An integrated process for vent gas treatment for the abatement of volatile emissions is disclosed. The vent gas comprises dioxygen, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and other organic compounds comprising one or more alkyl halide compound of 1 to 5 carbon atoms. In the preferred embodiment, the vent gas is heated and mixed with an amount of combustible fluid. Then the mixture is directed to a catalytic oxidation reactor having a suitable oxidation catalyst disposed therein, wherein the mixture is catalytically oxidized. The effluent from the catalytic oxidation reactor is directed to heat the incoming vent gas and subsequently to a scrubber wherein the effluent is scrubbed of soluble compounds and the resultant treated gas stream is vented. Importantly, the amount of combustible fluid supplied to the vent gas stream is controlled so at to provide sufficient reactants for the catalytic oxidation to maintain reaction temperatures from 200.degree. C. and 600.degree. C.

Both thermal and catalytic incineration is widely known and used for destruction of hazardous volatile organic compounds found in waste air and other gas streams which result from a variety of industrial processes. These streams result from processes for manufacture of organic chemicals and polymers, and from operations in which volatile organic solvents are used for cleaning and degreasing purposes in metal processing, machining and finishing. While catalytic incineration is able to operate at significantly lower temperatures and with considerably lower residence times than the thermal incineration alternative, additional equipment including a furnace and/or other heat exchange equipment have, typically, been required to provide a suitably elevated operating temperature to obtain catalytic activity for destruction of hazardous volatile organic compounds from a variety of industrial processes.
In any commercially viable application of catalytic incineration, special care is required in selection of an oxidation catalyst system appropriate to the volatile organic compounds which it is desired to destroy, and to avoid exposure of the selected catalyst to compounds which destroy its catalytic activity. Many of the gas streams which must be treated contain significant amounts of a halogen and/or halogenated compounds. However, precious metal catalysts used in conventional catalytic incineration are severely inhibited in their performance by the halogen atoms from the destruction of these compounds, and this desirable process cannot generally be used with such catalysts for these gas streams.
Recent and continuing interest in reduction of atmospheric pollution from internal combustion engines used in automotive and other vehicular applications is shown by numerous disclosures of apparatus for such intermittent operation. It is typically, stated that a reduction of atmospheric pollution and/or that some regulatory standard could be met using the disclosed apparatus. Achievement of significant improvement, however, may depend upon combination of any particular apparatus with modified engine designs and special fuels. Fuel quality improvements included, generally, both removal from the fuel composition of compounds which are known precursors of particular pollutants and blending with additional compounds which may change the composition of exhaust gases.
Recently issued U.S. Pat. No. 5,193,340 in the name of Tetsuya Kamihara and assigned to Nissan Motor Co. Ltd., is a representative of exhaust gas systems for internal combustion engine application. Most diesel engines are now equipped with a trap filter dispose in an exhaust passageway for trapping particulates and the like which are discharged from a diesel engine. When the back pressure of the engine increases due to the accumulation of the particulates trapped by the trap filter, the particulates are periodically burned to regenerate the trap filter. In the Kamihara apparatus the trap filter contains an oxidation catalyst for assisting burning of the particulates collected in the filter prior to regeneration. An injector valve is provided to inject diesel fuel into the exhaust passageway upstream of the trap filter, so that the trap filter is supplied with diesel fuel. The diesel fuel is burned in the trap filter under the action of the oxidation catalyst thereby burning the particulates so as to achieve a regeneration operation for the trap filter. When in operation, the amount of diesel fuel injected is controlled to increase as an intake air amount supplied to the engine increases and to decrease as an exhaust gas temperature increases, to limit or avoid thermal damage to the trap filter. When the particulates are periodically burned to regenerate the trap filter, the back pressure of the engine due to the accumulation of the particulates trapped by the trap filter is decreased thereby preventing the pack pressure from affecting engine performance. Undisclosed amounts of increased gaseous pollutants are exhausting to the atmosphere from the system during regeneration operation due to the additional diesel fuel burned.
Additional methods for filtering combustible particles from exhaust gases and rejuvenating the filter bed and its catalyst section are, for example, described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,322,287, U.S. Pat. No. 4,359,862 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,372,111 in the names of Kashmir S. Kirk and Martin Alperstein, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,359,863 in the names of Kashmir S. Kirk and Robert B. Burns, all assigned to Texaco Inc.
An earlier example of catalytic incineration equipment in which a gas-permeable bed of solids adapted to exchange heat with a gas stream is alternately heated with hot effluent from a catalytic oxidation bed and cooled with gas flowing into the bed by periodically reversing the direction of gas flow through the beds is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,946,651 in the name of Eugene J. Houdry and assigned to Oxy-Catalyst, Inc. In operation, the patent states that sufficient diesel oil was injected into the heated gas stream and vaporized and then catalytically oxidized on the catalytic bed being used to heat the bed of gas-permeable solids. The catalyst employed was in the form of pellets of activated alumina impregnated with 5 percent of copper and chromium oxides and 0.1 inch in size. The heat exchange bed was the same size pellets composed of a dense fused alumina (Corhart).
Additional methods using preheating and or reversing flow for catalytic cleaning of exhaust gases are, for example, described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,059,676 in the names of Kang Yang and James D. Reedy, and assigned to Continental Oil Company; U.S. Pat. No. 4,877,592 in the names of Jury S. Matros, Viktor A. Chumachenko, Ljudmila J. Zudilina, Alexandr S. Noskov and Evgeny S. Bugdan, and assigned to Institut Kataliza Sibirskogo Otdelenia Akademii Nauk SSSR; Spetsialnoe Konstruktorsko-Technologicheskoe Bjuro Katalizatorov S Optnym Zavodim; and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,966,611 in the names of John C Schumacher, Joesph C. McMenamin, Lawrence B. Anderson, Harold R. Cowles and Stephen M. Lord, and assigned to Custom Engineered Materials Inc.
Regardless of the apparatus and methods employed, each commercial use depends, to be successful, upon selection of an oxidation catalyst appropriate to the volatile compounds which it is desired to destroy and the active lifetime of the catalyst in that system. Useful catalyst life is often limited due to exposure of oxidation catalysts to compounds which destroy their catalytic activity. Historically, the presence significant amounts of a halogen and/or organic and inorganic halogenated compounds in many of waste gas streams which must be treated has prevented the use of catalytic oxidation as a control technology for this application. It is believed the presence of halogen and/or compounds derived from halogen, whether or not such compound are destroyed in the process, deteriorate and temporarily poison the performance of precious metal catalyst.
Catalysts containing a noble metal (platinum), optionally in combination with other metals, for burning combustibles are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,378,334 in the name of Herman S. Bioch and assigned to Universal Oil Products Company. Hydrated metal oxide catalysts have also been described. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,059,677 in the names of Edward J. Sare and Jerome M Lavanish, and assigned to PPG Industries, Inc., teaches that a waste containing C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 halogenated hydrocarbons, particularly unsaturated chlorinated hydrocarbons such as vinyl chloride, are incinerated in the presence of combination the hydrated oxides of manganese and cobalt. A supported catalyst system containing a Group VIII metal (platinum) is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,145,826 in the names of Eugene H. Hirschberg and George A. Huff, Jr., and assigned to Amoco Corporation. The disclosures of U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,378,334, 4,059,677 and 5,145,826 are specifically incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,292,704 in the name of George R. Lester and assigned to Allied-Signal Inc., teaches that a waste containing C.sub.1 halogenated compounds that do not have any carbon-hydrogen bonds are incinerated to carbon dioxide and halo acids (HCl, HBr, etc.) in the presence of specific combinations of a noble metal (platinum, palladium and rhodium), active catalytic components of titania, vanadium oxide, tungsten oxide, and optionally an effective amount of water. The disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 5,292,704 is specifically incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. Halo acids are, however, very corrosive pollutants.
GB Patent No. 1,485,375 in the name of Goeffrey Colin Bond describes a process for degradation of a chlorinated hydrocarbon, in particular compounds containing more chlorine atoms than hydrogen atoms, by passing the chlorinated hydrocarbon into a bed of catalyst in which a fuel is "flamelessly" burning. In the Bond patent the term "degradation of a chlorinated hydrocarbon" is limited to formation of carbon dioxide and hydrogen chloride. The fact that exhaust gases from the degradation of a chlorinated hydrocarbon can also contain molecular chlorine is not mentioned. While scrubbing exhaust gases with water to remove the HCl is suggested in Bond, such scrubbing has not been found effective to remove all molecular halogens.
European Patent Application No. 0 485 787 A1 in the names of Masahiro Tajima and Masashi Harada describes treatment equipment of exhaust gas containing organic halogen compounds including a wash tower for removing hydrogen halide gas generated. Moreover, the patent states that in the case of decomposing the organic halogen compounds, the oxidative decomposition by oxygen most often generates halogen gas and the halogen gas generated is more difficult to remove than halogen halide. Without suggesting any direct method to remove halogen gas generated, the patent states that the existence of steam in the reaction gas may preferentially produce hydrogen halide.
It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide improved apparatus and methods which overcome the aforesaid problems of prior art methods for abatement of carbon monoxide and volatile organic compound emissions from a from an industrial unit having a vent gas stream containing dioxygen, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and other organic compounds comprising one or more alkyl halide compound of 1 to 5 carbon atoms.
More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide integrated catalytic vent gas treatment systems for abatement of hazardous emissions from industrial processes using volatile chemicals.
It is another object of the present invention to provide integrated catalytic vent gas treatment systems that reduces air pollution by achieving reduced vent gas particulate levels emitted to the atmosphere.
It is another object of the present invention to provide integrated catalytic vent gas treatment systems that achieves reduced carbon monoxide and levels of potential pollutants at lower operating temperatures.
It is another object of the present invention to provide integrated catalytic vent gas treatment systems that achieves increased fuel efficiency and reduced fuel requirements while controlling carbon monoxide and levels of potential pollutants.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide integrated catalytic vent gas treatment systems that extends incinerator equipment life, reduces maintenance costs, and reduces the frequency and duration of facility downtime.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide integrated catalytic vent gas treatment systems with reduced energy costs.
While the above objects can be attained by integrated catalytic vent gas treatment systems according to this invention, other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and appended claims.

