An adapter is provided for converting an irrigation sprinkler from an open case impact drive rotor to a closed case drive rotor, without requiring disinterment or replacement of a sprinkler case having the drive rotor housed therein. The conversion adapter comprises a generally cylindrical adapter sleeve for installation into the sprinkler case following lift-out removal of the open case drive rotor upon disengagement of a lock member such as a snap ring. The exterior surface geometry of the adapter sleeve is shaped to define a gap between the adapter sleeve and the top of the sprinkler case sufficient to permit re-engagement of the lock member to retain the adapter sleeve within the sprinkler case. The interior surface geometry of the adapter sleeve is shaped to receive and support the closed case drive rotor which is retained therein by an additional lock member such as a snap ring. An annular cap plate is mounted at the top of the sprinkler case to bridge and close the gap between the adapter sleeve and the sprinkler case.

This invention relates generally to irrigation sprinklers, and more particularly to irrigation sprinklers of the type having a drive rotor for rotatably driving a spray head through a selected full-circle or part-circle rotary path. More specifically, this invention relates to a conversion adapter for use in quickly and easily converting an irrigation sprinkler from an open case drive rotor to a closed case drive rotor.
Irrigation sprinklers are well known in the art for use in supplying irrigation water over a circular or part-circular ground area around the sprinkler. Typically, such sprinklers employ single or multiple outlet spray nozzles through which the water is ejected upwardly and radially outwardly from a sprinkler case or housing, and include a rotary drive means for rotating the spray nozzle to sweep the stream or streams of irrigation water over the desired terrain area. In many sprinklers, the spray nozzle comprises part of a pop-up mechanism which is designed for pressure responsive movement within the sprinkler case between an elevated position with the spray nozzle above the sprinkler case during normal operation and a retracted position withdrawn substantially within the sprinkler case when the sprinkler is not in operation. In a common installation, the sprinkler case has a lower end thereof connected to an underground water supply line, with the sprinkler case partially buried to position the upper end thereof substantially at ground level.
In the past, impact drive mechanisms have comprised one particularly common form of rotary drive means for an irrigation sprinkler. In an impact drive mechanism, sometimes referred to as an open case drive rotor, an impact drive arm is biased by a spring for oscillatory swinging movement of a deflector into interrupting engagement with the water stream in a manner causing the drive arm to repetitively impact the sprinkler body and thereby drive the sprinkler through a succession of small rotary steps. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,182,494. Reversal mechanisms are commonly employed to alter the direction of impact drive forces to achieve reversible rotation of the spray head between set end limits of an arcuate part-circle path. However, while impact drive or open case rotor sprinklers have been widely used with highly satisfactory results, the rotary drive and reversing components are necessarily exposed to the elements including sun, wind, precipitation, sand, grit, and the like, wherein such exposure can adversely affect sprinkler operation or result in premature failure. Moreover, such component exposure renders the sprinkler susceptible to vandalism.
In recent years, so-called closed case drive rotor sprinklers have been developed wherein the rotary drive and related reversing mechanisms are substantially enclosed or encased within a closed rotor housing for protection against exposure to the environment and unauthorized tampering. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,253,608 and 4,417,691 which disclose reduction gear trains driven by water turbines for rotatably driving a pop-up spray head of a sprinkler. See also U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,930,628 and 4,625,914 which disclose an impact drive ball arrangement for rotatably driving a pop-up sprinkler spray head. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,259 which discloses a reciprocal piston drive device for rotatably driving the sprinkler spray head.
As a result of the enhanced reliability and longevity of closed case drive rotor sprinklers, it is often desirable to upgrade an irrigation system to replace older open case impact drive rotor sprinklers with newer closed case drive rotor sprinklers. Such sprinkler replacement program has required the open case sprinklers to be disassembled from the associated underground water supply line, by disinterring the sprinkler case from the ground. A new closed case rotor sprinkler, including a new sprinkler case, has then been connected to the water supply line and appropriately buried to ground level. This replacement procedure is a costly, time consuming, and labor intensive process. It has not been possible to replace the drive rotor only, while re-using the existing sprinkler case, primarily because the existing sprinkler case is designed to accommodate the oscillatory impact drive arm and thus has a cross sectional size that is too large for a typical closed case drive rotor having a narrower profile.
The present invention relates to a relatively simple conversion adapter for mounting into the sprinkler case of an impact drive sprinkler, following removal of the open case drive rotor, to accommodate quick and easy mounting of a closed case drive rotor into the existing sprinkler case.

Sprinkler rotor conversion and method for its use


The invention describes an improved anode suitable for being installed in chlor-alkali electrolysis cells intercalated to cathode elements provided with a diaphragm.

The production of chlorine and caustic soda is nowadays one of the most relevant electrochemical industrial processes and is carried out in plants based on three distinct technologies, namely the membrane, mercury cathode and diaphragm technologies. The membrane technology is characterised by low electrical energy consumption and by the absence of environmental issues. The two remaining, mercury cathode and diaphragm technologies, which became established during the years following World War 2, were initially characterised by high electrical energy consumption and by serious problems of environmental nature at the time the membrane plant commercialisation was taking place. Nevertheless, both technologies were able to survive, being nowadays still applied in plants whose production represents 60-70% of the world total. Such survival was permitted both for technical reasons, allowing to achieve a substantial decrease in the energy consumption and to reduce or even eliminate the environmental issues (in particular with a substantial decrease in mercury release and with the replacement of the asbestos fibres with fibres of alternative environmentally-friendly composition in diaphragm production) and for financial reasons fundamentally associated with the investment costs, evidently lower in plants already paid-back to a large extent.
As regards the reduction in energy consumption, the diaphragm technology saw the introduction of a series of innovations regarding in particular, although not exclusively, the anode nature and structure. The original anodes consisting of graphite plates were replaced by anodes formed with titanium coarse meshes, configured so as to generate a sort of flattened box (whence the term of current technical use of "box anodes"), provided with a superficial catalytic coating, for instance a ruthenium and titanium mixed oxide coating, suitable for favouring the chlorine evolution reaction. The cell voltage, although significantly decreased, was still negatively influenced by the remarkable gap, indicatively 6-8 mm, existing between the surfaces of the anodes and of the facing diaphragms. For this reason, the box anode was replaced by the expandable anodes, again characterised by a flattened box shape but with the difference that the two major surfaces, again consisting of titanium coarse mesh provided with a catalytic coating, are secured to the central current-collecting stem by elastic sheets, known in the field as "expanders", capable of simultaneously ensuring the electric current transmission alongside a certain mobility. With this type of design, the gap between the anode and diaphragm surfaces could be reduced to about 2-3 mm, with a consequent lessening of the cell voltage and thus of the energy consumption.
Further improvements made to the expandable anode structure consist of devices directed to achieve a better circulation of the brine, with the double aim of maintaining a high chloride concentration on the surface of the catalytic coating and of quickly removing the chlorine bubbles and prevent their adhesion to the diaphragm, thereby ensuring a further cell voltage decrease. Brine circulation devices are, for instance, represented by a suitable shaping of the expanders, by flow deflectors installed on the top of the anodes, and by the substitution of the coarse mesh with vertical plates secured for example to a planar supporting sheet, with the apex of the plates maintained in any case at a distance of 1.5-3 mm from the diaphragm surface. In accordance with a similar device, the plates are fixed on the apexes of folds formed by means of a suitable shaping of the supporting sheet.
The gap between anode and diaphragm surfaces was finally eliminated with a further energy gain through the use of particular expandable anodes associated both with additional compressing elastic elements capable of safely maintaining the movable surfaces of the anodes in contact with substantially the whole diaphragm surface, and with a flattened fine mesh applied upon the previously employed coarse mesh. The fine mesh has the purpose of preventing the surface irregularities of the coarse mesh from eventually damaging the diaphragm with consequent current efficiency drop and short-circuiting hazards. The catalytic coating is applied to both meshes or preferably, in order to limit the production costs, to the fine mesh only.
Anode structures were further modified maintaining the catalytic-coated fine mesh unaltered and replacing the coarse net with horizontally or vertically arranged parallel plates having the purpose of improving the brine circulation. The hydraulic regime guaranteed by the latter expandable-type anode and the simultaneous elimination of the diaphragm-to-anode surface gap allows obtaining better cell voltages and hence a lower electrical energy consumption per unit of product chlorine, for instance 2300 kWh per tonne.
However, these expandable anodes present some inconveniences: in particular, it can be noticed that after about 1000 hours of operation the cell voltage tends to increase with a simultaneous decrease in the current efficiency accompanied by a significant increase of the oxygen content in chlorine. As a consequence, an increase in the electrical energy consumption and an intolerable diminution in the quality of the product chlorine take place. Although no certain proof exists, the cause of such a performance deterioration might be attributed to the progressive penetration of the fine mesh into the diaphragm bulk. If the above assumption is correct, the chlorine evolution takes place at least partially within the diaphragm superficial layers withholding at least a fraction of the bubbles with an electric resistance and hence a cell voltage increase. Furthermore, the alkalinity certainly present inside the diaphragm reacts with the trapped chlorine forming hypochlorite with an electrolysis efficiency drop.
The invention is directed to overcome the above described drawbacks of the prior art by means of a novel expandable anode design.

