A hand tool having utility in the extraction of staples, tacks and nails. A thirty degree bend is formed near the distal end of an elongate, rigid shank. The shank widens laterally outwardly distal to the bend, forming a pair of laterally extending wing members that exhibit bilateral symmetry. The shank returns to its original breadth at the distal end of the wings and four parallel claw members extend therefrom. The four claw members are separated by horizontal and vertical slots that divide the claws into a first, upper pair and a second lower pair. The lower pair of claws has a greater longitudinal extent than the upper pair and have a feather edge to facilitate sliding of said lower pair under the crown of a staple. The collective breadth of the lower pair of claws is slightly less than the breadth of a staple so that the crown of the staple is supported at its opposite ends during the extraction procedure.

Most furniture items are built of assembled parts that are securely fastened together by suitable means; the assembled parts form the frame of the furniture item. Typically, the furniture frame is upholstered, i.e., provided with cushioning springs and covered with padding and fabric. Staples or other fasteners are then driven through the fabric and underlying padding into the frame of the item to thereby improve the appearance of the item while making it more comfortable to the user.
As is well known, springs, padding and fabric often wear out while the underlying furniture frame remains intact. Accordingly, in those situations, the staples or other fasteners are extracted from the frame so that the old springs, padding and fabric may be replaced as needed.
Where the frame is made from a very hard wood, extraction of the fastening means can be a difficult process. A number of inventors have developed hand tools having utility in the extraction of staples, tacks and nails, but such tools have failed at least to some extent in addressing the needs of the upholstery trade.
For example, upholsterers have known for years that the most widely used tool in the industry has significant limitations. However, no one other than the present inventor has been able to create a better tool because the prior art, when considered as a whole, neither teaches nor suggests how the art of extractors could be significantly advanced.
The popular tool mentioned above is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,310,288 to Berry. Although the commercial success of that tool has proven its utility, a brief look at its structure and the structure of the common staple will reveal the need for further development in this field of technology.
The common staple includes a pair of parallel, transversely spaced apart leg members that depend to opposite ends of an interconnecting means, known as the crown of the staple, in orthogonal relation thereto; the legs and crown are formed integrally with one another. Persons unskilled in the art of staple extraction will usually attempt the extraction with a tool such as a flat head screwdriver. However, the crown of a staple has an extent greater than the width of a typical screwdriver head; accordingly, as the individual attempts to pry the staple out of the frame, the crown of the staple will always buckle near its center and many times it will break. The individual then has to use pliers to pull the leg members out of the frame, one at a time.
Although such a crude method of staple extraction will eventually result in a removed staple, the limitations of such procedure are numerous. To mention a few, such extraction procedure, being inefficient, takes too much time to be considered as a viable option by a busy professional upholsteror, enlarges the holes where the staple legs had been and thus ruins such locations for future use, and can damage the underlying padding which is undesireable in those situations where only the fabric cover needs to be replaced.
The method employed in using the Berry tool mentioned earlier is an improvement over the screwdriver and pliers method, but staple crowns still buckle and break even when the Berry tool is used. This is because the Berry tool grasps the staple in the center of the crown, as depicted in FIG. 2 of the Berry patent, thereby causing buckling.
Other fastener-extracting tools that have been developed over the years but which have met with less commercial success are shown in Poskin U.S. Pat. No. 3,698,689, Grill et. al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,049,236, Ranck, Sr. U.S. Pat. No. 775, 856, Emery U.S. Pat. No. 2,563,227, Olsen U.S. Pat. No. 664,494, Truman U.S. Pat. No. 450,922, Crofoot U.S. Pat. No. 1,973,846, Beahr U.S. Pat. No. 864,223, Baldwin et. al., U.S. Pat. No. 1,294,600, Cantales U.S. Pat. No. 3,774,252, Cochran U.S. Pat. No. 910,173, De Genova U.S. Pat. No. 2,915,927 Shelton U.S. Pat. No. 2,678,189, Cavanagh U.S. Pat. No. 1,956,166, Settles U.S. Pat. No. 1,949,335 and Seward U.S. Pat. No. 2,212,080.


Systems and methods for automated document separation. The system includes a host device that is configured to communicate with one or more client devices over a network. The host device includes a splitting module, a correction module, a knowledge base, and a document store. The splitting module is configured to perform a multi-level document splitting. Pages are grouped into documents based on the sender information, the lack of sender information, and whether the sender is known. The splitting module performs an automatic correction of the initial document separation based on information stored within the knowledge base. The knowledge base is updated each time a document is processed and a user provides feedback related to whether the documents were successfully separated. Based on the success or failure of a particular document separation, the knowledge base evaluates the modifications made by a user to learn from the errors made during document separation.

This invention relates to electronic document separation.
Documents are often received or processed in batches, as opposed to individually. Batch processing of documents is beneficial for a variety of reasons, such as, for example, it saves a user time by not having to scan documents one at a time. Batch processing often involves the use of separator pages between individual documents. These separator pages are recognized by a scanner or processing system, and the individual documents are separated accordingly.


Methods and systems for improving the operation of transmissions for automotive vehicles increase the main line fluid pressure of a xe2x80x9cfactory installedxe2x80x9d transmission to permit shifting of gears at proper time intervals without undesireable side effects including late or delayed shifts. The hydraulic circuitry of a xe2x80x9cfactory installedxe2x80x9d automotive transmission is also modified to increase the accumulator range to improve the quality of a xe2x80x9c1-2xe2x80x9d shift, and to extend the useful operating life of the transmission. A seal assembly is provided for reducing leakage of transmission fluid, and additional modifications to the hydraulic circuitry of the automotive transmission provide a smooth, quick and positive forward clutch apply circuit, and increase the servo-apply pressure to the intermediate and overdrive servos to increase the holding capacity of the second and fourth bands and to adjust the field of the shift.

The methods and systems of the present invention are directed to the modification and improvement of transmissions for automotive vehicles of the type installed by original equipment manufacturers. Such transmissions are commonly referred to as xe2x80x9cfactory installedxe2x80x9d, and this terminology will be adopted in the following discussion. The invention is particularly directed to the improvement and modification of automotive transmissions commonly known as TFOD-DSL which are installed in vehicles produced by Chrysler Motor Corporation, RE4R01A installed in vehicles produced by Mazda Motors Corporation, and 4R44E/4R55E installed in vehicles produced by the Ford Motor Corporation.
The present inventor owns U.S. Pat. No. 4,449,426 issued on May 22, 1984; U.S. Pat. No. 4,711,140, issued on Dec. 8, 1987; U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,938, issued on Dec. 13, 1988; U.S. Pat. No. 5,253,549, issued on Oct. 19, 1993; U.S. Pat. No. 5,540,628, issued on Jul. 30, 1996; U.S. Pat. No. 5,624,342, issued on Apr. 29, 1997; U.S. Pat. No. 5,730,685, issued on Mar. 24, 1998; U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,823, issued on Apr. 28, 1998; U.S. Pat. No. 5,768,953 issued on Jun. 23, 1998; U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,507 issued on Oct. 13, 1998; U.S. Pat. No. 5,967,928 issued on Oct. 19, 1999; U.S. Pat. No. 6,099,429 issued on Aug. 8, 2000; U.S. Pat. No. 6,117,047 issued on Sep. 12, 2000. The disclosures of these patents are expressly incorporated by reference herein.
In the factory installed TFOD-DSL automotive transmission Applicant has recognized that when this transmission is subjected to severe operating conditions, it lacks the necessary torque capacity to prevent slipping of gears. Although an increase in mainline pressure will correct the slipping, merely increasing the line pressure will result in undesirable side effects such as late shifting or no upshifting under wide open throttle conditions.
With regard to the factory installed RE4R01A automotive transmission, Applicant has recognized that modification of the hydraulic circuitry of this transmission can extend the range of accumulator pressure from about 70 psi to 150 psi or greater. Extending the range of accumulator pressure will result in improvement to the quality of the xe2x80x9c1-2xe2x80x9d shift and also will extend the operating life of the transmission. Applicant has also recognized that the seal assembly of the RE4R01A automotive transmission is arranged in a manner in which leakage of transmission fluid can occur during operation of the transmission resulting in clutch plate slippage which adversely affects the operation of the transmission.
With regard to the 4L44E/4R55E automotive transmission, Applicant has recognized that forward movement of the vehicle relies upon several different cooperating components including a power train control module, an EPC (electronic pressure control) solenoid for regulating pressure, and the ability of a forward modulator valve to regulate a forward engagement control valve. The failure of any of these components of this automotive transmission can result in loss of forward movement of the vehicle.
It is the object of the present invention to eliminate the aforementioned disadvantages of the known factory installed automotive transmissions. In particular, the primary objects of the present invention include increasing the main line pressure of the factory installed TFOD-DSL automotive transmission without resulting in the undesireable side effects including late shifts and no upshifts during wide open throttle conditions; modifying the hydraulic circuitry of the factory installed RE4R01A automotive transmission to extend the range of accumulator pressure from 70 psi to 150 psi or greater for improving the quality of the xe2x80x9c1-2xe2x80x9d shift and for extending the useful life of the automotive transmission; improving the sealing assembly of the factory installed RE4R01A automotive transmission to prevent leakage of fluid and slippage and burnout of the clutch plate; modifying the hydraulic circuitry of the factory installed 4R44E/4R55E automotive transmission for providing a smooth, quick and positive forward clutch apply circuit that is reliable and controlled exclusively by movement of the shift control lever, and increasing the servo apply pressure to the intermediate and overdrive servos for increasing the holding capacity of the second and fourth gear bands and for providing means for adjusting the feel of the shift (e.g., softer or firmer) to suit the needs of a particular driver or vehicle.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following discussion.
In a first aspect of the present invention, a factory installed TFOD-DSL automotive transmission is modified to increase the main line pressure from a maximum of approximately 95 psi to 120 psi or greater by replacing the original pressure regulator spring to exert an increased resilient force on the pressure regulator valve. The regulator valve feeds main line pressure to the throttle valve, and when the throttle valve is opened mechanically, the throttle pressure corresponds to the main line pressure. By increasing the resilient force applied by the pressure regulator spring to the pressure regulator valve, the throttle pressure is increased, thereby increasing main line pressure. Increasing the main line pressure increases the torque capacity of the transmission which tends to prevent slipping of gears and soft shifts. However, in order to avoid undesirable side effects of increased pressure including late shifts or no upshift during wide open throttle, the size of the throttle valve is adjusted (decreased) to avoid direct contact between the throttle valve and a kickdown valve at above approximately xe2x85x9eth of wide open throttle operation. By avoiding direct contact between the kickdown valve and the throttle valve above xe2x85x9eth throttle condition, the throttle valve is not opened mechanically by the kickdown valve, but instead, the throttle valve spring continues to regulate both the throttle pressure and the corresponding main line pressure through wide open throttle. In this manner, the undesirable side effects of increased main line pressure, including late shifts and no upshift at wide open throttle, are avoided.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, the hydraulic circuitry of the factory installed RE4R01A automotive transmission is modified to increase the accumulator pressure from approximately 70 psi to approximately 150 psi or greater. Extending the pressure range of the accumulator results in a better quality of shift of the 1-2 shift valve and extends the useful life of the transmission including the second gear bands.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, the sealing assembly of the factory installed RE4R01A automotive transmission is modified to prevent leakage and extend the useful life of the seal. The modification to the factory installed sealing system includes mounting a wire retaining element around the outer surface of a seal element mounted around the outer surface of a rotatable shaft to increase the inwardly directed force applied to the seal pressing it against the shaft, and to counteract centrifugal forces applied to the seal tending to displace the seal away from the shaft as the shaft rotates.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, the hydraulic circuitry of a factory installed 4R44E/4R55E automotive transmission is modified to provide a smooth, quick and forward clutch apply circuit that is reliable and is controlled exclusively by movement of the shift control lever and not by the power train control module, the EPC regulating solenoid, the availability of the forward modulator valve to regulate a forward engagement control valve, or the ability of a forward clutch circuit to rapidly attain a pressure of 40 psi. The hydraulic circuitry of the factory installed 4R44E/4R55E automotive transmission is further modified to increase servo apply pressure to the intermediate and overdrive servos for increasing the holding capacity of the second and fourth gear bands and to provide means for adjusting the feel of the shift (e.g., soft or firm) to suit a particular driver or vehicle, as desired.

