Provided is a LOCOS offset MOS field-effect transistor in which a first lightly-doped N-type drain offset region with a LOCOS oxide film and a second lightly-doped N-type drain offset region without a LOCOS oxide film are formed in a drain-side offset region, and both the regions are covered with a gate electrode. Provision of the first lightly-doped N-type drain offset region mitigates an electric field applied to the first lightly-doped N-type drain offset region to increase a breakdown voltage. Provision of the second lightly-doped N-type drain offset region increases carriers within the second lightly-doped N-type drain offset region to obtain a high current drivability.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a LOCOS offset field-effect transistor having a high breakdown voltage and a high current drivability.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a conventional N-channel LOCOS offset MOS field-effect transistor having a high breakdown voltage structure. An N-channel LOCOS offset MOS field-effect transistor 101 includes a P-type silicon substrate 16, a P-type well region 17, a lightly-doped N-type source LOCOS offset region 18, a lightly-doped N-type drain LOCOS offset region 19, a heavily-doped N-type source region 20, a heavily-doped N-type drain region 21, a channel formation region 22, a gate oxide film 23, a gate electrode 24, LOCOS oxide films 25, a protective oxide film 26, a source electrode 27, a drain electrode 28, and the like. As illustrated in FIG. 2, features of the MOS field-effect transistor 101 reside in that the lightly-doped N-type drain LOCOS offset region 19 is formed between the channel formation region 22 and the heavily-doped N-type drain region 21 for the purpose of increasing a breakdown voltage, and in that the LOCOS oxide films 25 are each formed to be as thick as 5,000 Å to 10,000 Å for the purpose of preventing a channel formation in a parasitic field transistor formed between elements. In general a drain breakdown voltage of a MOS field-effect transistor having a large channel length is determined as a voltage at which an avalanche breakdown occurs in a portion to which the largest electric field is applied in a depletion layer formed at a boundary between the channel formation region and the drain region, that is, a surface portion which is the most sensitive to a gate potential. The reason for a high drain breakdown voltage of the MOS field-effect transistor 101 is that a bird's beak of the LOCOS oxide film 25 is positioned in the vicinity of the boundary surface between the channel formation region 22 and the offset region 19, alleviating the influence of the gate potential so that an avalanche breakdown may less likely occur.
Further reduction of a dopant concentration of the offset region 19 to increase a width of the depletion layer to obtain a higher breakdown voltage leads to an increase of the resistance of the offset region 19, causing a generation of Joule heat in the offset region 19 to break down the element at a turning on of the transistor to get a large drain current. There is a trade-off relationship between a high breakdown voltage and a current drivability.
In view of the above-mentioned problem, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H 11-26766 proposes the following method. Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H11-26766 discloses a method of optimizing a film thickness of a LOCOS oxide film to a film thickness satisfying the following two conditions. The first condition is a film thickness condition as to whether to suppress the above-mentioned influence of the gate potential on the avalanche breakdown. The second condition is a film thickness condition as to whether or not the gate potential may allow the surface of the lightly-doped drain LOCOS offset region to enter an accumulated state. If the film thickness of the LOCOS oxide film is set to an optimum film thickness, a high breakdown voltage element having a high current drivability may be produced.
In a case where the above-mentioned conventional example is utilized to produce a high breakdown voltage element having a high current drivability, because the above-mentioned two conditions are inherently in a trade-off relationship, it is difficult to select an optimum film thickness satisfying the two conditions simultaneously.


A portable water pump for use with swimming pools including a flotation collar having a recess formed therein. A circular aperture extends through the collar. The floatation collar is adapted for floating in a body of water. An engine is positionable within the recess of the floatation collar. A water pump is secured and operably coupled with the engine. The water pump has a water inlet and a water outlet. The water inlet has a pipe extending outwardly and downwardly therefrom through the circular aperture of the flotation collar.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a portable water pump for use with swimming pools and more particularly pertains to floating in a swimming pool to allow for pool water to be pumped out of the pool for dousing a fire with a portable water pump for use with swimming pools.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of floating pumps is known in the prior art. More specifically, floating pumps heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of having a pump float on water for use therewith 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.
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,553,902 to Eberhardt discloses a floating portable pump.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,125,458 to Berman discloses a fire fighting apparatus.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,089,620 to Ravitts discloses a floating pumping device.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,419,497 to Warrington discloses a portable pumping station.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,789,307 to Sloan discloses a floating pump assembly.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,910,725 to Rule discloses a portable pump apparatus.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objective and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a portable water pump for use with swimming pools for floating in a swimming pool to allow for pool water to be pumped out of the pool for dousing a fire.
In this respect, the portable water pump for use with swimming pools according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of floating in a swimming pool to allow for pool water to be pumped out of the pool for dousing a fire.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for new and improved portable water pump for use with swimming pools which can be used for floating in a swimming pool to allow for pool water to be pumped out of the pool for dousing a fire. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.

Portable water pump for use with swimming pools


An apparatus is provided for directing at least two flows of synthetic material from an extruder to an extruder cross-head for coating a conductor wire with two layers of insulating material and to readily reverse the colors of the layers. The apparatus includes at least two separate tubes which communicate with an extruder outlet for directing synthetic material from the extruder outlet to the respective tube. The tubes communicate at their outlet ends with respective inlet openings of the extruder head. A rotator block is arranged to selectively and quickly reverse the positions of the outlet openings of the tubes with respect to the inlet openings of the extruder head such that after reversal, the outlet opening of each tube communicates with the other inlet opening of the cross-head. Thus, the capability to reverse the flows of insulating material is provided thereby making it possible to reverse the colors of the inner and outer layers of insulating material on the conductor wire.

Insulated electrical wires and cables are generally supplied with an outer sheath - or coating - of insulating material. The insulating material is usually a synthetic plastic material which can be conveniently extruded about the conductor wire and is generally available in up to about eleven colors. Thus, producing such insulated wire either for a customer directly or for inventory or sale, the objective is sometimes directed toward production of great lengths of wire in different colors. At other times, it may be required to produce only lengths of wire to meet customers needs and color requirements. Thus, flexibility in changing colors is desirable.
End users often require manufacturers to produce relatively small amounts of wire in a selected number of colors. These requirements present relatively difficult problems of production of wire according to need without incurring excessive waste due to overproduction of a particular color or changes in customer needs.
It is therefore desirable to have the capability to produce wire according to customer needs and to thereby avoid the necessity to supply customers by overstocking. This capability, however, has presented practical problems in the past whereby coating of specific lengths of wire in different colors has necessitated shutting down the system and purging the lines, with the result that enormous amounts of product was lost due to waste caused by such system shutdowns.
One proposal to avoid stopping production was to change the extruder with the synthetic material of the new color while continuing to extrude material of the old color. This proposal was believed to produce excessive amounts of waste due to the fact that changing from one color to another required discharging the entire system with the first color.
Another proposal is disclosed in German Pat. Publication No. DE 1,222,656 whereby a system of two-way, two distributors and four conduits are used to coat a wire with two layers of plastic; an inner layer of one color and an outer layer of another color. Reversing the colors required stopping production and ultimately purging the conduits which were discontinued after the reversal. This purging process became difficult after the material solidified in the lines.
Another proposal is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,761,129 to Aste et al. whereby a system for extruding a sheath of plastic around a conductor utilizes a distributor with two pairs of channels; a first pair for directing plastic material from an extruder to an extruder head; and a second pair of inverted channels for changing the flows of plastic such that the material previously forming the inner layer now forms the outer layer, and vice versa. This system, however, requires intermediate purging of lines to remove plastic material remaining in the channels not used after reversal.
I have invented an apparatus which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art systems. According to my invention, the conductor is laminated with dual layers of insulating material; an inner layer of one color, and an outer layer of another color. The layers are quickly and conveniently changed by my apparatus with the result that a minimal amount of wire having a hybrid coating is produced thereby resulting in a minimum loss of coated conductor.

Apparatus for extruding a sheath of synthetic material around a conductor and for changing the color of same


