A mechanism for making granulated material from a viscous substance includes a vessel charged with the substance and having a discharge opening arrangement for discharging the substance onto a cooling surface. A belt travels across the vessel, the belt having openings arranged to periodically come into alignment with the discharge opening arrangement to allow the substance to fall onto the cooling surface. The discharge opening arrangement comprises a plurality of rows of discharge openings. Each row extends transversely of the longitudinal direction of belt travel, and the rows are spaced apart in that longitudinal direction. The vessel openings of each row are offset in the transverse direction with respect to the vessel openings of other rows. A collection arrangement collects residual substance falling from the belt and returns the substance onto the belt at a location upstream of the vessel.

The invention refers to an apparatus for manufacturing granulated material from free-flowing viscous substances that are made into drops and solidify or gel, consisting of a vessel, charged with the free-flowing substance, with a discharge opening arrangement that is intermittently opened or closed by a perforated belt that is periodically moved therepast.
An apparatus of this kind, in which a continuous slit, against whose lateral delimiting walls the perforated belt lies, is provided as the discharge opening arrangement of a tubular vessel, is known from EP 0 134 944 B1. The slit, running transverse to the belt travel direction, must have a certain width (i.e. a dimension in the direction of belt travel) in order to give the openings of the belt, as they move past it, time to fill up with the substance being formed into drops and then deliver it in portions onto a cooling belt located therebelow. Especially when comparatively viscous substances, which enter the slit space under pressure, need to be formed into drops, this can cause the force resulting from the slit area and the pressure to become so great that the belt being guided past the lateral delimiting walls of the slit is pushed outward (downward), so that in an undesirable manner, additional material becomes distributed spread on the side of the belt facing the vessel.
The underlying object of the invention is to provide a remedy for this, and to propose a capability that, guarantees that the belt lies as closely as possible against the outer surface of the vessel, without adversely affecting the apparatus.

Apparatus for manufacturing granulated material


A seat for a vehicle operator includes an occupant-supporting portion, a back and an armrest. The armrest is pivotable through a vertical plane between a horizontally extending, arm-supporting position and an upwardly extending position alongside the seat back. The armrest is also pivotable, in response to a predetermined outwardly directed force against the armrest, through a horizontal plane, between the above-described arm-supporting position and a position in which the armrest extends rearwardly from the seat back. Structure is provided which normally urges the armrest from its rearwardly extending position to a downwardly extending position alongside the seat.

The present invention is directed generally to seats with armrests and more particularly to a seat with an armrest that may be pivoted to an out-of-the-way position to permit the occupant of the seat to leave the seat via the side of the seat.
Seats with armrests of this type are typically provided for vehicle operators who must enter or leave the seat from the side, generally because there is a console or dashboard with vehicle operating equipment located in front of the seat, thereby precluding entry to or exit from the seat via the front. A typical situation would be in the cab of a locomotive. Because the occupant of the seat will be required to sit in the seat for extended periods of time while he is operating the vehicle, it is desirable to provide an armrest for the occupant. Normally, such armrests are mounted for pivotal movement through a vertical plane between a horizontally extending position for supporting the arm of the seat occupant and a vertically disposed position, in which the armrest extends upwardly alongside the back of the seat, to permit the seat occupant to enter or leave the seat.
It is sometimes desirable, as in an emergency situation, for the occupant to leave the seat rapidly. In such a situation, the desired action for displacing the armrest to a non-obstructing, exit-permitting position is to push outwardly against the armrest. This action is faster and less involved than pivotally raising the armrest through a vertical plane because the former can be accomplished simultaneously with, and as a part of, the act of exiting. Accordingly, seats of this type are provided with armrests which, in addition to pivoting through a vertical plane to an out-of-the-way position, also pivot through a horizontal plane away from the seat to permit rapid exit by the seat occupant.
An armrest of this type is disclosed in Harder U.S. Pat. No. 3,951,452. Such armrests are called breakaway armrests because they require striking the armrest a sidewards blow with a predetermined "breakaway" force to displace the armrest from its normal horizontally extending, arm-supporting position.


An upwardly opening cup is provided including a lower inlet for upwardly directing spray jets of fluid thereinto and open and contoured at its upper end to fittingly accommodate not only a depending teat but also the portion of the udder immediately surrounding the selected teat. The interior of the cup includes radially inwardly projecting bristle-type blades for effecting a scrubbing action on the exterior of an associated teat in response to spray jets of liquid being upwardly directed onto the blades and the associated teat from the cup lower inlet, and the upper axial end of the cup includes a circumferentially extending zone of upwardly projecting flexible blades for contacting the udder area immediately surrounding the associated teat and tactilly stimulating the udder to facilitate quick and complete milk "let-down". The flexible blades carried by the upper circumferential zone of the cup are also caused to oscillate back and forth, laterally, in response to spray jets of liquid being discharged into the cup from the lower end thereof with the effect that the udder is tactilly stimulated in substantially the same as that accomplished naturally by the tongue of a nursing calf.

More recently it has become known that mechanical milking processes can be speeded up, the occurance of teat infection due to mechanical milking processes being carried out without complete milk "let-down" and the incidence of excessive vacuum at the teats can be effectively reduced if steps are carried out prior to milking in order to assure complete "milk let-down". Accordingly, a need exists for structure whereby complete "milk let-down" may be accomplished before initiation of mechanical milking processes.
Various forms of teat washing devices heretofore have been known including the teat cleansing apparatus disclosed in prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,713,423. However, although this previously known teat cleansing apparatus is operative to accomplish a substantially complete teat cleansing operation in a reasonably short period of time, it is not operative to function as a "milk let-down" stimulating structure. Of course, at least an appreciable amount of time must be spent in washing teats prior to a mechanical milking operation and the subject of the instant invention is operative to effect a substantially complete "milk let-down" during the same period of time usually carried out manually for the purpose of teat cleansing.

Teat washing cup with milk let-down stimulating blades


A metal laminate gasket includes a first metal plate having a folded portion at a peripheral of a combustion chamber hole, a second metal plate provided in the folded portion, a third metal plate provided in the folded portion and having an extension portion extending outwardly from the folded portion, a fourth metal plate provided on a folded side of the first metal plate and partially overlapping a part of the extension portion of the third metal plate, and a fifth metal plate provided on the folded side of the first metal plate so that the fifth metal plate does not overlap the third metal plate. A bead is provided on at least one of the second and third metal plates and situated inside the folded portion. A total thickness of the metal laminate gasket declines in a stepwise fashion from the folded portion.

The present invention relates to a metal laminate gasket installed between a cylinder head and a cylinder block of an internal combustion engine to seal therebetween.
Recently, because of improved technologies of an engine, the maximum explosion pressure tends to become high. Especially, in a diesel engine, the tendency of the high maximum explosion pressure is remarkable. On the other hand, because of a tendency of making the engines lighter, the mechanical strength tends to decline. As a result, a lift or upward movement of the cylinder head during the cylinder explosion increases, so that a following capability relative to the lift of the cylinder head gasket is required.
However, in a well-known metal laminate cylinder head gasket, especially, the metal laminate cylinder head gasket, which forms a first seal portion with a bead around a combustion chamber hole, has a smaller amount of compression of the original bead compared to the lift mentioned above. Accordingly, in order to assure the following capability relative to the increased lift, in addition to the existing first seal portion with a large total thickness of laminated metal plates around the combustion chamber hole, the well-known metal laminate cylinder head gasket is provided with a second seal portion with the following capability relative to the lift, wherein the total thickness of the laminated metal plates is smaller than that of the first seal portion, but the cylinder head is larger than that of the first seal portion, so that following capability is assured even when the cylinder head is widely lifted (refer to a Japanese Patent Publication (TOKKAI) No. 2006-207688).
Basically, it is preferred that the following capability relative to the lift of the cylinder head is assured at the first seal portion. In such a case, if there is a large difference in level between the first seal portion which has a large total thickness of the laminated metal plates and the second seal portion which has a total thickness of the laminated metal plates smaller than that of the first seal portion, a compression mark may remain in the cylinder head and/or the cylinder block due to the difference in the total thickness. As a result, the sealing quality of each seal portion may be significantly deteriorated.
This invention is made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a metal laminate gasket wherein the first seal portion around the combustion chamber hole can assure the following capability relative to the lift of the cylinder head in the cylinder explosion, and the difference in the total thickness of the seal portions around the combustion chamber hole is set in a stepwise fashion from the first seal portion through a third seal portion, so that an excellent sealing quality of the seal portions can be assured without any compression mark in the cylinder head and/or the cylinder block due to the difference in thickness.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the invention.


A glass for eyeglass lenses has a refractive index between 1.68 and 1.71, Abbe number between 41.6 and 46.5 and specific gravity between 2.88 and 3.14 and consists essentially of B.sub.2 O.sub.3, CaO and at least one of TiO.sub.2 and Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5, the CaO being included in substantial amount.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to glasses for eyeglass lenses, and is particularly directed to such glasses having high refractive index, low dispersion and low specific gravity.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Glasses for eyeglass lenses are disclosed in Japanese Patent laid open application Nos. 9012/1977 and 11210/1977. However, all of the glasses disclosed in these applications are of high dispersion. In the glasses of the former application, as Abbe number (.nu.d) of only 41.5 can be obtained. The glasses are not of sufficiently low dispersion. Accordingly, when used lenses having a high diopter, or having high refractive power, the margins of the lenses are colored or chromatic aberration occurs. Looking through such a lens is effected. In the glasses of the latter application, the refractive index is not sufficiently high. In the glasses disclosed therein, the highest refractive index has an Abbe number of 41, which is not of sufficiently low dispersion and, similarly to the glasses disclosed in the former application, chromatic aberration occurs. Looking through the lens is effected.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,057,435 and 4,084,978 also disclose glasses for eyeglass lenses. However, the glasses of the former patent have high specific gravity. When a wearer puts on the spectacles having the glasses therein of the former patent, he feels discomfort due to the weight of the spectacles on his nose. The glasses of the latter patent have the disadvantage that chemical durability is poor. Long-term use of lenses made of such glasses of the latter patent causes the lens surface to have tarnish thereon, so that the lens can not be used.


