The duty ratio range of a duty signal DCN transmitted from a high-voltage load controller 12 to a field current controller 103 is divided into several subranges, which are assigned to zones, such as a normal voltage control zone, high-voltage control zone, and power generation stop and failure signal zone. The duty signal of a duty ratio in each zone is transmitted to the field current controller 103 for controlling the power generation mode of a generator 2. When a failure in a high-voltage circuit 16 is detected, the duty signal of a duty ratio in the power generation stop and failure signal zone causes power generation of the generator to stop and a pilot lamp 10 to go on for warning. The pilot lamp 10 is also used to warn the operator to a power generation error of the generator 2.

This invention relates to a failure warning system of an electric power unit in a vehicle.
FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of the prior art showing a conventional failure warning system of an electric power unit in a vehicle. FIG. 5 is a control characteristic chart showing the relationship between the duty ratio of duty signal and control voltage of a generator.
In FIG. 4, an electric power generation unit (ACT) 1 comprises a generator 2 having a stator winding 2a and a field winding 2b, a field current controller 3, and a rectifier 4 for rectifying alternating voltage occurring at the stator winding 2a to DC voltage. A noise prevention capacitor 5 for preventing noise to a radio, etc., is connected to an output terminal A of the rectifier 4.
The field current controller 3 is configured as follows: A transistor 3a has an emitter grounded via a ground line E and a collector connected via a connection line F1 to the field winding 2b for intermittently controlling a field current flowing into the field winding 2b. A free-wheel diode 3b is connected to the field winding 2b in parallel via connection lines F1 and F2 for suppressing surge voltage caused by intermittent field current by the transistor 3a.
A voltage detector 3c detects an output voltage of the rectifier 4 and the detection result is input to a voltage controller 3d. A 1-phase voltage of the generator output winding 2a is input via a connection line P1 to the voltage controller 3d for detecting a voltage of power generated by the generator.
A duty signal DC is input to a duty detector 3e via a terminal C and a connection line C1 from a high-voltage load controller 11 (described below). The duty detector 3e detects the duty signal and outputs a power voltage indication signal to the voltage controller 3d.
A diagnosis section 3f diagnoses integrity of the generator 2, for example, checks to see if an error such as no electric power generation or overvoltage exists. The field current controller 3 also includes a power supply 3g, a power drive 3h, a power on/off transistor 3j, and a transistor 3k brought into conduction when the diagnosis result of the diagnosis section 3f is abnormal for turning on an alarm lamp 10 (described below) via a terminal L. Operation power of the field current controller 3 is supplied from a battery 7 (described below) via an S terminal and a connection line S1.
A change-over switch 6 has a common contact 6c, a normally open contact 6a, a normally closed contact 6b, and an excitation coil 6d. The common contact 6c is connected to an output terminal A of the rectifier 4 via a terminal A and a connection line A1. The normally open contact 6a is connected to an electrically heated catalyst carrier 14 (described below) by a connection line H1 via a terminal H. The normally closed contact 6b is connected to the positive electrode of the battery 7 (described below) via a connection line B1.
The excitation coil 6d is connected between terminals B and D and the terminal D is connected to the high-voltage load controller 11 (described below) via a connection line D1.
A storage battery 7 and a general load 8 of headlights, etc., are connected to the output terminal A of the rectifier 4 via the terminal B of the change-over switch 6, the normally closed contact 6b, and the connection line A1. Vehicle system voltage, normal voltage (in this example, 12 V), is supplied from the generator 2.
A key switch 9 is connected in series with a pilot lamp 10 and is connected to the positive electrode of the battery 7 and a terminal L of the electric power generation unit 1 via a connection line Ig1.
The high-voltage load controller 11 receives information such as the number of revolutions of an engine via a connection line EN1 from an engine controller 12 and instructs the engine controller 12 to turn the engine over a connection line EN2. It also detects the on state of the key switch 9 over a connection line Ig2.
Also, the high-voltage load controller 11 is connected to the terminal D of the change-over switch 6 via the connection line D1 for controlling the excitation coil 6d of the change-over switch 6. Further, it detects terminal voltage of a heater 14a of the electrically heated catalyst carrier (EHC) 14 (described below) via a terminal H and a connection line H2. It also detects temperature of the heater 14a of the EHC 14 by a temperature sensor 14b via a terminal T and a connection line T1. An indicator lamp 13 is connected to a terminal W.
The high-voltage load controller 11 transmits duty signal DC, which is a control signal of periodic pulse, to the field current controller 3 via the terminal C and the connection line C1. The generator 2 is controlled in response to the duty ratio DU of the duty signal DC (this topic will be discussed in detail below):
0.ltoreq.DU<15 [%] normal voltage control zone PA1 15.ltoreq.DU<30 [%] power generation stop zone PA1 30.ltoreq.DU<100 [%] high-voltage control zone
where the duty ratio DU of the duty signal DC is represented as percentage of the pulse width to the pulse period.
The electrically heated catalyst carrier (EHC) 14 has the metallic heater 14a, which also serves as a catalyst carrier, connected between the Normally open contact 6a of the change-over switch 6 and ground via the connection line H1, and high voltage (in this example, about 30 V) is applied. The EHC 14 is provided with the temperature sensor 14b for detecting an arrival point in time to active temperature of a catalyst of the heater 14a (about 400.degree. C.), overheat thereof, etc.
A normal voltage circuit 15 is a circuit containing the battery 7 and the general load 8; normal voltage is applied. A high-voltage circuit 16 is a circuit containing the EHC 14; high voltage is applied.
In the electric power generation unit 1 thus configured, vehicle system voltage of about 12-14 V, normal voltage, is applied to the battery 7, the general load 8, the connection lines D1, B1, S1, IG1, etc. High voltage of about 30-40 V is applied to the heater 14a and connection line H1 of the EHC 14, the contact 6a of the change-over switch 6, etc.
When the generator 2 runs at a normal voltage, normal voltage is applied to the stator winding 2a and field winding 2b of the generator 2, the rectifier 4, the noise prevention capacitor 5, the common contact 6c of the change-over switch 6, the connection lines A1, P1, F1, and F2, the terminal A, etc.; whereas when the generator 2 runs at a high voltage, high voltage is applied thereto.
In operation, first when the ignition switch 9 is turned on and further a starter switch (not shown) is turned on, the engine (not shown) starts turning and at the same time, the generator 2 also starts turning. At the time, the normally closed contact 6b of the change-over switch 6 is connected to the common contact 6c for supplying an initial excitation current from the battery 7 to the field winding 2b of the generator 2.
At the time, duty signal DC, for example, of duty ratio 10% is sent from the high-voltage load controller 11 to the field current controller 3 and the generator 2 starts power generation at the vehicle system voltage 12.8 V, normal voltage. Immediately after it, duty signal DC of duty ratio in the power generation stop zone, for example, duty ratio 20% is sent from the terminal C of the high-voltage load controller 11, causing the generator 2 to change to the power generation stop (no charge) mode.
Further, the excitation coil 6d of the change-over switch 6 is excited via the terminal D by the high-voltage load controller 11 with a given time delay (about one second) and the normally open contact 6a and the common contact 6c are connected for switching the output terminal A of the generator 2 to the EHC 14. After this, with a given time delay (about one second), the high-voltage load controller 11 sends duty signal DC, for example, of duty ratio 75% in a preset high voltage control zone to the field current controller 3 through the terminal C, thereby changing the generator 2 from the no charge mode to the high-voltage power generation mode for controlling the generator voltage to about 30 V in response to the duty ratio 75% through the duty detector 3e and the voltage controller 3d.
The temperature sensor 14b of the EHC 14 detects the timing at which the heater 14a reaches the active temperature of the catalyst and power supply becomes unnecessary. When the power supply to the EHC 14 becomes unnecessary, the high-voltage load controller 11 transmits duty signal DC, for example, of duty ratio 20% for placing the generator 2 in the no charge mode to decrease the output current to the EHC 14 or bring it to almost zero in order to prolong the contact life of the change-over switch 6 and prevent semiconductor devices from being destroyed due to surge voltage generated by load cutoff of the generator 2.
Then, the common contact 6c of the change-over switch 6 is switched to the normally closed contact 6b for connecting the output terminal A of the electric power generation unit 1 to the normal voltage circuit 15 containing the battery 7.
Further, with a given time delay (about one second), the high-voltage load controller 11 sends duty signal DC, for example, of duty ratio 0% to the field current controller 3 for placing the generator 2 in the normal voltage power generation mode to generate power at 14.4 V.
The high-voltage load controller 11 is provided with the terminal H to detect voltage applied to the EHC 14 and a terminal T for the temperature sensor to detect temperature of the heater 14a for detecting an abnormal condition in the high-voltage circuit 16, such as a broken line, short circuit, or overheat of the heater 14a of the EHC 14, over the connection lines H2 and T1. When detecting an abnormal condition, the high-voltage load controller 11 turns on or blinks the indicator lamp 13 connected to the terminal W of the high-voltage load controller 11 for giving a warning of the abnormal condition to the vehicle driver, etc. Further, it uses the diagnosis section 3f for detecting an abnormal condition of power generation of the generator 2, such as no power generation or high voltage of the generator 2 detected over the connection line P1, and turns on or blinks the pilot lamp 10 connected to the terminal L of the field current controller 3 of the electric power generation unit 1 for giving a warning of the abnormal condition to the vehicle driver, etc.
The high-voltage load controller 11 may change the duty ratio of the duty signal DC for controlling the voltage of the generator 2 in response to the duty ratio. For example, it changes the duty ratio of the duty signal DC in the range of 0% to 15% for controlling the normal voltage supplied to the normal voltage circuit 15 in response to the duty ratio. In FIG. 4, it may instruct the field current controller 3 to control the voltage to 14.4 V in the range of 0%-5% and 12.8 V in the range of 5%-15%. Likewise, it can also transmit duty signal DC of duty ratio 30%-100% for controlling the voltage supplied to the high-voltage circuit to 12.8-40 V in response to the duty ratio.
Since the conventional warning system of an electric power unit in a vehicle is thus configured, two lamps of the pilot lamp 10 and the indicator lamp 13 must be provided for failure alarms of the power unit and wiring is required for each of the lamps, leading to high costs and an increase in the installation space.

