Transparent moldings comprising a polymeric base material and at least one coating formed thereon is disclosed. The coating includes a primer coat that containing an epoxy and/or acrylic resin is disposed on at least one surface of the base material, a heat-absorbing coating which contains a polythiophene compound and a scratch-resistant coating. In an additional embodiment of the invention, the coating contains no primer and the heat absorbing coating contains a polythiophene compound.

The invention concerns a transparent plastics molding and more particularly a molding carrying a heat absorbing coating and a scratch-resistant coating.
Transparent moldings comprising a polymeric base material and at least one coating formed thereon is disclosed. The coating includes a primer coat that containing an epoxy and/or acrylic resin is disposed on at least one surface of the base material, a heat-absorbing coating which contains a polythiophene compound and a scratch-resistant coating. In an additional embodiment of the invention, the coating contains no primer and the heat absorbing coating contains a polythiophene compound.
It is known that coatings which absorb infrared light can be used to reduce the heat-up of plastics and composite glass sheets or panes by solar radiation. Thin coatings of polythiophene or of soluble polythiophene salts have proved particularly effective in this regard.
In order to produce light-absorbing composite glass sheets such as these, aqueous/alcoholic solutions of polythiophenes, mostly in admixture with a silane-based bonding agent, are deposited on a transparent glass sheet and the solvent is evaporated at room temperature. The dry thickness of the coating is about 0.2 xcexcm. To produce a composite glass sheet, the glass sheet is pressed with a polyvinylbutyral film and a further glass sheet at 145xc2x0 C./10 bar. Heat-absorbing composite glass sheets are known from DE 42 26 757 A1, for instance.
Moreover, DE 41 29 282 A1 discloses that transparent plastics sheets of polycarbonate or polymethyl methacrylate can be coated with polythiophenes for thermal insulation, and can optionally be provided with an acrylate- or polyurethane-based protective coating. This specification gives an example of a polycarbonate to which a solvent-containing primer based on polyvinyl acetate is first applied, followed by drying of the primer and the application of a solvent-containing coating of 3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene and volatilization of the solvent. The polycarbonate film which is coated in this manner exhibits infrared-absorbing properties.
Whilst the production of heat-absorbing composite glass sheets described above has become a process which is commonly used in industry, the corresponding coating of plastics glass sheets has proved to be extraordinarily difficult in practice. In particular, the known substances for the formation of infrared absorbing coatings, such as the material which is marketed for this purpose by Bayer AG under the trade name Baytron(copyright), cannot be satisfactorily applied on plastics as they can on glass. Both the wetting of the plastics surface by the latter material and the adhesion thereof to the plastics surface are poor, and give unsatisfactory results. Even the polyvinyl acetate-based primer which is described in DE 41 29 282 A1 and which is disposed between a plastics sheet and a polythiophene coating has proved to be unsatisfactory for ensuring uniform wetting and durable bonding of the polythiophene compound to the plastics surface.
The underlying object of the present invention is thus to provide forms of application for known substances which absorb infrared light on plastics such as polycarbonates and poly(meth)acrylates.
This object is achieved according to the invention by a transparent plastics molding comprising a polymeric base material (B) and at least one coating which is formed thereon, wherein a primer coat (G) containing an epoxy and/or acrylic resin is disposed on at least one side of the base material (B), on the surface of which primer coat a heat-absorbing coating (Z) is disposed which contains a polythiophene compound, and a scratch-resistant coating (K) is formed over the intermediate coating (Z).
This object is also achieved according to the invention by a transparent plastics molding comprising a polymeric base material (B) and at least one coating formed thereon, characterized in that a heat-absorbing coating (W), which is obtainable by hardening an aqueous dispersion containing an epoxy and/or acrylic resin and a polythiophene compound, is disposed on at least one side of the base material (B), and a scratch-resistant coating (K) is formed over the heat-absorbing coating (W).
Attempts were made to apply Baytron coatings to polycarbonates, using very different primer and outer coatings. However, it became clear that the UV stability and thermal stability of Baytron were unsatisfactory with regard to the aforementioned problems.
It has now been ascertained that heat-absorbing polythiophene compounds can be bonded surprisingly well into acrylic and/or epoxy resin-based systems, and exhibit excellent compatibility therewith. It has also been ascertained that certain scratch-resistant coatings (K), particularly those based on silanes containing polysiloxanes and epoxide groups, are particularly suitable in combination with polythiophene compounds.
In principle, the plastics molding according to the invention may comprise two different types of coating structure. In a first embodiment of the invention, an acrylic and/or epoxy resin-based primer coat (G) is first applied to a plastics substrate (B) and is hardened. Water-based acrylic or epoxy resin systems, i.e. those with little or no solvent content, are preferred in this respect. A heat-absorbing intermediate coating (Z) which contains a polythiophene compound is then applied to said primer coat (G). This coating composition is also present in the form of an aqueous system, i.e. it has little or no solvent content. After drying, a scratch-resistant coating (K) is applied to the heat-absorbing intermediate coating (Z), and protects the underlying coatings, particularly the intermediate coating (Z) which contains the sensitive polythiophene compound, from mechanical damage and UV radiation.
The molding according to the invention which comprises the coating structure described above is distinguished by uniform wettability of the primer coat (G) by the coating composition for the intermediate coating (Z), which contains a polythiophene compound. It is also distinguished by the outstanding adherence of the individual coatings to each other and by its excellent heat-absorbing properties as measured by TSET (Total Solar Energy Transmission).
According to a second embodiment of the invention, the heat-absorbing coating (W) which contains a polythiophene compound is applied directly, i.e. without a prior primer coat, to the plastics substrate (B). For this purpose, a coating composition which contains an epoxy and/or acrylic resin and a polythiophene compound is applied to the plastics substrate (B) and hardened. It is important here that the coating composition is applied as an aqueous system, e.g. as an aqueous dispersion, since it is only in this manner that a uniform distribution of the polythiophene compound in the acrylic or epoxy resin, as well as good wettability, may be attained. The aqueous dispersion should therefore contain as little solvent as possible, preferably none at all. A scratch-resistant coating (K) is subsequently applied to the heat-absorbing coating (W) which is applied and hardened in this manner, in order to protect the underlying coating from mechanical damage and UV radiation.
The molding according to the invention which comprises the coating structure described above is distinguished by outstanding bonding between the plastics substrate (B) and the heat-absorbing coating (W), by a uniform distribution of the polythiophene compound in the heat-absorbing coating (W), and by its outstanding heat-absorbing properties as measured by TSET (Total Solar Energy Transmission).
The individual components which are suitable for producing moldings according to the invention are described in detail below:
Polymeric Base Material (B)
Substances which are particularly suitable as the polymeric base material (B) are thermoplastic materials such as those which are described, for example, in Becker/Braun, Kunststofftaschenbuch, Carl Hanser Verlag, Munich, Vienna, 1992.
A polymeric multi-layer material, e.g. a double-layer body which may be obtained by coextrusion, is particularly suitable as the base material (B).
Transparent thermoplastics are particularly suitable, e.g. those based on polycarbonates, polyester carbonates and/or polymethacrylates. Examples of polycarbonates which are particularly suitable include bisphenol A homopolycarbonate, and copolycarbonates based on bisphenol A and 1,1-bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3,3,5-trimethyl-cyclohexane).
The polymeric base material may exist in the form of sheets, spectacles, optical lenses, automobile window glass and plastics lens covers, for example.
Polycarbonates in the sense of the present invention include both homopolycarbonates and copolycarbonates. The polycarbonates may be linear or branched, in the known manner.
Part of the carbonate groups in the polycarbonates, namely up to 80 mol %, preferably from 20 mol % up to 50 mol %, may be replaced by aromatic dicarboxylic acid ester groups. Polycarbonates of this type, which contain both acid residues of carbonic acid and acid residues of aromatic dicarboxylic acids incorporated in their molecular chain, are polyester carbonates. In the sense of the present invention, these are included under the general term xe2x80x9cpolycarbonatesxe2x80x9d.
Polycarbonates may be produced by known methods. Examples of suitable methods for the production of polycarbonates include the production thereof from bis-phenols and phosgene by the phase boundary method or from bisphenols and phosgene by the homogeneous phase method, which is termed the pyridine method, or from bisphenols and esters of carboxylic acids by the melt esterification method. These methods of production are described, for example, by H. Schnell in xe2x80x9cChemistry and Physics of Polycarbonatesxe2x80x9d, Polymer Reviews, Volume 9, pages 31 to 76, Interscience Publishers, New York, London, Sidney, 1964. The aforementioned methods of production are also described by D. Freitag, U. Grigo, P. R. Mxc3xcller and H. Nouvertne in xe2x80x9cPolycarbonatesxe2x80x9d in the Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Engineering, Volume 11, Second Edition, 1988, pages 648 to 718, and by U. Grigo, K. Kircher and P. R. Mxc3xcller in xe2x80x9cPolycarbonatexe2x80x9d in Becker, Braun, Kunststoff-Handbuch, Volume 3/1, Polycarbonates, Polyacetals, Polyesters, Cellulose Esters, Carl Hanser Verlag, Munich, Vienna 1992, pages 117 to 299.
The melt transesterification method is described in particular by H. Schnell in xe2x80x9cChemistry and Physics of Polycarbonatesxe2x80x9d, Polymer Reviews, Volume 9, pages 44 to 51, Interscience Publishers, New York, London, Sidney, 1964, and is also described in DE 1 031 512 A, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,022,272, 5,340,905 and 5,399,659.
The polycarbonates preferably have weight average molecular weights (Mw)(as determined by measuring the relative viscosity at 25xc2x0 C. in CH2Cl2 at a concentration of 0.5 g per 100 ml CH2Cl2) of 12,000 to 400,000 g/mol, more preferably from 18,000 to 80,000 g/mol, and most preferably from 22,000 to 60,000 g/mol.
IR-absorbing Polythiophenes
Substances which are suitable for infrared absorption according to the invention include, amongst others, the polythiophenes which are known from DE 38 13 589 A1, of general formula
wherein A represents a C1-C4 alkylene radical which is optionally substituted.
Particularly suitable polythiophenes of general formula (I) are those in which A denotes a methylene group which is optionally substituted by alkyl groups or an ethylene-1,2 radical which is optionally substituted by C1 to C12 alkyl groups or by phenyl groups, or a cyclohexylene-1,2 radical, particularly a methylene-ethylene-1,2- or propylene-1,2 radical.
Other compounds which are suitable according to the invention are the soluble salts of polythiophenes which are known from EP 0 440 957 A2 and which are built up from structural units of formula
wherein R1 and R2, independently of each other, denote hydrogen or a C1 to C4 alkyl group and together denote a C1 to C4 alkylene radical which is optionally substituted.
Particularly suitable polythiophenes comprising structural units of general formula (II) are those in which R1 and R2, independently of each other, represent hydrogen or methyl, or together represent a methylene radical which is optionally alkyl-substituted, an ethylene-1,2 radical which is optionally substituted by a C1 to C12 alkyl group or by phenyl, or a cyclohexylene-1,2 radical. 3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene is a most particularly suitable polythiophene compound.
The polythiophene compound is preferably used in the form of an aqueous dispersion, particularly as an aqueous dispersion of polyethylene dioxythiophene (PEDT). Suitable polymers such as polystyrene sulphonate (PSS) may be added in suitable amounts thereto. Dispersions of this type are commercially available under the trademark xe2x80x9cBaytron(copyright)-Pxe2x80x9d of Bayer AG.
