The disclosure relates to an aircraft propulsion assembly comprising a bypass turbojet engine equipped with a nacelle, the bypass turbojet engine including a structure defining a first part of a secondary flow path for channeling secondary flow, and the nacelle having a structure defining a second part of the secondary flow path. The structure of the nacelle defining the second part of the secondary flow path is arranged such that the first part and the second part of the secondary flow path are angularly offset around a longitudinal axis of the engine when the engine is shut down/stopped.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
An aircraft is propelled by several turbojet engines each housed within a nacelle, each nacelle further accommodating an assembly of additional actuating devices linked to its operation and ensuring various functions when the turbojet engine is in operation or stopped.
The modern nacelles are intended to accommodate a bypass turbojet engine capable of generating, by means of the fan blades in rotation, a flow of hot gases (also called primary flow) and a flow of cold air (also called secondary flow) witch circulates outside the turbojet engine through an annular passage, also called flow path, formed between two concentric walls of the nacelle. The primary and secondary flows are ejected from the turbojet engine by the rear of the nacelle.
A turbojet engine nacelle generally has a tubular structure including, from upstream to the downstream (relative to the direction of the cold and hot flows):                a front section, or air inlet, located in front of the turbojet engine;        a median section, intended to surround a fan module of the turbojet engine;        a rear section, intended to surround a high-pressure module, which in particular includes the combustion chamber of the turbojet engine, and generally embarking thrust reversal means;        an ejection nozzle, whose outlet is located downstream of the turbojet engine.
The rear section generally has a fixed external structure, called "Outer Fixed Structure" (OFS), which defines, with a concentric internal structure, called "Inner Fixed Structure" (IFS), a downstream portion of the secondary flow path serving to channel the flow of cold air. The rear section is positioned downstream of a fan module of the turbojet engine which comprises in particular: a fan casing (inside which the fan is contained) and an intermediate casing. The intermediate casing includes a hub and an outer annular casing, as well as radial link arms therebetween.
Each propulsion unit of the aircraft is thus formed by a nacelle and a turbojet engine, and is suspended from a fixed structure of the aircraft, for example under a wing or on the fuselage, by means of a pylon or a mast fastened to the turbojet engine or to the nacelle.
It is thus observed that an aircraft propulsion unit integrates functional subassemblies likely to enter in relative movements, and between which it is suitable to manage the sealing.
In particular, it is important that the rear section of the nacelle, which delimits the secondary flow path, can be correctly aligned with the intermediate casing, with which it cooperates to channel the flow of cold air without leakage and without aerodynamic losses. Such a leakage would be particularly harmful, because a nacelle is designed and dimensioned to withstand the pressure exerted by the cold flow, in the case where it is correctly channeled. In contrast, the nacelle is not designed to withstand the forces generated by the pressure exerted by an air leakage of the secondary flow path towards the turbojet engine. Such a leakage can thus lead to a detachment of the inner structure of the nacelle. In view of these constraints, it is therefore essential to provide for a sealing barrier between the upstream portion of the rear section and the turbojet engine, in order to prevent any leakage of the secondary flow path towards the turbojet engine.
However, the sealing between the two covers and the turbojet engine presents a particular problem. First of all, the elements constituting the rear section of the nacelle are, in operation, animated by axial and radial movements relative to the turbojet engine. Given the large dimension of the concerned parts, these relative movements can, in operation, result in important displacements.
On the other hand, in operation, during the flight phases, the engine also undergoes deformations. In particular, the torsional forces generated by the rotation at very high speed of the fan blades lead the engine to be deformed about its longitudinal axis. This torsional movement, known under the name of "fan twist," leads to an angular offset between the front part (the fan module, including in particular the intermediate casing) and the rear part (including in particular the combustion chamber) of the engine.
This angular offset is consequently also induced between the intermediate casing and the inner fixed structure. A gasket interposed between the inner fixed structure and the turbojet engine must therefore create a sealing barrier whatever the relative position of the inner fixed structure with respect to the turbojet engine, and for that, it must have a high crushing amplitude.
However, even by providing for such a gasket, the angular deformation of the engine in operation has severe disadvantages, among which is the reduction of the aerodynamic qualities of the secondary flow path. Indeed, the alignment of the inner fixed structure of the intermediate casing, which is correct when the engine is stopped, may become defective in flight. Indeed, the angular offset (about the longitudinal axis of the engine) between the inner fixed structure and the engine results in a deviation between some engine walls located in the flow of cold air when the engine is in operation, and which should normally be aligned with corresponding walls of the inner fixed structure. These walls are for example constituted by the outer surfaces of the link arms of the intermediate casing (and in particular those located in the positions called "6h00" and "12h00" positions. These alignment deviations generate a discontinuity of the aerodynamic lines of the secondary flow path, which greatly reduces the aerodynamic qualities of the secondary flow path.


The present invention provides a lithium secondary battery having excellent battery cycle property, electrical capacity, storage characteristic and other battery characteristics for a long period of time, and a nonaqueous electrolytic solution which is usable for the lithium secondary battery.

In recent years, lithium secondary batteries have been widely used as power supplies for driving small electronic devices and the like. Lithium secondary batteries are mainly constituted of a positive electrode, a nonaqueous electrolytic solution and a negative electrode. In particular, lithium secondary batteries constituted of a positive electrode comprised of a lithium compound oxide such as LiCoO2 and a negative electrode comprised of a carbon material or a lithium metal are used. As the nonaqueous electrolytic solution for such lithium secondary batteries, a carbonate such as ethylene carbonate (EC) or propylene carbonate (PC) is used.
However, secondary batteries having better battery characteristics, i.e., battery cycle properties, electrical capacities and the like, are required.
In a lithium secondary battery using, for example, LiCoO2, LiMn2O4, or LiNiO2 as the positive electrode, part of a solvent in a nonaqueous electrolyte locally decomposes oxidatively during charging, and the decomposition products inhibit a desirable electrochemical reaction of the battery, thereby lowering the battery performance. This is thought to result from the electrochemical oxidation of the solvent at the interface between the positive electrode material and nonaqueous electrolytic solution.
Moreover, in a lithium secondary battery using, for example, natural graphite, artificial graphite and like highly crystallized carbon materials as the negative electrode, a solvent in a nonaqueous electrolytic solution reductively decomposes on the surface of the negative electrode during charging. Therefore, part of ethylene carbonate (EC) which is generally and widely used as a nonaqueous electrolytic solution solvent is reductively decomposed through repeated charging and discharging, thereby lowering the battery performance. Especially, propylene carbonate (PC) having a low melting point and a high dielectric constant, which is preferably used as a nonaqueous solvent since it has a high electric conductivity at low temperatures, cannot be used as a lithium secondary battery because of its very high level of decomposition.
Various suggestions have been made to improve the battery characteristics of this lithium secondary battery.
For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an electrolytic solution containing the first solvent such as propylene carbonate, the second solvent such as dimethyl carbonate, and vinylene carbonate in an amount of 0.01 to 10% by weight of a solvent mixture. Moreover, Patent Document 2 discloses an electrolytic solution containing 0.1 to 5% by weight of vinylene carbonate and asymmetrical linear carbonate.
Patent Document 3 suggests a nonaqueous solvent containing a cyclic carbonate and a linear carbonate as main ingredients and 1,3-propane sultone added thereto, and discloses the improvement of cycle property by adding 1,3-propane sultone.
Patent Document 4 discloses a nonaqueous electrolytic solution containing diketones such as ethyl levulinate and acetonylactone. Patent Document 5 discloses a nonaqueous electrolytic solution containing diketones such as acetylacetone.
Moreover, Patent Document 6 discloses a lithium secondary battery having the density of the layer of a positive electrode mixture of 3.3 to 3.7 g/cm3 and the density of the layer of a negative electrode mixture of 1.4 to 1.8 g/cm3.
As mentioned above, in known lithium secondary batteries having relatively low capacities, battery characteristics such as cycle properties are somewhat improved by adding vinylene carbonate, 1,3-propane sultone and other substances.
However, the techniques of Patent Documents 1 to 6 cannot provide satisfactory battery characteristics required for high-capacity lithium secondary batteries of these days, especially lithium secondary batteries with high-density layers of the positive electrode mixture and negative electrode mixture. An electrolytic solution having an even higher long-term cycle property is thus required.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H08-45545
[Patent Document 2] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H11-185806
[Patent Document 3] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-3724
[Patent Document 4] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-176551
[Patent Document 5] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-185212
[Patent Document 6] Japanese Unexamined patent publication No. 2003-142075

Nonaqueous electrolyte solution and lithium secondary battery using same

Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolytic solution in which an electrolyte salt is dissolved in a nonaqueous solvent, comprising (i) a dicarbonyl compound represented by the general formula (I), or (ii) a dicarbonyl compound represented by the general formula (II) and vinylene carbonate and the like in the nonaqueous electrolytic solution.

Abstract: (wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, a phenyl group or the like; and X represents a hydrogen atom, an R2 group or an OR2 group. R2 represents an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, a phenyl group or the like.)

Abstract: (wherein R1 and X are the same as above; Y and Z represents a hydrogen atom, an R2 group, an OR2 group, a COR2 group or a CH2COR2 group; and n is 1 to 6.).