Abstract: In operation, the anode of the invention is in direct contact with the diaphragm so as to form mutually equivalent vertical channels defined by the surfaces of the plates, of the supporting sheets and of the diaphragm, allowing a predefined and controlled upward motion of the chlorine-brine biphasic mixture.


A method and apparatus for routing data in a device having a plurality of parts. A signal is received at a first port. A detection is made that the first port received the signal. information contained in the signal is selectively routed from the first port to a data recovery circuit.

Many consumers want personal computers (PCs) to have more than one Universal Serial Bus (USB) port. Accordingly, most PC manufacturers include multiple USB ports on their PCs. If a PC has only a single USB port, a USB hub/repeater is often used to expand the single port into multiple ports.
One difficulty associated with hub/repeaters and with PCs having multiple USB ports is that each individual USB port requires dedicated data recovery and buffering circuitry to support the transmission of data across the port. This dedicated circuitry increases the power consumption of Hub/repeaters and multiple USB PCs over single port models. Moreover, the additional circuitry takes up more space; a disadvantage in today's market, which puts a premium on streamline devices. This increases the power consumption of PCs and hub/repeaters and utilizes more space. Accordingly, there is a need for a device and method that allows multiple USB ports to utilize a single data recovery circuit and elasticity buffer.

Device and method that allows single data recovery circuit to support multiple USB ports


A system and method for controlling the flow of fluid for an inflatable mattress having multiple, non-interconnected inflatable chambers. Each inflatable chamber can be selectively inflated and deflated to vary the pressure exerted from the mattress surface to selected areas of a human body, thereby preventing the formation of decubitus ulcers.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an inflatable mattress and, more specifically, to a mattress having multiple, fluidly-unconnected chambers that can be selectively inflated and deflated to increase and decrease the pressure exerted from positions on the mattress surface on various points of contact with the human body.
2. The Relevant Technology
There is evidence that decubitus ulcers, otherwise known as pressure sores or bedsores, may develop when a bed-ridden person is not able to move. For example, people who are unconscious, unable to sense pain, paralyzed or otherwise unable to move can remain in the same location fostering the development of the bedsores. Bedsores are ugly, generally regarded as painful and typically debilitating. To reduce the incidence of bed sores, people in attendance to the bed-ridden person need to move or rotate the bed ridden person on a regular basis and in turn vary the parts of the body that are exposed to the pressure and reduce the risk of developing bed sores. Bed sores can be found on people/patients in hospitals, nursing homes and in homes under home care. Bedsores can lead to additional medical complications, including bone and blood infections, infectious arthritis, penetrating holes below the wound that burrow into bone or deeper tissues, and scar carcinoma, a form of cancer that develops in scar tissue.
Bedsores generally form at points of pressure, where the weight of the patient's body presses the skin against the firm surface of the bed. The skin's blood supply is believed to be interrupted or reduced by the pressure in turn causing injury to skin cells which can cause them to die. Unless the pressure is periodically is relieved to allow full blood flow to the pressed areas of the skin, the skin cells in the area start to die leading to ulcerations as the body seeks to deal with the cells. The ulcerations can grow into notable bed sores some in excess of the area of a quarter or half dollar. To allow blood to flow to the areas of restriction and reduce the risk of sores, attending personnel are typically tasked to regularly turn the patients. However, turning of patients as tasked does not always happen for reasons not pertinent here.
Bedsores are commonly found on or near the tail bone area, hips, back, elbows, heels and ankles. They can become deep, extending into the muscle. Muscle is even more prone to severe injury from pressure than skin. This means that mild injury to the skin may cover a deeper, more pronounced injury to muscle. Bedsores are extremely difficult to heal, unnecessary and can be prevented. It is much easier and cheaper to prevent a bed sore than to try and heal a bedsore.
Inflatable mattresses that are seen in the literature appear to be and are believed to be difficult to operate, expensive, and unreliable. In turn, it is understood that such have enjoyed only limited acceptance. An inflatable mattress that is easily usable for a patient or hospital bed that is reliable and easy to operate is not known. An inflatable mattress that varies the pressure in separate cells under different parts of the body and that accurately and promptly operates to maintain the pressure and then vary it in accordance with individual or preprogrammed instructions is also not known.


One embodiment of the present invention provides a recommendation system. During operation, the system receives context information associated with the user, updates a plurality of user models based on the received context information, and identifies at least one spatial data structure that stores a plurality of items. A respective item is stored within the spatial data structure based on a vector value associated with the item. The system then queries the spatial data structure to obtain a first set of recommendable items that have vector values within a predetermined range, calculates a score for each item within the set of recommendable items based on the plurality of the user models and a characterization vector associated with each item, ranks the items within the set of recommendable items based on calculated scores, and recommends one or more top-ranked items to the user.

Field
This disclosure is generally related to a recommendation system. More specifically, this disclosure is related to a general recommendation system capable of providing recommendations over multiple domains.
Related Art
As mobile devices equipped with technology to detect user context, such as physical surroundings, become more pervasive in our everyday lives, context-aware recommendation applications that detect and make use of physical surroundings can increasingly contribute to improving the lifestyle of mobile device users. Such software includes context-aware systems that may adapt to the computing environment, including physical surroundings, and make recommendations based on the physical surroundings. A context-aware system on a mobile device detects the computing environment and adapts to changing conditions detected from the environment, such as location and movement of the mobile device, nearby devices, and other surrounding conditions. Additional user context can also be extracted from various user events, such as web pages or documents viewed by the user, the user's past activities, interest expressed by the user, etc.
Such context-aware systems may establish various user models based on different user contexts. A user model can be used to describe user behaviors and interests. A context-based recommendation system may then recommend activities, such as leisure activities, based on a user model. However, providing a context-based recommendation system that can include a large number of potentially recommendable items and support a large number of concurrent users can be computationally challenging. Moreover, conventional recommendation systems often are not able to incorporate different user models.

