A method of cutting an optical fiber ribbon obliquely, the ribbon being constituted by a plurality of optical fibers that are all parallel to a "longitudinal" axis of the ribbon, the fibers all being situated in the same horizontal plane referred to as the plane of the ribbon, and being protected by a common sheath, the method comprising the following steps:. a portion of the ribbon is stripped of its sheath; PA1 the ribbon is held stationary at two points situated on either side of the stripped portion; PA1 a curved anvil is advanced along a displacement axis orthogonal to the horizontal plane so as to tension the portion in such a manner as to incline a part of the stripped portion relative to the horizontal plane; and PA1 a cutter is advanced facing the anvil and along a displacement axis parallel or coinciding with that of the anvil to cut the stripped portion in the inclined part.

To connect one optical fiber ribbon to another, it is necessary to prepare the ends of the fibers making up the ribbon so as to obtain optimum operation of the resulting optical link. Conventionally, the ends of the fibers in the ribbon are cut so that their faces to be connected all lie in the same plane orthogonal to their longitudinal axes.
When the ribbons to be connected are placed end to end, with the plane faces to be connected of the optical fibers brought into coincidence, very large amounts of reflection may take place at the interfaces, thereby running the risk of degrading the transmission characteristics of the resulting links.
To mitigate this drawback, when connecting single optical fibers, it is known that the end of the fiber may be caused to have a plane surface that is not perpendicular to the axis of the fiber, with the normal to said surface making an angle of 5.degree., for example, relative to the axis of the fiber. A systematic departure from prior practice is thus created that makes it possible to eliminate parasitic reflections.
Japanese patent application JP-57 24903 describes a method of cutting an optical fiber obliquely, the method consisting in fixing the fiber at two points by means of two clamps, in twisting it about its longitudinal axis, in starting a break by means of a diamond cutter, and then tensioning the fiber while pressing a curved anvil against it until the fiber cleaves. A section plane is then obtained at an angle of inclination that is a function of the torque and of the tension force applied to the fiber.
Such a method cannot be used with a ribbon made up of a plurality of optical fibers disposed parallel to one another in a common protective sheath. It will readily be understood that it is not possible to apply an identical torque to each of the fibers in the ribbon about their respective longitudinal axes. Thus, the section obtained using such a method when applied to a ribbon of optical fibers is not satisfactory: the end faces of the cleaved fibers do not all lie in the same inclined plane.

Method and apparatuses for cutting a ribbon of an optical fibers obliquely


The present invention generally relates to processes and compositions for the transfection of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. More specifically, the present invention relates to processes for the transfection of CHO cells suspended in an aqueous medium using a transfection composition containing nucleic acid and linear polyethyleneimine.

A variety of strategies are available for the delivery of genes into cells. Transfection, in particular, refers to the delivery or transfer and uptake of nucleic acids into cultured cells mediated by gene transfer techniques. Commonly utilized transfection techniques generally tend to fall within two categories: transfection by physical methods (e.g., biolistic particle delivery and electroporation) and transfection by biochemical methods.
Biochemical methods of transfection have been used for a number of years to deliver nucleic acids into cultured cells. Such techniques may involve, for example, the use of inorganic aggregates (e.g., calcium-phosphate-mediated transfection), cationic polymers (e.g., diethylaminoethyl (DEAE)-dextran-, polylysine-, or polybrene-mediated transfection) and, more recently, cationic lipid (liposome) reagents (e.g., Lipofectamine™, Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.). Other polycationic macromolecules and/or amphiphilic aggregates have also been developed which ionically condense nucleic acids and bind to the cell surface (see, e.g., Cotton et al., Curr. Opin. Biotechnol. (1993), 4, 705-710; Frese et al., Adv. Drug Delivery Rev. (1994), 14, 137-152; Haensler et al., Bioconjugate Chem. (1993), 4, 372-379; Behr et al., Bioconjugate Chem. (1994), 5, 382-389; Legendre et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1993), 90, 893-897). One particular polycationic composition, polyethyleneimine, has been shown to be a relatively efficient vehicle for delivering nucleic acids to cells both in vivo and in vitro (see, e.g., Boussif et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1995), 92, 7297-7301).
Polyethyleneimine is an organic macromolecule having a relatively high cationic charge density potential. Thus, it readily binds and condenses nucleic acids into small condensates which can be taken up (i.e., endocytosed) by cells. Additionally, every third atom of polyethyleneimine is an amino moiety that can be protonated; thus, the polymeric network can act as a "proton sponge" at a variety of pH's, using the hydrogen ion buffering polyamines to absorb hydrogen ions during the acidification of the endosome which leads to endosome lysis. See, e.g., Boussif et al., supra; Horbinski et al., BMC Neuroscience (2001), 2, 2.
The use of mammalian cell lines for recombinant gene expression provides a number of advantageous features such as proper folding and post-translational modification of the recombinant polypeptides. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, in particular, are a frequently used host cell for the production of recombinant polypeptides that require post-translational modification to express full biological function.
Derouazi et al. (Biotechnol. Bioeng. (2004), 87(4), 537-545) disclose cultivating CHO cells from the CHO-DG44 cell line in a serum-free, chemically defined medium and transfecting them using a transfection agent including linear or branched polyethyleneimine and DNA. In particular, Derouazi et al. disclose seeding the CHO cells in a 3 L bioreactor at a cell density of 2×106 cells/ml of cell culture medium. Immediately after seeding, the cells were transfected with the polyethyleneimine/DNA mixture, which was formed by diluting DNA and polyethyleneimine separately in 150 mM NaCl or 278 mM glucose and adding the polyethyleneimine dilution to the DNA dilution to form the transfection agent.
Although the above-described techniques and processes are generally useful for the transfection and expression of recombinant polypeptides in CHO cells, there are limitations on their effectiveness, including, for example, limited transfection efficiency and lower amounts of recombinant polypeptide expressed and/or produced by the transfected CHO cells, particularly in the large-scale culture and transfection of CHO cells. As a result of lower transfection efficiency, for instance, a lower amount of recombinant polypeptide may be expressed by the CHO cells. Accordingly, a need remains for additional processes for the transfection of CHO cells having improved transfection efficiencies and/or greater recombinant polypeptide production and/or expression by the transfected CHO cells.

Processes and compositions for transfecting Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells


The present invention relates to an insulated vessel which may be produced at low cost, has superior insulating capabilities and excellent volumetric efficiency, and which may be suitably employed in a thermos, cooler, icebox, insulated cup, thermal insulated lunch box, thermal insulated electric pot, heat retaining rice cooker, refrigerator or freezer box insulating material, or as an insulating layer in a bath tub. The insulated vessel of the present invention is characterized in the formation of an insulating layer in the space interval between the inner vessel and the outer vessel of a double walled vessel which is filled with a low thermoconductive gas consisting of at least one the gases of xenon, krypton, and argon, and in the disposition of a metallic heat radiation preventing material at the insulating layer.

The present invention relates to an insulated vessel which may be produced at low cost, has superior insulating capabilities and excellent volumetric efficiency, and which may be suitably employed in a thermos, cooler, icebox, insulated cup, thermal insulated lunch box, thermal insulated electric pot, heat retaining rice cooker, refrigerator or freezer box material, or as an insulating layer in a bath tub.
Insulated vessels are conventionally available having a double walled structure wherein the space interval between the outer vessel and the inner vessel is filled with an organic foaming material such as hard urethane foam or foaming polystyrene, or a fabrication thereof, or is filled with an inorganic powder such as perlite.
Also conventionally available is a vacuum insulated vessel wherein the space between the inner vessel and the outer vessel of a double walled vessel consisting of a metallic inner vessel and a metallic outer vessel joined in an integral fashion is vacuum sealed to form a vacuum insulating layer.
However, in the former insulated vessel, because the coefficient of thermal conductivity of the insulating material itself is large compared to the case of a vacuum insulation, it is not possible to obtain a high degree of insulating capability. Further, problems also exist with respect to the production and capabilities of this vessel in that, because it is necessary to make the insulating layer thick (more than several centimeters) the vessel has a small ratio of inner volume to the outer volume. That is to say, volumetric efficiency is reduced.
Furthermore, while the latter vacuum insulated vessel has excellent insulating capabilities, an insulating layer of a small thickness, and large volumetric efficiency, the production process is complicated. Accordingly, high production costs are incurred.

Insulated vessel and method of production therefor


Option cards—one or more as may be installed in a particular computer system—are retained in position against possibly dislodgement due to handling by a frame and cooperating cross bar and depending member elements which may be variously positioned relative to the frame.

This invention relates to computer systems and more particularly to the retention of an option card disposed in an option slot against displacement such as may occur by the imposition of forces during shipment or handling.
As persons of skill in the appropriate arts will recognize, it has long been the practice to provide additional capability, such as video or audio processing and input/output, for computer systems by the provision of option cards. Such cards interface with the computer system by being mounted in connectors provided on a motherboard and also known as option card slots. High capability full height option cards (such as RAID controllers and audio or sound cards0 frequently provide additional connectors along a side edge of the card remote from the slot connector into which the card is inserted. Lower capability option cards are sometimes configured to use lower height or low profile printed circuit boards, saving some cost in the manufacture of the card. These different characteristics of option cards present an interesting problem in assuring that the cards are retained in position.
With the high capability card, any structure which will engage the card to retain it in place must touch the edge of the card in a location which leaves the additional connector available for use. With the lower capability card, any structure which will engage the card to retain it in place must touch the edge of the card while also accommodating contact with a higher capability card which may be occupying an adjacent slot.

