A structural fiber reinforced ceramic matrix composite (FRCMC) material adapted for clutch use. The entirety of the frictional components of a clutch mechanism or only particular components thereof can be made of the FRCMC material. One embodiment has integrally molded fiber reinforced ceramic matrix composite clutch friction pads forming the friction surfaces of metal clutch parts. Clutch components exhibiting a higher temperature and wear-resistance than currently available clutch parts are described. These clutch components and pads exhibit improved performance at high temperatures and are highly wear-resistant in comparison to current clutch components.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to clutches used on vehicles such as motorcycles, cars, busses, trucks, and trains as well as clutches used on heavy machinery or power generating equipment. More particularly, this invention relates to a structural fiber reinforced ceramic matrix composite (FRCMC) material adapted for clutch use for the entirety of components of a clutch system or for only particular components thereof. It also relates to integrally molding fiber reinforced ceramic matrix composite clutch friction pads attached to the surfaces of metal clutch parts.
2. Background Art
A clutch is used to provide transfer of rotational energy or torque from one motor or machine to another. The clutch also provides the ability to control that transfer of energy by enabling the operator to engage and disengage the clutch, and thereby provide control over the transfer of energy between the two devices. The torque transmitted is related to the actuating force, the coefficient of friction of the engaging surfaces, and to the geometry of the clutch. In addition, the lighter the component weight of the clutch components the less energy that is required to accelerate and decelerate the vehicle. Dry clutches, i.e. clutches that do not use lubricant, but use two dry materials rubbing against each other, are extremely popular ways of controlling machinery, such as industrial equipment, motorcycles, heavy trucks and automobiles. For example, vehicles with a manual transmission typically use a single dry plate, diaphragm spring type clutch as shown in FIG. 1. The clutch assembly comprises a pressure plate 6, a flywheel 4, and a clutch disk 8. Typically, the clutch disk 8 is connected via an input shaft 12 to the transmission 14 of the vehicle, while the pressure plate 6 and flywheel 4 are connected to the motor. The clutch disk 8 is trapped between the pressure plate 6 and the flywheel 4 when the clutch is engaged, thereby transferring rotational energy from the motor to the wheels through the transmission 14. The clutch disk 8 has a splined hub 18 which allows it to slide along the splines of the transmission input shaft 12. The clutch disk 8 is held in the engaged position by spring pressure exerted by a diaphragm spring in the pressure plate 6. The clutch assembly is disengaged by a clutch release system which includes a release bearing 16, typically activated via a clutch pedal (not shown). When pressure is applied to the clutch pedal to disengage the clutch, the release bearing 16 is pushed against the fingers of a diaphragm spring release mechanism 20, which in turn releases the clutch disk 8 from engagement with the pressure plate 6 and the flywheel 4.
Typically, the flywheel 4 and pressure plate 6 are made of cast iron, and the clutch disk 8 is constructed of annular organic or semi-metallic pads 22 attached to both sides of a metal disk. These pads 22 interface with the friction surfaces 10 of the pressure plate 6 and flywheel 4. Ideally, the pads 22 are made of a high friction material that resists deterioration and wear under the fairly high temperature conditions encountered when the clutch disk is engaged with the pressure plate 6 and flywheel 4. A material with a very high coefficient of friction used in the clutch components will result in the clutch engaging or locking up rapidly as the spring force is applied; a quality that is desirable in a clutch.
Over time, with the present technology, as the clutch is used, the clutch disk pads 22 tend to wear down, and the interfacing friction surfaces 10 of the pressure plate 6 and flywheel 4 become damaged (for example, scored, gauged and worn down). A primary wear-related fault which clutch mechanisms are prone to is clutch slip. Clutch slip is a self-evident condition which occurs when the clutch disk pads 22 are badly worn so that there is insufficient pressure from the pressure plate 6 when spring pressure is applied to ensure solid engagement of the clutch mechanism. The cure for clutch slip is to renew the clutch disk 8 or the clutch pads 22, and possibly resurface the pressure plate and the flywheel friction surfaces 10. Therefore, the clutch disk 8 or the clutch friction pads 22 have to be replaced often and the flywheel 4 and pressure plate 6 have to be resurfaced or replaced periodically to ensure an adequate transfer of energy required to engage and disengage the clutch. Since most of the components of the present clutch system are made of cast iron, which is heavy, a relatively high rotational inertia exists which increases the required energy to accelerate and decelerate the engine and vehicle. Additionally, the clutch disk 8, pressure plate 6 and flywheel 4 tend to spin against one another when the clutch is engaged and disengaged, resulting in a temperature rise which contributes to wear and damage of these parts, and can also reduce the coefficient of friction, thereby decreasing the efficiency of the clutch and its ability to lock up immediately. This reduced efficiency can cause slipping, leading to even more wear damage.
To prevent the common clutch problems, car, motorcycle, truck, train, and other machinery applications could utilize a better clutch system than is provided by current technology. Ideally, this improved clutch would be constructed of material that is lighter, longer wearing, and has a higher friction coefficient and friction stability over a wide temperature range, hence providing a longer life and improved performance over the present technology.
Wherefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a lightweight clutch system for motorized vehicles, machines and the like.
It is another object of this invention to provide a clutch component material that is resistant to damage in any application involving high frictional forces and high temperatures.
It is still another object of this invention to provide clutch components for motorized vehicles, machines, and the like, which have a high coefficient of friction at any temperature and which have a friction coefficient that is stable with increasing temperature.
Other objects and benefits of this invention will become apparent from the description which follows hereinafter when read in conjunction with the drawing figures which accompany it.

Polymer derived fiber reinforced ceramic matrix composite clutch


Provided are a phase shifter with a photonic band gap (PBG) structure using a ferroelectric thin film. The phase shifter includes a microstrip transmission line acting as a microwave input/output line and a plurality of tunable capacitors arranged in the microstrip transmission line at regular intervals. Electrodes disposed on a substrate apply DC voltages to the plurality of tunable capacitors. Radio frequency (RF) chokes and quarter wavelength radial-stubs are connected between the electrodes and the microstrip transmission line in order to prevent high frequency signals from flowing into a DC bias terminal. A plurality of PBGS are periodically arrayed on a ground plane of the substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a microwave tunable device, and more particularly, to a tunable capacitor using a ferroelectric thin film and a phase shifter using a photonic band gap (PBG) structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
PBG structures were first introduced in the field of optics, but have recently been widely used in high frequency devices such as radio frequency (RF) and microwave devices.
Phase shifters are widely used in microwave systems to steer electron beams and shift the frequency of a radio signal. A phase shifter is an essential component of a phase array antenna system for producing a beam pattern and steering a beam. Phase shifters using a ferroelectric thin film have low manufacturing costs because they are simple to manufacture compared to ferrite/semiconductor phase shifters and provide high switching speed due to high-speed polarization. In particular, because ferroelectric phase shifters have low microwave loss due to the low loss factor of a ferroelectric thin film, much research on ferroelectric phase shifters is being actively conducted to replace conventional ferrite/semiconductor phase shifters that suffer from high microwave loss at higher frequency.
Typical ferroelectric phase shifters are mainly classified into coplanar waveguide (CPW) phase shifters, loaded line phase shifters, and reflective phase shifters including a tunable capacitor mounted at the end of a directional coupler. However, typical phase shifters require many experiments to extract design parameters. Another drawback of phase shifters is that they suffer from large insertion loss variation because characteristic impedance and phase shift vary according to an applied voltage. Thus, there is a need for a phase shifter having a novel structure to overcome the drawbacks.

Phase shifter with photonic band gap structure using ferroelectric thin film

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


An earth boring bit has a bit body with a depending bearing pin. An insert ring is mounted on the bearing pin. The insert ring has an inner diameter greater than an outer diameter of the bearing pin, defining a clearance between the insert ring and the bearing pin to allow the insert ring to float relative to an axis of the bearing pin. An inner seal is in sealing engagement with the bearing pin and the inner diameter of the insert ring. A cone is rotatably mounted on the bearing pin, the cone having a cavity containing an outer seal groove. An outer seal located in the outer seal groove is in dynamic sealing engagement with an outer diameter of the insert ring. An anti-rotation member engages a portion of the insert ring to prevent rotation of the insert ring.

A typical roller cone earth-boring bit has a bit body with three bit legs. A bearing pin extends from each bit leg, and a cone rotatably mounts on the bearing pin. The bearing surfaces between the cavity of the cone and the bearing pin are filled with a lubricant. A seal is located between the cone and the bearing pin to seal lubricant within and keep drilling fluid from entry.
Many designs for seals have been proposed and used. One type comprises an elastomeric ring that is located in a groove in the cone near the mouth of the cavity. The ring normally rotates with the cone and seals against the stationary bearing pin. The ring and seal groove are designed to provide a selected contact pressure of the inner diameter of the ring with the bearing pin. A high downward force is imposed on the drill bit during operation, resulting in a higher contact pressure on the lower side of the bearing pin than on the upper side. Also, during operation, there may be slight cone movement relative to the axis of the bearing pin. This movement results in varying contact pressure on both the bearing and seal. Varying contact pressure can cause excessive heat and wear in certain areas of the seal, shortening the life. Also, cuttings from the earth formation are able to contact portions of the seal and tend to cause it to wear.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,005,989, 5,570,750, and 4,934,467 disclose installing a rigid insert ring on the bearing pin for engagement by the inner diameter of the seal ring. The insert ring is of harder material than the bearing pin for reducing wear on the seal ring. In the FIG. 7 embodiment of the '989 patent, the insert ring is located on and fixed relative to the bearing pin by a vulcanized layer.


