The falling block rifle of the invention has an improved action which is simple in design and economical to manufacture and which exhibits aesthetically pleasing lines while accommodating a variety of different calibers. The rifle includes a barrel having opposing ends with a receiver mounted on one end of the barrel. The receiver has a forward face which joins the barrel and a rearward face. The receiver has a breechblock mortise machined at a slight angle, less than perpendicular, to the bore. A breechblock is raised and lowered in the breechblock mortise by a swinging operating lever. The operating lever is pivotally pinned to the receiver and connected to the breechblock by means of a connecting link. The action is of the concealed hammer type, with no provision for manual cocking or uncocking by means of the thumb. The hammer is pivotally pinned to the breechblock and moves correspondingly upwardly and downwardly with the breechblock. The hammer is automatically cammed into the cocked position by the connecting link upon the initial opening of the operating lever. The action also features an ejector is of the center hung, bottom lipping style designed to function on both rimmed and rimless cartridge cases.

A. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to single-shot rifles and, more specifically, to a lever-cocked single-shot rifle having a falling block action.
B. Description of the Prior Art
A variety of breechblock rifles are known in the prior art and are characterized according to the different type of action. The specific type of action is determined by the type of movement imparted to the breechblock as the breechblock moves into and out of engagement with the cartridge chamber of the receiver. Typical known actions include the swinging block action, the rolling block action and the falling block action.
A particularly well known falling block design is the Ruger No. 1 Falling Block Action which comprises a lever actuated single-shot mechanism having a breechblock contained, spring biased firing pin mechanism. The Ruger No. 1 design is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,355,833. A description of other falling block actions can be found in the book xe2x80x9cSingle-Shot Rifles and Actionsxe2x80x9d by F. deHass (1969).
Other falling block action rifles are known in the art which feature an exposed hammer as a part of the firing mechanism. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 4,040,196, issued Aug. 9, 1977, to Smith et al.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,879,827, issued Nov. 14, 1989, to Gentry, is an earlier patent to the present inventor which describes an improved action for a single shot falling block action rifle which can be provided of appropriate dimensions to be contained within an opening provided in a single-piece stock. The more traditional single shot falling block action rifle utilized a two part stock in order to accommodate a receiver having the requisite size and strength.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,682,699, issued Nov. 4, 1997, again to Gentry, describes an improved safety mechanism for a single-shot falling block action rifle. Falling block rifle actions, particularly those having exposed hammers, have traditionally been lacking in a method of safely carrying the rifle in the loaded condition. Particularly with regard to the falling block action rifles of the type discussed with respect to the Smith reference above, there was a need for an improved safety mechanism which would allow the weapon to be safely carried in the loaded condition. In this second Gentry patent, a sequence of operations were necessary in order to place the rifle in the ready-to-fire condition. The necessity of repeating this sequence of operations each time the rifle was fired improved the safety factor of the rifle since the rifle hammer was not capable of striking the firing pin in the safety position.
Despite the above noted advances in the art, there continues to exist a need to provide an improved single-shot falling block rifle which has an improved action which is simple and reliable in operation and which is safer than the conventionally available actions for such rifles.
A need also exists for such a rifle design which can be conveniently accommodated within a single piece stock without detracting from the existing lines and aesthetic appearance of the single piece stock.
A need also exists for such a rifle design in a single-shot falling block rifle which has an accuracy which approaches or equals that of a bolt action rifle.
The falling block rifle of the invention has an improved action which is simple in design and economical to manufacture and which exhibits aesthetically pleasing lines while accommodating a variety of different calibers. The rifle is basically comprised of a barrel, a stock, a receiver and an action, as will be further described herein. The receiver is mounted on one end of the barrel and includes a top surface and a bottom surface, a forward face which joins the barrel and a rearward face. The receiver has a radiused breechblock mortise formed in the rearward face to extend from the top surface to the bottom surface thereof. The receiver and assembled barrel together define a horizontally extending cartridge chamber suitably sized to receive a cartridge. The receiver has an internally threaded bore which comprises a barrel stub hole for receiving a mating externally threaded portion of a barrel end. A ring shaped opening in the receiver is machined within the receiver at a point at which the barrel stub hole meets the breechblock mortise. The rifle has a single piece stock having a suitably shaped opening for receiving the receiver and barrel.
The rifle of the invention also includes a lever-actuated, falling block action. The action includes a radiused breechblock movable within the radiused breechblock mortise formed within the receiver. The action also includes a firing pin which is alignable with a cartridge located in the cartridge chamber and a hammer for striking the firing pin to fire the cartridge. The breechblock is movable upwardly to cover the cartridge chamber during firing and is movable downwardly to expose the chamber for loading and unloading.
The radiused breechblock and radiused breechblock mortise form a radiused sliding contact surface as the action is moved upwardly and downwardly within the receiver. The radiused sliding contact surface between the breechblock and the breechblock mortise forms an angle greater than perpendicular to a horizontal axis drawn through the rifle chamber. In a particularly preferred form of the invention, the breechblock and the breechblock mortise are machined at an angle of approximately 95 degrees with respect to the horizontal axis of the rifle chamber, giving the sliding contact surfaces a slight slant.
The receiver of the rifle preferably includes a pair of oppositely arranged, downwardly projecting surfaces, each of which comprises a pivot point for the rifle lever. The internal fillet regions of the breechblock and the radiused breechblock mortise add to the strength of the projections by adding mass to the projecting regions.
The breechblock is raised and lowered in the breechblock mortise by movement of the rifle lever, the lever being pinned to the receiver at the pivot points of the downwardly projecting surfaces of the receiver and being connected to the breechblock by means of a connecting link. A lever catch is located on a rear surface of the receiver and includes a transverse catch spur which is engaged by a notch provided on the operating lever. Seating of the transverse catch spur within the operating lever notch serves to define a stopping point and defines a closed position for the operating lever. The length of the catch spur and the shape of the operating lever notch can be selectively designed to regulate the breaking force of the operating lever during the opening and closing cycle of the rifle action.
The hammer of the rifle action is pivotally pinned in a region machined in a lower front portion of the breechblock and moves upwardly and downwardly with the breechblock. The hammer is biased by a mainspring received in a mainspring housing provided in a rear portion of the receiver. The biasing force of the mainspring is transmitted to the hammer by means of a hammer strut which straddles the safety lever and which is also pivotally pinned to the hammer at the same point as the safety lever. In the preferred form, the hammer strut has two legs which are pinned together at a rear extent by means of a transverse pin. A portion of the hammer strut legs straddle the receiver at the mainspring housing with the transverse pin sliding within a pin slot milled into the receiver. The mainspring also preferably includes a mainspring guide. The pin slot is engaged within a mating opening provided on the mainspring guide. This engagement provides the necessary pivoting action between the mainspring guide and the hammer to allow the hammer to travel up and down within the breechblock.
The trigger of the action is pivotally pinned in a region milled in a lower rear portion of the breechblock. The trigger preferably has a sear surface located at an upper extent which contacts a corresponding sear surface milled into an extension on the rear of the hammer.
A roller having an exposed roller surface is carried on either side of the hammer. Corresponding cam surfaces are provided on the operating lever which together with the exposed roller surfaces comprise load bearing thrust surfaces. Contact between the rollers and cam surfaces as the operating lever nears the closing position serves to bias the breechblock rearwardly, thereby reducing excessive clearance or misalignment between the breechblock and receiver at the point of the load bearing thrust surfaces.
The rifle action further includes a safety lever which is pinned to the hammer in a midregion thereof. The safety lever has a pair of leg extensions which protrude forwardly in order to contact a corresponding surface machined into the breechblock at a point below the firing pin. Movement of the hammer to a cocked position causes the safety lever leg extensions to contact the breechblock and pivot the hammer rearwardly, thereby separating the trigger sear and hammer sear and blocking forward movement of the hammer. The safety lever is preferably provided with a thumb spur at an upper extent thereof, the thumb spur being shrouded by sidewalls of the receiver. Backward movement of the thumb spur of the safety lever causes the safety lever leg extensions to cam out of the breechblock and place the rifle in a ready to fire condition. The safety lever is held in the resulting rearward position by means of a pair of spring loaded detents permanently mounted in the hammer.
The firing pin of the rifle action is carried by the breechblock and has a front tip which is aligned with the cartridge located in the receiver chamber when the breechblock is in the firing position. The firing pin has a normally exposed rear surface which is acted upon by the striking surface of the hammer when the trigger is pulled. The safety lever acts to block outside access to the exposed rear surface of the firing pin when in a safety position. The safety lever is prevented from being placed in the safety position when the hammer is in the fired position.
Additional objects, features and advantages will be apparent in the written description which follows.


