A method for performing adaptive write caching in a storage virtualization subsystem is disclosed. In this method, criteria associated with an operation state of the storage virtualizalion subsystem for performing write caching are first defined. Then, the characteristics of a stream of at least one write input/output (IO) request sent out by a host entity are analyzed to make a determination of whether the stream meets the criteria. Thereafter, a new write IO request by the subsystem from the host entity is received, and write caching is performed to write data associated with the new write IO request to a physical storage device (PSD) array according to the determination.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to input/output (IO) stream adaptive write caching policy adjustment in a storage virtualization subsystem.
2. Description of Related Art
Storage virtualization is a technology that has been used to virtualize physical storage by combining sections of physical storage devices (PSDs) into logical storage entities, herein referred to as logical media units that are made accessible to a host system. This technology has been used primarily in redundant arrays of independent disks (RAID) storage virtualization, which combines smaller physical storage devices into larger, fault tolerant, higher performance logical media units via RAID technology.
A logical media unit, abbreviated LMU, is a storage entity whose individual storage elements (e.g., storage blocks) are uniquely addressable by a logical storage address. One common example of a LMU is the presentation of the physical storage of a hard disk drive (HDD) to a host over the host IO-device interconnect. In this case, while on the physical level, the HDD is divided up into cylinders, heads and sectors, what is presented to the host is a contiguous set of storage blocks (sectors) addressed by a single logical block address. Another example is the presentation of a storage tape to a host over the host IO-device interconnect.
A storage virtualization controller, abbreviated SVC, is a device the primary purpose of which is to map combinations of sections of physical storage media to LMUs visible to a host system. IO requests received from the host system are parsed and interpreted and associated operations and data are translated into physical storage device IO requests. This process may be indirect with operations cached, delayed (e.g., write-back), anticipated (read-ahead), grouped, etc. to improve performance and other operational characteristics so that a host IO request may not necessarily result directly in physical storage device IO requests in a one-to-one fashion.
An external (sometimes referred to as "stand-alone") storage virtualization controller is a storage virtualization controller that connects to the host system via an IO interface and that is capable of supporting connection to devices that reside external to the host system and, otherwise, operates independently of the host.
One example of an external storage virtualization controller is an external, or stand-alone, direct-access RAID controller. A RAID controller combines sections on one or multiple physical storage devices (PSDs), the combination of which is determined by the nature of a particular RAID level, to form LMUs that are contiguously addressable by a host system to which the LMU is made available. A single RAID controller will typically support multiple RAID levels so that different LMUs may consist of sections of PSDs combined in different ways by virtue of the different RAID levels that characterize the different units.
Another example of an external storage virtualization controller is a JBOD emulation controller. A JBOD, short for "just a bunch of drives", is a set of PSDs that connect directly to a host system via one or more a multiple-device IO device interconnect channels. PSDs that implement point-to-point IO device interconnects to connect to the host system (e.g., parallel ATA HDDs, serial ATA HDDs, etc.) cannot be directly combined to form a "JBOD" system as defined above for they do not allow the connection of multiple devices directly to the IO device channel.
Another example of an external storage virtualization controller is a controller for an external tape backup subsystem.
A storage virtualization subsystem (abbreviated SV subsystem, or SVS) consists of one or more above-mentioned SVCs or external SVCs, and at least one PSD connected thereto to provide storage therefor.
Storage virtualization commonly incorporates data caching to enhance overall performance and data throughput. This data caching typically consists of caching read data and caching write data. Caching write data can further be divided into write-back caching and write-through caching. In write-back caching, the response to the host that a write operation has completed is sent out as soon as the associated data is received by the SVS and registered into the cache. It is not committed to physical media until some later time. In write-through caching, the response to the host that a write operation has completed is delayed until after the associated data is completely committed to physical media.
Write-back caching, in general, has the benefit of improving performance. By responding to the host as soon as data arrives rather than waiting until it is committed to physical media, typically more host write IOs per unit time can be processed. Furthermore, by accumulating a large amount of data in the cache before actually committing it to physical media, optimization can be performed during the commit process. Such optimizations include reducing the number of write operations to the PSDs by grouping large quantities of data into single write operations and ordering the data thereby reducing PSD mechanical latencies.
Write-through caching has the benefit of improved data security. A sudden loss of power or a failing SVC, for instance, will not result in the loss of data. Under certain circumstances, such as when the write IO stream is sequential in nature and the SVCs are configured into redundant SVS, write-through caching may actually offer better performance. In such a SVS, to avoid data loss in the event of a failing SVC, write-back caching may be combined with inter-controller cached write data synchronization so that there is a backup of all uncommitted write data in the alternate controller in the redundant pair. The process of backing up write data to the alternate controller in real time as it comes in from the host may result in significant performance degradation. In this case, especially if the write IO stream is sequential in nature, write-through caching may actually yield better performance because it is not necessary to backup the data to the alternate controller to avoid data loss in the event of an SVC failure.
In an effort to provide the user with the ability to tune the write caching policy to a setting that he feels is most appropriate for the particular configuration and IO stream characteristics, a typical SVS will support the manual adjustment of the write caching policy. In many systems, this policy is dynamically adjustable, meaning that it takes effect immediately without the need to take associated LMU or perhaps even the entire system off line then bring it on line again. Furthermore, each LMU or even each logical unit that is presented to the host over the host-side IO device interconnect may have its own independently configurable write caching policy. Some SVSs may even support adjustment of the write caching policy on per-IO basis by information conveyed in the IO command information itself.

IO-stream adaptive write caching policy adjustment


A cap and rigid bottle converts an expressed milk syringe from an open system to a closed system. The cap is in fluid communication between a breast pump and breast cup. The rigid bottle is attached to the bottom of the cap and the syringe is captured inside the bottom under the cap in a sealed environment. The pump provides varying positive vacuum to the cap and through the cap to the breast cup. Milk is drawn by the vacuum into the cap and flows by gravity down into the syringe. A passage between the interior of the syringe and the interior of the bottle equalizes pressure and allows the syringe to fill while maintaining a closed system, allowing a piston in the syringe to remain stationary. The closed system protects a mother's milk being pumped into a milk collecting syringe from air born contaminants.

The present invention relates to breast pumps and in particular to a completely closed syringe system to protect a mother's expressed milk from contamination.
The syringe is used to feed the mother's milk to her sick baby in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU). Currently, the milk is collected and stored in an open syringe for feeding babies in the NICU. The milk is not protected from air born contaminants.
Known electric breast pump systems include a special bottle cap which fits a standard baby bottle for collecting milk. The special bottle cap is used to connect the bottle between the electric breast pump and a breast cup. The various electric breast pump system models use their own special cap to work with their pump system. These known electric breast pump systems do not allow directly filling a syringe for use in NICUs.


An aqueous printing fluid, comprising a cosolvent, the cosolvent or mixture of compounds comprising at least one inner salt compound having a sp3-hybridized nitrogen cation and an associated anionic charge either isolated on an N-substituted oxygen anion bound directly to the sp3-hybridized nitrogen cation or isolated among the oxygens of a carboxylate group; a method of avoiding paper curl in printed paper by using the above-described aqueous printing fluid; and a printer system for avoiding paper curl in printed paper through using the above-described aqueous printing fluid.

Curl and cockle of cellulose-based papers are persistent problems in inkjet printing with water-based inks. The problem stems from dimensional changes in the paper when it is wetted (especially when it is wetted on only one side) and then dried. In normal plain paper, dimensional stability is a function of the presence of cellulose fibers which are usually a couple of millimeters long. These bind together by fiber-to-fiber associations, which are dominated by intermolecular H-bonds.
When these fiber-to-fiber H-bonds are disrupted or broken, changes in paper physical integrity are brought about. This breaking can be brought about by exposure to elevated temperatures, H-bonding solvents (including water) and/or moisture/humidity.
When aqueous fluid (ink/fixer) is applied to paper, it first accumulates in the paper's capillary spaces. Water and other hydrophilic components of the fluid wet the surfaces of the fibers. This water and/or organic cosolvent breaks the fiber-to-fiber H-bond associations and noticeably reduces the paper's dimensional integrity. Solvents that are particularly good at breaking the surface fiber-to-fiber interactions include water, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), formamide, dimethyl formamide (DMF), ethylene glycol, glycerol, morpholine and pyridine.
With continued exposure of the aqueous-cosolvent fluid to the fibers in the paper, the water and hydrophilic solvents penetrate into the amorphous regions of the cellulose and cause the fibers to swell.
With wetting, the cellulose fiber-to-fiber associations (H-bonds) are disrupted by water and as the fibers swell with water, they increase in size, which relocates the original sites for fiber-to-fiber associations. As the fibers begin to dry from the outside inward, their fiber-to-fiber H-bonds tend to reestablish as surface moisture is lost. As the fibers continue drying out, they shrink from their swollen state, and with the surface fiber-to-fiber associations reestablished, stress/strain develops. This stress/strain is observed as curl across the page.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A handle lock having two handles to be symmetrically fixed on the inner and the outer bearing plate fixed on the inner and the outer side of a door, each handle assembled with a tubular shaft and a square shaft to retract a dead bolt to open the door, a locking rod combined in the inner bearing plate and being movable therein to permit the tubular shaft either to be rotated to open the door or to be prevented from being rotated by the handle either outer or inner, to lock the door.