A scanning apparatus and a method thereof include a scanning unit scanning a document and outputting a scanned result, at least one external storage unit detachably attached to the apparatus, at least one internal storage unit, and a controller detecting an attachment state of the external storage unit and storing the scanned result in one of the external storage unit and the internal storage unit according to the attachment state of the external storage unit. The scanning unit of the scanning apparatus is combined with a user scanning unit and a user printing unit into a combination apparatus, and the scanned result is printed in a printing apparatus spaced-apart from the scanning apparatus by a distance, thereby removing cables between the scanning or printing apparatus and a personal computer. Regardless of an attachment state of the external storage unit, the document is scanned in the real time, and the scanning apparatus is commonly used with a plurality of personal computers which are not connected to the scanning apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a scanner and a printer, or an apparatus combined with a scanner to provide a scanning function, and particularly to, an apparatus and a method of scanning an image and/or printing the scanned image.
2. Description of the Related Art
According to a conventional scanning/printing method, a user operates a scanning application program in a personal computer (not shown). After a scanner (not shown) is connected to the personal computer, a scanning operation of scanning a document (image or data) is performed, and the scanned document (scanned image or scanned result) is stored in a hard disk (not shown) of the personal computer.
When the document is scanned according to the conventional scanning method, the scanner and the personal computer should be physically connected through a parallel cable or a universal serial bus (USB) cable, and the scanned document should be stored in the hard disk of the personal computer. In a case that a plurality of personal computers are not connected to the scanner through a network, it is impossible to perform the scanning operation in the personal computer which is not connected to the scanner, since the scanning of the document is possible in only the computer connected to the scanner.
Since a user cannot scan the document using the personal computer which is not connected to the scanner, the user should use the computer connected to the scanner to store the scanned document in a storage medium and then connect the storage medium to the personal computer which is not connected to the scanner. Moreover, due to the cables connected between the scanner and the personal computers used to perform the scanning of the document, surroundings are not neat. Furthermore, manufacturing costs increase, and the increased manufacturing costs are shifted to the user.
According to the conventional scanning/printing method, after the scanned document is stored in the storage medium, the user needs to detach the scanner from the computer to connect a printer to the computer in order to print the scanned document stored in the storage medium.
When the parallel or universal serial bus (USB) cable or a USB hub is used as the cable to connect the scanner or the printer to the computer, the user may not have to detach the scanner or the printer from the computer. In this case, the scanned document can be printed through the printer connected to the computer using a printing function of a scanning application program according to the conventional scanning/printing method.
However, in order to perform the scanning/printing of the document, the scanning/printing application program should be operated in the computer for the scanning operation and the printing operation according to the conventional scanning/printing method. Therefore, there are problems in that the document cannot be scanned or printed without operating the computer.

Apparatus and method of scanning and/or printing an image


There is provided a method of forming silicon anode material for rechargeable cells. The method includes providing a metal matrix, comprising no more than 30 wt % silicon, including silicon structures dispersed therein. The method further includes at least partially etching the metal matrix to at least partially isolate the silicon structures.

The recent increase in the use of portable electronic devices such as mobile telephones and notebook computers and the emerging trend of using rechargeable batteries in hybrid electric vehicles has created a need for smaller, lighter, longer lasting rechargeable batteries to provide the power to the above mentioned and other battery powered devices. During the 1990s, lithium rechargeable batteries, specifically lithium-ion batteries, became popular and, in terms of units sold, now dominate the portable electronics marketplace and are set to be applied to new, cost sensitive applications. However, as more and more power hungry functions are added to the above mentioned devices (e.g. cameras on mobile phones), improved and lower cost batteries that store more energy per unit mass and per unit volume are required.
The basic composition of a conventional lithium-ion rechargeable battery cell including a graphite-based anode electrode is shown in FIG. 1. The battery cell includes a single cell but may also include more than one cell.
The battery cell generally comprises a copper current collector 10 for the anode and an aluminium current collector 12 for the cathode, which are externally connectable to a load or to a recharging source as appropriate. A graphite-based composite anode layer 14 overlays the current collector 10 and a lithium containing metal oxide-based composite cathode layer 16 overlays the current collector 12. A porous plastic spacer or separator 20 is provided between the graphite-based composite anode layer 14 and the lithium containing metal oxide-based composite cathode layer 16 and a liquid electrolyte material is dispersed within the porous plastic spacer or separator 20, the composite anode layer 14 and the composite cathode layer 16. In some cases, the porous plastic spacer or separator 20 may be replaced by a polymer electrolyte material and in such cases the polymer electrolyte material is present within both the composite anode layer 14 and the composite cathode layer 16.
When the battery cell is fully charged, lithium has been transported from the lithium containing metal oxide via the electrolyte into the graphite-based layer where it has reacted with the graphite to create the compound, LiC6. The maximum capacity of such an anode is 372 mAh per gram of graphite. It will be noted that the terms "anode" and "cathode" are used in the sense that the battery is placed across a load.
It is well known that silicon can be used instead of graphite as the active anode material (see, for example, Insertion Electrode Materials for Rechargeable Lithium Batteries, M. Winter, J. O. Besenhard, M. E. Spahr, and P. Novak in Adv. Mater. 1998, 10, No. 10). It is generally believed that silicon, when used as an active anode material in a lithium-ion rechargeable cell, can provide a significantly higher capacity than the currently used graphite. Silicon, when converted to the compound Li21Si5 by reaction with lithium in an electrochemical cell, has a maximum capacity of 4,200 mAh/g, considerably higher than the maximum capacity for graphite. Thus, if graphite can be replaced by silicon in a lithium rechargeable battery, a substantial increase in stored energy per unit mass and per unit volume can be achieved.
In order that the anode material will reversibly react with lithium to charge and discharge the cell, the silicon in the anode should be composed of small particles, which can have any suitable shape, e.g. particles, fibres, structoids or pillared particles (particles that have columns or pillars formed on their surface usually by etching). From WO2007/083155, it is known that the particles will preferably have: (a) a high aspect ratio, i.e. the ratio of the largest dimension to the smallest dimension of a particle, which is preferably about 100:1, (b) a minor dimension (the smallest dimension of the particle) of around 0.08-0.5 μm and (c) a major dimension (the largest dimension of the particle) of the order of 20-300 μm. The high aspect ratio helps in accommodating the large volume change during lithiation and delithiation of the anode, i.e. during charging and discharging of the battery without physically breaking up the particle; this volume change may be of the order of 300%. However, the formation of such small crystalline forms is time-consuming and expensive.
One known method of making silicon anode material is by selective etching of silicon-based materials to create silicon pillars. One such approach is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,033,936, which is incorporated herein by reference. According to this document, pillars are fabricated by creating a mask by depositing hemispherical islands of caesium chloride on a silicon substrate surface, covering the substrate surface, including the islands, with a film, and removing the hemispherical structures (including the film covering them) from the surface to form a mask with exposed areas where the hemispheres had been. The substrate is then etched in the exposed areas using reactive ion etching and the resist is removed, e.g. by physical sputtering, to leave an array of silicon pillars in the unetched regions, i.e. in the regions between the locations of the hemispheres.
An alternative, chemical approach is described in WO2007/083152 in the name of the present applicants. According to this method, silicon is etched using a solution containing HF and AgNO3. The mechanism postulated is that isolated nanoclusters of silver are electrolessly deposited on the silicon surface in an initial stage. In a second stage, the silver nanoclusters and the areas of silicon surrounding them act as local electrodes that cause the electrolytic oxidation of the silicon in the areas surrounding the silver nanoclusters to form SiF6 cations, which diffuse away from the etching site to leave the silicon underlying the silver nanocluster in the form pillars. The etched silicon can either be removed from the silicon substrate or used while still attached to the substrate.
The etching of silicon to form anode material is expensive to carry out and involves highly corrosive materials such as HF, which are difficult to handle.
Other methods for making the same type of high aspect ratio structures have also been presented in the literature including electrochemical etching of silicon, and deposition of fine Si structures using CVD, PECVD and sputtering, or SLS or VLS deposition such as VLS using Au catalysts. All these methods require varying levels of expense but all are above that of the method of the present invention.
Aluminium-silicon alloys are hard and wear-resistant with excellent cast-ability, weld-ability and low shrinkage and are used in very large quantities industrially wherever these properties are required, e.g. in car engine blocks and cylinder heads.

Method of making silicon anode material for rechargeable cells


The present disclosure relates to a lattice piece for a lattice boom having four corner bars that are connected to one another by a plurality of posts and diagonals, wherein the lattice piece has a rectangular cross-section having two longer and two shorter sides. A cross-sectional section of the corner bars is designed as a hollow section that has a larger extent in the direction of the longer side of the lattice piece than in the direction of the shorter side of the lattice piece. At least one side of the corner bar section has a stabilization structure in the form of a joint, a kink, a bend, or a rounded portion. The present disclosure further relates to a lattice boom comprising at least one lattice piece in accordance with the present disclosure and to a work machine having such a lattice boom.

