An apparatus and method for making a gradient gel. The present invention in one embodiment is a gel-making system that has a reservoir for holding a solution. The reservoir is connected to a movable arm through a tubing. The tubing has two ends: one end is in fluid communication with the reservoir; and the other, an open end, is received by the movable arm. A gel holder having an internal gel chamber is placed underneath the movable arm for receiving the solution. In operation, the movement of the movable arm causes the open end of the tubing to move along with it and the open end of the tubing delivers the solution in motion to the internal gel chamber to form the gel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention comprises an apparatus and method for making a gradient gel, and more particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method of using a movable dispensing device to form a uniform linear gradient across a wide gel that provides more than twenty sample lanes so that more than forty samples can be analyzed simultaneously with a conventional dual-gel electrophoretic chamber.
2. Background Art
Sixty to seventy five percent of the cholesterol in blood is associated with low density lipoproteins (xe2x80x9cLDLxe2x80x9d) which consist of a non-homogeneous mixture of spherical particles ranging widely in particle size (23-28 nm), buoyant density and chemical composition. Using a non-denaturing 2-16% polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis, researchers have noted that individuals with a high-risk lipid profile were most likely to have primarily small, dense LDL particles, as discussed in the paper xe2x80x9cGenetic control of low density lipoprotein subclasses,xe2x80x9d Austin et al., Lancet 2: 592-595(3)(1986). In a case-control study of men and women with documented myocardial infarction (MI) published in the paper xe2x80x9cLow-density lipoprotein subclass patterns and risk of myocardial infarction,xe2x80x9d Austin et al., J. Amer. Med. Assoc. 260: 1917-1921(4) (1988), it was reported that LDL phenotype B, the LDL subclass pattern characterized by a preponderance of small dense LDL particles, was associated with a 3-fold increased risk of MI. This association remained significant after adjustment for age, sex and relative weight. It has also been suggested that there may be a major genetic determinant for this LDL phenotype as in the paper xe2x80x9cInheritance of Low-density lipoprotein subclass patterns: results of complex segregation analysis,xe2x80x9d Austin et al., Am J Hum Genet 73: 838-876 (5) (1988). Whether or not the relationship between LDL phenotype and CAD is independent of other risk factors such LDLc, HDLc or TRIG is still unclear.
High density lipoproteins (HDL) are responsible for the reverse transport of cholesterol from peripheral tissues back to the liver. Data from the paper xe2x80x9cAltered particle size distribution of apoA-I-containing lipoproteins in subjects with coronary artery disease,xe2x80x9d Cheung et al., J. Lipid Res. 32: 383-397 (1991), and the paper xe2x80x9cCharacterization of human high density lipoproteins by gradient gel electrophoresis,xe2x80x9d Johansson et al, Biochim Biophys Acta 665: 708-719 (1991), would suggest that patients with documented CAD may have altered HDL particle size distribution when compared to that observed in non-CAD controls. In these studies, the heterogeneity of plasma HDL was assessed using a non-denaturing 4-30% polyacrylamide gradient gel first described in the paper xe2x80x9cCharacterization of human high density lipoproteins by gradient gel electrophoresis,xe2x80x9d Blanche et al., Biochim Biophys Acta 665: 708-719 (1981).
A major impediment to large prospective studies of lipoprotein particle size distribution has been the unavailability of an efficient and reproducible method that can allow the determination of particle diameters for cholesterol-rich lipoproteins. This is mainly because high quality pre-cast gradient gels used in the earlier studies are no longer available commercially. The paper xe2x80x9cProduction of polyacrylamide gradient gels for the electrophoretic resolution of lipoproteins,xe2x80x9d Rainwater et al., J. Lipid. Res. 33: 1876-1881 (1992), has reported a procedure for the preparation of a 4-30% gradient gel which provides estimates of HDL particle size comparable to those obtained with the PAA 4/30 gel (Pharmacia). In this gradient, however, LDL and larger lipoprotein particles tend to accumulate at the top of the gel, prohibiting the determination of particle size of these lipoproteins. A custom-made 2-16% gradient gel was also described by these investigators for the determination of LDL particle size in the paper xe2x80x9cEffects of diabetes on lipoprotein size,xe2x80x9d Singh et al., Arterioscl. Thromb. Vasc. Biol. 15: 1805-1811 (1995). Except for Gambert et al., who used lipid staining to visualize the LDL band as disclosed in the paper xe2x80x9cHuman low density lipoprotein fractions separated by gradient gel electrophoresis: Composition, distribution and alterations induced by cholesteryl ester transfer protein,xe2x80x9d J. Lipid. Res. 31: 1199-1210 (1990), most investigators used Coomassie to stain the gels for protein after the electrophoresis. The use of a protein stain typically requires extensive staining and de-staining procedures for the gels after electrophoresis and special handling of the gels during these steps to maintain gel size and shape before scanning. Furthermore, by using a protein stain, many protein bands other than those corresponding to plasma lipoproteins are visible from the electrophoresis of whole plasma.
It is very difficult to make high quality of gradient gels for medical studies and clinic use. In the casting of the typical gradient gels, as shown in Rainwater et al. paper, the polyacrylamide solutions are commonly allowed to flow into a gel chamber from a stationary dispensing tip which is typically placed at the center of the gel. However, as the polyacrylamide solution flows from the dispensing tip to the sides of the plate, a secondary gradient is formed across the width of the gel resulting in lower gel concentrations toward the edges because of the diffusion of the solution. In order to reduce this diffusion effect, only narrow gels with 6-8 lanes across have been available to-date although a typical gel chamber is capable of having gels with up to 20 or more lanes. Moreover, uneven gradients and disturbances in the process of gel making due to the diffusion still exist even in the narrow gels.
Definitions
A number abbreviations used in this application for some frequently used technical terms are defined as the following:
The term xe2x80x9cS-GGExe2x80x9d as used herein shall refer to a segmental gradient gel electrophoresis.
The term xe2x80x9cS-GGE 2.8/8.30xe2x80x9d as used herein shall refer to a 2.8/8.30 segmental gradient gel electrophoresis with a 2-8% gradient stacked above an 8-30% gradient.
The term xe2x80x9cLIPOPROTEINxe2x80x9d as used herein shall refer to a class of plasma proteins that are complexed to lipids.
The term xe2x80x9cTRIGxe2x80x9d as used herein shall refer to triglycerides.
The term xe2x80x9cCHOLxe2x80x9d as used herein shall refer to cholesterol.
The term xe2x80x9cLDLxe2x80x9d as used herein shall refer to low density lipoproteins.
The term xe2x80x9cHDLxe2x80x9d as used herein shall refer to high density lipoproteins.
The term xe2x80x9cLp(a)xe2x80x9d as used herein shall refer to lipoprotein(a) which consist of one LDL particle complexed to one apo(a) particle.
The term xe2x80x9cLpBxe2x80x9d as used herein shall refer to apob-containing lipoproteins.
The term xe2x80x9cLDLcxe2x80x9d as used herein shall refer to LDL-cholesterol.
The term xe2x80x9cHDLcxe2x80x9d as used herein shall refer to HDL-cholesterol.
The term xe2x80x9cLpA-Ixe2x80x9d as used herein shall refer to apoA-I containing lipoproteins.
The term xe2x80x9cLpA-I/A-IIxe2x80x9d as used herein shall refer to lipoproteins containing both apoA-I and apoA-II.
The present invention provides a new apparatus and method for making a uniform gel including a uniform, continuous gradient gel in many lanes occupying up to the capacity of a gel chamber. Moreover, the present invention can be practiced to produce a segmental gradient gel that would provide optimal conditions for the simultaneous characterization of LDL, Lp(a) and remnant lipoproteins (2-8% gradient) and HDL subclasses (8-30% gradient) from whole plasma. Additionally, the present invention allows the bands corresponding to all of the major lipid-carrying particles to be visualized without any handling of the gel. The present invention can also be practiced to make several gradient gels simultaneously. In sum, the present invention offers a new, better, and efficient gel making apparatus and method.
The present invention in one embodiment is a gel-making system that has a reservoir for holding a solution. The reservoir is connected to a movable arm through a tubing. The tubing has two ends: one end is in fluid communication with the reservoir; and the other, an open end, is received by the movable arm. A gel holder having an internal gel chamber is placed underneath the movable arm for receiving the solution. In operation, the movement of the movable arm causes the open end of the tubing to move along with it and the open end of the tubing delivers the solution in motion to the internal gel chamber to form the gel.
In order to make a gradient gel, normally two solutions with different concentrations are used. Accordingly, one embodiment of the present invention employs a gradient maker that consists of a reservoir having a first container and a second container. The first container holds a first solution and the second container holds a second solution. A channel connects the first container and the second container with an outlet connected to the second container and in communication with the channel so that a fluid of the first solution and the second solution is formed at the outlet. A tubing having a first end and a second end connects to the outlet with the first end. The second end of the tubing is received by a movable arm and moves along with the movable arm. A gel holder with an internal gel chamber is placed underneath the movable arm for receiving the fluid, where the chamber has a longitudinal axis. The movable arm moves back and forth along the longitudinal axis so that the second end of the tubing delivers the fluid in motion in the gel chamber to form the gradient gel. In a linear gradient gel the bottom of the gel has a higher concentration and the top of the gel has a lower concentration.
