An injection unit in which an offset load is not applied to a ball screw for moving an injection screw. A pusher plate is provided that is moved while being guided by guide rods extending between front and rear plates, and is mounted with the injection screw and the ball screw so as to be rotatable but axially immovable. The ball screw is threadedly engaged with a nut mounted to the rear plate so as to be unrotatable and axially immovable. A support plate is coupled through coupling rods to the pusher plate. The ball screw has another end supported on the support plate in a rotatable but axially immovable manner. The pusher and support plates are supported on a base by linear motion guides. The ball screw is supported at its both ends by the pusher and support plates so as not to be tilted, whereby no offset load is produced and the service life is prolonged.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an injection molding machine, and more particularly to an injection unit of an injection molding machine using a ball screw/nut mechanism to perform an injection operation.
2. Description of Related Art
In most cases, an electrically-driven injection molding machine uses an injection unit that performs injection by driving a ball screw/nut mechanism by means of a motor to axially drive a pusher plate to thereby axially move an injection screw attached to the pusher plate in a rotatable but axially immovable manner.
FIGS. 9a and 9b are explanatory views of an injection unit that has heretofore generally been used. This injection unit includes a base 1 to which front and rear plates 2, 3 are fixed. A plurality of guide rods 4 are mounted between the front and rear plates 2, 3. A pusher plate 5 is arranged to move in the direction of injection (in the left and right direction in the drawing) while being guided by the guide rods 4. A ball screw 6 is fixed to the pusher plate 5 so as to be rotatable but axially immovable, and threadedly engaged with a ball nut 7 fixed through a load cell 12 to the rear platen 3 so as to be unrotatable and axially immovable.
An injection motor 8 is mounted to the pusher plate 5. A timing belt 11 is looped around a driving pulley 9 provided on the output shaft of the motor 8 and a driven pulley 10 attached to the ball screw 6. The ball screw 6 is rotatably driven by the motor 8.
An injection screw 13 is attached, in a rotatable but axially immovable manner, to a face of the pusher plate 5 on the side opposite a face thereof to which the ball screw 6 is mounted. A pulley 15 for rotating the injection screw 13 is attached to the injection screw 13 and adapted to be driven by a screw rotation motor, not shown. The injection screw 13 is inserted in a heating cylinder 14 fixed to the front plate 2.
Starting from a state shown in FIG. 9a, the injection screw 13 is rotated, whereby resin supplied into the heating cylinder 14 is kneaded and melted. At this time, a molten resin pressure is produced, which exerts to move the injection screw 13 backward against a back pressure given by the injection motor 8, etc., whereby the resin is kneaded and metered. FIG. 9b shows a state in the metering and kneading process where the injection screw 13, the pusher plate 5, and the ball screw 6 are moved backward. At the time of the backward movement, the ball screw 6 rotates while being moved backward in the axial direction. The motor 8 is driven to rotate the ball screw 6 through a transmission mechanism including the driving pulley 9, the timing belt 11, and the driven pulley 10, whereby injection operation is performed. Since the nut 7 threadedly engaged with the ball screw 6 is fixed to the rear platen in an unrotatable and axially immovable manner, the ball screw 6 moves axially when rotated, whereby the injection screw 13 is moved through the pusher plate 5 in the direction of injection (the axial direction of the injection screw 13), so that molten resin is injected into a die, not shown.
The above is to describe how the injection unit operates. When the injection screw 13, the pusher plate 5, and the ball screw 6 are moved backward as shown in FIG. 9b, the ball screw 6 tilts by gravity as indicated by θ in FIG. 9b that is only supported at its one end by the pusher plate 5, with another end unsupported. Thus, the ball screw 6 receives an offset load, and therefore, an offset load is applied also to the threaded coupling between the ball screw and the nut 7, resulting in a shortened life of the ball screw/nut mechanism.
The present invention contemplates to prevent an offset load from being applied to the ball screw. In relation to the present invention, an invention is known which comprises an auxiliary member coupled to a pusher plate by means of guide rods and in which a rear end of a ball screw rotatably supported by the auxiliary member is rotatably driven by a servomotor attached to the auxiliary member (See unexamined JP 2000-218663A and JP 2754356B).
Also known is the one in which a pusher plate arranged to be movable in the direction of injection is supported for linear motion by means of linear motion guides (see JP 2001-269974A).

Injection unit of injection molding machine


A heat exchanger tube includes protrusions extending into the internal volume to turbulate a fluid flow for improved heat transfer. The protrusions are arranged to provide dimpled and un-dimpled regions in order to provide increased heat transfer together with decreased pressure drop. A method of transferring heat by flowing a fluid into a tube, turbulating the fluid in a dimpled first tube section, developing a thermal boundary layer in an un-dimpled second section, and turbulating the fluid in a dimpled second tube section is also presented.

Tubular structures (or "tubes") can be used to convey a fluid through a heat exchanger while transferring thermal energy (heat) to or from another fluid passing over the outer surfaces of the tubes, thereby effecting a transfer of heat while maintaining a physical separation of the two fluids. By way of example, such structures find particular utility in industrial steam generation or process fluid heat exchange, automotive heat exchange components, and space heating and cooling, among other heat transfer applications. The geometry of the tubes themselves varies from application to application, and includes cylindrical, oval, rectangular, as well as other shapes that may be desirable for a given usage.
In many cases it is desirable to increase the rate of heat transfer between the fluid flowing through the tubes and the inner wall surfaces of the tubes, thereby reducing the overall required size of the heat transfer equipment. Such increase can be accomplished by incorporating features to turbulate the fluid as it flows through the tubes, thus eliminating or reducing the formation of a fluid boundary layer on the inner wall surfaces. It is known that a fluid boundary layer inhibits the efficient transfer of heat between the bulk fluid and the wall, due to the need for transfer of the heat energy via conduction through the relatively slow-moving layers of fluid adjacent the walls.
Although many methods of turbulating the flow are known in the art, one method commonly used in certain applications (automotive radiators, by way of an example) includes providing multiple protrusions extending from the tube wall into the fluid volume. These protrusions disrupt the formation of a fluid boundary layer and promote turbulence in the fluid flow in order to improve the rate of heat transfer. Protrusions of this kind are often referred to as "dimples", and such tubes are referred to as "dimpled" tubes.
As a generally undesirable side effect, the turbulence produced by such protrusions also tends to result in an increase in the pumping power required to move the fluid through the tubes. This necessitates a trade-off between the advantages of increased heat transfer performance on the one hand, and the disadvantages of increased pressure drop on the other. Attempts by heat exchanger designers to optimize this trade-off have resulted in the continuous development of new dimple geometries and patterns.

Heat exchange tube and method of using the same


A new and distinct variety of Abeliaxc3x97grandiflora plant which possesses a compact growth habit, variegated foliage, fragrant white flowers, reddish-orange pigmentation of the new growth terminals and winter foliage, and attractive reddish-purple immature stems.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Abelia, botanically known as Abeliaxc3x97grandiflora, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name xe2x80x98Goldenglossyxe2x80x99. This new Abelia variety was discovered by Jerry Brunson Pittman in May, 1996 as a branch sport of Abeliaxc3x97grandiflora xe2x80x98Sherwoodiixe2x80x99, an unpatented variety maintained by Plant Development Services Inc. in Loxley, Ala. The value of this new cultivar lies in its compact growth habit, unique variegated foliage, reddish-orange pigmentation of the new growth terminals and winter foliage, and reddish-purple pigmentation of the immature stems. xe2x80x98Goldenglossyxe2x80x99 has retained many of the outstanding attributes of the parent cultivar, in particular its tolerance of drought, insects, and diseases which makes it adaptable to culture in the Sunbelt states.
Asexual propagation of the new plant by cuttings has been under Mr. Pittman""s direction at the same location. The new plant retains its distinctive characteristics and reproduces true to the type in successive generations. The plant cannot be reproduced true from seed.
The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Loxley, Ala.
1. The variegation of the foliage is unique and beautiful.
2. Compact growth habit.
3. New growth terminals and winter foliage are a reddish-orange color.
4. Immature stems are reddish-purple.
5. Easily propagated with semi-hardwood cuttings in late spring through the summer.
6. Medium to fast growth rate under normal fertilization and moisture conditions.
7. Performs well in sun or shade.
8. Ideal for mass plantings and low hedges.
9. Attractive fragrant white flowers.
10. Drought tolerant.
11. Relatively pest resistant.
12. Hardy to Zone 6.
13. Attracts butterflies.

