Novel moldable, highly stable, normally solid polyoxymethylene resin compositions and molded articles formed of the same include a stabilizing effective amount of an alkoxy-substituted phenoxy-containing compound having the formula (I) or (II): EQU Ar.sup.1 --O--X (I) EQU Ar.sup.2 (--O--X).sub.s (II). where Ar.sup.1 represents an aryl group having no hydroxyl groups directly bonded thereto as a substituent, Ar.sup.2 represents a benzene or naphthalene ring having no hydroxyl groups directly bonded thereto as a substituent, and s represents the number of alkoxy-derivative substituents. Preferably, Ar.sup.1 in formula (I) is a phenyl, biphenyl or naphthyl group, and Ar.sup.2 in formula (II) is benzene (with s being 2). Ar.sup.1 and Ar.sup.2 in formulas (I) and (II) may only be substituted with the --OX group, or may also contain other alkoxy group substituents. Preferably, a co-stabilizer, such as nitrogenous compounds, alkali or alkaline earth metal hydroxides, inorganic acid salts and carboxylic acid salts, are also present in the compositions of this invention.

As is well known, polyoxymethylene (POM) resins have been used in various fields as an engineering plastic due to the excellent physical properties (such as mechanical and electrical properties) and chemical properties (such as chemical resistance and heat-resistance properties) that such resins possess. As a result, polyoxymethylene resins have been used as a material to form component parts electric and electronic apparatus, automobiles and other machinery.
Notwithstanding the excellent inherent properties exhibited by polyoxymethylene resins generally, there is still a need for continual improvements to be made in this regard, especially as new and/or more specialized end-use applications for polyoxymethylene resins are identified. For example, some beneficial improvements to the properties of polyoxymethylene resins include: minimizing reductions in the mechanical strength of the resin during extrusion or molding operations; maintaining the color of the resin; reducing mold deposits that are formed during molding, and/or minimizing deterioration of the mechanical properties of the resin caused by heat aging. A principal factor which contributes to all of these aspects of polyoxymethylene resins generally is the propensity of the polymer chain to decompose ("unzip" to use art parlance) when heated.
Polyoxymethylene resin is, in and of itself, relatively easily decomposed when heated in an oxidizing atmosphere or under acidic or alkaline conditions due to its molecular structure. In this connection, the chemically active terminal groups of the polyoxymethylene chain can be stabilized by a variety of techniques so as to prevent (or at least significantly minimize) chain decomposition. For example, for polyoxymethylene homopolymers (i.e., having a linear chain composed solely of repeating oxymethylene units), greater stability can be achieved by esterifying or acetylating the chemically active terminal groups of the polymer chain.
The polyoxymethylene chain itself can be rendered more stable by copolymerizing trioxane, for example, with a monomer having adjacent carbon-carbon bonds such as a cyclic ether or a cyclic formal to yield a polyoxymethylene copolymer comprised mainly of repeating oxymethylene groups which are randomly interspersed with relatively more stable higher oxyalkylene groups (e.g., oxyethylene, oxypropylene, or the like). The resulting polyoxymethylene copolymer can then be hydrolyzed, for example, so as to remove terminal oxymethylene groups such that the resulting polymer has relatively more stable higher oxyalkylene groups at its terminal positions. However, even when a relatively stable, inert polyoxymethylene copolymer is produced, cleavage of the main polymer chain can sometimes occur when the polymer is heated. As a result, incorporating antioxidants and other stabilizing additives into the polyoxymethylene resin is typically an indispensable step to achieve a commercially viable polyoxymethylene resin.
Polyoxymethylene resins which are stabilized by the incorporation of antioxidants and/or other stabilizers are not, however, completly inhibited against decomposition. In fact, even such additive-stabilized polyoxymethylene resins are affected by heat and oxygen in the cylinder of a molding machine when the resin is molded to an extent that the resin chain may decompose to form formaldehyde. As a result of formaldehyde formation, the ambient environment of the molding machine can be polluted. In addition, a tarry mold deposit can form by virtue of polymer degradation which significantly reduces the efficiency of the molding operation as well as detrimentally affecting the surface condition of the resulting molded articles.
Heat aging of polyoxymethylene resin occurs when the resin is subjected to heat for prolonged periods of time. The consequence of heat aging is that the main polymer chain decomposes to an extent that the mechanical strength properties of the resin decrease. Thus, efforts have been attempted in this art to find a more effective stabilization additive and/or additive formulation. For example, hindered phenolic and amine compounds (i.e., sterically hindered phenols and hindered amines) have been added to polyoxymethylene resins in an attempt to improve the stability characteristics of the polyoxymethylene base resin. In addition, other stabilizers, including a combination of polyamides, urea derivatives, amidine compounds, alkali or alkaline earth metal hydroxides and organic or inorganic acid salts have also been employed for the same purpose.
Although hindered phenols are particularly effective antioxidants for polyoxymethylene resins, they are nonetheless weakly acidic which become more acidic due to conversion upon absorption of light. As a consequence, hindered phenols may serve as a polymer decomposition catalyst when used in large amounts thereby exacerbating the polymer's instability. Furthermore, oxidized hindered phenols can contribute to color losses in the polymer, and is a principal factor in the formation of mold deposits.
Thus, the formulation of a stabilizer or stabilization "system" having adequate molding stability, heat aging stability and weather resistance properties is a delicate balance of the attributes and detriments that are imparted to polyoxymethylene resin by any particular stabilizer. It is therefore towards providing polyoxymethylene resin of enhanced stability which minimizes (if not eliminates) the drawbacks associated with conventional stabilizer technologies that the present invention is directed.
Broadly, the present invention is characterized by the incorporation into polyoxymethylene resins of a stabilizing effective amount of specific alkoxy-substituted phenoxy-containing stabilizer compounds which improve the ability of the polyoxymethylene resin to withstand deterioration by oxidation and/or heat as well as minimizing the formation of mold deposits during extrusion. More specifically, the present invention relates to stable, moldable, normally solid polyoxymethylene resin compositions having a stabilizing effective amount of between 0.01 to 5% by weight, based on the polyoxymethylene base resin, of a phenoxy-containing compound having the following general formula (I) or (II): EQU Ar.sup.1 --O--X (I) EQU Ar.sup.2 (--O--X) (II)
where Ar.sup.1 represents an aryl group (excluding one having a hydroxyl group directly bonded thereto as a substituent), such as phenyl, biphenyl or naphthyl groups, and Ar.sup.2 represents a benzene or naphthalene ring (excluding one having a hydroxyl group directly bonded thereto as a substituent), and s is an integer which represents the number of alkoxy-derivative substituents. Preferably, Ar.sup.2 is a benzene ring.
The phenoxy-containing stabilizer may be incorporated into the polyoxymethylene base resin by any conventional technique, but is preferably melt-blended with the polyoxymethylene resin. The polyoxymethylene resin compositions may then be pelletized and used as a feedstock for extrusion and/or injection molding of components or parts associated with a variety of end-use applications.
Further aspects and advantages of this invention will become more clear after careful consideration is given to the following detailed description of the preferred exemplary embodiments thereof.

Stabilized polyoxymethylene molding compositions and molded articles formed thereof


Acrylate ester monomers are produced in high yield and without polymerization by reacting an .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated organic acid halide and a hydroxyl containing organic compound in the presence of molecular sieves. In the absence of molecular sieves the same reactants produce the monomer ester products in low yield and/or form polymers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods of producing monomeric acrylate esters. More specifically it relates to methods of producing acrylate esters by reacting an .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated acrylic organic acid halide and a hydroxyl containing organic compound in the presence of molecular sieves. In some instances novel acrylate ester monomers are produced.
2. Prior Art
Liquid processes for the syntheses of monomeric acrylate esters have normally required many steps and have produced the desired reaction products in only limited yields. In one prior art reaction system when methacryloyl chloride and an alcohol have been reacted in the presence of triethylamine, monomeric methacrylate esters are produced in only about 30% to about 45% isolated yield. In another prior art reaction system, transesterification of methyl methacrylate with alcohol and an acid catalyst, has also resulted in a low monomeric ester yield. In these typical prior art reactions it is believed that traces of free hydrogen halide acid in the reaction system has favored the competing polymerization reaction of the reactive .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated esters. This has resulted in the production of unwanted polymers which causes low yield of the desired ester monomer. Either the unreacted starting materials or other products produced during such prior art reactions often exhibit boiling points closely approximating those of the desired monomer, and are thus difficult to separate from the ester monomer by distillation. Furthermore, once acrylate monomers are produced by prior art techniques they remain susceptible to polymerization, and thus further reduce the isolable yield of ester during both purification and storage.
Molecular sieves have been utilized as drying agents for organic solvents, to trap water generated during reactions and to scavenge small molecules. They have not been known to be previously utilized in the production of monomeric acrylate esters.


