A method of coating a medical appliance is provided that includes vibrating the medical appliance and contacting a material with the medical appliance to form the coating. A medical appliance is provided having a coating applied by a method. The method includes vibrating the medical appliance and contacting a material with the medical appliance to form the coating. A system is provided for coating a medical appliance. The system includes an arrangement for holding the medical appliance and an arrangement for at least one of moving and rotating the arrangement for holding the medical appliance. The system also includes an arrangement for vibrating the medical appliance.

Medical devices may be coated so that the surfaces of such devices have desired properties or effects. For example, it may be useful to coat medical devices to provide for the localized delivery of therapeutic agents to target locations within the body, such as to treat localized disease (e.g., heart disease) or occluded body lumens. Localized drug delivery may avoid some of the problems of systemic drug administration, which may be accompanied by unwanted effects on parts of the body which are not to be treated. Additionally, treatment of the afflicted part of the body may require a high concentration of therapeutic agent that may not be achievable by systemic administration. Localized drug delivery may be achieved, for example, by coating balloon catheters, stents and the like with the therapeutic agent to be locally delivered. The coating on medical devices may provide for controlled release, which may include long-term or sustained release, of a bioactive material.
Aside from facilitating localized drug delivery, medical devices may be coated with materials to provide beneficial surface properties. For example, medical devices are often coated with radiopaque materials to allow for fluoroscopic visualization while placed in the body. It is also useful to coat certain devices to achieve enhanced biocompatibility and to improve surface properties such as lubriciousness.
Coated stent may be used to reduce restenosis rates in patients. Stents may be coated in a spraying process. For example, stents may be mounted into wire C-frames using stainless steel wire. The C-frame may then be mounted into a collet. The collet may be mounted into a shaft, and the shaft may be rotated, raised, and lowered across a spray plume.
Conventional coating methods may result in coating defects. Product specification for webbing may be restrictive, and only small webs may be allowable. For example, 70 μm web lengths may be cause for rejection. Some stents may be particularly prone to webbing of greater than 70 μm and protrusions of greater than 200 μm due to stent geometry (for example, the closeness of the struts).
Motor cars have been painted using vibrations to compensate for nozzle imperfections or other irregularities. Vibration may be imparted to the motor car during a spray painting operation by running the engine with one spark plug removed. The removed spark plug may induce vibration that may have the effect of smoothing the spray coating.
There is therefore a need for reducing coating defects in medical appliances.
Each of the references cited herein is incorporated by reference herein for background information.

Method of coating a medical appliance utilizing vibration


A spherical outer diameter tapered roller bearing pillow block system (100) for supporting the rotating main shaft of a wind turbine. The bearing system is configured with a unitized construction and factory set preload bearing settings to facilitate installation and setup. A spherical outer diameter surface (114) is formed on the outer race (116) of a tapered roller bearing assembly disposed about the rotating main shaft of the wind turbine. The bearing assembly is secured to a stationary support structure of the wind turbine through a pillow block housing assembly (102) providing a matching spherical housing seat (112) to form a ball and socket interface between the tapered roller bearing assembly (118) and the pillow block housing assembly (102). The ball and socket interface accommodates static and dynamic misalignments between the wind turbine main shaft and the supporting structure, while the bearing assembly (118) accommodates radial and axial loads.

Within the wind power industry, it is common to utilize bearing systems for the wind turbine main shafts which are configured to handle large radial loads as well as large angular misalignments between a rotating shaft and the supporting bearing axis. These main shaft bearing systems typically comprise spherical roller bearings (SRBs) having separate rotating seal carriers and a locating bearing locknut device to secure the rotating seal carriers and the spherical roller bearing inner race against a main shaft shoulder. The cylindrical outer diameter of the outer race of the spherical roller bearing is secured into a cylindrical inner diameter of a pillow block housing with an axial clamp end cover plate. The internal configurations of spherical roller bearing systems have the ability to carry large radial loads and to accommodate large dynamic and static angular misalignments, as well as modest axial loads, without generating overturning moment reactions in the pillow block housing and supporting bedplate structures. Additionally, these bearing systems require no bearing setting setup procedure, making them easy to install in practice.
However, spherical roller bearing systems have inherent problems. In particular, the spherical roller bearings must operate with a generous radial internal clearance (RIC). In a wind turbine main shaft application, dynamically variable wind loads placed on the spherical roller bearing during operation cause large axial and radial deflections within the spherical roller bearing system as a result of the large radial internal clearance. These deflections dramatically reduce spherical roller bearing life in an unpredictable manner due to a loss of load sharing to the rotor side roller row and wind vibration induced peeling and/or false brinelling of the raceway surfaces, which initiates premature raceway spalling. The deflections further reduce bearing life of a downstream gearbox input shaft support due to excessive axial shaft deflection, which in turn leads to excessive thrust loads.
The large radial internal clearance of the spherical roller bearing systems and the inherent angular degree of freedom of the outer race with respect to the inner race further requires associated axial and radial labyrinth seal gap clearances to be large enough to prevent metal-to-metal contact within the labyrinth gap between the rotating seal carrier labyrinth rings and the stationary labyrinth end covers. This large gap clearance reduces the effectiveness of the labyrinth seal in preventing lubricant loss and contaminant exclusion. Similarly, the rotating shaft seal, typically a polymer v-ring face seal, must be able to accommodate the large dynamic angular, radial, and axial motions in addition to the normal shaft rotational movement.
To gain access to the gearbox end roller row, spherical roller bearing systems typically require a loosening and sliding back of the bearing locknut and press fit rotating seal carrier labyrinth ring, which makes in-service inspection of the bearing raceway and roller surfaces on the gearbox end of the pillow block bearing difficult. Furthermore, no access is available to the rotor end roller row, because the rotor end stationary labyrinth seal end cover is trapped by the rotating seal carrier labyrinth ring, which cannot be removed unless the main shaft is withdrawn from the spherical roller bearing system, a very difficult or impossible task within the application environment of an operating wind turbine.
Accordingly, there is a need for a wind turbine main shaft support bearing system which is capable of carrying the expected application loads experienced in the wind turbine operational environment, which does not require large radial internal clearances associated with the supporting roller elements and hence has a predictable operational life, and which does not require large axial and radial labyrinth seal gap clearances to prevent metal-to-metal contact within the labyrinth gap between the rotating seal carrier labyrinth rings and the stationary labyrinth end covers.
Additionally, there is a need for a wind turbine main shaft support bearing system which does not require a loosening and sliding back of the bearing locknut and press fit rotating seal carrier labyrinth ring to enable in-service inspection of the gearbox end bearing raceway and roller surfaces, and which provides a means to access the rotor end roller row.

Pillow block housing with tapered roller bearings


A new hopping vehicle for travelling a distance by spring aided hopping. The inventive device includes a ground engaging base, a lever member, and an elongate handle all hingedly coupled together by a hinge member at their proximal ends. A foot platform for standing on is coupled to the distal end of the lever member. A spring is interposed between the base and the lever member to bias the base and lever member away from each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to hopping vehicles and more particularly pertains to a new hopping vehicle for travelling a distance by spring aided hopping.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of hopping vehicles is known in the prior art. More specifically, hopping vehicles heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art hopping vehicles include U.S. Pat. No. 4,243,218; U.S. Pat. No. 5,087,037; U.S. Pat. No. 4,390,178; U.S. Pat. No. 4,696,467; U.S. Pat. No. 5,009,415; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 263,485.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new hopping vehicle. The inventive device includes a ground engaging base, a lever member, and an elongate handle all hingedly coupled together by a hinge member at their proximal ends. A foot platform for standing on is coupled to the distal end of the lever member. A spring is interposed between the base and the lever member to bias the base and lever member away from each other.
In these respects, the hopping vehicle according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of travelling a distance by spring aided hopping.


Systems and methods are provided for pre-charging the DC bus on a motor drive. Pre-charging techniques involve pre-charge circuitry including a manual switch, an automatic switch, and pre-charge control circuitry to switch the automatic switch between pre-charge and pre-charge bypass modes in response to an initialized pre-charge operation, input voltage sags, and so forth. In some embodiments, the pre-charge operation may be initialized by switching the manual switch closed. In some embodiments, the pre-charge operation may also be initialized by a detected voltage sag on the DC bus. The pre-charge circuitry may also be configured to disconnect to isolate a motor drive from the common DC bus under certain fault conditions.

