Pigment flakes having cores preferably composed of resins, polymers, thermoplastics, and/or thermosets with colorant (pigment and/or dyes) deposited thereon, coating applications thereof, and a method for making pigment flakes which includes providing a core material, compounding the core material, processing the core material into uniform forms such as films, wires, thread with rectangular cross sections and bead strings, providing colorant material, vaporizing the colorant material, exposing a surface of core material to the vaporized colorant material to form a layer of colorant on thereon, and fracturing the resultant colorant layered core material into flakes.

The present invention relates to the field of pigmented coating materials. In particular, the present invention relates to pigment flakes having brilliant and highly reflective optical characteristics, to coating applications thereof, and to a method of making the pigment flakes using vapor deposition techniques to deposit a thin layer of colorant directly on a core material which is subsequently fractured to form discrete flakes.
Colorants are well known classes of chemicals which are used to color or modify the hue of a substrate. Various forms of colorants have been used throughout human history. The term colorant includes, but is not limited to, organic and inorganic pigments, dyes, and combinations thereof. Metals are considered inorganic pigments; however, pure metals and alloys are frequently considered separately. The Colour Index International: Fourth Edition Online (Colour Index) is an internationally recognized registry of colorants, and is published jointly by the British-based Society of Dyers and Colourists and the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists. The Colour Index is found online at www.colour-index.org, and includes 800 color index classifications and a listing of thousands of pigment and dye products. The listings include chemical properties and manufacturers.
The fundamental difference between pigments and dyes is that dyes are soluble in the application medium while pigments are insoluble. Colorants, in general, are divided into appropriate hue groups, which include yellow, orange, red, violet, blue, green, brown and black in that order, additionally pigments further include the hue groups white and metals. Objects are colored if they selectively absorb and reflect incident light. Pure white reflects all light uniformly and pure black reflects no light. Pigments retain a crystal or particulate structure throughout the coloration process. Furthermore, pigments alter appearance by selective absorption and/or by scattering of light. Pigments are usually dispersed in vehicles or substrates for application, as for instance in the manufacture of inks, paints, plastics, or other polymeric materials. Dyes, on the other hand, are soluble, and the crystal structure of the chemical substance is typically destroyed, at least temporarily.
Pigmented coatings and pigment powders are well known. Pigment powders are composed of very small particles or flakes of organic or inorganic pigment. Particle shape is important in some applications. Needlelike particles apparently improve brushability and enhance adhesion, while platelike particles physically block out light and moisture thereby offering corrosion protection. A variety of particulate shapes are known, including needlelike, rodlike, spherical, cubic, small platelet and large platelet. Combinations of shapes may be present in single batches of pigment. Particle size is also an important consideration that influences the color strength, gloss, rheology, opacity and light fastness of pigment applications.
Pigmented coatings typically involve suspending a small amount of pigment powder in water or a volatile substance, applying the suspension to a substrate, and allowing the liquid in the suspension to evaporate thus covering the substrate with particles of pigment. U.S. Pat. No. 3,713,870 discloses a coating method for depositing metallic flakes on the surface of an object; the method involves suspending very thin, relatively small flakes in a volatile liquid, coating an object with the resulting suspension, and allowing the volatile liquid to evaporate resulting in the object having a thin, metallic coating held in place by intermolecular attraction. U.S. Pat. No. 4,003,872 describes a process whereby small flakes of metal and plastic particles are polished together to form a polished metal flake pigmented plastic powder product; upon application to a substrate, the plastic powder product is melted to form a smooth uniform film coating. Nearly all coatings require flakes of organic or inorganic pigment to provide the desired optical effect.
Generally, the amount of reflection a surface presents is directly proportional to the smoothness and regularity of the surface on the molecular level. Densely packed molecular surfaces, which are relatively unbroken having few apertures, breaks, depressions or prominences, are highly reflective. Light hitting a smooth and regular molecular surface reflects off the surface at highly uniform, discrete angles resulting in a brilliant and lustrous appearance analogous to smooth polished metals or mirrors. Light striking an irregular molecular surface is reflected at odd, nonuniform angles resulting in a dull appearance.
Most affordable pigments naturally have irregular shapes resulting in a dull, lusterless appearance. For example, the natural state of aluminum, an ingot, has a dull light-gray appearance. The molecules of aluminum naturally clump together in irregular patterns. A microscopic view would reveal jagged surfaces with crevices and protrusions. When aluminum is ground up and dispersed into a coating medium such as water or other solvent, and applied utilizing any conventional coating, printing or other technique, the resulting appearance is dull and gray. The natural states of nonmetallic inorganic and organic pigments are comparable. The appearances of other pigments in coating and printing applications having similar irregular shapes are the same. Carbon black, for example, has an irregular lumpy shape at the molecular level and a dull black appearance. When nonmetallic inorganic or organic pigments are fractured and utilized in coating, printing or other applications, the result is a flat nonreflective coloring.
Many techniques are utilized to improve the smoothness, gloss and brilliance of coatings containing pigmented powder. The first consideration is the smoothness and regularity of the article to be coated. Providing an initially smooth and regular surface is the first step in achieving a reflective, glossy coat. Other techniques involve grinding the pigment into very fine particles, integrating the particles into a coating composition, cross-linking the coating through energy infusion, and doctoring, calendering or embossing after the coating has been applied to the substrate. Additionally, extreme precision in the placement of pigment flakes in coating or printing applications may be used to assure that the pigment flakes present a smooth face so that the angles of reflection of the separate flakes are predominantly uniform. These techniques may be quite expensive and time consuming.
Dyes are inherently nonreflective. According to the Dyes and Toxicology Organization, which represents domestic dye manufacturers, dyes are defined as intensely colored or fluorescent organic substances which impart color to a substrate by selective absorption of light. To be reflective, dyes must be added to a reflective medium such as a glossy coating medium or the like.
Numerous methods have been developed to make fine thin flakes of metal for use as pigments. These metallic flakes have the disadvantage of bending, curling or breaking. Malformed metallic flakes have less than desirable optical qualities because they do not present a smooth surface. U.S. Pat. No. 4,321,087 issued to Levine et al. on Mar. 23, 1982 discloses a process for making metallic leafing pigments. The process therein involves a release coating continuously applied to at least one side of a carrier sheet. Metal vapor is condensed onto at least one surface of the release coating forming a thin metal film. The carrier sheet, the release coating and the thin metal film are then passed through a solvent system which releases most of the thin metal film into the solvent. The thin metal film is placed in a non-reactive liquid medium where it is fractured into finer pigment particles by vigorous stirring or ultrasonics The resulting metal flakes are concentrated and formulated into coating and printing compositions.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,753 b issued to Suzuki et al. on Feb. 17, 1998 describes colored metallic pigment flakes and the preparation thereof. The invention involves using a vacuum evaporation apparatus, which may have a vibrating unit, to produce metallic flakes having colored pigment evenly deposited on a metal core. Furthermore, the invention of Suzuki et al. describes a method for coloring polymeric materials en mass by contacting the particles of colored metallic pigment with polymeric material, incorporating the particles into the polymeric material, and utilizing the polymeric material as a coating composition. The colored metallic flakes still may become malformed reducing their reflective quality.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,895,524 issued to Dickson on Apr. 20, 1999 describes a method of making thin film metal particulates for use as paint pigments. The method involves immersing a metallized sheet of fluorinated ethylene propylene first in an aqueous base and then in an aqueous acid to loosen and release the metal. The metals are subsequently dislodged from the fluorinated ethylene propylene with one or more counter rotating cylindrical nylon bristle brushes, or with ultrasonic vibration alone or in combination with the brushes. Thin metal particulates are formed. The metallized sheet of fluorinated ethylene propylene with the proper thickness may be prepared by sputtering the metal onto 2 mil thick fluorinated ethylene propylene sheet stock. Suitable metals include germanium and aluminum. The invention of Dickson is useful only for producing pigment flakes of metals and not for nonmetal colorants.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,116,710 issued to Heikel on Sep. 26, 1978 discloses a method of making metallic particulates suitable for use in coating compositions. The method involves depositing a metal on a substrate by electroless, vapor (including vacuum evaporation), or sputter deposition methods. The metal deposit is subsequently removed from the substrate either by dissolution of the substrate or ultrasonic means to provide a plurality of distinct metal platelets suitable for use as pigment particles. The invention of Heikel cannot be used with nonmetallic colorants regardless of the type. Generally, inventions used to produce metallic platelets, or to metallize substrates, cannot be utilized with nonmetallic colorants.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,697,070 and 3,988,494 issued to McAdow, on Oct. 10, 1972 and Oct. 26, 1976 respectively, describes a metallizing coating composition which is formed by sandwiching a flat polished piece of metal, preferably aluminum, between two layers of insoluble resin. The metallizing coating composition is then broken up to create small planar flakes which are flat and reflect light over a greater area. The resulting metallic pigment powder can be used as a coating powder in a conventional manner. Any colorant used must form a thin sheet with a smooth polished surface; consequently, the invention of McAdow cannot be used with typical nonmetallic colorants.
Lamination is another common method that has been used for some time. Aluminum, for example, can be calendered into a foil which is molecularly smooth and regular. The constant and uniform pressure of the calendering smooths the irregularities found in naturally occurring aluminum producing a smooth reflective surface. The resulting aluminum can subsequently be laminated to an object creating a bright, reflective surface.
