An exemplary method includes receiving a trimap for an image that specifies a background region, a foreground region and an unknown region for the image wherein a boundary exists between the foreground region and the unknown region and wherein another boundary exists between the unknown region and the background region, solving a set of Poisson equations having boundary conditions for the two boundaries to provide a matte that distinguishes a foreground region from a background region in the unknown region, and refining the matte by solving a set of Poisson equations for a local unknown region. Various other exemplary technologies are also presented.

In image composition, a new image can be blended from a background image and a foreground image through use of an alpha matte of the image. On the other hand, separation of the alpha matte, the foreground and the background from a given image is a more difficult process, often referred to as the pulling of matte problem, or simply matting.
For example, in blue screen matting, the alpha matte and foreground can be readily reconstructed because the background is known (e.g., from a user-controlled environment). In contrast, for natural image matting, the alpha matte, the foreground and the background need to be estimated. Further, natural image matting is inherently under-constrained due to the number of unknowns of the matting equation. Thus, a need exists for improved natural image matting techniques. Various exemplary techniques described herein aim to address this and other issues associated with matting.


A portable dispenser is adapted to filling water balloons and water pistols. A reservoir is pressurized by a hand pump that draws air in from the atmosphere and forces the air into the reservoir. The pressure in the reservoir forces water down a flexible tube to a trigger mechanism in a water pistol. The trigger mechanism performs three functions: it throttles the water, it acts as relief valve by releasing water if the pressure is greater than a predetermined limit, and it indicates the pressure within the reservoir. When the trigger mechanism is actuated, water flows through the mechanism to a valve that directs the water either to a filling nozzle or to a spraying nozzle. In an alternative embodiment, the pump takes water from a storage chamber within the reservoir and pumps it into a high pressure chamber within the reservoir.

This invention relates to a portable dispenser having a pressurized reservoir for storing water and, in particular, to a portable dispenser for filling water balloons and water pistols.
In the prior art, balloons and water pistols could be filled only from a water faucet. This has a number of disadvantages. For example, the range at which water balloons and water pistols can be filled and used is significantly reduced because a user must stay near the faucet. Stretching the mouth of a water balloon over the faucet causes great stress on the balloon, often leading to rupture of the balloon or a rip of the mouth of the balloon. A faucet does not direct the water well, making it difficult to fill a water pistol through the small hole typically available on the pistol.
Water balloons are rarely used in water fights because of the time, care, and inconvenience involved in filling even one balloon. It takes time to leave a water fight, go to the nearest faucet, fill a balloon, and then return to the water fight. The balloon must be filled with care to avoid rupturing or ripping the balloon, which further increases the time away from the fun of a water fight. It is inconvenient to interrupt a water fight for re-filling, often at the same faucet as ones opponents. Much of the sense of competition and of action is usually lost, causing the fight to be short-lived and preventing it from reaching a climax of fun. The situation is much the same with small capacity water pistols, with the added disadvantage of spilling water around the faucet, creating huge, muddy messes in the surrounding area. For these reasons, many participants in water fights do not wish to use water balloons or small capacity water pistols.
Manufacturers of water pistols have tried to overcome some of these problems by increasing the size of the reservoir in the water pistol, until the water pistol is almost too heavy to operate while filled. The problem with water balloons has not been recognized.
Pressurized dispensers and, in particular, water pistols with pressurized reservoirs, are known in the art. The prior art does not disclose pressurized reservoirs for filling water balloons and water pistols from a self-contained, portable unit. Of particular interest is U.S. Pat. No. 4,214,674 (1980) to Lawrence T. Jones et al. which discloses a toy water pistol system that has a separate, but attached, pressurized reservoir. The reservoir is pressurized by a hand pump that forces water through flexible tubing to a pistol. The pistol includes a trigger that stops the water from flowing unless the trigger actuated. When the trigger is actuated, the water flows continuously through a nozzle. Also of particular interest is a "Water Bomb Kit" made by Betta Productions Inc. in which a hand-held, squeeze pump-fills water balloons by immersing an inlet of the pump into water and attaching a balloon to an outlet of the pump.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,281,142 (1942) to Ernest W. Davis, discloses a portable pumping apparatus for spraying insecticide or oil. U.S. Pat. No. 2,515,568 (1950) to Gorden C. Pharo, discloses a pump sprayer in which a tank or container is pressurized by operating an air compressor forcing liquid material out through a controlled dispensing spray nozzle. U.S. Pat. No. 3,197,070 (1965) to Curtis F. Pearl et al. discloses a toy fluid dispensing device or garden sprayer wherein a power piston is forced into a chamber filled with water collected from a connected tank. The power piston forces the water through the nozzle to project a spraying stream of about twenty-five feet. U.S. Pat. No. 3,318,482 (1967) to Carl Voce, discloses a water pistol having a single pump to collect water from a connected reservoir and to force the water through a nozzle on the pistol.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,257,460 (1981) to Bruce J. Parany et al. discloses a water pistol having a balloon-like pump system to discharge stored water in a spraying stream. U.S. Pat. No. 4,591,071 (1986) to Lonnie G. Johnson, discloses a pressurized squirt gun that shoots a continuous high velocity stream of water using a pressurized reservoir and a trigger for controlling the discharge of the water through a nozzle. U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,412 (1990) to Donna Younts et al. discloses an apparatus for injecting confetti into a balloon while inflating the balloon. U.S. Pat. No. 5,074,437 (1991) to Bruce M. D'Andrade et al. discloses a water gun that is operated by selectively releasing water from a pressurized reservoir. The reservoir is pressurized by a manual air pump. U.S. Pat. No. 5,123,460 (1992) to David A. Reed, discloses a multipurpose container system to be used for loading liquid dispensers. U.S. Pat. No. 5,141,462 (1992) to Michael R. Latzel, discloses a water gun including a balloon storage housing from which balloons are inflated by the release of compressed gas from a cylinder. A balloon is tethered to the gun for use as a target. U.S. Pat. No. 5,154,317 (1992) to Michael A. Roppolo, III, discloses a portable liquid dispenser for transporting large quantities of liquid to a predetermined location and for dispensing the liquid on demand. U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,391 (1993) to Wallace Roueche et al. discloses a portable sprayer including a piston pump to pressurize a container, a flexible tubing exiting the container, and a nozzle for spraying. U.S. Pat. No. 5,238,149 (1993) Lonnie G. Johnson et al. discloses a water pistol having a manual piston pump that pressurizes a reservoir with water and air from another reservoir, a trigger, and a spraying nozzle.
In view of the foregoing, it is therefore an object of the invention to provide a portable dispenser that enables one to fill water balloons and water pistols in a large territory.
Another object of the invention is to provide a portable dispenser having a nozzle adapted for filling water balloons and for providing a controlled stream of water for filling water pistols with little spillage.
A further object of the invention is to provide a portable, pressurized dispenser for conveniently filling water balloons and small capacity water pistols in the midst of a competition or a water fight.
Another object of the invention is to provide a neater and cleaner way of filling water balloons and water pistols.
A further object of the invention is to provide portable, pressurized dispenser for conveniently filling water balloons and small capacity water pistols away from a water faucet.
Another object of the invention is to provide a portable dispenser for liquids that stores empty or filled water balloons and stores other articles useful in a water fight.
A further object of the invention is to provide dispenser including a trigger that actuates a valve and indicates the pressure within a pressurized reservoir.
Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser including a trigger that is also a relief valve for releasing pressure from a pressurized reservoir.

Portable water balloon and container filler


The invention is directed to a plain bearing part for a liquid metal lubricated plain bearing, the plain bearing part having a bearing surface that is in contact with a liquid metal during operation. This bearing surface is provided with a layer of a metal effective as diffusion barrier for the liquid metal and which is well wetted with the liquid metal. The layer is applied according to a PVD process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a liquid metal lubricated plain bearing, and in particular to a part for such a bearing having a surface which adjoins a bearing surface wetted with liquid metal during operation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Liquid metal lubricated bearings, for example, are employed in x-ray tubes for bearing the rotating anode and are thereby normally accepted in the inside of the vacuum housing of the x-ray tube. An advantage of such liquid metal lubricated plain bearings is their capability of eliminating the dissipated heat that arises in the region of the rotating anode during the generation of x-rays. Gallium, indium or tin alloys that are liquid at room temperature are usually employed as the liquid metal. One problem given such liquid metal plain bearings is that of assuring an adequately high wettability of the bearing surfaces of the plain bearing parts with the liquid metal. As used herein, "bearing surfaces" means those surfaces of the plain bearing parts between which liquid metal must be situated in order to assure a proper operation of the liquid metal lubricated plain bearing. When an adequate wettability of the bearing surfaces is not assured, the liquid metal lubricated plain bearing cannot be completely filled with liquid metal. It is thus then not assured that the bearing surfaces will be wetted completely with liquid metal, leading to a reduction in the supporting capability of the liquid metal plain bearing. Given inadequate wettability of the bearing surfaces, moreover, there is the risk that liquid metal will run out during operation of the bearing surface because the liquid metal film tears off from the bearing surfaces. Additionally, liquid metals are in part extremely reactive, so that they may not wet bearing surface under certain circumstances but will react with the material of the plain bearing part in the region of the bearing surface (gallium is especially highly reactive).
German OS 28 52 908 discloses a liquid metal lubricated plain bearing for the rotating anode of an x-ray tube. The plain bearing parts thereof are composed of molybdenum, because of the good vacuum compatibility of this material and because of the wetting angle of contact between the liquid metal and an oxide-free bearing surface of molybdenum that lies relatively favorable at approximately 100.degree.. Since a thin oxide film forms on bearing surfaces of molybdenum when stored in air or in an atmosphere that contains water vapor, this thin oxide film deteriorating the wettability of the bearing surface with liquid metal, the bearing surfaces are annealed at temperatures of approximately 800.degree. C. in hydrogen or in an atmosphere that contains hydrogen. Subsequently, the parts are stored in a reducing atmosphere until they are employed in order to prevent a renewed occurrence of an oxide layer. A disadvantage is that one is restricted to a specific material for the plain bearing parts.
German OS 38 42 034 and Austrian Patent 361 088 likewise disclose the use of molybdenum as the raw material for the plain bearing part of a liquid metal lubricated plain bearing. Austrian Patent 361 088 also cites tungsten as a suitable material.
A different approach is used in a liquid metal lubricated plain bearing for the rotating anode of an x-ray tube disclosed in European Application 0 479 197. In that bearing, the wettability of the bearing surfaces is produced by providing the plain bearing parts with a coating composed of a carbide, boride or nitride in the region of the bearing surfaces. This is achieved, for example, by coating the plain bearing parts at their bearing surfaces coated using a PVD method (physical vapor deposition, i.e., physical layer deposition in a vacuum). Virtually arbitrary materials can thus be employed for the plain bearing parts, insofar as it is merely assured that these can be provided with a firmly adhering carbide, boride or nitride layer. It has turned out, however, that such liquid metal lubricated plain bearings fall short of expectations in view of their capability of eliminating dissipated heat from the rotating anode.

