A novel dye fixing element is provided comprising a dye fixing layer on which a diffusive dye produced or released by developing a light-sensitive element containing at least a light-sensitive silver halide, a hydrophilic binder and a dye providing compound which produces or releases a diffusive dye in correspondence to or counter correspondence to the exposure in the presence of a base and/or base precursor after or simultaneously with imagewise exposure is transferred and fixed, wherein the outermost layer on the dye fixing layer side or on the opposite side, i.e., back layer side contains at least one compound represented by the following general formula (I) and exhibits a contact angle of 80.degree. or more to a drop of methane iodide EQU (RfCH.sub.2 O).sub.n --PO(OM).sub.m (I). wherein n and m satisfy the equation: n+m=3; Rf represents a perfluoroalkyl group; and M represents an alkali metal ion, NH.sup.4+ or secondary, tertiary or quaternary ammonium ion. The base and/or base precursor is partially or entirely incorporated in the layers constituting the dye fixing element. The contact angle is preferably in the range of 85.degree. or more. The compound represented by the general formula (I) is preferably contained in an amount of 5 to 100% of the total coated amount of said outermost layer as calculated in terms of dry film. Heat development and transfer are effected in the presence of a small amount of water.

The silver halide system photography is superior to other photographic processes such as electrophotography and diazo process in sensitivity and gradation adjustment and thus has heretofore been most widely used. In recent years, a technique which can easily and rapidly provide an image has been developed by changing the process for the formation of an image on a light-sensitive material from the wet process with the conventional developer or the like to the dry process by heating or the like.
Many methods for obtaining color images by heat development have been proposed. Methods which comprise the bonding of an oxidation product of a developing agent and a coupler to form a color image have been proposed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,531,286, 3,761,270, and 4,021,240, Belgian Patent 802,519, and Research Disclosure (September 1975, page 32).
However, these methods are disadvantageous in that an image of reduced silver and a color image are formed on heat developed exposed portions at the same time, causing stain on the color image.
In order to eliminate this disadvantage, many approaches have been proposed, e.g., method which comprises imagewise form or release a mobile (diffusive) dye by heating, and then transferring the mobile dye to a dye fixing element having a mordant with a solvent such as water or a high boiling organic solvent or a hydrophilic heat solvent incorporated in the dye fixing element and method which comprises transferring a thermally diffusive or sublimable dye to a dye receiving element such as support (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,463,079, 4,474,867, 4,478,927, 4,507,380, 4,500,626, and 4,483,914, and JP-A-58-149046, JP-A 58-149047, JP-A-59-152440, JP-A-59-154445, JP-A-59-165054, JP-A-59-180548, JP-A-59-168439, JP-A-59 174832, JP-A-59-174833, JP-A-59-174834, and JP-A-59-174835 (the term "JP-A" as used herein means an "unexamined published Japanese patent application")).
In general, if dye fixing elements on which an image has been formed by a transfer process such as the above mentioned image formation methods are kept with their surface on the dye fixing layer side laminated opposed to each other, the dye image is retransferred to the counterpart dye fixing layer. In particular, for the purpose of simplifying development process, it is effective to incorporate a base or base precursor in a light-sensitive element or dye fixing element which is then subjected to heat development to form an image. However, the "contact dye transfer" is worsened. Particularly, in a system where heat develoment and transfer are effected in the presence of a small amount of water, a water-soluble base or base precursor is preferably used. In this case, the "contact dye tranfer" is further worsened.
In order to overcome this difficulty, the inventors previously proposed a dye fixing element comprising a nonionic water-soluble polysaccharide (particularly pullulan and dextran) in JP-A-62-47639 ad a dye fixing element having a protective layer mainly comprising an anionic water-soluble polymer as an outermost layer in JP-A-63-103240.
The above mentioned methods exert remarkable effects on the "contact dye transfer". However, if the light-sensitive material is stored under the circumstances of high humidity for prolonged period of time, its effect is not always sufficient. Thus, further improvements have been desired. A polymer dispersion having a glass transition temperature of 25.degree. C. or lower may be effectively incorporated in a dye fixing layer and/or adjacent layers thereto in a dye fixing element free of back layer as a curl balance layer to improve the curling properties. However, this worsens the "contact dye transfer".
In general, means of inhibiting the "contact dye transfer" causes deterioration of transferability also during the image formation, often resulting in an insufficient transfer density.
On the other hand, if a lamination of a light-sensitive material and a dye fixing material to both or either of which a small amount of water has been supplied is subjected to heat development/transfer process, an uneven image (honeycomb density unevenness) which is attributable to partial contact failure may occur depending on the amount of water supplied and heating condition.
A layer comprising a hydrophilic binder is normally provided on the back layer in a dye fixing element as a curl balance layer. If a lamination of such dye fixing elements is stored under the circumstances of high humidity, a base and/or base precursor contained in the surface layer partially migrates to the back layer, causing unevenness in the distribution of the base or base precursor in the surface layer. As a result, when such a dye fixing element laminated with a light-sensitive element is subjected to development and transfer, it causes unevenness in development and transfer. Accordingly, blank areas are generated in the transferred image.
In order to solve this problem, the inventors previously proposed a dye fixing element comprising in the back layer finely divided grains having a size greater than the thickness of the back layer in JP-A-63-274952.
The above mentioned approach exerts remarkable effects in inhibiting the blank areas from generation. However, if the light-sensitive material is stored under the circumstances of high humidity under pressure for prolonged period of time, its effect is not always sufficient. Thus, further improvements have been desired. In particular, if the light-sensitive material is for use in transmission type, the amount of finely divided grains to be added is limited from the standpoint of transparency (haze). Thus, an approach for inhibiting the blank areas from generation without deteriorating trasnparency has been desired.


lep polypeptides and DNA (RNA) encoding such lep and a procedure for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques is disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for utilizing such lep for the treatment of infection, particularly bacterial infections. Antagonists against such lep and their use as a therapeutic to treat infections, particularly bacterial infections are also disclosed. Also disclosed are diagnostic assays for detecting diseases related to the presence of lep nucleic acid sequences and the polypeptides in a host. Also disclosed are diagnostic assays for detecting polynucleotides encoding leader peptidase and for detecting the polypeptide in a host.