Failure warning system of electric power unit in vehicle


A particulate matter detecting device includes: an element unit on which particulate matter contained in exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine is deposited; a heater that heats the element unit; a detecting unit that detects the amount of particulate matter on the basis of electrical characteristics of the element unit; and a control unit that controls the operation of the heater. For a predetermined period that does not include a period in which the particulate matter is deposited on the element unit, the control unit operates the heater using a predetermined amount of control set in advance such that the temperature of the element unit is higher than the temperature of the exhaust gas and lower than a predetermined temperature at which the element unit is thermally degraded.

A conventional particulate matter sensor detects particulate matter (hereinafter referred to as "PM") in exhaust gas and thereafter burns the PM accumulated on an element unit of the particulate matter sensor to remove the PM (refer to PTL 1). At this time, the temperature of the element unit of the particulate matter sensor is controlled to be in a predetermined temperature range for burning PM. The particulate matter sensor described in PTL 1 maintains the temperature of the element unit in the predetermined temperature range until the internal combustion engine is stopped after PM is burned and removed. Therefore, the accumulation of PM on the element unit can be reduced after PM is burned and removed. Thus, the next time the internal combustion engine is activated, the particulate matter sensor can start to detect PM without burning PM.


A wind power plant includes a plurality of wind turbine systems arranged in rows and columns and includes a cable support system with at least one cable. The cable is coupled to the support structure above the first wind turbine and below the second wind turbine. The cable couples directly adjacent wind turbine system together. The cable may extend the entire length of at least one row or at least one column. A wind turbine system includes a plurality of wind turbines and a support structure including a tower and support arms. The cable support system that is coupled to the wind turbine system and that is configured to transfer loads on the wind turbine system to other wind turbine systems in the wind power plant.

Wind turbines are used to produce electrical energy using a renewable resource and without combusting a fossil fuel. Generally, a wind turbine converts kinetic wind energy into mechanical energy and then subsequently converts the mechanical energy into electrical energy. Wind turbines are often placed together in large groups, effectively forming wind power plants.
One common type of wind turbine is the upwind horizontal-axis wind turbine (HAWT). A HAWT includes a tower, a nacelle located at the apex of the tower, and a single turbine rotor that is supported by the nacelle. The turbine rotor is at the front of the nacelle and faces into the wind upstream of its supporting tower. The turbine rotor is coupled either directly or indirectly with a generator, which is housed inside the nacelle. The turbine rotor includes a central hub and a plurality of blades (e.g., three blades) mounted thereto and that extend radially therefrom.
The power output from any wind turbine depends on the force of the wind at the wind turbine. Generally, wind direction and velocity correlate strongly with the altitude above the earth. Higher altitudes typically equate to higher wind velocity. For example, doubling the altitude may increase wind speed by 20% to 60%. From another perspective, doubling the altitude may increase power output from a wind turbine by 34%. Thus, wind turbines that operate at higher altitudes produce comparatively more power. Yet, positioning wind turbines at higher altitudes is expensive.
To reach higher altitudes, the tower height is increased. Increasing the tower height requires an increase in the diameter of the tower to avoid buckling of the tower from the expected increase in maximum wind loading. For example, doubling the tower height may necessitate doubling the tower diameter. Doubling the tower height thus increases the amount of material by a factor of at least four. The cost of a taller tower may then be a limiting factor to elevating the wind turbine to a more optimum altitude for energy generation. Thus, there is a tradeoff between all construction costs, including the cost of the tower, and the projected power output. For HAWTs, tower heights approximately two to three times the blade length have been found to balance material costs of the tower and other components against power output.
Wind turbine design also plays a significant role in the power output from the wind at any particular altitude. In addition to the greater power from higher wind velocities, power obtained from the wind is proportional to the sweep area of the wind turbine blades. For HAWTs, sweep area is increased by using long wind turbine blades. The longer the blades, the larger the area that is traced by the blade tips. There are other wind turbine design changes that increase the sweep area.
As an alternative to HAWTs, which include a single turbine rotor, multi-rotor wind turbines incorporate multiple turbine rotors on a single support tower. Multiplying the number of rotors can effectively increase the sweep area. This amounts to simply multiplying the sweep area of one set of blades times the number of rotors (assuming all of the blades are the same length).
There are generally two types of multi-rotor wind turbines. One type is a coplanar multi-rotor wind turbine, and the other is a coaxial wind turbine. In a coplanar multi-rotor wind turbine, multiple turbine rotors are arranged in parallel with the individual wind turbine blades on each turbine rotor rotating in the same plane. This type of wind turbine may also be referred to as an array wind turbine. In a coaxial multi-rotor wind turbine, the turbine rotors are arranged in series on a single axis. That is, the wind drives a leading turbine rotor and then operates a trailing wind rotor.
In view of the multiplication of the sweep area possible with multi-rotor wind turbines, multi-rotor wind turbines offer at least the prospect of achieving much higher capacities per tower compared to single rotor wind turbines. However, multi-rotor wind turbines may also experience similar drawbacks as the HAWTs with regard to tower height. Moreover, the costs of a multi-rotor wind turbine tower may be greater still when the more complex tower system, including the weight and additional supporting equipment of multiple rotors, is taken into consideration.
Accordingly, there is a need for improved wind power plants and wind turbine systems that permit multiple wind turbines to be placed at greater altitudes while minimizing capital costs and without sacrificing the structural stability.

Wind power plants and multi-rotor wind turbine systems


A spinner device is provided for incorporation into a fishing lure whereby the lure is caused to assume a vertical attitude upon failing through water. The spinner has a centered bearing hub and a number of identical blades radially emergent from the hub and terminating in distal extremities. Each blade has a forwardly directed lift angle of between 10 and 25 degrees and a pitch angle of between 10 and 20 degrees. The bearing hub contains a circular cylindrical bore having a length at least 4 times its diameter. The bore is adapted to slidably engage a stiff wire component of a fishing lure. The diameter of the bore is greater than the diameter of the wire by 0.004 to 0.020 inch.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns fishing lures, and more particularly relates to a lure having a spinner device intended for incorporation into a fishing lure to cause the lure to assume a vertical attitude upon falling through water.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,076,005 and 5,201,859 describe fishing lures equipped with spinners that rotate not only when the lure is pulled horizontally through the water, but also rotate in vertical modes of lure movement.
Examples of situations when vertical plane rotations of the spinner blade would be desirable include, but are not limited to, ice fishing, jigging over brush piles and along drop-offs and ledges, as well as during the count-down method of fishing; wherein, the cast lure is allowed to sink for a predetermined period of time to reach a certain depth before the lure is retrieved in the normal manner along a generally horizontal plane.
The spinner component of the aforesaid U.S. Pat. No. 5,201,859 is comprised of a number of flat blades radially emergent from a central axle element and disposed in a coplanar array about said axle element. The spinner component of the aforesaid U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,005 discloses a spinner element having a number of blades radially emergent from a central bearing element, said blades being angled upwardly or forwardly toward the fishing line to which the lure attaches. Although the spinner components of said Patents perform well in most circumstances, better rotation of the spinner is desirable, particularly when the line moves at low velocity in any particular direction.
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an improved spinner component for a vertical retrieve fishing lure.
It is another object of this invention to provide a spinner which will cause a lure to seek and maintain a stable upright disposition when it falls through the water under the influence of gravity alone.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a fishing lure equipped with a spinner of the aforesaid nature.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a spinner of the aforesaid nature of durable construction and amenable to low cost manufacture.
These and other beneficial objects and advantages are accomplished in accordance with the present invention by a spinner device for a fishing lure, said device comprising:
a) a hub containing centered elongated bearing means extending between forward and rearward extremities which have aligned circular apertures, the distance between said extremities being at least four times the diameter of said apertures, and PA1 b) a number of identical blades emergent radially from said bearing means and terminating in a distal extremity, said blades being equidistantly spaced in a circular array, each blade having the same forwardly directed lift angle between 10 and 25 degrees, and the same pitch of between 10 and 20 degrees.
In a preferred embodiment, the blades are concavely curved in the forwardly facing direction. In another preferred embodiment, the distal extremities of the blades are rounded.
The fishing lure of the present invention is comprised of a length of stiff wire whose forward or upper extremity has an eyelet formed therein, and whose rear or lower extremity has retaining means such as a looped snap member. A spinner of the present invention is disposed upon the wire in a manner such that the blades are angled toward the upper extremity of the wire, and the diameter of the apertures of the bearing means is greater than the diameter of the wire by an amount in the range of 0.004-0.020 inch. A weight and attractor means are disposed upon said wire behind said spinner.