As regards other advantageous examples of polythiophene compounds which may be used according to the invention, and the production and characterization thereof, reference is made to DE 38 13 589 A1 and EP 0 440 957 A2, the disclosures of which are expressly referred to here.
Heat-absorbing Intermediate Coating (Z)
The heat-absorbing intermediate coating (Z) is formed by the application and drying of a coating solution or composition containing at least one polythiophene compound of the type described above. Coating solutions and compositions of this type, and the production of coatings therefrom, are described in detail in DE 38 13 589 A1 and in EP 0 440 957 A2, for example.
The heat-absorbing intermediate coatings (Z) which are particularly preferred are those which may be obtained by the application and drying of an aqueous dispersion of polyethylene dioxythiophene (PEDT), particularly in combination with a suitable polymer such as polystyrene sulphonate (PSS). Coating dispersions of this type are commercially available under the trademark xe2x80x9cBaytron(copyright)-Pxe2x80x9d of Bayer AG.
The heat-absorbing intermediate coating (Z) generally has a coating thickness of 0.01 to 1.5 xcexcm, preferably 0.05 to 0.5 xcexcm.
Primer Coat (G)
The primer coat (G) which is used according to the invention contains a hardened epoxy and/or acrylic resin. It preferably has a coating thickness of less than 50 xcexcm, more preferably less than 15 xcexcm, most preferably less than 1 xcexcm.
One preferred primer coat (G) may be obtained by the crosslinking of multi-epoxyfunctional compounds, hereinafter called epoxy compounds, with what are termed hardeners, which are also called hardening agents or crosslinking agents.
These multi-epoxyfunctional compounds and hardeners, as well as the production and use thereof, are described, for example, in: the Kunststoff-Handbuch, Volume 10. xe2x80x9cThermosetting plasticsxe2x80x9d, edited by Prof Dr. Wilbrand Woebcken, Carl Hanser Verlag, 1988, and in the Kunststoff-Handbuch Volume XI, Polyacetals, Epoxy Resins, Fluorine-Containing Polymers, Silicones, etc., edited by Prof. Vieweg, Dr. Reiher and Dr. Scheurlen, Carl Hanser Verlag, Munich, 1971, and in Epoxy Resins, Chemistry and Technology, edited by Clayton A. May and Yoshio Tanaka, Marcel Dekker Inc., New York, 1973, all incorporated by reference herein.
Epoxy compounds may be produced by known methods, such as those described below. They are generally produced by the reaction of epichlorohydrin with substances which contain an active hydrogen atom, according to the following reaction scheme:
or by the direct epoxidation of olefins by peracids:
Details of methods of production, with references to the original literature, may be found in the Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Engineering, 2nd Edition, Volume 6, pages 322 to 382, John Wiley and Sons, or in the Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, Fourth Edition, Volume 9, pages 730 to 755, or in Ullmanns Enzyklopxc3xa4die der technischen Chemie, Third Edition, 8th Volume, pages 431 to 437, Urbane and Schwarzenberg, Munich-Berlin, or in Ullmanns Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, Fifth Edition, Volume A9, pages 531 to 563, VCH Verlagsgesellschaff mbH, D-6940 Weinheim.
Aromatic glycidyl compounds may be used as epoxy compounds.
Examples thereof include:
bisphenol A diglycidyl ethers of the following formula
wherein
n=0 for the pure product,
n=0 to 15 for the industrial product, and
n=approx. 2 or approx. 4 or approx. 12 for what are termed technical advancement products;
tetrabromo-bisphenol A-diglycidyl ether (bromine content of the industrial product approx. 47 to 50% by weight) of the following formula
phenol novolac glycidyl ethers which correspond substantially to the formula
wherein n is between 0.2 and 1.4 in industrial products, cresol novolac glycidyl ethers, which correspond substantially to the following formula
wherein n is between 1.0 and 4.0 in industrial products,
bisphenol-F-diglycidyl ethers (sold as a mixture of isomers) which comprise the following constituents
wherein the sum of the above constituents is 100% by weight;
glyoxal tetraphenol tetraglycidyl ethers of the following idealized formula (by-products are contained therein),
N,N-diglycidylaniline of the following formula
p-aminophenol triglyceride of the following formula
4,4xe2x80x2-diaminodiphenylmethanetetraglyceride of the following formula
Cycloaliphatic glycidyl compounds may also be used as epoxy compounds. Examples thereof include:
tetrahydrophthalic acid diglycidyl esters of the following formula
hexahydrophthalic acid diglycidyl esters of the following formula
hydrogenated bisphenol A-diglycidyl ethers of the following formula
Heterocyclic glycidyl compounds may also be used as epoxy compounds. Examples thereof include:
triglycidyl isocyanurate of the following formula
triglycidyl-bis-hydantoin of the following formula
Cycloaliphatic epoxy compounds which may be employed as starting materials for cycloaliphatic epoxy resins may also be used as epoxy compounds. Examples thereof include:
3,4-epoxycyclohexane-carboxylic acid-3,4xe2x80x2-epoxycyclohexylmethyl esters of the following formula
bis-(3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl) adipate of the following formula
3-(3,4xe2x80x2-epoxycyclohexyl)-2,4-dioxaspiro[5,5]-8,9-epoxyundecane of the following formula
Aliphatic epoxy compounds which may be employed as starting materials for aliphatic epoxy resins may also be used as epoxy compounds. Examples thereof include:
butane-1,4-diol diglycidyl ethers of the following formula
polypropylene glycol-425-diglycidyl ethers of the following formula
wherein n has a value such that the resulting (number average) molecular weight is 425 g/mol.
All the epoxy compounds which may be used according to the invention contain at least two epoxide groups.
Epoxy compounds which are particularly preferred are those which contain no aromatic structures. Cycloaliphatic epoxy compounds which may be employed as starting materials for cycloaliphatic epoxy resins are most particularly preferred. These provide coatings which are particularly stable to UV radiation. The production thereof is described, for example, in the Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Engineering, Volume 6, page 336, John Wiley and Sons, and in U.S. Pat. No. 2,716,123.
Examples of suitable hardeners which may be used include anhydrides such as phthalic anhydride, tetrahydro-, hexahydro-, methyltetrahydro-, endomethylene-tetrahydro- and methylene-domethylene-tetrahydrophthalic anhydride, pyromellitic, trimellitic, benzophenone-tetracarboxylic anhydride, maleic anhydride/styrene copolymers or dodecenylsuccinic anhydride.
Suitable hardeners also include amines such as aromatic amines, cycloaliphatic amines and aliphatic amines, e.g. 4,4xe2x80x2-diamino-diphenylmethane and o,oxe2x80x2-alkyl-substituted derivatives thereof, 4,4xe2x80x2-diaminodiphenyl ethers, 4,4xe2x80x2-diaminodiphenyl sulphone, 2,4-diamino-3,5-diethyltoluene, hydrogenated 4,4xe2x80x2-diaminodiphenyl-methane, isophoron-ediamine, diethylenetriamine, triethylenetetramine, polyamino-amides based on diethylenetriamine or similar amines, and fatty acids.
The hardener and the epoxy compounds may be used as aqueous dispersions or in organic solvents, for example. The preferred organic solvents are alcohols, particularly isopropanol, ethanol, isopropyl glycol, butyl glycol, 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-pentanone or mixtures thereof. 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-pentanone is most particularly preferred.
In this respect, it has proved advantageous as regards ease of handling to use products which are already partially crosslinked. This means that the epoxy compound has already been reacted with a proportion of the hardener and the hardener has already been reacted with a proportion of the epoxy compound. Final hardening is then effected by mixing the two components at an elevated temperature.
Hardeners and partially crosslinked epoxy compounds are marketed, for example, by Ciba Spezialitxc3xa4tenchemie GmbH, D-79664 Wehr, Germany, under the trademark Araldite(copyright) and hardeners, as two-component system for coating very different substrates.
In addition, chain extension components (preferably phenols), polymerization initiators, polyaddition catalysts, plasticizers and impact-resistance modifiers, such as those which are known from the cited literature, may additionally be used in the primer coat (G).
Furthermore, the primer coat (G) may contain customary additives such as colorants, leveling agents, reactive thinners, inorganic or organic extenders and stabilizers, particularly UV stabilizer systems, and infrared absorbers.
In order to apply the primer coat (G) to the substrate in question, the surface of the substrate is usually cleaned first. For plastics components, it has proved useful to wash the substrate surface with ethanol or isopropanol or to clean it in warm water containing a surfactant, in an ultrasonic bath.
After blow-drying with deionized air (to prevent the electrostatic attraction of dust; see Brock, Thomas: Lehrbuch der Lacktechnologie, Vincentz Verlag, Hannover 1998), the diluted single component composition, which contains epoxy compounds and hardeners, is applied to the substrate by immersion, inundation, spraying, spin-coating or by other lacquer-coating techniques. The primer coat (G) is thus formed.
The coating thickness is controlled via the extent of dilution (preferably 2 to 35% by weight solids content) and by the coating parameters. The primer coat (G) is preferably allowed to dry at room temperature (20 to 23xc2x0 C.) until it is dust-dry. Final crosslinking is subsequently effected at an elevated temperature, preferably at 90 to 130xc2x0 C.
Primer coats (G) based on acrylic resins may also be used according to the invention.
Particularly suitable acrylic resin-based primer coats are described in DE 30 14 772 A1. These are formed by the application and hardening of an aqueous emulsion containing a thermosetting acrylic polymer and a hydroxyether or alkanol comprising 1 to 4 carbon atoms. Whereas the primer coats described in the above patent have to contain a UV absorber such as benzylidene malonate or cyanoacrylate, this component is in fact recommended, but is not absolutely necessary, in the acrylate-based primer coat which is used according to the present invention.
One acrylate-based primer which is preferably used according to the invention generally contains from about 1 to about 10% by weight of thermosetting acrylic solids, from about 0 to about 10% by weight of at least one compound which absorbs compound which absorbs UV light from the group comprising benzylidene malonate and cyanoacrylate, from about 20 to about 40% by weight of a hydroxyether or alkanol comprising 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and from about 40 to about 79% by weight of water. The thermosetting acrylic solids are placed in a vessel in the form of a concentrated emulsion of a thermosetting acrylic polymer. This thermosetting acrylic polymer emulsion concentrate contains a thermosetting acrylic polymer dispersed in water. The polymer is generally dispersed in water in the form of discrete spherical particles (of about 0.1 xcexcm diameter).
Thermosetting acrylic polymers are known to those skilled in the art. Examples of thermosetting acrylic materials which may be used for carrying out the invention in practice are listed in the Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Technology, Volume 1, Interscience Publishers, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1964, pages 273 et seq., in The Chemistry of Organic Film Formers, D. H. Solomon, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1967, pages 251 et seq., and in the literature references cited therein.
These thermosetting acrylic polymers comprise (1) acrylic copolymers which contain reactive functional groups which are capable of reacting with each other with crosslinking, (II) acrylic copolymers which contain reactive functional groups and to which a suitable, compatible, crosslinking agent is added which reacts with the functional groups with crosslinking, and (III) a mixture of two polymers which contain functional reactive groups which are capable of crosslinking.
The reactions involved in the crosslinking of thermosetting are typically those between, for example, functional epoxide groups and amino groups, epoxide groups and anhydride groups, epoxide groups and carboxyl groups, including phenolic hydroxyl groups, epoxide groups and N-methylol or N-methylol ethers, carboxyl groups and N-methylol- or N-methylol ether groups with interaction between the carboxyl and isocyanate groups; reactions between hydroxyl groups, e.g. of polyols, and isocyanate groups, and reactions between amino groups and N-methylol- or N-methylol ether groups. In the usual situation where resin mixtures are used, the acrylic fraction is the major constituent, i.e. it is present at a content of more than 50% by weight, and is typically present in an amount greater than about 70%. The requisite functional group in the acrylic polymers, which is the basis of thermosetting acrylic polymers, is introduced by using a monomer which introduces the necessary reactive functional group into the polymer chain during copolymerization. This copolymerizable monomer, which provides a functional group, is usually present in small amounts, i.e. of the order of 25% by weight or less, and is typically present in an amount between about 1 and 20% of the weight of monomer which is polymerized. Examples of monomers which introduce the requisite functional groups include glycidyl acrylate, glycidyl methacrylate, allyl glycidyl ether, dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, vinylpyridine, tert.-butyl-aminoethyl methacrylate, maleic anhydride, itaconic anhydride, allyl alcohol, monoallyl ethers of polyols, hydroxyethyl methacrylate, hydroxypropyl methacrylate, hydroxypropyl acrylate, acrylamide, methacrylamide, maleamide, N-methylolmethacrylamide, vinyl isocyanate and allyl isocyanate. The other monomer, which polymerizes together with the monomers which provide the functional group, is a low molecular weight (C1 to C2) alkyl ester of acrylic acid or mixtures thereof, e.g. methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate or mixtures thereof, in an amount within the range between about 75 and about 99 parts, typically between about 80 and about 97 parts.
