A line isolation device (LID) for use in an ADSL system provides a single low pass filter that filters out the higher band ADSL signals for all of the Plain Old Telephone Services (POTS) terminal devices within a customer's premises. The LID may be easily added to an existing ADSL system by routing signals from a customer bridge through the LID. The LID has a low pass filter for removing the ADSL signals and also has a bypass path for carrying unfiltered ADSL and POTS signals to an ADSL transceiver unit. The filtered POTS signals are supplied back to the customer bridge and to binding posts on the customer bridge where all POTS terminal devices receive their POTS signals. The re-routing of the signals within the NID through the LID can be easily accomplished by disconnecting a testing jack on the customer bridge and routing the signals through the LID. Alternatively, the customer bridge may be completely removed from the NID and replaced with a customer bridge having an integral low pass filter. As a further alternative, an additional customer bridge having the low pass filter may be installed into an empty receptacle within the NID and appropriately connected to the existing customer bridge. The low pass filter is preferably a four-pole filter to provide a sufficient amount of attenuation at frequencies above the voiceband.

In general, modems designed for use with conventional telephone lines accommodate relatively low data transmission rates. While current modems can process a high-end bit rate at about 33.6 Kbits/second, they are nonetheless significantly slower than a digital modem, such as one on an ISDN line which can operate at 64 Kbits/second. These rates, unfortunately, remain too low for many desired types of communication, such as full-motion video which requires a minimum of 1.5 Mbits/second for VHS quality using MPEG-1 (Motion Pictures Expert Group) compression and 3 to 6 Mbits/second for broadcast quality using MPEG-2 compression.
A recently pronounced standard in telecommunications defines an Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) system which executes a high speed transfer of data over a single twisted-wire pair, such as an existing telephone line. In addition to Plain Old Telephone Services (POTS), an ADSL system also permits full-duplex and simplex digital services with data rates from about 1.5 Mbits/second to 7 Mbits/second. An ADSL system uses a spectrum from about 26 kHz to 1.1 MHz for broadband data transmission and leaves the spectrum from about DC to 4 kHz for POTS. An ADSL system provides at least four downstream simplex channels having rates ranging from about 1.5 Mbits/second to 6 Mbits/second and four full duplex channels with rates ranging from about 64 Kbits/second to 640 Kbits/second. An ADSL system is therefore more than capable of providing video-on-demand capability, video conferencing, data file transfer capability and can provide all of this capability simultaneously with POTS. For additional information, reference may be made to American National Standards Institute Standard ANSI-T1.413-1995 which describes an ADSL system and an interface between a telecommunications network and a customer's installation and which is incorporated herein by this reference.
With reference to FIG. 1, a standard ADSL system 10 may comprise an ADSL transceiver unit 12 at a central office (ATU-C) which communicates with an ADSL transceiver unit 14 at a customer premises (ATU-R). The ADSL transceiver unit 12 at the central office receives data from a digital network 15, performs various processing on the data, and transfers the processed data to a splitter 16. The splitter 16 combines the signals from the transceiver unit 12 with signals from a public switched telephone network (PSTN) 18 and transfers the combined signals onto a line 20. At the customer end, a splitter 22 supplies a lower-band set of signals to one or more POTS terminal devices 24 and a higher-band set of signals to the ADSL transceiver unit 14. The ADSL transceiver unit 14 at the customer's end processes the received signals and supplies the processed signals to one or more service modules (SM) 26. The processed data from the ADSL transceiver unit 14 may be supplied directly to the service modules 26 or may be supplied through a customer installation distribution network 28. The network 28 may be any type of network, such as a star or bus network. Reference may be had to ANSI T1.413-1995 for additional information on the ADSL transceiver units 12 and 14 and on other aspects of the ADSL system 10.
One difficulty with ADSL, however, is that the signals supplied to the ADSL transceiver 14 and the signals supplied to the POTS terminal device 24 must be isolated from each other. One reason requiring this isolation is that the POTS terminal device 24, which may be a telephone or other non-linear device, produces inter-modulation harmonics from the ADSL system both in the frequency range of the ADSL signals and in the voice band. Likewise, the ADSL transceiver unit 14 can generate interference with the signals supplied to the POTS terminal device 24. Consequently, some type of filtering must occur between the ADSL transceiver 14 and the POTS terminal devices 24.
The signals supplied to the POTS terminal devices 24 may be isolated from the signals supplied to the ADSL transceiver unit 14 in any one of a multitude of ways. One of these ways is to place a low-pass filter at each POTS terminal device 24 and to place a high-pass filter at either the ADSL transceiver unit 14 or at a network interface device (NID). For instance, the low pass filters may be placed in series between the POTS terminal devices 24 and their connection to a wall jack. These low pass filters would then filter out the higher band ADSL signals and prevent the ADSL signals from interfering with the POTS signals.
The placement of the low-pass filter at each POTS terminal device, however, adversely effects the overall performance of the ADSL system 10. The lines connecting the POTS terminal devices 24 to the low pass filters look like bridge taps to the ADSL line and produce significant losses at the top end of the downstream ADSL band transfer function, such as losses from 5 dB to 15 dB between 400 kHz and 1.1 MHz. The reason for these losses and their effects on the ADSL system 10 are explained in more detail in Dennis J. Rauschmayer, "Effects of a Distributed POTS Splitter Topology on ADSL Line Transfer Functions," American National Standards Institute T1 E1.4 Technical Subcommittee Report T1E1.4/96-167, Jul. 22, 1996, which is incorporated herein by this reference. The placement of low-pass filters at each POTS terminal device 24 is therefore undesirable due to their effects on the ADSL signals.
In contrast to the placement of a low-pass filter at each POTS terminal device 24, the use of a single low pass filter for all POTS terminal devices 24 produces more favorable results. For instance, a comparison between the placement of the low-pass filter at each phone drop versus the placement of the low-pass filter at a split is described in a report by Rick Roberts et al., "ADSL POTS LPF Placement," American National Standards Institute Working Group Report T1E1.4/96-162, July, 1996, which is incorporated herein by this reference. This report suggests that a single low-pass filter at the split is preferred since a distributed low-pass filter at each phone causes several problems, such as a reduced bit rate and reduced reach of the ADSL system, an increase in line driver current, a hybrid/echo cancellation stress, and risk of improper installation or improper network modification. Thus, rather than placing a low-pass filter at each POTS terminal device 24, the ADSL system 10 should preferably have a single low-pass filter installed at the split so that the signals supplied to all of the POTS terminal devices 24 are filtered by this single low pass filter.
A single low-pass filter, however, is not as easily installed at a split as are multiple low-pass filters at each POTS terminal device 24. With multiple low-pass filters, a low-pass filter can be easily incorporated to the telephone network by simply adding a filter between each POTS terminal device 24 and its connection to the customer's telephony wiring, such between the POTS terminal device 24 and a wall jack. The single low-pass filter, on the other hand, must be located at a point along the customer's wiring which is shared by all POTS terminal devices 24 but not at a location which might effect ADSL signals traveling to and from the ADSL transceiver unit 14.
This difficulty in placing a single low pass filter at the split will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B, which depict a conventional ADSL installation within a network interface device (NID). In many households and businesses, especially those more recently constructed, a telephone company's wiring is interconnected to the particular customer's telephone wiring within the NID and this interconnect is protected from the elements of the environment within the NID. The point at which the customer's wiring is connected to the telephone company's wiring is termed the customer demarcation point.
With reference to FIG. 2A, a typical NID 32 has a station protector 38 for receiving an incoming service wire 34 and a ground wire 36. Typically, the service wire 34 is attached to the station protector 38 so that a tip signal is supplied to a left post 33A on the protector 38 and a ring signal is supplied to a right post 33B on the protector 38. A pair of leads 40 from a customer bridge 42 couples the tip and ring lines from the station protector 38 to the customer bridge 42 which, in this example, is through an RJ11 female connector 44. The RJ11 female connector 44 defines the customer demarcation point and thus defines the intersection of the telephone company's wiring and that of the customer's telephone wiring. An RJ11 male connector 45 is connected to a cord 46 which couples the tip and ring signals to the binding posts 50 on the customer bridge 42. The RJ11 male connector 45 and the RJ11 female connector 44 provide a convenient testing jack whereby test equipment can be coupled to the RJ11 female connector 44 to ensure that telephony signals are properly reaching the customer's premises. An ADSL interconnect wire 52, connected to posts 50, supplies signals to and from the ADSL transceiver unit 14 and a telephony or POTS interconnect wire 54, also connected to posts 50, supplies telephony signals to and from the POTS terminal devices 24 located within the customer's premises. Although each of the service wire 34, ADSL interconnect wire 52, and POTS interconnect wire 54 has been referred to as a wire, as shown in FIG. 2A, each of these wires 34, 52, and 54 is a line comprised of a pair of conductors for carrying signals.
The customer bridge 42, as shown in FIG. 2B, is a unitary modular structure that is releasably secured to the NID 32 by snapping the bridge 42 within a receptacle 35 formed within the NID 32. The NID 32 has engaging members 37 for engaging edges of the customer bridge 42 so as to secure the bridge 42 to the NID 32. The station protector 38, service wires 34, and grounding wire 36 are each located within a central compartment of the NID 32 and this central compartment is often locked under separate cover so as to prevent any tampering with the wires 34 and 36. Consequently, once the customer bridge 42 has been installed and the leads 40 have been connected to the station protector 38, the customer bridge 42 cannot be removed while the central compartment is locked except by cutting the leads 40.
The installation shown in FIG. 2A lacks any type of filtering for either the POTS signals or the ADSL signals. If the filters for the POTS and ADSL signals are to be considered part of the customer's own telephone wiring, the low pass filter and high pass filter must be placed after the customer demarcation point, which in this example is the RJ11 female connector 44. Additionally, the low pass filter must be located before any branching occurs to separate POTS terminal devices 24 in order for the single low pass filter to provide filtering for all of the POTS terminal devices 24. The filters should also be protected from the elements of the environment to prevent moisture or dirt from damaging the filters.
The filters are not readily placed in its desired position within the customer's telephone wiring if it is to be placed in a protected enclosure and located before any branching to separate POTS terminal devices 24. One possible location for the low pass filter satisfying all of these desires is within the NID 32 itself The typical NID 32, however, is a fairly small enclosure and does not have much space for any extra components since much of the space is consumed by the customer bridge 42. The low and high pass filters therefore are not readily located within the NID 32.
Another possible location for the filters is external to the NID 32 but before the interconnect wire 54 enters the customer's premises. At such a location, the interconnect wire 54 may have to be cut in order to splice in the low pass filter, which consequently would increase the chance of a service interruption due to a faulty splice. This option is also undesirable since the splice must be encased and protected from the environment, thereby complicating the installation of the low pass filter.
A third general location for the low pass filter is within the customer's premises at a point prior to any branching to the separate POTS terminal devices 24. This option is often plagued with problems since the customer's wiring is usually completely hidden behind a wall or floor. Simply locating the wiring behind the wall or underneath the floor may be quite difficult and, even if the wiring is found, the wall or floor may have to be partially removed to access the wiring, which just presents the customer with the additional task of repairing the wall or floor. The placement of the low pass filter within the customer's premises therefore may involve the most amount of effort and is thus likely to be the least desirable location for the low pass filter.
A further difficulty in the placement of the low pass filter is that the customer or one with a minimal amount of training should preferably be capable of installing the low pass filter. Because ADSL relies upon existing telephone wires and does not require any additional digital lines, ADSL by its very nature can be easily incorporated into many households or businesses. To help minimize the number of obstacles to the provision of ADSL services, the low pass filter should be designed and located so that potential customers with little or no experience in working with electrical lines or circuits can install the low pass filter. This goal of simplifying the installation of the low pass filter may be difficult to achieve given the minimal amount of space within the NID 32 and the level of expertise needed to splice the low pass filter external to the NID 32.

