A pneumatic commercial vehicle tire of radial design includes at least a three-ply belt, of which two belt plies are working plies and one radially outermost belt ply is a cover ply. Each of these belt plies includes reinforcements which are made of steel cord and which are embedded in elastomer. The steel cords of each of the three belt plies are coated with brass so as to provide for good elastomer adhesion. The brass coating of the reinforcement supports of the two working plies has a copper proportion of 60 wt. % to 65 wt. % and the brass coating of the reinforcement supports of the cover ply has a copper proportion of 66 wt. % to 70 wt. %.

Commercial vehicle tires having a belt that has two working plies and a cover ply are known to those skilled in the art. Normally, the belt of commercial vehicle tires has four plies, which include steel cords embedded in rubber compounds. In the case of a 4-ply belt, the radially innermost ply is referred to as the first belt ply or, according to its function, as a blocking ply. The second belt ply and the third belt ply are arranged radially on the outside of the first belt ply, acting as working plies. The radially outermost working ply is covered by the fourth belt ply, the cover ply.
In general, the steel cords of the first belt ply are at an angle of >45° to the circumferential direction. The first belt ply is referred to as a blocking ply because of its function of blocking the movement of the working plies in the circumferential direction. The steel cords of the two working plies are at an identical angle of between 15° and 30° to the circumferential direction of the tire, wherein the steel cords of one working ply slope in the opposite direction to the steel cords of the other working ply, relative to the circumferential direction of the tire. Thus, the steel cords of one working ply are arranged crosswise with respect to the steel cords of the other working ply. The working plies are subject to high shear forces and tensile forces and carry the principal load in the belt, and are therefore of particular importance for belt durability. The fourth belt ply has steel cords which enclose an angle of between 15° and 30° with the circumferential direction. The fourth belt ply, the cover ply, has the function of a protective ply for the two working plies situated thereunder since the cover ply forms a barrier to stones which can penetrate through the tread assembly. Without the cover ply, the cords of the working plies would be damaged by penetrating stones and would be subject to increased corrosion, something that would ultimately reduce the load capacity, durability and retread capacity of the tire.
The practice of providing steel cords of belt plies with a brass coating for better rubber adhesion is sufficiently well known. The steel cords of all the plies of multi-ply belts are always coated with the same brass composition. JP 60226303 A, for example, has disclosed the practice of providing the steel cords of all the belt plies of a radial tire with a brass coating which has a copper content of 60% by weight to 64% by weight. U.S. Pat. No. 4,732,197, for example, has disclosed the practice of providing the steel cords of all the belt plies of a radial tire with a brass coating which has a copper content of 60% by weight to 70% by weight.
It is furthermore known that a high copper content of the brass coating, while having a reduced adhesion, leads to improved corrosion resistance and that a low copper content of the brass coating, while having reduced corrosion resistance, leads to improved adhesion.

Pneumatic vehicle tire, preferably pneumatic commercial vehicle tire


A radiation system (50), comprising a patient support platform (3). An X-ray radiation source (2a, 2b, 2c) is positioned beneath the patient support platform and enclosed by fixed radiation shielding. An X-ray radiation detector (22) is positioned above the patient support platform. A detector X-ray radiation shield (1, 11) comprising shield extension (7) is arranged on either side of the patient support platform, which extend from the X-ray radiation 5 detector to the fixed radiation shielding. The shield extensions are able to be moved relative to the source radiation shield to allow access to a patient on the support platform.

Exposure to radiation such as X-rays can be harmful. Medical staff must be close to a patient during X-ray guided interventions using an X-ray system so can be exposed to harmful scatter radiation. To avoid harm by scatter radiation it is known to wear heavy and uncomfortable lead aprons. A fixed radiation shield is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,325,538. U.S. Pat. No. 6,325,538 discloses a shield apparatus that includes spaced apart tapered sections, each being constructed in the nature of a bellows, and a central, rectangular housing. The rectangular housing is fitted to a patient support table and provides openings that accommodate a patient's head, arms, and lower torso. This fixed radiation shield reduces the need for an operator to wear extensive lead aprons. Such a radiation shield is not, however, ideal as it substantially limits accessibility to a patient positioned within the shield. In particular, the rectangular housing fitted to the table makes it difficult to access a patient within the shield apparatus and makes it difficult for a patient to get on and off the patient support table.


An automatic, self-energized, length extending, take-up unit for general use in wall hold down systems. The take-up unit is generally installed as a separate element, independent of threaded retaining elements of a hold down system. One embodiment includes an internal, preloaded, coil spring to rotate a threaded sliding member relative to a threaded base member, thereby to extend a height of the take-up unit. A trigger mechanism may be included to prevent unintended actuation of the unit. Additionally, a safety mechanism may be included to prevent inadvertent separation of a base member and a sliding member, thereby to prevent loss of a preload in an energizing spring.

1. The Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to building construction, and, more particularly, to novel methods and apparatus for anchoring building walls to foundations and lower floors thereof. The invention provides an automatic adjusting mechanism to remove slack in a hold down system caused by wood shrinkage over time or wood crushing caused by earthquakes.
2. The Background Art
Wood products change dimensions as moisture content changes. Floor systems using solid sawn joists typically shrink approximately five percent in dimensions across the grain. Under certain conditions they have been known to shrink six and one-half percent within a year. This shrinkage is typically part of the overall process and condition called xe2x80x9csettling.xe2x80x9d Settling actually includes both settling of foundations, as well as settling of walls due to shrinkage.
Testing and load rating has been completed for shear walls mounted to solid underlying surfaces. The solid surfaces are typically comprised of steel, concrete, or both. In tests wherein a wall is constructed, and immediately tested thereafter, test results are substantially better than those for walls that have existed over time. In a typical practice, a sill plate anchor or lower anchor is a threaded rod or an anchored strap capturing the base plate or sill plate of a wall (the bottom, horizontal member above which the studs extend vertically). Over time, ranging from several months to several years, wood loses moisture, shrinks, and the building settles. Threaded rod type anchors become loose. Strap type anchors buckle if positively engaged and become loaded in compression, or the like.
Current tiedown systems (including rods, straps, and the like) do not provide a solution for this problem. After a building xe2x80x9csettlesxe2x80x9d the wall can lift before it will re-engage the hold down structure before the tiedown is even loaded to begin resisting movement of the wall. Substantial building damage can result before the anchoring hardware is loaded (in tension). Hardware that does not immediately engage the base of an anchored wall can result in a 50 percent to 70 percent loss in lateral, load-bearing capacity.
The problem arises, typically, in wind storms of great power, or in earthquake conditions. A building under such circumstances may be violently loaded or shaken back and forth in a lateral direction with respect to the extent of the wall. If a shearwall is tightly restrained by its base to a foundation, loads may be smoothly transferred from a horizontal to a vertical direction. Loads are resolved in the foundation, where they appear as tension and compression forces.
Buildings are often composed of long walls, (walls with a length greater than the height) and short walls (walls that have a length shorter than the height). The uplift load on a particular wall is inversely proportional to the length of the wall. Tall narrow shear walls (as commonly found in nearly all homes) act as lever arms and tend to magnify the input load. In certain instances and depending upon wall structural configuration, the actual load on the anchoring system may be magnified to several times the original load. Gaps caused by wood shrinkage may further introduce an undesirable shock load to the anchoring system as the gaps are closed and the anchor system is finally loaded.
However, the as-built building is generally not the building that will be sustaining loads induced by earthquake shaking or by wind. Wood components of the building structure, including floors, sill plates, top plates, and studs, will shrink. Shrinkage varies greatly but it ranges typically from about one-quarter inch under the best of conditions, to well over one inch.
Moreover, under load, wood crushes or collapses in compression under the loading of a wall. Neither shrinkage nor crushing are well-accommodated or otherwise resolved in currently available systems. These problems lead to a significant reduction in the lateral, load-bearing capacity of shearwalls. Typically, based on testing, load-bearing capacity reductions range from about 30 percent to about 70 percent, depending on whether the rating used corresponds to building codes for property preservation, or life safety.
A better hold down or tiedown system including an improved take-up is needed to accommodate shrinkage of building materials. An improved tiedown system with such an improved take-up mechanism will improve the strength of shear walls subject to shrinkage of constituent materials.
In accordance with the above-identified needs, it is an objective to provide a self-powered take-up system for removing slack from between shearwalls and their anchors. It is an objective to provide a high reliability with a 30 year minimum life expectancy. It is desired that the apparatus be a non-reversing (locking in the extended position) design that may be shipped in a cocked, or preloaded position, ready to fire or deploy to extend in height, and having a trigger mechanism to actuate operation thereof. It is desirable to provide a simple mechanism that may be activated in the field with a minimum of skill and tools. In certain embodiments it is desirable to provide smooth and continuous motion of the take-up process, involving no stepped functions. Nevertheless, in other embodiments, step functions may be desirable. It is desired to minimize backlash to within thousandths of an inch.
It is desired to provide an apparatus that may be concentrically loaded, and thus able to tolerate and better center eccentric loads. In practice, few items are ever installed fully squared, and the take-up apparatus in accordance with the invention is preferably able to function at loads equal to the full tiedown design load for any anchor to which the take-up is attached. Ultimately, the tiedown should withstand the full ultimate load of a corresponding tiedown apparatus without jamming or deflecting substantially (e.g. more than one sixteenth of an inch).
In certain embodiments, the take-ups may be stackable to provide additional take-up capacity where more shrinkage, due to more buildup of wood, occurs. It is desired to provide standard sizes adapted to fit commonly used anchors and to fit within the space currently available for tiedown mechanisms. Thus, the take-up according to the instant invention may be sized for use with virtually any common size of tiedown system, or even for use in specially sized systems.
Consistent with the foregoing objects, and in accordance with the invention as embodied and broadly described herein, an apparatus and method are disclosed, in suitable detail to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention. In certain embodiments an apparatus and method in accordance with the present invention may include an extender of monotonically increasing length (or height) fitted between an anchor and a wooden structure for taking up the space caused by wood shrinkage or crushing.
One embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention includes a take-up unit having a hole therethrough to accommodate an anchor bolt of a hold down system. The take-up unit is generally structured to be interposed in compression between a surface to be retained and a retention nut carried in threaded engagement by the anchor bolt. A key functionality of a take-up unit is the capability of automatically increasing in height. Such increase in height may be accomplished in discrete steps, or as a continuous and smooth function.
A take-up unit typically includes a base member and a sliding member. The base and sliding members are generally cooperatively structured so that relative sliding motion between the base and sliding members causes a change in height of the take-up unit. The base and sliding members also typically have an interface therebetween adapted to retain the members in close sliding relation. One such interface might be a mutually engaged thread interface between the base and the sliding members. A second such sliding interface between a base and sliding member is a dovetail joint.
An exemplary take-up unit also typically includes a biased element configured as an expansion producing element. One practical and highly preferred expansion element is embodied as a coil spring, the spring being interposed between the base and sliding members and preloaded to urge the members toward a position of increased unit height. Also preferably included is a trigger mechanism operable to maintain the unit in an installation configuration having a first height. The trigger mechanism is generally releasable to deploy the unit for an automatic increase in height to a second height subsequent to installation of the unit in a hold down system.
A take-up unit according to the present invention may also include a safety mechanism which may be provided by an interference between structure carried by the sliding and base members. The safety mechanism may be engaged, or enabled, during manufacture of the take-up unit subsequent to preloading one or more springs. One function of a safety mechanism is to prevent unintentional disassembly of the unit. A safety mechanism may determine a maximum range of relative motion between base and sliding members. An exemplary safety mechanism is formed by a flange carried by the sliding member, the flange being deformed into position to interfere with structure carried by the base member subsequent to assembly of the unit. The interference created between the flange and base member structure prevents unintentional disassembly of the unit thereafter. A snap ring may also be employed to perform the same function as the flange.
A sliding member may also include a cover to form a debris-shield over an advancing interface between the members. The advancing interface may be defined as including at least a portion of that surface which produces an additional increase in unit height, the advancing interface being in addition to any surface in contact between the members while in an installation configuration. A take-up unit may be structured and arranged for stacking a plurality of units inline in a hold down system to effect an increased range of total extension height.
A take-up unit may be fashioned to have a sliding member that includes a right-hand threaded hole for engagement with a commercial anchor bolt. The sliding member typically includes a bearing surface against which to receive a jam nut, the jam nut also being in engagement with the anchor bolt. To further prevent inadvertent rotation of the sliding member about the anchor bolt under the action of a preloaded spring, a thread having a different direction than the anchor bolt thread is preferably provided between the base and sliding members. To accommodate commercially available right hand threaded anchor bolts, a left-hand threaded engagement may preferably be provided as a slidable capture interface between sliding and base elements.