The thermosetting acrylic polymer emulsion concentrates which may generally be used for carrying out the present invention in practice are usually commercially available. In general, these emulsion concentrates contain from about 40 to about 55% solids. With regard to the composition of the primer emulsion medium, however, it has proved to be desirable for the primer emulsion medium to contain from about 1 to about 10% by weight acrylic solids. Thus it is generally necessary to dilute these commercially available emulsion media by adding additional water. Moreover, these primer emulsion media may contain hardening catalysts for the thermosetting acrylic polymers. If a catalyst such as this is present, it is contained in an amount of 0.05 to 2% by weight with respect to the weight of the acrylic solids. Examples of catalysts such as these include toluenesulphonic acid, citric acid, phosphoric acid, etc.
A second component of the primer emulsion medium is a hydroxyether or an alkanol comprising 1 to 4 carbon atoms. The hydroxyethers may be represented by the general formula
R1xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94R2xe2x80x94OH
wherein R1 is an alkyl or an alkoxyalkyl radical containing from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms and R is an alkylene radical containing from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, with the proviso that the sum of the carbon atoms in R1 and R2 ranges from 3 to about 10. The alkanols which contain from 1 to 4 carbon atoms comprise methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol, tert.-butanol and the like.
The presence of the aforementioned hydroxyether or alkanol in amounts ranging from about 20 to about 40% by weight of the primer emulsion medium is critical for the satisfactory performance of the primer emulsion medium in order to form an effective primer coat.
Moreover, the concentration of the acrylic polymer solids in the primer emulsion medium is generally quite important. Primer emulsion media which contain from about 2 to about 6% by weight of thermosetting acrylic polymer are preferred.
Benzylidene malonate and xcex1-cyanoacrylate may be used, amongst others, as compounds which absorb UV light.
To produce the primer coat (G), a thin coating of the primer medium is applied to the substrate by any of the well known methods, such as spraying, immersion, roller coating and the like. In general, the primer medium is applied in an amount which is sufficient to provide a hardened primer film with a thickness from about 0.254 to about 2.54 xcexcm, preferably from about 0.51 to 2.03 xcexcm. The bulk of the water and of the hydroxyether or alkanol is then removed by evaporation, e.g. by air drying or by gentle warming, in order to leave behind a uniform solid coating of thermosetting acrylic polymer and optionally of the compound which absorbs UV light. The thermosetting acrylic polymer is then hardened by heating the solid coating to a temperature from about 90 to about 130xc2x0 C., whereby a primer coat is formed which preferably contains, in percentages by weight, from about 10 to about 90%, most preferably from about 50 to about 70%, of a thermally hardened acrylic resin and preferably from about 10 to about 90%, most preferably from about 30 to about 50%, of at least one compound which absorbs UV light.
The production of the primer coat thus involves (I) the application, to a substrate, of a primer emulsion medium which, in percentages by weight, contains (a) from about 1 to about 10% of a thermosetting acrylic polymer, (b) from 0 to about 10% of at least one compound which absorbs UV light, which is selected from the group comprising benzylidene malonate and cyanoacrylate, (c) from about 20 to about 40% of a hydroxyether or of an alkanol comprising 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and (d) from about 40 to about 79% water, (II) the evaporation of a considerable proportion of the water and hydroxyether or alkanol from the primer emulsion medium with the formation of a solid coating comprising the thermosetting acrylic polymer and optionally the compound(s) which absorbs/absorb UV light, and (III) heating the thermosetting acrylic primer coating.
Heat-absorbing Coating (W)
The heat-absorbing coating (W) may be obtained by the application and hardening of an aqueous dispersion containing an epoxy and/or acrylic resin and a polythiophene compound. Epoxy and acrylic resins which are particularly suitable include the epoxy and/or acrylic resins which may be used in the primer coating (G) and which were described above. The polythiophene compounds described above are particularly suitable as polythiophene compounds. According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, an aqueous dispersion of polyethylene dioxythiophene (PEDT) is used as the polythiophene compound; suitable polymers such as polystyrene sulphonate (PSS) may be added thereto according to need.
The coating composition for the heat-absorbing coating (W) preferably contains from 2 to 35% by weight, particularly 3 to 10% by weight, of an acrylic and/or epoxy resin, from 0.5 to 5% by weight, particularly 1 to 2% by weight, of a polythiophene compound, and from 97 to 60% by weight, particularly 96 to 70% by weight, of water.
The coating composition may be produced by the method described for the primer coat (G), wherein the polythiophene compound may be added to the other components in an arbitrary manner and sequence. The application and hardening of the heat-absorbing coating (W) may also be effected in the manner described for the primer coating (G).
The hardened heat-absorbing coating (W) generally has a coating thickness from 0.2 to 2.5 xcexcm, preferably from 0.5 to 2.0 xcexcm.
Scratch-resistant Coating (K)
All polymeric materials which, due to their hardness, are capable of protecting the underlying coatings from mechanical damage are suitable as a scratch-resistant coating (K). Substances which are particularly suitable for this purpose include soluble, crosslinking or thermoplastic lacquers, e.g. acrylate-, polyurethane- or polysiloxane-based lacquers, nano lacquers, and products which may be crosslinked by UV or by an electron beam.
Examples of particularly suitable scratch-resistant coatings (K) are those described in WO 99/10441 and WO 99/11725; these are scratch-resistant coatings based on silanes which contain epoxide groups.
The latter may be obtained, for instance, by the application and hardening of a coating composition containing
at least one silicon compound (A) which comprises at least one radical which contains an epoxide group and which cannot be cleaved by hydrolysis,
a particulate material (B) which is selected from oxides, hydrated oxides, nitrides and carbides of Si, Al and B and of transition metals and which has a particle size within the range from 1 to 100 nm,
a compound (C) of Si, Ti, Zr, B, Sn or V, and
at least one hydrolyzable compound (D) of Ti, Zr or Al.
The individual components of the aforementioned composition are preferably present in the following ratio:
Moreover, the aforementioned individual components are most preferably present in the following ratio:
In particular, compound (A) is a compound of general formula R3SiRxe2x80x2, wherein the R radicals are identical or different and represent a group which may be hydrolyzed, preferably a C1-4 alkoxy group, and Rxe2x80x2 represents a glycidyl or a glycidyloxy-(C1-20) alkylene radical.
In particular, compound (B) is an oxide or a hydrated oxide of aluminum.
In particular, compound (C) is a compound of general formula SiR4, wherein the R radicals are identical or different and represent a group which may be hydrolyzed, preferably a C1-4 alkoxy group.
In particular, compound (D) is a compound of formula AlR3, wherein the R radicals are identical or different and represent a group which may be hydrolyzed, preferably a C1-6 alkoxy group, a C1-6 alkoxypropanolate group or a C1-6 alkoxyethanolate group.
With regard to the production, characterization and most preferred examples of scratch-resistant coatings based on silanes containing epoxide groups, reference is made to the detailed disclosures of WO 99/19441 and WO 99/11725.
The scratch-resistant coating (K) which is based on silanes which contain epoxides is preferably applied to an acrylic resin- or epoxy resin-based thermally insulating coating (W), or to a polythiophene intermediate coating (Z) which adheres to an acrylic resin- or epoxy resin-based primer coat (G). Optimum bonding-in of the polythiophene compound is thereby achieved. According to one particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, a scratch-resistant coating (K) which is based on silanes which contain epoxide groups is applied to an epoxy resin-based thermally insulating coating (W) described above, or is applied to a polythiophene intermediate coating (Z) which adheres to an epoxy resin-based primer coat (G).
Examples of other particularly suitable scratch-resistant coatings are the polysiloxane-based scratch-resistant coatings which are described in EP 0 350 698 A2.
The latter scratch-resistant coatings are obtained by the application and hardening of a hardenable coating composition, containing
(A) a dispersion of (I) silica gel, (II) at least one alkyltrialkoxysilane, particularly a trialkoxysilane of general formula Rxe2x80x2Si(ORxe2x80x3)3, wherein Rxe2x80x2 is an alkyl radical containing from about 1 to 3 carbon atoms and Rxe2x80x3 is an alkyl radical containing from about 1 to 8 carbon atoms, and any reaction products of (I) and (II) in admixture with water and at least one organic solvent, and
(B) an effective amount, particularly from about 0.1 to 1.0% by weight with respect to the dry weight of the coating, of a tetrabutylammonium carboxylate hardening catalyst of general formula
(C4H9)4N+xe2x88x92Oxe2x80x94C(xe2x95x90O)R,
wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl groups which contain from about 1 to 8 carbon atoms, and aromatic groups which contain from about 6 to 20 carbon atoms.
With regard to the production, characterization and to some preferred examples of polysiloxane-based scratch-resistant coatings, reference is made to the detailed disclosure of EP 0 350 698 A2.
The polysiloxane-based scratch-resistant coating (K) is preferably applied to an acrylic resin-based thermally insulating coating (W), or to a polythiophene intermediate coating (Z) which adheres to an acrylic resin-based primer coat (G). The optimum bonding-in of the polythiophene compound is thereby achieved. According to one particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the polysiloxane-based scratch-resistant coating (K) is applied to an acrylic resin-based thermally insulating coating (W) according to DE 30 14 772 A1, or is applied to a polythiophene intermediate coating (Z) which adheres to an acrylic resin-based primer coat (G) according to DE 30 14 772 A1.
The scratch-resistant coatings (K) may also contain customary additives, such as colorants, leveling agents, UV stabilizers, photo-initiators, photo-sensitizers (if it is intended to harden the composition photochemically) and thermal polymerization catalysts.
The scratch-resistant coating (K) preferably contains one or more UV absorbers, in order to protect the polythiophene compound contained in the underlying coating from decomposition by UV radiation.
Application to the substrate is effected by standard methods of coating, such as immersion, painting, brushing, application by doctor blade, rolling, spraying, falling film application, spin coating and centrifugal application.
The coated substrate is hardened, optionally after a prior preliminary drying step at room temperature. Hardening is preferably effected thermally at temperatures within the range from 50 to 300xc2x0 C., particularly from 70 to 200xc2x0 C. and most preferably from 90 to 180xc2x0 C., optionally under reduced pressure. Under these conditions the time of hardening is preferably less than 200 minutes, more preferably less than 100 minutes and most preferably less than 60 minutes. The coating thickness of the hardened coating preferably ranges from 0.5 to 100 xcexcm, more preferably from 1 to 20 xcexcm and most preferably from 2 to 10 xcexcm.
If unsaturated compounds and photo-initiators are present, hardening may also be effected by irradiation, optionally followed by thermal post-hardening.
The invention is described in greater detail below with reference to examples thereof.

