An electrochemical corrosion potential sensor is fabricated by initially joining an electrical conductor to a sensor tip. An electrical cable is joined to the tip conductor. Ceramic powder is fused under heat around the tip conductor to form an integral annular electrically insulating band therearound to insulate the tip from the cable. The band may be formed by plasma spraying, or it may be molded and sintered to seal it to the tip and conductor without brazing. In a preferred embodiment, the band is formed of yttria-stabilized-zirconia or magnesia-stabilized-zirconia.

The present invention relates generally to nuclear reactors, and, more specifically, to electrochemical corrosion potential sensors.
A nuclear power plant includes a nuclear reactor for heating water to generate steam which is routed to a steam turbine which extracts energy therefrom for powering an electrical generator to produce electrical power. The nuclear reactor is typically in the form of a boiling water reactor having suitable nuclear fuel disposed in a reactor pressure vessel in which water is heated.
The water and steam are carried through various components and piping which are typically formed of stainless steel, with other materials such as alloy 182 weld metal and alloy 600 being used for various components directly inside the reactor pressure vessel.
It has been found that these materials tend to undergo intergranular stress corrosion cracking depending on the chemistry of the material, degree of sensitization, the presence of tensile stress, and the chemistry of the reactor water. By controlling any one or more of these critical factors, it is possible to control the propensity of a material to undergo intergranular stress corrosion cracking.
However, it is known that intergranular stress corrosion cracking may be controlled or mitigated by controlling a single critical parameter called the electrochemical corrosion potential of the material of interest. Thus, considerable efforts have been made in the past decade to measure the electrochemical corrosion potential of the materials of interest during the power operation of the reactor. This, however, is not a trivial task because the electrochemical corrosion potential of the material varies depending on the location of the material in the reactor circuit.
For example, a material in the reactor core region is likely to be more susceptible to irradiation assisted stress corrosion cracking than the same material exposed to an out-of-core region. This is because the material in the core region is exposed to the highly oxidizing species generated by the radiolysis of water by both gamma and neutron radiation under normal water chemistry conditions, in addition to the effect of direct radiation assisted stress corrosion cracking. The oxidizing species increases the electrochemical corrosion potential of the material which in turn increases its propensity to undergo intergranular stress corrosion cracking or irradiation assisted stress corrosion cracking.
Thus, a suppression of the oxidizing species is desirable in controlling intergranular stress corrosion cracking. An effective method of suppressing the oxidizing species coming into contact with the material is to inject hydrogen into the reactor water via the feedwater system so that recombination of the oxidants with hydrogen occurs within the reactor circuit. This results in an overall reduction in the oxidant concentration present in the reactor which in turn mitigates intergranular stress corrosion cracking of the materials, if the oxidant concentration is suppressed to very low levels.
This method is called hydrogen water chemistry and is widely practiced for mitigating intergranular stress corrosion cracking of materials in boiling water reactors. When hydrogen water chemistry is practiced in a boiling water reactor, the electrochemical corrosion potential of the stainless steel material decreases from a positive value generally in the range of 0.050 to 0.200 V(SHE) under normal water chemistry to a value less than -0.230 V (SHE), where SHE stands for the Standard Hydrogen Electrode potential. There is considerable evidence that when the electrochemical corrosion potential is below this negative value, intergranular stress corrosion cracking of stainless steel can be mitigated and the intergranular stress corrosion cracking initiation can be prevented.
Considerable efforts have been made in the past decade to develop reliable electrochemical corrosion potential sensors to be used as reference electrodes which can be used to determine the electrochemical corrosion potential of operating surfaces of components. These sensors have been used in more than a dozen boiling water reactors worldwide, with a high degree of success, which has enabled the determination of the minimum feedwater hydrogen injection rate required to achieve electrochemical corrosion potentials of reactor internal surfaces and piping below the desired negative value.
However, the drawback of these sensors is that they have a limited lifetime in that some have failed after only three months of use while a few have shown evidence of operation for approximately six to nine months.
Recent experience with two boiling water reactors in the United States has shown that the two major modes of failure have been the cracking and corrosive attack in the ceramic-to-metal braze used at the sensing tip, and the dissolution of the sapphire insulating ceramic material used to electrically isolate the sensing tip from the metal conductor cable for platinum and stainless steel type sensors.
The electrochemical corrosion potential sensors may be mounted either directly in the reactor core region for directly monitoring electrochemical corrosion potential of in-core surfaces, or may be mounted outside the reactor core to monitor out-of-core surfaces. However, the typical electrochemical corrosion potential sensor nevertheless experiences a severe operating environment in view of the temperature of the water well exceeding 88.degree. C.; relatively high flowrates of the water up to and exceeding several m/s; and the high nuclear radiation in the core region. This complicates the design of the sensor since suitable materials are required for this hostile environment, and must be suitably configured for providing a watertight assembly for a useful life.
As indicated above, experience with the typical platinum electrochemical corrosion potential sensor has uncovered shortcomings that lead to premature failure before expiration of a typical fuel cycle.
Accordingly, it is desired to improve the design of electrochemical corrosion potential sensors for improving its useful life.

Brazeless electrochemical corrosion potential sensor


Disclosed herein are novel monomers of the formula CF.sub.2 .dbd.CF(CF.sub.2).sub.n CH.sub.2 OCF.dbd.CF.sub.2, wherein n is 1, 2 or 3, and novel intermediates of the formula CF.sub.2 ClCFCl(CF.sub.2).sub.n CH.sub.2 OCF.dbd.CF.sub.2 wherein n is 1, 2 or 3. Also disclosed is a fluoropolymer containing cyclic units when the monomer wherein n is 1 is free radically polymerized. The polymer is particularly useful in for coatings and encapsulants.

The instant monomers, partially fluorinated omega-alkenyl vinyl ethers, can be polymerized to uncrosslinked (soluble), semicrystalline, polymers. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,897,457 it is reported that perfluorinated omega-alkenyl vinyl ethers can be polymerized to polymers that are amorphous and contain ring structures.
J. E. Fearn, et al., J. Polym. Sci. A-1, volume 4, p. 131-140 (1966) and D. W. Brown et al., J. Polym. Sci. A-2, vol. 7, p. 601-608 (1969) report that certain perfluorinated alpha-omega dienes can be polymerized to soluble ring containing polymers. These polymers are not reported to be crystalline.


