This invention relates to a method for removing fouling from a heat transfer surface, such as a heat exchanger. The method involves conducting a vapor containing a scouring material to the heat transfer surface and contacting the scouring material with the foulant, the heat transfer surface, or both. Scouring material and removed foulant can be recovered and conducted away.

Fluidized catalyst conversion processes, such as Fluidized Catalytic Cracking ("FCC") and Oxygenate to Olefins conversion ("OTO"), typically involve contacting a liquid or vapor feed with flowing molecular sieve catalyst particles at elevated temperature. The catalyst is generally separated from the reaction effluent in a disengagement region, where the reaction product is conducted away for further processing while returning the separated catalyst to the process. While a substantial portion of the catalyst particles is separated from the product effluent some portion of the catalyst particles (generally fines) will be conducted away from the process with the effluent vapor. Since carbon deposits form on the molecular sieve catalyst during the desired reaction, all or a portion of the separated catalyst is typically conducted to a regenerating region where the carbon is removed by oxidation, thereby restoring at least a portion of the catalyst's activity. Catalyst continuously returned to the conversion process from the regenerator is conventionally called equilibrium catalyst, or "Ecat". As is the case with reactor product effluent, a substantial portion of the catalyst particles can be separated from the regenerator's vapor effluent ("flue gas"), but a portion of the catalyst particles (generally fines) will generally be conducted away from the regenerator with the flue gas.
For a conventional OTO process carried out in a fluid bed reactor/regenerator system, the fresh and Ecat catalyst particles used in the process typically range in particle size from about 1 to about 200 micrometers. An average particle size is on the order of about 75 micrometers. In operation, catalyst attrition tends to produce catalyst fines, i.e., catalyst particle fragments generally less than 40 micrometers and more typically less than 20 micrometers in size (or average diameter when the fines are spherical or approximately spherical). Even though steps are taken to remove them, a portion of the fines are generally conducted away from the process with either the reactor effluent, the regenerator effluent, or both.
The reactor and regenerator effluent streams are high-temperature streams, and it is frequently desirable to cool these streams during processing using, e.g., conventional heat exchange equipment. The catalyst fines in the effluent can adhere to the heat transfer surfaces in the heat exchange equipment, which lead to heat exchanger fouling resulting in a loss in cooling efficiency. There is therefore a need for a process for removing catalyst fines foulant from the heat transfer surfaces in the reactor and regenerator effluent heat exchangers.

Method of recovering heat transfer in reactor and regenerator effluent coolers


A motorized snowboard having a board with a cut out section at the rear of the board, a motor, a downwardly biased track system, and a track housing.

Traditionally, the sport of snowboarding is enjoyed on a downward slope. The snowboard, which is attached to the rider's feet with bindings, glides down the incline propelled by gravitational forces. The use of gravitational forces for acceleration has inherently limited the enjoyment of snowboarding to locations with an incline or towing means of propulsion.


A tunable millimeter wave frequency Gunn oscillator operates efficiently beyond the normal Gunn oscillator frequency range through the use of a second harmonic enhancement circuit. The enhancement circuit is tuned to the fundamental frequency of the oscillator and is tracked with a second harmonic circuit to provide a wide tuning range. Lumped element circuitry is used to aid in providing the wide tuning range and to facilitate adjustment and fabrication.

1. Field
This invention relates to improvements in millimeter wave frequency circuitry and in particular, to solid state millimeter wave oscillators.
2. Prior Art
GaAs Gunn diode oscillators currently operate over the frequency range of 3 to 100 GHz. The theoretical high frequency limit of the Gunn diode oscillator range is just above 100 GHz and is set by the intervalley relaxation time of the Gunn diode. Second harmonic output from such oscillators has been obtained, but it is usually 20 dB below the fundamental power. Typically, circuits in these frequency ranges employ distributed parameter elements, such as multiwavelength transmission lines which limit the tuning range of an oscillator because of the rapid phase change of these lines with changes in operating frequency.

Wideband, millimeter wave frequency Gunn oscillator


A photovoltaic (PV) system having a bearing assembly to support PV modules is described. In an example, the bearing assembly includes a pair of bearing supports having respective sub-rims. The sub-rims may have complementary arcuate seat surfaces, which when combined, define a curved seat rim to receive a bearing sleeve. Accordingly, the bearing supports may be mounted symmetrically about a pile such that the sub-rims combine to support the bearing sleeve, and a torque tube holding the PV modules may be mounted on the bearing sleeve. More particularly, the torque tube may be in sliding contact with the bearing sleeve, and a weight of the PV modules and torque tube may be evenly transmitted through the pair of bearing supports to a shear center of the pile.

Some sun-tracking solar power systems, such as utility-scale photovoltaic installations, are designed to pivot a large number of solar modules to track the movement of the sun. For example, a sun-tracking solar power system may include a row of solar modules supported on a torque tube. The torque tube may be driven by a motor drive to rotate the solar modules toward the sun. Bearing elements may be incorporated into the sun-tracking solar power system to support a load from the solar modules, including wind and snow loading on the solar modules. The bearing elements may allow for free rotation of the torque tube to enable the solar modules to track the sun.


The use of vanillin as a hypolipidemicxe2x80x94a hypotriglyceridemic pharmaceutical agent over a wide range of concentration in the treatment of diabetes (type-2), cardiovascular disturbances, and obesity. Vanillin is also used as a food additive for preventing the development of such pathological conditions, particularly in young people.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to triglyceride reducing agents for use in the human body, and, more particularly, a flavour compound for prevention and treatment of hyperlipidemia (hypertriglyceridemia).
2. Description of Related Art
The consumption of foods with high content of fat and sugar is on the rise. This leads to an increasing number of cases suffering from hyperlipidemia, a major pathologic metabolic change accompanying several disorders such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiac disturbances. Particularly, it affects children of the growing age. A dietary formulation or dietary supplement or a specific hypolipidemic agent which is easy to use, with no side effects and absolutely non-toxic over a wide range would be the ideal goal.
Recent scientific reports indicate that in some of the pungent spices the main active components possess the desirable hypolipidemic and/or hypocholesterolimic activities. Many of these spices find wide use as medicinal components in the native countries. India is foremost among the countries which consume spices, particularly of the hot, pungent type. Some, such as pepper, ginger, and turmeric are native to the country. Chillies or capsicums have been imported from Mexico, but adopted into its dietaries and has become native to India.
Extensive nutritional studies have indicated that the pungent spices as well as the milder turmeric and their principal active constituents have no adverse toxic effects as judged by the effects on growth, internal organs, nitrogen balance and blood chemistry. Some of these spices seem to have special nutritional virtues like beneficial effects of reducing the cholesterol and lipid levels in the blood and some of the special internal organs such as the liver, the kidney, and the heart. They are now slowly getting adopted into special therapeutic preparations or nutritional formulae for the treatment of diseases which seem to originate from specific disturbances in lipid metabolisms, such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and obesity. Adequate intakes of some of these spices in normal human dietaries may also provide good protection against these types of diseases.
The main pharmacological property of turmeric, which it owes to curcumin, is hypocholesterolemia, which involves the stimulation and formation of bile. Curcumin, through this function of excreting bile, helps prevent the formation of bilestones. More recently, the anti-carcinogenic activity of curcumin has been demonstrated in several experimental and clinical studies. For this purpose, a specially concentrated combination of the three active curcumins has been developed. Clinical studies are in progress at several research centers. There has also been a revival of interest in the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the active component of turmeric.
Extensive nutritional studies on capsaicin have exhibited the hypolipidemic property of the spice component, alone, or with other spice combination, on the lipid metabolism at different dietary levels of the spice. These studies serve to firmly establish it""s fat mobilizing (lipotropic) action on the liver and also stimulation of fat utilization in peripheral tissues through activation of lipoprotein lipase. Also, in some of the studies on liver lipid mobilization, simultaneous mobilization of cholesterol was noticed somewhat similar to the reported activity of turmeric, curcumin, and ginger.
Nutritional evaluation of whole chilli and extracts (capsaicinoids) at low to maximum use levels and even five to ten times the maximum did not adversely affect the growth, nitrogen metabolism, lipid or amino acid absorption. On the contrary, some beneficial effects on lipid metabolism with high fat or high carbohydrate food intake were shown at the higher levels. Hypocholesterolimic effect with a high fat diet, significant in lowering of liver and serum triglycerides and serum lipoprotein triglycerides, has been observed.
Toxicological tests with chillies, chilli extracts and capsaicin and dihdrocapsaicin have established that they are non-mutagenic and non-carcinogenic. Examination of the tissues of the experimental animals fed fairly high levels of the spices have also demonstrated that they are non-carcinogenic.
One of the main physiological responses to capsaicin, even at extremely low doses, is pain production through interaction with nociceptive neurons which give rise to heat production. This involves specifically the capsaicin receptor recently identified as a heat activated ion channel in the pain pathway. Capsaicin and similar molecules have been employed for the relief of pain through heat generation. The thermogenic reaction of capsaicin requires the acid-amide group to be incorporated into the basic vanillin structure which does not have any such heat generating property.
In the first paper published by the inventor on red pepper and capsaicin in 1978, it is suggested that the hypocholesterolimic and hypolipidemic activity which is exhibited by turmeric and curcumin, and also ginger (gingerol), known as the vanilloid spices, implicate the vanillyl moiety as the most probable active component which all these structures seem to share. In other investigations on dihydro-capsaicin, vanillin and vanillin derivative were detected in the urine of the experimental rats, which led to the first experiment on the influence of vanillin on the liver and blood lipids in rats. This comparative study(0.15 mg % vanillin and 0.3 mg % capsaicin) showed a 24% and 13% reduction in serum triglycerides, respectively. These experimental findings, along with all the other experimental data reported on capsaicin and its metabolic effect, stimulated interest in pursuing the hypolipidemic studies on vanillin with planned clinical investigations for determining its therapeutic efficacy as a hypolipidemic agent in diabetes, obesity, and atherosclerotic conditions.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,674,498, issued Oct. 7, 1997, to Inoue et al. describes a blood lipid depressant with an extract from the senna species and vanilla (see Example 11 in column 7).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,034,215, issued on Jul. 23, 1991, to Santa-Coloma Roth describes a nail conditioning composition with vanilla extract.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,287,368, issued on Sep. 1, 1981, to Johnson et al. describes a method for preparing vanillin.
Chinese Patent document 1167581, published Dec. 17, 1997, to Zhang describes a beverage composition comprising sugar, maltose, corn flour, rice flour, starch, table salt, de-fatted milk powder, vanillin, biologic calcium carbonate, high-quality oats flour, and highland barley flour. The Ahang beverage serves to make bones stronger, decrease blood fat and cholesterol, and nourishes the blood.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.
The present invention provides for vanillin, extracted naturally from vanilla pods, or derived from synthetic derivatives, mixed with other food additives and nutritional and processing agents as a fat reducing agent. This material is then processed into readily usable additive agents or used in the production of food. The vanillin helps reduce the blood fat levels in adults or children. The use of the vanillin additives in fat or sugar rich, foods promotes the utilization of lipids and prevents their diversion into irregular metabolic routes, resulting in pathological toxins, such as cholesterol.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide food additives to affect the reversal of hyperglyceridemia in humans to normal with consequent relief of pathologic clinical symptoms.
It is another object of the invention to provide a combination of effective treatment procedures as above for adoption as needed.
It is a further object of the invention to use the above-mentioned additives and treatment procedures for growing children, and adults having a tendency to adiposity, by adding adequate quantities to milk and manufactured milk products.
Still another object of the invention is to provide chocolates (milk and other types) having the above-mentioned additives to promote efficient physiological utilization of the lipids O (fats) in these foods, especially when excess amounts are likely to be ingested occasionally or habitually.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide for addition of additives to processed sweets and excessively fatty or sugary foods having the objective of preventing obesity in humans.
These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification.