The invention relates to a brine for conserving cucumber in bulk which is low in sodium chloride. The brine according to the invention is an aqueous solution containing per liter of the solution; at least 0.02 kg sodium chloride, 0,02-0.12 kg acetic or lactic acid or a non-toxic salt thereof, and at least 0.1 g calcium chloride. The taste, crispness and color of a product processed from cucumbers stored in this brine in containers equipped with stirring means for an extended period are equal to that of fresh packed cucumbers even in tropical climates and the brine can be reused after addition of make-up ingredients.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to cucumber conservation in hot climates and especially a reusable brine for conserving cucumbers in bulk in containers equipped with means for stirring the brine.
2. Description of the related art including information disclosed under 37 CFR Sections 1.97-99
Cucumbers may be pickled and canned directly after harvest as so called "fresh packs" resulting in pickled cucumbers having a good taste and crispy consistency. The processing of cucumbers to produce fresh packs is also very uncomplicated including essentially only putting sorted and picked cucumbers 5 into cans or jars, adding the pickling solution, closing the cans or jars, and finally heat treating the closed cans or jars to pasteurize their content. The drawback of this procedure is that it requires a very big processing capacity during the relatively short harvest period.
In order to overcome this drawback and enable processing huge quantities of cucumbers during an extended period with less personnel and processing equipment, part of the harvest is conventionally fermented and stored in bulk in large silos. From these silos cucumbers are withdrawn at a desired rate for processing in a conventional manner.
Without discussing in detail different known fermentation procedures one may in general contend that the pickled cucumbers processed from such fermented bulk products, are not of the same high quality as those of fresh packed cucumbers. The controlling of the fermentation process to obtain an even quality is also difficult and the yield, taste, color and consistency of the pickled cucumbers are not so good as for fresh packs.
From the specification of U.S. Pat. No. 4,833,679 there is known a brine for conserving cucumbers in bulk making fermentation of the cucumbers unnecessary. Commercial applications of this brine have a relatively high sodium chloride content of about 0.3 kg per liter of the aqueous solution. Such a brine may after use cause serious effluent problems and necessities expensive and painstaking desalination of huge quantities of brine. This brine sometimes produces a negative umber color in cucumbers conserved in tropical climates.
It is known that the sodium chloride content in brine for conserving cucumbers should be increased when the ambient temperature is increased or decreased, in the latter case to prevent the brine from freezing into ice. Thus, it was quite surprising to find that the sodium chloride content of a brine for conserving cucumbers in hot climates could be lowered provided its content of ingestible acids such as acetic and lactic acid was simultaneously kept at a relatively high level. It was also unexpected that the conserving effect of such a brine in every respect was improved in comparison to the brine disclosed in the specification of U.S. Pat. No. 4,883,679 although several of its ingredients, conventionally considered necessary, were deleted.
The main advantage of the present invention, however, is that it provides a brine which can be reused after addition of sodium and calcium chlorides and acid to compensate for chemicals absorbed by the cucumbers during conservation. Conventional brines have caused serious effluent problems due to their high chloride content, whereas the present reusable brine will not cause any waste water problems whatsoever. Thus, the brine of the present invention also helps to conserve the environment.
The low salinity of the brine of the present invention is sufficient to conserve cucumbers in hot climates with an average temperature of about 30.degree. C. when the concentration of acid is kept relatively high and when the brine is stirred in conventional manner to maintain a homogeneous salt concentration throughout the brine. No negative umber color was observed in these conditions.
The object of the present invention is thus to provide a reusable brine for conserving cucumbers in bulk in stirred containers and hot climates which brine has a very low chloride content and which does cause less or no effluent problems at all.
The present invention also enables obtaining picked cucumbers of substantially the same high quality as by fresh packing but with the same personnel and capital investments as with the known fermentation processes used for storing the cucumbers in bulk awaiting processing for canning.
According to the present invention, cucumbers are conserved in bulk by submerging the same in a brine containing in solution at least about 0.02 kg NaCl, 0.02-0.12 kg of an ingestible acid such as acetic acid including vinegar, or lactic acid, or a non-toxic salt thereof, and at least 0.1 g of an ingestible calcium salt such as CaCl.sub.2. When only the lower limit is given, it should be understood that the upper limit is set by the solubility of respective ingredient in the brine solution. It is, however, usually sufficient to use less than 0.15 kg sodium chloride and preferably not more than 0.12 kg of sodium chloride per liter of aqueous solution.


The invention is a method and system of creating and delivering dynamic and customized tour guides to a user through an electronic device. The system takes into account factors including the speed, direction of movement, and geographical location of a user's electronic device along with a user's preferences, and calculating a timeframe in which a user will be in proximity to a point of interest to create and deliver a customized and tailored tour guide experience. The system and method is scalable and allows a multitude of individual users simultaneously have individually tailored tour guides delivered to them covering a broad range of topics including architecture, history, surrounding nature, and current events of points of interest along a user's pre-defined or predicted user route.

Currently available Travel Guides (trip, tour, museum) are pre-created static materials in the text, image, audio or video forms, which provide the information to the end user without taking into account the situation, state, user preferences and needs. The Guides usually are delivered via printed mediums (books, booklets, magazines), electronic mediums (CD, DVD, MPx formats), or personal computing devices (computers, laptops, smart devices, wearables) in a shape of applications or computer programs. The most advanced travel guides take ready manually prepared information material, make the user follow certain instructions (for example, follow geographical route), and trigger the material delivery based on the user location on this route. This is very limited, because:
a) User cannot receive the guide wherever they go (route on the road, museum, trail) they have to follow certain predefined route with the predefined speed to get the guide.
b) The big cities, museums, popular tourist destinations are somewhat covered with the rigid static guides, but majority of the routes (especially via road travel) are completely uncovered.
c) User will receive the same guide information following the same route again no new content will be served.
d) No user and situational context is taken into account, despite the difference in the user preferences, schedule, experience, needs, the guide will stay the same.
Because of this limitation, nonhuman guiding experience in travel is fragmented and non-satisfactory for the end users.
The invention addresses the gap and provide dynamic flexible runtime guides with the 100% of route coverage wherever the user goes, taking into account user needs, preferences and schedule, and serving new, relevant data every time of use.

Method for dynamic creation of customized tour guides


Embodiments of the present disclosure include a motor controller with a processor and a machine readable medium. The medium includes instructions that, when loaded and executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive an estimated or sensed speed of a motor, extract a mechanical frequency component from the estimated or sensed speed, transform the mechanical frequency into direct quadrature (DQ) domain at the mechanical frequency, control the mechanical frequency to zero, and generate a dampening signal for torque based upon the controlled mechanical frequency.

Motor-driven compressors are used in a variety of applications, such as cooling and refrigeration. Compressors make use of a variety of motors therein, including with permanent-magnet synchronous motor (PMSM), or interior permanent-magnet synchronous motor (IPMSM) motors and variants thereof. Duty cycles of motors in compressors may typically be 45%. A typical duty cycle of a compressor in a low speed mode may be 70%, and the effective low speed duty cycle of such a compressor may be 31%. For example, in a given hour, the compressor may be turned on for about 27 minutes (corresponding to 45% of 60 minutes). Out of these 27 minutes, the compressor may be running at low speeds for about 19 minutes (corresponding to 70% of 27 minutes), making the effective duty cycle for low speed compressor as 19 minutes in an hour, or 31%.
Field-oriented control may use a torque component, aligned with the q coordinate, and a flux component, aligned with the d coordinate. As used herein, the terms field-oriented control and vector control may be used interchangeably. Control of torque made through projections in the d, q coordinate system can be translated to the a, b, c coordinate system, and vice-versa. Thus, control of torque can be made through control of the torque component of the stator current or voltage vector. Voltages, currents, and flux of motors may be analyzed in terms of complex space vectors. Stator current space vector and its component in (a,b,c) where (a,b,c) are the three phase system axes. This space vector may include a three-phase sinusoidal system. Values expressed in this space vector may be transformed to the (d, q) system in two steps: from the (a,b,c) coordinates to an (α,β) set (also known as the Clarke transformation) which outputs a two co-ordinate time variant system. Then, the (α,β) set may be transformed to the (d,q) set (also known as the Park transformation) which outputs a two co-ordinate time invariant system. Vector control implementations may assume ungrounded motor with balanced three-phase currents such that only two motor current phases need to be sensed. In vector control, an AC induction or synchronous motor is controlled under all operating conditions like a separately excited DC motor. That is, the AC motor behaves like a DC motor in which the field flux linkage and armature flux linkage created by the respective field and armature (or torque component) currents are orthogonally aligned such that, when torque is controlled, the field flux linkage is not affected, hence enabling dynamic torque response. Vector control may accordingly generate a three-phase PWM motor voltage output derived from a complex voltage vector to control a complex current vector derived from motor's three-phase stator current input through projections or rotations back and forth between the three-phase speed and time dependent system and these vectors' rotating reference-frame two-coordinate time invariant system.

