Circuits and methods for over-current protection of pulse-width modulation systems such as switch mode class D audio systems, DC-to-DC converters, or switch mode power supplies have been disclosed. Over-current protection has been achieved by introducing supply-scalable pulses to bring the modulation index of PWM pulses to a safe level. Additionally to the over-current protection a recovery circuit and method to be applied right after an over-current situation has been disclosed.

(1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of audio amplifiers and relates more specifically to over-current protection of integrated class D audio amplifiers.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Over-current protection requirement:
Most applications require to bound output signals within some defined limits. Over-current protection is required to protect an integrated switch-mode audio power amplifier against high currents that can flow through the output devices. In switched mode audio amplifiers large output devices used for high power efficiency offer a low resistance path between the power supply (battery) and ground via load. Unbound currents can damage output devices. The damages caused by high currents inside the IC are mainly due to electro-migration in metallization tracks and bond wires. The limited power dissipation due to large DC currents within MOS devices can also be an issue.
Prior art operation:
Provided the outputs of a class-D audio amplifier (H-bridge tied load) are connected via a load (Rload>4 Ohms) and the voltage supplies remain within specification even a full scale pulse-width modulated (PWM) signal, for example 95% modulation, will not result in a output current that significantly exceeds maximum specified output current (safe maximum for output devices/metal tracks/bond-wiring). The output current Io amounts to:
            I      o        =                  M        ×        Vbat                    Rload        +        Rsw        +        Rconnect              ,wherein M is a modulation index, Vbat is a power supply voltage (e.g. a battery), R (load, sw, connect) is an impedance of load, switch device, and connect impedance.
In order to give an example of an over-current situation it has to be noted that nothing physically prevents the input's amplitude to exceed a specified range. In case the amplifier's gain is set to e.g. 6 dB, a feedback system will try to reproduce the large amplitude at the output amplified by a factor of 2. In such case, the output signal of a loop filter stage will exceed maximum or minimum values of the triangular PWM waveform causing comparators that produce the PWM signal to become saturated either one or zero for a period of time that is defined by the input signal. The PWM output stream becomes over-modulated and the outputs are consequently fixed in one state (fully ON or OFF). This produces a DC path from supply to ground via the load. Where this is the case, the current flows through the output devices according to Ohms law and a 6V supply can produce almost 1.5 A through a 4 Ohms load.
Solutions dealing with over-current detection schemes are described in following articles/patents:
Marco Berkhout describes in his article "Integrated Overcurrent Protection system for class-D audio power amplifiers" (IEEE JSSC Vol. 40, no. 11, November 2005) a series detection scheme and a parallel detection scheme:
1. Series detection scheme:
A small "sense" resistor is inserted between the power supply pin and the source of the output device. A comparator compares the voltage drop across the resistor against a reference to detect an over-current situation. The drawbacks of such a detection scheme are the following: The resistance inserted in the power path decreases efficiency, a high precision comparator and reference voltage are required, and process spread and temperature dependence of metal resistance cause inaccuracies.
2. Parallel detection
The current through the power transistor is measured indirectly by comparing its voltage drop across an output device (Vds) using the voltage drop of a N-times smaller replica transistor (parallel device with same Vgs) that is biased at a reference current. The drawbacks are current consumption and an additional chip-area required, which determines the scheme accuracy through device matching). Accuracy means low N factor that in return means large chip area and large reference current.
Furthermore Santillano (U.S. Pat. No. 6,339,360) discloses
3. Digital detection
When the input of comparators exceeds a reference triangle waveform, the pulse-width-modulated signal output by the comparators gets saturated (either high or low). A digital counter (or any other digital detection circuit) detects that the PWM is "locked" in either of these two states and inserts narrow pulses to lower the modulation index, thus lowering the current at the same time. Saturation implies that the modulation index is 100%.
Moreover the following patents deal with over-current protection:
U.S. Patent Application Publication (US 2009/0153251 to Cheng et al.) discloses a voltage detection type over current protection device, which applies to the output stage of a CMOS Class-D audio amplifier. Generally, a Class-D audio amplifier is used to drive a high-load loudspeaker; therefore, it needs a high-current driver. When there is a short circuit in the load, the high current will burn out the driver stage. The present invention detects the output voltage to indirectly monitor whether the output current is too large. Once an over current is detected, the output-stage transistor is turned off to stop high current lest the circuit be burned out.
U.S. Patent Application Publication (US 2009/0160428 to Tai) proposes an over current detection device, which uses a first NOT gate and a second NOT gate to reverse the logic states of a first digital signal and a second digital signal which are digitalized audio signals in a class D power amplifier. Next, a CMOS transistor receives the reversed digital signals and drives a load. A comparing circuit detects the current of the load and compares the current with the reversed first and second digital signals. When the current of the load is too high, the comparing circuit respectively outputs a first electrical signal and a second electrical signal to a first logic gate and a second logic gate. Then, the logic gate outputs a signal to activate a protection circuit to prevent the entire circuit be damaged or burned out.
U.S. Patent Application (U.S. Pat. No. 7,554,409 to Zhang et al.) proposes an over-current protection circuit and method for protecting switching power amplifier circuits providing protection against latch-up and other failures due to energy returned from an inductive load when one or more transistors in the amplifier output are disabled in response to an over-current condition. Upon detection of an over-current condition, the transistor corresponding to the over-current conduction direction is disabled. At the same time, the transistor corresponding to the conduction direction opposite the over-current direction is enabled for a predetermined time period, or until the magnitude of the load current has dropped, so that energy stored in inductance of the load is reduced, preventing back-currents that would otherwise cause latch-up and consequent destruction of the output stage when the switching power output stage is disabled. After the predetermined time period has elapsed or the load current has dropped below a threshold, the entire output stage is disabled.
U.S. Patent Application (U.S. Pat. No. 5,917,369 to Nguyen) discloses a pulse-width modulation (PWM) circuit in a Class D audio amplifier including output-limiting logic and an automatic gain control (AGC) circuit. When an out-of-range, or overmodulated, input signal is received by the PWM, mono-stable multivibrator circuits provide discharge pulses that ensure that the PWM output will not spend excessive time in a single state. By using discrete mono-stable multivibrators, uniform and repeatable pulses can be generated at precise intervals.
Furthermore U.S. Patent Application (U.S. Pat. No. 6,917,569 to Nguyen) discloses a Class D amplifier including a tracking circuit and a regulation circuit to provide efficient, accurate protection against excessive current flow in the power FET's of the amplifier output stage. The FET currents flowing in the output stage are mirrored across tracking resistors by the tracking circuit. The resultant voltage drops are compared to reference voltages to detect over-current situations. By mirroring scaled-down versions of the output currents, power consumption in the tracking circuit is minimized. When an over-current situation is detected, the regulation circuit modulates the duty cycle of the signal input to the output stage until the FET currents fall to acceptable levels.
U.S. Patent Application Publication (US 2008/0218152 to Bo) discloses a method for sensing the supply current of a switched DC-to-DC converter. The method sensing a first voltage that is proportional to the supply current, wherein the first voltage has first noise; outputting a second voltage that is based on the first voltage, and wherein the second voltage has second noise that is smaller than the first noise; and comparing the second voltage to a reference voltage to provide an indication of the supply current. According to the systems and methods disclosed herein, accurate current sensing is provided.

Over-current protection for a switch mode class D audio amplifier


This invention relates to architecture techniques, and more particularly to an assembled double steel-concrete composite shear wall embedded with a damping interlayer, which includes a double steel layer, a double damping interlayer and a concrete layer. The shear wall is formed by bolted bar joints. The double steel layer includes two first steel plates which are arranged along a length of the assembled double steel-concrete composite shear wall in a parallel manner and two second steel plates along a width of the assembled double steel-concrete composite shear wall. The double damping interlayer includes a first damping interlayer which locates between the first steel plates and the concrete layer and a second damping interlayer which surrounds the bolted bar joints and is surrounded by a steel tube.

Double steel-concrete composite shear wall is a new shear wall developed on the basis of single steel-concrete composite shear walls, which is capable of effectively delaying the buckling of steel plates to achieve an elastoplastic state and greatly improve the ultimate shear capacity and the lateral force resistance of the steel-concrete composite shear wall. The double steel-concrete composite shear wall has the advantages of light weight, good ductility and a fast construction speed, and concrete in corners is hard to crack. However, existing double steel-concrete composite shear walls are mainly cast in site and are weak in energy dissipation, which means the double steel-concrete composite shear wall will deform easily to consume energy when an earthquake comes. It is time-consuming and costly to either repair the wall or replace the steel plate.
The double steel-concrete composite shear wall itself is weak in resisting explosion and impact, but the out-of-plane explosion and impact resistance of the double steel-concrete composite shear wall can be improved by adding damping materials with high performance. As a viscoelastic material, rubber materials having strong elasticity, large deformation and a good barrier property are widely used in structural engineering. Currently, rubbers are mainly applied for rubber bearings and viscoelastic damping walls. The viscoelastic damping wall is an energy-consuming member with steel plates outside and a damping material inside, but it cannot function as a bearing.
After an earthquake, the double steel-concrete composite shear wall tends to deform to consume energy. Thus, such shear wall needs to be repaired when it is not seriously deformed, and when there is a serious deformation, the steel plates of the shear wall should be replaced because they cannot be repaired. Moreover, most double steel-concrete composite shear walls are cast in place, which makes it time-consuming and costly to either repair the wall or replace the steel plates.
In addition, defects of initial bending and eccentricities cannot be greatly avoided when the double steel-concrete composite shear wall adopts thin or ultrathin steel plates.

