A vehicle for providing adjustable occupant space has a fixed occupiable section defining a first interior space. The fixed occupiable section includes a number of ground engaging wheels and has a floor affixed to a number of walls. Also included is an expandable occupiable section moveably coupled to the fixed section which also has a floor fixed to at least one wall. The expandable section defines a second interior space intersecting the first interior space which is moveable relative to the first interior space to vary an amount of total living space defined by the fixed and expandable sections. A carriage for supporting the expandable section and selectively positioning it relative to the fixed section is included to adjust volume of the living space defined by both sections. This carriage includes at least one arm pivotably anchored to the first section which engages the expandable section in a load bearing relationship. An actuator with a stationary member fixed to the expandable section and a positioning member coupled to the load bearing arm is included. This positioning member is configured to selectively move relative to the stationary member in response to activation of the actuator to rotate the arms and correspondingly adjust the living space. By way of example, a coupling member provided on the load bearing arm is threaded onto a threaded shaft coupled to a motor, the coupling member and arm rotating with rotation of the threaded shaft.

The present invention relates to a system for variably sizing a living space, and more particularly, but not exclusively, relates to a reconfigurable living space system for a vehicle.
Recreational vehicles enjoy widespread popularity because they enable their owners to travel away from home for extended periods while enjoying many of the comforts of home. One persistent limitation of such vehicles is that their interior spaces are somewhat small and cramped compared to a normal living space. While many factors contribute to this design limitation, a major contributor is the relatively narrow width of the normal street or highway. The need to travel within the confines of a normal highway traffic line sets an upper limit on the feasible width of a recreational vehicle. Because this upper width limit is much smaller than the width of even a small room in a normal house, the interior of a typical recreational vehicle seems cramped by familiar comparison.
One ingenious solution to this problem is the incorporation of an expandable room into a recreational vehicle such as a motor home or a trailer. This feature has found application in other types of trailers and vehicles having occupiable space.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,960,299 to Steadman shows a trailer with an expandable living space provided, in part, by folding walls which pivot to a position against the side of the trailer when not in an expanded configuration. U.S. Pat. No. 2,898,143 to Ferrera shows a trailer with movable telescoping walls and a foldable floor which combine to provide an expandable living space. U.S. Pat. No. 2,906,556 to Cantele et al. also shows an expandable trailer with a folding floor. This existing system uses pivoting walls to expand the sides and a telescoping wall in the rear. Unfortunately, the folding walls and floors of these systems complicate the expansion process. Necessarily, these designs do not permit one to continuously occupy the expandable section of the vehicle in both the expanded and unexpanded positions.
Consequently, slide out rooms have been developed which are continuously occupiable in both the expanded and unexpanded positions. Quite often, these rooms are configured to emerge along an outer side wall of the vehicle when expanded. U.S. Pat. No. 5,295,430 to Dewald, Jr., et al. discusses slide out rooms and discloses a number of telescoping tubular supports connected to the underside of the vehicle to laterally move the slide out room between the expanded and unexpanded positions. These supports also must be configured to bear the load of the room in the expanded position. Ideally, such load bearing function is performed without the need for ground engaging supports other than those required for the vehicle in the unexpanded position.
One drawback with telescoping tubular support systems is the unacceptable frequency of binding between the slide out room and the fixed portion of the vehicle during movement. One system addresses this problem by adding a number of pulleys and cables to control motion of one telescoping support relative to another. Unfortunately, such systems generally increase complexity and expense.
Another drawback of telescoping tube support systems is that mounting of the supports occasionally requires significant gaps or voids in the vehicle chassis or frame--compromising structural integrity. For systems using a vehicle powered actuator to accomplish expansion, the threat of binding often limits the speed with which the telescoping members may be moved. Thus, there is a need for a system to move and support expandable portions of a vehicle that resists binding without increasing complexity. This system should be lighter, faster, and more power efficient than existing systems.


An outside handle assembly for an automobile is constructed to have a handle body 3 connected to a handle base 2 secured to an automobile panel 1, and a connecting lever 7 swingably connected to the handle body 3 and driven vertically by an operating force applied to the handle body 3 so that an engaging portion 4 formed toward its lower end may push an unlocking lever 6 in a locking device 5 to release the locking device 5 from its locking state. The engaging portion 4 is formed to be disengageable from the unlocking lever 6 upon swinging of the connecting lever 7 toward the center of the automobile body. The handle base 2 is provided with a panel deformation detector 8 protruding toward the connecting lever 7. The connecting lever 7 being urged toward the panel 1 by urging member 9.

This invention relates to an outside handle assembly of an automobile.
JP-Y-03-047085 discloses a door so constructed as not to open inadvertently by an impact arising from collision on an automobile body. According to JP-Y-03-047085, the door is provided with a locking mechanism for keeping the door in its closed state and a knob which is operable from the outside of the automobile.
The locking mechanism has a release lever for releasing the locking mechanism by a push-down action, the knob and the release lever are connected by a rod linkage and a protrusion projecting from the door is positioned in the vicinity of the rod linkage. The connection of the rod linkage and the release lever is made by inserting the lower end of the rod linkage in a slit formed in the release lever.
The slit is open toward the inside of the automobile body and upon deformation of the door by collision, the rod linkage is disengaged from the release lever as it is pushed toward the inside of the automobile body by the protrusion and leaves the slit of the release lever, whereafter the door can no longer be opened even if the knob is pressed. A rubber stop is positioned in the opening of the slit so that the swinging, etc. of the rod linkage during the traveling of the automobile, etc. may not cause its disengagement from the release lever.
However, since the protrusion is made to follow the deformation of the outer panel so as to actuate the rod linkage, in JP-Y-03-047085, the following problems are occurred.
That is, according to the example of JP-Y-03-047085, a release operation for the rod linkage takes place upon occurrence of deformation of the panel, irrespective of a position of the collision or the magnitude of the impact. Once the rod linkage is disengaged, the rubber stop restrains its re-engagement with the release lever, and even when their disengagement has resulted from such a degree of deformation as does not require a replacement of the door, its repair, etc., their re-engagement calls for an access to the interior of the door and its maintenance property is, therefore, very low.
It also has the drawback that, since a posture of the rod linkage at a point of its engagement with the release lever depends upon the weight of the rod linkage, a noise of collision is produced at the point of their engagement if the rod linkage swings or vibrates during the traveling of the automobile.


One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates efficient transactional execution. The system starts by executing a transaction for a thread, wherein executing the transaction involves placing load-marks on cache lines which are loaded during the transaction and placing store-marks on cache lines which are stored to during the transaction. Upon completing the transaction, the system releases the load-marks and the store-marks from the cache lines which were load-marked and store-marked during the transaction. Note that during the transaction, the load-marks and store-marks prevent interfering accesses from other threads to the cache lines.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the design of computer systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to a technique that facilitates efficient transactional memory and atomic operations through cache line marking.
2. Related Art
Modern computer systems typically allow several threads to access shared memory simultaneously. Because these threads can potentially perform interfering memory accesses, processor designers have devised mechanisms to ensure that different threads do not interfere with each other while accessing shared memory. For example, atomic operations and transactional execution mechanisms have been developed to ensure that memory locations which are accessed by one thread are protected from accesses by other threads (or in the case of transactional memory, if such interfering accesses occur, an associated transaction fails).
A typical atomic operation is a "read-modify-write" operation which reads a value from a memory location, modifies the value that was read, and writes the modified value back to the memory location. During a read-modify-write operation, a memory location is both read from and written to, and both the read and write must occur without another thread storing to the memory location. To ensure this lack of interference, processors typically first flush pending stores from the processor's store queue and then perform the read-modify-write operation on a cache line containing the memory location. Hence, during the read-modify-write operation, other threads are prevented from gaining access to the cache line.
During transactional execution, a thread executes a special section of code which is designated as "transactional" under the condition that the memory locations accessed by the special section of code must not be interfered with by other threads while the transaction is executing. If such a memory location is interfered with by another thread, the transaction aborts and the transaction is re-executed. For a more detailed explanation of transactional execution, see "Transactional Memory: Architectural Support for Lock-Free Data Structures", M. Herlihy and E. Moss, in Proc. 20th Intl. Symp. on Computer Architecture, May 1993, and see "LogTM: Log-Based Transactional Memory", K. Moore, J. Bobba, M. Moravan, M. Hill and D. Wood, in Proc. 12th Symp. on High-Performance Computer Architecture, February 2006. In addition, see U.S. Pat. No. 6,862,664, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Avoiding Locks by Speculatively Executing Critical Sections" by inventors Shailender Chaudhry, Marc Tremblay and Quinn A. Jacobson.
Unfortunately, both transactional execution and atomic operations can be costly to implement. Transactional execution requires dedicated hardware structures to detect and handle interfering data accesses, while atomic instructions require a thread's store queue to be drained every time an atomic instruction is encountered.
Hence, what is needed is a method for facilitating transactional memory and atomic operations without the above-described problems.