Abeliaxc3x97grandiflora variety named xe2x80x98Goldenglossyxe2x80x99


A pouring device for metallurgic vessels, particularly for steel melts, with slide plates which can be adjusted and slid out again one behind the other in a row under a vessel opening and into which filters can be inserted, and with an immersion pipe projecting into a mold. The slide plates have a filter part which is provided with openings arranged in the casting direction and at least one solid web plate part actuators are provided by which the slide plates can be displaced in the conveying direction (x-direction) and, in addition, in the same plane, but vertical to the conveying direction (i.e., in the y-direction).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to a pouring device for metallurgic vessels, particularly for steel melts, with slide plates which can be adjusted and slid out again one behind the other in a row under a vessel opening and into which filters can be inserted. The invention further relates an immersion pipe projecting into a mold, and to a method for controlling the outflow quantity.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
A ceramic filter which can be installed in refractory wearable parts through which a melt flows is known from German reference DE 40 12 093 for refining metallurgic melts, in particular steel melts. In one constructional form, slide plates which carry out a plurality of different functions are constructed as a through-slide closure; individual plates which are adjustable and can be slid out again are arranged on rails one behind the other in a row under a vessel opening.
The discharge closure known from this reference is supposed to make it possible to exchange clogged filters quickly and with reliable operation during the casting operation.
It is disadvantageous in this arrangement that the filter is gradually clogged during the casting operation and the resistance in the pour-out opening continuously increases. The gradual clogging causes a rise in the pressure loss exerted by the filter. This rise must be compensated by the opening of an additional control armature which is in a partly closed position when the filter is completely clear. Regulation of the casting surface level must also take place via this device.
Further, the gradual clogging of the filter causes an increase in the filtering effect, so that when the filter is completely clear the degree of purity of the melt is relatively poor, but is relatively good when the filter is almost stopped up. It is accordingly impossible for the degree of purity of the melt to be maintained constant over a long casting period.
The filter can only be exchanged as a complete structural component part. Exchanging the filter element entails interrupting the supply of melt to the mold. Depending on the duration of this interruption, the casting speed must be appreciably reduced in order to continue the casting operation. Strong turbulence is brought about in the mold when pouring is initiated again, which results in a clear drop in quality of the strand in question.
The object aimed at by the invention is to provide a pouring device for metallurgic vessels in which the molten metal flowing out is filtered in a constant manner accompanied by uniform flow conditions in the immersion pipe.
According to the invention, the immersion casting pipe is closed by a slide plate which has a filter part that is displaceable transverse to the pour-out direction in a manner which can be predetermined and that maintains a constant open through cross section in the immersion casting pipe. For this purpose, the quantity of melt flowing down through the immersion casting pipe is detected and serves at the same time as a measure for the clogging of the filter openings, and the slide plates are displaced in a suitable manner.
Slide plates which have a filter part having openings arranged in the casting direction and which have at least one solid web plate part are used for this purpose. Further, actuators are provided by which the slide plates can be displaced in the conveying direction (x-direction) and, in addition, in the same plane, but perpendicular thereto (i.e., in the y-direction). These actuators communicate, via regulating devices, with measuring elements by which the flow through the immersion casting pipe can be detected.
The clear cross section can be increased or reduced, as desired, during the casting operation by means of the individual parts of the slide plates, the filter part and the solid web part.
The diameter of the openings provided in the filter part is d=0.2 to 1 mm. In an advantageous construction, the openings are slit-shaped with a length-to-width ratio of l/b=5/1 to 8/1.
The device according to the invention enables a constant operating run over optionally long time periods because the filter segments can be exchanged without affecting the operating run.
An additional control armature is not required because the regulating of the casting level in the mold is performed by the filter itself. The possibility of displacing in the x-direction and y-direction is made use of for this purpose, or the filter bores which have already been clogged are used as a closed regulating plate.
Due to the fact that the melt flows out of the filter part of the slide plate uniformly, favorable flow conditions result in the flow channel located below the latter as well as in the mold, which has a positive influence on the steel quality.
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of the disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages, and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the drawing and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.

Pouring device for metallurgic vessels and a method for controlling the quantity of discharge


A paint supply method supplies a paint into a paint cartridge by using a filling valve that has: a paint supply channel that is linkable in communication with a supply portion provided for supplying the paint into the paint cartridge; a branch channel that branches from the paint supply channel near a site of linkage in communication between the supply portion and the paint supply channel; and a trigger valve as an open-close valve of the paint supply channel which is disposed in the paint supply channel upstream of the site of linkage in communication. After a filling liquid is filled into the branch channel, the trigger valve (open-close valve) is opened, and the paint is supplied into the paint cartridge via the paint supply channel.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to a technology regarding a method of supplying paint into a paint cartridge. More concretely, the invention relates to a technology regarding a paint supply method that is able to economically and certainly reduce the paint loss in conjunction with a paint cartridge that is detachably attached to an electrostatic painting machine, without requiring the provision of a mechanical shutting-off mechanism or the like.
2. Description of Related Art
Generally, the painting of bodies of motor vehicles and the like, due to its requirement for high painting quality, employs electrostatic painting machines that are excellent in the efficiency of adhesion of paint to painting surfaces, the smoothness of paint films after the painting process, etc. A widely known example of the electrostatic painting machines is a rotary atomizing head type painting machine. The rotary atomizing head type painting machine is equipped with a rotary atomizing head for atomizing a water base paint, a plurality of paint cartridges that are filled with paints of different colors, etc. To perform painting of an object to be painted, a paint cartridge filled with a paint of a designated color is selected. Then, the paint filled in the paint cartridge is jetted out via rotary atomizing heads, so that paint particles are atomized, and accomplish the painting. When the paint in the paint cartridge runs out, the paint cartridge is attached to a paint filling apparatus (paint supply apparatus), and is thereby supplied with the paint again. Thus, the rotary atomizing head type painting machine becomes able to carry out the painting again.
As for the paint supply apparatus for supplying paint into a paint cartridge that has become empty, various constructions have been proposed. A known example thereof is a paint supply apparatus that is equipped with a filling valve.
With reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, a general construction of a filling valve 1 will be described. Inside the filling valve 1, there are provided a paint supply channel 3 that is detachably linked in communication with a supply portion 11 that leads to the inside of a paint cartridge 10, a trigger valve 9 that functions as an open-close valve of the paint supply channel 3 at the site of linkage in communication between the paint supply channel 3 and the supply portion 11, etc. In the vicinity of the trigger valve 9, a cleaning liquid supply channel 7 and a waste liquid discharge channel 8 are linked in communication with the paint supply channel 3. Via the cleaning liquid supply channel 7, a cleaning liquid for cleaning the site of linkage in communication between the supply portion 11 and the paint supply channel 3 as well as compressed air and the like are supplied to the vicinity of the site of linkage. Besides, the waste liquid having been used to clean the vicinity of the linkage site is discharged to the outside of the filling valve 1 via the waste liquid discharge channel 8.
In a paint supply method for the paint cartridge 10 of a comparative example which uses the foregoing filling valve 1, when paint is to be supplied from the filling valve 1 into the paint cartridge 10, the trigger valve 9 is moved (in the direction of an arrow Q1 shown in FIG. 4A) to change the paint supply channel 3 into an "open" state. Then, the paint supply channel 3 becomes linked in communication with the cleaning liquid supply channel 7 and the waste liquid discharge channel 8 as well as with the supply portion 11. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4B, a part of paint 51 that flows inside the paint supply channel 3 flows out into the cleaning liquid supply channel 7 and the waste liquid discharge channel 8, so that the part of the paint 51 compresses the air remaining in the two channels 7 and 8, and thus fills substantially the entire spaces in the two channels 7 and 8. The paint 51 filling the cleaning liquid supply channel 7 and the waste liquid discharge channel 8 is washed off by the cleaning liquid and is discharged to the outside of the filling valve 1 at the time of changing the paint color that is supplied through the filling valve 1. The thus-discharged amount of the paint 51 is not fed back into the paint cartridge 10, but is discarded as a paint loss.
In order to minimize the paint loss that occurs, at the time of supplying paint into a paint cartridge, there have been proposed technologies as shown in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2000-176328 (JP-A-2000-176328), Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-212869 (JP-A-2008-212869), and Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-56382 (JP-A-2009-56382).
That is, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2000-176328 (JP-A-2000-176328) proposes a paint filling apparatus that fills a paint into a paint cartridge that is constructed of a cylinder that is to be filled with the paint and a feed tube that extends in the direction of a center axis of the cylinder. Specifically, the disclosed technology relates to an apparatus for filling a paint into a cartridge which has: a feed tube insert hole to insert the feed tube through is provided extending in the direction of an axis of the feed tube; a filling table having a cylinder support portion that is formed by a distal end opening side portion of the feed tube insert hole portion so as to support the cylinder; a connection member that is provided on the filling table at a location that is closer to the inside of the cylinder than the feed tube insert hole so as to connect a distal end of the feed tube to a paint channel that leads to a paint supply source; and a filling valve that is provided in the paint channel so as to carry out the supply of paint into the cartridge via the connection member and the stop of the supply.
Inside the filling valve, there are formed a paint supply passageway (paint supply channel) that connects to the paint supply source, and a drain passageway (waste liquid discharge channel) that connects to a drain tank. These two passageways are interlinked in communication via a linking passageway. When a paint is to be supplied into the paint cartridge, the drain passageway is shut off (closed) by a residual pressure relief valve that is provided in an intermediate portion of the drain passageway, so as to prevent part of the paint from flowing into the drain passageway (waste liquid discharge channel).
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-212869 (JP-A-2008-212869) proposes a paint filling apparatus (paint supply apparatus) that includes: a paint manifold having a plurality of collar valves; a cartridge attachment portion to which a paint cartridge is detachably attached; a paint filling channel (paint supply channel) that leads paint from the paint manifold into the paint cartridge when the paint cartridge is attached to the cartridge attachment portion; and a discharge channel (usage liquid discharge channel) that discharges paint and air residing in the paint filling channel to the outside. In the disclosed technology, a throttle device that has a plurality of elements that are disposed in line on the discharge channel is provided on the discharge channel (waste liquid discharge channel).
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-56382 (JP-A-2009-56382) discloses a technology relating to a paint filling apparatus (paint supply apparatus) that includes: a paint cartridge attachment portion that a paint cartridge is attachable to and detachable from; a paint supply channel that connects to the paint cartridge attached to the cartridge attachment portion; a first switching device (trigger valve) that switches between the linkage in communication between the paint supply channel and the paint cartridge attached to the cartridge attachment portion and the discontinuation of the linkage; a paint supply device that sends paint out into the paint supply channel; a discharge channel (waste liquid discharge channel) linked in communication with the paint supply channel; a second switching device that switches between a fully open state and a fully closed state of the discharge channel (waste liquid discharge channel); a paint sensor that detects paint in the discharge channel (waste liquid discharge channel); and a control device that is connected to the paint sensor and the second switching device, and that causes the discharge channel to assume the fully closed state by using the second switching device when the paint sensor detects the paint.
According to the technologies disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2000-176328 (JP-A-2000-176328), Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-212869 (JP-A-2008-212869), and Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-56382 (JP-A-2009-56382), the paint loss that occurs at the time of supplying paint into the paint cartridge can be minimized. However, in the technology disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2000-176328 (JP-A-2000-176328), the force that holds the residual pressure relief valve in the valve closure direction is composed of the urging force that is given by urging means, such as a coil spring provided within the filling valve, or the like, so that a part of the paint may sometimes flow into the drain passageway depending on increase in the back pressure that occurs in the paint supply channel. Thus, it is difficult to completely prevent the paint loss. Besides, neither Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-212869 (JP-A-2008-212869) nor Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-56382 (JP-A-2009-56382) shows a technology for preventing paint from flowing out into the waste liquid discharge channel linked in communication with the paint supply channel. Thus, a fundamental measure for reducing the paint loss has not been found.