The invention relates generally to the field of electrical drives. More particularly, the invention relates to techniques for pre-charging a direct current (DC) bus in a power drive.
In the field of power electronic devices, a wide range of circuitry is known and currently available for converting, producing, and applying power to loads. Depending upon the application, motor drive systems may include circuitry that converts incoming power from one form to another as needed by the load. In a typical drive system, for example, a rectifier converts alternating current (AC) power (such as from a utility grid or generator) to direct current (DC) power. Inverter circuitry can then convert the DC signal into an AC signal of a particular frequency desired for driving a motor at a particular speed. The inverter circuitry typically includes several high power switches, such as insulated-gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) that are controlled by drive circuitry. Motor drive systems also often include power conditioning circuitry, including capacitors and/or inductors, which remove undesirable ripple currents from its DC bus.
Sometimes during operation of a motor drive system, and particularly during start-up, high levels of in-rush current may be received by a motor drive in the motor drive system, which may cause various adverse affects to the motor drive. To avoid these high levels of in-rush current during start-up, a typical motor drive system may include pre-charge circuitry that applies a smaller initial current to the DC bus of the motor drive system prior to actually starting the motor drive. The pre-charge circuitry charges a number of capacitors coupled to the inverter before applying a full source voltage to the inverter. Such techniques may be referred to as pre-charging the DC bus.
Typical pre-charge techniques may include increasing a firing angle of semiconductor devices (e.g., thyristor) in a rectifier until capacitors on a DC bus are charged to some level or connecting a resistor with a contactor in parallel such that the resistor is bypassed via the contactor after the DC capacitors are charged. Other pre-charge circuitry may involve a three-way switch, which may connect the DC bus, pre-charge the DC bus, or disconnect the DC bus. However, such configurations may result in significant power loss through the diode and may not be used to isolate the drive from the common DC bus. Furthermore, each of the above described pre-charge circuit configurations and techniques involve using one or more circuit breakers to isolate or disconnect a drive from the common DC bus, which increases the overall size of each drive.


A fuel bag kit comprising a inflatable/deflatable fuel bag for storing fuel therein. The inflatable/deflatable fuel bag comprises a rubber bladder having a deflated/collapsed state to define a deflated/collapsed outer perimeter contour when the rubber bladder is essentially empty and a inflated/expanded state to define a inflated/expanded outer perimeter contour when the rubber bladder is filled with fuel. The deflated/collapsed outer perimeter contour has a significantly thinner width than the inflated/expanded outer perimeter contour. The fuel bag further comprises a nozzle removably coupled to a top end of the rubber bladder and a handle coupled to a bottom end of the rubber bladder. A fuel bag storage container having an outer perimeter contour which is dimensioned smaller than the rubber bladder in the inflated/expanded state and which stores therein the inflatable/deflatable fuel bag when said rubber bladder is in the deflated/collapsed state.

When traveling in a vehicle, there are times when the vehicle runs out of gas. The biggest challenge presented to the driver is the availability of a container which can be filled with fuel. Moreover, the container must have a sufficient capacity of preferably at least one gallon which can be used to start the vehicle and allow the vehicle to travel to the nearest gas station. Another challenge presented to the driver is the ability to pour the fuel into the recessed inlet port of the gas tank without spilling significant portions of the fuel on the ground.
As is known, metal or plastic containers for storing fuel are available. However, many vehicle owners do not maintain such containers within the vehicle. The biggest problem with such metal or plastic containers is that when the container is emptied of the fuel, the fuel residue can drip out and soil the trunk or other floors of the vehicle. Additionally, the fumes of the fuel residue can be very bothersome and problematic.
Furthermore, most containers have walls which have sufficient structural rigidity to define a container capable of being filled to a predetermined maximum capacity such as a gallon. Therefore, these containers are bulky. While plastic or thin metal walls are resilient, as the fluid is depleted, the walls maintain a vertically erect posture and do not naturally converge, without compressive forces, toward each other to reduce the overall volume of the container.
Several devices have been patented which are aimed at fillable containers some of which are directed to containers for fuel.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,257, to Bruan, entitled "OVAL INTEGRAL SLANT PUMP" discloses a compressible, resilient, manually-energized pump functioning also as a container or reservoir for fluid products to be dispensed. The container is of a unitary construction in which a product discharge conduit is integrally formed with the reservoir. The container is made of deformable yet resilient plastics composition exhibiting high strength. The container has a bounding, vertically-extending, circumscribing wall which tapers upwardly from an enlarged generally ellipsoid base or floor to a reduced, essentially sound annular shoulder structure which supports a threaded neck. The spout section of the container can function as a mechanical hand-engaging rest or stop to prevent the container from slipping from the grasp of the user.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,295,610, to Levison, entitled "MIXING CAN HAVING A HINGED CAP WITH AN INTEGRAL MEASURING CUP" discloses a plastic gas can having an air-release port and a hinged cap for closing the air-release port. The gas can has an elongated spout from which the gas can be poured and a handle formed in the top region of the gas can.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,889,255, to Schiemann, entitled "DEVICE SUITABLE FOR USE AS A PLASTIC CAN" discloses a plastic can having first and second compartments for placing therein gas and oil. A handle is formed in the top region of the can.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,640,446, to Walker, entitled "SAFETY GAS CAN WITH PLURAL NESTABLE DISPENSING MEANS" disclose a container for gas having one dispensing tube which constitutes a pour spout, while the other dispensing tube constitutes a fuel line coupling member.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,182,661, to Nataf, entitled "BOTTLE MADE OF PLASTIC MATERIAL" discloses a bottle made of plastic material wherein the wall has an extremely small thickness. As disclosed, when the bottle is filled, a spout is closed by welding. The welded spout can be cut to permit fluid to pour from the bottle.
U.S. Design Patent No. Des 363,215, to Powell et al., entitled "CONTAINER" illustrates a unique design for a container.
It can be readily seen that there exists the continuing need for a fuel bag kit having a inflateable/deflateable fuel bag and a fuel bag storage container for storing therein the inflatable/deflatable fuel bag when such inflatable/deflatable fuel bag is deflated, such as, when the fuel bag is empty. Furthermore, the is need for an inflatable/deflatable fuel bag which is formed as a rubber bladder wherein the rubber bladder inflates as the fuel fills the rubber bladder and automatically deflates as the fuel is emptied from the rubber bladder. Additionally, there is a need for a fuel bag storage container which allows the inflatable/deflatable fuel bag when deflated to be stored therein to protect the rubber bladder from damage when the inflatable/deflatable fuel bag is not in use and to contain the fuel fumes and fuel residue within such fuel bag storage container.
As will be seen more fully below, the present invention is substantially different in structure, methodology and approach from that of the prior gas can containers.

Fuel bag kit having an inflatable-deflatable fuel bag and a fuel bag storage container


A magnetic disk drive includes a magnetic disk and a femto slider. The magnetic disk has a minimum track linear velocity of 1 to 5 m/s. In one embodiment, the magnetic disk drive includes a negative pressure type femto slider and adopts a load/unload method. A gram load “GL” of a head suspension assembly HSA is set at a value exceeding about 3 mN and smaller than about 15 mN and a pitch static attitude “PSA” (deg) and pitch stiffness “Kp” (Nm/deg) satisfy the expression ((PSA×Kp)/GL)<0.25 mm. As a result, it is possible to prevent the femto slider from assuming a meta-stable flying high state referred to as a bi-stable height. Further, by setting the pitch static attitude “PSA” at a value of larger than 0 deg, it is possible to prevent the slider from assuming a state of meta-stable contact with the magnetic disk surface referred to as semi-stable drag.

The present invention relates to a technique of applying a femto slider to a magnetic disk drive with a magnetic disk mounted thereon, the magnetic disk including a track of a low linear velocity due to a low rotational velocity or a small radius up to an innermost radius track.
A slider used in a magnetic disk drive shows a continuous downsizing tendency because of a great advantage resulting from the reduction of size. As to an external size of the slider, a standard is defined by IDEMA (International Disk Drive Equipment and Materials Association). According to the standard, the size of a "mini slider" of 4.06 mm×3.2 mm×0.86 mm is designated 100% size and is used as a reference value; likewise, in order of size, there are defined "micro slider" (70%), "nano slider" (50%), "pico slider" (30%), and "femto slider" (20%).
The femto slider is the smallest in size among the sliders available at present. Its external size is 0.85 mm×0.7 mm×0.23 mm. Reducing the external size of a slider is advantageous in point of cost because the number of sliders capable of being taken out from a single wafer increases, and it is also suitable for the reduction in size of a magnetic disk drive. In a magnetic disk drive of a load/unload type, a slider sometimes strikes against the surface of a magnetic disk at the time of loading thereof from a ramp. Therefore, in a magnetic disk drive of a load/unload type, in order to ensure safety of recorded data, a non-recording area is usually provided outside an outermost radius track on a magnetic disk. Since the femto slider is small-sized, it is advantageous in that the width of the non-recording area can be decreased and the recording capacity of the magnetic disk can be increased thereby. In this case, a magnetic disk having a smaller diameter is more advantageous.
Since the longitudinal size of the femto slider is about 70% of that of the pico slider, there accrues an advantage such that the flying height compliance performance for disk curvature formed in the track circumference direction on a rotating magnetic disk surface is superior and a flying height of the slider becomes stable. When the femto slider and the pico slider are allowed to fly over the same disk and their amounts of change in flying height are compared with each other, the amount of change in flying height of the femto slider based on an ideal flying height over a magnetic disk, i.e., flying sensitivity, is about half of that of the pico slider.
In the case of the femto slider, the area of an air bearing surface (ABS) formed on its side opposed to the magnetic disk is about half of that of the pico slider. The femto slider has heretofore been used in a 2.5-inch type magnetic disk drive having a nominal magnetic disk diameter of 2.5 inches (1 inch=25.4 mm), but the application thereof to a smaller-size magnetic disk drive such as one having a nominal magnetic disk diameter of 1 inch or less is also very advantageous because of such advantages as the reduction in width of the non-recording area and in size.
In a small-sized magnetic disk drive having a small diameter of a spindle bearing and a small radius up to an innermost radius track, there sometimes occurs a case where, unless the rotational speed is increased, there is not obtained a sufficiently high flow velocity of an air current for forming an air bearing in the innermost radius track disposed on the innermost side. A solution to this problem is known wherein the rotational speed of a spindle motor is increased to increase the linear velocity of the innermost radius track. But this method is restricted by such problems as an increase in power consumption and the need of a high voltage for driving the spindle motor. Thus, for adopting the femto slider in a small-sized magnetic disk drive, it is necessary to solve various problems caused by a decrease in the ABS area of the slider and a decrease in the flow velocity of the air current.
In US 2003-0218832 describes an example in which a femto slider is applied to a 2.5-inch type magnetic disk drive and a suspension load is set at 29.4 mN (see paragraph [0096] and FIG. 8). On page 53 of Structure and Application of Hard Disk Drive, CQ Publishing Co., Ltd., published Jul. 1, 2003, there is a description to the effect that a femto slider is used at a spring load of 1 to 2 gf (9.8 mN to 19.6 mN).

