An automobile driving-torque distribution control system for controlling a torque distribution between front and rear road wheels, comprises a torque-distribution adjustment mechanism responsive to a control signal for adjusting a distribution of driving torque between the front and rear wheels, sensors for detecting front and rear wheel speeds, and a controller for producing the control signal based on the difference between the front and rear wheel speeds. The controller includes a correction circuit for correcting the control signal value, to keep the control signal value at a designated torque-distribution limiting value when satisfying both a first condition in which the wheel-speed difference decreases to a value below a predetermined threshold, and a second condition in which an elapsed time calculated from the time when the first condition has been satisfied, is less than a predetermined time period.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an automobile driving torque distribution control system for controlling a torque distribution between front and rear drive wheels, and specifically to a control system for four-wheel drive vehicles which system is capable of determining a driving torque distribution ratio between front and rear drive wheels depending on a wheel speed difference or a revolution speed difference between the front and rear road wheels.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There have been proposed and developed various four-wheel drive vehicles with a driving torque distribution controller in which a driving torque distribution ratio between front and rear drive wheels can be variably controlled depending on driving conditions of the vehicle. As is generally known, there are two types of four-wheel drive vehicles, one being a front-engine, rear-wheel drive base mode four-wheel drive vehicle which operates usually at a rear-wheel drive mode, and the other being a front-engine, front-wheel drive base mode four-wheel drive vehicle which operates usually at a front-wheel drive mode. Such a conventional driving torque distribution control system traditionally includes a variable driving-torque adjustment device, for example, a variable torque clutch mechanism, a differential limiting device such as a limited slip center differential, or the like, which device is placed in a power train between front and rear drive wheels for variably adjusting a driving torque distribution ratio between the front and rear wheels by varying its clutch engaging force to a desired value. Two general types of variable torque clutch mechanisms are used: hydraulic pressure operated clutch and electromagnetic clutch. The former acts to vary a clutch engaging force by way of adjustment of a fluid pressure applied to its clutch piston, while the latter acts to vary frictional forces between clutch plates by way of adjustment of a value of exciting current applied to its proportional solenoid. One such conventional driving torque distribution control system has been disclosed in Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 1-204826. In general, when engine power is carried from the power train to drive wheels, there is some loss of traction owing to characteristics of tires. In particular, traction loss or slip loss is great during acceleration of the vehicle, as compared with during constant-speed driving. On the driving torque distribution control system of the Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 1-204826, in case of front-engine, rear-wheel drive base mode four-wheel drive vehicles, during constant-speed driving, a driving torque distribution ratio between front and rear road wheels is designed to be set to a particular ratio of 0:100% according to which the entire driving torque is transmitted only to the rear drive wheels. On the other hand, when there is a great wheel speed difference or great revolution speed difference between the front and rear wheels, for example, during acceleration, i.e., in case that the difference obtained by subtracting one detected wheel speed of the auxiliary drive wheel (front wheel) from the other detected wheel speed of the main drive wheel (rear wheel) is positive, the torque distribution controller determines that acceleration slip occurs at the main drive wheels (rear wheels) owing to excessive application of driving torque thereto, irrespective of tire characteristics, road conditions such as a coefficient of friction of a road surface, and cornering conditions such as a steering angle. Depending on the wheel speed difference or the wheel revolution speed difference, the controller calculates a target torque distribution ratio and generates a control signal based on the target torque distribution ratio to the above-noted variable driving torque adjustment device. The driving-torque adjustment device is responsive to the control signal to transfer a designated amount of driving torque from the main drive wheels to the auxiliary drive wheels, thereby suppressing wheel spin (acceleration slip) at the rear drive wheels. On front-engine, rear-drive base mode four-wheel drive vehicles, the reasons for usually setting the driving torque distribution ratio between front and rear road wheels to 0:100% are described hereinafter.
As is generally known, the greater the distribution of driving force applied to the auxiliary drive wheels (front wheels), the more a driving stability of the vehicle is enhanced. In other words, as the distribution ratio of driving force is shifted from 0:100% to 50%:50%, the drivability or running stability can be improved. However, in such a case, fuel consumption may be degraded. In order to improve fuel consumption, the driving-torque distribution ratio between the auxiliary drive wheel and the main drive wheel is generally set to 0:100% in the event that there is less wheel speed difference or less wheel revolution speed, for instance, during usual running of the vehicle such as constant-speed driving.
The controller of the previously-noted conventional driving torque distribution control system traditionally utilizes a predetermined data map to calculate or derive a desired driving-torque distribution ratio depending on the wheel speed difference. For the purpose of enhancing a responsiveness of the driving-torque distribution control, the data map usually consists of a particular driving torque characteristic curve, in which a distribution of driving torque transmitted to the auxiliary drive wheel is simply increased from an origin (a point at which the wheel speed difference is zero) in accordance with an increase in the detected wheel speed difference. In the previously-noted conventional driving torque distribution control system, there is some problem as explained below.
For instance, in four-wheel drive vehicles with a manual transmission, in the event that engagement and disengagement of the clutch are repeatedly performed to shift up during acceleration, transmission of driving torque to the drive wheels is temporarily stopped during shifting. Thus, the drive wheels tend to roll freely coastingly on the roads with less resistance due to inertia of the vehicle during shifting. Assuming that the outside diameter of the front tires are equal to that of the rear tires, the detected wheel speed difference or wheel revolution speed difference becomes temporarily to zero owing to coasting of each wheel. The vehicle could experience a rapid change of the wheel speed difference down to zero during undesired depression of the clutch pedal accidentally. Also, in four-wheel drive vehicles with an automatic transmission, the vehicle could experience such a rapid change of the wheel speed difference down to zero during automatic shifting operation. In the above-noted cases, the conventional torque control system would determine a driving torque distribution ratio based on the above-explained simple torque characteristic curve memorized in the storage of the controller in the form of a data map, so that the driving-torque distribution ratio between the auxiliary drive wheel and the main drive wheel is set to 0:100% due to the wheel speed difference of zero. In general, since the driving-torque control system consists of a feedback control system based on the detected speed difference or wheel revolution speed difference, there is a delay of response time in the system until the system outputs a newly derived control signal after a predetermined operation time (sampling time) has elapsed. Additionally, there is a delay of mechanical transmission in an actuator included in the driving-torque adjustment device such as a variable torque clutch mechanism or a differential limiting device, after outputting the control signal. Even if the actuator is responsive quickly to the control signal from the control system at real-time, there is a delay of response time owing to the predetermined operation time of the system. Hence, upon the torque distribution ratio between the auxiliary drive wheel (front wheel) and the main drive wheel (rear wheel) is switched quickly to 0:100% during shifting, the wheel speed difference is rapidly increased with a considerable up-gradient (at a steep rate of change in the wheel speed difference), owing to a rapid increase in the wheel speed at the main drive wheels. When the clutch is engaged again after completion of shifting operation, the entire driving torque is transferred to the main drive wheel (rear wheel). There is a possibility that such a rapid change in driving torque causes the rear wheel to slip. In order to suppress such a relatively great wheel speed difference of the front and rear wheels and to adjust the driving-torque distribution to an optimal driving torque distribution condition, the controller derives a new distribution ratio based on the newly detected wheel speed difference. The torque-distribution control signal representative of the new distribution ratio is also generated with the predetermined time delay. In other words, the derived distribution ratio varies at a gradient or control gain based on the predetermined time delay of the system. It will be appreciated that the greater the response-time delay of the system the smaller the control gain. Owing to the additional delay of mechanical transmission of the actuator, there is a possibility that the control gain of the control system can be adjusted to a more smaller value. Due to the delay time, the responsiveness of the conventional torque-distribution control system would be degraded. As is generally known, under the above-mentioned optimal torque-distribution condition, the main drive wheels rotate slightly faster than the auxiliary drive wheels with an optimal slippage (an optimal wheel speed difference) which is determined depending on several factors, such as a car weight, a road surface condition, kinds of tires or the like. As explained previously, in the event that excessive driving torque is rapidly applied to the main drive wheels for a short time, the wheel speed difference between the main drive wheel and the auxiliary drive wheel is rapidly increased Thus, this may result in a great overshoot relative to the optimal slippage at the main drive wheels. Such overshoot causes a great energy loss resulting from slip loss or traction loss. A time duration or interval in which the detected wheel speed difference overshot the optimal wheel speed difference is generally called as a slip-loss time. The energy loss resulting from the undesirable slippage (acceleration-slip) results in degradation of fuel consumption. The energy loss is substantially equivalent to the integral of slip losses accumulated for the slip-loss time. Hence, the conventional torque distribution control system tends to adjust the front-and-rear driving torque distribution to the predetermined optimal distribution condition with a relatively long time interval of slip-loss, owing to the unnegligible time delay resulting from the operation time of the system. To avoid this, if a torque distribution ratio is held to the previous driving-torque distribution ratio already assigned by the control system before the vehicle experience rapid changes in the wheel speed difference, such system may induce another problem. For instance, in the event that the wheel speed difference is rapidly decreased, i.e., when the driving condition of the vehicle is rapidly shifted from an accelerating state to a constant-speed driving state, the slipping condition of the main drive wheels could be rapidly shifted from a great slip state to a less slip state, owing to the torque difference between a great driving torque consumed to accelerate the vehicle against running resistance including acceleration resistance during acceleration anal a small driving torque consumed to run the vehicle at a constant speed during constant-speed driving, with regard to the main drive wheels. Thus, the wheel speed difference could be reduced rapidly, when shifted from the accelerating state to the constant-speed driving state. As previously noted, assuming that a torque distribution ratio is held to the previous distribution ratio already assigned by the control system before a rapid change in the wheel speed difference, the distribution ratio of the auxiliary drive wheel to the main drive wheel is not set to zero (0:100%) but remains held to a relatively great value. In this case, fuel consumption may be generally degraded due to four-wheel drive tendencies.