A cement admixture which when added to a cement composition, such as cement mortar or concrete inhibits slump-loss of the cement composition and improve its workability and applicability. The admixture is composed of copolymers from an alkenyl ether, a polyalkenyl ether and maleic anhydride.

The present invention relates to a cement admixture composition. More particularly, it relates to an admixture composition for hydraulic cement compositions such as mortar and concrete to prevent time wise decrease in their flowability (herein called as "slump loss") while drastically improving the compositions workability and applicability over sustained periods of time.
Slump loss is a major problem in the concrete industry. It is highly desired to have a cement additive which will impart high degree of flowability over an extended period of time while not imparting any significant set retardation to the cement composition. Various proposals have been made to solve this problem but, such proposals have not provided a combination of the desired characteristics or only provide the desired characteristics in low degrees.
Slump-loss is the biggest problem in concrete industry, and various methods have been tried by many investigators to solve this problem, but satisfactory solution has not been found so far. Therefore, there is a strong desire to find an early solution to this problem.
It is generally known, for example, that the copolymers of alkenyl ethers and maleic anhydride and the derivatives thereof can be employed as cement additives to improve slump loss [Japanese Patent Publication (Kokai) Nos. 63-285140(1988) and 2-163108(1990)]. However, copolymers of this class which have been previously used, exhibit only small improvement in slump loss or caused excessive set retardation to the treated cement composition.
It has now been found that certain copolymer compositions described below having a specified molecular structure have remarkable effectiveness for the prevention of slump loss without causing significant set retardation.

Dispersant composition for cement having excellent property in inhibition of slump-loss


Linkage notification section notifies each of definition sections of data for specifying a type of a terminal to be added, changed or deleted and a communication processing parameter about this terminal. The definition section specifies a service processing parameter corresponding to the terminal type among the service processing parameters for service processing software developed beforehand on a main memory. The definition section re-links the communication processing parameter to this specified service processing parameter.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a data processing system for implementing service processing in accordance with a functionally hierarchized software group while executing the processing for communication with a plurality of terminals connected to the system. The present invention relates more particularly to a data processing system capable of, when the terminal connected is changed, dynamically changing definition parameters required by each set of software in accordance with a simple construction without causing an out-of-synchronism state between respective sets of software.
2. Description of the Related Art
A data processing system implements the service processing in accordance with the functionally hierarchized software group while executing the communication processing for performing communication with the plurality of terminals connected to the system. This data processing system has such a construction that the data needed by the software for controlling the terminal are expanded in the form of definition parameters on a main memory. That is, this data processing system implements the service processing while executing the communication processing for effecting the communication with the terminals in accordance with these definition parameters.
In this type of data processing system, for enhancing a guaranty of an operating schedule and a communication performance, the definition parameters for all sets of software are expanded on the main memory when starting the system, and the communication are carried out. Accordingly, if the terminal as a destination for communication is changed, it is required that the data about the changed terminal is modified by updating the definition parameters expanded on the main memory. This change of the terminal could be as a result of adding connection of a new terminal, changing the type of an already-connected terminal, or disconnecting a (deletion) of the already-connected terminal.
There arise, however, the following problems inherent in updating the definition parameters.
For instance, there exists a construction to take such an arrangement that the definition parameters are re-expanded for updating the definition parameters when changing the connected terminal. If constructed in this way, it follows that the definition parameters of unchanged terminals are also temporarily deleted on the occasion of re-expanding the definition parameters. Hence, it follows that the system is temporarily stopped with the updating of the definition parameters.
Further, the data processing system has, as a software group for implementing the service processing, sets of software offered by a software maker such as a communication access method, a DB monitor (an on-line transaction monitor for accessing to a database), a DC monitor (an on-line transaction monitor for executing data communication) and also application programs developed by users. These sets of software are mutually functionally hierarchized. Accordingly, there exists a possibility in which an out-of-synchronism state is caused between the respective sets of software. The "out-of-synchronism state" termed herein is a state where a parameter definition in the software of another hierarchy is, although the parameter definition in the software of one hierarchy has been modified, not yet modified, and hence the service can not be implemented. In general, the software offered by the software maker is capable of taking the synchronism with other software offered by the same maker with measures taken by this software maker. The definition parameters possessed by the software developed by the user would be original different from the definition parameters possessed by the software offered by the maker. For this reason, with the updating of the definition parameters, there is a possibility in which the out-of-synchronism state will be produced between the software developed by the user and the software offered by the software maker and between sets of software developed by the users.
For dealing with the problems given above, the conventional data processing system has hitherto adopted such a method that all the terminals which would be destinations for communication are defined beforehand, and the definition parameters corresponding thereto are previously expanded on the main memory. Further, in some cases, the conventional data processing system has taken such a method that the definition parameters are concentratedly managed by a network directory, and each software reads the concentratedly managed definition parameters. The conventional data processing system thus makes unnecessary the updating of the definition parameters.
If a data processing system conforms with the pre-definition method as in the former case, however, each software inquiries an unsubstantial communication destination terminal which is previously defined but not yet connected to the data processing system. Therefore, a problem is caused, wherein a futility is produced in the communication. Further, the terminals are further added, and consequently all the pre-definitions made beforehand are used up (i.e., all the pre-defined terminals are actually connected to the data processing system). In this case, there arises a necessity for effecting the pre-definition once again. This therefore presents such a problem that the system has to be stopped.
Besides, if a data processing system conformed with the method of using the network directory as in the latter case, the system itself increases in size. Moreover, each time the program of the software is executed, the definition parameters are read from this network directory, resulting in a deterioration in terms of performance. A cashing process (a reading process such as periodic reading) is therefore required. Accordingly, the problem is that the system processing becomes complicated.

Data processing system capable of dynamically changing the definition parameters of software in response to changes in the number of connected terminals


A ball valve is provided. The ball valve includes at least one load varying mechanism provided in the static body assembly. The load varying mechanism includes a biasing member pressing one of the ball seat seals against the outer surface of the ball of the ball valve with a variable sealing load force applied on the ball, toward the ball and coaxial with the direction of the fluid. The load varying mechanism also includes a movable member operatively connected to a cam and to the biasing member, a rotation of the cam translating the movable member coaxially to the direction of the fluid, in order to variably load the biasing member toward or away from the ball, based on the different positions of the ball.

The sealing of ball valves (i.e. the leak integrity) is usually provided by applying a load on the ball, such required load being greater for higher pressure operations. The load is normally set by a mechanical biasing element, typically a coil spring. Since the force maintaining the ball in a fixed position is relatively high, such valves are subject to high friction and wear. Wear occurs when the ball is repeatedly turned while being pressed against the housing or packing of the valve, which results in scratches appearing on the ball, reducing the valve's lifetime.
Friction causes particles to be generated, which further increase problems associated with wear. Leaks are likely to appear, and eventually, the valve will have to be repaired or replaced. This problem may be found in most ball valves available. Referring to U.S. Pat. No. 4,867,414, there is shown a ball valve having retractable floating valve seats to facilitate inspection and maintenance of the valve. In such a valve, a mechanism to replace the worn parts is provided, but the problems associated with wear are still present.
Another problem arises from the fact that valves are usually tuned at ambient temperature, but are mostly used at different temperatures, from cryogenic temperatures to temperatures of around 350° C. The behavior of each part of the valve may therefore differ greatly depending on the temperature range at which it is operated. Consequently, a valve can work perfectly when tuned and operated at ambient temperature, but important leakage may occur when the valve is used in a system operated at a different temperature.
In light of the above, there is a need for an improved valve, or an improved system for reducing wear and friction on the ball of a ball valve during movement of the ball. There is also a need for a method of operating a valve that would help reduce friction between the ball and the stationary body assembly of the valve.

Ball valve with load varying mechanism, and method of operating the same


The invention is a variable-ratio transmission comprising a base having an axis of rotation to which an object can be attached and a plurality of pulley assemblies slideably attached to the base along radials. Each pulley assembly comprises one or more pulleys, a pulley shaft, and a pulley transport. The pulleys of a pulley assembly are rotatably attached to the pulley shaft and are rotatable in only one direction about the pulley shaft. The pulley shaft is attached to the pulley transport. The pulley transport is slideably attached to the base along a radial. The pulley assemblies are so arranged that the plurality of pulleys can engage at least one encircling belt or chain. An actuating system applies radial forces to the plurality of pulley transports for the purpose of maintaining the pulley assemblies in fixed radial positions or moving the pulley assemblies to other radial positions. The actuating system is controlled by an external entity.

