A secondary battery includes an anode, a cathode, an electrolyte, and a layer including communicating pores through which ions participating in a battery reaction can move between the anode side and the cathode side and whose sizes can change depending on environment. The electrolyte and the layer are disposed between the anode and the cathode. The battery also includes a battery housing for accommodating these components.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a secondary battery, particularly, to a secondary battery which suppresses the generation of dendritic deposition in lithium metal or zinc metal during repetition of charging/discharging.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, an increase in the earth's temperature due to the greenhouse effect caused by an increase in the amount of CO.sub.2 gas included in the atmosphere has been predicted. Since thermal power plants, which burn fossil fuel and convert obtained thermal energy into electric energy, discharge a large amount of CO.sub.2 gas, it becomes more and more difficult to construct new thermal power plants. Accordingly, in order to effectively utilize electric power generated by generators, such as thermal power plants and the like, so-called load leveling has been proposed in which night power, serving as dump power, is stored in secondary batteries installed in general houses and is used during day time where electric power consumption is large to level the load.
In the field of electric vehicles having the feature of not emitting substances causing air pollution, such as COx, NOx, hydrocarbons and the like, the development of high-energy-density secondary batteries has been expected. In the field of power supplies for portable devices, such as book-size personal computers, word processors, video cameras, portable telephone sets and the like, the development of small, light and high-performance secondary batteries has been urgently requested.
As such small, light and high-performance secondary batteries, so-called "lithium-ion batteries" of a rocking-chair type, which use a lithium-intercalation compound in which lithium ions are deintercalated from between layers in reaction during charging as a cathode (a positive electrode) material, and a carbonous material such as graphite in which lithium ions can be intercalated between layers of a plane having the shape of a six-membered-ring network formed by carbon atoms as an anode (a negative electrode) material, have been developed and partially put into practical use.
In the "lithium-ion battery", however, since the anode made of a carbonous material can theoretically intercalate only 1/6 lithium atom per carbon atom at most, a high-energy-density secondary battery which utilizes with a lithium primary battery using metallic lithium as the anode material has not yet been realized. If it is intended to store a greater amount of lithium than an amount of lithium which can be intercalated between carbon layers of the anode during charging, dendritic lithium metal grows on the surface of the carbonous material to cause short circuit. Accordingly, a high-capacity secondary battery which stores a greater amount of lithium than an amount of lithium capable of being intercalated between layers has not yet been realized.
In high-capacity lithium batteries using metallic lithium as the anode, lithium dendrite which is a principal cause for internal-shorts is apt to be generated by repetition of charging/discharging. Since it is not easy to suppress the growth of such lithium dendrite, it is difficult to provide lithium secondary batteries.
Although lithium secondary batteries using a metal, such as lithium metal, aluminum or the like, as the anode, in which lithium metal is deposited during charging and high energy density can be expected, have been studied, such batteries do not yet have a sufficient life so as to be practically used.
In secondary batteries using a carbonous material for the anode or secondary batteries using an anode where lithium metal is deposited during charging, when lithium dendrite grows to provide a state of internal-shorts between the anode and the cathode, the battery is heated by consumption of the energy of the battery during a short time period, and the solvent of the electrolyte solution is thereby decomposed to generate a gas and increase the internal pressure, thereby, in some cases, damaging the battery. In order to secure safety for lithium secondary batteries including the above-described lithium ion batteries (secondary batteries which utilize the oxidation-reduction reaction of lithium ions will be hereinafter generically termed "lithium secondary batteries"), an attempt has been made in which a porous film made of polyethylene or polypropylene having a melting point of 120.degree. C.-170.degree. C. is used for the separator between the cathode and the anode, and the separator melts when the internal temperature rises to the melting point of the material due to internal-shorts of the battery caused by some reason, to fill pores and thereby to electrically insulate the anode from the cathode and stop the battery reaction. Although this approach functions as a safety precaution for an emergency, this is not a complete solution for drastically increasing the life of the anode of a lithium secondary battery.
In the above-described lithium secondary batteries using a porous film made of an organic polymer as the separator, the battery operates only when the temperature is equal to or higher than 120.degree. C., and the function of the battery having the separator whose pores have been filled with the melted organic polymer does not recover even if the temperature decreases because the state of insulation between the cathode and the anode remains. Accordingly, it is desired to develop means for realizing a high battery capacity, and suppressing the growth of lithium dendrite during charging and thereby increasing the cycle life of the battery.
In secondary batteries such as nickel-zinc batteries or air-zinc batteries, as in lithium secondary batteries, the dendritic deposition of zinc metal is liable to be produced due to the repetition of charging/discharging and threads through the separator to cause internal-shorts between the zinc anode and the cathode, thereby shortening the cycle life.
Accordingly, in lithium secondary batteries and zinc secondary batteries, it is strongly desired to develop a battery having a sufficient cycle life and high capacity.


A wood chipping apparatus which includes a substantially closed chipping area for capturing and chipping slivers. The chipping apparatus includes a rotating cutting disk and a first anvil whereby most wood is chipped. Wood that is chipped passes through slots in the cutting disk to the discharge side of the apparatus. A second anvil or wear plate and an outer containing wall form, with the housing, the disk and the first anvil, a substantially closed compartment adjacent to, but downstream of, the first anvil. Wood parts that escape chipping by the first anvil and pass between the first anvil and the disk are trapped in the compartment until they are chipped by rotating blades which define, together with the disk and one side of the compartment.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an apparatus for chipping large pieces of wood such as logs into small chips and, in particular, to a wood chipper which captures and chips oversized wood pieces, so-called slivers, which are not initially chipped.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional wood chipping machines are exemplified by the disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 3,069,101 to Wexell. Such machines have a horizontal axis about which a cutter disk rotates. A housing surrounds the rotating disk and there is generally one or more infeed chutes through which wood is fed to contact, and be chipped by, cutting blades mounted on the cutter disk. There is also one or more means for outputting the chipped wood from the housing. Typically, chips are blown from the chipper by air which is forced through an exhaust chute, although they may simple drop to a conveyor below the cutter disk.
The cutter disk has a plurality of straight slots, each extending radially from near the center of the disk towards the periphery of the disk. A cutting blade is mounted to one side of the disk adjacent each slot. The cutting blade extends the length of the slot and its cutting edge protrudes from the surface of the disk. The side of the disk having the protruding cutting edges is the front or cutting side of the disk which contacts and chips, incoming logs or other wood parts. As a rotating blade contacts a log, the blade slices the wood, forming chips which pass through the respective slot in the disk to the back side of the disk referred to as the discharge side, where the chip is blown or otherwise removed from the chipper housing.
The logs to be chipped are infed by a conveyor or other means until the log contacts the disk. Typically, the logs or wood pieces are not infed at an angle perpendicular to the surface of the disk, but rather at an acute angle thereto, so they generally are directed towards the vertical axis of the disk. The logs contact the cutting disk and the blades of the disk slice off chips from the end of the log. The chips are severed from the log by the blades of the disk as they pass a stationary anvil or wear plate. The anvil or wear plate is attached to an anvil support which extends from the housing or interior side of the infeed chute towards the cutter disk. The anvil or wear plate edge extends from the support so that there is only a small gap between the anvil edge and the rotating blades of the cutting disk, thus defining a cutting interface between the blades and the anvil. The gap between the anvil and the blades is generally about 0.0001 to 0.00005 of an inch. The anvil edge acts as a cutting surface for the rotating blades to cut against. The chipper is self feeding in that the impact and cutting action of each successive blade pulls the log or wood pieces to the disk so as to be in position for the next cutting blade.
Occasionally, instead of properly severing chips from the log, the cutting blade will draw a sliver of wood past the anvil through the small gap between the anvil and the cutting blades. The sliver is typically of the relatively tough wood from the outer surface of the log, just under the bark. This tough wood tends to split from the side of the log and be pulled through the gap between the anvil and blades rather than be properly cut by the blades. The resulting slivers are often considerably thicker than the width of the gap due to the deformability of the wood and possibly deflection of the disk. The sliver may be up to 1/8 of an inch thick and may be as much as a few feet long because the blades can successively and continuously draw the unchipped sliver through the blade/anvil gap. Once a piece of wood passes between the anvil and the knit it is inside the housing and can freely move to the discharge side of the disk. The large unchipped slivers can then be exhausted with the other chipped material. The result is that the chips created from the logs are contaminated with oversize slivers which must be later separated and separately rechipped or otherwise processed further.
With conventional chippers there is no way to prevent large unchipped slivers from becoming mixed with the desirable wood chips.


A method of measuring a movement, the method comprising the steps of: acquiring and digitizing both a first measurement voltage across the terminals of a first secondary winding and also a second measurement voltage across the terminals of a second secondary winding of an inductive movement sensor; multiplying the first measurement voltage by itself in order to obtain a first component of a crossed vector, multiplying the second measurement voltage by itself in order to obtain a second component of the crossed vector, and multiplying together the first measurement voltage and the second measurement voltage in order to obtain a third component of the crossed vector; applying the crossed vector as input to a lowpass filter in order to obtain a filtered vector, and estimating the movement from the components of the filtered vector.