A linear gradient gel can be formed from more than two solutions. In another embodiment of the present invention, a reservoir has a plurality of containers holding a plurality of solutions. Each container holds one solution and communicates with at least one neighboring container. An outlet is connected to at least one container to communicate with the containers so that a fluid of at least two solutions from the plurality of solutions is formed at the outlet. A tubing, having a first end and a second end, is connected to (and is in fluid communication with) the outlet through the first end. A movable arm receives the second end of the tubing and causes the second end of the tubing to move along with it. A gel holder with an internal gel chamber is placed underneath the movable arm for receiving the fluid, where the chamber has a longitudinal axis. The movable arm moves back and forth along the longitudinal axis of the chamber so that the fluid is transferred from the first end to the second end of the tubing and then is delivered in the chamber by the second end of the tubing in motion to form the gradient gel.
In gel making, approximately two hours are required for the gel solution to polymerize and form a solid matrix. One advantage of the present invention is that several highly uniform gradient gels can be made simultaneously. In one embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of reservoirs are utilized. Each of them has a first container and a second container, where the first container holds a first solution and the second container holds a second solution. A channel connects the first container and the second container. Moreover, an outlet is connected to the second container and communicates with the channel. Consequently, a fluid of the first solution and the second solution is formed at the outlet of this particular reservoir. Thus, a plurality of fluids are formed at the plurality of the outlets of the plurality of the reservoirs. Furthermore, a plurality of tubings, each having a first end and a second end, connect in a one to one relationship to the plurality of reservoirs through the connection of the second end of a tubing to the outlet of a reservoir. A movable arm carries at least a plurality of the second ends of the plurality of the tubings. And a plurality of gel holders are positioned in parallel thereby defining a longitudinal axis. Each of the gel holders has an internal gel chamber for receiving the fluid from one of the plurality of the second ends. When the movable arm moves back and forth along the longitudinal axis, each second end of the tubings delivers one of the fluids in motion into one gel chamber to form one gradient gel. As a result, a plurality of the gradient gels are produced.
In order to make an uniform gradient gel, the movable arm moves at a substantially constant rate of motion. While other mechanisms may be used, one embodiment of the present invention uses a motor to drive the movable arm. One advantage of using the motor driving mechanism is that by adjusting the speed of the motor, the rate of motion of the movable arm can be selected. In order to ensure that the same gel concentration is present across the width of the gel, the rate of motion of the moveable arm is adjusted and set according to the width of the gel and the rate of flow of the solution from the reservoir into the gel chamber. For instance, for a wider gel, the rate of motion should be increased to cover a greater distance in the same interval of time. Also, the height of the reservoir relative to the gel chamber can affect the flow rate, which can be readily taken into account when setting the rate of motion of the movable arm. According to the preferred embodiment, the movable arm has an internally threaded bore and the motor controls the motion of the movable arm through a shaft. The shaft has an elongated body with an external thread on the elongated body. The shaft has a longitudinal axis and is rotatable around its longitudinal axis. The shaft can rotate around the longitudinal axis either in clockwise direction or counter-clockwise direction, and the direction of rotation of the shaft is changeable from clockwise to counter clockwise, or vice versa. The external thread on the elongated body is adapted to mate with the movable arm through the internally threaded bore. The shaft operatively connects to the motor. Thus, when the motor causes the shaft to rotate around its longitudinal axis, the movable arm moves along the longitudinal axis because the mating mechanism of the external thread of the shaft with the internally threaded bore of the movable arm. Because the shaft can rotate around the longitudinal axis either in clockwise direction or counter-clockwise direction, the movable arm is able to move along the longitudinal axis both forward and backward. A switching mechanism may be used to control the direction of the rotation of the shaft.
The movable arm in turn receives an open end of the tubing, which connects with the reservoir at the other end, the open end moving with the movable arm. To do so, the movable arm has means for holding at least a portion of the tubing proximate to the open end of the tubing so that at least the open end of the tubing moves along with the movable arm. In one embodiment of the present invention, the holding means is an opening sized to allow the open end of the tubing to pass through but hold at least the portion of the tubing proximate to the open end of the tubing therein. The movable arm may have several openings at different locations to allow several gels to be made simultaneously, or to give a user freedom to set up the user""s devices. The openings can also have different sizes to accommodate tubings with different sizes. Alternatively, other holding means, including a clamping device normally used in laboratories such as a clamp, can be used to associate the tubing with the moveable arm.
The tubing is made from a flexible material so that it can move along with the movable arm easily without impeding the flow of the fluid within the tubing. Many materials can be used. In one embodiment of the present invention, tubings made from Manosie silicone rubber by VWR Scientific Products Corporation, located at Willard, Ohio are used. In use, the tubing transfers fluid from the reservoir and delivers the fluid in motion at a substantially constant rate of flow. The tubing may deliver the fluid through a dispensing tip. Or, the fluid can be delivered simply through an open end of the tubing.
Solutions to make a linear gradient gel normally are polyacrylamide solutions. These solutions can be identified as high concentration polyacrylamide solution, medium concentration polyacrylamide solution and low concentration polyacrylamide solution. For a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a solution according to a mixing ratio of a 2.3 g acrylamide and 0.1 g N,Nxe2x80x2-methylene-bis-acrylamide in 100 ml of borate buffer is regarded as a low concentration polyacrylarnide solution (2.4%), a solution according to a mixing ratio of a 10.24 g acrylamide and 0.43 g N,Nxe2x80x2-methylenebis-acrylamide in 100 ml of borate buffer is regarded as a medium concentration polyacrylamide solution (10.67%), and a solution according to a mixing ratio of a 38.4 g of acrylamide and 1.6 g N,Nxe2x80x2-methylene-bis-acrylamide in 100 ml of borate buffer is regarded as a high concentration polyacrylamide solution (40%).
These solutions have been used successfully in the present invention to produce high quality segmental linear gradient gels, namely, a 2-8% continuous linear gradient gel and a 8-30% continuous linear gradient gel. In doing so in one embodiment of the present invention, a commercial gradient maker with a container A and a container B, such as a Hoefer GS 100, purchased from Hoefer Scientific Instr., San Francisco, Calif. is loaded with solutions. Container A and container B connect to each other through a channel. An outlet connects to the container B and communicates with the channel so that a mixed fluid of the first solution and the second solution is formed at the outlet. For this embodiment, the higher concentration of solution is always in container B. To make a 8-30% linear gradient gel, a high concentration of polyacrylamide is in container B and a medium concentration of polyacrylamide is in container A. A tubing transfers the mixed fluid of the high concentration of polyacrylamide and the medium concentration of polyacrylamide from the outlet to a dispensing tip. The dispensing tip can be a separate device. Or an open end of the tubing can function as the dispensing tip. A movable arm receives the dispensing tip. A gel holder having an internal gel chamber with a longitudinal axis is placed underneath the dispensing tip. The motion of the movable arm along the longitudinal axis causes the dispensing tip to move along with movable arm and the dispensing tip delivers the fluid in motion in the gel chamber. Because the motion of the movable arm can be controlled at a substantially constant rate, the fluid can be evenly delivered throughout the gel chamber. Moreover, because the movable arm is capable of traveling the length of the gel chamber, the solution is delivered directly to the gel chamber xe2x80x9con-the-spot.xe2x80x9d Thus, a secondary gradient resulting from the diffusion of the solution from the dispensing tip to the edge of the gel is not formed. After a proper curing period, a uniform, high quality 8-30% gradient gel is produced. Since in the segmental linear gradient gel a second gel (2-8% segment) must be poured on top of the first gel (8-30% segment), the volume of the solutions is controlled so that the 8-30% gradient gel occupies half space of the gel chamber. As people skilled in the art appreciate, the exact volumes to be placed in the reservoir can be calculated from the dimension of the gel chamber before hand. Furthermore, the entire gel making process according to the present invention can be automated by placing the right volumes of the solutions in the reservoir. The gel is poured to completion until the reservoir is emptied.
The containers A and B are subsequently filled with a medium concentration of polyacrylamide (in container B) and a low concentration of polyacrylamide (in container A) to make a 2-8% gradient gel. The above process is then repeated. And a uniform 2-8% gradient gel is formed on top of the 8-30% gradient gel. As a result, a segmental linear gel consisting of two continuous linear gradients is formed, which can then be used for the simultaneous determination of the diameters of LDL and HDL from whole plasma. The matching of the concentrations at the interface of the two linear gradients in this embodiment provides a continuous transition between the two linear gradients.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, two or more gradient makers, each with two containers A and B, can be used to simultaneously make two or more gradient gels in two or more gel chambers. Therefore, practicing the present invention is economic and efficient, in addition to the advantages of making better continuous gradient gels.
In an additional further embodiment of the present invention, multiple linear gradients can be stacked on top of another to allow optimal separation of the macromolecules of interest. For example, the present invention can be practiced to make a linear gradient gel with three segments. Similarly, gels having other concentration gradients can also be made.
Other objects, advantages and uses for the present invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the remainder of this document.

