A vacuum cleaning tool has a housing with a brush chamber and a turbine chamber. A vacuum connector is connected to the housing remote from the brush chamber. A brush roller is arranged in the brush chamber and an air turbine is arranged in the turbine chamber for driving the brush roller. A vacuum airflow enters the brush chamber via a suction slot, flows from the brush chamber into the turbine chamber, flows within the turbine chamber through the air turbine, and exits from the turbine chamber into the vacuum connector. The turbine chamber has an intake cross-section transverse to a flow direction of the vacuum airflow that is greater than an outlet cross-section at the turbine chamber end facing the outlet window. Intermediate cross-sections of the interior of the turbine chamber decrease in a direction toward the turbine chamber end such that the turbine chamber tapers toward the outlet cross-section.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a vacuum cleaning tool for a vacuum cleaning device comprising a housing in which a brush chamber and a turbine chamber are provided. A working roller, in particular, a brush roller, is arranged in the brush chamber transversely to the working direction of the suction cleaning tool. The working roller penetrates with a peripheral portion a suction slot provided in the bottom of the brush chamber. An air turbine is arranged in the turbine chamber for driving in rotation the working roller. A vacuum airflow of the vacuum cleaning tool enters the brush chamber via the suction slot, flows into the turbine chamber via an intake window provided in a partition between the brush chamber and the turbine chamber, and exits from the turbine chamber through an outlet window of a vacuum connector. Between neighboring vanes of an annular vane arrangement of the air turbine free flow paths to a vane-free center of the air turbine are formed; the vacuum airflow passes through the vane-free center of the air turbine along its path from the intake window to the outlet window of the vacuum connector.
2. Description of the Related Art
Such a vacuum cleaning tool is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,249,333. It is comprised substantially of a housing with a brush chamber and a turbine chamber. In the brush chamber a brush roller is arranged transversely to the working direction of the vacuum cleaning tool. Its bristles project through the suction slot in the bottom of the brush chamber in order to mechanically act onto the floor surface to be cleaned. The air turbine arranged in the turbine chamber drives by means of a belt drive the brush roller in rotation, wherein the vacuum airflow flowing through the vacuum cleaning tool drives the air turbine.
In order to achieve a higher power output, the air turbine is configured as a direct flow turbine in which between neighboring vanes of an annular vane arrangement free flow paths are formed which allow the vacuum airflow to enter the vane-free center of the air turbine. On its path from the intake window into the turbine chamber and to the outlet window at the vacuum connector the vacuum airflow flows thus twice through the annular vane arrangement so that a high power output can be achieved. As a result of this special flow arrangement of the air turbine, high rotational speeds up to 30,000 rpm are achieved which, however, results in an undesirable noise level increase.
It is an object of the present invention to further develop a vacuum cleaning tool of the aforementioned kind such that for a high power output of the air turbine a lowering of the noise level can be achieved.
In accordance with the present invention, this is achieved in that the intake cross-section of the turbine chamber measured at the partition in a direction transverse to the flow direction is greater than the outlet cross-section of the turbine chamber measured in the same direction at its end facing the outlet window and in that the cross-section of the turbine chamber decreases toward the outlet cross-section such that the turbine chamber tapers in the direction toward the outlet cross-section.
A high power output of the air turbine is achieved in that the turbine chamber is configured, while preventing dead space, such that its walls are positioned with minimal spacing relative to the air turbine. For this purpose, the intake cross-section of the turbine chamber at the level of the partition is configured to be larger than the outlet cross-section of the turbine chamber measured in the same direction and same position at the end facing the outlet window. In this connection, the intermediate cross-sections measured between the intake cross-section and the outlet cross-section in the direction toward the outlet cross-section become smaller so that the turbine chamber tapers in the direction toward the outlet cross-section. This achieves, on the one hand, a combination of the partial flows of the working airflow and of fault flows forming in the turbine chamber, wherein a directed guiding to the outlet window is realized. Accordingly, the airflow is made more uniform; the guiding of the vacuum airflow out of the turbine chamber is assisted in a beneficial way so that the vacuum airflow entering the turbine chamber enters substantially disruption-free the vane-free center of the air turbine.
The configuration of the turbine chamber is preferably symmetrical to the longitudinal center axis, i.e., the mathematical center of gravity of each cross-section between the intake cross-section and the outlet cross-section is approximately located on the longitudinal center axis of the turbine chamber. For achieving more beneficial flow conditions, the center of the outlet window is also approximately located on the longitudinal center axis of the turbine chamber.
In order to moreover minimize dead spaces in the corners of the turbine chamber, the inner longitudinal edges of the turbine chamber are provided with a rounded configuration.
As a result of the relative height position of the outlet cross-section of the turbine chamber, which is positioned higher than the intake window in the partition, the flow through the air turbine is improved. In this connection, the upper edge of the intake window is positioned preferably below the lower edge of the outlet cross-section.
The turbine chamber roof and the turbine chamber bottom are positioned in close proximity to the mantle surface of the air turbine for minimizing fault flows, wherein the distance of the mantle surface to the turbine chamber bottom and to the turbine chamber roof is minimal, respectively, and the two distances are preferably identical.
For an additional lowering of the operating noises it is suggested to provide on the inner wall surface of the turbine chamber wall, in particular, on the inner wall surface of the turbine chamber roof, at least one rib which extends approximately in the flow direction. In this connection, the rib extends from the intake cross-section, in particular, without interruptions, to the outlet cross-section and has preferably the same height along its length. This height substantially bridges the distance between the turbine chamber wall and the air turbine. In this connection, it was found to be advantageous to arrange ribs diametrically opposed to one another relative to the longitudinal center axis; the ribs are positioned in a common plane with the longitudinal center axis. When several ribs are arranged about the inner circumference of the turbine chamber and have preferably the same height, their planes are aligned with the longitudinal center axis of the turbine chamber. This means that all planes of all ribs intersect one another in the longitudinal center axis of the turbine chamber.

Vacuum cleaning tool with pear-shaped turbine chamber


A connection system which produces an aligned connection between first and second tool parts includes a spigot projecting from the first tool part, and a spigot-receiving recess formed in the second tool part. The spigot and the recess have correspondingly shaped, non-circular cross-sections. The spigot is not oversized relative to the recess, and may be smaller than the recess, so that the spigot can be inserted into the recess without the recess being expanded or the recess being compressed.

The present invention relates to a connection system for the aligned connection of two tool parts.
In particular in the case of rotary tools for cutting, there are numerous interfaces between the different tool parts. The alignment in which the two tool parts are attached to each other is often important. If, for example, one of the two tool parts bears a cutting bit, then an exact alignment of the two tool parts to each other is generally necessary in order to achieve a satisfactory cutting result.
Thus for example a connection system is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,811 for the attachment of a cutting edge holder (cutting bit holder) to a tool holder of a boring head. Here, the cutting edge holder has a groove which is fitted onto a correspondingly shaped driving key of the tool holder. Attachment then takes place with the help of a screwed connection. The groove is essentially arranged in the circumferential direction of the tool holder, with the result that by fitting the bit holder onto the tool holder, an alignment or positioning of the cutting bit holder in the axial direction takes place. In the radial direction, on the other hand, the alignment takes place exclusively through the tensioning screw, which can, however, lead to slight misalignments.
It is further provided with this attachment system that the driving key is oversized, i.e., it is larger in cross-section than the groove prior to insertion of the driving key into the groove, with the result that when the cutting bit holder is placed on the driving key and the cutting bit holder is tightened with the help of a tensioning screw, an elastic deformation of the sides of the groove and/or the driving key occurs. That ensures a play-free connection and also makes it possible to transfer cutting forces between the groove and the driving key. However, it proves difficult to subsequently detach the cutting bit holder from the tool holder as, because of the elastic deformation of the groove and/or the key, the bit holder is stuck on the driving key even after the tensioning spring has been loosened. Therefore it is frequently necessary to also provide a push-off mechanism, for example in the form of a screw whose foot pushes the cutting bit holder away from the tool holder when the screw is tightened.
A connection system is already described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,597 in which a first tool part has a truncated projection which faces a second tool part, while the second tool part has a seat which is defined by a tapering recess in order to receive the projection of the first part. Furthermore, with this attachment system, devices are provided for clamping the first tool part to the second tool part. Both the projection and the recess have a non-circular cross-section. However, here too the projection is oversized relative to the recess, with the result that when the projection is inserted into the recess there is an elastic expansion of the recess and/or a compression of the projection. In principle an exact alignment of the two tool parts relative to each other is possible with this connection system. Here, too, however it is also not always easy to detach the two tool parts from each other, as, after the tensioning screw has been loosened, the one tool part may be stuck on the second tool part. A suitable push-off device must therefore be present with the help of which the one tool part can be pushed off from the other tool part.
The attachment systems described in the state of the art either do not permit an easy alignment of the two tool parts to each other or are suitable only for relatively large tools in which the additional push-off device can be integrated.
Starting from this state of the art, it is therefore an object of the invention to provide a connection system for the aligned connection of two tool parts which is easy and economical to produce, which makes possible an exact alignment in both the axial and the radial direction and with which the provision of an additional push-off device can be dispensed with.


