Multidirectional roughness measurement insert for determining a measured variable that is characteristic of the roughness of a surface, having a carrier body on which a stylus holder is arranged for holding a stylus, an analog sensor, which converts the movements of the carrier body into measurement signals that are characteristic of the roughness of a surface of workpiece, a stylus to be coupled to the carrier body, comprising a rod-shaped shaft and a scanning head mounted on the shaft, wherein the scanning head is at least one section of a test body, which is essentially rotationally symmetrical to at least one section of the rod-shaped shaft, or wherein the scanning head is at least one section of an essentially rotationally symmetrical test body, which is arranged on a distal end of at least one section of the rod-shaped shaft.

In the case of a workpiece machined in a machine tool, one definitive requirement of its surface is that it must be manufactured inexpensively from the standpoint of the function to be fulfilled by the surface of the workpiece (e.g., bearing surface, conductivity, visible surface, adhesive strength, friction, seal). To do so, the properties of the surface (e.g., low friction, large contact area, defined minimum roughness, sharp tips, low abrasion) must be defined as precisely as possible and verified within the context of production, so that the intended function can be optimally satisfied by the surface.
Real workpiece surfaces (actual surfaces) deviate from their ideal shape (ideal surface). These differences are subdivided into several categories. The actual surface is divided into waves of different wavelengths. The wavelength decreases with the order of the deviations in shape (first order: deviation in shape; second order: waviness; third order: roughness-grooves; fourth order: roughness-scoring, flakes, domes).
Tactile measurement instruments are often used to determine characteristic surface values on workpieces. With tactile measurement instruments, a diamond tip is moved over the surface for a determination of the roughness. This instrument has an inductive converter. A sensor with a diamond tip travels over the surface of the workpiece at a right angle to the direction of the groove, and the perpendicular stroke of the stylus tip is converted into an electric signal in the inductive converter. This measurement signal of the primary profile is usually entered into a computer processor with the help of an analog-digital converter.
Such a surface testing instrument operates unidirectionally, i.e., the sensor with the diamond tip can be drawn in only one direction relative to the workpiece surface. This surface testing device has three components: the sensor, the feed mechanism and the evaluation unit with display and documentation.
The sensor converts the vertical movement of the stylus tip into an electric signal. To do so, the sensor has the inductive converter and a stylus tip in a high-precision mount. In addition, the sensor may also have a skid. There are numerous different sensor shapes with a wide variety of geometric shapes to be measured, such as surfaces, waves, boreholes, involutes, etc. Basically, a distinction is made between single-skid sensors, dual-skid sensors and reference plane sensors. Sensors with skids are used mainly in handheld devices. The skid follows the ripple or waviness. It acts as a high-pass filter and does not take into account the macroscopic shape of the profile. Skid sensors do not provide accurate information about shape and waviness. Such sensors are used mainly in workshops. The reference plane sensor system performs measurements against a reference surface and thus supplies an almost undistorted map of the primary profile. Diamond cones with a rounded tip are used as the stylus. Nominal values for the stylus tip include the tip radius (e.g., 2 μm, 5 μm or 10 μm) and the cone angle of the diamond cone, i.e., its tip, at 60° or 90°, for example.
The feed unit guides the sensor over the workpiece surface continuously and at a constant speed. A distinction is made between feed units with or without a reference plane and rotary feed units. Most measurement instruments have a feed unit with a built-in reference plane. These make it possible to use sensors with and without skids. Feed units without a reference plane only allow the use of sensors with skids. Only feed units with a built-in plane of reference in combination with a sensor without a skidless sensor allow accurate determination of the shape, waviness and roughness. The precision of the shape measurement depends primarily on the precision of the reference plane. A rotary feed unit rotates a cylindrical specimen beneath the stationary sensor. Concentricity errors in a workpiece can be eliminated by using sensors with skids.
However, this type of surface testing device is problematical when used in the production of workpieces inasmuch as the workpiece must be unchucked from the spindle on the machine tool and introduced into the surface testing device in order to measure its roughness. This is a disadvantage because rechucking of the workpiece in the machine tool usually results in a loss of dimensional stability in further machining in relation to the machining steps performed previously. The surface properties of a workpiece are therefore usually not tested until after completion of the machining in the machine tool. However, reworking is then possible only in exceptional cases. Thus, for example, failure to conform to the required surface properties will cause rejection of a workpiece.
The machining operation must therefore be stopped, and the working area of the machine tool must be made accessible to a worker in order to test the surface properties of the workpiece during the machining of same in the machine tool. Then, by using a manual surface testing device, the worker can check on whether the workpiece has the required surface properties.
Next, the measurement result must be analyzed and evaluated to ascertain:    a) whether the required surface property has been reached and the workpiece is acceptable;    b) if the required surface property has not been achieved, whether the workpiece can be reworked even if it is not acceptable; or    c) if the required surface property has not been achieved, whether the workpiece is not acceptable and also cannot be reworked.
Now the machining may be continued, if necessary,
However, this is so time-consuming that it cannot be carried out for inspecting the required surface property on each individual workpiece, although it can be used for statistical testing of a manufacturing lot.
Furthermore, within the framework of statistical testing, it is possible to ascertain:    a) whether the workpiece is acceptable;    b) whether the machining parameters (feed, rotational speed, cutting depth, etc.) are acceptable, and    c) whether the machining conditions are acceptable (vibration of the machine tool, spindle rotation, etc.).
Furthermore, many surfaces are not even accessible to portable testing devices.
In addition, because of the given geometric relationships and measurement principles, measurement of the surface property of a borehole in a workpiece using known surface testing devices can be carried out in the longitudinal direction of the borehole but not along the circumference. Thus it is impossible in terms of space, for example, to guide a sensor with a diamond tip along a circumferential line of a borehole with 5 mm to 150 mm, for example, over the surface of the borehole in the workpiece and thereby detect the stroke of the stylus tip in a direction orthonormal to the surface of the borehole. Such measurements have been possible in the past only by using special instruments under laboratory conditions.
Consequently, the evaluation of surface roughness has been possible so far only as a downstream control step or as a manual operation on the workpiece while it is chucked. Despite wear or micro eruptions on the blade, the manufacturing dimension in many machining steps may still be within the tolerance or the intervention limits. However, the surface roughness may already be outside of specification. The missing element for monitoring surface quality near the process is a device for measuring roughness, which is used in a fully automatic operation in the machine tool. Neither the manual internal roughness measurement nor the traditional external roughness measurement provides such a practical approach.
Devices and methods for measuring a contour in a machine tool are known from the prior art. In this context, for example, the document DE 10 2007 041 272 A1 describes a measurement system with a multidimensional measurement sensor arrangement for a contact measurement with stationary and rotating tools in a machine tool. The measurement system is disclosed with different sensor elements having a pyramidal or (truncated) conical shape for performing the contour measurement. However, only the dimensions of a stationary tool are determined with the measurement sensor here. This arrangement is not suitable for performing measurements on a workpiece.
Another multidirectional measurement sensor for carrying out contour measurements is known from DE 102 62 188 B4, which has a holder for replaceable styluses. This document also describes different styluses having spherical or disk-shaped scanning heads. In addition, scanning heads having a plurality of hemispherical and disk-shaped stylus geometries that can be used independently of the direction of contact have been described.
One device for measuring roughness is known from DE 102 06 146 A1. This document discloses a vibration detection system having a stylus construction with a stylus but is embodied as an inclined cylinder having a disk-shaped contact point.
The brochure "Precision tools, Precicom 225" from the company Precitool Werkzeughandel GmbH & Co. KG discloses styluses and stylus systems for measuring contour and roughness. This document discloses two conical stylus tips with a diamond intended for measuring roughness.
Another device and another method for measuring contour and roughness are described in DE 199 47 001 A1. This document describes an instrument for measuring the surface contour and roughness which is suggesting the measuring force at an assumed value when at least the stylus or the stylus holder has been replaced.
Finally, US 2002/0 059 041 A1 discloses a device and a method for measuring contour and roughness in a machine tool. The device can be mounted instead of the tool in a machine tool.
Problem
For measuring the surface property, in particular roughness of subsections of surface on a workpiece, a method and/or a device are to be made available for increasing productivity and for maintaining the highest possible quality demands.
Approach
Therefore, a multidirectional roughness measuring insert for determining a measurement variable that is characteristic of the roughness of a surface is proposed, comprising a carrier body, on which a stylus holder is arranged for holding a stylus, an analog sensor, which converts the movements of the carrier body into measurement signals that are characteristic of the roughness of a surface of a workpiece, a stylus that can be connected to the carrier body and includes a rod-shaped shaft and a scanning head mounted on the shaft, wherein the scanning head is at least one portion of an at least essentially rotationally symmetrical test body in relation to a portion of the rod-shaped shaft, or wherein the scanning head is at least one portion of an essentially rotationally symmetrical test body, which is arranged on a distal end of at least one portion of the rod-shaped shaft. The essentially rotationally symmetrical test body has a double conical shape or a double truncated conical shape. A region of the largest diameter (equator) of the test body is designed as the contact point with a surface of a workpiece to be measured, wherein the contact point is formed by two double conical or truncated double conical lateral surfaces and the contact point is rounded in the region of the largest diameter of the test body,
This arrangement allows the use of a measuring sensor that performs an analog measurement in a spindle in a machine tool instead of using a tool. To do so, a measurement sensor having an analog measurement function is combined with one of the styluses described here to perform roughness measurements. The measuring sensor is a measuring sensor that performs an analog scan and is used as the replacement for the roughness measurement in the spindle of the machine tool, transmitting the measured data or roughness values calculated in a processor in the measurement sensor or the like (via an infrared or wireless interface) or in a hard-wired action to the controller of the machine tool. A measurement sensor that performs an analog scan supplies a measurement signal, which reflects an increase and a decrease in the deflection of the stylus of the measurement insert. This is to be seen in contrast with a digital scanning measurement sensor, which supplies an on-off signal or an off-on signal only when the stylus is deflected out of its resting position by a predetermined amount.
One variant of such a measurement sensor functions with a rotationally symmetrical measuring unit, for example, in which an analog measurement signal is generated from the shadow of a miniature light barrier. The start of the shadow of the light barrier is detected by deflection of the stylus out of its resting position by a predetermined amount. The analog measurement signal may also reflect the rise and fall in the shadow, occurring when the stylus of the measurement insert is deflected to a greater or lesser extent. An analog measurement signal is generated in this way,
