In open-end rotor spinning devices, an axial engagement element, typically a ceramic pin, is inserted as a wear protector in a receptacle at the free end of the rotor shaft which is supported on a ball of an axial bearing. In order to receive the air displaced during the insertion of the axial engagement element, the axial engagement element is formed with a bore in the end thereof facing inwardly within the receptacle.

The present invention relates generally to devices for supporting and driving an open-end spinning rotor and, more particularly, to a rotor supporting and driving assembly having a shaft with a free end in the form of a support rod made of a material harder than steel and disposed in engagement with a ball of an axial bearing, sometimes referred to as an axial bearing, within a receptacle concentric to the shaft axis.
In open-end spinning devices, the speed of the spinning rotors is conventionally above 100,000 rpms. Such high speeds place significant requirements on the support of the rotors. German Patent Publication DE 25 14 734 teaches a support arrangement for an open-end spinning rotor which is still used even for the highest speeds of a spinning rotor previously attained.
The rotor cup itself in which the yarn is formed is supported on an elongated shaft which rests on two support-disk pairs set slightly obliquely relative to one another with the free end of the shaft supported on a ball in the axial direction. This achieves a low-wear support. The ball functions as a contact for the rotor shaft and is placed in vibration via a holder for the ball. As a result, the ball is held at support points which are constantly changing. The support-disk pairs for the shaft support are placed slightly obliquely relative to each other to exert a component of force on the shaft to repeatedly urge the shaft and the rotor in the direction of the ball and to return the shaft into contact with the ball whenever the shaft end is lifted off the ball. The position of the ball relative to the axial centerline of the rotor shaft is constantly changing. A minimal eccentricity between the shaft axis and the center of the ball brings about a driving of the ball so that the ball constantly presents a new contact point to the end face of the free shaft end. During the oscillating axial motion of the rotor shaft, wear occurs to the ball and on the shaft end during the rapid succession of the lifting off of the shaft end from the ball and its falling back onto the ball. In particular, if the shaft end is shortened due to deformation or removal of material, an error in the yarn count [i.e. the size of the yam being spun] can occur because of changes caused in the position of the rotor relative to the yam infeed.
In order to minimize the wear of the shaft end German Patent Publication DE 41 17 175 A1 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,349,809 teach the insertion of a ceramic pin as a so-called axial engagement element on the free end of the shaft in a concentric receptacle of its offset end piece. A front side of the ceramic pin is supported on the ball of the step bearing. The pin is inserted with very close manufacturing tolerances into the receptacle. Since the receptacle is a blind hole the air in the blind hole must be offered a possibility of escape during the insertion of the pin. This is provided in the state of the art by an enlargement of the blind hole to receive the compressed air or by grooves extending in the longitudinal direction of the pin distributed over its circumference to offer the escaping air a pathway for exiting the receptacle.
These known possibilities have several disadvantages. A notching of the pin on its circumferential surface by the ventilation grooves leads to a reduction of the contact pressure between the pin and the receptacle and thereby reduces the effectiveness of the adhesion of the pin in the shaft. In the case of sharp-edged transitions of the grooves to the circumferential surface of the shaft there is the danger that, when the pin is inserted into the blind hole, material chips off on account of unfavorable variations in stress, which damages the pin. If the pin does not have any ventilation grooves the blind hole must be longer that the pin. Preventive measures must then be taken so that the pin can not shift in the blind hole under load.

Shaft for supporting and driving an open-end spinning rotor


A method of forming a semiconductor fin of a FinFET device includes conformally depositing an amorphous or polycrystalline thin film of silicon-germanium (SiGe) on the semiconductor fin. The method also includes oxidizing the amorphous or polycrystalline thin film to diffuse germanium from the amorphous or polycrystalline thin film into the semiconductor fin. Such a method further includes removing an oxidized portion of the amorphous or polycrystalline thin film.

1. Field
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to semiconductor devices, and more particularly to silicon germanium (SiGe) use in fin-type field-effect transistors (FinFETs).
2. Background
Silicon germanium (SiGe) has been widely reviewed as a promising material for p-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor (PMOS) devices. SiGe has an intrinsically higher hole mobility than silicon. In standard field effect transistor (FET) geometries, imparting a strain in semiconductor chip regions, such as the source and drain regions of a FET, is common. In fin-type field-effect transistors (FinFETs) structures, however, the volume of the fin available for strain engineering is small. As fin geometries are reduced, such as in ten (10) nanometer device designs, fabrication of SiGe fins becomes expensive and difficult to achieve.

Silicon germanium FinFET formation by Ge condensation


A stable topical alcohol-free aerosol foam containing one or more keratolytic agents is provided. The foam-forming formulation is an oil-in-water emulsion which contains one or more hydrofluoroalkane (HFA) propellants and one or more keratolytic agents. The keratolytic agent may be present in either phase of the emulsion or dispersed in the emulsion. The oil phase may consist at least in part of the HFA propellant. The foam is stable on the skin for at least 5 minutes at body temperature and disappears into the skin upon rubbing or after prolonged standing. The formulations may not contain additional co-solvents or non-HFA co-propellants. The formulations demonstrate reduced intensity of the odor and/or color associated with the keratolytic agent(s) as compared to conventional formulations containing keratolytic agents.

Pharmaceutical foams are pressurized dosage forms containing one or more active ingredients that, upon valve actuation, emit a fine dispersion of liquid and/or solid materials in a gaseous medium. Foam formulations are generally easier to apply, are less dense, and spread more easily than other topical dosage forms. Foams may be formulated in various ways to provide emollient or drying functions to the skin, depending on the formulation constituents. Accordingly, this delivery technology is a useful addition to the spectrum of formulations available for topical use. However, as yet, only a few pharmaceutical foams are commercially available. Most commercially available foam dosage forms contain corticosteroids, although some products have also been used to deliver antiseptics, antifungal agents, anti-inflammatory agents, local anesthetic agents, skin emollients, and protectants (American Journal of Drug Delivery, 2003, vol. 1(1), pp. 71-75).
There is growing interest in converting non-foam topical treatments to aerosol foam or mousse formulations, which better penetrate the skin, provide faster treatment and do not leave any greasy residue on skin or clothing compared with conventional ointments. Until now, the most common gas propellant used in aerosol products is chlorofluorocarbon (CFC), an ozone-depleting agent. The Montreal Protocol International Treaty, signed by 180 nations, banned the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) as aerosol propellants and mandated the phasing out of CFC agents. No new or revised aerosol formulations may contain CFC propellants and alternative propellants must be used that are more environmentally friendly. Therefore, manufacturers must reformulate or modify existing products to use non-CFC propellants, while maintaining important aspects of the previous formulation, such as accuracy of delivery, stability, etc. The primary CFC substitute are hydrofluoroalkanes (HFA), also known as hydrofluorocarbons (HFC).
Although hydrocarbon propellants, such as propane and butane, can be used in the manufacturing of pharmaceutical foams, these propellants are not suited for human use since they are flammable. Just as is the case with CFC propellants, hydrofluoroalkanes (HFAs) that possess high chemical stability can be used as a primary substitute for hydrocarbons. Examples of HFAs are 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane (HFA-134a) and 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFA-227). Hydrofluoroalkanes (HFAs) are also referred to as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and these terms are used interchangeably.
Since replacing a component of any formulation means introducing new properties, and HFAs differ in their solvating power from CFCs and hydrocarbons, providing reproducible performance of reformulated aerosols for pharmaceutical uses represents a challenging task. Co-solvents (such as ethanol) are often incorporated into the formulation in order to arrive at a stable product (Pharmaceutical Aerosols, June 2003, p. 21). Such formulations, however, have a number of undesirable aspects. Alcohol co-solvents can dry and irritate the skin. U.S. Pat. No. 6,126,920 suggests that the use of alcohol co-solvents can lead to burning, itching, and irritation observed in the use of topical foam for delivering betamethasone. Further, volatile alcohols are highly irritating to mucous membranes.
Formulations that contain volatile alcohols and/or alkanes are potential safety hazards due to the high flammability of the product. Moreover, the flammability characteristics of the product require expensive precautions during manufacturing, and may require controlled environments for storage and for disposal of containers after use. For example, WO 85/01876 describes the fire hazards associated with alcohol- and alkane-containing aerosol foam formulations.
Pharmaceutical foam formulations containing keratolytic agents have not been described in the literature. Keratolytic agents are agents that soften, separate, and cause desquamation (i.e. shedding or peeling) of the cornified epithelium, or horny layer, of the skin. These agents are used to expose mycelia of infecting fungi or to treat corns, warts, and certain other skin diseases. Commonly used keratolytic agents include urea, urea in combination with ammonium lactate, salicylic acid, papain, papain in combination with urea, and sulfur. Sulfur is also used in combination with sodium sulfacetamide to treat acne, rosacea, seborrheic dermatitis, eczema, xerosis, scabies, pediculosis and psoriasis.
Keratolyic agents can be administered in the form of a liquid, cream, lotion or cleanser. Topical formulations containing keratolytic agents typically have an intense color and/or strong odor. For example, sulfur containing products typically have an intense yellow color and/or a strong odor characteristic of sulfur. Urea-containing products frequently exhibit a strong ammonia odor, while papain-containing products exhibit a distinctive papain odor. Current products on the market typically contain substantial amounts of odor masking agents, such as fragrances, in order to mask or shield the odor associated with the pharmaceutical agent. However, the use of high concentrations of fragrances can be problematic. The use of fragrances in topical formulations can result in skin sensitizing reactions in which the patient develops sensitivity to the odor masking agent. Furthermore, the presence of fragrances, which are often complex mixtures of different compounds, may result in undesirable side reactions between the fragrance and the active agent(s).
There exists a need for topical keratolytic foam formulations which, once applied to the skin, have little or no odor or color and are non-staining and which contain little or no odor masking agents such as fragrances.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide alcohol-free keratolytic topical foam aerosol formulations that use hydrofluoroalkanes (HFAs) as the propellant.
It is a further object of the invention to provide keratolytic topical foam formulations which exhibit reduced intensity of the odor and/or color associated with the keratolytic agent.