Inductive movement sensors, such as linear variable differential transformers (LVDTs), rotary variable differential transformers (RVDTs), or resolvers are used in multiple applications in various industrial fields.
In particular, numerous inductive movement sensors are to be found in modern aircraft, where electromechanical actuators are progressively replacing both actuators that are purely mechanical and also actuators that are hydraulic.
Conventionally, such an inductive movement sensor includes a primary coil, a first secondary coil, and a second secondary coil. An excitation voltage is applied to the terminals of the primary coil. A first measurement voltage is generated across the terminals of the first secondary coil, and a second measurement voltage is generated across the terminals of the second secondary coil.
An electrical processor circuit then acquires the first measurement voltage and the second measurement voltage, and estimates the axial or angular movement on the basis of the first measurement voltage and of the second measurement voltage.
Synchronous demodulation is often used in the electrical processor circuit in order to estimate the movement. Synchronous demodulation consists in particular in multiplying the first measurement voltage by the in-phase excitation voltage and by the quadrature excitation voltage, and in multiplying the second measurement voltage by the in-phase excitation voltage and by the quadrature excitation voltage.
The electrical processor circuit must therefore acquire the excitation voltage in order to perform synchronous demodulation.
However, it frequently happens that the excitation voltage is not generated by the electrical processor circuit, but by an electrical generator circuit that is distinct from the electrical processor circuit and that is potentially situated at a certain distance away from the electrical processor circuit. By way of example, the electrical processor circuit may be integrated in equipment that is situated in the hold of the aircraft, while the electrical generator circuit may be integrated, for example, in remote equipment that is situated in the proximity of an actuator.
The electrical processor circuit and the electrical generator circuit therefore need to be connected together by a cable that conveys the excitation voltage to the electrical processor circuit.


A sensor device for detecting at least one property of a flowing fluid medium includes: at least one moisture sensor; and at least one application device for applying the flowing fluid medium to the moisture sensor. The application device includes at least one diaphragm and at least one protective device which has at least one guide rib structure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sensor device for detecting moisture of a flowing fluid medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
Numerous sensor devices for detecting at least one property of a flowing fluid medium are known from the related art. The property may basically be any arbitrary physically and/or chemically measurable property which may qualify and/or quantify a flowing fluid medium. In particular, the property may be moisture, in particular humidity, and/or a mass flow and/or a flow velocity and/or a volume flow and/or a pressure, for example an air pressure. The present invention is described below in particular with reference to gas sensors and concentration sensors as described, for example, in Robert Bosch GmbH: Sensoren im Kraftfahrzeug [Automotive Sensors], 2010 Edition, pages 98-101, and/or temperature sensors as described, for example, in Robert Bosch GmbH: Sensoren im Kraftfahrzeug, 2010 Edition, pages 102-111, and/or hot film air mass meters as described, for example, in Robert Bosch GmbH: Sensoren im Kraftfahrzeug, 2010 Edition, pages 146-148. The flowing fluid medium may be a gas or a liquid, for example. The present invention is described below with reference in particular to combustion air and/or exhaust gases of internal combustion engines, for example motor vehicles. However, other applications are also possible in principle.
For example, for more accurate pilot control of an injection quantity and/or for more precise control of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), it may be necessary to detect the moisture, for example a specific moisture, of drawn-in combustion air. For example, moisture sensors are known from the related art which may be integrated into an air mass meter, or which as a separate sensor may be independently integrated into an intake tract.
Further applications of a sensor device, in particular a moisture sensor, are possible in principle. For example, in low-pressure exhaust gas recirculation (LP-EGR), water vapor may condense in an EGR cooler and/or in a charge air cooler. In particular there may be a risk of corrosion, for example due to acid formation, and/or water impact and/or freezing. In such a system, in each case a bypass is generally provided for an affected cooler, in particular for a charge air cooler, whereby the bypass may be controlled as a function of, among other things, the moisture content, for example the humidity, of the intake air, for example to avoid condensation in a targeted manner.
Capacitive moisture sensors in particular are known from the related art, in which the measuring effect may typically occur due to a change in the electrical capacitance of a hygroscopic polymer. In the process, water molecules typically diffuse into a dielectric as a function of the relative humidity, in particular a relative ambient humidity, and change a capacitance, in particular the electrical capacitance, of the polymer layer due to the high permittivity of water (∈w=80).
German patent application document DE 10 2010 043 083.3 proposes, for example, a sensor device for detecting a flow property of a fluid medium, the sensor device including at least one sensor housing within which at least one pressure sensor and at least one moisture sensor are accommodated. The sensor device may include at least one diaphragm, in particular at least one diaphragm that is at least partially permeable to moisture.
Moisture sensors may be designed as independent sensors or integrated into an air mass sensor. The sensor may include, for example, at least one electronic module and at least one sensor element that is fitted onto at least one plastic frame which has at least one diaphragm that is permeable to water vapor. In addition, the sensor may include at least one fitted-on electronics compartment cover having at least one recess which may allow, for example, a media exchange, in particular an exchange of the flowing fluid medium, with the air in the intake tract.
A sensor for an internal combustion engine, including an air mass meter which has a sensor element for detecting the drawn-in air mass, is known from published European patent document EP 1 017 931 B1. A moisture sensor and a pressure sensor as well as an evaluation circuit for processing the data which are output by the air mass meter or its sensor element, the moisture sensor, and the pressure sensor are provided adjacent to the air mass meter or its sensor element, and situated in a single housing.
The sensor devices known from the related art have several disadvantages. For example, an improvement in the robustness of the sensor device, which in particular includes a moisture sensor, against particle discharge from the flowing fluid medium, in particular a gaseous medium, to be measured would be desirable. Distortion of a measuring signal and/or destruction of the sensor device, for example the sensor, in particular by dust and/or air particles and/or oil and/or water droplets should be avoided. It would be desirable, for example, to protect the moisture sensor, in particular a hygroscopic film which encloses the moisture sensor, from the influence of foreign gases and/or condensation with dirty condensate. This could result in a reversible or irreversible change in a characteristic and/or an ohmic shunt and/or formation of a microclimate and/or corrosion of terminal contacts. Effective protection of the sensor device, in particular the sensor element, may be ensured, for example, by the diaphragm which is permeable to water vapor. For example, water droplets and/or dirty condensate and/or coarse dirt particles may thus be kept away from the sensor device, in particular the sensor element. However, due to solid particles that are entrained in the flowing fluid medium, in particular in the flow, the diaphragm itself may be mechanically damaged and/or filled with dirty condensate in such a way that, for example, water vapor may be hindered or prevented from passing through. In the worst case, a measuring effect may be completely lost, for example due to complete coverage of the surface of the diaphragm with an oil layer. Therefore, a sensor device for detecting at least one property of a flowing fluid medium would be desirable which at least partially suppresses or mitigates the disadvantages of the sensor devices known from the related art.

Sensor device for detecting at least the moisture of a flowing fluid medium


Systems and methods for classifying images (e.g., ads) are described. An image is accessed. Optical character recognition is performed on at least a first portion of the image. Image recognition is performed via a convolutional neural network on at least a second portion of the image. At least one class for the image is automatically identified, via a fully connected neural network, based on one or more predictions, each of the one or more predictions being based on both the optical character recognition and the image recognition. Finally, the at least one class identified for the image is output.

Image classification, which is a well-known problem in the field of computer vision, pertains to how computers can learn aspects of digital images or videos. Companies typically manually classify images, costing significant sums of money. That is, manual classification is performed by a human answering questions with respect to displayed images. Current approaches often produce misclassifications due to human error, and they are both unreliable and slow. A problem often encountered is that the media to be classified may be of a different type (e.g., video of one of a variety of different video formats, image of one of a variety of different image formats, GIF, etc.) and different size. Further, media, especially for advertisements (ads), can be of low resolution and/or low contrast.
Known image classification techniques are based on support vector machines (SVMs), but they are underperforming. Other approaches may rely on a brute force matching approach for logo or brand recognition, these types of operations performing slowly and being costly. Known techniques further do not extract text from advertisements for logo or brand recognition.
There is thus a need for an approach that is more accurate, is faster, has unlimited scope of classification (e.g., scalable), has a low recurring cost, and that is more reliable.

System and method for multi-modal image classification


A hooked stub collinear array antenna formed from a single conductor. The antenna operates at a design frequency having an associated wavelength. The antenna includes a plurality of radiating elements that are substantially one half the wavelength. The radiating elements are aligned with a longitudinal axis of the antenna. The antenna further includes a delay element connected between each of the plurality of radiating elements. The delay element is aligned with a transverse axis approximately ninety degrees from the longitudinal axis. The delay element extends approximately one quarter of the wavelength from the longitudinal axis and adjacent delay elements of a plurality of delay elements are sequentially rotated at 90 degree intervals relative to each other about the longitudinal axis. The total length of the delay element is approximately one half the wavelength.