Metal lubricated plain bearing having a bearing part adjoining a bearing surface wetted with liquid metal during operation


A method is disclosed for web tension setting in a processing machine for processing a material web, in particular a shaftless printing press. In order to set the web tension in a first web tension section with a length L which is delimited upstream by a first clamping point and downstream by a second clamping point, the first clamping point is loaded with a first manipulated variable which is produced using a first element with a first transfer function G1(s) (G3), and the second clamping point is loaded with a second manipulated variable which is produced using a second element with a second transfer function G2(s) (G4), wherein c1G1(s)=−c2G2(s). Thus, it is possible to keep the speed constant even during the regulation at a fixed or variable point x within the web tension section, wherein x=|c1/(c1+c2)|L lies behind the first clamping point.

In processing machines, in particular printing presses, a material web is moved along driven axles (web transport axles), such as pull rolls or advancing rolls, and non-driven axles, such as deflection, guiding, drying or cooling rolls. At the same time, the material web is processed, for example printed, punched, cut, folded, etc., by means of usually likewise drive processing axles.
The web tension of the material web is influenced, for example, via what are known as clamping points which clamp the material web positively or non-positively. There are as a rule driven transport or processing units. In a gravure printing press, a clamping point is usually formed by a printing unit, in which a frictional unit exists between the driven impression cylinder, the impression roller and the material web. The material web is divided into web tension sections, a web tension section being delimited by two clamping points. Further driven and/or non-driven axles can be arranged within a web tension section. The entire material web is often divided into a plurality of web tension sections, sometimes also with different web tension setpoint values. A web tension regulating means is usually used to maintain the setpoint values.
The adjustment or regulation of the web tension of a web tension section can take place by way of different methods. Downstream means that the clamping point which delimits the downstream end of the web tension section is adjusted, and upstream means that the clamping point which delimits the upstream end of the web tension section is adjusted. In this simple embodiment, however, the web tension in leading and/or trailing web tension sections is not decoupled from the actuating movement. Rather, the change in the web tension is transported through the machine such that it follows the material web course, and is to be adjusted in all following sections. In addition to this indirect disruption on account of the transport of the material web, a direct disruption on account of the actuating movement is to be found in the web section which adjoins the adjusted clamping point.
It is possible, in the case of a downstream regulation by means of a (dynamic) downstream pilot control, to pilot control all the following clamping points in such a way that they directly compensate for the effects of the leading clamping point. As a consequence, this ensures that all the following web tension regulators do not have to adjust the disruptions of the actuating movement and of the coupling by the material web.
DE 10 2008 056 132 A1 proposes decoupling for an upstream regulation, a (dynamic) downstream pilot control by means of PT1 element also being carried out in addition to a (constant) upstream pilot control.
DE 10 2009 016 206 A1 discloses a method with decoupling which is implemented exclusively in the upstream direction. Here, a combination of pilot control weighted in the upstream direction by a DT1 element and pilot control weighted by a negative PT1 element exclusively of the rear delimiting clamping point is disclosed. The specifications "upstream of" and "downstream of" a clamping point or material web section relate to the transport direction of the material web, that is to say the material web course.
All known decoupling strategies have the disadvantage that the web running speed changes within the web sections. Since, however, for example in digital printing, the print heads are sited within a web section and not directly at a clamping point, every actuating movement during the regulation of the web tensile force leads as a rule to a change in the material web speed and therefore to a register error.
It is therefore desirable to specify a method for web tension setting in a processing machine, in which method the material web speed can be kept constant or can be changed in a targeted manner during the decoupling at any desired point within a web tension section.


A high temperature T.sub.c SQUID chip magnetometer has a flux-locked loop circuit including an independent feedback coil having an internal diameter greater than the maximum SQUID chip dimension. The feedback coil is mounted in close co-axial proximity to the SQUID chip to produce a substantially uniform feedback field over the entire area of the SQUID chip to cancel applied fields which penetrate the superconducting material.

Transient electromagnetic (TEM) mineral prospecting commonly employs magnetic field gradient detectors (dB/dt detectors such as induction coils. However, it is known that detectors which measure absolute magnetic field intensity (B-field detectors) provide more accurate responses from deep mineral bodies than responses provided by magnetic field gradient detectors. It is also known that B-field detectors provide superior performance to dB/dt detectors in the presence of a conducting overburden, and such conducting overburdens are characteristic of much of the terrain in Australia and elsewhere. Thus, it is advantageous to use B-field detectors in TEM mineral prospecting.
A TEM prospecting system detects the presence of ore bodies by virtue of their higher conductivity than the surrounding ground. Thus, TEM systems also respond to conducting materials such as metals in the system itself, giving rise to a so-called "self response". Thus, to minimise the effects of the self response, TEM magnetometers should preferably contain a minimum amount of metal,
Vibration can be a serious cause of noise in magnetic detectors operating in the Earth's magnetic field. For example, an angular vibration of amplitude 10.sup.-6 radians can cause fluctuations of 50 pT in the geomagnetic field component measured by the detector. Such fluctuations are much larger than the minimum TEM magnetic field to he measured. Thus, TEM magnetometers should preferably be immunised against vibration.
SQUID action can be destroyed by radio frequency (rf) interference from, for example, radio and television transmitters. SQUIDs must, therefore, preferably be shielded against such interference by full of partial enclosure in conducting containers.
Radio frequency SQUIDs are usually magnetically coupled to associated electronics. The magnetic coupling serves two purposes: Firstly, the SQUID must be coupled to an rf tuned circuit to obtain flux bias, and to enable readout of the SQUID; and conventionally, this magnetic coupling is provided by a small rf coil in close proximity to the SQUID. Secondly, SQUIDs are normally operated in a feedback mode called a flux-locked loop which provides an output voltage proportional to an applied or detected flux over a wide dynamic range. Conventionally, current is fed back to the rf coil to cancel the applied or detected flux. High-T.sub.C materials are characteristically hysteretic in their response to sufficiently large magnetic fields. This is particularly true of the devices incorporating Josephson junctions or weak links, such as SQUIDs. It has been found that the use of the rf coil for flux feedback produces a hysteretie response and hence unacceptable operation with signals having a large dynamic range.
various B-field detectors exist, but they usually fail to meet at least one of the following requirements of a TEM detector: high sensitivity; high bandwidth; high dynamic range; high slew rate; insensitivity to large dc magnetic fields; minimal use of metallic components; small size and low weight; and low cost.
Liquid helium-cooled superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer systems are B-field detectors which can satisfy most of the requirements listed above. However, the cost and the difficulty in obtaining, storing, and transporting liquid helium to remote locations makes such liquid-helium cooled SQUID magnetemptor systems impractical for mineral prospecting. A further disadvantage of such systems is that they are bulky and heavy. This makes them difficult to handle and transport, and difficult to use in confined spaces, such as airborne systems, or remote locations.
Thus, SQUID magnetometers which can operate at higher temperatures than that of liquid helium (i.e., high-T.sub.C SQUID magnetometers) are desirable. Unfortunately, high-T.sub.C SQUIDs do not usually have characteristics which are as close to the ideal as the characteristics of conventional SQUIDs. One of the main reasons for this is that magnetic fields usually penetrate high-T.sub.C superconductors to a greater extent than they penetrate low-T.sub.c SQUIDs. The inferior performance of high-T.sub.C SQUIDs caused prior art flux-locked loop feedback circuits in magnetometers to operate unsatisfactorily.
The rf coil used with rf SQUIDs is small and therefore produces a magnetic field which is non-uniform over the area of the SQUID. Thus, when the flux-locked loop operates, it produces a feedback field which cancels the applied field in some areas of the SQUID but not all. The areas where the applied field is not fully cancelled experience a varying magnetic field when the applied field varies. If the applied field has a wide dynamic range, this can lead to hysteretic behaviour in parts of the SQUID, and hence in the SQUID as a whole.
The coil used for feedback to a dc SQUID may similarly produce a non-uniform field and lead to hysteretic SQUID response.