The variants of the roughness measurement insert presented here are multidirectional inasmuch as a surface of a workpiece can be scanned from any direction due to the rotationally symmetrical measuring unit in combination with the specific stylus designs.
For example, it is thus possible with the multidirectional roughness measurement inserts to insert the stylus into a borehole or a recess cut into a workpiece and then to scan laterally on the wall of the borehole or the milled recess in any orientation of the roughness measurement insert. This is impossible with traditional roughness measurement devices because when using the diamond cone tip, a measurement can be performed only in the direction of its cone tip.
Using the multidirectional roughness measurement inserts, which are to be inserted into a spindle of a machine tool, the machine tool is used as a feed device. In addition, the machine tool also supplies the required reference plane.
In one variant of the multidirectional roughness measurement insert, it is designed with a housing in which an annular support bearing is formed, defining an X, Y bearing plane and a central axis Z of the roughness measurement insert that is normal to the former. The roughness measurement insert has a carrier body on which a stylus holder is arranged centrally to hold a stylus. The roughness measurement insert additionally has a transmission element, which is displaceably guided along the central axis Z in the housing to convert any deflection of the carrier body out of its resting position and into linear movements. In its resting position, the transmission element is aligned with the central axis Z in at least some sections. The roughness measurement insert also has an analog sensor that converts the linear movements of the transmission element into measurement signals that are characteristic of the roughness of a surface of a workpiece. A stylus-shaped component or the stylus comprising the rod-shaped shaft and the scanning head mounted on the shaft is coupled to the transmission element. The scanning head of the multidirectional roughness measurement insert comprises at least one section of a test body, which is essentially rotationally symmetrical to the central axis Z.
The analog sensor here may be a light barrier of the type described above.
With the multidirectional roughness measurement insert, the rod-shaped shaft may be coupled directly or indirectly to the transmission element in a linear extension or may be bent at an angle of approx. 0° to approx, 40°, coupled directly or indirectly to the transmission element. The rod-shaped shaft may be connected to the transmission element or to the carrier body, bent at an angle of approx, 20° to approx. 30°, preferably approx. 25°. If one surface cannot be reached with such an arrangement, a bit of 90° in the shaft is also possible.
With the multidirectional roughness measurement insert, the contact point may be formed by at least one sections of two double cone or double truncated cone lateral surfaces wherein the contact point is rounded in the region of the largest diameter of the test body.
The contact point may be defined as a function of the expected surface roughness, the path in the direction of advance of the workpiece or of the roughness measurement insert traveled per revolution or per stroke, the forward feed or the tool geometry, the tool geometry [sic] and the tool strength.
The contact point of the test body of the multidirectional roughness measurement insert may have a radius of approx. 0.4 mm to approx. 3 mm, a respective cone angle of approx, 30° to approx. 70° in the range of the largest diameter or circumference or radius. It holds here that at the largest circumference, i.e., at the equator of the test body, it does not have a circular shape but instead may also have an elliptical shape or some other cross-sectional shape that deviates from the circular.
The contact point of the test body of the multidirectional roughness measurement insert may have an edge radius of approx. 5 μm to approx. 50 μm in the region of the largest diameter. The curvature of the contact point of the test body may have a constant value or the curvature may change along a curved region of the contact point of the test body. The latter variant detects embodiments in which the edge does not have an edge rounding to be described with a radius at the largest diameter or at the largest circumference, i.e., at the equator of the test object, but instead has a parabolic edge form or a spline-shaped edge form or some other edge form.
In the multidirectional roughness measurement insert, the contact point of the test body may have a double conical shape or a double truncated conical shape with a radius in the range of the largest diameter from approx. 1.5 mm to approx. 5 mm or from approx. 0.4 mm to approx. 3 mm, an edge radius of approx. 5 μm to approx. 50 μm and a respective cone angle of approx, 30° to approx. 130°. In one variant, the two cone angles may be approx, 90°, the radius in the region of the largest diameter may be approx, 1.5 mm, and the edge radius may be approx. 40 μm. In another variant, the two cone angles may be approx. 120°, the radius in the region of the largest diameter may be approx. 1.1 mm and the edge radius may be approx, 10 μm. In another variant, the two cone angles may be approx. 60°, the radius in the region of the largest diameter may be approx. 1.5 mm and the edge radius may be approx. 20 μm.
The contact point of the test body of the multidirectional roughness measurement insert may have a forward direction oriented at least approximately in the axial direction of the largest radius.
The multidirectional roughness measurement insert may be designed with a processing unit coupled to the analog sensor in order to determine from the measurement signals at least one measurement variable that is characteristic of a surface wherein the processing unit is arranged either in the housing of the roughness measurement insert or is arranged separately thereof.
The measurement of the roughness with this roughness measurement insert depends greatly on the ability of the scanning head to detect unevenness and then to maintain precision at the point of contact. A multidirectional roughness measurement insert of the type described here has a stylus which physically comes in contact with a surface to be measured and has a measured value converter for converting the movement of the stylus into an electric signal, which is then processed further. The part of the stylus that is in contact with the surface is the scanning head. The scanning head is designed with a profile shape adapted to the measurement task integrated into the production sequence of the workpiece. Based on its finite shape, some profiles of the scanning head have a greater effect on or a better interaction with the surface to be measured than others. The size and shape and/or profile of the stylus must be selected carefully. These features have an influence on the information obtained during the roughness measurement. Pins and sensors comprise slender shafts with contact tips or heads for measuring the roughness of surfaces on workpieces in a machine tool during the manufacturing process.
With the variants of the multidirectional measurement sensor disclosed here, the stylus has a cylindrical rod or a slender cone with a scanning head that is rotationally symmetrical with the central longitudinal axis of the stylus. A stylus is a narrow elongated shaft, similar in shape to a ballpoint pen. The stylus may be slightly cambered, so that it can be gripped more easily. For roughness measurements, the scanning heads are usually made of ruby, a hard metal or ceramic materials. Styluses or scanning heads come in contact with the workpiece to perform measurements of roughness. In general, the scanning head consists of a single piece of material, but a few styluses or scanning heads consist of an insert made of ruby or diamond, soldered, pressed or glued into/onto the head. The material of the scanning head may have an influence on the measurement. For example, the scanning head may be an Al2O3 ruby body made of synthetic monocrystalline ruby, a silicon nitride body made of hard pressed Si3N4, a zirconium oxide body made of sintered ZrO2, a hollow body made of white aluminum Al2O3 sintered ceramic, a disk of silver steel, a simple silver steel disk made of silver steel, a silver steel cylinder disk made of silver steel, a cylinder disk made of synthetic ruby ending in a ruby body, a cylinder made of tungsten carbide, ending in a tungsten carbide disk, a silver steel disk made of silver steel with a peripheral edge angle of 30° to 120°, with a rounded peripheral edge made of tungsten carbide or some other material.
The rod or shaft may be made of different materials including nonmagnetic stainless steel, ceramic and carbon fibers. Disk-shaped scanning heads are thin sections of a double cone containing its equator.
A large disk diameter reduces the impact and/or pressure on the workpiece surface whose roughness is to be tested. A relatively slender shaft ensures flexibility in accessing certain measurement sites.
In another variant, the multidirectional roughness measurement insert may also permit, in addition to a roughness measurement, a determination of a measured value that is characteristic of the contour of a surface. Such a variant of the roughness measurement insert makes it possible to carry out both a contour measurement and a roughness measurement using the same tool insert. When using such a variant of the roughness measurement insert, it is not necessary to replace the tool insert to carry out the different measurements, which would claim additional cycle time in the event of a procedural application.
In one such variant, the multidirectional roughness measurement insert may have a stylus with a first scanning head for the roughness measurement and a second scanning head for the contour measurement. The first scanning head, corresponding to the variants of the roughness measurement insert described above, is at least one section of an essentially rotationally symmetrical and essentially disk-shaped first test body. The second scanning head may comprise at least one section of an essentially spherical or ellipsoidal test body. The second scanning head may be arranged on a distal end of at least one section of the shaft of the stylus. In this embodiment, the second test body may be essentially rotationally symmetrical to this section of the shaft. The contact point of the second scanning head may correspond to the lateral surface of the section of the second test body.
In a first variant, the first scanning head and the second scanning head may be arranged on a distal end of at least one section of the shaft of the stylus. The first test body and/or the second test body may be rotationally symmetrical to the section of the shaft. Alternatively, the axes of rotation of the first test body and/or of the second test body may not correspond to the axis of rotation of the section of the shaft. In addition, the stylus may have a test body comprising the first scanning head and the second scanning head, wherein the test body may be arranged on the distal end of one section of the shaft. The first scanning head may be arranged in a first region of the test head, and the second scanning head may be arranged in a second region of the test head, The first region and the second region may be on two opposite and/or adjacent sides of the test head. The test head may be provided in one or more pieces.
In a preferred embodiment, the test head had an essentially spherical or ellipsoidal shape, except for the first region in which the first scanning head is formed and except for a region in which the test head is connected to the section of the shaft. In the region of the second scanning head, the shape of the test body thus corresponds to the shape of the second test body. In this configuration, the test body may have a missing spherical and/or ellipsoidal section in the first region, such that a spherical and/or ellipsoidal surface is formed on the test head, The first scanning head may protrude centrally and/or orthogonally out of the circular or ellipsoidal surface. Alternatively, in the first region, the test head may have a section in the form of a cylindrical body on which the first scanning head is provided. The cylindrical body may be rotationally symmetrical with the first test body, wherein the radius of the cylindrical body is preferably smaller than the radius in the region of the largest diameter of the first test body.