Magnetic disk drive using femto slider and having predetermined linear velocity and gram load configuration

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.


A system and method for crest factor reduction of OFDM transmission systems using selective sub-carrier degradation, is disclosed. A modulated communications signal comprising a series of symbols is converted into parallel format in groups of plural symbols in the frequency domain. Crest factor reduction reduces a primary peak of the groups of plural symbols by selective sub-carrier degradation, to generate peak reduction symbols. The groups of plural symbols are converted into time domain symbols, and combined with the peak reduction symbols to provide peak reduced symbols in time domain.

Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) is a transmission scheme which spreads the signal to be transmitted over a number of separate orthogonal sub-carriers. OFDM transmission has several advantages including high spectrum efficiency and resistance to multi-path interference. Accordingly, OFDM is a desirable transmission scheme for many wireless transmission applications. However, OFDM waveforms can have large peak-to-average power ratios (PAPR's). Large peaks cause problems because the power amplifiers used in the transmitter become less efficient as the peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) of the RF signal increases. In addition, the finite dynamic range of the DAC's in the transmission system place limits on the PAPR. As a result, it is desirable to limit the PAPR to allow for more efficient design of the transmitter. This process is referred to as crest factor reduction (CFR).
CFR can be accomplished in various manners. The direct method is to clip peaks exceeding a specified level. This has the effect of moving the constellation elements of the transmitted data symbols from their assigned positions in the modulation scheme. The difference between the actual and assigned positions in the IQ space is referred to as the "constellation error" or "error vector magnitude" (EVM). The allowable relative constellation RMS error, averaged over sub-carriers, frames, and packets, is dependent on the rate modulation (where the most difficult specification is −31.0 dB for the ¾ rate 64-QAM). Clipping tends to distribute the constellation error over all the sub-carriers including null sub-carriers and pilot sub-carriers (used for frequency synchronization). In general, it is beneficial for the receiver to have accurate pilot information to minimize the bit error rate (BER). Although the constellation error is specified, the primary goal is to minimize the BER.
Other methods for CFR attempt to randomize the phase of the sub-carriers. These include "partial transmit sequence" (PTS) and "selective mapping" (SLM). The sub-carriers are multiplied by a set of different phase vectors producing a set of potential time sequences. The time sequence with the lowest PAPR is transmitted. Information regarding the phase vector used must be sent to the receiver to allow demodulation.
Another class of methods for CFR uses some of the data carriers as peak reducers. This includes "tone reservation." Once a peak is detected in the time domain, the phase of the reserved sub-carriers are selected to reduce the peak. This results in a lost of bandwidth because less data sub-carriers are available. Information regarding the active data sub-carriers must be sent to the receiver.
Another method for CFR is to alter the constellation so that elements are not unique. This is referred to as "constellation extension." Elements are mapped so that dIQ=−dIQ. The downside of this approach is that one bit is lost in the constellation mapping which reduces the throughput for the QPSK, 16-QAM, and 64-QAM to ½, ¾, and ⅚ of the original value, respectively. In addition, the Gray code mapping specified in the standard would have to be abandoned.
Accordingly, a need presently exists for a system and method to reduce PAPRs in an OFDM transmitter while avoiding the above noted problems of existing CFR approaches.

Crest factor reduction system and method for OFDM transmission systems using selective sub-carrier degradation


A worm mechanism for a disk player includes a worm gear securely connected to a rotary shaft of a motor, a worm wheel coupled to the worm gear and further connected to driving mechanisms in the disk player and a radial stopper, wherein the worm gear including a boss part securely connected to said rotary shaft, a screw shaft part and a connection part coaxially formed between the boss part and screw shaft part in a unified structure, wherein the radial stopper is disposed on the other side of the worm wheel, apart from the screw shaft part in a predetermined gap in the vicinity of the end of the screw shaft part opposite to the boss part and wherein the connection part has in at least part thereof in the axial direction an effective cross section which is smaller than the cross section of the screw shaft part.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a disk player, which is used for reproducing, recording or eliminating data on an optical disk, such as DVD-RW, or a magnetic disk (hereinafter referred to as a disk), and it also relates to a worm mechanism for such a disk player. More specifically, the present invention relates to an improvement of a disk player and a worm mechanism for the same, where such a disk is loaded into the disk player by applying a pushing force to a tray for the disk.
2. Description of the Related Art
Such a disk player is equipped with a loading mechanism, which permits loading a disk thereinto in order to reproduce data from the disk or to record data in the disk as well as to discharge the loaded disk therefrom. The loading mechanism includes three different driving mechanisms; a first driving mechanism is used to move a tray on which the disk is placed in the forward or backward direction (discharge direction and load direction) relative to a housing; a second driving mechanism serves to incline in the upward or downward direction a drive chassis onto which a turn table for rotating the loaded disk and an optical pick-up for reading the information in the disk; and a third driving mechanism is used to move the optical pick-up on the drive chassis in the forward or backward direction. In the first driving mechanism, there is a tray detecting unit for determining whether or not the tray resides at the farthest advanced position (the initial position at which the disk is mounted onto the tray), and the detection signal from the tray detecting unit is used to detect the end of the discharge process, and then used to determine the subsequent start of the loading process. By utilizing the second driving mechanism, the drive chassis may be moved from a lower inclined attitude to the horizontal attitude in synchronization with the translational movement of the tray, when the tray is moved from the discharge position onto the turn table at the normal loading position. Furthermore, the third driving mechanism is used to move the optical pick-up to a predetermined read/write position on the drive chassis, after it confirms that the disk is mounted at the normal loading position.
At present, there are two types of disk player prevailingly used. The first type of disk player includes two rotary driving sources (motors). In this case, the first rotary driving source is used to actuate the first, second and third driving mechanisms, whereas the second rotary driving source is connected to a spindle for the turn table, and it is used to rotate the disk. On the other hand, the second type of disk player includes three rotary driving sources. In this case, the first rotary driving source is used to actuate the first driving mechanism, and the second rotary driving source is used to actuate both the second and third driving mechanisms, and the third rotary driving mechanism is connected to a spindle for the turn table, and it is used to rotate the disk, as similarly to the first type of disk player.
In both types of disk player, the rotary movement from the first rotary driving source is transmitted to the first driving mechanism via a worm mechanism having a worm gear and a worm wheel, and finally to a pinion in the first driving mechanism. A rack for the pinion is fixed to the tray, and the rotary movement of the pinion from the first driving source is transformed to a translational movement, so that the tray is moved in the forward or backward direction, as described for a worm mechanism in the first type of disk player in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-54431.
Either in the first type of disk player or in the second type of disk player, a disk is placed on the tray at the farthest advanced position, i.e., the disk-mounting position, and then the first driving mechanism allows the tray to automatically move in the loading position, i.e., the disk-operating position, when the tray is pushed toward the inside of the disk player by one or more fingers of a user. In such a conventional disk player, users sometimes encountered a trouble that the tray was not moved any longer to the loading position, even when the tray was pushed by their finger. The trouble results from the following reasons: The force of pushing the tray arrives at the worm gear in the worm mechanism via the first driving mechanism, and further it is transmitted to the rotary shaft of a motor (the first rotary driving source), which shaft is connected to the worm gear. In this case, the pushing force provides a partial force perpendicular to the axis of the rotary shaft at the worm gear, and such a partial vertical force is applied to bearings in the motor. This causes the motor to stop (that is, self-lock of the motor), and thereby a further movement of the tray to be suppressed.


An apparatus and method for operating a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO)-capable subscriber node are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a MIMO-capable physical layer transceiver and a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer block that measures a received transmission to determine channel conditions. Upon receiving a transmission wherein said channel conditions meet specified conditions, the MAC layer block transmits a message to an access point indicating that the apparatus wants to switch between a non-MIMO mode and a MIMO mode, and upon receiving an acknowledgement, the MAC layer block switches between the non-MIMO mode and the MIMO mode. An apparatus for operating an access node is also disclosed.