Improved methods of completing unconsolidated subterranean zones penetrated by wellbores are provided. The methods basically comprise the steps of placing a slotted liner in the zone, isolating the slotted liner and the wellbore in the zone, injecting a hardenable resin composition coated particulate material into the zone by way of the slotted liner and then causing the hardenable resin composition to harden whereby the particulate material is consolidated into a hard permeable uniform mass.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to improved methods of completing wells in unconsolidated subterranean zones, and more particularly, to improved methods of completing such wells whereby the migration of fines and sand with the fluids produced therefrom is prevented.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Oil and gas wells are often completed in unconsolidated formations containing loose and incompetent fines and sand which migrate with fluids produced by the wells. The presence of formation fines and sand in the produced fluids is disadvantageous and undesirable in that the particles abrade pumping and other producing equipment and reduce the fluid production capabilities of the producing zones in the wells.
Heretofore, unconsolidated subterranean zones have been stimulated by creating fractures in the zones and depositing particulate proppant material in the fractures to maintain them in open positions. In addition, the proppant has heretofore been consolidated within the fractures into hard permeable masses to reduce the potential of proppant flowback and migration of formation fines and sands through the fractures with produced fluids. Further, costly gravel packs which include sand screens and the like have commonly been installed in the wellbores penetrating unconsolidated zones. The gravel packs serve as filters and help to assure that fines and sand do not migrate with produced fluids into the wellbores.
In a typical gravel pack completion, a screen is placed in the wellbore and positioned within the unconsolidated subterranean zone which is to be completed. The screen is typically connected to a tool which includes a production packer and a cross-over, and the tool is in turn connected to a work or production string. A particulate material which is usually graded sand, often referred to in the art as gravel, is pumped in a slurry down the work or production string and through the cross over whereby it flows into the annulus between the screen and the wellbore. The liquid forming the slurry leaks off into the subterranean zone and/or through the screen which is sized to prevent the sand in the slurry from flowing there-through. As a result, the sand is deposited in the annulus around the screen whereby it forms a gravel pack. The size of the sand in the gravel pack is selected such that it prevents formation fines and sand from flowing into the wellbore with produced fluids.
A problem which is often encountered in forming gravel packs, particularly gravel packs in long and/or deviated unconsolidated producing intervals, is the formation of sand bridges in the annulus. That is, non-uniform sand packing of the annulus between the screen and the wellbore often occurs as a result of the loss of carrier liquid from the sand slurry into high permeability portions of the subterranean zone which in turn causes the formation of sand bridges in the annulus before all the sand has been placed. The sand bridges block further flow of the slurry through the annulus which leaves voids below the bridges formed. When the well is placed on production, the flow of produced fluids is concentrated through the voids in the gravel pack which soon causes the screen to be eroded and the migration of fines and sand with the produced fluids to result.
In attempts to prevent the formation of sand bridges in gravel pack completions, special screens having internal bypass tubes have been developed and used. While such screens have achieved varying degrees of success in avoiding sand bridges, they, along with the gravel packing procedure, are very costly.
Thus, there are needs for improved methods of completing wells in unconsolidated subterranean zones whereby the migration of formation fines and sand with produced fluids can be economically and permanently prevented while allowing the efficient production of hydrocarbons from the unconsolidated producing zone.

Methods of completing wells in unconsolidated subterranean zones


A silver alloy reflective film is used in an optical information recording medium and contains Ag as a main component, a total of 1 to 10 atomic percent of at least one selected from Nd, Gd, Y, Sm, La, and Ce, and a total of 2 to 10 atomic percent of at least one selected from Li, Mg, Al, Zn, Cu, Pt, Au, Pd, Ru, and Rh. The reflective film preferably further contains 0.01 to 3 atomic percent of at least one of Bi and Sb and/or 2 to 10 atomic percent of at least one selected from In, Sn, and Pb. An optical information recording medium includes the silver alloy reflective film. A silver alloy sputtering target has the same composition as the silver alloy reflective film.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to silver (Ag) alloy reflective films for optical information recording media, Ag alloy sputtering targets for the deposition thereof, and optical information recording media. More specifically, it relates to reflective films which have low thermal conductivities, low melting temperatures, high reflectivities, and high corrosion resistance and therefore enable marking on optical information recording media such as CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray Discs, and HD-DVDs typically using laser, such as marking of identification numbers in accordance typically to the burst cutting area (BCA) specifications, after the preparation of the media. The present invention also relates to sputtering targets for the deposition of the reflective films, and optical information recording media having the reflective films.
2. Description of the Related Art
Optical information recording media (optical discs) include various types, and the three main types categorized by the writing/reading system are read-only, write-once, and rewritable optical discs.
Of these optical discs, read-only discs have recorded data formed by concave and convex pits on a transparent plastic substrate such as a polycarbonate substrate upon the manufacture of the discs, and a reflective layer mainly containing, for example, Al, Ag, or Au is arranged on the recorded data, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The data are read out by detecting phase difference or reflection difference of laser beam applied to the discs. Certain optical discs include a substrate containing recording pits and a reflective layer arranged on the recording pits, and another substrate bearing recording pits and a semi-reflective layer arranged on the recording pits. The two substrates are laminated, and the data recorded on the two layers are read out. Data recorded on one side according to this recording/reading system are read-only data that cannot be additionally wrote and altered, and optical discs using this system include CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs, and DVD-Videos. FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the sectional structure of a read-only optical disc. The optical disc in FIG. 1 includes polycarbonate substrates 1 and 5, a semi-reflective layer (Au, Ag alloy, and Si) 2, an adhesive layer 3, and a total-reflective layer (Ag alloy) 4.
These read-only optical discs are produced in quantities, and information is recorded upon production of the discs by pressing with stampers having patterns of the information. Thus, IDs cannot be significantly given to individual discs. However, read-only optical discs individually having IDs formed using a dedicated system such as a label gate system or a burst cutting area (BCA) system after the preparation of the discs are being standardized typically for preventing unauthorized copying, improving traceability in distribution of products, and increasing added values of products. The ID marking (recording) is mainly carried out by a method of applying laser beam to discs after production to melt an Al alloy in the reflective film and to form holes therein.
Aluminum alloys, such as Al—Mg alloys according to Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) 6061, are distributed in quantities as general construction materials, are inexpensive and are thereby widely used as reflective films of read-only optical discs. In contrast, Ag alloys having higher reflectivities are widely used in recordable (write-once and rewritable) optical discs.
These materials, however, have high thermal conductivities and require high laser power for marking, which results in damages on base materials including polycarbonate substrates and adhesive layers. Additionally, they have low corrosion resistance, and voids formed as a result of laser marking invite corrosion of the reflective film when held under conditions of high temperatures and high humidity after laser marking. Reflective films containing Ag alloys show decreased reflectivities at high temperatures due to cohesion of Ag reflective films caused by the low thermal stability of Ag. In addition, these Ag alloy reflective films show decreased reflectivities and coloring when they are used typically in read-only media and are exposed to sunlight or fluorescent light over a long time. This is probably because Ag is dissolved or forms a reaction product layer as a result of a reaction at the interface between the reflective films and other components such as polycarbonate substrates.
Japanese Laid-open (Unexamined) Patent Application Publication (JP-A) No. 1992-252440 (Hei 04-252440) discloses a method for reducing the thermal conductivity of an Ag alloy by incorporating Ge, Si, Sn, Pb, Ga, In, Tl, Sb, or Bi into Ag. JP-A No. 1992-28032 (Hei 04-28032) discloses a method for reducing the thermal conductivity of an Ag alloy by incorporating Cr, Ti, Si, Ta, Nb, Pt, Ir, Fe, Re, Sb, Zr, Sn, or Ni into Ag. The resulting reflective films obtained according to these techniques, however, are not intended to be melted and removed by laser irradiation, and some of them show increasing melting temperatures with decreasing thermal conductivities thereof. Silver alloys (Ag alloys) satisfying requirements as Ag alloys for laser marking have not yet been provided.
The present inventors have developed Ag alloys which have improved thermal conductivities, laser-beam absorptivities, and corrosion resistance and are suitable for laser making, by incorporating, for example, Nd, Sn, Gd, and/or In into Ag (Japanese Patent Applications No. 2004-208686 and No. 2005-67262). Thin films using these materials, however, show decreased light stabilities with increasing contents of added elements, although they show reduced thermal conductivities and increased laser-beam absorptivities. Accordingly, demands still have been made to provide materials having both excellent laser marking capabilities and higher resistance to weathering and light.
The laser-beam absorptivity, light resistance, and weather resistance are properties of reflective films acting as follows. Specifically, an increased laser-beam absorptivity enables easier marking of the reflective films by laser beam, i.e., it improves laser marking capability. An increased light resistance inhibits the reduction in reflectivity and the coloring as a result of exposure to sunlight or fluorescent light. An increased weather resistance prevents the reduction in reflectivity due to corrosion or cohesion of Ag under conditions of high temperatures and high humidity. Therefore, Ag alloy reflective films provided for laser marking should have low thermal conductivities, high laser-beam absorptivities, excellent weather resistance, and excellent light resistance.
As is described above, Ag alloy thin films provided for laser marking must have low thermal conductivities, high laser-beam absorptivities, excellent weather resistance, and excellent light resistance.
Current reflective films for read-only optical discs use JIS 6061 series Al alloys, but these Al alloys do not satisfy the requirements for laser marking in thermal conductivity and corrosion resistance (weather resistance).