A remote flash ROM and security package is formed and delivered to a system ROM of a target computer system for remote flashing of the ROM and remote configuration of security settings for the computer system. The remote flash ROM and security package includes flash ROM and security control code for calling a remote flash and security driver to execute a remote flash or to remotely configure a security setting, a file containing a "signed" ROM image to be flashed to the ROM, a security settings file which preferably is encrypted, and a remote flash and security control container for containing the flash ROM and security code, the ROM image, and the security settings file. The remote flash and security driver may be included in the remote flash ROM and security package or may be resident to the target computer system. In the preferred embodiment, the computer system includes a secure memory device containing an administrator password for locking and unlocking the ROM. The remote flash ROM and security package preferably includes an administrator password matching the administrator password stored in the secure memory device to place the computer system in an administrator mode. A system ROM thereby may be flashed or a security setting changed remotely without the need for a user to enter an administrator password. Further, flashing the ROM or changing a security setting occurs as an "inband" process. Flashing a ROM or changing a security setting by remotely providing an administrator password to a secure memory device eliminates the need to reboot a computer system after downloading the ROM and security package.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to non-volatile memory flashing and security management for a computer system, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for remote non-volatile memory flashing and security management.
2. Description of the Related Art
A remote system management product ideally mhlimizes user action required for system management. Various system management tasks such as delivering software to a target machine or powering a target machine may be remotely performed by a system administrator rather than a user. Certain other system management tasks, however, maintain the need for user action in combination with tasks performed by a system administrator. For these tasks, it has been necessary for a user to be present at a target machine. Two examples of these tasks are flashing a read-only-memory (ROM) of a target machine and changing a security setting for a target machine.
The conventional method of flashing a read-only-memory (ROM) or changing a security setting of a target computer system begins with downloading a new ROM image and flash utility onto a fixed disk of the target computer system. The ROM image and flash utility have typically been gathered from a support compact disc or a website and stored on an operating system partition or a dedicated vendor unique system partition of the fixed disk. Alternatively, the new ROM image and flash utility may be initially stored onto a secondary ROM or non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) and then copied to the system ROM of the computer system. The system ROM is placed in a protected state by the basic input/output system (BIOS) services during power up of the computer system, thereby preventing a flash operation to the system ROM. After the new ROM image and flash utility are downloaded, the flash utility forces the user to create a flash utility diskette. The user then cold boots the computer system with the created diskette in the floppy drive. When the computer system detects the created diskette, the computer system brings up the program to flash the system ROM. The program to flash the system ROM can prompt the user to enter an administrator password. The program then allows the user to set a configuration parameter or flag to indicate a request to flash the system ROM with the new ROM image. The request to flash the ROM is queued. Upon a reboot of the computer system, the flash utility diskette provides the administrator password to the system ROM to place the system ROM in an unprotected state allowing for a flash operation to the system ROM. Placing the system ROM in an unprotected state upon reboot prevents the BIOS from protecting or locking the ROM. The flash utility diskette next flashes the system ROM. It thus has been necessary for a user to copy a flash utility and ROM image to the system ROM, reboot the computer system, and enter an administrator password as a prerequisite to flashing the ROM. The flash utility which performs the flash of the system ROM also verifies that the system ROM is flashed correctly. The computer system must then be rebooted again to activate the new ROM image flashed to the system ROM.
Similarly, in administering certain security settings of a computer system, it has been necessary to store code and a security settings file on a system partition, request a change to a security setting which is queued for execution upon the next reboot of the computer system, and reboot the computer system to activate the change to the security setting. This process of downloading a flash ROM and security software package and running the code in the package upon reboot of the computer system before flashing a ROM or changing a security setting may be termed an out-of-band process.
Flashing a ROM or changing a security setting as an Aout-of-band.congruent. process has certain disadvantages. Queuing a change to a security setting and activating the change to the security setting upon reboot poses a risk of intervention between the time the change is queued and the time the computer system is rebooted. For example, if a system administrator requests a disabling of a power-on password of a terminated employee, the power-on password of the terminated employee continues to be in effect after the request by the administrator until a subsequent reboot of the computer system. As a result, in this time window, a terminated employee is able to tamper with the files on the computer system prior to a reboot of the computer system. Another basic disadvantage of an out-of-band process is the risk of system error upon the reboot of the computer system. If a system error occurs upon a reboot of a computer system, the queued request to change a security setting may not be serviced. Therefore, upon reboot of a computer system, a system administrator is unable to determine if the change to a security setting is in effect.

Method and apparatus for remote ROM flashing and security management for a computer system


A joint for the angularly movable connection of two shafts with one another has flanges which are arranged on the shaft ends. Each of the flanges has three axially projecting driving pins which are connected with a hexagonal, elastically deformable joint ring. The joint ring, in turn, is formed in several parts by a collar of chain-link-type driving loops which can be swivelled on sockets at the corner points of the joint ring. For relieving the driving loops, one linear compression bar is also arranged in the interior of each driving loop. The compression bar has faces placed onto the sockets while transmitting force under load. The effective length of the compression bars is dimensioned such that the bars fill the clear space between two adjacent sockets only with play. The play is large enough so that the compression bars are placed in contact only after a defined basic load has been exceeded so that as the result of the load, the driving loops are elastically stretched to a defined degree.

This application claims the priorities of German Application Nos. 197 20 857.6, filed May 17, 1997, 297 08 814.9, filed May 17, 1997, and 197 27 321.1, filed Jun. 27, 1997.
The present invention relates to a joint for torsion-proof connection of two shafts with one another such as the connection which is known, for example, from German Patent Document DE 43 04 274 C1.
When used in vehicles, joints of this type are severely stressed not only mechanically, by torque peaks and by overtensioning joint movements, but also thermally as a result of thermal conduction and heat radiation of very hot parts situated in the vicinity of the joints. In the case of plastic parts, the loadability of the materials used is reduced by the heating of the components so that the thermal stressing of the joints is also relevant to their mechanical loadability.
Many known joints, and particularly shafts of light-weight constructions, have respective flanges on the ends of the two shafts connected by the joint, which flanges have three driving pins axially projecting in the direction of the joint. In this case, six driving pins are arranged in a mutually staggered manner and are uniformly arranged on the circumference of a common graduated circle. The driving pins are connected with one another in a torsion-proof manner by a flexible hexagonal joint ring provided with sockets in its corner points. Between the sockets, the joint ring is itself axially elastically deformable so that the two flanges connected by the joint ring can carry out limited angular movements in any direction also during rotation. This angular movement axially undulates the joint ring so that within the scope of the elasticity, bending stresses occur corresponding to Hooke's law and are superimposed on the torque-caused operational stresses. As a result of this superimposition of stresses, the strength of the materials may be reached. Accordingly, because of the fatigue strength of the joints, only limited bending angles can be permitted.
Three driving pins per flange, resulting in a total of six driving pins in the joint, are not absolutely required. Using only two pins per flange, resulting in a total of four driving pins, is also conceivable. In this case, however, because of the distribution of the circumferential stress on the small number of driving pins, these driving pins are subjected to more stress than when a higher number of driving pins is used. The use of four or more pins per flange, resulting in a total of eight or more driving pins in the joint, is also conceivable. In this case, with the rising number of driving pins, the required joint diameter becomes larger and/or the tolerable bending angle becomes smaller. Therefore, three or six driving pins are frequently used as a compromise between stress on the components, on the one hand, and the joint size, on the other hand.
German Patent Document DE 41 40 311 A1 shows a hexagonal joint ring made of a fiber reinforced material in the form of a ring disk, in the case of which axial sockets are embedded in the reinforced corner areas. The linear areas between two adjacent corners are formed by a relatively thin web which extends in the plane of the ring disk and is made of several cohesive layers of hardened fiber reinforced material. This web is relatively wide in the radial direction. During bending of the joint, these webs are not only bent but also twisted. Although, in the case of relatively low bending stresses, the thin webs can be elastically bent, because the shape of the webs deviates considerably from rotational symmetry, during twisting of the webs, high tensions occur mainly at their interior and exterior edges.
The initially mentioned German Patent Document DE 43 04 274 C1 shows a hexagonal joint ring in which the sockets arranged in the corner areas are connected, in pairs, to one another by oval driving loops which themselves are closed and are wound on the outside around two adjacent sockets. Specifically, wide centrally located driving loops and a pair of driving loops situated on an edge side are alternately arranged in the joint ring. The wide driving loop is approximately three times as wide as its radial wall thickness; the two narrow driving loops together are approximately as wide as the driving loop situated in the center. The driving loops are radially swivellable on the sockets so that, as an individual component, the shape of the joint ring can be flexibly changed. For holding all parts of the joint ring together and for preventing the entry of dirt, the parts of the joint ring are embedded in a rubber-elastic mass of low hardness and are completely enclosed. Because the radial wall thickness is relatively narrow in relation to the axially measured width of the driving loops, they offer good prerequisites for absorbing circumferential tension when low excess tensions in the curvatures of the driving loops are present. However, during bending of this joint, the driving loops are tilted and also twisted, in which case high excess tensions occur at different points of the driving loops. During tilting, there is a one-sided edge support of the loop curvature on the socket which results in a concentration of tension at this location. During twisting of the relatively wide driving loops, in a manner similar to that of the webs of the joint disk according to German Patent Document DE 41 40 311 A1, excessive tensions occur at the edges although at a lower level than in the disk according to this document. Therefore, even under a moderate torque load, in operation, locally high tensions occur in the driving loops at least when noticeable bends of the joint reduce the nominal loading of the joint which can be tolerated over time.
It is an object of the invention to improve the joint of the above-mentioned type such that higher, durably reliable torque loads and/or bending angles can be permitted.
This object is achieved in joints according to the invention by a joint for torsion-proof connection of two shafts with one another which is axially and/or angularly movable within certain limits. The joint includes flanges which are, in each case, arranged at ends of the two shafts connected by the joint. Three driving pins axially project in the direction of the joint on each of the flanges to provide six mutually staggered driving pins uniformly arranged on a circumference of a common graduated circle. A flexible, regularly polygon-type, preferably hexagonal joint ring connects the driving pins with one another in a torsion-proof manner and is provided with sockets at corner points. The joint ring is axially elastically deformable between the sockets and is formed in several parts by a collar of several closed oval driving loops. Each of the loops winds around two adjacent sockets and can be radially swivelled on the sockets so that a shape of the joint ring can be changed in a flexible manner.
One linear compression bar is respectively mounted in an interior of each of the oval driving loops. The compression bar is provided on its two front ends at least indirectly with a supporting surface adapted to the sockets. Because of the compression bars in the interior of the receiving loops, a total of twice as many force transmission elements provide support in each loading direction as driving loops are provided for one rotating direction, respectively. In other words, as many force transmission elements are supportive as driving pins are contained in the joint. Specifically, each second driving loop in each loading direction is still supportive, but, in addition, the compression bars which are situated in-between and are arranged in the unloaded driving loops are also supportive. Because the force transmission elements are doubled, in comparison to the state of the art, a clearly higher nominal load of the joint can be durably permitted.
Further features and advantages of the invention will become clear. In addition, the invention will be described in connection with certain embodiments which are illustrated in the drawings.