Transparent plastics molding composition


A problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an episulfide compound efficiently from an epoxy compound with no need of a measure against odor or corrosion, or a neutralization step. The present invention solved the above-described problem by a method for producing an episulfide compound in which an epoxy compound and a thiourea are reacted with each other in the presence of an ammonium compound.

Plastic materials are lightweight, highly tough and easy to be dyed, and therefore are widely used recently for various types of optical materials, especially eyeglass lenses. Optical materials, especially eyeglass lenses, are specifically required to have, as physical properties, low specific gravity, high transparency and low yellow index, high heat resistance, high strength and the like, and as optical properties, high refractive index and high Abbe number. A high refractive index allows a lens to be thinner, and a high Abbe number reduces the chromatic aberration of a lens. However, as the refractive index is increased, the Abbe number is decreased. Thus, it has been studied to improve both of the refractive index and the Abbe number. Among methods which have been proposed, a representative method uses an episulfide compound as described in Patent Documents 1 through 3.
However, an episulfide compound found in these patent documents is likely to generate an oligomer or a polymer depending on the reaction conditions, and as a result, the reaction yield is reduced. Therefore, optimization of the reaction conditions for producing an episulfide compound has been desired.
Regarding the reaction conditions for episulfidation, Patent Document 4 proposes a technique of allowing a reaction to proceed in a mixture solvent of a polar organic solvent and a non-polar organic solvent in the presence of an acid and/or an acid anhydride.
Patent Document 5 proposes a method of using only a polar solvent as a reaction solvent, and Patent Document 6 proposes a method of generating an isothiuronium salt as an intermediate substance in the presence of an acid. These methods both result in a low yield and are not practically usable. In addition, these methods require a large amount of acid and also a base for hydrolysis, and therefore require many steps and thus are disadvantageous also in the aspect of cost.
Patent Document 7 proposes a method of forming an epoxy compound into a corresponding isothiuronium salt and then performing hydrolysis thereon by use of ammonia or an ammonium salt. However, this method also requires a large amount of acid for generating the isothiuronium salt and a large amount of ammonia or ammonium salt for performing hydrolysis thereon. This complicates the production process, which is disadvantageous in the aspect of cost. In addition, since there is no description on the yield, it is not clear whether the method is practically usable or not.
As described above, for producing an episulfide compound, methods of adding an acid have been proposed. However, the methods described in these documents have been desired to be improved for the reasons that the acids used in these document mostly accompany a bad odor and thus require a measure against the odor, that the methods require a measure against corrosion, and that the methods may occasionally require a large amount of base for neutralization.

Method for producing episulfide compound


A clutchable pry bar includes a bar member with a fitting connector; a rack member fitted with the fitting connector of the bar member, including two slots adjacent to a closed end of the rack member, and including two through holes proximate to an opened end of the rack member; a ratchet shaft inserted to the through hole of the rack member, and including a first end portion disposed on one end thereof; at least one ratchet member fitted to the ratchet shaft, a plate member movably fixed to the slots of the rack member, a returning spring between pegs of the plate member and a central extension of the bar member; a stem member to be retained with the ratchet shaft after the stem member is inserted to a radial bore of the ratchet shaft.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a clutchable pry bar used in winch.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional winch A includes a rotary shaft A2 with a plurality of slots A1 inserted to a U-shaped frame A3, and one end of the rotary shaft A2 is used to extends out of a head member A4 to be used to insert a pry bar B so as to be rotated, and the rotary shaft A2 includes a ratchet member 5 and a paw member (not shown) disposed on another end thereof to prevent the rotary shaft A2 from being released after being rotated tightly, thus banding objects securely. However, in operation, when rotating the pry bar once more, the pry bar B has to be pulled out to be inserted to another hole A6, having a repeated operation time-consumlingly.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and or obviate the afore-described disadvantages.


The present invention provides a cylindrical magnetic levitation stage which includes a cylindrical substrate used to form micro-patterns of various arbitrary shapes on a large-area semiconductor substrate or display panel substrate, a cylindrical substrate, a combination of a first permanent magnet array and a first coil array and a combination of a first permanent magnet array and a first coil array, which are coupled to the cylindrical substrate, so that levitation, axial translation and rotation of the cylindrical substrate can be made finely through the control of a magnetic force generated by the interaction between a magnetic field generated by electric current applied to the coil arrays and a magnetic field generated from the permanent magnet arrays corresponding to the coil arrays.

