A unitary balanced-inductor system for use in the search head of an electronic metal detector, having a transmit coil, a smaller, preferably concentric cancel coil of opposite polarity, and a yet smaller receive coil inductively decoupled from the combined transmit and cancel coils. The cancel coil preferably has a smaller number of turns and is located in a slightly higher plane than is the transmit coil, while the receive coil may be placed in a slightly lower plane than the transmit coil, to provide adequate sensitivity to the presence of conductive or magnetic objects separated from the search head without unacceptably high sensitivity to similar objects relatively close to the search head. A closed loop load coil located between portions of the transmit coil and the cancel coil may be used to provide an inductive load on the transmit coil thereby further reducing the sensitivity of the search head to targets in close proximity to the load coil.

This invention relates to metal detection equipment and particularly to the arrangement of inductor coils in a search head for a metal detector.
Commonly known electronic metal detectors have a unitary search head having one or more inductor coils and means for providing a time-varying magnetic field. Detection of a conductive or magnetic object generally depends on a change in the voltages induced in a receive coil by a transmit coil of the search head, the change in voltage being caused by a change in the mutual induction between the transmit and receive coils when an object enters the field of the transmit coil.
Metal detectors typically include a signal generator which supplies a sinusoidally time-varying voltage to a transmit coil to produce a time-varying electromagnetic field which typically may be unmodulated, amplitude-modulated, or pulsed. Usually a receive coil, which may include two portions of opposing polarity located in a known spatial relationship to the position of the transmit coil, is connected to a detector circuit which amplifies and evaluates the voltage, if any, induced within the receive coil by the transmit coil. The presence of any conductive or magnetic material within the changing flux field of the transmit coil alters the basic relationship between the transmit coil and the receive coil, causing a detectable change in the voltage induced in the receive coil.
it is common in the search head of such metal detectors for a receive coil or coils to be located overlapping a larger annular transmit coil, in a spatial relationship with the larger coil such that the receive coils are in null positions relative to the fluctuating magnetic field of the transmit coil in air. The presence of nearby metallic or magnetic objects causes anomalies in the shape of the flux field of the transmit coil, thus causing voltages to be induced in the receive coil or coils.
In more sophisticated electronic metal detectors the phase relationship between the transmitted signal and the voltage induced in the receive coil may be determined and used to help identify the object which has altered the normal electromagnetic flux pattern. When a conductive metallic object is within the field, the changing magnetic field of the transmit coil generates, within the object, eddy currents whose characteristics depend on the size, shape and material of the object. These eddy currents are out of phase with the current in the transmit coil, and the eddy currents themselves produce magnetic fields which are detectable as anomalies in the net magnetic field in the vicinity of the metal detector search head.
Non-conductive magnetic materials in the vicinity of the search head also cause anomalies in the magnetic field which produce detectable changes in the current in the receive coil, because of the hysteresis of thier induced magnetism produced by the time lag for rotation of magnetic dipoles of the material in response to the transmit coil's changing field. The phase relationship between the transmitted signal and the detectable current induced in the receive coil resulting from these phenomena characterize the object which has caused an anomaly in the magnetic flux pattern.
A problem in previously known electronic metal detectors is that in order to increase the sensitivity of a metal detector to the presence of desirable target objects, such as coils, rings, watches, and jewelry, it has been necessary to increase the strength and the size of the magnetic field of the transmit coil. Since the strength of the field established by a particular coil decreases rapidly with increasing distance from the coil, a field which can be used to detect distant objects is considerably stronger near the transmit coil than is necessary to detect nearby objects. As a result, in order to detect the very weak responses induced in the receive coil by distant targets, it has been necessary to use associated receiver and detection circuitry which has a very wide dynamic range in order to avoid overloading of the detection circuitry by the response of nearby objects. While numerous arrangements of transmit and receive coils have been disclosed by the prior art, all of those configurations are subject to the limitation that the sensitivity required to detect distant targets results in excessive sensitivity to nearby targets.
An obstacle often encountered while using electronic metal detectors to detect desirable targets such as coins, rings, and the like is that unwanted magnetic materials occur in an area being searched, either as native mineral deposits or as the remnants of completely corroded iron objects which are normally of no interest. By the use of an electronic phase analysis technique the receiver circuitry of a metal detector may be made non-responsive to the distributed non-conductive magnetic particles in the ground while maintaining a high sensitivity to conductive targets, providing an ability to ignore the response of the receive coil to the presence of such distributed magnetic material.
Another problem in the use of previously known metal detector search coil arrangements in conjunction with such phase analyzing circuitry is that, for targets very close to the surface over which the detector search head is moved, as the conductors of a transmit coil pass over a metallic target or a magnetic mineral particle the induced response signal in the receive coil may undergo a change in its phase relationship to the signal applied to the transmit coil because the vertical component of the magnetic field inside the transmit coil is opposite to the vertical component outside the coil.
In a search head having multiple transmit coils of different polarities such phase changes may be greater or may be separately associated with each transmit coil of the search head. In electronic metal detectors which include circuitry designed to identify response-producing objects by evaluation of the phase relationship between the transmitted signal and a received response, such a changing response to shallow or close-by objects may confuse the target identification circuitry. With such confusion an undesirable object detected by such a search head may cause an indication of the presence of a desirable object, resulting in search time wasted in locating a worthless object.
Known metal detector search head coil arrangements designed to provide improved sensitivity to the presence of desired target objects include McDaniel U.S. Pat. No. 3,882,374, Wheeler U.S. Pat. No. 2,451,596, and Penland U.S. Pat. No. 3,471,773. The McDaniel patent discloses an inductor arrangement in which three coplanar, concentric coils form a balanced inductor system. A transmit coil is located concentrically within one receive coil and a second receive coil is concentrically located within the transmit coil. The two receive coils are connected in series opposition and balanced by varying the size of the transmit coil, and by adjusting the number of turns in the inner receive coil, so that there is an inductive linkage between the transmit coil and each one of the receive coils alone, but a net decoupling of the transmit coil from the combined opposing receiving coils occurs in the absence of magnetic or conductive materials. As the search head approaches such materials, however, the receive coil response increases very rapidly, and thus an associated detection circuit may be overloaded by the receive coil response to magnetic minerals, preventing detection of desirable objects.
Wheeler U.S. Pat. No. 2,451,596 discloses a coaxial, coplanar arrangement of three coils in which a first coil has the largest diameter, and a second coil, connected in series opposition to the first coil, is the smallest of the three, these first and second coils being transmit coils. A third, receive, coil of intermediate size is located in a coaxial coplanar relationship with the first two, the sizes and numbers of turns of the three coils being chosen to produce substantially zero inductive coupling of the third coil to the first and second coils. In another coil arrangement disclosed by Wheeler the relative positions of the coils need not be coplanar so long as the third coil is located in the surface of a sphere of "zero normal component of magnetic-field intensity", or "neutral sphere", thus being somewhat decoupled from the combined fields of the first and second coils. According to Wheeler the first transmit coil will have no more turns, and generally fewer turns than the opposing and smaller second transmit coil.
The coplanar arrangement disclosed by Wheeler would produce a relatively rapid increase in strength of response to a target as the distance between the target and the search head decreases. An additional disadvantage of the Wheeler coil arrangement is that because of the separation between the opposing transmit coils of the Wheeler patent an apparent change in phase relationship between the signal applied to the transmit coil and the response to the object induced in the receive coil may occur as the search head moves over an object, which would cause difficulty in identification by evaluation of response phase angles.
Penland U.S. Pat. No. 3,471,773 discloses a search head coil arrangement in which a relatively large diameter transmit coil includes a smaller loop of opposite polarity and equal number of conductor turns which extends inwardly from the circumference of the transmit coil. A small receive coil is located slightly below the plane of the transmit coil, overlapping the small opposite polarity loop so that the receive coil is near a null position relative to the combined transmit coil loops. The inwardly protruding loop decouples the receive coil from the transmit coil and produces low receive coil output in the presence of non-metallic objects or undersirable metallic objects. While this coil arrangement provides good sensitivity to desired objects, the Penland device, like those of McDaniel and Wheeler, is subject to the problem of over-sensitivity to presence of detectable objects very close to the search head, and because of the asymmetry of the coil arrangement of Penland, target identification circuitry associated with the Penland search head may have to deal with different phase responses to the same target in different positions relative to the search head. Additionally, while the Penland coil system is balanced to a near zero receive coil current in the absence of magnetic or metallic material, it becomes unbalanced and therefore less sensitive to desirable metallic objects when operating in an environment containing unevenly distributed magnetic minerals.
Another problem with many prior art search heads such as that of Penland is that, because of asymmetical construction, variations in ambient temperature where the search head is used may cause imbalance among search head components.
What is needed, therefore, is a metal detector search head coil configuration which provides sensitivity to the presence of metallic or magnetic objects distant from the search head, despite the presence of nearby magnetic minerals, and which has sensitivity to nearby objects which is not so great that nearby objects can overload receiving and detection circuity. Also, any change in phase relationship between the transmitted signal and the received response signal as the search head passes over a target object should be small enough that characteristic phase relationships produced by certain types of targets may be used for their identification. Moreover, the search head should not be adversely affected by changes in ambient temperature.