Closed loop torque compensation for compressor applications


A structure for coupling a plurality of substrates includes at least two transverse parallel substrates on which connectors are fixed so that their coupling motion is effected perpendicularly of major surfaces of the substrate. The structure further includes a longitudinal substrate on which connectors are fixed at front and rear different positions so that their coupling motion is effected in a parallel direction with a major surface of the substrate. When the longitudinal substrate is mounted to the transverse substrates, with their connectors being coupled together, structural and electrical connection between the longitudinal substrate and the transverse substrates is established simultaneously.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a structure for coupling a plurality of substrates, using connectors, and more particularly to a structure for connecting in a one-shot fashion at least two parallely disposed substrates with a substrate disposed substantially perpendicularly of the former substrates, using connectors.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In order to connect a plurality of substrates which are disposed in a perpendicular relationship in an electronic device for exchange of electric signals therebetween, a conventional process uses coupling members provided between the substrates.
Such a conventional substrate coupling structure is shown in FIG. 9. A transverse substrate 1 and a longitudinal substrate 2 make a right angle. Plugs (convex connector) 4a and 4b each having a plurality of coupling terminals 3 are supported on the substrates 1 and 2, respectively. A coupling member 7 includes a plurality of lead wires 5 in association with the coupling terminals 3 of the plugs 4a and 4b and includes sockets (concave connectors) 6 provided at opposite ends of the lead wires 5.
One of the sockets 6 of the coupling member 7 is inserted in the plug 4a of the transverse substrate 1, and the other socket 6 is inserted in the plug 4b of the longitudinal substrate 2, thereby to electrically connect two substrates 1 and 2.
This coupling process, however, requires two separate working steps, namely, first positioning the substrates 1 and 2 and subsequently connecting the substrates 1 and 2, and therefore invites an increase of the manufacturing processes. Further, the use of the coupling member 7 results in an increase in the number of parts or elements of the entire structure, and requires the parts an additional assembling process.
For purposes of overcoming the drawbacks of the above-described substrate coupling structure, another substrate coupling structure has been proposed as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B.
Referring to FIGS. 10A and 10B, the transverse substrate 1 has plugs 8a and 8b mounted at an end portion thereof and facing in a perpendicular direction with respect to the substrate surface. The transverse substrate 2 has sockets 9a and 9b mounted at the lower end portion thereof and facing in a parallel direction with the substrate surface so as to be connected with the plugs 8a and 8b. The sockets 9a and 9b are connected to the longitudinal substrate 2 by a plurality of terminals 10.
In the substrate coupling structure, by turning the vertical substrate 2 in the arrow-marked direction and pushing it onto the horizontal substrate 1 downwardly, the plugs 8a and 8b are inserted in the sockets 9a and 9b simultaneously with assemblage of the substrates as shown in FIG. 9B, and electrical connection between the substrates 1 and 2 is readily established.
In recent years, however, high density arrangement of a large number of circuit elements is required in such a way as shown in FIG. 11 where transverse substrates 1a and 1b are mounted in a close multi-step relationship. In this case, the coupling process shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, although acceptable for electrical connection between the upper transverse substrate 1a and the longitudinal substrate 2, is not effective for the lower transverse substrate 1b, and it is forced to use the coupling member 7 as shown in FIG. 9.
A substrate coupling structure according to the invention overcomes the above-indicated problems involved in the conventional structures.

Structure for coupling plural substrates


A method for preparing poorly water soluble drug particles is disclosed. The method comprises dissolving a drug in at least one organic solvent to form a drug/organic mixture, spraying the drug/organic mixture into an aqueous solution, and concurrently evaporating the organic solvent in the presence of the aqueous solution to form an aqueous dispersion of the drug particles. The resulting drug particles are in the nanometer to micrometer size range and show enhanced dissolution rates and reduced crystallinity when compared to the unprocessed drug.

The present invention relates to drug particles and methods for their preparation. More particularly, the present invention relates to the preparation of drug particles utilizing evaporative precipitation into aqueous solutions.
Bioavailability is a term meaning the degree to which a drug becomes available to the target tissue after being administered to the body. Poor bioavailability is a significant problem encountered in the development of pharmaceutical compositions, particularly those containing an active ingredient that is poorly soluble in water. Poorly water soluble drugs tend to be eliminated from the gastrointestinal tract before being absorbed into the circulation.
It is known that the rate of dissolution of a particulate drug can increase with increasing surface area, that is, decreasing particle size. Efforts have been made to control the size and size range of drug particles in pharmaceutical compositions. For example, wet milling techniques have been used, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,145,684. However, such wet milling techniques exhibit problems associated with contamination from the grinding media. It is difficult to produce highly uniform submicron particles with wet milling and solids milling, and handling can be time consuming. Moreover, exposing a drug substance to mechanical shear or high temperatures for prolonged periods can cause the drug to lose its activity.
Spray drying into vapor is another method used to form micron sized drug particles. Spray drying is used commonly to formulate dry pharmaceutical powder. In most cases, either hydrophilic drugs in aqueous solution or poorly water soluble drugs in organic solution are sprayed, which approaches do not offer a means to simultaneously spray a poorly water soluble drug and water soluble excipient.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,985,248 teaches dissolving a hydrophilic excipient, or stabilizer, and a hydrophobic drug in a cosolvent system such as water:ethanol, and spray drying the system into vapor. U.S. Pat. No. 6,001,336 teaches suspending a hydrophobic drug in an aqueous solution containing a hydrophilic stabilizer, and spray drying the suspension into vapor. U.S. Pat. No. 6,077,543 and WO 98/29096 teach atomizing an organic and an aqueous solution together into a vapor. In all of these teachings, drug particles in the micron size range are formed. It is difficult to produce sub-micron particles by these technique due to growth of the drug particles during the solvent evaporation. As the water evaporates it will no longer solvate hydrophilic stabilizers. Solvation of the stabilizer is needed for it to be able to prevent growth of the drug particles. As a result, growth of the drug particles is not likely to be inhibited by the stabilizer and the particle size is typically greater than 1 micron. Moreover, in all of these teachings, the precipitation of surfactant and stabilizers occur simultaneously in the coaxial nozzle, and it is much more difficult to control the particle morphology. Furthermore, in all of these teachings, the useful excipients are sugars, salts, pectin and citric acid, which are not good stabilizers for preventing growth of particles during the spray process.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,795,594 and 5,851,453 teach the use of compressed fluid antisolvents to form drug particles in the micron-size range. This process has been called Precipitation using Compressed Antisolvents (PCA), Solution-Enhanced Dispersion of Solids (SEDS) and Supercritical AntiSolvent process (SAS). In most cases this process does not utilize water due to the low solubility of water in compressed carbon dioxide, so that it is difficult to use water-soluble excipients with this process. However, in some cases, this process is able to use water by flowing an organic drug solution, an aqueous solution and a second organic solvent such as ethanol into compressed carbon dioxide. The ethanol is needed to extract the water into the CO2 phase. In this process it is difficult to control the particle size due to the complexity of the mixing of the three streams in the jet. Also, the particles must be recovered from a high pressure vessel, and high ratios of CO2 to drug are necessary. Moreover, as the water contacts CO2, the pH in the water reaches about 3, which can be detrimental to drug stability and interactions with excipients.
Young et al., Rapid Expansion from Supercritical to Aqueous Solution to Produce Submicron Suspensions of Water-Insoluble Drugs, Biotechnol. Prog. 2000, 16, 402-407, teach the formation of poorly water soluble drug particles by rapid expansion of supercritical fluid solutions into water. The supercritical fluid was carbon dioxide above its critical temperature. The solubility of drugs in carbon dioxide and other supercritical fluids such as ethane and propane is typically very small. It is difficult to add water soluble stabilizers and excipients in spray antisolvent processes (PCA, SAS or SEDS) into carbon dioxide due to the low solubility of water in CO2. Reverchon E., Supercritical Antisolvent Precipitation of Micro-and Nano-particles, J. Supercrit. Fluid., 1999, 15, 1-21. These antisolvent processes require large ratios of carbon dioxide to drug and the use of a high pressure vessel for recovery of product. Even when an aqueous and two organic solutions are sprayed through a coaxial nozzle, the process is subject to many of the limitations discussed above for spray drying organic and aqueous phases through coaxial nozzles. As the water dissolves into the ethanol-carbon dioxide mixture, it is no longer available to solvate stabilizers to prevent particle growth. Therefore this process is limited to relatively few drugs.
It would be an advantage in the art of preparation of drug particles to provide a method which allows for easy control of particle size and morphology and which is applicable to a wide breadth of drug substances.
In one aspect, the present invention is a method for preparing poorly water soluble drug particles comprising the steps of dissolving a drug in at least one organic solvent to form a drug/organic mixture; spraying the drug/organic mixture into an aqueous solution; and concurrently evaporating the organic solvent in the presence of the aqueous solution to form an aqueous dispersion of the drug particles.
In a second aspect, the present invention is poorly water soluble drug particles having an average particle diameter of from 50 nanometers to 20 microns, the drug particles being prepared by a process comprising the steps of dissolving the drug in at least one organic solvent to form a drug/organic mixture; spraying the drug/organic mixture into an aqueous solution; and concurrently evaporating the organic solvent in the presence of the aqueous solution to form an aqueous dispersion of the drug particles.
The present invention utilizes evaporative precipitation into aqueous solutions (EPAS) to form micron to sub-micron sized drug particles, leading to increased bioavailability relative to larger particles. The process of the present invention has applicability to a wide range of drug substances as several solvents may be chosen to dissolve the drug. The ability to utilize poorly soluble drugs and water soluble stabilizers/excipients offers the ability to form submicron particles that have high dissolution rates in aqueous media. The present invention also offers the ability to better control the resulting particle size and morphology relative to techniques described in the above identified prior art. Moreover, the present invention often produces particles having reduced crystallinity as compared to the bulk, unprocessed drug, which enhances dissolution.

