An electrical connector of the present invention includes an insulative housing (10) and a contact insert (12) attached to the housing. The contact insert includes eight singnal contacts (26a-26h) and two grounding contacts (28a, 28b) arranged side by side and an upper printed substrate (30) and a lower printed substrate (32) sandwiching the singnal contacts and the grounding contacts therebetween. Two selected singnal contacts (26c, 26f) each are severed into three pieces but the other contacts (26a, 26b, 26d, 26e, 26g, and 26h) are not severed. Two end portions (58a, 58b; 56a, 56b) of the severed contacts are re-routed by conductive traces on the upper lower printed substrates, while the middle portions (58c, 56c) are grounded. Therefore, lengths inducing electrical capacitances between the severed contacts and the adjacent contacts can be reasonably reduced, thereby reducing crosstalk between the severed contacts and the adjacent contacts.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an RJ modular connector, and more particularly to an RJ modular connector having a printed circuit board (PCB) provided therein to reduce crosstalk between terminals.
2. Description of Related Art
RJ modular connector has been widely used in telecommunication system since it was firstly created. A so-called RJ45 modular connector is a typical example for this kind of connector.
The RJ45 modular connector includes a total of eight terminals. Resulting from miniaturization of the computer, all corresponding components, including connectors, have to be reduced as to their dimension and size. One of the negative consequences or problems created from miniaturization is crosstalk between terminals. When the RJ connector is used in low speed signal transmission, the crosstalk between adjacent terminals can be ignored in light of its effect. However, when the RJ connector is used for high-speed signal transmission, the crosstalk between adjacent terminals creates a great problem. Unless the crosstalk can be effectively controlled within an accepted level, it is unlikely that the RJ 45 modular connector can be used in the high-speed signal transmission.
One of the approaches is to select a pair of terminals as a differential pair. In the differential pair, two terminals transmit the same signal of opposite polarity. By this arrangement, a majority of the noise received between the two terminals of a differential pair can be subtracted in a data processing unit.
There are at least eight different standards having reference in selecting terminals as differential pairs namely T568A, T568B, USOC 4-pair, USOC 1-, 2- or 3-pair, 10BASE-T (802.3), Token Ring (802.5), 3-pair (MMJ), and TP-PMD (X3T9.5) and ATM. In each implementation, two terminals are selected as a pair in which some are close to each other, while some are apart from each other. Each pattern has its own uniqueness, while each also carries a crosstalk issue that needs to be solved.
Among those standards, T568A and T568B are widely used and in T568A, terminals 1, 2 configure 3rd pair, terminals 3, 6 configure 2nd pair, terminals 4, 5 configure 1st pair, while terminals 7, 8 configure 4th pair. In T568B, terminals 1, 2 configure 2nd pair, terminals 3, 6 configure 3rd pair, terminals 4, 5 configure 1st pair, while terminals 7, 8 configure 4th pair.
Since those eight terminals are equally spaced, electrical capacitances between terminals will surely create some problems, i.e. crosstalk. For example, terminal 3 will naturally pick up energy induced from terminals 2 and 4 which are close to terminal 3. On the other hand, terminal 6, which carries signal having inverted phase of the signal carried by terminal 3, will also pick up energy induced from terminals 5 and 7. However, energy induced into terminals 3, 6 from terminals 2 and 7 can not be suitably eliminated because terminals 3, 6 is unlikely to establish equal capacitances between terminal 1 and terminal 8 to balance the capacitances between terminals 2, 3 and 6, 7. Accordingly, signals transmitted by terminals 3, 6 carry noises generated by their adjacent terminals 2, 7. In addition, terminals 3 and 6 will also carry noises induced thereto from terminals 4, 5 and which capacitances should be also carefully taken to avoid certain noises.
In order to decrease the effects of electrical capacitance between the (3rd, 4th) and (3rd, 2nd) terminals, and (6th, 5th) and (6th, 7th) terminals, many approaches have been provided, such as creating electrical capacitances between 3rd and 1st terminals and 3rd and 5th terminals, to balance the electrical capacitance between the 3rd and 2nd terminals and 3rd and 4th terminals, and creating electrical capacitance between 6th and 8th terminals and 6th and 4th terminals to balance the electrical capacitances between the 6th and 7th terminals and 6th and 5th terminals.
To solve the above issue, the terminals should be rearranged or new electrical capacitances should be added.
one known solution is to have 6th and 2nd terminals arranged in the first layer, while 8th, 5th, 4th, and 1st terminals are arranged in the second layer, and 7th and 3rd terminals are arranged in the third layer.
The 6th terminal in the first layer has a rectangular loop having its longitudinal sides aligned with terminals 4th and 8th located in the second layer, while terminal 3 in the third layer also has a rectangular loop having its longitudinal sides aligned with terminals 5th and 1st located in the second layer.
In addition, the right longitudinal loop side of the terminal 6th further includes a square corresponding to a square formed in terminal 4th. The left longitudinal loop side of the terminal 3 includes also a square with respect to the square formed on terminal 5th.
The above arrangements are to increase the capacitances between (1st, 3rd), (3rd, 5th), and (4th, 6th), (6th, 8th) terminals thereby helping to balance electrical capacitances of the terminals.
However, those eight or four sets of terminals are arranged in three different layers, and each set of terminals are separately divided by an insulative sheet material. U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,647 of Tulley et al. discloses such structure. This will no doubt increase the complexity of the connector.
In addition, there are different shapes and configurations among those eight terminals. Each terminal has its own shape which is different from each other, especially the 3rd and 6th terminals, each including the rectangular loop portion which overlaps to corresponding terminals to create desired electrical couplings. Each loop further forms the square to increase the electrical capacitances with corresponding terminals having the square. The electrical capacitances created can help to meet higher system requirements. The eight different configurations of the terminals will surely increase the difficulty and complexity in production.
There are some other approaches that include routing terminal tails of those 3rd, 6th and 4th, 5th terminals to alter their position and affect capacitances between 3rd, 2nd and 3rd, 4th; and 6th, 5th, and 6th, 7th terminals. However routing terminal tails will inevitably increase the manufacturing cost.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,120,329 of Steinman discloses another approach to solve the above-addressed problem. Again, terminals are configured with different shapes and dimensions making the production complex.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,069,641 of Sakamoto et al. discloses a suggestion of using substrate in the RJ modular housing; however, it addresses different issues.
A first object of this invention is to provide an RJ modular connector, and more particularly to an RJ modular connector having a printed circuit board (PCB) with conductive traces thereon to reduce crosstalk between contacts thereof.
A second object of this invention is to provide a method of manufacturing the above RJ modular connector.
A third object of the present invention is to provide a method of reducing crosstalk between contacts of an RJ modular connector.
To obtain the above objects, an RJ connector includes an insulative housing and a contact insert attached to the housing. The contact insert includes eight signal contacts and two grounding contact arranged side by side and an upper printed substrate and a lower printed substrate sandwiching the signal contacts and the grounding contacts therebetween. There is a grounded conductive material between at least two selected adjacent signal contacts for reducing capacitance between the two selected adjacent signal contacts.
As a second aspect of this invention, at least one selected signal contact is severed into pieces and two of the pieces are re-routed by conductive traces on a printed circuit board (PCB) but adjacent contacts are not severed. Therefore, length inducing electrical capacitance between the severed contact and the adjacent contacts can be reasonably reduced, thereby reducing crosstalk between the severed contact and the adjacent contacts.
As a third aspect of this invention, at least one selected signal contact is severed into three pieces and two end portions of the pieces are re-routed by conductive traces on a printed circuit board (PCB) and the middle portion is connected to a grounding trace. Therefore, the middle portion can provide grounding contact function to the severed and the adjacent signal contacts, thereby reducing crosstalk between the severed contact and the adjacent contacts.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Anti crosstalk electrical connector and method of manufacturing the same


A seal member disposed within a coaxial cable connector comprising an annular body portion having an outer diameter surface and an inner diameter surface, and a plurality of flexible segments disposed along the inner diameter surface, extending radially inward from the inner diameter surface, wherein the flexible segments are configured to conform to a helical outer conductor and fill a valley of the helical outer conductor, thereby effectuating an environmental seal around the helical outer conductor is provided. A coaxial cable including the seal member is also provided. An associated method is further provided.

Corrugated coaxial cables are electrical cables that are used as transmission lines for radio frequency signals. Coaxial cables are composed of an inner conductor surrounded by a flexible insulating layer, which in turn is surrounded by a corrugated outer conductor that acts as a conducting shield. An outer protective sheath or jacket surrounds the corrugated outer conductor.
A corrugated coaxial cable in an operational state typically has a connector affixed on either end of the cable. The quality of the electrical connection between the coaxial cable and the respective connectors is of utmost importance. Indeed, the quality of the electrical connection can either positively or negatively impact the resulting electric signal as well as the performance of the connector. One issue that negatively impacts the electric signal between the cable and the connector is environmental elements. The effectiveness of environmental sealing the connector depends on the mating of the internal seal of the connector to the helical corrugated outer conductor whose pitch and angle vary according to cable manufacturer. Currently, specifically-designed connectors must be chosen for each cable according to manufacturer. Moreover, even when the properly-sized connector is chosen for the designated cable, variations in the actual dimensions of the manufactured cable can lead to poor sealing between the connector and the outer conductor of the cable. Improperly-sized connectors, or even improperly-selected connectors for a particular cable, will negatively impact the environmental seal between the cable and the connector, resulting in moisture migration and extremely low performance.
Thus, there is a need in the field of helical corrugated coaxial cables for a universal connector that addresses the aforementioned problems.

