Determining and presenting traffic patterns includes: obtaining a first set of traffic metrics pertaining to network traffic associated with a plurality of containers of a container-based cloud computing platform, wherein: the plurality of containers supports a plurality of microservices; and a microservice has one or more corresponding microservice instances that execute on one or more of the plurality of containers; transforming the first set of traffic metrics into a second set of traffic metrics, the second set of traffic metrics comprising network traffic information pertaining to at least some of the plurality of microservices, the transformation being based at least in part on information pertaining to the plurality of containers and the plurality of microservices supported by the plurality of containers; constructing a microservice map based on the second set of traffic metrics; and outputting the microservice map.

Cloud computing is a type of network-based computing architecture that provides shared resources, data, and services on demand. In a cloud-based computing platform, pools of configurable computing resources (e.g., processors, memory, storage, applications, services, etc.) are shared by client devices as needed.
In traditional virtual machine-based cloud computing architecture, multiple instances of virtual machines execute on a physical host. Each virtual machine instance runs its own copy of the operating system in which one or more application/service instances execute and can consume a significant amount of processing and memory resources. In response, container-based cloud computing architecture has been developed. The container-based architecture is a highly efficient type of cloud computing solution. Unlike the traditional virtual machine-based architecture, in a container-based cloud computing architecture, a single instance of an operating system supports multiple containers in a single physical host. A single microservice can be implemented using multiple instances of containers that are not necessarily on the same host.
Containers themselves do not require Internet Protocol (IP) addresses when transmitting data packets with other containers. Further, in some cases, a container can have a virtual IP address that is behind a Network Address Translation (NAT) layer therefore not visible to routers and switches outside the host. These characteristics of container traffic make it difficult to inspect packets between different applications and containers using traditional network management and security tools (such as network probes on routers or switches that detect traffic). As a result, monitoring, provisioning, and protecting container-based cloud computing platforms can be difficult using traditional tools that rely on inspecting IP addresses of packet headers.

Traffic pattern detection and presentation in container-based cloud computing architecture


Aspects of bandwidth conservation include monitoring, via a processor over a period of time, program state information for content streamed to an electronic device, and accumulating, in a memory device via the processor, inputs received over the period of time from a user of the electronic device. Each of the inputs is correlated to the program state information based on a location in the content at which the corresponding input occurred. Aspects further include identifying patterns of user behavior based on collective correlations between the inputs and the program state information, determining from the patterns a presence or absence of the user at the electronic device with respect to currently streamed content when no inputs are received by the user, and performing a bandwidth control operation with respect to the currently streamed content based on the determined presence or absence of the user.

This application generally relates to interactive multimedia distribution systems and, more particularly, to presence detection in such systems.
Bandwidth is becoming a problem in the communications industry. As subscribers demand more and more content, higher definition services, interactive services, and data services, the existing network infrastructure has trouble supplying adequate bandwidth. The industry is hard at work identifying new ways of increasing bandwidth. The industry is also striving to reduce wasted bandwidth.
An "always on" set-top box is one example of wasted bandwidth. An "always on" set-top box continually receives content, even while no one is watching television. When the set-top box remains powered "on" and tuned to a channel, the set-top box consumes bandwidth. Often times, however, that channel is not watched and bandwidth is wasted. Many cable subscribers, for example, forget to, or are unable to, turn "off" their set-top box. Many subscribers power "off" the television, yet the set-top box remains powered "on" and receiving content. It's not uncommon for a set-top box to continually receive a video stream while the subscriber sleeps for hours and/or vacations for days. No one is watching the content, yet the set-top box is consuming network bandwidth. Because communications networks need to efficiently utilize bandwidth, there is a need in the art for reducing bandwidth consumption.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Methods, systems, and devices for bandwidth conservation


A connector includes a housing unit which accommodates terminals which are crimped onto respective ends of a plurality of electric wires. The housing unit includes housings of a number corresponding to a number of the terminals, each of the housings configured to accommodate each of the terminals. At least one of the housings is formed by a material which has a dielectric constant at which impedance between each of the terminals is a desired impedance.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a connector and a manufacturing method of a connector which are used in a connection of a cable.
2. Background Art
In the related art, for example, a technique is known as exemplified in FIG. 1 of Patent Document 1 as a technique for matching impedance of a connector with impedance of shielded cables connected to each other in order to prevent signal transmission loss or prevent generation of noise when the shielded cables are connected to each other.
The connector which is exemplified in FIG. 1 of Patent Document 1, by attaching an adapter 24 which has conductivity to the outer periphery of a conductive body 22 as necessary, causes impedance of the connector to be adjusted by changing a cross-section ratio of a terminal 21 and an outer conductor shell 23.
In addition to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example, a technique which is disclosed in Patent Document 2 is known as a technique for adjusting impedance of a connector.
As exemplified in FIG. 9, a shielded connector which is disclosed in Patent Document 2 is configured to be provided with a shielded cable 110, a terminal 120, an inner housing 130, and an outer conductor shell 140.
The shielded cable 110 is formed by covering a signal line 111 which is formed by sheathing the outer side of a conductor 111a with an insulation sheathing layer 111b and a drain line 112 which is formed by intertwining a plurality of copper element wires using a metal foil 113, and covering the outer side of the metal foil 113 with an insulation outer sheath 114.
The inner housing 130 is formed using synthetic resin, and is formed with a terminal accommodating chamber 131 which is capable of accommodating the terminal 120 thereinside.
The outer conductor shell 140 is formed by sheet-metal working a metal plate which has conductivity, and is formed in a shape which is mountable to the outside of the inner housing 130.
Patent Document 1 is JP-A-2001-283999, and Patent Document 2 is JP-A-2003-173828.

Connector and manufacturing method of connector


A connector between a stripline circuit and a coaxial conductor disposed at right angle. The connector provides a low VSWR at relatively high frequencies and is attachable without soldering or separation of the circuit layers and with access from only one side of a first one of the circuit ground plane plates. This plate and an adjacent first outer dielectric circuit board have openings exposing a conductive stripe on a center board. The second plate is exposed by smaller openings in an adjacent second outer board and the center boards, and the connector has a body extending from the coaxial conductor to the second plate. The body has an outer conductor flatly and axially contacting the second plate and having a flange fitted to the smaller openings. The body has a tab extended radially from a central conductor and outwardly of the flange to engage the stripe. The body has a dielectric disposed between its conductors and extending axially between its ends and radially about the tab to the flange periphery. A dielectric ring is disposed about the flange filling the opening in the first board, and a flexible, conductive ring extends over the dielectric ring and between the flange and the first plate. The connector has a clamp ring axially engaging the flexible ring and the flange and secured to the second plate by screws extending through the rings.

1. Field of the Invention
The subject invention pertains to electrical connectors used in wave transmission lines. More particularly, it pertains to high frequency, long line components, specifically connectors and interconnections between stripline and coaxial transmission lines.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Coaxial transmission lines having a central conductor and a circumscribing outer ground conductor separated by a dielectric tube are used to carry microwave signals to or from generally planar stripline circuits having a stripe of conductive material one one side of a central dielectric board which is disposed between a pair of outer dielectric boards which are, in turn, disposed between a pair of conductive ground planes. The difference in configuration between central and ground conductors in a stripline circuit and a coaxial conductor makes it difficult to provide an effective electric transition therebetween at microwave frequencies due to discontinuities in the conductors, due to less than optimal channeling of the electric fields of the central conductor within the ground conductor, and due to conduction by relatively irregular electric field reflecting elements such as screwthreads. As a result, connections between coaxial conductors and stripline circuits typically have a relatively high Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR) and cause loss of signal power and signal distortion.
Nevertheless, electrically and mechanically satisfactory connectors have been developed for connecting a coaxial conductor to a conductive stripe extending to the edge of a stripline board. However, this edge connection configuration may complicate installation of a stripline circuit. Further, edge connection is limited to the periphery of a circuit board and thus constrains circuit layout thereon. Right angle connectors have, therefore, been developed for connecting a stripline circuit and a coaxial conductor approaching the circuit perpendicularly. Although generally effective, prior art right angle conductors have relatively high VSWR ratios at frequencies approaching 18 GHz.
It is desirable that soldering not be required in a right angle stripline connector, as in other connectors, thereby facilitating original assembly and, particularly, facilitating maintenance of installed circuits. It is also desirable that a connector facilitate proper alignment of mating elements, particularly at microwave frequencies where relatively minor misalignment may cause serious electric field distortion. It is frequently necessary to dismount and then remount existing right angle connectors because of breakage or improper alignment with the associated conductive stripe. In many installations of a stripline circuit the side thereof toward a connected coaxial conductor is the only accessible side. However, insofar as known to the inventor, prior art right angle stripline connectors, however excellent their electrical characteristics, require access to both sides of an associated stripline circuit for their mounting and dismounting so that such work requires the relative involved removal and subsequent reinstallation of the circuit, often in cramped quarters.

