A seal assembly includes first and second annular members which reside in axial juxtaposition to be carried by one of a pair of coaxially movable components for sealingly engaging the other of the pair of components. Each of the members is severed by an end gap along a slanted line which is angularly disposed to intercept a radial line of each respective member, with the slanted lines and the radial lines parallel to a plane defined by the radial surfaces of the respective annular members.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to seals.
More particularly, the present invention relates to annular seals of the type especially adapted for use in connection with a mechanism having linearly or reciprocally movable members.
In a further and more specific aspect, the present invention concerns a seal apparatus having improved means for minimizing fluid leakage between the members and through the seal.
2. Prior Art
Various mechanical apparatus include first and second members which are substantially coaxial and disposed for relative reciprocal movement. Exemplary are internal combustion engines, positive displacement pumps, pneumatic motors and other mechanical devices incorporating a piston and cylinder assembly. Further examples will readily occur to those skilled in the art.
Commonly, the cylinder is defined by a bore having a cylindrical sidewall. The piston, a generally cylindrical member, includes a sidewall and a top. An end wall or head, opposing the top of the piston, closes one end of the bore. A chamber of variable capacity is defined within the bore between the head and the top of the piston.
Pressurized fluid functions within the chamber. In an internal combustion engine, the fluid is the expanding gases of combustion which serve to propel the piston downwardly or away from the head. Pressurized fluid from an external source is introduced into the chamber of a pneumatic motor to force movement of the piston. In a pump, which is companion to the engine and to the pneumatic motor, fluid is compressed and pressurized within the chamber.
In order to provide for relative movement between the members, it is necessary that the diameter of the piston be of lesser dimension than the diameter of the bore. Frequently, substantial clearance is required. For example, it is well known that a piston is more sensitive to thermal expansion than is a cylinder. Accordingly, where heat is a factor, such as in an internal combustion engine, additional space must be provided between the sidewall of the bore and the sidewall of the piston to accommodate thermal expansion of the piston. The space, commonly referred to as sidewall clearance, is generally in the range of fifteen ten-thousandths of an inch to five one-thousandths of an inch, or greater.
For reasons which are immediately apparent to those having an appreciation for the art, it is necessary that the piston be sealed to the cylinder. Conventionally, this is accomplished by a device commonly referred to as a piston ring, an annular seal usually fabricated of metal such as cast iron and having a generally rectangular cross-section. The ring is received within a mating annular ring groove formed into the sidewall of the piston. To facilitate expansion during installation, and for other reasons, the ring is radially severed.
The spacing between the opposed ends of the severed ring, known as the end gap, serves various functions after installation. Having an inherent tendency to expand, the ring maintains tension for attendant sealing against the sidewall of the cylinder as the bore increases in diameter as a result of wear. The end gap also allows for thermal expansion of the ring resulting from heat generated by friction, compression of fluid, combustion of fuel and other sources.
Although necessary and even beneficial, the end gap is also the source of considerable concernment. Normal end gap clearance in a newly installed ring ranges from approximately ten one-thousandths of an inch to approximately forty one-thousandths of an inch. The end gap defines a path for leakage of fluids between the sidewall of the piston and the sidewall of the bore. Throughout the life of the device, the piston ring continuously expands as compensation for normal wear. Resultingly, the end gap ever increases with corresponding increase in leakage, usually referred to as a blow-by.
Efficiency, economy and service life of the apparatus is directly related to blow-by. In general, less than optimum output of the apparatus results from loss of pressure or compression of the fluid. Other deleterious effects are unique to the particular apparatus. In an internal combustion engine, for example, contaminating by-products of combustion suspended in the blow-by gases are carried into the lubricating system which in turn harms components throughout the engine.
In recognition of the desirability of enhancing the seal between the piston and the cylinder, the prior art has proposed various seals which purportedly reduce or eliminate blow by. Several prior art proposals are direct at attempts to eliminate the end gap in the conventional piston ring. Various proposals include an insert which spans the end gap and is received in a notch formed into the ring on either side of the end gap. Other proposals include the use of a relatively thin steel member, alternately named a ribbon member or a gap seal member, having a substantially rectangular cross-section. Also advanced is a plurality of severed annular members, installed in stacked arrangement with staggered end gaps. The prior art has also advocated the use of thin steel members, colloquially dubbed rails, in combination with ring members having a general resemblance to conventional piston rings. Being of substantially heavier construction than a rail and usually fabricated of malleable material, such as cast iron, the ring member is variously referred to as a packing member or a sealing ring. The ring member in combination with the rail member comprise a seal assembly of which various embodiments are known.
In accordance with one known arrangement the rail resides within an annular groove formed into the inner circular wall of the seal member and exerts outwardly directed radial pressure to hold the seal member in contact with the sidewall of the bore. In another configuration, the rail occupies a space between the top of the seal member and the upper radial surface of the containing ring groove. Still other formations orient the radial axis of the rail at an angle.
For various reasons, annular seals of the foregoing character are not perceived as being entirely satisfactory. For example, in an assembly wherein the rail resides within the seal member and exerts an expansive force, excessive friction is generated against the sidewall of the bore. Where only the rail contacts the sidewall, seating or breaking-in of the seal is substantially retarded or even prohibited. An angled rail is subject to vibration, commonly known as ring flutter, when used in connection with a rapidly reciprocating piston. A thin steel member exposed to extreme heat, such as when utilized as the top compression ring in an internal combustion engine, will be become distorted.
Seal assemblies of the above character where devised mainly during the time period ranging from approximately the middle nineteen thirties to early nineteen fifties. During the early nineteen seventies, there was developed a seal assembly which substantially remedied the foregoing deficiencies inherent in the prior art. Distributed by POWERFORMANCE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION under the trademark TOTAL SEAL.RTM., the seal assembly has achieved commercial success, especially for use in connection with four-cycle internal combustion engines.
Briefly, the Total Seal.RTM. device, referred to as a ring set, includes a sealing ring member and a gap seal member. The sealing ring member, a severed annular member preferably fabricated of malleable metal such as cast iron, has thickness and radial dimensions to be received within a conventional piston ring groove in accordance with standard tolerances. Extending inwardly from the outer cylindrical surface along the underside of the sealing ring member is an annular notch in which is received the gap seal member. The intricacies and advantages of the ring are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,811,690 and are well known to those having regard for the art.
Notwithstanding continuing success in the trade, the Total Seal.RTM. ring set has proven to be less than optimum. As installed, the respective end gaps of the sealing ring member and of the gap seal member are diametrically opposed. The elastic expansiveness or outward radial force of a severed annular seal under tension is gradiently distributed throughout. Therefore, while the set as an assembly is free to move or work within the ring groove, theoretically, movement between the members should be prohibited as the result of the relative forces therebetween.
Extensive use in testing has shown that occasionally relative movement will occur between the members. The ultimate relative movement is capable of aligning the respective end gaps. While the other advantages of the set remain, leakage can occur.
Considerable research and development has been directed to devising a ring set which will retain the numerous benefits of the present Total Seal.RTM. ring set and yet provide additional benefits and resolve other problems of long-standing in the art. Substantial attention has been directed to an assembly in which the possibility of leakage is minimized. Additional efforts were directed to ameliorating the advantages of the ring set in such areas as reducing generated heat and increasing ring stability. Further consideration has been given to extending the utility of the assembly for use in additional applications, including internal combustion engines having sleeve or port valves and to making practical a piston having a single compression ring.
A foregoing investigation was particularly concerned with a seal assembly to be carried by a reciprocally movable member for sealing engagement with the bore within which the member is disposed. Once the problem solving efforts were set in motion, attention was directed to allied mechanical apparatus having members disposed for relative reciprocal movement. Especially considered was the converse yet correlative, subject of a seal assembly for sealing engagement with the movable member.
Exemplary, and chosen for purposes of extended research and development, is the valving apparatus of a conventional internal combustion engine. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the assembly includes a valve having a shaft or stem which is movably disposed within a bore or valve guide carried by the head. The upper end of the shaft projects beyond the bore to reside within an oil ladened environment. The lower end of the shaft similarly projects beyond the end of the bore and communicates with the combustion chamber.
The typical internal combustion engine includes an intake valve assembly and an exhaust valve assembly. In response to normal engine operation, the assemblies are subject to forces which tend to cause the flow of fluids between the stem and the bore. During the intake cycle, during which the intake valve is open and a vacuum exists within the combustion chamber, a tendency exists for oil to be drawn through the assembly. During the exhaust cycle, during which the exhaust valve is open and the combustion chamber is pressurized, the tendency exists for exhaust gases to escape between the bore and the shaft.
It is apparent from the foregoing that sealing the valve assembly is an area of urgent concern. The prior art, however, has not provided satisfactory solution. Consistent with a teaching of the prior art, fluid flow is minimized by closely fitting the shaft within the bore. However, due to normal wear the clearance between the shaft and the bore ever increases resulting in progressively worsening blowby. As a purported solution, the prior art has provided valve seal devices which are secured to the upper end of the valve guide. While wear is of a lesser concern, such seal devices prevent adequate lubrication of the assembly.
It would be highly advantageous, therefore, to remedy the foregoing and other deficiencies inherent in the prior art.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide improved means for sealing between a pair of coaxial components having relative reciprocal movement therebetween.
Another object of the invention is the provision of improved sealing means especially adapted for use in connection with internal combustion engines, positive displacement pumps, linear fluid actuated motors and other apparatus having a bore encircling a piston, shaft or other reciprocally movable component.
And another object of this invention is to provide an improved annular seal of the normally severed type as exemplified by the conventional piston ring.
Still another object of the invention is the provision of a seal assembly having ameliorated means for materially reducing the possibility of leakage between the bore and the reciprocally movable member.
Yet another object of the immediate invention is to provide a seal assembly having rapid seating or break-in characteristics.
And yet another object of the invention is the provision of a seal device which will provide excellent sealing with substantially reducing friction.
And a further object of the instant invention is to provide a seal device having an extended service life.
Still a further object of this invention is the provision of a seal device which is easily installed with prior art skills and tools.
Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a seal device which is readily produced in accordance with known manufacturing techniques.
And still a further object of the invention is the provision of a seal device according to the foregoing which is adapted for use in mechanisms having an opening in the sidewall of the bore.
And yet a further object of the invention is to provide improved means and method for lubricating an assembly while maintaining a seal between the relatively movable components.


