Overbased detergent additives for lubricating oils comprise an organic substantially aromatic carboxylate, such as an alkylsalicylate, as a surfactant and have a TBN of 200 or greater, an active ingredient content of 70 mass % or greater, a kinematic viscosity at 100xc2x0 C. of less than 1000 mm2sxe2x88x921 and a basicity index (BI) of less than 13.

The present invention relates to overbased alkaline earth metal detergent lubricant additives.
The use of alkaline earth metal salts of organic carboxylic acids as detergent additives for lubricating oil compositions (or lubricants) is known in the art. When applied in lubricating oil compositions, they ensure that the inside of engine cylinders remains clean and that the deposition of carbonaceous products on pistons and in piston grooves is counteracted, so that piston ring sticking is prevented. They are also known in basic (or overbased) form. Overbasing provides an alkaline reserve which, when applied in lubricating oil compositions, reacts with and neutralizes acidic compounds formed during the operation of the engine in which the composition is applied. Thus, sludge which may arise is maintained in dispersion while acids which would enhance sludge formation are neutralized.
EP-A-248 465 and -267 658 describe such overbased materials and processes for making them comprising the neutralization of an organic carboxylic acid with alkaline earth metal hydroxides or oxides in the presence of a hydrocarbon solvent and an alcohol promoter and water to provide such overbased lubricating oil detergent additives, including the neutralization of alkyl salicylic acids to produce overbased calcium salts of such acids.
Such overbased additives are in the form of concentrates comprising colloidal particles of basic material stabilised in a liquid medium (or diluent or base oil) by ions of the acidic material, sometimes referred to as surfactant or soap. Desirable properties of such an additive include a high total base number (TBN), good handleability to enable it to be readily admixed to make a final lubricant, and a high active ingredient content to maximise the efficiency of the additive. Unfortunately, these desirable properties may conflict with one another: a high active ingredient content may generate handleability problems by causing the viscosity to become unacceptably high. EP-A-0 267 658, for example, describes overbased additives, wherein the surfactant is a salicylate, which, although having good basic and handleability properties, have active ingredient contents that do not exceed 60 mass %. Overbased detergents, wherein the surfactant is an organic carboxylate, having a high TBN and a handleable viscosity, that also have a high active matter content, have now surprisingly been provided.
Thus, a first aspect of the present invention is an overbased alkaline earth metal, such as Ca or Mg, detergent lubricant additive comprising, as a surfactant for the additive, a major proportion of an organic substantially aromatic carboxylate, the additive having:
(a) a TBN of 200 or greater, or 250 or greater, or 300 or greater such as 300 to 500, for example 300 to 400;
(b) an active ingredient content of 70 mass % or greater, such as up to 95, 90, 85 or 80, mass %, active ingredient being all matter other than base oil;
(c) a kinematic viscosity at 100xc2x0 C. of less than 1000, such as from 50 to less than 1000, for example from 100 to 500, mm2sxe2x88x921; and
(d) a basicity index (BI) of less than 13, preferably less than 10, more preferably less than 8.
A second aspect of the invention is a lubricating oil composition comprising an admixture of an oil of lubricating viscosity, in a major amount, and an additive according to the first aspect of the invention, in a minor amount.
A third aspect of the invention is a method of lubricating a marine diesel engine, such as a trunk piston engine, comprising supplying to the engine a lubricating oil composition according to the second aspect of the invention.
A fourth aspect of the invention is a combination comprising:
(a) mechanical parts to be lubricated of a marine diesel engine, such as a trunk piston engine; and
(b) a lubricating oil composition according to the second aspect of the invention.
In this specification:
xe2x80x9cMajor amountxe2x80x9d means in excess of 50 mass % of the composition;
xe2x80x9cMinor amountxe2x80x9d means less than 50 mass % of the composition, both in respect of the stated additive and in respect of the total mass % of all of the additives present in the composition, reckoned as active ingredient of the additive or additives;
xe2x80x9cComprises or comprisingxe2x80x9d or cognate words are taken to specify the presence of stated features, steps, integers, or components, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, integers, components or groups thereof;
xe2x80x9cTBNxe2x80x9d is Total Base Number as measured by ASTM D2896;
xe2x80x9cOil-solublexe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9coil-dispersiblexe2x80x9d do not necessarily indicate that the additive(s) are soluble, dissolvable, miscible or capable of being suspended in oil, in all proportions. They do mean, however, that they are, for example, soluble or stably dispersible in oil to an extent sufficient to exert their intended effect in the environment in which the oil is employed. Moreover, the additional incorporation of other additives may also permit incorporation of higher levels of a particular additive, if desired;
xe2x80x9csubstantially aromaticxe2x80x9d means greater than 50% by weight, preferably greater than 70% by weight, more preferably greater than 80% by weight, most preferably greater than 90% by weight, of the carboxylate is aromatic; and
xe2x80x9cbasicity index (BI)xe2x80x9d is defined as the equivalents ratio of the total alkaline earth metal to the total of organic acid.
It should be noted that the lubricating oil compositions of this invention comprise defined individual, i.e. separate, components that may or may not remain the same chemically before and after mixing.
The features of the invention will now be discussed in further detail as follows:
In the detergents of the first aspect of the invention, suitable organic substantially aromatic carboxylate detergents are those derived from acids containing a benzene or naphthalene ring and an oil-solubilising group or group having a total of at least 8, in particular at least 12, carbon atoms. Preferred are hydrocarbyl-, particularly alkylsalicylic acids having at least 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl group or groups, in particular 12 to 26, such as 14 to 18 carbon atoms. Preferably, there is only one surfactant. Preferably, a salicylate constitutes the sole surfactant for the additive.
xe2x80x9cHydrocarbylxe2x80x9d means a group composed primarily of carbon and hydrogen atoms, connected via a carbon atom, and that may contain other atom(s) provided they do not substantially alter the hydrocarbon nature of the group.
Other suitable acids that may be used include substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic or cycloaliphatic acids. As examples, there may be mentioned naphthenic acids; and aliphatic acids having more than 8 carbon atoms such as stearic, isostearic, palmitic, myristic, oleic and hydroxystearic acids, and tertiary carboxylic acids.
The detergents may be prepared by treating with an overbasing agent, at a temperature of less than 100xc2x0 C., a mixture of at least one organic substantially aromatic surfactant, at least one basic calcium compound and oil. The detergent is optionally subjected to at least one heat-soaking step. After heat-soaking, the detergent is preferably subjected to second treatment with an overbasing agent at a temperature less than 100xc2x0 C. The second overbasing step is also preferably followed by a heat-soaking step. The detergent preferably has a TBN of at least 300 mgKOH/g. During heat-soaking, the mixture is maintained, without addition of any further chemical reagents, in a selected temperature range, which is normally equal to or higher than the temperature at which carbonation is effected. Temperatures at which heat-soaking may be carried out are typically in the range of from 15xc2x0 C. to just below the reflux temperature of the reaction mixture, preferably 25 to 60xc2x0 C.; the temperature should be such that substantially no materials (for example, solvents) are removed from the system during the heat-soaking step. Heat-soaking may be carried out for any suitable period, advantageously for at least 30 minutes, advantageously for at least 45 minutes, preferably for at least 60 minutes, especially for at least 90 minutes.
Examples of suitable overbasing agents are carbon dioxide, a source of boron, for example boric acid, sulphur dioxide, hydrogen sulphide and ammonia. The most preferred overbasing agent is carbon dioxide and, for convenience, the treatment with overbasing agent will in general be referred to as xe2x80x98carbonationxe2x80x99.
Basic calcium compounds for use in manufacture of the overbased detergents include calcium oxide, hydroxide, alkoxides, carboxylates and a mixture thereof.
The mixture to be overbased by the overbasing agents should normally contain water, and may also contain one or more solvents, promoters or other substances commonly used in overbasing processes. Preferred solvents are toluene, methanol and a mixture thereof. Preferred promoters are methanol and water.
Carbonation is effected at a temperature of less than 100xc2x0 C. Preferably, carbonation is effected at a temperature of less than 80xc2x0 C., more preferably less than 60xc2x0 C., even more preferably less than 40xc2x0 C. and most preferably less than 35xc2x0 C. Carbonation is preferably effected at atmospheric pressure.
The detergents may, for example, be prepared by a batch process comprising the following steps:
(a) neutralising an organic substantially aromatic acid, such as an oil-soluble alkylsalicylic acid, with excess calcium hydroxide in the presence of an organic diluent oil, a liquid monohydric alcohol and water:
(b) in a first carbonation step, carbonating the mixture with carbon dioxide;
(c) raising and then lowering the temperature of the mixture;
(d) providing more calcium hydroxide and, in a second carbonation step, carbonating the mixture with carbon dioxide;
(e) raising the temperature of the mixture and providing more diluent oil; and
(f) removing solvents and water and, optionally filtering.
Alternatively, the detergents may be prepared, in some embodiments, by a process analogous to the above, but involving a single carbonation step.
The overbased detergents are useful as additives for oil-based compositions, for example, lubricants or greases. The amount of overbased detergent to be included in the oil-based composition depends on the type of composition and its proposed application: lubricants for marine applications typically contain 0.5 to 18 mass % of overbased detergent, on an active ingredient basis based on the final lubricant, while automotive crankcase lubricating oils typically contain 0.01 to 6 mass % of overbased detergent, on an active ingredient basis based on the final lubricant.
