The subject of the present application is an agent for the oxidative dyeing of keratinous fibers, in particular human hair, which contains in a cosmetic carrier (A) at least one oxidation dye precursor with 4,5-diaminopyrazole as the basic structural element according to the structural formula (I) and furthermore (B) glucoheptonic acid and/or at least one of its physiologically tolerated salts and/or lactones. The composition as contemplated herein further comprises (C) at least one oxidizing agent other than atmospheric oxygen.

A second object of the present disclosure is a multi-component packaging unit (kit-of-parts) comprising at least two separately assembled components, wherein the first component (K1) contains the previously described ingredients (A) and (B) and the second component (K2) contains the previously described ingredient (C).
A third object of the present disclosure is a multi-component packaging unit (kit-of-parts) comprising at least two separately assembled components, wherein the first component (K1) contains the previously described ingredient (A) and optionally the previously described ingredient (C) and the second component (K2) contains the previously described ingredient (B).
A fourth object of the present disclosure is a multi-component packaging unit (kit-of-parts) comprising at least three separately assembled components, wherein the first component (K1) contains the previously described ingredient (A), the second component (K2) contains the previously described ingredient (B), and the third component (K3) contains the previously described ingredient (C).
A further object of the present disclosure is a process for oxidative hair coloring, in which an agent for the oxidative coloring of keratinous fibers, in particular human hair, is applied to the fibers, in particular human hair, which agent contains in a cosmetic carrier (A) at least one oxidation dye precursor with 4,5-diaminopyrazole as the basic structural element according to the structural formula (I), furthermore (B) glucoheptonic acid and/or at least one of its physiologically tolerated salts and/or lactones and furthermore (C) at least one oxidizing agent which is different from atmospheric oxygen, the colorant being rinsed out with water after a contact time of about 1 to about 60 minutes and the hair optionally being treated with further cleansing and care products and then dried.
Changing the color of keratin fibers, especially hair, is an important area of modern cosmetics. As a result, the appearance of the hair can be adapted both to current fashion trends and to the individual wishes of the individual. The expert knows different possibilities for changing the hair color. The hair color can be changed temporarily by using direct dye. Here, already fully formed dyes from the dye diffuse into the hair fiber. The dyeing with direct dyes is associated with little damage to the hair, but a disadvantage is the short shelf life and the quick washability of the dyeings obtained with direct dyes.
If consumers desire a long-lasting color result or a shade lighter than their original hair color, oxidative color modifiers are commonly used. So-called oxidation dyes are used for permanent, intensive dyeings with appropriate fastness properties. Such colorants usually contain oxidation dye precursors, so-called developer components (oxidation bases) and coupler components, which form the actual dyes under the influence of oxidizing agents among themselves. Oxidation dyes are exemplified by long-lasting dyeing results.
Extensive prior art already exists on oxidative colorants. Many attempts have been made to optimize the color intensity and fastness properties of fashion shades.
However, despite the large number of optimization trials already carried out, there is still room for improvement about the fastness properties of the dyeing of oxidatively dyed keratin fibers—especially if they are to be dyed in a mode shade in the red range. In particular, the wash fastness of red shades based on 4,5-diaminopyrazoles as the developer component (oxidation base) cannot yet be classified as optimal.

Oxidative dye in red shades with improved fastness and improved homogeneity


A grain or silage box is mounted on a trailer frame and kept low to the ground through the addition of a step frame at the forward end of the trailer side frame members. The step frame includes a fifth wheel king pin for engagement with the fifth wheel plate of a semi-tractor. The step frame is hidden between the downwardly extending elongated box frame members when the box is in a lowered position. The box frame members are laterally stabilized by the step frame with the box in its lowered position on top of the trailer side frame members.

The use of a semi-tractor with a farm trailer would have advantages over a conventional farm truck. A semi-tractor is not limited to a single trailer but can be used with a variety of different trailers. Repairs and maintenance of the tractor can be made without tying up the trailer.
Many gravity dump trailers are available. However, many uses for farm trucks or trailers require hydraulic end dumping rather than gravity dumping. What the step frame trailer provides is a trailer designed to be fitted with an end dumping standard grain or silage box and a standard hydraulic lift hoist. The height of the semi-tractor fifth wheel plate determines the height of the trailer frame. Thus, what is needed is a way by which a grain or silage box can be kept as low as possible for ease of loading and unloading and for stability and yet be connected to a fifth wheel plate on a semi-tractor without modification of the box.

Multipurpose fifth wheel step frame semi tractor trailer


A method for manufacturing rod-like articles for tobacco industry, the rod-like articles comprising longitudinal inserts located in a filling material, the method comprising: feeding a continuous tape-like wrapper; feeding a strand of the filling material onto the moving wrapper; feeding an insert material, in a form of a tape having weakenings, into the strand of the filling material; forming a continuous rod by wrapping the wrapper around the strand of the filling material with the insert material; cutting the moving continuous rod into discrete rod-like articles by a cutting head at a cutting plane that traverses the weakening in the tape of the insert material; the method being characterized by: inspecting ends of the insert in the rod like article cut from the continuous rod and comparing the ends with a predefined model to obtain a measure of similarity; and depending on the similarity, adjusting the action of the cutting head with respect to the movement of the continuous rod such as to increase the similarity between the ends of the insert to the model in a following rod like article.

In the art there are known devices for placing various types of objects in rod-like articles. Both spherical and longitudinal objects are placed in the filter material of the mouthpiece part of the cigarette as well as in the tobacco part. Currently, tobacco products of the type "heat non burn", i.e. products in which the material generating the aroma is heated, is encountered. Such products are characterized by a lower emission of harmful substances for the smoker in relation to traditional cigarettes in which tobacco is burned. The aroma can be produced by the heat emitted from the insert placed in the tobacco part, the tobacco in such products can be in various forms, for example tobacco cut, crinkled paper, tobacco film or a sheet of homogenized tobacco. To heat the aerosol generating material, a lamellar or rod element is usually used, which is placed inside a part of a cigarette made of material to be heated. The heating element may be placed in such a product directly by the smoker by introducing it usually from the end of the cigarette into the part in which the aerosol generating material is located, or else it may be placed therein already at the stage of producing such a cigarette. In the case where the heating element is placed in the tobacco part of the cigarette at the manufacturing stage, an external source of energy, usually electromagnetic radiation, is used to heat it. The heating element may be inductively heated, the generated energy is used to heat the tobacco material.
The placement of the heating element in the tobacco part of the cigarette takes place on machines for producing rod-like elements used in the tobacco industry. Typically, the heating element is introduced into an unformed shaft formed of the aerosol generating material by means of introducing means, usually centrally so that it is evenly surrounded on each side with the aerosol generating material.
The heating element may be inserted into an unformed shaft as a finished element of finite length or as an endless belt which, after forming the shaft, will be cut with the bars together with it.
A PCT application WO2016/184928 discloses an apparatus for inserting a continuous tape made of stainless steel into a tow of tobacco material, the tobacco material being formed into a continuous rod which is cut by means of a cutting head into single rods of predefined length. The inserts are adapted to be inductively heated and are employed to heat tobacco material e.g. aerosol forming tobacco substrate.
A PCT application WO2016/184929 discloses an apparatus for inserting strip-shaped heating elements made of ferromagnetic metal into a strand of tobacco material, the strips having predefined length are being located in the strand so the finally formed continuous rod may be cut between the inserted strips. Thus rods having strip-shaped heating elements are manufactured.
A European patent application EP2677273A1 discloses a method to estimate quality of end surfaces of rod-like articles by means of an optical unit, wherein a signal from the unit is processed by a controller. Both two-dimensional and three-dimensional measurements of the cutting surfaces are available.