A method and apparatus for controlling refrigerant gas pressure in a low pressure refrigeration system including a warm surface within a container. Liquid refrigerant is removed from the refrigeration system evaporator and sprayed on the warm surface, thereby vaporizing. The resulting pressure differential between the container and the evaporator causes the vaporized refrigerant to be returned to the evaporator through an open return line. The warm, surface is downwardly concave so that non-volatile liquid which had been mixed with the refrigerant can be collected from the bottom of the surface and transported to a location remote from the evaporator, thereby separating contaminants from refrigerant.

This invention relates to low pressure refrigeration systems and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for controlling the refrigerant gas pressure in such a system. Specifically, this invention relates to a method and apparatus whereby the refrigerant gas pressure may be quickly raised so as to avoid unwanted time delays when it is desired to leak test a low pressure refrigeration system.
A popular form of large air conditioning systems is a centrifugal chiller system wherein water is cooled and then piped to a heat exchanger for cooling circulated air. The basic components of such a system are an evaporator, a condenser, and a centrifugal compressor. The water is circulated in pipes within the evaporator and is cooled by refrigerant in the evaporator vessel. The cooled water is piped to a heat exchanger for cooling circulated air. Typically, such a system uses low pressure refrigerant, for example, R-11 or R-123. With such a refrigerant, at temperatures below approximately 75.degree. F., the refrigerant is in a relative vacuum with respect to the ambient atmosphere in which the chiller system resides. As is conventional, such chiller systems are regularly subjected to leak tests to determine the location of leaks which develop, due to vibration, during the normal operation of the refrigeration system. Such leaks are undesirable in that they allow envirormentally deleterious refrigerant to escape during the operation of the refrigeration system and allow contaminants to enter the system when it is shut down or inoperative. To perform a leak test, the refrigerant lines must be pressurized. At one time, it was common to use nitrogen or air to pressurize the refrigerant lines. However, this technique is disadvantageous because after the leak test is completed, the lines must be purged of the nitrogen or air which was introduced for the test, resulting in a loss of refrigerant, in addition to requiring a substantial amount of time. Accordingly, various methods and apparatus have been developed whereby the pressure of the refrigerant gas itself is increased. All of these methods and apparatus known to the applicant involve the heating of the refrigerant to increase the refrigerant gas pressure. Thus, U.S. Pat. No. 4,862,698 discloses a system wherein chiller water is diverted to a heater and the heated water is circulated through the evaporator to heat the refrigerant therein. U.S. Pat. No. 4,864,829 discloses a system wherein the refrigerant within the evaporator is heated. U.S. Pat. No. 5,142,876 discloses a system wherein liquid refrigerant is removed from the evaporator, heated in an external heater, and returned to the evaporator. While effective, all of these disclosed systems have a common disadvantage. This disadvantage is that in order to raise the pressure of the refrigerant gas, the liquid refrigerant and the metal evaporator shell are heated, in addition to the water in the chiller pipes within the evaporator. Typically, an evaporator shell weighs approximately 1000 pounds and contains approximately 2000 pounds of liquid refrigerant. In addition, there is approximately 1000 pounds of chill water. It can be calculated that if it is desired to raise the temperature of the refrigerant from 50.degree. F. to 80.degree. F. in order to have sufficient pressure for a leak test, this requires the application of approximately 120,000 British Thermal Units, or approximately 35 kilowatt hours of heat energy. The amount of power that can be applied is limited because heat inputs of over 6 watts per square inch can cause overheating of the refrigerant and there are only about 2500 square inches of evaporator shell surface area available. Assuming high energy transfer efficiency, it will therefore take three hours for the refrigerant to reach the desired temperature if 12,000 watts of power are applied.
It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus whereby leak testing of a low pressure refrigeration system can be accomplished in a time effective and energy efficient manner.

Method and apparatus for controlling refrigerant gas in a low pressure refrigeration system


A multifunction device has a plurality of functions. The multifunction device includes an input unit, a general-purpose process unit, a single specific process unit, and an output unit. The input unit receives image data. The general-purpose process unit implements a plurality of tasks for each of the plurality of functions. The plurality of tasks includes compression of the image data in a compression format and expansion of the image data which has been compressed. The single specific process unit is controlled by the general-purpose process unit. The specific process unit implements only two tasks, one task being compression of the image data in the compression format for each of the plurality of functions, the other task being expansion of the image data which has been compressed for each of the plurality of functions. The output unit outputs the image data. The general-purpose process unit determines which the general-purpose process unit or the specific processing unit should implement the compression/expansion.

Multifunction devices having a facsimile function, printer function, scan function, and copy function are well known in the art. In recent years, smaller and less expensive multifunction devices have become widespread.
Some of the multifunction devices are required to compress image data in a prescribed compression format and expand data compressed according to the prescribed compression format. These data compression and expansion processes are essential in particular for multifunction devices having a color scan function, color facsimile function, and PC print function, as the volume of color image data handled by these devices can be considerably large. In recent years, the JPEG format has become commonly used as color image data for images taken by digital cameras, scanned by color facsimile devices, and saved with PC applications. Therefore, multifunction devices that process digital images are required to provide sufficient support for data in the JPEG format.
An image-forming device disclosed in Japanese patent application publication No. HEI-8-194812 is provided with a special JPEG processing hardware for performing JPEG compression processes. Since this hardware is dedicated to JPEG compression and expansion processes, the hardware is advantageous in its ability to perform such processes more quickly than software processes performed by a common CPU.
However, since multifunction devices have multiple functions that require JPEG compression and expansion processes, when one function is using the JPEG processing hardware, another function cannot use the JPEG compression or expansion hardware, requiring excess processing time for the another function to complete the process. A process delay caused by the JPEG compression/expansion process of the another function being completely put on hold until the one function completes a JPEG compression/expansion process can make the user feel uneasy.
This problem can be resolved by providing a plurality of JPEG processing hardware sets, enabling a plurality of processes to be performed in parallel. However, the cost of the JPEG processing hardware itself and the cost of circuit boards and circuit configurations required to connect the plurality of JPEG processing hardware sets to other configurations is excessive and, thus, mounting a plurality of JPEG processing hardware sets in a multifunction device is not desirable when the producing cost of the multifunction device tries to be reduced. Further, since it is necessary to mount the JPEG processing hardware and wiring patterns required to connect the JPEG processing hardware to other configurations on a circuit board, this configuration is not suitable for achieving a more compact multifunction device.

Multifunction device having parallel processing function for data compression and expansion


A burnishing drill includes a cylindrical shank and a drill body connected to the shank. Drilling edges, first reaming edges and second reaming edges are formed on a first reduced diameter portion, a second reduced-diameter portion and a third reduced-diameter portion respectively located at a foremost end of the drill body. Each of the reaming edges is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the drill at an angle which is set so as to be within a range of between 5.degree. and 30.degree.. During a boring operation using the drill, a hole is drilled by the drilling edges and the drilled hole is then worked by the first reaming edges and the second reaming edges to provide a smooth inner wall in the drilled hole. Since each of the reaming edges is formed to extend radially outward from the foremost end of the drill and incline axially in the rearward direction at a relatively small angle, the centering property can be greatly improved.

The present invention relates to a burnishing drill providing both drilling and reaming functions.
There are known various types of burnishing drills which have drilling edges and reaming edges and are adapted to form a hole in a workpiece made of a material such as cast iron. The workpiece is first drilled by the drilling edges which are made of hard metal. The drilled hole is further worked by the reaming edges which have an external diameter that is slightly larger than that of the drilling edges, to provide a relatively smooth inner wall for the finished hole. The reaming edges are located at a shoulder portion of the drill, extend radially outward from the foremost end of the drill and incline axially in the rearward direction. The inclined angle of the reaming edges is generally set within a range of between 35.degree. and 45.degree..
When forming holes of the same size, such burnishing drills often cause dispersion of diameter, surface roughness and circularity of the finished holes. Especially when the feed speed of the drill is relatively high, these burnishing drills tend to provide an inaccurately finished side wall for the drilled hole, because the burnishing drills do not have good centering properties.


Polyisocyanate-based foams having a uniformly fine cell size are prepared by reacting a polyisocyanate with an isocyanate-reactive compound in the presence of a blowing agent mixture comprising a hydrocarbon component which has four or more carbon atoms and a polyfluorocarbon component which has a boiling point of from about 283 K. to about 393 K. at 760 mm Hg and wherein the boiling point:molecular weight ratio of said polyfluorocarbon component is less than or equal to 1.7. The hydrocarbon component is present in from about 5 to about 95 mole percent and the polyfluorocarbon in from about 95 to about 5 mole percent based on total amounts of hydrocarbon and polyfluorocarbon.