A paper handling apparatus is disclosed, having a first path that guides paper to a processing tray; a second path in which the paper is set aside; and a transportation unit that transports the paper. The paper handling apparatus sets aside a preceding sheet of the paper in the second path, and transports the set-aside preceding sheet of the paper with a following sheet of the paper. The paper handling unit includes: a branching unit that, when the paper is transported in the second direction, leads the paper to the second path; a paper detection unit provided in a more upstream position than the branching unit; and a control unit that determines timing in which the paper is transported in the second direction based on an output of the paper detection unit, and causes the transportation unit to transport the paper to the second path.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a paper handling apparatus, and more particularly, to a paper handling apparatus coupled to an image forming apparatus for sorting, stapling, and stacking papers discharged from the image forming apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many kinds of paper handling apparatuses coupled to an image forming apparatus for sorting, stapling, and stacking papers discharged from the image forming apparatus are known in the art. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Applications No. 8-301508 and 9-235069, for example, disclose a paper handling apparatus that can buffer the paper so that the image forming apparatus does not need to wait for the paper handling apparatus to complete the handling of paper.
The paper handling apparatus needs to control the number of buffered sheets, for example, since the printing speed, the number of copies, and processing mode of the image forming apparatus affect the buffering operation. For those purposes, the paper handling apparatus is conventionally provided with many dedicated paper detection sensors, and requires a complicatedly shaped guide plate to hold the paper detections sensors.
For example, when the paper needs to be stapled, the paper is temporarily stored on a processing tray, and is sent to the next stage in response to a signal from a paper detection sensor. If only a few pages are to be stapled, however, the paper detection sensor fails to detect the paper in time. In such a case, excessive paper may be stacked on the paper to be stapled. As described above, the number of sheets to be buffered needs to be controlled based on the speed of printing, the number of sheets, and the processing mode of the image forming apparatus. In addition, as the speed of printing of the image forming apparatus increases, the paper handling apparatus needs to handle the paper quickly enough so as not to keep the image forming apparatus waiting.
In addition, when a preceding sheet of paper that is set aside is re-transported, the deviation between the preceding sheet and a following sheet affects the accuracy of alignment performed in the processing tray. The deviation is preferably fixed in order to maintain the accuracy of alignment at a high level. When the paper transported at high speed is stopped in a short time, the paper may not stop at a desired position.


A grout delivery apparatus and method for delivering grout through a flexible conduit from a bulk supply of grout to a hand tool. The bulk supply of grout is held in a hopper which feeds the grout under gravity to a pump. The pump is driven by an electric motor which receives its electrical energy through a controller. The controller is adjustably preset to control the electric motor as a function of the individual settings on a multifunction switch operable by the worker. The switch can either be mounted on the hand tool and directly wired to the controller or incorporated into a remote transmitter which transmits the particular switch position to a receiver on the controller.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to grout delivery systems and, more particularly, to a novel grout delivery apparatus and method wherein the grout is controllably pumped from a reserve supply of grout through a flexible conduit to the dispensing tool.
2. The Prior Art
The construction trade, whether commercial or residential, includes various construction activities that involve the controlled application of a semi-liquid or plastic-type material such as paste, adhesive, plaster, grout, drywall compound, and the like. Through common usage, these various compositions are referred to in the construction trade as "mud" whether the worker is a bricklayer, concrete finisher, plasterer, carpenter, drywall finisher, etc. However, for ease of understanding and to avoid any negative connotation herein from the use of the term "mud," the term "grout" will be used to denote any suitable, semi-liquid material capable of being pumped through a flexible conduit.
Grout when used to fill cracks or holes in concrete consists of a mixture of cement, sand or aggregate, and water. When used as a plaster, grout usually consists of a mixture of cement, fibers, fine sand, water, and coloring material. When used as mortar for bricks, grout consists of a mixture of cement, sand, and water. Drywall applications, on the other hand, use a grout that is a very fine, plastic-like material with little or no shrinkage upon drying for use in patching nail holes and joints in the drywall surface. Drywall grout also bonds a joint tape over to joints and in the corners of the drywall construction to provide a smooth, continuous wall surface. For carpentry purposes, many procedures call for the application of a bead of adhesive laid along several studs, rafters or other longitudinal members prior to mounting a sheet of plywood, plaster board, or the like, thereto.
In all of the foregoing applications the particular construction worker customarily applies the grout for the particular construction activity by obtaining it from a bulk source such as a hod or bucket, or in the case of adhesives, from a dispensing tube or cartridge. Regardless of the particular grout or its mode of application, the construction worker must take valuable work time to return to the bulk container of grout to refill the particular device used for carrying the grout during the application procedure. One particular attempt to overcome one aspect of this problem is the device advertised as an automatic taper and drywall finishing system made commercially available by TapeTech Tool Company of Hayward, Calif. This particular tool holds a quantity of grout in either the head or the handle with the grout being delivered to the application surface by being forced from the head or handle by the worker. However, the worker must still return periodically to the bulk supply of grout to replenish the on-hand supply of grout.
The phrase "on-hand supply" refers to the quantity of grout carried, for example, on a mortar board held by the nonworking hand of the worker such as a bricklayer or plasterer. It is from this supply that the worker replenishes the grout being applied by the hand tool to the surface. The worker is limited to a maximum weight of about five kilograms of grout at any one time thereby also necessitating the frequent returns to the bulk supply to replenish the on-hand supply.
As can be seen readily from the foregoing description the worker is impeded in the application of grout for several reasons: first, only a limited quantity of grout can be carried at any given time due to the weight of the same and the need to reduce excessive drying or setting of the on-hand supply of grout; second, the worker is limited to the use of only one hand for operation of the hand tool since the other hand is supporting the mortar board with its on-hand supply of grout; third, the overall expenditure of worker energy in the frequent trips to the bulk supply of grout, the carrying and one hand support of the on-hand supply of grout; and the limitation of the worker to the use of only one hand all contribute to worker fatigue which, in turn, inherently means a lower quality of work, increased risk of accidents, more worker illness or disability through repetitive stress syndrome, and increased spillage and debris from splattered and spilled grout.
Clearly, each of these prior art techniques limits the productivity of the worker by requiring the worker to return periodically to the bulk container in order to replenish the on-hand supply of grout. This is particularly cumbersome if the worker is working on stilts, a scaffold, or some other location not otherwise within easy access of the bulk supply of grout.
In view of the foregoing it would be an advancement in the art to provide a grout delivery apparatus for delivering grout to the worker. It would also be an advancement in the art to provide a grout delivery apparatus wherein the quantity of grout delivered to the worker is controlled by the worker. An even further advancement in the art would be to provide a grout delivery apparatus wherein the grout is delivered to the tool of the worker through a relatively small diameter, flexible conduit thereby reducing the fatigue of the worker. Such a novel apparatus and method is disclosed and claimed herein.


A nutritional composition includes proteinaceous material and micronutrients, wherein at least 90 wt % of the proteinaceous material and micronutrients is coated with a fat-containing layer containing at least 90 wt % of edible fat, based on the total weight of the layer, and having a SFC of more than 95% at 30° C., wherein the proteinaceous material includes at least 90 wt % free amino acids, based on its proteinaceous weight content, the micronutrients and proteinaceous material in the coated particulate material forming separate particles, and wherein the coated particulate material and the coating are free from phospholipids. It is preferred that the coating is made from hydrogenated palm oil.