SQUID detector with flux feedback coil sized and located to produce uniform feedback flux

The Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation


A renovated flashlight includes a head means and a cylindrical battery compartment. The head means is composed of a lid, a reflecting means, a spring means, and a conducting means. The reflecting means has a hollow body at bottom portion adopted to receive the spring means, and the conducting means therein. A longitudinal slot is formed at one side of the hollow body for a negative conducting plate to extend therefrom.

Flashlights of prior art are, in general, composed of a head detachably connected to a battery compartment. The battery compartment is designed to hold batteries to provide power to light the flash up. However, the compartment can only receive only the battery of only one size. Any other size will not fit into the battery compartment.
In view of this inventor has invented the present invention which includes a battery compartment which interior length is adjustable to fit batteries of various length.


In a video camera in strobe mode, when a condition for strobe light emission is ready, the aperture of an iris is reduced and the gain of an AGC amplifier is fixed at a predetermined value. Accordingly, a dark image representing the condition ready for strobe light emission is displayed on an electronic view finder, and in addition saturation of charge accumulation is prevented.

The present invention relates to a video camera, photo-camera and camera-system having light emission means such as a strobe which illuminates an foreground object (in short, object) with light emitted.
Using a video camera permits both a dynamic image and a still image to be obtained. It may be thought to use a strobe so as to provide adequate charge accumulation in an image pick-up device when light from an foreground object (in short, object light) is insufficient to photograph a still picture.
In the meantime, in a case where an image pick-up device having an electronic shutter function is used under the condition that an amount of strobe light is constant, the level of the image picked-up signal output is subject to be reduced with a shorter charge accumulation time and a smaller amount of charge accumulation as shutter speed is less shortened.
There is an idea that if object light is insufficient strobe light emission may automatically be carried out by detecting the level of the image picked-up signal and recognizing an amount of object light. In the idea above, for example, in a case when a person or thing in such a back light that substantially raises an level of an image picked-up signal is to be picked up; if an level of whole picked-up image signal is to be merely detected as a representative amount of object light, strobe light may not be emitted because the light on object is recognized to be sufficient. Consequently, the person or thing in the back light is subject to be picked up without a sufficient amount of object light.
In the meantime, in a case where a photo-camera (film-camera) is used, a strobe is generally utilized when object light is insufficient. Some of photo-cameras (film-cameras), having a means that an amount of object light is detected by an optical sensor such as a photo-diode so that strobe light emission is automatically carried out when object light is insufficient, have heretofore been well known.
If an optical sensor is used as a detector, however, an level of whole picked-up image signal is to be detected as a representative amount of object light. Accordingly, in a case when a person or thing in a back light is to be picked up, strobe light may not be emitted because of being recognized that amount of light from the object is sufficient. Therefore, the person or thing in a back light is subject to be picked up without a sufficient amount of object light.
Meanwhile, in a case when a strobe is used on a video camera so as to provide adequate charge accumulation in an image pick-up device, a shutter needs to be operated with depression of the button after the strobe is fully charged over a threshold value of voltage and ready to emit strobe light.
Further, great light due to strobe light emission is incident on the image pick-up device when a strobe is used. For this reason, the use of strobo may result in the saturation of charge accumulated in the image pick-up device.
On the other hand, a still-video camera which permits a picked-up image signal to sufficiently increase by compensating the loss of object light with strobe light emission has heretofore been proposed. This proposal teaches that amount of strobe light emission and charge accumulation time in an image pick-up device are determined and controlled in accordance with amount of object light detected by an optical sensor. In that conventional case, however, it has been a disadvantage of high purchase price level regarding a set of still-video camera that an optical sensor is needed to detect object light

Video camera and camera system employing aperture control


A downhole tool has a housing with a communication path extending from a first to a second part of a bore. An indexer disposed in the communication path is movably responsive to applied pressure at the first part. The indexer counts a number of applications of the applied pressure and permits fluid communication of the applied pressure from the first part to the second part in response to the counted number. An insert in the housing bore sealably encloses the second part of the communication path and is movable from a first position covering to a second position uncovering a port in the housing. At least a portion of the insert acted upon by the applied fluid pressure in the second part initiates movement of the insert from the first to the second position. A kit having a modular housing portion and the indexer can adapt the downhole tool for use.

During hydraulic fracturing operations, operators want to minimize the number of trips they need to run in a well while still being able to optimize the placement of stimulation treatments and the use of rig/fracture equipment. Therefore, operators prefer to use a single-trip, multistage fracturing system to selectively stimulate multiple stages, intervals, or zones of a well. Typically, this type of fracturing system has a series of open hole packers along a tubing string to isolate zones in the well. Interspersed between these packers, the system has fracture sleeves along the tubing string. These sleeves are initially closed, but they can be opened to stimulate the various intervals in the well.
As shown in FIG. 1, for example, a tubing string 12 for a wellbore fluid treatment system 20 deploys in a wellbore 10 from a rig 30 having a pumping system 35. The tubing string 12 has sliding sleeves 50 disposed along its length. Various packers 40 isolate portions of the wellbore 10 into isolated zones. In general, the wellbore 10 can be an opened or cased hole, and the packers 40 can be any suitable type of packer intended to isolate portions of the wellbore into isolated zones.
The sliding sleeves 50 deployed on the tubing string 12 between the packers 40 can be used to divert treatment fluid selectively to the isolated zones of the surrounding formation. The tubing string 12 can be part of a fracture assembly, for example, having a top liner packer (not shown), a wellbore isolation valve (not shown), and other packers and sleeves (not shown) in addition to those shown. If the wellbore 10 has casing, then the wellbore 10 can have casing perforations 14 at various points.
As conventionally done, operators deploy a setting ball to close the wellbore isolation valve (not shown) and positively seal off the tubing string 12. Operators then sequentially set the packers 40. Once all the packers 40 are set, the wellbore isolation valve acts as a positive barrier to formation pressure.
At this point, operators rig up the fracturing surface equipment 35 and pump fluid down the wellbore to open a toe sleeve 60 toward the end of the tubing string 12. This treats a first zone of the formation. Then, in later stages of the operation, operators selectively actuate the sliding sleeves 50 between the packers 40 to treat the isolated zones depicted in FIG. 1. In the most common approach, operators actuate the sliding sleeves 50 by dropping successively increasing sized balls down the tubing string 12. Each ball opens a corresponding sleeve 50 so fracture treatment can be accurately applied in each zone up the tubing string 12.
Several types of toe sleeves 60 have been used on tubing strings. In FIG. 2A, for example, a conventional toe sleeve 60, such as Weatherford's ZoneSelect toe sleeve, is a differential opening sleeve normally placed at the bottom or "toe" of the tubing string 12. The toe sleeve 60 is activated when a ball lands on a landing seat 73 on the sleeve's insert 70 and tubing pressure is applied against the seated ball to shear the sleeve's insert 70 free. The sleeve's insert 70 shifts in the housing 62, decreasing the enclosed volume 72. Once this occurs, the sleeve's insert 70 opens past ports 66 in the sleeve's housing 62 and locks in place so flow can be diverted to the wellbore through the open toe sleeve 60 from the housing's bore 64 and out the ports 66.
In FIG. 2B, another type of toe sleeve has a time delay, such as Weatherford's ZoneSelect Time Delay (TD) toe sleeve 60 used in a multizone completion system. Typically placed at the toe of a cemented completion, applied pressure ruptures a disc 68 in this TD toe sleeve 60, which exposes a piston 75 to differential pressure within the toe sleeve 60. The piston 75 moves slowly across concentric inner and outer ports 66a-b as the fluid being acted on is metered while passing from a primary chamber to a secondary atmospheric chamber.
The time-delay toe sleeve 60 is run in-hole as part of the tubing string 12. When the optimum setting depth is reached, tubing pressure is applied to check casing integrity and to rupture the disc 68 in the time-delay toe sleeve 60. In this way, the time-delay mechanism (i.e., piston 75, chambers, etc.) meters the toe sleeve's opening and eventually creates a pathway to begin stimulation operations. Depending on the application, the primary stimulation may be performed through the time-delay toe sleeve 60.
The time-delay toe sleeve 60 actuates at or below the casing test pressure, enabling the test pressure to be the highest pressure the system will be exposed to throughout operations. The time-delay toe sleeve 60 can avoid the inherent risk of a standard, hydraulically actuated toe sleeve 60 of FIG. 2A, which may open below a preset value (before pressure test is complete) or may require excessive pressure to open (exceeding casing and surface equipment limitations).
In FIG. 2C, another type of toe sleeve uses an atmospheric chamber to control opening, such as the Weatherford atmospheric chamber (AC) toe sleeve 60 used in a multistage completion system. The AC toe sleeve 60 is typically placed at the toe of the tubing string 12, and the AC toe sleeve 60 is actuated by applied tubing pressure creating enough hydraulic force on the sleeve's insert 70 to shear the insert 70 free of shear pins 76. The insert 70 within the AC toe sleeve 60 then slides past ports 66 in the sleeve's housing 62 and locks open. Preferably, the insert 70 opens upward to prevent a liner wiper dart from inadvertently forcing the sleeve 60 open during earlier operations.
The AC toe sleeve 60 is also run in the wellbore 10 as part of the tubing string 12. When the optimum setting depth is reached, tubing pressure is applied to actuate the openhole packers 40 and test the casing. Additional pressure is then applied to open the AC toe sleeve 60 and initiate communications to the formation for subsequent stimulation operations from the housing's bore 64 and out the ports 66.
In FIG. 2D, yet another type of toe sleeve uses a rupture disc to control operations, such as the Weatherford ZoneSelect Rupture Disc (RD) toe sleeve 60 shown used in a multizone completion. Placed at the toe of the tubing string 12, the RD toe sleeve 60 actuates when applied tubing pressure causes a disc 68 to rupture in the sleeve 60. The insert 70 inside the sleeve 60 then slides past ports 66 in the sleeve's housing 62 and locks in place. After the RD toe sleeve 60 is open, balls or composite plugs can be pumped down to begin stimulation operations. If required, the first stimulation operation can be performed through the open RD toe sleeve 60 from the housing's bore 64 and out the ports 66.
Another toe sleeve, such as the SMART toe sleeve 60 in FIG. 2E, allows the casing string to be tested to its full working pressure with an unlimited hold period and without exceeding the working pressure. Placed at the bottom or toe of the tubing string 12, the SMART toe sleeve 60, which is available from Weatherford, actuates and opens after two internal pressure applications. Once the SMART toe sleeve 60 is open, balls or composite plugs can be pumped downhole for subsequent stimulation.
The sleeve 60 includes a housing 62 with an insert 70 movable in its bore 64. The sleeve 60 has two shear features, including initiation shear screws 80 and arming shear screws 82. The initiation shear screws 80 are set for wellbore conditions, and the arming shear screws 82 have a predetermined value. Multiple low pressure tests can be applied to the closed sleeve 60 as long as the initiation valve for the initiation shear screws 80 is not exceeded. The first working pressure test shears the initiation shear screws 80, allowing the insert 70 to stroke and compress a wave spring 75. A snap ring 84 is partially collapsed during this stroke. After the first test, pressure is vented, and the load from the wave spring 75 shears the activation shear screws 82, which arms the sleeve 60 for the next pressure cycle. When working pressure is then applied, the insert 70 again strokes, which fully collapses the snap ring 84 so that it is no longer active. When the pressure is vented, the spring 75 then fully moves the insert 70 so that the ports 66a-b align allowing fluid communication out of the housing's bore 64 to the wellbore.
The SMART sleeve 60 can be used in horizontal and vertical wells, and in cemented and openhole completions. Because the SMART sleeve 60 does not open after the first pressure application, operators can maintain well integrity if issues arise at the surface. Each application of pressure can be held for an indefinite amount of time, enabling two opportunities to satisfy any regulatory requirements. The SMART sleeve 60 locks open, which prevents accidental tool closure caused by intervention tools.
Some implementations require that a tubing pressure test be performed for a specified period of time before wellbore fluid is introduced into the formation. As can be seen from the discussion above, some of the current toe sleeves 60 either open instantly or use a time delay by forcing hydraulic fluid through a restrictor device to slow the opening of the sleeve 60. Historically, oil wells have simply tested their tubing at a lower pressure than the pressure actually required to open the toe sleeve 60. Unfortunately, new leak paths can be created by increasing the tubing pressure to open the toe sleeve 60 above the test value used in the tubing pressure test. For this reason, more recent methods for opening toe sleeves attempt to delay the opening of the toe sleeve to allow a higher pressure tubing test to be performed before actually opening the toe sleeve. This overcomes the problems associated with over-pressurizing the tubing in order to open the toe sleeve.
Even though such systems have been effective, operators are continually striving for new and useful ways to open a toe sleeve downhole for fracture operations or the like. The subject matter of the present disclosure is directed to overcoming, or at least reducing the effects of, one or more of the problems set forth above.