The present invention relates generally to wireless communications systems and more particularly to a hooked stub collinear antenna and a method for making the same.
For a wireless communications system, an omni-directional antenna is often desirable such that the coverage area, i.e., transmission and/or reception, is generally uniform in all azimuth directions relative to the location of the antenna. As a particular example, for wireless network access points and bridges, an antenna having an omni-directional pattern with vertical polarization characteristics, a uniform horizontal plane pattern, low cross-polarization characteristics, and moderate gain, e.g., 5 to 10 decibels referenced to an isotropic radiator (5 to 10 dBi), and with greater than five percent bandwidth is desirable.
A number of approaches are commonly used to implement omni-directional antennas. More specifically, these approaches often use collinear aperture fed arrays, periodic loaded structures, or periodic sleeve dipoles. Generally, omni-directional antennas implemented using any one of these approaches include many parts, and are often fragile and difficult to manufacture. These antennas also typically have narrow bandwidths. For example, wire helix sections typically include many parts and are fragile and difficult to construct, having bandwidths less than five percent. Furthermore, wire stub sections generally have asymmetrical horizontal plane symmetry and narrow bandwidths. Approaches including a variety of periodic aperture fed or loaded structures printed on circuit board materials are easy to fabricate and are rugged. However, an omni-directional antenna using periodic aperture fed or loaded structures printed on one or more circuit boards typically lacks horizontal plane symmetry.
Thus, there exists a need for an omni-directional antenna with vertical polarization characteristics, a uniform horizontal plane pattern, low cross-polarization characteristics, and moderate gain, with greater than five percent bandwidth. Moreover, such an omni-directional antenna should be easy to manufacture.


A machine for punching sheet metal includes a counterpunch holder unit including a supporting disk mounted for rotation about a main axis and supporting a number of counterpunch holder assemblies, each including a respective counterpunch. Each counterpunch holder assembly includes a main body secured to the supporting disk. Each main body includes a seat, which extends coaxially with the main body axis which is parallel to the main axis. Each counterpunch holder assembly further includes an extracting body housed in an axially-movable manner inside the seat to support the bottom of the respective counterpunch. A positive actuating assembly moves the extracting body axially to extract the counterpunch from the respective seat.

The present invention relates to a sheet metal punching machine.
Currently known sheet metal punching machines comprise a frame; a work table supported on the frame; and a punching unit located over the work table at a work station. The punching unit comprises a counterpunch holder unit located beneath the work table at the work station; a ram located over the work table at the work station; and a punch holder unit located over the work table, between the ram and the counterpunch holder unit.
The counterpunch holder unit comprises a supporting disk, which is located beneath and parallel to the work table and supports a number of counterpunch holder assemblies, each fitted integrally with at least a respective counterpunch. The supporting disk is rotated in steps about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the work table to position a respective counterpunch at the work station.
Similarly, the punch holder unit comprises a respective supporting disk, which is located over and parallel to the work table and supports a number of punch holder assemblies, each fitted integrally with at least a respective punch. The supporting disk is rotated in steps about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the work table to position a respective punch at the work station.
At the work station, the ram, punch and counterpunch are aligned along a common axis perpendicular to the work table; and known machines also comprise a sheet handling device for positioning a sheet between the punch and the counterpunch at the work station.
In the course of a normal operating cycle, machines of the above type require replacement of some of the punches and/or counterpunches, which must be done with the machine at rest. For which purpose, machines of the above type may feature a manipulating assembly to facilitate removal and replacement of the punches and/or counterpunches.
The main drawback of such machines is the amount of work and downtime involved in replacing the counterpunches, which may weigh heavily on the running cost of the machine.
While reducing downtime, which nevertheless is still considerable, currently known manipulating assemblies seriously complicate the structure of the machine, thus frequently impairing reliability and greatly increasing production cost. Such assemblies in fact are extremely complicated and expensive, and are subject to breakdowns which in themselves prevent the machine from being operated.

Machine for punching sheet metal with a counterpunch extracting means


A safety binding for skis designed to hold the front end of a boot and to release the front end of the ski boot from the ski under a predeterminate force. The binding includes a quantity of shock-absorbing material positioned below and mounted to the base of the binding and above the upper surface of the ski for filtering vibrations transmitted by the ski to the ski boot and for absorbing stresses between the ski boot and the ski. The binding also includes a compensating mechanism that includes an arrangement for reducing the predeterminate biasing force of the retention element of the binding in response to a downward force exerted by the ski boot.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a safety binding for a ski, which is adapted to retain the front end of a boot on a ski, and to release the end of the boot when it exerts an excessive force on its binding.
More specifically, the invention is related to the contact plate, that is associated to the front retention element of the boot, and on which the sole of the boot rests.
2. Description of Background and Relevant Information
Support elements that are affixed to the ski or to the base of the binding are known. Generally, these elements are constituted by a base plate on which an anti-friction surface is affixed, most often a polytetrafluoroethylene plate. Such a support element has been described, for example, in French Patent Publication No. 2,533,832.
Support elements that comprise a base plate affixed to the ski and a laterally movable support plate are also known. This support plate, on which the sole rests, can be displaced laterally with the sole. In this case, during release of the boot, the friction is localized between the support plate and the base plate and not between the lower surface of the sole and the support of the boot on the ski.
French Patent Publication No. 2,449,459 describes such a support element, with a support plate that is laterally movable with the element that retains the front of the boot.
German Patent Publication No. 2,333,166 describes another embodiment, according to which the support plate is independent of the jaw, but is connected to the base plate of the support element by an elastic return device.
The support elements that are known have the disadvantage that all the vibrations, jolts or shocks to which the ski is subjected, along a vertical direction, are directly transmitted to the boot. The boot is in fact in direct support on the ski by the intermediary of elements that are non-deformable along a vertical direction.
These shocks and vibrations form a part of the information that the skier perceives by means of his skis, his boots and his bindings. It is on the basis of this information that the skier controls his movements to adjust his position or to execute a turn or to position his running edges, for example.
These shocks and these vibrations, if directly transmitted, are harmful because their amplitude is excessive with respect to the amount of other information that the skier receives. These shocks and these vibrations momentarily mask other information.


A table saw cart comprised of a framework of a carrier containing multiple lateral and longitudinal frames, a foldable frame and a set of front wheels; those longitudinal frames being movable for adjustment to compromise the size of the individual machine; expansion and elevation brackets adapted to both sides of the carrier providing effective positioning for the work piece by eccentric locking device adapted with a handle, gravity self-locking device, and rotary limiting frame; elevated extension rods on both sides of the front legs of the cart firmly securing the cart when erected; erection of cart being controlled by a pull with three sets of locking pin; and a hidden leg being provided to the front wheels of the cart to lift up the rubber wheels out of the ground when the cart is stretched out.

(a) Field of the Invention
(b) Description of the Prior Art
A table saw cart of the prior art for carrying a sawing machine or similar machine as taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,722,618 and 6,314,893 provides a cart exclusively design for carrying the awing machine or similar machine to operate thereon and is adapted with foldable frame legs. However, no safety position means is provided of the prior art resulting in displacement of the cart due to the strong vibration from the machine while operating. Therefore, the prior art is vulnerable to operating problems and safety concerns.


Rheological quantities, such as shear stress, can sometimes be difficult to determine under extreme temperature and pressure conditions. In contrast, the relative rheology of a fluid can often be readily determined over a range of temperature and pressure conditions. The relative rheology can then be used to scale a rheological quantity of the fluid to a given temperature and pressure condition. Methods for scaling a rheological quantity can comprise: measuring an apparent viscosity of a drilling fluid at first, second and third reference temperature and pressure conditions; determining a rate of change in apparent viscosity with respect to temperature at a substantially equal pressure; determining a rate of change in apparent viscosity with respect to pressure at a substantially equal temperature; and scaling a rheological quantity from an initial set of temperature and pressure conditions to a final set of temperature and pressure conditions using the rates of change.

