An implant prosthesis comprising implant substrate of ceramic material, a thin glass layer coated over the adhering interface of the substrate relative at least to a bone, and a thermally sprayed layer of calcium phosphate based material formed over the glass layer.. The implant provides excellent adhesion of the thermally sprayed layer of calcium phosphate based material to the substrate, with ensuring advantages of stabilized implantation in a living body in that the thin glass layer between the substrate and the calcium phosphate based material removes fear of the sprayed material coming off and/or falling off the substrate or possibility of bringing about reduced strength of the substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an implant prosthesis adapted to construct artificial bones and artificial tooth for orthopedic surgery used for restoring the bone function and joint function of hands and feet lost by diseases and accidents or for restoring the artificial tooth root adapted for reconstruction of the tooth lost due to old age and diseases. This invention also relates to a method of producing the same.
2. Prior Art
In recent years there has been reported a remarkable development of implantology, and various artificial organs such as artificial heart, artificial blood vessel, artificial lungs play a brilliant role in medical circles.
Particularly, artificial bones for use in artificial joints for recovering the lost joint function are widely used, while the artificial root of a tooth is highlighted in the field of dental treatment.
Because endosseous type implant prosthesis of the kind described such as the artificial joint, artificial bone, artificial tooth root require high strength, stainless steel and cobalt-chromium alloy have conventionally been used for the implant prosthesis materials. But the problem arose that the metal material rusts within a living body to dissolve metallic ion to produce advserse effects on the bone cell and in the worst case the implant material may break.
In an attempt to solve the problem of affinity of this metal prosthetic material with the tissue of a living body, a ceramic material such as alumina has come to be introduced and has found its application in an artificial knee joint and the like. The ceramic material is excellent in its affinity with the bone tissue and is united into one body with the bone in the human body, with not always unexceptional cases of splended restoration in function. But when the material was used under the load of walking or the like, it failed to obtain sufficient fixation to the bone, with no small number of cases of loosening and revision or redoing. In an effort to solve the problem of endosseous fixation of the ceramic implant prosthesis material of the kind described above, coating of the implant with calcium phosphate based material by plasma spraying has been developed and is discussed in Japanese patent publication No. 46911/1984.
It is well known that calcium phosphate based materials (hereinafter referred to as apatite) such as hydroxyapatite, tricalcium phosphate are chemically united with bones and also a metal implant material having a coating applied thereover by thermal spraying is already commercially available. The above-disclosed art also uses thermal spraying of apatite or a mixture of apatite and ceramic powder onto the surface of the ceramic implant or forms a ceramic layer over the ceramic implant by thermal spraying and a further apatite coating thereover once more.
However, although the prior art mentioned above is an effective art, yet raises serious problems in point of practical application. One of the problems is concerned with the adhesive force of the apatite thermally sprayed layer relative to a foundation. According to the thermal spraying, as is generally the case, the spraying secures an adhesive force of the thermally sprayed layer by toughening the foundation by sandblasting. Namely, thermal spraying depends solely upon mechanical anchoring for the adhesive force of the thermally sprayed layer relative to the foundation, and accordingly, unless the foundation has a certain degree of irregularities on the surface thereof, the thermally sprayed layer cannot stick to the foundation. Although the artificial joint and bone are made of a high strength ceramic material such as alumina, zirconium dioxide, yet the mentioned ceramic materials are of high strenghth and are at the same time very hard and it is difficult to roughen the surface of the ceramic material by use of sandblast. Also, the sandblast forcefully carried out cannot provide a sufficient degree of roughness and the thermal spraying of the apatite layer over the thus toughened surface cannot provide an adhesive force which can stand the use of the layer as an implant prosthesis.
On the other hand, the ceramic material is fragile and susceptible to scratches. Even if the scratches are small, they may cause a great reduction in the strength of the material. Sandblasting is an effective means for toughening the surface of a metal material which is a ductile material, but is a risky means which brings about reduced strength relative to the ceramic material. The same is also the case with means other than the blasting for forming a roughened surface. It is an established fact that the deflection strength of monocrystalline alumina is reduced to half or less by small scratches and toughening. The second problem of the prior art mentioned above is the disadvantages of reduction in the strength of the ceramic substrate of the kind thus described above.

Implant prosthesis and method for producing same


A roller guiding method for delivery of magnetic tape media along a tape path between a tape drive employing a single reel and a tape cartridge employing a single reel. The roller guiding system comprises a plurality of guide rollers configured to adjust the path of travel of the tape media during tape drive operation to maintain tracking of the tape media with a tape head.

The invention relates to digital tape drive storage devices, and in particular, to an improved roller guiding method for delivery of magnetic tape media along a tape path between a tape drive employing a single reel and a tape cartridge employing a single reel.
Digital data is stored on tape drives utilizing a variety of designs, but in all cases, magnetic tape media is wound between a pair of tape reels as data is transferred to or from the tape media. In the art of data storage, the physical space required to store data is an important concern. To conserve space, tape drives often use a single reel tape cartridge design. The single reel design utilizes a supply reel located within the tape cartridge and a takeup reel located within the tape drive. After the tape cartridge is inserted into the tape drive, the tape media is connected to the takeup reel and wound along a tape path internal to the tape drive.
One example of a tape path is a guide roller tape path located between the supply reel and the takeup reel. The guide roller tape path uses a plurality of guide rollers to guide the tape media as it is wound between the supply reel and the takeup reel. Guide roller tape paths have the advantage of reducing friction in the tape path to that of rolling friction caused by components such as ball bearings.
A tape transducer, or tape head as it is commonly referred to in the art, located in the tape path, reads and writes digital data as the tape media passes over the tape head. The digital data is written and read from the tape media in tracks running in a longitudinal direction relative to the tape media. To read or write data on a specific track, the tape head must align with that track as the tape media passes over the tape head. To prevent errors in reading and writing data, the tape path traveled by the tape media must be reproducible with a high degree of accuracy. For purposes of this application tracking is defined as the alignment of the tape head with an individual tape track on the tape media.
Improvements in the art of tape heads have increased the number of tracks that can be included on magnetic tape media. As a result, individual tracks are narrower and require higher tolerances of tape path reproducibility to maintain alignment of a desired track with the tape head. Alignment of a specific tape track with the tape head is especially critical during data writing because a misalignment can result in writing over data contained on adjacent tracks.
It is a problem in tape drives employing a guide roller tape path to achieve these high tolerances in tape path reproducibility in light of the narrower tracks on the tape media. The quality of reading and writing data is functionally related to the tape media to tape head contact and the alignment of the desired tape track with the tape head. The alignment of a desired tape track with the tape head and the tape media to tape head contact is affected by several factors during tape drive operation. One factor is tape tension during winding of the tape media through the tape path. Inconsistencies in tape tension move the tape media slightly up or down as it passes over the guide rollers. This movement causes the stationary tape head to lose tracking of a particular tape track.
Another factor is inconsistencies in tape cut. Industry standards permit a positive or negative variation in tape media width of approximately 0.0004 inches over the length of the tape media. These variations also cause the tape media to move slightly up or down the guide rollers causing the tape head to lose tracking. Yet another factor is tape stretch due to wear. Over the course of tape media life, friction in the tape path causes tape degradation that affects how the tape media travels through the tape path.
For these reasons, a need exists in the art for an improved roller guiding system that provides improved tracking of tape media as it is wound through the tape path.
The present invention overcomes the problems outlined above and advances the art by providing an improved roller guiding method for delivery of tape media along a tape path. A first advantage of the present roller guiding method is the formation of a dynamic tape path that continually realigns the desired tape track with the tape head during tape drive operation. A second advantage of the present roller guiding method is improved tracking and tension control. A third advantage of the present roller guiding method is a substantial increase in the number of tape tracks accommodated by a tape drive employing the roller guiding method. A fourth advantage of the present roller guiding system is a reduction in errors during tape drive operation.
The roller guiding system comprises a plurality of guide rollers configured to continually adjust the tape media path of travel during tape drive operation to maintain alignment of the tape head with a particular tape track. In a first embodiment of the roller guiding system, four guide rollers are used to guide the tape media along the tape path between the takeup reel in the tape drive and the supply reel in the tape cartridge. A first pair of guide rollers are identical in design and operation and include a central crown on their tape media contact surfaces. A second pair of guide rollers are identical in their design and operation and include a tapered tape media contact surface that travels from a widest point at the top of the guide roller to a narrowest point at the bottom of the guide roller. All four guide rollers include a tape media contact surface that is slightly wider than the tape media to allow the tape media to pass unobstructed over the tape media contact surface of each guide roller.
The second pair of guide rollers are connected to the tape drive deck between the first pair of guide rollers. The tape head is located between the second pair of guide rollers. During operation of the tape drive, the tapered contact surface of the second pair of guide rollers applies an upward force on the tape media causing it to maintain constant alignment with the top edge of the second pair of guide rollers. As the tape media varies during winding the upward force holds the tape media against the top edge of the guide rollers, which in turn realigns the tape track with the tape head.
In a second embodiment of the roller guiding system, the tapered contact surface of the second pair of guide rollers is inverted and travels from a widest point at the bottom of the guide roller to a narrowest point at the top of the guide roller. In preferred embodiments at least one of the guide rollers includes spiral grooves circumscribing its tape media contact surface.