Assembled double steel-concrete composite shear wall embedded with damping interlayer and method for mounting same


A matrix-bonded carbide-containing material of high hardness is prepared using a mixture containing a matrix alloy having a composition in weight percent of from about 15 to about 45 percent chromium, from 0 to about 3 percent silicon, from about 2 to about 6 percent boron, from about 3 to about 11 percent titanium (either as metal or as a compound), balance iron and impurities, and a mass of tungsten carbide particles, the tungsten carbide particles preferably being present in an amount of from about 15 to about 60 percent by weight of the total mixture and the matrix alloy preferably being present in an amount of from about 85 to about 40 percent by weight of the total mixture. The matrix alloy is melted to produce a flowable mixture having a liquid phase and solid tungsten carbide particles, and thereafter solidified. During melting, the tungsten carbide particle size is reduced by interaction with the liquid phase. The melting can be accomplished by a conventional melt casting procedure, or by welding or other technique that produces a liquid matrix phase. The fine tungsten carbide particles produced during melting exhibit little if any settling, so that the final solidified product is macroscopically homogeneous.

This invention relates to metallurgical alloys and, more particularly, to a composite alloy containing hard tungsten carbide particles which may be processed by melting.
Many materials are subjected to wear or erosion during service in machinery, when they contact an environment containing particulate matter. A few examples from the thousands of wear-inducing situations include drill tools, pump impellers, and scraper blades. As the materials wear, increasing amounts are removed until the dimensions of the part become so reduced that it is no longer operable. The part must then be replaced or repaired, usually necessitating that the machinery be removed from service.
One of the ongoing quests in the metallurgical industry has been to identify and exploit materials that resist wear and erosion. An important class of wear-resistant materials includes metals and compounds that are very hard. These materials are useful because they physically resist the scraping action of the erosive environment.
The hardest materials that are commercially practical for large-scale use are compounds such as tungsten carbide. While such materials are very hard and hence wear resistant, they suffer from the drawback that they are usually also quite brittle. That is, even though the material can resist wear, it may fail prematurely through another mechanism such as thermal cycling that requires a degree of ductility for damage resistance. Also, it is difficult to form such compounds into a useful article shape because of their high melting points and low ductility.
To achieve a compromise between hardness and ductility that permits the formation of useful shapes, a class of composite materials has been developed wherein particles of the wear-resistant compound are embedded in a matrix of a more ductile alloy. These composite materials, sometimes called bonded carbides, thus contain two distinct and identifiable major phases, fine particles of the hard material that have low ductility, and a continuous, somewhat ductile phase that is less wear resistant than the hard particles. The most commonly used member of this class is tungsten carbide/metal composites that have tungsten carbide particles embedded in a cobalt, nickel, or metal alloy matrix.
These bonded carbide materials are formed by powder metallurgical techniques wherein particles of the hard phase are mixed with powders of the matrix phase. The two phases are pressed together at an elevated temperature below the melting point of the matrix phase in a hot pressing operation, or heated above the melting point of the matrix in a liquid phase sintering operation. The powders are thus brought into intimate contact as a single material, wherein the hard phase and the matrix each retains its own physical identity. Using powder mixing techniques, the relative amounts of the two phases can be adjusted over a wide range.
Unless the amount of the carbide phase is sufficiently great that it forms a rigid skeletal structure upon melting of the matrix, the bonded carbide materials cannot be formed by techniques that melt the matrix phase using presently available technology, because the hard particles are normally much denser than the matrix material and will sink in the melt. If the mixture is heated to a temperature above the melting point of the matrix but below the melting point of the hard particles, in those cases where a skeletal structure is not formed the hard particles settle because of their higher density, forming a layered structure that is carbide-enriched at the lowest points and carbide-depleted at the highest points. While a skeletal structure may be desirable in some instances, its formation prevents the free flow of the melted mixture, which is a desirable feature in most casting and welding operations, for example.
Material processing operations that include melting are common, and are one of the most economical and practical ways of forming useful structures. Melting operations include conventional casting, but also other techniques not commonly thought of as casting operations but in which melting occurs, such as welding. Welding is a preferred approach to forming hard facings of many wear-resistant materials to prevent erosion of underlying substrates or to repair damaged substrates, but unfortunately cannot be used for bonded carbide materials due to the necessity for flow and the resulting density segregation phenomenon. In existing approaches, if the fraction of carbide phase is sufficiently high to form a skeletal structure to prevent gravity-driven segregation, the melt will not readily flow. If the fraction of carbide phase is reduced to permit flow, gravity-driven segregation leads to an irregular and nonhomogeneous microstructure.
For many applications there is a need for a bonded carbide material that can be processed by operations that include melting of the matrix phase and free flowing movement of the melted composite. Cast wear-resistant parts and welded hard facings of such materials would then be practical. Such a material would desirably permit a variation of the content of the hard phase over a range of values and would have a matrix that is itself wear resistant to avoid undercutting of the hard particles in the wear-producing environment. The present invention fulfills this need, and further provides related advantages.

Tungsten carbide-containing hard alloy that may be processed by melting


A network virtualization layer for an information handling system in which a physical machine coupled to a network is divided into a plurality of logical partitions, each of which has a host system residing thereon. In response to receiving a set command from one of the host systems specifying a data link layer (layer 2) address, the virtualization layer associates the data link layer address with the host system and forwards to the host system data packets specifying the data link layer address as a destination address. Unicast packets are forwarded to the single host system specifying the destination address as an individual MAC address, while multicast packets are forwarded to each host system specifying the destination address as a group MAC address. A host system may also specify a virtual LAN (VLAN) ID, which is used to scope the forwarding of packets to host systems sharing that VLAN ID.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for the virtualization of a data link layer (layer 2) connectivity for hosts residing in a virtualized networking environment. More particular, the invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing network virtualization in an information handling system in which a physical machine coupled to a network is divided into a plurality of logical partitions, each of which has a host system residing thereon.
2. Description of the Related Art
The IBM Open Systems Adapter (OSA) is a hardware element that interfaces between an IBM S/390 or zSeries processor and a network, which may be a private network within an enterprise, a public network, or a combination of both. References that describe the Open Systems Adapter include the following patents, patent applications and publications, incorporated herein by reference:                U.S. Pat. No. 6,772,221, Ratcliff et al., "Dynamically configuring and monitoring hosts connected in a computing network having a gateway device"        U.S. Pat. No. 6,600,743, Lee et al., "IP multicast interface"        U.S. Pat. No. 6,490,285, Lee et al., "IP multicast interface"        U.S. Pat. No. 6,389,027, Lee et al., "IP multicast interface"        U.S. Pat. No. 6,327,621, Lee et al., "Method for shared multicast interface in a multi-partition environment"        U.S. Pat. No. 6,185,218, Ratcliff et al., "Communication method and apparatus for use in a computing network environment having high performance LAN connections"        U.S. Pat. No. 6,084,859, Ratcliff et al., "Internet Protocol assists using multi-path channel protocol"        U.S. Pat. No. 6,014,699, Ratcliff et al., "Internet Protocol assists for high performance LAN connections"        U.S. Pat. No. 6,006,261, Ratcliff et al., "Internet Protocol assists using multi-path channel protocol"        U.S. Pat. No. 6,003,080, Ratcliff et al., "Internet Protocol assists using multi-path channel protocol"        U.S. Pat. No. 5,999,974, Ratcliff et al., "Internet Protocol assists for high performance LAN connections"        U.S. Pat. No. 5,987,515, Ratcliff et al., "Internet Protocol assists using multi-path channel protocol"        U.S. Pat. No. 5,974,049, Ratcliff et al., "Internet Protocol assists for high performance LAN connections"        U.S. Pat. No. 5,740,438, Ratcliff et al., "Methods and system for network communications of multiple partitions"        U.S. Patent Appl. Pub. 2002/0075878, Lee et al., "IP Multicast Interface"        U.S. Patent Appl. Pub. 2002/0029286, Gioquindo et al., "Communication between multiple partitions employing host-network interface"        OSA-Express Implementation Guide, IBM Redbooks, SG24-5948-02, January 2003        OSA-Express for IBM eServer zSeries and S/390, IBM, G221-9110-03, April 2004
A great deal of effort has been expended recently on the consolidation of server workloads onto enterprise-class servers such as the IBM eServer zSeries servers. Such consolidation can produce considerable efficiencies of utilization, since the individual workloads tend to average out on a large server. However, such server consolidation efforts and the cost of high-speed network adapters (i.e., TCP/IP offload and 10 Gb/s) are also driving the need for network virtualization. That is to say, users of enterprise computing systems want a single physical network interface card (NIC) to support multiple servers. However, in an environment that has hundreds if not thousands of servers, each of which needs to have dual network connect capabilities for failover, the complexity and cost of having dual NICs per server image is no longer practical. To be successful and provide a solution which can support a large, heterogeneous consolidated server environment, the network virtualization layer must be protocol independent. A high percentage of the traffic into the consolidated server will be TCP/IP traffic, but there will still be some servers that require non-TCP/IP protocols to flow. User requirements often specify that a connection support network connectivity both for TCP/IP protocols and for non-TCP/IP protocols.
The present invention provides a protocol-independent solution that bridges virtual and physical layer 2 communications into a single seamless networking fabric.