Physical and chemical vapor deposition processes are well known. These processes are used to deposit molecules on a substrate. These processes may be used for decorative purposes to deposit a colorant on a substrate. Chemical vapor deposition is not typically used for decorative purposes but is used widely in the microchip industry. Numerous techniques are utilized which deposits molecules via physical vapor deposition. All of these techniques involve forming a vapor of the molecules to be deposited on a substrate. Some methods involve vacuum deposition processes, which rely on lowered pressure to propel the vapor onto the substrate. Vacuum evaporation (also known as vacuum metallizing when metals are involved), sputter deposition, arc vapor deposition, and ion plating are common methods for physical vacuum deposition. All vapor deposition processes have the disadvantage that they coat the substrate, or the exposed part of the substrate, with the evaporated colorant molecules. They are not useful in printing, painting or other applications requiring discrete use of the colorant so applied.
Vacuum metallizing is a common coating technique. Various methods of vacuum metallizing can accomplish even higher degrees of gloss than metallic laminations. The principle behind metallizing is to provide conditions, such as heat and pressure, under which aluminum, or other suitable metals, are vaporized. Nonmetallic organic and inorganic pigments may be vacuum deposited on a substrate via vacuum evaporation. The vapor of metal or other pigment is brought into contact with the surface of an object forming a coating thereon. The result is a very thin, very regular deposit of colorant on the surface of the object. This coating is only a few molecules thick, and has a brilliant and highly reflective surface. The thickness of the coating is readily controlled; however, the initial surface of the object must be sufficiently smooth to allow uniform reflection to achieve optimum results. The thinness of the coating will not fill any crevices or irregularities already present on the surface of the substrate.
Vacuum evaporation, or metallization, is not practical for use directly on paper or other objects having an irregular, rough surface. Paper, for example, must be pre-coated and pre-treated to provide the smooth, regular surface needed for metallization. Metallization of various films, including polyester, is practical, however, the film must be subsequently laminated on paper or paper-board for many artistic uses. Lamination of paper results in added costs and an extra thick layer of film, which is both unnecessary and undesirable.
Sputter deposition can be used with elements, alloys or compounds. The process can be performed in a vacuum or low-pressure gas. It can also be performed under higher atmospheric pressures by using thermalized particles. Sputter deposition is precise enough to make a line or perhaps letters. It has the disadvantage of being expensive and may require a great deal of heat. It is not useful for decorative printing or coating applications.
Arc vapor deposition is a coating method which requires the vaporization of an anode or a cathode. The substrate upon which the vapor is deposited is the opposite vapor source and serves as the cathode or anode. Clearly, this method has the disadvantage of being useful for electrically conductive materials only. This method is similar to electroplating.
Ion plating can be done in a plasma environment where ions are extracted from the plasma and bombarded onto the substrate. Another version of ion plating, referred to as ion beam assisted deposition, is done in a vacuum environment where the ions for bombardment are formed in a separate ion gun. Atomic packing near the surface of the growing film can be densified by concurrent ion bombardment (known as atomic peening) by the ion plating process. This method is not used for decorative purposes as it requires the control of many processing variables, and is typically used to deposit hard coatings of compound materials.
Plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition is a chemical deposition method which reduces the decomposition of a chemical-vapor precursor species that contains the material to be deposited. This method may be used to deposit a single layer of crystals on a substrate. Many elements, alloys, and glassy and compound materials can be deposited in this way. This method is typically used in semi-conductor processing and not for decorative purposes.
Hybrid vacuum deposition processes are frequently used. These processes are when two deposition techniques are used either concurrently or sequentially. The same limits are applicable to the combination of two or more techniques as to each individual technique.
Electroplating is another technique commonly used to coat the surface of an object. Electroplating is the process of coating an object with a metal using an electric current. The plating metal may be transferred to conductive surfaces, typically metals, or to nonconductive surfaces, such as plastics, wood or leather, only after the latter have been rendered conductive by such processes as coating with graphite, conductive lacquer, electroless plate, or a vaporized coating. Obviously, electroplating is unsatisfactory for use on many objects, especially paper or paperboard. Likewise, the cost and added steps involved in electroplating make it undesirable. Furthermore, electroplating may only be used with conductive materials, and is completely useless for coating objects with nonconductive colorants.
Transfer metallization is another technique which involves vacuum metallizing a specially prepared plastic film, laminating the metallized film onto another surface, and then stripping off the unwanted film. This technique reduces the costs of using the paper with the film but increases the manufacturing costs. The manufacturer must add a stripping operation to the process, and must discard, or recycle, the unwanted film in an environmentally sound procedure.
Glazing is another method used to coat objects. U.S. Pat. No. 5,358,669 issued to Demiryont et al., on Oct. 25, 1994, discloses a process for preparing plastic composite glazings which involves depositing a metal film on one surface of a plastic sheet, heating the metal film and plastic sheet to a temperature above the plastic set temperature, and deforming/mixing the plastic sheet and metal to form a plastic matrix having metal particles homogeneously dispersed therein.
Other methods have been developed to integrate metals into polymers for a variety of purposes including forming conductive polymers, and protective magnetic films. U.S. Pat. No. 5,418,056 issued to Noguchi et al. on May 23, 1995 discloses a polymer composite which includes a thermoplastic plastic polymer with a fine grain metal or metal oxide dispersed therein. A method of making the polymer composite is also disclosed. The method involves melting a polymer material, rapidly solidifying the melted polymer to form a thermodynamically non-equilibrated polymer layer, sticking a metal layer to the polymer layer, and relaxing the polymer layer until equilibrium is reached thereby dispersing fine grains (1000 nm or less) of the metal into the polymer. Alternatively, the steps forming a thermodynamically non-equilibrated polymer layer may be carried out by vacuum depositing the polymer on a ground via vacuum evaporation. Metal oxides may be substituted for the metals. The invention of Noguchi et al. may not be utilized with non-metallic pigments, and does not create a shinny metallic pigment but produces a conductive polymer. Similar polymers containing metals do not have the optical qualities desirable for pigment powders or coatings.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singularly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus, a pigment flake solving the aforementioned problems is desired.
The present invention is a method of making pigment flakes having unique qualities. These qualities include highly reflective metallic pigment flakes and unique appearing nonmetallic pigment flakes. The pigment flakes are composed of a core having a colorant deposited evenly on at least one surface thereof, preferably both. The core/colorant combination is subsequently fractured forming pigment flakes which are suitable for use in coating and printing applications.
Colorants used in the present invention are preferably organic or inorganic pigments, dyes, or combinations thereof. The core may be made of any suitable material including natural and synthetic polymers, resin and suitable combinations thereof. The core may be in any suitable form such as a continuous film, thin wires, thicker sheets, ropes, or straws.
The method for making pigment flakes according to the current invention involves providing a core of suitable material and form, depositing a fine layer of colorant molecules on the surface of the core, and fracturing the core/colorant combination to form pigment flakes. The core/colorant combination may be fractured into pigment flakes in the shape of needles, rods, spheres, cubes, small platelets, large platelets, or combinations thereof. The resulting pigment flakes may be substituted for conventional pigment powder and resinated pigments in any coating, printing or similar application. Furthermore, the pigment flakes, of the current invention, may be substituted for conventional pigment powders in any application which utilizes pigment powders provided the physical parameters, such as temperature and solvent, are appropriate.
An object of the invention is to provide pigment flakes which may be integrated into coating materials to yield brilliant, unique and light reflective surfaces. The pigment flakes of the current invention may be used in any manner in which conventional pigments are used. They are suitable for use in liquid dispersions, emulsions, pastes, powder and other forms.
It is another object of the invention to provide pigment flakes which are molecularly smooth and uniform so that light reflects off the surface at highly uniform and discreet angles. To this end, a combination of organic pigments, inorganic pigments and dyes may be used to make a single type of pigment flake having unique characteristics. Likewise, different types of pigment flakes of the current invention may be mixed in a single application to produce unique, aesthetically pleasing, optical qualities.
It is a further object of the invention to provide pigment flakes which can be integrated into coating and printing applications for use on a large variety of surfaces. Such surfaces include, but are not limited to, wood, metal, composites, plastics, paper, and paper-board. These pigment flakes may be used in paints, inks, and in any other medium which utilizes conventional pigments.
Another object of the invention is to eliminate unnecessary waste by reducing the energy and materials needed to coat substrates with a metallic coat. The invention produces less excess materials which must be discarded. Also, since the invention may be utilized directly as a pigment and/or as a binder vehicle in coating and printing applications to form highly reflective and shiny surfaces, far fewer steps are required to create the desired effect. Furthermore, less damage to the pigment flakes occurs because of less handling.
Additionally, the amount of colorant deposited by vapor deposition, and similar methods, is a tiny fraction of the amount used in conventional coatings, laminates, and the like. The cost of pigments often represents a large percentage of the total cost of conventional methods. The present invention is considerably less expensive yet yields similar, or superior, brilliance and light reflectivity. Also, the use of dyes in the pigment flakes of the present invention increases the number of available colors (hues), and broadens the potential optical effects attainable.
An object of the invention is to provide a method for manufacturing pigment flakes continuously with no interruptions except machine maintenance. The pigment flakes can be formulated for particular attributes permitting printing or coating applications to be tailored accordingly. The integration of the present invention into a coating material can be processed in line with the making of the pigment flakes. Alternatively, the making of the flakes can be a complete operation so that the pigment flakes can be sold as a pigment powder for integration into a coating at a later time, or the pigment flakes can be used directly as a pigment resin.
The pigment flakes of the present invention and the method for making the pigment flakes are unique in the field of colorants. The typical prior art which involves coating a polymer with metal then removing the polymer to form sheets of metal, or sandwiching the metal between polymer films, teaches in the opposite direction of the present invention.


