In a hydrogen generator according to the invention, a reformer temperature sensor detects the temperature of a reformer at a start of a stop operation of a hydrogen generator. In a controller, a processing and controlling portion compares the detected temperature with first to fourth reference temperatures pre-stored in a storage portion, and determines which of the following conditions is the temperature condition of the hydrogen generator at the stop; a first condition in which water condensation occurs, a second condition in which water condensation and carbon deposition are avoidable, a third condition in which carbon deposition occurs, a fourth condition in which disproportionation reaction occurs, and a fifth condition in which oxidization of catalyst occurs. According to the determination result, an appropriate setting is selected among first to fifth replacement settings pre-stored in the controller corresponding to the first to fifth conditions, and an internal gas replacement operation is performed according to the selected setting.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hydrogen generator configured to generate hydrogen-rich gas by steam-reforming a material at least containing carbon atoms and hydrogen atoms, and to a fuel cell system configured to generate electricity and heat using the hydrogen-rich gas.
2. Description of the Related Art
At present, a hydrogen gas supply system has not yet been developed as a general infrastructure. For this reason, some fuel cell systems, which have been developed and commercialized as a distributed power generation hydrogen generator, have a configuration in which a hydrogen gas generating means is provided along with a fuel cell, so that hydrogen gas, which serves as an electric-power generating fuel, generated by the hydrogen gas generating means is supplied to the fuel cell instead of directly supplying hydrogen gas to the hydrogen generator. For example, there is a fuel cell system in which a hydrogen generator configured to generate hydrogen using a material supplied from an existing infrastructure, such as city gas and LPG, is additionally provided.
Many of hydrogen generators generate hydrogen gas by causing a material such as city gas or LPG to undergo a chemical reaction (specifically, steam reforming) using a catalyst. With such hydrogen generators, when the hydrogen generator is repeatedly operated and stopped, the oxidization and reduction of the catalyst is more likely to be repeated at high temperatures than when the hydrogen generator is continuously operated, increasing the possibility of degrading the catalytic activity. In particular, at the stopping of the hydrogen generator, the catalyst within the hydrogen generator is in a high temperature state, and the probability of air coming into the interior of the hydrogen generator is increased because the internal pressure of the hydrogen generator is reduced due to the temperature decrease associated with the stop operation. When the catalyst is placed under a high-temperature oxidizing atmosphere, the catalytic activity of the catalyst noticeably decreases due to sintering or the like.
In order to prevent the decrease in the catalytic activity caused by the stop of the hydrogen generator, it is desirable to replace the generated gas remaining in the hydrogen generator using an inert gas such as nitrogen as a replacement gas (hereinafter, this is referred to as "internal gas replacement operation"). Nevertheless, as with hydrogen gas, an infrastructure for the inert gas has not been developed either; for this reason, it is desired to prevent decrease in the catalytic activity by performing the internal gas replacement operation without using an inert gas. There is an example of such a hydrogen generator in which the supply of a material and water is stopped in a stop operation after the temperature of the catalyst has been reduced, thereby preventing the catalyst from oxidizing even when air enters the interior of the hydrogen generator (for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-290001).
There is another configuration of a hydrogen generator in which, with the temperature of the reformer being configured to be detectable, the temperature of the reformer is detected at a stop of a hydrogen generator and also an internal gas replacement operation is performed with a feed gas when the detected temperature becomes less than a predetermined temperature, thus preventing the air from entering. By performing the internal gas replacement operation with a feed gas, such a configuration makes it possible to prevent decrease in the activity of the shift catalyst particularly due to steam and oxygen (for example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-95504.) Further, there are types in which, during a stop operation of the hydrogen generator, a gas mixture of a material and steam is flowed in the hydrogen generator to cool the catalyst naturally and an internal gas replacement operation is performed with air after the cooling (cf. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Nos. 2002-8701 and 2002-93447), and in which the internal gas replacement operation is performed with a material (for example, cf. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-151124).
It should be noted that temperature conditions of a hydrogen generator at the stop vary depending on the operating state of the hydrogen generator until the stop. Herein, the "stop" refers to a time point at which a control signal for stopping is output from a controller, and a "stop operation period" refers to a period from when this signal is output to when the hydrogen generator completely stops.
For example, temperature conditions of a hydrogen generator at the stop vary between when the hydrogen generator is stopped after a long time operation and when the hydrogen generator is immediately stopped after the start-up. In addition, even when the hydrogen generator is stopped immediately after the starting of the hydrogen generator, there exist a state in which the interior of the hydrogen generator has not yet been heated sufficiently and a state in which it has been heated to a certain degree, depending on the state of the hydrogen generator before the start-up. For example, when the hydrogen generator having been stopped for a long time so that the temperature dropped to room temperature is started to operate and the hydrogen generator is stopped immediately thereafter, the interior of the hydrogen generator has not been heated sufficiently; on the other hand, when the hydrogen generator having been operated for a long time and kept at a high temperature is temporarily stopped, then restarted immediately thereafter, and stopped again, the interior of the hydrogen generator is in a heated condition to a certain degree in which the temperature is kept high.
As described above, temperature conditions of the hydrogen generator at the stop vary depending on the operation conditions that precede the stop, but the above-described conventional internal gas replacement operation is not necessarily adapted to such various temperature conditions of the hydrogen generators appropriately; moreover, failure to perform an appropriate replacement operation may cause the catalytic activity of the reforming catalyst to decrease. For example, the use of a gas that does not have an appropriate ratio of a material and water (steam) in the replacement operation may cause the catalyst to oxidize or cause the carbon in the material to deposit when the interior of the hydrogen generator is at a high temperature. On the other hand, if the interior of the hydrogen generator is at a low temperature, steam condenses inside the hydrogen generator, producing water. These also result in decrease in the catalytic activity of the reforming catalyst.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A spark-ignition engine is provided. The engine includes an engine body, a fuel injection valve, an ignition plug, an EGR introduction system, and a controller for operating the engine body by controlling the fuel injection valve, the ignition plug, and the EGR introduction system. The controller controls to combust mixture gas by compressing to self-ignite within a compression self-ignition combustion applying range, and to combust the mixture gas by a spark-ignition using the ignition plug within a spark-ignition combustion applying range. Substantially throughout the spark-ignition combustion applying range, the controller controls the EGR introduction system to introduce cooled EGR gas, and within the compression self-ignition applying range, the controller controls the EGR introduction system to introduce hot EGR gas. The controller controls the EGR introduction system to introduce the hot EGR gas and the cooled EGR gas within a low engine load part of the spark-ignition combustion applying range.

