Disclosed is an electrophotosensitive material comprising a conductive substrate and a photosensitive layer formed on the substrate, the photosensitive layer containing a quinone derivative of the formula (1) and/or (2):

The present invention relates to an electrophotosensitive material containing a quinone derivative having an excellent electric charge transferability, which is used in image forming apparatuses such as electrostatic copying machine, facsimile and laser beam printer.
In the image forming apparatuses, a so-called organic photosensitive material has widely been used, which comprises an electric charge generating material generating an electric charge under light radiation, an electric charge transferring material transferring thus generated electric charge and a binder resin constituting a layer in which the above substances are dispersed.
The organic photosensitive material is divided into tow main classes of a single-layer type photosensitive material wherein an electric charge generating material and an electric charge transferring material are dispersed in the same photosensitive layer and a multi-layer type photosensitive material having a laminated structure of an electric charge generating layer containing an electric charge generating material and an electric charge transferring layer containing an electric charge transferring material. Further, in the multi-layer type photosensitive material, the electric charge transferring layer having a film thickness larger than that of the charge generating layer is deposited at the outermost layer of the photosensitive material in view of the mechanical strength.
The electric charge transferring material used in these photosensitive materials includes a hole transferability type one and an electron transferability type one, and among the electric charge transferring materials known until now almost all of electric charge transferring materials having high carrier mobility so as to provide practically useful sensitivity with the photosensitive material have hole transferability. Therefore, in the organic photosensitive material which is now put into practical use, the multi-layer type photosensitive material comprises the electric charge transferring layer at the outermost layer becomes a negatively charging type one inevitably.
However, this negatively charging type organic photosensitive material must be charged by negative corona charge accompanied with the generation of a large amount of ozone, thereby to cause problems such as influence on the environment and deterioration of the photosensitive material itself.
To solve the problems described above, it has been studied to use an electron transferring material as the electric charge transferring material.
Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application (Kokai Tokkyo Koho Hei) No. 1-206349 suggests to use, as the electron transferring material, a compound having a structure of diphenoquinone or benzoquinone.
However, a compound having diphenoquinone structure or benzoquinone structure is poor in matching with the electric charge generating material and insufficient in injection of electrons into the electron transferring material from the electric charge generating material. Since such an electron transferring material has low compatibility with a binder resin and is not uniformly dispersed in a photosensitive layer, the hopping distance of electrons becomes longer and electrons are less likely to move at low electric field.
Accordingly, as is apparent from electrical characteristics test described in Examples described hereinafter, the above-described conventional photosensitive material containing an electron transferring material had problems such as high residual potential and poor sensitivity.
The single-layer photosensitive material has advantages that one photosensitive material can be used in both of positively and negatively charging type apparatuses by using electron and hole transferring materials in combination. However, there arise problems that, when using diphenoquinone derivative as the electron transferring material, a charge transfer complex is formed by an interaction between the electron and hole transferring materials, thereby inhibiting transfer of electrons and holes.
To solve the problems described above, Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application (Kokai Tokkyo Koho Hei) Nos.7-261419 and 9-151157 disclose to use a naphtoquinone derivative as the electron transferring material.
However, even when using a naphthoquinone derivative as the electron transferring material, it is not sufficient in matching with the electron generating material and in compatibility with a binder resin.
Thus, an object of the present invention is to solve the technical problems described above and to provide an electrophotosensitive material whose sensitivity has been improved as compared with a conventional one.
While studying intensively to solve the problems described above, the present inventors have found a new fact that: a quinone derivative represented by the general formula (1):
wherein R1 and R2 are the same or different and represent an alkyl group, R3 represents an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an aryl group, an aralkyl group, a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom, R4 and R5 are the same or different and represent an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an aryl group, an aralkyl group, a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom, or form a ring by binding each other, and m represents an integer of 1 to 4, and/or, a quinone derivative represented by the general formula (2):
wherein R6 and R7 are the same or different and represent an alkyl group, R8 represents an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an aryl group, an aralkyl group, a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom, X represents a halogen atom, and n and p represent an integer of 1 to 4, have higher electron transferability as compared with a conventional electron transferring material such as a compound having diphenoquinone structure or benzoquinone structure and an excellent compatibility with a binder resin. Quinone derivatives of the general formulas (1) and (2) are known compounds described in Tetrahedron Letters, Vol.24, No.34, pp3567-3570, 1983.
Thus, the present invention includes the following inventions.
1) An electrophotosensitive material comprising a conductive substrate and a photosensitive layer formed on the conductive substrate, the photosensitive layer containing a quinone derivative represented by the general formula (1) and/or a quinone derivative represented by the general formula (2).
2) The electrophotosensitive material according to the above item 1), wherein said photosensitive layer contains an electron acceptor.
3) The electrophotosensitive material according to the above item 1), wherein said photosensitive layer is a single layer constituent containing a binder resin, an electric charge generating material and a quinone derivative represented by the general formula (1) and/or a quinone derivative represented by the general formula (2) as an electron transferring material.
4) The electrophotosensitive material according to the above item 1), wherein said photosensitive layer is a multi layer constituent comprising an electric charge generating layer containing an electric charge generating material and an electric charge transferring layer containing a binder resin and a quinone derivative represented by the general formula (1) and/or a quinone derivative represented by the general formula (2) as an electron transferring material.
Quinone derivatives represented by the general formulas (1) and (2) [hereinafter, sometimes referred to as quinone derivative (1) and quinone derivative (2), and xe2x80x9cquinone derivativesxe2x80x9d is used as representing both (1) and (2).] have an excellent electron acceptability and further good compatibility with a binder resin, thereby making it possible to uniformly disperse in the binder resin. Furthermore, quinone derivatives (1) and (2) are superior in matching with the electric charge generating material and injection of electrons from the electric charge generating material is smoothly conducted. Accordingly, quinone derivatives (1) and (2) exhibit excellent electric charge transferability even at low electric field and are suited for use as the electron transferring material in the electrophotosensitive material.
Moreover, since quinone derivatives (1) and (2) do not form a charge transfer complex with the hole transferring material, they are used particularly preferably in the single-layer type photosensitive layer using the electron transferring material in combination with the hole transferring material.
The electrophotosensitive material of the present invention is characterized in that the photosensitive layer is formed on the conductive substrate and said photosensitive layer contains quinone derivative (1) and/or quinone derivative (2).
Since such electrophotosensitive material contains quinone derivative (1) and/or quinine derivative (2) which have excellent properties as described above in the photosensitive layer, the residual potential is lower and the sensitivity is higher as compared with those of the electrophotosensitive material containing conventional electron transferring material.
Thus, the photosensitive layer containing quinone derivative (1) and/or quinone derivative (2) is superior in electron transferability at low electric field and less likely to cause recombination ratio of electrons and holes in the photosensitive, whereby apparent electric charge generation efficiency approaches an actual value. As a result, the sensitivity of the photosensitive material containing such photosensitive layer is improved. The residual potential of the photosensitive material is also lowered, thereby improving the stability and durability on repeated exposure.
Accordingly, a positively charged type photosensitive material having a higer senisitivity as compared with conventional one can be obtained by using quinone derivative (1) and/or quinone derivative (2) as an electric charge generating material which is contained in an electric charge transferring layer of multi-layer type photosensitive material or as an electron transferring material which is contained in an photosensitive layer of single-layer type photosensitive material.
Since quinone derivatives (1) and (2) do not form a charge transfer complex with the hole transferring material as described above, a photosensitive material having higher sensitivity can be obtained when using them in a single-layer type photosensitive material containing the electron transferring material and hole transferring material in the same photosensitive layer.
In the electrophotosensitive material of single-layer type, quinone derivative (1) and /or quinone derivative is usually incorporated in the amount within from 5 to 500 parts by weight, preferably from 10 to 500 parts by weight, and more preferably from 10 to 80 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the binder resin.
In case that quinone derivatives (1) and/or (2) is in the amount of less than 5 parts by weight, the residual potential becomes higher thereby it is feared that the sensitivity becomes insufficient; in case the amount of more than 500 parts by weight, thereby making quinone derivatives (1) and/or (2) possible to crystallize and the electrophotosensitive material does not sufficiently exhibit its function.
In the electrophotosensitive material of the multi-layer type, it comprises an electric charge generating layer containing an electric charge generating material and an resin binder and a electric charge transferring layer containing quinone derivatives (1) and/or (2). In the multi-layer type one, quinone derivatives (1) and/or (2) is preferably incorporated in the amount within a range from 10 to 500 parts by weight, and more preferably from 25 to 100 parts by weight, according to the same reason in the single-layer type one.
Moreover, in case that an electric acceptor is incorporated in said photo sensitive layer, since the electron transferability is improved much further, the photosensitive material having higher sensitivity can be obtained.

Abstract: (R1, R2, R6 and R7 are alkyl; R3 and R8 are alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, aralkyl, hydrogen or atom; R4 and R5 are alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, aralkyl, hydrogen or halogen, or form a ring by binding each other; X is halogen; m is 1 to 4, n and p are 1 to 4.) The photosensitive material has high sensitivity.


