A self-cleaning composite deck drain apparatus which includes a removable top part having a top grating surface for receiving waste liquid and a trap for catching particulate matter from the liquid at a lower end. The drain apparatus further includes a bottom part having a drainpipe within an annular chamber formed thereabout for receiving and holding the top part. Circumferentially spaced locking tabs are affixed to the edge of the top part below the grating surface thereof for reception within tab receivers in the bottom part when the top part is inserted into the chamber of the bottom part and turned for locking of the tabs within the tab receivers. The top part includes a threaded bore within which a valve is manually operable to open and close the drainpipe. The deck drain apparatus is made of composite plastic materials to resist corrosion.

The present invention relates generally to deck drains, and more particularly to a self-cleaning deck drain assembly that includes an integral valve and that is substantially made of composite plastic material. Deck drains are known and have been used to drain wastewater and other liquids from decks, floors and other such planar surfaces. For instance, deck drains are widely used aboard naval ships to facilitate the expedient drainage of wastewater, seawater and other liquids from shipboard decks, particularly passageways, heads, scullery, galley, machinery spaces as well as decks exposed to the weather and seas.
United States Navy Standard Drawing 80064-803-138579, Fittings, Deck Drains (Rev. G) (1987) illustrates several types of past deck drains that have been used aboard United States Navy ships. These and other such deck drains historically have been a source of procurement and maintenance expense to the United States Navy. A disadvantage of past deck drains is that they are prone to corrosion and require substantial maintenance to keep in good working condition. The materials used to fabricate past deck drains are susceptible to cosmetic and structural corrosion caused by extended exposure to the marine environment.
For instance, Navy Drawing 80064-803-1385789 further illustrates that past deck drains have been made of various combinations of cast bronze, cast steel, aluminum and copper-nickel. While these metals resist corrosion to some degree, they are nevertheless subject to the corrosive effects caused by long exposure to weather, seas and chemical entrained in drainage liquids. Past deck drains also suffer from galvanic corrosion (electrolysis) resulting from using drain components of dissimilar metals, for example assembling the deck drains using steel, stainless steel, aluminum, monel, bronze or brass screws. Past deck drains are often assembled using special alloy screws that are prone to either getting lost during maintenance, corroding, or both.
A further disadvantage of past deck drains is that they are prone to getting internally obstructed with small particulate matter, particularly because it is often time-consuming and difficult for the ship's crew to disassemble the drains for cleaning. Past deck drains require considerable expertise and time to disassemble, typically requiring the use of hand tools and detailed maintenance procedures to ensure that the drain remains clean and corrosion-free. For example, some past deck drains must be partly or even completely removed from the deck to enable particulate matter to be removed from internals of the deck drain. Other past deck drains are readily removed from the deck for cleaning, yet are susceptible to coming loose from the deck during normal operation due to the impact of foot or vehicle traffic on the drain grating. Past deck drains, particularly deck drain screws, bolts or other fasteners, are often lost because they are swept into the drain. Critical small parts of past deck drains often become loosened and fall out due to the repeated low frequency vibration of the deck caused by, for instance, the effect of the operation of the ship's engines or other equipment upon the structure, driving the decking surface.
Further disadvantageously, past deck drains are expensive to install and normally require that that deck drain assembly be welded into or to the underside of the deck using expensive welding procedures. Past deck drains are also expensive because they are typically made out of exotic metallic alloys in an attempt to better resist corrosion, yet that often require special welding and assembly techniques to install, repair and replace as the surrounding multiple layers of corrosion protection and surface finish around the drain must be restored.
Backflow of waste liquids and gases is particularly of concern aboard naval ships because backflow may include flooding seawater or fire combustion gases when the ship sustains damage by accident or combat. Combustion gases from shipboard fires, or seawater admitted through damage to the ship's hull, can disastrously spread throughout the ship by passing through the deck drains of the ship's drainage system. Indeed, past deck drains, notably those made of bronze or aluminum are particularly susceptible to damage or even outright combustion caused by shipboard fires. Thus, past deck drains represent a potential source of danger to naval ships because they are prone to spreading seawater, chemicals, flammable liquids, gases and fire combustion gases to flood throughout the interior of the ship during combat, accident or fire.
Information relevant to attempts to address these problems can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,320,903, 3,042,210, 3,725,964, 4,910,811, 5,724,777 and 6,537,446. However, each one of these references suffers from one or more of the following disadvantages:
U.S. Pat. No. 2,320,903, issued to Archer on Jun. 1, 1943, discloses a scupper valve installed in an opening of a ship's hull and operable to drain water and other liquids from the deck of the ship to the sea. Archer, however, does not disclose a valve disposed within a removable top part and operable to close the outlet opening and thereby prevent liquid from draining from the drain. Archer does not disclose a valve actuator substantially disclosed within a grating and operable to open and close a drain.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,042,210, issued to Hattori on Jul. 3, 1962, discloses a trap that is made detachable from a floor drain so that accumulated mud, dust, and the like in the trap may be easily removed for cleaning. Hattori, however, does not disclose a plurality of circumferentially spaced locking tabs affixed to the edge of a grating, nor a plurality of tab receivers formed in a housing to lock the trap within the outer housing of the drain. Hattori does not disclose a valve disposed within the trap apparatus and operable to close a drainpipe, thereby preventing liquid draining or flooding from the drain. Hattori does not disclose a seal on the drain apparatus to prevent the escape of gases from the drain. Hattori does not disclose that the trap may be made of fire-resistant, low-smoke, non-corroding composite material.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,725,964, issued to Whitsett on Apr. 10, 1973, discloses a trap for a kitchen sink drain that can be lifted out of the receptacle with which it is used for cleaning purposes. Whitsett, however, does not disclose a plurality of circumferentially spaced locking tabs affixed to the edge of a grating, nor a plurality of tab receivers formed in a housing to lock the trap within the housing tube. Whitsett does not disclose a valve disposed within the trap and operable to a drainpipe, thereby preventing liquid draining from the drain. Whitsett does not disclose that the trap may be made of fire-resistant, low-smoke, non-corroding composite material.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,910,811, issued to Izzi, Sr. on Mar. 27, 1990, discloses an all-plastic floor drain, including a rigid plastic connector body and a rigid plastic strainer plate that is received in an annular recess in the connector body. Izzi, Sr., however, does not disclose that the floor drain may be made of fire-resistant, low-smoke, non-corroding composite material.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,724,777, issued to Hubbard on Mar. 10, 1998, discloses a roof drain arrangement and method for sealing a space between an existing drain opening, the roof drain arrangement, and a new roof membrane. Hubbard, however, does not disclose that the roof drain arrangement may be sealed using polysuldife or polyurethane adhesives.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,537,446, issued to Sanguinetti on Mar. 25, 2003, discloses an apparatus and system for removing debris and contaminants from water passing through a storm drain. Sanguinetti, however, does not disclose a plurality of circumferentially spaced locking tabs affixed to the edge of the debris trap, nor a plurality of tab receivers formed in the body portion to lock the debris trap within the body portion. Sanguinetti does not disclose a valve disposed within the apparatus or system and operable to prevent liquid draining from the drain. Sanguinetti does not disclose that the body potion is adhesively affixed to the storm drain. Sanguinetti does not disclose that the apparatus may be made of fire-resistant, low-smoke, non-corroding composite material.
For the foregoing reasons there is a need for a self-cleaning deck surface drain, that is substantially fire and corrosion-resistant.

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


A quick response information management system and method is disclosed. Embodiments of the present invention provide for associating multiple alphanumeric tags into groups, and editing attributes of the tags on a group basis. Banner advertisements, quick response codes, and contact information are manageable elements that may be associated with a tag. A scheduling feature allows in-advance scheduling of temporary banner advertisements. A print scheduling feature allows convenient printing of a consumer content display corresponding to new inventory items.

A quick response code, also known as a QR code, is a two-dimensional barcode that offers high-speed and omni-directional reading, and has a large information capacity, high reliability, and is compatible with diverse characters and image information. With the above-mentioned advantages, the QR code is therefore used in industrial management, electronic business and personal information exchanges, and many other fields. A user can scan (effectively take a picture of) the QR code with a QR code scanner on a digital camera or other device, and thereby retrieve embedded information of the QR code after the picture is identified and decoded by interpreting software. With the increasing popularity of mobile devices (e.g. "smart phones") that are capable of scanning QR codes and rendering associated content, an increasing number of retailers are using QR codes in a wide variety of applications such as automobile sales, electronics, and other types of merchandising. A retailer with a large number of inventory items may have many QR codes to manage. Therefore, it is desirable to have an improved system and method for quick response information management.

Quick response information management system and method


An improved circuit for producing a pulse having a predetermined pulse width. The pulse width forming circuit includes a first delay element for receiving an input pulse and delaying the input pulse by a first delay time, an OR gate for receiving the input pulse at an input terminal and a first delayed pulse signal from the first delay element at another input terminal and adding the first delay time to a pulse width of the input pulse, a second delay element for receiving an output pulse of the OR gate and delaying the output pulse by a second delay time, and an AND gate for receiving the input pulse and a second delayed pulse signal from the second delay element for producing a pulse waveform having a predetermined pulse width whose starting edge corresponds to an end timing of the input pulse and whose stop edge corresponds to an end timing of the second delayed pulse signal.