Method of making a gradient gel with a movable dispensing tip

Clinical Laboratory Development Group, Inc.


This disclosure describes, in part, techniques for automated integration between services provided by a service provider. The techniques described herein employ classifiers to determine whether items offered for sale by a merchant are services or goods. A service-identification model may receive names of items as inputs, and be trained or otherwise configured to output indications of whether the names of the items correspond to services. In some examples, the names of the items which correspond to services may further be input into a duration-identification model, which is trained or otherwise configured to determine periods of time required by the merchant to perform the services. The techniques described herein may include populating user interfaces, such as a merchant website, with indications of the services, as well as periods of time to perform the services, that customers may interact with to schedule appointments with the merchant.

Merchants conduct transactions with customers for various types of items (e.g., goods, services, etc.) at physical establishments or locations of the merchants. Often, to provide customers with options to purchase items using varying payment instruments, merchants register with a service provider for use of a payment-processing service to process customer transactions on behalf of the merchants. As merchants continue to expand their business and/or services, these merchants may require additional services provided by the service provider. For instance, merchants may register with the service provider for use of an appointments service which provides electronic avenues for customers to schedule appointments to receive services provided by the merchants. While the amount of services provided by a service provider to merchants increases the capabilities of the merchants and satisfaction of both the merchants and their customers, merchants and/or customers may experience various difficulties when integrating data between services provided by the service provider.


A system comprising structures connected to the rider of human-powered vehicles improves the force a rider may apply to the vehicle. The elements are primarily connected to the lower body and legs of the rider, with attachment to the rider's shoes, whereby a two-dimensional four-bar linkage is formed. Use of the system may permit a rider to go faster or farther with less effort. An optional novel shoe may be used with or without the other elements of the system.

Bicycles are a popular and efficient form of transportation, with a long history of invention and improvement. Many communities are developing an ever-growing matrix of bike paths, encouraging people to ride a bike to work as a way to both improve health and lower greenhouse gas generation. As bike riding has become more popular, so too has physical training and conditioning to improve one's bike riding performance. There are many products now available to measure a rider's performance, intended to provide motivation to perform better and/or improve conditioning, which may lead to better performance. There are many bike riding accessories and improvements in equipment to provide somewhat better performance. In some cases such equipment may not be permitted during competition but are used by riders to improve their performance when not using the equipment. Such equipment may be of interest to those that do not compete simply to improve their experience, perhaps enabling them to ride farther or faster than they otherwise may be able to do.

System for improving the power delivered by a rider to a peddle-operated vehicle


A fire extinguishing agent may include a foam and at least one inert gas combined with the foam. A method of extinguishing a fire including a burning metal and/or a burning metal compound and also including a burning plastic material and/or a burning paper material may include combining a foam and at least one inert gas to form a fire extinguishing agent, and applying the fire extinguishing agent to the fire.

Many metals and metal compounds are flammable. When ignited, a metal may act as the fire's fuel and may be oxidized by a number of elements and/or compounds. Most metals prone to ignite may produce fires of extremely high temperatures and may be difficult to extinguish. The classification for fires involving metals and/or metal compounds are commonly known as "Class D" fires. Examples of these metals include, but are not limited to, lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, francium, beryllium, titanium, uranium, and plutonium. Some metal compounds, such as, for example, alkyllithiums, Grignards and diethyizinc, are pyrophoric organometalic reagents. Most pyrophoric organometalic reagents may burn at high temperatures and may react violently with, for example, water, air, and/or other chemicals.
Because these materials react to produce extremely high temperature fires and are natural catalysts, they have the ability to extract oxidizers from their surrounding environment and/or from compounds normally used as fire extinguishing agents. These oxidizing agents are not necessarily oxygen-containing compounds. Many metals, such as, for example, magnesium, sodium, lithium, and potassium, once ignited, will burn in, for example, gases containing nitrogen, chlorine, fluorine, sulfur, and/or sulfur. The gases may disassociate common fire extinguishing agents, such as, for example, carbon dioxide and Halon® to free radicals needed to support their combustion.
One example of how reactive these metals are is demonstrated by the modern aircraft flare. This type of flare is not compounded from traditional oxidizers such as potassium nitrate or potassium chlorate, which are rich in oxygen, but are in fact a mixture of finely powdered magnesium and Teflon®. Teflon® is considered to be one of the least reactive materials known to man and contains no oxygen. Once ignited, however, Teflon® decomposes to release fluorine, which acts as its oxidizing agent. The reaction tends to be more vigorous and tends to produce temperatures hotter than would be possible with oxygen.
When water comes into contact with some of these metals, such as, for example, lithium, sodium, potassium, and magnesium, hydrogen gas is dissociated from the water and a hydroxide radical is formed. The hydrogen gas formed by this reaction is a very combustible gas and may be often ignited by heat generated by the decomposing metal/water reaction. In such reactions, a dangerous situation may result if certain chemicals used in fire extinguishers are applied to certain types (e.g., classes) of fires. In fact, some dangerous situations are sometimes associated with the above reactions. For example, some fire fighting training manuals include warnings such as, for example, the following warning: "It is vital to know what type of extinguisher you are using. Using the wrong type of extinguisher for the wrong type of fire can be life-threatening."
When metals and/or metal compounds are shipped from one location to another, they may often be shipped in containers and/or on pallets with other types of freight, such as, for example, plastic parts and/or paper boxes. The resulting mixture of freight types, if involved in a fire, may likely require different types of fire extinguishing agents in order to effectively extinguish the different classes of fires (e.g., Class A, Class B, and/or Class D fires).
Fire extinguishing agents sometimes used to safely extinguish Class D fires (e.g., those types of fires sometimes associated with metals and/or metal compounds) may not be desirable for extinguishing other classes of fires. As a result, such agents may require adherence to special procedures for effective use, such as the following procedure for using an agent sold under the trade name, "Purple K®": "Apply the dry powder. Completely cover the burning metal with a thin layer of powder. Once control is established, take a position that is in close range. Throttle the stream with the nozzle valve to produce a soft, heavy flow. Cover the metal completely with a heavy layer of powder. Be careful not to break the crust formed by the powder. Slowly open the nozzle of the extinguisher."
When shipping a mixture of types of freight (e.g., metals and/or metal compounds, plastic materials, and/or paper boxes), however, it may not be possible to follow such rules, for example, because it may not be practical to orient the freight in a manner where freight containing metals and/or metal compounds would be positioned in such a way to allow the fire extinguishing agent (e.g., fire extinguishing powder) to cover all exposed sides of that type of freight. For example, if a container of metallic sodium were shipped, it might be loaded high on or in the middle of a built-up pallet load of other freight contained in cardboard boxes. As the cardboard boxes burn during a fire, the freight load might constantly shift and thereby re-expose the burning sodium following coverage with extinguishing powder. Further, because of sodium's low melting point, the sodium might simply melt and run out from under the powdered agent.
Freight shipments sometimes referred to as "Hazardous Freight" shipments may often include a mixture of types of materials. As a result, if such a freight shipment were to catch fire, it might generate various classes of fires (e.g., Class A, Class B, and/or Class D fires). No single conventional fire extinguishing agent, however, exists that is desirable for extinguishing all such classes of fires. In most situations, for example, attempting to extinguish a mixed class fire, including a Class D fire along with a Class A and/or a Class B fire, may be futile due, for example, to the differing needs of fire extinguishing agents for different fire classes. For example, if active elements such as Halon® and/or one of the known Halon® replacement agents are used to extinguish a Class D fire, a dangerous situation might result.
There may exist a need for a fire extinguishing agent that may be used to effectively and/or safely extinguish a fire including burning metals and/or metal compounds. Further, there may exist a need for a fire extinguishing agent that may be used to effectively and/or safely extinguish a fire including burning metals and/or metal compounds along with other types of burning materials.
The invention may seek to satisfy one or more of the above-mentioned needs. Although the present invention may obviate one or more of the above-mentioned needs, it should be understood that some aspects of the invention might not necessarily obviate them.


A connector mounting structure includes a circuit board, a surface mount connector mounted to the circuit board, and an electronic component. The connector includes a connector body and a plurality of conductive terminals. The connector body has a base portion placed on a front surface of the circuit board and a tube portion. The terminals are disposed in the base portion of the connector body. The tube portion has a first opening portion for partially receiving the circuit board and a second opening portion for communicating with an external device. The electronic component is mounted to a back surface of the circuit board. A space for the electronic component is provided approximately beneath the base portion, between the back surface of the circuit board and the first opening portion of the tube portion.

In a conventional through-hole mounting structure disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,707,678 corresponding to JP-3669224, each terminal of a connector is inserted into a through hole formed in a circuit board. A conductive land is formed on an inner wall of the hole and formed on a front surface of the board around an opening of the hole. The terminal of the connector is soldered to the land in a reflow process so that the connector is electrically and mechanically connected to the circuit board. Thus, the connector is mounted to the front surface of the board. Since the terminal of the connector is exposed to a back surface of the board, other components cannot be mounted to the back surface of the board, directly beneath the through hole. Therefore, the through-hole mounting structure limits circuit density of the circuit board.
In a surface mounting structure disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,866,524 corresponding to JP-2004-206924A, each terminal of a connector is bent along a surface of a circuit board and soldered to a land formed on the surface of the circuit board. The surface mounting structure allows electronic components to be mounted on each side of the circuit board so that high circuit density of the circuit board can be achieved.
In such a mounting structure, the terminal of the connector is soldered to the land formed on the circuit board. To reduce the size of the circuit board, i.e., to improve circuit density of the circuit board, contact area between the terminal and the land is reduced. Therefore, the terminal of the connector must be accurately positioned relative to the land formed on the circuit board in order to ensure connection reliability between the connector and the circuit board.
In the surface mounting structure disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,866,524, the terminal is disposed in a body of the connector and extends from the connector body to the surface of the circuit board. Since the connector body is placed on the circuit board, the length of the terminal is relatively long. Therefore, displacement of the terminal relative to the connector body causes large displacement of the terminal relative to the land formed on the circuit board. It is difficult to ensure the connection reliability between the connector and the circuit board.

Connector mounting structure and electronic apparatus having the same


The present invention eliminates the indexing time of an SOC tester, or at least reduces it to the time delay for an electronic switch to toggle or a mechanical shift to occur between two banks of DUTs to be tested on a DUT load board mounted on a test head.