A sheet-of-light projection system is projects a substantially uniform sheet of laser light (or other electromagnetic radiation) using a fiber-optic bundle. Incidence optics directs a laser beam to be incident to the fiber-optic bundle at a predetermined angle of incidence, resulting in the projection of a sheet of light. For the exemplary embodiment, the angle of incidence is substantially orthogonal to the fiber-optic bundle, resulting in the projection of a substantially planar sheet of light. Thus, the laser projection technique converts a beam of laser light (or other electromagnetic radiation such as UV, visible, IR or microwave radiation) into a radially extending sheet of light that in the exemplary embodiment is substantially planar. In one application, the laser projection technique can be used in the construction industry to project a uniform substantially planar sheet of light for use as a reference marker.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates generally to systems for projecting laser light (or other electromagnetic radiation), and more particularly relates to systems for projecting a sheet of laser light. In even greater particularity, the invention relates to projecting a laser reference plane.
In one aspect of the invention, a laser beam is converted into a radially extending, omnidirectional substantially planar sheet of laser light for use as a reference plane for construction projects.
2. Related Art
Converting a laser beam into an omnidirectional sheet of laser light has a number of useful applications. For example, a substantially planar sheet of laser light can be used as a reference plane or marker, such as in the construction industry.
Without limiting the scope of the invention, this background information is provided in the context of a specific problem to which the invention has application: projecting a laser reference plane with a minimum of moving parts and critical adjustments.
Current techniques for converting a laser beam into a reference plane include:
(a) using a curved lens, (b) using a rotating prism/mirror/laser, and (c) using a stationary reflecting cone.
FIG. 1a, 1b, and 1c illustrate the curved lens approach with three different lens geometries. The laser beam is incident to a cylindrical lens with a typical curvature of about 1 mm radius. The lens projects a fan of laser light (an effect described by geometrical optics). Taboada et.al., Rev. Sci. Instruments (Vol. 44, No. 9. September 1973, p. 1240) describes using a cylindrical lens to generate the reference plane. A disadvantage of the cylindrical lens approach is that the light plane is limited to about 90 degrees of subtense, which has limited utility for many reference plane applications (such as in the construction industry).
FIG. 2 illustrates the rotating prism/mirror approach which is described further in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,588,249 (Studebaker), 4,062,634 (Rando), and 4,830,489 (Cain). A plane of light is projected radially outward from a prism or mirror which is rotated continuously through 360 degrees to sweep out the given reference plane. A variation of this approach is to use a rotating laser such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,576,826 and 5,307,368 (Hamar). A number of disadvantages of the rotating prism/mirror/laser approach results from the requirement of rotational mechanical movement, including control for vibration, gyroscopic force, and alignment, as well as precision bearings and special housing.
FIG. 3 illustrates the reflecting cone approach, which is described further in U.S. Pat. 4,111,564 (Trice). A laser beam, preferably one that is in the TEM01 mode which is characterized by a donut shaped transverse light distribution, is incident along the axis of a reflecting cone. The projected light defines a reference plane. Disadvantages of the reflecting cone approach include the requirement of a precisely defined input circular beam (TEM00 or TEM01), and limitations due to relatively stringent alignment demands (even a change of 1 arc second in the incident angle of the laser beam can cause an objectionable change in the light plane to an umbrella-like distribution. These alignment demands are addressed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,244 (Dugan), which still requires alignment adjustments and additional optical components to achieve the desired performance.

Projecting a sheet of laser light such as a laser reference plane using a fiber optic bundle


The present invention relates to a preparation method of α-alumina nano powder, and more particularly to a preparation method of α-alumina nano powder that has a uniform particle shape and size distribution, is capable of being produced at a low temperature, and contains less than 20 ppm of alkali metals such as Na and K. the α-alumina nano powder is prepared by glycolating aluminium alkoxide in glycol solution containing the α-iron oxide or α-alumina nucleation seed and carrying out glyco thermal reaction.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a preparation method of α-alumina nano powder, and more particularly to a preparation method of α-alumina nano powder which has uniform particle shape and size distribution, is capable of being produced at a low temperature, and contains less than 20 ppm of alkali metals such as Na and K.
(b) Description of the Related Art
In today's applied technology field, interest in nano technology, including nano particles, nano structure, and nano devices, is on the increase. Especially in the semiconductor industry, the need of a much finer linewidth of wires and multiple wiring is increasing with regard to super-integrated circuits.
The chemical-mechanical planarization (CMP) technique is an important high-level planarization technique that completely removes differences in wiring gaps of multiple circuits. In chemical-mechanical planarization, a chemically-treated surface is polished by mechanical movement of a slurry and a pad. The slurry used in the chemical-mechanical planarization refers to a solution wherein an abrasive with a dimension of tens to hundreds of nanometers is suspended in pure water. The abrasion rate and post-abrasion defects depend on the kind, size, and concentration of the abrasive.
α-Alumina has superior mechanical, electrical, and optical properties, and is widely used for abrasives, plasma sprays, fillers, sintering materials, fluorescent materials, insulators, optical materials, etc. In particular, α-alumina having a fine and uniform structure and narrow particle size distribution is required as a precision abrasive. The Bayer method makes mass production of α-alumina powder possible by converting bauxite to aluminum hydroxide or transition alumina and calcinating it in the air. However, α-alumina having superior crystallinity and purity cannot be obtained by this method. Also, due to the huge agglomeration of aluminum hydroxide or transition alumina, α-alumina powder tends to have a coarse and irregular particle structure. Moreover, a high temperature of about 1,230° C. is required for complete transition, since the degree of transition depends on temperature and time of heat treatment.
As solutions to these problems, research on solution-powder synthesis, such as the sol-gel method, hydrothermal method, and co-precipitation method, are actively in progress. The solution-powder synthesis method offers stoichiometric crystalline ceramic particles of good purity. In particular, the hydrothermal method is capable of growing single-crystal particles at a very much lower temperature and of controlling particle size and shape. Therefore, this method is widely being researched and commercially applied. The problem of α-alumina synthesis by the hydrothermal method is that it takes an excessive amount of time because of the high temperature and pressure that are required.
In this regard, research on synthesis using organic solvent instead of aqueous solution is being carried out. Adair, et al. synthesized α-alumina having a narrow particle size distribution using glycol, which is a secondary alcohol. Also, they could control particle size and shape by regulating the concentration of the nucleation seed and stirring rate. However, if aluminum hydroxide obtained from the precipitation method is used as a precursor, contamination by alkali metals such as Na and K is inevitable, and high-purity α-alumina cannot be obtained.
Accordingly, there is a need for a method for preparing high-purity α-alumina having a uniform particle shape and size distribution and that is safe from contamination by alkali metals such as Na and K.

Method for preparing α-alumina nano powder


A recessed lighting fixture providing illumination from a light source comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) placed within a cavity of a planar surface, such as a ceiling, wall, or shower. The fixture comprises a baffle integrated with a low profile heat sink that is used to draw heat out of the fixture and communicate that heat to a trim ring of the fixture for dissipation of the heat in the room so that higher intensity light sources can be used. Improved grounding of the recessed trim unit to the recessed housing is provided with combination support and grounding springs. One embodiment of the light source is fixed in position while a second embodiment is gimbal mounted for aiming the light produced by the fixture.

