharp lateral bend of the chain at the hinge point. Yet another disadvantage is that the relatively complex mechanism involved is not enclosed, making it more susceptible to contamination.

Variable ratio chain drive employing synchronous flexible sprocket shifting


A two-wire communication protocol between a controller device and a controlled device, wherein both devices are coupled by a clock line and a data line. The controller device sends control signals comprising N bits, N being greater than or equal to two, to the controlled device via the data line. Each bit of said control signals is latched onto the controlled device on consecutive edges of a clock signal sent by the controller device to the controlled device on the clock line.

The present invention relates to a two-wire communication protocol between a controller device and a controlled device. The invention more particularly relates to digitally trimmable electronic devices such as a capacitor, a potentiometer, a current source, or other variable impedance elements.
Both controller and controlled devices are coupled by a clock line and a data line. The controller device sends control signals comprising N bits, N being greater than or equal to two, to the controlled device on the data line.
In the prior art, the document U.S. Pat. No. 5,084,667 discloses a variable impedance circuit for incorporation into electronic circuits in place of a potentiometer or similar mechanical variable impedance element. The impedance of the impedance circuit is set by electrical signals sent thereto. Once set, the impedance value is stored in a programmable non-volatile read only memory. When power is restored, this stored impedance value is re-established.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the impedance circuit according to this document. The variable impedance circuit 1 consists of an impedance network 2 which consists of a number of fixed impedance elements and switches which are not shown. The switches are used to connect various combinations of impedance elements between two terminals 3 and 4. The particular combination is determined by a value stored in a control circuit which is counter 5. The count stored in the counter may be altered by signals on two lines 6 and 7. The Up/Down (U/D) signal on line 6 determines whether counter 5 will be incremented or decremented by a predetermined amount in response to an increment (INC) signal on line 7.
A third signal line 8 which is referred to as chip select (CS) line 8 is used as an activation signal for counter 5. When chip select line 8 is low, counter 5 responds to signals on lines 6 and 7. This enables the circuit controlling the variable impedance circuit 1 to alter the value stored in counter 5. This controlling circuit causes chip select line 8 to go low. It then couples the appropriate signals to counter 5 on lines 6 and 7 to cause the value stored in counter 5 to change to the new desired value.
FIG. 2 is an array of the selection mode of the variable impedance circuit. When the CS line is low, the value stored in the counter may be altered. On the falling edge of the INC line, the counter is incremented if the U/D line is high and decremented if U/D line is low.
Such a variable impedance circuit has some drawbacks. First, two lines INC and U/D are used to allow only two control signals for the counter, an increment and a decrement signal. Further, with these two lines INC and U/D no start and end signals are available. This is why it is provided with a third line CS which determines by its level whether the value stored in the counter is alterable or not. To implement such a solution, it is necessary to have an additional terminal on the circuit.
In the prior art, the document WO 01/76069 discloses a method of electronically adjusting electrical capacitors which may be variably set or trimmed to a desired value of capacitance.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the electronic trim capacitor 10 which is implemented as a digitally programmable capacitance 11. The electronic trim capacitor 10 has a first power terminal 12 (Vdd) and a second power terminal 13 (Vss); a first capacitor terminal 14 (C1) and a second capacitor terminal 15 (C2); a program terminal 16 (PROGRAM); and an enable terminal 17 (ENABLE). The first power terminal 12 and the second power terminal 13 may receive suitable electrical power to operate the electronic trim capacitor 10. Also, the first capacitor terminal 14 and the second capacitor terminal 15 connect the electronic trim capacitor 10 to a general circuit (not shown) which requires capacitive adjustment such as an amplifier or an oscillator. The program terminal 16 and the enable terminal 17 here provide the ability to digitally program the electronic trim capacitor 10 to a desired specific value of capacitance.
The programming method used with the electronic trim capacitor 10 comprises the following main steps. In an initial step, programming is initiated by setting the enable terminal 17 to a particular electrical state.
In a following step, programming continues by supplying an appropriate pulse signal to the program terminal 16. In this manner, supplying a selected number of pulses in the pulse signal, while the enable terminal 17 is enabled, will produce a desired total number of capacitance increments in the electronic trim capacitor 10.
Finally in another step, the internal logic of the electronic trim capacitor 10 sets a capacitive value which is exhibited at the first capacitor terminal 12 and the second capacitor terminal 13.
Such an electronic trim capacitor also has some drawbacks. After setting the enable terminal in order to activate the electronic trim capacitor, only an increment function is provided. With only one control signal available, there is no freedom to modify the value of the capacitance or to monitor this value. Further, if a decrement operation is requested or if the desired value is less than the current value of the electronic trim capacitor, it is necessary to provide with a reset terminal to reset the capacitance value or a mechanism which resets the capacitance value to zero when the maximum value is reached by successive increment signals. In both cases it is not worthy, the first alternative requires an additional terminal and the second one takes too much time.

Simple two-wire communication protocol with feedback status


A shaving razor system with a handle and a shaving razor cartridge mounted to the handle. A flexible electrical bridge with a portion positioned within the handle extends from the handle to the shaving razor cartridge. The flexible electrical bridge has a loop between the shaving razor cartridge and the handle.

Users of wet-shave razors generally appreciate a feeling of warmth against their skin during shaving. The warmth feels good, resulting in a more comfortable shaving experience. Various attempts have been made to provide a warm feeling during shaving. For example, shaving creams have been formulated to react exothermically upon release from the shaving canister, so that the shaving cream imparts warmth to the skin. Also, various ways of delivering heat through the razor cartridge have also been proposed in the patent literature. It has also been proposed in the patent literature to heat the blades, which may decrease the force required to cut the hair. Additional electronic components may be required to deliver heat to the skin in a safe and reliable manner. Furthermore, electronic components must be small to fit within a consumer appliance, such as a razor. Accordingly, electrical components and fittings are typically very delicate and can break easily. Electricity typically must be delivered from a power source (e.g., a battery) positioned in the handle to a cartridge that pivots relative to the handle. The cartridge should pivot without impacting the electrical connections. However, this can be challenging because the cartridge may need to pivot over a thousand cycles over its lifetime. In addition, the electrical connection between the handle and the cartridge may negatively impact the pivoting forces of the cartridge by providing additional biasing forces.
Accordingly, there is a need to provide a flexible electrical connection between a handle and a cartridge of a shaving razor system that allows for efficient pivoting of the cartridge while also providing a reliable electrical connection.


A metallic seat structure member with a surface roughened is placed within a forming die, into which synthetic resin is injected for molding. This provides a vehicle seat structure in which leg portions of a strength member made of synthetic resin are fixed to the roughened surface of the seat structure member.