Pulse width forming circuits for generating pulse signals with a variety of pulse widths are used in many applications such as in a semiconductor test system. An example of such a pulse width forming circuit is shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. FIG. 4A is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of the pulse width forming circuit and FIG. 4B is a timing chart showing the operation of the circuit of FIG. 4A. The pulse width forming circuit of FIG. 4A includes a pulse width integration circuit 30 and a pulse width differential circuit 45 connected in series.
The pulse width integration circuit 30 is formed of a first delay element 11 and an OR gate 13 to enlarge the pulse width of an incoming pulse signal. The pulse width integration circuit 30 receives an input pulse Pa of FIG. 4B(1) and produces a pulse Pb of FIG. 4B(2). The pulse Pb is produced by delaying the input pulse Pa by a first delay time D1 by the first delay element 11. At the output of the OR gate 13, the pulse width integration circuit 30 generates a pulse Pc shown in FIG. 4B(3) whose pulse width is integrated with the pulse width Pwa of the input pulse Pa and the delay time of the first delay element 11. Thus, a pulse width Pwc of the pulse Pc is the sum of the pulse width Pwa of the input pulse Pa and the first delay time D1.
The pulse width differential circuit 45 is formed of a second delay element 12 and an AND gate 14 to produce an output pulse having a predetermined pulse width. The pulse width differential circuit 45 receives the integrated pulse Pc of FIG. 4B(3) from the pulse width integration circuit 30 and produces a pulse Pd of FIG. 4B(4). The pulse Pd is produced by delaying the pulse Pc by a second delay time D2 by the second delay element 12. The pulse width differential circuit 45 generates an output pulse Pe shown in FIG. 4B(5) which starts at the falling edge of the pulse Pc and ends at the falling edge of the pulse Pd. The pulse width Pwe of the output pulse Pe is equal to the second delay time D2.
An example of the first and second delay elements 11 and 12 is a semiconductor gate circuit such as a CMOS gate whose propagation delay time can be controlled by a voltage supplied thereto. Another example of the delay elements is a passive circuit components such as a strip line or other signal transmission cables whose signal propagation delay times may be used as delay elements.
The conventional example in the foregoing has several disadvantages when used in the pulse width forming circuit. For example, to produce a desired pulse width based on the input pulse Pa of a small band width, the first delay element needs to have a relatively large delay time. However, the first delay time D1 must always smaller than the pulse width Pwa of the input pulse Pa to effectively enlarge the pulse width to produce the pulse Pc of FIG. 4B(3). Thus, the pulse width of the input pulse Pa must be greater than the delay time D1, which limits the range of pulse width of the input pulse Pa.
Further, the first delay time D1 is added to the pulse width Pwa of the input pulse Pa to produce the pulse Pc, and the start timing of the output pulse Pe is determined by the end timing of the pulse Pc. Thus, the delay time D1 affects the start timing of the output pulse Pe as shown in FIGS. 4B(3) and (5). Since delay time errors in such a delay element increase with the increase of the delay time, using the delay element having a relatively large delay time increases timing errors in the output pulse Pe.
In contrast, when the first delay time D1 is too small, the intended pulse width Pwe for the output pulse Pe may not be produced by the pulse width differential circuit 45. Such a case will occur when the sum of the delay time D1 and the pulse width Pwa of the input pulse Pa is smaller than the intended pulse width Pwe of the output pulse Pe, i.e., the second delay time D2. Thus, it is not practicable to use first delay element of too small delay time.
Another problem in the conventional pulse width formatting circuit of FIG. 4 is that there arises fluctuations in the output pulse timings. For example, since the delay elements 11 and 12 in FIG. 4A are typically formed of semiconductor devices such as CMOS gates, signal propagation times in such devices vary with the changes in the surrounding temperature, supply voltages, or the production process. For example, a signal propagation delay time of a typical CMOS gate fluctuates by a temperature of 0.3%/.degree. C. and by a source voltage of 0.4%/10 mV.
In the conventional example shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the pulse Pb from the first delay element 11, i.e., the end timing of the pulse Pc determines the start timing of the output pulse Pe as noted above. Therefore, the start timing of the output pulse Pe will be fluctuated with the changes in the delay time D1 in the first delay element 11. The timing fluctuations of the output pulse Pe is inappropriate for the semiconductor test system in which timing pulses with high accuracy must be used to test semiconductor devices with high accuracy.


An ink for ink jet recording is provided which can form a record having a high color density, free from the occurrence of bleeding or feathering even on recycled paper, and possessing water resistance. An ink composition comprising a pigment dispersible and/or soluble in water without the aid of any dispersant and a glycol ether selected from the group consisting of diethylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether, triethylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether, propylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether, and dipropylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether can realize a print having no significant bleeding or feathering. Further, a high-quality image having much less bleeding or feathering can be realized by an ink jet recording method wherein a reaction solution, containing a reactant, capable of breaking the state of dispersion and/or dissolution of a pigment in the ink composition is brought into contact with the ink composition.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ink, for ink jet recording, which can form a high-quality print having no significant bleeding or feathering on plain paper, recycled paper, or coat paper.
2. Background Art
Ink jet recording is a recording method wherein an ink is ejected as small droplets through a fine nozzle and deposited onto the surface of a recording medium to record letters or figures on the recording medium. An ink used in such ink jet recording is required to have properties including the formation of a record having a good drying property and free from bleeding or feathering and uniform recording on the surface of recording media irrespective of the type of the recording media.
What is to be noted here as a problem associated with the above properties is that, when paper is used as the recording medium, a difference in penetration of an ink between fibers constituting the paper is likely to cause bleeding or feathering. The problem of bleeding or feathering is more significant on the recycled paper which, in recent years, has become extensively used from the viewpoint of environmental problems. This is because the recycled paper is an aggregate of various paper components different from one another in rate of ink penetration. The bleeding or feathering due to the difference in penetration rate.
Various ink compositions have hitherto been proposed in order to prevent bleeding or feathering.
For example, Japanese Patent Publication No 2907/1990 proposes the utilization of a glycol ether as a wetting agent, Japanese Patent Publication No. 15542/1989 proposes the utilization of a water-soluble organic solvent, and Japanese Patent Publication No. 3837/1990 proposes the utilization of a dye dissolution accelerator. U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,675 proposes the addition of diethylene glycol monobutyl ether in order to improve the penetration of the ink, U.S. Pat. No. 5,183,502 proposes the addition of Surfynol 465 as an acetylene glycol surfactant, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,196,056 proposes the addition of both diethylene glycol monobutyl ether and Surfynol 465. In this connection, it should be noted that diethylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether is known also as "butyl carbitol" and described in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,291,580. Further, the use of diethylene glycol ether has been studied in U.S. Pat. No. 2,083,372. Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 147861/1981 proposes the combined use of a pigment and triethylene glycol monomethyl ether.
Furthermore, heating of recording paper has been studied for reducing the bleeding or feathering. Heating of recording paper at the time of recording poses problems including that much time is necessary in order to raise the temperature of a heating section in the recording apparatus to a predetermined temperature. Moreover, the power consumption of the body of the recording apparatus is increased. Sometimes, recording media, such as recording paper, are damaged by the heat.
In the case of inks using a pigment, methyl ethers as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 147861/1981 are, in many cases, used as the glycol ethers for inhibiting the penetration of the ink.
However, a need still exits for an ink composition which can realize a high-quality image having no significant bleeding or feathering.
An ink composition comprising a combination of a pigment with a butyl ether of a glycol, such as diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, has not been proposed in the art, so far as the present inventors know.

Pigment ink composition capable of forming image having no significant bleeding or feathering


A medication dispensing apparatus comprising a liquid container having an open end and a cap assembly engagably removable from the open end of the container. The cap assembly comprises an external cap having a lower end, an inner fixing element adapted to be fitted into the open end of the liquid container and connected to the lower end of the external cap. The cap assembly further comprises a dropper connected through the inner fixing element and having a fluid passageway and activation element for aspirating liquid from the container into the dropper. The activation element comprises a piston mounted in sliding relationship within the fluid passageway of the dropper and having a first position at the lower end of the fluid passageway and a second position at the upper end of the fluid passageway, and an actuating elemnt disposed within the external cap and connected to the piston for advancing or retracting the piston within the fluid passageway thereby aspirating liquid from the container when the piston is retracted from its first position to its second position.

Many prescribed drugs are designed to be taken at regular intervals during the day to achieve their proper effect. In fact, in certain diseases, such as heart disease and in the control of diabetes and blood pressure, missed dosages can prove quite serious. This is particularly common with the elderly and infirm since such patients have some difficulty recalling the time at which a previous dose of medicine was taken or even whether it was taken at all. Furthermore, such patients often must be reminded when the correct time comes to take the medication.


A current mode power supply having a switching topology with a pulse width modulated duty cycle with a current sensing resistor is short circuit protected by a current limit circuit. The current limit circuit has inputs coupled to the current sensing resistor and the dc source input. The current limit circuit provide an output signal connected to the pulse width modulator, for shortening the duty cycle in dependence upon the sum of voltage signals from the current sensing resistor and the dc source input.

The power stage of conventional current mode power supply has a lot of advantages inherent in its topology. One is that if a short circuit occurs, the voltage on the current sense resistor increases, exceeding the current limit threshold set by the PWM chip, thus causing removal of the gate drive from the MOSFET transistor. During the time required to remove the gate drive the MOSFET must dissipate power. This is normally facilitated by a heatsink. Cost and space consideration make it desirable to eliminate the need for a heatsink for Power MOSFET transistors or, to reduce the heatsink size to the minimum required for a normal power supply operation.

