Corner of each square pipe is molded into a terrace shape having steps. When a basket is constructed by these square pipes, steps of adjoining square pipes are assembled together face to face. Fuel rod aggregates are housed inside the square pipes and in a cells formed between the square pipes. Since the adjoining square pipes are assembled in a staggered arrangement, boundaries of the cells are defined by the walls of the square pipes itself.

A nuclear fuel aggregate, which has been burnt and is no longer used in its terminal point of a nuclear fuel cycle, is referred to as a spent fuel aggregate. The spent fuel aggregate, which contains high radioactive substances such as FP, needs to be thermally cooled off so that it is cooled off for a predetermined period (for three to six months) in a cooling pit in a nuclear power plant. Thereafter, this is housed in a cask that is a shielding container, and transported by a truck or a ship to a recycling facility where it is stored. Upon housing the spent fuel aggregates in the cask, a holding frame having a lattice shape in its cross-section, called a basket, is used. The spent fuel aggregates are inserted into cells that are a plurality of housing spaces formed in the basket, one by one, thus, it is possible to ensure an appropriate holding strength against vibration, etc. during the transportation.
With respect to conventional examples of such a cask, various types thereof have been proposed in "Atomic eye" (issued on Apr. 1, 1998, Nikkan Kogyo Publishing Production) and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-242725. The following description will discuss a cask that forms a premise upon developing the present invention. However, the cask is shown for convenience of explanation, and is not necessarily related to the conventionally known and used device.
FIG. 23 is a perspective view that shows one example of a cask. FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view in the radial direction of the cask shown in FIG. 23. A cask 500 is constituted by a cylinder-shaped trunk main body 501, a resin portion 502 placed on the outer circumference of the trunk main body 501, an outer cylinder 503, a bottom 504 and a lid section 505. The trunk main body 501 and the bottom 504 are forged products of carbon steel that is a γ ray-shielding substance. Moreover, the lid section 505 is constituted by a primary lid 506 and a secondary lid 507 made of stainless steel. The trunk main body 501 and the bottom 504 are joined to each other through butt welding.
The primary lid 506 and the secondary lid 507 are secured to the trunk main body 501 with stainless bolts. A hollow O-ring made of metal to which an aluminum coating, etc. is applied is interpolated between the lid section 505 and the trunk main body 501 so as to maintain the inside thereof in an air-tight state. Trunnions 513 which suspends the cask 500 are placed on both of the sides of a cask main body 512 (one of them is not shown). Moreover, buffer members 514 in which timber, etc. is sealed as a buffer member are attached to both of the ends of the cask main body 512 (one of them is not shown).
A plurality of inner fins 508 which allows heat conduction are placed between the trunk main body 501 and the outer cylinder 503. The inner fins 508 are made of copper as their material in order to increase the efficiency of heat conductivity. Resin 502 is injected into a space formed by the inner fins 508 in a fluid state, and solidified and formed through a thermo-curing reaction, etc. A basket 509 has a construction formed by collecting 69 square pipes 510 into a bundle as shown in FIG. 23, and is inserted into a cavity 511 of the trunk main body 501 in a fixed state. The square pipe 510 is made of an aluminum alloy in which neutron-absorbing member (boron, B) is mixed so as to prevent the inserted spent fuel aggregate from reaching the criticality. Moreover, each housing space formed by each square pipe 510 is referred to as a cell 515, and each cell 515 can house one spent fuel aggregate. Trunnions 513 which suspends the cask 500 are placed on both of the sides of the cask main body 512 (one of them is not shown). Moreover, buffer members 514 in which timber, etc. is sealed as a buffer member are attached to both of the ends of the cask main body 512 (one of them is not shown).
A basket that has been used for a conventional radioactive substance storing container such as a cask and a canister is constituted by combining side faces of a plurality of square pipes with each other, therefore, in order to ensure a sufficient strength at the time of falling down, it is necessary to increase the plate thickness of the square pipe. For example, when a cask horizontally falls down, the load of the spent fuel aggregate is concentrated on the face end portions of each square pipe, thus, it is necessary to provide a thickness that can withstand this impact force. Moreover, since the basket needs to have a function to prevent the inserted spent fuel aggregate from reaching the criticality, the square pipe used for the basket is made of an aluminum alloy in which boron (B) is mixed as a neutron absorbing material. In order to provide this criticality preventive function, the square pipe for the basket needs to have a certain degree of thickness. For this reason, the outer shape dimension of the entire basket tends to become large, resulting in a greater mass in the entire basket.
Moreover, in order to protect the cask main body from an accident such as falling down during transportation of the cask, the buffer members 514 (one of which is omitted from the Figure) are attached to both of the ends of the cask (see FIG. 23). The impact at the time of falling of the cask is buffered with the buffer members 514 being crushed. In this case, the margin of crushing in the radial direction, which is used for buffering the impact at the time of horizontal falling down, is ensured by increasing the diameter of the buffer members 514, however, when land transportation is taken into consideration, the diameter of the buffer member 514 can not be increased unduly. When the outer diameter of the cask main body is reduced, the resulting space can be used as the margin of crushing in the buffer member 514, thereby making it possible to reduce the outer diameter of the buffer member 514.

Spent fuel housing square pipe, basket and spent fuel housing container


According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method and technique for input/output traffic backpressure prediction is disclosed. The method includes: performing a plurality of memory transactions; determining, for each memory transaction, a traffic value corresponding to a time for performing the respective memory transactions; responsive to determining the traffic value for a respective memory transaction, determining a median value based on the determined traffic values; determining whether successive median values are incrementing; and responsive to a quantity of successively incrementing median values exceeding a threshold, indicating a prediction of a backpressure condition.

Computer or data processing systems generally include a number of memory devices (e.g., dynamic random access memory (DRAM) devices), which are connected to one or more processors via one or more memory control elements and/or data buses. The computer system may also include a number of memory caches, input/output (I/O) units or subsystems, and other devices accessing and/or performing operations relative to the various memory devices. Thus, performance of the computer system is oftentimes measured in terms of the time needed to perform various memory transactions, such as store or fetch operations. For example, the available bandwidth between memory devices and/or processors and the arbitration processes being undertaken with respect to memory accesses can impact computer system performance.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Input/output traffic backpressure prediction

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A centralizer for an intramedullary stem of an orthopaedic component that is adapted to be implanted into a medullary canal of a bone includes an annular body having an interior surface and an exterior surface. The centralizer also includes a first exterior fin secured to the exterior surface of the annular body so as to extend outwardly therefrom. The first exterior fin possesses a first length. The centralizer also includes a second exterior fin secured to the exterior surface of the annular body so as to extend outwardly therefrom. The second exterior fin possesses a second length which is greater than the first length. A method of implanting an orthopaedic component into a patient is also disclosed.