A shear wall structure is formed on a building wall or section thereof designed to accommodate anticipated wind or seismic shear loads by initially securing one or more subsurface shear panels on the interior or exterior sides of the wood or steel framing studs. Each shear panel consists of a thin steel sheet (0.015″ to 0.060″ thick) laminated to a thin rigid sheet material such as medium density fiberboard ( 1/16″ to ¼″ thick). Subsequently, the shear panels are covered with a conventional interior (e.g., drywall panels) or exterior (e.g., plaster) finishing materials.

Building codes today require that certain walls or, more commonly, sections of walls, of wood or steel framed houses or buildings, be formed to resist lateral (shear) loads due to anticipated seismic or wind conditions. Typically, ⅜″ to ⅝″ plywood sheets have been installed on the interior or exterior side of the framing studs to accept such lateral loads. It is common practice to install ½″ inch to ⅝″ thick wallboard panels ("drywall panels"), such as gypsum wallboards, on the interior sides of the framing studs and a ¾″ plaster (stucco) finish or other suitable material (with a water barrier) on the exterior side of the framing studs. Such interior and exterior finishing materials are typically installed over any plywood panels providing the lateral load resisting capacity. It is customary to install the plywood panels across an entire wall, requiring shear load resisting capacity, whether the plywood panels are located on the inside or outside of the framing studs, even when not needed in certain areas of the wall to avoid a drastic change in wall thickness.
For example, the interface between a ½″ drywall panel overlying a ½″ plywood panel and an adjacent sheet of ½″ or even a ⅝″ drywall panel would require considerable furring. By the same token, ½″ plywood paneling covering only a portion of an exterior framed wall would result in reducing the thickness of a typical exterior ⅞″ plaster finish by ½″. Such a thin layer of plaster is undesirable in that it will crack or break.
This current use of plywood to form a shear wall is wasteful of a limited natural resource. In addition, when subjected to reverse cyclical lateral forces (now required by the Uniform Building Code for shear wall structures) the openings in the plywood through which the fasteners (nails or screws) are placed tend to enlarge thereby tending to reduce the lateral load resisting capacity. In addition, plywood sheets are normally available in 4′ width and 8′, 9′ or 10′ lengths. An interior or exterior shear wall often requires a panel length that falls between such standard lengths, resulting in scrap end pieces.
As an alternative to using plywood sheets, steel straps have been installed in an "x" configuration to the wall framing studs, i.e., cross bracing, to provide shear resisting capacity. The interior drywall or exterior finishing material is then attached over the steel straps. Such straps generally require special plate brackets and are difficult to install without resulting in a sagging or loose fit. While the steel straps need only be employed in desired locations along a frame wall, if employed on the interior sides of the studs, there may be undesirable bumps or bulges in the inner wall surface. Further, such a wall structure is labor intensive to construct and requires higher design loads as specified by the building codes.
One solution to the above problem is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,768,841 ("'841 patent") which issued to two of the co-inventors of this application. The '841 patent describes a composite wall board panel in which a thin sheet of high strength material, such as steel, is bonded to a wallboard panel made, for example, of gypsum. The overall thickness of the laminated panel, marketed as SURE-BOARD®Series 200 under the patent, is ½″ or ⅝″. SURE-BOARD is a trademark of Swartz and Kulpa Engineering. The 200 panel provides adequate lateral load protection for a section of a wall and eliminates a change in wall thickness when abutting a conventional drywall panel. While the 200 panel may be installed on steel studs as well as wood studs it is more readily attached with drywall screws which have a bugle head allowing the top surface of the screw to be set flush with the surface of the installed panel, therefore accommodating conventional taping.
Screws adapted to penetrate the steel sheet are generally hardened and when used to fasten the panels to wood studs may tend to break at the wood/steel sheet interface, e.g., by fatigue, when exposed to repeated shear forces thereby degrading the shear load protection. Such breakage may not be apparent without a partial destruction of the wall. In addition, the 200 panels are designed primarily for interior installation.
We have found an improved method of forming a shear wall structure in a stud framed building which is particularly adapted for wood framed structures and capable of forming a shear wall on the interior or exterior side of the framing studs. Our improvement includes the discovery of a novel, thin, subsurface, steel laminated, panel (hereinafter "subsurface shear panel" or "shear panel"), particularly useful in carrying out the method.

Method of framing a building shear wall structure compatible with conventional interior or exterior finishing materials and subsurface panel for use therewith


A shaft seal for forming a dynamic seal along an axially extending annular running surface and method of installation thereof is provided. The shaft seal has a mounting portion configured to be connected to a stationary housing and a seal lip having an annular sealing surface extending between an oil side end and an air side end of the seal lip. The sealing surface is configured to extend axially along a shaft running surface. An annular bridge portion connects the seal lip to the mounting portion. A plurality of webs extend generally radially between the bridge portion and the mounting portion to prevent the seal lip from being inadvertently unfolded during installation or while in use. An annulus can be used to install the shaft seal into a housing and about a shaft without the need for secondary operations.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to oils seals, and more particularly to oil seals for a seal between an outer stationary housing and a central rotating shaft.
2. Related Art
Shaft seals for establishing a fluid tight seal between a stationary housing and a rotating shaft are well known. Continual efforts are made to attain a fluid tight seal, while minimizing the effects of friction between the seal and the rotating shaft. Some shaft seals utilize garter springs to facilitate maintaining a seal lip of the seal in sealing engagement with the shaft. Although these types of seals can prove useful, they typically result in an increased overall cost due to manufacture processes involved and in material cost of the springs. In addition, they can result in increased space requirements to accommodate the spring, and in addition, typically increase the weight of the seal assembly.
In another known shaft seal configuration, a reverse seal lip configuration is provided, wherein the seal lip has a sealing surface for engagement with the shaft and a reverse folded hinge portion lies substantially parallel in overlapping relation to the seal lip in an assembled state. The seal relies largely on the reverse folded configuration of the hinge portion to maintain the sealing surface of the seal lip in sealing engagement with the shaft. Although this configuration can prove useful in establishing a tight seal with relatively minimal friction in use, it does have potential problems both during assembly and in use. During assembly, the hinge portion can unfold if too much friction occurs between the sealing surface of the seal lip and the shaft. If this occurs, the seal needs to be removed and a new seal put in its place. If the problem goes undetected, a seal will not be established between the shaft and the housing, and problems associated with leakage will quickly result. In addition, even if the seal is installed properly, the hinge portion can unfold in use, thereby resulting in leaking problems thereafter. One contributing factor to the hinge portion unfolding in use is an increase in pressure on the oil side relative to the air side of the seal. If the pressure becomes too great on the oil side, the hinge portion can be pushed toward the air side of the seal until it eventually unfolds. As such, this type of seal has potential set backs both in assembly and in use.

Dynamic shaft seal and method of installation thereof


A multipart rail-like profile comprises at least two or more joinable or insertable profile elements (1), having at least one ratchet (5), a toothed rack compartment, or codings extending in the longitudinal direction. In addition, pattern elements (11) having equidistantly spaced elements (13), which are coupled to the ratchet or toothed rack partitioning, are provided in at least one wall of each profile element (1). For connecting the joinable or insertable profile elements (1), a connecting element (21) having a further wall (23) is provided for adjoining the wall of each profile element, having further, longitudinally extending pattern elements (25) which are congruent with the pattern elements (11), the elements (27) of which have matching spacing.

The present invention relates to a multipart rail-like profile comprising at least two or more joinable or insertable rail-like profile elements having at least one ratchet, a toothed rack compartment, or codings extending in the longitudinal direction, use of the profile, and methods for connecting two elements of a multipart rail-like profile.
For multipart rail-like profiles having a longitudinal ratchet or toothed rack compartment, it is a problem that in the transition from one profile to the next, the ratchet or toothed rack compartment continues with equidistant spacing. Since devices, means of transport, or vehicles are generally guided in the ratchet or toothed rack compartment or are driven by same, an imprecise transition results in interruptions of motion, reverse motions, or even the vehicle or device falling from the ratchet or toothed rack compartment.
Although it is possible to cut off the individual profile elements at the end in such a way that the transition is correct, this requires extremely accurate cutting equipment and a precise joining of the individual profile elements, which is very complicated.
The object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a measure by means of which a connection of two rail-like profile elements ensures a precise transition of the ratchet or toothed rack compartment, i.e., that the ratchet or toothed rack compartment is guided with equidistant spacing from one element to the next.
The stated object is achieved according to the invention by use of a connection according to the invention as disclosed herein.
It is provided that the guide elements or profiles have pattern elements next to the ratchet or toothed rack compartment, extending in the longitudinal direction of the profile, and the individual elements are in the same relation to the ratchet or toothed rack compartment, the elements preferably being aligned on the ratchet or toothed rack compartment. For the connection, a connecting element is provided which likewise has further pattern elements which extend in the longitudinal direction along a longitudinal wall, and which are congruent with the pattern elements in the guide profiles.
If the pattern elements are hole patterns, for example, the connecting element is connected to each of the two profile elements via the hole patterns, using rivet or screw elements, for example, whereby no perforation of the pattern in the connecting element remains uncovered between the two profile ends. Because of the continuity of the pattern elements of the hole pattern from one profile to the next over the elements, i.e., the hole pattern in the connecting element, it is ensured that the transition in the ratchet or toothed rack compartment maintains equidistant spacing from one profile to the next.
As pattern elements, cams or elevations are also possible which project outwardly from the longitudinal wall with spring loading, for example, and which engage in corresponding hole patterns in the longitudinal wall adjacent thereto, for example to fixedly connect the connecting element to one of the profile elements. Instead of holes, however, merely punched depressions may be provided as pattern elements, in which the referenced elevations or cams engage to secure the connecting element to the profile.
Instead of a ratchet or toothed rack compartment, longitudinally extending coding may also be provided, along which a device, means of transport, or the like may be guided or driven. But also in the case of coding it is important for the transition from one profile element to the next to take place uniformly or consistently, which in turn may be carried out using the referenced pattern elements such as, for example, a hole pattern over the connecting element situated between the profiles.
The rail-like profile may have a U-, H-, T-, V-, L-, or O-shaped cross section, i.e., an open or closed cross section. The ratchet, toothed rack compartment, or coding extends in at least one longitudinally running wall, and the pattern elements such as the hole pattern, which are linearly arranged, for example, extend in at least one further longitudinal wall; i.e., one element of each pattern, such as a hole, comes to rest precisely next to each opening or section of the ratchet, toothed rack compartment, or coding. The connecting element may also have a corresponding U-, H-, T-, V-, L-, or O-shaped design, or may be designed as a two-dimensional longitudinal rail.
Such rail-like profiles may be manufactured from extruded steel or aluminum, for example, or may be made of another suitable material such as a reinforced polymer. For example, aramid fiber-or carbon fiber-reinforced polymers, such as acetals, polyamides, etc., are known which are extremely dimensionally stable, have high abrasion resistance, are impact-resistant, etc., and which are correspondingly suited as replacement materials for metals. Other polymeric materials having a much lower weight are currently being developed as replacements for metallic materials.
The selection of material depends on the use of the rail, for example as a guide for a vehicle, access equipment, a lift, rescue equipment, transport equipment, etc.