Typical lattice booms for work machines such as cranes or mobile cranes comprise four corner bars that are connected to one another via a plurality of stiffening elements such as diagonals and posts. Lattice booms are here known from the prior art that have a greater width than height. Such a manner of construction produces a smaller deformation and thereby higher payloads due to a higher lateral stiffness and a larger lateral moment of inertia.
It is characteristic of such lattice booms—for instance when their width is selected as large in relation to the height—that the buckling length in the horizontal plate, i.e. at the longer cross-section sides of the lattice boom, is higher than the buckling length in the vertical plate, i.e. at the shorter sides of the lattice boom. The buckling length is here defined as the distance of two connection points between the diagonals and posts at a corner bar. One reason for this is that the buckling length of the stiffening elements running along the long side cannot be shortened as desired since with wide lattice pieces—a suboptimal web bracing that cannot be produced in an economically effective manner arises for angle-geometrical reasons.
A wide lattice boom furthermore requires a certain dismantlability since the crane parts have to be transported via public road traffic, with the maximum permitted transport width being restricted by regulations. To keep the assembly effort and the assembly time of the lattice pieces low, a small number of stiffening elements is therefore likewise aimed for. With fixedly welded diagonals, the welding work in the production of the lattice pieces is additionally increased.
A larger number of diagonals furthermore increases the weight of the lattice pieces, which is disadvantage and is therefore to be avoided both in transport due to corresponding regulations on the maximum transport weight and due to the specifications of the vehicles transporting the crane parts and in crane use with respect to the maximum payload.
A number of diagonal elements that is as small as possible is thus to be aimed for overall, which typically results in different buckling lengths with lattice booms having a smaller height than width.
Lattice pieces are furthermore known from the prior art whose corner bar sections are predominantly circular, i.e. are designed with point symmetry. The moments of inertia and resistance of the corner bars are thus identical in all directions. If now different diagonal distances, i.e. different buckling lengths, are selected with a lattice piece in the horizontal and vertical latticing planes, this results with worse degrees of wear of the corner bar with a round section since the existing support capability potential of the corner bar is not used to the optimum with the shorter buckling length distance.
Rectangular sections can also be used instead of round corner bar sections. In this respect, however, there is the problem of local buckling failure, for instance at the intersection or connection points of the diagonals—due to the large planar, plate-like section parts. One possibility of remedying this problem is the use of stiffening plates that are installed transversely within the corner bar sections to stiffen them locally. This solution is, however, associated with a substantial effort from a technical production aspect since the corner bars have to be assembled from a large number of individual parts in the normal case for this purpose.
Corner bars are furthermore typically equipped with cast or wrought fork-finger connection elements to be able to connect the lattice pieces to other boom elements. Welded fork-finger connection elements are additionally also known. However, they always have a head plate via which the connection to the corner bar is established. There is the disadvantage with this that the sheet metal of the head plate is always strained perpendicular to its rolling direction. There is thereby the risk of lamellar fractures, in a similar manner to wood fibers, that are loaded transversely to the fiber direction (anisotropy)
Against this background, the underlying object of the present disclosure is to optimize a lattice boom having a greater width than height both in a static and in an economic regard.
This object is achieved in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.
The lattice piece in accordance with the disclosure accordingly comprises four corner bars that are connected to one another by a plurality of diagonals and posts and has a rectangular cross-section with two longer and two shorter sides. In accordance with the disclosure, the cross-sectional section of the corner bars is designed as a hollow section that has a larger extent in the direction of the longer side of the lattice piece than in the direction of the shorter side of the lattice piece. In other words, the corner bar section has an aspect ratio unequal to one.
The designation "long/longer side" or "short/shorter side" first relates to the cross-sectional section of the lattice piece. In the following, however, for reasons of simplicity, the wider sides of the lattice piece (i.e. the sides with a greater surface measure) are called "long/longer sides" and the narrower sides (i.e. the sides with a smaller surface measure) are called "short/shorter sides".
The corner bar cross-sectional section (also "section" in the following) of the lattice piece in accordance with the disclosure thus differs from the typically used circular or square corner bar sections and is adapted to the cross-sectional shape of the lattice piece. It is thereby possible to adapt the area moment of inertia of the corner bars to the design geometry of the lattice piece and to the demands on optimum statics and thereby to optimally utilize the boom mass used.
On a use of different buckling lengths at the long and short sides of the lattice piece, the area moment of inertia of the corner bars can, for example, be adapted to these different buckling lengths, such as in that the corner bars have a greater extent and thus a larger area moment of inertia in the plane having the greater buckling length than in the plane perpendicular thereto. Round or square corner bar sections have an identical area moment of inertia in both directions, i.e. along the short and long sides of the lattice pieces, and thus ideally utilize the mass present. It is in contrast possible with the corner bar geometry in accordance with the disclosure to optimally bridge different buckling lengths of the lattice piece and thus to increase the economic viability of the lattice piece in accordance with the disclosure.
The hollow section of the corner bar thus can form a closed chamber. The hollow section, including stabilization structures, here can form a single contiguous chamber.
The chamber or the hollow section, for example, cannot be divided substantially along the total length of the corner bar into regions or subchambers separated from one another transversely to the longitudinal corner bar axis (which does not, however preclude that elements can be present within the hollow section such as a stiffening structure in the region of a connection point of the corner bar to a diagonal).
In accordance with the disclosure, at least one side of the corner bar section forming the hollow section has a stabilization structure in the form of a joint or a weld joint, of a kink, of a bend, or of a rounded portion. Additional stiffening elements that increase the total weight of the lattice piece such as stiffening plates that are in particular used with rectangular corner bar sections can thereby be dispensed with.
The at least one stabilization structure designed as a joint, a kink, a bend, or a rounded portion for buckling stabilization is ideally embedded directly into the metal sheet (or one of the metal sheets) forming the corner bar and/or is formed by a transition between two metal sheets and does not thereby increase the total weight. In addition, the production is simplified in comparison with the necessity of attaching additional elements. In other words, the at least one stabilization structure can be a component of the wall (this also includes weld joints connecting a plurality of walls to one another) forming the hollow section of the corner bar, with the wall being able to be assembled, for example, from one or more metal sheets or metal sheet sections.
The at least one stabilization structure can be formed by the shape and/or arrangement of the metal sheet section or sections themselves forming the hollow section of the corner bar. The at least one stabilization structure may not represent an element simply attached to welded to the corner bar from the outside (such as a welded on metal sheet).
If the wall forming the hollow section of the corner bar comprises a plurality of metal sheets, a stabilization structure is in the present case not to be understood as an extension running in the direction of one of the metal sheets transversely to the longitudinal corner bar axis such as a projecting tab for fastening a lattice bar.
Provision is made in an embodiment that the adjacent corner bars that form the shorter sides of the lattice piece are connected to one another via a larger number of diagonals than the adjacent corner bars that form the longer sides of the lattice piece. In other words, the connection points of the diagonals that extend along the longer sides of the lattice piece have a greater distance at the corners bars than the connection points of the diagonals that extend along the shorter sides of the lattice piece so that the corner bars have a greater buckling length in the direction of the longer sides than along the shorter sides of the lattice piece.
The diagonals extending at the longer and/or at the shorter sides can here be releasably connected to the respective corner bars. The diagonals extending at the longer sides can be releasably fastened to the corner bars. This enables a dismantling of the lattice piece in accordance with the disclosure by releasing the corresponding connections to be able to transport the lattice piece separated into a plurality of parts and thereby to be able to observe the legal regulations and the specifications imposed on transport vehicles.
Provision is made in a further embodiment that the corner bars have a greater area moment of inertia in the direction of the longer sides of the lattice piece than in the direction of the shorter sides of the lattice piece. A different number of diagonals at the long/short sides of the lattice piece or different buckling lengths can thereby be ideally compensated.
Provision is made in a further embodiment that the corner bars have a cross-sectional section differing from a rectangular shape. Rectangular corner bar sections are unfavorable from a static aspect since in addition to normal forces, bending moments also act at the junctions or connection points of the diagonals and posts set onto the corner bars, which can result in local buckling problems in the region of the connection points with a plate-like connection to the corner bar. These bending moments pull the corner bar metal sheet out of the corner bar at one side and press the corner bar in on the oppositely disposed side. Without additional stiffening or other measures effecting a stiffening in this region, the corner bar can therefore buckle since the metal sheets of the rectangular plate are "self-supporting" and are not underpinned.
The corner bar section of the lattice piece in accordance with the disclosure can have the form of an ellipse, of an irregular and a convex polygon, or even of a regular polygon, but in the latter case only if the width of the regular polygon has a different width along one of the two sides of the lattice piece than along the side extending perpendicular thereto. The corner bar section can also represent a combination of different shapes, for example in that one side is ellipsoid and the other side is angular. The corner bar section can have a combination of kinks/edges and rounded sections/bends/curves. A kink can here also be a weld seam of two connected metal sheets.
Provision is made in a further embodiment that the stabilization structure extends substantially along the total length of the corner bar.
The stabilization structure can form a change of direction of the outer contour of the hollow corner bar section transversely to the longitudinal axis of the corner bar, and indeed as previously described in the form of a (weld) joint, of a kink, of a bend, or of a rounded portion, with these terms being able to blur into one another.
Provision is made in a further embodiment that the corner bar section has a total of at least five kinks, bends, and/or rounded portions.
Provision is made in a further embodiment that the corner bars are produced in one piece from a metal sheet, that is form a single-part hollow section. It could, for example, be produced in a similar manner to an n-sided pipe (e.g. n=5) and can be provided with corresponding kinks/rounded portions.
Provision is made in an alternative embodiment that the corner bars are produced from at least two metal sheets welded to one another. The section of the corner bar in accordance with the disclosure is ideally joined together from two metal sheet sections and is welded by means of two longitudinal seams extending along the corner bar.
In this respect, the two metal sheets can have the same shape and can be welded to one another such that the corner bar section has point or axis symmetry.
The two metal sheets can alternatively each have different shapes. A cross-section geometry optimized with respect to the mass of the corner bar can thereby result that nevertheless satisfies the above demands with respect to different area moments of inertia/extents along different sides of the lattice piece. The metal sheets can be welded to one another such that the corner bar section is axially symmetrical.
Provision is made in a further embodiment that at least one stiffening element is attached within the corner bar section in the region of a connector point of a diagonal to the corner bar. The stiffening element serves the additional stabilization or stiffening of the corner bar in the region of the neuralgic connection point of the diagonal corner bar and acts in addition to an optionally provided stabilization structure against a buckling of the corner bar metal sheet. This enables a production of the corner bar such as thin metal sheets.
Provision is made in an embodiment that the stiffening element extends in the longitudinal direction of the corner bar and may only be attached inwardly in the corner bar at the side at which the diagonal is connected to the corner bar. The size and the weight of the stiffening element can thereby be reduced and the desired stabilization effect can nevertheless be achieved. A simple production of the corner bar results due to the longitudinal direction of the at least one stiffening element (unlike with a stiffening plate installed transversely to the longitudinal direction of the corner bar) since the stiffening element can be simply installed before the joining together of the individual corner bar shells or corner bar metal sheets.
The stiffening element can be a rib or a similar stiffening element that supports optionally provided stabilization structures such as kinks/bends, etc. in buckling stabilization. Such a stiffening element can be provided at every connection point of a diagonal to a corner bar. The stiffening element can be formed as shell-shaped or semi-shell shaped, with the concave side of the connection point facing the diagonal.
Provision is made in a further embodiment that each corner bar has a respective mount at the two ends to/in which a connection element, such as a fork element, is attached/inserted and welded for connection to a complementary connection element, for instance a counter-fork element, of a different lattice piece. The connection element can thereby be installed with minimal weld distortion. In addition, a head plate can be dispensed with, and thus the above-addressed risk of lamellar fractures can be avoided. The load on the longitudinal seam connecting the connection element to the corner bar takes place on shear. The connection element can be attached/inserted at/in the mount of the corner bar a prefabricated form and can optionally be subsequently subjected to mechanical working. In combination with the optimized corner bar section, the performance of the lattice piece in accordance with the disclosure can be increased by means of such an improved fork/fork design. The connection elements can be attached to the mounts.
The fork elements can have a layer structure of a plurality of metal sheets welded to one another and of different shapes. The components welded in advance in a sandwich design can be attached/inserted to/in the provided mounts. In addition, connection points for stiffening element connections to the corner bar that may be likewise releasable and lateral can be provided at the connection elements. One side of the fork element can be suitably designed for this purpose. Only the other side has a chamfer applied for weight reasons.
The diagonals of the lattice piece can have a diameter that is smaller than the distance of two stabilization structures at the corresponding side surface of the corner bar. This enables a simpler production of the lattice piece.
Alternatively, the diagonals can have a diameter that is greater than the distance of two stabilization structures at the corresponding side surface of the corner bar. A statically more advantageous design thereby results.
An embodiment of the lattice piece is also conceivable in which the one or more diagonals have a smaller diameter and one or diagonals have a larger diameter than the distances of the stabilization structures at the corresponding side surfaces of the corner bars to which the diagonals are connected.
The present disclosure further relates to a lattice boom having at least one lattice piece in accordance with the disclosure and to a work machine, such as a crane, or a crawler crane or a mobile crane, having such a lattice boom. The same advantages and properties thereby obviously result as for the lattice piece in accordance with the disclosure so that repeat statements will be dispensed with at this point.