Catalytic vent gas treatment system for abatement of volatile chemical emissions


A cleaning article for cleaning a target surface. The cleaning article has strips which present a dynamically changing surface area to the target surface during use. The surface area has also has a bundle of tow fibers which may be oriented transverse to the strips. The tow fibers may extend outwardly from the plane of the strips, allowing particles to migrate towards and be retained near the center of the cleaning article, without interfering with the strips.

Various cleaning articles have been created for dusting and light cleaning. For example, cloth rags and paper towels used dry or wetted with polishing and cleaning compositions have been used on relatively flat surfaces such as countertops, showers, sinks and floors. Laminiferous wipes have been proposed, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,296,176. But, rags, wipes, and paper towels are problematic for reasons such as hygiene (the user's hands may touch chemicals, dirt or the surface during cleaning), reach (it may be difficult to insert the user's hand with the rag, wipe or paper towel into hard-to-reach places) and inconvenience (cleaning between closely-spaced articles typically requires moving the articles).
To overcome the problems associated with using rags and paper towels, various reusable dust gathering devices using felt and hair have been utilized for more than a century, as illustrated by U.S. Pat. No. 823,725 issued in 1906 to Hayden and using yarns as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,145,787. To address the problems with reusable dust gathering devices, disposable cleaning articles have been developed which have limited re-usability. These disposable cleaning articles may include brush portions made of synthetic fiber bundles, called tow fibers, attached to a sheet as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,813,801; 7,003,856; 7,566,671; 7,779,502; 7,937,797; 8,146,197; 8,151,402; 8,161,594, 8,186,001; 8,245,349; 8,528,151; 8,756,746 and 8,763,197.
Disposable dusters having tow fibers may provide for wet cleaning as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,566,671 and in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 7,803,726 and commonly assigned US 2008/0028560. But tow fibers may become matted when wet and not be suitable for cleaning a large or heavily wetted surface, such as a floor. Thus, dusters may not suitable for cleaning extremely large or heavily soiled surfaces. Instead, sheets having fibers have been proposed, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,752,232; 8,793,832 and in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 8,075,977. Webs with elastic behavior have been proposed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,691,035. Sheets with recesses have also been proposed, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,245,413; and 7,386,907. Sheets with cavities have been proposed, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,550,092. An adhesive cleaning sheet is proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,291,359.
To overcome the problem of large and/or heavily wetted surfaces, mops which are repeatedly dunked into a bucket of liquid have been used. But these mops become saturated and can redeposit large amounts of dirty liquid onto the floor. Accordingly, disposable floor sheets have been developed. These floor sheets may contain large amounts of absorbent cellulose, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,191,486 and 7,721,381, and may include at least two interior sheets as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,032,577. Floor sheets may contain AGM to further assist in liquid absorption and retention, as disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,960,508; 6,003,191; 6,048,123; 6,601,261 and 6,766,552. But if insoluble soils are not removed from the floor, or if soluble soils are inadequately absorbed by the floor sheet, streaking and/or filming may occur.
One attempt to clean overcome this problem is found in microfiber cleaning pads. Microfiber pads may be nylon and are intended to be washed and reused. But microfiber pads may damage the floor and still leave filming/streaking, particularly after repeated washings.
This problem is exacerbated by some of the newer floor materials. For example, certain new flooring materials are relatively dark in color. And newer flooring materials may have relatively high gloss levels, and/or be difficult to wet during cleaning, due to surface energy. These properties may highlight filming/streaking which is left on the floor after wet cleaning, even if damage to the floor does not occur.
Yet other attempts to make cleaning pads incorporate both hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,694,379 and commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 7,480,956. Another attempt includes free floating cuffs, as disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 7,028,364. Other relevant attempts in the art include US 2003/0300991; 2011/0041274; 2016/0037993; U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,245,413; 6,681,434; 6,701,567; 7,458,128; 7,624,468; 8,341,797; 8,707,505 and 8,863,347.
While these attempts are directed to absorption of liquids from a wetted target surface, particularly from a floor, problems remain. A generally flat floor sheet presents the same surface to the floor throughout the cleaning task. Dirt can be re-deposited if the floor sheet is saturated. A generally flat floor sheet may not adequately clean into floor crevices or grout lines. Damage to the floor may occur if a reusable microfiber floor pad is used.
Thus, there is a need for a disposable, generally planar cleaning article, usable on wetted surface and which presents dynamically changing surface throughout the cleaning task. A generally planar pad can be removably disposed on the head of a cleaning implement, such as a Swiffer® implement, sold by the instant assignee. The head of such an implement is also generally planar and typically mounted to a handle through a universal joint. This arrangement allows the user to apply compressive pressure where extra cleaning is needed. The use of a removable, generally planar sheet on such an implement is desirable as providing both cleaning capability and protecting the surface, through the combination of strip mobility under compression applied through the handle.