Until recently, chlorofluoroalkane-based blowing agents (CFCs) such as CFC-11 (CCL.sub.3 F) have been the most desirable blowing agents for the preparation of isocyanate-based foams, such as rigid and flexible urethane and isocyanurate foams because of their many advantages including low thermal conductivity, nonflammability of the blowing agent and good dimensional stability of the resulting foam. However, it is becoming increasingly obvious that there may be an association of certain CFCs with the declining ozone concentrations from the earths atmosphere. As a consequence, the use of certain CFCs is being restricted and thus alternative blowing agents are necessary for the preparation of foam.
As a preliminary solution to this problem, hydrogen-containing chlorofluoroalkanes (HCFCs') such as HCFC-123 (CHCl.sub.2 CF.sub.3) and HCFC-141b (CH.sub.2 ClCHCLF), which have relatively short life times in the atmosphere and essentially decompose before they reach earths' stratosphere containing the ozone, have been proposed. These alternative blowing agents however, present the disadvantages of frequently poorer processing, relatively higher thermal conductivity and often inferior dimensionally stabilities of the resulting foam especially when used in combination with water blowing.
The thermal insulation performance of a foam is dependent principally on the average thermal conductivity of the gas mixture contained within the cells and especially the cell size. Carbon dioxide has a gas thermal conductivity which is significantly greater than that of most "soft" halocarbons and therefore its presence in the gas mixture contained within the cell can be disadvantageous for optimum thermal insulation performance of the foam. With respect to cell size, enhanced thermal insulation performance is generally obtained with a smaller average cell size. Therefore to compensate for any increased average thermal conductivity of the gas that may be contained within the cells of the foam it is desirable to develop new foaming processes which provide for a foam having a fine cell size.
In a recent European Patent publication, EP 351614, fine celled polyurethane foam is prepared in the presence of a blowing agent which is a fluorinated hydrocarbon and/or hexafluorosulphur and being poorly soluble or insoluble in the foam precursor materials. An emulsifying agent, particularly an oligomeric acrylate polyoxyalkylene substance containing fluoroalkane residues is taught as being necessary to provide for resulting foams which do not collapse.
To this purpose of providing a process allowing for the preparation of fine-celled foam we have investigated use of foaming or blowing agent mixtures containing polyfluorocarbon compounds including above mentioned fluorinated hydrocarbons with other physical blowing agents in the preparation of cellular products.

Foaming system for rigid urethane and isocyanurate foams


A technique is provided for processing a physiological signal to compensate for artifacts. The technique includes identifying artifacts within the physiological signal. The technique also includes performing one or more multi-resolution decompositions, such as wavelet transformations, on the physiological signal and compensating for the identified artifacts in some or all of the respective decomposition components. The modified decomposition components may be reconstructed to generate an artifact-compensated signal which may be provided to a monitor or other device which is otherwise not configured to compensate for signal artifacts.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the processing of waveform data and, more particularly, to the processing of waveforms associated with medical monitoring.
2. Description of the Related Art
This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present invention, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
In the field of medicine, doctors often desire to monitor certain physiological characteristics of their patients. Accordingly, a wide variety of devices have been developed for monitoring physiological characteristics. Such devices provide doctors and other healthcare personnel with the information they need to provide the best possible healthcare for their patients. As a result, such monitoring devices have become an indispensable part of modern medicine.
One technique for monitoring certain physiological characteristics of a patient is commonly referred to as pulse oximetry, and the devices built based upon pulse oximetry techniques are commonly referred to as pulse oximeters. Pulse oximetry may be used to measure various blood flow characteristics, such as the blood-oxygen saturation of hemoglobin in arterial blood, the volume of individual blood pulsations supplying the tissue, and/or the rate of blood pulsations corresponding to each heartbeat of a patient.
The quality of these measurements, however, may be adversely affected by a number of factors such as patient motion, subdermal physiological structures, poor sensor operation or fit, poor signal reception and transmission, and so forth. Such factors may result in a pulse oximetry signal which contains artifacts or noise or is otherwise of low or reduced quality. When processed, such a low or reduced quality signal may result in physiological measurements being reported which may not be as accurate or reliable as desired.
To address this issue of poor signal quality, newer pulse oximetry monitors and/or systems may include algorithms, circuits, or other components to reduce, remove, or otherwise compensate for artifacts within the pulse oximetry signal. Such artifact compensation techniques, however, may be unavailable to health care providers using older or less advanced equipment that is not configured for artifact compensation. Since replacing older or less advanced pulse oximetry monitors and/or systems may not be financially feasible, a health care provider may have little choice but to continue using a system or monitor that does not compensate for artifacts in the acquired signal. However, even if an artifact compensating system is available, an older or less advanced system may still be useful within a health care facility. It may, therefore, be useful to provide artifact compensation in conjunction with the use of systems otherwise not configured to compensate for noise and artifacts with the pulse oximetry signal.

System and method for removing artifacts from waveforms


A communication terminal includes a transmitter for transmitting bursts of a modulated carrier. An interference suppressor suppresses an known interference signal caused by the transmission of the bursts and includes a frequency separator which separates an input signal into sub-band signals. The interference suppressor further includes an amplitude adjustor which adjusts the amplitude of the sub-band signals having spectral components of the interference signal, and a combiner which combines the sub-band signals to form a combined output signal. The amplitude adjustor includes a multiplier which multiplies the amplitude of the sub-band signals with a value which decreases with increasing strength of the spectral components of the interference signal.

The present invention is related to a communication terminal comprising a transmitter for transmitting bursts of a modulated carrier, the terminal comprises an audio signal processing arrangement.
Such communication terminal is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,932,061.
In mobile radio systems often use is made of time domain multiple access (TDMA) in order to enable different communication to access the same radio channel. In TDMA the radio channel is subdivided into a number of subsequent time slots. Each of the timeslots can be assigned to a communication terminal for communication with the base station. For doing so, the communication terminal comprises a transmitter for transmitting burst of data modulated on a carrier in the time slot assigned to it. In general the assigned time slot has a fixed position in a transmission frame, resulting in a periodic transmission of the information burst.
Due to the periodic nature of the burst and the fast changing signal at the beginning and the end of the burst it can easily happen that the RF bursts emitted by the communication terminal causes interference in the audio part of the communication terminal. This can cause transmission of a periodic noise like signal to the base station, and to the presence of a similar noise like signal in the audio signal received from the base station.
Although it it possible to reduce the amount of interference by proper printed circuit board lay out, it is experienced that reduction of the interference to an inaudible level leads to a drastic increase of the costs involved with manufacturing the communication terminal. Furthermore it leads to a more bulky design of the communication terminal, which is of course highly undesirable.
The object of the present invention is to provide a communication terminal according to the preamble, in which the manufacturing costs involved with the suppression of the interference signal due to the emission of the bursts is substantially reduced.
To achieve said object, the communication terminal according to the invention is characterized in that that the audio signal processing arrangement comprises interference suppressing means for suppression a known interference signal being caused by the transmission of the bursts of the modulated signal.
By using interference suppressing means in the audio processing means, it becomes possible to reduce the interference signal to an inaudible amount without needing expensive measures. Because the basic properties of the interference signals, such as the spectral composition of the interfering signal, are known in advance, the complexity of the interference suppressing means can be substantially reduced.
An embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the interfering suppression means comprise frequency separating means for separating its input signal into a plurality of sub-band signals, amplitude adjusting means for adjusting at least the amplitude of, the sub-band signals comprising spectral components of the interference signal, and combining means for combining the sub-band signals into a combined output signal.
An easy and effective way of suppressing the interference signal is the use of noise suppressing techniques, in which the input signal is split into a number of sub-bands. The amplitude of the signal in the sub-bands containing interference signals are reduced. Subsequently, the sub-band signals are combined again into a signal in which the interference signal is strongly reduced.
A further embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the amplitude adjusting means are arranged for multiplying the amplitude of the sub-band signals comprising spectral components of the known interference signal with a value which decreases with increasing strength of the component of the known interference signal.
By reducing the amplitude of the sub-band signals in dependence on the strength of the interference, it is obtained that the changes made to the audio signal are not larger than is needed to suppress the interference signal.

Mitigation of interference associated to the frequency of the burst in a burst transmitter


An apparatus for actuating a downhole tool within a well bore comprises a cylindrical mandrel extending longitudinally through the downhole tool; an interventionless, hydrostatic, top-down actuating piston disposed about the mandrel and forming a first chamber and a second chamber therebetween; and a rupture disk that prevents fluid communication between the well bore and the first chamber until sufficient hydrostatic pressure is applied to the well bore to fail the rupture disk.