Coil arrangement for search head of a metal detector


A separator-diffuser for a gas turbine engine is disclosed wherein the diffuser includes axial walls which function as a guide vane stage for the oxidizer compressor. By incorporating the last, or downstream, guide vane stage into the diffuser structure, the overall axial length and bulk of the gas turbine engine may be significantly reduced. The separator-diffuser has a wall defining a generally annular oxidizer flow passage extending around the central axis of the gas turbine engine, the passage having an oxidizer inlet located downstream of the last rotor stage of the oxidizer compressor so as to enable the oxidizer to pass from the oxidizer compressor into the oxidizer flow passage. A generally annular separator member is located in the oxidizer flow passage downstream of the oxidizer inlet so as to divide the oxidizer flow passage into at least two separate oxidizer flow paths, each flow path having a separate oxidizer outlet. The oxidizer outlets are positioned so as to direct the oxidizer towards one of the annular array of fuel injection heads. A plurality of circumferentially spaced apart, axially extending primary arms connect the separator member to the diffuser walls so as to support the separator within the oxidizer passageway and to serve as a guide vane stage for the oxidizer emanating from the oxidizer compressor.

The present invention relates to a separator-diffuser for a gas turbine engine, more particularly such a separator-diffuser having integral guide vanes.
Axial flow gas turbine engines typically comprise an oxidizer compressor consisting of a plurality of rotor wheels with a plurality of vane stages interposed between the rotor wheels. The guide vane stages guide the oxidizer flow into a generally axial flow path and through a diffuser which directs the oxidizer towards one or more fuel injection heads so that the oxidizer may be mixed with the fuel and ignited in a combustion chamber. In such gas turbine engines utilized as turbojet aircraft engines, it is known to provide two or more radially spaced, generally annular fuel injection head arrays which extend in annular fashion around the central axis of the turbojet engine. As is well known in the art, one annular array of fuel injection heads is used under low power conditions, while the other array of fuel injection heads is utilized in full power operating modes.
To ensure proper distribution of the oxidizer, typically air, a diffuser is located between the last guide vane stage and the fuel injection head arrays in order to direct portions of the oxidizer towards each of the annular arrays of fuel injection heads. Such known diffusers are located downstream of the final guide vane stage and upstream of the fuel injection heads. The oxidizer passing through the diffuser may also be directed such that portions bypass the fuel injection heads and, in known fashion, feeds the primary air zone of the combustion chamber and cools the walls of the combustion chamber.

Gas turbine engine having an integral guide vane and separator diffuser

Societe Nationale D'Etude et de Construction de Moteurs F'Aviation S.N.E.C.M.A.


The present invention discloses a separating and purifying (4R, 6R)-4-hydroxy-2,2,6-trimethyl cyclohexanone comprising the steps of:. reacting a diastereomer mixture of (4R, 6R)-4-hydroxy-2,2,6-trimethyl cyclohexanone represented by the formula (I) ##STR1## and (4S, 6R)-4-hydroxy-2,2,6-trimethyl cyclohexanone represented by the formula (II) ##STR2## with a reagent which reacts with the hydroxyl groups at least equimolar to the compound represented by the formula (II) to thereby convert the compound represented by the formula (II) into (4S, 6R)-4-hydroxy-2,2,6-trimethyl cyclohexanone derivative represented by the formula (III) ##STR3## (where R represents a group modifying the hydroxyl group) by modification with priority of the hydroxyl group in the formula (II), and PA0 separating the compound of the formula (I) from the compound of the formula (III) through the difference in solubility to water or an organic solvent. According to the invention, (4R, 6R)-4-hydroxy-2,2,6-trimethyl cyclohexanone is easily separated with a high yield.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to separation and purification of (4R, 6R)-4-hydroxy-2,2,6-trimethyl cyclohexanone, which is useful as a material for synthesis of optically active compounds such as pigments, from a mixture of (4R, 6R)-4-hydroxy-2,2,6-trimethyl cyclohexanone and its diastereomer (4S, 6R)-4-hydroxy-2,2,6-trimethyl cyclohexanone.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As a method of separating (4R, 6R)-4-hydroxy-2,2,6-trimethyl cyclohexanone from its diastereomer mixture with (4S, 6R)-4-hydroxy-2,2,6-trimethyl cyclohexanone, there has been known, among others, a method of separation by silica gel column chromatography, a method of separation by counter current distribution and a method of separation by crystallization (Japanese Patent Publication No. 7277/'83).
These separation methods, however, had a number of shortcomings such as requiring a large amount of silica gel and eluent and, in case of the counter current distribution method, a large amount of a highly dangerous solvent such as ether. In case of the crystallization method, a solvent such as ether and an extremely low temperature of approximately -70.degree. C. are required, the product obtainable by the crystallization method is poor and several times of recrystallization are essential, which results in a poor recovery percentage, and thus the method hardly can be said to be economical. Accordingly, there has been a strong need for a separation method industrially advantageous.

Chemical modification method of diastereomer and separation method thereof

Kanegafuchi Kagaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha


A method of forming a semiconductor layer is provided. The method includes forming a plurality of nanorods on a substrate and forming a lower semiconductor layer on the substrate so as to expose at least portions of the nanorods. The nanorods are removed so as to form voids in the lower semiconductor layer, and an upper semiconductor layer is formed on an upper portion of the lower semiconductor layer and the voids.

A semiconductor light emitting device is a semiconductor device capable of emitting light of various colors due to the recombination of electrons and electron holes at a junction between p-type and n-type semiconductor layers thereof when current is applied thereto. The semiconductor light emitting device has various advantages such as a relatively long lifespan, low power consumption, superior initial driving characteristics and high vibration resistance as compared with a filament-based light emitting device, such that demand therefor has been continuously increasing.
In particular, a group III nitride semiconductor capable of emitting blue light in a single wavelength region has recently come to prominence. In general, since a group III-element nitride such as gallium nitride (GaN), aluminum nitride (AIN) or the like has excellent thermal stability and a direct transition type energy band structure, the group III-element nitride has received considerable attention as a material for a photoelectric device in a wavelength range from blue to ultraviolet. In particular, blue and green light emitting devices using gallium nitride (GaN) have been applied to various devices in various fields of application such as large scale natural colored flat panel displays, traffic lights, indoor lighting devices, high density light sources, high resolution output systems, optical communications systems, and the like.
A group III-element nitride semiconductor layer is grown on a heterogeneous substrate, including: sapphire having a hexagonal structure, silicon carbide (SiC), silicon (Si), or the like; through a process, such as metal organic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE), molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), or the like. However, when a group III-element nitride semiconductor layer is grown on a heterogeneous substrate, cracks in the semiconductor layer or warpage thereof may occur and dislocation may be caused due to differences in lattice constants and coefficients of thermal expansion between the semiconductor layer and the substrate. Such cracks in the semiconductor layer, warpage, and dislocation may deteriorate characteristics of a light emitting device. Thus, a buffer layer has been used to alleviate stress due to differences in lattice constants and coefficients of thermal expansion between the semiconductor layer and the substrate.
However, even with the use of the buffer layer, defects of cracks being generated in the semiconductor layer and substrate breakage caused by the differences in lattice constants and coefficients of thermal expansion between the semiconductor layer and the substrate have still occurred.