In a lithography process as one of manufacture processes of devices such as semi-conductor devices, liquid crystal display (LCD) panel and the like, the exposure apparatus is used to transcribe pattern images on a wafer or a glass plate as a substrate applied with a photoresist.
A photolithography as a kind of photo-micromachining technique which forms a micro-pattern on a desired portion of the wafer substrate using a light source refers to a process in which light is passed through a mask having a circuit pattern which it is desired to form on the wafer, and geometric patterns on the mask is transferred to a light-sensitive chemical, i.e., the photoresist.
Conventionally, since an exposure substrate is formed of a flat plate type such as a wafer or a glass plate, a planar-type stage corresponding to the size of the wafer or glass plate is required to perform an exposure work on a large-area substrate. However, a high-precision exposure apparatus is required along with micronization of a circuit pattern due to a trend toward miniaturization and large-capacitance. Thus, a conventional planar-type stage encounters a limitation in coping with such a trend.
Particularly, in the case where the exposure work should be carried out in a vacuum environment, a stage for translation of the wafer or the glass plate should be also applied to the vacuum environment. However, since most of stages for use in the vacuum environment use a contact-type mechanical bearing, there is a limitation in making high precision of the exposure apparatus possible due to friction. In addition, even a non-contact type air levitation bearing applicable to the vacuum environment entails a problem in that it can be applied to only a low-vacuum environment.

Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute


A locking arrangement for a container that has a lid pivotally attached with a base includes a flap that is pivotally attached at a first end thereof to the lid at a peripheral edge of the lid. The flap has a tab projecting laterally away from a second end of the flap. A frangible portion of the lid is defined by a perforation that terminates to encompass the first end of the flap. A slot is formed through an upwardly-projecting peripheral wall of a base of the container. As such, with the lid of the container moving towards a closed position, and with the tab in a folded position, the flap and tab are inserted through the slot of the peripheral wall of the base, thereafter as the tab clears the slot the resilient material urges the tab into an expanded position to lock the container.

Food delivery has become widely popular not only in the United States, but also globally in industrialized nations. The convenience of a pizza or other meal being delivered at home or at an office, however, is offset by the risks of releasing a food delivery to a delivery person, and thereby losing chain of custody. When the consumer receives his food, currently there is no easy way of determining if the food was tasted, picked at, or touched by the delivery person. This is true whether or not the delivery person is an employee of the food supplier. With the advent of third-party delivery services such as Uber Eats, Grubhub, and the like, there is an even greater need to seal food containers in a tamper-evident manner so that the consumer can easily determine if his food has been tampered with.
Simply taping the food container shut with adhesive tape or stickers is ineffective since hot containers often allow the tape adhesive to be easily released, particularly if steam is generated by hot food items within the container. Further, tape may be misapplied or ill-applied by a restaurant worker, as there is no guarantee that the tape has stuck properly to the container other than by attempting to open the container manually and continuing to press the tape against the container to ensure the adhesive has properly bonded to the container, which is time consuming.
Wrapping food containers in a bag and stapling the bag shut is a solution that can be overcome quickly by deliver people who carry a spare stapler in their delivery vehicle. Heat sealing the bag is time consuming, requires bags that are heat-sealable, and also requires equipment at the restaurant for sealing the bag, all of which make this a costly option.
Therefore, there is a need for a pizza box or other food container that can be quickly locked in a tamper-evident fashion. Such a needed invention would allow the user to simply fold a locking element that is formed with the lid of the container through a front or side slot of the container to seal the container, and would require the container to be torn or broken in an evident manner to be opened. Such a needed invention would be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, intuitive to use, and provide a visual confirmation that the container is locked, has never been locked, or was locked and then opened. Further, such a needed invention would inhibit any pieces of the container from becoming separated from the container. The present invention accomplishes these objectives.


A special effect device by which an entirely new special picture effect is to be implemented in accordance with a read address control system. The device includes an address signal generating unit 3 which generates a readout address signal for picture signals stored in a frame buffer 2, so that, by flipping a picture, ruptured with an optional position of a picture, corresponding to the picture signals stored in the frame buffer 2, as a rupture point, for extending along a curve formed by an arc of a circle of a radius of an optional size, defined on a second virtual plane perpendicular to a first virtual plane to which belongs the picture, and by moving, after the picture corresponding to the rupture point has reached a height of the diameter of the circle on the second virtual plane, the picture corresponding to the rupture point along a plane parallel to the first virtual plane, such a special effect will be obtained in which the picture on the first virtual plane is peeled off sequentially radially along the arc, about the optional position as center, so as to disappear to outside a display area.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a special picture effect and, more particularly, to a special effect device for executing the special picture effect using a read address control system. This invention also relates to an address signal generating device, an address signal generating method and an address signal generating program.
This application claims priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-102350 filed in Japan on Apr. 4, 2003, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.
2. Description of Related Art
A read address control system, in which a special picture effect is applied to picture signals stored in a frame memory by converting the readout address (address at the time of readout) and reading out the resulting address to apply a special picture effect to the picture signals, has been devised and put to practical use (see for example the Japanese Laying-Open Patent Publication H10-145672).
This read address control system has been devised and put to practical use only with respect to an extremely simple special picture effect, such as enlargement, contraction, rotation or displacement of pictures.

Special effect device, address signal generating device, address signal generating method and address signal generating program


The present invention generally is concerned with the modification of plant lipids containing PUFAs. In this context, the invention is particularly concerned with plants and plant materials for such modifications, wherein the plants preferably are oilseed plants. Regarding plant parts, the invention is particularly concerned with seeds of such plants and preferably seeds of oilseed plants. The invention is also concerned with plant positions obtainable or obtained by the modification method of the invention, and with full stuff of feedstuff comprising such liquid compositions.

It is generally recognised that polyunsaturated fatty acids ("PUFAs") convey health benefits. In this context, EPA and DHA are particularly coveted; they are used as dietary supplements for example to alleviate cardiovascular or neurological pathological conditions or ailments. Polyunsaturated fatty acids are currently predominantly obtained from fish oils, because wild-type plants lack the required enzymes to produce polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly EPA and DHA, in sufficient quantities. Efforts have been made to produce polyunsaturated fatty acids in plants and particularly in oilseed plants.
The production of EPA and DHA is a metabolic pathway wherein fatty acids are treated by desaturases and elongases to produce ever longer and more unsaturated fatty acids. A depiction of the pathway can be found in WO 2006/012325, FIG. 9, and WO 2005/083093, FIG. 1. The desaturases and elongases involved in the pathway generally react both on omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. One intermediate in the production of EPA and DHA generally is arachidonic acid. This polyunsaturated fatty acid is generally undesirable in dietary compositions, foodstuff and feedstuff due to its involvement in inflammatory processes. Thus, it is generally desired to obtain compositions with a high content of EPA and/or DHA and a low content of arachidonic acid. However, as arachidonic acid is a metabolit in the production of DHA and because arachidonic acid can be converted by omega-3 desaturases to and from EPA, it is generally not possible to avoid concomitant production of arachidonic acid in transgenic plant metabolism.
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide materials and methods for reducing the content of arachidonic acid in lipid compositions containing EPA and/or DHA. In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide materials and methods for reducing the content of arachidonic acid in plant lipid compositions, preferably in lipid compositions obtainable or obtained from oilseed plants.