Line isolation device for asymmetrical digital subscriber line


The present invention provides novel intermediates represented by general formula (I) etc. for preparing a phenoxyacetic acid derivative represented by general formula (X) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which has β3-adrenoceptor stimulating activity and are useful for treating or preventing obesity, hyperglycemia, diseases caused by intestinal hypermotility, pollakiuria, urinary incontinence, depression or biliary calculus. The present invention also provides a process for preparing said intermediates and a method of using said intermediates

WO2000/02846 discloses a process for preparing a phenoxyacetic acid derivative represented by general formula (X), which comprises the step of treating an amine of formula (IX):
with an alkylating agent represented by general formula (XI):
wherein R4 is a lower alkoxy group, R5 and R6 are a lower alkyl group, Y is an eliminating group such as a p-toluenesulfonyloxy or methanesulfonyl group, a chlorine, bromine or iodine atom and the like, in the presence or absence of a base. However, WO2000/02846 does not teach or suggest a compound represented by general formula (I) of the present invention.

Intermediates in producing phenoxyacetic acid derivatives and method of using the same


The present invention relates to compositions and their methods of manufacture and use which are effective for delivering a homogeneous distribution of a boron containing active ingredient to a tree or tree derived substrate for the purpose of preventing or eradicating an infestation and/or for imparting flame retardency thereto.