The present invention relates generally to lighting fixtures and, more particularly, to a recessed lighting fixture that provides improved heat dissipation and grounding.
Recessed lighting fixtures are well known in the art. Ideally, such fixtures are designed to be visually unobtrusive in that very little of the lighting fixture is visible from below the ceiling. However, some trim portions are visible as well as the light sources. An opening is cut into the ceiling into which most of the light fixture is mounted so that very little extends below the plane of the ceiling. A trim piece, which may take the form of a bezel, is generally located at the opening to enhance the appearance of the light fixture and conceal the hole cut into the ceiling. Typically, the trim piece is slightly below the planar surface of the ceiling.
Such bezels or other types of trim pieces also include insulation located between the trim piece and the ceiling. In many cases, recessed lighting fixtures are installed in holes in ceilings where the temperature is much different from that of the room into which the light fixture provides illumination. The insulation tends to oppose changes of the room temperature due to the hole cut in the ceiling for the light fixture.
Although described in a ceiling embodiment, such light fixtures are also used in walls in both dwelling structures and in automobiles, in numerous commercial building applications, and in many other applications. For the sake of reference, such lighting fixtures are referred to herein as "recessed."
Different light sources are used for recessed lighting fixtures. Some light sources generate substantial amounts of heat, so much so that the rating of the light fixture must be displayed and warnings given that light sources above a certain wattage could pose an overheating danger and are not to be used. However, in some cases, the light fixture must be located a substantial distance away from the object to be illuminated and higher wattage light sources are necessary to develop the amount of illumination needed. Such wattage limits imposed by the lighting fixtures can undesirably limit the amount of light furnished by the fixture. For example, light fixtures located in higher ceilings, which are more common today, or light fixtures that are meant to shine at an angle other than perpendicular to illuminate an object, may not provide enough light for the object if lower wattage light sources must be used. Consequently, light fixtures able to accommodate higher heat levels are desired in such situations. Such light fixtures must be able to dissipate increased levels of heat to avoid a hazard.
There are two basic configurations of recessed lighting fixtures. One is know as a fixed position light source and the second is known as a movable or gimbaled light source. The first does not permit the light source to be aimed differently than when it was mounted while the second permits relatively easy movement of the light fixture for changing the aim of the light. In the second configuration, movement of the light source to change its aim without disassembly of the fixture is provided. Both types are useful for many applications and in both, the dissipation of heat is a concern.
Gimbaled lighting fixtures were created in which the light can be easily aimed. As is commonly used, a gimbaled mounting provides two mutually perpendicular and intersecting axes of rotation thus giving free angular movement in two directions. In the case of a recessed light source, a gimbaled mounting would provide for tilting the light source to achieve elevational control of its aim, and swiveling, or rotating, the light source to achieve azimuth control. This aiming procedure would typically be performed by a person who must touch the light source while it is in the "on" configuration; i.e., while power is being applied to the light source, so that the direction of light can be seen during adjustment. Touching the light source for aiming or other purposes while "on" exposes the person to any electrical potential or charge residing at the light source. Even if not aiming the light source, touching it for the purpose of repair or replacement can subject the person to any electrical potential residing on the light source. Dissipating heat and any electrical potential are two needs that have been identified for recessed lighting fixtures.
As a brief overview of a recessed light source fixture, a recessed "can" or housing is fixedly mounted into the ceiling through the opening. Such housings are generally metallic and electrically conductive. They also are generally connected to earth ground. A "trim unit," which includes one or more light sources, a trim ring, and other devices to provide the aesthetic design and lighting functions is mounted within the housing. Various "trim units" may be available for mounting within any one housing. The trim unit typically receives the light bulb or other light source or sources and provides the necessary electrical power to them for illumination.
Various structures have been devised for holding a trim unit in a can. One desired structure is the use of devices that interlock or mate with other devices to positively hold the trim unit in place in the can. Other approaches involving only friction to maintain the trim unit in place are less desirable. It would also be desirable for such mounting devices to form an electrical pathway to the can so that any electrical charge that may build up on the trim unit can be dissipated.
Hence, those skilled in the art have recognized the need for a light fixture in which brighter light sources can be used and any commensurate higher levels of heat can be dissipated. Those skilled in the art have also recognized a need for providing improved means for dissipation of heat from light sources and electrical supply devices used in recessed light fixtures, and for providing the dissipation of any electrical energy that may be developed at the light fixture, in particular at the part of the fixture more likely to be touched by a person attempting to repair or aim the light source. A need has also been recognized for a positive mounting arrangement of the trim unit in the recessed housing so that the trim unit is held in the housing through an interference or interlocking mounting system sufficient to prevent the trim unit from falling out of the recessed housing. The present invention fulfills these needs and others.

Lighting fixture with recessed baffle trim unit


A contactor for effecting passage through a membrane from a first fluid a second fluid is provided. A cylindrical pleated membrane cartridge is positioned within a housing having a first inlet and a first outlet from a first fluid and at lest a second outlet for a second fluid. At least one baffle is positioned within a first flow path for the first fluid.

This invention relates to a contactor and process to effect gas flow between two fluids including a pleated porous membrane. More particular, this invention relates to such a contactor including a pleated porous membrane and a baffle means for effecting contact of a liquid stream with the pleated membrane.
Microporous membranes are used in a wide variety of applications. Used as separating filters, they remove particles and bacteria from diverse solutions such as buffers and therapeutic containing solutions in the pharmaceutical industry, ultrapure aqueous and organic solvent solutions in microelectronics wafer making processes, and for pre-treatment of water purification processes. In addition, they are used in medical diagnostic devices, where their high porosity results in advantageous absorption and wicking properties.
Hollow fiber membranes are used as membrane contactors, typically for degassing or gas absorption applications. Contactors bring together two phases, i.e., two liquid phases, or a liquid and a gas phase for the purpose of transferring a component from one phase to the other. A common process is gas-liquid mass transfer, such as gas absorption, in which a gas or a component of a gas stream is absorbed in a liquid. Liquid degassing is another example, in which a liquid containing dissolved gas is contacted with an atmosphere, a vacuum or a separate phase to remove the dissolved gas. In an example of conventional gas absorption, gas bubbles are dispersed in an absorbing liquid to increase the gas/liquid surface area and increase the rate of transfer of the species to be absorbed from the gas phase. Conversely, droplets of liquid can be sprayed or the liquid can be transported as a thin film in counter-current operation of spray towers, packed towers, etc. Similarly, droplets of an immiscible liquid can be dispersed in a second liquid to enhance transfer. Packed columns and tray columns have a deficiency as the individual rates of the two phases cannot be independently varied over wide ranges without causing flooding, entrainment, etc. If however, the phases are separated by a membrane, the flow rates of each phase can be varied independently. Furthermore, all the area is available, even at relatively low flow rates. Due to these advantages, hollow fiber membranes are increasingly being used in contactor applications.
Hydrophobic microporous membranes are commonly used for contactor applications with an aqueous solution that does not wet the membrane. The solution flows on one side of the membrane and a gas mixture at a lower pressure than the solution flows on the other. Pressures on each side of the membrane are maintained so that the liquid pressure does not overcome the critical pressure of the membrane, and so that the gas does not bubble into the liquid. Critical pressure, the pressure at which the solution will intrude into the pores, depends directly on the material used to make the membrane, inversely on the pore size of the membrane, and directly on the surface tension of the liquid in contact with the gas phase. Hollow fiber membranes are primarily used because of the ability to obtain a very high packing density with such devices. Packing density relates to the amount of useful filtering surface per volume of the device. Also, they may be operated with the feed contacting the inside or the outside surface, depending on which is more advantageous in the particular application. Typical applications for contacting membrane systems are to remove dissolved gases from liquids, "degassing"; or to add a gaseous substance to a liquid. For example, ozone is added to very pure water to provide a solution for washing semiconductor wafers.
An advantage for contacting applications is that the very low surface tension of hydrophilic membranes such as thermoplastic perfluorinated polymers allows use with low surface tension liquids. For example, highly corrosive developers used in the semiconductor manufacturing industry may contain surface tension reducing additives, such as surfactants. These developers could not be degassed with typical microporous membranes because the liquid would intrude the pores at the pressures used and permeate, causing solution loss and excess evaporation. In addition, liquid filling the pores would greatly add to the mass transfer resistance of gas transport.
Microporous membranes have a continuous porous structure that extends throughout the membrane. Workers in the field consider the range of pore widths to be from approximately 0.05 micron to approximately 10.0 microns. Such membranes can be in the form of sheets, tubes, or hollow fibers. Hollow fibers have the advantages of being able to be incorporated into separating devices at high packing densities. However, hollow fibers have the disadvantages that they are difficult to form and are therefore expensive.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a contactor apparatus which effects gas transfer from one fluid phase to a second fluid phase without the use of hollow fibers. In addition, it would be desirable to provide such a contactor which effects gas transfer between two fluid phases with improved gas transfer efficiency as compared with presently available contactors.