Facilitating efficient transactional memory and atomic operations via cache line marking


An apparatus for supporting a display panel is disclosed. In one aspect, the apparatus includes first and second support portions configured to support a display panel and respectively rotatable based on first and second rotation axes substantially parallel to each other. The apparatus also includes a first connecting portion positioned on the first rotation shaft and fixedly combined to one side of the first support portion and a second connecting portion positioned on the second rotation shaft and fixedly combined to one side of the second support portion. The apparatus further includes a spacer maintaining a constant distance between the first and second rotation axes, wherein the spacer is penetrated by the first and second connecting portions such that the first and second connecting portions are rotatable and a link member rotatably combined to one side of the first connecting portion and one side of the second connecting portion.

Field
The described technology generally relates to an apparatus for supporting a display panel.
Description of the Related Technology
Currently, as generally known display devices, there are a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display panel (PDP), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display, a field effect display (FED), an electrophoretic display, and the like.
Particularly, the OLED display includes two electrodes and an organic emission layer interposed therebetween. Electrons injected from one electrode and holes injected from the other electrode are combined in the organic emission layer to generate excitons, and the generated excitons release energy to emit light.
OLED technology has favorable characteristics such as a reduced thickness and weight, low power consumption, high luminance, and high response speed and thus it is considered to be a next generation display.


A valve drive for a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine has a first camshaft which is rotatably mounted in a first and a second camshaft bearing and which includes at least one cam with a first cam curve and a second cam curve that differs from the first cam curve. A gas exchange valve is actuated by the first or the second cam curve. A camshaft section is provided, by which the cam can be moved by an actuator such that the gas exchange valve can be actuated either via the first or the second cam curve. The first camshaft and the cam have a fixed position relative to each other. The first camshaft can be axially moved in the first and the second camshaft bearing, and an axial lock is provided for the camshaft.

The invention relates to a valve drive for a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine.
Regarding the technical background, reference is made, for example, to European patent application EP 0 595 060 A1. This patent application discloses a valve drive of an internal combustion engine, which valve drive has prestressed sliding cams which can be displaced axially on a camshaft. From a first position, in which they act with a first lift lobe on inlet valves, the sliding cams can be displaced into a second position, in which they act with a second lift lobe on the inlet valves. In the first position, the sliding cams bear in an integrally joined manner against a stop of a transmission element which is connected between the inlet valves and the sliding cams, as long as they run with one section in the region of the stop. When the base circle of the sliding cams is reached, they are displaced into the second position.
A further example of sliding cams is known, for example, from German laid open specification DE 10 2005 006 489 A1. This is a camshaft arrangement which has a basic shaft and cam carriers which are arranged on it, can be displaced axially but are held fixedly so as to rotate with the basic shaft. Here, cams with a plurality of cam lobes are configured on the cam carriers, which cams in each case have a common base circle and different cam lobes which have different lobe profiles than one another. Valve actuating means of associated cylinders are actuated by way of the cams. Actuators for carrying out switchover operations are provided, a different one of the cam lobes of the cam coming into contact with the valve actuating means in the case of the switchover operations by way of axial displacement of cam carriers on the basic shaft.
German laid open specification DE 10 2004 022 833 A1 discloses a further valve drive for an internal combustion engine. The valve drive comprises a camshaft with a sliding cam device which has cam tracks, which lie next to one another and act on valves, with different cam shapes and lift lobes, which lift lobes interact with actuating elements which have control pins for the adjustment of the sliding cam device.
Furthermore, reference is made to German patent specification DE 10 2009 057 633 B3. This patent specification discloses a method for producing an assembled camshaft, a camshaft main body and an assembled camshaft. The method produces an assembled camshaft with at least one cam element which is arranged on a camshaft main body fixedly so as to rotate with it but such that it can be displaced axially, and with at least one cam element which is arranged on the camshaft main body fixedly so as to rotate with it and such that it cannot be displaced axially. The method has the following steps:                providing a rod-shaped camshaft main body,        machining the camshaft main body by way of        surface machining of the camshaft main body in at least one first axial part section by way of the production of an outer surface profile which extends in the axial direction,        surface machining of the camshaft main body in at least one second axial part section which is mounted downstream of the first part section as viewed in a predefined threading direction, by way of widening of the camshaft main body to a widened external diameter at least in regions,        providing a plurality of cam elements with a hub cross section and an inner surface profile which extends in the axial direction and correlates with the outer surface profile of the camshaft main body, the hub cross section having a minimum internal diameter which is dimensioned to be smaller than the maximum external diameter in the second part section of the camshaft main body,        assembling the cam elements,        at least one first cam element being pushed onto the camshaft main body in the threading direction over the at least one first axial part section as far as in front of the widened region of the at least one second axial part section, the cam element which has been pushed on being oriented with a precise angle with respect to a predefined reference position of the camshaft main body and being connected to the camshaft main body in a positively locking manner by way of a subsequent axial relative movement between the cam element and the camshaft main body, and subsequently        at least one second cam element being pushed onto the camshaft main body in an angularly oriented manner in the threading direction as far as the at least one first part section, and being positioned there fixedly so as to rotate with said camshaft main body but such that it can be displaced axially.
Disadvantages of the abovementioned valve drives are their complicated and expensive production, and disruptive acoustic effects during operation of the internal combustion engine on account of the axial spline system which is subject to tolerances.
It is an object of the present invention to avoid the abovementioned disadvantages. It is a further object of the present invention to prevent an axial displacement of the camshaft during operation of the internal combustion engine.
This and other objects are achieved by a valve drive for a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine. The valve drive has a first camshaft, which is mounted rotatably in first and second camshaft bearings, with at least one cam with a first cam lobe and a second cam lobe which is different than the first cam lobe. It is possible for a gas exchange valve to be actuated by way of the first or the second cam lobe. A camshaft section is provided, by way of which the cam can be displaced via an actuator in such a way that the gas exchange valve can be actuated either via the first or the second cam lobe. The first camshaft and the cam have a fixed position with respect to one another, and the first camshaft can be displaced axially in the first and the second camshaft bearing, an axial lock being provided for the camshaft.
On account of the single-piece, axially displaceable camshaft, the manufacturing costs are reduced substantially and the acoustic problems are avoided because of the absence of the axial spline system. Furthermore, on account of the proposed axial locking, a relative movement of the camshaft with respect to the actuator, which relative movement is produced during operation of the internal combustion engine, can be minimized.
According to a further aspect, the axial lock is a slotted guide which runs radially around the camshaft with a first and a second slotted guide track which are axially adjacent with respect to one another and into which a locking element which is prestressed by way of a spring engages.
Simple switching of the switching camshaft with simultaneous locking in the end positions is possible by way of the first and second slotted guide tracks being spaced apart from one another via a cylindrical section.
According to a further aspect, the first and second slotted guide tracks in each case enclose an opposite angle of between 2° and 45° with a camshaft access.
Advantageously, friction is minimized in that the slotted guide mounted on the camshaft with an anti-friction bearing or a plain bearing.
The switching operation is simplified considerably and the wear is minimized in that the slotted guide has an axial groove over the slotted guide tracks and the cylindrical section.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of one or more preferred embodiments when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
In the following text, the same designations apply to identical components in FIGS. 1 to 5.

Valve drive for an internal combustion engine

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft


In accordance with this invention are methods for making the novel compositions and methods of using the compositions for polymerization of olefins. In its broadest form, the method of producing the supported catalytic composition of the present invention comprises treating an inorganic or inorganic oxide support which has incorporated uniformly therein a Group 3-10 transition metal from the Periodic Table with a metal alkylating reagent wherein the reaction product is then treated with a halogenating reagent. The resultant reaction product can be recovered and is available for use in conjunction with the activating co-catalyst for the polymerization of polyolefins.