The present invention provides a product that includes (a) a wood-based product having a pair of outer surfaces; and (b) a silicone-containing material and a compound having a dianion each located on at least a portion of at least one outer surface, and the silicone-containing material at least partially penetrates at least a portion of at least one outer surface of the wood-based product. The invention also includes methods for manufacturing such product.

Oriented Strand Board (OSB) is an engineered structural-use panel typically manufactured from thin wood strands bonded together with resin under heat and pressure, and it is used extensively for roof, wall, and floor sheathing in residential and commercial construction.
One drawback associated with known oriented strand boards (OSB) is that they are susceptible to decomposition by fungus. The problem is especially pronounced in the south eastern corridor of the United States (e.g., Florida and Louisiana). Several fungicides have been used in the pressure treatment of wood. The resulting pressure treated wood products may be temporarily resistant to fungus. However, many of these compounds are either extremely poisonous or are not suitable in the OSB manufacturing process.
Specifically, arsenic containing compounds, borates, and halogenated compounds (e.g., chromated copper arsenate (CCA), ammoniacal copper quat (ACQ), ammoniacal copper zinc arsenate (ACZA), creosote, and pentachlorophenol) have been used with limited success in the pressure treated wood industry. Arsenic is poisonous and its use has been criticized by several environmental groups.
The use of many known fungicides to produce oriented strand boards results in an oriented strand board with unacceptable physical properties. For example, many fungicides may undergo physical decomposition during the extreme conditions (e.g., temperature and pressure) typically experienced in the pressing stage (i.e., the step in which the resin is cured). As such, the resulting oriented strand board may not even be resistant to fungal infections.
The fungicide may not be chemically compatible with the resin. Moreover, the fungicide may lose its effectiveness over an extended period of time (e.g., about 25 years) and under normal weather conditions (e.g., rain, snow, heat, exposure to UV light, etc.). For example, the fungicide may leach out of the OSB over an extended period of time and under normal weather conditions.
Published PCT Application WO 03/062345 A2 discloses suitable antifungal formulations and methods of using these formulations to treat various substrates. This published PCT application, however, does not describe with sufficient detail, or provide any guidance on how to manufacture processed wood products (e.g., OSB or plywood) employing such antifungal formulations. Such processed wood products employ in the processes various substances (e.g., resins, waxes, etc.) as well as conditions (e.g., elevated temperatures and elevated pressures) that must be compatible with the antifungal formulations described therein to effectively provide a wood product that is antifungal.
As such, what is needed is a fungal resistant OSB; and processes for making the same. The fungal resistant OSB should include a fungicide that retains its effectiveness (i.e., antifungal properties) during the manufacturing of the OSB. The fungal resistant OSB should include an fungicide that retains its effectiveness over the extended periods of time typically encountered with the lifespan of the oriented strand board (e.g., up to about 25 years, up to about 50 years, or up to about 100 years).
During the manufacture and over the lifespan of the OSB, the fungicide should remain stable in the presence of the resin. The fungicide will preferably be inexpensive, easy to manufacture, convenient to use, environmentally safe, and/or chemically stable.

Wood-based product treated with silicone-containing material and dianion, and methods of making the same


Technology for applying a communications traffic security policy in which a distinct communications traffic flow is segregated based upon a security value; whereby the communications traffic security policy include one or both of a detection and an enforcement policy. The detection policy may include determining whether the segregated communications traffic flow involves malware; and, the enforcement policy may include a malware policy.

Networked computers and computer systems such as those connected to the Internet face an ever-present threat of infection by a variety of types of software which may be intended to or which may actually accomplish harm. These bits of malicious software may include viruses, worms, Trojan horses, spyware, bots, and other causative agents, inter alia, which may separately or collectively be generally referred to as malware.
Computer security systems are ever-evolving in attempts to better detect malware intrusions and to better enforce security policies upon detection. Existing security systems include intrusion detection policies to detect improper or questionable traffic in a computer or other communications network, and enforcement policies that are used to permit or deny certain types of network traffic in efforts to provide access control. Among the challenges faced by these and other policy driven systems is the richness or diversity of human and computer interactions, which makes it very difficult to determine how to effectively monitor computer traffic for security detection and enforcement purposes. This richness or diversity makes it especially difficult to predetermine how computer users may act in various situations, thus providing challenges to pre-establishing an effective detection or enforcement policy.

Communications traffic segregation for security purposes


A granule covered roofing shingle has a lower, tab portion, an upper, headlap portion, a first end and a second end, the shingle being suitable for installing on roof decks end-to-end with similar shingles in overlapping longitudinal courses, the tab portion having tabs and cutouts. The shingle has a fractional tab at each end of the shingle, and one or more whole tabs positioned between the ends of the shingle. The whole tabs and fractional tabs include a layer of granules to form a color blend, wherein both the fractional tabs of the shingle have the same color blend. When the shingle is installed on a roof deck with other substantially identically shaped shingles in overlapping longitudinal courses, adjacent shingles in the same course of shingles have fractional tabs that adjoin each other and that are of the same generally uniform color blend so that the two adjoining fractional tabs have the appearance of a single tab.