The present invention relates generally to a centralizer for a prosthetic component, and more particularly to an intramedullary centralizer having fins of varying length and associated method of implanting an orthopaedic component into a patient.
During the lifetime of a patient, it may be necessary to perform a hip replacement procedure on the patient as a result of, for example, disease or trauma. The hip replacement procedure may involve the use of a femoral component which has a head portion that is utilized to replace the natural head portion of the thigh bone or femur. The femoral component typically has an elongated intramedullary stem which is utilized to secure the femoral component to the patient""s femur. In particular, the medullary canal of the patient""s femur is first surgically prepared (e.g. reamed and/or broached) such that the intramedullary stem of the femoral component may be subsequently implanted therein. Bone cement may then be utilized to secure the femoral component within the medullary canal.
When bone cement is utilized to secure the femoral component within the medullary canal in such a manner, it is desirable to form a relatively even or uniform mantle around the intramedullary stem of the component. Hence, during such implantation of the femoral component into the femur, a mechanical guide or xe2x80x9ccentralizerxe2x80x9d is typically utilized to position the intramedullary stem of the femoral component in a neutral or xe2x80x9ccenteredxe2x80x9d position within the medullary canal of the femur. By centering the intramedullary stem within the medullary canal of the femur, the centralizer may advantageously provide for the formation of a relatively uniform bone cement mantle between the intramedullary stem and the surgically prepared interior walls of the medullary canal of the femur.
Centralizers are typically secured to the intramedullary stem of the femoral component prior to implantation thereof. Centralizers have heretofore been classified based on the location along the intramedullary stem at which the centralizer is secured. For example, distal centralizers are secured to the distal end of the stem, whereas mid-shaft centralizers are typically secured to the intramedullary stem at a location between the distal end and the proximal end of the stem. Each type of heretofore designed centralizers have a number of unique drawbacks associated therewith.
For example, a thin mantle may be formed at mid-shaft regions as a result of use of certain heretofore designed distal stabilizers. In particular, even when the distal stabilizer properly centralizes the intramedullary stem at the distal end thereof, an incomplete or slightly thinner bone cement mantle may be formed around the anterior side of the mid-shaft portion of the intramedullary stem. It should be appreciated that an incomplete or thin bone cement mantle may lead to crack propagation in the bone cement or even loosening of the implanted femoral component.
As a result of these and other concerns, a number of mid-shaft centralizers were designed. While heretofore designed mid-shaft stabilizers have been relatively successful at centering the mid-shaft portion of the intramedullary stem (thereby providing a more uniform bone cement mantle around the mid-shaft portion), a number of other problems have been associated with their use. For example, heretofore designed mid-shaft centralizers may have a tendency to tip the stem in the anterior or posterior direction thereby creating a relatively thin (or even incomplete) bone cement mantle at the distal end of the stem.
Another drawback associated with heretofore designed centralizers is the configuration of the interior surfaces of the centralizers. In particular, centralizers which have heretofore been designed often have a smooth interior surface which forms substantially continuous (i.e. line-toline) contact with the outer surface of the stem when the centralizer is secured to the stem. Such centralizers, often referred to as xe2x80x9cnapkin ringxe2x80x9d centralizers, restrict the bone cement from coming into direct contact with the outer surface of the intramedullary stem thereby potentially creating a void or non-bonded region in the cement. The formation of such a void increases the potential of crack propagation.
What is needed therefore is a centralizer which overcomes one or more of the above-mentioned drawbacks. What is particularly needed is a centralizer which centers the intramedullary stem of a femoral component while also facilitating the formation of a relatively uniform bone cement mantle along the entire length of the stem.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a centralizer for an intramedullary stem of an orthopaedic component that is adapted to be implanted into a medullary canal of a bone. The centralizer includes an annular body having an interior surface and an exterior surface. The centralizer also includes a first exterior fin secured to the exterior surface of the annular body so as to extend outwardly therefrom. The first exterior fin possesses a first length. The centralizer also includes a second exterior fin secured to the exterior surface of the annular body so as to extend outwardly therefrom. The second exterior fin possesses a second length which is greater than the first length.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a centralizer for an intramedullary stem of a femoral component that is adapted to be implanted into a medullary canal of a femur. The intramedullary stem of the femoral component has a lateral surface, a medial surface, an anterior surface, and a posterior surface. The centralizer includes an annular body having an interior surface and an exterior surface. The interior surface is adapted to receive the intramedullary stem of the femoral component. The centralizer also includes an anterior fin secured to the exterior surface of the annular body so as to extend outwardly from the exterior surface in an anterior direction away from the anterior surface of the intramedullary stem when the centralizer is secured to the femoral component. The anterior fin possesses a first length. The centralizer also includes a lateral fin secured to the exterior surface of the annular body so as to extend outwardly from the exterior surface in a lateral direction away from the lateral surface of the intramedullary stem when the centralizer is secured to the femoral component. The lateral fin possesses a second length. The centralizer further includes a posterior fin secured to the exterior surface of the annular body so as to extend outwardly from the exterior surface in a posterior direction away from the posterior surface of the intramedullary stem when the centralizer is secured to the femoral component. The posterior fin possesses the first length. The centralizer yet further includes a medial fin secured to the exterior surface of the annular body so as to extend outwardly from the exterior surface in a medial direction away from the medial surface of the intramedullary stem when the centralizer is secured to the femoral component. The medial fin possesses the second length. The second length is greater than the first length.
In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of implanting an orthopaedic component into a patient. The method includes the step of securing a centralizer to an intramedullary stem of the orthopaedic component. The centralizer includes an annular body having an interior surface and an exterior surface. The centralizer also includes a first exterior fin secured to the exterior surface of the annular body so as to extend outwardly therefrom. The first exterior fin possesses a first length. The centralizer also includes a second exterior fin secured to the exterior surface of the annular body so as to extend outwardly therefrom. The second exterior fin possessing a second length which is greater than the first length. The method also includes the step of implanting the orthopaedic component into a medullary canal of a bone of the patient.
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a centralizer for an intramedullary stem of an orthopaedic component that is adapted to be implanted into a medullary canal of a bone. The centralizer includes a body having a stem-receiving opening defined therein. The body further has an interior surface and an exterior surface. The centralizer further includes a number of first fins secured to the exterior surface of the body so as to extend outwardly therefrom. The number of first fins each possess a first length. The centralizer further includes a number of second fins secured to the exterior surface of the body so as to extend outwardly therefrom. The number of second fins each possess a second length which is greater than the first length.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and useful centralizer for an orthopaedic component.
It is moreover an object of the present invention to provide an improved centralizer for an orthopaedic component.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and useful method of implanting an orthopaedic component into a patient.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide an improved method of implanting an orthopaedic component into a patient.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a centralizer which centers the intramedullary stem of a femoral component while also facilitating the formation of a relatively uniform bone cement mantle along the entire length of the stem.

Intramedullary centralizer having fins of varying length and associated method of implanting an orthopaedic component into a patient


Provided are SpdE polypeptides and variants and nucleic acids encoding the SpdE polypeptides and variants. Also provided are vectors including one or more nucleic acids encoding a SpdE polypeptide or variant and cells including a nucleic acid encoding the SpdE polypeptide or variant, as well as cells expressing a SpdE polypeptide or variant and compositions including such cells and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Finally, methods of detecting presence and/or amount of one or more amino acids in a sample are provided. The methods include contacting the sample with a SpdE protein, measuring diguanylate cyclase activity of the SpdE protein; and comparing the diguanylate cyclase activity of the SpdE protein to a control. The methods can utilize isolated SpdE protein or a cell expressing a SpdE protein.

Host-associated microbial communities, especially those of the vertebrate gastrointestinal tract, are compositionally diverse and dynamic. These consortia perform a myriad of functions that are intimately tied to various aspects of host health and development. In zebrafish, resident bacteria play important roles in the maturation of the zebrafish intestine, including promoting intestinal epithelial cell proliferation and recruiting innate immune cells in the gut. Many of these effects of the microbiota are conserved across animal species.
Host colonization is typically envisaged at the scale of the individual host, where it is generally believed that microbial success is determined by capacities for growth and persistence within the host, impacted by interactions with both the host and co-colonizing microbes. Indeed, these within-host interactions are important for selection of microbial traits that enable host colonization. However, several lines of evidence demonstrate that extra-host aspects of host-microbe systems are also potential sites of selection for traits that contribute to colonization success. Considering that animals initiate life essentially devoid of microbes, microbiome constituents must first migrate, either actively or passively, into the host from external sources in order to constitute the microbiome. Furthermore, microbes are continually introduced into the microbiome, albeit at various rates, throughout the host's life, for example, via processes of ecological succession early in host development, after perturbations such as antibiotic treatment, and continual flux of strains over time. The specific origins of these microbes are not entirely understood but include environmental sources, across-body sites, diet, and transmission among hosts.

Amino acid-sensing diguanylate cyclase and methods of use


A foil bag has its upper end provided with a seam weld (14) interconnecting all of the bag walls and having the handle ledge (16a) of a handle (16) welded to its outer side. The handle (16) is made from a flexible foil material. In a foil bag line consisting of successive foil bags (12), the handle (16) of one respective foil bag overlaps the adjacent foil bag. The handles consist of a bendable foil material so that the foil bag line can be guided about processing and pressure rollers. The handles (16) are welded to seam welds (14) connecting the two side walls.

The invention is directed to a foil bag with a handle. According to known practice, products such as baby diapers can be packed in foil bags provided with a handle for carrying. The handle is punched from a head portion of the foil bag which has been separately welded into a flat shape. While the foil bag is provided as a side-folds bag and can be widened to provide a large-volume filling chamber, the head portion, limited by two transverse seam welds, is flat. Due to the head portion, a considerable length of the foil hose is consumed for the handle so that, with each bag, a large part of the foil hose length cannot be used for packing space. Accordingly, foil consumption is undesirably high.
Further, foil bags are known which have handles welded thereto. Such foil bags are either open shopping bags, with both of their side walls having a handle of their own, or closed foil bags having a rigid handle. It is a disadvantage of rigid handles that the foil bags, while passing through a bag producing machine or a printing machine, cannot be guided around the rollers so that manufacture of such bags is difficult. Normally, these bags can be handled only as individual bags and not as a coherent bag line adpated to be wound up for forming a bag roll.
In a bag line of filled foil bags known from French Patent application 2,480,243, the bag material, consisting of two walls, has a third ply welded thereon. The third ply is punched out for forming a hanger or suspension flap. Remaining portions of this third foil ply are arranged at both sides of the bag, namely along the top seam and the bottom seam. For hanging up the bag, the hanger flap is bent by 180.degree., thus projecting beyond the top seam of the bag. In this known bag, a continuous foil sheet is required for producing the hanger flap, involving high material consumption.
In a foil bag disclosed by German Gebrauchsmuster G 85,07,919, two handle portions are welded to the side walls. These handle portions are bent backwards, and after filling the bag, they are set into an upright position and thus are combined into a handle. In this bag, there is a risk that the bag material will tear apart at the weld connections to the handle portions.