Shrinkage compensator for building tiedowns


The present invention involves an access device for a movable barrier configured to include a user interface, and more specifically, a movable barrier access device configured to include a deployable cover that covers the user interface when not being utilized. This will assist in extending the usable life of the access device by disallowing exposure to the elements when not in use. The deployable cover can be actuated as a result of signals sent from one or more sensors that are configured to detect any specified stimulus from the surrounding environment outside of the housing. Some of the specified stimuli are the presence of motion and rain in proximity to the access device housing.

Typically, access to a secure premises, such as a gated area, building, or parking structure, requires that the user utilize some form of access device, either to directly open a barrier in order to gain entry, or otherwise to communicate with an internal or external client who then authorizes entrance for said user. This device often includes some type of user interface component, such as a display screen, input keypad, input keyboard, radio transmitter, or biometric sensor, which allows the user to operate the device. Furthermore, these access devices are normally found on the outside of the secure premises and, in many instances, are located outdoors, leaving them exposed to potentially corrosive weather and harmful external elements. Without adequate protection, this exposure can result in accelerated corrosion and malfunctioning of the device, leading to expensive repairs or outright replacement of the device.
For example, an access device configured to provide vehicle access to a barrier-controlled premise, such as a gated community, is likely to be located outdoors, adjacent to the entrance gate, in order to allow the user to operate the device without being required to step out of their vehicle. This device is located outdoors as a practical matter; it may be inconvenient to require the user to park their car and walk to an indoor location in order to gain vehicle entry to the premises. Thus, out of this necessity, an access device may be left exposed to rain, moisture, snow, sand, heat, freezing temperatures, or any other weather or environmental conditions that can potentially damage the mechanical or electrical components of the device.
Some access devices may comprise a casing or housing assembly as a means of covering the internal components of the device from the surrounding environment. However, in order to allow the user interface component to remain accessible to the user, it is often not contained within the housing, and thus may not be adequately protected from the elements. That is, because the housing unit may not fully encompass the user interface, this component may still be exposed to potentially damaging conditions, and without adequate protection, the user interface may suffer the detriments of this exposure.
For example, an access device configured to provide access to a gated community may include a user interface with a numbered keypad to allow the user to input an access code to gain entry to the premises or contact an internal or external client, as well as a display to allow the user to select from a list of clients and their respective contact information. Repeated exposure of these components to even mild environmental factors may cause irreparable damage such as rain water seeping in through the edges of the numerical keypad. This could cause malfunctions, which results in higher maintenance and replacement costs. Moreover, the exposed user interface may act as an entry point to the internal components of the access device, allowing the rainwater to trickle in causing additional damage, and thereby diminishing any benefit derived from the housing assembly.
Therefore, there exists a need in the art for an improved means of protecting the components of an access device from the surrounding environment without sacrificing ease of access for a user. It is to these ends that the present invention has been developed.

Access device housing with deployable cover for user interface


Embodiments of the present disclosure are configured to assess the severity of a blockage in a vessel and, in particular, a stenosis in a blood vessel. In some particular embodiments, the devices, systems, and methods of the present disclosure are configured to assess the severity of a stenosis in the coronary arteries utilizing external imaging.