The present disclosure generally relates to rheological properties, and, more specifically, to methods for determining the rheology of drilling fluids in a wellbore.
Drilling fluids, also known as drilling muds, are specially designed treatment fluids that are circulated through a wellbore to facilitate a drilling operation. As used herein, the terms "treat," "treatment," "treating," and grammatical equivalents thereof refer to any subterranean operation that uses a fluid in conjunction with achieving a desired function and/or for a desired purpose. Use of these terms does not imply any particular action by the treatment fluid or a component thereof, unless otherwise specified herein. Drilling fluids can be oil-based or water-based, and the choice of a particular type of drilling fluid may be influenced by various factors. Functions of a drilling fluid during a drilling operation can include, for example, removing drill cuttings from the wellbore, cooling and lubricating the drill bit, aiding in the support of the drill pipe and the drill bit, and maintaining sufficient wellbore pressure to provide wellbore integrity and to prevent blowouts from occurring.
Although the hydrostatic pressure provided by drilling fluids is desirable to stabilize the subterranean formation and to contain fluids in the wellbore, formation damage and fluid loss can result if the wellbore pressure is excessive. Correspondingly, if the wellbore pressure is too low, formation fluids may enter the wellbore and create a blow out situation. Accordingly, it can be desirable to know the equivalent circulating density (ECD) of a drilling fluid in a wellbore in order to help maintain the wellbore pressure in a desired range. ECD represents the combined effect of hydrostatic fluid pressure, hydraulic pressure losses and choke pressure, among other factors. Hydraulic models can be used to predict the ECD and manage wellbore pressures during a drilling process. By applying hydraulic models, a well operator can better regulate and optimize a drilling operation by effectively managing wellbore pressures and maximizing the rate of penetration of the drill bit into the subterranean formation. Such modeling results can be compared to pressure-while-drilling (PWD) measurements in order to actively manage a drilling process by regulating factors such as, for example, pump rates, drill bit rotation rates, rates of penetration, choke pressures, and tripping speeds, not to mention varying the composition of the drilling fluid itself. In the absence of direct pressure measurements, such as PWD, reliance on hydraulic models may be especially important.
The rheology of a drilling fluid can determine whether it is able to deliver sufficient cuttings transport and sag resistance while maintaining pressure in a wellbore under a particular set of temperature and pressure conditions. Effects of inadequate rheological properties in a drilling fluid can include, for example, pressure loss in the wellbore, blowouts, weighting agent sag, poor cuttings transport, stuck pipe and the like. Excessive hydrostatic pressures resulting from inadequate rheological properties can also lead to issues such as lost circulation and unintentional fracturing.
Temperature and pressure can significantly impact the rheology of a drilling fluid. Although a drilling fluid may have an initial rheological performance resulting from its formulated composition, the rheological performance can change due to added materials (e.g., drill cuttings) entering the drilling fluid in-process during a drilling operation. The continual influx of drill cuttings and other added materials to a drilling fluid during a drilling operation in a wellbore can significantly complicate the determination of the drilling fluid's rheological performance. Drill cuttings and other added materials from the wellbore may be highly variable in nature, and the amount and identity of added materials present in the drilling fluid at any given point in time can fluctuate. Such variability can make it difficult to determine true composition of a drilling fluid and its associated rheological properties at any given time or wellbore locale, particularly when considering the further factors of temperature and pressure variance within the wellbore. Accordingly, it is often difficult to accurately model the downhole rheological performance of a drilling fluid based only upon measurements obtained in a laboratory setting.
Certain rheological properties, such as a fluid's change in apparent viscosity as a function of temperature and/or pressure, may be readily measured over a wide range of temperature and pressure conditions. However, some rheological properties can be difficult to determine under extreme temperature and pressure conditions, even in a laboratory setting, due to instrumental limitations. For example, shear stress and shear rate are rheological quantities that may be especially useful in determining a drilling fluid's ECD in a wellbore, but they can be difficult to measure under extreme temperature and pressure conditions. Although shear stress and shear rate may be readily measured in a laboratory setting at routine temperatures and pressures using a couette-style viscometer (e.g., a Fann 35 viscometer), many couette-style viscometers are completely unsuitable for use in the extreme temperatures and pressures that are commonly encountered downhole. Those that are adaptable to extreme temperature and pressure conditions (e.g., Fann 75 and Fann 77 viscometers) are exceedingly cumbersome and time-consuming to use. Accordingly, there is presently no simple way to determine certain high-interest rheological quantities of a drilling fluid under the temperature, pressure and compositional in-process conditions present within a wellbore. Other factors that may be of note in determining such rheological quantities in a wellbore environment include the variable and transient temperatures of a fluid progressing through the wellbore due to heat transfer to and from the subterranean formation, and extreme swings in temperature range, such as those encountered in deepwater drilling operations.

Methods for determining rheological quantities of a drilling fluid using apparent viscosity


An apparatus and method for establishing a sealed ecological system that is self-sustaining, remains in dynamic equilibrium over successive generations of organisms. The wastes generated by one set of organisms are consumed entirely by other organisms as nutrients. This nutrient-waste balance is achieved by limiting the amounts of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium present at the start-up of the system. Further stability and water clarity is achieved by the use of aquatic plants.

Sealed systems that contain living organisms and utilize photons as an energy source to maintain the health of living organisms inside usually are called "closed ecological systems". While many simplified closed ecological systems exist, complex systems that remain in dynamic equilibrium over multiple generations of macro organisms exploiting closed-loop gas and nutrient cycles have been desired but were not attained until the present invention.
One advantage of a sealed environment with a complex ecosystem is that biogeochemical processes occurring within the system can be quantified and the genetic make up of the system can be controlled. Scientific study seeks to vary only one parameter at a time. Sealed ecological systems allow for such parameter control. For example, by the control of one parameter among many, the biogeochemical and ecosystem effects of the one variable can be studied. Studies can employ multiple sealed systems to analyze the impact of various parameters. For example, the effects of low level industrial pollution, or the fate of a new genetically-engineered organism in an ecosystem lend themselves to such study.
Previous to the invention described herein, short-term stability was obtained only in simple closed ecosystems that did not include plants and for only as long as the animals contained in the system survived. The animals were not reproducing. The lack of species diversity in these systems as well as the non-reproducing animals make these systems less desirable than the present invention for research purposes. The present invention provides a closed ecological system which remains in dynamic equilibrium, in which material cycles are closed, and which contains species from the kingdoms plantae, animalia or fungi that reproduce and sustain multiple generations.
Previous prior art attempts at creating a stable, complex, closed ecological system have met with limited success and have used the following three principles. First, enhance net primary production by providing a nutrient supply for photosynthetic organism that maintains a high rate of photosynthesis, which ensures adequate food and oxygen for organisms in the system. Second, enhance net primary production by providing a source of carbon for the photosynthetic organisms, maximizing plant production. Third, enhance system stability by providing separate compartments with controlled material exchange between compartments. The inventors of the present invention have found that individually, and in combination, the above three factors used in the prior art actually diminish the stability of a closed ecological system.
Closed ecological systems utilizing the three principles above have been available for years. Systems built by Dr. Claire Folsome of the University of Hawaii starting in the 1960s and the system marketed as the "Ecosphere" are microbially-based, and do not support breeding populations of plants and animals. Although these systems are closed ecosystems, they do not parallel the complex ecosystems found in the natural world. Additionally, because they do not include reproducing populations of plants and animals they are of limited value in research and education. The present invention allows much greater species richness and diversity, and allow all kingdoms of life to exist within a single, relatively small system.
Other ecosystems, designed for aesthetic and educational uses and commonly called vivariums, lack the ability to remain in dynamic equilibrium when sealed for extended periods of time. U.S. Pat. No. 4,122,800 to Mangarell 1978 4,958,593 to Hurlburt et al. 1990 5,328,049 to Ritzow 1994 5,183,004 to Trent et al. 1993 5,054,424 to Sy 1991 5,135,400 to Ramey 1992, and 4,117,805 to Ward 1978, are all variations of the vivarium concept. All of these are meant to be unsealed or never sealed in order to facilitate regular and scheduled cleaning and internal housekeeping of the plants, animal species and soil and/or water changes. Cleaning is necessary because the systems, as assembled, do not contain inherent controls on the proliferation of microbial life forms that will eventually dominate and destroy the life systems within. Thus dynamic equilibrium cannot be maintained in these prior art inventions. For example, Mangarell '800 describes a "self contained" system, but actually contains only the macro organisms, solids or liquid material. Atmospheric gases, particulates, microbial and/or viral life forms are not prevented from entering or exiting the system. These systems are also not transportable. The present invention allows for transportation for display and study.
Biological systems that filter or otherwise cleanse liquid and gas are commonplace. However, most, like U.S. Pat. No. 4,093,546 to Taborsky 1978 or U.S. Pat. No. 3,957,017 to Carmignani et al. 1976, use non-renewable filters to support the biological systems. Thus human intervention is required for maintenance or replacement using such systems. The present invention is self-sustaining and requires no maintenance.
The most ambitious closed ecological system in the prior art is that system known as "Biosphere 2," located in Oracle, Ariz. One patent is applicable to the invention described herein: U.S. Pat. No. 5,322,035 to Hawes et al. 1994, for a Hydrological System for a Closed Ecological System. While the Hawes discloses a hydrological cycle within a closed ecological system, an "ocean", a crabwalk, a desalination process, agricultural systems and particularly mechanical systems are required to maintain stability. Hawes does not provide for the transport of nutrients from one environment to another, with no balancing of nutrient production and uptake between species. Thus, the Hawes system is subject to imbalances which must be controlled by operator intervention. The present invention overcomes the prior art limitations, provides for nutrient transport and balancing without operator intervention. The present invention allows a sealed ecological system to remain in dynamic equilibrium without human intervention.

Stable and reproducible sealed complex ecosystems


A fail-safe device and a fail-safe method for an engine clutch actuator for a hybrid vehicle may facilitate conversion into a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) mode even upon failure of an engine clutch actuator by diagnosing a failure state of an electric vehicle (EV) mode due to failure of the engine clutch actuator using a pressure sensor mounted on an actuator master cylinder of the engine clutch actuator when a driving mode is converted from the EV mode to the HEV mode, transmitting a diagnostic signal to a hybrid control unit, and allowing hydraulic oil in the actuator master cylinder to be easily supplied into a concentric slave cylinder using a separate emergency actuator when the driving mode is converted from the EV mode to the HEV mode.