Conventional seat structures for vehicles, especially seat structures for automobiles generally include seat back frames as the frames of seat backs supporting occupants. Such a seat back frame is formed as a single casting piece obtained by casting an aluminum alloy. Moreover, an attachment portion of a retractor (a supporting portion) is supported near a side edge of the seat back frame on the sidewall of the vehicle body. A reinforcement portion configured to support load acting on the seat back in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body is provided for a part extending from the attachment portion of the retractor to the lower end of the seat back frame in the vertical direction (see PTL 1).
As for the frame body including the seat back frame and a seat cushion frame, an iron plate is punched out by pressing and is then subjected to drawing to form a deep beed and the like. The frame body thus has enough strength to support an occupant sitting on the seat (see PTL 2).


By providing two integrated components, an outer housing and an inner sleeve member having cable engaging arms, with the inner sleeve member being securely mounted to the outer housing in a manner which prevents its separation from the housing, an efficient, easily manufactured and assembled cable connector is realized. In one preferred embodiment, the inner sleeve member incorporates a plurality of locking members which extend through portals formed in the housing to enable the fully assembled cable connector to be quickly and easily lockingly engaged and securely mounted in a receiving hole of a junction or outlet box. If desired, the sleeve member may also incorporate radially extending curved grounding/conductivity tabs mounted to the sleeve member and constructed for extending through additional portals formed in the housing. By employing this construction, a grounding path or an electrical conductivity path is automatically established between the cable connector and the junction/outlet box when the connector is mounted thereto. Finally, a further preferred embodiment also incorporates a gasket member in combination with the housing and the sleeve member to achieve a cable connector which is rain tight or moisture tight.

This invention relates to electrical connectors, and more particularly, to electrical connectors constructed for securing metal sheath cables to junction boxes and/or outlet boxes.
In the field of wiring homes and buildings, whether for new construction or for improvements or expansion, substantial development and product improvements have been made. Typically, these improvements are directed to enabling installers to securely mount any desired wiring in any desired location in the most efficient and quickest manner.
In any particular installation or location, various cables must be interconnected to each other as well as connected to the primary power supply in a suitable power distributing junction box or fuse box. In each of these instances, metal sheath cables, within which the electric power carrying wires are contained, must be securely mounted to the housing of the junction box or outlet box, or connected to appropriate devices, in a protected area.
In order to enable installers to securely mount metal sheath cables to any desired junction box or outlet box, numerous prior art connectors have been developed. However, in spite of the substantial effort that has been expended in developing such connectors, these prior art systems all have drawbacks or difficulties which prevent their universal adoption and use.
In general, the industry has long sought to have a single cable connector which is quickly and easily secured to the end of the metal sheath cable and, once installed, is capable of preventing unwanted movement or dislodgement of the cable from the connector. In addition, the cable connector, with the cable secured therein, must be quickly mountable in secure engagement with any desired junction box or outlet box. Finally, all of these attributes must be achieved in a connector which is inexpensive, in order to enable its acceptance, use, and wide-spread adoption.
Although many prior art connectors have been developed which provide one or more of the attributes detailed above, no prior art connector has been developed which is capable of satisfying all of these long-sought requirements. Consequently, a long-felt need continues to exist for a cable connector meeting these requirements.
Therefore, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a connector for use with metal sheath cables which provides secure, rapid engagement and retention of the cable in the connector.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a cable connector having the characteristic features described above which is also quickly and easily secured to any desired junction box or outlet box in a manner which assures secure retained engagement therewith.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a cable connector having the characteristic features described above wherein the cable, once mounted to the connector, is incapable of dislodgement or withdrawal.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a cable connector having the characteristic features described above wherein the cable connector is capable of being produced and assembled quickly and easily, thereby providing an inexpensive product.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a cable connector having the characteristic features described above wherein the cable connector automatically provides grounding and/or an electrical flow path through the junction box or outlet box when mounted thereto.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a cable connector having the characteristic features described above wherein the cable connector is self-centering when mounted in a receiving hole and provides a pre-loaded, spring biasing holding force thereto.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a cable connector having the characteristic features described above wherein the cable connector is rain and/or moisture tight to enable its use outdoors or in other high moisture environments without difficulty.
Other and more specific objects will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.
By employing the present invention, all of the difficulties and drawbacks of the prior art systems have been overcome, and an efficient, easily manufactured and assembled cable connector is realized. Furthermore, using the cable connector of the present invention, any desired metal sheath cable is quickly and easily secured to the connector and mounted in place, with complete assurance that the unwanted movement or withdrawal of the cable from the connector is virtually eliminated.
In its preferred embodiment, the cable connector of the present invention comprises two integrated components, an outer housing and an inner sleeve member. As detailed herein, the inner sleeve member is securely mounted to the outer housing in a manner which prevents its separation from the housing. As is more fully detailed below, the inner sleeve member is preferably press fitted into the housing in order to provide the desired secure, integrated affixation of these components. However, if desired, other securement methods well known in the industry may also be used.
Preferably, the outer housing comprises a generally hollow cylindrical shape constructed with two spaced, co-axial, radially extending flanges formed on the outer surface thereof, directly adjacent one end of the housing. The spaced distance between the flanges is constructed to enable well known locking rings to be mounted and retained therebetween. Although numerous locking rings are found in the prior art, one such ring is taught in Pratesi U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,189,258 and 5,342,994, while other rings are taught in Arlington""s U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,043,432; 6,080,933; and 6,335,488.
Typically, a locking ring is mounted between the radially extended flanges, with the flange spaced away from the end of the housing comprising a larger diameter than the other. With the locking ring mounted in place, the housing is able to be quickly and easily affixed to any receiving hole in any desired junction box or outlet box for secure, mounted engagement therewith.
In the preferred embodiment, the inner sleeve member is constructed in a generally hollow cylindrical shape with at least two arm members integrally formed therewith, each of which angularly slopes inwardly from the cylindrical wall of the sleeve member. In addition, each arm member comprises a distal end portion which is angularly disposed relative to the arm member in at least one direction and preferably in two directions. Finally, in the preferred embodiment, each distal end portion is split in two sections and terminates with an arcuately curved terminating end.
By employing this construction, with the angular relationships detailed below, each arm member is able to be pivoted in a first direction out of the travel paths of the cable when the sheath cable is inserted therein. In this way, the cable is able to be quickly and easily advanced through the sleeve member. However, once the sheath cable has been fully advanced into the sleeve member, the arm members return to their original position and become securely engaged wit the outer wall of the sheath cable, preventing the cable from being removed or withdrawn from the sleeve member.
Furthermore, by employing the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the arcuate curved end of each arm member fully engages the outer surface of the cable throughout the entire width of the arm member. In addition, as stated above in the preferred embodiment, the distal end portion of each arm member may be split or bifurcated into two separate finger members, with each finger member preferably comprising two separate and independent angular relationships relative to the major portion of the arm member. By employing this construction, the distal end portions of the arm members are both pitched and sloped, relative to the major portion of the arm member, providing secure, locking engagement with the cable in a plurality of positions.
By designing the slope and/or pitch angles to be substantially equivalent to the slope of the spiral juncture of the metal on the metal sheath cable, each finger of each arm member of the inner sleeve member engages the metal sheath cable directly along the juncture between the metal section, which is defined by the narrow portion or minor diameter of the cable. In this way, secure move-free engagement of the cable is realized and movement of the sheath cable relative to the sleeve member is prevented. Furthermore, by combining the slope and/or pitch angles with an arcuately curved end which matches the curvature of the cable, secure engagement of each finger of each arm member with the cable throughout the entire width of the arm member is achieved.
If desired, the two arm members may be formed at different positions along the axial length of the sleeve member. In this way, the cable engaging end of each arm member interconnects with the metal sheath cable at different longitudinal spaced locations along the length of the cable.
By constructing the inner sleeve member in the preferred manner, each arm member is able to engage the minor diameter of the spiral shaped juncture between the metal portions of the cable. In this way, secure engagement with the optimum area of the cable is provided and completely controlled movement-free securement of the cable by the inner sleeve is achieved.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the inner sleeve member is constructed with a plurality of radially extending locking tabs formed at one end thereof, with each of the locking tabs constructed for cooperating with and extending through portals formed at the terminating end of the housing. In this way, the fully assembled cable connector is capable of being quickly, easily, and efficiently securely mounted in the receiving hole of any desired junction box or outlet box, with simplicity, while not requiring the use of a separate and independent locking member.
In a further alternate embodiment, the inner sleeve member incorporates radially extending grounding/conductivity tabs formed at one end thereof, adjacent the radial extending locking tabs. In addition, the grounding/conductivity tabs are constructed to extend from the inner sleeve member through apertures formed in the housing member for being positioned to engage the inside edge of the receiving hole of the junction/outlet box into which the cable connector is mounted. In this way, the cable connector is automatically centered in the receiving hole as well as automatically establishing a grounding path and/or electrical conductivity path for the cable member affixed therein.
In a further alternate embodiment of the present invention, the cable connector also incorporates a sealing bushing or grommet in addition to the inner sleeve member and the housing member. Furthermore, the cable connector also preferably incorporates a sealing washer for being mounted at one end of the cable connector with a locking nut, while also incorporating a clamping nut for being mounted to the opposed end of the housing in order to assure secure sealing engagement of the bushing/or grommet with the housing and cable. By employing this construction, a rain-tight and/or moisture-tight cable connector is attained, enabling the cable connector to be used in a wide variety of applications where high levels of moisture may exist.
The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessing the features, properties, and the relation of elements which will be exemplified in the article herewith described, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.