Right angle microwave stripline circuit connector

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


A state machine that can be tested easily is disclosed. A state machine has a latch for storing data representing an intended state and a state control unit for producing data representing a subsequent state according to an intended state provided by the latch and a detection signal, and makes state transitions consecutively. The state machine comprises a state data input unit for inputting data representing an intended state directly from an external unit, a selector for selecting either data provided by the state control unit or data provided by the state data input unit so as to supply selected data as data representing a subsequent state to the latch, and a control data input unit for externally inputting control data for use in controlling the selection performed by the selector. After data representing an intended state is fed to the state data input unit, when control data requesting the selector to select data provided by the state data input unit and to send the data to the latch is input via the control data input unit, the latch latches data representing an intended state synchronously with a clock and thus retains the intended state.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a state transition circuit that changes states consecutively, and synchronously with a signal, and varies the contents of control processes according to a state at every time instant; that is, a so-called state machine, and to a communication terminal that uses the state machine to control communication.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is a matter of common practice to construct a circuit responsible for various kinds of control by combining gates and latches. The circuit is used for control systems that are not as complex as a microcomputer and that require instantaneous control. However, the circuit may be used in combination with a microcomputer. Specifically, for example, overall processing is assigned to a CPU in a microcomputer and some control is assigned to the state transition circuit.
A control method can be such that state transitions are made consecutively with the progress of control. Even if the same signal is fed, the contents of control processes vary according to a state at every time instant. The method in which state transitions are made consecutively with the progress of control is referred to as a state transition method. The foregoing control circuit that is composed of gates and latches and makes state transitions is referred to as a state machine.
In recent years, digital mobile communications have become popular. In a terminal for mobile communication, a state machine is used to control transmission and reception. Sequences directly related to transmission and reception are required to be processed quickly. When such sequences are assigned to a microcomputer, the microcomputer must monitor the states of a receiver and a transmitter all the time. This results in the degraded performance of the microcomputer. From this viewpoint, the sequences are usually assigned to the state machine so that the microcomputer can concentrate on other processing.
A conventional state machine includes a state latch for storing data representing a state at a certain time instant, and a state control circuit for producing data representing a subsequent state according to the state at a certain time instant and a detection signal. When predetermined conditions are met in a certain state, the state machine makes a transition to another state. When other predetermined conditions are met in current state, the state machine makes a transition to yet another state. Thus, the state machine makes a transition to any given state.
Recently, there is an increasing demand for portable telephones. Above all, a cellular system is employed in the field of digital portable telephone service. A radio- frequency band usable within a cell that is a geographical region defined under the cellular concept is divided into narrower frequency bands. A portable terminal uses one of the frequency bands to transfer control data or voice and information. The data path through which data is transferred includes a searching BCCH channel, control channel, and a communication channel. The frequency employed differs from channel to channel. For realizing continuous communication while moving, a base station that is communicating may be switched to another one. Thus, frequencies are switched.
In vehicle-mounted mobile phone systems, digitization is in progress and a time division multiple access (hereinafter TDMA) method has been adopted widely. According to the TDMA method, data transfer is achieved in units of block data that is data having a length of a given number of bytes. In general, block data to be handled at a lower level (for example, in a physical layer) of transfer described in a protocol includes control data, concerning a high layer of transfer described in a protocol, and a message. The data length of data in a high layer of transfer described in a protocol may be smaller than that of block data such as the K-th block data. In this case, a general protocol stipulates that if no effective data is handled in a high layer of transfer described in the protocol, block data should be padded with a specific fill pattern (for example, 0s).
A terminal included in a vehicle-mounted mobile phone system comprises a state machine, a receiver, a transmitter, a phase-locked loop (hereinafter PLL), and a computer. Among the components, each of the state machine, receiver, transmitter, and PLL is usually realized with a single LSI. Alternatively, the state machine, receiver, and transmitter may be realized with a single LSI.
For testing an LSI that realizes a state machine or an LSI that realizes the state machine, receiver, and transmitter, the state machine that can assume a plurality of states need not be tested in all the states thereof. Whether or not the state machine operates normally can be checked merely by testing it in a specific state. However, when it is required to test the state machine in a certain state, the state machine must be reset to the initial state, and changed from one state to another until it is placed in the test state. In other words, the state machine cannot be changed to a desired state until it satisfies the conditions for all preceding states. When a state machine that makes complex state transitions is concerned, it takes much time to place the state machine in a desired state. This leads to degradation in the use efficiency of a tester and an increase in test cost.
When given conditions are met, a state machine makes a transition to another state. As far as testing is concerned, it may be required to retain the state machine in a certain state. For retaining a state machine in a conventional terminal in a certain state, setting performed by an internal logic circuit or designated at an external unit is controlled so that the conditions for another state will not be met. However, this control is complex. It is therefore demanded that a certain state can be retained effortlessly.
In the foregoing communication terminal, a microcomputer is designed to determine whether a PLL is locked to a frequency during frequency setting or to mask a state machine until a frequency is locked as a result of frequency switching. This means that a microcomputer must bear a heavy load, leading to a lower processing speed. When a microcomputer offering superb processing ability is used in order to solve this problem, cost increases.
Likewise, in a conventional transmitter for transmitting block data, a microcomputer is designed to write fill pattern in a data register. This also means that a microcomputer must bear a heavy load. The foregoing problems ensue.

State machine and communication terminal


Apparatus for separating a wrapper from articles contained therein and especially applicable to the manufacture of cans wherein the can ends are formed at one location and transferred in bags of stacked ends to another location where the bags are removed and the ends are joined to the can bodies. Wrapped articles are laterally received in a receiving structure; the wrapped articles therein are longitudinally positioned so that an end of the wrapper is clamped by a clamping structure; a rod penetrates the wrapper and engages the articles therein; and transporting structure to transport the clamping structure and the wrapper clamped therein relative to the rod to separate the wrapper from the articles, which are retained in the receiving structure. The preferred structure includes a receiving means comprising a spring-loaded pair of angled members which form a receiving pocket extending substantially the length of the wrapped articles; a positioning structure comprising a cylinder for longitudinal movement of the wrapped articles; clamping structure comprising cylinder actuated opposing circumferential clamps and a plate structure longitudinally engagable with the clamps; and transporting structure comprising a drive shaft and a linear actuator for longitudinal movement of the clamping structure.

The present invention relates to automated article handling equipment and more particularly to the unwrapping of bagged container ends.
In the manufacture of containers such as aluminum soft drink and beer cans, the tops, or ends, of the cans are manufactured in a stamping and scoring operation in a conversion press, where they are provided with beaded rims, "pop-tops", and so forth. The generally flat disc ends are then stacked face-to-face and packaged with paper bags. The bags facilitate transport and handling of the ends and protect them from dirt and other contaminants. The bags are fabricated from a one piece sheet of light weight paper material by joining opposite sides of the sheet to form an elongated tube large enough to enclose the stack of can ends. The bottom of the sheet is folded to form a flap extending radially outwardly from the stack and the top of the wrapper is folded to form a pair of ears extending longitudinally upwardly and radially outwardly from the stack.
The wrapped end packages are transported to a seamer apparatus where the ends are joined to filled beverage cans. At the seamer, the ends must be removed from the wrapper while their stacked configuration is maintained for convenient feeding to the seamer apparatus. The "debagging" of the can ends at the seamer apparatus is commonly carried out by hand and, due to the production speed of the automated seamer, represents a slow-down in the production process.
Attempts have been made in the past to automate the debagging process. Zenger et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 3,686,820 describe a system wherein stacks of ends are encased between heat sealable sheets and transported as a strip of stacked ends. The stacks are removed from the strip by the splitting and unwrapping of the two sheets. Another type of debagging system is described by Bofinger et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 3,441,156. Paper covered packages are carried upward by a conveying mechanism and slit longitudinally by an adjustable knife blade. The slit wrapper is then removed by a pair of opposed rollers.