The present embodiments relate generally to communications and more particularly to systems and methods for wireless communications.
As the Internet continues its development and as workers and consumers increasingly rely on data networking to assist their day-to-day tasks, a need arises to extend network connectivity to locations where there is no convenient connection to a wired infrastructure. Workers desire to send and receive email and access the Internet and their corporate intranet even when they are away from their workstation. Consumers wish to establish home networks without costly and cumbersome wiring. Accordingly, wireless communication standards have evolved including the IEEE 802.11 family.
The current IEEE 802.11a standard allows for wireless communicates at speeds between 6 Mbps and 54 Mbps. It is desirable to further increase these speeds to accommodate delivery of multimedia wireless services and facilitate outdoor wireless bridging between indoor networks. It is also desirable to accommodate the increased data rates by increasing spectral efficiency rather than by increasing bandwidth.
One known way of increasing spectral efficiency is the use of MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) processing techniques. MIMO techniques take advantage of multiple antennas (or multiple polarizations of the same antenna) at the transmitter and receiver to access multiple channel inputs and channel outputs and thereby define multiple spatial subchannels that occupy the same bandwidth but nonetheless are capable of carrying independent data streams. The delineation of the multiple spatial subchannels may involve weighting of the antenna inputs at the transmitter end and/or weighting of the antenna outputs at the receiver end. For further information on MIMO techniques, see U.S. Pat. No. 6,377,631.
It is desirable to apply MIMO techniques to IEEE 802.11 systems to increase data carrying capacity but there are obstacles to overcome. The 802.11 standards do not specify MIMO transmission techniques. It is desirable, and probably commercially essential, to construct wireless communication devices that cannot only interoperate with MIMO-capable devices but also with standards-defined devices that are not MIMO-capable. It is also desirable to modify the media access control (MAC) layer of standards such as the 802.11 standard to facilitate MIMO communications and allow 802.11 networks and other networks to benefit from increased capacity.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Media access control for MIMO wireless network


Aspects of the disclosure relate to processing systems that generate reverse video content output streams for reconstruction of sensor devices. A computing platform may receive video content including step completion inputs. Based on the step completion inputs, the computing platform may mark data packets in the video content, and may use the marked data packets to generate video segments. The computing platform may refine the video segments to remove the step completion inputs, and may generate a first reverse video content output stream using the refined video segments. The computing platform may send the first reverse video content output stream to an enhanced reality device for display. The computing platform may determine a maintenance update corresponding to a sensor device shown in the video content, and may send commands directing a maintenance database to update a maintenance log and to cause the sensor device to perform a setting adjustment.

Many organizations and individuals rely on video content as a tool to gain valuable knowledge and experience when interacting with sensor devices with which they are unfamiliar. To conserve resources, it may be important to utilize video captured during deconstruction of the sensor devices for assembly instruction. In many instances, however, such video must be constantly rewound and played back in an attempt to discern the steps for assembly. There remains an ever present need to improve the process of video generation for reversible procedures.

Processing system for performing reverse video content output generation


Multiple nozzle spray head apparatus includes a base element and a nozzle selector plate rotatably secured to the base element. Different nozzle tips may be secured to the nozzle selector plate for delivering different quantities of spray. The nozzle selector plate includes a blank portion which represents or defines an off position for the apparatus. The nozzle selector plate may be rotated as desired to align a delivery port on the base element with a desired nozzle tip. Different embodiments of nozzle selector plates are disclosed. The base element may be secured to a quick disconnect unit for ease of replacement. The base element may include a groove which matingly engages locking elements on the quick disconnect unit, if desired.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to spray heads and, more particularly, to a spray head having a multiple nozzles selectively alignable with an orifice for delivering a spray.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,221,334 discloses a nozzle apparatus which includes a rotatable head having a plurality of nozzle heads extending through the head, and each nozzle port is aligned with a curved surface. The holes differ in size to provide a varying quantity, as desired. The head is rotatable so that a desired hole may be aligned with a delivery port through which liquid flows to be sprayed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,461,426, the inventor of which is also the inventor hereof, discloses another type of adjustable aerial spray nozzle apparatus. The '426 patent discloses a nozzle apparatus with two nozzle elements which are mutually selectable. One rotatable element includes a plurality of holes that may be aligned with the liquid delivery port. The second rotatable element includes three different spray faces against which the liquid impinges to provide a particular desired spray.
In the '334 patent, the curved face adjacent to each spray delivery hole provides substantially the same type of spray, and accordingly only the quantity varies. In the '426 apparatus, both the quantity of the liquid is varied and also the spray faces are varied. However, only three different spray faces are provided. Thus, any of three different spray quantity holes may be aligned with any of the three spray faces.
The apparatus of the present invention provides a single rotatable element, but the single rotatable element includes six different ports or bores to which fixed nozzle tips may be secured. The nozzle tips may vary in both or either quantity and spray face, as desired. Thus, a crop duster may select a particular nozzle tip that will be applicable for a particular spray job by merely pivoting or rotating a single disk to align the desired nozzle tip with the delivery port


Various techniques directed to providing temporary peak power from a switching regulator are disclosed. In one aspect, a switching regulator includes a switch that is to be coupled between a power supply input and an energy transfer element of the power supply. A controller is coupled to be responsive to a feedback signal to be received from an output of the power supply. The controller is coupled to switch the switch in response to the feedback signal to regulate the output of the power supply. An oscillator is coupled to provide an oscillating signal to the controller to determine a maximum switching frequency of the switch. The oscillating signal is coupled to oscillate at a first frequency under a first moderate load condition at the power supply output. The oscillating signal is coupled to oscillate at a second frequency under a second peak load condition at the power supply output.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to electronic circuits, and more specifically, the invention relates to switched mode power supplies.
2. Background Information
Many types of electronic equipment use varying amounts of power in normal operation. The range of power demanded from a power supply can be extreme, extending for example from a few milliwatts to nearly 100 watts. Large ranges of loading are common in equipment such as printers, digital video disc (DVD) recorders, and other products that require rapid activation of mechanical motion. Typically, a moderate continuous output power is required for a long duration, for example when a DVD disk is spinning continuously or the print head in a printer is moving across a page. However, a maximum or peak output power is usually required for a relatively short duration and infrequently, for example to reverse the direction of a moving printer head or to spin a disk from startup to its rated speed. Equipment to amplify signals that have a large dynamic range, such as music, for example, can demand power that covers a range of several orders of magnitude.
Designers of power supplies for these applications are challenged to provide a wide range of power while conforming to conflicting requirements of efficiency, size, and cost. Power supplies that can deliver the maximum or peak required power often require the use of components that are over rated for the continuous moderate power level. Efforts to meet the requirements for continuous moderate power and short duration peak power from the same power supply usually lead to designs that are larger, heavier, and more costly than necessary if the load range were limited.

Method and apparatus to provide temporary peak power from a switching regulator


A diesel fuel composition containing a renewable diesel component and oxymethylene ethers having molecular structure CH3O—(CH2O)n-CH3 with n=3-5 (OME3-5). A method for producing a diesel fuel composition and use thereof. Use of OME3-5 to decrease particle emission of renewable diesel fuels is further disclosed.

This section illustrates useful background information without admission of any technique described herein representative of the state of the art.
Environmental considerations have in recent years impacted the fuel industry. For example, efforts have been made to decrease emissions of vehicle fuels and to replace fuels of fossil origin with more environmentally sustainable renewable fuels and fuel blending components.
Particulate emissions from vehicle engines deteriorate local air quality, cause environmental damage and are a potential cause for health problems. For example, small particulates from automotive engine emissions may be carried deep into lungs or even into blood steam. Further, high particulate emissions increase the load on particulate filters in vehicle exhaust after treatment systems, which shortens the regeneration interval of the particulate filters.


A splitter circuit for use in a CATV network. A signal input communicates with a first balun to supply two signal outputs, wherein the first balun is impedance matched to the impedance of the input using two or more additional baluns in parallel with each other. The additional baluns are transmission line baluns in parallel or series with resistive and/or capacitive and/or inductive components.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a splitter circuit means, in particular a splitter circuit means within a cable television network.
2. Description of the Related Art
Cable television networks use signal splitters to divide a main signal so as to provide a number of separate signal outputs for individual users. Conventional splitters used in such networks rely on transformers to match the impedance of the input signal with the impedance of an electrical element which splits the signal. However, in certain applications, the transformer affects the quality of the signal transmitted to the user outputs.
It is an aim of the present invention to provide a signal splitter means which does not use a transformer.

Signal splitter with improved transmisson line transformer


A bearing alignment tool and method of use is provided for aligning inner and outer races of a roller bearing of the class wherein the inner and outer races of the roller bearing are axially displaceable with respect to each other in order to accommodate thermal growth of a rotating shaft. A bearing replacement procedure includes: (a) affixing the roller bearing to the shaft at its inner race; (b) disposing the shaft in a housing; (c) aligning the inner and outer races of the roller bearing with respect to each other and the housing in a predetermined spatial relationship by affixing an alignment tool to the housing, wherein the alignment tool has (i) an outer aligning surface which engages the outer race of the roller bearing; and (ii) an inner aligning surface which engages the inner race of the roller bearing; (d) removing the alignment tool from the housing; and (e) securing the housing to a fixed position on a support while maintaining the predetermined spatial relationship established in step (c). The method and alignment tool are particularly useful for quickly replacing bearings on an afterdryer of a papermachine where precision alignment and downtime are significant considerations.