To provide the second aspect of the invention, the overbased detergents may be incorporated into an oil of lubricating viscosity (or base stock) in any convenient way. Thus, they may be added directly to the oil by dispersing or dissolving them in the oil at the desired concentration optimally with the aid of a suitable solvent such as toluene or cyclohexane, and at ambient or elevated temperature.
Because the detergents of the invention possess both high TBN and high active matter content, it is possible to blend lubricating oil compositions that have both relatively high TBN and high organic substantially aromatic carboxylate surfactant concentrations, at lower detergent treat rates than hitherto.
A particular problem associated with marine engine lubrication occurs when the engine is a trunk piston marine diesel engine (ie a medium-speed, four-stroke engine). Their manufacturers commonly design them to use a variety of diesel fuels, ranging from good quality high distillate fuel with low sulfur and low asphaltene content to poorer quality intermediate of heavy fuel such as xe2x80x9cBunker Cxe2x80x9d or residual fuel oil with generally higher sulfur and asphaltene content. Lubricants used in such engines often become contaminated with asphaltene components from the fuel, leading to cleanliness problems in service, sometimes referred to as xe2x80x9cblack paintxe2x80x9d.
The lubricating oil compositions of this invention have been found to be particularly efficacious in mitigating the xe2x80x9cblack paintxe2x80x9d problem.
The base stock for the composition may be synthetic or natural.
Synthetic base stocks include alkyl esters of dicarboxylic acids, polyglycols and alcohols; poly-xcex1-olefins, including polybutenes; alkyl benzenes; organic esters of phosphoric acids; and polysilicone oils.
Natural base stocks include mineral lubricating oils which may vary widely as to their crude source, for example, as to whether they are paraffinic, naphthenic, mixed, or paraffinic-naphthenic, as well as to the method used in their production, for example, their distillation range and whether they are straight run or cracked, hydrofined, or solvent extracted.
Lubricating oil base stocks suitable for use in crankcase lubricants conveniently have a viscosity of 2.5 to 12 mm2/s, at 100xc2x0 C., although base stocks with other viscosities may be used, for example, bright stock.
Lubricating oil base stocks suitable for use in marine lubricants conveniently have a viscosity of typically 3 to 15 mm2/s, at 100xc2x0 C., although base stocks with other viscosities may also be used. Thus, for example, bright stocks, which typically have a viscosity of 30 to 35 mm2/s, at 100xc2x0 C. may be used.
Additional additives may be incorporated in the composition to enable it to meet particular requirements. Examples of additional additives which may be included in lubricating oil compositions containing an overbased detergent in accordance with the invention are viscosity index improvers, corrosion inhibitors, oxidation inhibitors or antioxidants, friction modifiers, dispersants, other detergents, metal rust inhibitors, anti-wear agents, pour point depressants, and anti-foaming agents. Lubricating oils suitable for use in marine engines advantageously include a dispersant and an antiwear agent as additional additives and may also contain other additives, for example, additional antioxidants, antifoaming agents and/or rust inhibitors. Certain of the additional additives specified below are more appropriate for use in lubricants for automobile engines than for use in lubricants for marine engines.
Viscosity index improvers (or viscosity modifiers) impart high and low temperature operability to a lubricating oil and permit it to remain shear stable at elevated temperatures and also exhibit acceptable viscosity or fluidity at low temperatures. Suitable compounds for use as viscosity modifiers are generally high molecular weight hydrocarbon polymers, including polyesters, and viscosity index improver dispersants, which function as dispersants as well as viscosity index improvers. Oil-soluble viscosity modifying polymers generally have weight average molecular weights of from about 10,000 to 1,000,000, preferably 20,000 to 500,000, as determined by gel permeation chromatography or light scattering methods.
Corrosion inhibitors reduce the degradation of metallic parts contacted by the lubricating oil composition. Thiadiazoles, for example those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,719,125, 2,719,126 and 3,087,932, are examples of corrosion inhibitors for lubricating oils.
Oxidation inhibitors, or antioxidants, reduce the tendency of mineral oils to deteriorate in service, evidence of such deterioration being, for example, the production of varnish-like deposits on metal surfaces and of sludge, and viscosity increase. Suitable oxidation inhibitors include sulphurized alkyl phenols and alkali or alkaline earth metal salts thereof; diphenylamines; phenyl-naphthylamines; and phosphosulphurized or sulphurized hydrocarbons.
Other oxidation inhibitors or antioxidants which may be used in lubricating oil compositions comprise oil-soluble copper compounds. The copper may be blended into the oil as any suitable oil-soluble copper compound. By oil-soluble it is meant that the compound is oil-soluble under normal blending conditions in the oil or additive package. The copper may, for example, be in the form of a copper dihydrocarbyl thio- or dithio-phosphate. Alternatively, the copper may be added as the copper salt of a synthetic or natural carboxylic acid, for example, a C8 to C18 fatty acid, an unsaturated acid, or a branched carboxylic acid. Also useful are oil-soluble copper dithiocarbamates, sulphonates, phenates, and acetylacetonates. Examples of particularly useful copper compounds are basic, neutral or acidic copper CuI and/or CuII salts derived from alkenyl succinic acids or anhydrides.
Copper antioxidants will generally be employed in an amount of from about 5 to 500 ppm by weight of the copper, in the final lubricating composition.
Friction modifiers and fuel economy agents which are compatible with the other ingredients of the final oil may also be included. Examples of such materials are glyceryl monoesters of higher fatty acids, esters of long chain polycarboxylic acids with diols, oxazoline compounds, and oil-soluble molybdenum compounds.
Dispersants maintain oil-insoluble substances, resulting from oxidation during use, in suspension in the fluid, thus preventing sludge flocculation and precipitation or deposition on metal parts. So-called ashless dispersants are organic materials which form substantially no ash on combustion, in contrast to metal-containing (and thus ash-forming) detergents. Borated metal-free dispersants are also regarded herein as ashless dispersants. Suitable dispersants include, for example, derivatives of long chain hydrocarbon-substituted carboxylic acids in which the hydrocarbon groups contain 50 to 400 carbon atoms, examples of such derivatives being derivatives of high molecular weight hydrocarbyl-substituted succinic acid. Such hydrocarbyl-substituted carboxylic acids may be reacted with, for example, a nitrogen-containing compound, advantageously a polyalkylene polyamine, or with an ester. Particularly preferred dispersants are the reaction products of polyalkylene amines with alkenyl succinic anhydrides.
A viscosity index improver dispersant functions both as a viscosity index improver and as a dispersant. Examples of viscosity index improver dispersants suitable for use in lubricating compositions include reaction products of amines, for example polyamines, with a hydrocarbyl-substituted mono- or dicarboxylic acid in which the hydrocarbyl substituent comprises a chain of sufficient length to impart viscosity index improving properties to the compounds.
Examples of dispersants and viscosity index improver dispersants may be found in EP-A-24146.
Additional detergents and metal rust inhibitors include the metal salts, which may be overbased, of sulphonic acids, alkyl phenols, sulphurized alkyl phenols, alkyl salicylic acids, thiophosphonic acids, naphthenic acids, and other oil-soluble mono- and dicarboxylic acids. Representative examples of detergents/rust inhibitors, and their methods of preparation, are given in EP-A-208 560.
Antiwear agents, as their name implies, reduce wear of metal parts. Zinc dihydrocarbyl dithiophosphates (ZDDPs) are very widely used as antiwear agents. Especially preferred ZDDPs for use in oil-based compositions are those of the formula Zn[SP(S)(OR1)(OR2)]2 wherein R1 and R2 contain from 1 to 18, and preferably 2 to 12, carbon atoms.
Pour point depressants, otherwise known as lube oil flow improvers, lower the minimum temperature at which the fluid will flow or can be poured. Such additives are well known. Foam control may be provided by an antifoamant of the polysiloxane type, for example, silicone oil or polydimethyl siloxane.
Some of the above-mentioned additives may provide a multiplicity of effects; thus for example, a single additive may act as a dispersant-oxidation inhibitor. This approach is well known and need not be further elaborated herein.
When lubricating compositions contain one or more of the above-mentioned additives, each additive is typically blended into the base oil in an amount which enables the additive to provide its desired function. Representative effective amounts of such additives, when used in crankcase lubricants, are as follows:
Typical proportions for additives for a TPEO (a trunk piston engine oil) are as follows:
Typical proportions for additives for a MDCL (a marine diesel cylinder lubricant) are as follows:
When a plurality of additives are employed it may be desirable, although not essential, to prepare one or more additive packages comprising the additives, whereby several additives can be added simultaneously to the base oil to form the lubricating oil composition. Dissolution of the additive package(s) into the lubricating oil may be facilitated by solvents and by mixing accompanied with mild heating, but this is not essential. The additive package(s) will typically be formulated to contain the additive(s) in proper amounts to provide the desired concentration in the final formulation when the additive package(s) is/are combined with a predetermined amount of base lubricant. Thus, one or more overbased detergents in accordance with the present invention may be added to small amounts of base oil or other compatible solvents together with other desirable additives to form additive packages containing active ingredients in an amount, based on the additive package, of, for example, from about 2.5 to about 90 mass %, and preferably from about 5 to about 75 mass %, and most preferably from about 8 to about 60 mass % by weight, additives in the appropriate proportions with the remainder being base oil.
The final formulations may typically contain about 5 to 40 mass % of the additive package(s) with the remainder being base oil.