Method and apparatus for providing network virtualization

International Business Machines Corporation


Embodiments of the invention are directed to detecting an abnormality in head flying height. In one embodiment, an AGC controller establishes the gain of the reproduced signal through gain adjustment using the servo AGC of the servo signal. A digital filter performs filtering processing by use of the obtained gain data g and the gain data of previous sectors. A comparative judgment section obtains filtered gain data G from the digital filter and compares the gain data G with a reference value CRITERIA to determine whether the flying height is normal or abnormal. If the gain G is larger than the reference value CRITERIA, then the data write operation is inhibited. The filter parameters of the digital filter are programmable parameters which can be set and changed.

The present invention relates to a data storage device and a control method therefor, and more particularly to a data storage device which determines whether the flying height of each head is normal, and a control method therefor.
Known data storage devices use various types of media such as optical disks and magnetic tapes. Among these data storage devices are hard disk drives (HDDs), which have been widely used as storage for computers and are now essential storage devices in computer systems. Their applications, however, are not limited to computers. Due to their superior characteristics, HDDs have found application in an increasing number of fields. For example, they have been used in video recording/reproducing apparatuses and recording/reproducing apparatuses for car navigation systems and also used as removable storage (memory) for digital cameras.
A HDD comprises: at least one magnetic disk for storing data; at least one head device portion for writing/reading data to/from the magnetic disk; at least one slider to which the head device is fixed; and an actuator for holding the slider and moving the head device portion to a desired position over the magnetic disk. A voice coil motor rotates the actuator around a pivot so as to move the head in a radial direction over the rotating magnetic disk. This allows the head device portion to access a desired track formed on the magnetic disk to read/write data.
The actuator has a resilient suspension to which the slider is fixed. The pressure (to the head device portion) generated due to the viscosity of the air between the rotating magnetic disk and the ABS (Air Bearing Surface) surface of the slider facing the magnetic disk balances with the pressure applied (to the head device portion) by the actuator toward the magnetic disk, causing the head device portion to float above the magnetic disk with a certain gap therebetween. Such a gap between the head device portion and the magnetic disk is referred to as a head flying height.
In some cases, the head flying height becomes abnormally high while the HDD is operating. This phenomenon is considered to be attributed to thermal asperity on the magnetic disk, a disturbance in the air bearing due to dust, or an external shock. If the head device portion floats abnormally high, the level of the magnetic signal applied from the head device portion to the magnetic disk decreases. If a write operation is performed at that time, the data may be properly written, or no data may be written at all.
To prevent occurrence of such an error in a write operation, a technique has been proposed which detects the head flying height based on the servo gain and inhibits the data write operation when the flying height is abnormal (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-229637). In the HDD, the read signal read out from the magnetic disk is amplified to a certain potential through AGC (Automatic Gain Control). The level of the read signal read by the head device portion is inversely proportional to the head flying height. Therefore, the higher the flying height, the larger the gain of the AGC. The technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-229637 monitors the gain of the AGC for amplification of the servo signal at the start of a write operation and compares its value with a reference value to detect an abnormality in the head flying height. If the flying height is determined to be abnormal, the technique inhibits the data write operation.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 09-139040 (1997) discloses a system for monitoring changes in the head flying height based on the AGC voltage of the AGC circuit of the data reproduction processing circuit which receives the reproduced signal obtained when data stored on a disk is read out by the head and which performs predetermined data reproduction processing. The CPU compares the input AGC voltage with threshold value data DT stored in memory, and if the voltage falls outside a permissible range, the CPU outputs a flying height change detection signal FS indicating occurrence of an abnormal change in the head flying height. Further, the system disclosed measures the AGC voltage CV corresponding to the reproduced signal from the head and compares an average value CVa of the AGC voltage CV with the threshold value data DT to determine whether the AGC voltage CV falls within a permissible range indicated by the threshold value data DT.

Data storage device and control method therefor involving flying height

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.


A cyclic organic compound which comprises 16 amino acids or 17 amino acids and has no carboxyl group C-terminally and/or no amino group N-terminally. Optionally, one of the amino acids is a nonnatural amino acid. The ring closure is formed between a side chain of one amino acid and the C-terminus of another amino acid, or the ring closure is effected with the aid of a nonnatural amino acid. A process for producing and using the compound for regulating vectorial ion channels, for treating diseases associated with the lung function and for treating oedemas is provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to organic compounds and pharmaceutical preparations thereof which are suitable for the regulation of vectorial ion channels, of diseases associated with the lung function and for the treatment of oedemas.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The fluid transport through cell layers and tissue is primarily based on an osmotic gradient by a vectorial ion transport, e.g., sodium transport. It is accomplished mainly by strictly regulated and vitally important ion channels such as, e.g., the epithelial sodium channel complex (ENaC) (Ware L. B. and Matthay M. A. New England J Med 2001; 342/18: 1334-1359. Matthay et al., Am J Physiol 1996; 270:L487-L503; Berthiaume Y. and Matthay M. A. Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology 159 (2007) 350-359). Water passively follows this gradient, inter alia, through special water channels such as the water channel Aquaporin V. Therefore, a medicinal regulation of the vectorial ion transport through cells and tissue would result in the possibility of controlling the fluid content of tissues as well as of preventively or therapeutically treating diseases which are associated with an accumulation of fluid in the tissue.
If an oedema is mentioned, a pathological accumulation of fluid in an organ such as, e.g., in the lungs, but also in the brain or in the skin, is meant. An oedema in the lungs is called a pulmonary oedema. The pulmonary oedema is mostly based on an imbalance between fluid extravasation and fluid resorption. Very often, the permeability of the lung tissue is also damaged so that an increased fluid supply occurs and the fluid accumulates in the pulmonary alveoli.
A pulmonary oedema as a result of a lack of return transport of fluid from the pulmonary alveoli into the interstice is particularly significant for an Acute Lung Injury, ALI, for the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, ARDS, for the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), for pneumonia, for influenza and for other bacterially and virally induced lung diseases. However, the pulmonary oedema also plays a significant part in other lung diseases such as respiration-induced lung injuries, lung transplants, transfusion-associated lung injuries, therapeutical administration of IL-2 or asthma.
As a result of an increased fluid accumulation in the tissue or organ, e.g., in the lungs, the required gas exchange is impeded or completely restricted. No oxygen from the breathing air reaches the blood so that life-threatening organ damages may occur due to oxygen deficiency.
Lucas et al (Lucas R et al. Science 1994, 263: 814) describe a peptide which is derived from the regions Ser(99) to Glu(116) of the tumour necrosis factor and is supposed to control the fluid content in the pulmonary alveoli.
Said peptide comprising the sequences SEQ ID NO: 10 CGQRETPEGAEKPWYC is also the subject matter of WO00/09149.
A peptide also for controlling the fluid content in the alveoli and comprising the sequence SEQ ID NO: 11 CGTKPIELGPDEPKAVC is included in EP 2 009 023, and a peptide comprising the sequence SEQ ID NO: 12 LSPGQRETPEGAEAKPWYE is included in WO2009/073909.
So far, there has been no selective and medically usable therapy or treatment for the regulation of vectorial ion channels in cells and tissues, in particular for the regulation of vectorial ion channels of the lung tissue. Neither has there been so far a selective therapy for the regulation of the vectorial ion transport in the lungs and in particular for the treatment of pulmonary oedemas. Quite generally, it is attempted to give artificial respiration to patients suffering from pulmonary oedemas in order to ensure the supply of oxygen to the blood and thus to the organs.

Organic compound for the regulation of vectorial ion channels


Wind turbine (1) comprising a rotor (2) around a rotation shaft (3), having a plurality of blades (4) at a distance around the rotation shaft (3), in which the blades (4) can drive the rotor (2); a cavity (10) which extends between the ends (15) of the blades (4) closest to the rotation shaft (3); a plurality of vanes (5) around the rotor (2) for guiding wind to the blades (4), in which the vanes (5) extend from the ends (14) of the blades (4) furthest from the rotation shaft (3) to a second end (16) of the vanes (5). The vanes (5) and blades (4) merge into each other at the same curvature mathematically tangentially in a plane at right angles to the rotation shaft (3) and the curvature of the vanes (5) is described by a part of a logarithmic spiral.