The present invention relates to devices, systems and methods for testing electronic circuits using automated test equipment, and more particularly to devices, systems and methods for testing systems-on-a-chip (SOC) or other integrated circuits. Manufacturers typically test SOC integrated circuits (ICs) in order to ensure proper functionality and reliability. One system commonly employed to test SOC ICs is the Agilent 93000 SOC Tester, which supports concurrent tests. Portions of the Agilent 93000 SOC tester are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,756,778 to Hirschmann, entitled "Measuring and Calibrating a Test Head"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,541 to Botka et al., entitled "Blind Mate Connector for an Electronic Circuit Tester"; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,552,701 to Veteran et al, entitled "Docking System for an Electronic Circuit Tester".
FIG. 1 shows the Agilent 93000 Tester 100, comprising a test head 110 with a device under test (DUT) interface 120; a manipulator 130 for positioning test head 110; a DUT board 150 that plugs into underlying DUT interface 120; a support rack 140 for supplying test head 110 with electrical power, water cooling and compressed air (not shown) and a computer workstation (not shown) that serves as the user interface to Tester 100. Test head 110 comprises tester electronics and additional analog modules. With current technology, test head 110 may be configured with 512 pins or 1024 pins, but this will likely increase in the future. The 512 pin test head supports 4 card cages while the 1024 pin test head supports 8 card cages. Each card cage may contain 8 digital boards or 8 analog modules, respectively. A single board has 16 pins, making 128 pins per cage. Thus, a 4-cage test head contain 512 pins and an 8-cage test head 1024 pins. During testing, a DUT is mounted on a contactor (not shown) on the DUT board 150, which is connected to the I/O channels by DUT interface 120. DUT interface 120 may comprise high performance coax cabling and spring contact pins or pogo pins, which establish electrical connection with DUT board 120.
DUT interface 120 provides docking capabilities to handlers and wafer probers. The docking mechanism is controlled by compressed air (not shown), and if required may also be operated manually. Test head 110 is usually a water-cooled system and receives its cooling water supply from support rack 140, which in turn is connected by two flexible hoses to the cooling unit (not shown). Manipulator 130 supports and positions test head 110 and provides 6 degrees of freedom for precise and repeatable connections between test head 100 and handlers or wafer probers.
Support rack 140 is attached to manipulator 130 and serves as the interface between test head 110 and an AC power source, cooling water source and compressed air source. Tester 100 may also comprise additional support racks such as analog support racks for installing additional analog instruments.
An HP-UX workstation (not shown) may serve as the interface between the user and tester 100. At the present time, Agilent 93000 SOC Series SmarTest software runs on the HP-UX workstation under the HP-UX operating system, although other suitable operating systems such as Linux or other workstations may certainly be used. SmarTest allows setups and test data to be downloaded to the test system, and further permits editing of such information. All testing is carried out in the test system. Results are read back by the workstation and displayed on the monitor. During test program execution, upload and download are typically not required since the test processors act independently from the workstation once the test program has begun running.
On the workstation, a diagnostic program can be run to check the system periodically or to identify the source of a problem. Configuration of Tester 100 involves assigning digital channel boards, power supplies, and analog instruments to specific channels of the test head and providing for associated mainframe components (such as an alternate master clock (AMC)) external to the test head. Test heat electronic components supply power to the various DUTs and perform measurements. Some test head functions and key elements are: 1) conversion and distribution of supply voltages; 2) interfacing via fiber optic cable to the workstation; 3) internal communication via data bus, address bus and control bus; 4) communication clock generation and distribution; 5) master clock generation and distribution; 6) high precision parametric measurement unit (HP PMU); 7) interfacing with external clock; 8) supplying power to the DUT; and 9) making channel measurements; among other things.
Each pin in the platform provides period, timing, levels, patterns and sequencing, enabling each tester pin to independently operate in any number of different modes. Instead of sharing testing resources, every pin supports a full range of tester modes, including clock, SCAN, BIST control, functional, APG and digital source and capture. Such flexibility in Tester 100 allows for on-the-fly grouping of pins into virtual ports to test target IP blocks. As a result, the platform is capable of testing multiple blocks concurrently. Once a test has been completed, tester pins may be immediately reconfigured and assembled into new port configurations to conduct a completely different set of tests.
The architecture of Tester 100 provides support for concurrent tests on potentially dozens of ports with different sequencing and digital data rates. The test-processor-per-pin architecture of Tester 100 allows it to function as a scalable platform. Tester 100 supports test technologies that include RF, analog, digital and mixed signal, each fully capable of being used concurrently. FIG. 2 illustrates the placing of DUT 160 on packaged parts DUT board 150, and the positioning of DUT board 150 above test head 110.
FIG. 3 illustrates a wafer prober DUT board 155 on top of DUT interface 120. Several further components are then stacked atop wafer prober DUT board 155; pogo tower 165; probe card 180 and wafer to be tested 190. DUT board 155, stiffener assembly 170 and pogo tower 165, together form a Wafer Prober Interface (WPI), which is made in two sizes: a 9.5 inch WPI and a 12 inch WPI. A WPI DUT board (small or large, corresponding to 512 or 1024 pins) connects the pogo pins of the test head electronics to the pogo pins of pogo tower 165. It also maps the rectangular pogo pin layout of the test head to the circular contact layout of the pogo tower probe card. A standard DUT board provided by Agilent contains an EEPROM that identifies the board. Customized WPI DUT boards may have different pin mapping, connect several pins, or provide relays and filter circuits.
FIG. 6 shows a DUT load board 200 with 16 device locations 210. System-on-a-chip ICs that are to be tested on Tester 100 are loaded one-by-one onto a DUT load board 200 of test head 110. Electronic tests are then performed on each of the SOC ICs, after the completion of which the SOC ICs are removed one-by-one from DUT load board 200, which is plugged into test head 110.
FIG. 4 shows a conceptual time line for an existing DUT board 200 approach to testing. Specifically, time to load (300, 310) devices or DUTs onto DUT load board 200 test locations 210 and time to unload (320, 330) devices or DUTs from DUT load board 200 test locations 210, no electronic testing of devices occurs. As can be seen in the time line 350, the time it takes to unload a group of devices that have been tested and then load a second group of devices to be tested onto a test head 110 is dead time, in which no testing is occurring. This dead time for device or DUT loading (300, 310) and unloading (320, 330) is referred to as the index time. The testing time is shown conceptually as 340 and 345 on the testing time line 350. Currently, the index time for most SOC IC testers is up to approximately 10% of test time.
As IC testing is expensive and time consuming, it will be readily appreciated that reducing the index time, and thus the overall test time, will be advantageous. Reducing the amount of time consumed loading and unloading DUTs onto test heads will result in a reduction in the time and correspondingly, the cost required to test ICs.

Method and apparatus for eliminating automated testing equipment index time


There is provided a stratospheric stay facility that allows humans to stay in the stratosphere in the altitude range of 15 to 25 kilometers. The stratospheric stay facility includes a structure for stay 10 having a cabin in which an environment allowing humans to stay in it is maintained and having resistance to pressure in an environment at a highest altitude at which the structure for stay is kept flying, airships 20 that are adapted to be capable of ascending to the sky by buoyancy and lifts the structure for stay 10 to keep it flying in the stratosphere in the altitude range of 15 to 25 kilometers, and first mooring cables 50 and second mooring cable 80 each of which has a first end fixed to the structure for stay 10 and a second end fixed to the ground to moor the structure for stay 10.

Recently, there have been made studies and developments of systems that use an airship kept flying in the stratosphere in the altitude range of 15 to 25 kilometers, in which weather conditions are relatively stable, for the purpose of communication, broadcast, and earth observation. (See patent documents 1 and 2).
Although aircrafts capable of flying in the stratosphere have been developed, technologies that allow humans to stay in the stratosphere for a long period of time have not been known.


A positioner (2) for moving a sample platform (6) relative to a base (4) is described. The positioner is driven by a piezoelectric arranged to expand and contract along a drive axis, the piezoelectric element has an input end coupled to the base and an output end coupled to first (14) and second (16) output levers extending away from the drive axis of the piezoelectric element in opposing directions. The output levers each have an inner arm arranged to be acted on by the piezoelectric element as it expands and an outer arm to which the sample platform is mounted via platform supports (26, 28). The output levers are mounted such that the piezoelectric element acts on the inner arms of the output levers to cause the outer arms to move in a plane containing the drive axis. This motion of the output levers is communicated via the platform supports to the sample platform, so moving it relative to the base along a direction parallel to the drive axis.