While lumber and other wood based products derived from trees are not perishable, they are, nevertheless, susceptible to a host of natural destructive forces. These primarily include attack by insects, such as termites, carpenter ants and the like and fungi such as brown (Poria Sp.) and white (Polyporous Sp.) wood decay fungi. Living, growing trees are also subject to attack from insects and fungi.
Many protective treatments have been developed for the protection of lumber and other tree derived products. For example, Bechgaard, U.S. Pat. No. 4,610,881 relates to a protective composition with a penetrating carrier which comprises a mixture of ethylene glycol and a borate-containing composition which may be disodium octaborate tetrahydrate. In addition, the composition may be diluted with up to 50% by weight of water. However, the Bechgaard patent specifically teaches that such additions of diluent are disadvantageous because aqueous solutions of the active ingredient diffuse into the wood more slowly. Therefore, the amount of dilution should be minimized and, in fact, should not exceed 20% by weight. In fact, Bechgaard instructs that it is preferred that no water be present, to the extent possible. Bechgaard also suggest that it is known to impregnate wood with polyethylene glycol in order to make the wood more dimensionally stable (preventing shrinkage when the wood dries). See also Ember, Preserving The Past, C&E News 10, 12 (Nov. 14, 1988). It has also been suggested that minor amounts (i.e. about 2%) of fungicidal, insecticidal or fire retardant agents may be added thereto. These additives can include boron containing compounds. See Ember, Preserving the Past at Page 12. However, such uses involve polyalkylene glycols having a relatively high molecular weight, i.e., 1000 or higher.
Chapman et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,305,298 relates to a protective treatment for wood. The treatment includes water, methanol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol ethers, hologenated phenols, soluble borates, appears to be used as a buffering agent for the system. Chapman et al. requires the formation of a complex compound involving the organic mercury compounds, the borate ion and the hydroxylated compounds.
Ploquin U.S. Pat. No. 2,968,590 relates to a synergistic boric acid fungicidal composition which includes a boron containing composition, at least one organic compound having in its formula two identical or different radicals selected from OH, NH.sub.2, NH and at least one organic or mineral base in an amount sufficient to make the pH of the product in the neighborhood of about PH 9. The organic compound may include "the glycolsm". All of the examples of Ploquin are limited to hexylene glycol or methylene glycol.
Stutz, U.S. published patent application Ser. No. B 848,336 relates to a wood preservative containing alkaline metal cyanides. More specifically, the alkaline metal cyanide is added to an alkaline borate buffered liquid fungicide concentrate of chlorophenates, and organic or inorganic salts of mercury, lead, titanium, copper and zinc. Furthermore, Stutz discloses the use of solvents which consist of alkanols having 1-4 carbon atoms which include a number of glycols identified at Column 2, lines 50-54.
Thornton et al. , British Patent No. 937,766 relates to improvements in the treatment of wood and in the products obtained. The patent discloses a formulation which includes a boron containing active ingredient mixed with a small amount of a glycol containing from 2-8 carbon atoms, especially ethylene glycol. The amount of such ingredients should not exceed approximately 5%. Ethylene glycol, as used in the practice of the patent, is shown to be effective in concentrations of approximately 1%.
Short et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,076,871 relates to a method of impregnating wood with boric acid or boric oxide by the use of boric acid esters of alcohols and thereafter hydrolyzing the esters. According to Short et al. , it is well known that boric acid or boron oxide are effective as flame-proofing and fire-retardant agents for wood products.
See also, generally, Binner et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,099,598, Draganov, U.S. Pat. No. 3,378,381, Patel et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,719,110, Goettsche et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,761,179, Turner, U.S. Pat. No. 4,303,726, Boocock et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,440,298 and Oberley, U.S. Pat. No. 4,373,010.
However, despite these and other wood preservative products and methods, nothing has been found to be completely satisfactory for a variety of reasons. For example, the composition of Champman et al. and Stutz include such compounds as alkaline metal cyanides and organic or inorganic salts of mercury. Such compounds are environmentally hazardous, many pose safety risks to persons and animals, and create difficult and expensive disposal problems.
The composition described in Bechgaard does not appear to suffer from these disadvantages. However, the viscous ethylene glycol solutions taught therein are not applicable to all situations and not suitable for a number of application techniques. See Johnson et al., A Test of "Boracol", A New Formulation Containing Borates, For the Diffusion Treatment of Lumber, project No. 02-17-43-396 dated May 1986, prepared for Forintek Canada Corp. at page 1. Furthermore, testing has established that the compositions of Bechgaard are not effective in either rapid or deep penetration. See Id. In fact, it has been found, completely contrary to the teachings of Bechgaard, that the presence of water in a borate delivery system is generally necessary for reasons other than a reduction of viscosity.
Finally, all of the treatments previously described are limited to timber, lumber and tree derived products. They are not applicable directly to living, growing trees to protect them from infestation.

Methods and compositions for retarding and eradicating infestation in trees and tree derived products


A wireless communication system (100) includes a plurality of base station controllers (BSCs) (114, 116) logically sharing a plurality of base transceiver stations (BTSs) (124, 126) and which may physically share antenna and related transceiver equipment. The system (100) is configured to enhance system capacity while reducing the occurrence of seams (28) between service areas in the system (100).

Wireless communication systems, such as analog and digital cellular communication systems, personal communication systems (PCS) and other similar wireless communication systems, provide a great deal of freedom to their users. A wireless communication system user is almost always in touch whether on the road or at the home or office. And, in spite of the complexity underlying the wireless communication system, to the user the system is as easy to use as dialing a phone number.
Sometimes in wireless communication systems, a user will be unable to place or receive a call, or an ongoing call will be unexpectedly disconnected. One has to remember that at least a portion of the wireless communication system is a radio frequency (RF) link between a remote or mobile user and the system. There are a number of factors which influence how and why a call may not be completed or is disconnected. One cause lies with the limited number of radio frequency resources available for a given service area. Radio frequency resources are limited based in part on the allocation of radio frequency spectrum for particular applications. For example, television broadcasts are allowed a certain portion of the radio frequency spectrum while wireless communication networks are allocated another portion of the radio frequency spectrum. The allocations are such that operation of one system does not create interference in the other system due to radio frequency reuse.
However, certain wireless communication system architectures, such as those based upon the interim standard, IS-95-A for a code division multiple access (CDMA) wireless communication network, overcome radio frequency resource limitations by offering an ability to use common radio frequencies for multiple users. Capacity problems, or limitations on a user's ability to access and use these systems, may remain as a result of a limitation on the number of users the system can process. The solution here, of course, is to expand the capacity of the system. Unfortunately, present system architectures do not provide for ready expansion of system capacity.
For example, one would think simply adding additional equipment to handle the additional users would solve the capacity problems. However, the addition of equipment, and particularly in CDMA based wireless communication systems, creates certain system performance problems. For example, as additional system capacity in the form of additional base transceiver stations (BTSs), base station controllers (BSCs) and mobile switching centers (MSCs) is added, the aggregate area covered by each MSC/BSC/BTSs group becomes smaller. This means more seams, i.e., more interfaces between coverage areas.
Additional seams in the communication system may mean more frequent handoffs and particularly more "hard" handoffs. Additional seams may also require additional processing resource utilization and may result in increased voice delay due to traffic interconnect and increased latency on execution of call processing procedures. Seams require additional system engineering and in many cases lead to decreased call quality.
CDMA communication systems employ a process known as "soft" or "softer" handoff to reduce call quality degradation resulting from hard handoffs by permitting the mobile station to communicate with several BTSs. Soft handoff is advantageously employed when the mobile station is moving from an area covered by one BTS to an area covered by another BTS. In soft handoff, the mobile station is always in active communication with at least one BTS even as it moves through the system from BTS coverage area to BTS coverage area. This results from each of the BTSs operating under the control of a particular BSC using a common set of radio frequencies.
Hard handoff seams almost always have a negative effect on call quality and as such are avoided as much as possible. A hard handoff may occur as a mobile station moves from a geographic area served by a first BSC to a geographic area served by a second BSC. Handoff between a BTS serviced by the first BSC and a BTS serviced by the second BSC requires that a communication link be established in the second BSC through the appropriate BTS associated with the second BSC. When handoff is necessary, i.e., as the mobile station moves out of the service area of the first BTS into the area serviced by the second BTS, the mobile station must reestablish the call through the second BSC. Communication with multiple BTSs is generally not possible in this mode. More importantly, communication between the mobile station and the BTS/BSC is normally momentarily disrupted. Thus, one will appreciate that adding capacity in the form of additional MSCs, BSCs and BTSs will increase the number of seams, and particularly, may result in an increase in hard handoff seams and the associated disruption in service.
Therefore, there is a need for a wireless communication system architecture which is easily and readily scalable, expandable, as the number of users of the system expands. More importantly, such system expansion should be provided at minimum cost and without degrading system performance.

Scalable wireless communication network and method


Disclosed are a method and device for easily connecting to AP in WLAN. An embodiment provides a method for easily connecting to AP in WLAN to enable an IoT station to easily input connection information such as SSID, password, other information, and the like, for connecting the IoT station to the AP, and a device thereof.

The description below provides only background information related to the present embodiment and does not constitute the prior art.
In general, a connection scenario for connecting an Internet of Things (IoT) device to the AP is as follows. After the IoT device connects to the AP, a Service Set IDentifier (SSID), password, other information, and the like are inputted as connection information. Thereafter, when the IoT device is re-booted and then connects to the AP, the IoT device connects to the AP using the connection information (SSID, password, and other information) inputted previously. When the IoT device connects to another AP, various scenarios are needed. In other words, the IoT device may connect to another AP using initialization or change settings to connect to another AP using the Cloud.
The connection scenario for the IoT device to connect to the AP using a device provisioning protocol (DPP) which is a protocol developed by the Wi-Fi Alliance is as follows. The IoT device may perform provisioning using Bluetooth and Near Field Communication (NFC). The IoT device performs the process of connecting to the AP after acquiring AP provisioning information (SSID, password, other information, etc.) using another type of hardware (Bluetooth, NFC, etc.). At this time, the IoT device requires additional hardware (Bluetooth, NFC, etc.)
As described above, the related-art IoT device essentially requires additional devices such as a keyboard, a display, and the like to input connection information (e.g., SSID, password, other information, etc.) for connecting to the AP. However, there is a problem in that it is difficult to add a separate device for inputting the connection information due to the characteristic of the related-art IoT device.