(a) Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a fail-safe device and a fail-safe method for an engine clutch actuator for a hybrid vehicle. More particularly, it relates to a fail-safe device and a fail-safe method for an engine clutch actuator for a hybrid vehicle, which facilitate conversion from an electric vehicle (EV) mode to a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) mode when an actuator for a dry type engine clutch fails, and enable synchronization between an engine and an engine clutch to be performed by operating the engine in advance.
(b) Description of the Related Art
A hybrid vehicle, which is a kind of environmentally-friendly vehicle, may implement various power transmission structures using an engine and a driving motor as power sources, and usually includes driving modes such as an EV mode in which the vehicle travels using only driving power of the driving motor, and an HEV mode in which the vehicle travels using driving power from both the engine and the driving motor.
The HEV mode in which the vehicle travels while power from the engine is output together with power from the driving motor is implemented at the time of engaging an engine clutch disposed between the engine and the driving motor, and the EV mode in which power of the engine is shut off and the vehicle travels using only power from the driving motor is implemented at the time of disengaging the engine clutch.
In a case in which a dry type engine clutch is applied as the engine clutch, a separate engine clutch actuator for operating the engine clutch is mounted in order to perform conversion into the HEV mode or the EV mode, and the engine clutch actuator (E/C ACT) is applied to a hybrid system that is provided based on a dual clutch transmission (DCT).
Hereinafter, a configuration of an engine clutch actuator in the related art will be described with reference to FIG. 1 (RELATED ART).
In FIG. 1 (RELATED ART), reference numeral 10 indicates an engine clutch actuator that uses electricity and hydraulic pressure.
The engine clutch actuator 10 is disposed between an engine 30 and a driving motor 40, and serves to engage an engine clutch 20 with an engine side in the HEV mode that is performed using power from both the engine and the driving motor. In contrast, in the EV mode that is performed using only power from the driving motor, the engine clutch actuator 10 serves to disengage the engine clutch 20 from the engine side.
An electric motor 11 is disposed at one side of the engine clutch actuator 10, and an actuator master cylinder 14 is disposed at the other side of the engine clutch actuator 10.
A screw shaft 12 is adopted as an output shaft of the electric motor, and a rectilinearly movable block 13 is fastened to the screw shaft 12 in an inserted manner.
In addition, a first piston 15 is disposed in the actuator master cylinder 14, and a back side of the first piston 15 is connected with the rectilinearly movable block 13 by a piston rod.
The actuator master cylinder 14 is connected with a concentric slave cylinder 17 by a hydraulic pipe 16 so as to exchange the hydraulic oil with the concentric slave cylinder 17.
A second piston 19 is disposed in the concentric slave cylinder 17, the second piston 19 is connected with a pressing plate 18 by a piston rod, and the engine clutch 20 is mounted on the pressing plate 18.
In this case, a flywheel 21 of the engine is positioned at a side that faces the engine clutch 20.
Hereinafter, an operation flow of the engine clutch actuator having the aforementioned configuration will be described.
Conversion from HEV Mode to EV Mode
First, a local control unit (LCU), which receives a signal from a hybrid control unit (HCU), operates the electric motor 11.
Therefore, the screw shaft 12 is rotated in a forward direction by the operation of the electric motor 11, and the rectilinearly movable block 13 is rectilinearly moved in a forward direction.
Consecutively, the rectilinearly movable block 13 pulls the first piston 15 in the actuator master cylinder 14 in the forward direction, and at the same time, the second piston 19, which is moved in a rearward direction by elastic restoring force of a return spring, presses the hydraulic oil in the concentric slave cylinder 17, such that the hydraulic oil is supplied into the actuator master cylinder 14 through the hydraulic pipe 16.
In this case, as the second piston 19 is moved in the rearward direction, the engine clutch 20 connected with the pressing plate 18 is separated from the flywheel 21 of the engine, and as a result, the engine clutch is in a disengaged state.
When the engine clutch is in the disengaged state as described above, the vehicle travels in the EV mode that uses only power from the driving motor instead of using power from the engine.
Conversion from EV Mode to HEV Mode
The screw shaft 12 of the electric motor 11 is rotated in a reverse direction, and the rectilinearly movable block 13 is rectilinearly moved in the rearward direction.
Consecutively, the rectilinearly movable block 13 pushes the first piston 15 in the actuator master cylinder 14 in the rearward direction, and at the same time, the hydraulic oil in the actuator master cylinder 14 is supplied into the concentric slave cylinder 17 through the hydraulic pipe 16 by pressing force of the first piston 15.
Consecutively, the hydraulic oil supplied into the concentric slave cylinder 17 pushes the second piston 19 in the forward direction, such that the second piston 19 is moved forward while compressing the return spring, and pushes the pressing plate 18.
Therefore, the engine clutch 20 connected with the pressing plate 18 is coupled to the flywheel 21 of the engine, and as a result, the engine clutch is in an engaged state.
When the engine clutch is in the engaged state as described above, the HEV mode in which the vehicle travels using power from both the engine and the driving motor is implemented.
As described above, the dry type engine clutch is engaged or disengaged by the engine clutch actuator, such that the HEV mode or the EV mode may be easily implemented.
In a case in which the electric motor cannot be operated, that is, the electric motor fails because of various reasons such as burnout of the electric motor of the engine clutch actuator or disconnection of lines for supplying electric power to the electric motor when the vehicle travels in the EV mode as described above, a controller may determine that it is difficult to allow the vehicle to continuously travel in the EV mode, and may apply logic for commanding the conversion into the HEV mode.
However, because the rectilinearly movable block 13, and the first piston 15 in the actuator master cylinder 14 as well as the screw shaft 12 cannot be moved due to the failure of the electric motor, the hydraulic oil in the actuator master cylinder 14 cannot be supplied into the concentric slave cylinder 17, and as a result, there is a problem in that the engine clutch cannot be engaged, and the conversion into the HEV mode cannot be properly performed.
Particularly, if the engine is not operated even when the driving mode is converted from the EV mode to the HEV mode, there is a problem in that a large amount of vibration and noise may occur due to a collision between the engine in a stationary state and the engine clutch that is connected with the driving motor and rotated.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Fail-safe device and fail-safe method for engine clutch actuator for hybrid vehicle


A portable keyboard enables full QWERTY touch typing with both hands or full QWERTY typing with one hand without external support. The keyboard includes a number of keypads that are selectively positionable to configure the keyboard in different keyboard configurations for use.

Handheld computers and other handheld electronic devices are very popular. These devices are held in the palm of the hand and typically run applications that store calendar and contact information, access the Internet or wireless telephone systems, or do word processing and the like. Such applications require the entry of numbers and text into the device.
Handheld electronic devices typically include a small keyboard for entering numbers and text. The keyboard has miniaturized keys laid out in a standard QWERTY arrangement. "QWERTY" refers to the most commonly used arrangement of keys on a keyboard and is named after the arrangement of letters in the left-hand corner of the keyboard. Because of their small size, the keys require "hunt and peck" typing with a single finger or a stylus. In either case, touch typing is impossible and data input is slow and tedious.
Some handheld devices include keyboards which eliminate keys to reduce size. Such keyboards require a "chording" system wherein two or more keys must be simultaneously pressed to generate keystrokes for the eliminated keys. Chording systems also do not enable touch typing and data input is slow.
Folding keyboards for handheld devices are also known. These keyboards open to form a full-sized keyboard similar to conventional keyboards used with desktop computers. Although these keyboards do allow touch typing, the keyboard must be supported on a flat work surface or table during use.
To meet the need for improved portable keyboards, my U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,370,018 and 6,392,870 (each of which is fully incorporated by reference herein) disclose portable keyboards that enable touch typing with both hands without external support. The '870 patent discloses one such portable keyboard that can be used in two different keyboard configurations for desktop touch typing or for hand-held touch typing. Two keypads are placed on opposite sides of the keyboard or adjacent each other to form the two keyboard configurations.
Although my portable keyboards are easy to use and provides many advantages, it is desirable to further increase user flexibility and provide more typing options. When hand-held, my keyboards are intended for two-hand touch typing. It is desired to offer the option of a hand-held keyboard that can also offer a full QWERTY keyboard for one-hand typing.


A web extension and content are linked contextually. A user interaction with the content launches a process to match a regular expression rule from the web extension to a portion of the content. An entity matching the regular expression rule is recorded and transmitted back to the web extension. Matched entity is integrated into the rule. The integrated rule is displayed in a web extension pane. The integrated rule and the entity are highlighted within the web extension pane and the content pane, respectively. The highlighted entity and the highlighted rule illustrate a contextual link between the web extension and the content.

Data analysis is an integral part of modern services provided by software. Analysis services span a vast array of information mining and mapping. Analysis systems receive content from variety of resources including business and social networking systems. User information is also gathered and collected from ever expanding array of personal devices. User generated content is stored and managed by expansive systems providing interactive services with the stored information. The ever expanding amount of information generated by systems and users are processed by analysis systems to produce patterns, predictions, etc. Analysis results are utilized by other systems relying on the results to generate reports, evaluate user performance, determine recommendations, etc.
Analysis tools personalize data analysis for consumption by users. Standalone tools enable users to configure analysis parameters to meet analysis demand. Integrated tools enable a user to expand capabilities of existing software with analysis services. Analysis tools integrated to a legacy application can enhance the application through expanded features. The expanded software can provide variety of analysis services including data mining, reporting, etc. Beyond integration, an expanded software can act as a single point of interaction between the user and the data. A single point of interaction may ease user access by providing the user with a familiar interface which is also used to provide analysis services. An existing application with integrated analysis features can provide a comfortable user interface to a user and expand the user's productivity through the added features.

Linking web extension and content contextually


This invention provides a network access system that permits communication device users to access a network such as the Internet, a cable network, a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) network or a broadband network (which may include cable and DSL networks). A network access device receives commands from users and executes the commands such as send e-mail, search the network, log on to pages supported by other parties on the network, download information from the network, request information such as movies from the network, bidding in an auction, etc. A user profile saves preferences of a user for interacting with the network. The network access device may supply primitive commands for the user to use individually or to construct complex command macros so that by a single command, more complex functions may be performed using the network. By the above described techniques, users who do not have access to devices such as a personal computer may access the network and take advantage of the rich resources available through the network.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to accessing networks by using communication devices.
2. Description of Related Art
Networks such as the Internet have gained widespread acceptance as a desirable communication medium as well as a source of information. Conventionally, networks are accessed via devices such as personal computers. Such devices provide visual outputs through a video display and data entry through a keyboard, for example. However, personal computers are not always available in accessing the network. Thus, new technology is needed to make available the network in such circumstances.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A reel device for a gaming machine comprising a chassis configured to support the reel device and a reel structure attached to the chassis. The reel structure has a hub, a frame, and a spoke attached to the hub and the frame. The frame preferably defines the periphery of the reel structure. The periphery of the reel structure preferably has media adapted to display a symbol to a game player. The reel may further have a board attached to the chassis and a plurality of light-emitting diodes positioned on the board, wherein the plurality of light-emitting diodes is adapted to transmit light to at least a portion of the media.