Apparatus for processing waste material which includes domestic and industrial waste, and in which the recovery of aluminum containers is an important aspect. The apparatus comprises a shredding mill and a housing structure to which the waste material is delivered in such manner that the difficult to shred heavy objects are allowed to separate by gravity action, and the remainder of the waste material is dispersed by an air stream such that the air responsive fractions are collected in a separator chamber and the remainder of the fractions are fed into the shredding mill under the control of gate means which responds to ability of the shredder to receive and process the same without overloading the motor drive.

It has been apparent for sometime that valuable items of metal are being wasted by being discarded with other waste material, and in this category of metal items that fraction made up of aluminum is not susceptible of easy recovery as is the ferrous type which responds to magnetic separators. It is recognized that aluminum used in containers is an especially valuable source of that metal which if recoverable can be recycled so as to reduce the amount of energy related treatment for processing bauxite that is needed in the manufacture of aluminum used in the manufacture of containers.
The recovery of metal from waste material has been disclosed by Vollmer in U.S. Pat. No. 2,844,184 of July 22, 1958; by Anderson et al in U.S. Pat. No. 2,942,792 of June 28, 1960; by Williams in U.S. Pat. No. 3,283,698 of Nov. 8, 1966; and further by Williams in U.S. Pat. No. 3,702,682 of Nov. 14, 1972. The main purpose for the apparatus of the prior art has been focused on the recovery of magnetic material, or in the case of the Anderson disclosure of the sorting of aluminum scrap from other metals by a method calling for gravity separation thereof in a water suspension to recover light metal portions from scrap material and melting the recovered light metal by a so called "sweating process" in which an attempt is made to selectively melt the aluminum away from metallic contamination still mixed therewith. By and large, recovery apparatus has operated on the premise that magnetically responsive waste material is economically extracted from a moving stream by passing it adjacent magnetic separating devices and allowing the non-magnetic waste to pass on by. More recently apparatus specifically arranged to recover the aluminum fractions in metallic waste is disclosed in the application of Williams et al, Ser. No. 083,573 filed Oct. 11, 1979.
Other prior art apparatus is directed toward means for permitting the material shredder to either recirculate material or throw out hard to shred material, and cooperating means to direct the hard to shred material out of the shredding chamber. This prior art is represented by Knoblock U.S. Pat. No. 1,104,121 of July 21, 1914; Lykken et al U.S. Pat. No. 2,931,581 of Apr. 5, 1960; Gruendler U.S. Pat. No. 2,491,661 of Dec. 20, 1949; Gondard U.S. Pat. No. 3,082,963 of Mar. 26, 1963; and Meyer U.S. Pat. No. 3,442,458 of May 6, 1969.
The disposal of waste materials of all kinds and description in the past have been carried out by dumping in landfill areas and allowing destruction thereof by natural processes. The landfill disposal has worked in a satisfactory manner for materials that will disintegrate in time. That disposal operation does not take into account the fact that metals are slow to disintegrate, and that aluminum does not disintegrate and is therefore a troublesome component of waste. Landfill disposal operations are fast being shut down because it is recognized that a high proportion of the waste material contains heat values, that the ferrous metals can be reused, and the aluminum is a valuable source of that metal for recycling processes. However, these metals are reduced in value if iron or ferrous material contaminates the aluminum, or if aluminum contaminates the iron or ferrous material. The contamination of these metals is a problem with bimetal containers where ferrous and aluminum parts are used together.


Amorphous ferrophosphorus alloys (Formula II) are useful as shrinkage control agents in cement composites, and new amorphous ferrophosphorus alloys particularly useful for this purpose are disclosed having the formula: EQU Fe.sub.a Cr.sub.b M.sub.c P.sub.d C.sub.e Si.sub.f (Formula I). wherein M is a metal selected from the group consisting of V.sub.g, Ni.sub.h, Mn.sub.i and mixtures thereof, and a is about 66-76, b is about 1-10, c is about 2-7, d about 12-20, e about 1-6, f is less than about 2, g is about 1-5, h is less than about 2 and i is less than about 2, atomic percent.

The invention is in the field of ferrophosphorus metal alloys and their use to control the development of cracks that form during the early phases of cure in cement composites. More particularly, this invention relates to specific amorphous ferrophosphorus-based alloys and the use of the alloys in wire, ribbon, and fiber forms, to control, reduce, eliminate, or retard the growth of cracks in cement composites.
Cement composites are typically cements, mortars, and concretes. Minimally, cement composites are non-homogeneous mixtures of cement, sand, aggregates and water. Cement composites may also include a number of additives or admixtures that impart important chemical and physical properties to the composites such as improved rheology, impact strength, flexural strength, and resistance to permeability. The additives and admixtures include water reducing admixtures, metal and nonmetal fibers, polymers, silica fume, and the like.
After the cement composite is poured or placed in its final form, the composite undergoes a relatively rapid loss of water over of period of 24 to 48 hours. The loss of water is primarily due to evaporation from the exposed surfaces of the cement composite. The loss of water requires waiter migration within the composite, this process is a non-uniform or non-isotropic process. This factor coupled with the non-homogeneous nature of the cement composite contributes to the formation of non-equilibrium stresses. The stresses lead to the formation of cracks that are frequently referred to as plastic shrinkage cracks and plastic settlement cracks.
Several authors have recently attributed the formation of cracks during the early phases of cement composite curing to the majority of failures in bridge decks as well as the lack of overall durability in modern concrete structures. Articles by Khossrow Babaei and Amir M. Fouladgar ("Solutions to Concrete Bridge Deck Cracking", Concrete International, July 1997, pp 34-37) and P. Kumar Mehta ("Durability--Critical Issues for the Future", Concrete International, July 1997, pp 27-33) are examples of an expressed need for solutions to the problem of plastic shrinkage cracking and plastic settlement cracking. For the purpose of this invention, "shrinkage cracks" refers to plastic shrinkage cracks or plastic settlement cracks which occur in cement composites during the first 24 to 48 hours of cure of the cement composites, and control of shrinkage cracks refers to the elimination, reduction, retardation in growth or ability to prevent shrinkage cracks.
Once a crack has formed in a cement composite, the crack serves as a point of entry for water, road salts, and other environmental influences that can damage the composite in both an acute and chronic manner. Water intrusion and cycling of temperatures below and above the freezing point of water results in a phenomena commonly referred to as freeze-thaw damage. Road salts can penetrate cracks and corrode reinforcing steel or bars (rebar) imbedded in the cement composite. Each process serves to gradually increase the size of the original cracks and permit intrusion and penetration of increased amounts of water and salt into the composite. Ultimately, the cement composite is weakened and has a reduced capacity to withstand the stresses the composite was designed to bear. The weakened composite may require early repair, partial or full replacement, or it may fail catastrophically.
Fibers are added to cement composites to improve durability. Steel fibers (which are crystalline) are added to improve the flexural strength durability of the cement composite. Synthetic fibers, sucht as polypropylene and nylon, are added to improve the control of cracks that form during the curing of the cement composite. Steel fibers are sometimes added to improve the control of cracks that form during curing, but the addition levels are so large (10 to 100 lb. of fiber per yd.sup.3 of composite) that the rheology of the composite is impaired. The impairment of rheology is overcome by the addition of admixtures, namely surfactants, such as naphthalenic surfactants. If the impairment of rheology is not overcome, the cement composite is stiff and does not pour well. Ultimately, the cement composite will fail due to the inability to properly place and finish the composite.
Thus, it would be desirable to produce a steel fiber that controls the formation of cracks during cement composite curing; at addition levels that are less than about 10, preferably less than about 5 lbs per cubic yard of cement composite. Or, conversely, it would also be desirable to produce a steel fiber that controls the formation of cracks during cement composite curing at addition levels similar to the addition levels that are used for current commercially available crystalline steel fibers without the requirement for an admixture to overcome the deleterious affect on rheology.