Spinner device for vertical retrieve fishing lure


An attache case is secured against unauthorized handling by providing an alarm and at least one sensor capable of sensing at least two conditions relative to the forces on said attache case. One of the conditions constitutes a predetermined safety state and the other of the conditions constitutes a force on the case deviating from said safety state by a predetermined value. The sensor is connected to the alarm by a trigger circuit so that the alarm is inactive during one condition and active during the other condition.

The present invention relates to an alarm system for containers such as attache cases.
Alarm systems for attache cases and the like have been known wherein the alarm is set to be activated when the attache case is snatched from the carrier's hand. Generally this is accomplished by attaching a manually operable switch to the handle of the attache case, which upon its release, triggers the alarm. The alarm system is so designed that it generates a monotone acoustic signal and may also generate intensive smoke and/or fog by means of built in petards. Basically, however, the known systems do not have the ability to monitor the attache case in a rest position wherein the case is set down and not transported and to monitor the condition during the transport so that when its position is changed, it gives an alarm.
The only safety state which is monitored in the prior art systems is respectively that of carrying the attache case by an authorized person or that of the case being in erect position and only deviation from the respective single safety state is evaluated for triggering the alarm. Other safety states for the attache case cannot be constituted selectably as the safety state to be monitored.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a system wherein it is possible to differentiate between at least two states or conditions for the attache case by which deviation from either of the conditions beyond a load safety factor would trigger the alarm. In accordance with the system of the present invention, it is possible to secure an attache case in safe condition practically in any position, and in active state against unauthorized contact, removal, or arrestation.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an alarm system having an acoustic alarm signal unlike those presently known so as to be clearly distinguishable from surrounding environmental noises and having a level modulated in an undulating siren manner.

Method and apparatus for securing attache cases


A servo accelerometer uses a tunnel current sensor having a first sensing electrode coupled in fixed alignment with a frame and a second sensing electrode coupled to a proof mass. A position sensing circuit develops a sensing signal indicative of displacement of the proof mass. A feedback circuit provides an output signal and provides a feedback signal to electrostatic drive electrodes for applying an electrostatic repositioning force to the proof mass. The proof mass and frame are connected by a highly compliant suspension structure.

The Kenny et al article entitled "Electron Tunnel Sensor Technology", presented at the first national conference and exhibition of NASA's technology for transfer in November of 1990, describes a micromachined servo accelerometer that utilizes a tunnel current sensor. The accelerometer is micromachined from silicon and includes a cantilever spring with an integral tip. A gold film is deposited over the tip to form a tunnel current electrode. A gold film is also deposited over the cantilever spring to form an electrostatic drive electrode. The inner rectangular area of the folded cantilever spring, here referred to as a proof mass, can be deflected relative to the outer segments, here referred to as a frame, by application of an electric potential between the drive electrode and a corresponding drive electrode disposed on another component of the accelerometer.
Once assembled, a bias voltage is applied to the electrostatic drive electrodes to close the electrodes and drive the proof mass to a servo null position at which a tunnel current having a predetermined value is established. Active regulation of the tip-electrode separation is carried out using feedback control.
Operation of the device as an accelerometer may be achieved in either of two ways. In the first approach, denoted as open loop, acceleration is measured at frequencies above the feedback loop bandwidth in accordance with a predetermined mathematical relationship. In the second approach, denoted as closed loop, acceleration is measured for all frequencies less than the feedback loop bandwidth. In this case, an acceleration displaces the proof mass. The displacement results in a corresponding change in the tunnel current from its predetermined value. A feedback loop responds to the change in the tunnel current by adjusting the voltage potential between the drive electrodes so as to return the proof mass to its servo null position. The variation in the voltage from its bias value is used to calculate the acceleration value since the acceleration value is a function of the voltage variation.
The drive electrodes of the accelerometer can only apply an attractive force which draws the electrodes toward one another. As a result the electrostatic drive can provide the required servo rebalance force only when the acceleration is in a direction which drives the electrodes apart from one another. When an acceleration is applied in the opposite direction in which the electrodes are driven toward one another, the voltage difference between the electrodes is decreased thereby decreasing the drive force. The flexures which connect the proof mass to the frame then provide an elastic force to return the proof mass to its servo null position. Without acceleration, the elastic force provided by the flexures must at least be equal to the rebalance force required to reposition the proof mass to its servo null position upon application of full scale acceleration. Likewise, the electrostatic drive must be capable of providing enough force to drive the proof mass to its servo null position upon application of full scale acceleration. To provide the necessary dynamic response, the forces which the electrostatic drive and the flexures are respectively capable of providing must exceed the minimum force required to reposition the proof mass to its servo null position upon application of full scale acceleration.
The accelerometer of the Kenny et al article is deficient in several respects. Both the stiffness of the flexures and the position at which the flexures hold the proof mass when no forces are applied (i.e., the mechanical null position) can change with aging, temperature, and other environmental effects. Such changes produce a corresponding change in the drive force required to keep the proof mass at its servo null position and thus effect the bias voltage applied to the drive electrodes. Also, changes in the values of the components of the electrical circuitry of the feedback loop can cause a change in the servo null position to a position where the elastic force from the flexures is different from the elastic forces of the original servo null position. This alters the drive force required to hold the proof mass so that the drive force at the new null position is different from the drive force required at the original null position. Since the drive voltage is used to calculate the acceleration value, such changes cause a change in the acceleration signal bias.
A further deficiency of the Kenny et al accelerometer is that the force on the electrostatic drive electrodes is approximately proportional to the square of the charge on the drive electrodes. There is thus a non-linear relationship between the acceleration value and the drive voltage variations used to measure the acceleration.

Servo accelerometer with tunnel current sensor and complementary electrostatic drive


A steam peeling or cooking apparatus for produce, such as potatoes, carrots, celeriac, red beets, Swedish turnips, apples, and the like, comprising a substantially cylindrical peeling vessel basically stationary in operation, said vessel including supply and discharge conduits for medium, in particular steam, and having closable supply and discharge openings. Said vessel is divided into two compartments by a grid-like screen arranged substantially at right angles to the axis of the peeling vessel. The compartment not being in direct contact with the produce supply opening forms a condensate chamber and includes a closable discharge opening, said apparatus further including means for agitating the produce during operation. According to the invention the grid-like screen is fixedly secured to the vessel and has a passage which, in operation, is closed by a grid-like valve movable perpendicularly to the plane of the grid and the condensate chamber is fitted with a closable discharge opening for produce and/or condensate.

This invention relates to a steam peeling or cooking apparatus for produce, such as potatoes, carrots, celeriac, red beets, Swedish turnips, apples, and the like, comprising a substantially cylindrical peeling vessel basically stationary in operation, said vessel including supply and discharge conduits for medium, in particular steam, and having closable supply and discharge openings, and being divided into two compartments by a grid-like screen arranged substantially at right angles to the axis of the peeling vessel, the compartment not being in direct contact with the produce supply opening forming a condensate chamber and including a closable discharge opening, said apparatus further including means for agitating the produce during operation.
In similar apparatus described in Dutch patent applications Nos. 76,11025 and 78,112678, the produce is loaded and unloaded by way of a closable top opening. Steam is supplied and discharged by means of trunnions by which the peeling vessel is suspended in a tiltable manner.
In such an apparatus, the total cycle time is determined on the one hand by the actual steaming time of the produce (this is a produce-dependent time) and on the other hand by a produce-independent time (sometimes referred to as the dead time), being the time needed for filling, emptying, valve movement, steam blow-off, tilting and the like.
The produce-dependent time is a fixed datum, so when a shorter cycle time is desired, it should be tried to shorten the produce-independent time: it should be borne in mind that the total cycle time is as short as about 60 seconds and consists as to at most half of produce-dependent time.
Major drawbacks of the prior art apparatus are: the tilting required for filling and emptying the peeling vessel necessitates a drive mechanism with bearing etc. Since a peeling vessel of several tons is concerned here, a heavy drive mechanism with fittings is necessary, by means of which fittings steam can be supplied and discharged. In order to avoid unduly expensive bearings, rotary stuffing box etc., the diameter of the steam supply and discharge line traversing the bearings should be limited. This implies that steam blow-off cannot take place in an optimal i.e. explosive manner. Yet this is desirable in order to ensure that the peel is released and blown off already during steam blow-off. Moreover, explosive or rapid steam blow-off will also ensure that the temperature in the vessel falls rapidly, which reduces the permeation of heat into the product and results in a minimum thickness of the so-called cook ring. By cook ring is understood that portion of fruit or vegetable which has been in contact with steam. This softer portion will be partly removed with the peel and if too thick will result in undue product losses and waste water contamination. The longer the produce is in contact with steam, the greater will be the depth of steam penetration and hence the cook ring thickness. It will be clear, therefore, that after the actual steaming time required for peel removal, the steam is to be discharged as quickly as possible in order to minimize the cook ring thickness.