A conventional handle lock generally used for doors of bathrooms and restrooms has a round-shaped knob, being locked without a key but with a push button in the inner knob of the lock for locking it from the inside of the door, which can be opened in an emergency from the outside by means of a coin fitted in and rotating a groove in the outside knob after when locked. However, the round knob is rather inconvenient for the invalid, the disabled or children to manipulate open. So some makers have changed the round knob into a curved handle making easy to open a door by pressing it down, and generally made by molding. But a handle made by molding is liable to break, so a handle made of copper has also been made through a wrought process, having decorative and strong feature but impossible to be combined with a handle lock with a push button locking mechanism, as those made of aluminum or steel.


Environmental sound is recorded using one or more microphones. A source of the recorded environmental sound is classified. The recorded environmental sound is weighted based on the classification of the source and the source media sound using a weighting mode to determine whether to mix the recorded environmental. The recorded environmental sound is mixed with source media sound to produce a mixed sound based on the determination. The mixed sound is played over one or more speakers.

Many video game systems make use of a headset for audio communication between a person playing the game and others who can communicate with the player's gaming console over a computer network. Many such headsets can communicate wirelessly with a gaming console. Such headsets typically contain one or more audio speakers to play sounds generated by the game console. Such headsets may also contain a near-field microphone to record user speech for applications such as audio/video (A/V) chat.
Multi-channel sound, e.g., surround sound, is often used to enhance the audio portion of a user's gaming experience. Unfortunately, the massive sound field from the headset tends to cancel out environmental sounds, e.g., speech from others in the room, ringing phones, doorbells and the like. To attract attention, it is often necessary to tap the user on the shoulder or otherwise distract him from the game. The user may then have to remove the headset in order to engage in conversation.
It is within this context that embodiments of the present invention arise.


A support basement adapted to support fixedly mounted or extensible and collapsible photovoltaic panels that comprises a plurality of triangular arrays (53) interconnected by tubular members (21) and constructed with links (54, 55) and radially extending tubular members (1). Profile members (24, 30, 84) extending longitudinally along each photovoltaic panel connect the profile frames (37, 39, 69) of the photovoltaic panels to underlying triangular arrays (53) by means of connector assemblies comprising bolts (10) and nuts (12). Adjustable connector assemblies comprising bolts (27) and nuts (29a, 29b) are used to connect bottom links (55) of triangular arrays (53) with profile members (41) based onto ground pillars (51). A retraction mechanism of the photovoltaic panels offering protection from adverse weather conditions and during night periods comprises sequentially connected X-configured assemblies with an elongate screw (72) rotatable within nuts (71) at the ends of a terminal X-configured assembly proximally to the protective housing (86).

The prior art relating to basements for photovoltaic panels does not provide any identical or similar basement structure.
Prior art basements are limited in providing fixed basements and basements rotatable around a single axis or a pair of axes for one or two-directional tracking respectively. These basements of the prior art are however being constructed on site using heavy and bulky metallic profiles that are being cut and welded to assemble the basement, such method of construction requiring extensive measurements and care of skilled labour, thereby adding to the overall cost. Further the mode of support of the photovoltaic panels from the top thereof adds to construction difficulties, whereas it leaves room for accumulation of waste and water within the panel supporting profiles, thereby resulting in an aesthetically inappropriate structure.
It is therefore an object of the invention to overcome the abovementioned drawbacks of the prior art through providing a basement structure that can be rapidly assembled on site or transported ready to install from the factory, wherein the entire installation can be carried out by staff with no particularly necessary skills whatsoever, thereby substantially reducing installation costs and providing a structure of enhanced strength that may also be dismantled at any time without being discarded, but being suitable for being used again. The mode of construction of the basement of the present invention allows for immediate alignment and further provides, with the innovative links being employed to connect arrays of tubular members, the automatic orientation of the photovoltaic panels being supported at a preferred inclination of around 30° to provide for maximal exploitation of solar radiation.
A further disadvantage of basement structures of the prior art is that they do not provide for any means of protection of the photovoltaic panels in areas with sandstorms, snow and hail. In case of a snowfall, the photovoltaic panels are being covered by a thick layer of snow which prevents the appropriate operation thereof. A costly cleaning of the panels is therefore required to restore functional status of the panels or else it can take a long time for the snow to melt thereby leaving the photovoltaic plant in a nonoperative status and creating a substantial loss of revenues. Further in case of a strong hail, there always arises a risk of fracture of the glass panels that incorporate the PV cells and this may lead to a non-repairable damage that sums up into an enormous economic damage. Even in areas with frequent sandstorms, the sand covers the photovoltaic panels and this leads in a sharp decline of performance thereof, thereby necessitating a frequent cleaning that again is costly and difficult.
It is therefore a further object of the invention to provide a support basement of photovoltaic panels that provides for appropriate retracting of the photovoltaic panels within a protective housing in case of adverse weather conditions (e.g. snowfall or sandstorm or forecasted hail), thereby maintaining the panels safe from adverse weather hazards and saving costs associated with snow or sand cleaning and repair of damages that might occur if the panels are being left exposed in such adverse weather conditions.
The proposed support basement for selectively collapsible and extensible photovoltaic panels of the invention provides substantial advantages of a substantial economic benefit and it may also operate a scheduled retracting of the photovoltaic panels within the protective housing during the non-productive periods of night thereby offering preventive protection from any risk of damage whatsoever that might occur from the unnecessary exposure thereof.

Support basement for photovoltaic panels


Embodiments of the present invention provide a dispensing system (for dispensing a product) that helps prevent theft, while also providing a simple, easy to manufacture advancing or pushing system that advances product forward. In certain embodiments, the system comprises a base having a back portion, a platform having a track, a flexible plastic pushing device with a connecting end and a pushing end, wherein the connecting end is attached to the back portion of the base, and wherein the pushing end slides along the platform track to advance product to be dispensed forward, and a hood that covers the base.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to systems for dispensing systems that push the product forward and that also incorporate theft deterrent features.
2. General Background
When items are displayed at retail, as product is removed from the front of the display rack or box for purchase, the remaining product remains at the back. This can make it difficult for a customer to see that there is still product remaining to be purchased if the rack or box is above eye-level (e.g., if a box is placed high on a shelf and the consumer cannot see to the back of the display box). It can also make it difficult for the consumer to reach into the back of the box to remove the remaining product. This can results in lower sales numbers than would otherwise be achieved.
In some instances, manufacturers or retailers will include fillers at the back of product boxes to help the boxes appear full or to help the product stand upright rather than falling back into the box. These temporary solutions are not optimal, in part because fillers take time and cost to manufacture and load.
There are some automatic dispensing systems on the market that feature intricate levers and electronic systems. These systems, however, are expensive to manufacture and can be time consuming to stock. They may also be more prone to malfunction than a simple dispensing system. It is thus necessary to provide a dispensing system that pushes product forward for purchase, but that is also simple and economical to manufacture and stock.
Moreover, theft of small items in retail stores is an all too common problem. Items that are in high demand by thieves include over-the-counter (OTC) products such as analgesics and cough and cold medications, razor blades, camera film, batteries, videos, DVDs, smoking cessation products, and infant formula. Shelf sweeping is a particular problem for small items. It occurs when someone removes all the shelf stock (and in some instances, removes the hook on which the merchandise is hanging), and exits the store, similar to a "smash and grab" shoplifting technique. Shelf sweeping relies on excessive quantities of product being available on the shelf. However, retailers need to keep substantial inventory on shelf or incur the cost of constantly restocking.
Retailers are constantly challenged to balance the needs of legitimate consumers' access to high theft items with measures to minimize the incidence of theft. It has long been known to place items such as cigarettes, sodas, and newspapers in vending machines. Such machines require complete self-service by the customer. The customer places money into the vending machine and the machine dispenses the desired item. However, vending machines may be inconsistent with the way that people currently purchase items; many people prefer to use credit or debit cards instead of cash. People may also wish to simply put products into a cart and pay all at once, rather than interface with multiple vending machines for various purchase. Vending machines may also be inconvenient and occupy a great deal of space, particularly if a separate vending machine is needed for various types of products or for each manufacturer that sells product in a particular location.
Because theft has become so rampant in certain product categories, such as razors, infant formula, and cold medicine, many retail stores are taking the products off the shelves and placing them behind the counter or under lock-and-key. Customers must request the products in order to make a purchase. This requires additional labor costs to provide individual service to customers who would normally not require it. It also makes it difficult for customers to compare products. Furthermore, it may be impossible where the space behind the counter is limited and is needed for prescription medications. In some cases, some products are simply unavailable due to high pilferage rates.
Therefore, a device or dispensing apparatus that minimizes the incidence of product theft, particularly sweeping, is needed. The device or dispensing apparatus should also be able to fit within common grocery, drug store or other retail environment shelves. It is also desirable that the device or dispensing apparatus effectively display and push product forward so that consumers can easily identify the products. It is also preferable that the dispensing apparatus be easy to use.
Thus, there is a need to provide systems that discourage or prevent theft of product, as well as systems that display product in a way that makes an item easy to retrieve from the shelf, without the consumer having to reach back into a tray to retrieve items from the back if all items from the front have been removed.