Silver alloy reflective films for optical information recording media, silver alloy sputtering targets therefor, and optical information recording media

Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)


A burner is provided for a furnace having at least one windbox that is supplied with air for combustion and has extending therethrough at least one such burner, which opens out toward the combustion chamber. The burner has at least one primary air channel, which is supplied from the outside with a coal dust/air mixture, at least one secondary air channel, which surrounds the primary air channel, and at least one tertiary air channel, which surrounds the secondary air channel. The secondary and tertiary air channels can be supplied with air from the windbox in a regulated manner. Along a rotationally symmetrical portion of an outer surface of each of the secondary and tertiary air channels there is respectively provided at least one air inlet opening. Respective annular valve sections are rotatably disposed about one of the rotationally symmetrical portions of the secondary and tertiary air channels. These two annular valve sections each have at least one air passage opening, and are successively disposed one after the other as viewed in an axial direction of the burner.

The present invention relates to a burner for a furnace having at least one windbox that is supplied with air for combustion and has extending therethrough at least one such burner, which opens out toward a combustion chamber. At least one primary air channel is provided that is supplied from the outside with a coal dust/air mixture, and that is surrounded with at least one secondary air channel which in turn is surrounded by at least one tertiary air channel. Air can be supplied in a regulated manner from the windbox to the secondary and tertiary air channels.
A burner of this general type is known from EP 0 445 938 A1. With the known burner, a secondary resistor is associated with the input side of the secondary air channel. This secondary resistor comprises a side plate which is connected to the upstream end of the secondary air channel. Spaced at a distance from this plate is a further annular plate that surrounds the core air tube and is spaced from and disposed parallel to the plate that is connected to the free end of the secondary air channel. Rotatably mounted between the two plates are a plurality of flat individual vanes. The flat plates serve to establish the pressure loss by setting their angular position by means of a control unit and hence the establishment of a prescribed flow rate of secondary air into the secondary air channel. A corresponding arrangement is provided at the introduction end of the tertiary air channel.
This known arrangement requires a number of movable components, and does not permit a coupled adjustment of the air quantities being introduced from the windbox into the secondary and tertiary air channels.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a burner of the aforementioned general type where it is easier to supply the secondary and tertiary air channels from the windbox.

Burner and furnace operated with at least one burner


A system for cooling an X-ray tube in a CT machine comprising a heat sink for drawing heat away from the X-ray tube and a collimator connected to the heat sink and adapted to collimate the X-rays emitted by the X-ray tube and “focus” those X-rays on an X-ray detector, the heat sink body being formed out of the same material as the emitter of the X-ray tube, such that the emitter opening of the X-ray tube will remain aligned with both the heat sink window and the collimator opening even when the emitter of the X-ray tube undergoes thermal expansion.

Strokes are the third leading cause of death in the United States, causing approximately 177,000 deaths per year, and strokes are the number one cause of long-term disability in the United States, currently affecting nearly 5 million people. Strokes are caused by an abrupt interruption of the blood supply to the brain or spinal cord, thereby depriving the tissue of oxygen and resulting in tissue damage.
Strokes typically occur in one of two forms: (i) hemorrhagic stokes, which occur with the rupture of a blood vessel; and (ii) ischemic strokes, which occur with the obstruction of a blood vessel.
Rapid diagnosis is a key component of stroke treatment. This is because the treatment for an ischemic stroke may be contra-indicated for the treatment for a hemorrhagic stroke and, furthermore, the effectiveness of a particular treatment may be time-sensitive. More particularly, the current preferred treatment for an acute ischemic stroke, i.e., the administration of tPA to eliminate clots, is contra-indicated for a hemorrhagic stroke. Furthermore, the clinical data suggests that the medication used to treat ischemic strokes (i.e., tPA) is most effective if it is administered within 3 hours of the onset of the stroke. However, current diagnosis times, i.e., the time needed to identify that the patient is suffering from a stroke and to identify the hemorrhagic or ischemic nature of the stroke, frequently exceeds this 3 hour window. As a result, only a fraction of current ischemic stroke victims are timely treated with tPA.
Imaging is generally necessary to properly diagnose (and hence properly treat) a stroke. More particularly, imaging is generally necessary to: (i) distinguish strokes from other medical conditions; (ii) distinguish between the different types of strokes (i.e., hemorrhagic or ischemic); and (iii) determine appropriate treatments (e.g., the administration of tPA in the case of an ischemic stroke). Computerized Tomography (CT) has emerged as the key imaging modality in the diagnosis of strokes. CT scanners generally operate by directing X-rays into the body from a variety of positions, detecting the X-rays passing through the body, and then processing the detected X-rays so as to build a computer model of the patient's anatomy. This computer model can then be visualized so as to provide images of the patient's anatomy. It has been found that such CT scanning, including non-enhanced CT scanning, CT angiography scanning and CT perfusion scanning, is able to provide substantially all of the information needed to effectively diagnose (and hence properly treat) a stroke.
Unfortunately, in practice, the CT machine is typically located in the hospital's radiology department and the patient is typically received in the hospital's emergency room, and the "round-trip" time between the emergency room and the radiology department can frequently involve substantial delays, even in the best of hospitals. As a result, the time spent in transporting the patient from the emergency room to the radiology department and then back again can consume critical time which can compromise proper treatment of the patient.
Thus, there is an urgent need for a new and improved CT machine which is particularly well suited for use in stroke applications. More particularly, there is an urgent need for a small, mobile CT machine which can be pre-positioned in the emergency room and moved to the patient so that the patient can be scanned at their current location, thus effectively eliminating "round-trip" delays and dramatically reducing the time needed to properly diagnose the patient. It is also important that the CT machine be relatively inexpensive, so as to facilitate its rapid proliferation and widespread use, e.g., pre-positioning in substantially all hospital emergency rooms and wide availability in outlying, low-volume settings (e.g., rural hospitals, ships, etc.).
In this respect it should also be appreciated that CT scanners utilize X-ray tubes to generate the X-rays that are used to scan the patient. These X-ray tubes typically produce a substantial amount of heat when generating their X-rays, and this heat must generally be dissipated in order to improve image quality and increase component life. However, it can be troublesome to dissipate this heat, particularly inasmuch as the X-ray tube: (i) is encapsulated by the scanner housing, which tends to trap the heat from the X-ray tube; (ii) is generally in close proximity to many other internal scanner components, which can also trap heat; and (iii) must keep at least the emitter portion of the X-ray tube exposed, in order to permit the X-rays to exit the tube and pass into the patient. Such considerations have generally resulted in relatively complex X-ray tube assemblies comprising the X-ray tube and its associated cooling system, which can add to scanner size, weight and cost. This is particularly true inasmuch as the X-ray tubes (and hence their associated cooling systems) are generally mounted on large rotating drums which move the X-ray tubes concentrically about the patient so as to achieve the necessary scanning angles; such rotational mounting generally complicates the delivery of power and/or fluids to the X-ray tube's cooling system.
Thus, there is a need for a new and improved approach for cooling the X-ray tube in a CT scanner, so as to help reduce the overall size, weight and cost of the CT scanner.

Computerized tomography (CT) imaging system with monoblock X-ray tube assembly


The present invention is embodied in a transparent, polyurethane laminate or multi-layer coating comprising a first transparent polyurethane layer, a middle conductive material layer disposed on the first transparent polyurethane layer, and a second transparent polyurethane layer disposed on the conductive layer. In one embodiment, the subject invention addresses the problem of static charge buildup on aircraft transparencies by allowing charge to drain through the second transparent polyurethane layer to the conductive material layer and then to the edge of the conductive material layer, where it is mated to the airframe. The present invention is also embodied in a method for forming a transparent polyurethane laminate on a transparent substrate and a method for forming a free-standing laminate.