Method and an apparatus for manufacturing rod-like articles for tobacco industry

International Tobacco Machinery Poland Sp z o.o.


A semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. The method for manufacturing the semiconductor device forms a recess gate region on a semiconductor substrate, forms an isolation layer isolated from the recess gate region using a high-temperature thermal process, and guarantees a larger channel region by filling the isolation layer with a gate electrode material, so that a cell current is increased and on/off characteristics of a transistor are improved.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the same, which form a recess gate region on a semiconductor substrate, form an isolation layer isolated from the recess gate region using a high-temperature thermal process, and guarantee a larger channel region by filling the isolation layer with a gate electrode material, so that a cell current is increased and on/off characteristics of a transistor are improved.
An important parameter among a plurality of parameter requisites for a process for manufacturing a transistor of a semiconductor device is a threshold voltage (Vt). The threshold voltage is a variable that depends on a thickness of a gate oxide layer, a channel doping density, an oxide charge, and a material used for a gate. The smaller the size of a device, the larger a difference between the threshold voltage and a theoretical threshold value. In more detail, there arises a variety of problems in which the threshold voltage is not identical to a theoretical threshold value as the size of a semiconductor device is gradually decreased. An example of such a problem is a short channel effect that is generated as a gate channel length is decreased.
As the semiconductor device becomes highly integrated, a nano (nm)-sized device requires not only an increase in speed but also a capability of operating at a low voltage of 1V˜2V, and thus requires a low threshold voltage. However, if the threshold value is further decreased, it is impossible to control the device due to the short channel effect. In addition, the short channel effect can cause a Drain Induced Built-in Leakage (DIBL) caused by a hot carrier.
Although a variety of research are being conducted to reduce the short channel effect, a solution capable of reducing the short channel effect remains unfinished as the semiconductor device continues to become highly integrated.
Although there is research aimed to find out the solution by adjusting the doping density, these methods do not completely solve the short channel effect. A variety of these research methods are well known to those skilled in the art. For example, a method for forming a Super Steep Retrograde Channel (SSR) through a Vertically Abrupt Channel Doping (VACD), a method for forming an ion implant channel, a Laterally Abrupt Channel Doping (LACD) method, a method for forming a channel including a halo structure through a Large Angle Tilt Implant (LATI), etc. may be used.
However, the reduction in thickness of a gate oxide layer and the reduction in short channel effect are basically limited. In recent times, in order to obviate the above-mentioned limitations, a channel length is guaranteed using a recess gate, and a degree of freedom of a cell junction is increased, and a channel width is increased using a fin-gate technology, such that a cell current is guaranteed and a leakage current is adjusted.
However, the above-mentioned technology that uses the recess gate and the fin gate technology may have a certain disadvantage for a device with a cell size of 30 nm or less.

Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same


A code division multiple access (CDMA) communication system (10) having a plurality of spreading codes including a control code includes a first communication device (100) and a second communication device (106). The first communication device is adapted for transmitting a signal spread by the control code inclusive of a request for an optimum spreading code. The second communication device (106) includes a receiver (202) and an adaptable match filter (204) for identifying the optimum spreading code. A transmitter (2024) transmits information about the spreading code to the first communication device 100. With the information on the optimum spreading code available, the first communication device (100) and the second communication device (106) continue to communicate with each other. The optimum spreading code is periodically updated by the first communication device (100) and second communication device (106) to provide for changes in the utilization of codes.

In direct sequence Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) systems, many transmitters may operate in the same frequency space. The signals are discriminated at the receiver by the difference in their pseudo-random spreading sequences or codes. Some existing systems, use a centralized base station to allocate spreading sequences or codes. These codes are selected from among a number of codes that each communication device is programmed with. The use of a base station requires that a central station keep track of all the communications between communication devices. Such a requirement demands the maintenance of a centrally located base station along with sophisticated communication equipment.
Yet in systems with no centralized base station, the codes are preprogrammed in the communication devices and are selected manually by the user. With no base station to dynamically allocate codes, the efficient reuse of codes is prevented. It is therefore desired to have a CDMA system with no base station without sacrificing code reuse and system efficiency.

Communication device with code sequence selection system


A method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving data provide for efficient use communication resources by encoding data in accordance with a first code to produce a block of data, determining transmission data rate of a time frame, selecting a portion of the block of data based on the determined transmission data rate, adding a location identifier data to the portion of data to produce a payload data, wherein the location identifier identifies a location of the portion of data within the block of data, and encoding the payload data in accordance with a second code to produce a packet of data for transmission over the time frame. A transmitter transmits the packet of data over the time frame at the determined data rate. A receiver receives the packet of data over the time frame, and processes the received data accordingly to reproduce the block of data.