A currently accepted technique for assessing the severity of a stenosis in a blood vessel, including ischemia causing lesions, is fractional flow reserve (FFR). FFR is a calculation of the ratio of a distal pressure measurement (taken on the distal side of the stenosis) relative to a proximal pressure measurement (taken on the proximal side of the stenosis). FFR provides an index of stenosis severity that allows determination as to whether the blockage limits blood flow within the vessel to an extent that treatment is required. The normal value of FFR in a healthy vessel is 1.00, while values less than about 0.80 are generally deemed significant and require treatment. Common treatment options include angioplasty and stenting.
Coronary blood flow is unique in that it is affected not only by fluctuations in the pressure arising proximally (as in the aorta) but is also simultaneously affected by fluctuations arising distally in the microcirculation. Minimally invasive sensors may be positioned distally and proximally of the lesion of interest to detect pressures which may then be used to estimate FFR. In traditional pressure sensing FFR procedures, pharmacological hyperemic agents, such as adenosine, are administered to reduce and stabilize the resistance within the coronary arteries. These potent vasodilator agents reduce the dramatic fluctuation in resistance (predominantly by reducing the microcirculation resistance associated with the systolic portion of the heart cycle) to obtain a relatively stable and minimal resistance value.
However, the administration of hyperemic agents is not always possible or advisable. First, the clinical effort of administering hyperemic agents can be significant. In some countries (particularly the United States), hyperemic agents such as adenosine are expensive, and time consuming to obtain when delivered intravenously (IV). In that regard, IV-delivered adenosine is generally mixed on a case-by-case basis in the hospital pharmacy. It can take a significant amount of time and effort to get the adenosine prepared and delivered to the operating area. These logistic hurdles can impact a physician's decision to use FFR. Second, some patients have contraindications to the use of hyperemic agents such as asthma, severe COPD, hypotension, bradycardia, low cardiac ejection fraction, recent myocardial infarction, and/or other factors that prevent the administration of hyperemic agents. Third, many patients find the administration of hyperemic agents to be uncomfortable, which is only compounded by the fact that the hyperemic agent may need to be applied multiple times during the course of a procedure to obtain FFR measurements. Fourth, the administration of a hyperemic agent may also require central venous access (e.g., a central venous sheath) that might otherwise be avoided. Finally, not all patients respond as expected to hyperemic agents and, in some instances, it is difficult to identify these patients before administration of the hyperemic agent.
This application incorporates the following patents and applications by reference herein: U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,930,014 and 8,157,742 along with application Ser. No. 13/460,296 filed: Apr. 30, 2012, entitled: "Devices, Systems, and Methods for Assessing a Vessel;" and application Ser. No. 11/473,974 filed Jun. 23, 2006, entitled "Three Dimensional Co-Registration for Intravascular Diagnosis and Therapy;" and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/525,736 filed on Aug. 20, 2011 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/525,739 filed on Aug. 20, 2011, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
As described more fully in application Ser. No. 13/460,296 filed: Apr. 30, 2012, entitled: "Entitled: Devices, Systems, and Methods for Assessing a Vessel", incorporated by referenced herein in its entirety, new techniques have been developed to determine FFR without the use of hyperemic agents.
As recognized in U.S. Pat. No. 8,157,742 entitled "Method and System for Patient-Specific Modeling of Blood Flow," incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) may be used for imaging of patient with chest pain and involves using computed tomography (CT) technology to image the heart and the coronary arteries following an intra-venous infusion of contrast agent. The CT data is used to generate a 3D model of the heart and coronary arteries. This model is then used to estimate FFR.
CT scanning is a costly procedure and takes time during the critical time a patient is experiencing chest pains. Moreover, the CT machine is not located in the catheter lab where treatment can be administered.
Accordingly, there remains a need for improved devices, systems, and methods for assessing the severity of a blockage in a vessel and, in particular, a stenosis in a blood vessel. In that regard, there remains a need for improved devices, systems, and methods for assessing the severity of a stenosis in the coronary arteries in a staged manner that can quickly assess severity and incorporate additional assessment modalities if more detailed information is needed to assess the patient's condition.

Devices, systems, and methods for assessing a vessel


At the initial diagnosis of sepsis (6-24 h before the development of ARDS), serum manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) levels and catalase activities are increased in septic patients who subsequently developed ARDS compared to septic patients who did not develop ARDS. Increases in MnSOD and catalase may be used to predict the occurrence of ARDS in septic patients with the same sensitivity, specificity and efficiency as parallel assessments of serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and Factor VIII levels. Evaluation of serum MnSOD and catalase as well as these other accessible markers facilitates identification of subsets of patients and allows prospective treatment of septic patients who are destined to develop ARDS.

The present application relates in general to methods and apparatus for performing assays for disease states, and in particular to methods and apparatus for performing assays for adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
ARDS is an acute inflammatory process characterized by lung neutrophil accumulation, lung edema and progressive hypoxemia [Repine, Lancet, 339, 466-469 (1992)]. ARDS occurs as a complicating factor in patients with sepsis as well as numerous other predisposing conditions. Since many common and diverse risk factors lead to the development of ARDS, but ARDS develops only relatively rarely, pretreating everyone at risk for ARDS is not practical [Fowler et al., Ann. Intern. Med., 98, 593-597 (1983)]. Because a better understanding of ARDS is emerging and various interventions which can limit inflammation are forthcoming, it has become a major goal to identify accessible and repeatable markers in at risk patients which predict the development of ARDS. This will enable experimental therapies to be prospectively and effectively evaluated in smaller, better-defined groups of patients.

Serum antioxidants as predictors of the adult respiratory distress syndrome in septic patients


A method for converting an analogue signal representing a runlength limited binary signal with runs of length of at least N into a binary output signal. The analogue signal is sampled and an intermediary binary signal is generated based on the sample analogue signal. Those binary sequences within the intermediary binary signal having a length greater than 2Nxe2x88x921 are identified. The sequences having a set of successive samples having the same binary value, and which borders on samples having an opposite binary value. For each such binary sequence, an analogue sequence is selected in the sampled analogue input signal which corresponds to the identified binary sequence. Then it is determined if there are a plurality of significant local extrema within the selected analogue sequence, and if they are found, the identified binary sequence is partitioned into a corresponding plurality of smaller runs, comprising at least one run of length N.

The present invention relates to a method for converting an analogue signal representing a runlength limited binary signal with runs having a length of at least N into a binary output signal.
n a d=1 RLL code the shortest allowable runlength is an I2 (two equal 2Nxe2x88x921consecutive binary symbols), translating to a (highest) frequency component of 1/4T, where 1/T is the channel bit rate. The physical length of a channel bit on the disc is chosen in such a way as to ensure that the highest frequency allowed by the code is still lower than the cut-off frequency of the optical channel (determined from the parameters of the optical pick-up). This provision ensures that the smallest marks (pits or lands) will be resolved during disc read-out. However, in order to achieve the aimed capacity of around 25 GB in DVR, the recording density is increased. This translates to smaller marks on the disc, the resolution of which becomes increasingly difficult. The same phenomenon is observed when the writing speed is increased; this leads to transition shifts (writing jitter) in the opposite direction for rising and falling edges of small runlengths on the disc. This again results in the shortening of small runlengths.
A direct consequence of density and/or writing speed increases is the fact that traditional techniques for data detection, such as threshold detection, fail to achieve adequate performance. Even more sophisticated detection methods, such as Runlength Pushback detection as described in EP 948844 A1, suffer significant performance losses at the high capacities aimed for DVR. The obvious solution to the problem is to resort to Maximum Likelihood Sequence Detection (MLSD) techniques, which are known to achieve optimum performance under certain conditions. MLSD techniques indeed seem to do the job, and exhibit significant robustness with respect to density increases. However, their enhanced performance comes at the price of bit-recursive operation, a fact which may prohibit their implementation at the very high data rates that are likely to emerge.
It is an object of the invention to provide a method which has a performance comparable to that of MLSD methods, but which avoids bit-recursive operation. In order to achieve this object the method according to the invention for converting an analogue signal representing a runlength limited binary signal with runs having a length of at least N into a binary output signal comprises the following steps:
a. sampling the analogue signal,
b. generating an intermediary binary signal on the basis of the sampled analogue signal,
c. identifying binary sequences within the intermediary binary signal having a length greater than 2Nxe2x88x921, the sequences comprising a set of successive samples having the same binary value, and which set borders on samples having an opposite binary value and for each such binary sequence,
d. selecting an analogue sequence in the sampled analogue input signal which corresponds to the identified binary sequence,
e. searching for the existence of a plurality of significant local extrema within the selected analogue sequence,
f. if such a plurality of significant local extrema is found partitioning the identified binary sequence into a corresponding plurality of smaller runs, comprising at least one run of length N.
The method according to the invention avoids recursive operations, but detects the binary signal with a relatively high accuracy. The latter is based on the following observations.
The proposed detection scheme is tailored to high capacity and/or high speed optical recording systems using a d=1 channel code, such as DVR RW. A study of the bit-errors that are usually encountered in such systems was first conducted. An analysis of the bit-errors left after application of (a modified version of) the run-detector of EP 948 844, that corrects only for violations of the d=1 constraint, revealed a single most important category of errors in the detected bit-stream. These errors occur by miss-detection of I2""s in the HF signal. Both samples of these I2-runs are either not high (for an I2-land) or low (for an I2 pit) enough to cross the threshold level of the detector, and are therefore detected as parts of their surrounding runs (of opposite polarity). The result is that the two pits (lands) surrounding the I2 land (pit) are joined by the miss-detected I2, to form a longer combined run.
The problem of miss-detected I2s becomes more severe as recording density and/or recording speed is increased, and accounts for an increasing percentage of errors. An important observation from the performed experiments is that if all erroneous I2""s can be detected and corrected, then near-MLSD performance can be achieved. It is therefore adequate, at least in terms of bit-errorrate performance, to concentrate only on this type of errors.
The proposed detection methodology is in particular suitable for the correction of a certain category of errors, which occur in high-density and/or high writing speed d=1 recording. Recently, other sub-optimal detectors have been introduced for ROM applications.
These detectors are in turn focused on the correction of errors occurring in ROM media, under DVD-like conditions. Since the sources of errors in ROM media are different from those encountered in the present case (d=1, DVR RW-like conditions), these detectors are not considered here.

Method for converting an analogue signal into a binary output signal


The present invention relates to an improved means for the stability control assembly of a cutter of nut former. This means comprizes a driving roller positioned on the center line of movement of the cutter axis enabling the cutter not to roll driving the process of cutting. A plate spring and helical spring cooperate together to reduce the variation range of spring strength, this minimizing wearing of each operating part and to reduce chattering of the cutting tool.