Pressure insensitive counting toe sleeve


Battery life and cooling are improved in an electronic device. A thermoelectric module and phase change material module are placed near a heat source in an electronic device. The thermoelectric module and phase change material module insulate a surface to be cooled on the electronic device. The thermoelectric module generates an electrical current in response to a temperature differential at opposite surfaces on the thermoelectric module. The phase change material module enhances or limits the temperature differential seen at the thermoelectric module. The electrical current generated by the thermoelectric module is used to charge a battery of the electronic device.

The present invention relates generally to portable electronic devices, and in particular, to portable electronic devices with rechargeable batteries.
Portable electronic devices are presently a staple item in today""s society. These electronic devices include audio entertainment equipment, computers, personal digital assistants, wireless telephones and many other devices. Due to the portable nature of these devices, batteries are employed to provide power to the electronic components. Of course, since batteries have a finite time before recharge, enhancing the life of the battery associated with a portable electronic device is extremely important. In particular, battery life is important for complex communications devices such as wireless phones.
There are many proposed solutions for enhancing the battery life of portable electronic devices. Traditionally, these solutions seek to reduce the amount of power consumed by the electronic device. In some cases, power consumption is reduced in accordance with the function of the device. For example, some circuitry of an electronic device is shut down during a xe2x80x9cstandbyxe2x80x9d mode, while certain functions are not required. In other cases, the electronic components are designed in a manner to reduce power consumption, for example, by using CMOS technology and other low power technologies. Unfortunately, these techniques alone do not eliminate the need for additional low power solutions to enhance battery life. Indeed, functionality requirements are increasing as fast as low power consumption techniques are developed.
Portable electronic devices dissipate heat. As the functionality and hence the electronic circuitry of portable devices increases, the amount of heat dissipated tends to increase. Heat dissipation in a portable electronic device often causes user discomfort. For example, some wireless telephones dissipate enough heat to cause discomfort to a user""s ear while using the phone. This is obviously not desirable for the user. In addition, the heat dissipation, in particular, in a small electronic device, may cause the desirable operating temperature of the device to be exceeded.
Therefore a need exists for a portable electronic device with enhanced battery life and improved cooling requirements.

Portable electronic device with enhanced battery life and cooling


Wind-driven electric generator apparatus has a generator head supported on a tower for free-yaw movement and for free-pitch movement within predetermined limits. The generator head has a downwind rotor with a pair of elongated blades mounted on a hub that is rigidly attached to a rotor shaft driving an electric generator. The blades are flexible and have a coning angle therebetween that varies with wind velocity. The generator head is capable of aligning itself with the wind direction azimuthally and elevationally. A yaw brake prevents an excessive yaw rate. In most preferred embodiment, pitch movement and yaw movement beyond small angular ranges are regulated, and an electrohydraulic yaw drive system corrects gross azimuthal misalignment with respect to the wind direction.. In a most preferred embodiment, pitch movement and yaw movement beyond small angular ranges are regulated, and an electrohydraulic yaw drive system corrects gross azimuthal misalignment with respect to the wind direction.

This invention is concerned with wind-driven electric generator apparatus, and more particularly with a downwind, free-yaw, free-pitch machine
A free-yaw machine is very desirable, because it allows rotor blades to track the wind azimuthally and thereby generate electricity more efficiently by virtue of the fact that the blade tips rotate in a plane perpendicular to the wind when the wind direction is horizontal. However, downwind free-yaw machines have never been entirely satisfactory, because there are several conditions in which the blades may strike a support tower and destroy themselves. In general, these conditions are caused by an excessive yaw rate. In some locations, these conditions may occur three or four times a year.
In an effort to prevent an excessive yaw rate in free-yaw machines, yaw dampers have been used, but these devices impose a drag on the yaw movement even when the yaw movement is relatively slow, and machines employing such yaw dampers are not, strictly speaking, free-yaw machines. To avoid the disadvantages of free-yaw machines, yaw drive systems (with a yaw-sensing flag) have been employed to maintain the generator head azimuthally aligned with the wind. Such systems are complicated, expensive, and trouble-prone. Moreover, even with sophisticated yaw drive systems, inaccuracies in the yaw alignment at times causes the wind generator to run very roughly and to vibrate excessively, resulting in excessive stress and wear and tear on the machine.
For maximum efficiency, it is desired that the plane of rotation of the blade tips be maintained perpendicular to the wind direction, and when the wind direction is not horizontal, this requires elevational alignment as well as azimuthal alignment. Conventional machines that are designed to have a rotor axis that is maintained in a horizontal plane cannot take full advantage of the many good wind sites on the upslope of a mountain or hill, where the wind may come up the slope at an angle of 10.degree. to 20.degree. to the horizontal. In such environments the blades will be forced to operate at an angle to the airflow, with resulting decrease in efficiency and loss of power production. Moreover, a machine that is compelled to operate continuously with the blades at an angle to the wind is a very rough-running machine, with high stresses applied to various parts of the machine.
Many years ago it was discovered that a teetering rotor system on a helicopter or gyroplane operated much more smoothly and transmitted lower forces to the rotor-supporting structure of the machine. Modern wind-driven electric generators have used rotors with teetering hubs to provide the same advantages. The most efficient and cost effective wind-driven generators have employed a two-bladed teetering hub with flexible blades, the cone angle of which varies with wind velocity. The higher the wind velocity, the more the flexible blades cone.
When the rotor blades are forced to operate at an angle to the airflow, the blades must teeter about the teetering axis. If the teetering axis is spaced from the center of gravity of the rotor system, vibration and resultant high stresses occur. Due to changes in coning, the center of gravity of the rotor system changes with wind velocity, making it impossible to design a rotor system that always teeters about an axis coincident with the center of gravity of the rotor system. Moreover, teetering hubs are heavy, costly, and expensive to maintain.
While the blades of most modern wind-driven electric generators may be quite flexible with regard to coning, they require considerable edgewise stiffness to ensure that the edgewise natural frequency of the rotor is always greater than the rotational speed of the rotor. The rotor, as it revolves, is influenced by gravity twice per revolution, and if the natural frequency of the rotor is the same as or less than the rotational speed, it is possible for the rotor to become excited by the force of gravity and destroy itself in a few revolutions. Moreover, the natural frequency of the supporting tower must be low enough, or the tower stiff enough, to prevent vibration of the rotor from damaging the tower.
Conventional wisdom in the art has hypothesized that a 400 to 500 ft. diameter rotor may be a practical size limit, because as the blade length increases, the weight of the rotor increases much more rapidly than the edgewise stiffness, and as stated earlier, the edgewise stiffness of the blades must be sufficient to ensure that the edgewise natural frequency of the blades is greater than the rotational speed of the rotor.