Cardan-type joint including supportive compression bars


Apparatus for supporting a steering column of an automotive vehicle includes a mounting bracket secured to the steering column. Upper fasteners rigidly secured to vehicle support structure extend through longitudinally extending upper slots in the mounting bracket. Lower fasteners rigidly secured to the vehicle support structure extend through longitudinally extending lower slots in the mounting bracket. The connection of the fasteners in the slots of the mounting bracket releases in response to longitudinal collapse of the steering column in a frontal impact. The vehicle support structure overlies the mounting bracket to resist upward displacement of the mounting bracket when the steering column collapses. Pull loop assemblies are associated with the lower fasteners. Each pull loop assembly includes a generally U-shaped strap of flexible, bendable material having a first leg connected to one of the lower fasteners. Each strap has a second leg which is unattached. Each strap has a return bent intermediate portion extending over a fixed support frame on the mounting bracket so that when the bracket collapses with the steering column, the straps will unwind around and be pulled over the fixed support frame and thereby resist such collapse and absorb energy.

When a crash or collision occurs, a driver can be thrown forward against the steering wheel with great impact.
It is desirable to provide a controlled collapse of the steering column to reduce the force of impact against the driver. The steering column will collapse, but it also tends to rise to a greater angle upon frontal impact, caused by the forward component of the force of the driver against the steering wheel. The rise of the steering column places the steering wheel/air bag assembly in an unfavorable position with respect to the driver. Accordingly, it is desirable not only to provide for a controlled collapse of the steering column, but also to prevent this tendency of the steering column to rise to a greater angle.
In accordance with the present invention, the steering column, which normally extends downwardly and forwardly from the steering wheel, is supported by a mounting bracket. The mounting bracket is secured to the steering column and to vehicle support structure. The connection to the vehicle support structure is releasable upon a frontal impact of sufficient severity, allowing the steering column to collapse in the direction of its length, that is, forwardly and downwardly.
More specifically, the mounting bracket is secured to the vehicle support structure by fasteners which extend through and are connected to longitudinal slots in the bracket. The connection of the fasteners in the slots is releasable in response to longitudinal collapse of the steering column in a frontal impact. There may be four such fasteners and two or more may be in the form of capsules.
Further in accordance with the invention, a pull loop assembly is associated with at least two of the fasteners. Each pull loop assembly includes an elongated, generally U-shaped strap of flexible, bendable, material having a first leg connected at one end to one of the fasteners and a second leg having an unattached or free end. Each strap has a return bent intermediate portion extending over a fixed part of the mounting bracket so that when the bracket collapses with the steering column the straps will unwind around and be pulled over the fixed part of the mounting bracket, absorbing energy in the process. Preferably the fixed part of the mounting bracket over which each strap extends is a separate support frame made of plastic or similar material fixedly attached to the mounting bracket.
The mounting bracket underlies certain vehicle support structure which prevents the bracket, and hence the steering column connected thereto, from rising. Accordingly, the steering column is guided in its collapsed configuration, but is also prevented from rising.
One object of this invention is to provide support structure for a steering column of a motor vehicle having the foregoing features and capabilities.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent as the following description proceeds, especially when considered with the accompanying drawings.

Steering column mounting bracket with pull loops


A neuromorphic processing device has a device input, for receiving an input data signal, and an assemblage of neuron circuits. Each neuron circuit comprises a resistive memory cell which is arranged to store a neuron state, indicated by cell resistance, and to receive neuron input signals for programming cell resistance to vary the neuron state, and a neuron output circuit for supplying a neuron output signal in response to cell resistance traversing a threshold. The device includes an input signal generator, connected to the device input and the assemblage of neuron circuits, for generating neuron input signals for the assemblage in dependence on the input data signal. The device further includes a device output circuit, connected to neuron output circuits of the assemblage, for producing a device output signal dependent on neuron output signals of the assemblage, whereby the processing device exploits stochasticity of resistive memory cells of the assemblage.

The present invention relates generally to neuromorphic processing devices, and more particularly to such devices employing assemblages of neuron circuits based on resistive memory cells.
Neuromorphic technology relates to computing systems which are inspired by biological architectures of the nervous system. The conventional computing paradigm based on CMOS logic and von Neumann architecture is becoming increasingly inadequate to meet the expanding processing demands placed on modern computer systems. Compared to biological systems, it is also highly inefficient in terms of power consumption and space requirements. These issues have prompted a significant research effort to understand the highly efficient computational paradigm of the human brain and to create artificial cognitive systems with unprecedented computing power.
Neurons, along with synapses, are basic computational units in the brain. A neuron can integrate the input signals it receives. In biological neurons, a thin lipid-bilayer membrane is used to separate the electrical charge inside of the cell from that outside of it. The membrane potential, which represents the stored neuron state, is progressively modified by the arrival of neuron input signals. When the membrane potential traverses a specific voltage threshold, the neuron will "fire", generating an output signal known as an "action potential" or "spike", and then revert to its initial state. These spikes are conveyed to other neurons via synapses which change their connection strength ("plasticity" or "synaptic weight") as a result of neuronal activity.
Most current artificial neuron realizations are based on hybrid analog/digital VLSI circuits and require several transistors to be realized. Emulating the integrate-and-fire neuronal functionality with conventional CMOS circuits, such as current-mode, voltage-mode and subthreshold transistor circuits, is relatively complex and hinders seamless integration with highly-dense synaptic arrays. Moreover, conventional CMOS solutions rely on storing the membrane potential in a capacitor. Even with a drastic scaling of the technology node, realizing the capacitance densities measured in biological neuronal membranes (approximately 10 fF/μm2) is challenging.
Resistive memory cells such as phase change memory (PCM) cells have been recognized as suitable candidates for the realization of neural hardware (see e.g. "The Ovonic Cognitive Computer—A New Paradigm", Ovshinsky, Proc. E/PCOS, 2004, and "Novel Applications Possibilities for Phase-Change Materials and Devices", Wright et al., Proc. E/PCOS, 2013). Resistive memory cells are programmable-resistance devices which rely on the variable resistance characteristics of a volume of resistive material disposed between a pair of electrodes. These cells are memristors, i.e., devices that remember the history of the current that has flowed through them. While scalable and efficient memristive synapses have been demonstrated, concrete realizations for practical artificial neurons that can capture most of the essential attributes of biological neurons are more challenging.
In addition to the deterministic neuronal dynamics, stochastic neuronal dynamics play a key role in signal encoding and transmission in biological systems. IEEE JESTCS, Vol. 5, No. 2, June 2015, "Memristors Empower Spiking Neurons With Stochasticity", Al-Shedivat et al., discloses use of a metal-oxide memristor to artificially inject intra-neuron stochasticity in a circuit neuron implementation.

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


An axial piston pump for supplying two separate oil circuits including two pistons units (6, 8) of which one is situated upon an external circle and the other upon an internal circle. The external piston unit (6) must be regulatable so that it can feed a hydromotor of a radiator fan. The internal piston unit (8) must supply a level regulation with a constant flow of oil. Accordingly, both piston units (6 and 8) suck oil via separate suction bores (11 and 26). In the suction bore (11) of the external piston unit (6) leading to the swash-plate chamber (4) is inserted an electromagnetically actuable controlling valve (12). In order that the pistons (5) of the external piston unit (6) cannot run dry when the controlling valve (12) is regulated, there branches off from the suction bore (11), upstream of the controlling valve (12), a constant-flow bore (23) which via an annular groove (24) and radial bores (25) supplies a relatively small amount of oil to each piston (5) in the dead-center position thereof. The pistons (7) of the internal piston unit (8) receive the oil via an annular groove (27) branching off from the suction bore (26) and discharging in the cylinder chambers (7A) via radial bores (28). The radial bores (28) are open in the lower dead-center position. In this manner pressurized oil can be fed separately to each piston unit without mutual interference. Pressure channels (13A and 30A) of both piston units (6 and 8) discharge in a common sealing surface (35) of a piston carrier (10). In the annual grooves (14 and 31) of a rear housing part (40) exhaust valves (13 and 30), respectively, are located consisting of a ring plate (33, 34) and a rubber elastic ring (36 or 37) and tightly fitting against the sealing surface (35).