Various embodiments are directed to systems and methods for providing a drive signal to a surgical device for treating tissue. A surgical generator may deliver the drive signal according to a first composite load curve. The surgical generator may receive a first tissue measurement indicating a property of the tissue at a first time during the delivery of the drive signal, receive a second tissue measurement indicating the property of the tissue at a second time during the delivery of the drive signal after the first time, and based on the first and second tissue measurements, determine a difference in the property of the tissue between the first time and the second time. When the difference in the property of the tissue exceeds a difference threshold, the generator may deliver the drive signal according to a second composite load curve that is more aggressive than the first composite load curve.

Various embodiments are directed to surgical systems that may be utilized in electrosurgical and/or ultrasonic devices to manage the delivery of energy to tissue to optimize tissue treatment.
Electrosurgical devices for applying electrical energy to tissue in order to treat and/or destroy the tissue are commonly used in surgical procedures. An electrosurgical device may comprise a hand piece and an instrument having a distally-mounted end effector (e.g., one or more electrodes). The end effector can be positioned against the tissue such that electrical current is introduced into the tissue. Electrosurgical devices can be configured for bipolar or monopolar operation. During bipolar operation, current is introduced into and returned from the tissue by active and return electrodes, respectively, of the end effector. During monopolar operation, current is introduced into the tissue by an active electrode of the end effector and returned through a return electrode (e.g., a grounding pad) separately located on a patient's body. Heat generated by the current flow through the tissue may form hemostatic seals within the tissue and/or between tissues and thus may be particularly useful for sealing blood vessels, for example. The end effector of an electrosurgical device may also comprise a cutting member that is movable relative to the tissue and the electrodes to transect the tissue.
Electrical energy applied by an electrosurgical device can be transmitted to the instrument by a generator in communication with the hand piece. The electrical energy may be in the form of radio frequency ("RF") energy. RF energy is a form of electrical energy that may be in the frequency range of 300 kHz to 1 MHz. During its operation, an electrosurgical device can transmit low frequency RF energy through tissue, which causes ionic agitation, or friction, in effect resistive heating, thereby increasing the temperature of the tissue. Because a sharp boundary may be created between the affected tissue and the surrounding tissue, surgeons can operate with a high level of precision and control, without sacrificing un-targeted adjacent tissue. The low operating temperatures of RF energy may be useful for removing, shrinking, or sculpting soft tissue while simultaneously sealing blood vessels. RF energy may work particularly well on connective tissue, which is primarily comprised of collagen and shrinks when contacted by heat.
Ultrasonic surgical devices, such as ultrasonic scalpels, are another type of powered surgical devices used in surgical procedures. Depending upon specific device configurations and operational parameters, ultrasonic surgical devices can provide substantially simultaneous transection of tissue and homeostasis by coagulation, desirably minimizing patient trauma. An ultrasonic surgical device may comprise a hand piece containing an ultrasonic transducer, and an instrument coupled to the ultrasonic transducer having a distally-mounted end effector (e.g., a blade tip) to cut and seal tissue. In some cases, the instrument may be permanently affixed to the hand piece. In other cases, the instrument may be detachable from the hand piece, as in the case of a disposable instrument or an instrument that is interchangeable between different hand pieces. The end effector transmits ultrasonic energy to tissue brought into contact with the end effector to realize cutting and sealing action. Ultrasonic surgical devices of this nature can be configured for open surgical use, laparoscopic, or endoscopic surgical procedures including robotic-assisted procedures.
Ultrasonic energy cuts and coagulates tissue using frictional heating and can be transmitted to the end effector by an ultrasonic generator in communication with the hand piece. Vibrating at high frequencies (e.g., 55,500 times per second), the ultrasonic blade denatures protein in the tissue to form a sticky coagulum. Pressure exerted on tissue by the blade surface collapses blood vessels and allows the coagulum to form a hemostatic seal. A clinician can control the cutting speed and coagulation by the force applied to the tissue by the end effector, the time over which the force is applied and the selected excursion level of the end effector.
Electrosurgical and ultrasonic devices that operate in conjunction with an external generator typically do not carry an on-board power supply. This limits the functionality that can be provided by the devices themselves. For example, in generator-connected surgical devices it is not currently feasible to include components that consume high levels of power such as, for example, motors, powered sensors, microprocessors, etc.


A system for fastening a rail on a substrate includes a base plate, molded into which is a central portion, the width of which is adapted to the width of the rail foot of the rail to be fastened, with at least one fastening element for connecting the base plate to the substrate. The at least one tensioning element is provided for holding down the rail on the base plate. The system provides a fastening system allowing fastening of rails that satisfies modern requirements with the additional benefit of low production costs and simple assembly, while maintaining the basic configuration of the base plate provided and using simple means.

Systems of this type are used in particular to fasten rails on a wooden sleeper in a simple manner. The purpose of the base plate, which is generally made of a steel as a hot-rolled or forged product, is in this case to transmit uniformly onto the sleeper the loads which occur when a railway vehicle travels over the fastening point formed by such a system.
In order to ensure rapid and at the same time particularly simple assembly, the base plates are fastened on a wooden sleeper during assembly conventionally with nails. The rail is also fastened on the base plate generally with nails which are struck through corresponding openings molded in the base plate. The nail head has in this case a portion protruding laterally relative to its shank. When it is struck into the wooden sleeper, the nail head is oriented in such a way that it rests, when fully struck in, on the rail foot and holds down the rail.
Fastening systems of the type described hereinbefore fulfil their purpose in track installations on which trains travel at a comparatively low speed. However, they do not meet the requirements of modern high-speed trains.
A large number of fastening systems which are able reliably to accommodate the dynamic loads occurring in high-speed trains are known. A typical example of a system of this type is offered by the Applicant under the name "System KS". Information about and an installation guide for this system are available from the URL "www.vossloh-fastening-systems.de".
The System KS has a base plate which is made of steel and is also referred to by experts as a "rib plate". The base plate has a central portion which is laterally delimited by a respective rib. The distance between the ribs corresponds in this case to the width of the rail foot of the rail to be fastened. A respective opening, positioned in which is a screw bolt, the threaded portion of which points away from the upper side of the respective rib, is molded into the ribs from the free upper side thereof. In addition, through-openings, through which the screws, which serve as fastening elements, can be screwed into the respective substrate, are molded into the base plate.
In the System KS, the holding forces required in order securely to hold the rail are generated by means of W-shaped tensioning clamps, each of which is mounted on one of the ribs. The loop-shaped central portion of the tensioning clamps is in this case placed around the threaded portion of the screw bolt inserted into the respective rib and braced against the base plate by means of a nut screwed onto the screw bolt. In this case, the spring arms of the tensioning clamp are supported with their free ends on the rail foot and thus resiliently hold down the rail. The resilient holding brought about in this way of the rail has the advantage that the fastening has a defined flexibility. This ensures that the rail is not excessively loaded even under the action of high dynamic forces.


A four-wheel steering system includes a front wheel turning mechanism which turns the front wheels in response to the turning of the steering wheel, a rear wheel turning mechanism which turns the rear wheels in response to the turning of the steering wheel, and a power steering mechanism. The rear wheel turning mechanism changes the rear wheel turning angle ratio, which is the ratio of the rear wheel turning angle to the front wheel turning angle on the basis of predetermined rear wheel turning angle ratio characteristic curve. A selecting switch selects one of a plurality of rear wheel turning angle ratio characteristic curves according to the running condition of the vehicle and causes the rear wheel turning mechanism to change the rear wheel turning angle ratio on the basis of the rear wheel turning angle ratio characteristic curve selected. The assisting force of the power steering mechanism is changed according to the rear wheel turning angle ratio characteristic curve selected by the selecting switch.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a front and rear wheel turning system for a vehicle in which both the front and rear wheels turn in response to the turning of the steering wheel, and more particularly to such a front and rear wheel turning system which is provided with a power steering mechanism for assisting the driver in turning the steering wheel.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As disclosed in, for instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,601,357, there has been known a four-wheel steering system in which both the front and rear wheels turn in response to turning of the steering wheel, the rear wheel turning angle ratio, which is the ratio of the rear wheel turning angle to the front wheel turning angle, being changed on the basis of a predetermined rear wheel turning angle ratio characteristic curve. Generally, the rear wheels turn in the direction opposite to the front wheels (the reverse phase) when the vehicle speed is low, which provides a better heading performance, and turn in the same direction as the front wheels (the same phase) when the vehicle speed is high, which improves the running stability of the vehicle. Further, it has been proposed to prepare a plurality of rear wheel turning angle ratio characteristic curves and select one of them according to the running condition of the vehicle. (See U.S. Pat. No. 4,660,844, for instance.)
Some of such four-wheel steering systems are provided with a power steering mechanism which assists the driver in turning the steering wheel.
In the four-wheel steering system having a power steering mechanism, it is preferred that the power steering mechanism be controlled with relation to the rear wheel turning angle ratio characteristic curve since the rear wheel turning angle ratio characteristic curve can affect the steering characteristics of the steering system.