The present invention relates to a spark-ignition engine where compression self-ignition combustion is performed within a low engine load range and spark-ignition combustion is performed within a high engine load range.
Compression self-ignition combustion (hereinafter, also referred to as "CI combustion") where mixture gas inside a cylinder is compressed to self-ignite (Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition) has advantages that a thermal efficiency improves and a fuel consumption improves, as well as, due to it having a short combustion period but not becoming extreme combustion, generation of nitrogen oxide is suppressed significantly. Therefore, conventionally, with spark-ignition gasoline engines, it has been known to perform spark-ignition combustion (hereinafter, also referred to as "SI combustion") within a high engine load operating range higher than a predetermined load, whereas CI combustion is performed within a lower engine load operating range than the predetermined load so as to improve the fuel consumption and purify exhaust gas (e.g., JP2007-154859A).
Moreover, for example, JP2009-197740A discloses an art for this kind of an engine, in which high-temperature internal EGR gas is introduced into a cylinder within a CI combustion applying range in order to improve ignitability within a low engine load range where an in-cylinder temperature is difficult to increase because a fuel injection amount is small.
Since the CI combustion is a combustion mode that can improve the fuel consumption as described above, it may seem to be preferable to expand the CI combustion applying range further to the higher engine load side. However, when the in-cylinder temperature increases as the engine load increases, the CI combustion will be accompanied by a sharp pressure increase (dP/dt), and the combustion noise may increase. Therefore, as disclosed in JP2007-154859A, even with the engine where the CI combustion is performed within the low engine load range, the SI combustion using an ignition plug is generally performed within the high engine load range.
Thus, as the engine disclosed in JP2009-197740A, unlike the CI combustion applying range where the ignitability is improved by introducing the high-temperature internal EGR gas into the cylinder, within a part of the SI combustion applying range, particularly within a high engine load part thereof, since the in-cylinder temperature is high and thus abnormal combustion may occur, low-temperature external EGR gas which is cooled by heat exchange is generally introduced into the cylinder. Note that, even in the case with CI combustion, within the high engine load range therein, in order to suppress the combustion accompanied by a sharp pressure increase, the low-temperature external EGR gas has been introduced in addition to the high-temperature internal EGR gas.
However, the method of introducing the high-temperature EGR gas into the cylinder within the CI combustion applying range and the low-temperature external EGR gas within the SI combustion applying range has a scope for improvement in the following points. Specifically, in the case with the CI combustion, within the low engine load range therein, since the ignitability is required to be improved, a large amount of high-temperature EGR gas can be introduced into the cylinder. Moreover, within the high engine load range therein, since the low-temperature external EGR gas is also introduced into the cylinder in addition to the high-temperature EGR gas, as a result, a large amount of EGR gas can be introduced into the cylinder. In other words, in the case with the CI combustion, the cylinder can be filled with the large amount of EGR gas, the intake can be performed while a throttle valve is opened and not while the throttle valve is throttled, and therefore, a pumping loss can be effectively reduced. On the other hand, in the case with the SI combustion, since the ignitability needs to be secured while suppressing abnormal combustion, there is a problem that the pumping loss reduction similar to within the CI combustion applying range is difficult to be achieved due to the restriction of the amount of the low-temperature external EGR gas that can be introduced into the cylinder, in other words, due to the fact that the amount of the low-temperature external EGR gas that can be introduced into the cylinder is restricted by the in-cylinder temperature. When the amount of the low-temperature external EGR gas introduced into the cylinder is increased to reduce the pumping loss similarly to within the CI combustion applying range, the in-cylinder temperature decreases excessively mainly within the low engine load range, causing unstable ignitability and combustibility.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A bearing arrangement comprising mutually rotatable components, and devices for integrated heating and cooling of rolling-element raceways, or of mutually rotatable components, and a method for integrated heating or cooling applicable to the mutually rotatable components, and devices for integrated heating or cooling of the components and rolling-element raceways wherein the respective heating and/or cooling is effected by direct heat input into the components, or direct heat removal from the components, and is controllable, and is produced by the interaction of cold- or heat-producing elements, or functions or devices, and is adapted to switch between a heating effect and a cooling effect.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a bearing arrangement in the form of a bearing, large rolling bearing, or rotary joint, with devices for integrated cooling and/or heating, and to a method for the integrated heating or cooling of a bearing, large rolling bearing, slew drive, or rotary joint.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Currently available and currently used large rolling bearings, bearings, and universal rotary joints for machine and plant engineering, and which can be used in slew drives to prevent excessive cooling of bearing components—especially the stressed components in and around the raceways of the rotary joint(s)—are cooled with a liquid or an oil. Technical solutions also exist in which the bearing components, especially the stressed components, are heated by means of a liquid or an oil, or by an electrical heating system.
Such large rolling bearings, bearings, and universal rotary joints, for machine and plant engineering, are also often used in applications of this kind that involve sharp temperature fluctuations and/or extreme operating conditions. Specifically, such parts are commonly used in wind power plants, cranes, ship cranes, tunnel construction, and all other conceivable areas of application. Regardless of circumstances, large rolling bearings, bearings and universal rotary joints for machine and plant engineering, are likely to be exposed to extreme temperature and environmental conditions, and thus also extreme heat or cold.
DE 102005058141 A1 and the related WO 2007/065412 A1 relate to a rolling bearing having at least one heated rolling-bearing ring, such that an electric heating element is mounted in thermally well-conducting contact on a surface portion of the heated rolling-bearing ring; the amount of heat that can be generated by the heating element is provided such that the heated rolling-bearing ring undergoes thermal expansion when heated. The expansion makes it possible to install the rolling bearing on a frame element so that a shrink fit is created as it subsequently cools.
DE 102008052287 A1 relates to a bearing arrangement comprising
a bearing through which a medium (particularly water) flows and a filter device, which is disposed upstream from the bearing to remove particles from the medium, and a shaft received in the bearing, such that a feed device for the medium is disposed downstream from the bearing and controls the flow of the medium through the bearing.
Other examples of the prior art are the documents DE 2021156 B2, WO 99/35414, DE 4234303 A1 and DE 102004015176 A1, which also describe cooling systems for bearings.
The term "passive or indirect cooling" generally applies when indirect cooling is present, as in the case, for example, of the heat pipe principle, or the convection heating principle. A heat pipe generally functions as a heat transfer device that uses the heat of evaporation of a substance to achieve a high heat flux density, that is, large quantities of heat can be transported through a small cross-sectional area.
The waste heat present in a given part is emitted to the ambient air by the principle of thermal convection, for example via cooling fins, radiators, etc.
To summarize, the technical solutions of the current state of the art, as represented by the above-cited documents, often have the major disadvantage of having been developed either in the context of heating, or in the context of cooling, of components of the bearing arrangement.
Until now, grease-lubricated rotary joints, in particular, have not lent themselves well to direct, active cooling or direct, active heating. Usually, the only solution open to the skilled person is indirect cooling, which is inadequate. At very low temperatures (about −40° C. and below), grease in the bearing is stiff and hinders the operation of the bearing, or the start-up of the installation. At very high temperatures, on the other hand, the oil in the grease becomes low-viscosity, which has a negative effect on the lubricant. Both too-low and too-high temperatures prematurely reduce the quality of the lubricant, so it has to be replaced sooner than normal.

Bearing arrangements and integrated cooling and/or heating devices and method for integrated heating or cooling


A controller for a two-stage heat source is provide, which may be connected to either a single stage or a two-stage thermostat to provide low stage heating for a variable time period before switching to high stage heating. The controller includes at least a first terminal for receiving a signal requesting heating from a single-stage thermostat or a two-stage thermostat connected to the first terminal. A microcontroller in communication with the first terminal determines a duty cycle value for a heating cycle based on the duration in which a signal at the first terminal is present relative to the duration of the heating cycle. The microcontroller determines a low stage time limit from the duty cycle, and provides low stage heating when a signal is present at the first terminal for a time period not more than the time limit, and switches to high stage heating after the time limit.

There are two types of commonly available, gas-fired, warm air furnaces in the marketplace: those with a single gas flow rate, and those with two or more gas flow rates. These are referred to as single and multistage furnaces, respectively. Multistage furnaces are frequently selected by homeowners for replacement furnaces because they offer increased performance and comfort. In retrofit applications there is typically an existing single stage thermostat and wiring in place. It can be troublesome to install a multistage thermostat in a retrofit application when a single stage thermostat is already in place because of the need to route additional wiring through walls for the additional stages. For simple and economical installation, it is desirable to be able to continue to use a single stage thermostat and thermostat wiring when replacing a single stage furnace with a multistage furnace.
Several attempts have been made to allow a single stage thermostat with two-stage furnaces. In some two-stage furnace controls, the controller switches to second stage heating if the demand for heat is not satisfied within a set predetermined time, such as ten minutes. Such furnace controls operate the second stage of heating after some pre-set time has expired, independent of the level of heating actually required at the time.

Controller for two-stage heat source usable with single and two stage thermostats


The assembled light steel structure energy-saving composite wall in the present invention comprises: a cement board and/or ceramic tile, a column, a support rod, a cross beam, a bottom plate, a diagonal brace and a diagonal draw steel bar. In the thickness direction of the composite wall, the horizontal side of each group of columns is outside the composite wall, a plurality of support rods and diagonal braces are installed between the four second vertical sides of the columns of the each opposite group of columns. In the width direction of the composite wall, a plurality of cross beams and diagonal draw steel bars are installed between the first vertical sides of the column of the adjacent groups of columns. On both sides of the thickness direction of the composite wall, the horizontal sides of the column of the two adjacent columns are provided with a cement board and/or a ceramic tile inserted by a strip fastener and a strip, and the space enclosed by the cement board and the ceramic tile, the cement board and the cement board or the ceramic tile and the ceramic tile is filled with the filler. The assembled light steel structure wall system is simple to assemble, convenient to transport, operate and maintain, energy-saving and heat-preserving, the wall installation and wall decoration is completed at one time.

With the development of society and the improvement of living standards, people have higher and higher requirements for living environment. Driven by the policies of "green building action" and "building industrialization" and economic development, prefabricated light steel structure building has become a hotspot of research and exploration. Because of its convenient assembly and transportation, the assembled light steel structure wall system has been more and more used in many fields. However, the existing composite wall relies more on the foundation, installation and transportation are inconvenient, so it is needed to be specially processed for special environments, and after the wall is installed, its interior and exterior are needed to be further decorated.

Assembled light steel structure energy-saving composite wall


There are provided a speaker for outputting sound, a plurality of sound output holes formed in a reverse side cabinet, a mesh sheet, a two-sided tape, and a transparent sheet. The sound output holes, the mesh sheet, the two-sided tape, and the transparent sheet control the direction of sound output from the speaker.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a portable communication tool, such as a mobile phone and a PHS (Personal Handyphone System), and more relates to structures of sound output holes for outputting sound from a speaker.
2. Background Art
Recently, portable communication tools are being miniaturized more and more, such as mobile phones and PHSs, while equipping various functions of, for example, a television set, a videophone, and the like. Under the circumstances, it becomes necessary to provided a speaker besides a receiver for equipping the functions. Sound from the speaker is output through a plurality of sound output holes formed in a cabinet provided at the front of the speaker. Japanese Patent Application Laid Open Publication Nos. 9-215076A and 2002-152871A disclose such portable communication tools, for example.
In Japanese Patent Application Laid Open Publication No. 9-215076A, a speaker is provided at the reverse face of a cabinet, and through holes and dummy holes are formed at the front of the speaker. Further, the dummy holes are set to have a diameter of 3 mm or smaller and a depth of 0.5 mm or larger or set to have a bottom in a conical shape, a trapezoidal shape, or a hemispherical shape to cause diffuse reflection rather than direct reflection of light entering in the dummy holes. This arrangement makes it difficult to distinguish between the through holes and the dummy holes in view of outward appearance with a result of improved appearance.
In Japanese Patent Application Laid Open Publication No. 2002-152871A, dummy holes include first recessed parts formed in the front face portion of a transparent resin panel and second recessed parts formed in the back face portion of the transparent resin panel so as to be opposite the first recessed parts, and at least a region where a cabinet is in contact with the second recessed parts is colored in the same color as a diaphragm of a speaker mounted at the cabinet. This removes unnaturalness of difference in outward appearance between the sound output holes for the speaker and the dummy holes to contemplate excellent design. Also, the strength as before is maintained with the transparent resin panel, which is easily molded. This means a cabinet with a transparent resin panel formed by dies at low maintenance cost.
Referring to sound output from one speaker through sound output holes formed in a cabinet, it is known that change in positions of the sound output holes leads to change in quality of the output sound.
It is essential, however, to place importance on product design, and therefore, the sound quality falls in conflict with product design.