Gaming devices are well known in the art and a large variety of gaming devices have been developed. In general, gaming devices allow users or players to play a game. In many casino-type gaming devices, the outcome of the game depends, at least in part, on a randomly generated event. For example, a gaming device may use a random number generator to generate a random or pseudo-random number. The random number may then be compared to a pre-defined table to determine the outcome of the event. If the random number falls within a certain range of numbers on the table, the player may win a pre-defined prize. The table may also contain display information that allows the gaming device to generate a display that corresponds to the outcome of the game. The gaming device may present the outcome of the game on a large variety of display devices, such as mechanical spinning reels or video screens.
Reel-type gaming devices have been used in gaming for more than one hundred years. Traditional reel-type gaming devices have three mechanical reels that rotate around a common horizontal axis. A reel strip is attached around the circumference of each reel and the reel strips display a plurality of symbols. During normal operation, the reels are spun and stopped to display an outcome of the game. As each reel comes to a stop, a symbol on the perimeter of each reel strip is displayed on the front of the gaming device. Some gaming devices indicate a winning outcome by aligning pre-determined symbols on one or more pre-determined pay lines.
Gaming devices that are more interesting generate more player interest and excitement. This increased interest and excitement causes players to play longer, which results in more revenue for the game operator. For this purpose, many gaming devices utilize light to enhance their displays and to attract the attention of players. Many different kinds of lights and lighting effects have been developed for gaming devices. While lights have been used in conjunction with gaming devices, a long felt and unmet need exists for an efficient and effective lighting system for reel-type gaming devices.

Atlantic City Coin & Slot Service Company, Inc.


The present invention provides a process for producing a peptide thioester compound. The process involves: (A) forming a peptide by a solid-phase synthesis method using a resin modified with a linker represented by the formula (1) as a solid phase:

Many proteins existing in vivo are glycoproteins, proteins having oligosaccharide chains. Oligosaccharide chains in glycoproteins work in such a way that they maintain the three-dimensional structures of the proteins, regulate solubility, and impart protease resistance thereto. It is now becoming evident that the oligosaccharide chains in glycoproteins are involved in life phenomena such as fertilization or differentiation, signal transduction, canceration, intracellular protein transport, and regulation of biological activities. Thus, oligosaccharide chains bonded to proteins play an important role in various physiological functions. However, these oligosaccharide chains have diverse structures, and they are classified into various categories. Under the circumstances, it is therefore extremely difficult to identify which oligosaccharide chain structure is involved in a life phenomenon. Synthesis of glycoproteins or glycopeptides having an oligosaccharide chain with a single structure is also indispensable for elucidating such functions. At present, glycoproteins can be expressed by biological approaches using protein expression, although glycoproteins having an oligosaccharide chain with a uniform structure are difficult to obtain. Therefore, studies have been made in recent years on the precise chemical synthesis of glycopeptides or glycoproteins having an oligosaccharide chain with a single structure.
The present inventors have established a process for preparing a large amount of a biantennary complex-type oligosaccharide chain that can be used as a raw material from a chicken egg by combining enzymatic and chemical methods (Patent Document 1) and a process for synthesizing a sialylated glycopeptide by applying a solid-phase peptide synthesis method to a complex-type oligosaccharide chain (Patent Document 2). If glycopeptides can be polymerized, large glycoproteins having an oligosaccharide chain with a single structure will be synthesized.
At present, the most effective peptide polymerization method is probably the native chemical ligation method (Non-Patent Document 1), which involves coupling a peptide fragment having cysteine (Cys) as an N-terminal amino acid to a peptide having thioester at the C-terminus.
Peptide synthesis methods generally used are solid-phase synthesis methods, which involve immobilizing an N-terminal protected amino acid onto an insoluble resin support, removing the protecting group in the amino acid, and then sequentially elongating a peptide chain. Examples of a method for producing the peptide having thioester at the C-terminus include a method which involves performing thioesterification during peptide excision from a solid phase and a method which involves subjecting the C-terminal carboxyl group of a peptide to thioesterification after peptide excision from a solid phase.
For example, a method which involves producing a peptide using a safety catch linker on a solid-phase resin and allowing a thiol compound to act thereon (Non-Patent Documents 1 and 2) is known as a method for performing the thioesterification during peptide excision from a solid phase. However, this method has many problems such as poor condensation efficiency in the immobilization of a first amino acid onto a resin, the slight racemization of amino acids during the condensation, and the poor reactivity of the thiol compound in esterification. Moreover, when a hydroxyl group of an oligosaccharide chain in a glycopeptide is unprotected, alkylation performed for activating the safety catch linker also alkylates the sugar hydroxyl group easily. Thus, dealkylation treatment must be performed. This treatment may influence glycosylation and so on, depending on conditions, and a uniform oligosaccharide chain structure cannot be secured in the obtained glycopeptide. To solve this problem, it is suggested that the hydroxyl group of the oligosaccharide chain is protected in advance. However, this approach is not efficient due to additional protection and deprotection steps.
A strong acid such as 95% trifluoroacetic acid or hydrogen fluoride is usually used for excising a peptide from a solid-phase resin. However, the use of such a strong acid involves the deprotection of peptide side chains or the cleavage of an oligosaccharide chain linkage in glycopeptides. A method using a trityl resin as a solid phase and acetic acid for excision (Non-Patent Documents 3, 4, and 5) and a method using a 4-hydroxymethyl-3-methoxyphenoxybutyric acid-modified resin (HMPB resin) as a solid phase and 1% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) for excision (Non-Patent Document 6) have been reported as methods for excising a peptide from a solid-phase resin using a weak acid without causing deprotection. However, the method using a trityl resin cannot produce glycopeptides having an unprotected hydroxyl group. On the other hand, when a glycopeptide is prepared using the HMPB resin as a solid phase, the use of 1% TFA cannot excise the glycopeptide. Alternatively, the use of 10% TFA also causes the partial removal of protecting groups in the peptide side chains. For peptide thioesterification, particularly, the protection of the thiol group of N-terminal cysteine is essential for preventing self-condensation. Thus, deprotection during excision leads to fatal outcomes. Accordingly, these methods are not sufficient for producing a peptide having a carboxyl group, which is used as a raw material in the production of a peptide having thioester at the C-terminus.
A thioester form of a peptide can be produced by reacting a peptide having protected side chains with alkylthiol. However, this approach has the problem of C-terminal amino acid racemization. For circumventing racemization, a method which involves replacing a C-terminal amino acid by glycine (Non-Patent Document 7), a method using benzotriazol-1-yloxy-trispyrrolidinophosphonium hexafluorophosphate (PyBOP)/diisopropylethylamine (DIPEA) as a condensing agent in dichloromethane (DCM) (Non-Patent Document 8), and a method using 2-(1H-benzotriazol-1-yl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate (HBTU)/DIPEA as a condensing agent in tetrahydrofuran (THF) (Non-Patent Document 9) have been reported. However, the method which involves replacing a C-terminal amino acid by glycine has a natural limit to the types of peptides that can be produced. Moreover, glycopeptides having a hydroxyl group that is not protected with a protecting group cannot be dissolved in the solvent such as DCM or THF. Thus, these solvents must be changed, although the C-terminal amino acid racemization becomes a problem again.    [Patent Document 1] WO 03/008431    [Patent Document 2] WO 2004/005330    [Non-Patent Document 1] J. Am. Chem. Soc., 121, 11369-11374 (1999)    [Non-Patent Document 2] Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 44, 1650-1654 (2005)    [Non-Patent Document 3] Tetrahedron Lett., 38, 6237-6240 (1997)    [Non-Patent Document 4] Tetrahedron Lett., 44, 3551-3554 (2003)    [Non-Patent Document 5] J. Am. Chem. Soc., 123, 3885-3891 (2001)    [Non-Patent Document 6] Tetrahedron, 49, 9307-9320 (1993)    [Non-Patent Document 7] Tetrahedron Lett., 38, 6237-6240 (1997)    [Non-Patent Document 8] Tetrahedron Lett., 44, 3551-3554 (2003)    [Non-Patent Document 9] J. Am. Chem. Soc., 123, 3885-3891 (2001)
An object of the present invention is to provide a process for producing a peptide having a carboxyl group at the C-terminus, with protecting groups in the peptide side chains maintained, which is applicable to a non-glycosylated peptide or even to a glycopeptide having an oligosaccharide chain, particularly, an oligosaccharide chain with an unprotected hydroxyl group.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a process for efficiently producing a peptide thioester compound, with racemization reduced, which is applicable to a non-glycosylated peptide or even to a glycopeptide having an oligosaccharide chain, particularly, an oligosaccharide chain with an unprotected hydroxyl group.