An axial piston pump having a number of piston units arranged on an external and an internal circle around a swash-plate axle has already been disclosed in DE-OS 3 727 853 (FIG. 6). Upon the external circle act two pistons having a relatively large stroke in pertaining cylinder bores added to a first consumer device, in this case a steering circuit. Upon the internal circle are situated six additional pistons which operate in their cylinder chambers with a smaller stroke and are connected with a second consumer device such as a brake. Both piston units suck the oil from a swash-plate chamber which communicates with a tank via a suction bore. For introducing the pressurized oil in the cylinder chambers, there are provided in the lower dead-center position of the pistons open radial bores connected with the swash-plate chamber via axial bores. In the arrangement known already, it is sought at high speeds to supply the steering circuit with a smaller amount of oil, since at high road speeds less steering aid is required. In this manner, a so-called dropping characteristic line is obtained which is responsible for a strict steering behavior at high road speeds. In order to provide less oil to the external piston unit at high speed, the axial bores of the suction system are in an area of low suction pressure, that is, the axial bores attached to the swash-plate chamber are radially inwardly offset. Since the suction oil in the swash-plate chamber, due to the rotation, assumes a pressure-dependent lamination, the oil is therefore removed from the area which is farthest away from the largest diameter of the rotating element (swash-plate).
On the other hand, the braking circuit is supplied by the internal piston unit through axial bores which are in the area of higher pressure, that is, radially outwardly farther, so that a better piston fill is obtained. In this manner, a single pump can adapt the flow rate need to two consumer devices having different operating requirements. But here the speed-dependent control range, where the external piston unit acts upon the servo-assisted steering system, is relatively narrow. This means that the characteristic line drops only slightly over a wide speed range. Such a characteristic is inadequate, for example, with hydrostatic drives which require a large clamping width of the control flow. Since the piston units of both oil circuits are located in a common swash-plate chamber, a different fill of the individual pistons cannot be entirely avoided, especially in case of high speeds. This is to be attributed to the alternating immersion of the pistons in the swash-plate chamber whereby compressional vibrations originate. Said compressional vibrations are in addition the cause of noises.


A powder coating apparatus reactor includes a loading port for a powder material, an inlet for one or more coating precursors, and a reaction chamber having an inner surface and a plurality of axial baffles. Each axial baffle extends inwardly from the inner surface of the reaction chamber of the rotary vessel. The plurality of axial baffles is configured to keep the powder material flowing within the reaction chamber during rotation of the rotary vessel to facilitate contact between the powder material and the one or more coating precursors. The powder coating apparatus further includes a rotary vacuum seal located at the loading port. The powder coating apparatus also includes a motor capable of actuating the rotary vessel about a center axis for rotation during reaction of the powder material with the coating precursors in the reaction chamber. Methods for coating powder materials with such a reactor are also provided.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
Core/shell nanoparticles may be used in a variety of applications, such as in the formation of an electrode of a battery. The core may be any type of powder particle. The shell may be a thin coating, which may be applied by a process such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD) or atomic layer deposition (ALD). In CVD, a mixture of gases flows around heated substrate particles to form a thin solid film to grow on the surface of particles by heterogeneous reaction. Byproducts are desorbed and pumped away. ALD, a variation of CVD, is a self-limiting process for chemical deposition or growth of ultrathin films on a substrate. ALD typically involves subjecting the target substrate particles to self-saturating surface reactions with a single vapor of precursor materials or multiple vapors introduced sequentially having the precursors of the surface coating. Each surface reaction results in a film that is one atomic layer thick. The surface reactions may be conducted sequentially and/or in an alternating fashion, depending on the composition and structure of the coating or film desired.
However, where the substrate is a powder or solid particles, the particles often clump together during the ALD and/or CVD process. Such clumping blocks active sites on the substrate particles and prevents adequate reaction with the precursors, resulting in particles that are not well coated; for example, on average only about 40% may be coated.
In fluidized bed reactors, a portion of the substrate particles settles to the bottom of the reactor and clumps together, thereby resulting in a low coating efficiency. Moreover, fluidized bed reactors are easily clogged and require a large amount of carrier gas. Alternatively, in rotary powder coaters, the substrate particles are contained in a small rotary tube and tend to clump together, reducing coating efficiency as described above. Rotary powder coaters are also susceptible to clogging and are uneconomical on a large scale. Cascade coaters maybe used to semi-continuously coat substrate powders. Cascade coaters include a series of vertically-connected reactors. Each reactor consists of a powder reservoir located above a precursor reservoir, where the two reservoirs are separated by a valve. The valve is opened to fluidize the powder substrate and achieve vapor deposition of a precursor onto the surface of the powder substrate. Each reactor may have independent pressure and temperature control. Coated substrate powder may be transferred down into subsequent reactors in the cascade coaters for exposure to additional precursors. However, the number of reactors and coating steps is limited due to space constraints. Mechanical failure of cascade coating systems is common because of its mechanical complexity and the need for a high degree of synchronization. Similar to the reactors described above, substrate powder in cascade coaters is subject to clumping. It would be desirable to develop a reactor for ALD and CVD that facilitates greater separation of substrate particles for more efficient coating.

Particle reactor for atomic layer deposition (ALD) and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) processes


A display driving device is provided. The display device includes a first data line, a first switch, a first storage unit, and a data output unit. The first switch is electrically connected between the first data line and the data output unit, and the data output unit is further electrically connected to the first storage unit. In a first closing period of the first switch, the data output unit outputs a first data signal to the first data line through the first switch, and the first storage unit stores the first data signal received from the data output unit. After the first closing period and before a second closing period of the first switch, the first storage unit charges the data output unit with the first data signal so that the data output unit and the first data line are at the voltage level.

Among various consumer electronics, display technologies including display panels have been widely applied to mobile phones, notebook computers, tablet computers, and the like. In recent years, touch function begin to be integrated into all display panels, allowing users to directly tap and slide on a screen with fingers or styluses to control the electronic product.
However, when a display panel is driving a plurality of data lines with a plurality of pixel data of a picture, noise is easily generated during or between the transmission of these pixel data, and furthermore, excessive noise affects the touch function.
For example, data signals in the pixel data are provided by a data driving circuit, and can be alternately provided to different data lines through a demultiplexer. When the data driving circuit outputs the data signals to these data lines, charge sharing occurs due to different voltage levels during switching between different data lines if data signals are different from each other. Noise caused by charge sharing often leads to malfunction of touch operation. Therefore, to propose a driving method capable of reducing panel noise is one of the main issues in the technical field.

Display, display driving device, and driving method thereof


A buffer for use in semiconductor processing tools is disclosed. The buffer may be used to temporarily store wafers after processing operations are performed on those wafers. The buffer may include two side walls and a back wall interposed between the side walls. The side walls and the back wall may generally define an area within which the wafers may be stored in a stacked arrangement. Wafer support fins extending from the side walls and the back wall may extend into a wafer support region that overlaps with the edges of the wafers. Purge gas may be introduced in between each pair of wafers via purge gas ports located in one of the walls.

Semiconductor processing operations are often performed in a semiconductor processing tool, which may feature several semiconductor processing chambers or reactors that are connected to a transfer chamber of some sort; the transfer chamber and the semiconductor processing chambers are typically connected together in a hermetically-sealed manner and kept under vacuum conditions. Wafers are typically provided to, and removed from, the transfer chamber via loadlocks.
The loadlocks are typically connected to an Equipment Front End Module (EFEM), which is usually a structure with a wafer handling robot inside that is configured to move wafers between the load locks and a number of other structures within, or attached to, the EFEM. The internal environment of the EFEM is typically referred to as a "mini-environment"; filtered, dry air is typically constantly flowed through the mini-environment (it is not practical to keep the EFEM at a vacuum, which is why loadlocks are used as a barometric interface between the EFEM and the transfer chamber). Wafers are typically supplied to the EFEM using cassettes of vertically-stacked wafers (e.g., 25 or 30 wafers) called Front-Opening Unified Pods (FOUPs); the robot in the EFEM may pick a wafer from a FOUP and transfer it to the loadlock, or may transfer processed wafers into a FOUP.
Industry standard processes typically mandate that a FOUP contain only unprocessed (and thus clean) wafers or contain only processed (and potentially dirty) wafers—mixing unprocessed and processed wafers in a single FOUP is considered undesirable and is against industry standard practices. Moreover, wafers are often quite hot after they exit processing, and it may be undesirable to put hot wafers into the FOUPs until they are cooled down. To that end, an EFEM will often include a buffer or buffer station that may be used to temporarily store in-process wafers before they are transferred to the processed wafer FOUP. Buffers typically hold a large number, e.g., 25 or 30, wafers in a vertically-stacked arrangement.
Since the wafers that are stored in a buffer have usually undergone recent semiconductor processing operations, they often have chemical residuals from the processing operations on their exposed surfaces. Moisture and oxygen in the mini-environment of the EFEM may react with such chemical residues, causing damage to the processed wafers and can also damage the components of the buffer or EFEM near the wafers.
One technique for mitigating such chemical reactions is to use a buffer such as is described in KR 1020140059574, published Jul. 6, 2013. Such a buffer includes two opposing, vertical stacks of plates that are at least a wafer diameter apart. Small, short ledges extend from alternating instances of such plates and provide a small support area on which each wafer may rest. These ledges extend around only a short distance of the wafer perimeter on opposing sides of the wafer, e.g., around about ⅛th of the wafer circumference on each opposing side. A series of vertical gas delivery tubes extends upwards through each plate instance, and nozzles in each tube are used to direct purge gas out of slots in alternating instances of the plates and towards the mid-plane of the wafers. The purge gas in this case flows towards the middle of the wafers as well as towards the front and the back of the wafer.

Buffer station with single exit-flow direction


A hollow container made of thermoplastic material, having its base connected to its side wall by an integral, peripheral rounded molding, and having its base formed of at least two substantially planar, axially staggered, concentric annular zones connected together by alternating molded portions of rounded cross section.

The present invention relates to a hollow body made of a thermoplastic material, the body being of generally cylindrical shape and having a closed base which is recessed and is connected to the side of the body by a peripheral annular molding, examples of such bodies being bottles or similar containers.
Currently, increasingly frequent use is made of thermoplastics for the production of hollow bodies such as bottles for packaging liquids.
In order to increase the stability of these hollow bodies when they are placed in a vertical position, or upright, it is known to provide them with a recessed, or reentrant, base because this type of base has good resistance to deformation, especially under the effects of internal pressure.
Hollow bodies which are provided with a recessed base, however, have an impact strength which frequently leaves something to be desired, especially near their base. Consequently, their bases are frequently damaged if the bodies are dropped accidentally, even from a low height.