Streptococci
The Streptococci make up a medically important genera of microbes known to cause several types of disease in humans, including, for example, otitis media, conjunctivitis, pneumonia, bacteremia, meningitis, sinusitis, pleural empyema and endocarditis, and most particularly meningitis, such as for example infection of cerebrospinal fluid. Since its isolation more than 100 years ago, Streptococcus pneumoniae has been one of the more intensively studied microbes. For example, much of our early understanding that DNA is, in fact, the genetic material was predicated on the work of Griffith and of Avery, Macleod and McCarty using this microbe. Despite the vast amount of research with S. pneumoniae, many questions concerning the virulence of this microbe remain. It is particularly preferred to employ Streptococcal genes and gene products as targets for the development of antibiotics.
Cell surface proteins
Several cell surface associated proteins of the Staphylococci and Streptococci involved in microbial adhesion to different host tissues and considered to be important factors in bacterial pathogenesis have been identified in the last decade (see Patti, J. M., et al., MSCRAMM-Mediated Adherence of Microorganisms to Host Tissues (1994) Annu. Rev. Microbiol. 48:85-617).
Different approaches have been put forward to address such proteins from Staphylococcus aureus as antibacterial targets, e.g. fibronectin binding proteins (EP0294349, EP0397633, WO94/18327), fibrinogen binding protein (WO94/06830), collagen binding protein (WO92/07002) and bone sialoprotein binding protein (WO94/13310). The binding proteins or binding fragments thereof are used as antibacterial agents to block binding of the organism to host tissue, as vaccines to raise antibodies to the organism in the host animal or as antigens to raise therapeutic antibodies which can be used to block binding of the organism to host tissue.
Leader Peptidases
The majority of proteins that are translocated across one or more membranes from the site of synthesis are initially synthesized with an N-terminal extension known as a signal, or leader, peptide (Wickner, W., et al, (1991). Ann. Rev. Biochem. 60:101-124). Proteolytic cleavage of the signal sequence to yield the mature protein occurs during, or shortly after, the translocation event and is catalyzed in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes by enzymes known as signal, or leader, peptidases (SPases). The bacterial SPases are membrane proteins consisting of a single polypeptide anchored to the membrane by one (Gram-positive (G.sup.+) and Gram-negative (G.sup.-) bacteria) or two (G.sup.- bacteria) transmembrane sections. Predicted amino acid sequences of bacterial SPases show a high level of similarity and are known for Escherichia coli (Wolfe, P. B, et al, (1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258:12073-12080), Pseudomonas fluorescens (Black, M. T., et al, (1992). Biochem. J. 282:539-543), Salmonella typhimurium (van Dijl, J. M., et al, (1990). Mol. Gen. Genet. 223:233-240), Haemophilus influenzae (Fleischmann, R. D., et al, (1995). Science 269:496-512), Phormidium laminosum (Packer, J. C., et al, (1995). Plant Mol. Biol. 27:199-204. K. Cregg, et al: Signal peptidase from Staphylococcus aureus Manuscript JB765-96), Bradyrhizobium japonicum (Muller, P., et al, (1995). Mol. Microbiol. 18:831-840), Rhodobacter capsulatus (Klug, G., et al, (1996). GenBank entry, accession number 268305), Bacillus subtilis (two chromosomal and two of plasmid origin (Akagawa, et al, (1995) Microbiol. 141:3241-3245; Meljer, W. J. J., et al, (1995). Mol. Microbiol. 17:621-631; van Dijl, J. M., et al, (1992). EMBO J. II:2819-2828), Bacillus licheniformis (Hoang, V., et al, (1993). Sequence P42668 submitted to emb1/genbank/ddbj data banks.), Bacillus caldotyricus (van Dijl, J. M. (1993). Sequence. p41027, submitted to emb1/genbank/ddbj data banks), Bacillus amyloliquifaciens (two chromosomal genes) (Hoang, V. and J. Hofemeister. (1995). Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1269:64-68; van Dijl, J. M. (1993). Sequence p41026, submitted to emb1/genbank/ddbj data banks) and a partial sequence has been reported for Bacillus pumilis (Hoang, V. and J. Hofemeister. (1995). Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1269:64-68). These enzymes have been collectively defined as type-1 signal pepidases (van Dijl, J. M., et al, (1992). EMBO J. II:2819-2828). Although the amino acid sequences of fifteen bacterial SPases (and a sixteenth partial sequence) have now been reported, the best studied examples are leader peptidase (LPase or LepB) from E. coli and a SPase from B. subtilis (SipS).
It has been demonstrated that LPase activity is essential for cell growth in E. coli. Experiments whereby expression of the lepB gene, encoding LPase, was regulated either by a controllable ara promoter (Dalbey, R. E. and Wickner. 260:15925-15931) or by partial deletion of the natural promoter (Date, T. (1983). J. Bacteriol. 154:76-83) indicated that minimization of LPase production was associated with cessation of cell growth and division. In addition, an E. coli strain possessing a mutated lepB gene (E. coli IT41) has been shown to have a drastically reduced growth rate and display a rapid and pronounced accumulation of preproteins when the temperature of the growth medium is elevated to 42.degree. C. (Inada, T., et al, (1988). J. Bacteriol. 171:585-587). These results infer that there is no other gene product in E. coli that can substitute for LPase and that lepB is a single-copy gene in the E. coli chromosome. This is in contrast to at least two species within the G.sup.+ Bacillus genus, B. subtilis and B. amyloliquifaciens. It is known that there are at least two homologous SPase genes in each of these Bacillus species. The sipS gene can be deleted from the chromosome of B. subtilis 168 without affecting cell growth rate or viability under laboratory conditions to yield a mutant strain that can still process pre.alpha.-amylase (K. M. Cregg and M. T. Black, unpublished). A putative SPase sequence (Akagawa, et al, (1995) Microbiol. 141:3241-3245) may be the gene-product responsible for this activity and/or B. subtilis may harbor more than two SPase genes. Two or more genes encoding distinct SPase homologues reside on the chromosome of the closely related species B. amyloliquifaciens (Hoang, V. and J. Hofemeister. (1995). Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1269:64-68) and there is evidence to suggest that B. Japonicum may possess more than one SPase (Muller, P., et al, (1995). Mol. Microbiol. 18:831-840; Muller, P., et al, (1995). Planta 197:163-175). Although SPase sequences from seven genera of G.sup.+ bacteria are now known, only the single Bacillus genus amongst the G.sup.+ eubacteria has been investigated with respect to SPase characteristics. It was therefore considered of interest to determine whether a G.sup.+ eubacterium that, unlike B. subtilis and B. amyloliquifaciens, is not known for exceptional secretion activity has genes encoding more than one SPase with overlapping substrate specificities or whether it resembles E. coli and H. influenzae (and possibly other G.sup.- eubacteria)more closely in that it has a single SPase gene. The recent publication of the entire genomic sequence of the obligate G.sup.+ -like intracellular bacterium Mycoplasma genitalium also reveals an interesting feature relating to heterogeneity amongst SPases (Fraser, C. M., et al, (1995). Science 270:397-403). Inhibitors of E. coli LPase have been reported (Allsop, A. E., et al, 1995. Bioorg, & Med. Chem. Letts. 5:443-448).
Evidence has accumulated to suggest that LPase belongs to a new class of serine protease that does not utilize a histamine as a catalytic base (Black, M. T., et al, (1992). Biochem. J. 282:539-543; Sung, M. and R. E. Dalbey. (1992). J. Biol. Chem 267:13154-13159) but may instead employ a lysine side-chain to fulfill this role (Black, M. T. (1993). J. Bacteriol. 175:4957-4961; Tschantz, W. R., et al, (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268:27349-27354). These observations and comparisons with Lex A from E. coli led to the proposal that a serine-lysine catalytic dyad, similar to that thought to operate during peptide bond hydrolysis catalyzed by LexA (Slilaty, S. N. and J. Little. (1987). Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84:3987-3991), may operate in LPase (Black, M. T. (1993). J. Bacteriol. 175:4957-4961). Similar observations have since been made for SPase from B. subtilis (van Dijl, J. M., et al, (1995). J. Biol. Chem. 270:3611-3618) and for the Tsp periplasmic protease from E. coli (Keiler, K. C. and R. T. Sauer. (1995). Biol. Chem. 270:28864-28868); the similarities of SipS to LexA have been suggested to extend to several regions of primary structure (van Dijl, J. M., et al, (1995). J. Biol. Chem. 270:3611-3618). The serine and lysine residues (90 and 145 respectively in E. coli LPase numbering) known to be critical for catalytic activity in both E. coli LPase (Black, M. T. (1993). J. Bacteriol. 175:4957-4961; Tschantz, W. R., et al, (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268:27349-27354) and B. subtilis SPase (van Dijl, J. M., et al, (1995). J. Biol. Chem. 270:3611-3618) and thought to form a catalytic dyad are both conserved in the S. aureus protein SpsB (S36 and K77). In addition, the aspartate at position 155 (280 in E. coli LPase numbering) is also conserved (this residue appears important for activity of the SipS SPase (van Dijl, J. M., et al, (1995). J. Biol. Chem. 270:3611-3618) but less so for LPase from E. coli (Sung, M. and R. E. Dalbey. (1992). J. Biol. Chem 267:13154-13159).
Clearly, there is a need for factors that may be used to screen compounds for antibiotic activity and which may also be used to determine their roles in pathogenesis of infection, dysfunction and disease. There is a need, therefore, for identification and characterization of such factors which can play a role in preventing, ameliorating or correcting infections, dysfunctions or diseases.
Certain embodiments of the polypeptide of the present invention has the conserved amino acid residues 34-43 and 75-84, and have amino acid sequence homology to known serine protease proteins.
References of the Background of the Invention and the Examples
1. Akagawa, E., K. Kurita, T. Sugawara, K. Nakamura, Y. Kasahara, N. Ogasawara, and K. Yumane. 1995. Determination of a 17848 bp nucleotide sequence around the 39.degree. region of the Bacillus subtilis chromosome and similarity analysis of the products of putative ORFs. Microbiol. 141:3241-3245. PA0 2. Allsop, A. E., G. Brooks, G. Bruton, S. Coulton, P. D. Edwards, I. K. Hatton, A. C. Kaura, S. D. McLean, N. D. Pearson, T. Smale and R. Southgate. 1995. Penem inhibitors of bacterial signal peptidase. Bioorg, & Med. Chem. Letts. 5:443-448. PA0 3. Black, M. T. 1993. Evidence that the catalytic activity of prokaryote leader peptidase depends upon the operation of a serine-lysine catalytic dyad. J. Bacteriol. 175:4957-4961. PA0 4. Black, M. T., J. G. R. Munn, and A. E. Allsop. 1992. On the catalytic mechanism of prokaryotic leader peptidase 1. Biochem. J. 282:539-543. PA0 5. Dalbey, R. E. and Wickner. Leader peptidase catalyzes the release of exported proteins from the outer surface of the Escherichia coli plasma membrane. J. Bioil. Chem. 260:15925-15931. PA0 6. Date, T. 1983. Demonstration by a novel genetic technique that leader peptidase is an essential enzyme of Escheria coli. J. Bacteriol. 154:76-83. PA0 7. Devereus, J., P. Haeberli and O, Smithies. 1984. A comprehensive set of sequence analysis programs for the VAX. Nucleic Acids Res. 12:387-395. PA0 8. Fleischmann, R. D., M. D. Adams, O. White, R. A. Clayton, E. F. Kirkness, A. R. Kerlavage, C. J. Bult, J.-F. Tomb, B. A. Dougherty, J. M. Merrick, K. McKenney, G. Sutton, W. Fitzhugh, C. Fields, J. D. Gocayne, J. Scott, R. Shirley, L.-I. Liu, A. Glodek, J. M. Kelly, J. F. Weidman, C. A. Phillips, T. Spriggs, E. Hedblom, M. D. Cotton, T. R. Utterback, M. C. Hanna, D. T. Nguyen, D. M. Saudek, R. C. Brandon, L. D. Fine, J. L. Frichtman, J. I. Fuhrmann, N. S. M. Geoghagen, C. L. Gnehm, L. A. McDonald, K. V. Small, C. M. Fraser, H. 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Amyloliquefaciens possesses a second type 1 signal peptidase with extensive sequence similarity to other Bacillus SPases. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1269:64-68. PA0 13. Hojrup, P., M. S. Jensen, and T. E. Peterson. 1995. Amino acid sequence of bovine protein Z: a vitamin K-dependent serine protease homolog. FEBS Letts. 184:333-338. PA0 14. Inada, T., D. I. Court, K. Ito, and Y. Nakamura. 1988. Conditionally lethal amber mutations in the leader peptidase gene of Escherichia coli. J. Bacteriol. 171:585-587. PA0 15. Jacob, F., B. Joris, and J.-M. Frere. 1991. Active site serine mutants of the Streptomyces albus G .beta.-lactamase. Biochem. J. 277:647-652. PA0 16. Keiler, K. C. and R. T. Sauer. 1995. Identification of active site residues of the Tsp protease. . Biol. Cehm. 270:28864-28868. PA0 17. Klug, G., A. Jaeger, C. Heck, and R. Rauhut. 1996. GenBank entry, accession number 268305. PA0 18. Kurosky, A., D. R. Barnett, T.-H. Lee, B. Touchstone, R. E. Hay, M. S. Amotte, B. H. Bowman and W. M. Fitch. Covalent structure of human haptoglobin: A serine protease homolog. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 77:3388-3392. PA0 19. Laemmli, U. K. 1970. Cleavage of structural proteins during the assembly of the head of bacteriophage T4. Nature (London) 227:680-685. PA0 20. Marmur, J. 1961. A procedure for the isolation of deoxyribonucleic acid from microorganisms. J. Mol. Biiol. 3:208-218. PA0 21. Meljer, W. J. J., A. deJong, G. Bea, A. Wiseman, H. Tjalsma, G. Venema, S. Bron and J. M. van Dijl. 1995. The endogenous B. subtilis (natto) plasmids pTA1015 and pTA 1040 contain signal peptidase-encoding genes: identification of a new structural module on cryptic plasmids. Mol. Microbiol. 17:621-631. PA0 22. Muller, P., K. Ahrens and A. Klaucke. 1995. A TnphoA insertion within the Bradyrhizobium japonicum sipS gene, homologous to prokaryotic signal peptidases, results in extensive changes in the expression of PMB-specific nodulins of infected soybean (Glycine max) cells. Mol. Microbiol. 18:831-840. PA0 23. Muller, P., K. Ahrens and A. Klaucke. 1995. TnphoA insertyion within the Bradyrhizobium japonicum that impair cell and tissue differenctiation in Glycine max nodules. Planta 197:163.175. PA0 24. Nakamura, T., T. Nishizawa, M. Haiya, T. Seki, M. Shimonishi, A. Sugimura, K. Tashire and S. Shimizu. 1989. Molecular cloining and expression of human hepatocyte growth factor. Nature (London) 342:440-443. PA0 25. Packer, J. C., D. Andre and C. J. Howe. 1995. Cloning and sequence analysis of a signal peptidase I from the theromophilic cyanobacterium Phorimiduom laminosum. Plant Mol. Biol. 27:199-204. K. Cregg, I. Wilding nd M. Black: Signal peptidase from Staphylococcus aureus Manuscript JB765-96. PA0 26. Petersen, L. C., J. J. Birkoft, and H. Flodgaard. 1933. Binding of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor and a proteolytically inactive serine proteinase homologue. Eur. J. Biochem. 214:271-279. PA0 27. Rlfai, S., V. Barbancon, G. PreVost and Y. 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Higher overall etch rate and throughput for atomic layer removal (ALR) is achieved. The reaction is a self-limiting process, thus limiting the total amount of material that may be etched per cycle. By pumping down the process station between reacting operations, the reaction is partially “reset.” A higher overall etch rate is achieved by a multiple exposure with pump down ALR process.