Advances in machine technology have made it possible to run heated drying equipment in papermaking operations faster than ever before. Unfortunately, the same increased speeds often contribute to higher vibration levels which can cause shaft and bearing damage and jeopardize quality of the product unless suitable bearing and/or bearing/housing assemblies are used. Preferred assemblies are those which can accommodate thermal growth of the shaft as the dryers heat up. In the past, rocker housings for mounting the bearings were used. These housings were designed to move with the shaft to accommodate thermal expansion. However, the increased running speeds of current technology result in vibration levels so high that they can cause wear on the rockers; in some cases causing failure. So also, rocker housings tend to leak oil, especially at high speeds. More recently, toroidal roller bearings are a popular choice. These bearings can accommodate thermal shaft growth in the afterdryer as well as accommodate higher speeds. While toroidal bearings are somewhat self-aligning in lateral directions and resistant to failure due to angular misalignment because of their particular geometry, such bearings must be installed with precision in order to operate properly. A total misalignment of less than 5 degrees is recommended. In the past, alignment was accomplished manually with gauges, straight edges, and so forth by trial and error, after the bearing housing was fixed in position. A single bearing alignment thus required hours of maintenance time, causing large economic losses due to machine downtime in addition to the out of pocket labor expense.

Bearing alignment tool and method of use


The present invention relates to the use of acrosomal sperm protein in immunocontraception of male and female subjects and uses thereof as a marker for fertility.

(a) Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the use of acrosomal sperm protein in immunocontraception of male and female subjects and uses thereof as a marker for fertility.
(b) Description of Prior Art
Fertilization is a highly orchestrated process that culminates in the activation of an oocyte by a spermatozoon. Although testicular spermatozoa are fully differentiated cells, they cannot efficiently encounter the oocyte's investments. In order to acquire this property, spermatozoa must undergo post-testicular modifications within the epididymis. During this transit, the male gamete is subjected to major surface modifications such as changes in the lipids composition, acquisition of new epididymal proteins as well as post-translational modifications of sperm proteins. Taken together, these modifications are prerequisites for the spermatozoon to acquire its fertilizing ability. These processes are regulated by the epididymal luminal microenvironment which is influenced by both epididymal and testicular protein synthesis and secretion.
Using the hamster as a model, we have previously described a 26 kDa protein, the P26h, which shows immunocontraceptive properties when used to actively immunize male hamsters (Berube, B., Sullivan, R., 1994, Biol. Reprod., 51: 1255-1263). This protein is localized on the sperm acrosome and is acquired during the epididymal transit. P26h plays a role in egg sperm interactions as shown by the ability of P26h antibodies to inhibit sperm-zona pellucida binding in vivo and in vitro (Berube, B., Sullivan, R., 1994, Biol. Reprod., 51: 1255-1263).
It would be highly desirable to be provided with to the use of an acrosomal sperm protein in immunocontraception of male and female subjects.
It would be highly desirable to be provided with to the use of an acrosomal sperm protein as a marker for fertility.

Acrosomal sperm protein and uses thereof


A thin-film transistor, a thin-film transistor sheet, an electric circuit, and a manufacturing method thereof are disclosed, the method comprising the steps of forming a semiconductor layer by providing a semiconductive material on a substrate, b) forming an insulating area, which is electrode material-repellent, by providing an electrode material-repellent material on the substrate, and c) forming a source electrode on one end of the insulating area and a drain electrode on the other end of the insulating area, by providing an electrode material.

With the spread of information terminals, there are increasing demands for a flat panel display that serves as a display for a computer. Further, with development of the information technology, there has been increased a chance for information offered in a form of a sheet of paper medium in the past to be offered in an electronic form. An electronic paper or a digital paper is demanded increasingly as a display medium for a mobile that is thin, lightweight and handy.
In the case of a display device of a flat sheet type, a display medium is generally formed using an element that employs a liquid crystal, organic EL or electrophoresis method. In the display medium of this kind, a technology for using an active driving element comprised of a thin-film transistor (TFT), serving as an image driving element, is the main current for ensuring uniform image brightness and an image rewriting speed.
The TFT is manufactured by a process comprising forming, on a glass substrate, a semiconductor layer of a-Si (amorphous silicone) or p-Si (poly-silicone) and metal films of source, drain and gate electrodes, in the order. In the manufacture of a flat panel display employing such a TFT, a photolithography step with high precision is required in addition to a thin layer forming step requiring a vacuum line carrying out a CVD method or a sputtering method or a high temperature treatment step, which results in great increase of manufacturing cost or running cost. Recent demand for a large-sized display panel further increases those costs described above.
In order to overcome the above-described defects, an organic thin-film transistor employing an organic semiconducting material has been extensively studied (see, for example, Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication No. 10-190001 and "Advanced Material", 2002, No. 2, p. 99 (review)). Since the organic thin-film transistor can be manufactured at low temperature employing a lightweight substrate difficult to be broken, a flexible display employing a resin film as a substrate can be realized (see, for example, SID '02 Digest P. 57). Further, employing an organic semiconducting material allowing a wet process such as a printing method or a coating method, a display manufacturing process can be realized which provides excellent productivity and reduced cost.
A method is proposed (see, for example, WO 01/47043) in which an electrode in an organic thin-film transistor is formed employing an ink jet method, but this method employs a polyimide film formed according to photolithography at the organic semiconductor channel area between the source and drain electrodes.
These methods have problem in that the channel accuracy are poor, resulting in fluctuation of its performance of the resulting thin-film transistor. Further, as the methods described above have problem in that as SD electrodes are formed employing a liquid material, the electrodes are likely to be short-circuited which may make it impossible to manufacture a thin-film transistor.

Manufacturing method of thin-film transistor, thin-film transistor sheet, and electric circuit


Forged, nitrided steel parts having a high fatigue limit and bending toughness are produced without heat treatment for refining between the forging and nitriding. The steel has a composition consisting essentially, on a weight basis, of: 0.30-0.60% of C, 0.05-1.50% of Si, 0.20-2.00% of Mn, less than 0.02% of P, less than 0.04% of S, not greater than 0.30% of Cr, less than 0.01% of Al, 0.01-0.02% of N, and a balance of Fe and incidental impurities in which the content of V as an impurity is 0.02% or less. The steel composition may further contain at least one element selected from P: 0.02-0.07%, S: 0.04-0.10%, Ca: 0.0003-0.003%, and Pb: 0.01-0.20% in order to provide it with improved machinability.

The present invention relates to forged steel parts (forgings) produced by hot forging followed by nitriding without heat treatment between the forging and nitriding and having a high fatigue limit and an excellent bending toughness, and to a steel composition suitable for use in the production of such forgings.
Forged steel parts for use in automobiles, such as crankshafts, connecting rods, and knuckles, have conventionally been produced from a carbon steel or an alloy steel by successively subjecting a billet or roughly-shaped dummy of the steel to hot forging to give a shape desired for the part, heat treatment for refining (thermal refining) such as quenching-and-tempering, normalizing, or normalizing-and-tempering, then machining, if necessary, into a finished shape, and finally nitriding, as shown in FIG. 1(a). Thus, for forged steel parts required to have good resistance to seizure and galling and improved fatigue limit, thermal refining has been performed prior to final nitriding.
In recent years, however, attempts have been made to eliminate the thermal refining step in view of cost- and labor-saving and problems such as distortion and misalignment caused by thermal refining. Unfortunately, the fatigue limit of a forging of a steel composition produced by forging followed by nitriding without thermal refining (hereinafter referred to as a non-heat treated, nitrided forging) is lower than that of a conventional forging of the same steel composition produced by forging and subsequent thermal refining followed by nitriding (hereinafter referred to as a heat-treated, nitrided forging).
The forging undergoes some thermal distortion during nitriding. Therefore, subsequent to the nitriding step, the distortion caused by nitriding is eliminated by bending correction or straightening, i.e., by statically applying a bending load to the nitrided forging.
The term "bending toughness" of a forging used herein refers to the maximum strain that can be eliminated by such bending correction, i.e., the limiting strain which can be eliminated from the forging without cracking when the forging is subjected to bending correction after nitriding. The greater the limiting strain of the forging, the better the bending toughness thereof. The limiting strain is hereinafter referred to as "bend-correctable strain" for simplicity.
A non-heat treated, nitrided forging, however, is not satisfactory with respect to its bend-correctable strain, i.e., the limiting strain which can be eliminated from the nitrided forging without cracking. Thus, the bend-correctable strain of a non-heat treated, nitrided forging is lower than that of a heat-treated, nitrided forging.
Hot forging is performed by initially heating a steel billet or dummy to a high temperature which is normally above 1100.degree. C., and after being forged at high temperatures, the forged steel is allowed to cool. During such a hot forging process, the austenitic grains in the steel grow to a coarser grain size so that the steel as forged has an internal structure comprising coarse austenitic grains and ferritic phases precipitated in the form of a net along the boundaries of the coarse austenitic grains in a pearlitic matrix. In non-heat treated, nitrided forgings, a forged steel having such an as-forged internal structure is directly subjected to nitriding without heat treatment for refining the internal structure, and this is thought to cause the above-described inferior properties of the non-heat treated, nitrided forgings compared to heat-treated, nitrided forgings.
Under these circumstances, there is a need to develop a steel capable of producing non-heat treated, nitrided forgings having a high fatigue limit and a high bend-correctable strain.
Steels having a high fatigue limit as-forged without thermal refining and subsequent nitriding have been developed as described, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) Nos. 4-193931 (1992) and 64-68424 (1989). However, these steels contains a relatively large amount of vanadium (V) which is intentionally added in order to improve the fatigue limit. Since vanadium is a nitride precipitate-forming element, if these steels which have been developed for non-heat treated, non-nitrided forgings are subjected to nitriding with or without heat treatment, the resulting nitrided forgings will suffer from a low bend-correctable strain.

