An electrolyte containing a tetravalent salt of titanium in a methanesulfonic acid solution. A reducing agent consisting of trivalent titanium in the same solution. A cell wherein the catholyte is the above electrolyte. The reduction of tetravalent titanium into trivalent titanium by electrolysis. Simultaneous reduction of tetravalent titanium into trivalent titanium and oxidation of trivalent cerium to tetravalent cerium by electrolysis is also disclosed. Reduction of organic compounds using trivalent titanium in methanesulfonic acid.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid electrolyte which can be used for carrying out chemical reductions. More particularly, the invention is concerned with a methanesulfonic catholyte containing a tetravalent salt of titanium which is dissolved in a methanesulfonic acid solution. The invention is also directed to an electrochemical process including the catholyte of the invention, an electrolyte process for the reduction of tetravalent titanium into trivalent titanium as well as the simultaneous oxidation of the reduced form of redox couple, when used as a reductant, for organic molecules such as nitrobenzenes, sulfoxides or quinones. Finally, the invention pertains to improved methods for the reduction of chemical compounds using a solution of trivalent titanium in methanesulfonic acid.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
Redox reagents are compounds that can exist in an oxidized or reduced state. Usually, these compounds are transition metals such as iron, chromium, manganese, vanadium, etc. Great use has been made of these compounds in organic synthesis for the oxidation or reduction of reactive groups. Examples include the oxidation of methyl groups to aldehydes or acids, introduction of quinone groups to aromatic ring systems, the reduction of nitro groups to amines and the addition of hydrogen to unsaturated molecules.
The manufacture of anthraquinone from the chromic acid oxidation of anthracene, with Subsequent re-oxidation of the chromic acid in an electrochemical cell is such an example. Such processes were used in the dyestuff industry in Germany as early as the turn of the century. Other processes involved the use of regenerated chromic acid to bleach montan wax, and the use of chromic acid to manufacture saccharine. Examples of using regenerated redox reagents abound in the literature of electrochemical synthesis. In some cases the redox reagents were added along with the organic substrate and the whole treated in an electrochemical cell. This is known as in-cell reaction. In other cases, the reagent was prepared electrochemically in solution, mixed with the organic substrate in a separate treatment, to so-called ex-cell method. This application concerns this latter approach.
Regardless of which system of redox manipulation is involved, the role of the redox reagent is to react easily and efficiently with the electrode on the one hand and the normally insoluble organic substate on the other. The role of the redox is then in the case of oxidation that of the oxygen to the organic substrate and is itself reduced. The reduced redox form being both soluble and able to contact the anode in the cell without hindrance is then easily re-oxidised ready for a further reaction with the organic substrate. In this way, redox reagents are used to enhance reaction rate between a poorly soluble reagent and the electrochemical transfer of electrons which accompanies oxidation or reduction of all chemical compounds. Electron transfer occurs essentially at a two-dimensional surface; consequently, at the electrode, poor soluble reactions have statistically a much shorter period in the vicinity of this surface for such electron transfers to take place in the poorly soluble substrate.
Ideally, redox reagents are chosen for their ability to bridge the solubility gap between the reagent to be oxidized or reduced and the regenerating electrode. A further property of redox reagents is to be considered in the selection for a particular process, namely the redox potential. This may be considered as a measure of their ability on a thermodynamic scale to oxidize or reduce other materials.
In the past, metals such as iron or zinc have been used in the presence of acids such as hydrochloric in the Bechamp process to reduce nitrobenzenes such as p-nitrotoluene and p-xylidene to their respective amines. However, these processes produce large quantities of contaminated metal oxides which require disposal and are therefore technologies which are damaging to the environment. Another process which can be used to reduce nitrobenzenes and other nitrated compounds is the catalytic reduction with hydrogen. This technology, however, is capital-intensive and therefore dedicated equipment can only be justified for such a process when there is a large demand for the product.
The efficiency of the direct electrolytic reduction is inhibited by the low solubility of the nitrobenzenes in the aqueous electrolyte and the poor conductivity of non-aqueous electrolytes in which these compounds are soluble.
The electrolytic reduction of titanium(IV) to titanium(III) is well known in acid media, such as hydrochloric, sulphuric, etc. as is disclosed in prior art by Udupa and others.
In sulphate media, the faradaic efficiency is poor because of low solubility and in chloride media, it is difficult to find electrode material which can withstand the corrosive nature of the solution. On the other hand, it is well known to reduce nitrobenzenes at the cathode of electrolytic cells. The introduction of titanium(IV) to the electrolyte improves the faradaic efficiency of the reduction of nitrobenzenes. However, the low solubility of titanium(IV) in sulphate does not allow the ex-cell use of the then-reduced titanium(III).
The simultaneous generation of chromium and other redox agents [titanium] has been disclosed by Chaussard et al in Canadian Patent 1,191,811. However, chromium(VI) is a powerful oxidising agent, and due to its oxygen donating ability, it is less selective than cerium(IV) which is a more powerful oxidising agent. Thus, chromium(VI) is a preferred oxidising agent for producing organic acids such as benzoic acid. Unfortunately, however, these acids are, for the most part, produced more economically by direct oxidation with oxygen under catholytic conditions.

Tetravalent titanium electrolyte and trivalent titanium reducing agent obtained thereby


An electrolyte is introduced into an electrochemical device, passed, via a first corrugation feature, through a first electrode of the electrochemical device, passed through an ion permeable separator, and contacted with a second electrode. The first or second electrode comprises a second corrugation feature in fluid communication with the first corrugation feature to contact the electrolyte across a portion of an active surface of the first or second electrode.

A reserve battery is a primary or secondary battery in which part is isolated until the battery needs to be used. When a long storage period is required, reserve batteries are often used, since the active chemicals of the cell are segregated or exist in an inactive state until needed, thereby reducing self-discharge. Common types of reserve batteries include aluminum batteries, silver-zinc batteries, thermal batteries, and water-activated batteries.
Liquid reserve batteries typically require a substantial activation time due to the time required for the electrolyte to penetrate and effectively contact the electrodes, even when the electrolyte is introduced into the battery under pressure.

High energy and power electrochemical device and method of making and using same


A movable decoration assembly comprises a hollow globe, a seat and a driving device. The seat has an upper casing and a lower casing to define a hollow chamber for receiving a driving device. The globe is disposed on the upper casing. The driving device has a motor to drive the first and the second shafts to rotate in the opposite directions. The first magnet is connected and driven by the first shaft. The second magnet is connected and driven by the second shaft. A cell is disposed in the cell chamber inside the lower casing. A switch is inside the lower casing. The switch and the cell control the rotation of the motor. The movable article has two symmetric parts adhered together. An air chamber is defined by the symmetric parts of the article. A magnetic body is disposed in the air chamber.

The invention relates to a movable decoration assembly. More particularly, the invention relates to an artificial fish decoration assembly which contains at least one movable article and a driving device.
Conventional fish bowls and fish globes have a plurality of living animals such as fishes and turtles therein. However, people have to feed fishes and turtles everyday.


Disclosed are methods and compositions for copying a target nucleic acid using a self-priming primer. Single and different target nucleic acids can be copied using the disclosed methods and compositions.