A variety of downhole tools may be used within a well bore in connection with producing hydrocarbons. A production packer, for example, is one such downhole tool comprising resilient sealing elements and slips that expand outwardly in response to an applied force to engage the inside of a production liner or casing. In this way, the production packer provides a seal between the outside of a tubing upon which the packer is run into the well bore and the inside of a production liner or casing. The production packer performs a number of functions, including but not limited to: isolating one pressure zone of a well bore formation from another, protecting the production liner or casing from reservoir pressure and erosion that may be caused by produced fluids, eliminating or reducing pressure surging or heading, and holding kill fluids in the well bore annulus above the production packer.
Production packers and other types of downhole tools may be run down on production tubing to a desired depth in the well bore before they are set. Conventional production packers are then set hydraulically, requiring that a pressure differential be created across a setting piston. Typically, this is accomplished by running a tubing plug on wireline, slick line, electric line, coiled tubing or another conveyance means through the production tubing down into the downhole tool. Then the fluid pressure within the production tubing is increased, thereby creating a pressure differential between the fluid within the production tubing and the fluid within the well bore annulus. This pressure differential actuates the setting piston to expand the production packer into sealing engagement with the production liner or casing. Before resuming normal operations through the production tubing, the tubing plug must be removed, typically by retrieving the plug back to the surface of the well.
As operators increasingly pursue production completions in deeper water offshore wells, highly deviated wells and extended reach wells, the rig time required to set a tubing plug and thereafter retrieve the plug can negatively impact the economics of the project, as well as add unacceptable complications and risks. To address the issues associated with hydraulically-set downhole tools, an interventionless setting technique was developed. In particular, a hydrostatically-actuated setting module was designed to be incorporated into the bottom end of a downhole tool, and this module exerts an upward setting force on the downhole tool. The hydrostatic setting module may be actuated by applying pressure to the production tubing and the well bore at the surface, with the setting force being generated by a combination of the applied surface pressure and the hydrostatic pressure associated with the fluid column in the well bore. In particular, a piston of the hydrostatic setting module is exposed on one side to a vacuum evacuated initiation chamber that is initially closed off to well bore annulus fluid by a port isolation device, and the piston is exposed on the other side to an enclosed evacuated chamber generated by pulling a vacuum. In operation, once the downhole tool is positioned at the required setting depth, surface pressure is applied to the production tubing and the well bore annulus until the port isolation device actuates, thereby allowing well bore fluid to enter the initiation chamber on the one side of the piston while the chamber engaging the other side of the piston remains at the evacuated pressure. This creates a differential pressure across the piston that causes the piston to move, beginning the setting process. Once the setting process begins, O-rings in the initiation chamber move off seat to open a larger flow area, and the fluid entering the initiation chamber continues actuating the piston to complete the setting process. Therefore, the bottom-up hydrostatic setting module provides an interventionless method for setting downhole tools since the setting force is provided by available hydrostatic pressure and applied surface pressure without plugs or other well intervention devices.
However, the bottom-up hydrostatic setting module may not be ideal for applications where the well bore annulus and production tubing cannot be pressured up simultaneously. Such applications include, for example, when a packer is used to provide liner top isolation or when a packer is landed inside an adjacent packer in a stacked packer completion. The production tubing can not be pressured up in either of these applications because the tubing extends as one continuous conduit out to the pay zone where no pressure, or limited pressure, can be applied.
In such circumstances, if a bottom-up hydrostatic setting module is used to set a packer above another sealing device, such as a liner hanger or another packer, for example, there is only a limited annular area between the unset packer and the set sealing device below. Therefore, when the operator pressures up on the well bore annulus, the hydrostatic pressure begins actuating the bottom-up hydrostatic setting module to exert an upward setting force on the packer. However, when the packer sealing elements start to engage the casing, the limited annular area between the packer and the lower sealing device becomes closed off and can no longer communicate with the upper annular area that is being pressurized from the surface. Thus, the trapped pressure in the limited annular area between the packer and the lower sealing device is soon dissipated and may or may not fully set the packer. Accordingly, a need exists for an interventionless hydrostatic setting apparatus operable to fully set a downhole tool within a well bore in response to surface pressure applied to the well bore annulus only. In an embodiment, this interventionless hydrostatic setting module should provide no potential for fluid leaks between the production tubing and the well bore annulus above the set downhole tool.
With respect to a hydraulically set packer, the operational life of the packer can be adversely affected when the setting force on the piston is dissipated such that the piston no longer exerts a setting force on the packer slips, wedges and resilient sealing elements after the downhole tool is set and the plug is removed from the production tubing. Under such circumstances, as the packer is mechanically and/or thermally loaded during its operational life, the resilient sealing elements expand and contract, but the slips and wedges are not urged to move in response to the loading. This expansion and contraction can cause the resilient sealing elements to become spongy and leak over time. Therefore, a need exists for an interventionless hydrostatic setting apparatus that substantially continually exerts a setting force to fully set the packer or other downhole tool throughout the operational life of the packer without diminishing the actuating force.

Top-down hydrostatic actuating module for downhole tools

Abstract: A method of actuating a downhole tool comprises connecting a top-down actuating module to the downhole tool, running the downhole tool to a desired depth within a well bore, pressuring up the well bore without pressuring up an internal flow bore extending through the top-down actuating module, hydrostatically actuating an upper piston of the top-down actuating module to exert an actuation force onto the downhole tool, and actuating the downhole tool.


The invention relates to a process for purifying a liquid hydrocarbon product consisting of 5% by weight or less of high molecular weight contaminants having a molecular weight of at least 1000, wherein the product stream is contacted with a hydrophobic non-porous or nano-filtration membrane and the purified product stream is recovered as the permeate. Various liquid hydrocarbon products can be treated including process streams containing as the main product styrene, isoprene, butadiene, pentadiene, dicyclopentadiene, piperylene, C2-C5 mono-olefins or acrylates.

The present invention relates to a process for purifying a liquid hydrocarbon product by removing high molecular weight contaminants.
Many liquid hydrocarbon products are available, which contain high molecular weight contaminants. The contamination normally originates in the process producing the product and is due to undesirable polymerisation of substances intrinsically present in the process. Such polymerisable substances may be the liquid hydrocarbon product itself (e.g. styrene, butadiene, isoprene), but can also be one or more other monomers intrinsic to the process for producing the hydrocarbon product. Such other monomer may itself be a separate product of the process. The polymerisable substances have in common that they are prone to polymerisation under the process conditions. For instance, dicyclopentadiene and cis- and trans-1,3-pentadiene (piperylene) may contain small amounts of polyisoprene, because both are typically produced from the C5-cut of a cracked effluent stream from which isoprene is produced. Thus, isoprene is intrinsically present in the process producing piperylene or dicyclopentadiene and may form polyisoprene.
Furthermore, if a polymerisable hydrocarbon product (e.g. styrene) is used as a feedstock for the production of a homopolymer, copolymer or block copolymer (e.g. syndiotactic polystyrene, random styrene-butadiene copolymer or styrene-butadiene block copolymer), the product itself may be forming an uncontrolled polymeric contaminant under the right conditions. Apart from the fact that such polymeric contaminant may interfere in an undesirable manner with the formation of the envisaged polymer, it will also normally have a reactivity which is different from the envisaged polymer. This latter aspect could cause difficulties when processing the envisaged polymer into the endproduct.
The undesirable polymerisation may occur due to reactions caused by the presence of traces of substances forming polymerisation initiators which are difficult to remove or avoid. Such initiators could be radicals formed from peroxides, which in turn can be formed from oxygen ingress in the presence of olefins or other compounds having an unsaturated double bond (Cxe2x95x90C). Polymerisation may also occur due to the presence of substances which act as catalyst for the polymerisation reaction, especially where this catalyst is a substance intrinsic to the process.
The high molecular weight contaminants are typically present in relatively small amounts up to 5% by weight based on total weight of the liquid product. However, often amounts as low as 3% by weight or less or even 1% by weight or less already make the product less suitable or even completely unsuitable for subsequent processing or for direct end use.
In order to benefit from the process of the present invention, the liquid hydrocarbon products to be subjected to the process of the present invention will usually contain at least 0.00001% wt of high molecular weight contaminants, more specifically at least 0.001% wt. However, in some cases even smaller amounts can make use of the process of the present invention attractive.
In general, several separation techniques are known in the art for separating contaminants from the actual product based on the difference in molecular weight. One such known and applied technology is distillation, wherein a separation takes place on the basis of differences in boiling points between the various components, which differences are related to the differences in volatility between the various components. However, the fact that high molecular weight contaminants are present in such small amounts makes distillation a relatively expensive way of purifying the product. Namely, in distillation the actual product forming the bulk of the stream to be treated would have to be evaporated, recovered as the gaseous top fraction and subsequently condensed for further use, whereas the high molecular weight contaminants would have to be recovered as the liquid bottom fraction. Beside the energy-intensive nature of this treatment, a lot of equipment would also be required to carry out the distillation. Moreover, the high temperatures normally applied in distillation increase the likelihood of (thermal) decomposition of the hydrocarbon product. This could lead to product loss and fouling of the equipment. The application of high temperatures could be avoided by performing the distillation at low pressure, but this would increase the risk on oxygen ingress, which in return could lead to the formation of peroxides. As explained above, these peroxides will induce polymerization reactions. Furthermore, low pressure distillation would necessitate the use of more expensive equipment. It will be appreciated that these factors render the distillation unattractive from an economic perspective.
The present invention aims to provide a method for effectively and cost-efficiently removing the high molecular weight contaminants.
Accordingly, the present invention relates to a process for purifying a liquid hydrocarbon product comprising 5% by weight or less of high molecular weight contaminants having a molecular weight of at least 1000, said process comprising contacting the product stream with a hydrophobic non-porous or nano-filtration membrane to produce a purified product stream and recovering the purified product stream as permeate.