Preparation of drug particles using evaporation precipitation into aqueous solutions

Board of Regents University of Texas System


A bench or seat assembly including a decorative work bonded thereto in an essentially permanent fashion is provided wherein the work includes a photoluminescent material. The assembly includes a masonry seat member having an upper surface, a masonry back member having front and back surfaces and a support having exterior surfaces for supporting the seat member at a desired height. The work may include advertising or an image of which the photoluminescent material is a part of. The photoluminescent material may be photoluminescent particulate pigment or at least one photoluminescent stone which gives off light sufficient to allow at least a portion of the work to be viewed under limited ambient light conditions. In this way, the assembly is decorative not only in the daytime but also at night. The assembly may be an interlocking precast slab bench or seat assembly.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to decorative bench or seat assemblies made of masonry such as precast slabs.
2. Background Art
Precast concrete is concrete in the form of blocks, pillars, bridge sections and the like that have been cast into forms before being put into position. Such concrete can be assembled into a variety of structures such as benches. For example:
U.S. Pat. No. 2,659,422 discloses a concrete bench, including advertising space on the back thereof;
U.S. Pat. No. 3,756,657 discloses a concrete bench per se;
U.S. Pat. No. 1,862,382 discloses a concrete bench formed in a number of sections, wherein the back section is cast as a single long slab;
U.S. Pat. No. 1,886,988 discloses a bench constructed of cement for outdoor use which is cast in two sections—a leg section or base and a seat section;
U.S. Pat. No. 1,626,095 discloses a florist bench made of concrete and which is formed of sections;
U.S. Pat. No. 948,770 discloses a seat constructed of cement;
U.S. Design Pat. No. D484,714 discloses a concrete and steel bench;
U.S. Pat. No. 6,887,010 disclose a decorative bench;
U.S. Pat. No. 6,090,324 discloses a forming system for stone or concrete benches; and
U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2005/0161985 discloses a stone or masonry bench having upright supports, a bottom seat and an optional upright back support.
The following U.S. patent documents are also related: U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,756,351; 604,658; 6,413,007; 4,600,251 and 1,078,810.
Decorative concrete or grout panels or slabs can be formed from photo-engraved formliners. These formliners can be cut by CNC machines, the input of which is a digital photograph. Such concrete panels can be used as decorative pieces either standing alone or as part of a larger wall structure.
Phosphorescent pigments are those in which excitation by a particular wavelength of visible or ultraviolet radiation results in the emission of light lasting beyond the excitation. After cessation of luminescence and renewed exposure to light, the material again absorbs light energy and exhibits a glow-in-the-dark property (an absorbing-accumulating-emitting cycle). Some phosphorescent pigments suffer from the problems of low luminescence and/or short afterglow.
One class of long-life phosphorescent pigments is the metal aluminates, particularly the alkaline earth aluminate oxides, of formula MAI2O4 where M is a metal or mixture of metals. Examples are strontium aluminum oxide (SrAl2O4), calcium aluminum oxide (CaAl2O4), barium aluminum oxide (BaAl2O4) and mixtures. These aluminate phosphors, with or without added magnesium, may be further activated with other metals and rare earths. Alkaline earth metal aluminate oxide phosphors and their preparation are discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,424,006 to Murayama et al.
Phosphorescent materials have found use in a variety of commercial applications including warning signs, machinery marking, dial illumination, directional signs, marking the edge of steps, fire helmets, accident prevention, protective clothing, sports equipment, etc.
The following U.S. patent documents describe a wide variety of commercial applications of such materials: 2007/0209747; 2005/0160637; 2009/0262514; 2007/0248836; U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,136,226; 5,811,174; 6,828,043; 6,665,986; 6,599,444; 5,904,017; and 5,961,072.
The following U.S. patent documents are also relevant: 2004/0197548; 2006/0162620; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,376,303; 5,472,737; 6,005,024; 5,976,411; 6,074,739; 6,177,029; 6,375,864; and 6,444,077.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Decorative bench or seat assembly having a photoluminescent work bonded thereto


Examples may include techniques to allocate physical accelerator resources from pools of accelerator resources. In particular, virtual computing devices can be composed from physical resources and physical accelerator resources dynamically allocated to the virtual computing devices. The present disclosure provides that physical accelerator resources can be dynamically allocated, or composed, to a virtual computing device despite not being physically coupled to other components in the virtual device.

Advancements in networking have enabled the rise in pools of physical resources. A pool of physical resources may be formed from a physical infrastructure including disaggregate physical resources, such as, for example, compute and storage resources found in large data centers. The physical infrastructure can include a number of computing systems having processors, memory, storage, networking, power, cooling, etc. Management entities of these data centers can aggregate a selection of the physical resources to form servers and/or physical computing hosts. These hosts can subsequently be allocated to execute system SW (e.g., OSs, VMMs, or the like) and host containers, VMs, and/or applications. However, as the number of configurable resources in the data center grows, it can be difficult to allocate and pool physical resources for particular tasks.

Accelerator resource allocation and pooling


Arrangement for cleaning of waste water by application of rotating biocontactors utilizing tubular biocontactors open at both ends wound on a rotating cylindrical frame adapted to be alternatively submerged below and raised above the level of the waste water, combining thereby the effect of cleaning by biocontact and of efficient aeration of the waste water.