Generalized graph, rule, and spatial structure based recommendation engine


A submersible, waterproof enclosure for a portable audio device is disclosed. Also disclosed is a removable lid allowing for the inserting and removing of the device from the enclosure. The disclosure further provides a connector system and an audio communication link connecting the housing to a device capable of generating sound, and to a device capable of producing sound while being submerged in an aquatic environment. Also disclosed are headsets containing at least one speaker within a waterproof enclosure. The speakers may be positioned in or near the ear canal, and attached to the ear or to the user's equipment. The headsets may further comprise devices for controlling power and fidelity. The disclosed invention provides an affordable, easy to use and flexible appliance for utilizing an audio device while being submerged into an aquatic environment.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to water resistant housings, and in particular, to housings that serve as portable systems for containing and delivering audio media players while conducting underwater activities at depths exceeding atmospheric pressure.
Watersports have increased in popularity as a recreational hobby over the decades. Currently, there is no reliable technology that will allow for the use of a personal and portable underwater or near-surface music system while engaged in physical activities in environments where aquatic pressure exceeding atmospheric pressure is encountered. The emergence of lightweight and diminutive portable audio players such as compact disc, minidisk, and MP3 players have made feasible the enjoyment of music while engaging in physical exercise, sporting events and other outdoor activities. Such audio playing devices are not constructed to withstand being submersed and pressurized by an aquatic environment.
The following disclosure relates to a system for a submersible audio housing system adapted for scuba diving and near surface activity. The disclosure provides a system that functions while being submersed, due to the maintenance of a waterproof seal against aquatic pressure. The disclosure further provides methods for stimulating the user's audiosensory systems underwater, via such methods as ultrasonic frequency and bone conduction and by way of analog or digital cables, or wireless technology. The unit is portable, so as not to infringe upon the privacy of others. The disclosure also provides a headset comprising water and pressure resistant audio speakers that are compatible to use with a diving hood, and capable of compensating for the water's dampening effect on certain frequencies. The invention disclosed herein is easy to use, inexpensive and easily repaired and updated.
2. Description of the Related Art
The following prior art disclosures are provided as a background to the invention disclosed herein, and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention claimed. The following disclosures are incorporated by reference in their entirety.
Williams (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,456,377 and 5,533,737) disclose a system for enclosing electrical outlet fixtures and serves as a method of weatherproofing power plugs. This concept of enclosing an electrical system is further adapted by enclosing complete electric devices.
Deschamps (U.S. Pat. No. 5,822,180) discloses a water-resistant cabinet for electrical devices and components. This device is constructed from a plurality of mounting plates and is sealed internally with glue. A door is assembled to the frame, which pivots on hinges, and can be closed to make watertight seals. The structure is perforated to form a duct for passage of wiring to the internal components. Molzan (U.S. Pat. No. 4,465,189) discloses a waterproof container. The container is designed for small objects and is made of deformable material made to collapse around the internal equipment under environmental pressure. Risko (U.S. Pat. No. 5,386,084) discloses a means of enclosing an electronic device using a flexible membrane and a battery access door. The above mentioned containers are designed to seal equipment containers against water and moisture. However, the structures are not designed for underwater use.
Kamata (U.S. Pat. No. 5,285,894) discloses a waterproof casing suitable for housing a camera. The device uses a non-woven air-permeable fabric material to allow air, but not water, inside the container. Furthermore, other structural deficiencies prohibit this device from being a reliable mechanism for housing an electrical device while experiencing a pressurized environment. Johnson (U.S. Pat. No. 5,239,323) discloses a waterproof bag mechanism for housing a camera. The disclosure is designed for environments that are wet, but not involving environmental pressure.
In order to deal with the pressure of the environment altering the structure of the housing and crushing the internal components, containers have been made that utilize flexible membranes that have been internally pressurized. Gell (U.S. Pat. No. 4,771,299) discloses a flexible, waterproof container that can be internally pressurized. This device is complex, bulky, costly, and requires peripheral technology to pressurize the unit. In addition, it is highly susceptible to failure because of the potential for perforation of the flexible membrane, thereby causing the entire compartment to flood and destruction of the device within.
To solve the problem of an expensive and puncture prone pressurized flexible membrane, rigid housing systems have been disclosed. Monterio (U.S. Pat. No. 4,281,343), Wakabayashi (U.S. Pat. No. 5,294,988), Matsumoto (U.S. Pat. No. 5,325,139), and Breslau (U.S. Pat. No. 4,381,144) disclose systems using rigid materials to house a video camera. Although these devices are suitable for maintaining a seal in a hydrostatic environment, they do not serve the function of a containing an audio electronic device and delivering the sound to the users.
The concept of rigid housings has been further adapted to house audio components in wet environments. Delage (U.S. Pat. No. 4,562,590) discloses a device that will contain an entire stereo and loudspeaker system. The design is a container with a removable lid that exposes the stereo system. In this way a stereo system can be transported in a wet environment and avoid damage. The system may be suitable for near surface activity, but the design in not adapted for full submersion into a pressurized aquatic environment.
Hofer (U.S. Pat. No. 4,949,806) discloses a headset for underwater use. The device is susceptible to easy destruction because of the ability of water and other debris in the medium to flow close to the circuitry. The device is capable of emitting a limited frequency range based on a single bone-conducting speaker. In contrast, the system disclosed herein embodies the use of single or multiple speakers of various types and frequency ranges, and capable of compensating for the dampening effects of water. The speaker concept has been further described in Rappaport et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,727,599) disclosing a headband to contain the speakers and radio system, and Kenning et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,537,667) disclosing a swimming training cap with embedded speakers.
Goldfarb (U.S. Pat. No. 4,682,363) discloses an amphibious personal audio system for swimmers. A disadvantage of the application of this device to underwater activities is that the earphones are inserted into the user's ears, thus pressing into the ear canal and preventing pressure equilibration. In addition, the structural design describes a flexible membrane that cannot withstand hydrostatic pressure.
Further improvements have been made, wherein flexible membranes allow for improved aquatic protection. This has made it possible for audio devices to function while the user is swimming. Fuller (U.S. Pat. No. 4,584,718), Silverman (U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,587) and Olsen (U.S. Pat. No. 4,456,797) disclose flexible membrane housings for a personal stereo and speaker system with conical type earphones which the user inserts into the ear canals. As mentioned above, the design of conical ear plugs is not appropriate for underwater activities because the ambient pressure will force the ear plugs deep into the ear canal causing pain and tissue damage. Second, a flexible membrane will compress around the device causing all the buttons to be pressed, and possibly implode the device. Thus, these devices are not suited for the pressurized environments encountered while underwater.
Peck (U.S. Pat. No. 5,586,176) and May (U.S. Pat. No. 5,889,730) disclose underwater communication systems that use head-mounted speaker systems connected to underwater transceivers/receivers for audio communication amongst SCUBA divers. These devices are not described to be coupled to a portable audio device but rather for voice communication between divers.
Regardless of the merits, features, or advantages of the above-cited references, none of them achieves, or fulfills, the purposes of the present invention.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System for housing an audio system in an aquatic environment


The present disclosure relates to hand held electromechanical powered surgical handle assemblies for use with surgical end effectors capable of clamping, cutting and/or stapling tissue and methods of use thereof. The surgical device includes a handle assembly and a drive unit assembly removably and selectively connectable to a selected first connecting feature and second connecting feature of the handle assembly. The drive unit assembly includes a motor and a drive shaft driven by the motor.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to surgical devices and/or systems and their methods of use. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to hand held electromechanical powered surgical handle assemblies for use with surgical end effectors capable of clamping, cutting and/or stapling tissue and methods of use thereof.
2. Background of Related Art
One type of surgical device is a linear clamping, cutting and stapling device. Such a device may be employed in a surgical procedure to resect a cancerous or anomalous tissue from a gastro-intestinal tract. Conventional linear clamping, cutting and stapling instruments include a pistol grip-styled structure having an elongated shaft and distal portion. The distal portion includes a pair of scissors-styled gripping elements, which clamp the open ends of the colon closed. In this device, one of the two scissors-styled gripping elements, such as the anvil portion, moves or pivots relative to the overall structure, whereas the other gripping element remains fixed relative to the overall structure. The actuation of this scissoring device (the pivoting of the anvil portion) is controlled by a grip trigger maintained in the handle.
In addition to the scissoring device, the distal portion also includes a stapling mechanism. The fixed gripping element of the scissoring mechanism includes a staple cartridge receiving region and a mechanism for driving the staples up through the clamped end of the tissue against the anvil portion, thereby sealing the previously opened end. The scissoring elements may be integrally formed with the shaft or may be detachable such that various scissoring and stapling elements may be interchangeable.
A number of surgical device manufacturers have developed product lines with proprietary drive systems for operating and/or manipulating the surgical device. In many instances the surgical devices include a handle assembly, which is reusable, and a disposable end effector or the like that is selectively connected to the handle assembly prior to use and then disconnected from the end effector following use in order to be disposed of or in some instances sterilized for re-use.
The handle assemblies come in a variety of configurations and/or orientations, typically in a pistol-grip configuration or an in-line configuration. A surgeon will select the configuration of the handle assembly based on comfort of use or needs that exist to perform the surgical procedure. If needed, a surgeon may have both a pistol-grip handle assembly and an in-line handle assembly available and may interchange the handle assemblies during the surgical procedure as needed or desired.
In view of the foregoing, it would be highly advantageous to provide a surgical system including a handle assembly that is capable of changing a configuration of the surgical system between at least a pistol-grip configuration or an in-line configuration, wherein the handle assembly is adaptable to accommodate different methods of holding and handling the surgical system during operation.

Hand held electromechanical surgical handle assembly for use with surgical end effectors, and methods of use


A combined cycle power plant system, comprising a compressor; a combustor receiving air provided by the compressor; a gas turbine for expanding gas provided by the compressor; a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) for receiving exhaust gases from the gas turbine. The heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) receives exhaust gases from the gas turbine. The HRSG includes a low pressure (LP) section; a high pressure (HP) section for receiving exhaust gases from the gas turbine and located upstream of the LP section, each of the LP and HP sections include an evaporator section. An intermediate pressure (IP) section is located between the HP and the LP sections, the IP section includes an economizer, first and second evaporators, and a water heater (34) disposed between the first and second evaporators. A fuel gas heater is provided for receiving heated water from the water heater.