Modification of plant lipids containing PUFAs


An apparatus is provided for conditioning a fabric being advanced in a machine direction in a papermaking machine. The fabric has an outer side adapted to engage a paper web and an opposing inner side. Such an apparatus comprises a fluid-emitting device configured to wet the fabric with a fluid so as to clean the fabric. An arcuate member disposed downstream of the fluid-emitting device is configured to engage the outer side of the fabric. More particularly, the arcuate member is configured to have the fabric wrapped at least partially thereabout such that the advancing fabric is centrifugally dewatered. Associated systems and methods are also provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to papermaking machines and, more specifically, to an apparatus for conditioning a fabric and associated system and method.
2. Description of Related Art
A through-air drying (TAD) fabric is typically an open-weave fabric configured to receive a relatively wet paper web and to transport the web to one or more drying devices, such as a through-air dryer, for the drying device to interact with the fabric and the web to form a relatively dry paper web. The web is then separated from the fabric downstream of the drying device and advanced to subsequent processes. However, the paper web may undesirably leave residue on the fabric after being separated therefrom. Since the fabric is typically configured as a loop, the residue must be removed from the fabric, before the fabric advances back to the point at which the web is received by the fabric, in order to, for example, avoid contamination of the paper web. In addition, the residue on the fabric may also reduce the permeability thereof and may adversely affect drying performance, resulting in "wet spots" in the web as the web exits the drying device(s). In light of this requirement, the fabric is usually cleaned with water and then dewatered, in a collective process known as conditioning, when the fabric is not carrying the web.
In one known conditioning method, characterized as a horizontal conditioning configuration as shown in FIG. 1, the fabric 5 enters the conditioning section 10 and wraps about an inlet roll 15. The fabric 5 includes an outer or sheet side 5A for carrying the web, and an opposing inner side 5B. At the upstream side of the inlet roll 15, the fabric 5 is subjected to cleaning fluid, such as water, from a flooded nip shower 20. As the fabric 5 further advances about the inlet roll 15, the fabric 5 may also be subjected to cleaning fluid from one or more fan or needle showers 25, 30, 35 that may direct the cleaning fluid at the fabric 5 at different angles and toward one or both sides of the fabric 5. A variety of shower types and shower positions may be implemented depending on process requirements. A vacuum box 40 is disposed downstream of the showers for removing excess cleaning fluid from the fabric 5, in a process referred to as dewatering. In some instances, other devices, such as an air knife or another vacuum device, may be used in the alternative or in addition to the vacuum box 40 for dewatering the fabric 5. As such, according to this method, the fabric 5 is directed to run in a generally horizontal orientation to the inlet roll 15 and, after advancing over the inlet roll 15, in the opposite direction in a generally horizontal orientation to pass the showers and the vacuum box 40. Thereafter, the fabric 5 is advanced about an exit roll 45 so as to direct the fabric 5 back toward the point at which the web is received and, as a result, is generally directed under the showers dispensing the cleaning fluid and the drainage system for collecting the excess cleaning fluid as well as the cleaning fluid dewatered from the fabric 5.
In another known conditioning method, characterized as a vertical conditioning configuration as shown in FIG. 2, the fabric 5 is advanced over the inlet roll 15 and then advanced downward in a generally vertical direction. A flooded nip shower 20 is directed at the fabric 5 and disposed at the upstream side of the inlet roll 15. On the downward run, the fabric 5 is subjected to one or more showers, wherein, as before, various shower types and shower positions may be implemented depending on process requirements. Following the showers, the fabric 5 is subject to one or more dewatering devices, such as a vacuum box 40 or air knife. The fabric 5 is then directed about an exit roll 45 and otherwise redirected back to the point at which the web is received.
The known conditioning methods, however, may have characteristics that can have an adverse effect on the papermaking process. For example, the water or cleaning fluid emitted by the showers in spray or solid stream form tends to bypass the vacuum box or other dewatering device and undesirably rewet the fabric before exiting the conditioning section. In order to address this rewetting problem, elaborate and often expensive sealing methods may be employed. However, these sealing methods are often ineffective and may require extensive maintenance. Further, since no removal of the cleaning fluid from the fabric, other than by limited drainage due to gravity, is performed before fabric is subjected to dewatering by the vacuum box or other dewatering device, the fabric typically arrives at the vacuum box in a very wet condition. As such, in order for the vacuum box to effectively remove the sufficient and/or desired amount of water from the fabric, the vacuum box must generally be operated at a high level, which may cause an undesirably high level of power consumption.
In some instances, where the fabric comprises a through-air drying (TAD) fabric, the outer side of the TAD fabric may be sanded or otherwise processed (such as by hot calendering) in order to achieve a desired contact area between the web formed thereon and downstream processes. Sanding of the TAD fabric provides for particular contact characteristics between the fabric and the web, as well as between the web and downstream processes. For example, the fabric may be sanded to achieve about a 20% contact area between the web and the cylinder of a Yankee dryer, as the web is transferred thereto from the drying fabric. As such, the condition of the sanded surface of the fabric may affect some parameters, such as the style or weave pattern imparted to the web, the coarseness of the web, or the contact area between the web and the cylinder of a Yankee dryer, and thereby affect the properties of the web. In such instances of a sanded fabric surface, contact between the sanded outer side of the advancing fabric and certain stationary elements may cause wear to the sanded outer side and, as a result, may adversely increase the contact area of the fabric and thereby detrimentally affect the applicable process parameters. In this regard, the known conditioning methods illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 both indicate that the vacuum box used for dewatering the fabric is configured to interact with the sheet or outer side of the fabric that may be sanded.
In the event of operational problems within the drying section, including a Yankee dryer, if provided, there may be instances in which the web may not be removed or separated from the fabric prior to the fabric entering the conditioning section. As a result, a full width sheet of the web may sometimes inadvertently enter the conditioning section. Where the dryer comprises a through-air dryer (TAD), the drying conditions of the TAD tend to cure a high wet strength resin to a greater extent than other drying methods and, as such, a high wet strength resin may be difficult to dissolve under the conditions present in the conditioning section. In addition, some of the liquid extracted from the web/fabric by the molding box and/or transfer device may also tend to include such a high wet strength resin, which may further tend to remain with or adhere to the fabric during the drying process. Accordingly, a conditioning section should desirably be configured to allow ready access for removing any portions of the paper web, or associated fines or chemicals, that are not removed from the fabric in normal operating conditions. The conditioning section should also be configured to facilitate periodic maintenance, as well as fabric changing procedures.
Thus, with respect to a conditioning section in a drying section of a papermaking machine, there exists a need for a fabric-conditioning apparatus and method that reduces or eliminates rewetting of the fabric exiting the conditioning process. Such a solution should desirably be accomplished without requiring elaborate and expensive sealing provisions. The conditioning apparatus and method should also desirably reduce or eliminate contact between outer side of the fabric and stationary elements. There also exists a need for an effective dewatering process with reduced energy consumption.

Apparatus for conditioning a fabric in a papermaking machine and associated method


An inking unit for printing presses, preferably offset printing presses, can have a plurality of plate-inking rollers for inking a plate cylinder along with a multiplicity of inking rollers. The inking rollers can be positioned to supply ink flow, in at least two directions to the plate-inking rollers. The inking rollers and the plate-inking rollers can then form a closed chain of rollers, and can enclose a space therebetween. A measuring device can be provided to monitor the temperature of the air within this space, with measured values being used for control of the temperature of the inking unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an inking unit for printing presses, and preferably offset printing presses. Such printing presses typically can have a plurality of inking rollers for supplying ink to a plurality of plate-inking rollers that ink a plate on a plate cylinder. The inking rollers are generally positioned before the plate-inking rollers and supply the ink to the plate-inking rollers. The inking rollers can also be arranged so that the ink flow provided by the inking rollers is split into two directions of supply. With such a configuration, the inking rollers can, together with the plate-inking rollers, form a closed chain of rollers that enclose a space therebetween.
2. Background Information
In high-speed printing presses, the inking unit can heat up significantly during production printing of a large number of copies. As the inking unit heats up, the viscosity of the ink can be changed as a result of the fluctuations in the temperature. German Patent No. 19 53 590 A1, which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 3,741,115, describes an inking unit that is temperature-regulated by means of regulation of the temperature of the damping solution. This German reference utilizes a generally well-known cooling device, which is controlled through the intermediary of a temperature sensor.
In another method of controlling the temperature of an inking unit, disclosed in German Patent No. 27 59 351 C2, apparatus is provided for controlling the temperature of the printing ink. Such a device can be used in order to prevent inking fluctuations in the inking unit of the printing press.
However, the temperature sensors provided in the known apparatuses are generally provided either in the coolant circuit or directly on the ink tank itself. As such, the measured temperature values provided by such known arrangements do not directly indicate the temperature values existing in the inking unit itself. Since the inking unit provides the ink distribution necessary to provide high quality prints, any temperature fluctuations in the unit itself could adversely affect the print quality, unless such changes are quickly identified and remedied. Thus, with the known configurations for controlling temperatures, it is essentially not possible for temperature adjustments, or influences of the temperature control, to be matched precisely to the requirements of the inking unit, as the inking unit temperatures are not measured.
In summary, one aspect of the invention resides broadly in a printing press comprising a plate cylinder, damping apparatus for applying a wetting agent to at least the plate cylinder, the damping apparatus comprising a reservoir for storing the wetting agent, and an inking unit for applying ink to the plate cylinder. The inking unit has an ink reservoir for storing the ink, and the inking unit comprises a plurality of plate-inking rollers disposed in contact with the plate cylinder to apply ink to the plate cylinder, a plurality of inking rollers disposed between the ink reservoir and the plate inking rollers to transfer ink from the ink reservoir to the plate inking rollers. The plurality of inking rollers defines at least two ink supply paths for supplying ink to the plate-inking rollers at at least two locations of the plate-inking rollers, and the inking rollers and the plate-inking rollers form and substantially enclose a space therebetween. The inking unit further comprises a device for extracting air from the substantially enclosed space, a temperature sensor device for measuring a temperature of the extracted air, a device for regulating a temperature of at least one of: the inking unit, and the wetting agent, and control apparatus for receiving the measured temperature from the temperature sensor device and operating the device for regulating based on the measured temperatures of the extracted air.
Another aspect of the invention resides broadly in a method for monitoring and controlling temperature in an inking unit of a printing press, wherein the printing press includes: a plate cylinder; damping apparatus for applying a wetting agent to at least the plate cylinder, and an inking unit for applying ink to the plate cylinder. The inking unit has an ink reservoir for storing the ink, and the inking unit comprises: a plurality of plate-inking rollers disposed in contact with the plate cylinder to apply ink to the plate cylinder; a plurality of inking rollers disposed between the ink reservoir and the plate inking rollers to transfer ink from the ink reservoir to the plate inking rollers; a device for extracting air from an area adjacent the plate-inking rollers and the inking rollers; temperature sensor apparatus for measuring a temperature of the extracted air; a device for regulating a temperature of at least one of: the inking unit, and the wetting agent; and control apparatus for receiving measured temperatures from the temperature sensor device and operating the device for regulating based on the measured temperatures of the extracted air. The method comprises the steps of: transferring ink within the inking unit from the ink reservoir to the plate-inking rollers, the inking unit having a temperature; transferring wetting agent from the wetting agent reservoir to at least the plate cylinder, the wetting agent having a temperature; extracting air from the area adjacent the inking rollers and the plate-inking rollers; measuring a temperature of the extracted air with the temperature sensor device; and adjusting at least one of: the temperature of the inking unit, and the temperature of the wetting agent to bring the measured temperature into correspondence with a predetermined temperature.
A further aspect for the invention resides broadly in an inking unit for a printing press, the printing press having a plate cylinder and damping apparatus for applying a wetting agent to at least the plate cylinder, the damping apparatus comprising a reservoir for storing the wetting agent, and the inking unit for applying ink to the plate cylinder. The inking unit comprises an ink reservoir for storing the ink, a plurality of plate-inking rollers for being disposed in contact with the plate cylinder to apply ink to the plate cylinder; a plurality of inking rollers disposed between the ink reservoir and the plate-inking rollers to transfer ink from the ink reservoir to the plate-inking rollers; the plurality of inking rollers defining at least two ink supply paths for supplying ink to the plate-inking rollers at at least two locations of the plate-inking rollers; the inking rollers and the plate inking rollers forming and substantially enclosing a space therebetween; a device for measuring a temperature of air of the substantially enclosed space; apparatus for regulating a temperature of at least one of: the inking unit, and the wetting agent; and control apparatus for receiving measured temperatures from the temperature sensor device and operating the apparatus for regulating based on the measured temperatures of the extracted air.