The present invention relates to a disposable absorbent article comprising a chassis having a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region between the front and back waist regions, said chassis having two opposing longitudinal edges and two perpendicularly placed end edges, said chassis further comprising:                a. a liquid permeable topsheet spanning at least the crotch region;        b. a backsheet spanning at least the crotch region;        c. an absorbent core disposed between said topsheet and backsheet; and        d. a elastic member disposed along at least one opposing longitudinal edge in either the front waist or back waist region of said chassis wherein said member comprises an unapertured, skinless elastomeric layer wherein said layer exhibits an Energy Recovery Value of at least about 0.77.

Disposable absorbent articles are well known for their utility in aiding in the containment of body exudates including urine, menses, and feces. As such these articles take various forms including diapers, pull-on training pants, incontinence garments, and sanitary napkins One important feature for each of these articles is conforming fit. It is imperative that these articles conform to the portion of the body that acts as the anchor to hold the article in place during wear. It is widely known that provision of an elastic portion of such an article serves well to engage the article to a wearer's body.
Conventional disposable absorbent articles have included strand elastics and elastomeric films to serve this engaging function in various areas of the articles. These areas include at the leg opening, the waist opening, the outer cover, and side panels (which are typically elasticized). In particular, when an elastomeric film is typically employed as an elastic member, it includes an elastomeric core layer flanked by substantially inelastic skin layers on opposing sides or surfaces. These inelastic skin layers, when stretched, allow for reduced friction and blocking of the overall film. This reduced blocking aids in increasing the processsability of the film as well as providing an increased softness to the touch of the film which is desirable when the wearer's skin comes in contact with the area of the article that includes the film. This approach, however, requires additional polymers to form the skin layers and these bring in additional costs for manufacturing.
Another approach which allows for the manufacture of an elastic laminate includes the use of a release liner with a single layer elastomeric film. In the instance described above as well as in the case of a release liner, possible raw materials for this elastomeric film are elastomers, SBS block copolymers, SIS block copolymers, polyurethane, ethylene copolymers and similar materials. As one would expect, in the absence of one or more inelastic skin layers, the elastomeric films are relatively sticky and hard to handle during processing. In order to facilitate conversion as a roll of stock material, a release liner has to be added which covers at least on one side the elastomeric layer. The release liner can be made from a number of materials, including but not limited to silicone paper. When further converting the film material, in most instances the release liner is separated from the elastomeric film, removed, and wound up for disposal or re-use. Only then may the elastomeric film be laminated to a nonwoven web that is friendlier to the skin of the ultimate wearer of a product containing the film. In such instances, however, the handling of an elastomeric monofilm or single layer film paired with a release liner subsequently requires another mechanism to facilitate handling of the layer for future lamination with one or more nonwovens.

Disposable absorbent article containing an unapertured skinless elastomeric layer


A rail guide having first and second guiding rails disposed in a mirror-inverted relationship with regard to one another. At least one pair of spaced leading and following carriages are displaceably mounted to the guiding rails so as to engage and transport a sliding component along a transport path towards a stacking area. While the leading and following carriages are slidably supported by both guiding rails along the main track of the transport path, the leading carnage slides along the first rail, and the trailing carriage slides along the second rail along the transport path downstream from the main track in the stacking area.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a rail guide for a suspended and guided sliding component.
2. Description of the Related Art
The sliding components guided in the aforementioned rail guide may be executed differently, for example as wood panels or glass panels, in simple or double disposition. In the extended disposition, the sliding components form a closed wail and they can be displaced by guiding them in the rail guide into a stacking area, normally in a side-by-side disposition. Generally, two carriages are assigned to each sliding component. Provided that the spaced apart carriages supporting a sliding component are guided at a single guiding rail only, one turnout is required for conveyance into a stacking area, which diverts respectively one of the spaced apart carriages towards the guiding rail leading into the stacking area. However, in the case of a rail guide being formed by two adjacent guiding rails disposed side-by-side, one of the spaced apart carriages is guided in one guiding rail and the other one is guided in the adjacent guiding rail. In this case, one of the two adjacent guiding rails forms the branch leading into the stacking area. The invention relates to this type of device.
The document DE 42 42 597 A1 discloses a device of this species. Each of two carriages for displacing a sliding component is guided by one carrying roller and one guiding roller displaceable along a single one of the first and second adjacent guiding rails. In the aforementioned known device, a branching into a stacking position is only possible by utilizing an additional expensive turnout. According to the present invention, the device of this species thus uses two guiding rails which are disposed mirror-inverted with regard to one another; however, guidance of the carriages in the adjacent guiding rails is different from the subject matter of the application in that the characteristics described in the inventive object cannot be realized with the state-of-the-art according to DE 42 42 597 A1.
The document DE 38 14 535 C2 describes a roller device for a suspended sliding wall, wherein a one-piece guiding rail has a symmetrical structure relative to a vertical central longitudinal axis of the rail's cross section. In this case, one of the two carriages assigned to one sliding component is positively guided by means of carrying rollers and guiding rollers in the right region of the guiding rail and the other one in the left region. The device allows for branching—as intended with the present invention—without involving a turnout; however, due to the required division of the guiding rail, a special section has to be provided in the branching region. The known device is particularly disadvantageous in that each carriage, in the region of the main track, is only supported either in the left region or in the right region of the guiding rail, that is to say, only half of the provided profile is used by the respective carriage.
From the document EP 0 679 788 B1 is known a drive mechanism for the suspension of a door wherein the tilting moment considered to be disadvantageous, with a lateral suspension of the door, should be avoided by centrally supporting the carrying rollers of a carriage in the guiding rail, which laterally engage with the guiding rail, the guiding rollers sitting close to the guiding rail on the exterior side thereof. In this case, two of the above described guiding rails are provided at a trunnion, which is suspended at a sub-construction, such that, in relation to a door, two spaced-apart carriages are guided in respectively one of the adjacent guiding rails. A branching is obviously not intended, and likewise could not be realized because of the trunnion that is common to the guiding rails. Moreover, the known structure requires an extraordinary construction width and increased technical expense.

Rail guide for a suspended and guided sliding component


The present invention relates to a package which contains a food product and an aromatized headspace. The headspace includes an aromatised food-acceptable inert gas and food-acceptable protective gas. The invention also relates to a process and an apparatus for introducing an aroma into the headspace of a package containing a food product during the gas packing of the food product by introducing a modified atmosphere into the headspace, and introducing a food-acceptable aroma dissolved in or mixed with a gaseous food-acceptable inert gas into the headspace of the package.

In some cases it would be desirable to introduce an aroma or fragrance into the headspace of a food package in order to increase the smell of freshness and to stress the uniqueness of the food product so that, on opening the package, the consumer's appetite will be whetted on smelling the aroma or fragrance.
A system for aromatizing a headspace of a food package is disclosed in European patent 0 706 944, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Although this system provides many advantages, the food-acceptable aromas in this system are dissolved in a liquid food-acceptable gas under pressure. For an injection into a headspace of a food package of this aroma dissolved in a liquid gas, the liquid gas and aroma must be dispensed e.g. by means of spraying nozzle as described in the above cited patent or by means of a dispenser for aroma gas as discussed in European Patent Application 0 702 964 A1.

Method and apparatus for introducing aroma into food package and food package containing said aroma


Described is a method and system by which a computer program window is sized based on the content to display. The window may automatically resize itself as content changes. When laying out an element tree of elements that contain the content, the elements provide desired size information to a parent container, and so on, up to the root element (e.g., a window). If a window property is set to size to the content, a window size is computed during layout, having a height and/or width based on the child elements plus X and Y deltas for a window non-client area and borders. Logic attached to window message handling controls changes to the content/window, such as to automatically resize for changed content, and to selectively turn off or persist the size to content property. Sizing to content may be programmatically limited to one dimension, with the other dimension fixed.