Such a wind turbine is also described in US 2002/109358 A1. US 2002/109358 A1 describes a wind turbine with a rotor and a plurality of vanes. The rotor is rotatably arranged around the rotation shaft of the wind turbine according to a rotating movement around the rotation shaft. A plurality of blades is point-symmetrically fitted around the rotation shaft. The blades are arranged such that they can drive the rotor according to the rotating movement around the rotation shaft under the effect of the wind. The blades extend from one end to only a distance from the rotation shaft and thus delimit a cavity which comprises the rotation shaft. The wind turbine also comprises a plurality of vanes. The vanes are arranged point-symmetrically around the hollow rotor in order to guide wind to the blades of the rotor. The wind which is guided to the rotor by the vanes drives the hollow rotor according to the rotating movement. The vanes extend virtually from the ends of the blades to an end of the vanes.
Another such wind turbine is described in WO 2006/095369 A1.
However, it has been found that such wind turbines are not sufficiently efficient.
It is therefore also an object of the present invention to provide such a wind turbine with increased efficiency.
This is achieved by a wind turbine of the present invention.
To this end, when the vanes and the blades are in line with one another, they merge into each other at their adjacent ends at virtually the same curvature virtually mathematically tangentially in a plane virtually at right angles to the rotation shaft. In addition, the curvature of the blades, at the location of their first ends, extends radially to the rotation shaft in this plane and the curvature of the vanes in this plane is described by a part of a virtually logarithmic spiral, also known as a "spira mirabilis".
A logarithmic spiral is a spiral which substantially satisfies the formula in polar coordinates r=a exp(b θ) in which r is the radius measured from the origin, θ is the angle measured from a half-line with boundary point in the origin and a and b are random positive real values. The value b is also referred to as the growth factor.
Since the vanes and the blades, when they are in line with each other, merge into each other at the ends of the blades at virtually the same curvature virtually mathematically tangentially in a plane virtually at right angles to the rotation shaft, it has been found that a more continuous and permanent laminar wind flow can be achieved in the direction towards the blades of the rotor. In such a flow, no wind energy is lost due to, for example, turbulences caused by, for example, a transition between the vanes and the blades at the ends of the blades which is entirely not mathematically tangential and/or does not have the same curvature at all.
In the context of the present invention, mathematically tangential means that the first derivative of the curve of the blades and the vanes is constant at the transition between the blades and the vanes in the virtually horizontal plane.
In addition, it has been found that, due to the curvature of the vanes in the plane virtually at right angles to the rotation shaft described by a virtually logarithmic spiral, a further improvement of the laminarity of the wind flow towards the rotor can be achieved.
Although the velocity of the wind which drives the rotor can be increased by guiding the wind over the vanes, in which case the vanes are curved in such a manner that the vanes compress a volume of wind at a certain velocity to a smaller volume of wind at a greater velocity, it has been found that such an increase of the wind velocity is associated with a loss of laminarity of the wind, again resulting in a loss of energy to turbulence and often the required rotary velocity of the rotor can again not be reached.
However, by using the vanes and the blades according to the present invention, the inventor has found that the vanes make it possible to increase the velocity of the wind present around the wind turbine without significantly disturbing the laminarity of the wind, so that it becomes possible still to increase the rotary velocity of the rotor at the naturally occurring wind velocities. If necessary, the vanes may rotate around the rotation shaft of the rotor with respect to the rotor depending on the direction of the wind in order to make better use of the wind velocities present.
It has been found that, by using the wind turbine according to the present invention, a relatively small rotating rotor can still produce a relatively large amount of rotary energy.
Due to the cavity in the rotor which extends between the first ends of the blades, it has been found that, above a certain wind velocity, the rotary velocity rotor suddenly increases at an otherwise steady increase in wind velocity. Without wishing to be bound by any theory, it is assumed that from a certain critical, rotary-dependent rotary velocity of the hollow rotor, which is caused by the wind which is supplied, such an underpressure is created in the cavity of the hollow rotor that the rotary velocity of the hollow rotor increases to a greater degree at an increased wind velocity than before the critical rotary velocity is reached. Although the effect of the critical rotary velocity for the efficiency of a hollow rotor is already known from pumps in which the hollow rotor is driven in a rotating movement in order to be able to suck up a volume of fluid, this critical rotary velocity has not yet been described for wind turbines.
However, it has been found that, under common wind conditions on earth, this critical rotary velocity can only be achieved with difficulty, if at all, by wind turbines with a hollow rotor without increasing the natural wind velocity present by means of vanes having a curvature according to the present invention, thus limiting the efficiency of wind turbines.

Windturbine and building having such a wind turbine


A baler for baling polystyrene material which has high bulk and low weight for subsequent recycling. The baler includes a ram which provides significant penetration over repeated cycles to compress the polystyrene into a bale, which is subsequently ejected through a bale door of the baler. The baler can either be manually controlled or automatically controlled, such as by an algorithm stored in programmable logic controller. Feedback systems measure the length of travel of the ram and the pressure of the ram determine the status of baling operation, and can automatically provide for ejection of the baled material. The bale can either be manually strapped, automatically strapped, and in some events, no strapping of the bale is required. The polystyrene material is chopped by a chopper system on the baler to break the material into smaller sections for baling. The baler has been specially designed to uniformly densify and bale most poly foam materials in a high production environment. The high pressure hydraulic system delivers powerful compaction force, enough to compress polystyrene foam past most material's form memory. The compression ram travels to the bale ejection door to deliver uniform material compaction from the first cycle to the hale's last. Other material can be baled by the baler.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is for a baler, and more particularly, pertains to a baler for expanded or foamed polystyrene.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Prior art balers have not been practical for baling polystyrene, or poly foam because the ram did not have sufficient penetration through the baling chamber, and therefore, could not compress the material sufficiently. Therefore, high-volume and low-mass materials generally were very difficult to bale because of the lack of suitable ram penetration in the baling chamber. Bales made with prior art balers were unstable and tended to come apart even with careful handling.
Expanded polystyrene is a material of particular concern to environmentalists, as the material is of high volume and low mass, and is taking up considerable space in landfills. Polystyrene is used to package a wide assortment of products, such as washers, dryers, refrigerators, other household appliances, TVs, audiovisual equipment, model trains, and just about any other type of product which is shipped in a box. The packaging can range from small blocks measured in inches, to large shapes measured in feet. Polystyrene also comes in what is referred to as peanuts, spaghetti or denoted with other cute names, and is used as packing material to protect goods in boxes against damage in transit.
The wide diversity of sizes and shapes of polystyrene complicates the baling problem. Of course, it would be possible to sort polystyrene waste according to size and density, but this adds expense and complicates the salvage process.
The subsequent disposal of polystyrene is of very serious concern to the environmentalists, who in the past have had no real recourse but to see this type of packing material buried in landfills, wasting landfill space, which is now considered a precious, non-renewable natural resource.
The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a baling system for polystyrene packing material, where the bales of the polystyrene can then be recycled which saves, protects and preserves the environment.


A method of continuously regenerating a metal containing acid solution enhanced with a salt-free material. The metal dissolved in a bulk metal containing acid solution is continuously oxidized by introducing a gas into a packed reaction vessel. The packed reaction vessel is in operative relationship with the bulk acid solution for recirculating regenerated solution and for receiving spent solution. The gas is introduced substantially cocurrently with the spent acid solution.

The present invention relates to a method of regenerating a solution and, more particularly, to a method of regenerating an acid etching solution which is enhanced with a salt-free material.
Cupric chloride solutions have conventionally been used to etch printed circuits. The chemical formulation for cupric chloride is Cu.sup.(+2) Cl.sub.2. The usual etching procedure involves placing a resist pattern over a sheet of copper laminated to one or both sides of a plastic/glass cloth core. The masked copper laminate is then brought into contact with the etching solution which dissolves the exposed copper and leaves behind the copper which is protected by the resist pattern. When the cupric chloride etches away the copper from the laminated substrate, cuprous chloride is produced in accordance with the following etching reaction: EQU Cu.sup.(0) +Cu.sup.(+2) Cl.sub.2 .fwdarw.2Cu.sup.(+1) Cl
In order to continue the etching process, the cuprous chloride must be regenerated to the cupric chloride form before it is again suitable as an etching agent. To regenerate cuprous chloride, it must be oxidized.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,306,792 issued to Thurmel et al teaches a regeneration method in which etching and regeneration occur in separate devices. Oxidation of a salt-based (ammonium chloride) cupric chloride solution is accomplished by sparging air into a separate vessel containing the solution.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,705,061 issued to King teaches an apparatus for continuously regenerating an alkaline etch solution used to dissolve copper from substrates. The continuous reduction/oxidation (redox) process is accomplished by means of spraying the alkaline etch solution countercurrently with air into a reaction vessel.
These oxidation processes are very inefficient for regeneration of large volumes of dissolved copper. Typically the reactions occur at an unacceptable rate for industry.
Other typical methods for regeneration (oxidation) include the addition of chlorine gas in accordance with the following regeneration reaction: EQU Cu.sup.(+1) Cl +1/2 Cl.sub.2 .fwdarw.Cu.sup.(+2) Cl.sub.2
or by the addition of liquid hydrogen peroxide in accordance with the following regeneration reaction: EQU Cu.sup.(+1) Cl +1/2 H.sub.2 O.sub.2 .fwdarw.Cu.sup.(+2) Cl.sub.2 +H.sub.2 O
Either of the aforementioned last two methods can regenerate large capacity etching systems, some of which being capable of etching at a rate of up to 12,000 grams of copper/hour. The speed of these regeneration processes is due to the great speed with which both chlorine and hydrogen peroxide react with cuprous chloride.
There are, however, serious drawbacks associated with the use of conventional methods of regenerating cuprous chloride when industrial environments are contemplated. One of the drawbacks involves handling difficulty. Chlorine gas is typically delivered in 2,000 lb. containers. Great effort must be exercised to move such volumes of the poisonous gas safely.
Toxicity poses a second drawback. Concentrated hydrogen peroxide (30%) that must be added to bulk systems represents a safety hazard to humans for two main reasons: not only is hydrogen peroxide highly corrosive to skin, but contamination of hydrogen peroxide can lead to its rapid decomposition and violent explosion.
It would be advantageous to provide a method of regenerating metal etching solutions safely.
It would further be advantageous to provide a method of regenerating metal etching solutions in an efficient manner for large scale manufacturing operations.
It would also be advantageous to provide a method of regenerating cupric chloride etching solutions without endangering human welfare.
It would further be advantageous to provide a method of regenerating cupric chloride etching solutions by the use of a packed reaction vessel.
It would also be advantageous to provide a method of regenerating cupric chloride etching solutions by introducing an oxygen containing gas cocurrently with spent acid solution.
Air oxidation of a cupric chloride solution has never been preferred by industry because of its processing inefficiencies. The equation of an air regeneration reaction is: EQU 2Cu.sup.(+1) Cl +2HCl +1/2 O.sub.2 .fwdarw.2Cu.sup.(+2) Cl.sub.2 +H.sub.2 O
The oxidation reaction using air is much slower than that of chlorine because oxygen is less soluble than chlorine in cupric chloride solution. Moreover, the air oxidation reaction mechanism involves several intermediate steps unlike chlorine oxidation which is a direct bi-molecular reaction.