A computer system having power management control features which include states of normal clock speed operation, slow clock speed operation, and stop-clock operation based on input/output activity, system bus activity, and program parameters. The system detects inactivity over a period of time and places the system in one of the states to provide for power conservation and accessibility by a user.

The present invention relates to computer systems (and particularly to small computer systems), and to methods for using them.
The innovations disclosed in the present application provide computer systems (especially very small portable personal computers) which have advantageous new capabilities. To better explain the significance and advantages of these innovations, the following paragraphs will review some technological context. This technological context is not necessarily prior art, but is intended to help in pointing out the disclosed inventions.

Computer with transparent power-saving manipulation of CPU clock


A test system for analyzing a sample of a bodily fluid is provided and comprises: at least one test strip comprising at least one capillary channel comprising an inlet opening configured to receive the sample; a vent opening configured to provide an air vent to the capillary channel; and at least one zone consisting of a detection zone and a reagent zone; at least one measuring device configured for interacting with the test strip, the measuring device comprising at least one sealing element for hermetically sealing the vent opening from an ambient atmosphere; and at least one suction device adapted to provide an underpressure to the vent opening; wherein the measuring device further comprises at least one valve or is connectable to the valve, wherein the valve is configured to vent the vent opening of the test strip when the measuring device interacts with the test strip.

In the field of medical technology and diagnostics a large number of devices and methods for detecting at least one analyte in a bodily fluid are known. The devices and methods may be used for detecting at least one analyte present in one or both of a body tissue or a body fluid, in particular one or more analytes such as glucose, lactate, triglycerides, cholesterol or other analytes, typically metabolites, in bodily fluids such as blood, typically whole blood, plasma, serum, urine, saliva, interstitial fluid or other body fluids. Further devices are known for measuring activating times, e.g., a thrombin activation time measurement for coagulation monitoring.
The detection of at least one analyte present in one or both of a body tissue or a bodily fluid as well as corresponding medication is an essential part of daily routine for many patients. In order to increase convenience and in order to avoid restricting the daily routine by more than a tolerable degree, many test devices and test elements are known in the art and commercially available.
A large number of test devices and test systems are known which are based on the use of test elements in the form of test strips, in particular capillary test strips. Therein, capillary test strips usually comprise an inlet opening configured to receive an amount of bodily fluid and a vent opening configured to provide an air vent to the capillary channel.
Further, in many cases, the test strips comprise one or more test fields having one or more test chemistries or test chemicals. The test chemicals are typically adapted to change one or more detectable properties in the presence of the at least one analyte to be detected. Thus, electrochemically detectable properties of the test chemistry and/or optically detectable properties of the test chemistry may be changed due to the influence of the presence of the analyte. For potential test chemicals, also referred to as test chemistries, which may be used within the present disclosure, reference may be made to J. Hönes et al.: Diabetes Technology and Therapeutics, Vol. 10, Supplement 1, 2008, S-10 to S-26. However, other types of test chemistries may be used within the present disclosure.
In some embodiments, the detection of the at least one analyte can be performed by using an electrochemical test element. Such test elements typically comprise at least one working electrode for detecting the analyte as well as at least one counter electrode to support a current flow through a measuring cell of the test element. In addition, optionally, the test element may comprise at least one reference electrode. Additionally, or alternatively, at least one reference electrode may be combined with at least one counter electrode. However, other types of measurement setups are possible, in order to derive an analyte concentration from a comparison of electrode potentials. The test strips are typically connected with a related instrument before the sample is dosed to the strip to allow a controlled and defined measurement sequence.
For certain capillary test strip concepts, the sample has to be transported over long distances within the capillary channel from the inlet opening to a zone where the optical and/or electrical detection occurs. Often, blood samples show high viscosities especially in case of high hematocrit levels or at low temperatures. As a result, several actions have to be taken to provide a reliable and reproducible sample transport by just capillary forces. First, a preparation of the capillary walls with detergents is advantageous to provide a very good wettability of the capillary walls suitable for a wide range of sample material properties as well as to enable a regulation of a flow of the sample in the capillary channel. However, the usage of detergents also entails the risk that these detergents interfere with the detection chemistry and thereby have an effect on the analysis result. Second, the size of the cross section in most cases has to be adapted to the amount and dimensions of erythrocytes to provide a sufficient transport of blood samples even with high hematocrit levels. However, this requirement typically leads to the necessity of higher sample volumes. Third, a maximum length of a capillary has to be considered in order to provide a filling just by capillary forces. However, this typically leads to an exclusion of otherwise preferred test strip concepts.
In summary, passive sample transport by capillary forces is limited through several disadvantages and/or technical challenges. To overcome the above mentioned drawbacks, an active triggering and/or regulation of the sample transport within the capillary channel is therefore desirable.
Active transport elements can be implemented within a test element. However, if active transport elements are implemented within a disposable test element, especially within a test strip, the production process typically becomes significantly more complex compared to simple reel to reel produced test strips made from foils. Consequently, in many cases, production costs and prices for the test elements increase significantly.
In US 2012/0178179 A1 a diagnostic cartridge and a control method for the diagnostic cartridge are disclosed. The cartridge includes a sample port through which a sample is injected, a first chamber moving the sample injected from the sample port, a second chamber moving a substrate solution, a first membrane formed at a distal end of the first chamber to function as a valve for preventing other substances from being injected into the first chamber after the sample is completely moved, and a second membrane formed at a distal end of the second chamber to function as a valve for preventing other substances from being injected into the first chamber after the substrate solution is completely moved.
Still, the cartridge disclosed by US 2012/0178179 A1 is highly complex and requires a sophisticated channel structure. Further, fluid control of liquids within the cartridge is fully performed by using external pumps, which implies the technical challenge of positioning the liquids in certain positions. Thus, once a pressure or a vacuum is applied to a suction opening of the cartridge, the pressure or vacuum spreads through the complex channel structure of the cartridge, and the liquids are moved accordingly. However, the movement or the stopping of a movement occurs in a highly uncontrollable and delayed fashion, which typically renders a precise positioning of the liquids nearly impossible. A precise positioning, however, including a controlled transport and a controlled standstill of liquids, is highly desirable for performing analytical measurements, specifically in case very small volumes of liquids are used, such as volumes of less than 1 μL or even less than 500 nL.

Test system for analyzing a sample of a bodily fluid


A secondary battery module according to the present disclosure includes a pouch-type secondary battery including an electrode assembly in which a cathode plate and an anode plate are stacked with a separator interposed between the cathode plate and the anode plate, an electrode tab extending from the electrode assembly, and a pouch case to receive the electrode assembly, including an upper pouch and a lower pouch, and having a coupling hole formed at an outer peripheral area passing through in a vertical direction, and a cooling pin coupled with the pouch-type secondary battery by the coupling hole. According to the present disclosure, there is an effect of fixing a plurality of pouch-type secondary batteries to the cooling pin without a cartridge for holding the pouch-type secondary batteries.

With the technology development and the increasing demand for mobile devices, the demand for batteries as an energy source is dramatically increasing, and in keeping up with this movement, many studies are being made on batteries to meet diverse demands.
Typically, batteries may be classified into a can-type secondary battery and a pouch-type secondary battery based on the case type.
In this instance, a pouch-type secondary battery includes a pouch case, an electrode assembly, and an electrode tab. The pouch case may be formed with a sufficient size to accommodate the electrode assembly, the electrode tab, and an electrode lead to be described below.
The electrode assembly includes a cathode plate, an anode plate, and a separator. The electrode assembly may have the cathode plate and the anode plate stacked in a sequential order with the separator interposed between the cathode plate and the anode plate. The electrode assembly typically includes, for example, a jelly-roll (wound) electrode assembly having a structure in which long sheet-type cathodes and anodes are wound with separators interposed therebetween, a stack-type electrode assembly having a structure in which a plurality of cathodes and anodes cut to a predetermined size are stacked in a sequential order with separators interposed therebetween, and a stack/folding-type electrode assembly having a structure in which bicells or full cells including a predetermined unit of cathodes and anodes stacked with separators interposed therebetween are folded.
The electrode tab extends from the electrode assembly. In this instance, the electrode tab may be connected to other component such as the electrode lead (not shown) while not being directly exposed to the outside of the pouch case.
The pouch-type secondary battery may be used singularly, but to increase the capacity or power, is often used by electrically connecting a plurality of pouch-type secondary batteries.
Here, the plurality of pouch-type secondary batteries constructs a secondary battery module. Thus, heat generated from each secondary battery is aggregated, and due to a dense structure of the secondary batteries, a large amount of heat is produced, and to discharge the heat, an additional structure such as a cooling pin may be included.
Also, a cartridge may be provided to fix each pouch-type secondary battery to the cooling pin in the secondary battery module.
However, in the case of this coupling structure, the size of the secondary battery module may increase, and the use of the cartridge causes a problem with an increasing number of components for coupling and a complex assembly process.