The term "layout" in user interface application platforms refers to the sizes and positions of user interface elements, such as text boxes, buttons, image boxes, and so forth. Layout has traditionally been a very difficult problem to solve. For example, layout needs logic to handle dynamic changes.
By way of example, consider when content that is currently being displayed changes in some way. This may be a result of user interaction with the window, a locale change where the user interface elements remain essentially the same but the language (and thus the text content) changes, an automatically timed or otherwise triggered update to the content, and so forth.
Heretofore, content that did not fit within a current window was handled in a number of ways to make it or some portion of it fit, including when the content changed. For example, if it was text content that changed, the text content may automatically wrap to fit in the current element (e.g., text box) within the window. For text that was unable to wrap, or for image data and the like, clipping is another alternative, including having vertical and/or horizontal scrollbars provided as necessary to allow the user to interactively view the entire content. Resizing the content (e.g., via scaling) to fit is another option.
While these solutions all provide a way to present content to users, there are drawbacks to each. For example, a user interface scene designer may not realize that a locale change will cause an element's (e.g., button's) text to not fit in the element when translated. Even in systems in which the elements can automatically resize to fit the text, this resizing may no longer fit the window. For example, after resizing, even a simple dialog window may require that the user scroll in order to view and interact with an item (e.g., a button). What is needed is another way for scene designers to present content to the users that overcomes these and other drawbacks.

Size to content windows for computer graphics


The present application provides a combined cycle system. The combined cycle system may include a compressor water wash system in communication with a compressor and a water wash flow, a combustor water injection system in communication with a combustor and an injection flow, and a transient power augmentation system in communication with the compressor, the combustor, and a flow of supplemental water.

During power plant operation, a situation may arise in which it is desirable to increase quickly the overall power output for a relatively brief period of time. For example, the grid frequency may drop below a local target frequency of approximately 50 Hz or 60 Hz when power use demands exceed the power supply into the grid in a grid frequency excursion. For a turbine based power plant, the power capability of a turbine typically decreases as the grid frequency decreases. Most grid codes, however, require rapid increases in power output at low frequencies in a very quick response time. Given that steam turbine output cannot change or respond quickly during a grid frequency excursion due to thermal inertia, the entire output response must come from the gas turbine engine.
Conventional techniques for increasing the output of a gas turbine engine include increasing compressor mass flow via an online water wash, increasing the flow of fuel to the combustor for over-firing, and opening inlet guide vanes to the compressor (during part load operation). An increase in the compressor mass flow may be limited by operational constraints such as a compressor surge margin. Over-firing methods may provide a fast response but operating the turbine beyond normal combustion temperatures may lead to the degradation of hot gas path parts and an increase in maintenance costs. Further, the airflow to the compressor can only be increased if the gas turbine is operating at less than base load.
There is thus a desire for improved gas turbine power augmentation systems and methods to accommodate transient grid frequency excursions. Preferably such improved systems and methods may accommodate such transient events within existing grid code requirements without compromising component lifetime and maintenance requirements.

Power augmentation systems and methods for grid frequency control


An antistatic film comprising a chemically adsorbed film of straight chain molecules each containing a conductive group and provided on a chargeable substrate via covalent bonds each containing a Si group, said chemically adsorbed film having a conductivity of 10.sup.-10 S/cm or above. With the antistatic chemically adsorbed film according to the invention, conductive functional groups are secured via chemically adsorbed molecules and by siloxane bonds to the surface of a substrate material such as ceramics, glass, synthetic resins or synthetic fibers, a film, a plate, an display screen surface, a light-emitting tube. Thus, the film provides an antistatic effect and does not separate. In addition, this chemically adsorbed film has a thickness at the nanometer level and is thus excellently transparent, as well as capable of preventing contamination of the substrate surface due to charging thereof. The film is also excellently durable. Further, when a chemically adsorbed polymer film is formed, a high molecular density, chemically adsorbed film can be obtained.

Ceramics, glass, synthetic resins, synthetic fibers and the like can electrostatically charge depending on their use. When they are charged, dust particles floating in the environment are electrostatically attracted to them and contaminate their surface. It is well known in the art that in order to prevent electrostatic charging, conductive resins are coated on, conductive films are applied to or conductive ceramics such as ITO (indium-tin oxide) are deposited on the surface of ceramics, glass, synthetic resins and the like.
Further, it is desirable to change the substrate surface antistatic, such as the surface of films, typically overhead projector films, motion picture films, video films and recording films, displays, typically VTR displays comprising electron guns, electroluminescence displays, plasma displays and liquid crystal displays, screens used for motion picture displays, projection type television sets and overhead projectors, and textile products, typically clothing and curtains. It is usually undesirable that substrates are held in close contact with one another or contaminated by dust particles in air due to electrostatic charging.
It is well known that in order to prevent this charging, a coating containing fine metal particles or carbon fibers dispersed in a resin or the like is coated on the substrate surface, or polyalkylene glycol or the like is sprayed thereon.
The prior art CRT display is made of glass, and in use it is internally irradiated with electron beams. Therefore, the display surface may be charged, and due to this charging, dust particles floating in environment are readily attracted. To prevent electrostatic charging, it has been in practice to coat the display screen glass surface with a conductive resin or to apply a conductive film to the surface or deposite ITO (indium-tin oxide) or like conductive ceramics on the surface. It is further well known to dispose a transparent board made from a plastic plate, which has a conductive layer of ITO or the like formed on its surface, in front of the display of a word processor or a personal computer.
The prior art light-emitting tube is made of glass, and in the fluorescent tube or the like an electron beam is generated internally in use. Therefore, the surface of these tubes is very prone to electrostatic charging. With this charging, dust particles floating in the invironment are attracted to and contaminate the surface. To prevent this charging, conductive resins are coated on, conductive films are applied to or ITO (indium-tin oxide) or like conductive ceramics are deposited on the surface of the tubes.
Further, it is well known to form a chemically adsorbed monomolecular film on the surface. For example, in a method proposed by Ogawa (in U.S. Pat. No. 4,673,474 and others), a specific chemically adsorbed film is produced through chemical adsorption by preliminarily incorporating a functional group having a specific function in a surface active material.
However, using the known method of coating conductive resins or applying conductive films to the surface, results in inferior transparency, and separation or scars and scratches can occur. Using the known method of depositing ITO is costly, although it is possible to obtain high reliability. Using the method of forming a chemically adsorbed monomolecular film, it is impossible to incorporate a weakly conductive group to prevent electrostatic charging of the surface active material.
This imposes great restrictions on producing desirable antistatic chemically adsorbed films, and thus the method is poorly versatile. Further, conventional coating or spraying reduces transparency, and therefore it is difficult to use these means for transparent materials. Besides, with these means the obtainable durability is poor, and it is impossible to expect a lasting antistatic property.

Antistatic film and method of manufacturing the same

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A printhead maintenance assembly for maintaining a printhead in an operable condition is provided. The maintenance assembly comprises (i) a printhead assembly comprising a printhead having an ink ejection face and a film guide sealingly bonded to the face, the film guide being positioned to guide a film through a transfer zone defined by a plane spaced apart from the face; and (ii) an ink transport assembly comprising a film and a transport mechanism for feeding the film through the transfer zone and away from the printhead. In use, the film sealingly contacts with the film guide thereby forming a cavity defined at least partially by the film, the film guide and the face.

Inkjet printers are commonplace in homes and offices. However, all commercially available inkjet printers suffer from slow print speeds, because the printhead must scan across a stationary sheet of paper. After each sweep of the printhead, the paper advances incrementally until a complete printed page is produced.
It is a goal of inkjet printing to provide a stationary pagewidth printhead, whereby a sheet of paper is fed continuously past the printhead, thereby increasing print speeds greatly. The present Applicant has developed many different types of pagewidth inkjet printheads using MEMS technology, some of which are described in the patents and patent applications listed in the above cross reference list.
The contents of these patents and patent applications are incorporated herein by cross-reference in their entirety.
Notwithstanding the technical challenges of producing a pagewidth inkjet printhead, a crucial aspect of any inkjet printing is maintaining the printhead in an operational printing condition throughout its lifetime. A number of factors may cause an inkjet printhead to become non-operational and it is important for any inkjet printer to include a strategy for preventing printhead failure and/or restoring the printhead to an operational printing condition in the event of failure. Printhead failure may be caused by, for example, printhead face flooding, dried-up nozzles (due to evaporation of water from the nozzles—phenomenon known in the art as decap), or particulates fouling nozzles.
Particulates, in the form of paper dust, are a particular problem in high-speed pagewidth printing. This is because the paper is typically fed at high speed over a paper guide and past the printhead. Frictional contact of the paper with the paper guide generates large quantities of paper dust compared to traditional scanning inkjet printheads, where paper is fed much more slowly. Hence, pagewidth printheads tend to accumulate paper dust on their ink ejection face during printing. This accumulation of paper dust is highly undesirable.
In the worst case scenario, paper dust blocks nozzles on the printhead, preventing those nozzles from ejecting ink. More usually, paper dust overlies nozzles and partially covers nozzle apertures. Nozzle apertures that are partially covered or blocked produce misdirected ink droplets during printing—the ink droplets are deflected from their intended trajectory by particulates on the ink ejection face. Misdirects are highly undesirable and may result in acceptably low print quality.
One measure that has been used for maintaining printheads in an operational condition is sealing the printhead, which prevents the ingress of particulates and also prevents evaporation of ink from nozzles. Commercial inkjet printers are typically supplied with a sealing tape across the printhead, which the user removes when the printer is installed for use. The sealing tape protects the primed printhead from particulates and prevents the nozzles from drying up during transit. Sealing tape also controls flooding of ink over the printhead face.
Aside from one-time use sealing tape on new printers, sealing has also been used as a strategy for maintaining printheads in an operational condition during printing. In some commercial printers, a gasket-type sealing ring and cap engages around a perimeter of the printhead when the printer is idle. A vacuum may be connected to the sealing cap and used to suck ink from the nozzles, unblocking any nozzles that have dried up. However, whilst sealing/vacuum caps may prevent the ingress of particulates from the atmosphere, such measures do not remove particulates already built up on the printhead.
In order to remove flooded ink from a printhead after vacuum flushing, prior art maintenance stations typically employ a rubber squeegee, which is wiped across the printhead. Particulates are removed from the printhead by flotation into the flooded ink and the squeegee removes the flooded ink having particulates dispersed therein.
However, rubber squeegees have several shortcomings when used with MEMS pagewidth printheads. A typical MEMS printhead has a nozzle plate comprised of a hard, durable material such as silicon nitride, silicon oxide, aluminium nitride etc. Moreover, the nozzle plate is typically relatively abrasive due to etched features on its surface. On the one hand, it is important to protect the nozzle plate, comprising sensitive nozzle structures, from damaging exposure to the shear forces exerted by a rubber squeegee. On the other hand, it is equally important that a rubber squeegee should not be damaged by contact with the printhead and reduce its cleaning efficacy.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide an inkjet printhead maintenance station, which does not rely on a rubber squeegee wiping across the nozzle plate to remove flood ink and particulates. It would further be desirable to provide an inkjet printhead maintenance station, which removes flooded ink and particulates from the nozzle plate without the nozzle plate coming into contact with any cleaning surface.
It would further be desirable to provide an ink jet printhead maintenance station that is simple in design, does not consume large amounts power and can be readily incorporated into a desktop printer.