1. Field
The present invention relates generally to the field of communications, and more particularly, to data communications in a communication system.
2. Background
In a wireless communication system, unnecessary and excessive transmissions by a user may cause interference for other users in addition to reducing the system capacity. The unnecessary and excessive transmission may be caused by inefficient flow of data in the communication system. The data communicated between two end users may pass through several layers of protocols for assuring proper flow of data through the system. Normally, a base station may receive a block of data for transmission to a mobile station. The block of data is encoded via a block outer code. The outer encoded data is partitioned into frames of data for transmission over one or more physical layer frames. Each physical layer frame of data is encoded using a physical code, and is transmitted over several time slots. The proper delivery of data in at least one aspect is assured through a system of checking for error in each frame of data, and requesting a retransmission of the same frame of data if an unacceptable error or error rate is detected in the frame of data. The block of data may be any type of data, for example, music data, video data, etc. As such, after receiving the frames of data of a bock of data, the mobile station reconstructs the block of data to play the music or video, for example.
More specifically, the wireless communication system may be operating in accordance with the code division multiple access (CDMA) technique which has been disclosed and described in various standards published by the Telecommunication Industry Association (TIA) and other standards organizations. Such standards include the TIA/EIA-IS-2000 standard. A copy of the standards may be obtained by accessing the world wide web at the domain: 3gpp2.org, or by writing to TIA, Standards and Technology Department, 2500 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Va. 22201, United States of America. In one aspect, the wireless communication system operating in accordance with the IS-2000 protocol has an option of providing supplemental channels to the mobile stations at fixed or variable data rates. The supplemental channels may be used to transmit a block of data to the mobile station at a fixed data rate or variable data rate. In another aspect, the wireless communication system operating in accordance with the IS-2000 protocol has an option of providing forward packet data channels (F-PDCH) to the mobile stations at variable data rates, variable physical layer frame durations, and variable modulation formats. The F-PDCHs may be used to transmit a block of data to the mobile station at a variable data rate. However, variable formats, including data rate, modulation and frame duration, communication may be possible in any wireless communication.
At fixed data rate and continuous transmission over the supplemental channel, the base station partitions the block of data in accordance with the fixed data rate. Each partition of the block of data may be multiplexed as a packet of data for transmission over a physical layer frame. A frame of data may be transmitted to the mobile station over several time slots. Since the data rate over the supplemental channel is fixed, each frame of data may have the same size data payload. As such, the packets of data from a partitioned block of data are also at the same size. Moreover, since the transmission is continuous, the mobile station can determined how much data is missing if it doesn't receive a frame. Therefore, the mobile station may easily determine the location of the retransmitted frame of data in the block and reconstruct the entire block of data.
However, reconstructing the block of data may not be feasible or easily possible when the data is transmitted to the mobile station at variable rate or in a discontinuous format. This is the case either when the transmission of the supplemental channel is discontinuous and unknown to the mobile station or the F-PDCH is used. For the F-PDCH, the size of the payload of a frame may vary from frame to frame. For variable data rate, the size of payload in each frame of data may vary. As such, the packets of data from the partitioned block of data are not necessarily at the same size. If a frame of data is received in error and, therefore, the size of the frame is unknown to the mobile station, it is infeasible for the mobile station to determine the location of the subsequently received frames of data, including any retransmission frames of data, in the block of data for reconstructing the block of data. Moreover, if the format of the discontinuous transmission time is unknown to the mobile stations, it is also not feasible or easily possible for the mobile stations to determine the location of any received frame of data within the block of data.
Therefore, there is a need, at least for IS-2000 system with supplemental channels variable data rate with non-continuous transmission and F-PDCH, to provide a system, method and apparatus for communication of a block of data and reconstructing the block of data at a receiving mobile station.

Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving a block of data in a communication system


A nozzle inhibitor is positioned in a filler neck closure assembly to prevent a user from pumping unleaded fuel into a diesel fuel tank. The nozzle inhibitor blocks full insertion of a small-diameter unleaded fuel nozzle into the filler neck closure assembly yet allows full insertion of a large-diameter diesel fuel nozzle into the filler neck closure assembly.

The present disclosure relates to a filler neck closure assembly, and particularly to a filler neck closure for use in a fuel tank filler neck. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a device for preventing the introduction of a nozzle for unleaded fuel into the filler neck of a fuel tank of a motor vehicle fitted with a diesel internal combustion engine.
Unleaded fuel should not be introduced into a fuel tank filler neck of a motor vehicle powered by a diesel engine. It is customary to use a small-diameter nozzle (e.g., 22 mm or less) to dispense unleaded fuel into a fuel tank filler neck and to use a larger-diameter nozzle (e.g., 24 mm or more) to dispense diesel and leaded fuel.


A substantially pure or isolated oligodeoxynucleotide of at least 10 nucleotides is disclosed, wherein the oligodeoxynucleotide comprised a sequence represented by either formula:5′ N1N2N3T-CpG-WN4N5N6 3′wherein the CpG motif is unmethylated, W is A or T, and N1, N2, N3, N4, N5, and N6 are nucleotides, or the formula:5′ RY-CpG-RY 3′wherein the central CpG motif is unmethylated, R is A or G, and Y is C or T, as well as an oligodeoxynucleotide delivery complex and a pharmacological composition comprising the present inventive oligodeoxynucleotide, and a method of inducing an immune response by administering the present inventive oligodeoxynucleotide to a host. In some embodiments, the oligodeoxynucleotide includes the nucleic acid sequences set forth as SEQ ID NO: 137.

DNA is a complex macromolecule whose immunological activities are influenced by its base composition and base modification, as well as helical orientation. Certain unusual DNA structures (e.g., Z-DNA) can induce significant antibody responses when administered to normal mice. In addition, bacterial DNA, as well as certain synthetic ODNs containing unmethylated CpG sequences can induce proliferation and immunoglobulin (Ig) production by murine B cells. Unmethylated CpG dinucleotides are more frequent in the genomes of bacteria and viruses than vertebrates. Recent studies suggest that immune recognition of these motifs may contribute to the host's innate immune response. D. M. Klinman et al., 93, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2879, (1996); A.-K. Yi et al., 157, J. Immun. 5394, (1996); Hua Liang et al., 98, J. Clin. Invest. 1119, (1996); A.M. Krieg et al., 374, Nature 546, (1995).
In mice, CpG DNA induces proliferation in almost all (>95%) of B cells and increases Ig secretion. This B-cell activation by CpG DNA is T-cell independent and antigen non-specific. In addition to its direct effects on B cells, CpG DNA also directly activates monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells to secrete a variety of cytokines. These cytokines stimulate natural killer (NK) cells to secrete γ-interferon (IFN-γ) and have increased lytic activity. Examples of which can be found in International Patent Applications WO 95/26204, WO 96/02555, WO 98/11211, WO 98/18810, WO 98/37919, WO 98/40100, WO 98/52581, PCT/US98/047703, and PCT/US99/07335; U.S. Pat. No. 5,663,153; and U.S. patent applications Ser. Nos. 08/276,358, 08/386,063, 08/461,036, 08/462,799, 08/960,774, 08/738,652, 09/030,701, 09/082,649, 09/191,170, 09/136,138, 09/154,614, and 09/286,098.
Although bacterial DNA and certain ODNs can induce a murine immune response, little is known about the immunostimulatory capacity of these materials for the human immune system. Z. K. Ballas et al., 157 J. Immun. 1840 (1996). Differences in the responsiveness of human and murine B cells to certain stimuli render it impossible to extrapolate results obtained from mouse to man.
In view of the above, there exists a need for ODNs that induce an immune response in humans. In addition, there is a need for methods utilizing ODNs in the treatment of human diseases. The present invention provides such ODNs and methods of use. These and other advantages of the present invention, as well as additional inventive features, will be apparent from the description of the invention provided herein.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Oligodeoxynucleotide and its use to induce an immune response

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, an institution of higher learning within the Department of Defense


The invention relates to a support member for supporting a shell into the barrel of a breech-loading weapon, and a method. The support member (6) comprises means for fastening a support element (8) to at least one fin (5) belonging to the tail end (4) of a shell (1). The means comprise at least one fastening piece (10), which comprises: at least one first fastening surface (14a), which may be arranged substantially parallel with a side of the fin (5), and which fastening piece (10) may be supported to the support element (8); at least one second fastening surface (14b), which second fastening surface (14b) is movably arranged so that the second fastening surface (14b) is movable in relation to the first fastening surface (14a) in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis (L) of the shell (1); and means for pressing the fastening surfaces (14a, 14b) against the sides of the fin (5) arranged between them so as to provide friction locking between the fastening piece (10) and the fin (5).