Ferrophosphorus alloys and their use in cement composites


The invention provides a two piece chandelier securable at two discrete positions. An upper and lower framework are moveable with respect to one another along a displacement axis and are securable in an access position and a decorative position, whereby access to an internal component of the chandelier such as a lighting element is facilitated in the access position relative to the decorative position.

The invention involves an improvement to chandeliers of the type in which an object is substantially enclosed within the framework of the chandelier. For example, when a chandelier framework is in the form of a cage or basket, that is, when the framework has a plurality of co axial rings, access to an object such as a lighting fixture disposed centrally of the rings is very difficult.
The prior art attempted to solve this problem by constructing chandelier baskets in two completely separable pieces, whereby a lower portion of the basket could be completely removed from the upper portion of the basket, so as to provide access to the central, internal region defined by the basket. This solution, however, presented many drawbacks. For example, once the lower portion was removed, it either was necessary to have an individual handy to hold the lower portion while another person serviced the chandelier, or it was necessary to place the lower portion onto a surface. Requiring an lower frameworks with respect to one another as the frameworks are moved along a displacement axis from the decorative position to the access position.
The chandelier of the invention, thus, easier to service and is potentially less expensive to service. In addition, it provides a structure whereby the ornaments are less likely to become dislodged or damaged during servicing. These and other features of the invention are described in greater detail below in connection with the drawings.


An image pickup apparatus, including: an observation unit configured to observe an object; a detector configured to detect whether or not a user observes the object through use of the observation unit; and a controller configured to control an actuator, the actuator being configured to drive at least a part of an photography optical system and being capable of performing a first operation and a second operation different from the first operation, the second operation being an operation for maintenance of the actuator, wherein, when the detector detects that the user does not observe the object through use of the observation unit, the controller causes the actuator to perform the second operation.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus and a method of controlling the image pickup apparatus.
Description of the Related Art
Hitherto, there has been proposed an actuator in which, through the generation of elliptic motion at a predetermined position of a vibrator, the vibrator and a friction member that is brought into friction contact with the vibrator are relatively displaced. Further, an image pickup apparatus including such actuator as a drive source for a mechanism portion of a camera and a lens has also been proposed.
The vibrator forming the above-mentioned actuator is constituted, for example, such that a piezoelectric element serving as an electromechanical energy conversion element is connected to an elastic body such as a metal, and two-phase AC voltages having different phases can be applied to the piezoelectric element. A vibration wave is excited on a surface of the vibrator through application of the voltages to the piezoelectric element to pressurize the vibrator to the friction member, to thereby relatively displace the vibrator and the friction member. In this manner, the vibrator is slid on a surface of the friction member with desired drive force.
The actuator has a feature of being able to be held at an original position even after the application of the voltages is stopped. The reason for this is as follows. The vibrator is in a pressure-contact with the surface of the friction member, and hence friction force is generated. Such friction force is also referred to as holding force.
However, when the vibrator is held at the same position on the surface of the friction member for a long period of time, a slight amount of water in air aggregates in a contact portion between the vibrator and the friction member, with the result that friction force, that is, holding force decreases. When external force is applied under a state in which holding force is decreased, the actuator may move in some cases. When the actuator configured to drive a lens moves, an out-of-focus problem may occur.
In view of the foregoing, a technology of recovering decreased holding force has also been proposed (Japanese Patent No. 5110824).

Image pickup apparatus and method of controlling image pickup apparatus


A drum capable of being molded in 55 gallon size from high density, cross-linked polyethylene. The drum body or shell has substantially cylindrical walls closed at both ends, respectively, by top and bottom end pieces or heads integral with the sidewalls. The drum includes an integrally molded hollow arcuate chime located at the intersection of the top end piece or head and the cylindrical sidewall and extending circumferentially around the drum. A plurality of rolling hoops located between the top and bottom end pieces extend circumferentially around the drum and protrude sufficiently outward from the drum walls to permit sufficient engagement by the forks of a forklift to support a fully loaded drum thereon. The drum may be reinforced by a plurality of inwardly protruding vertical ribs which run continuously substantially from the top to the bottom of the drum. The top end piece or head includes at least one bunghole integrally formed therewith. The bunghole is threaded to receive a bung and, preferably, is elevated from the plane of the top end piece.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to containers and, more particularly, to 55 gallon drums molded of cross-linked polyethylene which drums are suitable for shipment in interstate commerce on common carrier equipment.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Numerous attempts have been made to utilize synthetic polymeric materials in shipping containers for liquids and other substances. Polymeric materials, hereinafter called plastics, have certain potential advantages as shipping containers. Plastics are relatively resistant to many chemicals, such as acids and alkalis, which easily corrode most metals. In addition, because plastics are inherently lighter than metals, plastic drums have a lower shipping weight than conventional steel drums. Unfortunately, however, plastics by and large do not possess the necessary structural strength to withstand the rigors of use in common commercial carriers.
Before any plastic drum can be sold for common carrier usage, it must meet the rigorous federal regulations set forth in 49 CFR 178.19 governing polyethylene plastic containers. These regulations provide, inter alia, that plastic drums be able to withstand various compression loads based on the capacity of the drum. At the present time, these regulations only cover drums ranging in capacity from 21/2 gallons to 30 gallons, although a standard for 55 gallon plastic drums has recently been proposed. Prior to our invention no drum has yet been manufactured which passes all the proposed federal regulations for 55 gallon plastic drums and, in addition, is capable of being handled using all conventional drum handling equipment.
Attempts have been made to prepare plastic drums ranging up to 55 gallons in capacity. Such attempts have largely been unsuccessful because the drums either lacked the necessary compression strength, load temperature impact strength, or have been so difficult to handle using the ordinary drum handling equipment available to common carriers as to be commercially unacceptable.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,927,790 to Chase et al and 3,940,011 to Dubois et al disclose attempts to manufacture various 55 gallon plastic drums capable of being handled by conventional drum handling equipment. These patents depict generally keg-shaped drums having a plurality of flat sides or slots adapted to be engaged by a conventional forklift. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 3,889,939 to Simon et al discloses a plastic drum having slots on opposite sides of the drum engageable by a forklift and a ring or a slot on the top of the drum for handling by a standard handtruck.
All such keg-shaped or slotted drums, however, are not easily handled with conventional drum handling equipment because the handling equipment must be carefully positioned with respect to the drum so that the equipment will engage the flat sides, slots or other engaging paraphernalia. In practice, a worker using a forklift or a standard handcart will often be required to manually rotate the drum into the exact position necessary for handling before using the lift or handcart. Because a 55 gallon drum filled with liquid is extremely heavy and difficult to handle, such drums have not received great commercial acceptance because of the extra labor and time involved in orienting them to receive the drum handling equipment.
Furthermore, although attempts have been made to design plastic drums capable of being handled by a forklift and a standard handtruck, to the best of our knowledge, no such plastic drum has ever been capable of also being handled by use of the device known in the cargo industry as the "parrot beak". "Parrot beak" equipment is drum handling equipment which lifts a conventional steel drum using a jaw-like device which attaches to the top chime or bead of the drum, the chime or bead thereby bearing virtually all the weight of the drum. Typical of "parrot beak" drum handling equipment is the LIFT-O-MATIC Model PTA-720 of Marvel Industries, Inc., Evanston, Illinois.
Various prior art plastic drums, such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,889,939 disclose polyethylene drums made by a process called "blow molding". Blow molded drums are inherently uneven in thickness and, being thicker in the ends and top and thinner at the rolling hoops, often fail in the compression testing mandated by the applicable government regulations. Moreover, when fully loaded blow molded drums are stacked on top of each other, the lower drums tend to cave in.
Attempts have been made in the past to prepare drums using the rotational molding process. Such drums inherently have the same thickness throughout and, when properly designed, do not fail in compression. One such drum currently being marketed comprises a multilayer laminate having a thin skin of cross-linked, high density polyethylene, a foam core of a second plastic and an inner skin of a different material. However, this multilayer drum is not designed for easy handling using forklift or handtruck equipment and cannot be handled by "parrot beak" equipment.
Drums have been prepared using a single thickness of rotationally molded, cross-linked, high density polyethylene. Although these drums were provided with rolling hoops on the sides, the hoops could not support the weight of a fully loaded drum when engaged by the forks of a forklift truck. In addition, while various designs for the drum top or head were used or experimented with (one experimental model included slots in the top which could accommodate flanges on drum handling handtrucks), these drums could not be handled by "parrot beak" equipment.