The invention provides a hydrogen storage material comprising a porous carbon material having oxygen-containing functional groups on the surface, and Li bonded to the surface of the porous carbon material. The hydrogen storage material of the invention has more excellent hydrogen storage capacity than the prior art.

Hydrogen is widely used in many industrial fields including petroleum refining and chemical engineering, but especially in recent years it has become noted as a future energy source, and research is being conducted with particular emphasis on fuel cells. However, hydrogen gas has high volume per quantity of heat, as well as high energy requirement for liquefaction, which poses the problem that its storage and transport in that form have been difficult (see Non-patent document 1, for example). Techniques are therefore being sought for efficient transport and storage of hydrogen, when fuel cells are to be used in vehicles such as fuel cell automobiles or as distributed power sources.
One method that has been proposed is to use hydrogen in the form of liquid hydrogen for storage and transport, but since the liquefaction temperature is a cryogenic temperature of −253° C. it is difficult to handle, and massive energy is required for liquefaction, thus lowering the overall energy efficiency (see Non-patent document 2, for example).
Methods of using hydrogen as a high-pressure gas for transport are also being implemented. Such methods, however, entail problems such as requiring the handling of dangerous high-pressure gas, with a very large the volume even at the extremely high pressure of 35 MPa, making it difficult to achieve small sizes (see Non-patent document 3, for example).
One powerfully effective method is storage in hydrogen storage alloys. However, the hydrogen storage capacity of hydrogen storage alloys is usually about 3%, which is not only insufficient for use in vehicles and the like, but also results in excessively increased weight. Hydrogen storage alloys also have reduced energy efficiency because of the need for large amounts of heat during hydrogen desorption, while the system also becomes complicated (see Non-patent document 4, for example).
The use of hydrogen storage materials is also considered as a means of transporting hydrogen gas in a compact manner (see Patent document 1). Because this method allows hydrogen desorption to be accomplished at ordinary temperature and thus simplifies the system, while it generally does not require heat for hydrogen desorption and thus has high energy efficiency, the development of such materials is being actively pursued. It has also been reported that materials such as carbon nanotubes and carbon nanofibers exhibit high storage capacity (see Non-patent document 5, for example). However, their reproducibility is in question, and at the current time it cannot be said that the development of hydrogen storage materials with sufficient reproducibility and high storage capacity has been achieved.
A demand therefore exists for development of materials with high storage capacity, and hence materials with fine pore sizes of the same level as hydrogen are being studied as materials with high storage capacity. Examples of such materials include the aforementioned carbon nanotubes and carbon nanofibers, but also other primarily carbon-based materials. Materials other than carbon have also been reported, including boron nitride nanotubes (Non-patent document 6) and porous complexes (Non-patent document 7). However, despite reports of some materials exhibiting high storage capacity, the currently available data is not sufficiently reliable.


The disclosure relates to a baseband processing method, comprising: receiving a downlink (DL) baseband (BB) signal in a transmission time interval (TTI), wherein the DL BB signal comprises a time-frequency resource comprising a control section and a data section; decoding at least part of the control section to detect a DL grant information; if the DL grant information is detected, determine a number of granted data resource blocks from the DL grant information; and adjust at least one of a clock rate and supply voltage of the baseband processing based on the number of granted resource blocks.

Power saving is one of the most critical topic for cellular modem design. Low power design leads to longer battery life for a mobile device, which is extremely important for good user experience. The power consumption of a cellular modem in a mobile device 100 as exemplarily shown in FIG. 1 usually consists of two major contributors which are RF (radio frequency 101) power consumption 106 and BB (Baseband 103) power consumption 102 from the battery 105. The baseband power is further divided into dynamical power and leakage power. The dynamical power is usually much higher than the leakage power, and is proportionally with Vdd2*fclk where Vdd is the baseband power supply voltage 102 and fclk is the baseband clock frequency 104. fclk and Vdd are correlated such that a high fclk usually requires high Vdd to satisfy the timing requirements in the silicon, for example setup-time and hold-time. In most LTE master scenarios, the baseband clocks with the highest rate are the system clock (sysClk) and control clock (ctrlClk) of the demodulation chain, i.e. inner receiver (IRX) and outer receiver (ORX), their clock settings determine Vdd setting in most scenarios. There is a need to improve power efficiency in the mobile device.

Baseband processor and method for power saving by adjustment of clock rate and supply voltage


A blind lift rod control lock includes a housing having an axle hole, a rotating member revolvably mounted in the axle hole of the housing, the rotating member having a non-circular through hole, which receives a lift rod for enabling the rotating member to be synchronously rotated with the lift rod, a reverse ratchet, and a forward ratchet, and a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism has a follower member, a first hooked portion adapted to engage the reverse ratchet, and a second hooked portion adapted to engage the forward ratchet. The follower member is selectively controlled to force the first hooked portion into engagement with the reverse ratchet or the second hooked portion into engagement with the forward ratchet.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to blinds and, more particularly, to a blind lift rod control lock for use in a blind assembly to lock the lift rod.
2. Description of the Related Art
A blind with hidden lift cord is known comprised of a headrail, a bottom rail, a set of blind slats, two lift cords, a frequency modulation mechanism, and a receiving mechanism. The frequency modulation mechanism and the receiving mechanism are installed in the headrail. The blind slats connected in parallel between the headrail and the bottom rail by ladder tapes. The lift cords each have one end connected to the receiving mechanism and the other end inserted through the blind slats and fastened to the bottom rail. The frequency modulation mechanism controls the tilting angle of the blind slats to regulate the amount of light passing through the blind. The receiving mechanism comprises a reversing spring, a lift rod, and two bobbins. The reversing spring is adapted to reverse the lift rod after the lift rod being rotated. The lift rod is rotated clockwise when the user lifting the bottom rail toward the headrail, or counter-clockwise when the user pulling the bottom rail downwards. The bobbins are fixedly mounted on the lift rod for synchronous rotation to roll up or let off the lift cords, for enabling the blind slats to be received or extended out. Normally, the reversing power of the reversing spring must be properly controlled. Excessive reversing power of the reversing spring may cause the lift rod to roll up the lift cords unexpectedly after the blind has been fully extended out, or may be unable to let the bottom rail be stopped at the desired elevation. Insufficient reversing power of the reversing spring causes the reversing spring unable to rotate the lift rod to the desired angular position when the user lifting the bottom rail of the blind. During lifting of the bottom rail by the lift cords, the reversing power of the reversing spring must conquer the gravity weight of the bottom rail and the weight of the blind slats being received at the bottom rail. Insufficient reversing power of the reversing spring cannot bear the total weight of the bottom rail and the blind slats, and the bottom rail may be stopped in position lower than the expected elevation. Therefore, the set value of the reversing power of the reversing spring determines the smoothness of the receiving or extending operation of the blind. Further, the reversing spring starts to wear quickly with use, resulting in an elastic fatigue. In order to prolong the service life of the reversing spring, the ends of the reversing spring may be made relatively wider or thicker. However, this improvement cannot completely eliminate the reversing spring from elastic fatigue.