Pleated construction for effecting gas transfer membrane


The improved medical instrument is adapted to remove obstructions from ear canals, nostrils and endotracheal tube airways. It includes an elongated handle with an elongated hollow tube connected to the front end thereof and an elongated flexible wire extending from the front end of the tube. The front end of the wire is curved to form a scoop for removing obstructions from a lumen. In one embodiment the wire and tube are removable as a replaceable unit from the front end of the handle. In another embodiment the handle has a central cavity therein communicating with the cavity in the tube and through both of which the wire extends. The wire is connected to a spring which extends out of the handle. The spring biases the wire into the tube. When the wire is manually depressed the front end of the wire extends out of tube and curves into the desired scoop configuration. The instrument can include a light which is switched on when the wire extends out of the tube and which is used to light the lumen. In another embodiment the front end of the wire forms a loop which goes back into the tube, which is flexible, the loop being extendable from the tube by spring biasing. In a further embodiment one end of the loop is secured to the exterior of the tube and the loop is shielded by a removable cap.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to medical instruments and more particularly to an improved medical instrument for removing obstructions from ear canals, nostrils and endotracheal tube airways.
2. Prior Art
An ear curette instrument is commonly used to remove cerumen and foreign bodies from ear canals Most such curettes have a long, stiff, relatively thick straight shaft of metal or plastic to the front of which is fixedly connected in a set position a relatively large wire loop or spoon of fixed size tilted at an angle to allow it to be positioned behind the cerumen or foreign material in the ear canal. The cerumen or foreign object is extracted by pulling it out of the ear canal as the instrument is withdrawn.
Certain problems are encountered with such instruments. Thus, the fixed angle and large cross sectional diameter of the instrument tip hinder the passage of the tip through the distal orifice with large otoscope specula. Such task is impossible when ear speculums of appropriate small size are used on infants and small children. Moreover, once the instrument tip is advanced beyond the otoscope speculum, it is difficult to avoid pushing the cerumen or foreign object deeper into the ear canal.
Proper alignment of the instrument tip by advancing it downward is very difficult due to the size of the otoscope head. In addition, the instrument is difficult to stabilize if the patient moves, thereby increasing the risk of abrasion or laceration of the ear canal or perforation of the ear drum. Such an instrument largely obstructs a clear view of the ear drum, walls of the ear canal and the cerumen or foreign object because of the large diameter of the instrument shaft, the fixed angle of the tip, the required angling of the tip and because the practitioner's hand blocks the view.
Problems similar to those described above are encountered when the instrument is used to remove foreign objects from the nasal passages.
A suction catheter is normally used to remove secretions and mucous from the lumen of an intubated endotracheal tube. However, when the mucous hardens into a large mass suction may be incapable of removing it and removal of the endotracheal tube and re-intubation may be required, a potentially harmful and stressful procedure, especially for young patients.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved instrument which can easily and successfully remove cerumen and foreign objects from ear canals, foreign objects from nasal passages and hardened secretions from endotracheal tube airways.

Medical instrument for removing lumen obstructions


A method and device for dynamically overlaying two or more video streams uses specialized metadata that are attached to at least one of the video streams.

Playback devices for audio/video (AV) data, usually based on hard-disk drives (HDD) or optical discs, may have different possibilities to access additional data, e.g. Internet access, Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface etc. for downloading additional contents.
Some high-end TV sets provide the possibility to view two or more programs simultaneously by using picture-in-picture (PIP) technique, which however uses different proprietary technical solutions. The way such a TV set presents different video sequences on the same screen is not flexible, but immediately fixed after manufacturing the TV set.
Available PIP techniques work without any help information extracted from the AV content.

Method and device for handling multiple video streams using metadata


A method of minimizing fat accumulation in a growing animal without limiting caloric intake or preventing or treating obesity in an animal, the method comprising orally administering a ketogenic diet and a nutrient blend to the animal. The nutrient blend can include at least four nutrients selected from the group consisting of walnut, maitake mushroom extract, EGCG, turmeric root powder, lycopene, taurine, EPA, and DHA to the animal.

The rates of obesity and overweight have increased drastically over recent decades, and the prevalence of obesity and overweight tends to increase with age. Obesity and overweight are correlated with numerous pathologies, including sleep apnea, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and general deterioration of patients' feelings of wellness. Overweight and obese patients can also suffer from multiple symptoms aside from the aforementioned pathologies, including fatigue, drowsiness, lack of motivation, anhedonia, and depression. Inflammatory diseases, such as arthritis, have been shown to be exacerbated by excess weight, which may be an effect of increased adipocyte proliferation and the concomitant increased activity of adipose tissue specific cytokines known as adipokines.
As such, ongoing research and study continue in efforts to find alternative solutions for fat accumulation and obesity SUMMARY
The present disclosure relates generally to ketogenic diets and nutrient blends. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to methods and compositions directed to ketogenic diets and nutrient blends for minimizing fat accumulation in a growing animal without limiting caloric intake or preventing or treating obesity in an animal.
Accordingly, in a general embodiment, a method of minimizing fat accumulation in a growing animal without limiting caloric intake or preventing or treating obesity in an animal can comprise orally administering a ketogenic diet and a nutrient blend to the animal. The nutrient blend can include at least four nutrients selected from the group consisting of walnut, maitake mushroom extract, EGCG, turmeric root powder, lycopene, taurine, EPA, and DHA to the animal.
Additional features and advantages are described herein and will be apparent from, the following Detailed Description.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Nutrition blend for health benefits in animals


A locking ring designed to work in a self restraining pipe joint. This locking ring is designed (which may include attention to a combination of shape and material properties) to twist when exposed to a concentrated load and thereby distribute this load across broader area of the pipe joint to increase the thrust restraining capabilities of the joint