A method and apparatus for attaching an ornamental overlay to a vehicle wheel by injecting adhesive foam through an aperture of the wheel and into a cavity formed between the wheel and the overlay. A first nest engages the outboard side of the wheel/overlay assembly to seal the inner periphery of the overlay, the valve stem opening of the overlay, the lug bolt receiving holes of the wheel, the pilot aperture of the wheel, and/or the valve stem opening of the wheel. A secondary nest engages the inboard side of the wheel/overlay assembly to seal the wheel apertures and a plurality of turbine openings in the overlay. A nozzle disposed within the secondary nest is adapted to inject the adhesive foam into the cavity through either a gap between the periphery of a wheel aperture and the periphery of a corresponding turbine opening in the overlay, through a straight or angled hole within a spoke, or through a groove within a spoke.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to composite wheel assemblies for vehicles having an overlay permanently attached to a wheel, and particularly to an improved method and apparatus for permanently attaching an ornamental overlay to the wheel by injecting foam through a nest such that a separate pour opening in the wheel is not required.
2. Description of the Related Art
Decorative overlays are widely used to enhance the aesthetic appearance of automotive wheels. Numerous structural combinations of overlays with chrome-plated outboard surfaces have attracted great interest from vehicle manufacturers, because they are lightweight, aesthetically pleasing and offer designers complete flexibility with regard to the aesthetic effect that can be created for a specific vehicle regardless of whether these vehicles use steel or aluminum wheels.
There are several known methods of adhering a wheel cover to a wheel as will be discussed hereinafter. U.S. Pat. No. 3,915,502 to Connell teaches an annular-shaped wheel cover that is permanently attached to the wheel with double-sided adhesive tape. The adhesive tape is positioned midway between the rim and the center hub area of the wheel, while the remainder of the wheel cover is spaced apart from the outboard surface of the wheel. Connell positions the adhesive tape at radially outward portions of the wheel in order to avoid the deleterious effects of heat generated by the tire, wheel and brake. While some pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes can be effectively used in temperatures up to 500° Fahrenheit (260° C.), the cost of such adhesive tapes is generally prohibitive for use in mass production applications such as securing an overlay to a wheel. Consequently, such applications are generally limited to the use of less expensive adhesive tapes that have relatively low maximum operating temperatures, necessitating that their placement be restricted to the radially outward surfaces of the wheel. Unfortunately, doing so severely limits the adhesive tape's ability to reliably adhere the overlay to the wheel. Further, the adhesive tape's thickness creates a void between the overlay and the wheel that can collect dirt and debris that may affect the balance of the wheel.
To avoid such problems, the prior art proposes the use of a urethane foam adhesive which effectively holds the wheel cover in place, closes the void between the overlay and the wheel, reduces noise, and provides theft deterrence. This method is best described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,669,501 to Derleth that discloses an annular-shaped overlay composed of a thin plastic cover formed from acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) mounted to a wheel spider. The overlay is configured to have variations in contours in a direction transverse to the axis of the wheel that exceed the variations in the rim and/or disc contour of the wheel, which variations would be extremely difficult and expensive, if not impossible, to stamp or draw in the disc of the wheel. During assembly, a foamable polyurethane adhesive is coated on the wheel, and the cover is then quickly clamped to the wheel before the polyurethane begins to foam. As such, the void between the wheel and cover is filled with the polyurethane foam. However, any excess polyurethane foam around the bolt holes or at the periphery of the assembly surrounding the axle hub will squeeze out if appropriate sealing provisions are not made.
One obvious shortcoming of the process disclosed by Derleth is that the composite wheel must be imperforate, except for the small bolt openings necessary for attaching the wheel to a vehicle. It is understood by those skilled in the art that it is necessary to avoid the deleterious effects of heat generated by the wheel and brake, that cause the ABS plastic overlay to distort, cause delamination of any surface treatment, i.e. paint, plating, etc., and further cause the foam adhesive to degrade, distort and eventually melt. Furthermore, wheels assembled according to the Derleth disclosure were very heavy due to the high density of the foam, and variation in localized foam density resulted in severe wheel imbalances.
Turbine openings dissipate heat generated by the brake system and may be configured to provide a variety of distinct aesthetic impressions that add individuality and style to a vehicle. Any opening in the wheel or overlay using the process disclosed in Derleth is a pathway for the foam mixture to escape when it begins to foam and/or cure. Larger openings, such as turbine openings, would not be possible using the Derleth process without additional structure to seal the openings and prevent the foam material from escaping.
It is appreciated by those skilled in the art that it is advantageous to completely fill the cavity with foam adhesive to acoustically dampen any sound produced when the overlay is struck. A drawback of the process according to Derleth is that excess foam mixture is required to ensure that the cavity between the cover and the wheel is completely filled, and subsequently any excess foam must be manually removed, which adds significant cost to the process.
An improved apparatus for attaching a wheel cover to a wheel is taught by U.S. Pat. No. 6,346,159 to Chase, assigned to the assignee hereof. Chase discloses an overlay aligned with, located, and clamped to the wheel with the exception of predetermined sealed areas. The outboard surfaces of the overlay and wheel are spaced apart, leaving a cavity therebetween. Localized nests at strategically placed locations act on the wheel and overlay assembly to seal the assembly on the wheel and thereby create a mold cavity. Net standoffs may be used to assist locating the cover with respect to the wheel and the localized nests interact with the overlay and wheel assembly to create a mold cavity between the overlay and the wheel into which the liquid foam is injected and allowed to react to fill the cavity. A metering unit is used to accurately mix and dispense the two component urethane foam. A nozzle engages a fill port machined into the wheel spider in the back side of the wheel to inject the foamable material in the cladding/wheel assembly cavity.
A disadvantage with the Chase invention is that the wheel must be provided with a fill port through which the urethane foam is injected. Accordingly, the Chase invention requires an additional process of machining the fill port in the wheel spider such that the overall process is more expensive. Furthermore, the additional process for machining the fill port degrades the structural integrity of the wheel by removing material therefrom.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,098,272 to Joseph et al. specifically addresses the aforementioned problem identified with respect to Chase by providing an apparatus for injecting adhesive into the mold through a pre-existing bolt hole in the wheel. Unfortunately, the Joseph et al. invention is limited to applications wherein the wheel cover extends radially beyond the bolt hole circle in the wheel such that adhesive injected into the bolt hole of the wheel is introduced within the mold formed in part by the wheel and the wheel cover. Furthermore, it would be desirable to have the flexibility of injecting the adhesive through locations other than the bolt holes for a variety of reasons including but not limited to the following. First, depending upon the configuration of the mold and the flow characteristics of the particular adhesive, it is often preferable to inject the adhesive into specific regions of the mold to ensure it is completely and uniformly filled, whereby the flexibility of selecting the injection location allows optimization of the injection process for the specific application. Additionally, in some applications the fixturing devices, locating devices, clamping systems, nesting systems and/or injection apparatus may limit accessibility to certain regions of the mold such that it would be desirable to have a variety of potential injection locations from which to choose.
From the above, it can be appreciated that the method and apparatus for attaching a wheel cover to a wheel are not fully optimized. Therefore, what is needed is an economical method and apparatus for assembling an overlay to a wheel by injecting adhesive into a mold through an existing wheel aperture.

Method and apparatus for assembling a vehicle wheel


A technique for installing a heatsink in an electronic assembly includes simultaneously applying force to multiple fastener assemblies that each retain a respective fastener in a body of the heatsink. The heatsink is then attached to the electronic assembly by actuating the fasteners while the force is simultaneously applied to the multiple fastener assemblies.

1. Field
This disclosure relates generally to an electronic assembly and, more specifically to techniques for installing a heatsink in an electronic assembly.
2. Related Art
In a heatsink on electronic module (or integrated circuit (IC)) application, it has been observed that loading at corners of the heatsink has induced a bow in a base of the heatsink. This is due, at least in part, to loads being applied at some distance from an opposing surface which has caused a base of the heatsink to bend, which affects a planarity between the module and a pedestal of the heatsink. When the corners of a heatsink are loaded, the heatsink has bent concave down, which has increased a gap between a center of the module and the heatsink. This has also generally exposed corners of the module to higher pressure. In a typical electronic assembly there are four (one at each corner) loading mechanisms per heatsink. To gradually increase a heatsink load, fasteners at the corners of the heatsink have typically been cross-tightened during installation of the heatsink in the electronic assembly. While increasing corner loads on a heatsink incrementally provides relatively even heatsink loads, the heatsink loads are still concentrated at each corner of the heatsink as the fasteners are actuated, irrespective of how small the increment is on each of the fasteners. In a typical electronic assembly, load concentration has required special consideration to ensure that loads, which have acted on corners of an electronic module, have not cracked the corners of the module.
One approach for addressing the incremental loading problem has applied a central load to a top of a heatsink using a fixture and then actuated corner loading mechanisms of the heatsink. After the corner load mechanisms were tightened to their stops, the fixture was then removed. While applying a fixture load to a center of a heatsink has resulted in a relatively flat profile at a base of the heatsink (due to the applied load being directly over the opposing force (module)) during installation of the heatsink, applying a load to the center of the heatsink with a fixture has caused an employed thermal interface material (TIM) to be compressed to a profile that is representative of a centrally loaded system. Unfortunately, when the load is removed from the fixture, the heatsink has deflected to a bowed profile that has corresponded to a corner loaded heatsink. That is, a center of the heatsink has bowed up and away from the TIM (which was compressed to a fixed height when the fixture load was applied) which has lead to air entrapment between the heatsink pedestal and the TIM, e.g., thermal grease. Unfortunately, air bubbles between a TIM and a heatsink pedestal or module may lead to premature failure of the module due to the inability of the TIM to adequately transfer heat from the module to the heatsink.

Electronic assembly and techniques for installing a heatsink in an electronic assembly

International Business Machines Corporation


A pacifier for use with premature newborns and infants. The pacifier has a shield and a hollow bulb projecting from one side of the shield, the bulb defining a generally rectangular cross-sectional profile or internal shape along at least a portion of its length from the shield to its distal free end.

Once an infant begins to turn its head with neck extension, suckling becomes an active oral pattern with large up and down, forward/back and lateral or excursive movements of the jaw; and rhythmic peristaltic forward/back movement of a cupped tongue. The newborn's respiratory function is characterized by obligatory nasal breathing because of the close approximation of the tongue to the soft palate which can obstruct oral airway patency.