Continuous regeneration of acid solution

International Business Machines Corporation


A patient assistant device is provided which includes a base, an upright support and a handrail. The base is configured and sized so that a patient's feet are supported thereon during transition from a sitting to a standing position. The device preferably includes a plurality of upright supports and rails, with the rails positioned to allow the patient to stand up and hold on to one or both rails before moving away with the assistance of a cane, walker or the like. The device hereof also includes a coupling member for connecting the device in fixed relationship to a bed, chair or other article of furniture.

1. Field of the Invention
This application concerns a device for assisting patients during movement from a sitting or reclining position to a stance for walking. More particularly, it is concerned with a device which can be fixed relative to a bed, chair or like piece of furniture and provide a ready handrail for grasping by the patient.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A variety of devices have been developed to allow medical patients or the elderly to walk with support. Devices such as crutches, canes and so-called walkers are well-known, the latter typically being advanced step by step in front of the user and including four legs and one or more cross-rails for grasping. Because of the need for portability, all of these devices are lightweight and limited in the amount of stability they can provide.
However, elderly or infirm individuals, as well as those patients suffering from a hip, knee, leg or foot injury, often face severe difficulty in moving between a standing position and a reclining or seated position. The patient would typically like to use his or her arm to provide strength and stability to attain a stance, but often this proves impossible because of the absence of any sort of support. For example, the patient may try to push off the bed or chair, but fails to achieve sufficient height to stand. Even if a stance is attained, the fear of falling due to any available stable support may prove frightening. The patient's cane or walker may simply be too unstable during the transition from the sitting to the standing position.
There is thus a real need for a patient assist device which can be used with beds or chairs for allowing a patient to use his or her hands for support during the transition from the sitting to the standing position. In addition, such a device will preferably be stable, yet avoid the necessity for bolting or other permanent affixation to the structure. Furthermore, there is a need for a patient assist device which will allow the patient to move easily and without difficulty to access his or her mobility support such as a crutch, cane or walker.


A shaft support structure for a vehicle, capable of enhancing a degree of freedom for setting an assembly process of a to-be-supported member without the necessity of a dedicated tool. A collar is screwed in an internally threaded hole of one of pivot plates attached to a body frame with the collar being tightened using cut grooves formed at one end thereof. A gap is formed between the pivot plates and a pivot pipe as a to-be-supported member is adjusted. The pivot pipe is supported by the body frame via the support bolt with a washer being provided on the seating surface of the head section of the support bolt in the pivot plate. The washer is provided with projecting portions to be engaged with the cut grooves of the collar and is formed with outer circumferential cut grooves to be engaged with a given rotary tool.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a shaft support structure for a vehicle such as a motorcycle.
2. Description of Background Art
A conventional shaft support structure is known wherein a vehicle component such as a to-be-supported member is supported by a body frame through a shaft-like support bolt. In this structure, a pair of left and right shaft support portions is provided on the body frame. The shaft support portions are each formed with an insertion hole for the support bolt. One of the insertion holes serves as an internally threaded hole formed with an internal thread on the internal circumference thereof. In addition, a collar is formed with an external thread on the external circumference thereof and is screwed in the internally threaded hole so as to enable the insertion of the support bolt therethrough. The collar is tightened by engaging a rotary tool with cut grooves formed at one end thereof. Thus, a gap between each of the shaft support portions and the to-be-supported member is adjusted based on the amount of tightening. See, Japanese Patent No. 3452847.
In addition, in the above conventional configuration, the collar is tightened by inserting a rotary tool into the internally threaded hole. Therefore, a dedicated rotary tool capable of being inserted into the internally threaded hole is needed in some cases. If the support bolt is inserted from the internally threaded hole side (the collar side), the head section of the support bolt will cover the cut grooves of the collar. For example, when the to-be-supported member is temporarily assembled at a supporting position, the support bolt cannot be inserted from the internally threaded side, which may prove to be a limitation with respect to an assembly process.


A method and apparatus are disclosed for preprocessing and storing image attributes for the accelerated display of medical images in medical applications. In at least one embodiment, the method includes: assigning image attributes to a medical image, which are characteristic of a medical application which generates a specific visual display of the medical image; adjusting the medical image in accordance with the image attributes; storing the adjusted medical image together with the image attributes; calling up a further or the same medical application, which requires a visual display of the medical image; checking whether the required image attributes for the visual display correspond to the stored image attributes; calling up the stored, modified medical image in the case of a similar or identical correspondence of the image attributes; and visually displaying the recalled medical image.

High demands are placed on the visual display and processing in medical applications in order to be able to represent large medical images and/or image data. Although the final display is comparatively small, large source data is processed and immediate image results are expected. In the medical field, a so-called client server architecture prevails for the processing, display and storage of medical images. This means that large image data is frequently transferred to and fro between the users, i.e. a client computer, and a server, i.e. a central unit. If adjustments are to be made to the image characteristics on the client side, image data is frequently called up from the server in the direction of the client and vice versa, which is costly in terms of time and resources.

Method and apparatus for preprocessing and storing image attributes for the accelerated display of medical images in medical applications


A hydrocarbon vapor detection instrument includes a hydrocarbon vapor detector, with conductivity proportional to contiguous airborne concentration of hydrocarbon vapor. The instrument further includes electronic circuitry providing an electrical signal proportional to the vapor detector conductivity and to a switch-selected sensitivity setting. The instrument further includes indicators to signal recharging status while a power switch is off and an external power supply is recharging the battery, namely that the battery is partially or fully charged and if the battery temperature is excessive, to signal that operating power is on, to signal that a low battery condition exists, and to signal different concentrations of hydrocarbon vapor. For the last of these, indicator position on a housing corresponds to vapor concentration. The instrument further includes an audible indication of power-on status and vapor concentration, changing with vapor concentration.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to detection of hydrocarbon vapor in air. More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus configured to sense selected concentrations of particular gases and to provide a user of such apparatus with information relating to the concentration of the particular gas or gases sensed.
2. Description of the Related Art
Several styles of detectors are available for use, for example, in the automobile repair industry. Such detectors include those for halogenated hydrocarbons, particularly air conditioning coolants, for carbon dioxide, for carbon monoxide, for unburned gasoline components in an exhaust stream, and for a variety of others. Automobile systems include other sensors, such as intake mass density, oxygen content in exhaust, and the like, that are used in conjunction with a processor to permit dynamic adjustment of fuel/air mixture, for example, in order to prevent preignition, compensate for altitude, etc.
Rapid detection of several relatively low specific gravity combustible gases at low concentrations is desirable and has been possible with varying success and convenience. Existing apparatus for this function may be physically large and/or heavy, may have relatively poor sensitivity in terms of concentration or variety of gases the apparatus can detect, may provide limited information regarding hazard severity, may respond slowly to changes in concentration, may halt operation with scant warning, may allow only short battery life, may require repeated replacement of short-lived single-use (i.e., primary) batteries, etc.
Any instrument in this general category that is to be used in work environments having potential to endanger health and life of users must be approved by a recognized testing agency for the country or geographic region of use. For example, in the United States, Underwriters Laboratories® is authorized to perform testing and certification that allows specific instruments to be used in workshops that operate under the purview of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and certain other Federal agencies. Equivalent approvals are required in most countries or regions (the latter including the European Union).
What is desired in the art is a compact, highly sensitive combustible gas detection apparatus.

Hydrocarbon vapor detector apparatus and method


Provided is a wafer prober. The wafer probing stage of the wafer prober includes: a lower plate; a plurality of lifting pillars mounted on an upper surface of the lower plate; and an upper plate mounted on upper ends of the plurality of lifting pillars, wherein the plurality of lifting pillars are located between the upper plate and the lower plate and ends of the lifting pillars are configured to lift up and down in a vertical direction, and wherein a height and a slope of the upper plate are adjusted according to heights of the lifting pillars. The wafer probing stage can adjust a height of the chuck arranged on the upper plate and a slope or flatness of the chuck by adjusting a height of each lifting pillar according to a weight applied to each lifting pillar.