This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of blackberry plant named ‘DrisBlackSix’, particularly characterized by high yields, long production season and vigorous plants, is disclosed.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct blackberry cultivar designated 'DrisBlackSix' and botanically known as Rubus L. subgenus Rubus. This new blackberry variety was identified in Santa Cruz County, Calif. in June 2005 and originated from a cross between the female parent blackberry plant 'BF785-1' (unpatented) and the male parent blackberry plant 'Driscoll Cowles' (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,780). The original seedling of the new cultivar was first asexually propagated by tissue culture and root cuttings at a nursery in Santa Cruz County, Calif. in 2005. 'DrisBlackSix' was subsequently asexually propagated by tissue culture and root cuttings and underwent further testing at a nursery in Santa Cruz County, Calif. from 2010 to 2012. The present invention has been found to be stable and reproduce true to type through successive asexual propagations.
Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have not been applied for. 'DrisBlackSix' has not been made publicly available or sold more than one year prior to the filing date of this application.


A dust filter bag (1) for a vacuum cleaner, having a holding plate (2) which has a tightly closed opening (3) for a suction pipe of a vacuum cleaner, the opening (3) being adapted to be closed from the outside by a separate closure flap (5) which has an insertion region (6). In order to achieve more favorable handling, in particular, of the closure flap, the closure flap (5) is detachably connected to the holding plate (2) in its open position.

The present invention relates to a dust filter bag for a vacuum cleaner, having a holding plate which has a tightly closed opening for a pipe connection of the suction part of a vacuum cleaner, the opening being adapted to be closed from the outside by a separate closure flap which has an insertion region.
Such dust filter bags are already known in various developments. Reference is had in this connection to German Utility Model 78 32 780 and to German Utility Model 90 01 528.
Such dust filter bags usually have a stiffened upper holding plate, for instance of a thicker cardboard material, while the dust filter bag itself usually consists of a cloth-like cellulose material. By means of the holding plate the dust filter bag can be inserted into the apparatus and connected to the aforementioned pipe connection. The opening of the dust filter bag is usually closed by a packing which consists of a circular rubber part resting from the bottom against the opening. This rubber part rests from the inside against the opening with a certain initial tension. When the dust filter bag is inserted into the vacuum cleaner, the packing is forcefully opened by the pipe connection. Upon the removal of the dust filter bag, the packing is to apply itself again against the opening from the inside. Actually, however, this does not take place with the desired reliability, particularly when the dust filter bag is full. When a completely full dust filter bag is removed from the vacuum cleaner, its handling can cause the dust to reemerge very quickly from the inside of the dust filter bag in the form of clouds of dust, which is very unpleasant. In order to remedy this, it has already been proposed in the above-mentioned prior art to provide a separate closure flap by means of which the opening can be closed from the outside upon removal of the dust filter bag. The known closure flap, however, is not satisfactory in every respect. On the one hand, it is occasionally perceived as troublesome upon handling a new dust filter bag, particularly when inserting the bag, while, on the other hand, the closing action of this closure flap is also not yet considered sufficient in all cases.


A process for treating washed hair to provide hair with improved combability, comprising contacting hair with a water based composition comprising 0.1-3% by weight of a zwitterionic polymer; 0.01-10% by weight of an alkylpolyglycoside; 0.5-20% by weight of a fatty alcohol and the balance water.