Pacifier for use with premature newborns and infants


The present invention relates to the pharmaceutical use of FAM19A5 involved in regulating gliogenesis, and more specifically, to the use of FAM19A5 in the prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of central nervous system injuries, degenerative brain diseases, or central nervous system diseases, FAM19A5 being spread in the neural stem cells in vertebrates and regulating gliogenesis.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical use of FAM19A5 regulating proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells in vertebrates for diagnosing, preventing, or treating damage to the central nervous system, degenerative brain diseases, or central nervous system diseases.
2. Discussion of Related Art
A neural plate becomes a neural tube during early development, and a cavity within neural tube forms a ventricle through the developmental process. The cell layer closest to the ventricle is the ventricular zone. An additional proliferating cell layer is formed above the ventricular zone through a neurogenesis process, which is referred to as the subventricular zone. Progenitor cells in the ventricular zone and the subventricular zone have properties of neural stem cells and migrate to a cortical plate through a complex control system [Dehay and Kennedy, Nat Rev Neurosci 8:438-450, 2007; Molyneaux et al., Nat Rev Neurosci 8:427-437, 2007; Angevine and Sidman, Nature 192:766-768, 1961; Caviness and Takahashi, Brain Dev 17:159-163, 1995].
Neural stem cells have an ability to divide continuously, that is, a self-renewal ability, and differentiate into neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes of the central nervous system. The differentiation process into neurons mainly occurs during the embryonic period, but the differentiation process into glial cells occurs after birth [Bayer et al., J Comp Neurol 307:499-516, 1991; Miller and Gauthier, Neuron 54:357-369, 2007].
Differentiation from neural stem cells into neurons and glial cells is a phenomenon that is continuously observed in developmental process of the brain and an adult's brain. In the adult brain, neurogenesis occurs in two different brain regions, the subventricular zone of the lateral ventricle and the dentate gyms of the hippocampus. In the subventricular zone, ependymal cells closest to the ventricle and astrocytes distributed therealong serve as neural stem cells, and the two types of cells become neuroblasts through transient amplifying cells [Doetsch, Curr Opin Genet Dev 13:543-550, 2003; Doetsch et al., Cell 97:703-716, 1999; Lois and Alvarez-Buylla, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:2074-2077, 1993; Palmer et al., Mol Cell Neurosci 8:389-404, 1997; Temple, Nature 414:112-117, 2001].
In order to maintain normal functions of the brain, a numerical balance of neurons and glial cells is essential. In the past, astrocytes, which accounted for the majority of glial cells, were regarded as merely protective cells that aided neurons in performing their functions. On the contrary, astrocytes are now known to affect the environment around neurons beyond serving as a structural support. That is, astrocytes secrete growth factors, regulate functions of neurons, and help maintain the barrier between blood vessels and the brain. Also, astrocytes are known to play a more active role by directly regulating structure formation and synapse function between neurons [Nedergaard et al., Trends Neurosci 26:523-530, 2003; Ullian et al., Science 291:657-661, 2001; Song et al., Nature 417:39-44, 2002; Temple and Davis, Development 120:999-1008, 1994; Seri et al., J Neurosci 21:7153-7160, 2001; Svendsen, Nature 417:29-32, 2002].
Functional significance of astrocytes is pathologically known through a great deal of research. When the brain is damaged, astrocytes actively proliferate, become reactive, and hypertrophy is observed. Active proliferation of such glial cells is advantageous in that it promotes recovery of tissues shortly after initial damage and prevents damage from spreading. However, when such a phenomenon is repeated, regeneration of neurons is suppressed and an inflammatory response is caused, and damage is applied, which may result in degenerative brain disease [Myer et al., Brain 129:2761-2772, 2006; Chen and Swanson, J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 23:137-149, 2003; Cunningham et al., Brian 128: 1931-1942, 2005; Faden, Curr Opin Neurol 15:707-712, 2002; Katayama et al., J Neurosurg 73:889-900, 1990].
Gliosis is a phenomenon that commonly occurs in various pathological processes of the central nervous system and is caused by hyperproliferation and activation of astrocytes resulting from neuronal damage. When damage is applied to the central nervous system, normal astrocytes become hypertrophic, reactive astrocytes that increase generation of an intermediate filament protein called glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Various glial cells including reactive astrocytes undergo hyperproliferation after damage and a solid cell layer named a glial scar that is a product of the healing process is formed. Such gliosis is observed in degenerative brain diseases including Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease, in cerebrospinal damage, and various pathological phenomena of the central nervous system such as strokes and brain tumors [Faideau et al., Hum Mol Genet, 2010; Chen et al., Curr Drug Targets, 2005; Rodriguez et al., Cell Death Differ, 2009; Robel et al., J Neurosci, 2011; Talbott et al., Exp Neurol, 2005; Shimada et al., J Neurosci; 2012; Sofroniew and Vinters, Acta Neuropathol, 2010]
In general, gliosis has various influences depending on the circumstances in which damage has initially occurred or the time that has elapsed after a wound has occurred. After damage, initial reactive astrocytes secrete nerve growth factors preventing programmed cell death such as GDNF and cause resumption in the uptake of glutamic acid, thereby protecting neurons. In addition, the initial reactive astrocytes positively function in processes such as recovery of the blood-brain barrier, isolating a region in which damage has occurred, and preventing infection of healthy tissues. However, when a predetermined time elapses after damage, glia scars are formed by hyperproliferated reactive astrocytes and surround a damaged region like a net, and an inhibitory extracellular matrix accumulates. A dense structure of such proteins serves as a barrier that prevents neurons from being physically and chemically regenerated and reconstructing connections. Also, substances that induce inflammation and neurotoxic substances such as cytotoxic cytokines are secreted to induce apoptosis of neurons, inhibit functional recovery, and worsen pathological symptoms. In the related art, central nervous system diseases may be detected through a histopathological test, computerized tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, diagnosis using such methods may be possible only after the disease has progressed to some extent. Therefore, development of a diagnosis marker that may rapidly and accurately identify the degree of progress of central nervous system disease is essential. Also, a method of treatment in which neurons survive at the early stage of damage and generation of glia scars is minimized and neuron regeneration is promoted at the later phase will be the best method.

Pharmaceutical use of FAM19A5 involved in regulating gliogenesis


The invention provides an ink containing a self-dispersion pigment in which a phosphonic acid group is bonded directly or through another atomic group to the surface thereof and a polyurethane polymer, wherein the surface charge amount of the self-dispersion pigment is 0.25 mmol/g or more and 0.42 mmol/g or less, and the polyurethane polymer has units respectively derived from a polyisocyanate, a polyether polyol having no acid group and a diol having an acid group.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ink, an ink cartridge having such an ink and an ink jet recording method using the ink.
2. Description of the Related Art
In order to improve the fastness of a resulting image, an ink to which a polyurethane polymer is added has heretofore been investigated (Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-053328). Patent Literature 1 describes an ink containing a polyurethane polymer which contains a polyether polyol as a constituent component. On the other hand, an ink containing a self-dispersion pigment in which a phosphonic acid group is bonded directly or through another atomic group to the surface thereof has been investigated (Patent Literature 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-515007 through PCT route).
As a result of an investigation by the present inventors, it has been found that the ink containing the polyurethane polymer having the polyether polyol as a constituent unit causes a change in the fastness of the resulting image before and after long-term storage. Specifically, when the image was stored for a long period of time, the fastness of the image was lowered. In addition, the fastness of the image obtained with the ink described in Patent Literature 2 was low. Further, when the ink described in Patent Literature 2 was stored for a long period of time, the pigment contained therein aggregated.

Ink, ink cartridge and ink jet recording method


A dust mitigating device is provided for use in debris handling. A dust mitigating device may comprise a rake having a head and a first axis, a collection head coupled to the rake, and an exit passage in fluid communication with the collection head. The collection head comprises a suction port and has a second axis. The collection head is configured to align with the head of a rake such that the second axis substantially parallel with the first axis and proximate the first axis. The exit passage is configured to couple to a negative pressure source.

Floor tile removal generates significant debris and dust. Collecting debris for removal often involves material handling which further compounds the amount of dust generated. The health of those in the area is negatively affected by the dust and environmental regulations in certain areas prohibit the escape of dust generated during debris removal.