This invention relates in general to a shingle, and in particular, to a roofing shingle having cutouts and tabs, and for a process of making such shingles. More particularly, this invention pertains to a tabbed shingle and a method of cutting such a shingle from a continuous granule covered shingle sheet in such a manner as to improve the efficiency of the cutting process and the visual appearance of the shingle on the roof
In the past, roofing shingles have had to satisfy two main functions when applied to a roof deck. The first function is to provide a durable, weatherproof covering for the roof deck. Roof shingles, whatever their form, are intended to provide a means of sheltering the structure below the shingles from precipitation and the deleterious effects of sun and wind. Roof shingles installed on the roof deck must perform these protecting functions for a reasonable period of time. The second function is to present an aesthetically pleasing architectural feature which enhances the overall appeal of the structure to which the shingles have been applied. This aesthetic function has been satisfied by providing asphalt shingles with various butt edge contours and surface treatments which operate to simulate more traditional, and in most cases more expensive, forms of roof coverings, such as, thatch, wooden shakes, slates, and even tiles of various forms.
Natural slate tiles have long been used as a roof covering. Natural slate is a durable material and is considered to provide an aesthetically pleasing look or appearance to a roof. One of the features of roofs of natural slate is that different sources of slate have different colors, and the availability of any one color in any particular region of the country will determine its relative price with respect to slate of other colors available. Therefore, natural slate roofs tend to have a predominant color, such as gray, with one or more additional, more expensive accent colors interspersed to add variety. An example of a common mix of colors for a slate roof might include roughly 60 percent of the tiles having a light gray background color, about 15 percent of the tiles having a purple color, and about 25 percent of the tiles having a dark gray color.
A problem with natural slate roofs is that the installed cost is extremely high. Therefore, alternatives in the form of asphalt shingles and highly filled plastic resin tiles that mimic the look of natural slate have been developed. In the case. of asphalt is shingles mimicking the look of natural slate, each shingle is typically provided with relatively wide tabs, such as for example, 9 inches wide, separated by relatively narrow cutouts, such as 1 inch wide. When these shingles are cut, they are typically made with a half-cutout at each end so that when adjacent shingles are laid end-to-end on the roof a complete 1-inch cutout is formed.
The tabs of slate-look asphalt shingles are covered with colored granules to simulate slate tiles of different colors, with each tab having a generally uniform color to provide the visual impression that each tab is an individual natural slate tile. The shingles are typically laminated shingles, and the color of the underlay showing through the cutouts is usually darker than the tabs of the overlay to further enhance the appearance of thickness for the simulated tiles. To achieve this look or appearance, the shingle must be carefully manufactured with apparatus that enables each tab to be provided with a uniform colored appearance, with the color of each tab being either different or alike from each adjoining or neighboring tab, as dictated by the color pattern of the slate tiles that are being simulated.
The most aesthetically pleasing slate tile look requires the use of cutouts having a generally uniform width. This is not a problem for the complete cutouts cut by the cutting cylinder. However, where two shingles are laid end-to-end in a longitudinal course on the roof, there is difficulty assuring that the two half-cutouts of adjacent shingles will form a complete cutout that is sufficiently uniform in width with respect to the other cutouts (i.e., the whole cutouts formed by the cutting cylinder) for an aesthetically pleasing appearance on the roof. In order to produce perfectly formed half-cutouts very precise manufacturing control is required. It would be advantageous if there could be developed a shingle manufacturing operation that better accommodated the need for shingle cutouts having uniform widths.
The above objects as well as other objects not specifically enumerated are achieved by a granule covered roofing shingle having a lower, tab portion, an upper, headlap portion, a first end and a second end, the shingle being suitable for installing on roof decks end-to-end with similar shingles in overlapping longitudinal courses, the tab portion having tabs and cutouts. The shingle has a fractional tab at each end of the shingle, and one or more whole tabs positioned between the ends of the shingle. The whole tabs and fractional tabs include a layer of granules to form a color blend, wherein both the fractional tabs of the shingle have the same color blend. When the shingle is installed on a roof deck with other substantially identically shaped shingles in overlapping longitudinal courses, adjacent shingles in the same course of shingles have fractional tabs that adjoin each other and that are of the same generally uniform color blend so that the two adjoining fractional tabs have the appearance of a single tab.
According to this invention there is also provided a roof of the shingles of the invention.
According to this invention there is also provided a pair of granule covered roofing shingles, each shingle having a lower, tab portion, an upper, headlap portion, a first end and a second end, the shingles being suitable for installing on roof decks with the first end of the second shingle abutting the second end of the first shingle. The shingles are adapted for installation end-to-end with similar shingles in overlapping longitudinal courses. The tab portion of each shingle has tabs and cutouts, the shingles each having a fractional tab at each end of the shingle, and at least one whole tab positioned between the ends of each shingle. The whole tabs and the fractional tabs include a layer of granules to form color blends. The fractional tab at the first end of the second shingle and the fractional tab at the second end of the first shingle are of substantially the same generally uniform first color blend. At least one of the whole tabs of at least one of the shingles is of a second color blend different from the first color blend of the fractional tabs.
According to this invention there is also provided a roof of the shingles of the invention, wherein the shingles are installed on a roofing deck in overlapping courses, with the tabs of the shingles of a second course overlapping the headlap portion of the shingles of a lower, first course. Each of the tabs of the second course are positioned between two adjacent tabs of shingles on the first course. The tabs of the shingles of a third course overlap the headlap portion of the shingles of the second course. Each of the tabs of the second course are positioned between two adjacent tabs of shingles on the first course. The tabs of the second color blend on the second course are positioned between tabs of the first and third color blends on the first and third courses.
According to this invention there is also provided a process of making granule covered roofing shingles comprising coating a shingle mat to form an asphalt coated sheet, and applying granules to the asphalt coated sheet to form a granule covered sheet having distinct color portions of generally uniformly appearing color blends. cutouts are cut between the distinct portions to define tabs in the granule covered sheet, where each tab corresponds with one of the distinct color portions. The granule covered sheet is end cut to form individual shingles, where the end cuts are positioned within a tab so that each shingle has a fractional tab at each end of the shingle.

Owens Corning Fiberglas Technology, Inc.


The present invention provides a remote control apparatus comprising a controlled appliance and a server being connected via communication means, in which if data stored in the server is present, a notice command is promptly issued to the corresponding controlled appliance, and the controlled appliance having received the notice command automatically transmits a data acquisition request and receives the data stored in the server, whereby complicated operation by the user is not necessary and the capacity of the storage device of the server can be suppressed significantly.

In recent years, electronic appliances being used in households, such as audio-visual appliances (AV appliances), have become capable of recording not only image data, audio data and text data but also various kinds of data, and products equipped with a large-capacity storage device, such as a hard disk, have been developed. Hence, it is considered that conventional AV appliances are used for new applications, for example, applications for acquiring and storing various kinds of data, such as image data created using other AV appliances, in addition to image recording and reproducing functions using a large-capacity storage device.
A conventional remote control apparatus that remote-controls an electronic appliance, such as an AV appliance, serving as a controlled appliance using a server will be described below. FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the conventional remote control apparatus. FIG. 14 shows an example of the data management table of the server in the conventional remote control apparatus, and FIG. 15 shows an example of the user management table of the server thereof. FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing data acquisition processing in the conventional remote control apparatus.
In FIG. 13, a controlled appliance 100 is an electronic appliance being used in a household, such as a personal computer (PC), a tuner, a television receiver or a DVD recorder. Data transmission and reception are carried out between the controlled appliance 100 and a server 150 being connected thereto via the Internet.
In the controlled appliance 100, a communication control part 101 has a function of carrying out communication with the server 150 via the Internet. The user creates various commands at an operation part 107. A user-information storage part 106 stores a user ID (user identification number) and a user PW (user password) unique to each user. A command processing part 102 transmits a command to the server as commanded from the operation part 107. A data receiving part 103 receives the data transmitted from the server 150 via the communication control part 101. A data storage control part 104 carries out control to record the data received by the data receiving part 103 in a recording medium. A data storage part 105 is a recording medium, such as a hard disk or a DVD, and stores various kinds of data.
On the other hand, in the server 150, a communication control part 151 has a function of carrying out communication with the controlled appliance 100 via the Internet. A user management part 155 manages information regarding respective users and judges whether the command from the controlled appliance 100 is correct or not. A data filing part 152 stores various kinds of data, for example, image data including still images and moving images, and audio data. A data management part 153 is usually referred to as a file system or the like and carries out the management of the data stored in the data filing part 152. A data transmission part 154 transmits the data stored in the data filing part 152 to the controlled appliance 100.
FIG. 14 shows an example of the data management table of the data management part 153 of the server 150 in the conventional remote control apparatus. In the data management table, at least a user ID ("destination" in FIG. 14) for identifying a user and data indicating the name and storage location of the data transmitted to the user ID or the data being stored. The table is configured so that the data corresponding to the user ID can be fetched from the data filing part 152 on the basis of the management table of the data management part 153 when the server 150 receives a data acquisition request from the controlled appliance 100.
FIG. 15 shows an example of the user management table of the user management part 155 of the server 150. The user management table stores table data according to which a judgment is made as to whether the data acquisition request from the controlled appliance 100 is issued from the correct user or not, and the table data comprises at least a user ID and a user PW as data. If a login processing request or a data acquisition request is issued from the controlled appliance 100, the user management part 155 judges, using the user management table, whether the user is the correct user or not by respectively comparing the user ID and the user PW in the command with those stored therein.
The data acquisition operation in the conventional remote control apparatus configured as described above will be explained by using the flowchart of FIG. 16.
Electronic mail is a typical example of data transmission and reception via the Internet. Usually, application software for transmitting and receiving electronic mail is installed in a personal computer serving as the controlled appliance 100. When the user transmits and receives electronic mail, he starts the application software for electronic mail in the personal computer. Next, the user operates the operation part 107 and creates a data acquisition request command, for example. Hence, the command processing part 102 reads the user ID and the user PW from the user-information storage part 106 and logs into the server 150. The login processing is used to confirm the user ID and the user PW in the user management part 155 of the server 150 to judge whether the communication has been done from the correct user or not. After the login processing is finished, the command processing part 102 transmits the data acquisition request to the server 150 as commanded from the operation part 107. The data acquisition request is transmitted to the data management part 153 via the user management part 155. The data management part 153 confirms whether the data corresponding to the user ID of the user who transmitted the data acquisition request is present or not in the data stored in the data filing part 152. If the corresponding data is not present, a status indicating that there is no stored data is returned to the corresponding controlled appliance 100. If the data corresponding to the user ID is present, the data is transmitted to the data communication part 154. The data communication part 154 transmits the received data to the data receiving part 103 of the corresponding controlled appliance 100 via the communication control parts 151 and 101. The data receiving part 103 transmits the received data to the data storage control part 104. The data storage control part 104 stores the data in the data storage part 105 while adding file management information or the like required dependent on the state of a recording medium in which the data is stored. After the data storage is finished, a status indicating that the data storage is finished is returned to the server 150. After the data storage is finished, the controlled appliance 100 confirms whether other data is stored in the data filing part 152 of the server 150. If other data is present, the data is stored according to the same procedure as that described above. The above-mentioned processing is repeated until the stored data that corresponds to the user ID and is stored in the data filing part 152 of the server 150 becomes extinct.
Patent document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. JP-A-2000-242581

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


Systems and methods for monitoring patients with multiple chronic diseases are described. A system may include a health status monitor that receives diagnostic data including physiological signals sensed from a patient. The system may produce at least a first risk indication of the patient developing a first disease and a second risk indication of the patient developing a different second disease. The system may detect the first and second diseases from the physiological signals, and generate a composite health status indicator using the detections of the first and second diseases and the first and second risk indications. An alert of worsening health status may be generated if the composite detection score exceeds an alert threshold.