A current state of the art self restraining pipe joint is commonly known as the TR FLEX® Pipe joint as manufactured by U.S. Pipe and Foundry Co. Inc. This is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,540,204 among others, which relies on individual locking segments engaging a weld bead on the spigot (male) end of one pipe with a cavity formed into the bell (female) end of the joining or mating pipe.
Several areas for improvement have been identified concerning the prior art involving this concept. The first is that the individual locking segments may not fully engage the weld bead placed on the spigot end of the pipe under all assembly conditions (including layout configurations and dimensional variations). These conditions may be so severe that the segments may, in fact, miss the weld bead entirely. This condition will greatly affect the thrust restraining capability of the joint. The second issue is that when the joint is deflected, the spigot approaches the bell at an angle instead of being concentric and parallel. This condition alters the longitudinal gap between the segment cavity (the bell groove) in the bell of one pipe and the weld bead on the spigot end of the other pipe. In short, the gap has a varying magnitude of separation. This gap is what is typically bridged by the individual locking segments. Only the locking segment(s) in the area of the smallest gap therefore will be engaged, creating a concentrated load on the bell and spigot of the mating pipe. The third issue is that assembly may be difficult in all but the most ideal circumstances since the individual locking segments must slide into the gap between the spigot and bell of mating pipes and this gap must be kept small in order to allow the segments to engage both halves of the pipe joint. The fourth issue is that the joint is sensitive to manufacturing tolerances. If the tolerances are allowed to vary too much, then the locking segments may not engage the spigot end of the mating pipe resulting in reduced joint performance.

Centroidally twistable compression ring for pipe joints

United States Pipe and Foundry Company, LLC


A substrate holder PH includes a first holder PH1 which holds a substrate P, a liquid-repellent inner surface Tc of a plate member T which faces a side surface Pc of the substrate P held on the first holder PH1 via a predetermined gap A, and a chamfered portion C provided on an upper portion of the inner surface Tc. On the side surface Pc of the substrate P, a liquid-repellent area is provided, and the chamfered portion C is provided so as to face the liquid-repellent area of the substrate P held on the first holder PH1. Thereby, a substrate holding device which can restrain inflow of the liquid into the back surface side of the substrate is provided.

In a photolithography process as one of manufacturing processes for a microdevice such as a semiconductor device or a liquid crystal display device, an exposure apparatus which transfers a pattern formed on a mask to a substrate is used. This exposure apparatus has a mask stage that is movable while holding a mask and a substrate stage that is movable while holding a substrate, and transfers a pattern of a mask to a substrate via the projection optical system while successively moving the mask stage and the substrate stage. In microdevice manufacturing, for higher density of the device, it has been demanded to increase the fineness of the pattern to be formed on the substrate. To meet this demand, higher resolution of the exposure apparatus has been desired. As one of the means for realizing this higher resolution, a liquid immersion exposure apparatus has been proposed which fills an optical path space between a projection optical system and a substrate with a liquid and exposes the substrate via the projection optical system and the liquid as disclosed in Patent Document 1:
Patent document 1: International Publication Pamphlet No. 99/49504

Plate member, substrate holding device, exposure apparatus and method, and device manufacturing method


A molecular characterization detector includes a scattering cell containing a sample for molecular characterization, a light source for directing a light beam through the cell so that the light beam is scattered by the sample, optical elements for selecting from the scattered light a measurement beam comprising light that is scattered by the sample from a predetermined portion of the cell in a predetermined range of angles relative to the optical axis, and a detector for detecting the measurement beam and providing an output electrical signal representative of the measurement beam. The detector typically selects light scattered from a central portion of the scattering cell at angles in the range of 14.degree. to 16.degree.. A single spherical lens is preferably utilized. As a result, interference from stray scattered light is minimized. A beam dump attenuates the light beam after it passes through the scattering cell. Additional detectors detect light scattered at 90.degree. to the light beam. The outputs of the detectors are processed to provide molecular characterization of the sample.

A well known need exists within industries involved with macromolecules to characterize molecules created by or used in various processes. Application areas where this need is of particular interest include quality control laboratories, research laboratories and manufacturing operations in the plastics, pharmaceutical, biotech and chemicals industries. Typical measurements to characterize molecules include determination of the molecular weight distributions and polydispersity when different molecular weights are included in the sample, molecular sizes (hydrodynamic radii, radii of gyration), concentrations and conformation information, including shape information and molecular branching information.
The most common technique for molecular characterization is liquid chromatography (LC), which involves the preparation of the sample for the particular detection method to be used and the detection method itself. In this well known analytical technique, a flowing mixture of a solvent and the substances to be tested (a mixture of molecules with various molecular weights and other molecular characteristics) is passed through specifically selected chromatography columns which result in the component molecules being separated in time in the flowing solvent according to their size or according to some other molecular characteristic. The flowing fluid then passes through the detector. In one type of detector, a laser beam is directed through the fluid, and the scattered light is analyzed to provide molecular characterization.
Examples of uses of liquid chromatography are the analyses of proteins, commercial resins, natural and synthetic polymers, neucleic acids, plasticizers, plant and animal metabolites, lubricants, dyes, petroleum residues, pharmaceuticals, amino acids, pigments, polysaccharides, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, surfactants, lipids, explosives, and other materials.
The detectors have used various techniques for detecting light scattered by sample molecules. In one prior art system, the sample is surrounded by an array of detectors which collect laser light scattered by the sample at different angles. In another prior art system, laser light scattered by the sample at a predetermined angle passes through an annular aperture and is focused on a photomultiplier. All of the known prior art molecular characterization detectors have had one or more disadvantages, including difficulty of use because of required optical alignment, low signal levels and interference from stray light, which reduces accuracy, and relatively high cost.
It is a general object of the present invention to provide improved methods and apparatus for molecular characterization.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a molecular characterization detector wherein interference from stray light is reduced in comparison with prior art detectors.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide improved molecular characterization instruments.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a molecular characterization detector wherein light scattered by window surfaces is blocked from reaching the light detector.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a molecular characterization detector which is low in cost, easy to manufacture and which does not require optical alignment.

Methods and apparatus for molecular characterization


A non-volatile memory card is described, which comprises a chronometer powered by an autarkic, card-internal power supply with a long-term energy store. The chronometer is connected to a card internal controller, such that the chronometer can provide the current time to the controller independent of a host system.

