The invention relates to an arrangement in a mechanical shaft seal. The arrangement comprises at least one sealing part rotating with a shaft in relation to a frame of the device and at least one sealing part fastened to the frame and/or to a separate frame part that is non-rotatable in relation thereto. The arrangement also comprises at least one additional part arranged to connect the frame and the sealing part that is non-rotatable in relation thereto and to prevent the rotation of the sealing part in relation to the frame. At least one set of the additional parts is memory metal elements.

The invention relates to an arrangement in a mechanical shaft seal and more particularly to an arrangement in a mechanical shaft seal comprising at least one sliding surface part rotating with a shaft in relation to a frame of the device, at least one sliding surface part fastened to the frame and/or to a separate frame part that is non-rotatable in relation thereto, the sliding surface part rotating in relation to the frame and the non-rotating sliding surface part are provided with sliding surfaces pressed against one another, at least one additional part arranged to connect the sliding surface part rotating in relation to the frame to the shaft and/or to at least one insertion part fastened to the shaft and rotating therewith in order to transfer the rotating motion from the shaft to the sliding surface part, and at least one additional part arranged to connect the sliding surface part, which is non-rotatable in relation to the frame, to the frame or at least to one insertion part connected to the frame in order to prevent the rotation of the sliding surface part in relation to the frame.
Known mechanical shaft seals typically comprise at least one rotating sliding surface part, which is fastened to a shaft rotating in relation to the frame of the device and at least one non-rotatable sliding surface part fastened to the frame of the device or to a separate frame part. These shaft seals also comprise separate additional parts preventing or shifting the rotation in relation to the frame, at least one spring ensuring the contact of the sliding surfaces to one another during operation, at least one insertion part that allows directing the spring forces to other parts. In addition, the shaft seal may comprise different auxiliary seals, which are used to seal the gaps between the parts mentioned above.
During operation the sliding surfaces of the sliding surface parts in the mechanical shaft seal pressed against each other rotate against one another, while one sliding surface part rotates with the shaft of the device and while the other sliding surface part remains non-rotatably fastened to the device or to the separate frame part. The purpose of these sliding surfaces is a gap formed between the shaft rotating in relation to the frame of the device and the frame. When operating, frictional force is exerted between the plane surfaces of the parts in the mechanical shaft seal rotating against one another, the frictional force being caused when the parts come into contact with one another. Depending on the prevailing conditions a medium inside the device or a medium to be conducted inside the mechanical shaft seal especially intended for this purpose cools and lubricates the plane surfaces of the sliding surface parts in the mechanical shaft seal. The purpose of the medium is to penetrate between the rotating plane surfaces and to reduce the frictional force exerted between the plane surfaces and thus to reduce the creation of thermal energy caused by the frictional force on the plane surfaces of the sliding surface parts in the mechanical shaft seal.
The rotating sliding surface part of such a mechanical shaft seal is connected to the shaft of the device by means of the additional parts included in the shaft seal and designed for this purpose or by means of machining features forwarding the torque caused by the rotation of the shaft to the rotating sliding surface part of the mechanical shaft seal, thus achieving the rotation of this part with the shaft. Correspondingly the non-rotating additional parts are connected to the device or to a separate frame part by means of the parts included in the mechanical shaft seal and designed for this purpose or by means of machining features preventing the non-rotating sliding surface from rotating in relation to the frame or to a separate frame part by impact of torque conveyed through the frictional force directed thereto by the sliding surface part rotating with the shaft.
The problem with the above arrangement is that the additional parts transferring torque from the shaft of the device included in the shaft seal or the machining features are subjected to wear or are broken at the points, from which torque is transferred from one part to another, for instance to the sliding surface parts. The same problem is known as regards the parts intended to be non-rotating at points, from which the non-rotating parts are locked to the device or to a separate frame part. The torque caused by frictional force formed between the plane surfaces of the non-rotating parts and the rotating parts in the mechanical shaft seal wears and breaks the additional parts or the machining features, by means of which the rotating motion of the shaft of the device is transferred to the rotating parts of the mechanical seal, or which tend to be used for preventing the rotating motion produced by the torque caused by the frictional force in the non-rotating parts of the mechanical shaft seal. This phenomenon causes the mechanical shaft seal to be prematurely damaged in such a manner that the mechanical seal no longer operates as planned for sealing the gap between the rotating shaft and the static parts of the device. In addition, the torque causes the sliding surfaces of the sliding surface parts in the mechanical seal to deform so that the mechanical seal no longer operates as planned.


An ingress/egress handle assembly for a vehicle is pivoted between a stowed position and an assist position. The handle assembly is mounted to first and second brackets by way of first and second cams and first and second leaf springs. The cams and leaf springs function to selectively lock the handle into either its stowed position or its assist position. The leaf springs rotate about the cams such that whenever the leaf spring is partially rotated toward its stowed position, the leaf spring snaps the handle to the stowed position. A detent is formed as an offset on a distal end of a leaf portion of the leaf spring. The handle, brackets and leaf springs are secured together by a pin about which the handle rotates.

Vehicle ingress and egress handle assemblies are provided on vehicles to assist passengers in getting into and out of cars and trucks. Such handles are typically mounted above the door jam or on the upper portion of a door hinge pillar.
Fixed handles suffer from disadvantages associated with passengers bumping their heads on the handles as they enter or exit the vehicle. To minimize this disadvantage, fixed handles may be located in more difficult to reach locations which tend to limit their usefulness.
Another approach is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,981,322 and 4,981,323 which disclose an assist strap for a modular headliner which has an ingress/egress handle that is biased to a stowed position by a helical spring. While this approach keeps the handle in its stowed position and out-of-the-way, this device is a relatively expensive multi-piece assembly which is normally retained in the "up" or stowed position. The helical spring prevents the handle from being held in its "down" or deployed position. This type of assist handle is of limited utility for passengers who are unfamiliar with the location of the handle because it cannot be seen from the exterior of the car.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,403,064 discloses attachment parts for a hand grip for the interior of a vehicle. This patent discloses a spring biased hand grip which may be provided with an undisclosed blocking device which can hold the grip body in the swing-out position during the hand grip installation process. This patent fails to disclose the concept of providing an ingress/egress handle which may be deployed in a stowed or a deployed position in which it is visible to persons entering the vehicle. It also fails to disclose a handle that will automatically retract to the stowed position if it is bumped or contacted while in the deployed position during either ingress or egress. It also fails to disclose a handle that will automatically retract if the handle is contacted by a passenger within the vehicle.
Accordingly, a need exists for a simple, cost-effective vehicle ingress/egress handle that may be retained in either its stowed or deployed position and that automatically retracts upon being contacted while in the deployed position. Applicant's invention, as summarized below, is believed to provide these advantages while addressing the disadvantages associated with the prior art devices noted above.


The invention concerns an apparatus for generation and ejection into air of discrete agglomerations of a particulate material with a proportion of liquid from a liquid having the particulate material therein. The apparatus defines an ejection location (128) and an electrical potential is applied to the ejection location to form an electric field at the location, and liquid (122) with the particulate material is supplied to the ejection location. An oscillating voltage (A) is applied to the ejection location, the magnitude of the voltage being below that required to cause ejection of particles from the ejection location, and an ejection voltage (B) is superimposed on the oscillating voltage additively with the oscillating voltage in order to cause the sum of the voltages at the ejection location to exceed the threshold required for ejection, when required.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for generation and ejection into air of discrete agglomerations of particulate material with a proportion of liquid from a liquid having the particular material therein. Such a method is disclosed in WO-A-93/11866 (PCT/AU92/00665) and includes providing the particulate material to an ejection location, applying an electrical potential to the ejection location to form an electric field and causing agglomerations to form at the ejection location. The agglomerations are ejected away from the ejection location by electrostatic means.
In order to control the ejection of agglomeration and particles the electrical potential needs to be varied from below a threshold to above a threshold. However, it has been found that, in certain constructions, it is difficult to achieve full control and true drop-on-demand performance. The present invention sets out to overcome this problem.