Dust mitigating rake and device for capturing dust from a rake or from moving job site debris


A virtual mass storage device implements a data manager for storing information on multiple physical mass storage devices. The virtual mass storage device is organized into blocks of information, which are allocated to different physical devices, thereby enabling the physical devices to operate in parallel and increase the overall transfer rate of the virtual device.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is generally directed to a mass storage device and a method for storing information principally for use with a computer system. More particularly, the invention is directed to a virtual mass storage device which is implemented on multiple physical storage devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Computer hardware and software is constantly improved in terms of complexity, power and sophistication. Many advanced applications have increased the speed and processing requirements for computer hardware, e.g., some real-time applications such as full motion video playback and capture. Moreover, as computer software has become more complex, program sizes have increased and have required larger and more frequent data transfers between main memory systems (e.g., random access memories and cache memories) and various mass storage devices.
Mass storage devices, e.g., hard disk drives, optical drives, tape backup drives, etc., have also had to increase in size to accommodate larger program sizes and increased software memory and processing requirements.
To accommodate the increases in program sizes and frequencies of access to mass storage devices, a need has existed for increasing the data transfer rates of mass storage devices so that data transfers performed with the devices do not unduly slow down software loading, response and execution times.
Several interface standards have been developed to improve the data transfer rates of mass storage devices. For example, an IDE (intelligent drive electronics) standard has been developed for hard disk drives on PC-compatible personal computers. The controller for an IDE drive is incorporated on the drive instead of on a separate controller card. This arrangement decreases signal lengths and enables many of the low level functions (e.g., moving drive heads to particular tracks on the drive) to be handled directly by the controller.
The drive controller is connected via a dedicated high speed bus that is interfaced to the main memory system of a computer through an IDE interface circuit. In many systems, the IDE interface circuit is simply an extension of the PC bus interface, such as the PCI (peripheral component interconnect) bus used in some PC-compatible computer designs.
Another standard which has been developed is the SCSI (small computer systems interface) standard which has been developed for handling different peripheral components, including mass storage devices, MIDI ports, and other peripherals. Under the SCSI standard, each component includes a dedicated controller and is assigned a unique address for being controlled by a master controller interconnected thereto by a SCSI bus. Specific low level functions for a particular device are typically integrated into the device controller.
Both systems have advantages over many prior designs. Most importantly, they have the advantage of faster data transfer. This is due not only to improvements in hardware performance, but is also due to the incorporation of low level functions into the device controllers. The net result is that the processing requirements of the computer's main processing system are reduced. Data transfer rates across an IDE bus are currently as high as 16 MByte/s for shorter data transfers, and data transfer rates across an SCSI bus are currently as high as 20 MByte/s, although these transfer rates are continuing to increase. Moreover, both systems allow different peripherals to be controlled according to a standard communication and command protocol, thus decreasing compatibility concerns.
However, with both the IDE and SCSI standards, the data transfer rates obtained across the respective buses are typically limited primarily by physical or mechanical limitations of the particular peripheral devices. For example, on a hard disk drive, the limiting factor on the data transfer rate of the drive is the time required to transfer data between the read/write heads and the physical media, which is often a function of the rotational speed of the physical media and the density of information stored on the media. Thus, while IDE or SCSI controllers may be able to transfer data at the aforementioned rates once information is obtained from the physical media of a device, the transfer rates of larger transfers (i.e., the "sustained data transfer rates") are constrained by the data transfer rate between the drive heads and the physical media.
Some devices may implement on-board sector or cache buffer memories to improve transfer rates for smaller data transfers. However, sustainable data transfer rates for larger transfers are still typically limited, at best, to about 4–8 MByte/s due to the physical limitations of the particular devices.
Improvements in physical device characteristics typically dictate increasing the mechanical or physical performance of the device, e.g., with a hard disk drive increasing the speed of rotation of the disks or increasing the number of bits of information per track. However, improving the mechanical characteristics of a device often comes at a significant cost in terms of development and manufacturability.
Therefore, a need has arisen for a mass storage device with an increased sustainable data transfer rate while accounting for the inherent physical limitations of the device. In particular, a need exists for increasing the sustainable data transfer rate of a mass storage device in a cost effective manner and with little or no hardware modifications to the device.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Multi-drive virtual mass storage device and method of operating same


Methods of making medical devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method for welding together two components is described. The two components are non-coaxial and contact one another. A fixture holds the two components in a desired configuration. Electromagnetic radiation is directed at an area where the two components are in contact. The radiation causes the two portions to fuse together. The fixture has an open area or a transmissive material in the path of the electromagnetic radiation so that at least a portion of the radiation impinged up on the two components.

A balloon catheter is one type of medical device that can be introduced into the body to treat various conditions. For example, the balloon catheter can be used to treat conditions of the heart (such as in balloon coronary angioplasty or stent delivery) or to treat non-vascular conditions (such as obstructions of the gall bladder or bile duct).
A balloon catheter typically includes an elongated shaft and an inflatable balloon carried by the shaft. The shaft includes a lumen in fluid communication with the interior of the balloon. During use, the balloon is initially in a deflated condition so that it can be delivered through a narrow, tortuous path to a target site. At the target site, the balloon can be inflated by introducing a fluid, such as a liquid, through the lumen of the shaft and into the balloon. Subsequently, the balloon catheter can be removed by removing the fluid, thereby deflating the balloon, and withdrawing the catheter.
Various techniques can be used to make a balloon catheter. For example, to bond the balloon to the shaft, adhesive bonding and thermal bonding (such as ultrasonic welding and laser bonding) can be used.


A stenotic lesion can be characterized by measuring both pressure drop across the stenotic lesion and the size of the vessel lumen adjacent the stenotic lesion, both with sensors delivered intravascularly to the stenotic lesion site. The size (e.g., inner diameter, cross-sectional profile) of the vessel lumen adjacent the stenotic lesion can be measured via one or more intravascular ultrasound transducers. Such one or more intravascular ultrasound transducer(s) can be delivered to the site of the stenotic lesion with the same delivery device that carries a pressure transducer.

Assessing the severity of a stenotic lesion is an important part of recommending a treatment option. In some instances, if the stenotic lesion is permitted to grow unchecked, it can lead to a blockage of blood flow which can cause a variety of very significant problems. Common treatment options, such as a stent, angioplasty, etc. are often recommended to inhibit or roll back growth of a stenotic lesion. That said, treatment options can result in their own negative consequences. Thus, if the characteristics of the stenotic lesion are such that they have a minimal impact on the flow of blood through the vessel, it may be recommended to monitor the stenotic lesion over time but take no intervening action other than to administer drug therapy. Angiograms are common methods of assessing the severity of a stenotic lesion, but, in many cases, there is a desire for additional means of gathering information to more fully characterize the stenotic lesion.

Multiple transducer delivery device and method


A surface-coated steel sheet having improved corrosion resistance and suitable for use as automobile inner and outer panels comprises a steel sheet having on at least one surface thereof a composite coating which comprises the following layers (a) to (d) from the bottom to the top of the coating:. (a) a first zinc alloy plating layer with a coating weight of 10-100 g/m.sup.2 which contains at least one of Ni and Co in an amount satisfying the following inequality: EQU 0.05.ltoreq.(5.times.Co)+Ni.ltoreq.10 (in weight percent), PA0 (b) a second zinc alloy plating layer with a coating weight of 0.05-10 g/m.sup.2 which contains at least one of Ni and Co in an amount satisfying the following inequality: EQU 10<(5.times.Co)+Ni.ltoreq.40 (in weight percent), PA0 (c) a chromate film layer with a coating weight of 20-300 mg/m.sup.2 as Cr, and PA0 (d) an organic coating layer with a thickness of 0.2-5 .mu.m.