Seal for helical corrugated outer conductor


A machine for bending reinforced thermoplastic workpieces includes a machine frame. First and second spaced rest plates are mounted to the frame, with the plates having a first planer orientation, which define a rest plane, for supporting a workpiece and a second angularly disposed orientation for bending the workpiece. A compression rest is disposed between the plates. A heated bending beam is in alignment with and spaced from the compression rest. A drive system is operably associated with the frame for causing relative movement between the beam and the plates and the rest, so that a workpiece supported by the plates and the rest in the first orientation may engage the beam. The plates are operably interconnected for therefore defining a common pivot axis. A system is provided for causing at least one of the plates to be pivoted about the pivot axis. A further system is operably associated with the plates when in the first planer orientation for adjusting the plates relative to the common pivot axis so that the rest plane may be selectively positioned relative to the common pivot axis prior to a workpiece on said plates being engaged by the bending beam.

Bending equipment is known for bending lamellar, thermoplastic workpieces which comprise at the center of the machine frame a stationary clamping means followed--as seen in the direction of advance of the workpiece--by a pivotably suspended, strip-like bending cheek. A heater and a holder are mounted behind the clamping means on a frame displaceable in and opposite the direction of advance. The heater consists of two superposed heater blades behind which is mounted the holder, which assumes the form of a clamping strip. A stop strip is present on the other side of the bending cheek and rests displaceable on two side rails.
To carry out bending, first the stop strip and the frame with the heater and holder are arranged symmetrically to the front edge of the bending cheek and locked in place. Thereupon the workpiece is inserted in such a way that it comes to rest between the clamping strips of the holder and the two heater blades. At its front edge the workpiece abuts the pertinent zone of the bending cheek. Thereupon the two heater blades are so moved together that they shall rest against both sides of the workpiece which they heat while forming a bending zone, whereby the workpiece is plastically deformable in the bending zone. The workpiece in this process is held in place both by the clamping means and the holder.
Once the bending zone has been sufficiently heated, the clamping means and the holder are deactivated, that is, the workpiece is released. Then it is manually moved forward toward the stop strip until it comes to rest against it. Thereupon the clamping strip is reactivated, that is, the workpiece is braced broadside in front of the bending cheek and clamped in place. Next the bending cheek is pivoted upward by the desired bending angle, whereby the part of the workpiece in front of the clamping means is bent up at the bending zone. Simultaneously the next bending zone is formed by the heater blades again being made to rest against that part of the workpiece. After termination of bending, the clamping means and holder are released again and the workpiece is advanced as far as the stop strip, so that the heated bending zone comes to rest against the front edge of the bending cheek. Another bending procedure follows. Depending on the bending angle a cross-sectionally polygonal, preferably square pipe segment can be formed.
A further development of this machine is described in the German patent 36 37 436. In this bending machine the clamping means is displaceable in and opposite the direction of advance of the workpiece. It no longer serves only to lock in place by means of the bending cheek the workpiece during bending but also now assumes the holder function of the previously known bending machine, namely the locking in place of the workpiece while the bending zone is formed by the heater. For that purpose the clamping means when open is displaceable from a position near the bending cheek into a position away from the bending cheek as seen in relation to the bending zone and is moved into the clamping position. After the bending zone has been formed, the clamping means is displaced again toward the bending cheek and in the process carries the workpiece with the heated bending zone as far as the bending cheek. In this bending machine the holder merely meets the function of locking the workpiece when the clamping means is moved to the deactivated state, that is the open state, away from the bending cheek. In view of this design of the bending machine, it is possible by means of suitable controls to fully automate bending so that upon insertion of the workpiece and following setting the distances between two bending zones, further intervention shall not be required. In a special design of this bending machine, the heater is mounted on the clamping means, whereby both are always displaced jointly.
These known bending machines are only suited to bend workpieces consisting purely of a thermoplastic. Recently however thermoplastic composites have assumed increasing significance. These are especially glass-, carbon- or aramid-fiber reinforced thermoplastics, both with short fibers and with filaments. In the latter case the fibers may be present in random form as matting or as fiber strands or bands processed into fabrics or superposed, crossing filaments. In particular as regards more recent plastics with high processing temperatures, for instance PEEK (polyetheresterketone), PPS (polyphenylene sulfide) or PEI (polyetherimide), fiber reinforcement is frequently used to produce plastics parts of high strength, with applications foremost in the aircraft industry. In these materials the thermoplastic forms the matrix for the fiber reinforcement. The fiber reinforcement is imbedded--especially as regards the above cited materials--with heating and high pressure, this pressure being applied either in a mold or by means of rolls.
Moreover sandwich panels with thermoplastic cover layers and an inserted support core are also known as thermoplastic composites.
Substantial problems arise when such thermoplastic composites are subjected to bending. Where fiber-reinforced thermoplastics are concerned, bending is opposed by the fibers being unable to change their length. Accordingly when bending takes place, there takes place delamination at the outside of the bending zone, that is the bond between the plastic matrix and the fibers is lifted, or fibers will rupture. On the inside the fibers are upset and then project from the matrix material. Either condition entails an appreciable loss of strength in the bending zone of the workpiece. All attempts at palliation so far have led to unsatisfactory results or else entailed excessive expense.

Apparatus for bending lamellar workpieces


A memory cell array of a NOR type flash memory is constructed by arranging memory cell transistors in a matrix, each of the memory cell transistors includes a contact connecting a semiconductor substrate to an overlayer wire. Columns of the memory cell transistors are isolated from one another by shallow trench isolations. The height of top surface of a filling oxide film in the shallow trench isolation which is adjacent to each drain contact is equal to that of top surface of the drain region. The top surface of a filling oxide film in the shallow trench isolation which is adjacent to each channel region is higher than a top surface of the semiconductor substrate in the channel region.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and a method for manufacturing the nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, and in particular, to the structure of bit line contacts in a memory cell array of a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and a method for manufacturing the nonvolatile semiconductor memory device. The present invention is used in, for example, NOR type flash memories.
2. Description of the Related Art
A NOR type flash memory has a large number of memory cells each including a nonvolatile transistor having a 2-layer gate structure. The large number of memory cells constitute a memory cell array. A well region is formed in a front layer portion of a silicon substrate. Active regions of the large number of memory cell transistors are arranged in a matrix within the well region. Each of the activate regions includes a source region, a drain region, and a channel region. Two memory transistors adjacent to each other in a column direction share the drain region. Shallow trench isolations (STI) are each formed between rows of memory transistors. The active regions are isolated from one another by STIs. To ensure an insulating distance between the control gate and channel region of the memory cell transistor, the top surface of the active region, which constitutes the channel region, is formed lower than the top surface of a filling oxide film in STI. The top surfaces of the filling materials in STIs each present between columns of memory cell transistors have a uniform height.
Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2005-79282 discloses a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device in which the top surfaces of the filling materials in STIs have a uniform height. When the top surfaces of the filling materials in STIs have a uniform height, the top surface of the drain region is lower than that of the filling oxide film of STI adjacent to the drain region. This makes it difficult to form a drain contact electrically connected to the drain region, increasing a variation in contact resistance. As a result, the memory cells may operate improperly or their characteristics may be degraded.

Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and method for manufacturing the same


A solid carbonaceous fuel having reduced sulfur dioxide emission upon combustion is provided. The fuel comprises a coagglomerate formed of coke or coal, a novel silica-enhanced sulfur-dioxide sorbent and a bitumen binder.

In the northern regions of Alberta, Canada, are oil sands from which bitumen is extracted using a hot water extraction process and upgraded using a hydroconversion process. Deleteriously, the sulfur content of the produced coke is high, of the order of 6-9% wt. Thus, when such coke is combusted, the sulphur dioxide emissions are above permissible limits, rendering the coke useless as a solid fuel. Since 1975, researchers have unsuccessfully sought methods of reducing the sulfur dioxide released upon the combustion of the cokes produced by the refinery. Unfortunately, up to the present time the coke, which is useless, is stockpiled until such time that a treatment process is arrived at.
Various processes for the control of sulfur dioxide emissions during petroleum coke combustion have been disclosed in the literature and patents. Exemplary disclosures would include those of U.S. Pat. No. 4,302,207 or U.S. Pat. No. 4,515,601.
The '207 patent issued to S. C. Paspek, teaches the use of an aqueous gelling agent with coal and a calcium-containing compound as a sulphur getter. The utilization of an aqueous component inherently will result in a lowered fuel efficiency in comparison to using a non-aqueous gelling agent.
The '601 patent issued to J. E. Charters discloses briquette agglomerates formed from pulverized coke, sand, dolomite, clay and asphaltene. Bentonite is used as the binding agent. However, dolomite has the disadvantage of being difficult to grind, and a proportionately large amount would be required in order to provide effective sulfur capture.
It is to be noted, however, that the sulfur capture efficiency of the fuels produced from either of the above teachings, deleteriously, would only range between 9 to 75% at combustion temperatures ranging between 500.degree. C. to 800.degree. C.
There exists, therefore, always, the requirement to find a fuel having a higher sulfur capture efficiency at the temperatures at which conventional furnaces are operated, namely between 700.degree. C. and 800.degree. C.
Additionally, the disadvantages of many of these prior art processes are that they are not considered to be sufficiently economically attractive for use on a commercial scale.
Along somewhat different lines, though of relevance to the background of the instant invention, it is known in the art to form coke or coal agglomerates. Such agglomerates have been prepared using `wet` techniques wherein water, bitumen (and/or an alternative liquid hydrocarbon) and coke are admixed. These formed agglomerates, following separation from the water, may then be used as fuel. The disadvantages of these prior art agglomeration techniques are that very large amounts of water and extensive agitation are required to prepare the agglomerates. Furthermore, agglomerates thus formed are not easily handled, exhibiting mechanical instability and the like. It would be advantageous, therefore, to provide an agglomeration process which would yield mechanically stable agglomerates and avoid the use of water.