The present disclosure discloses a multi-angle electric exercise equipment, including: a meridian stretching standing plate which includes a base, standing plate handrails, and an angle adjusting standing plate, a health management system which comprises a health inspection and control unit and a health analysis unit; the standing plate handrails are provided on the base; the angle adjusting standing plate is provided facing the handrails and at one side of the base; an upper surface of the angle adjusting standing plate is provided with a treading area, the angle adjusting standing plate is adjustable in angle; the health analysis unit is used to analyze health information collected by the health inspection and control unit, acquire a health analysis result, and provides a health solution. The present disclosure is mainly used for stretching of meridians of human body, providing multi-angle stretching angle adjustment for exercises of stepped difficulty.

In recent years, with the concentration of urban population and the accelerated pace of life, the population in sub-health is increasing significantly. Meanwhile, with the improvement of both consumption power and concept, people pay more attention to taking care of their own health, thus many types of household exercise and fitness equipment emerged.
The existing household exercise and fitness equipment is mainly classified into two types by function: one type is exercise equipment, such as massage chair and treadmill; the other type is measurement equipment, such as thermometer and glucometer. Up to now, there is still a gap in the market of developing fitness equipment for meridian stretching exercise with personalized and suitable angles and further regulating the meridians of the whole body in the aspect of combining the intelligentized health management with theories of the traditional Chinese medicine meridian and exercise for preserving health, which has a wide-ranging research space and market prospect.

Multi-angle electric exercise instrument and control method


A pickup location may be enabled to continue to operate when communication over a network is not available. When communication is not available, a pickup location may not be able to send a confirmation that a user has dropped off an item for a return or to send a request to have the item retrieved by a carrier. The pickup location may be enabled to assign a stored access code that was previously sent to a carrier and which will allow the item to be retrieved by the carrier who has arrived at the pickup location for reasons other than a request to retrieve the item. A retrieval confirmation from the carrier may be utilized to allow a refund or replacement process to be initiated, and to update capacity information for the pickup location, if the carrier meets a certain confidence threshold requirement based on past performance.

Many companies package items and/or groups of items together for a variety of purposes, such as e-commerce and mail-order companies that package items (e.g., books, CDs, apparel, food, etc.) to be shipped to fulfill orders from customers. Retailers, wholesalers, and other product distributors (which may collectively be referred to as distributors) typically maintain an inventory of various items that may be ordered by customers. This inventory may be maintained and processed at a materials handling facility which may include, but is not limited to, one or more of: warehouses, distribution centers, cross-docking facilities, order fulfillment facilities, packaging facilities, shipping facilities, or other facilities or combinations of facilities for performing one or more functions of material (inventory) handling.
In some instances, a customer may order an item and designate a pickup location as the delivery location. A pickup location may include a control station and storage compartments where the items that are ordered from a materials handling facility can be delivered for pickup by customers. Rather than shipping the item to a residence or place of business, the item may be shipped to the pickup location and stored in a storage compartment for retrieval by the customer. The control station at the pickup location typically relies on communication over a network for various processes related to the delivery of items by carriers and the retrieval of items by customers. If communication over the network becomes unavailable, such as due to a network outage, the control station may not be able to perform the required processes for the deliveries and retrievals of items.
While implementations are described herein by way of example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the implementations are not limited to the examples or drawings described. It should be understood that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit implementations to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope as defined by the appended claims. The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used throughout this application, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words "include", "including", and "includes" mean including, but not limited to.

Off network return operations for pickup locations


A Faraday system for measuring ion beam current in an ion implanter or other ion beam treatment system includes a Faraday cup body defining a chamber which has an entrance aperture for receiving an ion beam, a suppression electrode positioned in proximity to the entrance aperture to produce electric fields for inhibiting escape of electrons from the chamber, and a magnet assembly positioned to produce magnetic fields for inhibiting escape of electrons from the chamber. The chamber may have a relatively small ratio of chamber depth to entrance aperture width.