Automobile driving torque control system for controlling torque distribution between front and rear road wheels


Electrostatic transfer printing in which a latent electrostatic image is formed on a cylindrical dielectrical member by means of a remote glow discharge ion source. The image is then toned and pressure-transferred to a receptor, such as a sheet of paper, which is passed between the cylindrical dielectric member and a transfer roller. Scraper blades may be included to remove residual toner from the cylindrical dielectric member and the transfer roller. Means may also be included to erase any latent residual electrostatic image on the cylindrical dielectric member.

This invention relates to transfer printing, and more particularly to electrostatic transfer printing.
Various types of electrostatic transfer printers can be found in the prior art. Examples are F. A. Schwertz U.S. Pat. No. 3,023,731; Richmond Perley U.S. Pat. No. 3,701,996; and T. Doi et al, U.S. Pat. No. Re. 28,693. Electrostatic transfer printers may be classified generally according to the way in which the latent electrostatic image is formed. One prior art approach utilizes metal styli at minute distances from the surface of the dielectric transfer drum. The styli are electrically pulsed to provide a latent electrostatic image by air gap breakdown. This technique has the disadvantage of not allowing for multiplexing of the charging styli. In addition, the necessity for maintaining a very small air gap breakdown distance requires extremely close tolerances which limit the practicability of this technique.
Another type of electrostatic printer found in the prior art employs an ion source in the form of a corona point or wire used together with an image defining mask. Because of the inherently low current densities available from corona discharges, this method is impractical for high speed printing. The use of coronas also poses significant difficulties in maintenance. Corona wires are fragile, and because of their high operating potentials, tend to collect dirt and dust. Hence they must be frequently cleaned or replaced.
Another approach to electrostatic transfer printing depends on the method by which the toned image is transferred and fused onto the receptive sheet. The transfer printing system, R. Perley U.S. Pat. No. 3,701,996, teaches simultaneous transfer and pressure fusing by passing a receptive sheet between the transfer and pressure drums. In P. Pederson, U.S. Pat. No. 3,874,894, a nylon-6 sleeve is provided on at least one of a pair of pressure rolls, but the drums are used only for fixing the already transferred toner, an arrangement which adds significant complexity to the overall system.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to facilitate electrostatic transfer printing. A related object is to reduce critical mechanical tolerances in providing a latent electrostatic image. Another related object is to reduce the maintenance problems associated with the formation of such an image.
A further object of the invention is to achieve increased electrostatic printing speed. A related object is to do so by using a reliable, easily controlled ion source. A still further object is to achieve relatively uniform charge images which may be toned with good definition and dot fill. A further related object is to provide a matrix selection (or multiplexed) method of dot matrix printing.
Another object of the invention is to achieve a transfer drum with surface resistivity sufficient to prevent image degradation from the time when the image is presented to the surface until the image is toned. Still another object is to utilize a surface with high abrasion resistance, and sufficient smoothness to provide complete transfer of toner to a receptor sheet. A still further object is to realize a transfer surface not subject to significant distortion.
Yet another object is to facilitate the erasure of latent residual electrostatic images. A related object is to avoid ghost images in subsequent printing cycles.

Electrostatic transfer printing employing ion emitting print head


An anti-scatter device (10) for an X-ray detector (100) is provided. The anti-scatter device (10) comprises an anti-scatter grid (12) with a plurality of slats (13) for absorbing X-rays and a cover element (14, 14a) arranged on a side (17a) of the anti-scatter grid (12), wherein ends (16a) of the slats (13) are coupled to the cover element (14, 14a), and the cover element (14, 14a) comprises an electroactive polymer material. A dimension of the cover element (14, 14a) is changeable by applying a voltage to the electroactive polymer material, such that a distance between the ends (16a) of the slats is changeable by applying the voltage.

An image quality of X-ray images generally may be limited in X-ray detectors and/or in X-ray imaging systems with a variable source-image-distance. In order to improve the image quality, usually an anti-scatter device comprising an anti-scatter grid is utilized, which allows to increase a contrast in the X-ray image by reducing an incidence of scattered radiation upon a reception area of the X-ray detector.
Examples of such X-ray system is for instance a C-arm system, in which an assembly comprising an X-ray detector and an anti-scatter device and/or an anti-scatter grid may be moved closer to and/or further away from an X-ray source. In other X-ray imaging systems with variable source-image-distance the X-ray source may be moved closer to and/or further away from an assembly comprising a table and an X-ray detector with anti-scatter device depending on application demands and/or requirements. In all these systems, usually a less than optimal anti-scatter grid ratio needs to be chosen to reduce the detrimental effects of shading artifacts caused by the grid when operated with a source-image-distance differing from its nominal focal distance. In the international norm IEC60627 the application limits for given grid parameters are provided and these limits should be matched with customer wishes for the range of allowed source-image-distances.
A potential solution to this issue may be to have a variable focused anti-scatter grid in which a focal distance and/or a focusing distance may be matched to the actual source-image-distance for a certain range of source-image-distances. For such grids a higher aspect ratio, as defined in IEC60627, may be chosen which may reduce the amount of scattered radiation in the X-ray image and thus may improve the image quality.
Normally, an anti-scatter device and/or an anti-scatter grid comprises a stack of lead lamellae interspaced with an X-ray transparent interspacer material, such as air, an organic material and/or Aluminum, which positions each lead lamella in an orientation directed towards a focal spot of the anti-scatter device and/or the anti-scatter grid at a distance equal to the focal distance and/or the focusing distance. Further, the anti-scatter device and/or the anti-scatter grid may be covered with a carbon fiber or an aluminum cover element to give the grid sufficient stiffness and to protect the interior against moisture and harm.
In document U.S. Pat. No. 5,291,539 A a variable focused anti-scatter grid is disclosed having a flexible elongated slatted grid structure, which is suspended between a pair of spaced apart grid support frames each of which is adapted for rotation about a transverse axis intermediate the suspended ends of the grid. A mechanical adjustment means provides equal but opposite angular motion of the frames to curve the grid along a circular path.

Variable focus X-ray anti scatter device


An exhaust system for internal combustion engines has an exhaust tract, which has at least one first flow path and a second flow path for an exhaust gas stream. The first and the second flow path extend fluidically separated from each other from a pre-silencer to at least one end silencer. Depending on the rotational speed of the engine, the first flow path can be continuously closed by way of a controllable flap, wherein the exhaust gas stream is guided through the second flow path when the flap is closed.