An image reading apparatus is disclosed which improves reading accuracy by eliminating the effect of crosstalk between neighboring signal lines and removing residual charge, which cause residual images, without complicating the configuration of the image processing circuit. The elimination of the crosstalk effect is based on a relational expression among the electric potentials of three adjacent common signal lines, the load capacitances of the lines, and the coupling capacitances between the center line and each of the outer lines. The residual charge removal uses another relational expression among the scan data from a common signal line, the scan data previously supplied from the same common signal line, and the capacitances of the photodiode section and the wiring section.

One type of image sensor is the TFT (thin-film transistor) drive image sensor, which is a contact-type image sensor that requires less space for the image input unit in facsimile machines, or the like. The TFT drive image sensor is provided with a plurality of thin-film transistors for transferring electric charge generated in photoreceptor elements to wiring capacitances in a matrix wiring configuration on a block-by-block basis (refer to Japanese Patent Laid Open No. Sho 62-67864 (1987)).
A recently proposed TFT driven image sensor employs a wiring arrangement as shown in FIG. 6 with no intersection of signal lines in order to improve image reading accuracy by eliminating crosstalk caused by intersections. This type of image sensor includes a plurality of photoreceptor elements arranged in an array, a plurality of switching elements each coupled with one photoreceptor element, a plurality of signal lines 2 connecting the switching elements in a given block with the switching elements in its immediate right-hand or left-hand block in the order of proximity between two switching elements to be connected, and driver ICs (integrated circuits) 3 receiving the electric charge from the wiring capacitances formed in the signal lines 2. The signal lines 2 between two blocks are spaced apart in the slow scan direction in the order of length, and pairs of signal lines 2 immediately adjacent in the first scan direction are disposed on opposite sides of the photoreceptor array 1 in the slow scan direction, so that the signal lines do not intersect one another.
In general, the intersection crosstalk is attributed to the presence of coupling capacitance formed at the intersections of signal lines. The above image sensor does not suffer from this intersection crosstalk problem, but it introduces a different problem, another kind of crosstalk, which is caused by the presence of very small coupling capacitances between neighboring signal lines because the signal lines extend a considerable distance in parallel. The signal lines therefore affect one another, that is, the potential of a signal line varies with the potential of its neighboring signal line.
Japanese Patent Laid Open No. Sho. 63-44759 (1988) discloses a further improved TFT driven image sensor using the same basic mechanism as above, which includes shielding wires laid between neighboring signal lines to prevent crosstalk therebetween.
However, the shielding wires for isolating neighboring signal lines from each other cannot eliminate all of the crosstalk because the signal lines extend too long to do so, thereby resulting in deterioration of gradation reproducibility of the image sensor. The shielding wires also make the width of the image sensor body in the slow scan direction excessive, consequently bringing about a decrease of the cost performance and the yield.
In addition, the above image sensor has a difficulty that its resolution cannot be improved by increasing the picture element density. Higher density makes a picture element smaller and hence lower in sensitivity, so that the load carrying capacity in the wiring section needs to be smaller accordingly. Small load carrying capacity, in turn, makes it difficult to transfer the electric charge completely out of the photoreceptor elements, thus causing some electric charge to remain therein. The remaining charge give rise to residual images, consequently resulting in inadequate image quality.


An adsorbent package is provided which has a high ratio of adsorbent weight to package surface area. The package comprises a container having an enclosing wall formed of a sheet of thermoplastic fibrous material folded upon itself to provide superimposed edge portions which are fused together into a continuous welded seam, the container being filled with an adsorbent material, preferably particulate desiccant. The thermoplastic fibrous sheet material preferably has a fiber tie down on its side which constitutes the outside of the container, and also is preferably a felted polypropylene.

An adsorbent package such as a foraminous bag of particulate desiccant is particularly useful as a proximity drier in an automotive air conditioner or as a flow-through filter-drier combination module for a liquid refrigerant in-line installation. As heretofore constructed such an adsorbent package included a bag made of some natural fiber such as felted wool stitched along superimposed edge portions and filled with a suitable adsorbent material. The wool bag would lint, loosing fibers which could flow downstream and collect on a valve seat or the like in a refrigeration system and cause a malfunction. Also, the stitching of the bag wall material provided not only a bulky seam but a weak one and further allowed adorbent material to escape from the container through the holes made by a needle when stitching the plies of the sheet material. This last adsorbent material could also contribute to a downstream malfunction. Further, the seam allowance along the row of stitching increased the volumetric massiveness of the package.


A water-lubricated compressor has a discharge on-off valve in a discharge channel located between a discharge port of a compressor body and a water separating/recovering unit. A water circulation on-off valve is disposed in a water circulation channel located between a water cooler and a water supply portion in the compressor body. A gas release channel provides communication between a gas phase portion of the water separating/recovering unit and the exterior of the water separating/recovering unit. A gas release on-off valve is disposed in the gas release channel. When the compressor body is not in operation, the discharge on-off valve and the water circulation on-off valve are closed and the gas release on-off valve is opened, allowing water to be recovered to the water separating/recovering unit. When there is no demand for compressed gas, it is possible to remove water from the water cooler, which otherwise may be damaged.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a water-lubricated compressor capable of preventing freezing of water by discharging water from a water cooler disposed in a water circulation channel of the compressor when there is little or no demand for compressed gas at a compressed gas destination, i.e., a place to which compressed gas is to be supplied.
2. Description of the Related Art
The temperature of screw rotors (hereinafter referred to also as "rotors") of a screw compressor rises as gas sucked from a suction port is compressed within a rotor chamber. Therefore, a cooling mechanism for cooling the screw rotors is essential. Heretofore, as such a cooling mechanism, there has generally been adopted a cooling mechanism wherein cooling liquid is supplied to the rotor chamber with the screw rotors accommodated therein. As a typical example of a screw compressor using such a cooling mechanism, there is known an oil-cooled screw compressor using oil as the aforesaid cooling liquid. The oil supplied to the rotor chamber not only functions to cool a gas compressing section but also functions to seal and lubricate between the screw rotors and also between the screw rotors and an inner wall of the rotor casing.
In case of using oil as the cooling liquid, the oil is separated and recovered from compressed gas by an oil separating/recovering unit disposed in a discharge channel formed in a compressor body, but a portion of the oil is carried as oil mist to a compressed gas destination together with discharged compressed gas. As a result, in a compressed gas destination requiring clean compressed gas, for example in a manufacturing process for manufacturing electronic parts such as semiconductors, precision machines or foods, there has been the problem that the oil in question adheres to mechanical parts or products associated with the manufacturing process and causes contamination.
In an effort to solve this problem, there has been developed an oil-free compressor which can operate in a dry condition not using oil. In this oil-free compressor, however, there has been the problem that the compression efficiency is greatly deteriorated in a low speed rotation range of the compressor, even if there is made an inverter control as an example. In view of these problems, a water-lubricated compressor using water as cooling liquid has been developed. In the water-lubricated compressor, water is used instead of oil and is allowed to fulfill the functions of cooling, sealing and lubricating. Since it is possible to prevent leakage of gas in the compressing process, a highly efficient compressing action is attained in an overall speed range from low to high speed range and there is obtained a discharge volume of about 30% or more in comparison with that in the dry type.
As in the foregoing conventional oil-cooled compressor, the water used in the water-lubricated compressor is separated and recovered by a water separating/recovering unit which corresponds to the oil separating/recovering unit disposed in the discharge channel, and the water thus recovered is again supplied to the compressor through a water circulation channel. However, when there is little or no demand for compressed gas in the compressed gas destination during the winter season, a water systems including the water separating/recovering unit and the water circulation channel may become frozen, giving rise to a trouble such as breakage.
Now, with reference to FIG. 5 attached hereto, a description will be given about a conventional technique to prevent the aforesaid freezing of water systems in the water-lubricated compressor. FIG. 5 is a front see-through diagram of a water jet compressor having a conventional antifreezing device. According to the conventional antifreezing method in a water jet compressor, two openings are formed in a package 20 and a cover 46 for covering the openings is attached to an outer wall of the package, thereby forming a circulation channel 47, the circulation channel 47 having an inlet port 44 for introduction of air present within the package 20 and a release port 45 for releasing heated air into the package 20, further, air circulating means 42, e.g., an air fan, and heating means 43, e.g., an electric heater, are installed within the circulation channel 47 to circulate heated air through the interior of the package (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-263242).
In the above conventional antifreezing technique it is necessary that the air present within the package be circulated by air circulating means such as a fan for example. However, since a large number of constituent parts are accommodated complicatedly within the package, it is difficult to let the air present within the package circulate thoroughly without stagnation. Thus, according to such an antifreezing method, it is difficult to maintain a constant heating temperature for the entire water system and hence there is a fear that a device particularly apt to be damaged by freezing of water, i.e., a water cooler, may be locally frozen and result in breakage.