Front and rear wheel turning system for vehicle


The flow rate of intake air sucked into an internal combustion engine when a throttle valve of the engine is at the idling position is controlled so that the actual rotational speed of the engine becomes equal to a desired value. This desired value of the rotational speed of the engine is adjusted in accordance with the result of a judgement as to whether the actual rotational speed of the engine is increasing or decreasing, and the value of the actual rotational speed of the engine.

The present invention relates to a feedback control method of controlling the rotational speed of an internal combustion engine.
There is known a method of controlling the rotational speed of an internal combustion engine in the idling condition or the decelerating condition, which involves controlling the flow rate of intake air sucked into the engine when the engine is in the idling condition or the decelerating condition, namely, when a throttle valve disposed in an intake passage of the engine is at the idling position. According to this conventional method, the flow rate of intake air is controlled by adjusting the sectional area of a flow passage or the opening time period of a flow passage, by means of a control valve disposed in a bypass passage which communicates the intake passage at a position located upstream of the throttle valve to the intake passage at a position located downstream of the throttle valve.
The control valve is adjusted in accordance with a feedback signal indicating the difference between the detected actual rotational speed of the engine and a desired rotational speed in the idling conditiion or the decelerating condition. This feedback control operation of the flow rate of intake air is carried out not only in the idling condition or the decelerating condition of the engine but, also, in the ordinary driving condition of the engine.
However, in the above-mentioned conventional method, since the desired valve of the rotational speed of the engine is always maintained at a constant value, a satisfactory feedback control operation for controlling the rotational speed of the engine cannot be expected. That is, when the actual rotational speed of the engine is abruptly decreased passing through the desired value of the rotational speed, the rotational speed of the engine overshoots below the desired value to a considerable extent. Particularly, in the case where the desired value of the rotational speed is very low, for example, lower than 700 rpm, an abrupt decrease of the rotational speed passing through the desired value of the rotational speed often causes the engine to stall. On the other hand, when the engine is rotated at or above the rotational speed of the desired value, for example at or above 700 rpm, since the rotational speed of the engine is forcebly controlled to decrease to the desired value, acceleration of the engine cannot be accomplished with good response characteristics, in other words, acceleration feeling of the engine is poor.

Method of controlling the rotational speed of an internal combustion engine


A semiconductor device has a semiconductor substrate and a first metallization stack arranged on the substrate. The substrate has and/or carries a plurality of electronic circuit elements. The first metallization stack has electrically insulating layers and at least one metallization layer. The semiconductor device further has a second metallization stack arranged on the first metallization stack and comprising further electrically insulating layers and an optical waveguide layer. The optical waveguide layer has at least one optical waveguide structure. Furthermore, one of the electrically insulating layers and one of the further electrically insulating layers are in direct contact with each other and form a pair of directly bonded layers.

The present disclosure relates to the field of photonics and photonic chips. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a semiconductor device with photonic and electronic functionality and to a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device with photonic and electronic functionality.
In the field of photonics, there is a trend from long-distance signal transfer via optical fibers towards optical signal processing on-board and/or on-chip. For on-chip processing of optical signals, it may be important to have a dense stack of optical and electrical components, that is a dense stack of components with photonic functionality and electronic functionality, in particular active electronic functionality.
For example CMOS integrated circuit chips may be mounted on a silicon-on-insulator wafer comprising optical waveguides by means of metal pads and bump bonding and/or wire bonding techniques.
However, such approaches may be limited in stack density of optical and electrical components and/or may suffer from parasitic capacitances and resistances. This may also result in a reduced speed of signal transfer.

Semiconductor device with photonic and electronic functionality and method for manufacturing a semiconductor device


A system in accordance with a present invention includes a host device and a fuel cell apparatus with an information storage device. A method of operating a host device in accordance with a present invention includes the step(s) of writing data to, and/or accessing data on, a fuel cell apparatus information storage device.

1. Field of the Inventions
The present inventions are related to fuel cells and, more specifically, to fuel cell fuel cartridges and self-contained fuel cell devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
A wide variety of portable electronic devices have been introduced over the years.
These devices include, but are not limited to, information processing devices such as notebook personal computers ("PCs"), handheld PCs, palmtop PCs and personal digital assistants ("PDAs"), communication devices such as mobile telephones, wireless e-mail appliances and electronic books, video games and other toys, and audio and video devices such as compact disk players and video cameras. Other portable electronic devices include portable test systems, portable projectors, and portable televisions such as portable flat panel televisions. Portable electronic devices are quite convenient in that they may be used and enjoyed without being connected to an electrical outlet.
The conventional source of electrical power for most portable electronic devices has been, and continues to be, batteries. More recently, the use of fuel cells has been proposed because, as compared to batteries, fuel cells tend to have higher energy densities. Fuel cells are also typically able to maintain a specific power output (so long as fuel is continuously supplied) and are not hampered by a charge/discharge cycle.
The inventors herein have determined that conventional fuel cells, especially those used in conjunction with electronic devices, are susceptible to improvement. More specifically, the inventors herein have determined that it would be desirable to provide fuel cell fuel cartridges and self-contained fuel cell devices (collectively referred to herein as "fuel cell apparatus") that are capable of functions in addition to power generation and fuel storage.

Systems including replaceable fuel cell apparatus and methods of using replaceable fuel cell apparatus

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A method and system for delivery and presentation of a message on a communication device. A detection of a connection of a call made by a communication device is detected at the communication device. A further detection that the communication device is operating in a pre-defined mode of operation is performed, a message accessibly stored in memory is accessed, and display or other presentation of the message is initiated on an interface such as a display screen of the communication device. The call connection status is monitored, and the message is presented at least while the call is connected and the device is operating in the pre-defined mode of operation.

With the proliferation of communication devices, communication providers are constantly looking for new ways and mediums to communicate their messages to a large number of users. It is also desirable for communication providers to find ways of communicating their messages such as to capture the attention of device users. Especially given the relatively widespread usage of handheld wireless devices, communication providers would be desirous of providing messages directed to such users.

System and method for delivery and presentation of messages in dependence upon the mode of operation of the communication device


Drilling tools, such as drill bits, having a shank, a crown, and a plurality of abrasive cutting elements. In the case of impregnated drilling tools, the abrasive cutting elements are dispersed throughout at least a portion of the crown. In the case of surface-set drilling tools, the abrasive cutting media is secured to and projects from a cutting face of the crown. The matrix of the crown of the drilling tools includes a carbide-forming alloy that forms a direct carbide bond with at least one cutting element of the plurality of abrasive cutting elements.

In an effort to increase drill bit life, coatings have been applied to the abrasive cutting media (e.g., diamonds) within drill bits. The diamond industry conventionally uses CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) or PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) coatings to increase bond strength between the matrix of the bit and the abrasive cutting media (e.g., diamond). Conventionally, the most common coatings are Titanium, Chrome, Silicon, and Nickel. The CVD coatings are chemically applied, causing the metallic or semi-metallic coating to react with the diamond and create a strong carbide coating. Unfortunately, after the CVD coating is exposed to the atmosphere, it often forms an oxide layer on the surface of the coated diamond, limiting and weakening the chemical bonding with the matrix in the infiltration/sintering process. The PVD coatings do not form a carbide bond with the diamond; they only have a mechanical bond with the diamond, which is much weaker. In addition, similar to the CVD coatings, when the PVD coatings are exposed to the atmosphere, they can form an oxide layer on the surface of the coated diamond before forming a bond to the matrix/diamond, preventing a good bond to the matrix. Further, the CVD and PVD coatings are limited by the size of the diamonds; if the diamond is too small, the coatings cannot be applied effectively.
Multi-layered coatings have also been used. To apply such coatings, a carbide layer is formed using a CVD coating process, and then another layer is added to create a stronger bond between the carbide and the matrix. This creates a stronger coating, but the process is not economical due to the multi-step nature of the process and the expensive materials needed for the additional layers. For example, formation of multi-layered coatings in a CVD coating process conventionally requires multiple heating operations. In addition, the outermost (additional) layer will still form an oxide, thereby limiting the bond strength. Additionally, the smaller the diamonds within the drill bits, the more expensive and/or difficult to apply the multi-layer coatings become.
Thus, there is a need for less costly drill bits that have increased penetration rates and are more resistant to breaking down, thereby decreasing the amount of required rod tripping (due to the longer life of the bits) and increasing the amount of core per shift (due to increased penetration rates).