A black liquor process for paper pulping uses a nucleic boiling surface in a series of multi-effective evaporators. The nucleic boiling surface may be used to retube all effects or a single effect.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of heat exchangers. More specifically, this invention relates to heat exchangers for concentrating solids by the evaporation of liquids.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
There are a variety of processes in which a solids containing stream is concentrated by the evaporation of liquids. In particular, multiple exchangers that operate as evaporators are used in desalination and the sugar industry to concentrate refined sugars into solid form, and have potential use in the mining industry for the concentration of ores in leaching operations and generally in the concentration of toxic materials from aqueous or other streams. One such evaporation step is in the treatment of black liquor from a papermaking process and more particularly relates to a process for concentrating black liquor from a Kraft process to a high solids content to enhance the usefulness of the material as fuel for soda recovery boilers.
The Kraft process is used extensively for the separation of clean cellulose fibers, known collectively as pulp, from various wood sources by dissolution of these fibers from small pieces of wood in a hot, strongly alkaline solution inside a vessel known as a digester. Typically, the liquid entering the digester is an aqueous solution consisting of a mixture of sodium sulfite (Na.sub.2 S), and sodium hydroxide (NaOH). The liquid exiting the digester consists of a weaker alkaline solution of approximately 15 wt. % total solids in an aqueous solution known as black liquor. This liquid consists of the inorganic materials fed to the digester plus the organic materials found in wood known collectively as lignin. The Kraft process continues by concentrating this dilute black liquor solution from a concentration of less than 20 wt. % to concentrations above 50% where the lignin can be consumed by combustion and the inorganics can be recycled.
The concentration of black liquor in the Kraft process is achieved by evaporation of water from the solution. The evaporation of this water is usually accomplished by heat transfer from steam on the shell side to the black liquor flowing upwardly on the tube side across a number of interconnected series flow vertical tubular heat exchangers. Such a series of heat exchangers is known as a multi effect evaporator (MEE), with each such heat exchanger known as an effect. MEE's are typically staged in pressures and associated temperatures. Typically the black liquor flow is from the lowest pressure to the highest, with concentration by boiling occurring in each effect. The evaporated water in each effect then can serve as the heat source for the next effect, operating at lower pressure and black liquor solids concentration. Typically, the evaporators operate as vertical thermosyphon exchangers.
Proper heat recovery in the concentration of solids promotes operational efficiency in the pulp and paper industry. The supply of steam to the effects, represents a direct and substantial operating expense to the pulp production process. Any increase in the heat transfer efficiency of the effects will directly reduce the operating cost of the process by lowering net steam consumption per pound of total water removed.
The high solids concentration of the black liquor presents a difficult challenge for the heat exchange service. Bare tube exchangers are prone to fouling. Regular cleaning is necessary to maintain suitable heat transfer performance.
It is known in the art that the surface of heat exchanger tubes can be treated to allow nucleate boiling. Such nucleate boiling surfaces can promote dramatic increases in the boiling film coefficients that are associated with heat transfer tubes in a boiling heat exchange zone. Such enhanced boiling surfaces for heat exchange tubes are discussed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,384,154; 3,821,018; 4,064,914; 4,060,125; 3,906,604; 4,216,826 and 3,454,081. Such surfaces have been known to provide benefits to a variety of processes. For example, a significant improvement in the refrigeration of an alkylation effluent by the use of an enhanced boiling surface is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,769,511. Such nucleate boiling surfaces have been known to increase boiling film heat transfer coefficients by a factor of 10 or more. It is also known that the use of one or more effects with an enhanced boiling service has improved the operation of multi-effect evaporators in the evaporation of water from ethylene glycol where the liquid streams are free of dissolved or undissolved solids.
Since liquid in a heat exchange tube begins to boil not when its bulk temperature reaches the boiling temperature, but when a tube wall temperature reaches the boiling temperature, dissolved or undissolved solids from the liquid can concentrate in localized areas near the tube wall. A nucleate boiling surface greatly increases localized boiling and therefore it was expected that such a surface would increase the concentration of solids on such surfaces while also locally drying micropores of the nucleate boiling surface. Thus, the combination of localized solids concentration and drying at the tube wall would lead one to anticipate fouling on the enhanced nucleate boiling surface and, after relatively short periods of time, reduce overall heat transfer relative to a bare tube wall.


Substantially homogeneous copolymers comprising 20-99% of vinyl pyrrolidone (VP) and 1-80% of N-3,3-dimethylaminopropyl methacrylamide, (DMAPMA), preferably 50-95% VP and 5-50% DMAPMA, and, most preferably, about 80:20, by weight, having a weight average molecular weight of about 200,000 to 1,500,000, as a clear, low viscosity aqueous solution of the homogeneous copolymer, at a 5-20% solids level, preferably about 10-15%, by weight of the solution, having a viscosity of about 5,000 to 80,000 cps, preferably about 10,000 to 70,000 cps. The solution obtained herein has lower viscosity and better clarity, and provides hair care products with enhanced curl retention (hold), when compared to non-homogeneous copolymers of the same composition, or related existing commercial products.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a process for making substantially homogeneous copolymers of vinyl pyrrolidone (VP) and N-3,3-dimethylaminopropyl methacrylamide (DMAPMA) of predetermined composition and clear, low viscosity aqueous solutions thereof, for use in hair styling and hair care applications.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Several synthetic polymers containing vinyl lactams are presently being used in cosmetic formulations, particularly in hair care products, to contribute body, set retention and conditioning to such products.
Representative of the art in this field are the following U.S. Pat. Nos.: 3,914,403; 3,954,960; 4,057,533; 4,210,161; 4,586,518; 4,753,793; 4,764,363; 4,834,968; 4,842,850; 4,902,499; 4,906,459; 4,923,694; 4,963,348; 4,983,377; 5,011,895 and 5,015,708; and WO 91/15186; WO 91/15185; EPO 0412704A2; EPO 0412707A1; and JP 57126409.
Generally these synthetic polymers were made by a "one-pot" polymerization process in which selected amounts of the several monomers were reacted together. The composition of these one-pot polymers was considered as being the same as the composition of the charged monomers. However, in reality, such a polymerization process can provide only a mixture of polymers of various compositions, and, additionally, an indeterminate amount of homopolymers and undesired copolymers.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a process for making substantially homogeneous copolymers of vinyl pyrrolidone (VP) and N-3,3-dimethylaminopropyl methacrylamide (DMAPMA).
Another object of this invention is to provide a clear, low viscosity aqueous solution of homogeneous copolymers of VP and DMAPMA, in a compositional range of 20-99% VP and 1-80% DMAPMA, preferably 50-95% VP and 5-50% DMAPMA, and most preferably about 80% VP and 20% DMAPMA, at a solids level of 5-20%, preferably about 10-15%, by weight of the solution, having a viscosity of about 5,000 to 80,000 cps, preferably about 10,000 to 70,000 cps.
Still another object herein is to provide clear, low viscosity aqueous solutions of substantially homogeneous copolymers of VP and DMAPMA in a predetermined compositional range and at a selected solids level, which, upon formulation into hair styling compositions, will provide enhanced conditioning, fixative and hair holding properties for the user.

Substantially homogeneous copolymers of vinyl pyrrolidone and N-3,3-dimethylaminopropyl methacrylamide for personal care applications


A method includes: when a first terminal determines to start to execute a voice service, sending a first message to a third terminal, where the first message is used to trigger the third terminal to determine that a location relationship between a second terminal and the first terminal meets a preset condition, and when the second terminal is playing audio by using a loudspeaker, sending a second message to the second terminal, where the second message is used to control the second terminal to adjust a playing mode; and when the first terminal determines to stop executing the voice service, sending a third message to the third terminal, where the third message is used to trigger the third terminal to send a fourth message to the second terminal, and the fourth message is used to control the second terminal to restore the playing mode before the adjustment.

With development of the information industry, multimedia services are increasingly widespread, and as an important part of the multimedia services, voice services become increasingly important. Meanwhile, how to reduce noise interference in voice services also becomes increasingly important.
In daily life, when a device is playing audio by using a loudspeaker, if at this time a terminal executes a voice service (for example, a voice call service), in this case, a voice played by the device interferes with execution of the voice service by the terminal.


A magnetic robot crawler designed to efficiently adhere and traverse a ferrous surface partially or fully underwater, regardless of orientation. The crawler includes a vehicle body, a plurality of drive wheel assemblies, and a plurality of gearmotors. The vehicle body houses the necessary electronical components. The drive wheel assemblies are peripherally and externally mounted to the vehicle body in order to support the vehicle body. Each of the drive wheel assemblies is torsionally coupled to a corresponding gearmotor. Each of the drive wheel assemblies includes a tubular housing, a wheel, an annular cavity, and a semi-annular magnet. The wheel is rotatably mounted to the vehicle body through a tubular housing and is torsionally coupled to the corresponding gearmotor through a magnetic coupling. The annular cavity laterally traverses into the wheel and receives the semi-annular magnet. The semi-annular magnet stays stationary while the wheel turns about the semi-annular magnet.