A rectangular waveguide to circular waveguide coupler and vice versa. The upler includes a first section of circular waveguide spaced by a gap from a reflective-plane conducting wall, the latter having a hole for passage of an electron beam if the coupler is used in a traveling wave tube, and a second section of circular waveguide disposed external to, and coaxial with, at least a portion of the first waveguide section and extending to the wall to provide a conductive boundary surrounding the gap. The region between the first and second waveguide sections forms an input port of the coupler; the first waveguide section forms the output port of the coupler. Electromagnetic waves in a TE.sub.01 coaxial waveguide mode are applied to the input port from a rectangular waveguide supporting the dominant TE.sub.10 mode. The second waveguide section has a cut-off determining dimension r.sub.e proportioned to support both the TE.sub.01 and TE.sub.02 circular electric modes in the region of the gap at the frequency of the applied waves. The first waveguide section has cut-off determining dimensions r.sub.1 proportioned to support the circular electric TE.sub.01 mode to the exclusion of all higher-numbered circular electric modes at the frequency of the applied waves.

This invention relates generally to waveguide couplers, and more particularly to a coupler between a rectangular waveguide and circular waveguides.
Gyrotron traveling-wave amplifiers, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,224,576 issued Sept. 23, 1980 to V. L. Granatstein et al., comprise an electron gun whose electron beam passes through a circular waveguide which is proportioned to support the circular TE.sub.01 mode to the exclusion of all of the higher-numbered circular modes. Microwave energy is introduced into the waveguide in the same direction as the electron beam by means of a coupler positioned in the gap between the electron gun and the circular waveguide. The input to the coupler is a rectangular waveguide supporting the dominant TE.sub.10 mode. A solenoidal winding surrounding the electron gun and the circular waveguide produces a longitudinal magnetic field whose strength increases in the gap region. Desirably, the width of the gap is kept small in order to provide an optimum magnetic field profile.
In the past, the coupler was unable to provide efficient coupling of microwave energy over a wide bandwidth because of the constraints placed upon it by the dimensions of the gap. In a practical embodiment of the gyrotron traveling-wave amplifier at 35 GHz the gap is only 0.7 inches wide. Typical slot or multi-hole directional couplers disclosed, for example, in the text Microwave Engineering by A. F. Harvey, Acedemic Press, 1963, have a good bandwidth but in order to provide efficient (zero-decibel) coupling they must be many wavelengths long. U.S. Pat. No. 2,960,670 issued to Marcatelli on Nov. 15, 1960, discloses a circular mode directional coupler of wideband and compact design. The drawback is, that in order to use it, a very long rectangular-to-circular taper must be used (many wavelengths long) and the rectangular-to-circular taper would have to be in the position of the electron gun in order to couple microwaves in the proper direction.

Waveguide mode coupler for use with gyrotron traveling-wave amplifiers

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


A switch cross tie is made in a mold having a base plate formed with a plurality of holes in a predetermined pattern corresponding to a particular type of concrete switch cross tie by first overlying the entire base plate of a mold with a covering sheet provided with markings in a pattern corresponding to that of the holes needed for another particular type of concrete cross ties. This covering sheet overlies and blocks all the holes formed in the base plate and it is fixed in place atop the base plate. Then the operator or a computer-guided drill press cuts through the covering sheet and into the base plate at each of the markings to form thereat a respective new hole. Each such new hole is fitted with an anchor, and the mold is filled with concrete over and around the anchors with the covering sheet blocking all the holes other than the new holes. It is important that the covering sheet be sufficiently strong to inhibit entry of concrete through it into any of the holes other than the new holes. The concrete is allowed to cure or set and then the set concrete and the anchors are removed from the mold as a tie with anchors imbedded in it at locations corresponding to the new holes.

As a rule, because of mass production, molds for concrete series-produced finished railroad ties are made to be very rigid and durable. This applies particularly to ties produced in succession in a prestressing bed. In this case, there are very high demands for a particularly accurate measurement of the positions of the tie components. Therefore, the construction elements are fastened in bores of the mold which have to be positioned extremely accurately.
In the case of railway ties, the construction components--anchor screws or sleeves for the fastening screws of the track cross ties--are located on the upper side of the cross tie. The upper side of the cross tie lies in the mold, on the mold bottom, that is the cross tie is molded upside down. Thus, the bottom plate serves as a pattern for the insertion of the construction components.
In large series, a hole template is often used. The pattern which has to be produced for each type of tie only slightly influences the cost of the individual tie. But in the case of smaller production series of a certain cross-tie type, the costs related to the bottom plate serving as a pattern for the construction components can make the process uneconomical.
Particularly complicated is the making of the holes in the patterns for the switch cross ties. In normal track ties, the rail axes cross the switch ties perpendicularly. The construction components for the fastening of the rail to the switch tie and correspondingly the bores fixing them to the bottom plate of the mold are located on the median axis at a spacing determined by the gauge of the system.
Things are different in the case of switch cross ties. Here as a rule, the rail axes cross the switch tie axes at various normally non-right angles. Up to now, for fastening of rail tracks which do not cross the ties at right angles slabs were used which had their bores located on the axis and which required construction components arranged in numerous axes scattered over the surface of the switch ties for the fastening screws of the slabs and corresponding bores for the fastening of the construction components in the bottom plate of the mold. A mold for switch cross ties made of concrete is known from German patent 3,440,247. This mold has a bottom plate made of steel which is accurately fitted between side walls. Nonetheless with it the production of new bottom plates with holes in different locations and their insertion is expensive.

Method of making concrete switch cross ties


A communication system capable of improving telephone communication service by effectively integrating communications with IP phones and with mobile phones. A connection controller controls a connection interface with a mobile phone and obtains the phone number of the mobile phone being connected thereto. A connect information transmitter transmits connect information including identification information and the phone number. A connect information manager stores and manages the received connect information. When a calling IP phone sends a request to call the mobile phone, a communication controller determines based on the connect information whether the mobile phone is connected to a receiving IP phone. If yes, the communication controller makes a call to the receiving IP phone to establish communication between the calling and receiving IP phones.

(1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a communication system and, more particularly, to a communication system for audio communication over a network.
(2) Description of the Related Art
Recently, as more access circuits including xDSLs, cable internets, optical fibers, and wireless circuits are used in a broadband and network-related devices become increasingly sophisticated, the broadband spreads rapidly. This results in offering various applications and services on an Internet Protocol (IP) network.
Specifically, IP phone (Internet phone) services come into practical use, which realize audio communication over IP networks with a Voice over IP (VoIP) technology. Instead of the existing telephones, IP phones are considered as the feature for cheap communication. Therefore, as a network technology advances, IP phones will increasingly spread.
As the IP phone services spread, more users use both the IP phone services and the mobile phone services. For example, while an IP phone system is set up so as to cover all branches of a company, workers move around with their mobile phones.
There is a conventional technique for Internet phones in which a called Internet phone automatically receives a call even while it is not connected to the Internet through a dial-up connection (for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-177663, paragraph [0025] to [0028], FIG. 1).
In an environment where users can use both IP phones and mobile phones, a caller normally cannot know whether a receiver is near an IP phone. If the caller calls to an IP phone that is considered as being near the receiver and the receiver is not near the IP phone actually, the caller calls the receiver's mobile phone this time. This takes time and is troublesome.
Further, the IP phone network and the mobile phone network are independently set up. Therefore, there are only a few services to make a call from an IP phone to a mobile phone and the services use a gateway to connect the IP network and the mobile phone network. Since a charge for communication between an IP phone and a mobile phone is more expensive than that for communication between mobile phones, what a caller and a receiver who can both use IP phones have communication from an IP phone to a mobile phone is waste of money. In short, callers cannot effectively use the IP phones and the mobile phones if they cannot know whether receivers are near IP phones.
Note that the above-described conventional technique relates to a dial-up connection of Internet phones and is not considered for appropriate integration control of IP phones and mobile phones.


Methods and systems are disclosed for controlling an exhaust gas recirculation valve in an engine by determining errors in exhaust backpressure estimates and adapting EGR flow estimations based on these errors to meet target EGR dilutions in the engine. In one example approach, a method comprises adjusting valve position based on desired EGR flow and estimated EGR flow, where the estimated flow is based on estimated exhaust backpressure, and the estimated exhaust backpressure is updated based on errors between actual and desired intake oxygen concentration.