Lattice piece, lattice boom, and work machine


The present invention concerns a microscope 1. The microscope 1 encompasses a microscope stand 2, an objective 4 having an optical axis 5, a microscope stage 6 serving to receive a specimen 7, and a focusing device 20 serving to focus the specimen 7. With the focusing device 20, the objective or the microscope stage 6 is positionable relative to the microscope stand 2 in the direction of the optical axis 5 of the objective 4. The focusing device 20 comprises at least one operating element 8 with which an operator controls the positioning of the objective 4 or of the microscope stage 6. For adaptation of the spatial arrangement of the operating element 8 to the needs of an operator, the microscope 1 according to the present invention is characterized in that the spatial arrangement of the operating element 8 relative to the microscope stand 2 is modifiable.

Microscopes of the kind cited above have been known for some time in the existing art. Very generally, in upright and inverted light microscopes, focusing of the specimen is accomplished by way of a corresponding positioning of the specimen relative to the objective, specifically in such a way that a specimen region to be detected is arranged in the focal plane of the objective. This can be achieved on the one hand by the fact that the objective, optionally together with the objective turret receiving the objective, is positioned along the optical axis relative to the specimen. In this case the specimen, for example mounted on a conventional specimen slide, is clamped in a corresponding holder on the microscope stage, this microscope stage then not being moved in the direction of the optical axis of the microscope objective. This type of focusing is usually utilized with inverted light microscopes. On the other hand, the microscope stage can be arranged movably relative to the microscope stand, and positioned in the direction of the optical axis for focusing. In this case the objective does not perform a motion in the direction of its optical axis relative to the microscope stand. The latter type of focusing is usually utilized with upright light microscopes. Focusing with the aid of the microscope stage also exists, for purposes of the present invention, when the microscope stage comprises a mechanism with which a specimen slide performs a positioning relative to the objective with the aid of a linear or pivoting motion controlled by a galvanometer, as is the case, for example, with the assignee's confocal laser scanning microscopes.
In both cases, a focusing of the specimen to be investigated is usually performed by the fact that an operator operates an operating element arranged on the microscope stand, as a result of which either the objective or the microscope stage is positioned, as a function of the operator's operation, relative to the microscope stand in the direction of the optical axis of the objective. The operating element is a rotary knob, but usually two rotary knobs (one rotary knob for fine drive and one rotary knob for coarse drive) which are arranged rotatably about a rotation axis and are directly or indirectly coupled to a shaft. Rotation of the rotary knob by the operator causes rotation of the shaft coupled to the operating element. The rotation of the shaft is in turn transferred, usually in mechanical fashion, into a linear motion of the microscope stage or the objective in the direction of the optical axis.
The operating element is usually arranged laterally at a certain height on one side wall of the microscope stand, usually a few centimeters away from a support surface on which the microscope stands. This arrangement of the operating element is optimized for an average operator's hand size, but it is arranged too low for operators with large hands, and too high for operators with small hands. For users with a hand size deviating from the average hand size, microscope operation is therefore fatiguing over the long term and as a result, not ergonomic in that respect.


A chemical solution vaporization device includes a chemical solution tank including chemical solution vaporization rooms, a chemical solution sensing room, and a chemical solution supply room. A first internal wall separating the plurality of chemical solution vaporization rooms from each other includes a first opening at a lower portion thereof. A second internal wall separating at least one of the plurality of chemical solution vaporization rooms from the chemical solution supply room includes a second opening at a lower portion thereof. A third internal wall separating at least one of the plurality of chemical solution vaporization rooms from the chemical solution sensing room includes a third opening at a lower portion thereof. And a lower portion of a fourth internal wall separating the chemical solution sensing room from the chemical solution supply room is combined with the lower wall.

The disclosure relates to a chemical solution vaporization device generating a processing gas by supplying a vaporization gas to a chemical solution and treating a substrate with the generated processing gas, and a substrate processing device including the same.
Before applying a photoresist material to the substrate, to improve adhesion between the substrate and the photoresist material, a process of hydrophobization treatment may be performed on the substrate. The chemical solution vaporization device may vaporize the chemical solution to generate a processing gas, and then supply the processing gas to a plurality of reactors, and the substrate processing device in the reactors may supply the processing gas to a surface of the substrate for the hydrophobization treatment.
When the chemical solution vaporization device does not supply the processing gas having a uniform concentration to the plurality of reactors, a hydrophobization treatment state of the substrate to be processed in each of the reactors may not be uniform. Accordingly, the adhesion between the substrate and the photoresist material may be different in each of the reactors.