The invention relates to positioners which are widely used for a variety of applications including the positioning of optical components, both in production lines and in scientific experiments.
One shortcoming of positioners designed to provide a high degree of accuracy in their positioning is that they are often only able operate over a relatively limited range. For example, a number of positioner designs employ piezoelectric drive elements in their drive mechanisms. Piezoelectric drive elements are useful because they are relatively robust and are able to provide repeatable high precision positioning. However, a 38 mm long piezoelectric stack might have a positioning range of only 42 μm. This limited range can mean positioners employing piezoelectric drive elements can be impractical for many applications. Similar problems can arise with other types of high precision drive mechanisms.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,902,084, [1] and U.S. Pat. No. 3,902,085 [2] describe "inchworm positioners" which address this problem. These are one-axis positioners arranged to selectively grip and release opposing ends of a piezoelectric drive element as it is cyclically expanded and contracted. Appropriate control of the piezoelectric drive element and the piezoelectric grips at either end can cause the piezoelectric drive element to inch its way along between the grips during successive expand and contract cycles. Although positioners of this type allow for larger ranges of motion, they are complex designs requiring a number of moving parts which must be separately controlled in a carefully orchestrated manner.
Another approach is to use a positioner comprising two elements in frictional engagement with one another which slide relative to one another when the frictional force between them is overcome. Motion is generated by the interplay between inertia of one of the elements and slipping or sticking of the frictional engagement between the elements. Positioners of this kind are referred to as inertial positioners or slip-stick positioners and are known for example from an article by Dieter Pohl in the journal "Review of Scientific Instruments" [3]. Inertial slip-stick positioners can be made with relatively few major components. However, known inertial slip-stick positioners have a low load bearing capacity and a high degree of sensitivity to orientation, unlike the above described inchworm positioners.
An alternative solution would be to use a lever arrangement to magnify or amplify the motion. JP 02 119277 [4] describes a mechanical amplifier for a piezoelectric drive element, albeit one designed primarily for dot-matrix printer heads. The device of JP 02 119277 employs a pair of hinged levers mounted at opposing ends of a piezoelectric stack such that the lever's outer arms are brought together as their inner arms are pushed apart by the piezoelectric element expanding. A buckle spring connects between the lever's outer arms and buckles outwardly as the lever arms are brought together. The outward motion of the buckle spring provides the useful output of the device. EP 0 510 698 [5] employs principles similar to those of JP 02 119277, but has two buckle springs connected in series between the levers. This provides for two simultaneous displacement outputs. Devices of this kind are not generally suitable for the reliable positioning of sample platforms. This is because their sprung nature makes them prone to vibration, and their buckling movement will generally be different for different platform loads. This means samples having different masses will generally be positioned differently for the same expansion of the piezoelectric drive element.


A method detects a fault, in particular coking, in the intake tract of an internal combustion engine with direct fuel injection, a throttle valve, and a variable intake valve lift controller. The method has the steps of a) carrying out a first quantity deviation test, by which a first air ratio value is ascertained that is formed from a lambda value, which is measured during the first quantity deviation test, and a desired lambda value of the fuel combustion in the fuel chambers of the internal combustion engine, wherein in the first quantity deviation test, a load control is carried out by the variable intake valve lift controller; b) carrying out a second quantity deviation test, by which a second air ratio value is ascertained that is formed from a lambda value, which is measured during the second quantity deviation test, and a desired lambda value of the fuel combustion in the fuel chambers of the internal combustion engine, wherein in the second quantity deviation test, a load control is carried out by the throttle valve; and lastly c) determining a comparison result from the first air ratio value and the second air ratio value, the presence of a fault in the intake tract of the internal combustion engine being detectable using the comparison result.

The invention relates to a method for detecting a fault in the inlet section of an internal combustion engine, and to a corresponding engine test unit. In particular, the invention relates to a method for detecting coking in the inlet section of an internal combustion engine which has direct fuel injection, a throttle flap and a variable inlet valve lift controller.
In the case of Otto-cycle engines with gasoline direct injection, coking of the inlet section can occur, in particular at the inlet valve (for example at the valve neck) or in the inlet channel at the valve opening. In the case of such coking, carbon-like material accumulates in the inlet section. A cause for the coking tendency in Otto-cycle engines with gasoline direct injection is that, in the case of Otto-cycle engines with gasoline direct injection, no continuous cleaning purging of the inlet section, for example of the inlet valve, with gasoline occurs, because the fuel is injected directly in the combustion chamber. Oil residues from the crankcase ventilation system, the valve shank seal or the turbocharging arrangement can, in conjunction with soot particles from the cylinder, accumulate in the form of carbon in the inlet under the action of heat. Here, the coking tendency tends to increase with the use of fuels and oils of low quality and in the case of low-load driving profiles.
The coking results in an impairment of the running smoothness during cold idling and can lead to increased fuel consumption and complaints with regard to warm-up driving characteristics. A coking film for example at the top on the valve neck between valve disk and valve shank can disrupt the tumbling flow, such that the idling rotational speed fluctuates to a greater degree and, in the extreme case, misfiring may even occur. A coking film may even lead, as a flow resistance, to a drop in power owing to inadequate cylinder charging. Furthermore, a coking film on the inlet valve or on the valve opening can prevent a correct closure of the valve, such that compression losses and sporadic misfiring occur.
The degree of coking in the inlet section can typically be visually established in the workshop only after a dismounting of engine parts. If the inlet section has become correspondingly coked, then the inlet section is cleaned, or the components involved are exchanged.
The visual detection of coking has the disadvantage of a large amount of working effort for the dismounting of the engine parts in order to attain visual accessibility. Furthermore, the visual examination is associated with the disadvantage of a lack of objectivity, because the coking is difficult to assess from a purely visual inspection.
The document DE 10 2012 213 241 A1 has disclosed a method which, for the detection of coking in the inlet section of an internal combustion engine with direct fuel injection, does not require dismantling of the internal combustion engine and allows an objective assessment of the coking. The method described in said document can however be used only in internal combustion engines with phase adjustment of the valve opening times (so-called variable inlet valve control), in the case of which the control of an air mass flow is performed by means of a throttle flap. In the case of this method, the internal combustion engine, when idling, is operated with an idling rotational speed which is increased in relation to normal idling operation. Furthermore, the opening time of the inlet valves is advanced by means of the variable inlet valve controller, whereby the valve overlap (the duration for which the inlet valve is opened already before the outlet valve is closed) is increased. By measurement, a running roughness characteristic variable of the internal combustion engine, which is characteristic of the running roughness of the internal combustion engine, is then determined. On the basis of the running roughness characteristic variable, it is then possible to detect the presence of coking in the inlet section.
This method however cannot be used in internal combustion engines in which the control of the air mass flow is performed by means of a variable inlet valve lift controller, because the combustion process is configured differently. Whereas, in the case of an internal combustion engine with throttling load controller, the residual gas control is performed via the inlet, it is the case in an internal combustion engine with variable inlet valve lift controller that the residual gas control is implemented via the outlet.
It is an object of the invention to provide a method for detecting a fault, in particular coking, of an internal combustion engine with direct fuel injection and variable inlet valve controller, which method requires no dismantling of the internal combustion engine for the purposes of the detection, and which method allows at least an indication of the presence of coking to be attained. Furthermore, the object is directed to specifying an engine test unit with corresponding characteristics.
This object is achieved by means of the features of the independent patent claims. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the dependent claims.
A first aspect of the invention relates to a method for detecting a fault, in particular coking, in the inlet section (intake tract) of an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine has one or more cylinder banks, wherein a respective cylinder bank comprises multiple cylinders with in each case one combustion chamber formed therein and at least one injection nozzle. In particular, exactly one injection nozzle is provided in each combustion chamber. A common air mass flow is fed to the combustion chambers of a respective cylinder bank. Likewise, a common exhaust-gas flow is discharged from the combustion chambers of a respective cylinder bank. The internal combustion engine has direct fuel injection, and is in particular an Otto-cycle engine with gasoline direct injection.