Method of supplying paint to a paint cartridge


A blade pitch-controlled wind turbine system for achieving maximum wind efficiency with variable speed and blade pitch control. The blade pitch-controlled wind turbine system includes a support assembly including a tower; a turbine rotor assembly being supported upon the support assembly; and a blade pitch control assembly being supported upon the support assembly and being in communication with the said turbine rotor assembly.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to wind turbines and more particularly pertains to a new blade pitch-controlled wind turbine system for achieving maximum wind efficiency with variable speed and blade pitch control.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of wind turbines is known in the prior art. More specifically, wind turbines heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
The prior art includes a control system including a subtractor for generating a difference signal; a device for generating from the difference signal a first blade control signal greater than a minimum level, from a device for generating a second blade control signal greater than a minimum level, from first blade control signal and the difference signal; a device for generating a third blade control signal for adjusting the pitch of variable-pitch angle blades, from second blade control signal and power rate signal. Another prior art includes a wind power installation having a rotor with at least one blade and an adjusting device for the rotor blade. An adjusting device with more than one drive for one rotor blade is provided. By virtue of that arrangement each drive only has to furnish a corresponding fraction of the power output, it can be of a correspondingly smaller design configuration, and it imposes a correspondingly lower loading on the subsequent components.
Further, another prior art describes a redundant and fail-safe blade system of a wind turbine including at least one blade pitch drive and at least two power control modules for controlling the blade pitch drive. The power control modules are connected to the blade pitch drive by a switching unit which allows an alternative connection between the blade pitch drive and any of the power control modules. In operation, the blade pitch drive is controlled by only one of the power control modules. If a malfunction of the currently operating power control module is detected, switching unit provides a connection to the other power control module to allow an ongoing operation of the wind turbine without an unplanned or forced shut-down. Also, another prior art includes a wind turbine blade pitch system for moving the blades to control their pitch in the event of a power failure. The system includes at least one backup that has a non-electrical component that can pitch the blades in the event that the power failure adversely affects the electrical blade pitch actuator system. Embodiments include pitch systems that have a plurality of pitch driving systems including, but not limited to electrical systems, hybrid electrical/mechanical systems and non-electrical systems. The non-electrical systems include mechanical, pneumatic or hydraulic systems. While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new blade pitch-controlled wind turbine system.

Blade pitch-controlled wind turbine system


Implantation of a cardiac stimulus system using the intercostal veins. Superior, intercostal, and inferior access methods are discussed and disclosed. Superior access may be performed by entering the brachiocephalic vein from a jugular, subclavian, or other vein, and then accessing the internal thoracic vein, traversing a portion of the internal thoracic vein and then accessing an intercostal vein therefrom. Inferior access may be accomplished inferior to the lower rib margin via the superior epigastric vein, advancing superiorly into the internal thoracic vein and then accessing an intercostal vein therefrom. Intercostal access may include creating an opening in an intercostal space between two ribs and advancing a needle using ultrasound guidance to enter the intercostal vein directly.

The implantable defibrillator has been demonstrated to extend patient lives by treatment of potentially deadly arrhythmias. Various efforts have been made to address complications associated with implantation of such devices. For example, early devices generally used epicardial patch electrodes implanted via thoracotomy, with attendant surgical risks and significant risks of failure of the epicardial patch electrodes and associated leads. The use of transvenous leads represented a major advance, avoiding thoracotomy and improving reliability. However, lead failure remained a significant issue, as the lead attachment in the heart cause the lead to flex with each heartbeat.
The advent of subcutaneous defibrillators allows avoidance of lead failure issues, with leads implanted beneath the skin and over the ribcage of the patient and not subjected to the repeated flexing. Subcutaneous defibrillators require higher energy for defibrillation, causing the pulse generators for such systems to be larger than their transvenous predecessors. Both bradycardia and anti-tachycardia pacing are of limited utility because subcutaneous pacing can be very uncomfortable for the patient. There remains interest in further alternative locations for implantable defibrillators and other medical devices such as the implantable pacemaker.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Implantation of an active medical device using the internal thoracic vasculature


A real time variable laser beam spinner, wherein a manual or programmable actuator angularly displaces a mirror or optical flat during rotation in order to follow the instantaneous spin diameter requirements associated with a workpiece, whereby a variable effective spin diameter of the beam results without interrupting the work process.

Linear beam oscillating devices have been known and used to scan a laser beam back and forth in order to widen the effective beam operating area. A normal scanning device is only effective only in one oscillating direction of motion since the scanner generates a line instead of a circular path.
Beam spinners have become also known and used to spin a laser beam in a circular path in order to increase the effective width of the beam in all directions. It should be understood by the experts in the field that under spinning the actual diameter of the beam remains the same, and only its effective diameter on the workpiece is increased by the applied spinning. The known beam spinners with one or double optical means, however, must be set to a predetermined spin diameter before the actual operation and, must remain at that diameter until the beam and the apparatus is turned off and set to a different spin diameter. This has the drawback of repeated interruption of the operation, such as welding, each time a wider effective beam is necessary for the workpiece.


A centrifugal fan, comprising a frame and a first guide portion. The frame comprises a bottom portion and a curved wall connected thereto. The curved wall comprises an airflow inlet. The first guide portion disposed along the curved wall at the bottom portion comprises a beginning area, a middle area, and an ending area. The middle area connects the beginning and the ending areas, and the beginning area extends from the airflow inlet. The beginning area has a width less than that of the ending area, and the beginning area has a height greater than that of the ending area.