This invention relates to systems for ion implantation of workpieces such as semiconductor wafers and, more particularly, to a Faraday system for measuring ion current in an ion implantation system or other ion beam treatment system.
Ion implantation is a standard technique for introducing conductivity-altering impurities into semiconductor wafers. A desired impurity material is ionized in an ion source, the ions are accelerated to form an ion beam of prescribed energy, and the ion beam is directed at the surface of the wafer. The energetic ions in the beam penetrate into the bulk of the semiconductor material and are embedded in the crystalline lattice of the semiconductor material to form a region of desired conductivity.
Ion implantation systems usually include an ion source for converting a gas or a solid material into a well-defined ion beam. The ion beam is mass analyzed to eliminate undesired ion species, is accelerated to a desired energy and is directed onto a target plane. The beam is distributed over the target area by beam scanning, by target movement or by a combination of beam scanning and target movement.
In the operation of an ion implantation system, it is usually necessary to measure the cumulative ion dose implanted in the semiconductor wafer and the dose uniformity over the surface area of the wafer. Typically, ion implants are specified in terms of ion species, ion energy and ion dose. Measurement of ion dose, at least at intervals during an ion implant, is necessary since ion sources typically do not deliver accurate, constant ion beam currents. Semiconductor fabrication processes typically require dose accuracies within 1%.
Cumulative ion dose is typically measured using a Faraday cup, or dose measurement cup, positioned in the vicinity of the target wafer. For example, the Faraday cup may be positioned adjacent to the semiconductor wafer, and the ion beam may be deflected to the Faraday cup at intervals during an ion implant. The Faraday cup may be an electrically conductive cup having an entrance aperture for receiving the ion beam. The ion beam generates in the Faraday cup an electrical current that is representative of ion beam current. The electrical current is supplied to an electronic dose processor, which integrates the current with respect to time to determine the cumulative ion dose. The dose processor may be part of a feedback loop that is used to control the ion implanter. For example, ion implantation may be terminated when a predetermined dose has been reached. The use of Faraday cups to measure dose and dose uniformity in ion implanters is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,922,106 issued May 1, 1990 to Berrian et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,980,562 issued Dec. 25, 1990 to Berrian et al.
When energetic ions in the ion beam enter the Faraday cup and impinge on surfaces within the Faraday cup, a number of physical processes may occur. These processes include ion scattering, secondary particle emission (electrons, ions, neutrals and photons), surface sputtering and generation of tertiary electrons, which result from secondary particles impacting the cup body walls. A portion of the secondary and tertiary electrons may escape from the Faraday cup through its entrance aperture. Escape of electrons from the Faraday cup produces a measurement error.
One approach to inhibiting the escape of electrons from the Faraday system is the use of an electrostatic suppression electrode positioned at the entrance to the Faraday cup. By negatively charging the electrostatic suppression electrode, the escape of electrons from the Faraday cup is inhibited. A Faraday cage having an electrostatic suppression electrode is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,135,097 issued Jan. 16, 1979 to Forneris et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,135,097 discloses an alternate configuration wherein a pair of magnets is used for electron suppression. A magnetically suppressed Faraday system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,757,018 issued May 26, 1998 to Mack et al. In another prior art approach to inhibiting escape of electrons, the depth of the Faraday cup is made large in comparison with the width of its entrance aperture, so that electrons generated at the bottom of the Faraday cup have a relatively small probability of escaping through the entrance aperture.
Ion implanters are typically required to operate over a wide energy range. In particular, ion implanters are increasingly required to operate at low energies due to process requirements for shallow and ultra-shallow junctions. At low energies, the ion beam diameter increases significantly due to the well-known space charge effect. In order to perform accurate dose measurements at low ion energies, Faraday cups with large entrance apertures are therefore required. Since space considerations in the ion implanter may prevent a corresponding increase in the depth of the Faraday cup, the Faraday cup may have a relatively large entrance aperture width in comparison to the cup depth. This exacerbates the problem of secondary electron escape and results in reduced measurement accuracy.
Accordingly, there is a need for improved methods and apparatus for measuring ion beam current, particularly at low energies.
According to a first aspect of the invention, a Faraday system is provided for use in an ion beam treatment system. The Faraday system comprises a Faraday cup body defining a chamber which has an entrance aperture for receiving an ion beam, a suppression electrode positioned in proximity to the entrance aperture to produce electric fields for inhibiting escape of electrons from the chamber, and a magnet assembly positioned to produce magnetic fields for inhibiting escape of electrons from the chamber.
In one embodiment, the ratio of chamber depth to entrance aperture width is less than 2.0. In another embodiment, the ratio of chamber depth to entrance aperture width is less than 1.0.
The magnet assembly may comprise first and second magnets disposed on opposite sides of the Faraday cup body.
The suppression electrode may comprise a suppression ring disposed around the entrance aperture. The suppression ring may have an aperture that is larger in width than the entrance aperture. The suppression ring may be tapered toward the aperture in the suppression ring. The Faraday system may further comprise a suppression power supply for biasing the suppression electrode at a suppression voltage relative to the Faraday cup body.
In other embodiments, all or part of an interior surface of the Faraday cup body is coated with a material that exhibits relatively low electron emission. In one example, the interior surface of the Faraday cup body has a carbon coating. In other embodiments, the Faraday cup body is fabricated of graphite.
In other embodiments, the Faraday cup body includes a grid of holes facing the entrance aperture. The grid of holes may be located at the bottom of the Faraday cup opposite the entrance aperture.

Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.


A support apparatus has a base having at least one portion positioned to rest on a solid surface, at least one vertical support extending upwards from the base, the vertical support having a lower fixed portion and an upper adjustable portion, at least one horizontal support extending outwards from the vertical support, the horizontal support positioned to be insertable into a protective garment while being worn by a user.

Medical practitioners, such as interventional cardiologists and neurosurgeons, may use x-ray images during procedures in operating rooms. The environment prevents the practitioners from standing behind protective barriers that shield them from the radiation. Many wear some sort of protective lead apron such as those manufactured by AADCO Medical, Inc. in their line of Ray Shield® aprons and vests.
The protective wear contains lead or other metals to absorb the x-ray radiation, making the protective garments relatively heavy compared to standard surgical garments. Many practitioners may have to wear these heavy garments for long hours during complicated procedures, or on days when they have several procedures schedules. As a result, practitioners may suffer shoulder, back and hip pain on a daily basis and over time may suffer permanent damage.
One solution is to make the garments lighter by using thinner layers of metals, or mixing the metals with other materials. This affects the protection level afforded by the garments, and the overall reduction of the weight of the garment is relatively small. One product line announces a reduction in weight of 30%, reducing the weight from 10.5 pounds to 7.5 pounds. While this may help in the short term, the practitioner is still carrying several pounds of gear every day.
Another solution is to make the apron removable as soon as the portion of the procedure that uses x-rays is no longer needed. However, for many procedures, x-rays are used most of the time. Further, the removable apron requires a pause in the procedure while another person loosens the fasteners from the protective gear so as to not interfere with the sterility of the practitioner's gloves.
However, these solutions still involve the practitioner having to carry the weight of the protective gear for long periods of time.