Apparatus for removing bags from stacked can ends


A new kind of condom provided with a cap is disclosed. The cap is integrally attached into an arcuate top portion of the main portion of the condom. This cap is protruded considerably long, and the bottom of the cap covers almost the whole area of the head portion of male sexual organ in order to protect the head portion from being subjected to sensitizations and stimulation. With the thus constructed condom the female sexual partner receives added pleasure because of the extended portion, and the male partner can prolong the sexual pleasure due to the ejaculation restraining effect of the cap. Therefore, the device according to the present invention brings sexual satisfaction to home life, and assures the successful execution of family planning, as well as preventing veneral diseases including AIDS.

Condom is the general name for a sanitary contraceptive, and the condoms known hitherto were devised in various patterns; however, these condoms do not exhibit the ejaculation-restraining effect on the male during sexual intercourse and some of them as shown in the accompanying drawings (FIGS. 14 and 15 as in Japanese Utility Model Laying-open Publication No. 86-4335) have special contours only for the sake of curiosity. Therefore, such condoms are not suitable for home or normal use.
Furthermore, the basic type of condoms as illustrated in FIG. 12 and 13, which are widely distributed among consumers, have not actively been used because they were made only for the contraceptive effect neglecting the curiosity. Especially, these kinds of condoms cannot give substantial help to the male in preventing a premature ejaculation. As a result, continued premature ejaculation causes sexual dissatisfaction in the female partner as well as undesirable sexual dreams.
Furthermore, with conventional condoms, a female partner cannot receive the masculine hormone discharged from the male partner so that the communication of feeling between male and female as taught by Chinese medicine cannot be achieved, thereby discouraging the habitual use of condoms.

Sinsigaji Apt. 414-dong #902, 904 Mok-1-dong


A method of manufacturing a preform for compounding use which, is to be impregnated with a molten metal to be compounded with a matrix material, is provided. The method includes the step of mixing short fibers, ceramic particles and a binder material together to make a mixture. The average of lengths of the short fibers is 100 to 200 xcexcm while the volumetric percentage of the short fibers is 1 to 7%. The content of the binder material in the mixture is 0.3 to 5.0 mass %. The method includes also the steps of forming the mixture so as to have a predetermined shape, and sintering the mixture at a temperature of 1000 to 1150xc2x0 C. to form the preform. Thus, it is restrained that the preform is deformed or an un-reinforced region is formed in the compounded portion.

This application is based on the application No. 2000-287375 filed in Japan, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a preform for compounding use, which is used, for example, in a casting process for making a brake disk rotor.
2. Description of the Prior Art
When a brake disk, which is one of parts constituting an automobile, is produced using an aluminum alloy by means of a casting process, the heat resistivity or wear resistance (i.e. anti-wear performance) of a sliding surface of the brake disk is reinforced by the following process. That is, at first, a preform such as a porous ceramic body or the like is disposed in a casting die. Then the preform is impregnated with a molten metal to be compounded with a matrix material.
As a conventional example of the above-mentioned type of preform, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 7-108370 discloses a preform, which is produced by means of the following process. That is, at first, titania (TiO2) and alumina (Al2O3) in the form of inorganic fibers are mixed with a solvent Then the mixture, in which titania and alumina are non-uniformly dispersed, is dried up and formed into a predetermined shape to obtain the preform.
Meanwhile, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 6-182524 discloses another preform, which is produced by means of the following process using aluminum borate whiskers (9Al2O3.2B2O3). That is, at first, sodium silicate and silicon carbide are added to the aluminum borate whiskers. Then the mixture is compacted to obtain the preform.
In addition, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 6-322459 (corresponding to European Patent Specification EP 0 624 657 B1) discloses a further preform, which is formed by mixing short fibers composed of alumina and silica with non-spherical mullite particles composed of alumina and silica.
Upon this, for example, the preform is formed by means of the following process. That is, SiC, TiO2 and CaCO3 of particle states, and aluminum borate whiskers and alumina short fibers for forming a skeleton of the preform are mixed with a solvent uniformly. Following that, alumina sol as a binder is added to the mixture. Then the mixture is sucked and dehydrated using a vacuum pump, and further dried up and sintered. The alumina short fibers form a main portion of the skeleton. Hereupon, if the lengths of the alumina short fibers are smaller, there may be such a tendency that the time required for sucking the mixture extremely increases while the amount of deformation of the preform after the sintering process may increases. On the contrary, if the lengths of the alumina short fibers are longer, each of the components in the mixture is non-uniformly dispersed so that larger non-reinforced regions may be formed in the compounded portion.
The present invention, which has been developed to solve the above-mentioned problems, has an object to provide a method of manufacturing a preform for compounding use, which can restrain deformation of the preform and formation of larger non-reinforced regions in a compounded portion.
According to the present invention, which has been developed to solve the above-mentioned problems and to achieve the above-mentioned object, there is provided a method of manufacturing a preform for compounding use which is to be impregnated with a molten metal to be compounded with a matrix material. The method includes the step of mixing short fibers, ceramic particles and a binder material together to make a mixture. The average of the lengths of the short fibers is 100 to 200 xcexcm. The volumetric percentage (i.e. volumetric rate) of the short fibers is 1 to 7%. The content of the binder material in the mixture is 0.3 to 5.0 mass %. In addition, the method includes the steps of forming the mixture so as to have a predetermined shape, and sintering the mixture at a temperature of 1000 to 1150xc2x0 C. to form the preform.
According to the above-mentioned method, the average of the lengths of the short fibers is set to a smaller value in order to restrain formation of a larger non-reinforced region in a compounded portion. In order to restrain deformation of the preform due to the shorter fibers during the sintering process, the amount of the binder is balanced with the sintering temperature. In consequence, the strength of the preform may be well maintained while the deformation of the preform may be prevented.
In the above-mentioned method, it is preferable that whiskers are added to the mixture in the step of mixing. If so, the whiskers as the skeleton of the preform improve the strength of the preform. Further, the ceramic particles may be better dispersed.
In the above-mentioned method, it is also preferable that the ceramic particles include particles having a first average diameter and particles having a second average diameter, which is smaller than the first average diameter. In that case, the particles having the second average diameter may be effectively interposed between the short fibers and the particles having the first average diameter so that the degree of sintering of the preform may be improved as a whole.
In the above-mentioned method, it is also preferable that the average of diameters (thickness) of the short fibers is 3 to 5 xcexcm. If so, the strength of the preform may be better maintained while the deformation of the preform may be more effectively prevented.
In the above-mentioned method, it is also preferable that the short fibers are composed of alumina. In that case, the strength of the preform may be more effectively improved.
In the above-mentioned method, it is also preferable that the binder material is composed of alumina sol. In that case, the strength of the preform may be much more effectively improved.
In the above-mentioned method, it is also preferable that the particles having the first average diameter are composed of silicon carbide while the particles having the second average diameter are composed of titanium oxide. If so, the wear resistance and strength of the preform may be more effectively improved.
In the above-mentioned method, it is also preferable that the volumetric percentage of the whiskers in the mixture is 1 to 4%. In that case, the strength of the preform may be better improved. Further, the ceramic particles may be much better dispersed.

Method of manufacturing preform for compounding use


An oil resistant tubular fuse is taught for submersion in a hot oil bath. An epoxy resin seal is provided between one portion of a fuse ferrule and an annular groove in the fuse body. Alternatively the epoxy resin seal may be disposed between flared portions of the ferrule and an unscored portion of the tubular body. In both cases the adhesive characteristics of the epoxy are such that the seal retains its sealing capabilities in a temperature range from -40.degree. C. to +150.degree. C.