The invention relates to a centrifugal fan and, in particular, to a centrifugal fun with a fan frame that can enhance fan performance substantially. Electronic devices generally produce heat during operation, and thus the demand for effective heat-dissipation devices has increased. Therefore, a heat-dissipating device or a centrifugal fan must offer optimal perforniance to dissipate the excess heat. As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional centrifugal fan 1 includes a fan frame F and an impeller I. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a combination of the fan frame F and the impeller I. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the fan frame F. The fan frame F includes a frame F′ and a sleeve S. The impeller I is disposed F′ of the fan frame F comprises a curved wall W, a bottom portion B, and a first guide portion G.
Higher air pressure increases the amount of airflow and speed, and vice versa. The fan frame structure F is one of the main factors affecting the air pressure level. In the conventional design, when the fan operates, airflow is produced and flows along the curved wall between the guide portion G and the impeller I. However, since the guide portion G has a flat elevation as shown in FIG. 3, the airflow surrounding the impeller I is disturbed, thereby producing cyclonic airflow and reducing air pressure. Thus, the total performance of the fan is reduced accordingly. Specifically, turbulent flow is produced at the inlet, and a certain level of flow resistance is generated. Thus, the guide portion & with a flat elevation is unable to efficiently guide the airflow, but adversely reduces the heat dissipation performance of the fan.
Since the above method does not satisfy performance demands, there is still a need for a fan structure offering enhanced performance without increasing the overall size of the fan that can minimize the airflow disturbance produced along a flow path between the fan frame and the impeller to maximize the airflow and air pressure.


The thermo-optic behavior of an optical path over a range of temperatures xcex94T is controlled by determining a figure-of-merit (FOM) for the optical path and including in the path a body of crystalline material that enables the conditions specified by the FOM to be satisfied. The crystalline material is highly transparent at a wavelength xcex of radiation propagating in the path, and it has a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and a refractive index n such that the CTE and dn/dT are mutually adapted to satisfy the FOM over the range xcex94T. In one embodiment, the CTE and dn/dT of an etalon compensate one another so as to perform frequency discrimination that is essentially temperature insensitive over the range xcex94T. In a preferred embodiment of the optical etalon the crystalline material comprises LiCaAlF6.

This invention relates generally to optical devices and systems and, more particularly, to controlling the thermo-optic behavior of optical paths within such devices and systems.
In general the properties of an optical device are sensitive to changes in its temperature. For example, the output wavelength, the optical power output and current threshold of a semiconductor laser are sensitive to temperature. Similarly, the propagation constants of optical modes in a semiconductor or glass waveguide also change with temperature. Typically optical devices and systems are designed to account for such thermally-induced shifts, at least in those device/system parameters that are the most important for proper performance of the device/system.
Consider, for instance, optical networking that is currently in an exponential growth mode. The design and deployment of new dense wavelength division multiplexed (DWDM) systems is having a profound effect on the availability and use of bandwidth by vastly expanding the amount of information that can be transmitted on a single optical fiber. Because such systems are so new, much of the growth occurring in the last few years, opportunities exist to contribute subsystems that improve or simplify aspects of the operation of a DWDM network. One way to provide such improvement and/or simplification is to be able to control the thermo-optic behavior of the system components over an operating range xcex94T.
In a DWDM system the channel wavelengths are packed together at minimal spacing. Therefore, any significant drift in the output wavelength of the lasers (used as carrier signal sources) is a serious problem. One source of wavelength drift is aging of the lasers. Wavelength changes due to aging can be corrected by changing the temperature of the laser by means of a thermoelectric cooler/heater (TEC). Although the wavelength of each lasers can be controlled by an etalon used as a frequency discriminator, the optical path length of the etalon is also temperature sensitive. Thus, changing the temperature of the laser might also change the temperature of the etalon if the two devices are located in the same package. However, other phenomena can also affect the temperature of the etalon and hence its optical path length; e.g., aging (1) of the temperature control circuit used to maintain the laser at a predetermined temperature and at a predetermined output wavelength; and (2) the temperature gradient produced across the etalon because the TEC is typically located at the base of the etalon.
Consequently, there is a need in the frequency discriminator art for an etalon that is essentially temperature insensitive over the temperature operating range of the corresponding optical system.
There is also a need in optical systems in general to be able to control the thermo-optic behavior of an optical path such as, for example, by compensating or balancing one parameter against another, or by enhancing a selected parameter. The latter finds application in temperature sensors, whereas the former finds application not only in the etalon discussed above, but also in a broad spectrum of optical apparatus ranging from telescopes to Mach-Zehnder interferometers.
In accordance with one aspect of our invention, a method of controlling the thermo-optic behavior of an optical path over a range of temperatures xcex94T comprises the steps of determining a figure-of-merit (FOM) for the optical path and including in the path a body of crystalline material that enables the conditions specified by the FOM to be satisfied. The crystalline material is highly transparent at a wavelength xcex of radiation propagating in the path, and it has a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and a refractive index n such that the CTE and dn/dT are mutually adapted to satisfy the FOM over the range xcex94T. In one embodiment, the CTE and dn/dT of an etalon compensate one another so as to perform frequency discrimination that is essentially temperature insensitive over the range xcex94T. In a preferred embodiment of the optical etalon the crystalline material comprises LiCaAlF6.
In accordance with another aspect of our invention, an article of manufacture (e.g., apparatus, device, subassembly, subsystem, system) comprises an optical path over which radiation at a wavelength xcex propagates, and, disposed in the path, a body of crystalline material that enables the conditions specified by the FOM to be satisfied. The crystalline material is highly transparent at a wavelength xcex of radiation propagating in the path and has a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and refractive index n such that the CTE and dn/dT are mutually adapted to satisfy the FOM over the range xcex94T. In one embodiment, the CTE and dn/dT of an etalon compensate one another so as to form a frequency discriminator that is essential temperature insensitive over the range xcex94T. In a preferred embodiment of the etalon the crystalline material comprises LiCaAlF6.

Using crystalline materials to control the thermo-optic behavior of an optical path


The failure detecting apparatus includes an input circuit 13 connected to a temperature sensor 53 to detect various changes, for detecting the resistance of the temperature sensor 53, a monitor circuit 14 connected in parallel to the input circuit 13 for monitoring the failure of the input circuit 13, and a CPU 1 which is supplied with the resistance of the temperature sensor 53 detected by the input circuit 13 and in detecting failure of the monitor circuit 14, switches its state between the inputting state receiving a signal from the monitor circuit 14 and the outputting state sending the signal to the monitor circuit 14.

This invention relates to a wire-breakage detecting apparatus mounted in e.g. a motor vehicle, for detecting failure such as wire breakage in a circuit which is driven in order to detect a thermal resistance and thermal conductivity of liquid by a bridge circuit in determining whether or not a urea water for a urea SCR (Selective Catalyst Removing method) catalyst for decomposing NOx contained in an exhaust gas into water and nitrogen has an appropriate urea density.
Traditionally, as a urea density sensor for an exhaust gas cleaning system for e.g. a diesel vehicle, by amplifying a minute signal of 0.1 mV as a sensor signal, A/D converting it by a microcomputer and supplying a signal indicative of a urea density value to the exhaust gas cleaning system, the exhaust gas cleaning system is monitored if it operates appropriately. As a technology used for such a urea density sensor, a power source circuit is employed and the voltage is supplied from the power source circuit to a heater resistor.
Further, traditionally, as a failure detecting technique for failure detection between the above power source circuit and heater resistor, as described in Patent Reference 1 identified below, a technique such as a comparator abnormality detecting device, which can detect the abnormality due to failure of a peripheral device as well as the comparator, is known.
Patent Reference 1: JP-A-2003-248022
Meanwhile, in view of the trend of exhaust gas control in recent years, it is necessary to severely control the specific component contained in the exhaust gas. Therefore, it has been eagerly demanded to measure periodically the exact urea density by application of a voltage to the heater resistor. Thus, it has been demanded to provide an exact output voltage from the power source circuit to the sensor resistor and accurately detect failure of the circuit portion connected from the power source circuit to the sensor resistor.