A method, system and computer program product for recording and replaying a program execution in a client-server environment capable of supporting different client-server communication protocols. A common recorder of the exemplary embodiments identifies respective class files and libraries used by a client application to process client actions and data passed in client requests and server responses. The recorder stores class files and data in a replay file and later re-creates server loads and client actions based on the class files, data and client action results in the replay file during a replay of the execution.

Record and replay is a technique that allows the execution of a software application to be recorded so that it can be played back at a later time and often in a different system environment. Record and replay is commonly used for performance testing in software development. In a client-server environment, record and replay performance test tools need to be concerned with the various protocols that the client and the server use to communicate with each other. In addition to the complexity and changing nature of communication protocols, each protocol typically has a unique set of requirements and interface components through which it interacts with the operating system. A record and replay performance test tool must support these unique requirements and work with the protocol interfaces in order to properly record and replay the execution of the application.
In a client-server environment, the client and the server can communicate with each other using one or more protocols like the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), Java Remote Method Protocol (JRMP), Internet Inter-ORB Protocol (IIOP), Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP), and Common Object Model (COM). The services associated with these protocols can be implemented in numerous ways, which make it difficult to have a single record and replay performance test tool that works with the different protocol implementations. In addition, the architecture of a client-server application varies from one operating environment to another depending on the type of the application. As a result, performance testing in such a client-server environment with a performance tool generally involves recording and replaying the actions that a user performs and the resulting processes.
Current recording tools typically provide a recording in a performance test either by using a proxy to intercept the user requests or creating client requests on the fly based on the user requests and the service definition language involved. Input to the program being recorded is sent through this proxy. The proxy examines client request and server response messages to capture the data that will be required for a replay of the program execution. In particular, the tool must examine network packets to extract relevant information and map this information to corresponding protocol messages being exchanged by the client and the server.
In a second type of record and replay tools, the tools must be able to recognize the service definition language being used in the communication between the client and the server and the operations defined by the service implementation of the respective communication protocol. Examples of the service definition languages include the Web Service Definition Language (WSDL) and the Interface Description Language (IDL). The tools then simulate client applications on the fly based on the client-server operation data that it captured.
A drawback of the above recording techniques is that the recording tools cannot be reused among the various protocols that the client and server use to communicate with each other because the interfaces and definitions are implemented differently in the protocols. In addition, the capturing of network packets during a client-server communications and mapping them to a particular protocol implementation will not work in all situations due to variations in the implementations of the underlying protocols.
For the recording performance test tools that are based on the service definition languages, tool developers face another challenge in the fact that not all applications and services use a definition language that allows data to be captured by the performance tools. In addition, this recording technique is more aligned towards Web services or Simple Object Access Protocol-based applications and generally cannot be applied to other types of service applications. As a result, with the emerging new client-server technologies, these performance test tools must be regularly updated with multiple recorders or protocol adapters that support new communication protocols and service implementations in order to be useful.
From the foregoing, it is appreciated that there still exists a need for a common record and replay performance test tool that is capable of recording a program execution and playing it back in different environments without the aforementioned drawbacks.

Common recording and replaying performance test tool for a client-server environment

International Business Machines Corporation


All critical wheel wear measurements on a static or in-motion train wheel are taken using a non-contact method/system. The train wheel is measured using a modulated point beam of energy impinging the wheel surface from an orthogonal direction, moving the point beam across the wheel surface, and sensing the unique modulated reflection of the wheel using energy sensors that produce analog signals. The analog signals are digitized and processed to produce all critical wheel wear measurements without removing the wheel from the train.

A train wheel is subject to normal wear due to friction contact between the wheel and the rail. As a train wheel wears out, the rim thickness and flange thickness decrease and the flange height increases. Thus, there is a need to accurately measure the rim thickness, flange thickness, flange height, wheel reference groove, wheel diameter, flange throat profile (i.e., a collection of two or more measurement point data acquired in the area of interest), and wheel "Gage" in order to ensure that wheels in operation are safe. These safety check measurements typically take place in train yards and in train shops. Before the train can leave the yard, all the wheels are visually inspected and a wheel with noticeable wear is measured to verify that the wheel is in good condition. Also, train wheels are inspected on a routine basis to verify that the wheels are in good condition.
Similar measurements are used in recutting (wheel truing) the wheels to restore wheel profile as wheel wear exceeds certain permissible tolerances of flange height and flange thickness. This wheel truing operation takes place in train shops. Locomotives, freight and transit cars are typically rolled into the shop for possible wheel repair work. Also, similar measurements are used by wheel manufacturers for production quality control of train wheels as the wheels roll off a production line.
Historically, these measurements have been manually taken using mechanical calipers. One such widely used mechanical wheel gauge looks like an inverted "J". In use, the readings are read and recorded by the operator directly off the mechanical gauge while the gauge is positioned against a wheel. There are several drawbacks, however, to such a mechanical gauge for the above-mentioned applications. In a situation where the wheel is installed on a train, for example, there are three major problems. First, the train wheel has quite a few mechanical parts such as brakes, shock absorbers and axle support mechanisms around it. Measurements have accordingly been difficult to take with the mechanical gauge because of the limited space around the wheel and because of the location of the flange on a train wheel (towards the inside of a track). Secondly, environmental conditions where the measurements are made are often poor. For example, dim light often makes this task extremely difficult to perform. Thirdly, measuring a number of wheels can be laborious.
Further, operator dependent manual recording errors of measurement(s), and keypunch errors, make this important wheel wear monitoring process on installed wheels very undependable. Measurement error can lead to three problems for the railroad. First, unacceptable wheels can remain in service providing an uncomfortable ride and posing a significant safety and liability hazard; second, wheels can be condemned which should be trued or reprofiled; and third, wheels which should be condemned are sometimes sent for trueing, resulting in a disruption of the work flow in the wheel trueing shop.
The mechanical gauge has been in use since 1923. Nevertheless, every year a number of train accidents are attributed to excessively worn-out wheels. Train maintenance staff measurement errors contribute to this safety risk. Several companies have invested heavily in computerized wheel management systems which are designed to automate the wheel maintenance process. However, the current mechanical gauge does not provide accurate measurements to feed to such computerized wheel management systems. Furthermore, the wheel maintenance staff cannot restore a wheel to a prescribed profile when accurate wheel wear measurements are unavailable.
Several attempts have been made to automate the wheel wear measurement process. These attempts include handheld gaging systems and track mounted gaging systems. Among the handheld gaging systems, one arrangement is featured in U.K. Patent Application No. GB 2183840A (granted Jun. 10, 1987, Martti Kurkinan, inventor). This arrangement measures only rim profile using an electro-mechanical contact probe which travels across the rim. Measured profile is compared with a good reference profile gathered using a second probe. Another attempt is featured in U.S. Pat. No. 4,904,939 (granted Feb. 27, 1990, Zahid Mian, inventor). This approach addresses the typical problems with handheld railway wheel profile measurement arrangements such as non-portability, inability to gather vital measurements, and significant mechanical wear of the instrument. However, two difficulties remain. One is that the wheel measurement process remains laborious when many wheels have to be measured quickly. Second is that accessing mounted wheels is still not always easy due to the presence of other mechanical parts such as brake shoes surrounding a mounted wheel.
Several other efforts have been made in the area of track mounted wheel measurement systems, for example, reference U.S. Pat. No. 3,820,016 (granted Jun. 25, 1974, Marion Giesking, inventor) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,407,072 (granted Oct. 4, 1983, Hoskins, inventor). Both of these arrangements utilize complicated electromechanical parts which come in contact with the wheel. Therefore, these arrangements necessarily lack accuracy, result in wear of measurement mechanisms over time, and are difficult to maintain.
Another arrangement is mentioned in European patent No. EP 0007227A1 (W. H. Steel, et al., inventors). This arrangement suggests using a high intensity light source and a TV camera to gather information about rail-head image primarily. The approach has several deficiencies, however; namely: it is vulnerable to ambient light conditions producing erroneous measurements; it requires time consuming image processing for each image acquired; it does not correct for image distortion due to relative movement between the arrangement and the camera; and it does not provide the necessary wheel dimensions such as flange thickness.
Still another arrangement is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,798,963 (granted Jan. 17, 1989, Wittkopp, inventor). This arrangement provides only a wheel diameter measurement using multiple light sources. Unfortunately, the method is susceptible to ambient light conditions, and does not correct for measurement errors due to sideways movement of the wheel. A similar arrangement is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,798,964 (granted Jan. 17, 1989, Schmalfuss, inventor). Based on optical measurement schemes, this arrangement uses multiple broad band light sources, a mechanical platform subject to wear, and complex optical means to measure wheel diameter and tread surface. Unfortunately, this system is difficult to keep clean of dirt in the railway environment, provides questionable measurement accuracy, operates at very low speeds due to a complicated mechanical arrangement, does not provide wheel dimensions in absolute units, is expensive to produce due to complex optical measuring schemes, requires significant installation space, and is not suitable for outdoor operation. Similar to other camera-imaging based systems, the system relies on acquiring a complete image of the wheel, requiring slow and expensive image processing hardware that does not provide direct wheel measurements.
Therefore, there presently exists a genuine need for a track mounted electronic train wheel non-contact gaging system capable of improving the integrity of the wheel wear measurement process by quickly gaging key dimensions of the wheel irrespective of lateral and horizontal wheel movement. Such a system will provide accurate and quick wheel wear measurements in absolute units automatically, and directly thus reducing the opportunities for operator errors. Featuring high speed response, easy maintenance, minimal wear over time, minimal in field maintenance, low cost, and the capabilities of directly feeding the maintenance computer with wheel wear information, such a system will find use in a railway repair shop, railway yard, main railway service track, and railway wheel production facilities.