The invention relates to an exhaust system for internal combustion engines, preferably for motorcycles, having an exhaust tract that has at least one first flow path and a second flow path for an exhaust gas stream, wherein the first and the second flow path extend fluidically separated from each other from a pre-silencer to an end silencer.
More and more severe legal restrictions are being imposed on the noise generated by motorcycles. The noise level of a motorcycle is tested at standstill as well during a drive-by test as the motorcycle accelerates. High-powered motorcycles in particular are subject to the problem that the exhaust gas flow must be severely restricted to stay under the legal noise limit, which leads to a significant reduction in performance and an undesired restriction of the engine torque.
In order to obtain high performance at high speeds and a simultaneously reduced noise level at low speeds, exhaust systems known from prior art have a flap arranged in the flow path, which limits the exhaust gas stream as a function of speed. With this method, however, it is a disadvantage that at all times, the entire exhaust gas stream is affected and the flow experiences strong turbulence when the flap is partially open, which has a negative impact on the torque curve. Also, to achieve future noise level limits, the exhaust gas stream has to be limited in the speed range of the noise level measurement to such an extent that the desired performance would no longer be achieved.
Given this background, the object of the invention is to provide an exhaust system for high-performance motorcycles, the acoustics of which meets the legal requirements and which simultaneously delivers the desired power and torque curve across the entire speed range.
These and other objects are achieved by an exhaust system for internal combustion engines having an exhaust tract which has at least one first flow path and one second flow path for an exhaust gas stream. The first and second flow paths extend fluidically separated from each other from a pre-silencer to at least one end silencer. The first flow path is continually closable by a controllable flap as a function of speed, with the exhaust gas stream flowing through the second flow path when the flap is closed.
According to the invention, it is therefore provided to provide two flow paths for the exhaust gas stream, wherein, as a function of speed, exhaust gas flows through one or the other, and/or in part also through both. At low engine speeds, such as less than 5,000 rpm, for example, the flap is closed in the first flow path so that the exhaust gas stream flows from the pre-silencer via the second flow path to the end silencer without being hindered by a flap and at an optimal flow. In doing so, a flow-through mass and a flow-through speed of the exhaust gas are reached which ensure sufficient power and sufficient torque in the lower speed range. At the same time, the noise developed is sufficiently low to satisfy the legal requirements.
As the speed continues to increase, the flap continues to open so that the exhaust gas flows from the pre-silencer also through the first flow path. At high speeds and high power output, the flap is completely open and the exhaust gas stream flows essentially through the first flow path. A small part additionally flows through the second flow path. It is possible to influence the noise development directly by controlling the flap, wherein unlimited flow through the second flow path is provided at all times. It is therefore possible to divide the flow paths into an acoustically optimized path at low speeds and a power-optimized path for high speeds.
One embodiment of the invention provides that a flow diameter area of the first flow path, which is designed for high performance, is larger than a flow diameter area of the second flow path.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the first and second flow paths extend between pre- and end silencers, separate from each other and arranged side-by-side. In a further embodiment of the invention, the first and second flow paths extend coaxially in one another, with the second flow path surrounding the first flow path in a spaced apart fashion and the space between the first and second flow path forming the flow diameter area of the second flow path. The flow paths are generally formed by pipes so that the first flow path can be realized as an internal pipe within a larger external pipe (second flow path). The space between the external wall of the internal pipe and the internal wall of the external pipe determines the flow diameter area of the second flow path. The inner diameter of the internal pipe determines the flow diameter area of the first flow path. In an embodiment where flow paths are separated from each other and arranged side-by-side, appropriate pipes can be installed side-by-side, preferably in parallel.
The exhaust system includes the end silencer into which the first and second flow paths extend, wherein in one embodiment of the invention, the first flow path completely penetrates the end silencer in the direction of flow up to its outlet. The exhaust gas path therefore extends in the high-speed range directly through the first flow path to the outlet.
In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the second flow path ends in the end silencer in a chamber, which provides an instantly enlarged flow diameter area compared to the second flow path. The enlarged flow diameter area is realized, for example, by a large-volume chamber in the end silencer, through which the exhaust gas of the second flow path flows. In the case of the embodiment having an internal pipe in the external pipe, the internal pipe (first flow path) extends to the outlet and is surrounded by the volume of the end silencer, which clearly increases relative to the external pipe (second flow path). In the embodiment with flow paths arranged side-by-side, an area is provided in the end silencer next to the first flow path, which provides the volume enlargement in the form of a chamber.
In an economical embodiment of the invention, the exhaust system according to the invention is characterized in that the first flow path is fluidically connected to the chamber in the end silencer. In a preferred embodiment, this can be achieved in that the first flow path is perforated or developed with slots within the end silencer. When using a pipe as the first flow path, for example, the external wall area is provided with a multitude of holes or slots so that the exhaust gas can flow from the chamber in the end silencer into the first flow path and from there out of the outlet. The holes or slots are provided in an embodiment of the invention over the entire surrounding area so that in the end silencer, exhaust gas can flow into the pipe forming the first flow path over a length designed for the effectiveness.
In an embodiment of the invention, it is furthermore provided that the end silencer is divided by a separating element in the direction of flow, for example a wall element, wherein the chamber is provided in an upstream first section, and an insulator is provided in a downstream second section adjacent to the outlet. The insulator surrounds the first flow path. The insulation of the area adjacent to the outlet allows for a further shielding and defined reduction of the noise development. The noise development can be influenced once more with the size of the first and second section, with a favorable division being that, in a specific embodiment, the first section is two thirds and the second section is one third of the total length of the end silencer. A suitable insulator is conventional insulation wool.
Furthermore, the invention includes an exhaust system in which the two flow paths extend from the pre-silencer to two separate end silencers in the direction of the flow and one of the two flow paths can be closed and/or throttled by the flap.
The invention furthermore protects a motorcycle having an exhaust system that has a random combination of the characteristics represented above to the extent this is technically 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.
In all views, identical reference symbols refer to identical parts.

Exhaust system having variable exhaust gas paths

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft


A screen printing machine for: (i) creating an image bearing screen; (ii) using the image-bearing screen to create designs on a suitable substrate; and (iii) heating the print to cure the print ink. The bottom of a cabinet forms the base of a cavity that houses a series of ultraviolet (UV) lamps used to create an image-bearing screen. The top of the cavity is enclosed by a protective panel when the lamps are not being used. Narrow shelves that extend inwardly from the side walls support a pop-up screen holder that includes a U-shaped frame sized to receive a screen frame. A downwardly extending tube is slidably mounted in a vertical tubular hole. A coil spring creates an upward pressure on the U-shaped frame. The U-shaped frame is held down by a latch mechanism. A screen registration mechanism moves the U-shaped frame into a fixed position. A beveled block forces a print screen into a predetermined position. A platen support and registration mechanism including platen inclination and lateral adjustment mechanisms receives a downwardly extending leg located at the back of a garment support platen. Mounted beneath the platen support and registration mechanism, in alignment with the bottom of the platen leg, is a platen height adjustment mechanism. A heater having a tubular leg mounted in cylindrical hole in the housing is positionable above the platen. A slot located in the back wall of the housing allows elongate fabrics to be moved across the platen.

Screen printing is an old and established way of creating designs on various substrates, such as textile fabric, paper, metal, wood, glass, etc. Screen printing is essentially a stencil method of printing where the stencil is formed by a screen stretched over a wooden or metal frame. For finer detail, a finer mesh screen is used.
Early versions of screen printing used silk to form the screen. A design was created by painting the screen with a greasy medium. The pores of the silk were then closed using a suitable gum. The pores of the silk in the areas covered by the greasy medium were not closed because the greasy medium rejected the gum. Thereafter, the greasy medium was washed away with a solvent, such as turpentine, if paint was used as the greasy medium, resulting in the corresponding areas becoming pervious to ink. The screen was then placed on the surface of the substrate to be decorated and ink was applied through the screen to the surface using a rubber squeegee. The ink soaked through the pervious areas of the silk and was imprinted on the substrate.
More recent versions of screen printing use fine mesh screen materials rather than silk. The chosen screen material is coated with a photographic emulsion. The photographic emulsion is exposed to a suitable source of light with the image to be reproduced being located between the light and the emulsion. The light causes the emulsion to harden except in areas where the image is located. Thereafter, the screen is washed, which removes the emulsion from the areas where it has not been hardened by the light, i.e., the image areas. Then, the screen is used to print a design on a substrate.
In recent times, screen printing has been widely used to create a variety of single and multi-colored designs on a variety of textile fabric items, particularly clothing, such as T-shirts and sweatshirts. Various machines have been developed to improve screen printing. Unfortunately, the majority of such machines, particularly those designed to create multi-colored designs, are large and complex and, thus, expensive. Others are heavy, cumbersome, deteriorate rapidly, and lack adjustability.
In order to overcome the foregoing disadvantages, the All-in-one Screen Printing Machine described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,355,791 by John R. Benedetto and William Gillespie, Jr., was developed. The screen printing machine described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,355,791 is designed to be easily reconfigured to: (i) create an image-bearing screen; (ii) use the image-bearing screen to print designs on textile fabrics and other suitable substrates; and (iii) heat the design to set the print ink. The machine includes a metal cabinet with a horizontal shelf located beneath the top of the cabinet. Mounted on the metal shelf is a source of ultraviolet (UV) light. The upper ends of the metal cabinet walls are configured to receive a work surface suitable for supporting an image of the design to be printed and a framed screen. The image is preprinted on a sheet of material that passes UV light except where the image is located; and the screen is coated with a photographic emulsion. When exposed to the UV light, the photographic emulsion hardens, except where the image prevents the light from striking the emulsion. After exposure, the emulsion is washed to remove the remaining soft, unexposed (image) parts of the emulsion, creating a print screen. The all-in-one screen printing machine also includes an adjustable platen, preferably formed of metal, that is positioned just below the upper walls of the cabinet. The platen is suitable for supporting a piece of textile fabric, preferably in the form of a garment, such as a T-shirt, or other substrates suitable for receiving printing ink. The textile fabric or other substrate is mounted on the platen, which is positioned just below the print screen; and a squeegee is used to push the ink through the image apertures in the screen onto the fabric. A partially mechanical and partially manual registration mechanism allows print screens to be removed to inspect ink distribution and returned to their prior position if additional ink is required. The all-in-one screen printing machine also includes a heater positionable above a printed item to heat and cure the ink after it is applied.
While the all-in-one screen printing machine described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,355,791 is a substantial improvement over prior art screen printing machines, it is subject to improvement particularly in the areas of platen adjustability and the mechanism for supporting and registering a print screen. The present invention is directed to providing such an improved screen printing machine.