This invention relates to an improved apparatus for the stability control of a cutter of a nut former. A driving roller placed on the center line of the cutter axis operates in the same direction as the cutter. A pin spindle, slide block and a compressed rod inhibit the cutter from rolling and obtain a uniformity in shearing section of the cutter material. A plate spring and a compressed helical spring are used so that the cutter can avoid chattering (i.e. vibrations and accelerations of the tool) and advance smoothly. For a given same displacement of the cutter, the displacement of the compressed spring is less in compression. As a result, a smaller helical spring may be used and less wear among contacting and sliding surfaces occurs resulting in greater longevity of the apparatus.
The conventional control mechanism of a cutter used in a nut former is disclosed in FIG. 1. The movement of cam 11 causes cam follower and roller 12 to move along a guide slot 111 which in turn urges cutter 13 forward. By means of compressed helical spring 14, the cutter 13 is urged in the direction of Arrow A. Thus cam follower 12 is always urged against the inside surface of guide slot 111 of cam 11. This is to avoid chattering, vibrating or accelleration of cutter at the time of cutting. However, cam 12 is situated below cutter 13 and has a certain clearance (that is to say, moment arm). From a dynamics point of view, cam follower 12 which is driven by a perpendicular component of force to drive the cutter 13 forward must have a horizontal component of force in parallel with cam 11. The horizontal component of force applied on cam 12 and the moment arm form a moment of force and cause the cutter 13 to tend to about its axis. The resulting inability to obtain uniformity of shearing surface of material molding and punch as tends to cause damaging during molding and punch operations. In addition, the yield of defective products increases, thereby hurting production efficiency. For the purpose of reducing the rolling of cutter 13 which is unavoidable, and avoiding chattering at the time of cutting material, a longer compressed helical spring with larger diameter could be used. Practically speaking, the function of compressed helical spring is to reduce the rolling of the cutter and the chattering at the moment of cutting. And the maximum horizontal force applied on the cam 12 takes place within the cutting distance of material by a cutter. From experience and experiment, cutting of material occurs when a cutter cuts into three-tenths of the diameter of a material. In other words, the force of spring reaches maximum when three-tenths of material diamer has been cut be for obtaining the advantage of reducing the rotation of cutter and chattering. But the spring force of the conventional cutter reaches maximum when cutting process nears the end, that is to say, F=KX. As a result, when roller, pin spindle and sliding plate in contact with each sliding surface advance material through the cutter, the force of the spring 14 increases uselessly, thereby increasing the rate of wear and shortening their life. It also causes waste of power.

Stabilizing means for the cutter of nut former


A method and system to prevent auto theft from parking areas, such as airport parking lots, includes a ticket dispenser, at an entry gate, which issues a numbered ticket to each driver. The driver is advised to carry the ticket with him and not to leave it in the car. At the same time the ticket is issued, the color of the car, or its length or part of its license plate number, is automatically determined and entered into computer memory, in association with the ticket number. At the exit, the ticket is presented by the driver, read by a ticket reader, and its associated data (car color, length or license number) is retrieved from computer memory. Also at the exit, the car's color, length or part of its license plate is again automatically obtained and compared with the data retrieved from the computer memory. In the event of a mismatch, a warning signal is generated.

At the present time the theft of automobiles (cars) from parking areas is an important problem. "Parking areas" include shopping malls, parking lots and other outdoor and indoor parking areas, indoor parking garages, airport parking lots and other paid and unpaid car parking facilities, gated communities (private communities) as well as military bases and other facilities where cars are parked.
Despite the best efforts of auto manufacturers, car theft device manufacturers and the police, car theft from parking areas remains as one of the most prevalent crimes, resulting in the loss of billions of dollars and high car theft insurance rates in many areas. In addition, customers may fear leaving their cars in shopping malls, and other parking lots, resulting in a loss of business to such malls.
Car manufacturers now produce cars with various anti-theft devices, such as locked steering wheels, keys with microprocessor chips, and remote control locks. In addition, various steering wheel locks and bars are widely used. Another anti-theft system uses a radio transmitter hidden in the car which is activated when the car is reported as being stolen. Despite these devices, car theft from parking areas is still a problem. For example, The New York Times, Feb. 6, 1996, pages B1,B4, reports that at the Green Acres shopping mall in Valley Stream, Long Island, N.Y., as a result of increased security, the number of cars stolen from that mall fell from 532 cars in 1984 to 159 cars in 1995, still an unacceptably large number.
When a car is stolen it may be reported to the police almost immediately. However, by that time it may be out of the parking area and on its way, for example, to be disassembled in a "chop shop" or shipped abroad. The police would be notified of the car's description, i.e., "a white 1995 Acura Legend four-door" and its license number, i.e., New York "JWB 123". However, the thief, to prevent being caught, may immediately, before he exits the parking area, switch the original license plates with license plates he has brought with him. Consequently, the police would not be able to detect and stop the stolen car even if they are present at the exit of the parking area when the thief drives out with the stolen car.
The issued U.S. patents mentioned below are incorporated by reference. U.S. Pat. No. 4,947,353 uses a scanning laser, which scans at 160 times per second, on one side of a roadway, and a vertical elongated photoelectric detector on the other side, to measure the heights of vehicles. U.S. Pat. No. 5,088,827 discloses a system for measuring the width of a traveling object, such as a wire, being manufactured. U.S. Pat. No. 5,083,200 relates to using a linear camera for obtaining the silhouette of a traveling vehicle to determine if it is a truck etc., using its length and height. U.S. Pat. No. 5,381,155 uses a license plate reader, a speed measuring device, a data base of registered vehicles and a variable message sign to display the names of speeding drivers on the sign. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,066,950 two spaced-apart infra-red beams are used to indicate the speed, length and separation of traveling vehicles for photographing speeding vehicles.
The following U.S. patents relate to reading license plates and generating digital signals representing the plate numbers: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,567,609; 4,817,166; 5,081,685; 5,136,658; 5,175,617; 5,204,573; 5,204,675; 4,731,854; 4,878,248; 5,315,664; 5,425,018.

System and method for preventing auto thefts from parking areas


Disclosed herein is a method of and an apparatus for fabricating an oxide superconducting wire which comprises a tape-type long base material and an oxide superconducting film formed thereon. The oxide superconducting film is formed by laser ablation of applying a laser beam (2) onto a target (4) while translating a long base material (6) along its longitudinal direction and depositing atoms and/or molecules scattered from the target (4) on the base material (6).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of and an apparatus for fabricating an oxide superconducting wire, and more particularly, it relates to a method of and an apparatus for fabricating a wire which comprises an oxide superconducting film formed on the surface of a long base material.
2. Description of the Background Art
As a method of fabricating an oxide superconducting wire, there has been developed a method of charging powder of an oxide superconductive material into a silver pipe and wire-drawing the same, a method of depositing a thick film of an oxide superconductive material on a flexible base material by plasma flame coating, or the like (hereinafter referred to as first prior art).
On the other hand, a laser deposition process has been proposed a method of forming a thin film of an oxide superconductive material, although the same is not yet applied to fabrication of an oxide superconducting wire. In relation to such laser deposition, an excimer laser, a nitrogen laser, the second harmonics of a YAG laser, a CO.sub.2 gas laser or the like is employed to deposit an oxide superconducting film of Y-Ba-Cu-O, Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O or Tl-Ba-Ca-Cu-O on a base material of strontium titanate, magnesium oxide or the like, thereby obtaining a high-quality film (hereinafter referred to as second prior art). As to the second prior art, refer to Appl. Phys. Lett. 53, 1557 (1988) by B. Roas et al., for example.
In the first prior art, however, there is no control method of desirably orienting current anisotropy of the oxide superconductive material longitudinally along the wire, and critical current density, which is the most important factor of the wire, has been limited to about 10.sup.4 A/cm.sup.2 at the liquid nitrogen temperature.
In the second prior art, on the other hand, the area of a film which is formable on a single-crystalline base material of strontium titanate, magnesium oxide or the like is limited to about 2.times.2 [cm.sup.2 ]at the most, although the film is of high quality with critical current density of 10.sup.6 A/cm.sup.2 at the liquid nitrogen temperature. Thus, it has been substantially impossible to form the film on a long base material, in order to fabricate a superconducting wire.

Method for fabricating oxide superconducting wires by laser ablation


Freeform fabrication apparatus for rapid prototyping. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes ion-generating equipment for sequentially creating latent ion images of layers of an object to be fabricated. Developing apparatus is provided for adhering at least one object building substance to the sequential latent ion images to create a series of laminae. Thereafter, the series of laminae are assembled to fabricate the object.