Method of forming semiconductor layer and semiconductor light emitting device


An interlocking container for tattoo ink includes a body defining a reservoir for retaining ink and first and second spaced interlocking members, each having a particular size and shape. The members extend outwardly from the container and define a space therebetween adapted to receive a similarly shaped and sized interlocking member from another container. An assembly of containers arranged in many different configurations can be formed by interlocking multiple containers together.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to single use, disposable containers for tattoo ink and more particularly, to single use, disposable containers for tattoo ink having interlock structure which stabilizes the containers to reduce accidental tipping and permits the tattoo artist to organize the containers on their work surface in whatever manner that suits their creative process.
2. Description of Prior Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98
It is well known that the use of ink from the same container for multiple tattoo clients can result in the transfer of disease, even if the instruments used are properly sterilized. However, small amounts of ink of various colors may be required for a particular client and discarding containers partially filled with ink after each client is wasteful and expensive. As a result, I have developed a unique and inexpensive disposable ink container intended for single use only has been developed to eliminate the possibility of cross-contamination and at the same time reduce the costs involved in having fresh ink available for each client. That container is the subject of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/588,354, filed Aug. 17, 2012, entitled "Disposable Tattoo Ink Container" which is incorporated herein by reference.
Those single use containers have been designed to be travel safe and durable. They include an adhesive layer on the bottom of the container which allows the containers to adhere to a surface in the tattoo booth such that the containers cannot be accidently knocked over or moved out of position as the tattoo artist is working, while at the same time allowing the tattoo artist to have both hands free to create the tattoo. The containers have a plastic cap which fits snuggly on the container body to prevent the tattoo ink from being spilled or contaminated by the environment during transport and handling. The containers are also provided with structure which facilitates removal of the cap.
However, those containers cannot be easily moved around once the adhesive layer has adhered to the work surface. They do not have the ability to connect with other similar containers to form an assembly in which the containers can be organized in many different configurations on the artist's work surface. Those containers cannot be connected together to achieve additional stability to prevent being accidentally tipped over. Further, they cannot be moved as a unit relative to the work surface as if situated on a tray.
Accordingly, I have invented an improved form of the single use, disposable tattoo contained which has the ability to connect with other similar containers to form an assembly in which the containers can be organized on the work surface in different configurations, in which the containers and be taken apart and reassembled in different configurations, which provides a high degree of stability without the use of adhesive, and which be moved as a unit relative to the work surface as if the containers were situated on a tray.

Interlocking disposable tattoo ink container for tattooing, cosmetic tattooing and micro-pigmentation applications


A closure for closing plastic bags comprising a truncated, hollow cone having an opening extending therethrough for receiving the bunched neck of a plastic bag or the like. The cone is provided with a plurality of spaced-apart gripping fingers which engage the bunched neck of the plastic bag to prevent the cone from becoming detached from the bag. An optional weak section is provided in the closure to enable the closure to be selectively opened to remove the closure from the bag.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a closure device and more particularly to a closure for closing plastic bags or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many types of closures have been provided for closing the bunched end of a plastic bag or the like. Perhaps the most common type of closure is the twist tie type which consists of a thin wire embedded in an elongated strip of plastic or paper. While the twist ties are generally satisfactory and are fairly easy to use, the twist ties are easily dislodged from the bag and therefore do not provide a secure closure.
Another type of common closure is the "saw blade" type which is comprised of an elongated flat plastic member having an opening at one end thereof and a plurality of serrated teeth at the other end thereof which are adapted to be received in the opening at the other end of the device. These type of closures are more difficult to use and are not believed to provide a positive closure for the bag.
Other types of bag closures are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,997,943; 4,306,745; 4,835,820; 4,871,265; 4,887,835; 4,951,362; 5,109,576 and 5,199,794. All of the prior art closure devices are believed to suffer one or more shortcomings whether those shortcomings be convenience of use, durability, positive lock, expense, etc.


A conveyor system for moving loads, comprises including an overhead rail (11, 211) along which run motor-driven carriages (10), each carriage having a motor-driven wheel (13, 113, 213, 313, 413, 513) resting on the upper part of the rail and a frame (12, 15) ending on the lower part of the rail with a device (16) for supporting a load. The wheel (13, 113, 213, 313, 413, 513) has a rolling surface (22, 122, 222, 330) which rolls over a corresponding rolling surface (25, 129, 225) on the rail and also a gripping surface (23, 123, 223, 330) which grips a corresponding gripping surface (24, 128, 224, 324, 424, 524) of the rail. One of the gripping surfaces (23, 123, 223, 330 or 24, 128, 224, 324, 424, 524) has rigid gripping teeth (23, 123, 224, 330, 430, 530), while the other of the gripping surfaces (24, 128, 224, 324, 424, 524 or 23, 123, 223, 330) is made of elastically pliable material in order to receive an imprint of the teeth.

In the technique of overhead rail conveyor systems, of the type for conveying parts along assembly lines, the problems caused by the need to move along sloping sections are well known. In order to prevent any slippage of the driving wheel from leading to erratic or impossible movement on slopes, various solutions have been put forward, the most widely used being those of exerting intense preloading of the wheel by means of pressure rollers acting on the opposite side of the rail, and using racks and toothed wheels. The first solution gives rise to intense friction, which is unjustified when travelling on level sections, and is substantially inefficient for conveying heavy loads, or for steep gradients. The second solution ensures a driving thrust even for the heaviest loads, but presents serious problems at the beginning of upward sloping ramps. In fact, in order to cut costs, the racks are provided only on the sloping sections. Upon reaching the beginning of one of these sections, the toothed wheel therefore has great difficulty in meshing, resulting in wear and considerable noise. The general scope of this invention is to obviate the aforementioned problems by providing an overhead rail conveyor system in which the sloping sections can be easily traversed even with very heavy loads or steep gradients, without problems of fit and with relatively low costs.

Overhead rail conveyor system with improved traction having elastically deforming wheel or rail portions


A therapeutic agent for treating wounds having properties and actions different from those of growth factors and proteins inducing growth factors, which have strong therapeutic effect is disclosed. The therapeutic agent for treating wounds according to the present invention comprises monocyte chemotactic and activating factor or a variation thereof having a monocyte-attracting property or a derivative of said monocyte chemotactic and activating factor or said variation thereof.

Several factors having chemotactic properties to monocytes are known. Among these, monocyte chemotactic and activating factor (hereinafter referred to as "MCAF") also known as MCP-1 (monocyte chemoattractant protein-1) or GDCF (glioma-derived monocyte chemotactic factor), is a protein consisting of 76 amino acids, which has 4 cysteine residues. It is known that this protein has a strong chemotactic activity to monocytes and a strong monocyte-activating property.
Identification and gene cloning of MCAF, MCP-1 and GDCF are described in the following references:
1) K. Matsushima et al., J. Exp. Med., 169, 1485-1490, 1989; PA1 2) Y. Furutani et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 159, 249-255, 1989; PA1 3) E. A. Robinson et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 86, 1850-1854, 1989; and PA1 4) T. Yoshimura et al., FEBS Letters, 244, 487-493, 1989. PA1 5) N. Mukaida et al., Microbiol. Immunol. 36, 773-789, 1992. PA1 6) T. A. Mastoe et al., J. Clin. Invest., 87, 694-703 (1991) .
General descriptions of the protein are described in the following reference:
MCP-1 and GDCF described in the References 3) and 4) are the same substance as MCAF, described in the References 1) and 2).
It is known that MCAF strongly attracts and activates monocytes, and uses exploiting immunopotentiation and anti-tumor properties are suggested in the above-mentioned references. Further, as a general concept, it is known that monocytes which have gathered in a wound play a role in the natural healing of the wound. However, it is not known that MCAF has an activity to directly promote therapy of wounds.
It is known that several proteinous growth factors promote healing of wounds. For example, growth factors such as fibroblast growth factor (FGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor (TGF-.alpha., TGF-.beta.), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), endothelial cell growth factor (ECGF) and keratinocyte growth factor are expected to have therapeutic activities for wounds (Reference 6).
It was recently reported in U.S. Pat. No. 5,202,118 that interleukin-1 (IL-1) has a therapeutic effect for wounds.