Vessels and other underwater/semi-underwater structures are constantly exposed to a variety of environmental factors, salt water in particular. As a result, these types of structures require regular maintenance such as inspections, cleaning, and repairs. Adequate maintenance of such structures is difficult to implement because the majority of said structures are partially or fully submerged underwater. Additionally, when performed by hand, the costs and time required for maintenance increase drastically. One of the main solutions for this problem is the use of robotic vehicles capable of adhering to a ferrous surface. Traditional designs for these types of robotic vehicles include the use of strong magnets in order to adhere the body of the robotic vehicle to a ferrous surface. Currently, there are two main means for mounted magnets within a robotic vehicle. The first method includes mounting magnets on the belly of the robotic vehicle. While this is effective, the design requires the bottom surface of the robotic vehicle to run close to the steel surface. This causes hang ups in areas where the surface is not smooth. The second method includes mounting magnets along the entire wheel or track set. This method is rather expensive, heavy, and hard to clean.
The present invention is an alternative solution for adhering a robotic vehicle to a ferrous surface. The present invention mounts a relatively large magnet into each of the wheels, adjacent to a bottom portion of the wheel. The magnet is held in this orientation while the wheel moves around the magnet, thus protecting the magnet from the external environment. Positioning a single large magnet within each wheel improves maneuverability and decreases maintenance costs and weight for the robotic vehicle.


A data processing system is responsive to a plurality of input languages, each language adhering to a prescribed syntax. The presence of defined portions ("For" keys) in the incoming data indicate a vote for the presence of a language and the presence of other defined portions ("Against" keys) indicate a vote Against the presence of the language. The system performs the following method for identifying the input language: analyzing, for each expected language, the syntax of an incoming block of data to identify For and Against keys in the block of data; providing For and Against tallies for each expected language in response to the analysis, each tally being a summation of key entries, each key entry comprising an identified key count multiplied by a skew, a skew value indicating the importance of the key in the syntax and in the context of said block of data, the For tally summing entries of For keys and the Against tally summing entries of Against keys; comparing the For and Against tallies to determine whether or not they are so close as to signal uncertainty; and, based upon a further syntactical characteristic of block of data, resolving the uncertainty and indicating a value based on one of the tallies: indicating a value derived from the larger of the tallies in the event of no uncertainty between the tallies; and deciding, based upon the indicated value for each expected language, the identity of a received language.

Modern data processing networks enable various types of computers to interconnect with a communication network. Peripheral units such as printers, plotters etc., are also connected to the communication network and serve as resources for the connected computers. Those peripherals must be able to understand and respond to commands received from the various computers. So long as all connected computers employ the same peripheral control language, a peripheral unit needs to recognize and respond to only one language. When, however, those computers employ different peripheral control languages, the peripheral unit must be able to recognize an incoming language's identity and to respond to commands in the identified language.
Certain peripheral control languages employ initial identification code sequences that identify the language. So long as the various computers attached to the network comply with the language's syntactical encoding requirements, language recognition can occur. However, there is no assurance that such code sequences are invariably enabled on all computers that might possibly connect to a network. A manufacturer of a peripheral unit must anticipate that eventuality, or the eventuality that a particular initial identification code sequence might appear in a data stream of another language, causing an erroneous language switch by the peripheral.
Recently, sophisticated peripheral units employ "context switching" systems wherein the context of a received block of code is analyzed to enable identification of the language to be used with a downloaded job. One such context switcher is the QMS ESP, a product of QMS International, One Magnum Pass, Mobile, Ala. 36618. While the details of the QMS ESP product have not been published, its operation can be implied from an external analysis. The ESP product appears to search for particular strings, symbols and control characters (hereinafter collectively referred to as keys) that are representative of a particular control language. Certain key words enjoy particular importance as being representative of a particular language. In addition, the number of occurrences of a key are given significance.
Based upon statistics accumulated from an initial code sequence, ESP renders a determination of the incoming language. Under certain circumstances, it has been found that ESP does not provide a language identification. It is surmised that such periodic language selection errors occur due to the occurrence of certain keys in more than one language and to the fact that a non-contextual analysis of an incoming data stream will, over a period of time, result in erroneous language indications.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved language identification system for a peripheral unit.
It is another object of this invention to provide a language identification system which employs both contextual and syntactical analyses of an incoming data stream.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a language identification system which is expandable to support future languages.

Language identification system and method for a peripheral unit


The present disclosure discloses a core holder for a micron CT observation and an experimental method thereof. The core holder for a micron CT observation comprises: a carbon fiber pipe and a base; the base comprises a fluid injection channel therein; the carbon fiber pipe is provided with a core mounting cavity and a carbon fiber plunger therein; the carbon fiber pipe is a tubular structure with one end closed and the other end open; the carbon fiber plunger can fix the core between the closed end of the carbon fiber pipe and the carbon fiber plunger; the other end of the carbon fiber pipe is in a detachable sealed connection with an outlet of the fluid injection channel of the base. The core holder for a micron CT observation reduces the distance between the core and the micron CT radiation source, and improves the resolution.

In the core analysis physical simulation experiments, CT has played an increasingly important role. Regarding the tight sandstone, the main reservoir system is composed of micro and Nano scale pores, the micron CT resolution can reach 0.7 μm, and the micron CT can effectively realize the three-dimensional distribution reconstruction of the reservoir space of the tight sandstone, therefore, a good effect can be achieved by representing the microscopic pore characteristics of the tight sandstone with the micron CT. The underground rocks are all in certain temperature and pressure systems, and in order to represent the core characteristics under the real geological status with the micron CT, the core must be placed in a core holder capable of bearing a certain temperature and pressure, and then a fluid injection is performed for heating and pressurization. But the core holder usually has a certain thickness, and the fluid injection certainly requires the space of the core holder to be increased. The distance between the core and the micron CT radiation source increases as the size of the core hold grows, while the pores of the tight sandstone are all of micro and Nano scales, so it is necessary to reduce the distance between the core and the micron CT radiation source to increase the resolution. Currently at home and abroad, there is still no tight sandstone high-temperature and high-pressure (fluid pressure) core holder that can be effectively applied to the micron CT observation.

Core holder for micron CT observation and experimental method thereof


The mandrel-holder for a pilger rolling mill comprises a head with a seat for a tang end of a mandrel and a body coupled to an actuator for the mandrel-holder. A lever is pivoted on the body of said mandrel-holder and has a main portion extending in a recess formed in said body and opening on the said seat, means being provided in order to move the lever from an operative position in which its main portion is in said seat to an inoperative position in which its main portion is retracted into said recess against spring means.

The invention relates to a mandrel-holder for a pilger rolling mill, the holder being in one piece and comprising a head defining a seat adapted to receive and hold a tang end of a mandrel, and a body adapted for coupling to an actuator used for driving the mandrel-holder in rotation and in a straight line.
Usually the mandrel-holder head has a substantially U cross-section and the mandrel is secured to the mandrel-holder by inserting the mandrel tang between the sides of the head and removably securing it, e.g. by substantially male-female means. A bush is also used for coupling and is coaxially fitted on to the mandrel near its tang and adapted to engage a corresponding, substantially semiannular seat formed in the free end of the mandrel-holder head.
To ensure that the pilger rolling mill operates properly, it is necessary to prevent the mandrel coming loose from the mandrel-holder, as may happen, particularly in the case of older mandrel-holders, if the holder is in the upturned U position and the bush is not securely fitted in the corresponding seat of the mandrel-holder.
It has been frequently found that the aforementioned prior-art devices do not guarantee proper operation of the machine, more particularly when there is an increase in the speed of rolling and the angle of rotation during the positioning phase, e.g. in the case of more modern rolling mills, where use is also made of special devices which, even in the positioning stage, cause the mandrel and the bored blank to move along the entire stroke of the corresponding actuator.
The aforementioned problem has hitherto been solved by using devices which are mounted on the mandrel-holder and can move and secure an abutment means which is stationary in an operative position, in which it engages the mandrel tang (when the rolling mill is in operation) whereas when the abutment is in the inoperative position it is retracted into the mandrel-holder and disengaged from the tang (when the rolling-mill stops). The aforementioned devices usually comprise a double-acting pneumatic cylinder borne by the mandrel-holder with its axis parallel to the rolling axis and having a suitably dimensioned rod which constitutes the stationary abutment means for the mandrel tang.
It is very difficult, and not always possible, to ensure appropriate pneumatic communication between the ducts supplying the cylinder, which moves integrally with the mandrel holder, and the ducts from a compressed air source which is stationary and positioned outside the rolling mill. It is conventional to use stationary air chambers which partially surround the mandrel holder, but they are frequently inadequate and also constitute obstacles which undesirably reduce the accessibility of the mandrel-holder.
Furthermore, if the aforementioned devices are used, there is a need for suitable valve means for cutting off the compressed air, and for gaskets ensuring perfect sealing-tightness to compressed air under rather critical operating conditions. Another technical, more particularly economic, disadvantage is the possibility that the stationary abutment, i.e. the cylinder rod used for this purpose, will not be completely disengaged from the mandrel tang at the end of the rolling operation, so that when the mandrel is released from the mandrel-holder the abutment may be sheared away or sufficiently deformed to become unserviceable.
The invention is based on the problem of constructing a mandrel-holder for a pilger rolling mill having structural and functional characteristics which guarantee optimum engagement between the mandrel and the mandrel-holder during any phase of operation of the rolling mill, thus simultaneously overcoming the disadvantages mentioned hereinbefore with reference to the prior art.