In an alternative variant, the stylus may have the first scanning head arranged on a distal end of the first section of the stylus and may have the second scanning head arranged on a distal end of the second section of the stylus. In a preferred embodiment, the first section having the first scanning head is designed as the axial extension of the shaft of the stylus. The second section having the second scanning head may be arranged proximally in front of the first section on the shaft. In addition, the second section may be orthogonal to the first section. In another conceivable embodiment, the second scanning head is provided on the distal end of the first section, which is formed in the axial extension of the shaft, and the first scanning head is provided on the distal end of the second section arranged orthogonally to the shaft. Alternatively, the first section and the second section may be provided on the distal end of the shaft and orthogonally to it. The first section and the second section may be provided on opposite sides of the shaft. In addition, the longitudinal axes of the first section and of the second section may be orthogonal or parallel to one another. An embodiment in which the longitudinal axes of the first section and of the second section are equivalent is also conceivable.
The multidirectional roughness measurement insert can be moved by a machine tool into a measurement space relative to the surface of the workpiece to be measured. The roughness measurement insert, which functions through contact, detects the surface of the workpiece on contacting same. For each deviation in shape of the real workpiece surface from its ideal shape, the multidimensional roughness measurement insert delivers corresponding measurement data to its processing unit. The processing unit may contain a computer program. The waviness profile and the roughness profile can be determined there by digital filtering, and characteristic variables can be calculated, such as the arithmetic mean roughness, the square mean roughness, the depth of roughness, the maximum individual depth of roughness, the mean smoothing depth, the mean groove depth, the mean groove width, the corrugation depth, the profile depth, etc.
A stylus of the type presented here for use in a multidirectional roughness measuring instrument has a rod-shaped shaft and a scanning head mounted on the shaft, wherein the scanning head is at least one section of a test body that is at least essentially rotationally symmetrical to at least one section of the rod-shaped shaft, or the scanning head is at least one section of an essentially rotationally symmetrical test body arranged on a distal end of at least one section of the rod-shaped shaft. The essentially rotationally symmetrical test body has a double conical shape or a double truncated conical shape, A region of the largest diameter (equator) of the test body is designed as a contact point to a surface of a workpiece to be measured, wherein the contact point is formed by two double conical or double truncated conical lateral surfaces, and the contact point is rounded in the region of the largest diameter of the test body.
This can be seen in differentiation from the traditional roughness measurement devices, which use a diamond tip, for example, which is mounted laterally on a rod in the manner of a phonograph record player needle.
Measurements with these scanning heads, which do not conform to a standard, may lead to measured values which do not conform to a standard in the ongoing production process but instead the approximation values. However, these approximation values can easily be compared with quality assurance measurements by means of comparative measurements.
A roughness measuring method presented here for determining a measurement variable that is characteristic of the roughness of the surface of a workpiece uses a roughness measurement insert of the type described above. The following steps are carried out in this method:    Bringing the scanning head in contact with the surface to be measured, so that the scanning head assumes a predefined deflection out of its resting position;    Adjusting the test load by additional approach or retraction of the roughness measurement insert in relation to the surface to be measured, wherein the adjustment of the test load (pressing force of the scanning head based on the contact surface of the scanning head on the surface to be measured) as a function of the shape of the scanning head and the shape of the surface of the workpiece to be measured;    Activating a "roughness measurement" mode, in which measurement signals detected as described below are recorded and/or processed;    Traveling a predetermined measurement distance along a predetermined measurement direction;    Converting the movements of the stylus into measurement signals that are characteristic of the roughness of the surface and optionally recording them and/or processing the measurement signals;    Evaluating the measurement signals to determine at least one measurement variable that is characteristic of the roughness of a surface; and    Sending at least one measurement variable thereby determined to a machine control unit.
With this roughness measurement method, the step of bringing the scanning head into contact with the surface to be measured can be carried out by the approach of the roughness measurement insert in a machine tool relative to the surface of the workpiece to be measured.
The step of traveling a predetermined measurement distance along a predetermined measurement direction may comprise either specifying a path distance to be traveled by the scanning head or specifying a period of time during which the scanning head will travel the measurement distance, and the predetermined measurement direction may comprise any direction to be selected along the surface to be measured.
The step of evaluation of the measurement signals—in a processor in the roughness measurement insert or downstream—may comprise saving and linking the measurement signals recorded by means of the analog sensor to form at least one of the measured values that are characteristic of the roughness of the surface: arithmetic mean roughness, average peak-to-valley height, square mean roughness, maximum individual depth of roughness, depth of roughness, mean smoothing depth, mean groove depth, mean width of scoring, corrugation depth, profile depth. In addition, information about design deviations of the first and second order may also be supplied.
The step of evaluation of the measurement signals recorded by means of the analog sensor also comprises a processing of the measurement signals by means of a profile filter because otherwise the waviness will falsify the roughness value. A profile filter, for example, a digital phase-corrected Gaussian filter, separates the unfiltered primary profile (P profile) into roughness (R profile) and waviness (W profile). The roughness profile is the primary profile deviation from waviness (R=P−W). The reference line and/or the center line in the roughness profile is/are the line corresponding to the long-wave profile fractions, which are determined by the Gaussian filter and are suppressed. When using the Gaussian filter, the distortions in the profile in the vertical direction are reduced due to the sudden change in height of the profile. The phase shift in the horizontal direction is completely omitted. To determine the center line, the weighted arithmetic mean of the ordinate heights is calculated at each point with the help of the Gaussian filter. In order for points at the beginning and end of the measurement zone to also be weighted correctly, the scanning distance must be longer than the total distance for fade-in and fade-out of the filter. The forward distance and the trailing distance of half the cut-off wavelength each are customary at any rate.
The cut-off wavelength of a profile filter is the wavelength at which the filter reduces the amplitude of a sinus wave by one-half. It may thus be understood to be a measure for the boundary between roughness and waviness. The cut-off wavelength defines the transition from roughness to even shorter wavelengths and the cut-off wavelength delimits the waviness with respect to longer wavelengths. The cut-off wavelengths in the case of periodic profiles are to be selected according to the average groove width and in the case of aperiodic profiles according to roughness value to be measured. The total measuring distance of a measurements is always five times the cut-off wavelength. The scanning distance is six times the cut-off wave-length. The amplitude of the filtered roughness profile decreases at a lower cut-off wavelength, and the amplitude of the waviness profile increases at a lower cut-off wavelength. Smaller roughness values are therefore also measured at shorter cut-off wavelengths.
Roughness parameters are calculated from the filtered profile. The cut-off wave-length used is therefore relevant in comparative measurements in particular. The primary profile, the waviness and roughness are differentiated. The value of a profile characteristic variable is obtained by averaging the individual results of individual measurement distances directly one after the other.
The arithmetic mean roughness is the arithmetic mean of the amounts of the ordinate values of the roughness profile inside the individual measurement distance. It represents the mean deviation of the profile from the center line.
The mean roughness value cannot differentiate between peaks and valleys, nor can it recognize different profile shapes. Its definition is based on a strong averaging.
The square mean roughness value is the square mean value of the profile deviation. It is defined like the mean roughness value but it has a more sensitive response to individual peaks and grooves.
The average peak-to-valley height is the sum of the height of the largest profile peak and the depth of the largest profile valley within a single measurement distance. The average peak-to-valley height is usually obtained by averaging the results of five individual measurement distances. On the whole, the average peak-to-valley height shows a more sensitive response to a change in surface structure than does the mean roughness value.
The maximum individual peak-to-valley height is the largest individual peak-to-valley height.
The peak-to-valley height is the vertical difference between the deepest valley and the highest peak within the total measurement distance.
The following roughness parameters are of assistance in "horizontal" characterization of a profile.
The definition of the average smoothing depth is almost identical to that of the average peak-to-valley height. The filtered profile is divided into five equal distances corresponding to the cut-off wavelength. In contrast with the determination of the average peak-to-valley height, the distance from the center line to the highest peak is determined in each segment here. The average smoothing depth is the arithmetic mean of these five values.
The average peak-to-valley height is formed like the average smoothing depth. The reference depths are used instead of the peak heights.
In the case of bearing surfaces, grooves serve as pockets of lubricant, for example. Peaks in turn are not desirable because they increase both friction and wear. In the case of interference fits, it is often common to work with the average smoothing depth because interference fits require the largest possible contact area.
The average groove width is the arithmetic mean of the widths of the profile elements of the roughness profile within a single measurement distance. A profile element here is a profile elevation with a neighboring recess. The average groove width is obtained by averaging the results of five individual measurement distances. It is used in periodic profiles for selecting the cut-off wavelength of the filter.
The corrugation depth indicates the maximum depth of the filtered profile after the roughness has been filtered out.
The profile depth is the distance between two parallel lines enclosing the unfiltered surface profile. The lines are in the form of the ideal profile (e.g., straight line, circle).
The roughness measurement method described here is characterized in that the above method steps are carried out on a machine tool, wherein the roughness measurement insert is used instead of a tool in a spindle on the machine tool and the measurement signals and/or the measured variable is/are output to a machine controller of the machine tool.
The method steps can be performed before and/or after processing steps by means of at least one tool on the workpiece in the machine tool.
The multidirectional roughness measurement insert may be oriented along a predetermined measurement direction in the step of traveling along a predetermined measurement distance, so that the contact point of the test body has a feed direction, which is oriented at least approximately in the axial direction of the larger radius of the test body, and the tangential direction of the larger radius is aligned at least approximately in parallel with a groove direction to be measured on the workpiece.
The roughness measurement inserts presented here offer the following advantages:    (a) Minimizing rejects due to direct monitoring of the manufacturing process    (b) Rotary and milling tools can be operated up to their wear limit without any negative effect on the peak-to-valley height    (c) Higher productivity and process reliability due to the omission of manual and downstream tests.
The roughness measurement inserts presented here for measuring workpiece surfaces can be integrated directly into the machining operation. Due to the process-integrated monitoring of the workpiece surfaces, the manufacturing processes are much more efficient than previously.
A possible reduction in the downtime of the machine tool is achieved by eliminating tedious manual roughness measurements. The cost for rejects due to immediate reworking are minimized. Tools can be operated up to their wear limit and need not be replaced as a precautionary measure.