Apparatus and method for retaining option card in a computer system


The present invention relates to a process for reducing the excretion of nitrogen from humans and animals while maintaining formation of proteins, as well as a food and feedstuff for humans and animals comprising keto acids, whereby ingoing protein is replaced by alpha ketoglutaric acid; a combination of alpha keto glutaric acid and pyruvic acid; oxaloacetate or oxaloacetate in combination with alpha keto glutaric acid or pyruvate or another keto acid according to the formula R--CO--COOX, wherein R denotes a part of a non-essential amino acid and X denotes hydrogen, alkali metal, alkaline earth metal or organic base or non-toxic precursors or intermediates of these, whereby the keto acid (-s) is (are) present in an amount of 1 to 20% by weight, preferably 1-10% by weight of the protein dry matter present.

It is well known that water living carnivores, such as salmon, and land based carnivores, such as mink, live under natural conditions, on a diet consisting of 30 to 55% of proteins (90% DS). The choice of food is depending on live phase and specie. A great deal of this protein can be oxidized to form energy providing compounds, such as ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which results in excretion of nitrogen to the environment. At an intense cultivation of e.g. fish and mink this might cause an environmental problem.
During natural conditions omnivores live on a diet consisting of 15 to 30% of proteins (90% DS). During certain conditions this protein might be used for providing energy.
The most energy demanding tissue in the body is the muscles, which obtains its carbohydrate energy from the food directly via the blood or from the liver via the blood in the form of glucose. Glucose is formed in the liver from inter alia decomponents of the proteins of the muscles. The compounds which hereby form glucose are substantially alanine and its corresponding keto acid. It has also been shown that the corresponding keto acids of some essential amino acids, such as alpha keto isocaproate (KIC), may be precursors of amino acids, e.g. KIC of leucine.
(i) NH.sub.4.sup.+ is coupled to amino acids via the reaction NH.sub.4.sup.+ +KG+NADPH=Glutamate+NADP.sup.+ +H.sub.2 O Glutamate provides the alpha amino group in the synthesis of most non-essential amino acids; PA0 (ii) the carbon skeletons present in the synthesis of non-essential amino acids are all intermediates of the glucolysis, the pentose-monophosphate shunt or the citric acid cycle and may hereby be derived from pyruvate or KG (cf FIG. 5) PA0 (iii) at physiological stress, too large energy draft, reproduction conditions and other low energy situations, the oxidation of amino acids increases whereby a deamination with KG or PY as amino receptors belongs to the starting processes (cf. FIG. 6); PA0 (iv) at the synthesis of collagen KG is essential to the hydroxylation of proline. PA0 (i) the formation of lactate to provide the glucolysis with NAD.sup.+ during aerobic conditions; PA0 (ii) formation of acetyl-CoA for the synthesis of fatty acids or digestion in the citric acid cycle; PA0 (iii) a high concentration of acetyl-CoA increases the formation of oxaloacetate, which either provides the citric acid cycle with intermediates (at a low concentration of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) or becomes a substrate in the gluconeogenesis (at high ATP concentrations); PA0 (iv) at the gluconeogenesis pyruvate might possibly contribute to the pentose-monophosphate shunt, where NADPH is formed (essential in several anabolic processes, i.a. the synthesis of the non-essential amino acids) and ribose-5-phosphate, which is a substrate at the synthesis of nucleotides; PA0 (v) the formation of alanine as well as other non-essential amino acids where pyruvate contributes with the carbon skeleton.
Pyruvate is a centre of the metabolism (cf. FIG. 4), where the following steps can be distinguished:


A device for conveying parts by gravity that comprises first and second guides of length L equidistant from one another. Each guide has a U-shaped cross-section. An opening of one of the guides is arranged opposite the opening of the other guide so as to define a path for the parts to be conveyed. A contact surface between the guides and the parts is sufficient to hold the parts between the guides. The guides are made of a material that facilitates sliding of the parts to be conveyed.

In manufacturing shops comprising various machines, sometimes each machine has to be fed with parts that are then assembled or modified by the machine. It is common for the feed to require a long continuous conveyance of the parts that is not always direct. It is sometimes necessary to allow for the presence of other machines that have to be avoided or to cross partitions or ceilings. Guiding devices then have paths that are not rectilinear to allow for the presence of obstacles. Such guides are not always accessible for an operator, much less so when the workshop can sometimes be in the dark. Most guides used are directly manufactured to form a non-rectilinear path that causes considerable manufacturing costs. Further, when it is required to feed a machine with flat parts that have to reach the machine in a precise position, a conveyor device that positions the parts perfectly must be used.
The use of a conveyor device constituted by a U-shaped guide as shown in FIG. 1A is known. The U-shaped guide 10 is made of Teflon.RTM. to facilitate the sliding of parts 11 in the conveyor device. The conveyor device has a shape that works perfectly with the shape of the parts 11 to be conveyed. As the whole surface of the part 11 is in contact with the guide 10, there is much friction between the parts and the guide. When for instance metal parts are conveyed in such a device, the friction of the parts on the Teflon.RTM. guide creates static electricity. Then the parts stay stuck to the support and a jam occurs in the guide. Further, when metal parts are covered with paint, this tends to be removed. In addition, such a conveyor guide cannot have any position. In fact, the guide's U-shape does not permit it to be rotated 180.degree., as the part would no longer be held in the guide.
The use of another type of guide in the form of a "C" shaped guide 10 as shown in FIG. 1B is also known. Here again, practically the whole surface of part 11 is in contact with the guide 10. The same problems as those encountered using the guide described in FIG. 1A appear.

Device for conveying parts using gravity


A water pressure operated post-hole digging tool. The tool includes a vertically elongate pipe with an enlarged mandrel member having a generally circular cross section mounted on its lower end, and an attachment for connecting the upper end of the conduit to a source of water pressure. The water pressure is discharged through an open end at the bottom of the mandrel member, so that soil is dislodged at the bottom of the post-hole bore. The flow of water then passes upwardly through the annular cavity around the sides of the mandrel member so as to scour out of the sides of the bore. The lower end of the mandrel member is tapered so as to accelerate the flow of water as this passes into the annular cavity around the body, and upper taper slows the flow as it exits the cavity and flows up the excavated bore. The mandrel member may be formed of solid plastic material.

a. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to apparatus for digging postholes and other small-diameter holes in the earth, and more particularly, to a hand-held posthole digger which forms bores in the earth by application of water pressure.
b. Related Art
Posthole diggers are used to bore comparatively small diameter holes in the earth, for installation of fence posts, and other posts and supports of various kinds. For purposes of convenience, the term "fence post", as used in this description will be understood to include all such supports and similar members, which are installed or otherwise placed so as to extend a few feet into the earth.
Although fence posts are, of course, widely used, they are particularly prevalent in the agricultural industries. For example, a typical livestock operation or orchard will have many hundreds or even thousands of fence posts, used for fences, to support trees or vines, and so on. Since the posts must be replaced or moved from time-to-time, the time and labor involved in installing fence posts becomes a major concern for many farmers, ranchers, orchardists, and so on.
Prior art posthole digging tools, however, have remained notoriously slow, labor-intensive, and inefficient in use. Manual posthole diggers have generally taken one of two forms: The most common comprises a pair of shovel-shaped blades which are joined together by a hinge, at the end of a pair of long poles; the operator thrusts the tool downwardly into the ground and then brings the blades together to withdraw a scoop of dirt. These tools are slow and tiring to use, and all the more inefficient due to their tendency to let dirt fall back into the hole as it is being withdrawn.
A second form of manual posthole digger uses a pair of auger like blades which define a bucket-like structure at the lower end of the tool, into which the dirt is scooped as the tool is rotated by the operator; after a few turns, the tool is lifted from the ground, dumped and the process is repeated. While superior in some respects to the type of tool described above, this latter form does not work well in rocky earth, and in any event remains an highly labor-intensive device.
Powered posthole diggers generally take the form of a long, screw-like auger mounted to a power head. Portable types are usually powered by a gasoline engine, and are comparatively fast in action. However, they are expensive, complicated, unreliable, and generally require two men in order to hold the power head against the torque which is generated by the bit during operation. These problems, especially the additional labor costs, represent serious drawbacks in commercial use.
Other types of posthole diggers are available which are designed to be mounted to a vehicle, such as a tractor or BOBCAT.TM. loader or similar vehicle for example. These devices are commonly driven using the vehicle's hydraulic system, and have the advantage of requiring only one operator. Again, however, they tend to be very expensive. Moreover, because they are mounted to the vehicle, this means that the vehicle must be maneuvered each time another hole is to be made, and in many instances there will not be enough room in which to maneuver the vehicle, as around trees or other obstacles. Once again, these drawbacks can present serious problems in a commercial operation, especially in the case of an orchard or a vineyard where many posts and other supports need to be placed in and amongst the plants themselves.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a posthole digger which is fast and efficient in operation, and which requires only a single operator, but which is also easily portable and convenient to use. Moreover, there exists a need for such a posthole digger which is simple and inexpensive in construction, and highly durable and reliable for extended use in a commercial operation.