Method for production of peptide thioester compound

Abstract: wherein R1 represents C1-4 alkyl group, R2 represents hydrogen atom or C1-4 alkoxy group, and n represents an integer of 1 to 4; (B) cleaving a bond between the solid phase and the peptide with at least one acid selected from dilute hydrochloric acid, dilute sulfuric acid, formic acid, and acetic acid to produce a peptide having a carboxyl group at the C-terminus; and (C) reacting a thiol compound with the peptide at −100 to 0° C. in the presence of a condensing agent in a solvent.


Methods, systems, and devices for choosing a point from a set of optimal solutions defined as the output of a problem in such a way that small perturbations to the input variables of the problem may reliably produce small changes to the output. Embodiments may determine the optimal point for concentrating solar thermal power plants utilizing heliostats, based on a linear function, one or more constraints, and a determined space of optimal solutions.

Concentrating solar thermal power plants utilize heliostats to redirect flux from the Sun onto a solar thermal receiver. The solar thermal receiver may require varying levels of flux as determined by a processor utilizing a linear program optimizer. Linear program optimizers with non-unique optimal solutions may be very sensitive to input conditions in terms of which optimal solution they output. If the output is used in a control system, and the inputs fluctuate in time, this may result in undesirable behavior for the solar thermal power plant.

Solution stabilization for linear program-based control systems


A system, a method, and a computer readable medium for micropayment with varying denomination are disclosed. The method utilizes a secret value, a public information, a number base parameter, a bit parameter, and merged one-way hash chains to calculate a root for providing a certificate of a transaction among a customer, a merchant and a service device. Therefore, the purpose of varying denomination for micropayment system can be achieved and the trade safety and the efficiency during the transaction process can be enhanced as well.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system, a method, and a computer readable medium for micropayment, specifically to a system, a method, and a computer readable medium for micropayment with varying denomination.
2. Descriptions of the Related Art
Micropayment schemes have received growing attention recently, primarily because that these schemes provide solutions for numerous Internet based applications, for example, on-line magazine subscription, on-line database query, access to charged World Wide Web pages, and Internet pop-up advertisement, etc. Micropayment schemes allow a customer to transfer to a merchant a sequence of small amount payments in exchange for services or electronic products from the merchant. Usually, it is inappropriate to pay the total amount of money either in advance or afterwards in some applications, and this makes micropayment schemes be especially useful. For the purpose of real time bargains of the micropayment system in the network, it is essential to emphasize efficiency and safety of on-line bargains.
Taking the present micropayment system as an example, the payment involving the on-line micropayment is small, while the frequency thereof is high. Accordingly, the corresponding computational cost and the storage cost must be reduced to provide an acceptable performance for users. However, under such circumstances, the above-mentioned efficiency and safety of on-line bargains is hard to maintain in the meantime.
According to the developing trend, there are three types of micropayment schemes: counting type, one-way hash chain type and signature type.
The micropayment schemes of the counting type uses a scheme of subtracting points from the counter of a customer and adding points of the counter of a merchant as well. The disadvantage of this scheme is low safety for customers. If a bargaining dispute occurred, few protection can be provided to customers.
As to the micropayment schemes of the one-way hash chain type, a fixed currency value is used. Therefore, the computational cost for calculating the one-way hash chain is high, the above-mentioned purposes of reducing the computational cost and the storage cost for the micropayment system is hard to achieve. In addition, the micropayment schemes of the signature type needs more computational costs for calculation and transmission.
As a result, there is an essential need to provide a new micropayment scheme with balancing efficiency and safety according to the characteristics of on-line bargains for the industry to reduce the computational costs and storage costs thereof.

System, method, and computer readable medium for micropayment with varying denomination


A method for location finding includes detecting a respective phase difference between the received radio signals that are associated with each of the multiple antennas of each of the fixed transceivers. One or more respective angles are computed between each of the fixed transceivers and the mobile transceiver based on the respective phase differences. Location coordinates of the mobile transceiver are found based on the angles and the transmit locations of the transmitters.

Various techniques are known in the art for finding the location of a mobile wireless transceiver, such as a cellular telephone. For example, nearly all cellular telephones now have a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, which derives location coordinates from signals received from geostationary satellites. Because of its dependence on weak satellite signals, however, GPS works poorly, if at all, indoors and in crowded urban environments. Cellular networks are also capable of triangulating telephone location based on signals received or transmitted between the cellular telephone and multiple cellular antennas, but this technique is inaccurate and unreliable.
A number of methods have been proposed for indoor localization based on an existing wireless local area network (WLAN) infrastructure. One such approach is described, for example, by Kotaru et al., in "SpotFi: Decimeter Level Localization using WiFi," published in SIGCOMM '15 (London, UK, Aug. 17-21, 2015). According to the authors, SpotFi computes the angle of arrival (AoA) of multipath components received from access points, and uses filtering and estimation techniques to identify the AoA of a direct path between the localization target and the access point.
As another example, U.S. Patent Application Publication 2009/0243932 describes a method for determining the location of a mobile device. The method comprises transmitting a signal between a plurality of known locations and receiving the signal at a device of unknown location, such as a mobile device. The signal may include multiple tones having different frequencies and resulting in sets of residual phase differences. The location of the mobile device may be determined using the known locations and the frequency and phase differences between the transmitted tones. In one embodiment, orthogonal frequency domain multiplexing (OFDM) signals may be used between an access point and mobile device to determine the location of the mobile device.
As a further example, U.S. Patent Application Publication 2016/0033614 describes a method of direction finding (DF) positioning involving main lobe and grating lobe identification in a wireless communication network. A receiver performs the DF algorithm on radio signals associated with multiple antennas over a first channel frequency and estimates a first set of DF solutions. The receiver performs the DF algorithm on radio signals associated with multiple antennas over a second channel frequency and estimates a second set of DF solutions. The receiver then identifies the correct DF solution (e.g., the main lobe direction) by comparing the first set of DF solutions and the second set of DF solutions.


A personal electronic device handbag includes: (a) a main support with three connected fold-out panels including one base panel located between other panels; (b) a personal electronic device holding case located on the base panel; (c) at least two storage units having sides and a bottom, such that the main support has a first position, wherein the panels are folded and at least two of the storage unit bottoms rest atop the holding case and any personal electronic device therein to protect such personal electronic device, and has a second position, being an open position.

a. Field of Invention
The invention relates generally to a handbag that has a unique functional arrangement of components so that a number of desirable objectives are achieved simultaneously. These include maintaining a personal electronic device in a substantially horizontal position in the handbag with its screen facing up for easy use without ever needing reorientation, provision of at least two separate pocketbook or purse-like storage units, panels that provide multiple functions and more specifically allow for positioning thereof in closed and open positions to respectively protect and then expose the personal electronic device for use, and allow for plug-in recharging of the personal electronic device from an open side without the need to open the handbag. By "personal electronic device" is meant a mobile phone, PDA, digital music player, mini internet device or similar electronic device that utilizes mini-keyboard or touch screen functioning and has a screen.
b. Description of Related Art
The following patents and applications are representative of various types of inventions that may be related in some manner to the present invention:
U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,752 to Southwick describes a handbag system having a substantially rectangular body with an open middle compartment. Within the middle compartment are a plurality of sub-compartments sized for holding various personal safety items such as mace, a wireless phone and a pager. A closure flap is provided for partially covering the middle compartment. The closure flap is sized and arranged to allow unrestricted access to those personal safety items which are adjacent to the sides of the body when the closure flap is in a closed position. A closeable front and rear compartment are provided to store other miscellaneous personal items.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,330,961 B1 to Borja describes an elongated pouch having various storage pockets thereon is provided, for storage of personal articles therein, and is mounted upon a forearm of a user of the pouch such as the driver of an automobile. A personnel communicator device is positioned within the pouch, the personnel communicator device having a data transmission portion, typically a keyboard and a character display screen, facing the driver of the vehicle for facilitating data exchange between the driver and the personnel communicator device while operating the vehicle. The screen generated characters are displayed along a line parallel to the length of the forearm of the driver of the vehicle to facilitate easy reading of the characters by the driver of the vehicle.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,090,076 B2 to Hartstein et al. describes a handbag for housing a cell phone/Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) and containing a compartment for personal items is disclosed. The housing provisions include circuitry between inner lining and outer shell of handbag interconnecting various compartments therewithin, including backup battery compartment and a touch-operated screen (operable from the exterior). The handbag also has modular outlets to physically connect and integrate the cell phone/PDA system and an antenna to facilitate wireless connection.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,028,872 B2 to Hamlin describes a utility pocket for use with a tool pouch or bag, or with such items as a brief case, soft sided cooler, or a backpack. The utility pocket has a clam shell shaped outer member which is biased toward an associated sidewall panel by means of elastic webbing. A pair of mating permanent magnets come into contact as the pocket moves from the open position to the closed position and helps to bias the pocket to the closed position, as well as imparting a snap-closure action to the pocket. The material chosen for the pocket helps it to retain its clam shell shape without requiring internal reinforcing members, such as wire springs or other metal reinforcing elements.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,132,601 B2 to Wang describes a tote bag for being partitioned or alternatively expanded. The bag has a partition mode and an expansion mode and includes a front panel, a rear panel, and a pair of side panels. The front panel is attached to the rear panel by the pair of side panels. The pair of side panels fold and attach to each other to form a partition thereby dividing the tote bag into a pair of compartments when the tote bag is in the partition mode thereof and separate from each other and unfold to eliminate the partition thereby expanding the tote bag when the tote bag is in the expansion mode thereof.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,225,973 B1 to Bellinson describes a personal garment apparatus resembling a holster-like shoulder bag that is worn over a person's shoulder having a plurality of pouches and pockets to store and transport various articles. The presently defined preferred embodiment consists of: three front pockets for a cell phone, a palm pilot, a USB key, a MP3 player, money clip, etc.; another larger zipper pocket situated behind the flap pockets to hold flat items like a checkbook, a passport, tickets, etc.; an adjustable strap to customize the shoulder fit for most people; and, a set of attachment clips allowing the invention to be reversed for wear on either shoulder. Besides being a new fashion accessory, the invention's functionalities are intended to provide easier access and increased comfort when compared to similar items being carried on a belt, about the waist or in pockets.
U.S. Design Pat. No. D616,644 S to Ramon shows a multi-compartment accessory holder to be attached to the arm of a user.
Notwithstanding the prior art, the present invention is neither taught nor rendered obvious thereby.