A raster scanning apparatus for scanning a photosensitive material by modulated laser beam, the raster scanning apparatus capable of changing the picture element density of images to be formed on the photosensitive material via raster scanning in accordance with the degree of photosensitivity of designated photosensitive material.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to laser printer exposure control, and more specifically relates to a raster scanning apparatus capable of changing picture element density.
2. Description of the Related Arts
Conventional raster scanning apparatus expose/scan using a modulated laser beam with a polygon mirror or the like to form an image on a photosensitive material in accordance with image data. In conventional raster scanning apparatus the photosensitive material used is a silver salt film or silver salt paper or the like. The degree of photosensitivity possessed by the aforesaid photosensitive materials changes according to the type of material used. For example, silver salt films and silver salt paper have sensitivity ratios of about 1:2. (Silver salt paper has about double the sensitivity of silver salt film.) Accordingly, image density will vary for the same raster scanning apparatus depending on the type of photosensitive material used for image forming. Thus, the laser power must be optically or electrically modified to produce same density images on photosensitive materials having different degrees of photosensitivity.
Changing laser power in accordance with the sensitivity of the photosensitive material has the disadvantage of producing influences based on the precision of the laser detecting sensors. That is, the laser detecting sensor cannot monitor a broad range of laser output frequencies with any degree of precision. Further, this lack of broad range monitoring capability leads to cost increases for the apparatus.


Embodiments relate generally to low pressure warning devices which may be worn with encapsulated protective suits and hoods by a user and may provide audio and visual alerts. In an embodiment, a low pressure warning device may comprise an earpiece operable to be retained to the ear of a user, wherein the earpiece may comprise a control system operable to sense the pressure inside the encapsulated protective suit or hood and activate the audio and/or visual alerts when necessary. In an embodiment, the low pressure warning device may be equipped with short range wireless communication capabilities.

Encapsulated protective suits and hoods may be worn in contaminated areas to protect the wearer of the suit or hood. For example, workers may wear an encapsulated protective suit or hood while working inside of a nuclear powered electrical generating plant or in the presence of radioactive materials. An encapsulated protective suit or hood may be a one-time use type of system, wherein the suit or hood is disposed of after a single use. An encapsulated protective suit or hood may receive breathing air during normal operating conditions via an external air flow hose connected to the suit or hood. It may be desirable to maintain a positive pressure differential between the inside of the suit or hood and the outside of the suit or hood. The positive pressure differential may reduce the chance of material, such as radioactive particles or other hazardous material, from entering the protective suit or hood. Additionally, the positive pressure differential may promote proper inflation of the suit or hood.

Wearable low pressure warning device with audio and visual indication


Hydrocolloid adhesive compositions are disclosed comprising a hydrophobic unsaturated aliphatic homopolymer, a compatible tackifier, and at least one hydrocolloid absorbent. The compositions have enhanced resistance to breakdown by body fluids, adjustable absorbency, improved adhesive and cohesive properties, as well as a reduced tendency to leave an adhesive residue after application. Also disclosed are wound dressings, ostomy or prosthesis adhesives, methods of using wound dressings, and methods for forming the hydrocolloid adhesive compositions.

Hydrocolloid adhesive compositions, as well as wound dressings and ostomy products formed from these adhesive compositions, have been known for many years. Typically, these compositions comprise a blend of a polymer matrix, such as a rubbery elastomer like polyisobutylene, in combination with one or more water-soluble or water-swellable hydrocolloids, such as a dry powdered mixture of pectin, gelatin and carboxymethylcellulose. When included in a wound dressing or ostomy seal, the adhesive composition is usually coated on at least one surface of a water-insoluble film. See e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,980,084, 3,877,431, 3,532,679, and 3,339,546, and European Patent Application No. 0343807. A commercially available example of a composition of this type is STOMADHESIVE.TM. (E. R. Squibb & Sons Inc., Princeton, N.J.), which is used as a skin barrier around stomas to prevent skin breakdown by the corrosive fluids discharged by the stoma.
A major problem with many conventional hydrocolloid adhesive compositions is their susceptibility to breakdown upon exposure to wound exudate and body fluids (i.e. their lack of structural integrity after being hydrated). When the compositions are used as skin barriers, e.g., around stomas, some absorption of fluid is desirable, but excessive swelling causes the composition to lose its moisture seal with the skin. Leakage occurs and the barrier must be replaced more often than is desirable.
Furthermore, when the adhesive compositions are used as wound dressings, the compositions tend to dissolve upon exposure to wound exudate and form a gel on the surface of the wound. When the dressing is removed, a residue remains on the wound requiring removal, typically by irrigation. When this breakdown occurs the dressings may also lift off the wound and allow leakage of wound exudate onto clothing and bedding.
Accordingly, a number of attempts have been made to improve the integrity of hydrocolloid adhesive compositions, and the resulting wound dressings and ostomy products.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,496,357 describes the incorporation of fumed silica into hydrocolloid compositions to control swelling.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,551,490 describes a hydrocolloid adhesive composition of a homogenous blend of mineral oil, one or more polyisobutylenes alone or in combination with an elastomer such as butyl rubber, styrene radial or block copolymers, water-soluble hydrocolloid gums, water-swellable cohesive strengthening agents, and a tackifier. Both the elastomer and water-swellable agents are said to add cohesive strength to the composition, while the styrene radial or block copolymers are said to provide extensibility and recovery from modular strains associated with hydration. See also, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,204,540, 4,192,785, and 4,166,051.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,952,618 discloses a hydrocolloid adhesive composition formed from a rubbery elastomeric base having hydrocolloid particles, at least some of which are polycationic, dispersed therein. The composition is said to exhibit improved integrity attributable to the polycationic particles contained in the compositions, particularly when combined with anionic hydrocolloid particles, either alone, or further mixed with neutral hydrocolloid particles.
In a different approach, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,538,603 and 4,728,442 disclose a granular wound packing that is covered with a separate occlusive dressing. In general, the occlusive dressing component can include a variety of hydrocolloid materials in combination with one or more pressure sensitive adhesive elastomers, such as polyisobutylene, and one or more thermoplastic elastomers, such as butyl rubber and styrene copolymers.
Another manner of addressing lack of structural integrity is to provide hydrocolloid adhesive compositions where one or more of the polymeric components are chemically or physically cross-linked. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,768,503 provides a adhesive composition of one or more chemically cross-linked hydrophilic polymers in combination with a support matrix of a high molecular weight hydrophobic polymer.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,477,325 and 4,738,257 describe incorporating into a hydrocolloid composition a mixture of a copolymer resin of ethylene and vinyl acetate (EVA). After mixing and molding, the composition is subjected to ionizing radiation to form cross-linked polymer networks of the EVA or EVA with another cross-linkable resin. The cross-linked matrix is said to provide controlled swelling.
In a similar vein, U.S. Pat. No. 4,231,369 and European Patent Publication No. 0272149 disclose various hydrocolloid materials dispersed within a physically cross-linked gel-like phase. In general, the gel-like phase is comprised of elastomeric materials, such as A-B-A block copolymers, as well as certain ethylene/propylene copolymers, that are said to be physically cross-linked due to phase separation and reformation of the materials after melt processing.
In general, the efforts to date at providing a high integrity hydrocolloid adhesive compositions, and associated wound dressings and ostomy barriers, have not proven to be very effective. Furthermore, even when such materials demonstrate improved integrity, such an improvement has typically been at the expense of a number of other desirable properties, such as absorption, good edge adhesion, shear holding power, cohesive strength, lack of adhesive residue, reduced adhesive cold-flow, increased conformability and elasticity, and decreased skin sensitivity.

Adhesive compositions, wound dressings and methods

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company


A follicular dissection system comprises a polarized light source for directing polarized light onto a follicular donor section. An analyzer polarizes image light from the follicular donor section. An optical system provides an image of the follicular donor section from polarized image light from the analyzer.

In some hair transplant techniques, including for example micro graft hair transplant techniques, individual follicular units of hair are harvested from a donor region for micro graft transplantation in a recipient region. Follicular unit hair transplantation systems are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,572,625 (Rassman), U.S. Pat. No. 5,989,279 (Rassman) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,782,851 (Rassman). Follicular units may be harvested by first removing a section or strip of skin from an area where hair grows. This donor section may then be further dissected and/or sliverized into smaller strips or sections and finally into individual follicular units. A follicular unit is a natural grouping of hairs, from 1 hair up to 4 hairs, most commonly 2 or 3 hairs, which grow together as a group, including a common root sac. The size of individual follicular units may depends on factors including the number of hairs in the follicular unit and the thickness of the individual hairs, with an exemplary range of about 2 um to 4.5 um.
The donor sections or sliverized sections may be viewed under a microscope to identify follicular units for dissection and subsequent transplantation. Magnification of the donor sections make the individual follicular units visible, which may permit a technician to dissect individual follicular units fordissection. If the follicular units are not visualized during dissection, some of the follicular units could be damaged or missed during dissection, thereby reducing the yield from the donor section in terms of the number of transplantable follicular units available for dissection from a given donor section.
In certain donor sections or strips, for example, it may be difficult to distinguish some hairs. Lighter colored hairs may be particularly susceptible to being overlooked or not clearly viewed during dissection. The root sac may also be overlooked or not clearly viewed due to glare or reflected light. As a result, some of the follicular units and/or root sacs in the donor section may not be sufficiently defined or visible in the magnified image of the donor section and may be overlooked and/or damaged during dissection. Overlooking or damaging otherwise transplantable follicular units reduces the number of hairs or follicular units that can be harvested for transplantation from a given donor section.


A method of security testing a web application is presented. The method identifies a web application to be tested, determines potential security vulnerabilities of the web application, generates one or more security tests for testing the potential vulnerabilities, and executes the security test on the web application. The results of the security testing are then used to make the web application less vulnerable to security attacks.