In a depth dose measuring device, a light is outputted from an end surface of a block-type detector (202) formed by tying a plurality of scintillation fibers in a bundle, a spectroscope (204) is used to disperse the light so as to measure an amount of light having a wavelength corresponding to an emission spectrum of the scintillation fibers, a picture measuring device (205) and a picture processing device (206) calculate an emission distribution of only a scintillation light depending upon an emission distribution in which the scintillation light and a Cerenkov light are mixed, and a result is displayed on a display device (207).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a depth dose measuring device to measure a depth dose in the human body, used to determine operating conditions of a cancer curing device using particle beams or corpuscular radiations such as an electron beam, X ray and the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a conventional method of measuring a depth dose distribution. In the drawing, reference number 104 denotes a water phantom accommodated in a container 105, 102 is an ionization chamber disposed in the water phantom 104, 103 is an amplifier to amplify an absorbed dose signal obtained from the ionization chamber 102, and 101 is a particle beam or a corpuscular beam with which the water phantom 104 is irradiated.
In the conventional depth dose measuring device having the structure shown in FIG. 8, the ionization chamber 102 disposed in the water phantom 104 measures an absorbed dose at a disposed position. The ionization chamber 102 is moved in a depth direction A and in a direction perpendicular to a beam axis C of the particle beam, that is, in a horizontal direction B, thereby measuring the absorbed dose distribution. The amplifier 103 is used to amplify and measure the amount of ionization obtained by the particle beam 101 ionizing air in the ionization chamber 102 disposed in the water phantom 104. In order to measure the absorbed dose distribution, the ionization chamber 102 is moved in the depth direction A and in the horizontal direction B, and the amount of ionization is measured for each movement.
The conventional depth dose measuring device has the above structure. Thus, in order to measure the depth dose distribution, it is necessary to move the ionization chamber 102 in the water phantom 104 for each measurement, resulting in requiring an extremely long time and a lot of labor. Further, three-dimensional dose distribution measurement requires a vast amount of time and labor.
Further, when a variation is caused in the output of a particle beam irradiation device such as an electron beam irradiation device, or X ray irradiation device, the depth dose must be measured from the beginning once again. Thus, the depth dose measurement requires an extremely long time and a lot of labor.


An oral care composition having enhanced oral hygiene and antiplaque properties which comprises an orally acceptable vehicle containing a combination of an enzyme, cetylpyridinium chloride and a reducing agent.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to oral compositions for enhancing oral hygiene, and more particularly, to enzyme containing oral compositions having enhanced stability and antiplaque effectiveness.
2. The Prior Art
Oral compositions such as toothpastes, gels and mouth washes are designed to loosen and remove plaque in conjunction with a regular toothbrushing regimen. Dental plaque is present to some degree, in the form of a film, on virtually all dental surfaces. It is a byproduct of microbial growth, and comprises a dense microbial layer consisting of a mass of microorganisms embedded in a polysaccharide matrix. Plaque itself adheres firmly to dental surfaces and is removed only with difficulty even through a rigorous brushing regimen. Moreover, plaque rapidly reforms on the tooth surface after it is removed. Plaque may form on any part of the tooth surface, and is found particularly at the gingival margin, in cracks in the enamel, and on the surface of dental calculus. The danger associated with the formation of plaque on the teeth lies in the tendency of plaque to build up and eventually produce gingivitis, periodontitis and other types of periodontal disease, as well as dental caries and dental calculus.
It is known to the art to incorporate antimicrobial agents in oral compositions wherein these agents destroy or inhibit oral bacteria. Other agents are also incorporated in the oral composition to enhance the efficacy of the antimicrobial agents. For example, it is known to incorporate enzymes such as proteases in oral compositions, which enzymes disrupt or interfere with plaque formation and bacterial adhesion to tooth surfaces.
A problem encountered with commercially processed enzymes such as proteases is that they often contain a broad spectrum of undesirable by-products or impurities that are difficult to remove during manufacture. One such enzyme by-product is cellulase, an enzyme that catabolizes cellulose to simple sugars by hydrolysis of β (1–4) linkages.
Thickening agents conventionally used in oral compositions such as carboxymethyl cellulose, undergo degradation in the presence of cellulase enzymes which detrimentally affects the rheology of the dentifrice product. Thus, a means to inhibit the degradation of these thickeners by cellulase is a critical to obtaining stable enzyme containing oral care formulations.
Typical methods employed by the art for cellulase inhibition or isolation are not practical for use in the oral composition field. Treatments for cellulase inhibition such as salting out, heat treatment, or pH adjustment also compromise the activity of the enzymes. Classical methods of enzyme separation based on enzyme size, charge, solubility, and binding site are cost prohibitive and ineffective due to the similarities between certain cellulases and enzymes such as amylases. Inhibition of cellulase activity by treatment with heavy metals or heavy metal complexes such as mercury, silver and palladium chloride that bind to the enzyme active site are also unacceptable as these materials are toxic to humans and certainly cannot be used in an oral care product.

Enzyme containing oral composition having enhanced stability


A passive equalizer with negative impedance to increase a gain includes a first RC loop, a second RC loop, a cascade RL circuit and a cross-coupled inverter unit. Each of the first and the second RC loops includes a first resistor, a second resistor connected in series to the first resistor at a node to thereby form a resistor series, and a capacitor connected in parallel to the resistor series. The cascade RL circuit is connected between the RC loops and includes a fifth resistor, a sixth resistor and an inductor connected between the fifth resistor and the sixth resistor. The cross-coupled inverter unit is connected in parallel to the RL circuit and connected between the RC loops for using the feature of negative impedance to obtain an excellent high-frequency gain.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a passive equalizer and, more particularly, to a passive equalizer with negative impedance to increase a gain.
2. Description of Related Art
Passive equalizers are widely used in a high-speed serial communication link such as a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI). FIGS. 1a and 1b show a schematic diagram of a communication system with a typical passive equalizer 11. The passive equalizer 11 can be implemented as required at a position close to the transmitting side 1, as shown in FIG. 1a, or the receiving side, as shown in FIG. 1b, for compensation. FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of a typical passive equalizer, which is comprised of passive elements such as resistor R, inductor L and capacitor C. FIG. 3 is a graph of a frequency response of gains for a typical passive equalizer. As shown in FIG. 3, the passive equalizer at high frequency has a gain close to −0.5 dB in the vertical axis, and close to one at most. Accordingly, the high frequency gain is restrained, and the signal restoring capability is poor. In addition, the feature values of the passive elements in the typical passive equalizer cannot be easily adjusted, resulting in losing the flexibility on use.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide an improved passive equalizer to mitigate and/or obviate the aforementioned problems.

Passive equalizer with negative impedance to increase a gain


Processes and systems for dehydrogenating ethylbenzene may include mixing a steam stream and an ethylbenzene stream to form a feed mixture. The ethylbenzene/steam feed mixture may then be fed to a dehydrogenation reactor containing an alkali metal promoted catalyst. A liquid, selected from an alkali metal liquid, an alkali metal compound liquid, or a liquid solution comprising an alkali metal, may be injected into a feed stream, such as the steam stream, the ethylbenzene stream, or the ethylbenzene/steam feed mixture. Following injection, the liquid vaporizes and disperses into the feed stream upstream of the dehydrogenation reactor. The liquid may be maintained as a liquid from a point upstream of injection to an injection nozzle. The liquid is dispersed through the injection nozzle, in liquid form, to form droplets of liquid dispersed in the feed stream, which evaporate and/or dissolve into the vaporous feed stream.

During the dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene to make styrene, the iron-oxide catalyst deactivates. One of the main reasons for catalyst deactivation is the migration of the potassium promoter in the catalyst. Injection of a small quantity of potassium solution with the mixed ethylbenzene/water (steam) feed has been proposed to discourage potassium migration and maintain the catalyst in an active form for a longer period of time. Steam, methane and inert gas have been proposed as carriers to transport the solution into the EB feed. However, heating and vaporization of a solution of potassium hydroxide or a potassium salt can cause the salt to precipitate and plug the transfer pipe.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,936,743 teaches that the life of a potassium or chromium stabilized dehydrogenation catalyst can be extended by injecting 0.1 to 10 ppm of a "catalyst life extender." A life extender noted is potassium acetate.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,739,071 teaches that the life of an iron-based/alkali metal stabilized catalyst can be extended by continuous injection of alkali metal or alkali metal compound, such as injection of about 0.01 to 100 ppm of the alkali metal or the alkali metal compound. Compounds noted include potassium hydroxide, potassium carbonate, and potassium oxide. Metals are also noted, including potassium or sodium metal. The '071 patent teaches that inert nitrogen can be used to carry the vaporized alkali metal or alkali metal compound into the reactor feed stream.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,648,007 teaches that the injection of potassium salts must be done carefully, or the potassium salt can deposit in the injection device. In examples, the temperature of the vaporization device needed to be between 200° C. and 480° C. for the injection of a 10% potassium acetate solution.
US20060224029 discloses that Cs compounds can be used to extend the life of Fe-based dehydrogenation catalysts.
Heating and vaporization of a solution of potassium hydroxide or a potassium salt can cause the salt to precipitate and plug the transfer pipe. Work is presented in the patents noted above, such as the '007 patent, as a solution to this problem. However, it is hard to volatilize a potassium salt because the melting points are quite high. For example, KOH melts at 360° C., K2CO3 melts at 891° C., K-acetate melts at 292° C., and K2SO4 melts at 1069° C. As such, systems in the '007 patent may still be prone to plugging if there is some sort of operational upset or a compound other than potassium acetate is used.