Process for purifying a liquid hydrocarbon product


A control device (30) calculates an upper limit value of a duty ratio (DR_Ulim) according to a voltage (Vm) from a voltage sensor (13) and a threshold voltage (OVb) when an overvoltage is determined to have been applied to a battery (B), and determines a duty ratio (DR) for providing switching control to NPN transistors (Q1, Q2) in a range lower than the calculated upper limit value of the duty ratio (DR_Ulim). The control device (30) uses the determined duty ratio (DR) to provide switching control to the NPN transistors (Q1, Q2). Then, an up-convener (12) converts a direct current voltage (Vb) from the battery (B) into the output voltage (Vm) such that an overvoltage is not applied to the battery (B).

A conventional voltage conversion device includes an up-converter and a control device. The control device receives an output voltage of the up-converter, a torque control value to be output by an alternating-current (AC) motor as a load, and a rotation number of the AC motor.
The control device calculates a target voltage of the up-converter in accordance with the torque control value and the motor rotation number, and further calculates an error between the calculated target voltage and the output voltage of the up-converter. The control device then adjusts PI control gain (proportional gain and integral gain) according to the calculated error, and uses the adjusted PI control gain to provide feedback control to the up-converter.
Under the feedback control by the control device, the up-converter converts a direct-current (DC) voltage from a DC power supply into the output voltage such that the output voltage attains the target voltage (Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-309997).
In this manner, the conventional voltage conversion device adjusts the PI control gain in accordance with the error between the target voltage and the output voltage converted from the DC voltage, and uses the adjusted PI control gain to convert the DC voltage from the DC power supply into the output voltage such that the output voltage attains the target voltage.
In the conventional voltage conversion device, however, when the output voltage deviates from the target voltage and a duty ratio is considerably changed to allow the deviated output voltage to reach the target voltage, electric power returning back to the power supply side is increased and an overvoltage is applied to the power supply.
An object of the present invention is to provide a voltage conversion device converting a voltage without applying an overvoltage to a power supply.


A method and instrumentation for spinal interbody fusion is disclosed. The instruments and methods are particularly adapted for interbody fusion from a posterior approach to the spine. One instrument is a retractor having a lockable pivotally mounted handle. Another instrument is a template for straddling the dura. A modular distractor is also provided and preferably includes a tapered shaft with a visualization window disposed therein. Yet another instrument is a depth gauge to verify bone opening depth and dimension, preferably including a radiopaque portion. A method contemplates the use of these instruments to prepare a disc space to receive an implant.

The present invention relates generally to surgical procedures for spinal stabilization and more specifically to instrumentation and techniques for inserting a spinal implant within the intervertebral disc space between adjacent vertebra. More particularly, while aspects of the present invention may have other applications, the invention provides instruments and techniques especially suited for interbody fusion from a generally posterior approach to the spine
Various surgical methods have been devised for the implantation of fusion devices into the disc space. Both anterior and posterior surgical approaches have been used for interbody fusions. In 1956, Ralph Cloward developed a method and instrumentation for anterior spinal interbody fusion of the cervical spine. Cloward surgically removed the disc material and placed a tubular drill guide with a large foot plate and prongs over an alignment rod and then embedded the prongs into adjacent vertebrae. The drill guide served to maintain the alignment of the vertebrae and facilitated the reaming out of bone material adjacent the disc space. The reaming process created a bore to accommodate a bone dowel implant. The drill guide was thereafter removed following the reaming process to allow for the passage of the bone dowel which had an outer diameter significantly larger than the reamed bore and the inner diameter of the drill guide. The removal of the drill guide left the dowel insertion phase completely unprotected. Thus, Cloward's method and instrumentation was designed for and limited to an anterior surgical approach and was inappropriate for a posterior application.
Furthermore, B. R. Wilterberger described in a paper entitled "Dowel Intervertebral Fusion as Used in Lumbar Disc Surgery" (published in The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, volume 39A, pgs. 234-92, 1957), the unprotected drilling of a hole from a posterior approach into the lumbar spine between the nerve roots and across the disc space, and then inserting a bone dowel into that disc space. While Wilterberger had taken the Cloward concept of circular drilling followed by dowel fusion and applied it to the lumbar spine from a posterior approach, he had not further improved the method, nor had he advanced the instrumentation to provide adequate protection for the sensitive vessels and neurological structures adjacent to the operating field.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,484,437 to Michelson discloses a technique and associated instrumentation for inserting a fusion device from a posterior surgical approach that provides greater protection for the surrounding tissues and neurological structures during the procedure. As described in more detail in the '437 patent, the surgical technique involves the use of a distractor having a penetrating portion that urges the vertebral bodies apart to facilitate the introduction of the necessary surgical instrumentation. The '437 patent also discloses a hollow sleeve having teeth at one end that are driven into the vertebrae adjacent the disc space created by the distractor. These teeth engage the vertebra to maintain the disc space height during subsequent steps of the procedure following removal of the distractor. In accordance with one aspect of the '437 patent, a drill is passed through the hollow sleeve to remove portions of the disc material and vertebral bone to produce a prepared bore for insertion of the fusion device. The drill is then removed from the sleeve and the fusion device is positioned within the disc space using an insertion tool.
While the more recent techniques and instrumentation represent an advance over earlier surgical procedures for the preparation of the disc space and insertion of the fusion device, the need for improvement still remains. The present invention is directed to this need and provides convenient methods and instruments to insure safe and effective preparation of a disc space in conjunction with implant placement.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Distractor for posterior interbody fusion


Computing device and method using machine learning to optimize operations of a processing chain of a food factory. The computing device collects data representative of characteristics of a product processed by the processing chain. At least some of the collected data are received from one or more sensor monitoring operations of the processing chain. The computing device determines at least one product characteristic value based on the collected data. The computing device executes the machine learning inference engine, which uses a predictive model for inferring command(s) for controlling processing appliance(s) of the processing chain based on inputs. The inputs comprise the at least one product characteristic value. The computing device transmits the command(s) to the processing appliance(s) of the processing chain. Examples of product characteristic values comprise: a product temperature, a product humidity level, a product geometric characteristic, a product weight, and a product defect measurement.

A processing chain of a food factory comprises a plurality of processing appliances. Each processing appliance implements a given step in the process of transforming one or more raw or pre-processed product into a refined product. For example, a processing chain is used for transforming potatoes into fries by means of a plurality of operations (e.g. inspecting, sorting, cleaning, peeling, slicing, mixing, cooking, drying, packaging, etc.), each operation being performed by a dedicated processing appliance.
The optimization of the operations of the processing chain is generally based on a control equipment executing an algorithm for controlling one or more processing appliances of the processing chain. The algorithm implements a set of rules for processing data received from one or more sensor, to generate commands for controlling one or more processing appliance.
However, a set of rules is not always an adequate tool for taking into consideration the complexity of the interactions between parameters influencing the operations of the processing chain. In particular, it is at least difficult and sometimes impossible for a human being, to design a set of rules capable of modelling the influence of a combination of parameters on the operations of the processing chain. Current advances in artificial intelligence, and more specifically in machine learning technologies (e.g. neural networks), can be taken advantage of for solving this type of optimization problem.
Therefore, there is a need for a new controller and method using machine learning to optimize operations of a processing chain of a food factory.

Controller and method using machine learning to optimize operations of a processing chain of a food factory


An energy-savings control system can control the showcase, refrigerator and freezer so that they can run with the reduced energy consumption by responding to the electric current values flowing in each respective one of the showcase, etc. A freezing-machine is provided in each respective one of the showcase, refrigerator and freezer in which the electric current values flowing in the freezing-machine may be detected at time intervals of every one minute, and the average electric current values during the continuous time period of 30 minutes may be computed from the electric current values as detected above. If it is determined that the freezing-machine's operating rate as computed above is greater than the freezing-machine's predetermined operating rate, the freezing-machine installed therein may be controlled so that the electromagnetic valve can be switched to its opened position.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an energy-savings control system for showcases, refrigerators and freezers, and more particularly to the energy-savings control system that allows the computer on which the energy-savings control program is running to control the operation of the showcase, refrigerator and freezer placed in the building so that those showcases, refrigerators and freezers can be run with less energy consumption (that is, with the energy-savings) and more efficiently.
In this specification, the term "freezer" is used to mean an insulated cabinet or room for storing or keeping cool foods when this term is referred to herein, and the term "freezing-machine" is used to mean an apparatus that is connected to each corresponding one of the showcase, refrigerator and freezer and is responsible for freezing foods or keeping frozen foods therein when this term is referred to herein.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Heretofore, there have been several different proposals for the energy-savings control system that allows the computer on which the energy-savings control program is running to control a plurality of particular energy consuming units installed in the building so that those particular units can be run with less energy consumption (that is, with the energy-savings) and more efficiently. In addition, there have also been several different proposals for the method or system for estimating the effect of the energy-savings that can be obtained by the energy-savings control system (See Patent Documents 1, 2 and 3 listed below, for example).