Disclosed are compositions including an adenosine analog, wherein the composition comprises a dosage form suitable for oral (co)administration. Also disclosed are compositions including adenosine analogs, wherein the composition is in a dosage form including a pill, capsule, lozenge, or tablet, and compositions including adenosine analogs, wherein the composition is in a dosage form comprising a liquid. Additionally disclosed are methods of administering the inventive composition, and kits including the inventive compositions.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to compositions comprising an adenosine analog. More particularly, the invention relates to compositions comprising an adenosine analog, wherein the composition comprises a dosage form suitable for oral (co)administration.
2. Description of Related Art
Certain adenosine analogs have been found to have very useful clinical pharmacological benefits. These include, but are not limited to, 2'-deoxycoformycin (also referred to as dCF, pentostatin, or NIPENT.RTM.), an inhibitor of adenosine deaminase; fludarabine monophosphate (FLU), a fluorinated analogue of adenine that is relatively resistant to adenosine-deaminase and 2-chloro-2'-deoxyadenosine (also known as cladribine or 2CDA) a drug also resistant to adenosine deaminase through introduction of a chlorine at the 2 carbon. Other adenosine analogs that have useful activity include deoxyadenosines generally, including 2'-deoxyadenosine, 3'-deoxyadenosine, and dideoxyadenosine.
In humans, these compounds are assumed to act through a number of adenosine related pathways, particularly the adenosine deaminase (ADA) pathway. A genetic deficiency of ADA may cause severe combined immunodeficiency. Dighiero, G., "Adverse and beneficial immunological effects of purine nucleoside analogues," Hematol Cell Ther, 38:575-581 (1996). This document, and all others cited herein, are incorporated by reference as if reproduced fully herein.
While the exact nature of the ADA pathway intervention seems unclear, it may be that analogs of adenosine resistant to cellular deamination might mimic the ADA-deficient state. Lack of ADA seems to lead to a build up of deoxyadenosine and adenosine triphosphate in the cell, thus fatally accelerating DNA strand breaks in the cell. Under normal conditions, cells are continuously breaking and rejoining DNA. When this physiological process is accelerated by the effect of excess adenosine triphosphate, it leads to consumption of NAD for poly-ADP-ribose synthesis. This polymer is produced from nicotinamide adenosine dinucleotides (NAD) in a reaction catalyzed by the chromatin-associated poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase, leading to a depletion of the NAD content of the cell. This depletion induces a profound alteration of cellular reducing power, because of lethal ADP and ATP depletion.
The result is programmed cell death through activation of a Ca++, Mg++, dependent endonuclease. Hence, it appears that nucleoside analogs according to the invention can act on cells, with preferential lymphocytic activity, via an apoptotic process. The fact that supplementation of a cell medium with the NAD precursor of nicotinamide or 3-aminobenzamide, an inhibitor of poly (ADP-ribose) synthetase, prevented NAD depletion and reduces 2CDA toxicity, tends to support this hypothesis.
The various adenosine analogs affect the ADA pathway in different manners. DCF, for example, has been shown to be an quasi-irreversible inhibitor of ADA. By favoring the predominance of deoxycytidine kinase (DCK) over the dephosphorylating enzyme 5-nucleotidase in lymphocytes it induces a preferential accumulation of deoxyadenosine-5'-triphosphate (dATP). By comparison, FLU and 2CDA are rather resistant to the enzyme. Both drugs are initially phosphorylated by DCK and contribute to the accumulation of cellular adenosine triphosphate surrogates. As noted above, the accumulation of adenosine triphosphate, whether by the presumed DCF mechanism, or the FLU or 2CDA mechanism, promotes the apoptotic death of the cell.
Additional discussion of possible mechanisms of various adenosine analogs may be found in C. Dearden, et al., "Deoxycoformycin in the treatment of mature T-cell leukemias", Brit J. of Can., 64(5):903-906 (November 1991); J. Seymour et al., "Response duration and recovery of CD4+ lymphocytes following deoxycoformycin in interferon-.alpha.-resistant hairy cell leukemia: 7-year follow-up", Leukemia, 11, 42-47 (1997); J. Johnston et al., "Induction of Apoptosis in CD4+ Prolymphocytic Leukemia by Deoxyadenosine and 2'-Deoxycoformycin", Leukemia Research, 16:8, 781-788 (1992); I. Fabian et al., "The Effect of Deoxycoformycin on Bone Marrow Cells Treated with Adenosine and Deoxyadenosine and Hemopoietic Growth Factors", Human Immunology, 21, 81-87 (1988); E. Copelan et al., "Pharmacologic Marrow Purging in Murine T Cell Leukemia", Blood, 71(6):1656-1661 (June 1988); W. Sheridan et al., "Preclinical studies on deoxycoformycin and deoxyadenosine as pharmacologic T cell purging tools" Bone Marrow Trans. 4:511-517 (1989); S. Sandhu et al., "Adenosine deaminase inhibitors attenuate ischemic injury and preserve energy balance in isolated guinea pig heart", 265(4):1249-1256 (October 1993); D. Saito et al., "Effect of adenosine deaminase inhibitors on myocardial reactive hyperaemia following brief coronary occlusions", Cardiovascular Research, 19, 578-583 (1985); G. Cristalli et al., "Adenosine Deaminase Inhibitors: Synthesis and Structure--Activity Relationships of Imidazole Analogues of erythro-9-(2-Hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine", J. Med. Chem. 34:1187-1192 (1991); G. Cristalli et al., "Adenosine Deaminase Inhibitors. Synthesis and Biological Activity of Deaza Analogues of erythro-9-(2-Hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine", J. Med. Chem., 31:390-393 (1988); R. Jackson et al., "The Biochemical Pharmacology of (2'-R)-Chloropentostatin, a Novel Inhibitor of Adenosine Deaminase", Advances in Enzyme Regulation, 25:125-139; C. Vargeese, et al., "Adenosine Deaminase Inhibitors. Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Putative Metabolites of (+)-erythro-9-(2S-Hydroxy-3R-nonyl)adenine", J. Med. Chem. 37:3844-3849 (1994); G. Wolberg et al., "Effects of Adenosine Deaminase Inhibitors on Lymphocyte-mediated Cytolysis", Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 451:215-226 (1985); G. Harriman et al., "Adenosine Deaminase Inhibitors. Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of 4-Amino-1-(2(S)-hydroxy-3(R)-nonyl)-1H-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridine (3-Deaza-(+)-EHNA) and Certain C1' Derivatives", J. Med. Chem. 37:305-308 (1994); I. Antonini et al., "Adenosine Deaminase Inhibitors. Synthesis of Deaza Analogues of erythro-9-(2-Hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine" J. Med. Chem. 27:274-278 (1984); G. Cristalli et al., "Adenosine Deaminase Inhibitors: Synthesis and Structure--Activity Relationships of 2-Hydroxy-3-nonyl Derivatives of Azoles", J. Med. Chem., 37:201-205 (1994); and H. Showalter et al., "Adenosine Deaminase Inhibitors. Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of (.+-.)-3,6,7,8-Tetrahydro-3-[2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]imidazo[4,5,-d][1,3]di azepin-8-ol and Some Selected C-5 Homologues of Pentostatin", J. Med. Chem. 26:1478-1482 (1983).
A problem with administering these adenosine analogs is their dosage form. Currently, these analogs are available only in an intravenous (IV) dosage form. While this dosage form is customary, especially for use in oncology indications, it is limiting in a variety of ways. For example, IV dosing is expensive. It requires a highly trained medical professional to administer the IV dose. The dosing involves expensive equipment and materials. Additionally, IV dosing presents increased possibilities of infection, through use of contaminated equipment or accidental contamination, for example. This is a special concern in health care settings where increased incidences of antibiotic resistant bacteria are being noted.
A seemingly natural solution to the IV dosage problem is the development of an oral dosage form. Such a dosage form alleviates most, if not all, of the above-mentioned problems associated with IV or other parenteral dosage forms. However, the art recognized serious problems with the development of an oral dosage form. Chief among these is that adenosine analogs have been known for years to be susceptible to acid-catalyzed glycosidic cleavage. Therefore, one of skill in the art would expect that an orally administered adenosine analog would be cleaved in the stomach, and rendered inactive.
For example, investigators studying 2'-deoxycoformycin, an adenosine analog, have not considered oral administration of the drug worth studying because of its known acid lability. Marvin M. Chassin et al., Enzyme Inhibition Titration Assay for 2'-deoxycoformycin and its Application to the Study of the Relationship Between Drug Concentration and Tissue Adenosine Deaminase in Dogs and Rats, Biochemical Pharmacology 28:1849-1855 (1979). Likewise, other researchers have reported on the acid lability of 2'-deoxycoformycin. L. A. al-Razzak et al., Chemical Stability of Pentostatin (NSC-218321). a Cytotoxic and Immunosuppressant Agent, Pharm. Res. 7:452-460 (1990).
Other adenosine analogs may be expected to have similar acid lability characteristics. A. Tarasiuk et al., Stability of 2-chloro-2'-deoxyadenosine at Various pH and Temperature, Arch. Immunol. Ther. Exp. (Warsz) 42:13-15 (1994); T. Ono, 2'-Fluoro Modified Nucleic Acids: Polymerase-directed Synthesis, Properties and Stability to Analysis by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/lonization Mass Spectrometry, Nucleic Acids Res. 25:4581-4588 (1997). Therefore, the art has taught away from orally dosing adenosine analogs, despite its usefulness. Accordingly, the need remains for compositions, methods and kits for oral dosing of adenosine analogs.

Oral administration of adenosine analogs


Data visualization systems and methods for dynamically and interactively specifying circumscribed, context-sensitive data subsets of larger received data sets, combined with the ability to control information abstraction over both the larger received data sets and associated subsets through the utilization of one or more information processing filters and abstraction metrics.