A wafer prober, which is a semiconductor inspection equipment, is a device that checks the presence or absence of defects by inspecting electrical characteristics of semiconductor devices fabricated on a wafer immediately before entering a post-process for the wafer having all semiconductor pre-processes completed.
In general, the wafer prober includes a stage which is capable of driving in vertical and horizontal directions, a chuck which is mounted on the stage and in which a wafer is mounted on an upper surface, an electrical test device which inspects the wafer, and a probe card which is connected to the test device to be in contact with the wafer.
The probes of the probe card range from dozens of pins for electrical inspection to tens of thousands of pins, but these probes are commonly connected to the electrical test device, and the electrical test device is mechanically fastened to the top plate of the base frame. As described above, since the probe card connected to the electrical test device is fastened to the top plate of the fixed frame, the probes of the probe card always retain fixed positions and states. That is, the probe of the probe card is located invariably at the initial fixed position, and the chuck moves up/down and left/right by the movement of the stage to be in contact with the probe.
Meanwhile, the stage arranged on the bottom of the chuck is configured with a horizontal movement mechanism, a vertical movement mechanism, and a rotating mechanism, and serves to move the chuck to an arbitrary point desired. The horizontal movement mechanism is configured with a Y-axis stage that moves the chuck in the front-rear direction and an X-axis stage that moves the chuck in the left-right direction, and the vertical movement mechanism is configured with a Z-axis stage that moves the chuck in the up-down direction.
Each of the horizontal and vertical movement mechanisms in the related art includes a base frame, a Y-axis stage mounted on the base frame, an X-axis stage mounted on the Y-axis stage, and a Z-axis stage mounted on the X-axis stage. That is, the horizontal and vertical movement mechanism in the related art is configured with a structure where a Y-axis stage, an X-axis stage, and a Z-axis stage are sequentially stacked on the base frame.
The vertical movement mechanism in the related art is configured with a Z-axis stage configured with a single lifting pillar, and the height of the chuck is adjusted as the vertical movement mechanism moves up and down in the up-down direction.
On the other hand, in the wafer prober in the related art, in the case of inspecting at the edge of the chuck, the chuck is distorted by being exerted with an eccentric weight. Theoretically, the chuck is necessarily designed to have a structure of no twist and to have rigidity, but in reality, the chuck is distorted by an eccentric weight. In reality, in a state where the probes of the probe card are fixed, the Z-axis stage, which is the vertical movement mechanism, is allowed to move up, so that, when the wafer placed on the chuck on the Z-axis stage is to be brought into contact with the probe, a contact weight is applied to the wafer and the surface of the chuck by the contacting probes. At this time, the chuck cannot be tolerated, and the surface of the chuck is tilted to be distorted, resulting in an undesired slope, and as a result, a portion of the probes of the probe card cannot be properly in contact, resulting in a contact failure.
Like this, as the single Z-axis stage moves up, the eccentric weight is generated and the slope is generated in the chuck by the contact of the probes of the probe card with some regions of the wafer mounted on the chuck. In order to solve this problem, it is necessary to adjust the slope of the chuck so that the chuck retains flatness.
However, as the vertical movement mechanism of the wafer prober in the related art is configured with only the Z-axis stage configured with a single lifting pillar, there is a problem in that it is difficult to adjust the slope of the chuck as well as not providing adequate rigidity for the entire area of the chuck.


A dust collection system includes a housing defining an inlet and an outlet. A fan is situated within the housing to move air from the inlet to the outlet, and a filter is removably attached to the housing to collect dust entering the housing. To prevent dust from escaping the filter when it is removed from the housing for cleaning or disposal a cover is removably attached to the filter when it is desired to remove the filter. To insure the cover is available the next time it is necessary to remove the dust-laden filter, the cover may be attachable to the housing for storage thereon.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of disposable filters for airborne particle collection units, and more specifically to a device and method for the clean disposal of filters using a cover.
2. Description of Related Art
Airborne particle collection systems typically employ filters to remove particles from the air as it is passed into an intake of the filter and through the filter. The particle collection unit is typically hung from the ceiling or placed on a work surface. Units may collect particles such as general dust, saw dust, fine shavings, airborne fibers and the like. After the unit has been operating for a significant length of time in a particle-laden environment, the accumulated particles within the filter prohibit airflow through the filter. At this point, the filter requires cleaning or disposal. As the filter is removed from the collection unit and handled during the procedure, the collected particles can escape from the intake of the filter and become airborne again.
The present invention presents a solution to the problem previously described by closing the intake of the filter and preventing the captured particles from escaping during this service procedure.
In one aspect of the present invention, a filter device for use in a particle collection unit includes a frame defining an intake end, with a filter member connected to the frame for collecting particles entering the intake. A cover removably attachable to the intake end of the frame to prevent particles from escaping the filter device through the intake end, for example, when a user removes the filter to empty dust therefrom. Further, the cover may be removably attachable to the particle collection unit for storage thereon, insuring it is available to a user desiring to empty dust from the filter. In certain embodiments of the invention, a magnet is used to removably attach the cover to the collection unit. The cover may attach to the intake end of the frame, for example, by sliding the cover into a channel defined by the frame.
In other aspects of the invention, a dust collection system has a housing defining an inlet and an outlet. A fan is situated within the housing to move air from the inlet to the outlet, and a filter is removably attached to the housing to collect dust entering the housing. A cover is provided that is attachable to the filter to prevent collected dust from escaping the filter when the filter is removed from the inlet of the housing. Moreover, the cover can be attachable to the housing for storage thereon, so that it is readily available to a user each time the filter is removed.
In still further aspects of the invention, a method for collecting airborne dust is disclosed. The method includes attaching a filter inside of a housing. Dust-laden air is moved through the filter to collect dust in the filter, for example, by a fan situated within the housing. When it is desired to remove the filter from the housing, a cover is attached to an inlet of the filter. The filter is then removed from the housing, and the cover prevents dust from escaping therefrom. The cover may be removably attached to an outside surface of the housing for storage prior to removing the filter. After emptying dust from the filter, the cover may be removed from the filter inlet and re-attached to the housing for re-use.

Dust filtration frame and disposal cover


A hair growing agent composition containing a pharmaceutically active component, solvent and the additive shown by the following formula (I) or (II)