A merchandise display security device for displaying and protecting an article of merchandise is provided. For example, the security device comprises an alarm unit and a first connector electrically coupled to the alarm unit and configured to releasably engage the article of merchandise. The security device further comprises a second connector electrically coupled to the alarm unit. The second connector is configured to releasably engage an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) power supply cable such that the alarm unit is disposed between a source of electric power and the article of merchandise, and the power supply cable is configured to provide power to both the alarm unit and the article of merchandise. The alarm unit is configured to at least one of activate an alarm in the event that the first connector is removed from the article of merchandise or the second connector is removed from the power supply cable.

Retailers routinely display relatively small, expensive, handheld electronic merchandise, such as mobile (e.g. cellular) telephones, iPods, game consoles, personal data assistants (PDAs), and the like, for customers to examine before making a purchase. Retailers often desire the handheld electronic merchandise to be powered as well so that a potential purchaser can test the operation and functions of the merchandise. At the same time, the retailer does not want the article of merchandise to be stolen or removed from the display area by an unauthorized person. Accordingly, the article of merchandise being displayed is attached to a merchandise display security device that monitors and protects the article of merchandise from removal or theft. Such a merchandise display security device typically includes a sensor housing to which the article of merchandise is attached that houses a sensor for monitoring whether the article of merchandise remains attached to the sensor housing. In the event that the article of merchandise is detached from the sensor housing, an audible or visible alarm is activated to alert store personnel to the situation.
Oftentimes it is desirable for a retailer to provide power to the merchandise for facilitating use of the device on display as well as charging. For example, a power adaptor cord may be used to power the handheld electronic merchandise, or alternatively, to charge an internal battery that powers the article of merchandise in the absence of an external power source (including an internal power source of the merchandise display security device). Furthermore, the merchandise may be physically secured to the display with a tether. The tether may not only provide physical security, but may also serve to provide power to the sensor and the displayed merchandise. However, these displays oftentimes require specialized tethers and adapters that are hardwired to the sensor.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a merchandise display security system for displaying and protecting a powered article of merchandise from theft. There exists a further need for a merchandise display security device that includes a more cost efficient and less complicated means for providing power to the sensor and/or article of merchandise.

Reduced cost merchandise display security device including merchandise power supply


The present invention relates to a copper base alloy suitable for use in bearing structures. The copper base alloy consists of from about 15 wt % to about 90 wt %, preferably from about 50 wt % to about 60 wt %, silver and the balance essentially copper. The copper base alloy is advantageously applied to a surface of a component used in the bearing structure such as a surface of a bushing.

The present invention relates to a silver-containing copper alloy coating to be applied to a surface of a bearing component, such as a bushing, and to a method of applying the coating to the bearing component.
Journal bearings are used as structural support for rotating parts. Important requirements for journal bearing materials include lubricity, high thermal conductivity, and fatigue strength. Common metallic journal bearing materials include alloys of tin, lead, aluminum, and copper. Of particular interest for the journal bearings in a fan drive gear system are copper alloys which contain 21% to 30% lead. The lubricity of these copper alloys derives from the presence of lead particles which are uniformly distributed in the copper matrix. Under adverse operating conditions, frictional heating has been shown to cause incipient melting and subsequent loss of the lead in the surface layer. Seizure of the bearings occurs rapidly when lead is depleted from the surface.
Accordingly, there remains a need for alloy materials which can be applied to bearing component surfaces and which have higher incipient melting temperatures than lead-containing copper alloys.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a copper alloy which can be advantageously used in bearing structures.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a copper alloy as above which has a higher incipient melting temperature than lead-containing copper alloys.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a copper alloy as above which exhibits lubricity and high thermal conductivity.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a method for applying the copper alloy of the present invention to a bearing surface in the form of a coating layer.
The foregoing objects are attained by the copper alloy and the method of the present invention.
In accordance with the present invention, a copper alloy is provided for use in bearing structures. The copper alloy comprises a binary copper alloy consisting of from about 15 wt % to 90 wt %, preferably from about 50 wt % to 60 wt %, silver and the balance essentially copper. The copper alloy is applied to a surface of a bearing component.
A method for forming a bearing structure is also disclosed. The method broadly comprises the steps of providing a bearing component and applying a layer of a copper base alloy consisting of from about 15 wt % to about 90 wt % silver and the balance essentially copper to a surface of the bearing component. The bearing component may be a bushing used in a journal bearing.

Silver-containing copper alloys for journal bearings


This disclosure relates generally to detection and, in particular, to detecting objects within a sample or fraction thereof.

Samples often include objects that are to be imaged for analysis. These objects may include a plurality of biomarkers and/or components for which it is desirous to detect and image. As a result, practitioners, researchers, and those working with samples continue to seek systems and methods to more efficiently and accurately detect and image objects of a sample.


A method for transporting/receiving notification messages via File Delivery over Unidirectional Transport (FLUTE) includes: At the transmitting end, a server carries a notification content in a transport object and carries notification related information and a transport object identifier (TOI) of the transport object carrying the notification content in a first file description table (FDT), and then sends the first FDT and the transport object carrying the notification content in a FLUTE session; the receiving end obtains the notification related information and the TOI of the transport object carrying the notification content from the first FDT, and receives the transport object carrying the notification content according to the obtained related information and the TOI. A server for transporting notification messages via FLUTE, a FLUTE server, a content server and a terminal are also disclosed. With the present invention, the notification transport procedure is simpler and the reliability of notification transport is better.

File Delivery over Unidirectional Transport (FLUTE) is an Internet Protocol (IP) based point-to-multipoint file transfer protocol. FLUTE provides congestion control and forward error correction functions for unidirectional transfer of multiple files and therefore ensures the reliability in transferring large-sized files in one direction.
In FLUTE, one file is carried in one transport object (TO). Every transport object has a transport object identifier (TOI) and multiple transport objects are transferred in one FLUTE session. According to FLUTE, the transport object with TOI=0 is used to transfer a file description table (FDT). The FDT describes information of the transport objects transferred by the current FLUTE session, including TOI, uniform resource locator (URL) of the file carried by a transport object, and file type. FIG. 1 shows the structure of transport objects in a FLUTE session in the conventional art. As shown in FIG. 1, three files are respectively packed and carried in three transport objects, where Flag is an end mark, Flag=0 means the file does not end and Flag=1 means the file ends; the FDT describes the TOI and URL information of the three transport objects.
At present, FLUTE is widely applied to various mobile video broadcasting systems. FIG. 2 shows a traditional procedure of a FLUTE session in a digital video broadcasting-handheld (DVB-H) system. As shown in FIG. 2, the procedure includes:
Step 201: A server sends to a terminal an electronic service guide (ESG) which carries file reception information including IP address, port number and file URL.
Step 202: The terminal accesses a FLUTE session according to the IP address and the port number of the file to be received. Here, the file to be received is the file that the terminal determines to receive according to the ESG.
Steps 203 and 204: The server retransmits the FDT repeatedly; the terminal receives the FDT and determines the TOI corresponding to the file to be received according to the FDT and the URL of the file.
Step 205: The terminal receives the corresponding transport object according to the TOI.
Now, the traditional procedure of a FLUTE session in a prior DVB-H system comes to an end.
FIG. 3 shows processing procedure at the server in the FLUTE session shown in FIG. 2. For easy description, FIG. 3 only shows the processing procedure at the server that is related to the FLUTE protocol without showing other procedures such as the processing procedure at the ESG server. In the procedure shown in FIG. 3, the server includes a content server and a FLUTE server, where the FLUTE server includes a receiving module, a transport content generating module, an FDT generating module and a transmitting module. The procedure includes the following steps:
Step 301: The content server sends transport contents to the receiving module of the FLUTE server; here the transport contents include a file and a URL of the file.
Step 302: The receiving module sends the received transport contents to the transport content generating module.
Step 303: The transport content generating module sends the URL of the file to the FDT generating module and requests a TOI required for transferring the file from the FDT generating module.
Steps 304-306: The FDT generating module assigns a TOI to the file according to the URL of the file and returns the assigned TOI to the transport content generating module, and generates an FDT according to the TOI and URL of the file and sends the generated FDT to the broadcasting network via the transmitting module.
Step 307: The transport content generating module packs the file in a corresponding transport object according to the TOI and sends the transport object to the broadcasting network via the transmitting module.
Now, the processing procedure at the server in a FLUTE session is complete.
Notification is a service provided over a mobile video broadcasting system, which sends a message to a terminal to notify a forthcoming event. The terminal may carry out appropriate processing according to the received notification message. Notification messages include but are not limited to: emergency events, system related notifications (like failure of a certain system function), events related to program contents (like information of program actors and actresses, awarded questions and answers, program forecast messages, and paid weather forecast information) and software update notifications.
FIG. 4 shows structure of a notification message in the conventional art. As shown in FIG. 4, a notification message includes two parts, which are related information and content. The related information includes parameter information related to the notification message, such as ID and version of the notification message; the content part includes text content, and image or audio/video file, where the text content further includes two parts: one is the text file content to be presented to the user and the other is auxiliary information related to the notification message, such as an IP address and a port number of the FLUTE session where the image and/or audio/video file resides and information about how to present the message to the user.
The prior broadcast (BCAST) protocol provides a method for transporting notification messages, as shown in FIG. 5.
First, the server sends the related information and content of a notification message over the User Datagram Protocol (UDP), and sends the image and/or audio/video file (usually referred to an attachment) by carrying it in a corresponding transport object according to the processing procedure at the server shown in FIG. 3.
Then, the terminal receives the UDP packet at the specified UDP address and port number and parses the text content in the UDP packet to obtain the IP address, the port number and TOI of the FLUTE session of the attachment.
Then the terminal accesses the FLUTE session in the method shown in FIG. 2 to receive the corresponding transport object, or attachment, and finally assembles the attachment content and the text content to a complete notification message and presents the message to the user.
The applicant, however, finds that in the method shown in FIG. 5, the terminal must first access the UDP protocol, and then access a FLUTE session, which means the terminal must access two IP addresses so as to receive a notification message. As a result, the procedure of the prior method is complex and it is slow for the terminal to obtain a complete notification message. Furthermore, because of the unreliability of transport over LDP, the reliability in transporting notification messages cannot be ensured.