Method and apparatus for connecting to access point in WLAN network


In the formation of sheet glass by the overflow downdraw process, the width of usable sheet glass is maximized by downwardly flowing edge portions of the sheet over web-like members and thereafter over extensions which intersect with and are downwardly inclined relative to the web-like members to thin edge portions of the glass flow and maintain sheet width. The extension members are preferably removably attached to the web-like members, greatly facilitating replacement of the more easily damaged extension members.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for forming glass, more particularly an apparatus for forming a glass sheet.
2. Technical Background
The manufacture of sheet glass by downwardly flowing molten glass over a forming wedge is well known in the art. However, in practice it was found that the actual width of usable sheet produced was substantially less than the maximum width of usable glass sheet which theoretically could be obtained, as predicated by the longitudinal length of the forming wedge. That is, it has been found that when the molten glass flows along the underside of a negatively inclined surface, such as the downwardly converging surfaces of a forming wedge, the width of the glass stream contracts and pulls inwardly from the vertical ends of the wedge.
This lateral movement of the molten glass produces a bead or thickening portion along the edge of the sheet—the edge head.
The thickened sections on the edges of the sheet not only decrease the amount of usable uniform thickness sheet glass that can be obtained from a given width of drawn sheet, but also limit the speed at which the sheet may be drawn. That is, since the sheet is annealed as a continuous process immediately after formation, and the time required for sheet glass to reach an acceptable strain level in passing through the annealing portion of the process is directly proportional to the thickness of the glass, sheet having thickened edge portions requires more annealing time, thus limiting the maximum rate of sheet formation.
In the past it has been suggested that the narrowing of the width of glass sheet formed by the downdraw process may be prevented by utilizing rollers or edge cooling.
However, this has not been entirely satisfactory since rolling merely attempts to reduce the thickness of the beaded portion without attempting to correct the cause or source of the bead, and cooling tends to enlarge the formation of beaded edges, which as previously indicated are detrimental in the formation of sheet glass. Further, high viscosities adjacent the edges of the sheet flow actually tend to create a pull-in or narrowing of the glass to a much greater extent than do low viscosities. However, should the edges be chilled sufficiently to set up the glass, additional detrimental effects are produced in the form of sheet warpage and undesirable stresses.
Prior art methods of increasing sheet width have employed a web surface portion extending between the downwardly converging surfaces of the forming wedge and a projecting edge surface portion which aided in increasing the width of the drawn glass sheet. U.S. Pat. No. 3,451,798 discloses such a web surface portion which terminates at its lowest extent at the horizontal plane passing through the root, the line along which the downwardly converging surfaces of the forming wedge meet. U.S. Pat. No. 3,537,834 discloses a forming apparatus comprising a web surface portion which, at its lowest point may be extended below the root.
In one prior art apparatus, illustrated in FIG. 1, an overflow trough 10 comprising converging forming surfaces includes multiple edge directors 12. Each edge director 12 comprises two main portions: a projecting edge surface portion 14 which intersects forming surface portions of the trough along its vertical extent, and a web or filleted surface portion 16 which extends between the projecting edge surface portion 14 and one of the downwardly inclined converging surface portions. However, web surface portion 16 does not extend below the lower apex formed by the converging forming surfaces.
In another prior art apparatus, shown in FIG. 2, web surface portion 20 extends below the lower apex, or root, as indicated by point 22. However, whether web surface portion 20 is planar, curvilinear or frusto-conical in shape, the extended web surface portion does not break or kink (i.e. demonstrate an abrupt change in direction) along its downward length.
Although the prior art devices described above have been useful to extend the width of glass sheet drawn from overflow troughs, devices capable of still further improvement in sheet width are needed. Unfortunately, there are practical limits to the length of the forming wedge without incurring problems associated with sagging of the wedge. Thus, there is a need to further increase the width of glass sheet drawn from a forming wedge which does not entail increasing the length of the forming wedge itself.


A lottery ticket dispensing system includes an array having bins that dispense a pack of scratch-off lottery tickets, wherein each ticket includes game play characters covered by a scratch-off coating. A pack code for each ticket pack is associated with a computer database file maintained by a central server that includes identification of some of the game play characters for each of the tickets in the pack and location of the pack. A display is in communication with the central server and, based on ticket location information from the central server, is configured to reveal to players the game play characters of at least certain ones of the scratch-off lottery tickets remaining in the array.

Instant lottery tickets (e.g., "scratch-off" lottery tickets) are sold at many types of retail locations including, stores, such as grocery stores, general merchandise stores, and the like. Various configurations of lottery ticket dispensers have been proposed in the industry for this purpose, including electronic dispensers that automatically dispense a ticket from a bin or compartment upon receipt of an electronic command signal.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 9,339,121 proposes an electronic lottery ticket dispensing system that includes a plurality of lockable ticket compartments that each dispenses a ticket upon receipt of a dispense trigger signal from a computing device. Inside each ticket compartment resides a dispensing mechanism and an associated motor that actuates the dispensing mechanism. The dispensing mechanism advances at least one ticket from a continuous perforated fan fold stack of scratch-off lottery tickets. A logic circuit is in communication with the motor, controls motor actuation, and records the number of tickets dispensed. There is also an interface between the logic circuit and a computing device that records the number of tickets sold from the respective compartments. The exterior of the ticket dispenser includes a numeric display that indicates the number of tickets remaining in the ticket compartment. This display is adjacent the dispensing slot and, thus, not visible to the purchaser.
It has been found that many lottery players are, to some extent, superstitious and purchase lottery tickets according to certain superstitious beliefs. For example, some players will only purchase tickets on a certain day of the week, or date in a month. Certain players may wear a "lucky" clothing item when purchasing tickets, and so forth. Still further, many players have a lucky number, and are inclined to integrate this number into games of chance. For example, players will play certain lucky numbers in conventional Pick-3 or Pick-5 drawn games.
With conventional instant scratch-off lottery tickets that embody match-type games, generally, a set of game play indicia in the form of alpha-numeric characters, symbols, or other characters are provided on each ticket and may be covered by a scratch-off coating. A separate plurality of player indicia is provided on the ticket and also covered by a scratch-off coating. The game is played by the player removing the coating from the game play indicia to revel such indicia, and then removing the coating from the player indicia to determine if the player indicia contain one or more matches with the game play indicia, wherein the number of matches determines the winning status of the lottery ticket. Various other game play styles are just as applicable.
However, to date, players have been unable to integrate their lucky numbers into selection and play of scratch-off lottery tickets. There has been no feasible means to inform players as to what the game play indicia might be on any given scratch-off lottery ticket before purchase of the ticket so that the player has the option to filter or select tickets that contain their lucky play numbers or symbols. For example, the display and logic circuitry of the '121 patent discussed above do not provide players with any insight into the game play indicia that the tickets in the compartment might contain.
The gaming industry would benefit from a system and method that conveys to players the location where instant scratch-off lottery tickets having specific game play indicia are available for purchase. Such a system and related method would appeal to a particular class of players, increase ticket sales, and drive more foot traffic to the retail establishments that sell the lottery tickets.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method for providing players with location of lottery tickets with specific game play characters


An automated mechanical storage facility is provided including at least one closed loop track assembly. Also included is a plurality of storage units for being slidably moved along the track assembly and further adapted to contain cargo. Further included is a belt for discharging the cargo from the storage units and further receiving cargo thereon.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to cargo storage facilities and more particularly pertains to a new automated mechanical storage facility for allowing the convenient storage and retrieval of a parked vehicle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of cargo storage facilities is known in the prior art. More specifically, cargo storage facilities heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art cargo storage facilities include U.S. Pat. No. 5,314,285; U.S. Pat. No. 5,069,592; U.S. Pat. No. 5,066,187; U.S. Pat. No. 5,039,269; U.S. Pat. No. 5,032,053; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,024,571.
In these respects, the automated mechanical storage facility according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of allowing the convenient storage and retrieval of a parked vehicle.