Desulfurization of solid carbonaceous fuels by coagglomeration with sulfur sorbents

Alberta Oil Sands Technology and Research Authority


Fluid flow regulation may be achieved by a system including a housing, a first flow throttling area, and a second flow throttling area. The housing includes a flow inlet port, a flow outlet port, and a passage between the ports. The first flow throttling area is in the passage, and the second flow throttling area is movably positionable proximate the first flow throttling area to facilitate fluid flow regulation, the second flow throttling area restricting flow more than the first flow throttling area. The second flow throttling area primarily regulates flow when flow is low, and the first flow throttling area primarily regulates flow when flow is high.

The throttling process of a control valve produces sound that is often at levels too loud for surrounding personnel. To reduce this noise level, control valves sometimes include specially-designed throttling trim in the lower portions of the valve cage. The trim typically uses small flow passages, which may be tortuous. The passages are used to shift frequencies and, if tortuous, to reduce velocities and, hence, amplitude. Because of the resultant higher frequencies, and possibly lower amplitude, the noise level is reduced.


A pressing iron holder for electric clothing irons includes a substantially planar base defining a blunt butt end, a top end, and two side edges, and a flange is fixedly attached substantially perpendicular to the planar base proximal the butt end. Additional features are cord retention protrusions from one of the two side edges for neatly storing the power cord, at least one semi-rigid retaining clip fixedly attached proximal midpoint of each side edge, and a grasping/hanging extension at the top end.

Prior to the conception and development of the present invention, clothes pressing irons are typically stored after use either upright or horizontally on the horizontal ironing board with the unplugged cord dangling over the edges of the board. This poses a safety hazard besides being unsightly.
A multitude of devices for storing pressing irons have been disclosed in the prior art. A number of these are wall mounted holders with built-in cord supports as shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,116,550 and 7,004,433. Others focus on insulating the hot iron from surrounding surfaces during cooling after use. Examples of this are provided by U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,909,862 and 6,226,904. A general characteristic of these prior-art devices appears to be a level of complexity and expense that are beyond what the average consumer finds worthwhile for such a simple purpose.


A pressure holding liquid bottle for mounting on a standard bicycle liquid bottle cage or bracket and having a container for holding a liquid, a cap removably attached to an open end of the container and a friction grip removably mounted on the bottle. The cap is provided with a spout forming a disengagable pressure seal having a number of different positions. These positions include a closed seal position, a pair of partially open positions providing different fluid flows and an extended open position that permits washing the underside of a large diameter surface on the spout which facilities closing the spout. The container, grip and cap include a color from a group of different colors which allow different color combinations for the completed bottle. The bottle can have extensions which expand its capacity and a one way air vent allowing air to replace displaced liquid. The grip is an elastomer band which can include structure for constraining movement of the band relative to the rest of the bottle, and the spout includes a soft exterior portion near its free end.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to liquid carrying bottles, specifically those used in conjunction with bicycles.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Liquid bottles for use on a bicycle have been commercially available for some time. A standard bracket or cage has evolved to attach these bottles to bike frames. The standard cage is mounted on a bicycle to hold the bottle in an upright or upwardly inclined position. The cage supports the bottom portion of the bottle and, depending on the height of the bottle, either secures the top of the bottle or a groove in the side of the bottle. Typical liquid bottles consist of a cylindrical plastic container with an opening on top for filling that is less than about half the diameter of the container. A plastic cap containing a spout that opens and closes snaps over the opening.
The small diameter opening of the typical liquid bottle can make filling and cleaning difficult, and usually prevents a user from putting ice into the container. The spout is difficult to open and close because of its small size. Even when the spout is closed, the spout and cap can leak liquid when the bottle is inverted, squeezed, or shaken. Because ordinary liquid bottles cannot contain internal pressure, they are unsuitable for carrying carbonated beverages. Additionally, the bottle may be difficult to grasp without slipping, especially when it is wet or the hands of the rider are wet with perspiration.

Pressure holding liquid bottle for mounting on a bicycle


An alloy for use in jewelry applications is provided that has a composition comprising about 45 to about 55 platinum by weight and about 55 to about 45 percent palladium by weight. The alloy possesses favorable characteristics as compared to pure platinum and pure palladium. Due to these characteristics, the alloy is attractive for use in jewelry applications.

In the jewelry trade the main competitor to platinum, in terms of advantageous physical and chemical properties, is white gold. Gold is not only the name of a precious metal; it is also its color. In addition, in order to comply with Quality Mark Standards and Trade Descriptions Acts in various parts of the world, there are strict limits on what may be described as standard platinum. The British Hallmarking Act, for instance, defines hallmarkable platinum as an alloy or mixture with a composition of not less than 95% of the element platinum, with no negative tolerance. In some countries, a small proportion of the 'platinum' may actually consist of platinum group metals. Thus, "standard platinum" can vary in its properties, which properties are normally a function of the composition of pure platinum, including color. Of course, in jewelry applications, a subjective property, such as color, can be important in a commercial context.
Recently there has been increased interest in defining what qualifies as white gold and a code of practice is under international discussion. Several white metals may bleach the 'yellow' color from gold but the resulting alloy must also meet Quality Mark Standards. It is generally impractical to make an acceptable white gold above 18 carat, while it is easier at 14 carat and easier still at 9 carat. Eighteen carat white gold is probably the strongest competitor to platinum and so the comparative color of white gold is of considerable interest. Some of the 18 carat white golds have at least a slight yellow tinge. The code of practice relies on a color analyzer under standardized conditions and calibrated against a standard white tile surface to determine the spectrum of white color light components. For white gold, they are then converted to a 'yellowness index;' a high value being evidently yellow, and a low, or near-zero, value being neutral white. The values obtained also depend on the reflectance of the surface which, in turn, depends on texture.
Another important factor in the utility of white gold is the hardness value. The harder the material, the easier it is to polish and the better the polish holds with wear. However, one skilled in the art would realize that often a harder material will prove more difficult to work. Hard materials tend to be brittle and will break or shatter when bent or flexed. Therefore, a platinum alloy having a high tensile strength, while maintaining a reasonable working level of ductility would be highly desirable. Ductility is reported as the percent elongation to break. Typically, for a material to be able to fold in half (double back on itself) repeatedly, a percent elongation to break of 50% or greater is needed.
Currently, there is still a need in the art for a platinum alloy that can compete with white gold.


The invention relates to a rapid clamping system (50), comprising a clamping housing (12), with a piston (18) acted on from one side by springs (15) and which may be pressurised from the other side, with an actuator (60) arranged on the piston (18) to follow the piston movement, with at least one clamping bolt (32) arranged to be displaced perpendicular to the piston axis (28), in a working coupling acting in both directions of displacement with the actuator (60) by means of an inclined guide (52), whereby, with the springs (16) extended, the clamping bolt (32) takes up a locking position for locking a clamping pin (14) which may be introduced in the clamping housing (12) and which adopts an unlocking position for removal of the clamping pin (14) on corresponding pressurization of the piston (18). The invention is characterized in that the inclined guide (52) has an irregular guide contour (54) with varying angles of inclination (α, β, γ, δ) relative to the piston axis (28) to achieve varying translation ratios.

The invention concerns a rapid clamping system with a clamping receptacle, comprising a piston which is loaded from one side by springs and may be pressurized from the other side, an actuator arranged on the piston to follow the piston movement, at least one clamping bolt arranged to be displaced, in particular, at least substantially perpendicular to the piston axis and motionally coupled to the actuator in both directions of motion via an inclined guide on the clamping bolt side, wherein, with the springs extended, the clamping bolt assumes a locking position for locking a clamping pin which may be introduced in the clamping receptacle and which adopts an unlocking position for removal of the clamping pin when the piston is pressurized.
The Assignee distributes rapid clamping systems of this type with the designation "SCHUNK UNILOCK". FIG. 1 shows a conventional rapid clamping system of this type, designated with reference numeral 10. The rapid clamping system has a clamping receptacle 12 comprising a clamping pin 14. Moreover, a piston 18 is provided which can be loaded on one side by springs 16, wherein the piston comprises rigidly disposed actuators 20 in the form of guiding pins, which are disposed at an inclination. The piston 18 is held in its upper end position (shown in FIG. 1) by the spring elements 16 and is loaded in the direction of the arrow 26. The springs 16 are thereby supported on a tension bolt 24 screwed into the basic housing 22. The housing 22 comprises clamping bolts 32 which are guided perpendicularly to the piston axis 28 along the axis 30, having an elongated shape in the direction of their respective axis 30. The clamping bolts 32 also have an inclined guide 34 into which the respective actuator 20 is immersed with positive fit.
The partial section of FIG. 1 shows only one clamping bolt 32 and one spring element 16. The cylindrical housing 22 comprises a total of two diametrically disposed clamping bolts 32 and, in particular, eight symmetrically distributed springs 16.
FIG. 1 shows the locking position of the rapid clamping system 10, wherein the springs 16 are deflected and the piston is in its upper end position, whereby the clamping bolts 32 are in their radially inner locking position via the actuators 20 and the inclined guides 34. In this locking position, the clamping pin 14 with circumferential groove 36 is held in the clamping receptacle 12 via locking projections 38 which are disposed on the radial inner side of the clamping bolts 32.
For removing the clamping pin 14 from the clamping receptacle 12, the pressure chamber 40, located between the basic housing 22 and the piston 18, is pressurized in a downward direction against the spring force of the springs 16 in the direction of arrow 42. Due to the actuators 20 which are rigidly disposed on the piston 18 and engage in the inclined guides 34, the clamping bolts 32 are moved in a radial outward direction into their unlocking position. The clamping pin 14 is thereby released and can be removed from the clamping receptacle.
It is advantageous to provide clamping bolts which are guided in the radial direction in that the clamping pin can be held in the clamping receptacle even under high loads, in particular, high tilting moments. The clamping pin can be released from the clamping receptacle only when forces act in a radial direction on the clamping bolt. In prior art, the force that keeps the clamping bolts in a radial direction in their locking position depends on the spring force of the springs to be provided. Depending on the spring constant of the springs to be used, this force may vary. If a high force is required, the springs must have a corresponding stiffness. This is disadvantageous in that, for opening the rapid clamping system, a correspondingly high pressure must be provided in the pressure chamber 40.
There are further conventional rapid clamping systems, which utilize clamping balls instead of clamping bolts. DE 103 17 336 A1 discloses, for example, such a rapid clamping system. However, the use of balls is problematic, since it is not possible to transfer high tilting moments of the clamping pin in the clamping receptacle. Due to the spherical surface of the balls, these tend not to prevent an undesired deflection of the clamping pin out of the clamping receptacle. The conventional clamping bolts of the applicant transmit higher tilting moments.
There are also conventional rapid clamping systems with which the clamping elements are moved in an axial and radial direction for locking the clamping pin in the clamping receptacle. DE 20 2004 009 283 U1 discloses one example thereof.
It is the underlying purpose of the present invention to advantageously further develop a rapid clamping system as described above, which transmits high tilting moments due to the clamping bolts that are guided to be displaceable in an axial direction. In particular, the locking forces that act in the radial direction via the clamping bolts shall be optimized.