Guiding method utilizing roller surface features


A thermally-actuated steam trap, which performs the opening and closing operations of a valve according to a change in the volume of an expansible medium, comprises at least two diaphragms and a valve member fitted to the lower diaphragm. The lower diaphragm is shaped so that it comes to be more sensitive to a change in pressure than the upper diaphragm, to provide a steam trap which permits a discharge passage to be opened also when the fluid pressure at the inlet side is relatively week, and which is stable in operation from the initial stage as the opening and closing operations of the valve are performed intermittently.

The present invention relates to a steam trap for automatically discharging condensate generated in various kinds of steam using equipment and steam pipe lines, and, more particularly, to a thermally-actuated steam trap adapted to discharge the condensate below a desired temperature out of a system by using a temperature control element including a medium which is heated and expanded by steam and cooled and contracted by condensate.
Such a thermally-actuated steam trap is provided with a body having therein a valve chest in which steam or condensate is introduced and a temperature control element disposed in the valve chest. The temperature control element used for such a steam trap comprises two disk-like wall members, an upper one and a lower one, and at least one diaphragm provided between the two wall members, the diaphragm being secured at its outer peripheral edge to both the wall members, and the inner space formed between the upper wall member and diaphragm accomodating an expansible medium which changes in volume corresponding to the temperature. Further, on the diaphragm at the side opposite the expansible medium side is carried a valve member.
In such a steam trap, since the diaphragm member and the valve member are displaced to perform the opening and closing operations of the valve part, the diaphragm member composed of a particularly thin member is often damaged and the steam trap comes not to fulfill its function; so, it has hitherto been widely performed to constitute the diaphragm member with a plurality of diaphragm sheets for its reinforcement, as shown in DE 26 30 038 B1. U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,536 also shows a plurality of diaphragms in its drawings without depending upon their relation to the technical contents proposed therein. Further, there are also known steam traps provided with a plurality of diaphragms in such a state as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,013,220 and EP-A-0012267.
Moreover, the inventor of the present application filed a thermally-actuated steam trap, which permits condensate to also be discharged when the diaphragm member is damaged, as in U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 07/851,388, European Pat. Application No. 92104066.3, Canadian Pat. Application No. 2,062,930-1, Australian Pat. Application No. 12182/92, and South African Pat. Application No. 92/1879, and took out patents for the invention (U.S. Pat. No. 5,191,669, Australia Pat. No. 638184 and South African Pat. No. 92/1879). This invention comprises a temperature control element in which an expansible medium is sealed in an accommodating chamber between an upper wall member and a first diaphragm, a valve member is connected to a second diaphragm member, and the second diaphragm and the valve member are each formed with a through-hole.
In the thermally-actuated steam trap provided with the plurality of diaphragms as described above, an inflow of steam at a high temperature into the valve chest causes the expansible medium to expand, thereby displacing each diaphragm in the direction of closing the valve, so that the valve member carried by the lower diaphragm (second diaphragm) or the diaphragm per se is brought into a seating engagement with the valve seat member and, accordingly, the discharge passage formed on the valve seat member is closed. This prevents the discharge of steam. On the other hand, an inflow of condensate at a low temperature in the valve chest causes the expansible medium to contract, thereby displacing each diaphragm in the direction of opening the valve, so that the valve member or the diaphragm per se is brought out of a seating engagement with the valve seat member to open the discharge passage, thereby discharging the condensate out of the system.
However, the thermally-actuated steam trap as constructed above has a problem in that, in the case where the fluid at the inlet side has no sufficient pressure, the discharge passage can not be opened. Namely, when the expansible medium contracts, the chamber in which the expansible medium is accommodated comes to be in a state of negative pressure, so that the upper diaphragm (first diaphragm) is displaced in the direction of opening the valve; however, with the fluid at the inlet side being weak in pressure, the lower diaphragm, particularly fitted with the valve member, can not follow the upper diaphragm, that is, it can not be displaced in the direction of opening the valve, and accordingly, the valve member is not brought out of a seating engagement with the valve seat member, so the discharge opening can not be opened. For example, in a steam-using equipment or the like, the pressure and temperature in the system are low at an initial stage of transferring steam, and the upper diaphragm is displaced in the direction of opening the valve; however, the lower diaphragm remains in the position of closing the valve and, therefore, condensate can not rapidly be discharged and a considerable amount of condensate accumulates in the steam trap, resulting in a lowered machine efficiency.
Moreover, in the thermally-actuated steam trap provided with the plurality of diaphragms, the construction in which the plurality of diaphragms are connected to the valve member so as to be able to be integrally moved therewith or the construction in which the lower diaphragm is combined with the function of the valve member causes the diaphragm to be fractionally displaced due to a change in temperature, in the case where the expansible medium has a temperature close to the temperature at which the opening and closing operations of the valve are switched, so that the opening and closing operations of the valve are finely repeated as if it were vibrated, thus having the danger of such operations being mistaken for a leakage of steam. Further, such fractional displacements cause the earlier abrasion of the valve part, resulting in a leakage of steam.


A target assignment system includes a sensor system which detects a position of a moving vehicle, an assigning section which determines the launcher system assigned with the moving vehicle in response to the position of the moving vehicle and generates a first display signal which shows the moving vehicle and a first launcher system, a display section which displays the moving vehicle and the assigned launcher system in real time in response to the display signal, and an input section which instructs a change of the assigned launcher system. The assigning section generates a second display signal in which the first launcher system is changed to a second launcher system, in response to an instruction of assignment change.

When a moving vehicle should be intercepted by a plurality of launcher systems, the launcher system which intercepts the moving vehicle must be determined. Especially, when a plurality of moving vehicles should be intercepted, there is a problem in which each of the moving vehicles should be assigned to any of the launcher systems.
A firepower assignment apparatus is disclosed in Patent Literature 1 to assign each of moving vehicles to any one of the launcher systems. The firepower assignment apparatus estimates a residual value based on a threat degree of the moving vehicle and an interception probability. Each of the moving vehicles is assigned to any one of the launcher systems so as for the estimated residual value to meet a predetermined condition.

Target assignment system, command system, and target assignment method


A system and method to reduce the incidence of communications network time outs by tailoring the time length specified by an initial date time stamp and an ending date time stamp ranges of a new record update query request to be less likely to direct a responding system(s) to responsively communicate a count of individual record updates and/or a combined information volume that overburdens a communications channel, protocol or mode to cause a time-out. The number of record updates received in response to previous update queries are observed. In view of these observed query responses, the date time stamp ranges of the new update requests specified by the initial date time stamp and the ending date time of a new potential query are limited in magnitude to be unlikely to cause responding messages to contain a higher quantity of record updates than a preselected quantity of record updates and/or data volume.

The subject matter discussed in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its mention in the background section. Similarly, a problem mentioned in the background section or associated with the subject matter of the background section should not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter in the background section merely represents different approaches, which in and of themselves may also be inventions. The prior art enables the updating of records of a software database by downloading updates associated with one or more identified records of the recipient software database. In prior art methods, the quantity of information eligible for downloading to update a recipient database is not optimally estimated or determined by a requesting server in setting a parametric range specified within a record update transmission request. Furthermore, the prior art fails to provide systems and methods that best reduce the incidence of time-outs caused by responses to information requests, wherein the responses to information requests overburden a communications channel, protocol or mode.
There is therefore a long-felt need to provide a method and system that reduce the incidence of time-outs caused by responses to record update requests, wherein the responses to record update requests overburden a communications channel, protocol or mode.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and system for reducing time-out incidence by scoping date time stamp value ranges of succeeding record update requests in view of previous responses


A current limiting fuse has a helically coiled fuse element of ribbon-like material extending within a tubular casing between metallic end caps. The ribbon-like material is edge on to the axis of the helix for permitting a greater length of fuse element than if the ribbon-like material had its flat side towards the axis. In a preferred form, the ribbon-like material has ripples or indentations across it with the ripples having a greater displacement at the edge of the ribbon-like fuse element nearer the axis.