Method and apparatus for ejection of particulate material


A gas turbine shroud and platform seal system, which is constructed so that the flow of sealing air does not disturb a combustion gas flow, and thus any aerodynamic loss is reduced. The leaking air (60) leaks from between a platform (2) of moving blade (1) and an inside shroud (12) in a stationary blade (11). At a front or upstream side of the moving blade (1), the leaking air (60) flows along a S-shaped path within a space (8, 17) formed by a projecting end portion (12b) of the shroud, a honeycomb seal (14) and a projecting portion (4) of the platform. The air eventually flows out in the same flow direction as that of the combustion gas (50) along a surface of the platform (2). At a rear side of the moving blade (1), the leaking air (60) flows along an S-shaped path within a space (6, 9) formed by a projecting end portion (2b) of the platform, a projecting end portion (12b) of the shroud, a honeycomb seal (13) and a seal plate (3). The air eventually flows out in the same direction as that of the combustion gas (50) along a surface of the shroud (12). The air (60) flows in the same direction as the combustion gas (50), and thus a flow loss is reduced. Also, the air is not easily leaked, and a cooling effect of the platform and the shroud is increased due to a film cooling effect.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a gas turbine seal system between a stationary blade shroud and an adjacent moving blade platform.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view which shows an arrangement of a stationary blade and a moving blade in a conventional gas turbine. In the drawing, reference numeral 21 denotes a moving blade, and reference numeral 31 denotes a stationary blade. The moving blade 21 has a platform 22 in a base portion, and is alternately mounted to a rotor with the stationary blade 31 being disposed therebetween. Also, car the moving blades are rotated by a flow of a combustion gas 50. Reference numeral 23 denotes a seal plate provided at the front and rear of a lower portion of the 19 platform 22, and reference numerals 24 and 25 denote a front end portion and a rear end portion, respectively, of the platform 22.
Reference numeral 32 denotes an inside shroud of the stationary blade 31, and reference numerals 33 and 34 denote a front end portion and a rear end portion thereof, respectively. Reference numeral 35 denotes a cavity disposed below the shroud 32, reference numeral 36 denotes a seal box, and reference numerals 37 and 38 denote spaces formed between the adjacent moving blades 21 in a front and rear direction, and these spaces are under high pressure due to sealing air flowing out from the cavity 35 and the seal box 36, etc.
In the gas turbine having the structure described above, the high temperature combustion gas 50 flows through a combustion gas passage formed by the moving blade 21 and the stationary blade 31 and causes the moving blade 21 to rotate in order to drive the gas turbine. During operation of the turbine, sealing air flows into the cavity 35 from the inner portion of the stationary blade 21 through a passage (not shown), thereby increasing the pressue in cavity 35 to a high pressure, so that the high temperature combustion gas 50 is prevented from entering the blade from the combustion gas passage.
At this time, the sealing air flows out in an upward direction from between the end portion 33 of the inside shroud 32 of the stationary blade 31 and the end portion 25 of the platform 22 of the moving blade 21, and between the end portion 34 of the inside shroud 32 and the end portion 24 of the platform 22, respectively. As shown by an arrow 40, the sealing air flows in a substantially perpendicular direction relative to the combustion gas 50 which flows in an axial direction, thereby increasing flow resistance of the combustion gas 50.
As mentioned above, in the conventional gas turbine, the sealing air 40 flows out from between the shroud of the stationary blade and the platform of the adjacent moving blade in a direction substantially perpendicular to the flow of the combustion gas 50 thereby increasing the flow resistance of the combustion gas 50, and resulting in deteriorated performance of the turbine.

Gas turbine shroud and platform seal system


A system and method for short message (SM) barring. A storage device stores a service configuration record comprising a telephone number, a first parameter and a second parameter. The first parameter indicates whether the telephone number allows incoming short message service (SMS) in a first mobile network, and the second parameter indicates whether the telephone number allows short message transmission via a second mobile network. A process unit receives a SM transmission request with a destination telephone number and an SM, acquires both the first parameter and the second parameter corresponding to the destination telephone number from the service configuration record, and transmits an error message if both the first parameter and the second parameter are negative.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to message barring technology, and more particularly, to a method and system of message barring across mobile networks.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 is a diagram of the architecture of a conventional GSM network for short message service (SMS). The architecture includes mobile stations (MSs) 11, 12, message switching centers (MSCs) 13, 16, a short message switching center (SMSC) 14, a home location register (HLR) 15, and a visit location register (VLR) 17. The MSC 13 connects multiple base stations (not shown) to receive short messages from the MS 11. When the MS 11 sends a short message (SM) to the MS 12, the SM is first transmitted to the SMSC 14 via the MSC 13. The HLR provides a database storing all MS (i.e., subscriber) profile information and service configuration information for each MS in GSM network for SMS authentication. The SMSC 14, the kernel device for SMS, stores the SM temporarily, authenticates the MS 12 by interrogating the HLR 15, and transmits the SM to the MSC 16 until the MS 12 is active within a time period; otherwise, time-out control is executed. The VLR 17 provides a database storing base station information in which the MS 12 is registered, thus enabling the MSC 16 to transmit MS to the MS 12 via the relevant base station (not shown).
FIG. 2 is a diagram of conventional GSM communication of SMS. When the MS 11 sends an SM to the MS. 12, a transmission request 21 with the SM, a source telephone number and a destination telephone number is transmitted to the SMSC 14 via the MSC 13. The SMSC 14 authenticates the MS 12 by interrogating the HLR 15, acquires routing information 22 upon successful authentication, and accordingly transmits the SM, the origin telephone number and the destination telephone number to the MSC 16. The MSC 16 acquires register information 23 by querying the VLR 17, and accordingly transmits the SM, the source telephone number and the destination telephone number to the MS 12. A transmission complete message is sequentially transmitted to the SMSC 14, MSC 13 and MS 11 upon successfully receipt of the SM by the MS 12.
Supplementary services have been used to enable or disable certain communication services including the SMS. MS ability to send/receive SM is configured through supplementary services, the configuration stores in the HLR 15. Although the SM can be barred by disabling SM receiving service, the SM is still received when the MS 12 is attached in a GPRS network. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a conventional method for routing information response. The process begins in step S31 to receive a routing information request. Step S32 determines whether the MS 12 has disabled the SM receiving service, and if so, the process proceeds to step S34; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S33 to transmit GSM routing information. Step S34 determines whether the MS 12 has registered GPRS services, and if so, the process proceeds to step S36 to transmit GPRS routing information; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S35 to transmit an error message. Similarly, although the SM can be barred by disabling SM sending service, the SM is still sent when the MS 11 is attached in GPRS network.
In view of these limitations, a need exists for a system and method of SM barring that avoids SM transmission via the GPRS network.

Message barring system and method thereof


A protective garment material is constructed with a matrix of cells with protrusions. These cells are linked with polygonal connecting plates, which have cuts at the corners to form a section of a complete frame for the protrusions. The linkage is formed with aligned semicylindrical flanges extended from the edges of the connecting plate and semicydrical grooves aligned in a different direction serving as sockets for the semicylindrical flanges from a neighboring connecting plate, so that any two neighboring plate can be rotated with respect to each other. The connecting plate also serves as a protective layer for the inner cell in the unprotruded area. The protrusions dirert any frontal thrust sidewise to prevent penetration.

This invention relates to protective garment against knife attack.
In recent years, the crime rate in the society has unfortunately been increasing. In certain circumstances, such as parks, lonesome trails and dark alleys, rascals or muggers may attack passers-by without any warning. A commonly used weapon is the knife, because it is easy to carry, easy to conceal, easy to make and readily available. Due to its sharpness, the attacker can seriously hurt or kill an innocent person. There is an urgent need to provide some safety clothing to guard against knife attacks, particularly for safety guards, security personnel, and unescorted women.

Knife-proof garment material with protruded texture


A movie processing apparatus includes an input unit that inputs an input image. A memory control unit stores, in a memory, a deformation image obtained by executing an image deformation process for the input image using a deformation parameter. A determination unit determines, from a memory region in which the deformation image is stored, a readout region to be accessed for obtaining an output image, on the basis of a size of the input image, a size of the output image, and the deformation parameter. A readout unit configured to access the readout region reads out pixel data included in the deformation image. An output unit outputs the image based on the pixel data readout by the readout unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a movie processing technique for executing an image deformation process.
2. Description of the Related Art
As an application of a projector, or the like, for example, a geometric process is executed. A projector requires this geometric process to correct distortion on a projection plane, which occurs depending on its installation angle, and is generally known as a keystone correction process or a trapezoid distortion correction process. There are mainly two methods for implementing the above geometric process. One of them will be referred to as a memory read deformation method, and the other will be referred to as a memory write deformation method hereafter.
A process by the memory read deformation method is characterized by execution of an image deformation process when reading out data from a frame memory. More specifically, after storing one screen of an input image in the frame memory, weighting of a pixel near input image coordinates corresponding to each set of coordinates of an output image is calculated. As a weighting calculation method, for example, a method such as the bicubic method is generally known. After weighting, an image deformation process is completed by reading out a pixel near input image coordinates corresponding to each set of coordinates of the output image from the frame memory, performing a convolution operation in consideration of the above weighting, and generating each pixel of the output image.
On the other hand, a process by the memory write deformation method is characterized by execution of an image deformation process when writing data in the frame memory. More specifically, a pixel position of an output image corresponding to each pixel of an input image is calculated, and weighting of a pixel near each set of input image coordinates is calculated. As a weighting calculation method, the bicubic method, or the like, can be used, similar to the memory read deformation method. A convolution operation is performed for a pixel near input image coordinates corresponding to each pixel position of the output image in consideration of the above weighting, and each pixel of the output image is generated and written in the frame memory. After that, a deformed output image is obtained by sequentially reading out and outputting the pixels from the frame memory. A more practical process example is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent No. 3394551.
The image deformation process requires frequent access to the frame memory capable of storing an image of one screen, because the scan order of an input image is different from that of an output image. The frame memory is usually implemented by a dynamic RAM on an integrated circuit. Along with a recent increase in resolution and frame rate of an image, the number of memory access operations increases, thereby raising the power consumption.
The memory read deformation method and the memory write deformation method described above will be compared with respect to a memory access area. FIG. 1A shows examples of images before and after deformation, in which a pre-deformation image is shown on the left side and a post-deformation image is shown on the right side. In FIG. 1A, a rectangular image represents a pre-deformation image, and an image obtained by deforming the rectangular image into a trapezoidal image represents a post-deformation image.
FIG. 1B shows a memory access area in the memory read deformation method in this case. A hatched portion represents a memory access area. As described above, since the memory read deformation method stores one screen of an input image in the frame memory, and then executes a deformation process by reading out the entire area, memory access for two screens occurs.
On the other hand, FIG. 1C shows a memory access area in the memory write deformation method. A hatched portion represents a memory access area. As described above, since the memory write deformation method deforms an input image before storing it, and sequentially reads out and outputs pixels from the frame memory, memory access for fewer than two screens occurs. More specifically, memory write of a trapezoidal shape and memory read of a rectangular shape of one screen occur.
In either case, however, memory access for about two screens is necessary. To keep up with a recent increase in resolution and frame rate of an image, the power consumption rises due to an increase in number of memory access operations.