Chemical solution evaporation device and substrate processing device including the same


A door visor for a vehicle comprising a visor portion which extends from the front end of a window sash of the vehicle to the rear end of the window sash, and protrudes outward and downward of the vehicle from the top end of the window sash of the vehicle, a protrusion body extending in the vertical direction of the visor portion and protruding toward the vehicle from the inner surface of the visor portion, and provided approximately in parallel to the vertical direction of the rear end of the window sash and the vertical direction of the rear end of a window glass.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a door visor for a vehicle including a visor portion which extends from the front end of a window sash of the vehicle to the rear end of the window sash, and protrudes outward and downward of the vehicle from the top end of the window sash of the vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a door visor for a vehicle serves to encourage the indoor ventilation through a window as the vehicle runs with a window glass be slightly lowered, and serves as a cover against rain to prevent the entrance of the rain through the lowered window. There is, however, a problem that the door visor is likely to be the source of generating a wind roar. That is, the visor plate portion of the vehicular door visor has the front leaning lower than the back, and serves to form a negative pressure on the back side with the strong resistance of the wind received on the front surface, thereby positively evacuating the air in the vehicle by that negative pressure. However, because the front surface strongly receives the resistance of the wind, the wind roar is so likely to be generated. Particularly, a loud wind roar is likely to be generated at the front end of the visor plate portion, and, it is believed that the generation of the loud wind is caused by the air which strongly flows through the narrow space between the front end of the visor plate portion projecting laterally outward and the outer surface of the door mirror base or the fixed quarter window. As a conventional solution to this shortcoming, there is a door visor for a vehicle which prevents the generation of the wind roar by blocking the space between the front end of the visor plate portion whose front leans lower than the back, and the outer surface of the door mirror base or the fixed quarter window. This door visor is disclosed in Japanese Registered Utility Model Publication No. 3091536.
While the above-described conventional technology blocks the space between the front end of the visor plate portion whose front leans lower than the back, and the outer surface of the door mirror base or the fixed quarter window so as to prevent the generation of the wind roar, however, it cannot certainly prevent the generation of the wind roar which is generated from the door visor during driving of the vehicle.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstance. It is an object of the present invention to provide a door visor for a vehicle which can certainly prevent the generation of the wind roar generated from the door visor while the vehicle is running.


The present invention relates to a spray-dried powder and method for its manufacture. A spray dried powder containing a pharmaceutical active substance and one or more 1,4 O-linked saccharose derivatives chosen from the compounds: 1,4 O-linked D-gal-saccharose (lactosucrose), 1,4 O-linked D-glu-saccharose (glucosyl sucrose) or 1,4 O-linked glu-glu-saccharose (maltosyl sucrose). Preferred combinations are such that they contain glucosyl and maltosyl sucrose.

Active substance/active substance preparations in aqueous solutions are subject in part to instabilities, which can result in reduced efficacy or bioactivity and increased toxicity or intolerance reactions. This applies both to classical pharmaceuticals as well as to peptide active substances or active substances containing proteins. The stability of pharmaceutical active substances can be positively affected by modification of their structure (internal) or by the addition of suitable excipients (external).
A common method for external stabilization of pharmaceutical active substances is the utilization of suitable excipients. Excipients for stabilizing active substances can be generally grouped into the following categories: Sugar and polyols, amino acids, amines, salts, polymers and tensides.
Sugars and polyols are frequently used as nonspecific stabilizers. In the biological active substances, their stabilizing effect is attributed predominantly to "preferential exclusion" (Xie and Timasheff, 1997, Biophysical Chemistry, 64(1-3), 25-43; Xie and Timasheff, 1997, Protein Science, 6(1), 211-221; Timasheff, 1998, Advances in protein chemistry, 51, 355-432). When selecting sugars for use with biological active substances, reducing sugars are generally avoided. Saccharose and trehalose are used of choice as non-reducing sugars. Other examples of suitable excipients are glucose, sorbitol, glycerol (Boctor and Mehta, 1992, Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 44 (7), 600-3; Timasheff, 1993, Annual review of biophysics and biomolecular structure, 22, 67-97; Chang et al., 1993, Pharmaceutical Research, 10(10), 1478-83) and mannitol (Hermann et al., 1996, Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, 9 (Formulation, Characterization, and Stability of Protein Drugs), 303-328; Chan et al., 1996, Pharmaceutical Research, 13(5), 756-761). In addition, it is well known that a wide range of polymers have a stabilizing effect on pharmaceutical active substances, predominantly on proteins such as antibodies, for example. Human serum albumin (HAS), frequently used in the past, has very satisfactory stabilizing and aggregation inhibiting properties; however, because of its potential contamination with "blood borne" pathogens, is unsuitable. Of the polymers known to date, hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) has been shown to be particularly suitable, because it also can be safely administered parenterally. Other examples are the higher molecular weight dextrans (18 to 82 kD), PVP, heparin, type A and B gelatin and hydroxyethyl starches (HES), heparin, dextran sulfate, polyphosphoric acid, poly-L-glutamic acid, poly-L-lysine.
Along with sugars and polyols, amino acids can be used alone or in combination with other excipients for stabilizing. Amino acids are used preferably for stabilizing proteins. For example, the addition of histidine, glycine, sodium aspartate (Na-Asp), glutamate and lysine hydrochloride (Lys-HCl) inhibits the aggregation of rhKGF (recombinant human Keratinocyte Growth Factor) in 10 mM of sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) together with 5% mannitol (Zhang et al., 1995, Biochemistry, 34 (27), 8631-41). The combination of amino acids and propylene glycol improves the structural stability of rhCNTF (recombinant human cilliary neurotrophic factor) (Dix et al., 1995, Pharmaceutical Research (Supplement), 12, p. 97). Lysine and arginine increase thermostability of IL-1R (Tm—increase), whereas glycine and alanine have a destabilizing effect (Remmele et al., 1998, Pharmaceutical Research, 15(2), 200-208).
Furthermore, the stability of pharmaceutical active substances is enhanced by different drying processes. Drying is carried out, however, generally also in the presence of excipients, which maintain the stability of the active substances and are intended to improve the properties of the dry powder. A critical factor in stabilization by drying is the immobilization of the active substance in an amorphous matrix. The amorphous state has a high viscosity with low molecular mobility and low reactivity. Thus, advantageous excipients must be capable of forming an amorphous matrix having as high a temperature of vitrification as possible, in which the active substance is imbedded. Accordingly, the choice of excipients depends especially on their stabilization capabilities. Furthermore, factors like the pharmaceutical acceptability of the excipient and its influence on particle formation, dispersibility and flow characteristics, however, play a critical role, especially if it is a spray drying process.
Spray drying represents a particularly suitable process for increasing the chemical and physical stability of peptide/protein analogous pharmaceutical active substances (Maa et al., 1998, Pharmaceutical Research, 15(5), 768-775). Spray drying is being used increasingly especially in the field of pulmonary therapy (U.S. Pat. No. 5,626,874; U.S. Pat. No. 5,972,388; Broadhead et al., 1994, J. Pharm. Pharmacol., 46(6), 458-467), because in the meanwhile administration by inhalation also represents an alternative in the treatment of systemic diseases (WO 99/07340). The pre-requisite is that the mean particle size of the powder is in the range of from 1-10 μm, preferably between 1-7.5 μm, so that the particles can reach the deeper lung sections and consequently reach the blood circulation. DE-A-179 22 07 describes, for example, the manufacture of corresponding spray dried particles. In the meanwhile, a number of processes for manufacturing corresponding powders are described (WO 95/31479; WO 96/09814; WO 96/32096; WO 96/32149; WO 97/41833; WO 97/44013; WO 98/16205; WO 98/31346; WO 99/66903; WO 00/10541; WO 01/13893; Maa et al., 1998, supra; Vidgrén et al., 1987, Int. J. Pharmaceutics, 35, 139144; Niven et al., 1994, Pharmaceutical Research, 11(8), 1101-1109).
Likewise, sugars and their alcohols are suitable as excipients (e.g. trehalose, lactose, saccharose or mannitol) as well as various polymers (Maa et al., 1997, Pharm. Development and Technology, 2(3), 213-223; Maa et al., 1998, supra; Dissertation Adler, 1998, University of Erlangen; Costantino, et al., 1998, J. Pharm. Sci., 87(11), 1406-1411). The predominantly used excipients, however, have different drawbacks. The addition of trehalose and mannitol, for example, adversely affects flow properties of spray dried formulations (C. Bosquillon et al., 2001 Journal of Controlled Release, 70(3), 329-339). Mannitol tends also to recrystallize at a concentration of more than 20% wt (Costantino et al., 1998, supra), whereby stabilizing effects diminish dramatically. Although lactose, a frequently used excipient, improves flow properties of spray dried formulations (C. Bosquillon et al., 2001, supra), it is, however, problematic in the formulation of peptide active substances/active substances containing proteins, because lactose can involve destabilizing Maillard reactions with peptides/proteins because of its reducing characteristic.
In spray drying of antibodies without the addition of stabilizers there is a development of the secondary structure and consequently loss of bioactivity in virtue of regular dehydration, heat and shearing. When this is done, the previously introverted hydrophobic parts of the antibody become extraverted. This occurs to a greater extent at the hydrophobic interfaces between the water droplets arising in the course of spray drying and the air. In addition, antibodies aggregate within the aqueous phase to dimers or higher order aggregates. These aggregations are frequently irreversible. In addition, the high temperature at which the proteins are sprayed represents a critical parameter. In virtue of the high energy application can result in a destabilization of the peptide bonds and in denaturisation of the antibody. Furthermore, there is aggregate formation of spray-dried antibodies during the storage period of the powder. In particular, the residual water content in the powder has negative effects in this case. Protein aggregates are characterized by reduced or absent biological activity and enhanced antigenicity.
Lactosucrose as well multiple sugars (oligosaccharides) designated as coupling sugars with the main components maltosylsucrose and glucosylsucrose are used in the foodstuffs sector. They are used as bulking agents and dispersing agents along with sweeteners like aspartam, as mildly sweet components in chewing gum, for stabilizing against crystallization of trehalose syrups or as so-called NDOs (non-digestible oligosaccharides). An improvement and stabilization of the sweetening quality of asparagyl peptides or of the sweet-sour ratio in drinks containing ballast and sweetener agents is also well-known (US 2003/0059511, EP 1 223 175, DE 199 53 727). U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,577 and EP 0 630 651 further disclose the use of oligosaccharides for stabilizing suspensions comprised of therapeutic proteins and fatty or oil bases. It is stated that the proteins, without pre-mixing with the oligosaccharides would lose their activity at the time of mixing and working with the hydrophobic, semi-solid masses. The stabilization potential over the period of storage in hydrophobic mixtures or in powders is not mentioned at all.
An object of the invention is to provide novel excipients for use in manufacturing pharmaceutical preparations. The corresponding preparations should be characterized inter alia by good long-term stability.
A further object of the present invention is to provide novel excipients for use in manufacturing dried pharmaceutical preparations. The corresponding pharmaceutical preparation in powder form should be characterized by good long-term stability and, if possible, by inhalability.
A further object of the present invention is to provide novel excipients for use in manufacturing peptide pharmaceutical formulations or pharmaceutical formulations containing proteins, in particular for those produced by spray drying. The corresponding peptide pharmaceutical preparation/pharmaceutical preparation containing proteins should be characterized by good long-term stability and, if possible, by inhalability.
A further object of the present invention is to provide novel excipients for use in formulating therapeutic antibodies or antibody derivatives, in particular for those produced by spray drying. The corresponding antibody-containing pharmaceutical preparation should be characterized by good long-term stability and, if possible, by inhalability.
A further object of the present invention is to provide corresponding pharmaceutical preparations for administration by inhalation, whether in the form of a dry powder, a dosing aerosol containing a propellant gas or an inhalation solution not containing a propellant gas.
The objects upon which the invention is based are achieved by means of the following embodiments and by the subject matter/processes represented in the patent claims.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Spray-dried powder comprising at least one 1,4 O-linked saccharose-derivative and methods for their preparation

Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG


Non-invasive, portable, modular testing apparatus for non-invasively testing timepieces for fluid integrity without damaging or dismantling the timepiece and without interrupting the timekeeping function or operation thereof, including a transparent tubular container member capable of providing a high pressure, fluid sealed environment for the timepiece, the container member being open at one end and provided with an enlarged, integral rim portion, the opposite integral end of the tubular container member including an enlarged integral rim portion equal in diameter to the rim portion of the open end providing a rigid, non rockable base for the container, a circular, rigid, transparent closure member for the container securing the closure member to the tubular container member, and a pressure applicator integral with the tubular container member, for automatically pressurizing the internal volume of the tubular container member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates broadly to apparatus for the non-invasive testing of underwater timepieces used by SCUBA divers and the like. These timepieces are acquired by the diver with disclosed depth/water pressure resistance limits indicated to the diver by the manufacturer. After watch battery replacement or necessary repair, it is essential for continued safe use and watch movement protection to ensure the original claim of water resistance. This novel invention accomplishes this requirement quickly and efficiently without timepiece disassembly or dangerous movement exposure to water by simple and direct observation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Testing sealed devices and apparatus for possible leakage of fluids or gases into or out of such apparatus is old and well known in the art. Some apparatus use the pressure difference between the device to be tested and that of the fluid or liquid into which the device is immersed to immediately produce tell-tale bubbles which are visually apparent to the individual observer performing the test. A variety of such testing devices and others are disclosed in the following patents:
U.S. Pat. No. 2,055,568 describes a relatively cumbersome and complex structure in which a watch to be tested is suspended, totally immersed, in a liquid within a transparent receptacle. Means is provided to create a vacuum in the receptacle above the liquid level such that any leakage of air from the watch would create bubbles which may be observed by the test operator. This structural arrangement and testing method continuously and dangerously exposes the watch to possible liquid invasion throughout the test, as well as the possible filling of the watch case with liquid as a result of the vacuum employed with the test. In addition, the test apparatus does not provide a simple and easy method for quickly removing the watch case from the liquid (in case of a faulty seal) to avoid destruction of the movement by the liquid. Obviously, this is not a completely safe procedure for use with delicate and complex watch movements.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,517,547 describes a two stage or two step type watch testing procedure wherein the watch to be tested first has its crown removed after which a structural bore is fitted around the watch stem tube. The watch is then pressurized by a hand pump and any escape of air is noted by movement of the pressure pump. The watch is then immersed in a testing liquid, for example, water or water and alcohol mixed, and visibly checked for the formation and/or escape of air bubbles due to possible leaks in the case or stem of the watch. This apparatus is not a completely sealed member but relies on an integral, attached pressure pump for pressurizing the interior of the watch through the stem tube of the watch after removal of the crown from the watch. First, the complex design variances of lock down crowns, screw down crowns and stem/crown guards requires an extensive bore assembly or an extremely large set of nozzles in order to be able to test all types and styles of the growing sport watch market. This is very expensive and not efficient time-wise. Second, the test is self defeating since reassembly of the watch crown is required, thus negating the purpose of the test. U.S. Pat. No. 3,991,622 describes a complex and very sophisticated electromagnetic/electromechanical strain detection apparatus for detection of strain occurring at the surface of the object in a test container when subjected to a varied pressure. Although this structural arrangement is illustrated and described as used for testing wrist watches, it would appear to be ultra complex, obviously delicate and much too expensive and difficult to use for the average .proprietor of a watch or jewelry shop or even for a proprietor which deals in SCUBA diving timepieces. Also, supposing a leak to be discovered, there is no indication of its location.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,355,932 relates to apparatus for gas pressure testing of watches and requires two different container vessels (one is a test tank and the other is a comparator tank) and two different watches plus assorted valves and a pressure gauge for pressure indication and control. Air is first pumped into the test container by means of a small hand pump. A series of time-consuming tests are then required and performed. In one test, disassembly of the watch under test is also required, which makes the test self-defeating.
Patent DT 2,815,394 relates to a testing chamber for watches in which a watch to be tested is first covered completely with a plastic coating. The pressure in the test chamber of the test device is reduced to a given value creating a pressure differential between the interior of the watch case and the interior of the test chamber. This difference in pressure will cause a bubble of air to form in the plastic coating at the site of any air leak in the device being tested.
Patent 209,379 (Switzerland) illustrates and describes a transparent container in which a watch is suspended immersed in a liquid, for example, water. A threaded hand turned screw applies pressure to the contents until air bubbles appear around the watch case. The apparatus is complex and awkward to use and appears to suffer from the obvious requirement of hand manipulation.

Non-invasive testing apparatus for submersible timepieces


Motor shaft adapters include a cylindrical shaft sleeve with a tubular body defined between inner and outer cylindrical surfaces, and frame adapters that include a section of structural tubing and flanges having sides aligned to the sides of the structural tubing section and fixed at respective ends of the section of structural tubing into assembly between a motor and gearhead. Key slot apertures are defined by opposing body end-walls of the tubular body and through the inner and outer cylindrical surfaces of the sleeve. A shaft key has outer sidewalls that include opposing outer sleeve aperture sidewall portions that enable the shaft key sidewall portions to fit within and to thereby engage the sleeve via the key slot aperture. The key sidewalls further include a base pair of opposing key seat engagement portions that fit within and engage opposing sidewalls of a key seat aperture defined within a workpiece shaft.

Motor mounting adapters are generally designed to convert motor mount spacing holes from one frame size to another. They may compensate for differences in mounting hole locations and shaft height without altering motor axial centerline or end of shaft extension dimensions.
In a keyed-joint system or structure a machined key element fits within and is engaged by key-way and key seat structures, sometimes referred to as slot and pocket structures, that are formed within respective shaft and rotating machine elements. Engagement with the key via the key-way and key seat structures prevents relative rotation between the shaft and rotating element, enabling torque transmission between the shaft and rotating machine element, while in some arrangements allowing relative axial movement between the shaft and rotating element. Keyed rotating machine elements include gears, pulleys, couplings, and other structures incorporated within speed and torque transmission systems that transform input speed and torque of rotating keyed motor shafts into different output values.
Efficient and acceptable performance in transforming input speed and torque may be dependent upon aligning keyed shaft and rotating elements. For an electric motor driver or turbine shaft coupled via a keyed joint system to a rotating machine element of a pump, generator, or other piece of equipment, it is generally important that the respective mating shaft elements of the two pieces are aligned to within a tolerated or satisfactory margin of precision. Misalignment between the two may increase stress on the shafts and result in excessive wear and premature breakdown of the equipment, or damage to bearings or mechanical seals. Misalignment can also cause increased vibration and loads on the machine parts for which they have not been designed (i.e. improper operation).
Where alignment is not achieved within demanded specifications, a variety of shaft misalignment conditions may occur. In a parallel misalignment, the center lines of both shafts are parallel, but they are offset. In an angular misalignment, the shafts are at an angle to each other. Parallel misalignment also comprehends horizontal misalignment (misalignment of the shafts in the horizontal plane) and vertical misalignment (misalignment of the shafts in the vertical plane). Parallel horizontal misalignment refers to movement of a motor shaft horizontally away from a pump shaft, but wherein both shafts are still in a same horizontal plane and parallel to each other. Parallel vertical misalignment refers to movement of a motor shaft vertically away from a pump shaft, but wherein shafts are still in a same vertical plane and parallel to each other.
Angular misalignment refers to configurations wherein a motor shaft is located at an angle with respect to the pump shaft but both shafts are still in a same horizontal plane (an "angular horizontal misalignment"), or in a same vertical plane (an "angular vertical misalignment"). Thus, common errors of alignment comprehend parallel misalignment, angular misalignment or a combination of the two.


