A flowable nondigestible oil composition having a Consistency in a temperature range of 20xc2x0 C. to 40xc2x0 C. of less than about 600 P.sec(nxe2x88x921), preferably less than about 400 P.sec(nxe2x88x921). The flowable nondigestible oil contains a liquid polyol polyester having a complete melt point less than 37xc2x0 C., and a solid polyol polyester having a complete melt point of at least about 37xc2x0 C. The solid polyol polyester can be a solid saturated polyol polyester, a solid diversely esterified polyol polyester, a polyol polyester polymer, or a combination thereof, which are crystallized, or co-crystallized, into unaggregated crystal particles of typically less than 10 microns in maximum dimension. The flowable nondigestible oil is made by a process which includes the steps of melting completely the nondigestible oil, crystallizing the solid polyol polyester while applying shear to avoid formation of clusters of crystallized aggregates which can prevent the composition from being flowable. A preferred equipment for crystallizing the solid polyol polyester to form the flowable composition is a scraped wall heat exchanger.

This invention relates to a nondigestible oil containing a solid nondigestible oil component, which can flow at ordinary and ambient storage temperatures, and to a process for making the flowable nondigestible oil.
Numerous patents have been directed to providing materials which have the physical and gustatory characteristics of triglyceride fats, but which are absorbed to a low extent or not at all by the body. These materials are referred to variously as noncaloric fats, pseudofats, nondigestible fats and fat substitutes. Patents pertaining to such materials include U.S. Pat. No. 4,582,927. Fulcher, issued Apr. 15, 1986, (fatty esters of malonic acid); U.S. Pat. No. 4.582,715. Volpenhein, issued Apr. 15, 1986, (alpha acetylated triglycerides); and U.S. Pat. No. 3,579,548, Whyte, issued May 18, 1981. (triglycerides of alpha-branched chain carboxylic acids).
One particular type of compound which has achieved considerable attention as a nondigestible fat is sucrose polyester (i.e., sucrose in which at least four of the eight hydroxyl groups are esterified with a fatty acid). U.S. Pat. No. 3,600,186, Mattson, issued Aug. 17, 1971; U.S. Pat. No. 4,368,213, Hollenbach et al. issued Jan. 11, 1983; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,461,782, Robbins et al. issued Jul. 24, 1984 describe the use of this material as a nondigestible fat in a variety of food compositions.
A problem associated with use of liquid nondigestible oils, i.e., those having a melting point below body temperature (about 37xc2x0 C.), is an undesired passive oil loss effect, which is manifested in leakage of the liquid nondigested fat through the gastrointestinal tract""s anal sphincter. Regular ingestion of moderate to high levels of completely liquid forms of these polyol polyesters can produce this passive oil loss. U.S. Pat. No. 4,005,195, Jandacek, issued Jan. 25, 1977, discloses the combining of higher melting fatty materials such as solid triglycerides and solid sucrose polyesters with the liquid sucrose polyesters in order to control oil loss.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,797,300 (Jandacek et al.), issued Jan. 10, 1989 discloses the use of certain solid sucrose polyesters which have high oil binding capacity for liquid sucrose polyesters (SPE) and liquid triglycerides, when used at levels of about 10% to 25% in said oils. It is disclosed that because of their high oil binding capacity, these solid sucrose polyesters have outstanding utility as agents to prevent passive oil loss of liquid nondigestible sucrose polyesters, and they are also useful as non-caloric hardstocks to use with liquid digestible or nondigestible oils in the preparation of semi-solid fat products such as shortenings and margarines. The oil binding agents of the Jandacek et al. ""300 patent are solid sucrose polyesters wherein the ester groups consist essentially of a mixture of short chain saturated fatty acid ester radicals (C2-C10) and long chain saturated fatty acid radicals (C20-C24) in a molar ratio of short chain to long chain of from about 3:5 to about 5:3, and wherein the degree of esterification is from about 7 to about 8. Jandacek et al. also disclose plastic shortening and other food compositions containing 10-25% of the solid SPE.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,005,195 (Jandacek), issued Jan. 25, 1977 describes a means of preventing the undesirable oil loss effect through the addition of the polyesters as oil-loss control agents. The oil-loss control agents include solid fatty acids (melting point 37xc2x0 C. or higher) and their triglyceride sources, and solid polyol fatty acid polyesters. Specifically C10-C22 saturated fatty acid polyesters are said to be useful at levels of at least 10%, preferably at least 20%.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,306,514 (Letton et al.), issued Apr. 26, 1994, discloses edible oil compositions containing a) a liquid nondigestible oil having a complete melting point below about 37xc2x0 C. and b) a solid polyol fatty acid polyester having a complete melting point above about 37xc2x0 C., wherein the weight ratio of b) to a) is from about 1:99 to about 9:91. The solid polyol fatty acid polyester consists of (i) a polyol having at least about 4 hydroxyl groups, wherein at least about 4 of the hydroxyl groups of the polyol are esterified, and (ii) ester groups comprised of (a) fatty acid radicals selected from the group consisting of C12 or higher unsaturated fatty acid radicals, C2-C12 saturated fatty acid radicals, or mixtures thereof, and (b) C20 or higher saturated fatty acid radicals, at a molar ratio of (a):(b) being from about 1:15 to about 1:1. In the solid polyol polyester at least 15% by weight of the fatty acid radicals C20 or higher saturated fatty acid radicals. Further, the slope of the SFC profile of the mixture of a) and b) between 37xc2x0 C. and 21.1xc2x0 C. is between 0 and about xe2x88x920.75.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,306,515 (Letton et al.), issued Apr. 26, 1994, discloses pourable compositions containing a solid polyol fatty acid polyester, having a complete melting point above about 37xc2x0 C., a liquid nondigestible oil having a complete melting point below about 37xc2x0 C., less than about 90% by weight of a digestible oil having less than 5% solids at 21xc2x0 C.; and less than 10% hardstock; wherein the ratio of (A) to (B) is from about 1:99 to about 9:91 and wherein the pourable composition has a yield point of not more than about 100 dynes/cm2. The solid polyol fatty acid polyester consists of (i) a polyol having at least about 4 hydroxyl groups, wherein at least about 4 of the hydroxyl groups of the polyol are esterified, and (ii) ester groups comprised of (a) fatty acid radicals selected from the group consisting of C12 or higher unsaturated fatty acid radicals, C2-C12 saturated fatty acid radicals or mixtures thereof, and (b) C20 or higher saturated fatty acid radicals at a molar ratio of (a):(b) being from about 1:15 to about 2:1. In the solid polyol polyester at least 15% by weight of the fatty acid radicals are C20 or higher saturated fatty acid radicals. Further, the slope of the SFC profile of the mixture of (A) and (B) between 37xc2x0 C. and 21.1xc2x0 C. is between 0 and about xe2x88x920.75, and the combined level of (A) and (B) in said composition is at least 10% by weight. Examples include compositions containing 65 wt. % liquid digestible triglyceride oil.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a flowable nondigestible oil composition containing a solid at ambient temperature which is flowable at ordinary and ambient temperatures, and which can subsequently be used as an edible nondigestible oil providing good passive oil loss control and good organoleptic properties to foods prepared with them.
A flowable nondigestible oil composition of the present invention comprises a) a liquid polyol fatty acid polyester having a complete melt point less than 37xc2x0 C., and b) a solid polyol fatty acid polyester having a complete melt point of at least about 37xc2x0 C. The flowable nondigestible oil has a Consistency (K) within the temperature range of 20-40xc2x0 C. of less than about 600 P.sec(nxe2x88x921), where K is determined from a power law model fit of the apparent viscosity versus shear rate data (see Analytical Method Section), and n is the shear index (dimensionless). Preferably, the flowable nondigestible oil has a Consistency of less than about 400 P.sec(nxe2x88x921) at a temperature range of 20-40xc2x0 C. The flowable nondigestible oil composition contains the solid polyol fatty acid polyester in the form of small crystal particles, typically having a largest dimension of less than about 30 microns, preferably less than about 10 microns, more preferably between 1 and 30 microns, even more preferably between 1 and 10 microns,and most preferably of about 2 to about 5 microns.
The present invention also provides a process for making a flowable nondigestible oil, wherein the nondigestible oil comprises a) a liquid polyol fatty acid polyester having a complete melt point less than 37xc2x0 C., and b) a solid polyol fatty acid polyester having a complete melt point of at least about 37xc2x0 C. The process comprises the steps of melting completely the nondigestible oil composition containing the solid polyol fatty acid polyester, rapidly cooling the melted nondigestible oil to a crystallization temperature, thereby rapidly crystallizing at least a substantial portion of the solid polyol fatty acid polyester, and shearing the nondigestible oil composition during the step of crystallizing to form the flowable nondigestible oil composition. Optionally, following the crystallizing and shearing steps, the process can include the step of tempering the crystallized nondigestible oil composition for a time sufficient to substantially completely crystallize all of the solid polyol fatty acid polyester, the step of adding a stabilizing amount of a diluent liquid, typically a liquid polyol fatty acid polyester, to the crystallized nondigestible oil composition, or both steps.
These compositions are capable of being stored in a flowable state at ambient and ordinary storage temperatures. Storage at ambient and ordinary temperature avoids exposure of the composition to high temperatures (generally greater than 50xc2x0 C.) usually associated with storage and handling of the nondigestible oil composition in a molten form. Making and storing the nondigestible oil in a flowable form allows the nondigestible oil to be easily handled at ambient handling and storage temperatures, which minimizes the effect of heat and high temperature on the chemical stability of the polyol fatty acid polyester. This results in greater oxidative and flavor stability during extended storage of the nondigestible oil and of food products containing the nondigestible oil. This is particularly advantageous when the liquid polyol fatty acid polyester component of the nondigestible oil is made from an un hardened (non-hydrogenated) source oil, such as unhardened cottonseed oil. In addition, the flowable nondigestible oil of the present invention can be utilized as a carrier for the application or incorporation of ingredients to foods products, such as flavorings, seasonings, and vitamins.