This invention relates to high voltage fuses, and in particular it relates to high voltage fuses of the current limiting type.
High voltage, current limiting fuses normally comprise a fusible element, or more simply a fuse element, totally enclosed in a tubular casing or cartridge with a pulverulent arc quenching material filling the casing and in contact with the fuse element. Fuses of this type which are intended for higher voltages and large current limiting capacities requires (a) a long fuse element to provide for many small arcs to develop along the length thereof under fault conditions, and (b) a fuse element with a large surface area to provide increased contact with the arc quenching material. In order to have a long fuse element without unduly increasing the length of the casing, the fuse element is usually in the form of a helix. The fuse element is commonly wound on a central supporting core of ceramic or other insulating material to form a helix. In order to have a fuse element with a large surface area, a flat ribbon-like configuration for the fuse element is usually preferred to a wire-like configuration. The ribbon is wound flat on the core. It will be apparent that, for the same spacing between turns of a helix, and the same size of supporting core, a flat ribbon will require a longer casing to contain it than an equivalent wire fuse element and this may compromise the fuse design.
In some applications, for example in a current limiting fuse section of a combination fuse for use in the protection of capacitors in a power system capacitor bank, a fuse element having a length of the order of six feet might be desired. Such a fuse is required to carry high transient currents and to control fault currents. This capability is improved by large surface contact between the fuse element and the surrounding arc quenching material. In the past, it has been difficult to design and produce a current limiting fuse which has a long fuse element, is of the ribbon type for larger surface area, and yet is enclosed in a casing of convenient length.
Accordingly, it is a general object of this invention to provide an improved current limiting fuse which has a helically formed fuse element made from ribbon-like fuse element material wherein the fuse element is capable of being contained in a casing of convenient length.
It is another object of this invention to provide an improved high voltage, current limiting fuse having a helically formed fuse element of ribbon-like fuse material where the ribbon is on edge with respect to the axis of the helix.


A disc brake, preferably pneumatically actuated, in particular for a motor vehicle, including a brake disc with a brake disc axis, a brake caliper, in particular a sliding caliper, with a brake application section and a caliper back which are connected via tension struts, and at least two brake pads with in each case one brake pad carrier. Of the brake pads, an application-side brake pad is assigned to the brake application section and a back-side brake pad is assigned to the caliper back. The brake pad carrier of the back-side brake pad and the caliper back of the brake caliper are in contact via at least one pair of contact surfaces. One contact surface of the at least one pair of contact surfaces is an end surface of a projection, and the other contact surface of the at least one pair of contact surfaces is a bottom surface of a recess.

The invention relates to a disc brake, preferably pneumatically actuated, in particular for a motor vehicle, having a brake disc with a brake disc axis, a brake caliper, in particular a sliding caliper, with an application section and a caliper back, which are connected via tension struts, and at least two brake pads each having a brake pad carrier. The invention is also concerned with a brake caliper and a brake pad set.
Vehicles and certain technical equipment often use friction brakes to convert kinetic energy. The disc brake is preferred here, especially in the passenger car and commercial vehicle sectors. With the typical design of a disc brake, the disc brake comprises a brake caliper together with an internal mechanism, as well as two brake pads and the brake disc. Forces are introduced to the internal mechanism via a power source, for example via a pneumatically actuated cylinder, are multiplied by an eccentric mechanism and are transmitted as an application force to the brake pads and brake disc via threaded tubes, which are also referred to as threaded plungers, threaded spindles, pressure plungers or the like, together with pressure pieces. The wear on the brake disc and the brake pads is compensated by way of the threaded tubes.
A clearance between the brake pads and the brake disc is referred to as a release clearance. The retardation is significantly affected by the friction coefficient between the brake disc and the brake pad. Since the pads are designed as wearing parts and the friction coefficients are dependent on the rigidity, these pads are generally softer than the brake disc, i.e. the pads undergo a change in pad thickness over their time in use: they wear. Owing to this pad wear and additional disc wear, the release clearance increases. This change in pad thickness gives rise to the need for wear readjustment to compensate for the change and thus establish a constant release clearance.
One example of a readjustment device is described in DE 10 2004 037 771 A1.
The application forces act via two brake pads on the brake disc which, depending on the magnitude of the application force, undergoes a retardation of the rotational movement. The brake pad which lies on the application side of the brake disc is referred to as the application-side brake pad. The other brake pad is located on the other side of the brake disc and is in contact with a caliper back of the brake caliper. During a braking operation, the application-side pad is moved in the direction of the brake disc. As soon as the pad is in contact with the brake disc, the brake caliper is moved by the resulting counterforce in the direction of the brake disc together with the back-side brake pad. If the back-side brake pad now also comes into contact with the brake disc, a braking action is produced.
The back-side brake pad lies against the caliper back of the brake caliper by way of a face-milled surface. This surface is approximately in the shape of the back-side brake pad. The application-side brake pad is pressed against the brake disc, for example via two threaded tube units. It has been found disadvantageous in this case that an uneven wear of the brake pads may arise here.
It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide an improved disc brake.
It is a further object to provide an improved brake caliper.
It is yet another object to provide an improved brake pad set.
These and other objects are achieved by a disc brake, by a brake caliper, and by a brake pad set in accordance with embodiments of the invention.
A disc brake according to the invention, preferably pneumatically actuated, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprises a brake disc with a brake disc axis, a brake caliper, in particular a sliding caliper, with an application section and a caliper back, which are connected via tension struts, and at least two brake pads each having a brake pad carrier. Of the brake pads, an application-side brake pad is assigned to the application section, and a back-side brake pad is assigned to the caliper back. The brake pad carrier of the back-side brake pad and the caliper back of the brake caliper are in contact via at least one pair of contact surfaces. One contact surface of the at least one pair of contact surfaces is an end surface of a projection, and the other contact surface of the at least one pair of contact surfaces is a bottom surface of a recess.
By way of this design, configuration and arrangement of contact surfaces between the back-side brake pad and the caliper back of the brake caliper, uneven wear of the brake pads is significantly reduced.
In one embodiment, the projection with the one contact surface of the at least one pair of contact surfaces and the recess with the other contact surface of the at least one pair of contact surfaces correspond with each other and interact with each other in a form-fitting manner in the installed state. The projection is accommodated in the recess, as a result of which the back-side brake pad is advantageously prevented from unscrewing from the brake caliper.
The projection with the one contact surface of the at least one pair of contact surfaces and the recess with the other contact surface of the at least one pair of contact surfaces can have a circular cross section. As a result, the recess can be produced in a simple manner, for example by drilling and/or hollowing out by turning.
Alternatively, the projection with the one contact surface of the at least one pair of contact surfaces and the recess with the other contact surface of the at least one pair of contact surfaces can have an oval or polygonal cross section. This affords the advantage that a risk of confusion is reduced by means of this unambiguous assignment.
In a further embodiment, the projection with the one contact surface of the at least one pair of contact surfaces is integrally formed on the caliper back of the brake caliper, and the recess with the other contact surface of the at least one pair of contact surfaces is molded into the brake pad carrier of the back-side brake pad. A weight savings is thereby achieved. In addition, the outlay on producing the projections on the caliper back, for example by milling work, is not more complicated in comparison to a conventional face-milled contact surface.
The projection with the one contact surface of the at least one pair of contact surfaces protrudes on the caliper back of the brake caliper from a machined free surface in the direction of the brake disc. The free surface which is produced permits a weight savings.
In a further embodiment, the disc brake furthermore has an application device, preferably with a pivoted brake lever, and at least one threaded tube unit having at least one threaded tube with a center axis. The projection with the one contact surface of the at least one pair of contact surfaces and the recess with the other contact surface of the at least one pair of contact surfaces are arranged with respect to each other coaxially with respect to the center lines thereof and coaxially with respect to the center axis of the at least one threaded tube unit. In this manner, an unfavorable leverage effect is not produced on the back-side brake pad during a braking operation, and therefore uneven wear is significantly reduced.
In an alternative embodiment, the disc brake furthermore has an application device, preferably with a pivoted brake lever, and at least two threaded tube units each having at least one threaded tube with a respective center axis. A first projection with the one contact surface of the at least one pair of contact surfaces and a first recess with the other contact surface of the at least one pair of contact surfaces are arranged with respect to each other coaxially with respect to the center lines thereof and coaxially with respect to the center axis of the one of the at least two threaded tube units, and a second projection with the other contact surface of the at least one pair of contact surfaces and a second recess with the other contact surface of the at least one pair of contact surfaces are arranged with respect to each other coaxially with respect to the center lines thereof and coaxially with respect to the center axis of the other of the at least two threaded tube units. The two individual contact surfaces are arranged in the same center axes as those of the threaded tube units on the application side. This affords the advantage of a reduction in lever arms in the caliper back with respect to tension struts of the brake caliper. Uneven wear of the brake pads is advantageously significantly reduced.
In yet another embodiment, the disc brake has a readjustment device which is inserted into a threaded tube. A compact construction is therefore made possible.
A brake caliper according to the invention of the above-described disc brake has a caliper back with a transverse section which extends parallel to the brake disc and at a right angle to the brake disc axis. On the side which faces the brake disc, the transverse section has a contact section carrier with at least one projection with the one contact surface of the at least one pair of contact surfaces.
A brake pad set according to the invention for the above-described disc brake has at least one application-side brake pad and at least one back-side brake pad, wherein the back-side brake pad has at least one recess for receiving a projection corresponding to the at least one recess.
In another embodiment, the brake pad set furthermore comprises a pad retaining clip, wherein the at least one application-side brake pad and the at least one back-side brake pad are each provided with a pad retaining spring. Simple installation and simple holding are therefore possible.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of one or more preferred embodiments when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Disc brake, brake caliper and brake pad set for a disc brake

KNORR-BREMSE Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH


The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a pressure container comprising an inner liner layer of polymer material, such as polyolephines or a similar material, and an outer, fiber-reinforced and pressure supporting layer, characterized by treatment of the outer side of the inner liner layer so as to increase the wetting and adhesive properties of the polymer material, employing an adhesive at the outer side of the inner liner layer and/or in direct contact between the outer side of the inner liner layer and the inner side of the outer fiber-reinforced, pressure supporting layer, and winding of the outer, fiber-reinforced and pressure supporting layer onto the inner liner layer. In a preferred embodiment the treatment of the outer side of the inner liner layer comprises flaming, but also corona-discharging, possibly in combination with ozone treatment, or a corresponding method for improving the wetting and adhesive properties of the polymer material can also be employed.