This invention relates to an additive for hair growing agent and a hair growing agent composition containing it, more particularly it relates to the additive for hair growing agent composed of a specific silicone-based compound and capable to secure the hair growing effect, even if the content of the pharmaceutically active components is reduced from that of the conventional hair growing agent composition, hence the side-effect thereof could be reduced, and to the hair growing agent composition containing it.
Hair growing agents incorporated with a variety of pharmaceutically active components have been known and widely used to remove or reduce the causes for baldness or loss of hair. However, many of these pharmaceutically active components have potential risk to produce side-effects. For example, minoxidil (2,4-diamino-6-piperidinopyrimidine-3-oxide), which recently has been widely used, is a pharmaceutical originally developed as a remedy for hypertension, and will cause the problem, when used as the hair growing agent, by the antihypertensive action of the minoxidil due to its original pharmaceutical effect.
It is an object of this invention to offer an inexpensive hair growing agent composition which has a low potential of the side-effect by decreasing the content of the pharmaceutically active components, while keeping the sufficient hair growing effect.
The inventors of the present invention have found, after having extensively studied to solve the above problem, that a hair growing agent composition can exhibit a sufficient hair growing action, even when the content of the pharmaceutically active components is decreased, by incorporating a silicone-based compound of the specific structure therein, and this invention has been accomplished basing on the above knowledge.
This invention offers an additive for hair growing agent shown by the following general formula (I):
wherein, R1 is an alkyl group having a carbon number of 1 to 30, an aryl group or a group shown by the formula (R2)3SiOxe2x80x94 or xe2x80x94YO(C2H4O)a(C3H6O)bR3; at least one of R1s is an alkyl group having a carbon number of 6 to 30 or a group shown by the formula xe2x80x94YO(C2H4O)a(C3H6O)bR3; R2 is an alkyl group having a carbon number of 1 to 5 or an aryl group; R3 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having a carbon number of 1 to 6 or an acetoxy group; Y is a divalent organic group bound to an adjacent silicon atom through a carbon-silicon bond and to a polyoxyalkylene block through an oxygen atom; m is a number of 1 to 50 on the average; and a and b are numbers of 0 to 50 on the average respectively, but they satisfy the relationship a+bxe2x89xa72.
This invention also offers an additive for hair growing agent shown by the following general formula (II):
wherein, R4 is an alkyl group having a carbon number of 6 to 30 or a group shown by the formula xe2x80x94YO(C2H4O)a(C3H6O)bR3; and R2, R3, Y, a and b are the same as those defined in the general formula (I).
This invention also offers a hair growing agent composition containing a pharmaceutically active component, solvent and the additive for hair growing agent shown by the general formula (I) or (II).
This invention is described more concretely.
The additive for hair growing agent of this invention is a compound shown by the following general formula (I):
wherein, R1 is an alkyl group having a carbon number of 1 to 30, an aryl group or a group shown by the formula (R2)3SiOxe2x80x94 or xe2x80x94YO(C2H4O)a(C3H6O)bR3; at least one of R1s is an alkyl group having a carbon number of 6 to 30 or a group shown by the formula xe2x80x94YO(C2H4O)a(C3H6O)bR3; R2 is an alkyl group having a carbon number of 1 to 5 or an aryl group; R3 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having a carbon number of 1 to 6 or an acetoxy group; Y is a divalent organic group bound to an adjacent silicon atom through a carbon-silicon bond and to a polyoxyalkylene block through an oxygen atom; m is a number of 1 to 50 on the average; and a and b are numbers of 0 to 50 on the average respectively, but they satisfy the relationship a+bxe2x89xa72.
It is essential that at least one of R1s in the general formula (I) is an alkyl group having a carbon number of 6 to 30 or a group shown by the formula xe2x80x94YO(C2H4O)a(C3H6O)bR3, and the remainder is preferably methyl, ethyl or phenyl group, or a group shown by the formula (R2)3SiOxe2x80x94, more preferably methyl group or a group shown by the formula (CH3)3SiOxe2x80x94.
R2 is an alkyl group having a carbon number of 1 to 5 or an aryl group, preferably an alkyl group having a carbon number of 1 to 3, more preferably methyl group.
R3 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having a carbon number of 1 to 6 or an acetoxy group, preferably a hydrogen atom, or methyl or butyl group.
The preferable examples of Y include xe2x80x94CH2CH2CH2xe2x80x94 and xe2x80x94CH2CH(CH3)CH2xe2x80x94, the former being more preferable.
It is essential that m is a number of 1 to 50 on the average, preferably 1 to 5.
It is essential that a and b are numbers of 0 to 50 on the average respectively and they satisfy the relationship a+bxe2x89xa72, and it is preferable that a is 2 to 20 and b is 0 to 10.
Among the compounds shown by the general formula (I), the particularly preferable one is shown by the following general formula (II):
wherein, R4 is an alkyl group having a carbon number of 6 to 30 or a group shown by the formula xe2x80x94YO(C2H4O)a(C3H6O)bR3; and R2, R3, Y, a and b are the same as those defined in the general formula (I).
The concrete examples of the preferable compounds include Compounds 1 to 3 shown by the following general formulae:
When incorporated in a hair growing agent, the additive for hair growing agent of this invention can decrease the content of the pharmaceutically active component. The hair growing agent in which the additive of this invention is incorporated is not limited, and any known one may be used. A hair growing agent generally comprises a pharmaceutically active component, solvent and additives.
The pharmaceutically active components useful for this invention include, vasodilator (e.g., minoxidil, carpronium chloride, benzyl nicotinate, Swertia japonica extract, panax ginseng extract, vitamin E acetate or capsicum tincture), antihistamic agent (diphenhydramine hydrochloride or isothipendyl hydrochloride), antiinflammatory agent (glycyrrhizinic acid or guaiazulene), keratin-dissolving agent (e.g., urea or salicylic acid), antimicrobial agent (chlorhexidine gluconate, isopropyl methylphenol, quarternary ammonium salt, hinokitiol or piroctone olamine), humectant (e.g., sodium hyaluronate or chondroitin sulfate), extracts of various plants or animals (e.g., yew, Paeonia suffruticosa Andrews, Licorice, St. John""s Wort, Aconiti Tuber, Loquat, Artemisia capillaris, comfrey, Angelica keiskei, saffron, gardeniae Fructus, rosemary, sage, Saussurea lappa Clarke, Vladimiria denticulata Ling, hop or placenta), and vitamin (e.g., retinol acetate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, ascorbic acid, thiamine nitrate, cyanocobalamin or biotin).
The solvents useful for this invention include water, alcohols (methanol, ethanol, 2-propanol or denatured ethanol), and cyclosiloxanes (e.g., decamethylcyclopentasiloxane), of which water, ethanol or 2-propanol is preferable.
Other additives useful for this invention include those normally used, such as an antioxidant (e.g., dibutyl hydroxytoluene, sodium pyrosulfite, tocopherol, sodium edetate, ascorbic acid or isopropyl gallate), solubilizer (e.g., diisopropyl adipate, isopropyl myristate, polyethylene glycol, medium chain fatty acid triglyceride, fatty acid ester, various vegetable oils, various animal oils, polyhydric alcohol/fatty acid ester, alkyl glyceryl ether, hydrocarbon, lactic acid or sodium hydroxide), metabolism activator (e.g., panthenol), surfactant (e.g., sorbitan/fatty acid ester, glycerin/fatty acid ester, polyglycerin/fatty acid ester, propylene glycol/fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene sorbitan/fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene sorbit/fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene glycerin/fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene glycol/fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene alkyl ether, polyoxyethylene alkyl phenyl ether, polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil, polyoxyethylene castor oil, polyoxyethylene beeswax derivative, polyoxyethylene lanolin derivative, polyoxyethylene alkyl amide, polyoxyethylene alkyl amine, lecithin derivative or high-molecular-weight emulsifier), emulsion stabilizer (e.g., higher alcohol), gelling agent (water-soluble high-molecular-weight compound), adhesive, perfume, refrigerant (e.g., menthol, peppermint oil or camphor), or dyestuffs, which may be used within limits where the effect of this invention is not interfered.
The content of the additive for the hair growing agent of this invention is not limited, but preferably it is 0.01 to 2% by weight, more preferably 0.02 to 0.2% by weight, in the hair growing agent composition.
The method for incorporating the additive for the hair growing agent of this invention is not limited, and it may be made by mixing in conventional manners. It may be added to the hair growing agent directly or after being dissolved in a solvent. The solvent may be one described earlier as one of the components for the hair growing agent. The commercial hair growing agent is designed to have a storage stability, and thus the addition of the additive for the hair growing agent of this invention may deteriorate the stability. Therefore, the additive for the hair growing agent of this invention or a solution thereof may be added to the hair growing agent immediately before it is used.
The hair growing agent composition comprising the above-described pharmaceutically active component, solvent, additive for the hair growing agent of this invention, and, as required, one or more other additives is one of the embodiments of this invention.
The content of the pharmaceutically active component varies depending on its type. For example, minoxidil is incorporated preferably at 0.05 to 2% by weight, and carpronium chloride, preferably at 0.25 to 2% by weight. The preferable content of the additive for the hair growing agent of this invention is these range described.
The mechanism of the additive for the hair growing agent of this invention is not fully understood. It is however considered that it easily penetrates into very narrow gaps between the hair roots and hair follicles, which, coupled with the percutaneous absorption from the scalp on which the conventional one depends, allows the additive to directly reach the hair papillas, with the result that the pharmaceutically active component efficiently works on the hair papillas and hence sufficiently exhibits its effect even at the decreased content.

Additive for hair growing agent and hair growing agent composition

Abstract: wherein, R1 is an alkyl group having a carbon number of 1 to 30, an aryl group or a group shown by the formula (R2)3SiOxe2x80x94 or xe2x80x94YO(C2H4O)a(C3H6O)bR3; at least one R1s is an alkyl group having a carbon number of 6 to 30 or a group shown by the formula xe2x80x94YO(C2H4O)a(C3H6O)bR3; R2 is an alkyl group having a carbon number of 1 to 5 or an aryl group; R3 is a hydrogen, an alkyl group having a carbon number of 1 to 6 or an acetoxy group; Y is a divalent organic group bound to an adjacent silicon atom through a carbon-silicon bond and to a polyoxyalkylene block through an oxygen atom; R4is an alkyl group having a carbon number of 6 to 30 or a group shown by the formula xe2x80x94YO(C2H4O)a(C3H6O)bR3; m is 1 to 50: and a and b are 0 to 50 respectively and satisfy the relationship a+bxe2x89xa72.