This invention relates generally to variable-ratio belt-driven transmissions and more specificially to belt-driven transmissions for which the ratio of belt velocity to the angular velocity of the transmission output is continuously variable.
A belt-driven transmission converts power supplied by an endless belt to rotary power. It is desirable for many applications that the transmission ratio, the ratio of the linear velocity of the belt to the angular velocity of the transmission output, be not only variable but continuously variable.
Perhaps the oldest and simplest variable-ratio transmission is an assembly of pulleys of different diameters on a common hub. The transmission ratio is changed by shifting the belt from one pulley to another.
A variable-ratio transmission for use with V-belts consists of a pulley split into two halves with a means for varying the separation of the two halves. Since the cross section of the split-pulley belt channel is V-shaped to match the sides of the V-belt, the distance of the V-belt from the axis of rotation and the transmission ratio is proportional to the separation of the pulley halves. The split-pulley approach has the advantage of having a transmission ratio that is continuously variable. Unfortunately, the torque available from such a transmission is limited since the torque depends on the frictional force that maintains the V-belt in contact with the pulley.
In order to obtain higher torques, it is necessary to use corrugated belts and pulleys (or chains and sprockets) that provide positive, non-slip engagements. A transmission with a continuously-variable transmission ratio and based on the use of a corrugated belt and a matching corrugated pulley implies a pulley having a continuously-variable diameter and a constant rib pitch. Such a pulley tends to be very complex. A need exists for a simple continuously-variable transmission that is suitable for high-torque applications.


An X-ray powder diffractometer functioning as a goniometer is disclosed wherein a monochromatic X-ray source is provided together with a sample to be analyzed and a detector means with position sensitive behavior. A transport system for digitally controllable advance drive is provided so as to advance the detector along an arc suited for a Guinier method for transmission and/or back reflection beam direction. An electronic analysis system is provided for preparing an intensity diagram of a local distribution of diffracted radiation for a given position location 2.theta. of the detector. The analysis system includes an amplifier/discriminator for delivering a time signal corresponding to the position/location of a respective single photon event received from the detector. A time-digital converter connected to the amplifier/discriminator is also provided together with a multichannel analyzer connected to the time-to-digital converter by a digital adder. The position-sensitive detector is located diametrically opposite the sample on the Guinier circle so as to form an assembly. This assembly is rotated in the primary beam such that the primary beam always impinges on the sample, and the detector is always in a focus of the diffracted radiation.

The invention relates to X-ray powder diffractometers having a monochromatic X-ray source; a detector with position or location sensitive behavior; a mechanism with digitally controllable advance drive for an advance of the detector along an arc suited for the Guinier Method for transmission and/or back reflection beam geometry; and an electronic analysis system for preparing an intensity diagram of the intensity distribution of the diffracted radiation along the diffraction angle 2 Theta. The main components are an amplifier/ discriminator module which delivers a time signal corresponding to the position-location of the respective elementary event in the detector, a time-digital converter, a digital adding module, and a multichannel analyzer.
In X-ray powder diffractometry the Guinier Method is one of the most widespread diffraction measuring techniques. Further details regarding the Guinier Principle can be learned from the book of H. Neff "Grundlagen und Anwendung der Rontgenfeinstrukturanalyse", Oldenburg-Publisher, 1959, particularly pages 160 through 171, incorporated herein by reference. The Guinier Method uses a monochromatic X-ray beam, such as copper K.alpha..sub.1 radiation, and a precise focusing arrangement consisting of a monochromator, sample and detector. The Guinier Method is suitable for plots in the entire interference angular range. Due to the use of strictly monochromatic radiation very low background diffraction patterns are obtained, whereby the detection of very weak interferences is possible which will be lost in normal techniques.
However, a disadvantage of this method is the relatively long measuring time since the primary monochromator supplies only a low beam yield for the measurement.
An increase in the measuring speed can be achieved by a more sensitive detection system, a position sensitive X-ray detector. In existing systems either photographic films or non-position-sensitive X-ray detectors, such as scintillation counters, in conjunction with a fine measuring slit rotating along the Guinier focusing circle have been employed to monitor the diffracted radiation distribution.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,144,450, incorporated herein as reference, an automatically controlled powder diffractometer is described which, by means of a linear position sensitive proportional counter tube, can increase its slewing speed by about 2 orders of magnitude so that the scanning times can be reduced to less than five minutes. It is here provided that the detector is continuously nonintermittently moved i.e. there is no relevant step movement of the advance along the measuring arc noticeable. In addition, a software system is employed to analyze and interpret the powder diagram.


A devise for carrying out chemical reactions and processes in high-frequency fields, comprises a high-frequency chamber 2 for irradiating a solid, liquid or gaseous substance while under pressure with at least one radiation source and a reactor for exposing to a high-frequency field. The reactor being connectively coupled to the upper wall 4 of the high-frequency chamber 2 through a sealable connection 3. Rail elements 5 are provided around the reactor, and configured to form a pressure-resistant cage. The rail elements 5 each have a guide 11 for holding a crown-shaped holder 12. The holder 12 is fixed in its position by the guides 11 of the rail elements 5. Multiple reaction chambers can be incorporated as a batch reactor system.

Frequently, energy input is necessary for the progress, acceleration and/or initiation of chemical reactions and processes. For this purpose, for example, the reaction mixtures are arranged in microwave-permeable reaction containers in a microwave system with a radiation-screened housing and energy is introduced by irradiation with microwaves. Since, in the reactions and processes that occur, frequently high pressures are produced or the reactions proceed only under pressure, the entire arrangement must be pressure-resistant and, for example, must be able to be closed with a cover system. In general, the reaction containers are also equipped with safety equipment and control devices in order to be able to monitor the progress of the chemical reactions and processes.
Such a device is known, for example, from DE 4 018 955 A1. Among others, a microwave furnace for heating sample material with several pressure-resistant sample containers is described there and the sample containers are arranged on a rotatable carrier part with appropriate holders for the sample containers. In this way, several samples can be treated simultaneously, and, as a result of that, a higher sample throughput can be achieved. A disadvantage is that several pressure-resistant sample containers are needed which can be expensive and thus cost-intensive depending on the design. Furthermore, the reaction volume is limited and, as a rule, pressure and temperature is measured only in one container, as a result of which the possibilities of application are limited and identical reactions cannot be produced in each individual container because of the inhomogeneities of the microwave field.
In DE 197 00 499 A1 and in DE 197 48 520 A1, microwave reactor systems are described with a large pressure-resistant holding container in which one or several sampleholders can be arranged in a relatively simple but not necessarily pressure-resistant construction. The disadvantage of this system is the expensive and complicated mounting of the reactor in the microwave oven, the low flexibility, the limited volume and the high expenditure needed for setting up the system.
Therefore, the task of the invention is to create a device which is suitable for different applications for carrying out chemical reactions and processes in high-frequency fields with high reliability and minimum energy losses, as well as with as little expenditure as possible.

Device for implementing chemical reactions and processes in high frequency fields


A method and apparatus for permanently boiling a 200 AMP cable to a bushing well stud and permitting a second cable to be selectively connected or removed. A bushing well stud extender is added to a bushing well stud and one arm of a T-shaped housing with reinforcement is placed within the bushing well. A high voltage cable with a connector having an unthreaded aperture in its lug is placed within the central vertical leg in line with the second end of the bushing well stud extender. An insert placed in the second arm has a threaded stud to fix the cable lug between the extender and the insert. The free end of the insert has loadbreak contacts and is shaded to receive an elbow connected to a second high voltage cable.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to the interconnection of high voltage electrical cables and more particularly to a bushing tap which can be bolted to a bushing well, support a terminated cable by such bolt and provide a loadbreak interface for a second cable connected to the bushing tap by a standard cable elbow.
2. Description of the Prior Art
According to prior art techniques when it was desired to connect two cables to a single bushing well it was necessary to use a double bushing insert of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,203,641 issued May 20, 1980 and assigned to the assignee of the instant invention. It was necessary to use a bail arrangement as shown by the '641 to prevent the double bushing insert from being displaced from the bushing well due to high momentary currents. There are no known devices which permit a cable to be directly bolted to a bushing well.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,202,591 issued May 13, 1980 and assigned to the assignee of the instant invention shows the use of 600 AMP T-shaped connector which can be bolted to an appliance bushing and connect one cable to the bushing while receiving a second cable connected to an elbow. Because of the large size of the 600 AMP connector it is not possible to use it in the confined space available with 200 AMP systems. Also, no technique is shown in this type of device for connecting the connector to a bushing well.
A multi-position junction could also be used except for the space it requires.
Present interference fit bushing/elbow interfaces will not hold the connection between them in the presence of high momentary currents unless a bail similar to that shown in the '641 patent is used.

200 AMP bolted elbow with a loadbreak tap


The present disclosure includes circuits and methods for controlling the operation of a switching regulator. Closing and opening high side and low side switches may be controlled so that an inductor current may be used to charge and/or discharge an intermediate switching node when both switches are open. In one embodiment, delays between a low-to-high transition and a high-to-low transition of an AC stage may be cycled over multiple periods of a DC stage.