Movie processing apparatus and control method therefor


A multimeter includes a body portion, a cover pivotally connected to the frame such that the cover is selectively moveable about a rotational axis between an open position and a closed position, and a probe assembly including a pair of measuring lines connectable to the frame. The cover includes a magnetic portion on an exterior surface thereof that is configured and positioned to magnetically mount the body portion for use in an inclined relation to a metal surface when the cover is in the open position, and to magnetically mount the body portion to a metal surface when in the closed position.

Multimeters are well known devices. It has been proposed in the expired art to provide a folding multimeter for more convenient handling. Specifically, see U.S. Pat. No. 4,439,726. This patent discloses an arrangement in which the two housings 1a, 2a are pivotally connected to rotate about an axis. However, the arrangement lacks structure for accommodating the measuring lines of the multimeter, which tend to be in disarray.
It is an object of the present invention to overcome the deficiencies noted above in the prior art. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, this objective is achieved by providing a multimeter including a frame, a cover pivotally connected to the frame such that the cover is selectively moveable about a rotational axis between an open position and a closed position, and a probe assembly including a pair of measuring lines connectable to the frame. Opposing edges of the frame have a concave portion for receiving the measuring lines.
Another aspect of the present invention relates to a multimeter including a first frame portion, a second frame portion, an intermediate frame portion, and a probe assembly. The intermediate frame portion is pivotally connected to the first frame portion and the second frame portion such that the first frame portion and the second frame portion are selectively moveable about first and second rotational axes, respectively, between an open position and a closed position. The probe assembly includes a pair of measuring lines. The first frame portion and the second frame portion cooperate to form a measuring line receiving space around the periphery thereof when the first frame portion and the second frame portion are in the closed position.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken into conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this disclosure and which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of this invention.


A casino credit access instrument comprises a source of funds for a player, such as for placing wagers to play casino-style games or to purchase other goods or services. The instrument defines a period of timed during which credit may be accessed up to a predetermined amount, defines a redemption period during which any accessed credit may be re-paid, and defines settlement terms if the instrument is not redeemed. Credit may be granted based upon financial collateral, which collateral may be executed upon to settle the instrument. The instrument provides a convenient source of funding for player at low risk to the casino or other lender.

Traditional gaming machines such as slot machines required players to input coins in order to play the game. To avoid the need for customers to have coins or convert paper currency to coins in order to play the gaming machines, gaming machines were developed which accepted paper currency.
In order to reduce the need for gaming machines to dispense coins upon cash-out or for game wins, gaming machines were developed which dispense and receive monetary value tickets. Other gaming machine configurations have been proposed, including gaming machines which accept credit or debit cards.
In all cases, however, a player is required to provide monetary value in order to play the gaming machine. In some instances, however, a player may not have monetary funds readily available. In other instances, use of the funds may be cumbersome. For example, a player might have some funds available in a checking account but might then have to find a location to cash the check to receive currency to use to play a gaming machine.
Thus, additional solutions to the problems associated with funding of wager-based gaming remain desirable.


A weather strip for an automotive back door includes a seal lip having a hollow therein. An appropriate portion of the outer side of the seal lip is projected toward a direction outward from a vertical direction relative to a seal plane of a vehicle body where the seal lip elastically contacts thereto. The projected portion is wedge-shaped to function as a drain lip.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a weather strip for an automotive vehicle. Specifically, the present invention relates to a weather strip attached to a back door of an automotive vehicle of the hatch back type.
2. Description of The Background Art
Generally, an automotive vehicle of the hatch back type includes a back door weather strip attached to a back portion of the body along a circumference of an opening therethrough corresponding to the circumference of a back door contacted thereto for providing a seal between the back door and the body when the door is closed.
A side weather strip can be additionally attached to appropriate portions of both sides of the back door for reducing wind noise when the vehicle is moving. The side weather strip is generally attached along an edge portion of the back door side to an inner panel of the back door via securing means, such as a clip. Such a weather strip includes a seal lip having a hollow therein to seal a gap remaining between the back door and the body of the vehicle for establishing an elastic contact with the body when the door is closed. The seal lip is positioned so as to have coplanarity with the outer surface of the back door.
Another weather strip can also be attached to a top portion of the back door.
Weather strips attached to the circumference of the back door prevent dropping of water droplets into a vehicle interior if the door is opened in rainy conditions or after washing. When the back door is opened, water droplets adhered to the back door tumble down from the door edge into or outside of a drip channel, which is formed in a floor portion of the vehicle body to receive water droplets, via the seal lip of the weather strip. Thus, the weather strip keeps the vehicle interior from getting wet by leading water droplets to the drip channel or outside thereof.
However, if the back door is opened quickly and/or roughly, water droplets adhered to the back door tend to flow along curvature of the weather strip surface toward the inside portion of the door edge and splash therefrom into the vehicle interior.
Japanese Patent First Publication (unexamined) No. 2-81745 discloses a seal strip for sealing a space between two parts including a base member having an end intermediate both parts and a seal lip formed integrally with the end of the base member. The seal lip is extended to surround the end for providing a seal by establishing elastic contact with both parts. The base member is made of hard material and the seal lip is made of soft material.
However, if water droplets are adhered on the upper part, they tend to flow around into an interior of the seal strip when the door is opened, wetting the interior of the vehicle.


An actuator apparatus for a clutch that operates the clutch of a transmission according to operation of a motor, may include the motor including a stator and a rotator, wherein the rotator has a drive shaft and a rotator core receiving the drive shaft therein, a lead screw engaged to the drive shaft of the motor and movable in a length direction thereof according to the operation of the drive shaft in the motor, a rod disposed apart from the lead screw, a slider connecting the lead screw with the rod, and a guide rail disposed to contact with the slider and guiding a linear motion of the slider.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an actuator of a clutch, and more particularly to an actuator for operating a clutch in a transmission of an electric vehicle.
2. Description of Related Art
Generally, an actuator converts electrical energy, hydraulic energy or pneumatic energy to a mechanical energy. The actuator is used to operate a clutch of a transmission.
In a case of a manual transmission, a clutch control system of a clutch release cylinder type or concentric sleeve cylinder type is used.
In the clutch release cylinder type, if a driver pushes a clutch pedal, hydraulic pressure is generated in a clutch master cylinder and a tappet of a clutch release cylinder is operated by the generated hydraulic pressure.
At this time, the tappet pushes a clutch release fork so as to move a clutch release bearing in an axial direction. After that, the clutch release bearing moved in the axial direction operates a clutch diaphragm spring.
In a case of an automatic transmission, a clutch actuator is adapted to engage and release the clutch automatically. The clutch actuator of the automatic transmission receives a signal from an electric control unit (ECU) so as to operate the clutch. The clutch actuator has a master cylinder, a device for converting a motion direction and a motor.
The master cylinder is connected to a slave cylinder disposed around a release device of the clutch. The device for converting a motion direction includes a rod, a worm wheel and a worm gear. The rod contacts with a piston of the master cylinder. The worm wheel is fixed to an end portion of the rod. The worm gear is coupled to the worm wheel and is fixed to a rotating shaft of a motor. That is, if the motor rotates, the worm wheel is rotated by rotation of the worm gear. Thereby, the rod is moved linearly and the piston of the master cylinder is operated. Therefore, the hydraulic pressure is supplied from the master cylinder to the slave cylinder, and the slave cylinder is adapted to operate the release device so as to engage or release the clutch.
However, since the number of the components including conventional clutch actuators is many, a cost may be increased and a spatial utility may be deteriorated.
The information disclosed in this Background of the Invention section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.