The invention relates to an arrangement for cleaning of waste water utilizing rotating biocontactors.
Actually known arrangements for cleaning of waste water based on the principle of rotating biodisks utilize alternative submerging of disks with adhering functional bioculture into waste water, and its subsequent emerging, securing thus its contact with air. A drawback of the known cleaning arrangements is the low amount of oxygen introduced into the waste water which is not supposed to be used for aeration, and the oxygenation of water has been solely accomplished by submerging a biocontactor into the waste water prior to exposing the biocontactor to air. A consequence thereof is a rather insufficient cleaning by the suspended culture, as the introduced amount of oxygen does not correspond to optimum cleaning conditions. Known water cleaning stations of this kind do not apply the recirculation of the mixture of water and sludge within the space of the biological tank, the consequence of which is unfavourable hydraulic conditions. It is also known that biodisk cleaning stations cannot secure cleaning of water by flocules torn-off from the disk surface, although that is the most active action of the grown film. An increase of the contact surface, that is, and increase in the diameter and of the number disks, leads to an increase in the size of the cleaning station and an increase in its actual and operational costs.


The present invention is directed to a solid, non-wound, golf ball comprising two or more core components, and a cover component. The core components comprise i) a pressurized foamed inner, spherical center component comprising a first matrix material selected from the group consisting of thermoset material, a thermoplastic material, or combinations thereof, a blowing agent and a cross-linking agent and, ii) an outer core layer disposed about the spherical center component, formed from a second matrix material selected from the group consisting of a thermoset material, a thermoplastic material, or combinations thereof. The golf ball may further comprise an additional outer core layer(s) that surround the outer core layer. The cover may be single or multi-layered.

