A process for liquefying natural gas by; a) causing it to flow through three series connected heat exchangers, where gas is cooled to T3; T3 is less/equal to the liquefaction temperature of natural gas at atmospheric pressure; and b) causing the closed circuit circulation of a first stream of refrigerant gas at a pressure P1 lower than P3 entering the third exchanger and leaving the first exchanger, the first stream obtained using a first expander to expand a first portion of a second stream at P3 higher than P2, the second stream flowing relative to the natural gas stream entering the first exchanger and leaving the second exchanger; and a third stream at a pressure P2 higher than P1 and lower than P3 flowing relative to the first stream, entering the second exchanger and leaving the first exchanger; c) the second stream at the pressure P3 obtained by compression.

The methane-based natural gas is either a by-product of oil fields, being produced in small or medium quantities, in general in association with crude oil, or else it is a major product from a gas field, where it is to be found in combination with other gases, mainly C-2 to C-4 alkanes, CO2, and nitrogen.
When the natural gas is associated in small quantities with crude oil, it is generally treated and separated and then used on site as fuel for turbines or piston engines in order to produce electricity and heat for use in the separation or production processes.
When the quantities of natural gas are large, or indeed substantial, they need to be transported so that they can be used in regions far away, in general on other continents, and in order to do this the preferred method is to transport the gas while it is in the cryogenic liquid state (−165° C.) and substantially at ambient atmospheric pressure. Specialized transport ships known as "methane tankers" possess tanks of very large dimensions with extreme insulation in order to limit evaporation while traveling.
Gas is generally liquefied for transport purposes in the proximity of the production site, generally on land, and that requires substantial installations in order to achieve capacities of several millions of (metric) tonnes per year, with the largest existing units combining three or four liquefaction units, each having a unit capacity of 3 megatonnes (Mt) to 4 Mt per year.
The liquefaction process requires substantial quantities of mechanical energy, with the mechanical energy generally being produced on site by taking a portion of the gas in order to produce the energy needed by the liquefaction process. A portion of the gas is then used as fuel in gas turbines, steam turbines, or piston engines.
Numerous thermodynamic cycles have been developed for the purpose of optimizing overall energy efficiency. There are two main types of cycle. A first type is based on compressing and expanding a refrigerant fluid with a change of phase, while a second type is based on compressing and expanding a refrigerant gas without a change of phase. The terms "refrigerant fluid" and "refrigerant gas" are used to designate a gas or gas mixture circulating in a closed circuit and being subjected to stages of compression, possibly of liquefaction, then of heat exchange with the external medium, and subsequently stages of expansion, possibly of evaporation, and finally of heat exchange with the natural gas for liquefying, which gas comprises methane, and cools little by little to reach its liquefaction temperature at atmospheric pressure, i.e. about −165° C. for LNG.
Said first cycle type with a change of phase is generally used in installations on land and it requires a large amount of equipment and occupies a large footprint. In addition, the refrigerant fluids, generally in the form of mixtures, are constituted by butane, propane, ethane, and methane, which gases are dangerous since in the event of a leak they run the risk of leading to substantial fires or explosions. In contrast, in spite of the complexity of the equipment required, they remain more efficient and they require about 0.3 kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy per kilogram (kg) of LNG that is produced.
Numerous variants of that first type of process with a change of phase in the refrigerant fluid have been developed, and suppliers of technology or of equipment have their own formulations of mixtures associated with their specific equipment, both for so-called "cascade" processes and for so-called "mixed cycle" processes. The complexity of those installations comes from the fact that in those stages where the refrigerant fluid is in the liquid state, and more particularly in separators and in connection pipes, it is appropriate to install gravity collectors in order to bring the liquid phase together and direct it to the cores of heat exchangers where it vaporizes on coming into contact with the methane for cooling and liquefying in order to obtain LNG. Those devices are very bulky, but that does not lead to problems for installations on land, since it is generally simple to obtain an area of land that is large enough to house all of those bulky pieces of equipment side by side. Thus, for installations on land, all of the compressor, heat exchanger, and collector pieces of equipment are generally installed side by side on substantial areas, lying in the range 25,000 square meters (m2) to 50,000 m2, or even more.
The second type of liquefaction process, without any change of phase in the refrigerant gas, is an inverse Brayton cycle or a Claude cycle using a gas such as nitrogen. The efficiency of the second type of process is lower, since it generally requires about 0.5 kWh of energy per kg of LNG produced, i.e.; about 20.84 kilowatt-days per tonne (kW×d/t), but in contrast it presents a substantial advantage in terms of safety since the cycle refrigerant gas, nitrogen, is inert and thus incombustible, which is very advantageous when the installations are concentrated in a small amount of space, e.g. on the deck of a floating support located in the open sea, where said equipment is often installed on a plurality of levels one above another on an area that is reduced to the strict minimum. Thus, in the event of the refrigerant gas leaking, there is no danger of explosion and it then suffices to reinject into the circuit the fraction of the refrigerant gas that has been lost.
Furthermore, that process for liquefying natural gas without a change of phase is very advantageous on board floating supports since the equipment is of much simpler design, because there is no liquid phase in the refrigerant gas. In such installations, all of the equipment is moving practically continuously as a result of the movements of the floating support (roll, pitching, yaw, lurch, surge, heave). Managing a process with a phase change involving a liquid phase of the refrigerant fluid would then be extremely difficult, even for small movements of the floating support, and indeed practically impossible for extreme movements, whereas stationary installations on land do not face the problem of movements.
In spite of the lower energy efficiency of the liquefaction process without a change of phase of the refrigerant gas, this process remains very advantageous since the equipment used, mainly compressors, expanders, turbines, and heat exchangers is much simpler than the equipment required for a liquefaction process involving cycles with a change of phase in a refrigerant fluid, both in terms of the technology used for said equipment and in terms of maintaining the equipment in an environment that is confined, i.e. on board a floating support that is anchored at sea. Furthermore, the running of such installations in operation remains simpler, since this type of cycle is relatively insensitive to variations in the composition of the gas for liquefying, i.e. a natural gas that is constituted by a mixture in which methane predominates. In the cycle with a change of phase in the refrigerant fluid, in order to ensure that efficiency remains good, the refrigerant fluid needs to be matched to the nature and the composition of the gas that is to be liquefied, and the composition of the refrigerant fluid might possibly need to be modified over time as a function of the composition of the natural gas mixture for liquefying as produced by the oil field.
In principle, implementing a cycle of the liquefaction process without a change of phase in the refrigerant gas, such as nitrogen, comprises the four following main elements:                a compressor that increases the pressure of the refrigerant gas and causes it to go from ambient temperature at low pressure to high temperature at high pressure;        a heat exchanger that cools the refrigerant gas from the high temperature at high pressure substantially down to ambient temperature at high pressure;        an expander device, generally a decompression turbine, in which the refrigerant gas expands: its pressure drops and its temperature is then very low; while simultaneously mechanical energy is recovered from the expansion turbine, which mechanical energy is generally reinjected directly to the compressor that is coupled thereto; and        a cryogenic heat exchanger through which there flow both the refrigerant gas at cryogenic temperature and also the gas for liquefying, said refrigerant gas absorbing heat from the gas for liquefying, and thus heating up, while said gas for liquefying gives off heat and cools until it reaches the looked-for liquid state. At the end of the heat exchanger cycle, the refrigerant gas is substantially at ambient temperature and it is then reintroduced into the compressor in order to perform a new closed-circuit cycle.
Throughout the duration of the cycle, the refrigerant gas remains in the gaseous state and it circulates in continuous manner, as explained above: it releases its "frigories" little by little, i.e. absorbs calories little by little from the gas that is to be liquefied, i.e. a mixture that is constituted for the most part by methane together with traces of other gases.
The gas for liquefying flows as a countercurrent relative to the refrigerant gas, i.e. said natural gas comprising methane enters the heat exchanger substantially at ambient temperature close to the refrigerant gas outlet where the refrigerant gas is substantially at ambient temperature. Thereafter, the natural gas comprising methane advances into the heat exchanger towards colder zones and transfers its heat to the refrigerant fluid: the natural gas comprising methane cools while the refrigerant gas heats up. As the natural gas comprising methane advances into the heat exchanger, its temperature drops, and at the end of its travel it liquefies and its temperature continues to drop until it reaches a temperature T3=−165° C. for a gas containing 85% methane.
Throughout its passage through the heat exchanger(s), the natural gas is liquefied at a pressure P0 lying in the range 5 bars to 50 bars, in general in the range 10 bars to 20 bars, in four main stages:                stage 1: cooling the natural gas from ambient temperature T0 down to T1=−50° C. approximately (this temperature depends on the composition of the natural gas);        stage 2: liquefaction of the natural gas (passing from the gaseous state to the liquid state). Since the natural gas is a mixture of gases at a pressure P0 of a few tens of bars, approximately, this change of state is spread over the temperature range T1=−50° C. to T2=−120° C., approximately;        stage 3: once the natural gas has liquefied completely (LNG), it is at about T2=−120° C., and still at a pressure P0 of several tens of bars approximately. Within the heat exchanger(s), the LNG continues to be cooled until it reaches the temperature T3 of −165° C., which temperature corresponds to LNG being in a liquid phase at atmospheric pressure; and        stage 4: the resulting liquid or LNG is then depressurized down to atmospheric pressure where it remains in the liquid state because its temperature T3 is lower than or equal to −165° C., and it can be transferred to an insulated storage tank, or possibly loaded directly on board a transport ship such as a methane tanker.
Stage 2 consumes the most energy, since it is necessary to supply the gas with all of the energy that corresponds to its latent heat of vaporization. Stage 1 consumes a little less energy, and stage 3 consumes least energy, but it takes place at the lowest temperatures, i.e. at temperatures around −165° C.
The values given above for T1, T2, and T3 are appropriate for a natural gas comprising 85% methane and 15% of said other components comprising nitrogen and C-2 to C-4 alkanes, and those temperatures may be significantly different for a gas having a different composition.
FIG. 1 is a diagram of an installation for performing a standard process for liquefying natural gas using a refrigerant gas constituted by nitrogen without a change of phase in the refrigerant gas, as described above, with the process being described in greater detail below.
US 2011/0113825 and WO 2005/071333 describe a process for liquefying natural gas in which said natural gas for liquefying is liquefied by causing the natural gas to flow through three cryogenic heat exchangers, while causing three streams of refrigerant gas that remains in the compressed gaseous state without a change of phase to circulate in three closed circuits. Said natural gas for liquefying is liquefied by performing the following concurrent steps:
a) causing said natural gas for liquefying to flow at a pressure P0 that is higher than or equal to atmospheric pressure through the three cryogenic heat exchangers connected in series, namely:                a first heat exchanger (101/5) into which said natural gas enters at a temperature T0, is cooled, and leaves at a temperature T1 lower than T0; then        a second heat exchanger (102/6) in which the natural gas is completely liquefied and leaves at a temperature T2 lower than T1 and higher than T3, where T3 is lower than the liquefaction temperature of the LNG; and        a third heat exchanger (103/7) in which the liquefied natural gas is cooled from T2 to T3; and
b) causing two streams of the refrigerant gas in the gaseous state at different pressures P1 and P2, referred to respectively as first and third streams, to circulate through two of said heat exchangers in indirect contact with and as a countercurrent relative to the natural gas steam, comprising:                a first refrigerant gas stream at a pressure P1 lower than P3 passing through the three heat exchangers by entering into said third heat exchanger at a temperature T3′ lower than T3, then entering said second heat exchanger at a temperature T2′ lower than T2, and then entering said first heat exchanger at T1′ lower than T1 and leaving said first heat exchanger at a temperature T0′ lower than or equal to T0, said first refrigerant gas stream at P1 and T3′ being obtained by using a first expander (112/9) to expand a first portion (122/16B) of a second refrigerant gas stream (22/15) compressed to the pressure P3 higher than P2, said first portion of the second stream flowing in indirect contact with and as a countercurrent relative to the natural gas, entering said first heat exchanger at T0 and leaving said second heat exchanger substantially at T2; and        a third stream at a pressure P2 higher than P1 and lower than P3 flowing in indirect contact with and as a countercurrent relative to said first stream, passing solely through said second and first heat exchangers, by entering said second heat exchanger substantially at a temperature T2′ and leaving said first heat exchanger at T0′, said third refrigerant gas stream at P2 and T2 being obtained by using a second expander (111/8) to expand a second portion (121/17) of said second refrigerant gas stream (22/15) leaving said first heat exchanger substantially at T1; and
c) said second refrigerant gas stream compressed at the pressure P3 being obtained by compression in three or four compressors and by cooling said first and second refrigerant gas streams leaving said first heat exchanger respectively at P1 and at P2.
In US 2011/0113825, first and second compressors 113 and 114 are connected in series to compress the refrigerant gas of the first and second streams to P′3, and two other compressors 115a and 115b connected in parallel compress it from P′3 to P3.
In WO 2005/071333, two series-connected compressors 2 and 3 compress said first stream 16d to P′3, and then a third compressor 4 connected in series with the first two compressors compresses said first and third streams to P3.
In the report on the "24th International Conference and Exhibition for the LNG" of May 25, 2009, by Olve Skjeggedal et al. published in the GASTECH 2009 journal, a process of the above-described type having three closed-circuit refrigerant gas streams is described in which said first and second streams are compressed to P′3 by two compressors connected in series, and two other compressors connected in series compress said first and third streams to P3 in order to deliver said second stream.
The process described above is advantageous compared with that of FIG. 1 in that, firstly, instead of a portion D2 of the second stream leaving the first heat exchanger by being expanded and recycled in order to join the first stream at the inlet to the second heat exchanger, this portion D2 of the second stream is recycled to the inlet of the second heat exchanger at an intermediate pressure P2 higher than P1 in a third stream S3 independent of and parallel with S1, i.e. as a cocurrent relative to S1. And because the major portion of the energy is consumed by stage 2 of the process within said second heat exchanger, this makes it possible to increase the transfer to heat and the energy efficiency of the process.
Nevertheless, in the embodiment of US 2011/0113825, all of the external power delivered to said series-connected first and second compressors 113 and 114 relates to the refrigerant gas streams circulating at low and medium pressures P1 and P2, with the energy recovered from the turbines 111 and 112 being reinjected to the two parallel-connected compressors 115a and 115b for compressing the refrigerant gas to high pressure P′3/P3, with no other additional external power being delivered to said parallel-connected compressors 115a and 115b. The two parallel-connected compressors 115a and 115b are powered solely by respective ones of the two energy recovery turbines 111 and 112.
The pressure levels P1 and P2 of the gas leaving the turbines 112 and 111 are different and thus the flow rates of the streams passing through the expanders 111 and 112 are different, and in practice they lie in particular in the range 10% to 20% of the total flow rate for the flow rate of the stream coming from the expander 112, as compared with 80% to 90% for the flow rate of the stream coming from the expander 111. As a result, the compressor 115b recovers only 10% to 20% of the total recovered power compared with the 80% to 90% of the power that is recovered in the compressor 115a. This mismatch in the powers delivered to the two parallel-connected compressors 115a and 115b leads to a major difficulty in stabilizing the operation of the circuit. Running two compressors in parallel can lead to surge phenomena, i.e. one of the compressors prevails over the others by disturbing their inlet and outlet pressures: there is then a risk of one or more of the smaller-capacity compressors operating in "turbine mode". It is essential to avoid this mode of operation since some or all of the fluid then loops between the compressors, one operating in compressor mode and the other(s) in "turbine mode": the compression process is then greatly disturbed or even interrupted, and the overall efficiency of the installation then collapses.
The operation of the circuit can be stabilized in conventional manner by means of regulation valves upstream and/or downstream from said parallel-connected compressors 115a and 115b, and/or upstream and/or downstream from said turbines 111 and 112 in order to control the flow rates and the operation of the compressors. Nevertheless, those regulation valves lead to head losses, and thus to losses of energy, thereby greatly affecting the expected overall efficiency and/or the production capacity of the installation.
In WO 2005/071333 and in the report in the above-mentioned GASTECH 2009 journal, all of the compressors are mechanically coupled to a common power source, with all of the power being delivered in undifferentiated manner among the various compressors.