A conveyor belt is made with a series of spaced apart buttonless rods. The buttonless rods are connected to each other with a plurality of links. The buttonless ends of the rods are welded or otherwise affixed to the links so that the ends of the rods are substantially coplanar with the outer surface of the links. This forms a relatively smooth link surface, which is readily cleaned and sanitized. Additionally, wear and tear is reduced on driving grip surfaces that frictionally grab onto the links.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to conveyor belts made from a plurality of longitudinally spaced rods coupled with interlocking links. More particularly, the present invention relates to conveyor belts utilizing buttonless rods.
2. Description of Related Art
Conveyor belts are popularly used in a number of different industrial fields to provide continuous motion of goods during manufacture, shipping, and other processes. Industrial conveyor belts generally include a series of spaced apart rods connected via a series of interlocking links which are welded to the rods. For the manufacture of small items, the rods may be covered with a fabric, plastic, or metal overlay, such as a mesh, to prevent the small items from slipping between the rods and falling to the manufacturing floor. A typical conveyor belt 10 is shown in FIG. 1, which corresponds to FIG. 1 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,954,188, which is incorporated herein by reference. Conveyor belt 10 includes rods 20 connected by links 22 covered by a mesh 14. A buttonhead 32 is formed on the ends of rods 20 to act as a stop for links 22. A weld is also typically formed between buttonhead 32 and link 22 for a stronger and more secure connection between rods 20 and links 22.
The buttonhead configuration on the ends of the rods of a conveyor belt can create challenges in maintaining the conveyor belt and associated equipment. For example, if a conveyor belt is subjected to a curvy path, the conveyor belt is driven around a curve via friction between the edge of the conveyor belt and a driving belt. The driving belt includes a grip surface which frictionally grasps the sides of the links of the conveyor belt to force the conveyor belt to follow the path of the curve. Such grip surfaces are typically made from materials such as plastics or rubber. Because the rod buttonheads protrude significantly from the outer surface of the link, the grip surface is not able to cleanly grab onto the flat surface of the leg of the link. The buttonheads also abrade the grip surface as the buttonheads move over the grip surface. Over time the grip surfaces of the driving belt are worn and damaged by the buttonheads more quickly than if the driving belt were to contact the leg of the link or a lower profile rod end. Therefore, having a conveyor belt without buttonheads could reduce wear on the driving surface.
Furthermore, in the manufacture of food products, the ability to clean equipment is an issue of paramount importance, so that the manufacturing plant remains sanitary so as not to contaminate the food products. In order to be able to clean a conveyor belt effectively, the number of small crevices and protrusions on the belt capable of trapping food are preferably minimized. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the protrusion of buttonhead 32 from the outer surface of link 22 creates a point for the accumulation of debris. While weld material may be used to fill the space between buttonhead 32 and link 22, welds are typically bridge welds and formed only over a portion of buttonhead 32. As such, a buttonhead configuration increases the difficulty of maintaining a properly sanitized manufacturing system. Therefore, eliminating the buttonhead from the conveyor belt design would be advantageous in the long-term ability to keep the conveyor belt properly cleaned.
Additionally, while the buttonhead is useful during manufacturing by acting as a natural stop for links prior to welding the links in position, forming the buttonhead on the ends of the rods may actually result in increased manufacturing time. Rods are typically elongated steel members having ends of uniform diameter so that the links may slide easily onto the ends of the rods. To form the buttonhead, typically an electrode is touched to the end of the rod. The electrodes apply energy sufficient to melt and deform the end of the rod into the bulbous buttonhead. The melting of the rod material in this fashion releases carbon from the steel which accumulates on the buttonhead. The next processing step in the manufacture of the conveyor belt should be to weld the buttonhead to the side of the link. However, the carbon residue inhibits a good weld between the buttonhead and the link. Therefore, the carbon residue is generally cleaned off of the buttonhead prior to welding, for example with an acid bath. Eliminating the processing steps of forming the buttonhead and cleaning the buttonhead could provide significant savings in manufacturing time and complexity.
Therefore, there exists a need in the art for rod-and-link conveyor belts made without buttonheads.


A computer-implemented method is provided for filtering clutter from a radar signal received by an antenna. The method includes determining a transient clutter voltage at first and second times separated by a time interval, determining a clutter correlation for the time interval, and dividing a received signal correlation by the clutter correlation. In alternate embodiments, the clutter correlation can be combined with a noise correlation and the sum divided by the signal correlation.

The invention relates generally to radar filtering. In particular, the invention relates to discrimination from clutter of received radar signals by distinguishing antenna patterns. Such clutter from low-velocity sources can obscure the target, compensation for this effect being the inventive focus.
Radar systems employ Doppler processing to discriminate targets from clutter. This process operates satisfactorily for targets having high Doppler frequency that contrast with clutter typically having zero or low Doppler frequency. However, this does not hold for Doppler frequencies close to the clutter. Detection of slow moving targets necessitate having an accurate estimate of the clutter's Doppler spectrum because the detection process endeavors to filter out the clutter power based on background Doppler spectrum. Clutter presents undesirable radar return signals and thereby constitutes noise.
Any error in the knowledge of the clutter Doppler spectrum degrades the detector's ability to distinguish targets. This degradation is negligible for fast moving targets but can be quite significant for targets whose Doppler frequency approaches the clutter Doppler spectrum. The classic approach to the problem of determining the clutter spectrum for the benefit of improved target detection is some sort of on-line clutter estimation scheme coupled with a detector.
There have been many technical papers that incorporate this approach by estimating the clutter spectrum and including this information in their detector structure, such as R. S. Raghavan, "Statistical Interpretation of a Data Adaptive Clutter Subspace Estimation Algorithm", IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems, 48 (2), 1370-1384 (April 2012); Peng-Lang Shui, Yan-Ling Shi, "Subband ANMF Detection of Moving Targets in Sea Clutter", IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems, 48 (4), 3578-3593 (October 2012). However, these approaches are complicated and must compensate for the non-stationarity of clutter.
This leads to the problem of obtaining sufficient training data, while taking into account real world issues of said training data being corrupted due to radio frequency interference (RFI). The exemplary approach described in the disclosure enables the radar designer to estimate the clutter spectrum accurately using knowledge of the antenna pattern alone. Using the accurate estimate of the clutter spectrum enables providing an optimum filter with the addition of an estimate of clutter-to-noise ratio (CNR), which can be accurately measured on-line or estimated with a clutter model.
Exemplary embodiments improve weather prediction using radar. Weather radars produce the three weather determinations based on analysis of clutter, as described by D. J. Doviak, et al., Doppler Radar and Weather Observations 2nd edition, Academic Press (1993). These are: (1) Weather signal power of the zeroth moment of the Doppler spectrum. (2) Mean Doppler velocity of the first moment of the power-normalized spectra. (3) Spectrum width, the square root of the second moment about the first of the normalized spectrum. This is a measure of the velocity dispersion within the resolution volume.
Clutter can seriously degrade the accuracy of the weather moments produced by weather radars. The largest amplitude clutter that weather radars must contend with is ground clutter. The classic approach to the problem of clutter in weather radar involves filtering out the clutter using Doppler processing. These schemes rely on assumptions of the clutter correlation matrix or Doppler spectrum. (Correlation and spectrum are both related by the Fourier transform. Thus, knowing one enables computing the other.)

Radar filter process using antenna patterns

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


The present invention relates to an active alignment method of a receiving device (2, 2′) including a sensor (4) and of a illumination device (6, 6′) including at least one light source (18, 8′) suitable for emitting a beam of light, including: —Assembling said receiving device (2, 2′); —Stably fixing said receiving device (2, 2′) on a chassis (30); —Actively aligning an optical group (11, 11′) of said illumination device (6, 6′) with respect to said light source (18, 18′); —Fixedly connecting said optical group (11, 11′) of said illumination device to said light source (18, 18′); —Actively aligning said illumination device (6, 6′) with respect to said receiving device (2, 2′); and —Stably fixing said illumination device (6, 6′) to said chassis (30).