Drilling tools having matrices with carbide-forming alloys, and methods of making and using same


A method for producing gradient gel medium membrane for electrophoresis for determining the base sequence of DNA or DNA partially decomposed material providing an improved productivity. High and low concentration monomer solutions are mixed with a predetermined quantity of polymerizing reaction initiator solution by a static mixer to prepare a gel forming solution for coating on a continuously moving web. The flow-rate ratio of the high and low concentration monomer solutions is gradually changed so as to vary the concentration of the monomer in the gel forming solution alternatively from low to high and from high to low along the web.

The present invention relates to a method for producing gradient gel medium membrane for electrophoresis for determining the base sequence of DNA or DNA partially decomposed material.
Conventionally, in a plane electrophoretic method, high-molecular concentration radient el of acrylamide having no self-supporting property has been obtained by forming gel in layers having concentrations different from each other and stacked on one support or between two supports in the electrophoretic direction. Such a gel has been used as a membranous material.
In the method in which gel is formed on a support, however, there has been a disadvantage in that the gel can sometimes be damaged by dropping a material other than a sample onto the gel while the gel is being formed on the support, when the gel is set in an electrophoretic tank, when the gel is in a state of preservation, or when the gel is being added with a sample to be analyzed. Therefore, close attention and a high level of skill are required in operation.
On the other hand, in a vertical electrophoretic method in which gel is formed in a mold formed by two glass plates or the like, and electrophoretic analysis is performed while holding the mold vertically, there has been a disadvantage in that it is difficult to make the mold uniform in thickness and a high level of skill is required in operation to pour a gel forming solution into a narrow mold before the gel forming solution has gelled.
Particularly, in an operation for determining the base sequence of DNA, it is desirable to form an elongated sheet of gel so that pieces of DNA, as many as possible in number, can be analyzed using one sheet of gel. However, production and handling of such an elongated sheet of gel has proved difficult. Further, since glass plates are used, there has been a disadvantage in that the glass plates are apt to break.
Recently, for the purpose of industrially producing a gradient gel material for electrophoresis, there has been disclosed a method for producing gradient gel including steps of: preparing an aqueous solution or a water dispersion liquid of a mixture of acrylic amide monomers and a cross-linking agent, adding a free radical generating material for initiating polymerization of the monomers by absorption of light irradiated on the solution, forming the solution into the shape of desired gel product, and adjusting the time period of light irradiation on the monomer solution so as to change the porosity of the gel while the solution is being irradiated so as to cause polymerization and cross-linking in the monomer solution or the monomer dispersing liquid. (See European Patent No. 0169397A).
Further, there has been disclosed a method for producing gradient gel for electrophoresis having a concentration gradient of a polymer in the electrophoresis direction and including steps of: supplying two kinds of aqueous solutions different in concentration from each other and each containing monomers, a cross-linking agent and a polymerization initiator into a forming device while mixing the aqueous solutions with a mixing ratio therebetween being changed gradually, and completing polymerization of the monomers with the cross-linking agent in the forming device. (See Japanese Patent Publications Nos. 61-022903 and 61-39617).
The former method, however has problems in that the cost is high due to the need for light irradiation equipment and generally low productivity, the resolution is low because of an increased thickness of the gel, and it is impossible to obtain gradient el having good stability and reproducibility because the reaction initiator causes polymerizing and cross-linking reactions in the presence of light even after completion of prosecution. The latter method, on the other hand, has problems in that the productivity is poor because of its batch type production system, and it is difficult to uniformly branch a medium liquid for electrophoretic separation when it is poured into forming devices, making it impossible to obtain gradient gel with good reproducibility.
To produce gradient gel medium membrane for electrophoresis with a high productivity and good reproducibility and to solve the foregoing problems, the present applicant has proposed a method for producing gradient gel medium membrane for electrophoresis including steps of: mixing high and low concentration monomer solutions supplied at respective flow rates, the ratio of which is continuously changed, with a predetermined quantity of polymerizing reaction initiator solution with a static mixer to thereby prepare a gel forming solution for use in electrophoresis, and coating a continuously moving web with the gel forming solution for electrophoresis.
In this proposed method, however, the flow-rate ratio of the high and low concentration monomer solutions is changed so that the concentration gradient changes from low to high every product unit length as shown in FIG. 3A, and therefore the distance t at the changeover length for every product unit length has been exceedingly long, that is, t=1.0 m for l=0.4 m.

Method of producing gradient gel medium membrane for electrophoresis


A video printer according to the present invention comprises a video processor, a printer processor, a display circuit and a control circuit. The display circuit comprises an encoder for encoding a print control signal, a bar displaying memory for generating a print processing display bar signal, a converter for converting the output of the bar display memory into an analog signal, a timing pulse generator for generating an RGB enable switching signal and bar display enable signal and a switching circuit for output of a print processing display signal to produce a flashing indication of a corresponding mode. A print processing display method is also described for storing a horizontal bar and characters, generating a printing status signal, displaying on a monitor the stored horizontal bar and characters according to the printing status signal, and flashing a corresponding function section of the bar in accordance with the current status of the print processing.

Referring to FIG. 1, in a conventional video printer, a composite video signal CVS is fed to a Y/C separator B1 and is separated into luminance and color signals Y and C. A switch B2 selects between the separated Y/C signal and a superimposed video signal SVS. The Y/C signal selected by switch B2 is converted into color difference signals R-Y, B-Y and Y by a decoder B3. When a memory B6 is selected by a user using a switch B4, the color difference signals are stored in memory B6 via a line L2. During read out, the color difference signals stored in memory B6 are input to a switch B7 via a line L3. When memory B6 is not selected by the operator using switch B4, the color difference signals are directly input to switch B7 via a line L1. A decoder B8 connected to the output of switch B7 separates the color difference signals into R, G and B signals The R, G, and B signals are input to an encoder B9 and a switch B13.
Switch B13 sequentially selects the input signals according to a R, G, B printing sequence. The selected signals are converted to digital video signals by an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter B12 for storage in a line memory B14. The data stored in line memory B14 is pulse-width-converted by a thermal print head (TPH) controller B15, and the data operates a TPH B16 which performs a color printing. Yellow, magenta and cyan (Y, M, and C) colors are sequentially printed during the color image printing operation.
Meanwhile, the signals fed to encoder B9 are converted into a composite video signal. In response to the output of a monostable multivibrator B11, a switch B10 selects the output from line L4 in a no-printing portion and a video signal having a pedestal level in a printing portion so that a picture has the no-printing portion and printing portion on a monitor connected to an output terminal VSO.
A black bar is produced in the printing portion from left to right, or from right to left, so as to indicate how much of the printing has been carried out.
In the conventional video printer, during a yellow printing, the printer processing status is indicated by the black bar on the screen, while the whole picture to be printed is displayed on the remaining part of the screen. However, magenta and cyan are also printed and displayed in the same way. Therefore, it is impossible to know which color is currently being printed.
Furthermore, during printing, if the user switches the display of the monitor to view another video image, it is also impossible to know how much of the printing has been performed.

Video printer and print processing display method therefor including a displayed print status bar


An output control system incorporated in a vehicle including a clutch device which shifts a drive system from a no-load state to a connected state, comprises an upper limit setting section which sets an upper limit value of an output of the drive source while the output control system is performing a starting control; and a state determiner section which determines a state of the drive system while the output control system is performing a starting control, the upper limit setting section sets the upper limit value to a first upper limit value, while the state determiner section is determining that the drive system is in the no-load state, and the upper limit setting section sets the upper limit value to a second upper limit value larger than the first upper limit value, when the state determiner section determines that the connected state of the drive system is initiated.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an output control system incorporated in a vehicle including a clutch device which connects and cuts off a driving power transmission path provided between a drive source and a drive wheel.
Description of the Related Art
A control system disclosed in JP2013-002383A sets a target engine speed to a first target value while a clutch is disengaged before a vehicle is started. At a time point when the clutch begins to slip, the control system sets the target engine speed to a second target value smaller than the first target value.
When the second target value is smaller than the first target value, there is a possibility that the engine speed is decreased excessively just after the clutch has begun to slip, depending on a traveling situation, for example, in a case where an engine inertia is low, a case where a resistance applied from a ground surface is high, or a case where a reduction gear ratio is high.
In view of the above-described circumstances, an object of the present invention is to suppress a decrease in a rotational speed of a drive source which occurs just after a clutch has begun to slip, while a vehicle is started.


A desk-top cutting machine generally comprises a base, a turntable mounted on a base to be rotatable, a work support fence mounted to the turntable for guiding a workpiece to be cut, a cutter disposed swingably with respect to the workpiece put on the turntable, and a turntable positioning device for positioning the turntable to a predetermined position for a workpiece cutting operation. The turntable positioning device comprises a lock mechanism secured to a side end of the turntable and adapted to be engageable with the base, a positioning engaging assembly disposed on one of the turntable and the base, and an engaging receive member formed on the other of the turntable and the base to be engageable with the positioning engaging assembly. The positioning engaging assembly comprises an engaging base member secured to one of the turntable and the base to be detachable and adjustable in position, a spring member disposed in association with the engaging base member, and engaging member engaged with the engaging receive member by an urging force of the elastic member.