Method for liquefying natural gas with a triple closed circuit of coolant gas


An image forming apparatus includes an outer case which includes a first opening portion and a second opening portion provided just below the first opening portion, a withdrawable part which is received in the inside of the first opening portion so as to be withdrawn from the first opening portion in a horizontal direction, a cover which closes the second opening portion, a rotary shaft supports the cover so as to be rotatable from a first position where the cover closes the outer case to a second position where the cover opens the outer case, and a position adjusting mechanism which moves up the cover so as to be close to the withdrawable part at the first position and moves down the cover so as to be away from the withdrawable part at the second position.

JP-A-2005-004069 discloses an image forming apparatus for preventing interference between an outer cover and an inner unit. The image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body having an opening portion, an inner unit received in the inside of the opening portion of the apparatus body, an outer cover rotatable between a position for closing the opening portion and a position for opening the opening portion, and a contact body provided in the inner surface of the outer cover and coming into contact with the side surface of the inner unit. The inner unit is withdrawable in a horizontal direction.
In the image forming apparatus, the contact body comes into contact with the side surface of the inner unit before a position where the outer cover interferes with the inner unit. Accordingly, the interference between the outer cover and the inner unit is prevented, thereby preventing the breakage of the inner unit and the outer cover caused by the interference.
Incidentally, in many cases, the same cover as the outer cover is provided just below the withdrawable part (inner unit) in order to solve a paper jam. Additionally, the withdrawable part tends to be bent downward due to the own weight while being withdrawn in a horizontal direction. For this reason, when the cover just below the withdrawable part is opened in this state, the withdrawable part interferes with the cover, thereby causing the breakage therebetween. Meanwhile, when a clearance is formed therebetween in order to prevent the interference between the withdrawable part and the cover therebelow, a gap is formed between the withdrawable part and the cover, thereby spoiling an exterior appearance of the image forming apparatus.