This invention relates to the use of preparations containing special combinations of active substances for the cleaning and care of keratin fibers, more particularly hair.
The washing and care of hair is an important part of personal hygiene. Both the washing and care of hair, for example with shampoos, and the decorative finishing of hair styles, for example by coloring or permanent waving, are measures which affect the natural structure and properties of hair. For example, the wet and dry combability of hair, its hold and its body can be unsatisfactory following such a treatment. In addition, the hair can have an increased number of split ends or can xe2x80x9cflyxe2x80x9d as a result of electrostatic charging.
Accordingly, it has long been standard practice to subject the hair to a special aftertreatment. To this end, the hair is treated, normally by rinsing, with special active substances, for example quaternary ammonium salts or special polymers. Combability, hold and body are improved and the number of split ends is reduced by this treatment, depending on the formulation used. In addition, increased efforts have recently been made to find active substances or combinations of active substances which could be directly incorporated in various hair treatment preparations and which would thus eliminate the need for the additional aftertreatment step.
Additions of cationic polymers to hair treatment preparations generally lead to an improvement in wet and dry combability. Additions of amphoteric polymers produce significant improvements in wet combability, but generally have little effect on dry combability.
Whereas the improvement in wet combability, i.e. a reduction in wet combing work, is desirable in every case, the circumstances regarding dry combability are more complicated. Low combing work values characterize an improvement in combability. However, if combing work is overly reduced, the hair loses body and hold so that, in extreme cases, certain styles can no longer be created. Accordingly, a certain increase in dry combing work may be entirely desirable, above all in the case of relatively intricate styles, in order to improve style retention. In many cases, however, this involves increased electrostatic charging of the hair which leads to the unwanted phenomenon of xe2x80x9cflyingxe2x80x9d of the hair.
Accordingly, there is still a need for improved active substances and combinations of active substances for the aftertreatment of hair or for incorporation in known hair-washing and hair-care preparations.
It has now surprisingly been found that active-substance combinations of certain polymers (A), special alkyl polyglycosides (B) and fatty compounds or waxes (C) can make a considerable contribution towards solving this problem. The hair treated with such combinations shows very good wet combability while its dry combability is in a very favorable range for style retention without electrostatic charging and hence xe2x80x9cflyingxe2x80x9d of the hair being observed to any significant extent.
Accordingly, the present invention relates to the use of a water-based preparation which is characterized by a content of
a) polymers (A) selected from the group of cationic, amphoteric, zwitterionic and nonionic polymers,
b) alkyl polyglycosides (B) corresponding to general formula (I):
ROxe2x80x94(Z)x xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(I)
in which
R is an alkyl radical containing 6 to 22 carbon atoms,
Z is a mono- or oligosaccharide,
x is a number of 1.1 to 5,
or adducts thereof with 1 to 10 molecules of ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide and
c) fatty compounds and/or waxes (C)
for the washing and care of keratin fibers, more particularly human hair.
All three classes of active substance are well-known constituents of hair treatment preparations.
Combinations of two of these three classes of active substance are also known. Thus, a shampoo containing a glucoside alkyl ether (Triton CG 110) and polyethoxylated lauryl alcohol in addition to a cationic polymer (Gafquat 755) is known from an Example of DE-OS 32 16 687. Combinations of cationic polymers and alkyl saccharides are also known from EP-A1-337 354.
Finally, combinations of alkyl glycosides, cationic or zwitterionic polymers and fatty alcohols or mono- and triglycerides in permanent wave formulations are known from Examples of hitherto unpublished German applications P 42 32 512.9, P 42 32 506.4, P 42 34 413.1 and P 42 34 405.0. Corresponding combinations for shampoos and tinting shampoos are known from Examples of P 42 32 506.4.
However, there are no indications in this prior art of the advantageous effects obtained by using the three-component combination of active substances according to the invention in preparations for the washing and care of keratin fibers, more particularly hair. In the context of the invention, xe2x80x9chair-care preparationsxe2x80x9d are only understood to be preparations which help to (re)establish natural properties of hair, such as good combability, style retention, body, etc. This expression specifically does not include permanent wave preparations, hair dyes, tinting shampoos and hair setting preparations which alter the appearance of the hair for decorative purposes.
The preparations used in accordance with the invention preferably contain 0.1 to 3% by weight of polymers (A), 0.01 to 10% by weight of alkyl polyglycosides (B) and 0.5 to 20% by weight of fatty compounds or waxes (C), based on the preparation as a whole.
The first component of the active-substance combination according to the invention is selected from the group of cationic, amphoteric, zwitterionic and nonionic polymers.
The cationic polymers suitable for use in accordance with the invention contain cationic groups within the polymer skeleton. These groups may be part of the polymer chain, although they may also be positioned inside chains which are attached to a main chain by intermediate members. Typical cationic groups contain quaternary nitrogen or phosphorus atoms. Groups containing quaternary nitrogen atoms are preferred. The quaternary nitrogen atoms may carry four different substituents or partly the same substituents and may also be part of a ring system. Preferred cationic groups are ammonium and imidazolinium groups.
If the ionic groups are situated in the side chains, the polymers are synthesized from compounds which, in addition to at least one cationic group, contain at least one polymerizable group and are free from anionic groups.
The polymerizable group is preferably a vinyl group. However, cationic polymers in which the main polymer chain is made up, for example, of glycosides or is protein-like in character may also be used.
Cationic copolymers containing at least one nonionic monomer in addition to the cationic monomers are also preferred for the purposes of the invention. Suitable nonionic monomers are, for example, vinyl pyrrolidone, vinyl, acetate, acrylamide, methacrylamide, methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate and ethyl methacrylate. Vinyl pyrrolidone is a particularly preferred nonionic monomer.
Several cationic polymers suitable for hair-care purposes are known to the expert and are available as commercial products.
Examples of such polymers are:
Quaternized cellulose derivatives of the type commercially available as Celquat(copyright) and Polymer JR(copyright). The compounds Celquat H 100, Celquat L 200 and Polymer JR(copyright)400 are preferred quaternized cellulose derivatives.
Quaternized guar derivatives of the type commercially available as Cosmedia Guar(copyright) and Jaguar(copyright). Preferred guar derivatives are, for example, Cosmedia Guar(copyright) C-261 and Jaguars C 13-S.
Copolymers of vinyl pyrrolidone with quaternized derivatives of dialkyl aminoacrylate and methacrylate, such as for example vinyl pyrrolidone/dimethyl aminomethacrylate copolymers quaternized with diethyl sulfate. Compounds such as these are commercially available as Gafquat(copyright)734 and Gafquat(copyright)755.
Copolymers of vinyl pyrrolidone with vinyl imidazolinium methochloride of the type commercially available as Luviquat(copyright).
Polymeric dimethyl diallyl ammonium salts and copolymers thereof with esters and amides of acrylic acid and methacrylic acid. The polymers commercially available as Merquat(copyright)100 (poly(dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride)) and Merquat(copyright)550 (dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride/acrylamide copolymer) are examples of such cationic polymers.
Cationically derivatized protein hydrolyzates obtainable, for example, by reaction of alkali-, acid- or enzyme-hydrolyzed proteins with glycidyl trialkyl ammonium salts or 3-halo-2-hydroxypropyl trialkyl ammonium salts. The proteins, which may serve as starting materials for the protein hydrolyzates, may be of both animal and vegetable origin. Typical starting materials are, for example, keratin, collagen, elastin, soya protein, milk protein, wheat protein, silk protein and almond protein. The hydrolysis results in the formation of mixtures with molecular weights of around 100 to around 50,000 dalton. Typical average molecular weights are in the range from about 500 to about 5,000 dalton. Further particulars of cationic derivatization can be found inter alia in Japanese patent application 77/73485 (Chemical Abstracts, abstract 90:174508v).
The cationically derivatized protein hydrolyzates advantageously contain one or two long alkyl chains containing 8 to 22 carbon atoms and, accordingly, two or one short alkyl chain containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms. Compounds containing one long alkyl chain are preferred.
Preferred compounds (A) correspond to formula (IV):
in which R stands for the side chains of the amino acids of the protein, R1 and R2 independently of one another are alkyl chains containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms and R3 is an alkyl chain containing 8 to 22 carbon atoms.
A commercially available product is Lamequat(copyright)L (a product of Chemische Fabrik Grxc3xcnau). It has the following structure:
in which R stands for the side chains of the amino acids of collagen. A CTFA-analogous name is Lauryl-dimonium Hydroxypropylamino Hydrolyzed Collagene.
Polymeric condensation resins of polyols and polyamines such as, for example, polyglycol/polyamine condensation resins of the type known by the CTFA name of PEG-15 Cocopolyamine. The product Polyquart(copyright)H 81 (Henkel), for example, is commercially available.
In the context of the present invention, xe2x80x9camphoteric polymersxe2x80x9d are understood to be polymers which contain both free amino groups and free xe2x80x94COOHxe2x80x94 or xe2x80x94SO3H-groups in the molecule and which are capable of forming inner salts. xe2x80x9cZwitterionic polymersxe2x80x9d are understood to be polymers which contain quaternary ammonium groups and xe2x80x94COOxe2x88x92xe2x80x94 or xe2x80x94SO3xe2x88x92-groups in the molecule.
Examples of amphoteric polymers suitable for use in accordance with the invention are the acrylic resins commercially available as Amphomer(copyright) and Amphomer(copyright) LV-71, copolymers of tert.-butyl aminoethyl methacrylate, N-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)-acrylamide and two or more monomers from the group comprising acrylic acid, methacrylic and simple esters thereof.
Other amphoteric or zwitterionic polymers suitable for use in accordance with the invention are the compounds mentioned in GB-A-2,104,091, EP-A-47 714, EP-A-217 274, EP-A-283 817 and DE-A-28 17 369.
Particularly preferred zwitterionic polymers are those which are essentially made up of
(xcex1) monomers containing quaternary ammonium groups corresponding to general formula (I):
R1xe2x80x94CHxe2x95x90CR2xe2x80x94COxe2x80x94Xxe2x80x94(CnH2n)xe2x80x94N(+)R3R4R5 A(xe2x88x92) xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(II)
in which R1 and R2 independently of one another represent hydrogen or a methyl group and R3, R4 and R5 independently of one another represent alkyl groups containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms, X is an NH group or an oxygen atom, n is an integer of 2 to 5 and A(xe2x88x92) is the anion of an organic or inorganic acid and
(xcex2) monomeric carboxylic acids corresponding to general formula (II):
R6xe2x80x94CHxe2x95x90CR7xe2x80x94COOH xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(III)
in which R6 and R7 independently of one another represent hydrogen or methyl groups.
These compounds may be used in accordance with the invention both directly and in the salt form obtained by neutralization of the polymers, for example with an alkali metal hydroxide. Particulars of the production of these polymers can be found in DE-A-39 29 973.
Polymers based on monomers of the (xcex1) type, in which R3, R4 and R5 are methyl groups, X is an NH group and A(xe2x88x92) is a halide, methoxysulfate or ethoxysulfate ion, are most particularly preferred. Acrylamidopropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride and methacrylamidopropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride are particularly preferred monomers (xcex1). Acrylic acid or an alkali metal salt of acrylic acid, more particularly the sodium salt, is preferably used as the monomer (xcex2) for the polymers mentioned.
Zwitterionic polymers in which the number of monomers of the (xcex1) type is greater than the number of monomers of the (xcex2) type are also preferred. Ratios of (xcex1) monomers to (xcex2) monomers of greater than 1.5 are particularly preferred.
Other preferred zwitterionic polymers are polysiloxane/polyorganobetaine copolymers.
Suitable nonionic polymers are, for example,
polyvinyl pyrrolidones, for example the products commercially available as Luviskol(copyright) K 30 and Luviskol(copyright) K 90 (BASF).
Vinyl pyrrolidone/vinyl acetate copolymers of the type marketed, for example, as Luviskol(copyright) (BASF). Luviskol(copyright) VA 64, Luviskol(copyright) VA 73 and Luviskol(copyright) VA 37 are preferred nonionic polymers; Luviskol(copyright) VA 37 is particularly preferred.
Vinyl pyrrolidone/dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate/vinyl caprolactam terpolymers of the type commercially available, for example, as Copolymer VC-713 (GAF).
Among the polymers (A), amphoteric and zwitterionic polymers are preferred. Zwitterionic polymers made up of at least one cationic monomer and at least one anionic monomer have proved to be most particularly suitable for the purposes of the invention.
The second component of the active-substance combination according to the invention consists of alkyl polyglycosides corresponding to formula (I).