This invention relates to a device for positioning a turntable of a desk-top cutting machine, and more particularly, to the positioning device of the cutting machine having a cutter mounted rotatably on to a base through a work support fence to be vertically swingable towards a workpiece to be cut disposed on the turntable.
One typical example of a desk-top cutting machine having a turntable positioning device of prior art is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Utility Model Laid-open (KOKAI) Publication No. 63-16921 (16921/1988) as briefly shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.
Referring to FIG. 8, a turntable positioning device of the prior art has a structure such that a steel ball 103 as an engaging member is inserted into a recessed portion 101 formed in a lower surface of a turntable 100 through a spring 102 also accommodated in the recessed portion 101. The steel ball 103 is urged against an upper surface of a base 104 by the urging force of the spring 102 and is engaged with a recessed portion 105 formed on an upper surface of the base 104. Otherwise, as shown in FIG. 9, the spring 102 and the steel ball 103 are accommodated in the recessed portion 101 formed in the base 104 and the steel ball 103 is also engaged with the recessed portion 105 formed on the lower surface of the turntable 100.
In the cases shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, when a workpiece mounted on the turntable 100 through a work support fence 106 is cut with a certain cutting angle, the turntable 100 is rotated. In a case where the work support fence 106 and a circular saw, not shown, are positioned with a suitable angle, the steel ball 103 comes into engagement with the recessed portion 105 formed on the base 104, thus angularly positioning the turntable of the cutting machine.
In such a state, when it is required to cut the workpiece with a certain angle, it is necessary to finely adjust the rotating position of the turntable 100. Namely, it is necessary to adjust either the work support fence 106 or the turntable positioning device.
However, in the prior art structure, the turntable positioning device is constructed as an integral structure with the turntable or base, so that it is difficult or impossible to adjust the positioning device itself. Accordingly, it is necessary to adjust the turntable positioning device by disposing or forming the work support fence independently of the turntable.
The independent formation of the turntable and the work support fence makes complicated the structure of the attaching portions thereof as well as the working thereof. Furthermore, there involves a problem of accidentally moving the work support fence during an actual working resulting in the degradation of a working performance.

Turntable positioning device of desk type cutting machine


A handheld kitchen appliance assembly including a drive unit having a housing, a rechargeable battery disposed within the housing, and a motor disposed within the housing and powered by the battery. The handheld appliance assembly also includes a tool having an attachment portion for releasably connecting the tool to the drive unit. The tool is selectively driven by the drive unit when the tool is connected to the drive unit. A charging unit includes a cavity sized and shaped to receive a portion of the drive unit. The charging unit includes a power supply and is configured to send a charging current to the battery of the drive unit to recharge the battery when the drive unit is received within the cavity. A cradle includes an opening sized and shaped to support the tool when the tool is disconnected from the drive unit. The cradle includes a linkage that is engagable with the charging unit for selectively connecting the cradle to the charging unit.

Handheld kitchen appliances, such as blenders, slicing knifes, cork screws, and can openers have evolved from a purely manual operation, with no assistance from a motor, to an automatic operation with the assistance of a motor. Initially, the motors of these appliances were powered by AC power and required a power cord. However, in recent years many kitchen appliances have been redesigned to be battery operated. Both types of motor operated appliances help automatic kitchen tasks and require less effort by the user. However, the size of the kitchen appliances has increased due to the motor and additional parts. Therefore, these appliances require more space in cabinets or on kitchen counters. Additionally, although the battery operated appliances provide a benefit of being coreless, they require that the batteries be recharged or replaced. This may also require individual charging stations for each appliance, which again requires additional storage space.


A recuperative steam cooled gas turbine in which steam used to cool the turbine section is subsequently introduced into the combustors, thereby recuperating the heat absorbed by the steam during cooling. The steam is generated in a heat recovery steam generator and then directed to a manifold within the turbine shell. From the manifold, the steam flows through passages formed within the interior of the vane by a baffle, thereby cooling the vane and heating the steam. The steam is then discharged from the vane into a chamber that collects the compressed air from the compressor. In the chamber, the heated steam mixes with the compressed air and the air/steam mixture then flows into the combustors, where it serves to reduce NOx generation from the combustors and increase power output from the turbine.

The present invention relates to a cooling system for a gas turbine. More specifically, the present invention relates to a recuperative cooling system in which steam used to cool the turbine section is subsequently directed to the combustor for NOx control and power augmentation.
A gas turbine is comprised of a compressor section that produces compressed air that is subsequently heated by burning fuel in a combustion section. The hot gas from the combustion section is directed to a turbine section where the hot gas is used to drive a rotor shaft to produce power. The combustion section is typically comprised of a shell that forms a chamber that receives compressed air from the compressor section. A plurality of cylindrical combustors are disposed in the chamber and receive the compressed air along with the fuel to be burned. A duct is connected to the aft end of each combustor and serves to direct the hot gas from the combustor to the turbine section.
Unfortunately, the combustion process occurring within the combustors results in the generation of nitrogen oxides ("NOx") in the hot gas. Since NOx is considered an atmospheric pollutant, numerous method have been tried to reduce NOx generation. According to one method, steam is introduced into the combustor to rapidly quench the combustion process to a temperature below that which promotes high NOx generation rates. In such instances, steam is injected either directly into the combustor or into the chamber in which the combustors are located. The gas/steam mixture produced as a result of the injection then flows through the turbine. Thus, in addition to reducing NOx, the injection of steam increases the mass flow of the working fluid expanded in the turbine and, therefore, the turbine power output. However, additional fuel must be burned in the combustor to raise the temperature of the steam to the desired temperature for the hot gas entering the turbine, which is typically in excess of 1100.degree. C. (2000.degree. F.) and may be as high as 1425.degree. C. (2600.degree. F.) or higher.
Another problem associated with gas turbines is the cooling of the turbine components. The turbine section of a gas turbine typically employs a plurality of stationary vanes circumferentially arranged in rows. Since such vanes are exposed to the hot gas discharging from the combustion section, cooling of these vanes is of utmost importance. Traditionally, cooling was accomplished by using compressed air bled from the chamber in which the combustors are located as cooling air. The cooling air was directed through a cavity formed in the airfoil portion of the vane, which is essentially hollow. Typically, a number of small cooling air passages are formed inside the vane airfoil that extend from the cavity to the surfaces of the vane, such as the leading and trailing edges or the suction and pressure surfaces. Often, such as in the case of leading edge cooling, the passages direct the cooling air from the cavity so that it flows over the surface of the vane in a thin film, thereby cooling the vane in what is often referred to as "film cooling." In any case, after the cooling air exits the vane passages, it enters and mixes with the hot gas flowing through the turbine section.
Unfortunately, the traditional approach to cooling the turbine vanes has a detrimental impact on the thermal efficiency of the gas turbine. Although the cooling air eventually mixes with the hot gas expanding in the turbine, since it bypasses the combustion process the work recovered from the expansion of the compressed cooling air is much less than that recovered from the expansion of the compressed air heated in the combustors. In fact, as a result of losses due to pressure drop and mechanical efficiency, the work recovered from the cooling air is less than that required to compress the air in the compressor. In addition, discharging the cooling air into the hot gas flow results in aerodynamic losses as the cooling air mixes with the hot gas.
One approach suggested in the past has been to avoid bleeding compressed air by using steam generated from exhaust heat to cool the turbine components. After flowing through the vanes, the steam is typically discharged into the hot gas flowing through the turbine, as in the case where compressed air is used as the cooling fluid. Unfortunately, this approach does not result in the optimum recovery of the heat absorbed by the steam in cooling the turbine components.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide an apparatus and method for cooling the stationary vanes in a gas turbine that did not require bleeding air from the compressor and that made optimum use of steam for purposes of NOx control and power augmentation.

Recuperative steam cooled gas turbine method and apparatus


This-layer chromatography is used to separate, identify and quantity hydrophobic protein, hydrophobic protein fragment, hydrophobic modified protein and hydrophobic peptide. A method is thus provided for determination of proteins and peptides which, due to their low solubility in an aqueous solvent system, cannot be determined by conventional methods, such as ELISA, which are based on aqueous solvent systems.