Schunk Gmbh & Co. KG Spann-und Greiftechnik


In one general aspect, a method can include receiving initial content including a total number of data units for storage, identifying a number of data chunks, identifying a size for each of the data chunks, the size for each data chunk indicative of a number of data units for inclusion in the respective data chunk. The method can further include splitting the initial content into the number of data chunks, each data chunk including a portion of the total number of data units included in the initial content, the portion of the total number of data units based on the size of the data chunk, storing each of the data chunks in memory, and compressing the data chunks included in the memory.

A computing system can include a database that stores data in a storage on persistent media, such as a disk drive. In addition or in the alternative, the computing system can store data fully or partially (buffered) in main memory included in the computing system. The amount of data stored in the main memory and/or stored in persistent media can determine the cost of storage.
Various technologies exist that can control storage cost. The technologies can include, but are not limited to, data archiving, data aggregation, data compression or a combination of the various technologies. In some cases, one or more compression algorithms can compress the data stored in a database in order to maximize the number of database records that can be included in a given amount of data storage space. In some cases, however, the data compression can result in the loss of some of the data or in a reduction in the accuracy of the stored data. If the loss of some data or a reduction in data accuracy is unacceptable, data compression rates for the data will then be limited as the data compression rates are dependent on incidences of equal data values within a range of data to be compressed. It may be desirable, therefore, to further increase the amount of data that can be stored in a given amount of data storage space without losing any of the data and/or without reducing the accuracy of the stored data.

Splitting-based approach to control data and storage growth in a computer system


A deflection yoke for a CRT (cathode ray tube), including a flat wire to compensate for the convergence and upper and lower raster distortions of the electron beams, thereby forming images of high quality, and a method of making the deflection yoke. The deflection yoke has a horizontal coil adjacent the cathode ray tube, a vertical coil at least partially surrounding a ferrite core, a holder between the horizontal and vertical coils for electrically insulating the horizontal and vertical coils from one another, and a flat wire coupled to the holder for correcting convergence errors.

A. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a deflection yoke for a CRT (cathode ray tube), including a device for correcting misconvergence and upper and lower raster distortions of the electron beams, thereby forming images of high quality.
B. Description of the Prior Art
A conventional CRT, as shown in FIG. 1, comprises a panel 2 having an RGB fluorescent film 1 on the inner surface, a funnel 3 fused to the rear end of the panel 2, electron guns 5 sealed in the neck 4 of the fumnel 3, a deflection yoke 6 for deflecting electron beams generated from the electron guns 5 onto the whole surface of the fluorescent film 1, and a shadow mask 7 installed in the panel 2 and having a plurality of holes so as for the deflected electron beams to pass through.
The deflection yoke 6 is composed of a horizontal deflection coil 8 for horizontally deflecting the electron beams generated from the electron guns 5, a vertical deflection coil 9 for vertically deflecting the electron beams, a conical ferrite core 10 to enhance the magnetic efficiency by reducing the loss of magnetic force generated from the horizontal and vertical deflection coils 8 and 9, and a holder 11 fixing horizontal and vertical deflection coils 8 and 9 and ferrite core 10 at defined positions and isolating the horizontal deflection coil from the vertical one 9.
As shown in FIG. 6, the horizontal coil 8 consists of a main coil 81, and an auxiliary coil 12 that is independently formed between the middle and opening portions of the main coil 81. As shown in FIG. 2, the auxiliary coil 12 is positioned between the middle and opening portions on the inner surface of the holder 11, generating a local horizontal defection magnetic field.
Below describes the operation of the conventional deflection yoke as constructed above.
When the CRT is activated with power, electron guns (not shown) generate electron beams, which are deflected by the deflection yoke 6.
As mounted on the inner surface of the holder 11 and affected by the horizontal deflection magnetic field, the auxiliary coil 12 generates the magnetic field which forms a second magnetic field in such a direction that would oppose the horizontal deflection magnetic field generated by the main coil 81 of the horizontal deflection coil 8 according to the Lenz's law (the magnetic field induced by the current is in a direction that the current it would produce compensates for the change which causes the induced magnetic field). Consequently, the whole horizontal deflection magnetic field a' forms a local, horizontal deflection pin magnetic field b', as shown in FIG. 3.
Where convergence errors occur as shown in (a) of FIG. 4, the horizontal deflection pin magnetic field compensates for the convergence errors of the horizontal, red and blue beams R and B, so that the red and blue beams correspond with each other as shown in (b) of FIG. 4.
With upper and lower raster distortions errors as shown in (a) of FIG. 5, the horizontal deflection pin magnetic field compensates for the upper and lower distortion errors on the screen to be correspondence with each other as shown in (b) of FIG. 5.
Such a conventional deflection yoke for CRTs has an auxiliary coil that is made by winding a copper wire of the same type as the main coil of the horizontal deflection coil with a desired number of turns by use of an auxiliary coil-winding die, applying currents to both ends of the coil so as to melt the adhesive layer deposited on the surface of the copper coil, forming a desired shape of the auxiliary coil, and making a closed circuit by peeling the coating off the auxiliary coil at both ends and connecting both naked ends by a soldering step. The complexity of this process for making an auxiliary coil increases the number of processes and also requires a separate winding machine, with a consequence of an increase in production cost for the auxiliary coil and profit reduction of companies.
While the auxiliary coil is formed with uniform internal profile by the aid of a winding die the external profile of the auxiliary coil may be adversely affected by the state of winding. This affects the deflection magnetic field generated from the auxiliary coil for its intensity and profile, which leads to misconvergence and deviation of raster distortion on the screen.
In an installation the auxiliary coil is too inflexible to mount in accordance with the curvature of the inner surface of the holder, which also causes the above problems with the misconvergence and deviation of raster distortion on the screen.

Deflection yoke for cathode ray tube and method of making thereof


An automatic feed paper shredder with an improved paper pressing mechanism, including a paper shredding device, openable flip covers and elastic supports, wherein one side of the flip cover is hinged to the paper shredding device; the flip cover are disposed above the paper shredding device; a paper placing platform and a paper inlet opening are disposed on the top of the paper shredding device; automatic paper winders are disposed at both sides of the paper inlet opening; a pressboard is disposed at the bottom of each flip cover; and one side of each elastic support is connected with the flip cover and the other side of each elastic support is connected with the flip cover and the other side of each elastic support is connected with the pressboard.

In the prior art, due to the requirement of information privacy, paper shredders are produced for the enhancement of information privacy. However, in the case of a large amount of paper required to be shredded, users need to manually feed documents and the like into the paper shredders, which wastes a lot of time, and consequently automatic paper feed shredders are produced.
An automatic paper shredder comprises a flip cover, wherein a pressboard is disposed at the bottom of the flip cover; and a compression spring is disposed between the pressboard and the flip cove. Pressure is applied to the pressboard by the compression spring and the pressboard presses and covers paper on a paper placing platform of the shredder after the flip cover of the shredder is closed and applies pressure to the paper, so that the paper at the bottom of the paper placing platform can be winded into a paper inlet opening by an automatic paper winder of the shredder.
Moreover, as the elastic force of the compression spring is in direct proportion with the deformation length of the compression spring, the pressure applied to the paper with different thicknesses on the paper placing platform by the pressboard is different. In the case of thin paper, the pressure applied to the paper by the pressboard is very low, which is unfavorable for the automatic paper winder to wind the paper into the paper inlet opening. In the case of thick paper, the pressure applied to the paper by the pressboard is very large, which is also unfavorable for the automatic paper winder to wind the paper into the paper inlet opening. Therefore, the automatic paper feed shredder in the prior art must be improved.