Free-yaw, free-pitch wind-driven electric generator apparatus


A natural gas or liquified propane powered generator incorporated into a HVAC unit, for supplying emergency power to a residence or commercial business. The generator is contained within an exterior cabinet that houses HVAC components for both packaged and split systems. The packaged unit is arranged so that the generator is included within the exterior cabinet and the split unit is arranged so that the generator is positioned beneath the split unit. The generator operates from natural gas or liquified propane supplied to the home or from a portable liquified propane tank, if the supply of natural gas or liquified propane is terminated. In the event of a power failure, the user manually operates the generator or an automatic transfer switch can be utilized. On-site electronics are included to allow a user to monitor the system from a smart phone or other electronic device.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method of temporarily powering a personal residence or commercial building using a generator that is built into the heating and air conditioning unit. The built-in generator runs on the natural gas or liquified propane that is used to power the heating function of the heating and air conditioning unit. The user will have heating, cooling, and electrical power throughout their home during extended periods of time, including during power outages, with the push of a button.
(2) Description of Related Art
In recent years, numerous storms, including hurricanes Sandy and Katrina, have taken out portions of the electrical grid resulting in extended electrical outages. Although storms frequently cause electrical outages, natural gas lines are usually unaffected. Additionally, many people experiencing electrical power outages have access to propane, which is cheap and readily available at most convenience stores. There is a significant need for a method and apparatus to utilize natural gas and propane to power homes and commercial buildings during times that electrical power is unavailable. Additionally, natural gas and LP are currently significantly cheaper sources of power than electrical energy. Electrical power is typically generated from burning coal. Natural gas and LP are cleaner to burn than coal producing lower levels of carbon emission. A method and system that allows the use of natural gas and/or LP to power the electrical needs of a home or commercial building will save consumers money and will reduce carbon emissions into the environment.
Currently, gas generators are readily available at many home improvement stores and sporting good stores. A gas generator allows a user to power electrical devices when electrical power is disrupted. Although gas generators may be used during electrical power outages to power a portion of a residence's needs, they have numerous disadvantages. In order to start and maintain a gas generator, a user must have access to large quantities of gasoline because gas generators are highly inefficient burning copious amounts of gasoline while providing little electrical power. Anyone relying on a gas generator must keep a large supply of gasoline "on hand" because gasoline stations, which are likely to be suffering from the same electrical power outage, will be unable to pump and sell gasoline when their pumps are shut down due to a lack of electrical power. Gasoline utilized in the generator must be "fresh" or purchased recently because additives in gasoline breakdown overtime and will gum up the generator preventing it from starting. Additionally, over time water condenses within the gasoline storage container contaminating the gasoline and preventing the generator from starting or causing it to gum up and stop once started. Portable generators operating on natural gas and liquid propane ("LP") are ineffective at powering a home or commercial building because of improper installation of the generator, installing a generator that is too small to power basic needs of the home or commercial building, and problems with proper ventilation of exhaust fumes. Gas, diesel, natural gas, and LP generators must be placed in an open area to protect users from exhaust fumes which can be lethal. Gas-powered generators create a lot of noise. A typical neighbor experiences a sound pressure level of 35 dBA at night and 45 dBA during the daytime. A diesel-powered gas generator can generate from 110 to 115 dB per picowatt of energy produced. Gas generators produce enough noise pollution to readily disturb neighbors even during daylight hours. There is a need for an apparatus or method that allows a natural gas or LP generator to power the electrical needs of a residence or commercial building that is easy to install and operate, does not expose humans or animals to harmful exhaust, and lacks the loud operating noises common to commercially available generators.
A number of electrical generating devices has been disclosed in the prior art. Several devices have been disclosed that provide backup electrical power to energize heating, ventilation, and air conditioning ("HVAC") systems. Brandt (US 2008/0251593 A1) discloses coupling a natural gas or propane line to a generator so that boiler would continue to pump hot water through a home, heating said home, until electric power is restored to the home. The Brandt invention either vents the generator through the chimney of the home or mounts the generator outside of the home. The device of Brandt only powers the boiler or other home heating device. Kaiser (US 2012/0282561 A1) discloses a method of installing and using a backup electrical generator so that the backup generator and the heating apparatus are positioned proximate to each other and they both share a common exhaust flue. The device of Kaiser provides an apparatus and method of generating electrical power via the fuel input of the heating apparatus so that the electrical power generated operates the heating apparatus when the electrical generator is powered on. But, the device of Kaiser is not suitable to power the electrical needs of the building. Gravestock (EP 2 787 301 A1) discloses a power generating system wherein an electrical generator is tied into the gas-powered supply line that supplies the heating system. Activation of the electrical generator can be automatic or manual when the flow of electrical power into the heating system drops below a certain threshold. None of these devices offers an apparatus or method of providing electrical power to the home or commercial building.
Furst (U.S. Pat. No. 5,844,328) discloses a backup power system for electrical appliances. The backup system includes an electric battery utilizing a DC current with a charging circuit to connect to a charging mechanism, a circuit to connect the battery to the appliance, and a converter for converting DC current from the backup battery to AC current for the appliance. The device of Furst lacks sufficient battery capacity to power the electrical needs of a home or commercial building.
Other devices have been disclosed that seek to power the electrical needs of a home or commercial building. Hawkins (U.S. Pat. No. 8,616,159 B1) discloses a wheeled, manually movable, internal combustion engine powered electric generator mounted in a rigid frame formed of tubular steel elements. The electricity generating components of the device mount to the bottom of the steel frame, the internal combustion engine mounts toward the rear end of the frame, and a propane tank mounts above the engine proximate to a battery charger. While this device may power the temporary electrical needs of a home or building during a power outage, the size of the propane tank limits the length of time this device could power a building. Additionally, because the device is not covered or protected from the elements, it could not be maintained and stored outside in environmental conditions. This device would need to be positioned in an outside area and connected to the electric load upon a power outage. Although this device would be easy to service once connected to the electrical load, difficulties in positioning and connecting the device hamper its usage. And, this device does not address noise issues relating to electrical generators. Poletti et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,441,505 B1) discloses a backup generator positioned on a multi-level cabinet proximate to a fuel tank. The invention of Poletti is designed to provide backup power to electronic devices, such as a personal communications system ("PCS") site. The device of Poletti et al. includes a cabinet enclosing the electronics protecting them from environmental conditions. The backup generator is wired into the power line servicing the PCS and detects when a power failure has occurred. The backup generator provides power to the PCS when the power is out and deactivates when power is restored to the power line servicing the PCS. Although this device is able to power the PCS for multiple days, it would be unable to power the needs of a residence or commercial building. Additionally, this device is useful in remote areas and would not be suitable in a residential neighbor where noise levels are regulated.
Currently, many home builders and electrics may wire a three-prong outlet from the breaker box to allow a user to plug in a generator to power a home. Many breaker boxes are installed in an interior areas of a home, for example in a basement beneath an interior stairwell. Installing a generator through an electrical outlet stemming from a breaker box requires that the generator to be installed very near the breaker box so that the cord of the generator can reach the outlet. This may be difficult to impossible to do in certain situations. Additionally, this configuration requires a fuel source that must be vented outside the home into a safe area, which may not be possible to perform within the close proximity of the breaker box.
A number of inventions have been disclosed that include an automatic transfer switch to disconnect power from the main entering a residence and feed power generator power to certain selected fuses within the breaker box. Donald B. Espeut, Jr. (U.S. Pat. No. 8,222,548 B2) discloses a mechanical automatic transfer switch that is able to manually manipulate both the main breaker and the auxiliary generator breaker so that the generator is powered up only after the main breaker is placed in an "off" position. The Espeut device does not allow for the charging of a battery to initiate the start of the generator because power is not provided to the generator unless the main breaker is in an "off" position. Also, the invention of Espeut only powers certain enumerated outlets within a residence. If a desired outlet has not been previously routed from the device to the auxiliary generator, power can not be directed to the outlet. Devices with automatic transfer switches are typically expensive and their installation and maintenance is expensive as well.
There exists a need for a backup electrical generator that is permanently affixed to the home or commercial building to be serviced, said generator must be able to provide electrical power to the home or commercial building for an extended period of time in case of a power outage lasting for a week or more, said generator must be in compliance with local noise regulations, said generator must be protected from environmental conditions, and said generator must be safely vented so that exposure to harmful exhaust is minimized or eliminated. Said generator should be able to power any desired outlet of the residence or commercial building. Said generator should be relatively inexpensive to purchase, install, and maintain. Having a generator incorporated with the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system of a home reduces the costs of purchasing, installing, and maintaining said auxiliary power.