Energy-savings control system for showcases, refrigerators and freezers


The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for isolating a current loop conductor of a current loop system of a pre-charge circuit from a plurality of current transformers disposed around the current loop conductor. In particular, the embodiments described herein include an insulating support flange having a first tubular section, a second tubular section radially disposed around the first tubular section and connected to the first tubular section via a solid annular section extending radially outward from the first tubular section to a first end of the second tubular section, an annular base extending radially outward from a second end of the second tubular section, and a plurality of prongs extending axially from or near to an outer circumference of the annular base, wherein each of the prongs comprises an end face that is angled toward the second tubular section. The insulating support flanges are configured to mate with each other along an axial direction of the current loop conductor. In addition, each of the plurality of current transformers is installed (i.e., held in place) between the prongs, annular base, and second annular section of its respective insulating support flange. As such, a fixed open air space between the first and second annular sections of the insulating support flanges isolates the current transformers from the current loop conductor, thereby reducing the possibility of discharge between the current transformers and the current loop conductor.

The invention relates generally to the field of power control systems. More specifically, the invention relates to an insulating support flange for eliminating partial discharge in a current loop system.
Motor controllers, and more generally, electrical controllers operate by limiting the power from a power supply that reaches a motor or other load. For example, some motor controllers limit the power delivered to a motor by intermittently conducting current between the power supply and the motor. These motor controllers typically couple to a sinusoidal alternating current (AC) power supply and conduct current during a portion of each cycle of the sinusoid. Correspondingly, to limit the power delivered to the motor, the motor controller may not conduct current during a portion of each cycle. Typically, the duration of the period during which the motor controller does not conduct current is adjustable. Consequently, by adjusting the duration of this non-conductive period, the operation of the motor may be controlled.
Some motor controllers selectively transmit power by conducting current through a pair of silicon controlled rectifiers (SCRs). An SCR is a type of solid state switch that includes a rectifier controlled by a gate signal. Thus, when turned on by the gate signal, the SCR permits current to flow from its anode to its cathode but not in the reverse direction. Once turned on, the SCR typically remains on until the gate signal is removed and the current decreases to near zero. In the off state, the SCR usually does not conduct current in either direction. By applying a gate signal at the appropriate times, a motor controller may regulate the power delivered to a load.
Typically, a motor controller includes circuitry for turning on the SCRs. A motor controller may include a driver that delivers a small current to the gate electrode of an SCR. The driver may time the pulse of current to the gate electrode to regulate the power delivered to the motor. To deliver more power, the driver will delay for less time after an SCR becomes forward biased before turning on the SCR. Similarly, to reduce the power delivered to the motor, the driver will delay a longer period after an SCR becomes forward biased before turning on the SCR and permitting current to pass. Each driver includes circuitry for determining when to turn on the SCR. Typically, motor controllers employ one driver for each SCR. Thus, a motor controller regulating a single phase of AC power typically employs two drivers, whereas a three phase controller includes six.
Powering the operation of the drivers presents challenges. Often, the drivers connect to an SCR that is exposed to high voltages. For example, SCRs often connect to power supplies that operate at 2300 volts or higher. Thus, it may be important to keep the driver electrically isolated from other parts of the system. Some systems employ a single power supply for each driver. However, dedicated power supplies for each driver may add to system costs, the size of the system, and the number of components that may fail. Moreover, motor controllers often employ a large number of drivers. For example, as noted above, a motor controller that regulates power from a three phase AC power supply may employ six drivers, one for each of the two SCRs for each phase. Similarly, to regulate the power from higher voltage power supplies, a motor controller may employ two or more pairs of SCRs for each phase. Thus, a three phase system with three SCR pairs for each phase may employ 18 SCRs and 18 drivers. Consequently, powering each driver with a dedicated power supply becomes less desirable as the number of switches and drivers increases.
With some success, designers turned to self-powered gate driver systems (SPGDSs) to avoid these issues. Typically, SPGDSs capture energy from the power supply driving the load (i.e., line power). Often, within an SPGDS, a series of capacitors connect to self-powered circuitry that charges the capacitors. The SPGDS may exploit voltage differentials across the SCRs to draw current and store a charge. The charge on the capacitors can then be used to power the drivers. The voltage differentials exploited to charge the capacitors typically occur during the operation of the SCRs. As the SCRs intermittently conduct current between the power source and load, a voltage differential may form across the SCRs. A self-powered system may avoid the isolation issues associated with dedicated power supplies for each driver. Also, the cost of the components directed toward powering the drivers may be lower in a self-powered system than in a system employing dedicated power supplies for each driver. However, SPGDSs are in need of improvement because it is now recognized that SPGDSs are associated with delays in operation and response time.

Insulating support flange for current loop system


A hitch mirror assembly removably mounted onto a top edge of a vehicle's tailgate, comprising a housing assembly, a mirror assembly within the housing assembly, battery-powered illumination means and a clamp assembly. The vehicle has a hitch ball for towing a trailer that has a hitch ball coupler. When the hitch mirror assembly is mounted, a person is able to view the hitch ball from inside the vehicle's cab with the mirror assembly, while backing up the vehicle to align the hitch ball underneath the hitch ball coupler. The illumination means illuminate the hitch ball if required and reflective strips mounted to the hitch ball coupler reflect the light projecting from the illumination means to make the hitch ball coupler more visible from the driver's position. The clamp assembly removable secures the housing assembly to the vehicle's tailgate and includes an elongated member, a telescopic housing and a clamp member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hitch mirror assembly, and more particularly, to a hitch mirror assembly that is removably mounted onto a top edge of a vehicle tailgate to allow a driver to view the vehicle's hitch ball from within the vehicle cab and via a mirror assembly, while reversing the vehicle, to align the hitch ball underneath trailer's hitch ball coupler.
2. Description of the Related Art
Before towing a trailer with a vehicle, such as a pick-up truck, it is often necessary for a driver to couple the vehicle's hitch ball to the trailer's hitch ball coupler. When attempting to perform this task, drivers do not have the ability to see when the hitch ball is aligning with the trailer's hitch ball coupler. Often, a driver has to approach the trailer with the vehicle and then exit the vehicle, walk to the rear of the vehicle to see if the hitch ball is aligned with the trailer's hitch ball coupler. This process may be repeated several times until the driver successfully aligns the hitch ball with the trailer's hitch ball coupler and finally couples it.
Several hitch mirror assemblies have been developed in the past to help drivers perform this task. None of them, however, enable the driver to mount the instant invention onto the top edge of a vehicle tailgate and align it, wherein the driver can view the vehicle's hitch ball through a first window standing outside the vehicle and then the driver can view the vehicle's hitch ball through a second window from within the vehicle cab. Additionally, the present invention has illumination means for use in poor visibility or during nighttime use.
Applicant believes that one of the closest reference corresponds to U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0016954, published on Jan. 26, 2006 to Richard Dale Saxwold for a visual aid for aligning a towing vehicle and a trailer hitch. However, it differs from the present invention because Saxwold teaches methods and an apparatus for assisting an operator maneuvering a towing vehicle backward to align a first trailer hitch component on the rear of the towing vehicle and on the forward portion of a trailer by directing a field of view comprising an image of the trailer hitch components to the line of sight of an observer sitting in the driver's seat of the towing vehicle. Visual aid devices include a mirror, a magnet for removably attaching the visual aid device to a selectable location on either the towing vehicle or the trailer, and a support for adjustably affixing the mirror to the magnet. The mirror is movably positionable, in relationship to the magnet, within a fixed range of position options and the angle of the mirror axis in relationship to the magnet axis is adjustable within a fixed range of angle options.
Applicant believes that another reference corresponds to U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0012017, published on Jan. 20, 2005 to Robert J. Ward for a trailer alignment aid with universal mounting device. However, it differs from the present invention because Ward teaches systems and methods for trailer alignment including a clamping mechanism configured to rigidly and removably clamp to a neck of a trailer hitch ball. An arm arrangement is rotatably attached to the clamping mechanism. The arm arrangement is configured to extend from the clamp arrangement to beyond an edge of a tow vehicle. A mirror may be attached to the arm arrangement and configured to provide a view of the trailer hitch ball from the inside of the tow vehicle. A sight rod may be attached to the clamping device and configured to bend in response to a trailer coupler approaching the trailer hitch ball at a predetermined distance from a selectable angle.
Applicant believes that another reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 6,357,126 issued to Gillen, Jr. on Mar. 19, 2002 for a trailer hitch alignment device. However, it differs from the present invention because Gillen, Jr. teaches a device for aligning a trailer hitch ball with a trailer coupling that includes an elongated guide strip that is positioned on the ground with a portion immediately beneath the ball on the towing vehicle and a second portion immediately beneath the trailer coupling. A first target is mounted on the trailer hitch ball while a second target is mounted on the trailer coupling. A convex mirror assembly is mounted on the rear of the towing vehicle using any one of a plurality of adjustable mounting brackets. The mirror is positioned such that the towing vehicle driver can see the trailer hitch ball and the target mounted thereon. The towing vehicle driver reverses the vehicle while guiding the first target along the alignment strip. When the driver observes that the first and second targets are aligned, the coupling is properly aligned with the trailer hitch ball.
Other patents describing the closest subject matter provide for a number of more or less complicated features that fail to solve the problem in an efficient and economical way. None of these patents suggest the novel features of the present invention including a hitch mirror assembly comprising a housing assembly with a mirror assembly mounted therein, illumination means and a clamp assembly as the present invention does.