An apparatus and method for aerial refueling of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) wherein a laser receiver/transmitter on a target device towed by a host aircraft projects a reticle pattern aft of the host aircraft and a laser receiver/transmitter on a probe of the UAV is activated as the UAV is moved within the projected reticle pattern. Thereafter, a rangefinder guides the UAV towards the host aircraft until the laser transmitter/receiver of the UAV is aligned and boresighted with the laser transmitter/receiver of the host aircraft at which time the mode of the laser transmitter/receiver of the UAV alternates between a rangefinder mode and a modulation data link mode to transmit vital information concerning the UAV to the host aircraft. The probe on the UAV continues to move toward the drogue until the probe establishes contact within a receptacle structure of the drogue and is coupled thereto.

Aerial Refueling Background:
Aerial refueling has significantly extended the range and mission effectiveness of modern military aircraft. Either of two refueling methods are used: the flying boom/receptacle method or the probe/drogue method.
The flying boom/receptacle method is usually used on one relatively heavy aircraft (called a receiver) at one time. Fuel flow takes place at a high rate so that a host can deliver to a receiver and it can take on loads of 100,000 lbs. or more in a matter of minutes. Due to the relatively large size of the host aircraft and the relatively heavy receiver, they have relatively slow rates of response. Thus, the boom operator of a tanker using the boom/receptacle method performs the precision "flying" while the pilot of the receiver aircraft maintains a formation position underneath and behind the tanker within a small "tolerance," usually about 10 feet.
The probe/drogue method, which is of particular concern in this patent, is a somewhat simpler technology than the flying boom/receptacle method because it requires a greater amount of piloting skill. In performing this method, a tanker aircraft unreels a hose approximately 50-100 feet behind the tanker. At the end of the hose is a funnel-shaped "basket" about three feet in diameter called a drogue. The center of the drogue has a refueling receptacle into which the probe of a receiver aircraft is inserted. When the probe is inserted into the drogue, fuel flows from the tanker into the receiver aircraft. Depending on the model of tanker aircraft, up to three drogues can be extended from the tanker and three receiver aircraft can be refueled at the same time, one from each of the opposite wingtips and one from a centerline refueling station. Flow rates of the probe/drogue method are less than the flying boom/receptacle method, but because it is used primarily with relatively lightweight, fighter sized aircraft, only small fuel offloads (i.e. 2,000 to 20,000 lbs.) at any single refueling are typically required, vice the 50,000 lb. plus offloads typically required by larger bomber or transport aircraft.
The probe/drogue refueling method is the more flexible method of the two refueling in flight methods since the probe/drogue method employs a pod that can be easily uploaded on a variety of aircraft, vice the flying boom method which requires a very large dedicated aircraft. In fact, it is even possible to install a refueling pod on a fighter, which then can refuel its wingman on a combat mission. In the probe/drogue method of refueling, C-130s, KC-135 and KC-10 class aircraft are typically used because of their endurance and fuel offload capabilities (i.e., 50,000 to 100,000 lbs.) depending on the mission radius and orbit time between the first and last offloads. The one current exception to this is the use by the U.S. Navy of the KA-6 as a host, which is a slightly modified A-6 attack aircraft. These tankers are used to "top off" formations once they reach altitude on the egress or provide an extra landing reserve prior to landing on an aircraft carrier.
Aerial refueling using the probe/drogue method is a demanding task for pilots. It requires visually observing the tanker in daylight or in darkness. In the case of darkness, special lighting on the tanker provides cues to visual position and depth. In operation, a receiver aircraft is maneuvered so that a probe, about six inches wide, is inserted into the mouth of a target drogue which is about three feet wide, to establish a connection with a receptacle structure and to maintain it until the refueling task is completed, which is normally between one and five minutes. Performance of this method is complicated by the fact that an aircraft's flying qualities change while it takes on fuel. The increase in weight requires the pilot of the receiver aircraft to increase pitch and power to generate more lift to maintain altitude and airspeed and maintain the probe/drogue connection. Another complication is that, when refueling a receiver aircraft, host aircraft actually orbit so that during all or part of the orbit, the host is in a banked turn, while the receiver must maintain its position relative to the tanker. It will be appreciated that, since there is a loss of lift in a turn, both the pitch and power of the receiver aircraft must be increased to maintain airspeed and altitude.
Background of Long Range/Endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicles:
Quite apart from the technology of aerial refueling is the technology surrounding unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), sometimes referred to as remotely piloted vehicles. UAVs have been used as target drones for ground based surface to air missiles (SAMs), anti-aircraft artillery (AAA), and air to air missiles. As this technology has developed, UAVs were designed to simulate the capabilities of modern fighters or bombers as to speed, altitude, and endurance characteristics; for example, an unmanned aircraft may have a cruise speed of 400-500 mph, a cruise altitude of 20-40,000 ft., and at least an hour or more endurance.
Background of Sensor Technology:
Recently, a small number of these drones, unmanned aircraft or UAVs, have been fitted with sensors used to collect intelligence. Within the UAV spectrum is the typical battlefield reconnaissance UAV. These vehicles typically weigh 500 to 2,000 lbs. and used small gasoline powered engines with propellers and include a sensor package. The sensor packages often cost as much or more than the UAV. These packages can include various types of sensors: electro-optic (i.e., video camera), infrared (thermal imaging), radar (imaging), and signals intelligence (i.e., radio receivers). The sensors may be used one at a time or as a combination (depending on the payload and type of UAV). The intelligence collected is relayed in near-real-time (e.g. seconds or minutes from collection to exploitation) from the UAV to a ground site, via line of sight, or relayed transmission (which can use another UAV, aircraft, or satellite for the retransmission or data link).
As reconnaissance UAVs have continued to be developed to meet more demanding operational needs, an emphasis has been placed on increasing and improving payload (additional and higher quality sensors), endurance (more loiter time over target), range (which allows greater operational flexibility in chosing basing), stealth (harder to acquire and shoot down), and cruise speed (decreases time from take off to collection orbit).
The current state of the art in unmanned reconnaissance drones are the Tier 2 plus Teledyne Ryan "Global Hawk" and the Tier 3 minus Lockheed "Darkstar". The Global Hawk emphasizes payload, range, and endurance (2,000 lb. payload, 3,000 mile range, 24-hour loiter over target) while the Darkstar is very stealthy and has more limited operational characteristics (1,000 lb. payload, 500 mile range, 8-hour loiter over target). A major limitation of these (and all) UAVs is that despite the elimination of onboard aircrew members, a potential mission endurance of days or even weeks cannot be realized due to the limited fuel load carried at the time of takeoff.

Method and apparatus for temporarily interconnecting an unmanned aerial vehicle


A faucet improvement including a seat defining a bore, and a valve stem movable toward and away from the seat, comprising a shoulder screw threadably attachable to the stem, and having a head located in the bore, a shank, and a non-metallic O-ring extending about the screw shank to be retained in the bore between the screw head and the valve stem, the O-ring sized to seal off between the shank and the bore.

This invention relates generally to sealing of faucets, when closed, and more particularly to replacement of seals in faucets, to achieve superior sealing performance.
In the past, faucet seals were typically flat-sided, annular in shape, for pressing of a flat side against an annular metallic seat; or washer, when the seal was displaced axially as during faucet closing. Such annular, flat-sided seals depended upon substantial axial force exertion of a valve stem to develop seal deformation and sealing, and such force exertion increased the development of rubbing friction at interengaged rubber and metallic pressure transmitting surfaces, during relative rotation of such surfaces. Repeated faucet opening and closing often led to unwanted early wear and seal failure. A long felt need has existed for a solution to such conventional faucet seal wear and required replacement.


A device for preventing the intrusion of water or other liquids into the interior of an automatic splice. The device includes a series of fingers that contact the cable stranding and wick water away from the cable and out of the connector. These fingers could be integrally molded into the cable cone or molded as a separate piece and inserted. They could also be constructed of any typical brush material such as metal, plastic, rubber, or fiber. The fingers could be arranged in a variety of configurations.

Automatic splices are commonly used to connect suspended cables, such as overhead power lines, together. The lineman can simply push the cable into each end of the automatic splice, and serrated jaws on the interior of the automatic splice will hold the cable in place. Greater tension on the cable will result in increased holding force of the cable within the automatic splice.
A common issue with automatic splices is failure due to corrosion caused by water travelling down the cable strands and entering the connector body.


This scroll compressor includes first and second fixed scroll members, first and second orbiting scroll members, a first Oldham coupling provided between the first orbiting scroll member and the first fixed scroll member and configured to prevent rotation of the first orbiting scroll member with respect to the first fixed scroll member, and a second Oldham coupling provided between the second orbiting scroll member and the second fixed scroll member and configured to prevent rotation of the second orbiting scroll member with respect to the second fixed scroll member. The first Oldham coupling is slidably mounted with respect to the first fixed scroll member along a first displacement direction, and the second Oldham coupling is slidably mounted with respect to the second fixed scroll member along a second displacement direction parallel with respect to first displacement direction. First and second orbiting scroll members are configured to operate in phase opposition.