Method and systems for improving the operation of transmissions for motor vehicles


In accordance with an embodiment, described herein is a system and method for use of immutable accessors with dynamic byte arrays. In accordance with an embodiment, a database driver provides access by software applications executing at an application server to data at a database, including associating a result set cache manager with a pool of result set caches. Each result set cache can be associated with one or more immutable accessors. In response to receiving a request from an application, to access a set of data, the set of data from the database is received into a particular result set cache. In response to receiving a subsequent request for a same set of data, from a same or another application using a same or another database connection, access is provided to the immutable accessor associated with the particular result set cache, for use in accessing the data therein.

In an application server or database environment that enables access by software applications to data stored at a database, the data retrieved from the database can be allocated in a memory array or buffer. The data can then be accessed by the requesting application. In some instances, the data sets retrieved can be very large. Additionally, multiple applications may be interested in requesting the same sets of data, which can lead to duplication of fetching efforts, and performance implications. These are examples of the types of environments in which embodiments of the invention can be used.

System and method for use of immutable accessors with dynamic byte arrays


Disclosed are the action and use of water extracts and polysaccharides from Fusarium oxysporum in immune enhancement, which belong to the field of biological medicine. The water extracts and polysaccharides from Fusarium oxysporum have a significant immune enhancement effect, which can promote the proliferation of macrophages, increase the phagocytic ability of macrophages, activate macrophages to release immunological active factors NO, IL-1α and TNF-α and can be used in lower immune function diseases and tumor adjuvant treatment.

The immune system is the most important defense system for body to eliminate the invasion of pathogenic microorganisms, and eliminate senescent, injured and diseased cells, thereby, can maintain its own stability. Immune enhancement drugs can improve the biological activity of the histocyte of immune system, increase the growth of immune cells and the synthesis of antibodies in body, regulate the body's immune function, and maintain the body's environment balance, so as to improve the disease resistance of the body. At present, immune enhancement drugs has been widely used in anti-tumor, all kinds of infectious diseases and secondary immunodeficiency diseases adjuvant treatment [Hadden, J. W. Immunostimulants. Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, 1993, 14: 169-174]. Fungi form an important natural active compound repository, and a lot of fungi extracts and polysaccharides thereof have immune enhancement effect. Such as lentinan proves to be a kind of immunity activator, which can activate macrophages and lymphocytes. Schizophyllan has a significant cellular immune enhancement effect, and has effects on nonspecific immune system, so then can strengthen the body immunity. The schizophyllan is non-toxic, so is used for treatment of leukemia and chronic hepatitis. Therefore, the development of fungi polysaccharides for disease prevention and treatment has an important use value.
Fusarium oxysporum is a representative rhizosphere fungus, and is also a widespread plant endophytic fungus. Currently, the studies on the Fusarium oxysporum mainly concentrate in plant pathogenic mechanism, molecular biology and biological control, the latest study indicates that polysaccharides from the Fusarium oxysporum have in vitro antioxidant activity [Li, P., Luo, C., Sun, W., et al. In vitro antioxidant activities of polysaccharides from endophytic fungus Fusarium oxysporum Dzf17. African Journal of Microbiology Research, 2011, 5: 5990-5993], but the immune enhancement effect of the water extracts and polysaccharides from the Fusarium oxysporum has not been reported at home and abroad.
Macrophages are the first defense line for host to resist microbial pathogens, which are both main antigen-presenting cells and immune effector cells, can kill pathogenic microorganisms and tumor cells directly, and act an important role in the nonspecific immunity. Activated macrophages secrete nearly a hundred kinds of bioactive substances, such as NO, IL-1, TNF-α etc, these immunological active factors that act as the endogenous signals of interaction between cells play an important role in regulating the body's immune response [Adams, D. O. and Hamilton, T. A. The cell biology of macrophage activation. Annual Review of Immunology, 1984, 2: 283-318; Aderem, A. and Underhill, D. M. Mechanisms of phagocytosis in macrophages. Annual Review of Immunology, 1999, 17: 593-623]. For example, IL-1, IL-2 can promote the proliferation of T cells, promote B cells to produce antibodies, and enhance the kill ability of tumor-specific killer cells and natural killer cells. TNF-α has a direct cytotoxic effect and a growth inhibition effect to tumor cells. NO has perfectly capable of killing tumor cells and microbial pathogens. Therefore, fungi extracts or compounds that strengthen the ability of macrophages can be used in lower immune function diseases or tumor adjuvant treatment.


A toy building set comprising box-shaped building elements that have, in the horizontal plane, dimensions that are integer multiples of a horizontal module (L), and, in the vertical direction, a height (H) which exceeds the horizontal module. The building elements have a tubular opening at a first face. Elements are provided that have a tenon that can be introduced into the tubular opening. At its free end, the tenon is flexible and has protruding edges (23) for snap-effect with the second end of the tubular opening, and the tenon has a protruding portion (21) that serves to ensure that the tenon can be introduced only so deeply into the tubular as corresponds to the horizontal module (L). The building set comprises building elements (30) with coupling studs (31) on the top face and a cavity (32) with a tubular coupling means (33), whereby two such elements are able to interconnect with coupling studs (31) in contact with the sides of the cavity (32) and the tubular member (33). The tube has internal edges (40, 42) whereby a tenon can be introduced into the tubular member with snap-effect with the internal edge in the tube.