Optical information readers of the image formation type are well known. Said readers comprise an image capture device capable of capturing or acquiring an image of the optical information present on a substrate of any kind, herewith including a display for viewing the optical information by means of an electric or electronic device of any sort.
In the present description and enclosed claims, the expression "optical information" is utilized in a broad sense to cover both one-dimensional and stacked or two-dimensional optical codes, where the information is coded in the shapes, dimensions, colors, and/or respective positions of elements of at least two distinct colors, whether alphanumeric characters, signatures, logos, seals, brands, labels hand-written text, and images in general, both their combinations (in particular when present on preprinted modules) and images containing the characteristics suitable for identifying and/or selecting an object on the basis of its shape and/or volume.
An optical information reader is called linear or matrix according to the type of sensor utilized for creating the image. In readers known in the art, the sensor includes an array of photo-sensitive elements, which may be arranged in linear or matrix fashion, thereby giving the actual name of the reader, linear or matrix.
The optical information that can be read by a linear reader is that which is locally invariant in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the information is coded, which is also called the scanning direction or "optical code direction". Examples of said optical information are the one-dimensional barcodes and postal codes, as well as stacked codes, where the code is locally invariant or intermittently invariant in the direction perpendicular to the direction of the optical code.
In the present description and in the enclosed claims, the term "light" is utilized in a broad sense to indicate electromagnetic radiation of a particular wavelength or range of wavelengths, not only in the visible range but also in the ultraviolet and infrared range. The terms "color", "optical", "image", and "view" are utilized in the same broad sense. In particular, the coded information may be printed on a substrate with invisible inks which are however sensitive in the ultraviolet or infrared range.
In general, a reader of optical information, such as an optical code, comprises a source of light on one side and an optical illumination path that develops from the light source towards the optical code, and on the other side a photo-sensitive device or sensor and an optical receiver device that forms the image on the other, arranged in an optical receiving path that develops from the optical code to the sensor. The entire apparatus is placed inside a suitable housing, which is provided with at least one window for projecting the optical illumination path, that is to say the light that illuminates the optical code from the light source, and an additional window for the optical receiving path, that is the light that returns towards the sensor from the illuminated optical code. The two windows generally coincide, that is they are the same window.
The optical receiving device typically comprises an objective, including one or more lenses, for the collection and formation of the optical information image on the sensor.
The optical receiving device is characterized by an optical receiving axis, which is defined by the centers of the elements of the receiving optics, or the centers of curvature of the optical surfaces in the case of a single lens, and defines its main working direction. The receiving device is further characterized by a working space region, generally shaped as the body of a pyramid, extending in front of the sensor. The working space region, that is to say the region of space where the optical information is correctly framed by the sensor and the image of which is sufficiently focused on the sensor, is only characterized by the field of view, which expresses the angular amplitude of the working region around the receiving axis, and the depth of field, which expresses the dimension along the receiving axis. The depth of field therefore expresses the interval between the minimum and maximum useful distances along the receiving axis between the reader and the region on the substrate framed by the sensor. The field of view may also be expressed in terms of a "vertical" and a "horizontal" field of view, that is to say in terms of the angular amplitudes of two planes going through the receiving axis and perpendicular to each other, in order to duly take into account the shape factor of the sensor, or further, in the case of a receiving system without symmetry, by four angular amplitudes in half-planes 90° from each other.
In the case of a linear type sensor, as is the case in linear readers, this working space region subtends an angular amplitude in one direction which is much greater than in the other direction, and substantially forms a receiving "sliver".
The concept of a working plane may also be introduced, which is defined as the plane that contains the optical receiving axis and the direction of greater extension of the working space. In other words, this working plane is a plane that slices the center of the body of the pyramid that is usually defined by the working space in the longitudinal direction (that is to say from one base to the other).
The working space region—and therefore the field of view and depth of field—may be fixed or be made dynamically variable in the dimensions and/or its proportions by means of well known zoom and/or autofocus systems, such as electro-mechanical, piezoelectric, or electro-optic actuators for moving one or more lenses or diaphragms, mirrors, or other components in the receiving optics or sensor movement, and/or modifying the curvature of one or more lenses in the receiving optics, such as liquid or deformable lenses.
In general, the field of view and distance of the focus as well as the depth of field are determined by the design of the objective of the optics belonging to the receiving device.
The illumination device is suitable for projecting a beam of light towards the substrate bearing the optical information.
The beam of light emitted by the illumination device defines an optical axis of illumination, which is the average direction of said beam of light, defining in the process an axis of symmetry in at least one plane.
For the correct operation of the image capture device, the illumination device must be capable of illuminating the entire working space region of the receiving device, as better described hereinafter.
The light sources utilized in optical readers are chosen from the group that includes LEDs, microLEDs, and lasers.
In a linear acquisition system based on a linear sensor, the light emitted by the illumination device must be concentrated in a "strip" superimposed on the field of view of the linear sensor. In other words, each photo-sensitive element belonging to the sensor must be reached by a more or less high amount of light.
In the following description and claims, the terms "strip", sliver, or line of light will be utilized interchangeably to indicate a beam of light emitted from the illumination device, the cross-section of which along a plane perpendicular to the direction of propagation has a component in a first direction much greater than the dimension of a component in a second direction, which is substantially perpendicular to the first. These different dimensions in the cross-section of the emitted light beam are called hereinafter the minor and major dimensions.
Historically, the first linear readers of optical information that appeared on the market were based on laser scanning systems. This type of reader is characterized by a very thin and well defined line of light throughout the entire working range (within the depth of field). Subsequently, linear readers provided with a LED illumination device were implemented in order to create the image. LED illumination devices have a greater divergence in the beam of light than lasers, and in particular they create a much wider beam of emitted light, and this, for example, limits the capability to read vertically stacked optical codes at a much closer distance.
If it is necessary to reduce the dimensions of the linear reader system for ergonomic reasons, additional complications are introduced. It is known from the laws of classical optics that when a reduced volume is available for implementing the illumination and receiving optics, obtaining a line of illumination having a thickness and divergence comparable to that achieved by means of laser scanning systems is even more difficult to implement.
Linear imager systems based on laser illumination have been proposed where the beam of a laser diode is projected by means of suitable (typically cylindrical) optics, which generate a very sharp line of illumination. However, said systems need a high degree of precision in the alignment so that the fields of view of the sensor and the illumination beam of the laser light are superimposed for a significant range of distances in front of the sensor because it is desirable to have a great reading depth; furthermore, the laser light produces a very noisy signal as a result of the intrinsic speckle noise arising from the coherence of the source.

Linear optical information reader of the imager type and method for aligning an optical information reader of the imager type


An LED lamp and a method of making an LED lamp in which the lamp includes a heat conductive post with slots in an exterior of the post, and in which a separate LED assembly is inserted into each of the slots, where each of the LED assemblies has a substrate with an LED at a first end thereof, which is inserted into the slot first, and an electrical conductor that extends from the LED to a second end of the substrate. The electrical conductor is connected to a circuit board that is inside a hollow bottom of the post. A reflector and heat sink are attached to the bottom of the post.

The present invention is directed to a lamp with plural light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that are carried on a post surrounded by a reflector, and to a method of making such a lamp.
As is known, light output of an LED depends on its temperature. Temperature must be kept low to ensure efficient light production. Accordingly, it is beneficial to provide an LED lamp that includes plural LEDs with a heat sink for drawing heat away from the LEDs.
It is also desirable to provide a reflector for concentrating light from the plural LEDs. The LEDs may be mounted on a post so that the LEDs are surrounded by and spaced from the reflector. A circuit board provides the necessary electrical components and connections for operating the LEDs that are carried on the post.
However, the arrangement of the reflector, heat sink, circuit board, and post in an LED lamp with plural LEDs and the efficient assembly of these components have presented problems for designers of such lamps. One of the problems is how to efficiently connect the LEDs that are carried on top of the post to a circuit board when the circuit board is carried at a base of the post and when the heat sink and reflector are also carried at the base of the post. Heat must conducted away from the LEDs at the top of the post to the heat sink at the bottom of the post and electrical connections must be made from the circuit board at the bottom of the post to the LEDs at the top of the post, and the arrangement of the components must facilitate automated manufacture of the lamp.

Lamp with LED substrates supported by heat conductive post, and method of making such lamp


A range sensor includes: an n-type surface-buried region selectively buried in an upper portion of a pixel layer to implement a photodiode and extending from a light-receiving area toward plural portions shielded by a shielding plate along the upper portion of the pixel layer so as to provide a plurality of branches; n-type charge-accumulation regions having a higher impurity concentration than the surface-buried region; a plurality of transfer gate electrodes provided adjacent to the charge-accumulation regions; and an n-type guide region having a higher impurity concentration than the surface-buried region and a lower impurity concentration than the charge-accumulation regions, and provided with one end below an aperture of the shielding plate and other ends extending to a part of the respective transfer gate electrodes.

In recent years, development of time-of-flight range image sensors using semiconductors is actively being carried out. For example, a range image sensor includes a plurality of lock-in pixels arrayed and connected in parallel for transferring carriers generated in photodiodes in synchronization with a light source to a plurality of charge accumulators, while each lock-in pixel element is made into a smaller pixel so as to transfer charges at high speed as disclosed in Patent Literature (PTL) 1.
In the image sensor disclosed in PTL 1, load capacitances of a plurality of transfer gates connected in parallel increase, and the entire power consumption increases as the number of pixels increases. Further, connecting a plurality of lock-in pixel elements increases the area of a diffusion layer of a signal detector, which may cause a dark current.

Range sensor and solid-state imaging device

National University Corporation Shizuoka University


A process for preparing carboxylic esters from carboxylic acid halides or carboxylic anhydrides by reacting one of these starting materials with an alcohol under the catalytic action of "onium" or metal salts of carboxylic acids to obtain high yields of products in anhydrous form in a technically simple manner. The process is especially well suited for preparing 1,1,1-trifluoroethyl trifluoroacetate.