Image forming apparatus and method of adjusting cover position of image forming apparatus


This invention is directed to insect control using compositions having attractants, feeding stimulants and toxicants compounded into plastic bait pellets. These pellets are easily handled for distribution in the field. Insects are attracted to the bait pellets, induced to feed and subsequently die. The pellets have the unique advantage of being relatively impervious to environmental conditions and non-polluting.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to control of insects, particularly to the killing of coleopterous chewing pests using insecticide compositions comprising an attractant and a toxicant. Additionally, the invention relates to a process for the manufacture of the compositions using plastisol material.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Boll weevils, Anthonomus grandis Boheman (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), are insect pests that feed on cotton plants causing serious damage to the plants and reducing harvest yield. Previous attempts have been made to trap, kill or destroy the boll weevil, for example, male sex pheromone Grandlure baited traps have been used to capture the weevils that were attracted to it. Compositions alone or in combination with traps have incorporated the use of feeding stimulants to induce the insects to feed on a toxic bait. Traps were also made of paper or plastic in the form of a container attached to the top of a cone capturing weevils alive. U.S. Pat. No. 3,803,303 describes boll weevil attractant compositions using Grandlure. Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,027,420 describes an apparatus and method for attracting and killing boll weevils in which a solid support is used to contain and attractant as well as a toxicant.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,803,303 describes polymeric compositions for attracting boll weevils using a sex attractant in combination with polyethylene glycol and a toxicant such as p-dichlorobenzene. Additionally the plant attractants, caryophylline oxide and beta-bisabalol were used. In each case the attractant was applied to cotton dental-rolls.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,027,420 describes an apparatus and method for attracting and killing boll weevils. The apparatus consists of two pieces of posterboard connected together. The posterboard is impregnated with an attractant and a toxicant.
There are many disadvantages in using presently available insecticides. Toxicity to humans and animals is high. Additionally, many of the compounds are not readily degradable and thus tend toward environmental pollution. It can be seen there is a pressing need to provide a means for reducing or eliminating the amount of toxic insecticides used in the management of insect pests.
The prior art uses of toxic baits have been in various water-based forms. These bait formulations have been subject to dissolution, dilution, or wash-off by rain. More specifically, there is a need for a means to kill chewing insect pests that does not suffer the disadvantages of the prior art insecticide traps or baits described above and that is species specific thus protecting the insect species that are beneficial to crop plants.

Plastic bait composition for attracting and killing crop pests

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


For threaded connections for oil and gas applications using tubular goods of composite materials, substantially greater make up torque can be applied, with significantly improved tensile and sealing properties, by incorporating stress-relieving conical gradient sections adjacent each end of the threaded section of the composite member. Joining each of two composite tubular members to a single double ended male member having complementary surfaces, circumferential distortion is not concentrated at the end regions of the threaded sections but is distributed, relieving stresses and allowing increased makeup torque to be applied, greatly expanding the useful parameters of fiber reinforced tubular products.

Many synthetic resin materials are now available for engineering applications and are widely used because of their particular advantages. Using such materials, products can be mass produced at relatively low cost for many uses, and the products are comparatively light weight, corrosion resistant, and can be designed to have very high strength. The structural characteristics of synthetic resin are enhanced by reinforcing with fibers, as in chopped, tow, roving, fabric or tape form, when forming composite or fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) bodies. Where the product shape needed is a closed surface, such as a tubular shape or a vessel, and when high force loading requirements must also be met, continuous filament winding is used. Continuous filaments of high tensile strength wound in predetermined patterns can achieve strength and stiffness properties along with strength to weight ratios that exceed conventional structural materials.
The advantages of FRP materials have not, however, been fully realized where threaded connections are employed because of both production and stress distribution problems. Use of the potential properties of filament wound reinforcement has often been limited by the fact that the geometrical discontinuities at the threads prevent optimum relationships from being achieved between filament orientation and the desired ratio of filament to resin matrix. Furthermore, while a female member can be wound on a male mold having a properly placed thread profile, fiber reinforced threads cannot be molded into the outside surface of a male member with comparable results. Instead, the thread profile must be cut into the outer surface, weakening thread strength and also creating surface irregularities which are incompatible with molded female thread surfaces.
There are a great many potential applications for FRP tubular products, which have in fact been used under specialized conditions in various industries for more than the past 40 years. Composites of these kinds have been used to a limited extent in the chemical and storage cavern industries, and to a greater but still minor extent in the pipeline industry, where usage has been in the range of 11% to 13% of total pipe consumed. The barriers have been the inability to contain internal pressures of the range of 3,000 psi and above, and premature degradation of the threads on repeated makeups and breakouts. The same factors have restricted use of composite pipe in drilled oil, gas and injection wells to a level of 3% to 5% of total pipe consumed. Where drilling is to be done, FRP pipe with sufficiently robust connections can be used if the force loading is light, as in workover drilling.
To obtain proper sealing against high internal pressures (e.g. greater than 3,000 psi), male and female threaded members must be engaged with a high level of torque to achieve high surface bearing pressure. In the prior art, however, this deforms the FRP pipe such that it either cracks or internally "leaks between layers" (delaminates). In addition, where the male threads have been cut into the FRP part, they deny the benefits of the reinforcement and leave filament ends flush at the surface. With wear or high bearing pressure these filament ends form highly frictional cutting points. On makeup and breakout the threads are quickly worn and galled, and breakout becomes increasingly more difficult.
In consequence, when FRP pipe is used, the makeup torque for a given pipe has been confined only to a low range (280-300 ft. lbs. for 2-7/8" pipe, for example). This means that only a comparably low level of bearing pressure can be established when makeup is completed, and thus only low internal pressures, temperature cycles, and tensile loads can be withstood. Consequently, those many industries which can potentially use FRP tubular goods have not been able to rely on them except for low pressure and low duty cycle situations. This includes not only drilled well and down hole applications and workover situations, but also secondary recovery uses, the deep well disposal industry for hazardous materials and pipeline applications.
In the oil industry, defined physical standards for tubular goods for down-hole and horizontal applications have been observed for many years, primarily with respect to threaded steel pipe. Thread profiles, material grades and thicknesses, tapers and other properties have been established for threaded tubular goods by the American Petroleum Institute (API) in accordance with the tensile forces and pressures that must be met for a particular installation. The female member is usually referred to as the "box" and the male member is usually referred to as the "pin". With many API connections, the box is an exterior collar for receiving pins from opposite ends. In oil field parlance, smaller diameter tubular goods are referred to as "tubing" and larger diameter down-hole tubular goods are referred to as "casings".
In assembly of a pipe string for a conventional down-hole installation a length (typically 30 feet, about 9 meters) of a tubing is added (stabbed) into the open upper end of a collar on the upper end of the immediately prior pipe length. The new pipe is threaded into place, until a predetermined range of thread interference, and consequently surface bearing pressure, has been reached. This range is generally established in practice by rotating the newly added pipe length for a predetermined number of turns after initial firm contact (the so-called "hand-tight plane") or until a measured or estimated level of makeup torque has been applied. As more torque is applied, the box is increasingly stressed circumferentially, while the pin is compressed. The amount of deformation locally varies because of relative differences in wall thickness along the length of the threaded region. However, as stress is increased, the deformations tend to increase as well (although not precisely linearly) along the threaded length, as long as the stresses are within the elastic limit of the materials. Where one member ends and the other is continuous, however, the stress level variations become significantly non-linear. In FRP tubular products, these variations are more than twice as steep as those observed with steel.
In view of the fact that male threads in an FRP member are not fully compatible with molded and reinforced female threads, workers in the art have used double ended steel pins or nipples to interconnect two abutting and internally threaded boxes. In this configuration, the deformation is taken up essentially entirely in the FRP member, which therefore must absorb the forces of make-up torque before failure. Existing connections of this type fail at levels which compare very unfavorably with steel tubing connections, in which the torque that can be applied is orders of magnitude greater. The industry has been searching for configurations which will accept substantially higher makeup torques and which will, in the field, indefinitely withstand internal pressures of 5,000 psi and greater. It is known from finite element analyses for steel, and observed failure patterns, that the stresses are highest at the region adjacent to the end of the box, because in this region the threads of the box are most often destroyed or the box itself tends to rupture or delaminate. Resolutions for those problems have not heretofore been found.

Threaded connections utilizing composite materials


A receptacle cleaning assembly for use with electrical connectors includes a receptacle washing fixture having a manifold body with a solution inlet and outlet. A plurality of nozzles, in communication with the solution inlet, are coupled with the manifold body and are arranged in a pattern corresponding to female connector receptacles. An interface seal is coupled with the manifold body. The plurality of nozzles extend through the interface seal, and the interface seal is configured to seal along a face of the connector. At least one solution return passage extends through the interface seal from an exterior of the plurality of nozzles to the solution outlet. An alignment skirt extends from the manifold body, and couples and aligns the connector receptacles with the plurality of nozzles. In another example, the receptacle cleaning assembly includes a receptacle brush fixture including a plurality of reciprocating brushes for use in the female connector receptacles.

Electrical connectors, such as connectors used to couple electrical cabling with one or more devices, in at least some examples include corresponding male and female features that provide aligned contact between elements in each of the connectors. In some examples, the male features include a plurality of pins received in a corresponding plurality of female receptacles. During one or more of assembly, use, storage, maintenance and the like the female receptacles may become fouled with debris, dirt, solder flux and the like. The female receptacles are often small, for instance with a diameter of less than 0.125 inches, have a large length relative to the diameter, and correspondingly provide a difficult to access location for cleaning.
In one example, one or more wire brushes are inserted within at least one of the female receptacles and reciprocated to dislodge debris therein. The small width brush shafts are smaller than the receptacles and are prone to bending when improperly inserted in the female receptacles.
In another example, solvents and the like are applied to the periphery of the connector. For example a cloth is wetted with a solvent and then wiped across the openings of the female receptacles. In one case, debris near the openings is swept up in the cloth. In another case, debris at the openings is instead funneled and pushed into the receptacles thereby frustrating further attempts at removal.