Printhead maintenance assembly with film transport of ink


The present application relates to a cable laying device (100). The cable laying device is used for laying a cable, and comprises:                a cable laying part (10) comprising a base section (11) and an extension section (12); a turnover mechanism (20) and a positioning adjustment mechanism (30), wherein,        the base section (11) and the extension section (12) are connected rotatably relative to each other at their longitudinal ends;        the positioning adjustment mechanism (30) is connected to the base section and comprises a rotating assembly (31), wherein the rotating assembly (31) drives the cable laying part to rotate; and        the turnover mechanism (20) connects the extension section (12) and the base section (11), and drives the extension section (12) to turn over relative to the base section (11).

In oil field drilling, when the electrical equipment needs to be powered, it is often necessary to manually drag the power supply cables towards the electrical equipment. During wellsite operation, many types of electrical equipment should be simultaneously operated. Under these circumstances, a lot of time should be spent on preparing and providing the power supply cables to the electrical equipment. When the operation is finished, the power supply cables also need to be collected. This process would incur much time and labor cost. Meanwhile, frequent drag of the power supply cables on the ground surface would cause certain wear to the power supply cables.

Yantai Jereh Petroleum Equipment & Technologies Co., Ltd.


A reduced footprint image producing machine including (a) an image output terminal (IOT) having (i) a moveable imaging member including an imaging surface; (ii) latent imaging devices for forming a latent electrostatic toner image on the imaging surface; (iii) a development unit for developing the latent electrostatic image on the imaging surface into a toner image; (iv) a transfer station for transferring the toner image from the imaging surface onto a toner image carrying sheet; (v) a fusing apparatus for heating and fusing the transferred image onto the toner image carrying sheet; and (b) a footprint-reducing tower mounted on top of the IOT and containing (i) machine electronics and controller assembly, and (ii) machine environment conditioning devices including cleaning and exhaust fans along with portions of associated manifolds, thereby preventing the addition of protrusions to a rear of the IOT, and thus reducing the installed foot print of the machine.

This disclosure relates to an image producing machine architecture, and more particularly, concerns such a machine having a footprint-reducing tower module.
A typical image producing machine, for example an electrostatographic machine, includes an Image Output Terminal (IOT) that employs a photoconductive member that is charged to a substantially uniform potential so as to sensitize the surface thereof. The charged portion of the photoconductive member is exposed to a light image of an original document being reproduced. Exposure of the charged photoconductive member selectively dissipates the charge thereon in the irradiated areas to record an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive member corresponding to the informational areas contained within the original document.
After the electrostatic latent image is recorded on the photoconductive member, the latent image is developed by bringing a developer material into contact therewith. Generally, the electrostatic latent image is developed with dry developer material comprising carrier granules having toner particles adhering triboelectrically thereto. However, a liquid developer material may be used as well. The toner particles are attracted to the latent image, forming a visible powder image on the photoconductive surface.
After the electrostatic latent image is developed with the toner particles, the toner powder image is transferred to a sheet. Thereafter, the toner image is heated to permanently fuse it to the sheet. An image producing machine of this type can be used to produce black and white as well as color prints or images.
In order to produce a color print, the image producing machine includes a plurality of stations. Each station has a charging device for charging the photoconductive surface, an exposing device for selectively illuminating the charged portions of the photoconductive surface to record an electrostatic latent image thereon, and a developer unit for developing the electrostatic latent image with toner particles. Each developer unit deposits different color toner particles on the respective electrostatic latent image. The images are developed, at least partially in superimposed registration with one another, to form a multi-color toner powder image. The resultant multi-color powder image is subsequently transferred to a sheet. The black and white or transferred multi-color image is then permanently fused to the sheet forming the color print.
A conventional or prior art example of such an Image output Terminal (IOT) portion 129 of a conventional image producing machine 99 is illustrated in FIG. 1A. As illustrated, the IOT of the conventional image producing machine 99 typically therefore includes image forming devices as are well known, and bustles or rear side projections 103, 105 and 107 for housing and enclosing machine drives, machine electronics, and machine environment NOHAD (noise, ozone and dirt) conditioning devices (not shown). In larger conventional machines, a provided user interface device usually is built into the machine IOT or sits on the horizontal real estate of the top cover of the machine taking up valuable work surface area. The machine environment conditioning devices and large controller electronics modules have conventionally been added onto the rear of the IOT in the form of protruding bustles 103, 105, 107 because the height of such an IOT is a concern given the average height of potential operators. Unfortunately, such protrusions or bustles 103, 105, 107 typically tend to give the rear of the machine a complicated appearance, and tend to undesirably add significantly to the size of the installed footprint 101 of the conventional machine 99. Generally, the installed footprint of any office or production environment machine is ordinarily a purchasing consideration, given the prime nature of office real estate space.
Examples of such conventional image producing machines 99 are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,823,157 in which components contained within the IOT include transfer/detack corona generating devices, pretransfer paper baffles, a photoreceptor cleaner, a charge scorotron, an erase lamp, the photoreceptor (P/R) belt, and noise, ozone, heat and dirt (NOHAD) handling manifolds and filter. Similarly in U.S. Pat. No. 6,463,230 the IOT of the conventional office machine includes a machine frame, operating components within an operating environment inside the frame, and a cooling or a noise, ozone and dirt (NOHAD) system that has at least one air blower or air blower assembly. The NOHAD system disclosed therein is suitable for either removing heat or dirt and dust particles from within the operating environment of the machine which ordinarily requires environmental conditioning such as cooling and/or cleaning.
In accordance with the present disclosure, there is provided an image producing machine that includes (a) an image output terminal (IOT) having (i) a moveable imaging member including an imaging surface; (ii) latent imaging devices for forming a latent electrostatic toner image on the imaging surface of the moveable imaging member; (iii) a development unit for developing the latent electrostatic image on the imaging surface into a toner image; (iv) a transfer station for transferring the toner image from the imaging surface onto a toner image carrying sheet; (v) a fusing apparatus for heating and fusing the transferred image onto the toner image carrying sheet; and (b) a footprint-reducing tower mounted on top of the image output terminal and containing (i) machine electronics and controller, and (ii) machine environment conditioning devices including cleaning and exhaust fans along with portions of associated manifolds, thereby preventing the addition of protrusions to a rear of said IOT, and thus reducing the installed foot print of the machine.
Referring now to FIG. 1B, in accordance with the present disclosure, an exemplary image producing machine 100 is shown and includes a paper or media holding and supply module 110 for holding and supplying copy sheets, a finishing module 120, and an Image Output terminal (IOT) 130, each of which is a floor standing module on casters as shown. Importantly, the machine 100 also includes a footprint-reducing tower 150 that is mounted on top of the IOT 130 and constitutes a functioning part thereof. As shown, the footprint-reducing tower 150 includes a frame or housing 152 that is mounted on top of the IOT frame 132 which stands on the floor on casters as shown. The tower 150 as mounted extends upwards and is significantly above an expected ordinary height of the floor standing IOT for such a machine as shown.
As further shown, the image output terminal (IOT) 130 includes (i) a moveable imaging member such as a photoreceptor belt 134 including an imaging surface 135; (ii) latent imaging devices or means such as a charger, a scanner and an exposure device 136, as are well known, for forming a latent electrostatic toner image on the imaging surface 135; (iii) development units 138 for developing the latent electrostatic image on the imaging surface into a toner image; (iv) a transfer station 139 for transferring the toner image from the imaging surface onto a toner image carrying sheet 112 from the media supply module 110; (v) a fusing apparatus 140 for heating and fusing the transferred image onto the toner image carrying sheet.
Referring now to FIGS. 1A and 1C, the footprint-reducing tower 150 as mounted on top of the IOT 130 includes the tower frame or housing 152 for containing the machine electronics and controller 154 as well as machine environment conditioning devices or NOHAD devices 156. As further shown in FIG. 1C, the machine electronics and controller 154 include a controller hard drive 162, an electronic board card cage 163, a power supply unit 164, and an electrical connected grid 166. The power supply unit 164 provides power distribution to meet the various requirements of the machine control electronics within the card cage 163. The card cage 163 is a contained unit designed to have minimal to no leakage of electronic noise emissions. The electrical connector grid 166 provides a single area where outside devices can be easily plugged into the IOT 130. The hard drive 162 includes means for storing machine software and job information.
The machine environment conditioning devices 156 for example include a pair of cleaning and exhaust fans 170, 172 along with portions of associated conduits or manifolds 171, 173 connecting the fans 170, 172 to dirt pick up locations within the IOT frame or housing 132. The machine environment conditioning devices 156 may also include replaceable filters 174, 176 that are located conveniently within the footprint-reducing tower 150 for access and service. The fans 170, 172 are built into the card cage 163 in order to facilitate a chimney effect cooling of the electronics 154. The footprint-reducing tower 150 also includes a pair of service access doors 180, 182 also conveniently located at a service height, instead of down within the bustles or protrusions 103, 105,107 (FIG. 1A) to the rear of the IOT 130.
As shown in FIGS. 2-4, by mounting the electronics package and controller 154, for example, to the top and back of the IOT housing 132, the rear or backside 133 of the machine 100 has no protrusions or bustles thereto as is the case in FIG. 1A, thus significantly reducing the installed footprint 102 of the machine 100. The machine 100 also therefore has a simple up and down as well as clean rear or backside, and so can be installed with safe walk areas to the front and rear of it. As a result, the service connections (in the form of the connecting grid 166), are moved to the top of the machine, thus enabling an easier service access by technicians.
Referring now to FIGS. 5-7, further details of the footprint-reducing tower 150 are shown. The frame or housing 152 of the footprint-reducing tower 150 is additionally made strong enough for supporting a mounted User Interface device 160. As shown in FIG. 7, mounting the UI device 160 to vertical of the frame or housing 152 functions to free up significant work surface area 104 on the top of the IOT 130. The frame or housing 152 is also used to carry an audible speaker assembly 106 as well as the machine's warning light 108.
Compared to the prior art (FIG. 1A), all of the above electronics and contents of the footprint-reducing tower 150 as described above are relatively easier to access by either a user or a technician by virtue of the fact that they are on the top of the machine and not located in the back of the machine near to the floor. The tower 150 as mounted uses vertical space above the IOT 130 in order to save machine footprint and without interfering with the valuable work surface area real-estate 104 on the top-front of the IOT 130. The tower 150 as such does so without giving the impression of being large. On the contrary, by visually being a backdrop for the machine, it gives the impression of the machine being small, thus bringing the apparent back of the machine forward. It also uses space for functions that are not usually needed by people with disabilities, so the space might otherwise be wasted for concern with 508 requirements.
As can be seen, there has been provided a reduced footprint image producing machine including (a) an image output terminal (IOT) having (i) a moveable imaging member including an imaging surface; (ii) latent imaging devices for forming a latent electrostatic toner image on the imaging surface; (iii) a development unit for developing the latent electrostatic image on the imaging surface into a toner image; (iv) a transfer station for transferring the toner image from the imaging surface onto a toner image carrying sheet; (v) a fusing apparatus for heating and fusing the transferred image onto the toner image carrying sheet; and (b) a footprint-reducing tower mounted on top of the IOT and containing (i) machine electronics and controller assembly, and (ii) machine environment conditioning devices including cleaning and exhaust fans along with portions of associated manifolds, thereby preventing the addition of protrusions to a rear of the IOT, and thus reducing the installed foot print of the machine.
It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims. Unless specifically recited in a claim, steps or components of claims should not be implied or imported from the specification or any other claims as to any particular order, number, position, size, shape, angle, color, or material.