Method and apparatus for transporting/receiving notification messages via file delivery over unidirectional protocol


A system and method for controlling display characteristics is disclosed. The system and method can receive a control signal from a user interface and a video input signal. The system and method can filter the video input signal in accordance with a spatial frequency threshold related to the control signal to provide a filtered video output signal. The system and method can provide the filtered video output signal for display of an image on the translucent display and non-translucent display. The translucent display can be a head up display (HUD) and the non-translucent display can be a head down display. The user interface can be a brightness, contrast or combination brightness and contrast control.

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of image or brightness and/or contrast control in display systems. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to image control for translucent and non-translucent displays.
Displays are utilized in a wide variety of applications including but not limited to medical, military, avionic, entertainment and computing applications. In one exemplary application, translucent or transparent displays are used in conjunction with non-translucent or non-transparent displays. Translucent displays allow a user to view an environment behind the display of information. Translucent displays include but are not limited to: head up display (HUD) systems and wearable displays, such as, helmet mounted display (HMD) systems. Non-translucent displays include but are not limited to: cathode ray tubes (CRT), backlit liquid crystal display (LCD), and projection systems where the user does not view objects behind the screen of the display. As used herein, the term translucent display includes transparent displays and the term non-translucent display includes non-transparent displays.
In aircraft applications, head up display systems and helmet mounted display systems allow the flight crew to maintain eye contact with the outside environment while simultaneously viewing information from aircraft systems and sensors in a graphical and alphanumeric format overlaying the outside world view. Head up display systems are known to provide conformal information such that displayed features overlay the environmental view. The displayed features can be sourced from a head up display computer, from a camera or other imaging sensor (such as a visible light imaging sensor, infrared imaging sensor, millimeter wave radar imager, etc.), or from a synthetic vision source. In aircraft applications, head down display (HDDs) systems are non-translucent displays that provide display information from aircraft instruments (e.g., traffic collision avoidance systems (TCAS), weather radar systems, flight management computers (FMC), flight instrumentation, etc.), from a camera or other imaging sensor (such as a visible light imaging sensor, infrared imaging sensor, millimeter wave radar imager, etc.), or from a synthetic vision source. Head up display systems and head down display systems also often display additional information related to aircraft controls, sensors, instruments, etc.
Conventional avionic systems with a head up display system and a head down display system generally include an independent control knob for brightness for the head up display system, an independent control knob for contrast for the head up display system, an independent control knob for brightness for the head down display system, and an independent control knob for contrast for the head down display system. Such independent control is used to provide image appearance control for images displayed on head up display systems and head down display systems and is conventionally believed to be necessary due to the different nature of those displays. Requirements for display image appearance are generally different for the translucent display system and the non-translucent display system because less obscuration of the environment viewable through the display in the translucent display system is desirable and more detail on the display in the non-translucent display system is desirable.
Independent contrast and/or brightness control for translucent display systems and non-translucent systems can be impractical or unfeasible. For example, in avionics applications, processing imagery through independent channels for enhanced, synthetic, and combination images adds to the cost of the avionic display system. Further, independent contrast and/or brightness control for head up display systems and head down display systems also adds to the pilot's cockpit resource management (CRM) tasks. Further still, independent contrast and/or brightness control for head up display systems and head down display systems provide a less consistent set of images to the user or pilot.
Accordingly, there is a need for a system and method of providing an optimal degree of brightness and/or contrast with minimal adjustments from a user for translucent and non-translucent display systems. There is a further need for systems for and methods of controlling image quality for translucent and non-translucent display systems without requiring a two knob interface. There is still a further need for systems for and methods of controlling brightness and contrast with a less complex user interface for head up display systems and head down display systems in an avionic environment. Yet further, there is a need for unified image control for head up display systems and head down display systems. There is also a need for a unified method for control of head-up and head-down display system brightness that, with a single setting, accomplishes the task of simultaneously balancing image appearance on the head up and head down display and provides the same image to different crewmembers who might be utilizing different head up or head down display systems. Finally, a unified method for control of head-up and head-down display system brightness that with a single setting accomplishes the task of simultaneously balancing image appearance on the head up and head down display is desirable in order to provide the same image to different crewmembers who might be utilizing different head up or head down display systems.

Image control system and method for translucent and non-translucent displays


A data element to be inserted into a memory data structure, represented by a key and a value, is received. A target node into which the received data element is to be inserted is determined based on the key of the received data element. A determination is made whether or not the target node is already compressed. An append-write operation to insert the data element into the target node is performed when the target node is already compressed. An evaluation is performed prior to inserting the data element when the target node is not already compressed. An in-place write operation to insert the data element into the uncompressed target node is performed when the evaluation generates a first result. The target node is compressed and then an append-write operation to insert the data element into the compressed target node is performed when the evaluation generates a second result.

Computing environments, such as data centers, frequently employ cloud computing platforms, where "cloud" refers to a collective computing infrastructure that implements a cloud computing paradigm. Cloud-based data centers are deployed and managed by cloud service providers, who provide a computing environment for customers (tenants) to run their application programs (e.g. business applications or otherwise). The applications are typically run on one or more computing devices (i.e., host devices or hosts), and write data to and read data from one or more storage devices (e.g., hard disk drives, flash drives, etc.). The storage devices may be remote from the host devices such that they are connected via a communication network. Some or all of the storage devices may be part of the same computing devices that implement the hosts.
However, in computing environments such as those described above as well as others, efficient access to data and/or metadata is highly desirable from a performance perspective. Due to beneficial lookup performance, a self-balancing tree data structure known as B+Tree data structure is a memory structure widely used in file systems, storage, or databases to manage data and/or metadata.

Self-balancing tree data structure compression


A pen cap for a writing instrument barrel including a chamber defining inner housing adapted to snuggly receive a reduced nib carrying portion of the barrel and a spaced flow-through outer housing coextensive at the proximal end thereof with the inner housing to define a narrow passage therebetween with spaced radially extending rib members extending thereacross between the spaced inner and outer housing to strengthen the pen cap at the proximal end thereof.

present invention relates to a pen cap for a writing instrument barrel and more particularly to a ventilated pen cap for a writing instrument barrel of the marking type.
Pen caps of various structures for writing instrument barrels are generally well known in the stationery art and, in fact, it more recently is known to provide a molded plastic pen cap for a writing instrument barrel of the marking type which includes an inner housing which defines a chamber open at one end for receiving the nib of a writing instrument barrel and a spaced flow-through open ended outer housing which receives the writing instrument barrel at the proximal end of the cap and defines a narrow passage with the inner housing at the distal end of the cap between the inner and outer housing with a thin spider with radially extending spaced spokes being provided adjacent the open, nib receiving end or proximal end of the inner housing. This known plastic cap further includes a sharp edged clip integral at the proximal end of the cap with an annular ring.
The present invention recognizes that even the more recent type of molded plastic type pen cap as above described has had its limitations in strength, durability, ventilation ability and protection of the marking nib to extend the shelf-life thereof. Recognizing the disadvantages of past pen caps including those of the more recent molded plastic ventilating type the present invention provides a molded plastic pen cap which provides ventilation when in both barrel assembled and disassembled relation, which provides increased cap body strength at the proximal end of the cap and which promotes enhanced ventilating air flow-through. Further, the present invention provides a cap structure which enhances nib assembly thereto and fluid medium shelf-life through narrowed, extending passages surrounding the nib protecting inner housing, the inner housing being located at the proximal end of the cap with the closing tapered end of the inner housing being located in a position comparatively removed from surrounding ambient conditions, at the same time, providing a venturi-like enhanced ventilating air flow along the narrow surrounding passages if needed. In addition, the unique and novel cap structure of the present invention not only provides a cap arrangement with increased proximal end strength, but also an arrangement which provides an extended clip integral therewith to satisfy the requirements of consumer small parts regulations. Moreover, the present invention provides a novel clip which is contoured to both avoid the undesirable sharp edges of past plastic clips and to avoid possible plastic defects which might otherwise occur during the molding process.
Various other features of the novel cap structure of the present invention will become obvious to one skilled in the art upon reading the disclosure set forth herein.