The invention concerns a rotary bearing with current feed-through means, in particular for a sausage clipping machine, wherein the rotary bearing has a bearing casing and a bearing shaft rotatably accommodated therein and wherein the bearing casing and the bearing shaft are at least partially made from an electrically conducting material. It is further provided that there is at least one current path which passes through the bearing casing and the bearing shaft and which is electrically insulated at least with respect to the electrically conducting portions of the bearing shaft and the bearing casing and which has at least one outer connecting terminal on the bearing casing and the bearing shaft respectively.

In the case of complex machines it is often necessary for electrical energy to be passed to regions which are far away from the current source or the current connection terminal of the machine. In practice that is very extensively effected by the use of cables. If however the cables are passed along the outside of the machine, they can impede the working region. Furthermore in the case of handling operations in the region of the machine the cables can be damaged and thus represent a risk in regard to the maintenance and/or operating personnel.
Thus for example in the case of a sausage clipping machine it is necessary for the electric motor for a discharge conveyor belt to be connected by way of a cable to the current connection terminal of the machine. In that situation the cable is laid relatively loosely as the discharge conveyor belt is mounted pivotably or rotatably to the machine housing of the clipping machine in order to permit access to the displacement and clipping unit of the clipping machine.
German laid-open application No 199 12 000 discloses a rotary bearing of the kind set forth in the opening part of this specification, which has a bearing casing of electrically conductive material and a bearing shaft rotatably mounted in the bearing casing. Provided in the bearing casing and the bearing shaft is a current path bolt which is arranged in coaxial relationship with the longitudinal center line of the rotary bearing and which has a connection terminal lug at its one end and a contacting pin at its other end. That known rotary bearing is provided in the form of a plug connector for a mobile telephone. For the purposes of separating the bearing casing from the bearing shaft the entire rotary bearing has to be broken down into its individual parts.
German patent No 20 47 456 discloses a connecting portion for electrically conductingly fixing a connecting cable to a counterpart portion with a contact pin connected to the connecting cable and a permanent magnet which is disposed on the counterpart portion in the area around the contact pin. In that arrangement the contact pin is supported rotatably and displaceably in the axial direction in a holder which is connected to the permanent magnet, wherein a spring which presses the contact pin against the counterpart portion is arranged between the holder and the contact pin.
In addition German laid-open application No 25 38 766 discloses an electrical rotary contact which includes: a carrier disk with a bore, a respective contact disk on each side of the carrier disk with further bores arranged on the same axis with respect to the bore of the carrier disk, a cable connecting portion with an electrically conducting projection, wherein the projection is passed with the interposition of an insulating ring through an electrically conducting ring and through the bores in the carrier disk and the contact disks, and a resilient element for pressing the electrically conducting ring against the one contact disk and for making an electrical connection between the projection and the other contact disk.
German Utility Model No 297 17 068 discloses a door comprising a frame and a door leaf which is hingedly connected to the frame by one or more hinge plates.
Finally German patent specification No 41 25 949 also discloses an apparatus for forming loops on a sausage clipping machine.

Rotary bearing with current feed-through means


A brake disk includes at least one friction ring, which includes a base member. The brake disk also includes at least one hole and/or groove located in the friction ring. The brake disk also includes at least one coating, which is applied to at least portions of the friction ring. The coating comprises at least portions of the transition between the hole and/or groove and the friction ring. At least portions of the transition between the hole and/or groove and the friction ring are constructed to be rounded and/or chamfered in a flat manner.

The present disclosure relates to a brake disk and a method for producing a brake disk having the features described herein.
Brake disks are intended to transmit the brake torque during a deceleration of the vehicle to the axle and to intermediately store the kinetic energy which occurs during the braking operation temporarily in the form of heat and subsequently to discharge it again via conduction, radiation and convection.
Conventional brake disks are often produced from temperature-resistant grey cast iron. Wear-resistant brake disks are produced either with very expensive full ceramic brake disks being used or by a hard metal layer of tungsten carbide (WC) being sprayed onto a grey cast iron disk by means of an HVOF method. To this end, there is used a WC-based powder which leads to high wear-resistance. Such a brake disk can be derived from DE 10 2011 087 136 A1.
Furthermore, brake disks are partially axially perforated or provided with slots or grooves. Brake abrasion and water which remains on the disk in the event of rain is thus intended to accumulate in the grooves and, as a result of the centrifugal force, to be discharged outward along the groove. Consequently, such measures can improve the response behavior during wet weather. Furthermore, holes can increase the heat discharge in the brake disk.
The wear-resistant brake disks may be produced with perforation holes (drilled through or constructed as blind holes or indentations) or produced with grooves.
The grey cast iron disk additionally has a tendency toward corrosion during operation, for which reason the hard metal layer is implemented by an additional nickel layer as a bonding and corrosion layer. This nickel layer is intended to protrude in the most uniform manner possible and to the greatest possible extent into the perforation hole or groove in order to prevent the sub-corrosion of the layer. This is not the case with the angular construction of the perforation holes or the groove.

Brake disk and method for producing a brake disk


A MgO layer is formed using a process flow wherein a Mg layer is deposited at a temperature <200° C. on a substrate, and then an anneal between 200° C. and 900° C., and preferably from 200° C. and 400° C., is performed so that a Mg vapor pressure >10−6 Torr is reached and a substantial portion of the Mg layer sublimes and leaves a Mg monolayer. After an oxidation between −223° C. and 900° C., a MgO monolayer is produced where the Mg:O ratio is exactly 1:1 thereby avoiding underoxidized or overoxidized states associated with film defects. The process flow may be repeated one or more times to yield a desired thickness and resistance×area value when the MgO is a tunnel barrier or Hk enhancing layer. Moreover, a doping element (M) may be added during Mg deposition to modify the conductivity and band structure in the resulting MgMO layer.

Magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) have a wide range of applications including tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) hard drive read heads, magnetic sensors, magnetic random access memory (MRAM), and other spin-logic based devices. Specifically for MRAM applications, perpendicularly magnetized MTJs (p-MTJs) have attracted a considerable amount of interest due to their low writing currents using spin torque (STT-MRAM). STT-MRAM technology for writing of memory bits was described by J. Slonczewski in "Current driven excitation of magnetic multilayers", J. Magn. Magn. Mater. V 159, L1-L7 (1996), and is known for long data retention times, and the capability to be manufactured in high density memory arrays with relatively simple architecture.
P-MTJs have a general structure wherein first and second magnetic layers contact a bottom surface and top surface, respectively, of an insulating tunnel barrier. One of the magnetic layers called the pinned layer has a magnetization fixed in an out-of-plane direction (i.e. in the +z direction). The other magnetic layer, referred to as the free layer, has a magnetization that is free to be either in the +z direction (parallel or P state) or in the −z direction (antiparallel or AP state). The difference in resistance between the P state (Rp) and AP state (Rap) is characterized by the equation (Rap−Rp)/Rp that is hereinafter referred to as DRR. It is important for p-MTJ devices to have a large DRR, as this value is directly related to the read margin for the memory bit, or how easy it is to differentiate between the P state and AP state (0 or 1 bits).
For arrays of p-MTJ devices used in embedded memory applications, controlling the distribution of both Rp and DRR values is very important. Since embedded amplification circuits only operate within a certain range of Rp and DRR values, a p-MTJ device that falls out of an acceptable range of Rp or DRR cannot be effectively read and the memory bit will fail.
A key aspect of controlling p-MTJ device performance and keeping a tight Rp and DRR distribution is the quality of the tunnel barrier. Typical tunnel barriers are comprised of one or more of MgO, Al2O3, and other metal oxides. Tunnel barriers are quite susceptible to the formation of pinholes, grain boundaries, or other "weak" points that can locally reduce the tunnel barrier height or resistance thereby resulting in p-MTJs with low resistance (RA) and low DRR. If the defects are randomly distributed, the p-MTJ array may have a few devices that are affected by the tunnel barrier defects, and have a lower Rp and lower DRR than the main population of bits, causing both reading and writing failures. These bits outside the main population are referred to as "low tail" bits.
Two methods have historically been employed for MgO formation. One is deposition of MgO using either radio-frequency (RF) sputtering or electron beam (e-beam) evaporation. A second technique is deposition of Mg followed by oxidation either through exposure to a flow of gas (natural oxidation or NOX), or through exposure to oxygen based plasmas (radical oxidation or ROX), or ozone. These two methods may lead to significantly underoxidized MgO wherein a substantial number of Mg atoms are not oxidized, which lowers DRR, or to overoxidized MgO layers where loosely bound oxygen is free to diffuse during subsequent processing and cause adjacent magnetic layers to be oxidized, which also degrades device performance.
Thus, a new MgO formation method is required where the number of defects attributed to underoxidation or overoxidation is substantially reduced. In other words, a technique is desired to enable production of a MgO layer that has a 1:1 Mg:O ratio and containing no excess oxygen to prevent oxygen diffusion into adjacent layers during subsequent processing.