A counter-balance grip system for a golf putter that allows for counter-balancing in the three degrees-of-freedom of relevant putter motion. A main balance-weight body is attached to the end of a putter shaft and allows for axial and radial asymmetric internal balance weighting about the putter shaft. The main balance-weight body has an upper balance-weight body and a lower balance-weight body. The lower balance-weight body is used to achieve the asymmetric internal balance weighting in both a single-grip option and a split-grip option; the upper balance-weight body also being used to achieve the asymmetric internal balance weighting in the split-grip option. Either a plurality of internal balancing weights could be used or the main balance-weight body could be machined asymmetrically. Each of the plurality of internal balancing weights has a different length, mass, and/or density, allowing for the dynamic balancing of the putter.

The game of golf involves striking a golf ball with sufficient force and accuracy to reach the putting green. Typically, up to 13 different clubs are used to do this. On the putting green, only one club is used for hitting the ball in the hole, i.e., the putter. For a golf course rating, par is determined by the number of strokes a "good" golfer would take to complete the hole. If shooting par, half the strokes are putts. Hence the putter is the most important golf club.
The putting stroke is completely different than the golf swing needed to reach the green. Putting requires gentle striking of the golf ball to get it in the hole. Precise control of the direction and distance for putting the ball, as well as the ability to read the green to know where to hit the ball to account for any curvature on the green surface, are the physical aspects of putting. Mental attitude and being comfortable with making the putt are equally important. Putting is frequently thought to be more of an art than science, but numerous technological developments have been made in the recent times to improve all golf equipment, including some putter aspects.
Putters consist of a head, shaft, and grip. The original putter heads were flat or blade-like. Many modern putter heads are much bigger to increase the moment-of-inertial (MOI), so that when impacting the ball, the face the putter head doesn't twist with an off center hit. The MOI development increases the confidence to the golfer as well. Many other developments for putters have been made such as; making a better contact surface on the putter face to get the ball rolling sooner, making the grip larger to give a better feel, etc.
Modern putters with higher MOI heads have greater balancing concerns at the golfer's grip position. When holding the putter in the normal lie-position (the head under the golfer's eyes), these balancing issues cause the large bending moment to the putter perpendicular to the putting direction, torsion of the putter head to twist in the golfer's grip, and a slight moment wanting to twist the putter face to a higher loft. These undesirable moments and torsion require the golfer to subconsciously correct for these loading directions during the putting stroke, masking the feeling of what is essential to make a good putting stroke. Such unbalanced moments/torques and corrections for them can cause the putter head to wobble along the swing path as well as increasing the required grip pressure by the golfer. The better feel from elimination of these undesired moments and torques also improves the mental confidence at the same time.
One of the aspects of putter design that is starting to get attention is the advantage of balancing. Several patents exist for putting small axisymmetric weights (relative to this patent application) in the end of the shaft. That weight moves the center of gravity of the putter very slightly closer to the grip, but the center of gravity along the shaft is still closer to the putter head than where the golfer grips the club. Other patents describe how to eliminate the torsion from the putter head weight, but still leave the main "lifting moment" at the golfer's grip. This patent teaches how to completely eliminate the bending moments in different directions and torsion at the golfer's grip position by adjustable balancing done in the grip so it can be applied to any putter.
The present invention recognizes that there are three relevant degrees-of-freedom of putter motion and corresponding moments and torques for complete balancing at the centroid of the golfer's grip when the putter is held in the normal lie-position (under the golfer's eyes). The present invention provides an offset or nonsymmetrical, adjustable balancing weight system that is concentrated at the upper part of the grip that follows all United States Golf Association (USGA) grip requirements (described later). Counter balancing of a modern high-moment-of-inertia (MOI) putter requires a significant mass above the golfer's grip position that cannot be accomplished with a weight inside the shaft (even if depleted uranium or gold was used). Modern high MOI putter heads have a much larger mass than the original blade putters of early golf. The higher mass provided by the present invention controls three detrimental aspects to the golfer's ability to "feel" the putt by creating; (a) a bending, or lifting, moment in the plane perpendicular to the putting direction to counteract the putter head weight, (b) a bending, or loft-increasing, moment that wants to counteract the increase of loft of the putter face that comes from the center of mass of the putter head being behind the shaft, and (c) a torque at the grip position to counteract the torsion induced from the putter head wanting to twist under the shaft.
The "feel" of the putter is affected by the following aspects: (i) The actual gravity or dead-weight of the putter—that's unchangeable; (ii) The force required swinging the putter as desired—that is the force you want to be the largest percentage of the forces/moments that the golfer's hand "feel"; (iii) The moment/force required by the golfer to lift the putter to the lie position under his eyes (also called the "lifting moment"). The putter might be at approximately a 70-degree angle, but that is variable with putter design and the golfer's preferences. This is the largest nonessential moment/torque/force the golfer feels and is the primary balance axis of the proposed balancing system. Many patents talk about balancing in this direction, but not to the magnitude needed for high MOI putters and having it adjustable to the centroid of the golfer's grip position; (iv) In the lie-position under the golfer's eyes (˜70-degree shaft angle from the ground), virtually all modern putters will twist into an open position (also called the "head torque"). The hands of the golfer need to twist the putter face back to the square position. This torque adds additional forces on the golfer's hands that further mask the "feel" of the putt forces that are need to strike the ball. There is an internal offset mass in the proposed balancing weight that is adjustable to counteract the torsion that is imposed on the golfer's hands when the putter is in the lie-position. In the preferred application there are a series of holes where different size weights can be inserted to provide the face-balancing compensation for the lie-position depending on the putter design and where the golfer grips the club; (v) The offset centroid of the putter head also creates a smaller moment that wants to increase the loft of the putter face (called the "loft-increasing moment"). This increased loft is undesirable since it makes the ball bounce rather than roll after initial impact.
Although the location of the main balance-weight body provided by the present invention is adjustable, the main balance-weight body within the grip must be locked into place to maintain the balance position. The balancing in the three degrees-of-freedom of motion can be accomplished in either a split-grip option or single grip option, although some details differ with the two options, the basic principle is identical. During the initial fit-up with the split-grip option, set screws are used to adjust the upper balance-weight body up and down the shaft to do the primary putter "lifting-moment" balancing described in (iii) above. The length of the main balance-weight body consists of two pieces in a split-grip option, typically using a shorter aluminum or stainless steel piece for the bottom with an upper stainless steel section. (The material used for this lower section may vary with the weight of the putter head, and similarly a higher density material could be used for the upper part). The lower balance-weight body is locked in at the lifting-moment balance location. The heavier stainless steel part on the top can then be rotated so the symmetric position of a set of internal offset holes is lined up with the centroid of the mass of the putter head.
If there is too much torque-balancing correction without filling the internal offset holes, then rods of different lengths and density are inserted into the internal offset holes to change the offsetting mass. These rods must be locked in place with an adhesive when the balancing is completed. If more torsional offset is needed, then offset holes in the lower balance-weight body are filled with different masses for additional torsion balancing. If the moment (causing the face to have more loft) exists after the torque-balancing operation, then the inserted weights and rotation of the upper balance-weight body can be adjusted so that the loft-increasing moment and torque balancing are both accomplished. If possible, the loft-increasing-moment is desired to be reversed and not balanced, since the negative face loft is more desirable to get the golf ball rolling sooner. The axial location of the main balance-weight body may need adjusting if the torque balancing with the additional internal weights changes the total weight; hence some iteration is needed between the axial weight position/magnitude and the location and amount of the inserted asymmetric balance weights. Once the whole balancing process is completed for the split-grip option, an adhesive is used between the shaft and upper grip parts to lock everything in place. After the adhesive is cured, then an external "skin" is applied over the upper metal grip. By USGA Rules the outside diameter of the upper grip with the cover needs to be less than 1.75 inch. In a split-grip application, by USGA Rules the total length of the putter needs to be greater than 38.5 inches, so that the distance between the actual grip and the weighted section can be a small as 1.5 inches. Additionally, by USGA Rules, the length of the weighted upper grip must be greater than 5.0 inches; and the external cross-section of the weighted section is circular in the split-grip option. For practicality, the putter length for the split-grip option is made just slightly larger than 38.5-inches, the gap between the main balance-weight body and the lower actual grip is made just slightly larger than 1.5 inches, and the main balance-weight body is slightly larger than 5.0 inches.
The above counterbalancing system can be designed to be a one-piece grip if desired to keep the total putter length less than 38.5-inches (for shorter golfers) or for aesthetic purposes. In this case the weighted section is abutted to the main grip with a cover over the whole main grip and either part or all of the main balance-weight body. The cross-section of the main balance-weight body and grip section in this option can have a flat region along the axial length of the grip and the main balance-weight body. The maximum diameter again is 1.75-inches, but the length of the main balance-weight body is not restricted. Again the internal offset weights are used to allow for balancing in all three degrees-of-freedom of motion and elimination of the undesired moments and torques. Finally, if a golfer insists on having more weight (moment in the Y-Z plane, as described later), then he can grip above the balance point. The balance point can be also be intentionally made further below the grip while still maintaining the torsional balancing and the eliminating or reversing the loft-increasing moment (X-Z plane moment, as described later).
For custom balancing an individual putter, weights of different lengths or density are judicially placed in internal holes in the main balance weigh body. Alternatively, for manufacturing a larger number of identical putters, the main balance-weight body could have holes of different dimensions so that no weights need to be inserted. In this way, the putters are balanced to pre-set standards as opposed to the individual golfer.