Automatic feed paper shredder with improved paper pressing mechanism


A ring valve assembly for use in a reciprocating type fluid pump with a piston cylinder and a cylinder head includes a ring valve having a fluid seal surface for selectively closing a fluid passage of a cylinder head and an annular ring retainer having a fulcrum edge and tapered top surface. The retainer is positioned beneath the ring valve and a slight clearance is designed in such that the ring valve experiences as a first stage of movement/deflection slight vertical travel. Continued operation of the fluid pump results in a second stage of deflection where the ring valve deflects into a frustoconical shape and lays against the tapered surface of the retainer, pivoting about the fulcrum edge.

The present invention relates generally to valves for controlling fluid flow that operate to permit and disrupt fluid flow automatically, and more particularly to ring-type valve structures used as air inlet valves and exhaust valves in high pressure gas compressors and fluid pumps. Specifically, the present invention relates to an improvement in the ring valve structures described in co-pending United States Letters patent application Ser. No. 07/278,225, filed Nov. 30, 1988 by inventors Jerre F. Lauterbach, Nathan Ritchie and Richard F. Miller entitled "RING VALVE TYPE AIR COMPRESSOR", and owned by the assignee of the present application, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,022,832.
Ring type valves per se are well known in the art, and have a wide acceptance in use for air compressors and pumps Basically, these ring type valves are opened and closed by pressure differential on opposite sides of the ring valve. It is also heretofore known to include biasing of spring devices along with such ring valves in order to accurately control valve movement upon a pressure differential which is above the spring force of the spring selected in each case. In this way, the valve is opened or closed only upon reaching a pre-determined pressure differential dependent on the spring properties of the spring chosen and the mass of the valve, wherein the valve action can be predicted. The said U.S. Letters patent application No. 07/728,225 (issued Jun. 11, 1991 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,022,832 was directed to solving certain problems in the prior art as exemplified by constructions such as those shown in Herzmark, U.S. Pat. No. 2,382,716 issued Aug. 14, 1945; Peters, U.S. Pat. No. 1,225,321 issued Apr. 10, 1917; and Garland, U.S. Pat. No. 3,786,834 issued Jan. 22, 1974. Such constructions generally disclose use of spring washers that are freely supported to bias the ring valves in a desired position. This type of spring washer and ring valve assembly requires additional supporting structure to retain the spring washer, which decreases the efficiency of the air compressor by lowering the compression volume of each cylinder at the end of the suction stroke, and increases the cost, weight, and complexity of the valve assembly. The said co-pending U.S. Letters patent application Ser. No. 07/278,225 (Pat. No. 5,022,832) solved those problems of the prior references by providing a biasing means for the ring valve having a peripheral region which is connected to the fluid pump to retain the ring valve between the cylinder head and the bias means, and thus eliminate the additional supporting structure and the decreased efficiency of the prior devices.
However, it has been found that in certain applications, because of air turbulence and the like, some problems have arisen in such improved device, such as the ring valves taking on a "spinning" action, and becoming worn due to resonance conditions causing the ring valve to impact the valve seat with excessive force and becoming dented about the regions of contact between the valve seat and the ring valve, and thus, eventually, causing a leaky condition. Thus, additional improvements and invention are needed to solve those problems.
One approach followed in the patent to Cooper, U.S. Pat. No. 2,728,351, issued Dec. 27, 1955, was to machine the cylinder block and liner with a tapered surface and to position the ring valve such that its deflection into a conical or frustoconical form is limited by the tapered surface. One drawback with this approach is the cost and risk of a machining error which could cause the entire cylinder block and/or liner to become scrap. Another drawback is the size-limited nature of the ring valve. As the cylinder bore size changes the ring valve must change so that its size matches the size of the tapered surface which changes as the bore size changes.
In one embodiment of the present invention the first drawback is overcome by the use of a separate retainer. The retainer provides the tapered surface to be used as a back up for the ring valve deflection, but is a lower cost piece that does not require special machining of the cylinder block and liner. If a machining error is made in the retainer, a lower cost part is scrap and the cylinder block and liner are not affected. In the present invention the same retainer can be used with differently sized bores, such as a 35/8" bore as well as a 37/8" bore. Thus greater versatility is provided by the present invention.

Ring valve type air compressor with deformable ring valves


A power semiconductor module includes a substrate with a metallization layer; at least one power semiconductor chip bonded to the substrate; and a mold encapsulation partially encapsulating the semiconductor chip and the substrate; the mold encapsulation includes at least one window exposing a terminal area of the metallization layer; and a border part of the mold encapsulation between the window and a border of the substrate has a height over the substrate smaller than a maximal height of a central part of the mold encapsulation.

Power semiconductor modules containing solid-state semiconductor switches, such as IGBTs or MOSFETs, arc used in various power electronics applications to switch or rectify electric currents. An important and fast growing application are converter systems for electric or hybrid electric vehicles. A typical module for such applications may have a voltage rating of up to 1200 V and a current rating of several hundred amperes.
Usually, a power semiconductor module requires multiple electrical terminals, by which the DC and AC load currents are connected to an external busbar. Auxiliary signal terminals, such as for controlling the gates of the semiconductor chips in the module, are connected to an external gate driver circuit board.
The power terminals are preferably made of Cu and may need to provide enough cross-section to carry currents on the order of several hundreds of Amperes. Common solutions for power terminals include screw connection to an external busbar or leadframe terminals which are welded to an external busbar. For the load connections of lower-power modules, as well as the auxiliary connections, pins soldered into through-holes of a circuit board, press-fit pins, or spring connections may be used.
All these solutions have in common, that metallic connectors are sticking out of the power semiconductor module. This may result in several limitations for a transfer-molded power semiconductor module with leadframe terminals.
Usually, the leadframe terminals can only be in one plane, which is the sealing plane of the two parts of the mold and only may be attached to the periphery of a substrate of the power semiconductor module. This may limit the freedom regarding the terminal and substrate design, and may also prohibit a further size reduction of the module, in case many terminals are needed.
Furthermore, using multiple leadframes of different thicknesses and/or materials may be challenging regarding a sealing of the mold. However, different leadframes may be needed for power and auxiliary connections in order to achieve a sufficient cross-section of the power terminals and press-fit connections for the auxiliary terminals.
Terminals sticking out at the side of a power semiconductor module may impose limitations on an attachment of the module to a cooler: Access to the interface between baseplate and cooler may be needed from the top, which may be obstructed by the leadframe terminals.
Additionally, two bonding processes are usually required for the terminals: Firstly, bonding of the terminals to the substrate and, secondly, bonding of the terminals to an external busbar.
US 2015/0145123 A1 shows a power semiconductor module with pins mounted to a substrate that is covered by a molding part with pin insertion openings.
US 2015/0103498 A1 shows a power module package with an electrode attached to a module, which is arranged in an opening in an encapsulation member.
DE 10 2015 112 451 A1 shows a power module, which has a housing with openings that provide access to an electrode of a semiconductor chip on a substrate and to a metallization layer on the substrate.
DE 10 2008 001 413 A1 shows a power module, which has a housing made of mold material. The thickness of the mold material over a substrate with a semiconductor chip is adapted to the height of electrically conducting parts of the power module on the substrate.
DE 10 2008 045 615 A1 shows a power module with windows in a molded housing. A conducting plate is attached to the top of the housing and terminals in the windows interconnect a metallization layer of the power module with the conducting plate.
EP 3 089 209 A1 shows a power module with a cooling body provided in a cavity.

Resin encapsulated power semiconductor module with exposed terminal areas


The present invention relates to a method in which a personal network element (PNE) forming a PN requests a converged personal network service (CPNS) to set up a new personal network (PN) on the basis of PN usage information. The method is performed by the PNE and includes: transmitting, to a PN gateway (PN GW), a message requesting the generation of PN usage information on a currently set PN; and receiving a generation response message including the result of generating the PN usage information corresponding to the generation request message. The PN usage information is created by the CPNS server on the basis of the generation request message and is stored in a PN usage information list of the CPSN. The PN usage information includes a PN usage information index, a PN alias, an expiry, a PN identifier (ID), a PN GW ID, and a PNE ID. The method further includes: transmitting, to the PN GW, a message requesting the setting of a PN using PN usage information corresponding to a new PN, in order to set the new PN and not the currently set PN; and receiving, from the PN GW, a message responding to setting the PN including a response to the PN setting request message, wherein a PN inventory of the CPNS server may be updated by the CPNS on the basis of selected PN usage information.