A mortar may be arranged on a movable platform, such as on an armoured vehicle, whereby the mortar may be easily moved from one location to another, and on the other hand, it may be quickly moved to safety from an emplacement. If the mortar is to be fired horizontally or downward, a problem arises from the fact that the shell does not stay in place in the mortar barrel, but may slip forward in the barrel so that it can no longer be triggered. U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,080 discloses a support member that is fastenable by friction to the fins in the tail end of the shell. The solution taught by the publication has the problem that its application requires very exact measurements of both the tail end of the shell and the support member itself to be able to function at least fairly reliably.

Support member for supporting shell, and method


A hybrid drive train for a vehicle has at least one internal combustion engine with an internal combustion engine drive shaft, in particular a crankshaft, and at least one first electrical machine with a first electrical machine drive shaft. The internal combustion engine and the first electrical machine are designed to transfer a torque to at least one drive axle. A transmission has a transmission input shaft and a transmission output shaft which is operatively connected to a first drive axle that can be driven by the internal combustion engine. The transmission input shaft of the transmission is connected at least to the internal combustion engine drive shaft of the internal combustion engine in order to transfer a torque from the internal combustion engine to the transmission input shaft and further to the first drive axle. The transmission input shaft and the internal combustion engine drive shaft of the internal combustion engine are arranged parallel to each other.