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a pressure container comprising an inner liner made of polymer material, such as polyolefines or a similar material, and an outer, fibre-reinforced pressure supporting layer.
Pressure containers for fluids have several uses, such as gas containers in hospitals and fuel containers for motor vehicles, but also in a smaller scale such as propane containers for gas stoves in cottages, camping caravans and small crafts or boats for recreational use. As a rule, such containers have been manufactured from metal for security reasons. These has the disadvantage of being heavy and difficult to handle.
One solution to this problem can be to manufacture the pressure container of composite material, making the container of lighter weight and more easy to handle. At the same time, taking care of the safety in a good manner is important. In particular, it is important that the container is impact resisting, so that leakages and explosions with possible following injuries to persons can be avoided.
An example of a solution wherein the pressure container has been manufactured of composite materials is described in European patent No. 0 810 081 A1, including a method for manufacturing pressure containers, wherein an inner, gas-impenetrable liner made of plastic first is blow moulded, and thereafter, an outer layer consisting of a fibre-reinforced plastic which has been soaked in a resin bath, is wound around the liner. However, the inner and the outer layer in this pressure container is not adhered in any other way, which leads to the formation of gas pockets between the layers. This involves a safety risk, as the gas pockets will expand, should underpressure occur inside the container, which may cause a collapse of the inner layer.
Collapse of the inner liner layer may also occur due to service conditions, for example when evacuating the container, giving rise to underpressure inside the container, or when cooling, so that the temperature of the fluid becomes to low. The industry considers the generally low wetting and adhesive properties of plastic materials as a problem. Some of the reasons for this is that several plastic materials have chemical inert and non-porous surfaces, having low surface tensions. The wetting and adhesive properties of plastic materials may be increased for example by flame treatment or by corona discharge treatment. Flame treatment and corona discharge treatment are characterized in that plasma is generated, i.e., a very reactive gas comprising free electrons, positive ions and other chemical conmponents. The physical mechanisms are different, but their impact on the wetting and adhesive properties is similar. The free electrons, the positive ions, the meta-stabile components and the radicals, together with ultravilet radiation (UV radiation) being generated in the plasma areas, may impact the surface with energies that are sufficient to break the molecule bonds on the surface of the polymer material. On the surface of the polymer material, very reactive free radicals are formed, which themselves may form chemical functional groups, cross-link to chemical functional groups, or rapidly react in the presence of oxygen so that functional groups are formed. Polar functional groups which can increase the bonding property of the polymer material comprise among other carbonyl (xe2x80x94Cxe2x95x90O), carboxyl (xe2x80x94COOH), hydroperoxide (xe2x80x94OOH) an hydroxylgrupper (xe2x80x94OH). International patent application No. PCT/SE89/00187 describes a similar method for increasing the surface energy and the hydrophilicity on surfaces of polymer materials.
Japanese patent No. JP 63215736 (abstract) of Japanese patent Nr. JP-59093632 (abstract) relates to treatment methods for polymer materials for improvement of the surface properties of the material, but intended for completely different tasks than the present invention.
WO A 98/30646 describes a process for obtaining improved adhesion between the surfaces of two polymer compositions, and a product having several polymer layers. This object is manufactured according to the described process. Apparently, the term product is directed to films and sheets having several polymer layers, and not hollow objects as in the present invention. In claim 1 of the publication, three features of the process are indicated:
1) The polymer compositions are joined by means of corona discharge treatment,
2) the layers are in contact with each other during the plasma treatment, and
3) the electrical field passes through the adjacent surfaces of the polymer compositions.
According to the present invention, corona discharge treatment is a part of the pretreatment before joining of the inner liner layer and the outer, pressure supporting layer. In addition, the inner liner layer is not in contact with the outer fibre-reinforced, pressure supporting layer during the treatment step.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,096,013 describes briefly explained a method for laminating two or more chemically different sheets using a method for laminating two or more chemically different sheets by alternating current electrical corona discharge in air, and an apparatus for laminating at least two chemically different sheets to form a laminate. Appearing from the specification, an object of the invention is that the joined sheets are free of adhesives or adhesive film layers.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,415,394 describes an apparatus for adhering two or more layers by corona discharge treatment. The material is exposed to corona discharge treatment before products are manufactured, as opposed to the present invention, wherein the inner liner layer is a finished part before being treated so as to increase the wetting and adhesive properties.
According to WO A 98/30646, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,096,013 and 4,415,394, corona discharge treatment is utilised so as to increase the wetting and adhesive properties fo the materials for adhering polymer layers. Manufacturing of films, foil and laminates of several polymer layers are described in these publications. None of these publications show that adhesives are employed between the polymer layers. Also, they do not show that an inner polymer layer/liner layer is rotated during the complete prosess.
The object of the present invention is to avoid the disadvantages mentioned above. By using a method for manufacturing a pressure container according to the present invention, a light-weight, strong pressure container is possible to manufacture, appearing in one piece, and in addition being easy to handle, and being resistent to underpressure inside the container.
The present invention discloses a method for manufacturing a pressure container comprising an inner liner layer of polymer material, such as polyolefines or a similar material, and an outer, fibre-reinforced, pressure supporting layer. The method is characterized in that, during rotation of the inner liner layer relative to treatment, employment, and/or winding equipment, treatment of the outer side of the inner liner layer so as to increase the wetting and adhesive properties of the polymer material, employment of adhesive onto the outer side of the inner liner layer and/or direct contact between the outer side of the inner liner layer and the inner side of the outer, fibre-reinforced, pressure supporting layer, for adhesion of the inner liner layer and the outer, fibre-reinforced, pressure supporting layer, and winding of the outer, fibre-reinforced, pressure supporting layer onto the inner liner layer.
In a preferred embodiment, the treatment of outer side of the inner liner layer comprise flame treatment, but also corona discharge treatment, if desired, in combination with ozone treatment or a corresponding method for improvement of the wetting and adhesive properties of the polymer material may be used.

Method for manufacturing a pressure tank


An ultrasonic flow rate measurement device capable of sensing and correcting a temperature without use of a sensor specifically designed for measuring a temperature is provided. The ultrasonic flow rate measurement device includes a first ultrasonic transducer and a second ultrasonic transducer that re disposed in a flow volume measurement block and arranged in such a way that ultrasonic waves are transmitted from one transducer and received by the other transducer; a counter for measuring a propagation time consumed for exchanging the ultrasonic waves between the first ultrasonic transducer and the second ultrasonic transducers; a flow volume computing block that calculates a flow volume from a measurement value of the counter; an oscillation circuit used as a time counter when the counter calculates the propagation time; and a temperature sensing block for sensing a temperature by utilization of a frequency change attributable to a temperature of the oscillation circuit.

As shown in FIG. 6, in a hitherto ultrasonic flow rate measurement device of this type, an oscillation circuit 3 performs oscillation for a given period of time with an operating frequency set by frequency control means 4 in accordance with a start signal from a control block 6, thereby activating a first ultrasonic probe 2. Ultrasonic waves emitted from the first ultrasonic probe 2 propagate through a fluid to be measured with which a measurement flow path 1 is filled, and a second ultrasonic probe 7 detects the ultrasonic waves after elapse of a time "t." A comparator 9 compares a thus-detected received signal with a reference voltage 8. When a voltage relationship between the reference voltage 8 and the receive signal has become inverted, a stop signal is sent to a timer 5, to thus deactivate the timer 5.
A thermistor 10 for sensing a temperature is disposed in the measurement flow path 1, thereby measuring a temperature of the fluid to be measured.

Ultrasonic flow rate measurement device with temperature sensing circuit

Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.


A device for automatically brewing and holding tea has a water reservoir and a combined water reservoir inlet and heated water distributor attached to and extending from the water reservoir, a hinge mounted steeping chamber positionable over a base for holding a tea pot under the steeping chamber, and a tea pot specially adapted for use with the device having a flat bottom surface for optimal heat transfer from the base to the receptacle. A steeping chamber flow control valve includes opposing, overlapping relatively adjustable frusto-conical surfaces.