This invention relates to a method of producing a supported catalyst component, the catalyst component produced according to the method, to an olefin polymerization supported catalyst composition, and to an olefin polymerization process using such a supported catalyst.
Supported catalysts of the Ziegler or Ziegler-Natta type can be used in the polymerization of olefins in various types of polymerization reaction systems, including high pressure, solution, slurry, and gas phase processes. Different techniques are known for producing supported catalysts. In each of the known techniques the reactive catalytic metal (e.g., titanium) is typically added after preparation of the support. This support is typically a magnesium halide or alkoxide species, or a silica support onto which a magnesium halide or alkoxide is deposited.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,526,943 discloses an olefin polymerization catalyst prepared by the reaction of a hydrocarbon soluble organomagnesium compound with a trialkylaluminum reagent and an aliphatic alcohol to generate a soluble magnesium alkoxide precursor to which a transition metal compound (typically a titanium compound) is added. U.S. Pat. No. 4,560,733 teaches the use of a catalyst system having a titanium coating component made from a milled blend of two different supports, each support being treated with a dihyrocarboxylmagnesium compound, and a halogenated tetravalent titanium compound.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,672,096 and 4,670,413 disclose contacting a magnesium compound and the carrier with a transition metal (e.g., titanium or vanadium) compound to produce a supported solid catalyst composition.
With each of these methods the support treated with the organomagnesium halide compound is subsequently treated by the addition of the polymerization active transition metal. These procedures can lead to a less than uniform distribution of polymerization active metal on the catalytic support and can involve difficult handling procedures such as refluxing the catalyst precursors in neat or concentrated solutions of the transition metal reagent until sufficient metal absorption has been achieved. Furthermore, by adding the active metal to the precursor after the precursor is formed, in order to obtain a sufficient quantity of catalytic metal, the active metal salt must often be added in excess requiring the additional step of eliminating the excess afterwards. Failure to remove the excess metal salt can produce soluble polymerization active metal centers that adversely affect slurry and gas phase polymerization processes, i.e., formation of skins or agglomerates.
Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to overcome these problems and disadvantages by providing an active polymerization catalyst and one that does not require the subsequent addition of the polymerization active transition metal. Moreover, the additional object of the present invention is to eliminate handling and excessive transition metal reagent usage associated with the preparation of the typical Ziegler-Natta catalysts. Furthermore, the present invention converts normally inactive transition metal centers into centers capable of preparing narrow molecular weight distribution olefins such as ethylene or other xcex1-olefins. The present invention also achieves a catalyst that is displays excellent hydrogen response and is capable of producing a range of moleular weight polymers from ultra high molecular weight (zero melt flow) polyethylene to low molecular weight (high melt flow) polyethylene.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided novel compositions of matter which are useful for polymerization of olefins by providing a catalyst composition that does not require the additional treatment with the polymerization active transition metal.
Also provided in accordance with this invention are methods for making the novel compositions and methods of using the compositions for polymerization of olefins. In its broadest form, the method of producing the supported catalytic composition of the present invention comprises treating an inorganic support (e.g., gels, co-gel, tergels) which has incorporated therein a Groups 3-10 transition metal from the Periodic Table with a metal alkylating reagent wherein the reaction product is then treated with a halogenating reagent. The resultant reaction product is, optionally, recovered and available for use in conjunction with the activating co-catalyst (a.k.a an activator) for the polymerization of polyolefins.
The present invention is directed to a novel method of making active polymerization catalyst compositions and the novel composition provided therefrom. The method of the present invention provides that a supported catalyst component is obtained by:
1) treating a support, preferably calcined and preferably a gel, co-gel or tergel and mixtures thereof, containing at least one Group 3-10 transition metal, preferably an oxide, with an alkylating reagent;
2) treating the reaction product from step one with a halogenating reagent; and, optionally,
3) recovering the reaction product from step 2.
The resulting catalyst is suitable for homo-polymerizing and copolymerizing olefinic monomers and co-monomers, particularly, ethylene and other xcex1-olefins, e.g., propylene, 1-butene, 1-hexene.
The catalysts produced according to the present invention are described below in terms of the manner in which they are made.
The Metal Containing Support Material
The metal containing support can be purchased from suppliers or prepared using known techniques wherein the metal is uniformly distributed throughout the support""s structure. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,887,494 teaches one method of preparing a SiO2xe2x80x94TiO2 cogel. Any inorganic or inorganic oxide support material containing a metal from the Group 3-10 transitional metals from the Periodic Table can be used in this invention upon mixing with suitable alkylating and halogenating reagents.
Suitable inorganic oxides in the support include talcs, clays SiO2, Al2O3, MgO, ZrO2, TiO2, Fe2O3, B2O3, CaO, ZnO, BaO, ThO2 and mixtures thereof such as silica alumina, silica alumina titania, zeolite, ferrite and glass fibers. Such mixtures include physical and gelled mixtures. In addition, the above-mentioned inorganic oxide carriers may contain a small amount of carbonates, nitrates, sulfates or the like. Additional suitable inorganic oxide materials include aluminum phosphate gel materials and mixtures of two or more of the foregoing.
The transition metal combined with the inorganic or inorganic oxide material describe above, is selected from metals in Groups 3 to 10 of the Periodic Table and preferably in an oxide form of these metals. Most preferred transition metals are oxides from the Groups 3-6 of the Periodic Table. Most preferably are vanadia, zirconia, chromia, and titania and mixtures thereof. The transition metal is from about 0.1 wt. % of the total weight of the support to 100 wt. % of the total weight of the support.
The degree of porosity in the carrier may be any level that is achievable in the starting material. Preferably, the carrier particles of the present invention have a pore volume of at least 0.1 cc/g; preferably from 0.25 to 5 cm3/g; most preferably from about 0.7 to 3.0 cm3/g.
Preferably, the particles have a surface area of about 1-1000 m2/g; preferably from about 25-600 m2/g; more preferably from about 100 to 450 m2/g. The typical median particle size for a suitable co-gel for this invention is from 1 to 300 microns; preferably from 5 to 200 microns; and more preferably from 180 microns.
Pore volume and surface area can be, for example, measured from volume of nitrogen gas adsorbed in accordance with BET method. (Refer to J. Am. chem. Soc., Vol. 60, p. 309 (1983)).
The metal containing support is preferably calcined prior to treatment with the alkylating and halogenating reagents at a temperature in the range of from about 150xc2x0 C. to 1000xc2x0 C., for a time of from 1 minute to 24 hours; preferably in the range of about 150xc2x0 C. to 800xc2x0 C., for a time of from 1 minute to 6 hours; and more preferably in the range of about 300xc2x0 C. to 500xc2x0 C., for a time of from 2 to 6 hours.
The Alkylating Reagent
The alkylating reagent is represented by the formula MaRa wherein M is a metal from Group 1, 2 and 13 from the Periodic Table and mixtures thereof and where a is the valence state of the metal; preferably Mg, Zn, Li, Al, Na, and K and mixtures thereof; most preferably Mg, Zn, Al and mixtures thereof.
The R""s are the same or independent and are radicals selected from the group consisting of halogens, alkyls, aryls, alkylaryls, arylalkyls, alkoxys and alkenyls, cyclopentadienyl with from 0 to 5 substituents, wherein the substituents may form rings (i.e., indenyl) compounds and mixtures thereof; and wherein at least one R is an alkyl, alkyaryl, arylalkyl or cyclopentadienyl. The number of R""s is sufficient to balance the valence state a of the metal.
Preferred are radicals of chlorine, bromine; C1-20 alkenyls (preferably, ethenyl, propylenyl, butenyl, and pentenyl); C1-20 alkyl group (preferably, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, n-octyl, and 2-ethylhexyl groups); C1-C20 alkoxys (preferably, ethoxy, propoxy, butoxy); C6-20 aryl groups, alkylaryl groups, (preferably, phenyl, p-tolyl, benzyl, 4-t-butylphenyl, 2,6 dimethylphenyl, 3,5-methylphenyl, 2,4-dimethylphenyl, 2,3-dimethylphenyl groups); C5-C25 cyclopentadienyls (preferably, mono and bis cyclopentadienyl) and mixtures of two or more of the foregoing.
The most preferred alkylating reagents are hydrocarbon soluble dialkylmagnesium compounds, such as dialkylmagnesium, alkylmagnesium alkoxide, alkylmagnesium halide, as well as dialkylzinc, trialkylaluminum and mixtures thereof. Specific examples of the most preferred alkylating agents are diethylzinc, dibutylmagnesium, triethylaluminum, butylethylmagnesium, dibutylmagnesium, butylmagnesium butoxide, butylethylmagnesium butoxide and ethylmagnesium chloride.
The amount of the alkylating agent used in the present invention is measured in mmole of metal in the alkylating agent to gram of transition metal containing support. Preferably, the ratio of these reagents is at least 0.1 mmole of alkylating agent per one gram of support; preferably the ratio is from about 1 mmole/gram to 5 mmole/gram; and most preferably, the ratio is from about 2 mmole/gram to 3 mmole/gram.
The Halogenating Reagent
The halogenating reagent used in the present invention is represented by the formula RmXn wherein X is a monovalent radical selected from among the halogens or mixtures thereof; preferably chlorine, fluorine, bromine and mixtures thereof. The R is a radical that is selected from the group consisting of H and hydrocarbon radicals selected from the group consisting of C7-20 alkylaryls (such as benzyl and 4-methylbenzyl); C1-C20 alkyl, preferably, C1-C10 alkyls; and more preferably methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, t-butyl, n-octyl, and 2-ethylhexyl groups; and other radicals selected from the group consisting of boron; organic acids, preferably benzyl acids and acetic acids, most preferably phthalic acid; phosphorus; thionyl; sulfuryl; carbonyl, preferably phosgenes; nitrosyl; silicon; alkylsilicon; aluminum; alkylaluminum; ammonium silicates and mixtures thereof, wherein m is the valence of R and m=n. Furthermore, R can be zero, e.g., where the halogenating agent is chlorine or bromine.
Preferred halogenating agents are diethyl-aluminumchloride, trimethylchlorosilane, t-butylchloride, boron trichloride, aluminum trichloride, ammonium hexafluororsilicate, thionyl chloride, sulfuryl chloride, phosgene, nitrosyl chloride, chlorine, bromine, silicon chloride and mixtures thereof; most preferred are chlorinating agents, with BCl3 and trimethylchlorosilane and mixtures thereof being even more preferred.
The halogenating reagent should be used in a quantity that provides halogens in an amount of from about 2 to 10 times the molar amount of the alkylating reagent present in the support. The most preferred amount is from about 4 to about 8 times the amount of alkylating reagent; and the even more preferred is approximately 6 times.
Method of the Catalyst Composition
The method of producing the catalyst according to the present invention comprises the steps:
1) combining the support as described containing a Group 3-10 transitional metal, with an alkylating reagent as herein defined, in dry degassed solvents such as ethers, aromatics, aliphatics and mixtures thereof; preferably in non-coordinating, aliphatic solvents, preferably C5-C8 solvents, such as heptanes, pentanes, and hexane;
2) combining the reaction product of step 1) with a halogenating reagent as defined above.
The combining of these ingredients is carried at temperatures ranging from xe2x88x9230xc2x0 C. to the boiling point of the solvent used, preferably from about 0xc2x0 C. to about 130xc2x0 C., and most preferably between room temperature and about 50xc2x0 C. Some halogenating reagents may require temperature above room temperature to form the desired catalyst.
Method of Using the Catalyst Compositions
Activation of the supported catalysts or catalytic systems of the present invention may be accomplished by any suitable method for bringing the support and/or the supported catalyst into contact with an appropriate catalytic activator, such as an organoaluminum compound, to create the active catalytic species. Such mixing techniques include the mixing of the dry powders, through gaseous impregnation or via a slurry composition in a solvent.
The catalytic activator includes those represented by the formula R4nAlX3xe2x88x92n where R4 is a hydrocarbon radical having from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, X is monovalent radical selected from the halogens and hydrogen, and n is an integer of 0-3. Examples of specific compounds include trimethylaluminum, triisobutylaluminum, tridodecylaluminum, tricyclohexyaluminum, triphenylaluminum, tribenzylaluminum, diethylaluminum chloride, ethylaluminum dichloride, isopropylaluminum dibromide, diisobutylaluminum hydride, and the like, and mixtures thereof.
The catalytic activator also includes alumoxanes such as methylaluminoxane, isobutylaluminoxane.
The activated catalyst is useful to polymerize olefinic materials, particularly ethylene. Polmerizations of olefinic monomers can be accomplished by any number of well known techniques by having the olefinic material come into contact with the polymerization catalyst(s) in a reaction zone under appropriate conditions.
As used herein, xe2x80x9cPolymerizationxe2x80x9d includes copolymerization and terpolymerization and the terms olefins and olefinic monomer includes olefins, alpha-olefins, diolefins, strained cyclic olefins, styrenic monomers, acetylenically unsaturated monomers, cyclic olefins alone or in combination with other unsaturated monomers. While the catalyst system of the present invention is active for this broad range of olefinic monomer feedstock, alpha-olefin polymerizations is preferred, especially the homopolymerization of ethylene and propylene or the copolymerization of ethylene with olefins having 3 to 10 carbon atoms.
xe2x80x9cPolymerization techniquesxe2x80x9d for olefin polymerization according to the present invention can be solution polymerization, slurry polymerization or gas phase polymerization techniques. Method and apparatus for effecting such polymerization reactions are well known and described in, for example, Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Engineering published by John Wiley and Sons, 1987, Volume 7, pages 480-488 and 1988, Volume 12, pages 504-541. The catalyst according to the present invention can be used in similar amounts and under similar conditions to known olefin polymerization catalyst.
Typically, for the slurry process, the temperature is from approximately 0 degrees C. to just below the temperature at which the polymer becomes soluble in the polymerization medium. For the gas phase process, the temperature is from approximately 0 degrees C. to just below the melting point of the polymer. For the solution process, the temperature is typically the temperature from which the polymer is soluble in the reaction medium up to approximately 275 degrees C.
The pressure used can be selected from a relatively wide range of suitable pressures, e.g., from subatmospheric to about 350 Mpa. Suitably, the pressure is from atmospheric to about 6.9 Mpa, or 0.05-10 MPa, especially 0.14-5.5 Mpa. In the slurry or particle form process, the process is suitably performed with a liquid inert diluent such as a saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon. Suitably the hydrocarbon is a C4 to C10 hydrocarbon, e.g., isobutane, heptane or an aromatic hydrocarbon liquid such as benzene, toluene or xylene. The polymer is recovered directly from the gas phase process or by filtration or evaporation from the slurry process or evaporation from the solution process.
The catalyst of the present invention are particularly suited for the gas phase or slurry process.
The compositions according to the present invention are used in a amounts sufficient to cause polymerization in the feedstocks. Typically, the amount used will be in the range of 0.0005 mmole to 10 mmole/liter of reactor; most preferably from 0.01 mmole to 2.5 mmole/liter of reactor.
In addition to the examples of the present invention provided in the examples and in the samples in Tables I-IV below, preferred catalyst can be prepared from the following starting materials.