The present invention relates to a hybrid drive train for a vehicle, having at least one internal combustion engine, an electrical machine and a transmission.
In the known hybrid drive transmissions, the drive shaft of the internal combustion engine, in particular the crankshaft, is conventionally connected directly or indirectly to the transmission input shaft, generally via a clutch device, wherein the transmission and internal combustion engine are arranged axially next to each other with regard to the power flux from the internal combustion engine to the transmission. The at least one electrical machine can likewise be arranged axially next to the internal combustion engine or the transmission, but it is also known to arrange the electrical machine and the drive shaft thereof axially parallel to the transmission or to the internal combustion engine. By means of said axially parallel arrangement, construction space in the longitudinal direction, i.e. in the direction in which internal combustion engine and transmission are arranged, can be saved. However, it is disadvantageous here that, in a configuration of this type, the performance of the electrical machine remains limited because of the small construction space available for it.
The two drive units, both the internal combustion engine and the electrical machine, transmit their torque to a transmission input shaft of the transmission, and the transmission converts the torque and rotational speed and merges or divides the power from the internal combustion engine and electrical machine. The power is finally output to the drive axle at the transmission end conventionally by a differential.
However, a problem of the known drive train architectures is that the known architecture requires a large amount of space and the internal combustion engine and transmission arranged next thereto frequently have to be aligned along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle in order to provide the appropriate construction space. In the case of front transverse installations, that is to say the arrangement of the internal combustion engine and transmission along a transverse axis of the vehicle, a compromise necessitated by the construction space therefore frequently has to be made.
However, installation along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle means that the internal combustion engine and transmission project into a construction space for a flat storage unit between the vehicle axles, which involves corresponding disadvantages with regard to electrical range and structural rigidity of the flat storage unit.
It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a hybrid drive train architecture which requires little overall construction space, but provides as large a construction space as possible for the electrical machine and the internal combustion engine and provides an optimum arrangement and configuration for the flat storage unit.
This object is achieved by a hybrid drive train according to the claimed invention.
A hybrid drive train for a vehicle is presented below, having at least one internal combustion engine with an internal combustion engine drive shaft, in particular a crankshaft, and at least one first electrical machine with a first electrical machine drive shaft, wherein the internal combustion engine and the first electrical machine are designed to transmit a torque to at least one drive axle of the vehicle. Furthermore, the hybrid drive train has a transmission with a transmission input shaft and a transmission output shaft which is operatively connected to the drive axle. The transmission input shaft of the transmission is connected here to the internal combustion engine drive shaft of the internal combustion engine in order to transmit a torque from the internal combustion engine to the transmission input shaft, from there to the drive axle and subsequently to the wheels.
In order to achieve a particularly compact design and to permit a front or rear transverse installation, it is provided according to the invention that the transmission input shaft and the internal combustion engine drive shaft of the internal combustion engine are arranged parallel to each other. This means that an arrangement of the transmission and internal combustion engine axially next to each other is dispensed with, and therefore there is a significant reduction in the construction space required in the longitudinal direction of the drive shaft or of the transmission input shaft. As a result, even in the event of narrow available vehicle widths, which are limited, for example, by longitudinal members in the front region of the vehicle, the hybrid drive train can be installed transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle (front transverse installation). If said drive unit is installed on the rear axle, importance is also to be attached to a correspondingly short arrangement (rear transverse installation). This in turn permits a maximization of the construction space for high-voltage storage units (flat storage units) which are conventionally installed in the floor region between the axles. This in turn increases the electrical range, and therefore the described hybrid drive focuses more strongly on the electrical drive.
The first electrical machine provided for the electrical driving mode of the hybrid drive train can be operatively connected directly to the same drive axle which is drivable by the internal combustion engine, in particular via coupling by means of a transverse driving device, in particular a toothed chain, a belt or a gearwheel connection, in particular a gearwheel cascade, to a differential. It is in particular advantageous here if the differential into the transmission is arranged at the transmission output axially in the longitudinal direction of the transmission input shaft, and/or is designed as a planetary spur gear differential or as a spur gear differential which requires significantly less axial construction space than a conventional bevel gear differential.
Alternatively, the first electrical machine can be arranged on a second vehicle axle and can drive the second vehicle axle, and can be operatively connected only via a road coupling to the drive axle driven by the internal combustion engine. Both configurations permit installation of a powerful electrical machine which provides sufficient power for a long, purely electrical driving mode.
According to a further advantageous exemplary embodiment, a second electrical machine is provided which has a second electrical machine drive shaft, wherein the second electrical machine drive shaft of the second electrical machine is connected to the transmission input shaft, and wherein the second electrical machine is designed to provide an eCVT operation having one or more operating modes between the second electrical machine and the internal combustion engine. A configuration of this type makes it possible to dispense with friction shift elements in the transmission gear set or at the transmission input, such as also any form of torque and speed converter, for example a dual clutch. The latter would have the tasks, upon coupling the internal combustion engine and transmission, of equalizing the rotational speeds of the internal combustion engine drive shaft and transmission input shaft and of coupling the internal combustion engine to the transmission input shaft without a jolt.
In order, however, when friction shift elements are dispensed with in the transmission, not to have to dispense with the possibility of interrupting the transmission of torque in the drive train, it is provided, in a further advantageous exemplary embodiment, furthermore to provide at least one, preferably passive, decoupling device, in particular a slip clutch, which is designed to interrupt a transmission of torque between the internal combustion engine and/or the first and/or the second electrical machine and the drive axle when a predetermined torque threshold value is exceeded. It is in particular preferred here to arrange the decoupling device in the transmission and/or in an irregular rotation compensating device.
Furthermore, the dispensing with friction shift elements in the drive train then also makes it possible to dispense with a complex hydraulic activation of transmission or clutch devices, which significantly simplifies the design and makes it more cost-effective. Furthermore, a configuration of this type has the advantage that, in particular with the use of an electrical machine as a synchronization element between the internal combustion engine drive shaft and transmission input shaft or shift elements forming a power path, an independent supply of the transmission with transmission oil is no longer obligatory, and instead use may also be made of engine oil. This in turn permits the internal combustion engine and transmission to be integrated in a common housing. In addition, the mechanical efficiency of the transmission can be significantly increased by the use of form-fitting shift elements.
Furthermore, it is advantageous if the transmission is designed as a planetary coupling transmission. A planetary coupling transmission of this type takes up little axial construction space and is therefore preferred for a drive train architecture of this type. In this case, in particular, the transmission input shaft can be designed as a hollow shaft through which the drive axle is guided. The axial short design of the transmission provided by the configuration as a planetary coupling transmission makes it possible to ensure that, even with a drive axle guided through the transmission, the transmission can be fitted in a transverse installation manner into the construction space between the joint points of the drive shaft.
If, in addition, the stationary transmission ratios are kept small, the radial dimensioning of the gear set can also be effectively reduced.
The parallel arrangement of the internal combustion engine and transmission furthermore permits an advantageous refinement in which the internal combustion engine and the transmission are accommodated in a common housing. This also makes it possible, for example, for the transmission to also be lubricated with the engine oil, and therefore additional oil supply lines and lubricant pumps can be dispensed with. In particular the abovementioned refinement of the hybrid drive train can be used here with an additional, second electrical machine as a synchronization element, but other refinements are also possible. For example, use can be made of a shifting actuating mechanism acting in a needs-oriented manner, for example an electromechanical drum actuating mechanism known from a dual clutch transmission, which would be sufficient for carrying out the shifting functions in the transmission. It is thus also possible to omit dirt-sensitive hydraulic valves in this refinement, and the demands imposed on the transmission oil are reduced overall to an extent such that it is permissible to use engine oil as the transmission lubricant.
Furthermore, it is advantageous if the first and/or the second electrical machine drive axle are/is arranged parallel to the internal combustion engine drive shaft of the internal combustion engine and the transmission input shaft. As a result, construction space can be saved in the transverse direction of the vehicle and a particularly compact hybrid drive train can be provided.
According to a further advantageous exemplary embodiment, the transmission input axle and the parallel-aligned internal combustion engine drive shaft of the internal combustion engine and/or the second electrical machine drive shaft of the second electrical machine are connected to one another via a transverse driving device, in particular via a toothed chain, a belt, or a gearwheel connection, in particular a gearwheel cascade. This transverse driving device permits torque to be transmitted in a simple manner from the parallel drive shafts to the transmission input shaft or drive axle. The construction space available for the first or second electrical machine can thereby be maximized.
Since a certain irregular rotation frequently arises from an internal combustion engine because of the conversion from the linear piston movement into a rotational movement of the drive shaft, it is provided, according to a further advantageous exemplary embodiment, to arrange an irregular rotation compensating device between the transmission input shaft and the first drive shaft of the internal combustion engine. Said irregular rotation compensating device can be configured, for example, as a dual mass flywheel. For example, the drive shaft of the internal combustion engine can be guided here in a hollow shaft of the irregular rotation compensating device in order to achieve an arrangement saving construction space. The irregular rotation compensating device compensates for the irregular rotation of the rotational movement of the internal combustion engine, and therefore a uniform rotational movement can be transmitted to the transmission input shaft via the transverse drive. If there were a direct connection between the drive shaft of the internal combustion engine and the transmission input shaft, the irregular rotation of the internal combustion engine would greatly load the transverse drive and transmission excessively mechanically and limit the service lives thereof.
According to a further advantageous exemplary embodiment, the transmission furthermore has a transmission output shaft via which a torque from the transmission is transmitted to a drive axle driving a first and a second vehicle wheel. The transmission output shaft is connected here to the drive axle, and the drive axle is aligned axially with respect to the transmission input shaft and parallel to at least one of the drive shafts in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the transmission. This alignment and arrangement makes it possible to ensure that a torque is transmitted directly from the transmission to the drive axle, and therefore construction space is also saved here. The transmission output shaft here can be directly the drive axle which is guided through the transmission, for example in a transmission shaft which is designed as a hollow shaft and can be, but does not necessarily have to be, the transmission input shaft, in order to correspondingly drive the right and the left vehicle wheel. This refinement also saves on construction space since the transmission is operatively connected directly to the drive axle and accordingly can be arranged directly on the drive axle.
According to a further advantageous exemplary embodiment, the internal combustion engine and the at least one electrical machine are arranged on both sides of the transmission axially in the direction of travel. This means that, for example, the internal combustion engine is arranged behind the transmission in the direction of travel while the at least one electrical machine is arranged in front of the transmission in the direction of travel. Alternatively, it is, of course, also possible for the internal combustion engine to be arranged in front of the transmission in the direction of travel and for at least one electrical machine to be arranged behind the transmission in the direction of travel. This refinement permits a particularly compact design, and therefore the hybrid drive train can also be installed between existing longitudinal members of the vehicle in the front transverse installation direction.
As an alternative to the arrangement described above, it is also possible to arrange the internal combustion engine and the at least one electrical machine next to each other. This likewise permits a very small expansion of the drive train in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and therefore the space required in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is reduced further. In a refinement of this type, it is also advantageous if the internal combustion engine is kept relatively small and, for example, serves merely as a range extender.
According to a further advantageous exemplary embodiment, as mentioned above, a first and a second electrical machine are provided, wherein the first electrical machine is arranged on the axle driven by the internal combustion engine and the second electrical machine is arranged on a further vehicle axle not drivable by the internal combustion engine, and is designed to drive said further vehicle axle. This makes it possible to provide a drive train architecture in which the two vehicle axles, rather than only one axle, are actively driven (all-wheel drive).
As an alternative to the refinement in which a first and a second electrical machine are arranged on different axles, it is also possible, as likewise mentioned above, to arrange two electrical machines on the axle driven by the internal combustion engine. If, in this case, the two electrical machines are also arranged spatially close to each other, a double inverter can also be used, and therefore each electrical machine does not have to be equipped with its own inverter. Also as a result, the construction space can be used in an optimized manner and a large amount of space for the high-voltage storage unit can be provided.
The axle driven by the internal combustion engine can be both the front axle and the rear axle.
Further possible implementations of the invention also comprise combinations of features or embodiments described above or below with respect to the exemplary embodiments, that are not explicitly cited. In this case, a person skilled in the art will also add individual aspects as improvements or additions to the respective basic form of the invention.
Further advantages and advantageous embodiments are specified in the description, the drawings and the claims. The combinations of features specified in the description and in the drawings are in particular purely by way of example, and therefore the features may also be present individually or combined in some other way.
The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings. The exemplary embodiments and the combinations shown in the exemplary embodiments are purely by way of example and are not intended to define the scope of protection of the invention. This is defined solely by the dependent claims.
In the following, elements which are identical or act identically in terms of function are identified by the same reference signs.