The present invention relates to a toy building set with box-shaped building elements having, in a horizontal plane defined by two directions perpendicular to each other, dimensions that are integer multiples of a first module and having, in a third direction perpendicular to this plane, a third dimension, ie the height, which is between one time and twice the first module. At least one of the building elements has a tubular opening in a first lateral face, and elements are provided that have a tenon that can be introduced into the tubular opening by a snap-effect.
Such building sets are known and marketed under the trade mark LEGO TECHNIC that pose great challenges and present many options to the user for building imaginative as well as authentic constructions. The length of the tenons is in accordance with the module of the building elements in the two directions perpendicular to each other, and interconnecting of two or more building elements by means of connecting tenons occurs only in this plane whereby building elements are interconnected side by side.
In these prior art building sets the building elements are also provided with coupling studs on one side whereas the opposite side is hollow and able to receive coupling studs on another building element. However, this possible way of interconnecting building elements is not a prerequisite for the present invention since a building system in which interconnecting occurs by means of tenons is an independent building system.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,885,822 discloses a toy construction set of hollow blocks. The walls have openings giving access to the interior of the blocks. Interconnecting clips have split opposite ends with snap beads for inserting into openings in the walls of two blocks and releasably securing the blocks adjacent each other.
EP 228 103 discloses hollow stackable building elements with coupling studs and an opposed cavity for receiving coupling studs on another element. The coupling studs have an opening for receiving a coupling pin. The coupling pling pin extends through the element and engages the coupling stud on another element.
It is desirable to have a toy building set wherein interconnecting by means of tenons with snap is also an option in the vertical direction, ie that direction where the dimension of the building elements exceeds the module in the two other directions. This is a problem, the tenons being shorter than the height of the building elements. If it was thus desired to provide these prior art building elements with tubular openings in the vertical direction (height) of the elements and with the same configuration as the horizontal openings, the vertical openings would necessarily have such length that the free ends of the tenons would not be able to enter sufficiently deeply into the openings for them to establish a snap engagement.
The present invention eliminates this problem in that the vertically extending tubular openings feature an internal flange at a distance from the ends of the openings corresponding to the first module from the first end of the tubular openings.
Hereby it is also possible to interconnect the building elements in a vertical direction by use of the same tenons as in case of side-by-side interconnecting. Thus, building elements can be interconnected horizontally as well as vertically by means of the same type of connecting bushings with tenons, and interconnecting in the vertical direction can be combined with the known interconnecting by means of studs in purely frictional engagement with the walls of a cavity. Hereby particularly strong interconnecting with increased resistance to separation is accomplished.
The toy building set according to the invention also allows the novel building elements to be interconnected with the known LEGO TECHNIC building elements in a position where they have been pivoted by 90xc2x0 whereby the coupling studs have a horizontal orientation. Now, it is possible to build horizontally with the known elements with studs in purely frictional engagement with the walls of a cavity.
Finally, two building elements according to the invention can be interconnected with their cavities facing each other and their coupling studs facing in opposite directions.

Toy building set with interconnection by means of tenons with snap


An equipment mounting system may include a quick mount track having a backing plate with a center slot, a first outer slot, and a second outer slot, the first outer slot and the second outer slot comprise a plurality of diamond contour target regions, and a plurality of locking pin apertures along the center slot in the backing plate, the locking pin apertures are in horizontal alignment with the plurality of diamond contoured target regions. The equipment mounting system also may include a mount removably coupled to the quick mount track wherein the plurality of diamond contour target regions allow for a round head of a t-shaped stud of the mount to engage the first outer slot and the second outer slot at an angle to the backing plate.

The mounting of equipment and devices onto structures such as, for example, a wall, is dependent on the manufacturer's mounting locations on those structures for securing such equipment and devices. This may require individual adaptation for each piece of equipment or device to mount to these specific locations which may be time consuming and labor intensive. Furthermore, if the piece of equipment or device is desired to be moved, the amount of time and effort is increased to re-mount the piece of equipment or device in a new location. The amount of effort to individual adapt the equipment and devices increases for mobile applications.
Accordingly, a need exists for alternative approaches to secure and easily relocate equipment or devices throughout and around, for example, a vehicle for mobile applications or on a wall for structural applications.


Child resistant packaging for storing medicine or medicinal compositions that frustrates or prevents a child's attempts to access the contents while permitting an adult to easily open the packaging through a series of movements or steps in coordination or combination to readily access the contents. The child resistant packaging includes a housing component and an insert component that is configured to slideably interact with an interior space of the housing component between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration.

Child resistant packaging or CR packaging is special packaging used to reduce the risk of children accessing and ingesting hazardous materials. Current available CR packaging include features to make the opening of packaging more difficult by requiring more strength, for example, thick push-through foils, increased adhesion, greater resistance to tearing at notches, a special safety cap, and squeeze lock levers used with a zipper. Certain of these CR packaging can be problematic for adults or aged individuals.
CR packaging must meet the performance specifications outlined in 16 CFR § 1700.15 and pass testing as outlined in 16 CFR § 1700.20(a)(2)(iii). Currently, child resistant testing is performed with panels of 50 children ranging in age from 42 to 51 months. Children are instructed on how to open the package and that they may use their teeth. Eighty-percent (80%) of the child panel must be unable to open the packaging.
To determine if the CR packaging is senior-friendly, a panel of 100 senior adults ranging in age from 50-70 years are tested to open and close the CR packaging. To pass testing, ninety-percent (90%) of the senior adult panel must open and properly reclose the packaging.
CR packaging openable by applying greater force provides greater safety for children, but can present problems for aged individuals. Therefore, there is a demand for child resistant packaging that can be opened by adults including aged individuals without difficulty. The present invention satisfies this demand by providing an assembly in which an individual must perform a series of movements or steps in coordination or combination to access the package contents.


A process and system for processing a thin film sample, as well as the thin film structure are provided. In particular, a beam generator can be controlled to emit successive irradiation beam pulses at a predetermined repetition rate. Each irradiation beam pulse may be masked to define a first plurality of beamlets and a second plurality of beamlets. The first and second plurality of beamlets of each of the irradiation pulses being provided for impinging the film sample and having an intensity which is sufficient to at least partially melt irradiated portions of the section of the film sample. A particular portion of the section of the film sample is irradiated with the first beamlets of a first pulse of the irradiated beam pulses to melt first areas of the particular portion, the first areas being at least partially melted, leaving first unirradiated regions between respective adjacent ones of the first areas, and being allowed to resolidify and crystallize. After the irradiation of the particular portion with the first beamlets, the particular portion is again irradiated with the second beamlets of a second pulse of the irradiated beam pulses to melt second areas of the particular portion, the second areas being at least partially melted, leaving second unirradiated regions between respective adjacent ones of the second areas, and being allowed to resolidify and crystallize. The first irradiated and re-solidified areas and the second irradiated and re-solidified areas are intermingled with one another within the section of the film sample. In addition, the first areas correspond to first pixels, and the second areas correspond to second pixels.

Films, such as silicon films or semiconductor films, are known to be used for providing pixels for liquid crystal display devices. Such films have previously been processed (i.e., irradiated by an excimer laser and then crystallized) via excimer laser annealing ("ELA") methods. Other more advantageous methods and systems for processing the semiconductor thin films for use in the liquid crystal displays and organic light emitting diode displays for fabricating large grained single crystal or polycrystalline silicon thin films using sequential lateral solidification ("SLS") techniques have been described. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,322,625 issued to Im and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/390,537, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference, and which are assigned to the common assignee of the present application, describe such SLS systems and processes. The patent documents describe certain techniques in which multiple areas on the semiconductor thin film are. e.g., sequentially irradiated.
The semiconductor films processed using the conventional system and processes often suffer from varying energy densities from one irradiated region of such thin film to the next. This primarily due to the fact that the laser beam fluence at least slightly varies from one shot to the next. For example, during the sequential irradiation of the neighboring regions of the thin film, the first region is irradiated by a first beam pulse (set of pulses) having a first energy fluence, the second region is irradiated by a second beam pulse (or set of pulses) having a second fluence which is at least slightly different that the fluence of the first beam pulse, and the third region is irradiated by a third beam pulse (or set of pulses) having a third fluence which is at least slightly different that the fluence of the second beam pulse, etc. Upon the irradiation of these areas, they can crystallize (e.g., due to at least partial melting). The resulting energy densities of the irradiated and crystallized first, second and third regions of the semiconductor thin film are all, at least to an extent, different from one another due to the varying fluences of the sequential beam pulses irradiating the neighboring regions.
The problem may arise after such fabrication of the semiconductor thin film, i.e., when thin-film transistor ("TFT") devices are placed in such areas irradiated and crystallized regions having differing energy densities. In particular, the performance of such TFT devices situated in the crystallized regions of the film may vary from one device to another because of their energy density differences. For example, while the TFT devices placed in each of the crystallized regions (which may be uniform therein) generally have uniform characteristics and operate in a substantially the same manner within each such region, the TFT devices do not operate in the uniform manner from one crystallized region to another. This manifests itself in the fact that the same colors provided on the neighboring pixels of the display may appear different from one another.
Another problem of the unintended consequence of irradiating the neighboring regions of the semiconductor thin film with pulses each having a slightly differing fluences is that a transition from the one of these regions to the next consecutive region may be visible. This is due to the energy densities being different from one anther in the two neighboring regions, and because the transitions between the regions at the border regions thereof has a contrast from one to another because of such differing energy densities. Thus, it is possible that the transition between the first region to the next region is sharper than it may be intended.
Accordingly, it may be preferable to generate substrates which include the semiconductor films that reduce the effects of differing fluences of consecutive beam pulses irradiating neighboring regions of the semiconductor thin film, which later crystallize.

Laser crystallization and selective patterning using multiple beamlets

The Trustees of Columbia University in the city of New York


This invention provides a storage system in which a volume containing WORM data is restorable. A control unit, after the copying is finished, consults a first meta data associated with data stored in a first block of the first volume, consults, in a case where the consulted first meta data including information indicating that the data stored in the first block of the first volume is prohibited from being updated for a given period, a meta data for a block that follows the first block of the first volume, and restores, in a case where the consulted first meta data does not includes information indicating that the data stored in the first block of the first volume is prohibited from being updated for a given period, data stored in the second volume into the first volume by copying data stored in a second block, which is associated with the first block of the volume, and is located in the second volume, to the first block of the first volume, thereby reproducing the data of the second volume in the first volume for restoration.