A solar cell device includes a light-transmissive substrate, a solar cell module, an optical composite film assembly, and a light-transmissive top plate. The solar cell module is disposed on the light-transmissive substrate and includes a solar cell unit. The optical composite film assembly is light-transmissive, and includes a light diffusion layer and a fiber layer. The optical composite film assembly and the solar cell module are disposed on each other. The light-transmissive top plate is disposed spaced apart from the light-transmissive substrate and cooperates with the light-transmissive substrate to sandwich the solar cell module and the optical composite film assembly.

In recent years, for the purpose of generating electrical power in a safe and environmentally friendly manner, many countries have continued to develop renewable energy (i.e., "green energy") industry by utilizing technologies such as wind power, hydropower, and solar power.
In the utilization of solar power, a solar cell device (such as solar panels) is installed on a vast land (such as farm lands) or a light-receiving area of a building so that sunlight absorbed by the solar panels can be converted into electrical energy.
Since the solar panels are usually installed outdoors for improving light absorption, the solar panels might suffer damages from strong winds (e.g. in a typhoon season). In addition, the solar panels might occupy large areas of the farm lands, which may cause an adverse impact on agricultural production. Therefore, there is still a need to enhance the mechanical strength and improve utilization efficiency of the solar panels.

Solar cell device and optical composite film assembly

SOUTHERN TAIWAN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY


A preparation method of a toner having a micro diameter includes: blending a monomer and a dispersing agent in distilled water to prepare a monomer dispersion; polymerizing the monomer dispersion by adding a first polymerization initiator to about 1% by volume to about 50% by volume of the monomer, to cause a first polymerization; mixing the remaining monomer dispersion with the polymerized solution; and polymerizing the mixed solution by adding a wax emulsion and a second polymerization initiator, to cause a second polymerization. The present invention may be advantageously used for obtaining spherical, uniformly micro sized toner particles through the emulsion polymerization only, without performing the aggregation or melting process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a preparation method of a toner having a micro radius, and more particularly, to a preparation method of a toner based on a process including an emulsion polymerization, to prepare a toner having a micro radius, so that an effective resolution image may be achieved by an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electrophotographic image forming apparatuses include fax machines, LED or LCS printers, digital printers, laser printers, or laser copiers. These apparatuses use toner compositions containing a colorant, a binder resin, a charge control agent, and other functional additives.
Colorants are largely divided into dye colorants and pigment colorants. The pigment colorants, compared to the dye colorants, have an excellent thermal stability and light fastness and thus, are used more often as toner colorants.
The binder resin corresponds to about 90% of the entire toner composition, and its main function is to bind toner particles onto a recording medium. There are many types of polymers that are eligible for use as the binder resin, but a colloid gel type latex with its two components being dispersed to particles is usually used as the binder resin.
The charge controller agent is employed to control the quantity of electric charge on toner particles. Examples of the charge controller agent include metal azo compounds, salicylic acid metal complexes, nigrosine, and quaternary ammonium salts.
Among the functional additives contained in the toner is a releasing agent which gives a neat and quick release. Particularly, the releasing agent is used to more easily release a roller from a toner when a toner image is transferred onto a recording medium, and thus, to prevent a toner offset. Many times, the recording medium adheres to the roller due to the toner, causing the recording medium to be caught in the middle. Hence, the releasing agent is added to the toner composition.
Typically used releasing agents are a polyolefin group having low molecular weight, a silicon group having a softening point by the application of heat, a fatty acid amid group, and wax.
In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a toner particle size is a key factor that determines the resolution of a final print image. The more uniform and spherical the toner particles are, and if the toner particles have a micro size, the higher the resolution of a final print image can be.
The preparation methods of a dry toner for use in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus are largely divided into two types: milling and polymerization. The polymerization is further divided into a suspension polymerization and an emulsion polymerization. The milling process, by its nature, is not suitable for making the toner particles spherical in a uniform size. The suspension polymerization has also its limits with respect to obtaining micro size toner particles.
According to the toner preparation method based on a general emulsion polymerization, an emulsion is first prepared with a binder resin, a colorant, and a releasing agent, each component having less than a 1 μm particle size, and later a coagulant is added to the emulsion for aggregation. In this manner, the emulsion is primarily aggregated in a size of 1-3 μm. Next, the emulsion is secondarily aggregated with a latex having a different molecular weight to prepare toner particles in a size between 5 μm and 15 μm.
The emulsion polymerization is well disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,120,967, and 5,863,696. In the disclosures, a coagulant is used to aggregate a resin latex, a pigment, and a wax emulsion particle. At first, a latex having a size of 100 nm to 200 nm was aggregated until its size ranged between 1 μm and 3 μm. Then, the latex was subjected to a secondary aggregation process or a melting process. However, this method was not adequate to obtain spherical particles. Moreover, the aggregation and melting processes are very complicated, and have several technical difficulties in adjusting particle size and obtaining spherical particles. Especially, the melting process requires a 2 to 4 hour-heating period. As a result, the entire process becomes very lengthy and complicated.
Therefore, there is a need to develop a new, simple preparation method of spherical microsize toner particles.

Preparation method of toner having micro radius


A method of manufacturing an Fe-based amorphous alloy ribbon includes forming a coated film of a molten alloy on a peripheral surface of a chill roll that has been subjected to polishing using a polishing brush roll, cooling the coated film on the peripheral surface, and then winding the Fe-based amorphous alloy ribbon, which has been peeled off by a peeling means, on a wind-up roll, to obtain a wound body of an Fe-based amorphous alloy ribbon.

Fe-based amorphous alloy ribbon (Fe-based amorphous alloy thin strip) is becoming more popular as a material for an iron core of a transformer.
As an example of an Fe-based amorphous alloy ribbon, a rapidly quenched Fe soft magnetic alloy thin strip having waveform unevenness on a free surface, the waveform unevenness having width direction troughs arranged at approximately regular intervals in the longitudinal direction, wherein the mean amplitude of the troughs is 20 mm or less, is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Patent Document 1: International Publication WO 2012/102379

Fe-based amorphous alloy ribbon manufacturing method, Fe-based amorphous alloy ribbon manufacturing device, and wound body of Fe-based amorphous alloy ribbon

Abstract: The polishing brush roll includes a roll axis member and a polishing brush that is equipped with a plurality of brush bristles and satisfies the following condition (1) and condition (2) while rotating axially in a reverse direction to the chill roll.                Condition (1): Free length of brush bristles is more than 30 mm but no more than 50 mm.        Condition (2): Density of brush bristles at the brush bristle tip is more than 0.30 bristles/mm2 but no more than 0.60 bristles/mm2.


In one embodiment, a method includes initializing a portion of a computing system in a pre-boot environment using a basic input/output system (BIOS) stored in a non-volatile storage of the computing system, launching a boot manager to enable a launch of an operating system (OS) payload, and if the OS payload is not successfully launched, executing an OS payload portion and an antivirus stack stored in the non-volatile storage to restore an integrity of the mass storage. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

In many computer systems, a booting of the system occurs through a series of steps in which initialization is performed, self-testing occurs, a basic input/output system (BIOS) is loaded and executed, and finally control may be passed off to an operating system (OS). In many systems, a pre-boot environment enabled via code present in a non-volatile storage of the system can perform those operations. Accordingly, there is a risk that untrusted or errant third party code can corrupt the system, particularly in the pre-boot environment.
As one example, the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) specification, e.g., the UEFI Specification version 2.3.1 (dated Apr. 8, 2011), calls for the separation of pre-boot and boot environments into a variety of phases. However, in these phases both original equipment manufacturer (OEM) trusted code and third party untrusted/errant code can execute in the same privilege level, which can lead to an attack on the system.
As more compute devices provide for mobility and ready access to the Internet a challenge is posed in the plague of software viruses that primarily attack the compute node personality (such as a registry) and file system. In these common scenarios, virus attacks can render the compute node non-functional and hence useless, and can further lead to loss of vital user data. A user may attempt unsafe actions to recover the data, which may lead to infections of other systems with the same virus.
An additional problem is that antivirus (AV) software is usually installed on the same read-writeable media that contains the OS image as well as user data. This too poses a problem as in extreme scenarios of virus attacks, it is the AV software that is attacked and disabled from functioning.