An image processor employing error diffision is provided with a multivalued dithering part, for reducing the bit number of computing in a feedback loop for errors. Thus, an operation can be performed at a high speed while the capacity of an error storage memory can be reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processor, and more particularly, it relates to an image processor converting M-valued image data of a target pixel to N (M>N)-valued image data (N-arization) on the basis of error diffusion.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image processor utilizing error diffusion is known in general. General error diffusion is performed on the basis of the following equation.
Assuming that Ixy (0≦Ixy≦1) represents input image data of a pixel (target pixel) having coordinates (x, y) and Bxy (0 or 1) represents output two-valued image data (N-valued image data), two-valued error data Exy is expressed as follows:Exy=Ixy−Bxy  (1)According to the error diffusion, the image data Ixy of the target pixel is corrected with an average weighted error EAVExy of two-valued errors of peripheral pixels thereof, in order to reduce the two-valued error data Exy on the average. The average weighted error EAVExy is obtained as follows:EAVExy=ΣKxy×Eij  (2)In general, the weighting factor Kij is increased as approaching the target pixel. As shown in FIG. 3, a filter computes the average weighted error EAVExy generally with a matrix size i of five pixels along the main scanning direction of the filter and a matrix size j of two to three pixels along the subscanning direction. The weighting factor Kij is increased as approaching the target pixel (denoted by "*" in FIG. 3).
Corrected image data I′xy of the target pixel is expressed as follows:I′xy=Ixy+EAVExy  (3)The obtained corrected image data I′xy is binarized with a prescribed threshold Th. Bxy=1(when I′xy≧Th)Bxy=0(when I′xy<Th)  (4)
The two-valued error data Exy is computed from the corrected image data I′xy and a reference value B′xy obtained on the basis of the result of binarization (two-valued image data).Exy=I′xy−B′xy  (5)In general, the reference value B′xy is:B′xy=HB(when Bxy=1)B′xy=LB(when Bxy=0)  (6)The reference values HB and LB are given by the upper limit (=1) and the lower limit (=0) of the dynamic range of the pixel respectively.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the structure of a conventional image processor employing error diffusion.
Referring to FIG. 4, the image processor is formed by an error storage memory 1, an error computing part (product-sum operation part) 2 computing errors on the basis of an error weighting filter, an adder 3, a comparator 4, a subtracter 5 and a selector 6.
The error storage memory 1 stores two-valued errors necessary for computing the average weighted error EAVExy. The error storage memory 1 outputs the two-valued errors to the error computing part 2. The error computing part 2 performs a product-sum operation of the weighting factor Kij and the errors for computing the average weighted error EAVExy and outputting the same to the adder 3 (the processing of the above equation (2)).
The adder 3 adds the image data Ixy of the target pixel with the average weighted error EAVExy of the peripheral pixels and computes the corrected image data I′xy. Then, the adder 3 outputs the corrected image data I′xy to the comparator 4 for binarization and the subtracter 5 for error computing (the processing of the above equation (3)).
The comparator 4 compares the corrected image data I′xy with the prescribed threshold Th (e.g. "127") to obtain the two-valued output Bxy as a result and outputs the result of the comparison to the selector 6 for selecting the reference value (the processing of the above equation (4)).
The subtracter 5 subtracts the corrected image data I′xy from the reference value B′xy and outputs the obtained two-valued error data Exy to the error storage memory 1 (the processing of the above equation (5)).
The selector 6 selects the reference value (HB or LB) for computing the two-valued error data Exy from the two-valued image data Bxy, and outputs the selected reference value B′xy to the subtracter 5.
Referring to FIG. 4, the error computing part 2 computing the average weighted error EAVExy of the peripheral pixels, the adder 3 adding the average weighted error EAVExy to the input image data Ixy and computing the corrected image data I′xy, the comparator 4 comparing the corrected image data I′xy with the threshold Th and computing the two-valued image data Bxy, the selector 6 for selecting the reference value B′xy from the two-valued image data Bxy and the subtracter 5 computing the two-valued error data Exy from the corrected image data I′xy and the reference value B′xy form a feedback loop of errors.
In order to binarize the image data Ixy of the target pixel, the average weighted error EAVExy of the peripheral pixels must be operated inclusive of a two-valued error Ex-1,y of a precedently binarized pixel. In other words, the processing of the above equations (2) to (6) must be entirely performed in a cycle processing a single pixel. If the processing in the feedback loop is performed at a slow speed, therefore, the processing speed of the overall image processor is reduced.

Image processor capable of reducing gradation at high speed


An exhaust gas purification device including: a first case communicating with an exhaust manifold of an engine and internally including a first exhaust gas purification body for removing a carbon compound; and a second case communicating with an exhaust outlet of the first case and internally including second exhaust gas purification bodies for removing a nitrogen compound. The first case and the second case are arranged above the engine and in an L-shape to respectively extend along two side surfaces of the engine, the two side surfaces being adjacent to each other.

Traditionally, there have been known techniques for purifying an exhaust gas from a diesel engine by introducing the exhaust gas into an exhaust gas purification device (an exhaust gas aftertreatment device) disposed in an exhaust gas path of the diesel engine, the exhaust gas purification device being constituted by a case internally including a diesel particulate filter (hereinafter, such a case will be referred to as a DPF case) and a case internally including a urea selective reduction catalyst (hereinafter, such a case will be referred to as a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) case) (see, e.g., Patent Literatures 1 and 2 (hereinafter, referred to as PTLs 1 and 2)).


An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) device 10 is described having only half the number of inductors and storage capacitors of a conventional UPS. The UPS 10 has an input stage 12 connected to an AC power supply and an output stage 14 for supplying AC power to an appliance. The input stage 12 has a first switching means 16 connected in series with the output stage 14 and a second switching means 18 connected in parallel with the output stage 14. The output stage 14 has a third switching means 20 connected in series with the input stage 12 and a fourth switching means 22 connected in parallel with the input stage 12. Each of the switching means 16, 18, 20 and 22 is capable of switching current in two directions depending on control signals supplied to the switching means by a controller 24. The controller 24 controls the direction of current through each of the respective switching means in response to detected changes in power conditions. Each of the switching means 16, 18, 20 and 22 are controlled by controller 24 to be in either an ON condition, an OFF condition or a switching condition in which the switching means is switched at high frequency. Replacement of the four bulky items in a conventional UPS with a single inductor and a small high frequency storage capacitor results in a significant reduction in physical size. The remainder of the components in the UPS are mainly semi-conductors which therefore lends itself to high integration.

Most companies and organisations rely on the public power supply grid for the supply of electrical power to machinery, lighting, laboratory and office equipment. In many modem buildings there is generally a back-up power supply, typically a diesel engine powered generator, to supply internal power for the building in the event of power failure. However sensitive electrical equipment such as computer systems and telecommunications equipment are frequently provided with a dedicated uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to ensure that there is no interruption to the supply of electrical power that may result in the loss of valuable information held in volatile memory. A UPS is also intended to regulate the supply of electrical power to an appliance so as to minimise fluctuations in the voltage supplied to the appliance.
A typical prior art UPS is connected to the AC power grid and converts the incoming AC voltage to a bipolar DC voltage across two storage capacitors. This bipolar DC voltage is then reconverted to a regulated AC output voltage. The back-up battery voltage is converted to a high bipolar DC voltage and feeds into the storage capacitors in the event that the input AC voltage falls below an acceptable level. There are a number of disadvantages with such conventional UPS technology. Firstly, there are inefficiencies and power losses associated with the need to convert the voltage twice, from AC to DC and vice versa. Secondly, the two storage capacitors are quite bulky because they need to filter out the 50/60 Hz voltage ripple. They are also costly because they need to have high ripple current capability, high capacitance and high voltage characteristics. Further, this type of UPS circuit does not readily lend itself to a high level of integration.

Direct conversion uninterruptible power supply


An adjustable concrete form brace includes a horizontal adaptable extension member. A first lower brace element and a second lower brace element opposing the first lower brace element each have a horizontal insertion channel adapted to receive the horizontal extension member. A first upper brace element and second upper brace element are attached to the first lower brace element and the second lower brace element respectively. Each of the lower brace members include a saddle, and each saddle is adapted to retain one or more reinforcement bars. The first upper brace element and second upper brace element each include a form retaining element.