Mandrel-holder for a pilger rolling mill


A combination padlock with an improved rocker assembly as looking control device. The combination padlock contains a slide plate, a rocker assembly, a shackle, a predetermined number of numbered wheels, and a plurality of wheel sleeves respectively matching the numbered wheels. The slide plate is provided with a predetermined number of semicircular holes, each of the semicircular holes is adapted for receiving a spring and one of the wheel sleeves. An oblong hole is located between two of the semicircular holes, each of the semicircular holes is further provided with an angled flange corresponding in angle and dimension to a notch provided in each of the wheel sleeves. When a correct combination is dialed, the notches match the angles and the lock is unlocked. The rocker assembly contains a rocking hole, a retaining bar, and a rocking shaft. The rocking hole is dimensioned as to fit over a protuberance on the lower housing of the padlock such that the rocker assembly can be caused to pivot about the protuberance. The retaining bar is capable of being caused, by a downward movement of the slide plate, to move to retain a retaining head of the shackle when the angled flange of any one of the semicircular holes of the slide plate is not coincident with a coinciding notch of the wheel sleeves, thereby causing the shackle to be locked.

There are a variety of locks; nevertheless the locks are generally classified, on the basis of their construction, into the combination locks and the key locks, which have both advantages and disadvantages. In a way, the popular combination padlock is the better of the combination locks and the key locks. However, the conventional combination padlock has shortcomings, which are expounded explicitly hereinafter.
The cost of making the conventional combination padlock is relatively high in view of the fact that the construction of the conventional combination padlock is complicated and that the quality control of the conventional combination padlock cannot be carried out effectively and economically.
The shackle of the conventional combination padlock can be pulled out accidentally at the time when the shackle is not arrested and retained by all dial sleeves. In addition, there are many gaps in the housing of the padlock in which the dial and other component parts are housed. Such gaps can be used by an unauthorized person to unlock the combination padlock with a device.
The locking and the unlocking mechanisms of the conventional combination padlock involve a number of frictional contacts between the shackle and each of the dial sleeves. As a result, the operation of the conventional combination padlock is painfully slow.
The unlocking mechanism of the conventional combination padlock is inefficient on the grounds that the working of the shackle is not assisted by a spring.

Combination padlock with an improved rocker assembly as locking control device

32-1, Yen Tso Lane, Hai Pu Lee, Lu Kang Chen


A write driver circuit for driving a magnetic head applicable to a variety of magnetic heads or magnetic storage media is disclosed. The circuit includes a write current generating section for generating plural types of write current for magnetizing a predetermined area of a magnetic storage medium in a predetermined direction; a switching signal generating section for generating a switching signal for switching among the write currents; a switching section for changing the direction of magnetization through the magnetic head by switching among the write currents based on the switching signal; and an overshoot current generating section for generating an overshoot current for instantaneously increasing the write current when the direction of magnetization is changed by the switching section; wherein the circuit further includes an overshoot current generation signal producing section, and is designed so that the overshoot current is generated based on an overshoot current generation signal produced thereby.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a write driver circuit for driving a magnetic head and a hard disk apparatus incorporating the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, storage devices using magnetic storage media, such as hard disks, are becoming more and more popular as one of storage devices for storing a large volume of data along with the widespread use of computers. In these magnetic storage devices, a write operation into a magnetic storage medium is accomplished by supplying a write current, which corresponds to data to be stored and which is generated by a write driver circuit for driving a magnetic head, to a magnetic head placed in close proximity to the magnetic storage medium, to thereby magnetize a predetermined storage area of the magnetic storage medium in a predetermined direction by the magnetic head.
One conventional popular example of the write driver circuit for driving a magnetic head is one that instantaneously increases (overshoots) the write current by instantaneously superposing an overshoot current onto the write current only when the direction of magnetization is changed. The reason why the write current is overshot at the time of changing the direction of magnetization is that it is advantageous in ensuring correct magnetization of the storage area in the magnetic storage medium immediately after the current supply to the magnetic head, which successfully clarifies the timing when the direction of magnetization is changed, and improves jitter characteristics when stored data is read from the magnetic storage medium. An exemplary configuration of the circuit is shown in FIG. 4.
A conventional write driver circuit 100 for driving a magnetic head shown in FIG. 4 includes a write current generating section 104 for generating two types of write current (write current for normal rotation and write current for reverse rotation) to be applied to a magnetic head 103 based on write driver control signals 101, 102, a switching signal generating section 107 for generating switching signals 105, 106 for selecting either one of the two write currents, a switching section 108 for switching the write currents according to the switching signals 105, 106, and an overshoot current generating section 109 for generating an overshoot current for instantaneously increasing the write current when the direction of magnetization is changed.
The overshoot current generating section 109 is designed to generate an overshoot current according to voltage changes in the switching signals 105, 106 generated by the switching section 108 when the direction of magnetization is changed, and to output the thus generated overshoot current towards the write current generating section 104. This allows the write driver circuit 100 for driving a magnetic head to supply a write current having superposed thereon the overshoot current from the write current generating section 104 to the magnetic head 103.
As described in the above, the conventional write driver circuit 100 for driving a magnetic head is configured so that the overshoot current generating section 109 generates the overshoot current based on the voltage changes in the switching signals 105, 106 used for switching the write current in the switching section 108.
As a consequence, the current value of the overshoot current generated by the overshoot current generating section 109 is determined by the voltage level of the switching signals 105, 106, the capacity of capacitors 114, 115, the resistance of resistors 112, 113, and so forth, and is thus always keep at a constant value.
That is, the conventional write driver circuit 100 for driving a magnetic head is configured so as to allow the overshoot current generating section 109 to generate the overshoot current always at a constant level when the direction of magnetization is changed by the switching section 108, and to allow such constant overshoot current to be output towards the write current generating section 104 to thereby instantaneously increase the write current generated therein.
The conventional write driver circuit 100 for driving a magnetic head is, however, disadvantageous in that the current value of the overshoot current is always kept constant while being governed by the voltage level of the switching signals 105, 106, the capacity of the capacitors 114, 115 and so forth, which makes it difficult to conveniently apply the circuit to plural types of magnetic heads or magnetic storage media. In other words, since magnetic heads or magnetic storage media differ individually from each other according to their materials and electrical properties, and as a consequence, differ significantly with each other in optimum values for the overshoot current, a circuit having only a single constant value for the overshoot current is not applicable to the entire range of the magnetic heads or magnetic storage media.
In particular, since the conventional write driver circuit 100 for driving a magnetic head described above is designed to generate the overshoot current based on voltage changes in the switching signals 105, 106 used for switching the write current in the switching section 108, it is fairly difficult to apply the circuit to plural kinds of magnetic heads or magnetic storage media. This is because an allowable range for the voltage changes in the switching signals 105, 106 should fall within a predetermined range given by a circuit configuration of the switching section 108, so that the generation of the overshoot current based on voltage changes in the switching signals 105, 106 inevitably limits the variable range of the overshoot current, which makes it difficult to conveniently apply the circuit to a variety of magnetic heads or magnetic storage media.

Write driver circuit for driving a magnetic head


A method for forming gold nanowires on a substrate is provided. The method includes a) attaching noble metal nanoparticles onto the substrate; and b) contacting the noble metal nanoparticles with an aqueous solution comprising a ligand, gold ions and a reducing agent, wherein the ligand is an organic compound having a thiol group. Gold nanowires formed by a method according to the method, and an electronic device comprising the gold nanowires are also provided.

Ultrathin metal nanowires (NWs) with diameters of less than 10 nm have attracted much interest in recent years. Large anisotropy, electrical conductivity, and chemical stability of ultrathin gold NWs (AuNWs) make them suitable candidates as linkage in nanoelectronic devices. Their narrow width cuts down on the usage of precious metal and confers high sensitivity for applications such as sensors. Other potential application areas include fully transparent thin-film transistors (TTFTs).
Since TTFTs have been were first reported in 2003, they have been rapidly applied and commercialized in the electronics industry. Indium tin oxide (ITO) was found to be outstanding in both electrical conductivity and optical transparency, thereby rendering it suitable for use in TTFTs. Demand of these transistors has increased exponentially as they could be embedded in various devices such as displays, touch screens and photovoltaics. However, due to the scarcity and surging price of indium, there is a need for comparable substitutes for ITO.
In addition, research on nanotechnology in recent years has made assembly and array of material on nanometer scale possible. Some carbon based nanostructures, such as graphene oxide and carbon nanotubes, may be aligned and used as transparent electrodes with good conductivity. Networks of silver nanowires have also shown promising capability in the construction of optoelectronic devices. However, preparation of the above-mentioned materials involves methods such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD), sputtering and spin coating. Disadvantages of these techniques include high expense, high energy consumption, low yield, fragile towards external environment, and limitation of the coating surfaces.
In view of the above, there remains a need for an improved method for forming nanowires which addresses at least one or more of the above-mentioned problems.