Systems and processes for maintaining ethylbenzene dehydration catalyst activity


An illuminator assembly that is capable of utilizing a plurality of light sources to produce a desired resultant hue, includes a processor, a memory, a plurality of light sources and a detector. The memory is coupled to the processor and stores data and information. Each of the plurality of light sources are coupled to the processor and produce a different color. The processor is capable of independently controlling the intensity of each light source so as to produce a desired resultant hue. The detector is also coupled to the processor. The detector provides the processor with information which the processor utilizes in determining how to adjust the intensity of each of the light sources to provide the desired resultant hue.

The present invention is directed to a lamp assembly and, more specifically, to a lamp assembly that incorporates optical feedback.
Recent advances in light emitting diode (LED) technology has led to the development of several high-brightness LED lamps for use in automobiles and other applications. Many of these applications require a substantially white colored illumination when providing light for tasks such as, for example, reading a map or book. A common method of producing white light using LEDs is to deposit a yellow phosphor on top of a InGaN Blue LED die. Some of the blue light emitted by the LED is absorbed by the phosphor causing it to emit yellow light. The combination of the blue light from the LED and the yellow light from the phosphor combines to produce a metameric white light.
This technique is relatively simple and leads to a single component solution. However, this technique relies entirely on an InGaN emitter as the source of energy for the illuminator. Currently, most InGaN LED systems are less efficient and more expensive than other alternatives, such as AlInGaP LED emitters. As such, a system that relies primarily on an InGaN die, as the source of optical radiation, is typically more expensive to produce. Additionally, the use of a phosphor typically shortens the useful life of the device as an illuminator. This is because the phosphor typically decays at a faster rate than the underlying InGaN die. Additionally, as the phosphor decays, the relative proportion of yellow light emitted is reduced, which results in a color shift in the light output.
Another technique for producing white light is to combine the outputs of an amber AlInGaP LED and a blue-green InGaN LED in appropriate proportions. Such an approach is outlined in U.S. Pat. No. 5,803,579 entitled, ILLUMINATOR ASSEMBLY INCORPORATING LIGHT EMITTING DIODES, to Turnbull, et. al., commonly assigned with the present invention, and hereby incorporated by reference. Using this approach, the outputs of the LEDs are combined in different proportions to produce white light of different color temperatures. An increase in the proportion of amber light (or a corresponding decrease in the proportion of blue-green light) will produce a warmer white light corresponding to a lower color temperature. An increase in the proportion of blue-green light produces a cooler white light corresponding to a higher color temperature.
Although the two types of LED dies decay at a rate that is more similar than the rates of InGaN die and phosphors, the AlInGaP and InGaN dies still exhibit a difference in decay rates. These differences in decay rates lead to a difference in color temperature over the life of the device. However, since a change in relative proportion of one of the constituent colors still produces a resultant color, which is typically accepted as white light, the severity of this effect is acceptable in many applications. Unfortunately, this effect is typically increased due to the wide variance in intensity and somewhat lesser variance in color that is typical of modern LED production. In order to accommodate for intensity and color variance, one must measure the output of the blue-green and amber LEDs and adjust their initial proportions during assembly of the lamp.
Yet another method of creating white light using LEDs is to combine the colors of three or more LEDs in a particular ratio to form white light. A typical system may combine light from red, blue and green LEDs to form an RGB system that is capable of producing not only white light but any other color of light as well (by adjusting the intensity of the red, blue and green LEDs, independently). Another advantage of such a system is the potential for an improved color rendering index and thus an increase in the brilliance of colors on the object being illuminated. The primary difficulty in implementing an illuminator using a plurality of LEDs, especially where there are three or more colors, is accommodating the large intensity variance present in modern LEDs. The high variance in intensity of the individual color LEDs leads to wide variance in the output color. To solve this problem, LEDs are typically sorted by color and intensity. Frequently, further measurements of individual assemblies are needed to insure accurate color calibration. These methods may partially correct an initial problem but do not solve problems associated with differential brightness decay, which occurs with aging or changes in intensity of the individual constituent colors which can occur with changes in temperature of the die or the ambient environment.
As such, an illuminator assembly that adapts to light source component variability, to produce a desired resultant hue of illumination, is desirable.
An embodiment of the present invention is directed to an illuminator assembly that produces light of a desired resultant hue. In one embodiment, the illuminator assembly includes a processor, a memory, a plurality of light sources and a detector. The memory is coupled to the processor and stores data and information. Each of the plurality of light sources are coupled to the processor and produce a different primary color. The processor is capable of independently controlling the intensity of each light source so as to produce a desired hue resulting from the mixing of the light emitted from each light source. The detector is also coupled to the processor. The detector provides the processor with information, which the processor utilizes in determining how to adjust the intensity of each of the light sources to provide the desired resultant hue.
These and other features, advantages and objects of the present invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims and appended drawings.

Lamp assembly incorporating optical feedback


A sheet-feed device including: a hopper having a surface on which sheets are stacked; at least one sheet-feed roller for abutting a surface of an uppermost sheet of the sheets so that rotation of the at least one sheet-feed roller feeds the uppermost sheet in a sheet-feed direction; a wall portion formed at a front edge, with respect to the sheet-feed direction, of the hopper, the wall portion including: a slanting surface gradually slanting in the sheet-feed direction with increasing distance from the surface of the hopper; and an indentation portion formed at a position corresponding to position of the at least one sheet-feed roller and receded away from the slanting surface in the sheet-feed direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sheet-feed device for using sheet-feed rollers to feed one sheet at a time from a stack of sheets in a hopper.
2. Description of the Related Art
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. HEI-2-132018 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,026,042 describe a sheet-supply device used in a printer. The sheet-supply device includes a hopper filled with a stack of sheets, a sheet-feed roller, and a slanting surface connected with the hopper. The sheet-feed roller rotates while in abutment with the surface of the uppermost sheet stacked in the hopper, thereby feeding out the sheet in a predetermined direction toward the slanting surface. When the front edge of the fed-out sheet abuts against the slanting surface, the sheet will bend and be separated away from the other sheets in the stack. The sheet is then transported toward a predetermined position out of the hopper, such as towards a printing region.


The invention encompasses a friction-in-oil device having a plurality of coaxial disks comprising metal rotor or driving disks, metal stator or driven disks, and loose disks of carbon/carbon ("C/C") composite material, each loose C/C disk lying between a metal rotor or driving disk and a metal stator or driven disk. Each loose C/C disk is centered by a bearing surface formed in an adjacent metal rotor or stator disk, which bearing surface has passages for feeding oil to the interface between the loose C/C disk and the metal rotor or stator disk.

C/C friction disks each constituted by a carbon fiber preform densified by a carbon matrix, are commonly used in brakes for aircraft and for competitive motor vehicles.
The behavior of carbon/carbon composite materials rubbing in oil against one another or against a metal, such as steel, makes it possible to consider using these materials in applications such as those mentioned above. C/C materials then present little wear and a coefficient of friction that is stable. In addition, they are relatively insensitive to speed effects, or to variations of unit-area pressure. Furthermore, friction with C/C materials in oil depends little on the nature and the viscosity of the oil in question.
Thus, document U.S. Pat. No. 5,409,428 describes an automatic gear box using C/C disks rubbing against metal disks in oil.
In friction devices using C/C disks, the disks are generally connected to the driving or rotary members and to the driven or fixed members by crenellations formed at the peripheries of the disks. In order to be able to take up forces at the crenellations, without running the risk of damage, it is necessary to use disks that are of sufficient thickness, thereby significantly increasing cost because of the high cost price of C/C materials.

Friction-in-oil device having coaxial disks


A photographic light diffuser includes a tubular body which is adapted to be mounted on a photographic light source and when so mounted is self-supporting without an internal or external supporting frame or without removably connected rigidly panels, the tubular body has pairs of opposed wall panels, at least one pair of which has fold lines therein along which the wall panels may be folded to collapse the tubular body into a flattened, compost form for portability. A light diffuser panel is mounted on the outer end of the tubular body and the inner end of the tubular body has mounting means for mounting the light diffuser on a light source.