A catalytic converter for the purification of exhaust gas including a catalyst carrier, a heat-insulating seal layer and a cylindrical metal shell is manufactured by providing an assembly including the catalyst carrier, a crystalline alumina fiber mat as the heat-insulating seal layer and a sheet-shaped article and pressing the assembly into the metal shell through a funnel-shaped fixture to render a bulk density of the crystalline alumina fiber mat in use into 0.25-0.60 g/cm.sup.3.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method of manufacturing a catalytic converter for the purification of exhaust gas arranged in an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, and more particularly to a method of manufacturing a catalytic converter arranged on the way of an exhaust pipe or an exhaust manifold in an exhaust system of a vehicle such as automobiles or the like to conduct the purification of exhaust gas.
2. Description of Related Art
In general, the catalytic converter for the purification of exhaust gas used in the exhaust system of the internal combustion engine comprises a catalyst carrier provided with a catalyst such as platinum or the like, a heat-insulating seal layer covering the outer surface of the catalyst carrier, and a metal shell housing an assembly of the carrier and the seal layer therein.
As the catalyst carrier in such a catalytic converter, there is used a monolithic carrier having a honeycomb shape at section and made from cordierite or the like.
As the heat-insulating seal layer, there is mainly used an inorganic fiber sheet. This sheet is used for holding the catalyst carrier at an adequate temperature to effectively develop the catalytic action and for preventing the damage of the catalyst carrier due to the contact with the outer metal shell during the running of the vehicle or the like, or preventing the leakage of exhaust gas from a space between the metal shell and the catalyst carrier.
As a method of manufacturing the catalytic converter, there has usually and widely been adopted so-called cram-shell system wherein the heat-insulating seal layer comprised of the inorganic fiber sheet is first wound around the catalyst carrier and then assembled into the metal shell by sandwiching between previously two divided parts of the shell. Recently, there is proposed a method wherein a cylindrical metal shell is used instead of the two-divided metal shell and the catalyst carrier covered with the heat-insulating seal layer is directly inserted into the cylindrical metal shell from a viewpoint of the improvement of operability and the like.
In order to closely fix the catalyst carrier to the inside of the metal shell through the heat-insulating seal layer when the catalyst carrier covered with the heat-insulating seal layer is directly inserted into the cylindrical metal shell, JP-A-7-189677 and JP-A-7-189678 propose a method of facilitating the assembling of the catalyst carrier to the metal shell wherein the catalyst carrier covered with the inorganic fiber sheet as the heat-insulating seal layer is placed in a bag of an airtight film and then the inside of the bag is evacuated to reduce the thickness of the inorganic fiber sheet, or JP-A-57-146954 and JP-A-59-126023 propose a method wherein the inorganic fiber sheet is closely sealed in an airtight film bag and then wound around the catalyst carrier.
As the inorganic fiber sheet, there has mainly been used an inorganic fiber sheet having an excellent handling property, which is comprised of a mixture of ceramic fibers and vermiculite being relatively poor in the heat resistance and having a high-temperature swelling property. Recently, the temperature of exhaust gas rises with the remarkable improvement of engine performances for automobiles and hence the inorganic fiber sheet used as the heat-insulating seal layer is required to have a higher heat resistance. For this end, it is now expected to use a sheet made of crystalline alumina fiber having an excellent heat resistance instead of the conventionally used inorganic fiber sheet made of the mixture of vermiculite and ceramic fibers.
However, the crystalline alumina fiber sheet is excellent in the heat resistance as compared with the inorganic fiber sheet made of the vermiculite and ceramic fiber mixture, but has drawbacks that it has not a high-temperature swelling property as in vermiculite and is relatively low in the fiber strength and the crystalline alumina fiber sheet is apt to broken under an influence of pulsation of the exhaust gas. Therefore, it is required to improve the sealing property by winding the crystalline alumina fiber sheet around the catalyst carrier at a state of increasing the bulk density of the sheet. In the conventional method of increasing the bulk density by reducing the thickness of the inorganic fiber sheet through the evacuation inside the airtight film bag, however, an external pressure is an atmospheric pressure and the bulk density can not sufficiently be increased and hence it is difficult to obtain the crystalline alumina fiber sheet at a state of increasing the bulk density by such a conventional method. Moreover, a method of closely fixing the catalyst carrier to the inside of the metal shell through a heat-insulating seal layer having a high compression restoring property is not known up to the present at all.

Method of manufacturing catalytic converter for the purification of exhaust gas


A multi-level recreational vehicle having a body chassis, with side walls, wherein the body chassis is supported on frame rails, wherein the recreational vehicle comprises a lower level having a floor and a ceiling, wherein the lower level floor has a walking portion proximate the frame rails; an intermediate level having a floor and a ceiling, wherein the intermediate level floor staggers with the lower level ceiling; and an upper level having a floor, wherein the floor comprises a deck for recreational or leisure purposes, including hot tubing. Peripherally bordering the upper level is a collapsible railing, wherein the collapsed railing is received by sleeves on or in the side walls of the recreational vehicle.

1. Field of the Invention
A multi-level recreational vehicle is provided that maximizes available living space. More specifically, a recreational vehicle is disclosed that comprises at least three levels for living space, wherein the levels are stationary and non-collapsible. This multi-level recreational vehicle uses the combination of a lower level portion positioned proximate the frame rails of the body chassis, staggered positioning of the lower level and the intermediate level, and a deck on the upper level, with a means for accessing each level.
2. Description of the Background Art
Available living space of a recreational vehicle is limited by the dimensional restrictions for highway-use. For transport of the vehicle, the dimensions of the vehicle must be within prescribed specifications for height clearance, weight distribution, and safety. Several vehicle designs have been developed in an attempt to maximize the available space within the prescribed specifications for highway transit. However, none has disclosed a multi-level recreational vehicle that maximizes the available living space as provided in this invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,468,710, issued in January of 1922, reveals a passenger bus with a lower or first interior deck and an upper or second exterior deck. A stairway from the forward part of the lower interior deck leads upward towards an entrance opening at the forward part of the exterior upper deck. The interior deck floor is positioned above the frame rails.
Disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,905,842, issued in April of 1932, is a double deck vehicle for carrying passengers. The first deck is at a common level, wherein the first deck floor is positioned above the vehicle axles or frame rails. The second or upper enclosed deck is constructed of two different levels wherein the aisle floor is lower than the seat floor. The aisle on the common level is staggered with respect to the upper. A quarter-turn stairway fixed at the lower deck aisle extends vertically and fixes to the upper deck aisle for access to the upper deck. The first level floor is positioned above the wheel center and the frame rails.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,563,917, issued in October of 1944, presents a double-deck coach with the aisle and the baggage compartment of the lower deck positioned on the right and left side, respectively, and with the aisle and the baggage compartment of the upper deck positioned on the left and right side, respectively. The lower deck has a portion that is depressed so as to be somewhat lower than the center of the wheels. From a center vestibule, wherein the center vestibule comprises a washroom, a water cooler, and an attendant's station, the upper deck is accessed by stationary steps emerging from the lower deck. The upper deck comprises a plurality of seats placed back to back for accommodation of passengers. The lower deck may be used as a smoking room, for card playing, for sleeping space or for freight or baggage space.
Revealed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,589,894, issued in November of 1948, is a two-deck trailer having a staggered arrangement of full height upstairs and downstairs spaces. The shorter or less than full height spaces are utilized with the bed spaces, cabinets, closets, and the like. The upper or second deck is in communication with the lower or first deck by a fixed stairway. The trailer only has a lower and an upper level, wherein the lower deck does not utilize the space available below the frame rails.
A collapsible vehicular structure is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,608,954, issued in May of 1969, wherein the invention provides a vehicular cabin with a second story. The second or upper story is a cabin extension that has a peripheral side wall, a roof, a collapsible railing and a window. The upper story is collapsible for transit, wherein the side walls of the structure are telescopically interrelated. Access to the extended collapsible upper story is provided by an opening in the upper wall of the lower or first story that may be closed by a cover.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,774,956, issued in November of 1971, reveals parallel attachable, two story expandable, trailable building structures, wherein the roof sections of the upper or second story are foldable and collapsible. The structures can be attached, while stationary, together in a parallel fashion to give the appearance of a clustered town-house complex.
Issued in September of 1975 is U.S. Pat. No. 3,971,455 which describes a double deck bus with a passageway in the upper or second deck being offset from the lower or first deck passageway. A stationary curved stairway ascends from an area adjacent to the lower deck entrance and extends to the upper deck passageway. The lower deck extends level above the center of the wheels.
Provided in U.S. Pat. No. 4,103,958 is a camping vehicle body, which was issued in March of 1977. The camping vehicle constitutes a bus body with a second floor, wherein the second floor has a collapsible roof and collapsible side walls. A livable space on the second or upper level is created by lifting the collapsible roof, relative to the upper level floor.
A recreational vehicle with telescopic elevator shaft and floating second floor is related in U.S. Pat. No. 5,374,094, issued in December of 1994. This invention includes a lower body and a vertically telescoping upper body. The upper level must be lowered for transport. Access to the upper level from the lower level is achieved by an elevator with an elevator shaft comprising fixed first story panels and sliding second story panels. The lower body floor extends horizontally level above the wheel axles.
Also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,997,165, issued in August of 1988, is a safety rail for collapsible bleachers. The safety rail is for attachment and application particularly to a foldable or collapsible bleacher, wherein the safety rail telescopically collapses or extends along with the collapse or extension of the bleacher assembly of which they form a part.
The foregoing patents reflect the state of the art of which the applicant is aware and are tendered with the view toward discharging applicant's acknowledged duty of candor in disclosing information which may be pertinent in the examination of this application. It is respectfully submitted, however that none of these patents teaches or renders obvious, single or when considered in combination, applicant's claimed invention.


A method of determining appropriate conditions for leveling a vehicle having a height adjustable air suspension system. The method includes the steps of providing an acceleration-determining device adapted to output a signal associated with an acceleration of the vehicle. Another step includes measuring an acceleration value of the vehicle and comparing the acceleration value to a pre-determined signal. Yet another step includes determining whether appropriate conditions exist for leveling the vehicle based on the comparison. A system for performing the steps of the method is also included.