The compounds corresponding to formula (I) are characterized by the following parameters.
The alkyl radical R contains 6 to 22 carbon atoms and may be both linear and branched. Preferred alkyl radicals are primary linear and 2-methyl-branched aliphatic radicals. Alkyl radicals such as these are, for example, 1-octyl, 1-decyl, 1-lauryl, 1-myristyl, 1-cetyl and 1-stearyl. 1-octyl, 1-decyl, 1-lauryl and 1-myristyl are particularly preferred. Where so-called xe2x80x9coxoalcoholsxe2x80x9d are used as starting materials, compounds with an odd number of carbon atoms in the alkyl chain predominate.
The alkyl glycosides suitable for use in accordance with the invention may contain only one particular alkyl radical R. However, these compounds are normally prepared from natural fats and oils or mineral oils. In this case, mixtures corresponding to the starting compounds or to the particular working-up of these compounds are present as the alkyl radicals R.
Particularly preferred alkyl polyglycosides are those in which R consists
essentially of C8 and C10 alkyl groups,
essentially of C12 and C14 alkyl groups,
essentially of C8 and C16 alkyl groups, or
essentially of C12 and C16 alkyl groups.
Any mono- or oligosaccharides may be used as the sugar unit Z. Sugars containing 5 or 6 carbon atoms and the corresponding oligosaccharides are normally used. Sugars such as these are, for example, glucose, fructose, galactose, arabinose, ribose, xylose, lyxose, allose, altrose, mannose, gulose, idose, talose and sucrose. Preferred sugar units are glucose, fructose, galactose, arabinose and sucrose; glucose is particularly preferred.
The alkyl polyglycosides suitable for use in accordance with the invention contain on average 1.1 to 5 sugar units. Alkyl glycosides with values for x of 1.3 to 2 are particularly preferred. Alkyl glycosides in which x=1.4 to 1.6 are most particularly preferred.
The alkoxylated homologs of the alkyl polyglycosides mentioned may also be used in accordance with the invention. These homologs may contain on average up to 10 ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide units per alkyl glycoside unit. These compounds also are not normally individual compounds, but have a corresponding homolog distribution according to the ethoxylation process used. Alkoxylated compounds of the type in question may be obtained, for example, by using ethoxylated fatty alcohols for the synthesis of the alkyl polyglycosides.
It has surprisingly been found that even comparatively small quantities of component (B) are sufficient to obtain the effects according to the invention. Accordingly, it may be preferable to use component (B) in quantities of only 0.1 to 0.9% by weight, based on the preparation as a whole.
The third component of the active-substance combination according to the invention are fatty compounds and waxes.
Preferred fatty compounds are fatty alcohols. Saturated and unsaturated, linear and branched fatty alcohols containing 8 to 24 carbon atoms are particularly preferred. Preferred fatty alcohols include decyl alcohol, lauryl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, oleyl alcohol, isostearyl alcohol and hydroxystearyl alcohol.
Other preferred fatty compounds are mono-, di- and triglycerides, i.e. the mono-, di- and triesters of glycerol with fatty acids, such as for example lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, isostearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, erucic acid, hydroxystearic acid and ricinoleic acid. The diesters and triesters may be both esters containing only one type of fatty acid and esters containing various fatty acids. Particularly preferred glycerides are glycerol monostearate and distearate, glycerol monooleate and glycerol monoisostearate and diisostearate.
Spermaceti, beeswax, montan wax and paraffins are waxes which may be used in accordance with the invention as component (C).
In addition to the active-substance combination according to the invention, the preparations suitable for use in accordance with the invention may contain any of the constituents typically encountered in such preparations. If the preparations according to the invention are hair-washing preparations, they normally contain surface-active compounds. Depending on the formulation, the preparations may contain anionic, zwitterionic, ampholytic, cationic or nonionic surfactants.
Anionic surfactants suitable for the hair-treatment preparations according to the invention are any of the anionic surfactants which are suitable for use on the human body. They are characterized by a water-solubilizing anionic group, for example a carboxylate, sulfate, sulfonate or phosphate group, and a lipophilic alkyl group containing approximately 10 to 22 carbon atoms. Glycol or polyglycol ether groups, ester, ether and amide groups and also hydroxyl groups may also be present in the molecule. The following are examples of suitable anionic surfactants in the form of the sodium, potassium and ammonium salts and also the mono-, di- and trialkanolammonium salts containing 2 or 3 carbon atoms in the alkanol group:
linear fatty acids containing 10 to 22 carbon atoms (soaps),
ether carboxylic acids corresponding to the formula Rxe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94(CH2xe2x80x94CH2O)xxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94COOH, in which R is a linear alkyl group containing 10 to 22 carbon atoms and x=0 or 1 to 10,
acyl sarcosides containing 10 to 18 carbon atoms in the acyl group,
acyl taurides containing 10 to 18 carbon atoms in the acyl group,
acyl isethionates containing 10 to 18 carbon atoms in the acyl group,
sulfosuccinic acid mono- and dialkyl esters containing 8 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl group and sulfosuccinic acid monoalkyl polyoxyethyl esters containing 8 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl group and 1 to 6 oxyethyl groups,
linear alkane sulfonates containing 12 to 18 carbon atoms,
linear alpha-olefin sulfonates containing 12 to 18 carbon atoms,
alpha-sulfofatty acid methyl esters of fatty acids containing 12 to 18 carbon atoms,
alkyl sulfates and alkyl polyglycol ether sulfates corresponding to the formula Rxe2x80x94O(CH2xe2x80x94CH2O)xxe2x80x94OSO3H, in which R is a preferably linear alkyl group containing 10 to 18 carbon atoms and x=0 or 1 to 12,
mixtures of surface-active hydroxysulfonates according to DE-A-37 25 030,
sulfated hydroxyalkyl polyethylene and/or hydroxyalkylene propylene glycol ethers according to DE-A-37 23 354,
sulfonates of unsaturated fatty acids containing 12 to 24 carbon atoms and 1 to 6 double bonds according to DE-A-39 26 344,
esters of tartaric acid and citric acid with alcohols which are adducts of approximately 2 to 15 molecules of ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide with fatty alcohols containing 8 to 22 carbon atoms.
Preferred anionic surfactants are alkyl sulfates, alkyl polyglycol ether sulfates and ether carboxylic acids containing 10 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl group and up to 12 glycol ether groups in the molecule and also sulfosuccinic acid mono- and dialkyl esters containing 8 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl group and sulfosuccinic acid monoalkyl polyoxyethyl esters containing 8 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl group and 1 to 6 oxyethyl groups.
Zwitterionic surfactants are surface-active compounds which contain at least one quaternary ammonium group and at least one xe2x80x94COO(xe2x88x92) or xe2x80x94SO3(xe2x88x92) group in the molecule. Particularly suitable zwitterionic surfactants are the so-called betaines, such as the N-alkyl-N,N-dimethyl ammonium glycinates, for example cocoalkyl dimethyl ammonium glycinate, N-acylaminopropyl-N,N-dimethyl ammonium glycinates, for example cocoacyl aminopropyl dimethyl ammonium glycinate, and 2-alkyl-3-carboxymethyl-3-hydroxyethyl imidazolines containing 8 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl or acyl group and cocoacyl aminoethyl hydroxyethyl carboxymethyl glycinate. A preferred zwitterionic surfactant is the fatty acid amide derivative known by the CTFA name of Cocamidopropyl Betaine.
Ampholytic surfactants are surface-active compounds which, in addition to a C8-18 alkyl or acyl group in the molecule, contain at least one free amino group and at least one xe2x80x94COOH or xe2x80x94SO3H group and which are capable of forming inner salts. Examples of suitable ampholytic surfactants are N-alkyl glycines, N-alkyl propionic acids, N-alkyl aminobutyric acids, N-alkyl iminodipropionic acids, N-hydroxyethyl-N-alkyl amidopropyl glycines, N-alkyl taurines, N-alkyl sarcosines, 2-alkyl aminopropionic acids and alkyl aminoacetic acids all containing approximately 8 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl group. Particularly preferred ampholytic surfactants are N-cocoalkyl aminopropionate, cocoacyl aminoethyl aminopropionate and C12-18 acyl sarcosine.
Suitable cationic surfactants for the hair treatment preparations according to the invention are, in particular, quaternary ammonium compounds, such as alkyl trimethyl ammonium chlorides, dialkyl dimethyl ammonium chlorides and trialkyl methyl ammonium chlorides, for example cetyl trimethyl ammonium chloride, stearyl trimethyl ammonium chloride, distearyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, lauryl dimethyl ammonium chloride, lauryl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride and tricetyl methyl ammonium chloride. Other suitable cationic surfactants are so-called esterquats (for example Stepantex(copyright) VS 90, Dehyquart(copyright) AU 36 and AU 56) and amidoamines (for example Tegoamid(copyright) S 18).
Nonionic surfactants contain, for example, a polyol group, a polyalkylene glycol ether group or a combination of polyol and polyglycol ether groups as the hydrophilic group. Examples of compounds such as these are
adducts of 2 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide and/or 0 to 5 moles of propylene oxide with linear fatty alcohols containing 8 to 22 carbon atoms, with fatty acids containing 12 to 22 carbon atoms and with alkylphenols containing 8 to 15 carbon atoms in the alkyl group,
C12-22 fatty acid monoesters and diesters of adducts of 1 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide with glycerol,
glycerol mono- and diesters and sorbitan mono- and diesters of saturated and unsaturated C8-22 fatty acids and ethylene oxide adducts thereof and
adducts of 5 to 60 moles of ethylene oxide with castor oil and hydrogenated castor oil.
The compounds containing alkyl groups used as surfactants may be individual substances. However, it is generally preferred to produce the compounds in question from native vegetable or animal raw materials so that mixtures of compounds differing in their alkyl chain lengths according to the particular raw material used are obtained.
The surfactants which are adducts of ethylene and/or propylene oxide with fatty alcohols or derivatives of such adducts may be both products having a xe2x80x9cnormal-rangexe2x80x9d homolog distribution and also products having a xe2x80x9cnarrow-rangexe2x80x9d homolog distribution. xe2x80x9cNormal-rangexe2x80x9d products are mixtures of homologs which are obtained in the reaction of fatty alcohol and alkylene oxide using alkali metals, alkali metal hydroxides or alkali metal alcoholates as catalysts. By contrast, narrow-range products are obtained when, for example, hydrotalcites, alkaline earth metal salts of ether carboxylic acids, alkaline earth metal oxides, hydroxides or alcoholates are used as catalysts. It may be preferable to use narrow-range products, particularly where they are ethoxylated fatty alcohols which also act as thickeners.
The preparations according to the invention preferably contain the surface-active compounds A in quantities of 0.5 to 20% by weight, based on the particular preparation.
The active-substance combinations according to the invention are used with particular preference in hair aftertreatment preparations, i.e. preparations which are used after washing of the hair or any other treatment of the hair, such as permanent waving or dyeing. With preparations such as these, it may be preferable to formulate them without ionic, more particularly cationic and anionic, surfactants.
Other typical constituents of the preparations used in accordance with the invention may be:
thickeners, such as agar agar, guar gum, alginates and xanthan gum or esters of ethoxylated polyols and fatty acids, such as for example polyglyceryl(2)-polyoxyethylene(4) stearate,
structurants, such as glucose and maleic acid,
protein hydrolyzates, more particularly elastin, collagen, keratin, milk protein, soya protein, almond and wheat protein hydrolyzates and condensation products thereof with fatty acids,
perfume oils, dimethyl isosorbide and cyclodextrins,
solubilizers, such as ethanol, isopropanol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerol and diethylene glycol and ethoxylated fatty alcohols,
dyes,
antidandruff agents, such as Piroctone Olamine and Zink Omadine,
pH regulators, such as citric acid/sodium citrate buffer,
active substances, such as panthenol, allantoin, pyrrolidone carboxylic acids, plant extracts and vitamins,
light stabilizers,
consistency regulators, such as sugar esters, polyol esters or polyol alkyl ethers,
superfatting agents, such as polyethoxylated lanolin derivatives, lecithin derivatives and fatty acid alkanolamides,
complexing agents, such as EDTA, NTA and phosphonic acids,
swelling and penetration agents, such as glycerol, propylene glycol monoethyl ether, carbonates, hydrogen carbonates, guanidines, ureas and primary, secondary and tertiary phosphates,
metal soaps, such as for example zinc or aluminium stearate,
opacifiers, such as latex,
pearlescers, such as ethylene glycol monostearate and distearate,
propellents, such as propane/butane mixtures, N2O, dimethyl ether and air and
antioxidants.
The preparations suitable for use in accordance with the invention can be formulated as lotions, emulsions, microemulsions, solutions, creams or gels. They are preferably formulated as lotions, emulsions or microemulsions with a water content of 50 to 90% by weight, based on the preparation as a whole. Narrow-range ethoxylated fatty alcohols and esters of ethoxylated polyols and fatty acids and, optionally even metal soaps are preferably used for establishing the required viscosity of the formulation.
In another preferred embodiment, the preparations may be formulated as foam aerosols which are packed in aerosol containers with a foam valve together with a liquefied gas, such as for example propane/butane mixtures, nitrogen, CO2, air, N2O, dimethyl ether, fluorocarbon and chlorinated hydrocarbon propellents or mixtures thereof.