The present invention relates to an improved corrosion-resistant, surface-coated steel sheet. More particularly, the invention relates to a corrosion-resistant steel sheet coated with a multilayer organic-inorganic composite coating which has good weldability and formability in addition to good corrosion-preventing properties even if a protecting paint coating is injured and which is especially suitable for use as automobile panels including outer panels.
In recent years, requirements for corrosion resistance of steel sheets for use as automobile panels have become increasingly strict. For example, such steel sheets are required to resist perforative corrosion for 10 years and surface rusting for 5 years in north America and Europe where severe corrosive conditions are created in winter since rock salt is generally spread on roads in order to prevent them from freezing.
Under these circumstances, surface-coated, weldable steel sheets have been substituted for conventional cold-rolled steel sheets to fabricate inner and outer panels of automobiles. For this purpose, steel sheets plated with zinc or a zinc alloy have been frequently used, but they do not have adequate corrosion resistance unless the zinc or zinc alloy plating has an extremely large thickness. However, such thick plating adversely affects the press-formability of the plated steel sheet and powdering and flaking of the plating tend to occur during press-forming of the sheet into the shape of an automobile panel.
Japanese Patent Application Kokai No. 58-6995(1983) describes a Zn-Ni alloy-plated steel sheet having on at least one surface thereof a first (lower) Zn-Ni alloy plating layer of a (.eta.+.gamma.) dual phase containing 2-9 wt % of Ni and having a thickness of 0.05-2 .mu.m and a second (upper) Zn-Ni alloy plating layer of a .gamma. single phase containing 10-20 wt % of Ni and having a thickness of 0.2-10 .mu.m wherein the thickness ratio of the first layer to the second layer is from 1:5 to 1:100. The duplex Ni-Zn plating is effective to prevent cosmetic corrosion and surface rusting after paint coating.
The thickness of the upper plating layer which has a higher Ni content and which is more brittle than the lower plating layer is much greater than that of the lower plating. Therefore, in a low-temperature chipping test which simulates the situation that pebbles hit against a car body in winter, the plating will be peeled away or chipped off over a large area, leading to a decrease in ultimate corrosion resistance. Furthermore, the presence of the thick, high-Ni alloy upper layer which is relatively noble is considered to accelerate corrosion of the relatively thin, low-Ni alloy lower layer and also increases the costs of the plated steel sheet, since Ni is rather expensive.
Another type of corrosion resistant, surface-coated steel sheet which has been developed is based on a zinc or zinc-alloy plated steel sheet and has a chromate film and an organic coating thereon. Thus, this type of coated steel sheet has a multilayer inorganic-organic composite coating on at least one surface.
A typical example of such a surface-coated steel sheet is known as Zincrometal.RTM.. It has an organic coating of a zinc-rich primer. However, it does not have sufficient corrosion resistance and tends to suffer from powdering of the coating during press-forming due to the presence of a large amount of Zn powder in the uppermost organic coating.
Surface-coated steel sheets having a chromate film and an organic composite silicate coating on a zinc or zinc alloy-plated steel sheet have been disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Kokai Nos. 57-108212(1982), 58-224174(1983), and 60-174879(1985). These surface-coated steel sheets have improved resistance to powdering since the organic coating does not contain metallic powder. However, their corrosion resistance still does not reach a satisfactory level.
Many attempts have been made to modify one or more of the plating, chromate, and organic coating layers of the above-described multilayer surface-coated steel sheets.
Japanese Patent Application Kokai No. 58-210192(1983) discloses a surface-coated steel sheet plated with a Ni-Zn alloy of the .gamma. single phase containing 9-20 wt % Ni and having a chromate film and a conductive material-containing organic coating on the plating layer. Japanese Patent Application Kokai No. 58-210190(1983) discloses a similar surface-coated steel sheet in which the plating layer is a duplex plating consisting of a lower .gamma.-phase Ni-Zn alloy layer and an upper Fe-Zn alloy plating containing 10-40 wt % Fe.
Japanese Patent Application Kokai No. 61-84381(1986) describes a surface-coated steel sheet plated with a .eta.-phase Ni-Zn alloy containing 1-3 wt % Ni and having thereon a chromate film and a polymer coating.
Japanese Patent Application Kokai No. 63-203778(1988) describes a surface-coated steel sheet plated with a zinc or zinc alloy in which fine particles of an insoluble metal compound such as an oxide, carbide, nitride, boride, phosphide, or sulfide of Si, Al, Fe, or the like are dispersed in order to modify the properties of the plating layer and which has a chromate film and an organic coating layer on the plating.
Japanese Patent Application Kokai No. 62-268635(1987) describes a surface-coated steel sheet having a zinc-based plating layer, a colloidal silica-containing chromate film, and a thin clear film of a polyhydroxypolyether resin which may contain a chromate pigment. Japanese Patent Application Kokai No. 1-80522(1989) discloses a similar surface-coated steel sheet in which the uppermost clear film is formed from a coating composition based on an epoxy or modified epoxy resin and containing at least one additive selected from inorganic fillers and cross-linking agents.
These various modifications of one or more of the layers proposed in the prior art can improve the corrosion resistance of surface-coated, weldable steel sheets for use as automobile panels. However, the improved corrosion resistance is mainly intended to increase resistance to perforative corrosion which occurs on a bare plated surface having no paint coating. Therefore, the above-mentioned type of surface-coated steel sheets having an inorganic-organic composite coating have been used for inner panels of automobiles which are usually partially covered with a paint coating. The cosmetic corrosion resistance of such surface-coated steel sheets after it has been covered with a paint coating is not satisfactory if the paint coating is injured.
As the requirements for corrosion resistance of automobile panels become stricter, it has been attempted to employ surface-coated steel sheets not only as inner panels but also as outer panels in automobiles. Automobile outer panels which are completely covered with a surface paint coating which is typically performed by electrodeposition coating of a primer followed by intercoating of a surfacer and topcoating are often injured accidentally, for example, by a hit of pebbles or chippings and hence they are required to withstand corrosion even if the surface paint coating is chipped or otherwise injured. Therefore, they must have good resistance to cosmetic corrosion which occurs in chipped areas of outer panels, i.e., those areas in which the surface coating is chipped off.
Recently, cosmetic corrosion resistance in chipped areas has become a requisite property for automobile inner panels as well, since they are usually covered with a paint coating at least partially and the coating may possibly be injured or chipped during conveying, transportation, and press-forming. Therefore, cosmetic corrosion resistance also contributes to improved corrosion resistance in automobile inner panels.
Accordingly, there is an extensive demand for surface-coated steel sheets having improved resistance to corrosion, particularly to cosmetic corrosion in chipped areas.

Corrosion-resistant surface-coated steel sheet


A delivery conduit operative through a valve member directs fluid selectively from the shower conduit to a storage tank in operative communication with a commode, wherein the storage tank permits selective use of water from a primary conduit or from the delivery conduit for the utilization of water therefrom.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of invention relates to water recycling apparatus, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved shower water recycling apparatus wherein the same permits the directing of unused shower water to a storage reservoir for a commode.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Typically, in the use of shower apparatus an individual directs the water from a shower in a wasteful manner prior to the shower water being heated to a desirable temperature. In this regard, that initial water in the instant invention is directed to a storage reservoir for use by a commode facility in a manner not addressed by the prior art and in this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


A surgical retractor for use in performing hip surgery includes a pair of wing members mounted on a hinge pin for pivotal movement thereabout relative to one another. The hinge pin has one end mounted on a handle and carries a guide member at its opposing end. In performing surgery, the surgeon inserts the retractor, guide member first, with the wing members in a folded position, anchors the hinge pin in place by means of a nail driven into the bone and then opens the wing members to expose the hip socket for surgery. The wing members have guides which receive retention pins driven into the bone to retain the wing members in the desired open position.

In performing hip surgery it is of the utmost importance to avoid or at least minimize damage to ligaments, tendons, muscles, nerves and other portions of the soft tissue while gaining access to and performing surgical procedures on various portions of bone structure of the hip. Surgical retractors of various forms and shapes have long been used to assist the surgeon in obtaining access to the surgical site by opening the incision and/or retracting those parts of the soft tissue.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,686,972 discloses a combination surgical deflector and drilling guide designed for uncovering the bone to be worked upon with the retractor equipped with a positioner which firmly positions the retractor on the bone and provides a guide for the drill or other medical instruments to be used during surgery.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,955,568 discloses a tool for inserting a prosthetic femoral head into and for removing it from a prosthetic hip socket.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,731,673 is directed to a self-retaining muscle retractor which eliminates the necessity of stripping the bone around its entire periphery thus enabling its use in the hip area and other areas where the underside of the bone cannot be readily stripped. It has a pair of elongated retractor members with bone-engaging portions at their lower ends and having their upper extremities defining lever arms. A brace is pivotally connected on one end to the upper extremity of one of the lever arms and has its free end engagable with latching elements on the other lever arm whereby the bone-engaging portions may be inserted in an incision, engaged on opposite sides of a bone, the lever arms spaced apart and the free end of the brace engaged with a latching element to maintain the incision open.
None of the prior art, however, is specifically designed to provide means for gaining access to and retracting the soft tissue from the hip joint while at the same time providing means for inserting, positioning, opening and anchoring such retractor in position while the surgeon performs surgical procedures.

Method for performing hip surgery and retractor for use therein


A floor-supporting strut unit includes a vertical tube fixed on a base, and a cap for covering an open upper end of the vertical tube. An externally threaded vertical rod extends threadably through a threaded hole in the cap and a stop nut which is supported by the cap. A top plate is fixed on the upper end of the vertical rod.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a plurality of supporting strut units which support cooperatively a plurality of floorboard units thereon side by side to bear heavy machinery, such as bulky computer equipment, more particularly to shock-resistant floor-supporting strut units which can bear a relatively heavy load thereon.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a plurality of conventional floor-supporting strut units 2 stand on a horizontal surface or the ground 1 to interconnect a plurality of rectangular horizontal tubes 4 which support a plurality of floorboard units 3 that constitute cooperatively a modular floor unit for placing bulky computer equipment thereon. As such, numerous electrical cords can extend between the ground 1 and the floorboard units 3 in order to maintain a neat surrounding for the computer equipment. Each of the strut units 2 includes a base 21 having a fixed vertical tube 22, a generally circular top plate 23, an externally threaded vertical rod 24 having an upper end secured to the top plate 23, a nut 25 engaging threadably the threaded vertical rod 24 and having a bottom seated on the open upper end of the vertical tube 22, and a cover member 26 for covering the top plate 23. Each of the top plates 23 has four angularly equidistant coupling units, each of which includes two open-ended parallel slots 230, 231 formed in an outer peripheral portion thereof to define a connecting plate section 232 that is inserted into the corresponding tube 4 so as to permit a lock bolt (Bl) to extend through a through-hole 42 in a top wall of the corresponding tube 4 and a fastener hole 233 in the connecting plate section 232 to engage a lock nut (N1), thereby locking the tube 4 on the top plate 23. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each of the tubes 4 has two parallel side walls 40, 41 which are inserted into two slots 230, 231 of the top plate 23. Each of the covers 26 has four notches 260 so that the top wall of each of the tubes 4 is located in one of the notches 260 of the covers 26. The conventional strut units 2 suffers from the following disadvantages:
(1) Because the vertical tubes 22 have an outer diameter which can only be approximate to that of the nuts 25, as shown in FIG. 2, the loading capacity of the strut units 2 is limited.
(2) Shock resulting from the operation or movement of the computer equipment easily breaks the vertical tubes 22.
(3) The connecting plate sections 232 easily deform due to the fact that the top plates 23 support the tubes 4 only by means of the connecting sections 232.
(4) The floorboard units 3 easily deform at centers thereof due to the fact that the centers of the units 3 are far from the top plates 23.

Shock-resistant floor-supporting strut unit which can bear a heavy load thereon


Methods and apparatus are provided for overwriting data in a probe-based data storage device in which data bits are represented by the presence and absence of pits at bit positions on a storage surface, the pits being formed in the storage surface by a probe mechanism of the device. Input data is coded to generate a coded bit sequence and an overwrite technique is employed to record the coded bit sequence on the storage surface over an old, previously-recorded bit sequence. Together with the properties of the coded bit sequence, the overwrite technique exploits the physical mechanism of the write process in that, with appropriate spacing of the bit positions on the storage surface, writing a pit at a bit position can erase an existing pit within a defined number of neighboring bit positions. In addition, the overwrite technique involves reading at least certain bits of the old bit sequence, whereby the pattern of data written on the storage surface in an overwrite operation is determined in part by the results of reading old data.