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft


A first cryptographic device generates plaintext information characterizing at least one key or other secret value associated with that device. The first cryptographic device releases portions of the plaintext information to a second cryptographic device over respective time intervals. The portions of the plaintext information are configured by the first cryptographic device such that the second cryptographic device must receive at least a designated minimum number of the portions in order to determine the secret value from those received portions. By way of example, the portions of the plaintext information may be wirelessly transmitted by the first cryptographic device, such that the second cryptographic device must be in wireless contact with the first cryptographic device for at least a designated minimum amount of time in order to receive the designated minimum number of portions required to determine the secret value.

In many applications, it is desirable for one computer, server, mobile telephone, RFID tag or other type of cryptographic device to pair with, authenticate or otherwise share secrets such as keys with another cryptographic device. Unfortunately, such arrangements can be problematic when carried out using existing techniques.
For example, a conventional pairing protocol that relies on breakable ciphers is disclosed in G. T. Amariucai et al., "An Automatic, Time-Based, Secure Pairing Protocol for Passive RFID," RFIDSec, 2011, which is incorporated by reference herein. This known pairing protocol is referred to as an "adopted pet" or AP protocol. In the AP protocol, an RFID tag gradually leaks a secret key, such that a reader in proximity to the tag for an extended period of time can learn the secret key. However, a reader that receives tag outputs over only limited-duration intervals of time cannot learn the secret key. Thus, for instance, a tag in a user's home might pair with a reader there overnight, while a maliciously operated reader in a commuter bus would not have sufficient time to harvest the secret key from the tag.
The AP protocol leaks the secret key through a key stream generated by a cryptographically weak pseudorandom number generator (PRNG), such as a linear-feedback shift register (LFSR), seeded by the secret key. By harvesting enough contiguous key stream data, a reader can break the PRNG and recover the secret key. However, this reliance on breakable ciphers has a number of significant drawbacks. For example, breakable ciphers can be difficult to implement in practice, and their security level is difficult to calibrate. Also, requiring the use of breakable ciphers means that the AP protocol will not work with strong, standard ciphers such as the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). Furthermore, the AP protocol does not permit a flexible range of security policies.

Secret sharing in cryptographic devices via controlled release of plaintext information


Systems, methods, and apparatuses are described for providing a customized interface to a handheld collaboration machine. Some exemplary methods described include receiving sign-in information from the handheld collaboration machine. The sign-in information may correspond to an unmodified online meeting environment comprising a plurality of components. One or more customization factors of the handheld collaboration machine may be identified. The unmodified online meeting environment may be modified by removing at least one component of the plurality of components based on the customization features to generate the modified online meeting environment. The modified online meeting environment is then provided to the handheld collaboration machine.

In an online meeting environment, participants (i.e., users of the meeting environment) may interact using a variety of components, such as a video feed from a web camera, a whiteboard, a chat room, a document reader, a list of participants, a shared notepad, a form-filling tool, file-sharing tools, as well as audio input from each participant. The components actually used in any given meeting may be determined by the user who organized the meeting. An example of an online meeting environment is provided in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/864,631 filed Sep. 28, 2007 and entitled, "Declarative Specification of Collaboration Client Functionality."

Online meeting systems and methods for handheld machines


Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) from which pyrogen has been removed are provided. PHAs which have been chemically modified to enhance physical and/or chemical properties, for targeting or to modify biodegradability or clearance by the reticuloendothelial system (RES), are described. Methods for depyrogenating PHA polymers prepared by bacterial fermentation processes are also provided, wherein pyrogens are removed from the polymers without adversely impacting the polymers' inherent chemical structures and physical properties. PHAs with advantageous processing characteristics, including low melting points and/or solubility in non-toxic solvents, are also described. The PHAs are suitable for use in in vivo applications such as in tissue coatings, stents, sutures, tubing, bone, other prostheses, bone or tissue cements, tissue regeneration devices, wound dressings, drug delivery, and for diagnostic and prophylactic uses.