Data visualization is best defined as the tangible representation of information. Traditional processing system based data visualization methodologies consist of plotting an underlying raw data set via a prepackaged set of graphical functions. The extent to which a user may interactively examine the data set in more detail within the environment provided by graphical functions is limited to "zooming in" or "zooming out" on the data. In traditional data visualization methodologies, "zooming" consists of data magnification and demagnification. When zooming in, the observer is moved closer to the data, thereby allowing the observation of the data in greater detail. When zooming out the observer is moved farther away from the data with a resultant loss in observable detail.
In contrast, humans scan large amounts of data searching for patterns that suggest that a particular subset of data should be examined in greater detail. The cognitive process of observing more detail within a contextually interesting, localized data subset involves viewing the data less abstractly, i.e., the act of decreasing the abstraction level of the data is equivalent to observing more information. Conversely, when humans are presented with large amounts of data containing excessive or irrelevant detail, they abstract the data to emphasize essential characteristics, i.e., the act of increasing the abstraction level of the data is equivalent to hiding information. This cognitive process of visually sorting and analyzing data is grounded in two human abilities: (1) the ability to dynamically define local subsets of the data which require abstraction, either upward (information hiding) or downward (information displaying); and (2) the ability to "filter" data when the data is to be abstracted upward. In particular, humans decide the specifics of how information is to be hidden. As is evident from the foregoing, there exists a need in the art for a data visualization system which implements a methodology facilitating both interactive data abstraction and context-dependant information filtering.
A first object of the present invention is to provide data visualization systems and methodologies designed to facilitate interactive, context-sensitive, visual abstraction of data.
A second object of the invention is to provide data visualization systems and methodologies which model the human cognitive process for processing data, i.e., the ability to dynamically sort and analyze large data sets, as well as define local subsets of data which require abstraction, either upward or downward.
A third object of the invention is to provide information filters to both large data sets and respective subsets during upward data abstraction, enabling a user of the invention to determine the specifics of how information is hidden.

Systems and methods for dynamically modifying the visualization of received data


A battery pack, made up of ordinary rechargeable nickel cadmium size AAA cells, that would output six volts and would fit inside the battery compartment of electrical devices designed to accommodate 4 AA size cells. This would obviate the need to carry and hook to the device external rechargeable battery packs. The battery pack also has electrical wires that end in a connector that could be used to charge the pack or power devices that need external battery packs. A charging bracket that enables charging of this power pack.

1. Field of the Invention
Some electronic devices are designed to run on 6 volt dc and have a battery compartment designed to accommodate four AA size battery cells for that purpose. The four AA size battery cells required are the alkaline type that generate 1.5 volt each, thus producing 6 volt in total when placed in a series configuration inside the battery compartment of the device.
These electronic devices cannot use size AA rechargeable (nickel cadmium) cells inside their battery compartment, since four rechargeable cells produce an output voltage of 4.8 volts only and not 6 volts. Because one nickel cadmium rechargeable cell produces 1.2 volts. Therefore these electronic devices are unable to use rechargeable battery cells inside their battery compartment. Those users desiring to use rechargeable battery cells to save money, are restricted to using external rechargeable battery packs that produce 6 volts.
The invention described herein is a six volt rechargeable battery pack device that would fit inside a battery compartment space designed for four size AA batteries, removing the necessity to have external cumbersome rechargeable battery packs. Similar battery packs or cassettes producing different voltages are useful in battery applications, that cannot use an arrangement of plurality of nickel cadmium rechargeable cells in place of an equal number of alkaline cells due to voltage difference in the two cell types and the resulting voltage difference in the arrangement of cells.
2. Description of Related Art
None to my knowledge.


This invention relates to compounds of Formula (I) wherein R1-R7, A, Z and n are as described in the Summary of the Invention that are inhibitors of procollagen C-proteinase, pharmaceutical compositions containing them, methods for their use and methods for their preparation.

The collagens are integral components of connective tissue. At present nineteen types of collagens have been identified. The interstitial collagen types I, II and III are the major collagen components of tissue. These collagens are synthesized as procollagen precusor molecules having amino- and carboxy-terminal peptide extensions also known as pro-regions. These pro-regions are typically cleaved upon secretion of the procollagen molecule to give a mature collagen molecule which is capable of association into highly structured collagen fibers. (see, e.g., Fessler and Fessler, Annu. Rev. Biochem. 47, 129, (1978); Kivirikko et al., Extracellular Matrix Biochemistry (1984) and Kuhn, Structure and Function of Collagen Types (eds Mayne, R and Burgeson, R. E.), Academic Press, Inc., Orlando, Fla. pp 1-42 (1987).
Excessive collagen deposition is associated with a variety of fibrotic diseases such as interstitial pulmonary fibrosis, pericentral fibrosis, Symmers' fibrosis, perimuscular fibrosis, kidney fibrosis, endocardial sclerosis, hepatitis, acute respiratory distress syndrome, arthritis, cystic fibrosis, surgical adhesions, tendon surgery, corneal scarring, scleroderma, chronic allograft rejection, hemodialysis shunt fibrosis and restenosis. These diseases are characterized by excessive deposits of fibrillar interstitial collagens that are resistant to proteolyic degradation thus leading to the symptoms of fibrosis. Therefore, inhibition of the pathological deposition of thse collagens should help in the treatment of these diseases.
Recent studies suggest that procollagen C-proteinase is the essential enzyme that catalyzes the cleavage of the C-propeptide of types I, II and III collagens and therefore instrumental in the formation of functional collagen fibers ((see, Fertala et al., J. Biol. Chem., 269, 11584, (1994)). It would therefore be desirable to provide procollagen C-proteinase inhibitors and thereby provide a means of combating diseases mediated by excessive deposition of these collagens. This invention fulfills this and related needs.

Peptidic procollagen C-proteinase inhibitors


The present invention relates to a process for the production of aminodiphenyl-amines, such as 4-aminodiphenylamine (4-ADPA), by reacting nitrohalogenated benzenes with anilines in the presence of a base as well as a copper-phosphorus complex, followed by hydrogenation of the intermediately formed nitrodiphenyl-amines.

4-aminodiphenylamine (4-ADPA) is an important precursor in the synthesis of anti-ageing agents and stabilisers in the rubber and polymer industry (Kirk-Othmer, Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 4th Edition, 1992, Vol. 3, pp. 424-456; Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, 5th Edition, Vol. A3, 1985, pp. 91-111).
4-ADPA may be produced by various methods. One possible way of producing 4-ADPA is the two-stage reaction of aniline or aniline derivatives with p-nitro-chlorobenzene in the presence of an acid acceptor or a neutralising agent, and optionally in the presence of a catalyst. The production according to this method is described for example in DE-A 3 246 151, DE-A 3 501 698, DE-A 185 663, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,670,595, 4,187,249, 4,683,332 and 4,187,248. The first stage is generally carried out with copper catalysts, and the second stage with metal components different therefrom, for example nickel (see for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,840,982). Reactions of for example also halogenated nitrobenzenes with amines in the presence of palladium catalysts are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,576,460 and EP-A 846 676.
A disadvantage of the production method identified above using copper catalysis is the comparatively poor selectivity of the reaction with regards to the formation of the desired diarylamine. The 5-15% of the triarylamine that is normally formed results in an increased distillative expenditure for the purification of the end product, as well as in economic drawbacks due to increased consumption of the valuable component halogenated nitrobenzene, since two equivalents of halogenated nitrobenzene are consumed per one equivalent of triarylamine that is formed. In addition the disposal of the byproduct represents an ecological problem.
It was therefore desirable to provide a process for the production of amino-diphenylamines that starts from anilines and leads, by reaction with corresponding nitrohalogenated benzenes, to nitrodiphenylamines followed by reduction of the intermediate product that is formed in relatively high yield and with reduced formation of the triarylamine product, to the desired aminodiphenylamines.
Venkataraman et al. [Tetrahedron Letters, 2001, 42, 4791-4793] were able to show that the use of a preformed complex of copper dibromide and triphenyl-phosphine produces a novel catalyst that catalyses the addition of aryl halides to secondary aromatic amines with the formation of triarylamine.
The addition of aryl halides to primary amines does not, however, as shown in a comparison example, provide any significant advantages compared to the Cu/Cs catalyst system known from DE 3 246 151 A1.
It was therefore surprising that the use of certain copper-phosphorus complexes in the reaction of nitrohalogenated benzenes with anilines yields only very small amounts of the undesired triarylamine as byproduct. Also surprising was the raised catalytic activity of these complexes with respect to the formation of nitrodiphenylamines.

Process for the production of aminodiphenylamines


A drilling tool set includes a plurality of drilling tools having different operative drill diameters to blast drill holes of different respective diameters. Each drilling tool of the set has a basic body defining a central axis of rotation, and two replaceable indexable bits including a center bit and a periphery bit which are mountable in respective center and periphery pockets formed in a front end of the basic body. The periphery bits of the respective drill tools of the set are identical, and the center bits of the respective drill tools of the set are identical. Each of the center and periphery pockets of each drill tool defines a radial center point. A first of the drill tools has a smaller operative drill diameter than a second of the drill tools. The first tool includes a first periphery pocket and a center pocket. The center point of the first periphery pocket is disposed closer to the axis than is the center point of the second periphery pocket. The center point of the first center pocket is disposed closer to the axis than is the center point of the second center pocket.