The present disclosure relates to electronic systems and methods, and in particular, to circuits and methods for operating a switching regulator.
Switching regulators often include high side and low side switches. The manner in which these switches are operated can impact the efficiency of the regulator. For example, optimum utilization of a synchronous output stage of a voltage regulator can depend on the ability to adjust the power FET gate signals. Efficiency losses can result from overly long deadtimes (time where both FETs are off) due to the body diode conduction and body-diode reverse recovery. Alternatively, if deadtimes are too short (or negative), simultaneous conduction of the two power FETs may also reduce efficiency.

Circuits and methods for operating a switching regulator


The importance of interaction between TSG101 and Vps28 in the release of HIV-1 and other viruses is disclosed. Suppressing or interfering in this interaction may inhibit HIV-1 virion release from infected cells. Agents that modulate this interaction include antibodies that bind to Vps28, polypeptides that bind to Vps28, and nucleic acids that may be used in gene therapy to interfere with the expression of wild type Vps28. Administration of such agents in vitro for screening and diagnostic purposes, and in vivo for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, is disclosed.

The final step in the assembly of an enveloped virus assembly requires separation of budding particles from the cellular membranes. Three distinct functional domains in Gag, i.e., PTAP in HIV-1 [SEQ ID NO.: 19](Gottlinger et al., 1991. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 88, 3195-9; Huang et al., 1995, J Virol 69, 6810-8); PPPY in RSV [SEQ ID NO.: 20] (Parent et al. 1995, J Virol 69, 5455-60), MuLV (Yuan et al., 1999, Embo J 18, 4700-10), and M-PMV (Yasuda et al., 1998, J Virol 72, 4095-103); and YXXL in EIAV [SEQ ID NO.: 21] (Puffer et al., 1997, J Virol 71, 6541-6), have been identified in different retroviruses that are required for this function and have been termed late, or L domains (Wills et al., 1991, Aids 5, 639-54). In HIV-1, the L domain contains a PTAP motif and is required for efficient HIV-1 release (see, e.g., Wills et al., 1994, J. Virol. 68, 6605-6618; Gottlinger et al., 1991, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88, 3195-3199; Huang et al., 1995, J. Virol. 69, 6810-6818). The L domain of HIV-1 p6, especially the PTAP motif, binds to the cellular protein TSG101 and recruits it to the site of virus assembly to promote virus budding (VerPlank et al., 2001, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 98:7724-7729; Garrus et al., 2001, Cell 107:55-65; Martin-Serrano et. al., 2001, Nature Medicine 7:1313-19; Pornillos et al., 2002, EMBO J. 21:2397-2406; Demirov et al., 2002, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 99:955-960; PCT Publication WO 02/072790; U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2002/0177207). The UEV domain of TSG101 binds the PTAP motif and mono-ubiquitin (Pornillos et al., 2002, Embo J 21, 2397-406; Pornillos et al., 2002, Nat Struct Biol 9, 812-7), which has also been implicated in HIV-1 budding (Patnaik et al., 2000, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 97, 13069-74; Schubert et al., 2000, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 97, 13057-62; Strack et al., 2000, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 97, 13063-8). Depletion of cellular TSG101 (Garrus et al., 2001, Cell 107:55-65) or over-expression of a truncated form of TSG101 inhibits HIV-1 release (Demirov et al., 2002, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 99:955-960). Under certain circumstances, TSG101 can even substitute for the HIV-1 L domain to promote virus release (Martin-Serrano et. al., 2001, Nature Medicine 7:1313-19). Antibodies targeting TSG101 have been shown to inhibit viral release (Li, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/425,299, filed Oct. 1, 2002).
TSG101 plays important roles in cell growth (Zhong et al., 1998, Cancer Res 58, 2699-702; Oh et al., 2002, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 99, 5430-5; Krempler et al., 2002, J Biol Chem 277, 43216-23; Wagner et al., 2003, Mol Cell Biol 23, 150-62; Li et al., 1996, Cell 85, 319-29), cellular protein trafficking (Babst et al., 2000, Traffic 1, 248-58; Bishop et al., 2002, J Cell Biol 157, 91-101), and degradation of p53 (Li et al., 2001, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 98, 1619-24; Ruland et al., 2001, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 98, 1859-64; Moyret-Lalle et al., 2001, Cancer Res 61, 486-8). In yeast, the Tsg101 ortholog Vps23 has been shown to interact with Vps28 and Vps37 and to form a protein complex named ESCRT-I, which is critical for endosomal protein sorting into the multivesicular body pathway (Katzmann et al., 2001, Cell 106, 145-55). It is hypothesized that this intracellular multivesicular body formation resembles HIV-1 release at the plasma membrane (Garrus et al., 2001, Cell 107:55-65; Patnaik et al., 2000, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 97, 13069-74). In mammalian cells, TSG101 interacts with Vps28 to form an ESCRT-I-like complex (Babst et al., 2000, Traffic 1, 248-58; Bishop et al., 2002, J Cell Biol 157, 91-101; Bishop et al., 2001, J Biol Chem 276, 11735-42), although the mammalian homolog of Vps37 has not been identified.
Citation of references herein shall not be construed as an admission that such references are prior art to the present invention.

Method for reducing HIV viral budding by administering a VPS28-specfic antibody that disrupts Gag-TSG101-VPS28 binding interactions


An actuating system, comprising a base part and a moving part, which can be moved by a compressively preloaded piston/cylinder assembly that comprises a cylinder and a piston rod, wherein a piston on the piston rod divides the cylinder into two working chambers, wherein the base part has an externally powered drive device that stands in operative connection with the moving part and functions in opposition to the operating force of the piston/cylinder assembly, wherein a control system monitors the motion of the moving system and detects an obstacle when a parameter representing the motion deviates from a stored parameter by a threshold limit, wherein the actuating system in the unpowered state holds the moving part with the aid of a locking device, wherein the locking device is formed by a flow connection between the working chambers of the piston/cylinder assembly and a pilot valve for controllably blocking fluid flow through the flow connection.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an actuating system for a hatch or similar hinged structure of a vehicle in which a powered actuating system is operative to close the hatch against a spring force tending to open the hatch.
2. The Related Art
Actuating systems of this type have an electric drive that moves a hatch or vehicle door against the force of a spring element from an open operating position towards a closed position. In daily practice, it is often desired for the hatch to assume an intermediate position and to maintain it for a relatively long period of time, especially when the vehicle is parked. In order to be able to maintain the intermediate position of the hatch for a relatively long period of time, an electrically actuatable coupling is provided as part of the actuating system. The electrically actuatable coupling, however, must be continuously supplied with power. When the engine is switched off, the electrical power supply for the coupling must perforce come from the vehicle battery. This presents the risk that, if the vehicle is parked with a vehicle hatch in an intermediate position for an excessively long period of time, the battery will be discharged to such an extent as to endanger the engine starting process.
In order to deal with this problem, the actuating system in accordance with U.S. Pat. No. 6,092,336 is provided with a freewheel device in a gearbox for a cable drive unit. When the electrically actuatable coupling is unpowered, the freewheel device prevents the hatch from opening further.
The object of the present invention is to implement an actuating system for a moving part, in particular a hatch or the like, in which an intermediate position of the hatch can be maintained in an unpowered state and a costly gearbox can be omitted.
The foregoing and other objects are attained, in accordance with the invention, by the provision of a locking device, for holding the moving part in an intermediate position, in the form of a piston/cylinder assembly which includes a flow connection between the working chambers of the cylinder and a pilot value for controllably blocking fluid flow through the fluid connection.
As a result, any gearbox that may be associated with the drive device can have a far simpler structure. Furthermore, motion of the moving part, e.g. a hatch, in both directions can be halted by the lockable piston/cylinder assembly.
In order to achieve, firstly, high retention force on the moving part and, secondly, low energy consumption for the drive device, provision is made for the pilot valve to have a two-stage opening characteristic wherein, after a relatively large unblocking force is overcome, an operating motion can be performed with a smaller hold-open force.
In a relatively simple control version of the system, the threshold value is shifted independently of an intermediate position of the moving part such that the unblocking force is overcome by the drive device.
In a somewhat more complex solution, the control system has at least two threshold values, wherein one threshold value for an obstacle is overcome during motion of the moving part and a second threshold value is overcome by the drive device when the moving part is set into motion from a stop. In this way, a finer obstacle detection response is achieved for the moving part.
In an alternative solution, the pilot valve has an electric actuator that is disconnected from the power supply of a generator of a vehicle and moved to a locking position when the vehicle engine is stopped. As soon as the vehicle engine stops, locking is achieved in the unpowered state. During vehicle operation, a sufficient supply of power is available to continuously hold the pilot valve open if this is necessary.
For the situation where it is desired to actuate the pilot valve when the engine is stopped as well, power supply from a battery can be connected to the power supply of the generator.

Actuating system for a hatch or similar hinged structure


The data distribution network (DDN) improves processing throughputs (eight million bytes per second) whenever high data rates of unsorted data are input to a processing system by combining synethetic (hash) addresses with look-up tables. The DDN includes coarse steering logic, fine steering logic, and assignment logic for partially sorting and filtering data so that subsequent analysis procedures can find the data in a more orderly form. This increase the pulse density handling capability of a processing system without major size and weight impact.