1. Technical Field
This disclosure relates generally to probe-based data storage devices, and more particularly to methods and apparatus enabling overwriting of data in such devices whereby data can be stored without first erasing previously-written data.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
In probe-based data storage devices, stored data is represented on a storage surface by the presence and absence of indentations, or "pits", which are formed in the surface by a probe of the device. For example, in AFM (Atomic Force Microscope)-based storage devices, the probe is a nanometer-sharp tip mounted on the end of a microfabricated cantilever. This tip can be moved over the surface of a storage medium in the form of a polymer substrate. A mechanism is provided for heating the tip, and thus the polymer surface at the point of contact with the tip, allowing the tip to penetrate the surface to create a pit. Such a pit typically represents a bit of value "1", a bit of value "0" being represented by the absence of a pit at a bit position on the storage surface. In a read-scan mode, the thermomechanical probe mechanism can be used to read-back data by detecting the deflection of the cantilever as the tip is moved over the pattern of bit indentations. AFM-based data storage is described in detail in IBM Journal of Research & Development, Volume 44, No. 3, May 2000, pp323-340, "The 'Millipede'—More Than One Thousand Tips for Future AFM Data Storage", Vettiger et al., and the references cited therein. As described in this document, while basic read/write operations can be implemented using a single cantilever probe, in practice an integrated array of individually-addressable cantilevers is employed in order to increase data rates. Each cantilever of the array can read and write data within its own storage field as the array is moved relative to the storage surface.
Overwriting of data in probe-based data storage devices is problematical. For example, if a zero corresponds to "no pit" at a bit position, writing a zero at a bit position corresponds to no action. Hence, "writing" a zero over a previously-written "1" at a bit position will leave the old "1" in tact, rendering the newly-written data incorrect. Prior systems have thus required old data to be erased before new data can be written on the storage surface. For example, in the Millipede device discussed above, old data can be erased by heating the storage surface to cause melting and "reflow" of the polymer. This requirement for erasing old data prior to writing has adverse implications for both power consumption and operating speed.
Systems which allow direct overwriting of old data with new data in probe-based data storage devices have been disclosed in our copending European Patent Application No. 02010648.0, filed 13 May 2002. Aspects of these systems were also discussed in "The Role of Signal Processing and Coding in Data Storage: State of the Art and Future Trends", E. Eleftheriou, IEEE Communications Theory Workshop 2002, Sanibeli Island, Fla., May 19-22, 2002. Overwriting is achieved in these systems by applying an input data coding process and exploiting the physical mechanism of the write process. In particular, when a pit is written on the storage surface, material is displaced by the probe and deposited in the surrounding area. In the Millipede device discussed above for example, melted polymer is deposited in the area around a pit creating "donut walls", or "rings", which have a higher topological profile than the polymer background. If a pit is formed sufficiently near to an existing pit, the existing pit can be at least partially filled due to the material deformation, effectively changing a "1" to a "0" and thus erasing the "1". This phenomenon therefore imposes a limit Tmin on the smallest distance between pits to be recorded on the storage surface. By employing an input data coding process, the systems disclosed in our European Application No. 02010648.0 exploit this phenomenon to achieve direct overwriting of data. The input data coding is effectively a two-stage process. In the first stage, input data is coded to prevent occurrence of two consecutive bits of a given value "x" in the coded input data. If x=1 for example, then the coding ensures that successive "1's" in the coded input data are separated by at least "d" zeros, where d is a predetermined number 1. The effect of this coding is to ensure that successive pits to be left in the storage surface after a write operation are always separated by at least one "no-pit". This coding therefore allows the recorded bit density to be increased over the uncoded case where the minimum bit spacing is constrained to Tmin. In the second coding stage, an algorithm is employed to generate an overwrite bit sequence from the coded input bit sequence. In simple terms, the algorithms employed here are based on the premise that writing a pit can erase an existing, neighboring pit on either side of the new pit due to deformation of material as discussed above. When the resulting overwrite bit sequence is written on the storage surface, the effect is to record either the original coded input bit sequence, or the complement of this bit sequence, depending on particular operating parameters. This result is independent of the bit values of the old data which is overwritten, and hence erasing of old data is not required.
In a development of the above overwrite techniques, our copending European Patent Application No. 02405541.0, filed 27 Jun. 2002, discloses systems which enable overwriting to be achieved with reduced power consumption. These systems use an initial coding stage in which the number d is 2, and the higher recorded bit density permitted by this coding is then specifically exploited. Overwrite sequences are generated and written on the storage surface, with a bit spacing such that writing a pit at a bit position can erase an existing pit within d neighboring bit positions. The process for generating the overwrite sequences again ensures that the result of an overwrite operation is to record either the original coded input bit sequence, or its complement, regardless of the bit values of the data overwritten.

Data overwriting in probe-based data storage devices


A motor control device includes a dq-axis current control unit for generating a dq-axis voltage reference based on a dq-axis current reference and a dq-axis current signal, an initial magnetic pole position estimation unit for estimating a magnetic pole position of the motor upon power-on to generate a magnetic pole position signal, and a magnetic pole position estimation precision confirming unit for supplying a current in a d-axis direction after generation of the magnetic pole position signal with the initial magnetic pole position estimation unit, and checking an error of the magnetic pole position signal based on an angle of movement of the motor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a motor control device and a magnetic pole position estimation precision confirming method, which can confirm magnetic pole position estimation precision.
2. Description of Related Art
Motor control devices need to supply a drive current in accordance with a motor's magnetic pole position at the time of driving a motor. The magnetic pole position is detected using a magnetic pole position sensor such as a hole device attached to the motor. If the motor is not provided with such a magnetic pole position sensor, the motor control device needs to estimate the magnetic pole position in any way.
For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-088166 discloses a motor control device equipped with an initial magnetic pole position estimation unit, in which the initial magnetic pole position estimation unit estimates a magnetic pole position of a motor upon power-on to determine an initial magnetic pole position and subsequently derives an estimated magnetic pole position from a position signal of an encoder and an initial estimated magnetic pole position.
The initial magnetic pole position estimation unit includes a position reference waveform generating unit for generating a 2-period, S-shaped position reference pattern, a dq mode determination unit for determining whether a waveform pattern corresponds to a first period (q-axis control mode) or a second period (d-axis control mode), a position reference monotonic increase determination unit for identifying a portion that exhibits a monotonic increase in position reference pattern of the q-axis mode, a position reference monotonic increase determination unit for identifying a portion that exhibits a monotonic increase in position reference pattern of the d-axis mode, and an initial magnetic pole position correcting unit for adding data about a default initial magnetic pole position and data about an arbitrarily estimated initial magnetic pole position to obtain a final corrected initial magnetic pole position.
Further, the above motor control device issues any position reference and checks whether positional adjustment is completed within a predetermined period in order to confirm magnetic pole position precision after the completion of magnetic pole position estimation. In this way, the device confirms magnetic pole position precision.

Motor control device and magnetic pole position estimation precision confirming method


An air conditioning system, including a condenser for condensing a refrigerant, a first expansion device for throttling the refrigerant passed through the condenser, a second expansion device for throttling the refrigerant passed through the first expansion device, an evaporator for evaporating the refrigerant passed through the second expansion device, a compressor for compressing the refrigerant passed through the evaporator and the refrigerant injected after branched between the first expansion device and the second expansion device, and a control unit for detecting a value of at least one operating parameter and determining a target opening degree of the first expansion device on the basis of a stored set value corresponding to the detected value of the operating parameter.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an air conditioning system, and more particularly, to an air conditioning system, which can improve the performance and stability of the system.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Generally, an air conditioning system is a device for cooling or heating an indoor space by performing compression, condensation, expansion and evaporation of a refrigerant.
The air conditioning systems are classified into a normal air conditioner including an outdoor unit and an indoor unit connected to the outdoor unit and a multi-type air conditioner including an outdoor unit and a plurality of indoor units connected to the outdoor unit. Moreover, the air conditioning systems are classified into a cooling air conditioner supplying a cool air only to an indoor space by driving a refrigerant cycle in one direction only and a cooling and heating air conditioner supplying a cool or hot air to an indoor space by driving a refrigerant cycle selectively and bi-directionally.
The air conditioning system includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator. The refrigerant discharged from the compressor is condensed in the condenser, and then expands in the expansion valve. The expanded refrigerant is evaporated in the evaporator, and then sucked into the compressor. IN a cooling operation or heating operation, a gaseous refrigerant is injected into the compressor, thus improving performance.
However, the air conditioning system according to the related art has the problem that the system may become unstable and damage to the compressor or the like may occur if not controlled properly.


This invention discloses an integrated process of alkylation of olefins and regeneration of spent sulfuric acid. The alkylation of olefins may be replaced by nitration of toluene or by chlor-alkali process. The sulfuric acid is used as a catalyst or a absorbent, and the spent sulfuric acid is regenerated in situ and is recycled in the alkylation of olefins, nitration of toluene or chlor-alkali processes.