Historically, concrete has been used to form the base or foundation of a building. During construction, channels defining the borders of the base or foundation are prepared. Concrete forms are then set up in the channels where the concrete forms are located adjacent to and connected to each other and arranged to match the dimensions of the required foundation or footing. The forms, which are typically made from steel panels or wooden boards or planks, are put into position on their edges across from each other and parallel to each other near the side walls of the channels.
In order to strengthen the foundation, steel reinforcement is used. Generally, this reinforcement is put into place using reinforcing bars. For best effect, the reinforcing bars are positioned within the concrete forms such that poured concrete will cover all surfaces of the reinforcing bars, top and bottom. For example, a horizontally oriented reinforcing bar is conventionally held in place by using separate reinforcing bar mounting stands. Some of the generally available reinforcing bar stands can be connected to the form after the form has been constructed, while others are positioned in the form and the reinforcing bar is placed on the device. Similarly, vertically oriented reinforcing bars are conventionally secured in the forms by devices that are connected to the form after it is constructed. Placing the reinforcing bar securing devices in the desired location within the form requires a substantial amount of labor and some degree of skill.
In one example as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,688,428, issued Nov. 18, 1997 to Maguire and entitled "Holder for Vertical Steel Rebar," a member having first and second vertically extending leg portions, and a base member connecting one end of each leg member, a wood beam for the concrete structure being positioned in the channel formed between the first and second leg portions are included. A plurality of cup shaped members is formed along the outside surface of the first leg portion, in one embodiment, and along the outside surface of both leg portions in a second embodiment, vertical steel rebars are positioned in a selected one of the cup shaped members. Holes may be formed in the base member to receive fasteners to secure the member to the underlying wood frame member.
In another example, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,247,273, issued Jun. 19, 2001 to Nickel and entitled "Adjustable Form Brace," an adjustable bracing system is configured for supporting poured concrete wall systems and includes a vertical brace for engaging the wall. A slider slides vertically along a channel of the vertical brace. An adjustable length leg member connects at an upper end to the slider and extends outwardly away from the brace and connects at a lower end to a foot member. The leg is rotatably mounted at one end to a threaded member, wherein rotation of the leg in a first direction extends the threaded member and the length of the leg member, and rotation in a second opposite direction retracts the threaded member and shortens the length of the leg member.
In yet another example, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,467,772, issued Dec. 23, 2008 to Huber and Hartman (the inventor of the present invention) and entitled "Devices for Securing Reinforcing Bars within Concrete Forms for Concrete," devices for supporting horizontally oriented reinforcing bars in a form for concrete and devices for supporting vertically oriented reinforcing bars are disclosed. The devices for supporting horizontally oriented reinforcing bars engage the side walls of a form, span the space between the walls, and remain securely in position. The device includes guide members for guiding reinforcing bar sections into a desired position, and members that secure the reinforcing bar in position. The devices for supporting vertically oriented reinforcing bars are used with a generally L-shaped section of reinforcing bar and secured to two parallel sections of horizontal reinforcing bar. U.S. Pat. No. 7,467,772 is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Many other types of concrete form braces have been used and designed. Unfortunately, known devices do not have the ability to adjust to various widths of forms defining footing or foundation borders. There is also a need for an adjustable vertical brace for holding hooked reinforcement bars in position. This has led to a situation wherein a myriad of parts must be kept on hand in order to adapt to various construction situations. Using conventionally available bracing devices, requires manufacturing about 60 different parts ranging in inches from 6×12 to 6×48, 8×12 to 8×48, 10×16 to 10×48, 12×20 to 12×48, etc. in order to service customer demand. Current devices and methods exhibit several drawbacks including higher cost, rust issues, and many require stakes, tie wire, and additional lumber for bracing. Further, due to the myriad of parts needed and complicated installation techniques, commercially available devices are labor intensive.
In a striking improvement over conventionally available concrete form braces, the present invention for the first time provides an adjustable concrete form brace that will adjust to any size in depth and width. In addition, the improved form brace disclosed herein, in one embodiment, can service customer demand for width adjustment by requiring a substantially reduced number of parts. No other commercially available concrete form bracket can adjust to depth and width. It is believed that the adjustable concrete form brace disclosed herein will reduce labor by up to 50%. In addition, the disclosed concrete form brace can be made of durable injection mold plastic that has a limited range of flexibility, will not rust or break and will be able to withstand heavy form pressure as well as the weight of concrete. Further the adjustable concrete form brace disclosed herein is the only product needed to set form spacing to exact specifications, stop spreading, and securely hold rebar at the appropriate height and width. Further still, the adjustable concrete form brace disclosed herein allows for a smoother top finish since after installation there are no hardware/obstacles to impede troweling.

Adjustable concrete form brace and reinforcement bar hanger


A mount for a proximity sensor with a cylindrical housing having a male thread thereon, is made up of two gripping jaws and a longitudinally slitted bush able to be gripped by the jaws and able to have the proximity sensor screwed into it. The bush has the form of a screw. Its threaded shank is taken up in recesses in the gripping jaws, that have mating female threads therefor. The bush is moved in steps for coarse adjustment of the sensor with the gripping jaws slackened off and for fine adjustment is its screwed along on the gripping jaws after the same have been closed somewhat but not tightened. On doing up the gripping jaws tightly the bush is locked and jammed and the sensor within it also locked.

The present invention relates to mounts for proximity sensors and more specially though not exclusively to such a mount having a cylindrical housing with a male thread on its outer face.
Proximity sensors are used to detect the position of one part in relation to another part without making physical contact. For example, use may be made of electromagnetic sensors in the form of inductive or capacitive proximity switches, that respond to metal members near the detection element of the sensor. For such proximity switches, the design may be in the form of a cylinder, see for example the Standard 50008 D.
For mounting a proximity sensor and for adjustment of its switching point, the sensor is normally screwed into a suitable threaded hole. Its adjustment in the axial direction is undertaken exclusively by a screwing motion. When the final or desired position of the proximity sensor has been reached, in which it gives the desired switching function, the proximity sensor is locked in place by a lock nut on its outer screw thread.
This way of mounting a proximity sensor has a number of shortcomings. The axial displacement using a screw thread is admittedly very suitable when it comes to producing the desired fine adjustment of the sensor, but however there is no way of producing a coarse adjustment quickly. Frequently, the proximity sensor has to be revolved a large number of times before it is in its desired position so that the fitting operation becomes involved, tedious and time-consuming. Furthermore the locking of the proximity sensor in place with the lock nut is apt to be problematical. Such a nut only acts on a very small part of the circumference in relation to the axial length of the proximity sensor so that the resulting gripping forces act more or less at one small point or range and this is likely to cause a local deformation of the proximity sensor. This may lead to trouble conditions, which may make themselves felt in anything ranging from a misalinement of the switching point to complete failure of the proximity sensor. A further point is that on fixing a proximity sensor in place careful attention must always be paid to not exceeding the permissible torque for tightening up the lock nut to make certain that the detector elements are not damaged. The direct mounting of a cylindrical proximity sensor in a threaded hole is therefore frequently more troublesome than one would expect at first sight.


The present invention is directed to a cord fixture for attachment to a cord. The cord fixture includes a body having at least one side wall, and a slot in the at least one side wall for retaining the cord therein when the cord is in a fixed condition. The slot has a neck portion and an enlarged end portion adjacent the neck portion. The neck portion is configured to guide the cord into the enlarged end portion such that the cord can be releasably retained within the enlarged end portion.