Methods for copying nucleic acids provide useful tools for the detection of human pathogens, the detection of human genetic polymorphisms, molecular cloning, the detection of RNA and DNA sequences, sequencing of nucleic acids, and the like. In particular, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has become an important tool in the cloning of DNA sequences, forensics, paternity testing, pathogen identification, disease diagnosis, and other useful methods where the copying of a nucleic acid sequence is desired. See e.g., PCR Technology: Principles and Applications for DNA Amplification (Erlich, ed., 1992); PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications (Innis et al., eds, 1990).
PCR permits the copying of a target nucleic acid. Briefly, a target nucleic acid, e.g. DNA, is combined with a sense and antisense primers, dNTPs, DNA polymerase and other reaction components. See Innis et al. The sense primer can anneal to the antisense strand of the DNA target. The antisense primer can anneal to the sense strand of the DNA target, downstream of where the sense primer anneals to the DNA target. In the first round of amplification, the DNA polymerase extends the antisense and sense primers that are annealed to the target nucleic acid. The first strands are synthesized as long strands of indiscriminate length. In the second round of amplification, the antisense and sense primers anneal to the parent target nucleic acid and to the complementary sequences on the long strands. The DNA polymerase then extends the annealed primers to form strands of discrete length that are complementary to each other. The subsequent rounds serve to predominantly amplify the DNA molecules of the discrete length.
The sense and antisense primers, however, lack the ability to self-prime. That is, the primers are not able to generate an oligonucleotide from their own sequence during amplification that will lead to the desired product. Another drawback of traditional PCR is that artifacts can be generated from mis-priming and primer dimerization. Those artifacts can be exacerbated in traditional multiplex PCR. Multiple sets of primers increase the possibility of primer complementarity at the 3'-ends, leading to primer-dimer formation. These artifacts deplete the reaction of dNTPs and primers and outcompete the multiplex amplicons for DNA polymerase. Such artifacts can be reduced by careful primer design and the use of "hot start" PCR. See Chou, Q. et al (1992) Nucleic Acids Research, 20: 1717-1723. It is increasingly difficult to eliminate all interactions that promote the mis-priming and primer dimerization, however, in a multiplex amplification as the reaction may contain many primers at high concentration.
Additionally, in a multiplex amplification, it is desirable that the amplification of different targets is quantitative, i.e., that the amplification accurately reflects the true ratio of target sequences in the sample. The data obtained using traditional multiplex PCR, however, is at best semi-quantitative. Amplification of sets of amplicons of varying lengths and GC-content may show preferential amplification of the shortest length and lowest GC-content amplicon. Further, differences in the yields of unequally amplified fragments are enhanced with each cycle. Multiplex PCR has been observed to suppress the amplification of one amplicon in preference for another amplicon. A number of factors are involved. For example, when a multiplex PCR involves different priming events for different target sequences, the relative efficiency of these events may vary for different targets. This can be due to the differences in thermodynamic structure stability and hybridization kinetics among the various primers used. Moreover, if the kinetics of product strand renaturation differ for different targets, the extent of competition with priming events will not be the same for all targets.
Accordingly, there is a need for compositions and methods that are less likely to produce variable and erroneous signals in multiplex assays. The present invention solves these problems and provides useful methods and compositions for carrying out a self-primed nucleic acid replication.


Disclosed herein is improvement of the standard Type-E or Type-F coupler, which is compatible with the existing standard couplers, for providing automatic uncoupling features. The improved coupler includes a coupler head of the type having standard coupling knuckle, guard arm, and an standard interior knuckle-control structure within a lock-receiving chamber. Said interior knuckle-control structure includes the standard components such as a knuckle-lock attached to a lock-lift assembly, a knuckle thrower and other standard components. In order to provide the coupler with automatic uncoupling feature, an electric actuator, such as a motor or a solenoid, is installed within a chamber provided behind said guard arm. Said actuator controls the movement of the lock-lift assembly via a leverage system provided so that the coupler lock can be lifted to the lock-set position by said actuator. The actuator is connected to and controlled by the serialization and operation-control system of the train.

It has been know in the railroad industry to connect together adjacent cars in a train by means of so-called "standard coupler", such as the Type-E and Type-F couplers utilized by American Association of Railroads (AAR). The coupling is achieved by means of interlocking knuckles pivotally carried on coupler heads by knuckle pins and controlled by means of knuckle locks within a lock-receiving chamber. The coupler heads are relatively massive castings connected to the undercarriages of railway cars. It is well known that the uncoupling of these standard couplers require manual operation which is very time-consuming.
So it will be appreciated if the couplers can be provided with fully automatic coupling-uncoupling features to dramatically improve the operation efficiency of the freight cars. It is understood that, with addition of electro-pneumatically operated breaking system and with the development of automatic train serialization technologies, it is possible to realize such automatic coupling-uncoupling control.


An operating method for a laundry drier which has a rotatable drum mounted inside a main body, a heater for heating the air flowing into the drum; and a scent supply module for spraying scent into the drum, comprising: a drying step of drying the laundry by supplying hot air heated by the heater; a pre-treating step of tumbling the drum while supplying air with the heater off; and a scent treating step of spraying scent onto the laundry which has passed through the pre-treating step. Since the scent is sprayed on after the pre-treating step, the scent can be effectively deposited on the laundry.

In general, laundry equipment (laundry (clothes) treating apparatus) includes a washing machine, a clothes dryer or a washing-drying machine simultaneously having washing and drying functions. The washing machine is an apparatus for removing contaminants from a contaminated laundry through washing, rinsing and dehydrating (spin-drying) processes. The washing machine includes a main body defining an appearance, a tub installed within the main body for storing water, and a drum rotatably mounted inside the tub. A laundry and washing water are filled in the drum together with a detergent and rotated to apply physical impacts to the laundry, thereby washing the laundry. Typically, washing machines are categorized into two types according to whether a rotational shaft of the drum is horizontal or vertical, namely, into a top-load type washing machine having the vertical rotational shaft, and a drum type washing machine having the horizontal rotational shaft.
The laundry dryer refers to an apparatus, in which a completely dehydrated laundry after being washed is thrown into a drum of the dryer and hot air is supplied into the drum to dry the laundry by evaporating moisture contained in the laundry. The dryer includes a drum located within the dryer in which the laundry is accommodated, a driving motor for rotating the drum, a blow fan for blowing air into the drum, and a heating unit (heater) for heating air introduced into the drum. The heating unit may use high temperature electrical resistance heat generated by using electrical resistance, or heat of combustion generated upon combusting gas.
The air discharged out of the drum of the dryer contains moisture of the laundry filled in the drum so as to be hot and humid. Here, the dryers are classified, according to how to process the hot humid air, into a condensing type dryer, in which hot humid air circulates without being discharged out of the dryer to be heat-exchanged with external air within a condenser such that moisture contained within the hot humid air can be condensed, and an exhaust type dryer, in which hot humid air passed through the drum is discharged directly to the outside of the dryer.
However, in regard of the washing machines or dryers, various attempts to deposit specific scent desired by a user onto a laundry after completed drying have been done. When such specific scent is supplied onto the completely dried laundry, it may be helpful to remove laundry-specific odor and also to enhance user's satisfaction about the product.
To this end, in the related art, scent material-cohered non-woven fabric was put into the drum together with the laundry to remove an odor of a remnant detergent within the laundry and an odor of water used for washing and to supply new scent. However, the related art method had several problems. Namely, the non-woven fabric component used was not completely decomposed and accordingly sometimes caused a mechanical disorder, such as blocking a filter while moving together with the laundry within the drum of the dryer, and lowered a scent supply function due to a local contact with the laundry to be dried. Furthermore, recycling of the non-woven fabric after used was difficult, which caused an environmental problem such as creating waste or the like. Since the non-woven fabric was thrown into the dryer at an initial step of a drying stroke, scent was not sufficiently left on the laundry after completion of the drying stroke.
The related art also employed a scent supply method, in which a solid type scent material stored within the dryer was heated or affected by vibration, if necessary, to emit scent, and the emitted scent was supplied into the drum of the dryer via a scent supply duct. However, the solid type scent supply unit was difficult to supply scent enough into the drum and also incapable of spraying scent into the drum in time when required.
The related art also employed a method for supplying scent by spraying a liquid type scent material into the drum. However, such scent was not effectively deposited onto the laundry within the drum, which required excessive scent to be sprayed, thereby causing consumption of the scent solution stored in the dryer. Or, an appropriate method for controlling a scent spraying module was not present, thereby affecting a lifespan of an apparatus for supplying scent.