Drills of the type to which the invention relates, and which by those skilled in the art are denominated short hole drills, are most commonly used for blast drilling of holes in workpieces of metal, such as steel, aluminum or the like. However, the drills may also work in other materials than metal.
Generally, the drills include a basic body as well as two bits, which are detachably mounted in pockets in the front end or tip of the basic body. Usually, the basic body is formed with a rear fastening part and a front, long narrow shank of a cylindrical basic shape. In the shank, two chip channels are formed, which advantageously extend helicoidally rearwards from the bits, which consist of on one hand a center bit which may be received in a center pocket positioned in the immediate vicinity of the geometrical center axis of the shank, and on the other hand a periphery bit which is mountable in a periphery pocket in the immediate vicinity of the peripherical envelope surface of the shank. Said bits are located substantially diametrically opposite each other on both sides of the geometrical center axis and arranged so that the operating ranges for their operative cutting edges overlap each other. More precisely, in the workpiece, the center bit is arranged to machine a circular area, the outer diameter of which is somewhat larger than the inner diameter of an imaginary ring-shaped area that is described by the periphery bit. The diameter of the hole (the drill diameter) drilled in the workpiece is determined by the radial distance between the center axis and a surface generating edge on the periphery bit.
Drills of the type in question are frequently available in sets that enable drilling of holes having different sizes, the individual set being based on use of one and the same type of center bit and periphery bit, respectively. For instance, an individual set may include a certain number of, e.g. 4-6, drills, having diameter differences of 1 mm, e.g. for drilling holes having 16 mm, 17 mm, 18 mm, 19 mm and 20 mm, respectively, diameter. In this connection, in order not to have to manufacture different types of bits, a manufacturing method is applied, according to which the different drills in a given set are given different active drill diameters by the fact that the periphery pockets, which all are similar in order to be able to receive one and the same type of bits, are placed differently far from the center axis of the drill.
A drawback of previously known manufacturing methods of the type mentioned above is that only the periphery bit, more precisely the pocket for this bit, is moved out with increasing drill diameter, but not the center pocket and the bit therein. This fact means that the relation between the effective cutting edge length of the center bit and the effective cutting edge length of the periphery bit will vary from drill to drill. The variation of the mutual relations between the two effective cutting edge lengths of the bits entails a plurality of disadvantages. Thus, one disadvantage is that the balance of the drill is negatively effected in the relative cutting edge length determining the forces that are applied to the shank via the two bits. Furthermore, the variation gives rise to unfavorable input or entering processes, among other things so far that the individual drill may enter the workpiece in a point that differs from the nominally intended, desired entering point. At four-edged bits, i.e., bits having four similar cutting edges, which enables four edges on one and the same bit to be indexed up to operative positions, there is furthermore a problem in previously known drills to protect the individual, inoperative surface-generating edge until the appurtenant cutting edge has been indexed up to an operative position.

Drilling tool set, drilling tool and indexable drill bit therefor


An electroconductive coating composition for a plastics substrate, such as a poly(ethylene terephthalate) film, comprises a polymeric electrolyte and a polyepoxy resin. Surface conductivity may be promoted by the inclusion of an enhancer or by treatment with an interactive solvent medium. Substrates coated with the composition exhibit substantially permanent antistatic characteristics when subjected to photographic processing techniques.

(a) Technical Field of Invention
This invention relates to an electroconductive coating composition and, in particular, to an antistatic article comprising a polymeric substrate having, on at least one surface thereof, a layer of the electroconductive coating composition.
By an "antistatic article" is meant a treated polymeric article exhibiting a reduced tendency, relative to an untreated article, to accumulate static electricity on a surface thereof.
Articles in accordance with the invention may be produced by conventional polymer-forming techniques, including moulding, blowing, casting and extrusion, and may comprise fibres, filaments, sheets, films and the like, and particularly photographic films. For ease of discussion the invention is hereinafter described with reference to films.
(b) Background of the Art
The tendency of polymeric articles, such as films, to accumulate detrimental static electrical charges on surfaces thereof is well known. The presence of such charges creates a variety of problems including the attraction of dust and other contasinants to the film surface, the creation of a potential explosion hazard in the presence of organic solvents, difficulties in feeding the films through film handling and treating equipment, blocking, i.e. adhesion of the film to itself or to other films, and the risk of fogging subsequently applied light-sensitive coating layers. Consequently, it has been proposed to improve the electrical surface conductivity of polymeric films by treating the film with one or more of a variety of antistatic agents, the selected antistatic agent either being applied directly to a surface of the film, suitably in a volatile coating medium, or being incorporated into the polymeric material prior to fabrication of a film therefrom in the expectation that the antistatic agent will eventually migrate to a surface of the film.
Although many antistatic agents and coating compositions have been proposed for use in the treatment of film surfaces, their use is generally subject to a variety of constraints. For example, many available antistatic coating compositions are relatively hygroscopic, becoming swollen or softened by contact with moisture and therefore lack permanence when applied to substrates which may subsequently be exposed to relatively high degrees of humidity. In particular, water-soluble antistatic compositions are prone to removal during conventional photographic aqueous-processing techniques, and therefore are less than satisfactory in the treatment of photographic products, such as microfilms. Thus, a microfilm fiche or reel from which an applied antistatic coating medium has been partially removed during processing may be susceptible to pick-up of dust with consequent deleterious effects on the product. Such defective products also exhibit a blocking phenomenon whereby adjacent layers of microfilm tend to stick to each other to the detriment of the handling characteristics of the product. Furthermore, watersoluble antistatic coatings tend to be relatively soft, and therefore liable to abrasion during subsequent processing and handling-with the attendant generation of unacceptable debris, usually referred to as "pay-off" in the photographic art. Abrasion of an antistatic backing layer is of particular concern in relation to reeled films intended for use in high speed document-copying cameras. Backing "pay-off" is also particularly serious when it occurs during subsequent deposition, on the opposite surface of the film, of additional layers--such as anti-halation and light-sensitive photographic emulsion layers. Transfer of abraded debris from the antistatic backing layer into the opposed emulsion layer may result in the generation of unacceptable pin-holes in the finished product
We have now devised an electroconductive coating composition which eliminates or substantially overcomes the aforementioned difficulties.

Polymeric substrate coated with an electroconductive layer


The present invention relates to methods for absorbing and/or desorbing water by contacting water with hybrid inorganic-organic material having high surface area, and pores with the size of molecules or nanometers. More specifically, the water adsorbent has facile adsorption-desorption even below 100° C., having high adsorption capacity, and having high desorption capacity when it is heated up to the temperature below 100° C. The adsorbent of the present invention can be applied to a humidifier, dehumidifier, cooler and heater. The present invention also relates to a technology to control humidity using the adsorbent.

An adsorbent that adsorbs and desorbs water has various uses. For example, a dehumidifier can utilize an adsorbent that adsorbs water at low temperature, while desorbs water when it is heated at high temperature. Moreover, a heater may humidify like a humidifier by desorbing adsorbed water, at high temperature, which is adsorbed from outside environment at low temperature, if an adsorbent is used in a heater. Likewise, a cooler, if an adsorbent is incorporated, may decrease the humidity of a room by adsorbing water at low temperature. The adsorbed water may be desorbed to outside by heating at high temperature. Air conditioners and humidity controllers (humidistats) that utilized these concepts are suggested in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,978,635, 6,959,875 and 6,675,601. However, there is no detailed explanation on the adsorbents used in the equipments. It is said that silica gels, zeolites or ion-exchangers are used in the equipments or it is just stated that adsorbents are used for the equipments. Moreover, the adsorbents have drawbacks of low adsorption capacity, and the desorption temperature is higher than 100° C., leading to the increase of operation costs.
Therefore, it is highly desirable to develop an adsorbent that desorbs water even at low temperature and the difference between adsorption capacity and the remaining water after desorption is large. However, there always remain problems of difficult desorption if the adsorption capacity is high; and the difference between adsorption capacity and the remaining water after desorption is small when the adsorption capacity is small. The present invention can be completed by confirming that, by utilizing a hybrid inorganic-organic material having very large surface area, the adsorption capacity is large and most of the adsorbed water can be desorbed at the temperature of 100° C. or below.
In the present invention, the hybrid inorganic-organic material, which is used as a water adsorbent, can be defined as a porous coordination compound formed by central metal ions and organic ligands that coordinate to the metal ions. The hybrid inorganic-organic material contains both organic species and inorganic species in the framework structure and means a crystalline compound having pore structure of molecular size or nano size. Hybrid inorganic-organic material is a wide terminology and generally called as porous coordination polymer (Angew. Chem. Intl. Ed., 43, 2334. 2004) or metal-organic frameworks (Chem. Soc. Rev., 32, 276, 2003). Recently, the study on these materials has been newly developed by the combination between molecular coordination bonds and materials science, and these materials have been actively investigated in these days because these materials, due to high surface area and pore of molecular dimensions or nanometers, can be used as versatile nanomaterials.
These materials can be synthesized by various methods. Typical synthesis methods include solvent diffusion at room temperature, hydrothermal synthesis at high temperature in the presence of water solvent and solvothermal synthesis using an organic solvent (Microporous Mesoporous Mater., 73, 15, 2004; Accounts of Chemical Research, 38, 217, 2005).
The synthesis of a hybrid inorganic-organic material can be executed, similar to the synthesis of inorganic porous materials including zeolites and mesoporous materials, under autogenous pressure in the presence of water or suitable solvents at temperature higher than the boiling point of the solvent used in the synthesis. In other words, the hybrid inorganic-organic material have been synthesized, similar to zeolites and mesoporous materials, during several days at high temperature after loading reactants in a high pressure reactor such as an autoclave. The heat source for high temperature has generally been conventional electric heating. For example, an autoclave containing precursors including metal salts, organic ligands and water or solvent was heated using an electric heater or an electric oven at a constant temperature. However, the methods of the previous embodiments using electric heating are not economical because of the long reaction time. Moreover, the methods do not provide hybrid inorganic-organic material with size less than 500 nm, or more preferably less than 100 nm, because amorphous hybrid inorganic-organic materials are obtained when the reaction duration is decreased in order to obtain small crystal particles.
Therefore, in the present invention, hybrid inorganic-organic materials are obtained by using microwave as a heat source in order to overcome the above mentioned problems. As small particles are obtained by microwave heating, the small particles, if used as an adsorbent, have the advantage of easy diffusion. Moreover, the small particles are easy to make a thin film, thick film or membrane. On the other hand, the synthesis by using microwave heating leads to improved performance of water adsorbent because the hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity of adsorbents are improved by the method. Therefore, hybrid inorganic-organic materials can be obtained by using microwave heating under the autogenous pressure after sealing the precursors containing metal salts, organic ligands and solvent such as water or organic solvent. Moreover, the hybrid inorganic-organic materials can be synthesized continuously by the microwave heating.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Adsorbent for water adsorption and desorption

Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology


The present invention relates generally to a water conditioning apparatus that is compact and easily recharged without removal from the installation location. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a water conditioning apparatus that is generally rectangular in shape and is configured to fit into rectangularly shaped spaces of limited size. In another embodiment, the water conditioning apparatus is configured to fit in a corner location. In still another embodiment, the water conditioning apparatus is of modular configuration and includes a self-contained selector valve system.