Numerous systems for the freeform fabrication of three dimensional objects under computer control have been proposed. This field has become known by the general terms "rapid prototyping" and "desktop manufacturing" over the last several years.
While existing or proposed three dimensional freeform fabrication systems differ from each other in the materials used to build objects in the specific process, the form or state of these materials, and the particulars of the mechanics to form objects and the properties of the resulting objects themselves, almost all of the methods are based upon the layerwise superposition and bonding of materials to form the object. The numerical information required to control a freeform fabrication apparatus and thus to form and bond together each such layer of an object is commonly obtained by performing additional mathematical processing upon the data file which defines the desired object from a three dimensional computer aided design (CAD) system. These additional mathematical steps define the layers of the object as required to perform a freeform fabrication process. It is also possible to use as a starting point a physical object, digitize the spatial coordinates of the object and in a similar fashion perform additional mathematical processing on this data to define layers of the object for a freeform fabrication process. Thus, a second object can be generated that may be different in scale, materials or design from the first.
The uses for three dimensional freeform fabrication systems include, but are not limited to: the rapid fabrication of prototype parts for use as engineering or design models, both for functional and visual design verification; the rapid fabrication of investment and other types of casting patterns; fabrication of unique objects to be used as casting patterns or even functional objects, as for example from CAT scan or NMR data for prosthetic and other medical uses; the fabrication of objects of geometries that would be difficult or impossible to realize using typical subtractive machining processes such as milling or turning on a lathe.
Such systems in addition possess the virtue of allowing rapid realization of a three dimensional object from data supplied by a computer aided design (CAD) system without the preparation of intervening tooling and thereby lower the time for the overall design cycle in many cases from months to a few days or hours. This results in great savings in tooling costs, especially in cases where several iterations may be required to be performed until an acceptable final design or tool is realized, and also results in a highly-desirable, more timely introduction of the so-designed products to market.
Among the processes that have been proposed are those which use layerwise hardening of a photopolymer as the object medium such as stereolithography, U.S. Pat. No. 4,575,330, solid ground curing, U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,154, and design controlled automatic fabrication, U.S. Pat. No. 4,752,498, and others. Another group of proposed technologies is based on layerwise material deposition and includes ballistic particle manufacturing, U.S. Pat. No. 4,665,492, fused deposition modeling, U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,329, inkjet methods, U.S. Pat. No. 5,059,266, weld metal deposition, U.S. Pat. No. 5,207,371, masked plasma spray, U.S. Pat. No. 5,126,529, and others. The object materials in these techniques include melt extruded plastics and waxes, photopolymers, ballistically jetted waxes and metals, and other materials. Still other methods have been proposed based upon the bonding of powders. Selective laser sintering, U.S. Pat. No. 4,863,538, uses the energy of a laser to layerwise bond particles of plastic, wax, or metal together until the desired object is formed. Three dimensional printing, U.S. Pat. No. 5,204,055, is similar, but replaces the laser with a high speed inkjet system which ejects bonding material layerwise into a bed of ceramic powder. The object so formed may subsequently be sintered and may be used to produce a metal article by means of an investment casting-like process without the requirement for an intervening wax or other material pattern.
Additional three dimensional freeform fabrication methods are based on the cutting out of cross sections of the desired object from sheet or web fed material and subsequent lamination of these cross sections to form the object. The most commercially successful of these techniques to date is laminated object manufacturing, U.S. Pat. No. 4,752,352. Paper, plastic films of various kinds and metal foils may be used in this process to form the desired object.
While there are, as described above, many proposed methods for three dimensional freeform fabrication, and indeed some of these have reached a significant level of commercialization, there are many disadvantages to the existing and proposed methods. Examination of these methods and their characteristics, advantages and disadvantages, permits the desirable properties of an improved freeform three dimensional object fabrication method to be listed:
a. It is desirable that an improved method of freeform fabrication be a slice-based technology. This allows the rate of construction of the object to be independent of the geometry of the object and shortens fabrication time by eliminating the need for calculating and individually positioning vectors as is required for stereolithography or fused deposition modeling. It would be a further advantage if the layers did not require the fabrication of an intervening mask as required by solid ground curing or design controlled automatic fabrication. PA1 b. A solid support material is desirable in an improved method of freeform fabrication in order to produce desired objects with the most generalized geometric capability, to minimize built in stress and to improve accuracy by preventing wandering and swelling of the fabricated object as occurs with some methods that use liquid photopolymers. A solid support also dispenses with the need to design a support structure for overhanging or other geometrically awkward volumes of the desired object as is required in stereolithography or fused deposition modeling. PA1 c. It is desirable in an improved method of freeform fabrication that the support material be subjected to the same physical processes as the build or object material in order to result in minimum differences in physical properties between the support and the object materials. The reasons are similar to those set forth above. Note that in the case of selective laser sintering, while a solid support structure is provided by the powder which remains unsintered, the difference in density between this unsintered support and the sintered object powders can lead to inaccuracies in object geometry. PA1 d. An improved method of freeform fabrication should be capable of providing high resolution and accuracy. High resolution will result in better surface finish. PA1 e. High speed operation should be possible with an improved method of freeform fabrication. It is very desirable to be able to build objects much more quickly than previously known methods are capable. PA1 f. Object materials used in an improved method of freeform fabrication should be safe, non-toxic and inexpensive. Unlike the situation with some existing methods, it is highly desirable to be able to build objects in materials which are suitable for the actual application envisioned for the object. It is further desirable that there results no emission of smoke or vapors requiring venting as with some methods such as laminated object manufacturing which uses a carbon dioxide laser for material cutting. Many photopolymers used in present methods can irritate the skin or respiratory tract and are suspected carcinogens. It is thus desirable to avoid the use of these materials. PA1 g. An improved method of freeform fabrication should utilize existing technology and not require expensive or exotic components. Many present methods such as stereolithography require expensive and/or limited-life lasers, expensive laser beam positioning and modulating means or other costly components. The use of less expensive components will result in lower prices for the equipment and wider adoption. PA1 h. An improved method of freeform fabrication should evolve from technology with a record of reliability. PA1 i. The post-processing operations of an improved method of freeform fabrication, if any, should be clean and simple. Some present methods such as stereolithography require post-curing of fabricated objects in an oven or UV light box after removal of excess material by solvent-bathing and manual wiping. Other methods offer much easier post-processing such as a warm water rinsing, or brushing off of excess powder, and there are some methods where no post-processing is required at all. These cleaner techniques of post processing are highly desirable. PA1 j. An improved method of freeform fabrication should be adaptable to many market segments: for example, low-cost, high-speed, multi-material, etc. The cost of components in many technologies, precludes low-cost versions of such equipment from being developed, and the nature of many of the processes is such that they may not be adaptable to a wide array of such markets. PA1 k. The size and other mechanical characteristics of the machinery used in an improved method of freeform fabrication should be appropriate for an office or laboratory environment. Some present systems such as solid ground curing weigh several tons and occupy a complete room.
Thus, it can be seen that in spite of the existence of numerous proposed and current methods for the fabrication of freeform three dimensional objects, there still exists a need for a method which combines the desirable characteristics described above.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,088,047 teaches a prior art method of freeform fabrication based on electrophotography that answers the requirements described above. See, for example, Schein, L. B., "Electrophotography and Development Physics," Springer-Verlag, Berlin 1988, for a general review of the field. In this patent, a powder image representing a thin laminar cross section of a desired object is formed on a conductive drum having its exterior surface coated with a photoconductor in the usual manner of electrophotography. A uniform charge is placed on the drum by a corona or other discharge element and this charge is subsequently dissipated imagewise by an exposure element. The exposure element according to this patent may be any of several known optical devices including, but not limited to, a scanned laser, light emitting diode arrays and liquid crystal gated linear light sources. The latent image so formed corresponds to a single cross section of a desired object.
This latent image subsequently rotates through one or more developing stations where various object building substances in powder form are deposited by electrostatic attraction to the latent image on the drum. The drum rotates in synchronism with and in close proximity to or in contact with a dielectric transfer belt. Charge of a correct sign and magnitude deposited on the belt by a second corona or other discharge element electrostatically attracts the deposited object building powders imagewise to the belt. Subsequently, the lamina are moved to a build area where the object is assembled from the series of lamina.
While all the desirable criteria listed above are met by the prior art there still exist several shortcomings when the prior art is used for three dimensional freeform fabrication:
First, owing to the photoconductive nature of the processes involved in electrophotography, all machine operations must be conducted in the dark and a machine which utilizes this process must be made light-tight. In addition to the expense of providing the additional machine elements to accomplish this end, it is highly desirable that the progression of the fabrication of objects be viewable by an operator. Since in many cases such an apparatus will be constructing never before made objects, it is desirable to be able to continuously monitor the progress and to be able to stop or modify operation in the event of error.
Second, the development of object building powders to be used in an electrophotographically based three dimensional freeform fabrication process is complicated by the requirements for simultaneous compatibility of a wide range of properties for each such material: Object building powders must be compatible for use with the chosen photoconductor material, and must simultaneously possess compatible and desirable dielectric, thermal, chemical, fusing and mechanical properties. A means that decreases the number of properties that must be required simultaneously of object building powders is highly desirable and will result in both a greater number and range of useful materials, and in fewer restrictions on each material thus used.
Third, a method of three dimensional freeform fabrication which is based upon electrophotography is capable of making very thin object layers and providing very high resolution along the thickness or object building axis. Indeed, electrophotographic processes inherently produce thin layers. In a freeform object fabrication application, this results in the requirement for a very large number of machine operations. For example, a 10 inch high object made from 0.00033 inch thick layers results in a total of 30,000 layers. Photoconductors experience both mechanical wear as well as degradation in charge trapping characteristics with such prolonged use and thus a method which provides a large number of cycles of operation of the latent imaging member is highly desirable.
While there are available photoconductors such as amorphous silicon that are guaranteed by manufacturers for 500,000 operations, and have been tested to 1,000,000, this latter figure would only represent 330 height inches of object using the example above. This result can also be thought of as only 33 ten inch high objects. Use of such photoconductors may also require significant additional limitations on object building powders. For example, Kyocera Corp. of Japan has recently introduced the use of amorphous silicon photoconductors on a commercial basis in low cost laser printers. The toner used with this latent imaging member requires the addition of abrasive particles to keep the photoconductive drum polished and thereby achieve a long service life.
While techniques known in the art as have been applied to high volume copiers and printers may be utilized to increase the available number of electrophotographic operations, such means result in added mechanical complexity and cost. As an example, a photoconductive belt may be mounted inside a purely mechanical drum whose external surface is covered by the belt, which, as it is unwound exposes a fresh photoconductive surface. See Schein, supra.
Thus it can be seen that a method of three dimensional freeform fabrication which allows for a larger number of operations without significant degradation of the latent imaging member will result in fewer requirements for the object building powders, mechanical simplification, and lower costs.