The present invention relates to golf balls and specifically to the construction of solid, non-wound, golf balls for regulation play. More particularly, the invention is directed to improved golf balls comprising multi-component core assemblies which have a pressurized foamed center component. The pressurized foam center is encapsulated by one or more core layers which are then surrounded by a cover. The golf balls of this invention are of the same size and weight as conventional balls and have comparable or better performance characteristics.
Golf balls traditionally have been categorized into three different groups. These are one piece balls, multi-piece solid balls comprising two or more solid pieces and wound (three piece) balls.
The one piece ball typically is formed from a solid mass of moldable material which has been cured to develop the necessary degree of hardness. In many instances, the one piece solid ball does not possess any significant difference in composition between the interior and exterior of the ball. One piece balls are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,313,545; 3,373,123; and, 3,384,612.
A wound ball is frequently referred to as a xe2x80x9cthree piece ballxe2x80x9d since it is made with a vulcanized rubber thread wound under tension around a solid or semi-solid center to form a wound core and thereafter enclosed in a single or multi-layer covering of tough protective material. For many years the wound ball was desired by many skilled, low handicap golfers, due to reported enhanced playability characteristics.
More particularly, the three piece wound ball typically has a balata or balata like cover which is relatively soft and flexible. Upon impact, the balata cover compresses against the surface of the club producing high spin. Consequently, the soft and flexible balata covers, along with the wound cores, provide an experienced golfer with the ability to apply a spin to control the ball in flight. This allows a skilled golfer to produce a draw or a fade or a backspin which causes the ball to xe2x80x9cbitexe2x80x9d or stop abruptly on contact with the green. Moreover, the balata cover produces a soft xe2x80x9cfeelxe2x80x9d to the low handicap player. Such playability properties of workability, feel, etc. are particularly important in short iron play with low swing speeds and are exploited significantly by highly skilled players.
However, a three piece wound ball also has several disadvantages. For example, a wound ball is relatively difficult to manufacture due to the number of production steps required and the careful control which must be exercised in each stage of manufacture to achieve suitable roundness, velocity, rebound, xe2x80x9cclickxe2x80x9d, xe2x80x9cfeelxe2x80x9d, and the like.
Moreover, wound balls can also be knocked xe2x80x9cout of roundxe2x80x9d. One or more severe hits can damage the windings and knock the center xe2x80x9coff centerxe2x80x9d. Such a ball is then unbalanced, making putting, etc. more difficult.
Additionally, a soft wound (three piece) ball is not well suited for use by the less skilled and/or high handicap golfer who cannot intentionally control the spin of the ball. For example, the unintentional application of side spin by a less skilled golfer produces hooking or slicing. The side spin reduces the golfer""s control over the ball as well as reducing travel distance.
Similarly, despite all the benefits of balata, balata covered balls are easily cut and/or damaged if mishit. Consequently, golf balls produced with balata or balata containing cover compositions can exhibit relatively short life spans. As a result of this negative property, balata and its synthetic substitute, trans-polyisoprene, and resin blends, have been essentially replaced as the cover materials of choice by golf ball manufacturers by materials comprising ionomeric resins and other elastomers such as polyurethanes.
Conventional multi-piece solid golf balls, on the other hand, include a solid resilient core having single or multiple cover layers employing different types of material molded on the core. The one piece golf ball and the solid core for a multi-piece solid (nonwound) ball frequently are formed from a combination of materials such as polybutadiene and other rubbers cross linked with zinc diacrylate or zinc dimethacrylate, and containing fillers and curing agents which are molded under high pressure and temperature to provide a ball of suitable hardness and resilience. For multi-piece nonwound golf balls, the cover typically contains a substantial quantity of ionomeric resins that impart toughness and cut resistance to the covers.
Ionomeric resins are generally ionic copolymers of an olefin, such as ethylene, and a metal salt of a unsaturated carboxylic acid, such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid or maleic acid. Metal ions, such as sodium or zinc, are used to neutralize some portion of the acidic group in the copolymer, resulting in a thermoplastic elastomer exhibiting enhanced properties, such as durability, for golf ball cover construction. However, some of the advantages gained in increased durability have been offset to some degree by decreases in playability. This is because, although the ionomeric resins are very durable, they also tend to be quite hard when utilized for golf ball cover construction and thus lack the degree of softness required to impart the spin necessary to control the ball in flight. Since most ionomeric resins are harder than balata, the ionomeric resin covers do not compress as much against the face of the club upon impact, thereby producing less spin. In addition, the harder and more durable ionomeric resins lack the xe2x80x9cfeelxe2x80x9d characteristic associated with the softer balata related covers.
As a result, while there are currently more than fifty (50) commercial grades of ionomers available, both from DuPont and Exxon, with a wide range of properties which vary according to the type and amount of metal ions, molecular weight, composition of the base resin (i.e. relative content of ethylene and methacrylic and/or acrylic acid groups) and additive ingredients, such as reinforcement agents, etc., a great deal of research continues in order to develop golf ball cover compositions exhibiting not only the improved impact resistance and carrying distance properties produced by the xe2x80x9chardxe2x80x9d ionomeric resins, but also the playability (i.e. xe2x80x9cspinxe2x80x9d, xe2x80x9cfeelxe2x80x9d, etc.) characteristics previously associated with the xe2x80x9csoftxe2x80x9d balata covers, properties which are still desired by the more skilled golfer.
Moreover, a number of multi-piece solid balls have also been produced to address the various needs of the golfing population. The different types of material used to formulate the core(s), cover(s), etc. of these balls dramatically alter the balls"" overall characteristics.
In this regard, various structures have been suggested using multi-layer cores and single layer covers wherein the core layers have different physical characteristics. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,714,253; 4,863,167 and 5,184,828 relate to three piece solid golf balls having improved rebound characteristics in order to increase flight distance. The ""253 patent is directed towards differences in the hardness of the layers. The ""167 patent relates to a golf ball having a center portion and an outer layer having a high specific gravity. Preferably, the outer layer is harder than the center portion. The ""828 patent suggests that the maximum hardness must be located at the interface between the core and the mantle, and the hardness must then decrease both inwardly and outwardly.
Similarly, a number of patents for multi-piece solid balls suggest improving the spin and feel by manipulating the core construction. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,625,964 relates to a solid golf ball having a core diameter not more than 32 mm, and an outer layer having a specific gravity lower than that of the core. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,650,193, it is suggested that a curable core elastomer be treated with a cure altering agent to soften an outer layer of the core. U.S. Pat. No. 5,002,281 is directed towards a three piece solid golf ball which has an inner core having a specific gravity greater than 1.0, but less than or equal to that of the outer shell which must be less than 1.3.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,848,707 and 5,072,944 disclose three-piece solid golf balls having center and outer layers of different hardness. Other examples of such dual layer cores can be found in, but are not limited to, the followings patents: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,781,383; 4,858,924; 5,002,281; 5,048,838; 5,104,126; 5,273,286; 5,482,285 and 5,490,674. It is believed that all of these patents are directed to balls with single cover layers.
Multi-layer covers containing one or more ionomeric resins have also been formulated in an attempt to produce a golf ball having the overall distance, playability and durability characteristics desired. This was addressed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,431,193, where a multi-layered golf ball cover is described as having been produced by initially molding a first cover layer on a spherical core and then adding a second cover layer. The first or inner layer is comprised of a hard, high flexural modulus resinous material to provide a gain in coefficient of restitution while the outer layer is a comparatively soft, low flexural modulus resinous material to provide spin and control. The increase in the coefficient of restitution provides a ball which serves to attain or approach the maximum initial velocity limit of 255 feet per second, as provided by the United States Golf Association (U.S.G.A.) rules. The relatively soft, low flexural modulus outer layer provides for an advantageous xe2x80x9cfeelxe2x80x9d and playing characteristics of a balata covered golf ball.
In various attempts to produce a durable, high spin ionomeric golf ball, the golfing industry has also blended the hard ionomer resins with a number of softer ionomer resins. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,884,814 and 5,120,791 are directed to cover compositions containing blends of hard and soft ionomeric resins. The hard copolymers typically are made from an olefin and an unsaturated carboxylic acid. The soft copolymers are generally made from an olefin, an unsaturated carboxylic acid and an acrylate ester. It has been found that golf ball covers formed from hard-soft ionomer blends tend to become scuffed more readily than covers made of hard ionomer alone.
A dual core, dual cover ball is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,919,434. However, the patent emphasizes the hardness characteristics of all layers, particularly the requirement for a soft inner cover layer and a hard outer cover layer. With respect to the core, it requires that the layers should not differ in hardness by more than 10 percent and should be elastomeric materials having a specific deformation range under a constant load.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,126 attempts to concentrate the weight of the golf ball in the center core region by utilizing a metal ball as the core component. However, that patent teaches the use of a solid metal ball as the core component which provides substantially different properties than a polymeric core.
Additionally, according to the U.S.G.A., the initial velocity of the ball must not exceed 250 ft/sec. with a 2% maximum tolerance (i.e., 255 ft/sec.) when struck at a set club head speed on a U.S.G.A. machine. Furthermore, the overall distance of the ball must not exceed 280 yards with a 6% tolerance (296.8 yards) when hit with a U.S.G.A. specified driver at 160 ft/sec. (clubhead speed) at a 10 degree launch angle as tested by the U.S.G.A. Lastly, the ball must pass the U.S.G.A. administered symmetry test, i.e., fly consistently (in distance, trajectory and time of flight) regardless of how the ball is placed on the tee.
While the U.S.G.A. regulates five (5) specifications for the purposes of maintaining golf ball consistency, alternative characteristics (i.e., spin, feel, durability, distance, sound, visibility, etc.) of the ball are constantly being improved upon by golf ball manufacturers. This is accomplished by altering the type of materials utilized and/or improving construction of the balls. For example, the proper choice of the materials for the cover(s) and core(s) are important in achieving certain distance, durability and playability properties. Other important factors controlling golf ball performance include, but are not limited to, cover thickness and hardness, core stiffness (typically measured as compression), ball size and surface configuration.
Accordingly, a wide variety of golf balls have been designed and are available to suit an individual player""s game. In essence, different types of balls have been specifically designed or xe2x80x9ctailor madexe2x80x9d for high handicap versus low handicap golfers, men versus women, seniors versus juniors, etc. Moreover, improved golf balls are continually being produced by golf ball manufacturers with technological advancements in materials and manufacturing processes.
In view in part of the above information, a number of one-piece, two-piece (a solid resilient center or core with a molded cover), three-piece wound (a liquid or solid center, elastomeric winding about the center, and a molded cover), and multi-layer solid or wound golf balls have been produced to address the various needs of golfers exhibiting different skill levels. The different types of materials utilized to formulate the core(s), cover(s), etc. of these balls dramatically alter the balls"" overall characteristics.
It would be useful to develop a golf ball exhibiting an increased resilience and feel without substantially affecting the ball""s remaining characteristics. Additionally, it would also be useful to develop a golf ball with a light-weight center having the same overall weight and size as conventional golf balls.
These and other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following summary and description of the invention, the drawings and from the claims.
Accordingly, it is a feature of the present invention to provide a multi-piece, nonwound, solid golf ball. The core is of a multi-layer construction. It comprises a pressurized center or inner core layer which is encapsulated by an outer core layer of different material and construction. The characteristics of the core are such that the feel, compression and/or moment of inertia of the ball may be adjusted.
An additional feature of the invention is to provide a ball having a multi-layer polymeric core having a pressurized foamed center or nucleus enclosed by an outer core layer and a multi-layer cover. The ball has enhanced feel and compression properties.
Another feature of the present invention is the provision for a golf ball having a pressurized foamed inner core. The inner core component is constructed in such a manner as to incorporate many of the desirable features associated with various categories of balls traditionally employed.
A further feature of the present invention is the provision for a golf ball core structure with a foamed inner or center polymeric core and an outer polymeric core layer, with the inner core having a specific gravity that differs from that of the outer core layer.
Yet another feature is the provision for a multi-layer core having a pressurized center that is combined with a multi-layer cover wherein the outer cover layer has a lower hardness value than the inner cover layer.
A still further feature of the invention is the provision for a golf ball having a foamed center or nucleus, a high specific gravity core layer and a soft outer cover layer with good scuff resistance and cut resistance coupled with relatively high spin rates at low club head speeds.
The present invention provides in an additional aspect, a solid, nonwound golf ball. The ball comprises a pressurized, multi-core assembly that is concentrically positioned within the center of the golf ball, and a multi-layer cover assembly disposed about the multi-core assembly.
In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a golf ball comprising a pressurized foamed center core component which is concentrically disposed about a reference point located at the geometric center of the golf ball. The golf ball further comprises an outer core layer which generally surrounds and is disposed about the center core component. The golf ball further comprises a first inner cover layer disposed and positioned around the outer core layer, and a second outermost dimpled cover layer that is disposed about the first inner cover layer. Preferably, an ionomeric material is used in at least one of the cover layers.
In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a golf ball comprising a center core component that is pressurized. Preferably, the center core component is foamed and contains a plurality of interior voids or cells, which contain an effective amount of a gas such as nitrogen that is at an elevated pressure. In certain embodiments, the pressurized center core has relatively high or low densities.
In an additional aspect, the subject matter of the present invention provides a golf ball comprising a dual polymeric core and a cover. The dual core has an inner, low density, spherical center core and at least one outer core layer. A lower or higher density outer core layer is disposed about the low density spherical center or inner core layer. A cover is then molded about the dual core.
Moreover, one or more outer core layers can be disposed about the center, followed by one or more cover layers. The outer core and/or cover layers can be made lighter and/or heavier in order to produce an overall golf ball which conforms with the weight and size requirements of the U.S.G.A. This combination of weight and size displacement decreases or increases the moment of inertia and/or allows the radius of gyration of the ball to move closer to or further from the center.
The moment of inertia (i.e., xe2x80x9cMOIxe2x80x9d) of a golf ball (also known as xe2x80x9crotational inertiaxe2x80x9d) is the sum of the products formed by multiplying the mass (or sometimes the area) of each element of a figure by the square of its distance from a specified line such as the center of a golf ball. This property is directly related to the xe2x80x9cradius of gyrationxe2x80x9d of a golf ball which is the square root of the ratio of the moment of inertia of a golf ball about a given axis to its mass. It has been found that the lower the moment of inertia (or the closer the radius of gyration is to the center of the ball) the higher the spin rate is of the ball with all other properties being held equal.
In all of the above aspects, the present invention is directed, in part, to providing a pressurized center core component. This increases the resilience and feel characteristics of the ball.
The present invention is also directed to decreasing or increasing the moment of inertia of a solid, non-wound, golf ball by varying the weight arrangement and composition of the pressurized core (preferably the inner spherical center). By varying the weight, size and density of the components of the golf ball, the moment of inertia of a golf ball can be decreased or increased. Additionally, different types of matrix materials and/or cross-linking agents, or lack thereof, can be utilized in the core construction in order to produce an overall solid, non-wound, golf ball exhibiting enhanced spin and feel while maintaining resiliency and durability.
In one other further aspect, the subject matter of the present invention provides a multi-layered covered golf ball comprising a dual core and a multi-layer cover. The dual core comprises a pressurized low or high density spherical center core layer and at least one outer core layer having a similar or different density. Preferably, the spherical center has a specific gravity of from about 0.02 to about 4.0, preferably about 0.10 to 2.0, and most preferably, about 0.30-1.0. The spherical center has a diameter from 0.15 inches to 1.0 inches, preferably about 0.25 inches to 0.75 inches and most preferably 0.0340 inches to 0.344 inches.
The golf balls of the present inventions having the foamed, pressurized nucleus are more durable and softer with an increased resilience than solid metal nucleus balls. The specific gravity of the center, or nucleus, is dependent upon the extent of foaming or cell size, the quantity and type of the material in nucleus, the amount and type of blowing agent, and the specific gravity of the chosen filler (if desired) so that the maximum U.S.G.A. golf ball weight is not exceeded.
These and other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and from the claims.