As known, a scroll compressor comprises:                a fixed scroll member comprising a fixed end plate and a fixed spiral wrap provided on one face of the fixed end plate,        an orbiting scroll member comprising an orbiting end plate and an orbiting spiral wrap provided on one face of the orbiting end plate, the fixed spiral wrap and the orbiting spiral wrap forming a plurality of compression chambers,        a support frame, also named crankcase, on which is slidably mounted the orbiting end plate of the orbiting scroll member,        an Oldham coupling provided between the orbiting scroll member and the support frame, and configured to prevent rotation of the orbiting scroll member with respect to the support frame, the Oldham coupling being slidably mounted with respect to the support frame along a first displacement direction,        a drive shaft adapted for driving the orbiting scroll member in an orbital movement, and        an electric motor for driving in rotation the drive shaft about a rotation axis.
In order to reduce the compressor vibrations generated by the reciprocating translation movement of the Oldham coupling along the first displacement direction and by the orbital movement of the orbiting scroll member, the scroll compressor further comprises a rotating counterweight attached to the drive shaft.
However, the unbalance induced by the reciprocating translation movement of the Oldham coupling and by the orbital movement of the orbiting scroll member cannot be perfectly compensated thanks to a rotating counterweight, which leads to a residual unbalance, and thus to residual compressor vibrations. Such residual compressor vibrations may cause a damage of some parts of the scroll compressor, and may detract the efficiency of the scroll compressor.
Further the efficiency of the scroll compressor may also be detracted due to the high mass of the counterweight needed to balance the compressor.

Scroll compressor having a first and second oldham couplings


A radio frequency (RF) testing system (100) includes a RF signal source (10) generating RF signals, an antenna (50), a RF testing circuit (40) disposed on a printed circuit board (PCB) (41), a testing probe (20) for receiving the RF signal from the RF testing circuit, and a testing apparatus (30) for testing the RF signals from the testing probe. The RF testing circuit includes a first pad (42), a second pad (44), a transmission line (48), and at least one ground portion (49) parallel to the transmission line. A distance between a first region defined by the first pad and a second region defined by the second pad positioned between the first region and the antenna is equal to one-fourth of the wavelength. During testing, the testing probe is electrically connected to the first pad, and the second pad is electrically connected to ground of the PCB.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to radio frequency testing, and particularly to a radio frequency testing system with a radio frequency testing circuit.
2. Description of Related Art
A radio frequency (RF) element, such as an antenna, is a key element of a wireless communication device. In order to improve quality and performance of the wireless communication device, the radio frequency element is often tested.
Conventionally, during testing the of radio frequency element, a radio frequency connector is used. A socket of the radio frequency connector is arranged on the printed circuit board, and a plug or testing probe electrically connects a testing apparatus and the socket of the radio frequency via a cable. During testing, the socket of the radio frequency connector functions the same as a switch. Namely, the socket of the radio frequency connector can cut off input from the RF signal to the radio frequency element. Thus, all the RF signals are transmitted to the testing apparatus to determine if a power of the radio frequency is acceptable. However, the radio frequency connector is very costly, thereby increasing the overall cost of testing. Additionally, the radio frequency connector increases population of the printed circuit board.
Therefore, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry to overcome the described limitations.

Radio frequency testing system and testing circuit utilized thereby

Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd.


In the field of communications technologies, embodiments of the present invention provide a method for detection using a YI algorithm and a YI detector, so as to solve the technical problem of poor detection performance caused by signal environment variation in the prior art. In the embodiment of the present invention, parameters are obtained according to a received signal; a level threshold at each level starting from a level corresponding to a Tailbits value is obtained according to the parameters, and validity of at least one node at the level is determined according to the level threshold, where the level is the same as a level of the level threshold; and a detection identifier is output according to the validity. The embodiment of the present invention is mainly applied to a scenario of detection using thresholds.

It is specified in the industry that a high speed shared control channel (High Speed Shared Control Channel, HS-SCCH) is ahead of a high speed physical downlink shared channel (High Speed Physical Downlink Shared Channel, HS-PDSCH) by 2 slots (Slot). The objective of such a specification is to facilitate a user equipment (User Equipment, UE) to use the 2 slots to first detect a Slot1 portion of the HS-SCCH. If the detection succeeds, it indicates that a transmitted sub-frame is the sub-frame belonging to the UE. Then the UE decodes data of Slot2, and begins a process of buffering demodulation data of the HS-PDSCH. Therefore, correct detection of the HS-SCCH Slot1 is of great importance for throughput and power consumption of the UE.
In the prior art, the YI algorithm is generally used for the detection of the HS-SCCH Slot1.
The YI algorithm is mainly to trace and mark a path in the process of Viterbi (Viterbi) decoding. A method for marking the path of each state in each step is: selecting a path a that enters the state and has a maximum likelihood path metric and a path b that enters the state and has a sub-maximum likelihood path metric. If a difference between the path metric of a and the path metric of b is greater than or equal to a threshold A, the path a is marked as C; otherwise, the path a is marked as X, and all other paths other than a are discarded. An optimized path of each state in every step is selected in such a manner till a final level. The process for detecting the HS-SCCH Slot1 using the YI algorithm is described below with reference to FIG. 1.
As shown in FIG. 1, it is assumed that 4 reserved paths for 4 states 0, 1, 2, 3, at a level j−1 are respectively a, b, c, d, and are all identified as C.
It can be seen from FIG. 1 that at a level j, paths a-e and are incorporated into the same node of state 0, and paths b-g and d-h are incorporated into the same node of state 2.
Ifλj(a−e)−λj(c−f)≧A 0<(λj(b−g)−λj(d−h))>A
where λj (a−e) is a maximum likelihood path metric of the path a−e, λj(c−f) is a maximum likelihood path metric of the path (c−f), λj(a−e)−λj(c−f) is a path metric difference (Path Metric Difference, PMD) of the node of state 0 at the level j, and A is a threshold;
λj (b−g) is a maximum likelihood path metric of the path (b−g), λj(d−h) is a maximum likelihood path metric of the path (d−h),
λj(b−g)−λ1(d−h) is a PMD of the node of state 2 at the level j;
then the path a−e is identified as C, the path b−g is identified as X, that is, at the level j, the node of state 0 is marked as C, and the node of state 2 is marked as X.
As shown in FIG. 1, at a level j+1, a path a−e−s and a path b−g−t are incorporated into the same node of state 0; that is,λj+1(b−g−t)≧λj+1(a−e−s)+A
where λj+1(b−g−t) is a maximum likelihood path metric of the path (b−g−t), and λj+1(a−e−s) is a maximum likelihood path metric of the path (a−e−s).
The path b−g−t is still identified as X, because at the level j, the path b−g has been identified as X. The process is repeated till the decoding is completed. At the final level, if a survival path with the maximum path metric is identified as X, or a node in a backtracing path is marked as X, the detection is considered as a failure; otherwise, the detection is considered as a success, and ("success") is output.
The process may be briefly described as follows: In the YI algorithm, the HS-SCCH Slot1 is detected by judging whether the PMD on a certain node is greater than a threshold. At present, the YI threshold is mainly a fixed threshold obtained empirically and through lots of emulations.
During the implementation of the present invention, the inventors find that the prior art at least has the following problems. In a practical signal environment, due to the influence of channels and interference, received signals fluctuate greatly, so that using a fixed threshold in detection is inapplicable for the situation of multiple signal environments, and therefore the detection performance for the HS-SCCH Slot1 is decreased.