This invention relates to a process for the catalytic preparation of carboxylic esters from carboxylic acid halides and alcohols.
Many esters of carboxylic acids are used in industry as such. Ethyl acetate and other carboxylic esters are used, for example, as solvents or cleaning agents. Other esters, for example of succinic acid, are used for aromatization. Ethyl trifluoroacetate is, for example, a solvent for the chlorination of paraffins or the polymerization of olefin oxides. Many carboxylic esters are also intermediates in chemical synthesis. Methyl trifluoroacetate and 1,1,1-trifluoroethyl trifluoroacetate yield trifluoroethanol (with or without methanol) on hydrogenation. Trifluoroethanol is used as a solvent and as an intermediate, for example in the preparation of the solvent and anaesthetic isofluraneo Esters of trifluoroacetic acid are also used for the introduction or for the preparation of biologically active compounds which contain a CF.sub.3 group. For example, peptides having hormonal activity can be prepared by N-acylation with methyl trifluoroacetate. The trifluoroethyl ester gives shift reagents for NMR analysis on reaction with camphor derivatives. On undergoing the Fries rearrangement with aluminum chloride, phenyl trifluoroacetate gives the corresponding trifluoroacetylated phenol, which is a synthetic building block for pharmaceuticals. Many further applications of esters are known to those skilled in the art, for example the reaction of esters with amines to give amides which are synthetic building blocks #or pharmaceuticals, photosensitizers and dyes.
Esters of chlorodifluoroacetic acid are likewise building blocks for chemical syntheses. For example, the ethyl ester is used in the manufacture of liquid crystals, see DE-OS 4,023,106; and in the preparation of pharmaceuticals, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,006,563. The methyl ester likewise is used for the manufacture of liquid crystals; as a starting compound for microbial production of entantiomeric (asymmetric) secondary alcohols, see T. Kitazume et al., J. Fluorine Chem. 56:271-84 (1992); or for the production of fluorinated enolethers in the Wittig synthesis, see J. P. Beque et al., J. Org. Chem., 57:3807 ff. (1992). The esters of chlorodifluoroacetic acid are also precursors for difluorocarbenes.
The preparation of carboxylic esters is conventionally carried out by reaction of the corresponding alcohols with the carboxylic acids under acid catalysis. In this method, the resulting water of reaction must be removed to displace the equilibrium. In the case of fluorinated derivatives this can lead to difficulties because of the preferential binding of water (at the carbonyl functions as hydrates). It is also known that carboxylic esters can be prepared from carboxylic acid chlorides and alcohols under base catalysis. However, this requires a hydrolyric workup, and waste salts are also formed, for example pyridine hydrochloride, which have to be disposed of. The reaction of carboxylic acid halides with alcohols in the absence of base catalysis proceeds at a low reaction rate.

Process for producing carboxylic acid esters from carboxylic acid halides and alcohols


A connector assembly for a coaxial cable of a type having an annularly corrugated outer cable conductor, includes a head portion which has a clamping surface for establishing a contact from inside with an end portion of an outer cable conductor. A contact sleeve is fitted over the outer cable conductor and has a plurality of axial slits extending from its head portion proximate end to form a plurality of radially resilient segments. Interacting with the head portion is a clamping member which surrounds the contact sleeve and travels along a clamping path for loading the segments of the contact sleeve in a clamping direction, thereby clamping the end portion of the outer cable conductor against the clamping surface of the head portion. The clamping path of the clamping member is divided by an indexing member into first and second sections, with the first section corresponding to a preassembled state of the connector, and with the second section corresponding to a complete assembly of the connector onto the cable end. The indexing member includes an O ring which seals an annular gap between the head portion and the clamping member, and is received in an annular groove formed in one of the head portion and the clamping member. At the end of the first section of the clamping path, the O ring contacts a confronting end face of the connector head portion, and is clamped between the head portion and the clamping member at the end of the second section of the clamping path.

The present invention relates, in general, to a connector for coaxial cables, and more particularly to a connector for coaxial cables of a type having annularly corrugated outer cable conductor.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,046,451, issued on Sep. 6, 1977, describes a connector assembly for a coaxial cable of a type having an annularly corrugated outer cable conductor, with a connector head which is formed with a beveled clamping surface to engage the inner surface of the end portion of the outer cable conductor. Cooperating with the clamping surface of the connector head is a further clamping surface formed on one end of a contact sleeve for engaging the outer surface of the end portion of the outer cable conductor. The contact sleeve is formed at the same time as a hollow screw and has a plurality of slits extending from the connector head proximal end to form a plurality of resilient segments. Each of the segments terminates in a bead for meshing in the first valley of the outer cable conductor and clamping the outer cable conductor against the clamping surface of the connector head along the end portion extending over the contact sleeve, when the connector assembly is mounted to the coaxial cable.
The necessity to dismantle the connector before attachment to the coaxial cable is disadvantageous for several reasons. For one, components may fall out, get lost or mixed up. Moreover, manipulation of several components is time-consuming and annoying, in particular when carrying out the assembly at exposed sites. There is also a risk that errors occur during assembly. A further drawback is the inevitable friction encountered between the beads at the free ends of the segments of the contact sleeve and the outer cable conductor along the outer surface to be contacted and clamped during threaded engagement of the contact sleeve in the connector head. As the outer cable conductor is normally made of a relatively soft copper alloy, the friction frequently results in a squeezing of material in the circumferential direction, leading to respective bending of the segments of the contact sleeve, or as a result of an increase of the torque to be applied for tightening the components in a false indication that a secure clamping and contacting has been attained when in fact that is not the case.

Connector for a coaxial cable with annularly corrugated outer cable conductor


A rectangularly shaped carton for containing a plurality of flexible, rectangularly shaped planar articles, such as diapers, in stacked rows therein includes a specially configured dispensing opening in the front wall thereof for controlling the dispensing of the articles therefrom in a manner to prevent inadvertant removal of multiple quantities of the articles. The dispensing opening includes a first and second vertical dimension which are respectively longer and shorter than the longest edge of each of the articles, while the edges of the front wall defining such opening extend oblique to any of the edges of the articles whereby to limit dispensing of the articles to a one-at-a-time basis. A triangular dispensing opening is preferred which is provided with a similarly shaped, tear-away closure panel hingedly connected along the base side thereof to the front wall to permit reclosing the carton.

Numerous types of planar articles having a uniform geometrical configuration, such as preformed, rectangularly shaped baby diapers, are often packaged in aligned, face-to-face relationship to each other in stacked rows within a dispensing carton. The carton is provided with a tear-away closure panel which, when removed, provides a substantial dispensing opening in one wall of the carton that places surface areas of each of the planar articles adjacent the dispensing opening within grasp by a user. Thus, the user has ready access to the forward most article in each row thereof to facilitate quick easy removal of individual ones of the articles from the carton.
Heretofore, known prior art cartons have employed a rather large rectangularly shaped dispensing opening whose width and length dimensions exceeded those of each of the rectangularly shaped articles. Consequently, regardless of the placement of the dispensing opening in the side of one of the carton walls, the articles have a tendency to accidentally fall out of the carton through the dispensing opening. Unintended dispensing of articles such as diapers is particularly common where it is necessary to frequently transport the opened cartons from place to place, within diapers bags or the like. Moreover, prior art cartons had a tendency to dispense multiple quantities of the articles therefrom, which added to the inconvenience of such cartons and was particularly annoying to users attempting to change a baby's diaper and having only one hand free to select and withdraw a diaper from the carton.
Consequently, there is a need in the art for a carton of the general type described above which is provided with a dispensing opening that controls the dispensing of articles therefrom in a manner to prevent accidental removal or loss of the articles from an opened carton while at the same time presenting a plurality of articles from which the user may choose and withdraw a single one of the articles so presented. The present invention satisfies this need and eliminates the defficiencies inherent in prior art type carton designs by providing a carton having a tear-away closure panel covering a dispensing opening specially configured and located in one wall of the carton to prevent accidental loss of articles from the carton while presenting at least portions of the face of each of the articles in a stack thereof adjacent the opening to a user in order to allow the user to grasp and withdraw any one of such articles so presented without inadvertantly removing additional quantities of the articles at the same time.
According to the present invention, a rectangularly shaped carton defined by top, bottom, front, back and end walls is adapted to contain a plurality of flexible, planar, rectangularly shaped articles which are arranged in aligned face-to-face abutting relationship to each other and in stacked adjacent rows such that the face of an article in each row thereof opposes the front wall of the carton. A preformed line of weakness in the front wall co-defines a tear-away closure panel and a dispensing opening in the front wall through which articles may be withdrawn from the carton once the closure panel is torn away. The dispensing opening extends vertically and includes at least one vertical dimension greater than the longest edge of the face of one of the planar articles and another vertical dimension less than such longest edge. Edge sections in the front wall defining the dispensing opening extend in a direction oblique with respect to the edges of the articles within the carton and overlap at least portions of the face of each of the articles adjacent the front wall whereby to allow withdrawal of the articles one-at-a-time but prevent unintentional removal of multiple quantities of the articles from the carton. In the preferred form, the dispensing opening and closure panel are triangular in shape while the base side of the closure panel is hingedly connected to the front wall to permit reclosing the dispensing opening. Tear lines in the front wall between the edges defining the dispensing opening and the closure panel are provided with complementary, notched, interlocking extensions which frictionally interlock once the closure panel has been torn away from the front wall and reclosed to relock the closure panel in a closed position covering the dispensing opening. One apex of the triangularly shaped closure panel extends over an access opening in the top wall of the carton and, may be torn away to expose such access opening thereby allowing a user to grip the closure panel in order to remove the latter.