This invention relates to a storage system, and more specifically to a storage system in which a volume containing WORM data is restorable.
Conventional long-term file keeping systems include a storage system as disclosed in, for example, US 2004/0185868, which has a-write once read many (WORM) function to set a file unchangeable and undeletable for the duration of a retention period.
With the WORM function, a time limit or a period is set individually for each WORM file stored in the storage system, and the WORM file cannot be changed or deleted until the set time limit or period expires.

Storage system, data restoring method, and data access method


A piloting device may include a section for generating control orders for the control surfaces acting on the yaw movement of an aircraft. A central unit determines an instruction to rotate the aircraft, based on control orders, and determines a global moment to be applied to the aircraft about the yaw axis so that the aircraft performs the rotation instruction. The central unit divides the global moment into a sum of elementary moments and computes, for each control surface, the instruction to be applied to its actuator so that the latter generates the associated elementary moment.

In the context of the present invention, traveling on the ground means any possible type of traveling of an aircraft, such as traveling on a runway during landing and take-off phases, traveling on taxiways or traveling on maneuvering areas, in particular.
When an aircraft, in particular an airplane, travels on the ground on a runway on manual pilot, the pilot steers the wheels of the front landing gear and the tail fin rudder control surface in order to follow substantially the required trajectory. This trajectory may be a straight line or a curve and may correspond in this case to a maneuver of the aircraft, for example to enter an exit road. To do this, the pilot acts on the control members (control column pedals, steering wheel to steer the front landing gear wheels), the output signals (or orders) of which are (directly) sent as instructions to the actuators of the front landing gear and of the tail fin rudder control surface.
In practice, said output signals of the control members are usually simply formatted before being sent as instructions, by appropriate functional blocks, which merely apply a variable gain to said instruction signals: for example a neutral range around the rest position, then a first gain value, then a second gain value greater than the first.
Such a mode of operation has drawbacks. In particular, it constitutes a considerable workload for the pilot who, during traveling on the ground, must constantly act on the control members steering the wheels of the front gear and the tail fin rudder control surface, in order to follow the required trajectory. This constraint is made more severe when the required trajectory is a curve. Sometimes, the pilot is required to act simultaneously on a plurality of said control members in order to follow this trajectory satisfactorily, while managing the response time of the control surfaces to a given order by means of said control members, which naturally requires constant attention on the part of the pilot which is particularly tiring.
In addition, when the traveling on the ground is done with the aid of an automatic pilot, for example when traveling on landing, a traveling law controls the actuators of the different control surfaces, as a function of the positional error of the aircraft relative to the center line of the runway, which is determined by using at least one of the various usual location means (ILS, MLS, GLS, DGPS, etc.). This traveling law has the disadvantage of being awkward to fine-tune and of being specific to the model of aircraft in question.

Method and device for piloting an aircraft


A method, device and system, for determining downlink transmission power step size for both UP and DOWN transmission power control commands (TPC). The method, device and system use reception quality and a plurality of thresholds to determine these step sizes. Provision is made for determining step size and the TPC command values when the TPC command is evaluated to be erroneous and when reception quality is less than a minimum threshold value.

The present invention is directed to downlink transmission power control and specifically to such power control related to Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA) Time Division Duplex (TDD) Downlink (DL) Power Control (PC).
Closed loop power control (also called inner loop control) is used for downlink (DL) transmission power control of the base station (BS). Such power control should minimize DL transmitted energy (minimize the signal-to-interference (SIR) at the user equipment (UE)) while maintaining quality of service at the UE. It should also maintain received signal power at the UE at a constant level at all times.
In operation the user equipment (UE) measures the signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) and according to that measurement, sends a transmission power control command (TPC) to the base station (BS). The base station then adjusts transmission power (TxP) according to the TPC command sent by the UE using a power control step size that is typically signaled from the radio network controller (RNC). The RNC ensures that the BS power level is within limits set by the network configuration. Thus there are certain power control limits, i.e. maximum and minimum transmission powers, that the BS cannot exceed. These power limits are set by radio resource management algorithms. It is of course desirable to adjust the base station transmission power as rapidly as possible in order to have the optimum transmission power level for the UE. However, if the signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) indicates a poorly received signal by the base station, then it may not be prudent to rapidly change the transmission power level, either up or down based upon the TPC command due to the fact that the TPC command may be incorrect. In fact, if the BS misreads the TPC command and interprets it as an UP command, and if the step size for increasing the base station transmission power is large, then a much higher base station transmission power than otherwise necessary for the UE can occur, resulting in degradation to other UEs interfacing with the BS. It is therefore desirable to be able to adjust the base station transmission power in a manner as commanded by the TPC command, but taking into account the reliability of that command based upon a measurement of the quality of the received signal.
The present invention describes a system and method for transmission power control step size selection which is based on received signal quality and which provides for the ability to independently adjust both the UP step size (StepU) and the DOWN step size (StepD) based upon the quality of the received signal at the base station. By so doing, the adjustment in the base station transmission power is able to minimize the UE receiver signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) of the downlink (DL) associated with a time division duplex (TDD) system. Furthermore, the present invention presents a rule for the behavior of the base station when the reliability of the transmission power control command is low.
In the present invention, when the base station (BS) receives a power control command (TPC) from a user equipment (UE), it evaluates the reliability of the transmitted command based upon the received signal quality of that transmission from the UE. Received signal quality can be based upon signal-to-interference ratio (SIR), or bit error rate (BER). Based on the received signal quality, the system determines the size of the UP step size (StepU) and the size of the DOWN step size (StepD) independently by comparing the received signal quality to different threshold values. In this way, maximum system capacity is realized. It has been found that under good signal conditions the UP and DOWN step sizes can be equal and can both be relatively large (such as 3 dB), but there are also situations where it has been found to be beneficial to choose unequal step sizes for UP and DOWN step sizes. Furthermore, it has been determined that although errors in the TPC command itself can impact the selection of the UP and DOWN step sizes, such errors nevertheless have not been found to change the determination that under certain circumstances the UP and DOWN step sizes should in fact be chosen independently.
Furthermore, under bad reception conditions, such as low SIR for the BS, it has been found beneficial to choose small step sizes for both the UP and DOWN step sizes. It has also been found that when an erroneous TPC command is received (such as the command having the value xe2x80x9c01xe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9c10xe2x80x9d), that it is beneficial to interpret such an erroneous command as an UP command (that is, for the base station to increase its downlink transmission power).
More particularly, in a Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA) time division duplex (TDD) system, users are separated both in the code domain and in the time domain. Due to the time division mode, channel conditions can fluctuate significantly and to such an extent that a slow power control speed (such as 100 Hz) is unable to correct for fast channel fading. This situation is unlike a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) frequency division duplex (FDD) system where inner loop power control typically has a speed of 1500 Hz. Thus for time division duplex users, it is high desirable to be able to react to rapidly fluctuating conditions. In order to achieve this goal, adaptive power control step sizes for the base station downlink transmission power control are necessary.
When larger step sizes than 1 decibel (dB) are used, the system is more vulnerable to errors in transmission power control (TPC) commands. That is, if the UE is not sending a TPC command requesting an increase in downlink transmission power, but if the BS misinterprets the TPC as an UP command due to bad signal quality, and if for instance, a 3 dB step size is used for increasing the downlink transmission power; if a succession of these power control commands are received erroneously, it is possible that the base station could increase the downlink transmission power to this UE to such an extent that it adversely affects other UEs.
However, by controlling the downlink transmission power step sizes based upon received signal quality of the signal from the UE to the BS, system performance can be increased by using larger step sizes than 1 dB (not necessarily equal to each other) for UP and DOWN changes to the DL transmission power when it is determined that the received signal quality is good while using smaller step sizes (which may also be different in value for UP and DOWN TPC commands) when poorer received signal quality is determined to the BS.
In prior art techniques, the same step size is used for both UP and DOWN TPC commands, such that both the UP and DOWN step sizes could not be changed independently of each other. Thus in UTRA FDD which uses the same type of closed loop power control as used in UTRA TDD, asymmetrical step sizes are not needed since transmission is continuous and power control commands can be sent in every slot, thus providing that power control is better able to follow channel conditions even though using small step sizes for adjustment of the downlink transmission power. However as noted above, in UTRA TDD, the fast fading that can occur in the channel can only be countered in prior art devices by transmitting excessive power by the base station so as to compensate for the slow closed loop power control. This naturally leads to excessive inter-cell interference and is therefore highly disadvantageous.
The present invention provides the ability to modify the step size for both UP and DOWN downlink power control in response to current channel conditions perceived by the base station. When received signal quality is determined to be good, higher than 1 dB step sizes (StepU and StepD) can be used for both increasing downlink transmission power and for decreasing downlink transmission power. Furthermore, StepU and StepD need not be the same; that is, there may be asymmetrical steps for increasing or decreasing downlink transmission power.
However, during moderately bad or bad signal quality situations (channel conditions) asymmetry of step sizes can be eliminated and small step sizes for StepU and StepD can be used to minimize the effect of possible receipt of erroneous power control commands from the UE. This methodology is used only in the base stations and therefore does not require any additional signaling. Furthermore, this methodology does not require the radio network controller (RNC) to signal to the base station the step size to be used by the base station since the base station is able to select both the UP and DOWN step sizes independently of the RNC based upon perceived channel quality. Thus the need for additional signalling over the Iub interface (between the BS and RNC) is eliminated. However, the RNC continues to control the BS behavior to the extent that the maximum transmission power control step size is signalled from the RNC to the BS. According to current 3GPP specifications, the RNC signals the used step size to the BS, so that this value can be interpreted as a maximum step size when the BS has the ability (as in the present invention) to select appropriate step size independently based on received signal quality.
Although it might be, difficult to predict optimal step sizes for UP and DOWN power control in view of different environmental and channel conditions, it has been found through experimentation that there is a clear advantage in the potential use of asymmetrical step sizes. Nevertheless, selection of step size sizes for both UP and DOWN power control typically requires a channel dependent optimization.
Furthermore in the methodology according to the present invention, signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) measurement accuracy is not analyzed, but at reasonable operation levels the SIR or BER measurement is deemed reliable and thus the effect to system performance is small. In other words, at reasonable operation levels the UEs and BSs are configured so as to perform accurate measurements so that the effect to system capacity will be small, i.e. degradation in system performance should be very small because of any inaccuracy in various measurements.