Methods for forming gold nanowires on a substrate and gold nanowires formed thereof


Some demonstrative embodiments include apparatuses, devices, systems and methods of power management in a wireless network. For example, a first wireless station may be configured to transmit a frame to a second wireless station during a first beacon interval, the frame including an indication that the first wireless station is to switch to a low power mode; switch to the low power mode; operate at an active mode during an awake window in a second beacon interval subsequent to the first beacon interval; and upon receipt of an announcement traffic indication message (ATIM) from the second wireless station during the awake window, transmit an acknowledgement to the second wireless station, and stay at the active mode to communicate data with the second wireless station.

Wireless communication stations (STAs) in a wireless communication network may utilize a power management mechanism.
The STAs may utilize a power management mechanism, for example, according to IEEE 802.11ad-2012 ("IEEE P802.11ad-2012, IEEE Standard for Information Technology—Telecommunications and Information Exchange Between Systems—Local and Metropolitan Area Networks—Specific Requirements—Part 11: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications—Amendment 3: Enhancements for Very High Throughput in the 60 GHz Band", 28 Dec., 2012).

Apparatus and product of power management


The aspirator or air-injector of the present invention includes an air transport pipe disposed within a fluid transport tube. The end of the pipe which is disposed within the tube is cut at an angle to the axis of the pipe and provides a beveled face disposed within the tube, facing upstream of any fluid passing through the tube, and being rotated at an angle between 5 and 20 degrees.

It is well-known in the art that certain bodies of water need to be aerated in order to preserve their clarity and cleanliness, as well as to enhance the environment, both from a visual and an odor standpoint.
Many types of sprays and injectors, circulating pumps, waterfalls and the like have been suggested, all of which are relatively complicated and expensive.
One of the simplest types of aerators is generally described as being a "Venturi"-type system. Such a device was shown more than 75 years ago in the Peterson U.S. Pat. No. 1,204,309.
Later disclosures of a similar construction are shown in Singleton U.S. Pat. No. 3,335,964; Wheat U.S. Pat. No. 3,606,166; Jooste U.S. Pat. No. 3,815,831; Hoff U.S. Pat. No. 3,920,037 and Troyen U.S. Pat. No. 4,494,567.
Although all of these disclosures present a variety of water aspirators utilizing a "Venturi"-type pipe, none describes the specific improvement of the present invention.
Although this is a relatively old and crowded field of art, the economies of construction and operation resulting from the use of the present invention are notably effective.


A noise suppression, signal recovery circuit for use with an array of charge coupled device having a plurality of phase readouts. The video information present in the multiple phases are combined into a single video output signal by using a minimal number of parts while providing for noise suppression designed to suppress typical noise present in charge coupled device arrays.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates generally to signal recovery from an array of charge coupled devices, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for eliminating the need for multiple noise reduction channels for signal recovery from charge coupled devices having multi-phase outputs.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Charge coupled devices (CCDs) can be used to form the light sensitive portion of a television camera. Such applications have been discussed in the literature widely, for example see "Charge Transfer Devices" by Sequin and Tompsett, Academic Press, Inc. 1975. In the television camera, a system of lenses focuses the light associated with the image onto CCDs. The CCDs converts light impulses into electrical impulses representative of the brightness of the image. The electrical impulses are generated for each particular location of each CCD element. The stream of electrical impulses emanating from the CCD is subsequently manipulated to transmit a serial train of electrical pulses descriptive of the image to which the CCDs were originally exposed via the system of lenses of the television camera.
A major problem involved with the operation of CCDs results from the contamination of tile output signal with clock feedthrough and several forms of noise. Clock feedthrough causes frequency components of the clock signals to appear in the output signal. Although, strictly speaking, clock feedthrough is not noise since it is a deterministic process, for present purposes, all sources of signal contamination including clock feedthrough will be referred to as noise. Other types of noise present in the output signal of a charge transfer device are so-called "l/f" noise characterized by an additive noise with high power at lower frequencies and lower power at high frequencies of a signal, and reset noise from the charging of the floating diffusion capacity.
Several schemes have been suggested for reducing or removing noise from the output signal produced by a CCD. These schemes involve some method for separately generating a "noise" signal that is similar and preferably identical to the noise present in the output signal from the device. The separately generated noise signal is then subtracted from the output signal of the device to yield a relatively noise-free output signal.
An example of a noise reduction method is the reflection-delayed noise suppression (RDS) method. This method can, with a delay line alone, determine the difference between the feedthrough level and the signal level of the CCD output signal, detect the signal component, and suppress the noise component. Another method for noise reduction similar to the RDS method is the DDS method. Here, a switch applies clamp pulses at the proper time to reduce noise.
Because of the large number of pixels required by HDTV, many CCDs currently have two phase outputs. A problem with both the RDS and DDS methods is that each CCD output related to each phase of a two phase, or multiphase, CCD must be processed independently through a separate and duplicative set of parts making up the RDS or DDS noise reduction circuits. For example, DDS noise suppression for a two phase CCD requires two buffers, two delay lines, two differential amplifiers, and two sample and hold circuits. The RDS parts count for a two phase CCD is similarly duplicative. This requirement of duplicate parts for each phase of the CCD requires the use of a large number of parts to accomplish the noise reduction function associated with the RDS and DDS methods with multiphase CCDs. A typical circuit of the prior art showing the use of the RDS method with a CCD having two phases is shown in FIG. 1.
It is therefore an objective of the present invention to perform a noise reduction function on multiple phased outputs of CCD devices using a minimal number of components.
It is a further objective of the present invention to increase the reliability of noise reduction circuitry by reducing overall parts count associated with that function.
These together with other objects and advantages which will be subsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

Multiplexed noise suppression signal recovery for multiphase readout of charge device arrays


A vehicle hood includes a wall, connecting devices for mounting the hood on a vehicle chassis fixed to the wall nearer a rear edge of the wall than to its other edges, and a locking member fixed to the wall for locking the hood to the chassis in a closed position. The locking member is nearer the rear edge of the wall than a front edge of the wall opposite the rear edge.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to automobile vehicle hood closure systems.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There exist vehicles in which the hood at the front pivots relative to the structure of the vehicle by means of hinges situated in the rear part of the hood, at the same end as the windshield. There is a single system for locking the hood to the chassis, positioned centrally at the front, or a duplicated system, with symmetrical front lateral positions. The system generally comprises a lock connecting the hood to the structure of the vehicle. This connection to the structure creates a rigid area at the front of the vehicle which, in the event of a frontal impact with a pedestrian, can cause trauma to the hip, in the case of an adult, or to the head, in the case of a child.
One object of the present invention is to provide an automobile vehicle front hood closure system that reduces injury in the event of an impact with a pedestrian.
To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a vehicle hood including a wall, connecting devices for mounting the mobile hood on a vehicle chassis fixed to the wall nearer a rear edge of the wall than to its other edges, and a locking member fixed to the wall for locking the hood to the chassis in a closed position, which locking member is nearer the rear edge of the wall than a front edge of the wall opposite the rear edge.
Thus the rigid area associated with the locking member is moved to the rear, i.e. to the same end as the connecting means, so that the opposite (front) end is free of any rigid area and is therefore more readily deformable. This increased deformability reduces injury in the event of an impact with a pedestrian.
The locking member is advantageously equidistant from two lateral edges of the hood.
The connecting devices advantageously include hinges.
In this way, the hood is rotatably mounted on the chassis.
The connecting devices advantageously include slides.
In this way, the hood is slidably mounted on the chassis.
The hood advantageously includes a safety catch operative in its closed position.
The safety catch is advantageously nearer the front edge of the wall than the rear edge of the wall.
The safety catch advantageously includes a hook adapted to engage in the chassis.
The invention also provides a vehicle which includes a vehicle hood according to the present invention.
The invention also provides a vehicle including a chassis and a hood having a wall, connecting devices fixed to the wall and to the chassis so that the hood is mobile on the chassis, a connecting means being nearer a rear edge of the wall than its other edges, and a locking member fixed to the wall for locking the hood to the chassis in a closed position, and nearer the rear edge of the wall than a front edge of the wall opposite the rear edge.
The locking member advantageously includes a lock adapted to be connected to the chassis.
The locking member advantageously includes a cable connected to the hood.
The hood is advantageously mounted on the chassis so that it can rotate and move in translation.
The hood advantageously includes at least one bracket adapted to cooperate with an orifice formed in a boss projecting from a wing of the vehicle.
The invention also provides a vehicle hood including a wall, connecting devices for mounting the mobile hood on a vehicle chassis fixed to the wall, the connecting devices being nearer a common first edge of the wall than the other edges of the wall, and a locking member fixed to the wall for locking the hood to the chassis in a closed position, which locking member is nearer the first edge of the wall than an edge of the wall opposite the first edge.
Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the course of the following description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, which description is given by way of non-limiting example.


A device and method for surface height profiling are presented. The device has a source with a source slit through which light is provided. The device includes an objective lens having a reference surface. The objective lens is configured to illuminate a sample with test light from the source and to combine test light reflected from the sample with reference light reflected from the reference surface to form combined light. A spectrometer is positioned to receive the combined light at an entrance slit. The spectrometer is configured to image the combined light as a 2D image with a wavelength dimension and a spatial position dimension. A processor in electrical communication with the spectrometer is programmed to receive a signal representing the 2D image and to determine a surface height profile of the sample based on the signal.