Among a variety of techniques, Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) or ZigBee focuses on service discovery and service use between devices within a specific Personal Area Network (PAN), whereas tethering focuses on connectivity between heterogeneous networks.
Unlike the simple PAN, the concept of CPNS has been introduced.
In the CPNS, devices can belong to a PN (or PAN) and receive various services.
The CPNS is implemented by a CPNS server, a CPNS GateWay (CPNS GW) (or a PN GateWay (PN GW)), and a CPNS device (or a PN Element (PNE)). Besides, a general server, general devices, etc. may exist for the CPNS.
The CPNS is provided based on a PN formed with a set of devices. A CPNS GW is deployed in the PN and services of the devices belonging to the PN are registered to the CPNS server through the CPNS GW. Thus a device that provides a specific service may be searched for in the CPNS server and an external device may share the specific service provided by the device based on the search.
The CPNS GW connects the PN to another network. A CPNS device is a member of the PN. One or more devices may form one PN.
FIG. 1 is an exemplary view illustrating the concept of the CPNS. A content server, a CPNS server, a PN GW, and PNEs are shown in FIG. 1.
The CPNS server may communicate with one or more PN GWs and may transmit data to or receive data from the PN GWs. The CPNS server may exchange data with one or more CPNS devices within PNs (or PANs) through the PN GWs by communication. Each of the PNEs may transmit data to or receive data from one or more other PNEs or general devices through a CPNS GW. A PN GW may transmit data to or receive data from the CPNS server, a PN GW belonging to another PN, or a PNE by communication.
The CPNS server may transmit data to or receive data from a general server and a PN GW by communication. For example, the CPNS server and the PN GW may communicate with each other through a cellular network and the PN GW and a PNE may communicate with each other by short-range communication such as Bluetooth, Near Field Communication (NFC), ZigBee, Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), etc.
The CPNS server may manage and control communication between a PN GW and a PNE. The resulting exchange of applications and information may increase user experience. For example, in FIG. 1, a user may acquire location information from another PNE (e.g., a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver) through one of PNEs, for example, a PNE that does not have a location measurement function, may transmit the location information to the CPNS server through the PN GW, and may receive a location-based service from the CPNS server. In this manner, if there is a PNE having a function that another PNE does not have in the same PN, a user may receive various services through various PNEs of the PN by the CPNS.
The CPNS supports two models: a client-server model in which a server provides a service to a PNE under management of a CPNS server and a peer-to-peer model in which different PNs are combined.
In the client-server model that is basically considered, the coverage of a service provided to a mobile phone PN GW1 over a cellular network can be expanded to other devices PNE1 to PNE3 connected to PN GW1. The PNEs may receive various services provided by a content server (or an application server) through PN GW1.
There is a conventional PN setup method in which each time a PN is set up, a user should perform a procedure of connecting a PN GW to PNEs and establishing a PN from the beginning step by step in order to set up the PN. Or a desired PN may be set up only by inviting a desired additional entity other than entities (a PN GW and a PNE) of a current PN to the current PN or removing a corresponding entity from the current PN. That is, there is no function of returning to a previous PN setup state using previous PN information or searching for frequently used PN information.

Method of setting PN on the basis of personal network usage information in heterogeneous network


A hanger for hanging an object on a vertical surface includes a plate with a front face and a back face. The back face is to abut a vertical surface onto which the object is to be hung. The hanger includes a first hook and a second hook protruding outward from the front face and an integrated bubble level fixably coupled to the front face and calibrated to indicate a horizontal orientation of the first hook relative to the second hook. A plurality of wall contacts protrudes outward from the front face. Each wall contact includes an opening through which an attachment mechanism traverses to attach the plate to the vertical surface. The hanger does not require the object to have a specifically shaped counterpart in order to interface with the hanger. The hanger removes the need for elaborate and/or time-consuming measuring, thus saving the user time and frustration.

The hanging of objects onto a vertical surface is often accomplished with a simple apparatus such as a nail, screw or other protrusion extending from the vertical surface upon which the object is hung using an attachment means affixed to the object. The object in this simple method is hung using only a single nail, screw, or other protrusion and is therefore subject to limitations with respect to size and weight and is also subject to periodic realignment due to a gimbal effect. Innumerable variants of this simple method strive to improve on this approach but have failed to address the fundamental requirements of simplicity and effectiveness and either fail to work without specialized custom fittings attached to the object for interface to the hanging apparatus or for additional support, or to permanently affix the object to a fixed level such that it cannot conform optically to its surroundings.
In a modern variant to the simple method above, a single wall-mounted hook used to hang the object on the vertical surface has multiple nails securing it to the surface, seeking to address the need for greater strength and adherence to the vertical surface.
In another variant to this simple approach, particularly for large or heavy objects, two attachment means are affixed to the frame; one on either side of the object to be hung. This approach also requires that two hanging apparatus (nail, screw, etc.) be affixed to the vertical surface on a completely level plane, thereby requiring precise measurement from the floor or ceiling or a separate leveling apparatus and precise placement of both hanging apparatus on the frame.
In one existing approach, a frame hanging apparatus attaches to a universal c-shaped cross section which opens outwardly to the rear of the frame, with a removable spirit level and/or alignment marks to facilitate a permanent level-orientation against the vertical surface. This type of apparatus requires strict alignment between two otherwise separate components; one attached to the object to be hung and the other on the vertical surface. This approach is known in the art as a French Cleat. The variant assumes a shape and dimensions conforming to the back-side of the universal assembly channels found in the typical modern metal picture frame or difficult alignment of the object to be drilled into a wood frame.
In another existing approach, a customized part is to be attached to the frame if the backside does not conform to the universal assembly channels found in the typical modern metal frame. The attachment to the frame is exclusively the top horizontal rail of such fame, thereby exerting all downward force upon the upper rail of the frame, practically requiring additional support from customized objects attached elsewhere on the frame, typically in support of the bottom rail.
In yet another existing approach, multipart apparatus requires a variety of customized additional parts to be affixed to a frame in order to make the frame or other object compatible with the apparatus attached to the wall. The frame or other object is permanently oriented to a level position on the wall by way of the uniquely shaped and compatible two parts to the apparatus.
These existing approaches are difficult to use or level, lack flexibility with respect to size and weight, rely on single-hook solutions, or are cumbersome and costly. There exists a need for an improved apparatus and method for hanging an object on a vertical surface that are easy to use or level, do not require multiple parts, and do not require special affixations to the object.

Apparatus and methods for hanging objects on a vertical surface


An adaptable blind for ladder stands and tree stands includes a platform that secures to a tree stand or ladder stand associated platform. A frame is assembled upon the platform and includes a plurality of upwardly extending and arcuately configured poles, these collectively establishing a superstructure which defines a three dimensional interior. A cover is assembled over the frame and encloses the interior, at least one access location in the cover material permitting a user to ingress and egress to and from the interior. A combination seat and ladder can be separately provided and which is both secured to the tree or pole as well as supported upon or against the platform.

The present invention is documented with numerous examples of tree blind and collapsible shelter designs. The objective of such articles and assemblies is typically in providing some degree of either environmental shielding/insulation to the occupant, as well as further providing either or both of camouflage for shielding the occupant's presence, as well as providing for easy manipulation of weaponry (e.g. long barreled firearms and bows) carried by the occupant.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,933,019, issued to Peruski, teaches a version of a collapsible portable shelter including a plurality of cover supporting frame bars pivotally mounted at one end of a central hub, this further including vertically spaced apart plates. The frame bars include inverted L shaped support bars, each with a generally vertical and ground supporting leg and in integral and generally horizontal base received between the upper plates. This enables a terminal end of the horizontal base to be pivotally mounted in an aperture provided in one of the plates and, in combination with a recess arrangement defined in the other plates and the incorporation of a spring mechanism urging the plates together, facilitates holding the horizontal members within their defined recesses, but allowing the members to be rotated between stowed (side-by-side) and angularly disposed (spread apart) positions consistent with the pattern of the recesses.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,089,245, issued to Tseytlin, discloses a collapsible sun shade with hinged arms. The arms support a flexible sheet with a hub generally positioned at its center, and further such that the distal ends of the arms are connected to the sheet to support the same when the arms are spread apart.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,246,630, issued to Ransom, teaches a pre-assembled and collapsible tree stand hunting blind which folds into a compact package, and utilizing coil-able steel frame members which may be collapsed. The enclosure is adapted to be attached to the trunk of a tree and to an associated platform, such as a hunters tree stand. The enclosure is further provided with camouflage elements to render the user relatively invisible to game in the surrounding environment. Reference is also made to the collapsible structure with top supporting elements in Ransom U.S. Pat. No. 7,137,399.
Additional references of note include each of the versatile hunting or animal watching blind in Hanson 2006/0249640, the hunting blind and method of use in Maddox U.S. Pat. No. 7,182,091 and the hunting stand and blind in Hodnett U.S. Pat. No. 6,510,922.

Adaptable tree blind for ladder strand and tree stands


Provided herein is a conjugate comprising two residues of structurally and/or mechanistically different anticancer bioactive agents, coupled to one another by a biocleavable linking moiety, as well as methods of treating cancer using the same and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same.

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to pharmaceuticals and, more particularly, but not exclusively, to a class of active agent conjugates that exhibit synergistic anticancer activity.
Administration of drug combinations is a promising therapeutic strategy to enhance the effectiveness of the treatment and overcome the limitation of the utility of many potential drugs. Combined drug treatment is mostly used in cancer therapy and antimicrobial treatment with expectation to afford therapeutic effect at lower doses to lessen side-effects and toxicity, and in addition to overcome development of drug resistance and improve specificity of synergistic combinations towards specific biological systems.
In addition to drug combinations as mixtures, researchers also utilize chemical conjugation to gain drug synergism, wherein drugs or molecular pharmacophores were linked covalently to form molecular conjugates with optimized potency.
This strategy has been pursued in recent years to overcome bacterial resistance to antibiotic drugs, by employing a combination of two different antibiotic drugs in one 30 molecule, wherein each drug moiety is designed to bind independently to different biological targets and synchronously accumulate at both target sites. Such dual action drugs, also referred to as hybrid drugs or conjugate drugs, offer the possibility to overcome current resistance. In addition, these conjugate drugs may reduce the appearance of new resistant strains [Bremner, J B. et al., Curr Med Chem, 2007, 14(13), 1459-77; and Hubschwerlen, C., et al., Bioorg Med Chem, 2003. 11(10), p. 2313-9].
A similar approach was implemented in anticancer drugs in an attempt to increase efficacy while reducing non-specific toxicity and combat multiple drug resistance [Leese M P. et al., Chem. Commun., 2010, 46, 2907-2909; Leese M. P. et al., Chem Med Chem., 2014 9(1), 85-108; Stengel, C. et al., British Journal of Cancer, 2014, 111, 300-308; Uecker, A. et al., Anticancer Drugs, 2010, 21(8), 759-65; Harrap, K R. et al., European Journal of Cancer, 1977, 13(8), 873-881; Monnerat, C., et al., J. National Cancer Institute, 1997, 89(2), 173-174; and Kryczka, T. et al., Anti-Cancer Drugs, 2007, 18(3), 301-310].
Additional background art includes WO 2003/040104, WO 2009/037592, WO 2003/044034, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008300199, U.S. Pat. No. 7,973,022, Pokrovskaya, V. et al., J. Med. Chem., 2009, 52, 2243-2254.