Supported catalyst composition for polymerization of olefins


A vehicle suspension system includes a pair of suspension assemblies mounted on a pair of spaced vehicle frame members for supporting a vehicle body on the vehicle wheels. A torsion axle extends between the pair of suspension assemblies and terminates in a pair of stub shafts. The axle is mounted on a pair of spaced frame brackets attached to the vehicle frame. An air spring extends between the vehicle frame and an outer end of a support arm pivotally mounted on each end of the torsion axle. The stub shafts are supported within an outer tube of the torsion axle by a plurality of elastomeric members. One end of each stub shaft is connected to a spindle arm which has a spindle extending from an opposite end of the arm. The length of the air spring support arm and the distances between the pivot axis of the support arm and the axis of the spindle and torsion axle are chosen so that the surface of the air spring is always out of contact with the mounting bracket and has a portion inboard between the axis of the spindle and axis of the torsion axle.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates to suspension systems for vehicles, such as trailers and trucks. More particularly, the invention relates to a suspension assembly having a torsion axle in combination with an air spring. Even more particularly, the invention relates to a more compact, lighter weight combination torsion axle-air spring suspension assembly than known prior art combination suspension assemblies.
2. Background Information
Torsion axles have been known for many years, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,998,981. Torsion axles have proven to be extremely popular because if one wheel hits a bump or rut, it can react independently of the other wheel, which may not hit a bump or rut at the same time. This torsion axle concept operates to keep a trailer moving as straight as possible behind a towing vehicle and absorbs some of the shock of the road over which it is passing with an independent suspension. This is contrasted with a straight axle where if one wheel drops into a rut or is slowed down for any reason while the other wheel of the trailer does not have the same experience at the same time, the trailer would tend to turn somewhat to allow the wheel that is on the flat part of the road to move forward while the wheel that is in the rut is restrained, therefore causing the axle not to be perpendicular with the direction of towing of the vehicle itself.
Most torsion axles are constructed of a square axle in cross section with elongated rubber members disposed in-between the square axle and a larger outer tube. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,161,814 and 5,820,156 disclose such a construction. One common torsion axle is a TorFlex® rubber torsion suspension system distributed by Dexter Axle. This type of torsion axle has independent and separate stub axles or stub shafts on each end which are part of spaced suspension assemblies mounting each of the wheels on the trailer frame to enhance the independent aspect of such an axle.
Torsion axles can also be constructed as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,163,701 which uses a plurality of elongated bars which can twist and bend but return to their original position after such bending. It is also known to use air bags, commonly referred to as air springs, for straight, non-torsion axles, such as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,784,221 and 5,427,404. While it is true that both the torsion axle technology and the air spring technology has been quite successful independently in making a smoother ride and enhanced the handling performances of vehicles having such suspension systems, these suspension systems still have their shortcomings and there is a need for improvement thereto.
The vehicle suspension system of U.S. Pat. No. 6,340,165 combines the advantage of both the torsion axle and air spring into a single suspension assembly and has provided a more efficient and better performing suspension system than that believed provided by the systems using only a torsion axle or only an air spring.
The suspension assembly of the present invention improves on the system of U.S. Pat. No. 6,340,165 by providing a more rugged, compact, lighter weight structure by shortening the distance from the pivot axis of the air spring support arm to the axis of the torsion axle and to the centerline of the air spring. This results in lower torque on the axle tube in roll or diagonal walk or tramp. This lower beam stress enables lighter, less expensive beams and axle connections to be utilized. It provides less vertical axle tube motion and enables lower design heights to be achieved. The air spring of the present invention nests behind the axle tube and generally inboard of the swing arm, and provides better ground clearance particularly in rebound.


Molten metal in an electric arc furnace is stirred by introducing a gas into the melt through tuyeres mounted in the hearth. Each tuyere has an inlet portion having a passage of relatively large diameter and an outlet portion having a passage of relatively small diameter. The tuyere is mounted in the bottom of the electric arc furnace with the inlet portion extending through the furnace shell and part of the refractory brickwork. With this design of tuyere gas at conveniently available pressure (16 bar A) can be fed to the tuyere and leaves the outlet portion at least at sonic velocity thus forming a relatively stable jet which inhibits molten metal entering the tuyere. The outlet portion may have a first portion with a slightly larger internal diameter than a second portion downstream of the first portion. When the second portion is fully eroded the flow of gas increases and triggers an alarm. However, the internal diameter of the first portion is still at least sonic to inhibit the ingress of molten metal into the tuyere.