Non-volatile memory cards (NVMCs) are becoming more and more popular. They are now widely used in many applications, notably in storage solution for digital consumer devices such as digital cameras or personal audio equipment. In such applications the data stored on the memory card is usually copied to another device like a personal computer or from another medium like an Audio-CD, which serves as a long-term storage facility. Consequently long-term storage of data on non-volatile memory cards has not been an issue yet.
As prices for such memory cards go down, they are also used in other application areas, e.g., for long-term storage of all kinds of data. Although non-volatile memory cards provide a reliable storage solution, even such memory cards degrade with time. For that reason it is necessary to keep track of the age of non-volatile memory cards.
If a memory card reaches a critical age, the memory module's data content needs to be refreshed, e.g., by reading it into the volatile memory of a card controller or a host system and writing it back to the memory module. This procedure activates memory card internal memory management functions, for example bad block detection and exclusion. Alternatively, it is possible to copy the data from the old memory card to a new memory card and to dispose of the old memory card.
With current technology, it is possible to estimate the expected lifetime during the manufacturing process or use of the memory card, e.g., based on statistical data from quality tests like counting the number of defective storage cells. However, it is a disadvantage of the current generation of non-volatile memory cards that it is very hard to enforce the deactivation of a non-volatile memory card at the end of the expected lifetime once it has been released to a customer. Usually constraints concerning the lifetime of a memory card are just printed as a disclaimer or guaranty on the packaging of the card. However, many customers do not read such information or do not act according to them. In addition such disclaimers are typically based on indirect aging parameters like storage cycles or the mean time between failures (MTBF), which bear no direct meaning for a consumer.
One method of overcoming the problem is to specify the number of allowed read and write cycles of the non-volatile memory card. Because every read and write operation is performed by a card internal controller, a counter can be implemented in the controller and can be used to record the number of read and write operations performed on the non-volatile memory module.
Alternatively, the operational lifetime of the non-volatile memory card can be determined by measuring the time the device has been active, i.e., the time the memory card was connected to a host system providing the memory card internal controller with electrical energy.
Unfortunately these methods are not as flexible as measuring the wall clock time directly. An additional disadvantage of these methods is that such observations can only be made and analyzed as long as the non-volatile memory card is connected to a host system. Consequently, such methods are unsuitable for long-term storage solutions based on non-volatile memory cards, such as data archives comprising a multitude of NVMCs, which are only connected to an external, electrical device very infrequently. For such applications the number of read and write cycles or the operational lifetime is very low and not suitable to evaluate the device's lifetime.

Non-volatile memory card with autarkic chronometer

Infineon Technologies Flash GmbH & Co. KG


An exposure apparatus including a pulse light source, an exposure unit which exposes a substrate to a pattern with light from the pulse light source, a determination unit which determines necessity of maintenance for the pulse light source based on a pulse rate of the pulse light source within a predetermined period of time, and a decision unit which decides a timing of the maintenance based on a determination result of the determination unit.

In recent years, in the semiconductor device technology, the device integration degree has been increasing and the device feature size has been shrinking more and more. In a lithography system used in a lithography process, a pulse laser, such as a KrF or an ArF excimer laser, is used as a light source device in a far ultraviolet region. A lithography system using an excimer laser includes an excimer laser and an exposure device. The excimer laser is connected to the exposure device through an interface cable such as an optical fiber. An exposure operation in the lithography system is as follows. A reticle is illuminated with a pulse laser beam output from the excimer laser in accordance with an exposure sequence controlled by a main controller provided to the exposure device. A circuit pattern formed on the reticle is projected onto a resist coated wafer through an image forming optical system. Thus, the resist on the wafer is exposed with the pattern to form a latent image.
As the excimer laser, generally, a gas mixture of three types of gases, i.e., a halogen gas, such as fluorine, an inert gas, such as krypton or argon, and a rare gas, such as helium or neon, is sealed in a laser chamber. In the excimer laser, when electrical discharge occurs in the chamber, the halogen gas and inert gas react with each other to oscillate a pulse laser beam as exposure light. When the pulse laser beam is repeatedly oscillated, the halogen gas is bonded with impurities generated in the chamber or attracted to the inner side of the chamber. Then, the concentration of the halogen gas decreases to decrease the pulse energy of the laser beam, and the constituent components of the laser light source are degraded.
In a lithography system that uses the excimer laser as the light source, when the pulse energy fluctuates, inconveniences, such as a decrease in control accuracy of the exposure dose on a photosensitive substrate, occur. To obtain a high resolution and good line width reproducibility, an exposure dose control method of controlling the pulse energy for each exposure light pulse is necessary. Japanese Patent Laid Open No. 5-62876 proposes an exposure dose control method as a method which overcomes this issue.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the structure of an exposure apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid Open No. 5-62876. Referring to FIG. 9, a gas such as KrF is sealed in a pulse laser light source 101, which outputs a laser beam. An illumination optical system 102 includes a beam shaping optical system, an optical integrator, a collimator, and a mirror (not shown). A reticle 103 has the circuit pattern of a semiconductor device to be printed (transferred), and is illuminated by the illumination optical system 102. The circuit pattern of the reticle 103 is reduced and projected onto a wafer 105 by a projection optical system (reduction projection lens) 104. A half mirror 106 is arranged in the optical path between the illumination optical system 102 and reticle 103. Part of the exposure light that illuminates the reticle 103 is extracted as it is reflected by the half mirror 106. An ultraviolet photosensor 107 is arranged on the optical path of the light reflected by the half mirror 106. The photosensor 107 generates an output corresponding to the intensity of the exposure light.
The output from the photosensor 107 is converted into an exposure energy per pulse by an integration circuit 108, which integrates each pulse emission of the pulse laser light source 101, and is provided to a controller 109, which calculates an integrated exposure dose, of an exposure device. The controller 109 outputs an appropriate application voltage value and a laser emission command signal to a laser controller 110 on the basis of the calculation result. The energy of the exposure light generated by the pulse laser light source 101 is controlled in accordance with the application voltage value of the laser controller 110. These operations are repeated to control the integrated exposure dose of the circuit pattern image of the reticle 103, which is to be printed on the wafer 105.
When the degradation of the light source, such as an excimer laser, exceeds an allowance, for example, the laser gas or constituent components must be exchanged. This maintenance is generally performed when the laser controller (light source controller) sends a maintenance request to the main controller of the exposure device in accordance with the number of emission pulses or use time. Upon reception of the maintenance request, the main controller can perform a process (e.g., an alarm to the operator) for the maintenance immediately after the exposure is ended if exposure operation is being performed, and immediately if a non exposure operation is being performed.
It is not preferable to limit the maintenance timing to a time point immediately after the maintenance request is made or immediately after the exposure operation is ended. For example, during a process that does not require laser beam emission or in adjustment of the lithography system, if the exposure device receives a maintenance request signal and a maintenance process for the laser light source is performed immediately in response to the signal, the resources may be wasted. If a timing for checking the maintenance request signal is constantly set to a time point immediately before the emission timing of the excimer laser, waste of the resources can be avoided. When, however, a maintenance request is generated, the wafer exposure process is always delayed by a time corresponding to the maintenance process time. This decreases the throughput.


A process is provided for preparing polyester composite materials, comprising polymerizing at least one polyester precursor in the presence of filler microparticles and/or nanoparticles and organosilane having nucleophilic functionality. The organosilane is added as a distinct ingredient. The polyester composites so prepared have low acid end group content, thus improved hydrolytic and melt stability and improved elongation at break.