Method and system for contactless measurement of railroad wheel characteristics

International Electronic Machines Corporation


A method for determining the status of a plurality of in a circuit, each switch having first switching arrangement for controlling the supply of a wetting current to the respective switch, and a second switching arrangement, whereby closure of the second switching arrangement enables the status of the respective switch to be determined, the method including the steps of closing the first switching arrangement associated with each of the switches so as to supply a wetting current to each of the switches and, when each one of the first switching arrangements is closed, closing the second switching arrangement associated with the same switch in order to determine the switch status. The invention also relates to an apparatus for determining the status of a plurality of switches.

The invention relates to a method for determining the status of a plurality of switches. The invention also relates to an apparatus for determining the status of a plurality of switches.
In aircraft engine control systems, various switches are used to feed back different aspects of engine and/or airframe condition, the engine control system commonly being controlled by an electronic control unit (ECU). The closing of a switch against a respective switch contact causes a current to pass through the closed switch path to indicate, for example, an overload or limit, or an action by the aircraft pilot. During operation of the engine control system, there is often a need to be able to determine whether the switches are in an open or closed position.
Conventionally, switch status is determined by means of a circuit, forming part of the electronic control unit, which periodically supplies a xe2x80x9cwettingxe2x80x9d current to all of the external switches in the control system by means of an arrangement of primary switches. The wetting current is supplied to each switch via an associated resistor by closing the primary switches. The electrical circuit includes an arrangement of secondary switches, one secondary switch being associated with each of the external switches. By closing the secondary switches, the current flowing through the closed secondary switch path provides an indication of the external switch status.
In order to prevent oxidisation and debris build-up on the external switch contacts, it is necessary to ensure a current of at least 4 mA is supplied to the closed external switch contacts. Oxidisation and debris build-up on the switch contacts can occur for smaller currents than this and results in a degradation in performance and reliability of the external switches.
However, with larger currents flowing through the closed external switches, a significant power loss occurs across the internal resistors of the ECU. This gives rise to undesirable heating effects which can adversely effect the thermal management of the electronic control unit and can degrade the performance and reliability of overheat protection circuitry contained therein. A problem therefore exists with the conventional method of determining switch status in that a compromise must be made between the most desirable wetting current for reduced heat loss and the most desirable wetting current for reliable switch operation.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for determining switch status which alleviates the problems of the prior art.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for determining the status of a plurality of switches in a circuit, each switch having a first switching means for controlling the supply of a wetting current to the respective switch, and second switching means, closing of the second switching means enabling the status of the respective switch to be determined, the method including the steps of closing the first switching means associated with each of the switches so as to supply a wetting current to each of the switches and, when each one of the first switching means is closed, closing the second switching means associated with the same switch in order to determine switch status.
Preferably, the duration for which each pair of the first and second switching means is closed is chosen so as to minimise power dissipation.
Conveniently, the method of the present invention may be used to determine whether each of the switches in the circuit is open or closed. The duration is chosen to be sufficient to accurately determine the switch status. Preferably, the duration for which each pair of the first and second switching means is closed is between 50 xcexcs and 1 ms and, typically, may be 500 xcexcs.
In a preferred embodiment, the wetting current is supplied to each switch in sequence, the status of the switches being determined sequentially.
The method provides the advantage that, as the wetting current is only supplied to the switches in the circuit as a pulse of short duration rather than continuously, heat losses due to resistances within the circuit are reduced. Thus, higher wetting currents can be used than with conventional methods. It has been found that this improves the performance and reliability of the method.
A further improvement is obtained by supplying the wetting current to the switches sequentially rather than at the same time.
Additionally, the method may include the further steps of reading the status of each switch and storing it in the form of a single bit in a register when the associated second switching means is closed and, prior to closing the first and second switching means associated with the next switch in the sequence, shifting the contents of the register by one register location.
Preferably, the method may include the further step of outputting the contents of the register when the register contains the status of all of the switches. Alternatively, the ECU may be arranged to access the data stored in the register at any desired time.
The method provides the further advantage that, as the status of each of the switches is determined one after the other, a simplified read-out register arrangement is required. Conventionally, if the status of all the external switches is determined at the same time, a read-out register is required for each switch.
The switches may form part of an engine and/or airframe control function. However, the method may be used for determining the status of switches in any circuit.
The first and second switching means preferably take the form of first and second multiplexer switch arrangements, the first multiplexer switch arrangement comprising a plurality of first switches and the second multiplexer switch arrangement comprising a plurality of second switches.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for determining the status of a plurality of switches in a circuit, comprising;
a first switching means associated with each switch for controlling the supply of a wetting current to the respective switch;
a second switching means associated with each switch, whereby closing of the second switching means enables the status of the respective switch to be determined; and
means for addressing the first and second switching means so as to switch the first and second switching means between open and closed positions such that the first and second switching means associated with a common switch are closed at substantially the same time.
Preferably, the first and second switching means associated with a common switch are closed at substantially the same time, for a period of relatively short duration.
Preferably, the pairs of first and second switching means associated with each switch are operated sequentially.
The apparatus may also include a register into which the status of each of the switches is output. The contents of the register can conveniently be read-out when one sequence has been completed and the status of all of the switches has been determined.
Preferably, the apparatus comprises a first multiplexer switch arrangement and a second multiplexer switch arrangement, the first multiplexer switch arrangement comprising a plurality of first switches, each one of the first switches being operable to control the supply of a wetting current to an associated one of the switches, the second multiplexer switch arrangement comprising a plurality of second switches, each of the second switches being operable to enable the status of an associated switch to be determined.

Method and apparatus for determining switch status


A light-emitting element according to an embodiment of the present document has a transparent electrode having an opening, and the transparent electrode has a protrusion on a side surface of the opening. A second electrode pad is arranged on the opening of the transparent electrode, and abuts the protrusion. Accordingly, peeling of the second electrode pad can be prevented, thereby improving the reliability of the light-emitting element.

In a light emitting element using a nitride-based semiconductor, a nitride-based p-type semiconductor layer has lower electrical conductivity than an n-type semiconductor layer. As a result, electric current is not effectively spread in the p-type semiconductor layer in the horizontal direction, thereby causing current crowding at a specific portion of the semiconductor layer. If electric current is concentrated in the semiconductor layer, a light emitting diode can become susceptible to electrostatic discharge and can suffer from current leakage and efficiency drooping.
By uniformly distributing electric current in the entire light emitting region, the light emitting element can have improved luminous efficacy while reducing heat generation due to current crowding, thereby improving lifetime and reliability of the light emitting element.
Thus, a technique of forming a transparent electrode such as ITO and a current blocking layer on a p-type semiconductor layer in order to efficiently spread electric current has been disclosed in the related art. However, there is a limit in uniformly spreading electric current to the entire p-type semiconductor layer with only the current blocking layer and the transparent electrode. In addition, when a wire is bonded to a p-type electrode, the wire can be disconnected or the p-type electrode can be peeled off due to poor adhesion between the transparent electrode and the p-type electrode. As a result, the light emitting element has a high defect ratio due to defects around the p-type electrode and suffers from deterioration in reliability and production yield.
Moreover, various techniques have been disclosed for arranging a p-type electrode and an n-type electrode each having an electrode pad and an electrode extension in various ways in order to efficiently spread electric current upon operation of the light emitting element. However, due to light loss caused by absorption of light into the electrodes, there is a limitation in increasing current spreading efficiency through change of electrode arrangement.


Disclosed are a display substrate and a driving method thereof, and a display device. The display substrate includes a plurality of pixels, a data signal chip and a control unit. Each of the pixels includes a white sub-pixel; the data signal chip is for transmitting a set of data signals to the pixels, the set of data signals including data signals transmitted to the white sub-pixel; and the control unit controls the white sub-pixel to be in a dark state when the data signal chip transmits a predetermined set of data signals to the pixels. When the data signal chip transmits the predetermined set of data signals to the pixels, the display substrate controls the white sub-pixel to be in a dark state.