Brewed tea is traditionally prepared by first boiling water and then transferring the boiling water to a pot holding tea leaves in a tea ball or bag. The tea is allowed to steep whereupon flavor is extracted from the tea leaves into the water. The strength of the flavor of the tea is primarily dependent upon the length of the steeping period.
Automatic brewing devices which heat water and transfer the heated water to a brewing basket or chamber for contact with a brewing material have heretofore been principally employed for brewing coffee and coffee related drinks such as cappucino. Such devices can be used with some success for preparing hot tea. See for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,790,240 and 4,843,954. However, since coffee-derived beverages typically do not require a steeping process wherein heated water is held in prolonged contact with ground coffee beans, these devices simply drain the brewing water from a brewing, devices which do not provide precise control of the rate of flow of heated water through a steeping chamber in which tea leaves are held are not ideally suited for brewing tea.
Automatic coffee makers typically utilize relatively thin-walled glass receptacles or decanters to receive, hold and thermally insulate the brewed coffee. Though suitable for coffee, these types of decanters are inadequate as receptacles for hot brewed tea for the reasons that they do not provide maximum insulation for heat retention including the absence of an insulative lid or cover, and are not aesthetically appropriate for typical tea drinkers accustom to serving hot tea from a traditional tea pot.
The present invention overcomes these and other disadvantages of the apparatus and methods of the prior art used to automatically prepare hot tea.

Automatic tea brewing device and tea pot receptacle


The disclosed invention is a method and apparatus for winding a band, such as a metal band, around a flexible boot and fixing it thereto. Band clamping members are provided including right and left upper members and right and left lower members, and band guide surfaces on inner portions of the clamping members form an approximately round shape when these clamping members are closed. An inserted band is prevented from being caught along the band guide surfaces due to the structure thereof, and the band is wound around the outer circumference of the boot smoothly and reliably. After winding, welding and the cutting of the excess part of the band are carried out reliably and efficiently.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for winding and fixing a band wound around both ends of a boot covering the opening of an equal velocity joint coupled to the end of a drive shaft in an automobile to fix the boot covering to the circumference of the opening of the joint and the circumference of the shaft.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an equal velocity joint structure at both ends of a drive shaft in an automobile, the circumference of the opening of the joint has conventionally been covered with a boot of rubber to prevent dust and moisture from entering the coupling section of the joint and to obstruct grease from splashing inside the structure.
JP-Y2-63-20514 has been disclosed as a technique for fixing such a boot.
This technique winds a metal band around a boot, then clamps the outer circumference of the band to reduce the diameter of the boot, and welds the overlapping part of the band. With this technique, tension cannot be applied to the band wound around the boot as clamped.
JP-A-4-47074 has thus been disclosed as a technique for applying tension to the band upon clamping.
In this technique, a structure with a cam mechanism for circumferentially varying the clamping of the outer circumference is used to sequentially vary the pressure from center to both ends of the band to prevent its looseness. This technique, however, enables the band to be clamped but does not allow it to be inserted conveniently. That is, this technique uses a retaining member to surround a boot with a gap maintained, inserts the band into the gap, and winds it around the outer circumference of the boot, using the inner surface of the retaining member as a guide surface for the band. This structure is insufficient for the inner surface of the clamping member to act as a guide surface for the band. In addition, the cam mechanism for circumferentially controlling the clamping member on the outer circumference is complicated.
This invention is intended to solve this problem of the related art structures.
It is an object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus for winding and fixing a band which uses a simple mechanism and structure to insert the band smoothly and applies tension thereto to prevent it from loosening in order to reliably wind and fix it.
It is another object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus for winding and fixing a band which ensures the smooth and reliable winding and fixation of the band, simplifies mechanisms for winding, pressing, and welding the band and cutting off the unwanted part of the band, and is suitable for practical use.

Method and apparatus for winding and fixing band


This invention is a small animal feeder that physically restricts access to food by medium to large size animals. It is comprised of a 12 inch cube of cardboard with an extra elongated front forming a vertical 3xc2xd inch silt. A plastic feeder tray filled with food is inserted inside. It is the size and shape of the front opening that functions as both the barrier to medium to large size animals while allowing unlimited access to small animals. Currently used or patented pet feeders do not discriminate between medium to large size animals and smaller animals where access to dispensed food is concerned.

The field of endeavor to which this invention pertains is that of accessories for small animals and pets, and more specifically, a feeding system for smaller animals that can discriminate based on animal size to physically prevent access to the food by larger animals.
A pet owner who owns both larger and smaller animals, e.g., dogs and cats, encounters problems with their dogs eating their cat""s food. Many pet owners like to leave cat food available to their cats 24 hours a day while feeding their dogs only once or twice a day. If cat food is left accessible to a dog, the dog is likely to eat the cat""s food against the owner""s wishes.
Traditional gravity operated cat feeders or any other mechanically operated cat feeders do not address this problem. For Example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,048,463 to Wilson, et al. will distinguish between large and small animals with an infrared detector but will not prevent a dog from taking a cat""s food after the food is dispensed.
An object of this invention is to provide a small animal feeder that discriminates according to size such that the food therein is not accessible by medium to large size animals.
According to one embodiment, the feeder""s housing is comprised of a modified cardboard box to form a box-like shape having an elongated front with a narrow vertical slit shaped opening narrow enough to allow entry by smaller animals, such as cats, beyond the animal""s shoulder region while preventing medium to large size animals, such as dogs, from accessing the inside of the housing beyond the animal""s shoulder region. Inside the housing is a removable food tray where food is placed and replenished by hand. The tray is preferably removed and replaced in the housing via the narrow vertical slit shaped opening.
Alternatively, the housing may be made of a material other than cardboard, such as vinyl, plastic, wood, or metal.
The invention advantageously gives the owner of both pet cats and medium to large size dogs the ability to make cat food available to the cats 24 hours a day without the cat food being consumed by the dogs.
The materials used in this invention are comparatively simple, inexpensive, and easy to manufacture. The product can be assembled by the consumers, i.e., sold in a kit form. There is no required electrical devices, thereby simplifying the invention""s manufacture and use.


An optical fiber connector includes an inner shell, an outer shell, and a handle. The outer shell is fitted over the inner shell. Two clamping arms are respectively extending from two ends of a side portion of the handle. Accordingly, since the handle and the outer shell are in a point-contact configuration, when a user pulls the handle, the handle drives the outer shell to move backwardly via the configuration and further compress the spring in the inner shell. Therefore, the connector can be detached from the fiber adapter. Conversely, when the user pushes the handle, the push block on the handle pushes the tail cap due to the mating between the push block and the tail cap, so that the optical fiber connector can be inserted into the fiber adapter.

In the optical fiber fields, signals are in pairs and matched with each other, one for transmitting, and one for receiving. Optical transmission tools for optical fibers may be used to connect several short optical fibers with each other to form a long optical fiber. The optical transmission tools may be also used for connecting the optical fiber to an active component, e.g., a light source or a detector or to a passive component, e.g., a light switch or an attenuator. The primary function of an optical fiber connector is to align the core of the optical fiber with the optical path of the connecting component. Hence, the light beam in the optical fiber can be coupled to the optical path of the connecting component.
There are many types of optical fiber connectors. Specifically, MPO (multi-fibre push on) connector is a multi-core and multi-channel connector, and the connector is suitable for configuring high-density optical fibers in a limited space. In general, a conventional optical fiber connector includes a housing having a ferrule for positioning one or more optical fibers. The ferrule is extending out of the housing. Therefore, when the connector is mated with another component, the optical fiber in the ferrule can be coupled to the optical path of the connecting component.
A front portion of a conventional MPO type male optical fiber connector for multiple optical fibers has a guiding pin, and a front portion of a conventional MPO type female optical fiber connector has a corresponding guiding hole. When the two optical fiber connectors are respectively located at two opposite openings of a fiber adapter, hooks of the fiber adapter are respectively engaged with two recessed portions of the two optical fiber connectors, and the guiding pin is inserted into the guiding hole. However, when the connectors are used in a crowded and dense environment like a cabinet or rack in which several connectors are mated with the panel of the apparatus in a dense and crowded manner, it is not easy for the user to pull out the connector from the apparatus.
As a result, a conventional optical fiber connector is provided with a handle, and the user can pull the connector out of the apparatus by pulling the handle. Nevertheless, the handle for the conventional optical fiber connector is just for pulling the connector out of the apparatus, the handle cannot provide a push force for the mating between the optical fiber connector and the fiber adapter.


Photoimageable compositions, photoimageable resist compositions, and photoimageable resist elements that afford enhanced, storage stable printout images are disclosed which include a substituted 1,2-dibromoethane and a leuco dye.