Nanocomposites are polymers reinforced with nanometer sized particles, i.e., particles with a dimension on the order of 1 to several hundred nanometers. Polymer-layered silicate nanocomposites normally incorporate a layered clay mineral filler in a polymer matrix. Layered silicates are made up of several hundred thin platelet layers stacked into an orderly packet known as a tactoid. Each of these platelets is characterized by large aspect ratio (diameter/thickness on the order of 100-1000). Accordingly, when the clay is dispersed homogeneously and exfoliated as individual platelets throughout the polymer matrix, dramatic increases in strength, flexural and Young's modulus, and heat distortion temperature are observed at very low filler loadings (<10% by weight) because of the large surface area contact between polymer and filler. These materials can be used, for example, in structural, semi-structural, high heat underhood, and Class A automotive components, among others
To improve the interaction between hydrophilic fillers and a hydrophobic polymer matrix, the surface of the particle may be pretreated with an agent intended to make the surface more organophilic, for example, a quaternary alkylammonium salt for clays and organosilanes for glass fibers or other glass fillers
U.S. Patent Publication 2006/0205856 teaches an in situ polymerization approach for the preparation of polyester nanocomposite compositions, namely, a process for manufacturing a thermoplastic polyester nanocomposite comprising mixing a sepiolite-type clay with at least one thermoplastic polyester precursor selected from the group consisting of at least one diacid or diester and at least one diol; at least one polymerizable polyester monomer; at least one linear polyester oligomer; and at least one macrocyclic polyester oligomer; and subsequently polymerizing said at least one polyester precursor in the presence or absence of a solvent.
Polyester nanocomposites produced by means of in situ polymerization comprise polyester having a high concentration of carboxylic acid end groups. In general, high acid end group content is undesirable in polyesters because of deleterious effects on properties such as hydrolytic and melt stability. High acid end group content also leads to corrosion problems when the polyester is in contact with metal and an outgassing problem at elevated temperature, which is particularly important in certain automotive applications. Furthermore, the acid end groups can catalyze the hydrolysis of the ester bonds of polyesters in an auto-catalytic process, leading to lower molecular weight and embrittlement. In general, the acid end content of polyesters is controlled by choosing proper catalysts, adjusting the amount of the catalysts, using specially designed reactors, and changing process conditions.
Among polyesters, high acid end group content is particularly deleterious in poly(butylene terephthalate) ("PBT"). For many applications of PBT in particular, such as automobile lighting, low acid end content, and good elongation at break. Therefore, it is highly desired to have a simple method to lower the acid end content of PBT-filler composites using the same processing equipment and conditions as thermoplastic polyesters without significantly decreasing elongation at break
For the reasons set forth above, there exists a need for a simple process for producing filled polyesters, especially polyester nanocomposites, having low acid end group content.

Process for preparing polyester composite materials


According to one aspect of the invention, a turbine assembly includes an airfoil extending from a blade and a dovetail located on a lower portion of the blade, wherein the dovetail has a dovetail contact surface. The turbine assembly also includes a member with a slot configured to couple to the airfoil via the dovetail, the slot having a slot contact surface to contact the dovetail contact surface, wherein the dovetail contact surface is reduced by a relief to alter a fundamental frequency of an assembly of the blade and member.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to rotating and stationary components of turbomachinery and, more particularly, to a blade and disk dovetail design for turbine systems.
Certain turbine rotor disks include a plurality of circumferentially spaced dovetail slots about the outer periphery of the disk. Each of the dovetail slots receives a blade formed with an airfoil portion and a blade dovetail having a male portion complementary to the female portion of the dovetail slots. The blade dovetail is received by the dovetail slot in an axial direction.
During operation of the turbine, movement of certain components and flow of compressed air and hot gas through the turbine can cause vibration in the turbine system. For example, the vibration of rotating blades can be driven by air or gas flowing through adjacent static vanes. Specifically, during operation of the turbine system, driving frequencies are caused by pulses formed as fluid passes through blades in the compressor or turbine. It is desirable for blades to be designed such that their fundamental natural frequencies either avoid the driving frequencies or can withstand the vibration caused by them, otherwise wear, high cycle fatigue, and other damage to components can occur. Repair and/or replacement of components due to vibration induced fatigue can be costly and time consuming


This invention relates generally to filtration cassettes, and, more particularly to methods of fabricating cross-flow filtration cassettes. Cassettes of the invention are characterized, in part, by an internal porting (e.g., manifolding) feature which eliminates the need for a separate step to seal individual components prior to assembly of the filtration cassette. Filtration cassettes of the present invention can be manufactured from conventional membrane and flow screen components and can utilize both injection molding and vacuum assisted resin transfer molding fabrication processes.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to filtration cassettes, and, more particularly to methods of fabricating cross-flow filtration cassettes. Cassettes of the invention are characterized, in part, by an internal porting (e.g., manifolding) feature which eliminates the need for a separate step to seal individual components prior to assembly of the filtration cassette. Filtration cassettes of the present invention can be manufactured from conventional membrane and flow screen components and can utilize both injection molding and vacuum assisted resin transfer molding fabrication processes.
2. Background
Filtration cassettes are used in a variety of biotechnology and food processing applications. These cassettes typically comprise a stacked assembly of porous membrane components and filtrate and retentate flow screen components. During cross-flow filtration, a suspension is continually pumped into the retentate ports and through the cassette. Product that passes through the membrane is collected and passed out, e.g., drained, through the filtrate ports.
Filtration cassettes have conventionally been made using a multi-step process (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,715,955). Generally, unused manifold ports on each of the individual flow screens (e.g., filtrate and retentate) are sealed. For example, in the case of the filtrate flow screen, ports utilized for the distribution of retentate on other layers must be sealed about their perimeter to prevent mixing. This step can also be accomplished while binding one or more flow screens to the filtration membrane layer in the production of a subassembly. By either mode, a fixture is required to hold the flow screen in place and introduce resin and vacuum appropriately.
Next, component membranes or subassemblies and flow screens which have been sealed as described above are layered within a mold or other fixture according to the design requirements for the finished filtration cassette. Once the components have been assembled within the mold, a resin is introduced about the periphery. Using conventional vacuum transfer molding techniques, the resin is drawn into the edges of the cassette assembly. Once hardened, the resin provides structural support and edge sealing around the cassette.
The resulting fabricated filtration cassette may then be utilized for its intended application by fixing it between end plates, which provide appropriate manifolding and a means of compression. The compression allows sealing between the filtration cassette and the manifold within the endplate, as well as sealing between the components of the cassette itself. This conventional fabrication process is time intensive, costly and cannot be easily automated. Further, the compression required for sealing of the fabricated cassette, both between components and between the cassette and the manifolds within the end plate, results in reduced seal reliability.
Given these and other deficiencies observed in the art, it would be highly desirable to develop improved filtration cassettes and methods for their fabrication. It would be particularly desirable to improve seal reliability within the fabricated filtration cassette. Still further, it would be equally desirable to reduce time and manufacturing costs associated with filtration cassette fabrication.

Cross-flow filtration cassettes and methods for fabrication of same


A vehicle yawing behavior control apparatus for controlling the vehicle behavior to bring the actual vehicle yawing motion into agreement with the calculated target value calculated based on the parameters representing a condition of vehicle movement. At least vehicle yaw rate and slip angle representing an actual value of vehicle yawing motion is detected. When the detected vehicle slip angle is directed outside with respect to the vehicle movement and is greater than a reference slip angle, the calculated target vehicle yawing motion value is corrected outside with respect to the vehicle movement to a greater degree at a greater deviation of the detected vehicle slip angle from the reference slip angle. The reference slip angle is increased as the calculated target vehicle yawing motion value increases.