This invention relates to combined cycle power plants, and more particularly, it relates to a method for fuel gas heating to improve thermal efficiency of combined cycle power plants.
Combined cycle power plants and cogeneration facilities utilize gas turbines (GT(s)) as prime movers to generate power. These GT engines operate on the Brayton Cycle thermodynamic principle and typically have high exhaust flows and relatively high exhaust temperatures. These exhaust gases, when directed into a heat recovery boiler (typically referred to as a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG)), produce steam that can be used to generate more power. The produced steam can be directed to a steam turbine (ST) to produce additional power. In this manner, a GT produces work via the Brayton Cycle, and a ST produces power via the Rankine Cycle. Thus, the name xe2x80x9ccombined cyclexe2x80x9d is derived. In this arrangement, the GT Brayton Cycle is also referred to as the xe2x80x9ctopping cyclexe2x80x9d and the ST Rankine Cycle is referred to as the xe2x80x9cbottoming cycle,xe2x80x9d as the topping cycle produces the energy needed for the bottoming cycle to operate.
As technology progressed, the trend for the use of steam engines diminished and the use of steam turbines increased. One advantage of the steam turbine is its overall cycle efficiency when used in conjunction with a condenser. This approach allows the steam to expand significantly beyond normal atmospheric pressure and down to pressures that were only slightly above an absolute vacuum (0.5 to 2 pounds per square inch absolute (psia)). This allows the steam to expand further than in an atmospheric exhaust configuration, extracting more energy from a given mass of steam, thus producing more power and increasing overall steam cycle efficiency. This overall steam cycle, from a thermodynamic perspective, is referred to as the Rankine Cycle.
In many cogeneration and combination GT/ST power plants built today, combined cycle plants have come to mean power plants that utilize a Brayton Cycle as the topping cycle and a Rankine Cycle as the bottoming cycle. These plants utilize a gas turbine (GT) as the prime mover (Brayton Cycle machine), with a HRSG at the exhaust of the gas turbine to recover waste heat. The HRSG produces steam that is then supplied to a (ST) to produce more power. Due to the high temperatures of the working fluid in the GT and recovery of waste heat, the combined cycle plants are much more fuel efficient than the conventional steam plants.
Fuel gas heating in combined cycle power plants is typically performed to increase the thermal efficiency of the power plants. In one approach, hot water extracted from the exit of an IP economizer (i.e., the water entering an IP evaporator) of a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) is used for fuel gas heating. In this approach, the maximum fuel gas heating temperature is limited by the temperature of the extracted water, which is typically lower than the saturation temperature of the IP evaporator. This approach limits fuel gas heating, thus limiting the efficiency of combined cycle power plants using IP water. Although higher fuel gas heating temperature improves the thermal efficiency of a power plant, a higher operating pressure of the IP evaporator has a detrimental effect on the steam cycle power output and the thermal efficiency of the power plant. Therefore, IP evaporator is typically operated at an optimum pressure in a combined cycle power plant, thus limiting the fuel gas heating temperature and the efficiency of the power plant.
In order to increase the temperature of the water available for fuel gas heating, water from high pressure economizers upstream of IP evaporator may be used. However, using high pressure water considerably increases the cost of fuel gas heating while presenting a reliability concern in the event of a failure. In one design, the available IP water temperature has limited fuel gas heating to 365xc2x0 F., in GE (F) class gas turbine combined cycle power plants. Thus, there is a need to improve the thermal cycle efficiency of combined cycle power plants overcoming the problems faced by prior systems.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a system and a method for recovering exhaust heat to further heat IP water for fuel gas heating to improve the thermal cycle efficiency of combined cycle power plants.
The system and method of the present invention increase the fuel gas heating temperature of combined cycle power plants, with IP water as the fuel gas heating medium, while maintaining the IP drum pressure at the steam cycle optimum. A fuel water heating section is provided in the HRSG at a location upstream of the intermediate pressure economizer (IP-EC) section of the HRSG and further between intermediate pressure evaporator tubes. A high pressure (HP) section and a low pressure (LP) section of the HRSG may also include one or more economizers arranged in various configurations. Also, each of the HP, IP, and LP sections may include superheaters. Fuel heating water is extracted from the IP-EC discharge and delivered to the fuel water heater section for further increasing the temperature of the fuel heating water prior to its delivery to the fuel gas heater. The higher fuel heating water thus allows the fuel to be heated to a higher temperature, thereby increasing the efficiency of the combined cycle power plant. The present invention overcomes the maximum heating temperature limits typically imposed by the IP drum operating pressure in the prior fuel gas heating methods.
In one aspect, a combined cycle power plant system, comprising a compressor; a combustor receiving air provided by the compressor; a gas turbine for expanding gas provided by the compressor; a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) for receiving exhaust gases from the gas turbine, the HRSG having a low pressure (LP) section; a high pressure (HP) section, the HP section receiving exhaust gases from the gas turbine and located upstream of the LP section, each LP and HP sections having an evaporator; an intermediate pressure (IP) section located between the HP and the LP sections, the IP section comprising an economizer, first and second evaporators, and a water heater disposed between the first and second evaporators; and a fuel gas heater for receiving heated water from the water heater. The water heater may be located upstream of the economizer. The fuel-heating water extracted from the economizer is heated to a higher temperature in the water heater prior to delivery to the fuel gas heater. The water pressure in both the economizer and the water heater is maintained to prevent steaming of the fuel-heating water. The first evaporator is preferably located between the HP evaporator section and the water heater. The first evaporator may protect the fuel-heating water from steaming. The fuel-heating water is preferably heated to a temperature that is higher than the saturation temperature of the first and second evaporators.
In another aspect, the present invention describes a method of increasing the temperature of fuel-heating water in a combined cycle power plant, comprising flowing exhaust gas stream from a gas turbine through a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG), the HRSG having plural sections including an intermediate pressure (IP) section, a high pressure(HP) section, and a low pressure (LP) section; providing a water heater between first and second evaporators of the IP section, the second evaporator being located downstream of the first evaporator relative to the flow of the gas stream through the HRSG; flowing fuel-heating water from an economizer to the water heater, the economizer located downstream of the water heater; heating the fuel-heating water in the water heater; and delivering the heated water to a fuel gas heater.
In yet another aspect, a combined cycle power plant system, comprising: a gas turbine; a fuel gas heater; a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) having plural sections including an intermediate pressure (IP) section with an evaporator having first and second evaporator sections, the HRSG in heat exchange relation with exhaust gases from the gas turbine; and a fuel-water heater disposed between the first and second evaporator sections for heating the fuel-heating water to a temperature higher than a saturation temperature of the evaporator.
In a further aspect, a method of heating fuel gas in combined cycle power plants, comprising: providing a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) for receiving exhaust gases from a gas turbine; receiving water in the HRSG; providing first and second evaporators in an intermediate pressure section of a heat recovery steam generator; locating a water heater between the first and second evaporators for heating water; and delivering heated water from the water heater to a fuel gas heater.
In another aspect, a combined cycle power plant apparatus, comprising: a heat recovery system having a plurality of sections for receiving and recovering heat from a gas turbine exhaust; the heat recovery system comprising a water heater located in at least one section of the heat recovery system, the water heater capable of further heating fuel-heating water received from the one section of the heat recovery system; and a fuel gas heater receiving fuel-heating water further heated by the water heater.