Roughness measuring instrument for use in a machine tool and method for measuring roughness in a machine tool


Ion exchange resin granules containing a crosslinked polymerized xcex1,xcex2-unsaturated acid, like acrylic acid, or a vinyl monomer containing an amino group, like polyvinylamine, and methods of manufacturing the resin, are disclosed.

The present invention generally relates to ion exchange resins comprising granules of a crosslinked polymer comprising an xcex1,xcex2-unsaturated acid, like poly(acrylic acid), or a vinyl monomer containing an amino group, like poly(vinylamine). The ion exchange resins can be used, for example, in the purification of water, sugar refining, recovery of transition metals, recovery of proteins from fermentation broths and agricultural by-products, and in pharmaceutical separations technology.
Ion exchange generally is defined as a reversible chemical interaction between a solid and a fluid, wherein selected ions are interchanged between the solid and fluid. An exemplary ion exchange process includes a cation exchange process wherein a fluid passes through a bed of porous resin beads having charged mobile cations, such as hydrogen or hydroxide ions, which are available for exchange with metal ions or anions present in the fluid. The ion exchange resin readily exchanges hydrogen ions for the metal ions, or hydroxide ions for other anions, present in the fluid as the fluid passes through the bed.
In time, the number of hydrogen or hydroxide ions available for exchange with metal ions or other anions diminishes. Eventually, the resin becomes exhausted and cannot perform any further ion exchange (i.e., all available exchange sites are occupied). However, the resin can be regenerated. Regeneration is accomplished using a regenerant solution, which, in the case of a cation exchange resin, comprises an acid, i.e., a large excess of hydrogen ions, that is passed over the ion exchange beads and drives the collected ions from the resin, thereby converting the ion exchange resin back to its original form.
A specific example of a cation exchange process is the purification/softening of tap water. In this process, weak acid ion exchange resins use carboxyl radicals, in the sodium form, as the cation exchange site. The sodium ions are the charged mobile cations. Alkaline earth metals, such as calcium and magnesium, present in the tap water are exchanged for the sodium cations of the resin as the water passes through a bed of the ion exchange resin beads. Removal of calcium and magnesium ions from water in exchange for sodium ions via weak acid cation exchange resins is not limited to the water purification/softening applications, but also includes the softening of fluids, such as clay suspensions, sugar syrups, and blood, thereby rendering the fluids more amenable to further processing. When the exchange capabilities of the ion exchange resin are exhausted, a weak acid can be used to regenerate the acid form of the resin, followed by conversion of the acid form of the resin to the sodium form with dilute sodium hydroxide.
Similarly, an anion exchange resin containing anionic radicals removes anions, like nitrate and sulfate, from solution. Anion exchange resins also can be regenerated with a sodium hydroxide solution, for example.
The reversibility of the ion exchange process permits repeated and extended use of an ion exchange resin before replacement of the resin is necessary. The useful life of an ion exchange resin is related to several factors including, but not limited to, the amount of swelling and shrinkage experienced during the ion exchange and regeneration processes, and the amount of oxidizers present in a fluid passed through the resin bed.
Cation exchange resins typically are highly crosslinked polymers containing carboxylic, phenolic, phosphonic, and/or sulfonic groups, and roughly an equivalent amount of mobile exchangeable cations. Anion exchange resins are similar but contain amino groups and roughly an equivalent amount of mobile exchangeable anions. Suitable ion exchange resins, preferably, (a) possess a sufficient degree of crosslinking to render the resin insoluble and low swelling; (b) possess sufficient hydrophilicity to permit diffusion of ions throughout its structure; (c) contain sufficient accessible mobile cation or anion exchange groups; (d) are chemically stable and resist degradation during normal use; and (e) are more dense than water when swollen.
Hatch U.S. Pat. No. 3,957,698 discloses production of weak acid ion exchange resins by the copolymerization of methacrylic or acrylic acid, in a low molecular weight hydrocarbon diluent, with 0.5 to 10 wt. % of divinylbenzene, based on the weight of initial monomers, to achieve the proper degree of crosslinking. In order to prepare high purity ion exchange resins by this process, the resin is heated at a high temperature or is extensively washed with a solvent to remove the diluent. The resin particles are in the size range of 2 to 5 microns.
Meitzner et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,224,415 discloses the preparation of ion exchange particles prepared by suspension copolymerization of water-insoluble monomers, such as methyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate, with a crosslinking agent such as divinylbenzene. In addition, a precipitant is added to the monomer phase to impart a reticular nature to the resulting particles. This process requires that the divinylbenzene content be in the range from 8 to 25 wt. %. These particles must be hydrolyzed with a strong base in order to prepare a resin with exchangeable functionalities.
Therefore, conventional weak acid cation exchange resins typically are produced using a multi-step process. The first step is a batch, aqueous suspension polymerization of methyl acrylate monomer, in the presence of divinylbenzene, to provide crosslinked beads of methyl acrylate. The poly(methyl acrylate) beads then are reacted with sodium hydroxide to hydrolyze the ester groups of the poly(methyl acrylate), and thereby introduce carboxylate (i.e., weak acid) functionality into the beads. Due to solubility of acrylic acid in the aqueous phase of the suspension polymerization, acrylic acid is not wholly substituted for the methyl acrylate monomer in the foregoing process. Therefore, conventional manufacturing processes preferably utilize methyl acrylate, which is a relatively expensive monomer, in the syntheses of the ion exchange resin. Acrylic acid, however, can be copolymerized in a batch process with methyl acrylate monomer utilizing a divinylbenzene crosslinker.
In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to provide an ion exchange resin, either cation or anion, produced from less expensive monomers such as, for example, acrylic acid. Furthermore, it would be desirable to provide an ion exchange resin that can be manufactured in a simple, continuous process, and that exhibits the excellent ion exchange properties and physical properties of prior ion exchange resins, or improves upon these properties. Additionally, it would be desirable to minimize the amount of organic solvents used in the preparation of an ion exchange resin.
The present invention is directed to ion exchange resins comprising a polymerized and crosslinked xcex1,xcex2-unsaturated acid, or a polymerized and crosslinked vinyl monomer containing an amino group, and to methods of manufacturing the same. More particularly, the present invention is directed to ion exchange resin granules comprising a crosslinked polymer or copolymer comprising an xcex1,xcex2-unsaturated acid, like acrylic acid, or a vinyl monomer containing an amino group, like vinyl amine, that preferably have a highly crosslinked surface.
One aspect of the present invention, therefore, is to provide an ion exchange resin comprising a dry, granulated, polymerization product comprising: (a) an xcex1,xcex2-unsaturated acid monomer, or a vinyl monomer containing an amino group, or salt thereof, (b) optional vinyl monomers, (c) a bulk crosslinking agent, and (d) a latent crosslinking agent and/or a surface crosslinking agent. In preferred embodiments, the granulated polymerization product is crosslinked with a latent and a surface crosslinking agent. In most preferred embodiments, the polymerization product contains a latent crosslinking agent.
The bulk crosslinking agent, which provides internal crosslinks between the polymer chains, has at least two polymerizable carbonxe2x80x94carbon double bonds. The latent crosslinking agent, which also provides internal crosslinks through the pendant acid or amino groups of a polymer includes (a) compounds having at least one polymerizable double bond and at least one functional group reactive with an acid or an amino group, like a carboxylic acid group, (b) compounds having at least two functional groups reactive with acid or amino groups, (c) polyvalent metal compounds capable of forming ionic crosslinks with acid groups, and (d) mixtures thereof. The surface crosslinking agent typically is a diglycidyl ether, a polyhydroxy compound, a hydroxyalkylamide, an alkylene carbonate, or a mixture thereof.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a method, preferably a continuous method, of manufacturing an ion exchange resin that includes the steps of polymerizing an aqueous solution comprising an xcex1,xcex2-unsaturated acid, like acrylic acid, or a vinyl monomer containing an amino group, like vinyl amine, or a salt thereof, optional vinyl monomers, a bulk crosslinking agent, and optionally a latent crosslinking agent to form a hydrogel of the polymerized monomer. Optionally, subsequent processing steps can be used to add a latent crosslinking agent. The resulting hydrogel then is dried, cured, and sized to provide dried granules, followed by optionally crosslinking surfaces of the granules with a surface crosslinking agent to form the ion exchange resin. In each case, the ion exchange granules contain a bulk crosslinking agent, and a latent crosslinking agent and/or a surface crosslinking agent, in a total amount of crosslinking agents such that the granules absorb less than about 25 times, and preferably less than about 15 times, their weight in tap water under no load (i.e., AUNL), and resist swelling to a sufficient degree to perform as an ion exchange resin.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing, either batchwise or continuously, an ion exchange resin comprising polymerizing one or more monounsaturated acid monomers, like acrylic acid, one or more vinyl monomers containing an amino group, like vinyl amine, or salts thereof, and optional vinyl monomers, in the presence of about 0.01 to about 3 mole %, based on the total number of moles of the monomers, of a polyvinyl bulk crosslinking agent, to provide a bulk crosslinked polymer hydrogel, followed by the addition of about 0 to about 6 mole %, based on the total number of moles of the monomers, of a latent crosslinker to further crosslink the bulk crosslinked hydrogel, then heating the hydrogel-latent crosslinking agent mixture at a sufficient temperature for a sufficient time to dry and cure the hydrogel and to form crosslinks through pendant acid or amino groups present on the polymer chains, thereby generating ion exchange resin particles. Optionally, the ion exchange resin particles then can be surface crosslinked with 0 to about 2 weight % of a surface crosslinking agent, based on the weight of the particles.
Alternatively, the latent crosslinking agent is added to the mixture of monomers and polyvinyl bulk crosslinking agent. The latent crosslinking agent does not react during the polymerization reaction, but is available for subsequent reaction with pendant acid or amino groups on the polymer during a heating step.
The step of surface crosslinking can be achieved by coating surfaces of the ion exchange granules with a solution containing a surface crosslinking agent, and then heating the coated granules at a sufficient temperature and for a sufficient time to dry and cure the granules and provide surface crosslinks. In an embodiment wherein a latent crosslinking agent is omitted, a surface crosslinking agent is required to provide the degree of crosslinking needed for an ion exchange resin. Similarly, if a surface crosslinking agent is omitted in an embodiment, a latent crosslinking agent is required to provide sufficient crosslinking for an ion exchange resin. A bulk crosslinking agent is utilized in all embodiments of the ion exchange resin of the present invention.
A present ion exchange resin is in the form of irregular granules, as opposed to spheres. The granular form of the ion exchange resin provides a greater surface area than spheres, thereby providing a more efficient ion exchange. In some embodiments, the present ion exchange resin granules generally have a relatively xe2x80x9csoftxe2x80x9d interior, i.e., the degree of internal crosslinking (i.e., bulk plus latent crosslinking) is sufficient to resist granule swelling and to allow percolation of a liquid through the particles. The granules, however, typically have a relatively xe2x80x9chardxe2x80x9d surface, i.e., the degree of surface of surface crosslinking is high, i.e., at least 1000 ppm, and preferably about 1000 to about 20,000 ppm, to impart structural integrity to the granules and to further prevent swelling of the granules during use.
Further aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, taken in conjunction with the examples and the appended claims.