The invention relates to remotely controlling a number of devices on an instrument mounted on a rotating assembly without physical contact to the assembly. A series of infrared light-emitting diodes mounted in a stationary ring configuration are placed around (but not directly touching) the rotating assembly to send control signals to infrared receiver devices located on the assembly. The rotating assembly might be the turret of a conventional Common Remotely Operated Weapons Station (CROWS), the invention to replace convention internal slip-ring providing power and control to a gun on the CROWS. The infrared data links of this invention do not inhibit the movement of the rotating assembly, and further are not susceptible to radio-jamming by electronic warfare countermeasures. Additionally, the invention includes a mount that allows auxiliary devices with Picatinny Rails™ to also be attached to such a CROWS turret.

The invention relates to remotely controlling a number of devices mounted on rotating instrument assemblies without requiring direct physical contact to such rotating assemblies. An example of such a situation is the gun on the Kongsberg Common Remotely Operated Weapons Station ("CROWS"). In past practice, one could install a slip-ring system of electrical contacts, on the rotating assembly for passing control wires. Additionally, one could also use an RF system for remote control. The former method requires physical contact between the rotating assembly and its surroundings, possibly limiting its movement, and requires the slip-ring to be placed exactly coincident with the axis of rotation. The latter method is susceptible to radio-jamming by electronic warfare countermeasures. There has therefore been a need for a means to remotely controlling a number of devices mounted on rotating instrument assemblies without physical contact and which is also not easily vulnerable to electronic warfare countermeasures.

Infrared light means for remotely controlling devices on a rotating weapon assembly, without physical contact

The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Army


A method of thermally removing binder from porous compacts pressed from metallic or ceramic materials using atmospheric pressure and binder-free compacts produced therefrom.

The invention is directed to a method of thermally removing binder from porous compacts pressed from metallic or ceramic materials using atmospheric pressure. The invention is further directed to binder-free compacts produced with the method.
Porous, sintered powder metallurgy and ceramic compacts have been used for many years for a wide variety of applications, including fluid filters (for both liquids and gases), oil mist eliminators, catalyst beds, electrolytic lightning arresters, electrodes for gas lighting and strobe light tubes, for oil-impregnated bearing surfaces, and for electrolytic capacitor anodes.
While some metal powders and a few ceramic powders can be pressed to significantly less than the theoretical densities of the materials without the use of a binder to help hold the pressed compacts together, most materials cannot be so-compacted successfully. Because of the poor strength of powder metallurgy or ceramic material compacts pressed at sufficiently low densities to yield significant pressed-compact porosity, most compacts pressed from these materials contain a binder which aids in increasing the pressed-compact strength prior to a sintering operation. Binders also act to lubricate the punches and dies during the pressing operation, thereby extending tooling life and minimizing downtime for press repairs/tooling changes. The presence of a binder within the pores of a powder metallurgy or ceramic compact also helps to provide an open pore structure at a given as-pressed density, resulting in effectively increased compact porosity.
For many applications, such as filters, bearings, oil mist eliminators, and gas tube electrodes, a small amount of binder decomposition products retained within the bodies of the sintered compacts presents no problem with respect to the end use of the sintered compacts. For other applications, such as catalyst beds or electrolytic capacitor anodes, binder residues, usually present as carbon or metallic carbides, present significant problems with respect to the end use of the sintered compacts. The residual carbon contamination resulting from binder decomposition/reaction tends to give rise to flaws in the anodic oxide films grown on sintered valve metal compacts used as electrolytic capacitor anodes, for example, leading to increased leakage current and short-circuit failures of the finished devices containing flawed dielectric oxide films. Although there appears not to be a threshold value for carbon contamination for tantalum anodes, for example (i.e., there does not seem to be a carbon content from binder residuals below which there is no problem and above which the onset of problems is observed), it is generally agreed upon by those in the industry that carbon should be below 100 ppm in sintered tantalum anodes and preferably as low as possible.
The highly variable purity requirements for sintered compacts, depending on the end use of the parts, has led to the use of a wide variety of binder materials. Powder metallurgy or ceramic powder compacts for those applications not requiring a low residual post-sintering carbon content are frequently pressed with binders such as paraffin, polyethylene Glycol 8000, glyptal-brand glycerine polyester, etc. For those applications requiring low residual post-sintering carbon levels, but where the particle size of the material is relatively coarse (e.g., 10 microns and larger) and the material is of a relatively inert nature (bronze, stainless steel, etc.), the above binders are still found to have merit.
For applications involving reactive materials and having low post-sintering residual carbon requirements such as tantalum powder metallurgy electrolytic capacitor anodes, there has been an ongoing search for binders having lubricity during the pressing operation and sufficiently high vapor pressure for ready removal at elevated temperatures.
One binder material used for many years in the fabrication of tantalum electrolytic capacitor anodes is ethylene diamine bis-disteramide, sold under the brand name xe2x80x9cAcrawaxxe2x80x9d (manufactured by the Lonza Corp.) With tantalum powders having low to medium surface area, e.g., 25,000 microfarad volts/gram or approx. 0.25 square meters/gram (sintered surface area), vacuum distillation at temperatures of up to 400xc2x0 C. or more will reduce the residual binder content to the point that a post-sintering anode carbon content below 100 ppm is readily achievable.
As the demand for higher surface area tantalum powders (for purposes of economy and volumetric efficiency) has led to the introduction of powders having surface areas (in the sintered state) in excess of 0.5 square meter per gram and CV products in excess of 50,000 micro farad volts (micro coulombs) per gram, it has become increasingly more difficult to reduce the residual post sintering carbon content to acceptable levels. Traditional binders, such as Acrawax , stearic acid, camphor, etc., partially decompose during vacuum distillation from high surface area tantalum powders, resulting in post-sintering carbon levels in excess of 100 ppm.
In the production environment found in the powder metallurgy electrolytic capacitor industry, it has proven impractical to press high surface area tantalum and other valve metals and valve metal compounds (such as nitrides and suboxides, etc.) into capacitor anode compacts without binder due to the dust generation, abrasive wear, and inadequate pressed compact strength associated with binderless pressing. The problem of adequate removal of binders, necessary for the efficient pressing of capacitor anodes under production conditions, from high surface area anode compacts has been solved in an ingenious manner by Tripp et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,470,525 describes a method of water leaching of water soluble binders from tantalum anode compacts. This water leaching method of binder removal was extended to water-insoluble acidic binders, such as stearic acid, with the method of using alkali metal hydroxide leach solutions described in PCT No. WO98/38348. This last method suffers from the disadvantage of corrosive attack of the anode bodies if hot and or even mildly concentrated (5%) hydroxide solutions are employed (binder removal is more efficient with hot, concentrated solutions.) In co-pending application, Ser. No. 09/419,893, the problem of anode compact attack by the leaching solution was addressed by the substitution of one or more alkanolamines for the alkali metal hydroxide.
Unfortunately, leaching of capacitor compacts results in partial or total disintegration of the anode bodies when these are pressed from unagglomerated valve material powders. The problem can be overcome through employment of the binder (dimethyl sulfone) and vacuum distillation binder removal method described in our co-pending application Ser. No. 09/397,032.
Although the binder (dimethyl sulfone) and methods of application in the copending application were found to yield minimal residual post-sintering carbon levels with valve metal powders with both water leaching and vacuum distillation binder removal methods, these methods are not ideal from the standpoint of process cost and throughput. Water leaching requires not only a relatively large volume of high purity water, but also a post-leaching drying step to remove the residual water prior to sintering to avoid excessive out gassing during the sintering operation. Vacuum distillation removal of dimethyl sulfone from pressed capacitor anode compacts, while efficient and thorough, requires a closed system capable of withstanding both heat and vacuum, as well a vacuum pump, etc.
The invention is directed to a method of removing a binder, in particular dimethyl sulfone, from pressed compacts, such as anode bodies, comprising heating, preferably to about 100xc2x0 C. and about 350xc2x0 C., the pressed compacts at about atmospheric pressure and circulating or passing a sweep gas over the pressed compacts for a time sufficient to evaporate the binder from the pressed compacts and remove the evaporated binder; wherein the sweep gas is inert to the pressed compacts.
The invention is further directed to the method of removing a binder using nitrogen as the sweep gas.
The invention is further directed to the method of removing a binder using argon as the sweep gas.
The invention is further directed to the method of removing a binder using air as the sweep gas.
The invention is further directed to the binder-free compacts produced using the process of removing a binder described above.
It was discovered that the binder, dimethyl sulfone, can be removed from pressed compacts, such as anode bodies, at atmospheric pressure through the use of heat and an inert cover or xe2x80x9csweepxe2x80x9d gas to both prevent ignition of the anodes and to remove the evaporating binder from the vicinity of the pressed compacts.
Pressed compacts are typically produced from valve metal powders. Suitable valve metals include, but are not limited to, tantalum, niobium, and titanium. Typically, a binder is mixed with the powder prior to pressing and then the powder is pressed to form a compact such as a pellet.
The pressed binder-containing compacts are placed in an oven having inert gas blanketing ability. Preferably, the pressed compacts are placed on an open-frame rack to allow circulation of the atmosphere around the pressed compacts. An inert gas is injected into the oven to provide an inert cover. This inert gas is known as a xe2x80x9csweepxe2x80x9d gas. Depending upon whether the oven is a lab oven or a production oven, the sweep gas is either circulated or passed over the pressed compacts in a single pass. In either case, the sweep gas provides an effective inert cover.
By atmospheric pressure, it is meant pressure values from about local atmospheric pressure to about 125% atmospheric pressure.
The pressed compacts are heated to about 100xc2x0 C. to about 350xc2x0 C., typically to about 125xc2x0 C. to about 325xc2x0 C., more typically about 150xc2x0 C. to about 300xc2x0 C., preferably about 250xc2x0 C. The amount of time needed to remove the binder varies depending on several factors. For example, if the load of pressed compacts is relatively large and/or the temperature employed is relatively low, e.g. 150xc2x0 C., then the time required to remove the dimethyl sulfone binder will be longer than if the pressed compacts are relatively small, the total amount of material to be processed is relatively small, and/or the maximum temperature is relatively high, e.g. 300xc2x0 C.
The type of inert sweep gas depends upon the maximum process temperature and the nature of the material from which the binder containing compacts have been pressed. For most applications, nitrogen is an effective and preferred inert gas. For very finely divided tantalum, niobium, or titanium metals processed at temperatures above 300xc2x0 C., a true inert or noble gas such as argon, helium, or mixtures thereof is preferred. For lower temperature removal of dimethyl sulfone binder from compacts pressed from oxidation resistant materials, such as tantalum nitride or titanium nitride, the sweep gas may be ordinary air. In this case there is very little reaction with the compacts during the atmospheric pressure binder removal step, particularly at binder removal temperatures of 250xc2x0 C. and below. In general, the sweep gas should be relatively inert toward the material the compacts are made of and at the maximum binder removal temperature employed.
The inert gas is injected at a rate suitable for creating the desired atmosphere around the compacts. Generally the rate of injection is between 1 and 1000 cubic feet per hour per cubic foot of oven volume and, typically is 10 to 100 cubic feet per hour per cubic foot of oven volume.