Operating method for laundry equipment including a scent supply module


A fishing hook apparatus includes a resilient shaft including a shank segment which is substantially rectilinear and having a shank segment proximal end and a shank segment distal end and including a hook segment which is substantially rectilinear and having a hook segment connected end joined to the shank segment proximal end, the hook segment being extendable from the shank segment at an acute angle relative to the shank segment generally back toward the shank segment proximal end and outwardly from the shank segment and terminating in a hook point; a line engaging structure including at least one shaft loop formed in the shank segment proximal end by doubling a terminal length of the shaft back along the shank segment proximal end toward the shank segment distal end and then angling away from the shank segment to freely receive a strand of fishing line between the adjacent portions of the shank segment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of fishing equipment. More specifically the present invention relates to a fishing hook apparatus having several improvements in configuration over conventional hooks, with multiple embodiments providing more reliable line engagement, greater speed and ease of line attachment and removal, more reliable fish engagement, minimal injury fish disengagement for healthy fish release, hook point repositioning into a safe storage mode and an optional coiled middle segment defining a fishing lure which retains chum and visual accessories.
The body of the apparatus is a metal shaft configured to define a shank segment with a proximal end and distal end, and a hook segment joined to the shank segment proximal end. The hook segment extends at an acute angle with respect to the shank segment and terminates in a hook point and at least one and preferably two barbs on the hook segment point toward the shank segment and distally. As a result of this configuration, a fish engaged on the hook apparatus is pulled more deeply into the hook segment when the fishing line is in tension causing the hook segment to resiliently pivot away from the shank segment against its resilience so that the hook apparatus opens further, and the hook segment resiliently pivots back toward the shank segment when the fishing line is slack so that the hook apparatus closes around the engaged portion of the mouth of the fish and the barbs are driven into firmer engagement of the fish. As a result, a fish becomes more securely engaged as it fights.
All embodiments of the invention preferably include a quick wrap fishing line engaging structure. The shank segment proximal end is bent into a loop and the remaining terminal length of the shaft extends parallel to and along the shank segment toward the shank segment distal end, and then angles away from the shank segment to more readily receive a loop of fishing line. A fishing line is passed through the loop and wrapped around shank portion and the terminal length of the shaft, and then fitted between the shank portion and the terminal length of the shaft. As a result of this tying, tension in the fishing line causes the line to pull the shank segment and terminal length of the shaft together, to more tightly engage the portion of the line pinched between the shank segment and the terminal length of the shaft.
A spiraled sliding wire which is permanently wrapped into a first coil and a second coil in a diameter to closely and slidingly fit around shank segment, the first and second coils being interconnected by a length of the wire. A third coil is provided beyond second coil and wraps around shank segment with a sufficient clearance to additionally receive the hook segment. A shank segment loop is provided in the shank segment distal end and a hook segment loop is provided in the hook segment connected end which passes through and interlinks with the shank segment loop. A hook segment locking segment extends beyond the hook segment loop and is pivotable into a position parallel with and adjacent to the shank segment. The functions of the sliding wire are analogous to those of the sliding tube. The hook segment is pivoted so that the hook segment locking segment is adjacent to the shank segment and the sliding wire is slid along the shank segment so that the third coil encircles the locking segment. As a result, the locking segment is retained in its position adjacent to the shank-segment, and the hook segment is consequentially oriented in its angled, deployed fish engaging position. Then the sliding wire can be slid proximally along the shank segment to release the locking segment, and the hook segment may be swung freely so that the point of the hook segment is pointed distally to release the fish with minimal damage to the fish. This is particularly important where an undersized fish is caught and must be released, or the object of the fishing is to catch only and not to keep the fish, and the fish can be released without mortal wounds. Finally the hook segment can be pivoted so that the hook point is pointed proximally and the sliding wire can be slid so that the third coil is positioned around the hook segment for safe storage. This third mode prevents the hook point from pivoting away from the shank segment, so that no one is injured by it when the apparatus is not in use.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There have long been fishing hooks configured for tying onto the free end of fishing line and for mounting bait and for engaging fish taking the bait. These prior hooks have seemingly always had the configuration of a U-shape, with one leg of the U longer and having a line engaging eyelet at its upper end and the other leg of the U terminating in a point and most often a barb. A problem with these prior hooks has been that they tend to slide, rock and pivot continually once a fish is engaged, causing the hook eyelet as well as the U portion to widen, and the hook therefore to become dislodged from the fish and sometimes from the line. Another problem has been that these prior hooks are difficult to store, because they are a safety hazard and also become tangled easily. Yet another problem is that they often require use of a separate lure.
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a fishing hook apparatus having a configuration which causes the apparatus to anchor itself into the fish more securely than a conventionally shaped hook, and which can release the fish virtually unharmed.
It is another object of the present invention to provide such an apparatus which has a configuration which is more securely engaged by the fishing line and yet is easily mounted to and dismounted from the fishing line.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide such an apparatus which optionally includes a middle segment formed of the fishing hook shaft which spirals to create the structure of a fishing lure, so that no separate lure is required, and which retains chum and visual accessories such as streamers, eyes and fins.
It is finally an object of the present invention to provide such an apparatus which includes a torsion feature assisting in preventing a fish from xe2x80x9cspittingxe2x80x9d the hook out or otherwise dislodging the hook when the line is slack, which is durable and reliable and which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.
The present invention accomplishes the above-stated objectives, as well as others, as may be determined by a fair reading and interpretation of the entire specification.
A fishing hook apparatus is provided, including a resilient shaft including a shank segment which is substantially rectilinear and having a shank segment proximal end and a shank segment distal end and including a hook segment which is substantially rectilinear and having a hook segment connected end joined to the shank segment proximal end, the hook segment being extendable from the shank segment at an acute angle relative to the shank segment generally back toward the shank segment proximal end and outwardly from the shank segment and terminating in a hook point; a line engaging structure including at least one shaft loop formed in the shank segment proximal end by doubling a terminal length of the shaft back along the shank segment proximal end toward the shank segment distal end and then angling away from the shank segment to freely receive a strand of fishing line between the adjacent portions of the shank segment.
The shank segment and the hook segment preferably are interconnected by a shank segment loop in the shank segment distal end and a hook segment loop in the hook segment connected end passing through and interlinked with shank segment loop, including a spiraled sliding wire permanently wrapped into a first coil and a second coil in a diameter to closely and slidingly fit around the shank segment, the first and second coils being interconnected by a length of the wire; a third coil distal of the second coil and wrapping around the shank segment with a sufficient clearance to additionally receive the hook segment; a hook segment locking segment extending beyond the hook segment loop and pivotable into a position parallel with and adjacent to the shank segment; where the hook segment is pivotable to a position adjacent to the shank segment so that the sliding wire can be slid along the shank segment until the third coil encircles the locking segment, thereby retaining the locking segment in its position adjacent to the shank segment and the hook segment is oriented in its angled, deployed fish engaging position; and where the sliding wire can be slid proximally along the shank segment to release the locking segment, and the hook segment then can be swung freely so that the hook segment is pointed distally to release the fish with minimal damage to the fish, and where the hook segment can be pivoted so that the hook segment is pointed proximally and then the sliding wire can be slid so that the third coil is positioned around the hook segment for safe storage, preventing the hook point from pivoting away from the shank segment.
The shank segment and the hook segment are alternatively interconnected by a pivot pin passing through pin ports in the shank segment distal end and the hook segment connected end, and the apparatus preferably additionally includes a sliding tube surrounding a portion of the shank segment; a shank segment engaging mechanism releasibly securing the shank segment at one of a certain first axial position and a second axial position, the sliding tube having a tube distal end cut at an angle other than ninety degrees relative to the axis of the shank segment, permitting the hook segment to pivot back generally toward the apparatus proximal end and away from the shank segment to define an acute angle with the shank segment and a protruding tube edge, the sliding tube including a tube abutment segment extending from the protruding tube edge to define a pivot stop surface, and the hook segment has a hook segment connected end which preferably is cut at an angle and the pivot stop surface passes adjacent to and against the hook segment connected end when the hook segment is in its angled position, preventing the hook segment from pivoting relative to the shank segment; so that the hook segment can be braced at a fish engaging angle relative to the shank segment by the tube abutment segment for engaging a fish; and so that the sliding tube can be slid proximally along the shank segment to release the hook segment so that the hook segment pivots freely, to release a fish with minimal injury; and so that the hook segment can be locked in a distally extended position by the tube abutment segment.

Torsion fishing hook apparatus with quick, harmless extraction and safe latching features


A valve plate is formed as a butterfly-type valve plate including a first and a second valve-plate half portions that extend in opposite directions to each other from a valve shaft. When the valve plate is at a first changeover position, the first valve-plate half portion is directed to the downstream side of a first intake passage from the valve shaft and the second valve-plate half portion is directed to the upstream side of the first intake passage from the valve shaft so that a first plate face of the valve plate forms a part of the first intake passage. When the valve plate is at a second changeover position, the first valve-plate half portion is directed to the downstream side of a second intake passage from the valve shaft and the second valve-plate half portion is directed to the upstream side of the second intake passage from the valve shaft so that a second plate face of the valve plate forms a part of the second intake passage. Accordingly, the power needed for changing over the valve plate and for keeping a predetermined changeover position can be reduced significantly.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an engine intake control system comprising: an intake passage body attached to an engine; a first intake passage formed in the intake passage body and having a downstream end connected to an intake port of the engine; a second intake passage also formed in the intake passage body and having a downstream end connected to the intake port; and a changeover valve that includes a valve shaft rotatably supported by the intake passage body, and a valve plate attached to the valve shaft, the valve plate being moved rotationally, by a rotational movement of the valve shaft, between a first changeover position, where the valve plate closes the second intake passage and allows the first intake passage to be connected to the intake port for air flow, and a second changeover position, where the valve plate closes the first intake passage and allows the second intake passage to be connected to the intake port for air flow.
2. Description of the Related Art
The above-mentioned engine intake control system has been known by the disclosure of Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2000-234522.
The engine intake control system disclosed in the above-mentioned document employs a changeover valve that includes a valve shaft and a valve plate. The valve plate is attached to the valve shaft and extends in the direction of only one side of the valve shaft. In other words, the valve plate is cantilevered. A moment of a constant direction caused by the intake negative pressure acts on the valve plate irrespective of whether the valve plate is positioned at a first changeover position or a second changeover position. Operating the valve plate to change its positions against the above-mentioned moment needs a large power, so does keeping the valve plate at a predetermined changeover position against the moment.