Image producing machine having a footprint-reducing tower


A descent control device is disclosed manufactured with a bar having holes for guiding a rope used in descent, and a lever designed to pivot or move relative to the bar and compress the opening of one of the holes. Compressing the opening increases friction and slows or stops descent. Control can be from manually moving the lever or by connecting the lever to the descending weight, thereby automatically moving the lever. Hole and pivot geometry may be altered to provide multiple braking options, accommodate varying ropes, and alter normal operating friction.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to descent control devices, and more particularly to devices that control the descent of a person or other load supported by rope or other cable.
The descent device market is a broad market that encompasses a wide range of devices intended to control the descent of persons or objects on a vertical rope or cable. Such devices vary significantly depending on the specific intended purpose; such purposes include providing a controlled descent of an individual by another (a belay), a solo descent in a sport environment (such as rock climbing or caving), a controlled descent for tactical or rescue purposes, or an emergency egress from a building, tower or other structure. Due to the varying purposes, descent devices range from very simple (merely a carabiner or fixed "Figure 8" with a wrap of rope) to quite complex and heavy (e.g. a lever box like a Rollgliss). Sport market devices are more often light and simple, yet they require significant training to set up and use properly. Industrial versions are often very heavy and complex in order to allow the device to provide a very controlled descent with little input from the operator, including a fail safe "auto-stop" feature which automatically stops the descent if the operator is unable to operate the device (such as due to an accident or incapacity). Recently, emergency descent devices for first responders have become more prevalent, and have attempted to provide pre-rigged, simple devices that can be carried on a firefighter's person at all times in order to allow for emergency egress from buildings. While such devices have borrowed from a variety of existing devices, none has provided all of the simplicity and functionality of the proposed device.
2. Description of Prior Art
The original method of lowering oneself to the ground, a body rappel wrapping a rope around one's body, was painful on long and free-hanging drops. In the old days of fat manila rope it could be tolerated, but as thinner nylon lines came into popular use, the technique has almost disappeared from routine use. Long before the new ropes came into play, people were already looking for a better way to rappel using mechanical devices of various kinds. The basic principle of a rappel or descent device is to provide a friction surface over which a rope passes thereby slowing the descent as the person's potential energy is transferred into heat. In all cases the combination of the friction surface and the perpendicular force exerted on that surface generates the necessary total friction to slow the descent. The force exerted perpendicular to the friction surface has traditionally been provided by curving the rope around the surface and applying "back-tension" exerted on the free end of the rope by the hand of the operator. If the friction surface is limited (such as with a carabiner discussed below), the amount of tension required to be exerted on the free end of the rope can be significant (often causing significant discomfort, if not burning of the rope in ones hand). In order to provide additional friction surface to overcome this requirement, often the rope path is long and sinuous and/or the device applies extra mechanical pressure on the rope as it passes over the surface thereby increasing the friction, and hence the control over the descent. In some methods, cams act against the rope in order to apply such pressure; in other methods, pressure is applied by increasing the length of winding of the path (either by repeated wraps or by increasing the length of the device to extend the surface over which the rope passes). In many cases, the geometry of the device is variable and can be adjusted by the operator by means of a handle or lever. In some devices, the geometry is designed to "auto lock" or "auto stop" the descent when the individual releases the device (such as in an accidental fall or incapacitation).
There are many categories of modern descent devices:
Carabiners: the most basic method of controlling one's descent is by means of wrapping a rope around a carabiner or other metal ring, either singly or in combination, using a variety of hitches or other rope arrangements. The control is exerted by varying the backpressure on the rope using a free hand. Occasionally, brake bars are added to a carabiner, which aids in the control. While such devices are ubiquitous, the method requires proper configuration of a hitch (such as the Munter hitch) and continuous handling of the rope in order to properly control the descent. If the operator fails to control the free hand, the results will be an uncontrolled descent.
Figure 8's: These are fixed cast or milled devices shaped loosely like the figure "8". As in carabiners, the rope is varyingly threaded through the device in order to provide friction. Figure 8's are small, light and relatively inexpensive, but have the same drawbacks as carabiners in that they require proper rigging and attentive handling.
Hooks and Horns: This is a broad category of fixed devices including any shaped bar or hook over and around which ropes are snaked or wrapped in order to create friction. Again, similar to Figure 8's they are light and relatively inexpensive while requiring a level of skill to operate properly.
Bobbins: Bobbins are mechanical descenders where the rope path follows an S-shaped path from bottom to top. In general the braking surface consists of two non-rotating bollards fixed to a side plate, with a second pivoting side plate provided to keep the rope from jumping off the other end of the bollards. A third (usually smaller) bollard may be provided. The attachment point for the individual usually attaches to holes in extensions of the two side plates; these holes are aligned when the side plates pivot to the closed position. Examples would be the Petzl SIMPLE or STOP (auto-stop).
Fixed Multi-bar devices: These devices consist of an arrangement whereby the rope snakes around at least three fixed bars or bollards, often machined out a single piece of metal. An example would be the Whaletail.
Moving Multi-Bar Devices: Similar to a simple bollard, the rope snakes around at least three bollards, but the geometry is such that the bollards compress against one another thereby increasing friction. The compression is controlled by a lever or screw, thereby modulating the friction. An example would be the Gemini Rescue Equipment Gemlock. These devices can be quite effective although they are often large and cumbersome.
Racks: Devices with frames that accept a number of brake bars arranged similar to a ladder, at least some of which can slide on the frame. J-frame racks have an open side; U-frame racks do not. In either case, the rope is snaked around the "rungs" causing a circuitous path and creating friction. Because the bars collapse on themselves, the inherent friction in the device can be quite high, thereby making the amount of "back tension" required to undertake a long controlled descent very manageable.
Spools: Devices where the rope wraps around a fixed drum. The drum axis can be horizontal or vertical. Friction is varied by varying the number of wraps.
Lever Boxes: Lever boxes are devices with (1) a body with a complex rope channel milled, cast, or otherwise formed into it, (2) a cover plate, and (3) a lever that allows the rappeller to control the descent, yet automatically stops the descent if the rappeller lets go (an auto-stop feature). The enclosed rope path provides some protection, although it can be a liability in heavy mud. Lever boxes tend to be complex, and the cost of manufacturing is accordingly high. They are also often large and heavy. Examples would be the Petzl Grigri, the Rollgliss and the RIT Rescue and Escape Systems F.I.R.E.-A.L.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,491 "Descent Controller" (Varner, 07-21-1992) is an example of a variation of a spool type descender, with an alternate ladder capstan also disclosed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,597,052 "Descender" (Rogleja, 01-28-1997) is an example of a bobbin type descender.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,850,893 "Self-Locking Descender for a Rope with an Operating Lever" (Petzl, 12-22-1998) is another example of a bobbin type descender covering variations of the Petzl STOP device.
All of the above devices fall into either the category of simple devices that are extremely limited in their ability to control one's descent without significant training and setup time or complex devices that are either heavy, complicated to operate, expensive to manufacture or susceptible to damage and wear.