The present invention relates generally to a data distribution network (DDN). and more particularly to a an electronic warfare data distribution network such as a radar warning system. A possible non-military application of the DDN might be a large inventory system.
The importance of electronic warfare (EW) to the effectiveness of armed forces has become increasingly evident. This effectiveness must be maintained in the face of a growing increase in the radar environment density and technical sophistication of radar systems of potential enemies. In addition, infrared (IR) and laser systems are coming into use. These trends have resulted in particularly severe requirements on EW data processing. The data processing system must not only have much greater capacity, but it must be capable of executing a much more sophisticated set of algorithms than at any time in the past.
The EW processing is complicated by very high input data rates with much lower information content. Therefore, this input data must be processed to remove redundant information. The resulting data must then be further processed to derive information which can be used for self-protection of the platform. The processing involves highly flexible search and arithmetic operations on multiple data. Such operations are ideally suited to associative type processing.
The purpose of a project related to the subject invention was to determine if the very severe EW data processing requirements could be met or alleviated through proper application of parallel processing architectures. In particular, the single instruction multiple data stream type (SIMD), often referred to as associative processors was to be evaluated. In fact, the utility of associative processing techniques for EW applications was recognized during studies performed for the U.S. Air Force in the late sixties and early seventies. However, the state of the art in integrated circuit technology at that time could not provide associative processors with adequate capability to in the required package size to meet the demanding EW requirements. Consequently the existing requirements were met with a special hardwired associative type memory in the preprocessor section of the Microcomputer Array processor System MAPS) which was developed (See report AFAL-TR-78-157, titled "Microcomputer Array Processor" published by DTIC as number AD-A070 848). Now the IC technology has advanced to the level that the more flexible and capable associative processor organizations are feasible for EW applications. For example, a mil-standard airborne SIMD processor called ASPRO has been produced, and is used in the E-2C Aircraft.
A preprocessor in the Microcomputer Array processor System includes hardware to accept digitized radar pulse intercepts outputted by a receiver and correlate each intercept against an established emitter file for pulse train tracking and data filtering operations. The objective is to reduce the data rate into the multiprocessor by filtering, from the input pulse stream, those intercepts that originate from emitters which are currently being tracked by the preprocessor. This data rate reduction is essential to allow handling of a very high receiver data rate while still maintaining sufficient processing time per radar intercept in the multiprocessor to execute complex PRI (Pulse Repetition Interval) establishment algorithms. The filtering via correlation operation consists of comparing the parameters of each intercept pulse against the parameters of the emitter words stored in the preprocessor memory. Hardware hash addressing techniques are used to select that subset of the emitter file over which a particular correlation operation could be meaningful. If the intercept matches the emitter word within predetermined tolerances for each selected parameter, correlation is said to occur.
A system designed by LORAL include a preprocessor which forms a 13-bit hash address on frequency and AOA to use as a pointer to a cluster map. The cluster map, of necessity, has 8,192 (2.sup.13) entries. This map contains a pointer to the cluster track file if it is an entry to be updated. If the cluster map address is a null entry (not in track file) the preprocessor either forms a new cluster and appropriately updates the cluster map pointer or it extends an existing cluster and points to it. There are a maximum of 63 pulses per cluster. This would all be done in combinational logic.
U.S. patents of interest include U.S. Pat. No. 3,725,923 to Bosc et al, which discloses incoherent digital pulse doppler radar system with improved signal handling capacity which reduces the number of target signals which must be processed; U.S. Pat. No. 3,891,987 to Jensen, which discloses a data processing system for radar wherein all stored target information is instantaneously and continuously analyzed and displayed; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,885,224 to Klahr, which discloses a high-speed signal processing apparatus for mathematical processing of a sequence of pulse signal time functions.

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force


A positive resist composition which comprises in admixture an alkali-soluble resin and, as a sensitizer, first and second quinone diazide sulfonic acid esters of a phenol compound, wherein. (a) the first ester is a quinone diazide sulfonic acid diester of a phenol compound having not less than three hydroxyl groups which exhibits a pattern area that is not less than 40% of all pattern areas corresponding to the sensitizer in a high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) pattern measured with a primary detector using UV light having a wavelength of 254 nm, and PA1 (b) the second ester is a quinone diazide sulfonic acid ester that is a complete ester of a phenol compound having not less than two hydroxyl groups which exhibits a pattern area corresponding to not less than 5% and is less than 60% of all pattern areas corresponding to the sensitizer in the HPLC pattern.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a resist composition which has high .gamma.-value and high film thickness retention.
2. Description of the Related Art
A composition containing a compound having a quinone diazide group such as a naphthoquinone diazide group, a benzoquinone diazide group, etc. and an alkali-soluble resin finds use as a positive resist, because upon exposure to ultraviolet rays, the quinone diazide group decomposes to form a carboxyl group whereby the originally alkali-insoluble composition becomes alkali-soluble. A condensation product of a phenol compound (e.g. trihydroxybenzophenone, tetrahydroxybenzophenone and so on) with a quinone diazide compound is used as a sensitizer.
However, particularly with integrated circuits, miniaturization has proceeded with a rise in the integration level, which results in demands for formation of patterns of submicron order and more excellent resolution (high .gamma.-value). As a result, the conventional compositions cannot improve the .gamma.-value to the desired level.
For example, if the amount of quinone diazide group is increased to improve the .gamma.-value, serious problems such as deterioration of sensitivity and increase of residues after developing arise.
Therefore, the improvement of the .gamma.-value is limited.
To achieve better resolution, high film thickness retention as well as the high .gamma.-value is desired.

Resist composition comprising a quinone diazide sulfonic diester and a quinone diazide sulfonic complete ester


A protective device for an onboard electronic equipment includes a vehicle body reinforcing member that is arranged around the electronic equipment, and of which each end is fastened to an onboard fixed member, and in which force required to unfasten one end is less than force required to unfasten the other end, and a protective member that is mounted to a facing surface of the electronic equipment that faces the vehicle body reinforcing member such that, when the electronic equipment moves to the vehicle body reinforcing member side due to receiving force from a side of a vehicle body, the protective member will contact the vehicle body reinforcing member before the electronic equipment does.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a protective device for electronic equipment that is mounted in a vehicle and arranged around a vehicle body reinforcing member.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, various electrical equipment has come to be mounted in vehicles. A large number of technologies to protect such electrical equipment, even when tremendous force is applied to the vehicle due to a vehicle collision, have been proposed. For example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-097052 (JP 2001-097052 A) describes technology in which an inverter is arranged so as to rotate while being guided by a suspension tower, when the inverter abuts against the suspension tower due to a collision, in order to minimize the impact transmission toward the rear and prevent harnesses from breaking Also, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-262673 (JP 2006-262673 A), Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-154757 (JP 2009-154757 A), Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-262894 (JP 2005-262894 A), Japanese Patent Application Publication No.
2007-290479 (JP 2007-290479 A), and Japanese Patent No. 4269848 also describe technology for protecting onboard parts and the like when a vehicle collision occurs.
However, many of these technologies mainly presume a case in which the front of a vehicle collides with an object. A case in which the side of a vehicle collides with a pole or the like, such that force is received from the side of the vehicle has not been given sufficient consideration.
For example, in a hybrid vehicle, onboard electronic equipment such as an inverter may be mounted in an engine compartment or the like. Also, inside the engine compartment, vehicle body reinforcing members and members for reinforcing the rigidity of the vehicle body may be arranged to the inside of the electronic equipment. In this situation, if the side of the vehicle collides with a pole or the like such that the vehicle receives force from the side, the electrical equipment moves and collides with a vehicle body reinforcing member. In this case, vehicle body reinforcing members are usually extremely rigid, so the impact of the collision is unable to be absorbed and as a result, the wall surface of the electrical equipment collides with the vehicle body reinforcing member may become damaged.