Apparatus of fabricating 3 dimensional objects by means of electrophotography, ionography or a similar process


A topical composition and methods of making the composition is disclosed. The composition may comprise an ointment base, C11-C40 alcohols or acids, and a polymer. The ointment base may be in an amount of at least about 50% of the topical composition by weight. The polymer may be substantially soluble in the ointment base.

The administration of drugs and other biological materials to the bloodstream via a transdermal route or to the localized site of action has received much attention in recent years. The skin of an average adult covers generally more than two square meters of surface area and receives about one third of all blood circulating through the body. It is elastic, rugged, and generally self-generating. The skin consists of three layers: the stratum corneum, the epidermis, and the dermis.
The stratum corneum represents the rate limiting step in diffusion of chemicals through the skin. The stratum corneum is composed of dead, keratinized, metabolically inactive cells, which are closely packed together, and consists of an amorphous matrix of mainly lipoid and non fibrous protein within which keratin filaments are distributed. The cells of the stratum corneum generally contain about 20% water, while the cells below, in the stratum germinivatum contain about 70% water. The stratum corneum does not become hydrated readily. Thus, transdermal permeation is primarily controlled by diffusion through the stratum corneum.
Due to availability of large surface area, easy accessibility, application dynamics and the noninvasive nature of the therapy, topical administration of drugs has long been considered a promising route of drug delivery whether the bioavailability desired is systemic, dermal, regional or localized. The topical mode of drug delivery provides many advantages over customarily used routes of administration. First, it bypasses the portal circulation and thereby the hepatic first pass metabolism. Second, topical delivery avoids the problems of variable systemic absorption and metabolism. Third, it potentially reduces gastrointestinal irritation associated with oral administration. Further, it avoids the risks and patient noncompliance associated with parenteral treatment.
The topical delivery route offers continuity of drug administration, permits use of therapeutic agents with short biological half-lives, provides treatment of cutaneous manifestations of diseases usually treated systemically, delivers medication directly into the systemic circulation, and fosters ease of use and total patient compliance.
Ointments are semisolid preparations intended for external application to the skin or mucous membranes. Ointments may be medicated or non-medicated. Non-medicated ointments are ordinarily used for the physical effects that they provide as protectants, emollients or lubricants. Medicated ointments include an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API). Ointments include an ointment base component, such as petrolatum.
Petrolatum based topical compositions possess occlusive and emollient properties and are often used in for the delivery of active agents. However, because of the viscous and lipophilic nature of petrolatum, the release of active agents from petrolatum based compositions is generally slow and can hinder therapeutic efficacy. Slow delivery can be a particular problem when the composition includes an active agent that is water-miscible or hydrophilic. For example, petrolatum based compositions are desirable for treatment of bacterial, fungal infection, and wound healing applications where an occlusive layer formed by petrolatum is highly desirable. However, many agents that have anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and wound-healing activities are water-miscible or hydrophilic and may not release efficiently through the petrolatum. Efficacies of the dosage forms are believed to be directly related to amount of the active agents being released from the dosage forms to targeted tissues, such as, for example, skin, ocular, or nasal tissues. Release of the active agents from the petrolatum based compositions is thought to be through diffusion of the agents from within the compositions to surface of the compositions. For compositions intended to treat bacterial, fungal infection, or for wound healing, enhanced release of the active agents generally corresponds to enhanced therapeutic efficacy. In addition, enhanced release of the active agents might also lead to enhanced delivery to various animal or human tissues, such as, skin, ocular, nasal, for example, when the compositions are applied topically to surfaces of the tissues.
There is a need for release enhancing agents to increase release of active agents from petrolatum based compositions. There is also a need for topical compositions with enhanced therapeutic efficacy.

Topical compositions for improved delivery of active agents


A fine mesh filter screen is used in the fry pot of a deep fat fryer to remove all but the finest loose food particles after every cooking cycle, which otherwise burn and shorten the life of the cooking oil.

Many food products served in retail restaurants are fried in cooking oil or shortening either at atmospheric or elevated pressures. Many of such food products, such as chicken, seafood or vegetables are breaded before being placed in hot oil for frying. The breading is usually a granular wheat product loosely bound to the food by moisture and egg albumin so a variety of particles thereof of different sizes tend to become unattached during the frying process. At first these pieces float, but after substantial moisture is cooked out of them, they sink, falling to the bottom of the fry pot of the fryer where they burn to discolor and impart a burnt taste to the oil. The burnt particles have also been implicated in early breakdown of the cooking oil. The burning occurs even when the fry pot is designed to have a cool sump because the action of frying causes turbulence that keeps the oil at near the same temperature throughout the fry pot. For this reason many commercial food fryers are equipped with an oil filter, which is used to remove the breading particles from the oil after a certain number of frying cycles, the actual number which depending on the type and characteristics of the breaded food being fried. In the worst instances, the filtering of the cooking oil must be accomplished every three to six frying cycles.
Generally filtering is performed with the oil at or near normal frying temperatures, although some filter systems require that the oil be cooled to almost room temperature because of the filtering agents used. Typical oil filtering systems include a drain valve attached to the lower surface of the fry pot. A filter pan is placed underneath the drain valve and the valve is opened. The hot oil then pours into the filter pan with the operator taking care to avoid splashing that can result in severe burns. Even when the operator is careful, splashing can occur, so it is preferred that the operator take the time to dress in protective clothing prior to the commencement of the filtering process. Such protective clothing commonly includes oil and heat resistant gloves, an oil and heat resistant apron, oil and heat resistant boots, and safety glasses.
Once the oil starts to drain, various scrappers and brushes are used to clean the sides of the fry pot and the electric heating element or gas flame tubes. When all of the cooking oil is drained and the fry pot is partially clean, the drain valve is closed and the hot oil is pumped back into fry pot until it is about 1/3 full. This clean oil is then used to thoroughly wash the sides of the fry pot, after which the oil is again drained and passed through the filter to remove any particles that might have been dislodged during the cleaning operation. The clean oil is then pumped back into the fry pot, with the operator taking care that the pump does not go dry and pump air, since when air is pumped through hot oil, the air causes the oil to oxidize and degrade very quickly. After multiple filterings, the number of which are dependent upon the filter and the product accumulating therein, the filter must be changed. Generally this is done after the oil has been pumped back into the fry pot and the filter has had an opportunity to cool. The whole filtering operation even in an highly automated food fryer can take as much as half an hour, during which time the fryer is out of production. In filtering systems where the oil must be cooled prior to filtering, the fryer may be out of use for as much as four hours.
In retail operations where the fryer is not used to its full frying capacity, and only one filtering process per day need be performed. The filtering process can be performed as the last job of the day (for hot oil filtering) or the first job of the day (for cool oil filtering). However, if there is a level and heavy demand for fried food during the business day, a extra fryer must be purchased and operated just to cover the filtering time, or more than the recommended number of batches must be fried between filterings. In any case, maximum production is limited by the filtering operation.
From the above, it should be apparent that it is highly desirable that the number of filtering operations be held to an absolute minimum, since such can be dangerous and reduce the production of fryers by a substantial margin. For example, if a fry cycle takes 15 minutes including time to load and unload, then at least every hour and a half the machine will be off line for half an hour while the oil is being filtered, resulting in a quarter of the time during the day being unavailable for frying.
If the oil is not filtered regularly, then instead of being replaced after approximately 60 fry loads, its useful life maybe reduced to as low as 20 loads. For a retail fried food operation, it is important to extend the life of the oil as long as possible, not only because of the acquisition cost of the oil, but also because the disposal of used cooking oil is difficult and expensive. In addition, the oil comes in heavy plastic containers, which also must be disposed of. Theoretically, in the case of a chicken fry operation, the oil should last until so much fat has been rendered from the chicken that the cooking oil begins to froth and foam, at which time, the oil must be replaced.