Pouch-type secondary battery and secondary battery module comprising the same


A hand-held device for scrubbing a body part therewith and for capturing a washing article, such as, but not limited to, a bar of soap, a wash cloth, or even both, therein. The device includes a body that is slender, elongated, generally rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped, has a pair of ends for grabbing by the hands of a user, a length, a width, an abrasiveness, is tubular for capturing the washing article therein, and the pair of ends thereof are open for inserting and removing the washing article therein and therefrom. The body includes a first plurality of threads that are flexible nylon, parallel to, and spaced-apart from, each other, and run longitudinally along the length thereof, and a second plurality of threads that are flexible nylon, parallel to, and spaced-apart, from each other, and run laterally around the width thereof. The first plurality of threads intersect the second plurality of threads, at intersection points, so as define an orthogonal matrix of openings therethrough for utilization of the washing article. The first plurality of threads and the second plurality of threads are attached to each other, by knots, at the intersection points thereof for facilitating capturing of the washing article in the body by engaging therewith and for increasing the abrasiveness of the body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hand-held device for scrubbing a body part. More particularly, the present invention relates to a hand-held device for scrubbing a body part therewith and for capturing a washing article therein.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Numerous innovations for body washing devices have been provided in the prior art that will be described. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they differ from the present invention.
A FIRST EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 3,812,849 to Giunta teaches a skin conditioning article that has a springy and pliable body of layers of nylon net fabric with a mesh of about one-eighth inch, more or less. In the illustrated embodiment, the body is elongated and has four layers of fabric gathered at either end to form necks and pleats. The fabric is first doubled upon itself to form a folded end edge. Both sides of the fabric are then doubled over to form a pair of folded side edges and open edges proximate each other at the center of one face of the body. The layers are secured to each other in any suitable manner, as by stitching, proximate each of the opposite ends of the body, and this stitching may also secure ties to the body for gathering the layers and forming the pleats and necks. The open edges of the body layers provide access to a pocket, formed by the folded end edge of the body, for retaining a bar of soap or other suitable article. The skin may be lubricated and the net fabric rubbed over the skin to cleanse and condition the skin.
A SECOND EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 3,977,796 to Gillespie et al. teaches two pieces of nylon net of predetermined dimensions that are superimposed on a piece of terry cloth of the predetermined dimensions. The terry cloth and nylon combination is folded over on itself to form a strip-like configuration in a manner whereby the net is on the outside. Each of a pair of handle members is affixed to a corresponding end of the strip-like configuration of terry cloth and nylon.
A THIRD EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,295,280 to Hudson et al. teaches a washing device for scrubbing the body that includes an elongate washing member formed of a plurality of inter-looped quadrate or box-like links. The gripping handles in the form of loops are connected to the end-most links of the chain-like washing member. Each link is formed of a tube gathered along its axis to provide a plurality of circular or cylindrical undulating layers spaced from each other in a radial direction. The length of the tube and the number of layers are selected to provide a desired width of the loop and to substantially fill the loop in the radial direction when in a relaxed condition. Preferably, the links are formed of fine polymeric filaments arranged in an open netting mesh, such a polyethylene netting.
A FOURTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,295,280 to Hudson et al. teaches a bath scrubber that is composed of a main body, a plurality of first lashing members, and two fastening members. The main body is formed of a plurality of cylindrical netlike unit members. The first lashing members are disposed between two unit members. The fastening members are located at both ends of the main body. The unit members have a first portion and a second portion, which are connected by a second lashing member. The bath scrubber is somewhat flattened to increase its contact area with the skin of a bather.
A FIFTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,850,662 to Galvan-Garza teaches an elastic plastic scrubber for the bath, which has one or more sections, each one being a tubular element, into which strings or pulls are inserted so that it is possible to rub one's entire back with little effort. A mop placed between two sections retains powdered soap, liquid soap or a tablet of solid soap, in such a way that the person using the scrubber can soap those areas of his body which are normally out of his reach. The method of manufacturing introduces a cylindrical post placed inside an elastic tube that will form the body of the scrubber. At the sides of the post and placed between the body and the post are one or two strings that when stretched out, will reduce the body's length and pleat the same to form a body called a "pumpkin".
It is apparent that numerous innovations for body washing devices have been provided in the prior art that are adapted to be used. Furthermore, even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described.

Hand-held device for scrubbing a part therewith and for capturing a washing article therein


An ornithopter with an airframe structure that is lightweight, simple and stable and can generate sufficient lift and thrust. The ornithopter comprises a body, a main wing attached to an upper portion of a front section of the body, and a tail wing attached to a rear section of the body. The ornithopter further comprises a power source and a power transmission mechanism installed within a housing of the body. The main wing includes a wing frame composed of a plurality of frame rods and a skin attached to the wing frame for forming an outline of the main wing. The wing frame of the main wing is supported by a support means exposed to the outside at the upper portion of the front section of the body. The power transmission mechanism includes a gear train for adjusting the rotational motion of the power source at a proper speed and transferring it to the main wing, and connecting rods for converting the rotational motion into a swing motion of the main wing. Flight time of the ornithopter can be prolonged considering its weight and the power source can be easily manipulated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ornithopter, and more specifically, to a power-driven ornithopter using an electric motor as a power source.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An ornithopter that mimics flight of an insect or bird corresponds to a very primitive model but has been hardly put to practical use. An aircraft model that has been put to practical use is largely divided only into a fixed wing aircraft and a rotary wing aircraft. The reason why the ornithopter has not been put to practical use is that analyses of a lift and a thrust to be generated by flapping of its main wings is very complicated as compared with those of the fixed wing aircraft and the rotary wing aircraft, and thus, it is difficult to design an ornithopter model ensuring a flight stability in view of flight dynamics and it is complex to design an actuating mechanism for performing the flapping.
However, the ornithopter still arouses persons"" curiosities due to its nature-friendly shape. There have been continuous attempts to develop the ornithopter as a leisure or toy aircraft that requires a relatively lower flight stability.
Recent attempts to develop the ornithopter will be described below.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,729,748 (Mar. 8, 1988) issued to Gerard Van Ruymbeke discloses a flying toy. The flying toy includes a body, main wings and tail wings that have appearances similar to those of a body, wings and a tail of a bird; an elastic band; a wind-up assembly for twisting the elastic band; an activation assembly for activating flapping of the main wings, which is similar to flapping of the wing of the bird, by transferring force released when the twisted elastic band is untwisted; and a latching assembly for latching or locking the main wings when the elastic band is twisted. U.S. Pat. No. 5,163,861 (Nov. 17, 1992) issued to Gerard Van Ruymbeke discloses a wing-operated flying toy and a process for automatically locking the wings at the end of a flight. The flying toy of the ""861 patent is constructed such that a locking device, which is similar to the latching assembly of the toy of the ""748 patent, locks the main wings even when the toy is flown while the elastic band is untwisted.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,749,149 (Jul. 7, 1988) issued to Peter Gruich discloses an ornithopter-type vehicle and methods of constructing and utilizing the same. The ornithopter-type vehicle is designed as an aircraft which is large enough to load persons thereinto. The ornithopter-type vehicle has main wings and a horizontal tail attached to its body in a manner similar to the fixed wing aircraft. An up motion of the flapping of the main wings that move between their higher and lower positions is established by elastic restoring force. A down motion of the flapping is established by power transferred from a power source through a hydraulic circuit. The ornithopter-type vehicle simultaneously obtains both the lift and thrust by the down motion of the main wings in a downward and rearward direction rather than a vertically downward direction from the higher position. The ornithopter-type vehicle is constructed such that its flight attitude is maintained in such a manner that a user controls the motion of the main wings and the position of the horizontal tail through operating levers.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,899,408 (May 4, 1999) issued to Kenneth R. Bowers, Jr. discloses an ornithopter. The ornithopter also has a main wing and a horizontal tail attached to its body in a manner similar to the fixed wing aircraft and employs a gasoline engine as a power source. The ornithopter is provided with flaps formed at the bottoms of the main wing so as to increase the lift obtainable from the flapping of the main wing.
As described in the aforementioned ""408 patent, the reason why the ornithopter has not been yet put to practical use regardless of whether it is a toy ornithopter or a manned ornithopter is that the lift obtainable from the flapping of the main wings is small and an activating mechanism and a power source capable of generating the flapping of the main wings cannot provide sufficient power and are too complicated and heavy.
The present invention is conceived to solve the problems in the prior art. An object of the present invention is to provide an ornithopter with an airframe structure that is lightweight, simple and stable and can generate sufficient lift and thrust.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an ornithopter having a lightweight, simple and durable power transmission mechanism and a simply-operable power source capable of ensuring longer flight time with respect to its weight.
An ornithopter according to the present invention for achieving the objects comprises a body, a main wing attached to an upper portion of a front section of the body, and a tail wing attached to a rear section of the body. A power source and a power transmission mechanism are installed within a housing of the body. The main wing includes a wing frame composed of a plurality of frame rods, and a skin attached to the wing frame for forming an outline of the main wing. The wing frame of the main wing is supported by a support means that is exposed to the outside at the upper portion of the front section of the body. The power transmission mechanism includes a gear train for adjusting the rotational motion of the electric motor at a proper speed and transferring it to the main wing, and connecting rods for converting the rotational motion into a swing motion of the main wing.
Preferably, the body includes a keel, which is made of a lightweight and rigid unitary panel, for supporting components contained in the body. The housing for enclosing the keel and the contained components is composed of two members, left and right halves.
The housing of the body is preferably constructed such that an extra space is formed between a front end of the housing and a front end of the power transmission mechanism to extend from the front end of an electric motor and the power transmission mechanism, which are mounted at a front end of the keel panel, to a position forward spaced apart therefrom. It is preferred that the extra space be filled with a shock absorbing material.
Preferably, each front frame rod extends along a front edge of the main wing from a position near a central axis of the body to a tip of the main wing and is initially formed in the shape of a straight line. Each rear frame rod extends from a position near an intersection of the central axis of the body and a rear edge of the main wing, and is connected to the front frame rod near an end of the tip of the main wing, i.e. a distal end of the front frame rod. Respective traverse frame rods extend from the front frame rod to the rear edge of the main wing.
Herein, if it is not specifically described, it should be understood that all the terms for designating the directions are used to refer to directions based on the ground in a state where the ornithopter according to the present invention is placed on the ground with a normal attitude.