1. Field of the Invention
The subject matter of this invention relates generally to oil submersible fuses and it relates more particularly to epoxy resin seals which maintain their sealing integrity over a wide temperature range.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is known in the prior art to make cartridge-type fuses having annular grooves at the ends thereof in which overlaid or telescoped conductive ferrules may be magneformed or crimped for enclosing the ends of the fuse securely. Such a fuse is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 3,855,563 issued Dec. 17, 1974 to F. L. Cameron et al and in U.S. Pat. No. 3,333,336 issued Aug. 1, 1967 to F. L. Cameron et al. Both of the above patents are assigned to the assignee of the present invention. An electromagnetic crimping or securing process is taught in the latter noted U.S. Patent. It is also known to generally provide some form of seal at the interface between the edge of a fuse ferrule and the protective fuse barrel or body to generally prevent the surrounding environment from affecting the internal portion of the fuse. Such a fuse is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 3,911,385 issued Oct. 7, 1975 to D. D. Blewitt et al. In that case a sealant such as silicone rubber is disposed as a bead between the edge of a ferrule and an epoxy-covered glass melamine fuse ferrule. The fuse described in that case is for outdoor use where the fuse is likely to be exposed to a relatively hostile environment. The bead is provided to enhance the weatherproof qualities of the fuse. None of the prior art apparently teaches the use of a seal between a fuse ferrule and protective body for a fuse which is submersible in hot oil such as might be found in a transformer which may be part of an underground electrical distribution system. The relatively high current ratings and high operating temperatures for the oil of such a system exceeded known fuse sealing material's capability particularly as regards to resistance to hot transformer oil. Furthermore, it has been found that attempting to apply epoxy resin to a fuse barrel for sealing it is difficult to center the ferrule relative to the tube to allow the epoxy resin to flow evenly around all parts of the interface between the ferrule and the tube. This problem produces an epoxy deficient dry seal area. It has also been found that after applying liquid epoxy resin at room temperature the subsequent curing process, i.e., the raising of the temperature of the tube subsequent to approximately 140.degree. C., causes trapped gas (air) to expand through the still liquid or gelatinous epoxy causing blowout paths or vent holes therein. These paths or holes form potential leak regions when the fuse is submersed in oil. It would be advantageous therefore if a seal for an oil submersible fuse could be found which would operate in a relatively hot transformer oil environment and which had sufficient flexibility and adhesion properties to maintain an oil-resistant sealing capability over a wide range of temperature.


A central controller (104) for a multipoint polling system arranged to collect inquiry messages from data terminals (102a-n, 103a-n) for processing by a data base (101) and for distributing response messages to the terminals, the several terminals using different communication protocols. The controller includes a RAM memory (203) which stores a list of items, each item identifying a terminal and the type of protocol used thereby, a ROM memory (202) which stores an instruction set for each protocol type and a microprocessor (201) which sequentially accesses each item on the list to poll the associated terminal and accesses the instruction set identified in the item to control sending and receiving equipment to query and intercommunicate with the selected terminal in accordance with the accessed instructions.

In certain data message communication systems, a central station data base collects inquiry messages or "transactions" from and distributes response messages to data terminals. In systems of this type, it is often desirable to provide polling apparatus (sometimes called a controller) which sequentially polls the several terminals to determine whether they have available messages. More specifically, the polling apparatus connects to each terminal and thereafter interchanges control signals with the terminal in accordance with a communication procedure or protocol, which protocol involves a procedure of signal interchange that advises the terminal that it is being polled, advises the controller whether a message is available, enables the controller to recognize the correct reception of a complete message and advises the terminal that the controller correctly received the message.
A polling system arranged to provide the above-described polling is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,100,533 issued to O. Napolitano et al on July 11, 1978. The Napolitano et al arrangement utilizes a multipoint switch which, in response to selection signals, connects each of a plurality of terminals to a central controller. These selection signals are generated by the controller polling apparatus which has stored therein a list of items, each item defining the appropriate selection signals for a corresponding one of the terminals. The controller sequentially accesses each item in the list to enable the generation of the appropriate selection signals whereby the multipoint switch connects the controller to the corresponding terminal. The controller then proceeds to interchange the control signals to query the terminal and collect the message or proceed to the next terminal by accessing the next item on the list.
Data terminals are produced by many different manufacturers, each manufacturing service providing various advantageous features. In large data message communication systems, it is often desirable to utilize terminals of different manufacturing sources at different ones of the remote locations. It may also be desirable to utilize a terminal of one source at one remote location during one period of time and a terminal of a different source during another period of time. Unfortunately, the several manufacturers of terminals do not produce machines using the same communicatiion procedures. For example, one terminal may be queried through the use of a prolonged carrier signal while another through the use of a data character sequence which includes a character or characters individual in the communication system, to this machine. In addition, one machine may terminate messages with a character sequence differing from other machines or look for acknowledgements for its message differing from other machines. Accordingly, to provide a polling system for terminals from different manufacturers, it is necessary for the central controllers for each terminal polled to send the appropriate selection signals while using the appropriate communication procedure (protocol) to connect the poller to the terminal, then interchange the appropriate control signals to query the terminal and finally intercommunicate during and after the message with the appropriate protocol.
It is an object of this invention to provide a polling system accommodating data terminals arranged to utilize different communication procedures. It is a further object to provide different procedures without substantial changes in the system each time a terminal is changed.

Collection of messages from data terminals using different protocols and formats

Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated


A throw-away tip 1 of the present invention has a rake face 5 formed on a surface of a base 2 and a flank 8 intersecting with the rake face 5. The intersection ridge between the rake face 5 and flank 8 defines a cutting edge 9. A sensor line 12 is made out of a conductive film extending along the cutting edge 9 and having a predetermined width. The sensor line 12 is provided in an electrically insulative relation with respect to the base 2. According to the present invention, one side edge L of the sensor line 12 is provided on the flank 8 substantially in parallel with the intersection ridge, while the other side edge U of the sensor line 12 is provided on the rake face 5 side from the intersection ridge.

This application is based on application Nos. 2000-261740, 2000-261741, 2000-261739 and 2000-329625 filed in Japan, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a throw-away tip for use in a cutting process, more specifically, it relates to a throw-away tip providing a sensor line for finding wearing down of an edge.
2. Description of Related Art
Throw-away tips are known which are adapted to be attached to a holder or the like to function as a cutting tool. Such a throw-away tip is a disposable tip which is changed, rather than polished for reuse, when its cutting edge is worn out. The throw-away tip has cutting ridges provided on respective corners of a generally planar rectangular or triangular base. When one of the corner cutting ridges is worn out, another of the corner cutting ridges is used. Then, the throw-away tip is changed when all the corner cutting ridges are worn out.
However, it is not easy to check how far the cutting ridges of the throw-away tip have been worn. In view of an operating environment, it is particularly difficult to detect the abrasion degree of a cutting ridge currently used for cutting without interrupting the cutting process.
Conventional methods for detecting the abrasion degree of the cutting ridge are as follows:
(1) The cutting process is interrupted, and the throw-away tip is removed from the holder to be observed the cutting ridge by means of a tool microscope or the like.
(2) The abrasion degree of the cutting ridge is estimated by detecting a phenomenon incidental to the abrasion of the cutting ridge. For example, a reduction in cutting ability, an increase in vibration, occurrence of a noise, or the like is detected by a sensor disposed adjacent a working portion on a machine tool, and the estimation of the abrasion degree is based on a detection signal from the sensor.
In the method (1), however, the cutting process is interrupted, and the abrasion degree of the cutting ridge cannot quantitatively be determined, so that the abrasion detection cannot accurately be performed.
The method (2) requires a complicated detector, and is less reliable with a poor sensitivity for the detection of the abrasion degree.
One approach to these problems is described in Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. 3-120323 (1991). This publication discloses a throw-away tip having a sensor line of a conductive film provided along a cutting ridge on a flank thereof. It is also disclosed that the sensor line has a width conforming to an allowable abrasion width. In accordance with the throw-away tip disclosed in the publication, the sensor line is worn as the cutting ridge is worn, so that expiration of the life of the cutting ridge can be detected when the sensor line is cut off.
Further, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 9-38846 (1997) proposes an ordinary cutting tool (not a throw-away tip) which has a thin film circuit on a flank thereof, wherein expiration of the life of the cutting tool is automatically detected by sensing a change in electrical resistance which occurs due to abrasion of the thin film circuit as the flank is worn.
When a sensor line is provided on the throw-away tip described above, as shown in FIG. 21, an unnecessary pattern portion (solidly shaded areas in FIG. 21) is removed by irradiating a beam of laser. In order to provide a sensor line 12 on a flank 8, however, it is necessary to irradiate a beam of laser also to a cutting edge 9 portion used in the cutting process, and for this reason, the irradiated cutting edge 9 portion melts and turns into solid solution again, which undesirably makes a rough surface.
The cutting process is performed by setting cutting feed per revolution, and for example, given 0.2 mm as the feed per revolution, then, cutting resistance is applied on a rake face 5 side 0.2 mm inside from the ridge between the flank 8 and rake face 5. Because a beam of laser is irradiated to a portion where the load is applied, the surface on that portion is made rough, which reduces the cutting strength and causes a minute crack on the cutting edge 9 portion during the cutting operation. Performing the cutting process under such a condition poses a problem that chipping is induced. Also, the occurrence of a minute crack on the cutting edge 9 portion poses a problem that the finishing surface of a workpiece is made rough.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a throw-away tip capable of solving the above problems, and on which a sensor line can be provided without making a rough surface of a cutting edge portion.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a throw-away tip, which eliminates inconveniences caused when the sensor line is provided that chipping readily occurs on the cutting edge portion.
A throw-away tip of the present invention has a rake face formed on a surface of a base and a flank intersecting with the rake face. The intersection ridge between the rake face and flank defines a cutting edge. A sensor line is made out of a conductive film extending along the cutting edge and having a predetermined width. The sensor line is provided in an electrically insulative relation with respect to the base. According to the present invention, one side edge of the sensor line is provided on the flank substantially in parallel with the intersection ridge, while the other side edge of the sensor line is provided on the rake face side from the intersection ridge.
In other words, according to the present invention, the sensor line is provided mainly on the flank along the cutting edge, and partially on the rake face side astride the cutting edge, whereby a narrow region parallel to the cutting edge is formed on the rake face side.
The above arrangement makes it unnecessary to irradiate a beam of laser onto the cutting edge itself when the sensor line is formed by irradiating a beam of laser. Consequently, inconveniences such that the cutting edge becomes rough, a minute crack occurs on the cutting edge, etc. can be eliminated.
The throw-away tip is provided with a pair of contact regions electrically connectable to an external electric circuit, and one end and the other end of the sensor line are connected to these contact regions via a pair of connection lines, respectively. The pair of connection lines pass through the intersection ridge of the base, and therefore, it is preferable to recess the intersection ridge portion of the base where the connection lines pass through.
By recessing the intersection ridge portion where the connection lines pass through, it is possible to prevent the intersection ridge from colliding with a holder when the throw-away tip is attached to the holder, thereby forestalling disconnection of the connection lines passing through the intersection ridge.
The above and other objects, arrangements and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent with the following description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.