This invention relates to an apparatus for controlling the yawing behavior of an automotive vehicle supported on a pair of front road wheels and a pair of rear road wheels.
In general, drivers turn the vehicle in a circle with a feeling of vehicle position and direction, that is, vehicle slip angle (normally referred to as yaw angle). However, a satisfactory sensor for measuring vehicle slip angle is not available at this time. Because of this, it is the current practice to control the vehicle behavior by controlling the vehicle yaw rate to a target value, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Kokai Nos. 63-312271 and 4-334660. With such a conventional vehicle yawing behavior control, however, the vehicle behavior would be controlled in a direction to promote unstable vehicle behavior upon occurrence of vehicle lateral slip. In order to solve this problem, feedback control may be required not only for the vehicle yaw rate, but also for the vehicle slip angle. The vehicle slip angle feedback control is made, according to a deviation of the actual vehicle slip angle from a reference slip angle, to ensure that the actual vehicle slip angle is correct to maintain the reference slip angle. In this case, the yawing motion value M to be controlled is given as: EQU M=K1[(d/dt).phi.-(d/dt).phi.*]+K2(Sa-Sa*)
where (d/dt).phi. is the actual vehicle yaw rate, (d/dt).phi.* is the target vehicle yaw rate, Sa is the actual vehicle slip angle, Sa* is the reference slip angle, and K1 and K2 are control constants. The term K1 [(d/dt).phi.-(d/dt).phi.*] corresponds to the value Mb obtained by the feedback control of the vehicle yaw rate and the term K2 (Sa-Sa*) corresponds to a value Ma obtained by the feedback control of the vehicle slip angle. The value Mb acts to produce a yawing motion inside with respect to the vehicle turning movement, and the value Ma acts to produce a yawing motion outside with respect to the vehicle turning movement. That is, the values Ma and Mb act in the opposite directions to cancel each other. For this reason, the conventional vehicle behavior control cannot stabilize the vehicle behavior to a sufficient extent.

Vehicle yawing behavior control apparatus


A developer supply device includes a shaft portion arranged in a container main body, a moving wall movable along the shaft portion, a developer discharge port and a shutter mechanism. A control unit causes the moving wall to be arranged at a first position when a remaining amount of the developer is a predetermined first remaining amount and moves the moving wall to a second position closer to the developer discharge port than the first position in the first direction when the remaining amount is a second remaining amount smaller than the first remaining amount, and causes the shutter mechanism to be set in a first open state with a predetermined opening degree when the moving wall is at the first position and causes the shutter mechanism to be set in a second open state larger than the first open state when the moving wall is at the second position.

The present disclosure relates to a developer supply device for supplying developer and an image forming apparatus to which the developer supply device is applied.
In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a volumetric supply method for supplying toner from a toner container without depending on a toner sensor if the amount of the toner in a developing device decreases is known as a method for supplying toner to a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image on a photoconductive drum with the toner. In this method, an area where a toner conveying capacity is reduced is formed at a slightly downstream side of a toner supply port in a circulating conveyance path for toner in the developing device and the toner supply port is constantly closed with the toner.
A known toner container is configured such that a moving wall is arranged in the container and moves toward a toner discharge port according to a remaining amount of toner.

Developer supply device and image forming apparatus provided with same


A discontinuous drive power tool assembly for generating rotational torque. The tool assembly includes a spindle having a first end portion configured to receive a socket. The first end portion has a primary engaging surface and a tapered surface spaced from a distal end of the first end portion. The primary engaging surface and the tapered surface are configured to engage corresponding surfaces on the socket. The tool assembly also includes a pulse hammer engagable with a second end portion of the spindle that is opposite the first end portion, and a motor including a motor shaft engagable with the pulse hammer, the motor being configured to rotate the pulse hammer.

Discontinuous drive tools are used to provide an amount of torque to an item, such as a bolt or a nut that is being tightened on another object. It is common practice to utilize a male-to-female square socket interface to connect a drive socket to an output spindle anvil of an impact or impulse power tool. Due to tolerance and wear that occurs at this interface, the level of energy transfer efficiency can be adversely affected as the lost motion between the output spindle anvil and the drive socket increases.

Discontinuous drive power tool spindle and socket interface


A system and method supporting multiple independent transactional resource managers on a single logical volume, in which each resource manager is a unit of storage management. Each resource manager independently maintains metadata associated with a collection of files that are contained within the scope of a resource manager, such as the files within a subdirectory corresponding to the resource manager. A general architecture allows databases or other entities to integrate with a transactional file system volume via the resource managers, whereby each database has its files independently associated with a transactional resource manager such that database operations do not affect other operations on the volume. Having independent resource managers allows different levels of performance, reliability, feature availability, and manageability to be specified within a single volume. Functions to create, start, and shut down a resource manager are also provided, along with other functions that facilitate resource manager usage.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/539,233, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, describes a system and method by which multiple file system operations may be performed as part of a single user-level transaction. The transaction can be distributed among independent resources including the transactional file system volume, using a distributed transaction coordinator and a two-phase commit protocol. In this manner, there is no intermediate state in which some changes associated with the transaction will commit but not others. In general, two things happen when a change commits. First, the change becomes durable, in that it will persist until explicitly overwritten by the user. Second, the change becomes visible to users of the system who have not explicitly associated their views of the system with the specific transaction containing the change. Thus, for example, a user can make a number of changes to various files (e.g., modify some, create new files, delete others, rename and so forth), and have either all of those changes commit as a whole, or abort with none of the changes committed.
A transactional file system is highly useful. Further, transactional file systems are essentially necessary for integrating databases with file systems. With a transactional file system, a database maintains some of its data (such as a field of blob data) in files, and maintains in the database enough information to identify that file within the file system. This information can take any form, such as a UNC fully qualified network name or another file identifier. In this manner, a database record can be tied to a file. As can be readily appreciated, transaction processing is needed so that the operation performed on the file can be committed with other database actions via the two-phase commit protocol.
To perform such distributed transaction, each file referenced by the database maps to a transactional resource manager, which in general is a subsystem that implements the transactional semantics of the resource. This subsystem is part of the transactional file system. The semantics of and implementation details regarding the transactional file system are described in the aforementioned patent application Ser. No. 09/539,233.
This transactional file system, like other file systems, uses a volume as the atomic unit of traditional (non-transactional) storage management, e.g., volumes manage their own disk space and are often backed up, restored, and managed as a single unit. However, problems arise with this model with respect to transactions, particularly when databases or other applications are engaging in distributed transactions with the transactional file system. This is because such volume-level management at times prevents multiple databases and other entities from operating completely independently. For example, the recovery of one database following a crash will be tied to the recovery of other databases sharing the same unit of transactional management, as there is only one transactional log per unit of transactional management, and usability of the transactional log is influenced, among other things, by the recovery process, and the recovery process of one resource manager is tied to the recovery of all other resource managers with which it has engaged in distributed transactions. Thus, if one of the databases fails to recover, the entire transactional file system volume may be un-recoverable, which may yet render any other databases using the file system unrecoverable as well.
As the sizes of volumes and the number of users and applications sharing a volume continue to grow, a model in which actions taken with respect to one entity adversely affect the actions of another entity becomes unworkable, and an alternative solution is needed. Moreover, a single large volume may be used for a variety of different tasks, each of which likely will have different performance characteristics and other differences. Several settings affecting performance are made at the level of the transactional resource manager. Having the same settings span the entire volume thus often results in a highly inefficient model.

Method and system for supporting multiple independent transactional resource managers on a single logical volume