Engine systems may be configured with exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) systems wherein at least a portion of the exhaust gas is recirculated to the engine intake. Such EGR systems my enable reduction in exhaust emissions while also increasing fuel economy.
Various sensors may be included in the engine system to estimate the EGR flow and control an amount of EGR delivered to the engine intake. One example of such an EGR system is illustrated by Tonetti et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 7,267,117. Herein, an oxygen sensor is included in the engine air intake, and based on the output of the oxygen sensor, a controller is configured to adjust the position of an EGR valve to thereby provide a desired amount of EGR.
EGR systems must precisely control the flow of re-circulated exhaust. For example, too much EGR flow may retard engine performance and cause a hesitation on acceleration. On the other hand, too little EGR flow may reduce the ability to decrease heat losses to coolant by lowering temperatures of combusted gases, reduce the ability to improve knock tolerance by diluting and cooling end gases, and reduce the ability to decrease/eliminate enrichment requirements by lowering exhaust gas temperatures, for example.
An EGR valve may be included in an EGR system to control EGR mass flow in order to ensure a desired EGR fraction in the intake manifold. The main function of the EGR valve is to control the amount of the returned burnt exhaust gas into the intake manifold area of an internal combustion engine. In some approaches, the EGR valve may be adjusted based on a desired EGR mass flow rate and a measured total EGR mass at an air intake system (AIS) of the engine.
The inventors herein have recognized potential issues with such EGR control system approaches. For example, the inventors herein have recognized that accurate control of an electric EGR valve requires accurate exhaust backpressure estimates, but this value can have various sources of error which degrade EGR flow estimation. For example, errors in estimating exhaust pressure differences between the output of a turbine and an EGR valve or errors in estimating a pressure drop across the EGR valve may lead to potential errors in the EGR valve position commanded by a controller. Such estimation errors could lead to either too much or too little EGR valve lift and consequently delivery of an incorrect amount of EGR to the engine intake based on engine operating conditions. Delivery of an incorrect amount of EGR to the engine intake may potentially cause fuel economy and tailpipe emissions degradations, e.g., due to engine misfire because of excessive EGR being delivered.
Thus, in one example approach, the above issues may be at least partly addressed by a method of operating an engine including an EGR passage and an oxygen sensor comprising adjusting valve position based on desired EGR flow and estimated EGR flow, where the estimated flow is based on estimated exhaust backpressure, and the estimated exhaust backpressure is updated based on errors between actual and desired intake oxygen concentration.
In this way, errors in exhaust back pressure determination based on a desired EGR rate and an actual rate determined via an intake air oxygen sensor may be used to adapt pressure estimations across the EGR valve so that a target EGR flow rate may be accurately achieved. Further, errors between actual and desired intake oxygen concentrations may be used to adaptively update exhaust back pressure estimations to control the EGR valve to meet target EGR dilutions in the engine. By determining errors in exhaust backpressure estimates and adapting EGR flow estimations based on these errors, increased accuracy in EGR valve control may be achieved thereby potentially increasing engine performance, increasing fuel economy, and reducing engine emissions.
It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.


Methods of dynamic control of an electronic message system are described. In an embodiment, a system which is separate from a messaging service within the electronic message system generates an event signal which relates to an event external to the messaging service. The event signal is received by the messaging service and this triggers a dynamic update in one or more electronic messages which are identified based on the event signal received. For example, the dynamic update may result in the message content being displayed in a different manner or the message being delivered or deleted. Examples of external events include a community response to a particular message, based on a subset of information about the message which has been shared, the location of one or more users and a change in membership of a group.

There are now many different email systems in use. Many of these systems allow a user to specify rules about how incoming messages are handled or displayed. For example, emails received from a particular sender may be color-coded or directed to a particular folder. Many email systems also include junk mail filtering mechanisms such that emails received from particular senders do not appear in a user's inbox but are directed to a specific junk email folder on receipt and the messages may be automatically deleted after a defined amount of time.
The embodiments described below are not limited to implementations which solve any or all of the disadvantages of known electronic message systems.

Dynamic control of an electronic message system


A process for separating ethylbenzene and styrene by distillation is described. The process provides the advantages of a vapor compression/heat pump system, and is designed in such a manner that the energy applied is optimally utilized. The head pressure of the distillation column (1) is controlled in a simple manner, whereby a surprisingly stable column is achieved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for the separation of ethylbenzene and styrene by distillation. More particularly, it is drawn to the recovery of ethylbenzene and styrene from the crude product resulting from ethylbenzene dehydrogenation, utilizing the advantages of heat pump/vapor compression in a distillation process.
2. Discussion of the Background
Styrene is by far the most commercially important unsaturated aromatic monomer (see Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, Vol. 21, Third Edition (1983) pp. 770-801, incorporated by reference). The dominant manufacturing technique is the dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene, which provides a crude product composed mainly of styrene and ethylbenzene. Separation of this crude product by distillation is difficult because of the similar boiling points of styrene and ethylbenzene. Distillation is further complicated by the presence of impurities such as toluene, benzene, water, and nitrogen-containing species, and by practices such as the addition of vinyl aromatic polymerization inhibitors.
A great many distillation systems are known (see ibid, Vol. 7, pp. 849-891; ibid, Supplement, pp. 806-845; King, C. J., Separation Processes, Second Edition, McGraw-Hill, N.Y., 1980; incorporated by reference). Since the separation of ethylbenzene and styrene is both uniquely difficult and is of great economic importance, many distillation processes have been proposed specifically therefore. Such a process is disclosed, for example, in Bulletin VT 1673/74, May 1982, page 3, 12.4.1, Separation of Ethylbenzene/Styrene, Sulzer Company. However, control of the distillation column (crude styrene column) is not disclosed.
EP-B 0 160 553 teaches a further development of the process of the Sulzer Company. In this case, the vapor of the low boilers, including ethylbenzene, is withdrawn from the head of a distillation column and divided into two parts or streams. A first stream is passed in a known manner through a "preheater" in which the stream is superheated and then to a compressor for adiabatic compression. A second stream is passed to a condenser. The heat of condensation of the second stream is apparently lost to the system in the condenser, and the distillation column is controlled in a complicated manner. Although the distillation is highly stable (e.g. mass transfer is maintained at a constant rate and purity), it is costly.
Thus, there is a need for an efficient process of separating a mixture comprising ethylbenzene and styrene that is stable, easily controlled, and yet less costly.

Process for separating ethylbenzene and styrene by distillation


A tool and method for deburring the edge of a hole through a plate, pipe, duct, or similar workpiece. The edge to be deburred is the edge away from the operator of the tool, e.g., the edge on the far side of the plate or on the inside of the pipe or duct. The tool has a pivotal deburring blade at the distal end of a longitudinal member. The blade is pivoted substantially parallel to the longitudinal member for insertion of the tool through or withdrawal of the tool from the hole. The blade is pivoted substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal member for deburring the edge of the hole. Pivoting of the blade is controlled without direct manipulation of the blade by the operator and without the use of any other members.

This invention relates to tools and methods for removing the raised edge or burr which is left when a hole is drilled, punched, or similarly formed through a plate, pipe, duct, or similar workpiece. The tool and method of this invention are particularly intended for removing the burr on the edge of a hole away from the operator of the tool, e.g., the burr on the edge of a hole on the side of a plate away from the operator or on the inside of a pipe or duct.
Tools for deburring the remote edges of holes through plates, pipes, ducts, and the like are known. Typically, these tools include a longitudinal shaft having a pivotal deburring blade at or near the remote or distal end of the shaft. The shaft is inserted through the hole while the deburring blade is pivoted substantially parallel to the shaft in an inoperative position. When the blade is through the hole, the blade is pivoted out substantially perpendicular to the shaft into an operative position. The shaft is then rotated and the tool is pulled outwardly of the hole so that the blade engages and eventually removes the burr. When the burr has been removed to the desired degree, the blade is pivoted back into the inoperative position in the shaft so that the tool can be removed from the hole.
In general, the pivoting of the blade in the prior art deburring tools described above is positively controlled by means accessible to the operator from the near side of the hole. Control of the blade from the near side of the hole is desirable for operator convenience, and in many instances is absolutely essential if the operator cannot reach the inside of the hole, as in the case of a hole through a long pipe or duct. Typically, the means for controlling the pivoting of the blade in these prior art tools includes additional elements associated with the shaft, at least one of which extends through the hole substantially parallel to the shaft. The operator manipulates this apparatus (e.g., by reciprocating it) to position the blade.
This additional apparatus in prior art deburring tools greatly complicates these tools and may substantially increase their cost. The relatively large number of moving parts in these tools renders them more susceptible to damage and wear and reduces their reliability. The burr material removed by these tools can become lodged in the moving parts of the tools and cause them to jam.
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of this invention to improve and simplify tools and methods for deburring the edges of holes remote from the operator of the tool.
It is a more particular object of this invention to provide a deburring tool for use in removing the burrs on the remote edges of holes in which the blade can be controlled solely by simple manipulation of the tool relative to the hole and without the need for any additional elements for positioning the blade.


The reflective projection system has a relatively wide field of view that comprises two concave and two convex spherical mirrors, situated in certain non-light-blocking positions with respect to one another, for deriving, with negligible image aberrations, a projected magnified or demagnified image over at least one of a range of magnification or demagnification power values between 3 and infinity that may be zoomed over this range. Such a reflective projection system, utilizing a high-power excimer laser radiation source, may be employed for ablating the surface of a substrate, such as the surface of the coating of a coated wafer, with a demagnified image of an object pattern defined by a mask, the radiation intensity of the demagnified image being sufficiently high to effect this ablation.