A computer-implemented method and apparatus for processing on-line donations is disclosed. An example embodiment includes elements to generate a donation badge for display on a web page; link the donation badge with an account on a payment site; receive a donation from a donor via the donation badge; and credit the donation to the account linked to the donation badge.

1. Technical Field
This application relates to a method and system to process data. Particularly, this application relates to the processing of on-line donations.
2. Related Art
A number of organizations exist for the purpose of charitable and/or non-profit functions, including organizations which qualify as charitable organizations under U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Regulation 501(c)(3). Not uncommonly, such organizations find that there are a number of costs associated with receiving and handling donations. One cost involves the labor or man-power costs associated with soliciting and/or receiving such donations. Many charitable organizations employ or hire individuals or organizations for the purpose of soliciting funds, attracting potential donors and the like. Because there are often costs associated with such employees or organizations (including wages, salaries or commissions and/or costs of advertising services or materials, typically a certain portion of the funds received or collected by a charitable organization, which might otherwise be available for the organizations' charitable functions, must instead be expended for costs associated with attracting or receiving donations.
Another cost typically associated with or born by charitable organizations is the cost of handling the donated funds. In many situations, donations take the form of coins, currency, and/or negotiable instruments such as personal checks. Partially in situations where the charitable organization receives a relatively large number of donations in relatively small amounts, the costs associated with handling such coins, cash or checks, (such as costs of counting and/or rolling or packaging coins, counting cash and/or checks, and depositing these items in a financial institution) further depletes funds of the charitable organization.
Yet another cost sometimes associated with charitable transactions is the cost associated with providing receipts to donors, particularly receipts of a type that may be used by donors in calculating taxes or completing or documenting tax returns.
Donors to charitable organizations are sometimes solicited for donations in situations where the donors are presented with a single choice: to donate or not to donate to a single, particular charitable organization. Accordingly, it would be useful to provide an apparatus and method in which potential donors are presented with a number of different options for the recipient of their donation.
In a number of situations, a person wishing to make a donation to a particular charitable institution is required to either be in possession of a donation form and/or an address for other information so that the donation may be transmitted to the correct recipient. Also, donors often must bear the cost of postage or telephone calls. This situation is particularly problematic for donors who may have relocated, temporally or permanently, to a location far removed from the desired charitable organization.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,909,794 describes a donation transaction apparatus and method for facilitating donations to charitable organizations. The apparatus is configured to receive coins or, in some embodiments, cash or funds transfer authorization or credit charges, and preferably dispenses a donation receipt to the user which the user may use to prepare or document income tax returns. Preferably, the user is able to select among a plurality of charitable organizations to receive the donation.
Thus, a computer-implemented method and apparatus for processing on-line donations is needed.

Method and apparatus for processing on-line donations


A process and apparatus for contacting reactants with a particulate catalyst while indirectly heating the reactants with a heat exchange medium improves temperature control by using an intermediate heat exchange fluid and system to prevent overheating of reactants and maintain parallel heating characteristics through multiple reaction-heat exchange zones. The internal flow path minimizes the circulation of the reaction zone heat exchange fluid by incorporating interstage reheating of the reaction zone heat exchange fluid as it passes in series flow. A particularly useful application of the process and apparatus is in the dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene to produce styrene. The process and apparatus can also be used with simultaneous exchange of catalyst particles by an operation that restricts reactant flow while moving catalyst through reaction stacks in which the reactant flow has been restricted.