Therapeutic agent for treating wounds using monocyte chemotactic and activating factor


The present invention provides an excitation control circuit and the electrically excited wind power system having the same. The excitation control circuit includes a plurality of full-power converters, each of which has a generator-side converter and a grid-side converter; a DC excitation module including a plurality of DC-DC converters; and a control module, controlling or switching any DC-DC converter working normally, and controlling excitation switch turning ON or turning OFF.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to the field of wind power generation technology. More particularly, the present invention relates to an excitation control circuit and an electrically excited wind power system including the excitation control circuit.
2. Description of Related Art
Currently, with the increasingly serious energy crisis and environmental problems, countries all over the world are vigorously developing renewable energy business, such as wind power generation and solar electrical energy generation. Taking the wind power generation as an example, from a stall-regulated wind power system to a variable-speed-and-constant-frequency (VSCF) wind power system, and from a wind power system with a gearbox to a direct-drive wind power system without the gearbox, the installed capacity of wind power generation in China grows rapidly. Specifically, with a continuously increasing unit capacity of a current wind power generator, the VSCF technology gradually plays a dominant role. In a current megawatt wind turbine generator, the gearbox is a component with a relatively high damage rate, so that the direct-drive wind power system without the gearbox receives more emphasis and development due to its advantages of low noise, long turbine operation time, and low cost for operation and maintenance.
In general, a direct-drive wind power system mainly has two manners including permanent magnetism and electrical excitation. However, currently, the rare earth material is expensive, which directly increases the manufacturing cost of a permanent-magnet wind power system. Comparatively, the electrically excited wind power system gradually becomes the main trend in research and development for technical professionals.
In the prior art, the structure of an electrically excited wind power system is to rely on the DC bus of a single set of back-to-back converters (formed from a generator-side converter and a grid-side converter) to provide the input voltage of a DC-DC converter, and to output an appropriate DC voltage by the DC-DC converter through a bucking process, so as to supply power to the excitation device. However, when the DC-DC converter is out of order, the wind power generator is very likely to be suddenly de-excited to cause the torque to disappear, such that the converter cannot provide a brake torque to the wind power generator, thus damaging components in the wind power generation system. In another structure of an electrically excited wind power system, through the AC voltage of the power grid, a main excitation switch, an industrial frequency transformer and a controlled rectifier bridge are sequentially arranged to output a rectified DC voltage which is then directly provided to a DC-DC converter, and thereafter an appropriate DC voltage is outputted by the DC-DC converter through a bucking process so as to supply power to the excitation device. However, the industrial frequency transformer has a big volume and high cost. More seriously, when the voltage of the power grid has voltage drop or power down, the DC input voltage of the DC-DC converter disappears, and the wind power generator is suddenly de-excited, thus causing an abrupt torque change.
In view of the foregoing, there more or less exists the condition that the wind power generator is suddenly de-excited to cause the torque to disappear in the conventional electrically excited wind power system, which significantly reduces the reliability of electrical excitation and the operation stability of the system. In view of this, those in this industry are endeavoring to find ways to design a reliable excitation control circuit for improving the working stability of the excitation device and ensuring that the magnetic filed not to disappear suddenly.

Excitation control circuit and electrically excited wind power system having the same


A surgical cutter, basically designed for but not limited to laparoscopic surgery, contains a slotted housing and a linearly reciprocating blade which moves parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing within the slot. The housing also contains a shaped opening near the distal end, the surfaces of this opening being generally perpendicular to the plane of the slot in the housing. Portions of the shaped opening surfaces co-act with the cutting edge of the blade to confine the material to be cut so that it is confined, supported, and cleaved as the blade moves through the plane of the co-acting supporting surface in the opening. The cutting edge of the blade is enveloped by the housing at both ends of the cutting stroke so that the instrument can be safely inserted into and used within the patients body without spurious cutting or damage to the blade.

A. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to surgical cutting instruments, and particularly to cutting instruments for laparoscopic surgery, where the instrument is inserted and withdrawn through a very small tube, which is inserted through a very small laparotomy.
B. Problems in the Art
A wide range of cutting needs exist in surgery. Different instruments have been developed to attempt to meet these needs. Examples include scalpels, scissors, wire loop cutters and saws.
These type of cutters have generally satisfied the types of cutting procedures needed in most types of surgery. However, as medical procedures change and become more sophisticated, the types of cutters and methods for using them change.
Recently, a combination of technology and techniques have allowed some surgical procedures to be performed less traumatically and invasively with respect to the patient's body. In other words, instead of requiring a large incision, or combination of incisions to more less open up the patient to gain access to interior organs, vessels, or areas, some procedures can be accomplished through a combination of very small openings. Technology such as fiber optic lighting, laparoscops, and very small cameras are utilized to allow the surgeon to view internal areas of the body through a very small tube either directly or on a television screen. The small tube is usually referred to as a cannula or a trocar. The primary advantage to this type of surgery is a substantial decrease in the amount of time needed for the patient's recovery. Large incisions through substantial parts of the patient's body require weeks and months of recovery time. If the invasion into the body is made through small holes or openings, however, this can be reduced quite significantly.
A very practical problem regarding instrumentation is created, however. The size of the small opening into the patient limits the size of the instrument that can be moved to the location within the patient's body. It also affects the mechanics of how the instrument can be operated.
Still further, such procedures represent a drastic shift in the frame of reference of the surgeon. The surgeon must view a television screen instead of viewing directly the surgical location, the instruments tips and the surgeon's interaction with the instruments. This impacts on what type of instruments are best for these procedures.
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is an example of this type of surgery. Small incisions of only 5 and 10 MM (millimeters) are made in the patient's abdomen. Gallbladder removal involves cutting the ducts leading to the gallbladder. A laparoscope combined with a small camera is inserted through a 10 MM trocar and the internal area of interest is then televised for the surgeon.
There is risk in cutting requirements, such as the ducts associated with the gallbladder. It is imperative that the surgeon isolates and positively identifies the duct. The duct must be held in the isolated position during cutting, and this is difficult to accomplish with scissors.
Other types of laparoscopic surgery, where instruments are inserted through a small incision, or even simply surgery which requires reliable cutting of small portions, may experience these same problems. Less invasive types of surgery therefore has created the need for a better type of surgical cutting instrument.
It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide a surgical cutting means which improves over or solves the deficiencies and problems in the art.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a surgical cutting means which provides a reliable cutting action for specific types of cutting requirements of small items or portions of items.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a surgical cutting means which is easy to operate, and is capable of holding the element to be cut during cutting.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a surgical cutting means which shrouds the sharp cutting blade to prevent damage to the blade during insertion and removal through a small trocar.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a safe means of inserting the instrument into the patient thus preventing spurious cutting.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a shroud after cutting so that the sharp blade will not cut anything beyond the cutting stroke.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a surgical cutting means which isolates the object to be cut before the cutting stroke is executed.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a surgical cutting means which can be inserted deep into the body cavity, operated, and withdrawn, without damage to the patient.
Still further object of the present invention is to provide a surgical cutting means which is easy to maintain and repair.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a surgical cutting means which is efficient, economical, and durable.
These and other objects features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent with reference to the accompanying specification and claims.


A multi-mode high efficiency air conditioning system for storing energy and for utilizing the stored energy is provided. The air conditioning system includes these four elements which define the entire system: a condensing unit, a dual-mode indoor cooling coil assembly, a refrigerant and air management assembly and an energy storage assembly. These four elements act in concert to perform the functions of the four principal modes of operation which are ice building, ice transfer, stage 1 cooling and stage 2 cooling. The ice building and ice transfer modes typically take place during electrical off-peak periods. The stage 1 and stage 2 cooling modes typically take place during electrical on-peak periods. When connected to an indoor air fan, the air conditioning unit provides cooling at an energy efficiency ratio (EER) of 12 or better over a 24 hour period during a 95 degree Fahrenheit day.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to air conditioning units and more specifically to systems providing stored energy for use during periods of peak electrical demand.
2. Description of the Related Art
Reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 4,735,064 issued to Harry Fischer and to U.S. Pat. No. 5,255,526 issued to Harry Fischer. Both of these patents utilize ice storage to shift air conditioning loads from on-peak to off-peak electric rates to provide economic justification. A need exists not only for load shifting from on-peak to off-peak periods, but also for increases in the capacity and efficiency of a given compressor so that the combination results in an overall increase in EER or energy efficiency ratio. This increase in overall efficiency is a governmental goal that controls the Public Service Commissions' relationship with the electric utility companies. The governmental goal of reducing energy usage greatly favors nighttime use of electricity for the following reason: First, low demand during nighttime hours allows electric utility companies to use their most efficient equipment. For example, high efficiency electric generators, typically stream-driven, produce a kilowatt-hour (KWH) for approximately 8900 BTU. In contrast, a peak hour high capacity electrical generator, such as a gas turbine, can use as much as 14,000 BTU to produce the same KWH of electricity. Second, for cooling systems, operating the system at night affords a higher efficiency by lowering the temperature of the condensing unit.