Current limit circuit in current mode power supplies


A new variety of hop plant (H87311-3) originating as the result of a controlled cross pollination between an unpatented John I. Haas, Inc. female hop plant No. 832-17 with an unpatented John I. Haas, Inc. male hop plant No. 833-53M, and unique particularly for its cones' unusually high percentage of alpha acids when compared to its female grandparent variety Galena (unpatented) and otherwise as herein described.

Hops are grown commercially for use in flavoring beers, stouts and ales. Lupulin glands inside female hop cones provide the resins and essential oils which are the primary components of the hop flavor each variety imparts to beers, stouts, and ales. New hop varieties are evaluated for their growing characteristics, per acre hop cone yield (dried to approximately 8% moisture), the chemical composition of the resins and essential oils contained within the hop cone's lupulin glands, and the unique flavor each variety imparts to beers, stouts and ales. Only female hop plants produce cones containing lupulin glands, and thus only female hops have any commercial value. Male hop plants have no commercial value other than for use in breeding programs to create new varieties.
This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of hop and more particularly to an asexually reproduced hop variety selected from among hop plants resulting from a controlled cross pollination between an unpatented John I. Haas, Inc. (Haas) female hop No. 832-17 with unpatented Haas male hop NO. 833-53M.
Haas female hop No. 832-17 originated from a controlled cross pollination in 1982 between unpatented Galena female hop and unpatented male hop USDA Accession No. 63015M. Haas male hop No. 833-53M originated from a controlled cross pollination in 1982 between unpatented female hop USDA Accession No. 21055 and unpatented male hop USDA Accession No. 63015M.
The controlled cross pollination program resulting in the creation of the new hop variety, hereafter called "H87311-3", was performed in 1986 by Mr. Gene Probasco, a botanist employed by John I. Haas, Inc., in a Haas greenhouse located at 1112 North 16th Avenue, Yakima, Wash. 98902. Mr. Probasco discovered the H87311-3 variety in 1988, among the hop plants which were produced from the seeds resulting from the above described controlled cross pollination progrm.
The seeds from the cross between Haas female hop No. 832-17 and Haas male hop No. 833-53M were planted in a Haas greenhouse in 1987. The most vigorous plants resulting from the cross were selected and planted in a Haas hop field located at Wada Farm, Yakima Golding Farms, Toppenish, Wash. This planting did not produce a crop during the planting year.
In 1988, as a result of chemical analysis and field observations of the hop plants resulting from the Haas female 832-17.times.Haas male 833-53M cross, Mr. Probasco was attracted to the H87311-3 hop plant for its unusually high percentage of alpha acids coupled with its reasonable projected per acre cone yield. The per acre cone yield projections were based upon the cone production of the single H87311-3 hop plant observed in 1988. The plant of this application has been repeatedly asexually reproduced by rooting cuttings at the address identified above. The clones of this plant have been observed to be identical to the original selection in every distinguishing characteristic and establish that the plant is genetically stable through successive generations by asexual propagation.
In 1989, second (2nd) generation rootstock from the H8731 1-3 variety was planted in a one acre test plot located at Wada Farm. This greenhouse produced planting did not produce a crop during the planting year.
However, in 1990, chemical analysis and field observations of the first harvestable crop of the second (2nd) generation plants in the one-acre test plot provided additional information supporting the per acre cone yield projections made from the original H87311-3 plant selected in 1988; confirmed the unusually high alpha acids percentage characteristics of the new variety; and initiated the accumulation of historical agronomic data on the new variety. It is important to note that first year per acre cone yields in Washington state typically are lower than normal per acre yields for Washington state hop fields in subsequent years. Consequently, the per acre cone yield observations made from this first year one acre test plot were used to merely project anticipated normal yields for the new variety.
Also, in 1990, John I. Haas, Inc., performed the first year trials of hexane extraction of the alpha acids on bales of the H87311-3 hop variety from the first crop produced from the one acre test plot. These initial extraction trials were successful because Haas was able to extract a minimum of 93% of the alpha acids present in the H87311-3 hop cones. John I. Haas, Inc. requires that a minimum of 93% of alpha acids be extractable from a new hop variety in order for the new variety to be considered potentially commercially viable.
In 1991, second (2nd) and third (3rd) generation rootstock from the H87311-3 variety was planted in a larger test plot of approximately 10 acres (large acreage test plot) at one of John I. Haas, Inc.'s hop farms located at Toppenish, Wash. This planting did not yield a crop in 1991.
However, in 1991, the one acre test plot of second (2nd) generation plants at Wada Farm produced a second crop of hop cones. The second year per acre cone production was two thousand three hundred and ninety eight (2398) pounds per acre. This is well within the range of per acre cone production for a commercially viable hop variety. The analytical data from chemical analysis of multiple random samples from bales of cones harvested from the one acre test plot showed an average alpha acids percentage of 18.2% (ASBC spectrophotometric method). This is an unusually high alpha acids percentage, and is the primary novel characteristic of this new variety.
In 1991, John I. Haas, Inc., also performed the second year trials of hexane extraction of the alpha acids on bales of the H87311-3 hop variety from the second crop produced from the one acre test plot. These initial extraction trials confirmed that Haas was again able to extract a minimum of 93% of the alpha acids present in the H87311-3 hop cones.
In 1992, no new rootstock was planted. Instead, the second (2nd) generation rootstock in the one acre test plot at Wada Farm was subjected to a third year of field observation and chemical analysis. In 1992, the third year per acre cone production was two thousand and twenty (2020) pounds per acre. This is still well within the range of per acre cone production for a commercially viable hop variety, but was on the low side due to slightly adverse seasonal weather conditions during the 1992 growing season. The analytical data from chemical analysis of multiple random samples from bales of cones harvested from one acre test plot showed an average alpha acids percentage of 17.8%. The third year hexane extraction trials confirmed again that Haas was able to consistently extract a minimum of 93% of the alpha acids present in second (2nd) generation H87311-3 hop cones.
Also, in 1992, the large acreage test plot of second (2nd) and third (3rd) generation plants produced its first crop of hop cones. The analytical data from chemical analysis of multiple random samples from bales of cones harvested from the large acreage test plot in 1992 showed an average alpha acids percentage of 18.2%. Field observations showed hop cone yields of one thousand six hundred and fifty (1650) pounds per acre. Again it is important to note that first year per acre cone yields in Washington state typically are lower than normal per acre yields for Washington state hop fields in subsequent years. This first year yield for hop cones in a large acreage test plot in Washington state were well within the accepable range for a commercially viable variety.
All of the testing and evaluation of the H87311-3 variety's growing characteristics, per acre hop cone yield, analytical data and alpha acids extraction tests were carried out on hop farms, laboratory facilities, and industrial extraction facilities which are wholly owned and controlled by John I. Haas, Inc.
No brewing trials for any beers, stouts or ales had been conducted on this new variety as of the end of the 1992 growing season.
Based upon the field observations performed, and chemical analytical data collected, during this testing and evaluation program from 1988 through 1992, it appears that second (2nd) and third (3rd) generation H87311-3 hop plants demonstrate genetic stability with respect to the new variety's novel characteristic of unusually high alpha acids yields. Also, the new H87311-3 variety demonstrates genetic stability with respect to the production of commercially viable per acre hop cone yields.
This new hop variety has been carefully compared to its female parent, the unpatented Haas female hop No. 832-17, and to its unpatented grandmother variety Galena. (Please note that the hop industry does not make or rely upon any comparisons between new varieties and their male parents or male grandparents, because male hops have no commercial value.). The primary difference between the new H87311-3 variety and its female parent and grandparent varieties is the unusually high alpha acids percentages in bales of harvested hop cones.


A tunable monolithic integrated photodetector (10) detects a selected wavelength of incident light within a wavelength range. The photodetector comprises a multiple quantum well (MQW) filter means for receiving and filtering the incident light, and an MQW detector means for receiving light from the MQW filter means and for detecting the selected wavelength. A fixed voltage bias V.sub..DELTA. is disposed between the filter means and the detector means for causing the filter means to absorb light wavelengths around the selected wavelength to thereby enhance the detectability of the selected wavelength. Further, a variable voltage bias V.sub.P is selectively and proportionally imposed on both the filter means and the detector means for permitting tuning of the photodetector. A fixed filter may also be employed for filtering the incident light so that light wavelengths which are outside the range of the photodetector are eliminated. Finally, a plurality of the photodetectors may be arranged in a two dimensional array for image processing.