An electro-mechanical assembly includes a high power IC package and a low power IC package which are mounted with a space between them on a single substrate. Both of these IC packages have flat top surfaces which dissipate heat; and due to various manufacturing tolerances, those surfaces are non-coplanar with respect to each other. To cool these two IC packages, a single heat sink is provided which has a thin flat core that overlies both of the IC packages as well as the space between them, and cooling fins extend from the top of the core. A pair of contact regions are provided on the bottom of the core which respectively are supported by the flat surfaces of the IC packages; and the contact region for the high power IC package is a projection from the core which is a) substantially smaller in average cross-sectional area, parallel to the core, than the flat surface of the high power IC package, b) aligned with a high power chip in the high power IC package, and c) long enough to prevent any portion of the core from touching the flat surface of the high power IC package, despite its non-coplanarity.

This invention relates to electro-mechanical assemblies of multiple integrated circuit packages (IC packages); and more particularly, it relates to the structure of a heat sink in such an assembly which cools at least two IC packages.
By an IC package is herein meant a thin-flat ceramic or plastic housing which encapsulates one or more integrated circuit chips and has dozens of input/output leads (I/O leads) that extend from the housing. Through these I/O leads, power and signals are sent to/received from each encapsulated chip. Conventionally, multiple IC packages are mounted on a printed circuit board by soldering their I/O leads to corresponding patterned conductors on the board. Also conventionally, multiple printed circuit boards are mounted side-by-side on a backplane which has several parallel spaced apart connectors, one for each printed circuit board.
Since the integrated circuit chips in the IC packages dissipate power, those IC packages get hot. Consequently, some cooling means must be provided to prevent the IC packages from getting overheated. Otherwise, certain maximum operating temperatures of the chips in the IC packages will be exceeded which in turn will cause those IC chips to degrade and/or fail.
Conventionally, the IC packages are cooled by attaching a separate heat sink to each IC package, and by providing one or more fans to blow air past the heat sinks. However, as the amount of power which an IC package uses is increased, the amount of heat which that IC package dissipates also increases. This additional heat can be removed by increasing the size of each sink; but eventually, a point is reached where there is no more room to further increase the heat sink size. On any one printed circuit board, the maximum heat sink width is limited by the distance to the adjacent IC packages, and the maximum heat sink height is limited by the distance to the next printed circuit board.
Alternatively, more fans can be added to blow the air past the heat sinks at a higher speed. However, adding fans increases the cost of the overall system. Further, as the speed of the air is increased, an increased amount of noise occurs due to the moving air, the moving fans, and the fan motors. Thus in a commercial product which needs to operate quietly, such as a desk top computer work station, a practical upper limit for the air speed is soon reached.
Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel electro-mechanical assembly of multiple IC packages in which the above problems are overcome.

Electro-mechanical assembly of high power and low power IC packages with a shared heat sink


A cyclophosphazene fluid composition containing organometallic or inorganic metal salts as antioxidants the antioxidants for use therein, and a method therefor, are disclosed herein. Suitable organometallic salts are formed by reacting a metal hydroxide with benzoic acid, substituted benzoic acids, or substituted phenols. The preferred inorganic metal salts effective for this purpose include various metal borates. The metal salt antioxidants are effective for reducing oxidation in the cyclophosphazene fluid in amounts of less than about 1% by weight of the overall composition.

Antioxidant compositions for conventional jet aircraft lubricating fluids, such as fluoroesters and polyphenyl ethers are well known. Such antioxidants are disclosed in Antioxidants For High-Temperature Lubricants, Stemniski et al. ASLE Transactions Vol. 7, p. 43 (1964), and are exemplified by tin-containing compounds such as bis(p-phenoxy phenyl)-diphenyl tin, p-bis(triphenyl stannoxy)-benzene, tetraphenyl tin, tetrakis (p-phenoxy phenyl) tin, bis(p-phenoxy phenyl) tin and diphenyl tin oxide.
As disclosed in Antioxidant Action of Metals and Metal-Organic Salts in Fluoroesters and Polyphenyl Ethers, Ravner et al., J. of Chemical and Engineering Data Vol. 8, No. 4, p. 591 (1963), the oxides, hydroxides and carbonates of the alkaline metals and of barium, and copper salts, steel and stainless steel toluates and benzoates of barium, nickel, lead, praseodymium, manganese, cobalt, chromium, titanium and ytterbium all displayed significant antioxidant activity in fluoroesters and polyphenyl ethers. However, more interest has been recently centering on the use of cyclophosphazene fluids for jet aircraft, turbine, and diesel engine lubricating fluids.
The cyclophosphazene fluids which are of current interest for use in jet aircraft, turbine, and diesel engines are highly advanced fluids or lubricants, as they are required to operate well at extremely high temperatures. Conventional antioxidants for the polyphenyl ether fluids, such as aryl tin compounds, are detrimental to cyclophosphazene fluids. To the inventors' knowledge, the cyclophosphazene fluids are new, and they know of no antioxidants which have yet been developed for use in conjunction with these fluids or lubricants. Unfortunately, attempts by the inventors to produce an oxidation-resistant cyclophosphazene from conventional antioxidants had met with failure due to the volatility and insolubility of the conventional antioxidants when combined with the new cyclophosphazene fluids and lubricants.
Therefore, it is a primary object of the invention to provide a high temperature stable cyclophosphazene with an effective antioxidant to oxidatively stabilize the cyclophosphazene fluids at the extremely high operating temperatures required for use in jet aircraft, turbine, and diesel engines.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for solubilizing a non-volatile antioxidant into cyclophosphazene fluids.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a formulation and method for preparing cyclophosphazene fluids containing an effective antioxidant in order to improve the upper operating temperature limit of the fluids.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide antioxidants designed to be blended with cyclophosphazene fluids and lubricants.