Cords such us bungee/elastic cords, ropes, lines, chains or the like can be used in many different applications. For example, cords can be used to tie objects together, secure or fix one object relative to another, secure or fix one or more objects in a desired position, move one or more objects in a desired manner and so on.
When using cords, it is often desirable to fix a portion (such as an end) of a cord relative to an object or another portion of the cord. In some cases, knots can be tied in the cord to fix the cord to itself and/or another object. Alternatively, cord fixtures can be used apply the cord in a desired manner.
One existing cord fixture is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,682,652. U.S. Pat. No. 5,682,652 describes a pair of hooks which can be mounted on a cord. The hooks each have a cylindrical tubular member slidable along a cord and a flared slot for retaining a portion of the cord. However, in some cases the cord may not be properly held in place by the slot, thereby causing the cord to undesirably become dislodged from the hook.
The present invention is directed to a cord fixture, which may at least partially overcome at least one of the abovementioned disadvantages or provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice.
It will be clearly understood that, if a prior art publication is referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country.


There is provided a rotor for a rotary electric machine including a rotor core of an approximately annular shape having a plurality of magnet inserting holes formed at predetermined intervals in a circumferential direction thereof, and a plurality of permanent magnets inserted into the magnet inserting holes. A rotor yoke on at least an outer circumferential side relative to the magnet inserting holes of the rotor core is formed of a magnetic material. The outer circumferential side relative to the magnet inserting holes of the rotor core has a hole portion approximately on a d-axis of each magnetic poles formed by the permanent magnets.

As a rotor used in a rotary electric machine, there has been known a rotor in which a plurality of permanent magnets are arranged in a rotor core at predetermined intervals in a circumferential direction (for example, see JP-B-5278003, JP-A-2002-78260 and WO2012/014836).
A rotor for an electric motor described in JP-B-5278003 reduces torque ripples and iron loss by arranging a position of a groove, which is provided in an outer circumferential portion of the rotor, at an electric angle of 40° to 44° with respect to a center line of a magnetic pole closest to the groove. Alternatively, the electric angle is set to 44° to 53° to reduce harmonic components in a no-load induced voltage. A rotor for a permanent magnet motor described in JP-A-2002-78260 prevents a rise in peak value caused by harmonic components included in an induced voltage to enable high-speed rotation by setting an angle between two outer circumferential grooves provided in an outer circumferential portion of a rotor core to be equal to an angle between two magnetic poles at a stator side. A rotor described in WO2012/014836 reduces cogging torque and torque ripples by reducing an outer diameter of a rotor core as approaching to both circumferential ends of a pole pitch angle from a center of a magnetic pole.
Since the torque ripple is a major factor of annular vibration of the rotor, vibration and noise of the rotor can be further suppressed if the torque ripple can be reduced. The torque ripple can be reduced by the techniques described in JP-B-5278003, JP-A-2002-78260 and WO2012/014836. However, it is desired to further reduce the torque ripple in order to improve silence of a vehicle which includes a rotary electric machine mounted thereon.


A wastewater treatment system having a treatment chamber and a clarifier chamber, the treatment chamber having a floor, the clarifier chamber separated from the treatment chamber by a common partition, the clarifier chamber having a top portion and a bottom portion, the clarifier chamber having an opening into the treatment chamber near the bottom of the clarifier, where the common partition is inclined near the area of the clarifier opening, and clarifier chamber being designed so that when wastewater is positioned therein, some solids suspended in the wastewater in the clarifier chamber settle out and exit the clarifier opening, a current in the wastewater in the treatment chamber, where the current passes across the floor of said treatment chamber near the opening of the clarifier, the current being sufficient to substantially prevent a build up of solids on the treatment chamber floor beneath the clarifier opening where the current does not keep all solids within said treatment chamber suspended within the treatment chamber.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates, generally, to the treatment of wastewater, and more particularly to creating a local current in a small wastewater treatment system, such as is suitable for residential use, and to help reduce the build up of solids at certain locations within the wastewater treatment system.
2. Prior Art
Numerous devices are known in the art for the treatment of wastewater. Most treatment systems have a configuration which includes a first chamber for aeration of the wastewater, a second chamber for removing suspended solids, an inlet for feeding the wastewater into the tank, and an outlet for letting the treated water out. The first chamber is a treatment chamber where much of the biological activity in a wastewater treatment system takes place. In the treatment chamber, air is required for microbes to aerobically operate on the wastes in the wastewater (both solid and liquid wastes). Air is usually injected into the treatment system in a variety of locations in the treatment tank. The release locations are chosen to insure that sufficient air (oxygen) is present and fairly evenly distributed throughout the entire treatment chamber to support aerobic activity. Another concern is that adequate mixing takes place in the treatment system to keep most of the solids present in the wastewater suspended to assist microbial degradation. Consequently, the treatment area tends to be a fairly high energy environment.
A wastewater treatment system generally has a second tank, a clarifier chamber. Water is removed from the treatment system through the clarifier chamber. However, it is desired that the removed, or treated water, be relatively free of solids. Consequently, the clarifier chamber is designed as a low energy environment, or quiescent environment, to allow solids present in the water in the clarifier chamber to settle out.
One common type of small (generally less than 2500 gallon capacity) wastewater treatment systems incorporates both the clarifier chamber and treatment chamber into a single tank. One type of small treatment system uses a rectangular tank having a partition therein to create two chambers. The partition does not extend to the floor, thereby allowing the two chambers to be in fluid communication. Another popular treatment system in use employs a single cylindrical tank (or square tank) having an inverted cone clarifier positioned within the tank with radially spaced air pipes delivering air into the tank outside the clarifier, as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,650,577 to Bradley L. Hansel, herein incorporated by reference (hereafter referred to as the inverted cone system). The area of the tank within the clarifier is a quiescent zone allowing solids to settle out of the water prior to discharge. The area of the tank external to the clarifier is the aeration zone where mixing and oxygen transfer occurs and much of the biological activity takes place. Air is injected into the system through a series of drop lines, which may have fine bubble diffusers positioned on the ends thereof, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,266,239 to Drewery, herein incorporated by reference.
In an aerobic treatment system, air must be provided into the system. Some treatment systems include pipes for injecting air into the wastewater in the tank to assist in the aerobic treatment of the fluid, with or without diffusers. One such example is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,975,197, herein incorporated by reference. Some systems have a vertical clarifying areas within the tank, such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,664,795 to Stegall, herein incorporated by reference.
Air injected into the system will create currents within the treatment tank. With multiple release locations, local currents are created about each release site. Some local currents may combine to provide an overall net current within the tank, or may form local eddies, where water circulates within a generally closed volume of the treatment tank. Prior art inverted cone treatment chambers generally had a series of air release sites placed near the bottom of the treatment tank close to the treatment tank wall. These release sites were equally spaced along the outer wall, resulting in a dead zone in the middle of the tank underneath the clarifier opening.
Solids suspended in the wastewater will be aerobically biologically degraded. If the treatment tank contains an area of low fluid velocity (circulatory "dead zones") near the tank bottom, suspended solids will settle out into a sludge onto the tank floor in these zones (zones with insufficient fluid velocity to keep solids in suspension). Circulatory dead zones tend to be oxygen deficient, promoting anoxic degradation of the sludge. Anoxic degradation results in the generation of nitrogen gas generated by the breakdown of nitrates ("denitrification"). Nitrogen gas can build up in the sludge until the sludge, or a portion thereof, is lifted up off the floor back into the treatment tank ("bulking"). Anoxic treatment zones within a treatment system are desirable, as these zones assist in promoting more complete biological degradation.
Circulatory dead zones are not desirable in all locations on the tank bottom. One area where a dead zone is undesirable is directly underneath the clarifier opening. If bulking occurs in this location, the rising solids can result in an undesirable discharge through the clarifier and disturb the clarifier's finction; additionally, a scum can form on the surface of the clarifier and because of the clarifier's quiescent environment, such a scum layer is difficult to remove. Unfortunately, solids tend to settle at this location. The clarifier is designed to allow solids to settle out through the clarifier opening. Consequently, some means must be provided to keep these settling solids from being deposited underneath the clarifier opening.
The prior art attempted to prevent the build up of solids beneath the clarifier opening by providing a diverter (usually a cone or pyramidal shaped deflector) underneath the opening to divert settling solids out of the dead zone and back into the high energy treatment zone. In rectangular tanks, the clarifier is separated from the treatment tank by a common partition (not inclined), with an opening at the bottom of the partition to allow fluid communication. Positioned near this opening in the bottom of the clarifier, was an inclined plane to divert settling solids back into the treatment chamber. These devices were needed as the area beneath the opening of the clarifier tended to be a circulatory dead zone. One such device can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,714,061.
One attempt to prevent a solids build up beneath the clarifier without the use of a diverter is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,785,854 to McKinney, herein incorporated by reference. McKinney demonstrates release of air near the sidewall of the treatment tank at a single location to create a particular current within the tank. The current pattern, as shown by McKinney, sweeps across the tank bottom directed toward the air release site thereby sweeping solids, which settle out from the clarifier onto the tank bottom, back into the treatment area. Unfortunately, to create this sweeping pattern, the McKinney current must travel up the sidewall, around the clarifier partition, then down the opposite tank sidewall before sweeping across the tank bottom near the clarifier opening. Such a long current path implies that much of the energy and velocity of the current near the generating source (the air release site) will be lost to overall circulation, making the current sweeping the bottom weak and potentially insufficient to keep solids suspended. Additionally, the McKinney current is generated through air release at a single location in the tank. Air release at a single location can result in insufficient mixing within the entire treatment chamber and inefficient oxygen transfer into the tank as a whole. To address this problem, McKinney suggests using multiple air drops at the same release location. Finally, with use of a single air release site near the sidewall, McKinney indicates that no circulatory dead zones are formed, even though such dead zone, properly placed, are useful.