3-dimensional ("3D") inspection and/or metrology of silicon wafers are required processes in the semiconductor industry. Such inspection can be used, for example, to test the through silicon via ("TSV") and bump structure or the particle shape (e.g., size and height). Typical techniques for inspection or metrology include: (1) triangulation; (2) geometric shadow; (3) various confocal microscope techniques; and (4) white-light (or broadband light) interferometry. Triangulation and geometric shadow techniques are not precise enough for contemporary back-end of line ("BEOL") applications. Confocal microscopy and interferometry techniques typically fail to meet throughput requirements.
White-light interferometry is known to be a high-resolution method for 3D inspection and metrology and has been used in the semiconductor industry. There are two types of such devices offering in the market: (1) scanning white-light interferometers ("SWI"); and (2) spectroscopic white-light interferometers. In SWI devices, either the sample (e.g., the wafer under inspection) or the inspection optics scan along a direction perpendicular to the wafer surface, the z-direction, for a distance. Multiple frames are taken at specific z-values to determine the height measurement for a specific x-y location on the wafer surface. Such SWI devices are robust but generally slow. Furthermore, this technique requires the sample to move to field of view and stabilized before a measurement is taken—another factor limiting its speed.
In spectrographic devices, reflected light is detected with a spectrometer without the need for mechanical scanning in the z-direction. Such devices are constructed as point-scan devices that scan along a line or within an area. Speeds are often limited by light-utilization efficiency. Another disadvantage of point-scan techniques is a loss in accuracy due to the sensitivity of such point measurements to environmental conditions, such as vibration of the scanning mechanism. This is because such systems cannot remove changes in height from one point to another point caused by environmental externalities.

Line scan spectroscopic white light interferometry for semiconductor inspection and metrology


A system for differentiating short circuiting in a battery includes: a detector coupled to the battery; a monitor in communication with the detector, the monitor including a profile of a battery shorting behavior, and a comparator for matching data from the detector to the profile; and a controller for taking action based upon information from the detector. A method for detecting short circuiting in a battery includes the steps of: detecting a behavior of the battery; comparing the behavior of the battery to a predetermined battery behavior profile; determining the type of short based on the comparison; and taking mitigating action based on the determination. The system/method may monitor: temperature of the battery, heat generation from the battery, current flow through the battery, voltage drop across the battery, and/or combinations thereof. The system/method discriminates between the various battery shorting behaviors for aggressive response or passive response.

In advanced battery systems, for example lithium battery systems, short circuiting is a serious problem that may lead to consequences from: battery under-performance, battery failure, battery rupture, or more. The shorting problem is a major concern of not only battery users, but also battery manufacturers and the suppliers of battery components. The causes and mechanisms of the shorting process are not well understood.

System and method for differentiating shorting in a battery


A television transmission system compatible with current television standard includes a compatible wide aspect ratio television signal containing vacated spatial areas along upper and lower edges of an image defined by lines remaining after lines are separated from groups of successive lines within an image scanning interval. The separated lines are inserted into the vacated spatial areas. A first carrier is modulated with non-active portions of the separated lines, and with the remaining lines. A second carrier is modulated with time expanded active image portions of the separated lines, and is disposed in an upper portion of the television signal frequency spectrum so as to be suppressed in a standard aspect ratio receiver.

For improved television transmission systems, it has been shown to be desirable, particularly in view of the preference of the general public, to increase the aspect ratio of a television receiver from 4:3, as found in present standard receivers, to 16:9 (i.e., the recommended aspect ratio of future HDTV standards) or 5:3 without losing compatibility with existing television standards (PAL, NTSC, SECAM). To achieve this, it is suggested in German patent DE 3840054 to separate, at the transmitter, every fourth line of the picture signal, and to spatially compress or interpolate the remaining lines in the correct spatial position. The separated lines are added, directly or in scrambled form, into vacated spatial areas created by the spatial compression along upper and lower edges of the picture. The resulting picture signal is then transmitted in coded form. The original picture signal with a 16:9 or 5:3 aspect ratio is reconstructed from a received decoded picture signal. Specifically, the separated lines (i.e., every fourth line) disposed in the upper and lower picture edge areas are, after descrambling, inserted among the remaining spatially decompressed (expanded) lines in the correct line sequence. Upon reproducing the received signal by a current (state-of-the-art) 4:3 aspect ratio television receiver, the scrambled lines added along the upper and lower picture edge areas are reproduced as quasi-noise bands (bars) which can be disturbing to a viewer.
It is an object of the invention to develop a system of the aforementioned type such that, upon reproduction of the picture signal by a conventional 4:3 television receiver, the upper and lower edge areas of the picture appear as essentially consistent picture areas.

Television transmission system including encoder and decoder compatible with current television standards having a 4:3 aspect ratio


An apparatus and method for vehicle emissions control are disclosed. More particularly, an apparatus and method for insuring that the temperature of a vehicle""s exhaust gas stream entering the underfloor catalytic converter during engine operation does not exceed the temperature at which the capability of the multi-functional catalyst in the converter to absorb NOx starts to fall off. A first temperature sensor is provided in the exhaust outlet leading from the exhaust manifold of the engine and a second temperature sensor is provided in the catalytic converter. The catalytic converter contains a multi-functional catalyst such as a three-way conversion catalyst and a NOx trap as well as a NOx sensor at its outlet for sensing when NOx breakthrough is occurring. The sensors transmit their readings to a controller which transmits signal to a proportional valve located in the exhaust outlet downstream of the first temperature sensor. In response to the signals received from the controller, the proportional valve divides the exhaust gas stream received from the engine exhaust manifold into a first stream in communication with the catalytic converter and a second stream in communication with a heat exchanger. Any stream exiting the heat exchanger is then blended with the non-heat exchanged stream and the blended stream is passed into the catalytic converter. The amount of the exhaust gas stream in the first conduit will vary from that in the second conduit such that the temperature entering the catalytic converter is maintained in the range of about 300 to about 600xc2x0 C. during the lean mode operation of the engine and further such that the multi-functional catalyst is periodically purged of NOx and/or SOx.