The invention relates to a process for the detection, identification and quantification of hydrophobic proteins, protein fragments and modifications, and of hydrophobic peptides.
The quantification of hydrophobic proteins is not possible or is only inadequately possible using conventionally customary techniques. The customary methods for separation of hydrophilic proteins, such as Western blotting, are often only applicable to hydrophobic proteins to a limited extent, because on the one hand separation on SDS gel is inadequate and on the other hand transfer of the proteins to customary membranes can be described as at most semiquantitative. A separation of slightly modified proteins (e.g., methyl esters) cannot be effected by means of gel electrophoresis. The use of immunological methods, such as ELISA, is very problematical; as a rule this can only be carried out in aqueous systems. Organic solvents may react with material of microtiter plates and render them unusable. The analytes to be quantified are usually present only in traces. Often, straight hydrophobic proteins are additionally associated with other lipophilic substances (e.g., lipids), which makes quantification according to conventional methods impossible. In ELISA, the components are not separated from one another.
The aim of the invention is to provide a process which allows even strongly hydrophobic proteins, protein fragments and modifications and also strongly hydrophobic peptides to be separated, identified and quantified.
A further aim is to make available a process which makes possible the determination and quantification of, for example, proteins which are slightly modified by acetylation or oxidation.
It is a further aim to provide a process which is suitable, in particular, for the determination of hydrophobic host-cell protein impurities (HCP) in the biotechnological production of hydrophobic proteins, such as the extremely hydrophobic lung surfactant protein SP-C.
These aims are achieved by thin-layer chromatographic separation of a protein mixture dissolved in an organic medium and immunological quantification of the separated proteins.
The object of the invention is therefore a process for the separation, identification and quantification of strongly hydrophobic proteins, protein fragments and modifications and also of strongly hydrophobic peptides, which comprises dissolving the samples to be investigated in an organic medium, subjecting them to thin-layer chromatography and rendering the hydrophobic proteins visible immunologically.
It has surprisingly been found that, for the thin-layer chromatographic separation step, procedures and materials known per se which are adapted to the hydrophobic properties of the proteins to be separated lead to the desired result. Appropriate chromatography plates include all plates having a coating suitable for separation of hydrophobic mixtures in organic media. Examples of such plates are those which have chemically-modified silicon layers, such as HPTLC plates named Diol, CN, NH2, RP-2, RP-8 and RP-18. Of these, those which prove particularly suitable are the HPTLC plates marketed by Merck Darmstadt under the trade name Diol, which have a modified silica matrix. For hydrophobic proteins, suitable mobile phases for thin-layer chromatography are organic solvents and solvent mixtures, e.g., of chloroform and methanol. Mixtures of nonpolar and polar solvents are particularly expedient, possible nonpolar solvents, in particular, being chloroform, methylene chloride and toluene, and polar solvents being shortchain alcohols, particularly methanol, ethanol and isopropanol.
Hydrophobic proteins, protein fragments and modifications and hydrophobic peptides refers to proteins, protein fragments and protein modifications and peptides which, without the aid of a detergent, are poorly soluble in aqueous solvent systems, such as membrane proteins. Surfactant protein C is such a hydrophobic protein. By xe2x80x9cstrongly hydrophobicxe2x80x9d is meant proteins, protein fragments and protein modifications or peptides which are essentially insoluble in an aqueous solvent system.
In the process for preparing surfactant protein C, impurities which consist of host cell proteins are encountered. These have a hydrophobicity similar to that of r-SP-C. Protein fragment refers to a protein which forms part of a complete sequence of a naturally occurring or artificial (synthetic) protein. Protein modification refers to a protein which differs by addition, substitution or deletion of one or more amino acids or chemical modifications, like alkylation, acylation, esterification and oxidation (for example, oxidation of thio radicals) of amino acids, as compared to the naturally occurring or artificial protein. Example: r-SP-C disclosed in WO 95/32992 (copending U.S. application Ser. No. 08/750,194 filed Nov. 27, 1996 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,874,406) is a modification of natural (human) SP-C.
The application of the samples to plates and the separation procedure are carried out in a customary manner, for example by means of commercially available automatic equipment.
Primary antibody/immunological method: The detection step in the process can be carried out in different ways. When an immunological detection method is used, it is carried out with the help of an antibody which (preferably specifically) binds the hydrophobic protein. (HP) to be detected. To this end the thin layer chromatography (TLC) plates are incubated with a (primary) antibody having specificity to the hydrophobic protein. This antibody can carry a label, and this label then provides the basis for detection. If this antibody does not carry a label, a second antibody (carrying a label), having specificity to the first antibody, can be used for detection. Such methods for immunological detection of proteins using antibodies are well known in the art and are, for example, applied in ELISA tests and Western. blotting analyses. The kind of (primary) antibody depends on the kind of hydrophobic protein to be detected. The second antibody will be an anti-xe2x80x9cprimary antibodyxe2x80x9d-antibody.
Besides immunological detection, the detection of the hydrophobic protein on a plate is also achieved by way of conventional staining with a suitable reagent. Reagents used for staining of proteins are well known in the art and include, e.g., Coomassie, Ponceau S and silver.
For preparation for immunological detection, the plates are dried after thin-layer chromatographic separation. For the saturation of nonspecific binding sites, the plates are incubated with a suitable blocking solution, e.g. gelatin or protein. The plates are then incubated with the primary antibody. If this does not carry a label, detection can be carried out with the aid of a labeled second antibody. For detection, all commercially available detection processes can be used. After removal of excess first antibody by washing, incubation is carried out with a labeled second antibody. After washing, the labeled antibodies are detected. They are visualized in a customary manner, e.g., by addition of luminol and hydrogen peroxide, for example with the aid of the ECL (enhanced Chemiluminescence) detection process of Amersham Buchler, which is very sensitive. In a purity analysis, with a view to slight chemical modifications, the substances are also detected on TLC plates directly after separation using customary protein staining reagents.
In the following text, the invention is described by example with the aid of a process for the determination of the host-cell protein impurities in a biotechnological process for the preparation of r-SP-C by means of E. coli. r-SP-C refers to recombinant surfactant protein C or modified derivatives of r-SP-C.
The process is advantageously applied in the detection of hydrophobic impurities (hydrophobic host cell proteins) which are encountered in the production of r-SP-C with the host cells, such as E. coli. Such process for production of r-SP-C is, for example, disclosed in WO 95/32992 (copending application Ser. No. 08/750,194, pages 10 to 12), which shows how to obtain the starting material for the following example. The example (step 1) describes the preparation of antigens (HCP antigens) which are used for the generation of the antibodies (primary antibody) against HCP impurities (step 2). Such antibodies are required in the immunological detection step of the subject process when it is desired to detect HCP impurities.

Process for separating and analyzing hydrophobic proteins using thin layer chromatography


A high-speed information collection utilizing a meta-information management unit which manages update information pertaining to documents. An information presentation apparatus, an information collection apparatus, and a client are connected via a network. The information presentation apparatus presents document information stored in a document storage unit to an information collection apparatus. The information presentation apparatus has a meta-information management unit, which generates update information pertaining to individual documents, and a meta-information table which records the update information. When the information collection apparatus makes a collection request to the information presentation apparatus, the meta-information management unit references the meta-information table and generates a list of updated documents from all of the stored documents and/or collection targets, and presents the list to information collection apparatus which subsequently retrieves only the updated documents.

The present invention concerns a meta-information presentation apparatus equipped with an information management function which allows an information collection apparatus to efficiently collect information.
In recent years, a decentralized hypertext system known as the World Wide Web ("WWW") has become popular and has proliferated rapidly. The main, public portion of the WWW is carried by the increasingly popular Internet, but smaller private subsets may be formed in LANs and are called Intranets. The growth of the public WWW has been exponential, such that an enormous amount of information is now presented on the WWW. The WWW comprises a plurality of WWW servers which provide information, and clients (termed "browsers") which are used to access the information. A single WWW server typically manages a plurality of "web pages" joined together by links. A user accesses (or "surfs") information on the WWW using a browser by following the links to different web pages.
A "search engine" is often used to search information in the web pages on the WWW. A search engine effects a search function by using an information collection apparatus, termed a "web robot", which collects information provided by a WWW server and then prepares an index on the collected information.
Typically, a web robot collects web page information by accessing all of the web pages on the WWW (managed by numerous WWW servers) one page at a time by following the links in each page. Because WWW server information is updated daily, a web robot must periodically access each WWW server to gather the information required for a search. Heretofore, information has been collected by accessing all web pages regardless of whether the content of the web page has been updated. In other words, the web robot retrieves each and every page each time it is run regardless of whether it had retrieved the page before.
When a web robot sequentially accesses all the web pages that a WWW server manages, a web robot places a large burden on the WWW server by continuously connecting to and accessing WWW pages on the WWW server. At the same time, the web robot collects a great quantity of information and therefore causes increased network traffic. Additionally, when the server stores a great number of WWW pages, an enormous amount of time is required to cycle through all of the web pages, causing a delay in updating the data used by the search engine. Thus, depending on the search engine, it is impossible to search the most recent information.

Information presentation apparatus with meta-information management function


In one embodiment, a method for measuring a resolution of a charged particle beam includes changing a focus position of the charged particle beam in a height direction, and scanning a dot mark formed on a substrate with the charged particle beam for each focus position, detecting a reflected charged particle reflected from the dot mark for each focus position, calculating a scattered charged particle distribution from a detection result of the reflected charged particle for each height corresponding to the focus position, performing a convolution operation on an approximate expression of a beam waveform of the charged particle beam and a mark shape of the dot mark, the approximate expression including an aperture angle and a resolution of the charged particle beam as parameters, and calculating the aperture angle and the resolution by fitting the scattered charged particle distribution by height and a calculation result of the convolution operation.