With the increasing development of display technology, liquid crystal display (LCD) has become a display device of the mainstream owing to its advantages such as fast response, high integration, low power consumption and the like. A liquid crystal display device generally includes a liquid crystal display panel including an array substrate, an opposing substrate, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the array substrate and the opposing substrate, and a backlight module, wherein the array substrate or the opposing substrate may be provided with a color filter layer to filter the light emitted from the backlight module, thereby achieving color display.
In the display field, a typical RGB (red, green, blue) structural pixel includes a red sub-pixel, a green sub-pixel, and a blue sub-pixel. In order to improve the brightness of the RGB (red, green, blue) structural pixel and reduce the power, a white sub-pixel is generally additionally provided in each pixel to form a pixel of a RGBW (red, green, blue, white) structure, i.e., the pixel of the RGBW (red, green, blue, white) structure includes a red sub-pixel, a green sub-pixel, a blue sub-pixel, and a white sub-pixel.

Display substrate and driving method thereof, and display device

BEIJING BOE DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


The automobile anti-theft device consists of a hardened steel collar which encircles the steering column of the automobile and includes two rotatably attached sections which are attached to each other by sliding one end of a first section underneath an end of the second section. The first section has a projection on the end which fits into a radially extending recess on the underside of the second section and thus acts as a pivot point about which the first section rotates relative to the second section. The first section consists of an arcuate body, which is shaped to cover a portion of the side of the steering column, and a projection which extends radially out from the arcuate body. When this section is in place on the steering column, the projection is thus approximately perpendicular to the steering column. The second section consists of an arcuate body which is shaped to cover a portion of the steering column which is contiguous with and on the same side as the portion covered by the first section. The second section includes on its underside a recess which is shaped to receive the projection. When the collar is assembled around the steering column, the projection is disposed underneath the second section and extends into the recess to secure these two sections together to form the collar member. One of these sections then attaches to the other collar member, such that the collar encircles the steering column.

A thief can quickly steal an automobile by poking a hole through the plastic covering of the steering column and stripping a bolt which controls the ignition switch. The stripped bolt then slides into contact with and closes the switch, which starts the car. The bolt also controls the steering wheel lock, which consists of a rod which fits into a sprocket on the base of the steering wheel. The rod, when it is in place, prevents the sprocket from turning which, in turn, prevents the steering wheel from moving. When the bolt slides into contact with the ignition switch, it also loosens the rod. The rod may then slip or be pulled from the sprocket, which frees the steering wheel.
A previous invention assigned to the same assignee as the current invention is a hardened-steel collar which encircles the steering column. The collar substantially hinders unauthorized access to the ignition switch and steering wheel lock through the steering column, as discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 3 916 658. The steel collar consists of two collar members which are placed on either side of the steering column and secured to each other by pins forced into blind holes. One of the collar members includes an opening for insertion of an ignition key, which permits the automobile owner to operate the automobile with the collar in place.
To accommodate tilt, or adjustable, steering wheels, one or both of the collar members is essentially partitioned into two sections. One such device partitions only the collar member which covers the side of the steering column through which a thief can most easily gain access to the mechanism that actuates the ignition switch and lock. These two sections attach to each other such that they can rotate relative to one another as the steering column moves to adjust the tilt, or angle, of the steering wheel. One of these sections also attaches to the other half of the sleeve to form the portion of the sleeve which encircles the steering column.
Desirably, the two sections which form the two-section collar member join together in a manner which keeps them relatively close together throughout the adjustment range of the steering column. Otherwise, a thief may gain access to the switch and lock mechanism through gaps between the two sections.
FIG. 1 illustrates the prior anti-theft device 10 for use with an automobile with an adjustable steering column 12. The device 10, which is a hardened-steel collar, consists of a first collar member 14, which includes an opening 16 and rotatable cover 18 through which an ignition key may be inserted, and a second collar member 15 which is divided into two sections 20 and 22. Pins 17 fasten section 20 to the first collar member 14, to form the portion of the collar which encircles the steering column 12.
Section 20 includes at one end a tab 19. The tab 19 includes a circular slot (not shown) that is used in securing together the sections 20 and 22. Section 22 has a first end 23a which slides into a crevice between the steering column 12 and the dashboard 13 and a second end 23b into which the tab 19 fits. The second end includes an attached band 24 which, together with a surface of the second end 23b, forms a space, or gap, into which the tab 19 slides. The second end 23b and the band 24 each contain circular slots which align with the circular slot in tab 19. A one-way screw 26 runs through the aligned circular slots to secure together the sections 20 and 22. Whenever an adjustment to the steering column 12 is made, the sections 20 and 22 rotate relative to one another around the screw 26, as necessary.
By encircling the steering column with a hardened-steel collar, this anti-theft device deters thieves from gaining access to the mechanism which activates the ignition switch and the steering wheel lock. Further, it accommodates adjustments to the steering column. I have developed an improvement to this device which operates in basically the same manner, but is less expensive to manufacture and easier to assemble. This improvement also narrows the gap between the sections of the device which rotate relative to one another.


A flexible tape drive system of the type having a flexible yet relatively longitudinally rigid perforated drive tape which is reciprocated by a toothed cog drive arrangement to provide both push and pull driving power. The drive system includes a substantially circular cog wheel having an outer base surface of a predetermined diameter and a plurality of radially extending cog teeth spaced about the periphery of the outer base surface. A cog wheel surround includes an outer guide track having an inner cog race with an inner surface of a diameter slightly larger than the base diameter of the cog and spaced substantially parallel therewith. A pair of oppositely disposed peeler tips are situated adjacent the top of the cog wheel surround between the outer guide track and the cog wheel, each including a peeler edge which has an arcuate inner face extending from the edge at a non-parallel orientation relatively to the base surface of the cog. In this way, the peeler edge of each of the peeler tips is inwardly disposed toward the base surface to more effectively peel the drive tape away from the cog wheel even under conditions of high compression force on the flexible tape and/or at increased speeds of rotation. The inwardly disposed orientation can be accomplished by locating the peeler edges on a radius substantially equal to the radius of the outer base surface but having an offset point of origin, or by providing the peeler edges on a non-concentric and smaller radius.

In a growing variety of business applications, it is desirable and/or necessary to convey items such as cash, currency, documents, food, messages and other items between spaced apart stations. In many situations, somewhat flexible yet relatively longitudinally rigid drive tape provides a reliable yet highly adaptable drive system which minimizes the requirements for expensive and inconvenient pneumatic setups, or long lengths of chains and/or complex gearing arrangements to adapt to twists and turns along the transport path.
For example, Edward F. Bavis U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,605, which issued on Oct. 8, 1991, shows and describes a preferred flexible drive conveyor system for use in drive-in banks and similar remote transaction applications. Particularly, the Bavis patent sets forth a relatively simple and reliable conveyor system utilizing flexible tape as the drive medium. As set forth in that patent, the width and depth of the guide path provided for the drive tape is to be chosen to accommodate the natural tendency of the tape to bend somewhat under compression in a sinuous manner. As also set forth in this patent, because the drive tape must be wound around a substantial portion of the periphery of the cog wheel to insure reliable driving interaction for both push and pull power, the drive tape will tend to adhere to the outer surface of the cog wheel, especially at higher speeds and/or under higher loads. While the peeler tips of the Bavis Conveyor System work nicely under most circumstances to prevent folding or binding of the drive tape within the surround, it has been found that in some applications, especially where relatively higher compressive loads and/or higher speeds of movement are present, potential for such folding or binding is increased. As can be understood, the potential for binding problems is also exacerbated in situations where larger diameter cog wheels and surrounds are utilized.
While other tape drive devices and applications have been known in the industry, most are directed to situations where the tape, film, or other flexible structure to be directed around a cog is not placed in a compression-drive mode and/or extends around only a small portion of the cog wheel. For example, the flexible drive system of U.S. Pat. No. 4,624,359 (which issued to J. Gross) utilizes a plurality of flexible drive elements which pass by a portion of the driving cogs situated between tape storage spools and slotted tracks. However, because the flexible tape does not wrap around a substantial portion of the drive sprocket, the tendency of the tape to adhere to the sprocket is avoided as the tape tends to naturally disengage therefrom. Similarly, the ticket issuing machine of U.S. Pat. No. 2,781,841 (which issued to P. Dignan) passes a ticket strip around a portion of a ticket feed wheel with a plurality of outwardly extending radial spokes which interact with openings in the tickets to successively dispense the tickets. In addition to the less than 90.degree. wrap of the ticket strip around the feed wheel, the relative speed of movement of the feed wheel is low, and the ticket strip naturally tends to bend away from the feed wheel. Consequently, these applications and devices do not address flexible drive tape arrangements which require a drive tape to be wrapped around a substantial portion (e.g., 120.degree. or more) of a drive cog, and generally have no need for a tape peeling device.
Similarly, there are a great number of patents directed to maintaining a length of flexible film adjacent a feed sprocket device to enable the transport of the film for motion pictures or the like. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,362,204 (A. Howell), 2,422,310 (O. Nemeth), 2,674,454 (H. Mennecke), 3,083,613 (R. Mees), and 3,519,184 (J. Kotte et al.) pertain to film-type applications wherein the flexible film has a tendency to pull off or away from the feed sprocket device. Consequently, these structures are generally directed to maintaining the flexible tape in contact with the sprocket or other driving device, and are antithetical to stripping the flexible tape from such device.
On the other hand, a number of chain scraping devices and the like have been directed to separating link-type chain from a chain sprocket. However, by their very nature, chain-type drive arrangements cannot provide compression-type driving forces, and are limited solely to tension drive applications. Additionally, many chain-type conveyors are designed for single direction use. For example, the Soviet reference 565-003 illustrates a remover device for round-linked conveyor chains, wherein a spring-loaded rocker piece rides continuously on the periphery of the sprocket to lift the individual links of the chain on the slack side of the sprocket.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,953,692 (which issued to B. Stoppani et al.) includes a chain stripping device designed to insure that chain links on the slack side of the sprocket do not remain on the sprocket as it is rotated. Similar devices can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,093,065 (which issued to H. Temme), U.K. Patent application 2,084,634 (H. Linke et al.) and Soviet document 1207-918-A, which pertain to chain lifter or stripper devices for scraper-chain conveyors, and comprise generally arcuate members to engage and separate the chain from the chain wheel. These devices, however, are again directed to stripping individual links from the non-loaded side of a chain sprocket. In effect, these devices prevent the slack portions of the chain from inadvertently falling into the inside portions of the sprocket. Moreover, these arcuate members are generally aligned in a substantially parallel arrangement with the outer surface of the chain sprocket, are not directed to preventing folding or jamming of flexible tape which tends to adhere to a drive cog around which it is wrapped.
Consequently, heretofore, while the peeler tips described in the Bavis Flexible Drive Conveyor System patent are capable of providing reliable prevention of folding or binding of the drive tape within the surround of a flexible drive tape system, under heavy loading, and/or in applications utilizing larger cog wheel/surround combinations, and in situations where the cog wheel is operated at increased speeds, occasional instances of binding have been experienced. In this regard, an improved flexible tape drive system is desirable in such instances to more fully obviate the risk of drive tape folding or binding.