A cooking apparatus is disclosed. The cooking apparatus includes an apparatus body, a cooking chamber defined in the apparatus body for cooking food, and a door for opening and closing the cooking chamber. The cooking chamber has an inner wall surface-treated by plasma.

Generally, a cooking apparatus is represented by products such as a conventional heat oven and a microwave oven. The microwave oven is a type of cooking apparatus used to cook food using only a magnetron or jointly a magnetron and a heater, and the oven is another type of cooking apparatus used to cook food by heating using dry heat hermetically sealed food. Here, electricity or gaseous fuel is used as a heat source.
The cooking apparatus is further represented by, for example, a frying pan and a pot, which have a surface directly contacting food.
The conventional heat oven and/or the microwave oven includes an oven body forming the external appearance thereof, a cooking chamber defining a space for receiving food, a door for opening and closing the cooking chamber, and a heating unit for heating the food in the cooking chamber.
The cooking chamber is a cooking space defined in the oven body. The door is hingedly coupled to the front of the oven body such that the door is opened and closed in the vertical direction and/or in the lateral direction. The heating unit is mounted in the cooking chamber at one side thereof for supplying thermal energy necessary to cook the food. The thermal energy, generated from the heating unit, is transmitted to the food by convection or radiation.
However, the above-described conventional cooking apparatus has the following problems.
First, the conventional cooking apparatus has a problem in that the surface of the cooking apparatus, exposed to the food, does not simultaneously satisfy heat resistance, durability, and cleanability. In the conventional cooking apparatus, enamel is generally used for improving abrasion resistance and heat resistance at the region exposed to the food. However, the food easily sticks to the cooking chamber when the enamel is used to construct the cooking chamber.
Also, Teflon, exhibiting excellent cleanability, may be used to prevent the food from sticking to the cooking chamber. However, Teflon does not satisfy the heat resistance and the abrasion resistance.
Second, when contaminants, such as oil, generated during the cooking of the food, sticks to the inner wall of the cooking chamber, the heating unit is operated at a high temperature, for example at 450° C. or more, for two hours or more to burn the contaminants which are stuck to the inner wall of the cooking chamber. With such an operation, the contaminants are removed from the inner wall of the cooking chamber.
When the interior of the cooking chamber is maintained at such a high temperature for a long period of time, however, the power consumed by the heating unit is greatly increased, and a user is restricted for a period of time from using the cooking apparatus.
Third, the cooking apparatus, such as the conventional oven and/or the microwave oven, has a high-temperature cleaning function to burn the contaminants. Due to the high-temperature cleaning function, however, the temperature of a door glass located at the front of the cooking chamber also increases. The door glass is directly exposed to the user, with the result that the user may suffer a burn by the high-temperature door glass.
Lastly, the higher the internal temperature of the cooking chamber is, the thicker an insulation member for isolating thermal energy leaking from the cooking chamber is. When the thickness of the insulation member is increased, the manufacturing costs of the product are increased as well, and, in addition, the space of the cooking chamber becomes relatively smaller.

Cooking apparatus and method of manufacturing the same


An adjustable wrench 10 comprises a body 12 including a stationary jaw 22, an adjustable jaw 32, a recess 28 and a handle 27. A knurl 30 including a worm 42 is rotatably mounted on an axle 38 within recess 28. The adjustable jaw 32 includes a plurality of teeth 52 that mesh with worm 42 for driving the adjustable jaw 32 towards or away from stationary jaw 22. The adjustable wrench 10 further includes a receiving channel 52 formed at an angle to the knurl 30 within body 12. A means for braking 54 is inserted within the receiving channel 54 for removably engaging directly with worm 42 thus restricting the worm 42 from rotating and preventing the adjustable jaw 32 from moving. A means for locking 70, 76 is mounted on body 12 and interfaces with the means for braking 54 for preventing the means for braking 54 from moving. One embodiment of the means for braking 54 comprises a thumbwheel 58 and friction stop 60.

Conventional adjustable wrenches generally include a stationary jaw integrally formed with a wrench body, an adjustable jaw that slides towards or away from the stationary jaw to span a space, and a knurl that when rotated moves the adjustable jaw to selectively narrow or widen the space for engaging various sizes of nuts and bolts. The adjustable jaw includes a plurality of teeth that mate with the knurl to create a worm gear drive that moves the adjustable jaw.
A perennial problem associated with adjustable wrenches is that the adjustable jaw of the wrench frequently slips during use and between uses. The adjustable jaw often slips when the adjustable wrench is rotated or twisted to loosen or tighten a nut or bolt. A related problem is that the knurl becomes loose and rotates slightly, causing the adjustable jaw to move and disengage the nut or bolt, thereby causing the nut or bolt to strip or become rounded. Thus, a user must constantly adjust the adjustable jaw of the wrench to maintain a secure hold on the nut or bolt. In some situations, pressure is constantly applied to the knurl by a user's thumb or finger so that the adjustable jaw does not slideably move outward. Many applications require the use of an adjustable wrench in areas where the nuts or bolts are not directly or easily accessible, making it difficult and inconvenient to constantly make the necessary adjustments.
Various known adjustable wrenches include braking mechanisms that prevent a knurl from rotating, thus restricting the movement of the adjustable jaw. These wrenches, however, include numerous intricate parts that must be machined to exact tolerances, which increases the retail, manufacturing, and production costs. Such wrenches also generally require a sequence of coordinated motions and the use of an additional tool for maneuvering the braking mechanism, making it difficult when attempting to access tight areas. In addition, many adjustable wrenches that include braking mechanisms do not include a means for locking the braking mechanism so as to restrict the slippage of the braking mechanism.
Accordingly, there remains in the art a need for an adjustable wrench that provides an adjustable braking mechanism for locking an adjustable jaw in a fixed position, where the adjustable wrench is inexpensive and easy to manufacture. There is also a need for an adjustable wrench that includes a locking mechanism for selectively locking the braking mechanism in place, thereby restricting the braking mechanism from moving and as a result, preventing the adjustable jaw from sliding.


A spring assembly is provided for a yoke assembly of an electrical switching apparatus including a housing, separable contacts enclosed by the housing, and an operating mechanism structured to open and close the separable contacts. The operating mechanism includes a pole shaft. The yoke assembly is coupled to the pole shaft and is movable among first and second positions corresponding to the separable contacts being closed and open, respectively. The spring assembly includes a number of first springs having a first spring rate and being coupled to the yoke assembly, and a number of second springs having a second spring rate and being coupled to the yoke assembly. The second spring rate is different than the first spring rate. The number of first springs and the number of second springs bias the yoke assembly toward the second position.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to electrical switching apparatus and, more particularly, to yoke assemblies for electrical switching apparatus, such as circuit breakers. The invention also relates to spring assemblies for circuit breaker yoke assemblies.
2. Background Information
Electrical switching apparatus, such as circuit breakers, provide protection for electrical systems from electrical fault conditions such as, for example, current overloads, short circuits, abnormal voltage and other fault conditions. Typically, circuit breakers include an operating mechanism which opens electrical contact assemblies to interrupt the flow of current through the conductors of an electrical system in response to such fault conditions as detected, for example, by a trip unit.
Among other components, the operating mechanisms of some low-voltage circuit breakers, for example, typically include a pole shaft and a spring assembly. The pole shaft is pivotable among an open position, corresponding to the electrical contact assemblies being open (e.g., contacts separated), and a closed position, corresponding to the electrical contact assemblies being closed (e.g., contacts electrically connected). The spring assembly includes at least one spring that is typically coupled to the circuit breaker housing and, directly or indirectly, to the pole shaft. The spring or springs is/are structured to bias the pole shaft, for example, to facilitate opening of the electrical contact assemblies.
It is desirable to optimize the operation of the spring assembly, in order to improve circuit breaker performance, for example, by enabling the electrical contact assemblies to open rapidly. It is also desirable to minimize the space required for the spring assembly. These two objectives are somewhat contradictory, and are difficult to achieve because of the limited amount of space that is available within the circuit breaker. This is particularly true in view of the increasing trend to minimize the overall size of the circuit breaker. It is, therefore, difficult to effectively arrange the spring assembly and/or related structures within the circuit breaker housing in a manner that affords the desired leverage and spring energy. In this regard, known circuit breaker designs leave much to be desired.
There is, therefore, room for improvement in electrical switching apparatus, such as circuit breakers, and in spring assemblies therefor.

Electrical switching apparatus, and yoke assembly and spring assembly therefor