Method, device and system for power control step size selection based on received signal quality


Embodiments of a lightweight, high temperature airborne valve are provided. In one embodiment, the airborne vale includes a valve element and a flowbody. The flowbody is formed at least partially from a titanium aluminide alloy and has a flow passage therethrough in which the valve element is movably mounted. Embodiments of a method for producing such a lightweight, high temperature airborne valve are also provided. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of forming a lightweight flowbody at least partially from a titanium aluminide alloy, hot isostatically pressing the lightweight flowbody, and machining the lightweight flowbody to desired dimensions.

Airborne valves are commonly deployed aboard aircraft to regulate fluid flow. An airborne valve, and specifically the material from which the flowbody of the airborne valve is cast, ideally has relatively low density, is highly durable, and is highly ductile. When intended to operate in lower temperature environments, airborne valve flowbodies are commonly cast from aluminum and aluminum-based alloys, which generally satisfy the foregoing criteria. However, when the airborne valve is to be utilized within higher temperature environments (e.g., approaching and possibly exceeding approximately 1,200° Fahrenheit), such as when the airborne valve is used to regulate compressor or combustive gas flow from a gas turbine engine, aluminum and aluminum-based alloys are typically unsuitable as flowbody materials due to operational temperature limitations. For this reason, it is conventional practice in aerospace industry to cast high temperature valve flowbodies from high-strength, refractory metal alloys, such as 17-4PH stainless steel or Inconel 718®. Although durable and relatively ductile, such refractory metal alloys have relatively high densities (e.g., the densities of 17-4PH stainless steel and Inconel 718® are approximately 7.74 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm3) and 8.22 g/cm3, respectively). Airborne valve flowbodies cast from such high temperature materials are consequently undesirably heavy for utilization in airborne applications.
Titanium aluminide alloys have relatively low densities and have been utilized to fabricate certain dynamic components deployed within gas turbine engine, such as air turbine blades. However, titanium aluminide alloys have long been considered excessively brittle for use in the fabrication of high temperature airborne flowbodies, which serve as pressure vessels that conduct highly pressured fluids during operation (e.g., pressured bleed air having pressures exceeding several hundred pounds per square inch (psi) and commonly approaching 600 psi). Titanium aluminide alloys have also been utilized to produce certain non-pressure containing valve components (e.g., poppet-type valve elements) for other ground-based pneumatic systems, such as for automotive internal combustion engines. Titanium aluminide alloys have not, however, been utilized to produce static, pressure-containing valve flowbodies in any context of which the present inventors are aware. Furthermore, in the terrestrial applications set-forth above, the operational requirements, the valve types, and the valve designs are markedly disparate from the high temperature, high pressure airborne valve flowbodies utilized in the aerospace industry.
There thus exists an ongoing need to provide embodiments of a high temperature airborne valve having a reduced weight as compared to conventional airborne valves produced utilizing high density material, such as 17-4PH stainless steel and Inconel 718®. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, and as described in the subsequent sections of this document, this ongoing need is satisfied by providing airborne valves including lightweight flowbodies formed, at least in part, from titanium aluminide. It would also be desirable to provide one or more methods for manufacturing such lightweight, high temperature airborne valves. Other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent Detailed Description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this Background.

Lightweight titanium aluminide valves and methods for the manufacture thereof


Methods and apparatus for lowering integrated circuit (IC) chip ambient temperatures allow a slow IC chip to simulate a faster, functionally equivalent one for design testing purposes when the faster chip is not yet available. The cooling devices employed include a cryogenic chip cooling apparatus, and a novel thermo-electric chip cooling apparatus using a directly water-cooled Peltier effect device attached to the surface of the IC chip.

A problem exists in the prior art where an IC chip expected to operate at high speeds is designed, but does not have a physical embodiment. In this case, it is not known whether the IC chip will properly function. Software simulation is not a solution, since it does not predict whether a given IC chip will operate at a certain speed. One solution is to use an existing, functionally equivalent slower IC chip to simulate the operation of the not-yet built faster IC chip. However, the slower IC chip may be a poor predictor of system performance at the higher speed. What is desired, but non-existent in the prior art, is a method and apparatus that uses an actual IC chip for simulating a designed, but yet unavailable IC chip at the expected operating speed.
It is known that, with respect to CMOS technology, lower temperatures cause an IC chip to operate at a higher frequency because of increased carrier mobility. The present invention recognizes this fact in developing a solution to the problem.
In a related problem in the prior art, thermo-electric cooling methods for cooling IC chips have been used without significant success because heat transfer away from the thermo-electric cooling module has been inadequate, and because of undesirable thermal resistances and corrosion.

Method and apparatus for low temperature integrated circuit chip testing and operation


There is provided a pressure regulating shut-off valve comprising a valve body, at least one piston serving as a regulating piston and/or a shut-off piston, a solenoid valve, and a pressure relief valve; wherein the valve body defines an inlet and an outlet, and comprises at least a portion formed by an additive manufacturing process.

Solenoid controlled pressure regulating and shut-off valves (PRSOV) are designed to operate in the inlet anti-ice system of an aircraft engine. A known PRSOV comprises two pistons within sleeves defined by the main body of the valve. The shut-off function is pneumatically operated and electrically controlled by an on-board mounted solenoid valve, while the pressure regulating function is controlled by a pressure relief valve. Both functions are achieved using the inlet pressure and flow as power muscle to the control elements. In order to enable the operations of the control elements, suitable passages are machined within, or externally affixed to, the valve, for example as pipes. A manual override is often included which enables operation and locking of the valve in the fully open position.
The PRSOV is a compact unit which may provide multiple functions. For example, the PRSOV may provide a regulating function for regulating downstream engine bleed air pressures, which is activated when the solenoid is de-energized. The PRSOV may also provide a shut-off function for stopping downstream engine bleed air, which is activated when the solenoid is energized. The PRSOV may also be provided with a mechanism for manually overriding the regulating and/or shut-off functions, for example by locking the PRSOV in an open or a closed position.
A conventional pressure regulating shut-off valve 10 is shown in FIG. 1. The valve comprises an inlet 16, an outlet 13, a pressure relief valve 12, a solenoid valve 11, and a duct 14. Duct 14 is installed on the valve to allow fluid communication between the valve inlet 16 and the solenoid valve 11 for controlling the shut-off function. The solenoid may control the flow from the duct 14 to actuate a shut-off cylinder within the valve to prevent airflow from the inlet 16 to the outlet 13.
PRSOVs must operate in extreme temperature and pressure conditions, and must be reliable enough to ensure flight safety. The materials that PRSOVs are made of must therefore be able to accommodate high temperatures and pressures, while being sufficiently durable to be ensure safely. It is also desirable that PRSOVs should be as light as possible, since they are employed in aircraft.


An optical fibre cable (1) for installation in a duct by means of fluid flow is described. The cable (1) has a signal transmitting portion comprising a plurality of elongate, flexible optical fibres, surrounded by a braided covering (10) formed from textile yarns (9).