Photopolymerizable resist materials are known, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 3,469,982 which describes a film resist with a sandwich structure in the form of a photopolymerizable layer between a cover sheet and a temporary support. This film can be laminated onto a copper base, exposed imagewise and developed, whereby a resist layer is formed. The copper panel with the resist image can be selectively etched, electroplated, or treated with solder to form a printed circuit board.
Prior art photopolymerizable compositions often contain small amounts of a leuco dye which upon photoimaging is converted to its colored form. This color in the exposed portions of the resist is referred to as the printout image. The printout image enhances the visibility of the exposed areas and facilitates inspection for imperfections in the image both prior to and after development.
Photoimaging compositions useful for forming printout images are known. Yamada et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,476,562 and Lewis et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,769,023 disclose printout image formation using compositions containing haloorganic compounds. However the images formed are relatively poor.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,065,315 to Yamazaki et al. discloses the use of halogenated aliphatic amides to enhance the printout image of compositions containing a variety of dye bases, while Reardon in U.S. Pat. No. 4,343,885 discloses the use of fluoran colorformers with a variety of halogenated materials as the image forming system. In U.S. Pat. 4,552,830 Reardon and Lipson disclose the use of aliphatic carbonylic halides as activators for color formation by leuco dyes, with the preferred compounds being halogenated amides of dicarboxylic acids.
Brominated sulfones such as tribromomethyl phenyl sulfone (BMPS) have been reported as printout image enhancers with leuco dyes as disclosed in Japanese examined Patent 3-68,376.
Likewise hexaarylbiimidazoles (HABIs) have long been known to form radicals which can oxidize triarylmethane dyes to their colored form as is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,445,234. The use of HABIs and BMPS together as printout image enhancers is disclosed by Fujikura et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,030,548.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,634,657 discloses the use of leuco dyes along with substituted 1,2-dibromoethanes of the formula: ##STR1## in which R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are independently hydrogen, chlorine or fluorine. While these compositions form high contrast images, they are rather volatile so that image instability can sometimes occur in films even at room temperature. Polyhalogenated materials such as these and their polyhalogenated byproducts are also undesirable from an environmental standpoint.
Other compositions such as those based on tribromomethylphenyl sulfone or lophine dimers tend to be thermally unstable when heated to higher temperatures for short periods or upon extended storage either in solution or in a film. The instability can be manifested by premature color formation in solution or in a film. Thermal instability can also be manifested by a lowering of the temperature for onset of polymerization of the monomer system which can be a problem if the composition is exposed to high temperatures during film manufacture or during process of use.
Many printout systems are useful only in the presence of acid, or with specific monomers.
Printout enhancers that produce a high contrast image when used in small amounts are also desirable for environmental reasons as regulation on the use of halogenated materials become more stringent. Thus, polyhalogenated materials that must either be used in large amounts to produce high contrast images, or materials like halogenated 1,2-dibromoethanes which produce polyhalogenated byproducts upon reaction, are less desirable as ingredients. Materials which can be used to produce films by melt extrusion instead of solvent coating likewise are desirable from an environmental standpoint since the melt extrusion process lowers air emissions and eliminates residual solvents in the film.
Thus, materials that greatly enhance printout images, without seriously lowering the thermal stability of the film composition are highly desirable to enhance the shelf life of photoimageable film compositions under ambient or elevated temperature conditions and for the preparation of films with a thermal history, such as by melt coating.

Photoimageable compositions containing substituted 1, 2 dihalogenated ethanes for enhanced printout image


A Czochralski growth system is described comprising a growth chamber, a feed port, and a feed chamber comprising a container for feedstock and a feeder. The feed port is disposed in at least one side wall of the growth chamber, and the feed chamber is attached to the growth chamber at the feed port. The feeder is insertable into the growth chamber through the feed port and supplies the feedstock into the growth chamber. Preferably this system can be used for producing silicon ingots using a continuous Czochralski method.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to Czochralski growth of crystalline ingots. In particular, the invention relates to a feed system for repetitively supplying feedstock for continuous Czochralski growth of crystalline ingots.
2. Description of the Related Art
Among the many types of photovoltaic solar cells being developed, one of the most efficient and economical cells is based on silicon wafers grown by the Czochralski method, similarly to that most prevalently used for silicon integrated circuits. In the Czochralski (CZ) method, silicon is melted in a crucible to its liquid state at a temperature of about 1420° C. A small crystalline silicon seed of predetermined crystalline orientation is contacted with the melt and then gradually withdrawn. With proper control of temperatures, the liquid silicon freezes on the crystalline seed with the same orientation as that of the seed. The seed is then slowly raised away from the melt to form a growing crystalline ingot of silicon having a final length typically of a meter or more and a diameter typically of hundreds of millimeters determined by the initial drawing conditions as the ingot expands from the diameter of the seed to the desired ingot diameter. In typical integrated applications, batch CZ is practiced in which the crucible is filled with an initial charge of electronic grade silicon, also called virgin poly or simply polysilicon. The crucible is then heated, one ingot is drawn to substantially deplete the crucible, and the crucible is discarded after one ingot. The cooled ingot is sliced to form circular monocrystalline wafers having a thickness of substantially less than a millimeter. See Wolf and Taber, Silicon Processing for the VLSI Era, vol. 1: Process Technology, Lattice Press, 1986, pp. 5-21, incorporated herein for reference, for discussions about electronic grade silicon and the typical Czochralski process.
Solar cell applications, however, are much more cost sensitive than silicon integrated circuits. In particular, the need to replace the crucible after each ingot imposes a high cost in crucibles and loss of the residual silicon left in the crucible. Also, the time required to replace the crucible and to reheat the crucible and its chamber greatly diminishes the throughput.
One general approach to reduce the cost of solar silicon involves continuous Czochralski (CCZ) growth, which has been known for many years but has not been widely practiced. It has recently been suggested for solar use. See U.S. Pat. No. 7,635,414 to Bender and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2011/0006240 to Williams et al. CCZ allows the drawing of multiple ingots from one crucible but requires the replenishment of fresh silicon into the generally small crucible while it is hot and most preferably while one of the ingots is being drawn from the crucible melt. However, the drawing of high-quality monocrystalline ingots requires tightly controlled temperatures, critical melt level control, and a non-reactive ambient such as argon. The replenishment of silicon feedstock to the Czochralski crucible is one of the challenges of CCZ.
Therefore, there is a need in the industry for a feed system capable of being used to continuously provide feedstock to a Czochralski growth system and, in particular, a continuous Czochralski growth system.

Side feed system for Czochralski growth of silicon ingots


A multi-stage amplifier is provided that uses tunable transmission lines, as well as a calibration method for the multi-stage amplifiers. A multi-stage amplifier, comprises a plurality of tunable amplification stages, wherein each of the tunable amplification stages comprises a tunable resonator based on a transmission line having a tunable element. The tunable elements may vary a capacitance or an inductance to tune a frequency of an applied signal. A calibration method is provided for a multi-stage amplifier having a plurality of transmission lines, an input stage and an output stage. The multi-stage amplifier is calibrated by generating a signal to determine a frequency for a substantially maximum power; generating an error signal by comparing the frequency for the substantially maximum power with a desired frequency; varying a digital control code applied to each of the tunable transmission lines, input stage and output stage until the error signal satisfies predefined criteria.

Low noise amplifiers (LNAs) are the building blocks of any communication system. For example, a low-noise amplifier is typically the first active circuit after the antenna in a radio transceiver, and is thus a critical building block for a radio transceiver. To increase receiver sensitivity and reduce the amount of noise contributed by subsequent stages, the LNA is required to have a moderate gain and a low-noise figure. The LNA is required to be matched to the characteristic impedance of the system (usually 50 ohms) at its input and output. In addition, to operate at millimeter-wave (mm-wave) frequencies (30 GHz and higher), such systems must often be capable of transmitting, receiving and manipulating mm-wave signals.
As MOSFET miniaturization reaches deep submicron sizes (0.5 mm and below), mm-wave LNAs and other amplifiers require multi-stage designs to achieve the necessary gain. Due to process variations, model inaccuracies and the extra parasitics related to wiring, however, the various stages will typically operate at different frequencies. As a result, the total gain decreases and the bandwidth of the amplifier will change. In addition, the frequency response of the amplifier (S21) exhibits a frequency shift and the input/output matching will be impaired. For lower frequencies, such as microwave frequencies, tunable varactors can be used. A varactor has a capacitance that varies with the applied voltage. At mm-wave frequencies, however, varactors have a low quality factor. Therefore, varactors cannot be used at mm-wave frequencies for varying the capacitance.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/251256, filed 2 Oct. 2011, entitled "Structure and Modeling of Variable Transmission Lines," discloses a tunable transmission line that is digitally tuned to compensate for process variations in both the active and passive devices of the RF design. A disclosed variable transmission line comprises a semiconductor substrate, a signal line, a first plurality of capacitor ports below the signal line, where each capacitor port is operative to be connected to either ground or a floating potential, a bottom ground plane and one or more side shield wires.
A need remains for a digitally controlled resonator for resonant amplifiers based on a tunable passive component. A further need exists for a multi-stage digitally controlled resonator for resonant amplifiers where the amplification stages are identical and working at the same resonant frequency that can be controlled in a digital manner. Yet another need exists for a method to employ the resonator in the digital calibration of the frequency response of the amplifiers.

Multi-stage amplifier using tunable transmission lines and frequency response calibration of same

International Business Machines Corporation


A customer relationship management (CRM) system utilizes a form definition, user interface (UI) definitions, and UI code to generate Web pages for interacting with CRM data. A CRM plug-in is configured to execute in conjunction with a personal information manager (PIM) client application and to utilize the same form definition, UI definitions, and UI code utilized by the CRM system to generate the Web-based CRM interface. The UI definitions are utilized to present UI controls for performing CRM-related functionality in the context of a UI generated by the PIM client application. The UI code utilized by the CRM system to implement Web-based UI controls can be utilized to implement the UI controls in the context of the PIM client application. The form definition utilized by the CRM system might be utilized to display CRM fields in the UI presented by the PIM client application.