Ion exchange resins and methods of making the same


A method and a system for controlling a driving function of a vehicle, whereby in a first operating state, the driving function is controlled by a vehicle guidance system, and in a second operating state, the driving function is controlled by a command of a driver, a transition from the first operating state to the second operating state being accomplished with the aid of an orderly handover through a preset handover procedure when it is recognized that a predetermined first condition is fulfilled, or with the aid of a handover in a fallback solution when it is recognized that a predetermined second condition is fulfilled.

In the related art, various driver assistance systems are described, that is, systems in a motor vehicle that assist the driver in guiding the motor vehicle. The best-known driver assistance systems already on the market for a long time are the ABS system and the ESP system. The ABS system supports the driver during a full braking in order to prevent the wheels from locking, while the ESP system counteracts skidding of the vehicle within the stability limit. With newer driver assistance systems, for example, automatic parking with the aid of a so-called parking assist is made possible for the driver. These newer driver assistance systems continue to be developed, and as of now, have already arrived at what is referred to as an ACC (adaptive cruise control) system which, for instance, permits the driver to drive behind preceding vehicles with adapted speed. Further systems include a warning in the event the vehicle inadvertently leaves the traffic lane (lane-assist system), and countersteering to a certain extent. Emergency braking systems are also already widespread, which in dangerous situations, initiate an emergency braking under predetermined maximum deceleration, even without the assistance of the driver. These systems are referred to as semi-autonomous systems.
Further developments in the direction of highly automated or fully automated vehicle guidance systems in which, within the defined system limits, the driver is able to transfer responsibility for the vehicle guidance to the vehicle guidance system are being pursued.

Method and system for controlling a driving function of a vehicle


A composition in a water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) emulsion is disclosed. The composition comprises: (a) a continuous aqueous phase, comprising H2O; (b) an oil phase or an oil shell, dispersed in the continuous aqueous phase; and (c) a hydrophilic polymer, stabilizing an interface between the continuous aqueous phase and the oil phase or the oil shell to form the water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) emulsion. The oil phase or the oil shell comprises: (i) oil; (ii) an internal aqueous phase, dispersed within the oil or the oil shell; and (iii) a lipophilic sorbitan-polyester conjugate, stabilizing an interface between the oil and the inner aqueous phase to form a water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion. The lipophilic sorbitan-polyester conjugate comprises: (1) sorbitan; and (2) poly(lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) or polylactic acid (polylactide), conjugated to the sorbitan.

Water-in-oil-in-water double emulsions are systems in which a water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion is dispersed in a second aqueous phase. The W/O emulsion exists in the suspending aqueous medium as oil globules containing smaller water droplets. Preparation of W/O/W emulsions requires an emulsifying system with an intermediate HLB (hydrophilic-lipophilic balance) value. A W/O emulsion is first prepared using a lipophilic emulsifier such as SPAN® 85, while during the second step, the W/O emulsion was mixed with an aqueous solution of a hydrophilic emulsifier such as TWEEN® 80 to provide W/O/W emulsions. Two key challenges in vaccine development are related to developing formulations that do not require refrigeration and finding an absorbable adjuvant in vivo. The former maintains and preserves the quality of a vaccine before it is administered, and the latter is critical to evading hypersensitive reactions after vaccine administration.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,444,993 discloses a W/O/W emulsion comprising SPAN® 85 and poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) (PEG-b-PLACL) as an emulsifying agent. That emulsion system exhibited a controlled release of antigen similar to SPAN/TWEEN emulsion. However for a W/O/W emulsion, having the same controlled release effect does not translate into having the same emulsion-stabilizing effect (see FIGS. 6C and 6D). Moreover, it has been well documented that the traditional emulsifiers TWEEN®, SPAN® and poloxamers may cause toxicities including severe nonimmunological anaphylactoid reactions.
A heretofore unaddressed need exists in the art to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies, especially in connection with formulations of W/O/W emulsions that are biodegradable without using sorbitan esters and their ethoxylates (SPAN® and TWEEN®), or poloxamers.

Sorbitan polyester conjugates for stabilizing water-in-oil emulsions and delivering controlled release of bioactive agents


Pesticidal compositions containing as active ingredients 3,5-dichloro-1-(3,3-dichloro-2-propenyloxy)-4-[3-(5-trifluoromethylpyridin -2-yloxy)pro poxy]benzene of the formula: ##STR1##. and at least one carbamate compound selected from thiodicarb, methomyl and alanycarb have excellent pesticidal activity by their synergistic cooperative action.

Various carbamate compounds have been used as active ingredients of pesticidal compositions; however, not all of them can exhibit satisfactory pesticidal effects and the occurrence of pests resistant to these carbamate compounds has been observed. For this reason, there has been a demand for the development of more effective pesticidal compositions.


A heterogeneous integrated circuit and method of making the same. An integrated circuit includes a surrogate substrate including a material selected from the group consisting of Group II, Group III, Group IV, Group V, and Group VI materials and their combinations; at least one active semiconductor device including a material combination selected from the group consisting of Group IV-IV, Group III-V and Group II-VI materials; and at least one transferred semiconductor device including a material combination selected from the group consisting of Group IV-IV, Group III-V and Group II-VI materials. The at least one active semiconductor device and the at least one transferred device are interconnected.