The present invention relates generally to transparent polyurethane compositions, and to coated and laminated aircraft transparencies incorporating such compositions, and more particularly to such compositions, coated transparencies, and laminates having antistatic or static dissipative properties.
Transparencies used for modern military aircraft often require a protective, erosion-resistant coating or film located on the outer surface. Such protective outer layers are required to prevent damage to fragile underlying metal or ceramic conductive coatings, such as gold or indium tin oxide (ITO), or to protect a plastic surface having limited environmental durability, such as polycarbonate. Transparent polyurethane coatings and films are preferred for these applications due to their superior erosion resistance properties, excellent transparency and good environmental durability.
The outer surface of an aircraft transparency is subject to electrostatic charging, especially with high performance aircraft. This charging is caused by contact with ice crystals and other particles during flight, which results in transfer of a charge to the surface via triboelectric or frictional effects. This phenomenon is called precipitation charging, or p-static charging, in the industry.
P-static charging of a non-conductive (dielectric) outer surface can create several serious problems affecting aircraft performance, transparency service life, and safety. Discharge during flight can result in damage to outer coating layers from dielectric breakdown or can result in electronic interference with instruments. Such charge accumulation can also create shock hazards for flight and ground personnel.
To prevent these problems caused by charging, the outer layer of an aircraft transparency must be sufficiently conductive to allow the charge to drain across the surface to the airframe or through the thickness of the layer to an underlying conductive metallic or metal oxide layer. Polyurethanes and other organic polymers generally are poor conductors of electricity. Consequently, these polymers cannot be used satisfactorily without modification in applications where static dissipative properties are required.
Several methods have been used in the past to modify polyurethanes so as to increase their electrical conductivity, and thereby to better dissipate a buildup of static charge. In one such method, conductive fibers or particles are incorporated into the polyurethane matrix. This method is not suitable for use with polyurethanes that are transparent, however, because the conductive filler materials are opaque and greatly reduce the light transmission of the modified material. With a relatively thick layer required for highest erosion resistance, >0.002 inch (>50μ), incorporation of such additives to required levels reduces light transmission drastically.
In another method for modifying polyurethanes to increase their electrical conductivity, conductive polymers such as polyaniline or polythiophene salts are incorporated into the polyurethane matrix. Again, however, this method is not suitable for use with polyurethanes that are transparent, because the conductive polymer additives form a dispersed phase that reduces transparency. In addition, polyanilines, polythiophenes and other conductive polymers do not have good environmental stability and generally cause reduction in overall resistance to weathering and environmental degradation.
In yet another method for modifying polyurethanes to increase their electrical conductivity, hydrophilic additives such as amines and quaternary ammonium salts are used to increase the polyurethane's surface conductivity. These additives function by migrating to the polyurethane's surface, where they attract water and thereby create a conductive film. This method is not suitable for polyurethane coatings and laminates, however, because the additive also migrates to the surface of the polyurethane that interfaces with the underlying substrate, resulting in a loss of adhesion. In addition, such additives can lose their effectiveness over time, because they can leach from the polyurethane under normal use conditions.
In general, non-ionic additives and polyol modifiers have been found to significantly enhance electrical conductivity only if used at high levels, which can adversely affect other important properties, such as transparency and mechanical strength. Ionic additives, including quarternary ammonium salts and ionizable metal salts, generally are more effective in enhancing electrical conductivity. The most effective known additives of this kind are ionizable metal salts of perfluoroalkylsulfonates. However, none of these ionic additives is considered fully satisfactory for use in transparent polyurethanes used as coatings or in laminates, because they are fugitive and with aging they can cause a loss of transparency and a loss of adhesion.
None of these known additives for increasing the electrical conductivity of polyurethanes is considered fully satisfactory for use in polyurethanes that are transparent, and particularly in polyurethanes that are used as coatings or in laminates for aircraft windows.
Recently, systems containing less fugitive additives or modifiers have been developed that show improved performance compared to dispersed salts. Such systems are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,458,875 to Sandlin et al. Additional performance improvements beyond those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,458,875 have been demonstrated by use of ionic functional groups incorporated into the polyurethane polyol backbone to create a truly non-fugative ionic system. These modifications represent the current state of the art.
All prior art modification methods used to enhance conductivity of thick polyurethane coatings and films suffer from one limitation: Conductivity is strongly dependent on temperature. As temperature is reduced, conductivity and ability to dissipate accumulated surface charge drop by orders of magnitude. Since aircraft operating at high altitudes regularly experience transparency surface temperatures of −40° F. or lower, electrostatic discharge capability must be maintained at low temperatures. Current systems are marginal with respect to this requirement.
It can readily be appreciated that there is a need for a protective, thick polyurethane coating that maintains high p-static dissipation capability at all operational temperatures without compromise of other performance properties. The present invention fulfills this need and provides further related advantages.

Transparent polyurethane protective coating, film and laminate compositions with enhanced electrostatic dissipation capability, and methods for making same

GKN Aerospace Transparency Systems, Inc.


The invention relates to a topical composition for application to the lips comprising a reaction product of a silica dioxide, or a derivative thereof, with a dimethylsiloxy resin having a viscosity of about 1000 to about 200,000 cs, in combination with a volatile carrier.

When women are asked what cosmetic items they simply can't do without, lipstick routinely comes in as one of the top choices. Lipstick is clearly an essential cosmetic item to most women, and as technology improves, the demand for improved lip products grows. No longer is it adequate to have a large variety of shades to match any particular mood or outfit; women expect some value to be added to the product beyond the basic need of appealing color. Lip products now regularly incorporate biological actives and emollients that will actually improve the lip's condition, in addition to simply coloring it. Not only is treatment important to the lipstick purchaser, however; also crucial to the user is the lipstick's performance. Long gone are the days when a woman had the time or inclination to be touching up her makeup several times a day; it is now preferred that a cosmetic be put in place in the morning, and remain in place throughout the day, without any further attention. It is also now preferred that cosmetics, and particularly lipsticks, not leave their mark on unintended surfaces, such as coffee cups, napkins, utensils, a white blouse, or a kiss recipient's cheek. Thus, long wear and transfer resistance have become important characteristics to the consumer in choosing a new lipstick.
Fortunately, cosmetic technology has advanced to the point where it is possible to provide these desired traits in a lipstick. These types of products follow a general pattern: the use of a volatile solvent for quick drying, combined with a film-forming agent that lays down a long wearing film on the lips as the volatile solvent dries. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,937 discloses a transfer resistant lipstick which relies on the combination of a volatile solvent for quick drying, and a specified silicone ester wax to form a long-wearing film. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,837,223; 5,911,974; 5,965,112; 6,274,152 and 5,985,298 disclose various cosmetics said to exhibit long wear, which cosmetics are based on a mixture of an "MQ"-type silicone resin, a volatile solvent and non-volatile oils. Similarly, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,071,503; 6,074,654; 6,139,823; 6,340,466; 6,406,683 disclose long-wearing cosmetics that rely on the mixture of an "MQ"-type silicone resin and a high molecular weight dimethicone gum to achieve long wear and transfer resistance. Products based on these technologies are now also widely commercially available. Although such products have achieved to varying degrees a measure of success in providing long-wear and transfer resistance, one of the frequently noted problems with such products is the comfort the user experiences with their use. The chemical nature of the products is such that after several hours of wear, the products can leave the lips feeling very dry and flaky. To some extent, this is a reflection of a relative lack of flexibility in the film that remains on the lips after the volatiles flash off. Thus, although the film is responsible for the desirable characteristics, it is also responsible for some undesirable characteristics as well. Therefore, the search continues for a long-wearing, transfer resistant lipstick that provides the user with an improved level of comfort and flexibility, with a minimization of the characteristic dryness and flakiness that can be associated with use of the currently available products. The present invention provides such a product.


An extrudable roadway marker (11) is provided having enhanced stability. The roadway marker has a constant cross section along a centerline (A--A) that allows the roadway marker to be manufactured by extrusion. The base (13) of the roadway marker has a series of adjacent parallel grooves (27) that provide a large adhesive surface. Downwardly extending gripping edges (19) assist in attaching the roadway marker to a roadway surface. In one form, the sides of the roadway marker have reflective tape recesses (17) for receiving and protecting reflective strips 23. A raised rumble portion (15) provides a physical rumbling cue. A recess (25) reduces the weight of the roadway marker. The ends of the marker can be sheared flat or inclined. The parallel grooves may form sharp teeth where they join. The sharp teeth project away from the center of the roadway marker.

Roadway markers are utilized in a variety of traffic control applications. Many roadway markers are permanently affixed to a roadway to delineate lanes of traffic on the roadway. Other roadway markers are used to temporarily delineate construction or work areas. Roadway markers used in such applications are called temporary roadway markers. Both permanent and temporary roadway markers are attached to a roadway with a suitable adhesive.
Permanent roadway markers remain in place and define traffic lanes, identify obstacles and perform other well known functions. Many permanent roadway markers are raised to create a rumble in an automobile when the tires of the automobile impact a row of markers. The most commonly used permanent roadway marker is formed of ceramic and has a semi-hemispherical or button shape.
Temporary roadway markers serve to notify motorists that a construction area is near and that caution is needed. They often direct roadway traffic to pass along the portions of the roadway unaffected by construction, while protecting workers within a construction area from roadway traffic. After construction is completed, temporary roadway markers are loosened and removed. To be effective temporary roadway markers must alert traffic of the construction area. Typically, temporary roadway markers warn oncoming motorists by (1) the use of visual cues such as reflective surfaces, or (2) the use of physical cues such as causing a vehicle to rumble on contact with the marker. Both permanent and temporary roadway markers that provide visual cues often have a reflective surface that reflects light back to a driver. As noted above, physical cues are provided by a raised portion that causes the automobile to rumble upon contact with the marker. One example of a roadway marker that provides both visual and physical cues is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,428,320, issued to Oplt et al. and entitled "Reflective Paving Marker." The Oplt et al. patent describes a roadway marker having a generally trapezoidal prism shape with a honeycombed interior, a reflective surface and raised areas. The honeycombed interior makes the marker lightweight, which is desirable. Although the roadway marker is lightweight, one disadvantage of the Oplt et al. roadway marker is its high manufacturing cost. Due to its construction, the Oplt et al. roadway marker must be injection molded. Injection molding is expensive when compared to other manufacturing processes such as extrusion. Many prior art roadway markers share these same disadvantages because they can only be formed by injection or some other molding processes.
The present invention provides lightweight, low-cost roadway markers that provide a physical rumbling cue and, in some versions, a visual (reflective) cue. Roadway markers formed in accordance with the present invention have a constant cross-sectional shape throughout their length, which allows them to be made by inexpensive extrusion manufacturing processes.