Electric arc furnaces are used inter alia for melting scrap metal. Typically, several tons of scrap are dropped onto the hearth of the furnace. The furnace is then closed with a cover which is provided with several downwardly extending electrodes. When a voltage is applied between the electrodes the scrap melts forming a pool of molten metal in the hearth.
Typically, the scrap will be contaminated with paint, grease, oil and other carbonaceous material and these can conveniently be oxidized by inserting a lance into the furnace and blowing oxygen through the lance.
Because the heating is very localized it is also very advantageous to stir the molten metal to ensure that the temperature of the molten metal is substantially uniform throughout.
Rather than using a lance and electromagnetic stirring it has been proposed to introduce oxygen through tuyeres in the bottom of an electric arc furnace for both the oxidation procedure and stirring and then replace the oxygen with inert gas to continue the necessary stirring when the oxidation procedure is complete.
Whilst this technique has worked well with oxygen-steelmaking furnaces which tend to have a deep pool of molten metal and tend to be tall and tulip shaped it has proved difficult to adapt this technique to electric arc furnaces. In particular, the pool of molten metal tends to be relatively shallow with the result that, using conventional techniques, the explosive expansion of the oxygen and argon creates a fountain of molten metal up to 15 m in height. Droplets of this molten metal solidify between the side wall and the cover making it necessary to melt them with a lance before the cover can be removed.
If the flow of oxygen or inert gas is reduced then molten metal can enter the tuyeres, solidify and render them inoperative.
In order to avoid this it has been proposed to provide the bottom of the hearth with tuyeres of relatively narrow diameter, e.g., of the order of 1.7 mm internal diameter and to blow oxygen and inert gas through the tuyeres so that it leaves the tuyeres at at least sonic velocity. Although the gas emerges from the tuyeres at such high speed the volume is such that the formation of fountains is minimal.
One of the major problems associated with this solution is that argon and oxygen are generally only available at about 16 bar A (absolute) or somewhat less from normal commercial industrial gas tanks. The tuyeres pass through the bottom of the furnace to a main and are typically about 1.7 mm in diameter and 1000 mm long. Because of the restriction offered by the tuyere it is not possible to achieve the desired gas throughput at at least sonic velocity with normal gas supply installations. To counteract this problem one commercial installation includes a compressor and a battery of storage vessels constructed to contain oxygen and argon at 26 bar A. It will be appreciated that the cost of this additional equipment is very high. An alternative solution has been to use high pressure storage vessels and to pressurize them to the desired level. Such high pressure vessels are also very expensive.
The aim of at least preferred embodiments of the present invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive alternative to the prior art described.

Tuyere for installation in hearth of electric arc furnace


A pointing actuator comprises a spherical base; a plurality of coils wound around an outside surface of the spherical base, wherein at least one coil is wound along latitudinal lines around at least a portion of the spherical base, and at least one coil is wound along longitudinal lines around at least a portion of the spherical base; at least two magnets positioned such that at least a portion of a magnetic field produced by the at least two magnets passes through at least a section of the plurality of coils, wherein current is selectively provided to one or more of the plurality of coils such that a force is generated which causes the at least two magnets to move; and at least one data sensor coupled to at least one of the at least two magnets.

Vision and sensor systems are important for a wide variety of applications. For example, the gathering and processing of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance data is critical to many military and defense applications. Industries that use robotics and automated processes, including automotive and industrial markets, depend on vision and sensor systems to maintain a level of quality and functionality that would be impossible without them. These systems, and others, often use pan/tilt or azimuth/elevation mechanisms (often referred to as gimbals or gimbal systems) to increase their capabilities by effectively increasing their field of view. By allowing the sensor to be pointed in different directions, a single vision or sensor system can be directed at multiple targets or track a particular target over a range of positions.
A gimbal system is usually comprised of multiple motors or actuators with gearing and a connecting structure. Each motor controls an axis of motion. Typically, while one motor moves the sensor (or "payload"), another motor must move the first motor along with the sensor. Consequently, there is an inherent inefficiency in this type of device, which is sometimes called a "motion-on-motion" system. Such systems tend to be relatively large, in order to accommodate all the components required to control each axis. This in turn can limit the speed at which the sensor is moved in any axis. Moreover, the mechanical structure, the gearing, and the motors themselves can cause noise and dynamic disturbances that adversely affect the operation of the sensor.


A modular optical cabling system converts and transmits digital electronic signals from a source such as a computer to any suitable target device such as a display or a projector through an optical backbone. A modular transmitting unit connects the source to a modular optical cable and converts the digital electrical signals to optical signals. A modular receiving unit receiver connects the modular optical cable to the target device and converts the optical signals to digital electrical signals. A directional modular optical cable connects between the transmitter unit and the receiver unit.

Both wired and wireless data communication systems suffer limitations. Wired systems have bandwidth restrictions and suffer interference due to the copper wiring. Adding wires and or extra shielding adds cost and complexity to the systems. Wireless systems generally have power limitations and suffer from the same or similar bandwidth and interference problems.

Devices and methods for modular optical cabling systems


A control apparatus operates a compression ignition internal combustion engine by switching between spark ignition combustion using an ignition device and compression ignition combustion which self-ignites a mixture by piston compression. Variable valve mechanisms vary at least one of the valve timings and valve lifts of an intake valve and an exhaust valve. Intake air is regulated to vary the amount of air intake into a combustion chamber on the upstream side of a combustion chamber inlet of the compression ignition internal combustion engine. The variable valve mechanisms and the intake air regulation are controlled during the compression ignition combustion so as to perform the compression ignition combustion.

As described in JP-A-10-56413, a compression ignition internal combustion engine adopts a combustion system of compressing and self-igniting a uniformly premixed fuel-air mixture. The compression ignition internal combustion engine can operate in an ultra-lean area (air-fuel ratio of 80 or more) that cannot be operated by a conventional gasoline engine or diesel engine, and decreases flame temperatures and realizes ignition combustion with a uniform fuel-air mixture, and therefore it is an engine that allows drastic reduction of both NOx and soot.
Generally, when a fuel-air premixture is compressed and reached at a certain temperature, a reaction called "low temperature oxidation reaction" whose initial reaction is dehydrogenation of hydrocarbon as a fuel, starts. When this reaction progresses, an elementary reaction called "blue flame" takes place, which leads to self-ignition. Since this ignition takes place at multiple points in the fuel-air mixture simultaneously, the combustion period for the combustion chamber as a whole is by far shorter than combustion by spark ignition of a conventional gasoline engine or a combustion period of injection combustion of a diesel engine. For this reason, this results in a reduction of flame temperature and suppression of NOx generation which is dependent on a duration thereof, which constitutes a factor of realizing low NOx in the compression ignition internal combustion engine.
However, the conventional compression ignition internal combustion engine has a problem that its output torque range is limited to a very narrow range and an engine operation with compression ignition is only realized within quite a limited range of low-load and low-speed rotation. The reason is that the temperature for a fuel-air premixture using hydrocarbon as a fuel to reach self-ignition is said to be 900K or higher and a current gasoline engine whose compression ratio is set to about 10 to 13 is known to have almost no operating area where self-ignition can take place. Furthermore, the compression ratio can be set as high as that of a diesel engine (16 to 22) and there can be an engine operating area by self-ignition of a fuel-air premixture, but since it is difficult for the conventional engine to control self-ignition timings of the mixture, a combustion period is short and compression self-ignition of the premixture is strongly affected by an air-fuel ratio, etc., its output torque range is limited to a very narrow range, causing a problem that an engine operation by compression ignition can be realized only in quite a limited area of low-load and low-speed rotation.
In contrast, as described, for example, in JP-A-11-280507, an engine is known which flows backward a high-temperature burnt gas (internal EGR) generated in a previous cycle to a combustion chamber by operating a mechanism that makes variable valve timings of intake/exhaust valves, keeps the inside of the combustion chamber at a high temperature through the internal EGR in a low-load area and realizes an operating area by the self-ignition combustion through control over the amount of the internal EGR and real compression ratio and operates by the spark ignition combustion in a high-load area.

Compression ignition internal combustion engine


A printing apparatus includes a main tank for containing ink; a sub tank for containing ink supplied from the main tank and containing ink to be supplied to a print head; a detection unit configured to detect an ink amount in the sub tank; and a filling unit configured to perform ink filling operation that fills the sub tank with ink from the main tank by driving a driving unit, in a case where the detection unit detects the ink amount in the sub tank that is less than a first predetermined amount, wherein in a case where the ink amount in the main tank is less than a second predetermined amount, the filling unit drives the driving unit at smaller drive amount than that in a case where the ink amount in the main tank is greater than the second predetermined amount.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and an ink amount detection method. In particular, the invention relates to the ink amount detection for a main tank in an ink supply system including a sub tank for directly supplying ink to a print head and the main tank for containing ink to be supplied to the sub tank.
2. Description of the Related Art
An ink supply system of an inkjet printing apparatus which includes a main tank and a sub tank allows the printing apparatus to continue a printing operation using ink in the sub tank even when there is no more ink in the main tank for example. One configuration to fill the sub tank with ink from the main tank in the ink supply system as described above is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2012-096363. According to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2012-096363, when a liquid level detection unit in the sub tank detects that the amount of ink in the sub tank is reduced to a level lower than a predetermined liquid level, then an ink filling mechanism fills the sub tank with a predetermined amount of ink from the main tank. Then, when the ink filling operation is completed and when the liquid level detection unit detects that the ink liquid level in the sub tank is again equal to or higher than the predetermined liquid level, it is determined that the sub tank is filled with ink and a subsequent printing operation for example is performed.
In the ink supply system in such a configuration, even when an operation to fill a predetermined amount of ink is repeated a predetermined times while the liquid level detection unit in the sub tank detects the liquid level is lower than the predetermined liquid level, a case may be caused in which it may be determined that there is ink shortage in the main tank if the liquid level in the sub tank is lower than the predetermined liquid level.
However, in such a configuration, regardless of the amount of ink remaining in the main tank, the predetermined number of ink filling operations may be repeated and ink shortage in the main tank may be determined if the liquid level in the sub tank does not reach a predetermined liquid level or more. Thus, if the amount of ink in the main tank is small for example, the amount of ink that can be filled by a single filling operation may be lower than the above described predetermined amount. In this case, even when the predetermined number of the filling operations as a reference is repeated, the predetermined liquid level is not reached, thus consequently causing the predetermined number of the filling operations to be unnecessary. This means that unnecessary ink filling operations are performed to cause a proportional increase of time required to determine there is ink shortage in the main tank.