Forged, non-heat treated, nitrided steel parts and process of making


A modular superblock assembly includes interconnectable and stackable insulating concrete forms that each comprise a block body. The block body includes a central mounting hole, a first lateral recess, second lateral recess, first vertical recess, second vertical recess, and aligning features. The first lateral recess traverses a first lateral side of the block body. The second lateral recess traverses a second lateral side of the block body. The first vertical recess traverses a first vertical side of the block body. The second vertical recess traverses a second vertical side of the block body. The central mounting hole traverses the lateral recesses and is oriented perpendicular thereto. The plurality of aligning features includes aligning plates and slots. Each aligning plate is partially embedded in a first surface of the block body and positioned proximate to the first lateral recess. Aligning slots are positioned on the first surface.

Post and beam (interlinked vertical and horizontal supports) construction has been used for centuries in building construction and is known for its strength and longevity. Post and beam construction is one of the ancient methods of building and was used in Rome thousands of years ago. Post and beam construction is still used today. Timbers can be employed to erect post and beam support structures. Concrete forms can also be employed to erect concrete post and beam support structures.
Nearly half a century ago, petroleum derivative foam began to be used for insulation purposes in residential and commercial buildings. Often this foam was only sprayed inside the walls or under the roof for an additional measure of protection. As the use of this foam increased, insulating concrete forms (hereinafter referred to as "ICFs") were introduced. Currently, there are numerous varieties of methods, designs and types of petroleum derived ICFs that have evolved for building purposes. Unlike wood or steel forms, the ICFs becomes a permanent part of the building, providing insulation that contributes to energy efficiency, decreased noise, and a smaller environmental footprint overall.
Generally, presently available ICFs include interlockable modular units, such as foam blocks, made of polystyrene beads that are poured into a mold and are fused together by the use of steam. These foam blocks generally are largely hollow with cavities that allow for columns of concrete to be poured inside them. The blocks are stacked to create a wall, and concrete is then poured into the interior openings of the blocks. Other presently available foam blocks interlock with other blocks to form a single large cavity that is filled by concrete. While many of these foam block ICF systems have met with some level of success, there are also a number of shortcomings. Challenges arise in creating the foam blocks, effectively fitting them together to form a secure wall, pouring concrete into the blocks, and applying finishing materials. Many of these issues arise because of the unique properties of polystyrene (widely used in most ICFs), which responds and acts differently than more familiar building materials. In view of these and other issues, Applicant has recognized that improvements to insulating concrete forms is desirable.
Providing low cost housing and energy efficient buildings is in continue evolution, and still most of the new housing and small building construction is done with wood framing, build on site. Modular factory build units are now starting to be a tangible factor in the hole industry. New construction systems are in need. they need to be cost effective and comply with evolving energy requirements.
The objective of the present invention is to provide users with energy efficient, low cost ease to use environmental friendly in many ways construction system while solving a common problem in many ICF's products thru the use of aligning wedges that provide structural support for drywall and trim installation. The main purpose is to create a long lasting building system, structurally stronger and better insulated that a standard 2×6 or 2×8 frame wall. We created the lowest construction system delivering a cost effective structurally superior product that will only get stronger with the pass of time.
Unless otherwise specifically noted, articles depicted in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

Insulating superblocks for constructing modular superblock assemblies


An aircraft maintenance robot (20) for maintaining aircraft surfaces is described that includes a maintenance tool (228), for example a nozzle (78), conduits and a pump, which supply fluid to the maintenance tool, which sprays the fluid on aircraft surfaces; movable arm with rotatable hinges and wrists such that a manifold to which the maintenance tools are coupled may be positioned in response to control signals; and a processor which, after accounting for the position of the aircraft, the weather conditions, and the physical dimensions of the aircraft, generates the control signals used to position the maintenance tool such that, after positioning the aircraft, the maintenance operation may be performed without human intervention. The preferred embodiment of the present invention discloses the use of the maintenance robot (20) for deicing aircraft. A wide variety of interchangeable end effectors, however, may be used for a wide variety of applications. These may include various cleaning, painting, paint removing, and even firefighting applications.

The presence of ice on aircraft surfaces can destroy or substantially reduce lift, which is necessary for flight. Therefore, when icing conditions exist, the ice must be removed or prevented, generally referred to as "deiced," before take off. Aircraft are typically deiced by the application of a heated deicing fluid, which is usually glycol.
One present method of deicing aircraft entails using a truck or similar vehicle with an arm attached. The arm has a cradle at the end from which an operator positions the arm and sprays deicing fluid on the surfaces of the aircraft. This method has several inherent disadvantages. First, this method requires considerable time to deice the aircraft. Additionally, waste of deicing fluid frequently results from the application of excessive amounts of deicing fluid. Moreover, human error in positioning and applying the deicing fluid is more probable, especially since the greatest need for deicing typically occurs in the harshest weather conditions. The human error and excessive amounts of deicing fluid expose operators to direct contact with the potentially dangerous chemicals in the deicing fluid.
Another method of deicing aircraft involves using a truck or similar vehicle with a arm attached thereto, and the arm positioned by remote. An operator views a monitor coupled to the arm, and based on the view from the remote camera, the operator positions the nozzles and sprays the surfaces. This method suffers from the same deficiencies as the prior system, but even less effectively deices the aircraft because the operator only views the aircraft surface through the remote video camera. If it is not possible to see in through the video camera, the operator will erroneously determine that the surface is free of ice.
A system is therefore needed to automatically deliver heated deicing fluid to the surfaces of aircraft in a short time, without waste of deicing fluid, and without error caused by human operators.


Detecting computer viruses includes providing a disk space having at least a portion that is partitioned into separate segments, each segment being accessed by at least one of a plurality of hosts. A first one of the segments is accessed using a different file system than a second one of the segments. An antivirus unit scans at least part of the disk space for viruses. The part of the disk space that is scanned by the antivirus unit includes at least some parts of the first and second segments. The first and second segments may correspond to different physical portions of the disk space. The first and second segments may or may not overlap. The first and second segments may correspond to logical entities. Part of the disk space that is scanned by the antivirus unit may correspond to particular types of files stored in the disk space. The disk space that is scanned by the antivirus unit may correspond to files that have been modified since a previous virus scan.

1. Technical Field
This application relates to computer storage devices, and more particularly to inhibiting viruses in computer storage devices.
2. Description of Related Art
A computer system may be attacked by so-called "viruses", which, in many instances, contain code that adversely affects operation of the computer system. Although viruses may exist as stand-alone data files, viruses may also be stored as part of an existing file and are sometimes hidden as seemingly innocuous parts of the file. Thus, a computer system may be infected with a virus by modifying a small portion of a file that is otherwise used for conventional operations unrelated to the virus. When the file is subsequently accessed, the virus may be activated and may cause damage to other parts of the computer system by, for example, replicating itself and/or destroying portions of other files on the computer system.
Antivirus software is provided by a number of commercial vendors to detect viruses on a computer system and, in some instances, remove the offending viruses. Most antivirus software works by scanning individual files to search for suspect patterns of known viruses. Thus, as new viruses are created and detected by the makers of antivirus software, the antivirus software is updated to take into account these new viruses and detect the corresponding patterns.
In many instances, commercially-available antivirus software is configured to operate on a single user computer. The antivirus software may run each time the computer is booted up and may scan each file for suspect patterns. However, it may be desirable to run antivirus software for one or more host processors that store and retrieve data using a multihost storage device containing a plurality of host interface units, disk drives, and disk interface units. Such multihost storage devices are provided, for example, by EMC Corporation of Hopkinton, Mass. and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,206,939 to Yanai et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,778,394 to Galtzur et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,147 to Vishlitzky et al, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,208 to Ofek. The hosts access the multihost storage device through a plurality of channels provided therewith. The hosts provide data and access control information through the channels to the multihost storage device and the multihost storage device provides data to the hosts also through the channels. The hosts do not address the disk drives of the multihost storage device directly, but rather, access what appears to the hosts as a plurality of logical disk units. The logical disk units may or may not correspond to the actual disk drives of the multihost storage device.
One way to perform antivirus checking on a multihost storage device is to run conventional single user antivirus software on each of the hosts so that files of the multihost storage device that belong to each host may be separately scanned by each host. However, such an arrangement may not provide for efficient coordination of the antivirus software for the entire multihost storage device. In addition, if one or more of the hosts do not properly run antivirus software, then viruses may exist on the multihost storage device even though other hosts have performed appropriate antivirus checking. In addition, such an arrangement may be inefficient with respect to updating the data base of known viruses when each of the hosts is separately updated with new virus information.
It is thus desirable to be able to run antivirus software for multihost storage devices in an efficient and coordinated manner.


A direct conversion receiver (200) is capable of recovering a filtered baseband signal (295) from a radio signal (201) modulated with a baseband signal (202). The direct conversion receiver (200) comprises a radio frequency mixer (205) for converting the radio signal (201) to the baseband signal (202), a lowpass amplifier (210) DC coupled to the radio frequency mixer (205), that amplifies the baseband signal (202) and substantially attenuates components of the baseband signal above a high corner frequency, and a DC offset compensation section (225) DC coupled to the lowpass amplifier (210), that provides a DC offset compensation and a controlled highpass filtering of the baseband signal. A low corner frequency of the DC offset compensation section is smoothly varied from a predetermined maximum value to a predetermined minimum value during a low frequency, low energy portion of the signaling protocol.