Wastewater treatment system preventing the build up of solids beneath the clarifier opening


An external quality control method, using an external quality control system which comprises an external quality control computer and a plurality of preprocessing devices connected to the external quality control computer via a network, comprising: performing preprocessing operations on preprocessing quality control samples, the preprocessing devices being adapted to prepare samples for measurement of target nucleic acid; measuring preprocessed preprocessing quality control samples to obtain measurement data; providing the measurement data to the external quality control computer over the network; storing the measurement data; and implementing an external quality control process based on the measurement data, is disclosed. An external quality control method for detection of nucleic acid, an external quality control method for preparation of calibration curve, an external quality control computer, a preprocessing device, and a nucleic acid detecting device are also disclosed.

There is known a remote support system which collects measurement data of a quality control substance from a plurality of blood test devices in a server, tallies up the collected measurement data by the server, and allows a user of a blood test device to view the tallied result (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,629,060).
This remote support system enables a user of a blood test device to check whether the blood test device in the particular facility operates properly, namely to conduct a so-called external quality control by comparing measurement data obtained by measurement of quality control substances by blood test device installed in other facilities with measurement data obtained by measurement of a quality control substance by the blood test device in the particular facility.
There is also developed a nucleic acid detecting device which amplifies a nucleic acid contained in a sample and detects the amplified nucleic acid (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,846,489, and U.S. Pre-Grant Publication No. 2005-42138).
In such a nucleic acid detecting device, a preprocessing such as extraction of nucleic acid or homogenization of tissue is executed prior to placing a sample in the nucleic acid detecting device, and the sample having subjected to the preprocessing is placed in the nucleic acid detecting device where a target nucleic acid is detected after amplified by using a predetermined reagent.
Nucleic acid detecting devices are generally used in research uses, and in such uses, the necessity of quality control little arises, and especially no necessity arises for external quality control. In a conventional nucleic acid detecting device, only internal quality control using generated DNA or RNA as a quality control substance is attempted.
When a nucleic acid detecting device is used for clinical purposes such as for cancer diagnosis or infectious disease test, the detection result will significantly influence on the definitive diagnosis of infectious disease, cancer, genetic disorder and the like, so that the quality control is very important.
Especially in the case of cancer diagnosis or the like, it is required to derive a determination result providing reference for diagnosis, based on quantitative measurement data obtained in the nucleic acid detecting device. For example, when an analyte obtained from a patient during surgery of cancer is subjected to measurement by a nucleic acid detecting device, diagnosis of lymph node metastasis of the cancer is diagnosed, and a region of lymph node dissection is determined based on the diagnosis, the measurement data should be very accurate and reliable. Also rapidity is required for the case of intraoperative diagnosis.
A nucleic acid detecting process, however, needs more complicated processing like a preprocessing, compared to a blood test process, so that it was impossible to directly apply the external quality control employed in a conventional blood test to such a nucleic acid detecting process.
Particularly, in a nucleic acid detecting device, it is necessary to conduct a preprocessing such as extraction of nucleic acid or homogenization of tissue prior to placing a sample in the nucleic acid detecting device, and to place the sample having subjected to the preprocessing to the nucleic acid detecting device, as described above, however, such a preprocessing is executed in different manners in different facilities, and quality control for such preprocessing is not noticed at all. However, it is impossible to secure the reliability of the subsequent nucleic acid detecting process unless the reliability of preprocessing is secured.

External quality control method, external quality control computer, preprocessing device, and nucleic acid detecting device


A plurality of manifold blocks connected together in a combined state have a plurality of solenoid valves for controlling a fluid pressure device by switching channels and at least one relay unit for controlling an electrical device by a relay that is opened and closed installed thereon, so that the manifold-type solenoid valve is assembled on the relay unit.

In various types of automation apparatuses, a fluid pressure driving actuator such as an air cylinder and an electrical device such as an electrical motor are often used together. In general, such an actuator and an electrical device are each individually controlled by a manifold-type solenoid valve, a relay unit, and the like. In many cases, since such a solenoid valve and a relay unit are typically separately installed at separate places, the installation place for each unit must be secured, resulting in an increase in the size of the entire automation apparatus.
In addition, if the installation places for the solenoid valve and the relay unit are separated, not only is the wiring for feeding power or an operation signal separated and complicated, but also the solenoid valve and the relay unit must be separately handled, with the result that the installation and maintenance, such as checking the operation, are extremely troublesome.

Manifold-type solenoid valve with relay unit


A phase comparator compares the phases of first and second signals with each other. The phase comparator has a first control circuit, a second control circuit, and a phase comparator unit. The first control circuit divides the frequency of the first signal by n in response to a third signal where n is an integer equal to or larger than 2. The second control circuit divides the frequency of the second signal by n in response to the third signal. The phase comparator unit compares the phases of signals provided by the first and second control circuits with each other. The phase comparator unit is capable of correctly comparing the phases of even high-speed signals with each other, and therefore, is applicable to a DLL circuit that operates on high-speed clock signals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a phase comparator and a semiconductor integrated circuit, and more particularly, to a phase comparator for a delay locked loop (DLL) circuit and a semiconductor integrated circuit employing the DLL circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, the operating speeds of semiconductor integrated circuits have increased, and the circuit scale thereof has become large. Further, it has become necessary to supply a synchronized signal (phase synchronized clock signal) to a specific circuit in a large scale semiconductor integrated circuit.
Namely, recent high-speed, highly-integrated semiconductor circuits need phase-synchronized clock signals. For example, synchronous DRAMs (SDRAMs) employ a DLL (Delay Locked Loop) circuit that generates an internal clock signal in synchronization with an externally supplied clock signal and supplies the internal clock signal to output buffer circuits. As the frequency of the external clock signal increases, a phase difference between the external and internal clock signals increases. Even if the frequency of the external clock signal is high, the DLL circuit must correctly compare the phases of the external and internal clock signals with each other and synchronize the internal clock signal with the external clock signal.
Recent MPUs and memory devices such as SDRAMs operate at a speed of 100 MHz or faster. These devices employ the DLL circuit to lock the phase of an internal clock signal with that of an externally supplied clock signal, to thereby absorb a delay caused by internal clock lines and stabilize an accessing time.
When the frequencies of the external and internal clock signals are high, it is difficult for the DLL circuit to compare the phases of the signals with each other. To cope with this problem, a prior art has proposed a phase locked loop (PLL) circuit that divides the frequencies of the external and internal clock signals at a given ratio and compares the phases of the frequency-divided clock signals with each other. This technique is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) Nos. 55-92042 and 56-61833.
The conventional PLL circuit and related DLL circuit and the problems thereof will be explained later in detail with reference to drawings.