It is often necessary in semiconductor processing to remove or etch dielectric films from a substrate surface. Various etching processes are available to etch different materials and geometries at different rates. Considerations for choosing the appropriate etch process include etch rates, selectivity to other materials, by-products, and ability to finely control the process. Regarding etch rates, rates for the material to be removed and rates for the material to remain at various geometries may be considered. Some etch processes are isotropic, etching evenly at all surfaces. Others are anisotropic. A higher etch rate is usually preferred, accompanied by a lower etch rate for the material intended to remain. This etch selectivity may be based on material properties and chemistry or geometries, e.g., whether the material is located on a sidewall or a field region. Sometimes compounds generated by the etch process, e.g., in some plasma etching processes, can redeposit and in some cases cause integration issues. Thus the by-product of the etching process and its removal from the processing area may be considered. For etching thin films or specific geometries, the ability to finely control the amount etched is an important consideration.
An etch process may be a step in a deposition process, such as in gap fill of shallow trench isolation (STI), inter-layer dielectric (ILD), inter-metal dielectric (IMD), and pre-metal dielectric (PMD) features. High aspect ratio features of narrow width are filled by depositing material into the bottom of the feature while removing, in an etch-back process, deposited material in areas that may obstruct further bottom deposition.
As film thickness and feature sizes continue to shrink, improvements in etch and etch-back processes to increase etch rate, selectivity, and reduce by-product issues, while maintaining excellent process control continue to be sought.

Atomic layer removal process with higher etch amount


A method for sewing panty hose with a backpanel-like gusset inserted includes steps of cutting inner thigh portion of left-and-right aligned cylindrical hose materials and thereafter inserting the backpanel-like gusset material to a position ranging from rear portion to inner thigh portion of the panty part. The backpanel-like gusset material is folded into two and inserted into between the upper middle clamp and the lower middle clamp of a pair of left and right clamp groups. After the cutting of the gusset material, upper edge portion and lower edge portion of the gusset material inserted between the upper and lower middle clamps are sewn individually to cut edges of the hose materials.

The present invention relates to method and apparatus for sewing panty hose with a backpanel-like gusset inserted from rear portion to inner thigh portion of the panty part.
As this type of panty hose sewing method, conventionally, there has been known a method in which after inner thigh portions of left-and-right cylindrical stocking material pieces are cut out, a diamond-shaped gusset material for forming a gusset portion at the inner thigh portion site is folded in two, i.e. into a triangular shape and then inserted into the cut-out inner thigh portions of the left-and-right cylindrical material pieces, where the gusset material is sewn, so that a pair of panty hose with a diamond-shaped gusset inserted into the inner thigh portions of the left-and-right paired cylindrical material pieces are fabricated (see, for example, Japanese Patent Publication SHO 57-17961).
An outline of this sewing process for panty hose with a diamond-shaped gusset inserted is described with reference to FIGS. 25 and 26.
Referring first to FIG. 25(A), reference numerals 1 and 2 denote left-leg and right-leg hose pieces, respectively, knitted by an ordinary circular knitting machine. After these two left and right hose pieces are aligned left and right, they are bitten by each other along lines 3, 4 as shown in FIG. 25(B), where a middle portion defined between the bite lines 3 and 4 is cut out along a broken line 5 so that an inner thigh portion is cut open as shown in FIG. 25(C). Then, a diamond-shaped gusset material 8 is inserted in central portion of the crotch portion. After that, first a seam 6 as shown in FIG. 26(A) and then a seam 7 as shown in FIG. 26(B) are formed in parallel with the bite lines 3, 4 by two-step process with a sewing machine. Thus, a pair of panty hose 10 with the diamond-shaped gusset 8 inserted at inner thigh portion as shown in FIG. 26(C) is obtained.
The conventional panty hose with a diamond-like gusset inserted indeed can afford a wearing fitness at an inner thigh portion 9a of a panty part 9, but would be uncomfortable to wear because a front portion 9b and a rear portion 9c of the panty part 9 are of exactly the same size, which causes the wearer's hip portion to be strongly tensed. In particular, recent years' wearers are constricted at the waist portion and projected at the hip portion in their bodily shape. Due to this, the stretch in the rear portion 9c is increased, which has become a cause of deterioration in the wearing fitness.

Method and apparatus for sewing panty hose with backpanel-like gusset inserted


A new combination martial arts device for combining a nunchaku and tonfa into a single weapon. The inventive device includes a pair of elongated members. A pair of coupling bolts couple with the elongated members. The coupling bolts extend outwardly of the elongated members and have apertures therethrough inwardly of free ends thereof. A length of chain extends between the coupling bolts. The length of chain has free ends coupling with the apertures of the coupling bolts. A pair of handles extend outwardly from the elongated members.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to martial arts weapons and more particularly pertains to a new combination martial arts device for combining a nunchaku and tonfa into a single weapon.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of martial arts weapons is known in the prior art. More specifically, martial arts weapons heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art martial arts weapons include U.S. Pat. No. 5,066,013 to Kubota; U.S. Pat. No. 4,070,023 to Cutler; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 320,428 to Rust; U.S. Pat. No. 4,132,408 to Sabat; U.S. Pat. No. 5,344,158 to Gridley; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,682,774 to Holy.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new combination martial arts device. The inventive device includes a pair of elongated members. A pair of coupling bolts couple with the elongated members. The coupling bolts extend outwardly of the elongated members and have apertures therethrough inwardly of free ends thereof. A length of chain extends between the coupling bolts. The length of chain has free ends coupling with the apertures of the coupling bolts. A pair of handles extend outwardly from the elongated members.
In these respects, the combination martial arts device according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of combining a nunchaku and tonfa into a single weapon.


Amorolfine base, which is a compound of formula (I):

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improved process for the preparation of Amorolfine base, which is an intermediate used in the production of Amorolfine (AMF) hydrochloride (Amorolfine HCl).
2. Description of Background and/or Related and/or Prior Art
Amorolfine HCl is an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) formulated into topical anti-mycotic (antifungal) compositions.
FR 2,463,767 describes methods of producing Amorolfine HCl and intermediates in such production. In particular, a method for the production of Amorolfine base (AMF base), which is a compound of formula (I):
is described, the method involving the step of reacting a compound of the formula (a):
with a compound of the formula (b):
in a Friedel-Crafts alkylation to form AMF base. The suggested catalysts are those known for use as Friedel-Crafts catalysts, such as aluminum chloride, iron chloride, zinc chloride, boron trifluoride, hydrogen fluoride, sulfuric acid, and phosphoric acid. Sulfuric acid is stated to be the preferred catalyst. To provide a compound of the formula (b):

FR 2,463,767 suggests using tertiary alcohols such as 2-methyl-2-butanol, or tertiary chlorides such as 2-chloro-2-methylbutane. However, only 2-methyl-2-butanol is exemplified. The reaction temperature is noted as not being of critical importance but is suggested to be, in general, from 0° to 50° C., preferably from 18° to 20° C.
On another side, it is generally known that Friedel-Crafts catalysts show different activities in the alkylation reaction of aromatic compounds. As disclosed in the "KIRK-OTHMER Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology", 4th Edition, Vol. 11, 1994, page 1071 (Table 1), more active is the Friedel-Crafts catalyst, more expected are side reactions.
There remains a need for improved processes for the production of Amorolfine salts, for example Amorolfine HCl, and its intermediates, such as Amorolfine base.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Abstract: is improvedly prepared by:                (i) contacting a compound of formula (II):

Abstract: with a Friedel-Crafts catalyst; and                (ii) adding one equivalent of 2-halogeno-2-methylbutane, wherein the reaction mixture obtained in step (i) is cooled to a temperature from −40° to −60° C. prior to step (ii) and the Friedel-Craft catalyst is selected from the group consisting of gallium chloride, antimony pentafluoride, molybdenum pentachloride, indium chloride, antimony pentachloride.