Security attacks of web applications are fairly common occurrences. A web application typically includes one or more web pages, and vulnerability on one web page can compromise the web application or even he web site running the web application. A web page may be vulnerable to many types of attacks.
Security testing of web applications is difficult and time consuming. Security of a web application is often times not specified as part of the application. Specifying security is very difficult, and implementing security measurements may not be correct. Security testing of a web application is also difficult. Furthermore, security testing of web applications requires extensive domain-specific knowledge. Also, new methods of breaking into web sites are found regularly, leading to the need to continuously track new security vulnerabilities.
One type of attack involves cookie stealing. Cookies are defined as small data files written to a user's hard drive by some web sites when the user views the website by way of a browser. These data files contain information the web site can use to track such things as passwords, lists of pages the user has visited, and the date when the user last looked at a certain page. The stealing of cookies can be used to gain access to a user's account on a web site or to provide information (such as credit card information) regarding the user. Once this information gets into the wrong hands, the attacker can access the web site and the user's information can be used by the attacker to perform a variety of tasks.
Another type of attack is known as a System Query Language (SQL) attack. Web applications typically use data from a user to construct SQL queries. In some instances a simply constructed query leads to a vulnerability wherein a user can execute arbitrary SQL queries against a database and acquire information such as passwords, social security numbers, credit cards numbers and the like.
An attack of a web site can be performed simply, by people who are generally non-technical. For example, it was recently reported that several Internet commerce sites using a particular shopping cart application were vulnerable. A user would enter the site and select items to purchase by placing them in to the application shopping cart. The user could then save the form to a local disk drive, edit the price in the form with a text editor then reload the form back into the web browser. The user would then purchase the items for the price entered by the user, instead of the actual price.
In view of the above, it would be desirable to have a method that provides testing and analysis of possible security threats to a web page so that appropriate action can be taken to make the web page less vulnerable to potential security attacks.

Automated security threat testing of web pages


A medical imaging device is presented. The medical image device includes a detection unit and a housing unit that surrounds the detection unit. The housing unit has at least one casing shell. The at least one casing shell includes a netlike supporting structure unit and an elastic spring-mass unit. The netlike supporting structure unit is at least partially embedded within the elastic spring-mass unit.

Magnetic resonance devices output a high level of operating noise during operation, wherein said noise may have an unpleasant effect on a patient who is held in a locating region of the magnetic resonance device for the purpose of examination. This high level of operating noise is generated within a magnet unit of the magnetic resonance device due to an interaction of a gradient unit with a magnet. In this case, sound transmission within the magnetic resonance device occurs by means of airborne-sound excitation and via a solid-borne sound component. The high level of operating noise is thus transmitted to a housing unit of the magnetic resonance device, and radiated from said housing unit to a space surrounding the magnetic resonance device.
Conventional housing units of magnetic resonance devices have a housing unit which comprises casing shells that are made of e.g. glass-fiber reinforced plastic and/or a thermoplastic. These casing shells are screwed to a frame unit, for example, and/or screwed and/or connected directly to the magnets by means of corresponding retaining elements. Although these casing shells offer a degree of sound insulation by virtue of their mass, casing shells that are designed in this way also have a high radiation response in respect of radiation of soundwaves, said response being caused by a material stiffness of the casing shells.

Medical imaging device comprising a housing unit that has a casing shell and method for producing a casing shell of the medical imaging device


The invention concerns reduction of tip vortices in aircraft propellers, wherein a fence having anhedral or dihedral is attached to the blades of the propeller. Another form of the invention is applicable to counterrotating propeller systems, wherein a fence is attached to the blades of the forward propeller of the system, and no fences are attached to the aft propeller.

As shown in FIG. 1, an aircraft wing 3 produces a vortex 6 at its tips. One simplified reason explaining the vortex production is illustrated in FIG. 2. The combination of (a) low pressure on the top of the wing, together with (b) higher pressure on the bottom of the wing, causes the air 9 to curl over as shown. The curling air becomes the vortex shown in FIG. 1.
Such a vortex represents a loss in energy, because the aircraft must expend energy in order to leave. behind the rotating vortex. In order to reduce this loss in energy, winglets 12 in FIG. 3 have been used. It is believed that the winglets act as fences which inhibit the curling action shown in FIG. 2.
Like a wing, a propeller 15 in FIG. 4 has a high-pressure surface and a low-pressure surface, and consequently produces a tip vortex (not shown). The tip vortex can produce noise. To reduce noise, it has been suggested that the tips 18 of the blades can be modified, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 4A.
A particular type of noise can occur in one type of propeller system. For example, in the counterrotating type, as shown in FIG. 5, the forward propeller 21 rotates in direction 23, while the aft propeller 25 rotates in direction 27. The vortices 30 produced by the forward propeller travel rearward, into the aft propeller. The aft propeller "chops" each vortex, producing noise.
One reason why the chopping causes noise is that the tip vortex changes the medium through which the propeller travels. The change causes the lift of the propeller blade to momentarily change, and noise results.
As a crude analogy, a ship's propeller 33 is shown in FIG. 6, and it is operating half-submerged in water. The propeller produces a thrashing noise because the blades alternate between two media, namely, air and water. In a roughly similar way, the aft propeller 25 in FIG. 5 produces noise when it chops a vortex 30.


Polymer blends of a polyester and polyvinyl alcohol, or their copolymers, may be fabricated into barrier packaging materials having very low permeabilities to oxygen, other fixed gases and moisture.

Poly(vinyl alcohol) and its copolymers are known to possess low permeabilities to gases. However, the use of these materials for packaging in their native form restricts their use in moisture-containing atmospheres due to the presence of the many hydroxyl groups in the polymer. Further, permeabilities to oxygen, carbon dioxide and other fixed gases are very low, and increase exponentially as a function of the relative humidity. Polyolefin copolymers exhibit the sensitivity to humidity to a lesser degree. Commercial packaging and other barrier materials require low permeabilities to gases and moisture. A recent proposal to overcome this problem was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,003,963 by using certain mixtures of poly(vinyl chloride) and poly(vinyl alcohol) copolymers. The vinyl chloride polymer containing no carboxyl groups was blended with about 10-30 percent by weight, based on the weight of vinyl chloride polymer, of an ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer containing greater than about 61 weight percent or 50 mole percent of vinyl alcohol as comonomer.
Another approach to the problem is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,585,177. According to this patent, a lower alpha olefin/vinyl alcohol copolymer is prepared having a residual ester content below 3 percent and an olefin content between 5 and 40 percent by weight. Differential thermal analysis was used to show that the copolymers have a single narrow endotherm with a melting range of less than 30.degree. C. Other combinations in the art of barrier compositions are blends of inexpensive materials with those materials having good barrier properties. Such possibilities are limited by the incompatibilities of such blends.

Polyester compositions for gas and moisture barrier materials


A thyristor-based forward phase control (FPC) system for controlling the power delivered to a load from an AC power source employs a short-circuit test cycle to protect the thyristor from damage. Upon activation of the FPC system, the thyristor is triggered at a phase less than one-twelfth cycle before a zero crossing so that, if there is a short, the resulting peak current will be insufficient to damage the thyristor but will exceed a predetermined threshold current corresponding to a repetitive overload current. If during the test cycle, the threshold current value is crossed, the FPC system does not trigger the thyristor again and does indicate that a short exists. The threshold current value is selected to correspond to the thyristor's steady-state load rating. If it is exceeded during normal (including warm-up and request-based) operation, steps can be taken to address an overload condition. Accordingly, the same circuitry used for general overload protection can be used as well for short-circuit protection.