Method for detection using a YI algorithm, and YI detector


If an adaptive prediction algorithm controllable by a speed coefficient is started from to operate with a first adaption speed and a first adaption precision and an accompanying first prediction precision in the case that the speed coefficient has a first value and to operate with a second, compared to the first one, lower adaption speed and a second, but compared to the first one, higher precision in the case that the speed parameter has a second value, the adaption durations occurring after the reset times where the prediction errors are at first increased due to the, not yet, adapted prediction coefficients may be decreased by at first setting the speed parameter to the first value and, after a while, to a second value. After the speed parameter has again been set to the second value after a predetermined duration after the reset times, the prediction errors and thus the residuals to be transmitted are more optimized or smaller than would be possible with the first speed parameter value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the predictive coding of information signals, such as, for example, audio signals, and in particular to adaptive predictive coding.
2. Description of the Related Art
predictive coder—or transmitter—codes signals by predicting a current value of the signal to be coded by the previous or preceding values of the signal. In the case of linear prediction, this prediction or presumption is accomplished via the current value of the signal by a weighted sum of the previous values of the signal. The prediction weights or prediction coefficients are continuously adjusted or adapted to the signal so that the difference between the predicted signal and the actual signal is minimized in a predetermined manner. The prediction coefficients, for example, are optimized with regard to the square of the prediction error. The error criterion when optimizing the predictive coder or predictor, however, may also be selected to be something else. Instead of using the least square error criterion, the spectral flatness of the error signal, i.e. of the differences or residuals, may be minimized.
Only the differences between the predicted values and the actual values of the signal are transmitted to the decoder or receiver. These values are referred to as residuals or prediction errors. The actual signal value can be reconstructed in the receiver by using the same predictor and by adding the predicted value obtained in the same manner as in the coder to the prediction error having been transmitted by the coder.
The prediction weights for the prediction may be adapted to the signal with a predetermined speed. In the so-called least mean squares (LMS) algorithm, one parameter is used for this. The parameter must be adjusted in a manner acting as a trade-off between adaption speed and precision of the prediction coefficients. This parameter, which is sometimes also referred to as step-size parameter, thus determines how fast the prediction coefficients adapt to an optimum set of prediction coefficients, wherein a set of prediction coefficients not adjusted optimally results in the prediction to be less precise and thus the prediction errors to be greater, which in turn results in an increased bit rate for transmitting the signal since small values or small prediction errors or differences can be transmitted by fewer bits than greater ones.
A problem in predictive coding is that in the case of transmitting errors, i.e. if incorrectly transmitted prediction differences or errors occur, prediction will no longer be the same on the transmitter and receiver sides. Incorrect values will be reconstructed since, when a prediction error first occurs, it is added on the receiver side to the currently predicted value to obtain the decoded value of the signal. Subsequent values, too, are affected since the prediction on the receiver side is performed based on the signal values already decoded.
In order to obtain resynchronization or adjustment between transmitter and receiver, the predictors, i.e. the prediction algorithms, are reset to a certain state on the transmitter and receiver sides at predetermined times equal for both sides, a process also referred to as reset.
However, it is problematic that directly after such a reset the prediction coefficients are not adjusted to the signal at all. The adaption of these prediction coefficients, however, will always require some time starting from the reset times. This increases the mean prediction error resulting in an increased bit rate or reduced signal quality, such as, for example, due to distortions.

Predictive coding scheme with adaptive speed parameters

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.


An adjustable hinge assembly for a vehicle door in which a body-mounting plate has a spherical convex surface in moveable contact with a corresponding spherical concave surface at the base of a hinge plate permitting adjustments in the pivot axis of the hinge assembly.

The present invention relates generally to hinges for mounting automotive vehicle doors and more particularly to self-aligning hinge assemblies to compensate for any initial misalignment of the door hinges.
Automotive doors are typically attached to the vehicle body using a pair of hinge assemblies. A hinge assembly generally consists of a door mounting plate, a body mounting plate, and a pivotal connection (hinge pin) joining the two plates. Ideally the axis of rotation of the two hinge assemblies is aligned along a single pivot axis that extends through the pins. In practice, slight variations occur during the manufacturing process in the door mounting post and the door itself. This typically results in a small misalignment of the individual pivot axes of the door hinges and can lead to reduced ease of operation, excess wear of the hinge assemblies, and misalignment of the door relative to the vehicle body, if not corrected.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,263,227 discloses a self-aligning hinge wherein the hinge pin has a spherical convex surface for engaging a concave surface of one of the hinge straps permitting variance in the relative orientation of the hinge pin to the hinge strap. U.S. Pat. No. 4,864,690 also discloses a self-aligning hinge wherein the hinge pin allows the relative orientation of hinge butts to be varied in order to align the axis of rotation of one hinge with a second hinge. The hinge pin is a slender cylinder that includes a ball-shaped part in the mid portion, upper and lower rods, and two sets of steel ball assemblies mounted on both ends of the ball-shaped part to provide rolling friction between the center shaft and the butts. In both of these patents, a complex hinge pin is used as the mechanism whereby one hinge is aligned with another hinge.
It would be desirable to have a door hinge assembly that provides for variance in the orientation of the hinge pin axis, while at the same time is simple, inexpensive, and easily manufactured.


A method and apparatus are for use in the manufacture of self-sealing reinforcement tie rods for reinforcing HVAC ducts, of the type including an elongated threaded rod having fastened inwardly of each end thereof an abutment structure comprising an elongated hollow tubular body having a bore therethrough for coaxially receiving the rod, the tubular body having a longitudinally inwardly located tubular crown portion for attachment to the rod, and a longitudinally outwardly located, radial outwardly protruding annular flange portion for abutting and bracing a duct wall. The apparatus includes a work plate having in the upper surface thereof a slot having a lower wall which slopes downwardly and radially inwardly towards the center of the work plate, on which are positioned a single file line of abutment structures, flange down. The inner radial end of the slot terminates in a generally semi-circularly-shaped end wall which defines with the lower slot wall of the slot a cavity for locating a single abutment structure coaxially over a pilot bore which protrudes downwardly from the lower slot wall. The apparatus includes at least a first pair of diametrically opposed ram punches having a radially inwardly directed line of action centered on the longitudinal axis of the pilot bore, and preferably a second pair of such ram punches rotated ninety degrees with respect to the first pair, each ram punch having at an inner longitudinal end thereof at least a first and preferably two vertically aligned chisel points. A linear actuator pivotably coupled by lever arms to outer radial ends of the ram punches reciprocally moves the ram punches. According to the method of the invention, a rod is inserted downwardly through an abutment structure into the pilot bore to a predetermined protrusion distance below the abutment structure flange, whereupon a sensor switch at the bottom of the pilot bore energizes the linear actuator to drive the ram punches radially inwardly to crimp the tubular portion of the abutment structures to the rod, and withdraw the punches after a predetermined time interval.

A. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to tie rods of the type used to reinforce ventilating ducts which convey air for heating, ventilating or air conditioning (HVAC) the interior spaces of buildings or similar structures. Such tie rods are used to prevent excessive flexure of duct walls in response to fluctuations of air pressure exerted on walls of the duct. More particularly, the invention relates to a method and apparatus for manufacturing self-sealing reinforcement tie rods for ventilating ducts.
B. Description of Background Art
Ductwork used to heat, ventilate, or air condition buildings usually consists of elongated lengths of tubing comprising individual duct sections which are coupled together to form a continuous, air-tight duct for conveying flowing air. Typical duct tubing is made of a material such as sheet metal which is relatively strong but sufficiently light in weight to minimize the size and weight of fasteners and structural components required to support the ductwork, as well as maintaining materials and fabrication costs of the ductwork itself at reasonable levels. Thus, typical ducts are made of relatively thin sheet steel ranging in thickness from 26 gauge (0.0188 inch thick) to 16 gauge (0.0625 inch thick).
Sheet metal ducts have rectangular, circular or oval cross section shapes, and are often manufactured and supplied in pre-cut lengths or sections with transversely outwardly protruding interconnection flanges provided at opposite longitudinal ends of the section, to facilitate interconnecting duct sections at a job site and thus forming air conveying ducts of desired lengths and orientations.
Ducts of the type described above are available in a wide variety of sizes, having cross-section dimensions which range from a few inches to several feet. Moreover, a wide range of width-to-height or aspect ratios of rectangular ducts are available. For example, a typical 18 inch high duct may have a width in the range of 2 feet to 4 feet, and a length of 5 feet.
Whatever the shape, size and aspect ratio of the duct, the relatively small thickness of its walls relative to its cross-sectional dimensions results in the duct walls being relatively flexible. Thus, conventional ducts may experience relatively large, possibly destructive deformations if static or dynamic differential air pressure between the interior and exterior of the duct exceeds pre-determined threshold values. For this reason, mechanical engineering standards as well as applicable building codes require that duct work used to conduct air in certain heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) applications be reinforced against expansion when positively pressurized and/or against collapse when negatively pressurized.
A widely employed reinforcement method that meets code requirements consist of installing elongated straight, rigid reinforcement members within a duct at pre-determined spacings which depend upon the rigidity of the duct, and upon the maximum differential pressures which it may encounter. Such reinforcement members are disposed perpendicularly between inner surfaces of opposite walls of the duct and fastened at opposite ends thereof to those walls. One such approved reinforcement member which is in current use consists of a threaded steel tie rod which has installed onto each end thereof a first, inner nut which is threadingly advanced to a predetermined distance inward from the end of the rod. The distance between the outer faces of the inner nuts is made equal to the minimum cross-sectional dimension, i.e., the height of the duct. The tie rod is positioned within a duct perpendicularly between a pair of opposed walls of the duct, and opposite ends of the threaded rod are each inserted through a separate one of a pair of transversely or vertically aligned holes provided through the duct walls. A pair of external nuts are then threaded onto the opposite ends of the threaded rod which protrude outwardly through the duct wall holes. Each external nut is then tightened onto the threaded rod against the outer surface of the duct wall, while the adjacent inner nut is held against rotation with a separate wrench. For large ducts, this operation requires two workmen.
Another prior-art duct reinforcement uses an elongated tube containing in opposite ends of the bore openings thereof an internally threaded fastener member which is fixed in the tube and which is adapted to receive a machine screw inserted through a duct wall hole. This reinforcement method also sometimes requires that the tube being gripped while the external machine screw is torqued, which again may require two workmen.
A third type of prior art tie rod used to reinforce HVAC ducts, which is a variation of the first method, uses a tube which encloses a threaded rod, the latter being secured between the walls of the duct by two external nuts, and is no easier to install than the other two types described above.
In addition to being somewhat difficult and time consuming to install, in accordance with certain code requirements, prior art reinforcement tie rods of the type discussed above must make an air-tight seal with the duct wall holes through which they protrude, thus requiring installation of a resilient sealing element such as a gasket or washer between the exterior nut or screw head and the duct wall. If the exterior nut or screw is torqued too tightly, such resilient elements can be deformed or damaged, and may ultimately fail to achieve sealing.
Motivated by limitations of prior art rod fasteners of the type discussed above, the present inventor developed a self-sealing reinforcement tie rod for reinforcing ventilating ducts. That tie rod was disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/307,270, filed May 7, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,116,833, issued Sep. 12, 2000. The novel reinforcement tie rod disclosed in the foregoing reference includes a length of threaded steel rod which is slightly longer, e.g., about 1-xc2xc inches, than the height of ducts which the tie rod is intended to reinforce. Thus, for use in 12-inch high ducts, the threaded rod portion of the tie rod according to the previous invention may have a typical diameter of about xe2x85x9c-inch and a length of about 13-xc2xc inches. The tie rod according to the prior invention also includes a pair of abutment structures fastened to opposite end portions of the threaded rod, inwards of the outer transverse end walls of the rod. Each abutment structure includes a longitudinally inwardly located tubular part which receives the threaded rod, and is permanently fastened thereto by, for example, crimping the wall of the tubular section into the threads of the rod. Each abutment structure also includes a longitudinally outwardly located annular flange which is disposed transversely to the axis of the threaded rod. The longitudinal spacing between the outer transverse walls of the abutment structure flanges is made nearly equal to the height of the duct. Thus, when the rod is placed inside a duct and opposite ends of the rod are inserted outwardly through a pair of vertically aligned holes made in the upper and lower walls of the duct, the outer transverse surfaces of the two abutment structure flanges abut the opposed inner duct wall surfaces, and each end of the rod protrudes about ⅝-inch outwardly from the adjacent duct wall.
According to the prior invention, the outer longitudinal portion of the bore in the tubular part of each abutment structure flares arcuately outwardly to join the outer transverse flange wall of the abutment structure, forming an annular cavity between the flange wall surface and threaded rod. The cavity has a diameter which tapers smoothly radially and longitudinally outwardly towards the flange. Prior to installation of the tie rod in a duct, a pair of resilient O-rings having an inner diameter slightly less than that of the threaded rod are slipped onto opposite outer ends of the rod.
The tie rod according to the prior invention also includes a pair of internally threaded fasteners located externally to the duct, which are threaded onto opposite ends of the threaded rod which protrude outwardly through the duct walls. In the preferred embodiment, each external threaded fastener consists of a flare nut having an outer hexagonal head and an inner annular skirt flange which flares outwardly from the head, the skirt having a flat lower or inner surface. When the flare nut is threaded down onto the protruding length of the threaded rod, and tightened down onto the outer surface of a duct wall, the O-ring is compressed between the inner surface of the duct wall and the outer transverse wall of an abutment structure flange. Further tightening of the flange nut on the threaded rod causes the O-ring to cold flow partially into the arcuately curved annular cavity between the flange wall and rod, and against the outer cylindrical wall surface of the threaded rod, thus forming a highly effective hermetic seal of the hole through the duct wall.
The present invention provides an efficient method and apparatus for manufacturing self-sealing reinforcement tie rods of the type described above.
An object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing self-sealing reinforcement tie rods for reinforcing HVAC ducts, in which flanged abutment structures for abutting opposed walls of a duct are permanently secured onto opposite ends of a threaded tie rod.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method for crimping a tubular abutment structure onto a threaded tie rod.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method for permanently crimping the tubular crown of a flanged abutment structure onto a threaded rod, by crimping the outer wall surface of the crown with sufficient radially inwardly directed force to permanently indent the threaded rod and force cold flow of a portion of the inner wall surface of the crown into the indentation.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method for manufacturing self-sealing reinforcement tie rods in which a threaded tie rod is inserted through the inner bore of the tubular crown portion of a flanged abutment structure to a predetermined extension distance outward of the outer, flanged portion of the abutment structure, and a plurality of crimps are made externally into the outer longitudinal wall surface of the crown with sufficient force to indent the longitudinal wall surface of the threaded rod and force a portion of the inner longitudinal wall surface material of the crown to cold-flow into permanent locking engagement within the indentation in the threaded rod.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a self-sealing reinforcement tie rod in which the outer flanged portion of a flanged abutment structure is positioned on a work surface, a threaded tie rod is inserted into the bore of the abutment structure to a predetermined extension distance beyond the outer surface of the flange portion and below the work surface, and radially inwardly directed crimping forces applied to the external longitudinal wall surface of the crown portion of the abutment structure, of sufficient magnitude to permanently deform the longitudinal wall surface of the threaded rod and cause cold flow of the inner wall surface of the crown portion into permanent locking engagement within indentations in the threaded rod.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a self-sealing reinforcement tie rod in which an O-ring is positioned on a work surface, the flange portion of a tubular abutment structure is positioned coaxially over the O-ring, a threaded tie rod is inserted into the bore of the crown portion of the abutment structure a predetermined extension distance outward of outer transverse wall surface of the flange and the O-ring, and radially inwardly directed crimping forces applied to the outer longitudinal wall surface of the crown surface of the abutment structure, of sufficient magnitude to permanently indent the longitudinal wall surface of the threaded rod and induce cold flow of radially overlying portions of the inner wall surface of the crown into permanent locking engagement within the indentations.
Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for manufacturing self-sealing reinforcement tie rods for HVAC ducts which includes a work table having in the surface thereof an indentation for receiving the outer flange portion of a tubular abutment structure, two pairs of diametrically opposed punches longitudinally spaced circumferentially apart at ninety degree intervals, and actuator means for forcing the punches radially inwardly against the outer longitudinal wall surface of the upper crown portion of the abutment structure with sufficient force to permanently indent the outer longitudinal wall surface of a threaded tie rod inserted into the bore of the abutment structure, and cause cold-flow of a portion of the inner longitudinal wall surface of the crown into the indentations.
Various other objects and advantages of the present invention, and its most novel features, will become apparent to those skilled in the art by perusing the accompanying specification, drawings and claims.
It is to be understood that although the invention disclosed herein is fully capable of achieving the objects and providing the advantages described, the characteristics of the invention described herein are merely illustrative of the preferred embodiments. Accordingly, I do not intend that the scope of my exclusive rights and privileges in the invention be limited to details of the embodiments described. I do intend that equivalents, adaptations and modifications of the invention reasonably inferable from the description contained herein be included within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Briefly stated, the present invention comprehends a method and apparatus for manufacturing self-sealing reinforcement tie rods of the type used to reinforce ventilating ducts which convey air for heating, ventilating or air conditioning (HVAC). This type of tie rod includes an elongated threaded rod having a pair of abutment structures adapted to brace opposite walls of a duct. The abutment structures are fitted coaxially over the threaded rod and secured to the rod inwardly of opposite ends of the rod. The abutment structures which the method and apparatus of the present invention are intended to be used with each comprise a circularly symmetric, hollow tubular body having an inner longitudinal portion consisting of a cylindrically-shaped tubular crown section, and an outer longitudinal portion consisting of a transversely disposed, circular flange section. The body of the abutment structure has a central coaxial bore of slightly larger diameter than the threaded rod to which a pair of abutment structures are fastened to assemble a self-sealing tie rod.
An apparatus for manufacturing self-sealing reinforcement tie rods according to the present invention includes a work plate having an upper surface in which is formed a shallow circular depression or cavity of the appropriate diameter to coaxially receive the outer flanged portion of an abutment structure, the depression having a lower flat support wall which supports the outer transverse wall surface of the flange. The support wall has formed therein a central coaxial pilot bore which has a diameter slightly larger than that of the threaded rod component of the self-sealing reinforcement tie rod. A base wall at the lower end of the pilot bore limits downward movement of the end of a tie rod inserted into the bore of the abutment structure to a predetermined extension distance of the tie rod below or outward of the outer transverse wall surface of the abutment structure flange.
The tie rod manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention includes at least a first pair of diametrically opposed ram punches having a radially inwardly directed line of action, each ram punch having at the inner end thereof a pair of vertically spaced apart chisel points which provide a pair of vertically aligned crimping surfaces which are driven radially inward by a ram actuator mechanism to a radial spacing slightly less than the diameter of the tie rod. Preferably, the apparatus includes a second pair of diametrically opposed ram punches similar to the first pair, but spaced circumferentially apart at a ninety-degree interval from the first pair of punches. The apparatus according to the present invention includes a pneumatic actuator cylinder which is coupled by lever arms to the ram punches, and a sensor for determining when a tie rod has been inserted a predetermined extension distance through an abutment structure, i.e., to the bottom of the pilot bore. The sensor produces an output signal which opens a solenoid that admits pressurized air to the actuator cylinder, causing a piston within the cylinder to produce an actuation force which drives the ram punches radially inward for a predetermined time interval.
A method for manufacturing self-sealing reinforcement tie rods according to the present invention includes the steps of placing the outer flange portion of a tubular abutment structure at a predetermined location on a work table plane, inserting a threaded tie rod through the central coaxial bore of the abutment structure to a predetermined extension distance therefrom, actuating at least a first pair of diametrically opposed, radially inwardly acting ram punches each having a pair of radially inwardly protruding tips which each indent both a portion of the tubular crown portion of the abutment structure and an underlying portion of the threaded rod, thereby causing cold-flow of a portion of the inner longitudinal wall of the crown into locking engagement with indentations formed in the tie rod, and then retracting the ram punches.