When light strikes a photosensitive material, light energy, or photons, are absorbed by the material, and an electrical current, often called a photocurrent because it results from the absorption of photons, is generated in the material. Photocurrent refers to the flow of electrons or holes within the material. Moreover, a peak in the photocurrent spectrum of the material which results from the absorption of photons is oftentimes referred to as an exciton.
In the prior art, it has been shown that a multiple quantum well (MQW) diode can be used as a photodetector whose voltage of maximum photocurrent, i.e., a large exciton, is dependent upon the wavelength of incident light. In this regard, see P. H. Wood et al., "Wavelength-Selective Voltage-Tunable Photodetector Made from Multiple Quantum Wells," Appl. Phys. Lett., vol. 47, no. 3, pp. 190-192, Aug. 1, 1985. An MQW material is essentially a narrow bandgap material which has a thickness substantially less than the diameter of an exciton and which is sandwiched between wider bandgap materials so as to enhance the exciton via confinement of the energy potential well. The voltage of maximum photocurrent within the MQW diode can be located and related to the wavelength of the incident light, thereby allowing for measurements of the wavelength. Identifying the wavelength of incident light is beneficial in imaging and spectroscopy applications.
However, the light incident on a photosensitive material can create multiple peaks in the photocurrent spectrum, that is, more than one exciton. The photocurrent exhibits a relatively large exciton, called a heavy hole (hh) exciton, at the particular wavelength of incident light, as well as any number of smaller excitons, called light hole (lh) excitons, at other wavelengths of the photocurrent spectrum. Needless to say, the occurrence of multiple excitons causes potential ambiguity when one attempts to determine the wavelength of incident light.
More specifically, at room temperature (i.e., approximately 300 degrees Kelvin), the selectivity of an MQW diode is step-like, producing photocurrent at all photon wavelengths at and above the exciton wavelength. If no electrical bias is applied to the MQW diode, the peak-to-valley ratio of the hh exciton to the lh exciton is typically about 1.3 to 1 and reduces considerably with applied bias. See A. M. Fox et al., "Quantum Well Carrier Sweep Out; Relation to Electroabsorption and Exciton Saturation," IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics, vol. 27, p. 2281 (1991). As the foregoing ratio is reduced, the lh excitons become indistinguishable from the hh excitons. With a 10 V/.mu.m bias, the photocurrent peak at the lh exciton is actually larger than the peak at the hh exciton and occurs at the same wavelength as the hh exciton at 0 V/.mu.m bias.
Thus, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry for a tunable monolithic photodetector for detecting light at a selected wavelength within a wavelength range and which does not suffer from the problems and deficiencies of the prior art, as noted in the foregoing.


A process is provided for the production of paraxylene by the methylation of toluene in the presence of a zeolite bound zeolite catalyst. The catalyst comprises first zeolite crystals which are bound together by second zeolite crystals. When used to methylate toluene to para-xylene, the zeolite bound zeolite catalyst has a para-xylene selectivity greater than thermodynamic equilibrium. This selectivity can be enhanced by selectivating the catalyst.

Of the xylene isomers, i.e., ortho-, meta- and para-xylene, the paraxylene is of particular value as a chemical intermediate in a number of applications being useful in the manufacture of terephthalic acid which is an intermediate in the manufacturer of synthetic fibers. One process for manufacturing para-xylene is by disproportionation of toluene into xylenes. One of the disadvantages of this process is that large quantities of benzene are also produced. Another process used to obtain para-xylene involves the isomerization of a feedstream that contains non-equilibrium quantities of mixed ortho- and meta-xylene isomers and is lean with respect to para-xylene content. A disadvantage of this process is that the separation of the para-xylene from the other isomers is expensive.
Zeolites are comprised of a lattice of silica and optionally alumina combined with exchangeable cations such as alkali or alkaline earth metal ions. Although the term "zeolites" includes materials containing silica and optionally alumina, it is recognized that the silica and alumina portions may be replaced in whole or in part with other oxides. For example, germanium oxide, tin oxide, phosphorous oxide, and mixtures thereof can replace the silica portion. Boron oxide, iron oxide, gallium oxide, indium oxide, and mixtures thereof can replace the alumina portion. Accordingly, the terms "zeolite", "zeolites" and "zeolite material", as used herein, shall mean not only materials containing silicon and, optionally, aluminum atoms in the crystalline lattice structure thereof, but also materials which contain suitable replacement atoms for such silicon and aluminum, such as gallosilicates, silicoaluminophosphates (SAPO) and aluminophosphates (ALPO). The term "aluminosilicate zeolite", as used herein, shall mean zeolite materials consisting essentially of silicon and aluminum atoms in the crystalline lattice structure thereof.
Processes have been proposed for the production of xylenes by the methylation of toluene using a zeolite catalyst. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 3,965,207 involves the methylation of toluene using a zeolite catalyst such as a ZSM-5. U.S. Pat. No. 4,670,616 involves the production of xylenes by the methylation of toluene using a borosilicate molecular sieve which is bound by a binder such as alumina, silica, or alumina-silica.
Synthetic zeolites are normally prepared by the crystallization of zeolites from a supersaturated synthesis mixture. The resulting crystalline product is then dried and calcined to produce a zeolite powder. Although the zeolite powder has good adsorptive properties, its practical applications are severely limited because it is difficult to operate fixed beds with zeolite powder. Therefore, prior to using in commercial processes, the zeohte crystals are usually bound.
The zeolite is typically bound by forming a zeolite aggregate such as a pill, sphere, or extrudate. The extrudate is usually formed by extruding the zeolite in the presence of a non-zeolitic binder and drying and calcining the resulting extrudate. The binder materials used are resistant to the temperatures and other conditions, e.g., mechanical attrition, which occur in various hydrocarbon conversion processes. Examples of binder materials include amorphous materials such as alumina, silica, titania, and various types of clays. It is generally necessary that the zeolite be resistant to mechanical attrition, that is, the formation of fines which are small particles, e.g., particles having a size of less than 20 microns.
Although such bound zeolite aggregates have much better mechanical strength than the zeolite powder, when such a bound zeolite is used for toluene methylation, the performance of the catalyst, e.g., activity, selectivity, activity maintenance, or combinations thereof, can be reduced because of the binder. For instance, since the amorphorous binder is typically present in an amount of up to about 50 wt. % of zeolite, the binder dilutes the adsorptive properties of the zeolite aggregate. In addition, since the bound zeolite is prepared by extruding or otherwise forming the zeolite with the binder and subsequently drying and calcining the extrudate, the amorphous binder can penetrate the pores of the zeolite or otherwise block access to the pores of the zeolite, or slow the rate of mass transfer to the pores of the zeolite which can reduce the effectiveness of the zeolite when used in hydrocarbon conversion processes. Furthermore, when such a bound zeolite is used in catalytic conversions processes such as toluene methylation, the binder may affect the chemical reactions that are taking place within the zeolite and also may itself catalyze undesirable reactions which can result in the formation of undesirable products.


A blind slat assembly for door/window Venetian blinds includes a door/window frame made up of a plurality of side brackets wherein the left and right side brackets are provided with a plurality of retaining holes disposed at the corresponding inner sides thereon respectively for blind slats to be mounted thereto, and a linkage rod is attached at the same side of the blind slats thereon. A thicker locating rod is disposed at the center of the blind slat thereon, and a protruded coupling section is extending at both ends of the central locating rod thereof respectively to be registered with the retaining holes of the left/right side brackets thereof so as to attach the blind slat onto the door/window frame thereby. Via the flexibility of the blind slats thereof, each blind slat is capable of being pushed at both lateral sides thereof till slightly bent into an arc shape at the middle section thereof, permitting the protruded coupling sections of the central locating rod thereof to detach from the retaining holes of the left/right side brackets according to the deformation of the blind slat thereof. Thus, the blind slat is retrieved in a fast and easy manner for the replacement of a new blind slat assembled in the same way above without the door/window frame being troublesomely dismantled in the operation thereof, facilitating an easy and fast dismounting as well as assembling of the blind slats for variation and replacement thereof.

The present invention is related to a blind slat assembly for door/window Venetian blinds wherein left/right side brackets of a door/window frame are provided with a plurality of retaining holes at the corresponding inner sides thereon respectively for blind slats to be mounted thereto, and a linkage rod is mounted at the same side of the blind slats thereon; whereby, via the flexibility of the blind slats thereof, each blind slat is capable of being pushed at both lateral sides thereof till slightly bent into an arc shape at the middle section thereof, permitting protruded coupling sections extending at both ends of a central locating rod of the blind slat thereof to detach from the retaining holes of the left/right side brackets according to the deformation of the blind slat thereof. Thus, the blind slat is retrieved in a fast and easy manner for the replacement of a new blind slat assembled in the same way above without the door/window frame being troublesomely dismantled in the operation thereof, facilitating an easy and speedy dismounting as well as assembling of the blind slats for variation and replacement thereof.
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional blind slat assembly for door/window Venetian blinds include a door/window frame 10 made up of a plurality of side brackets 11 mounted into a frame body, a plurality of retaining holes 111 disposed at the corresponding inner sides of the left and right side brackets 11 thereon for pivotal posts 121 protruding at both lateral sides of each blind slat 12 to be registered therewith so as to locate the blind slats 12 onto the door/window frame 10 thereof, and a linkage rod 122 attached at the same side of the blind slats 12 to actuate the blind slats 12 synchronically upwards or downwards in the folding or unfolding operation of the Venetian blind thereof for sheltering effect thereof.
There are some drawbacks to such conventional blind slats for door/window Venetian blinds. Most of all, to dismount the blind slats 12 from the door/window frame 10 for variation of different styles or replacement of new ones, each of the side brackets 11 must be individually dismantled to detach the left/right side brackets 11 from the blind slats 12 thereof before new blind slats 12 are assembled onto the door/window frame 10 thereof, which is both troublesome and time-consuming in the operation thereof.

Blind slat assembly for door/window venetian blind


Computer systems and methods ensuring high availability of cryptographic keys using a shared file system. The keys are encrypted with at least one shareable master key to generate corresponding encrypted cryptographic keys, which are stored in a key database in the shared file system. A master key manager with access to the key database is elected from among master key manager candidates and is assigned a common virtual address. All master key manager candidates have the shareable master key such that during a failover event the availability of the encrypted cryptographic keys is not interrupted as a new master key manager takes over the common virtual address from the previous master key manager. Additionally, a message authentication code (MAC) is deployed for testing the integrity of keys during their retrieval.