A camera module according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: an illumination unit for outputting a signal of incident light irradiated to an object; a lens unit for collecting a signal of reflection light reflected from the object, an image sensor unit for generating an electric signal from a reflection light signal collected by the lens unit, a tilting unit for shifting an optical path of the reflection light signal, and an image control unit for extracting a depth map of the object by using a phase difference between the incident light signal with respect to a frame having shifted by the tilting unit and the reflection light signal received by the image sensor unit, wherein the lens unit is disposed on the image sensor unit and includes an infrared (IR) filter disposed on the image sensor unit and at least one lens disposed on the infrared filter, and the tilting unit controls tilt of the infrared filter.

Three-dimensional (3D) content is applied not only to games and culture but also to many fields such as education, manufacturing, and autonomous driving, and a depth map is required to acquire 3D content. The depth map is information indicating a distance in space and represents perspective information of one point with respect to another point of a two-dimensional (2D) image.
One method of acquiring a depth map includes projecting an infrared (IR) structured light onto an object, interpreting light reflected from the object, and extracting a depth map. The IR structured light scheme has a problem in that it is difficult to obtain a desired level of depth resolution for a moving object.
Meanwhile, a time-of-flight (ToF) scheme has attracted attention as a technology that replaces the IR structured light scheme.
According to the ToF scheme, the distance to an object is calculated by measuring a flight time, that is, a time for light to be shot, reflected, and return. The greatest advantage of the ToF scheme is that it quickly provides distance information regarding 3D space in real time. Also, a user can obtain accurate distance information without separate algorithm application or hardware correction. Also, a user can acquire an accurate depth map even if he or she measures a very close subject or a moving subject.
However, the current ToF scheme has a problem in that information obtainable per frame, i.e., resolution, is low.
One way to increase resolution is to increase the number of pixels of an image sensor. However, in this case, there is a problem in that the volume and production cost of a camera module increase significantly.
Accordingly, there is a need for a depth map acquisition method capable of increasing resolution without significantly increasing the volume and production cost of a camera module.

Camera module and depth map extraction method thereof


A sealing structure is provided for an outboard motor in which an engine is disposed on an upper portion of an engine holder in a state of an outboard motor mounted to a hull, an oil pan is mounted to a lower portion of the engine holder, and the engine, the engine holder and the oil pan are covered with an engine cover unit. The sealing structure for an outboard motor for providing a waterproof sealing portion comprises a seal flange provided for at least either one of the engine holder and the oil pan so as to project outward, a sealing member formed of an elastic material and mounted to the seal flange from an outside portion thereof, a horizontal rib horizontally projecting in a mounted state over an inner surface of the engine cover so as to be brought into contact to either one of upper and lower surfaces of the sealing member, and a plurality of vertical ribs disposed at a side opposite to the horizontal rib with respect to the seal flange, the vertical rib vertically projecting in a mounted state over the inner surface of the engine cover with the sealing member being interposed and clamped between the horizontal rib and the vertical rib.

The present invention relates to a sealing structure for an outboard motor.
A conventional small-size outboard motor is shown in FIG. 11, in an state to be mounted to a hull, as a right-hand side view, the outboard motor being mounted with a four-stroke-cycle engine. In FIG. 11, an outboard motor 100 comprises an engine 101 having a lower portion in which an oil pan 102 and a drive-shaft housing 103 are vertically disposed. The engine 101 and the oil pan 102 are covered with an engine cover unit 104.
The engine cover unit 104 is made of synthetic resin and composed of a lower cover 104a secured to the oil pan 102 and an upper cover 104b detachably joined above the lower cover 104a, which is formed to be separated into right and left cover sections.
A waterproof sealing portion 105 is provided for the lowermost portion of the lower cover 104a. The waterproof sealing portion 105 fluid-tightly seals between the lower end of the lower cover 104a and the oil pan 102 to prevent introduction of water from outside. Thus, the water-proof sealing portion 105 makes the engine 101 and oil pan 102 to be waterproof.
The oil pan 102 has a plurality of external access portions such as a drain hole 106 for discharging oil and a mounting frame 107 for receiving a mounting portion, not shown, for establishing the connection between the overall body of the outboard motor 100 and the hull. The waterproof sealing portion 105 is arranged below the external access portions 106 and 107.
FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of the waterproof sealing portion 105. As shown in FIG. 12, upper and lower horizontal ribs 109 and 110 projecting inwards are formed in the lowermost portion of the lower cover 104a around the inner surface thereof. An outer portion of a seal portion 111 made of an elastic material, such as rubber, is held between the upper and lower horizontal ribs 109 and 110.
On the other hand, two stepped portions 112 and 113 are formed in the upper portion of the drive-shaft housing 103. The inner portion of the seal portion 111 is received in a groove 115 formed between the upper step 113 and a flange 114 formed at the lowermost end of the oil pan 102. Thus, the space between the lower cover 104a and the oil pan 102 is made to be waterproof.
However, in the above-mentioned conventional structure, it is necessary to locate the upper and lower horizontal ribs 109 and 110 which are formed in the lowermost portion of the lower cover 104a around the inner surface thereof. Therefore, the lower cover 104a cannot easily be molded and thus the manufacturing yield becomes unsatisfactory. Furthermore, the necessity of inserting the seal portion 111 into a space between the upper and lower horizontal ribs 109 and 110 makes worse the assembling workability.
The upper and lower horizontal ribs cause the weight of the lower cover of a large-size outboard motor to be enlarged, and furthermore, there arises a problem in that the upper and lower horizontal ribs requiring large spaces prevent arbitrary layout.
The lower cover 104a has access holes, not shown, in FIG. 11 corresponding to the external access portions which are the drain hole 106 of the oil pan 102 and the mounting frame 107. Since the waterproof sealing portion 105 is formed below the above-mentioned access holes, waterproof sealing structures must be provided for the access holes to prevent introduction of water into the lower cover 104a. Therefore, the multiplicity of the sealing structures result in the increasing of the number of elements to be disposed and the increasing of labour of workers.


A server computer system, comprises a processor; a communications module coupled to the processor; and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing instructions that, when executed, configure the processor to receive, via a user interface displayed on a client device, a signal including a request to transfer data; identify, based on the request to transfer data, a particular data record for receiving the data; determine, based on the particular data record, that a real-time transfer protocol is available to complete the transfer; and in response to determining that the real-time transfer protocol is available to complete the transfer, send, to the client device, a signal enabling a selectable option on the user interface to complete the transfer using the real-time transfer protocol.

Transfer protocols may be used to transfer data between data records. Multiple transfer protocols may be available to complete the transfer however this may be unknown to the party initiating the data transfer. As such, the data transfer may be completed using a transfer protocol that is undesirable.
Like reference numerals are used in the drawings to denote like elements and features.

System and method for real-time transfer protocol determination


A microwave imaging sensor is disclosed for continuously monitoring the condition and status of an in situ reverse osmosis membrane that forms a semi-permeable barrier between a region of water containing a dissolved salt and a region of water which is intended to be substantially free of the dissolved salt. A device according to embodiments of the invention can be used to monitor the condition of the membrane, i.e., the ability of the membrane to filter water by reverse osmosis; and to detect failures in the membrane such as leaking saline water into the output stream. The results of the monitoring can be used to determine in real time whether or not the membrane should be replaced.

Reverse osmosis (RO) membranes are often used in large quantities to desalinate water on a commercial scale. Because many membranes are typically connected in parallel to a common output, it is hard to localize a performance degradation and/or failure to individual membranes. Therefore, to maintain output water quality at an acceptable level, membranes are typically replaced according to a time-based replacement schedule. A time-based replacement policy is undesirable for a variety of reasons:                The frequency of membrane replacement is not necessarily optimal. Under certain conditions, the membranes may be replaced too frequently, thereby reducing cost-effectiveness. Under other conditions, the membranes may not be replaced frequently enough, thereby reducing water output quality.        Not all membranes necessarily degrade at the same rate. Two membranes installed at the same time do not necessarily have to be replaced at the same time.        A membrane not only degrades in time, but is also subject to random failure that can result in the leakage of saline water into the output stream. Random failures of this sort cannot be effectively handled according to a time-based replacement schedule.
It would therefore be beneficial to have a means of detecting the real-time in situ condition of RO membranes on an individual basis, so that the membranes can be replaced on an as-needed basis in response to performance degradation and/or failure. This goal is met by the present invention.