The method is executed for example on an engine test unit external to a vehicle, which engine test unit is used for example in a vehicle repair workshop. The engine test unit is connected to the engine controller of the vehicle wirelessly or by wires via a corresponding vehicle interface, and, via this, can control the operation of the vehicle and retrieve measured values from the engine controller. It is also conceivable for the method to be executed on the engine control unit of the vehicle, wherein, for example in the event of the detection of a fault, in particular of coking, cleaning of the inlet channels and/or of the inlet valves is instructed. For this purpose, an instruction to perform cleaning may be output to the driver or to a technician in the workshop, and/or a corresponding instruction may be stored in a fault memory of the vehicle. It is also conceivable, upon detection of a fault in the inlet section, in particular coking, to carry out automatic cleaning of the vehicle by means of the engine test unit, for example by introducing cleaning fluid into the inlet section or switching over into a cleaning operating mode of the internal combustion engine.
The internal combustion engine has a throttle flap in the inlet section and a variable inlet valve lift controller (also referred to as VVT, variable valve drive). The variable inlet valve lift controller makes it possible to regulate the valve lift. With the variable valve lift, it is possible for the quantity of air admitted into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine to be regulated, such that the throttle flap positioned upstream of a cylinder bank is no longer required during normal operation. The throttle flap is used only in particular operating states, for example in an emergency operating mode. By means of the throttling-free load control, charge exchange losses can be reduced. A higher inflow speed of the air leads to better mixing of the gasoline-air mixture in the combustion chamber.
In the method, in a first step, a first quantity deviation test is carried out. By means of the quantity deviation test, a first air ratio value is ascertained which is formed from a lambda value measured during the first quantity deviation test and a desired lambda value of the fuel combustion in the combustion chambers of the internal combustion engine. In the first quantity deviation test, load control of the internal combustion engine is performed by means of the variable inlet valve lift controller.
In a second step, a second quantity deviation test is carried out. By means of the second quantity deviation test, a second air ratio value is ascertained which is formed from a lambda value measured during the second quantity deviation test and a desired lambda value for the fuel combustion in the combustion chambers of the internal combustion engine. In the second quantity deviation test, load control of the internal combustion engine is performed by means of the throttle flap arranged in the inlet section.
In a third step, a comparison result is determined from the first air ratio value and the second air ratio value. It is possible to detect the presence of a fault in the inlet section of the internal combustion engine on the basis of the comparison result.
No change to the fuel path, that is to say to the delivery of the required fuel mass for the combustion, occurs while the first and the second quantity deviation test are being carried out. By contrast, by means of the different load control, on the one hand by means of the variable inlet valve lift controller and on the other hand by means of the throttle flap, the air path is changed if a fault or coking is present.
The method according to the invention makes it possible to objectively identify a fault, in particular coking, in the inlet section of an internal combustion engine with direct fuel injection. The objective identification is performed by measurement rather than by subjective visual assessment. Cleaning and/or repair is thus performed only when this is actually objectively required.
With the use of the method described herein, dismantling of the internal combustion engine solely for the visual assessment of coking is not necessary. Coking can be identified in a very short time. The duration for identifying whether a fault in the inlet section of the internal combustion engine, in particular coking, is present may lie for example within approximately ten minutes rather than one hour or more in the case of dismantling of the internal combustion engine. With the aid of the described method, it is no longer necessary for the engine to be disassembled, whereby further causes of faults for the repairs to be carried out can be minimized to those which are absolutely necessary. Furthermore, the accuracy of the detection of coking by means of a balancing mixture deviation method carried out according to the invention is considerably higher than is the case in the prior art.
The first and/or the second quantity deviation test are expediently carried out during idling operation of the internal combustion engine. The control is performed, as described above, by means of an engine test unit external to the vehicle or the engine controller of the vehicle.
The first quantity deviation test is expediently carried out with the throttle flap open and with a small or even minimal lift of the inlet valve. In other words, the first quantity deviation test is carried out in the so-called unthrottled state, in which the air quantity introduced into a combustion chamber is dependent exclusively on the magnitude of the lift of the inlet valve. Owing to a selected small or minimal lift, the air introduced into the combustion chamber will, in the presence of coking in the inlet channel or on the inlet valve, be manifest in an air quantity which is reduced in relation to the expected air quantity. Since the desired lambda value (that is to say the setpoint lambda value) deviates to a relatively great degree from the measured lambda value, this is manifest in a particular, excessively rich, first air ratio value.
By contrast, the second quantity deviation test is carried out with a maximum lift of the inlet valve and with the throttle flap substantially closed. The load control is thus performed by means of the throttle flap (so-called throttled operation). If coking is present in the inlet channel or on the inlet valve, the second air ratio value will not exhibit a deviation as great as that in the first quantity deviation test, because the cross section through which the air quantity can flow into the combustion chamber is proportionally influenced to a lesser extent by the coking than during the carrying-out of the first quantity deviation test.
The presence of a fault in the inlet section, that is to say in the air path of the internal combustion engine, can thus be inferred if the first air ratio value and the second air ratio value are different. In particular, the presence of coking in the inlet section is inferred if the first air ratio value is lower than a predefined first threshold value and the second air ratio value is higher than or equal to the predefined first threshold value.
By contrast, the presence of a leak in the inlet section can be inferred if the first air ratio value is higher than a predefined second threshold value and the second air ratio value is even further increased in relation to the predefined second threshold value. This arises from the fact that, during the first quantity deviation test, negative pressure scarcely arises when idling. A leak in the inlet section, in particular in the air manifold, thus leads to an excessively lean fuel-air mixture. The first air ratio value is thus higher than the predefined second threshold value. During the second quantity deviation test, a high negative pressure arises downstream of the throttle flap in the inlet section, in particular in the air manifold. Leakage will thus enter the inlet section or air manifold, with the effect that the fuel-air mixture is far too lean. The result is a second air ratio value which is considerably higher than the second threshold value.
The first air ratio value is formed in particular by the quotient of the lambda value measured during the first quantity deviation test and the desired lambda value. The second air ratio value is formed by the quotient of the lambda value measured during the second quantity deviation test and the desired lambda value.
By means of the preferred manner of determination of the first and of the second air ratio value, coking is present if the first air ratio value is lower than the predefined threshold value and thus lower than the second air ratio value. This arises from the fact that, during the first quantity deviation test, if coking is present, a smaller quantity of air can flow into the combustion chamber then would be the case if no coking were present. The measured lambda value is thus lower than the desired lambda value. By contrast, in the second quantity deviation test, the difference between the measured and the desired lambda value is not as great, because the coking does not cause such a great change in the air volume flowing into the combustion chamber.
The first and the second predefined threshold values are in particular equal, in particular 1.
Also proposed is a computer program product which can be loaded directly into the internal memory of a digital computer and which comprises software code segments by means of which the steps of the method described herein are carried out when the product is executed on a computer. The computer program product may be present in the form of a data carrier, for example a DVD, a CD-ROM, a USB memory stick and the like. The computer program product may also be present as a signal which can be loaded via a wireless or wired network.
A second aspect of the invention is directed to an engine test unit. The engine test unit is configured for detecting a fault, in particular coking, in the inlet section of an internal combustion engine with direct fuel injection, throttle flap and variable inlet valve controller. The unit is connectable, for example via an electrical connection or a radio connection, to the motor vehicle for the purposes of controlling the operation of the vehicle and for the purposes of receiving vehicle-internal measured values. The engine test unit controls the internal combustion engine via the engine control unit such that the above-described method is carried out.
The invention will be described below with reference to the drawing and on the basis of an exemplary embodiment.