Computing systems are becoming more highly distributed and they are required to support many users, each operating one or more client devices. Some of these systems are centered about computer clusters whose machines or nodes execute client requests and serve the desired files. A large number of client devices ranging from smart phones to computers are usually connected to such systems at all times. The users of these devices have come to expect high availability of supported services.
At the same time, growth in the number client devices is putting pressure on security of individual services. In particular, the focus is on the handling of cryptographic keys that are used for file encryption and decryption in such computing systems. The management of these keys has to ensure both their high availability and security. Needless to say, satisfying both requirements at the same time is a challenge.
Most modern computer systems deploy a key manager for storing and handling of cryptographic keys. The key manager, in conjunction with other authentication and authorization functions, determines which parties or clients are authorized to retrieve any particular key. For added safety, several secure key managers are usually deployed together under some type of failover scheme. In other words, there is an agreed-upon process that dictates how the secure key managers act in the event that one or more of them fail.
In some systems, the secure key managers are synchronized and use time-outs when a client happens to be connected to a failing key manager. This means that the client has to wait until after the time-out to be connected to an active key manager, thus negating the requirement of high availability. Furthermore, all key managers have to be synchronized in order to ensure proper operation.
SafeNet's Key Secure is an example of a system with a number of key servers and it is described in the SafeNet KeySecure Product Brief, Feb. 22, 2013, pp. 1-4. This system works well when all key servers are operational and updated, but presents synchronization problems and operation blockage when one of them is down. Thus, a user may have to wait a potentially long time before the system is able to fulfill their key request. A key server may be unavailable when a key operation is performed, require synchronization and possible manual intervention.
Another approach is taken in the Virtual Machine Manager of Microsoft as described in pre-release documents entitled "Configuring Distributed Key Management in VMM", Oct. 17, 2013, pp. 1-3. This approach uses a multi-master system with a loose criterion for convergence of their replicas when the system reaches steady state. At any particular instant in time, the replicas are not guaranteed to be consistent with each other. That is because in the multi-master paradigm changes can be applied to any replica at any time. When any particular master makes an update, it uses the time stamps of changes in the replication messages to determine whether it should update or discard the replication message. Due to finite response time of such systems, certain corner cases may force failure modes due to key conflict.
Another approach to encryption and key managers is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 7,877,603 to Goodman et al. This system relates to a storage drive that communicates with encryption and key managers. It is useful in the context of encrypting removable media but not extendable to distributed computing environments. Another useful teaching related to a key manager that tracks which assets are encrypted with which keys in the context of a data archiving system is found in U.S. Pat. No. 7,801,871 to Gosnell.
Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 8,385,551 to Pourzandi et al. teaches a highly available cryptographic key storage that deploys a classic active/passive failover model. This approach is better adapted to a highly available computer system but still suffers from a number of shortcomings. One of the main ones is the assumption made during key creation that backup nodes of the system are up. When this assumption does not hold, then the key creation operation blocks.
Thus, although a considerable amount of work has been devoted to devising appropriate computer systems and methods for highly available and secure key management, many challenges remain. In particular, it would be an advance in the art to further increase cryptographic key security in such computer systems while compromising little or not at all on the high availability aspect.

Methods and computer systems with provisions for high availability of cryptographic keys


A method for improving gap coverage in data collection in an automatic meter reading system is disclosed that reduces overall system cost while improving data collection. A transceiver in the system receives data from a plurality of meter modules via encoded reader transmitters (ERTs, or endpoints) and transmits the received data to a central utility database that assigns a unique identification code for each of the meter modules in the system. Data collected via the endpoints is transmitted to the central utility database and correlated with identification codes in the utility database to determine which endpoints did not respond. A data collection error is assigned to the endpoint from which data is not received by the central utility database and a receiver module is then positioned adjacent the endpoint assigned the data collection error to improve data collection.

Wireless automatic meter reading (AMR) systems are well known. Typically, each utility meter is provided with a battery-powered encoder that collects meter readings and periodically transmits those readings over a wireless network to a central station. The power limitations imposed by the need for the encoder to be battery powered and by regulations governing radio transmissions effectively prevent direct radio transmissions to the central station. Instead, wireless AMR systems typically utilize a layered network of overlapping intermediate receiving stations that receive transmissions from a group of meter encoders and forward those messages on to the next higher layer in the network as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,056,107. These types of layered wireless transmission networks allow for the use of lower power, unlicensed wireless transmitters in the thousands of end point encoder transmitters that must be deployed as part of a utility AMR system for a large metropolitan area.
In 1985, as an attempt to stimulate the production and use of wireless network products, the FCC modified Part 15 of the radio spectrum regulation, which governs unlicensed devices. The modification authorized wireless network products to operate in the industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) bands using spread spectrum modulation. The ISM frequencies that may be used include 902 to 928 MHz, 2.4 to 2.4835 GHz, and 5.725 to 5.850 GHz. The FCC allows users to operate spread spectrum wireless products, such as utility metering systems, without obtaining FCC licenses if the products meet certain requirements. This deregulation of the frequency spectrum eliminates the need for the user organizations to perform costly and time-consuming frequency planning to coordinate radio installations that will avoid interference with existing radio systems.
Synchronization between a transmitter and a receiver in an AMR system can be accomplished by using an encoded preamble at the beginning of each transmission. A correlator is then used to synchronize an incoming sampled data stream with a known sync pattern once a phasing arrangement partitions the sampled data stream into a first and second sampled sequences. In a wireless meter reading system, for example, where cost and battery power are central concerns, undesirable consequences of stabilization circuitry can erect a significant manufacturing and system design barrier.
One challenge faced by designers of wireless meter reading systems involves providing adequate coverage with transceivers located in the field that are receiving data from metering units that will be transmitted back to the utility. Current meter reading systems use high sensitivity receivers placed on utility poles to read as many meter modules as possible. These receivers are expensive and therefore must cover a large area. Signal multipathing and attenuation due to buildings, fences, and other structures cause holes in the coverage area. In order to fill these holes, additional receivers have to be placed in the coverage area, increasing the cost of the system. In addition, the radio frequency (RF) link becomes marginal for some modules, requiring more intermediate receivers to be placed for redundancy. A goal in designing these systems is to achieve a balance of coverage and hardware invested in the meter reading system.
Another challenge faced by utilities is the implementation and management of energy-saving load shedding programs. The lack of access to real-time data on the amount of actual energy still being used once load-shedding commands are sent to an electrical load is a typical problem encountered in load shedding program execution. Utilities have no way of knowing if a load shedding command, sent to a designated home or industrial location, has been overridden by the customer. In this example, the utility has no real-time data as to how much energy is actually being preserved in spite of the implementation of load shedding programs.
Accordingly, there is a need for a system for collecting data from meter modules located in a wide area that has a high degree of accuracy and reliability. An approach that addresses the aforementioned problems, as well as other related problems, is therefore desirable.

Method and system for collecting and transmitting data in a meter reading system


A very high speed injector permits injecting high pressure diesel oil directly into a diesel engine combustion chamber. The very high speed permits almost arbitrary rate shaping, minimizing formation of diesel particulate matter and oxides of nitrogen pollutants. An electrical waveform is pre-determined for a desired fuel injection rate shape. The electrical waveform is converted into a corresponding magnetic field waveform by a solenoid coil. A giant magnetostrictive material (GMM) transduces the magnetic field waveform into a corresponding mechanical waveform. The mechanical waveform positions a valve element to control flow rate. The very high speed features include a thin solenoid coil of relatively few turns, proportionally supplying up to one hundred amperes at up to one hundred volts in no greater than ten microseconds, the GMM is subject to a bias compressive stress magnitude of no less than fourteen megapascals, and the magnetic flux path is minimized and designed to suppress eddy currents.