Phase comparator circuit for high speed signals in delay locked loop circuit


The sealant compound of this invention comprises polyurethane resin or its precursor mixed with vapor grown carbon fiber. In the compound, whisker-shaped carbon fibers with high tensile strength intertwine and form lattices. In addition, carbon fibers are anchored in the polyurethane resin. Consequently, the compound of this invention has more tensile strength than the conventional compound containing black carbon. Thus the seal consisting of the compound of this invention has high adhesion and sealing effects.

This invention relates to a sealant compound for sealing and filling a gap.
In related arts, various kinds of resins are used for a sealant. The sealant fits the gap in a housing using its rubber-like elasticity to secure the contents of the housing and prevent the contents from being interfered with from the outside. For example, an O ring made of synthetic resin, or a synthetic resin packing adaptable to the configuration of the gap is used. Another known sealant is an adhesive compound that can also be used as an adhesive. In addition, a sealant for sealing joints in the housing of an automobile transmission, a sealant for shielding an automobile windowpane, and a sealant for sealing joints in an architectural panel are known.
To enhance the strength of the seals having rubber-like elasticity so that they can be used in severe conditions, various compositions of known resin, filler, plasticizer or other materials that govern the physical strength of the seals are reviewed. The reviewed compositions only provide a limited strength to the seals, however.

Sealant compound with carbon fiber mixed therein


An electromagnetic actuator is disclosed which is especially suitable for active vibration control applications. The actuator may be either of the moving coil or moving magnet type so that a moving element undergoes reciprocal motion in response to an electrical input signal. The invention allows the force of the moving element to be linearly related to the amplitude and direction of the input current with a high degree of efficiency. In one embodiment, the moving element is decoupled from any mechanical load so as to produce reaction forces which may be used to cancel vibrational forces.

Numerous methods and techniques have been devised in the past to alleviate the problem of unwanted vibrations produced by such sources as vibrating machinery. Although such vibrations cannot usually be completely eliminated by any means, any attenuation of the vibrations is desirable in order to both lessen their destructive effects and increase human comfort.
The earliest attempts to control vibration represent what may be termed "passive" vibration control systems. In such a system, energy damping elements or materials are arranged so as to absorb the unwanted vibrations and dissipate them as heat. Sound insulation and automobile shock-absorbers are two common examples. Other passive vibration control systems include energy-storing elements such as springs which present a reactive load to the vibrating source. For example, large motors are sometimes mounted on springs which have a spring constant chosen in accordance with the frequency at which the motor is known to vibrate. Such springs, by storing and re-emitting the vibrational energy, essentially serve as mechanical filters to lessen the vibrational force transmitted to the surface upon which the motor is mounted.
More recently, improved systems for vibration control have appeared which may be termed "active" vibration control systems. Such systems utilize an actuator for producing vibrations to cancel out the unwanted vibrations, the actuator being under the control of a feedback control system with a vibration sensing means for deriving the error signal used to drive the actuator. Examples of such active systems are found in the U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,566,118 and 4,490,841, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
It is imperative in active vibration control systems that the actuator be capable of producing vibrations in strict accordance with the input signal used to drive the actuator. That is, the preferred relationship between the input signal and the vibrational force produced by the actuator should be a linear one. One type of electromagnetic actuator which is very suitable for vibration control applications is the moving coil type of arrangement commonly used to drive loudspeakers. In such an actuator, an input current is applied to a solenoidal coil which is subjected to a constant magnetic field directed perpendicularly to the direction of the current within the coil. The coil thus experiences a force which is proportional to the input current and directed perpendicularly to the direction of both the magnetic field and current. In the case of loudspeakers, the moving coil (a.k.a. the voice coil) is attached to a diaphragm for producing sound waves in accordance with the input signal. In the case of a motor or actuator, on the other hand, the moving coil is mounted around a slidably mounted shaft which undergoes reciprocating motion in correspondence to the input current. A variation of the moving coil type of actuator involves the placement of one or more stationary coils around a slidably mounted shaft upon which is mounted a permanent magnet. The N-S pole of the magnet is coaxial with the slidably mounted shaft and the surrounding coil. Applying current to the stationary coil causes a magnetic field to be produced which moves the shaft in one direction or the other with a force proportional to the input current applied to the coil.
As aforesaid, for active vibration control applications, an actuator needs to respond in as linear a fashion as possible to its driving input signal. To obtain such a linear response, several design considerations arise. First, the force experienced by the moving element (i.e., the moving coil or moving permanent magnet) should be the same for a given amount of input current irrespective of the moving element's position along its line of travel. This means that ideally the magnetic field produced by the permanent magnet should be uniform all along the stroke of the actuator.
Second, the coil current should follow the input voltage signal as closely as possible. The coil to which the input voltage signal is applied, however, is an inductive load which means that the coil current cannot change instantaneously in response to a change in the input signal voltage. Rather, the coil current responds with a time constant proportional to the inductance of the coil. For linear operation, this time constant should be as small as possible which means the inductance should be minimized.
Third, physical law says that a current-carrying conductor subjected to a constant magnetic field experiences a force proportional to the magnitude of the current. In order to increase the efficiency of the actuator, a suitable flux path should be provided which concentrates the constant magnetic field produced by the permanent magnet and causes it to be directed perpendicularly toward the coil. This maximizes the force experienced by the coil (or magnet in the case of a moving magnet type actuator) for a given amount of coil current and permanent magnet strength.
The current which flows through the actuator coil, however, itself produces a magnetic field which changes the field produced by the permanent magnet. In order to maintain the proportionality between input current and force, the change of the field produced by the magnet should be eliminated, resulting in a force per unit of current which is independent of the amount and direction of the current.
Several prior devices described in the literature represent attempts to partially solve the problems mentioned above. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,692,999, issued to Frandsen, describes an electromagnetic actuator of the moving coil variety which uses dual coils and permanent magnets in order to more nearly maintain the uniformity of the magnetic field irrespective of coil position. Japanese Patent Application No. W081/02501 discloses an electromagnetic transducer wherein a compensating coil is mounted coaxially with the moving coil in order to produce a magnetic field in opposition to that produced by the moving coil. U.S. Pat. No. 3,202,886, issued to Kramer, discloses an actuator of the moving permanent magnetic type for two-position operation which makes use of two oppositely energized coils. None of these references, however, teach or suggest an actuator which overcomes the aforementioned problems to the extent necessary for active vibration control applications.