Flowable nondigestible oil and process for making


An orthopedic brace for the reduction of long-bone fractures, which includes telescopic components (7, 8) which are made of an X-ray transparent material and form two transverse plates (9 and 10) at their opposite ends. A locking device (11) is composed of a slide (12) working in conjunction with two chucks (13 and 14) fitted to the periphery of the plates and position-adjusting devices for each flange are made up of three threaded rods (40) angularly equidistant, individually adjustable as to length and mounted in the corresponding plate by means of three ball-and-socket joints.

This invention is related to orthopedic equipment and concerns, more particularly, equipment intended to permit the reduction and knitting of bone fractures by holding and realignment, especially those of the lower and upper limbs.
The invention essentially concerns external orthopedic holding appliances as compared to internal holding appliances made up, for example, of screwed plates, pins, etc.
If orthopedic reducing devices fastening internally do certainly make it possible to achieve the result of reduction and knitting of a fracture, it is clear that the use of them involves an invasive method, seeing that the practitioner is forced to open up the traumatized limb to reach and free the fractured bone in order to be able to fit a plate, strip or pin attached by screws implanted in bony material to the segments of that bone. So it is a matter of a surgical operation which may be awkward, with the consequences which may attend such practices even if these are generally well mastered.
The object of external orthopedic holding devices is to eliminate such a surgical operation by implanting directly a kind of external lateral harness, by means of pins passing through the flesh and fixed in the bone segments, insuring the immobilization of the fractured bone segments in the position required.
Prior art is familiar with various proposals to this effect. By way of indication one may mention the ILIZAROF external fastening device, the main drawback of which is the need to use a large number of through pins which are implanted in different directions in the bone, passing through the flesh. The use of such a fastening device is extremely delicate, since, in order to implant the various pins, it is absolutely necessary to insure that they pass between the muscles without traumatizing the nerves, tendons or arterial and venous systems.
Also known in prior art is an external fastening system known as that of HOFFMANN, using, between the through pins for fastening, connecting and supporting devices which are relatively clumsy and difficult to adjust.
There was a development in simplicity of design with the OSTEO external holding appliance, composed of two telescopic parts adjustable relative to each other, the ends of which are equipped with devices for locking and orienting through pins. If such a device unquestionably represents a simplification of previous appliances, consideration must be given to the fact that the proposal formulated leads to a clumsy appliance with little possibility of simple, quick and easy adjustment of the direction of the fin-locking devices to correspond to the preferred direction of implantation of those pins.
It is also appropriate to mention another suggestion known by the name of dynamic axial attachment system proposed by the ORTHOFIX Company. Such an appliance is composed of an elongated support of adjustable length, the ends of which are equipped with position-adjusting devices for two end flanges connected to through pins. The position-adjusting devices at each end are composed of a locking pin which proves in practice to allow a certain amount of slippage, irremediably and detrimentally modifying the relative alignment between the fractured segments of a bone to be reduced and knit together.
The purpose of the invention is to respond to the problem posed by the external attachment (of fractured bone segments by proposing a new brace of light, but sturdy design which can be adjusted in a rapid, sure and durable manner, as regards both length and position adjustment, so as to offer every possibility of adaptation to preferred directions or through pins which have to be immobilized relatively to insure the proper and correct alignment of fractured segments, then, maintenance in a reduced state and their knitting together over time.
Another purpose of the invention is, by simple adaptation, to permit a relative, limited, elastic cushioning function, when, for example, there is a need to have the brace perform a possible function of alternate compression of the line of fracture so as to reinforce over time the knitting together being established.
Another purpose of the invention is also to make it possible to have the external brace assume, if need be, a function of elongation when such a method has to be applied, which is itself familiar in any case.
Another purpose of the invention is to propose a new brace with relatively little bulk so as to allow external fitting close to the traumatized limb.
A further purpose of the invention is to offer a brace allowing X-ray photographs to be taken without dismantling, without its components being obstacles concealing the bony parts to be X-rayed.
In order to attain the above objectives, the external brace according to the invention is characterized by the fact that
the telescopic parts are of an X-ray transparent material and form two transverse plates at their opposite ends; PA1 the locking mechanism consists of a slide working in conjunction with two collet chucks fitting the periphery of the plates; PA1 in the case of each flange, the position-adjusting devices are made up of three threaded rods at equidistant angles, individually adjustable in length and mounted in the corresponding plate with three ball-and-socket joints to extend, in the neutral position, parallel to tie axis of the telescopic elements.

External holding and reducing brace for bone fractures

Compagnie General de Materiel Orthopedique


This invention relates to a process in which a linear olefin is converted under isomerizing conditions to its corresponding methyl branched isoolefin by contact at a temperature of from 200.degree. C. to 650.degree. C. with an isomerizing catalyst comprising (i) at least one zeolite having only in one dimension a pore structure having a pore size small enough to retard by-product dimerization and coke formation and large enough to permit entry of the linear olefin and allow formation of the methyl branched isoolefin, (ii) an alumina binder and (iii) up to about 15% by weight of coke oxidation-promoting metal. After a period of operation, when sufficient coke has deposited on the catalyst in an amount to significantly reduce the activity of the catalyst, the catalyst is stripped of hydrocarbon and then contacted at elevated temperature with an oxygen-containing gas for a sufficient time to burn off the coke, i.e., to regenerate the catalyst at a temperature of less than about 565.degree. C. After regeneration, the isomerization process is continued. The use of palladium and/or platinum as the coke oxidation-promoting metal is particularly desirable.