This invention relates generally to a compact and self-contained apparatus for water conditioning. More particularly, the compact water conditioning apparatus described herein allows the installation and operation of a water conditioning device in limited spaces typically encountered in the food service industry.
The requirement for conditioned water in the food service industry is well known. For example, conditioned water is often employed in dishwashing, in order to avoid the undesirable appearance of mineral or detergent residue. Further applications exist in beverage preparation, such as soft drinks, or in coffee preparation, in order to improve taste, and to avoid undesirable mineral deposits in dispensing machines.
Increasingly, an important conditioned water consumer in the food service industry is a food-steaming device, which is used to heat prepared food in food service establishments. When unconditioned domestic water is vaporized in these devices, they are particularly prone to fouling due to the accretion of mineral deposits in the steamer. Mineral fouling from unconditioned domestic water may result in increased energy costs in operation, and if not curtailed may eventually culminate in the complete failure of the steamer. As a result, manufacturers of food steamers frequently require that conditioned water be used in steamers, even in areas where the domestic water supply is relatively free of dissolved minerals.
Commercially available water conditioning devices are well known to those skilled in the art. Generally, prior art water conditioning devices are attached to the domestic water supply line, and allow mineral laden domestic water to flow through a bed of cation exchange resin beads to produce conditioned water. According to this method, the undesirable metallic ions present in the water, usually calcium, are exchanged for sodium ions embedded in the resin beads. When depletion of the available sodium ions in the resin beads occurs, exposing the resin beads to a sodium chloride solution, which is later discarded, recharges the unit. After recharging, the unit is then available for another water conditioning cycle.
Water conditioning units of this type are usually connected directly to the domestic water main, causing substantial internal pressures to result. Consequently, prior art water conditioning devices have generally favored the use of a cylindrical container for the cation exchange resin beads. A significant drawback associated with the use of cylindrical containers is an inefficient use of space, thereby compromising the favorable objective of compactness. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,855,043 issued to Dalton (xe2x80x9cthe Dalton patentxe2x80x9d) on Aug. 8, 1989 discloses a compact water conditioning apparatus that purports to be particularly suited to applications in the food service industry. However, the Dalton patent relies on a cylindrical container for the cation exchange resin beads. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 3,960,721 issued to Heskett on Jun. 1, 1976 discloses a water conditioning apparatus that also relies on cylindrical containers to withstand the internal pressure.
Accordingly, in view of the increasing use of food steamers in food service establishments and commercial kitchens, conventional water conditioning devices that are housed within large cylindrical containers according to the prior art are increasingly impractical since they compete for increasingly limited amounts of floor space in the kitchen area. More favorable utilization of space in food service establishments is achievable if the water conditioning apparatus container can be made to fit in a rectangularly shaped space. Moreover, it is advantageous to have the water conditioning apparatus rechargeable by on site kitchen personnel since the unit is frequently installed in a remote location, such as behind the conditioned water consumer. Such remote locations generally preclude convenient removal and replacement of the unit with a similar unit that has been recharged off-site. U.S. Pat. No. 5,552,043 to Noordhoff issued Sep. 3, 1996, discloses a water conditioning apparatus that uses a rectangular shaped container for containment of the cation exchange resin beads, thus achieving the favorable result of compactness, but lacks the important feature of self-contained serviceability, since it fails to disclose a salt solution tank and the necessary plumbing to achieve recharging in place.
Accordingly, there is a need in the food service industry for a water-conditioning apparatus that is compact, reliable, easily recharged without removal and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.
Briefly, and in general terms, the present invention relates generally to a water conditioning apparatus that is compact and easily recharged without removal from the installation location. In one aspect, the present invention relates to a water conditioning apparatus that is generally rectangular in shape and is configured to fit into rectangularly shaped spaces of limited size. In another aspect, the water conditioning apparatus is configured to fit in a corner location. In still another aspect, the water conditioning apparatus is of modular configuration and includes a self-contained selector valve system.


A gravity-assisted heat pipe ground cooling source cold storage system and a chiller set. The cold storage system includes a gravity-assisted heat pipe, a cold storage pool, a heat exchanging and cold condensing device, and a heat exchanger pipe. An inlet and outlet of the cold storage pool are parallel-connected to cold water pipes of a chiller set, and are connected or disconnected via control valves. The heat exchanger pipe is buried underground, and includes a flow inlet pipe and a flow return pipe having a cross section including a first arc, a second arc, a third arc, and a fourth arc. The second arc and the fourth arc are S-shaped arcs. The first arc has a radius exceeding that of the third arc, and centers of circles of the first arc and third arc are located at the cross section of the flow return pipe.

In the prior art, data centers have higher requirements for the sustainable refrigerating capacity of chiller sets. When the external power supply fails, the UPS can be used for supplying power for IT equipment and generally can't supply power for air conditioning equipment which also has great power consumption, but it can supply power for draught fans, water pumps and other devices having small power consumption. Besides, in order to solve the problem of cold storage for data centers, the large-size cold storage tank having huge size and occupying huge space is added in the water system, and it brings troubles for heat insulation and load bearing; furthermore, such system is not energy-saving. It is considered in the viewpoints of providing cold after power failure and reducing the volume of cold storage equipment.
Therefore, a new cold storage system is needed to solve the above problems.

Gravity-assisted heat pipe ground cooling source cold storage system and chiller set

NANJING CANATAL DATA-CENTRE ENVIRONMENTAL TECH. CO., LTD.


A sound generation circuit for producing a dual tone which includes memory circuitry for storing data for controlling production of the dual tone, selection circuitry for selecting data stored in the memory circuitry and frequency dividers for producing an output signal having a frequency which varies based on the data selected by the selection circuitry. The production of the dual tone is based on the output signal of the frequency dividing circuitry. The sound generation circuit also includes logic circuitry to inhibit selection by the selection circuitry of data for controlling production by the sound generation circuit of a musical note when the sound generation circuit is currently producing a dual tone. The melody and dial sections of the sound generation circuit employ common elements.

This invention is directed towards a sound generation circuit, and more particularly to dual tone generation circuitry for use with a push button telephone set.
As shown in FIG. 2, a conventional push button dial telephone set 200 with holding tone includes a polarity coincident circuit 30 having sections 30a and 30b. An input section 44, which is connected to a telephone communication line (not shown), couples the telephone communication line to polarity coincident circuit 30. The output of section 30a is connected to a ringing tone generation circuit (i.e., ringer circuit) 41 which produces a signal supplied to a speaker 42 for producing a ringing tone. The output of section 30b is connected to the emitter of a transistor 31a and to one end of a switch 31c. The other end of switch 31c is connected to the base of a transistor 31b. Transistors 31a and 31b and switch 31c serve as a dial pulse sending switch 31. The emitter of transistor 31b is connected to a reference voltage such as ground. The collector of transistor 31b is connected to a base of transistor 31a. The collector of transistor 31a is connected to an integrated circuit for speech (hereinafter referred to as speech IC) 32. The output of speech IC 32 is connected to a receiver 43.
Telephone set 200 also includes a keyboard 33 connected as inputs to an integrated circuit for dialing (hereinafter referred to as dial IC 34). An integrated circuit for control of switch input and other functions (hereinafter referred to as control IC) 35 has two outputs. The first output of control IC 35 is connected as an input to dial IC 34. The other output of control IC 35 is connected as an input to an integrated circuit for holding tone (hereinafter referred to as melody IC) 36. One of two outputs of dial IC 34 and the output of melody IC 36 are supplied as inputs to a mixing circuit 37 (i.e., for mixing holding tone and dial tone signals together). The other output of dial IC 34 is connected to the base of transistor 31b. A low pass filter 38 filters out all but the low frequencies of the signal produced by mixing circuit 37. The output of low pass filter circuit 38 is supplied to speech IC 32.
Another output of speech IC 32 is supplied as an input to a loud speaker (or amplifier) circuit 39. A speaker 40 receives the output of circuit 39. Speech IC 32, dial IC 34, control IC 35, melody IC 36, mixing circuit 37, low pass filter 38 and loud speaker circuit 39 are each connected to the positive terminal of a voltage source V and to a reference voltage such as ground.
FIGS. 6A and 6B are block diagrams of melody IC 36 and dial IC 34. A more detailed description of all elements shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, except a time setting circuit 100, is discussed below in connection with the present invention. Time setting circuit 100, shown in FIG. 6B, controls a timing dividing circuit 3. External circuitry (not shown) is also included within telephone set 200.
The number of parts required for construction of telephone set 200 prohibits its production at a reasonably moderate cost. As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, IC 36 and dial IC 34 include many of the same elements. For example, an oscillation circuit 1, a frequency dividing circuit 2, output frequency generation circuits 9 and 11, a digital/analog conversion circuit (hereinafter referred to as D/A circuit) 17 as well other elements are included in both melody IC 36 and dial IC 34. The duplicity of elements found in melody IC 36 and dial IC 34 complicates packaging of the sound generation circuit and results in conventional telephone set 200 having an unnecessarily high manufacturing cost.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a sound generation circuit having a simplified assembly, includes less parts and is less costly to manufacture than a conventional sound generation circuit.