Apparatus for monitoring reverse osmosis membrane condition


An electronic device includes a panel, a circuit board, and an EMI shield. The circuit board includes a copper foil electrically connected to earth contacts of the circuit board. The EMI shield electrically connected to the panel includes a tab extending therefrom. The tab is electrically connected to the copper foil of the circuit board.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electronic devices, and particularly to an electronic device which can reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI) from a circuit board thereof.
2. General Background
In the enclosure of a typical electronic device, there are generally kinds of electronic components such as Central Processing Units (CPUs) and accelerated chips mounted in a circuit board of the enclosure. The electronic components may emit electromagnetic radiation as operating. The EMI may has a great influence on other components mounted in the enclosure and even may lead to abnormal work of the components.
What is needed is to provide an electronic device which can reduce EMI from a circuit board thereof.


A foldable, intravascularly insertable blood pump (10) comprises a foldable, radially delivering impeller (20) accommodated in a foldable housing or envelope (24). Axially before and behind the impeller a clearance (60) is provided between the impeller (20) and the front and back walls (32, 62) of the housing (24), the clearance being at least 0.2 mm. Preferably, the space defined between adjacent blades (54) of the impeller (20) is open towards the front wall (32) of the housing (24).

Rotary blood pumps are known which are inserted into the heart for supporting the pumping capacity of the natural heart. Insertion is performed intravascularly, namely through the blood vessel system of the patient. It is thus important that, upon insertion, the maximum diameter of the blood pump is small, preferably not exceeding 4 mm (12 French). Further, the blood pump should be flexible for the purpose of conforming to the bends of the vessel course.
The aforementioned rotary blood pumps that are currently in use are axially delivering blood pumps, i.e. they have an axial inlet and an axial outlet spaced therefrom, with an axially delivering impeller in between. The maximum pumped blood flow rate is thus limited by two factors, the cross sectional diameter through which the impeller delivers flow and the rotational speed at which the impeller is driven. Further increase of the diameter is limited by the blood vessel dimensions. Further increase of the rotational speed is difficult because of blood damage.
Therefore, foldable intravascular blood pumps have been proposed in which the impeller itself and the housing in which the impeller rotates can be deployed from a folded configuration into an unfolded, operational configuration (U.S. Pat. No. 4,753,221; U.S. Pat. No. 4,919,647; U.S. Pat. No. 5,749,855; U.S. Pat. No. 6,533,716; U.S. Pat. No. 7,841,976). If the insertion of foldable intravascular blood pumps is to be carried out through a catheter, the maximum diameter of the expandable blood pump should not exceed 4 mm (12 French), whereas, when deployed, the cross sectional diameter may be 9 mm (27 French).
A severe problem with foldable axial blood pumps is the required dimensional accuracy. The rotor must conform, within very close tolerances, to the inner shape of the housing for the purpose of attaining a flow rate of at least 2 l/min (liter per minute) at physiological pressure conditions and without excessively destroying blood. These requirements are difficult to fulfil with foldable blood pumps because of the flexibility of the foldable housing. More specifically, during use and in particular due to the bends in the vessel course, there is always the danger that the housing does not perfectly assume the predefined shape. Instead, unexpected forces acting locally on the flexible housing may cause the impeller to contact the inner wall of the housing and this may quickly lead to the destruction of the entire device or to unacceptable levels of blood damage and loss of parts in the patient's body.
There have also been other proposals for foldable blood pumps, such as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,827,171, which, instead of an impeller, employs concentrically arranged balloons. The balloons are inflated and evacuated to repeatedly collapse and expand an innermost balloon which is actually pumping the blood. US 2008/0103591 A1 proposes a foldable intravascularly insertable blood pump in which the impeller is a radially delivering impeller rather than an axially delivering impeller. Not only does the radially delivering impeller require a relatively low speed of approximately 5,000 to 15,000 rpm for delivering a typical amount of blood of approximately 2 to 5 l/min but, in addition, such a centrifugal pump does not require close radial tolerances between the impeller and the housing. This is due to the fact that the blood is radially expelled from the impeller blades against the circumferential wall of the housing and the wall redirects the blood flow from radial to axial. Consequently, there may be a large radial gap between the impeller blades and the circumferential housing wall. However, it is described that a gap between the front wall of the housing and the impeller blades and, if a back wall of the housing is present, between the back wall of the housing and the impeller blades is to be kept small at approximately 0.1 mm in order to prevent an undesired return flow of blood. This is described in relation to various embodiments, including one embodiment where the blades are held between two plates, the plates being attached to and radially extending from the drive shaft in spaced-apart relationship, and another embodiment where the blades are held between spokes rather than plates, the spokes being attached to and radially extending from the drive shaft.
Thus, while close tolerances between the impeller and the housing are not required in a radial direction, they are still required in the axial direction, thereby causing a risk of failure if the housing deforms towards the impeller under external loads or internal stresses.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to further reduce the risk of failure of radially delivering intravascular blood pumps, in particular foldable blood pumps as known from US 2008/0103591 A1.
According to the invention, the clearance between the front wall of the housing and the impeller is made sufficiently large to account for possible deflections of the housing wall, the minimum distance being at least 0.2 mm, preferably at least 0.3 mm, more preferably at least 0.4 mm, even more preferably at least 0.5 mm, yet more preferably at least 0.6 mm and most preferably 1 mm or more. It has been found that the throughput through the radially delivering impeller is sufficient to compensate any radial back flow axially before and/or behind the impeller blades by accordingly increasing the rotational speed of the drive shaft. This is no problem particularly where the axial length of the impeller blades is substantially greater than the clearance, e.g. 4 mm or more, preferably at least 5 mm, more preferably at least 6 mm and most preferably 7 mm or more. Power for driving the drive shaft is sufficiently available because the drive shaft is driven from outside the patient.
The aspect ratio (Lrotor/Drotor) of the axial length (Lrotor) and average rotational diameter (Drotor) of the impeller blades is preferably equal to or larger than 0.3 and, thus, substantially differs from typical centrifugal pumps whose aspect ratio would range below 0.2.
Along the length of the blades, the housing preferably tapers from a larger diameter at the back of the housing to a smaller diameter at the front of the housing. This taper plays a significant role in separating the inflow pressure from the outflow pressure and, therefore, reduces blood recirculation from the outflow towards the inflow. Considering the large clearance between the rotor and the housing walls, the taper is preferably larger than smaller, e.g. 5 degrees or more, preferably at least 7.5 degrees, more preferably at least 10 degrees and most preferably 12 degrees or more.
The invention is particularly useful with radially delivering impellers where the space between adjacent blades is open towards the front wall of the housing. This results in the pressure created between adjacent blades by the rotation of the impeller also being present next to the front wall, the front wall of the housing separating the impeller from the pump's low pressure side. Since the pressure in the blood flow between adjacent blades increases in a radially outward direction when the impeller rotates, the same pressure increase from radially inward to radially outward is present next to the front wall. Thus, when the space between adjacent blades is open towards the front wall, there is no negative radial pressure difference causing any significant radial back flow, contrary to what is suggested in US 2008/0103591 A1.
Therefore, a structure in which the blades are held between spokes (rather than plates) axially extending from the drive shaft is a particularly preferred embodiment according to the present invention. Alternatively, the blades can be arranged between a front plate and, possibly, a back plate radially extending from the drive shaft, provided that at least the front plate has through openings or perforations for pressure equalization towards the front wall of the housing. If the housing further has a back wall, such through openings or perforations are also provided in the back plate to provide for pressure equalization between the back plate of the impeller and the back wall of the housing.
The embodiment with the blades arranged between radially extending spokes is preferred over the embodiment with the blades held between perforated front and back plates, because a spoke-configuration can be folded about and/or along the drive shaft more easily. For similar reasons, the blades are preferably of planar configuration and may extend in a plane substantially parallel to the axis of rotation.
In essence, the impeller blades in the blood pump of the present invention swirls the blood around the drive shaft inside the housing. Due to the blood flow inlet being arranged radially inwardly (in the following also referred to as the "inlet diameter" of the impeller) relative to the radially outermost ends of the impeller blades (in the following also referred to as the "outlet diameter" of the impeller), i.e. preferably next to the drive shaft, the centrifugal forces acting on the swirling blood force the blood to flow radially outwards, thereby drawing in further blood through the inlet. The through flow is independent of the size of the gap between the impeller blades and the front wall and back wall of the housing. The structure of the blades is not critical either, provided that the swirling motion of the blood is sufficiently high to create the necessary centrifugal forces. The centrifugal forces generating the forward flow are directly related to the inlet versus outlet diameters. The larger the difference between the inlet diameter of the inlet orifices and the outlet diameter of the impeller blades is, the higher is the pressure gradient driving the forward flow.
While the invention is particularly useful with foldable intravascular blood pumps, it can likewise be realized in non-foldable blood pump types and would provide the same advantage that tolerances between the impeller housing and the impeller blades are not critical.
Where the housing has a back wall, the distance between the blades and the back wall of the housing is preferably in the same range as the distance between the blades and the front wall of the housing. However, where the blades are attached to the drive shaft via a back plate rather than spokes, the back plate of the impeller may replace the back wall of the housing and the outlet for the blood to exit the housing may be defined by a gap between the back plate of the impeller and the circumferential wall of the housing.
The redirection of flow of blood through the housing can be facilitated if the outer diameter of both the housing and the blades increases in an axial direction from the inlet side to the outlet side, which implies that the blood flow inlet and outlet are axially and radially spaced apart.
The housing itself is preferably made from a non-compliant polymer, preferably polyurethane, which is sufficiently flexible to be foldable about the drive shaft but retains a predetermined shape in its unfolded condition even at high internal pressures. It is particularly preferred to do without any frame structure, i.e. the housing is preferably formed substantially only by the non-compliant polymer film.