In a commercial alkylation plant, for example, acid is used as catalyst to produce gasoline by the alkylation of C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 olefins and alkanes. The catalytic acids include sulfuric acid, hydrogen fluoride, and solid acid. Only sulfuric acid and hydrogen fluoride are commercialized nowadays. Because hydrogen fluoride is very toxic, hydrogen fluoride is gradually being phased out in the alkylation process. The most popular catalyst used to manufacture gasoline from the alkylation of C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 olefins and alkanes is concentrated sulfuric acid. The ratio of sulfuric acid to organic compounds in the alkylation reaction vessel is 0.1.about.0.3, so the amount of concentrated sulfuric acid required in the alkylation process is very large. In general, producing one ton of gasoline makes 0.1 ton spent sulfuric acid. If ten thousands barrels of gasoline are produced a day, one hundred tons of spent sulfuric acid are produced. Such a large amount of spent sulfuric acid can not be cast away or stored, it must be treated in advance. Based on the above description, the key point of alkylation is the treatment or regeneration of the spent sulfuric acid in refinery site and in situ reuse in the alkylation unit, i.e. an integrated process of the combination of alkylation and regeneration.
A lot of products of alkylation processes using sulfuric acid as catalyst were raised by L. F. Albright and A. R. Goldsby, "Industrial and Laboratory alkylations" in ACS symposium series 55, p.91, Washington, D.C., 1977, as shown in Table 1.
TABLE 1 ______________________________________ Composition of alkylates obtained over H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 hydrocarbons composition ratio ______________________________________ isopentane -- n-pentane -- C.sub.5 8.9 2,3-dimethylbutane 4.7 2-methylpentane 1.1 3-methylpentane 0.4 C.sub.6 6.2 2,2,3-trimethylbutane 0.2 2,2-dimethylpentane 0.2 2,4-dimethylpentane total 2-methylhexane 3.4 3-methylhexane 0.3 2,3-dimethylpentane 2.3 C.sub.7 6.4 2,2,4-trimethylpentane 24.3 2,2,3-trimethylpentane 1.2 2,3,3-trimethylpentane 12.3 2,3,4-trimethylpentane 13.0 2,2-dimethylpentane 0.2 2,3-dimethylpentane total 2,4-dimethylpentane 3.0 2,5-dimethylpentane 6.6 3,4-dimethylpentane 0.4 C.sub.8 61.0 c.sub.9 and higher 17.5 ______________________________________
The organic products may reside in the sulfuric acid to form said organic impurities, and the water contained in the raw material of alkylation or generated during alkylation may accumulate in the sulfuric acid, so the spent sulfuric acid must be regenerated to remove both the organic impurities and the water.
In order to treat the spent sulfuric acid in a commercial alkylation plant, a sulfuric acid plant is usually set up. The procedure of the treatment of sulfuric acid is described as following. First of all, spent sulfuric acid, air, and fuel are sent into the combustion chamber to burn out the organic impurities and sulfuric acid into SO.sub.2, SO.sub.3, CO.sub.2, H.sub.2 O and ashes, etc. After drying the gases from the combustion chamber, the dried gases are purified to remove impurities and ashes in order to get pure SO.sub.2. The SO.sub.2 gas reacts with air or oxygen to convert to SO.sub.3 at high temperature using V.sub.2 O.sub.5, etc. as catalyst. The SO.sub.3 gas is absorbed twice by water to get concentrated sulfuric acid. The operation of producing sulfuric acid in commercial process is very difficult and the costs of both equipment and operation are very expensive, because the complexity of the process, the corrosion of equipment at high temperature, and the presence of different impurities in the spent catalyst.
From the above description, there are some disadvantages using the traditionally commercialized process to treat the spent sulfuric acid: (1) To recover the regenerated sulfuric acid, several stages including in this process; combustion, purification, oxidation, purification again, and absorption have to be carried out on the spent sulfuric acid. The whole process is very complicated. (2) The corrosive compound is treated at very high temperature, so special material has to be chosen to construct the reactor, etc. (3) Based on the descriptions of (1) and (2), the costs of both equipment and operation are very expensive obviously. (4) Very large amounts of waste water, waste gas, and ashes are produced during the recovery process. Additional investment has to be funded to the facilities of retreatment for the waste materials. The additional investment is substantial. So, the traditionally commercialized process for the recovery of sulfuric acid from the spent catalyst of alkylation is very complicated and expensive.
Process for alkylation of alkanes and olefins in the presence of sulfuric acid as catalyst are well known and widely practiced on a commercial scale. Sulfuric acid reacts with hydrocarbons in such alkylation process to form organic impurities or by-products, dialkyl sulfates,acid alkyl sulfates and acid oils. The major portion of such by-products remains in the acid catalyst phase upon separation of an alkylation reaction zone effluent into a hydrocarbon effluent phase and a catalyst phase. In commercial alkylation processes, the hydrocarbon effluent is subjected to traditional distillation column for recovery of unreacted alkanes, olefins and alkylated hydrocarbon product. The unreacted alkanes or olefins are commonly recycled to the alkylation reactor for maintaining the ratio of isoparaffin to olefin above about 2.0. In a typical alkylation process, isoparaffins and olefins in the liquid phase are contacted with concentrated sulfuric acid of approximately 98% strength. The hydrocarbon and acid phases are separated and the acid is reused. The formation of by-products and the accumulation of water make the sulfuric acid be less strength. During repeated use in the processes, the acid becomes spent when the concentration of the acid falls to 85% to 90% concentration, it is necessary to withdraw the spent acid and supply fresh acid to the reaction zone. The spent acid is an approximately standardized material which varies but very little in composition between different alkylation plants. Although its composition is not precisely known, "spent alkylation sulfuric acid" is well-known in the industry by that name and those skilled in the art are well aware of its identity and characteristics as shown in Table 1. The data in Table 1 is a typical example.
Our previous U.S. Pat. No. 5,547,655 disclosed and claimed a method for the regeneration of spent alkylation sulfuric acid which comprises treating the acid in a vessel and removing organic impurities and water simultaneously through the active intermediates generated by heat, photolysis and electrolysis.
The present invention, the alkylation of alkanes and olefins can be carried out by using in situ regenerated spent sulfuric acid. The concentration of sulfuric acid in the alkylation zone can be kept at an almost constant level, such as 93%, 94% or any desired concentration between 90% to 98%, by the recycle regenerated sulfuric acid stream from the spent sulfuric acid regenerator. Based on the economic consideration the spent sulfuric acid concentration in the conventional process is about 90% or below 90% since the spent sulfuric acid is just a waste material and a sulfur resource of a sulfuric acid plant.
Economically, the best operating acid strength of the spent acid to discard is about 90% in a conventional alkylation process. However, both the quality and research octane number of gasoline from alkylation process are better by using a higher concentration sulfuric acid as catalyst raised by L. F. Albright and A. R. Goldsby, "Industrial and Laboratory Alkylations" in ACS symposium series 55, P.272, Washington, D.C., 1977. The combination of alkylation unit and regeneration unit makes this alkylation process be a higher efficiency and better gasoline quality integrated process. The acid regeneration can be done in refinery.
Based on the previous description and our previous invention, both the organic material and water can be removed simultaneously from the spent sulfuric acid in the presence or absence of other species, such as free radical, anion, cation, molecules and any other possible species.
The invention described above can be applied to a system containing sulfuric acid, organic material, water and nitric acid which is generated from a nitration process to produce mono-nitrotoluene (MNT), dinitrotoluene (DNT) and trinitrotoluene (TNT). In this process, concentrated H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 is a catalyst while nitric acid is one of the reactants. In general, a nitration process to produce TNT contains three stages. The organic compounds and water content in the spent nitrating mixture of H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 and HNO.sub.3 from the different stages are different. However, both the organic compounds as well as water can be removed simultaneously from any type of these three stages. Accordingly, an integrated process of nitration of spent acid can be developed obviously.
The chlor-alkali industry is an important process to produce chlorine gas as well as caustic soda. The chlorine gas from anolyte contains saturated humidity. Dried chlorine gas or liquid is the largest industrial product manufactured by electrolysis. The drying of wet chlorine gas is performed widely by passing the Net chlorine gas through the concentrated H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 to absorb the water. In general, the fresh sulfuric acid (98% by weight) was charged to the drying tower and the spent sulfuric acid is discarded at about 70% H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 and 30% H.sub.2 O. The efficiency of water absorption by a 70% H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 strength will be low. Furthermore, the spent sulfuric acid, in general, is discarded and treated by neutrulization or combustion process which is polluted and uneconomical. A continuous in situ integrated process for the regeneration of sulfuric acid from a drying tower of chlor-alkali process and recycling the regenerated sulfuric acid as an absorbant of water to the drying tower which comprises the steps of:
(a)withdrawing from a drying tower a liquid effluent comprising a sulfuric acid and water mixture, and a trace or very small amount of chlorine. PA1 (b)passing said liquid effluent into a regenerator maintained at a mild conditions having a temperature from -20.degree. C. to 250.degree. C. and pressure from one to 20 atms wherein said water reacts with active intermediates generated by electricity such that water decomposes and is removed. PA1 (c)recovering a totally or a substantially water free sulfuric acid from said regenerator and recycling the same to said drying tower. PA1 (1)withdrawing from an alkylation reactor an alkylation effluent comprising an olefinic hydrocarbon--sulfuric acid mixture, gas and liquid hydrocarbons. PA1 (2)introducing said alkylation effluent into a separator or settler wherein said effluent is separated into a gaseous hydrocarbon portion, liquid hydrocarbon portion, and sulfuric acid-olefinic hydrocarbon and water portion; PA1 (3)passing said sulfuric acid-olefinic hydrocarbon and water portion of said effluent to a regenerator maintained at a mild conditions having a temperature from -50.degree. to 250.degree. C. and pressure from one to 20 atms wherein both said organic impurities and water react with active intermediates generated by electricity such that both said organic impurities and water are removed simultaneously; PA1 (4)passing said hydrocarbon portions liquid and gaseous of step(2) to a fractionator; PA1 (5)recovering a totally or a substantially organic impurities and water free sulfuric acid from said regenerator and recycling the same to said alkylation unit.

Integrated process using in situ regenerated sulfuric acid as catalyst