Receptacle cleaning systems and methods for the same


In accordance with some embodiments, wireless devices may automatically form ad hoc networks to enable more efficient sharing of media between the devices and in some cases more efficient facial recognition of captured media. In some embodiments, automatic story development may be implemented at the local level without involving backend servers.

This relates generally to sharing media between wireless devices.
Wireless devices are capable of not only communicating using cellular communication systems but also receiving and recording a large amount of information using onboard sensors and Internet connections. For example most cellular telephones now have imaging devices, wireless networking capability using WiFi. Bluetooth and even Near Field Communications in some cases.
Thus, users who record images may wish to tag those images with user's names. Conventionally this is done in social networking sites by uploading photos so that the website runs facial recognition software to match each new photo to the photos that have already been tagged and stored on the server. Some users however may prefer not to involve servers in such activities and may want more elaborate and more automatic handling of media including pictures captured data from websites, audio files, clips and the like.


Apparatus for measuring the level of an item in a liquid including first and second light transmitting cylinders, a first piston and an associated conduit for conducting liquid to the first cylinder, a second piston and an associated conduit for conducting liquid to the second cylinder, a third piston and an associated conduit for conducting indicator solution to the second cylinder, a light source for transmitting light through the first and second cylinders, and a detector for measuring the difference in light transmissibility of the liquids in the first and second cylinders and providing an output depending thereon. A method of testing the level of an item in a liquid including the steps of providing a first sample of the liquid containing the item, providing a second sample of the liquid with a measured amount of indicator solution therein, comparing the light transmissibility of the first and second samples, and providing an output which is a measurement of the level of the item in the liquid.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for measuring the level of an item in a liquid and more particularly for measuring the chlorine level in swimming pool water.
By way of background, there are different systems in existence for adding indicating solutions to liquids and thereafter measuring the level of an item in the liquid. However, insofar as known, prior systems were relatively complex or could not provide an accurate output based solely on adding a measured amount of indicating solution to a single sample.

Apparatus and method for testing the level of an item in liquid


A magnetic head device for reading information from or writing information to a rotating magnetic recording medium includes a magnetic pole for reading information from or writing information to the medium and a slider for supporting the magnetic pole and moving the magnetic pole on the medium. The slider includes a contact portion for supporting the magnetic pole, and keeping the magnetic pole in contact with the medium, a positioned member flying above the medium, the flying member having a first surface where dynamic pressure generated by fluid-flow caused by rotation of the medium, and a connecting member having a mass less than that of the flying member, the connecting member connecting between the contact portion and the flying member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic head device and a magnetic disk drive which is capable of reading information from or writing to a magnetic recording medium, as the magnetic head device is kept in contact with the magnetic recording medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
Efforts continue to increase the recording density of a magnetic disk drive using a hard disk. Due to the increase of recording density, the spacing between a magnetic head device (called "head" hereinafter) and a magnetic recording disk (called "disk" hereinafter) serving as a magnetic recording medium, is decreasing. Ultimately, it will be necessary to read/write information on the disk as the head is kept in contact with the disk.
The most important problem for carrying out the contact reading/writing is to reduce wear of the head and the disk. In order to reduce the wear, it is necessary to keep the contact force applied between the head and the disk at a low level and stable.
A brief structure of a prior art head having a taper-flat type slider will be described with reference to FIG. 13.
A taper-flat type slider 100 has a slider surface 102 which is opposed to a disk 101. The slider surface 102 includes a tapered surface 102a being slanted in a direction close to the disk along the rotating direction of the disk(shown by the arrow in FIG. 13), and a flat surface 102b being substantially parallel to the disk, when the disk stops rotating. Dynamic pressure (gage pressure) Ph generated by fluid-flow caused by rotation of the disk is applied to the slider surface 102. According to the flying slider method used in a prior art hard disk drive, the slider 100 flies above the disk 101 at a predetermined distance by means of the dynamic pressure Ph. In this case, however, the trailing edge serving as a contact portion 103 of the slider 102 is kept in contact with the surface of the disk 101. A magnetic pole(not shown) is mounted on the contact portion 103 to read/write information on the disk 101, as the magnetic pole is kept in contact with the disk.
There are three forces being applied to the slider 100 when the disk 101 rotates. They are a load F, a fluid force fh, and a contact force fc. The load F is applied at a pivot position 104 by a suspension (not shown). The fluid force is a sum of the dynamic pressure Ph. It is applied at the position 105 at the center of the distribution of the dynamic pressure Ph. The contact force is applied at the contact portion 103 from the disk 101.
The relation of these forces (F, fh, fc) is shown in the following equation (1). ##EQU1##
"lp" is the lateral distance between the pivot position 104 and the contact portion 103, and "lh" is the lateral distance between the position 105 where the fluid force is applied and the contact portion 103.
According to equation (1), it is necessary that the distance lh becomes long and a distance between the position 105 and the pivot position 104 is short, in order to keep the contact force fc at a low level. However, in the prior art taper-flat type slider, it is difficult to set the distance lh to be long, because the position 105 is located along the rotating direction of the disk 101 from the center of the total length of the slider 100.
The variation of the contact force fc according to the positioning error between the slider surface 102 and the contact portion 103 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 14, the slider 100 has three degrees of freedom. They are pitching(108), rolling(107), and translational(106) degrees of freedom. Stiffness of the fluid film between the slider surface 102 and the surface of the disk 101 keeps the condition of the slider 100 stable with regard to the three degrees of freedom. For example, the pitching stiffness will be described with reference to FIGS. 15(a)-l5(c). FIG. 15(b) shows the standard condition of the slider. If the angle .alpha.' formed between the slider surface 102 and the surface of the disk 101 (pitch angle) becomes smaller than the pitch angle .alpha. in the standard condition, as shown in FIG. 15(a), moment 109 occurs to restore the pitch angle. If the pitch angle .alpha." becomes larger than the pitch angle .alpha. in the standard condition, as shown in FIG. 15(c), moment 110 also occurs to restore the pitch angle. According to the prior art taper-flat type slider, the slider surface 102 is formed long enough to secure the pitching stiffness in the rotating direction of the disk.
When a positioning error between the slider surface 102 and the contact portion 103 is made, the contact force fc varies. This variation of the contact force fc will be described with reference to FIGS. 16(a)-16(c).
FIG. 16(b) shows the standard condition. FIG. 16(a) shows the condition that the contact portion 103 extends further than the contact portion of the standard condition. In this case, as the pitch angle .alpha.' in FIG. 16(a) becomes smaller than the pitch angle .alpha. in the standard condition, the moment 109 occurs to restore the pitch angle. Therefore, the contact force increases by dfc to balance the moment 109.
FIG. 16(c) shows the condition that the contact portion 103 is recessed relative to the contact portion of the standard condition. In this case, as the pitch angle .alpha." becomes larger than the pitch angle .alpha. in the standard condition, the moment 110 occurs to restore the pitch angle. therefore, the contact force decreases. Finally, the contact force fc becomes zero, and the slider 100 floats above the disk 101.
The influence of inertia which occurs due to the undulation of the disk, the vibration of the disk, or shock applied to the device from outside will be described with reference to FIG. 17. The inertia fg is applied at the center of gravity of the head (G) depending on the mass of the slider 100 and equivalent mass of the suspension (not shown). The position of G is located on the line connecting the center of gravity of the slider 100 (Gh) with the pivot position (Gp) where the equivalent mass of the suspension is applied. The inertia fg is divided between the variation of the fluid force dfh and the variation of the contact force dfc. The variation of the contact force dfc is shown in the following equation (2). ##EQU2##
"lg" is the lateral distance between the position of G and the contact portion 103.
According to equation (2), it is necessary for the distance lh between the position 105 where the fluid force is applied and the contact portion 103 to be long and for the position 105 to be located near the position of G in order to reduce the variation of the contact force dfc. But, in the prior art taper-flat type slider, it is difficult to set the distance lh to be long, because the position 105 and the pivot position (Gp) are located along the rotating direction of the disk 101 from the center of the total length of the slider 100.
A phenomenon of stiction between the head and the disk will be described. In a prior art magnetic disk drive having a flying type slider, the slider lands on the disk and the slider surface is kept in contact with the surface of the disk, when the disk stops rotating. It is called a constant.cndot.start.cndot.stop method (CSS method) as usual. According to the CSS method, stiction occurs by the influence of water or lubricant existing between the slider and the disk. Stiction prevents the disk from starting to rotate. In the prior art, the surface of the disk is made uneven to prevent stiction. However, it is necessary for the surface of the disk to be flat in the case of contact reading/writing. so that the the contact condition is stable. Therefore, stiction is a significant problem in the practice of contact reading/writing.

Magnetic head device including an improved slider shape


The present invention provides a simple, highly sensitive, and highly precise method for determining the absolute configuration of a chiral compound such as a diamine or an amino alcohol.