Increasing demand for high octane gasoline blended with lower aliphatic alkyl ethers such as octane boosters and supplementary fuels has created a significant demand for isoalkylethers, especially the C.sub.5 to C.sub.7 methyl, ethyl and isopropyl-t-alkyl ethers, such as methyl t-butyl ether, ethyl t-butyl ether, t-amyl methyl ether and t-amyl ethyl ether. Consequently, there is an increasing demand for the corresponding isoalkene starting materials such as isobutene, isoamylenes and isohexenes.
To obtain isoolefins, it is desirable to convert an alkene such as normal butene, to a methyl branched alkene, for example isobutylene, by mechanisms such as structural isomerization. Such converted isoalkenes then can be reacted further, such as by polymerization, etherification or oxidation, to form useful products. Normal alkenes containing four carbon atoms (1-butene, trans-2-butene and cis-2-butene) and five carbon atoms (1-pentene, trans-2-pentene, and cis-2-pentene) are relatively inexpensive starting compounds. Conventionally, butenes and amylenes, including to a minor extent isobutylene and isoamylene, are obtained as a by-product from refinery and petrochemical processes such as catalytic and thermal cracking units. Butenes are also conveniently obtained from butadiene via selective hydrogenation.
Zeolite materials, both natural and synthetic, are known to have catalytic properties for many hydrocarbon processes. Zeolites typically are ordered porous crystalline aluminosilicates having a definite structure with cavities interconnected by channels. The cavities and channels throughout the crystalline material generally can be of such a size to allow selective separation of hydrocarbons. Such a hydrocarbon separation by the crystalline aluminosilicates essentially depends on discrimination between molecular dimensions. Consequently, these materials in many instances are known in the art as "molecular sieves" and are used, in addition to catalytic properties, for certain selective adsorptive processes. Zeolite molecular sieves are discussed in great detail in D. W. Breck, Zeolite Molecular Sieves, Robert E. Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar, Fla. (1984).
Generally, the term "zeolite" includes a wide variety of both natural and synthetic positive ion-containing crystalline aluminosilicate materials, including molecular sieves. They generally are characterized as crystalline aluminosilicates which comprise networks of SiO.sub.4 and AlO.sub.4 tetrahedra in which silicon and aluminum atoms are cross-linked in a three-dimensional framework by sharing of oxygen atoms. This framework structure contains channels or interconnected voids that are occupied by cations, such as sodium, potassium, ammonium, hydrogen, magnesium, calcium, and water molecules. The water may be removed reversibly, such as by heating, which leaves a crystalline host structure available for catalytic activity. The term "zeolite" in this specification is not limited to crystalline aluminosilicates. The term as used herein also includes silicoaluminophosphates (SAPO), metal integrated aluminophosphates (MeAPO and ELAPO), metal integrated silicoaluminophosphates (MeAPSO and ELAPSO). The MeAPO, MeAPSO, ELAPO, and ELAPSO families have additional elements included in their framework. For example, Me represents the elements Co, Fe, Mg, Mn, or Zn, and El represents the elements Li, Be, Ga, Ge, As, or Ti. An alternative definition would be "zeolitic type molecular sieve" to encompass the materials useful for this invention.
Developments in the art have resulted in formation of many synthetic zeolitic crystalline materials. Crystalline aluminosilicates are the most prevalent and, as described in the patent literature and in the published journals, are designated by letters or other convenient symbols. Various zeolites which have been specifically named and described are, for example, Zeolite A (U.S. Pat. No. 2,882,243), Zeolite X (U.S. Pat. No. 2,882,244), Zeolite Y (U.S. Pat. No. 3,130,007), Zeolite ZSM-5 (U.S. Pat. No. 3,702,886), Zeolite ZSM-11 (U.S. Pat. No. 3,709,979), Zeolite ZSM-12 (U.S. Pat. No. 3,832,449), Zeolite ZSM-23 (U.S. Pat. No. 4,076,842), Zeolite ZSM-35 (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,016,245 and 5,190,736), Zeolite ZSM-48 (U.S. Pat. No. 4,375,573), Zeolite NU-1 (U.S. Pat. No. 4,060,590) and others. Various ferrierite zeolites including the hydrogen form of ferrierite, are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,933,974, 4,000,248 and 4,942,027 and patents cited therein. SAPO-type catalysts are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,440,871. MeAPO type catalysts are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,544,143 and 4,567,029; ELAPO catalysts are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,500,651, and ELAPSO catalysts are described in European Patent Application 159,624.
Two general classes of catalysts have been disclosed as particularly useful for isomerizing a linear olefin to the corresponding methyl branched isoolefin. These include the porous, non-crystalline, refractory oxide-based catalysts and the zeolitic-based catalysts.
Examples of the porous non-crystalline, refractory oxide-based catalysts are aluminum oxides, such as gamma or eta Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, halogenated aluminum oxides, aluminum oxides reacted with silicon, boron or zirconium, various phosphates and solid phosphoric acids. Examples of these catalysts are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,043,523, 3,531,542, 3,381,052, 3,444,096, 4,038,337, 3,663,453, British Patent No. 2,060,424 and in an article by V. R. Choudhary and L. K. Doraiswamy, "Isomerization of n-Butene to Isobutene, I. Selection of Catalyst by Group Screening," Journal of Catalysis, volume 23, pages 54-60, 1971. Illustrative of the porous, non-crystalline refractory oxide catalysts are those described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,434,315, issued Feb. 28, 1984, which discloses as a catalyst a porous alumina acidified with a critical amount of silica and containing 5 ppm to 2% by weight of palladium, chromium, nickel, copper, manganese or silver by impregnation. The use of the listed metals is said to result in a more facile catalyst regeneration. All of these catalysts deactivate rapidly. According to the examples in British Patent No., 2,060,424, run life can be as short as 1 to 2 hours. Often, it is necessary to add steam and halogen compounds to prolong the catalysts run life. German Specification No. 3,000,650-A states that the run life can be increased to approximately 50 hours by these methods although this is still less than desirable.
With regard to the zeolitic-based catalysts, the most significant use has involved the large pore zeolites or those having two or more-dimensional interconnecting channels. Examples of the zeolitic-based catalysts having two or more-dimensional interconnecting channels used in association with catalytic metals are U.S. Pat. No. 4,435,311 (with platinum and palladium) and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,503,282 and 5,227,569 (impregnated or ion-exchanged with metals including Group VIII). Examples of the large pore zeolitic-based catalysts used in association with catalytic metals are U.S. Pat. No. 5,227,569 (impregnated or ion-exchanged with metals including Group VIII) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,392,003 (with gallium).
More recently, European Patent Publication Number 523,838 A2, published Jan. 20, 1993, has disclosed a process for structurally isomerizing a linear olefin to its corresponding methyl branched isoolefin using as a catalyst a zeolite with one or more one-dimensional pore structure having a pore size small enough to retard by-product dimerization and coke formation within the pore structure. and large enough to permit entry of the linear olefin and allow formation of the methyl branched isoolefin. It has been found that as these small pore catalysts are used, they acquire a build-up of coke which diminishes their effectiveness. To restore their effectiveness, the catalysts must be regenerated at elevated temperatures by contact with oxygen. This regeneration process, when repeated a number of times, can have an adverse effect on the catalyst life and selectivity.
A typical zeolitic catalyst regeneration temperature is described in "Chemistry Of Catalytic Processes", by B. C. Gates, J. R. Katzer and G. C. A. Schuit, McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York (1979) at pages 1-5 as between a temperature of 650.degree. C. to 760.degree. C. A recent trend is toward higher regeneration temperatures. For example, a regeneration temperature as high as 850.degree. C. is used in the commercial regeneration of zeolitic catalysts used in Fluid Catalytic Cracking ("FCC"). J. Biswas and I. E. Maxwell, Applied Catalysis, 63 (1990), 197-258.
However, it has been found that use of such high regeneration temperatures such as those used in FCC results in poor olefin isomerization performance (lower selectivity) for a medium pore-sized zeolite-based catalyst such as those described in European Patent Publication Number 523,838. According to U.S. Pat. No. 5,043,523, a regeneration temperature of 550.degree. C. to 600.degree. C. is recommended for a modified alumina catalyst of the type discussed earlier. The modified alumina catalyst was reported to show no signs of deactivation after undergoing 10 regeneration cycles at 575.degree. C. by method A of Example 29. However, it has been found that zeolitic catalysts with one or more one-dimensional pore structure having a pore size small enough to retard by-product dimerization and coke formation within the pore structure and large enough to permit entry of the linear olefin and allow formation of the methyl branched isoolefin, such as ferrierite, ZSM-22 and ZSM-23 tend to lose selectivity for the formation of isoolefins when exposed to temperatures of greater than 565.degree. C. for a period of time such as those used in the regeneration processes mentioned above.
Commercialization of an isomerization process to manufacture isoolefins from linear olefins has been further hampered by longer regeneration times compared with run life.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a medium pore zeolite catalyzed process for structurally isomerizing a linear olefin to its corresponding methyl branched isoolefin with improved run life and/or reduced regeneration time. It is another object of the present invention to provide a medium pore zeolite catalyzed process for structurally isomerizing a linear olefin to its corresponding methyl branched isoolefin with improved overall yield. It is further an object of the present invention to provide an improved medium pore zeolite catalyst for structurally isomerizing a linear olefin to its corresponding methyl branched isoolefin.

Process for isomerizing linear olefins to isoolefins


A high-frequency induction hardening apparatus used for metal objects, including a heating coil holder (4) carrying a heating coil (40) for hardening a metal object (2), an eccentric rotor assemble housing a cam mechanism for allowing the heating coil to eccentrically rotate through the heating coil holder (4); and a pair of supporters (11), (12) for keeping the heating coil holder (4) in a desired position, the supporters (11), (12) limiting the movement of the heating coil holder (4) to a plane intersecting the axis (21) of the cam carried in an eccentric rotor mount (13).

It is known that a work hardened to different depths will have a reduced strength. It is essential to harden works to an even depth over the entire surfaces. Many proposals have been made; two of the examples are disclosed in Japanese Patents No. 3,499,486 (Reference 1) and No. 3,522,636 (Reference 2).
The References (1) and (2) disclose an apparatus designed to harden a plurality of works, such as cams, mounted on a shaft at different angles, so as to harden their surfaces simultaneously. The apparatus disclosed there have the same structure which shares the feature of hardening works in that the oppositely located two heaters are eccentrically rotated by a single power source. Each heater is provided with a bearing having an eccentric cam, which is connected to the power source by means of a timing belt so as to effect the simultaneous heating.
However, a disadvantage is that the above-mentioned apparatus must require many component parts, which increase the production cost and a relatively large site for installation.
In order to solve the problems, the inventors of the present invention invented a hardening apparatus shown in FIG. 1, having a mount 50 including a heating coil 55. The mount 50 is provided with two bearings 51 and 52 each having their own eccentric cams 53 and 54 driven by shafts 56 and 57, respectively. The shafts 56 and 57 are synchronously rotated. By rotating the two shafts 56 and 57, the heating coil 55 can eccentrically rotate in the same plane as a work 60. While the heating coil 55 is in the eccentric rotation, the work 60 is heated and hardened.
The apparatus shown in FIG. 1 has solved the problems of the known apparatus disclosed in the above-mentioned two literatures (1) and (2), but the difficulty is that the two shafts 56 and 57 are required to rotate in exact synchronism with each other. In order to achieve it, the cams must be made to high precision, thereby increasing the production cost and consuming time. In addition, it is difficult to continue to keep the two shafts 56 and 57 rotating in precise synchronism. Even if a small differentiation occurs between them, the heating coil fails to rotate eccentrically.
Therefore, it is an objective of the present invention to reduce the number of component parts and the area of the installation site, and also to ensure easy maintenance of the hardening apparatus.