What is provided herein is a stabilized aqueous solution of a C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkyl vinyl ether and maleic acid copolymer which includes about 10-500 ppm of an inorganic reducing agent as a stabilizing additive, said reducing agent being effective to prevent oxygen from the air and peroxides contained in polymer system from degrading the copolymer. Preferably the reducing agent is sulfur dioxide and salts derived from sulfur dioxide and alkali metals such as, sodium or potassium bisulfite, sodium or potassium metabisulfite, sodium or potassium thiosulfite, or sodium or potassium sulfite.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to copolymers of C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkyl vinyl ethers and maleic acid, and, more particularly, to stabilized aqueous solutions of such copolymers.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The copolymerization of maleic anhydride and a C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkyl vinyl ether yields a copolymer which is more properly characterized as an interpolymer wherein both ethylenically unsaturated moieties enter into the formation of the same polymer chain. It has been indicated by infra-red spectroscopy and chemical examination and analyses that alkyl vinyl ethers and maleic anhydride interpolymerize in the molar ratio of about 1:1, the polymer chain thereof containing alternating anhydride units and alkyl vinyl ether units. The resulting interpolymers are, in general, soluble in aqueous systems upon prolonged contact with water, presumably due to the hydrolysis of the anhydride groups to acid groups, and are known to be useful in personal care produces and other applications. In the aqueous environment, however, it has been found that the interpolymers undergo substantial and serious decomposition, which is manifested by a decrease in the viscosity of solutions prepared from the interpolymer materials. As it is often necessary to prepare specific interpolymers of specified viscosity grade, it is often found that, after suitable processing of the interpolymer, the expected viscosity specifications of the solutions are not met. It has further been ascertained that elevated temperatures cause a more rapid decline in the viscosity grade of the material. Since it is essential in commercial practice to obtain such interpolymers at definite specifications of viscosity, it has become necessary to effect a stabilization of the interpolymers whereby the viscosity of the material will remain substantially unchanged under conditions which normally lead to decomposition and consequent lowering of the viscosity.
In the art, various procedures have been attempted in order to obtain aqueous solutions of the interpolymers which will retain constant viscosities during extended periods of storage. These prior art methods, however, have not been entirely successful as in each instance the viscosity has been found to decrease over substantial periods of storage. These methods have generally involved the addition to the aqueous solutions of the interpolymer of various materials in an effort to effect the desired stabilization of the interpolymers. It has been suggested, for example, that certain thioamides may be employed to stabilize aqueous solutions of the interpolymer. However, these materials have been found useful only for short periods as the stabilizing characteristics become very poor over extended periods. Similarly, the use of ethylene-diaminetetraacetic acid has been suggested as a stabilizing agent. As with the thioamides, however, this material has not accomplished the purpose. Therefore, as pointed out, none of these prior materials have proven successful in providing aqueous solutions of interpolymers or copolymers of maleic acid or anhydride with alkyl vinyl ethers to enable use of the solutions for commercial specifications over periods of extended storage.
Kervenski, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,531,427, for example, described a stabilizer mixture of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and a secondary additive. However, these stabilizer mixtures were not entirely satisfactory because many of the secondary additives listed were not effective in stabilizing the viscosity of the interpolymer; had to be used in very large amounts; were very toxic even in low concentrations; and discolored the solution.
Accordingly, it is an object on this invention to provide colorless, stabilized aqueous solutions of a copolymer of a C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkyl vinyl ether and maleic acid which is suitable for industrial applications, and which is effective for stabilizing the copolymer even when used at low concentrations.
Another object of the invention is to provide a process of preparing such colorless, stabilized aqueous solutions having higher viscosities than available previously and which will retain their initial viscosity levels over extended periods of time.
These and other objects and features of the invention will be made apparent as the description thereof proceeds.

Stabilized aqueous solution of a C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkyl vinyl ether and maleic acid copolymer


A nonseparable thrust ball bearing comprising a pair of races spaced apart in the direction of axis of rotation, a plurality of balls rollable between the races, and a connecting ring rotatably interconnecting the inner peripheries of the races. The ring comprises a hollow cylinder portion, and outer flanges formed at the respective ends of the cylinder portion generally at a right angle therewith and in engagement with the respective races. The cylinder portion is fitted at one end thereof in the corresponding one of the races with a clearance formed therebetween, and the flange of the ring at said one end thereof is fitted in a cutout formed in the corresponding race, with a clearance provided in the cutout around the flange.

The present invention relates to nonseparable thrust ball bearings for use in pipe joints and the like.
Nonseparable thrust ball bearings are used in pipe joints to achieve an improved work efficiency by eliminating conjoint rotation of the two joint members and reducing the fastening torque, and to prevent defacement of the gasket to be interposed between the two joint members.
Such thrust ball bearings already known include those comprising a pair of races spaced apart in the direction of axis of rotation, a plurality of balls rollable between the two races, and a connecting ring rotatably connecting the two races together. The ring is provided at its respective ends with tapered retaining portions engaging with tapered faces of the respective races for preventing slipping off (see Unexamined Japanese Utility Model Publication SHO 63-177380).
With the conventional nonseparable thrust ball bearing described, each tapered retaining portion of the connecting ring is in engagement with the race, so that the ring is connected to the race by a portion of diminished area. This involves the following problem.
When the balls are to be held between the two races reliably, the retaining portions of the ring need to be firmly held pressed against the races, consequently impeding smooth rotation. Conversely, if it is attempted to obviate the objection and ensure smooth rotation, the races are liable to separate from the balls because the connection between the retaining portion of the connecting ring and the race is diminished.


Systems and methods for capturing digital image data associated with a property for an insurance quote are described. According to certain aspects, a mobile device may enable a user to capture digital image data and/or a video stream and other information of house features and characteristics that may be used to determine insurability and estimated replacement cost of the property. The mobile device may enable the user to capture the information at the property location, which may eliminate the need for a manual assessment or characterization of home features by a homeowner. A back-end server may receive the data, analyze the data to generate an insurance quote (and/or insurance application) for the property, and transmit the insurance quote (and/or application) to the mobile device for presentation to the user. The mobile device may enable the user to select terms, deductibles, limits, and/or coverages, and ultimately approve a homeowner's insurance policy.

Preparing insurance quotes for property insurance coverage may typically require an insurance agent or other insurance provider representative to visit the property in person. The agent may have to evaluate exterior factors, such as roof style, building construction (e.g., frame, brick, siding), and outbuildings. The agent may also need to evaluate and catalog interior components, such as appliances, furniture, and other personal possessions of the property owner. The availability of agents may significantly affect the timeliness of the insurance quote.
In other situations, the property owner may never complete an inventory of personal items for insurance coverage, which may result in uncompensated losses in the event of a loss event. Accordingly, there is an opportunity to expedite property insurance quoting and to expand the capacity of the agent in order to gain more new customers and to serve them in a more timely and efficient manner.

Electronic device data capture for property insurance quotes

STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY


A insole (1) having puncture-resistant properties for safety footwear, comprising an anterior portion (2) extending from a toe region (3) to a metatarsal region (4) of the insole and a posterior portion (5) extending from the metatarsal region to a heel region (6) longitudinally opposite the toe region. The posterior portion (5) comprises at least one substantially rigid layer (8) made of composite material formed from a fibre-reinforced polymer matrix and the anterior portion (2) is formed of a substantially flexible material comprising at least one layer (7) formed of polymer fibres having enhanced puncture-resistant properties.

In the safety footwear industry the need to protect the foot within footwear from pointed and sharp objects which might penetrate through the sole and cause undesired and dangerous wounds to the user is known.
Various technical solutions have been developed with a view to solving this problem. The first of these known solutions provides for embedding a sheet of metal of suitable constant thickness in the sole. This solution does however have some disadvantages, among them the fact that this sheet imparts a constant degree of rigidity along the entire surface of the sole, increasing its overall weight and reducing the thermal insulation properties of the sole, apart from the fact that a sole with a sheet of metal is unsuitable for use in environments subject to the action of a metal detector.
Not only this, but the rigidity imparted over the entire length of the sole by the metal sheet gives rise to substantial discomfort during normal walking, particularly when walking on steps, or, to an even greater extent, on the rungs of a ladder, where the supporting surface area is restricted. This also indirectly results in less safe support for the footwear. It must be pointed out that insoles of the type mentioned here are incorporated into safety footwear normally used by persons who are very frequently called upon to use ladders with rungs, such as firemen.
A second solution which has become available as a result of continuous development in the field of polymer materials provides for the use of fabric-based insoles with enhanced properties of resistance to penetration and cutting, which may be suitably attached to the inside of the sole, for example by adhesive bonding or through the application of a separate assembly insole. Typically these insoles, which are also of constant thickness, are manufactured by superimposing a plurality of layers of fabric based on aramid fibres, which are available on the market, for example, under the trade name Kevlar®. Again the use of these insoles nevertheless gives rise to some disadvantages, including the high supply cost of the starting materials and the constant flexibility along the entire length of the insole which does not enable the insole to perform any structural function in the sole.