Monolayer-by-monolayer growth of MgO layers using mg sublimation and oxidation

TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.


An imaging device includes an imaging device for converting an image into a plurality of color signals each having a signal level; a white balance amplifier for adjusting the signal level of at least one color signal to produce a plurality of amplified color signals; a calibration device for calibrating the white balance amplifier and for producing at least one calibration parameter; a detecting device for detecting the amplified color signals; a calculation device for calculating at least one white balance amplification adjustment as a function of the plurality of amplified color signals; a comparing device for comparing at least one white balance amplification adjustment with at least one calibration parameter; and an automatic adjustment device for automatically adjusting the white balance amplifier to amplify the signal level of at least one of the plurality of color signals if at least one white balance amplification adjustment is consistent with at least one calibration parameter.

In a color video camera, white balance is achieved when a neutral white object imaged by the camera under given illumination is represented as red (R), green (G), and blue (B) signals having equal output levels. White balance is needed since the RGB representation produced by a color video camera typically changes as the illumination of a scene varies. In some circumstances, a color video camera white balanced for certain illumination conditions will not be white balanced for other illumination conditions. As a result, it is possible that an object under two different illuminations will have two different RGB representations even though a human observer would perceive the object as having the same color under both illuminations.
In a manual operation, white balance is achieved by imaging a neutral white object under the illumination of interest and adjusting the amplification of one or more of the red, green, and blue signals until their respective output levels are equal. In an automatic white balance (AWB) operation, a neutral white object under the illumination of interest is imaged and the amplification levels of each of the red and blue signals are adjusted. For example, the output levels of the red and blue signals may be made equal to that of the green signal. In both operations, maintenance of white balance will depend upon the consistency of the illumination conditions and maintenance of the adjusted amplification levels.
In an automatic tracing white balance (ATW) operation, the white balance operation is automatically repeatedly carried out during an ordinary imaging process. Since an ordinary imaged scene may not contain a neutral white object, it is possible that the white balance will be incorrectly adjusted with reference to a colored object. Consequently, true white balance may not be achieved, e.g. a non-white color is represented as the color white.
FIG. 9 illustrates a black body radiation curve BBR, plotted on red signal gain vs. blue signal gain axes relative to red and blue signal amplifiers in a video camera. As shown, signal gain values are represented by eight-bits and, accordingly, each axis extends from 0 to 256. The red signal gain and blue signal gain axes intersect at the point (128, 128). Also illustrated is a white area, indicated by slanted lining, which is generally symmetric about the black body radiation curve BBR. The white area represents red and blue signal values which are characteristic of the color white.
To avoid the problem of incorrect white balance adjustment during an ATW operation, the red and blue signal values representing an imaged scene may be compared to a predetermined set of red and blue signal values characteristic of the color white. The white area comprises such a set of red and blue signal values characteristic of the color white.
Previously, it was attempted to manually calibrate the white area such that output levels of the respective R, G, and B signals are mutually equal when a reference light source is imaged. With reference to FIG. 9, calibration with respect to a standard light source would be attained when the B signal gain and the R signal gain are both equal to 128.
In practice, a variable resistance was provided to manually adjust white balance amplification while a standard light source was imaged. A manual adjustment was made of the R signal and B signal output levels to make them equal to the G signal output level. Since the adjustment was made manually by a user or technician, errors in calibration have occurred and a precise adjustment has been difficult to achieve. Miscalibration introduces error into the ATW operation, reducing its effectiveness. Additionally, the introduction of manual adjustment error may significantly limit further improvement in ATW processing efforts. Further error is introduced if the setting of the variable resistance shifts after a manual adjustment. Repeated manual readjustment can be difficult.

Automatic white balance control system for a color video camera


The present invention provides isotactic polypropylene compositions suitable for cast film applications, cast polypropylene films made therefrom, and processes for forming such films. The novel polypropylene films are formed from film resins having a melt flow ratio of from 6–15 dg/min, with a narrow molecular weight distribution, narrow composition distribution, low level of solvent extractables, and increased film clarity (i.e., decreased haze %) compared to prior art Ziegler-Natta polypropylene film resins. The polypropylene films can be cast from an extruded polypropylene polymer, the extruded isotactic polypropylene polymer being formed by polymerization with a fluorided silica supported catalyst.

A variety of polymeric materials have been used successfully in thin non-oriented (cast) films. A typical film casting process includes the steps of polymer extrusion, melt feeding through a slot die, melt draw-down in the air gap, chill-roll casting, edge-trim slitting, surface treating if necessary, and winding. With the development of faster, more robust winding technologies, cast film line speeds have been increasing in recent years. This increase in line speeds has led to improvements in productivity and manufacturing economics. In this highly competitive segment of the film market, a versatile resin capable of being processed at high line speeds, drawn-down to a thin and uniform web, efficiently quenched to a clear film, and with a good profile of film properties is very desirable.
Polypropylene can be used to make cast film materials having utility in a variety of important commercial applications. The processability and many important end properties of the polymer are closely related to polymer characteristics such as molecular weight, molecular weight distribution ("MWD"), composition distribution ("CD") and stereoregularity, and these properties in turn are influenced by the catalyst system used to make the polypropylene. Since the introduction of polypropylene in the 1950s, it has been a major interest and trend to manipulate these polymer characteristics to address product needs. Conventional Ziegler-Natta catalysts have long been used to produce isotactic polypropylene. The development of efficient metallocene-based catalyst systems has led to the ability to precisely control polymer characteristics, such as molecular weight, molecular weight distribution and composition distribution over a wide range unattainable by the conventional Ziegler-Natta catalysts.
There remains a need for an improved metallocene catalyzed polypropylene suitable for high output film processing, and supported metallocene catalyst systems capable of efficiently producing polypropylene for cast film applications.


A positioning fixture assembly including tubular sections joined end to end by articulated joints but having one end articulated to a mounting assembly attached to a work surface, and a second end articulated to a tool holder, via articulated joints. The mounting assembly is attached to a work surface. The toolholder is attached to a vise grip pliers or similar tool for holding a small part to be welded to a larger part positioned on the table. The joints are locked by spring force, and are unlocked by applying pneumatic pressure via a foot pedal.

Frequently there arises a need to weld a small part to a larger part at an acute angle. Unless hard tooling is available, it is difficult to support the smaller part in the desired position until the joint is tack-welded. The usual manner of doing this is to clamp the smaller part to a piece of angle iron or such in order to hold the part in position. Often, no suitable configuration of supporting structure is available in the shop.
There are numerous types of clamps commercially available for clamping parts in position for welding. For example, there is a holding device available consisting of two magnets connected by a link. The magnets can swivel on parallel axes at each end of the link to allow the base of the magnets to be oriented at an acute or obtuse angle to each other in one plane. Neither the clamps nor the magnet assembly allows for accurate positioning and positive holding of a small part which must be supported at an angle between two planes.
The patent literature discloses a variety of adjustable joints used in positioning fixtures.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,196,518 issued to Benzaria disclosed a double ball-and-socket joint used to support dental bridge molds wherein both joints are simultaneously locked and unlocked with a single lever.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,515,333 issued to Pugh disclosed an adjustable support for instruments used in microsurgery. The ball of a ball joint is nested within clamping rings which are forced by springs against the surface of the ball to lock the ball in a desired position. The clamps are forced apart by air pressure to release the ball. An extension on one side of the ball supports an instrument while an opposite extension supports a counter balancing weight. The presence of the counterweight would interfere with the freedom of positioning that is required in applications intended for the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,767,231 issued to Wallis disclosed a method of providing an adjustable joint between two intermediate sections which utilizes dual ball-and-socket joints provided with a means for manually locking the joint. U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,623 issued to Tella disclosed a robotic wrist joint which utilizes two hemispherical elements located in opposite ends of a cylindrical enclosure. The mounting stems of the hemispherical elements are attached to a robot arm and to a work holder respectively. The joint is free to articulate in the nominal condition. Supplying air pressure to one port on the cylindrical body causes the joint to align the stems of the hemispherical elements to a common centerline. Supplying air pressure to a second port on the body causes the joint to rigidly lock.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,465 issued to McConnell disclosed a ball joint suitable for positioning an Extremity Support mounted on a hospital operating table. The joint is slidably mounted on a support bar providing that the joint can be positioned at arbitrary locations along the length of the table. The joint is normally held in the locked condition by a spring and unlocked by pressing on a foot pedal.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,519 issued to Twisselmann, disclosed a ball joint suitable for positioning surgery microscopes. The joint is nominally held in the locked condition by a spring and manually released by pressing on a lever.

Positioning fixture for welding operations