An image reading and recording apparatus such as an electronic blackboard includes a reading unit movable along a guide rail for reading information written on a board, a drive motor integral with the reading unit and operative to move the reading unit relative to the board, and a power transmission mechanism for transmitting a driving force of the drive motor to the reading unit so as to move the reading unit relatively to the board. The power transmission mechanism is composed of a pulley fixed to a drive shaft of the motor and a wire rope extending along the guide rail in a stretched condition and wound around the pulley by one turn. Upon rotation of the motor, the pulley rolls on and along the wire rope, thereby moving the reading unit relative to the board. Due to a large contact area provided between the pulley and the wire rope, the movement of the reading unit is highly reliable and hence the information on the board can be read with high accuracy. The apparatus also includes an image recording unit which is so constructed as to prevent accidental separation of a recording paper from a recording head, thereby ensuring a high quality printing of the information on the recording paper.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image reading and recording apparatus, such as an electronic blackboard, a facsimile machine etc., for optically reading information written on a board or a flexible sheet and regenerating the information in the form of a hard copy. The invention is also concerned with an image recording unit for used in the image reading and recording apparatus.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A known electronic blackboard includes, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a board 1 for receiving information written thereon, a reading unit 2 movable along the board 1 for reading the information on the board, a guide rail 3 for movably supporting the reading unit 2, a pair of wheels 4 and 4 (FIG. 6) attached to the reading unit 2 for rolling movement along the guide rail 3, an endless wire rope 5 extending along the guide rail 3, a pair of pulleys 6 and 7 around which the wire rope 5 is trained, a motor 8 attached to the guide rail 3 for driving the pulley 6. The reading unit 2 is firmly connected to a portion of the wire rope 5 so that when the wire rope 5 is moved around the pulleys 6 and 7, the reading unit 2 moves along a surface of the board 1 to read information written thereon.
According to another known electronic blackboard, such as shown in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication Nos. 62-185453, 63-194998 and 63-276360, the drive motor is attached to the reading unit instead of the guide rail. The drive motor rotates a drive roller which is held in friction contact with a guide rail. Thus, upon rotation of the drive roller, the drive roller rolls along the guide rail to move the reading unit along the guide rail during which time information written on a board is read by the reading unit.
Both of the foregoing known electronic blackboards are, however, not satisfactory due to the drawbacks described below.
In the first-mentioned known electronic blackboard using the wire rope such as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the pair of pulleys 6 and 7 and the drive motor 8 must be disposed outside the range of movement of the reading unit 2 and, therefore, a long guide rail 3 is needed. In addition, the drive motor 8 is disposed behind the guide rail 3 so that the overall depth of the electronic blackboard is relatively large.
The second-mentioned known electronic blackboard is free from the foregoing problem because the drive motor and the drive roller are mounted on the reading unit. However, since a driving force tending to move the reading unit is given solely by a frictional force acting between the drive roller and the guide rail, the movement of the reading unit tends to become unstable due to slippage between the driving roller and the guide rail. As a result, the reading unit cannot read the information on the board with a sufficient degree of reliability and accuracy.
On the other hand, a conventional image recording unit which may be incorporated in an electronic blackboard or a facsimile machine includes, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a recording head 9 for printing information on a recording paper 10 and a drive unit 11. The drive unit 11 is composed of a motor 12, an intermediate gear 13 meshing with a pinion 14 mounted on a drive shaft 12a of the motor 12, and a transmission gear 15 meshing with the intermediate gear 13. The recording head 9 and the drive unit 11 are mounted on a body (not shown) of the image recording unit. The image recording unit also includes a recording roller 16 for feeding the recording paper 10 while forcing the recording paper 10 against the recording head 9. The recording roller 16 has a driven gear 17 and is attached to a lid assembly (not shown) which is pivoted to the body of the image recording unit and movable between an open position and a closed position relative to the unit body. When the lid assembly is moved from the open position to the closed position, the driven gear 17 is brought into meshing engagement with the transmission gear 15 and, at the same time, the recording roller 16 forces the recording paper 10 against the recording head 9. Conversely, when the lid assembly is moved from the closed position to the open position, the recording roller 16 and the driven gear 17 move in the direction indicated by the arrow A shown in FIG. 8. The transmission gear 15 is disposed on the same side as the recording head 9 relative to the recording roller 16.
With this construction, when the motor 12 is driven to rotate transmission gear 15 in the direction of the arrow B, the driven gear 17 is rotated by the transmission gear 14 in the direction of the arrow C. In this instance, the driven gear 17 is subjected to a force tending to move the driven gear 16 and the recording roller 16 in the direction of the arrow A (FIG. 8), thereby urging the lid assembly toward its open position. The recording roller 16 is no longer possible to force the recording paper 10 reliably against the recording head 9. Under these circumstances, the printing quality is significantly deteriorated and sometimes the printing itself becomes impossible.

Image reading and recording apparatus with marking board and moveable scanning arm conveyed by a cable and drum arrangement

Matsushita Graphic Communication Systems, Inc.


Multimode beam combiners include at least one gradient-step index optical fiber in which a refractive index difference at a core/cladding interface is selected to provide a numerical aperture so as to provide stable, uniform beam output. One or more such fibers is formed into a tapered bundle than can be shaped to provide a selected illuminated aperture. The fibers in the bundle can be separated by respective tapered claddings so as to be optically coupled or uncoupled. Illumination systems can include a plurality of such fibers coupled to a plurality of laser diodes or other light sources.

High power semiconductor lasers play an important role in a wide variety of applications including direct materials processing and pumping diode pumped solid state lasers and cladding pumped fiber lasers. Achieving the power levels required for these applications is often accomplished by combining the outputs of many lower power laser diodes. As the light output from laser diodes is highly divergent it is often convenient to make use of fiber coupled laser diodes and perform the beam combination with a fiber based beam combiner.
Numerous examples of such beam combiners have been described in the literature. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,864,644 to DiGiovanni et al. describes a cladding pumped optical fiber device. The device is based on an architecture that uses a plurality of multimode fiber coupled laser diodes that are each optically coupled to the cladding of a fiber laser. In this geometry, numerous fibers are brought together to a bundled region where they are fused and tapered to a smaller diameter. The bundle is subsequently cleaved and spliced to the cladding of the circular cross section active fiber.
While the fiber based combiner described by DiGiovanni et al. was specific to a cladding pumped device, such combiners can find other applications. Unfortunately, limitations associated with DiGiovanni's combiner and other similarly described devices (referred to herein after as "standard combiners") have limited their utility in other applications.
One limitation is that the far field pattern generated by standard combiners is sensitive to the routing of the fiber. Small changes in the path of the fiber, as can result from touching or moving the fiber, can result in dramatic changes to the output beam profile. While these changes in far field profile may have little impact in low absorption cladding pumped devices due to the exceptionally long interaction length, they have a severe impact in applications that have reduced interaction lengths, for example, direct materials processing or pumping high absorption laser gain materials such as rare earth doped crystals or highly doped optical fibers.
Another limitation of standard couplers is that the output beam generated by such devices is round. In materials processing applications, there are many applications that benefit from a square or rectangular beam profile. In these applications, a beam is typically scanned along the surface of material that is being treated or otherwise altered. When a circular beam is scanned across the material, the portion of the material that is exposed to the center of the beam experiences a much higher overall dosage of radiation than the portion that is exposed to the edge of the beam. This variation in total dosage leads to an undesirable non-uniformity in the material processing parameters. A coupler is therefore needed that could provide a square or rectangular output beam.


In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a method and system for parallel computing is provided, that reduces the time necessary for the execution of program function. In order to reduce the time needed to execute aspects of a program, multiple program threads are executed simultaneously, while thread 0 of the program is also executed. These threads are executed simultaneously with the aid of at least one cache of the computing device on which the program is being run. Such a framework reduces wasted computing power and the time necessary to execute aspects of a program.

Parallel processing refers to the division of a data processing task among multiple computer processors in order to decrease the amount of time required to complete the processing task. Graphics processing units ("GPUs") have multiple processors and can therefore be used to parallelize data, either alone or together with one or more dedicated computer processing units ("CPUs"). A typical approach for GPU data-parallelism is to construct a grid (or NDrange in OpenCL terminology) in which each thread is in charge of a single data element. This formulation has its own advantage of being simple and is suitable for simple parallel problems where data elements are processed independently such as color transform, pixel thresholding, image subtraction and so on. For more complicated problems which involve neighboring pixels and reduction (like the block matching problem being discussed), this simple approach has several drawbacks. First, matching a block (or filtering) at two adjacent pixels will create data access overlaps, which will increase latency because parallel threads have to wait for each other to access the same memory address. Second, the size of the block to be matched introduces another dimension for parallelization, and exploiting this dimension (rather than adhere to the image dimensions) may be more effective.
Third, the reference image may be very large in real application, for example tens of Megapixels, which surpasses the maximum grid dimensions of any CPU. In order to cover the whole image, the program must contain mixed host code (on the CPUs) and device code (on the GPUs) to recursively or iteratively process all portions of the image. This introduces more complexity to the design and implementation of the parallel program.
It would therefore be advantageous to provide a new method for multiple-cache parallel computing to reduce the number of steps needed to execute a thread and provide a more efficient computing process.