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a leading cause of death in the United States. CHF occurs when the heart is unable to adequately supply enough blood to maintain a healthy physiological state. CHF may be treated by drug therapy, or by an implantable medical device (MD) such as for providing cardiac electrostimulation therapies, including resynchronization therapy (CRT) to correct cardiac dyssynchrony within a ventricle or between ventricles.
CHF patients may exhibit various comorbidities, including Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), asthma, diabetes, or renal disease. In some patients, multiple disease conditions may interact with each other, such that worsening of one disease may adversely impacts progression of other disease states, causing systemic deterioration of patient health status. For example, some of the HF comorbidities may worsen along with the progression of CHF, such as exacerbation of the COPD or other pulmonary disease, or acute kidney failure. Additionally, some CHF patients may have be exposed to higher risk than other CHF patients of developing certain comorbidities.
CHF may have a huge economic impact on the healthcare system. Patients hospitalized with worsened heart failure such as decompensated heart failure may have a high rate of rehospitalization for various causes such as development or worsening of HF comorbidities. Proper patient monitoring, such as identification of patient at higher risks of developing a future event of WHF or HF comorbidities, and accurate detection of precursor events related to WHF event or HF comorbidities may allow proper and timely treatment and patient management, which may reduce the rehospitalization rate and the associated cost.


A video processing device includes an interface to receive an input video stream and an interface to provide an encoded video stream. The input video stream includes a sequence of frames. Each frame comprises two fields. The video processing device further includes an encoder to encode the input video stream to generate the encoded video stream. The encoder is to dynamically switch between a first encoding mode and a second encoding mode responsive to a variable quantization parameter. In the first encoding mode the encoder is to encode both fields or the complete frame of a corresponding frame of the sequence. In the second encoding mode the encoder is to encode only one field of the two fields of a corresponding frame of the sequence. This approach can achieve a specified low bit rate with reduced quantization effects while keeping the horizontal resolution unchanged.

Block-based video encoding techniques are inherently lossy as they rely on quality compromises in ways that are intended to be minimally perceptible. One such compromise comes in the form of the quantization parameter (QP), which controls the degree of quantization during encoding and thus controls the degree of spatial detail retained from the original video source. As QP increases, spatial detail is increasingly aggregated, which has the effect of lowering the bit rate at the expense of an increase in distortion and loss of quality. Rate control is frequently employed in video encoding or transcoding applications in an attempt to ensure that picture data being encoded meets various constraints, such as network bandwidth limitations, storage limitations, or processing bandwidth limitations, which may dynamically change. These constraints are reflected in the target bit rate for the resulting encoded video stream, and thus the goal of rate control is to maintain the bit rate of the encoded stream within a certain range of the target bit rate, which may remain relatively constant, as found in constant bit rate (CBR) applications, or may vary as found in variable bit rate (VBR) applications. Rate control achieves this target bit rate through manipulation of QP.
The high QP typically required to achieve relatively low bit rates in conventional encoding systems often introduces quantization artifacts that are readily perceivable by a viewer. In some systems, such quantization artifacts are addressed by lowering the temporal resolution or spatial resolution of the encoded stream, which often renders the artifacts unperceivable by the viewer. However, in certain video encoding standards, such as the Advanced Video Coding (AVC) standards, a change in resolution is treated as the starting of a new video stream, which prevents the use of reference video content before the resolution change and which requires new steam information. Moreover, the downstream device receiving the encoded video stream, which often is not under the control of the same entity controlling the encoder system, may not have the ability to, or be configured to, handle the resolution change. As such, an encoding system that facilitates low bit rates and allows the original resolution to be maintained while reducing the impact of quantization artifacts would be advantageous.

Adaptive single-field/dual-field video encoding


A conductor line material is provided which has an extremely low electric resistance such as 10 .mu..OMEGA..multidot.cm or less, and in preferred embodiments, about 5 .mu..OMEGA..multidot.cm, which causes no defect such as hillocks and pinholes even at high temperatures, and which easily forms strong insulation films by anodic oxidation. An Al-based conductor line material comprising an alloy whose composition formula is substantially expressed by Al.sub.x (M.sub.y N.sub.1-y).sub.1-x, where M represents at least one element selected from a group consisting of rare-earth elements, N represents at least one element selected from a group consisting of Nb, Zr and Ta, x is between 98 and 99.5 atomic percent, and y is a number between 0.1 and 0.9, wherein an intermetallic compound of Al with said element represented by M or N is deposited in the matrix by subsequent heat treatment. The same object may be achieved by an alloy of Al to which 0.5-2.0 atomic percent Nb is added. The temperature of heat treatment in both cases is preferably in a range between 250 and 450.degree. C.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrode conductor line material for electronic devices such as liquid crystal display devices, and more specifically, to a highly corrosion resistant, low resistance electrode conductor line material with a high thermal stability and little defects such as hillocks and pinholes. The present invention also relates to an electrode conductor line material on which a gate insulation film having a high breakdown voltage is formed by forming an oxidized film by anodic oxidation.
2. Related Art:
Pure metals such as Cu, Al, Mo, Ta, and W, or alloy materials such as Al-Cu, Al-Cu-Si, and Al-Pd have been used as electrode conductor line materials having low electric resistance used in electronic devices. However, in electrode conductor line materials for liquid crystal display devices recently attracting public attention as thin display devices, excellent properties different from those of conventional materials, such as large area conductor line for large screens, highly dense conductor line for high resolution, and array fabrication by a high temperature process, are required. FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a pixel in the array of a thin film transistor (TFT) liquid crystal display device. A pixel opening 1 is provided with a display electrode 2, a gate line 3, a gate electrode 3A, a data line 4, a drain electrode 4A, a source electrode 5, and a TFT active element 6. When the TFT is turned on by the signal on the gate line 3, the potential of the data line 4 becomes equal to the potential of the pixel electrode 2 connected through the source electrode 5. As the result, liquid crystals contained in the upper part of the pixel electrode 2 in the paper direction are oriented making the pixel be in the display condition. Here, an array electrode conductor line material of a liquid crystal display device according to the present invention is used in the gate line 3, the gate electrode 3A, the data line 4, the drain electrode 4A, and the source electrode 5.
The properties required in electrode conductor line materials for liquid crystal display devices include a low electric resistance. A high electric resistance causes various problems such as the delay of signals and the generation of heat, especially in manufacturing large liquid crystal display devices. For this reason, pure Al, which has a low electric resistance, has been used as the conductor line material for liquid crystal display devices. Pure Al excels in etching characteristics, and is a suitable material from the point of view of adhesion with the substrate. However, pure Al has disadvantage that it has a low melting point, and easily causes a defect known as hillock during the heating step in the CVD process after the formation of the conductor line film. This heating step is normally performed at a temperature of about 400.degree. C., and when the conductor line material is observed after this step, defects such as small projections and pinholes may be found. Such small projections are called hillocks and if these occur, the flatness of the conductor line material layer is lost, and oxidized films cannot be formed on the conductor line material layer in subsequent steps. The occurrence of hillocks is a very large problem in the manufacture of liquid display devices. Although the mechanism of the occurrence of hillocks has been unknown, it is considered that hillocks occur when a stress in the compression direction is applied to the thin film by heating due to difference in the coefficient of linear expansion between the thin film and the substrate, and Al atoms are driven by this stress and move along grain boundaries.
The occurrence of hillocks may be prevented by using refractory materials such as Cr, Ti, Ta, and MoTa, because the diffusion of atoms along grain boundaries is unlikely to occur. However, all of these refractory materials have as high specific resistance as 50 .mu..OMEGA..multidot.cm (about 4 .mu..OMEGA..multidot.cm for Al), and their electrical properties are not desirable for conductor line materials. These high resistance materials are not suitable for manufacturing large liquid crystal display devices.
Therefore, the development of Al-based alloy electrode conductor line materials has been tried. Although Al-Cu and Al-Cu-Si alloys were reported in the past, and Al-Ta and Al-Zr alloys were reported recently, these were not satisfactory in both the occurrence of hillocks at a high temperature of 300.degree. C. or above, and high electric resistance.
FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional structure of a liquid crystal display device. The glass substrate and conductor line materials formed on the undercoat applied on the substrate are protected from dielectric breakdown during the TFT operation by forming a gate insulation film for isolating them from the transparent electrode, the amorphous silicon layer, and the source/drain electrode. The gate insulation film consists of silicon oxide or silicon nitride, and laminated on the conductor line materials. However, the formation of such an oxide or nitride layer consisting of multiple layers requires complicated process steps, and if the layer thus formed has defect, dielectric breakdown may occur.
In order to cope with the complication of the process steps for forming insulation films and the problem of dielectric breakdown, it is desirable to oxidize the electrode conductor line material used in the gate electrode directly by anodic oxidation to form a dense oxidized film, and to replace the above insulation films with such an oxidized film. According to this method, the process for forming the insulation film, which required several steps, may be performed in one step, and the anodic oxidation method is suitable for obtaining dense oxidized films. This is possible when pure Al is used as the conductor line material. Pure Al forms a very dense oxidized film by anodic oxidation. However, as described above, pure Al has the problem of the occurrence of hillocks.