Method and apparatus for fuel gas heating in combined cycle power plants


A light guide plate is provided including a first lens portion comprising a plurality of recessed or projected lenticular unit lenses formed of the same resin as that of the light guide plate on a light emission surface. The plurality of lenticular unit lenses in the first lens portion are triangular prism portions whose respective vertexes have an angle of 125.degree. to 165.degree. and are so arranged that their respective ridge lines are nearly parallel to each other. Such construction makes it possible to set the number of lenticular lens sheets used to one or to further eliminate the necessity of the lenticular lens sheets, so that the cost of parts and the fabrication cost of the light guide plate can be reduced. A second lens portion may be provided on a light reflective surface opposite to the light emission surface on which the first lens portion is disposed, the second lens portion including a plurality of recessed or projected lenticular unit lenses formed of the same resin as that of the light guide plate. Alternatively, a light guide plate is provided having a plurality of grooves with approximately equal groove widths formed on a surface opposite to a light emission surface, the grooves being arranged substantially parallel to each other and the spacing between the grooves narrowing as the distance from the light incident surface increases, with the spacing from the far end of one of the plurality of grooves proximate to the light incident surface to the near end of a groove adjacent thereto farther away from the light incident surface being 5 to 15 times the groove width.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light guide plate and a surface light source using the light guide plate, and more particularly, to a surface light source used for a back light of a liquid crystal display or the like, a lighting advertisement, a traffic-control sign, etc., and a light guide plate provided for the surface light source.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Examples of a surface light source for a back light of a liquid crystal display (LCD) include one of a side light type having a transparent flat plate as a light guide plate. In such a surface light source, light is incident from one of the side end surfaces of a light guide plate composed of a transparent parallel flat plate or a flat plate having a wedge shape in cross section, the light is propagated throughout the whole area of the light guide plate utilizing total reflection inside the transparent flat plate, a part of the propagated light is changed into diffused reflected light at less than a critical angle by a light scattering reflective plate on the reverse surface of the light guide plate, and diffused light is emitted from the surface of the light guide plate (see Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 162201/1980, for example).
Furthermore, examples of a surface light source for a back light include one so adapted that a lens sheet having a projection of a triangular prism-type lenticular lens on its one surface, the other surface of which is smooth, is superimposed on the surface of a light guide plate provided for the above-mentioned surface light source with the surface of the projection directed upward, to diffuse its diffused emitted light uniformly and isotropically in a desired angular range utilizing a light focusing function of the lens (see, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 107201/1992, for example).
When the lens sheet is used in combination with a mat transparent diffusing plate (a mat transparent sheet), light energy of a light source is more intensively distributed in a desired restricted angular range, and diffused light higher in uniformity and isotropy can be obtained in the angular range, as compared with a light guide plate using only the mat transparent diffusing plate as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,729,067.
Furthermore, as a measure to achieve higher luminance of a back light used for a liquid crystal display, there has recently been a tendency to employ such construction that two lenticular lens sheets are overlapped with each other at right angles (Monthly Display, May 1996, pp. 35-pp. 39). This type of surface light source is shown in FIG. 15. A light source 21 comprising a cold-cathode tube 21a and a reflector 21b is arranged on one of side end surfaces of a light guide plate 20 composed of a transparent flat plate having a ridge shape in cross section. Light is incident on the light guide plate 20 from the light source 21. The light is propagated throughout the whole area of the light guide plate 20 utilizing total reflection inside the transparent flat plate, a part of the propagated light is taken as diffused reflected light at less than a critical angle by a light scattering reflective plate 22 on the reverse surface of the light guide plate 20, and the diffused light is emitted from a diffusing plate 23 provided on a front surface of the light guide plate 20. Lenticular lens sheets 24 and 25 each having a projection of a triangular prism-type lenticular lens on its one surface, the other surface of which is smooth, are overlapped with each other at right angles, and its diffused emitted light is uniformly and isotropically diffused in a desired angular range utilizing a light focusing function of the lens.
In a surface light source for a back light in a conventional liquid crystal display, there is not only a problem that visual characteristics are relatively narrow but also a problem with high cost of parts because two lenticular lens sheets are used, and huge fabrication costs because the two lenticular lens sheets must be mounted and aligned at right angles, so that the cost of the surface light source for a back light itself is significantly increased. Research and development of a surface light source for a back light in which the necessity of lenticular lens sheets, light diffusion dot pattern printing on the reverse surface of a diffusing plate or a light guide plate, and the like is eliminated has been reported (The Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers, Technical Report, EID98-79, pp. 67-pp. 72).

Light guide plate and surface light source using the light guide plate


A composite is produced by first coating a reinforcing material with an inorganic phosphazene compound and then polymerizing the phosphazene compound so as to confer superior thermal, physical and chemical resistance qualities to the composite.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to phosphazene polymer composites and a method for producing phosphazene polymer composites.
2. Background Art
Advances in technology continue to place more demands on existing fabricating materials. Composite matrix materials, comprised of reinforcing materials and organic binding resins, long have been used to provide alternatives to more typical man-made and natural materials. Such organic compounds as high density polyethylene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, polymethylmethacrylate and polystyrene are examples of resins that, when incorporated as binders into composites, provide materials for fabrication in a myriad of applications. However, the tendency of organic polymers to burn readily, soften at moderate temperatures, or swell in contact with organic solvents limits their use in extreme environmental conditions. As such, many organic polymer-containing composites generally lack the thermal, chemical, and biological stability and the radiation resistance needed for widespread application.
A need exists in the art for a composite material to withstand harsh environments, such as those associated with the following exemplary applications:
chemical storage or processing tanks, PA1 pump housings, PA1 insulators, PA1 piping, PA1 motor housings, PA1 circuit boards and circuit breakers, PA1 electrical components, PA1 aerospace applications, PA1 auto (under the hood) components, PA1 transmission components, PA1 brake components, PA1 fuel storage tanks, PA1 heating ducts, PA1 wall paneling, and PA1 light fixtures.
A need also exists to replace harmful products, such as asbestos, with a more durable, yet just as effective material.
Phosphazene polymer materials are stable from approximately 80.degree. C. to 250.degree. C. and, with proper modification, can be made stable up to approximately 500.degree. C. In addition, these polymers are resistant to most organic materials and are stable over a wide pH range. These materials are also resistant to ultraviolet and gamma radiation and biological attack. The general chemical formula for phosphazene is as follows: ##STR1## where n is a number greater than 1.

Phosphazene polymer containing composites and method for making phosphazene polymer containing composites

The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy


An automatic control valve is provided for generating power based on fluid flow. In one example, the automatic control valve includes a primary passage including a valve seat disposed between an inlet and an outlet and a valve seat. A valve member is moveable between an open position and a closed position depending on the fluid flow. The automatic control valve includes a rotatable valve stem that is affixed at one end to an impeller and operably affixed to a drive shaft of a generator at the other end. As fluid flows to move the valve member to an open position, the impeller with the rotatable shaft and the drive shaft of the generator rotate to produce electric power.

The water industry is facing significant challenges relating to increases in the costs of maintaining infrastructure and declining water demand resulting in declining revenue. Many water utilities are struggling to meet the increasing operating costs while, at the same time, improving drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. The 2018 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment estimates that $472.6 billion will be needed to upgrade drinking water infrastructure over the next twenty years. One solution to cover this cost is to increase rates. However, this solution can be unpopular, especially if any rate changes are large and unexpected.
Another solution may be lowering operating costs with a more efficient water treatment and transport system. Energy demands and associated costs rank among the most important issues facing water companies. Energy consumption is one of the largest operation and maintenance costs for water utilities, second only to the cost of labor. Achieving energy efficiency can be a primary focus for reducing costs.
The use of hydroelectric power by water utilities is increasingly desirable to compensate for increased infrastructure costs and financial shortfalls resulting from decreased demand. Although several options have been proposed for using hydroelectric power, additional advancements are needed to provide a sustainable energy solution for the water utilities industry.