An adjustable headrest is disclosed in which a slider forming a headrest is slidably inserted into a hollow open ended casing or a space formed between left and right holding walls, or a sliding casing formed as a headrest is slidably fitted to the outside of a support fixed at the back of the seat. Disposed at suitable places between the casing and the slider are a sliding guide mechanism for the slider and engagement means for fixing the slider at the desired position in order to effect adjustment. A sliding guide mechanism permits the headrest to readily move telescopingly out of the casing. In particular, when the device of the present invention is used in conjunction with the headrest of a car seat, such headrest may be positioned so as to be generally always in contact with the head of a driver. Furthermore, in at least one embodiment there is a provision of springs for normally spring-loading the slider to the forward direction which permits the shock produced when a car is struck from behind, to be absorbed by such springs, thus increasing safety and minimizing injury.

The present invention relates to a device for an adjustable headrest of a seat, especially for an automobile.
For example, a conventional headrest is usually attached to the upper portion of the back of an automobile seat for the purpose of prevention of whiplash when the car is struck from behind. However, the person in the automobile usually sits forwardly of the conventional headrest so that his head is far from being in contact with the headrest even though he may lean into the seat of the back. It should therefore be noted that his head will not be properly protected in the event the automobile is struck from behind. In particular, when a reclining seat is used as shown in FIG. 1, the distance between the driver head and the headrest is rather dimensionally quite large.


In a process for purifying an aqueous phosphoric acid containing up to about 55% P.sub.2 O.sub.5 by weight and dissolved magnesium, iron and aluminum ions, wherein (a) said phosphoric acid is contacted with an organic extractant containing a water immiscible organic sulfonic acid to form: a loaded organic extractant phase containing the organic sulfonic acid, extracted ionic metallic impurities and extracted P.sub.2 O.sub.5 values, and a purified aqueous phosphoric acid; (b) the purified aqueous phosphoric acid phase is separated from the loaded organic extractant phase; (c) the separated loaded organic extractant phase is contacted with a solution phase containing calcium ions (e.g., calcium nitrate), under conditions whereby at least some of said extracted ionic metallic impurities (e.g., Mg.sup.+2, Al.sup.+3, Fe.sup.+3) are replaced by calcium and are transferred to said solution phase; and (d) the solution phase is separated from the contacted extractant phase; the improvement wherein the separated solution phase from step (d) is made basic, preferably with lime, to cause a solid precipitate to form, said solid precipitate comprising at least some of the metallic impurities and/or P.sub.2 O.sub.5 values from phosphoric acid which was entrained in the organic extractant. The separated solid precipitate is useful as a nutrient (e.g., as a fertilizer or as an animal feed supplement). Where sulfuric acid is used for the acidification, solid calcium sulfate forms, which can be separated from the "used" acid. The sulfuric acid can be strengthened with fresh, more concentrated, acid and recycled.

Superphosphoric acid (SPA) is a condensation product of orthophosphoric acid. The minimum P.sub.2 O.sub.5 content of SPA is about 65% by weight, the maximum is greater than 100%. The P.sub.2 O.sub.5 content of most commercial grades of SPA is from 72% to about 85%.
Wet process phosphoric acid can be converted to SPA by means of conventional evaporation and dehydration techniques. SPA formed from unpurified wet process phosphoric acid is usually unstable due to ionic metallic impurities present therein. The impurities cause an increase in the viscosity of the SPA to such an extent that a semi-solid or glass-like material results. Further processing of such materials is extremely difficult.
On the other hand, purified wet process phosphoric acid yields a low viscosity SPA which can be readily handled (e.g. see U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,044,851 and 3,192,013) Williams et al, 3,694,153 and 4,053,564 of Bradford et al, removed ionic metallic impurities from phosphoric acid employing water immiscible organic sulfonic acids. Using solvent extraction techniques, wet process phosphoric acid was purified by removing the ionic metallic impurities therefrom.
While removing the impurities, P.sub.2 O.sub.5 values are entrained or coextracted with the metallic impurities into the organic phase. These P.sub.2 O.sub.5 values are usually lost when the water immiscible organic sulfonic acid is regenerated with a mineral acid because the mineral acid regeneration solution containing the ionic metallic impurities and the P.sub.2 O.sub.5 values is sent to waste disposal.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,082,836 of Ore recovers P.sub.2 O.sub.5 values in the organic extract by contacting the organic extractant with a wash phase comprising water or dilute phosphoric acid to form a loaded wash phase enriched with P.sub.2 O.sub.5 values extracted from the organic extractant. The loaded wash phase is then separated from the organic extractant phase. The washed organic extractant can then be regenerated on treatment with a mineral acid and be recycled into the process. In the Ore' process (and in those of U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,694,153 and 4,053,564) the sulfuric acid consumption to regenerate the organic extractant is about 10 times stoichiometric for removal of metal ions. Also, the waste acid must be neutralized (as with lime) before disposal. In the process of the present invention, sulfuric acid and lime concentration is much less than that half that in these prior art processes.
Aqueous phosphoric acid phase denotes a solution of phosphoric acid containing from about 1% to about 55% P.sub.2 O.sub.5 by weigh which will be, is being, or has been subjected to solvent extraction. Terms such as phosphoric acid phase, crude phosphoric acid feed, unpurified phosphoric acid solution and purified phosphoric acid can be used to indicate an aqueous phosphoric acid phase.
Organic extractant phase denotes a solution in which at least one organic sulfonic acid is dissolved in an organic solvent and preferably containing a water immiscible organic phosphate or phosphonate and can also contain a water immiscible aliphatic alcohol. Extractant phase, organic phase, barren organic phase, loaded organic extractant phase, and regenerated organic extractant phase have been used to denote the organic extractant phase at some step in the solvent extraction process.
Wash phase denotes the aqueous phase (water or a dilute solution of phosphoric acid containing from about 10 grams/liter to about 300 grams/liter of P.sub.2 O.sub.5) which is used to remove P.sub.2 O.sub.5 values from the organic extractant phase; said P.sub.2 O.sub.5 values being coextracted with metal impurities into the organic extractant phase during the extracting step of solvent extraction process. Terms used in denote the wash phase are dilute aqueous phosphoric acid, dilute phosphoric acid, dilute phosphoric acid phase, dilute phosphoric acid stripping phase, water wash phase, loaded wash phase, water wash liquor enriched phosphoric acid solution and enriched phosphoric acid phase.
The mineral acid stripping phase is the solution of an inorganic acid such as sulfuric acid, nitric acid or hydrochloric acid which is used to regenerate the organic sulfonic acid present in the organic extractant phase. Sulfuric acid stripping solution, sulfuric acid stripping phase, fresh sulfuric acid stripping solution, stripping agent, sulfuric acid phase, waste sulfuric acid stripping, waste sulfuric acid stripping solution, waste solution and waste stripping agent are used to denote the mineral acid stripping phase.
A mineral acid is an inorganic acid having an ionization constant equal to 10.sup.-3 or greater.

Process for treating loaded extractant from purification of phosphoric acid by extraction and recovering nutrients


A flexible, isoelastic polymer surgical suture and suture construct formed from a material selected from the group consisting of silicone, polyurethane, polyurethane copolymers, rubber, and other hemocompatible and biocompatible thermoplastic elastomers, wherein the suture and suture construct is formed from a single or multiple filament, the suture and suture construct having an elastic modulus between about 50 to 2000 psi, a tensile strength between about 500 to 50,000 psi, and a tensile elongation between about 100 to 1000 percent. In an alternate suture construct, the construct includes a base material and an inner core formed from a higher-strength fiber or group of fibers having a helical orientation. The low-modulus base material is selected from the group consisting of silicone, polyurethane, polyurethane copolymers, rubber, and other hemocompatible and biocompatible thermoplastic elastomers. In an alternate suture construct, the construct includes a base material and an inner core formed from a higher-strength fiber or group of fibers having a helical orientation. The inner core has an elastic modulus above about 2,000 psi, a tensile strength above about 10,000 psi, and a tensile elongation between about 1 to 80 percent.