Customer relationship management ("CRM") systems allow users to create and utilize information relevant to business relationships. For instance, a CRM system may allow users to create, view, edit, modify, and otherwise utilize information regarding customers or potential customers, contact with the customers, sales made to customers, customer support information, marketing information, and other types of information that may be relevant to a business relationship or potential business relationship. CRM systems typically provide a World Wide Web ("Web") based user interface ("UI") for performing this functionality. As an example, a CRM system might provide a Web-based UI through which a user can send electronic mail ("e-mail") messages to customers or potential customers, manage appointments with customers, and perform other business tasks.
While the Web-based UIs provided by most CRM systems are robust, many users still prefer to utilize a personal information manager ("PIM") client application program to send and receive e-mail, to manage appointments, and to perform other customer-related tasks. Currently, however, users typically have to choose between leveraging the features provided by Web-based CRM systems, such as e-mail templates, and the rich e-mail experience provided by PIM client application programs. For instance, some users might compose new e-mail messages using a PIM client application, and then utilize the Web UI provided by a CRM system to perform actions on the e-mail messages. Using both a PIM client application and a Web-based CRM system can be a time consuming and frustrating process for some users.
It is with respect to these and other considerations that the disclosure made herein is presented.

Integrating a web-based CRM system with a PIM client application


A generator for converting tidal fluctuation to electrical energy is provided. The generator includes at least a first energy transfer mechanism. The first energy transfer mechanism includes a weight that is floatable in water. The first energy transfer mechanism further includes a first driver gear and a coupling rod connecting the weight to the first driver gear. The coupling rod rotates the first driver gear when the weight rises or lowers while floating on the water. Therefore, linear vertical motion of the tides is converted into rotational motion. A rotor is rotated by the first driver gear when the first driver gear is rotated by the coupling rod.

The present invention relates to harnessing tidal energy and, more particularly, to a generator for converting tidal fluctuation to electrical energy.
In electricity generation, an electric generator is a device that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy. A generator forces electric current to flow through an external circuit. The source of mechanical energy may be a reciprocating or turbine steam engine, water falling through a turbine or waterwheel, an internal combustion engine, a wind turbine, a hand crank compressed air, or any source of mechanical energy. Generators provide nearly all of the power for electric power grids. Efficient, inexpensive, and clean electric generators are highly desirable.
As can be seen, there is a need for an improved and environmentally clean electrical generators.

Generator for converting tidal fluctuation to electrical energy


A robot server device includes a ball container constructed to hold a plurality of table tennis balls and a robot server that is mounted within the container and designed to receive balls from the container. A trough assembly is mounted to the container and extends horizontally or laterally away from the container. The server assembly has a dual net assembly surrounding the robot to direct balls into the trough assembly and container in order to feed balls back to the robot. The net assembly contains a rear ball impervious net and a forward net designed to allow balls striking the forward net at a predetermined velocity to pass through the forward net, then strike the rear net and finally drop in the trough assembly. Balls striking the forward net with insufficient velocity to penetrate the forward net will also drop into the trough assembly. In another embodiment of the device, side wing nets extend from the rear net along each side of the table to a mid-point so as to prevent balls from leaving the side of the table.

This invention relates to a robot server assembly for serving table tennis balls, and more specifically to a robot server assembly that is collapsible, portable, and employs a unique dual net feature to capture balls hit back at the robot so as to allow the balls to be fed to the server and reused.
Table tennis is a popular, competitive and recreational sport. The object of the game is to have a player on each side of the table so that each player can serve, return and rally a table tennis ball. Often, however, a player may wish to play the game of table tennis without another player. To that end, various table tennis ball serving devices or robots have been developed. The devices serve the ball to the player so that the player can return the shot in the direction of the robot. Many of the devices known to the art, however, lack functional useful or effective means of capturing the ball returned by the human player and recycling the ball to the robot server.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,087,575 to Littell et al. describes a device that can be employed in table tennis, for example, for ejecting light weight balls. The device includes an overhead supply means, typically in the form of an overhead hopper which is fed by a conveyor system having a series of ball carrying members mechanically mounted for movement in a continuous loop.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,508,461, to Lemon describes an apparatus for ejecting table tennis balls and employs pressurized air, as from a home vacuum cleaner, to propel and eject balls from a conduit. A gravity fed collector box is provided for introducing a ball into a lower portion of the conduit. The Lemon device provides no control on the entrance of the balls, and failure of the balls to feed properly can result in a loss of air pressure particularly as a plurality of balls are introduced into the system.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,917,265, to Schrier, is another pneumatic ball ejecting machine including pneumatic means for transporting the balls from a collection source, for loading the balls to an ejection means and for ejecting the balls. Again, maintenance of air pressure in the device is critical. Furthermore, the device does not disclose an effective means for catching the return shot and feeding it to the ejector mechanism.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,116,438 to Berliner, describes a device for throwing table tennis balls, having a mechanical throwing means including two flexible, thin throwing discs extending generally parallel with respect to each other for grasping a table tennis ball between them and ejecting it along a guide. The balls are returned to the serving disc by pneumatic means.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,793,636 to Cook, describes a fan operated device as does U.S. Pat. No. 3,911,888 to Horvath.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,989,242, to Augustine, discloses a device for ejecting conventional tennis balls and also discloses an enclosure means including netting for catching served balls hit by a player.
My own U.S. Pat. No. 3,794,001, to Newgarden, describes a relatively simple device for imparting variations in the amount of spin applied to a ball being served by the server. The disclosure of my patent is intended to be incorporated herein by reference.
I am also a joint inventor of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,844,458; 4,854,588; 4,917,380; and 5,009,421 which discloses a portable table tennis serving device including a robot server and a ball capture net. This device employs the use of one collapsible net which cooperates with the robot so that returned balls are fed automatically to the robot. A folding net structure is also employed for attachment to a table tennis table and for feeding balls to a robot ball server. The single net structure includes a plurality of arms extending radially from a central member and netting suspended between the arms. The netting has a lower edge which is cooperatively connected with a trough device for receiving balls that fall from the netting. The trough is disposed to feed the balls to the robot serving device. The disclosures in the above described patents are incorporated by reference herein.
It can be seen that, for the most part, the robot serving devices of the prior art do not disclose ball catching mechanisms. Those table tennis balls serving assemblies which do include catch nets commonly employ a single net design where the ball strikes the net and drops into a trough so that the ball can be fed back to the robot.
Several problems are involved with such ball catching assemblies of the prior art. First of all, such devices employ a standard single net construction. The net is suspended behind the robot serving device. When the robot serving device serves the ball, the player can strike the ball back at the net. However, a returned ball that strikes the single net configuration under high velocity can bounce off of the net back onto the playing surface, or can carom off of the net onto the floor. The prior art single net configurations are more convenient than no catch net at all; however, they are not entirely effective at stopping all shots for capturing balls and feeding them back to a robot server. Also, the robot server is often mounted toward the front of the device so that it protrudes out of the netting and is precariously close to the table itself. With such designs, the returned balls often strike the exposed robot and bounce out of play. Moreover, the robot can intrude upon table space required for the game.
Robots work best with table tennis balls of the proper diameter and near perfect roundness. Misshapened or large balls can cause the robot to jam or malfunction and cause excessive wear. Robot assemblies of the prior art do not provide a means for eliminating bad balls before loading them in the devices.
Furthermore, although the nets of the previous designs are intended to be collapsible, or foldable, the designs do not allow them to be completely folded into a convenient configuration for carrying. Even when folded, the nets of the prior art assembly extend outward from the base of the robot so as to be inconvenient for storage. Assemblies known to the prior art have awkward and complex mechanism for attaching the assembly to the table. The prior art assemblies are not designed for ease of storage and carrying and lack effective means for keeping all components of the assembly, as well as the table tennis balls used with the assembly, together in one group and as compact unit when not in use.

Robot table tennis net and server assembly


The present apparatus is a compact water filtration unit providing modular, highly customizable water treatment. The standardized sump cylinder structure allows interchangeable accommodation of a wide variety of treatment media, filters, and treatment processes. The top-loading sump cylinders provide ease of servicing, while unique cylinder connectors allow a wide variety of treatment types and sequences without increasing the unit's footprint.