Printing apparatus and ink amount detection method


An implantable medical device such as a cardiac pacemaker with a telemetry coil located in the device header rather than the conductive housing. The telemetry coil has a core made of magnetically permeable material such as ferrite in order to increase the efficiency of the coil and lessen space requirements.

Implantable cardiac devices include devices which monitor heart activity and/or provide corrective therapy to the heart in the form of applied electrical energy. Examples of implantable cardiac devices include cardiac rhythm management devices such as pacemakers and implantable cardioverter/defibrillators. These devices are designed to be small in size and implanted beneath the skin of a patient. The device establishes electrical contact with the heart by one or more electrical leads having electrodes implanted within the heart, attached to the surface of the heart, or disposed subcutaneously and spaced from the heart.
Implantable cardiac devices commonly have the capability to communicate data with a device called an external programmer or other non-implanted device via a radio-frequency telemetry link. A clinician may use such an external programmer to program the operating parameters of an implanted medical device. For example, the pacing mode and other operating characteristics of a pacemaker are typically modified after implantation in this manner. Modern implantable devices also include the capability for bidirectional communication so that information can be transmitted to the programmer from the implanted device. Among the data which may typically be telemetered from an implantable device are various operating parameters and physiological data, the latter either collected in real-time or stored from previous monitoring operations.
Telemetry systems for implantable medical devices utilize radio-frequency energy to enable bidirectional communication between the implantable device and an external programmer. An exemplary telemetry system for an external programmer and a cardiac pacemaker is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,562,841, issued to Brockway et al. and assigned to Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. A radio-frequency carrier is modulated with digital information, typically by amplitude shift keying where the presence or absence of pulses in the signal constitute binary symbols or bits. The external programmer transmits and receives the radio signal with an antenna incorporated into a wand which can be positioned in proximity to the implanted device. The implantable device generates and receives the radio signal by means of an antenna that can be formed by a wire coil inside of the device housing.
Power for the device is supplied solely by a self-contained battery, and when the battery is exhausted a re-implantation procedure must be performed. Power for telemetry represents a significant overhead that shortens battery life. A typical bradycardia pacemaker, for example, may draw a total system current of 18 microamps with 15 microamps consumed by telemetry when the device is communicating with an external programmer. It is an objective of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus that enables more efficient telemetry.

Ferrite core telemetry coil for implantable medical device


A messaging system is disclosed that provides dynamic polling of a message server for use in a stateless communication system. The polling interval may be determined by a user, or it may be determined based on current message activity or on statistics derived from historical message activity. Application-to-application, as well as human-to-human, messaging capability is also disclosed.

The present invention relates to internet-based communications systems and, more particularly, to a central server messaging system that provides efficient use of server resources.
Computer-based messaging via the internet, and in particular instant messaging systems, are becoming a popular communication tool that are used by individuals and businesses alike as an effective means to transfer and relay information to other individuals, between co-workers, and to or from customers. Instant messaging systems typically operate through the use of a central server, which routes messages to the proper recipient. This activity, however, consumes server resources which would otherwise be available for other applications. As it is often not economically feasible to implement a server exclusively committed to managing instant messages, the central server must share its resources with the instant messaging system as well as any other applications that are provided. It is important, therefore, to manage server resources carefully in order to permit efficient and responsive operation of the server in the use of any application, including instant messaging.

Electronic messaging system for adjusting computer polling period based on user's predicted messaging activity


A method for the autothermal reforming of a hydrocarbon, in particular of diesel, includes introducing a combustible mixture of the hydrocarbon to be reformed and an oxygen-containing medium into a first reaction zone of a reformer, A gas-phase reaction is ignited. After an operating temperature required for the autothermal reforming process is reached, water or a water-containing medium is introduced into the first reaction zone, and the water content is increased until the conditions for the reforming process of the hydrocarbon prevail. The reforming process then takes place predominantly in a second reaction zone.

This application claims the priority of German patent document DE 199 55 929.5, filed Nov. 20, 1999.
The present invention relates to a method for the autothermal reforming of a hydrocarbon, in particular of diesel, in a reformer. In addition, the invention relates to a device for carrying out the method.
Reformers or reactors in which the reforming of a hydrocarbon by means of a water-gas shift reaction takes place are known from the general prior art. This reforming usually takes place in an inner chamber of the reactor or reformer in the presence of a catalyst or compounds with a catalytic action. In general, the catalyst is applied to a honeycomb structure or to individual elements of a bed of bulk material, for example of ceramic pellets, situated in the reformer.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,024,912 discloses a method for reforming a hydrocarbon, in which a mixture of a hydrocarbon and an oxygen-containing medium is partially oxidized in a first stage following electrical ignition and is then catalytically converted in a second reaction stage with water being added.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,826,422 and DE 69003604 T2 disclose further methods for the autothermal reforming of a hydrocarbon, in which a mixture of a hydrocarbon and an oxygen-containing medium is partially oxidized in a first reaction zone following electrical ignition and is then catalytically reformed in a second zone, the addition of water taking place in the first reaction zone.
WO 9849093 A1 discloses an autothermal method in which, following ignition and partial oxidation of a mixture of hydrocarbon and oxygen in a first stage, catalytic reforming is carried out in a second stage. Apparently no external water is added in the catalytic stage, but rather the water which has also been generated to some extent in a secondary reaction during the partial oxidation is reacted.
To allow the reforming process, in particular an autothermal reforming process (i.e., a reforming process which has an overall balance in terms of its thermal energy) to take place in the reformer, certain boundary conditions are required. This means that, depending on the hydrocarbon used, a temperature of from 600° C. to 1200° C. and a water content of from 10% to 40% in the starting materials must usually prevail in the reformer, in order to allow the corresponding reaction to take place.
In the case of long-chain hydrocarbons or a mixture of hydrocarbons which contains long-chain, high-boiling hydrocarbons, starting the reforming process causes problems. The preheated reaction materials cool down again in the reformer, which is still cold. As a result, in addition to the partial reforming which is already taking place, a large number of undesirable by-products are formed. In particular, the long-chain hydrocarbons leave behind residues in the reformer, which impair the gas permeability of the system and the interaction of the starting materials for the reforming with the catalytic materials.
The object of the present invention is to provide a method for the autothermal reforming of a hydrocarbon, in particular of diesel, in a reformer, in which method, after the system has been started, the required operating temperature can be reached as quickly as possible, so that no undesirable by-products are formed.
According to the present invention, to start the autothermal reforming process, a combustible mixture of (1) the hydrocarbon to be reformed, such as for example diesel; and (2) an oxygen-containing medium, such as for example air, is introduced into a first reaction zone of the reformer. This reaction zone of the reformer also contains a device for supplying energy, by which a gas-phase reaction in the mixture is initiated. This gas-phase reaction supplies thermal energy through the at least partial oxidation of the hydrocarbon to be reformed by the oxygen.
According to the present invention, this thermal energy is used to heat the reformer to the required operating temperatures of from 600° C. to 1200° C. Only then is water or a water-containing medium added. This supply of water is increased until the conditions for the autothermal reforming process of the hydrocarbon prevail. This means a water content of approximately 10% to 40% of the starting materials fed to the reformer, as is known in principle from the autothermal reforming of hydrocarbons.
According to the present invention, the actual reforming process, after it has been started by the gas-phase reaction, takes place in a second reaction zone of the reformer.
This method therefore allows the reformer to be heated very quickly, the energy required for this purpose, at least approximately for the most part, being obtained in a particularly advantageous way from the operating substance which is to be reformed. Only the energy required for ignition has to be supplied in some other way.
In a particularly advantageous configuration of the invention, the energy required to ignite the gas-phase reaction is applied as electrical energy. By way of example, if the system is to be used in a gas-generation system for fuel cells, such as for example for on-board current generation in motor vehicles, only a small amount of energy has to be taken from the batteries to ignite the gas-phase reaction. This relieves the load on the batteries in particular in the starting phase of the journey (i.e., when the system as a whole has not yet reached its ultimate temperature and efficiency), so that the energy from the batteries is very predominantly available for driving purposes.
The apparatus according to the present invention for carrying out the method provides a reformer which has at least two reaction zones. The gas-phase reaction according to the invention for heating the reformer takes place in the first reaction zone. Apart from at least one nozzle device and the device for introducing the energy required for ignition of the gas-phase reaction, the first reaction zone is empty. This allows the gas-phase reaction to form ideally in the first reaction zone of the reformer or reactor. The second reaction zone has catalysts which are customary for the water-gas shift reaction and are applied to a metallic honeycomb structure or to a bed of metallic or ceramic pellets. An intermediate element is situated between the two reaction zones. This intermediate element is gas-permeable and has a large outer and inner surface, in order to prevent the gas-phase reaction from penetrating directly into the second reaction zone by rapid dissipation of the thermal energy in that region of the gas-phase reaction which is in contact with the intermediate element, while allowing the gaseous starting materials to pass through almost without obstacle and distributing the heat which is generated as uniformly as possible.
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.