A method for determining the absolute configuration of a chiral compound that has been used in the past is to subject a combination (such as a complex) of a chiral compound and a specific compound to circular dichroic (CD) spectrophotometric analysis, and determine the absolute configuration of the chiral compound by utilizing the correlation between the Cotton effect sign and the absolute configuration of the chiral compound.
For instance, X. Huang et al. have reported that there is a correlation between the Cotton effect sign and the absolute configuration of a chiral compound, and that circular dichroism is induced by the coordination of a chiral compound to a porphyrin dimer that has been crosslinked with a long crosslinking chain (X. Huang, B. H. Rickmann, B. Borhan, N. Berova, K. Nakanishi, "Zinc Porphyrin Tweezer in Host-Guest Complexation: Determination of Absolute Configurations of Diamines, Amino Acids, and Amino Alcohols by Circular Dichroism," J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1998, Vol. 120, pp. 6185-6186).
However, this system can only be applied to chiral compounds having two functional groups, such as a diamine or an amino alcohol, because circular dichroism is only induced by the simultaneous coordination of one molecule of chiral compound to two porphyrin units.
Also, M. Takeuchi et al. have reported that a porphyrin dimer having a phenylboronic acid unit exhibits circular dichroism in the presence of various kinds of sugar (M. Takeuchi, T. Imada, S. Shinkai, "Molecular Design of Highly Selective and Sensitive Sugar Tweezers from Boronic-Acid-Appended μ-Oxo-bis[porphinatoiron (III)]s," Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn., 1998, Vol. 71, 1117-1123).
This system can only be applied to sugars that form bonds with boronic acid. Furthermore, it is impossible to determine the absolute configuration of one specific asymmetric center out of the many asymmetric centers had by a sugar.
Thus, no method has been reported for determining absolute configuration which could be applied to a wide variety of chiral compounds.
In view of this, the inventors researched methods for determining the absolute configuration of a chiral compound with which the absolute configuration of many different chiral compounds could be determined precisely and easily. It has been discovered in recent years that when a chiral compound is coordinated to a metal porphyrin dimer which is a metal porphyrin dimer and in which both porphyrin rings include zinc, iron, manganese, or ruthenium as their metal center, circular dichroism is induced and there is a correlation between the Cotton effect sign and the absolute configuration of the chiral compound, and this has led to the completion of a novel method for determining the absolute configuration of a chiral compound (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication 2001-220392).
Nevertheless, a problem with this method is that when the chiral compound is an amino alcohol or a diamine, the Cotton effect sign may be change with the concentration in which the chiral compound is contained in the sample solution.

Method for determination of absolute configuration of chiral compounds

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for determining the absolute configuration of an asymmetric carbon of a chiral compound on the basis of the sign of the Cotton effect by analyzing a solution containing the chiral compound and a porphyrin dimer by circular dichroism spectroscopy.


Means for reducing an arsenic ion concentration in the solution to the degree of ultra trace amount are provided. Ammonium molybdate is supported by a nanostructure material by mixing the nanostructure material, which is obtained after the nanostructure material such as an alumina reacts with a surfactant, in the solution containing the ammonium molybdate. The nanostructure material supporting an arsenic ion adsorption compound such as ammonium molybdate can selectively adsorb and remove trace of arsenic ion in the solution by a room temperature treatment without a water conditioning such as pH control. In our removal system of arsenic, extra posttreatments are not needed because special pretreatments are not carried out, and special heating equipments are not used. Accordingly, our removal system of arsenic can be constructed at low cost. Furthermore, it can supply an arsenic-free solution by be constructed at multi stages.

Arsenic, which element symbol is As, is one of the fifteenth elements group and is broadly distributed in earth crust. Also, it is exposed as elemental substances in nature by volcanic activity, or it is artificially appeared on earth surface by mining of ores or fossil fuels. Since seawater contains 2 ppb arsenic, plankton and sea alga introduce arsenic from seawater and accumulate arsenic in themselves. Since arsenic is also accumulated in fish and shellfish that eat them, arsenic is introduced into our human body. Meanwhile, arsenic is toxic or harmful substance as typified by the arsenic milk incidents. It is said that a lethal dose of inorganic arsenic is approximately 2 mg per kilogram of human body weight, that is, 2 ppm. In addition, it is said that even an uptake of an ultratrace amount of arsenic less than the above amount causes symptom like a vomit or a stomachache or a diarrhea, etc., a hepatic function disorder or a paresis, etc. and that a chronic uptake causes a tumorigenicity or a nervous disorder. Accordingly, since an interfusion of arsenic ion into water is hazardous to life, arsenic is requested to be eliminated from food and drinking water that we take in.
In many communities, arsenic ion is detected at dangerous levels in public drinking water supplies even though arsenic is eliminated by treating water in a drinking water treatment plant. High arsenic concentrations in the drinking water have been recently reported from USA, China, Chile, Bangladesh, Taiwan, Mexico, Argentina, Poland, Canada, Hungary, and India, also Japan. In water, the most common valence states of arsenic are As(V), or an arsenate, which is more prevalent in aerobic surface waters, and As(III), or an arsenite, which is more likely to occur in anaerobic ground waters. In the pH range of 4 to 10, the predominant As (III) compound is neutral in charge, while the As (V) species are negatively charged.
A various kinds of methods to detect arsenic have been developed as follows. For example, there are High level analysis (X. Peng, G. S. Chen, Chin. J. Anal. Chem. 31 (2003) 38 and H. Matsunaga, C. Kanno, T. M. Suzuki, Talanta 66 (2005) 1287), Raman and Infrared spectroscopy C. Ludwig, H. J. Gotze, M. Dolny, Spectrochim. Acta Part A 56 (2000) 547 and C. Ludwig, M. Dolny, H. J. Gotze, Spectrochim. Acta Part A 53 (1997) 2363), ICP mass spectrometry V. Dufailly, L. Noel, T. Guerin, Anal. Chim. Acta 611 (2008) 134), Electrochemical analysis (R. Piech, W. W. Kubiak, J. Electroanal. Chem. 599 (2007) 59), Chemiluminescence analysis (C. Lomonte, M. Currell, M. J. S. Richard, Anal. Chim. Acta 583 (2007) 72), Atomic absorption analysis (J. Michon, V. Deluchat, R. A. Shukry, C. Dagot, J. C. Bollinger, Talanta 71 (2007) 47 and C. G. Bruhn, C. J. Bustos, K. L. Saez, J. Y. Neira, S. E. Alvarez, Talanta 71 (2007) 81), Atomic fluorescence analysis (X. Li, Y. Su, K. Xu, Talanta 72 (2007 1728)), and Chromatography (A. L. Lindberg, W. Goessler, M. Grander, B. Nermell, M. Vahter, Toxicol. Lett. 168 (2007) 310 and Y. C. Yip, H. S. Chu, C. F. Yuen, W. C. Sham, J. AOAC Int. 90 (2007) 284). Though these methods are certainly valuable and have individual advantages, it cannot be denied that they have some demerits. For example, though Zhu et al. disclose that a detection limit of As3+ in Atomic absorption analysis of hydride evolution is 0.04 ngl-1 in the detection of As using a dielectric-barrier discharge vaporizer (Z. L. Zhu, J. Liu, S. H. Zhang, Anal. Chim. Acta 607 (2008) 136), there is fear that this method may be influenced a great deal by temperature. Also, Vincent et al. disclose a detection of As by a collision cell technology ICP-MS system. (D. Vincent, N. Laurent, G. Thierry, Anal. Chim. Acta 611 (2008) 134.) This method is high sensitivity, but multi atomic interference formation is found in the collision cell. Though Heitland et al. disclose a high-speed detection of As in urine by High-performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC) ICP/MS (P. Heitland, H. D. Koster, J. Anal. Toxicol. 32 (2008) 308), this method is expensive, in addition, organic solvent used is a large quantity and toxic. Though Matsunaga et al. newly developed a detection method by bare eye of a small amount of arsenic in water-soluble sample, this method needs advanced conditions that are adequately controlled. Furthermore, a detection limit of As by this method is 1×10−6 mol dm−3 and the reaction is very slow.
A condensation method, a catalytic method and an adsorption method are known as methods for removing arsenic ion. As the condensation method, it is known that arsenic ion could be removed by an oxidation agglomeration using iron salts or polyaluminum chloride (PAC) (general expression: [Al2(OH)nCl6-n]m (here, 1<n<5, m<10)), as shown in Japanese Patent Publication H07-088482. It shows that As concentration could be reduced to 0.0001 ppm, which satisfies a value less than 0.001 ppm that is an effluent standard adopted in 1993 in Japan. As the catalytic method, Japanese Patent Publication H09-327694 shows that arsenic ion is reduced and removed by hydrogen aeration using catalysts supporting rhodium to alumina (rhodium content 5 weight %, made by Aldrich Inc.) as a catalyst. As the adsorption method, the methods shown in Japanese Patent Publication 2000-176441, Japanese Patent Publication 2005-000747, Japanese Patent Publication 2000-024647, Japanese Patent Publication 2005-046728 and Japanese Patent Publication H10-137504 are known. Japanese Patent Publication 2000-176441 shows that arsenic ion concentration could be reduced less than 4000 μmol/L by using a mesostructure material of zirconium oxide system {the pore diameter D=20 to 50 nm, the contained amount of hexadecyltrimethylammoniumbromide (HTAB) was 39 wt %, and the cross-sectional diameter of HTAB is 30 to 40 nm.} that contained sulfate ion as an adsorbent. Japanese Patent Publication 2005-000747 shows that As concentration of the solution filtrated using a filter consisted of a chelate fiber immobilizing N-methyl-D-glucamine to a fibrous cellulose powder (Chelest fiber is provided by Chelest corporation) was 0.1 ppm or less. Japanese Patent Publication 2000-024647 shows that As concentration could be 8 ppm in the example using the material supporting 50 mass % to 60 mass % oxide or hydroxide of rare-earth metal to γ-alumina carrier (the average pore diameter is 119 nm, the pore volume is 0.713 cm3/g, the surface area is 240 m2/g, and the occupied ratio of 90 to 200 nm pores to the total volume is 88%) as an adsorbent. Patent Publication 2005-046728 shows that As concentration could be 8 ppm in the case of using an aminopropyl group modified magnetic-particle as an adsorbent. Japanese Patent Publication H10-137504 shows that As concentration could be reduced till 9×10−7 mol/L by using a granular impregnation resin supporting 8 g bis(2-ethylhexyl)ammonium-bis(2-ethylhexyl)dithiocarbamate to 20 g polyacrylic acid ester resin.