Multiple-cache parallel reduction and applications


A stroller includes a playing tool main body coupled on a guard bar, a playing tool coupled on a plurality of rotational shaft installed in the main body, a cover formed to be transparent and protecting the playing tool, a driving motor installed in the main body and driven by power from a solar cell, and a transmission unit for transmitting driving force generated from the driving motor to the rotational shafts.

1. Field
The present invention relates to a stroller with a playing tool (a toy), and more particularly, to a stroller with a playing tool formed on a front guard bar and operated by a solar cell so that a baby riding the stroller can play with the tool
2. Description of the Related Art
A stroller is designed to move by wheels coupled on a bottom of a stroller frame. That is, in a state a baby is riding the stroller, a user (parent) can pushes a handle to move the stroller. Typically, strollers are designed such that the baby is only to seat thereon. There are no playing tools installed on the stroller.


A glass-silicon wafer stacked platform. The platform includes a plurality of silicon pillars defining a ferrule receptacle, a silicon spacer connected to bases of the pillars and enclosing an aperture, a glass wafer bonded to the spacer, a microlens array formed in a first surface of the glass wafer and located in the aperture, conductive material carried by a second surface of the glass wafer, and contacts in electrical communication with the conductive material.

Optical fibers can carry so much more data than copper wires or other signal-carrying devices that they are coming into more widespread use within individual electronic appliances such as desktop computers as well as in loner-distance communication lines. In addition to the fiber itself, an optical fiber communication system includes opto-electronic components at each end of the fiber to convert between optical signals and electronic signals. For example, a transmitter that provides optical signals to a fiber may comprise a light-emitting diode (LED) or a laser diode such as a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) or edge emitting laser. A receiver that receives optical signals from a fiber may comprise a photodetector such as a semiconductor photodiode. An opto-electronic platform is a mechanical coupler that ensures efficient optical communication between an optical fiber and an opto-electronic component. An opto-electronic platform in combination with an opto-electronic component may be referred to as an opto-electronic engine. Efficient coupling of a fiber to a component requires precise alignment of the fiber with the component. Opto-electronic engines commonly require active alignment of the fiber and the component. Other opto-electronic engines employ high-precision molded parts. Pairs of MT-ferrule guide pins are commonly used to mate an opto-electronic engine to a corresponding MT ferrule carried by the optical fiber.

Glass-silicon wafer-stacked opto-electronic platforms

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


The invention relates to a device for distracting bone segments, comprising at least two components (12, 13) which can be displaced in relation to each other by means of an adjustment device (14) such that a distance between them is increased. According to the invention the first component (12) is configured as an outer sleeve, a second component (13) is configured as an at least partly inner sleeve which is at least partly positioned within the outer sleeve (12), the outer and inner sleeves (12, 13) can be at least partly inserted into a hole in the bone segments (19, 21) and the inner sleeve (13) engages one bone segment (19) and the outer sleeve (12) another bone segment (21).

The invention relates to a device for the distraction of bone segments, particularly in the jaw region, according to the preamble of claim 1.
Such a device is known, for example, from the International Patent WO 94/22400. This device has two components whose mutual spacing is variable and which are positioned relative to one another by means of guide rods. A threaded spindle, arranged between the guide rods, is provided for varying the spacing. At right angles to the threaded spindle, a drive shaft is connected via a bevel gear to a threaded spindle in order to variably set the distance of the two components relative to each other. In order to fasten the two components to the bone segments, they respectively have several perforated plates arranged in a plane, in order to fasten the components to the bone segments by means of fixing pins or screws.
Such devices have a considerable structural size. In addition, such devices are principally suitable for use in the skull or face region. A use in the jaw region can admittedly be provided in the lateral lower jaw, but fitting is problematic because of the structural size, and accessibility is greatly impeded. For example, a nerve whose position is difficult to identify runs in the lateral region of the jaw, so that there is a very great danger of damage, particularly with such devices. In the lower jaw, this can lead to a numb lower lip. In the anterior jaw, accessibility to external devices is limited by important muscle structures.
For the reconstruction of, for example, vertical bone deficits, the use of such devices, or of devices used with such a device, is only possible with considerable tissue traumatization. Such reconstructions are required because the lack of functional loading of force application leads to atrophy of the alveolar process in the upper and lower jaw due to inactivity, and this therefore recedes.
For the reconstruction of larger vertical bone deficits, for example, of the alveolar process in the upper and lower jaw, the augmentation takes place at that time with a free bone transplant, which is usually removed as a pelvic chip in order to implant this into the jaw bone. The soft tissues are then mobilized, drawn over the bone transplant, and sewn. In this technique for vertical bone augmentation, a soft tissue correction usually has to be undertaken for the restoration of the buccal cavity. This procedure has the disadvantage that several operations are necessary; the patient has on the one hand to undergo a surgical operation, and moreover is burdened with a removal morbidity. Furthermore, the patient cannot regain his employed life for a longer time. Since the retrogression of the bone after tooth extraction mostly occurs in patients of advanced age, further dangers, such as for example thromboses, embolisms, hemorrhage or the like, have to be taken into account in connection with the above-described reconstruction of large bone deficits.
Reconstruction by implants is necessary for the production and maintenance of a denture foundation in order to fully restore the function of mastication.
The invention therefore has as its object to provide a device with which removal morbidity is avoided, building up of bone is attained in a shorter time, and a simple positioning of the device, and also its removal without problems after the bone deficit has been built up, are made possible. Furthermore, this device is to act mechanically as close as possible to the location of the distraction, and is to make possible, after removal, a simple introduction of the implant.
This object is attained according to the invention by the device according to claim 1.
The arrangement within the bone to be built up makes it possible for the mechanical action to take place at the exact place at which bone formation takes place by the very vigorous healing tissue, the so-called callus. In particular, in use for reconstruction of the jaw ridge in the upper and lower jaw by vertical callus distraction, a fine bone cut can be sawn in a jaw which is too flat, so that the portion previously bearing teeth can be moved a little. The device according to the invention is preferably provided at this place of the future artificial tooth root or of the implant, and the bone segment can be raised up with it in a controlled manner so that callus tissue forms and can lead to the reconstruction of the bone. Muscle forces which come into play can easily be compensated by this arrangement, since the mechanical action of the distraction device can be exerted directly at the place to be acted on.
Furthermore, this device has the advantage that a single tooth segment in the jaw region, that is, the denture foundation for a single tooth, can be rehabilitated. Moreover, a combination of several distraction devices can be provided, matched to the size or length of the bone segment to be distracted.
The device according to the invention has the further advantage that the soft tissues in the buccal vestibule and buccal cavity are not required in order to cover the bone implant from the pelvic region. The soft tissue correction usually necessary in the alternative procedures can thereby be omitted. The soft tissues can instead grow in parallel with the callus. Furthermore, removal morbidity, which can entail chronic pain in the pelvic region, hemorrhages, or the like, can be avoided.
An advantageous constitution of the invention provides that the maximum diameter of the outer and/or inner sleeve of the device according to the invention is of the same size as, or at least slightly smaller than, the diameter of the dental implant. As a result, the dental implant can be inserted after the removal of the distraction device, without further surgical operations being necessary. For example, the implant can then be immediately screwed in and fastened. The treatment times can thus be shortened. Moreover, an operation of this kind can be performed by dentists, without a stay in a clinic being necessary.
According to a further advantageous constitution of the invention, it is provided that a section with an external thread is provided at least partially on the inner and outer sleeves. It can thereby be made possible for the device to be inserted or screwed in a simple manner into a bore of the bone, without furthermore requiring for this purpose, fastening means which would be problematic to install particularly in the case of bone ridge widening.
According to a further advantageous constitution, it is provided that the external thread of the inner and outer sleeves is made of equal diameter. A bore in the bone section to be widened can then be established with a bone drill, in order to subsequently set the device internally of the bone, directly or indirectly.
It can furthermore be advantageously provided that the external threads of the inner and outer sleeves are formed as self-tapping threads. An insertion of the device into the bone section to be widened, directly after the bore is formed, can thereby be made possible.
So that a simple insertion and removal of the device can be made possible, it is advantageously provided that the inner and outer sleeves are guided, mutually secured against torsion. The device can thus be inserted and removed as a unit.
It is furthermore advantageously provided, for the simplification of handling, that the outer sleeve of the device has a mounting section constructed to receive a tool wrench. This mounting section can, for example, have a polygonal head, and can be, for example, a hexagonal nut or the like, so that the device can be positioned and also removed with a tool wrench.
According to a further advantageous constitution of the invention, it is provided that the mounting section of the outer sleeve is constructed as a receiving section for a dental implant. It can thereby be made possible that the distraction device no longer needs to be removed after a callus distraction, and can serve as the denture foundation. The medical operations for the construction of a dental implant can thereby be further reduced.
According to a further advantageous constitution of the invention, it is provided that the adjusting device is mechanically constructed and includes a threaded spindle which is arranged in a threaded section of the inner sleeve, and that a head of the threaded spindle is fastened axially to the external sleeve. The mechanical constitution of the distraction device makes possible a precise adjustment of the rate of distraction, which can be, for example, 0.25 mm to 0.5 mm per day. The rate of distraction can be precisely set by the number of turns, in dependence on the different constitution of the thread pitch. Furthermore, it can be advantageously attained by the securement against torsion that the rotational movement can be converted into an axial path movement or longitudinal movement.
A head of the threaded spindle is advantageously fastened in the outer sleeve, with the head situated near the mounting section of the distraction device. Good accessibility for the extension is thereby provided, since the mounting head protrudes through a soft tissue opening and accessibility can thus be given for the purpose of extension.
According to a further alternative embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the adjustment device is constituted as an osmotic pressure chamber with a semipermeable wall. It can thereby be made possible, by means of the concentration equalization of, for example, sodium chloride solutions, for the inner sleeve to be movable relative to the outer sleeve. The maximum displacement path can be determinable by means of the degree of the concentration difference.
A further alternative embodiment of the adjusting device is provided by a pressure spring mechanism which makes possible a continuously adjustable, or for example finely stepped, rate of distraction. The device can furthermore have an adjusting device which is actuatable by means of compressible materials, preferably with air-elastic or rubber-elastic materials.
Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the further claims.