This invention relates to an apparatus and method for vehicle emissions control and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for controlling the temperature of the exhaust gas stream exiting the exhaust manifold and entering an underfloor catalytic converter containing a multi-functional catalyst, e.g., a three-way conversion catalyst and a nitrogen oxides (xe2x80x9cNOxxe2x80x9d) trap.
Conventional lean-burn engine control systems include an air/fuel controller that delivers fuel to the engine intake manifold proportional to measured air mass to maintain a desire air/fuel ratio, lean of stoichiometric. Emissions of nitrogen oxides (xe2x80x9cNOxxe2x80x9d) from lean-burn engines (described below) must be reduced in order to meet emission regulation standards. Conventional three-way conversion (xe2x80x9cTWCxe2x80x9d) automotive catalysts are suitable for abating NOx carbon monoxide (xe2x80x9cCOxe2x80x9d) and hydrocarbon (xe2x80x9cHCxe2x80x9d) pollutants in the exhaust of engines operated at or near stoichiometric air/fuel conditions. The precise proportion of air to fuel that results in stoichiometric conditions varies with the relative proportions of carbon and hydrogen in the fuel. An air-to-fuel (xe2x80x9cA/Fxe2x80x9d) ratio of 14.65:1 (weight of air to weight of fuel) is the stoichiometric ratio corresponding to the combustion of a hydrocarbon fuel, such as gasoline, with an average formula CH1.88. The symbol xcex is thus used to represent the result of dividing a particular A/F ratio by the stoichiometric A/F ratio for a given fuel, so that xcex=1 is a stoichiometric mixture, xcex greater than 1 is a fuel-lean mixture and xcex less than 1 is a fuel-rich mixture.
Engines, especially gasoline-fueled engines to be used for passenger automobiles and the like, are now designed to operate under lean conditions as a fuel economy measure. Such engines are referred to as xe2x80x9clean-burn enginesxe2x80x9d. That is, the ratio of air to fuel in the combustion mixtures supplied to such engines is maintained considerably above the stoichiometric ratio (e.g., at an air-to-fuel weight ratio of 18:1) so that the resulting exhaust gases are xe2x80x9cleanxe2x80x9d, i.e., the exhaust gases are relatively high in oxygen content.
Although lean-burn engines provide enhanced fuel economy, they have the disadvantage that conventional TWC catalysts are not effective for reducing NOx emissions from such engines because of excessive oxygen in the exhaust. The prior art discloses attempts to overcome this problem by operating lean-burn engines with brief periods of fuel-rich operation. (Engines which operate in this fashion are sometimes referred to as xe2x80x9cpartial lean-burn enginesxe2x80x9d.)
The typical TWC catalyst provided in the exhaust passage as a xe2x80x9cclose-coupledxe2x80x9d catalytic converter does not convert the NOx produced when the engine is running lean, i.e., when xcex greater than 1. In order to reduce the NOx emission to the atmosphere, it is known to use an underfloor catalytic converter located downstream of the medium-coupled or close-coupled catalytic converter. xe2x80x9cClose-coupledxe2x80x9d catalytic converters are known in the prior art and are generally defined as located in or near the engine compartment, typically less than one foot, more typically less than six inches from, and preferably immediately adjacent to, i.e., attached directly to, the outlet of the exhaust manifold. xe2x80x9cUnderfloorxe2x80x9d catalytic converters are also known in the prior art and are located (downstream of any close-coupled catalysts)under the floor of the vehicle adjacent to or in combination with the vehicle""s muffler.
It is known to treat the exhaust of such engines with an underfloor catalytic converter containing a multi-functional catalyst, e.g., a TWC catalyst/NOx trap which stores NOx during periods of lean (oxygen-rich) operation, and releases the stored NOx during the rich (fuel-rich) periods of operation. A typical NOx trap utilizes alkali metal or alkaline earth metal oxides in combination with the precious metal catalyst component in order to store or occlude NOx under lean operating conditions. The mechanism for NOx storage is believed to involve the oxidation of NO to NO2 over the precious metal component of the TWC catalyst followed by the subsequent formation of a nitrate complex with the alkali metal or alkaline earth metal oxide. Under engine operation rich of stoichiometric (xcex less than 1), the nitrate complexes are thermodynamically unstable, and the stored NOx is released and catalytically reduced by the excess of CO, HCs and H2 in the exhaust. Periodically, the lean-burn engine is switched to a relatively rich air/fuel ratio to purge the NOx trap.
It is also known that exposure of the NOx trap to excessive temperatures, e.g. 750xc2x0 C. and higher, during the operation of the engine will result in a significant diminution of the capability of the NOx trap to absorb the NOx in the exhaust gas stream Therefore, it would be desirable to provide some means of insuring that the temperature of the exhaust gas stream entering the underfloor catalytic converter containing the NOx trap during the operation of the engine does not exceed the temperature at which the capability of the trap to absorb the NOx in the exhaust gas stream starts to fall off.
Lean-burn engines are designed for fuel economy. In such engines, operations alternate depending on speed and load. At the lean (xcex greater than 1) condition, the NOx trap in the underfloor catalytic converter absorbs NOx, then a fuel-rich (xcex less than 1) spike is applied which results in NOx desorption from the trap and catalytic reduction of the NOx to N2, then a lean condition occurs followed by a rich spike, etc. Rich conditions are required from time to time at higher speeds and loads in order to maintain the temperature of the exhaust gas flowing into the underfloor catalytic converter at a temperature below that which would result in deterioration of the NOx trap. At stoichiometric or richer than stoichiometric conditions, i.e. xcexxe2x89xa61, the multi-functional catalyst in the underfloor catalytic converter has the capability of reducing the NOx to N2 without absorption of the NOx by the trap.
Typically, the lean-burn engine is periodically switched to a relatively rich air/fuel ratio to purge the NOx trap. The NOx trap must be exposed to minimum threshold temperatures at specific engine speeds and loads before it will perform efficiently and accordingly, a minimum exhaust temperature must be established before a lean-burn mode of engine operation is established. There are also upper or maximum temperatures within certain speeds and loads, above which the trap will cease operating effectively for trapping NOx. At such higher temperatures with specific speeds and loads, the engine operation will switch from lean to stoichiometric (or rich) conditions. The catalyst in the underfloor catalytic converter will act as a TWC catalyst such that NOx, CO and HCs are effectively removed. Since fuel economy is significantly improved by operating the engine at lean conditions, an apparatus and method are required for sensing the upper temperature limit of the lean operation, thus permitting the temperature of the exhaust gas stream entering the NOx trap to be lowered, thereby allowing the lean operation of the engine to be extended to cover high speeds and loads which would otherwise be required to occur at stoichiometric conditions. Such extension of the lean operation of the engine would result in dramatically improved fuel savings, while concurrently lowering the formation of the greenhouse gas CO2.
It is also known that at certain higher speeds and loads, the temperature of the exhaust gas stream entering the NOx trap may exceed the temperatures at which the trap starts to deteriorate. At such extreme conditions of speed and load, the exhaust gas temperature is usually lowered by using fuel enrichment (xcex less than 1) in order to prevent deterioration of the trap. This practice has a severe adverse impact on fuel economy and also defeats the purpose of fuel savings associated with the lean burn engines. Accordingly, an apparatus and method are required for sensing such upper temperature limits in order to thereby lower the temperature of the exhaust gas stream entering the trap to a temperature below that which is known to cause deterioration of the trap, i.e., the temperature is thereby lowered to about 750xc2x0 C. or lower.
It is further known that over time, NOx breakthrough occurs when the trap becomes saturated with NOx and/or sulfur oxides (xe2x80x9cSOxxe2x80x9d) and must be purged in order to be able to continue to effectively trap the NOx. In order to purge the SOx, the NOx trap must be exposed to an exhaust gas stream having a temperature in the range of about 600xc2x0 C. to about 750xc2x0 C. Since the temperature and time required for purging SOx from the trap is close to that at which the trap suffers degradation, an apparatus and method is required for sensing NOx breakthrough and permitting exposure of the trap to the higher temperature exhaust stream during purging to remove SOx.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a method for controlling the temperature of the exhaust gas entering the underfloor catalytic converter containing a TWC catalyst/NOx trap such that the NOx trap will not be exposed to excessively high temperatures thereby causing a deterioration of the NOx trap during lean conditions of engine operation.
It is a further object of the invention to cause the lean-burn mode of operation of the engine to be extend cover higher engine operation temperatures (i.e., higher speeds and loads) than would usually be possible. It is the common practice, at the temperatures where the NOx trap become ineffective, to switch the engine operation from lean to stoichiometric, i.e.,xcex greater than 1 to xcex=1. This is necessary in order to facilitate the removal of the gaseous pollutants by the TWC function of the catalyst in the underfloor catalytic converter. The extended lean-burn mode of engine operation thereby improved fuel economy.
It is an additional object of the invention to provide an apparatus and a method which, at engine conditions requiring highs speeds and loads, result in a cooling of the exhaust gas to thereby minute the necessity of using fuel enrichment which would otherwise be required to effect such cooling in order to minimize deterioration of the NOx trap. This additional object also results in an improvement in fuel economy.
It is yet a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus and a method for purging the NOx trap of NOx and/or SOx without concurrent deterioration of the trap.
These and other objects have been achieved by the invention which is described in detail below.
In accordance with the present invention, an underfloor catalytic converter containing a multi-functional catalyst, e.g., a TWC catalyst/NOx trap, is provided in fluid communication with the outlet of the exhaust manifold of the engine. A first temperature sensor is provided in the exhaust outlet and a second temperature sensor is provided in the catalytic converter; (preferably near the inlet of the converter). A NOx sensor is located at the outlet of the converter in order to sensor NOx breakthrough, i.e., determine when the trap must be purged to remove NOx and/or SOx.
The first and second temperature sensors and the NOx sensor transmit their readings to a controller which transmits signals to proportional valve means located in the exhaust outlet downstream of the first temperature sensor. In response to the signals received from the controller, the proportional valve divides the exhaust gas stream from the engine exhaust manifold into two streams, one of which is sent to a first conduit and the other is sent through a second conduit into a heat exchanger. Any stream exiting the heat exchanger is then blended with the non-heat exchanged stream in the first conduit downstream of the proportional valve means.
The amount of the exhaust gas stream in the first conduit will vary from that in the second conduit such that (a) the temperature of the exhaust gas stream entering the catalytic converter is maintained in the range of about 300 to about 600xc2x0 C., preferably 350 to 550xc2x0 C., during the lean mode operation of the engine, and (b) the temperature of the exhaust gas stream entering the catalytic converter is periodically allowed to rise above about 600xc2x0 C. to the extent necessary to purge the NOx trap of SOx, i.e., when purging of the trap is required, little or none of the exhaust steam received from the exhaust manifold is sent to the heat exchanger.

Apparatus and method for vehicle emissions control


The invention relates to a valve with a control chamber and with controlled closing, especially for hydrocarbon fuel dispensers. In order to avoid abrupt closing of the valve, especially in the case of accidental or abnormal operation of the dispenser, the valve is formed by a first piston, which can cooperate with a fixed seat to block the duct, and a second piston on which the control fluid acts. The first piston is provided with a bore which is closed when the second piston is applied to the first piston. A spring is fitted between the two pistons.