Known means of recovering digital signals from a radio signal which has been frequency modulated by the digital signal include direct conversion receivers, in which the last stage of conversion is to a baseband signal rather than to a low frequency signal, as in more conventional receivers. In a direct conversion receiver, the baseband signal is amplified and filtered, and then demodulated by analog signal analysis, using digital signal processing techniques. In a more conventional receiver, amplification and filtering is provided in two or more conversion stages and a discriminator circuit is used for demodulation. The use of a direct conversion approach lends itself more readily to a more integrated receiver having fewer integrated circuits.
DC offset is problematic in a direct conversion receiver, in which the mixer output is generally DC coupled through the baseband filter and amplifier(s). This DC coupling is required in order to provide an integrated circuit which does not require the addition of either large onchip capacitors or pads to off-chip capacitors. DC offset is caused by local oscillator (LO) to radio frequency (RF) leakage in the baseband converting mixer and transistor mismatch in a mixer and the baseband filter. The DC offset in combination with large DC gain can cause the baseband filter to exceed its dynamic range. For example, in a receiver running off a one volt supply a typical maximum baseband filter signal is 200 millivolts (mV) peak to peak. With a baseband amplifier gain of 70 decibels (dB), a DC offset greater than approximately 63 microvolts (uV) at the input of the baseband amplifier will overload the baseband filter. Mixer output offset due to LO to RF leakage and transistor mismatch can exceed 2 mV, which is much greater than the allowable 63 uV.
A past approach to resolving the DC offset problem has been to wrap a DC offset correction circuit around the amplifier, which establishes a low corner frequency (alternatively described as the highpass frequency) for the baseband signal, below which the bandpass signal is significantly attenuated (e.g., 70 decibels). The low corner frequency must be low enough to allow reliable recovery of the baseband signal for all anticipated combinations of data. In the well known FLEX.TM. protocol, when operating at 4800 bits per second, the required low corner frequency is less than 100 Hertz (Hz). A large capacitor has been used in such DC offset correction circuits to attain this low corner frequency. The settling time of such a circuit is on the order of 50 milliseconds. Providing for such a long settling time can impact pager battery life and scan time in roaming pagers. An improvement used in some data receivers is to provide two highpass corner frequencies, e.g., 100 Hz and 1 KiloHertz (KHz), and switch from the higher frequency to the lower frequency after synchronization is completed. Such an approach requires the switching of capacitors or transconductance and introduces a rapid change of bandwidth. The rapid change of bandwidth typically causes a similar effect as a DC offset, which also slows the response time.
Thus, what is needed is a means to provide a DC offset correction in a direct conversion receiver while at the same time having a fast response time,

Radio having a fast adapting direct conversion receiver


An optical irradiation apparatus includes: a light-emitting device configured to emit a plurality of light beams whose optical axes extend in a substantially identical direction; a collimator part configured to convert the light beams into parallel light beams; and a light condensing part configured to collect the parallel light beams. The light-emitting device includes a super luminescent diode array in which a plurality of waveguides are provided on a substrate. Each of the waveguides has a light-emitting facet including a light emission point from which an associated one of the light beams is emitted. The light emission points are located in a plane. The plane including the light emission points is orthogonal to a direction of an optical axis of the collimator part.

The present disclosure relates to optical irradiation apparatus, and more particularly to an optical irradiation apparatus which heats an irradiation object or causes photochemical reaction in the irradiation object.
In recent years, attention has been given to techniques of heating an irradiation object or causing photochemical reaction in the irradiation object by optical irradiation. For example, a technique of partially heating a semiconductor or a metal to a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point by optical irradiation to achieve a joint (welding) has been investigated. In addition, a technique of partially heating amorphous silicon on glass by optical irradiation to change the amorphous silicon into microcrystalline silicon in order to enhance a thin film transistor (TFT) is examined. Further, for example, a technique of activating impurities by optical irradiation to enhance properties of a semiconductor doped with the impurities is also investigated.
An optical irradiation apparatus for optical irradiation includes: a semiconductor light-emitting device serving as a light source; and a light collection optical system collecting light emitted from the semiconductor light-emitting device in a predetermined region of an irradiation object. To heat the irradiation object or cause photochemical reaction in the irradiation object, a semiconductor light-emitting device needs to obtain a light output of about 1 W to about 100 W. To uniformly change properties of the optical irradiation region, the light collection optical system needs to show a uniform distribution of the irradiating light intensity in the light collection region.
Examples of known semiconductor light-emitting devices include light emitting diodes (LEDs) and semiconductor laser devices. However, it is difficult for a single LED or semiconductor laser device to obtain a sufficient light output as an optical irradiation apparatus. Thus, a semiconductor light-emitting device needs to be constituted by a plurality of LEDs or semiconductor laser devices, for example, and a coupling optical system coupling light outputs of these devices.
In particular, semiconductor lasers devices have high directivities and can enhance the coupling efficiency of a coupling optical system, and thus, are preferable as a light source of an optical irradiation apparatus. In addition, if a semiconductor laser array in which a plurality of semiconductor laser devices are integrated on one chip is employed, or such semiconductor laser arrays are stacked on one package, size reduction and high output can be achieved. However, when outputs of semiconductor laser devices are coupled together, interference occurs among light beams emitted from the semiconductor laser devices. Accordingly, in a case where the light beams are collected on one place by a light collection optical system, light distribution cannot gradually varies because of interference noise, resulting in a limitation in enlarging a region where uniform light distribution is obtained.
To reduce the interference noise, a technique of converging light emitted from, for example, a semiconductor laser device into light with low interference is proposed (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,719,738). Specifically, an optical element including: a highly reflective mirror having an aperture; a plano-concave lens provided in the aperture; a light guide for guiding light which has passed through the aperture; and a partially reflective mirror provided at the tip of the light guide is used to convert light emitted from, for example, a semiconductor laser device into light having a low interference property.
The concave lens changes light emitted from a light source such as a semiconductor laser device into light expanding in the radiation direction, and the expanded light enters the optical waveguide. Part of the light which has entered the optical waveguide is emitted directly from the partial reflection mirror. Another part of the light is reflected multiple times between the partial reflection mirror and the high reflection mirror, and then is emitted from the partial reflection mirror. Accordingly, light emitted from the partial reflection mirror is a mixture of various light beams having a difference in optical path length which is an even-numbered multiple of the length of the optical waveguide. By preventing the length of the optical waveguide from being a multiple of ¼ of the wavelength of incident light, it is possible to avoid resonance of light emitted from the partial reflection mirror. As a result, light emitted from, for example, the semiconductor laser device can be converted into light with low interference.
Such use of light with reduced interference is expected to enable light with a uniform distribution to be applied to a wide region.

Optical irradiation apparatus with super luminescent diodes

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


Amphiphilic biocompatible cyclodextrin grafted polymers comprising a hydrophobically modified cyclodextrin moiety, a linear linker and a biocompatible hydrophilic polymer backbone, wherein said cyclodextrin moiety is grafted to said biocompatible hydrophilic polymer backbone by said linker are disclosed. The cyclodextrin-grafted biocompatible polymers of this invention may be used as bioactive agent carriers. Methods of making and using such cyclodextrin-grafted biocompatible polymers are disclosed.