Method for manufacturing self-sealing reinforcement tie rods for HVAC ducts


A storage rack connectable to a mounting structure of a vehicle for supporting a load, comprising a load supporting structure, a bracket assembly, and a lift assembly. The load supporting structure is adapted to support the load when the load is associated with the load supporting structure. The bracket assembly is connected to the load supporting structure, the bracket assembly being attachable to the mounting structure. The lift assembly is associated with the load supporting structure for facilitating lifting of the load to the load supporting structure whereby the load can be supported by the load supporting structure and thus the vehicle when the bracket assembly connects the load supporting structure to the mounting structure of the vehicle.

Utility vehicles used by the military, such as High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV), also known as humvees, have long been used by the military to traverse jungles, deserts, mountains and other terrains. The tires on HMMWVs are known as "run-flat" tires which are capable of running for 30-40 miles after such tires have been punctured. For this reason, the HMMWV has not been provided with a spare tire in military use. However, in Iraq, HMMWVs are more susceptible to having flat tires while crossing the rough, uneven surfaces of these various terrains. On numerous missions, the HMMWV has, in the past, been forced to return to the base to change a tire.
Several configurations exist for the HMMWV. Most of the designs transport items and soldiers in the rear part of the HMMWV. The tailgate of the HMMWV can be lowered to a useful angle in order to easily access items stored in the rear. A storage rack has been designed by others for carrying a spare tire on the HMMWV. This storage rack connects to the tailgate, but prevents the lowering of the tailgate. This storage rack hinders the use of the tailgate and prevents easy accessibility to items stored in the rear part of the HMMWV. Military equipment is typically heavy and cumbersome. Equipment, such as tires for the HMMWV, should be able to be used by the range of male and female soldiers from the 5th percentile to the 95th percentile in size and strength. For example, a female soldier ranked in the 5th percentile is able to lift approximately 44 pounds without potential injury. A tire suited for a HMMWV typically weighs approximately 165 pounds. Therefore, a female soldier ranking in the 5th percentile would most likely be unable to lift a tire suited for a HMMWV in the event of a flat tire or emergency. Further, a storage unit suited for a HMMWV should be strong enough to support approximately 3-4 g's of weight of an approximately 165 pound tire unit. Therefore, the storage unit should be able to withstand up to a 900 pound shock.
Because of the treacherous, uncertain, lengthy missions in which military personnel are assigned, the lack of storage space design on a humvee, the need for use of the tailgate, and the need of such a vehicle to transport heavy items, such as tires, without military personnel being injured, a need exists for an apparatus capable of storing and transporting items such as spare tires, gasoline, water, personal equipment, ammunition and other items typically used by the military and capable of allowing soldiers in the bottom percentiles of size and strength to stow and deploy these heavy items onto and off of the vehicle. It is to such an apparatus that allows for the loading, transportation, storage and unloading of items, such as spare tires, which the present invention is directed.


Disclosed is an antenna on glass (AOG) device having an air cavity at least partially formed in a photosensitive glass substrate. An air cavity structure is at least partially encloses the air cavity and wherein the air cavity structure at least partially formed from the photosensitive glass substrate. An antenna is formed from portion of a top conductive layer disposed on a top surface of the air cavity structure and at least partially overlapping the air cavity. A metallization structure is provided having a bottom conductive layer disposed on a bottom surface of the air cavity structure, wherein the bottom conductive layer is electrically coupled to the top metal layer by a conductive pillar disposed through the photosensitive glass substrate. In addition, the AOG device may integrate one or more MIM capacitors and/or inductors that allow for RF filtering and impedance matching.

Integrated circuit technology has achieved great strides in advancing computing power through miniaturization of active components. The package devices can be found in many electronic devices, including processors, servers, radio frequency (RF) integrated circuits, etc. Packaging technology becomes cost-effective in high pin count devices and/or high production volume components.
Additionally, in conventional RF frontend circuitry, the antenna is built and embedded in a package substrate. One limitation is there is no capacitor in the substrate for antenna impedance matching and filtering. Also, conventional substrates are lossy (i.e., electromagnetically inefficient) at a higher frequencies (e.g., mmWave ranges). Accordingly, designers using conventional technology are faced with many issues, including low antenna gain with high substrate trace loss. Also, there is no matching and filtering capability in the conventional antenna in package (AiP) substrate. The conventional technology is limited in its performance for advanced 5G and future 6G millimeter-Wave (mmWave) RF frontends that will need components and devices with high efficiency with low power consumption.
Accordingly, there is a need for systems, apparatus, and methods that overcome the deficiencies of conventional antenna packages including the methods, system and apparatus provided herein.

Antenna on glass with air cavity structure


A dual action, convex disc push-button switch assembly providing tactile feedback to the operator. Each convex disc contact comprises four tabs, each tab of which is fitted and secured in the base of the switch assembly making the switch easy to assemble and operate reliably. The tabs of a first convex disc contact are positioned forty-five degrees relative to the tabs of a second convex disc contact. The switch is sealed thereby permitting various ways to secure the switch terminals to an electronic board.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to push button electrical switches and in particularly to an improved, sealed, dual action, tactile feedback, switch assembly having three states or functions.
2. Description of Related Art
It is a constant requirement that switches be made more compact, requiring a minimum of space in an apparatus and yet be simple and reliable. It is another requirement that the switches be sealed in order to be applicable for installation on boards where fluid techniques such wave soldering are used. If the switch is not sealed, internal corrosion of the contacts due to contaminants would occur in the switch.
In addition, for certain applications, the operator expects to feel a switching action such as when going from one switch function to another. In the case of switches having internal contacts implemented with convex discs or domes positioned one above the other in a spaced relationship having their respective centers substantially in alignment. A flex or snap-action occurs when an operator pushes down on a push button which applies a force to the center of the domes. The operator can sense the snapping movement of the center portion of a first dome and then the snapping movement of the center portion of a second dome positioned under the first dome. This sensation is commonly known as "tactile feedback". The flexing of the dome causes an electrical connection to occur first between the upper dome and the lower dome, and then with further pressure on the push button, the lower dome makes electrical connection with a terminal in the base of the switch assembly. Thus, such a switch has a normally open position and two other positions for making electrical connection. Such a switch assembly has to be assembled with low cost parts and low cost efficient means in order to be viable in the market place. Securing the lower dome may provide wider applicability of the switch.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,029,916 issued Jun. 14, 1977 to Pak-Jong Chu discloses a multi-contact push-button switch which has a spring contact plate and a circuit board in superposed position. The spring contact plate has one or more switched positions, each switch position comprising a prestressed domed portion surrounded by a flat short portion. Spring contacts extend radially from the central portion, each contact between a pair of webs. A push button acts on the central portion and pressure on the push button causes the central portion to snap through the plane of the flat sheet portion, with the spring contacts contacting contact areas on the circuit board. However, the switch configuration requires larger packaging and the snap action of one dome provides poorer tactile feed than two dome switches.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,659,881 issued Apr. 21, 1987 to David R. Dowe discloses a multidome switch assembly comprising a pair of conducting resilient domes which snap inwardly to produce corresponding switching functions when downward pressure is applied at the respective centers, and snap outwardly to produce opposite switching functions when the applied pressure is removed. Successive snapping action of the two domes produce corresponding switching functions to provide respective stages of tactile feedback through the push button to the operator. However, securing the lower dome is often a problem to prevent contact with the upper dome especially if the switch is turned upside down. Also, the switch is not a sealed switch which limits its method of connection to a component board.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,564,560 issued Oct. 15, 1996 to Jeffrey D. Minelli et al discloses a dual function button 10 for keyboards and keypads. The button includes a first contact switch which is activated by a first manual pressure. The first control switch is preferably formed by a resilient cover having a conductive pellet on its interim face, and a flexible substrate having spaced contacts below the pellet. The first manual pressure causes the pellet to impinge upon the spaced contacts below the pellets. The first manual pressure causes the pellet to impinge upon the spaced contacts completing a first circuit. The button includes a second contact switch which is activated by a second, greater, manual pressure. The second contact switch includes the resilient cover of the first contact switch, a rigid substrate mounting spaced contacts and a flexible conductive dome mounted on the rigid substrate below the resilient cover. The second manual pressure causes the dome to resiliently deform and impinge upon the contacts closing the second switch. However, this switch is not a discrete component switch and the means for retention of the conductive dome is not clear.