Antioxidant-containing cyclophosphazene compositions, antioxidants for use therein, and method therefor


An electric motor, used for moving a seat of a vehicular seat apparatus, is mounted to mounting brackets so as not to produce vibration or unusual sounds. A cylindrical stepped portion projects from a bottom surface of a yoke of the electric motor. A fitting recess, formed in a frame member, is press-fitted over the yoke stepped portion such that the second frame member is checked from rotating relative to a motor armature shaft, but is allowed to move axially. The electric motor, including the second frame member, is disposed between a pair of first and second mounting brackets arranged in an opposed relationship in the axial direction of the electric motor. The electric motor is fixed by tightening screws into threaded holes formed in the frame member from an outer surface of the adjacent mounting bracket so that no gap is left between the frame member and the adjacent mounting bracket.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to the technical field of a vehicular seat apparatus which is mounted in a vehicle and is constructed to be capable of adjustment, e.g., adjusting the fore-and-aft position of a seat or the fore-and-aft position and the vertical height thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
Generally, some seat apparatuses mounted in vehicles are constructed such that the seat can be moved by, e.g., a fore-and-aft position adjusting means or a fore-and-aft position and vertical height adjusting means. Such a seat apparatus often employs an electric motor as a power source for moving the seat. In this case, an electric motor 11 is mounted, by way of example, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. Frame members 13, 14 having extensions having threaded holes 13a, 14a formed therein are fixed to opposite axial ends of a yoke 12 of the electric motor 11 by caulking or any other fixing means. The electric motor 11 is disposed between a pair of mounting brackets 15, 16 which are arranged in an opposed relationship in the axial direction of a motor shaft 11a. The electric motor 11 is then secured by inserting screws 17 from respective outer surfaces of the mounting brackets 15, 16 and tightening the screws into the threaded holes 13a, 14a. With such a structure, the electric motor 11 can be firmly fixed in place with less vibration while both the motor axial ends are fixedly supported to the mounting brackets 15, 16.
The above-described related art however has problems as follows. Because the screws 17 are fastened to the frame members 13, 14 at the axial opposite ends of the electric motor 11 from the outer surfaces of the mounting brackets 15, 16 on both the axially spaced sides, the spacing between the mounting brackets 15, 16 must be in good match with the axial length (mounting dimension) of the electric motor 11 provided with the frame members 13, 14. Meanwhile, each component has a variation in product dimension which is inevitably caused during the manufacture process. Further, the frame members 13, 14 are fixed to the opposite ends of the electric motor 11 through fixing means as mentioned above. Particularly when the frame members 13, 14 are fixed by caulking, it is difficult to keep the mounting dimension of the electric motor 11 constant due to the inevitable variations in size produced by the caulking. If the spacing between the mounting brackets 15, 16 is not in match with the mounting dimension of the electric motor 11, gaps are left between outer end faces of the extensions having the threaded holes 13a, 14a formed in the frame members and inner surfaces of the mounting brackets 15, 16 when the electric motor 11 is fixed to the mounting brackets 15, 16 by the screws 17. The presence of such gaps produces vibration or unusual sounds upon driving of the electric motor 11. Moreover, if the frame members 13, 14 are fixed to the mounting brackets 15, 16 in a condition accompanying a dimensional error, there is a risk that the fixed portions are subjected to stresses (tensile forces) and durability of the fixed portions is deteriorated. In addition, when the frame members 13, 14 are fixed to the electric motor 11 by caulking, stresses are caused so as to act on not only the fixed portions but also the caulked portions, thus giving rise to a risk that the caulked portions may be broken. Those problems have been experienced in the technical field regarding the invention.

Motor mount for vehicular seat apparatus


Various embodiments provide systems, methods, and computer program products for providing dynamic real-time verification and validation of data associated with the receiving, loading, and positioning of a plurality of containers upon a transport vehicle. One or more computer processors are configured to: receive actual load data associated with at least one container; retrieve at least a portion of expected load data associated with the container for which actual load data has been received; verify the actual weight of the one of the plurality of packages and in response to a successful verification identifying no load weight discrepancies, validate the actual load position of the one of the plurality of packages. In response to a successful validation, at least one communication configured to facilitate at least one of further loading of the plurality of packages may be generated. If validation is unsuccessful, further loading may be prevented.

Field of Invention
Various embodiments of the disclosed invention generally relate to systems, methods, and computer program products for providing real-time validation of container loading and positioning data. For example, during the loading of an aircraft with a plurality of containers prior to takeoff, the capture and validation of weight and balance and position information is critical so as to ensure that the load is safe and satisfies any and all regulatory requirements. Various embodiments provide such in an electronic, easily accessible fashion.
Description of Related Art
In the United States and elsewhere, verification and validation of proper balance of commercial aircraft, upon loading thereof with cargo and containers, is critical so as to ensure that the aircraft is safety and efficiently operated. According to conventional procedures, expected cargo and container data, including identifier numbers, weights, and planned loading positions are received by a ramp supervisor. The ramp supervisor, via a radio and a clipboard, received that data and commences to direct the loading of the actual (e.g., present and received cargo and container data). As oftentimes the actual data, whether weight or otherwise, varies relative to the expected data, loader personnel, during the loading of the aircraft, use a second clipboard to manually record the actual observed data. Prior to takeoff, the ramp supervisor performs a double check (sometimes referred to as a "three-minute check") to compare the actual aircraft load data to the received expected data, as may be contained within a draft manifest for the aircraft. Upon agreement of the actual versus expected data, the finalized manifest is conventionally physically handed to the flight crew and the aircraft is deemed ready to departure.
Amongst various challenges, such conventional procedures inherently introduce inaccuracies and inefficiencies, incurring last minute, costly operational mitigation processes when discrepancies are found after a majority (or all) of the aircraft has been physically loaded. Where discrepancies are identified due to delay, post-departure of aircraft, exposure to liability and/or regulatory fines may be introduced as well when reliance is solely upon conventional, manually-focused and based aircraft loading to position procedures and processes. Thus, a need exists for improved systems, methods, and computer program products for providing real-time electronic validation of container loading and positioning data. A need also exists to provide real-time electronically communicated mitigation actions upon identification of discrepancies so as to substantially minimize and/or eliminate occurrences of extensive unloading and/or reloading of aircraft.

Systems, methods, and computer program products for providing real-time validation of container loading and positioning data


A folding grandstand comprising a supporting frame of forward intermediate and rearward sections hinged together at adjacent ends, vertical support assemblies hinged to the respective sections for supporting the sections on a ground tracks and permitting the grandstand sections to be folded into a collapsed position. The support assemblies comprise continuous trusses permitting the use of fewer pickup points when folding the grandstand along the tracks.

This invention relates generally to folding grandstands or bleachers of the type which comprise hinged supporting frame sections carrying seats and footboards and adapted to assume a sloping or inclined position when opened for use or occupancy, but capable of being folded together to occupy a minimum of space at the playing field when collapsed.
Grandstands of this general type are typically comprised of two or three supporting frame sections horizontally hinged together at their adjacent ends by the provision of hinge assemblies between sections to facilitate a folding together of the sections in a fanfold manner.
Prior grandstands of this general type are usually structured in essentially the same manner, i.e., each supporting frame has a deck plate spanning across and supported on longitudinal steel beams. The beams are supported on rolling dolly assemblies when the grandstand is in the stored or folded position and while the grandstand is in transition between the folded and extended positions. The dolly assemblies roll along tracks or troughs that are supported on or in the sport playing field surface below. When the grandstand is in the extended position, ready for use or occupancy, each of the longitudinal beams are supported by the rolling dolly assemblies and each of the longitudinal beams are supported by additional foldable frame assemblies as required to properly support the additional live loads.
Because the underlying dolly assemblies and frame supports are hingedly connected to each of the longitudinal beams of the supporting frame sections, ground tracks are required for each of the dolly assemblies and support frames. These tracks must be installed in the ground for rolling engagement by the dollies prior to extending the grandstand from its collapsed position, and the tracks must be removed from the field after the grandstand is collapsed back to its stored position.
Thus, the number of tracks required for each of the longitudinal beams of the grandstand creates a time and labor intensive operation for assembling and removing tracks each time the grandstand is extended and folded. Also, the storage and handling of a large number of tracks, each comprising several sections, is costly and cumbersome.
Also, each of the many footings on which the tracks are supported are typically covered by continuous grass sod pans after the tracks are removed, such that it becomes costly and labor intensive to remove and replace the sod. And, the sod overlying the many footings can create hazards for the players on the field.