Automatic control valve with micro-hydro generator


A gas flow simulation method includes setting an imaginary object model such as a sphere model having at least one concavity, convexity, groove or projection formed thereon by means of a computer. A spatial part on a periphery of the imaginary object model is set. A surface of the imaginary object model and the spatial part is divided into a large number of blocks to form a large number of latticed divisions by lattice points. A gas flows to the imaginary object model from one direction of the spatial part. A motion element of a flow of the gas in the spatial part for each latticed division or for each latticed point is computed, with the gas flowing in the spatial part and passing along the surface of the imaginary object model. The flow of the gas on the periphery of the imaginary object model is simulated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a gas flow simulation method. More particularly, the present invention relates to a gas flow simulation method for simulating the behavior of a gas flow flowing along the surface of the spherical model when the imaginary object model such as spherical model flies in rotation in a gas. To this end, imaginary object model such as a spherical model having concavities or grooves formed on the surface thereof is set by means of a computer.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known that turbulence of a gas flow such as separation of a gas occurs on the periphery of an object such as a sphere that is used in a ball game, while the sphere is flying in the gas. In the case where there is a change in the configuration of the surface of the sphere or in the case where the sphere is flying in rotation, the turbulence of the gas flow becomes more complicated. The turbulence of the gas flow affects the flight performance of the object and in particular, the flight distance of the sphere such as a ball which is used in ball games.
For example, in the case of the golf ball, a large number of dimples (concavities) formed on the surface thereof affect its aerodynamic characteristic greatly. Thus it is important to recognize the casual relation between the aerodynamic characteristic of the golf ball and the size of the dimples, the arrangement thereof as well as combinations of the dimples having various sizes and configurations. It is frequent that a high-class player applies a backspin to the golf ball intentionally. Thus it is particularly important to recognize the aerodynamic characteristic of the golf ball during its rotation.
To evaluate how the flight characteristic of the golf ball changes according to the difference in the size of the dimples formed on the surface of the golf ball, the arrangement thereof as well as combinations of the dimples having various sizes and configurations, many golf balls having different dimple specifications are made on an experimental basis, and experiments of hitting the golf balls thus made are conducted to measure flight distances thereof and the like. In this manner, the aerodynamic characteristic of the golf ball is determined. In recent years, there are proposed methods and apparatuses of measuring the lift and drag coefficients of the golf ball and spheres to analyze the aerodynamic characteristic thereof by placing them in a wind tunnel instead of conducting ball-hitting experiments.
Disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-194242 is the method and apparatus for measuring the drag and lift thereof by utilizing a wind tunnel to analyze the aerodynamic characteristic of the golf ball. As shown in FIG. 30, in the measuring apparatus 1 placed in the wind tunnel together with the golf ball, the motor 3 rotates the aluminum shaft 2 having the object T such as the golf ball installed on its upper end to measure its flight characteristic, and the strain of the aluminum shaft 2 is detected by the strain-type detector 4, for detecting the axial three components of a force, disposed on the periphery of the aluminum shaft 2. When the object T is rotated in an gas flow generated in the wind tunnel, the object T in the wind tunnel has a state pseudo to an actual flight state. The lift coefficient of the object T and its drag coefficient are derived from a measured strain amount of the aluminum shaft 2 to analyze the flight characteristic of the object T. In the measurement which is performed by the measuring apparatus 1, gas flows are generated in various conditions in the wind tunnel and the aerodynamic characteristic can be measured in various conditions.
To select the configuration and the like of the dimple simply and effectively, the experimental method of forming concavities and convexities on the rotating sphere is proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-194242. The method necessitates preparation of models on an experimental basis, thus leading to a high cost and much time.
In the measurement of the aerodynamic characteristic of the golf ball by conducting experiments of hitting the golf ball made on an experimental basis and of placing the golf ball in the wind tunnel, it is difficult to make the golf ball on an experimental basis in the case where concavities or grooves are formed on the surface of an object to be measured in its flight performance and also difficult to prepare a large number of objects having different patterns in the disposition and size of the concavities or grooves and accumulate data obtained from the measurement. Thus the proposed measuring method and apparatus has a problem that it is impossible to make a detailed analysis as to how the gas flow is affected by the configuration and size of individual dimples formed on the surface of the golf ball and the arrangement of the dimples.
The conventional method of evaluating the aerodynamic characteristic of the golf ball is capable of evaluating characteristics of the gas flow after it changes but is incapable of clarifying the casual relation between the configuration of a newly designed dimple and the aerodynamic characteristic. Therefore frequently, the newly designed golf ball has performance different from the desired performance. In this case, a re-designed golf ball is made on an experimental basis to check the aerodynamic characteristic thereof. As such, the conventional measuring method and apparatus has a problem that it takes much time and money to develop a golf ball having a new specification of dimples.
The aerodynamic characteristic of an object is evaluated not by making it on an experimental basis but by a simulation using a computer. But the conventional simulation method is incapable of accurately expressing the motion of the object flying in rotation in a gas by simulation and apprehending the aerodynamic characteristic thereof. It is very difficult to express the motion of the sphere such as the golf ball having concavities or convexities formed thereon, when it flies in rotation in the gas.


A scatterometry target formed relative to an elevationally outermost surface of a substrate includes features having an optical property that is different from that of spaces between the features. The substrate has spaced-apart parallel elongated blocking lines having an optical property different from that of spaces between the blocking lines. The blocking lines are elevationally inward of the target features. The target features and the blocking lines overlap within a same vertical region of the substrate. Polarized electromagnetic radiation having multiple wavelengths is impinged onto the scatterometry target. Pitch of the blocking lines is less than the smallest wavelength of the impinged radiation. The blocking lines reduce spectrum variation to below a detectable level for any polarized electromagnetic radiation passing to elevationally inward of the blocking lines. Electromagnetic radiation that is reflected from the scatterometry target from the impinging is detected, and therefrom a property associated with the target features and/or spaces between the target features is determined.

Lithography is used in various applications for producing patterned structures, for example in the manufacture of integrated circuits, flat panel displays, micro-electro-mechanical systems, micro-optical systems, etc. During manufacture, a substrate typically undergoes a sequence of lithography-etching steps to produce the various features to result in a desired pattern within the uppermost portion of the substrate. The resultant pattern may be analyzed in a non-destructive manner using metrology techniques to determine, for example, placement and/or dimensions of the features or spaces between the features in the pattern, or to determine thickness or other attribute of deposited material.
One example metrology technique is scatterometry which impinges electromagnetic radiation onto a substrate pattern and analyzes spectral characteristics of reflected radiation to determine certain parameters of the pattern. This is done by comparing spectrographic characteristics of the reflected radiation to a theoretical or simulated ideal expectation representing what would have been achieved had perfect deposition, processing, patterning, and spectral analysis occurred. A software modeling process may be used to arrive at the desired theoretical ideal spectral characteristics. To be accurate, the model used during the modeling process must take into consideration the structure and composition of the pattern under analysis as well as structure and composition of material that is elevationally inward of the outermost pattern being analyzed. This is because some of the incident radiation will pass through the pattern into substrate material there-below. It then passes through such material, reflects off of a base substrate, and passes back through the material to be detected and analyzed as part of the reflected radiation from the outermost pattern. Such adds significant complexity and opportunity for error associated with the software modeling, particularly with anticipated circuitry designs that may include tens or a hundred or more layers of various materials and structures beneath the outermost pattern being analyzed.
Additionally, scatterometry analysis typically occurs with respect to a patterned test or target area that is laterally displaced from the substrate area within which actual operative components are being fabricated. For example, integrated circuitry fabrication commonly forms the same circuitry within multiple spaced die areas on a larger substrate also known as a semiconductor wafer. These die areas are separated by what is commonly referred to as kerf, street, or scribe-line area that is ultimately cut-through to separate the finished die areas into singulated die or chips. The scatterometry targets are typically formed within this street area at different x-y locations for the different levels of patterning and correspond with the patterning that occurs at that level with respect to the circuitry being formed in the die areas. The street area within which the scatterometry targets are formed are among the largest open areas on the wafer. This can lead to dishing in the street area during polishing of the wafer. Dishing can result in height differences between the outermost surface of the scatterometry target and the surface of the corresponding pattern in the die areas. This can result in fundamental patterning problems and other processing issues that may make it difficult or impossible to create a scatterometry target which closely mimics the patterning in the die area.
While aspects of the invention were motivated in addressing some of the above issues, the inventions disclosed herein are in no way so-limited unless referred to in a specific claim under analysis.

Scatterometry metrology methods and methods of modeling formation of a vertical region of a multilayer semiconductor substrate to comprise a scatterometry target


An electric drive axle in a vehicle is provided. The electric drive axle includes, in one example, a housing configured to enclose an electric motor-generator and a gearbox. In the electric drive axle, the housing includes a first section that is removably coupled to a second section, the second section at least partially encloses the gearbox, the first section includes a first axle shaft opening, and the second section includes a second axle shaft opening that is laterally aligned with the first axle shaft opening.

Electric and hybrid-electric vehicles utilize an electric power source coupled to an electric motor-generator to deliver motive power to a vehicle drivetrain. Certain types of electric and hybrid vehicles have endeavored to deploy electric drive axles. The electric drive axle can be adapted for different types of vehicles. However, the inventors have recognized that previous electric dive axles have presented issues with regard to axle assembly layout and axle housing packaging. For instance, difficulties may arise when attempting to compactly package the axle assembly in the vehicle while maintaining a targeted amount of structural integrity. These issues are further exacerbated in rigid beam axles that at least partially carry vehicle loads. Further still, there can be issues with decreased axle clearance that make the axle more susceptible to degradation from objects such as road debris, rocks and other natural object when driving off-road, etc. Electric vehicles may pose packaging challenges with regard to other vehicle components, such as vehicle battery packs. Other types of electric vehicles utilizing independent suspension systems may present challenges with regard to load carrying capacity, durability, axle assembly, and servicing.
To address at least some of the aforementioned drawbacks, an electric drive axle is provided. The electric drive axle includes, in one example, a housing configured to enclose an electric motor-generator and a gearbox. In the electric drive axle, the housing includes a first section that is removably coupled to a second section. Further in the drive axle, the second section at least partially encloses the gearbox. Additionally, in the axle, the first section includes a first axle shaft opening and the second section includes a second axle shaft opening that is laterally aligned with the first axle shaft opening. In this way, a space efficient housing is provided in the drive axle to house and protect the electric motor-generator and the gearbox, while cooperating with the load-bearing action of the axle. Consequently, the electric drive axle may be compactly integrated into a vehicle, if desired, resulting in simplified and lower cost axle manufacturing as well as servicing.
In another example, the electric drive axle may be a rigid beam axle. Providing an electrified rigid beam axle in the vehicle allows the axle to carry heavier loads and achieve increased durability when compared to independent suspension designs, for instance.
In yet another example, the second section in the electric drive axle's housing may longitudinally extend between a rotational axis of the electric motor-generator and a rotational axis of an axle shaft. In this way, the gearbox enclosure may compactly enclose the gearbox between the axle shaft and the motor's output. This compact axle assembly package may reduce the likelihood of axle degradation from road debris, obstacles, etc. as well as facilitate gains in suspension performance, wanted.
It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.