Conventional integrated circuits tend to be composed of devices from the same semiconductor family. In many cases, the active components of the devices are made from the same epitaxially-deposited layers. In some cases of heterogeneous integrated circuits, the integration of the dissimilar semiconductor devices is performed off-chip as part of packaging, rather than as part of the integrated circuit fabrication. One reason is that the size of the devices precludes direct mechanical manipulation. As a result, the scale of integration that can be achieved with the off-chip approach is reduced due to the decreased density of the heterogeneous circuit elements as compared to on-chip integration. In addition, achieving interconnection speeds comparable to those speeds that can be achieved when integration is performed through an on-chip fabrication process can be extremely difficult.
In other heterogeneous integrated circuits, dissimilar semiconductor devices are integrated by growing the device material layers on top of one another. This approach is limited to device materials that are compatible to epitaxial overgrowth otherwise high defect levels lead to poor material quality and device performance. In addition, even for epitaxial compatible device materials, this approach tends to result in topology problems leading to degradation in material quality as the thickness of the layers increases. Uneven device heights complicate interconnections because interconnection with metal layers works best when the metal layer is deposited on a planar surface. In addition, inactive device layers below or above an active device impede thermal conduction of generated waste heat and can also have a deleterious effect on device performance due to parasitics.
One exemplary prior art technique of integrating heterogeneous devices at the transistor or device level illustrates the interconnection and thermal problems associated with the prior art technique. In this technique, epitaxially grown devices are built on a first growth substrate. Other epitaxial device layers are grown on a second growth substrate in such a way that an inverted stack of device layers can be bonded on top of the devices on the first growth substrate by essentially flipping the second growth substrate over and sandwiching the device with the added epitaxial layers between the first and second growth substrates. The second growth substrate is removed to expose the added epitaxial device layers. The next step would be to process the epitaxial layers into the other desired devices. This may result in some devices on the first growth substrate having an epitaxially grown other device bonded on top and some devices that do not. A thermal problem arises in that the heat from an epitaxially grown other device has to pass through the device below before it can be dissipated through the substrate.
Furthermore, the interconnection problem arises because in processing the epitaxially grown layers on top of the devices, some devices may be intentionally left without an epitaxially grown device on top. The result is an uneven surface that has to be planarized before interconnections can be made. An essential step in the planarization process is to etch or drill via holes through the planarization layer that allows interconnection to the devices. However, these planarization steps increase the complexity and cost of fabrication and the chances of failure.
Another exemplary prior art technique of integrating heterogeneous devices at the transistor or device level to build a heterogeneous integrated circuit further illustrates the thermal problems associated with the prior art technique. According to this technique, epitaxial grown devices are built on a first growth substrate. In the device building process, various planarization layers are incorporated around the device structures to facilitate electrical contacts to the active device regions (i.e. emitter, base, collector) and for interconnecting different devices into circuit elements. Other epitaxial device layers are grown on a second growth substrate in such a way that an inverted stack of device layers can be bonded on top of the devices built on the first growth substrate. The bonding process essentially flips the inverted epitaxial layers and sandwiches the devices of the first substrate and the flipped epitaxial devices layers between the first and second growth substrates. Next, the second growth substrate is removed revealing the bottom of the flipped epitaxial device layers. The epitaxial device layers in this configuration are in a normal orientation (i.e. emitter up). In the next step, a second set of devices is built from the flipped epitaxial device layers. In the device building process, various planarization layers are incorporated around the device structures to facilitate electrical contacts to the active device regions (i.e. emitter, base, collector) and for interconnecting devices from the first and second sets of devices into a heterogeneous integrated circuit. This results in devices from the second epitaxial layers to be position on top of devices from the first epitaxial layers or on planarization layers. A thermal problem arises in that heat from the second epitaxial grown devices must pass through the first epitaxial grown devices or planarization layers before it can be dissipated through the substrate.
Therefore, new methods of fabrication of heterogeneous integration circuits, and corresponding devices, are desired that minimize interconnection problems and maintain desirable thermal properties.

Method of fabrication of heterogeneous integrated circuits and devices thereof


The reaction product obtained by cohydrolysis and condensation of (A) a fluorinated alkyl-bearing alkoxysilane, (B) an amino-bearing alkoxysilane, and (C) an alkoxysilyl-bearing polyorganosiloxane is dissolved in water to provide a water-soluble, water/oil repellent treating composition. This water/oil repellent treating composition has improved water solubility and shelf stability, has no detrimental effects on the environment because of the aqueous system, and imparts fully durable water repellency and satisfactory softness and hand to textiles.