Methods, systems, and apparatuses for temporarily increasing, on demand, the relative humidity of an area located proximate to a user in environments having lower than ambient relative humidity are provided by integrating a personal humidification circuit into a water delivery circuit to provide a diverted flow of water, and provide a flow of water vapor to a user, and returning the relative humidity-enhanced environment to a predetermined relative humidity by purging the environment.

The humidification of air in aircraft cabins has observed the competing interests of passenger comfort and humidification limits in terms of potential damage to aircraft cabin components due to accumulated moisture. As a result, to properly maintain the working condition of aircraft cabin components, cabin air humidity has been significantly less humid than the relative humidity most passengers encounter in their homes. For example, controlled to a level that has not adequately suited the comfort of certain passengers. as the relative humidity of air in an aircraft cabin can range from about 25 to about 30% lower than the average relative humidity in a home environment.


An ignition coil includes primary and secondary coils accommodated in a coil case extending to define a cylindrical mount portion on a high voltage side. The mount portion includes a high voltage terminal electrically connected with the secondary coil. A coil spring electrically connects the high voltage terminal with a sparkplug. An electrically insulative plug cap is attached to the mount portion. The coil spring has a low voltage end electrically connected with the secondary coil via the high voltage terminal. The coil spring has a high voltage end in contact with a terminal of the sparkplug. The coil spring has an intermediate portion between the low voltage end and the high voltage end. The plug cap has a spring support portion, which is partially defining the fitting hole and restricting the intermediate portion of the coil spring from being radially deformed.

An engine is provided with an ignition coil having a coil main body constructed by, for example, coaxially providing a primary coil with a secondary coil. The primary coil is constructed by winding a wire around a primary spool to form a primary winding, and the secondary coil is constructed by winding a wire around a secondary spool to form a secondary winding. A center core, which is formed of a magnetic material, is provided on the radially inner side of the primary and secondary coils. An outer core, which is formed of a magnetic material, is provided on the radially outer side of the primary and secondary coils. Thus, the center core and the outer core construct a magnetic circuit.
The secondary coil has a high voltage end defining a plug mount portion to which a sparkplug is provided. The plug mount portion has a cap mount portion, which is in a cylindrical shape, and extends from a spool constructing the primary coil or the like. The cap mount portion is attached with a plug cap formed of rubber. The plug cap has a fitting hole accommodating a coil spring electrically conducted with a high voltage winding end of the secondary coil via a high voltage terminal. The sparkplug is mounted to The plug mount portion by fitting an insulator portion of the sparkplug into the fitting hole. The sparkplug has a terminal portion in contact with the coil spring.
For example, an ignition coil is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,836,203 B2 (JP-A-2003-163126). In this structure, an intermediate portion of the coil spring is not steadily supported, and the intermediate portion may be radially deformed.
When the intermediate portion is largely deformed, electric contact between the coil spring and the sparkplug may not be maintained. In addition, when the intermediate portion is largely deformed, high voltage electricity passing through the coil spring may leak to low voltage components.
According to JP-A-8-100753, an ignition coil includes an ignition coil portion (coil body) and a socket. The ignition coil portion (coil body) includes a primary coil and a secondary coil, and is located outside a plughole of an engine. The socket accommodates a spring electrically conducted with a high voltage winding end of the secondary coil. The socket is inserted into the plughole of the engine. In this structure, the socket supports the spring.
However, in this structure disclosed in JP-A-8-100753, the coil main body is outside the plughole, and this structure cannot be directly applied to a stick type structure in which the coil main body is inserted into the plughole.


The present invention relates to a luminous device with a heat pipe formed therein and a heat pipe lead for a luminous device. The present invention provides a luminous device including a heat pipe lead or electrode and a luminous chip mounted onto the heat pipe lead or electrode. The luminous device of the present invention further comprises a heat dissipation member, such as a heat radiating plate or thermoelectric device, installed at an end of the heat pipe lead or electrode. Therefore, through the heat pipe lead or electrode of the present invention, a higher heat dissipation effect greater can be obtained as compared with the conventional one. As a result, it is possible to reduce thermal stress on a luminous device and to prevent the occurrence of a phenomenon in which external impurities penetrate into the luminous device. In addition, the cooling efficiency and the light-emitting efficiency of a luminous chip can be maximized by further disposing a heat dissipation member outside the heat pipe.

As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional lamp-type luminous device includes a luminous chip 1 that emits light when a voltage is applied thereto, and first and second leads 2 and 3 that are connected to cathode and anode of the luminous chip 1, respectively, and made of a conductive metal material to apply a voltage to the luminous chip 1. The luminous chip 1 is attached to a cup-shaped pad formed on an end of the first lead 2 with a conductive adhesive and bonded to the second lead 3 via a wire 4. Further, the luminous chip 1 is molded with a molded portion 5 made of an insulating material such that it can be protected from the outside. At this time, the first and second leads 2 and 3 are partially exposed to the outside such that they can apply a voltage to the luminous chip from the outside.
The luminous device so configured has been recently implemented into a white LED applicable to a variety of fields as well as a monochromatic luminous device including the three primary colors, i.e. red (R), green (G) and blue (B). Therefore, the application field of a luminous device gradually tends to expand into a next-generation illumination system capable of substituting for an incandescent bulb, fluorescent lamp or street lamp as well as a luminous source for use in a backlight of a general display unit. Accordingly, there are advantages in that the illumination system using a luminous device does not need an inverter circuit and a core stabilizer, has a simpler lighting circuit than a general fluorescent lamp, and has low maintenance costs since it has lower power consumption and life at least ten times greater than that of the fluorescent lamp.
The luminous device so configured has been recently implemented into a white LED applicable to a variety of fields as well as a monochromatic luminous device including the three primary colors, i.e. red (R), green (G) and blue (B). Therefore, the application filed of a luminous device gradually tends to expand into a next-generation illumination system capable of substituting for an incandescent bulb, fluorescent lamp or street lamp as well as a luminous source for use in a backlight of a general display unit. Accordingly, there are advantages in that the illumination system using a luminous device does not need an inverter circuit and a core stabilizer, has a simpler lighting circuit than a general fluorescent lamp, and has low maintenance costs since it has lower power consumption and life at least ten times greater than that of the fluorescent lamp.
Recently, a study on such a luminous device for use in an illumination system has been vigorously conducted. However, since maximum luminous efficiency of a luminous device and heat dissipation characteristics correlate with each other, the heat dissipation problem should be solved if the luminous device is to be used for the illumination system. That is, if the luminous device is used for the illumination system, heat generated in the chip is increased and the chip in the luminous device is thus subjected to greater thermal stress. Accordingly, the product reliability is decreased and the life span of the product is also shortened. In particular, the lamp-type luminous device shown in FIG. 1 dissipates heat only via heat conduction of the metallic lead frames. There is a problem in that the thermal stress imposed on the luminous device is increased.
To solve such a problem, a heat dissipation member such as heat sink or slug made of a metal material with excellent heat conductivity is mounted between the luminous chip and a substrate such that the thermal stress imposed on the luminous device has been successfully reduced to a certain degree.
However, due to limitation in the conductivity of metal and poor heat transfer characteristics at interfaces between the heat dissipation member and the substrate or luminous chip, the resultant heat conductivity is lowered. Thus, the thermal stress problem of the luminous device cannot be effectively solved. Further, there is another problem in that the electrical characteristics of the luminous device are deteriorated or luminous characteristics of the luminous device are changed since external foreign substances such as moisture penetrate into the luminous device through a pre-determined gap that may occur between the heat dissipation member and the substrate. Therefore, further increased luminous efficiency cannot be obtained by only such heat conduction of the heat dissipation member, and the increase in cooling load cannot also effectively solved.