A cyclone dust-separating apparatus that may be conveniently maintained and repaired is disclosed. The cyclone dust-separating apparatus includes a cyclone chamber that separates dust using a whirling air current about a horizontal rotating axis, and a first cover that is detachably attached to an end of the cyclone chamber to expose the cyclone chamber. The first cover can be detached, so the cyclone dust-separating apparatus may be conveniently maintained and repaired.

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to a cyclone dust-separating apparatus, and more particularly to a cyclone dust-separating apparatus in which maintenance and repair are convenient, and a cleaner having the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a cyclone dust-separating apparatus causes dust-laden air drawn in from the outside to whirl rapidly inside a cyclone chamber, and uses the centrifugal force generated from the whirling air current to separate dust from the drawn-in air. Such cyclone dust-separating apparatuses have been applied to a cleaner.
If large particles of dust are drawn into the cyclone dust-separating apparatus, or if a large quantity hair is tangled together in the cyclone dust-separating apparatus, the passages of the cyclone dust-separating apparatus may become clogged. If the inside of the cyclone dust-separating apparatus becomes clogged with dust or dirt, the dust or dirt cannot be drawn in, so the cleaner cannot operate normally, and a user must disassemble the cyclone dust-separating apparatus to remove the dust or dirt from the clogged passages. However, it may be impossible or extremely complicated for the user to disassemble a conventional cyclone dust-separating apparatus, so the user needs to call a repairman. Accordingly, it is inconvenient for a user to maintain and repair the cyclone dust-separating apparatus, and a merchandiser charges additional costs for such services.
A grill to separate the dust or dirt may be mounted in the cyclone dust-separating apparatus in order to enhance dust-separating efficiency. If a user uses a cleaner for a long time, large amounts of dust or dirt become attached to the grill. Therefore, a large pressure drop arises, and an excessive load is applied to the motor generating the suction force, and the separating efficiency deteriorates. In extreme cases, even the grill may become completely clogged. As described above, it is inconvenient to use a conventional cyclone dust-separating apparatus, in that it is difficult to remove dust or dirt from the grill.
A cyclone dust-separating apparatus cannot reliably separate the small particles of dust or dirt, so an auxiliary filter may be mounted to the cleaner. However, since a filter is disposed inside the cleaner, users should experience inconvenience when changing filters.

Cyclone dust-separating apparatus and cleaner having the same


A wheel restraint for restraining a vehicle at a loading dock includes a flexible elongate member with one end that can be manually wrapped at least partially around at least one of the vehicle's wheels. The other end of the elongate member is connected to an anchor that is generally fixed relative to the dock. The anchor preferably includes a reel for taking up slack in the elongate member. When the restraint is not in use, the reel can take up and store the elongate member. The restraint preferably provides a signal that indicates whether the wheel is actually restrained. The restraint might also include a wheel chock coupled to the elongate member. A floor-mounted guide can help prevent interference between the elongate member and certain parts of the vehicle.

When a truck, trailer or some other vehicle is parked at a loading dock, often some sort of vehicle restraint is used to keep the truck from inadvertently moving away from an elevated platform of the dock. This allows a forklift truck to safely drive between the dock platform and the truck for the purpose of loading or unloading the cargo inside the truck.
There are a variety of vehicle restraints available that can be installed at a loading dock for engaging the truck's RIG (Rear Impact Guard), also known as an ICC bar. An ICC bar is a beam that extends horizontally across the rear of a truck, just below the truck bed. Its primary purpose is to prevent an automobile from under-riding the truck in a rear-end collision. However, not all trucks have an ICC bar that can be readily engaged by an ICC-style restraint, so in those cases a wheel restraint can be used for blocking one or more of the truck's wheels.
Perhaps the most common wheel restraint is simply a wheel chock that wedges between the driveway and the underside of the wheel. However, wheel chocks often slip out of position on driveways that are slippery due to oil, rain, ice, sand, gravel or dirt. Sometimes, wheel chocks wedge so tightly under the wheel that they become very difficult to remove. Trucks have also been known to drive completely up and over a wheel chock. Wheel chocks are often loose items that are not permanently attached to the loading dock area, so they tend to get misplaced.
One solution to the problems associated with manually installed wheel chocks can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,553,987 and 5,582,498. These patents disclose powered wheel restraints that travel along a track. However, such wheel restraints cannot always be readily installed at loading docks that may already have a drain or some other driveway irregularity situated where the track is to be installed.
A wheel restraint disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,305,049 has a wheel chock that travels along a lead screw that is elevated above a driveway. However, there are some significant problems with the device. The chock always moves between its upright retracted position and its horizontally extended position at the same place along the lead screw, i.e., where the chock slides along the curved bar 26. If part of the truck/trailer happens to be at this location, that part could obstruct the movement of the chock. For example, such a part could include another wheel of the truck or trailer. And the location of the wheels is unpredictable due to the wide variety of trucks and trailers. Moreover, tools and other equipment are often stowed under the trailer, which could also obstruct the movement of the chock. The likelihood of hitting the stowed parts is increased, as the chock swings downward form a high, upright position. The higher up the chock reaches, the more likely it will reach the stowed parts. Damage may occur to the obstructing part or the wheel restraint itself if the lead screw continues to drive the chock regardless of any obstruction. Further, once the chock extends laterally outward, the lead screw drags the chock along the driveway until it reaches the first wheel. The dragging motion could plow quite an accumulation of snow and dirt up against the tire. Overtime, the dragging motion could eventually erode the surface of the driveway.
Another powered wheel chock system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,709,518. The '518 device includes a sensor bar that swings a chock plate about a vertical axis at pivot hole. However, the device's ability to accommodate wheels of various diameters appears to be quite limited, as the distance between bar and chock plate is fixed. Increasing the distance between the bar and chock plate to match larger diameter wheels could create an interference problem between the chock plate and a forward set of wheels of a tandem axle trailer. The interference problem is worsened by the way the chock plate is first extended between the wheels and subsequently moved back against a front portion of the rear wheel. The additional backward movement requires additional space between a set of tandem wheels. The greatest space is at the lowest portion of the wheel; however, engaging a wheel at such a low point leads to other problems. If the chock plate, for instance, is too low, a truck may simply drive over it, especially if the truck/trailer is light (e.g., unloaded).
In addition to the specific problems of various powered wheel restraints, such wheel restraints in general are quite elaborate and expensive mechanisms. Thus, there is still a need for a simple yet effective way of restraining the wheel of a truck at a loading dock.

Loading dock wheel restraint comprising a flexible elongate member


A method of preventing a recirculation pump cavitation and a forced recirculation type steam-generating apparatus are disclosed in which water is forcibly circulated by a recirculation pump. The pressure of the steam-generating section of the steam-generating apparatus and the temperature of water at the suction side of the recirculation pump are detected. The rotational speed of the recirculation pump is reduced to a predetermined speed level when the difference between the saturation temperature associated with the detected pressure and the water temperature is reduced below a predetermined value, thus preventing the cavitation which otherwise might occur in the recirculation pump.

1. Field Of The Invention
The present invention relates to a forced recirculation type steam-generating apparatus, or more in particular to a method of preventing the recirculation pump cavitation which otherwise might occur in the recirculation pump when the pressure in the steam-generating section of the reactor or a circulation type boiler is steeply reduced and the forced recirculation type steam-generating apparatus using the same method.
2. Description Of The Prior Art
In the conventional reactor and the like, the cavitation in the recirculation pump and jet pump has been prevented by a method of detecting the reduction of water supply, thus generating a cavitation preventing signal, by the use of which the recirculation flow is reduced or another method of monitoring the difference in temperature between the main steam and the recirculation water, thus generating a cavitation preventing signal, when the temperature difference is reduced below a predetermined value, by the use of which the recirculation flow is reduced. In the former method, the cavitation is likely to occur due to the steep pressure reduction caused by the trouble of the pressure control device. The latter method, on the other hand, has the disadvantage that the response of the detector for detecting the temperature of the main steam line is so slow that the operation for reducing the recirculation flow is delayed at the time of steep pressure drop in the reactor, thus providing unsatisfactory means for preventing the recirculation pump cavitation.

Method of preventing recirculation pump cavitation and forced recirculation pump type steam-generating apparatus using the method


A stereoscopic 3D camera system includes a first camera, which has a first optical axis, and a second camera, which has a second optical axis; a beam splitter; and a mirror. The camera system is arranged to be re-configurable between a first configuration, in which the first optical axis is incident on the beam splitter, and a second configuration, in which the first optical axis is incident on the mirror.