Nanostructure material supporting arsenic ion adsorption compound and method to remove arsenic ion using the same

National Institute for Materials Science


A safety circuit for monitoring computer hardware that can create an unsafe condition if a failure occurs. The circuit includes a microprocessor, a keyword decoder, and a dynamic safety relay drive circuit. The microprocessor runs a set of internal tests which create a keyword made up of a series of bits. A particular series of bits indicates the desired operation of the microprocessor. On alternate generations of the keyword one bit in the series is inverted. The keyword decoder receives the keywords and output a "true" signal if the keyword indicates the desired operation of the microprocessor, and "false" signal if the keyword indicates otherwise. The output of the keyword decoder is transmitted to the dynamic safety relay drive circuit, and this signal will keep the circuit energized as long as its alternating. The position of the bit which is inverted is rotated through the keyword so that different bit paths through the keyword decoder may be tested.

Many types of systems have been developed for monitoring computer hardware that can create an unsafe condition if a failure occurs. An example is a burner control system in a furnace that is operated under the direction of units that are generically referred to as flame safeguard systems. In these types of systems, it is essential that if a certain failure occurs, the fuel valve to a fuel burner will close. The failure of a flame safeguard control system to operate properly can lead to a situation in which a fuel valve is left open when no flame exists, and a fuel-burning chamber can be loaded with fuel. This fuel can then be accidentally ignited causing an explosion. Before the introduction of microcomputers and microprocessors, the existing technology taught a flame safeguard system which utilized safety circuits that check for proper operation at the beginning of each burner cycle. This is commonly known as safe start check.
The conventional electromechanical and electronic types of control systems, including flame safeguard control systems, have been displaced by electronic control systems of the digital type that utilize microprocessors or microcomputers as the heart of the condition responsive control circuit means. One example which employs a microprocessor is U.S. Pat. No. 4,422,067 issued to Clark et al. The Clark et al patent discloses a dynamic self-checking circuit which monitors the status of a dangerous condition, such as a burner in a furnace, and continually performs self-tests to detect any malfunctions in the microprocessor hardware. The circuit operates by having a microprocessor regularly output a sequence of logic bits which indicate the operational status of each component of the microprocessor. A decoder receives the sequence of logic bits and will output a high signal if all the bits in the sequence indicate a certain operational status of the microprocessor. Between each generation of a high signal, the microprocessor outputs a preset low signal. If the microprocessor is operating properly, an alternating signal is output from the decoder, and this signal keeps a switch to the fuel valve energized. If the microprocessor malfunctions, the signal will no longer be alternating and the switch will de-energize.
A disadvantage of the Clark et al system is that not all system errors will be detected. It is possible that a bit path in the decoder may malfunction so that it constantly outputs a particular signal regardless of the signal it receives from the microprocessor. If the signal output from the stuck bit path represents the desired operation of a particular function of the microprocessor, the actual failure of this microprocessor function will not be detected. This could create a hazardous situation.
Because of the inherent danger in technologies such as burner controls, it is important that the safety control systems be reliable. However, the system should not be overly complicated or expensive in achieving this goal.

Dynamic self-checking safety circuit means


A temperature compensation valve is hereby provided wherein the inner cavity of the valve comprises a puck, a metal piston (gas control device), and a spring. The spring serves to bias the piston towards the puck, and the puck expands and contracts proportionately in response to increases and decreases in temperature of the upstream gas. Furthermore, the piston will move accordingly, wherein an increase in temperature causes the expansion of the puck directing the piston in such a way to obstruct the orifice that allows the gas to pass through the valve, thereby controlling the gas flow to compensate for the pressure variations.

Flow valves that serve to regulate the flow of fluids in environments that are subjected to extreme temperature fluctuations are known. Generally, a change in temperature to the environment of the container holding the fluid causes a change in temperature of the fluid contained within. Additionally, this change in temperature causes either an increase, or a decrease in pressure. Generally, an increase in temperature causes an increase in pressure, and a decrease in temperature causes a decrease in pressure. When you apply these changes in pressure to an actuator the performance of the actuator also changes. Inside a typical actuator resides a piston wherein applying a high pressure flow on that piston will instigate a greater force. The greater force causes the actuator to move with greater velocity. Conversely, if temperature is low, then pressure is low. The low pressure causes a decrease in force exerted on the piston. This decrease in force causes the piston to move slower. It is desirable to control flow of gas into the actuator so that when temperature and pressure are low, the orifice that regulates the flow of the fluid is larger, thereby allowing gas to flow quickly into the actuator. Conversely, when the temperature and pressure are high the aforementioned orifice of the valve should be smaller, so that the gas flow into the actuator is restricted.
In view of the above, it is essential for many applications to keep the flow rate of fluid constant while temperature fluctuates between hot and cold extremes. One such application, requiring a constant flow rate during temperature fluctuations, is in the field of aeronautics.
Devices that provide a stable fluid flow are known. One such device is the Fluid Dispenser With Stabilized Fluid Flow described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,413,238. The device provides a fluid dispenser and method of operation. The device includes a feedback system which allows the device to respond in a timely and measured manner to changes in the dispensing flow rate of fluid from the device. The device has a fluid reservoir and an outlet which optionally may have a flow or pressure resistance unit incorporated, into the outlet, and an electric gas generation module or reversible pump which provides gas pressure to dispense the fluid from the reservoir. The device also has a sensor for detecting and measuring internal or external operating parameter indicative of flow rate of the fluid being dispensed. Feedback from the sensor is used by a controller to control electric current to the gas generation module, with the current being adjusted by the controller to adjust the amount of gas produced in a manner which will prevent the flow rate of the dispensed fluid from exceeding desired maximum or minimum limits.
While the aforementioned device regulates the flow of a fluid and adjusts for changes in pressure, the device is extremely complex and requires many electronic components including sensors and detection units. Additionally, such a device is expensive to manufacture.
An additional device for regulating a fluid is disclosed in the Blue Flame Gas Smooth Top Range of U.S. Pat. No. 3,870,457. The thermal fuel valve is used with an electric igniter in a gas range appliance to control gas flow while the igniter provides automatic gas ignition at a burner. The electric igniter is positioned next to the burner and an internal electric heater in the thermal fuel valve enclosure is positioned to heat a thermally responsive heat warpable actuator that moves the poppet to open the valve when the devices are connected for series electric energization. The thermal fuel valve will open and allow gas to flow to the burner only when the electric igniter has been energized. Furthermore, the valve is calibrated to open only when the igniter is near or at a temperature suitable for igniting the gaseous fuel. Since the force required to be exerted by the actuator to move the poppet from its seat is dependent on the gas pressure in the valve, such calibration normally would take into consideration the normal gas pressure.
While the aforementioned device either opens or closes depending on temperature, it does not serve to regulate the flow rate of fluid constant while temperature fluctuates between hot and cold extremes. The device merely allows for gas to flow provided the temperature is at an appropriate level.
What is needed in the art is a gas valve that maintains a defined flow rate across a temperature range even though the upstream pressure fluctuates with temperature.
Furthermore, what is needed in the art is a gas valve that maintains a defined flow rate across a temperature range even though the upstream pressure fluctuates with temperature, wherein the gas valve is substantially mechanical and does not require additional temperature monitoring or controlling devices.