A nuclear reactor vessel cavity seal plate. An annular support plate is positioned over the cavity between the reactor vessel and the shield structure and seal welded to the shield structure. Inner and outer support rings attached to the annular plate are supported by the existing beams in the annular cavity. A U-shaped flexible annular expansion ring positioned between the annular plate and reactor vessel flange has its inner diameter seal welded to the reactor vessel flange and its outer diameter seal welded to the annular plate. Ports in the annular plate provide access to nuclear instruments below the annular plate. A cover plate is removably attachable to each port to seal the ports. A closable drain is provided in the annular expansion ring. This provides a permanent seal plate that allows flooding of the cavity for refueling with it being necessary to remove only the cover plates for normal reactor operations.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally related to nuclear reactor installations and more particularly to a reactor vessel cavity seal plate.
2. General Background
Commercial nuclear reactor vessels are positioned inside a cavity of a reactor shield structure such that there is an annular space between the reactor vessel and the shield structure. The annular space has instruments positioned therein for monitoring reactivity, accommodates thermal expansion of the reactor during operations, and provides a path for air flow from the bottom of the reactor vessel. Prior to refueling the reactor, the upper portion of the annular space is flooded with borated water to provide neutron shielding while the reactor vessel head is removed. To protect instrumentation in the lower portion of the space it is necessary to install a seal plate over the space before the water is added. In some reactor installations, the seal plate rests upon existing W-beam structures positioned sixty degrees apart around the annulus. The inside and outside diameter of the plate are sealed with inflatable bladders. After refueling is completed the borated water is drained from the space and the seal plate is removed and stored to allow air flow from below the reactor. During normal reactor operations the reactor vessel is subject to radial and axial thermal expansion. Seal plates currently in use for refueling operations can not be left installed around the reactor vessel and shield structure after refueling because they are unable to accommodate the thermal expansion of the reactor vessel. Attempts at developing a permanent seal plate that does not require removal after refueling have incorporated a bellows that would accommodate the thermal expansion of the reactor vessel. This has proven to be unacceptable because the bellows traps water after the space is drained. The trapped water must then be manually removed by plant personnel, resulting in increased exposure to personnel and additional equipment maintenance. Seal plates that can not be left installed around the reactor between refuelings also present the problem of requiring storage space during the interim between refuelings. From the above it can be seen that a need exists for a reactor vessel cavity seal plate that does not have to be removed between refuelings. Such a plate must accommodate thermal expansion of the reactor, provide the necessary liquid seal during refueling operations, provide access to monitoring instruments below the plate during reactor operations, and allow air flow from below the reactor.
Copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/875,957 discloses a seal plate that remains in place during normal reactor operations. An annular support plate has its inner diameter resting freely upon the reactor vessel flange and its outer diameter attached to the shield structure. This allows movement of the reactor vessel during thermal expansion and contraction. A flexible annular seal is positioned over the support plate and has its inner diameter seal welded to the reactor vessel flange and its outer diameter seal welded to the shield structure. Matching ports in the support plate and seal provide access to instruments below the support plate.
Although the above seal plate provides for a permanent installation, it can result in high loads being placed on the reactor vessel.


A pedal simulator includes a cylinder mechanism for absorbing a fluid pressure generated in a pressurization chamber of a master cylinder by operating a brake pedal. The cylinder mechanism includes a housing, a piston slidably held in the housing and defining a fluid chamber for introducing a working fluid thereinto, and a plurality of spring members for urging the piston toward the fluid chamber. The housing includes an open end on an opposite side of the housing from the piston, and a lid member which covers the open end. The lid member is composed of a member separate and distinct from the housing. The lid member is provided with a damper made of a rubber member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pedal simulator as a cylinder mechanism including a plurality of disc springs for normally urging a piston toward a fluid chamber for introducing a working fluid thereinto, the fluid chamber being defined partly by the piston, and also including a housing in which the piston is slidably held, wherein the housing has an open end on an opposite side of the housing from the piston and a lid member which covers the open end and is separate and distinct from the housing.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, there has been proposed a brake apparatus for electrically actuating a motor cylinder or a fluid pressure pump to apply a fluid pressure to a braking force generator mounted on a wheel, based on operating information such as of a stepping force on a brake pedal (hereinafter simply referred to as "pedal") which is supplied to a vehicle ECU.
Such a system for electronically controlling brakes with an electric signal, or in other words, a brake-by-wire system, makes it possible to apply braking forces more responsively to the pedal operation and to brake the vehicle more smoothly than the fluid pressure control brake system that has widely been used heretofore which includes a pedal and a master cylinder directly connected to each other.
The brake-by-wire brake apparatus includes a pedal simulator (stroke simulator) for producing a reactive force in response to the depression of the pedal. Owing to the pedal simulator, the depth to which the pedal is depressed (stroke or controlled variable) and the stepping force are related to each other according to certain characteristics (stroke vs. stepping force characteristics).
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 06-211124 discloses a cylinder mechanism, serving as such a pedal simulator, which comprises a piston defining a fluid chamber for introducing a working fluid thereinto and a plurality of disc springs for normally urging the piston into the fluid chamber. Based on the characteristics of the disc springs, nonlinear stroke vs. stepping force characteristics are provided to reduce the pedal operating torque (stepping-resistant rigidity) when the pedal starts being depressed and to increase the pedal operating torque as the pedal is progressively depressed, thereby giving the driver a natural operational feeling in operating the pedal.
In the disclosed cylinder mechanism, most of the disc springs are stacked together while facing in the same direction. In order for the piston to slide over a sufficient stroke, the cylinder mechanism needs to have a considerable number of disc springs and hence is costly to manufacture.
One solution to reduce the number of disc springs in the cylinder mechanism is shown in FIG. 9A of the accompanying drawings. According to the solution shown in FIG. 9A, the disc springs have respective bottom ends facing together in a housing 100. Specifically, disc springs 102 have upwardly directed conical shapes and disc springs 104 have downwardly directed (reversely directed) conical shapes. The structure shown in FIG. 9A is effective to reduce the number of stacked disc springs and to allow the piston 106 to slide over a sufficient stroke.
Normally, slight clearances C are required between the disc springs 102, 104 and the housing 100; and also between the disc springs 102, 104 and a shaft 108 around which the disc springs 102, 104 are disposed, in view of the flexure of the disc springs 102, 104, as shown in FIG. 9A. As shown in FIG. 9B of the accompanying drawings, when a piston 106 on the disc springs 102, 104 is pushed, the disc springs 102, 104 are compressed. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 9C, when the piston 106 is retracted and the disc springs 102, 104 are expanded, the disc springs 102, 104 may possibly be diametrically displaced across the clearances C, as indicated by A in FIG. 9C of the accompanying drawings.
If the disc springs 102, 104 are displaced as indicated by A, then the disc springs 102, 104 tend to suffer irregular sliding resistance each time they are expanded and compressed. Therefore, the stroke vs. stepping force characteristics undergo complex changes each time the disc springs 102, 104 are compressed, and become unstable. The simple face-to-face placement of the disc springs 102, 104 makes it difficult to manage or hold them in a stable stacked state, and results in change in the spring characteristics of the disc springs 102, 104 each time they are expanded and compressed. The changing spring characteristics cause unwanted differences between individual cylinder mechanisms.


An image forming apparatus includes a shape information acquisition unit configured to acquire shape information indicating a shape of a three-dimensional object on which an image forming process is to be performed; a surface determination unit configured to determine a plurality of surfaces from which the three-dimensional object is constructed, based on the shape information; and an output image information generation unit configured to generate surface image information and join region image information. The surface image information is information on images to be formed on the respective surfaces. Each image is of a region obtained by cutting an end of the corresponding surface by a predetermined amount. The join region image information is information on an image to be formed on a join region between the adjacent surfaces.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and a computer-readable storage medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recent years have seen a wider use of image forming apparatuses that form images on a three-dimensional object by ejecting ink thereto. A method has been disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2007-106049, in which such an image forming apparatus forms different images adjacent to each other on a curved surface of a three-dimensional object. According to this method, ink concentrations for the respective images are thinner toward the boundary of surfaces on which the images are formed so that the boundary of the surfaces will not be thick due to an overlap of the images, whereby the images formed adjacent to each other are joined smoothly.
When the image forming apparatus described above ejects ink to each surface of a three-dimensional object, it fails to eject sufficient ink on the end portion of each surface in some cases. This may cause a blank portion along a join between surfaces of the three-dimensional object. When the image forming apparatus ejects sufficient ink to the end portion of each surface in order not to cause such a blank portion along a join between surfaces, the ink may drip off from the end portion of a surface, thereby causing dribbling of ink in some cases. The conventional technology described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2007-106049 fails to consider the problems of a blank portion along a join between surfaces, or dribbling of ink.
Therefore, there is a need to prevent a blank portion from occurring along a join between surfaces of a three-dimensional object without causing dribbling of ink.

Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and computer-readable storage medium to form a image on a three dimensional object


A mounting support for a photovoltaic module is described. The mounting support includes a pedestal having a surface adaptable to receive a flat side of a photovoltaic module laminate. A hole is disposed in the pedestal, the hole adaptable to receive a bolt or a pin used to couple the pedestal to the flat side of the photovoltaic module laminate.

Photovoltaic cells, commonly known as solar cells, are well known devices for direct conversion of solar radiation into electrical energy. Generally, solar cells are fabricated on a semiconductor wafer or substrate using semiconductor processing techniques to form a p-n junction near a surface of the substrate. Solar radiation impinging on the surface of the substrate creates electron and hole pairs in the bulk of the substrate, which migrate to p-doped and n-doped regions in the substrate, thereby generating a voltage differential between the doped regions. The doped regions are coupled to metal contacts on the solar cell to direct an electrical current from the cell to an external circuit coupled thereto. Generally, an array of solar cells, each solar cell interconnected, is mounted on a common or shared platform to provide a photovoltaic module. A plurality of photovoltaic modules or module groups may be electrically coupled to an electrical power distribution network, forming a photovoltaic system.
A photovoltaic module may be composed of a photovoltaic laminate. Mounting such a photovoltaic module, e.g. on a roof-top, may be difficult because the photovoltaic laminate may be relatively large and readily breakable. A photovoltaic laminate may be mounted by securing the laminate by its edge with glue or by physical clamping. Such approaches may prove expensive and bulky as mounting techniques and apparatuses for mounting photovoltaic modules composed of photovoltaic laminates. Accordingly, additional improvements are needed in the evolution of photovoltaic laminate mounting technology.

Hole-thru-laminate mounting supports for photovoltaic modules