Device for distracting bone segments, especially in the area of a jaw


It is disclosed a method (and related apparatus) including deciding a handover of a terminal from a relaying source entity to a relaying target entity based on information related to at least one link between the relaying source and target entities and source and target network access entities.

Relay stations (RSs) or Relay Nodes (RNs) have been proposed as coverage extensions in cellular systems. This recent development has triggered considerations of relays also in LTE. Thus, relaying has been proposed as a candidate feature for LTE-Advanced.
FIG. 1 illustrates a deployment scenario of a radio access network (RAN) with possible radio relayed extensions. Thus, FIG. 1 shows a communication system 100 that may comprise a user equipment (UE) 101 and a network (not shown). The communication system 100 may further comprise an evolved nodeB (eNB) 1021, which may provide access to the network, corresponding RNs #1 to #3 1022 connected to eNB 1021 via relay links (or equivalently backhaul links) and UEs 101 connected either to the RNs 1022 or directly to the eNB 1021 via access links.
As for the RNs 1022, apart from the main goal of coverage extension (shown at RN #2 1022), introducing relay concepts may also help in:                Provision of high-bit rate coverage in high shadowing environments (shown at RN #3 1022);        Reducing average radio-transmission power at the UE, thereby leading to long battery life;        Enhancing cell capacity and effective throughput, e.g., increasing cell-edge capacity and balancing cell load (shown at RN #1 1022); and        Enhancing overall performance and deployment cost of a radio access network (RAN).
There are many kinds of relay systems proposed, starting from the simplest one such as amplify/forward (e.g. applied in single frequency digital video broadcasting handheld (DVB-H) networks, for example) ending up to the most complex one, which may utilize a network coding to improve overall performance.
In self-organizing networks (SON), handover thresholds, based for example on load measurements, are used. The handover decision e.g. in active mode may be effected according to the following equations:RS=Qmeas,s+Qhysts  (1), andRn=Qmeas,n−Qoffsets,n  (2),where Rs and Rn are the cell ranking for handover decision respectively in a serving/source cell s and in neighbor cells n; Qmeas,s and Qmeas,n are averaged signal measurements (e.g. reference signal received power (RSRP) or reference signal received quality (RSRQ)). However, the increase of the handover hysteresis QhystS or handover offset QoffsetS,n may cause the UE 101 to stay longer with the serving cell s.
Thus, the handover threshold setting may either delay or hasten the handover of a UE to a target cell. The handover procedure may remain the same as in the case of a network with no load balancing. That is, the load balancing may affect the handover process only indirectly by changing the values of the parameters, namely Rs and Rn, and the normal handover (i.e. handover in a network that does not consider load balancing) initiation, execution and finalization processes may remain valid.
In consideration of the above, according to examples of the present invention, a method, an apparatus and a related computer program product for load balancing are provided.
In this connection, the examples of the present invention enable one or more of the following:                Taking into account the load on the backhaul link by the handover decision, i.e. if a handover for the UE is to be effected towards the RN, taking into account that the UE will consume resources not only on the target RN-UE (e.g. access) link but also on the target eNB-RN (e.g. backhaul) link;        Coping with less information, i.e. the information on the load suffices, if the neighboring eNBs have information e.g. on the absolute number of resources. In that case, the number of residual resources may be derived (e.g. by multiplying total number of resources by (1-load)). Further, as for the coping with less information, e.g. the neighboring eNBs may not have information on the number of assigned resources e.g. for so-called backhauling, e.g. as a result of the resource partitioning.        Rendering the UE backward-compatible e.g. with legacy systems. In other words, from the UE's viewpoint, e.g. the serving network node (eNB or RN) could function in the same way as a legacy eNB;        Allowing users to benefit from relaying with legacy terminals. In other words, both legacy terminals and LTE-Advanced terminals can work equally well in legacy and LTE-Advanced networks.        Rendering LTE systems economically viable;        Keeping software and hardware updates between standard releases at the network side as small as possible;        Enabling the RN(s) to support main eNB functions. In other words, RN(s) is (are) capable of flexible resource sharing with a controlling eNB;        Enabling reduction of the serving/source cell load if overloaded;        Enabling adjustments of handover thresholds, thus controlling the handover offsets of the neighboring cells. Hence, both overloaded cells decreasing the offset and underemployed cells increasing the offset are taken into account. The offset may be negotiated between the two cells, i.e. the cell of interest may propose a new value (e.g. a step size can be defined) and the other cell may accept the value;        Having information that sufficient resources are available on the access link, while resources available on the backhaul link in the target cell may not be sufficient for supporting the UE;        Having information that sufficient resources are available also on "an almost congested" backhaul link in the target cell, and that the admission of the UE by the target RN (the admission may be decided by the target eNB) could decrease the average throughput that can be reached in the served area by the target RN;        Coping with resource partitioning not done properly, i.e. the target RN is congested not due to the access link but due to the backhaul link.

Method, apparatus, and related computer program product for load balancing in a relay network


Windage cover plates are secured between the wheels and spacer of a turbine rotor to prevent hot flow path gas ingestion into the wheelspace cavities. Each cover plate includes a linear, axially extending body curved circumferentially with a radially outwardly directed wall at one axial end. The wall defines a axially opening recess for receiving a dovetail lug. The cover plate includes an axially extending tongue received in a circumferential groove of the spacer. The cover plate is secured with the tongue in the groove and dovetail lug in the recess. Lap joints between circumferentially adjacent cover plates are provided.

The present invention relates to a wheelspace windage cover plate for spanning between a turbine wheel bucket dovetail and an adjoining spacer in a turbine rotor and particularly relates to a windage cover plate for substantially precluding hot flow path gas ingestion into the turbine wheelspace cavity.
Wheelspace cover plates have been proposed and constructed in the past. Typically, those cover plates extend between the turbine wheel and adjoining spacer. The cover plates, however, are not typically readily removable for access into interior portions of the rotor. The attachment directly to the turbine wheel also causes maintenance problems and the joints between the adjacent cover plates have not been found particularly effective to minimize leakage of the hot gas into the wheelspace.
Wheelspace cover plates in general, however, preclude ingestion of hot gas from the hot gas flow path into the turbine wheelspace cavity which would otherwise cause damage to the turbine wheel. Removability of the cover plates for access to the wheelspace cavity becomes an issue in advanced turbine design because the wheelspace cavities house a multiplicity of tubing for conducting a cooling circuit, for example, employing steam as the cooling medium, for internal cooling of the buckets. Conventional wheelspace covers attached between the spacer and wheel are not readily removed without disassembly of the rotor. Consequently, access to the various tubings and joints which supply the cooling medium to the buckets for maintenance or repair is quite difficult. In a more general sense, the cover plates must also withstand high operating temperatures, severe accelerations, must have high cycle fatigue endurance and afford minimal hot gas leakage into the turbine wheelspace cavity.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a wheelspace windage cover for precluding hot flow path gas ingestion into the wheelspace cavity between the turbine wheel and spacer and which cover can be readily installed and removed for access to interior portions of the rotor. Particularly, the wheelspace cover comprises a plurality of cover plates arranged in a circumferential array between the spacer and a turbine wheel. Each cover plate has an engagement structure along an axial edge for engaging a complementary engagement structure on the spacer, i.e., the cover plate carries an arcuate projecting flange for engagement in a circumferential slot or groove on the axial face of the spacer. The opposite axial edge of the cover plate includes a radially extending wall having a recess for receiving a lug projecting axially from a bucket dovetail. A cover plate is provided at each bucket dovetail location. With the cover plate tongue engaged in the groove of the spacer and the cover plate in position, the bucket dovetail is received in the female dovetail on the turbine wheel. When the bucket dovetail is finally secured to the turbine wheel, the bucket dovetail lug projects into the recess on the cover plate, maintaining the cover plate in position.
Lap joints are formed between the end edges of adjacent cover plates. The tongues on the end edges of the cover plates alternate from cover plate to cover plate. That is, the circumferentially projecting tongues of one cover plate underlie oppositely directed circumferentially projecting tongues of the end edges of adjacent cover plates. With this arrangement of lap joints, access to the wheelspace cavity at any location about the rotor is available by removing one, or at the most, two, adjacent cover plates by first removing the associated bucket from its dovetail connection with the turbine wheel. Thus, by withdrawing the bucket dovetail lug from its associated cover plate, the cover plate may be removed, assuming the tongues at the end of the cover plate overlap the tongues of adjoining cover plates. If access to an adjacent location is required, the second cover plate adjacent the first cover plate may likewise be removed.
With this arrangement of cover plates and lap joints between circumferentially adjacent cover plates, gas leakage into the turbine wheelspace cavity is minimized. Additionally, the windage within the rotor is substantially reduced.
In a preferred embodiment according to the present invention, there is provided a cover plate for disposition in the space between a turbine rotor wheel and a spacer rotatable about an axis wherein the wheel has circumferentially spaced buckets, including bucket dovetails with dovetail lugs extending axially in one direction and the spacer includes a circumferentially extending groove in general spaced registration with the lugs, comprising a cover plate body having along one side an axially extending tongue for engaging in the groove of the spacer and a recess along an axially opposite side for receiving one of the axially extending lugs of the bucket dovetail and a flange projecting from each of the opposite ends of the cover plate body for engaging an adjoining cover plate about the turbine rotor.
In a further preferred embodiment according to the present invention, there is provided in a turbine rotor having a turbine rotor wheel and a spacer rotatable about an axis, the wheel having circumferentially spaced buckets, including bucket dovetails with dovetail lugs extending axially in one direction, the spacer including a circumferentially extending groove in general spaced registration with the lugs, a cover plate for disposition in the space between the wheel and the spacer and including a cover plate body having along one side an axially extending tongue engaged in the groove of the spacer and a recess along an axially opposite side for receiving one of the axially extending lugs of the bucket dovetails, the cover plate further including a flange projecting from each of the opposite ends of the cover plate body for engaging an adjoining cover plate about the turbine rotor.
In a still further preferred embodiment according to the present invention, there is provided a cover for enclosing the space between a turbine rotor wheel and a spacer rotatable about an axis wherein the wheel has circumferentially spaced buckets, including bucket dovetails with dovetail lugs extending axially in one direction and the spacer has cover engagement structure, comprising a plurality of cover plates each including a cover plate body having along a first axially facing side thereof spacer engagement structure complementary to the cover engagement structure carried by the spacer and a recess along a second axially facing side thereof for receiving one of the axially extending lugs and overlapping complementary engagement elements on registering ends of the circumferentially adjacent cover plates for minimizing fluid leakage past the cover.
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved cover for overlying the wheelspace cavity between a spacer and turbine wheel which minimizes hot gas leakage into the wheelspace cavity, while affording ease of maintenance by facilitating removal of one or more of the cover plates for access to the wheelspace cavity.