Multi-mode high efficiency air conditioning system


The invention provides a printing apparatus which can adjust printing position more accurately. The apparatus has a printing unit, a pattern printing unit to print a first pattern and a second pattern so as to form a third pattern, and an adjustment unit to perform an adjustment regarding position of dots to be printed by the printing unit based on an optical reflectivity of the third pattern. The second pattern is substantially the same as the first pattern and is shifted relative to the first pattern in a predetermined direction. The first and second patterns each include a plurality of patterns having different cyclic natures in the predetermined direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printing apparatus such as an inkjet printing apparatus and a method for adjusting printing position thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Japanese Patent No. 3554184 discloses a printing position adjustment method in an inkjet printing apparatus. More specifically, a "reference pattern" is printed by a reference nozzle array, after which a plurality of "shifted patterns", which are printed from a different nozzle array whose printing position is shifted a little at a time from the reference pattern, are printed over the reference pattern. Then based on the amount that the printing position of the shifted pattern is shifted and the position of the inflection point of the optical reflectivity, the amount of shift in the landing position is calculated and the discharge timing that the printing head discharges ink is corrected.
In the method disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3554184, in order to achieve a highly-accurate adjustment of the landing position, the calculation error must be reduced by matching the approximation curve and the optical characteristics well. Therefore, it is preferred to calculate an approximate expression from an optical reflectivity that is near the inflection point and within a smaller shift range. However, by using a change of the amount of shift within a smaller range, the change of the optical reflectivity is also smaller. As a result, the effect of a disturbance such as noise cannot be ignored and sufficient accuracy cannot be obtained.

Printing apparatus and method for adjusting printing position thereof


Fused quartz containing both titanium dioxide and cerium oxide as UV absorbing dopants has been found to be particularly effective for lamp envelopes for high temperature lamps such as halogen-incandescent lamps and metal halide arc discharge lamps which emit both UV and visible light radiation. The codoped quartz transmits visible radiation and absorbs a substantial portion of the emitted UV radiation. The UV absorption is far superior at temperatures above 500.degree. C. and the codoped quartz does not react with the fill within.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to lamps which operate at high temperatures and have a light source which emits both visible and UV light radiation which is surrounded by a UV absorbing quartz envelope codoped with both ceria and titania. More particularly, this invention relates to lamps comprising a UV absorbing fused quartz envelope codoped with ceria and titania which is at a temperature of at least 500.degree. C. during lamp operation and which encloses a source of light which emits both UV and visible light radiation.
2. Background of the Disclosure
Fused silica or fused quartz as it is also known is used as a light-transmissive, vitreous envelope material for high intensity lamps, such as gas discharge lamps and halogen-incandescent lamps, because of its excellent transmission of visible light and its ability to withstand high operating temperatures of up to about 1100.degree. C. Almost all arc discharge lamps and many high intensity filament lamps, such as tungsten-halogen lamps, emit ultraviolet (UV) radiation which is harmful to human eyes and skin and which also causes fading of fabrics, plastics and paint and yellowing and/or hazing of many types of plastics employed in lamp fixtures and lenses. Fused quartz is an excellent transmitter of UV radiation and therefore provides no shielding against the emission of such radiation by an arc or filament light source enclosed within a lamp envelope made of fused quartz. As a result, lamps have been developed comprising a light source which emits both UV and visible light radiation enclosed within a vitreous envelope of fused quartz or glass containing UV-absorbing materials, or dopants as they are called, so that the lamp envelope will, of itself, absorb the UV radiation emitted by the light source. Illustrative, but non-limiting examples of such efforts in the past are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,895,839; 3,148,300; 3,848,152; 4,307,315 and 4,361,779. However, there is still a need for a vitreous material useful for lamp envelopes which are heated to a temperature above 500.degree. C. during lamp operation and which will absorb UV radiation at wavelengths from 200-380 nm along with minimal absorption of visible light radiation from 380-750 nm. Such a material should also be a homogeneous, colorless, glassy material and dopants present should be of a type and in an amount which minimizes or avoids chemical reactions between the doped lamp envelope and metal halides and other chemicals present in both an arc discharge lamp and a halogen-incandescent lamp. The ability of the material to be used at temperatures in excess of 500.degree. C. should not be impaired by the dopants or the material will not be useful for high temperature lamps.

High temperature lamps having UV absorbing quartz envelope


Mechanisms for preventing a distribution of a failure caused by a sequence of instructions in a distributed client server environment are provided. These mechanisms comprise executing the sequence of instructions on a first client, the instructions being provided by a management control server and being indicative of maintenance actions. These mechanisms may further comprise determining by the first client a failure caused by the sequence of instructions, and generating a warning message by the first client based on the determined failure. The warning message may comprise an indicator for the sequence of instructions. In addition, these mechanisms may comprise sending the warning message for informing a second client about the sequence of instructions causing the failure in order to prevent a distribution of the failure.

The invention relates generally to mechanisms for preventing a distribution of a failure and a preventing module. The invention relates further to an operating system, a computer system, a data processing program, and a computer program product.
In the field of distributed server client environments, systems management may be used for administration of distributed systems including (and commonly in practice) computer systems. The client-server model may be used for a distributed application that partitions tasks or workloads between providers of a resource or service, i.e. servers, and service requesters, i.e. clients. Often, clients and servers communicate over a computer network on separate hardware, but both client and server may reside in the same system.
Such systems may use a policy management, for example, as disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0180490 A1. In this document, a system and method for providing policy-based protection services is disclosed. As a new threat is understood, one or more protection techniques are considered for protecting an asset. The organization assigns responsibilities to carry out or protect the asset and a policy is constructed. After the policy is developed, a plan is put into action to protect the asset, and a policy implementer is developed and/or purchased, distributed, configured, and managed. Finally, the policy, its enforcement, and its effectiveness, are reviewed to determine any changes needed, and new requirements are discovered, closing the lifecycle. An embodiment of the disclosure provides a method for sharing policy-based analysis, including: identifying at least one of a threat, a vulnerability, and a deficiency in a policy to produce a policy requirement; analyzing the policy requirement to produce at least one of a new policy element and revised policy element; and sharing the at least one of a new policy element and revised policy element.
Nowadays, the compliance of assets to specific policies is a critical aspect for many companies. Several products on the field deal with such issues by following several approaches either centrally orchestrated by a server or, using a policy approach where each agent will be in charge of ensuring compliance with a distributed policy.
One example of a policy-based architecture is the so-called BigFix® technology architecture formerly introduced by BigFix® Inc. Key components of the BigFix® service delivery platform include the BigFix® Agent, BigFix® Server and Console, BigFix® Fixlet messages, and BigFix® Relays. The BigFix® Platform creates a communication and management infrastructure for delivery of security and system management services to networked desktop, laptop/notebook and server computers. By assigning responsibility for reporting and management actions on endpoints themselves, the BigFix® platform may enable visibility and management of information technology (IT) infrastructures of a big amount of desktop, mobile and server computers. The BigFix® Agent resides on managed devices and acts as a universal policy engine capable of delivering multiple management services. A single BigFix® Agent can execute a diverse and extensible array of management services that range from real-time client status reporting, to patch and software distribution, to security policy enforcement.
The BigFix® architecture is used to keep computers in a desired state and to leverage the Fixlet concept. A Fixlet—in the remaining document being referred to as "fixlets"—is an object with a relevance statement and an associated action used to install software, updates and patches, as well as configuring computer properties. The relevance is evaluated on the clients in order to see whether or not the fixlet is applicable.
In a distributed environment, several fixlets may be enabled daily and sometimes in sequence. The installation sequence obviously may depend on specific external conditions that are mainly based on the reachability of each client in a specific timeframe or the dynamic population of specific logical groups. For that reason, it may happen that a particular installation sequence could cause a fault on a specific system that may depend on the specific installation sequence.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0019835 A1 discloses an operating system error handling mechanism. The described systems and methods may be utilized for single or multiple processor computer systems to handle errors in a coordinated manner between hardware and any firmware or software layers. A computer system includes a non-volatile memory and at least one processor. A firmware error handling routine is stored on the non-volatile memory. The firmware error handling routine is for handling errors. Each of the at least one processors detect errors. Each processor executes the firmware error handling routine on detecting an error. The executed firmware error handling routine handles the error. The executed firmware error handling routine also logs error information to a log. The systems and methods provide for coordinated error handling that enhance error recovery, provide error containment and maintain system availability.
However, when an error or fault occurs at one client caused by a sequence of instructions or fixlets, the same error may occur at further clients. This may lead to a propagation of the error when the same sequence of fixlets should be executed by a plurality of clients. Thus, there may be a need for an improved method of preventing distribution of errors caused by such instructions.