A circuit assembly having a thin and large-area dielectric substrate and an improved grounding condition. To make the assembly, a circuit board comprises the substrate, and a circuit pattern and a metal layer that are formed on respective sides of the substrate. A bath of conductive bonding material (e.g., a low melting point solder) is made inside a tray-like metal chassis of the assembly. The circuit board is floated on the bath and excessive portion of the conductive material is absorbed. A branch circuit for branching a first path into at least two second paths is provided by mainly using impedance transformers but by using fewest possible stubs. Also, the elements are arranged in symmetry around the axis through the first path. This yields a wide operating frequency band. A waveguide-microstrip line transition that is easy to work and low in transition loss is provided by shaping the wider walls of the ridge waveguide so as to spread out toward the end. Since doing this increases the degree of freedom in design parameters, the width and the height of the ridge can be fitted to that of the microstrip line and that of the waveguide. The above elements are applicable to HF circuits, antennas and communication systems.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a high frequency (HF) circuit in a communication device and more specifically to a technique for bonding a circuit board to a metal chassis or case, a waveguide-microstrip line transition, a branch circuit, and a high frequency circuit incorporating these elements.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Recently, as frequency resources in communications technology are running dry, frequency bands available for building a new communications system have been and are shifting to higher bands. In this situation, the government and the people are jointly promoting a development to milliwave and microwave communication systems domestically and internationally. For example, it has been decided that extremely high frequency bands ranging from some GHz to hundreds GHz are assigned as available frequency bands to various communication systems under development for wireless LAN (local area network) and ITS (Intelligent Transport System).
Since available frequencies are rising as described above, antennas and HF (high frequency) circuits are desired which satisfactorily work in milliwave and microwave bands. However, design and manufacturing techniques that have been believed to be available may not work satisfactorily with an increase in frequency. For this reason, there is a need for novel design and manufacturing techniques.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an arrangement of a prior art array antenna assembly 1. In FIG. 1, the antenna assembly 1 comprises an dielectric substrate 10, a circuit pattern 20, a chassis 30 that holds the dielectric substrate 10 and serves as the ground, and a waveguide-microstrip line transition 40. The circuit pattern 20, which constitutes an array antenna, includes a T branch circuit 50. A signal transmitted through a waveguide (not shown) is passed by the transition 40 to a microstrip line of the circuit pattern 20, and further passed by the T branch circuit 50 to the right and the left portions of the array antenna.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an arrangement of the transition 40 of FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, the transition 40 comprises a ridge waveguide 42, a ridge 41 formed inside the ridge waveguide 42, and a microstrip line 21 which is formed on the dielectric substrate 10 and which is extending to (or a part of) the circuit pattern 20. As described above, the signal transmitted through the not-shown waveguide is converted into a transmission mode of the microstrip line 21 by the ridge 41 provided inside the waveguide 42 and transmitted to the array antenna 20.
Problems exist in conjunction with working if an antenna with the just-described arrangements are to be implemented for milliwave or microwave. With an increase in frequency, dielectric materials available for the dielectric layer 10 is limited to substances lack of a mechanical strength, e.g., ceramics, quartz, silicon, etc. Further, if an antenna that radiates a beam of two degrees in mesial width in a 76 GHz band is to be fabricated, the dielectric substrate 10 for the antenna will be approximately 100 to 300 xcexcm thick and 15 cm long in one side. Bonding such a thin and wide substrate 10 to the chassis 30 often results in a breakage of the dielectric substrate 10. Also, as the frequency increases, the characteristics of the antenna 20 depends strongly on the grounding state of the dielectric substrate 10. For this reason, a sufficient electrical contact is indispensable for the junction of the dielectric substrate 10 and the circuit pattern 20. However, this is hard to be achieved by conventional techniques.
Since the degree of freedom is very low in designing a waveguide-microstrip line transition, i.e., the design parameters are limited only to the width, the length and the height of the ridge 41, this sometimes causes the width of ridge for a milliwave band to be extremely narrow. Accordingly, the height of the ridge 41 of the transition 40, which is manufactured through machining of a brass material, becomes higher as compared with the ridge 41 width, making the work difficult. The lack of freedom in the design makes transition with a microstrip line having a lower characteristic impedance difficult and cause the problem that too large a difference between the widths of the designed ridge 41 and the microstrip line 21 leads to an unexpected deterioration in the impedance matching characteristics.
As is not limited to a high frequency (HF) antenna, an array antenna 20 as a whole generally exhibits a narrower frequency band characteristic with an increase in the number of array elements. Taking for example an antenna used in a front monitoring radar being put to practical use in 60 GHz, the antenna needs a beam width of about 2 degrees and accordingly a very large size. If a structure incorporating a conventional branch circuit were used as it is for such antenna, the resultant antenna would exhibit a very narrow frequency band characteristic, causing the band width of the antenna to be narrower than that of the radar. This is because conventional branch circuits mainly use stubs for impedance matching. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an exemplary pattern of a conventional T branch circuit comprising a matching circuit that uses stubs 51 (the T branch circuit is shown as a dark area). Using stubs for impedance matching generally tends to narrow the frequency characteristics of the circuit. Specifically, the larger the distances (D1 and D2) between the matching circuit and circuits (22) that need matching, the narrower the frequency band of the whole circuit. However, if stubs are to close to the antenna (or the circuits that need matching) so as to broaden the frequency band of the antenna, the antenna will fail to provide the desired characteristic. Thus, matching by stubs while providing a desired characteristic to the antenna or the circuits having their impedance matched inevitably narrows the frequency band of the resultant circuit such as an antenna.
The invention is directed to solving these and other problems and disadvantages of the prior art.
It is an object of the invention to provide a technique of bonding a thin and large-area circuit substrate to a metal layer with a sure and uniform contact but no fear of substrate breakage; a waveguide-microstrip transition that has a high degree of freedom in design and easy to work; and a branch circuit that permits the frequency band of circuit to be wide.
It is another object of the invention to provide a high frequency circuit and an antenna that incorporate an circuit substrate implemented by such a bonding technique, such a waveguide-microstrip transition and such a branch circuit, and to provide a communication system using such a high frequency circuit and such an antenna.
According to an aspect of the invention, a method of bonding a circuit board with a metal plate is provided. The method includes the steps of working the metal plate so as to have a shape that permits a fluid to form a bath in an area including a part where the circuit board is to be bonded; heating the worked metal plate to such a temperature as melt a conductive bonding material; forming a bath of the conductive bonding material in the area of the metal plate; floating the circuit board on the bath; and absorbing excessive portion of the conductive material without applying a force to the dielectric substrate.
A circuit assembly according to just-described aspect of the invention is provided with a thin and large-area dielectric substrate with an improved grounding condition. A bonding agent with a low melting point, a low melting point solder, etc. may be used as conductive material.
According to another aspect of the invention, a branch circuit for branching a first path into at least two second paths in a high frequency circuit is provided. The impedance matching between the first path and each of the branch paths is achieved by mainly using impedance transformers but by using fewest possible stub(s) in the branch circuit. The first path, the second paths, the impedance transformers, and the fewest possible stub(s) are arranged in symmetry with respect to a plane of symmetry that runs through the first path.
In one embodiment, the impedance transformers are step impedance transformers.
According to another aspect of the invention, a waveguide-microstrip line transition that is easy to work and low in transition loss is provided. The transition comprises a fanwise tube having a first opening coupled with a waveguide and a second opening larger in size then the first opening, a first and a second wider wall of the tube spreading from the first opening toward the second opening; an end portion of a microstrip line formed on a dielectric substrate arranged near the first wider wall, the end portion being situated a little inside the second opening and on a plane of symmetry for the first and the second wider walls; and a ridge formed on the second wider wall, the ridge protruding gradually from a first opening side toward a second opening side to become short-circuited, at the end thereof, with the end portion of the microstrip line, wherein dimensions of the fanwise tube and a shape of the first and the second wider walls are determined so as to fit the width of the microstrip line to the end portion of the microstrip line.
In one embodiment, at least a part of each longitudinal side of a fanning-out portion of the wider walls is linear. However, at least a part of each longitudinal side may accords substantially with an exponential function or a trigonometric function.

Circuit board bonding method, branch circuit and its designing method, waveguide-microstrip transition, and application to HF circuit, antenna and communication system