Method for the autothermal reforming of a hydrocarbon


Method of ingress or egress intrusion detection by ultrasound surveillance throughout volumetric multi-area room around a protected object, where the surveyed room is arranged in juxtaposed volumetric closed or open areas that represent central, short-range and long-range echelons of defense-in-depth intrusion protection infrastructure. The used techniques of ultrasound intrusion detection are based on the phenomena of reflection, refraction by edge diffraction, and interference by shadowing of ultrasonic beams. The ultrasonic beam patterns are closely disposed in 2-D curvilinear or polygonal array, or in 3-D curved surface lattice over multilevel substantial openwork frames of different echelons. The informational and processing inter-echelon interrelation is being treated by control software algorithm that features situational logic transition driven by IF-THEN operator. The disclosed method shall enhance the distance of location, trustworthiness and cost-effectiveness of ultrasonic intrusion detection arrangements.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the acoustic wave methods and systems for presence or movement detection and for distance or direction finding in the case of having a plurality of ultrasound type transmitter and receiver transducers. In particular this invention refers to condition responsive early indicating systems that exploit the registration of an occasional disturbance of ultrasonic wave beams in the manner of their reflection, refraction by edge diffraction and interference by shadowing, which disturbance has been made by either an intruding subject or a trespasser.
2. Description of Related Art
At present there exist methods and systems of ultrasound intrusion detection in an entire volumetric surveillance areas, in which areas there are being used different arrangements of transmitting and receiving transducers, at least namely:                fan-shaped or matrix arrangements of transmitter and receiver transducers for stationary vector directing surveillance, e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 5,920,521 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,582,065 respectively;        solitary arrangement of transmitter and receiver couples for scanning all over the surveyed area with narrow clusters of ultrasound beams, e.g. US 2004/0140886 A1; U.S. Pat. No. 4,644,509; U.S. Pat. No. 5,309,144;        multi-seat arrangement of receivers along the perimeter of protected area for detecting an occurrence of ingress or egress intrusion thru the vicinity of protected area perimeter, e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 5,483,224 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,872,516;        single-row or multi-row arrangement of transmitting and receiving transducers for realizing various processing operations with the help of reflected ultrasound beams, in particular:                    detection any strange subject inside the surveyed area, e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 5,761,155, U.S. Pat. No. 6,411,202 B1 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,518,915B2;            measurement of distance to intruded subjects or to the level of interface of liquid and granular materials, e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 4,949,074, U.S. Pat. No. 5,231,608 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,271, U.S. Pat. No. 6,323,441B1 respectively;                        isolated arrangement of transmitter inside an enclosed area and positioning the receiver outside this enclosed area with the aim of detecting an occurrence of destroying the isolation of said protected area by an intruder, e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,255, U.S. Pat. No. 5,638,048, U.S. Pat. No. 6,430,988.
As is evident from the delivered above the elucidative examples, the modern methods and systems for ultrasound intrusion detection utilize preferably the phenomenon of reflection of ultrasound beams from strange subjects that occurred inside a surveyed area. Meanwhile, it is the known fact that the process of emitting-reception of airborne ultrasound signals depends strongly upon air ambient conditions (temperature, moisture, atmospheric pressure, etc.) and therefore it is restricted spatially. In turn, this restriction predicts the limitations upon volumetric dimensions of surveyed area and consequently on the capability of earlier warning detection of either an intruding subject or a trespasser. The alternative enhancement of the entire protected space might be realized by attaching to the ultrasound-surveyed area the proper number of adjacent areas, which areas were being surveyed with use of different physical principles of intrusion detection (infrared, microwave, light level sensing, etc.), e.g. see U.S. Pat. No. 4,857,912 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,127,926. Unfortunately, such a would-be method and arrangement will lead to hardware and software complexity, low reliability and great cost of an intrusion protection system as a whole. Nevertheless, it is necessary to establish such very method of intrusion protection that features with high reliability and self-defense, and meets the requirements to the multi-echelon arrangement of the protection systems of critical objects. Those strong requirements are delivered at least in the following regulations for such evidently critical objects as Nuclear Power Plants:                Defense-in-Depth in Nuclear Safety, IAEA INSAG-10, LAEA, Vienna, 1996.        Method for Performing Diversity and Defense-in-Depth Analysis of Reactor Protection Systems. NUREG for U.S.NRC/Prepared by G.G. Preckshot-Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory/Manuscript date: December 1994.
Furthermore, it seems to be relevant to emphasize some unique features of ultrasound that make it attractive for the purpose of faultless intrusion protection, namely:                ultrasound waves are being emitted in the form of narrow directional beams and consequently do not travel around corners well, so beam patterns of the directional beams may be easily reflected or shielded by an intruded subject; or they may be refracted, i.e. diffracted by the edge of a subject having penetrated them into small part of their peripheral lobes;        narrow solid angle of directional reception of airborne ultrasound may be obtained with relatively small dimensions of hidden receivers;        ultrasound is not influenced by regular "white noise" of an environment, especially by an industrial ambient, being either inside or outside.
Besides, at the present time the ultrasound processing methods and instruments are being well practiced in even multi-modular hierarchical imaging, detecting and measuring systems that contain the similar ultrasonic instrumentation and hence are reliable, convenient and low-cost. This real advancement of the processing architecture is the actual prerequisite for improving ultrasound intrusion protection technology, which the present invention is devoted to.

Method of defense-in-depth ultrasound intrusion detection


The utilization of a controlled buffer and tags associated with read requests and the transmission of data in response to these requests, along with the transmitted tag information, is used to avoid a read-modify-write operations occurring in a communications adapters whose function it is to assemble various pluralities of data blocks, each with a varying amount of information, into single data packets for transmission from the adapter's memory. The presence of error correction capabilities associated with the adapter's memory would otherwise require the utilization of the read-modify-write operation which is bandwidth limiting.

The present invention is generally directed to methods and systems for transferring a plurality of blocks of data of varying size to a memory that includes error correction code (ECC) capabilities that are applied to portions of the memory that are not changed when new data to be stored is received, particularly when that data does not fall on memory address boundaries corresponding to the error correction boundaries for the memory. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a system and method for ensuring that data written into an ECC protected memory word includes already-written data when the amount of data being written is less than a full ECC protected word. Even more particularly, the present invention is directed to a system and method which employs tags associated with data blocks that may or may not span multiple ECC protected memory words.
The present invention is particularly useful in data processing systems employing or including a plurality of nodes. Each of these nodes may include one or more processors. Either at the node level or at the processor level, but more typically at the node level, it is typically the case that data is to be sent elsewhere, that is to other nodes or processors in the same data processing system or to nodes or processors in remote systems. The link to "elsewhere" in many systems is an adapter, also known as a communications adapter. More particularly, in systems marketed and sold by the assignee of the present invention, this function is provided by what is referred to as a host channel adapter (HCA). It is the function of the HCA, and similar communication adapters, to assemble a plurality of blocks of data of varying length into a data packet. The data packet thus includes one or more, and typically multiple, data blocks. Each one of the data blocks typically includes a different number of bytes. The HCA includes an addressable memory in which the data packets are assembled prior to their transmission out of the adapter to "elsewhere."
Because of increases in interprocessor communication rates, it is also desirable to increase the memory buffer resources on host channel adapters (HCAs). Thus, it is also seen that it is desirable to increase the density of memory devices that are used in host channel adapters. Because of this increase in memory density, there is an increase in the probability of bits errors due to the well known problem of alpha particle interactions. Since this leads to an increase in the bit error rate for stored data, it is sensible for HCA vendors to use Error Correcting Code (ECC) to protect the HCA memory contents. Typically, an ECC implementation covers multiple bytes of data with a single set of ECC check bits used for error detection and for error correction. For example, a set of 8 ECC check bits is found to be typical for protecting 64 bits of data, that is, for protecting a single data word (see below for the meaning of "word" as used herein).
As used herein the term "word" in reference to the memory that receives data refers to the number of bytes that go into the computation of check bits used by ECC circuitry in the memory. It also refers to the quantity of data that is written into the memory at one time, that is during one write cycle operation. It is also noted that herein one is not necessarily limited to "bytes" of data that are always 8 bits long. This is not an attempt to change the commonly accepted definition of what constitutes a "byte," but rather is merely an indication that the present invention is not limited by the number of bits written into or read from the receiving memory at one time. It is this amount of data that is protected using redundant bits provided by any convenient error detection and/or error correction method.
If data to be written to the memory were supplied in quantities that always fell on word boundaries for the memory, there would be no problem. However, in situations such as the one addressed by the present invention, a major function of the HCA (or any similar device) is the assembling of packets of information from a plurality of blocks of data (say, from l to n blocks) with each block containing a variable number of bytes (say, from l to m bytes). In this situation chunks of data arrive which do not fall on word boundaries of the memory in the HCA device in which packets for transmission are assembled.
When only a portion of a data word in an ECC protected memory is to be modified, all of the bytes of that data word are still used internally in the memory for the calculation of new check bits for that data word. Thus, a read-modify-write operation is typically performed: the complete addressed data word is read from the memory before the new ECC can be calculated and the new data word written into the memory. It is one of the objects of this invention to eliminate the need for performing this read operation since it is otherwise a constraint on the bandwidth of the HCA and also on the bandwidth of the data processing system in which it is employed.