The present invention relates to electronics and, more particularly, to phase-control systems for controlling the power delivered to a load. A major objective of the present invention is to provide for economical protection of a forward-phase-control dimmer or similar AC power controller from damage due to an overcurrent condition.
As the world's resources are being depleted, energy conservation increases in importance. One approach to conserving energy is to supply less power to a device than it is rated for when less than full power operation is required. For example, dimmers can be used to operate lights to provide only the light level desired at a given time. In contrast, on/off switches require that a light be operated only at its full rated power. Since dimmers not only save energy but also provide more control over the light level, they are generally more desirable than on/off switches. However, economic considerations at installation favor on/off switches.
The power from an AC power source delivered to a load can be controlled by selecting the portion (conduction angle) of an AC voltage half cycle that the AC power is coupled to the load. This power control technique is known as "phase control"--since power is coupled at one voltage phase angle and decoupled at another voltage phase angle. (See Phase Control Using Thyristors, Teccor Electronics, Inc., undated publication.)
"Forward-phase control" (FPC) involves coupling within a voltage half cycle and decoupling at the next zero crossing. The timing for the switching can be provided by a microcontroller or other timing device along with phase-tracking circuitry. The switching can be done using thyristors such as silicon-controlled rectifiers (SCRs) or triacs. A thyristor is activated by a trigger signal, and deactivated automatically at the next voltage zero crossing.
"Reverse-phase control" (RPC) involves coupling at a zero crossing and decoupling within the ensuing half voltage cycle. As with FPC, the timing for the phase control can be provided by a microcontroller. However, RPC is not implemented with thyristors since they cannot be easily or economically switched off by a signal at a control input. However, transistors, e.g., bipolar transistors, can be used as RPC current switches.
One advantage of RPC is the effectiveness with which overload protection can be implemented. The transistor is turned on when the voltage, and thus the current, is zero. The magnitude of the current can be monitored as it increases. If it approaches an overload threshold, the switch can be turned off before it is destroyed.
This monitoring approach is less applicable to thyristor-based FPC systems for two reasons. In the first place, the peak current is often (especially when the triggering is at or past a voltage peak) reached almost instantaneously, so there is little time to react before damage is done to the thyristor. In the second place, even if the damage can be anticipated, it is not in general possible to shut down a thyristor immediately; in general, a thyristor cannot be shut down until the next zero crossing. Thus, in a thyristor-based dimmer, overload protection typically does not begin until the next half-cycle. In many cases, the damage is already done.
Despite the problems with overload protection, FPC dimmers dominate the low-end of the dimmer market because they work with a wider variety of loads and because they cost less. FPC "dimmers" are better suited than are RPC dimmers for controlling inductive loads, such as fans and other motor-driven appliances. (Some systems test for inductive loads and select between FPC and RPC accordingly; see Steven B. Carlson, "Testing IPS Dimmer Performance", ROSCO/Entertainment Technology, 1996, published on the World-Wide Web.) Since the function performed by a single relatively inexpensive triac in an FPC system requires a pair of relatively expensive bipolar transistors in an RPC system, component costs favor FPC systems.
Because of the relatively low cost of FPC dimmers, replacement of wall switches with FPC dimmers is a popular "home-improvement" project. However, a significant percentage of non-professional installations establish an inadvertent short circuit between the load connection and AC neutral or protective earth ground. In other cases, an overload can be created when a device is added in parallel to a load already being driven using the dimmer. When a triac is activated in such cases, an excessive current can be generated that leaves the triac in a permanently conductive state. Often, the damaged dimmer is returned from the place of purchase. Such returns result in a cost that must be reflected in the original purchase price.
What is needed is a thyristor-based FPC system with more effective overload protection. In particular, it is desirable that an FPC system not be destroyed upon activation after an installation that establishes a short circuit. This more effective overload protection would reduce returns and thus the cost of dimmers. This would increase consumer satisfaction with such devices, and increase their prevalence. An increased prevalence of such dimmers would reduce energy consumption--benefiting both the user with reduced costs and society with the concomitant energy conservation.

Short-circuit protection for forward-phase-control AC power controller


An electronic plug-in module for accommodation in a module rack with a mounting rail, wherein the plug-in module includes a circuit board, a front plate and a mounting device, the mounting device comprises a bearing part, a tensioning part and a fixation element, the bearing part is fixed on front plate, and the tensioning part is connected frictionally to the fixation element and the bearing part in such a manner that a force, by means of which the plug-in module is held with its front plate in a defined position relative to the module rack, is exerted onto the plug-in module transversely to the insertion direction of the plug-in module.

The present invention relates to an electronic plug-in module with a circuit board, a front plate and a mounting device for accommodation in a module rack with a mounting rail, as well as to a mounting device for mounting a front plate on a module rack and to a method for mounting a plug-in module.
For electronic equipment of modular construction such as module racks, it is common to design individual modules in the form of plug-in modules. The modules usually have a multipole connector on their back side that is inserted into a plug receptacle on the backplane of the module rack. On their front side, the plug-in modules usually have a front plate that is flush with the front side of the module rack. The module groups run in guiderails of the module rack, and are inserted into the module rack and pulled out of it in this manner.
In order to hold the plug-in modules in position, they are fixed by appropriate means on a module rack to prevent unintended loosening. In the usual locking of the plug-in modules by means of screws or snap buckles, the back side of the plug-in modules front plate stops at a mounting plane. For example, the plug-in modules are screwed into a mounting rail of the module rack with a screw through the front plate. In this case, the front plate is pressed by means of the screw towards the module rack until the front plate rests against a mounting rail that has the threads or a thread channel for the mounting screws.
Leveraging plug-in modules into a module rack by means of a lever latch handle is also known. The levers can be secured by a variety of mechanisms against unintended pivoting and, therefore, an unintended detachment of the plug-in module.
A new form of plug-in modules, which are primarily employed in modern telecommunications systems, is designed according to a standard (AMC standard, Advanced Mezzanine Card standard) developed by the PICMG (PCI Industrial Manufacturers Group). Plug-in modules according to this specification are relatively small in comparison to 19″ modules and have a front plate having a U-shaped cross section mounted at the front of the circuit board. At their rear end, the cards have a plug-in edge (card edge).
In the new plug-in modules, however, the previously familiar mounting flange with locking elements is lacking, since the modules are to be inserted into so-called carriers (adapters) that have no corresponding mounting plane or mounting rail. The depth stopping of the modules inside the carriers is accomplished by means of the rear edge of the circuit board at the base of the carrier's plug casing. The depth stop is required for a secure contact transfer of the individual contact rows of the plug connector. The locking mechanism of the modules specified by the standard secures their final position.
Because of the tolerances established and allowed in the standard for the individual components, especially for the plug-in modules and the module racks, it is not possible to provide mounting flanges on the front plate that stop against a mounting rail of the module rack and, in this way, simultaneously assure the contacting of the plug-in module with its rear edge. For instance, screwing the front plate to the module rack would have the effect of exertion of excessive pressure by the integrated plug of the plug-in module on the plug casing of the module rack. This could cause destruction.
Previously known locking systems for such plug-in modules with card edge systems are described in EP 06008996.8 for example. Due to the increased burdens with regard to shock and vibration resistance that are currently established in the standards, the mounting systems are reaching their limits. The obvious suggestion of screwing the front plate to the mounting rails of the module rack is out of the running due to the tolerance equalization required. As already mentioned above, mounting with mounting screws would lead to strains on the circuit board and cause malfunctioning.

Electronic plug-in module for accommodation in a module rack


This invention provides a switching type liquid-in vibration isolating device capable of opening/closing an orifice by changing over between the atmospheric and negative pressure in a switching chamber corresponding to shake and idle vibration, respectively. In order to prevent a pipe, for introducing the atmospheric and negative pressure in the switching chamber, from disconnecting, a first and a second fitting 1, 2 are connected by a vibration isolating substrate 3, a partition member 4, a first and a second diaphragm 5, 6 are disposed within a hollow space thereof, a main liquid chamber 7 and a sub-liquid chamber 8 are interconnected by two inside and outside orifices 12, 13, a equilibrium chamber 9 is formed between the first and second diaphragm 5, 6, a switching chamber 10 is formed between the second diaphragm 6 and the second fitting 2, the center portion of the bottom wall 22 of the second fitting 2 is depressed toward the switching chamber 10, a pipe 11 is pierced into the top 25a of the depressed portion 25 and received in the depressed portion 25, and a plurality of convex portions 29 for interference prevention are outwardly projectively provided on the bottom wall 22 around the depressed portion 25.