An improved method for the preparation of phosphinate salts or bis(alkyl) phosphinate salts by the reaction of an olefinic material with a hypophosphite salt by means of irradiation with UV light in the presence of a photoinitiator is disclosed.

Alkyl phosphinates or bis(alkyl)phosphinates can be prepared by the reaction of an olefin with an alkali metal salt of hypophosphorous acid. For example, the reaction of a 1:1 mole ratio of an alpha-olefin with sodium hypophosphite yields the corresponding sodium alkyl phosphinate when initiated photochemically in the presence of a photoinitiator, or thermally in the presence of an introduced chemical source of free radicals such as a peroxide. The reaction may be summarized as follows: ##STR1##
Alkyl phosphinate I can be converted into the corresponding phosphonate (RCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 P(O)(ONa).sub.2) by exposure to an oxidizing agent. Both the alkyl phosphonates and alkyl phosphinates can function as anionic surfactants, and can act to enhance the wetting power of aqueous media.
Although the alkali metal phosphinates may be useful as surfactants additives for household and industrial detergents, this potential has not been realized due to the barriers encountered to efficient, commercially-viable syntheses of this class of compounds. For example, numerous yield-reducing side reactions, including telomerization, double bond polymerization, abstraction of alkylic hydrogen atoms and hypophosphorous acid oxidation can occur. In Tenside Detergents, Vol. 18, 190 (1981), C. H. Agustin extensively examined reaction variables with respect to the synthesis of sodium octylphosphinate from 1-octene and sodium hypophosphite monohydrate in water/ethanol, initiated by t-butyl perbenzoate. He achieved product yields of greater than 90% by dividing the unstable initiator into two equal portions. One of them was introduced into the reaction vessel with the hypophosphite, while the second one was dissolved in the 1-octene and added gradually to the refluxing solvent system, which presumably contained preformed hypophosphite radicals. Agustin concluded that a reflux time of 45 hours was essential to obtain a product with satisfactory wetting power which was calculated to be 96% sodium octyl phosphinate. Reaction times of 12.3-15.5 hours yielded a product of low wetting power which was not further analyzed.
Attempts to prepare organic phosphinates and phosphonate esters by photochemical initiation have also resulted in low yields. A. R. Stiles et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 2,724,718) disclosed that a 54.5% yield of dibutyl octane-1-phosphonate was obtained by irradiating a mixture of 1-octene, dibutylphosphite and acetone with ultraviolet light for 7 hours at 25.degree. C.
Due to increasing labor and energy costs, a need exists for a synthesis of alkyl phosphinates which will produce equivalent or higher yields while permitting substantially decreased reaction times.

Synthesis of alkyl phosphinate salts and bis(alkyl) phosphinate salts


An apparatus for finishing a surface of a commutator of a motor, in which a distance between a surface to be finished and a reference position is measured in advance prior to the surface-finishing, and thereafter, turning, cutting or buffing is performed. The data of distance measuring is utilized for the surface-finishing later. Opposite ends of a shaft of the commutator are supported and the supported ends are rotated at uniform speeds. The commutator during the turning is variably controlled in accordance with a turning position.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an apparatus for finishing a surface of a commutator of a motor, and more particularly to techniques to finish an end face on the side in contact with brushes out of end faces of the flat type commutator of a motor as used in a fuel feed pump of a motor vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the techniques of finishing the surface of the commutator of the motor of the type described, when an end face of the commutator on the side in contact with the brushes is finished, it is thought of finishing the surface by grinding for example.
Now, it has been made clear by the inventor of the present invention that, by the normal surface finishing techniques, merely the surface roughening of the end face to be contacted with the brushes is performed and it is unable to solve the problem such as ununiformity in service life due to variation of positions of the commutator pressed into a shaft of an armature.

Apparatus for finishing surface of commutator of motor


A flexible bearing for a rocket motor is constructed by forming a relatively very thin coating (about 0.01 inches thick) of an elastomer such as natural rubber on one surface at least of an equally thin continuous reinforcement strip of pliable fabric, and wrapping the coated fabric strip about an axis of rotation with a multiplicity of turns to form a laminated component comprising a continuous helical coil having aligned edges defining the transverse width thereof and having spaced top and bottom surfaces, the function of the reinforcement strip being containment of the elastomer, whereby a laminated helical coil, and hence, flexible bearing, with a given amount of elastomer contained therein for shearing, is produced with a substantially reduced dimension between the bearing top and bottom surfaces.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to flexible bearings and, more particularly, to improvements in continuous strip type flexible bearings and a method for making such bearings.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Flexible bearings made up of a plurality of alternate layers of rigid reinforcements and elastomeric pads are known in the prior art. Such bearings are disclosed in a number of U.S. Patents, as follows: U.S. Pat. No. 2,995,907 to M. Crain; U.S. Pat. No. 3,071,422 to W. L. Hinks; U.S. Pat. No. 3,390,899 to J. T. Herbert et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,429,622 to R. E. Lee et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,690,639 to W. D. Brandon et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,941,433 to W. T. Dolling et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,958,840 to C. C. Hickox et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,108,508 to R. L. Clinard, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,141,950 to A. R. Thompson; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,349,184 to R. R. Peterson.
When applied to thrust nozzles for solid propellant rocket motor nozzles, flexible bearings incorporating alternate layers of metal reinforcement and elastomer, irrespective of whether concentrically or spirally arranged, are commonly quite thick in order to contain enough elastomer to provide stable and controllable vectoring of the nozzle through shear deformation of the elastomer. Because of the tendency of thick layers of elastomer to be extruded between the metal reinforcement layers, the elastomer, conventionally, is divided into a large number of thin layers. This necessitates the use of a similarly large number of reinforcement metal layers which has added, undesirably, to the height and weight of the bearing.
Such an approach becomes less and less acceptable as the technology involved in the construction of rocket motors, particularly, advances and produces demands in terms of smaller size, specifically, decreased height and less weight, for flexible bearings capable of providing stable and controllable vectoring of the nozzle for steering the rocket.
In order to minimize flexible bearing height and weight, it is also known in the prior art to utilize therein lightweight, strong, thin, molded composite reinforcements. Structural requirements and manufacturing limitations for composite reinforcements, however, preclude the design of flexible bearings that truly operate at their ultimate capability. Present rocket motor nozzle configurations result in a compressive circumferential load that must be carried by the bearing and supporting structure. Thus, reinforcements have always had compressive stiffness and strength requirements. The present minimum thickness limit for composite reinforcements that meets the structural requirements has exceeded the limits of cost effective manufacturing, as evidenced by an unacceptable composite reinforcement rejection rate. Molded composite reinforcements are susceptible to voids, delaminations, and contamination.
Thus, there is a need and a demand for improvement in flexible bearings and the methods for making such bearings to the end of enabling minimization of bearing height and weight for a given amount of elastomer for shearing. The present invention was devised to fill the technological gap that exists in this respect.

Tape wrapped, fabric reinforced, flex bearing


A cooling apparatus includes a refrigerating machine including a cooling portion fixed to a support body and cools a cooling target through the cooling portion. The cooling target and the cooling portion are connected by a structure including an extendable pipe filled with a fluidized refrigerant. A first magnetic body fixed to a side of the support body and a second magnetic body fixed to a side of the pipe are arranged around the pipe. The first magnetic body and the second magnetic body are maintained in non-contact with each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cooling apparatus and, more particularly, to a cooling apparatus which cools a cooling target such as a substrate to be processed in a vacuum container, or a laser oscillator.
2. Description of the Related Art
To cool a cooling target such as a substrate to be processed in a vacuum container, or a laser oscillator using a refrigerating machine, usually, the cooling target is directly brought into tight contact with the cooling portion (made of a metal having high thermal conductivity) of a refrigerating machine.
When the cooling target is an object that should not be vibrated, the refrigerating machine is installed at a location away from the cooling target and a liquid refrigerant cooled by the refrigerating machine is supplied under pressure into a heat-insulated pipe using the power of a circulating pump or the like, thus cooling the cooling target.
This can cool the cooling target indirectly while reducing vibration from the refrigerating machine.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-146342 discloses a refrigerating apparatus in which a vibration-proofing means is arranged between a refrigerating machine main body and a cooling target portion in contact with the refrigerating machine main body, and the vibration-proofing means comprises a vibration-proofing rubber member and a plurality of spherical members.
As described above, in an atmosphere or vacuum, when cooling the cooling target by fixing it to the refrigerating machine cooling portion, vibration generated by operating of the refrigerating machine may undesirably be transmitted to the cooling target.
Therefore, the conventional refrigerating apparatus cannot be used for a cooling target that should not be vibrated.
When installing the refrigerating machine main body at a location away from the cooling target and cooling the cooling target indirectly with the refrigerant which is supplied under pressure using the power of a circulating pump or the like, the installation distance between the refrigerating machine main body and the cooling target must be large. Therefore, it is difficult to arrange the apparatus particularly in a vacuum container.
Hence, a heat-insulated long pipe is set in the atmosphere, and the refrigerant is supplied under pressure through the pipe. Even with the heat-insulated pipe, however, external heat largely influences the pipe, and the refrigerant temperature rises during supply under pressure, thus decreasing the heat transfer efficiency.
To forcibly supply the refrigerant under pressure, power from a circulating pump or the like is required. Heat generated by the motor or the like of the circulating pump may increase the refrigerant temperature.
With the technique described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-146342, when the cooling target is set in direct contact with the vacuum container to cool it integrally with the vacuum container, vibration may undesirably be transmitted from the refrigerating machine main body to the cooling target.