High-frequency induction hardening apparatus for metal objects


Provided is a light-emitting film having controllable resistivity, and a high-luminance light-emitting device, which can be driven at a low voltage, using such light-emitting film. The light-emitting film includes Cu as an addition element in a zinc sulfide compound which is a base material, wherein the zinc sulfide compound includes columnar ZnS crystals, and sites formed of copper sulfide on a grain boundary where the ZnS crystals are in contact with each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light-emitting film, a light-emitting device, and a production method thereof. More specifically, the present invention relates to a light-emitting film and a light-emitting device which can be utilized in LEDs and inorganic ELs, and a production method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, the advances in research of light-emitting devices having high-luminance emission have been remarkable, with light-emitting devices based on various operational principles being developed. Examples include LEDs and LDs which emit light by the recombination of electrons and holes injected in semiconductor pn junctions formed of high-quality crystals; and inorganic ELs which emit light by electrical field excitation by applying a high electric field to an insulating phosphor thin film and exciting a light-emitting center in the phosphor thin film with hot electrons. Further examples include organic ELs obtained by laminating a light-emitting layer, an electron transporting layer, and a hole transporting layer formed of organic molecules or a polymer thin film, which cause exciton emission that is localized in the organic molecules by the recombination energy between the injected electrons and holes. Among these, although LEDs and organic ELs, which are capable of high-luminance emission by a DC drive, have been effectively incorporated into people's daily life, the fact remains that there is a need for even higher luminance and improved energy consumption. In addition, there is also a strong need for technological development of light-emitting devices which can be produced more easily and which have high durability.
Currently, in response to the above needs, the following light-emitting devices have been developed. In the "Journal of Crystal Growth 117 (1992) 1035-1039", light-emitting devices having a MIS (Metal-Insulator-Semiconductor) structure and a MISIM (Metal-Insulator-Semiconductor-Insulator-Metal) structure have been reported. The light-emitting film is a semiconductor layer using ZnS:Ag,Cl for the donor-acceptor-pair recombination. The Ag/Zn atom number ratio is 30 to 50 ppm, which is very low. Thus, the light-emitting device is AC-driven, and the emission starting voltage is 35 Vrms. The emitted luminance at 50 Vrms is 30 cd/m2. Further, the journal article contains no description regarding the resistivity of the light-emitting film. In addition, a MOCVD method is used for the production of such a light-emitting film, and the deposition rate is 20 nm/min.
Japanese Patent Publication No. H06-097704 discloses a light-emitting device in which, in order to perform MIS structure hole injection emission stably, the I layer is formed from two or more hole injection high-resistance insulating layers. Low-resistance single crystal ZnS or epitaxial crystal film is used in the light-emitting portion. Further, the single crystal ZnS does not contain an addition element, and the resistivity is 1 to 5 Ωcm. The external quantum efficiency is about 0.08%.
FIG. 20 illustrates a schematic diagram of a typical conventional DC drive-distributed EL device described in "Phosphor Handbook" (Phosphor Research Society, 1987, page 326). In the DC drive-distributed EL device, a DC current pathway is formed by coating CuxS 52, which has higher electroconductivity than ZnS, on granular ZnS crystals 60 by a forming treatment. This "forming treatment" is a treatment in which current is flowed with a transparent electrode 58 as the positive and an electrode 59 as the negative to form a high-resistance region about 1 μm in thickness, in which Cu+ ions are depleted on the transparent electrode 58 side by making the mobile Cu+ ions move to the electrode 59 side so that the CuxS is segregated. Further, the CuxS coating the granular ZnS crystals also acts as a carrier source. Specifically, since CuxS has a higher electroconductivity than ZnS, an electric field concentrates on the CuxS which has segregated in a differential region when voltage is applied. As a result, the electrons of the valence band of the CuxS are trapped in the donor level of the base ZnS, and the holes are trapped in the acceptor level. It is believed that light is emitted by the recombination of the electrons trapped in the donor level with the holes trapped in the acceptor level.
However, in the above-described conventional light-emitting device, the light-emitting film cannot itself be provided with both light-emitting capabilities and a desired resistivity. As a result, the emission starting voltage increases, and it is more difficult to obtain high-luminance emission. Further, to realize a conventional light-emitting device, complex productions processes, such as a MOCVD method, a single crystal production method and its resistivity control method, and an epitaxial deposition method, are required, meaning that production is not simple.

Light-emitting film, light-emitting device and production method thereof


An underwater two-phase ramjet engine propulsion unit, includes an inlet for receiving a flow of water, compressed gas injector for injecting compressed gas into the flow of water, a mixing chamber for mixing the compressed gas with the flow of water to provide a two-phase flow of working fluid and a nozzle for accelerating the two-phase flow of working fluid so as to generate a two-phase jet. The propulsion unit can be implemented with a fixed geometry or with a variable geometry. The propulsion unit includes a supersonic gas injector as well as a subsonic gas injector. The propulsion unit includes a control system the controlling the compressor, supersonic gas injector, the subsonic gas injector, the geometry of the propulsion unit, and the direction of the thrust vector.

This present invention relates to two-phase marine propulsion systems in general and more particularly to underwater two-phase ramjet engines.
Various attempts have been made to develop water breathing derivatives of gas breathing jet engines for significantly broadening the performance envelope of high speed marine vessels. Fundamentally, water breathing ramjet engines operate on the principle of energizing and accelerating water with compressed gas or the combustion products of a gas generator as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,171,379 entitled "The Hydro-Pneumatic Ram-Jet" to Schell et al. and commonly known as the "Marjet". According to Newton's 1.sup.st Law, the propulsion system exerts thrust by applying an equal and opposite force upon an adjacent medium. In the case of a fluid medium, according to Newton's 2.sup.nd Law, the force is equal to the rate of change of the fluid's momentum. The part of the fluid which undergoes the momentum change is called the "working fluid". In an underwater two phase ramjet engine propulsion unit, the working fluid is a two-phase mixture of water and gas, preferably air. The bubbly flow is typified by high density with compressibility due to the liquid phase and the gaseous phase, respectively.
Although the Marjet is the most developed system of its kind described in the prior art, it nevertheless suffers from several significant disadvantages which can be attributed to its lack of commercialization. The disadvantages of the Marjet include: First, poor mixing efficiency leading to low total propulsion efficiency. Second, gas introduction through a homogeneous porous jacket creating bubbles with a very narrow size distribution, thereby limiting the maximum volumetric portion of gas in the two-phase working fluid and so significantly limiting the craft's agility. Third, the inability to convert the gas's thermal energy into thrust power. Fourth, poor acceleration capability near stagnation and at low speed and limited acceleration potential, yielding inability to dash over the drag hump of hydrofoils or hovercraft. And still other disadvantages include that the thrust level is coupled with cruise speed, the propulsion unit does not display thrust reversal or integral steering capability and that propulsion and other hydrodynamic functions such as: sea keeping, active stabilization, lift, steering and thrust reversal are each carried out by dedicated systems.
Other developments include the Hydro-Pulse-Jet as described in Los Alamos National Laboratory Report LA-10358-MS, May 1985 in which the pulse jet device was considered for the propulsion of torpedo missiles. The only advantage of this development is its high speed capability while its disadvantages include it being complex, unsafe, water pollutant, very heavy, inefficient, costly, etc.
Another development includes the Gas-Augmented-Water-Jet as described in Report N 00014-75-C-0936 for the Office of Naval Research, Auburn University Ala., Mech. Eng. Department, November 1976 in which a water pump with an additional gas booster unit is provided in the pump's exhaust duct. The gas booster is unable to operate without the waterjet pump prior to it and, therefore, this arrangement has all the disadvantages of an impeller-based waterjet, plus the extra complexity of the gas booster, in exchange for extra power at high speed cruise.
Yet another development includes the "Water-Augmented-Gas-Jet" as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,808,804 to Scott-Scott in which a propulsion unit includes a gas breathing turbofan engine, incorporating a mist booster unit in the exhaust duct, fed through water injectors, pipe lines and water pumps. This arrangement appears promising for high speed applications, but has severe safety and efficiency limitations when maneuvering in a harbor, near other craft, and at low speed.
The object of the present invention is to provide a novel two-phase underwater ramjet engine, free of the above mentioned disadvantages.


An evaporator and concentrator in a reactor and loading system concentrates ions such as fluoride ions in some embodiments, and evaporates micro- to milliliter volumes of liquid solutions including intermediate and final product in other embodiments. It efficiently re-dissolves the evaporated solution generating a product, which is transferred to an external system as desired. The external system may be a micro-fluidic reactor system and/or loading system. The evaporator/concentrator has an input port for introducing liquids and solids. A capillary tube introduces gas, such as nitrogen gas, into a volume of solution contained within a v-vial, which produces an evaporating micro bubbler. A concentric tube, surrounding the capillary tube in some embodiments, introduces gas into the empty volume above the solution inside the v-vial, which is referred to as a vapor sweep. The vapor sweep assists in removing the evaporated solution from the v-vial through a vacuum tube.