A method for manufacturing an ink jet printer head is disclosed which the method comprises steps of providing a substrate; forming a crater layer by photolighography and plating under the substrate; forming a nozzle plate by photolighography and plating under the crater layer; forming a channel plate by photolighography and plating under the nozzle plate; forming a reserver plate by photolighography and plating under the channel plate; forming a restrictor plate by photolighography and plating under the reserver plate; forming a chamber plate by photolighography and plating under the restrictor plate; forming a vibration plate by plating under the chamber plate; removing the substrate; removing all photoresist remaining; forming a piezoelectric/electrostrictive film to actuate when electrified upon the vibration plate; and forming an upper electrode upon the piezoelectric/electrostrictive film.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printer head and particularly to a manufacturing method of an ink jet printer head.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Ink jet printer head is generally formed by sequential accumulation of nozzle plate 222 where nozzle 223 has been formed, reserver plate 221 where reserver 220 is formed, channel plate 219 where flow channel 218 is formed, restrictor plate 217 where restrictor 216 is formed, chamber plate 215 forming a chamber 214, and actuator composed of three parts of upper electrode 210, piezoelectric substance 211 and lower electrode 212 as in FIG. 1.
Ink flowpath is formed in ink jet printer head by the above formation of such as nozzle 223, reserver 220, flow channel 218, restrictor 216, chamber 214 of mutually different sizes and shapes.
Ink supplied from ink canister (not shown in figure) is reserved in reserver 220 after which it flows into chamber 214 through flow channel 218 whence the reserver 220 formed between flow channel 218 and chamber 214 maintains ink flow speed into chamber 214 to a constant state.
Piezoelectric substance 211 is actuated if voltage is applied at upper electrode 210 and lower electrode 212 of actuator formed upon chamber 214; by which piezoelectric substance 211 actuation the chamber 214 volume momentarily decreases while chamber 214 ink is ejected through nozzle 223 formed at nozzle plate 222 onto material on which to be written. Printing is carried out by this ink jet.
Until now to manufacture an ink jet printer head as described above, use has been made of method of assembling after separately making a nozzle plate where nozzle is formed, a reserver plate where reserver is formed, a channel plate where channel is formed, a restrictor plate where restrictor is formed and a chamber plate where chamber is formed.
In this method, each plate comprising the ink jet printer head as above is manufactured by each separate process, and photoresist is coated on each of these separately manufactured plates which are then exposed to light, after which the guide holes are formed for assembling, by way of micro-patterning utilizing a micro-punching or a lithography process, then these plates are piled one upon another. Guide holes are fastened by screw etc. to fix the plates which are then thermally treated so that they are bonded together to finish the ink jet printer head.
In this traditional method, there is problem that yield percentage is low because there is large possibility to generate assembly tolerance error owing to inaccurate congruence of the guide hole positions and the plate sizes when assembling. And there is demerit of production cost rise because such photoresist should be used as is excellent in adhesion and low in reactivity with ink, which photoresist is to be coated before bonding the plates together.
Purpose of the present invention to solve the above problems is to provide a manufacturing method of ink jet printer head by forming the parts in a bundle using electrochemical process.
This invention to achieve the above purpose relates to a manufacturing method of an ink jet printer head comprising steps of providing a substrate; forming a first photoresist layer by coating photoresist in the thickness of a crater layer under the substrate; leaving the first photoresist only at crater part by patterning, exposing to light and etching the first photoresist layer; forming the crater layer under the substrate by plating process; forming a second photoresist layer by coating photoresist in the thickness of a nozzle plate under the crater layer; leaving the second photoresist only at nozzle part by patterning, exposing to light and etching the second photoresist layer; forming the nozzle plate under the crater layer by plating process; forming a third photoresist layer by coating photoresist in the thickness of a channel plate under the nozzle plate; leaving the third photoresist only at channel part by patterning, exposing to light and etching the third photoresist layer; forming the channel plate under the nozzle plate by plating process; forming a fourth photoresist layer by coating photoresist in the thickness of a reserver plate under the channel plate; leaving the fourth photoresist only at reserver part by patterning, exposing to light and etching the fourth photoresist layer; forming the reserver plate under the channel plate by plating process; forming a fifth photoresist layer by coating photoresist in the thickness of a restrictor plate under the reserver plate; leaving the fifth photoresist only at restrictor part by patterning, exposing and etching the fifth photoresist layer; forming the restrictor plate under the reserver plate by plating process; forming a sixth photoresist layer by coating photoresist in the thickness of a chamber plate under the restrictor plate; leaving the sixth photoresist only at chamber part by patterning, exposing and etching the sixth photoresist layer; forming the chamber plate under the restrictor plate by plating process; forming a vibration plate under the chamber plate by plating process; removing the substrate; removing all photoresist remaining; forming a piezoelectric/electrostrictive film to actuate when electrified upon the vibration plate; and forming an upper electrode upon the piezoelectric/electrostrictive film.
And this invention relates to a manufacturing method of an ink jet printer head comprising steps of providing a substrate made of piezoelectric/electrostrictive material; forming a vibration plate by plating under the substrate; forming a sixth photoresist layer by coating photoresist in the thickness of a chamber plate under the vibration plate; leaving the sixth photoresist only at chamber part by patterning, exposing and etching the sixth photoresist layer; forming the chamber plate by plating under the vibration plate; forming a fifth photoresist layer by coating photoresist in the thickness of a restrictor plate under the chamber plate; leaving the fifth photoresist only at restrictor part by patterning, exposing and etching the fifth photoresist layer; forming the restrictor plate by plating under the chamber plate; forming a fourth photoresist layer by coating photoresist in the thickness of a reserver plate under the restrictor plate; leaving the fourth photoresist only at reserver part by patterning, exposing to light and etching the fourth photoresist layer; forming the reserver plate by plating under the restrictor plate; forming a third photoresist layer by coating photoresist in the thickness of a channel plate under the reserver plate; leaving the third photoresist only at channel part by patterning, exposing to light and etching the third photoresist layer; forming the channel plate by plating under the reserver plate; forming a second photoresist layer by coating photoresist in the thickness of a nozzle plate under the channel plate; leaving the second photoresist only at nozzle part by patterning, exposing to light and etching the second photoresist layer; forming the nozzle plate by plating under the channel plate; forming a first photoresist layer by coating photoresist in the thickness of a crater layer under the nozzle plate; leaving the first photoresist only at crater part by patterning, exposing to light and etching the first photoresist layer; forming the crater layer by plating under the nozzle plate; removing all photoresist remaining; forming a piezoelectric/electrostrictive film by lapping, patterning and etching the substrate; and forming an upper electrode upon the piezoelectric/electrostrictive film.

Manufacturing method of ink jet printer head


A method and apparatus for detecting battery leakage. The method includes determining whether an insulation resistance value difference is smaller than a preset reference difference when a representative insulation resistance value is larger than a preset reference resistance value, wherein the insulation resistance value difference is a difference between a previous representative insulation resistance value and the representative insulation resistance value, allocating a first value to a diagnosis flag when the insulation resistance value difference is smaller than the reference difference, allocating a second value to the diagnosis flag when the insulation resistance value difference is equal to or larger than the reference difference, and activating a count indicator when the second value is allocated to the diagnosis flag. The first value indicates that the representative insulation resistance value is valid. The second value indicates that the representative insulation resistance value is invalid.

Recently, with concerns about the exhaust of fossil energy and environmental pollution, interests in electric products that can operate using electrical energy instead of fossil energy are increasing.
With the increasing technology development and demand for mobile devices, electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, energy storage systems and uninterruptible power supply systems, there is a dramatic increase in demand for secondary batteries as a source of energy and the demand comes in diverse forms. To meet the demand, many studies are being made on batteries including secondary batteries.
Meanwhile, an apparatus using a high-output high-voltage (e.g., a few hundreds of volts [V]) battery such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid electric vehicle needs to maintain an insulation state of the battery from the ground (e.g., the vehicle body itself) well. When the insulation state of the battery is not maintained, that is, when an insulation resistance value between the battery and the ground is equal to or less than a predetermined value, a high leakage current flows from the battery, causing maloperation of peripheral electronic devices and electric shock accidents.
Battery leakage detection technologies have been disclosed, and most of these technologies focus on calculating an insulation resistance value more quickly or more accurately.
In general, the insulation resistance value is periodically calculated in a predetermined cycle. However, due to various factors such as noise from the outside, the calculated insulation resistance may be temporally different from the actual insulation resistance.

Method and apparatus for detecting battery leakage