The present invention relates to signal transmitting cables for installation in ducts, and relates particularly, but not exclusively, to optical fibre light signal transmitting cables for installation into underground ducts or into buildings.
It is common to transmit telecommunication signals by means of optical fibre cables installed in underground ducts. In order to minimise the number of persons needed to install such cables, and therefore minimise the installation cost, it is known to install cables consisting of bundles of flexible optical fibres into ducts by means of compressed air. An end of the cable is inserted into one end of a duct, and the cable is then blown into the duct by means of compressed air, fluid drag between the moving air and the surface of the cable causing the cable to move axially along the duct. It is known to provide such cables consisting of optical fibres encapsulated in a thin plastic sheath, which is then encapsulated in a thicker foam plastic layer. The foam plastic layer makes the cable relatively light in weight but provides it with a large surface area, giving good fluid drag as air passes over it in the installation process.
However, cables of this type, known to persons skilled in the art as MKI cables, suffer from the drawback that because the cable is relatively large in diameter, it is necessary to use a large diameter duct for installation of the cable in order to achieve commercially acceptable installation distances. In the case of telecommunication cables being installed in duct networks, especially in city centre locations where space in underground ducts is scarce because of the very high number of customers and the high cost of construction, it is undesirable to use large ducts. In addition, MKI cables usually use polyethylene foam outer layers, which have relatively poor friction characteristics when in contact with the internal surface of the installation tube, which in turn restricts the blowing distances achievable with this product.
An attempt to solve this problem, known to persons skilled in the art as a MKII cable, is disclosed in international patent application No. WO 93/01512, UK patent application No. GB22822897, and European patent application Nos. EP 0422764, EP 0752604 and EP 0345968. In this type of cable, the optical fibres are coated in a two stage process, and the outer layer contains microscopic glass spheres designed to provide a rough surface to enhance fluid drag, while providing a low friction contact surface between the optical fibre cable and the tube. The use of microscopic glass spheres means that the outer layer can be significantly thinner than the foam outer layer of the MKI cable, and the improved friction performance means that this type of prior art cable can be installed over commercially satisfactory distances in smaller diameter ducts.
However, there has persisted a commercial requirement for optical fibre cables which are capable of installation by blowing over longer distances than are possible with the MKII cable, since if the number of optical fibre splices in a cable network can be reduced, the installation time and cost can be reduced and the process can be made suitable for a wider range of applications.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention seek to provide a signal transmitting cable which can be blown into a duct over longer distances than in the prior art.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a signal transmitting cable for installation in a duct by means of fluid flow, the cable comprising:
a signal transmitting portion comprising at least one elongate, flexible, signal transmitting member; and
a covering formed of crossed continuous textile fibres surrounding said signal transmitting portion.
The highly surprising result has been found that by applying a covering formed of crossed continuous textile fibres on the cable, exceptional and dramatic improvements in blowing distances can be achieved. Furthermore, the present invention has been found to provide improved abrasion resistance and crush resistance compared with prior art signal transmitting cables under certain circumstances. This provides the advantage that cables of the invention may under certain circumstances be used in an unprotected arrangement free of a duct which would not be practicable in the case of prior art cables, for example the use of fibre optic cables in a building outside of the duct.
At least one said signal transmitting member is preferably an optical signal transmitting member.
The at least one of said optical transmitting member may be an optical fibre.
At least one said signal transmitting member may be a conductor for transmitting an electrical signal.
In a preferred embodiment, the covering is braided.
It has been found that braided textile coverings provide exceptionally good blowing performance. It is believed that this is the case because the braided fibres provide a lightweight, rough outer coating to increase fluid drag, while also providing low friction contact points with the inner surface of a duct into which the cable is blown.
The covering may include fibres of different lateral thicknesses.
The covering may include fibres of different diameters.
It has been found that under certain circumstances, this provides the advantage that even better blowing performance can be achieved. It is believed that the provision of crossing points of fibres of larger and smaller diameter produces larger protrusions on the outer surface of the cable than in the case of fibres of generally equal diameters, which in turn minimises the points of contact (and therefore the friction) between the cable and the internal surface of a duct into which the cable is blown.
The covering includes a mixture of fibres of substantially flattened and substantially circular cross sections.
The covering may be woven.
The covering may be knitted
The textile fibres may include polyester and/or nylon.
The cable may further comprise at least one sheath surrounding at least one said signal transmitting member.
In a preferred embodiment, the cable comprises a plurality of said signal transmitting members, and an adhesive layer arranged between at least one pair of adjacent said signal transmitting members.
The covering may be provided with a friction reducing coating.
The fibres of said coating may be provided with a friction reducing coating.
At least one said fibre may be formed from a plurality of filaments.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of forming a signal transmitting cable for installation in a duct by means of fluid flow, the method comprising:
forming a covering of crossed continuous textile fibres around a signal transmitting portion comprising at least one elongate, flexible, signal transmitting member.
The step of forming said covering may comprise braiding said continuous textile fibres
The step of forming said covering may comprise forming said covering from textile fibres of different lateral thicknesses.
The step of forming said covering may comprise forming said covering from textile fibres of different diameters.
The step of forming said covering may comprise forming said covering from a mixture of fibres of substantially flattened and substantially circular cross section.
The method may further comprise the step of providing said covering with a friction reducing coating subsequently to formation thereof.
The method may further comprise the step of providing at least some of said textile fibres with a friction reducing coating prior to formation of said covering.

Signal transmitting cable with outer covering that facilitates installation in a duct by fluid flow


The invention features a polyamine epoxide adduct, prepared by admixing a source of epoxy group with a polyamine, and allowing the epoxy groups to react with the terminal amino groups of the polyamine so as to form the polyamine epoxy adduct. The polyamine epoxide adduct of the invention can be used as a component for preparing a polyurea polymer, thereby providing the resulting polyurea polymer with improved adhesiveness and greater chemical resistance to acidic conditions. Polyurea polymer coatings prepared from polyamine epoxide adducts demonstrate better chemical resistance and adhesion when applied to substrates than do conventionally prepared polyurea formulations.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a polyamine epoxide adduct, useful, e.g., as a component in a polyurea coating formulation.
2. Background of the Invention
Sprayable polyurea elastomers are widely used as coating materials on various substrates such as metals, plastics, wood and concrete. Sprayable formulations of polyurea have the advantage of setting rapidly. Conventional polyurea sprays do not perform well in some environments, exhibiting poor elastomeric properties and poor chemical resistance when exposed to conditions of high acidity, or the presence of hydrocarbons such as xylene or toluene. Prior attempts to apply polyurea coatings to substrates in such environments have included using epoxy resins as primers, but unfortunately expoxy resins cure slowly and present bad odors.
It is thus an object of the invention to provide a polyurea polymer which exhibits good adhesive properties and chemical resistance, while preserving optimal set rates and flowability.
The invention features a polyamine epoxide adduct, characterized in that an epoxy group is added to the terminal amino groups of a polyamine. The polyamine epoxide adduct is prepared by admixing a source of epoxy group with a polyamine, and allowing the epoxy groups to react with the terminal amino groups of the polyamine so as to form the polyamine epoxy adduct. The terminal amino groups react with the epoxy ring to form an amine-alcohol linkage, or adduct.
The polyamine epoxide adduct of the invention can be used, e.g., as a component for preparing a polyurea polymer, thereby providing the resulting polyurea polymer with improved properties of adhesiveness and chemical resistance. Polyurea polymers prepared from polyamine epoxide adducts demonstrate better resistance to acid and to hydrocarbons, e.g., aromatic hydrocarbons, e.g., xylene and toluene. Furthermore, polyurea polymers prepared from polyamine epoxide adducts of the invention demonstrate improved adhesion to substrates than do conventionally prepared polyurea formulations, when applied alone or in the presence of an epoxy resin primer. Thus, polyurea polymer formulations of the invention are advantageously used as coating on substrates such as, without limitation, metal, steel, wood, plastic, and concrete.
Accordingly, in one aspect the invention features a polyamine epoxide adduct useful in preparing a polyurea polymer which has increased chemical resistance to, e.g., acids and hydrocarbons, and has improved adhesive properties for adhering to, for example, a substrate, e.g., a concrete, metal, e.g., steel, wood, or plastic substrate. Preferably, the polyamine is present in stoichiometric excess relative to the concentration of epoxy groups, so that the epoxy groups are reacted fully on the backbone of the polyamine.
The invention further features a method of preparing a polyamine epoxide adduct by admixing an epoxy group that is able to react with a terminal primary amine along with a polyamine hardener, under conditions in which the epoxy group is added to the amino-terminal ends of the polyamine backbone. Preferably, the concentration of polyamine stoichiometrically exceeds that of the epoxy groups, so that the epoxy groups are substantially consumed when reacting with the polyamine. Alternatively, or in addition, the method can include the further, optional, step of removing any remaining epoxy groups from the prepared polyamine epoxide adduct. Excess epoxy groups can be removed by methods known to those skilled in the art, such as, e.g., by vacuum.
Without limitation, the polyamine epoxide adduct of the invention can be used as a component for preparing a polyurea polymer, thereby providing the resulting polyurea polymer with improved properties of adhesiveness and of chemical resistance. The polyamine epoxide adduct is substituted for the polyamine in a conventional method of preparing a polyurea by mixing a polyamine with a polyisocyanate, preferably in the presence of an optional chain extender. Optionally, where the chain extender is itself a polyamine, the polyamine epoxide adduct can be used as a substitute for the chain extender. The polyamine epoxide adduct prepared by the method of the invention is substantially free of unincorporated epoxy groups, so there is no substantial level of epoxy groups present in the reaction mixture when forming the polyurea.
Accordingly, the invention further features a polyurea polymer formulation that includes a polyamine epoxide adduct, and a method of preparing a polyurea polymer formulation that is based on a polyamine epoxide adduct component. The method includes the steps of allowing a polyamine epoxide adduct to react with a polyisocyanate, under conditions suitable for forming a polyurea polymer.
In a related aspect, the invention features an apparatus that includes a substrate, block, or surface coated with a polymer coating based at least in part on a polyurea prepared from a polyamine epoxide adduct. Suitable substrates and surfaces are composed at least in part of, e.g., metal, steel, wood, plastic, or concrete. The invention also features a method for applying a polyurea polymer coating to a substrate or surface thereof, the method including the step of applying a polyurea polymer coating prepared from a polyamine epoxide adduct to the substrate.