Protein nutrition sometimes needs to be adapted to specific metabolic and physiologic conditions, e.g. because persons suffering from an allergy cannot accept certain proteins, or persons suffering from a disorder in amino acid metabolism need supplementation with specific amino acids or need to avoid specific amino acids. For example, Phenylketonuria (PKU) patients often need a lifelong feeding which is low in phenylalanine, and patients suffering from cow's milk allergy are often fed amino acid-based formulas to manage gastrointestinal problems due to food protein allergy.
In those cases, protein nutrition is adapted by providing blends of amino acids or peptides. Such blends may also contain or be combined with other food components such as vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates or lipids. Typically, such products have a powder-like form, which can be reconstituted to a drink or allows admixture with drinks.
However, such powder-like forms cause several problems. Many amino acids are poorly palatable because of bad taste. For example the branched chain amino acids leucine, isoleucine, valine, threonine, the acid amino acids glutamic acid and aspartic acid, tyrosine, phenylalanine, histidine, tryptophan and cysteine are poorly soluble, have bad organoleptic properties or may interact with other components in the mixture-giving rise to poor taste and appearance. Also, particles of such amino acids in dry form may have different sizes, which may cause inhomogeneities in the final product due to a varying degree of settlement during storage. Very small particles, may cause a dust when the package is opened or the powder is transferred.
Numerous ways of manufacturing dry or semi-dry products that comprise a large amount of free amino acids have been suggested. In most cases the synthetic ingredients are obtained in dry form which are either blended in dry form or dissolved in an aqueous phase, optionally together with other ingredients, optionally blended with a lipid phase, homogenised, heat-treated and evaporated and spray-dried to produce a powder which could also be agglomerated. Such agglomerates consist of powder particles, which comprise all ingredients which have been spray-dried and which typically include digestible carbohydrates, vitamins a lipid phase and minerals.
For example, to obtain a stable amino acid preparation not having a smell, a taste and an unpleasant texture after taking, not causing any side effect, JP 58216118 teaches the mixing of an amino acid with 10-30 wt % of higher fatty acids, waxes, carbowaxes, triglycerides (e.g. stearic acid, bees wax, polyethylene glycol 4000, Witepsol), which are solid at normal temperature and are pharmacologically permissible. After melting and homogenising, the mixture is solidified. However, it requires large amounts of these fatty acids to end up with an acceptable taste improvement, thus disadvantageously increasing the dosage in situations where the uptake is often already causing problems. Consumption of large amounts of fatty acids and waxes may also be undesired for health reasons. The products, or their spray-dried counterparts, develop Maillard products during production or storage, and interactions may occur between reactive amino acids and vitamins.
Although U.S. Pat. No. 6,506,422 mentions the use of encapsulated amino acids for administration to phenylketonuria patients, in fact it discloses ground mixtures of amino acids and fats with the aforementioned problems. Example 4, concerning encapsulated amino acids, only describes simple mixing of amino acids and fat mix at 70° C., homogenization and cooling to 30° C. However, such a process would not yield satisfactory shielding of the bad-tasting amino acids. Further, the so called encapsulation in U.S. Pat. No. 6,506,422 only involves a limited amount of amino acids, i.e. lysine, methionine, tryptophan and valine. The cooled fat-treated mixture is added to another amino acid mixture. Hence, the formula thus prepared may be suitable for admixture with drinks, it would exude an odour and/or taste which would be noticeable in every meal due to the fact that many components will interact on reconstitution as they are not coated, giving an unpleasant taste. Even if pleasant, its dominant taste and odour will eventually annoy a patient sentenced to lifelong administration of such nutritional formula, especially since he or she must take considerable quantities of the phenylalanine-free mixture of amino acids with his or her meals.
Moreover, U.S. Pat. No. 6,506,422 states that lecithins may be present in the composition, for establishing stability during reconstitution in hot water. The lecithin does not contribute to the stability of the encapsulated product. With lecithin high amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids are introduced, which will easily oxidise during shelf life, thus disadvantageously resulting in off-flavours and potential toxic reaction products.
JP 2042967 provides a non-lipophilic substance, for instance an amino acid or crude drug, with a coating by attaching a surfactant and a phospholipid to the surface of the substance, and applying oil and fat exhibiting crystalline state at normal temperature (e.g. palm oil or beef tallow) to the surface. The surface of the substance coated with the oil and fat film is then coated with a phospholipid (e.g. lecithin) dissolved in a solvent (e.g. ethanol), and the solvent is removed to easily perform the coating of the substance and mask the disagreeable taste and odour of the substance. Again, the resulting coated substance disadvantageously involves multiple layers with phospholipids, especially lecithin.
EP-A-363.879 uses a gelling agent for encapsulation of amino acids and mentions that hard fat may be used for encapsulation to mask the taste and to prolong the life of the amino acids in the stored product. It is clear from the examples that a vitamin-mineral premix is coated together with the amino acids. Apparently, the solution given there is not considered satisfactory, since the composition further contains dried or candied fruit. It is the inventors' findings that this may well be caused by interactions between amino acids and other active ingredients, such as the micronutrients.
US-A-2003/148013 discloses the use of zinc stearate as a coating material for amino acids and micro nutrients. This product solves the problem of leaching. Also here, lecithin is one of the mentioned fats for use in the coating material.
EP-A-388.237 describes compositions comprising lecithin as an emulsifier, thereby denying the problem of deterioration of the coating. Furthermore, nothing is done to prevent contact between micronutrients and amino acids either.
Hence, there is a need for a dry or semi-dry free amino acid-containing nutritional supplement having a homogeneous particle size distribution, which product has a neutral taste and comprises low amounts of off-flavours and deterioration of active components, allowing acceptable admixture with foodstuffs.

Tasteless nutritional supplement containing free amino acids


The disclosure relates to systems, methods and compositions for direct printing of printed circuit boards with embedded integrated chips. Specifically, the disclosure relates to systems methods and compositions for the direct, top-down inkjet printing of printed circuit board with embedded chip and/or chip packages using a combination of print heads with conductive and dielectric ink compositions, creating predetermined dedicated compartments for locating the chips and/or chip packages and covering these with an encapsulating layer while maintaining interconnectedness among the embedded chips. Placing of the chips can be done automatically using robotic arms.

The disclosure is directed to systems, methods and compositions for direct printing of printed circuit boards (PCBs) with embedded integrated chips. Specifically, the disclosure is directed to systems methods and compositions for the direct inkjet printing of printed circuit board with embedded chip and/or chip packages using a combination of print heads with conductive and dielectric ink compositions, creating predetermined slots for locating the chips and/or chip packages and covering these with an encapsulating layer while maintaining interconnectedness among the embedded chips.
State-of-the-art Chip embedding technology has become a necessity in the fabrication of complex electronics. With emphasis on IoT (internet of things), new applications with embedded sensors, driven by miniaturization and optimized packages for the different demands for the sensors—became urgent; as did an increase of complexity by embedding of chips with large number of interconnections and more.
The development of such complex electronics requires research, development and engineering of a substantial number of prototypes of printed circuit boards (PCBs), each requiring quality assurance tests, fault tolerance tests, efficiency tests and more, prior to being transferred to mass production. Each PCB further requires planning processes, fabrication, purchasing and assembly, with the fabrication process being typically, the most substantial bottleneck for the process in terms of time and costs. Not insubstantial as well, is the risk of exposing trade secrets. These risks are currently inevitable, since the costs associated with faulty design and malfunctions during the mass production stage are order(s) of magnitude higher, both in terms of costs, as well as in damage to reputation.
The present disclosure is directed toward overcoming one or more of the above-identified problems.

Chip embedded printed circuit boards and methods of fabrication


A cooling system of an electric machine includes a stator core, a housing, and a thermal interfacial material interposed between complementary mating surfaces of the stator core and the housing for substantially eliminating air gaps therebetween. A method of cooling an electric machine having a housing and a stator includes placing a thermal interfacial material onto a heat transfer interface between the stator and the housing, whereby the thermal interfacial material reduces contact resistance at the heat transfer interface. A method of cooling a stator of an electric machine includes heating a housing having a radially inner surface, coating a radially outer surface of the stator and/or the radially inner surface of the housing with a thermal interfacial material, and inserting the stator into the heated housing, whereby the thermal interfacial material is interposed between the inner surface of the housing and the outer surface of the stator.

The present invention is directed to improving the performance and thermal efficiency of electric machines and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus for improving the heat transfer process.
An electric machine is generally structured for operation as a motor and/or a generator, and may have electrical windings, for example in a rotor and/or in a stator. Such windings may include conductor wire formed as solid conductor segments or bars that are shaped to be securely held within a core, bobbin, or other structure. The stator has a cylindrical core that secures the conductor segments of the stator windings in slots disposed around the circumference of the core. In many electric machines, the stator core is densely populated so that each angular position has several layers of conductor segments installed therein. In a densely packed stator operating at a high performance level, excessive heat may be generated in the stator windings. In various applications, heat must be actively removed to prevent it from reaching impermissible levels that may cause damage and/or reduction in performance or life of the motor.
Various apparatus and methods are known for removing heat. One exemplary method includes providing the electric machine with a water jacket having fluid passages through which a cooling liquid, such as water, may be circulated to remove heat. Another exemplary method may include providing an air flow, which may be assisted with a fan, through or across the electric machine to promote cooling. A further exemplary method may include spraying or otherwise directing oil or other coolant directly onto end turns of a stator.
In many applications, there is a continual need for increasing performance and efficiency of electric machines, such as a demand for providing more power in a smaller space. Although various structures and methods have been employed for cooling an electric machine, improvement remains desirable.

Electric motor stator housing interference gap reducing method and apparatus


Fixed conveyor slats (12) in the nature of beams extend over a window in a support framework (70, 72, 74, 76, 86, 88) for the movable and fixed slats (10, 12) of the reciprocating slat conveyor. The fixed slats (12) support the movable slats (10), including in the region of the window. The fixed and movable slats (12, 10) are box beams, providing them with strength and stiffness in the region of the window. The fixed slats (12) are covered by planks of bearing material (46). Side portions (14, 16) of the movable slats (10) set down on side portions (50, 48) of the planks of bearing material (46). The planks of bearing material (46) are connected at one end only to the fixed slats (12). The bearing material (46) is capable of withstanding the heat of hot asphalt concrete and protects the fixed slats (12) from contact with the asphalt concrete.

My U.S. Pat. No. Re35,022, granted Aug. 22, 1995, and entitled Reduced Size Drive-Frame Assembly For A Reciprocating Slat Conveyor, discloses a reciprocating slat conveyor in which the conveyor slats are connected to transverse drive beams which are in turn connected to linear hydraulic motors. The linear hydraulic motors move the drive beams and the drive beams move the conveyor slats that are connected to them.
My U.S. Pat. No. 5,350,057, granted Sep. 27, 1994, and entitled Ball Block For Mounting Linear Motor, discloses a reciprocating slat conveyor in which the transverse drive beams are physically separated from the linear hydraulic motors. The linear hydraulic motors are connected to selected conveyor slats that are directly driven by the linear hydraulic motors. The driven conveyor slats are connected to additional conveyor slats by the transverse drive beams.
My U.S. Pat. No. 6,409,009, granted Jun. 25, 2002, and entitled Conveyor Slat Connector And Connection Method, and my U.S. Pat. No. 6,575,293, granted Jun. 10, 2003, each discloses apparatus for connecting conveyor slats to transverse drive beams.
My U.S. Pat. No. 5,044,870, granted Sep. 3, 1991, and entitled Method For Collecting And Compacting Garbage And Then Loading It Into A Road Vehicle, discloses a reciprocating slat conveyor composed of laterally spaced apart moving conveyor slats and laterally spaced apart fixed conveyor slats that are located between the movable conveyor slats.
The present invention provides an improvement on the conveyor that is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,044,807. The improvement includes use of some technology disclosed in my above-identified patents Nos. 5,350,054; 6,409,009; 6,575,293 and Re35,022, in addition to new technology. The contents of U.S. Pat. No. 5,044,870 are incorporated herein by this specific reference.