Vehicles having height adjustable air suspension systems are well known and commonly used. Generally, such systems include a plurality of air springs compressibly supported between the sprung and unsprung masses of the vehicle. The air springs are commonly positioned adjacent each wheel of the vehicle. On a passenger vehicle, for example, each wheel is supported on the frame or unsprung mass of the vehicle by a pivot arm, and an air spring and damper arrangement is typically supported between each pivot arm and the body or sprung mass of the vehicle. The height of the passenger vehicle can then be adjusted on a wheel-by-wheel basis by delivering or exhausting a quantity of air into or out of each air spring to respectively increase or decrease the height of the same, which in turn adjusts the height of the vehicle. As such, the operator can adjust certain performance characteristics of the vehicle as desired. For example, the amount of ground clearance can be increased where rough terrain is encountered, or the center of gravity can be lowered to improve handling during high speed driving. To help ensure that each air spring is at the desired height, such suspension systems often include a height sensor adjacent each air spring and damper arrangement.
Given the prevalence of these height adjustable suspensions systems, additional features have been added to these types of suspension systems in recent years to permit the same to provide dynamic leveling of the vehicle while the same is in operation. Such systems are used to compensate for body roll and other movements. However, one disadvantage of such systems is that adjusting the level of the vehicle while the same is being accelerated or decelerated, such as when the vehicle is traveling through a turn, when the vehicle is undergoing a braking action and/or when the vehicle is increasing speed, for example, can result in the vehicle having unusual or uneven height conditions that can unfavorably affect handling. As such, these systems tend to be sophisticated to avoid and/or compensate for such conditions.
One example of such a system is disclosed in Raad, et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,430,647). Raad discloses a system and apparatus for maintaining vehicle ride height by using height sensors at each wheel to measure the relative height of the body at each wheel. The system then identifies differences in ride height from side to side and from front to back, and acts to adjust the vehicle ride height to compensate for the body movements. As mentioned above, one disadvantage of such systems is that the same are complex and often require sophisticated sensing and computational systems to attempt continually to measure and compensate for dynamic body movements of the vehicle.
Another disadvantage of systems such as that disclosed in Raad, for example, is that the continual adjustments of the suspension system to compensate for the dynamic movements of the body of the vehicle tend to consume a considerable amount of compressed air. As such, the power consumption of the compressor supplying the compressed air can be significant. Techniques have been used in attempts to reduce the compressed air consumption and attendant power load. One such technique includes monitoring the braking system and not leveling the suspension system while the braking system is in operation. This technique, however, also has disadvantages. One such disadvantage is that the braking system typically operates for only a fraction of the time that the vehicle is in operation. As such, this technique often provides only minimal reduction in compressed air consumption and power usage.
Another disadvantage of such systems is that there are other conditions during the dynamic operation of the vehicle in which it is desirable to avoid leveling or otherwise adjusting the suspension system of the vehicle. These conditions can include when a vehicle is accelerating, such as laterally, longitudinally or in a resultant direction, for example. To date, however, known systems have not determined whether or not conditions are appropriate for leveling a vehicle based, at least in part, on an acceleration level of the vehicle.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method for determining appropriate conditions for leveling a vehicle having an air suspension system


In a synthetic resin retainer formed by joining together two annular members by engaging claws of each annular member in engaging holes of the annular member, each of the two annular members 1 has a plurality of hemispherical pockets 4 formed in a side surface thereof to be brought into abutment with the side surface of the other annular member at circumferentially equal intervals. Joint portions are provided between the adjacent pockets 4, and each is provided with an engaging hole 5 and an engaging claw 6. The engaging claws 6 and engaging holes 5 are configured such that gaps are present between the engaging claws 6 and the engaging holes 5 in the initial stage of assembly of the retainer, and the gaps decrease to zero or less upon completion of the assembly of the retainer, thereby preventing wear of the engaging portions of the engaging claws for joining the annular members together.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to a synthetic resin retainer mounted mainly in ball bearings that are rotated at high speed, and a ball bearing in which such a synthetic retainer is used.
2. Background Art
JP patent publication 2003-343571A discloses a synthetic resin retainer for use in a ball bearing that is rotated at high speed.
The synthetic resin retainer disclosed in JP patent publication 2003-343571A comprises two annular members made of synthetic resin and each having a plurality of hemispherical pockets formed in one side thereof so as to partially receive balls therein, and joint portions each provided between adjacent pockets. Each joint portion is formed with an engaging hole and an engaging claw configured to be engaged in the corresponding engaging hole formed in the other annular member to join the annular members together.
Since the two annular members forming such a conventional retainer are formed of synthetic resin, it is difficult to provide an end product having intended dimensions due to shrinkage and deformation after forming. In view of this difficulty and for easy assembly of the retainer, conventional retainers of this type have their engaging claws designed such that they have a width in the diametrical direction of the retainers that is smaller than the width of the engaging holes in the diametrical direction of the retainers.
Thus, when the two annular members are joined together into a retainer by engaging the engaging claws in the engaging holes, gaps form between the engaging claws and the engaging holes in the diametrical direction of the retainer. With such a retainer mounted in a bearing, when the ball bearing rotates, the plurality balls rotate alternately faster and slower than the retainer, thus applying loads to the retainer. This causes elastic deformation of the annular members by amounts corresponding to the gaps between the engaging claws and the engaging holes in the diametrical direction of the retainer, which results in sliding movement between the engaging holes and engaging claws. Thus, the engaging portions of the engaging claws tend to become worn, which in turn causes the following problems.
Due to wear of the portions of the engaging claws that are in engagement with the engaging holes, the annular members loosen, thus increasing the width of the retainer as well as the diameter of the pockets. This in turn increases the axial and diametrical movements of the retainer. As a result, the annular members forming the retainer become more likely to interfere with, i.e. come into frictional contact with, other parts of the bearing, such as the outer ring, inner ring and bearing seals, thus increasing the bearing temperature due to heat buildup resulting from frictional contact. This leads to deterioration of the lubricating grease in the bearing. Also, wear powder produced from such frictional contact portions tends to get into contact portions between the balls and the raceways of the inner and outer ring. This could shorten the lifespan of the bearing or cause the bearing to produce noise.

Synthetic resin retainer and ball bearing using such synthetic resin retainer


A winch assembly includes a housing member, a drum rotatably coupled to the housing member, a drive shaft extending through the drum and into the housing member, a gear train located within the housing member, and an actuation mechanism. The gear train includes a sun gear driven by the drive shaft, a ring gear, and a planetary gear assembly driven by the sun gear and including a planetary gear rotatably coupled to a carrier plate and engaged with the ring gear. The actuation mechanism includes a locking member displaceable between first and second positions and a biasing member having a radially extending arm engaged with the locking member to provide displacement between the first and second positions. The locking member rotationally fixes the ring gear relative to the housing member in the first position and allows relative rotation between the ring gear and the housing member in the second position.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
Winch assemblies may include a variety of parts to provide a freespool condition for the winch including various brake assemblies and clutch mechanisms. The existing brake assemblies and clutch mechanisms may include numerous parts that provide for a complicated assembly process.
Accordingly, a winch assembly may include a housing member, a drum, a drive shaft, a gear train, and an actuation mechanism. The drum may be rotatably coupled to the housing member and the drive shaft may extend through the drum and into the housing member. The gear train may be located within the housing member and may include a sun gear driven by rotation of the drive shaft, a planetary gear assembly, and a ring gear. The planetary gear assembly may be driven by the sun gear and may include a planetary gear rotatably coupled to a carrier plate and engaged with an inner toothed surface of the ring gear. The actuation mechanism may include a locking member that is displaceable between first and second positions. The locking member may rotationally fix the ring gear relative to the housing member when in the first position. The ring gear may be rotatable relative to the housing member when the locking member is in the second position. The actuation mechanism may include a biasing member having a radially extending arm engaged with the locking member to provide displacement between the first and second positions.
An alternate winch assembly may include a housing member, a drum, a drive shaft, a gear train, and an actuation mechanism. The drum may be rotatably coupled to the housing member and the drive shaft may extend through the drum and into the housing member. The gear train may be located within the housing member and may include a sun gear driven by rotation of the drive shaft, a planetary gear assembly, and a ring gear. The planetary gear assembly may be driven by the sun gear and may include a planetary gear rotatably coupled to a carrier plate and engaged with an inner toothed surface of the ring gear. The actuation mechanism may include a pair of locking members that are displaceable between first and second positions. The locking members may rotationally fix the ring gear relative to the housing member when in the first position. The ring gear may be rotatable relative to the housing member when the locking members are in the second position. The actuation mechanism may include a biasing member rotatably mounted relative to the housing member and having a pair of radially extending arms each engaged with one of the pair of locking members to provide displacement between the first and second positions.
Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

Winch assembly including clutch mechanism


A method of processing audio input signals comprising 1-bit, Sigma-Delta Modulated (SDM) signals is disclosed including the steps of combining the audio input signals to form a combined audio input signal; and utilising a Sigma-Delta Modulator to convert the combined audio input signal to a corresponding Sigma-Delta Modulated output signal. The method can include a linear mix of the audio input signals and each audio input signal can multiplied by a corresponding gain factor before being added together with other of the audio input signals. The Sigma-Delta Modulator can include a noise shaping filter designed to amplify components of the audio input signals below a predetermined threshold frequency and the combining step can include utilising a negative feedback of the combined audio input signal. The noise shaping filter can utilise a series of integrating circuits as a means to decrease the sensitivity of the filter to errors in its coefficients.