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to stereoscopic 3D (three dimensional) camera systems. In particular, it relates to a stereoscopic 3D camera system that is reconfigurable.
2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98
There are three known stereoscopic 3D camera systems:
Firstly, there are fixed lens separation cameras in which CCD image chips are fixed at a predetermined distance apart. Many commercially available 3D cameras, including both domestic and professional camcorders, are produced in this way. A typical fixed lens separation system is shown in FIG. 1.
Secondly, there are side-by-side systems with variable separation between adjacent cameras. A side-by-side camera set-up allows for adjustment of the spacing of the cameras. That is to say, the distance between lens centres may be adjusted. When the cameras abut is the closest the cameras can be positioned to one another. A typical side-by-side system is shown in FIG. 2.
Thirdly, there are mirror rigs, wherein two cameras of a 3D stereoscopic rig interact with a 50/50 front beam-splitter. The usual configuration is that one camera looks through the beam-splitter, which comprises a semi-silvered mirror, while the other camera is reflected off it. The advantage of this configuration, in contrast to the fixed lens and side-by-side arrangements discussed above, is that the cameras can operate from zero separation, outwardly. A typical mirror rig is shown in FIG. 3.
Each of these systems suffers from disadvantages. In this regard, it must be noted that the separation (or "interaxial" distance apart) of a pair of cameras affects the depth perceived on a 3D display. For achieving a good 3D effect in a macro situation, such as the filming of an insect or similar, a very small separation is required. In contrast, for achieving a good 3D effect when filming a larger scene, such as a sporting event, a much larger separation will be required.
A 3D camera with a fixed lens separation arrangement, whilst compact, is inflexible when it comes to adjustment of "best-practice" depth management as this can only be achieved by mechanical separation of the pair of image chips or pair of cameras. This is not to be confused with "convergence" or "toe-in", which is the targeting of the two cameras. In essence, no variable separation is possible with a fixed lens separation arrangement. There are no means for increasing the separation or interaxial distance needed for good 3D.
In a side-by-side arrangement, the closest separation obtainable is determined by the width of the body and/or elements emanating from the camera body. Some broadcast cameras can be quite large, bulky bodied, items, making many 3D filming situations impractical. Side-by-side broadcast cameras are usually used for filming field event sports such as football and rugby matches where the camera-rig must be placed far away from the action being filmed.
In a mirror rig, whilst a zero separation is possible, the camera looking through the semi-silvered mirror loses 50% of the light, while both cameras might suffer from image degradation due to dust, scratches or smears on the surface of the mirror.

Stereoscopic camera system with multiple configurations


A device for securing a pipe to a wall, including an exterior wall of a building, is provided. The device has a generally flat surface which adheres to the wall and a generally curved support unit which receives the pipe. An optional securing bar may be locked over the top of the pipe to prevent movement of the pipe. In an embodiment, the device has an extension flange which allows the pipe to be secured to the wall in an off-set manner. Preferably, a plurality of the present aligned devices secure the pipe to the wall in a horizontal or vertical manner. The device allows the pipe to be secured to a wall in compliance with governmental regulations. An adapter unit may be inserted over the curved support unit for one or more smaller pipes.

A device for securing a pipe to a wall, including an exterior wall of a building, is provided. The device has a generally flat surface which adheres to the wall and a generally curved support unit which receives the pipe. An optional securing bar may be locked over the top of the pipe to prevent movement of the pipe. In an embodiment, the device has an extension flange which allows the pipe to be secured to the wall in an off-set manner. Preferably, a plurality of the present aligned devices secure the pipe to the wall in a horizontal or vertical manner. The device allows the pipe to be secured to a wall in compliance with governmental regulations. An adapter unit may be inserted over the curved support unit for one or more smaller pipes.
Attempts have been made to provide a pipe securing apparatus to secure a pipe within a wall of a building. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,241,199 to Ismert discloses a protective insulating sleeve having a two part construction with a pair of mating semi-cylindrical halves. Each semi-cylindrical half includes a semi-cylindrical metal sleeve surrounded by a semi-cylindrical plastic sleeve. The semi-cylindrical plastic sleeve has a groove formed in one exposed surface thereof and extending lengthwise along it. The semi-cylindrical metal sleeve extends outward past the semi-cylindrical plastic sleeve to form a tongue which mates with the groove in the other mating semi-cylindrical half such that the mated halves can be inserted into a bore in a stud or joist to receive a pipe or conduit extending through that stud or joist. Cushioning ribs are provided to dampen noise emanating from the pipe or conduit. The interlocked protective insulating sleeve thus serves the plural function of supporting and insulating the pipe or conduit and surrounding it with the metal sleeve to protect it from penetration by nails, screws or other fasteners driven into the stud or joist. The two part construction allows the protective insulating sleeve to be installed in a stud or joist before or after the pipe or conduit has been installed.
Further, U.S. Pat. No. 5,488,198 to Kramer discloses a device for protecting wires and tubes which are placed thru the apertures in building panels or studs made of steel or the like. The protection device disclosed herein includes a single piece, plastic body having a wall surface which is bowed on opposing sides and flanged along its periphery. On opposing sides of the outer surface of the body's wall is arranged a single protruding ridge or a plurality of protruding, angled pins or male nubs which securely hold, in the gap formed between the wall flange and the ridge/male nubs, the opposing rims of an aperture in a metal stud that this device is designed to be securely attached to. The body of this device can be of any size or shape, including but not limited to square, rectangular, oval or cathedral shaped. Due to its elasticity and larger than aperture size, this device can be pinched in along the opposing bowed sides of the body's wall and upon release an outward pressure is achieved against the rims of the stud aperture. The design of the protruding male nubs in relation to the wall flange allows this device to remain firmly attached to the aperture once it is attached thereto.
Further, U.S. Pat. No. 8,424,267 to Cannistraro, et al. discloses an improved protective device for use with a metal stud. This invention protects in-wall piping, conduit and wiring from inadvertent puncturing by drywall screws during the installation of wall boarding.
Still further, U.S. Pat. No. 9,080,691 to the present applicant Bartos discloses a device for securing a pipe within the interior of a wall is provided. The device is especially suitable for quickly and easily securing a pipe within an opening in a stud of a wall. The device has a generally flat surface which adheres to the front of a stud and a grasping portion which secures the pipe on a first end. The device allows the pipe to be secured within a wall in compliance with governmental regulations.
However, these devices for securing a pipe to a wall of a building fail to provide device for securing a pipe to a wall which is easy to use, quick and inexpensive. Further, these devices fail to provide a pipe securing apparatus which easily complies with governmental regulations.


In one aspect, reverse electrodialysis systems are described herein having constructions operable to reduce membrane stack resistance, thereby requiring significantly less membrane surface area for meaningful electrical power generation. A reverse electrodialysis system described herein comprises an anode and cathode adjacent to a membrane stack, the membrane stack comprising alternating anion and cation exchange membranes defining diluate and concentrate ionic solution compartments, wherein an ion exchange medium is positioned in a diluate compartment.

With the increasing controversy surrounding fossil fuel based emissions, significant resources are being devoted to developing alternative and renewable energies. Energy production from salinity gradients has been known for several decades and offers significant advantages of carbonless emissions and renewability. Two leading methods of energy production from salinity gradients are pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) and reverse electrodialysis (RED). Reverse electrodialysis functions on the basis of salinity differences in mixing solution such as sea water and river water. A membrane stack is sandwiched by electrodes and composed of alternating salt water and freshwater compartments defined by anion and cation exchange membranes permitting selective exchange of ions between the compartments. Driven by the difference in chemical potential between the salt water and freshwater solutions, cations diffuse through the cation exchange membranes toward the cathode and anions diffuse through the anion exchange membranes toward the anode. At the electrodes, a redox couple is used to mitigate the transfer of electrons. Therefore, when electrodes are connected to an external circuit, electrical power can be extracted from the reverse electrodialysis system.
The theoretical power density of reverse electrodialysis systems is in the neighborhood of 20 W/m2. In actual implementation, however, the power density drops significantly to 1-3 W/m2 in the most efficient systems. The precipitous drop in power density can be attributed to several factors including resistances through the cation and anion exchange membranes, electrode resistance and power consumed in plant operation. In order to compensate for these losses, significant membrane area is required. This can be prohibitive given the high cost and limited lifetimes of suitable cation and anion exchange membranes.

Reverse electrodialysis systems comprising wafer and applications thereof

The Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas


A sidewall panel of a barrel cooler has a sidewall panel body forming a first vertical edge and a second vertical edge. The sidewall panel has a latch arm protruding from the first vertical edge of the sidewall panel body, wherein the latch arm is adapted to cooperatively connect with a latch box of a first adjacent sidewall panel of the barrel cooler. The sidewall panel also has a latch box flush along the second vertical edge of the sidewall panel body, wherein the latch box is adapted to cooperatively connect with a latch arm of a second adjacent sidewall panel of the barrel cooler. The sidewall panel may be included in a system of parts that are adapted to cooperatively couple together to form a barrel cooler. The sidewall panel may also be included in an assembled barrel cooler.