In European patent application EP-A 0 357 513 there is described a hydrocarbon dispenser comprising means for controlling the gas content in the hydrocarbon being dispensed. As is known, a hydrocarbon dispenser comprises not only a shutoff valve in the dispenser nozzle but also a main valve upstream of the dispenser nozzle hose, accordingly between the dispensing pump and the dispenser nozzle. In the cited application, there is described a system allowing the closure of the main valve to be brought about automatically when the gas content in the hydrocarbon is above a predetermined percentage. To this end a system either allows the control chamber of the main valve to be at atmospheric pressure when the gas content is normal, thus allowing the open position of the main valve to be maintained, or shuts off the control chamber, which effects closure of the main valve through increasing the pressure in the chamber, even if the valve of the dispenser nozzle is kept open, i.e. even if the dispensing pump continues to operate.
The problems which can arise in relation to the main valve will be better understood with reference to the accompanying FIGS. 1a and 1b.
The valve of the European application referred to above is shown in FIG. 1a, in its open position. The valve comprises a piston 22 sliding in a control chamber 38. The control chamber is normally under atmospheric pressure through the pipe 36. The piston 22 can cooperate with a seat 19 which surrounds the outlet pipe 18 leading to the dispenser nozzle. Also shown is the pipe 16 through which the hydrocarbon fed by the pump is received. The piston 22 tends to be applied against its seat 19 by a return spring 44 fitted in the chamber 38. When the gas content of the hydrocarbon is normal, the chamber 38 is at atmospheric pressure. When the dispenser is operating, the high pressure which obtains in the pipe 16 acts on the face 22a of the piston 22, causing the main valve to open. When the gas content exceeds a predetermined value, the pipe 36 is closed and, because of the opening 40 formed through the piston 22, the high pressure applied through the pipe 16 is established in the control chamber 38 also, which causes the main valve to close under the action of the spring, the piston 22 coming into contact with its seat 19.
In FIG. 1b there is shown the main valve in the closed position, i.e. with the piston 22 on its seat 19. The diameter of the piston 22 is denoted D and the diameter of the seat 19d, which is substantially that of the pipe 18.
In normal operation, when atmospheric pressure PA obtains in the chamber 38, and the high pressure HP is applied via the duct 16, the equilibrium of the piston 22 can be expressed as follows: EQU (HP-PA).multidot..pi.(D.sup.2 -d.sup.2)+(LP-PA).multidot..pi.d.sup.2 =F
where F is the compressive force exerted by the spring 44, LP is the low pressure in the pipe 18 following closure of the main valve, and HP is the high pressure in the pipe 16.
It will be seen that, when the main valve re-opens, the pressure LP contributes to this opening so long as it is above atmospheric pressure PA. On the contrary, if the pressure LP is lower than atmospheric pressure, it creates a partial vacuum which opposes opening of the main valve when the pressure HP is applied. It is easy to see that, depending on the amount of the under-pressure in the pipe 18 and depending on the value assumed by the high pressure HP, a situation can arise in which it will not be possible to get the main valve to open by the application of the high pressure in the duct 16.
Two main cases can be seen of situations which can create an under-pressure in the pipe 18.
The first situation is that in which the hydrocarbon dispenser is not operating, i.e. the valve of the dispenser nozzle is closed. Under these circumstances, a vehicle running over the hose of the dispenser nozzle creates an excess hydrocarbon pressure in the hose. This excess pressure introduced into the hose and thus into the pipe 18 is sufficient to cause the piston 22 to lift. This results in the transfer of a fraction of the hydrocarbon in the duct 18 to the duct 16, in correspondence with the squashing of the hose. As soon as enough liquid has been transferred to bring down the pressure in the duct 16, the piston can return to its seat under the action of the spring. When the wheel moves off the hose, this tends to regain its initial volume, creating an underpressure as a result of the lack of liquid relative to the prior situation. The partial vacuum in the hose of the nozzle is made possible by its stiffness. In some cases it has been possible to observe an under-pressure of 700 millibars with some types of hydrocarbons.
Another situation which can involve the creation of an under-pressure in the pipe 18 is as follows. When an abnormal gas content is detected, the main valve 22 closes abruptly under the action of the rapid increase of pressure in the control chamber 38. However the inertia of the column of liquid between the valve 22 and the dispenser nozzle at the end of the hose has to be taken into account. This column of liquid is moving at a speed of several meters per second during the supply of hydrocarbon. The abrupt closure of the piston 22 does not allow all of the flow in the region of the nozzle to stop immediately, so that an under-pressure occurs which is established in the hose and hence in the outlet pipe 18.
In order to overcome this problem it is an object of the present invention to provide a valve with a control chamber with means to control the speed of complete closing during the application of pressure in the control chamber.

Valve with a control chamber and with controlled closing


Liposomes containing PEG-substituted neutral lipopolymers provide similar circulation times to liposomes incorporating conventional, negatively charged PEG-substituted phospholipids. Use of the uncharged lipopolymers can also present advantages in terms of interactions with cell surfaces and reduced leakage of charged substances, particularly cationic drugs, from the liposomes. The lipopolymers are of the formula:

The present invention relates to PEG-substituted neutral lipopolymers and their use in extended circulating time liposomes. Liposomes containing these lipopolymers provide similar blood circulation times when compared with liposomes incorporating conventional, negatively charged PEG-substituted phospholipids.
Liposomes are used for a variety of therapeutic purposes, and in particular, for carrying therapeutic agents to target cells by systemic administration of liposomal formulations of these agents. Advantageously, liposome-drug formulations offer the potential of improved drug-delivery properties, which include, for example, controlled drug release. An extended circulation time is often needed for liposomes to reach a target region, cell or site. In particular, this is necessary where the target region, cell or site is not located near the site of injection. For example, when liposomes are administered systemically, it is desirable to coat the liposomes with a hydrophilic agent, for example, a coating of hydrophilic polymer chains such as polyethylene glycol, (PEG) to extend the blood circulation lifetime of the liposomes. Such surface-modified liposomes are commonly referred to as xe2x80x9clong circulatingxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9csterically stabilizedxe2x80x9d liposomes.
The most common surface modification to a liposome is the attachment of PEG chains, typically having a molecular weight from about 1000 daltons (Da) to about 5000 Da, and to about 5 mole percent (%) of the lipids making up the liposomes (see, for example, Stealth Liposomes, CRC Press, Lasic, D. and Martin, F., eds., Boca Raton, Fla., (1995)), and the cited references therein. The pharmacokinetics exhibited by such liposomes are characterized by a dose-independent reduction in uptake of liposomes by the.liver and spleen via the mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS), and significantly prolonged blood circulation time, as compared to non-surface-modified liposomes, which tend to be rapidly removed from the blood and accumulated in the liver and spleen.
The most commonly used and commercially available PEG-substituted phospholipids are based on phosphatidyl ethanolamine (PE), usually DSPE (distearoyl phosphatidyl ethanolamine), which is negatively charged at the polar head group. Negative surface charge in a liposome can be disadvantageous in some aspects, e.g. in interactions with cells (see, for example, Miller et al., Biochemistry, 37:12875-12883 (1998)), and in the delivery of cationic drugs, where leakage of the drug may occur (see, for example, Webb et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 1372:272-282 (1998)).
Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide uncharged PEG-derivatized lipids that incorporate efficiently into lipid bilayers and provide long blood circulation times to liposomes. Ideally, such lipids are of low toxicity and easily produced.
In one aspect, the present invention includes a liposomal composition having from about 1 mole percent to about 10 mole percent of a neutral lipopolymer wherein the neutral lipopolymer is represented by the formula:
wherein:
each of R1 and R2 is an alkyl or alkenyl chain having between about 8 carbon atoms and about 24 carbon atoms;
n is between about 10 and about 300,
Z is selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, alkoxy, benzyloxy, carboxylic ester, sulfonic ester, alkyl or aryl carbonate, amino, and alkylamino; and
L is selected from the group consisting of (i) xe2x80x94Xxe2x80x94(Cxe2x95x90O)xe2x80x94Yxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94, (ii) xe2x80x94Xxe2x80x94(Cxe2x95x90O)xe2x80x94, and (iii) xe2x80x94Xxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94, where X and Y are independently selected from oxygen, NH, and a direct linkage. Preferably, the composition includes from about 3 mole percent to about 6 mole percent of the neutral lipopolymer.
In another aspect, L is a hydrolyzable linkage such as a carbamate linkage, an ester linkage, or a carbonate linkage. In yet another aspect, Z is hydroxy or methoxy. Preferably, R1 and R2 are unbranched. In one aspect, R1 and R2 are both stearyl groups (C17H35). In another aspect, the value of n is preferably between about 20 and about 115, such that the molecular weight of the PEG group is between about 1000 Da to about 5000 Da.
The invention also provides a method for increasing blood circulation time of a liposome containing vesicle-forming lipids, by incorporating in the liposome about 1 mole percent to about 10 mole percent of a neutral lipopolymer having the formula as shown above. The invention further provides lipopolymers represented by this formula.

Neutral lipopolymer and liposomal compositions containing same

Abstract: wherein each of R1 and R2 is an alkyl or alkenyl chain having between about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms, n is about 10 to about 300, Z is selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, alkoxy, benzyloxy, carboxylic ester, sulfonic ester, alkyl or aryl carbonate, amino, and alkylamino, and the linkage L is selected from the group consisting of (i) xe2x80x94Xxe2x80x94(Cxe2x95x90O)xe2x80x94Yxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94, (ii) xe2x80x94Xxe2x80x94(Cxe2x95x90O)xe2x80x94, and (iii) xe2x80x94Xxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94, wherein X and Y are independently selected from oxygen, NH, and a direct linkage.


An attachment for use with a chain saw to determine accurately the length of wood being cut, said attachment including a C-channel attached to the base of the chain saw with a measuring bar slidably mounted in the C-channel and adapted to be secured at any position. Two graduated scales on the bar indicate the distance from the cutting chain to either end of the measuring bar.

This invention relates generally to an attachment to a chain saw for determining the length of wood being cut.
Due to the increasing cost of energy more and more people are resorting to the use of firewood as a source of heat. Stoves and furnaces utilizing firewood as a source of heat vary in size requiring the use of wood of various sizes. Wood for use in cook stoves frequently must be of a size less than 16" inches in length and that used in the larger furnaces and stoves can range up to a length as high as four feet. A great number of the new wood stoves used for home heating, use wood in the two foot range.
It is very dangerous to place a log in a fire and have it begin ignition immediately only to fine that it is just slightly too long to permit closing of the door to the firebox. On the other hand, where the wood used is too short, the amount of fuel being placed in the firebox can be insufficient to supply the heat required. Therefore, it is important when cutting wood to cut it to an adequate predetermined length.
Unfortunately, when cutting cord wood with a chain saw, it is very difficult to judge distance. This results in a wide variety of wood lengths. This, of course, in addition to the problem of the size of the firebox results in difficulty in measuring wood quantities for pricing the wood for sale. For a woodsman to scribe a mark on each log so as to assure the desired length virtually doubles the length of time required to complete the task, making the cost of the wood very expensive.
Also when cutting in the woods, if a device is attached to the saw, it is important that it can be easily and sufficiently removed from the saw to permit the ready use of the saw for felling trees.
The novel features which are considered as characteristics of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appending claims. The invention itself, however, as to its construction of obvious advantages, will best be understood from the following description of the specific embodiment when read with the accompanying drawings.