Protective device for onboard electrical equipment


A standby phase target time is determined with reference to a table according to a read engine load and vehicle speed. A standby phase real time is then measured, and a learning correction value is calculated and stored. In a next shifting operation, a value that is found by adding the learning correction value to a hydraulic pressure command value in the previous shifting operation is used as a new hydraulic pressure command value. This learning correction is performed in small regions where the vehicle speed increases with the throttle opening being substantially constant. This accurately compensates a change in characteristics of a hydraulic system without being affected by a rapid change in torque or the like.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a shift control system of an automatic transmission for vehicles.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An automatic transmission for vehicles achieves a plurality of gear positions providing respective predetermined gear ratios by engaging and disengaging engagement devices such as clutches and brakes combined with planetary gear mechanisms and actuated by hydraulic pressure.
To engage the engagement device, hydraulic pressure applied to the engagement device must be controlled in such a manner as to quickly complete a shifting operation while preventing a shift shock.
Accordingly, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2000-81125, for example, discloses a shift control system that proceeds a shifting operation while maintaining a command value of hydraulic pressure supplied to an engagement device at a constant shelf pressure at the initial stage of an inertia phase wherein the gear ratio represented by the ratio of input revolutions to output revolutions of a transmission changes from a before-shifting gear ratio toward an after-shifting gear ratio, and provides feedback control such that an actual gear ratio is equal to a target gear ratio at the later stage of the inertial phase.
Incidentally, an engagement device has driving and driven friction elements that are engaged or disengaged by hydraulic pressure. Even if the supply of hydraulic pressure to the engagement device starts in response to a shifting command, the engagement of the friction elements cannot be started immediately. The friction elements cannot actually start engaging with each other until a hydraulic pressure chamber of the engagement device is filled with working oil. It is therefore necessary to pass through a standby phase before the gear ratio starts changing.
Usually, in the standby phase, a hydraulic pressure command value is increased once to a high level in response to a shifting command at a time t0, and is then maintained at a low level for a predetermined period of time after the time t1 as shown in FIG. 8. The hydraulic pressure command value is then increased at a predetermined inclination from the time t2 to a time t3 when the gear ratio starts changing. The above-mentioned inertia phase lies after from the time t3 downward.
The time t2 is supposed to be a point in time when the hydraulic pressure chamber is filled with hydraulic fluid, and a broken line indicates an actual value of hydraulic pressure.
Upon completion of filling in the hydraulic pressure chamber, a surge S occurs in the actual value of the hydraulic pressure applied to the hydraulic pressure chamber with respect to hydraulic pressure command value in the standby phase from the time t0 to t3.
If the hydraulic pressure command value is too large in the standby phase, the actual filling is completed before the time t2 as shown in FIG. 9(a), and a shock occurs due to a great surge S resulting from a great difference between the hydraulic pressure command value and the hydraulic pressure actual value.
On the other hand, if the hydraulic pressure command value is too small in the standby phase, the filling is not actually completed when the hydraulic pressure should be increased toward an inertia phase starting point according to the hydraulic pressure command value as shown in FIG. 9(b), and this increases a period of time required for shifting.
A conventional shift control system, however, provides feedback control only in the inertia phase, and thus, a shock may occur or a shift time may be shifted in a shifting operation due to the above described phenomenon in the standby phase. This deteriorates the commercial value of the automatic transmission.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a shift control system of an automatic transmission that is capable of properly controlling hydraulic pressure in a standby phase of an engagement device and quickly carrying out a shifting operation while preventing the occurrence of a shock.
To accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a hydraulic control system of an automatic transmission which outputs a hydraulic pressure command value increased to a high level, maintained at a low level for a predetermined period of time and then increased at a predetermined inclination until a gear ratio starts changing and engages an unengaged engagement device in response to a shifting command for shifting from a first gear ratio to a second gear ratio according to an operating state, the hydraulic control system comprising: standby phase target time setting means for setting a target time from an output of the shifting command until the gear ratio starts changing due to the supply of hydraulic pressure to the engagement device; standby phase real time measuring means for measuring a real time until the gear ratio starts changing due to the supply of hydraulic pressure to the engagement device after the output of the shifting command; correction value calculating means for calculating a correction hydraulic pressure value based upon a difference between the target time and the real time; and hydraulic pressure command value correcting means for correcting the hydraulic pressure command value by the correction hydraulic pressure value in a next shifting operation.
According to the present invention, the correction hydraulic pressure value is calculated based on a difference between the target time set by the standby phase target time setting means and the real time of the standby phase, and the command value of the hydraulic pressure applied to the engagement device is corrected by the correction hydraulic pressure in the next shifting operation. This compensates a change in characteristics of a hydraulic system for the engagement device, and prevents the occurrence of a surge shock and a shift delay.
In one preferred form of the present invention, the standby phase target time setting means sets a target time in each small region defined by an engine load and a vehicle speed, each small region where the vehicle speed increases while the engine load is substantially constant.
Since the standby phase target time setting means sets the target time when the operating state lies in a small region where the engine load is changing at a substantially constant rate and the vehicle speed is increasing, i.e. when the operating state is stable, there is no affection by a great change in revolutionary speed and a change in torque caused by a rapid change in operating state. This enables learning correction of a standby phase time by precisely detecting a change in characteristics of the hydraulic system and accurately correcting the hydraulic pressure command value.
In another preferred form of the present invention, the higher the vehicle speed is, the longer is the set target time.
By this, it is possible to correspond to the characteristics of the filling of hydraulic fluid pressure in the engagement device in a normal shifting operation. This surely prevents the occurrence of a surge shock and a shift delay.
In yet another preferred form of the present invention, the hydraulic control system further comprises: oil temperature detecting means for detecting an oil temperature; wherein the hydraulic pressure command value correcting means corrects a predetermined basic hydraulic pressure command value by the correction hydraulic pressure value; and the standby phase target time setting means sets the target time according to the oil temperature detected by the oil temperature detecting means.
With this feature, it is possible to control the shifting operation according to the effect of the viscosity, etc. resulting from the temperature of hydraulic fluid.
In yet another preferred form of the present invention, the lower the oil temperature is, the larger is the set basic hydraulic pressure command value. In yet another preferred form of the present invention, the lower the oil temperature is, the longer is the set target time. In yet another preferred form of the present invention, the lower the oil temperature is, the larger is the set correction hydraulic pressure value.
With the basic hydraulic pressure command value, the target time, or the correction hydraulic pressure value being determined to be larger, longer, or larger for a lower oil temperature, the delicate and accurate shifting operation can be achieved.
In yet another preferred form of the present invention, the next shifting operation includes a shifting operation outside the small region where the target time used for calculating the present correction hydraulic pressure value is set.
Since the correction hydraulic value is determined according to a change in characteristics of the respective components in the hydraulic system concerned with the engagement device, the hydraulic pressure command value can be corrected by directly using the correction hydraulic value for shifting in an operating state outside the small region that is used for calculating the correction hydraulic pressure value.

Shift control system of automatic transmission


A scale removing formulation designed to remove scale build-up on metallic working surfaces, the scale being conventional and composed of calcium salts and iron oxides from aqueous systems such as boilers, cooling towers, heat exchangers, and the like, while those systems are in service. The present invention utilizes a synergistic blend of a chelant, polymeric conditioners and a gluconate. Principle components of the formulation of the invention include a chelant, polymeric conditioners, a gluconate, a triazole, and sodium sulfite. The gluconate is utilized as an inhibitor for ferrous metal surfaces, with the triazole being utilized as an inhibitor for non-ferrous metal surfaces. The sodium sulfite is employed for removal of dissolved oxygen.

Water utilization and containing systems such as boilers, cooling towers and heat exchangers are notoriously susceptible to scale build-up and formation due to the presence of impurities in the water. Such impurities are normally the water hardening compounds, such as the various calcium salts and iron oxide found in most water supplies, domestic and commercial. Scale build-up on heat transfer surfaces in the aforementioned equipment causes much expense to the owner as well as possible exposure to dangerous conditions for those persons located near such equipment. Scale build-up decreases the rate of heat transfer through the surfaces, and hence contributes to an overall loss of efficiency as well as increased energy costs. Scaled heat transfer surfaces are susceptible to corrosion beneath the scaled area since corrosion control agents are unable to effectively contact the metal surface. Furthermore, scale acts as an insulator, resulting in inefficient heat transfer. This condition leads to both increased fuel costs and decreased system efficiency. System component failures can occur due to the higher than normal temperatures at the heat transfer surfaces. Repair costs of component failures include labor, replacement parts cost, and plant down-time. Experience has shown that the use of sophisticated water pre-treatment techniques or careful chemical treatment do not always preclude the possibility of scale formation.
The primary components of most water impurity caused scales in the equipment mentioned above are calcium salts (e.g. calcium carbonate, calcium orthophosphate, calcium sulfate and calcium bicarbonate) and iron oxides. These compounds are present in most domestic and commercial water supplies, having been found both in surface and subterranean water sources.
The present state of the art scale prevention includes the use of chelants, polymeric conditioners and gluconates as sequestering agents. Chelants such as tetrasodium ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) and trisodium nitrilotriacetate (NTA) stoichiometrically sequester calcium and iron ions. Stoichiometric treatments require significant concentrations to prevent scale formation, particularly when the water source contains substantial quantities of calcium and iron ions. Gluconates and polyelectrolytes are normally threshold treatments. Threshold treatments are generally effective in controlling large numbers of ions per unit of treatment, and the economy of using such threshold treatments is readily apparent.
Scale removal is normally accomplished by descaling with acid treatments. Organic acids such as citric and sulfamic or mineral acids such as hydrochloric are frequently used to remove scale of the type mentioned above. However, in acid descaling, the system must be shut down, drained, acid cleaned, rinsed, drained and retreated. Acid descaling thus requires either waiting for a convenient time to shut down operations or possibly interrupting production schedules on an emergency basis to achieve cleaning. Either alternative is known to be costly. Since draining of the system is often required, an added cost is the replenishing of chemical treatment of the water, once the system is clean.