Read-modify-write avoidance using a boundary word storage mechanism

International Business Machines Corporation


Disclosed are a polypropylene-based resin and a polypropylene-based resin composition having well-balanced, high-level flowability, stiffness and impact resistance. The polypropylene-based resin has an MI of from 30 to 70 g/10 min and a 25.degree. C. xylene-soluble content, x, of from 5 to 15% by weight, in which the 25.degree. C. xylene-soluble component is such that (a) its ethylene unit content, z, is from 20 to 30% by weight, and (b) its intrinsic viscosity, [72], indecalin at 135.degree. C. is not smaller than 2.00 dl/g, and in which the 25.degree. C. xylene-insoluble component is such that (c) its ethylene unit content, y (% by weight), satisfies the following: EQU 100y/[y.times.(1-x/100)+x].ltoreq.1.13z-16.6,. (d) in GPC, the content of its constituent component having a molecular weight of not smaller than 10.sup.6 is not smaller than 2% by weight, (e) its MI is from 40 to 130 g/10 min, and (f) its stereospecificity index is not smaller than 98.5%. The resin composition comprises (A) from 45 to 90% by weight of the polypropylene-based resin, (B) from 5 to 50% by weight of an ethylenic copolymer, and (C) from 0 to 25% by weight of talc.

As having good mechanical characteristics and workability, crystalline polypropylenes are widely used for producing films and various shaped articles in various fields. In particular, they are much used in the field of injection molding. However, since crystalline polypropylenes have poorly-balanced stiffness and impact resistance as compared with polystyrenes and ABS resins, their use is inevitably limited. If their mean molecular weight is increased, crystalline polypropylenes may have improved impact strength and therefore have well-balanced stiffness and impact resistance. However, crystalline polypropylenes having a large mean molecular weight are problematic in that their workability is lowered and, in particular, their producibility in injection molding is significantly lowered. Given this situation, it is desired to improve crystalline polypropylenes so as to have well-balanced stiffness and impact resistance without interfering with their workability.
For the purpose of obtaining crystalline polypropylenes having improved stiffness and elasticity, there is known a two-stage polymerization method of producing a mixture of polymers each having a different molecular weight. For example, JP-A-190006/1982 discloses a method of producing a mixture of polymers of which one has an intrinsic viscosity [.eta.] of from 0.6 to 1.7 dl/g and the other from 1.5 to 4.6 dl/g. JP-A-7406/1983 discloses a method of producing a mixture of polymers of which one has an intrinsic viscosity [.eta.] of from 0.6 to 3.5 dl/g and the other from 5 to 10 dl/g. However, these methods are still insufficient to improve the stiffness and elasticity of polymers.
In JP-A-356511/1992, proposed was a polypropylene that satisfies the following relation between the content, Ai (% by weight) of the constituent component having a molecular weight of from 2,000 to 26,000 and the intrinsic viscosity [.eta.] of the polymer. EQU log Ai.gtoreq.1.60-1.32.times.log [.eta.]
Although the polypropylene has improved elasticity and heat resistance, the balance of the stiffness and the impact resistance of the polymer is still not good.
On the other hand, since crystalline polypropylenes generally have poor low-temperature impact strength, they are often improved by adding thereto a rubber-type elastic material such as ethylene-propylene rubber (EPR). The impact resistance of the polymers comprising such a rubber-type elastic material may be improved, but the addition of such a rubber-type elastic material to crystalline polypropylenes is problematic in that the stiffness of the resulting polymer mixtures is inevitably lowered. Therefore, desired is a technique of improving the impact resistance of polypropylene-based resin compositions without lowering their stiffness.
Various techniques of adding ethylene-butene-1 copolymers to polypropylene-based resins have heretofore been tried. For example, known is a technique of adding a specific ethylene-butene-1 copolymer to a polypropylene-based resin to thereby make the resulting resin mixture have well-balanced stiffness and impact resistance (see JP-A-192506/1994 and JP-A-18151/1995). They say that the addition of an ethylene-butene-1 copolymer having a peak melting point of not higher than 80.degree. C. and having a low degree of X-ray crystallinity of smaller than 20% produces better results. JP-A-87478/1997 discloses a technique of adding an ethylene-butene-1 copolymer having a melting point of from 60 to 100.degree. C. to a polypropylene-based resin to thereby improve the balance of the stiffness and the impact resistance of the resulting resin mixture.
However, these polypropylene-based resin compositions comprising such an ethylene-butene-1 copolymer are still problematic in that the balance of their stiffness and impact resistance at high levels is not always satisfactory.

Polypropylene-based resins and polypropylene-based resin compositions


An aqueous coating composition for the manufacture of precoated metal is based on an aqueous resin having a carboxyl group in a molecule and neutralizable with a basic material as a binder, the aqueous resin being selected from an acrylic copolymer resin, polyester resin, and polyurethane resin. A mono- or poly-carbodiimide compound is blended with the aqueous resin. The composition forms a coating having improved chemical resistance, water resistance, and adhesion to sheet metal.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an aqueous coating composition for use in the manufacture of precoated sheet metal and more particularly, to an aqueous coating composition for the manufacture of precoated metal sheets which forms a coating having improved adhesion, chemical resistance and water resistance so that the precoated metal sheets are useful as exterior members of electric appliances and buildings.
2. Prior Art
The precoated metal technology is to previously coat metal sheets such as iron sheets, aluminum sheets, galvanized sheets, and stainless steel sheets with paint before the metal sheets are mechanically worked into complex shapes as by die pressing, bending, embossing, rolling, and drawing. This technology has been widely employed for decades because surfaces of complex shape can have a uniform coating of paint.
In the precoated metal technology, coating is followed by working and assembling steps. Coating compositions used in the precoated metal technology are required to tolerate impacts encountered upon shaping as by bending, rolling and embossing and possess firm adhesion to and coverage on sheet metal. They are sometimes required to be resistant to mar and stain. For outdoor use, they are required to be weather resistant.
Prior art metal precoating compositions are based on aminoalkyd resins, aminoacrylic resins, and epoxy resins. Recently used are polyurethane resins from which precoated metal featuring improved working is obtained. Most metal precoating compositions are of the solvent type using organic solvents such as toluene, xylene, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, cyclohexanone, and cyclohexanol. There is an increasing demand for aqueous coating compositions.
Aqueous coating compositions which have been commonly used contain acrylic copolymer resins, polyester resins and polyurethane resins each having a carboxyl group as a binder. These aqueous coating compositions, however, are less suitable for the manufacture of precoated metal. After the composition is applied and dried to a metal sheet, the coated metal sheet is mechanically shaped whereupon the coating can be peeled from the underlying metal sheet. Upon exposure to solvent or hot water, the coating can be dissolved. These undesirable phenomena are caused by the hydrophilic nature of a carboxyl group in the binder resin in the aqueous coating composition. The problems can be overcome to some extent by selecting an aqueous resin having a low acid value to reduce hydrophilic nature. The aqueous resin having a low acid value, however, is less soluble or dispersible in water and in an extreme event, does not satisfy the requirements as paint of pigment dispersion, an appropriate viscosity and transition. It is then quite difficult to provide a practically acceptable coating composition. There is a need to have an aqueous metal precoating composition free from the above-mentioned problems.

Aqueous coating composition for the manufacture of precoated metal


A waterproof lighting fixture includes a transparent tubular enclosure having two open ends and an inner peripheral wall that defines an inner hole. A lamp device is disposed in the inner hole, and includes a lamp seat, a LED light source module, a reflector component, a LED driver, and a power cable. The lamp seat has a heat-dissipating peripheral wall that is disposed around the lamp seat, that defines a compartment having an upper end opening, and that has an inner surface. A heat-dissipating base wall is disposed on the inner surface, and has a bottom surface. At least one heat-dissipating connecting wall is connected between the bottom surface and the inner surface. First and second waterproof devices are disposed for sealing the open ends of the enclosure, respectively.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a lighting fixture, more particularly to a waterproof lighting fixture capable of dissipating heat generated by a light source module thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional waterproof lighting fixture employs fluorescent lamps as a light source. The service life of the fluorescent lamps, however, is only about 6,000 hours, thus resulting in an increase in cost during use. Furthermore, the waterproof lighting fixture cannot focus light effectively, so that sidelight may exist during use.
In order to alleviate the above drawbacks, Taiwanese Patent Publication No. 582508 discloses a waterproof lighting fixture, in which the fluorescent lamps are replaced by light emitting diodes (LED), thus reducing operating costs and power consumption. However, the waterproof lighting fixture also cannot focus light and lacks a heat-dissipating ability.