A normal vector mapping unit maps a texture of the MIP-map level corresponding to a level of detail (LOD) of a polygon onto a polygon surface to generate a pseudo-normal vector on the polygon surface. A normal vector replacing unit refers to the vector quantization (VQ) table of the relevant MIP-map level and replaces the pseudo-normal vector on the polygon surface with a quantized reference normal vector. A brightness value acquiring unit refers to the color lookup table (CLUT) of the relevant MIP-map level, and acquires the brightness value corresponding to the reference normal vector on the polygon surface. The brightness value acquiring unit also interpolates brightness values between different MIP-map levels. A graphic processor combines the RGB value of each pixel of the polygon surface with the brightness value acquired by the brightness value acquiring unit to write the combined data into a frame buffer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a graphic processing technology in computer graphics, and in particular, to a graphic processing apparatus and a method for mapping a normal vector onto a surface of an object on which graphic processing is performed.
2. Description of the Related Art
In three-dimensional computer graphics, generally a polygon model is used in which an object in three-dimensional space is represented by multiple polygons. In graphic processing of a polygon model, shading is performed on a polygon surface in consideration of a light source, a view point position, the reflectivity of an object surface, and other factors. To create a highly realistic image, texture mapping is also performed in which a texture image is applied to a surface of a polygon model.
Although an image created by texture mapping can significantly enhance the expressiveness of color, it cannot express roughness of a surface of an object. As a method of easily expressing roughness of a surface of an object, there is a method called bump mapping that uses an idea of texture mapping. In bump mapping, normal vectors are mapped onto a surface of an object in place of a texture to generate pseudo-normal vectors on the surface of the object. Assuming that the pseudo-normal vectors thus generated match normal line directions of the surface of the object, shading processing is performed and brightness values of the surface are obtained to make a shade. A fake roughness is thereby created on the surface of the object.
In texture mapping, in order to reduce the amount of data of a texture image, an index color scheme is often employed in which each pixel of a texture does not have a color value, but has the index of the color value and converts it to an actual color with reference to a color lookup table when the texture mapping is performed. In this scheme, color samples that previously define color values are prepared as a color lookup table, and each pixel of a texture stores only index information to be used for referring to the color lookup table. When the color samples to be used have 256 colors, for example, since it suffices for each pixel of a texture to store only an index with as many as 8 bits, the amount of data required for a texture image can be significantly reduced, thereby saving the amount of memory to be used for the texture mapping.
In Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-203255, the present applicant has proposed a bump mapping method that uses a color lookup table used for color conversion in the texture mapping as a reference table for normal vectors.
Although bump mapping can easily express roughness without minutely modeling a surface of an object, a normal vector must be mapped onto each pixel of an object surface and brightness calculations must be performed for all the normal vectors, resulting in a high calculation cost and a time-consuming process. Further, the amount of memory to be used increases because the normal vectors are stored on a pixel basis. In the bump mapping method that utilizes a color lookup table proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-203255, since normal vectors are quantized to less number of reference normal vectors, the calculation cost can be prevented from increasing and the amount of memory to be used can be reduced. Although the quantization of normal vectors has been able to solve the problems of the processing speed and memory capacity, there is still room for improving the image quality.


A roller bearing cage is made of a resin and has a tapered tubular shape as a whole. In the roller bearing cage, tapered rollers are forcibly fitted to pockets while elastically deforming pillar portions at a small-diameter annular portion side. A stress alleviating portion is provided on at least an outer circumferential side of an end of the pillar portion at the small-diameter annular portion side so that a portion of the pillar portion from a crossing portion between the pillar portion and the small-diameter annular portion to a side of the large-diameter annular portion is linearly cut, thereby alleviating the stress occurring in the pillar portion when the tapered roller is forcibly fitted to the pocket.

The present invention relates to a roller bearing cage that is made of a resin and is used for a roller bearing and a tapered roller bearing that uses the roller bearing cage.
A cage, which is incorporated in a tapered roller bearing used in a transmission device or a differential device of a vehicle, an axel of a railroad vehicle or an industrial machine, or a tapered roller bearing of a hub unit bearing disclosed in Patent Document 1, is made of a resin material that has smaller weight than a metal material and excellent productivity and economical efficiency. Generally, the cage that is made of the resin material includes a large-diameter annular portion and a small-diameter annular portion that are concentrically disposed on opposite sides of the cage in an axial direction, and a plurality of pillar portions that extend between the large-diameter annular portion and the small-diameter annular portion at a plurality of locations in a circumferential direction. In this cage, pockets are defined between the pillar portions. Meanwhile, in an assembling process of the roller bearing, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, after tapered rollers are inserted in the pockets of the cage, an inner ring member is pressed from an axial direction, and the tapered rollers are mounted in the pockets. At this time, the tapered rollers are forcibly fitted to the pockets by elastic deformation of the resin.
Patent Document 1; JP-A-11-044322
In the assembly process of the roller bearing, when the inner ring member is pressed and the tapered rollers are forcibly fitted to the pockets, an edge portion 60 of the tapered roller at an boundary between an outer circumferential portion and an end surface of the tapered roller at the small-diameter annular portion side presses and elastically deforms the small-diameter annular portion-side end 61 of the pillar portion (see FIG. 6A).
Meanwhile, in the tapered roller bearing that is used in the transmission device or the differential device of the vehicle, the cage comes into contact with lubricating oil, such as gear oil, which contains additives such as extreme-pressure additives, and thus it is required to use a resin having an oil resistance. Accordingly, the resin that forms the cage needs to have a high heat resistance and oil resistance. However, when a reinforcing material is mixed in the resin that has physical properties such as the heat resistance or oil resistance, the resin generally has high rigidity. When the resin having high rigidity is used, the strong stress may be applied to the pillar portions due to elastic deformation by the tapered roller, and a portion of the pillar portions may be damaged or cracked.
The above-described problems may occur when a rib is provided on the small diameter side of the inner ring member. In particular, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, in a tapered roller bearing where an outer ring angle, which is an angle of the outer ring with respect to an inner circumferential raceway surface, which corresponds to an angle α2 in FIGS. 1 and 7, is 20° or more, for example, in a range of not less than 20 and less than 30°, and a roller angle, which corresponds to an angle γ1 in FIGS. 1 and 7, is in a range of 7 to 10°, when the rollers are mounted in the cage and is assembled in the inner ring member, due to the rib provided on the small diameter side of the inner ring member, movement amount at the small diameter side of the roller that is pushed to the outside of the diameter direction is increased as compared with the case where the outer ring angle is less than 20° and the roller angle is in a range of 5 to 7°. As a result, the stress, which is applied to an end of the pillar portion at the small-diameter annular portion side, increases.
In order to solve the above-described problems, in regards to a material, an amount of a reinforcing material mixed in the resin material is reduced so as to improve flexibility of the resin. In this case, the strength or heat resistance may be lowered. Further, in regards to a shape, as shown in FIG. 6B, corners 72 of the pillar portions 70 and the small-diameter annular portion 71 on which the stress focuses are formed in a circular bore shape. In this case, since a mold structure for forming the cage becomes complicated, it becomes difficult to manufacture the cage.

Roller bearing cage and tapered roller bearing


Novel tert-alkyl carbamate silicon compounds are provided which are useful as coupling agents. The compounds have the formulas: ##STR1## wherein the R groups can represent various hydrocarbon and other groups, n has a value of 1 to 10, b has a value of from 2 to 5 and a has a value of 1, 2 or 3.. Processes are also provided for the preparation of the carbamate compounds and their use as coupling agents.