An apparatus for keeping the score of a game of which a generic form is suitable for adaptation to both retrofit use as well as an integral shaping of a tennis racquet. The generic form of the present invention includes an array of scoring indicia displayed in a column on an elongated element. The elongated element is disposed on a branch or shaft of a tennis racquet in combination with a score marking element. The score marking element comprises an elastic loop which encircles the branch or shaft and selectively resides upon the scoring indicia of the elongated element. Several embodiments of the generic form are described.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to devices for keeping track of scores during a sporting game. More specifically, the invention provides an assembly including an elongated element having score indicia thereon and a slidable score marking element, which assembly resides on the frame of a tennis racquet for manipulation by a player to mark the game score as play progresses.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Tennis players, like many athletes, often focus more attention on their game performance than on remembering the score of a game. As a result, players may find themselves in need of a memory aid to help keep track of the score.
A scorekeeping device is therefore useful in these and other situations where a need exists for providing a player with a quick and convenient way to keep track of game scores. One solution meeting such a need is to provide a score keeping device which is mounted on a tennis racquet frame. Typically, a tennis racquet frame has a head, a throat, a shaft and a grip. The throat of the racket may be solid and integral with the shaft or, as found in many composite and metal racquets, consist of two elongated branches bridging the head to a short shaft which, in turn, immediately transforms into a grip. Whereas racquet-mounted devices known in the prior art are generally adequately structured to track the score of a game, such devices exhibit disadvantages, such as being obstructive to the use and playing qualities of the tennis racquets, heretofore not considered or addressed. Such disadvantages are particularly magnified in view of recent high-tech improvements in the composites and methods available for molding modern tennis racquets.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,122 issued on Feb. 6, 1996 to Pittner discloses a score keeping device which includes a single strip of sheet material bearing a rectangular matrix of squares of three columns bearing tennis scoring indicia for both players on the same sheet. Slidable scoring markers, being tinted translucent plastic windows, are juxtaposed over the squares to indicate the present game and set score for two tennis players or teams. The scoring markers have L-shaped fingers which are set in channels provided in the sheet material. A similar device using a slotted plate and movable buttons attached by bands to the shaft is shown in European Pat. Office Patentanmeldung No. 0 024 552 published Jul. 24, 1980.
Numerous disadvantages are incumbent with such systems. First, unlike the present invention, by providing score indicia in a multiple-columned manner on a single adhesive sheet, each device limits the maximum size of the sheet to the width and length of the shaft of a tennis racquet, thereby limiting the readable size of the score indicia. Whereas such configuration may have been suitable for the old, solid wooden-shafted tennis racquet, sheet size limitations are particularly problematic in modern racquets having shafts and open throats of reduced surface area. Second, under conditions of changing sunlight or artificial lighting, the tinted windows of the Pittner device may not consistently and desirably display the score. Finally, the scoring markers are slidably retained only by channels formed in the sheet material, which in the Pittner device is a grooved adhesive sheet material and in the European patent is a slotted plate. Such structure requires a substantial thickness of both the sheet material and the markers in order to maintain a rigidity and ruggedness of form. Such bulk added on or near the shaft of a tennis racquet is highly likely to interfere with proper racquet handling technique and adds undesirable weight and imbalance to the racquet.
Other structural variations of shaft-mounted scorekeeping devices are known. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,498,668 issued on Feb. 12, 1985 to Bowen, a device includes a single column of score indicia superimposed on a transparent tubular housing having sealed ends, a column of score indicia superimposed thereon, and a sliding, contrastingly-colored chip within the tubular housing capable of being repositioned by a pinching action, whereby a bulge of the tubular housing is created to emphasize the score. U.S. Pat. No. 4,331,098 issued on May 25, 1982 to Rubano discloses a tennis score keeping device having ratchet teeth, a plastic panel and frame, and plastic arrows. U.S. Pat. No. 4,202,544 issued May 13, 1980 to Popma describes a series of elastic bands having scoring indicia which slip onto the shaft above the grip of a racquet, operated by rotating the bands about the shaft to a predetermined location where an indicator dot represents which score indicia on the band is to be read to correctly identify the score. A solution avoiding the attachment of a scorekeeping device to the shaft is suggested by U.S. Pat. No. 4,172,595 issued Oct. 30, 1979 to Sewell, which describes a tennis tally board adapted to be attached to the butt end of the grip.
Because a tennis player often grasps his racquet at different portions of the shaft during a game, each of these noted devices may permit unintentional movement of the movable elements and, more undesirably, are often limited to placement on the shaft as a retrofit device, which can interfere with the player's stroke technique. Moreover, most of such devices add undesirable mass and volume to a tennis racquet which adversely affect the playing characteristics of a racquet, such as its weight and balance. Any outwardly protruding bodies of such devices are further vulnerable to damage or dislocation during the course of a game, especially if the racquet is dropped or propelled into an object.
Numerous other less relevant structures have been proposed to aid in tracking a tennis score. U.S. Pat. No. 5,134,565 issued Jul. 28, 1992 to Herbertz describes an electronic scorekeeping watch. U.S. Pat. No. 4,738,449 issued Apr. 19, 1988 to Droz describes a base with three slots arranged in a U-form along which a cursor is moved, such base being capable of attachment to the strings of a racquet. Each of U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,215 issued Dec. 10, 1985 to Petersson, U.S. Pat. No. 4,158,342 issued Jun. 19, 1979 to Scruggs, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,164,910 issued Aug. 21, 1979 to Feiler describe an absorbent wrist band and counter device showing score indicia and markers which are relocated about the wrist band. U.S. Pat. No. 4,357,895 issued Nov. 9, 1982 and UK Pat. Application No. 2 053 003 published Feb. 4, 1981, both by Nightingale, describes a score board with engaging markers having plunger activated features. French De Brevet D'Invention No. 79 08001 dated Mar. 6, 1981 describes a spring-loaded ball and detent assembly integrally formed within the grip.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus, a need still exists for an unobtrusive device which enables a player to easily keep score of a tennis match.

Scorekeeping apparatus for a tennis racquet


Automated adjustment of a pre-excitation interval (PEI) used to deliver hemodynamically efficient fusion pacing therapy.

In the above-referenced patent application to Hill, Hill discloses that in certain patients exhibiting symptoms resulting from congestive heart failure (CHF), cardiac output is enhanced by timing the delivery of an left ventricular (LV) pacing pulse such that evoked depolarization of the LV is effected in fusion with the intrinsic depolarization of the right ventricle (RV). The fusion depolarization enhances stroke volume in such hearts where the RV depolarizes first due to intact atrio-ventricular (AV) conduction of a preceding intrinsic or evoked atrial depolarization wave front, but wherein the AV conducted depolarization of the LV is unduly delayed. The fusion depolarization of the LV is attained by timing the delivery of the LV pace (LVp) pulse to follow the intrinsic depolarization of the RV but to precede the intrinsic depolarization of the LV. Specifically, an RV pace (RVp) pulse is not delivered due to the inhibition of the RVp event upon the sensing of RV depolarization (RVs), allowing natural propagation of the wave front and depolarization of the intraventricular septum, while an LVp pulse is delivered in fusion with the RV depolarization.
However, due to a number of factors (e.g., the amount of time required for appropriate signal processing, confounding conduction delays or conduction blockage of a patient, diverse electrode placement locations, and the like) for a variety of patients the system described may not always effectively deliver CRT.
A need therefore exists in the art to efficiently and chronically delivery CRT to patients suffering from various cardiac conduction abnormalities who might not otherwise receive the benefits of CRT therapy.

Apparatus and methods for automatic determination of a fusion pacing pre-excitation interval


A power system may include an internal combustion engine, an exhaust gas recirculation system, a selective catalytic reduction system, and an engine control module. The internal combustion engine includes a plurality of combustion cylinders and a plurality of corresponding intake valves for controlling a flow of air from an intake into the cylinders. The engine control module is configured to adjust a closure timing of the intake valves based on at least one engine parameter and optimization of an operational cost of the power system. A method for controlling the power system may include recirculating a portion of an exhaust flow, injecting a reductant into the exhaust flow, and adjusting a closure timing of the intake valves based on at least one engine parameter and optimization of an operational cost of the power system.

Internal combustion engines, including diesel engines, may produce regulated emissions, such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), and solid particulate matter which may also be referred to as soot or smoke. To control emissions, diesel engines may include a variety of specially calibrated systems such as Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) systems, Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems, Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) systems, and combinations thereof. An engine control module (ECM) is often used to calibrate and control these emission control systems, as well as a large variety of engine control parameters, in a carefully balanced approach that weighs fuel efficiency against the regulation of emissions.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,861,518 describes an engine controller that considers the cost of operating a combustion engine and the cost of operating an SCR system in establishing the parameters by which the diesel engine will operate. Cost-efficiency of the system is determined by controlling engine parameters, including cooled EGR airflow, fuel injection timing, fuel injection pressure, and air-to-fuel ratio, as well as the volume of reductant used in the SCR system. However, the control of air intake valve timing is not considered.
Intake Valve Actuation (IVA) may be used in internal combustion engines to, for example, increase fuel efficiency. By controlling the closure timing of the intake valves, for example, the volumetric efficiency of a diesel engine may be adjusted. One of the advantages of this adjustment is achievement of better indicated thermal efficiency at part loads while IVA maintains relatively low peak cylinder pressure at high loads. Peak cylinder pressure directly impacts combustion temperature in cylinders, and hence impacts the engine out brake-specific NOx (BSNOx) emission. Because tailpipe BSNOx is determined by engine out BSNOx and SCR conversion performance, IVA may have a direct impact on the use of a reductant, or Diesel Emission Fluid (DEF) in the SCR system. In addition, IVA has a direct impact on the exhaust recirculation flow of the EGR system due to the IVA influence on the intake manifold pressure. Conventional IVA control performs tasks according to a set logic as predetermined by engine calibration maps, although the price of diesel fuel and reductant, or Diesel Emission Fluid (DEF), may change or vary across different regions and in different seasons.
The present disclosure is directed to address one or more of the issues set forth above with respect to conventional diesel engines, in addition to other problems in the art.

Control method for an engine with exhaust gas recirculation and intake valve actuation


An emergency reporting apparatus includes a power supply circuit, a control circuit, and a timer. The power supply circuit generates operating power of the emergency reporting apparatus from a vehicle battery in a vehicle battery mode and from an auxiliary battery in an auxiliary battery mode. The control circuit causes the power supply circuit to switch from the vehicle battery mode to the auxiliary battery mode in response to a trigger event and starts an emergency reporting procedure using the auxiliary battery. The timer measures time elapsed since the power supply circuit switches to the auxiliary battery mode. The control circuit causes the power supply circuit to switch back to the vehicle battery mode, when the elapsed time exceeds a predetermined threshold time period.