Stent delivery catheters comprising a hypotube, which may be a micromachined member, disposed on an outer portion of an inner member that may be an extruded multi-lumen member. The hypotube may be secured to the inner member. The devices may be adapted for delivering a self expanding stent by providing a restraining structure or device over the stent during delivery. One or more actuating members are provided through a lumen in the inner member to actuate the restraining structure and release the stent. Methods of use of such catheters are also described.

Medical devices such as catheters may be subject to a number of often conflicting performance requirements such as flexibility and strength. Catheters such as stent delivery catheters are expected to exhibit flexibility so that a patient's vasculature can be navigated sufficiently to access a treatment site. Stent delivery catheters, particularly catheters for delivering self-expanding stents, are also expected to exhibit tensile and/or compressive strength.
A need remains, therefore, for stent delivery catheters adapted to provide both flexibility and strength.


A method and apparatus for managing load in a communication network are provided. At a processor of a relay device, a number of messages is determined that are one or more of currently queued for relay via a communication interface of the relay device and previously relayed within a given time period, the communication interface and the processor of the relay device for relaying the messages, via the communication interface, between a plurality of devices and a network infrastructure. At the processor, a rate at which the plurality of devices establishes communications with the network infrastructure is controlled, wherein there is an inverse relationship between the rate and the number of messages.

When communication devices in a communication network have not been within coverage for some period of time, messages associated with those communication devices can accumulate. When the communication devices attempt to connect to a relay device in the network, conduits to and/or from the communication devices can become overloaded due to a large amount of accumulated traffic.

Method and apparatus for managing load in a communication network


The disclosure relates to a rectifier having a mirror image left/right side topology. Each side has a down-converter connected to half of a full bridge rectifier, and is switched 180 degrees out of phase with the other side. The sides of the full bridge rectifier have switches to rectify an alternating current signal into rectified signals, and a first capacitor to store a first charge of a rectified signal. Each of the down-converting circuits is connected to a first capacitor, has a second capacitor to store a second charge of the rectified signal, and switches to down-convert a voltage value of the first plus second charges to a direct current signal with a smaller voltage value. A controller circuit switches the switches on and off at times that are asynchronous with times of sign changes of the AC signal to reduce harmonics at the input of the rectifier.

Wireless power transfer and charging are emerging technologies for consumer electronic devices, such as smart phones, smart watches, etc. A current trend of development in wireless power technology is to increase the transfer power such that the smart devices can be charged more quickly. However, there are some major limitations for delivering more power wirelessly, such as heat dissipation in the mobile device and electromagnetic interference (EMI) radiation emitted by the wireless power receiver coil. Given these limitations, current devices are not able to produce a wireless charging solution beyond about 10 Watts.
To reduce the thermal loss, down-converting circuitry can be added to the receiver to lower the receiver coil current. A down converter can reduce the voltage from the output of the rectifier while boosting the current presented to the battery charger of a wireless charging system. This conversion allows the same power to be delivered to the receiver while at the same time, reducing the thermal dissipation or loss from the coil into the rest of the device. However, the added down converter raises the impedance presented to the power conversion stages, which in turn lowers the system's quality factor (Q) and increases the system's EMI radiation emissions from the receiver coil. Accordingly, it would be valuable to have a wireless power transfer receiver that reduces heat dissipation and EMI radiation simultaneously.

Low harmonic down-converting rectifier for wireless power transfer receiver


The present invention is a paging scheme that provides improved performance for various applications. In one embodiment of the present invention, a method of paging data comprises the steps of storing a plurality of pages of data in a main memory, determining that paging must occur, and paging out a page of data from the main memory based on the memory pressure of the page of data. The paging out step may comprise the steps of determining an amount of time a page is or will be in memory for each of the plurality of pages of data in the main memory and determining a memory pressure for each of the plurality of pages of data in the main memory.

Virtual memory is essentially an imaginary memory area supported by some operating systems in conjunction with the hardware. The purpose of virtual memory is to enlarge the address space, the set of addresses a program can utilize. For example, virtual memory might contain twice as many addresses as main memory. A program using all of virtual memory, therefore, would not be able to fit in main memory all at once. Nevertheless, the computer could execute such a program by copying into main memory those portions of the program needed at any given point during execution.
Paging is a technique used by virtual memory operating systems to help ensure that needed data is available. The operating system copies a certain number of pages from a storage device to main memory. When a program needs a page that is not in main memory, the operating system copies the required page into memory and copies another page back to the disk. A page that is removed from main memory and copied back to the disk is termed paged out.
Paging schemes are often generic to support a variety of applications. A paging scheme decides which pages should be removed from memory (without affecting application correctness) so that the effect on system performance is minimized. A variety of algorithms have been used:                Least Recently Used (LRU)—the page that has been accessed least recently will be paged out.        Most Recently Used (MRU)—the page that has been accessed most recently will be paged out.        First-In, First-Out (FIFO)—the page that was brought into memory first is removed first.        Last-In, Last-Out (LIFO)—the page that was brought into memory last is removed first.
Paging schemes that are good for operating systems, such as LRU, may not be ideal, in terms of performance, for a particular application. A need arises for a paging scheme that provides improved performance for applications.

Memory paging based on memory pressure and probability of use of pages


A lid opener for use in a vehicle comprises a base member secured to a vehicle body. A control lever is pivotally connected to the base member. A rear portion of the control lever is connected through a wire to a latch mechanism of a lid member. The control lever is capable of canceling a latched condition of the latch mechanism when pivoted in a normal direction from a rest position to a work position. A spring is used for biasing the control lever to assume the rest position. A first stopper structure includes the rear portion of the control lever and a part of the base member. The rear portion is kept in contact with the part of the base member when the control lever assumes the rest position. A second stopper structure includes a part of the control lever and a stopper member which is defined by either one of the vehicle floor and the base member. The part of the control lever is brought into abutment with the stopper member when, upon receiving a marked stress, the control lever is pivoted from the rest position in a direction opposite to the normal direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to lid openers for use in motor vehicles for remotely controlling or unlatching a lid, such as a filler cap, a trunk lid or the like. More specifically, the present invention relates to the lid openers of a double lever type having two control levers for remotely controlling or unlatching two lid members respectively.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In order to clarify the task of the present invention, one conventional lid opener will be briefly described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11 of the accompanying drawings.
As is seen from FIG. 10, the lid opener 100 shown is of a double lever type. The lid opener 100 is arranged on a vehicle floor "F", more specifically, on a base member 102 tightly held by a cross member 104 of the vehicle body.
The lid opener 100 comprises two, viz., longer and shorter control levers 106 and 108 which are pivotally disposed about a common shaft 110 held by the base member 102. The two control levers 106 and 108 have rear ends 106a and 108a from which respective wires 112 (114) extend to respective latch mechanisms of a trunk lid and a filler cap. The two control levers 106 and 108 are biased to assume horizontal rest positions by respective biasing springs 116 and 118. When the longer control lever 106 is pulled up against the biasing force of the spring 116, the wire 112 is driven in a direction to cancel a latched condition of the latch mechanism of the trunk lid. Upon this, the trunk lid becomes unlatched and thus can be opened. While, when the shorter control lever 108 is pulled up against the force of the spring 118, the wire 114 is pulled to unlatch the filler cap.
For ease with which the two control levers 106 and 108 are manipulated by a driver, such lid opener 100 is arranged just beside the driver's seat, that is, in a limited space defined between the driver's seat and the driver's door.
However, due to inherency originating from the position where the lid opener 100 is located, it often happens that the lid opener 100 is strongly stepped on by the driver at his or her ingress and egress into and from the vehicle cabin, which tends to cause damages of the control levers 106 and 108.
For eliminating such drawbacks, various measures have been hitherto proposed, which are, for example, covering the lid opener 100 with a cover member, using a much thicker metal plate as the material of the control levers 106 and 108, locating the lid opener 100 away from such limited space, etc.,. However, even these measures have failed to provide users with satisfaction. In fact, such measures tend to induce a bulky, costly and/or ill-handy lid opener.