It is well established that "electronic" fuel injectors use a solenoid to control a hydraulic valve. In a solenoid, a magnetic field traverses the non-ferromagnetic free space between the ferromagnetic pole surfaces. The pole surfaces are then attracted to each other by the mechanical force generated at these surfaces.
Two natural characteristics make a solenoid difficult to use for arbitrary speed rate shaping. First, it is not a proportional displacement device. Stability forces it to be either fully at one end or the other of its travel or moving toward one of these ends. Any shaping is more a result of inherent solenoid behavior rather than what would be desirable to control fuel combustion with air. Second, its mechanical force arises from the discontinuity in permeability at its pole surfaces, which limits its force capability, and this force is an inverse function of the square of the distance between the poles. Thus, the solenoid is inherently an unstable, nonlinear device anywhere between its two ends of travel. The resulting slow "bang-bang" operation increases injector complexity needed to rate shape injected fuel.
Limited force results in limited valve speed capability. U.S. Pat. No. 6,298,829 teaches that the fastest solenoid-operated valve opens in no less than seven hundred microseconds though this time may have been reduced. The need for varying the volumetric fuel flow rate during injection has been defined by SAE papers 981927, 981928, and 981930. Rate shaping for minimum production of diesel particulate matter (DPM) and oxides of nitrogen and maximum fuel economy requires much quicker and more controllable response, which in turn requires much higher and proportionally controllable mechanical force.
When considering practical ways to quickly and compactly generate high and proportionally controllable force, control of electromagnetic phenomena is first choice. In this category, there are only two classes of transducing materials around which to construct a transducer. Both material classes have much higher specific energy than can be obtained using electrostatic or electrodynamic (solenoid) means, enabling fast, compact, and relatively powerful transducers to be constructed. These solid transducing materials strain when subjected to either an electric field or a magnetic field.
The materials that respond to electric fields are known as electrostrictive, ferroelectric, and piezoelectric but will herein be referred to only as piezoelectric material or simply piezos. Similarly, the materials that respond to magnetic fields are known as magnetostrictive, ferromagnetic, and piezomagnetic but will herein be referred to only as magnetostrictive material. As a single class, these materials are referred to herein as shape change materials or SCMs. Colloquially, SCMs are also known as smart materials. There are many other types of SCMs but they are not addressed herein as they are not candidates to drive arbitrary speed fuel injectors. In particular, shape memory alloys lack speed and ferromagnetic shape memory alloys lack force.
The main features of interest combined by the magnetostrictive and piezo SCMs are their specific energy and speed. Since their 19th century discovery, a large body of specialized knowledge of their characteristics and optimum use has been developed. In contrast to surface forces such as those generated by a solenoid, SCMs produce powerful internal body forces which allow the energy coupled per unit volume to be much higher than presently possible per unit surface area of that volume. Because of this, one of their best developed high power electrical to mechanical conversion uses has been in Navy sonar sources.
Due to the high forces that SCMs exhibit, the first law of thermodynamics limits strain. The strains that can be obtained are similar in magnitude to thermal strains, but SCMs are useful because these forceful strains can be obtained much more quickly.

Very high speed rate shaping fuel injector


A new display panel system includes a stacked display panel and drive units therefor. The drive units include a computer for adjusting for the individual gamma characterics of each one of the display panels for color balancing purposes and for causing the luminance of each panel to be maximized, or at least greatly increased for each intensity level or shading of each color.

Large screen projection displays have been in demand for use in meetings, eduction, and for public announcement. Such systems are typically used in brightly lighted locations such as offices, airport lobbies and other public places. Thus, a bright screen with multicolored images is very important.
To satisfy the demand for such display systems, several types of liquid crystal display panel systems have been proposed. Such systems, however, have typically been limited in the number of different colors produced, or have exhibited poor contrast ratios. Such limitations result from various factors. For example, the physical and electrical characteristics of the individual liquid crystal display panel assemblies for producing colors, typically vary in actual production.
In a stacked display panel construction, a series of display panels and associated polarizers or filters are arranged along an optical path. The relative luminance of the individual panels is also effected by the order in which the panel assemblies are disposed within a stacked arrangement; i.e., a panel disposed more closely to the light source generally exhibits greater light transmittance characteristics as compared to a panel which is disposed more remotely from the light source along the common optical path because of the induced heating by the light source.
Another problem with conventional liquid crystal display panel systems is that the light transmission characteristics of the individual panels in a stacked panel arrangement, also vary in actual production. Consequently, the contrast levels of a multiple number of panels arranged along an optical path, does not follow in a linear manner, thereby resulting in color distortion.
Not only do the abstract values differ from panel to panel in a stacked configuration where each panel is responsible for a portion of the visible color spectrum, but also the excitation or gamma curves (applied voltage versus relative luminance) for each panel vary widely in significant manners. Accordingly, even if the panels could somehow be matched at one intensity or shading level, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to cause the contrast levels of the stacked panel arrangement to be balanced from one panel to the next, in a stacked panel arrangement.
Because typical liquid crystal display panel exhibits a hysteresis effect as a function of the applied voltage, different hues or shades of color can be produced by multiplexing the individual pixels or by applying incremented voltage steps between the excited and unexcited states of the panel. While such a technique may produce colors with multiple hues, it has been difficult, if not impossible, for such panel systems to produce a large number of different colors with multiple shading levels, because the relative luminance between the different colored panel assemblies varies to such a great extent.
For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,416,514, there is disclosed a liquid crystal color filter, which includes a set of differently colored dichroic polarizers interposed with an equal number of voltage responsive twisted nematic liquid crystal cells, and a neutral polarizer. Each of the above described elements are arranged along an optical path in a predetermined manner for modifying the spectral content of visible light incident to the filter to produce any one of eight predetermined colors. Shades of the predetermined colors are achieved by varying the voltage applied to the individual liquid crystal cells.
While the above described patented system may produce a full colored display image, it was limited to only an eight color system, since it would be difficult, if not impossible, to balance the filter colors for different hues on a pixel by pixel basis, as the light transmission characteristics of each of the liquid crystal display panels vary slightly, due to manufacturing inconsistencies between like panels and due to the physical and electrical characteristics of the panels. Thus, color balancing for the entire unit is generally unsatisfactory for some applications. More particularly, if the generating voltage levels are varied by same amount for each panel, each panel will have a different amount of relative luminance, thereby resulting in a distortion of the resulting colored image on a pixel by pixel image basis.

Stacked display panel construction and method of making same


A bass drum beater may include a shaft having a length, a beater head fixable to a selected position along the length, and a connector engageable to the beater head and to the shaft to secure the position. The beater head may form an angle with respect to the shaft and the angle may be adjustable along a range, which may be about 20 degrees to either side of perpendicular. A bass drum beater may also include a shaft, a beater head having a drumward side and a hole to engage the shaft, a beater face attachable to the drumward side, and a means for holding the beater head in a longitudinal position and an angular position with respect to the shaft, wherein the longitudinal position and the angular position are adjustable. The means may include a bushing around the hole and a screw engaging the bushing.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is directed to bass drum beaters, specifically a bass drum beater that adjusts to give drum players more options in equipment setup.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
A bass drum beater is operated by a drum pedal in conjunction with a player's foot to contact the surface of a bass drum. A bass drum is set up with a drum surface facing the front of a drum pedal. A bass drum beater usually comprises a shaft with a beater head at one end. The shaft is held by the drum pedal and the beater head swings in an arc when the drum pedal is depressed and contacts the drum surface.
Bass drums may come in different sizes and the floor upon which the drum is placed may not be even with the floor upon which the pedal is placed. In these circumstances, it may be beneficial to have a means for adjusting the bass drum beater so that the beater head hits the drum surface to produce the desired sound and tone. The bass drum beater may be placed so that the distance between the drum pedal and the beater head is longer or shorter, depending upon the desired contact position with respect to the bass drum. However, shortening the length of the distance from the drum pedal to the beater head usually involves shifting the position of bass drum beater as it is held by the drum beater and may result in the bottom of the shaft hitting the drum pedal or the drum head.


A first monoclonal antibody which specifically reacts with a human .alpha..sub.2 -plasmin inhibitor complex (PIC) and a human plasminogen; a second monoclonal antibody which reacts with PIC and also with a human .alpha..sub.2 -plasmin inhibitor; a third monoclonal antibody which reacts with PIC, but does not react with a human plasminogen and a human .alpha..sub.2 -plasmin inhibitor; hybridomas which secrete the first to third monoclonal antibodies, and an immunoassay using the first to third monoclonal antibodies.

In the plasma of patients suffering from disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and in the plasma of patients being treated by the thrombolytic therapy using urokinase or tissue plasminogen activators (t-PA), a plasminogen is activated to produce a plasmin. The resulting plasmin immediately forms a complex with an .alpha..sub.2 -plasmin inhibitor (.alpha..sub.2 PI: Aoki et al., J. Biol. Chem., 251, 5956-5965, 1976) at a ratio of 1:1 in circulating blood. The complex is the above PIC. Therefore, by measuring the PIC, it is possible to detect the activation of the plasmin. Recently, the PIC in the plasma is considered important in the diagnosis of DIC, as a molecular marker for monitoring the thrombolytic therapy, and so on. Accordingly, it is necessary to accurately and simply measure the amount of PIC in the blood or plasma.
As conventionally known methods for measuring PIC, there may be mentioned the following five methods. The first method uses two-dimensional crossed immunoelectrophoresis. The second method is a latex agglutination using polyclonal antibodies which recognize the necantigen of PIC. The third method is an enzyme immunoassay wherein a polyclonal antibody against the plasminogen and a polyclonal antibody against the .alpha..sub.2 -plasmin inhibitor, and one of them is immobilized and the other is labelled by an enzyme. The fourth method is an enzyme immunoassay wherein a monoclonal antibody which specifically recognizes the sites inhibiting the fibrinolysis action of the plasmin and existing in the .alpha..sub.2 -plasmin inhibitor, and a polyclonal antibody against a plasmin are used; one of them is immobilized and the other is labelled by an enzyme; and the plasma specimen is diluted 1200-fold for measurement. The fifth method is the latex agglutination wherein two or three types of monoclonal antibodies which recognize the necantigen of PIC are used.
The first method, however, had the defects of a low sensitivity and lack of quantitativeness. The second method had the defects that the PIC cannot be specifically measured. The third method had the defects that, while the sensitivity is good, it is difficult to stably obtain anti-serum; and the immunoreaction is a two-step process,and so the procedure is complicated to require a long time for the measurement. In the fourth method, the defects of the third method were remedied by using a monoclonal antibody against the .alpha..sub.2 -plasmin inhibitor and carrying out the immunoreaction in a single step. However, the fourth method did not solve the defects inherent to the enzyme immunoreaction, that is, the complicated procedure and the long time required for the measurement. Further, the fourth method had the defects that it required the step of diluting the specimen 1200-fold so as to enable the single-step immunoreaction. The fifth method did not exhibit different specificity and measuring sensitivity in comparison with those of the second method wherein a polyclonal antibody is used, and did not solve the problem of the inability of specifically measuring PIC.
The present inventors engaged in research to develop a method for simply and accurately measuring PIC with good reproducibility, and as a result discovered three types of monoclonal antibodies; a first monoclonal antibody (PIC-1) exhibiting reactivity with both PIC and a plasminogen, a second monoclonal antibody (PIC-2) exhibiting reactivity with both PIC and an .alpha..sub.2 -plasmin inhibitor, and a third monoclonal antibody (PIC-3) exhibiting specific reactivity with PIC, but not exhibiting reactivity with a plasminogen and an .alpha..sub.2 -plasmin inhibitor which are the component proteins of the PIC, and further discovered that when a combination of two or more of these monoclonal antibodies are used, it is possible to specifically determine rapidly and accurately the PIC in the plasma without a step of dilution of the plasma specimen and without suffering from the interference of a free plasminogen and a free .alpha..sub.2 -plasmin inhibitor present in the specimen. Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide the above-mentioned novel monoclonal antibodies, hybridomas producing the above monoclonal antibodies, and an immunological determination method using the monoclonal antibodies.