Blood vessels have an endothelial cell layer covering the inside surface of the blood vessel. The blood flowing through the vessel interacts with the endothelial cell (EC) layer. Blood flows at different rates through different sized vessels, and is based on an equilibrium response between the shear stress exerted on the EC layer and the vessel diameter. The vessel prefers a given shear stress, thus larger vessels reflect a lower shear stress from slower blood flow, and smaller vessels reflect the higher shear rates from faster flow. Mechanical stress also stimulates a blood vessel tissue response, with increased tissue stress (trauma) producing a thickening of the vessel wall tissue, referred to as a hyperplastic response. When vessels are repaired or replaced, the vessel ends or graft and vessel ends are attached or sewn together. This seam is called an anastomosis and it is the region of connection between blood vessels or sections of blood vessels and generally, sutures are used to create an anastomosis.
When larger diameter (above about 6 mm) blood vessels are sutured together or engaged with a woven graft to create an anastomosis, the presence of the suture creates a circumferential ring around the connected vessel anastomosis that is five to seven times stiffer than the adjacent vessel tissue (Trubel, et al, ASAIO Journal, 1994; J. Vasc. Surg., 10, 1996). This is because available sutures utilized for vessel anastomoses are relatively stiff (high axial modulus) compared to the tissue having a low axial modulus. Although current sutures can easily bend and loop, the resistance to stretch in the long direction of the suture is very high. That is, the axial modulus is very high and more than 100 times that of the modulus of typical blood vessel tissue. Such stiff suture materials include Dacron, silk, PTFE, prolene, nylon, and polyalycolic/polylactic acid resorbable sutures.
When blood under pressure is returned to the sutured vessels, the current stiff circumferential suture ring keeps the anastomosis site from dilating in a manner similar to that of the adjacent venous or arterial vessels. When current stiff prolene and other stiff sutures are used, the stiffer anastomosis resists dilation and creates a flow discontinuity as well as a flow restriction along the inside diameter of the blood vessel. This discontinuity can be as great as one millimeter (Y. Kim and K. Chandran, Biorheology, 30, 117-130, 1993). While this "ridge" along the inside diameter of the vessel may be tolerable for larger diameter vessel, it creates a strong tendency for smaller-diameter vessels to thicken (hyperplasia). It also produces high and low shear regions as blood flows over the ridge.
The presence of this ridge in a coronary bypass graft anastomosis can also account for the incidences of short-term thrombosis and occlusion as well as the longer-term occlusion resulting from vessel hyperplasia and still longer-term atherosclerosis. This happens because on the downstream side of the ridge, a low shear region occurs. The low-shear stimulates the vessel to thicken which reduces its diameter and increases shear stress. This reduces the amount of allowable blood flow in the vessel. The downstream side of the ridge develops a flow eddy and low shear stress which then can form a thrombogenic process leading to occlusion (blockage) of the vessel or release of emboli (detached clots).
The presence of the discontinuity (ridge) in the vessel wall produces an increased longitudinal wall stress at the site of anastomosis (suturing), which can produce hyperplasia. In the smaller diameter coronary blood vessels, a one millimeter ridge cannot be tolerated. The vessels are already less than 4 mm, and a 1 mm ridge, or even a 1/2-mm ridge, presents a dramatic and severe restriction to flow and a hyperplastic response from the stress concentration at the anastomosis site. It is this situation that helps to explain the poor success of woven polymer fiber vascular grafts for vessels less than about 6 mm diameter (MDI, Inc., 1996, Chap. 5), and the unsatisfactory 80 to 90 percent patency rate of coronary artery bypass grafts within one year of a bypass procedure.
Another longer term result can be the constant stress concentration from current stiff sutures within the vessel tissue which, over time, can contribute to atherosclerosis of the sutured vessel. With these results occurring with currently utilized stiff silk, prolene, nylon, and other type suture materials, it is not surprising that the anastomosed bypass vessels lose patency rapidly after surgery. One study showed these sutured vessels to have an 80 percent patency rate at one year, decreasing to as low as 20 percent at five years post-operatively (Lei, et al, J. Biomechanics, 29, 1996, p 1605).
U.S. Pat. No. 4,550,730 to Shalaby and Schipper describes the use of copolymers of polymethylene terephthalate that are drawn with a tensile strength greater than 60,000 psi and a modulus between 80,000 and 280,000 psi. The tensile elongation is specified between 20 and 80 percent. In contrast, the present invention describes a polymeric suture material or construct with an elastic modulus less than about 2000 psi and with a tensile elongation above about 100 percent. Additionally, the U.S. Pat. No. 4,550,730 does not describe the use or benefit of a low modulus suture of properties described in the present invention for blood vessel anastomoses.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,543,952 to Shalaby and Koelmel describes a similar suture material to that described in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,550,730, but made of polyester copolymers. Although the elastic modulus is less than 250,000 psi, the required tensile strength is above 45,000 psi. Additionally, the U.S. Pat. No. 4,543,952 does not describe or teach the use or benefit of an isoelastic suture for blood vessel anastomoses.
There are earlier patents referenced in the Shalaby patents which describe a low compliance polymer material. An example is U.S. Pat. No. 3,454,011 which proposed the use of a spandex polyurethane. However, this was proposed as a general suture material and did not specify the desirability or use of such a material for blood vessel anastomosis, as in the present invention. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 3,954,689 to Hoeschele et al. described a rubbery film material made of a polybutylene terephthalate thermoplastic. However, a filamentous use of this material for suturing blood vessels is not described. U.S. Pat. No. 5,620,702 also describes low-modulus films and sutures, but the construct is a laminated device with an adhesive layer and does not specify the use of a low-modulus core polymer filament with modulus less than about 2000 psi, as does the present invention. Further, the use or desirability of such a low-modulus polymer suture for improving blood vessel anastomoses is not described.
It is an object of the present invention to use polymeric suture materials that possess inherent low modulus (high stretchability, or compliance) or are constructed to have a low modulus under tension to a particular displacement. Alternatively, a higher stiffness (modulus) polymeric suture material and device can be used which is then modified in place (in-situ) via various types of energy to reduce the modulus while in place. Such thermal energy can include light, radiation, heat, vibration or a chemically activated reduction in modulus.
The inventive material or device is described as isoelastic, which means that its elastic properties closely approximate the elastic (stiffness) properties of the vessel tissue being sutured. Elastic sutures for other wound closure applications have been proposed, but with modulus of elasticity between the 500 to 2000 psi preference of the present invention. Further, a high tensile elongation (above 100 percent) as described in the present invention is not disclosed in the prior art. Specifically, there is no mention of the use of silicone, polyurethanes, its copolymers, or other thermoplastic elastomers for vessel suture applications, and which also meet the stiffness and elongation requirements of the present invention. There are also no prior art references that describe the in-situ modification of stiffer polymers via light, heat, radiation or other energy or chemically activated to reduce the modulus after suturing.


Cards made in accordance with the invention include a specially treated thin decorative layer attached to a thick core layer of metal or ceramic material, where the thin decorative layer is designed to provide selected color(s) and/or selected texture(s) to a surface of the metal cards. Decorative layers for use in practicing the invention include: (a) an anodized metal layer; or (b) a layer of material derived from plant or animal matter (e.g., wood, leather); or (c) an assortment of aggregate binder material (e.g., cement, mortar, epoxies) mixed with laser reactive materials (e.g., finely divided carbon); or (d) a ceramic layer; and (e) a layer of crystal fabric material. The cards may be dual interface smart cards which can be read in a contactless manner and/or via contacts.

This invention relates to the manufacture of metal cards having varied coloring and texture. In particular, the present invention relates to apparatus and methods for producing transactional and ID cards, or any like document, having a metal layer where the card can be made to have a variety of colors and textures. This invention also relates to cards having a core layer of ceramic material and to metal cards with decorative ceramic layers.
It has become desirable to provide metal or ceramic cards for the high end market to impart a sense of wealth and distinction to the card holder. It is also desirable to provide metal cards with different colors and textures to further enhance eye and touch appeal and/or provide a degree of personalization.
It is known to use physical vapor deposition (PVD) to color metal transaction cards, but PVD is limited in its color range and is also relatively expensive. PVD is also highly dependent upon the substrate upon which it is being deposited. PVD is a vacuum process with high heat and batch operation that is expensive requiring individual racking and turning of parts for even distribution of color. It also subjects the metal to high temperature which can shrink and warp the metal.
In some metal cards, printed PVC layers or other polymers are used to decorate the outside of cards. The use of these polymeric layers has undesirable traits such as minimum print thickness, loss of weight in the metal card due to polymeric thickness, and challenges of lamination of dissimilar materials. Use of different thicknesses and compounds can also cause the parts to warp or bow due to uneven shrinkage during platen lamination.
It is an object of this invention to overcome these and other problems and to enable the manufacture of metal cards and/or ceramic cards having a wide range of colors and textures.

Transaction and ID cards having selected texture and coloring