The present application is generally directed to polyhydroxyalkanoates polymers and methods of preparation to remove pyrogen and use thereof in a variety of biomedical applications, including tissue engineering, wound dressings, drug delivery, and in prosthetics.
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are polymers with repeating hydroxy acid monomeric units. PHAs have been reviewed in several publications, including Byrom, "Miscellaneous Biomaterials," in Biomaterials (D. Byrom, ed.) pp. 333-59 (MacMillan Publishers, London 1991); Hocking and Marchessault, "Biopolyesters" in Chemistry and Technology of Biodegradable Polymers (G. J. L. Griffin, ed.) pp. 48-96 (Chapman and Hall, London 1994); Müller and Seebach, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl., 32:477-502 (1993); Steinbüchel, "Polyhydroxyalkanoic Acids," in Biomaterials (D. Byrom, ed.) pp. 123-213 (MacMillan Publishers, London 1991); and Williams and Peoples, CHEMTECH, 26:38-44 (1996).
Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and polyhydroxybutyrate-hydroxyvalerate (PHBV) have been used commercially as a biodegradable replacement for synthetic commodity resins, and have been extensively studied for use in biomedical applications. Examples of these biomedical applications include controlled release (Pouton and Akhtar, Adv. Drug Delivery Rev., 18:133-62 (1996)), tablet formulations, surgical sutures, wound dressings, lubricating powders, blood vessels, tissue scaffolds, surgical implants to join tubular body parts, bone fracture fixation plates, and other orthopedic uses, (Hocking and Marchessault, "Biopolyesters" in Chemistry and Technology of Biodegradable Polymers, (G. J. L. Griffin, ed.) pp. 48-96 (Chapman and Hall, London 1994) and references therein); European Patent Application 754 467 A1 (Bowald, et al.). See also Saghir Akhtar, Ph.D. Thesis for the University of Bath, 1990, "Physicomechanical Properties of Bacterial P(HB-HV) Polyesters and Their Uses in Drug Delivery". PHBV has been used to sustain cell growth and in tissue reconstruction (see, e.g., Rivard, et al., J. Appl. Biomat., 6:65-68 (1995)). However, PHBs and PHBVs have been shown to induce acute inflammatory responses when implanted in vivo (Akhtar at pp. 50-51, and references cited therein).
Biodegradable polymers for medical uses must be biocompatible and degrade into non-toxic metabolites. Medical devices must also be nonpyrogenic, i.e., the products must not produce fever reactions when administered to patients. The presence of bacterial endotoxin (which is an integral component of the outer cell surface of Gram-negative bacteria), in the product is by far the largest concern of manufacturers in achieving nonpyrogenation. (Weary and Pearson, BioPharm., 1:22-29 (1988)). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), for example, requires the endotoxin content of medical devices not exceed 20 U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) endotoxin units (EU) per device, except for those devices that contact the cerebrospinal fluid, where the content must not exceed 2.15 USP endotoxin units per device. Acceptable endotoxin levels may need to be even lower for some applications, where the polymer is to be used for particularly sensitive applications. Therefore, in developing PHAs for use in medical devices, the materials must meet the specific requirements set for endotoxin content, particularly for PHAs derived by fermentation of gram-negative bacteria, where the polymers are exposed to large amounts of endotoxin in the cell culture.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,334,698 to Witholt, et al. discloses sutures, films, skin grafts, and bone grafts prepared from an optically active polyester isolated from Pseudomonas oleovorans cells. PCT Application Publication WO 96/00263 (Eggink, et al.) discloses an aqueous latex-like PHA dispersion, wherein the PHA includes saturated or unsaturated 3-hydroxy fatty acids having a carbon chain length of 6-14. Hocking and Marchessault, "Biopolyesters" in Chemistry and Technology of Biodegradable Polymers, (G. J. L. Griffin, ed.) pp. 48-96 (Chapman and Hall, London 1994) also discloses polyesters with functionalized side-chains prepared by bacteria upon modifying the feed substrate, and their use for preparing drug delivery systems. These materials would inherently include endotoxin, and there is no disclosure of any methods for removing endotoxins or procedures for providing depyrogenated polymers suitable for in vivo medical use.
Despite the large amount of literature describing production, purification, and applications development of PHAs, there are currently no reported methods specifically for depyrogenating PHA polymers. PHAs have a relatively high affinity for endotoxins, complicating the use of routine procedures for depyrogenation. Thus, there is a need to develop methods for depyrogenating PHA polymers, particularly when they are produced by fermentation in Gram-negative bacteria.
Even aside from the issue of pyrogenicity, there remains a need to develop additional biodegradable polymers for in vivo use, particularly polymers with alternative physical and chemical properties. These properties include characteristics relevant to ease of processing, as well as suitability for the end use. An important physical property for processing of the polymers is the melting point or glass transition temperature of the materials. PHB, PHBV (0-24% V), PGA and PLGA, for example, all melt only at relatively high temperatures, above 136° C. This high temperature can be a disadvantage in fabrication if the polymers are to be combined in the melt with other heat sensitive components. It would be advantageous to have a class of PHAs which have melting points or glass transition temperatures below 136° C. for use in biomedical applications. Further, many PHAs are only soluble in potentially toxic chlorinated solvents. There is thus a need to develop low melting PHAs that can be melt processed at low temperatures and/or can be dissolved in non-toxic, generally acceptable solvents. However, there is currently no commercial source for polyhydroxyalkanoate materials with these properties.
Other properties such as the thermal and mechanical properties, density and crystallinity, are also of interest. These properties can be modified by mixing or blending PHAs with other materials, or by changing the PHA composition. The commercially available PHAs, PHB and PHBV, have only limited uses. Other PHAs can be used for very different applications. For example, the extension-to-break of PHBV ranges from about 8 to 42%, whereas the same property for polyhydroxyoctanoate (PHO), a low melting PHA, is about 380% (Gagnon, et al., Rubber World, 207:32-38 (1992)). Similarly, PHBV has a Young's Modulus of between 1,000 and 3,500 MPa and a tensile strength of between 20 and 31 MPa, in contrast to PHO which has a Young's Modulus of 8 MPa and a tensile strength of 9 MPa (Gagnon, et al., Rubber World, 207:32-38 (1992)). These properties and others have lead to PHO being classified as a thermoplastic elastomer (Gagnon, et al., Rubber World, 207:32-38 (1992)). The covalent crosslinking of unsaturated pendant groups of several polyhydroxyalkanoate thermoplastic elastomers has been reported (Gagnon, et al., Polymer, 35:4358-67 (1994)), although the use of the polymers for preparing medical devices is not disclosed. It would be useful to develop biocompatible low melting PHAs containing groups which can be covalently modified, or which can be subsequently modified to expose functional groups which can be derivatized, for use in preparing medical devices.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide polyhydroxyalkanoate polymers having most of pyrogen removed, for use in biomedical applications.
It is another object of this invention to provide biocompatible polyhydroxyalkanoate polymers with low melting points and/or solubility in non-toxic, non-halogenated solvents.
It is another object of this invention to provide polyhydroxyalkanoates having desirable properties for use in a variety of biomedical applications, such as drug delivery, tissue engineering, medical imaging, and the manufacture of prosthetics, stents, and coatings.
It is a further object of this invention to provide methods for making biomedical devices using polyhydroxyalkanoate polymers.

Medical device comprising polyhydroxyalkanoate having pyrogen removed using oxidizing agent


An instructional board of computer game defines a path of movement for a number of game “pieces” that are moved along the path a number of “stops” as determined by a die or other random device. Associated with the stops and color or otherwise visually coded therewith are sets of cards bearing the questions all relating to a subject of instruction. Game rules call for a player or team whose piece lands on a stop “owned” by another player or team to answer a question printed on the face of the card of the other player. A correct answer earns points for the answering player or team as well as for the team or player that poses the question. “Free” stops imprinted on the board or programmed into the computer display are locations where the game rules call for a player whose piece lands there to obtain points without answering a question because the “free” stop is associated with worthwhile activity the player is deemed to have participated in. Preferably, the game is associated with a lesson plan devoted to the subject that is the theme of the game. In one particular embodiment the subject is public policy.

Board games and computer games simulating board games have been known in which players are associated with pieces that move along a path in dependence on the throw of a die, the spin of a pointer, or the generation of a random number. Similarly, games have been known that are won or lost depending upon the players' ability to answer questions posed by other players.
However, those games in which players move pieces along the path and those games in which players are called on to answer questions are generally not combined, and moreover, they are not combined into an educational game devoted to the teaching of a particular subject where the questions posed are questions relating to the subject and that are posed at least partly in dependence on the place on a path along the board on which a player's playing piece lands.
Also, while educational games of various kinds have been known, a systematic method for developing and making an educational game relating to a chosen topic of study has not been put forth insofar as the inventor is aware.


Wing pulleys that engage a conveyor belt during conveying operations are described. The wing pulley includes a central reinforcing disk that strengthens and stabilizes the pulley.