1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to novel silicon compounds. In one aspect, this invention is directed to tert-alkyl carbamate silicon compounds which when activated (i.e., deblocked) are particularly useful as coupling agents. In another aspect this invention is directed to tert-alkyl carbamate silicon compounds which are latent coupling agents and wherein the carbamate silicon compounds are compatible and stable in the presence of a variety of sizing and coating agents, such an antistats, lubricants, film formers and other chemicals employed in the protection of surfaces, particularly inorganic oxide surfaces, from abrasion and corrosion. The invention is also directed to processes for the preparation of novel silicon compounds, to processes for activation (deblocking) to aminosilane coupling agents, and to processes for their use in aqueous sizes for improving adhesion between resinuous systems and inorganic oxide materials, particularly fiber glass.
2) Description of the Related Art
Organofunctional silane compounds have been employed in the treatment of a variety of surfaces, such a metal oxides, silicates, particulates siliceous fillers and pigments, and fibers such as glass fibers, steel fibers and aluminum fibers. (Metal surfaces are regarded as oxide surfaces because they are oxidized even though their subsurfaces are not). Some organofunctional silane treatments involve coating such a surface with an aqueous solution of the silicon compound either alone or in conjunction with other chemicals.
Other modes of treatment involve coating such surfaces with an organic or aqueous organic solution of the silicon compound either alone or in conjunction with other chemicals, or coating the surface with the silicon compound without the aid of a solvent. In some instances, the silicon compound can be added directly to the resinous media (integral blend).
As a rule, the treatment enhances bonding between the inorganic oxide surfaces and resinuous media. Consequently, the silicon compounds have utility as components is primers in the application of coatings, adhesives or sealants to inorganic oxide surfaces and as a filler pretreatment to improve the strength and structural integrity of filled resin composites such as those incorporating fiber glass. Such organofunctional hydrolyzable silanes are termed "Coupling Agents" or "Adhesion Promoters".
In addition to the improvement of bonding, coupling agents have found other uses related to their ability of alter the surface characteristics of inorganic oxides, such as their ability to protect glass fibers from abrasion and impart lubricity to the glass which is important in handling and processing the glass fibers.
Prior to the present invention, it was known that 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane and other aminosilanes were often used to treat glass fibers either as continuous strands or as woven cloth. However, a problem has been in existence for some time which detracts from the use of such silanes in the treatment of glass fibers. It has been noted that silane treated glass fibers age prematurely. The amine groups react with carbon dioxide of the air to form carbamic acids. These acids make the glass fibers stiff and difficult to handle especially in the woven form. In addition, oxygen in the air can slowly oxidize the amino functional group of the silane. The oxidation products of the amino functional group are often not reactive with the organic resins and the silane coupling agent loses its coupling efficiency. In many instances, fabrics and continuous strands comprised of fiber glass become discolored because of the oxidation of the amino functional silane and accordingly are of less value.
It has also been noted that aminosilane compounds when used as coupling agents are not always compatible with the other components in the coating, primer or size, such as size or coating materials used in the processing of glass fibers. As hereinafter indicated, glass fibers, for example, usually require the presence of other ingredients such as film formers, lubricants, antistats, and the like, in order to impart desirable characteristics to the glass fibers. The presence of aminoorganosilanes in formulations containing such ingredients may not provide a system which is stable for any length of time, especially if the other ingredients are pH sensitive emulsions, and/or contain functional groups that can react with amines, such as epoxies, carboxylates and the like. Accordingly, there is a need in such cases for aminosilanes which can remain latent when in contact with other sizing (processing) components prior to the application of these materials to the surface but can be activated when desired to serve their function as coupling agents.
Accordingly, one or more of the following objects will be achieved by the practice of the present invention. It is an object of this invention to provide certain novel silicon compounds which can be activated to function as coupling agents. Another object of the invention is to provided novel tertiary-alkyl carbamate silicon compounds which when deblocked are useful as aminosilane coupling agents. A further object is to provide tert-alkyl carbamate silicon compounds which upon heating or in the presence of a catalyst, decompose to form unsaturated hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide and aminosilanes. Another object of this invention is to provide tert-alkyl carbamate silicon compounds in which the organofunctional groups are dormant and unreactive in the presence of a variety of additives and chemicals employed in priming of inorganic surfaces, sizing or finishing fibers, coatings of inorganic oxide surfaces or when compounded with resinous materials. Another object is to provide latent silicon compounds which do not affect the stability of systems containing sizing and/or coating agents, such as antistats, emulsifiers, and the like, but when activated, function as coupling agents. Another object is to provide processes for the preparation of the tert-alkyl carbamate silicon compounds. An object is to prepare the novel carbamates by the reaction of a tertiary alcohol and an isocyanatofunctional silane. Another object is to prepare the carbamates by the reaction of a tertiary alcohol with an alkenyl isocyanate followed by hydrosilation with an hydridosilane. A further object is to prepare novel carbamates by the reaction of a tert-alkyl phenyl carbonate or a di-tert-alkyl carbonate with an amino functional silane. Another object is to provide stable coatings for glass fibers which contain a latent silicon coupling agent, antistats, film formers, lubricants and the like. A still further object is to provide processes for activating the tert-alkyl silicon compound for the purpose of coupling resinous systems and inorganic oxide surfaces, silicates and the like. These and other objects will readily become apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the teachings herein set forth.

Carbamate silicon compounds as latent coupling agents and process for preparation and use


A switched-mode power supply includes a transformer (TR) provided with a primary winding (P) having a first primary terminal (1), coupled to receive a voltage (U) with respect to a ground terminal (GND), and a second primary terminal (2); a controllable switch (SM) coupled between the second primary terminal (2) and the ground terminal (GND); and a start-up circuit (ST) for starting up the switched-mode power supply. The start-up circuit (ST) includes a field effect transistor (T) of the normally-on type having a drain coupled to the second primary terminal (2), a source, and a gate. The start-up circuit (ST) further includes a voltage stabilizer (VS) for supplying an internal supply voltage to an internal supply terminal (VINT), the voltage stabilizer (VS) being coupled to the source.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a switched-mode power supply comprising a transformer provided with a primary winding having a first primary terminal, coupled to receive a voltage with respect to a ground terminal, and a second primary terminal; switching means coupled between the second primary terminal and the ground terminal; and a start-up circuit for starting up the switched-mode power supply, the start-up circuit comprising a field effect transistor of the normally-on type having a drain electrode coupled to the second primary terminal, a source electrode, and a gate electrode.
2. Description of the Related Art
Such a switched-mode power supply is known from European Patent Specification EP 0 585 788 A1. Said Specification describes a switched-mode power supply for use in an integrated circuit which does not require a separate IC terminal for supplying power to the start-up circuit. The start-up circuit is powered from the source of a junction field effect transistor, the junction field effect transistor being coupled in series between the switching means and the second primary terminal.

Switched-mode power supply having an improved start-up circuit


The present invention provides a locating method, a drive test terminal and a hand-held terminal. Herein, the locating method comprises: a first terminal receiving an included angle value between a current advancing direction of a user and a due north direction, which is sent from a second terminal, wherein the first terminal is provided with a gyroscope, the second terminal is used to calculate the included angle value of the included angle between the current advancing direction and the due north direction according to the current advancing direction input by the user and a due north direction indication diagram, and send the included angle value to the first terminal; and the first terminal using the included angle value to correct an output angle of the gyroscope, so as to locate the first terminal. By the present invention, the directional angle may be accurately determined without using a magnetometer.

With a rapid growth of the amount of mobile users and a great increase of high-rise buildings, traffic density and coverage requirements are constantly rising. Most of existing buildings with large scale and good quality have a strong shielding effect upon mobile communication signal. In lower floors of large-scale buildings, underground shopping malls, underground parking lots and other environments, there are blind spots and shadow areas of mobile communication, where mobile communication signal is so weak that mobile phones can not work properly. Further, in middle floors, since signals from different base stations overlap, resulting in ping-pong effect, the mobile phones are switched frequently and even get calls dropped, which seriously affects the normal use of mobile phones. High floors of buildings, due to restrictions by the height of the base station antenna, can not be properly covered, where the blind spots of mobile communication are also formed. These have caused that the mobile users are not able to normally use their mobile terminals.
To this end, indoor network coverage test technologies have been applied in construction of mobile communication network. During the indoor network coverage test, an indoor drive test terminal can realize a collection operation of wireless interface data in relation to multiple modes in accordance with a predefined testing scheme or real-time instructions of a drive test platform; a hand-held terminal (such as, tablet PC, mobile phone and notebook) cooperatively used with the indoor drive test terminal may display indoor advancing track. In combination of the data collected by the indoor drive test terminal and the advancing track of the hand-held terminal, the network coverage condition of various indoor positions can be tested.
However, during the testing of the indoor drive test terminal, there is no GPS (Global Positioning System) signals under most environments, so a gyroscope is usually used to realize indoor location. The gyroscope generally includes a tri-axial angular velocity meter, a tri-axial accelerometer and a tri-axial magnetometer. When the gyroscope is used to realize the indoor location, adaptive Kalman data fusion algorithm is generally adopted. The algorithm necessarily performs indoor location in accordance with a directional angle of the indoor drive test terminal. Usually, when setting the directional angle, the indoor drive test terminal may set by adopting a deviation between the magnetometer angle and the due north angle in conjunction with the shape of the building, so as to determine the directional angle of the indoor location.
That is, the existing schemes for indoor location depend on the magnetometer. However, there is a great amount of electro-magnetic interference in the indoor environment, such as entrance guard system, elevator room and etc. Thus, the magnetometer may be interfered to cause the magnetometer to be unreliable and to generate a significant deviation, such that the directional angle of the indoor location could not correctly determined, and then the indoor network coverage test is inaccurate.

Locating method, drive test terminal and hand-held terminal

SHANGHAI DATANG MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT CO., LTD


The invention relates to sequences of protein L which bind to light chains of immunoglobulins. The invention also relates to hybrid proteins thereof which are able to bind to both light and heavy chains of immunoglobulin G, in particular protein LG. The invention also relates to DNA-sequences which code for the proteins, vectors which include such DNA-sequences, host cells which have been transformed with the vectors, methods for producing the proteins, reagent appliances for separation and identification of immunoglobulins, compositions and pharmaceutical compositions and pharmaceutical compositions which contain the proteins.