Green concrete products, such as building products, are placed on pallets. Those pallets are transported to a kiln for curing and from the kiln after cure by an overhead crane. Pallets are lowered into and removed from open top kilns layer by layer being supported by movable support ledges, for example rotatable toggles, at each layer position which permit vertical entry and removal of the pallet layers. Three kiln compartments permit continuous production, one being filled, one being emptied and the third curing a load of pallet layers.

The atmosphere inside a concrete curing kiln is hot and corrosive. Thus, the life span of moving, sliding and rubbing parts, such as shelves and carts used for conveying concrete products through a kiln is very short. Furthermore maintenance costs are high, and unscheduled down times are frequent because moving parts and pallets of concrete products being processed become jammed. This is a serious problem in a kiln where unscheduled stops require the kiln to be turned off, cooled down for maintenance and reheated after repair. Not only is this inefficient in loss of production time, but defective products or loss of the entire kiln contents occur because of critical concrete curing requirements within the kiln for preserving quality.
Concrete curing kilns are also very critical to curing conditions for producing strong, high quality concrete products without cracks, misshaping or broken products. In the building trades, very dry green concrete mixtures are fragile and must be gently processed to avoid spoilage. Accordingly there must be appropriate kiln construction for facilitating the critical handling necessary to produce high quality concrete products.
The manner of feeding green concrete products into the kiln and removing cured concrete products from the kiln is critical to the cost of the products in the very cost sensitive industry of the building trades which nevertheless demands high strength and quality products. Kiln design and curing system requirements in general require many different automated or manual transfers of blocks to and from different places and into different mechanisms resulting in high equipment and labor cost and high product losses due to breakage and mishandling. All of the known prior art concrete curing kiln constructions are considered to be awkward, inefficient, high cost and unsatisfactory in this respect.
Accordingly it is an object of this invention to provide improved, long life concrete curing kiln plants that gently convey the products, thus resolving the aforesaid problems.
Relevant prior art relating to concrete curing kiln plants includes a diversity of systems, typically operable by sending individual pallets of green concrete products serially through the kiln, stacking pallets in groups for conveyance into and out of the kilns, or filling wheeled carriages with pallets and wheeling the carriages through the kiln. All known systems have serious deficiencies for efficient mass production of concrete products in a continuously operated kiln. Typical patented concrete curing kiln art is now briefly surveyed.
A. L. Nugey, U.S. Pat. No. 2,575,462, Nov. 20, 1951, for Apparatus for Curing Building Blocks provides a long tunnel-like kiln through which a movable conveyor carries pallets. As aforesaid, the problems of long life and maintenance related to movable conveyor lines and their parts make this type of system non-competitive in the present status of the industry.
H. N. Shute, U.S. Pat. No. 3,427,0099, Feb. 11, 1969 for Apparatus and Method for Handling Concrete Blocks provides a crane assembly for lifting racks loaded with pallets in and out of a position in a kiln. The use of the racks introduces significant cost and production delays because of the labor and equipment required to handle pallets several times while filling and unloading racks outside the kiln and moving the racks in and out of the kiln. Also the deterioration of racks in the kiln and the necessity to use short life removable blankets to prevent escape of energy from an open top kiln imposes critical conditions and high maintenance costs.
B. R. Drain, U.S. Pat. No. 4,337,033, Jun. 29, 1982 for Apparatus for Curing Masonry Units is typical of serial feed kilns, where one pallet is serially inserted in a chosen one of multiple rows accessible in a continuously fired kiln. The pallets are inserted by sliding along rails to eject a pallet from the other end of the rails. Thus the rails are particularly susceptible to erosion, wear and breakdown. Accordingly, maintenance costs are high and breakdowns during production runs require shutdown of the entire kiln with interruptions in the critical curing process.
This type of kiln is even more expensive when rollered dollies are serially fed through because of the handling costs and inconveniences in loading dollies and the short working life of expensive wheeled dollies in the kiln atmosphere.
There is thus a significant motivation to provide improved concrete curing kiln systems that reduce product handling and maintenance costs and inconveniences and which are capable of increasing plant throughput capacity and life in the manner set forth in the following description.

Concrete product molding and curing plant methods and apparatus


A liquid atomizer having only two housing sections, which can be forced into engagement, so that the prescribed distances within the segment forming the nozzle body are set semi automatically. In addition, at least one of the housing sections is equipped with a springy element, which, however, is designed integrally with the housing section. The springy element may be a weakened wall segment.

Liquid atomizers for inhalation purposes are known in various embodiments. Thus, for example from DE 32 38 149 A1 an atomizer is known, which comprises a bottom and an upper housing section. The bottom housing section forms the container for the liquid to be atomized, and includes a base equipped with the pressure gas supply line. The interior of the housing has, separated from it, a nozzle body in continuation of the pressure gas channel and an air supply chamber opposite thereto formed in the bottom housing section. The nozzle body is removably attached to the upper housing section. Between nozzle body and air supply chamber is a gas current controller, again separated from the remaining components, which extends from the end of the nozzle body that faces the air supply channel. A discharge pipe for the aerosol is molded on the side to the upper housing section. The nozzle body includes two bores through which the liquid is sucked from the liquid collection region of the bottom housing section. The bottom housing section can be separated from the upper housing section or the nozzle body can be separated from the bottom housing section in order to be able to clean the nozzle channels and the entire atomizer.
Another liquid atomizer, which comprises an upper housing section with an air supply channel and a bottom housing section with a pressure gas connection, is know form AU 3,429,389 B. A short discharge pipe for the aerosol generated in the housing interior is molded on the side to the upper housing section and an air supply chamber projecting into the housing interior is molded on in the center of the upper region. A nozzle body, whose bottom end includes the connecting part of a centrally extending pressure gas channel, is removably attached to the pressure gas connection disposed in the center of the bottom housing section. The nozzle body aligns with the air supply chamber, so that the atomizing end of the nozzle body is opposite the air supply chamber. The atomizing end of the nozzle body has a receptacle for another component of the atomizer, which bears a gas current controller. This component is mounted in such a manner along the housing wall on the nozzle body that the gas current controller is disposed above the atomizing end opposite the openings of the pressure gas channel and the liquid channels. Furthermore, the known atomizer has two annular deflecting elements, which are disposed in such a manner in the interior of the housing that a deflection and distribution and a stilling of the generated aerosol is brought about.
The two atomizers described as examples exhibit a drawback shared with other previously known atomizers. Since the atomizers, in particular the nozzle bodies, always have to be carefully cleaned in order to remove completely any residues from the aerosol liquids the known atomizers must be dissectable in such a manner that the nozzle body and in particular the liquid channels can be cleaned. In addition, the prior art atomizers can be disassembled into several, often very small parts. Therefore, the user not only has to quite scrupulously clean the device, but also must be able to disassemble the atomizer into its individual components and assemble it again. In so doing, there is a high risk that one of the small parts of the atomizer will be lost.
Moreover, it is necessary that the design of the nozzle body, in particular the liquid channels, and the position of the gas current controller with respect to the atomizing end of the nozzle body, be constructed within small tolerances. Thus, the components that affect the flow of the liquid/air mixture must be arranged at precise intervals and in precise relationships to each other, in order to generate a finely distributed, well mixed, and homogeneous aerosol. For this reason the nozzle body was manufactured to date separately from the housing of the atomizer and always installed separately from said housing. In most cases the other parts influencing the flow were also manufactured separately from the housing and connected detachably to said housing.


Disclosed is a composite note pad assembly which comprises two independent stacks of individual sheets, sandwiched together, wherein the resulting composite pad assembly has a fall writing surface on both the top and the bottom of the assembly. In this manner, unlike conventional pads, there is no bottom of the stack, and there is no exposed glue surface which would otherwise interfere with writing or marking the paper, or which would get covered with office dirt and grime. The two-part composite pad assembly is unique, because it has two exposed writing surfaces at all times. In a preferred embodiment, the papers used to make the two segments of the composite pad assembly are different, e.g., different color, different appearance, etc., allowing the user the option of having two choices of "note" from a single pad assembly.

The present invention relates to improvements in note pads and particularly to improvements in the types of note pads having sheets of repositionable adhesive on a portion of each sheet so that one or more sheets can be easily removed from the pad and secured to another surface. Such pads in general are manufactured, for example, by the 3M Company under the trademark of "Post-It Notes."