Water exists at the core of human survival and economic development. Safe and readily available water is vital for public health, whether it is used for drinking, domestic applications, food production, or recreation. Lack of potable water throughout the world leads to an estimated yearly death toll of over 350,000 children under 5 years of age. Even highly developed countries face water contamination as aging infrastructure, expanding agriculture and industry, and an increasing population load on existing water sources lead to water safety crises. During the ongoing water contamination crisis in Flint, Mich., it is estimated that over 100 citizens died in one year as a result of consuming tainted municipal water. The number of children in Flint who suffered neurological damage due to staggeringly high lead levels may never be known.
Conventional systems for line water filtration are frequently unacceptably complex, expensive, and unadaptable. A system engineered to remove agricultural runoff in a rural area generally will not be adequate for removing the lead contamination from a pre-1980's municipal water system. Retooling such a system usually requires significant time and expense. Throughput of such systems also remains low, frequently limiting filtration to drinking water only. Such restriction can often result in contamination of clothing, eating utensils, and residential areas.
Use of conventional modular systems generally produces filtration systems which require manual installation of filters in large canisters with extensive pipe interconnections between canisters, resulting in bulky systems with a large footprint. Replacement of the filters is usually complex, has poor ergonomics, and causes water spillage which may contaminate the area. The mess and complexity of the replacement process frequently discourages proper maintenance and generally makes the systems unpopular.
There exists a continuing need for compact water purification apparatuses that enable easy access and replacement of filters.


A door closer having a door arresting mechanism to arrest a door in an opened position that includes a cylinder and piston assembly wherein the arresting mechanism includes a cam member having an arresting dwell cam profile and an indexing profile, and an associated cam follower member wherein one member is connected to the piston rod and the other member to the cylinder so that one member is fixedly connected to either the cylinder or piston rod and the other member rendered rotatable relative to the fixed member so that the arresting mechanism is rendered self actuating upon the opening or closing of the door.

Heretofore, various types of door closers are known. Generally, such known door closers include a piston and cylinder assembly in which a piston is reciprocally disposed within a cylinder, and having a compression spring interposed between the piston and one end of the cylinder for normally biasing the piston toward a door closing position. A piston rod is connected to the piston wherein the free end of the piston rod is extended beyond the end wall of the cylinder. The free end of the piston rod and the end of the cylinder opposed to the piston rod are suitably connected between a door frame and the associated door so that upon the opening of the door, the piston is rectilinearly displaced within the cylinder, causing the spring to be compressed. The spring, in its compressed state, will normally function to return the door toward its closed position upon the release of the door after the opening thereof.
To prevent or to prohibit the closing of the door upon the release of the door, as is frequently desired, such door closers have been provided with an arresting device slidably disposed on the extended end of the piston rod that is manually positioned by the user to arrest the door from closing. Generally, the commonly known arresting device comprises merely a cantering washer which was slidably disposed on the extended end of the piston rod and required the user to manually position the cantering washer along the piston rod to arrest the door. The arrangement was such that the door, on being arrested, caused the cantering washer to frictionally bind or arrest the movement of the piston rod upon the cantering washer engaging the adjacent end of the cylinder. To disengage the arresting or cantering washer, the user would have to manually shift the cantering washer to a normal position relative to the axis of the piston rod to release the frictional forces arresting the piston rod.
Other, more recent, types of door latching or arresting mechanisms are disclosed in my prior patents, viz., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,630,248; 5,832,562; 5,842,255. While the known types of arresting mechanisms are functional, efforts to devise door closers with new and improved arresting mechanisms is ongoing.

Door closer with door arresting mechanism


Provided is a passive optical network (PON) based on a reflective semiconductor optical amplifier (RSOA). In the PON, seed-light-injection RSOAs are used in an optical line terminal (OLT) to achieve the color-less management of the wavelengths of OLT optic sources, and wavelength reuse RSOAs are used to achieve the color-less management of the wavelengths of ONTs. Therefore, problems related to ONT wavelength management can be eliminated by the wavelength reuse RSOAs, and problems related to OLT wavelength management can be eliminated by the seed-light-injection RSOAs.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical communication system, and more particularly, to a wavelength division multiplexing-passive optical network (WDM-PON).
2. Description of the Related Art
Fiber To The Home (FTTH) technology is being actively studied and developed all over the world for connecting a home to a telephone office using an optical fiber transmission line so as to provide integrated services including voice calls, data services, and broadcasts. The use of FTTH technology will dramatically increase in the next several years.
It is important, in terms of FTTH technology, to develop optical signal transmission methods for constructing cost effective optical networks at a high productivity. Optical networks can be classified into passive optical networks (PONs) and active optical networks (AONs). Recent PON systems include asynchronous transfer mode-passive optical network (ATM-PON), broadband-passive optical network (B-PON), gigabit-passive optical network (G-PON), and Ethernet-passive optical network (E-PON) systems. In recent AONs, local area networks including Ethernet switches are connected using optical transmission lines.
In wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) based FTTH networks (i.e., WDM-PONs), each subscriber is assigned a particular wavelength and communicates with a central office (CO) or an optical line terminal (OLT) using the assigned wavelength. Therefore, independent, high data-rate, high-security services can be provided to subscribers. Furthermore, unlike time division multiple access-passive optical networks (TDMA-PONs), modulation and demodulation of optical signals are individually performed for each subscriber, so that optic sources having a low modulation speed and power can be used together with optical receivers having a narrow bandwidth.
However, in a WDM-PON, a pair of optical transmitter/receiver modules is required for each subscriber. That is, it takes significant costs to construct a WDM-PON as compared with existing optical networks since optical transmitter/receiver modules should be installed in a subscriber premises and a central office. Moreover, since optic sources having particular wavelengths are required in proportion to the number of subscribers, it is expensive to construct a WDM-PON. In addition, spare optic sources having different wavelengths should be stored for respective subscribers so as to replace broken optic sources. This can be a great difficulty for a service provider in terms of management of wavelengths. Therefore, there is a need for inexpensive WDM-PON optic sources. Furthermore, it is necessary to provide a wavelength-independent optic source for subscribers so as to realize a cost-effective WDM-PON.
Meanwhile, management of wavelengths of optical network terminals (ONTs) is traditionally considered to be important. However, in a WDM-PON that recent service providers want, wavelengths of downstream optic sources of a central office should be easily managed as well as wavelengths of optical network terminals (ONTs) that are easily managed. That is, in a conventional WDM-PON based on a reflective semiconductor optical amplifier (RSOA), identical ONTs are used regardless of wavelengths assigned for the ONTs so as to solve wavelength management problems of the ONTs. However, more recent service providers want a WDM-PON designed to eliminate wavelength management problems of a central office as well as ONTs so that a network can be economically and stably managed.
Specifically, in a WDM-PON, a central office communicates with subscribers using different wavelengths for different subscribers. Therefore, the number of subscribers to the WDM-PON is limited since available wavelengths are limited. Although the number of subscribers to the WDM-PON can be increased by increasing the number of ports of an optical multiplexer (MUX) and demultiplexer (DMUX) and the number of single-mode optic sources (requiring wavelength control) of the central office, this method is uneconomical and also has a limitation in terms of increasing the number of subscribers. That is, wavelengths of a central office as well as ONTs should be efficiently used for more efficient optical communications.
Meanwhile, although data can be transmitted at 1 Gbps or at a higher rate using each wavelength, the high data transmission rate is not fully used since appropriate contents are not yet developed. That is, there is a need for a method of making more efficient use of wavelengths.

Passive optical network based on reflective semiconductor optical amplifier

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


A pair of connecting springs is formed in the vicinity of the upper and lower ends of surfaces of a relay terminal and are opposed to each other in such a manner that the connecting springs project inward in the configuration of a circular arc. A gap, through which tabs are inserted, is provided between each pair of the connecting springs.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a relay terminal for electrically connecting a tab of a bus bar of a branch connecting box installed on an automobile and a tab of a functional component such as a fuse, a relay or the like with each other.
2. Description of the Related Arts
As a conventional relay terminal of this kind, there are two types, namely, tongue type and curl type. Referring to FIG. 4, in the tongue type relay terminal, a tab 2 is inserted into a curved spring tongue portion 1a of a relay terminal 1 so as to connect the curved tongue portion 1a and the tab 2 with each other. Referring to FIG. 6, in the relay terminal of curl type, a tab 2 is inserted into curled spring portion 3a and 3a of a relay terminal 3 so as to connect the curled spring portion 3a and 3a and the tab 2 with each other.
In the tongue type relay terminal 1, the curved spring tongue portion 1a is brought into contact with the tab 2 in an unstable state because the curved spring tongue portion 1a is of cantilever type. An expensive material is required so that the curved spring tongue portion 1a is in contact with the tab 2 in a stable state. Further, in bending a plate material to manufacture the relay terminal 1, the curved spring tongue portion 1a projects a great deal from a main body 1b. Therefore, a great amount of material is required to manufacture the relay terminal 1 and thus the yield per material is unfavorable. Accordingly, the cost for manufacturing the relay terminal 1 is high. In addition, since the curved spring tongue portion la is curved, a die in a complicated construction is required and hence the cost of the die is high. That is, the manufacturing cost is high.
In the curl type relay terminal 3, it is necessary to insert the tab 2 into the curled spring portion 3a and take out the tab 2 therefrom by a great force and also necessary to form a gap for receiving the tab 2 with a high accuracy. Thus, the cost for manufacturing the relay terminal 3 is high.

Relay terminal for use in branch connecting box