Wheelspace windage cover plate for turbine


Compressor has a fixed scroll and a scroll movable in an orbit relative to the fixed scroll. The fixed and movable scrolls are equipped with a spiral wrap that engage each other and delimit variable-volume compression chambers. The spiral wrap of the movable scroll has a stepped portion extending over at least a portion of its length. At least one of the scrolls defines a passage for communication, during orbital movement of the movable scroll, between two compression chambers, with the ends of the passage terminating respectively on either side of the outer and inner walls of the spiral wrap of the scroll with the passage or inside the outer and inner walls of the spiral wrap of the scroll with the passage. The passage has a check valve for allowing fluid to flow only from the outer wall of the spiral wrap of the scroll with the passage to the inner wall.

The present invention relates to a scroll-type refrigeration compressor.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,477,238 describes a scroll-type refrigeration compressor comprising an impermeable housing delimited by an envelope and containing a fixed scroll and a movable scroll, whereby the movable scroll describes an orbital movement relative to the fixed scroll, the fixed and movable scrolls each being equipped with a spiral wrap, the two spiral wraps being engaged with each other and delimiting at least two variable-volume compression chambers.
According to a first embodiment described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,477,238, each spiral wrap has a stepped portion extending over at least a portion of its length starting from its outer end.
This results in the volume of the two external compression chambers, and hence the displacement of the compressor, being increased. These features thus enable compressor performance to be enhanced.
However, this embodiment requires provision of a recess in the plate of the movable scroll designed to receive the stepped portion of the spiral wrap of the fixed scroll.
In order not to decrease the mechanical strength of the plate due to creation of this recess, it is necessary to increase the thickness of the plate. This thickness increase of the plate increases the weight of the movable scroll and hence its inertia. This increase in inertia translates directly into an increased mechanical load on the hub of the movable scroll and the bearings of the movable scroll drive shaft, which can lead to premature wear of the bearings.
According to a second embodiment described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,477,238, only the spiral wrap of the movable scroll has a stepped portion extending over at least a portion of its length from its outer end. These features obviate creation of a recess in the plate of the movable scroll and hence premature wear of the drive bearing of the movable scroll.
However, this embodiment brings about an asymmetrical pressure change between the two outer compression chambers because the volumes of these two chambers are different. The pressure in the chamber which is delimited externally on the wall of the spiral wrap that has the stepped portion is higher than in the chamber which is delimited externally by the wall of the spiral wrap with no stepped portion.
As a result, there are leakages of fluid between these two chambers and hence reduced performance of the compressor.

Scroll compressor with valve for controlling fluid to flow from an outer wall to an inner wall of a fixed or a movable spiral wrap


A die for drawing molded sheet metal parts has a bottom part of the die and a top part of the die. These parts are movably guided toward each other. One of these parts has a draw ring. The other part of the die has a sheet metal holder received on a plurality of hydraulically operating cylinders. There is a draw punch, which is enclosed by the sheet metal holder and is supported on at least one hydraulically operating cylinder. The punch is communicatively connected with at least one of the operating cylinders serving for the support of the sheet metal holder. The punch is acted upon by a hydraulic fluid displaced from this operating cylinder during the drawing process. Thus, the draw punch will move in the direction opposite to the movement of the sheet metal holder.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a die for drawing molded sheet metal parts, with the die having a bottom part and a top part.
These die parts are movably guided toward each other. One of these die parts has a draw ring. The other part of the die has a sheet metal holder received on a plurality of hydraulically operating cylinders. There is a draw punch, which is adjacent to the sheet metal holder and is supported on at least one hydraulically operating cylinder. The draw punch is communicatively connected with at least one of the operating cylinders serving for the support of the sheet metal holder. The draw punch is acted upon by a hydraulic fluid displaced from this operating cylinder during the drawing process. Thus, the draw punch will move in the direction opposing the movement of the sheet metal holder.
2. The Prior Art
German Patent DE 3,022,844 A1 describes a die which can drive a draw punch in the opposite direction of a draw ring which depends on the downward movement of the draw ring. Thus, it is possible to realize complicated counter draw steps relative to the main drawing process. It is also possible to break up the drawing process into a series of partial drawing steps. The partial drawing steps occur in such a way that part of the drawing depth is achieved through the movement of a draw ring which is lowered by the ram of the drawing press. Another part of the drawing occurs through a movement of the draw punch in the opposite direction.
In this prior art die, as a draw ring is directly actuated by a press ram and is being lowered, there is a pressure medium flowing off from at least one of the pressure cylinders. The pressure cylinder provides support for the sheet metal holder. The pressure medium flows by way of suitable flow paths or conduits into at least one of the pressure cylinders supporting the draw punch, and acts upon the piston guided in the pressure cylinder. This thereby drives the draw punch in the direction opposite to the movement of the draw ring. Another advantage of the known die is that the pressure energy of the pressure medium displaced from the pressure cylinders will support the sheet metal holder as the draw ring is being lowered. The energy resulting from the downward travel of this draw ring is used for driving a draw punch in a direction opposite to the movement of the draw ring.
A problem that keeps recurring during the drawing of molded sheet metal parts with such dies is that the highly undesirable formation of wrinkles and folds may occur in critical drawing areas. These wrinkles can sometimes be eliminated later with difficulty by costly after-treatment of the drawn parts. Sometimes the wrinkles cannot be eliminated. Particularly critical are those drawing areas where the edge of the workpiece is gripped between a sheet metal holder and a draw ring and vibrations occur during the drawing operation. This is the case where wrinkles occur, for example at the corners of sinks having a rectangular cross section.
With these prior art dies, the sheet metal holder always has a sheet metal holder plate, which is received on head plate. The draw ring is normally mounted on a carrier plate. It is known that with such dies that folds potentially developing during the drawing process are avoided by partly increasing within the critical drawing areas the holding force which grips the sheet metal.
It is possible to increase the holding force retaining the sheet metal by placing draw pins underneath the critical areas and to press against sections of the die plates disposed adjacent to such critical areas. It is known also to insert in areas where the formation of folds occurs, strips of paper or sheet metal between the head plate and the sheet metal holder. These strips can be inserted also between the carrier plate and the draw ring.
Pressing against the die plates in the zones disposed adjacent to critical areas does in fact lead to satisfactory results. However, this step is extremely time-consuming and consequently expensive. On the other hand, placing draw pins underneath the critical areas does not always produce the desired results. This is especially true since it is difficult to precisely determine the dimension of such intermediate layers required for eliminating the formations of wrinkles and folds. This applies also to the installation of strips of paper or sheet metal between a sheet metal holder plate and/or a draw ring, on the one hand, and the corresponding parts of the die on the other hand.
Furthermore, this corrective action was found to be extremely time-consuming and costly. This is because the sheet metal holder plate and/or the draw ring have to be removed before such strips of paper or sheet metal can be placed in position. The strip of paper or sheet metal then has to be pushed into the gap between the involved part of the die and the draw ring or sheet metal holder plate. Then the draw ring or the sheet metal holder plate subsequently have to be moved into the correct position again.

Die for drawing molded sheet metal parts