Atmospheric pressure method of thermally removing binder from porous compacts and binder-free compacts produced thereby


A method of fabricating electrochemical cells employing novel plasticizers that can be removed by evaporation under vacuum is provided thereby obviating the need for solvent extraction. The plasticizers comprise 2-(2-ethoxyethoxy) ethyl acetate, dimethyl adipate, dibutyl phthalate, propylene carbonate, and mixtures thereof.

Non-aqueous lithium electrochemical cells typically include an anode, a lithium electrolyte prepared from a lithium salt dissolved in one or more organic solvents and a cathode of an electrochemically active material, typically a chalcogenide of a transition metal. During discharge, lithium ions from the anode pass through the liquid electrolyte to the electrochemically active material of the cathode where the ions are taken up with the simultaneous release of electrical energy. During charging, the flow of ions is reversed so that lithium ions pass from the electrochemically active cathode material through the electrolyte and are plated back onto the lithium anode. Non-aqueous lithium electrochemical cells are discussed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,472,487, 4,668,595, 5,028,500, 5,441,830, 5,460,904, and 5,540,741.
Recently, the lithium metal anode has been replaced with a carbon anode such as coke or graphite intercalated with lithium ions to form Li.sub.x C.sub.6. In operation of the cell, lithium passes from the carbon through the electrolyte to the cathode where it is taken up just as in a cell with a metallic lithium anode. During recharge, the lithium is transferred back to the anode where it reintercalates into the carbon. Because no metallic lithium is present in the cell, melting of the anode does not occur even under abuse conditions. Also, because lithium is reincorporated into the anode by intercalation rather than by plating, dendritic and spongy lithium growth does not occur.
Various factors influence the performance of electrochemical cells. For instance, the morphology of the polymeric matrix and of the polymeric binders in the anode and/or cathode can affect conductivity of the salts. Improved conductivity has been demonstrated by employing porous polymeric matrices and polymeric binders. One method of producing such porous structures comprises forming polymeric structures in the presence of a plasticizer such as dibutyl phthalate; upon removal of the plasticizer, pores are created in the polymer. Plasticizers can comprise up to about 50 percent of the weight of an electrochemical cell precursor prior to their removal. Current methods of removing these solvents include extraction wherein the separating agent is another organic liquid solvent such as dimethyl ether, methanol, and cyclohexane. Typically, in assembling an electrochemical cell, an electrolyte solution comprising an electrolyte solvent and salt is added to activate the electrochemical cell precursor shortly after removing the plasticizer.
Although electrochemical cells fabricated using conventional plasticizers generally demonstrate good electrochemical performance, current plasticizers must be extracted with hazardous organic solvents. The art is in search of more economical, safer, and efficient methods of preparing electrochemicals particularly methods which employ plasticizers that can be removed without the use of such solvents.

Method of preparing electrochemical cells


Systems and methods for managing temperatures of wearable device components are disclosed. In one aspects, a method includes determining a temperature of an electronic component of the wearable device, determining a rate of temperature change of the electronic component, and determining whether to increase or decrease a transmission rate limit of the electronic component based on the temperature and the rate, adjusting the transmission rate limit based on the determination, and limiting a rate of transmission of the electronic component based on the adjusted transmission rate limit.

The design of many wearable display systems may be constrained to ensure conform with certain requirements such as form factor. This constraint may result in marginal designs for electronic components. The constrained design may limit the functionality of these components when compared to designs without the constraints. This is particularly true for glasses with an integrated camera or display and wearable devices that integrate multiple functions using additional sensor or circuitry for other functions. Therefore, improved methods of managing these electronic components under these design constraints are desired.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Temperature management in wearable devices


A digital content recording network controller device determines a first content of a set of content to be more likely to be requested by a user of a content access device than a second content of the set of content based on monitored behavior of the user. The device stores the first content in a first storage device of a tiered group of storage devices and stores the second content in a second storage device of the tiered group of storage devices wherein the content access device is located closer to the first storage device than the second storage device. This balances storage load with accessibility, resulting in a faster responding system that does not require as much storage.

Users may use content access devices such as set top boxes, televisions, computing devices, and so on to access a variety of different instances of content from various content provider networks. This content may include video content, audio content, image content, data content, and so on. In some situations, the content may be part of a linear broadcast. In other situations, the content may be provided upon request and/or in various non-linear ways.
The content access device may be configured to perform various digital video (or other content) recording (DVR) functions. In short, the content access device may store received content so that the content is available to the user at a later time, particularly linear broadcast content that a user may miss if the user is not watching at a scheduled broadcast time.
The content access device may have a limited storage capacity. As such, the content access device may be able to store a limited amount of content for the user. If storage is full, stored content may need to be deleted before additional content can be stored.


A structure for transmitting the power of a motorcycle engine includes an intermediate shaft arranged between a crankshaft and an input shaft of a transmission, and a method for making the structure. The structure and the method have the objective of shortening the distances between these three shafts, improving workability of assembling, and providing freedom of setting a speed reduction ratio. An intermediate shaft driven gear and an intermediate shaft driving gear having a diameter smaller than the intermediate shaft driven gear and are mounted in two steps, with the former overlaid on the latter, on an end of the intermediate shaft projecting outside a right case. Similarly, the intermediate shaft driven gear is engaged with a primary gear of the crankshaft, and the intermediate shaft driving gear is engaged with a primary driven gear of the input shaft at a location outside the right case.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a structure for transmitting the power of an engine in a motorcycle or the like and, in particular, to the structure in which an intermediate shaft is interposed between a crankshaft and the main input shaft of a transmission. The invention also relates to a process for assembling said structure.
2. Description of Background Art
A structure for transmitting the power of an engine using such an intermediate shaft is already publicly known and, for example, Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 7-54134 discloses a structure in which an intermediate shaft driven gear and an intermediate shaft driving gear are disposed on an intermediate shaft and in which the intermediate shaft driven gear is engaged with the driving gear of a crankshaft inside a crankcase, and in which the intermediate driving gear is engaged with the input gear of the input shaft of a transmission outside the crankshaft, and in which a balancer weight is integrally formed inside the crankcase of the intermediate shaft.
Further, Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 7-94859 discloses a power transmission structure in which an idle gear is arranged at the end portion projecting outside the crankcase of an intermediate shaft, and is engaged with both the driving gear of a crankshaft and the input gear of the input shaft of a transmission, which are disposed outside the crankcase.
In this connection, when an intermediate shaft driven gear and a intermediate shaft driving gear are disposed on an intermediate shaft inside and outside the crankcase, as disclosed in Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 7-54134, many man hours are required for assembly. Thus, it would be desirable to improve workability of assembly. Further, if a balancer weight is mounted on the intermediate shaft inside the crankcase, restrictions are introduced into the layout, depending on the presence or absence of a clearance between the balancer web and a crank web. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide an improved structure capable of increasing the layout flexibility and of producing a greater balancing effect.
Further, if a gear disposed on the intermediate shaft is used only as an idle gear, as Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 7-94859 discloses, a free speed reduction ratio cannot be obtained and the distance between the intermediate shaft and the input shaft of the transmission is inevitably made greater.
The object of the present invention is to solve these problems.

Structure for transmitting power of a motorcycle engine, and a method of assembly of said structure