Insole having puncture-resistant properties for safety footwear


In a power supply apparatus, a microprocessor automatically performs a stop/restart of power supply to a computer on the basis of a command/parameters input by the computer. A schedule operation monitor circuit monitors whether the schedule operation is normally performed. A microprocessor control unit forcibly executes the schedule operation to perform automatic restoration on the basis of a monitor result of the schedule operation monitor circuit when abnormality occurs in the schedule operation.

The present invention relates to a power supply apparatus for supplying a stabilized voltage (constant voltage/constant frequency), a power supply control apparatus, a power supply control apparatus, and a schedule operation monitor control method for a power supply system. More particularly, this invention relates to a power supply apparatus having a monitor control function for schedule operation in which stop and restart of power supply to a load is automatically performed on the basis of a preset schedule, a power supply control apparatus, and a schedule operation monitor control method for a power supply system.
Conventionally, a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) for supplying a stabilized voltage having a constant voltage/constant frequency is used for a load such as a computer or a communication device which requires very high reliability. The uninterruptible power supply mainly has a function of shaping the waveform of a commercial AC power to supply the power to the load as a stabilized voltage and a function of uninterruptible generating a stabilized voltage from a battery in power outage (power interruption) to supply the stabilized voltage to the load. In this manner, the uninterruptible power supply supplies a stabilized voltage to a load without being influenced by variations in voltage/frequency of a commercial power supply, and its importance increases with rapid development of recent computers and networks. In recent years, in addition to the basic functions described above, a schedule operation function in which a power supply to a load is automatically stopped and restarted is added to an uninterruptible power supply. On the other hand, when maintaining the uninterruptible power supply, in order to always supply a stabilized voltage to a highly reliable load, it is the most important problem how rapidly investigates the cause after a trouble occurs and how to cope with the trouble.
A voltage variation, a frequency variation, and power outage (especially, interruption) occurring in a commercial power supply give very serious damages such as system down, an erroneous operation, and data breakdown to the highly reliable loads of computers (server, various computer terminals, and the like), and the like, peripheral devices (magnetic disk devices, photomagnetic disk devices, printers and the like), and communication devices (exchangers, multiplexing devices, modems, and the like). Therefore, in a conventional art, an uninterruptible power supply is interposed between a commercial power supply and a highly reliable load to supply a stabilized voltage having a constant voltage/constant frequency from the uninterruptible power supply to the highly reliable load.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional uninterruptible power supply 1. The uninterruptible power supply 1 shown in FIG. 7 shapes the waveform of a commercial AC voltage (AC) input to the power supply input unit 2, and then supplies the voltage to a not shown computer (the highly reliable load). The uninterruptible power supply 1 has a schedule operation function of automatically stopping/restarting power supply to the computer according to a preset schedule.
In the uninterruptible power supply 1, a not shown charger (AC/DC converter) charges a battery 4 in an uninterruptible state, and the battery 4 supplies a DC voltage to a not shown DC/AC converter when power outage (interruption) occurs. In the DC/AC converter, a DC voltage from the battery 4 is converted into a stabilized voltage. An uninterruptible switch 5 is turned on to the power supply input unit 2 side in an uninterruptible state, and the uninterruptible switch 5 is uninterruptedly turned on to the battery 4 side when power outage occurs. More specifically, the uninterruptible switch 5 is uninterruptedly switched from a commercial AC voltage to a backup input obtained by the battery 4 when power outage occurs.
An output switch 6 is a switch for turning on/off a power supply from the uninterruptible power supply 1 to the computer, and is ON/OFF-controlled by a microprocessor 9. In this case, a commercial AC voltage input through the power supply input unit 2 and the uninterruptible switch 5 is converted into a stabilized voltage having a constant voltage/constant frequency in a not shown waveform shaping circuit. This stabilized voltage is then supplied to the computer through a power supply line 7, the output switch 6, the power supply output unit 3, and a not shown power supply line. On the other hand, when power outage occurs, a DC voltage from the battery 4 is converted into an AC voltage by a not shown DC/AC converter, and the AC voltage is supplied to the computer through the power supply line 7, the output switch 6, and the power supply output unit 3 as a stabilized voltage of fixed voltage and fixed frequency.
A receiver/driver 8 is connected to the computer through a not shown communication line, and has a function of receiving a command and parameters input by the computer and the function as communication driver. In this case, the command and the parameters are related to the schedule operation explained above. More specifically, an instruction text for performing a schedule operation is used as the command, and power supply stop time, power supply restart time, and a schedule operation time (power supply restart time-power supply stop time) in the schedule operation are used as the parameters. The microprocessor 9 controls the respective parts of the apparatus. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the output switch 6 in the schedule operation is ON/OFF-controlled according to the command and the parameters.
More specifically, the microprocessor 9 executes the schedule operation by a command. When it is power supply stop time designated by parameters, the microprocessor 9 outputs a shut down signal to the output switch 6 to turn off the output switch 6 form ON state. On the other hand, it is power supply restart time designated by the parameters, the microprocessor 9 stops outputting of a shut down signal to turn on the output switch 6 from OFF state. In this manner, in the schedule operation, power supply to the computer is controlled under the control of the microprocessor 9 according to a schedule preset by the command and the parameters.
In the configuration explained above, in an ordinary operation, the uninterruptible switch 5 is turned on to the power supply input unit 2 side, and the output switch 6 is turned on. A commercial AC voltage input through the power supply input unit 2 and the uninterruptible switch 5 is converted into a stabilized voltage of fixed voltage and fixed frequency by a not shown waveform shaping circuit. The stabilized voltage is supplied to the computer through the power supply line 7, the output switch 6, the power supply output unit 3, and the not shown power supply line. When the power outage occurs, the uninterruptible switch 5 is uninterruptedly switched on to the battery 4. Stabilized voltage of fixed voltage and fixed frequency is then supplied from the battery 4 to the computer. Therefore, even if power outage occurs, a subsequent stabilized voltage is continuously supplied after power outage.
When the schedule operation is to be executed, a command and parameters output from an in-operation computer in advance are received in advance by the receiver/driver 8 of the uninterruptible power supply 1 through a not shown communication line, and then received by the microprocessor 9. In this manner, the microprocessor 9 analyses the command and the parameters to set power supply time and power supply restart time in the schedule operation. In this case, the schedule operation is executed to achieve power saving, power economizing, or the like by automatically stopping feeding power at no use time zone of the computer (for instance, midnight).
When a time measurement result of a not shown timer built in the microprocessor 9 becomes power supply stop time, the microprocessor 9 outputs a shut down signal to the output switch 6. In this manner, the output switch 6 in an ON state is turned off, and outputting of a stabilized voltage from the power supply output unit 3 is stopped, so that power supply to the computer is stopped. When a schedule operation time set by the schedule has passed, the time measurement result of the timer is power supply restart time. For this reason, the microprocessor 9 stops outputting of the shut down signal. Therefore, the output switch 6 in an OFF state is turned on, and outputting of a stabilized voltage from the power supply output unit 3 is restarted, so that power supply to the computer is restarted. In this manner, in the conventional uninterruptible power supply 1, power supply is automatically stopped/restarted according to the schedule set by the computer.
As has been explained above, in the conventional uninterruptible power supply 1, the schedule operation is controlled by the microprocessor 9 according to the schedule set by the command and the parameters. However, when a command process in the microprocessor 9 is not correctly executed, or when parameters related to power supply stop time/restart time disappears by some causes, a trouble that a schedule operation cannot be correctly executed occurs. Therefore, in this case, an operation of the computer (the highly reliable load) is enormously affected.
Further, after such a trouble occurs, it is necessary to investigate the cause of the trouble occurrence, and do an appropriate action. In this action against the trouble, information such as the presence/absence of reception of a command/parameters or schedule stop time is a valid trace of investigating the cause. However, in the conventional uninterruptible power supply 1, since the command and the parameters are processed by the microprocessor 9 at once, the command and the parameters may be disappears by a malfunction of the microprocessor 9. Therefore, if a trouble (non-execution of the schedule operation) occurs due to the disappearance of the command and the parameters, it is not able to know the command and the parameters which are traces of investigating the cause.
In addition, in the conventional uninterruptible power supply 1 described above, when an abnormality that outputting of a shut down signal is stopped by any malfunction before power supply restart time in a schedule operation, the abnormality occurrence time or a command at this time does not remain as history. In this manner, in the conventional uninterruptible power supply 1, when important information (abnormality occurrence time, a command, parameters, and the like) for an action against trouble after an abnormality related to the schedule operation occurs cannot be obtained, an effective investigation of the cause cannot be advanced by using the information as a trace. Therefore, a long time is inevitably required for the action against trouble.
The present invention has been made in light of the problems described above. It is an object to provide a power supply apparatus capable of canceling a malfunction in a schedule operation and capable of rapidly making an action against trouble related to the schedule operation, a power supply control apparatus, and a schedule operation monitor control method for a power supply system.
According to one aspect of the present invention, in a power supply apparatus, a schedule operation monitor unit monitors whether an abnormality has occurred in a scheduled operation, and when it is detected that the abnormality has occurred an automatic restoration unit executes the schedule operation in place of a schedule operation control unit. Therefore, if an abnormality occurs, a malfunction in the schedule operation can be canceled without adversely affecting a load.
Further, even if an abnormality occurs, the load is not adversely affected by an operation of the automatic restoration unit, and an abnormal log in occurrence of the abnormality is recorded on a recording unit. Thus, in an action against trouble after the abnormality occurs, the abnormal log is extracted from the recording unit, and the cause for the abnormality can be investigated on the basis of the abnormal log. Therefore, the action against trouble can be rapidly made.
According to another aspect of the present invention, in a power supply control apparatus, a schedule operation monitor unit monitors whether an abnormality has occurred in a scheduled operation, and when it is determined that the abnormality has occurred an automatic restoration unit executes the schedule operation in place of a schedule operation control unit. Therefore, if an abnormality occurs, a malfunction in the schedule operation can be canceled without adversely affecting a load.
Further, even if an abnormality is generated, the load is not adversely affected by an operation of the automatic restoration unit, and an abnormal log in occurrence of an abnormality is recorded on a recording unit. Thus, the abnormal log is extracted from the recording unit in an action against trouble after the abnormality occurs, and the cause for the abnormality can be investigated on the basis of the abnormal log. Therefore, the action against trouble can be rapidly made.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, in a power supply apparatus, a schedule operation monitor unit monitors whether an abnormality has occurred in a scheduled operation, and when it is determined that the abnormality has occurred then an abnormal log is recorded on a recording unit. Thus, the abnormal log is extracted from the recording unit in an action against trouble after the abnormality occurs, and the cause for the abnormality can be investigated on the basis of the abnormal log. Therefore, the action against trouble can be rapidly made.
Further, with reference to the data related to the schedule held by a holding unit, in an action against trouble after an abnormality occurs, classification depending on whether the abnormality is caused by the schedule operation can be easily performed. Therefore, the action against trouble can be rapidly made.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, in a power supply control apparatus, a schedule operation monitor unit monitors whether an abnormality has occurred in a scheduled operation, and when it is determined that the abnormality has occurred then an abnormal log is recorded on a recording unit. Thus, the abnormal log is extracted from the recording unit in an action against trouble after the abnormality occurs, and the cause for the abnormality can be investigated on the basis of the abnormal log. Therefore, the action against trouble can be rapidly made.
Further, with reference to the data related to the schedule held by a holding unit, in an action against trouble after an abnormality occurs, classification depending on whether the abnormality is caused by the schedule operation can be easily performed. Therefore, the action against trouble can be rapidly made.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, in a schedule operation monitor control method, a schedule operation monitor step is provided in which it is monitored whether an abnormality has occurred in a scheduled operation, and when it is determined that the abnormality has occurred then an automatic restoration step of executing the schedule operation is provided in place of executing a schedule operation control step. Therefore, if the abnormality occurs, a malfunction in the schedule operation can be canceled without adversely affecting the load.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, in a schedule operation monitor control method, in a schedule operation monitor control method, a schedule operation monitor step is provided in which it is monitored whether an abnormality has occurred in a scheduled operation, and when it is determined that the abnormality has occurred then an abnormal log is recorded. Thus, in an action against trouble after the abnormality occurs, the cause for the abnormality can be investigated on the basis of the abnormal log. Therefore, the action against trouble can be rapidly made.
Other objects and features of this invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Power supply control based on preset schedule with independent schedule monitor and backup system for executing schedule operation when malfunction occurs