Provisional road sign barriers and permanent medians are formed based on the correlative, interconnectable arrangement of a number of equal modules, some male and others female, for connecting, which are made of adequate plastic, are hollow and equipped to enclose an electrical supply and corresponding internal lamps that will provide a correct view and real volume of the formed barrier. The modules include, in addition to a metallic reinforcement structure, some sheets that act as elements which absorb the impact of vehicles. The modules will be filled with bags of water, or with sand and/or concrete, as weights, to form a static barrier that carries out the function of signposting and beaconing for works on highways and similar places, and of protecting against the impact of vehicles.

1. Field of Invention
The invention refers to a system of signposting, beaconing, and safety upon impact with barriers for provisional use on highways, roads and the like, whose special, careful design will provide the market and the general public with a series of advantages and benefits lacking in conventional systems intended for similar purposes.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Nocturnal signposting on highways for indicating any type of work-related danger (construction, repair, steps, detours, etc.) are currently based on two systems, one using cones and another using steady or intermittent lamps.
In the first case, the cones usually consist of plastic or rubber, with reflectors at the tops. This system is greatly limited in terms of visibility and protection upon impact, and some countries strictly curtail this type of elements.
In the second case, the lamps are usually installed on metal barricades, cement barriers, water-filled polyethylene barriers or elements, or simply on metal feet that also contain the battery or feeding source. This type of signposting has a series of drawbacks, among which the following can be summarized:
a) They often produce glare for the driver, especially when they are flashing lights.
b) The information that the driver receives from a bright point in the darkness of night is totally inadequate, given that it does not allow him/her to:
1) calculate the distance to the object PA1 2) define the zone nearby PA1 3) define the distance covered or boundaries of the obstacle.
Translating the information received by the driver to the three cartesian axes x, y, and z, the information received by the driver from the road sign lamps relates only to axis y and is nil with respect to axes x and z. The driver only receives the message to "pay attention" and never that of the road signs, which should be the objective of any type of safety device installed on highways.

System of signposting, beaconing, and safety upon impact in barriers for provisional use on highways, roads, and the like


A sealed dual plunger switch assembly includes two switch sub-assemblies comprising plunger actuating mechanisms and basic switches. The sub-assemblies can be inserted into an overall enclosure using shims in order to position their operate points in the desired range relative to the enclosure's mounting surface. The enclosure is then sealed using a combination of covers, gaskets, o-rings, connectors and potting. The sub-assemblies individually and/or simultaneously receive actuation inputs within a fixed distance from the assembly's mounting surface.

Many types of switch mechanisms are utilized in residential, commercial, industrial and military applications. A particular application of switch mechanisms of this type relate to pushbutton switches that comprise a plunger that is movable relative to a base along an axis and which causes actuation of switching components when the plunger is depressed. Typically, the plunger is connected to a button that is depressible by a human finger. Some switch mechanisms cause actuation of a switch upon each depression of the button and plunger while other switch applications, referred to as alternate action devices, actuate on one push and release of the button and undo the actuation on a subsequent push and release of the button.
Generally, a plunger switch is mounted to an electric appliance to control a lamp, a motor, a heater and so forth. Due to external pressure generated by electrical and mechanical elements, a point of contact of the plunger switch engages the electric appliance. Meanwhile, when the external pressure is eliminated, the contact of the plunger switch returns to an original position thereof, thus maintaining an operable position.
In many switch designs and other mechanically actuated devices, the plunger is utilized as the input mechanism to force some other action within the surrounding enclosure (i.e., case or housing). Plungers come in all different shapes and sizes but are usually retained in their respective enclosures by similar means. In most cases, a spring or similar feature can provide resistance to the actual movement of the plunger within the enclosure.
Many electrical switches are of the type which encounter "overtravel" after the state of the electrical connection of the switch has been altered. In most instances, an actuator is employed to operate the switch. The actuator and its associated components usually go through a "pretravel" before electrical connection is made or the switch state is altered, which sometimes is termed the "operating point". The actuator and/or its associated components go through an overtravel condition of movement after the operating point. Upon release of the actuator, reverse movement usually takes place and a "release point" occurs when the electrical connection and its associated circuit is transferred back to its original state. This usually occurs sometime during return movement of the actuator.
Plunger switch design inherently requires that actuating plunger travel must be the same as the return plunger travel plus movement differential before the switch can transfer the circuit to the original position. It further means that the actuation device and/or the switch mounting method must be designed to accommodate manufacturing tolerances in the involved apparatus components and still provide sufficient movement so that plunger travel through the operating point into the overtravel region will ensure that the switch can change states each time it is actuated. In many instances the attainment of these relations is complicated by the fact that normal manufacturing tolerances alone can be greater than the total travel (return plunger travel plus movement differential plus maximum permitted overtravel) of the switch thereby requiring the use of expensive and complicated mounting bracketry.
Based on the foregoing it is believed that a need exists for an improved sealed switch assembly that can receive actuation inputs at two different plunger locations. Additionally, a need exists for achieving the desired operating point of each plunger in a way such that they operate simultaneously within a fixed distance from the assembly's mounting surface.

Sealed dual plunger switch assembly with simultaneity


In a centrifugal separator, a temperature sensor is provided in contact with a vibration isolation rubber that elastically supports an induction motor to a motor base. A Peltier element for heating/cooling the vibration isolation rubber is provided in contact with the vibration isolation rubber. The temperature sensor and the Peltier element is connected to a controller. Based on a detected temperature input from the temperature sensor, the controller controls heat generation or cooling effected by the Peltier element, thereby maintaining an optimum temperature of the vibration isolation rubber to maintain its damping characteristics.

The present invention relates to a rotor driving apparatus, and more particularly to a supporting portion for a driving apparatus in which a rotor as a rotating body can easily become imbalanced to cause large vibrations, such as a centrifugal separator.
In conventional rotor driving apparatuses such as centrifugal separators, the rotational torque obtained with a driving device such as an electric motor is transmitted to a rotor through a rotation shaft to thereby rotate the rotor. The rotor can be mounted with a plurality of test tubes each enclosing a sample, and centrifugal separation of the sample within each test tube is effected by the rotation of the rotor.
Examples of the rotors used in centrifugal separators include: an angle rotor in which angles of insertion holes, which are arranged at equal intervals and into which samples are inserted, are constant; and a swing rotor in which a container (referred to as "bucket") to which the test tubes are mounted swings together with the rotation of the rotor. When performing a centrifugal operation, a user mounts test tubes to those rotors, each of the test tubes containing a sample for centrifugal separation. In this case, if the sample is contained in different amounts in the plural test tubes or if no test tube is inserted into a particular insertion hole, a center of gravity of the rotor and the test tubes as a whole is displaced from a center axis of the rotation, that is, eccentric gravity occurs so that the rotation of the rotor becomes imbalanced.
A rotational speed of a centrifugal separator is set in increments of 10 rpm in a range of, for example, from 300 to 1,000 rpm, and is set in increments of 100 rpm in a range of from 1,000 to the maximum rpm. In this case, a resonance point of a supporting system, which is determined based on a mass of the driving device and a spring constant of the supporting portion, may exist within its operating range. For instance, if an elastic shaft having a low rigidity is used as a rotation shaft, the elastic shaft has a large resonance point in a low-speed rotation region; once the resonance point is exceeded, a high-speed rotation can be attained in a stable manner.
When a rotor in an imbalanced state is rotated, the rotor generates vibrations, which are transmitted to the driving device or the casing. In particular, the vibrations become excessive near the above-mentioned resonance point, which often leads to breakage of the rotation shaft or the like. Thus, in order to suppress the vibrations of the driving device at the resonance point to a low level, a supporting portion having a vibration damping function is provided between the driving device and the casing. Generally, a supporting portion used for this purpose includes a spring element for blocking the transmission of vibrations to the casing, and a damper element such as a vibration isolation rubber for damping the vibrations. Therefore, in order to reduce the resonance magnification at the resonance point, the vibration isolation rubber selected should have a high energy-absorption factor (high loss factor).
However, the actual temperature of the vibration isolation rubber is not only dependent on room temperature (2 to 40° C.) at which it is used, but is also largely changed due to heat generated from an induction motor during driving. In that case, the damping characteristics of the rubber are changed to eliminate an initial high loss factor, which ultimately results in the generation of vibrations or noises in the apparatus.
For instance, assuming that a rotor is in the same unbalanced state, measurement of the rotor vibration amplitude is conducted with respect to the following two cases: a case where the temperature of the rubber is at the highest within the room temperature range in which the centrifugal separator can be used (when the loss factor and dynamic modulus of elasticity are at the minimum); and a case where the temperature of the rubber is at the lowest (when the loss factor and dynamic modulus of elasticity are at the maximum). The measured values are shown in FIG. 8. As indicated by a solid line A in a graph of FIG. 8, when the temperature of the vibration isolation rubber is at the highest, the amplitude at a first resonance point can be suppressed to a lower level in a low-speed rotation region. However, a sharp vibration peak appears in a range of 3,500 to 6,000 rpm, with the amplitude reaching its maximum level at the resonance point of a supporting system near 4,000 rpm. On the other hand, as indicated by a broken line B in FIG. 8, when the temperature of the vibration isolation rubber is at the lowest, a sharp vibration peak, such as one observed in the case where the temperature of the vibration isolation rubber is at the highest, does not appear in the range of 3,500 to 6,000 rpm. However, the amplitude at the first resonance point becomes extremely large in the initial low-speed rotation region. Note that the peak in the low rpm region refers to the first resonance point observed in the case where an elastic shaft having a low elasticity is used as the rotation shaft. In this case, the peak is inevitably exists within the operating range of the apparatus.