Providing an immutable antivirus payload for internet ready compute nodes


Apparatus and associated methods relate to a temperature-compensated drive for a heating element used in a micro-bridge flow sensor. In some embodiments, the heating element may be located substantially between two temperature sensors. The two temperature sensors may be convectively coupled to the heater by a fluid ambient. When the fluid ambient is flowing, one of the temperature sensors may be upstream of the heating element, and one of the temperature sensors may be downstream. The fluid may be heated by the heating unit, and this heated fluid may then flow past the downstream temperature sensor. The two temperature sensors may be used in a Wheatstone bridge configuration. In some embodiments, an output signal of the Wheatstone bridge may be indicative of a measure of fluid flow. The temperature-compensated drive for the heating element may enhance, for example, the flow meter's disturbance rejection of ambient temperature.

Fluid flow transducers are widely used to measure the flow of fluid materials. Gas flow transducers are used throughout the microelectronics industry, for example. The measurement and control of gas flows must be very precise in this industry. The vacuum technology used in the microelectronics industry requires small but precise gas flows. These small flows permit a flow meter to be located inside a gas delivery tube. Other industries require large gas consumptions. In such industries, a small fraction of the delivered gas may be routed through a bypass tube. The gas flow is often measured in this bypass tube, and the measured flow is then multiplied by the ratio of total gas flow to the gas flowing in the bypass tube. Fluid flow transducers are also used to measure the flow of liquid commodities. For example, chemical companies use fluid flow transducers to measure the flow of liquid reactants used in a chemical reaction. The precise measure of the flows of multiple reactants may be critical for maintaining a proper stoichiometric ratio for a reaction.
Many disturbances can make precise flow measurement difficult to realize. Noise in power supplies can deleteriously affect the measurement result of a fluid flow transducer, for example. Chemical reactions between a flowing commodity and a fluid flow transducer may degrade the measurement precision of the instrument. Different chemical compositions having the same flow rates may produce different measurement results in many fluid flow transducers. Even identical chemical compositions at identical flow rates may produce different measurement results if the temperatures of the chemical compositions differ.

Temperature compensation module for a fluid flow transducer


The present disclosure includes systems and methods for off-the-record communication including expiring messages. An example method comprises receiving an electronic communication from a source device, the electronic communication including at least one expiring message, temporarily storing content of the expiring message in a non-durable memory for a predetermined amount of time, durably storing envelope information associated with the expiring message in a durable memory, and determining whether a recipient device for the expiring message is available to accept transmission of the expiring message and determining whether an expiration event has occurred.

Typical electronic communications, such as email, text messages, tweets, etc. are on-the-record and their content may be saved in permanent (i.e., durable) storage at multiple server locations. For example, in the case of an email, the email may be saved at an email exchange server maintained by the service provider. Thus, even if the sender and the recipient wish the communication to be deleted or ephemeral in nature, this is not possible. The message usually may always be recovered.
In situations where the participants in a conversation wish the content of certain electronic messages to be maintained as private and ephemeral communications, there are conventional services supporting off-the-record chats. In some such instances, the chat messages are not stored by the service provider hosting the service. The communications are facilitated by the service provider simply by forwarding chat messages back and forth between logged in participants. Because messages are not stored in such off-the-record communications services, an intended recipient must be connected to the service at the time the message is transmitted for the message to be delivered.
Off-the-record communications can be very sensitive and important to those involved. They may be part of a discussion leading to a decision to be made by the participants. Information critical to the decision-making process may be exchanged in a series of back-and-forth communications before a decision is made. Sometimes the back-and-forth may last for a prolonged period. Thus, it can be critical that each participant know about all of the prior communications. Missing a communication can lead to misunderstandings and bad decision making. Alternatively, communications among some but not all of the participants can generate uncertainty and potentially mistrust.
As noted, conventional off-the-record systems and methods require receiving parties to be "online" during the conversation. In the case where a recipient device is not connected, such as due to a plane trip or the like, a critical message might never be received and the intended recipient might never be informed that they missed an off-the-record communication. As far as they would be able to determine, there would have not been any missed communications while the recipient device was off-line.
Conventional systems fail to recognize these significant problems and fail to offer any reasonable solutions. Consequently, such conventional systems are flawed in their operation and usefulness. The deficiencies in such conventional systems and methods are exacerbated because some mechanisms for communication, such as mobile devices (e.g., smart phones) are often offline making the conventional off-the-record communications ineffective and unreliable.
Consequently, there is a need for systems and methods supporting electronic communications with expiring messages that maintain the content of a private message for varying amount of times in order to increase the likelihood that the content is delivered to the desired recipient device, while ensuring that the content is ephemeral and not susceptible to future discovery.

Method and apparatus for expiring messages in electronic communications


An engine torque estimating system includes: an engine; a crank angle sensor installed for a crankshaft of an engine; an acquiring circuit for acquiring, from the crank angle sensor, a chronological waveform in which amplitude changes based on a rotational speed of the crankshaft; a generating circuit for generating input data to a mathematical model based on information of the amplitude of the chronological waveform; a calculating circuit for calculating an estimated value of engine torque by giving the generated input data to the mathematical model; and a control circuit for controlling the engine based on the estimated value of engine torque.

A technique for calculating an estimated value of indicated torque of an engine based on angular acceleration (hereinafter referred to as "crank angular acceleration") of a crankshaft that has been calculated from a crank angle signal of a crank angle sensor is known. An example of related art is International Publication Pamphlet No. WO2008/087928.
It is, however, difficult to accurately calculate the crank angular acceleration from the crank angle signal of the crank angle sensor due to measurement resolution for angle extraction by the crank angle sensor, a limit of sampling cycles, disturbance such as vibration in a high rotation range, and the like. Thus, in the conventional technique, it is difficult to improve the accuracy of the estimated value of the indicated torque based on the crank angular acceleration.
According to an aspect, an object of the present disclosure is to improve the accuracy of an estimated value of engine torque.

Engine torque estimating device, engine control system, and engine torque estimation method


A mounting bracket assembly for an electrical cable having a Faraday shield configured to allow at least one conductor passing through the assembly to a fire detector wherein the Faraday shield electrically terminates into the receiving end of the assembly without the need for additional electrical connections.

Electrical cables with an electrical conductor may have a Faraday shield surrounding the conductor when it is desired to protect the conductor from external electrical fields, such as a lightning strike. The Faraday shield may be connected to a ground. In an aircraft engine environment, the Faraday shield is typically grounded by separating the shield from the conductor and affixing the separated portion of the shield to a ground, such as a bolt or nut of the engine structure, which may be part of a ground circuit.

Mounting bracket assembly for an electrical cable


A tool is made in a coating vessel, depositing upon the base tool body of a hard metal or cermet, a coating by chemical vapor deposition by admitting to the vessel a reactive gas mixture capable of forming a composition selected from the group which consists of aluminum oxide and of titanium and zirconium carbide, nitride and carbonitride, and of mixtures thereof at a chemical vapor deposition pressure and temperature; and interrupting the chemical vapor deposition by a multiplicity of times by replacing the reactive gas mixture with a nonreactive gas mixture containing components selected from the group which consists of argon, hydrogen, nitrogen and mixtures thereof, lowering a pressure in the vessel to a plasma chemical vapor deposition pressure of 10 to 1000 Pa, effecting a glow discharge at the body with the body being cathodically connected at a negative D.C. voltage of 200 to 1000 volts for a period of 1 to 30 minutes, to effect plasma chemical vapor deposition coating between chemical vapor deposition coating with the reactive mixture.

In German Patent Application P 42 39 234.9 corresponding to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/446,836 filed 16 May 1995 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,693,408, a tool of the initially stated type is described in which the surface coating is comprised of a plurality of layers deposited in an alternating sequence by a thermal CVD process and by a glow discharge activated CVD process also known as plasma chemical vapor deposition (PCVD). The total thickness of the coating amounts to 2 through 40 .mu.m whereby each individual layer is thicker than 0.2 .mu.m.
The individual layers are applied by technically different processes. In the (thermal) CVD process one must use temperatures in excess of 900.degree. C. and pressures above 10,000 Pa to achieve sufficiently high coating rates. Thus, in an example of the aforementioned patent application, a gas mixture of 2.5% TiCl.sub.4, 35% N.sub.2 and 62.5 H.sub.2 is passed over the substrate to be coated at a temperature of 940.degree. C. and a pressure of 25000 Pa. Thereafter or alternatingly thereto, individual layers are applied by the PCVD processes whereby, for example, a gas mixture of 1.5% TiCl.sub.4, 11.5% N.sub.2, 8% Ar and 79% H.sub.2 is used at a pressure of 300 Pa and a temperature of 780.degree. C. The multilayer coating of CVD layers and PCVD layers gives an unusually good mechanical stability to the coating which yields a high useful life for tools fabricated by the process reviewed in chip removal operations. The special advantage of the alternating coating by means of the CVD process and PCVD process is that in a single coating apparatus in a continuous process without intervening coating and removal of the object to be coated, the coatings can be applied.

Method of making a multilayer tool surface with PCNA interruption of CVD, and tool made by the process