International Business Machines Corporation


A magnetic snap fastener for releasably coupling a first material to a second material. The fastener includes a first fastening assembly affixable to the first material, the first fastening assembly including a first ferromagnetic eyelet having an integrally formed flange and protrusion magnetically coupled to a first toroidal-shaped magnet, the first fastening assembly disposed in a first water-resistant enclosure, and a second fastening assembly affixable to the second material, the second fastening assembly including a second ferromagnetic eyelet having an integrally formed flange and protrusion magnetically coupled to a second toroidal-shaped magnet having an oppositely poled orientation relative to the first magnet, the second fastening assembly disposed in a second water-resistant enclosure. The first and second fastening assemblies providing magnetic coupling to releasably couple the first and second materials.

Magnetic snap fasteners are commonly used to provide convenient releasable coupling of two or more components and/or materials in items such as garments, clothing, fashion accessories, bags, purses, shoes, and the like. Magnetic snap fasteners typically include two portions, each attached to a component or base material, that are designed to magnetically mate with each other. Accordingly, the magnetic mating of the two portions can facilitate releasable coupling of the two components and/or materials to which the magnetic snap fastener is attached.
In past practice, magnetic fasteners have typically been either mounted on the surface of the materials or hidden inside a seam or in a lining. The magnetic circuits of hidden fasteners have generally either been to channel the magnetic flux around the outside of a solid magnetic disk, or through the center of a toroidally shaped magnetic disk. Fasteners which conduct their magnetic flux through a backplate and a central pin which extends through the central bore of the toroidal shaped magnet have been constructed of an assembly of components wherein the backplate and central are separate elements assembled together.


Text-to-speech based reminder system. One or more servers within a communication network include hardware and software which allows the system to direct the collection of data about reminder, the translation of the reminder from text-to-speech, and the forwarding of the reminder to a recipient via an appropriate delivery method. The invention makes use of delivery methods such as e-mail, voicemail, or an existing telephone connection to communicate the speech reminder to a recipient. The recipient need not view a display screen to understand the content of the reminder, and needs no locally installed reminder software.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is related to automated reminder systems. In particular, this invention concerns an automated reminder system which operates within a computer and/or telecommunication system. More particularly, this invention is related to such a reminder system which uses text-to-speech conversion to provide speech reminders.
2. Description of the Problem Solved
As life within our society becomes more complex, the average person must remember more and more things. Many different types of reminder systems have been devised in order to make remembering easier. Among the oldest and simplest is the "daily planner" booklet system in which a user writes down appointments, meetings, and other information that he or she must remember. The advent of computers in recent decades has produced numerous new types of reminder systems. Early mainframe computer systems often included a scheduling or reminder application into which a user typed data related to appointments and meetings. Using the clock in the computer system, the application could remind a user of an appointment or an event by displaying a reminder on the screen at an appropriate time.
In recent years, miniaturized electronics and personal computers have made possible reminder systems with even more capabilities. A so-called "personal data assistant" can keep track of numerous events, and remind a person of an upcoming event with an audible tone at a specific time. The personal computer software market is flooded with numerous personal assistance programs and scheduling programs which perform a reminder function on a personal computer, either stand-alone or networked. These programs typically allow a user to type in reminder data ahead of time. The program will then determine the time using the computer system clock and give the original or a second user a reminder of an upcoming event a specified number of minutes before the time of the event.
The present-day systems described above have some basic limitations. Most importantly, unless a recipient can remember what a reminder is about, a recipient must visibly observe a display screen once he or she hears an audio alerting signal. Also, a user must have some sort of specialized hardware in order to utilize such a reminder service. For example, the user either needs a personal data assistant or a personal computer. Additionally, a user must have direct access to specialized software which performs the reminder function. What is needed is a system which provides a way for users to gather full information about the reminder event without having to look at a display screen. Such a system would be especially useful if it allowed reminders to be generated for and communicated to users who do not have specific reminder capable hardware and software available at their personal workstation.


The present invention relates to a lithium ion cathode material and a lithium ion battery. The chemical formula of the cathode material is: LiaNixCoyMnzMbO2, wherein 1.0≤a≤1.2; 0.00≤b≤0.05; 0.30≤x≤0.60; 0.10≤y≤0.40; 0.15≤z≤0.30; x+y+z=1; M is one or two or more selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ti, Al, Zr, Y, W, Mn, Ba and rare earth elements; wherein the scanning electron microscope observation shows that, the cathode material consists of secondary particles agglomerated by 10 or less primary single crystal particles and secondary particles agglomerated by more than 10 primary single crystal particles, and wherein, the area percentage of the secondary particles agglomerated by 10 or less primary single crystal particles is greater than 80%, and the area percentage of the secondary particles agglomerated by more than 10 primary single crystal particles is less than or equal to 20%. The lithium battery prepared by the cathode material of the present invention has good cycling performance, the preparation method thereof is simple, and can be conveniently and massively produced.

Due to its advantages of high energy density, long cycling life, low cost, beneficial for the light weight of electric vehicles and so on, ternary cathode material has become the mainstream choice of electric vehicle drive power, and there will be a greater market space in the future.
At present, most of the ternary materials in the market are secondary spherical particles which are sintered by precursors obtained by coprecipitation. In the process of coating and cold pressing, the secondary spherical particles are easily broken, the doping layer is destroyed, and the primary particles without doping easily lead to the battery high-temperature storage swollen, and affect the cycle performance. During the process of high temperature cycling, with the increase of cycle number, the primary particles of agglomerated form may be separated, which leads to the increase of internal resistance, the increase of side effect in internal battery, and the rapid decay of the cycle. Thus, there is a need to develop new lithium ion cathode material.
Chinese patent Application No. 201410327608.5 disclosed a high voltage single crystal nickel cobalt lithium manganate cathode material and preparation method thereof. Doped nickel-cobalt-manganese hydroxide precursors were prepared by co-precipitation method, then the precursors were pre-calcined at high temperature to obtain nickel-cobalt-manganese oxide. After mixing with the lithium salt and the doping element, the nickel-cobalt-manganese oxide was sintered and coated to obtain the high voltage single crystal cathode material. Patent CN201410054279.1 disclosed a preparation method of high-density nickel cobalt lithium manganate cathode material. The ternary precursor was prepared by co-precipitation method, then the precursor was pulverized at high speed to obtain single crystal ternary precursor. After mixing with the lithium salt, the single crystal ternary precursor was sintered and pulverized to obtain single crystal ternary cathode material. Patent CN201110278982.7 disclosed a cathode material for lithium ion battery and lithium ion battery using the same. A nickel salt, a cobalt salt, a manganese salt and a single crystal morphology lithium carbonate were mixed to sinter and pulverize or a precursor of nickel-cobalt-manganese and a single crystal morphology lithium carbonate were mixed to sinter and pulverize to obtain single crystal cathode material. At the same time, the morphology of the cathode material in the observation of the scanning electron microscope is single crystal morphology rather than secondary spherical morphology.

Lithium ion battery cathode material and lithium ion battery


A system for obtaining digitized samples of an analog signal at a selectable rate, R. The system includes: a timing generator for producing a train of sampling pulses at a predetermined sampling rate, f.sub.s ; an analog to digital converter for producing a digitized sample of the analog signal in response to each one of the sampling pulses; a processor; and, a selector, for passing each Nth one of the digitized samples produced by the analog to digital converter, where N=f.sub.s /R to the processor. The selector includes a decimator, responsive to a signal, N=f.sub.s /R, representative of the ratio of the sampling rate, f.sub.s, to the digitized signal obtaining rate, R, for producing pulses at the rate, R=f.sub.s /N; and, a register for storing each Nth one of the digitized samples produced by the analog to digital converter, each one of such digitized samples being stored in response to a corresponding one of the pulses produced by the decimator. A radar system is provided wherein range cells signals of the video signals produced in response to a train of transmitted pulses are obtained at a rate, R, related to the range cell resolution selected by the radar system. An analog to digital conversion system is fed by the video signal. The analog to digital conversion system includes: a timing generator for producing a train of sampling pulses at a predetermined sampling rate, f.sub.s ; an analog to digital converter for producing a digitized samples of the analog signal in response to each one of the sapling pulses; and, a processor section for processing each Nth one of the digitized samples produced by the analog to digital converter.