Rotor driving apparatus with temperature adjustment of elastic supporting portion


A quilting machine including: a frame to support at least one pair of elongated roller members, the roller members are spaced apart and freely rotating and adapted to support quilting fabric material disposed therebetween and wound around the roller members, the rotation of the roller members enabling the material to be rolled towards and away from the sewing arm of a sewing machine, sliding track means adapted to support the sewing machine, the track members slidable in a directional plane parallel to and perpendicular to the roller members, quick release braking means adapted to brake the rotation of the roller members, wherein in use, in co-operation with the sliding track means, and by applying and releasing the braking means, the direction of rotation of the roller members can be controlled and material can be rapidly rolled towards or away from the sewing machine to enable continuous stitching of indefinite length to be sewn in either direction perpendicular to the roller members irrespective of the depth the sewing machine arm as well as in a direction parallel to the roller members without doubling back or braking the stitch line.

Prior art sewing and quilting machines are well known. They invariably involve the use of electrical sewing machines mounted or supported on a frame or other arrangement to enable the stitching of large areas of fabric typically quilting material. The principle disadvantage or limitation of the prior art is that the length of the stitch line is usually restricted by the depth of the arm of the particular sewing machine. Although there have been some arrangements that allow for the scrolling or rolling of the quilt material as the stitching reaches the maximum length of the sewing machine arm, there has been no facility to provide easy positioning of the material so that a continuous stitch line can sewn in both a forward and a reverse direction with respect to the sewing machine. In addition, prior art quilting machines do not easily transfer fabric between feed and take up rollers while accurately setting fabric tension. Prior art arrangements which include ratchet and friction systems are cumbersome and often result in a broken stitch line or a doubling back of the stitching when a continuous line of stitching is required. Ratchet systems have limited accuracy with fabric tensioning and with friction systems, fabric transfer is difficult. Both these factors detract from the eveness and uniformity of the stitching. This is particularly important in the art of quilting where it detracts from the overall quality of the finished quilt work as the stitch work is a crucial factor. Quality of quilt work is invariably judged or measured on a close inspection of the stitch work. There is therefore a need for an improved quilting machine which enables infinitely variable fabric tensioning and unbroken and even lines of continuous stitching. In addition there is also a need for easy transfer of fabric in both a forward and a reverse direction with respect to the position of the sewing machine notwithstanding the limited depth of the arm of the sewing machine.


A revised sealing structure for an injection molded filter canister, which is resistant to leaks despite the periodic warping of the lid. A nearly square cross-section groove is placed in the body of the filter around the perimeter of the body open end. Within the groove is placed a "lathe cut" gasket; this is an elastomeric gasket having a precision rectangular cross section. On the lid, centered so as to be positioned opposite the groove in the body, and sized to be nearly centered in the groove, is at least one raised, circular ridge. With the addition of the ridge to the lid, in combination with the lathe cut gasket and the revised groove, that the lid may be easily placed in sealing contact with the body, and that the incidence of leaks is substantially eliminated in reinforced plastic molded filters. No special care or skill is needed of the workman in placing and fastening the lid to the filter body to achieve a tight seal.

This invention relates to the field of liquid filters, of the type commonly known as toilet paper filters.
It has long been known that very fine filtration can be obtained, removing particulate contaminants from liquids, by flowing the liquids along an extended filter path across the surface formed between two adjoining sheets of filtration material. This filter action is in distinction to the more common filter action in which a liquid is forced through a membrane or porous material; in the latter case, proper filtration requires very careful design of the membrane, and the size of the particles successfully filtered is a function of membrane porosity and the uniformity of the membrane.
The usual form of the first above described filters is the axial flow, wound fibrous tissue filters, popularly known as paper towel filters. These filters use the filtration capability inherent in passing a fluid axially along the surface between two tightly adjoining sheets of fibrous tissue. The fluid does not pass through any given sheet and thus the normal manufacturing tolerances inherent in membrane or porous filters are not required. Significant work has been done on the design of such filters, because of the low cost and widespread availability of filter media in the form of commercially available paper towels, or toilet paper rolls.
Such filters are used in by-pass oil filtration, and are capable of significant filtration. However, in such use, the filter body is exposed to hot lubricating oil, and, being paralleled with the lubrication system, is under full system lubrication pressure. These filters are intended to run in unattended service, and usually are outside the metered lubrication system. By-pass filtration works by continuously diverting a portion of the lubrication oil flow through the filter during normal engine operation.
The usual form of this filter is a body section, containing a filter cartridge, which is plumbed to the lubrication oil supply. the body is closed off by a lid, which is removable to permit removal and replacement of the filter element.
The joint between the lid and the body is subject to leakage, which if not prevented, will result in gradual loss of all lubricating oil and subsequent engine failure. This leakage problem is an important reason that the use of such filters is not more widespread. As a result, significant effort has been expended in sealing the lids of such filter media against leakage.
Such filters are shown in, for instance, S. K. Yee, et al, U.S. Pat. No. 3,308,957, the Frantz filter, which is considered typical of the paper towel or toilet paper filter, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,504,803 to Brayman and U.S. Pat. No. 4,017,400 to Schade.
Each such patent discloses an axially wound roll of filter material described generally as being a paper towel or toilet paper roll, the rolls subsisting upon a supporting cardboard tube (for instance, the Yee patent, Item 35). This tube is supported axially within the filter canister.
A lid is clamped onto the top of the filter canister, and an O-ring seal is usually placed between the lid and the body of the filter canister to reduce leaks. In order to insure a tight, leak free seal, the canister is made of a dimensionally stable, accurate material. This has usually required that the body and lid be made of machined metal construction, with attendant high manufacturing costs. Molded plastic containers have been tried, but suitably dimensionally stable materials tend to be restricted to low temperature, low pressure service. Lubricating oil filters must be capable of withstanding high temperatures and high pressures.
The clamps for holding together such lids are of a screw adjusted type, which are tightened about the filter canister by finger tightening of a knob, threaded to advance on the screw. This arrangement gives sufficient mechanical advantage to clamp a high dimensional tolerance lid and canister, such as a metal body.
However, when injection molded plastics are substituted for metal bodies, satisfactory, reliable seals have only been achieved in those plastics, such a polycarbonates, which are capable of being molded to the dimensional accuracies of machined metal. The nature of the injection molding process requires that thermosetting plastics be used; by definition, such plastics change shape with temperature, and, for the temperatures typically encountered in lubricating oil service, such dimensionally accurate plastics as polycarbonates cannot be used. Reinforced or composite high temperature injection molded materials, such as glass filled nylons, are much more sensitive to molding conditions, and often display significant dimensional instabilities in such high temperature, high pressure service.