Method for detecting coking in the intake tract of an internal combustion engine

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft


The present invention provides porcine CMP-N-Acetylneuraminic-Acid Hydroxylase (CMP-Neu5Ac hydroxylase) protein, cDNA, and genomic DNA regulatory sequences. Furthermore, the present invention includes porcine animals, tissues, and organs, as well as cells and cell lines derived from such animals, tissues, and organs, which lack expression of functional CMP-Neu5Ac hydroxylase. Such animals, tissues, organs, and cells can be used in research and in medical therapy, including in xenotransplantation, and in industrial livestock farming operations.

The unavailability of acceptable human donor organs, the low rate of long term success due to host versus graft rejection, and the serious risks of infection and cancer are the main challenges now facing the field of tissue and organ transplantation. Because the demand for acceptable organs exceeds the supply, many people die each year while waiting for organs to become available. To help meet this demand, research has been focused on developing alternatives to allogenic transplantation. Dialysis is available to patients suffering from kidney failure, artificial heart models have been tested, and other mechanical systems have been developed to assist or replace failing organs. Such approaches, however, are quite expensive. The need for frequent and periodic access to dialysis machines greatly limits the freedom and quality of life of patients undergoing such therapy.
Xenograft transplantation represents a potentially attractive alternative to artificial organs for human transplantation. The potential pool of nonhuman organs is virtually limitless. Pigs are considered the most likely source of xenograft organs. The supply of pigs is plentiful, breeding programs are well established, and their organ size and physiology are compatible with humans. Therefore, xenotransplantation with pig organs offers a potential solution to the shortage of organs available for clinical transplantation.
Host rejection of such cross-species tissue remains a major concern in this area. The immunological barriers to xenotransplantation have been, and remain, formidable. The first immunological hurdle is "hyperacute rejection" (HAR). HAR is defined by the ubiquitous presence of high titers of pre-formed natural antibodies binding to the foreign tissue. The binding of these natural antibodies to target epitopes on the donor organ endothelium is believed to be the initiating event in HAR. This binding, within minutes of perfusion of the donor organ with the recipient blood, is followed by complement activation, platelet and fibrin deposition, and ultimately by interstitial edema and hemorrhage in the donor organ, all of which cause failure of the organ in the recipient (Strahan, et al. (1996) Frontiers in Bioscience 1, pp. 34-41).
Some noted xenotransplants of organs from apes or old-world monkeys (e.g., baboons) into humans have been tolerated for months without rejection. However, such attempts have ultimately failed due to a number of immunological factors. Even with heavy immunosupression to suppress HAR, a low-grade innate immune response, attributable in part to failure of complement regulatory proteins (CRPs) within the graft tissue to control activation of heterologous complement on graft endothelium, ultimately leads to destruction of the transplanted organs (Starzl, Immunol. Rev., 141, 213-44 (1994)). In an effort to develop a pool of acceptable organs for xenotransplantation into humans, researchers have engineered animals that produce human CRPs, an approach which has been demonstrated to delay, but not eliminate, xenograft destruction in primates (McCurry, et al., Nat. Med., 1, 423-27 (1995); Bach et al., Immunol. Today, 17, 379-84 (1996)).
In addition to complement-mediated attack, human rejection of discordant xenografts appears to be mediated by a common antigen: the galactose-α(1,3)-galactose (gal-α-gal) terminal residue of many glycoproteins and glycolipids (Galili et al., Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., (USA), 84, 1369-73 (1987); Cooper, et al., Immunol. Rev., 141, 31-58 (1994); Galili, et al., Springer Sem. Immunopathol, 15, 155-171 (1993); Sandrin, et al., Transplant Rev., 8, 134 (1994)). This antigen is chemically related to the human A, B, and O blood antigens, and it is present on many parasites and infectious agents, such as bacteria and viruses. Most mammalian tissue also contains this antigen, with the notable exception of old world monkeys, apes and humans. (see, Joziasse, et al., J. Biol. Chem., 264, 14290-97 (1989). Individuals without such carbohydrate epitopes produce abundant naturally occurring antibodies (IgM as well as IgG) specific to the epitopes. Many humans show significant levels of circulating IgG with specificity for gal-α-gal carbohydrate determinants (Galili, et al., J. Exp. Med., 162, 573-82 (1985); Galili, et al., Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. (USA), 84, 1369-73 (1987)). The α-galactosyltransferase (α-GT) enzyme catalyzes the formation of gal-α-gal moieties. Research has focused on the modulation or elimination of this enzyme to reduce or eliminate the expression of gal-α-gal moieties on the cell surface of xenotissue.
The elimination of the α-galactosyltransferase gene from porcine has long been considered one of the most significant hurdles to accomplishing xenotransplantation from pigs to humans. Two alleles in the pig genome encode the α-GT gene. Single allelic knockouts of the α-GT gene in pigs were reported in 2002 (Dai, et al. Nature Biotechnol., 20:251 (2002); Lai, et al., Science, 295:1089 (2002)).
Recently, double allelic knockouts of the α-GT gene have been accomplished (Phelps, et al., Science, 299: pp. 411-414 (2003)). WO 2004/028243 to Revivicor Inc. describes porcine animal, tissue, organ, cells and cell lines, which lack all expression of functional α1,3 galactosyltransferase (α1,3-GT). Accordingly, the animals, tissues, organs and cells lacking functional expression of α1,3-GT can be used in xenotransplantation and for other medical purposes.
PCT patent application WO 2004/016742 to Immerge Biotherapeutics, Inc. describes α(1,3)-galactosyltransferase null cells, methods of selecting GGTA-1 null cells, α(1,3)-galactosyltransferase null swine produced therefrom (referred to as a viable GGTA-1 null swine), methods for making such swine, and methods of using cells, tissues and organs of such a null swine for xenotransplantation.
One of the earliest known xenoantigens other than gal-α-gal is an epitope that Hanganutiu Deicher antibodies recognize, and which have long been associated with serum disease. The epitope has been identified as N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc), a member of the sialic acid family of carbohydrates. Among carbohydrates, sialic acids are abundant and ubiquitous. Sialic acid is a generic designation used for N-acylneuraminic acids (Neu5Acyl) and their derivatives. N-Acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) and N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) are two of the most abundant derivatives of sialic acids.
The Neu5Gc epitope is located in the terminal position in the glycan chains of glycoconjugates. Due to this exposed position, it plays an important role in cellular recognition, e.g. in the case of inflammatory reactions, maturation of immune cells, differentiation processes, hormone-, pathogen- and toxin binding (Varki, A., Glycobiology, 2, pp. 25-40 (1992)).
Glycoconjugates containing Neu5Gc are immunogenic in humans. In healthy humans, Neu5Gc is not detectable, although Neu5Gc is abundant in most mammals. The lack of Neu5Gc in man is due to an exon deletion in the human gene that prevents the formation of functional enzyme (Chou, H. H., et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA), 95, pp. 11751-11756 (1998); Irie, A., et al. J. Biol. Chem., 273, pp. 15866-15871 (1998)). Thus, Neu5Gc-containing glycoconjugates act as antigens and can induce the formation of antibodies. Historically, the antibodies have been referred to as Hanganutziu-Deicher (HD) antigens and antibodies (Hanganutziu, M., CR Soc. Biol. (Paris), 91, p. 1457 (1924); Deicher, H., Z. Hyg., 106, p. 561 (1926)). Hanganutziu-Deicher antigens are detectable in many human tumors (colon carcinoma, retinoblastoma, melanoma and carcinoma of the breast) as well as in chicken tumor tissues (Higashi, H., et al. Cancer Res., 45, pp. 3796-3802 (1985)). Although the amount of antigen in tumors is very small (usually less than 1% of the total amount of sialic acid, often in the range of from 0.01 to 0.1%), it is capable of inducing the formation of Hanganutziu-Deicher antibodies (Higashihara, T., et al., Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol., 95, pp. 231-235 (1991)). This immunological reaction is a potential barrier to xenotransplantation of Neu5Gc-containing pig organs to humans.
The Neu5Gc epitope is formed by the addition of a hydroxyl group to the N-acetyl moiety of Neu5Ac. The enzyme that catalyzes the hydroxylation is CMP-Neu5Ac hydroxylase. Thus, the expression of the CMP-Neu5Ac hydroxylase gene determines the presence of the Neu5Gc epitope on cell surfaces. Purification studies of CMP-Neu5Ac hydroxylase in mammals have shown that it is a soluble, cytosolic oxygenase that is dependent on cytochrome b5 and cytochrome b5 reductase (Kawano, T., et al., J. Biol. Chem., 269, pp. 9024-9029 (1994); Schneckenburger, P., et al., Glycoconj. J., 11, pp. 194-203 (1994); Schlenzka, W., et al., Glycobiology, 4, pp. 675-683 (1994); Kozutsumi, Y., et al., J. Biochem. (Tokyo), 108, pp. 704-706 (1990); and, Shaw, L., et al. Eur. J. Biochem., 219, pp. 1001-1011 (1994)).
Another important feature of Neu5Gc is that it acts as an adhesion molecule for pathogens, allowing for entry into the cell (Kelm, S. and Schauer, R., Int. Rev. Cytol, 179, pp. 137-240 (1997)). This causes disease and economic losses in certain livestock species. Specifically, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli with K99 fimbriae infect newborn piglets by binding to Neu5Gc in gangliosides such as Nue5Gca2→3Galβ1→4Glcβ1→1′ ceramide [GM3(Neu5Gc)], N-glycolylsialoparagloboside and GM2(Neu5Gc) attached to intestinal absorptive and mucus secreting cells, causing a potentially lethal diarrhea (Malykh, Y., et. al., Biochem. J., 370, pp. 601-607 (2003); Kyogashima, M., et al., (1993); Teneberg, S., et al., FEBS Letters, 263, pp. 10-14 (1990); Isobe, T., et al., Anal. Biochem., 236, pp. 35-40 (1996); Lindahl, M. and Carlstedt, I., J. Gen. Microbiol., 136, pp. 1609-1614 (1990); King, T. P., et al., Proceedings of the 6th International Symposium on Digestive Physiology in Pigs, pp. 290-293, (1994)). Pig rotavirus infects pig newborns causing diarrhea by binding to GM3(Neu5Gc). Pig transmissible gastroenteritis coronavirus infects pigs via entry into glycoconjugates containing α2,3-bound Neu5Gc (Schultz, B., et al., J. Virol., 70, pp. 5634-5637 (1996)).
CMP-Neu5Ac hydroxylase has been isolated from mouse liver and pig submandibular glands to homogeneity and characterized (Kawano, T., et al., J. Biol. Chem., 269, pp. 9024-9029 (1994); Schneckenburger, P., et al., Glycoconj. J., 11, pp. 194-203 (1994); and, Schlenzka, W., et al., Glycobiology, 4, pp. 675-683 (1994)).
Schlenzka, et al. (Glycobiology, Vol. 4, pp. 675-683 (1994)) purified the enzyme from pig submandibular glands using ion exchange chromatography, chromatography with immobilized triazin dyes, hydrophobic interaction chromatography and gel filtration. Schneckenburger et al. (Glycoconj. J., Vol. 11, pp. 194-203 (1994)) isolated the CMP-Neu5Ac hydroxylase from mouse liver. Both the CMP-Neu5Ac hydroxylase from pig submandibular glands and the one from mouse liver are soluble monomers having a molecular weight of 65 kDa. Their catalytic interactions with CMP-Neu5Ac and cytochrome b5 are very similar to one another. The activity of these enzymes seems to be dependent on an iron-containing prosthetic group.
JP-A 06 113838 describes the protein and DNA sequences of murine CMP-Neu5Ac hydroxylase, as well as a monoclonal antibody that specifically binds to the hydroxylase.
PCT Publication No. WO 97/03200A1 to Boehringer Manheim GMBH discloses a partial cDNA for the porcine CMP-Neu5Ac hydroxylase. This application discloses a cDNA sequence beginning in the middle of Exon 8 of the CMP-Neu5Ac hydroxylase gene (further disclosed as GenBank accession number Y15010).
Martensen, L., et al. (Eur. J. Biochem., Vol. 268, pp. 5157-5166 (2001)) discloses a full length amino acid sequence of porcine CMP-Neu5Ac hydroxylase.
PCT Publication No. WO 02/088351 to RBC Biotechnology discloses a partial cDNA and genomic sequence (exons 7-11 as well as partial genomic sequence surrounding each exon) of porcine CMP-NeuAc hydroxylase. In addition, methods are provided to generate porcine cells and animals lacking the CMP-NeuAc hydoxylase epitope, optionally, in combination with other genetic modifications, such as inactivation of the alpha-1,3-galactosyltransferase gene and/or insertion of complement proteins.
It is an object of the present invention to provide genomic and regulatory sequences of the porcine CMP-Neu5Ac hydroxylase gene.
It is an object of the present invention to provide the full length cDNA, as well as novel variants of the CMP-Neu5Ac hydroxylase gene.
It is another object of the invention to provide novel nucleic acid and amino acid sequences that encode the CMP-Neu5Ac hydroxylase gene.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide cells, tissues and/or organs deficient in the CMP-Neu5Ac hydroxylase gene.
It is another object of the present invention to generate animals, particularly pigs, lacking a functional CMP-Neu5Ac hydroxylase gene.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide cells, tissues and/or organs deficient in the CMP-Neu5Ac hydroxylase gene for use in xenotransplantation of non-human organs to human recipients in need thereof.

Porcine CMP-N-Acetylneuraminic acid hydroxylase gene


A ribbon cassette includes a ribbon supply spool, and a ribbon take up spool that takes up an ink ribbon from the ribbon supply spool by rotating in a first rotation direction. The ribbon take up spool is provided with an engaging portion including first and second walls arranged in the second rotation direction in this order. The first wall is defined along a plane including a rotation axis of the ribbon take up spool. The second wall is inclined to face outside the ribbon take up spool. The ribbon cassette further includes an engaging member. The engaging member resiliently engages with the engaging portion by dropping into a space defined between the first and second walls and thereby prevents the ribbon take up spool from rotating in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction. The engaging member, however, comes off from the engaging portion when the ribbon take up spool rotates in the first direction.