Carton with opening for controlled dispensing


A blood aspiration assembly has an aspirator receiver. The receiver has a housing with a rigid casing and a resilient plug, and a liquid flow chamber. The chamber has an offset lower wall surface, to create turbulence to remove air bubbles during initial set up. The offset wall can be elevated with an intermediate part of larger cross section to accommodate the blunt needle. The plug has a slit or perforation to allow passage of a blunt needle therethrough. The plug can have two parts of different compliance, with aligned slits or perforations. The blunt needle tip can be rounded or flat, with a side opening for the needle bore. The contour of the needle tip and the design of the plug are correlated such that the working force required to penetrate the needle tip into the plug perforation is considerably less than the force required for said needle tip to penetrate normal intact human skin of the hands or arms. A stop prevents the needle from contacting the aspiration chamber wall.

This invention relates to human blood aspiration assemblies and methods of their use. It is necessary and indeed critical to frequently draw blood from patients having a broad variety of illnesses. Cumulative and repetitive blood sampling must be conducted in a number of instances. Such blood samples are often drawn through tubing systems that are connected to indwelling catheters to avoid the pain, inconvenience and potential complications of frequent penetration of the patient's skin.
These tubing systems are often maintained in near-constant direct fluid communication with the vasculature through the catheter, and are used for monitoring pressures within the vasculature, for fluid administration, or simply for maintaining a channel for easy access to the vascular system.
These tubing systems generally contain an electrolyte or dextrose solution when in fluid connection with the vasculature. The reflux of blood into such tubing systems is prevented by maintaining fluid pressure within such tubing equal to, or higher than, that in the vessel in which the catheter dwells. This pressure avoids thrombotic occlusion of the tubing system or catheter while allowing the system to remain patent, or unobstructed despite near constant fluid communication with the vascular system.
In the prior art, such an above-described system can have a proximal tubing segment portion which is closest to the high pressure source, a distal tubing segment which is closer to the catheter, and a channel which opens to the atmosphere (atmospheric channel). This channel is usually capped. A three-way stopcock is connected to the channel and is in line with the tubing. Normally the stopcock connects the proximal tubing to the distal tubing, with the atmospheric channel closed.
When a blood sample is desired, the cap covering the atmospheric channel is removed. A separate syringe is moved by the hand and its neck connected to the atmospheric channel. The stopcock is then turned to open the distal tubing to the syringe. This places the vascular system in direct fluid communication with the syringe. Fluid can then be aspirated from the tubing and the vascular system into the syringe. Upon aspiration, the initial liquid entering the syringe is the resident fluid in the distal tubing segment.
After this, blood, diluted with such resident fluid, will enter the syringe. Finally, after all the resident fluid has been aspirated into the syringe, undiluted blood will enter the syringe and will entirely fill the distal tubing. The stopcock is then closed to the atmospheric channel, and the first syringe is detached from the stopcock. The first syringe is in many uses discarded. With premature infants or small babies, the diluted blood in the first syringe may be reinjected after the blood sample for testing is obtained. But there is a risk of clot formation, thrombosis or infection when this attempt to save blood is made.
A second syringe then must be attached to the atmospheric channel and the stopcock is reopened to the second syringe to thereby place the syringe in fluid communication with the distal tubing that is filled with undiluted blood.
Undiluted blood is then aspirated into the second syringe from the distal tubing and the vasculature in the amount desired for analysis. When sufficient blood is obtained, the stopcock is closed to the second syringe. The second syringe is removed. At this point in some cases, to save blood, the diluted blood is reinjected from the first syringe back into the stopcock with the aforesaid hazards of thrombosis, clotting and infection. The stopcock is thence commonly closed to the distal tubing and opened to produce liquid communication between the proximal tubing and the atmospheric channel.
Following this, the pressure in the more proximal tubing is increased to allow fluid to escape from the proximal tubing out the atmospheric channel to clear residual blood from this channel. Next, the cap is replaced over the atmospheric channel. The stopcock is then closed to the atmospheric channel and opened to the distal tubing segment to reestablish the original fluid communication between the proximal and distal tubing. Following this, the pressure is again increased in the proximal tubing so that fluid will enter the distal tubing from the proximal tubing, thereby forcing the fluid within the distal tubing back into the vascular system through the catheter. As a result, the tubing system again becomes entirely filled with electrolyte or dextrose solution.
Several problems exist in the prior art. First, the procedure often requires the initial sample of blood (which is obtained to clear the resident fluid from the tubing) to be discarded, since it is diluted by the withdrawal procedure. This results in a loss of blood from the patient which is cumulative over many sample aspirations. Eventually, this can produce anemia and could necessitate a blood transfusion to replace such cumulative blood losses. (See "Phlebotomy For Diagnostic Laboratory Tests In Adults, Pattern Of Use and Effect On Transfusion Requirements", New England Journal Of Medicine, Vol. 31, p. 1233, 1986; and "Medical Vampires" (Editorial), New England Journal Of Medicine, Vol. 31, p. 1250, 1986).
Patients who require many blood samples to be taken during protracted illnesses or after severe trauma may require transfusions which would not otherwise be necessary, and may therefore be subject to the increased risk of blood transfusion related infectious diseases such as hepatitis and A.I.D.S., for example.
Moreover, the stopcock in conventional systems must frequently be open to a channel which is intermittently exposed to the atmosphere. Hence, there is a significant risk of microorganisms contaminating the stopcock and thereby entering the vascular system producing infections which may be extremely serious and even fatal. (See "Stopcock: Bacterial Contamination and Invasive Monitoring Systems", Heart & Lung, Vol. 8, p. 100, 1979; and "Stopcock Contamination In An ICU", American Journal of Nursing, Vol. 75, p. 96, 1975).
An additional problem is the potential for dilutional error introduced into the blood samples obtained. This results when hospital personnel fail to remove enough blood to adequately clear the resident fluid from the indwelling catheter and its connected tubing. This has been reported in the medical literature to cause error in both measured blood gas values and hematocrit concentrations. Such erroneous hematocrit values have been noted as a potential source of unnecessary blood transfusions in surgical patients. It has been noted that the first syringe must withdraw a volume of intravenous solution and blood that is six times the volume of the tubing distal to the stopcock. (See "Errors In Intraoperative Hematocrit Determination", Anesthesiology, Vol. 45, p. 357, 1976; and "Effect of Sample Dilutions on Arterial Blood Gas Determinations", Critical Care Medicine, Vol. 13, p. 1067, 1985).
Furthermore, many present conduit systems provide internal diameters which vary abruptly over the length of the conduit. The abrupt change in diameters results in areas where fluid flow is not streamlined, and where pockets of fluid can gather while the main fluid flow goes onward. Accordingly, when blood is drawn into the system from the catheter to displace the resident fluid, pockets of residual resident fluid may remain within the conduit channel. This can dilute any aspirated blood samples later drawn.
Another shortcoming is that the present method of obtaining undiluted blood samples from fluid-filled tubing connected with the vascular system is cumbersome and inconvenient.
With regard to the needle apparatus and special aspirator plug aspect of the invention, the risk of accidental needle puncture has been well known for a long time, and for more than a decade has been known as a common cause of infection of hospital personnel with hepatitis virus. Such needle punctures now are accompanied by the risk of infection with the AIDS virus. The risk of needle puncture is especially acute during the time when needles are inserted into a fluid-filled tubing that is connected to an indwelling vascular catheter to obtain a blood sample. Tubing systems heretofore used have often included septums for blood sampling or medication injection. These septae are designed to be punctured by sharp needles to allow entry of the needle into the tubing so that the needle tip is in fluid communication with the liquid within the tubing.
Such insertion of the needle into the tubing allows a blood sample to be aspirated from the tubing, or allows injection of medication into the tubing. The needles used to penetrate these septae are sharp and can easily penetrate human skin with even casual inadvertent contact. In addition, misdirection of the needle tip against the skin with the same force required to penetrate into the septum will invariably cause skin puncture accompanied by the risk of a fatal or extremely hazardous infection.
Hence, there has long been a need to solve the problem of accidental needle sticks associated with penetrating a septae in order to withdraw blood or inject medication.

Blood aspiration assembly septum and blunt needle aspirator


An inner focus type zoom lens is a nine lens system including third, fourth and seventh lenses which are plastic lenses including aspherical surfaces, and first, second, fifth, sixth, eighth and ninth lenses which are spherical glass lenses. This zoom lens system can reduce the manufacturing cost by employing the plastic lenses and eliminating aspherical glass surfaces. Moreover, this zoom lens system is superior in correction of aberrations and less susceptible to temperature changes.

The present invention relates to a zoom lens which can be used in an inner focus type video camera.
Recently, an inner focus type zoom lens has been developed and put to practical use. In this type, an element lens such as a compensator or a master lens is shifted minutely along the optical axis for focusing. One example of such an inner focus type zoom lens, used mainly for a video camera, is constituted by four lens groups including an aspherical lens to reduce the number of constituent lenses. (A similar zoom lens is disclosed in Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. Hei2-39011.)
In the conventional inner focus type zoom lens, aspherical surfaces are formed by glass mold, or by complex aspherical surfaces. However, aspherical surfaces are difficult to manufacture and increase the manufacturing cost. Because of this cost increase, the conventional zoom lens is unsatisfactory in cost reduction as a whole, despite the reduction in the number of the required lenses. The use of one or more plastic lens is effectual for cost reduction. This measure for cost reduction is difficult, however, since there are restriction of the refractive index and Abbe number, difficulties in forming process, and a problem of a focus displacement due to a temperature change.