Micro-fluidics are used to manipulate fluids in channels with cross-sectional height and width that typically range from 1 to 500 micrometers or microns. Fluids are moved in volumes of nanoliters or microliters. "Lab-on-a-chip" technology has used micro-fluidics to perform chemical reactions and analyses at very high speeds while consuming small amounts of starting materials. Various chemical reactions require conditions such as high pressure and high temperatures, which may be difficult to achieve safely using conventional techniques, and micro-fluidic systems use miniaturized reactors, mixers, heat exchangers, and other processing elements for performing such chemical reactions on a miniature scale with less difficulty and more safety. Such systems are useful for reactions such as pharmaceutical or laboratory reactions where very small and accurate amounts of chemicals are necessary to successfully arrive at a desired product. Furthermore, use of micro-fluidic systems increases efficiency by reducing diffusion times and the need for excess reagents.
Applications for micro-fluidic systems are generally broad, but commercial success has been slow to develop in part because micro-fluidic devices are difficult and costly to produce. Another significant hurdle in micro-fluidics is addressing the macroscale to microscale interface. Other considerable problems include clogging of the systems, fouling of the reagent in the system, and supplying new reagent once the previous supply is depleted, clogged, or fouled. Furthermore, waste accumulations and air bubbles interfere with proper micro-fluidic system operation. Thus, there is a need for a low cost solution for micro-fluidic systems. Preferably, but not necessarily, such solution would allow easy replacement of reagent once its supply is depleted, clogged, or fouled, and allow for remotely flushing waste and air bubbles from a micro-fluidic system in order to minimize losses of costly reagent. Additionally, many reactions and mixtures require condensing and evaporation techniques that are difficult to perform on a micro- or nanoscale. As used herein, micro-fluidic and microscale are meant to describe fluidic elements that have micro-sized capillaries for transporting fluid. Such capillaries would have effective interior diameters from about 1 micron to about 500 microns. Usually a micro-fluidic element will have an interior diameter of more than 100 microns, and for many applications an inside diameter of 200 microns is a good size.
The above and other needs are met by an evaporator and concentrator in a reactor and loading system. In one embodiment, a micro-fluidic evaporator evaporates a target from a liquid solution. The evaporator has a vial with an interior volume and a first and second end. Liquid solution is disposed in the vial and extends from the second end toward the first end. The evaporator has a gas source capable of accelerating evaporation of the target and a first micro-fluidic pathway extending from the gas source to an exhaust point near the second end of the vial. The first micro-fluidic pathway inputs the gas at the exhaust point from the gas source at an input rate such that the gas effervesces through the liquid solution without substantial splashing and without exploding the liquid solution. This results in an accelerated evaporation of the target from the liquid solution producing the evaporated gas. A second fluidic pathway extends from near the first end of the vial to a location external to the vial and moves the evaporated target from the interior volume of the vial to a location external to the vial.
In some embodiments, the evaporator has a third fluidic pathway extending from the gas source to a sweep exhaust point located within the vial and adjacent to the solution but not in the solution. The third fluidic pathway inputs gas into the vial adjacent to the solution for sweeping the evaporated target through the second fluidic pathway and out of the vial. In some embodiments, the third fluidic pathway is concentric with the first micro-fluidic pathway such that the third fluidic pathway surrounds the first micro-fluidic pathway. In some embodiments, the gas source has a first and a second gas source, the first gas source being connected to the first micro-fluidic pathway and the second gas source being connected to the second fluidic pathway.
In some embodiments, the evaporator has an input supply line for inputting fluids into the vial and an output line extending from a point near the second end of the vial and within the vial to a location external to the vial. The output line exports fluid in the vial once the desired evaporation has occurred. In some embodiments the evaporator has a heater and in some it has a cooler for heating and cooling the vial respectively.
In another embodiment, an evaporator/concentrator system dries and concentrates a fluid containing ions. The system has a first vial with an interior volume and a first and second end and a first micro-fluidic pathway extending from outside the first vial to a point near the second end of the first vial. The system also has a second fluidic pathway extending from near the first end of the first vial to a location external to the first vial and a third fluidic pathway extending from a gas source to near the first end of the first vial for inputting a gas from the gas source into the first vial and out the second fluidic pathway to provide a gas sweep of the interior of the first vial. The system has an ion exchange cartridge for capturing ions and an input line for the first vial connected from the ion exchange cartridge to the first vial. A target fluid vial stores a target fluid containing target ions and provides the target fluid containing the target ions to the ion exchange cartridge. A capturing fluid vial stores a capturing fluid and provides the capturing fluid to the ion exchange cartridge.
A pump and switch valve connects the target fluid vial to the ion exchange cartridge and is configurable for pumping the target fluid from the target fluid vial through the pump and switch valve, through the ion exchange cartridge and into the first vial. The ion exchange cartridge operates to capture the target ions as the target fluid flows through the ion cartridge. The pump and switch valve also pumps the supply fluid from the first vial through the first micro-fluidic pathway and out of the first vial. Then the pump and switch valve pumps the capturing fluid from the capturing fluid vial, through the pump and switch valve and through the ion exchange cartridge into the first vial. The capturing fluid captures the target ions in the ion exchange cartridge so that the vial contains capturing fluid with target ions. Finally, the pump and switch valve connects the first micro-fluidic pathway to the gas source so that the gas flows through the first micro-fluidic pathway and effervesces the ion containing fluid and causing the water in the fluid to evaporate resulting in a concentrated ion fluid in the first vial.
In some embodiments a second vial stores a supply of anhydrous combining fluid and the pump and switch valve supplies at least some of the anhydrous combining fluid to the first vial for combining with the concentrated ion fluid to produce an anhydrous product solution. In some embodiments, the system has a dry product vial connected to the pump and switch valve for receiving the anhydrous product solution from the first vial and pumping the anhydrous product solution from the first vial to the dry product vial. In some embodiments, the dry product vial has radiation shielding.
In another embodiment, a micro-fluidic system has a pump and switch valve system that pumps fluid through the system and includes micro-fluidic tubes. The system also has a micro-fluidic concentrator including a concentrator vial for containing fluid and having a low point within the vial, the vial being configured so that the fluid flows to and collects at the low point. The concentrator also has a micro-fluidic tube extending from outside the vial to the low point in the vial to supply evaporation gas to the vial to evaporate water from fluid in the vial and thereby concentrate the fluid and withdrawing fluid from the low point in the vial. The concentrator has a sweep gas input port for supplying sweep gas into the vial at a location remote from the low point, a gas supply for supplying gases to the sweep gas input port and the micro-fluidic tube, an exhaust port in the concentrator vial for allowing gases to escape the concentrator vial, and an input port for supplying fluid to the concentrator vial. The system also has a micro-fluidic element including a micro-fluidic pathway that performs a micro-fluidic function. The pump and switch valve system pumps fluids to and from the micro-fluidic element and the micro-fluidic concentrator.
In some embodiments, the micro-fluidic element of the system is a reactor and at least two reagents are supplied by the pump and switch valve system so that the reagents are reacted in the micro-fluidic reactor and concentrated in the micro-fluidic concentrator or vice-versa. In other embodiments, the micro-fluidic element of the system is a coil of micro-fluidic tubing holding fluids and functioning as a fluid supply source and in other embodiments functioning as a reactor.

Evaporator and concentrator in reactor and loading system


A muscle energy converter for a patient. The converter includes a casing having a fluid port. The converter includes a bellows mechanism disposed in the casing adapted to contain fluid. The converter includes an actuator arm mechanism adapted to be attached to a tendon of a muscle of the patient which moves against the bellows mechanism when the muscle pulls the actuator arm mechanism and forces fluid out the fluid port. The actuator arm mechanism is engaged with the casing. A method for moving fluid in a patient with a muscle of a patient. The method includes the steps of rotating an actuator arm mechanism against a bellows mechanism in a casing when the muscle pulls the actuator arm mechanism. There is the step of forcing fluid out a fluid port of the casing as the actuator arm mechanism moves against the bellows mechanism.

The purpose of the muscle energy converter (MEC) is to efficiently convert the power of linear muscle contractions into a form which can be used by a variety of implanted hydraulic actuators, including ventricular assist devices. The objective is to eliminate the need for external power supplies which contribute significantly to infection and device failures.
Considerable progress has been made over the last 30 years toward the development of implantable circulatory assist devices, but some fundamental problems still remain. No device in existence can provide both the reliability and unobtrusiveness required of a chronic implantable blood pump due, in large part, to the lack of a suitable power source. Current systems employ external power supplies with energy transmitted across the skin via tubes, wires, or electromagnetic fields. These schemes work well for short-term applications, but are not well-suited for chronic use due to infection and mechanical failure. However, many of these problems would be eliminated if a simple, implantable energy source could be developed.
Research on a device designed to perform the same function as the MEC device described herein is currently ongoing at California Pacific Medical Center (see Reichenbach S. H., K. J. Gustafson, G. D. Egrie, J. R. Weidman, D. J. Farrar, and J. D. Hill. Evaluation of a skeletal muscle energy convertor in a chronic animal model. ASAIO J. 46:482-485, 2000). There are however, substantial differences in design between these two technologies which render them quite distinct. These important distinctions are evidenced by the separate US patents issued to ASRI on 2, Jan. 1996 (U.S. Pat. No. 5,479,946) and CPMC on 22 Aug. 1995 (U.S. Pat. No. 5,443,504).
Based on results from 3rd-generation muscle energy converter (MEC3) bench testing and initial implant trials, significant design changes have been implemented to improve both function and biocompatibility of this device. Potential drawbacks of the MEC3 design scheme were found to be the following: low bellows durability; high bellows volumetric compliance; high housing profile; exposed actuation head; and potential shaft sheathing porosity. The design modifications described herein are meant to achieve the following: a) improve bellows durability; b) reduce or eliminate bellows compliance; c) lower device profile; d) eliminate exposed piston head; and e) eliminate the need for flexible sheathing.


A protection device is provided for a control apparatus for use in an electronic automobile with a motor and a transistor for driving the motor. The protection device comprises a short-circuit detecting device for detecting a short-circuit state of the transistor and, an excess voltage detecting device connected to the transistor for comparing a voltage applied to the transistor and motor of the control apparatus with a predetermined voltage, thereby detecting an excess voltage applied when a plug of a charger is erroneously connected to a plug receiver of the control apparatus.

The present invention relates to a protection apparatus for a control device for use in an electric automobile such as a forklift, called a battery forklift hereinafter.
The battery forklift is provided with a control apparatus for controlling its operation. This control apparatus is provided with a transistor for controlling a power motor and a load motor. The load motor drives an oil pump for executing a loading operation. The transistor is liable to be short circuited due to the influence of temperature or some abnormality. To deal with this fault, a protection device is provided for detecting a short-circuit state in the transistor of the control apparatus and for preventing excess current from flowing through the power motor and the load motor.
In the prior art, a protection circuit is provided for preventing excess current from flowing in the motor, the excess current being caused by a short circuit in the transistor. However, this protection circuit protects against a short circuit fault in the drive transistor of the motor, but not against excess voltage. The battery in a battery forklift must be periodically charged by a separately provided charger electrically connected to it. The charging current is large. The electrical connection between the battery and the charger is made with a plug receiver of the same structure and shape as that between the battery and the control apparatus, and the plug and plug receiver of the same shape are used for the battery, the charger and the control apparatus. This structure is simple and it enables the plug and plug receiver to withstand a large current and to be easily connected with the correct polarity.
When, the plug and plug receiver are of the same shape, as recited above, they are difficult to distinguish from each other because of their similar appearance. Thus, the plug of the charger may be inadvertently connected to the plug receiver of the control apparatus instead of the plug receiver of the battery. If this inadvertent connection occurs, since the output voltage of the charger is naturally higher than the output voltage of the battery which is normally to be connected to the control apparatus, an excess voltage is supplied from the charger to the transistor and motor within the control apparatus. Conventionally, a countermeasure is provided for a short circuit fault of the transistor in the motor drive, but no countermeasure is provided for an application of an excess voltage to a structure part caused by the inadvertent erroneous connection of the plug of the charger to the plug receiver of the control apparatus. Thus, the transistor and the port of the motor would be destroyed by the excess voltage.