The invention discloses a knotter driven by double fluted disc. The knotter driven by double fluted disc comprises a small fluted disc, a knotter rack, a large fluted disc, a cutter arm assembled on the knotter rack, a knotter jaw and bill hook combined mechanism (R), a rope gripper driving mechanism (Q) and a rope gripper (J), wherein a composite fluted disc of traditional D-knotter is divided into the small fluted disc and the large fluted disc in the knotter driven by double fluted disc.

The rectangular bale baler is widely used in the collection and bundling of straw and herbage in rural areas and meadow. Knotter is the core component of the rectangular bale baler. The main function of the knotter is to finish several motions including rope-gripping, knot-winding, rope-hooking, rope-cutting and knot-tripping, and form a fast knot at the end of two ropes to prevent the straw bale from loosening. The bundled straw bale with high density is convenient to transport and store, and is beneficial to comprehensive utilization of biomass energy like straw.
At present, D-knotter and C-knotter are widely used in the rectangular bale baler. In the world, some manufacturers of rectangular bale baler have mature design and manufacture technology of knotter and invention patent of knotter, such as CLAAS company and Rasspe Systemtechnik company in Germany, and John Deer company in the United States. The buyout of patent right of European patent named for EP1532859(A1) is implemented by John Deer company, which involves a single knot type of D-knotter invented by Rotole David Vincent. European patent number EP1745691(A1) invented by Schumacher Friedrich-Wilhelm improved C-knotter. In China, the manufacturers of the rectangular bale baler heavily rely on imparting above-mentioned knotter to produce the rectangular bale baler, which leads to hold at high price of the knotter and almost monopolizes the market of the rectangular bale baler. In addition, these knotters belong to integrated device, which have the features of complex spatial structure, large manufacture difficulty, and high requirements of assembly accuracy. Moreover, it is a shortcoming that it needs to replace the entire knotter if a part is broken.
Chinese patent number 201110001685.8 K named for anthropopathic double-fingered knotter was invented on the basis of the improvement of D-knotter, which may be installed on the main shaft of the after body of the rectangular bale baler. The anthropopathic double-fingered knotter can simulate double fingers of hand to grip the rope carried by the rope-conveying mechanism, and finish several motions including rope-overlapping, knot-winding, rope-hooking, rope-cutting and knot-tripping. Finally, the anthropopathic double-fingered knotter realizes automatic bundling and knotting of the compacted straw bale. The anthropopathic double-fingered knotter improves the shortcoming of difficult manufacture of the knotter rack, and has simple spatial structure and low cost of manufacture, compared with the other D-knotter.
However, in existing techniques, the knotting driven bevel gear and the rope-gripping driving incomplete bevel gear are devised in the same side of the compound fluted disc of D-knotter, which makes D-knotter have uneven loading, complex space structure, large manufacture difficulty, and high requirements of assembly accuracy; Moreover, the rope can't be directly feed into the rope-gripping groove by the rope-conveying mechanism and the rope head is close to the knifepoint of the rope-cutting knife, so that it is bad for the rope-cutting knife on the cutter arm to cut off the rope; In addition, the point contact between spherical cutter area roller and the grooved cam on the large fluted disc leads to high stress impact in use, which causes heavy abrasion of the grooved cam in long-term use and decreases the service life of the knotter.
Therefore, the knotter driven by double fluted disc was proposed by this patent, and is a kind of automatic knotting device which uses the rope to bundle crop straw or herbage with the shape of rectangular bale. The knotter driven by double fluted disc has the advantages of reasonable structure, easy processing, low cost of manufacturing and reliable knotting, and may solve the problem of subjecting to the imported knotter in the manufacture of the rectangular bale baler in China.

Knotting device driven by two toothed discs


The present invention comprises a gutter channel for bowling alleys. In particular, the present invention comprises a bowling alley gutter having a symmetric cross-section. The symmetric cross-section leads to both left and right gutters being identical, eliminating the possibility of misinstalled gutters. The bowling alley gutter of the present invention comprises a structure having a shape similar to a segment of a cylinder subtending an arc of approximately 117 degrees with a circular radius of approximately 5.625 inches. At the terminating ends of such circular arc, acute angular bends, approximately 29 degrees and 0.375 inches in length, directed away from the center of said cylinder, have been placed. Metal having a vinyl coating securely laminated thereto is a convenient material for the gutter of the present invention. The present invention also relates to a design for mounting clips for such a bowling alley gutter allowing particularly efficient installation and replacement.