In one general aspect, a network communication unit is disclosed that includes a cryptographic record parsing offload engine that has an input and an output. The unit also includes a processor that includes cryptographic handshake logic and has an input operatively connected to the output of the cryptographic record parsing offload engine.

Modern computers are often interconnected to form networks that enable various forms of interaction, such as file transfer, web browsing, or e-mail. Many of these networks, including the Internet, are based on the layered Transmission Control Protocol over Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) model. These and other types of networks can be organized according to the more extensive Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model set forth by the International Standards Organization (ISO).
The lowest two layers of the TCP/IP and OSI models are the physical layer and the data link layer. The physical layer defines the electrical and mechanical connections to the network. The data link layer performs fragmentation and error checking using the physical layer to provide an error-free virtual channel to the third layer.
The third layer is known as the network layer. This layer determines routing of packets of data from sender to receiver via the data link layer. In the TCP/IP model, this layer employs the Internet Protocol (IP).
The fourth layer is the transport layer. This layer uses the network layer to establish and dissolve virtual, error-free, point-to-point connections, such that messages sent by one computer will arrive uncorrupted and in the correct order at another computer. The fourth layer can also use port numbers to multiplex several types of virtual connections through a path to a same machine. In the TCP/IP model, this layer employs the Transfer Control Protocol (TCP).
Network services such as File Transfer Protocol (FTP), Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), Secure HTTP (HTTPS), and Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) can be viewed as residing at one or more higher levels in the hierarchical model (e.g., Level 5 through Level 7). These services use the communication functionality provided by the lower levels to communicate over the network.
TCP/IP functionality can be provided to processes running on a node computer through an interface known as the sockets interface. This interface provides libraries that allow for the creation of individual communications end-points called "sockets." Each of these sockets has an associated socket address that includes a port number and the computer's network address.
Netscape Corporation has developed a secure form of sockets, called the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). This standard uses secure tokens to ensure security and privacy in network communications. It provides for encryption during a communications session and authentication of client computers, server computers, or both.
Security concerns often require private networks to be connected to public networks by firewalls. These can reside in a peripheral network zone of an organization's Local Area Network (LAN) known as the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). They typically include a number of public Internet ports and a single highly monitored choke point connection to the LAN. This architecture allows them to implement a variety of security functions to protect the LAN from outside attacks, and to hide the IP addresses of the computers inside the firewall.
In addition to firewalls, high-traffic web service providers, e-commerce systems, or other large-scale network-based systems often use load balancers. These distribute traffic among a number of servers based on a predetermined distribution scheme. This scheme can be simple, such as a "round-robin" scheme, or it can be based on contents of the packet itself, such as its source IP address.
Load balancers that use a distribution scheme based on packet contents often use a technique known as "stitching." This type of device typically buffers a portion of a packet received from a client until the relevant part of the packet has been examined, from which it selects a server. It can then send the buffered packet data to the server until its buffer is empty. The load balancer then simply relays any further packet data it receives to the selected server, thereby "stitching" the connection between the client and server.
To improve TCP/IP performance in network devices, some computers have been equipped with hardware-based TCP/IP Offload Engines (TOEs). These offload engines implement some of the TCP/IP functionality in hardware. They generally work in connection with a modified sockets interface that is configured to take advantage of the hardware-based functionality.


Apparatus for securely attaching a casing to a person includes an elongate strap and a strap connector having a male retainer at an end thereof. The strap connector has a female retainer at an opposite end thereof. A casing defines first and second openings connected by a passageway. The female retainer is snap-fit to the casing in the passageway of the casing through the first opening. The male retainer is snap-fit to the female retainer in the passageway through the second opening.

It is often desirable to secure a casing to a person. For example, in a home incarceration system, it is desirable to secure a bracelet (or anklet) including a casing, as for an identifying device or circuit, to an incarceree. Periodically, a central station initiates a call to the incarceree's home or other designated location. The incarceree responds by coupling the identifying circuit in the casing with a decoder. The decoder responds to the identifying circuit to verify that the incarceree is at the incarceree's home, and transmits a verification signal to the central station.
Other systems include a transmitter mounted in the casing. If the incarceree goes outside of the limiting range of the transmitter, the transmitter signal has insufficient power to reach a base station at the incarceree's home and the base station initiates contact with the central station to indicate that the incarceree has left the limiting range. Such bracelets can include a conductor threaded through an elongate strap which activates or deactivates the transmitter if broken.
For proper operation of a home incarceration, the incarceree must not be able to remove the bracelet or anklet without being detected either by a physical inspection of the bracelet or by electronic contact with the central station.


A fuel cell stack includes a stack body formed by stacking a plurality of unit cells in a horizontal direction. The stack body is held in a casing including end plates. Further, the casing includes a plurality of side plates provided on sides of the stack body. The end plates and the side plates are coupled by coupling pins. Each of the side plates has a plurality of separate second coupling portions, and the coupling pins are inserted into the coupling portions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fuel cell stack including a stack body formed by stacking a plurality of unit cells and a box-shaped casing containing the stack body. Each of the unit cells includes an electrolyte electrode assembly and separators sandwiching the electrolyte electrode assembly. The electrolyte electrode assembly includes a pair of electrodes and an electrolyte interposed between the electrodes.
2. Description of the Related Art
For example, a polymer electrolyte fuel cell employs an electrolyte membrane (electrolyte) comprising a polymer ion exchange membrane. The electrolyte membrane is interposed between an anode and a cathode to form a membrane electrode assembly. The membrane electrode assembly is sandwiched between separators to form a fuel cell.
In use, normally, a predetermined number (e.g., several tens to several hundreds) of fuel cells are stacked together as a fuel cell stack to achieve the desired power generation performance. In the fuel cell stack, in order to prevent the increase in the internal resistance of the fuel cells, and prevent degradation in the sealing performance for reactant gases, the fuel cells need to be held together reliably under pressure.
In this regard, for example, a fuel cell stack disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-298901 is known. The fuel cell stack has a stack body formed by connecting a predetermined number of unit cells electrically in series. Each of the unit cells includes an assembly including a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte interposed between the cathode and the anode, and a pair of separators sandwiching the assembly. The separators have a fuel gas flow field for supplying a fuel gas to the anode, and an oxygen-containing gas flow field for supplying an oxygen-containing gas to the cathode. Current collecting electrodes are provided outside the stack body, and end plates are provided outside the current collecting electrodes. The stack body and the current collecting electrodes are placed in a casing having at least one detachable side surface. An opening at the end of the casing is connected to the end plate by a hinge mechanism.
In the hinge mechanism, a plurality of cylindrical insertion portions are provided in a mounting plate such as the end plate and the casing, and coupling pins are integrally inserted into the cylindrical insertion portions. Thus, a process of forming a plurality of cylindrical insertion portions integrally with the mounting plate is performed, and operation of fabricating the mounting plate is complicated. Further, it is necessary to achieve the desired fabrication accuracy. Consequently, the overall cost for producing the fuel cell stack is considerably high.


A flow damper is provided with a clearance to absorb a deformation occurring in proximate to a lower end of the valve body by the clearance on an entire outer circumference of a lower side of a large diameter portion of a piston. By the configuration in this manner, even if the slight deviation in the accuracy or the shape of the seat surface occurs a radially inward deformation of a lower portion of the valve body when the valve body is fastened to the common rail body at a large axial force, the clearance absorbs the deformation. Thus, the deformation of the valve body does not affect the piston sliding hole. Accordingly, a sliding clearance of the piston does not change, not to spoil a slide motion of the piston.