An article of footwear having a sole structure that includes one or more support elements formed of a resilient, compressible material is disclosed. The lower surface of a support element located in the back-lateral corner of the sole structure includes a downward bevel in the lateral-to-medial direction and back-to-front direction. In addition to the downward bevel on the lower surface of the support element, a base plate and outsole include corresponding bevels. Cooperatively, the bevels reduce the rate of pronation in a foot of a wearer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to footwear having a sole with a compressible element in a lateral heel area. More particularly, the present invention is directed toward a sole having a compressible support element designed to limit the rate at which a wearer's foot pronates.
2. Description of Background Art
Sole design for modern athletic footwear is generally characterized by a multi-layer construction comprised of an outsole, midsole, and insole. The midsole, typically a soft, foam material, attenuates impact forces generated by contact of the footwear with the ground during athletic activities. Other prior art midsoles use fluid-filled bladders of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,183,156 and 4,219,945 to Marion F. Rudy. Although foam materials succeed in providing cushioning for the foot, foam materials may also impart instability that increases in proportion to midsole thickness. For this reason, design of footwear with conventional foam midsoles involves balancing the relative degrees of cushioning and stability.
The typical motion of the foot during running proceeds as follows: First, the heel strikes the ground, followed by the ball of the foot. As the heel leaves the ground, the foot rolls forward so that the toes make contact, and finally the entire foot leaves the ground to begin another cycle. During the time that the foot is in contact with the ground and rolling forward, it also rolls from the outside or lateral side to the inside or medial side, a process called pronation. That is, normally, the outside of the heel strikes first and the toes on the inside of the foot leave the ground last. While the foot is air borne and preparing for another cycle the opposite process, called supination, occurs. Pronation, the inward roll of the foot while in contact with the ground, although normal, can be a potential source of foot and leg injury, particularly if it is excessive. The use of soft cushioning materials in the midsole of running shoes, while providing protection against impact forces, can encourage instability of the sub-talar joint of the ankle, thereby contributing to the tendency for over-pronation. This instability has been cited as a contributor to "runners knee" and other athletic injuries.
Various methods for resisting excessive pronation or instability of the sub-talar joint have been proposed and incorporated into prior art athletic shoes as "stability" devices. In general, these devices have been fashioned by modifying conventional shoe components, such as the heel counter, by modifying the midsole cushioning materials or adding a pronation control device to a midsole. Examples of these techniques are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,288,929; 4,354,318; 4,255,877; 4,287,675; 4,364,188; 4,364,189; 4,297,797; 4,445,283; and 5,247,742.
One particular method of resisting over pronation, disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,425,184; 5,625,964; and 6,055,746, all to Lyden et al. and hereby incorporated by reference, utilizes a strike zone located in the rear, lateral corner of the sole. The strike zone is segmented from the remaining heel area by a line of flexion which permits articulation of the strikezone during initial contact with the ground. The strikezone includes a portion of a fluid-filled bladder structure with a lower pressure than portions in other areas of the sole. Accordingly, the strikezone operates to limit the rate of pronation following heel strike.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,353,523 and 5,343,639 to Kilgore et al., hereby incorporated by reference, disclose a prior art athletic shoe wherein a portion of the foam midsole is replaced with foam columns placed between a rigid top and bottom plate. A similar, prior art article of footwear, commercially manufactured and distributed by NIKE, Inc. under the SHOX trademark, is depicted as shoe 10 in FIGS. 1 and 2. Shoe 10 includes a conventional upper 12 attached in a conventional manner to a sole 14. Sole 14 includes a midsole 18 and a conventional outsole layer 20 formed of a wear-resistant material such as a carbon-black rubber compound. Midsole 18 includes a cushioning layer (not shown) made of a conventional cushioning material such as ethyl vinyl acetate or polyurethane foam, a top plate 28, a bottom plate 30, four compliant elastomeric support elements 32 disposed between top plate 28 and bottom plate 30, and a midfoot wedge 40.
Elements 32 have the shape of hollow, cylindrical columns with integral rings circumscribing the exterior surface. Whereas the front two elements 32 have a generally horizontal lower surface, the rear two elements 32 have an upward bevel in a longitudinal direction relative to shoe 10. In combination with a corresponding bevel in outsole layer 20, the rear portion of shoe 10 includes an upward bevel that extends across the rear portion of the footwear.
Elements 32 have a beneficial effect with respect to the control of pronation. As noted, the foot typically contacts the ground in the rear-lateral corner. The foot then rolls forward and rotates from the lateral side to the medial side while in contact with the ground. When the foot initially contacts the ground, the rear-lateral support element bears the majority of the impact force associated with ground contact and deflects accordingly. As the foot rolls forward and to the medial side, the force of impact is transferred to the front-lateral support element and the rear-medial support element. At this point, the front-lateral and the rear-medial support elements are both absorbing the impact forces previously supported by only the rear-lateral support element. Accordingly, the increased resistance to compression slows the rate of rotation to the medial side, thereby countering over pronation. As the foot continues to roll forward, the front-medial support element further limits pronatory motion.
Although the design of the design of shoe 10 has a beneficial effect upon pronation, individuals with a tendency to over pronate may require an article of footwear that controls pronation to a greater degree. The present invention provides such an article of footwear.

Footwear midsole with compressible element in lateral heel area


An end opening bulk material container having a plurality of sidewalls defining a polygonal sleeve, the sleeve has a depth dimension greater than its width dimension, a first end of the sleeve is closed by a first end wall and two C-shaped supports, one of each is associated with separate side walls.

Liquid products such as soft drink syrup or chemical products are often shipped in small volumes such as five gallon portions. These liquid volumes may be packaged in a plastic bag and housed within a paperboard container to protect the bag from puncture or compression. This method of packaging is often referred to as "bag in box." The bag is often provided with a fitment or a spout and the box with a corresponding access door to allow access to the contents of the bag through a wall of the box.
Prior boxes that have been specially designed to enclose and transport these five gallon bags usually are six sided boxes folded from a single sheet of corrugated paper that is folded and glued along a single glue lap to an outside wall of the box. The boxes usually have bottom and top walls that are formed from the overlap of major and minor flaps, and the box usually folds flat for storage. The boxes also have a perforated section along an end wall that may be removed to accommodate the spout so that liquid may be removed from the bag without opening the top of the box.
However, these prior boxes have presented several problems to manufacturers and distributors. For example, distributors have discovered that these boxes have insufficient structural support and that movement of the liquid filled bag within the box may cause the box to unfold or breakdown during warehousing and distribution. Further, the boxes have inadequate stacking strength and may crush, or have its perforated spout break out or the box may otherwise be damaged under the weight of a palletized load. In more serious cases where the perforated spout breaks out a tear forms in a side or end panel of the box which follows the paperboard corrugations causing the box to rip open. In all cases, the box is rendered incapable of protecting the contents of the bag from outside hazards that may puncture the bag and release its contents.
Manufacturers and distributors have also encountered problems with this box. For example, the glue lap that was provided to hold prior boxes together, oftentimes became unglued during the loading of the box with a liquid filled bag causing the entire box to unfold. Further, the manufacturers have had difficulty in detecting leaks in these boxes until after the boxes have been filled and prepared for shipment or actually shipped. Manufacturers have also had difficulty, in loading the prior boxes, to get the liquid filled bags to cover the entire bottom of the box for even weight distribution.
Improvements have been made to the single piece containers by constructing a container from three separate pieces of corrugated paperboard. An example of such a container is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,278 which is assigned to the owner of the present invention and is incorporated herein by reference. The '278 Patent discloses a top loaded container which has reinforcing flanges that add considerable support to the container far in excess of single piece boxes. However, even the container disclosed in the '278 Patent must be stacked on a pallet with each box in conformation with the lower box, that is sidewall over sidewall and end wall over end wall, in a column stacking pattern to avoid damaging the container on panels 32 and 36 between side flanges 120.
For these reasons, it is desirable to produce a more cost effective box for shipping liquid filled bags, that has greater stacking strength than boxes presently being used so that the boxes may be stacked on a pallet in an interlocking fashion, that is one box may be placed transverse to a lower box, or shipped in single increments by common courier such as U.P.S.

End opening reinforced bulk material box