Both stationary and movable coolers are widely used for cooling food items and beverages. Ice is often used in movable coolers because ice is readily available, cools effectively, and allows a high degree of variability in the placement of the cooler. A popular movable cooler is a barrel cooler that can be disposed at one desirable area in a retail environment and easily wheeled to another area in the same retail environment as desired. However, transportation costs typically increase with the bulk of the item being transported. Therefore, when moving the barrel cooler longer distances, the bulkiness of a traditional barrel cooler typically results in high transportation costs.

Barrel cooler with components assembleable on site


A system may include a seal including first and second lip portions and an inner portion disposed between the first and second lip portions. The first and second lip portions may be formed from a different material than the inner portion. Additionally, the first and second lip portions may be configured to block the flow of fluid to the inner portion. Further, the first and second lip portions may be configured to block extrusion of the inner portion.

This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure, 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 disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
Fluid systems, such as mineral (e.g., oil and gas) extraction systems and transport systems, typically include multiple segments of tubing, valves, and connectors that are sealed together by various seals. Seals are often constructed from elastomeric materials or from metal materials. In some fluid systems, these seals may be subjected to harsh environmental conditions, such as exposure to extreme pressures, extreme temperatures, and/or corrosive fluids. Such harsh environmental conditions may decrease the effectiveness of the seals and/or may degrade the seals. Further, seals are often disposed in remote equipment, such as marine (e.g., sub-sea) wellheads, which can make access and repair of the seals difficult and expensive.


An apparatus for drying ink deposited upon cut sheet of paper. The apparatus includes a microwave generating member to generate microwave energy for the ink and an applying member connected to said microwave generating member to apply resonating traveling microwaves to the paper. The applicator member includes a serpentine applicator for drying the ink and includes input slots and output slots for moving cut sheet of paper through the serpentine applicator. A transport member transports ink printed cut sheet paper stock from the input slot to the output slot by a belt running through the center of the applicator.

Many inks and particularly those used in thermal ink jet printing include a colorant and a liquid which is typically an aqueous liquid vehicle. Some thermal ink jet inks also include a low vapor pressure solvent. When a substrate or a sheet of paper is printed with ink jet ink, the ink is deposited on the substrate to form an image in the form of text and/or graphics. Once deposited, the liquid is removed from the ink and paper to fix the ink to the substrate. The amount of liquid to be removed, of course, varies with the amount of ink deposited on the substrate. If a sheet is covered with 10% printing, as in text only printing, the amount of liquid to be removed is quite small. If the sheet is covered with 90% printing, however, as when a graphic image is printed, the amount of liquid to be removed is substantially more and can cause image defects and paper deformation if not removed very rapidly.
Liquid can be removed from the ink and printed substrate by a number of methods. One simple method is natural air drying in which the liquid component of the ink deposited on the substrate is allowed to evaporate without mechanical assistance resulting in natural drying. Another method is to send the printed substrate through a dryer to evaporate the liquid. In some cases a special paper is used in which the liquid is absorbed by a thin coating of absorptive material deposited on the surface of the paper. Blotting of the printed substrate is also known.
In the case of natural drying, almost 100 percent of the liquid is absorbed into the paper and is then, over a long period of time, evaporated naturally. The absorption and desorption of water into and out of the paper, however, has some undesirable side effects, such as long drying time, strike through, feathering at edges of the printed image, paper curl and paper cockle. In the case of paper cockle, the absorption and desorption of the water relaxes the internal stresses of the paper and results in deformations known as cockle. Cockle is also a function of the amount of liquid deposited per unit area. Less printing on a page has less potential to develop cockle due to the smaller amount of liquid. More printing on a page has more cockle potential due to a higher amount of liquid per unit area. Cockle can also be induced by heating of the paper, which results in stress relief.
Ink compositions also have an effect on the drying rates and drying efficiency. For example, highly absorptive (fast drying) inks while requiring less ink to be removed by a dryer are prone to image quality defects such as feathering, raggedness, and strike through. On the other hand, slightly absorbtive inks require more power from a dryer to dry since more ink requires evaporation.
The rate at which the image is dried is also critical for controlling the print quality. A slow drying rate can achieve ink permanence or drying effectiveness but also can result in image quality defects such as excessive image feathering or strike through. Additionally, a slow drying rate can result in image offset (ink from one sheet of paper is transferred to another sheet of paper because the ink has not dried completely), smear and spreading from contact with exit rolls, baffles and output stacking of the individual sheets. A very fast drying rate can result in image mottle and image spatter.
Drying rates are particularly critical when substrates are printed at high rates of speeds. Not only must image deformations and paper deformations be controlled, but the drying times must be short due to the high printing rates to ensure no offset at exit rolls.
A dryer must achieve image fixing (no offset/smear) and good image quality to reduce or prevent image disturbance, distortion, feathering and strike through. In addition the dryer must preferably reduce or eliminate cockle and curl. Besides the slow speed of conventional dryers, many dryers produce uneven drying rates resulting in uneven drying patterns. To shorten drying times, infrared drying techniques have been adopted. This method can, however, cause browning of paper during paper jams due to the elevated temperatures produced by the infrared heat.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,584,389 to Hilton et al., a method and apparatus for drying printing ink on paper in which both microwave and infra-red radiation used for heating is described. A web of printed paper on which the print is to be dried passes through two serpentine slotted waveguides in succession, and thereafter passes under three infra-red heaters.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,617,953 to Kingma et al. describes a microwave impedance matching system for matching a microwave input waveguide to a microwave output waveguide. A first and second electromechanical phase shifter are moved transversely in waveguide sections to produce varying amount of differential phase shift.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,672,066 to Stephansen discloses a microwave drying apparatus which includes a serpentine waveguide The device includes two opposed air cushions which force a web of material passing through the device to stay midway between the opposite waveguides.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,739,130 to White, discloses a multicavity microwave applicator for uniformly treating a moving web of material with microwave energy. The applicator is formed of two separate sets of cavity resonators which are intermeshed with one another so that the resonators of one set are alternated with the resonators of the second set in a side-by-side relationship.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,783,414 to Klein et al. describes a termination for a transmission line or waveguide of small weight and size capable of absorbing high levels of power and capable of achieving a VSWR in the order of 1.05 to 1.20 over 10-20 percent frequency bands.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,796,973 to Klein describes a termination for transmitting or absorbing a signal transmitted through a transmission line or waveguide.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,234,775 to Wolfberg et al. discloses a device which has a serpentine waveguide and uses microwave energy to remove moisture from a moving web. The microwave energy takes the form of standing waves which are purposefully disrupted to cause the peaks of the standing waves to continuously oscillate along the various sections of the waveguide, resulting in a more uniform application of the microwave energy across the width the web.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,286,135 to Green et al. describes a waveguide isolator having microwave ferrite bars to reduce energy reflected into the microwave source. A blower fan draws air past the microwave source and through a waveguide to provide cooling.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,332,091 to Bensussan et al. describes a microwave drying device intended for drying grains having a phase shifter allowing the phase to be adjusted to obtain maximum efficiency of the device.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,352,691 to Owatari et al. describes liquid ink compositions including a water-soluble dye, an alkali material, at least one wetting agent and water suited for ink jet type printers. Ink drying time is about five seconds.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,469,026 to Irwin describes a method and apparatus for drying ink printed on print media. Drying is controlled according to print parameters such as print data density, characteristics of the ink, and ambient humidity. The dryer may be a conventional hot roll, a hot platen, a lamp or a microwave dryer.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,482,239 to Hosono et al. describes an electrophotographic copying machine which visualizes electrostatic latent images with developer fixed by microwave radiation. The developer is a colored developing powder composed of thermoplastic resin having a high dielectric constant and magnetic powder having magnetic loss.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,754,238 to Schuller et al. describes a microwave absorber including a hollow body consisting of microwave-absorbing material which is arranged in a housing. At least one inlet and one outlet are provided for a gaseous cooling fluid which streams through the container to carry away heat produced by microwave energy which has been absorbed by the absorbing body.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,970,528 to Beaufort et al. describes a method for uniformly drying ink on paper from an ink jet printer. While paper is transferred from an input paper supply tray to an output paper collection tray, the paper receives the uniform heat flux from an infrared bulb which is located on the axis of symmetry for the paper transport path. The per page processing speed for this apparatus was increased from 2 minutes per page using no dryer at all, to 13 seconds per page using the described uniform dryer.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,079,507 to Ishida et al. describes an automatic impedance adjusting apparatus for adjusting an impedance seen looking toward a microwave load. A cooling air outlet exhausts cooling air into a circular waveguide.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,207,824 to Moffatt et al. describes ink formulations for control of paper cockle in thermal ink jet printing. The ink contains the components of water, dye, and a low vapor pressure solvent, which contains an organic compound or anti-cockle agent.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,214,442 to Roller describes an adaptive dryer to minimize heating power requirements of a printer by determining mass-area coverage of ink on a page prior to drying.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,220,346 to Carreira et al. describes a printing process using an ink composition comprising an aqueous liquid vehicle, a colorant and an ionic compound at least partially ionizable in the liquid vehicle applied to a substrate in an imagewise fashion and subsequently exposed to microwave radiation to dry the images on the substrate.
British Patent Specification No. 1,050,493 to Hilton describes microwave heating and/or drying of sheet material, for example paper in order to dry ink which has been applied by a printing process. The apparatus comprises a plurality of waveguide sections provided with slots in the sides thereof through which a sheet of material can be passed for drying. The waveguide sections are arranged in a serpentine manner. A microwave source is attached to one end of the waveguide and a load is attached to the other end of the waveguide.
Japanese Laid Open Publication 107,490 to Yamaguishi describes an apparatus to dry ink printed out by means of an ink jet printer by utilizing a microwave.
European Patent Application Publication No. 538 071-A2 to Yasuhiko et al. describes an ink jet recording apparatus having a low temperature heater and a high temperature heater to dry the ink. The low temperature heater heats the recording sheet and the high temperature heater heats the ink recorded on the recording sheet to a temperature at which the ink is dried and fixed.
Xerox Disclosure Journal, Volume 7, Number 6, November/December 1982, pages 373 to 375 describes an electrostatic dryer for ink jet printers.