In a distributed computing system, an artificial intelligence system may be employed to configure the network variables. A metric describing the overall system performance may be derived during network operation or simulation and compared to an ideal metric describing the same distributed system performance. The difference between the derived metric and the ideal metric may then be used with an artificial intelligence system to modify the network variables to evolve the system toward the ideal performance standard.

Distributed computer systems may operate in a distributed environment where many different systems or nodes communicate across a network to perform common tasks. Particularly, a distributed system is a collection of independent computers that appears to its users as a single coherent system; the individual differences between other system members as well as the system's internal organization may be hidden. Furthermore, users and applications may interact with a distributed system in a consistent and uniform way, regardless of where and when the interaction takes place. These systems may also be substantially scalable as no single element may control the system's behavior. Further, distributed systems may be continuously available, although an individual member may become temporarily or permanently unusable. Users or applications of a distributed system may not notice or control system maintenance or system performance. In short, a distributed system may easily connect users with resources, it may hide the fact that resources are distributed across a network, it may be open, and it may be scalable.
For example, the Internet Domain Name System (DNS) is an example of a widely-used distributed system. DNS is primarily used for looking up Internet host addresses and mail servers. The system is hierarchically organized as a rooted tree. Each node or leaf in the tree is associated with resource records that hold the information associated with the domain name. One of the functions of the DNS is associating Internet protocol addresses with domain names. The DNS is implemented as a hierarchical set of servers wherein each domain or subdomain has one or more authoritative DNS servers that publish information about that domain and the name servers of any domains beneath it. To resolve a domain name, a local host need only have information concerning the topmost DNS server. The local host will query the topmost DNS server for the location of a particular domain. The topmost DNS server, in turn, will point the requesting entity to a lower-level server of the DNS until the domain name is finally resolved. Therefore, the task of resolving Internet domain names may be distributed across several nodes of the DNS.
The Peer Name Resolution Protocol (PNRP) is another example of a distributed system. P2P distributed systems may be composed of many individual peer computers called nodes. PNRP may enable each node to dynamically publish and resolve names, register multiple names on a node, register multiple computers to a single name, and register names for applications.
Regardless of the distributed system, network variables that may be generally transparent to the individual user may determine how data propagates through the system and how each node processes the data. For example, a node "timeout" variable may define how long the node may try to connect to another node before recognizing connection success or failure. Also a system may share a common, Distributed Hash Table (DHT) of key/value pairs. Distributed hash tables may partition ownership of the keys among system nodes and may efficiently route messages or files to the unique owner of any given key. Each node may be associated with a "keyspace" or set of unique keys, and each node may store data associated with all keys in the node's keyspace. However, a system implementing a DHT may behave differently depending on the value of a network variable setting the size of the keyspace. For example, a system including a network variable that assigns only one key to each node may result in very high data lookup costs, while a system with many keys assigned to each node may require each node to store a large amount of data. For any distributed system using a DHT, the overall system may behave differently by either globally or locally adjusting the keyspace assignment variable.
Finally, P2P systems may maintain a routing table at each node to direct messages traveling through the network. However, each node may not need to store a routing table describing every system node to achieve a suitable level of accurate message routing. A system allowing a very large routing table may route messages more efficiently because each node will have more information about the location of a destination node. However, maintaining the accuracy of a large routing table may be too cumbersome for the system. Each time the routing table must be refreshed, the table information must be transmitted to each participating node. As more nodes are represented on the routing table, more nodes must necessarily receive the new routing table information. Likewise, a system allowing a small routing table may be less cumbersome for system maintenance, but messages will take much longer to arrive at their destination node because each node only has a limited amount of information concerning the location of other nodes on the network. Further, this increase in transmission time may result in more lost or "timed out" messages depending on the value of the previously-described system timeout variable. As messages take more time to propagate through the network, the message may exceed the network timeout variable. Many other system variables that are transparent to the user may affect the overall performance of the distributed system.
As explained above, each network variable may individually affect the performance of the distributed system, however, each variable may also interact with other network variables. The variables may be changed and the distributed system may be observed in operation or simulation to determine the effect of the variable adjustment on the system performance. The performance of a distributed system may be monitored or recorded by the method disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. 11/089,894, "System and Method for Monitoring and Reacting to Peer-to-Peer Network Metrics" to Horton et al., the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. The distributed system performance may be generally described as a system "health index."

Self-evolving distributed system performance using a system health index


The toothed belt has a band-shaped belt body which carries integrally formed teeth on one side. At least one of the teeth is provided with two openings which extend from the crown surface of the associated tooth through the toothed belt to the other side of the belt body and accommodate a respective retaining element in the form of a sleeve. The sleeves serve to clamp object mountings against the surface of the toothed belt. They each have a head, which is constituted by two projecting wings which are diametrically opposed to one another. The sleeves have a sufficient screw-in length for fastening the object mountings. They are also secured against being pulled through the material of the toothed belt and are rotationally fixedly mounted. Finally, their ends projecting out of the surface serve as centering projections. The sleeves ensure that there is no weakening of the teeth.