An adjustable pedal assembly (12) includes a mounting bracket (14) for attachment to a vehicle structure (16), a pedal lever (18), a pedal pad (26), and a driving mechanism (28). The pedal lever (18) has an upper end (22) and a lower end (24) with the upper end (22) being pivotally supported with respect to the mounting bracket (14). The pedal pad (26) is connected to the lower end (24) of the pedal lever (18) and the driving mechanism (28) is operative to move the pedal pad (26) between an extended position and a retracted position. The assembly is characterized by including a control linkage (30) interconnecting the driving mechanism (28) and the pedal pad (26). The driving mechanism (28) drives the control linkage (30) along a guide path defined by the pedal lever (18) to move the pedal pad (26) between the extended and retracted positions. The control linkage (30) is comprised of a first pair of link members (52, 54) mounted on one side of the pedal lever (18) and a second pair of link members (52, 54) mounted on an opposite side of the pedal lever (18). Each pair of link members (52, 54) includes a common pivotal connection (72) that creates a scissor motion on each side of the pedal Lever (18) as the driving mechanism (28) moves the pedal pad (26) between retracted and extended positions.

Pedal assemblies are provided in vehicles to control brakes, engine throttles, and/or clutches. Typically, these pedals include a lever arm pivotally mounted to a mounting bracket and a pedal pad mounted to a lower end of the lever arm. These pedals are foot operated by the driver. In order for the driver to maintain the most advantageous position for working the control pedals, the vehicle front seat is usually slidably mounted on a seat track and can be moved forwardly or rearwardly between several adjusted positions.
The adjustment provided by moving the seat does not accommodate all vehicle drivers due to differences in anatomical dimensions. Another concern involves the placement of a vehicle driver too close to the steering wheel when the seat is adjusted in a forward position, which could result in injury to a driver from an exploding airbag. Further, some vehicles do not have seats with seat tracks and thus, require another method for placing the pedals in the most advantageous position for the driver.
Various proposals have been made to provide selective adjustment of pedal positions to accommodate various size drivers. Selective pedal adjustment can be accomplished by moving the entire lever arm in forward and rearward directions, or can be accomplished by moving the pedal pad in forward and rearward directions with respect to the lever arm. Examples of an adjustable pedal assemblies are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,151,499 to Roe, 3,563,111 to Zeigler, and 3,643,524 to Herring. Adjustable pedal assemblies are often complex, difficult to package, and expensive. Additionally, they can be difficult to assemble and operate.
Thus, it would be desirable to have a simplified adjustable pedal assembly that is less expensive, easy to operate, requires less packaging space, and which is easily assembled.


A first blowing section is arranged inside a cab body on a right side, and blows cool air or warm air. A second blowing section is arranged inside a cab body on a left side, and blows cool air or warm air. An inlet, a first vent, and a second vent are formed in a box body of a distribution box. The inlet opens toward the left side and introduces cool air or warm air from an air-conditioning unit. The first vent opens toward the right side. The second vent opens downward. A first duct, which is connected to the first vent, supplies the first blowing section with cool air or warm air. A second duct, which is connected to the second vent and extends beneath a seat, supplies the second blowing section with cool air or warm air.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cab, and to a work vehicle.
2. Background Information
The cab in a work vehicle, such as a motor grader, is provided with an air-conditioning unit for cooling or heating the inside of the cab body as is exemplified in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication Number 2011-225110. The air-conditioning unit cools the air inside the cab body to generate cool air, and blows the generated cool air out from venting ports via a duct. The above-mentioned air-conditioning unit may generate not only cold air but also warm air.


A powertrain has an electro-hydraulic control mechanism that provides for the establishment of six forward speeds, a neutral condition and a reverse speed. The control system also permits operation in the fifth forward range if electrical power is discontinued when the transmission is operating in the third range or higher, and permits operation in the third range if the transmission is operating in the second range or lower when an electrical power discontinuance occurs. If an electric disconnect occurs, the reverse drive is available, neutral is available, and third forward drive is available from the reverse and neutral conditions. The drive-home functions described are provided through the use of a multiplex valve, default valve and a pair of solenoid valves. The multiplex valve and default valve also permit the controlling of two mutually exclusive torque transmitting devices through the use of a single trim valve.

The present invention is related to transmission control mechanisms and, more particularly, to electro-hydraulic control mechanisms for multi-speed transmissions.
Multi-speed power transmissions, particularly those using planetary gear arrangements, require a hydraulic system to provide controlled engagement and disengagement, on a desired schedule, of the clutches and brakes which operate to establish the ratios within the planetary gear arrangement.
These control systems have evolved from substantially pure hydraulic control systems, wherein all of the control signals are produced by hydraulic devices, to electro-hydraulic control systems, wherein a number of the control signals are produced by an electronic control unit which emits electrical control signals to solenoid valves which then issue controlled hydraulic signals to the various operating valves within the transmission control.
With many of the early pure hydraulic and first generation electro-hydraulic control systems, the power transmission utilized a number of freewheel or one-way devices which smooth the shifting or ratio interchange of the transmission during both upshifting and downshifting of the transmission. This relieved the hydraulic control system from providing for the control of overlapping between the friction device that was coming on and the friction device that was going off. If this overlap is too much, the driver feels a shudder in the drivetrain, and if the overlap is too little, the driver experiences engine flare or a sense of coasting. The freewheel device prevents this feeling that, as is well known, the freewheel one-way devices will quickly engage when the torque imposed thereon is reversed from a freewheeling state to a transmitting state.
The advent of electro-hydraulic devices gave rise to what is known as clutch-to-clutch shift arrangements to reduce the complexity of the transmission and the control. These electro-hydraulic control mechanisms are generally perceived to reduce cost and reduce the space required for the control mechanism.
Also, with the advent of more sophisticated control mechanisms, the power transmissions have advanced from two-speed or three-speed transmissions to five-speed and six-speed transmissions. In at least one presently available six-speed transmission, just five friction devices are employed to provide six forward speeds and neutral condition and a reverse speed. Such a gear arrangement is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,070,927 issued to Polak on Jan. 31, 1978.
The use of the planetary gearset shown in the Polak patent has given rise to a number of electro-hydraulic control mechanisms, such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,601,506, issued to Long et al. on Feb. 11, 1997. This control utilizes a solenoid trim pressure system that is limited in flexibility in that the transmission control can only provide single step speed ratio interchanges. Two other electro-hydraulic control mechanisms shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,827,806 and 5,616,093, both issued to the assignee of this application, provide drive-home capabilities within the transmission in the event that the electronic system undergoes a malfunction or discontinuance of operation.
The drive-home feature of a power transmission is an important factor in that it permits the vehicle operator to return home with the vehicle so that the proper repairs can be undertaken at a repair station rather than in the field where the vehicle underwent the malfunction.
It is an object of this invention to provide an improved electro-hydraulic control mechanism for a multi-speed power transmission.
In one aspect of the present invention, an electro-hydraulic control mechanism permits improved operation of the transmission in the event of an electrical malfunction. In another aspect of the present invention, the improved electro-hydraulic control permits the operator to select a reverse drive, a neutral condition, and a forward drive in the event of an electrical power cessation. In yet another aspect of the present invention, the improved electro-hydraulic control will default to a forward high-speed range in the event of an electrical power discontinuance when the transmission is operating at or above a predetermined high-speed range.
In yet a further aspect of the present invention, the improved electro-hydraulic control will permit the selection of a lower forward speed range, following a manual shift from reverse to forward, during discontinuance of electrical power in the high speed operation. In yet still another aspect of the present invention, the improved electro-hydraulic control mechanism will permit operation in a lower speed range in the event that a malfunction occurs below the above-mentioned predetermined speed range.
In yet a further aspect of the present invention, the improved electro-hydraulic control mechanism includes a default valve, a multiplex valve, a manual valve, and a single on/off solenoid control to establish the forward/neutral/reverse operation if an electrical shutdown occurs. In yet an even further aspect of the present invention, the multiplex valve of the improved electro-hydraulic control mechanism prevents simultaneous engagement of mutually exclusive torque transmitting devices or friction devices.

Electro-hydraulic control system for a multi-speed power transmission