This invention relates to a switching type liquid-in vibration isolating device used to support a vibration generating source such as power unit of automobile for the purpose of vibration isolation.
A liquid-in vibration isolator has heretofore been used as a mount supporting a vibration generating source such as vehicle engine so as not to transmit its vibration to a vehicle body.
As one of the liquid-in vibration isolators, a switching type liquid-in vibration isolating device, in which vibration isolating characteristics is changed over according to two kinds of vibration with different frequency range such as shake and idle vibration, has been suggested.
For example, in an official gazette JP-A-8-270718, a switching type liquid-in vibration isolating device as shown in FIG. 5 is disclosed.
This conventional vibration isolating device is equipped with a first fitting (101), a second fitting (102) in the form of a bottomed cylindrical body with its bottom wall located at a given distance in the direction of an axis from the first fitting (101), and a vibration isolating substrate (103) made of a rubber elastomer interposed between the first fitting (101) and the second fitting (102) to connect both fittings. Within a hollow space between the vibrating isolating substrate (103) and the second fitting (102), a partition member (104), a first diaphragm (105) and a second diaphragm (106) are disposed serially in the direction of an axis, a main liquid chamber (107) is formed between the vibration isolating substrate (103) and the partition member (104), and a sub-liquid chamber (108) is formed between the partition member (104) and the first diaphragm (105). Further, a equilibrium chamber (109) is formed between the first diaphragm (105) and the second diaphragm (106), and a switching chamber (110), capable of selectively introducing the atmospheric pressure and negative pressure, is formed between the second diaphragm (106) and the second fitting (102). An outside orifice (113) and an inside orifice (114) located further radially inwardly from the outside orifice (113) are disposed on the partition member (104) to interconnect the main liquid chamber (107) and the sub-liquid chamber (108). A coil spring (127) is disposed in the switching chamber (110) to force or push-in the first diaphragm (105) via the second diaphragm (106) against the partition member (104). A pipe (128) for introducing the atmospheric and negative pressure into the switching chamber (110) is pierced through the bottom wall of the second fitting (102). When the atmospheric pressure is brought through this pipe (128) into the switching chamber (110), the first diaphragm (105) is forced on the partition member (104) by the coil spring (127) to impede liquid flow between the inside orifice (114) and the sub-liquid chamber (108). However, since the first diaphragm (105) moves against an energizing force by the coil spring (127) when negative pressure is brought from the pipe (128) into the switching chamber (110), the first diaphragm (105) separates from the partition member (104) to make the inside orifice (114) connect to the sub-liquid chamber (108). Thus, as for the vibration isolating device, the inside orifice (114) can be opened and/or closed by selectively changing over between the atmospheric and negative pressure in the switching chamber (110), so that the orifice can be used selectively according to two kinds of vibration of different frequency range, respectively.
As for this known vibration isolating device, the pipe (128) for introducing the atmospheric and negative pressure into the switching chamber (110) is fitted and secured by a welding means and the like under a condition of projecting from the bottom surface of the second fitting (102). With the pipe (128) thus being projected, when the vibrating isolating device is placed on a work or transport stand before placing the vibration isolating device on board of the vehicle, the pipe (128) will support deadweight of the vibration isolating device, with the result that the pipe (128) may be disconnected. This pipe (128) is fixed to the second fitting (102) so that it is difficult to be pulled out of the second fitting (102) by taking into account after placing on board of the vehicle. That is, the pipe (128) is strong against a load in the direction of pulling and weak against a load in the direction of pushing in the switching chamber (110), therefore, before placing the vibration isolating device on board of the vehicle, a problem of disconnection of the pipe (128) is prone to occur.
In view of the descriptions above, this invention provides a liquid-in vibration isolating device capable of opening/closing an inside orifice out of two inside and outside orifices by selectively changing over between the atmospheric and negative pressure in a switching chamber so as to selectively use orifices corresponding to two kinds of vibrations with different frequency range such as shake and idle vibration, and has an object of preventing a pipe for introducing the atmospheric and negative pressure into the switching chamber from disconnecting.
The switching type liquid-in vibration isolating device is equipped with a first fitting, a second fitting in the form of a bottomed cylindrical body with its bottom wall located at a given distance in the direction of an axis from the first fitting, a vibration isolating substrate made of a rubber elastomer interposed between the first and second fittings to connect both fittings, a partition member, a first and second diaphragm disposed serially in the direction of an axis within a hollow space between the vibration isolating substrate and the second fitting, a first liquid chamber formed between the vibration isolating substrate and the partition member, a second liquid chamber formed between the partition member and the first diaphragm, an outside orifice interconnecting between the first and second liquid chambers disposed on the partition member, an inside orifice located further radially inwardly from the outside orifice, a equilibrium chamber formed between the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm, a switching chamber formed between the second diaphragm and the second fitting capable of selectively introducing the atmospheric pressure and negative pressure, and energizing means forcing or pushing-in the first diaphragm against the partition member, and the first diaphragm is forced or pushed-in against the partition member by the energizing means to close the inside orifice when introducing the atmospheric pressure into the switching chamber, and further the first diaphragm is separated from the partition member against the energizing force exerted by the energizing means to open the inside orifice when introducing the negative pressure into the switching chamber, a part of the bottom wall of the second fitting being depressed toward the switching side, a pipe for introducing the atmospheric and negative pressure into the switching chamber being pierced into the top of the depressed portion and received in the depressed portion, and a plurality of convex portions outwardly projectively being provided on the bottom wall around the depressed portion.
Thus, it is possible that the pipe is not projected downwardly from the bottom surface of the second fitting by providing the depressed portion on the bottom wall of the second fitting and receiving the pipe, for introducing the pressure, inside the depressed portion. Therefore, when the vibrating isolating device is placed on a work or transport stand before placing the vibration isolating device on board of the vehicle, the pipe will no longer support deadweight of the vibration isolating device, capable of securely preventing the pipe from being disconnected.
Although it is desirable that the introducing pipe is completely received in the depressed portion, there are some cases where the pipe must be projected slightly downward from the inside of the depressed portion. That is, the pipe is required to be projected outwardly from the switching chamber to some extent to connect the piping from the switching valves when placing the device on board of the vehicle, the height of the depressed portion is limited by the dimensions of the switching chamber in the direction of an axis, etc. According to the vibration isolating device of the invention, even in such circumstances, it is possible to avoid the pipe from interfering with the placing surface of such as work or transport stands by means of the convex portions projectively provided outwardly around the depressed portion.
As for the vibration isolating device of the invention, a press-fitting area of the second diaphragm is secured at the circumferential edge portion of the bottom wall of the second fitting, and the second diaphragm may be press-fitted from the upper portion on the opening side of the second fitting and fixed in the press-fitted area. Thereby, it is not necessary to caulk and secure the second diaphragm in conjunction with the second fitting.
The energizing means in the vibration isolating device of the invention is a coil spring interposed between the bottom wall of the second fitting and the second diaphragm in the switching chamber, for forcing the first diaphragm via the second diaphragm against the partition member, a receiving surface of the coil spring may be secured on the bottom wall around the depressed portion of the second fitting, and the coil spring may be disposed on the receiving surface in such a manner as to surround the depressed portion. Thus, it is possible to position the lower extremity of the coil spring at the outer circumference of the depressed portion and prevent the coil spring from getting out of position on the bottom wall of the second fitting, by securing the receiving surface of the coil spring around the depressed portion for receiving the pipe and disposing the coil spring so as to surround the depressed portion.
As for the vibration isolating device of the invention, a stopper rubber may be provided on the second diaphragm, and an abutting surface of the stopper rubber portion may also be secured on the bottom wall around the depressed portion of the second fitting. Thus, undesired downward displacement of the second diaphragm can be limited when introducing the negative pressure into the switching chamber.
In this case, the convex portion can be provided on the bottom wall portion which corresponds to the abutting surface of the stopper rubber portion. Since it is not necessary to secure the abutting surface on the stopper rubber portion all over in the circumferential direction, the convex portion can be provided especially for such portion without impairing the performance.
With regard to the vibration isolating device of the invention, the depressed portion may be provided at the center portion of the bottom wall of the second fitting and the receiving surface of the coil spring may be secured around the depressed portion, and the abutting surface of the stopper rubber portion may also be secured between the receiving surface and the press-fitting area of the second diaphragm.

Switching type liquid-in vibration isolating device


A device may receive data associated with network resources. The data may be received from another device and from a system. The data may include an attribute of the network resources. The device may process the data to align the data received from the other device and from the system. The device may determine a manner in which the network resources are to be consolidated based on the attribute of the network resources. The device may perform an action based on determining the manner in which the network resources are to be consolidated. The action may be associated with consolidating the network resources.

Data centers may include a variety of computer systems and associated components, such as telecommunications and storage systems. Data centers generally include redundant or backup power supplies, redundant data communications connections, environmental controls (e.g., air conditioning, fire suppression) and/or various security devices. Large data centers may provide industrial scale operations.
A data center may house computing and electrical equipment in equipment racks (e.g., rack-mountable servers, power supplies, network equipment, data storage equipment, ventilation equipment, cable management systems, etc.). Such racks may be of various sizes and may be measured in a standard unit, such as rack units (RUs). Equipment racks include a frame with mounting infrastructure via which equipment can be securely mounted. Equipment racks are typically used for space-efficient storage and housing of data and computing equipment. For example, a typical equipment rack may be used to house as many as forty or more servers in a relatively small space. In a telephone exchange, equipment racks may house telecommunications equipment, circuits, circuit panels, wires, etc. Equipment racks may also include features to improve ventilation and equipment cooling, as well as seismic tie downs for secure mounting to building foundation and flooring.

Automatic consolidation of network resources


A developer roll adjustment indicator device for use in association with a xerographic printer has an indicator plate with a collar that is removably secured to the end of the print drum shaft. A pointer made of a material having a magnetic attraction to the magnetic brushes in the developer roll is attached to the collar to permit the distal end of the pointer to freely rotate with respect to the axis of the print drum in response to the relative angular position of the magnetic brushes. The indicator plate has a number of visual indicia to measure the angular relationship of the pointer with respect to the axis of the print drum. Proper angular orientation of the indicator plate on the print drum shaft during installation is verified by means of a bubble level which provides a fixed point of reference for angular measurements.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of xerographic printing. More specifically, the present invention discloses a device to assist in properly orienting the magnetic brush in the developer station of a xerographic printer.
2. Statement of the Problem
Conventional xerographic copiers and printers reproduce images by creating a latent electrostatic image on a rotating print drum having a photoconductive surface. Following exposure, the latent electrostatic image on the print drum is developed at a developing station which in typical present day practice, comprises one or more magnetic brushes for bringing a developer in powder form, usually a mixture of carrier beads and toner, into developing relation with the surface of the print drum and the image thereon. This is conventionally accomplished by a developer roll having thin, cylindrical outer wall which is rotatably mounted parallel to the print drum. The lower portion of the developer roll passes through a sump containing the developer. A thin layer of developer adheres to the outer surface of the developer roll as it rotates. A small spacing is maintained between the developer roll and the print drum. A number of stationery magnetic brushes extend longitudinally within the developer roll adjacent to the line of minimum spacing between the print drum and developer roll. The lines of force created by the magnetic brushes pass through the wall of the developer roll and cause the developer particles to stand on end, similar to the way in which iron filings align themselves to follow the lines of force of a magnetic field. This alignment of the developer particles by the magnetic brushes causes them to bridge the gap separating the developer roll from the print drum, and thereby be applied to the latent image on the print drum. Following application of the developer, the developed image is transferred at a transfer station to a copy substrate material such as a sheet of paper. Print quality is adversely affected if the proper angular relationship between the print drum and the magnetic brushes within the developer roll is not maintained. The developer roll typically provides some means to permit small adjustments in the angular position of the magnetic brushes. However, heretofore, adjustment of this angular relationship to achieve optimal print quality has largely been a matter of trial and error.
The prior art contains several other examples of xerographic copiers and printers which use a magnetic brush within a developer roll to apply developer to the print drum, including the following:
______________________________________ Inventor U.S. Pat. No. Issue Date ______________________________________ Harlow, et al. 4,250,513 Feb. 10, 1981 Suzuki 4,334,772 June 15, 1982 Daniels 4,439,034 Mar. 27, 1984 Jugle 4,466,730 Aug. 21, 1984 Dolan 4,470,693 Sep. 11, 1984 Manno 4,690,540 Sep. 1, 1987 ______________________________________
Harlow, et al., disclose a linear vertical adjustment mechanism for a printer. This device has particular application to align an ink or toner applicator member, such as a magnetic ink brush, with respect to a recording medium to insure that the magnetic brush is parallel to the recording medium, and thereby prevent variation in the print intensity across the width of the print medium.
Suzuki discloses an electrophotographic apparatus having a magnetic brush assembly that is somewhat similar to the magnetic brush assembly found in the types of printer that can be adjusted using the present invention.
Daniels discloses a method and apparatus for purging developer mix from the magnetic brush roller by rotating the magnets of the magnetic brush roller.
Jugle discloses an electrophotographic apparatus in which the amount of developer material being transported to the electrostatic latent image recorded on the photoconductive belt is controlled by a metering blade. The accumulation of surplus toner particles on the blade is prevented by inducing a flow of air through apertures in the blade.
Dolan discloses a self-cleaning xerographic apparatus in which the magnetic brush is used to both apply toner to an image on a photoconductive surface and clean the surface in the same cycle.
Manno discloses a developer system for reproduction and printing machines. A magnetic brush roll is used to apply developer with the print drum.
3. Solution to the Problem
None of the prior art references uncovered in the search show a device for measuring the angular relationship between the print drum axis and the magnetic brushes within the developer roll, to aid in proper angular adjustment of the magnetic brushes to optimize print quality.