This invention relates to chemical reactors for the conversion of a reaction fluid while indirectly heating a reaction with a heat exchange fluid.
In many industries, like the petrochemical and chemical industries for instance, the processes employ reactors in which chemical reactions are effected in the components of one or more reaction fluids by contact with a catalyst under given temperature and pressure conditions. Most of these reactions generate or absorb heat to various extents and are, therefore, exothermic or endothermic. The heating or chilling effects associated with exothermic or endothermic reactions can positively or negatively affect the operation of the reaction zone. The negative effects can include among other things poor product production, deactivation of the catalyst, production of unwanted by-products, and in extreme cases, damage to the reaction vessel and associated piping. More typically, the undesired effects associated with temperature changes will reduce the selectivity or yield of products from the reaction zone.
One solution to the problem has been the indirect heating of reactants and/or catalysts within a reaction zone with a heating or cooling medium. The most well known catalytic reactors of this type are tubular arrangements that have fixed or moving catalyst beds. The geometry of tubular reactors poses layout constraints that require large reactors or limit throughput.
Indirect heat exchange has also been accomplished using thin plates to define alternate channels that retain catalyst and reactants in one set of channels and a heat transfer fluid in alternate channels for indirectly heating or cooling the reactants and catalysts. Heat exchange plates in these indirect heat exchange reactors can be flat or curved and may have surface variations such as corrugations to increase heat transfer between the heat transfer fluids and the reactants and catalysts. Although the thin heat transfer plates can, to some extent, compensate for the changes in temperature induced by the heat of reaction, not all indirect heat transfer arrangements are able to offer the complete temperature control that would benefit many processes by maintaining a desired temperature profile through a reaction zone. Many hydrocarbon conversion processes will operate more advantageously by maintaining a temperature profile that differs from that created by the heat of reaction. In many reactions, the most beneficial temperature profile will be obtained by substantially isothermal conditions. In some cases, a temperature profile directionally opposite to the temperature changes associated with the heat of reaction will provide the most beneficial conditions. An example of such a case is in dehydrogenation reactions wherein the selectivity and conversion of the endothermic process is improved by having a rising temperature profile or reverse temperature gradient through the reaction zone. A specific arrangement for heat transfer and reactant channels that offers more complete control can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,525,311, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
Heating reactants within a reaction zone poses a number of limitations on the reactor arrangement and the operation of the process. A heat exchange reactor typically needs to operate with a large fluid mass flow rate of the heat transfer fluid in order to provide adequate mass flux of the heat transfer fluid over the heat transfer surfaces. Failure to maintain the adequate heat transfer fluid mass flux across the heat transfer surfaces will result in inadequate heating and a loss of benefit from providing the internal heating within the reaction zone. The heat exchange reaction section may be divided into multiple heat exchange reactor sections. Nevertheless each heat exchange reactor section still requires a high mass flux rate to provide adequate heating across all of the heat transfer surfaces.
Even with separate reaction zones or reaction stacks, as they are referred to herein, the maximum temperature for the heat transfer fluid also remains limited. Constraints on the temperature of the heat transfer fluid as providing heating to the reactants can typically apply to minimum or maximum values. Minimum allowable temperature must be high enough to induce a reaction rate that exceeds what would ordinarily be obtained from an adiabatic process. However, at the same time, the maximum temperature at which the heating fluid enters the heat transfer zone must not heat the reactants to a temperature that can cause a lack of selectivity in the products produced, or worse, a decomposition of the products already produced.
For example, in the dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene, the process requires that the endothermic heat of reaction be supplied internally or externally. In an adiabatic reactor operation, the sensible heat in the feed stream provides the endothermic heat of reaction. Mixing a large quantity of super heated steam to the ethylbenzene feed increases the available sensible heat. Limitations in the ability to provide heating by sensible heat restricts the maximum allowable temperature drop across the reactor. However, using excessive steam temperatures to maintain a minimum reaction temperature will exceed the maximum sensitivity temperature for the ethylbenzene and begin its decomposition. Furthermore, designing equipment for the more severe operating conditions significantly increases its cost. Again, the endothermic heat of reaction may also be supplied by indirect heat exchange from an appropriate heat transfer fluid. Nevertheless, providing sufficient mass flux to all of the heat transfer surfaces will require a high heat transfer fluid mass flow rate which would lead to larger equipment sizes and higher processing costs.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to reduce the heat transfer fluid mass flow rate required to provide the necessary heat transfer fluid mass flux to maintain a high reaction temperature without exceeding the sensitivity temperature of the reactants or the products produced by their reaction.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a reactor apparatus for the indirect heating of a reactant stream in a reaction zone while conserving heat and reducing the necessary mass flow rate to provide a given mass flux over the heat transfer surfaces.
This invention uses a multiple-pass heat exchange configuration to heat reactants indirectly with a heat exchange fluid in groups of stacked plates that provide reaction zones having reaction channels and heat exchange channels. The multiple pass arrangement of this invention significantly improves heat transfer. In turn the multiple-pass heat exchanger effectively reduces the heat transfer fluid mass flow rate for endothermic reacting systems while maintaining the equivalent overall heat flux across the heat transfer surfaces that separate the reaction channels from the heating channels. This arrangement reduces the size of the heat transfer equipment. The invention may also be used to increase the heat flux while maintaining a constant heat transfer fluid mass flow rate. The invention uses a series flow of the heat transfer fluid through reactors that receive a parallel flow of reactants. This combination of flows permits the control of the process site temperature profiled in the reactant channels to a variety of desired shapes. The process also enhances the isothermal operation of a reaction zone by more uniformly distributing heat along the catalyst beds. The arrangement improves process and heat transfer flow distributions for co-current, counter-current, or cross-current operations. Serial flow maintains the heat transfer fluid mass flow rates across the heating channels for multiple reaction stacks and reduces capital and operating costs thereby lowering equipment sizes and utility requirements. The flexibility for controlling the temperature of the heat transfer fluid facilitates the use of a variety of heat transfer fluids such as steam, flue gas, liquid sodium, molten salt, and in-situ combustion to be used more efficiently.
This invention can be particularly useful with the use of high heat capacity heating fluids such as molten salts and liquid metals. In particular, liquid sodium has a heat capacity and thermal conductivity that are, on a volumetric basis, superior to most heat transfer mediums. Liquid sodium is known to work for use in dehydrogenation processes including paraffins and aromatics. Despite its excellent heat transfer properties even an excellent heating medium such as liquid sodium may require a mass ratio of heating fluid to process feed as high as 30 to obtain isothermal profiles. The heat transfer piping circulates liquid sodium or other heating fluid the multiple reaction stacks in series flow while the process piping passes the feed through the reaction stacks in parallel. In this manner, for each reaction stack or individual heat transfer reactor provided: in parallel, the mass flow rate of the process feed is reduced inversely to the total number of parallel reaction zones while the total of the heating fluid mass flux to heat transfer surfaces is maintained through the reheating of the heating fluid between the series of reactors. The heating fluid of this invention is not limited to liquid metal or molten salts and may include lower heat capacity fluids such as, hot oil, steam, or flue gas. The reheating of flue gas may be improved by the addition of small amounts of methane or other flue for direct combustion in the heat transfer medium.
The invention may be particularly useful for providing a heating fluid by catalytic combustion of a fuel stream. The rate of combustion of the fuel mixture could be controlled thereby distributing the heat release across more of the heat transfer surface to improve the process reaction profile in terms of selectivity and activity in the reaction channels.
This invention has been found to be particularly effective in the dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene to produce styrene. By improving the uniformity of the heat transfer rate across a heat transfer surface, this invention increases the selectivity for styrene production by up to 1.2% over traditional ethylbenzene dehydrogenation processes. Where steam was used as the heating fluid, the invention improved the usual production over that achieved by adiabatic reactors through the use of multiple-stage heating fluid flow through a plurality of parallel ethylbenzene dehydrogenation reactors. In particular, this invention improves the use of steam as a heating medium in the ethylbenzene dehydrogenation process. Processes for the production of styrene typically require a large amount of steam. This invention uses the steam first as the heating fluid and then injects the steam after heat transfer into the process feed to satisfy the required steam-to-oil ratio. Low steam-to-oil ratios are preferred to reduce utilities and operating costs. This invention facilitates the use of low steam mass flow rates while still providing the necessary heating into the reaction channels. Metallurgical limitations of the reactor will generally restrict steam temperatures to below 800xc2x0 C. and, more practically, to below 650xc2x0 C. This invention increases the heat flux for the steam by piping the steam in series to the heating channels of the reaction stacks and by reheating the steam up to 16 times.
Accordingly, in one embodiment, this invention is a process for contacting reactants with a particulate catalyst in a channel reactor while indirectly contacting the reactants with a heating fluid. The process retains catalyst particles in a plurality of reaction stacks. Each reaction stack contains a plurality of vertically and horizontally extended reaction channels in a plurality of vertically and horizontally extended heating channels for providing indirect heat exchange. A reactant stream passes to at least two of the reaction stacks in parallel flow and contacts the catalyst therein. A heating fluid passes through the heat exchange channels of at least two reaction stacks to create series flow of heating fluid through the reaction stacks. The heating fluid undergoes reheating as it passes from one reaction stack to another reaction stack. The heating fluid is recovered from the last reaction stack in the series of reaction stacks. At least a portion of the heating fluid returns to the first reaction stack in the series. The process recovers a reactant stream from the plurality of reaction stacks.
In another embodiment, this invention is a channel reactor apparatus for contacting reactants with a particulate catalyst, indirectly heating the reactants with a heating fluid and reheating the heating fluid with a heat source in a heater. The apparatus contains a plurality of reaction stacks with each reaction stack comprising a plurality of parallel plates extending vertically and horizontally. The reaction stacks define heating channels and reaction channels. A distribution system passes a reactant stream to the reaction channels of each reaction stack in parallel flow. A withdrawal system collects the parallel flows of reacted reactants from each reaction stack. The heating fluid delivery conduit delivers a heating fluid to the heating channels of one of the reaction stacks located in a lead position. A plurality of intermediate conduits pass the heating fluid in series flow from the reaction stack in the lead position through the heating channels of reaction stacks located in the intermediate position and finally to a reaction stack located in an end position. A heating fluid recovery conduit recovers the heating fluid from the reaction stack in the end position. A heater reheats the heating fluid that passes through each intermediate conduit.
Additional embodiments, arrangements, and details of this invention are disclosed in the following detailed description of the invention.