This invention relates to analog to digital conversion systems and more particularly to analog to digital conversion systems required to provide digitized samples of an analog signal over a wide range of selectable rates.
As is known in the art, various systems, such as radar systems, require, in application where digital signal processors are used to process radar return signals, conversion of the analog radar returns signals into corresponding digital signals. For example, radar signal processors are used for determining the range and/or relative velocity, or velocities, associated with one, or more, objects. Radar pulses are transmitted at a rate referred to as the pulse repetition frequency (PRF). During a predetermined time after pulse transmission, i.e., the expected time of arrival of the pulses, radar return signals are sampled. Based on the difference in time between the time of pulse transmission and the time at which the sample is taken, each one of the samples would correspond to a range, or distance between the radar system antenna and the object producing the sampled return. The rate at which the samples are taken following each transmitted pulse is directly related to the desired range resolution. The process is referred to as range gating, where each time a sample is taken represents a range cell, or gate, of the return produced by the object at the range corresponding to the time the sample is taken. As is also known in the art, in some applications it is necessary to have the radar system operate over a broad range of pulse repetition frequencies. Further, in some applications, it is necessary to have the samples taken at many different sampling rates for a broad range of range resolutions. One system used to produce the digitized samples includes an analog to digital converter. With such converter, a sample of the video signal is taken and converted into a corresponding digital sample in response to a sampling signal. In order to accommodate the variation in sampling/conversion rates, the analog to digital converter has to be capable of operating over this relatively large range of sampling/conversion rates.


The invention provides a waterproofing membrane which does not require a removable release sheet but which nevertheless bonds to post-cast concrete and facilitates water-tight sealing at membrane-to-membrane overlaps. The waterproofing membrane comprises a carrier and pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) layers, an inorganic particle layer having particulate bodies which are partially embedded in the PSA and which have an average particle size less than the average thickness of the PSA layer, and an anti-submarining nano-silica-containing coating layer attached to un-embedded portions of the inorganic particles to prevent total embedding into the PSA when the membrane is rolled or unrolled, whereby water-tight seams are facilitated between overlapped portions of adjacently installed waterproofing membranes, and whereby the water-tight seam is achieved preferably using only detailing or waterproofing tape and without the additional use of a liquid primer, mastic, or other coating.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,453,405 and 8,713,897 of Wiercinski et al. (owned by the common assignee hereof) disclose a waterproofing membrane which is "pre-applied" by mounting it onto a building, form, or other surface, and then casting fresh concrete ("post-cast concrete") against its adhesive layer side. The membrane design of Wiercinski et al. involves the use of a carrier sheet, a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA), and white cement particles having particle size equal to or greater than the thickness of the PSA, such that a release sheet is not required for preventing PSA from sticking to the carrier sheet side when the membrane is rolled and unrolled. The absence of release sheet means that waste is avoided at the construction site. Eliminating the release liner means easier, faster application.
However, the present inventors believe that "pre-applied" membranes have a disadvantage. Because such membranes are installed with carrier layers facing against the installation surface (e.g., a wood form, a concrete mold), the outwardly-disposed particle-containing layers are facing towards the carrier layer of subsequently installed membranes which are overlapped at ends (side edges are sealed with 3″ PSA selvedge) to achieve monolithic protection in combination with a previously installed (adjacent) membrane. For applicators, this particles-to-carrier overlap requires extra caution, time, and effort during detailing. Sealant adhesives or mastic coatings together with suitable detailing or waterproofing tape (or strip) are usually required to ensure formation of a watertight seam along the overlapped edges of adjacent membranes.
Accordingly, the present inventors believe that a novel and inventive pre-applied-type waterproofing membrane is needed to ensure sealing and facilitate detailing at overlaps.

Facilitated detailing for pre-applied waterproofing membranes


A method of treating dredging spoils for salt contamination having the steps of passing the dredging spoils to a containment area, mixing a solution of calcium and nitrate ions with the dredging spoils, reacting the solution with the dredging spoils so as to form sodium chloride, and draining the liquid component and the sodium chloride from the containment area. The containment area is formed for the receipt of the dredging spoils and piping is extended from a dredge to the containment area so that the dredging spoils can be passed to the containment area. The solution of calcium and nitrate ions is pumped into the flow of dredging spoils toward the containment area. The step of draining includes installing a drainage tile into the containment area below a top surface of the containment area and passing the liquid component and the sodium chloride through the drainage tile to a liquid containment area. The liquid containment area may be the body of water from which the dredging spoils were taken.

The term "dredging" is commonly associated with procedures for excavating relatively large quantities of subaqueous materials. Dredging normally has four principal objectives: (1) to develop and maintain greater depth than naturally exists for canals, rivers, and harbors; (2) to obtain fill to raise the level of low lands and thus create new land areas and improved drainage and sanitation; (3) to construct dams, dikes, and other control works for streams and sea shores; and (4) to recover subaqueous deposits or marine life having commercial value, such as precious metals and minerals, shell fish for food and pearls, coral and sponges, sand and gravel, and fertilizer.
The material to be removed by dredging operations is usually derived from one of two sources or from a combination of both. In harbors at the mouths of rivers, quantities of silt are carried down in suspension and tend, partly because of the deceleration of the flow in the increased waterway available and partly because of the effects of increasing salinity, to be deposited at the mouth, usually the site of harbor works.
In areas in which the deposited silt is highly mobile and accumulates in considerable quantities, it can be economically removed by a suction dredge, which pumps water mixed with silt into hoppers. By adjustment of the capacity of the hopper to the rate of flow from the pump, the water can be made to remain in the hopper long enough to deposit most of the silt. Careful design of the pumping machinery is required to assume a continuous mixture of maximum silt with minimum water.
The early suction dredges generally operated from moored positions in the same manner as bucket-ladder dredges, but a less elaborate system of moorings generally sufficed because the levelling of the seabed could be left to occur naturally through the mobility of the material. A marked advance was achieved by the elimination of much of the lifting and laying of moorings through the development of the trailer suction dredge. The craft has the capacity to dredge while on the move and cruises up and down the waterway or other area, sucking up silt as it goes.
Dredges are characteristically designed to deliver their output either overside into attendant hopper barges or, in the case of self-propelled dredges, into hopper compartments incorporated in their own structure. These compartments are essential in the case of trailing suction dredges, but their value, in other cases, depends on the circumstances and the method of disposal of the spoils. When a long journey to the depositing area is involved, it is generally more economical to leave the dredge continuously at work and remove the spoil in separate barges. When the journey is short and the spoil is to be simply dumped, for which purpose the hoppers are provided with bottoms that fall open, then an economical work cycle between dredging area and spoiling ground, using one craft only, can frequently be established.
Dredged spoil is less and less often disposed of by dumping out at sea, a practice which was once almost universal. Instead, dredging spoils are being used with the reclamation of land from the sea and foreshore. This process has been stimulated by the rise in the value of the land so created and by the discovery that, in many instances, spoil taken out to sea frequently returns. A variety of procedures have been developed for the combined operation of dredging and reclamation. Where the area to be dredged and the area to be reclaimed are in close proximity, as often happens, the whole operation can be carried out by a single suction dredge pumping ashore through a floating pipeline. When, as is more often the case, there is a considerable distance between the two sides, transport in hopper barges is more economical. At the reclamation site, the barges can either be pumped out by a suction reclamation unit, or occasionally can dump their loads on the bottom; from there the material can be pumped ashore by the unit acting as a stationary suction dredge.
Unfortunately, one of the main problems with the reclamation of land by the use of the dredging spoils is the salinity of the dredging spoils. This is particularly the case where the dredging spoils are taken from a salt water or brine environment. The salt contamination of the silt, which is removed in the dredging operations, effectively prevents the use of such soil for effective purposes, such as for agriculture. It is extremely difficult to grow crops on salt contaminated soil. Normally, the dredging spoils will take approximately fifteen to twenty years to become naturally reclaimed. In the meantime, such dredging spoils are essentially dead land, unusable for virtually all purposes.
There are serious costs associated with the unloading of dredging spoils onto land. First, and foremost, there is the cost associated with the land itself. Whenever it is desired to reclaim the dredging spoils by placing them on land (as opposed to being dumped at sea), then an adequate area of land must be found. The land which is used in the dredging operations is often close to the harbor areas and is relatively expensive. Additionally, the continued dumping of the dredging spoils onto the land will effectively kill the previously viable land onto which it is dumped. Alternatively, if an area of land is used for the receipt of dredging spoils, and the spoils are removed from the land and loaded onto a barge, then there are extreme costs associated with the loading of the material onto the barge, for the use of the barge, and for the unloading of the barge. Often, taxes and other fees are required for those that chose to dump the dredging spoils onto the land.
Another important factor is that even when a land area is provided for the receipt of dredging spoils, there is continual leaching of the salt from the containment area. Any leaching of the salt from the containment area will effectively kill the land surrounding the containment area.
There have been various efforts in the past to use organics and fertilizers for the treatment of such dredging spoils. Although such organics are useful for the reclamation of the dredging spoils, the use of such organics and fertilizers is very expensive. The salt-contaminated dredging spoils will rot the organics and the fertilizers and also create methane gas problems. The salt, in the dredging spoils, will effectively kill the nutrients. Any clay particles in the silt of the dredging spoils will tend to attack and hold onto the salt by cation exchange. The reclamation of the dredging spoils requires approximately ten times the amount of fertilizers and organics than would be required for the reclaiming of salt-free dredging spoils.
Even when the dredging operation occurs in fresh water areas, such as rivers, streams, and lakes, there is still the problem of salt contamination. Often, there is a salt runoff that has accumulated on the bottom of the water over a period of time. The silts and clays at the bottom of the body of water will tend to receive any salts that are passed into the fresh water. As a result, the dredged silts will still have structural problems and dispersion difficulties.
In the past, there have no efforts to remove the salt contamination from the dredging spoils. A typical solution to the problem of salt contamination of dredging spoils has been simply to place large amounts of fertilizers and organics onto the dredging spoils. Occasionally, a layer of top soil has been placed over the dredging spoils in an effort to reclaim the area. This is counterproductive in that the top soil is often ruined by its close association with the salt contaminated spoils.
It is object of the present invention to provide a method which is effective for the removal of salt from the dredging spoils.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method that allows for the reclamation of the dredging spoils into a useful soil.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method that reduces salt contamination to areas surrounding the dredging spoils.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a method that is easy to use and cost effective.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the attached specification and appended claims.