Reciprocating slat conveyor with bearing planks on fixed slats between moving slats


In a database management system that operates according to the Structured Query Language standard, a query containing a reference to a view is processed by dynamically materializing the view through execution of the view definition. Once the view is materialized, it is treated as any other base table. To enable a query optimization plan to refer to the materialized view, a view node is introduced into the execution plan. The view node includes a subquery that results in the creation of the virtual table defined by the view. This created table is temporarily stored in a memory. The query optimizer can treat view nodes in the same manner as stored base tables, and thereby overcomes restrictions that were placed upon views by previous view decomposition approaches.

The present invention is directed to data base systems, and more particularly to a technique which enables data to be efficiently retrieved with the use of views having complex definitions. Although not limited thereto, the invention is particularly concerned with the standard for relational data bases known as "Structured Query Language" (SQL) and the constraints imposed thereby. For further detailed information relating to this standard, reference is made to Date, A Guide To The SQL Standard (1987) and Date, A Guide To DB2 (1985).
In relational data base management systems of the type to which the SQL standard pertains, data is stored in the form of base tables. Each base table essentially consists of a series of fields which define columns of the table. Each row of the table comprises a single record, also referred to as a "tuple." For each row of data in a table, a counterpart of that data is physically stored in the data base. When the data base user accesses a base table, the appropriate portion of the stored data is retrieved and presented to him in the form of a table.
In addition to base tables, data can also be accessed by means of "views." In contrast to a base table, a view is a "virtual" table in that the table does not directly exist in the data base as such, but appears to the user as if it did. In fact, the view is stored in the data base only in terms of its definition. For example, a view might comprise a subset of a base table, such as those tuples of the table which have a predetermined value in a particular field. As another example, a view could comprise a join operation, e.g. union, of two or more tables, where these other tables can be base tables, other views or a combination of both.
In relational data base systems that comply with the SQL standard, desired information is searched for and retrieved by means of expressions known as queries. For example, if a table named "Employee" contains the fields "Name", "Dept", "Age" and "Salary", and a user desires to find the subset of employees who work in the toy department, the following query can be used:
______________________________________ SELECT Name, Salary, Age FROM Employee WHERE Dept = "Toy" ______________________________________
If it is known that the information produced by this query will be used several times, a view can be defined, to thereby avoid the need to reformulate the query each time the information is desired. A view named "Emptoy" which produces the same information can be defined by means of the following statement:
______________________________________ CREATE VIEW Emptoy (Name, Salary, Age) AS SELECT Name, Salary, Age FROM Employee WHERE Dept = "Toy" ______________________________________
With this view created, the original query would then become:
______________________________________ SELECT * FROM Emptoy ______________________________________
(where the character "*" is a universal character to designate all fields in the table or view). As can be seen, the prior definition of the view makes the query much easier to formulate.
In addition, this view can be the subject of a further query. For example, to obtain the salary of all employees named Johnson in the toy department, the following query can be entered:
______________________________________ SELECT Salary FROM Emptoy WHERE Name = "Johnson" ______________________________________
As noted above, the data which makes up the virtual table Emptoy is not actually stored as such in the data base. Rather, only the definition of the view is stored. Accordingly, when a query which references a view is entered, a process known as view decomposition is carried out to translate the query into an equivalent query which references only stored base tables. In essence, the view decomposition process comprises the steps of replacing the reference to the view in the query with the definition of that view. Thus, in the example given above, the query for obtaining the salary of the employees named Johnson in the toy department would be modified to produce the following equivalent query:
______________________________________ SELECT Salary FROM Employee WHERE Name = "Johnson" and Dept = "Toy" ______________________________________
As can be seen, the modified query refers only to base tables and fields within that table.
In principle, it should be possible for a query to reference any view defined by an arbitrary query, and to translate that query into an equivalent operation on the underlying base tables. In practice, however, the applicability of this procedure is quite limited because of restrictions imposed by the SQL standard. For example, a view labeled "Avgsal" can be defined from two base tables Dept and Emp. The table Dept contains the fields "Dno" (department number), "Dname", "Mgrname" and "Loc", and the table Emp contains the fields "Eno" (employee number), "Dno", "Salary" and "Jobtitle". The definition of the view Avgsal which describes a department by its department number, department name and the average salary of its employees could appear as follows:
______________________________________ CREATE VIEW Avgsal (Dno, Dname, Avgsalary) AS SELECT Dno, Dname, AVG(Salary) FROM Dept, Emp WHERE Dept.Dno = Emp.Dno GROUP BY Dno ______________________________________
A query that asks for the location of all departments whose employees have an average salary greater than $30,000 would require a join operation on the base table Dept and the view Avgsal and could appear as follows:
______________________________________ SELECT Loc FROM Dept, Avgsal WHERE Dept.Dno = Avgsal.Dno and Avgsal.Avgsalary >30,000 ______________________________________
Unfortunately, the limitations of the view decomposition technique prevent the processing of this query. More particularly, the query cannot be processed because the WHERE clause contains reference to a virtual column Avgsalary which does not correspond to an existing column of a base table.
Basically, the translated form of an original query must always be a legal query itself. Thus, the applicability of view decomposition is limited to views which are relatively simple. Hence, it is desirable to provide a technique which enables views with a greater degree of complexity to be referenced in queries, and thereby expand the processing power of a database system.

View composition in a data base management system


In some embodiments, an apparatus and a system may include a substantially flat mounting plate having a first inset portion to receive a circuit board, and a second inset portion to receive an electronic component. A lower level of the second inset portion defines the first end of a post extending in a vertical direction away from the mounting plate to terminate in a second end, and the second end of the post is shaped to receive a fastener. The second end of the post may be used to secure a cap, and thus the electronic component, to the plate. Additional apparatus and systems, as well as methods, are disclosed.

Understanding the structure and properties of geological formations may reduce the cost of drilling wells for oil and gas exploration. Measurements are typically performed in a borehole (i.e., downhole measurements) in order to attain this understanding. For example, the measurements may identify the composition and distribution of material that surrounds the measurement device downhole.
To obtain such measurements downhole, a variety of electronic assemblies and mounting configurations may be used. However, such assemblies may be sensitive to downhole vibration and temperature conditions, affecting the ability to operate in a reliable fashion.

Mounting plate apparatus, systems, and methods


The present invention relates to a method for producing a transparent conductive film in a form of complex multi-layer film comprising at least one layer using a silver complex compound having special structure and an organic acid metal salt. The method for producing the transparent conductive film, using one or more solution processes, comprises steps of (1) forming a transparent layer over a transparent substrate to improve transmittance; and (2) forming the conductive layer allowing conductivity, and further comprises a step of (3) forming a protective layer to prevent a change over time of the conductive layer. According to the present invention, it is possible to achieve large-scaled transparent conductive film having excellent conductivity and transmittance, as well as simple processes.

Generally, the transparent conductive film is used as a necessary component of electric/electronic equipments such as means for applying power supply to a display device, a layer for shielding electromagnetic waves of consumer electronics, and a transparent electrode in a variety of display fields such as LCD, OLED, FED, PDP, a flexible display and an electronic paper. Now, as a material of the transparent conductive layer, an inorganic oxide conductive material such as ITO (Indium-Tin oxide), ATO (Antimony-Tin Oxide), AZO (Antimony-zinc Oxide) is used.
If the transparent conductive film is produced by sputtering method, ion beam method, or vapor deposition method which are typically used, it is possible to produce the conductive layer having higher conductivity and excellent transmittance. However, a cost accompanied by provision of vacuum equipments is larger and thus causes mass production and larger scale to be difficult, as well as the transparent substrate such as a plastic film is constricted because it requires low temperature process. In accordance with conditions such as oxygen partial pressure and temperature upon depositing by the sputtering process, the transmittance and resistance of the thin film can be rapidly changed as is changed the composition of the transparent conductive film. Therefore, it was proposed to prepare the transparent conductive film by wet-coating such as spin coating, spray coating, deposit coating, and printing which are suitable for lower cost and large-scale, and then sintering. For example, there is disclosed a transparent conductive film prepared by using metal particles and a binder in Korean Patent Laid-open No. 1999-011487, a composition for the transparent conductive film adding hollow carbon nanofiber into tin oxide in Korean Patent Laid-open No. 1999-064113, and a spray solution for forming a transparent conductive and selective light adsorption film adding neodymium oxide into tin oxide or indium oxide in Korean Patent Laid-open No. 2000-009405. Further, there is disclosed a method of producing a transparent conductive layer forming solution containing metal nanoparticles such as gold and silver.
The surface resistance of the transparent conductive film produced by the above method is as high as 103 to 104 Ω/□ and is increased over time due to changes in the surrounding environment and thus an initial conductivity is not maintained, whereby it is limited to use the transparent conductive film.
Therefore, the inventors can reach the present invention as a result of an effort to solve such problems. That is, the present invention relates to a method for producing the transparent conductive film in a form of complex multi-layer comprising at least one layer using a silver complex compound having special structure and an organic acid metal salt, and in particular to a transparent conductive film which has excellent resistance characteristics and transmittance via a solution process and a method for producing the same.