This invention relates to a water-soluble, water/oil repellent treating composition which is used to treat substrates, especially fibrous items such as clothes, non-woven fabrics, rainwear, carpets, sofas, leather and paper, to impart all of water/oil repellency, stain proofing and softness thereto, and a method for preparing the same. More particularly, it relates to such a water-soluble, water/oil repellent treating composition with which substrates can be treated in a simple manner without detrimental influence on the environment.
Water repellent sprays are one class of convenient commodity capable of imparting water repellency to fibrous items including clothes and leather. Typical water repellent sprays use fluoro-resins as the repellent. The solvent in which the repellent is dissolved has been switched from fluorocarbons to petroleum hydrocarbon solvents since environmental problems including ozone layer protection recently became of great concern. However, the petroleum hydrocarbon solvents often give rise to problems like intoxication accidents of ordinary consumers. It would be desirable from the health and environment factors to have a safer water repellent spray which does not use organic solvents.
From this standpoint, Japanese Patent No. 2,960,304 proposes a repellent composition comprising a silicone acrylic graft copolymer as a base component and an alcoholic solvent. This composition, however, is not so water repellent as the fluoro-resin systems and cannot impart oil repellency. The solvent which is alcohol is low toxic, but is not completely odorless. Among aqueous systems, those of fluorinated acrylic polymer emulsion type are often used. This emulsion has the problems that unreacted toxic monomer is often left after polymerization, and fibers treated therewith are less soft.
The inventors proposed in JP-A 9-249748 a fiber or fabric treating agent which is water soluble, fully water/oil repellent and low yellowing. Regrettably, when fibrous items are treated therewith, the softness which is requisite to fibrous items is sometimes impaired.
Therefore, an object of the invention is to provide a water-soluble, water/oil repellent treating composition which is dissolvable in water to clear the safety requirement, and possesses water/oil repellency, stain proofing, softness, and storage stability.
It has been found that when the reaction product obtained by cohydrolysis and condensation of (A) a fluorinated alkyl-bearing alkoxysilane of the general formula (1) and/or a partial hydrolyzate thereof, (B) an amino-bearing alkoxysilane of the general formula (2) and/or a partial hydrolyzate thereof, and (C) an alkoxysilyl-bearing polyorganosiloxane of the general formula (3) and/or a partial hydrolyzate thereof is used as an active ingredient in a water/oil repellent treating composition (the formulae are defined below), there is obtained a water-soluble, water/oil repellent treating composition. The reaction product is readily dissolvable in water because the fluorinated alkyl-bearing silane compound serving as a water repellent component itself is endowed with water solubility. The composition remains stable during shelf storage and imparts high water repellency, which remains durable after treatment. The alkoxysilyl-bearing polyorganosiloxane can impart softness inherent to silicone. After treatment with the composition, fiber surfaces are endowed with water/oil repellency and softness. The inventive composition overcomes the problems of prior art water/oil repellent agents. It has also been found that the cohydrolytic condensation reaction product can be prepared in a consistent and reliable manner by effecting (partial) cohydrolysis on components (A) and (C) to form a (partial) cohydrolysate, and effecting condensation reaction of the (partial) cohydrolysate with component (B).
According to one aspect, the invention provides a water-soluble, water/oil repellent treating composition comprising the reaction product obtained by cohydrolysis and condensation of (A) a fluorinated alkyl-bearing alkoxysilane of the following general formula (1) and/or a partial hydrolyzate thereof, (B) an amino-bearing alkoxysilane of the following general formula (2) and/or a partial hydrolyzate thereof, and (C) an alkoxysilyl-bearing polyorganosiloxane of the following general formula (3) and/or a partial hydrolyzate thereof, the reaction product being dissolved in water.
Herein Rf is a perfluoroalkyl group represented by CnF2n+1 or a perfluoropolyether group represented by
X is at least one linking group selected from among xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94, xe2x80x94CH2Oxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94NR3xe2x80x94, xe2x80x94CO2xe2x80x94, xe2x80x94CONR3xe2x80x94, xe2x80x94Sxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94SO3xe2x80x94 and xe2x80x94SO2NR3xe2x80x94, R1 is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R2 is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R3 is hydrogen or an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, xe2x80x9caxe2x80x9d is an integer of 0 to 3, xe2x80x9cbxe2x80x9d is an integer of 1 to 3, xe2x80x9ccxe2x80x9d is 0 or 1, n is an integer of 1 to 20, and m is an integer of at least 1.
Herein R3 and R4 each are independently hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms, or an aminoalkyl group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms, R5 is a divalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, R6 is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R7 is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and xe2x80x9cdxe2x80x9d is 0 or 1.
Herein R8 to R10 each are an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, R11 is an oxygen atom or an alkylene group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and xe2x80x9cexe2x80x9d is 0 to 50.
The composition is typically used in the treatment of fibrous items for imparting water and oil repellency.
Another aspect of the invention provides a method for preparing a water-soluble, water repellent, oil repellent treating composition, comprising the steps of effecting (partial) cohydrolysis on components (A) and (C) to form a (partial) cohydrolysate, and effecting condensation reaction of the (partial) cohydrolysate with component (B) to form the cohydrolytic condensation reaction product.
Component (A) used herein is a fluorinated alkyl-bearing alkoxysilane of the general formula (1).
Herein Rf is a perfluoroalkyl group represented by CnF2n+1 wherein n is an integer of 1 to 20, preferably 1 to 12, or a perfluoropolyether group represented by
wherein m is an integer of at least 1, preferably 1 to 20. X is at least one linking group selected from among xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94, xe2x80x94CH2Oxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94NR3xe2x80x94, xe2x80x94CO2xe2x80x94, xe2x80x94CONR3xe2x80x94, xe2x80x94Sxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94SO3xe2x80x94 and xe2x80x94SO2NR3xe2x80x94, wherein R3 is hydrogen or an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms. R1 is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R2 is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, the subscript xe2x80x9caxe2x80x9d is an integer of 0 to 3, xe2x80x9cbxe2x80x9d is an integer of 1 to 3, and xe2x80x9ccxe2x80x9d is 0 or 1.
Rf stands for perfluoroalkyl groups which may contain at least one ether bond, of which perfluoropolyether groups are exemplified below.
Illustrative, non-limiting, examples of the silane of formula (1) are given below.
CF3C2H4Si(OCH3)3
CF3C2H4Si(OC2H5)3
C4F9C2H4Si(OCH3)3
C4F9C2H4Si(OC2H5)3
C8F17C2H4Si(OCH3)3
C8F17C2H4Si(OC2H5)3
CF3C3H6Si(OCH3)3
CF3C3H6Si (OC2H5)3
C4F9C3H6Si(OCH3)3
C4F9C3H6Si(OC2H5)3
C8F17C3H6Si(OCH3)3
C8F17C3H6Si(OC2H5)3
C8F17CONHC2H4Si(OCH3)3
C8F17CONHC2H4Si(OC2H5)3
Of the above-illustrated compounds, C8F17C2H4Si(OCH3)3 and C8F17C3H6Si(OCH3)3 are especially preferred.
As component (A), a partial hydrolyzate of the silane may be used as well as the silane. The hydrolyzate must have at least one hydrolyzable group left therein. If desired, component (A) may be either a mixture of silanes or a hydrolyzate of mixed silanes.
Component (C) is an alkoxysilyl-bearing polyorganosiloxane of the following general formula (3).
Herein R8 to R10 each are an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, R11 is an oxygen atom or an alkylene group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and xe2x80x9cexe2x80x9d is 0 to 50, preferably 5 to 20.
Illustrative, non-limiting, examples of the polyorganosiloxane of formula (3) are given below.
Of the above-illustrated compounds, the following is most preferred.
As component (C), a partial hydrolyzate of the polyorganosiloxane may be used as well as the polyorganosiloxane.
Component (B) is an amino-bearing alkoxysilane of the following general formula (2).
Herein R3 and R4 each are hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms, especially 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or an aminoalkyl group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms, especially 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R3 and R4 may be the same or different; R5 is a divalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms; R6 is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R7 is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and xe2x80x9cdxe2x80x9d is 0 or 1.
Illustrative, non-limiting, examples of the amino-bearing alkoxysilane of formula (2) are given below.
H2N(CH2)2Si(OCH3)3
H2N(CH2)2Si(OC2H5)3
CH3NH(CH2)2Si(OCH3)3
CH3NH(CH2)2Si(OC2H5)3
H2N(CH2)2SiCH3(OCH3)2
H2N(CH2)2SiCH3(OC2H5)2
CH3NH(CH2)2SiCH3(OCH3)2
CH3NH(CH2)2SiCH3(OC2H5)2
H2N(CH2)3Si(OCH3)3
H2N(CH2)3Si(OC2H5)3
CH3NH(CH2)3Si(OCH3)3
CH3NH(CH2)3Si(OC2H5)3
H2N(CH2)3SiCH3(OCH3)2
H2N(CH2)3SiCH3(OC2H5)2
CH3NH (CH2)3SiCH3(OCH3)2
CH3NH(CH2)3SiCH3(OC2H5)2
H2N(CH2)2NH(CH2)3Si(OCH3)3
H2N(CH2)2NH(CH2)3Si(OC2H5)3
CH3NH(CH2)2NH(CH2)3Si(OCH3)3
CH3NH(CH2)2NH(CH2)3Si(OC2H5)3
H2N(CH2)2NH(CH2)3SiCH3(OCH3)2
H2N(CH2)2NH(CH2)3SiCH3(OC2H5)2
CH3NH(CH2)2NH(CH2)3SiCH3(OCH3)2
CH3NH(CH2)2NH(CH2)3SiCH3(OC2H5)2
Of the above-illustrated compounds, H2N(CH2)3Si(OCH3)3 H2N(CH2)3SiCH3(OCH3)2 and H2N(CH2)2NH(CH2)3Si(OCH3)3 are most preferred.
As component (B), a partial hydrolyzate of the alkoxysilane may be used as well as the alkoxysilane.
The water-soluble, water/oil repellent treating composition of the invention is defined as comprising the cohydrolytic condensation reaction product of the above-described components (A), (B) and (C) as a main ingredient, the reaction product being dissolved in water.
The reaction product of components (A), (B) and (C) can be obtained by subjecting components (A), (B) and (C) to cohydrolytic condensation, preferably in the presence of an organic or inorganic acid. It is preferred from the stability standpoint to obtain the reaction product by first effecting partial cohydrolysis on components (A) and (C) in the presence of an organic or inorganic acid to form a partial cohydrolysate, and effecting condensation reaction of the partial cohydrolysate with component (B).
Examples of the organic and inorganic acids which are used upon cohydrolysis of components (A) and (C) include hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, methanesulfonic acid, formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, citric acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, oxalic acid, and maleic acid, alone or in admixture of any. Of these, acetic acid and propionic acid are especially preferred. An appropriate amount of the acid used is about 5 to 400 parts, especially about 10 to 350 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of components (A) and (C) combined. With less than 5 parts of the acid, hydrolysis may proceed slowly and the cohydrolyzate may become less stable in aqueous solution form. Preferably the amount of the acid catalyst is adjusted so as to form a solution at pH 7 to 3 when dissolved in water.
Cohydrolysis is preferably carried out in a diluted form with a solvent. Suitable solvents are alcohol solvents such as methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, 1-butanol, 2-butanol, 3-butanol and 2-methyl-2-butanol, with 3-butanol being most preferred. An appropriate amount of the solvent used is about 100 to 500 parts, especially about 200 to 400 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of components (A) and (C) combined. Less than 100 parts of the solvent may allow condensation to proceed whereas more than 500 parts of the solvent may require an extra time for hydrolysis.
The molar amount of water added for cohydrolysis of components (A) and (C) is 1 to 3 times, especially 1.25 to 2.5 times the molar amount of components (A) and (C) combined. If the molar amount of water is less than the molar amount of components (A) and (C) combined, more alkoxy groups may be left. If the molar amount of water is more than 3 times, condensation may take place to an excessive extent.
Preferred reaction conditions for cohydrolysis of components (A) and (C) include a temperature of about 10 to 100xc2x0 C., preferably about 60 to 90xc2x0 C. and a time of about 1 to 3 hours.
With respect to the mixing proportion, 100 parts by weight of component (A) is preferably mixed with 0.1 to 10 parts, especially 0.5 to 3 parts by weight of component (C). Less than 0.1 part of component (C) may adversely affect durability and softness whereas more than 10 parts of component (C) may adversely affect water solubility and oil repellency.
Upon cohydrolysis of components (A) and (C), the molar ratio of component (A) to (C) is preferably set between 1:0.001 and 1:0.1, especially between 1:0.01 and 1:0.05 although this ratio varies depending on the particular structures of components (A) and (C).
The reaction product obtained by cohydrolysis of components (A) and (C) is then continuously subjected to condensation reaction with component (B). In this step, component (B) is reacted in such an amount that the molar ratio of the total of components (A) and (C) to component (B) may fall between 1:0.5 and 1:20, especially between 1:1 and 1:10. If the molar ratio of component (B) is less than 0.5, water solubility may be adversely affected. If the molar ratio of component (B) is more than 20, water repellency may be adversely affected and fibers treated become markedly discolored.
Preferred reaction conditions for condensation of component (B) include a temperature of about 60 to 100xc2x0 C. and a time of about 1 to 3 hours.
In the water-soluble, water/oil repellent treating composition of the invention, the reaction product of components (A) to (C) is present as a main or active ingredient. On use, the reaction product is preferably diluted with water such that the concentration of the reaction product is 0.1 to 10%, especially 1 to 3% by weight, that is, the concentration of water is 99.9 to 90%, especially 99 to 97% by weight. If the concentration of water exceeds 99.9% by weight, the composition may fail to exert its essential performance and a large amount thereof may have to be applied. If the concentration of water less than 90% by weight, storage stability may be deteriorated.
To the water-soluble, water/oil repellent treating composition, an amino-modified silicone emulsion or an epoxy-modified silicone emulsion or both may be added for the purpose of imparting softness and improving hand. While it is known to apply an amino- or epoxy-modified silicone emulsion to fibers for softness and hand improvements, the addition of such an emulsion to the water-soluble, water/oil repellent treating composition of the invention can also achieve softness and hand improvements. An appropriate amount of the amino- or epoxy-modified silicone emulsion is 0 to 200 parts, especially 50 to 100 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the reaction product of components (A), (B) and (C). More than 200 parts of the amino- or epoxy-modified silicone emulsion is undesirable because such a large amount improves softness, but adversely affects water/oil repellency.
Further, well-known additives such as surfactants and alcohols may be added for improving the stability of the aqueous solution insofar as this does not compromise the benefits of the invention. Curing catalysts based on metals such as Al, Sn and Zn may also be added if desired.
The water-soluble, water/oil repellent treating composition thus obtained can impart satisfactory water/oil repellency and softness to items of natural or synthetic fibers, textiles, lather and paper through a simple process, for example, by applying the composition to the item in a conventional manner as by dipping or spray coating, followed by drying. The composition is especially effective to apply to fibrous items although it is also applicable to other substrates such as glass, metals and plastics.
The water-soluble, water/oil repellent treating composition of the invention has improved water solubility and shelf stability because the fluorinated alkyl-bearing silane compound serving as a main component thereof is endowed with water solubility. The composition is aqueous and therefore, has no detrimental effects on the environment, and it imparts fully durable water repellency and good softness and hand. According to the inventive method, the reaction product serving as the main ingredient can be produced in a consistent manner.