1. Field of the Invention
A magnification-demagnification optical system and, more particularly, to such an optical system suitable for projecting a high-power-density beam of radiation manifesting a demagnified precise image of a given mask or reticle pattern on an ablation surface of a substrate, such as the surface of a coated semiconductor, for the purpose of ablating the ablation surface in accordance with the pattern image.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Both transmissive (lens) element and reflective (mirror) element systems for deriving a projected light image are known in the art. In the design of such systems, it is usually desired to reduce image aberrations to a minimum or, at least, to an acceptable level within complexity and cost constraints. It is not practical to attempt to solve the large number of non-linear ray-tracing equations of design variables that it usually takes to determine exact element positions for the design that introduces the minimum image aberrations. Therefore, in practice, simplifications are made that permit "starting points" for the element positions that are only somewhere in a general vicinity of the exact element positions to be determined. After which, known iterative computer software programs are employed for moving the element positions from their respective "starting points" toward their respective exact positions at which optical aberrations are reduced toward a minimum and a specified magnification or demagnification is obtained. Examples of such computer software programs are "Code V", available from Optical Research Associates, 550 North Rosemead Boulevard, Pasadena, Calif. 91107, and "Super Oslo", available from Sinclair Optics, 6780 Palmyra Road, Fairport, N.Y. 14450. In principle, the optimization of the optical design performed by such computer software programs could be performed analytically instead. However, because the analytical way of performing optical design is very tedious and time consuming, it is significantly less practical than optical design performed by computer software programs.
As known in the art, transmissive projection optics employing a system of one or more lenses is commonly used for most imaging purposes. A lens system has several design variables available (e.g., lens shape, lens power, lens separation and lens material) that can be used to control the many image aberrations that must be optimized for good performance. However, transmissive projection optics are not suitable for implementing the aforesaid surface ablation because absorption of heat by one or more of the lenses of such transmissive projection optics due to a high power-density beam of radiation passing therethrough is at least sufficient to degrade the image quality and may be sufficient to destroy a lens. By way of example, consider the case in which a beam of ultraviolet radiation from a high-power excimer laser (e.g., at least 100 watts) having a wavelength of 0.24840 micrometer (.mu.m), after passing through a mask defining a given pattern, is demagnified at its image plane by a factor of 5 in each of its two cross sectional dimensions. The result is that the demagnified beam in the image plane has a power density of 5.sup.2 or 25 times higher than the already high power density that the beam had in passing through the mask. The very high power density of the demagnified beam in the image plane is needed to effect the the aforesaid surface ablation. Other useful ultraviolet radiation wavelengths of a high-power excimer laser are 0.308 .mu.m and 0.196 .mu.m.
A mirror absorbs very little of the radiation energy incident thereon. Therefore, reflective projection optics employing only a system of mirrors would be suitable for implementing the aforesaid surface ablation. However, the physical presence of one mirror of a multi-mirror system tends to get in the way of the light path to another mirror of the system, and thereby obscures or vignettes parts of the light beam. This makes it particularly difficult to implement reflective projection optics employing a relatively large number of mirrors to transmit a large field of view without serious energy loss due to mirror blockage of the light path. Further, since a mirror has fewer degrees of design freedom than a lens, in order to obtain a sufficient number of design variables to overcome image aberrations, it takes a large number of mirrors or the use of aspheric surfaces to achieve the the same number of design variables that even a simple lens system possesses. Since the light blockage problem is compounded as the number of mirrors required to reduce image aberrations to a negligible level becomes greater, fewer mirrors having aspheric surfaces are normally employed in reflective projection optics to obtain sufficient design variables. Because aspheric surfaces are much more difficult and expensive to make than are spheric surfaces, a reflective projection system employing only spheric mirror surfaces that introduce only negligible optical aberrations would be most desirable for a purpose such as ablating a surface in accordance with a projected demagnified pattern image.

Reflective projection system comprising four spherical mirrors


Micromachined organic crystals are used in electro-optic modulators to provide high speed modulation capability. Machined modulator blocks of organic crystal material, such as dimethylamino n-methylstilbazolium tosylate (DAST), have smooth surfaces adapted to couple light between the organic crystal and a medium adjoining the crystal in the electro-optic modulator. Electrodes are disposed with respect to the modulator block such that an electric field is generated along a selected axis corresponding to the polar axis of the organic crystal. A method of machining the soft organic crystal adapted for use as a modulator includes illuminating the organic crystal material via an opaque mask having a selected pattern corresponding to a desired machined pattern for the organic crystal. The light illuminating the organic crystal has a wavelength corresponding to strong absorption bands in the organic crystal and is pulsed so as to ablate the surface in correspondence with the pattern in a non-contact self-developing machining process.

This invention relates generally to patterned organic crystals and in particular to organic crystals adapted for use in electro-optic modulators and the method for patterning the relatively soft organic crystal to obtain a desired pattern having relatively smooth surfaces adapted for optically coupling light between the organic crystal and an adjoining medium.
Electro-optic modulators are devices which selectively pass light of a particular polarization in response to an applied electric field. Control of the applied electric field thus provides a means of modulating an optical signal. Optical processing of information typically offers advantages over electronic-only processing in that optical processing systems can provide faster processing, take up less space and weight, and are less susceptible to interference from environmental conditions (such as electromagnetic interference). For example, optical processing systems incorporating electro-optic modulators can be used in signal processing systems in satellites to reduce weight (and therefore launch costs) and susceptibility to electromagnetic interference; in medical equipment such as ultrasound devices to save space and allow increased density of imaging pixels; as electric field sensors in sensitive areas, such as where high radiation fields exist (e.g., in some medical imaging devices); and in phased array radar systems in which the optical processing provides high data rates along with the space, weight, and stability advantages.
Inorganic crystals such as lithium niobate or lithium tantalate are commonly used as electro-optic modulators. One measure of a material's sensitivity as an electro-optic material is the electro-optic figure of merit (FOM), which is determined in accordance with the following formula: EQU FOM=n.sup.3 r/.epsilon.
in which n is the refractive index; PA1 r is the Pockels coefficient; and PA1 .epsilon. is the dielectric constant at the sampling frequencies of interest.
Lithium niobate, for example, has a FOM of 11.4 pm/V, and lithium tantalate has a FOM of 7.1 pm/V.
In qualitative terms, an effective electro-optic modulator desirably is capable of rapidly modulating an optical signal, thus allowing a high data rate for information passed by the optical signal. The modulating material preferably is thermally and mechanically stable and further comprises a material that can be readily patterned to form smooth surfaces which are appropriate for coupling light between an adjoining medium and the modulator material. It is further desirable that the modulator material be readily patterned into structures that are adapted for use as modulators, providing, for example, for placement of electrodes on the modulator device and attachment of the device to substrates to allow coupling to other optical components. A further desirable characteristic of a modulator is the ability to be driven by a relatively low voltage (electric field).
It is thus an object of this invention to provide a high performance electro-optic modulator that provides high speed modulation capability with high damage thresholds (e.g., as shown by high mechanical and thermal stability), low drive voltages, and optical transparency in a useful window.
A further object of this invention is to provide a method of readily patterning an organic crystal material having the desired electro-optic modulator characteristics.
A still further object of this invention is to provide a non-contact, self-developing precision patterning method for a soft organic crystal.
Another object of this invention is to provide a precision patterning method for organic crystals that reduces damage to the substrate material underlying the crystal.
A yet further object of this invention is to provide a precision patterning method that can be used for making structures having a relatively high aspect ratio in a soft organic crystal.

High resolution micromachining of organic crystals and optical modulators formed thereby


A device for infusing gas into a liquid comprises a housing and a tube having a width that is smaller than that of the housing and which is positioned within the housing such that the longitudinal axis of the tube is approximately parallel to that of the housing. The device further comprises potting compound interposed between an outside surface of the tube and an inside surface of the housing at both ends of the tube. Microporous hollow fibers extend from the potting compound at the first end of the tube and through the potting compound at the second end of the tube. Openings in the device allow for the introduction of gas and liquid into the device. Gas enters the device and into the microporous hollow fibers. Liquid enters the device and is exposed to the outer surfaces of the microporous hollow fibers. Gas passes from the microporous hollow fibers to the liquid and is dissolved into the liquid. Liquid infused with gas exits the device.

The present invention relates to the field of infusing gas into liquids, and more particularly, for infusing oxygen into water.
There are number of applications for infusing gas into liquids. For example, it is known that plants require water into order to receive nutrients into the plant. However, for the nutrients to be used by the plant, oxygen must also be present. It has been found that increasing the dissolved oxygen content of water used for irrigation can increase plant health as well as crop production yields. Additional applications for infusing gas into liquids can include, for example, aquaculture, distilled spirits production, and treatment of blood disorders.
Various techniques have been used to introduce gas into liquids, such as bubblers and aerators. In addition, porous membranes can be used at the gas-liquid interface to cause gas to be absorbed by, and removed from, liquids. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,268,279 discloses a gas transfer process using a hollow fiber membrane. More particularly, this patent discloses a process which comprises allowing a liquid to contact with the inside of a microporous hollow fiber and a fluid to contact with the outside, thereby allowing the gaseous components contained in both fluids to transfer between them.
In order to maximize the benefits of dissolving oxygen into the water used for plant irrigation, it is desired to maximize the amount of dissolved oxygen as well as the time that the oxygen remains dissolved in the water. It is also desired to produce water having increased levels of dissolved oxygen in a manner that is both time-effective and cost-effective. Therefore, what is needed are improved devices and methods for infusing gas into a liquid and, more particularly, for infusing oxygen into water.

Devices and methods for infusing gas into a liquid


An armrest assembly for a seat having stowed and deployed positions, said armrest assembly including a member having a track, and an armrest having a proximal end and a distal end, the armrest coupled to the track at the distal end and slidable along the track from the stowed position to the deployed position.