Light diffusers are frequently used by photographers in portrait and other types of photography where specific lighting effects are desired. Typically, such light diffusers comprise stationary or non-collapsible or non-foldable types of screens which are bulky and cumbersome and are neither compact nor readily portable. Such devices may be adequate for permanent photographic studios where there is no need to transport the lighting equipment, including the light diffusers from place to place.
However, it is frequently necessary or desirable to transport photographic equipment, including lighting equipment, to various locations where the photographs are to be taken. With this in mind, lighting apparatus, including suitable light sources, such as strobe lights, etc. which are readily portable from one location to the other, have been made available and are currently in widespread use. Similarly, light diffusers, which may be disassembled into a more compact, disassembled form and then setup or reassembled at a different location, are also available to photographers. Such prior light diffusers invariably include internal supporting frameworks radiating from a backplate with flexible covers supported by the framework or rigid panels which can be assembled or disassembled in place and connected together to form the light diffusing device. The disassembly and reassembly of such prior light diffusers is a time consuming and laborious process and is one that may result in the loss of one or more parts of the supporting framework if extreme care is not exercised in the transporting of the disassembled frameworks and flexible covers.
With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide a light diffuser which is readily collapsible into a flattened, compact, portable form which does not involve the disassembly or reassembly of any supporting frameworks or rigid panels.


A sparkplug having ground and center electrodes that include a firing tip formed from a noble metal or noble metal alloy by reflowing of a noble metal preform. The present invention also includes a method of manufacturing a metal electrode having an ignition tip for an ignition device, including forming a metal electrode having a firing tip portion; applying a noble metal preform to the firing tip portion; and reflowing the noble metal preform to form a noble metal firing tip.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to sparkplugs and other ignition devices used in internal combustion engines and, more particularly, to such ignition devices having noble metal firing tips. As used herein, the term "ignition device" shall be understood to include sparkplugs, igniters, and other such devices that are used to initiate the combustion of a gas or fuel.
2. Related Art
Within the field of sparkplugs, there exists a continuing need to improve the erosion resistance and reduce the sparking voltage at the sparkplug's center and ground electrode, or in the case of multi-electrode designs, the ground electrodes. To this end, various designs have been proposed using noble metal electrodes or, more commonly, noble metal firing tips applied to standard metal electrodes. Typically, the firing tip is formed as a pad or rivet or wire which is then welded onto the end of the electrode.
Platinum and iridium alloys are two of the noble metals most commonly used for these firing tips. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,540,910 to Kondo et al. which discloses a center electrode firing tip made from 70 to 90 wt % platinum and 30 to 10 wt % iridium. As mentioned in that patent, platinum-tungsten alloys have also been used for these firing tips. Such a platinum-tungsten alloy is also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,045,424 to Chang et al., which further teaches the construction of firing tips using platinum-rhodium alloys and platinum-iridium-tungsten alloys.
Apart from these basic noble metal alloys, oxide dispersion strengthened alloys have also been proposed which utilize combinations of the above-noted metals with varying amounts of different rare earth metal oxides. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,081,710 to Heywood et al. In this regard, several specific platinum and iridium-based alloys have been suggested which utilize yttrium oxide (Y2O3). In particular, U.S. Pat. No. 5,456,624 to Moore et al. discloses a firing tip made from a platinum alloy containing <2% yttrium oxide. U.S. Pat. No. 5,990,602 to Katoh et al. discloses a platinum-iridium alloy containing between 0.01 and 2% yttrium oxide. U.S. Pat. No. 5,461,275 to Oshima discloses an iridium alloy that includes between 5 and 15% yttrium oxide. While the yttrium oxide has historically been included in small amounts (e.g., <2%) to improve the strength and/or stability of the resultant alloy, the Oshima patent teaches that, by using yttrium oxide with iridium at >5% by volume, the sparking voltage can be reduced.
Further, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,412,465 B1 to Lykowski et al. it has been determined that reduced erosion and lowered sparking voltages can be achieved at much lower percentages of yttrium oxide than are disclosed in the Oshima patent by incorporating the yttrium oxide into an alloy of tungsten and platinum. The Lykowski patent teaches an ignition device having both a ground and center electrode, wherein at least one of the electrodes includes a firing tip formed from an alloy containing platinum, tungsten, and yttrium oxide. Preferably, the alloy is formed from a combination of 91.7%-97.99% platinum, 2%-8% tungsten, and 0.01%-0.3% yttrium, by weight, and in an even more preferred construction, 95.68%-96.12% platinum, 3.8%-4.2% tungsten, and 0.08%-0.12% yttrium. The firing tip can take the form of a pad, rivet, ball, wire, or other shape and can be welded in place on the electrode.
While these and various other noble metal systems typically provide acceptable sparkplug performance, particularly with respect to controlling the spark performance and providing spark erosion protection, current sparkplugs which utilize noble metal tips have well-known performance limitations associated with the methods which are used to attach the noble metals components, particularly various forms of welding. In particular cyclic thermal stresses in the operating environments associated with the use of the sparkplugs, such as those resulting from the mismatch in thermal expansion coefficients between the noble metals and noble metal alloys mentioned above which are used for the electrode tips and the Ni, Ni alloy and other well-known metals which are used for the electrodes, are known to result in cracking, thermal fatigue and various other interaction phenomena that can result in the failure of the welds, and ultimately of the sparkplugs themselves. Therefore, it is highly desirable to develop sparkplugs having noble metal firing tips which have improved structures, particularly microstructures, so as to improve sparkplug performance and reliability by alleviating or eliminating potential failure mechanisms associated with related art devices. It is also highly desirable to develop methods of making sparkplugs which will achieve these performance and reliability improvements.

Ignition device having a reflowed firing tip and method of making


Systems, devices, media, and methods are presented for composing and sharing a message based on the motion of a handheld electronic device such as a ring. The methods in some implementations include presenting a keyboard on a display, collecting course data associated with a course traveled by the ring, and overlying a trace onto the keyboard, such that the trace is correlated in near real-time with the course traveled by the ring. In some implementations the display element is part of a portable device, such as the lens of an electronic eyewear device. Based on the course data relative to the key locations on the keyboard, the system identifies and presents candidate words to be included in a message.

Many types of computers and electronic devices available today, including mobile devices (e.g., smartphones, tablets, and laptops), handheld devices (e.g., smart rings), and wearable devices (e.g., smartglasses, digital eyewear, headwear, headgear, and head-mounted displays), include internal sensors for collecting information about the location, orientation, motion, and heading of the device.

Ring motion capture and message composition system


Port networks (PN 101-103) of a switching system such as a distributed PBX are remoted from and interconnected with each other by an ATM network (100). Each port network includes a port network connectivity (PNC) circuit (113-114) that interfaces it to the ATM network. Only one of the port networks (101) has a system processing element (SPE 111), which controls all of the port networks. Commands issued by the SPE and needed by the ATM network to establish virtual circuits between the port networks are translated (FIG. 2) by a PNC circuit (113) into ATM signaling cells. Commands issued by the SPE and not needed by the ATM network are encapsulated (FIGS. 2 and 3) as payload into ATM traffic cells by the PNC circuit and are sent to destination processor networks through the virtual circuits. At a destination processor network, the encapsulated commands are retrieved (FIGS. 2 and 3) and used for local control. The destination processor networks function as if they were connected directly to the SPE without intermediacy of the ATM network.

As organizations grow and expand geographically, they desire their telecommunications systems to operate as a single, geographically dispersed, switching system with full feature transparency. U.S. Pat. No. 4,488,004 discloses providing such capability in a network of PBXs by equipping the PBXs with data controllers and transmitting feature-related data messages between individual PBXs' data controllers over data links that interconnect the PBXs in the network. This unfortunately requires that the PBXs be interconnected by a data network of the data links, in addition to the usual communications-carrying tie trunks. Furthermore, the data network follows a proprietary protocol, and therefore is not suited for being implemented via existing, open or public, data networks. U.S. Pat. No. 5,093,827 discloses providing the desired capability by interconnecting the PBXs via a proprietary center stage network (CSN). Since the CSN is proprietary, this unfortunately does not facilitate implementing of the desired capability via existing, open or public, networks. And U.S. Pat. No. 5,182,750 discloses a switching system architecture for interconnecting remote switching nodes to a central controller via standard ISDN links set up through intervening switching systems or the public switching network. It uses the same protocol to communicate between the switching nodes and the central controller as is used by the switching systems or switching network. Therefore, it also does not facilitate implementation of a feature-transparent distributed switching system that uses a proprietary protocol via an open or public network.