Water-soluble, water/oil repellent treating composition and method of making


The invention provides a liquid-crystal display device of transflective type having a reflection mode and a transmission mode, with excellent visibility, in which the brightness of a display in the transmission mode is enhanced, and an electronic apparatus that includes this liquid-crystal display device. A liquid-crystal display device of transflective type includes liquid crystals held between an upper substrate and a lower substrate that are opposed to each other. A polarizer and a polarization layer are respectively disposed over and under the liquid crystals. An illumination device is arranged on the outer surface side of the lower substrate. A display is presented through the changeover between a transmission mode and a reflection mode. The liquid-crystal display device includes a transflective film and the polarization layer formed on the transflective film which are disposed on the inner surface side of the lower substrate. The invention also includes an electronic apparatus including the liquid-crystal display device.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid-crystal display device and an electronic apparatus, and more particularly to the construction of a transflective type liquid-crystal display device capable of presenting a display of sufficient brightness even in a transmission mode.
2. Description of Related Art
Since a reflection type liquid-crystal display device does not have a light source, such as a back light, its power consumption is low, and it has heretofore often been employed for accessory display units of various mobile electronic apparatuses and devices, for example.
Since, however, reflection type liquid-crystal display devices present a display by utilizing external light, such as natural light or illumination light, there has been a problem that the display is difficult to be visually perceived in a dark place. Therefore, there has been proposed a liquid-crystal display device in which the external light is utilized in a bright place in the same manner as in the ordinary reflection type liquid-crystal display device, while a display is made to be visible in a dark place by an internal light source. More specifically, this proposed liquid-crystal display device adopts display systems of both a reflection type and a transmission type, and it is changed over into the display system of either a reflection mode or a transmission mode in accordance with the ambient brightness. Thereby, power consumption is lowered, while a clear display can be presented even in dark surroundings. Hereinbelow, the liquid-crystal display device of this sort shall be termed "transflective type liquid-crystal display device" in this specification.
Another proposed transflective type liquid-crystal display device includes a reflection film, which is a metal film of aluminum or the like formed with slits for transmitting light, that is provided on the inner surface of a lower substrate. In accordance with this device, providing the metal film on the inner surface of the lower substrate prevents the influence of a parallax that is ascribable to the thickness of the lower substrate, and color mixture is prevented especially in a structure employing color filters. FIG. 12 shows an example of the transflective type liquid-crystal display device of a passive matrix system. In this liquid-crystal display device 100, liquid crystals 103 are sandwiched in between a pair of transparent substrates 101 and 102. A reflection film 104 and an insulating film 106 are stacked on the lower substrate 101 and are provided thereon, with each stripe-shaped scanning electrode 108 being made of a transparent conductive film of indium tin oxide (hereinbelow, abbreviated to "ITO") or the like, and an orientation film 107 is formed so as to cover such scanning electrodes 108. On the other hand, color filters 109 are formed on the upper substrate 102, with a flattening film 111 stacked thereon. Signal electrodes 112, made of transparent conductive films of ITO or the like, are formed on the flattening film 111 in the shape of stripes extending in a direction orthogonal to the scanning electrodes 108. An orientation film 113 is formed so as to cover the signal electrodes 112. The reflection film 104 is formed of a metal film of aluminum or the like, and it is formed with slits 110 for transmitting light for respective pixels. With the slits 110, the reflection film 104 functions as a transflective film. A forward scattering plate 118, a retardation film 119 and an upper polarizer 114 are arranged outside the upper substrate 102 in this order from the side of the upper substrate 102, whereas a quarter-wave plate 115 and a lower polarizer 116 are disposed outside the lower substrate 101. In addition, a back light 117 is arranged on the lower surface side of the lower substrate 101.
In a case where the liquid-crystal display device 100 of the above construction is used in its reflection mode in a bright place, external light incoming from above the upper substrate 102 is transmitted through the liquid crystals 103 and is reflected at the surface of the reflection film 104, and it is thereafter transmitted through the liquid crystals 103 again so as to exit towards the side of the upper substrate 102. In a case where the display device 100 is used in its transmission mode in a dark place, light emitted from the back light 117 that is arranged under the lower substrate 101 is transmitted through the reflection film 104 at the part of the slits 110, and it is thereafter transmitted through the liquid crystals 103 so as to exit towards the side of the upper substrate 102. The lights contribute to displays in the corresponding modes.

Liquid-crystal display device and electronic equipment


The present invention relates to data encryption and more particularly to data encryption for prevention of malware attacks designed to access user data. The present invention protects user data against regular malware and advance malware like rootkit attacks, zero day attacks and anti-malware disabler attacks. In one embodiment, the present invention uses encryption, application whitelisting, and application binding to prevent malware from accessing a victim's data files. In another embodiment, the present invention uses application path binding to further contain the malware from accessing the victim's data.

A. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to data encryption and more particularly to data encryption for prevention of malware attacks designed to access user data.
B. Background of the Invention
There are many malware programs that attack user data and more and more malware programs are created every day. The current solutions to the malware are insufficient.
There are several different types of malware that attack user data, for example, zero day attacks, rootkit, and anti-malware disabler that cannot be prevented by existing anti-malware solutions. Attackers use existing exploits to penetrate into the organization network or create custom and targeted malware often with zero-day exploits. Attackers also establish a permanent, undetectable presence in the system and progressively inject more malware to continually access and extract new data.
Malware attackers intent is to steal sensitive data from their targeted organizations in specific sectors like the government, finance and manufacturing. The attackers use their vast resources to establish the back door that enables them to gain entry into the company network unnoticed.
The attackers are remarkably persistent in their efforts to circumvent existing defenses and stealthy tactics in order to maintain an ongoing and undetected corporate network access. They demonstrate good situational awareness by evaluating defenders' responses, relentlessly rewriting the code and then escalating their attack techniques accordingly.
One ploy often used by attackers is to lure a victim to click on a links which appear to be social networking links, but instead actually install the malicious malware onto a victim's computer. Once the malware has been installed, the attacker can gain access to the victim's data including sensitive information that can be used for identity theft or to access other sensitive data. Most of the time the victim is not even aware of the attack. In some instances the malicious malware installed even disables the victim's safeguards such as anti-virus or anti-malware software or an intrusion detection system.
In summary, what is needed is an anti-malware solution that protects a victim's data from the malware attacker such that the attacker cannot have access to the victim's sensitive information.

System and method for prevention of malware attacks on data


An assembly for supporting a light or other signal fixture in an elevated location, either self-supported, as basally, for lighting purposes, or as on TV and radio towers, smoke stacks and other installations requiring elevated operative warning signals, as safety beacon lights or other similar fixtures, at the top portion thereof, and for lowering such fixtures to an accessible inoperative lower location for replacing, repairing or otherwise servicing the fixture without requiring service personnel to climb, to or from the elevated operative location; and including an auxiliary vertical support assembly in association with the tower or like structure and having a carriage associated therewith and carrying a light or other signal fixture, and which carriage may be moved along the support assembly to a lowered, retracted, inoperative position at rest or for replacement or repair of the fixture, and to an upper elevated operative position relative to the tower or like structure, making electrical or other operative connections for the fixture in such operative elevated location relative to the tower.

The invention is concerned with high level mounting of beacons, as signal lights or other warning signal fixtures, on TV and radio towers and other stabilized elevated structures requiring such signal fixtures at the top portion thereof. Repair or replacement of such fixtures has presented the problem of danger to service personnel in climbing to and from such elevated locations, such dangers being increased during inclement weather, if not rendering servicing impossible during such conditions. Insurance rates have been high under such conditions as well as the expense of repair at such elevated locations, normally based on a dollar amount per footage. Efforts to alleviate these problems have been made such as the provision of unitized replacement fixtures at pole ends (U.S. Pat. No. 3,679,891); cable and like mechanisms for lowering the fixtures, as flood lights (U.S. Pat. No. 3,686,498; U.S. Pat. No. 3,856,639), and signal lights (U.S. Pat. No. 3,292,322). However, the expenses of such mechanical details must be considered.


A high voltage folding disconnect switch including a folding switch blade that folds as it opens or closes and which is divided into a fixed blade portion attached to a rotating insulator and a folded blade portion having an electric contact surface engaging a break jaw contact surface. A trigger lever-locking bar is mounted to the fixed blade portion. The trigger lever-locking bar includes a trigger finger for contacting a trigger surface mounted on a stationary insulator. The trigger lever-locking bar has a cam slot for interaction with a cam follower pin that locks the movement of the folding blade so that premature straightening of the blade is prevented until any ice build-up on the switch has been alleviated.

The present invention relates generally to a disconnect switch for high voltage electrical applications and, more particularly, to a folding disconnect switch having a switch blade that folds as it opens and is folded as it begins to close to lower the force necessary to disengage or re-engage the contacts of the switch. One example of such a switch is a folding side break electric disconnect switch such as manufactured and sold by Cleaveland/Price, Inc. of Trafford, Pa., the present assignee, as Model RL-C, a copper side break switch rated at 115 kV, 1200 A. The folding of the switch blade also aids in breaking ice on outdoor disconnect switches as the switch opens or closes. The typical folding blade has two switch blade portions, i.e., a fixed blade portion and a folding blade portion, that are operatively joined by a current carrying joint that is often spring biased to keep the blade in the folded state. The spring at the joint causes the switch blade to fold as it opens which sets up the blade to be in a folded condition prior to re-engaging, for example, reengaging with a notch in the break jaw contact as the switch closes.
In electric utility power systems, high voltage disconnect switches are employed to isolate substation conductors and transmission lines and high voltage electrical apparatus to permit the inspection or repair of such apparatus or redirect power or other reasons. When a switch is called on to close and the break jaw and/or blade is covered with a build-up of ice, the blade must be closed rapidly to impart a chopping action to break through the ice. In the case where the switch has no ice shield or is mounted in an orientation where an ice shield cannot be used to keep the switch contacts free of ice, the conventional folding blade will often malfunction by prematurely straightening, since the joint spring has limited force to keep the blade folded, often resulting in misalignment, for example, of a break jaw contact pin on the blade tip with a notch within the switch jaw contacts. This situation requires opening and refolding the switch blade using a hot stick and attempting to close the switch again, possibly repeatedly.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a high voltage folding disconnect switch, such as a side break electric disconnect switch, with a simple reliable apparatus for preventing premature straightening of the blade during closing; to aid the switch in breaking ice build-up on the switch blade and break jaw contacts during switch opening or closing; and, to cause proper alignment of the folding switch blade with the break jaw contact during closing, for example, by proper alignment of the break jaw contact pin on the blade tip with the notch within the switch jaw contacts.

High voltage folding disconnect switch with locking device