The present invention relates to an armrest for a vehicle. More specifically, the present invention relates to an armrest that is integral to a seatback and slidable from a stowed position to a use position and visa-versa.
Vehicle armrests have been fabricated in a variety of forms to accommodate various seat structures and configurations present in modem automobiles, such as rear bench seats. Present conventional armrests mounted in the rear seat of an automobile deploy from the stowed position to the use position by rotating about a fixed pivot in the seat structure. The stowed position is typically a generally vertical position with the armrest fitted into the seat back to form a flush seatback surface and the use position is typically a generally horizontal position at approximately the elbow height for a user. In operation, a conventional rotatable armrest will be rotated by the user from the stowed position to the use position.
One disadvantage with conventional rotatable armrests is that they are generally difficult to install and mechanically intricate, as they require numerous fittings to be attached to the seat back frame. In this regard, rotatable armrests require that a pivot point be installed in the frame of the seat and that both the top and bottom surfaces be trimmed with cover material. These additional fittings and trim material cause the installation of a rotatable armrest to be highly complex.
Furthermore, present rotatable armrests are not ergonomically friendly, as they require the user to first move his or her arm and then to rotate the armrest from its generally vertical stowed position to its generally horizontal use position. This action is time consuming and may also be difficult or awkward for less dexterous individuals to execute.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an ergonomically deployed armrest assembly that is easily installed into a standard vehicle seat which does not suffer from the above mentioned disadvantages.


A filtering reactor stage and a variable-frequency driving system utilizing the same are provided. The system includes a rectifier input stage, an inverter output stage and a filter reactor stage. The filter reactor stage is coupled between the rectifier input stage and the inverter output stage. The filter reactor stage includes a magnetic core module, a first winding set, a second winding set and a third winding set. The magnetic core module includes a middle pillar and two side pillars. The first second winding sets are wound around two side pillars respectively. The first winding second winding sets are coupled to a first DC (Direct Current) bridge between the rectifier input stage and the inverter output stage. The third winding set is wound around the middle pillar and coupled to a second DC bridge between the rectifier input stage and the inverter output stage.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a filtering reactor. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a filtering reactor stage utilized in a variable-frequency driving system.
2. Description of Related Art
In the field of controlling an electrical machine or an induction motor, how to adjust the speed of the motor is an important topic. A conventional electrical machine usually utilizes a DC (Direct Current) speed modulator, and its applications are limited due to a large hardware size and a high failure rate.
The variable-frequency drive (VFD) is based on variable-frequency and active electronic-component technologies to control the output of an AC (Alternating Current) motor by adjusting the frequency and amplitude of an operation power source transmitted from an input terminal.
The variable-frequency drive is configured to change the frequency and amplitude of the AC power source supplied to the induction motor, and further to change a cycle of the kinetic magnetic field on the induction motor, such that a rotating speed of the induction motor can be adjusted smoothly. The emergence of the variable-frequency drive simplifies the speed control process, which used to be complex and difficult. The AC induction motor collaborating with the variable-frequency drive may be used to replace most of the jobs which only can be done by using the DC electrical machinery originally, such that the size of the circuitry system with the AC induction motor and the variable-frequency drive can be reduced and the failure rate can be lowered.
A conventional variable-frequency drive usually includes a rectifier and an inverter. A current ripple noise may occur on a signal transmission between the rectifier and the inverter. A common solution for filtering out the current ripple noise is to implement a capacitor on a DC bridge of one single side between the rectifier and the inverter. However, when the variable-frequency drive is in operation, two common-mode currents are generated to flow from the rectifier to the inverter via two DC bridges on both sides between the rectifier and the inverter. A conventional way to lower the common-mode currents is to implement capacitors on both DC bridges, thereby suppressing electromagnetic interference (EMI). However, the capacitors in the conventional solution may only provide limited effects on suppressing the common-mode currents.

Filtering reactor stage and variable-frequency driving system using the same


A catheter equipped with a dilatation element comprising, an inner tube having a first lumen open at the distal end, an outer tube which surrounds the inner tube so that a predetermined length of the distal end of the inner tube extends out of the distal end of the outer tube and a second lumen is formed between the outer surface and the inner tube, a foldable dilatation element which has the front and rear end portions attached to the inner tube and the outer tube respectively and whose internal space communicates with the second lumen, a first opening which communicates with the first lumen at the proximal end of the inner tube, and a second opening which communicates with the second lumen at the proximal end of the outer tube, and characterized in that a portion near the distal end of the outer tube is fixed to the inner tube without blocking the second lumen.

As a catheter equipped with a dilatation element for dilating stenotic sections in blood vessels, so called Simpson-Robert type catheter disclosed in the specification of U.S. Pat. No. 4,323,071 is used.
The stenotic lesions in blood vessels which could be treated by the early models of this type of catheter were limited to those in the proximity of the coronary arteries anatomically, of about 15 to 20 mm in length, localized in a single branch, and not calcificated. But improved in order to expand the treatable lesions, later models have become able to treat more serious stenotic lesions such as sub-total obliteration and at more peripheral-side vessels.
The applicant of this application has previously proposed another catheter which comprises an inner tube, an outer tube disposed coaxial in the inner tube, and a dilatation element attached to the inner and outer tubes, as described in International Publication No. W088/6464.
In the Simpson-Robert type catheter described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,323,071 and the one disclosed in the International Publication No. W088/6464, the inner and outer tubes are fixed at their proximal ends, while the rear end of a dilatation element is attached to the distal end of the outer tube and the front end to the distal end of the inner tube. The outer and inner tubes are thus connected by the intermediary of the dilatation element at their distal ends.
The coaxial-type catheters as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,323,071 and in the International Publication No. W088/6464 are inserted into vessels with the dilatation element folded up around the inner tube. While being advanced in vessels, a small displacement of the relative position of the outer and inner tubes can occur due to the frictional resistance exerted over the dilatation element and the force from the inner wall of blood vessels against the inner tube when the tip of the inner tube is in contact with the vessel wall. This displacement between the outer and inner tubes pulls or pushes the ends o the folded dilatation element. This force can cause the deformation of the dilatation element and sometimes the dilatation element expands thicker in the outer diameter than in its completely folded state. In that case, manipulation of the catheter, particularly insertion of the dilatation element into stenotic sections becomes difficult.

Catheter equipped with a dilation element


An editing system for real-time remote transcription, such as may be used by deaf or hearing impaired individuals, displays transcribed text on a screen prior to transmission so that a human call assistant may identify words being held in a buffer by their spatial location on the screen to initiate a correction of those words either through speech or text entry.

None.
The present invention relates to systems for transcribing voice communications into text and specifically to a system facilitating real-time editing of a transcribed text stream by a human call assistant for higher accuracy.
A system for real-time transcription of remotely spoken voice signals is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,909,482 assigned to the same assignee as the present invention and hereby incorporated by reference. This system may find use implementing both a xe2x80x9ccaptelxe2x80x9d (caption telephone) in which a user receives both voice and transcribed text through a xe2x80x9crelayxe2x80x9d from a remote second party to a conversation, and a xe2x80x9cpersonal interpreterxe2x80x9d in which a user receives, through the relay, a text transcription of words originating from the location of the user.
In either case, a human xe2x80x9ccall assistantxe2x80x9d at the relay listens to the voice signal and xe2x80x9crevoicesxe2x80x9d the words to a speech recognition computer program tuned to that call assistant""s voice. Revoicing is an operation in which the call assistant repeats, in slightly delayed fashion, the words she or he hears. The text output by the speech recognition system is then transmitted to the captel or personal interpreter. Revoicing by the call assistant overcomes a current limitation of computer speech recognition programs that they currently need to be trained to a particular speaker and thus, cannot currently handle direct translation of speech from a variety of users.
Even with revoicing and a trained call assistant, some transcription errors may occur, and therefore, the above-referenced patent also discloses an editing system in which the transcribed text is displayed on a computer screen for review by the call assistant.
The present invention provides for a number of improvements in the editing system described in the above-referenced patent to speed and simplify the editing process and thus generally improve the speed and accuracy of the transcription. Most generally, the invention allows the call assistant to select those words for editing based on their screen location, most simply by touching the word on the screen. Lines of text are preserved intact as they scroll off the screen to assist in tracking individual words and words on the screen change color to indicate their status for editing and transmission. The delay before transmission of transcribed text may be adjusted, for example, dynamically based on error rates, perceptual rules, or call assistant or user preference.
The invention may be used with voice carryover in a caption telephone application or for a personal interpreter or for a variety of transcription purposes. As described in the parent application, the transcribed voice signal may be buffered to allow the call assistant to accommodate varying transcription rates, however, the present invention also provides more sophisticated control of this buffering by the call assistant, for example adding a foot control pedal, a graphic buffer gauge and automatic buffering with invocation of the editing process. Further, the buffered voice signal may be processed for xe2x80x9csilence compressionxe2x80x9d removing periods of silence. How aggressively silence is removed may be made a function of the amount of signal buffered.
The invention further contemplates the use of keyboard or screen entry of certain standard text in conjunction with revoicing particularly for initial words of a sentence which tend to repeat.
The above aspects of the inventions are not intended to define the scope of the invention for which purpose claims are provided. Not all embodiments of the invention will include all of these features.
In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which there is shown by way of illustration, a preferred embodiment of the invention. Such embodiment also does not define the scope of the invention and reference must be made therefore to the claims for this purpose.