An apparatus and process are provided for inductively heating a workpiece by transverse flux induction. The apparatus comprises a pair of identical coils, each of which includes a reversed head section bent to the opposite side of the workpiece. The assembled pair of coils is configured to effectively form a generally O-shaped coil arrangement on opposing sides of the workpiece. Combination electrically conductive and magnetic compensators, passive or active/passive, are also provided for use with transverse flux inductors.

A typical conventional transverse flux inductor comprises a pair of induction coils. A material to be inductively heated is placed between the pair of coils. For example, in FIG. 1, the coil pair comprises coil 101 and coil 103, respectively located above and below the material, which may be, for example, metal strip 90, which moves continuously through the pair of coils in the direction illustrated by the arrow. For orientation, a three dimension orthogonal space is defined by the X, Y and Z axes shown in FIG. 1. Accordingly the strip moves in the Z direction. The gap, gc, or opening, between the coil pair is exaggerated in the figure for clarity, but is fixed in length across the cross section of the strip. Terminals 101a and 101b of coil 101, and terminals 103a and 103b of coil 103, are connected to one or more suitable ac power sources (not shown in the figures) with instantaneous current pluralities as indicated in the figure. Current flow through the coils creates a common magnetic flux, as illustrated by typical flux line 105 (illustrated by dashed line), that passes perpendicularly through the strip to induce eddy currents in the plane of the strip. Magnetic flux concentrators 117 (partially shown around coil 101 in the figure), for example, laminations or other high permeability, low reluctance materials, may be used to direct the magnetic field towards the strip. Selection of the ac current frequency (f, in Hertz) for efficient induced heating is given by the equation:
  f  =      2    ×          10      6                          ρ                                                            g          c                                      τ          2                                  d          s
where ρ is the electrical resistivity measured in Ω·m; gc is the gap (opening) between the coils measured in meters; τ is the pole pitch (step) of the coils measured in meters; and ds is the thickness of the strip measured in meters.
The classical problem to be solved when heating strips by electric induction with a transverse flux inductor is to achieve a uniform cross sectional (along the X-axis), induced heating temperature across the strip. FIG. 2 illustrates a typical cross sectional strip heating profile obtained with the arrangement in FIG. 1 when the pole pitch of the coils is relatively small and, from the above equation, the frequency is correspondingly low. The X-axis in FIG. 2 represents the normalized cross sectional coordinate of the strip with the center of the strip being coordinate 0.0, and the opposing edges of the strip being coordinates +1.0 and −1.0. The Y-axis represents the normalized temperature achieved from induction heating of the strip with normalized temperature 1.0 representing the generally uniform heated temperature across middle region 111 of the strip. Nearer to the edges of the strip, in regions 113 (referred to as the shoulder regions), the cross sectional induced temperatures of the strip decrease from the normalized temperature value of 1.0, and then increase in edge regions 115 of the strip to above the normalized temperature value of 1.0.
There is a need for a transverse flux induction heating apparatus, either in the configuration of the induction coils, or compensators used with the induction coils, that will reduce induced edge overheating and increase induced heating in shoulder regions of the work piece.

Transverse flux induction heating apparatus and compensators


A diffraction grating has a reflection film formed on a photosensitive layer disposed on a substrate through exposure followed by development and the groove profile thus formed has a configuration distorted from a sinusoidal form because the sensitivity curve of the photosensitive layer is of the second order non-linearity to the exposure amount. With the groove pitch expressed by d, K=2 .pi./d, the coordinate perpendicular to the groove direction taken as x, and the groove profile .eta.(x) expressed as .eta.(x)=h [sin (Kx)+.gamma.sin (2Kz-90.degree.)], the parameters h, .gamma. and .phi. satisfy as follows: EQU 0.26.ltoreq.2h/d.ltoreq.0.52 EQU 0.05.ltoreq..gamma..ltoreq.0.32.. The wavelength region to be used is normalized by the groove pitch d as 0.67.ltoreq..lambda./d.ltoreq.1.15. When an incident angle is expressed by .theta. and the first order Littrow angle is expressed by .theta..sub.L, the mount to be used is carried out in such a region that satisfies the following expression: EQU .theta..sub.L -5.degree..ltoreq..theta..ltoreq..theta..sub.L +5.degree..

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a diffraction grating for use in a spectroscopic instrument, optical communication instrument or the like and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Diffraction gratings have been mainly used in optical measuring instrument as a wavelength dispersion element for selectively extracting a preferable wavelength from a certain waveform region. However, in general, the diffraction grating has a diffraction efficiency, which is largely affected by the wavelength, incident angle and polarization of the incident light. However, if conditions of use are limited, it is possible to optimize the sectional profile of the grating to obtain a high performance diffraction grating. At present, research is being conducted in this area.
For example, an article in Appl. Phys. 24, No. 2 pp. 147-150 (1981) shows an experimental verification in the microwave region, of the idea that based on the fact that the manufacture of Fourior gratings by composing their groove profile is possible by combining a fundamental harmonic and the second order harmonic through the holographic exposure technology, the efficiency of Fourior gratings can be made higher than that of Echelette gratings for large wavelength region applications by locally optimizing the groove profile of the grating, in the microwave region.
Here, the Fourior gratings generally have a groove profile .eta. (x) which can be expressed, with the direction perpendicular to the groove direction taken as the x-axis and the groove pitch expressed as d, in terms of the fundamental harmonic K and the second order harmonic 2 K, where K=2.pi./d, as follows: EQU .eta.(x)=h[sin (Kx)+.gamma.sin (2Kx+.phi.)]
where h, .gamma. and .phi. are parameters for determining the profile. The groove profile of diffraction gratings described in the above-mentioned article corresponds to the case when h=0.42, .gamma.=0.286 and .phi.=-90.degree..
In the article mentioned above, however, the local optimization is made under the condition that the angular deviation between the light incident to the diffraction grating and the first order diffracted light reflected therefrom is 17.degree.. This means that, for example, light is incident thereto at .lambda.d=1 from an angle different by 8.5.degree. from the Littrow angle.
When diffraction gratings are employed for optical communication applications, they are used in the neighborhood of the Littrow mount in many cases, and there is no case in which they are used while maintaining an angular deviation of 17.degree.. Therefore, the superiority of the Fourior gratings in the local optimization for the Littrow mount is not described quantitatively in the above-mentioned article. This is the first problem to be pointed out. Also, although a theoretical prediction has been verified experimentally in the microwave region, the groove profile of diffraction gratings actually experimented with is considerably different from that which is locally optimized.
In general, optical communication uses a light having a wavelength range from 0.8 .mu.m to 1.55 .mu.m which is considerably shorter than that of the microwave range. As a result, it cannot be concluded that the superiority of a diffraction grating locally optimized could be verified for all wavelength regions by having it verified only in the microwave range. This is the second problem to be pointed out.
In addition, the groove profile obtained by the calculation in the above-mentioned article is only appropriate for a perfectly conductive groove surface. Therefore, the theoretically calculated profile is not valid for a groove surface which is an imperfect conductor.
As to polarization, an article in J. Opt. Soc. Am. A, 3, No. 11 pp. 1780-1787 j(1986) describes that if the light waves polarized perpendicular and parallel to the groove direction, indicated as a TM wave and a TE wave, respectively, the groove profile is rectangular, but due to the conductivity that a metal of the surface of the diffraction grating has, variation of the efficiency of the TM wave due to the incident angle of a light is more rapid than that of the TE wave particularly in a wavelength range of several micro or less meters as compared to the situation where the reflecting surface is perfectly conductive. This is the third problem to be pointed out.
The conventional manufacturing method used in the two-beam interference exposure method, using a coherent light, but the photosensitive characteristic of a photosensitive layer to be formed on a substrate is produced in the range in which the film thickness residue of the photosensitive layer after development is approximately linearly related with the exposure time, so that in actually making Fourior gratings, for example, as in Optica Acta 26, No. 11, pp. 1427-1441 (1979), two exposure processes and precision positioning control are required.
In addition, in the holographic exposure technology, it is the general practice to expose an interference pattern obtained by superimposing plane waves with respect. In this case, however, since the coherent light from a spacial filter is a divergent beam, the spacial coherence will be disturbed by optical elements such as, for example, lenses and mirrors which are disposed between the substrate and the spacial filter in order to change a divergent wave into a plane wave, causing a slight distortion of the interference pattern. To avoid such a problem, a complicated optical system is required.

Diffraction grating and manufacturing method thereof

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


An access chamber assembly for use in a pneumatic transport system with a sealing arrangement that provides an intended bearing clearance relative to an access door device which is rotated between an open, access state and a closed state. The bearing clearance allows for radial adjustment of the door while being rotated between states of being fully closed and fully open to avoid binding and seal friction noise. When a seal status is desired, as when the access door is closed and the access chamber is in a pressurized state (such as when a carrier is being braked to a stop state in the access chamber), the seal arrangement provides for a tight seal as the access door device is radially adjusted by the pressure to take up the clearance, at a diametrically opposed side, which movement also increases a seal enhancement effect provided by the seal components surface interrelationship as with door bar seals having a slight taper that provides an increased seal wedge effect as the access door is radially pushed out by the pressure against a second seal component such as a fixed lip seal of a carrier support pocket.