Conventional flow damper is described referring to FIG. 16.
A flow damper J1 in FIG. 16 is provided with: an approximately cylinder-shaped valve body J2 in which a fuel passage is formed; a piston J4 that is slidable in an axial direction along a piston slide hole J3 formed in the valve body J2; a spring J5 that urges the piston J4 to an upstream side of a fuel flow; and a stopper J6 that restricts a travel of the piston J4 to the upstream side.
In the piston J4 is formed an aperture path J7 that communicates an upstream side and a downstream side of the fuel passage. When any abnormal condition such as excessive fuel outflow occurs in the injector, a downstream flow amount increases to increase a pressure difference before and after the aperture path J7, and the piston J4 moves to the downstream side (injector side) to seat a valve portion J8 of the piston J4 on a valve seat J9 of the valve body J2. In this manner, the flow damper J1 stops the outflow of the high-pressure fuel when any malfunction occurs accidentally (refer to U.S. Pat. No. 6,357,415-B and its counterpart JP-3521811-B, for example).
The conventional flow damper J1 has the following issues.
(1) The valve body J2 is one to be fastened to a common rail body J10. The common rail body J10 accumulates high-pressure fuel, so that intimate contact surfaces of the valve body J2 and the common rail body J10 must be highly oil tight seal surfaces, and the valve body J2 is fastened to the common rail body J10 at a large axial force.
The valve body J2 is fastened to the common rail body J10 at a high strength, so that even a slight deviation in accuracy or shape of a seat surface can distort the valve body J2 in a rotational side at the large axial force.
The valve body J2 supports the piston J4 therein in a slidable state, therefore, if the valve body J2 is distorted by the above-described cause to deform the piston slide hole J3 radially inward, a slide clearance between the valve body J2 and the piston J4 decreases to spoil a slide motion of the piston J4.
In addition, the intimate contact surfaces of the valve body J2 and the common rail body J10 (or the stopper J6) require high work accuracy such as a high flatness, which is a cause of a cost increase.
(2) A female screw (a hole for inserting the valve body J2 thereinto) J11 of the common rail body J10 may have strain such as deformation by any kind of cause. Correspondingly, as shown in FIG. 16, a male screw J12 at a side of the valve body J2 is provided on an outer circumference of a direct slide range J2 in which the valve body J2 and the piston J4 are in direct slide contact with each other.
Thus, when the valve body J2 is fastened to the common rail body J10 at the large axial force, the strain that occurs in the female screw J11 of the common rail body J10 is transmitted via a screw-fastening portion to the valve body J2. As a result, the valve body J2 is distorted and the piston slide hole J3 is distorted, too.
In this manner, the distortion of the piston slide hole J3 spoils the slide motion of the piston J4.

Flow damper for common rail fuel injection apparatus


Disclosed is a radiation-crosslinkable thermoplastic polyurethane composition comprising (a) the reaction product of: (i) an aliphatic polyisocyanate, and (ii) a polyahl, and (b) a reactive monomer cross-linker. The reactive monomer cross-linker facilitates cross-linking of the reaction product upon contact of the cross-linker-containing composition with photons from a radiation source. Also disclosed is a process for converting this thermoplastic polyurethane into a thermoset polyurethane by irradiating the thermoplastic polyurethane with a beam of photons.

Thermoplastic polyurethanes are relatively easy to process into a wide variety of fabricated products. Unfortunately, however, the high temperature stability of these polyurethanes, as well as their stability in some commonly-used organic solvents, are less than might be desired. Accordingly, methodology has been developed to provide heat-induced crosslinking to convert thermoplastic polyurethanes into thermoset polyurethanes having the desired stability at high temperatures and in the presence of solvents. By way of illustration, U.S. Pat. No. 4,255,552 discloses thermoset polyurethane elastomers obtained by adding organic peroxides to a liquid polyurethane-forming composition prior to reacting the composition to form the polyurethane. The '552 patent teaches that the liquid polyurethane-forming composition containing "unactivated hydrogen peroxide" may be formed into a desired article and then heated to thermoset the article, or provided in solid form such as sheet, crumbs, or granules which are then formed into a desired article that is then thermoset by heating the article. The organic peroxides disclosed in the '552 patent are said to have a half-life of greater than one hour at 100.degree. C. Unfortunately, these peroxide-containing compositions are less stable than might be desired during melt processing or thermoforming of the polyurethane composition into the desired finished article, thus providing technology that is not commercially practical.
As an alternative to heat induced crosslinking of thermoplastic polyurethanes, their conversion into thermoset polyurethanes by irradiation is known in the art. A technical journal article entitled "Radiation Crosslinked Thermoplastic Polyurethane", published in the journal International Polymer Science and Technology, Vol. 19, No. 1, pp. T/6-T/9 (1992), discloses the production of such thermoset polyurethanes using a polyisocyanate and methacrylate monomer as a radiation-cross-linkable monomer. This technical journal article does not disclose the particular polyisocyanate used in making polyurethanes disclosed therein. Unfortunately, methacrylate is more heat sensitive than otherwise might be desired, causing a risk of premature cross-linking during storage or shipping and prior to the desired conversion of the thermoplastic polyurethane into a thermoset polyurethane. Further, not all polyisocyanates perform alike in irradiation-crosslinking of TPUs. Indeed, the present inventor has been unsuccessful in attempts to cross-link TPU formulations based upon aromatic polyisocyanates to provide a desirable article. Instead of cross-linking, the resulting article exhibits an undesirable discoloration.
In view of the above, there is a continuing need in the polyurethanes manufacturing community for a polyurethane-forming composition that is readily thermoset by cross-linking when desired, but is also less sensitive to unwanted heat-induced cross-linking during storage and prior to use than prior art polyurethane-forming compositions, most notably prior art peroxide, acrylate, and methacrylate-containing compositions. Such a composition desirably would provide advantageous processing capability, such as by extrusion, when the composition is in the thermoplastic state, and advantageous elevated temperature stability and solvent resistance when the composition is thermoset after formation into the desired product. The present invention provides one such desirable composition, together with processes for the production of the composition.

Irradiation conversion of thermoplastic to thermoset polyurethane


An apparatus for adjustably profiling a cant comprising a first and second shaft rotatably mounted on a first and second frame, respectively. A first and second pair of laterally spaced apart profiling heads are slidably and rotatably mounted on the first and second shaft, respectively. Corresponding pairs of linear positioners laterally translate the first and second laterally spaced apart heads so that each profiling head in each pair of profiling heads may be independently translated relative to the other to set spacing, and then each pair may be sleeved cooperatively in unison. The pairs of profiling heads may be vertically displaced relative to the longitudinal centerline of a cant. The profiling heads remove notches from the wane corners of the cant.

The processing of cants generally do not allow for efficient production of dimension lumber, especially when the cants have natural inherent irregularities, such as curvature and knots. A cant is conventionally defined as a log having at least two flat parallel faces. Typically, a processed cant produces a plurality of centre cant boards having flat parallel faces (i.e. useable dimension lumber) and a plurality of wane edge boards having non-flat faces from the curved surfaces of the cant. Such wane edge boards may be further processed or chipped to remove the curved surfaces in order to transform such boards into dimension lumber. However, such processes increase production costs and unnecessarily compromise recovery.
When processing a cant, typically, an upstream scanner and optimizer are used to determine the width and number of centre cant boards that can be processed from the cant. The scanner and optimizer also determine the size and width of any wane edge boards that can be milled from the curved sides of the cant and processed into dimension lumber. The methods and devices currently available in the art to profile and process wane edge boards into usable dimension lumber negatively affect recovery. Recovery, which is the most important factor in the lumber industry, refers to the amount of board feet recovered from cutting a cant into dimension lumber.
The existing methods and devices for processing wane edge boards are limited only to profiling the wane edge boards relative to the width of the centre cant boards in an orientation parallel with the direction of flow of the cant. For example, the rotational axes of the upper pair and lower pair of profiling heads available in the art are generally fixed at right angles to the direction of flow of the cant, thereby producing profiled wane edge boards without regard to the characteristics peculiar to the cant being processed. Such methods and devices for profiling wane edge boards fail to adapt to and accommodate any natural inherent irregularities of cants which can be accomplished by following the natural longitudinal centreline of the cant. For example, if the cant has a curvature in the horizontal plane, profiling heads which are generally fixed at right angles will not be able to maintain a path parallel to the longitudinal centreline of the cant, causing the profiled wane edge boards to be shortened relative to the maximum cant length. This limitation does not permit maximum recovery of the cant because the profiler produces profiled wane edge boards that fail to utilize the full length of the cant. The wane edge boards may be reduced in width or size to accommodate the deficiencies in the cant. However, this results in a reduction of lumber recovery volume and value as well.
Therefore, it is desirable to effectively process cants into useable dimension lumber by producing the maximum number of center cant boards and processing the remaining curved sides of the cant in an economical manner to produce the maximum number of profiled wane edge boards.

Apparatus for adjustably profiling a cant