Anti-human plasmin-.alpha..sub.2 -plasmin inhibitor complex antibodies, hybridomas, and immunological determination method


The present invention provides a catheter apparatus, an improved introducer system, and a methodology for creating a bypass on-demand between an unobstructed blood vessel such as the aorta and an obstructed blood vessel such as an obstructed coronary artery in-vivo using a prepared shape-memory alloy cuff and a graft segment in tandem as a shunt. The invention allows the placement and creation of single or multiple bypass grafts without use of a heart-lung machine and without need for stopping the heart of the patient during the coronary artery bypass surgery.

Coronary artery disease is the single leading cause of human mortality and is annually responsible for over 900,000 deaths in the United States alone. Additionally, over 3 million Americans suffer chest pain (angina pectoris) because of it. Typically, the coronary artery becomes narrowed over time by the build up of fat, cholesterol and blood clots. This narrowing of the artery is called arteriosclerosis; and this condition slows the blood flow to the heart muscle (myocardium) and leads to angina pectoris due to a lack of nutrients and adequate oxygen supply. Sometimes it can also completely stop the blood flow to the heart causing permanent damage to the myocardium, the so-called "heart attack."
The conventional treatment procedures for coronary artery disease vary with the severity of the condition. If the coronary artery disease is mild, it is first treated with diet and exercise. If this first course of treatment is not effective, then the condition is treated with medications. However, even with medications, if chest pain persists (which is usually secondary to development of serious coronary artery disease), the condition is often treated with invasive procedures to improve blood flow to the heart. Currently, there are several types of invasive procedures: (1) Catheterization techniques by which cardiologists use balloon catheters, atherectomy devices or stents to reopen up the blockage of coronary arteries; or (2) Surgical bypass techniques by which surgeons surgically place a graft obtained from a section of artery or vein removed from other parts of the body to bypass the blockage.
Conventionally, before the invasive procedures are begun, coronary artery angiography is usually performed to evaluate the extent and severity of the coronary artery blockages. Cardiologists or radiologists thread a thin catheter through an artery in the leg or arm to engage the coronary arteries. X-ray dye (contrast medium) is then injected into the coronary artery through a portal in the catheter, which makes the coronary arteries visible under X-ray, so that the position and size of the blockages in the coronary arteries can be identified. Each year in U.S.A., more than one million individuals with angina pectoris or heart attack undergo coronary angiographies for evaluation of such coronary artery blockages. Once the blocked arteries are identified, the physician and surgeons then decide upon the best method to treat them.
One of the medically accepted ways to deal with coronary arterial blockage is percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). In this procedure, cardiologists thread a balloon catheter into the blocked coronary artery and stretch it by inflating the balloon against the arterial plaques causing vascular blockage. The PTCA procedure immediately improves blood flow in the coronary arteries, relieves angina pectoris, and prevents heart attacks. Approximately 400,000 patients undergo PTCA each year in the U.S. However, when the arterial blockages are severe or widespread, the angioplasty procedure may fail or cannot be performed. In these instances, coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is then typically performed. In such bypass surgery, surgeons typically harvest healthy blood vessels from another part of the body and use them as vascular grafts to bypass the blocked coronary arteries. Each vascular graft is surgically attached with one of its ends joined to the aorta and the other end joined to the coronary artery. Approximately 500,000 CABG operations are currently performed in the U.S. each year to relieve symptoms and improve survival from heart attack.
It is useful here to understand in depth what a coronary arterial bypass entails and demands both for the patient and for the cardiac surgeon. In a standard coronary bypass operation, the surgeon must first make a foot-long incision in the chest and split the breast bone of the patient. The operation requires the use of a heart-lung machine that keeps the blood circulating while the heart is being stopped and the surgeon places and attaches the bypass grafts. To stop the heart, the coronary arteries also have to be perfused with a cold potassium solution (cardioplegia). In addition, the body temperature of the patient is lowered by cooling the blood as it circulates through the heart-lung machine in order to preserve the heart and other vital organs. Then, as the heart is stopped and a heart-lung machine pumps oxygenated blood through the patient's body, the surgeon makes a tiny opening into the front wall of the target coronary artery with a very fine knife (arteriotomy); takes a previously excised saphenous vein (a vein from a leg) or an internal mammary artery (an artery from the chest); and sews the previously excised blood vessel to the coronary artery.
The most common blood vessel harvested for use as a graft is the greater (long) saphenous vein, which is a long straight vein running from just inside the ankle bone to the groin. The greater saphenous vein provides a bypass conduit of the most desired size, shape, and length for use with coronary arteries. The other blood vessel frequently used as a bypass graft is the left or right internal mammary artery, which comes off the subclavian artery and runs alongside the undersurface of the breastbone (sternum). Typically, the internal mammary artery remains attached to the subclavian artery proximally (its upper part) but is freed up distally (its lower part); and it is then anastomosed to the coronary artery. However, the saphenous vein graft should be sewn not only to coronary artery but also to the aorta, since the excised vein is detached at both ends. Then, to create the anastomosis at the aorta, the ascending thoracic aorta is first partially clamped using a curved vascular clamp to occlude the proper segment of the ascending aorta; and a hole is then created through the front wall of the aorta to anchor the vein graft with sutures. The graft bypasses the blockage in the coronary artery and restores adequate blood flow to the heart. After completion of the grafting, the patient is taken off of the heart-lung machine and the patient's heart starts beating again. Most of the patients can leave the hospital in about 6 days after the CABG procedure.
It will be noted that coronary artery bypass surgery is considered a more definitive method for treating coronary arterial disease because all kinds of obstructions cannot be treated by angioplasty, and because a recurrence of blockages in the coronary arteries even after angioplasty is not unusual. Also coronary artery bypass surgery usually provides for a longer patency of the grafts and the bypassed coronary arteries in comparison with the results of PTCA procedure. However, coronary artery bypass surgery is a far more complicated procedure, having need of a heart-lung machine and a stoppage of the heart. Also, it is clearly the more invasive procedure and is more expensive as a graft to the coronary arteries such as the left anterior descending, diagonal branches, and ramus intermedius arteries (which are located on the surface of the heart relatively close to the left internal mammary artery). However, there are several disadvantages associated with a CABG operation with a left internal mammary artery graft, which are as follows: (1) technically, this artery is more tedious to take down; (2) sometimes the left internal mammary artery is inadequate in size and length; (3) the operation is suitable only for the five percent of candidates for coronary artery bypass because only a single left internal mammary artery is available as a graft; (4) anatomically, the operation is limited mainly to the left anterior descending coronary artery because of its location ad length; and (5) the majority of patients need more than single vessel bypass surgery.
In comparison, coronary arteries as small as 1 mm in diameter can be revascularized by vein grafting; and the saphenous vein is longer, larger, and more accessible than the left internal mammary artery. Equally important, although the greater or lesser saphenous veins of the leg are preferred, the cephalic or basilic veins in the arm are available as alternatives when the leg veins in the patient are unavailable or are unsuitable. For these reasons, the vein graft has today become the standard conduit for myocardial revascularization.
There remains, however, a long-standing and continuing need for a bypass technique which would allow surgeons to perform multiple bypass procedures using vein grafts as vascular shunts in a minimally invasive way, and, in particular, the need remains for a simpler method to place more than one vein graft proximally to the aorta and distally to the coronary artery without using a heart-lung machine and without stopping the heart. If such a technique were to be created, it would be recognized as a major advance in bypass surgery and be of substantial benefit and advantage for the patient suffering from coronary artery disease.

Catheter apparatus having an improved shape-memory alloy cuff and inflatable on-demand balloon for creating a bypass graft in-vivo


The present invention describes a processes, systems, and catalysts for the conversion of carbon dioxide and water and electricity into low carbon or zero carbon high quality fuels and chemicals. In one aspect, the present invention provides an integrated process for the conversion of a feed stream comprising carbon dioxide to a product stream comprising hydrocarbons between 5 and 24 carbon atoms in length.