The prior art features pneumatic carrier transport systems with carrier reception chambers for receiving a carrier. An example is found in bi-directional carrier transport systems in which a bank teller carrier (a transport tube cylinder) is transported back and forth between a customer station and a teller station. Examples of bi-directional carrier transport systems are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,147,154; 5,211,513; 5,562,367; 7,153,065, each to the current inventor Lowell Scott and sharing a common assignee with the present assignee, Hamilton Safe Company of Fairfield, Ohio, USA. In such systems, the carrier reception chambers need to be sufficiently sealed off to achieve the desired pressure level state at the desired time (e.g., a pressurized state is formed in the reception chamber as the carrier is braked to achieve a soft landing in that reception chamber). A low pressure vacuum state is formed ahead of the carrier and/or a higher pressurized state is formed behind the carrier to place the carrier in motion within the carrier transport system as through use of a turbine box. Once the carrier is properly located within the reception chamber and the system is placed in user access mode (e.g., through release of a pressure within the reception chamber as in a return to an atmospheric pressure state or into a "static" state by a dissipation of air behind a carrier following braking) a user (e.g., bank teller) accesses the transport carrier by opening an access cover. This typically entails rotating a cylindrical section of a support housing for receiving the carrier. Thus, the rotating cylindrical section represents an access door, as in an access door support cylinder with corresponding access opening to be covered by the access door.
To achieve the desired pneumatic seal levels, particularly at the time the transport system is pressurized, the access doors of the prior art are connected with an access door support in a tight seal arrangement as in one where the access cover is in an interference seal fit relative to a sealing device provided on the access door support when at the closed and open states and in an interference fit relative to the bearing support provided by an access door support structure on which the access door rides in going between fully open and fully closed states. This interference contact leads to difficulty in user access as the access cover can be difficult to open under such a seal retention arrangement. In addition, even if the cover moves relatively smoothly in going from a closed to open state or vice versa, there is a associated with that movement a squeaking or moaning noise due to the interrelationship of the bearing and/or sealing structure relative to the access cover during movement of the access cover. Many prior art seals are also often made of a material that is designed with a high degree of elasticity to provide a good sealing function, but which material is prone to relatively rapid wear due to the tight fit relationship. Thus, after a period of use, the seal assembly can degrade and so too then does the carrier transport efficiency due to pressure leakage, for example. Moreover, various types of interference seals have been utilized that are formed of various materials such as steel, aluminum, and plastic. These types of seals present their own problems such as having to either be initially squeaky tight then loose over time and/or hard to manufacture to provide a good seal quality. There are also tangential seals which also are difficult to seal tight and thus generally necessitate the addition of some sort of detent to hold the door closed against the seal.

Pneumatic transport system with reception chamber assembly with access cover seal assembly


A pressure-controlled three-way valve device for inflating, keeping inflated and deflating tires, the device having a plunger axially traversed by an inlet passage normally closed by a spring-urged inlet valve. The plunger's outer sidewall has a recess in which an O-ring extends to abut against the steps of the recess to limit the plunger stroke and keep an outlet circuit closed to a venting port formed in the sidewall of the body of the device. The plunger moving between a position to open air supply to the tire, a position to keep an outlet circuit to a tire closed and a position to open a venting port to deflate the tire. The plunger being mounted into the valve body by a diaphragm sealing an outer wall of the plunger against the valve body and permitting the moving of the plunger with minimal friction between the plunger and the valve body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a valve device for installation in pressurized gas or air piping and which may be controlled by means of the relative pressure of the gas applied to one port of the valve device or by the pressure differential between two ports, passages or circuits thereof. According to the invention, the state of the valve device may be remote-controlled via the air pressure in the pipe connected to that port, passage or circuit, without auxiliary control lines, by varying the air pressure applied to an end of the piping. In particular, it concerns a three-state valve device adapted to operatively adopt a closed position, an open position between one pair of ports or an open position between another pair of ports, according to the pressure state in one of the ports, i.e. a valve control port, with reduced friction between the valve components and more accurate and effective operation.
The valve device of the present invention may be applied to any pressurized installation where the pressure of the installation may be desired to be controlled, such as increased, released or decreased. Such an installation may be a circuit for pumping (inflating) and unpumping (deflating) pressurized loads, in particular as a valve for a tire, such as a component for a tire-pressure control system in a motor-car vehicle. Such systems are used in transport vehicles, especially lorries and buses, since they enable corrective action to be carried out, either automatically or via driver manual control means, on the inflation state of each tire and/or wheel axle without having to stop, thereby providing an important safety feature for transport.
In the mentioned application, the valve device is inserted, for example, between one end of the piping of the installation and the air input of the tire, replacing or applying it to the conventional valve of the wheel and provides for the three fundamental operations of the system, that is: to shut off the passage of air when the installation is underpressurized, to avoid the tires of the vehicle going flat, to enable sufficient air flow to pump a tire up or keep it inflated, in case of puncture for example, to avoid the vehicle having to stop anywhere, and to enable the tires to be deflated, for example for lowering the tire pressure because of road conditions.
In this application, the control port, which is coupled to one side of a plunger of the valve device, is connected to the piping. In addition to providing the state control pressure signal, at the same time it supplies the air (gas) for inflating; while a second port, coupled to an opposite side of the, plunger, is connected to the tire tube and the third port may be arranged as a vent for airing pressure from the second port.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A valve device of the type above mentioned is disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 6,672,328 to the same inventors of the present application and which is referred herein in its entirety as a reference.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,672,328 discloses a pressure-controlled three-way valve device of the type having a valve body 13 housing an inlet circuit or passage 15A extending longitudinally between two air ports 17A, 17C provided at respective longitudinally-opposite ends 19 of the valve body 13. The port 17A is for the inflow of inflating air. Accordingly, it is coupled to the pressurizing installation piping (not shown), from which it receives both the inflating airflow and pressure signals for controlling the valve device 11. The port 17C is coupled to the tire tube (not shown), such that it behaves as an inflating air inlet/deflating air outlet conduit. A port 178 is provided on one side of the valve body 13 to define a deflating air outlet port in communication with port 17C through an outlet circuit 15B. The valve body also houses a plunger 21 having a longitudinal stroke and urged by a spring towards the inlet port 17A end. The valve body also including an outlet valve which is closed at respective end positions of the plunger in a manner that the valve is open when the position of said plunger is in an intermediate range.
As it is disclosed in the cited US Patent, the outlet valve comprises a pair of circumferential steps 41A, 41B, formed in the outer wall surface of the plunger in order to define a recess which is in correspondence with a stationary seal or seat that is comprised of a sealing O-ring extending inwardly from the inner wall of the valve body and having a pair of circumferential sealing lips in correspondence with the cited steps in a manner that, en both end positions of the plunger stroke, one predetermined of the moving steps of the plunger seats against the corresponding lip thus closing the outlet circuit or passage which is open, through respective gaps formed between the lips and the steps, only when the plunger is at the intermediate position. The inlet passage 15A passes through the plunger and through a valve normally-closed by a piston 27 axially slidable within the valve body 13 and urged by spring 23 against a plunger end. In operation, the plunger is a movable seat for the inlet valve and a plurality of intermediate pressures are in charge of moving the plunger between its end positions to actuate the outlet valve.
An o-ring is mounted in the plunger in order to keep a sealing contact between the outer wall surface of the plunger and the inner wall surface of the valve body to guarantee an effective operation of the valve device. This device has shown satisfactory operation in several applications, however, this O-ring employed to prevent shortcircuits between the inlet circuit and the outlet circuit imposes a friction that offers an important resistance to the movement of the plunger to open the outlet/inlet valve. It is foreseen that, due to manufacturing tolerances, composition material, origin, aging, size variations due to lubricant effects, etc., of the O-ring, the calibration of the operation of the valve device may be affected, particularly in connection to the pressure rates controlling the opening of the outlet valve as well as the influence of foreign dirty and particulate material that can enter through the venting port.
In order to improve reliability and operation speed of the valve device, the average initial friction of the O-ring is compensated by adding a second spring or equivalent elastic means to provide a threshold force urging of the plunger towards the inlet valve having a piston or closing means moveably seated on the plunger. This spring is in opposition to the first spring urging the inlet valve against the plunger and is dimensioned to yield to the force of the latter absent enough air pressure at the inlet port and, at the same time, urge the plunger to recover faster in response to a control pressure signal at the inlet port. The above reference numbers are those employed in the specification of U.S. Pat. No. 6,672,328.

Pressure controlled three way valve device


In accordance with one embodiment, a system includes a turbine engine including an axial-radial diffuser section disposed about a first longitudinal axis downstream in an exhaust flow path from a turbine section. The system also includes an exhaust plenum including a first plenum portion disposed about the axial-radial diffuser section, wherein the first plenum portion includes a curved wall portion that diverges away from a circumference of the axial-radial diffuser section. The exhaust plenum also includes a second plenum portion extending away from the first plenum portion downstream along a second longitudinal axis of the exhaust plenum approximately crosswise to the first longitudinal axis.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to gas turbines, and more specifically, to exhaust systems for gas turbine engines.
A gas turbine engine combusts a mixture of compressed air and fuel to produce hot combustion gases. The combustion gases flow through one or more stages of turbine blades to generate power for a load and/or a compressor. The gas turbine engine delivers the combustion gases into an exhaust system, which reduces energy of the combustion gases prior to release into to the atmosphere. Unfortunately, existing exhaust systems include abrupt turns and expansions due to size constraints, turbine design constraints, and other factors. As a result, existing exhaust systems may create significant backpressure and flow separation, thereby reducing the performance of the gas turbine engine.