4th Floor, No. 51, Sec. 2, Chung-Ching South Rd


A vehicle wheel state monitoring device appropriately determines whether it is probable that a vehicle wheel is damaged by setting a threshold value for damage determination in accordance with a type of the vehicle wheel fitted to the vehicle. A road surface input calculation portion calculates a road surface input that is a load applied to the tire based on an up-down direction force transmitted to the tire from a road surface. A damage determination portion determines whether it is probable that the vehicle wheel is damaged by comparing the road surface input and a threshold value that is pre-set. A vehicle wheel distinguishing portion receives information from a recording device provided on the vehicle wheel, and distinguishes the type of vehicle wheel fitted to the vehicle wheel. A threshold setting portion sets a threshold value in accordance with the distinguished type of the vehicle wheel.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a vehicle wheel state monitoring device and method, and more particularly to a technology that monitors whether it is probable that a vehicle wheel is damaged during running of a vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
In order to run a vehicle safely it is essential to maintain the vehicle wheels, which include both tires and wheels, in a normal state. Accordingly, if an abnormality of the vehicle wheels occurs, such as when the air pressure of the tires is inadequate or the tires or wheels are damaged, it is important to rapidly detect the abnormality and inform the driver and/or passengers so that appropriate measures can be taken. Various technologies have been disclosed that detect the occurrence of abnormalities of vehicle wheels by monitoring the state of the vehicle wheels.
A vehicle is not always fitted with the same type of vehicle wheel, and thus it is necessary to change a detection method used for detecting the occurrence of abnormalities depending on the type of vehicle wheel being used. For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. JP 2000-318416 A discloses a technology that distinguishes a type of vehicle wheel based on a relationship between a tire air pressure and a spring constant of a spring under the vehicle body, and then detects a vehicle running characteristic for each specified type of vehicle wheel. Moreover, Japanese Patent Publication No. JP 2004-98877 A discloses a tire air pressure reduction warning method in which a threshold value is used for determining whether an internal pressure of a tire has reduced. The threshold value is set in accordance with the type of vehicle wheel fitted to the vehicle.
However, the above described technologies do not disclose any method for handling a situation when different types of run-flat tire wheels are fitted to the vehicle, such as run-flat tire wheels with reinforced sides or with an inner support ring. Accordingly, in such situations, accurate abnormality detection may be impossible.

Vehicle wheel state monitoring device and method


A system for loading, unloading and rail transportation of road-hauled semi-trailers, having multiple wagons (1) constituting a railway train, with each of them incorporating at least one pivotable turntable (14) for accommodating a semi-trailer via its wheel assembly. The system also comprises a detachable hitch mounting (9) that can be gripped by a handling machine which carries the detachable mounting and assembles it, after adjustment on the semi-trailer's pivoting turntable. The hitch mounting is assembled on an accommodating platform (8) that is secured immobile to the wagon chassis (2) and independently of the pivoting turntable, in order to support the front of the semi-trailer during rail transportation. This invention is of interest to rail carriers and railway transport equipment manufacturers.

To limit the size of roads and highways as well as the pollution generated by road transport, it is increasingly desired to expand the rail transportation of semi-trailers on specific wagons, and to transport them over long distances by rail rather than via the road network.
For this, semi-trailers must now be loaded and unloaded using different techniques in combined road and rail terminals specially equipped for performing such operations. Special and expensive infrastructure must be provided on railway platforms for the loading and unloading of these semi-trailers.
In addition, the trains used for such transportation are also very specific. They consist of specialized wagons for transporting this type of load and, in addition, must open so as to allow the loading and unloading of semi-trailers. These wagons are complex and also very expensive.
Various opening systems are known for these specialized wagons. One possible technique is to use wagons consisting of a rolling base and a bearing railway structure capable of being separated from its rolling base by pivoting; this pivoting can be central or can take place at one of its extremities.
Central pivoting provides the possibility of access or removal at one or other of the extremities, whereas pivoting around one of the extremities only leaves one end free for the entrance and exiting of semi-trailers before and after their transportation.
Other opening methods are also possible, such as—for example—sideways movement of the bearing railway structure.
All these systems have the disadvantage of being complex and expensive.
The specialized wagons have to be motorized and must be able to provide the energy required for their opening and closing movement while their bearing structure is loaded with semi-trailers. In addition, these specialized wagons must be equipped with additional specific trackside installations in specialized stations for the loading and unloading of semi-trailers.
All these necessary investments in wagons and trackside infrastructure explain the slow development of use of rail transport for semi-trailers, notwithstanding its desirability from the social, ecological, economic and political viewpoints.
Some systems of loading and unloading semi-trailers on to and from a wagon for rail transportation are already known.
First of all, there is U.S. Pat. No. 4,425,064 in the name of WALDA, concerning a turntable borne by the wagon and accommodating a semi-trailer's wheel assembly, and its securing to a mounting bearing a hitch.
This turntable pivots between a rolling position in which it is positioned within the longitudinal axis of the wagon, and a loading/unloading position in which it is rotated in relation to the wagon.
Towards the front, the wagon also comprises a platform bearing an articulated assembly composed of oblique arms articulated on the extremities, on which there is a semi-trailer hitch supporting the front of a semi-trailer by its kingpin. The articulated arms are conrods of which the inclination allows the hitch to change from a low resting position to a raised position for supporting the semi-trailer by its front section during its railway transportation.
While this invention does indeed include a pivoting bearing structure on the wagon, intended to accommodate the semi-trailer's wheel assembly, the hitch articulated on the elevation assembly is not detachable as for the present invention and, therefore, cannot be manipulated by a handling plant, and is not usable placed on the semi-trailer in view of adjustment and its installation on the wagon.
There is also the invention described in European patent EP no. 1712444 in the name of ARBEL FAUVET RAIL.
According to this patent, the semi-trailer is loaded into a load-bearing nacelle 4, and it is immobilized on it laterally by means of fastening systems 24 and 25 and, at the front, by means of the restraining system 6 of the coupling 7. The load-bearing nacelle 4 bears upon and is affixed to the long beams of the longitudinal edges of a wagon of the type referred to as a 'pocket wagon'.
The clamping system 6 of the coupling 7 is combined into a supporting system 1 that is detachable from the nacelle 4 via a longitudinal sliding movement at the end of its deck. This supporting system 1 comprises a hitch secured at the top, which interoperates with the semi-trailer's kingpin.
To be operational, the supporting system 1 has to be assembled at the front end of the nacelle. A controlling system allows one to adjust the hitch heightwise.
However, only the supporting system is removable with a simple longitudinal separating movement, and one can only adjust the height of the hitch when this supporting system is in place, which seriously complicates the operations of positioning and supporting the front of the semi-trailer, and of loading it on to and unloading it from the wagon.
Lastly, through the publication DE 3234375 in the name of WAGGON FABRIK TALBOT, another system is known for loading and unloading a semi-trailer on to or from a wagon of type 'pocket wagon' type. This system includes a tipping and pivoting platform that accommodates the semi-trailer's wheel assembly and immobilizes it through controlled sinking within the wagon. The semi-trailer's kingpin is engaged within an elevation assembly allowing one to lift the front of the semi-trailer so that it can be supported by a support platform. The elevation assembly comprises the equivalent of a hitch, but it is not detachable and is not used for positioning the semi-trailer on the wagon by means of a handling plant.
All the difficulties of manoeuvring the semi-trailer are experienced at the moment of and during its positioning on the wagon and its removal from it.

Universal system for the loading/unloading and rail transport of road semitrailers


Various methods and systems for an engine driving an electrical power generation system are provided. In one embodiment, an example method for an engine driving an electrical power generation system includes adjusting an engine speed in response to a relationship between oxygen and fuel while maintaining a power transmitted to the electrical power generation system.

Combustion in an engine, such as an internal combustion engine, occurs with an amount of fuel and an amount of air present in a cylinder of the engine. The ratio of the amount of air to the amount of fuel is known as the air fuel ratio. Under some conditions, an overly low air fuel ratio may result in increased particulate matter emissions, while an overly high air fuel ratio may result in increased nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions and higher fuel consumption due to increased pumping losses.
In some approaches, the air fuel ratio may be adjusted by controlling a wastegate on a turbocharger or controlling a variable geometry turbocharger. In this manner, an amount of boost provided by the turbocharger may be adjusted, thereby changing an amount of air available for combustion in the cylinder. By adjusting the boost, however, the engine power output may be affected, even when there is no command to change the engine power. As such, while air fuel ratio control may be improved, overall engine output control may degrade.

Methods and systems for air fuel ratio control