Apparatus and method for drying ink deposited by ink jet printing


A method and apparatus for adding a metal, for example sodium, to a melt of a material, for example aluminum, in a vessel, in which a molten compound of the metal or a solution of a compound of the metal is provided in a container (12), the container being positioned outside the vessel, the compound is electrolytically decomposed and ions of the metal are caused to pass through a wall of a solid-state electrolyte (14) which is a conductor therefor, from a first side of the wall to an opposite second side thereof, and to combine with electrons at the second side of the wall and then to flow as molten metal from the container into the melt in the vessel.

This invention relates to the addition of trace amounts of metal to a melt.
It is particularly concerned with the addition of a metal from Group 1A of the Periodic Table to a melt of another metal, e.g. aluminium or zinc. Thus the Group 1A metal may be, for example sodium or lithium.
The invention is most preferably concerned with the addition of sodium to molten aluminium or an aluminium alloy and, although it will be appreciated that it is not intended to be limited thereto, it will be described for convenience below with specific reference to those metals.
The addition of trace amounts of sodium, e.g. amounts less than about 200 ppm, to an aluminium melt is well known. It can result in improved quality of castings and the castings can be more easily removable from the mould and subject to a reduction in shrinkage.
Conventionally, sodium has been added to the aluminium melt in metallic form as sticks or in aluminium cans or in the form of tablets of a sodium compound and while these methods have the advantage of simplicity they are very inefficient. Owing to the violence of the reaction that occurs much of the added sodium is lost by oxidation and considerable smoke generation is caused. Frequent additions are, therefore, necessary and the method is very wasteful, environmentally unfriendly and cannot provide a controlled amount of effective addition.
A method of overcoming these disadvantages is disclosed in EP-A-0688881. This teaches a method of adding sodium to a melt of aluminium or aluminium alloy in which an electrode comprising molten sodium or a molten sodium compound is immersed in the aluminium melt and is separated from the melt by a solid-state electrolyte which conducts sodium ions. A direct voltage is provided between that electrode and the melt by the provision of a second electrode in the melt. While providing a number of advantages in principle, this technique can lead to problems in the melt, e.g. if there is any failure of the solid-state electrolyte container.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a further improved means of metal addition.
Accordingly, the invention provides a method of adding a metal to a melt of a material in a vessel, in which a molten compound of the metal or a solution of a compound of the metal is provided in a container, the container being positioned outside the vessel, the compound is electrolytically decomposed and ions of the metal are caused to pass through a wall of a solid-state electrolyte which is a conductor therefor, from a first side of the wall to an opposite second side thereof, and to combine with electrons at the second side of the wall and then to flow as molten metal from the container into the melt.
In another aspect the invention provides an apparatus for adding a metal to a melt of a material in a vessel, the apparatus comprising a container for a molten compound of the metal or a solution of the compound of the metal, the container being positioned outside the vessel, means to electrolytically decompose the molten or dissolved compound, a wall positioned inside the container and formed of a solid-state electrolyte which is a conductor for ions of the metal, whereby the metal ions formed can pass through the wall from a first side to an opposite second side thereof, a source of electrons at the second side of the wall to combine with the metal ions, and means to pass the molten metal so formed from the second side of the wall into the melt.
For embodiments of the invention in which the container is for a molten compound of the metal, the apparatus preferably includes means to heat the compound of the metal to molten form.
For embodiments of the invention in which a solution of a compound of the metal is used, the solvent is preferably an organic solvent, for example acetamide or glycerol. When a solvent is used, the invention preferably includes means for preventing substantial loss of the solvent through evaporation or boiling.
As indicated above, the melt in the vessel will normally be a metal melt, e.g. of zinc or, preferably, aluminium but it will be appreciated that the invention is applicable in principle to non-metallic melts.
Also as indicated above, the metal to be added to the melt will normally be a metal of Group 1A of the Periodic Table and the invention is particularly useful for the addition of sodium.
The metal compound is preferably an ionic compound but the invention is equally applicable to the use of non-conducting metal compounds. A mixture of a plurality of metal compounds (ionic or non-ionic) may be used.
Where the or each metal compound is ionic, current may be passed between a first electrode positioned in the molten compound and a second electrode positioned beyond or at the second side of the wall of the solid-state electrolyte, whereas if one or more non-conducting metal compounds is/are used, the first electrode should be porous and be positioned to lie on the first side of the wall.
Thus electrolytic decomposition of the metal compound is effected, molten metal being discharged at the second electrode and anionic species being discharged at the first electrode. The metal compound is preferably a metal salt, for example a metal hydroxide, carbonate or oxalate salt. The anionic species preferably discharge to form one or more gases, e.g. where sodium hydroxide is used as the metal compound, water vapour and oxygen are produced, and where sodium carbonate is used as the metal compound, carbon dioxide and oxygen are produced. (It will be appreciated that where water vapour is produced, it should normally be ducted away to prevent any possible contact with the melt in the vessel.)
At the start up of the process, priming may be needed at the second side of the wall of the solid-state electrolyte. This may be achieved by contact between the second side and the second electrode or by the provision of an amount of the molten metal.
The wall of solid-state electrolyte may conveniently form a container. In one embodiment this container also provides the container in which the metal compound is held. Thus the first electrode for the required passage of current extends into the metal compound in the container or lies on the interior (first side) of the wall. The metal ions, therefore, pass through the container wall to the outside, are discharged and liquid metal then passes from the outside of the wall via a passage to the melt in the vessel. In a second embodiment the container formed of solid-state electrolyte is positioned inside another container. This outer container may conveniently act as one of the electrodes for the required passage of current.
In this second embodiment the metal compound may either be contained in the inner solid-state electrolyte container or outside that container but inside the outer container. The metal ions then either flow through the wall of the inner container from the inside to the outside or vice versa and the electrical circuitry is arranged accordingly as desired. Liquid metal is, therefore, provided with a passageway from inside or outside the inner container, as appropriate, to the melt in the vessel.
The electrodes may be formed of any suitable electrically conducting materials. Thus the first electrode may be formed, for example, of nickel, stainless steel or graphite and the second electrode may be formed, for example, of nickel, iron or steel depending on the metal compound used.
Where the metal to be added to the melt is sodium, the sodium compound to provide the source of sodium ions may be, for example, as indicated above, sodium hydroxide or sodium carbonate. Whatever compound is used, it should preferably be compatible with the solid-state electrolyte, should preferably be non-toxic and should preferably produce harmless by-products.
Where it is desired to use sodium carbonate, it may be preferable to mix it with a proportion of sodium chloride to reduce the melting temperature of pure sodium carbonate from 858xc2x0 C. to, say, about 635xc2x0 C. for the mixture. (It will be appreciated that in these circumstances the chloride ions will not be discharged.) Similarly, where it is desired to use sodium hydroxide, it may be preferable to mix it with a proportion of sodium carbonate to reduce the melting temperature of pure sodium hydroxide from 322xc2x0 C. to about 285xc2x0 C. for the mixture.
Where the device is operated at an elevated temperature, care may need to be taken during the addition of metal compound to replenish that used up in the process, because thermal shock could, for example, damage the solid electrolyte. The fresh compound may, for example, be added at a steady slow rate, or the solid electrolyte may be constructed to withstand thermal shock. This may, for example, be achieved by ensuring that the electrolyte has a radius of curvature, preferably a small radius of curvature, in all areas in at least 2 directions. For instance, in the case of tubular shaped electrolytes, the diameter would be reduced to the smallest practical value. Also, solid electrolytes such as beta alumina may be toughened by including about 12% zirconia in its structure. However, the preferred method in the invention is to use a separate compartment where the fresh metal compound is heated to a temperature close to that of the liquid surrounding the solid electrolyte. In one embodiment of the invention solid sodium hydroxide is melted in a separate container and the molten salt from this container is fed to the electrolysis section to keep the molten salt level there at a reasonably constant level. In a second embodiment, an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide is dropped into a container of molten sodium hydroxide. Rapid drying and melting of the solution results. Again, the drying compartment is preferably sufficiently separated from the electrolysis compartment to prevent the solid electrolyte being damaged by thermal shock or chemical attack by water.