Conductor line materials and method of making their metal line layers

International Business Machines Corporation


A new portable tool guide for providing extra leverage when using a power drill. The inventive device includes a first positioning member slidably mounted to a second positioning member. The second positioning member is slidably mounted to a mounting member which is detachably mountable to a structure. A lever member includes a position portion pivotally coupled to the first positioning member. Pivotally coupled to the positioning portion is the mounting portion designed for mounting a portable power tool thereto. The lever member also includes a handle portion extending from the positioning portion to help maneuver the lever member while in use.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to tool guiding devices and more particularly pertains to a new portable tool guide for providing extra leverage when using a power drill.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of tool guiding devices is known in the prior art. More specifically, tool guiding devices 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 tool guiding devices include U.S. Pat. No. 4,168,926; U.S. Pat. No. 4,314,782; U.S. Pat. No. 5,006,022; U.S. Pat. No. 4,277,208; U.S. Pat. No. 4,080,092; and U.S. Patent No. Des. 243,505.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new portable tool guide. The inventive device includes a first positioning member slidably mounted to a second positioning member. The second positioning member is slidably mounted to a mounting member which is detachably mountable to a structure. A lever member includes a position portion pivotally coupled to the first positioning member. Pivotally coupled to the positioning portion is the mounting portion designed for mounting a portable power tool thereto. The lever member also includes a handle portion extending from the positioning portion to help maneuver the lever member while in use.
In these respects, the portable tool guide 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 providing extra leverage when using a power drill.


A power transmission device includes a driving rotary member, a driven rotary member fixed to one end of a rotary shaft of a driven device, a first intermediate friction member disposed between the driving rotary member and the driven rotary member, and a spring for pressing the driving rotary member against the first intermediate friction member, thereby pressing the first intermediate friction member against the driven rotary member. The driving rotary member is provided with at least one first concave segment, the driven rotary member is provided with at least one convex segment and at least one second concave segment, and the first intermediate friction member is provided with at least one lug. The at least one lug is adapted to engage the at least one first concave segment and to simultaneously abut the at least one convex segment. The at least one lug also is adapted to slip off the at least one convex segment, disengage from the at least one first concave segment, and engage the at least one second concave segment when a torque applied to the driving rotary member exceeds a predetermined torque.