In an on-board emergency reporting apparatus disclosed in US 2004/0075345 corresponding to JP-A-2000-322677, a power source for supplying operating power to the emergency reporting apparatus switches from a vehicle battery device to an auxiliary battery device when a voltage level of the vehicle battery device drops, for example, during engine starting. Thus, even when a trigger event for an emergency reporting procedure occurs during a period of time when the voltage level of the vehicle battery device is low, the emergency reporting apparatus can perform the emergency reporting procedure.
In another on-board emergency reporting apparatus disclosed in JP-A-2000-222659, if operating power supplied from a vehicle battery device to a power supply circuit of the emergency reporting apparatus is interrupted when a trigger event for an emergency reporting procedure occurs, the power supply circuit automatically switches from the vehicle battery device to an auxiliary battery device to receive the operating power from the auxiliary battery device.
In such conventional emergency reporting apparatus, the following problems may arise. If the power supply circuit remains instructed to receive the operating power from the auxiliary battery device even after completion of the emergency reporting procedure, the auxiliary battery device remains discharged. For example, when the auxiliary battery device is replaced with new one for the next emergency reporting procedure, the new auxiliary battery device is wastefully discharged. For further example, when the auxiliary battery device is continuously used without being replaced with new one, the charged of the auxiliary battery device is reduced to an insufficient level for the next emergency reporting procedure.

On-board emergency reporting apparatus and auxiliary battery device for the same


A print tone measuring method includes a reference paper image pickup step for reading an image of reference paper to obtain first image data, a designated control point setting step for setting designated control points, a first reference point setting step for setting a pair of first reference points for specifying image positions, a print reading step for reading an image of an actual print to obtain second image data, a second reference point setting step for setting a pair of second reference points corresponding to the first reference points, a calculating step for calculating positions of corresponding control points corresponding to the designated control points from the first reference points and the second reference points, an extracting step for extracting image data adjacent each of the designated control points and image data adjacent each of the corresponding control points, and a correcting step for correcting the position of each corresponding control point in the second image data by comparing the image data adjacent each designated control point and the image data adjacent each corresponding control point.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a print tone measuring method.
2. Description of the Related Art
In order to perform proper printing with a printing machine, it is necessary to control ink feeding rates properly. For controlling the ink feeding rates, it has been conventional practice to measure densities of control strips with a densitometer and determine from density data whether the ink feeding rates are proper or not. However, the density data from the control strips alone is not necessarily sufficient for attaining a proper color tone and the like for a picture area.
For this reason, a print tone measuring apparatus is used which provides control data for controlling the ink feeding rates of a printing machine. The control data is produced by comparing an image on reference paper and an image on an actual print.
The reference paper is also called proof paper, and serves as a reference indicating a color tone of finished prints to obtain proper prints. Printing paper actually printed is also called sampling paper which is extracted by the operator from a discharge station of a printing machine at certain intervals during a printing operation. The printing is considered proper when the color tone of the sampling paper substantially coincides with the color tone of the reference paper.
Where such a print tone measuring apparatus is used, it is difficult to attain an agreement in color tone and the like in all areas between the image on the reference paper and the image on the actual print. For this reason, use is made of control points such as representative points having colors that characterize a picture pattern on the print. These control points are key points used in order to control the ink feeding rates, and are set to the image by the operator.
The control points must be set to accurately corresponding positions on the image of the reference paper and the image of the actual print. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-305562 (1998) discloses a print evaluating apparatus, in which a pair of reference points are specified on each of an image of reference paper and an image of an actual print for indicating image positions, and positions of control points on the image of the actual print are calculated from these reference points and the control points on the image of the reference paper.
With the above method, however, a partial distortion of the image of the print makes it impossible to attain an accurate corresponding relationship between the control points on the image of the reference paper and those on the image of the print. That is, a curvature aberration of an image pickup optical system for reading images from the reference paper and print, or an error due to a distortion of printing paper, results in a displacement between the control points on the image of the reference paper and those on the image of the print. Such a displacement hampers an accurate measurement of the print tone.
An image area usually is formed of halftone dots. Particularly where large halftone dots are used, a disagreement may occur between color information on a single pixel and color information on an image formed of a plurality of halftone dots. Noise of a CCD camera acting as an image pickup device, or dust or scratches on the print, may also hamper an accurate measurement based on color information on a single pixel.


Water treatment apparatus includes raw water special air mixing nozzles (7); filtering tank (5) housing filter layer (4) including two layers of upper layer (2) and lower layer (3), the upper layer including a filter medium with a smaller specific gravity and a larger particle size than a filter medium of the lower layer; a water collection pipe (13) removing filtered water and supplying reverse cleaning water to the filter layer during reverse cleaning; drainage trough (12); and upper layer cleaning apparatus (10), in which the upper layer cleaning apparatus includes upper layer cleaning pipe support member (17), upper layer cleaning water pipe (18), surface-cleaning special air mixing nozzles (19), air suction pipe (20), and horizontal air pipes (31 and 32) and the raw water special air mixing nozzles (7) are attached to raw water inflow tank (70) provided on a part of the drainage trough (12).

Ground water is used as raw water for tap water and in industries requiring a large amount of water, such as food industry, soft drink, brewing, public baths, and dyeing industry. Meanwhile, currently, iron and manganese components contained in ground water are a major problem. Iron and manganese are components necessary for human body. However, iron or manganese exceeding certain amounts give water a metallic taste or cause red or black water. Such water is not only suitable for drinking but causes various problems in these industries. In addition, in construction work, extraction of ground water is an essential process. However, when the ground water contains large amounts of iron and manganese, discarding the ground water directly in sewage system is prohibited by law, and there is a problem in that the ground water must be discarded after removing iron and manganese contained in the ground water.
Currently, the most widely used apparatuses for removing iron and manganese add an oxidizing agent such as sodium hypochlorite or a flocculant such as polyaluminium chloride (PAC) into the raw water to oxidize iron and manganese dissolved in water so as to produce insoluble iron oxide and manganese oxide and then filter away the oxides through filter sand.
However, the water treatment apparatuses by method of adding an oxidizing agent or a flocculant consume a relatively large amount of the oxidizing agent or flocculant, thus increasing cost for these agents. In addition, since sodium hypochlorite used as the oxidizing agent remains in the post-treatment cleaning water even after the oxidation of iron and manganese, it produces trihalomethane, which is a carcinogen. Accordingly, in order to remove the substance, filtering of the water through an activated carbon layer is further needed, which is uneconomical. If the installation of the activated carbon layer is deferred due to economic considerations, it is necessary to analyze and monitor, constantly, water after filtering to adjust the amount of an oxidizing agent added according to the situation, in order to prevent the production of trihalomethane due to an excessive addition of the oxidizing agent. This is disadvantageous in terms of increasing maintenance and operation cost in addition to purchase cost for the chemical agent. Additionally, the water treatment apparatuses by method of adding a chemical agent include an aeration tank, a flocculation tank, a precipitation tank, a sand filter tower, an iron and manganese removing tower, and a chemical agent tank, where system is complicated and the entire apparatus is large-scaled, thus necessitating a wide installation space. Accordingly, there is a problem in that such apparatuses cannot be installed in environments where space is limited, such as city areas. Furthermore, in the water treatment apparatuses by method of adding a chemical agent, treatment of wastewater after cleaning is necessary. However, in that case, since the sand contains the chemical agent, the wastewater must be treated as an industrial waste, and there are inconveniences such as disposal site restrictions.
A water treatment apparatus disclosed in Patent Literature 1 has been proposed to remove the disadvantages of the conventional water treatment apparatuses adding a chemical agent and provide a water treatment apparatus that can remove iron, manganese, and other soluble components contained in ground water or the like by oxidation and insolubilization of these components using a simple and compact apparatus without using chemicals such as oxidizing agents and flocculants. In this water treatment apparatus, while jet nozzles turn raw water into a jet water stream, air is introduced into the jet nozzles through air inlets or air introducing pipes open to the insides of the jet nozzles. Then, jet streams including a large number of air bubbles from raw water ejection outlets of the nozzles are hit against the surface of water above a filter layer arranged below the ejection outlets to cause fierce aeration in the water and on the surface of a filter medium. This causes soluble components such as iron and manganese in the water to be oxidized and turned into insoluble components, which are then caught on the surface of filter medium particles such as filter sand forming the filter layer. Accordingly, without any use of chemicals such as oxidizing agents and flocculants, the simple and compact apparatus can achieve the insolubilization and filtering of iron, manganese, and other soluble components in raw water.
In addition, as another type of a water treatment apparatus for cleaning a surface layer of a water treatment apparatus, a rotary cleaning apparatus disclosed in Patent Literature 2 is known. In the rotary cleaning apparatus, water is ejected diagonally downward from a plurality of water ejecting nozzles provided in a longitudinal direction of a horizontal rotary pipe attached to a lower end of a vertical rotation shaft to hit against the surface of a filter layer so as to rotate the horizontal rotary pipe in response to the hitting, thereby stirring and cleaning the surface layer of the filter medium by the water ejected from each water ejecting nozzle.

Upper-layer cleaning device for water treatment device, and method for cleaning water treatment device filter layer