The increasing integration of LSIs has led to finer and finer circuit line widths of semiconductor devices. An approach employed to form desired circuit patterns on semiconductor devices uses a step-and-repeat exposure system to reduce and transfer, onto a wafer, a high-precision master pattern (also called a mask, or a reticle particularly when used in a stepper or scanner) formed on a piece of quartz. The high-precision original pattern is written with an electron beam writing apparatus by use of a so-called electron beam lithography technique.
In an electron-beam drawing apparatus, various settings including focusing are performed on the basis of the resolution and the aperture angle of the beam. For example, the beam resolution is calculated on the basis of a predetermined expression from a beam intensity distribution obtained by scanning and applying an electron beam to a dot pattern (metal pattern) on a substrate, measuring reflected electrons, and calculating the beam intensity distribution from the measurement result (for example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2007-188671 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2007-234263).
In order to improve the drawing accuracy of the electron-beam lithography systems, it is required to accurately calculate the resolution and the aperture angle of the beam.

Method for measuring resolution of charged particle beam and charged particle beam drawing apparatus


A petrochemical is produced by the vapor phase reaction of a hydrocarbon with air in the presence of a suitable catalyst. The petrochemical is removed from the reactor effluent, and part or all of the remaining petrochemical-free gas stream is passed through a hydrocarbon-selective adsorbent, which adsorbs hydrocarbon from the gas stream, leaving a hydrocarbon-depleted waste gas. Hydrocarbon is purged from the adsorbent with air, and the air-hydrocarbon mixture is recycled to the partial oxidation reactor. The purge air, and preferably both the purge air and the petrochemical-free gas stream are dried by passage through beds of zeolite 3A prior to being introduced into the hydrocarbon-selective adsorbent, and the beds of zeolite 3A are regenerated by passing heated hydrocarbon-depleted waste gas therethrough.

Certain petrochemicals are produced commercially by the partial oxidation of an appropriate hydrocarbon in the vapor phase over a suitable catalyst and in the presence of an oxygen-containing gas. For example, cyclic anhydrides are produced commercially by the vapor phase catalytic partial oxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons, such as o-xylene or benzene, or straight-chain hydrocarbons, such as n-butane, or butene, in the presence of an oxygen-containing gas, over a vanadium-containing catalyst. Similarly, nitriles, alkylene oxides, aldehydes and halogenated hydrocarbons are produced by the partial oxidation of appropriate alkanes and alkenes in the presence of selected catalysts. Air is generally used as the oxygen-containing gas, because of its low cost and ready availability. The reaction can be carried out in any suitable reactor, such as a fixed bed, fluidized bed, moving bed, trickle bed or transport bed reactor, and it produces the petrochemical, and generally carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2), water, and smaller amounts of other partially oxidized by-products. The reaction equipment train generally consists of a reactor, in which the petrochemical product is produced, a scrubber, in which the petrochemical product is scrubbed from the reactor effluent gases by means of water or other solvent for the petrochemical, and means for further treating the scrubbed effluent gases.
Currently, it is common to practice the above-described process on a single pass basis with the conversion of hydrocarbon to the desired petrochemical product being maximized. This results in a low overall efficiency, since the selectivity to petrochemical product is below the maximum. Consequently, the scrubber effluent gas contains considerable amounts of CO and CO.sub.2, in addition to unreacted hydrocarbon. These products are usually incinerated, so that the only return realized from them is heat value. In many instances the products are flared, so that even the heat value is not realized. In modified processes, a portion of the scrubber effluent gas is recycled, the conversion of the hydrocarbon feedstock is lowered and the selectivity of hydrocarbon conversion to the desired petrochemical product is increased. The remainder of the effluent is purged from the system to prevent the build-up of CO, CO.sub.2 and nitrogen (introduced into the system when air is used as the source of oxygen). These improvements result in a reduced "per pass" conversion, but the overall efficiency of the process is increased.
Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) Patent Application Disclosure 25 44 972 discloses a maleic anhydride manufacturing process in which the reactor feed comprises C.sub.4 hydrocarbons, air, CO and CO.sub.2. In the process of this patent, maleic anhydride is recovered from the reactor effluent gas stream and a portion of the remaining stream is recycled to the reactor. This patent also teaches recovering butane by temperature swing adsorption (TSA) from the non-recycled gas stream and recycling the recovered butane to the reactor. The butane is desorbed from the adsorbent at elevated temperature by fresh air, and the air-butane mixture is recycled to the reactor.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,231,943 discloses the production of maleic anhydride by the reaction of n-butane and air in the presence of a catalyst comprising vanadium and phosphorus oxides. The process of this patent includes the steps of recovering maleic anhydride from the gaseous oxidation reactor effluent, directly recycling a portion of the maleic anhydride-free effluent to the reactor, separating relatively pure n-butane from the remaining gaseous effluent and recycling the relatively pure n-butane to the feed stream.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,987,239 discloses a process for the production of anhydrides by the partial oxidation reaction of a hydrocarbon with an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a suitable catalyst. In the process of this patent, the gaseous effluent from the maleic anhydride product scrubber is compressed and sent to a selective separator, e.g. a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) unit containing a hydrocarbon-selective adsorbent, wherein a substantial proportion of the unreacted hydrocarbon contained in the effluent is recovered, and the unreacted hydrocarbon and a controlled amount of a gaseous flame suppressor is recycled to the partial oxidation reactor.
The above patents do not discuss or make allowance for moisture contained in the gaseous effluent from the partial oxidation product recovery unit and in purge air. Moisture is produced in the partial oxidation reaction; accordingly, the hot gaseous effluent from the reactor contains moisture. As the effluent gas passes through the product scrubber some moisture may be removed due to cooling of the gas stream, if an aqueous solvent is used. When a nonaqueous solvent is used moisture is generally not permitted to condense. In any event, the gas stream leaving the scrubber still contains moisture, and in fact can be saturated with moisture, even if a nonaqueous scrubbing agent is used. Moisture is more strongly adsorbed than hydrocarbons and carbon oxides by conventional adsorbents; accordingly, unless the moisture is removed from the gas stream entering the adsorption units, it will be preferentially adsorbed onto the adsorbent, thereby significantly reducing the capacity of the adsorbent for hydrocarbon adsorption.
The problem of moisture is further aggravated when ambient air is used as a purge gas for regeneration of the beds of adsorbent. Ambient air contains moisture; thus, moisture will replace the hydrocarbon being desorbed from the adsorption beds during the purge step when the beds are purged with the air. This will further reduce the capacity of the adsorbent during the adsorption step of the following cycle. Unless an additional driving force, such as reduced pressures and/or elevated temperatures are employed in the bed regeneration procedure, water will accumulate in the beds and may render the process inoperable.
Because of their industrial importance, recycle partial oxidation processes in which problems such as those noted above are eliminated or minimized are constantly sought. The present invention provides a recycle partial oxidation process which prevents moisture from accumulating in the hydrocarbon-selective adsorbents used in hydrocarbon adsorption-based recycle partial oxidation processes.

Process for the production of petrochemicals


A ventilation system for removing odours from a toilet of the kind having a seat (10) supported on a bowl (114), the seat (10) being ducted such that there are inlet ports (22, 24, 26, 28) located at the inner rim of the seat (10) for receiving the odours and an outlet port (30) at the rear of the seat (10) for transferring the odours out of the ducting (21) in the seat (10) and into piping (18). The piping (18) is connected to an air extractors (20) and, under the suction effect of the air extractor (20), the odours are drawn away from the toilet to a circulating air environment where they can be dissipated. Each of the inlet ports (22, 24, 26, 28) have an inlet duct portion (32) which faces toward the rear of the seat (10) when the seat (10) is laid flat, and downwardly when the seat (10) is upright

The present invention relates to improvements in the ventilation of toilets and, in particular, to a ventilation system that utilizes a ducted toilet seat to draw undesirable odours away from the toilet.
Commonly, the odours left behind after someone has used the toilet cause embarrassment and/or discomfort both to the user and to the person who next uses the toilet.
Toilet deodorisers and extractor fans, whether they be wall mounted or ceiling mounted, go some way to removing or at least disguising the odours. However, because they do not act to remove the odours at the source, namely in the vicinity of the toilet seat, they are sometimes only partly effective or slow in their effect, allowing some residual odours to remain by the time a person next uses the toilet. Clearly, the problem of residual odours is exacerbated the more frequently a toilet is used within any given time.
It is an object of the present invention to address the problem of odours left behind after someone has used the toilet by removing the odours nearer their source than is presently achieved with toilet deodorizers and extractor fans mounted in the perimeter of the room.
According to the invention, there is provided a ventilation system for removing odours from a toilet, said ventilation system comprising:
a seat supported on a bowl,
duct means defined within the seat,
the duct means having at least one inlet port for receiving the odours located at the inside rim of the toilet seat, and having at least one outlet port therefor, the duct means including an initial duct portion at the or each inlet port, the or each initial duct portion facing toward the rear of the seat when the seat is laid flat and the or each initial duct portion facing downwardly when the toilet seat is upright,
an air extractor means located remotely of the seat, and
a sealed pipe means connecting the or each outlet port to the air extractor means,
whereby the air extractor means, when in use, draws the odours away from the toilet through the duct means in the seat.
Preferably, the duct means includes a channel which is defined between the or each initial duct portion and the or each outlet port, the cross-sectional area of space defining the or each inlet port being less than that defining the junction between the or each initial duct portion and channel.
It is preferred that the sealed pipe means is sealably connected to the or each outlet port by a coupling which is insertable into the or each outlet port, the coupling having fitted thereover a removable filter basket for trapping any particulate matter drawn through the duct means.