Carbon dioxide is produced by many industrial and biological processes. Carbon dioxide is usually discharged into the atmosphere. However, since carbon dioxide has been identified as a significant greenhouse gas, these carbon dioxide emissions need to be reduced from these processes. Although, this carbon dioxide can be used to enhance oil and gas recovery from wells in limited cases, most of this captured carbon dioxide will be emitted into the atmosphere. A preferred method to deal with carbon dioxide is to efficiently capture and utilize the carbon dioxide and convert it into useful products such as fuels (e.g. diesel fuel, gasoline, gasoline blendstocks, jet fuel, kerosene, other) and chemicals (e.g. solvents, olefins, alcohols, aromatics, lubes, waxes, ammonia, methanol, other) that can displace fuels and chemicals produced from fossil sources such as petroleum and natural gas and therefore lower the total net emissions of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This is what is meant by low carbon, very low carbon, or zero carbon fuels and chemicals.
Carbon dioxide can be obtained from several sources. Industrial manufacturing plants that produce ammonia for fertilizer produce large amounts of carbon dioxide. Ethanol plants that convert corn or wheat into ethanol produce large amounts of carbon dioxide. Power plants that generate electricity from various resources (for example natural gas, coal, other resources) produce large amounts of carbon dioxide. Chemical plants such as nylon production plants, ethylene production plants, other chemical plants produce large amounts of carbon dioxide. Some natural gas processing plants produce CO2 as part of the process of purifying the natural gas to meet pipeline specifications. Capturing CO2 for utilization as described here often involves separating the carbon dioxide from a flue gas stream or another stream where the carbon dioxide is not the major component. Some CO2 sources are already relatively pure and can be used with only minor treatment (which may include gas compression) in the processes described herein. Some processes may require an alkylamine or other method that would be used to remove the carbon dioxide from the flue gas steam. Alkylamines used in the process include monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, methydiethanolamine, disopropylamine, aminoethoxyethnol, or combinations thereof. Metal Organic Framework (MOF) materials have also been used as a means of separating carbon dioxide from a dilute stream using chemisorption or physisorption to capture the carbon dioxide from the stream. Other methods to get concentrated carbon dioxide include chemical looping combustion where a circulating metal oxide material captures the carbon dioxide produced during the combustion process. Carbon dioxide can also be captured from the atmosphere in what is called direct air capture (DAC) of carbon dioxide.
Renewable sources of Hydrogen (H2) can be produced from water via electrolysis.
            H      2            O    =            H      2        +                  1        2                          O        2            This reaction uses electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. Electrolyzers consist of an anode and a cathode separated by an electrolyte. Different electrolyzers function in slightly different ways, mainly due to the different type of electrolyte material involved.
However, each electrolysis technology has a theoretical minimum electrical energy input of 39.4 kWh/kgH2 (HHV of hydrogen) if water is fed at ambient pressure and temperature to the system and all energy input is provided in the form of electricity. The required electrical energy input may be reduced below 39.4 kWh/kgH2 if suitable heat energy is provided to the system. Besides electrolysis, significant current research is examining ways to split water into hydrogen and oxygen using light energy and a photocatalyst. (Acar et al, Int. J Energy Res. 2016; 40:1449-1473).
One reaction that has been considered for utilization of carbon dioxide is the Reverse Water Gas Shift (RWGS) reaction.CO2+H2=CO+H2OThis reaction converts carbon dioxide and hydrogen to carbon monoxide and water. This reaction is endothermic at room temperature and requires heat to proceed and elevated temperature and a good catalyst is required for significant carbon dioxide conversion. A number of catalysts have been disclosed for the RWGS reaction. The primary catalyst studied previously were Cu or Pt or Rh dispersed on metal oxide supports. (Daza & Kuhn, RSC Adv. 2016, 6, 49675-49691).
With the CO (Carbon Monoxide) from the Reverse Water Gas Shift reaction and hydrogen from the electrolysis of water, the potential exists for useful products through the catalyst hydrogenation of carbon monoxide to hydrocarbons. Mixtures of H2 and CO are called synthesis gas or syngas. Syngas may be used as a feedstock for producing a wide range of chemical products, including liquid fuels, alcohols, acetic acid, dimethyl ether, methanol, ammonia, and many other chemical products.
The catalytic hydrogenation of carbon monoxide to produce light gases, liquids and waxes, ranging from methane to heavy hydrocarbons (C100 and higher) in addition to oxygenated hydrocarbons, is typically referred to Fischer-Tropsch (or F-T) synthesis. Traditional low temperature (<250° C.) F-T processes primarily produce a high weight (or wt. %) F-T wax (C25 and higher) from the catalytic conversion process. These F-T waxes are then hydrocracked and/or further processed to produce diesel, naphtha, and other fractions. During this hydrocracking process, light hydrocarbons are also produced, which may require additional upgrading to produce viable products. The catalysts that are commonly used for F-T are either Cobalt (Co) based, or Iron (Fe) based catalysts are also active for the water gas shift (WGS) reaction that results in the conversion of feed carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. See more details about the state of the art in Fischer-Tropsch (S. S. Ail, S. Dasappa/Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 58 (2016) 267-286).
To date, efficient and economical processes, systems, and catalysts to convert carbon dioxide to useful fuels and chemicals have not been developed. There is a need for better processes, systems, and catalysts.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Process for conversion of carbon dioxide and power into fuels and chemicals


The power inverter includes: a case made of a metal; a first power module provided in the case and including a DC terminal and an AC terminal; a second power module provided in the case and including a DC terminal and an AC terminal; and a cooling formation body for decreasing heat generated from the first and second power modules. The first and second power modules are disposed in a manner such that the DC terminals face each other.

A power inverter comprises mainly an inverter main circuit, a smoothing capacitor connected in parallel with a DC power supply terminal of the inverter main circuit, and a control circuit for controlling the inverter main circuit. The inverter main circuit has plural power semiconductors, and a power module is formed by predetermined number of power semiconductors as a unit. Consequently, the inverter main circuit is configured as one or more power modules each having plural power semiconductors.
As an example of configuring such a power inverter as a unit, a unit is known in which plural power modules are arranged such that their input/output terminals are aligned in the vertical direction and a smoothing capacitor is disposed near the upper central section above the input terminal.
Such a power inverter is disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-199363).
In a field of an electric motorcar which is driven by only an electric motor without using an internal combustion engine and a hybrid powered automobile using both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, it is desired to increase the proportion of the interior in the whole capacity of the vehicle as much as possible to improve comfortability.
Consequently, it is desired to miniaturize a control unit such that the control unit can be mounted in a space as small as possible. A power inverter electrically connected to a rotating electric machine for a vehicle is also desired to be miniaturized.
However, power of the rotating electric machine mounted on a vehicle is increasing and a heat generation amount of the power inverter is larger than that at the early stage of development. With increase in the power, the voltage used is also becoming higher. When the inductance of a main circuit is large, in many cases, surge voltage generated at the time of switching power semiconductors becomes an issue. As a solution, the withstand voltage of components may be increased. In this case, however, the whole apparatus becomes large.


A nib, among other parts which constitute a writing instrument, is made of a synthetic resin material in which engineering plastic is used. An ink supply wick includes a wick cover. An outer shape of a wick cover is determined such that it is attached to an outer periphery of the ink supply wick between the nib and the ink supply wick and is made to closely adhere to an inner periphery of the nib at least at the tip of the nib. A space between the nib and the ink supply wick is filled with the wick cover. The nib is made of a synthetic resin material in which engineering plastic is used. Therefore, the nib wear resistant and duration of the nib or the writing instrument can be extended.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a conical nib and a writing instrument using the same. More particularly, the invention relates to a wear-resistant conical nib and a writing instrument using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
A writing instrument which includes such a kind of conical nib is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. H9-156279. In the disclosed writing instrument, the nib includes a nib base body and a converging member. The nib base body includes a cylindrical base portion and five to eight combtooth-shaped pieces. The combtooth-shaped pieces, each having a circular arc cross section, protrude from one end of the base portion in a continuous manner. The combtooth-shaped pieces are arranged at equal intervals around the circumference of a shaft with slit-shaped grooves formed therebetween. A hemispherical split portion is formed at tips of the combtooth-shaped pieces. The converging member is formed by a metal pipe which may fit onto an outer periphery of the nib base body. When the converging member is fit onto the nib base body, the combtooth-shaped pieces are tapered gradually toward the tips thereof to form a conical shape. A hemispherical writing tip is formed at the tips of the combtooth-shaped pieces and ink feed paths are formed between adjacent combtooth-shaped pieces. An ink supply wick having a capillary action to an end tip thereof is inserted in a hollow space inside the nib (i.e., the pen nib base body). The ink supply wick is fixed to a tip of the pen shaft in an integrated manner and is connected to an ink reservoir inside the pen shaft. The thus-structured nib can be used in writing in many directions on a paper sheet. The nib can be used in writing from any positions and from any angles, even if the penis rotated about the pen shaft. In addition to that, characters of various features, such as characters of thick lines and thin lines, can be written by varying width of lines in accordance with writing pressure. Recently, the combtooth-shaped pieces have been made of an injection-molded plastic material in many cases in order to satisfy the demand for the improvement in machinability and in mass production.
However, writing instruments with such plastic conical nibs have a problem that wear resistance at the nibs is low and the nibs wear easily as compared with metal or ceramic ones.
The present invention is made to solve these related art problems and an object thereof is to provide a wear-resistant conical nib even if the conical nib is made of a plastic material, and to provide a writing instrument using the conical nib.

Conical nib and writing instrument using the same