Transparent conductive layer and preparation method thereof


A method and system for representing objects in a relational database is provided. In one aspect, the invention provides a method and system for storing directory information objects in a relational database management system. In addition, a method and system for generating a statement in a database query language to search or manipulate objects or entries that are stored in a relational database is disclosed. An aspect of the invention is directed to a method and system that can automatically generate a SQL statement for an LDAP search filter.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to the storage of data within database systems. More particularly, the present invention is directed to the storage and access of object-oriented entities within a relational database management system.
2. Background
Many computer programming languages and applications utilize object-oriented structures to model real world information. Object-oriented languages and applications access and store data in the form of entities such as objects and attributes. For example, many conventional applications used for querying and maintaining directory information systems are modeled using aspects of object-oriented techniques and entities. Directory information systems provide a framework for the storage and retrieval of information that are used to identify and locate the details of individuals and organizations, such as telephone numbers, postal addresses, and email addresses.
One common type of object-oriented based directory systems is a directory based on the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (xe2x80x9cLDAPxe2x80x9d). LDAP is a directory protocol that was developed at the University of Michigan, originally as a front end to access directory systems organized under the X.500 standard for open electronic directories (which was originally promulgated by the Comite Consultatif International de telephone et Telegraphe xe2x80x9cCCITTxe2x80x9d in 1988). Standalone LDAP server implementations are now commonly available to store and maintain directory information. Further details of the LDAP directory protocol can be located at the LDAP-devoted website maintained by the University of Michigan at http://www.umich.edu/xcx9cdirsvcs/ldap/, including the following documents (which are hereby incorporated by reference): RFC-1777 Lightweight Directory Access Protocol; RFC-1558 A String Representation of LDAP Search Filters; RFC-1778 The String Representation of Standard Attribute Syntaxes; RFC-1779 A String Representation of Distinguished Names; RFC-1798 Connectionless LDAP; RFC-1823 The LDAP Application Program Interface; and, RFC-1959 An LDAP URL Format.
LDAP directory systems are normally organized in a hierarchical structure having entries (i.e., objects) organized in the form of a tree, which is referred to as a directory information tree (xe2x80x9cDITxe2x80x9d). The DIT is often organized to reflect political, geographic, or organizational boundaries. A unique name or ID (which is commonly called a xe2x80x9cdistinguished namexe2x80x9d) identifies each LDAP entry in the DIT. An LDAP entry is a collection of one or more entry attributes. Each entry attribute has a xe2x80x9ctypexe2x80x9d and one or more xe2x80x9cvalues.xe2x80x9d Each entry belongs to one or more object classes. Entries that are members of the same object class share a common composition of possible entry attribute types.
Referring to FIG. 1, shown is an example of a hierarchical tree of directory entities. Entry 96 is the top most level of DIT 20 and is of object class xe2x80x9corganizationxe2x80x9d having an attribute type xe2x80x9cOrg. Namexe2x80x9d with an attribute value of xe2x80x9cOraclexe2x80x9d. Entry 96 is the xe2x80x9cparentxe2x80x9d entry for three xe2x80x9cchildxe2x80x9d entries (97, 98, and 99) directly beneath it in DIT 20. Entries 97, 98, and 99 are objects of object class xe2x80x9cDepartmentxe2x80x9d each having attributes xe2x80x9cDept. Namexe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cState.xe2x80x9d Entry 97 has an attribute type xe2x80x9cDept. Namexe2x80x9d having a value of xe2x80x9cAdministrationxe2x80x9d and an attribute type xe2x80x9cStatexe2x80x9d with the value xe2x80x9cCAxe2x80x9d. Entry 98 has an attribute xe2x80x9cDept. Namexe2x80x9d with the value xe2x80x9cSalesxe2x80x9d and an attribute type xe2x80x9cStatexe2x80x9d with an attribute value xe2x80x9cNYxe2x80x9d. Entry 99 has an attribute type xe2x80x9cDept. Namexe2x80x9d with an attribute value xe2x80x9cRandDxe2x80x9d and an attribute type xe2x80x9cStatexe2x80x9d with a value of xe2x80x9cCAxe2x80x9d.
Entry 103 is a child entry of entry 97. Entry 103 represents an object of class xe2x80x9cPersonxe2x80x9d having the following attribute type-value pairs: (1) attribute type xe2x80x9cLast Namexe2x80x9d with a value of xe2x80x9cFounderxe2x80x9d; (2) attribute type xe2x80x9cFirst Namexe2x80x9d with a value of xe2x80x9cLarryxe2x80x9d; (3) attribute type xe2x80x9cTel. No.xe2x80x9d with a value of xe2x80x9c555-4444xe2x80x9d; and (4) attribute type xe2x80x9cStatexe2x80x9d with a value ofxe2x80x9cCAxe2x80x9d.
Entry 102 is a child entry of entry 98. Entry 102 represents an object of class xe2x80x9cPersonxe2x80x9d having the following attribute type-value pairs: (1) attribute type xe2x80x9cLast Namexe2x80x9d with a value of xe2x80x9cJonesxe2x80x9d; (2) attribute type xe2x80x9cFirst Namexe2x80x9d with a value of xe2x80x9cJoexe2x80x9d; (3) attribute type xe2x80x9cTel. No.xe2x80x9d with a value of xe2x80x9c555-3333xe2x80x9d; (4) attribute type xe2x80x9cManagerxe2x80x9d having the value of xe2x80x9cJim Smithxe2x80x9d; and (5) attribute type xe2x80x9cStatexe2x80x9d having the value xe2x80x9cCAxe2x80x9d. Note that entries 102 and 103 are both members of object class Person, but entry 102 has more listed object attributes than entry 103. In many object-oriented systems, objects that are members of the same object class may share a common set of possible object attributes, but some members of the class may not necessarily have values for some of the possible attributes. In this example, entry 103 does not have a value for attribute type xe2x80x9cManagerxe2x80x9d while entry 102 does have a value for this attribute.
Entries 100 and 101 are child entries of entry 99. Entries 100 and 101 are both members of object class xe2x80x9cPerson.xe2x80x9d Entry 100 is defined by the following attribute type-value pairs: (1) attribute type xe2x80x9cLast Namexe2x80x9d with a value ofxe2x80x9cDoexe2x80x9d; (2) attribute type xe2x80x9cFirst Namexe2x80x9d with a value of xe2x80x9cJohnxe2x80x9d; (3) attribute type xe2x80x9cTel. No.xe2x80x9d with a value of xe2x80x9c555-1111xe2x80x9d; (4) attribute type xe2x80x9cManagerxe2x80x9d having the value of xe2x80x9cLarry Founderxe2x80x9d; and (5) attribute type xe2x80x9cStatexe2x80x9d having the value xe2x80x9cCAxe2x80x9d. Entry 101 is defined by the following attribute type-value pairs: (1) attribute type xe2x80x9cLast Namexe2x80x9d with a value of xe2x80x9cSmithxe2x80x9d; (2) attribute type xe2x80x9cFirst Namexe2x80x9d with a value of xe2x80x9cJimxe2x80x9d; (3) attribute type xe2x80x9cTel. No.xe2x80x9d with a value of xe2x80x9c555-2222xe2x80x9d; and (4) attribute type xe2x80x9cManagerxe2x80x9d having the value of xe2x80x9cJohn Doexe2x80x9d; and (5) attribute type xe2x80x9cStatexe2x80x9d having the value xe2x80x9cNYxe2x80x9d.
One significant issue that has been faced by organizations seeking to develop an LDAP system is the selection of the type and configuration of a database system used to store the object-oriented LDAP data. A particularly desirable choice for many database configurations is to utilize a relational database management system (xe2x80x9cRDBMSxe2x80x9d). The relational database model provides many benefits when implementing a database application. For example, the relational database model has well-defined structures and entities (e.g., tables, views, indexes, etc.) to store or access the data of a database. RDBMS systems provide advanced database transaction, data consistency, recovery, and backup support. RDBMS systems also provide for clearly defined actions and operations to manipulate the data and structures of the database. Moreover, many RDBMS applications are designed to interoperate with standard database query languages (e.g., SQL) to access and modify data on the system.
The difficulty with implementing object-oriented applications, such as LDAP directory systems, in an RDBMS is that object-oriented data are based upon a fundamentally different data model than relational data. Object-oriented data are formed as entities which have specific object-oriented characteristics (e.g., objects and attributes). In contrast, the data in a relational database model are normally stored in database tables that are organized as an array of rows and columns. The values in the columns of a given row are typically associated with each other in some way. For example, a row may store a complete data record relating to a sales transaction, a person, or a project. Columns of the table define discrete portions of the rows that have the same general data format or data type. Thus, there are significant differences in structure between object-oriented data and relational data.
FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C depict one approach to storing object-oriented data, such as the entries from DIT 20 of FIG. 1, into an RDBMS. In this approach, a separate table is provided for each object class in the system. FIG. 2A shows an object class table 202 for the Organization class, which includes entry 96 from DIT 20 as a member of that class. FIG. 2B is an example of an object class table 204 for the object class Department, which includes entries 97, 98, and 99. FIG. 2C is an example of an object class table 206 for the object class Person, which includes entries 100, 101, 102, and 103 from DIT 20.
Each row of the object class table represents a single object of that corresponding object class. Thus, the Person class table 206 of FIG. 2C includes four rows, one row for each of the person class entries of DIT 20 (i.e., entries 100, 101, 102, and 103). Discrete columns within the object class table represent attributes of an object within the object class. A separate column must be provided for each possible attribute of an object class. The Person class table 206 of FIG. 2C includes five columns for object attributes xe2x80x9cLast Name,xe2x80x9d xe2x80x9cFirst Name,xe2x80x9d xe2x80x9cTel. No.,xe2x80x9d xe2x80x9cManager,xe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cState.xe2x80x9d Similar rows and columns in FIGS. 2A and 2B describe the objects and attributes for the Department and Organization objects of DIT 20. Thus, the approach illustrated in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C can be employed to represent object-oriented data in relational tables.
Referring to FIG. 2C, note that row 208 contains an empty space in the xe2x80x9cManagerxe2x80x9d column. This highlights one of the drawbacks of this approach. It is possible that some members of an object class may not have values for all possible attributes for that class. Entry 103 does not have a value for the xe2x80x9cManagerxe2x80x9d attribute, even though other members of the Person class 20 possess a value for that attribute type. The problem is that in the approach illustrated by FIGS. 2A-C, a column must be defined for each of the possible attributes of an object class. For each row in the table, resources may be set aside to allow values for all of the defined columns, even if some rows do not actually have values for one or more of the columns. Under this approach, system resources are wasted if any members of the class do not have a value for all defined attributes for the object class. This problem is further exasperated by very large object class tables having a large number of members that do not have values for particular columns.
Another drawback to this approach is that object class tables are not readily extensible, since the database schema itself has to be modified to allow changes to the definition of an object class. Such a change in definition occurs, for example, if an object attribute is being added or deleted from an object class. For example, consider when object class Person (represented by object class table 206 in FIG. 2C) is to be modified to include a new object attribute type called xe2x80x9cEmail Address.xe2x80x9d To implement this modification to the Person object class, the defining schema structure of the corresponding object class table must be modified to include a new column for the new attribute type. FIG. 3 depicts a revised Person class table 302 that includes a column for the new attribute type xe2x80x9cEmail Address.xe2x80x9d In operation, this modification typically involves the issuance of numerous data definition language (xe2x80x9cDDLxe2x80x9d) statements to modify the base schema of the database.
Generally, modifying the database schema is not a trivial task, and is performed only by administrators having specialized privileges to access and modify the metadata and structural definitions of the system. Moreover, adding columns to an existing relational database table could result in database fragmentation. This occurs because the data for the new column may not be co-located with the existing table data on a disk drive. Thus, performance suffers because two disk locations are accessed to access a single row from the database table. In addition, the method described with reference to FIGS. 2A-C suffers drawbacks when storing objects types that have multiple attribute values for an attribute type, since a single column is provided for an attribute type in an object class table.
Therefore, there is a need for an improved method and system for storing and maintaining object-oriented data in an RDBMS. In addition, there is a particular need for an improved system and method of storing and maintaining directory information objects, such as LDAP data, in an RDBMS.
A method and system for representing object-oriented data in a relational database is disclosed. An aspect of the invention is directed to the representation and storage of directory information objects, such as LDAP directory data, in a relational database system.
An aspect of the invention is directed to the generation of a database query language statement to query or manipulate directory information objects in a relational database. A feature of this aspect of the invention is the generation of a SQL statement for an LDAP search filter. Another aspect of the invention is directed to the hybrid use of Join operations with other types of aggregation operations in the generated SQL.
Further details of aspects, objects, and advantages of the invention are described below in the detailed description, drawings, and claims. Both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory in nature, and serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Method for generating a relational database query statement using one or more templates corresponding to search conditions in an expression tree