Excess voltage protection apparatus for an electric vehicle

Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho


Systems and methods for visualization of a molecule, comprising a set of particles, are provided. A set of three-dimensional coordinates is obtained, each coordinate describing a position for a corresponding particle. A cost function containing an error in a set of two-dimensional coordinates, where each two-dimensional coordinate corresponds to a three-dimensional coordinate in the set of three-dimensional coordinates, is minimized until an exit condition is achieved. The minimization alters the two-dimensional coordinate values. A set of physical properties SM is obtained, each such property representing a property shared by a pair of particles in the molecule. The coordinates are plotted as nodes of a two-dimensional graph after minimization, connected by a plurality of edges. An edge connects a coordinate pair in the graph that corresponds to a pair of particles in the molecule. A characteristic of the edge is determined by a physical property for the pair of particles.

In many applications, such as macromolecular structural studies, drug discovery, diagnostic development, detergent design, polymer chemistry, polymer physics, and polymer science, large volumes of physical data are acquired relating to (i) the physical properties of residues of complex molecules and (ii) physical properties shared between discrete groups of atoms, such as residues, in such complex molecules. Examples of the former physical properties include, but are not limited to, accessible surface area, solvent-excluded surface area, electrical charge, hydrophobicity, hydrophilicity, polarity, aromaticity, molecular weight and volume. Examples of the latter include physical properties include, but are not limited to, hydrogen bonds, close hydrogen bonds, carbon-carbon contacts, carbon-nitrogen contacts, carbon-oxygen contacts, carbon-sulfur contacts, π-π interactions, and π-cation interactions.
Moreover, complex molecules typically have many discrete groups of atoms, termed particles herein, and adopt unique complex three-dimensional conformations. This makes visualization of the above-identified physical data challenging. Thus, given the above background, what is needed in the art are improved systems and methods for visualizing relational data associated with the physical properties of particles of complex molecules.

Systems and methods for making two dimensional graphs of complex molecules


A clip for a snap-in cable hanger with a top from which at least two clip arm(s) extend and at least one of the clip arm(s) formed with a clip tab projecting proximate a distal end. The top having a length greater than a diameter of the mounting hole and a width dimensioned to fit within a spring space when the snap-in cable hanger is seated upon the mounting hole. The clip arm(s) spaced apart proximate the diameter of the mounting hole, having a length longer than a depth of the mounting hole.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to devices for supporting cables and, in particular, to a clip for improving the strength characteristics of snap-in cable hangers for securing cables to support structures.
2. Description of Related Art
Cable hangers are used to secure signal cables and or transmission lines to support structures. Antenna towers and or tunnels may be crowded due to the multiplicity of signal cables and or transmission lines required for signal-carrying. Over time, as systems are added, upgraded and or expanded, installation of additional signal cables and transmission lines may be required. To conserve space, it is desirable for each set of cable hangers to secure more than a single cable. Certain cable hangers have been constructed to secure multiple cables; other cable hangers have a stackable construction that permits multiple cable hangers to be interlocked extending outwardly from each mounting point/structural member. Stacked and multiple-cable-type cable hangers significantly increase the number of cables mountable to a single attachment point.
U.S. Utility Pat. No. 6,161,804, "Transmission Line Hanger", by Paske et al, issued Dec. 19, 2000 and U.S. Utility Pat. No. 6,354,543, "Stackable Transmission Line Hanger", by Paske, issued Mar. 12, 2002, both patents commonly owned along with the present application by CommScope, Inc. of North Carolina, each patent hereby incorporated by reference in the entirety, disclose transmission line hangers for securing one or more transmission lines to a supporting structure.
The transmission line hangers of U.S. Pat. No. 6,161,804 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,354,543 are configured for snap-in attachment to a mounting hole of the desired supporting structure. Snap-in connection significantly simplifies cable hanger installation.
Increasing demand for additional signal cables and transmission lines at existing system installations has resulted in an increased demand for extended stacking of the U.S. Pat. No. 6,354,543 Snap-In cable hangers, one upon the other, which has the potential to generate loads upon the base connection with the support structure and or interconnections between individual cable hangers that may exceed the capacity of the Snap-In interconnection.
Competition within the cable hanger market has focused attention on ease of use, reliability, expandability and overall reductions in manufacturing, distribution and installation costs.
Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a device that overcomes deficiencies in the prior art.


A ratchet mechanism assembly for a ratchet screwdriver includes a cylindrical casing, a rotatable drive shaft, a pair of annular pawl members, a spring unit, and an actuator. The casing has an annular surrounding wall that defines a receiving space therein. The drive shaft has a fixed ratchet wheel journalled within the receiving space. The pawl members are disposed within the receiving space of the casing. Each of the pawl members has a pawl projection projecting from an inner periphery thereof. The spring unit biases the pawl members to cause the pawl projections to engage the ratchet wheel, in such a manner that a tooth of the ratchet wheel is located between the projections in order to prevent rotation of the ratchet wheel relative to the casing. The actuator can be moved to a first position, wherein the pawl projection of one of the pawl members disengages the ratchet wheel to permit rotation of the shaft in the casing in a first direction, and a second position, wherein the pawl projection of the other one of the pawl members disengages the ratchet wheel to permit rotation of the shaft in the casing in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a ratchet screwdriver, more particularly to a high torsion ratchet mechanism assembly for a ratchet screwdriver.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the ratchet mechanism assembly of a conventional ratchet screwdriver is shown to comprise a ratchet housing which includes an elongated substantially cylindrical housing portion 10 having a central bore 101, and an integral extension 102 that projects rearwardly from a closed end of the housing portion 10 and is connected securely to an elongated handle (not shown) of the ratchet screwdriver. The outer surface of the housing portion 10 has a generally I-shaped slot 103 with a transverse rear section 104, and a transverse front section 105. A rotatable drive shaft 11 has a front portion that extends into the bore 101 via an open end of the housing portion 10. A ratchet wheel 110 is connected securely on the front portion of the drive shaft 11. Two ratchet pawls 12 are positioned in the slot 103 in such a manner that wide end portions 121 of the former are received within the transverse front and rear sections 104, 105. Each of the ratchet pawls 12 has a finger portion 122 that extends along the axial section of the slot 103. The ratchet pawls 12 can be engaged with or disengaged from the ratchet wheel 111 by moving a slidable thumb actuator 1 provided within the slot 103 of the housing portion 10. A stop 13 is received in the front section 105 of the slot 103 to abut on the end surface of the ratchet wheel 111 and prevent axial movement of the drive shaft 11 in the housing portion 10.
When assembled, a cylindrical sleeve 3 is slidably mounted on and circumferentially encloses the ratchet housing 10 and the ratchet mechanism therein. A bushing 4 is then installed to close the open end of the housing portion 21.
Because the size of the ratchet screwdriver is relatively small, the contact area between the finger portions 122 of the ratchet pawls 12 and the ratchet wheel 111 is correspondingly small. The conventional ratchet mechanism assembly is thus unsuitable for high-torsion applications. Furthermore, assembly of the conventional ratchet mechanism assembly is inconvenient and relatively complicated.

High-torsion ratchet mechanism assembly for a ratchet screwdriver

No. 2, Lane 108, Yung-Feng Rd., Tai-Ping Hsiang


The present invention relates to methods for producing and using antiseptic disinfectant, cosmetic and toiletries, medicine or food and method for antiseptically disinfecting a cosmetic and toiletries, medicine or food. The cosmetic and toiletries, medicine or food contain an antiseptic disinfectant comprising 1,2-alkanediol with 5-10 carbons and a fragrance component, and the fragrance component enhances the antibacterial activity that the 1,2-alkanediol originally has against a broad range of strains.