Switch distribution via an intermediary switching network


A valve control system for variably controlling operation, including the valve lift, of a valve for an internal combustion engine having a crankshaft based on a driving condition of a vehicle. The valve control system includes a camshaft assembly baving a cam for operating the valve while driven by the crankshaft, the camshaft having a longitudinal axis, a hydraulic control device for selectively applying hydraulic fluid to first and second ends of the camshaft assembly in response to a driving condition of a vehicle, whereby the camshaft assembly reciprocates along the longitudinal axis; and a valve operation controller for variably controlling the operation of the valve while the camshaft reciprocates by hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic control device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an intake/exhaust valve control system for a combustion engine and, more particularly, to an intake/exhaust valve control system which can variably control the valve timing and valve lift over the whole engine running range.
2. Description of Related Art
Generally, the opening and closing of an intake/exhaust valve are controlled by a camshaft which is driven by a crankshaft connected to the camshaft by a chain or timing belt. Particularly, the design of the camshaft results in valves being opened and closed at a controlled rate of speed, as well as at a precise time in relation to the piston position.
Particularly, the design of the cam lobe contour has a major effect on engine performance. The amount of valve opening, how long the valve remains open (duration), when the valves open and close (valve timing), and the speed at which valves open and close are all determined by the cam lobe design.
The valve timing, valve duration and valve speed are fixed in accordance with the design of the cam lobe.
Therefore, it is impossible to vary the above three factors in response to the variation of driving condition of the vehicle.
That is, with the above fixed three factors, although a maximum output with a low fuel consumption ratio can be obtained at specific engine RPM ranges, but not at other engine RPM ranges.
Therefore, there is a need for a valve control system of an internal combustion engine that can variably control the valve timing and the valve opening duration (valve lift) in response to variation of a driving condition of the vehicle including engine RPM variation.

System for variably controlling operation of an intake/exhaust valve for an internal combustion engine


As a document analysis system to calculate a similarity degree between texts with high accuracy, an information processing device includes: a common character string calculation unit to extract character strings that are common between two texts and to determine whether or not the two texts are to be set as calculation objects based on a number of the extracted character strings that are common; and a similarity degree calculation unit to calculate, when the two texts are the determined calculation objects, a similarity degree therebetween by using an approximation of a Kolmogorov complexity, and when the two texts are not the calculation objects, handling the similarity degree between the two texts as being dissimilar.

For example, omissions and dropouts of requests which occur in system development lead to an increase in cost of modification due to a procedure turned back from a later step. Therefore, the importance of early detection of omissions and dropouts is widely known. In recent years, to detect the omissions and dropouts of requests, a human visually inspects whether or not there is a problem in documents in which requests are described while viewing inspection items that are prepared in advance. Further, in a case where there are a reflection source document and a reflection destination document such as a request for proposal (REP) and a proposal corresponding thereto or a specification and the proposal corresponding thereto, a person also visually inspects whether or not parts corresponding to individual matters described in the reflection source document exist in the reflection destination document.
However, the inspection of a large volume of documents including overlapping descriptions raises a problem of requiring much cost (personnel expenses, time, and the like). Further, there is also a problem in that the omissions, dropouts, and the like may be overlooked in manual work. Also in general documents, manual verification work is conducted for inconsistent points and ambiguous points of the document, the omissions and dropouts of the matters of a source document from another document created based on the original document, and the like. This also requires much cost and leaves the problem in that overlooking may occur in the manual work.

Document analysis system, document analysis method, document analysis program and recording medium


A method for entering identification data of a vehicle into a user database of an Internet server includes the steps of: establishing a network connection via the Internet to the server and authenticating a user at an internet portal of the server and transmitting the identification data (VIN) via the network connection to the server, and storing the identification data (VIN) as part of user data of the user in the user database by the server. The aim is to make determination of the identification data easier for the user. For that purpose, the network connection is established by a mobile communication device, which is additionally connected to the vehicle by a transmission device for transmission of data, and the identification data (VIN) is received from the vehicle by the communication device via the data transmission device.

The invention relates to a method for entering identification data of a vehicle into a user database of an Internet server device. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle, a data carrier as well as a mobile communication device configured to perform the method according to the invention. A mobile communication device is to be understood more particularly as including a mobile phone or a Smartphone or a tablet PC (PC—Personal Computer).
In connection with the setting parameters of a device of a motor vehicle, for example of an independent vehicle heater, is known to make this process easier by enabling the user can perform the settings on a computer, for example, in his office or mobile via a Smartphone. This is made possible by establishing with the computer a network connection to an Internet server device where the user can authenticate himself to an Internet portal and then set there individual parameters of the functionalities provided by his motor vehicle. For example, he can set the start time for a heating operation of the aforementioned independent vehicle heater. Likewise, parameters such as mileage or fuel level of the motor vehicle can be read out. The parameter values entered by the user on the Internet portal or the requested vehicle data are then exchanged between the server device and the motor vehicle via another network connection. For this purpose, the motor vehicle includes a corresponding communication device, via which the controllers of the motor vehicle can be configured and queried by the server device. The communication device can for this purpose include, for example, a mobile radio module (GPRS, UMTS, LTE) and a router. One example of an Internet portal which enables the vehicle operation via the Internet is the Internet service "myAudi", which is offered by the company Audi AG.
However, configuring a vehicle via the Internet can pose a security risk. An unauthorized person must be prevented from reading data from the vehicle or even from influencing functions of the vehicle. For this reason, a user account must be created in the server device for a user of a vehicle who wants to use the Internet service, and the vehicle must then be registered for the user with the server device, for example via the vehicle identification number (VIN) or generally via other identification data of the vehicle. Finally, to complete this association, a secret code displayed on the Internet portal must be manually entered in the vehicle as proof of ownership.
Another security issue can arise in the context of the use of a mobile communication device in a vehicle. Such mobile communication devices, for example Smartphones, can enable phone calls as well as access to the Internet via the communication device of the vehicle. When using a Smartphone in the vehicle to make phone calls using the hands-free kit, the Smartphone must presently be manually paired once before use via Bluetooth. For secure linking, after searching the Bluetooth device of the vehicle, a Bluetooth PIN (PIN—Personal Identification Number) must be entered and/or confirmed from the Smartphone for authentication. The input may also be required on both sides, i.e. on the side of the Smartphone as well as on the side of the vehicle. If additionally a broadband exchange of data with the Internet with the Smartphone via the vehicle is desired, then according to the prior art, the SSID (Service Set Identifier) of the vehicle Internet access point must be confirmed and for example the WPA2 key (WPA2—Wi-Fi Protected Access 2) must be entered to securely connect the Smartphone to the communication device via a wireless network connection (WLAN—Wireless Local Area Network). Entering the Bluetooth PIN and the encryption WPA2 key is typically done manually and therefore represents a serious impediment for many users, because the menu items to be selected are often hidden deep in the setup menu of the Smartphone and the infotainment system of a vehicle.
If, after purchasing a new or used vehicle, a user wants to activate all the aforementioned functionalities (vehicle configuration via Internet or Smartphone, Bluetooth, WLAN) when the vehicle first enters service, the user must enter at the Internet portal a large number of sometimes extensive access codes either in the vehicle or on his Smartphone or via his PC.

Method for entering identification data of a vehicle into a user database of an internet server device


A sealed multi-compartment package includes a wipe and a mold release agent which are kept separate from one another until the time of use. The package includes a first compartment for containing a fabric-like wipe and a second compartment in sealed separation from the first compartment containing a mold release agent. The first and second compartments are in communication and separated by a displaceable seal. Upon displacement of the seal, the mold release agent and the wipe are brought into mutual contact.

Mold release agents are commonly used to coat the internal surfaces of a mold cavity so as to permit a product molded therein to be easily released upon opening of the mold. The art has various techniques for applying the mold release agent to the mold cavity. Commonly, the mold release agent is in liquid form and is applied to the mold directly by, for example, a spray, such as an aerosol spray. The liquid may also be applied to a fabric-like wipe for application onto the mold.
The fabric-like wipe may contain moisture and/or functional groups that will chemically react with the release agent. Thus, pre-moistening or saturating the wipes at a time well prior to application may be disadvantageous.
In addition, where the liquid release agent is used directly on the mold or applied to a wipe just prior to application, the amount of release agent applied cannot be accurately metered.
Additionally, certain of the mold release agents include a solvent. Bulk application of the mold release agent to the mold or to a wipe may result in unnecessary exposure to the solvents contained in the release agent.
It is, therefore, desirable to provide a technique for packaging wipes used to apply mold release agents in a manner which safely and efficiently applies the release agent to the wipe just prior to mold application and which minimizes handling of the contents.
Moreover, when handling, transporting or storing the release agent, there is the risk of spillage.

Multi-section package for a mold release agent and a wipe