This invention relates to novel polymeric bioactive agent carriers. More particularly, the invention relates to cyclodextrin-grafted biocompatible polymers used as bioactive agent carriers and methods of making thereof.
Many biologically active molecules such as anti-viral agents, anti-cancer agents, peptides/proteins and DNA, effective for a variety of therapeutic applications, have become commercially available through advances in recombinant DNA and other technologies. However, an ideal carrier for drugs and active agents is always needed to facilitate their solubility, delivery and effectiveness.
Cyclodextrins (CDs) are cyclic oligosaccharides, usually consisting of six to eight glucose units, which have a truncated cone shape with the wide open side being formed by secondary hydroxyl groups (2-OHs and 3-OHs) and the narrower side by primary hydroxyl groups (6-OHs). Cyclodextrins provide for unique micro-heterogenous environments since the exterior of the molecule is hydrophilic while the cavity is hydrophobic due to the relatively high electron density. The inclusion properties of cyclodextrins, namely, complex-formation between a guest molecule and a cyclodextrin molecule, have been extensively investigated. The complexes, which are formed in the solid state and in solution, consist of guest molecules which are held in the cavity of the host cyclodextrin and are stabilized by Van der Waals forces, and, to a lesser extent, by dipole-dipole interactions. Inclusion complexes in aqueous solutions are thought to be further stabilized by hydrophobic interactions, i.e., by the tendency of solvent water to push hydrophobic solutes of suitable size and shape into the essentially hydrophobic cavity, in order to attain the "most probable structure" of the solvent and obtain minimal energy in the overall system.
Practical use of natural cyclodextrins (α-, β-, and γ-CDs) as drug carriers is restricted by their low aqueous solubility. Safety is another major concern of cyclodextrins being used as drug carriers due to the toxicity of CD. Modification of the parent cyclodextrin to improve safety while maintaining the ability to form inclusion complexes with various substrates has been the goal of numerous research groups. Some groups have also focused on improving interaction between the pharmaceuticals and the cyclodextrins while others have attempted to prepare materials that can be chemically defined more precisely.
The two most promising cyclodextrin derivatives which are suitable for parenteral administration are hydoxylpropyl β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD or HPCD) and sulfobutylether-β-cyclodextrin (SBEβCD or SBE-CD). HPβCD has generally been found to be safe when administered parenterally in animals and humans [Pitha et al, J Pharm Sci, 84 (8), 927-32 (1995)]. Minor reversible histological changes have been observed in high dose animal studies (100-400 mg/kg) and more significant hematological changes were observed in these high dose studies suggesting red blood cell damage had occurred. No adverse effects were observed in human studies. SBEβCD has also been found to be safe when administered parenterally in mice [Rajewski et al, J Pharm Sci, 84 (8), 927-32 (1995)]. However, like most of the modified cyclodextrins, the binding constant between drugs and HPβCDs is usually less than those with the parent or unmodified cyclodextrin. Due to steric hindrance of the host molecule, the higher the degree of hydroxylpropyl substitution the poorer the drug binding.
Hydrophobic modifications of cyclodextrins have also been prepared in attempts to improve the formulations of some CD inclusionable drugs. It was found that partial methylation of the hydroxyl groups at the 2- and 6-position of β-cyclodextrin (DM-βCD or DMCD) generally leads to stronger drug binding due to increased hydrophobic interactions. Although the methylated cyclodextrins are highly water soluble, they also have greater toxicity. The toxicity of DMβCD was reduced significantly by modifying the free 3-hydroxyl groups with acetyl groups. This indicates that water-soluble cyclodextrin derivatives with superior bioadaptability and inclusion ability can be prepared by carefully selecting the substitution groups. Controlling the degree of substitution is also important in balancing water solubility and complexing capability. When the substitution groups are more hydrophobic than methyl groups, such as an ethyl group, an acetyl group, etc., the whole cyclodextrin derivative becomes practically water insoluble. These compounds have been shown to have potential application as sustained release carriers for water-soluble drugs. Among the alkylated cyclodextrins, heptakis(2,6-di-O-ethyl)-β-cyclodextrin and heptakis(2,3,6-tri-ethy)-β-cyclodextrin were the first slow-release carriers to be used in conjunction with water soluble diltiazem, isosorbide dinitrate, and the peptide buserelin acetate.
On the other hand, the peracylated cyclodextrins with medium alkyl chain lengths (C4-C5) are particularly useful as novel hydrophobic carriers due to their multifunctional and bioadaptable properties. They have broad applicability for various routes of administration: for example, the bioadhesive properties of heptakis(2,3,6-tri-O-butanoyl-β-cyclodextrin (C4) can be used in oral and transmucosal formulations, while the film-forming properties of heptakis (2,3,6-tri-O-valeryl)-β-cyclodextrin (C5) are useful in transdermal preparations. In oral applications, the release of molsidomine, a water-soluble and short-half life drug, was markedly retarded by complexation with peracylated-β-cyclodextrins in decreasing order of their solubility, particularly by those having carbon chains longer than the butylated derivatives. When the complexes were administered orally to beagle dogs, heptakis(2,3,6-tri-O-butanoyl)-β-cyclodextrin suppressed the peak plasma level of molsidomine and maintained a sufficient drug level for a long period, while use of other derivatives having shorter or longer chains than heptakis(2,3,6-tri-O-butanoyl)-β-cyclodextrin proved to be insufficient. This indicates that heptakis(2,3,6-tri-O-butanoyl)-β-cyclodextrin may be a useful carrier for orally administered water-soluble drugs, especially for drugs which are metabolized in the GI tract. The superior and sustained effect exhibited with the heptakis (2,3,6-tri-O-butanoyl)-β-cyclodextrin may be a result of both increased hydrophobicity and mucoadhesive properties. Because of its hydrophobicity, heptakis(2,3,6-tri-O-butanoyl)-β-cyclodextrin, as well as other hydrophobic cyclodextrin derivatives, can only be used in solid or oily formulations. On the other hand, like natural β-cyclodextrin, their membrane toxicity, which causes tissue irritation and hemolysis in a concentration-dependent manner is another limitation of their pharmaceutical application. For example, the concentration of DM-β-CD that induces 50% hemolysis of human erythrocytes is lower than that of so called bioadaptable CD derivatives such as 2-hydroxypropyl-β-CD, sulfobutyl ether of β-CD, and maltosyl-β-CD. The hemolytic activity of cyclodextrins is associated with the extraction of membrane components, mainly through inclusion action with cholesterol. However, this drawback can be overcome by further structural modification of alkylated CDs, for example, heptakis (2,6-di-O-methyl-3-O-acetyl)-β-CD (DMA-β-CD) was found to have much weaker hemolytic activity while keeping a similar inclusion ability to that of DM-β-CD [Hirayama et al, J Pharm Sci, 88 (10), 970-5 (1999)]. Since cyclodextrins are poorly adsorbed from the GI tract following oral administration, the oral administration of cyclodextrins raises minimal safety concerns that may result from the systemic absorption of the cyclodextrins themselves. However, cyclodextrins may cause secondary systemic effects through increased GI elimination of certain nutrients and bile acids. This effect is most notable for γ-cyclodextrin assisted fecal elimination of bile acids. The increased elimination, however, was only observed at very high oral doses of cyclodextrin (up to 20% of diet). The secondary effects of the increased bile acid elimination are increased conversion of serum cholesterol to the bile acids with subsequent lowering of plasma cholesterol levels.
For years, various kinds of cyclodextrins have been prepared to improve the physicochemical properties and inclusion capabilities of parent cyclodextrins, and some of the pharmaceutical products containing cyclodextrins have been approved. Because large amounts of cyclodextrins are necessary to alter the solubility properties of the drugs being carried, the toxicity of the cyclodextrin needs to be very low in order to safely delivery the necessary dose of a drug. Therefore either reducing the total dose or reducing the intrinsic toxicity of cyclodextrins can widen the pharmaceutical applications of cyclodextrins.
In view of the foregoing, it will be appreciated that providing improved cyclodextrin containing bioactive agent carriers and a method of using them would be a significant advancement in the art.

Cyclodextrin grafted biocompatible amphilphilic polymer and methods of preparation and use thereof


A 90.degree. elbow for pneumatic transport pipes includes a tubular asymmetric cross-sectional expansion at the entrance side, a baffle plate along the outer elbow side and a tubular asymmetric cross-sectional contraction at the exit side of the elbow. The baffle plate is arranged at an angle between about 55.degree. and 65.degree. relative to the incoming flow direction of bulk material. The inner elbow side is defined by a quadrantal pipe shell, with the remaining area being complemented by segments to provide a closed cross section.

The present invention refers to pipe fittings for pneumatic transport pipes, and in particular to an elbow for connecting two pipes at an angle of 90.degree., with the elbow including a first pipe socket connected to a pipe section with expanding cross-sectional area which is followed by a second pipe socket.
An elbow of this type is known and includes a quadrantal pipe bend with a bag-like cross-sectional expansion at the outer elbow side. The provision of such a bag-like expansion results in a deceleration of the velocity of the entering flow of bulk material. As part of the bulk material collects in the space as defined by the cross-sectional expansion, a direct impacting of bulk material particles, which enter the elbow, upon the outer elbow wall surface is prevented. Even though this outer wall section is subjected to reduced wear, and thus such an elbow has a considerably increased life, the bag-like cross-sectional expansion causes an undesired pressure drop. Further, since bulk material accumulates in the formed pocket of the cross-sectional expansion, a removal of accumulating bulk material is difficult even when blow cleaning over an extended period. Thus, a complete cleaning, as required during a product change, necessitates a dismantling of the elbow.
It is also known to provide a 90.degree. elbow in form of a pipe bend which includes at the outer elbow side a cross-sectional expansion in form of a substantially spherical chamber. At operation, this chamber is filled with bulk material particles to create a vortex or ball which rotates counterclockwise to the direction of deflection so as to impart the entering flow with the desired deflection without having bulk material particles impact the outer elbow wall surface. This design desires to lessen not only wear of the pipe bend but also the change in the particle structure as well as also formation of product abrasion and formation of so-called angel hair. However, practice has shown that the parting edge, by which the bulk material flow entering the elbow is split in a partial flow which is deflected and a partial flow which enters the chamber and rotates there, as well as the rotational motion of the bulk material particles in the spherical chamber promote the formation especially of superfine abrasion. Moreover, with certain types of bulk material, the aspired suspension of bulk material particles within the flow medium cannot be attained in the spherical chamber which thus becomes increasingly filled with stationary bulk material. Therefore, an elbow of this type displays the same drawbacks as those pipe fittings previously set forth, especially with regard to a cleaning prior to a product change.
Conventional 90.degree. elbows are certainly also known which have the advantage of a low pressure drop and which are self cleaning. Still, the use of such conventional 90.degree. elbows is disadvantageous as the outer elbow side is rapidly worn off and formation of angel hair is promoted which especially is encountered during dragging of granulated particles of polyolefine along the pipe wall, in particular when operating at high conveying speeds. These drawback could be eliminated by using T-pieces with a dummy third connection which is filled with bulk material up to the area of deflection between the first and second pipe connections, with the bulk material forming an interface in form of a baffle plate for the entering flow of bulk material; however, the use of such T-pieces is disadvantageous as they are not self-cleaning and result in a high pressure drop.

90 degree elbow for pneumatic transport pipes