In a portable unit having a generally horizontal frame, a container normally resting on the frame and pivotally connected at its rear of the frame for tilting upwardly and rearwardly toward a dumped position, the container having a door at its rear for loading and unloading material for opening when the container is in a dumped position, the improvement being a lift-and-tilt mechanism including a linkage pivotally connected at one end to the frame, and with a subframe unit interposed between the container and unit frame to support the container, with an inner end of the subframe unit pivotally connected to the linkage unit at an opposite end, whereby the linkage and subframe units are movable from a nested position substantially flat with the unit frame to a raised position with the linkage unit disposed substantially vertical, and with the subframe unit holding the container in a normally horizontal position, and with the container tiltable to its dumped position; and a power-operated unit for moving the linkage unit from its nested position to its raised position; a lift arm unit connected between the linkage unit and the subframe unit and engaged with the underside of the container for automatically tilting the container toward a dumped position upon raising of the linkage and subframe units; and a strap unit interconnected between the container door and the linkage unit for automatically pivotally opening the door upon the container being tilted upwardly and rearwardly to its dumped position.

A box-like container is mounted on the rear framework of a portable machine such as a riding lawn mower. Grass clippings, leaves and other like debris are loaded into the normally horizontally disposed container. The container includes a rear door which may be pivotally swung open from the top. With the door open, the container may be normally tilted on the mower frame from front-to-rear such that any material therein will slide outwardly and downwardly.
The utilization of this type container discharge arrangement is restricted in that the discharge of material is either onto a ground or like surface or is into another container for transportation purposes which is no higher than the lower edge of the rear of the container.
It is to a removal of such limitations on the utilization of such a container arrangement that this invention is directed, with a result that not only greatly enhances such utilization, but which also reduces the manual labor to a minimum by allowing for a novel automatic raising and tilting movement of the container during which the container discharge door is opened.

Mechanism for raising and tilting a container for discharge purposes


A security screening apparatus for use in detecting ferromagnetic objects comprises

The possession of contraband items in prisons is widely recognised as a major risk to safety, either of the inmates, the prison staff or to persons outside of the prison. In the context of this application contraband is defined as any item which the inmate should not have in their possession and which may be used to cause harm or place a person at risk. Contraband includes knives, shanks, guns and other weapons, many of which contain metal or magnetic parts. Cell phones are considered to be contraband and to be dangerous because the can be used by inmates to arrange violent acts inside or outside of the prison, or used to conduct other criminal activities.
Archway metal detectors, AMDs, are commonly used in prisons. They require permanent installation at locations where the environment is conducive to their operation. Their main limitation is that they are permanently installed. Also, AMDs cannot be used next to large amounts of metal which severely limits where they can be installed within the metal-rich prison environment.
Hand held metal detectors, often called hand wands, have widespread use in prisons. They are inexpensive, highly portable, and can be carried into cell blocks by prison staff and used to search inmates, bedding, laundry etc. Their main drawback is their limited range. Because of this they are ineffective for internally carried phones.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Security system and method of detecting contraband items

Abstract: a detector apparatus which comprises a housing that supports at least one magnetic sensor arranged to produce a signal indicative of an ambient magnetic field or gradient over a zone of sensitivity which extends away from the housing, the size of the zone being large enough to contain the whole body of the person, and a signal processing circuit which receives as an input the signal from the magnetic sensor and which, in response to a change in the signal produces an alert signal. A beacon that comprises a light source is able to emit at least two visually distinct colours of light, and a control means controls the light source such that in a first condition in the absence of the alert signal the beacon emits a first colour light and in a second condition corresponding to the presence of the alert signal the beacon emits a second, different, colour of light. The light source is arranged such that the position and/or size and/or shape of the illuminated area of the light source in the first condition is different from the position and/or size and or shape of the illuminated area of the light source in the second condition.


A first coating solution for forming a colored film on a glass substrate contains a titanium alkoxide; a silicon alkoxide; a coloring agent that is a nitrogen-containing organic compound; and an organic solvent dissolving the titanium alkoxide, the silicon alkoxide and the nitrogen-containing organic compound. A second coating solution therefor contains a titanium alkoxide; a silicon alkoxide; and an organic solvent dissolving the titanium alkoxide and the silicon alkoxide. At least one of these titanium alkoxide and silicon alkoxide of the second coating solution contains in the molecule a nitrogen-containing organic group derived from a nitrogen-containing organic compound.

This invention relates to a coating solution for forming a colored film on a glass substrate, a glass plate (particularly automotive window glass) with such colored film, and a process for producing such glass plate.
In recent years, colored glass plates (of green, gray and other colors) have been widely used for vehicular window panes (particularly automotive side and rear windows) in order to reduce a load on air-conditioner and to suppress glare and discoloration of interior trim members. With this, it becomes possible to adequately suppress the transmission of solar radiation (i.e., infrared light, visible light and ultraviolet light) and thereby to maintain a comfortable interior environment. Furthermore, when a colored glass plate is used for an automotive window pane, it becomes possible to reduce interior visibility from outside and thereby improve privacy and to provide an ornamental effect on an automobile.
In the production of a colored glass plate by coloring a glass substrate itself, it may be necessary to add a coloring source (i.e., metal and/or metal compound) to a float glass bath when other raw materials are added thereto. This addition of coloring source is a relatively large-scale operation. Furthermore, it takes time to conduct pretreatment and post-treatment in order to replace the production of a colored glass with that of other types of glass and vice versa. Thus, the production cost of such colored glass plate is relatively high.
It is possible to easily produce a colored glass plate by forming a colored film on a transparent glass substrate with a relatively short time and a relatively low cost. It is possible to form such colored film by applying a coating solution to a surface of a glass substrate. In sol-gel process, the coating solution can be prepared by dissolving a metal alkoxide(s) and a coloring source (e.g., a metal nitrate, chloride or oxide) in a suitable solvent (e.g., alcohol). Alternatively, the coating solution can be prepared by a pigment dispersion method in which an inorganic pigment (e.g., metal oxide) or organic pigment is dispersed in a liquid. This pigment dispersion method makes the operation complicated and increases the production cost. Furthermore, a colored film prepared by using an inorganic pigment may be inferior in scratch resistance. Therefore, it may be necessary to coat such colored film with a protective film.
In sol-gel process, the coating solution is applied to a glass substrate, and then the resulting precursory film is heated into a colored film through dehydration and condensation. The resulting colored film is superior in scratch resistance. However, metal nitrate used as a coloring source in sol-gel process may generate a hazardous nitrogen oxide. The use of a noble metal or noble metal compound as a coloring source increases the production cost. The use of chromium oxide as a coloring source may induce an environmental pollution problem.
As mentioned above, it is possible to produce a colored glass plate by sol-gel process using an inorganic pigment or metal oxide as a coloring source. Even if this colored glass plate is heated at a temperature not lower than its softening point, it is impossible or difficult to completely remove color of this glass plate. Due to the existence of color, it is impossible or troublesome to recycle this glass plate in the form of cullet by putting it into a float glass bath.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a coating solution which is free of the above-mentioned drawbacks.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a glass plate prepared by using such coating solution.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a process for producing such glass plate.
It is a specific object of the present invention to provide such glass plate which is decolorized when heated at a temperature not lower than its softening point.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first coating solution for forming a colored film on a glass substrate. The first coating solution comprises (a) a titanium alkoxide; (b) a silicon alkoxide; (c) a coloring agent that is a nitrogen-containing organic compound; and (d) an organic solvent dissolving said titanium alkoxide, said silicon alkoxide and said nitrogen-containing organic compound.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first colored glass plate comprising (a) a glass substrate; and (b) a colored film formed on said glass substrate. This colored film is prepared by a process comprising applying the first coating solution to a surface of said glass substrate.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first process for producing the first colored glass plate. The first process comprises (a) applying the first coating solution a surface of said glass substrate, thereby forming thereon a precursory film; and (b) heating said precursory film at a temperature of 200-800xc2x0 C. into said colored film.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a second coating solution for forming a colored film on a glass substrate. The second coating solution comprises (a) a titanium alkoxide; (b) a silicon alkoxide; (c) a nitrogen-containing organic group contained in a molecule of at least one of said titanium alkoxide and said silicon alkoxide, said nitrogen-containing organic group being derived from a nitrogen-containing organic compound; and (d) an organic solvent dissolving said titanium alkoxide and said silicon alkoxide.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a second colored glass plate comprising (a) a glass substrate; and (b) a colored film formed on said glass substrate. This colored film is prepared by a process comprising applying the second coating solution to a surface of said glass substrate.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a second process for producing the second colored glass plate. The second process comprises (a) applying the second coating solution to a surface of said glass substrate, thereby forming thereon a precursory film; and (b) heating said precursory film at a temperature of 200-800xc2x0 C. into said colored film.

Coating solution for forming colored film on glass substrate, glass plate with such colored film, and process for producing such glass plate