Luminous device with heat pipe and method of manufacturing heat pipe lead for luminous device


A cooling device includes a liquid chamber having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet. A bent pipe includes a straight tubular heat pipe component provided extending from the inside to the outside of the liquid chamber. A spiral heat pipe component communicating with the straight tubular heat pipe component and extending to surround the same spirally is provided. In an internal space where the spiral heat pipe component and the straight tubular heat pipe component communicate with each other, a working fluid serving as a heat carrier is sealed. An ultrasonic motor for rotating integrally the straight tubular heat pipe component and the spiral heat pipe component is provided. A radiating fin structure is provided on the straight tubular heat pipe component positioned outside the liquid chamber. As a result, it is possible to make the device lighter, smaller and more reliable without decreasing the cooling performance as compared to conventional cooling devices.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to cooling devices, and more particularly, to a cooling device for cooling liquid such as oil, water and the like.
2. Description of the Background Art
Conventionally, cooling devices for cooling liquids using various cooling systems have been invented. As an example of such a cooling device for cooling liquid, a cooling device for engine oil i.e. an oil cooler, for example installed in an automobile and the like will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 11. FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a conventional oil cooler. FIG. 10 is an internal plan view of the oil cooler shown in FIG. 9. FIG. 11 is a front view of the oil cooler shown in FIG. 9.
Referring to FIGS. 9 and 11, a conventional oil cooler 50 includes an oil inlet 51 through which engine oil is supplied, an oil outlet 52 through which the engine oil cooled by oil cooler 50 is discharged, a water inlet 53 through which cooling water for cooling the engine oil is supplied, and a water outlet 54 through which the cooling water is discharged after cooling the engine oil.
Next, referring to FIG. 10, by an internal structure of the conventional oil cooler 50 will be described. Referring to FIG. 10, a plurality of panels 55 are disposed approximately parallel with each other and with a predetermined space from each other in the interior of conventional oil cooler 50 so that a plurality of passages 56 for engine oil passing through the oil cooler 50 are defined. Passages 56 for engine oil and passages 57 for cooling water are defined by panels 55.
The engine oil supplied through oil inlet 51 is discharged from oil outlet 52 after passing passages 56 for engine oil defined by the plurality of panels 55. Passage 57 for cooling water are provided adjacent to passages 56 for engine oil. Because of this structure, the engine oil is cooled by the cooling water when it passes through passages 56 for engine oil.
The cooling water is introduced into oil cooler 50 from water inlet 53 to be discharged out of oil cooler 50 from water outlet 54 after passing through passages 57 for cooling water. When the cooling water passes through passages 57 by cooling water, it removes heat from the engine oil passing through passages 56 for engine oil provided adjacent to passages 57 for cooling water to cool the engine oil.
As described above, since the engine oil is cooled by the cooling water introduced into passages 57 for cooling water, it is preferred that a number for passages 57 of cooling water and a number of passages 56 for engine oil are provided in order to cool the engine oil more effectively. Provision of many passages 57 and passages 56 makes it possible to remove heat from the engine oil more effectively.
However, oil cooler 50 of a conventional type having the above-described structure has the following problems.
From the view point of improvement of performance such as fuel costs, automobiles lighter in weight are preferable. Therefore, it is necessary to make lighter components such as an oil cooler and the like provided as equipment on the automobile. However, as described above, in an oil cooler 50 of a conventional type, it is necessary to provide more panels 55 in order to enhance cooling efficiency.
As described above, by increasing the number of panels 55, oil cooler 50 is made larger, causing a problem that the weight is accordingly larger. For an automobile belonging to the formula 1 type, for example, it is very important to make the automobile lighter in weight. For an automobile of such a type, it is extremely disadvantageous to have components larger in weight.
In order to prevent the device from being made larger, there is one method considered in which the width of passages 57 for cooling water and passages 56 for engine oil defined by panels 55 is made smaller. However, this method brings about a smaller internal structure of oil cooler 50, whereby processing becomes difficult and precision of processing is lowered. As a result, a defect such as a gap occurs in the passage, and there is a high possibility that the engine oil and the cooling water are mixed with each other.
Furthermore, in order to introduce the cooling water into oil cooler 50, it is necessary to have a pump for supplying the cooling water. Therefore, it is necessary to have a space for the pump for supplying the cooling water in a limited space in the automobile. In addition to this, there may be a problem that, when the automobile rounds a curve, circulation of the cooling water is degraded by the centrifugal force.

Itoh Research & Development Laboratory Co., Ltd.


Methods are described for providing conference calls. Methods are performed in a conference call system and includes: receiving local contact information for a plurality of contacts stored in a local phone book of a user equipment associated with a caller; updating a contact database of the conference call system based on the local contact information; registering the caller with an interactive voice response system of the conference call system; receiving a spoken request from the caller; accessing the contact database with contact information and retrieving a phone number responsive to the spoken request; calling the retrieved phone number; and establishing contact between the caller and a person associated with the retrieved phone number. Systems and computer readable mediums are also described.

Teleconferencing, which includes voice conferencing and video conferencing, allows a number of persons located in geographically disparate areas to participate in a telephone or video call with one another. As businesses and organizations strive to cut costs such like those for meals, travel and lodging which are related to "person-to-person" meetings, teleconferencing is expected to be to be even more and more attractive.
Many organizations have come to rely upon designated teleconference numbers that can be used for a certain time, where each participant of a teleconference can join the conference by calling such a designated number. Frequently several teleconferencing systems also require a joining participants to provide some kind of identification code before the participant can join to a conference call. The identification code may be a personalized identifier or it may be an identification code associated with the teleconference in question.
Since all participants have to call the same number for joining the conference there is always a risk that someone calls the wrong number or even loses information about what number to call for joining the conference call. In particular as each teleconference can be associated with different teleconference number and identification codes, remembering and keeping track of a such information can sometimes be a hard or maybe even completely impractical task.
Some alternatives for tracking such information when e.g. away from one's computer system or calendaring application may include manually writing down each teleconference number and identification code or may include using a personal digital assistant. Such solutions are unfortunately somewhat prone to error.
For the reasons above various systems have been developed for assisting in the setting up a teleconference between a number of participants.
One way of assisting conference participants in joining a teleconference is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,133,512 in which document an interactive voice response system and a method of aggregating conference calls can include registering a caller with the interactive voice response system. Included is also access in a calendar system used by a registered caller for determining teleconference data that specify at least a telephone number for a scheduled conference call. At approximately a time of the conference call the telephone number for the conference call are automatically called. The method also can include establishing contact with the registered caller and joining the registered caller with the conference call.
Even though prior art may assist in setting up a conference call, present solutions are often cumbersome in communication environments were several different communication equipments are used, which includes e.g. cellular telephones, wireless telephones, conventional landline phones, IP-based telephones which includes e.g. a computer.


A cable feeder for feeding cables through a structure according to some embodiments of the disclosure includes a housing having a drive roller attached thereto, and idler roller assembly attached to the housing. In an embodiment, the idler roller assembly can be released from the housing to allow cable to be released from the cable feeder. In an embodiment, the housing is formed from upper and lower housings, and the position of the lower housing and idler roller assembly can be adjusted relative to the upper housing and drive roller.

Cable trays are commonly used in industrial-type buildings for routing cable. The cable lays on top of the cable tray and is visible. The cable can be easily changed and additional cables can be easily added. When pulling cables into a cable tray, a guide system is required to control the cable location since a full enclosure (conduit) is not provided.
Many current cable pulling accessories/feeders are fastened using loose pieces, such as screws and nuts that can easily be lost, dropped, or require extra hardware or hands to install quickly. Other attachment methods include screw-driven clamps that require handles and repetitive twisting motion to grab onto one or both sides of the cable tray. Cam locks also exist, but require users to adjust settings if desiring use on a wider range of tray sizes.