Cooling apparatus and vacuum cooling apparatus


The present invention relates to communications methods, apparatus and systems for determining and using Software Defined Networking (SDN) communications link and path status information. An exemplary embodiment of a method of operating a Session Border Controller (SBC) in a software defined network (SDN) includes: determining application level metrics at a SBC for a data communications flow and transmitting the application level metrics to a SDN controller. An exemplary embodiment of a method of operating a software defined networking (SDN) controller in a software defined network includes the steps of receiving, at a receiver of the SDN controller via the software defined network, application level metrics corresponding to a data communications session flow; and determining, by the SDN controller, the status of a communications path between two Internet Protocol addresses based on the received application level metrics. Exemplary apparatus embodiments include an SDN controller and SBC controller implementing the exemplary methods.

Software Defined Networking is a new paradigm in how networks are managed. A central node is utilized to control forwarding behavior of elements rather than each element determining forwarding behavior itself. Applications interact with this central node also referred to as a controller to setup network paths for their specific needs.
A key aspect of Software Defined Networking is the network controller having a holistic view of the topology and capabilities of the underlying network infrastructure. This is essential so that the controller can determine the optimum path to send packets from one edge of the network to another edge of the network. An important part of this process is the information about the recent/current status of links between elements/devices in the network. The SDN controller performs various checks/audits to gather this information.
However, the various checks/audits that the SDN controller can perform are limited and due to these limitations, the SDN controller cannot always determine the most recent/current status of links and/or the optimum routing paths through the software defined network.
From the above discussion, it should be appreciated that there is a need for improved methods, apparatus and systems for determining the status of links in a software defined network by a SDN controller. Furthermore, there is also a need for improved methods, apparatus and systems for optimizing routing paths through software defined networks.

Methods and apparatus for determining and using SDN link and/or path status

Ribbon Communications Operating Company, Inc.


An ionization smoke detector having two ionization chambers, one completely open to the ambient atmosphere and the other, a reference chamber, in communication with the atmosphere only through a breather tube having a defined length to diameter ratio. The detector employs a piezoelectric horn mounted on a cylindrical tube-like structure and attached to a printed circuit board containing one or more holes opposite the horn element so as to form a resonant chamber. The invention further contemplates a test switch which can be used to determine whether the battery is charged and the circuits are functioning.

Conventional smoke detectors have particular disadvantages owing to the lack of reliability, expense and high current requirements of the electromechanical alarm horns currently used. These electromechanical horns have relatively high current demands for starting the alarm (about 300 milliamperes, ma) and sustaining operation at steady state (about 70 ma), which for direct current smoke detectors requires the use of expensive alkaline or mercury batteries for reasonable battery life. Accordingly, there is a need for a reliable horn with low current demands so that cheaper zinc/carbon or zinc chloride batteries may be used.
The realiability and low current demands of piezoelectric horns are well known in the prior art. However, such horns were limited, prior to this invention, to low audio output applications such as video games and electronic pinball machines. Such horns could not be used to meet the Underwriters Laboratories alarm requirement of 85 decibels (db) at 10 feet from the smoke detector without use of prohibitively high drive voltages and currents.
The use of detectors having two ionization chambers is also known. Generally, one chamber is almost completely closed to the atmosphere and is used to obtain a reference current for comparison to the current detected in the test chamber which is freely open to the surrounding air. When the two currents differ by more than a predetermined amount the alarm is triggered. In the past, problems have been encountered when these detectors were exposed to changes in humidity or pressure causing changes in the current measured in the test chamber but not in the current measured in the reference chamber. The difference in these currents often led to activation of the alarm when no smoke was present.
Smoke detectors are normally mounted on room ceilings so as to contact smoke where it first accumulates in the room. It is desirable to periodically test the detector to assure that the battery is sufficiently charged and circuits are operating, but this is difficult where the detector is attached to the ceiling and out of reach. Existing devices have small buttons or levers for activating the tester circuit which make testing even more inconvenient when the detector is out of reach.

Piezoelectric horn and a smoke detector containing same


A corner connector device has outside and inside connector components each having a length. The outside component has first and second legs integrally connected along a lengthwise seam. The outside connecter component has an outside connector that extends lengthwise along the seam and projects from an outside surface. The inside connector component has third and fourth legs integrally connected along a lengthwise seam. The inside connector component has an inside connector that extends along the seam and projects from an inside surface. The inside and outside connectors can be lengthwise connected to and disconnected from one another with surfaces of the connector components spaced a distance from one another. Panels meeting at a corner can be captured between the spaced surfaces of the two connector components.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure is generally directed to connectors for mounting wall and ceiling panels and tiles, and more particularly to corner connectors for mounting and joining such panels where they meet in two different planes at a corner.
2. Description of Related Art
A number of devices and systems are known in the art that mount and support suspended or dropped ceiling panels, ceiling tiles, acoustical tiles, wall panels, or the like. These devices generally are configured having distinctive features that are specific to a particular panel structure or application. Once installed, most known devices and systems are difficult to disassemble or make it difficult to remove and replace individual panels. Some prior art devices have parts that fasten to each other and/or to other components to support a panel. This can make it difficult or impossible to disassemble, uninstall, and reuse the parts.
Often, walls or ceilings have obstructions that are displaced from the plane of the surface. These often include water pipes, steam pipes, electrical conduit, air ducts, and the like. Known panel mounting systems and devices are not configured to accommodate such structures and obstacles. The obstructions are typically enclosed using non-removable materials such as sheetrock, panel-board or plywood. Sometimes, permanent grid systems can be cut, shaped, and riveted or fastened in place in a manner to mount panels that enclose the obstruction. However, the systems and components are difficult to install in such a manner, and make it time consuming to do so.
In some cases, the fastening mechanisms employ a male and a female section or compatible sections that connect to one another without the use of fasteners. Typical prior known devices of this type are designed to suspend or mount ceiling or wall panels within in a single plane such as on a flat ceiling or a flat wall.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,791,810 (Williams) discloses a detachable panel support device for two-dimensional or flat, single plane applications. In particular, the Williams connector has a first connector section and a second connector section, each with extending elements protruding from the section. The extending elements of the two sections join together or interlock with one another and create spaces between the joined sections to capture panels. The Williams connecting device can form a reusable and continuous joint along each pair of mated sections to support panels. However, the Williams device is applicable to flat or two-dimensional walls or ceilings. U.S. Pat. No. 6,205,732 B1 (Rebman) describes a grid system for mounting and supporting ceiling tiles in a two-dimensional suspended or dropped ceiling. The parts of the grid system snap together with male and female components.
Other connecting devices in the prior art are known that can accommodate a specific corner application to connect adjacent panels at a corner. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,486 (Keith) discloses a one-piece corner connector configured to join panels at an interior corner, i.e., a 90° corner. The Keith device is formed as a one piece structure configured to join side edges of two rectangular panels that meet in a corner and is sized for panels of a specific thickness.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,065,559 (Zegel et al.) discloses a two-dimensional wall system with locking connectors and vertical supports. Panels are mounted via fasteners to the supports. The corner pieces of the Zegel et al. system are internal to the corner and the panels fasten to an exterior surface of the pieces.
Other prior art connectors attempt to solve the problem of economically joining panel supports at corners and yet maintaining an esthetically pleasing look. U.S. Pat. No. 6,094,879 (Dickeduisberg) describes a resilient corner configured to join two adjacent L-shaped channels end to end at an angle. The connectors are separate from the channels. U.S. Pat. No. 4,027,452 (Donnell) discloses an interior molding to join wall paneling at an interior corner. The molding is a single unitary device secured to the walls in the corner and is sized to accept a specific panel thickness.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,209,275 B1 (Cates et al.) discloses a wall system. Cates has corner pieces that are configured to mate with panels specific to the system. The Cates device requires numerous components and would be complex to install and assemble. U.S. Pat. No. 4,555,255 (Kissel) describes an invertible corner-connecting clip which fits a right or left-hand corner.
Additional interlocking connecting structures are also known in the art to included projecting and interlocking elements. U.S. Pat. No. 6,217,251 B1 (Kato et al.) describes a joining device for connecting to elements end to end. An additional third hollow joint attaches over the joined ends to retain the connection. U.S. Pat. No. 5,614,232 (Torigoe et al.) discloses an apparatus for producing a fastener with interlocking projections.