The invention relates to a toothed belt for transporting objects including a band-shaped belt body, which carries teeth formed on one side, at least one of the teeth being provided with at least one opening, which extends from the crown surface of the associated tooth through the toothed belt to the other side of the belt body and in which a retaining element for an object holder to be fastened to the other side of the belt body is arranged.
Such toothed belts are commonly used in production lines in which they are used for transporting workpieces from one processing station to another. This can be effected in a continuous movement or in a reciprocating movement.
Toothed belts offer the advantage of very precise movement control and thus very precise positioning of the object holders at the loading and unloading stations. The object holders ensure that the workpieces are reliably transported and remain precisely aligned.
The object holders were previously clamped against the rear surface of the toothed belt using screws which were screwed into the retaining elements. The latter were nuts which were situated in the associated openings at the height of the teeth. The openings defined a step at the height of the tooth feet, on which the retaining elements rested. The openings then continued through the belt body with a reduced diameter.
It has been found that the transport precision of such toothed belts, which are known in practice, leaves something to be desired.
It is thus the object of the invention to provide a toothed belt with increased transport accuracy.
In order to solve this object the toothed belt referred to above is characterised in accordance with the invention in that the retaining element has an elongate body which extends through the tooth at least into the belt body,
that the elongate body has a head in the form of at least one laterally projecting wing and
that the wing engages in a broadened region of the opening which is formed in the crown surface of the tooth.
The invention is based on the recognition that in the previously known toothed transport belts loosening of the object mountings was due to the fact that the nuts disposed in the openings provided too short a screw-in length by reason of their small dimensions. This risk is eliminated by the retaining elements in accordance with the invention.
The elongate body of the retaining elements, which extends at least into the belt body, provides sufficient substance to ensure a reliable fastening of the object mounting. This applies regardless of the shape of the elongate body.
The elongate body of the retaining element is preferably constructed in the form of a sleeve. The sleeve provides a sufficient engagement length. This applies particularly when the opening extends through the entire retaining element in the form of a through-opening. The engagement length results from the sum of the height of the tooth and the length of the elongate body which extends into the belt body.
The sleeves are preferably provided with an internal screwthread over their entire length. This is particularly appropriate when the sleeves consist of metal. In an important further embodiment of the invention it is proposed that the retaining elements be made of plastics material, preferably of glass fibre-reinforced polyamide. Plastics material of sufficient strength and hardness is readily able to cope with the requirements placed on the retaining elements. Plastics material offers, above all, the advantage that damage of the toothed pulleys cooperating with the toothed belts is reliably prevented.
The toothed belt preferably also comprises plastics material, particularly polyurethane, whereby longitudinally extending reinforcing wire cables are inserted in the belt body at the junction with the teeth. Such a toothed belt has proved to be satisfactory as regards the precision of its movement control. Polyurethane is high temperature-resistant. The same applies to the retaining elements of glass fibre-reinforced polyamide.
Sleeves of plastic material offer the further advantage that an internal screwthread can be omitted. The screwthread is pressed into the sleeve by the self-tapping screw, when it is screwed in. Furthermore, retaining elements of plastics material are lighter than metal sleeves.
The precision of the positioning of the workpieces, both at the loading station and at the unloading station, is determined by the precise arrangement of the openings in the toothed belt and the precise fastening of the object mountings with respect to these openings. In order to promote the latter aspect, it is proposed in a further embodiment of the invention that the elongate body of the retaining element engages through the belt body and projects out of its other side. The elongate body thus constitutes a centering projection on the rear surface of the belt which makes optimal positioning and alignment of the object mountings possible and, when the object mountings are secured by adhesive, can also serve as a jointing aid to reduce the mounting times.
The openings in the toothed belt can be produced subsequent to its manufacture. Optimal accuracy is obtained when the production of the openings is integrated into the moulding process of the toothed belt. The moulding process also ensures the desired spacing accuracy. The moulding process also offers the possibility of cutting a plurality of toothed belts of the desired breadth from an appropriate moulded article.
If the elongate body of the retaining element is of sleeve-shaped construction, its end projecting out of the other side of the belt body constitutes the centering projection which is of annular construction and permits the screwing in of a screw. It is proposed in a further embodiment of the invention that fastening or locking means be provided at this end of the elongate body. A sleeve-shaped construction is possible but not absolutely necessary. Also possible, for instance, is a threaded peg for the screwing on of a nut. The retaining element can also be provided with an elastic locking mechanism for engaging in the object mounting, for instance in the form of a head which is split or constructed to be elastic in some other manner.
The wing of the retaining element ensures that when the object mountings are tightened the mounting element cannot be drawn into the material of the toothed belt. This also increases the fastening security of the object mountings. This effect may be readily intensified if the head of the retaining element is constituted by two projecting wings which are diametrically opposed to one another. The wings extend on both sides of the elongate body in the longitudinal direction of the associated tooth and thus offer a large, force-balanced reaction surface, whereby they simultaneously ensure the rotational security of the retaining element. The wings preferably extend over the region of wire reinforcing cables which are embedded in the belt body.
The arrangement is such that the elongate body and its head are situated within the contour of the tooth and thus cannot impair the mode of operation of the tooth. In general, the outer diameter of the elongate body, which defines the breadth of the head, will be so selected that it corresponds exactly to the breadth of the crown of the tooth. It is then particularly advantageous to construct the wings of substantially triangular shape so that they fit harmoniously into the outline of the crown of the tooth. Rectangular wings are, however, equally possible, particularly if the elongate body has a relatively small outer diameter.
It is proposed in an important further embodiment of the invention that the head of the elongate body is fitted into the broadened region of the opening. The retaining element thus terminates with the plane of the crown surface of the tooth, whereby its wings adjoin the wall of the opening with practically no gap. The large advantage of this construction resides in the fact that the retaining element, which is suitable for transmitting shear forces, substantially replaces that material which was removed from the toothed belt to form the opening. The opening thus no longer constitutes a weak point in the tooth. This means that large forces can still be transmitted. In this connection, it is also possible to provide one and the same tooth with a plurality of fastening points.
Furthermore, the fit of the opening and retaining element can be so selected that the retaining element can be pushed into the opening and is frictionally secured therein against falling out, even if it is not held in place by the clamping of an object mounting.
The possibility is thus offered of equipping the toothed belt with a plurality of fastening points so that the user may use the toothed belt in very many ways. There is thus the possibility of experimentally determining the optimal arrangement of the object mountings both transverse to the toothed belt and in its longitudinal direction. Improvisations are also possible without difficulty. In this connection, it is apparently of no importance what type of object mountings are used in the specific application. The toothed belt is thus universally usable.
If the retaining elements comprise plastics material, they are preferably produced by injection moulding. This is not only simple and economical but also permits a high degree of variability in their shape.
If the user wishes to provide only a proportion of the fastening points which are provided on the toothed belt with retaining elements, blind elements can be pushed or glued into the unused openings. The strength of the teeth is maintained under these circumstances.
Furthermore, the retaining elements and also the blind elements are interchangeable and may be replaced by elements of a different type. Breakage of the elements does not result in destruction of the toothed belt. The object mountings are also interchangeable in a variable manner and may be replaced when worn.
The invention will be described below in more detail by way of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Breco Antriebstechnik Breher GmbH and Co.


A vehicular headlamp employing a semiconductor light-emitting device having a plurality of light-emitting elements such as LEDs and for which light distribution design is made easy. Separate ones of the light-emitting elements within the light-emitting device are employed for forming high and low headlamp beams. The light-emitting device also includes a reflector and a lens. The beams are switched by selectively activating predetermined ones of the light-emitting elements.

The present invention relates to a vehicular headlamp of a type employing a semiconductor light-emitting device incorporating a plurality of light-emitting elements as a light source, and in which different illuminating functions with different beams can be achieved by selectively activating the various semiconductor light-emitting elements.
Most commonly, an incandescent bulb or a discharge bulb has conventionally been used as a light source of a vehicular headlamp. However, more recently semiconductor light-emitting elements such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have been employed in order to achieve lower electric power consumption and a more compact size.
Examples of lamps using LEDs include high-mount stop lamps, rear side marker lamps, and the like.
When semiconductor light-emitting elements such as LEDs are used as a light source of a vehicular headlamp, special optical design techniques are required in order to create a suitable light distribution pattern for a low-beam. For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-266620 (FIGS. 1 and 4), in order to implement multiple optical functions, switching is carried out using a large number of semiconductor light sources arranged in a matrix configuration.
Since switching between a low beam and a high beam is necessary in a vehicular headlamp, in a headlamp employing a plurality of semiconductor light-emitting elements the light-emitting elements to be activated must be selected in accordance with the type of beam to be emitted. However, since conventionally known semiconductor light-emitting elements have not been designed taking into consideration the required light distribution patterns for a vehicle, there are various problems in optical design which occur when using such elements as a light source. For example, for a low-beam light distribution pattern it is difficult to clearly form a cut line (cut-off line) defining a contrast boundary. In addition, use of a large number of light-emitting elements causes a problem in that the total space occupied by the light-emitting elements is large.

Vehicular headlamp employing semiconductor light source


A water delivery system is disclosed including a first component coupled to a fluid transport member, the first component including an interface, and a second component coupled to an aerator. The second component positioning the first component relative to the aerator. The aerator and the interface of the first component cooperate to form a water tight seal there between.