A/D and D/A converters are well known in the art and differ in the quality and accuracy of conversion. Various factors influence the differences in quality, most especially, the sampling frequency and the number of bits of accuracy per sample. For a general discussion of real world problems experienced by A/D and D/A converters, reference is made to "Digital Signal Processing: principles, algorithms and applications", second edition by John Proakis and Dimitris Manolakis published 1992 by the Macmillan Publishing Company at pages 412-430.
A common form of A/D conversion is to utilise over sampling and pulse code modulation in a system known generally as sigma delta modulation (SDM). SDM methods are utilised in most modern digital audio systems. Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated an example SDM system 1 which normally comprises two parts being a sigma delta modulator 2 and a decimator 3. The sigma delta modulator 2 normally converts an analogue input signal 4 into a 1-bit signal 5 having a high sample rate which can be, say, 64 times the final sample rate of the overall analogue to digital converter 1. The decimator 3 converts the 1-bit digital signal 5 to a digital audio signal 6 having the desired sample rate having multi-bit output. The decimator 3 normally comprises a low pass (anti-alias) filter of 1-bit signal 5.
The D/A conversion process utilising 1-bit techniques is similar to the A/D process. With reference to FIG. 2, the D/A process can normally comprise inputting a processed digital signal 7 which is interpolated and subjected to SDM sampling 11 to form a high frequency 1-bit signal 12 which is then converted to an analogue output and low pass filtered 13 to form a final analogue output 14.
For a general introduction as to the issues involved in the construction of SDM circuits and to the complexities of implementing SDM digital to analogue converters, reference is made to the standard text, "Delta-Sigma Data Converters", edited by S. R. Norsworthy et. al., published by IEEE Press Marketing, Piscataway, N.J.
It has been suggested by persons skilled in the field that digital audio systems utilising an arrangement of FIG. 1 and subsequent digital audio processing of signal 6, can produce inferior results due to the supposed destruction of much of the high frequency information in the original audio signal 4. There is growing body of evidence that frequencies normally considered outside the audible range (eg. above 20 kHz) play an important role in our perception of transient and other audio effects.

Method and apparatus for processing sigma-delta modulated signals


An electroporation cuvette is constructed with electroporation electrodes arranged in non-parallel relation to form a gap whose width varies with the location within the cuvette, plus a pair of positioning electrodes that are arranged to cause electrophoretic migration of biological cells within the cuvette according to cell size. Once the cells, suspended in a solution of the impregnant, are distributed in the cuvette by the positioning electrodes, electric field pulses are generated by the non-parallel electroporation electrodes. Because of their distribution in the cuvette, the various cells will experience voltage differentials across their widths that approach uniformity regardless of cell diameter, since the larger cells will be positioned at locations where the gap between the electrodes is greater and the smaller cells at locations where the gap is relatively small while the voltage drop across the entire gap is uniform along the length of the cell. The voltage differential across the width of the cell is thus roughly paired with the cell diameter, and this reduces the disparity in voltage differential that cells of different sizes would otherwise experience with parallel electrodes.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention lies in the field of electroporation, the process by which exogenous molecular species are inserted into membranous structures by suspending the structures in a liquid solution of the exogenous species and applying an electric field to the resulting suspension. In particular, this invention addresses electroporation cuvettes.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Electroporation, or electric pulse-driven transfection, is widely used for impregnating membranous structures, such as living biological cells, liposomes, and vesicles, with exogenous molecules. The structures are typically suspended in an aqueous solution of the exogenous species in a high-conductivity buffer. Normal saline is commonly used as the buffer since, in addition to offering relatively low resistance to an electric current, normal saline provides an environment that is favorable to the viability of most membranous structures. The suspension is typically placed in a cuvette that is equipped with electrodes, and electroporation is performed in the cuvette.
A prime concern in any electroporation procedure is efficiency, which is defined as the number of membranous structures that are successfully impregnated in the procedure. The goal is to impregnate as many membranous structures in a given sample as possible and to cause each structure to receive as closely as possible the same number of molecules of the impregnant. Full uniformity is an elusive goal, however; a certain degree of variation is inherent in any electroporation procedure, due to the different locations and physical orientations of the membranous structures relative to the electric field. When the membranous structures are biological cells, a further source of variation is the range of maturity of the cells, since a typical cell population contains cells at various stages of their life cycles. A single cell line can therefore have cells of different diameters. The electric field intensity is determined by dividing the impressed voltage by the distance between the electrodes, but the voltage across a single cell will be proportional to the cell diameter. Thus, for a given field intensity, small cells will experience a relatively low voltage difference while the voltage difference experienced by large cells will be relatively high. If the voltage difference is too low, the cell walls will not become sufficiently porous to allow the molecules to penetrate, and if the voltage difference is too high, the resulting dipole moment will cause cell lysis.

Electroporation cuvette with spatially variable electric field


Compositions and methods for accurately characterizing immune reactivity to food allergens have been developed, in which test surfaces that incorporate different food antigen preparations derived from the same food into individual test sites are provided. Such coated surfaces can be produced using raw and cooked foods. The use of a panel of such test surfaces to characterize specific IgG, IgA, and/or C1q binding provides improved sensitivity and accuracy in determining immune reactivity and response to specific foods.