Real-time transcription correction system


A toy pump action rifle for launching discs having an outer housing, a stock, a grip, a trigger, a handle for cocking the rifle and a revolving drum for storing multiple discs. Within the housing is a mechanism for removing discs, one at a time, from the drum where the discs are arranged in a first position, rotating each disc 90° to a second position, and transporting each disc to a discharge chamber. The mechanism includes a transfer arm to remove each disc from the drum, a disc pocket for receiving the removed disc, the pocket being rotatable to reorient the disc, and disc pocket also being slidable to carry the disc to the discharge chamber. Activation of the trigger releases a cocked launch arm that snaps forward and strikes the disc to cause discharge.

Toys and other devices that discharge disc-like objects have been designed in the past. For example, in 1953, U.S. Pat. No. 2,646,786 issued to Robertson for a "Cylindrical Object Ejecting Apparatus," and purports to disclose a revolving drum for launching military Sono buoys from a slot opening in a flying aircraft. The cylindrical buoys are disposed on the drum with longitudinal axes generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft, and a pivotal arm pushes each buoy through the slot. In 1958, U.S. Pat. No. 2,827,036 for a "Magazine Target Trap" issued to Ervine et al., and purports to disclose a target-throwing device where the targets are disposed horizontally in vertical stacks and a throwing arm automatically launches the targets horizontally one at a time. Three years later, U.S. Pat. No. 2,996,058 issued to Ervine under the same title as his 1958 patent and discloses another target throwing device where the targets are disposed horizontally in vertical stacks and a throwing arm automatically launches the targets horizontally. U.S. Pat. No. 3,088,452, issued in 1963 for a "Target Throwing Apparatus" to Foster and purports to operate in the same manner as describe for the two preceding patents. U.S. Pat. No. 3,621,828, issued to Hansen in 1971 for a "Target Projecting Device With Magazine Indexing Mechanism" also purports to generally operate in the same manner as the three preceding patents. In 1975, U.S. Pat. No. 3,876,201, issued for an "Apparatus For Projecting Hockey Pucks" to King and purports to generally describe a device as described above, except substituting hockey pucks for targets.
Devices of for pivoting an object before discharge have also been designed. U.S. Pat. No. 4,524,672, issued to Balsavage in 1985 for a "Magazine And Feed Mechanism For Firearms," purports to load a cartridge from a magazine where the cartridges are arranged laterally to a barrel. An injector element rotates downward to push a cartridge passed flexible arms biased by torsion springs. The injector element has an inwardly curved surface for pushing a cartridge and another surface having an outwardly curved surface for blocking a succeeding cartridge. The cartridge is delivered to a rotatable transfer platform to realign the cartridge from a perpendicular position relative to the barrel to a parallel position aligned with the barrel. In 1993, U.S. Pat. No. 5,239,911, issued to Ostor for a "Multiple-Round Grenade Launcher," and purports to also use a pivoting platform to rotate a grenade stored perpendicular to a barrel to a position aligned with the barrel. Eleven years later, U.S. Patent Application Publication, No. 2004/0082411 A1 discloses a "Game Projectile Dispensing Device" listing Fluckiger and others as inventors, the publication disclosing a hockey puck dispensing apparatus having an upright cylindrical puck-retaining device that has a semicircular retaining wall with an aperture. The pucks are stored horizontally, and an actuating lever positioned through the aperture pushes the lower-most puck off of the retaining wall when the lever is pivoted. The puck falls into a space with an angled wall causing the puck to tilt from a horizontal position to a vertical position before exiting the device and rolling away.
These patents and devices are of some interest, however, they do not disclose or illustrate a robust apparatus for taking a disc from an alignment in a drum perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the apparatus to an alignment in a discharge chamber parallel to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus where the disc is located to be struck by a launch arm.

Launch apparatus for toy discs with disc flip mechanism


A catalyst containing nanosize zeolite particles supported on a support material for alkylation reactions, such as the alkylation of benzene to form ethylbenzene, and processes using such a catalyst is disclosed.

Styrene is an important monomer used in the manufacture of many polymers. Styrene is commonly produced by forming ethylbenzene, which is then dehydrogenated to produce styrene. Ethylbenzene is typically formed by one or more aromatic conversion processes involving the alkylation of benzene.
Aromatic conversion processes, which are generally carried out utilizing a molecular sieve type catalyst, are well known in the chemical processing industry. Such aromatic conversion processes include the alkylation of aromatic compounds such as benzene with ethylene to produce alkyl aromatics, such as ethylbenzene.
The molecular sieve catalysts that are suitable for use in these alkylation reactions typically include zeolites. The most commercially available zeolites are prepared such that the zeolite crystal is greater than 1 μm.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Supported nano sized zeolite catalyst for alkylation reactions


A microphone system has a base coupled with first and second microphone apparatuses. The first microphone apparatus is capable of producing a first output signal having a noise component, while the second microphone apparatus is capable of producing a second output signal. The first microphone apparatus may have a first back-side cavity and the second microphone may have a second back-side cavity. The first and second back-side cavities may be fluidly unconnected. The system also has combining logic operatively coupled with the first microphone apparatus and the second microphone apparatus. The combining logic uses the second output signal to remove at least a portion of the noise component from the first output signal.

Condenser microphones typically have a diaphragm that forms a capacitor with an underlying backplate. Receipt of an audible signal causes the diaphragm to vibrate to form a variable capacitance signal representing the audible signal. It is this variable capacitance signal that can be amplified, recorded, or otherwise transmitted to another electronic device.
Problems arise, however, when the microphone is subjected to a mechanical shock. Specifically, mechanical shocks can cause the diaphragm to vibrate in a manner that degrades the microphone output signal.

Noise mitigating microphone system and method


A lean operation fault detection and isolation (FDI) technique involves receiving, from a manifold absolute pressure (MAP) sensor, a measured MAP, detecting a lean operation fault where an engine is operating with a lean air/fuel ratio, estimating, using an observer, (i) an air/fuel ratio of an exhaust gas produced by the engine and (ii) the MAP, monitoring first and second residual values indicative of differences between (i) the estimated air/fuel ratio of the exhaust gas and a measured air/fuel ratio of the exhaust gas from an exhaust O2 sensor and (ii) the estimated MAP and the measured MAP from the MAP sensor, respectively, and, based on the monitoring of the first and second residual values, determining which of (i) an air intake of the engine, (ii) the exhaust O2 sensor, and (iii) a fuel injector of the engine is malfunctioning and causing the lean operation fault.

An internal combustion engine combusts a mixture of air and fuel within cylinders to generate drive torque. For each type of fuel, there is an optimal ratio of air/fuel that results in complete combustion. This is also known as a stoichiometric air/fuel ratio. Airflow and fueling is regulated based on feedback from various sensors in an effort to maintain this stoichiometric air/fuel ratio. Lean operation refers to the combustion of fuel with an excess of air (i.e., a higher than stoichiometric air/fuel ratio). Lean operation is typically diagnosed as a fault because it requires higher ignition temperatures and therefore sometimes results in misfires. The cause of a lean operation fault, however, could be one of a variety of components malfunctioning. This often results in a non-malfunctioning component being replaced during servicing, which increases service time and warranty costs. Accordingly, while such fuel system diagnostics do work well for their intended purpose, there remains a need for improvement in the relevant art.

Fault detection and isolation fuel system lean monitor rationalized with manifold absolute pressure sensor


An internal combustion engine operatively coupled with a variable load and an electronic control system operatively coupled with the internal combustion engine. The electronic control system is structured to receive an engine speed target value, a first engine speed feedback value, and a second engine speed feedback value. The electronic control system processes the first engine speed feedback value and the second engine speed feedback value to determine a feedforward correction value. The feedforward correction value is determined to correct for first variation between the second engine speed feedback value and the first engine speed feedback value due to variation in the variable load and to distinguish between the first variation and a second variation due to operation of the internal combustion engine. The control system processes the first engine speed feedback value target, the second engine speed feedback value and the feedforward correction value to determine an engine fueling command, and controls fueling of the internal combustion engine using the fueling command.

The present application relates generally to engine controls including dynamic correction for variation in the magnitude of a load driven internal combustion engine. Internal combustion engines may be utilized to drive variable loads in a number of industrial applications including mechanical load systems, hydraulic load systems, pneumatic load systems and combinations thereof, which may be employed in vehicles, work machines, construction equipment, mining equipment, pumping systems or generation systems, to name several examples. Under some operating conditions the magnitude of a load driven by an engine may vary sufficiently rapidly that existing engine controls overshoot or undershoot a targeted or commanded engine speed. Under such circumstances undesirable engine operating conditions may occur including undesirable engine noise, acceleration or deceleration and variation in torque or power. Furthermore, some industrial engine systems may be configured to operate at fixed engine speed and may exhibit significant, sensitivity to engine speed variation during load transients. In some example applications engine speed overshoot greater than less than 150 rpm and engine speed undershoot greater than 250 rpm may pose a significant concern to operators. Therefore, there remains a significant need for the systems and methods to improve engine response by correcting dynamically as a function of engine loading and torsional vibration disclosed herein.

Engine controls including dynamic load correction