An information handling system, such as a disc drive, includes a base, a disc stack rotatably attached to the base, and an actuator assembly movably attached to the base. Attached to one end of the actuator assembly is one or more transducers. The disc includes data areas and servo areas written at angular locations on the disc. The disc drive also has a disc drive controller which includes a motor speed controller, a write gate controller, and a device for predicting the disc speed at an upcoming servo and disabling the write gate if the predicted disc speed is outside a selected range of disc speeds. The device for predicting the disc speed may further include an abort signal generator that produces an inhibit write gate signal in response to the predicted disc speed being outside the selected range of disc speeds.

The present invention relates to the field of mass storage devices. More particularly, this invention relates to an apparatus and method for motor speed control in a disc drive.
One key component of any computer system is a device to store data. Computer systems have many different places where data can be stored. One common place for storing massive amounts of data is a computer system is on a disc drive. The most basic parts of the disc drive are a disc that is rotated, an actuator that moves a transducer to various locations over the disc, and electrical circuitry that is used to write and read data to and from the disc. The disc drive also includes circuitry for encoding data so that it can be successfully retrieved and written to the disc surface. A microprocessor controls most of the operations of the disc drive as well as passing the data back to the requesting computer and taking data from a requesting computer for storing to the disc.
The transducer is typically placed on a small ceramic block, also referred to as a slider, that is aerodynamically designed so that it flies over the disc. The slider is passed over the disc in a transducing relationship with the disc. Most sliders have an air-bearing surface (xe2x80x9cABSxe2x80x9d) which includes rails and a cavity between the rails. When the disc rotates, air is dragged between the rails and the disc surface causing pressure, which forces the head away from the disc. At the same time, the air rushing past the cavity or depression in the air bearing surface produces a negative pressure area. The negative pressure or suction counteracts the pressure produced at the rails. The slider is also attached to a load spring which produces a force on the slider directed toward the disc surface. The various forces equilibrate so the slider flies over the surface of the disc at a particular desired fly height. The fly height is the distance between the disc surface and the transducing head, which is typically the thickness of the air lubrication film. This film eliminates the friction and resulting water that would occur if the transducing head and disc were in mechanical contact during disc rotation. In some disc drives, the slider passes through a layer of lubricant rather than flying over the surface of the disc.
Information representative of data is stored on the surface of the storage disc. Disc drive systems read and write information stored on tracks on storage discs. Transducers, in the form of read/write heads attached to the sliders, located on both sides of the storage disc, read and write information on the storage discs when the transducers are accurately positioned over one of the designated tracks on the surface of the storage disc. The transducer is also said to be moved to a target track. As the storage disc spins and the read/write head is accurately positioned above a target track, the read/write head can store data onto a track by writing information representative of data onto the storage disc. Similarly, reading data on a storage disc is accomplished by positioning the read/write head above a target track and reading the stored material on the storage disc. To write on or read from different tracks, the read/write head is moved radially across the tracks to a selected target track.
The data is divided or grouped together on the tracks. In some disc drives, the tracks are a multiplicity of concentric circular tracks. In other disc drives, a continuous spiral is one track on one side of a disc drive. Servo marks are written to the disc surface. The servo marks provide location information so that the radial position of the head with respect to the disc can be determined. The servo marks are wedges of servo information. Between the servo marks or fields, data is written. The servo marks are used to provide feedback information used to accurately locate the transducer. The write gate or the time when the disc drive writes data to the disc must be accurately controlled so that other information on the disc surface is not overwritten. The speed of the motor also must be accurately controlled to keep the spacing between the data bits consistent so that the spacing after writing is the desired or expected spacing between the bits. If the spacing is too close or too far apart, the disc drive will have difficulty in reading the data.
Generally, the velocity of the motor rotating the discs is checked by measuring the timing between servo marks on the surface of the disc. When the velocity drops or increases to a point outside the range of acceptable speed, the write operation is stopped. There is a problem with current systems. Servo firmware calculates velocity and declares an unsafe condition to prevent further writing. Typically, the unsafe condition is set some time after the motor speed is detected to be out of the range of acceptable speed or velocity limits. If this happens during a write operation, a number of data sectors will have already been written at an out of limit motor speed. When attempting to read the data sectors at a later time, the motor speed will be normal, and the data may be difficult or impossible to recover. One instance where out of limit motor speed occurs is during a power down failure in a disc drive. The motor slows due to the power down failure so that data is written to a sector or sectors at higher bit densities than expected. In other words, the bits are written closer together than normal. The end result is that the data is corrupted. It may be recoverable using deep data recovery techniques, such as changing the motor speed slightly. It also may be unreadable if the bits are too closely spaced and separate transitions can not be discerned.
What is needed is a disc drive that will either minimize the number of data sectors that are written when the motor is spinning at an out of limit speed or velocity, or a disc drive that will eliminate writing information when the motor is spinning at an out of limit speed or velocity.
An information handling system, such as a disc drive, includes a base, a disc stack rotatably attached to the base, and an actuator assembly movably attached to the base. Attached to one end of the actuator assembly is one or more transducers. The disc includes data areas and servo areas written at angular locations on the disc. The disc drive also has a disc drive controller which includes a motor speed controller, a write gate controller, and software for predicting the disc speed at an upcoming servo area and disabling the write gate if the predicted disc speed is outside a selected range of disc speeds. Predicating the disc speed may further include an abort signal generator that produces an inhibit write gate signal in response to the predicted disc speed being outside the selected range of disc speeds. Predicting the disc speed may also include a table of previous servo areas and disc speeds associated with the previous servo areas. Predicting the disc speed may also include software for fitting a trend line to a table disc speeds associated with a current servo area and at least one previous servo area.
The disc drive employs a method which includes calculating a predicted velocity at the next servo mark based on the measured velocities at a plurality of servo marks, comparing the predicted velocity to a range of reference values, and inhibiting the write operation when the predicted velocity is outside the range of reference values. Predicting the speed of the motor at the next angular location of the disc further includes plotting the speed of the motor at several previous angular locations of the motor, and determining a trend in the speed of the motor. Predicting the speed of the motor at the next angular location of the disc further may also include plotting the speed of the motor at several previous servo sectors which are determinative of the angular location of the motor, and determining a trend in the speed of the motor. Predicting the speed of the motor at the next angular location of the disc further may also include plotting the speed of the motor at several previous servo sectors on the surface of the disc to which data may be written. The servo sectors are determinative of the angular location of the motor. Plotting the speed of the servo sectors allows a trend in the speed of the motor to be determined. The write operation is aborted when the predicted speed is outside the selected range of speeds. The abort signal may be sent to a controller which controls the write operation. The write operation may also be aborted by sending an abort signal to a controller, and sending a write disable signal from the controller to the transducer.
A method for controlling the write operation in a disc drive is also disclosed. The method includes monitoring the speed of a motor, and predicting the speed of the motor at the next angular location of the disc. The predicted speed for the next angular location is compared to a selected range of speeds. The write operation is aborted when the predicted speed is outside the selected range of speeds. Predicting the speed of the motor at the next angular location of the disc includes plotting the speed of the motor at several previous angular locations of the motor, and determining a trend in the speed of the motor. The write operation is aborted when the predicted speed is outside the selected range of speeds. An abort signal is sent to a controller which controls the write operation. The write operation may also be aborted by sending an abort signal to a controller, and sending a write disable signal from the controller to the transducer.
Advantageously, predicting when the speed of the disc will travel outside of its limits, prevents or minimizes the number of sectors containing corrupted data. Another way of putting this is that the method will minimize or prevent writing data to a data area of the disc at an unacceptable data density. This invention also minimizes the number of unrecoverable errors or the number of write errors that need to use deep data recovery procedures. Deep data recovery procedures are used to read data when all else fails. The deep data recovery procedures take time. The performance of the disc drive is enhanced. Furthermore, the disc drive is more dependable over its life. In addition, the data stored on the disc drive using the apparatus and method is readable and less prone to error.