The present invention relates interfaces of fluid conduits and in particular to interfaces provided as apart of an overmold of a portion of a fluid conduit.
Water delivery devices, such as faucets, are known which include a valve which may be controlled to regulate the flow of water.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a water delivery system in fluid communication with at least one valve is provided. The water delivery system comprises a spout member having a discharge end, an aerator for positioning adjacent the discharge end of the spout member, a fluid transport member, a first component coupled to the fluid transport member, and a second component coupled to the aerator. The fluid transport member has a fluid conduit with a first end in fluid communication with the at least one valve and a second end positioned proximate the discharge end of the spout member. The first component includes a fluid conduit in fluid communication with the fluid conduit of the fluid transport member and including an interface. The second component positioning the first component relative to the aerator. The aerator and the interface of the first component cooperating to form a water tight seal there between.
In another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a water delivery system in fluid communication with at least one valve is provided. The water delivery system comprises a body and a fluid transport member positioned within the body and adapted to be in fluid communication with the at least one valve. The fluid transport member has a first end through which water exits. The water delivery device further comprises a holder supported by the body and includes a fluid conduit having a first end and a second end. The first end of the fluid transport member is received in the first end of the holder. The first end of the fluid transport member is held within the fluid conduit of the holder by translating the holder to a first position in a first direction and the first end of the fluid transport member is removable from within the fluid conduit of the holder by translating the holder to a second position in a second direction.
In a further exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a water delivery system in fluid communication with at least one valve is provided. The water delivery system comprises a spout including a body having a base portion and a spout portion. The spout is made of a non-metallic material. The spout portion includes a channel extending from the base portion to a location proximate a discharge end of the spout portion. The water delivery system further comprises a fluid transport member having a fluid conduit with a first end in fluid communication with the at least one valve and a second end positioned proximate the discharge end of the spout portion of the body of the spout. A portion of the fluid transport member is received in the channel.
Additional features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiment exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.


A sealing assembly operatively attached to a coaxial cable connector that is attached to an RF port. The sealing assembly has a sealing subassembly, that is changeable between a pre-assembled state and a sealing state, and at least one actuator component. The sealing subassembly has a sealing portion. Advancement of the actuator component changes the sealing subassembly from the pre-assembled state into the sealing state and thereby causes the sealing portion to compress radially against the RF port.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to connecting assemblies for cable, such as coaxial cable and, more particularly, to a sealing assembly for the connecting assemblies to avoid ingress of moisture and foreign matter between connectors on the connecting assemblies. The invention is also directed to a method of joining separate connectors.
2. Background Art
Cable connectors are used in many different industries and for a multitude of different applications. Coaxial cable is used extensively in the communications industry. Coaxial cable ends are commonly required to be connected to other lengths of cables, or at ports or other connecting locations, to establish electrical continuity at the connecting locations.
It is important in most applications that there be no migration of moisture between components at a connecting location as might compromise, or cause a failed, signal. At the same time, this migration of moisture may cause a progressive degradation of the components which may affect signal quality and/or inhibit, or eventually prohibit, the separation of the connectors, when this becomes necessary.
The cable industry has long been aware of the importance of sealing connections at locations that are prone to admitting moisture. A multitude of different sealing arrangements have been developed by those in the cable industry and other industries to avoid the above problems. Many such sealing arrangements, while potentially effective, are compromised by reason of improper installation, or their omission, by an installer.
Cable installation is particularly competitive, given the number of entities vying for business. Consequently, margins are generally low. Thus sealing assemblies are generally designed so that they will be cost effective both from a manufacturing standpoint and from the standpoint of installation.
Reliability of the sealing assemblies, however, is of the utmost importance since return visits necessitated by ineffective sealing may have a significant, if not devastating, financial impact on an installer.
Under normal conditions, if a sealing assembly is difficult or time consuming to install, shortcuts might be taken that result in an ineffectively sealed installation. In an extreme case, the sealing assembly may be altogether left off in the interest of convenience and time savings. This is particularly true in harsh, outdoor conditions in which installers may be required to perform. Aside from the ongoing time pressures, and high volume expectations, installers may be faced with the difficulty of effecting installations using gloves.
In spite of there being a multitude of different sealing assemblies currently in existence, it is still common to see shortcuts taken by installers that bypass specified procedures.
The above problems are aggravated by the variations in connector component constructions that do not allow standardization of sealing assemblies. As an example, the wireless industry has devised a number of equipment ports for outdoor use which do not provide for conventional, reliable seals, such as those using O-rings, and the like. There is generally little standardization of components other than those directly related to signal transmission properties and secure contact.
Consequently, it is not uncommon to see make-shift sealing accomplished at such connections. For example, sealing tape is commonly wrapped copiously over outdoor connections. This process may be expensive in terms of material and labor costs and also is largely ineffective. Given that most failures of power equipment result from moisture ingress, this ineffective sealing accounts for compromised signals, and potentially failures that necessitate return visits and burdensome repair work.
Since it is not practical to closely supervise all installers, the industry continues to contend with the above problems. The industry continues to search however for a seal design that will not impede or lengthen the installation process and that will be consistently used and reliably seal critical connection locations.

Sealing assembly for a cable connecting assembly and method of joining cable connectors


A hot-melt polyester tape and a preparation method thereof is provided, the hot-melt polyester tape comprises a PET film layer which has a thickness of 10-20 μm, and one side of the PET film layer is coated with a hot-melt glue layer which has a thickness of 2-5 μm; the preparation method thereof comprises sizing, curing, slitting and winding formation. The hot-melt polyester tape of the invention has the PET film layer and the hot-melt glue layer, and such hot-melt polyester tape is added with a layer of hot-melt glue compared to a conventional PET film, which makes it have higher extension capacity and not easy to break, the extension strength is much higher than the national standard, and the hot-melt polyester tape has the functions of waterproofing and reinforcement.

Commercially-available thick cables generally contain a plurality of thin wires, which are compactly wrapped up and separated from each other with a thin layer of insulation skin. If the partial insulation skin is damaged due to inattention during use, the whole wire may have a problem and even burn out. In order to avoid above problems, there is a need to wrap these thinner wires with a layer of protective films when fabricating such wires. This protective film is usually insulating film, this protective film has a large coil diameter when it is finally wound during production, which brings inconvenience to production, and meanwhile there is a need to equip a tape inverter, for handling the protective film coils which may have a bad winding formation or parallel rewinding of the protective film coils into portable forms.

Hot-melt polyester tape and preparation method thereof

HANGZHOU LINAN TIANHONG TELECOMMUNICATIONS MATERIAL CO., LTD.


The present invention includes a sensor malfunction determination unit 207 detects the pressure value corresponding to a signal outputted by a pressure sensor 101 capable of measuring the internal pressure of a pneumatic tire 10. When the detected pressure value is decreasing along the time axis, the sensor malfunction determination unit 207 determines that the pressure sensor 101 is not malfunctioning.

In recent years, vehicles have been provided with a tire data transmission device and a tire information reception device. Specifically, the tire data transmission device is provided for a rim on which a pneumatic tire is mounted. The tire data transmission device provides a pressure sensor capable of measuring the internal pressure of the pneumatic tire.
The tire data transmission device wirelessly transmits a pressure value, which corresponds to a signal outputted by the pressure sensor, to the tire information reception device (an ECU or the like) (for example, JP-A H9-104211). Then, the tire information reception device displays the pressure value thus received.
The driver or the like of the vehicle can find out the pressure value of the pneumatic tire from the display. Accordingly, when the pressure value of the pneumatic tire is not more than a regulated pressure value, the driver or the like can take this opportunity to inflate the pneumatic tire.
Since the pressure value of the pneumatic tire is taken as an index for maintaining the driving stability of the vehicle, it is desirable for the driver or the like to inspect the pressure sensor frequently to find out more precise pressure value.