The following description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
Autoimmune disorders, including neuroautoimmune diseases, affect 7-10% of the world population. Increasingly, such disorders are becoming associated with immune reactivity to commonly consumed foods. Ordinarily the gut mucosal immune system maintains immune homeostasis by inducing tolerance to antigens found in dietary proteins and peptides and commensal flora, while at the same time exerting immune defense against pathogens. The body's normal tolerance of "friendly" antigenic substances can, however, be disrupted by a number of factors. Intestinal barrier dysfunction and breakdown of gut-associated barriers can allow the entry of undigested proteins and peptides into circulation. Under these circumstances the ingestion of these food substances can result in the production of IgG and IgA antibodies, not only against the various food antigens but also against the body's own tissues (a phenomenon known as food autoimmune reactivity). This is due to homology (which is present to varying extents) between the amino acid sequences of many commonly consumed foods and those of many proteins that occur naturally in human tissue, including neural cells. As a result of this antigenic similarity or molecular mimicry between these various food proteins and different target tissue antigens, failing to detect food immune reactivities can initially result in the development of autoimmune reactivities and potentially lead to autoimmune (for example neuroautoimmune) diseases (Vojdani, 2014a; Vojdani, 2014b). As a result, food immune reactivities are receiving an increasing amount of attention, due to both their increasing prevalence and their adverse effect on health and quality of life (Johnson et al., 2014; Vojdani et al., 2014c).
All publications identified herein are incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. Where a definition or use of a term in an incorporated reference is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply.
The mechanism of immune reactivity is generally biphasic: an acute reaction occurs immediately following allergen exposure, followed by late phase reaction several hours later. During the acute reaction symptoms occur due to the binding of IgE and/or IgG to various cells and the release of mediators, such as histamine and platelet-activating factor (PAF), by mast cells, neutrophils and basophils The late phase involves the influx of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-4, IL-9, IL-33, and TNF-α, and cells such as neutrophils and eosinophils (Ho et al., 2012). In classical delayed food immune reactivity, production of high levels of IgG, IgM or IgA against various food antigens results in C1q binding to the antibody, with the formation of immune complexes and the deposition of immune complexes in various tissue sites. Symptoms can continue for days or even weeks following the initial immune reaction to such food antigens.
IgE, IgG, IgA or IgM play various roles in food immune reactivity (Mijayima et al., 1997). IgE functions via its high-affinity receptor, FcεRI, which is highly expressed on mast cells and basophils. IgG has several receptors, including the high-affinity FcγRI and FcγRIV receptors and the low-affinity FcγRIIB and FcγRIII receptors. All of these receptors are expressed on several types of cells involved in anaphylaxis, including mast cells, basophils, neutrophils, and macrophages.
Five different pathways are involved in food immune reactivity (Mancardi et al., 2013; Smit et al, 2011; Strait et al., 2002):    1. Classical pathway—involving IgE and its receptor FcεRI, mast cells and histamine    2. Alternative pathway—mediated by IgG1, FcγRIII, macrophages and the PAF pathway    3. IgG-basophil-PAF pathway    4. IgG-neutrophil-PAF pathway via FcγRIV    5. IgG, IgM or IgA-immune complex neutrophil pathway.All these reactions against dietary components can result from a failure of oral tolerance.
As noted above, the gut mucosal immune system normally maintains an immune homeostasis, which consists of maintaining tolerance to harmless or even beneficial molecules in the gut while mounting effective and appropriate immune responses against harmful pathogens (Lim and Rowley, 1982). A lack of response to food antigens with subsequent down-regulation of systemic immune response is what is characterized as oral tolerance. A failure in oral tolerance can result in immune reactivity to ingested food, with potentially life-threatening consequences such as allergies and autoimmunities (Tsuji and Kosaka, 2008).
When these different mechanisms of action fail to control ingested antigens, the result can initially be a breakdown in tolerance to soluble antigens, which activates secretory and systemic immune responses against food antigens. Individuals in whom the immune exclusion mechanism does not function can experience chronic hyperabsorption of macromolecules and the tendency to develop autoantibodies and even autoimmune disease (Maul and Dichmann, 2008). For this reason, the induction of IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies and immune complex formation to the actual food antigen and even cross-priming against bystander antigens may be of clinical significance. Both in vitro and in vivo experimental studies have demonstrated that IgG antibodies that are not balanced by a mucosal IgA response can enhance the epithelial penetration of bystander proteins (Brandtzaeg and Tolo, 1997). The passage of bacterial toxins and various food antigens through the epithelial cells can result in many immune disorders, including autoimmunities.
The type of systemic immune reaction against dietary proteins and peptides depends on the antigenic structure (e.g., protein antigens, particulate antigens, polysaccharides, glycoproteins, glycolipids or enzymes) and the genetic makeup of the individuals. For example, one person may produce IgG while another may produce IgA or IgM antibodies against dietary components (Barnes, 1995). If such IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies against dietary antigens are left undetected, the results can be the development of autoimmunity followed by autoimmune disease.
As a result, in recent decades significant progress has been made in the identification of target peptides in food antigens that share a similarity with autoantigens that are involved in autoimmune diseases (Baboonian et al., 1989; Baboonian et al., 1991; Lunardi et al., 1992; Lunardi et al., 2000; Ostenstad et al., 1995; Schrander et al., 1997). The glycine-rich cell wall protein peptide (GRP) represents an example of an antigenic peptide sequence that is able to prime T- and B-cell immune response in completely different and unrelated diseases. GRP is a ubiquitous food protein found in beans, fruits, vegetables and in gelatin. It has a very high degree of antigenic similarity/homology to ribonucleoprotein, fibrillar collagen, cytokeratin and EBV nuclear antigen-1 (EBNA-1) which are common antigens associated with autoimmune disorders.
This antigenic similarity between glycine-rich food antigen and Epstein-Barr virus and various tissue antigens involved in autoimmune disease can result in the production of cross-reactive antibodies. The finding of a common peptide epitope able to elicit an immune response in patients with food immune reactivities and different autoimmune disorders gives rise to the question of possible links between food antigens, gut mucosa, and systemic immune response (Lunardi et al., 1992; Schrander et al., 1997). Serum IgG antibodies directed against the GRP peptide were detected in several autoimmune disorders and in food allergic patients, and were able to cross-react with autoantigens including keratin, collagen and EBNA-1 (Lunardi et al., 2000). This data suggests that highly phylogenetically conserved epitopes in plants viruses and humans may be responsible for an autoimmune response in susceptible individuals. Furthermore, this indicates that the antigen spreading of a particular sequence between apparently divergent proteins may be involved in initiating or amplifying an immune response, resulting in autoimmunity in susceptible individuals.
An autoimmune response mediated by T-cell clones specific for particular food antigen epitopes can arise in the gut mucosa. Such T-cells can be recruited to particular sites, such as the joints, where they proliferate in response to homologous peptides derived from synovial proteins. Following local inflammation and up-regulation of MHC molecules, the release of additional self-antigens and/or epitope spreading can lead to a chronic, self-perpetuating process of organ inflammation and destruction resulting in autoimmunity (Lunardi et al., 1992; Vojdani, 2014a).
Recognition of food immune reactivity and associated health problems, particularly in regards to wheat and milk, has grown over the past two decades (Bousquet et al., 1998; Lack, 2008; Zuidmeer et al., 2008). A number of gluten peptides with the capacity to stimulate intestinal T-helper cells have been identified in celiac disease (CD) patients (Arentz-Hansen et al., 2000; Arentz-Hansen et al., 2002; Camarca et al., 2009; Tollefsen et al., 2006). A recent study showed that patients with non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) and Cohn's disease react to a repertoire of wheat antigens and produce IgG and IgA against them. This repertoire included various peptides, α-, γ-, ω-gliadins, glutenins, gluteomorphins and wheat germ agglutinin (Vojdani, 2011). Continuous exposure to environmental factors such as wheat not only causes NCGS and celiac disease but, if left untreated, can result in inflammation and autoimmunity (Counsell et al., 1994; De Freitas et al., 2002; Gillett et al., 2001). Indeed, celiac disease has been associated with various autoimmune disorders. The spectrum of autoimmune-associated antibodies detected in patients with CD or NCGS indicates that cross-reactivity and molecular mimicry occurs between gliadin and various tissue antigens (Alaedini et al., 2007; Collin et al., 2002; Frustaci et al., 2002; Hadjivassiliou et al., 2004; Jacob et al., 2005; Natter et al., 2001; Pratesi et al., 1998; Reinke et al., 2011; Vojdani et al., 2004).
Many studies have focused on the association between the prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) and dairy food consumption, and have found that the incidence of MS parallels the consumption of milk (Agranoff and Goldberg, 1974; Butcher, 1976; Kahana et al., 1994; Knox, 1977; Malosse et al, 1992). Notably, a high degree of sequence homology was found between a major protein of milk fat globule membrane called butyrophilin (BTN) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) (Gardiner et al., 1992; Henry et al., 1999; Jack and Mather, 1990).
MOG (myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein) is a major antigen in the pathogenic autoimmune response of MS and its animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) (Vojdani et al., 2002). MOG is the only myelin autoantigen known to induce both a demyelinating autoantibody response and an ecephalitogenic CD4+ T cell response in animals with EAE (Amor et al., 1994). It has been found that an encephalitogenic T cell response to MOG can be either induced or, alternatively, suppressed as a result of immunological cross-reactivity (or "molecular mimicry") with the extracellular IgV-like domain of the milk protein butyrophilin (BTN). In rats, active immunization with native BTN triggers an inflammatory response in the central nervous system characterized by the formation of scattered meningeal and perivascular infiltrates of T cells and macrophages (Vojdani et al., 2002). It has also been found that this pathology is mediated by an MHC class II-restricted T cell response of BTN that cross-reacts with MOG peptide sequence (Muthukumar M, et al., 2009).
Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a severe neuroautoimmune disorder that affects the gray and white matter in the brain and spinal cord, resulting in demyelination, axonal damage, and necrosis, and eventually resulting in paralysis and sensory loss in affected individuals (Jarius et al., 2008). In 75% of cases, NMO is associated with the presence of IgG1 antibody that binds selectively to aquaporin-4 (AQP4), which is a water channel belonging to the aquaporin family (Jarius et al., 2010; Kim et al., 2012). AQP4 is expressed in the astrocytic foot processes at the blood brain barrier, which are in contact with brain microvessels or subarachnoid space affecting solute concentration, electrical activity and modulation of neuronal transmission and excitability (Kinoshita et al., 2010). After binding, AQP4-specific IgG1 antibody has the capacity to first damage the astrocytes, and then cause demyelination in the spinal cord and optic nerve (Bradl and Lassmann, 2008). The binding of IgG1 to AQP4 also induces activation of the complement cascade and inflammatory infiltrates, which, after the induction of astrocytic cytotoxicity, cause demyelination and tissue destruction.
It has recently been suggested that pathogenic antibodies to AQP4 may be triggered by exposure to environmental proteins that have a similarity or molecular mimesis to a specific epitope of AQP4 (Vaishnav et al., 2013). Interestingly, spinach leaves express two thermally stable aquaporins that constitute 20% of the integral membrane protein (Plasencia et al., 2011). Similarly, soybean expresses aquaporins in germinating seeds as well as in the root nodules (Fleurat-Lassard et al., 2005). It has also been found that human AQP4 can cross-react with tomato and corn tonoplast intrinsic proteins (Vaishnav et al., 2013).
It has also been noted that an amino acid sequence with significant identity to a primary T-cell epitope in NMO occurs in a potentially immunogenic coat protein of the Parsnip Yellow Fleck Virus, which infects parsnips, celery, carrots, parsley, cilantro, chervil and dill. This epitope also shares significant sequence identity with a sequence present in a serine-protease inhibitor in the legume M. truncatula (Vaishnav et al., 2013).
It is apparent that many components of foods that have not yet been characterized can also have the potential to trigger autoimmunity. To date most studies associated with food immune reactivity have characterized only the water-soluble population of proteins and peptides present in the studied foods. An exception to this is wheat, as gluten (an alcohol-soluble component of wheat) has been used in food immune reactivity, cross-reactivity, and autoimmunity studies. In addition, the role of complement is not yet clear.
As noted above, to date food allergen studies have focused primarily on the detecting the presence of immunoglobulins to specific antigens, and have not addressed the issue of complement activation. United States Patent Application No. 2009/0010937 (to Chauhan) discusses detection of circulating immune complexes that include complement components such as C1q, however the methodologies that are discussed utilize cellular receptors for immune complexes to provide the immobilization necessary for detection using anti-complement antibodies. As such, they provide little to no insight into the antigen specificity of such complexes. U.S. Pat. No. 8,309,318 (to Dorval and Dantini) discusses the detection of allergen-specific immune complexes containing bound C3b using immobilized antigens. It has been demonstrated, however, that so called "innocent bystander" IgG-C3b adducts can form during complement activation (, which severely limits the utility of such an approach in determining the presence of antigen-specific complexes (Fries et al, 1984).
Thus there is a need for systems, devices, and methods for characterizing antibody (e.g. IgG, IgA, IgM, and other antibody classes) binding to a broader range of antigenic molecules found in food than are represented by water-extractable proteins and peptides in their natural state. In addition, there is a need for systems, devices, and methods that characterize the presence of complement components (e.g. C1q) associated with such antibodies.