A volatile memory device includes a memory cell array, a command decoder, a self-refresh circuit, and a register. The command decoder is configured to decode a self-refresh entry command, a self-refresh exit command, and a register read command based on external command signals received from outside the volatile memory device. The self-refresh circuit is configured to automatically refresh the memory cell array during a self-refresh mode which be entered in response to the self-refresh entry command and be exited in response to the self-refresh exit command. The register is configured to store an accessible state in response to the self-refresh exit command, and output the stored accessible state in response to the register read command. The accessible state indicates whether or not the memory cell array is ready to be read or written.

This disclosure relates to a volatile memory device, and more particularly, to a volatile memory device performing a self-refresh, and a memory controller used with the volatile memory device performing a self-refresh.
Volatile memory device, such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM), is refreshed periodically to prevent loss of data. A self-refresh mode refers to a mode in which the volatile memory device is refreshed through a timer to reduce power consumption. When the volatile memory device is in the self-refresh mode, an external controller does not know the state of the volatile memory device. Thus, external controller may send a self-refresh exit command to the volatile memory device to exit from the self-refresh mode, stand by for a predetermined time, and then output a valid command. Latency after the self-refresh exit command typically increases with an increase in a capacity of the volatile memory device. Therefore, the latency of the volatile memory device may need to be reduced.

Volatile memory device and memory controller

Samsung-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do


A digital measurement device including a personal computer on which a four port multiplexer is mounted to provide connections to a vernier calliper, an inside calliper, an outside calliper and a height gage. A central processing unit based communication interface card is mounted in the personal computer to be in electrical connection with the multiplexer for serving as a transducer to receive output signals from the vernier calliper, inside calliper, outside calliper and height gage and transmit the signals to the personal computer to have the signals processed in the personal computer.

Conventionally, measuring instruments provide no digital or analog electrical output and the readings of the measurement instruments have to be read visually and recorded manually by users. It usually takes time and labor to do the reading and recording of the measurement data.
To overcome such an inconvenience in handling the readings of the conventional measured instruments, digital measurement instruments were developed to provide a direct connection with a computer system so as to eliminate the need of reading measurement result by eyes and recording it by hand. The digital measurement devices currently available in the market are very expensive and during operation, they allow only one channel to be activated each time. Besides, the state-of-art digital measurement instruments generally comprise a single chip architecture which limits the programmability and memory expandability thereof.
Due to the prevalent use of personal computers, it is therefore desirable to provide a digital measurement device which is embodied in a personal computer architecture, incorporating therein communication interface circuitry and peripheral interface circuitry, to provide the digital measurement device with easy programmability, memory expandability, low manufacturing cost and high efficiency and simultaneous activateablity of four or more than four channels for transmission and receipt of data.

Industrial Technology Research Institute


The relative dispositions of the shear cylinder, fabric rest and ledger blade of a textile fabric shearing machine may be inspected and any necessary adjustments thereof may be precisely measured and controlled by the present inspecting apparatus which comprises a linear guide rail mounted to the frame of the shearing machine in precise axially parallel relation to the shear cylinder and a carriage mounted on the rail for linear movement therealong, wherein the carriage is equipped with a detection tool, e.g., a feeler arm assembly, selectively articulable and manipulable into a plurality of dispositions for traveling surface contact with the fabric rest or ledger blade to detect and identify irregularities in linearity or relative disposition to the shear roll or to one another.

The present invention relates generally to machines for shearing pile-type textile fabrics and, more particularly, to the inspection and adjustment of the relative settings of operative components of such machines.
The basic structure and operation of textile fabric shearing machines is well known and has not changed significantly in recent years. Basically, textile shearing machines have a machine frame on which a shear cylinder, typically equipped with a plurality of helically or spirally extending shear blades projecting outwardly from the cylinder periphery, is mounted for driven rotation. A traveling length of a pile or plush textile fabric is trained through the machine about a series of guide rolls and is presented to the rotating periphery of the shear cylinder for cutting of the pile surface of the fabric by passing the fabric over an elongate cloth or fabric rest which extends in a stationary disposition on the machine frame alongside the periphery of the cylinder. An elongate ledger blade is similarly mounted on the frame alongside the cylinder periphery adjacent the fabric rest. The ledger blade has an arcuate surface conforming to the periphery of the cylinder, which surface terminates at a sharpened edge extending in shear cutting relation along the periphery of the cylinder at a close spacing to the fabric rest. In operation, as a pile or plush fabric is passed over the fabric rest, the fabric rest acts to cause the plush or pile surface of the fabric to extend into the nip area between the cutting edge of the ledger blade and the peripheral cutting blades of the shear cylinder so as to be severed to a desired degree determined by the relative spacing and dispositions of the cylinder, ledger blade and fabric rest.
To ensure uniform shearing of the plush or pile surface of the fabric, it is important that the fabric deflecting surface or edge of the cloth rest and the cutting edge of the ledger blade be precisely linear and parallel both to one another and also to the axis of the shear cylinder. Otherwise, the surface of the fabric may be irregularly sheared to differing pile heights, producing second quality fabric or even rendering the fabric totally useless. While conventional shearing machines provide adjustment mechanisms by which the relative dispositions of the shear cylinder, the cloth rest and the ledger blade can be selectively adjusted, the adjustment mechanisms typically are relatively crude and uncalibrated and, further, it is difficult to accomplish uniformity in the relative dispositions of the cylinder, fabric rest and ledger blade across the entire width of the shearing machine.

Apparatus for inspecting settings on a textile fabric shearing machine


N-[4-(3-Amino-1H-indazol-4-yl)phenyl]-N′-(2-fluoro-5-methylphenyl)urea·¼ Ethanolate Crystalline Form 1, ways to make it, formulations comprising it and made with it and methods of treating patients having disease using it is disclosed.

N-[4-(3-Amino-1H-indazol-4-yl)phenyl]-N′-(2-fluoro-5-methylphenyl)urea (ABT-869) belongs to a family of protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) which catalyze the phosphorylation of specific tyrosine residues in cellular proteins. Aberrant or excessive PTK activity has been observed in many disease states including benign and malignant proliferative disorders and diseases resulting from inappropriate activation of the immune system.
Crystallinity of solvates of ABT-869 may effect, among other physical and mechanical properties, their stability, solubility, dissolution rate, hardness, compressibility and melting point. Because ease of manufacture and formulation of ABT-869 is dependent on some, if not all, of these properties, there is an existing need in the chemical and therapeutic arts for identification of crystalline forms of ABT-869 and ways to reproducibly make them.


Methods, devices, and computer program products are disclosed for conserving bandwith. If a presence of at least one individual is detected, then a stream of data is delivered to the multimedia device. If the presence of at least one individual is not detected, then the stream of data is degraded to conserve bandwidth.

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

Presence detection in a bandwidth management system


A hyperbolic ion trap is provided that includes a glass ring electrode and first and second glass end-cap electrodes. Hyperbolic surfaces of the electrodes are coated with a conductive material. The glass ring electrode and glass end-cap electrodes are formed by conforming glass substrates to a refractory mandrel and establishing hyperbolic surfaces thereon using vacuum and heat. Mass spectrometers including a glass hyperbolic ion trap are also provided as well.