Motor speed observer for data protection in a disc drive


A leaf raking attachment for a conventional lawn mower includes a frame adapted to be releasably mounted to a lawn mower, the frame in turn being adapted to releasably receive a leaf pusher. The frame may be comprised of a welded frame having a pair of spaced apart vertical guide channels, and the leaf pusher may be comprised of a frame covered with iron mesh, and having a pair of vertical guide rods adapted to be received in the guide channels. The side edges of the pusher are curved forwardly in order to enable the attachment to catch and hold a large quantity of leaves.

In the past, the raking of large quantities of leaves, for example on estates, has generally required the manual raking of leaves in local areas onto burlap cloths or the like, with the thus loaded burlap cloths being manually dragged to a curbside for removal by truck. Such manual transporting loads of leaves to the curbside is extremely time consuming, usually requiring a number of persons to complete a leaf removal operation in a reasonable time.
While various raking and other attachments are known, they are not adaptable to the performance of the above described task. Thus, U.S. Pat. No. 2,268,250, Gormley et al, discloses a brush and rake adapted to be driven by a small power unit that is alternatively adapted to drive a lawn mower. U.S. Pat. No. 2,511,642, Law, discloses a wheeled hay rake. U.S. Pat. No. 2,647,356, Adams, discloses a single unit hay rake adapted to be attached to a tractor. U.S. Pat. No. 2,898,724, Robinson, discloses a unitary powered lawn rake adapted to be bolted to a tractor or lawn mower. U.S. Pat. No. 3,417,554, Sudhoff, discloses a single unit power rake for removing thatch from grass. U.S. Pat. No. 3,436,847, Grimes, discloses a snow plow adapted to be attached to a tractor. U.S. Pat. No. 3,789,590, Wilson, discloses a unitary powered rake. U.S. Pat. No. 4,130,952, Dion, discloses a plow adapted to be attached to a tiller. U.S. Pat. No. 4,322,936, Whitney, discloses a unitary powered raking device with a rake intermediate the front and rear wheels.
In spite of the knowledge of such devices for many years, the current practice in raking leaves has remained as I have discussed above.


The installation comprises a drive incorporating a guy rope provided at each end with a swivel joint, a driven rotating element and a pair of driving pulleys, all secured to the guy rope. A pair of driven pulleys is opposed to the pair of driving pulleys. A pair of endless cables is tensioned between the driving and driven pulleys and each endless cable has an upper and lower paths. A pair of stretched guide ropes, essentially parallel to the pair of endless cables is used. Each one of the stretched guide ropes is perpendicularly disposed to the stretched drive guy rope and extends from the ends of the latter. At least a pair of carrying lines is perpendicularly disposed with respect to the pair of stretched guide ropes. An actuating assembly including a reversible electric motor is used.

Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to apparatus for protecting horticultural and agricultural plots from small animals and, more particularly, to an installation for repelling birds. This installation causes bird flight from orchards, gardens, vineyards and the like, so that birds feeding habits are interrupted.
An activity of significant magnitude is the growing of fruit and berries. Trees growing fruit such as apples, pears, peaches, cherries and the like are presently grown in large orchards. Also, small fruit such as raspberries, strawberries, blueberries and the like are presently grown in bushes over extensive surfaces.
In the past, various types of devices and installations have been used in attempts to scare birds away from trees and bushes bearing fruit.
It has been proposed to utilize a loud noise so as to scare birds into flying from a crop field. Such a noise is usually provided by an air gun using a combustible gas. The air gun ignites the combustible gas at predetermined time intervals. However, due to the air gun""s widespread use, the birds become accustomed to the noise and the scarring effect is gradually diminished. Also, such method of producing a loud noise is generally rejected by the surrounding neighborhood.
Also, it has been proposed to protect horticultural and agricultural plots against attack by bird flocks with nets or similar protective webbing. This approach is limited, since the cost of acquiring, installing and operating a system according to this method would be prohibitive, especially for large plots.
In view of the impracticability of the loud noise method and the substantial cost associated with the building and operating of the net covering system, farmers have generally turned to the tactic of scarring birds away by using repelling installations. Thus, German Patent No. 1,281,741, dated Oct. 31, 1968 and granted to Bachli for an xe2x80x9cINSTALLATION FOR PROTECTING AGRICULTURAL CROPS FROM BIRDSxe2x80x9d describes several embodiments wherein use is made of carrying lines provided with scarring features. In a first type of embodiments, each carrying line is engaged in a limited, alternative movement with respect to its initial position. In a second type of embodiment, carrying lines cover large surfaces and are actuated by endless cables across the whole length of a plot. Bachli""s embodiments have important shortcomings. In the first type of embodiments the protected surface is limited, while in the second type of embodiment the use of pulleys, around which an endless cable is actuated by a reversible electric motor via a mechanical transmission, presents a major technical disadvantage. It is common knowledge, that any flexible transmission of power, such as flat and V-belts or chains can be used only for limited distances, while the surfaces protected from birds imply long distances. U.S. Pat. No. 4,109,605, dated August 29 and granted to Bachli for a xe2x80x9cSCARECROW SYSTEMxe2x80x9d discloses an installation using a main towline carrying deterrent devices. The main towline is supported by wire or rope-held pulleys, secured to movably poles attached to the soil, and is actuated by a drive assembly that imparts a reciprocating movement. A main disadvantage of this installation resides in the fact that the crop surface remains not protected, only corners and border surfaces being protected.
Following the foregoing situation, there is a need for an installation for repelling birds that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art.
Therefore, an objective of the present invention is to develop a reliable and efficient installation.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a well-engineered installation so that it is simple to assemble and operate, and comprises components that generally wear evenly.
Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a relatively inexpensive installation.
The present invention is predicated on the conviction that the use of one line, stretched drive guy rope in the present installation solves the long distance transmission of mechanical power. Furthermore, the use of a pair of carrying lines, provided with scarring elements, one carrying line simultaneously traveling in a direction opposite to the other carrying line, greatly enhances the efficiency of the present installation.
Broadly describing, the present installation comprises a unilinear drive assembly incorporating a stretched drive guy rope provided at each end with a swivel joint, a driven rotating element and at least one driving pulley, the former and the latter being firmly secured to the stretched drive guy rope. At least one driven pulley is opposed to the driving pulley and has a centerline situated in a plan passing through the midsection of the latter. At least one endless cable is tensioned between the driving and driven pulleys and has an upper path and a lower path. A pair of stretched guide ropes, essentially parallel to the endless cable is used. Each one of the stretched guide ropes is perpendicularly disposed to the stretched drive guy rope and extends from the ends of the latter. At least one carrying line is perpendicularly disposed with respect to the pair of stretched guide ropes. One carrying lines is attached to the upper path, while another is attached to the lower path, each end of each carrying line being slidably engaged with an adjoining one of the pair of stretched guy guide ropes. An actuating assembly includes a reversible electric motor connected to a reduction gear drive that is provided with an output drive shaft. On the latter, a drive wheel is securely fastened and transmits, via a mechanical transmission, a torsional moment to the driven wheel. The endless cable is provided with devices for triggering a change of direction of the reversible motor. Those devices are attached to the upper and lower paths at opposite positions, adjacent the driven pulley and the driven pulley, and act when the upper and the lower path, alternatively, at an end of their traveling paths come close to the driving pulley.
In one aspect of this invention, the installation for repelling birds further comprises devices for tension adjusting, secured outwardly from each swivel joint and from both ends of each stretched guide ropes. The devices for tension adjusting are adapted to be attached to posts anchored to the ground.
In another aspect of this invention, the installation for repelling birds further comprises at least one tensioning spring secured inwardly from at least one of the swivel joints of the unilinear stretched drive guy rope and inwardly from at least one of the devices for tension adjusting of each of the stretched guide ropes.