Simultaneous characterization of IgG and IgA antibodies to multiple food antigens and C1Q-food protein immune complexes


A catalyst and a method for producing the catalyst, for catalytic reduction of NO.sub.x and oxidation of hydrocarbons, the catalyst comprises a zinc, copper and aluminum spinel to which, at least one element selected from palladium, platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, osmium, iridium, rhenium and/or rare earth metals, such as lanthanum and cerium, vanadium, titanium, niobium, molybdenum, tungsten and/or salts thereof and/or oxides thereof has been added.

The present invention relates to a catalyst comprising a spinel which comprises copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and aluminum (Al), to a method for producing the catalyst comprising a spinel which comprises copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and aluminum (Al), as well as to the use of such a catalyst.
Published German Patent Application No. DE 43 01 470, discloses a CuAl.sub.2 O.sub.4 spinel wherein tin, lead and an oxide, a salt or an elemental form of an element of the second main or subsidiary group of the Periodic Table has been added, and subsequently calcined to form the final spinel. The spinel is used to decompose laughing gas (N.sub.2 O). However, this patent does not teach the use of this spinel as a catalyst for the catalytic oxidation of CO to CO.sub.2 and/or for the catalytic reduction of NOR, preferably of NO and NO.sub.2, especially at temperatures of several hundred degrees centigrade.
According to the present invention, a spinel is understood to be a material having the general chemical formula A.sub.a B.sub.b O.sub.4, which has, at least microscopically, a crystallographic or crystalline cubic lattice structure with face-centered oxygen ions and with tetrahedral or octahedral gaps. All the A atoms and up to 50% of the B atoms are disposed in the tetrahedral gaps and the remaining B atoms are disposed in the octahedral gaps. The term A atom or B atom refers here only to the crystallographic arrangement. From a material point of view, the A atoms, as well as the B atoms, can be different from one another.
For environmental reasons, the purification of gases, particularly of exhaust gases, which are produced by internal combustion engines for example, especially, by diesel engines and engines operating on a lean mixture, as well as the decrease in the CO content of exhaust gases and the denitrification of these gases, that is, the decomposition of nitrogen oxides (NO.sub.x), is a pressing problem.
Published European Patent Application No. EP 042 471 discloses a catalyst which is used for catalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide (CO) to carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) and contains the metals copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and aluminum (Al) as metal oxides. At least 60% of the copper present is bound to the aluminum oxide as a copper oxide/aluminum oxide spinel. Zinc oxide is disposed in the free spaces of the porous spinel in a proportion by weight of between 1% to 20%.
However, the catalyst disclosed in EP 042 471 is known only for its purifying action with regard to carbon monoxide, which is based on the catalytic oxidation of the carbon monoxide. Whether the catalyst is also suitable for the purification of gases containing NO.sub.x and/or hydrocarbons, as occur in the case of the above-mentioned internal combustion engines and also in incinerator power plants and the like, is not disclosed.
It is an object of the present invention to develop a catalyst that has good resistance to exhaust gases components, and also has a good purifying action, particularly for NO.sub.x. Moreover, it is a further object of the present invention to develop a method for the production of such a catalyst.
Pursuant to the present invention, these and other objects are accomplished with a catalyst wherein at least one element selected from the group consisting of palladium, platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, osmium, iridium, rhenium, lanthanum, cerium, vanadium, titanium, niobium, molybdenum, tungsten,. salts thereof and oxides thereof is added to a copper oxide/zinc oxide/aluminum oxide spinel having the chemical formula EQU Cu.sub.A Zn.sub.B Al.sub.C O.sub.4
wherein A+B+C.ltoreq.3 and A>0, B>0 and C>0.
Furthermore, these and other objects are also accomplished by providing a method for the production of such a catalyst comprising producing a spinel comprising copper, zinc and aluminum from copper oxide, zinc oxide and aluminum oxide, and incorporating in the spinel at least one element selected from the group consisting of palladium, platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, osmium, iridium, rhenium, lanthanum, cerium, vanadium, titanium, niobium, molybdenum, tungsten, salts thereof and oxides thereof.
As a result of the use of a Cu.sub.A Zn.sub.B Al.sub.C O.sub.4 spinel as a catalyst, wherein A+B+C.ltoreq.3, A>0, B>0, and C>0, wherein at least one of palladium, platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, osmium, iridium, rhenium, and/or rare earth, such as lanthanum and cerium, vanadium, titanium, niobium, molybdenum, tungsten and/or salts thereof and/or oxides thereof have been added, the catalyst is largely resistant to exhaust gas components such as H.sub.2 O, NO.sub.x, CO.sub.2 and/or SO.sub.2 ; and the catalyst acts in an oxidizing manner on the hydrocarbons and in a catalytically reducing manner on the NO.sub.x. The reduction of NO.sub.x, takes place in an oxygen-containing gas and in the presence of reducing agents, such as hydrocarbons. Preferably, hydrocarbons are present in a sufficient concentration in the exhaust gases of the internal combustion engine. In preferred cases, reduction rates of more than 60% can be achieved at temperatures above 300.degree. C.
According to the present invention, substoichiometric compounds in which Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 functions as a matrix and which have characteristic spinel lines in the X-ray spectrum, are also regarded as spinels. In such substoichiometric compositions, a spinel of the composition Al.sub.2 O.sub.4 is present in an Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 matrix, so that an A.sub.(1-x) Al.sub.2 O.sub.4 stoichiometry results.
In a preferred embodiment, the catalyst is preferably a copper oxide/tin oxide/aluminum oxide spinel having the chemical formula EQU Cu.sub.(1-B) Zn.sub.B Al.sub.2 O.sub.4
wherein 0<B<1.
In another preferred embodiment, the catalyst is a copper oxide/tin oxide/aluminum oxide spinel having the chemical formula EQU Cu.sub.0.5 Zn.sub.0.5 Al.sub.2 O.sub.4.
According to the present invention, the spinel is preferably used as a molded object or a split Villz billet, particularly a honeycomb.
According to the present invention, the spinel preferably comprises between 0.5% and 15% by weight cerium oxide, particularly between 1 and 8% by weight.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Catalyst and a method for its production and use of same


A method of reducing a nitrogen oxide content in gas is disclosed. In this method, subject gas containing nitrogen oxide is supplied to a gas passage of a surface discharger to decompose the nitrogen oxide content in the gas into nitrogen gas.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of reducing nitrogen oxide content present in a gas such as a combustion exhaust gas from an engine, a boiler, an incinerator or the like, and more particularly to a method of decomposing the nitrogen oxide into nitrogen gas by means of an electric discharge into the gas containing the nitrogen oxide.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a method of reducing nitrogen oxide content by means of an electric discharge, it is known to use a corona discharger for decomposing the nitrogen oxide into nitrogen gas (e.g. the Japanese laid-open patent gazette No. Hei 2-191525). A further known method is illustrated in FIG. 8. In this method, subject gas is supplied to a gas passage 2 of a glow discharger 1' including a pair of electrodes 6, 7 opposing to each other across the gas passage 2 and a dielectric layer 4' formed on an opposing surface of at least either of the pair of electrodes 6, 7, so as to decompose the nitrogen oxide into nitrogen gas.
With either of the above-described conventional methods, decomposition of the nitrogen oxide content is to be effected by means of electric discharge into the atmosphere across the gas passage. For this reason, these conventional methods suffer problems to be described next.
In the case of a combustion exhaust gas from an engine, a typical nitrogen-oxide containing gas, the content of nitrogen oxide varies in accordance with variation in engine load. Similarly, in the case of a combustion exhaust gas from an incinerator, the content varies in accordance with the kind of objects incinerated in the incinerator. As a result, the condition between the electrodes, i.e. the insulation condition within the gas passage changes at every moment with continuous supply of the gas. Therefore, with the atmospheric discharge traversing the combustion exhaust gas flow, the discharge condition also varies in accordance with the variation in the insulation condition. Therefore, it is impossible to provide a constant amount of energy for effective decomposition of the nitrogen oxide. Consequently, decomposing performance deteriorates. Moreover, if an excessive amount of energy is supplied, the excess energy may even oxide NO (which makes up the largest portion of the nitrogen oxide present in the gas) into NO.sub.2. Further, the atmospheric discharge is effected at a great number of electrodes distributed throughout the gas passage from its entrance to exit, the gas introduced through the entrance experiences the discharging operations for a plurality of times to receive an additional amount of energy with each discharging operation. Accordingly, in the case of the combustion exhaust air which has oxygen content, the above-described oxidation reaction (NO+O) of NO into NO.sub.2 is very likely to occur.
As described above, the conventional methods can not provide good efficiency in the reduction of nitrogen oxide content by decomposing the oxide into nitrogen gas. Also, because of the problem of oxidation of NO into NO.sub.2 , a post treatment was necessary for treating this NO.sub.2. As a result, the conventional methods suffer high initial and running costs.

Method of reducing nitrogen oxide content in gas

Japan Marine Machinery Development Association