Mass spectrometry is used for quantitative elemental analysis, identification of chemical structures and the determination of molecular weight and/or composition of mixtures. Mass spectrometry can be used to ascertain the molecular weights of molecules or the identity of components of a sample, based on the detection of a fragmentation pattern of ions produced when the material is ionized.
Mass spectrometry involves the formation of ions from analyte molecules, the separation of the various ions according to their mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) and the subsequent generation of a mass spectrum obtained from the separated ions as a result of their having passed through an electric field, a magnetic field or a combination thereof. In practice, positively and negatively charged ions are formed from a sample of molecules using, for example, electron impact, chemical ionization, atmospheric pressure ionization, fast atom bombardment, thermospray or electrospray techniques. The ions are accelerated to form an ion beam. Discrete mass fractions contained within the ion beam are then selected by a mass analyzer, such as a single-focusing or double-focusing mass analyzer, a time-of-flight mass analyzer or a quadrupole mass filter.
A mass spectrum of the ions can thus be produced and detected, providing a molecular fingerprint of the analyte molecule. The spectrum conveys information regarding the molecular weight of the molecule and, if fragmentation occurs during ionization, information characteristic of the position and bonding order of molecular substructures of the analyte molecule. In this way, a mass spectrum allows for the identification of molecules or compounds present within a sample.
An ion trap detector is a three-dimensional analog of a quadrupole mass filter, in which ion formation, storage and scanning operations may be performed within a single chamber. Typically, mass scanning is controlled by a radio frequency (rf) signal applied to a centrally located circular ring electrode disposed between two end-cap electrodes which are held at ground potential. Ions that have been formed inside the ion trap, or introduced therein from an associated ionizing means, are stored within the ion trap. Scanning operations can be conducted using a number of known methods to mass analyze stored ions. Ion traps can be used for conducting complex chemical and biochemical analyses of compounds, wherein high sensitivity, high mass range for molecular weight determination, and the capability for both mixture analysis and structural evaluation are important.
The conducting surfaces of the ring electrode and the two end-cap electrodes in an ion trap are ideally hyperbolic in cross section. The hyperbolic conducting surface of the ring electrode provides a first set of hyperbolic surfaces (Hyperbola set 1), and the hyperbolic conducting surfaces of the end-cap electrodes provide a second set of hyperbolic surfaces (Hyperbola set 2). The cross-sections of the two sets of hyperbolic surfaces should be complementary, and follow the general equations EQU Hyperbola set (1): r.sup.2 /(r.sub.0).sup.2 -z.sup.2 /(z.sub.0).sup.2 =1,
and EQU Hyperbola set (2): r.sup.2 /(r.sub.0).sup.2 -z.sup.2 /(z.sub.0).sup.2 =(-)1.
The machining settings for "r" and "z" that are used to fabricate the hyperbolic surfaces can be obtained using the Laplace condition EQU (r.sub.0).sup.2 =2(z.sub.0).sup.2,
with EQU r.sup.2 -2z.sup.2 -(r.sub.0).sup.2 =0;
and EQU r.sup.2 -2z.sup.2 +(r.sub.0).sup.2 =0.
The hyperbolic ring electrodes and end-cap electrodes of contemporary ion traps are typically fabricated from solid metals, such as stainless steel, using machining settings derived as explained above. Stepped surfaces result that are then finished using fine polishing. The selection of particular (r.sub.0) values depends upon the amplitude and frequency of the rf power supply to be employed and the desired mass range for detection. Once the metal electrodes have been machined, they must be insulated and spatially registered with each other using posts, washers and bands made from an insulating material such as ceramic to form an ion trap assembly. The high precision required of the complex machined hyperbolic surfaces result in high manufacturing costs. Further, the need to provide numerous external supports to assemble the ion traps, such as expensive ceramic insulating and/or registering components, increases material cost and results in labor intensive assembly of contemporary metal ion traps.
Accordingly, there remains a need in the art to provide an alternative ion trap electrode set which can be readily manufactured with high precision hyperbolic surfaces and assembled into a self-registering ion trap assembly.

Hyperbolic ion trap and associated methods of manufacture


The invention provides a generally cylindrical, releasable interlocking arrangement comprising a lower portion having an inwardly-directed rim at its upper end, and an upper portion having outwardly-directed resilient members at an outer periphery thereof. The two portions snap-fit into one another and are mutually rotatable. The second portion consists of a flexible ring-shaped element with the resilient members extending longitudinally and radially thereof, an outer element that receives the resilient members in slots in the outer periphery thereof, and a third element that engages with the outer element and retains the resilient members in the slots. The two portions of the interlocking arrangement may be secured within respective cylindrical housing parts of a grinding device, in particular a pepper mill, with a drive member of a grinding mechanism passing freely through the lower portion and engaging with the upper portion of the arrangement.

Pepper mills, for example, are known in a generally cylindrical form provided as two compartments that are longitudinally retained together but which may be rotated relatively to each other in order to grind peppercorns that are stored therein so as to dispense the ground pepper therefrom. The two parts of the dispenser have to be releasable to replenish the stock of peppercorns. In one known pepper mill, a generally cylindrical peppercorn container is provided is closed at its bottom end by a grinding mechanism with a drive shaft extending upwardly from the grinding mechanism. A closure cap fits onto the top of the cylindrical container, and the drive shaft, which is screw threaded at its upper end, engages with and passes out through the cap such that a nut can be screwed thereonto so as to secure the cap to the container. While the cap is longitudinally secured to the cylindrical container, relative rotation can take place therebetween which has the effect of rotating the drive shaft to operate the grinding mechanism so as to dispense pepper from the container.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a releasable interlocking arrangement so that two portions thereof can be secured together whilst being relatively portable.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a condiment dispenser, and in particular, a pepper mill or grinder, in which two housing parts thereof, for example, a reservoir and a closure cap, are secured together by such a releasable interlocking arrangement.


An active memory element is provided. A bipolar memory two-terminal element includes polarity-dependent switching. A probability of switching of the bi-polar memory element between a first state and a second state decays exponentially based on time delay and a difference between received signals at the two terminals and a switching threshold magnitude.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to memory devices, and more specifically, to bi-polar memory switching elements.
2. Description of the Related Art
Modern electronics has evolved through a series of major hardware developments such as transistors, integrated circuits, memories, and microprocessors. This has led to ubiquitous programmable electronic machines. Owing both to limitations in hardware and architecture, such electronic machines are of limited utility in complex, real-world environments, which demand an intelligence that has not yet been captured in an algorithmic-computational paradigm. As compared to biological systems, for example, such programmable electronic machines are less efficient by a factor of one million to one billion in complex, real-world environments.

Stochastic synapse memory element with spike-timing dependent plasticity (STDP)

International Businesss Machines Corporation


A computer system having two busses which are shared by one or more processors, one or more memories, one or more input/output channels and a bus control mechanism. One of the busses is used for the transmission of original messages from the processors and/or I/O channels to the memories or the bus control mechanism. The other bus is used for the transmission of reply messages by the memories or the bus control mechanism to the senders of original messages requiring a reply. The bus control mechanism includes a first control means for controlling priority and usage of the first bus and a second control means, independent of the first control means, for controlling reply message traffic over the second bus. The reply message control means is arranged to handle reply message traffic on a priority basis and a time availability basis so as to prevent hang up of the reply message bus.

This invention relates generally to data processing systems and more particularly to a computer system in which a number of units, including input/output (I/O) devices, one or more processors and a memory, communicate with one another over a common electrical bus.
Many contemporary computer system products have been designed to operate with a common electrical bus architecture in which all units connected with the bus send and receive messages, including address, data and control information, by means of a single set of signals. Such a system can be easily updated or enhanced as improved units, such as memory, I/O devices, processors and the like, become available, thereby increasing the useful life of the product. Such an enhancement can be made with a minor design effort involving an interface of the improved unit to the common bus. That is, the entire computer product, including hardware and software does not have to be redesigned to take advantage of improved performance characteristics of advanced memories, I/O devices, processors and the like.
In such common bus systems a unit generally obtains control of the bus by means of a bus request and bus grant procedure controlled by a bus control mechanism according to a prearranged priority scheme. Upon obtaining control, a unit is permitted to communicate with another unit by means of a set of fixed messages called bus commands. For example, an I/O device having data to be stored in the memory, upon obtaining use of the bus, sends a message directed to the memory consisting of the data, the address where it is to be stored and a memory write command. The memory upon sensing the command and, provided it is not busy with a prior request, captures the data and address information from the bus and performs the memory write operation. This memory write command is exemplary of a number of commands or messages which are unidirectional in nature and generally can be transmitted or completed in one transfer cycle of the bus such that the bus can thereafter be used by any of the system units for other communications.
Another group of commands or messages in such common bus systems are bidirectional in nature in that one unit sends a message (requesting message) to another unit requesting the other unit to answer back with a reply message at a later time. Exemplary of this type of message are memory read operations, call interrupt operations and the like. For example, in a memory read operation, an I/O device or a processor sends during a first bus transfer cycle a message consisting of a memory read command and a memory address. The memory interprets the command as a request for data to be read from memory at the received address and then returned to the sending unit. One way of handling this situation is to allow the sender to retain control of the bus until the memory has read and returned the data to the sender. This procedure is, however, unsatisfactory because a typical memory cycle is generally much longer than a bus transfer cycle such that the bus could be hung up (dedicated) with the memory read operation for a number of bus transfer cycles.
One solution to the hangup problem is to require the sender of the message to include therein its identity or bus address. This allows the memory to capture the memory address and the user's address, perform the required data read operation and return the data during a later bus transfer cycle to the original sender by using the saved sender address. The bus can therefore be free to handle other communications during the intervening time. Although this solution, which is exemplified in a system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,993,981 improves the system throughput, there is further room for improvement as the bulk of the communications on the common bus consist of messages requesting a reply and the corresponding reply messages.
In prior art arrangements, reply messages tend to be returned in the same time sequence in which the original requesting messages were transmitted. Such an arrangement is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,015,246 in which the reply messages for read memory commands are returned over a set of data leads, separate and independent from another set which is devoted to original message traffic. This alleviates the original message bus hangup problem discussed above but does so at the expense of hanging up the reply bus (until the reply is transmitted). Moreover, the reply bus is dedicated to a single type of message traffic (memory to processor) and is therefore rather inflexible.