The power supply for the electrolysis process frequently constitutes a major part of the total cost, so attention is preferably given to minimizing its power and size. The voltage requirement may be minimized by using an easily decomposed salt, and by ensuring that all current carrying parts are as short as possible and have the highest cross-sectional area that is practical. The current requirement can be reduced by eliminating intermittent operation of the device. Since metal is often required to be introduced into the vessel in an intermittent mode, the invention preferably includes means for storing a small amount of metal within the device until it is needed. A means is then also included to feed the stored and produced metal when required. However, metallic sodium and other group 1A metals present a safety problem, therefore the apparatus preferably includes means to ensure that the minimum amount of metal is present at any given stage of the addition process. For this reason pressurized inert gas is the favoured method for pumping the molten metal from the electrolysis compartment into the vessel. Where a secondary pumping system is used to move metal from the apparatus to the vessel, it is desirable to include a sensor for the flow of metal so that the flow can be set at an optimum rate. Such a sensor may also aid in the detection of blockages in the metal feed pipe, for example. In the case where gas pressure is used, one or more gas pressure gauges are preferably used.
The solid-state electrolyte for sodium addition is preferably of sodium beta alumina. Sodium beta alumina has a sodium ion conductivity similar to that of molten salts with a negligible electronic conductivity over a wide temperature range but any other suitable sodium ion conducting electrolyte may be used. The solid-state electrolyte for lithium addition is preferably lithium beta alumina although, again, any other suitable lithium ion conducting electrolyte may be used.
Thus it is possible by means of the present invention to control the addition of metal to a melt by controlling the charge across the solid-state electrolyte. The amount of material that is pumped through the solid-state electrolyte is determined by Faraday""s law. For 26.8 ampere hours one mole of monovalent ionised metal is pumped through the solid-state electrolyte.
A sensor for the added metal, e.g. for sodium, can be inserted into the melt and the addition of the metal monitored and controlled up to a predetermined, desired level.
It can then be maintained at that level without need to add excess, thereby significantly reducing waste and fume and dross production and these advantages are achieved without any risk of failure of a container within the melt.
A substantial amount of gas may be given off during the method, so that the arrangement of the first electrode should preferably be such as to minimise the effect of the gas on the electrolytic process. For example, gas produced by the electrolysis may have difficulty escaping between the anode and the electrolyte. The distance between the anode and the electrolyte may need to be a compromise between being sufficiently small to provide efficient electrolysis and sufficiently large to enable gas produced at the anode to escape. In one embodiment, use is made of the fact that gas produced at the anode will decrease the overall density of the source material (i.e. molten metal compound or metal compound solution) into which it discharges. This density difference is used to create a flow of source material between the anode and the source material in a direction which aids the removal of gas from this region. Additionally or alternatively, a pump can be used to circulate the source material and thus aid the removal of the gas. Advantageously, the anode may be gas permeable, for example porous. The first electrode may, for example, comprise a gas permeable electrically conductive layer on the solid-state electrolyte.
The arrangement of the second electrode relative to the container can be such as to minimise the inventory of molten metal. Alternatively, the molten metal can be produced electrolytically on a continuous basis and maintained in a reservoir between the container and the vessel and pumped through as and when required. The rate of electrolysis can thereby be boosted.
The first electrode may, for example, be generally in the form of a cylinder, preferably a hollow cylinder. Advantageously, the first electrode and the solid-state electrolyte may be shaped such that they are separated by an approximately constant minimum distance over substantially their entire opposing surfaces. This may substantially prevent the formation of a concentration of current at a particular point in the solid-state electrolyte, which could cause its premature failure. This is particularly important when the electrolyte is formed from beta alumina.
The apparatus of the invention preferably includes a control means, for example a timer and/or a monitoring means, which causes the molten metal compound or metal compound solution to be replaced periodically; the method of the invention preferably includes a step of replacing the molten metal compound or metal compound solution periodically. This periodic replacement (or xe2x80x9cflushing-outxe2x80x9d) of the molten metal compound or metal compound solution preferably substantially prevents the build-up of precipitates which may, for example, be formed from impurities or from reaction of the metal compound with air. For example, if sodium hydroxide is used as the source material for the metal (in this case, sodium), it may react with carbon dioxide in the air to form carbonate which will normally electrolytically decompose more slowly than the sodium hydroxide and may therefore build up with time and form a precipitate which could form a blockage. Alternatively, the production of carbonate may increase the melting point of the source material above the operating temperature, causing solidification which may prevent the source material contacting the first electrode.
As the container in the apparatus of the invention is positioned outside the vessel containing the melt, a wider range of operating temperatures of the container can be employed enabling a wider range of metal compounds to be used. In particular, the operating temperature of the apparatus may be minimized (compared to that of the melt vessel) thereby normally enabling the use of more economical materials and a simpler construction. Sealing of the system, if required, is also generally more easily implemented.
Moreover, the design of the apparatus of the invention avoids the thermal shock problems associated with the prior art designs where the container has to be immersed in the melt in the vessel and, particularly for aluminium melts, overcomes the problem that solid-state electrolytes are unstable in molten aluminium.
The apparatus preferably includes a conduit, for example a feeding tube, to transport the molten metal to the melt. The conduit may be fully enclosed so that the metal is isolated from the external environment, for example it may be submerged in the melt. This is particularly important for the addition of sodium, for example. The conduit may be a simple tube or the like, but it is preferably a rotor, for example as illustrated schematically in FIG. 5. The conduit may be formed from a refractory material, e.g. a ceramic material (alumina is one possibility), or it may be formed from a metal which has a higher melting point than the temperature of the melt, e.g. it may be formed from steel.
Alternatively, the apparatus may include means, preferably a pump, which conveys the melt material out of the vessel for addition of the metal to the melt material in a location exterior to the vessel. Preferably, the melt material is conveyed into, or adjacent to, the apparatus for addition of the metal to the melt material in, or adjacent to, the apparatus.
The apparatus will normally include an outer housing enclosing the other components, for example for thermal insulation (to protect the operators) and also to aid its positioning and mounting with respect to the melt vessel.

Method and apparatus for the treatment of a melt


The invention relates to a method of damping abnormal vibrations or bucking of spark ignition engines by adjustment of the ignition angle, including simultaneous detection and temporary storage of a value representative of the effective or instantaneous load and, by comparing the load value against successive load values, establishing changes in the load, whereby such change in load, in case a predetermined threshold is exceeded, affects an adjustment of the effective ignition angle, with resetting of the ignition angle to the effective or characteristic field angle taking place as a function of the gradient of engine rotations.

A method of damping abnormal vibrations, also known as "bucking", which may occur in internal combustion einges of the spark-ignition kind, has been proposed in commonly assigned URBANEK German Paent DE 42 01 861 Cl, filed Jan. 24, 1992, to be published Feb. 4, 1993. In accordance with that disclosure, in the event of increasing engine speed, engine torque is reduced by retarding the ignition angle, and in the event of decreasing engine speed, engine torque is increased by advancing the ignition angle.
Engine speed fluctuations are detected by measuring any deviation in speed per unit of time, with a distinction being made simultaneously between bucking vibrations and acceleration intended by an operator. Where the change in speed is caused by bucking, the change in speed is quantified or weighted, and a corrective ignition angle of appropriate sign is added to the effective, normal ignition angle, i.e. ignition timing is either advanced or retarded.
In certain circumstances, damping of bucking or of abnormal vibrations upon detection of deviations in engine rotation may not be achieved sufficiently quickly since the anti-bucking control will not be effective until after the occurrence of initial deviations in speed. That may, however, adversely affect the performance of an internal combustion engine.