Developer roll adjustment indicator device


Compositions, recombinant vaccines and live attenuated pathogens comprising one or more isolated nucleic acid molecules that encode an immunogen in combination with an isolated nucleic acid molecule that encodes an immunomodulator protein selected from the group consisting of: Fos, c-jun, Sp-1, Ap-1, Ap-2, p38, p65Rel, MyD88, IRAK, TRAF6, IkB, Inactive NIK, SAP K, SAP-1, JNK, interferon response genes, NFkB, Bax, TRAIL, TRAILrec, TRAILrecDRC5, TRAIL-R3, TRAIL-R4, RANK, RANK LIGAND, Ox40, Ox40 LIGAND, NKG2D, MICA, MICB, NKG2A, NKG2B, NKG2C, NKG2E, NKG2F, TAP1, TAP2 and functional fragments thereof are disclosed. Methods of inducing an immune response in an individual against an immunogen, using such compositions are disclosed.

Immunotherapy refers to modulating a person's immune responses to impart a desirable therapeutic effect. Immunotherapeutics refer to those compositions which, when administered to an individual, modulate the individual's immune system sufficient to ultimately decrease symptoms which are associated with undesirable immune responses or to ultimately alleviate symptoms by increasing desirable immune responses. In some cases, immunotherapy is part of a vaccination protocol in which the individual is administered a vaccine that exposes the individual to an immunogen against which the individual generates an immune response in such cases, the immunotherapeutic increases the immune response and/or selectively enhances a portion of the immune response (such as the cellular arm or the humoral arm) which is desirable to treat or prevent the particular condition, infection or disease.
Vaccine protocols can be improved by the delivery of agents that modulate a person's immune responses to induce an improved immune response. In some vaccination protocols in which the individual is administered a vaccine that exposes the individual to an immunogen against which the individual generates an immune response, an agent is provided that increases the immune response and/or selectively enhances a portion of the immune response (such as the cellular arm or the humoral arm) which is desirable to treat or prevent the particular condition, infection or disease.
Vaccines are useful to immunize individuals against target antigens such as allergens, pathogen antigens or antigens associated with cells involved in human diseases. Antigens associated with cells involved in human diseases include cancer-associated tumor antigens and antigens associated with cells involved in autoimmune diseases.
In designing such vaccines, it has been recognized that vaccines that produce the target antigen in cells of the vaccinated individual are effective in inducing the cellular arm of the immune system. Specifically, live attenuated vaccines, recombinant vaccines which use avirulent vectors, and DNA vaccines each lead to the production of antigens in the cell of the vaccinated individual which results in induction of the cellular arm of the immune system On the other hand, killed or inactivated vaccines, and sub-unit vaccines which comprise only proteins do not induce good cellular immune responses although they do induce a humoral response.
A cellular immune response is often necessary to provide protection against pathogen infection and to provide effective immune-mediated therapy for treatment of pathogen infection, cancer or autoimmune diseases. Accordingly, vaccines that produce the target antigen in cells of the vaccinated individual such as live attenuated vaccines, recombinant vaccines that use avirulent vectors and DNA vaccines are often preferred.
While such vaccines are often effective to immunize individuals prophylactically or therapeutically against pathogen infection or human diseases, there is a need for improved vaccines. There is a need for compositions and methods that produce an enhanced immune response.
Likewise, while some immunotherapeutics are useful to modulate immune response in a patient there remains a need for improved immunotherapeutic compositions and methods.

Vaccines, immunotherapeutics and methods for using the same

The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania


A projection cathode ray tube (CRT) includes a multilayered interference film interposed between a face plate pane and luminescent material layer. This multilayered interference film is composed of alternately superimposed of high refractive index material layers and low refractive index material layers, and the number of layers to be superimposed is four or five. By using a multilayered interference film of only four or five layers, the interference layer is not subject to cracks or film separation occurring during heat processing, due to the difference in thermal expansion coefficients between high and low refractive index material. Further, there still remains enough layers to produce a display highly improved in brightness in the direction of the normal of the face plate pane of the CRT.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a projection cathode ray tube in which an image on a phosphor layer is enlarged and projected on a screen, located at a given distance ahead through a projection lens unit, in front of the phosphor layer.
2. Description of the Related Art
The U.S. Pat. No. 4,642,695 discloses an example for the improvement in efficiency for gathering luminous flux into the projection lens unit from each of the monochromatic cathode ray tubes.
In a conventional cathode ray tube, light emitted from a phosphor screen is in a state of highly close to, what is called, completely scattered light. In a projection television apparatus, a luminous flux emitted from the phosphor screen within the divergent angle of 30.degree. is exclusively utilized, while the other becomes useless luminous flux. According to the above-disclosed example, the brightness of an image on a screen of the projection television is greatly enhanced by converging 30% or more of all luminous flux emitted from elements of the light-emitting phosphors into a cone-shaped area having the divergent angles within -30.degree. to 30.degree..
Further, according to the publication of the Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 61-273837, there is disclosed a projection type cathode ray tube having a multilayered interference filter composed of alternately superimposed high refractive index material layers and low refractive index material layers, disposed between the inner surface of a face plate pane of the cathode ray tube and a luminescent material layer provided at the innermost of the cathode ray tube, for example. As examples of structural components, tantalum pentoxide (Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5) or titanium dioxide (TiO.sub.2) is used as the high refractive index material, whereas silicon dioxide (SiO.sub.2) or magnesium fluoride (MgF.sub.2) is used as the low refractive index material. In general, the multilayered interference film is formed of the low refractive index material layers and the high refractive index material layers alternately superimposed in six layers or more.
In a projection cathode ray tube having a conventional multilayered interference film disposed upon the inner surface of the face plate pane, the optical thickness nd of each layer of the multilayered interference film is between 0.2 and 0.3 .lambda..sub.f in accordance with the example disclosed in the publication of the Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 61-273837. Specifically, according to this example, the projection cathode ray tube comprises a multilayered interference film composed of six or more layers, the optical thickness nd of which is within 0.23 to 0.25 .lambda..sub.f, namely, around .lambda..sub.f /4. Here, the following equation is obtained: EQU .lambda..sub.f =p.times..lambda.
where .lambda. denotes a desired central wavelength selected from the emission spectrum of the luminescent material; p, a value in the range from 1.18 to 1.32. As another example, the publication of the Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 61-39349 discloses a projection cathode ray tube having a multilayered interference film composed of layers superimposed within 14 to 30 layers, the optical thickness of which is almost the same as that of the aforementioned example.
The cathode ray tube is generally fabricated through the manufacturing processes as shown in FIG. 2. In these processes, cathode ray tubes are typically manufactured passing through the heat processing steps three times, the temperature of which is approximately within the range of 350.degree. C. to 450.degree. C., such as baking, frit sealing and exhaust steps. In view of the heat processing, before passing through the above-described manufacturing steps, the cathode ray tubes have previously been processed by baking at the temperature ranging from 450.degree. C. to 500.degree. C. so as to secure the multilayered interference film which has been deposited by the evaporation.
However, in the existing multilayered interference film mentioned above, the number of layers comprised therein becomes a great number; for example, it amounts to six or more layers, sometimes up to 14 to 30 layers. Therefore, there is a disadvantage that because of the difference in the thermal expansion coefficients between the high refractive index material and the low refractive index material of the multilayered interference film, a thermal distortion occurs at each layer of the multilayered interference film due to the aforementioned heat processing, thereby causing cracks or a film separation.