Sensor malfunction determination device and sensor malfunction determination method


An apparatus for separation of components having differing terminal velocities. The apparatus provides a substantially elongate, upwardly projected air flow acting to agitate, sort and separate the components according to a terminal velocity of each of the components. The apparatus also forms a bed of the components above the upwardly projected air flow and entrains a class of the components out of the bed.

This invention relates to an apparatus and method for effecting the separation of items with different terminal velocities, such as sugar cane billets and leaf, as achieved in cane harvesters. In particular, it relates to the use of air flows of differing velocities to separate leaf and other trash from sugar cane billets.
Various mechanisms are known whereby separations, such as the separation of billets of sugar cane from leaves, tops and other trash picked up by a harvester, are achieved. For sugar production it is desirable to efficiently separate sugar billets from other matter so as to deliver a clean product to sugar mills for crushing.
This separation has typically been attempted, albeit somewhat ineffectively, in cane harvesters during harvest. In most known arrangements a flow of air is drawn through the cane as it passes through the harvester. One such arrangement is described in Australian Patent No. 569800 in the name of Claas OHG. This patent describes a separation process wherein harvested cane is carried up an inclined belt conveyor. At the end of the conveyor the cane and other material falls onto a transverse conveyor. Air is blown through the falling cane to separate lighter material from the heavier cane billets. A suction fan is mounted above the conveyor belt to assist with ejection of the separated material.
The Claas approach fails to achieve efficient separation at acceptable harvesting rates. Leaf is caught between cane billets and retained while some billets are discharged with leaf material. A more efficient approach is required.
In other approaches air is drawn through a moving bed of cane to separate cane billets from trash. Successful separation depends on utilising the difference in terminal velocity of a billet (typically 20 m/s) and other inclusions to the harvested cane such as tops (typical terminal velocity of 15 m/s) and leaves (typically 5 m/s). The usual configuration in a harvester is with a fan drawing air through the cane bed. Commonly used fans do not provide a uniform velocity profile over the whole treatment area. Uniformity of air flow is greatly affected by the air inlet conditions and geometry of the chamber in which the separation is effected and other factors including the presence and properties of the cane bed itself. Consequently, such means of separating trash from cane billets have not proven efficient because they result in a loss of cane billets ejected with the trash from some parts of the treatment area and the retention of trash in other parts.
Another approach to cleaning trash from cane billets is a modification of the Claas approach described above. A jet of air is blown through a curtain of falling cane to eject the trash. This configuration enables better control over air velocity and hence improved efficiency of separation. However, there is still room for improvement in the quality of the end product and in minimising loss of cane billets. Furthermore, the rate of processing must be increased to match the increase in harvesting speed with modern harvesters.
All of the above described methods cause a loss of cane when applied to billets in a cane harvester, and additionally they fail to remove sufficient extraneous matter. Cane is lost because it becomes entrained with leaf material or it is projected into the fan blades. Leaf can be trapped by the billets and not removed. Variation in density of the cane bed can cause zones where the air velocity is impeded and reduced and the effectiveness of the flow as a separation mechanism at these zones is consequently reduced.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the separation of objects, items, components, and the like, into distinct classes characterised by terminal velocity.
It is a further object of the invention to substantially ameliorate one or more of the identified shortcomings in the known prior art.
Further objects will be evident from the following description.
In one aspect the present invention provides an apparatus for separation of components having differing terminal velocities, including means for providing an upwardly projected air flow, said air flow acting to agitate, sort and separate said components according to a terminal velocity of each of said components, means for forming a bed of said components above said upwardly projected air flow, means for entraining a class of said components out of the bed, said means for providing said upwardly directed air flow including a narrow, elongate jet means extending substantially across said bed of said components.
In one form of the invention the bed of components is formed by projecting the components into and through the upwardly projected airflow. In another form of the invention, the components are distributed on a conveyor means which carries the components through the upwardly projected airflow.
In preference the apparatus further comprises a separation zone formed in the bed of components by the flow of air whereat components are distributed according to terminal velocity with lower terminal velocity components displaced upwardly with respect to higher terminal velocity components.
The components may be definable in classes wherein each class has a characteristic terminal velocity, and the terminal velocities of the components in the class are distributed about a mean value which is the characteristic terminal velocity.
In preference the means for entraining a class of said components is a low speed fan drawing an entraining air flow away from the bed of components, said entraining air flow entraining low terminal velocity components. The entraining air flow preferably acts throughout and/or adjacent the separation zone.
The upwardly projected flow of air and the entraining air flow act cooperatively to sort and segregate classes of components.
In preference the upwardly projected air flow has a velocity of between 20 m/s and 60 m/s and preferably in the range 30 m/s and 50 m/s. Most preferably the velocity of the upwardly projected air flow is 40 m/s.
The entraining air flow preferably has a velocity of between 2 m/s and 20 m/s. Most preferably the velocity of the entraining air flow is 12 m/s.
In a second aspect the present invention is a self-propelled harvester comprising cutting and gathering means at a forward end of the harvester; chopping means adjacent the cutting and gathering means for chopping harvested cane into billets and trash; means for projecting said billets and trash into a separation zone; separation means as defined above providing at least one narrow, upwardly projected air flow through the separation zone, said air flow acting to agitate, sort and separate the billets and trash, said entraining means entraining the trash out of the separation zone.
In one form the chopping means and the means for projecting said billets and trash into a separation zone are a single means such that the billets and trash are projected into the separation zone immediately after chopping.
The harvester may suitably include conveyor means adjacent the projection means, said billets and trash forming a bed on the conveyor means. In preference the conveyor means conveys the bed of billets and trash through the upwardly projected air flow. The conveyor means suitably comprises a belt of open mesh material.
Alternatively, the projection means forms an unsupported bed in the separation zone.
The means for entraining the trash out of the bed is suitably a low speed fan drawing an entraining air flow from the bed at a velocity sufficient to entrain the trash. The low speed fan is suitably located downstream of the upwardly projected air flow.

Separation using air flows of different velocities


A device receives Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) requests that include registration information, and load balances a SIP call based on the registration information of the SIP requests.

Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is an application-layer control (i.e., signaling) protocol for creating, modifying, and terminating sessions with one or more participants. These sessions may include Internet-based telephone calls, multimedia distribution, multimedia conferences, instant messaging conferences, interactive voice response (IVR), automated and manual operator services, automatic call distribution, call routing, etc. SIP invitations or SIP INVITE requests may be used to create sessions and may carry session descriptions that allow participants to agree on a set of compatible media types. SIP may use proxy servers to help route requests to a user's current location, authenticate and authorize users for services, implement provider call-routing policies, and/or provide other features to users. SIP may also provide a registration function that allows users to upload their current locations for use by proxy servers.
Typically, SIP uses SRV DNS (Domain Name System) record resolution, per Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) documents RFC 3263 and RFC 2782, for the purpose of load balancing between multiple SIP servers. The load balancing algorithm described in RFC 2782 may be ideally suited for load balancing of SIP servers, but a TTL (Time To Live) parameter provided in the DNS record resolution is usually set to a duration on the order of a few hours. As a result, capacity changes or outages in SIP servers cannot be communicated effectively using such a DNS mechanism because it is too slow.
For example, a SIP server may have a finite set of resources with which to service calls (e.g., digital signal processing (DSP) resources on an IVR server may be limited to three-hundred simultaneous calls). DNS-based load balancing per RFC 3263 and RFC 2782 would attempt to balance new SIP dialogs between multiple SIP servers without any consideration for the number of calls already in progress. The DNS TTL parameter makes it impossible for the SIP server to timely revise its traffic allocation to account for current resource availability because any change to traffic allocation would not occur for hours. By the time the revised traffic allocation is implemented, the allocation value has been superseded numerous times, and any call blockages intended to be avoided by load balancing have long since occurred.

Load balancing session initiation protocol (SIP) servers