The present invention overcomes the serious practical limitations inherent in presently-existing RAM-based audiovisual effects processing systems for essentially instantaneous playback of data. The method of the invention divides individual audio effects into two discrete segments, and stores these two segments in a distributed storage system. The first segment of an effect is stored in memory, allowing nearly instantaneous access and playback of this segment. The second segment is stored in a storage device with a relatively long access time. In operation, the first portion of the effect is played from memory, while the second portion is simultaneously retrieved from storage, such that the second portion is retrieved and is available for playback by the time the playing of the first segment terminates. Playback of these two segments in perfect succession effectively furnishes instantaneous playback of audio data, while reducing cost, facilitating loading of effects data, and providing further operational advantages. The disclosed method and apparatus is equally suitable for implementing essentially instantaneous playback of video or audiovisual data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for structured data storage, retrieval, and utilization, and more particularly, to storage-based techniques for implementing virtually instantaneous playback of audio effects data in synchronization with playback of associated video data in an audiovisual effects processing system.
2. Art Background
The development of audiovisual works often involves processing of the audio portions of a work independent of the processing of the corresponding video portions of the work. In the film industry, for example, it is common practice to substitute synthetic sounds, produced in a sound laboratory, for the actual sounds that were recorded during recording of the visual portions of a film. These synthetic audio portions are then combined with the associated video portions of the film, resulting in a single audiovisual work, on the basis of time codes which are used to relate each particular audio portion (i.e., each individual sound) to the video portion related to that sound.
The relation between a multiplicity of recorded sounds and their video counterparts is commonly represented by an edit decision list (EDL), which lists each effect along with the time in the work at which each effect is utilized. A hypothetical EDL might reflect, for example, that a door would slam at one minute, five seconds, and 6 frames into the work, and that a footstep would be heard at one minute, six seconds, and 15 frames. When the visual portion of the work is reviewed, the sounds listed in the EDL must be accessed and played at the particular times identified in the EDL. In playing these sounds, the margin for error in playback time is very small. In particular, a sound must be played back with a near-zero delay (i.e., instantaneously) from the time at which that sound is requested. As used herein, the term "instantaneous" refers to delays not noticeable to the typical human, such as the access times of many volatile memory devices such as commonly available random access memory (RAM), as contrasted with the access times of storage devices such as hard disk drives which are often noticeable by a user.
Presently existing designs for such film effects systems impose severe practical limitations upon the functionality, and therefore upon the value, of these systems. These limitations are best understood by examining the procedures involved in the use of such systems by audio engineers. A typical feature-length movie contains at least 50 scenes, each of which might contain hundreds of individual sound effects. To accommodate the audio data representing these sound effects, present professional systems are considered to require a minimum of 250 megabytes of RAM, and such systems often provide substantially more memory for instantaneous playback, typically in excess of a gigabyte.
Before editing a particular audiovisual sequence with present systems, all the sound effects that may potentially be used in that sequence must first be loaded into RAM. This process often requires load times in excess of one hour for lengthy sequences. Pre-loading is customarily required so that sound engineers do not have to plan ahead to load each effect just prior to their utilization of that effect, and to load only the effects needed for the sequence. Additionally, the basic nature of the sound engineering process requires frequent rearrangement of effects, continual reassignment of effects to different portions of a scene, and repeated addition and removal of whole effects to and from a scene. Consequently, an effects system that did not pre-load all effects for a particular scene would simply be impracticable.
The use of RAM in such systems has several inherent problems. First, the substantial quantity of RAM required is very expensive, particularly when compared to the cost of alternative techniques for data storage. The RAM used in professional audio effects systems is high-end static RAM, which is more costly than typical dynamic RAM used in computer systems. In the present market, a gigabyte of such RAM may cost between seven and ten thousand dollars, as compared with approximately two hundred dollars for a gigabyte of hard drive storage. Unfortunately, until the advent of the present invention, these alternative techniques did not allow instantaneous playback of stored data, so use of these less expensive storage devices was not practicable.
Second, the use of volatile memory such as RAM required that all stored sound effects, in their entirety, be reloaded in the event that power to the effects system was interrupted, once again necessitating a lengthy loading process. In response to this limitation, it has become common practice in the industry to never voluntarily shut off such effects systems. Therefore, if power to these systems was ever shut off, it would be quite laborious in many cases to properly reconfigure the systems once power was returned, particularly in light of the many unsaved modifications likely to have been made since the data was last loaded.
Finally, with the ever-increasing demand for higher sampling rates (requiring more data storage space) and the escalating prevalence of sound effects usage in audiovisual works, the aforementioned problems will certainly be compounded in the future, as long as RAM-based effects systems remain the standard.

Audiovisual effects processing method and apparatus for instantaneous storage-based playback of audio data in synchronization with video data


A surface-modified separation membrane of the present invention comprises a separation membrane, and a coating layer formed on the surface of the separation membrane for improving the contamination resistance and chemical resistance of the separation membrane, wherein the coating layer is implemented with a nanoscale thickness of the coating layer in order to inhibit a decrease in permeation flux of the separation membrane before and after coating the coating layer, and comprises: dopamine for providing, to the coating layer, an adsorption force to be bound stably with the separation membrane; and a hydrophilic material which is bound to the dopamine through secondary bonding or cross-linking containing a hydrogen bond in order to inhibit the deterioration of the durability of the coating layer, and provides hydrophilicity to the surface of the separation membrane in order to protect the separation membrane from hydrophobic contaminants. A method for modifying the surface of a separation membrane of the present invention comprises the steps of: injecting a separation membrane to be surface-modified into a reactor; adding a mixture solution, which is formed by adding a hydrophilic material to a Tris-buffer solution having an adjusted pH range at which dopamine reacts and stirring the same, to the reactor; adding dopamine and an initiator, which induces the cross-linking of the hydrophilic material and dopamine, to the reactor at a predetermined temperature range; and forming a coating layer comprising dopamine and the hydrophilic material on the separation membrane through thermal cross-linking at the predetermined temperature range while injecting oxygen into the reactor.

In membranes used for water treatment, membrane fouling occurs as membranes are used for a long period of time, and there occur problems in a decrease in water permeation flow rate due to membrane fouling and safety due to a long-term operation. Moreover, these problems also cause an increase in overall operation costs of the membrane.
Accordingly, various methods are used in order to reduce membrane fouling. Examples of a representative method for reducing membrane fouling include a surface-coating method of a hydrophilic material and a chemical grafting method.
The surface-coating method of the hydrophilic material has an advantage in that the membrane has excellent fouling resistance during the initial period of operation, but has a disadvantage in that there occurs a phenomenon in which a coating layer is peeled off from the membrane during a long-period operation or when the membrane is chemically cleaned for the continuous use of the membrane.
Further, the chemical grafting method has an advantage in that the method has excellent long-period stability compared to the surface coating method of a hydrophilic material, but has a disadvantage in that reaction conditions are stringent and it is difficult to obtain a large area.
Accordingly, it may be considered to develop a technology of modifying the surface of a membrane, which may overcome the disadvantages present in the methods in the related art and improve performance of the membrane.

Surface-modified separation membrane and method for modifying surface of separation membrane


In general, apparatuses or machines for compacting the shoulders of roads include a plurality of wheels in side by side relationship, which are merely rolled over the gravel shoulder of a road. Such machines rely on the weight of the wheels to effect compacting. An apparatus for effecting more efficient compacting includes a frame for connection to a towing vehicle, a fixed arm extending rearwardly from the frame, a pivot arm pivotally connected to the fixed arm for limited rotation around an axis perpendicular to the direction of travel of the apparatus, crossbars pivotally connected to the pivot arm for limited rotation around an axis parallel to the direction of travel of the apparatus, a plurality of vertical arms connected to the crossbars and extending downwardly therefrom for pivotally supporting axles for rotation around axles perpendicular to the direction of travel, and a wheel mounted on the outer end of each axle, whereby the wheels are caused to wobble as they are drawn over a gravel shoulder to effect efficient compacting of the gravel.

This invention relates to a roadworking apparatus, and in particular to an apparatus for compacting gravel roads and the shoulders thereof.
It is know to use a plurality of pneumatic tires in side-by-side relationship for compacting road shoulders. Examples of machines for effecting compacting in this manner are disclosed by, for example U.S. Pat. No. 3,146,686, which issued to W. E. Grace et al on Sept. 1, 1964; U.S. Pat. No. 3,291,013, which issued to L. J. Stolp on Dec. 13, 1966 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,993,413, which issued to R. N. Cox et al on Nov. 26, 1976.
While the machines disclosed by these patents are more or less effective, a problem common to machines of the patented type is that of wheel motion, i.e. insufficient vibratory motion is imparted to the wheels to effect efficient compacting. It has been found that wobbling of the wheels improves the compacting action of the machine.


A grip a no goes in a subterranean tool to properly position grip members held radially outward with a cone on delivery of an uphole force. In the case of a subsurface safety valve that has a flow tube the slips are wedged into the flow tube when the grip tool lands on the no go in the subsurface safety valve and is jarred up. Jarring up using spang jars and weight bars can be repeatedly accomplished without releasing the grip tool from the flow tube. Jarring down unsupports the slips to allow them to retract while one or more springs can be used to prevent a re-grip of the flow tube. The grip tool can now be pulled out of the hole with the flow tube broken loose from accumulated debris for subsequent normal operation of the flow tube with the control system for the subsurface safety valve.

Subterranean tools tend to remain in a single position for an extended period of time. During that interval debris in the borehole or debris that comes from the formation into the borehole can get between moving parts and in effect seize them together to the point that the actuation components designed to normally relatively move such components are incapable of budging the stuck component.
One example of this is a subsurface safety valve that has a flapper operated by a flow tube that is in turn moved down with a piston moved by pressure in a control line running to the surface. Movement of the flow tube in the downhole direction rotates the flapper 90 degrees so that the flow tube can be moved down and cover over the flapper. In this position the safety valve is open. It can stay in this position for months or years. Some operators exercise such valves periodically to try to prevent seizing by exercising the flow tube before too much debris accumulates. Such tools do not involve jars but the objective is to move a flow tube in opposed directions before there is significant debris buildup. Such tools are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,347,268 and 7,347,269.
Other tools used to lock subsurface safety valves open generally combine weights and spang jars to jar down to move either a flow tube or adjacent sleeve into a position where the flapper cannot close. These designs are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,991,040.
Tools that grip a stuck component for jarring up generally have a feature for automatic tool release with the first jarring action to enable removal of the anchor tool and jars. This is illustrated with shear pin 7 in the context of a tool that deforms the flow tube in the down position and locks that position as described in column 5 of U.S. Pat. No. 4,574,889. Other tools lock open a subsurface safety valve by jarring up a sleeve under the flow tube in a single motion as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 7,717,185.
What is needed and provided by the present invention is a grip tool that can be jarred up repeatedly without release and subsequently released to pull out of the hole while held in a position to prevent getting another grip. These and other aspects of the present invention can be more fully understood with the aid of the detailed description of the preferred embodiment and the associated drawings while recognizing that the full scope of the invention is to be determined from the appended claims.

Non-releasing anchor tool when jarring up on a stuck subterranean tool component