The present invention relates to a power transmission device provided with the function of a torque limiter. The present invention can be widely used in compressors, industrial machinery, etc.
Many kinds of this type of power transmission devices have been proposed. One is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No.311399/1998, which will be explained referring to FIGS. 3 to 5.
The power transmission device taught by Japanese Patent Laid-Open publication No.311399/1998 comprises a cylindrical rotor 22 made of ferro-alloy inserted in a pulley 21. The rotor 22 is welded to the pulley 21. A ball bearing 23 is disposed inside of the rotor 22. The rotor 22 is supported to be rotatable by a cylindrical protrusion 25a of a front housing 25 of a compressor (driven device) 24 through the ball bearing 23. A hub 27 operating as a driven rotary member is inserted in a rotary shaft 26 of the compressor 24. The hub 27 has a substantially cylindrical shape as shown in FIG. 5.
The hub 27 is splined to the rotary shaft 26. A ring-shaped stopper plate 28 is welded to the hub 27. A bolt 29 is inserted in the central hole of the stopper plate 28 to be threaded into a screw hole of the rotary shaft 26, thereby fixing the hub 27 to the rotary shaft 26. The stopper plate 28 locates the hub 27 relative to the rotary shaft 26. Thus, the hub 27 can rotate integrally with the shaft 26.
The hub 27 is provided with a cylindrical portion 27c at its one end distant from the compressor 24. The cylindrical portion 27c is provided with an externally threaded portion 27b.The hub 27 is provided with a cylindrical portion 27d adjacent the cylindrical portion 27c. The outer diameter of the cylindrical portion 27d is larger than that of the cylindrical portion 27c. The periphery of the cylindrical portion 27d is partially cut away to form a pair of parallel flat chord portions 27e. The hub 27 is provided with a flange portion 27a adjacent the cylindrical portion 27d. The outer diameter of the flange portion 27a is larger than those of the cylindrical portions 27c and 27d.
Three fragmentary-annular-ring-shaped convex segments 27f are formed on the periphery of the end face of the flange portion 27a close to the cylindrical portion 27d. The end face of the flange portion 27a close to the cylindrical portion 27d forms a concave segment 27g except at the fragmentary-annular-ring-shaped convex segments 27f. A cylindrical portion 27h is formed on the end face of the flange portion 27a close to the compressor 24. The outer diameter of the cylindrical portion 27h is small enough to leave a relatively large space between its outer surface and the inner surface of the cylindrical protrusion 25a of the front housing 25.
The power transmission device comprises a cylindrical outer holder 30 made of ferro-alloy. The outer holder 30 is provided with three radially outwardly protruding lugs 30a. The outer holder 30 is fixed to the pulley 21 by three bolts 37 penetrating the lugs 30a. The power transmission device comprises a cylindrical inner holder 31 made of a ferro-alloy such as stainless steel. The inner holder 31 is provided with a radially inwardly protruding flange 31a.
A rubber ring 32 is disposed between the outer holder 30 and the inner holder 31 to be seized by them. Therefore, torque is transmitted from the pulley 21 through outer holder 30 and the rubber ring 32 to the inner holder 31. The pulley 21, the rotor 22, the outer holder 30, the rubber ring 32 and the inner holder 31 constitute a driving rotary member rotating integrally.
The flange 31a of the inner holder 31 fits snugly on the cylindrical portion 27d of the hub 27 to constitute a driving friction member. A washer 33 is disposed between the flange 31a of the inner holder 31and the fragmentary-annular-ring-shaped convex segments 27f of the hub 27 to constitute an intermediate friction member.
The flange portion 27a of the hub 27 constitutes a first driven friction member. The end faces of the fragmentary-annular-ring-shaped con vexes 27f are coated with fluororesin coating material to reduce and stabilize the friction coefficient xcexc1 of the abutting surfaces between the fragmentary-annular-ring-shaped con vexes 27f and the washer 33. The fluororesin coating material is an electrical insulating material that protects the fragmentary-annular-ring-shaped con vexes 27f from electric corrosion.
The washer 33 has annular-ring-shape as shown in FIG. 5 and is made of stainless steel or phosphor bronze. The washer 33 is provided with a central hole 33a and three fragmentary-annular-ring-shaped lugs 33b radially outwardly protruding from its outer periphery. The washer 33 snugly fits on the cylindrical portion 27d of the hub 27. The shape and size of the fragmentary-annular-ring-shaped lugs 33b coincide with those of the fragmentary-annular-ring-shaped con vexes 27f of the hub 27.
The washer 33 and the hub 27 are assembled so that the fragmentary-annular-ring-shaped lugs 33b abut the fragmentary-annular-ring-shaped convex segments 27f. FIG. 3 shows the assembled condition in normal operation of the compressor 24, wherein the fragmentary-annular-ring-shaped lugs 33b abut the fragmentary-annular-ring-shaped convex segments 27f.
A washer 34 is disposed to sandwich the flange portion 31a of the inner holder 31 in collaboration with the washer 33. The washer 34 constitutes a second driven friction member. The washer 34 is made of stainless steel and coated with fluororesin coating material to reduce and stabilize the friction coefficient of the abutting surfaces between the flange 31a of the inner holder 31and the washer 34. The fluororesin coating material is an electrical insulating material that protects the washer 34 from electric corrosion.
As shown in FIG. 5, the washer 34 is annular-ring-shaped and provided with a substantially hexagonal hole 34a having a pair of parallel straight edges 34b. The washer 34 fits on the pair of parallel flat chord portions 27e of the hub 27 to rotate integrally with the hub 27.
A disk spring 35 is disposed adjacent the washer 34. As shown in FIG. 5, the disk spring 35 is provided with a central circular hole 35a. The disk spring 35 fits on the cylindrical portion 27c of the hub 27 with its internal edge fitted snugly on the external side surface of the cylindrical portion 27c.
A nut 36 is disposed adjacent the disk spring 35 to be threaded onto the externally threaded portion 27b of the hub 27.
Fastening force acting on the nut 36 is transmitted to the disk spring 35 to axially compress it. Therefore, fastening force acting on the nut 36 determines the spring force (resilient reaction force) of the disk spring 35. The spring force of the disk spring 35 presses the outer periphery of the disk spring 35 against the outer periphery of the washer 34.
The friction coefficient xcexc1 of the abutting surfaces between the fragmentary-annular-ring-shaped convex segments 27f of the hub 27 and the fragmentary-annular-ring-shaped lugs 33b of the washer 33 is set at a small value of about 0.1.
Micro-irregularities are formed on the surface of the flange 31a of the inner holder 31 opposite the washer 33 by shot blasting or the like to set the friction coefficient xcexc2 of the abutting surfaces between the flange 31a of the inner holder 31 and the fragmentary-annular-ring-shaped lugs 33b of the washer 33 at a large value of about 0.25.
The friction coefficient xcexc3 of the abutting surfaces between the flange 31a of the inner holder 31 and the washer 34 is set at a small value substantially equal to the friction coefficient xcexc1.
The procedure for assembling the power transmission device is as follows. First, the pulley 21, the rotor 22 and the ball bearing 23 are integrated in a unit to be mounted on the cylindrical protrusion 25a of the front housing 25. Then, the hub 27 provided with stopper plate 28 is splined onto the rotary shaft 26 of the compressor 24, whereafter the hub 27 is fixed to the rotary shaft 26 with the bolt 29.
The washer 33 is fitted on the cylindrical portion 27d of the hub 27 with the fragmentary-annular-ring-shaped lugs 33b abutting the fragmentary-annular-ring-shaped con vexes 27f. The outer holder 30, the rubber ring 32 and the inner holder 31 are integrated in a unit to be mounted on the pulley 21, that is, the flange 31a of the inner holder 31 is fitted on the cylindrical portion 27d of the hub 27 and the lugs 30a of the outer holder 30 are fixed to the pulley 21 with the bolts 37.
The washer 34 is fitted on the pair of parallel flat chord portions 27e of the hub 27, the disk spring 35 is fitted on the cylindrical portion 27c of the hub 27, and the nut 36 is threaded onto the externally threaded portion 27b of the hub 27 to a predetermined extent, so that the disk spring 35 is axially compressed to produce a predetermined spring force. The outer periphery of the disk spring 35 is pressed against the outer periphery of the washer 34. Therefore, the washer 34 engages the flange 31a of the inner holder 31 under a predetermined friction force acting on the abutting surfaces, the flange 31a of the inner holder 31 engages the washer 33 under a predetermined friction force acting on the abutting surfaces, and the washer 33 engages the fragmentary-annular-ring-shaped con vexes 27f under a predetermined friction force acting on the abutting surfaces.
After completion of the assembly, the rotation of the inner holder 31 is transmitted to the hub 27 through a first friction engagement path from the flange 31a of the inner holder 31 through the washer 33 to the flange portion 27a of the hub 27 and a second friction engagement path from the flange 31a of the inner holder 31 through the washer 34 to the pair of parallel flat chord portions 27e of the hub 27.
Operation of the compressor 24 will be described. When the pulley 21 rotates, the rotor 22, the outer holder 30, the rubber ring 32 and the inner holder 31 which are integrated with the pulley 21 as a unit also rotate.
Thanks to the spring force of the disk spring 35 caused by fastening force F acting on the nut 36, the washer 34 engages the flange 31a of the inner holder 31 under a predetermined friction force acting between their abutting surfaces, the flange 31a of the inner holder 31 engages the washer 33 under a predetermined friction force acting between their abutting surfaces, and the washer 33 engages the fragmentary-annular-ring-shaped con vexes 27f under a predetermined friction force acting between their abutting surfaces. Therefore, the rotation of the inner holder 31 is transmitted to the hub 27 through a first friction engagement path from the flange 31a of the inner holder 31 through the washer 33 to the flange portion 27a of the hub 27 and a second friction engagement path from the flange 31a of the inner holder 31 through the washer 34 to the pair of parallel flat chord portions 27e of the hub 27. The rotation is further transmitted from the hub 27 to the rotary shaft 26. Thus, the rotation of the pulley 21 is transmitted to the rotary shaft 26 and the compressor 24 operates.
During normal operation of the compressor 24, the rubber ring 32 resiliently deforms depending on the torque fluctuation caused by the load fluctuation on the compressor 24 to absorb the torque fluctuation, thereby reducing the noise of the compressor. Delivered torque T during normal operation of the compressor 24 can be expressed by formula 1.
T=nxc3x97xcexcxc3x97Fxc3x97Rxe2x80x83xe2x80x831
n: number of friction engagement paths
xcexc: friction coefficient of the friction engagement surfaces
F: fastening force acting on the nut 36
R: distance between the friction engagement surfaces and the central axis of rotation
The power transmission device just described is provided with two friction engagement paths. One is through the washer 33 and the other is through the washer 34. Therefore, n=2 is the power transmission device. When n=2, fastening force F acting on the nut 36b can be reduced to half of that when n=1. Thus, the fatigue life of the disk spring 35 is extended and setting of the disk spring 35 is prevented.
When the compressor breaks down and becomes stuck, excessive torque acts on the friction engagement surfaces. The relation between the friction coefficient xcexc1 of the friction engagement between the surfaces of the washer 33 and the fragmentary-annular-ring-shaped convex segments 27f of the hub 27 and the friction coefficient xcexc2 of the friction engagement between the surfaces of the washer 33 and the flange 31a of the inner holder 31 is set to be xcexc2 greater than xcexc1. Therefore, slip occurs first at the friction engagement surfaces of the washer 33 and the fragmentary-annular-ring-shaped convex segments 27f of the hub 27 with smaller friction coefficient xcexc1. Slip occurs also at the friction engagement surfaces of the washer 34 and the flange 31a of the inner holder 31.
When the washer 33 slips on the flange portion 27a of the hub 27 by a predetermined angle in the direction of rotation, the fragmentary-annular-ring-shaped lugs 33b leave the fragmentary-annular-ring-shaped con vexes 27f and the whole body of the washer 33 fits in the concave segment 27g. Thus, the washer 33 moves axially toward the compressor 24 along the cylindrical portion 27d of the hub 27, so that the flange 31a of the inner holder 31 moves axially toward the compressor 24 to abut directly against the fragmentary-annular-ring-shaped con vexes 27f of the hub 27.
The disk spring 35 stretches axially and the spring force of the disk spring 35 rapidly decreases. Therefore, the torque transmission through the aforementioned two friction engagement paths rapidly decreases, the torque transmission to the rotary shaft 26 of the compressor 24 is cut off, and fracture of a belt driving the pulley 21 is prevented.
Once the washer 33 leaves the fragmentary-annular-ring-shaped convex segments 27f of the hub 27, the flange 31a of the inner holder 31 connected to the pulley 21 races relative to the flange portion 27a of the hub 27 and the washer 34. The flange 31a rotates stably between the flange portion 27a and the washer 34, so that excessive noise is not produced. As shown in FIG. 3, the inner holder 31 is located so that a preload biasing the inner holder 31 toward the compressor 24 occurs in the rubber ring 32 when the outer holder 30 is fixed to the pulley 21 with the bolts 37. Therefore, the inner holder 31 moves toward the compressor 24 under the resilient force of the rubber ring 32 immediately after the washer 33 leaves the fragmentary-annular-ring-shaped con vexes 27f of the hub 27. Thus, the power transmission device operates as a torque limiter.
The power transmission device taught by Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No.311399/1998 comprises a driving rotary member (inner holder 31) provided with a driving friction member (flange 31a) and a driven rotary member (hub 27) provided with a driven friction member (flange portion 27a). The driving friction member and the driven friction member are disposed in line to each other in the extending direction of the rotary shaft 26. An intermediate friction member (washer 33) is disposed between the driving friction member and the driven friction member to be movable in the extending direction of the rotary shaft 26. The relation between the friction coefficient xcexc1 of the friction engagement between the surfaces of the driven friction member and the intermediate friction member and the friction coefficients xcexc2 of the friction engagement between the surfaces of the driving friction member and the intermediate friction member is set to be xcexc2 greater than xcexc1. The driven friction member is provide with a concave segment 27g in which the intermediate friction member can fit.
The power transmission device of this structure has the following disadvantages.
Even if the initial relation between xcexc2 and xcexc1 is set xcexc2 greater than xcexc1, it may change to xcexc2 less than xcexc1, because of rusting, adherence of oil, etc. If the relation between xcexc2 and xcexc1 becomes xcexc2  less than xcexc1, slip occurs at the friction engagement surfaces of the driving friction member and the intermediate friction member and not at the friction engagement surfaces of the driven friction member and the intermediate friction member. Therefore, the intermediate friction member does not fit in the concave segment 27g of the driven friction member, so that cut-off of torque transmission cannot be reliably achieved. Moreover, machining of the members of the power transmission device becomes complicated and expensive if the relation 112 greater than 111 must be achieved.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a power transmission device which is free from the defects of the conventional power transmission device, can reliably cut off torque transmission at the time of overload, even if rusting, adherence of oil, etc. occurs, and whose members are simple, easy and inexpensive to machine.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a power transmission device comprising a driving rotary member, a driven rotary member fixed to one end of a rotary shaft of a driven device, a first intermediate friction member disposed between the driving rotary member and the driven rotary member to be movable toward the rotary shaft, and a spring for pressing the driving rotary member against the first intermediate friction member, thereby pressing the first intermediate friction member against the driven rotary member, wherein the driving rotary member is provided with a concave segment, the driven rotary member is provided with a convex segment and a concave segment, and the first intermediate friction member is provided with a lug which can fit in the concave segment of the driving rotary member and abut the convex segment of the driven rotary member simultaneously, and also leave the concave segment of the driving rotary member to fit in the concave segment of the driven rotary member, and wherein rotation of the driving rotary member is transmitted to the driven rotary member through the first intermediate friction member with its lug fitting in the concave segment of the driving rotary member and also abutting the convex segment of the driven rotary member during normal operation of the driven device, while when the driven device becomes stuck, the lug of the first intermediate friction member slips off the convex segment of the driven rotary member and leaves the concave segment of the driving rotary member to fit in the concave segment of the driven rotary member, whereby the first intermediate friction member moves toward the rotary shaft of the driven device, pressing force of the spring decreases, and the driving rotary member races.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the power transmission device further comprises a second intermediate friction member disposed between the driving rotary member and the spring, fitted on the driven rotary member, pressed against the driving rotary member by the spring, and supported by the driven rotary member not to be rotatable relative to the driven rotary member.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the driving rotary member comprises an outer ring, an internal ring and a rubber ring disposed between the outer ring and the internal ring to be fixed to them.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first intermediate friction member is made of ferro-alloy and a magnet is embedded in the concave segment of the driven rotary member.