Process and apparatus for controlling reaction temperatures with heating arrangement in series flow


A leaching chamber having an arch-shaped cross-section, a pair of contiguously molded, opposing end walls, and alternating peak and valley corrugations along its length, is provided interior chambers and fluid communication openings along the base on each extending side of the chamber. Formed within the chamber at locations corresponding to each peak corrugation, an inner wall is attached to an interior surface and extends substantially within the peak corrugation to the base of the chamber. An aperture is formed in both the inner wall and in the opposing outer wall of the chamber, enabling fluid communication through the interior chamber—and thus into and out from the interior of the leaching chamber itself.

The use of above-ground watering systems, particularly in dry climates such as the southwestern regions of the United States and in the Mediterranean regions of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, brings with it a list of known problems. In addition to water loss through evaporation during the watering process, if watering is provided too lightly, shallow plant rooting results. Additionally, repeated surface applications of water tend to produce the buildup of mineral salts, which are detrimental to healthy plant growth.
As increasing population pressures result in greater demands upon fresh water supplies, the benefits of underground irrigation have become increasingly attractive. Such systems place water almost directly into the plant root zone and eliminate evaporative water losses. Their protected location also minimizes the risk of damage from surface activities.
The subsurface fluid distribution system described in my previous patent, Sipaila, U.S. Pat. No. 5,921,711, provides such a subterranean system with reserve fluid storage capacity to maintain soil dampness as well as replace water taken up by plants. As used in a passive subsurface irrigation system, capillary physics and gravity are relied upon to deliver water and nutrients to plants through an interconnected series of chambers and pans. Such systems are capable of reducing the amount of irrigation water required by 50-80% over the more traditional above-ground systems.
As is typical for such systems, the leaching chamber has sloped sidewalls that extend to a curved, arched top. When installed, such extended-arch chambers must resist both top and side loadings. The slots in the sidewalls permit the transport of water from within, but act to weaken the sidewall structure.
While thickening the sidewall would provide additional strength, it also results in an increase in the amount of material required—which is a polyolefin, and is thus tied to the rising cost of petrochemicals. In addition, the added weight of the resulting product adds to the cost of transporting the chambers to the installation site. Also, while it is vital that such chambers are able to efficiently stack for transport, the stacking of such bulked-up chamber walls must not result in forcing the sidewalls out, resulting in the overall flattening and weakening of the arch-shaped chamber.
It thus is desirable to provide additional solutions that increase the structural integrity of the arched chamber in a manner that enhances the operational efficiency and is not negated by increased transportation costs or product damage during shipment.


Multi-barrier bottles having tabbed preforms, as well as methods of forming the same are disclosed. A tabbed preform includes an elongate body extending into a cavity of a first barrier, where the cavity is defined by at least one piece having a recess therein. The tabbed preform further includes at least one preform extension piece extending from the elongate body at a predetermined distance from a top surface of the elongate body. The at least one preform extension piece is sized and shaped to correspond to a size and a shape of the recess.

Bottle preforms may be produced as an inner barrier of a bottle that comprises a polymer or other similar material that is blow molded, extruded, or otherwise expanded to a predetermined final shape, thereby resulting in bottles that are used for many different purposes, such as for containing beverages, culinary ingredients, cleaning products, beauty products, automotive products, and/or other fluids. While current methods of bottle production may utilize interior and exterior barriers, many of these current processes are inefficient in terms of material usage and result in misalignment between the barriers, causes the bottle to be structurally insecure. Accordingly, there exists a need in the industry for more efficient material usage and ensuring appropriate alignment between barriers.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Multi-barrier bottles having tabbed preforms, and methods of forming the same


Metal e-fuse structure formed during back-end-of-line during processing and integral with on-chip metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor (MIMcap). The metal e-fuse structures are extensions of MIMcap electrodes and are structured to isolate BEOL MIM capacitors for trimming and/or to isolate shorted or rendered highly leaky due to in process, or service induced defects. In one embodiment, the method incorporates the integral, co-processed metal e-fuse in series between the MIM capacitor and an active circuit. When a high current passes through the e-fuse element, the e-fuse element is rendered highly resistive or electrically open thereby disconnecting the MIM capacitor or electrode plate from the active circuitry. The e-fuse structure may comprise a thin neck portion(s) or zig-zag neck portion that extend from an MIMcap electrode away from the MIMcap between two inter-level interconnect via structures.

On-chip capacitors including metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitors are essential for many semiconductor chips. For example, MIM capacitors are frequently utilized as decoupling capacitors for mitigating power supply or switching noise caused by changes in current flowing in an integrated chip. MIM capacitors are often integrated into a back-end-of-the-line (BEOL) metallization stack, at a positon between an underlying first metallization layer and an overlying second metallization layer. When integrated, a MIM capacitor is commonly formed as a stacked structure including planar electrode plates.
Current BEOL e-fuses use Cu wire or a via as a fuse element, and due to limitations of lithographic semiconductor device processing, the Cu efuse can not be made any smaller than the minimum line width, thereby requiring higher power (larger devices) to program. As a result, there is possibility of inflicting potential severe damage during programing, thereby requiring surrounding fuse protection. This currently requires the building of e-fuses at lower metal levels, where the spacing has higher demand for signal/power wiring.

International Business Machines Corporation


A method, a device, and a non-transitory storage medium having instructions to detect a triggering event that invokes a T311 timer, while the device is in a radio resource control (RRC) connected state; and invoke an extended cell selection procedure that does not use an S criterion value as a basis to select a candidate cell to re-establish an RRC connection, based on a detection of the triggering event.

In Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology, a user equipment (UE) operates in one of two Radio Resource Control (RRC) states, namely an RRC connected state and an RRC idle state. Various Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) technical specifications define these states and the operations performed by the UE while in each state.

Extend long term evolution connected state coverage


The invention provides a method for the application of a treatment agent to a substrate, the method comprising the treatment of the pre-wetted substrate in an aqueous system comprising the solid particulate treatment agent in a closed container, the treatment being carried out at a ratio of liquor to substrate which does not exceed 2:1. Typically, the method is applied to the dyeing of textile fibres at liquor ratios of ≤1:1 and is carried out in the absence of additives conventionally included for the sole purpose of promoting dye uptake by controlling electrical interactions or otherwise enhancing interactions between the substrate and the treatment agent. The invention also provides a method for the removal of surplus treatment agents following application of said treatment agents to a substrate, said method comprising not more than three wash-off treatments of said substrate with water following said application. Said wash off process most particularly comprises a two-stage process comprising performing, in order, the steps of: a first wash-off of the treated substrate with water in a closed container at a ratio of water to substrate which does not exceed 5:1; and a second wash-off of the treated substrate with water in a closed container at a ratio of water to substrate which does not exceed 10:1.