The present invention relates to a ribbon cassette, and more particularly to a ribbon cassette provided with a ribbon supply spool, on which an ink ribbon is wound, a ribbon take up spool for taking up the ink ribbon from the ribbon supply spool, and a simple mechanism for preventing slack in the ink ribbon.
Conventionally, many types of ribbon cassettes, each having a ribbon supply spool and a ribbon take up spool, are proposed. In such kind of ribbon cassettes, slack tends to occur in the ink ribbon since the ribbon supply spool is rotatably disposed in a ribbon cassette and no driving force is applied to the ribbon supply spool to regulate the rotation thereof. When the ribbon cassette is set into a printing device, the slack in the ink ribbon precludes suitable feeding of the ink ribbon from the ribbon cassette and hinders correct printing.
Japanese Patent Application Provisional Publication No. HEI 8-25768 discloses a ribbon cassette that is capable of avoiding the problem mentioned above. In the ribbon cassette disclosed in the above-mentioned publication, a clutch spring is provided to the ribbon supply spool, which applies a back tension to the ink ribbon to prevent slack from occurring therein.
In the meanwhile, the ribbon take up spool has not been considered as an object for providing a mechanism for preventing slack in the ink ribbon. This is because the ribbon take up spool is engaged with and rotated by a driving shaft of the printing device during the printing process and hence does not unintentionally rotate to cause slack in the ink ribbon.
The driving shaft of the printing device, however, often rotates more or less at the time the ribbon cassette is taken out from the printing device. Such a rotation of the driving shaft causes the ribbon take up spool to rotate and generate slack in the ink ribbon.
If the ribbon cassette is set into the printing device without removing the slack in the ink ribbon, the ink ribbon may be jammed within the ribbon cassette and make the ribbon cassette unusable. Thus, the slack in the ink ribbon, which may occur at the time the ribbon cassette is taken out from the printing device, should be removed in advance of setting again the ribbon cassette into the printing device. However, this is a burdensome procedure for a user and the user may often forget it. Even if the user has not forgotten to remove the slack in the ink ribbon, the user may rotate the ribbon take up spool in a direction opposite to that for taking up the ink ribbon, resulting in generating more slack in the ribbon.
Thus, there is a need for a ribbon cassette that is provided with a simple mechanism for preventing slack in the ink ribbon due to unintentional rotation of the ribbon take up spool.

Ribbon cassette with ink ribbon slack prevention mechanism


Method to control the interference and/or collision between mechanical members of at least two operating or one operating unit with respect to fixed positions. At least one operating unit is associated with a position detector or with a position simulator, and is equipped with an electric which drives a mechanical member. The method is managed by a management and control unit. The control of the operating units occurs in two phases, verifying point-by-point the position of the mechanical member as a function of the current dynamics and the braking or acceleration times and spaces (first phase), and verifying the intensity of point-by-point current supplied to at least one electric motor (second phase).

Automation units are known, comprising one or more operating units comprising a drive member, a mechanical member, a position detector mean, that is, an entity that simulates mathematically the position of the drive shaft. The mechanical members of the operating units are therefore normally moved by electric motors, and are connected to the shaft of the latter directly or by means of kinematic reduction units. The motors, commanded by a central management and control unit, drive the operating units in pre-established cycles and in a coordinated manner, to obtain a desired interaction, for example so that they interact with a product in order to work it.
One disadvantage of such work units is that, in the event of blockages, yielding, wear or other anomalies, a phase displacement is created between the point-by-point position assumed and the theoretical or desired position of the mechanical members.
For this reason, known work units comprise clutches, mechanical releases or energy absorbers that intervene in the event of collisions in order to reduce damage.
One purpose of the present invention is to provide a method to control interference that prevents collisions and/or to detect the collision between the mechanical members of operating units without using clutches, mechanical releases or other.
Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain a system for moving the mechanical members that is quick, coordinated and reliable, controlling, providing and/or preventing interference and detecting collisions quickly enough to prevent breakages.
Another purpose of the present invention is to perfect a method to control interference and collisions which simplifies the mechanical members, making them more economical, easy to maintain, simple to calibrate and start the cycle.
Another purpose is to be able to manage the operating units, performing interdependent processes, with high cadence, that is, up to 600 cycles per minute and more.
By mechanical member we mean cranks, pantographic systems, cams or other according to the specific requirements.
The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

Method to prevent interference and detect collision between mechanical members


A cyber security threat tool may detect, analyze and alert of cyber security threats in, for example, a communication network of a service provider. For example, the tool may receive network connection data associated with a plurality of network connections between a plurality of computing devices, generate, based at least in part on the network connection data, a graphical database comprising a plurality of graph nodes corresponding to the plurality of computing devices and a plurality of graph edges corresponding to the plurality of network connections and performing a database query on the graphical database to generate query results, the database query including a connection pattern to be matched by the query results generated by the performing the database query. The cyber security threat tool may then render at least a portion of the query results in a graph view and cause the graph view to be output to a user.

Modern communication networks of service providers often face cyber security threats. In many situations, however, operators of the service provider networks may be overwhelmed by the amount of network traffic that must be monitored and may not recognize a cyber security threat due to, for example, information overload or the presentation not being intuitive.

Graphical connection viewer for discovery of suspect network traffic


The invention relates to a system for performing a method for performing computer-aided simulations. The system loads an input dataset which is based on user interactions of a user indicating a manipulation of a representation of a component, provides a tracking dataset indicating changes in the representation through the manipulations by evaluating the input dataset, provides an output dataset which is based on evaluation of the tracking dataset by means of machine learning, where the output dataset assigns a model to the representation, and outputs the output dataset.

Computer-aided simulations are used, for example, in the automobile industry. They are used not only for the development of new systems, but also for testing, verifying, and validating existing systems. The field of application in the automobile industry extends from engine development to autonomous driving.
Known systems for performing computer-aided simulations have simple user interfaces with graphical elements representing model components. Systems of this type are known, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 9,607,113.
However, the degree of complexity of the systems (e.g., automotive systems including chassis, motors, transmissions, and the like) to be simulated is constantly increasing and the systems are becoming increasingly difficult to understand.
There is therefore a need to find ways to enable intuitive interaction and visual representation.


A protective eyewear housing supporting a transparent lens. A first end of the housing has a first strap attached thereto and a second opposite end of the first strap has a first clip member attached thereto. A second opposed end of the housing has a first end of a second strap affixed thereto and a second opposite end of the second strap has a second clip member attached thereto. The helmet supports a pair of spaced apart clip housings, and the clip housings are sized to matingly engage with one of the first and second clip members for releasably securing the protective eyewear to the helmet.

In the prior art, a rear central portion of the helmet is typically provided with a releasable flexible latch mechanism for securing an intermediate portion of an elongate continuous strap to the helmet to prevent the strap from sliding either upwardly or downwardly along the exterior surface of the helmet. Opposed ends of the elongate continuous strap, in turn, are attached to a pair of goggles, glasses, sun glasses, or a wind screen, etc. One drawback with this arrangement is that when the goggles, for example, are to be removed for cleaning or to wipe the user's face, it is difficult to disconnect the latch mechanism of the helmet. Consequently, the user is typically required to completely remove the helmet from his/her head in order to clean the goggles, or to wipe the user's face, and such procedure is generally inconvenient to the user and is to be avoided.

Releasable strapping system for protective eyewear


A plant and process for converting associated gas from crude oil to methanol at or near the wellhead. The process uses partial oxidation of the associated gas, direct quench, liquid phase methanol conversion wherein substoichiometric H.sub.2 :CO is converted to methanol, and a loop purge to a gas turbo generator to provide all of the plant power requirements. This results in avoiding a complex vapor phase, multiple reactor methanol loop and steam-catalytic reforming, and obtains a compact, low-cost, self-sufficient facility suitable for remote locations.

In the production of crude oil at remote locations such as, for example, on an offshore deep water platform, producers are confronted with the problem of dealing with gas associated with the crude oil. This gas comprises primarily methane with minor amounts of C.sub.2 -C.sub.5. Simply burning the associated gas in a flare is not attractive either environmentally or economically. The associated gas cannot always be economically or easily liquefied for transport, transported by tanker or pipeline or returned to the reservoir. In such instances, it would be desirable to convert the associated gas into a liquid fuel such as methanol. However, the remote location and space requirements, particularly on deep water production platforms, impose requirements on methanol conversion equipment which have not, as far as applicant is aware, been met by prior art methanol conversion plants. The methanol conversion plant must operate in a small area and cannot have tall equipment because of the potential pitching of the platform or other vessel in which the methanol plant is located. The methanol plant must be able to start up with limited utilities such as electricity and water. In most instances, the plant must also be operable without steam and be self-contained so as not to require supplying any fresh water or electricity. In addition, the methanol plant should be simple to construct from modular units and capable of operation for a long term without attention by a human operator.
As far as applicant is aware there is no plant or process for converting associated gas from crude oil into methanol which satisfies all of these requirements.


A buckle located around a resilience strap and a method of manufacturing includes a resilient strap material provided on a continuous basis and having a particular width and thickness. The strap material is stretched to reduce the width and thickness of the strap material at a particular position. A mold member is provided to form a buckle and the buckle is molded around the strap at the particular position where the strap material is reduced in width and thickness to increase the friction between the buckle and the strap material.

The present invention relates to a buckle of the type that can be used with a respirator mask and specifically relates to buckle members that are integrally molded on a strap on a continuous basis.
Buckles are used as part of a respirator mask to allow the user of the mask to put the mask on and take the mask off in an easy fashion. Part of the difficulty with prior art buckles are that they are somewhat cumbersome in structure and thereby expensive to manufacture. The present invention relates to a buckle which is simple in construction and easy to manufacture.