Paraben, benzoic acid, salicylic acid and so on have been used for the antiseptic disinfectants in the cosmetics and toiletries (including quasi drugs), medicine or food. As the above-mentioned conventional antiseptic disinfectants have low degree in their safety because of the high skin irritant etc., they have a defect that the range of the concentration for use tends to be limited. For example, the restricted concentration of paraben and benzoate for use is 1%, and the restricted concentration of benzoic acid and salicylic acid for use is 0.2%. Further, there have been problems that the antiseptic disinfection effect of those antiseptic disinfectants is not reliable because they are easily influenced by pH, and that antiseptic and antibacterial activity may remarkably fall by the combination use with other compounds such as surfactant. Still further, the number of people who are allergic to those antiseptic disinfectants is increasing in recent years. Therefore, more people are oriented to the safety, and so the demand for the cosmetics and toiletries, medicine and food without the antiseptic disinfectant or containing very reduced amount of it is increasing.
As the technical means to reduce or remove the antiseptic disinfectant, the antiseptic disinfectant containing 1,2-alkanediol (referring to publication No. 11-322591 of Published Japanese patent application) and moisturizing bacteriostatic for detergent or nondetergent cosmetics and toiletries containing 1,2-octanediol (referring to publication No. 2001-48720 of Published Japanese patent application) are disclosed. In using 1,2-alkanediol such as 1,2-octanediol solely for the antiseptic disinfectant, 1,2-alkanediol has to be compounded in a large amount if the nonionic surfactant exists in the compound. Further, as the 1,2-alkanediol has a peculiar odor of its material, it causes the problem of the odor when compounded in cosmetics and toiletries, etc.
Still further, for the technical means as to the antiseptic disinfectant using 1,2-alkanediol, a composition for external use compounded with 1,2-pentanediol and 2-phenoxyethanol (referring to publication No. 10-53510 of Published Japanese patent application) and an antiseptic disinfectant containing 1,2-alkanediol and paraben (referring to publication No. 11-310506 of Published Japanese patent application) are disclosed. The aims of those are, however, to improve the effect of antiseptic by the combination use of antiseptic and 1,2-alkanediol such as 1,2-pentanediol, but not to completely remove the antiseptic itself.
Meanwhile, fragrance compositions are generally compounded in the cosmetics and toiletries and food etc. to give rich smell to the products. It is known since a long time ago that the fragrance compositions theirselves have antibacterial action, and for example, the fragrance composition such as cresyl acetate, methyl eugenol, heliotropin and ethyl salicylate is disclosed as anticaries that has antibacterial action against mutans (referring to Published Japanese patent publication No. 5-67608). However, there has been a problem that the antibacterial action only by the fragrance composition does not give enough antiseptic disinfectant effect for cosmetics, toiletries and so on.
In view of the above-mentioned circumstances, the inventors, after studying very hard, found that combination use of 1,2-alkanediol and a specific fragrance composition enhances the antibacterial activity which 1,2-alkanediol originally has against many different kinds of strains to mask the odor of 1,2-alkanediol material, thereby the present invention has been completed.

Methods of making and methods of using antiseptic disinfectant, cosmetic and toiletries, medicine or food containing the same


A light guide for use in combination with a light source for irradiating a dental restoration. The light guide includes two optical conductors having one end mounted in common for insertion into the light source and with the opposite end of each conductor spaced apart to form a gap into which radiant energy is directly uniformly from opposite sides of the gap.

The use of photocurable dental materials in the practice of restorative dentistry has become popular. Photocurable materials are cured by exposure to radiant energy in a preselected spectral range in either the ultraviolet or visible spectrum. Presently, such materials are used as a replacement for silver amalgam to fill cavities anteriorly and posteriorly. Photocurable materials are also used to treat prosthetic appliances in the preparation of a dental restoration, such as a crown or bridge, and to repair broken teeth. Some of the advantages of using photocurable compositions include the ease of bonding the material to the tooth structure upon initiating the polymerization irradiation, the ease of color matching and the relatively low solubility of the material. One major disadvantage in the use of a photocurable dental material is shrinkage of the material during polymerization. Shrinkage from polymerization has been determined to progress in the direction of the source of light with the degree of shrinkage being proportional to the distance from the source of energy.
In a typical class II posterior restoration, the gingival floor represents a critical area for providing a good seal between tooth structure and filling material. The gingival floor is highly caries prone because it is located in between the teeth and sometimes subgingival. These conditions make it difficult for proper home cleansing to remove bacterial plaque. Thus, it is extremely important to achieve a good seal at the gingival floor of a restoration and to prevent microleakage which often results in tooth sensitivity and the development of a carious lesion.
In general, the dentist irradiates the photocurable material using a curing light which is directed to the site of the restoration through a light guide such as a fiber optic rod. The light guide is held in a direction so that maximum light energy strikes the occlusal surface, which corresponds to the direction that the restorative filling material is inserted.

Optical light guide for controlling the irradiation of a dental restorative material


This invention is in the field of antiinflammatory pharmaceutical agents and specifically relates to compounds, compositions and methods for treating disorders mediated by cyclooxygenase-2 or 5-lipoxygenase, such as inflammation.

Prostaglandins play a major role in the inflammation process, and the inhibition of prostaglandin production, especially production of PGG.sub.2, PGH.sub.2 and PGE.sub.2, has been a common target of antiinflammatory drug discovery. However, common non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that are active in reducing the prostaglandin-induced pain and swelling associated with the inflammation process are also active in affecting other prostaglandin-regulated processes not associated with the inflammation process. Thus, use of high doses of most common NSAIDs can produce severe side effects, including life threatening ulcers, that limit their therapeutic potential. An alternative to NSAIDs is the use of corticosteroids, which have even more drastic side effects, especially when long term therapy is involved.
Previous NSAIDs have been found to prevent the production of prostaglandins by inhibiting enzymes in the human arachidonic acid/prostaglandin pathway including the enzyme cyclooxygenase (COX). The recent discovery of an inducible enzyme associated with inflammation (named "cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)" or "prostaglandin G/H synthase II") provides a viable target of inhibition which more effectively reduces inflammation and produces fewer and less drastic side effects.
In another portion of the arachidonic acid pathway, physiologically active leukotrienes, such as leukotriene B.sub.4 (LTB.sub.4), leukotriene C.sub.4 (LTC.sub.4) and leukotriene D.sub.4 (LTD.sub.4) and other metabolites, are produced by the 5-lipoxygenase-mediated (5-LO) oxidation of arachidonic acid. These leukotrienes have been implicated in various inflammation-related disorders and allergic diseases, and thus compounds which inhibit 5-lipoxygenase are useful in the treatment of disease states in which leukotrienes play an important role.
It is believed that selective dual inhibitors of both cyclooxygenase-2 and 5-lipoxygenase, which affect the two enzymes at low concentrations, will more completely and permanently affect the damage caused by the various diseases and disorders mediated by cyclooxygenase-2 and 5-lipoxygenase but without the gastrointestinal side effects associated with traditional NSAIDs.
The references below that disclose antiinflammatory activity, show continuing efforts to find a safe and effective antiinflammatory agent. The novel compounds disclosed herein are such safe and also effective antiinflammatory agents furthering such efforts. The invention's compounds are found to show usefulness in vivo as antiinflammatory agents with minimal side effects. The compounds disclosed herein preferably selectively inhibit cyclooxygenase-2 over cyclooxygenase-1.
Compounds which selectively inhibit cyclooxygenase-2 have been described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,380,738, 5,344,991, 5,393,790 and WO documents WO94/15932, WO94/27980, WO95/00501, WO94/13635, WO94/20480, and WO94/26731.
Compounds which inhibit 5-lipoxygenase have been described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,364,877, 5,302,603, 5,234,950, 5,098,932 and 5,354,865, among others.
Compounds which inhibit cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase have been described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,298,521, 5,242,940, 5,234,939, and 5,356,898, among others. However, these previous mixed inhibitors do not selectively inhibit cyclooxygenase-2 and therefore still cause the gastrointestinal side effects which substantially reduce their usage and effectiveness.
The invention's compounds are found to show usefulness in vivo as dual inhibitors of cyclooxygenase-2 and 5-lipoxygenase with minimal side effects.

Substituted sulfonylphenylheterocycles as cyclooxygenase-2 and 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors

by Kathy L. Rogers, legal representative


A system includes a hanger having a tapered radially-outer surface and a hanger sealing assembly configured to move between an unsealed position and a sealed position in which the hanger sealing assembly seals an annular space between the hanger and a housing of a wellhead. The hanger sealing assembly includes an annular sleeve, a first and second annular seal each comprising a respective tapered radially-inner surface configured to contact the tapered radially-outer surface of the hanger, and an annular seal-engaging sleeve. The annular seal-engaging sleeve is coupled to the first and second annular seals, and movement of the annular sleeve along an axial axis is configured to exert an axial force on the first annular seal, thereby causing the first and second annular seals to move axially and radially outward along the tapered radially-outer surface of the hanger to seal the annular space.

This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present invention, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
Natural resources, such as oil and gas, are used as fuel to power vehicles, heat homes, and generate electricity, in addition to a myriad of other uses. Once a desired resource is discovered below the surface of the earth, drilling and production systems are often employed to access and extract the resource. These systems may be located onshore or offshore depending on the location of a desired resource. Further, such systems generally include a wellhead assembly through which the resource is extracted. These wellhead assemblies may include a wide variety of components and/or conduits, such as various casings, hangers, valves, fluid conduits, and the like, that control drilling and/or extraction operations. In some drilling and production systems, a hanger may be used to suspend strings (e.g., piping) within the well to facilitate extraction of the resource. Such hangers may be disposed within and supported by a housing (e.g., a spool or a bowl) of the wellhead.
When the hanger is within the wellhead, an annular seal may be positioned to form a seal across an annular space between the hanger and the housing of the wellhead. However, typical annular seals and associated components (e.g., sleeves, energizing rings, or the like) may not enable efficient installation and/or retrieval of the annular seal.


A prosthesis for supporting tissue and a method for implanting the prosthesis are disclosed wherein the prosthesis may be easily repositioned subsequent to implantation. The prosthesis is formed with a flexible core which is elastic in the longitudinal direction, and one end of the prosthesis is provided with a tissue ingrowth surface to receive tissue growth. The remainder of the prosthesis is covered with a biocompatible covering which tends to seal against sutures or other anchoring units which pierce the covering. The flexible cover is formed to accept such anchoring units without tearing.