A camera bag or the like, including an insert comprising a compartmentalized member having collapsible walls and a bottom and attachment means for selectively securing the collapsible member at a plurality of locations within the bag, each of the compartments of the insert being selectively collapsible notwithstanding the selective attachment of other of the compartments, thereby providing a choice of compartments within the insert and between the insert and the bag.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to the field of camera and accessory cases, often known as gadget bags. In particular, this invention relates to camera and accessory cases having adjustable compartments.
2. Prior Art
Carrying cases are known which have partitioning members for forming compartments of various sizes and shapes. In one such carrying case, the partitioning members are formed from rigid materials and terminate in flanges covered with Velcro hooks. The partitioning members, except for their ends, and the side walls of the case, are all covered with looped fabric. Other such cases are known wherein one or more preformed partition members may be inserted into a larger bag, depending upon the needs of the moment. However, the carrying cases typified by the structure just described have a significant drawback.
The most significant problem with such prior art carrying cases is in dealing with unused partitions or partitioning members. The flexibility of such carrying cases is actually severely limited in that one must arrange the case to carry certain articles for a particular occasion, and either leave the remaining partitions or or partition members at home or in a studio, or one must make further provision for carrying the partitions or partition members along with all of the cameras and camera accessories. There is no flexibility for changing the arrangement of the bag en route or on assignment.
This invention overcomes this significant problem of prior art carrying cases by providing a case having a compartmentalized insert member which is not only selectively attachable at a plurality of locations within the carrying case, but which has selectively collapsible compartments as well.


A control system/method for controlling the shifting of automated mechanical transmission systems (10) is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the control system/method (FIG. 4 ) defines the window ((OS*GR.sub.T)+K.gtoreq.IS.sub.E .gtoreq.(OS*GR.sub.T)) for synchronous engagement (for shifts other than compound upshifts) such that jaw clutch (112/114, 116/118) engagement will occur or tend to occur when the input shaft (16) is rotating at speed (IS) equal to or slightly greater than a true synchronous speed (OS*GR.sub.T) to provide a "push" sensation upon jaw clutch engagement.

1. Related Applications
This application is related to U.S. Ser. No. 08/116,627, titled VARIABLE SYNCHRONOUS WINDOW filed the same day, Sep. 7, 1993, and assigned to the same assignee, Eaton Corporation, as this application.
2. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a control system/method for controlling the engagement of positive jaw clutches in an at least partially automated vehicular mechanical transmission system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a control system/method for an automated vehicular mechanical transmission system which will cause or bias the transmission jaw clutches to engage at a time when the engine/input shaft driven clutch member is rotating at a speed slightly greater (preferably about 10 to 50 RPM greater) rotational speed than the clutch member in driving relation with the output shaft.
3. Description of the Prior Art
Fully or partially automated mechanical transmission systems for vehicles, such as heavy duty tractor--semitrailer vehicles, are well known in the prior art as may be seen by reference to U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,361,060; 4,595,986; 4,614,126; 4,648,290; 4,676,115; 4,784,019; 4,899,607; 5,050,427 and 5,136,897, the disclosures of all of which are incorporated herein by reference. Briefly, these automated transmission systems typically utilized sensors to provide information such as drive mode or shift selection, throttle pedal position, currently engaged ratio and engine, input shaft and/or output shaft speeds to a controller. The controller, typically microprocessor based, would process these inputs according to predetermined logic rules to issue command output signals to various actuators such as an engine fueling device, a master clutch operator and/or a transmission shift actuator. Engine fueling manipulation, an input shaft or engine brake and/or a power synchronizer were typically used to cause the input shaft and its associated gearing to rotate at a substantially synchronous rotational speed relative to the output shaft rotational speed and target gear ratio.
In view of the known response times for the various actuators, as the input shaft speed ("IS") approached the synchronous window. i.e. the product of output shaft speed times the numerical value of the target gear ratio (OS*GR.sub.TARGET) plus or minus an acceptable value (usually about .+-.40 RPM), the jaw clutches associated with the target gear ratio were commanded to engage with the expectation that the expected input shaft speed (IS.sub.E) would be within the acceptable range as the target ratio jaw clutch members came into initial engagement.
While the prior art vehicular automated mechanical transmission system controls were generally satisfactory and provided well synchronized jaw clutch engagement, they were not totally satisfactory as, especially for downshifts, the jaw clutches associated with the engaging target gear ratio tended to engage when the jaw clutch member in driving relationship with the input shaft was rotating at a slower speed than the jaw clutch member in driving relationship with the output shaft. Engaging the jaw clutches when the input shaft is slightly below exact synchronous will cause a slight retarding of the vehicle which is not as pleasing to the driver as the slight "push" which results from engaging the jaw clutches when the input shaft is slightly above true synchronous speed.

Automated mechanical transmission control system/method


Apparatus for supporting indicia with a rail comprising a receptacle enclosing a predetermined length of the rail and indicia supported by the receptacle adjacent the rail for viewing.

Advertising has long enjoyed considerable innovation by skilled artisans in an effort to efficiently, inexpensively and easily communicate advertising medium to consumers. Although television and radio embody exemplary mechanisms for communicating advertising messages to consumers, they prove very expensive and, for some, prohibitively expensive. Less expensive means of advertising, such as billboards and yellow page advertising, however, prove largely ineffective as an efficient and cost-effective means of advertising. In view of the present apparatus and methods for presenting advertisements to consumers, the need for certain new and useful innovations for reducing the cost and increasing the effectiveness of advertising is evident.
Accordingly, it would be highly desirable to provide improved apparatus and methods for supporting indicia and, more particularly, for supporting advertising indicia.
It is a purpose of the present invention to provide new and improved apparatus for supporting indicia that is easy to construct.
It is another purpose of the present invention to provide new and improved apparatus for supporting indicia that is inexpensive.
It is still another purpose of the present invention to provide new and improved apparatus for supporting indicia that is highly effective for delivering and communicating indicia to consumers.
It is a further purpose of the present invention to provide new and improved apparatus for supporting indicia that may be easily and inexpensively installed with conventional railings.
It is still a further provision of the present invention to decrease the costs of advertising.
It is yet still a further provision of the present invention to provide small business owners and entrepreneurs with an inexpensive alternative to advertising as compared with television, radio and billboard advertising.
It is another purpose of the present invention to provide new and improved apparatus for supporting indicia that is easy to use.
It is still another purpose of the present invention to provide new and improved apparatus for supporting indicia that may be used outside and inside.


A process is provided for making a free-flowing powder of a complex of an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) and/or a beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) and a vinylpyrrolidone (PVP) polymer, copolymer or graft polymers, as the complexing agent, at high acid loadings, preferably 20-60% by weight. The presence of VP polymers, copolymers or graft polymers in the complex reduces the skin irritation effect of the acid when applied to the skin of the user. The process involves applying an aqueous solution or slurry of the acid to PVP, and, substantially immediately thereafter, evaporating the water to form a free-flowing powder of the complex of the acid and VP polymers, copolymers or graft polymers.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a process for making an alpha or beta-hydroxy acid-polyvinylpyrrolidone complex, and more particularly, to production of such complex in the form of free-flowing powders at high acid loadings.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Cosmetic compositions having an alpha- or beta-hydroxy acid as the active ingredient are well-known in the art. These compositions are useful for treatment of the skin, particularly for anti-aging, improvement in skin tone, reduction of fine line, enhancement of moisture, and development of a smooth skin. Application of such compositions generally results in a younger-looking skin as new cells replace the old. However, to achieve this improvement in skin condition, it is necessary for the user to tolerate the skin irritation caused by the acid present in the product. Accordingly, skin irritation is a major concern to formulators of compositions of alpha and beta-hydroxy acids, particularly at high acid loading levels which can deliver faster and more effective skin peeling. More irritation, furthermore, is perceived by the user as being a more effective treatment.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a cosmetic composition of an alpha or beta-hydroxy acid which includes an effective anti-irritant agent therein.

Process for producing an alpha or beta-hydroxy acid-vinylpyrrolidone polymer, copolymer or graft polymer complex in the form of free-flowing powders having a high acid loading