The system for producing bent sheet-metal articles comprises a bending machine (80) having a punch (84) and a die (86) which cooperate with each other and define a bending space, and a manipulator (64) having a movable head (76) which can grip a piece of sheet metal and place it in the bending space. Each piece to be bent has its own gripper and the head (76) of the manipulator (64) has rapid-attachment means for gripping and releasing the gripper associated with each piece. A table for defining the position of a piece to be bent, a manipulator for gripping and moving a piece of sheet metal by means of a floating head, a bending machine comprising an auxiliary structure for measuring the relative displacement of the punch and the die, and a device for automatically replacing tools of the bending machine are also described.

The invention has been developed to solve the problem of the bending of sheet-metal articles of complex shapes which are frequently used in machines such as photocopiers, facsimile machines and various electronic devices. These products are subject to rapid development and manufacturer therefore often changes models from one year to another. Each new model is the product of a redesign, even as regards the various sheet-metal articles which it contains.
These bent sheet-metal articles are therefore produced on a relatively small scale and thus do not justify complex and expensive tools and dies.
A system for producing bent sheet-metal articles known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,991,422 departs radically from previously existing bending systems which use bending presses with fixed frameworks and linear, V-sectioned punches and dies which are movable vertically towards and away from each other.
The system described in the U.S. Patent mentioned above provides for a piece which is to be bent to be supported by a manipulator so that a region of the piece which is to be bent lies in a vertical suspension plane. The bends are effected by means of an oscillating bending machine having two tools which can be disposed in any configuration relative to the piece to be bent. The piece is supported by the manipulator in a manner such that it can perform movements of limited extent with five degrees of freedom, excluding rotation about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the undeformed piece of sheet metal. The bending machine also has a device for the rapid replacement of the tools, using two rotary turrets carried at the ends of a C-shaped tool-holder structure.

System for producing bent sheet-metal articles and components of the system


A medical instrument having an elongate frame with proximal and distal ends spaced in a lengthwise direction along a central axis. A working assembly at a distal region of the frame has a U-shaped portion defined by first and second legs meeting at a base. The U-shaped portion defines a cutting space. The working assembly further has a cutting assembly with a sharp edge in the cutting space. The working assembly and elongate frame are configured so that a tissue entryway is defined through which a tissue can be advanced to be moved into the cutting space and against the sharp edge. The medical instrument further has a first assembly configured to be operated to vary a configuration of the entryway.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to medical instruments and, more particularly, to a medical instrument for repositioning and cutting a human body tissue at an operating site. The invention is also directed to a method of using such a medical instrument.
2. Background Art
In many surgical procedures, tissue is required to be controllably dissected. This dissection is commonly effected using cauterization. Oftentimes, the dissection is effected using only a blade with a sharp cutting edge that is drawn against the region of the tissue to be cut.
While it is known to manipulate tissue through an instrument having a hooked distal end at which a cutting blade is located, heretofore there have been a number of limitations associated with this basic instrument configuration.
As one example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,397,333 (Knoepfler) discloses an instrument wherein a sharp cutting blade is defined in a cutting space within the curvature of a hooked end. During introduction into, and movement of the hooked end within a cavity, tissue may be inadvertently brought into contact with the exposed cutting blade. This can lead to collateral damage around the intended site and may lengthen procedure times and potentially necessitate internal treatment of tissue to repair inadvertently cut regions thereof.
While use of a cannula may shield tissue from the cutting blade as the instrument is initially directed towards an operating site, the potential for collateral damage arises again, after the cannula is removed, as a surgeon relocates the hooked end to different sites as a procedure may demand. Further, damage may be inflicted at the conclusion of a procedure as the instrument, with the exposed cutting blade, is withdrawn.
Additionally, once the desired tissue portion is strategically situated in the cutting space preparatory to effecting a cut, the tissue has a tendency to escape from the cutting space. That is, the guiding inside surface of the hooked region, which is generally smooth, allows free sliding of the tissue therealong which could precipitate separation of the targeted tissue from the instrument. This may necessitate repeating steps, which adds undesirably to the overall time necessary to perform the procedure.
Further, uncontrolled tissue movement relative to the hooked end may make it difficult, or impossible, to precisely locate a cut.
The industry continues to seek better designs for instruments of this type, focused on at least the aforementioned limitations of existing designs.

Medical instrument and method of cutting a tissue using the medical instrument


The present invention relates to a composition for preparation of a food or beverage product. The composition comprises a foamer ingredient releasing gas upon dissolution in aqueous liquid; and a beverage or foodstuff ingredient comprising particles of ground vegetable material in a matrix comprising a vegetable extract; wherein the beverage or foodstuff ingredient has a retarded solubility such that a foam has been formed by the foamer ingredient, before the beverage or foodstuffs ingredient has dissolved, when the composition is dissolved in an aqueous liquid to produce a food or beverage product.

Soluble foamer or creamer ingredients which, upon addition of a liquid, are able to provide a creamy foam have many uses in foods and beverages. For example, these ingredients may be used to provide milk shakes and cappuccino beverages. They may also be used to generate foam in desserts, soups, and sauces.
Soluble coffee beverage powders, which produce cappuccino beverages when dissolved in water are particularly well known. Usually these products are a dry mix of a soluble coffee powder and a soluble creamer powder. The soluble beverage creamer may contain pockets of gas which, upon dissolution of the powder, produce foam. Therefore, upon the addition of water or milk (usually hot), a whitened coffee beverage, which has a foam on its upper surface, is formed; the beverage resembling, to a greater or lesser extent, traditional Italian cappuccino. Examples of these gassed soluble beverage creamers are described in European patent applications EP 0 154 192, EP 0 458 310 and EP 0 885 566. Soluble beverage creamers which contain inorganic foaming agents instead of entrapped gas are also available.
Ideally, to closely resemble a traditional Italian cappuccino, a light, fluffy, spooneable and stable foam should form on the surface of the beverage. However, quite often the foam produced by many soluble cappuccino powders is not light, fluffy and spooneable. Further, the amount of foam produced is often much less than that ordinarily found on a traditional cappuccino. The amount of foam may, to some extent, be increased by increasing the amount of soluble beverage creamer in the coffee beverage product. However this negatively influences the flavour balance of the beverage which is not always desirable.
In general, several methods exist to make a soluble coffee beverage delivering a "milk-type" foam layer upon reconstitution. Among these methods the following three deserve some further mentioning.
The first method, which is often used relates to porous coffee whitener containing gas at atmospheric pressure. Examples are found in the following patent publications U.S. Pat. No. 4,438,147 (Foaming creamer and method of making same), AU 645566 (Powdered foaming coffee whitener, process and apparatus for producing same and powdered mixture for making coffee beverages), U.S. Pat. No. 4,746,527 (Drink composition), DE 60020291 (Cappuccino creamer with improved foaming characteristics), and EP 1 064 850 (Foaming cappuccino creamer containing gasified carbohydrate). This first method comprises products, which upon reconstitution deliver a slowly forming relatively small layer of foam on top of the beverage.
The second method relates to the use of chemical foaming systems. Examples of this method are found in the following patent publications, DE 4407361 (Milk powder-free cappuccino coffee drink mixture) and EP 0 796 562 (Foaming coffee creamer and instant hot cappuccino). This second group represents a technology, which is not commonly used in the industry. The addition of chemical gassing ingredients can, but does not necessarily, lead to unpleasant taste deviations in the final beverage. In addition these type of products may be perceived by the consumer as too chemical.
The third method makes use of a foamer ingredient consisting of a porous matrix containing gas under pressure. Examples of this method are found in the following patent publications, WO 01/08504 (Foaming ingredient and powders containing it), WO 2006/023565 (Non-carbohydrate foaming compositions and methods of making the same) and WO 2006/023564 (Non-protein foaming composition and methods of making the same). The third group particularly WO 01/08504 delivers a fast developing, high amount of foam of a nice milk foam type dense and spooneable texture.
It has been found that the inclusion of particles of roast and ground coffee beans in soluble coffee products can improve the aroma of these products. Such products are e.g. disclosed in DE 19700084, GB 2022394 and WO 2010/005604. These products may e.g. be produced by introducing particles of roast and ground coffee into a liquid extract of coffee beans and drying the resulting product into a powder. Alternatively, they may be produced by simply mixing dry powders of coffee extract and roast and ground coffee particles, respectively.

Composition for preparation of a food or beverage product