Traditional dyeing processes of the type well known to those skilled in the art require the use of very large volumes of water. The bulk of the water present in these processes (>95%) is used for heating, rinsing, agitation, dissolution of chemicals and dye dispersion. This heavy usage of water naturally has significant environmental implications in view of the limited water resources which are available and the requirement to subsequently treat contaminated waste. Self-evidently, there are also substantial associated cost implications in terms of energy, water and process equipment.
As is well known in the coloration industry, there are vast numbers of processes available for the application of various classes of dyes to very many different fibre types. Typical dye classes include water soluble dyes such as acid dyes, basic dyes, direct dyes and reactive dyes, as well as sparingly water-soluble disperse dyes, and dyes which are solubilised during the dyeing process, for example vat dyes and sulphur dyes. All of these dyes are typically applied to textile fibres in the form of aqueous solutions or dispersions.
Amongst the fibre types coloured by such processes are included natural fibres, such as wool, cotton and silk, and man-made fibres as exemplified by cellulose acetate and lyocell, as well as synthetic fibres, for example polyesters, polyamides such as nylon, polyalkenes and polyacrylonitrile. Various blends of different fibre types, such as polyester/cotton, wool/nylon and polyester/viscose/cotton, are also coloured by such processes, often using processes which employ blends or mixtures of different classes or types of dye for each of the different fibre types present in the blended fibres.
Different conditions (pH, temperature, electrolyte; duration of treatment, liquor ratio, etc.) are currently used for the application of the various classes of dye to the different types of fibre. Amongst the commonest dyeing processes in this regard, there may be mentioned direct dyes on cotton, acid dyes on wool, reactive dyes on cotton and disperse dyes on polyester. This diversity of application method is both historical and necessary owing to the physical and chemical differences between the different fibres, and the different chemical natures of the various dyes. Consequently, markedly different conditions are required to apply the various classes of dyes to the various fibres.
Different finishes (e.g. water repellency, anti-crease, etc.) may also be applied to the dyed materials, again using different methods according to the nature of both the finish and type of fibre. Furthermore, different conditions are frequently required for the application of both dyes and finishes to the (chemically) same textile fibre depending on the particular physical form in which it is processed, including, for example, yarns, hanks, open width fabric, garment, etc.
Furthermore, various chemical pre-treatments are commonly required to prepare textile fibres for dyeing and chemical finishing. Thus, for example, scouring processes are often employed to clean the materials, especially in the case of natural fibres such as cotton and wool, whilst bleaching processes are used to reduce the yellowness of natural fibres, such as cotton, and to impart enhanced levels of whitenesss of the textile material.
As noted above, conventional dyeing methods consume vast volumes of water (typical liquor ratios being in the range of ˜4-20:1 liquor ratio, depending on the type of fibre being treated); in addition, they employ huge quantities of dyeing auxiliaries such as electrolytes, surfactants, alkalis, acids and other such materials and, thereby, generate massive quantities of wastewater which, depending on factors such as the type of dye, depth of shade, fibre type and substrate construction being used, may contain residual dyes, electrolytes, acids, alkalis, and the like, and which can display marked recalcitrance towards biodegradation, thereby presenting both environmental and economic challenges. Indeed, many processes have been developed for the treatment and disposal of dye wastewater, including traditional wastewater treatment methods such as adsorption, electrochemistry and oxidation, as well as nanofiltration, photocatalysis, irradiation and biosorption.
A previous approach to addressing the problem of high levels of water consumption has been the application of supercritical carbon dioxide dyeing techniques, wherein CO2 is heated to temperatures in the region of 120° C. and pressurised at around 20-30 MPa. These conditions cause the CO2 to swell and penetrate the fibres, as well as dissolving the dyes, thereby causing dyeing to take place in ˜60-120 minutes. However, such processes are high consumers of energy and use large volumes of CO2. Furthermore, since the technology is suitable only for non-polar disperse dyes (because polar dyes are insoluble in liquid CO2), it is of no value for the dyeing of wool, cotton, silk, etc., all of which require the use of polar dyes (e.g. the dyeing of cotton with reactive dyes). Such technology is currently under development by DyeCoo (http://www.dvecoo.com/).
An alternative strategy involves the use of ultrasound, which serves to increase dye dispersion and to degas dye solutions, thereby facilitating increased rates of dye diffusion inside textile fibres. Despite the achievement of encouraging results on a laboratory-scale during the last two decades, however, this technology has not yet proved to be attractive on a commercial scale.
A further approach has involved the development of various solvent dyeing techniques, wherein organic solvents are employed as replacements for water, or as co-solvents with water, in order to promote dyeing, especially of synthetic fibres with disperse dyes. This approach has been explored from the 1970s but, despite considerable research interest, the use of organic solvents in dyeing has not achieved commercial success, owing to the obvious concerns relating to the environment, in addition to the lack of economic and technical advantages which are associated with such an approach.
The present inventors have, therefore, sought to develop an approach that allows for significant reductions in the amount of water and dyeing auxiliaries, including various electrolytes, acids, alkalis and surfactants, which are used in the dyeing of substrates, especially textile fibres, and which also avoids the disadvantages associated with the various alternative approaches which have previously been explored. As a consequence, the inventors have succeeded in providing a process that has produced results which are comparable in quality (evenness and wash fastness) to conventional approaches, but which allow for the use of very significantly reduced amounts of water; indeed, water levels are typically reduced to ≤5-10% of the water levels used in conventional processes.
In developing this approach, the inventors have also addressed the issue of wash-off procedures for the treated substrates, most particularly dyed substrates, and have sought to provide wash-off procedures which also allow for the use of very significantly reduced amounts of water, since conventional wash-off procedures typically require the use of copious volumes of water and multiple procedural steps.
Thus, for example, a conventional wash-off process for a reactive dyed substrate would require the use of seven separate wash-baths. The Cyclanon® XC-W New process4 developed by BASF seeks to reduce the number of stages and volumes of water required for the efficient wash-off of reactive dyeings on cotton but, in the case of monochlorotriazine reactive dyes in deep shades, for example, still necessitates the use of five separate baths to achieve satisfactory wash-off. This aspect of dyeing technology is further considered in WO-A-2010/007008, which relates to a process for the washing off of reactive-dyed textile material which comprises a first rinsing step, followed by a dwelling step, which is followed in turn by a second rinsing step. However, the present inventors have sought to still further enhance wash-off processes by providing a method which drastically reduces both the volumes of water and the number of procedural steps which are required.

Method for coloration and treatment of substrates