The field of the present disclosure relates to belt conveyor pulleys and, particularly, to wing pulleys that engage a conveyor belt during conveying operations. In various embodiments, the wing pulley includes a central reinforcing disk that strengthens and stabilizes the pulley.
During mining and other bulk transport operations material must be transported over long distances in order to load the material by truck or rail. Further, such material must be unloaded and transported for processing. Among the common means for transport are bulk conveyors which are capable of transporting large amounts of material quickly and reliably and without significant cost. Typical conveyors that may be employed include drag, screw, belt and pneumatic conveyors.
Belt conveyors are well suited for use in many transport applications and are particularly well suited for use in mining operations. Belt conveying systems include at least two pulleys and a conveyor belt which rotates about the two pulleys. Material is loaded onto the belt at a tail section and is unloaded via gravity at a head section. A tail pulley and head pulley allow the belt to travel from the point at which material is loaded to the point it is unloaded and back again. The conveying system may also include take-up pulleys to provide proper belt tensioning, bend pulleys to change the direction of travel of the belt and snub pulleys, typically located adjacent the drive pulley, to increase the contact with the drive pulley and/or provide belt tensioning. The belt may be driven at a number of positions including the tail section or head section of the conveyor system.
At the tail section of the conveying system (the section at which material is loaded onto the conveyor belt), some amount of bulk material may undesirably fall on the lower portion of the belt traveling toward the tail pulley rather than on the upper portion of the belt traveling away from the tail pulley. This material comes into contact with the tail pulley and causes wear of the tail pulley components, and may even lead to pulley failure, resulting in costly downtime and/or replacements. Unless this material is properly discharged, it may be rebroadcast onto the belt causing further wear of the pulley.
A continuing need exists for conveyor pulleys that are capable of discharging unwanted material from the conveyor system without sacrificing pulley strength and reliability relative to conventional pulley designs. A further need also exists for reliable conveying systems and methods for conveying bulk materials that use such conveyor pulleys.

Wing pulley having central reinforcing disk


A method and apparatus for providing an alternative remote spent fuel pool cooling system for the spent fuel pool. The cooling system is operated to cool the spent fuel pool in the event of a plant accident when normal plant electricity is not available for the conventional fuel pool cooling and cleanup system, or when the integrity of the spent fuel has been jeopardized. The cooling system is operated and controlled from a remote location, which is ideal during a plant emergency.

1. Field of the Invention
Example embodiments relate generally to nuclear reactors, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for an alternative remote spent fuel pool cooling system for a Light Water Reactor (LWR) nuclear reactor. The cooling system may be particularly beneficial in the event a plant emergency that causes plant electrical power to be disrupted, or normal cooling of the spent fuel pools to otherwise become impaired. The cooling system may also be used to supplement fuel pool cooling via the conventional fuel pool cooling and cleanup system.
2. Related Art
FIG. 1 is a cut-away view of a conventional boiling water nuclear reactor (BWR) reactor building 5, which is one example of a light water reactor (LWR). It should be understood that this is merely an example, as other reactor design layouts may be used for other LWRs. The spent fuel pools 10 are storage pools used to store spent fuel 12 that remain following the use of the fuel to power the BWR reactor 1. The spent fuel pools 10 are generally positioned in locations adjacent to, and toward the top of, the reactor 1 (as shown in FIG. 1, the spent fuel pool 10 is located in secondary containment, outside of the steel containment vessel 3 and concrete shell 4 protecting reactor 1). The spent fuel pool may be located at a plant elevation that is above a location of the suppression pool 2. It should be noted that in other reactor designs, the spent fuel pool may be located at a same plant elevation as the reactor, or at an elevation that is below the reactor. The spent fuel 12 is generally stored in the spent fuel pools 10 for a period of at least 5 years before being sent to reprocessing or cask storage. The spent fuel pools 10 are typically 40 feet or greater in depth, with the bottom 14 feet being equipped with storage racks that hold the fuel assemblies that are removed from the reactor. About 8 feet of water (above the top of the spent fuel, itself) is generally needed to keep radiation levels in the spent fuel pools 10 within acceptable limits (see spent fuel pool water level 10b, which is above the spent fuel 12).
A flow of cooling water, provided by conventional fuel pool cooling and cleanup system (not shown), provides shielding from radiation and maintains the spent fuel pools 10 at cool temperatures that ensure the cooling water does not boil (thereby exposing the spent fuel to open air). The conventional spent fuel cooling pumps provide cooling of the spent fuel pools. Specifically, the conventional fuel pool cooling pumps transfer the water from the spent fuel pool to the fuel pool cooling and cleanup system. The conventional fuel pool cooling and cleanup system cools and cleans the water, using a heat exchanger and demineralizers (removing some radioisotopes, and other impurities). The fuel pool cooling pumps then send the cool, clean water back to the spent fuel pool 10.
During a serious plant accident, normal plant electrical power may be disrupted. In particular, the plant may be without normal electrical power to run the conventional fuel pool cooling pumps, or operate the fuel pool cooling and cleanup system. If electrical power is disrupted for a lengthy period of time, disruption in the use of the fuel pool cooling and cleanup system may cause water in the spent fuel pool to warm and eventually boil. When enough boiling occurs, water levels in the pool may drop to levels that no longer provide enough cooling water to effectively shield radiation that may be caused by the spent fuel. In very serious emergencies, water in the spent fuel pool may boil and evaporate to the point that the spent fuel may become exposed to open air. Such an emergency may pose grave dangers for plant personnel and the environment.
In a plant emergency, even if the spent fuel in the spent fuel pool is not exposed to open air (in the event of a worst-case accident scenario), there are still concerns with radiation leakage leaving the spent fuel pool and escaping to the environment. In particular, the fuel pool cooling and cleanup system may become over-loaded in handling the cooling and radiation reduction needs of the spent fuel pool. This may particularly be the case, in the event that fuel damage occurs in the spent fuel pool. If the integrity of the fuel rods within the spent fuel pool becomes jeopardized, use of the fuel pool cooling and cleanup system may pose risks to plant personnel and the environment, as highly radioactive water (above acceptable design limits) may be transferred to the fuel pool cooling and cleanup system. In such a scenario, the fuel pool cooling and cleanup system may be unable to assist in effectively reducing radiation levels of the spent fuel pool water. Therefore, the transfer of the highly radioactive water to the fuel pool cooling and cleanup system may, in and of itself, cause a potential escalation in the abilities to contain harmful radioactive isotopes within secondary containment.

Method and apparatus for an alternative remote spent fuel pool cooling system for light water reactors


A battery charger that is configured to charge a battery pack including a secondary battery includes: a housing; and a charging circuit unit disposed in the housing. The housing defines a first air passage in which air flows to cool the secondary battery and a second air passage in which air flows to cool the charging circuit unit. The second air passage is independent from the first air passage.

Conventionally, a battery charger used for charging a batter pack has been desired, in order to meet increased capacity of a secondary battery in the battery pack, to increase a charging current to ensure charging capacity and shorten charging time. However, increasing the charging current causes a large current to flow into a charging circuit in the battery charger and the secondary battery in the battery pack. This causes an extreme increase in temperature of the charging circuit and the secondary battery. As a result, degradation and malfunction of the secondary battery and components constituting the charging circuit may occur.
To solve the above-described problem, there is conventionally known a battery charger provided with an air intake fan that generates airflow for cooling a charging circuit therein and a secondary battery in a battery pack while the battery pack is being charged.

Battery charger capable of efficiently cooling secondary battery in battery pack and charging circuit unit in battery charger