There is a rapidly increasing number of cosmetic surgeries conducted each year. Of these surgical procedures, one of the most frequent is the face lift or cervicoficial rhytidectomy. This procedure is time consuming, expensive and generally involves extensive tissue removal and typically requires 4 to 5 hours to complete. Examples of the conventional face lift procedure are discussed in: Sohn, S.A., Ed., Fundamentals of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, MD (1987), pp. 127-157; Kay, B.L., Facial Rejuvenation Surgery, A Color Photographic Atlas. J.P. Lippincott, Philadelphia, PA (1987), pp. 22-63; and Georgiade, N.G., et al., Eds., Essentials of Plastic. Maxillofacial. and Reconstructive Surgery, Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, MD (1987), pp. 533-557.
In a routine face lift, the tissues are stretched, and then anchored down to a semi-movable or stretchable focus to tighten or lift loose or sagging tissue. Over a period of time, however, the stretched tissue undergoes elastic degeneration and stretching whereby the tissue again becomes loose or sags. Thus, a conventional face lift may only last for a period of about three to six years. After this time, the entire face lift procedure must be repeated.


A name mapper, name servers, and multimedia servers are connected to a multimedia manager. Each client has the name of a multimedia server, i.e., a virtual host name, from which it can obtain multimedia service. The name server stores associations of server host names to layer-3 addresses. When a client initiates a multimedia session, it requests the layer-3 address of the server that corresponds to its server's name. The name server sends the layer-3 address of the one of the multimedia servers that is currently designated as corresponding to that name. The multimedia client stores the name-to-layer-3 address binding in it's cache. The multimedia client then establishes communications with the multimedia server at that layer-3 address and clears its cache. The dynamic name-to-layer-3 address binding in the name server is managed by the name mapper, which may be collocated with the multimedia manager or may be located on a separate server. The multimedia server manager collects real-time status information so that it knows the availability of the multimedia servers in the network. If a multimedia server, whose layer-3 address is presently mapped to from a virtual host name, becomes unable to serve additional clients, the multimedia server manager sends a message to the name mapper to modify the name to layer-3 address binding. The modification specifies an available server's layer-3 address to be bound in place of that of the server that became unable to serve additional clients.

According to the client-server model, a client program running on a user's computer sends a message requesting service to a server program running on another computer. The server responds with a message to the client, the content of which can be a requested file or an indication of availability of the requested file. In exchanging these messages standard protocols are used between clients and servers.
Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) provides the networking infrastructure and high-bandwidth necessary to support many multimedia (video, audio, and data) applications. Such applications are likely to use the client-server architecture. The server will be ATM-attached, so as to present the multimedia content to a large pool of clients. Each client, whether ATM-attached or legacy LAN-attached, knows the name of a server to which it can connect to obtain multimedia service.
The first step in opening communications between a client and a server is to establish a connection from the client to the server. Using Internet Protocol (IP), for example, each host, client or server, has an IP address which uniquely identifies an IP application on the host. IP addresses are layer-3 addresses in the OSI 7-layer model. If a client wants to communicate with a server, it must establish a connection, commonly called a "socket", between itself and the server. In order to build the connection, the client will need to know the IP address of the server.
It is known in the prior art that each host can be identified by a host-name, such as alpha.ho.att.com, which is then translated into an IP address by a so called Domain Name Server (DNS). Currently, DNS table construction, and modifications thereof to include or change the binding (mapping) of the name of a host to it's IP address, is performed manually by system administrators. The DNS tables are static in nature, and are changed only when a) new hosts are added, b) existing hosts are removed, or c) existing hosts are relocated within the network.
When a client must communicate with a server, e.g., named alpha.ho.att.com, if the client does not already have the corresponding IP address for server alpha.ho.att.com stored in its cache, it requests the IP address of server alpha.ho.att.com from the DNS. When the DNS sends the IP address, the client stores the IP address in its cache in association with alpha.ho.att.com and attempts to establish an IP connection to the server. In an ATM network, the server's IP address must also be translated into an ATM address, which is a layer-2 address, i.e., using "Classical IP over ATM" per Bellcore's Request for Comments 1577 (RFC 1577) or ATM Forum's LAN Emulation Over ATM specifications, known as LUNI Version 1.0. Once the ATM address of the server is known, an ATM connection, and an IP connection at a higher layer of the protocol stack, can be built to allow the client to communicate with the server.
In offering a multimedia service, a service provider is likely to offer the service by using several identical servers, each serving a group of clients within a geographic region that are assigned to it. When the client wants to obtain the multimedia service, it accesses it's assigned multimedia server. In current networks such server assignments to clients are fixed.
If a multimedia server a) becomes unable to serve any more clients unless some of the active clients complete their sessions, because it is serving too many clients, or b) becomes unable to serve it's clients due to a system or network failure, a client attempting to establish a connection to the impaired system to obtain multimedia service will get a failure message. This is so even though there may be other servers in the network that can provide the multimedia service.

System for binding host name of servers and address of available server in cache within client and for clearing cache prior to client establishes connection


A data reproducing device for reproducing a positional information track formed in the longitudinal direction of a magnetic tape according to the present invention is capable of easily correcting regenerative positional information on the basis of count information even when the regenerative information is not obtained from the positional information tack by obtaining the count information consisting of the number so updating operations of positional information in accordance with a first clock generated based on the regenerative positional information acquired from the positional information track formed in the longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape and with a second clock generated based on rotation frequencies of tape reels for driving the magnetic tape.

The present invention relates to a data reproducing device suitable for a data recorder based on a format such as the ID-1 format.
In a conventional video tape recorder (VTR) for recording and reproducing video signals by helically scanning a magnetic tape with a rotary head, there are a plurality of recording tracks in the longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape in addition to video tracks consisting of helical recording tracks. Voice signals, control signals and time codes are recorded on these longitudinal tracks and also reproduced therefrom.
In such a VTR, control signals, pulse signals or the like corresponding to video tracks positions are recorded. These control signals are regenerated, and scan timings or the like of the rotary head and a traveling system of the magnetic tape are servo-controlled.
Absolute time information of the video tracks is recorded as a time code. The position of a desired video track is recorded to permit accurate editing and seeking of the regenerative top.
If the time codes are not correctly regenerated due to drop-out or the like, time codes are corrected corresponding to the timings of the simultaneous control signals. This prevents errors in the editing or the seeking of regenerative top.
In the proposed ID-1 format, (Third Draft PROPOSED AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARD 19 mm TYPE ID-1 INSTRUMENTATION DIGITAL CASSETTE FORMAT X3B6/88-12 Project 592-D 1988-03-22) desired information data is recorded and reproduced from the magnetic tape by utilizing the SMPTE D-1 digital VTR format.
In the ID-1 format, as illustrated in FIG. 1(A), the desired information data are recorded on and reproduced from the helical recording tracks serving as data tracks TR on a magnetic tape TP. Formed at the lower ends of the data tracks TR are a control signal track CTL and a time code track TC in the longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape TP.
The time code track TC is available for the user. Recorded on the control signal track CTL is, as illustrated in FIG. 1(B), synchronous data segments SYNC consisting of 4 bits and indicating a section T1-T2 of four helical data tracks TR0, TR1, TR2 and TR3 with located between second bits and third bits thereof. 28-bit identification data segments are recorded between the synchronous data SYNC.
In the 28-bit identification data, track set identification data TSID numbered from the top according to the four data tracks TR0, TR1, TR2, TR3 are recorded in 23 bits following the synchronous data SYNC; a home track identification data HTID representing recording head information or the like are recorded in the subsequent 4 bits; and a 1-bit even-numbered parity PR is appended thereto.
Hence, in the ID-1 format data recorder, as in the control signals of a VTR, scan timings of the rotary head and the traveling system of the magnetic tape TP can be servo-controlled by reproducing the synchronous data SYNC recorded on the control signal track CTL. Identification data TSID, HTID, PR recorded on the control signal track CTL are reproduced, thereby detecting positions of data tracks TR0, TR1, TR2, TR3 in the same manner as with time codes in a VTR. It is therefore possible to accurately execute editing and seeking of the regenerative top.
In the data recorder based on the above-described ID-1 format, however, the same functions as those of the control signal and the time code in VTR are actualized only by the recording information on the control signal track CTL. Hence, if the drop-out or the like takes place, there is a possibility that the identification data TSID, HTID, PR cannot be reproduced.
If the identification data TSID, HTID, PR on the control signal track CTL cannot be correctly reproduced, there is an increased possibility that the synchronous data SYNC on the control signal track CTL cannot be also correctly reproduced. For this reason, the correction cannot be effected by use of timings of the synchronous data SYNC as in the case of a VTR where identification data TSID, HTID, PR cannot be reproduced.
To obviate such a problem, there can be recorded on the data tracks TR0, TR1, TR2, TR3 of the magnetic tape TP, the same time codes as the vertical interval time codes (VITC) of a VTR which are recorded on the video tracks while being overlapped with a vertical synchronous period of the video signal.
With this arrangement, even when the identification data TSID, HTID, PR on the control signal track CTL cannot be correctly reproduced, the correction can be made at the timings based on the time codes recorded on the data tracks TR0, TR1, TR2, TR3.
If the same time codes as those of VITC are recorded on and reproduced from the data tracks TR0, TR1, TR2, TR3, however, a circuit for recording and reproducing the time codes is required and reproducing the time codes is required in the processing circuit for recording and reproducing the information data. A problem arises in that the circuitry inevitably becomes complicated and correspondingly large in size.

Data reproducing device with drop out detection of position information and means for compensating with tape speed detecting