This invention relates generally to the field of recreation and sports equipment; and more particularly, the present invention relates to designs for bowling alley gutters.
The American Bowling Congress reports that, as of 1988, there were 7,923 bowling establishments in the United States comprising some 150,000 bowling lanes. The number of bowling establishments and bowling lanes worldwide is certainly several times these values. Thus, bowling is a popular recreational activity, in the US and around the world.
The typical bowling alley will be used by bowlers having all levels of skill from highly expert to novices. Indeed, one of the attractions of bowling as a recreational activity is the ability of all levels of skilled participants (including young children) to take part in the activity simultaneously.
However, players of all skill levels will occasionally launch a bowling ball at the pins in such an imprecise fashion that the ball will leave the alley before impacting the pins. This is much more common, certainly, among novice bowlers frequently found in family bowling establishments. Such "gutter balls" plunge into a special channel adjacent to the alley, the gutter, and are carried to the region below and behind the pins for return to the bowler for another attempt. Such gutters are placed on either side of the bowling alley to receive errant balls and should not be confused with a separate channel (typically under the lane) which is used to return the ball to the bowler. The gutter must withstand the impact of a heavy bowling ball, often up to 16 lbs in weight, falling from the alley or rolling into the gutter with some velocity of its own. In any case, the impact of the bowling ball on the gutter will gradually cause distortion and impact damage. The ball return channel is not subject to such impacts and, consequently, has a longer service lifetime.
The gutter must be sufficiently hard and rigid to withstand impact by the bowling ball, but must also be sufficiently soft and yielding so as not to cause damage to the bowling ball itself. To balance these opposing needs, older bowling alleys often used wooden structures for gutters. However, as a relatively soft material, wood did not withstand the impact of gutter balls for long before dents, chips and other damage occurred, requiring refinishing or replacement. To avoid the need for frequent repair or replacement to wooden gutters, other materials were sought. At present, a common choice for gutters is to make them of metal. While metal gutters provide improved service life, a plastic lamination is typically used (commonly a vinyl) to provide a softer surface for the bowling ball to impact. Such vinyl coated metal gutters are very common in modern bowling alleys.
Under normal usage, even vinyl coated metal gutters require replacement. Typically, the lifetime of such a bowling alley gutter would be about 10 years of normal use in a commercial bowling establishments. Thus, each year in the US, about 15,000 bowling lanes (2 gutters each) are candidates for replacement, and several times this number are replaced around the world. The design of a bowling alley gutter which simplifies the problem of replacement is an important object of the present invention.
Effective bowling alley gutters must meet several requirements. Many bowlers (more common among expert bowlers) throw the bowling ball toward the pins with a pronounced curve in the trajectory. Such a "hook" is preferred by expert bowlers since the bowling ball impacts the pins at an angle not precisely parallel to the long axis of the bowling lane, and the ball proceeds through the region of the pins continuing to follow its curved trajectory. It is thought that such an impact angle and trajectory causes the pins to fly about in such a way (pin "action") as to increase the probability that pins will topple each other. However, such curved trajectories often come very near the edge of the bowling lane before curving inward towards the pins. Indeed, it is not uncommon for such hooked rolls of the bowling ball to overhang the edge of the lane before curving inward and striking the pins in a completely acceptable manner. Thus, the first requirement for a bowling alley gutter is that it be recessed below the horizontal level of the lane so as not to interfere with bowlers throwing such "hooks" in an otherwise acceptable bowling technique. (The situation might be different if the only balls overhanging the gutter are those headed for the gutter and scoring oblivion anyway. However, this is not the case.)
Thus, the gutter is commonly recessed below the level of the lane on the side of the gutter closest to the lane. On the opposite side of the gutter, away from the lane ("cap side"), no such requirement exists. It is prudent to make the gutter much higher on the cap side so as to effectively catch badly misthrown balls, preventing them from overshooting the gutter and interfering with the play of adjacent lanes. Prior to the present invention, bowling alley gutters typically were designed with an asymmetrical cross-sectional shape, the lane side having a different geometry from that of the cap side.
Vinyl coated metal gutters are typically fabricated in lengths convenient for shipping; significantly less than the length of the entire bowling alley. Thus, the installers must fit several pieces together in order to fully construct a bowling alley gutter for the entire length of the lane. However, when the bowling ball rolls over a joint (on its way to the pin region for return), no protrusions can be present. Such protrusions of coated metal are easily capable of damaging the bowling ball, much to the distress of the bowlers who frequently use their own custom-made bowling balls. Thus, the present practice typically has the joint regions overlapped, such that as the bowling ball rolls down the gutter toward the pin region, it goes from a higher level to a lower level at each gutter joint.
Thus, the lane side of the gutter is typically different from the cap side of the gutter. At the joint sections, the side nearer the bowler overlaps the side nearer the pins so the bowling ball always rolls downhill. These two requirements have led present bowling alley gutters to be fabricated in a "left" and a "right" version. That is, gutters come in sets like gloves in which the gutter for the left side of the alley has a different, mirror image, construction from the gutter for the right side of the alley. If installers were perfect, reading, understanding and carefully following all instructions, such left-right differences would not be a problem. Unfortunately, in the real world installers frequently do not carefully follow instructions; may not understand instructions in english, or indeed, may not be literate at all. A complication for left and right gutters (not shared with gloves in a pair) consists in the fact that it is far from obvious in a casual inspection which is left and which is right. It has become a significant expense for manufacturers to send technicians around the globe to repair and correct misinstalled bowling alley gutters. Therefore, it is a major object of the present invention to have a bowling alley gutter fully symmetrical in cross-section, with no difference from left and right gutters. This simplifies the installation of such gutters, reduces the opportunities for misinstallation, and consequently reduces the expense of repair and reinstallation.
The combination of the fully symmetrical gutter of the present invention along with specially designed mounting clips, allows a particularly rapid and efficient installation of the present gutter, as fully described below.


A fuel feed system and method for feeding low grade fuels to a fluidized bed furnace including an enclosure with a fuel inlet for introducing the fuel into the enclosure, an inlet for introducing air into the enclosure so as to propel the fuel through the enclosure, and baffles disposed in the path of the fuel in a manner to reduce the size of the fuel particles prior to the introduction of the fuel into the furnace.

This invention relates to a system and method for feeding fuel to a fluidized bed furnace and more particularly to such a system and method utilizing a pneumatic transport for low grade fuels having high water content and substantial adhesive properties.
The use of pneumatic transports for fluidized beds is generally known. For example, Whelan, U.S. Pat. No. 3,484,948, discloses a pneumatic transport for particulate material including an apparatus for exchanging heat between a gas and the particulate matter. However, the use of pneumatic transports in a fuel feed system for low grade industrial and municipal waste fuels in the form of paste or slurry present several distinct problems. For example, waste fuels often have significant adhesive properties that are associated with their relatively high water content. Also, waste fuels have a low heating value, as well as a high concentration of salts. Further, the quality and characteristics of waste fuels can vary considerably over time. Consequently, feeding of these fuels to a furnace for incineration is difficult, and improper feed systems can result in unstable furnace combustion, high pollutant emission, furnace slagging, and the formation of agglomerations within both the feed system and furnace.

System and method for feeding paste material or slurry into a furnace


A compressed gas engine includes a plurality of reciprocating pistons within cylinders, the pistons being driven by compressed gas from a source tank. Intake and exhaust valves selectively open to direct compressed gas to the piston to drive the piston, and to exhaust air, respectively. The valves are opened by a lift rod in engagement with cams on a crankshaft, and are closed by the compressed air.

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(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to power plans for small vehicles, and more particularly to an improved vehicle which is powered by compressed gas rather than internal combustion.
(2) Background Information
Internal combustion engines have been operated on conventional liquid fuels such as gasoline or diesel fuel, for many years. However, such engines create pollution because of the combustion of these fuels.
While alternative fuels, such as natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, and the like have been utilized as an alternative fuel source to reduce polluted content, the process of combustion of these fuels still results in exhaust gases containing pollutants and noxious fumes.
It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide an improved engine for small vehicles which will markedly advance the engine design of small cars, resulting in non-polluting emissions while allowing minimal breakdown of oil and parts over time.
Another object is to provide a compressed gas engine which operates on a totally renewal, inexpensive energy source.
Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a compressed gas engine which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use, and efficient in operation.
These and other objects of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
The compressed gas engine of the present invention includes a plurality of reciprocating pistons within cylinders, the pistons being driven by compressed gas from a source tank. Intake and exhaust valves selectively open to direct compressed gas to the piston to drive the piston, and to exhaust air, respectively. The valves are opened by a lift rod in engagement with cams on a crankshaft, and are closed by the compressed air.

Compressed gas engine with pistons and cylinders