The invention relates in particular to the DNA-sequence and to the amino acid sequence of the light-chain forming domains of protein L.
Proteins which bind to the constant domains (of high affinity) of the immunoglobulins (Ig) are known. Thus, protein A (from Staphylococcus aureus) (Forsgren, A. and Sjoquist, J. (1966) Protein A from Staphylococcus aureus. I. Pseudo-immune reaction with human gammaglobulin. J. Immunol. 97: 822-827) binds to IgG from various mammal species. The binding of protein A to IgG is mediated essentially via surfaces in the Fc-fragment of the heavy chain of the IgG-molecule, although a certain bond is also effected with surfaces in the Fab-fragment of the IgG. Protein A lacks the ability of binding to human IgG3 and neither will it bind to IgG from several other animal species, such as important laboratory animals, for instance rats and goats, which limits the use of protein A.
Protein G (Bjorck, L. and Kronvall, G. (1984) Purification and some properties of streptococcal protein G, a novel IgG-binding reagent. J. Immunol. 133: 969-974; Reis, K., Ayoub, E. and Boyle, M. (1984) Streptococcal Fc receptors. I. Isolation and partial characterization of the receptor from a group C streptococcus. J. Immunol. 132: 3091-3097) binds to heavy chains in human IgG and to all four of its subclasses and also to IgG from most mammals, including rats and goats.
Protein H (.ANG.kesson, P., Cooney, J., Kishimoto, F. and Bjorck, L. (1990) Protein H--a novel IgG binding bacterial protein. Molec. Immun. 27: 523-531) binds to the Fc-fragment in IgG from human beings, monkeys and rabbits. However, the bond is weaker than in the case of protein G and A, which may be beneficial when wishing to break the bond with a weak agent, for instance when purifying proteins which are readily denatured with the aid of antibodies.
Protein M (Applicant's Patent Application PCT/SE 91100447) binds to the Fc-fragment in IgG from humans, monkeys, rabbits, goats, mice and pigs.
Protein L (Bjorck, L. (1988) Protein L, a novel bacterial cell wall protein with affinity to Ig L chains. J. Immunol. 140: 1194-1197), which binds to the light chains in immunoglobulins from all of the classes G, A, M, D and E is known (U.S. Pat. No. 4,876,194). The amino acid sequence and the binding domains of this protein, however, have hitherto been unknown.
The aforesaid proteins can be used in the analysis, purification and preparation of antibodies and for diagnostic and biological research.
The elimination of immunoglobulins, with the aid of plasmapheresis, can have a favorable effect on some autoimmune diseases. A broadly binding protein would be an advantage when wishing to eliminate all classes of antibodies in this context.
It has long been known that infectious conditions can be prevented or cured with the introduction of an immune serum, i.e. a serum which is rich in antibodies against the organism concerned or its potentially harmful product. Examples hereof are epidemic jaundice, tetanus, diphtheria, rabies and generalized shingles. Antibodies against a toxic product may also be effective in the case of non-infectious occasioned conditions. Serum produced in animals against different snake venoms is the most common application in this respect. However, the administration of sera or antibody preparations is not totally without risk. Serious immunological reactions can occur in some cases. Singular cases of the transmission of contagious diseases, such as HIV and hepatitis through the agency of these products have also been described. In order to avoid these secondary effects, it has been desirable to produce therapeutic antibodies in test tubes. A large number of novel techniques for the preparation of antibodies in test tubes have been proposed in recent years. Examples of such techniques are hybridom techniques, synthesis of chima-antibodies and the preparation of antibodies in bacteria. These techniques also enable antibodies to be specially designed which can further widen the use of such molecules as therapeutics, for instance in the case of certain tumour-diseases. In the case of some of these novel methods, however, the product totally lacks the Fc-fragment to which all of the described IgG-binding proteins, with the exception of protein L, bind. There is consequently a need of a process for purifying antibodies for therapeutic use, wherein proteins which have a broad binding activity/specificity, can be of value.
It has long been possible to utilize the antibody reaction with its high grade specificity for diagnosing past or, in some cases, ongoing infections with different parasites. This indirect method of indicating infectious agents is called serology and, in many cases, may be the only diagnostic alternative. In certain cases, it can also be of interest to exhibit specific IgE- or IgA-antibodies. When diagnosing with the aid of serology, the antigen is most often fastened to a solid phase, whereafter serum taken from the patient is incubated with the antigen. Antibodies that have been bound from the patient can then be detected in different ways, often with the aid of a secondary antibody (for instance, an antibody which is directed against the light chains of human antibodies) to which an identifiable label has been attached, such as alkaline phosphatase, biotin, radioactive isotopes, fluorescein, etc. In this context, a protein having a broad Ig binding capacity can be used as an alternative to secondary antibodies.
There are a number of non-therapeutic and non-diagnostic reasons for the necessity to bind antibodies. Antibodies are often used in research, both for detection and for purifying the antigen against which they are directed. All techniques which facilitate the purification of antibodies and, in particular, techniques which enable different classes to be purified, are of interest in this context.
Consequently, there is a serious need of a protein which has a broad binding activity/specificity and which binds to several different classes of immunoglobulins from different animal species. At present, there is no known protein which will bind to all immunoglobulin classes. The earlier known proteins A, G, H and M bind only to heavy chains in IgG. The known protein L (Bjorck et al, 1988) binds to the light .chi.-chains and .gamma.-chains in immunoglobulins of all classes, although the bonds are much weaker on the .kappa.-chains. Applicant has charted protein L, has determined the amino acid sequence for protein L, has identified the light-chain binding domains on protein L, and has used these to produce hybrid proteins which possess the IgG-Fc-binding domains of protein G. The Applicant is able to show through protein LG that a protein of broader binding activity/specificity can be produced thereby. The aforesaid proteins A, G, H and M bind to the same surfaces, or to very closely lying surfaces on IgG-Fc. The protein L which binds to light chains can thus be combined with any other functionally similar protein which binds to the Fc-fragment of heavy chains. A similar broadening of the Ig-binding activity is achieved with all alternatives.


A connector includes a housing disposed in conjunction with a pressurized vessel and sprung valve assembly and a stem to be inserted into the housing in two stages. The stem is retained in the housing in the first stage and the stem activates the valve to release the pressurized fluid in the second stage. The connector employs a two-stage retaining mechanism that includes a clip retained in a groove defined in an interior wall of the housing, a lower groove and an upper groove formed into an exterior of the stem. The clip is disposed in the lower groove and the housing groove in the first stage; and in the upper groove and the housing groove in the second stage. The stem defines a stem stop that contacts an assembly setting mechanism upon completion of the first stage. The assembly setting mechanism is removed to allow the second stage.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to fluid couplings, and more specifically to couplings that facilitate easy and safe connection of fluid flow paths to pressurized fluid reservoirs and activating a release valve to facilitate the release and/or passage of the pressurized fluid.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Typically more or less convention threaded fittings or single stage quick connect couplings have been employed to connect hoses, tubes or pipes to pressurized vessels, such as fire suppression tanks of the like. Developments in fire suppression systems, and similar fluid delivery systems, dictate that connections to high pressure fluid reservoirs be safe and dependable, while also being rapidly activated. Fluid connection fittings should sufficiently address a number of key functions including: leak free operation; being inherently safe to assemble; creating a reliable and efficient fluid path when assembled; not disengaging when subjected to a sudden pulse of pressure during connection; and/or being cost effective for installation in a manufacturing environment.

Systems and methods for two stage fluid path attachment to pressurized fluid reservoirs


Stabilizer assemblies and tools incorporating same may comprise a body having at least one bearing pad receptacle therein, and a bearing pad disposed in the receptacle. The bearing pad includes at least two separated bores extending transversely therethrough, the bores being aligned with transversely extending bores in the body on laterally opposite sides of the bearing pad receptacle. A lock rod extends through each bearing pad bore and into the associated body bores.

Stabilizer assemblies are often used in downhole assemblies, either to center the assembly secured to a drill string in a well bore (so-called "concentric" stabilizer assemblies) or to move or hold the downhole assembly in position away from a central axis of the well bore (so-called "eccentric" stabilizer assemblies). The former type of stabilizer assemblies are conventionally employed in vertical, directional and horizontal drilling, including reaming of a well bore previously drilled or drilled by a pilot bit at a distal end of the drill string below a reamer. If employed with a downhole assembly for reaming a well bore, the stabilizer assembly may comprise a radially expandable stabilizer or a fixed stabilizer assembly, either of which may comprise a part of a reaming tool or be run in conjunction with the reaming tool on the drill string. The latter type of stabilizer assemblies are generally used, in conjunction with a downhole motor, in directional drilling to orient the downhole assembly for drilling in a selected direction. As with concentric stabilizer assemblies, eccentric stabilizer assemblies may be either laterally expandable or fixed.
In either instance, stabilizer assemblies employ bearing structures, sometimes referred to as bearing pads, having radially outwardly facing bearing surfaces for contacting the wall of a well bore in which the stabilizer assembly is disposed. While such radially outwardly facing bearing surfaces may include abrasion-resistant materials thereon, such as metallic hardfacing, tungsten carbide inserts, diamond or other superabrasive material or other wear elements, rotation and longitudinal movement of the drill string during a drilling operation in the presence of solids-laden drilling fluid or mud in the well bore between the radially outwardly facing bearing surfaces eventually results in sufficient wear, if not damage, to require refurbishment of these surfaces to avoid irreparable damage to the stabilizer assembly.
One approach to refurbishment has been to simply apply new hardfacing to the bearing surfaces. However, such an approach is unwieldy as it requires manipulation of an entire stabilizer assembly, requires skilled application of the hardfacing material, and the bearing surface may have to be reground after the hardfacing is applied to bring the stabilizer assembly diameter into a desired specification. In addition, and more critical to tool durability and longevity, is the creation by application of hardfacing to the steel tool body of a heat affected zone (HAZ) in the steel, which HAZ leads to stress crack propagation.
Another approach to bearing surface refurbishment, which Applicants do not admit is prior art to the present invention, is to structure bearing pads as removable and replaceable elements secured within bearing pad receptacles of a body of the stabilizer assembly, and to secure the bearing pads using bolts extending transversely from one side of the bearing pad receptacle to the opposing side, through the bearing pads. Threads have been placed at the far (distal) end of a bolt to engage threads in a blind bore opposing a through bore into which the bolt is inserted to pass through the bearing pad. Threads have also been placed at the near (proximal) end of a bolt, to engage with threads in a through bore through which the bolt is inserted, after the inserted bolt is extended through the bearing pad and into an opposing, blind bore. Each of the foregoing approaches to securing a bolt in place, however, results in breakage of the bolts due to the presence of either or both of smaller diameter areas on the bolt or threads on the bolt adjacent high stress areas proximate the area between a side of a bearing pad and an adjacent side of the bearing pad receptacle in which the bearing pad resides. These high stress areas render the bolts susceptible to vibration-induced, cyclical fatigue resulting from rotation of the stabilizer assembly during a drilling operation.

Stabilizer assemblies with bearing pad locking structures and tools incorporating same