A mountable reusable paint container is configured for mounting on a wall and includes one or more separate storage compartments formed in a downward sloping configuration with each compartment having a spigot coupled at the base for dispensing the stored paint product. The paint container further includes molded air tight lids configured for fitting over each of the compartments. Each of the paint containers preferably have a stirring mechanism formed within the lid which extends into the paint container when the lid is positioned over the paint container. The stirring device extends downward into the reusable paint container and includes a top handle portion, a threaded distance rod and a bottom fin portion. The bottom fin portion includes a plurality of small evenly spaced fins formed of plastic which rotate with the stirring device in the paint container when the top handle portion is manually activated.

Often, when painting the interior or exterior of a house, a person may use multiple colors including different colors for each room and different colors for wood trimmings around doorways, windows and on molding. Upon completion of painting a room or area within the interior or on the exterior of a house or building with a particular color, the person is typically left with at least one partially filled can of left over paint. Typically, persons with such left over paint, reseal the partially used paint container and store the left over paint in this container. Alternatively, the user may transfer the paint to another container for storage.
Often these partially used cans of paint are stored on the floor or on shelves in basements, garages, closets and cabinets. They may often also be stacked. One problem which exists with this manner of storage is convenience and maneuverability. Unsightly partially filled paint cans can clutter up valuable storage space. Moreover, if stacked, it is often difficult and/or time consuming to move every can in order to find a particular color of paint and then restack the remaining partially filled cans. Additionally, if the user needs to use some of the left over paint, the paint must be transferred to a different container and manually mixed before the paint is ready for use.
Another problem which exists with stored partially used cans of paint is that it is difficult to reseal the lid on the paint can properly. This can potentially lead to hazards such as the leakage of fumes through an improperly sealed lid and flammability when an improperly sealed can is stored in an area such as the garage, near a heater. Further, poorly sealed paint cans will also leak or spill paint when knocked over.

Mountable reusable paint container with spigot assembly and stirring mechanism


A method for controlling a laundering process includes determining a concentration of a detergent within a wash fluid during at least one cycle of an article laundering process, and dynamically adjusting at least one characteristic of the laundering process based at least in part upon the determined concentration of the detergent. An apparatus for controlling a laundering process includes a fluid chamber to contain a wash fluid, a sensor coupled to the fluid chamber to determine a detergent concentration within the wash fluid, and a controller coupled to the sensor and configured to dynamically adjust at least one characteristic of the laundering process based at least in part upon the determined detergent concentration.

The invention relates generally to article cleaning processes.
Conventional cleaning apparati such as washing machines utilize timed wash and rinse cycles as part of their laundering process. One problem with relying upon timed cycles is that at the end of a given cycle, clothing or other articles being laundered may not always be clean or detergent-free. In fact, due to variations in laundry load size and detergent usage amounts from one laundering cycle to another, it is very common for clothes to contain residual amounts of detergent even after all rinse cycles have been completed. The presence of the residual detergent can cause a variety of reactions in individuals ranging from minor itching to sever skin irritation in those who may be hypoallergenic.
In order to avoid the presence of residual detergents, many washing machine manufacturers unnecessarily program their rinse cycles for durations that are longer than which may otherwise be necessary. For example, even if the residual amounts of detergents contained within clothes fall below a predetermined acceptable level prior to the completion of the programmed rinse cycles, conventional washing machines nonetheless continue to complete the preprogrammed rinse cycles without modification. This is true even in the case where minimal to no additional detergent may be removed from the clothes through additional rinsing. Accordingly, this can result in a waste of natural resources such as energy and water as well as increased operating costs for the consumer.

Method and apparatus for controlling a laundering process


Eccentrically loaded structural members and methods of forming the same. The structural members have their compressive loading axes offset from their load central longitudinal axes.

Fuse structural members are elongated members which must fail at predetermined loads to avoid damage to surrounding mechanical elements, while still maintaining sufficient strength and rigidity to efficiently and safely transmit forces at sub-fuse loads. In compression, the successful design of a fuse load is complicated by the variable degree in bending of the member as the load increases. The failure point and direction of failure is driven by the presence of manufacturing eccentricities and tolerances, material variations and cross sectional shape throughout the length of the member.
Fuse loads are the predetermined loads that cause fuse structural members to fail prior to damaging surrounding elements. Fuse loads in compression are usually accomplished by the use of either a shear pin or spring mechanism. In the case of the shear pin the load that causes the pin to shear in compression will also shear at the same load in tension. In the case of a spring, the assembly does not fail but begins to displace according to Hooks Law once the spring preload is surpassed. Therefore, the spring continues to add force as displacement increases. Both shear pin and spring mechanism fuse loads are expensive to manufacture, add complexity to designs and have limitations to their applications. In weight or fatigue critical applications, such as aerospace, the use of a spring mechanism may be impractical.
Typical rod assembly design for compression relies heavily on Euler and Johnson-Euler equations to determine safe working loads. These equations establish the theoretical lowest compressive loads where columns, as for example structural rod assemblies and struts, can be expected to buckle. A theoretical column with no load eccentricity, subject to an increasing compressive force, would eventually fail due to compressive yielding. This compressive yielding creates a local instability that will eventually lead to bending and subsequent buckling. Initial yielding failure would occur at an unpredictable location and cause instability in an unpredictable direction.
Structural members that experience significant bending during compressive loads may gain structural support if they rest against neighboring elements. According to Euler compressive column theory, a column 10 that gains support 12 (FIG. 1b) at mid span will have a buckling load 8 times higher than column 10 supported by pins 14 (FIG. 1c). A column 10 that gains transverse support at its ends 16 by support members 18 (FIG. 1a) will have a buckling load 4 times higher than a column supported only by pins (FIG. 1c). Even slight support gained from surrounding elements can have large impacts on the magnitude of the expected compressive failure load.
Additionally, failures in pure compression without significant bending rely heavily on compressive yielding. Compressive yielding and the resulting plasticity are extremely hard to accurately predict and can be affected by many factors which are difficult to consistently control in a manufacturing environment. Euler bending failures are described as geometric failures and are not dependent upon the stress capacity of the material.


An electro-optic assembly is provided that includes a first substantially transparent substrate comprising: a first surface, a second surface, and a first peripheral edge, the second surface comprises a first electrically conductive layer and a first isolation area. The assembly further includes a second substrate comprising: a third surface, a fourth surface, and a second peripheral edge, the third surface comprises a second electrically conductive layer. The assembly also includes a primary seal between the second and third surfaces, wherein the seal and the second and third surfaces define a substantially hermetic cavity; an electro-optic medium at least partially disposed in the cavity; and an electrically conductive solder that is disposed on at least portions of at least one of the first and second peripheral edges in electrical contact with one of the first and second electrically conductive layers.

Electro-optic assemblies are being used in various vehicular and building applications, e.g., within rearview display devices and variable transmissivity windows. Use of these assemblies in various applications can be limited by cost, aesthetic and functional considerations. Interconnections between the electrodes within these assemblies and the underlying circuitry in the devices containing these assemblies can be complex and costly in terms of materials and processing. Accordingly, new electro-optic assembly designs, configurations and assemblies, along with methods of making them, are needed particularly in view of reducing material and processing costs associated with interconnections, and improving aesthetics and/or enhancing functionality of the assemblies.

Electro-optic device with ultrasonic solder bus


A server connectable to an apparatus providing contents and an image display apparatus includes an index information processing part configured to provide the image display apparatus with index information for causing a list of information items associated with the contents to be displayed by the image display apparatus, an image data processing part configured to provide the image display apparatus with image data for causing a content associated with an information item selected from the list to be displayed by the image display apparatus, and an apparatus authentication part configured to cause the index information processing part and the image data processing part to execute respective processes when the identification information of the image display apparatus that has requested to obtain the content associated with the selected information item by using access authority information regarding authority to access the content is managed in correlation with the access authority information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a server, a recording medium, and an image display system.
2. Description of the Related Art
In these years, it has become common for companies to hold a conference while projecting an image by connecting a personal computer (PC) to a projector. Furthermore, conventional projectors have been known that call and project a projectable file stored in an attached universal serial bus (USB) memory. (See, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2008-310247.)

Server, recording medium, and image display system