Method for treating dredging spoils for salt contamination


A method of wrapping orderly groups of cigarettes arranged, in each group, in a number of superimposed layers, of which an outer layer is narrower than the adjacent layer and defines, in the relative group, at least one longitudinal lateral gap, the method providing for continuously feeding each group into a respective folding pocket, together with a sheet of wrapping material which is folded into a U inside the folding pocket and has a lateral portion projecting from the folding pocket; clamping the group on an end wall of the folding pocket, with the outer layer of the group facing outwards, by means of two end clamping members, each having an appendix arranged at a respective end of the longitudinal lateral gap; and folding the lateral portion of the sheet about the group and about the appendixes of the end clamping members to form a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped tubular wrapping.

Each group of the type defined above is normally wrapped by feeding it into a respective U-shaped folding pocket travelling along a given wrapping path and bounded by two lateral walls and an end wall. The group is fed into the relative folding pocket together with a sheet of wrapping material, which, on inserting the group inside the folding pocket, is folded into a U so that two opposite parallel lateral portions contact the lateral walls of the folding pocket, and respective end portions project from the folding pocket. The group is then clamped contacting the end wall of the folding pocket by two end clamping members before said end portions are folded about the group and the end clamping members to form a tubular wrapping.
The known wrapping method described above produces substantially perfect tubular wrappings, i.e. rectangular parallelepiped-shaped to assist follow-up wrapping operations, when the cigarettes, e.g. 20 in number, are arranged in a 7-6-7 configuration, i.e. in which the two outer layers are the same width and either wider than or the same width as the middle layer.
The same does not apply, however, when the layer facing outwards of the relative folding pocket is narrower than the adjacent layer, i.e. when the 20 cigarettes are arranged, for example, in a 6-7-7 configuration, or when, for tax or cost reasons, for example, the group contains fewer than 20 cigarettes, and the layer facing outwards of the relative folding pocket comprises fewer cigarettes than the adjacent layer. In which case, the narrower outer layer defines, with the adjacent layer, at least one longitudinal lateral gap (normally two opposite longitudinal gaps) where the end portion of the relative lateral portion of the sheet of wrapping material is not supported when folded onto the outer layer of the group, so that the resulting tubular wrapping is not of the desired rectangular parallelepiped shape.

Method of wrapping orderly groups of cigarettes


The invention provides an electroconductive paste comprising metallic particles, an inorganic reaction system, and an organic vehicle. The inorganic reaction system includes a lead-tellurium-magnesium composition of Formula (II): Pba—Teb—(Mgw—Cax—Sry—Baz)-Md-Oe, wherein 0<a, b, or d≤1, 0≤w, x, y, z≤1, w+x+y+z=c, at least one of w, x, y and z is greater than zero, the sum of a, b, c and d is 1, 0<c≤0.2, 0≤d≤0.5, a:b is between about 10:90 and about 90:10, (a+c+d):b is between about 10:90 and about 90:10, M is one or more elements, and e is a number sufficient to balance the Pb, Te, Mg—Ca—Sr—Ba and M components.

Solar cells are devices that convert the energy of light into electricity using the photovoltaic effect. Solar power is an attractive green energy source because it is sustainable and produces only non-polluting by-products. Accordingly, a great deal of research is currently being devoted to developing solar cells with enhanced efficiency while continuously lowering material and manufacturing costs. In operation, when light hits a solar cell, a fraction of the incident light is reflected by the surface and the remainder is transmitted into the solar cell. The photons of the transmitted light are absorbed by the solar cell, which is usually made of a semiconducting material such as silicon. The energy from the absorbed photons excites electrons of the semiconducting material from their atoms, generating electron-hole pairs. These electron-hole pairs are then separated by p-n junctions and collected by conductive electrodes applied on the solar cell surface.
Solar cells typically have electroconductive pastes applied to both their front and back surfaces. A front side paste, which typically includes silver, is screen printed onto the front side of the substrate to serve as a front electrode. A typical electroconductive paste contains conductive metallic particles, glass frit, and an organic vehicle. In some instances, the glass frit etches through an antireflection coating, such as a silicon nitride coating, on the surface of the silicon substrate upon firing, helping to build electrical contact between the conductive particles and the silicon substrate. On the other hand, it is desirable that the glass frit is not so aggressive that it shunts the p-n junction after firing. For example, glass frits which include relatively high amounts of lead oxide and bismuth oxide may damage the antireflection layer and degrade the p-n junction of the substrate. As a result, the electrical performance of the solar cell may be reduced. In addition, glass frits are known to have wide melting temperature ranges, making their behavior strongly dependent on their composition and processing parameters. As such, the ability to predict glass processing parameters and behavior under fast firing processes is difficult with known glass frits.
Thus, an IRS which optimizes contact between the electroconductive paste and the underlying substrate so as to achieve improved solar cell efficiency, without being so aggressive that it damages the antireflection layer and p-n junction, is needed. Further, an IRS having more predictable processing behaviors is also desirable.

Lead-tellurium inorganic reaction systems

HERAEUS PRECIOUS METALS NORTH AMERICA CONSHOHOCKEN, LLC


The method allocates a demanded amount of power to a plurality of power output apparatus, each power apparatus having characteristic curves associated therewith, and the total power outputted from the plurality of power apparatus results in a minimum cost for generating the power. Each boiler is allocated a quantity of waste fuel to be used in the generation of power, the quantity of waste fuel to be a predetermined total over a predetermined time period. Data is entered for each of the power apparatus into a controller. Optimal solutions are generated for all valid possible output power demands using an optimization by parts technique within bounds of each power apparatus. The solutions indicate the portion of power each power apparatus is to supply to provide the total power demanded at minimal cost. The solutions are stored in tables within a storage unit of the controller. Upon receipt of a demand for power, a search is performed of the solution tables to obtain the amount of power each power apparatus is to supply and the amount of waste fuel to use. Control signals are then outputted to each power apparatus, the control signals being indicative of the amount of power to be supplied and the waste fuel to utilize.

The present invention relates to a method of control, and more particularly, to a method of real time control of a plurality of power output apparatus for providing a demanded quantity of desired output power at optimal cost versus the fuels used, the fuel including waste fuels.
There is a type of boiler used for the generation of steam called a "hog fuel boiler" which burns items for fuel such as bark, peanut shells, and sometimes used in conjunction with gas or other common fuels to insure that the total fuel mixtures burns better. Oftentimes however, plants have bark stored in storage yards, and a steady influx of bark to the plant. Also bark is being drawn from the stock pile and fed into the furnaces of the boilers.
Presently, the bark is being burned at a predetermined rate, using gas to make up the difference of fuel required to maintain a predetermined steam load.
Generally, it is known what the steam demand is going to be over a period of time (e.g., through the day) or is readily predictable. There is provided by the present invention a method for optimizing cost versus the amount of fuel used over a period of time based on expected steam demand, given that a predetermined amount of bark (i.e., waste fuel) is desired to be burned over the time period.
Thus there is provided by the present invention a method for determining the allocation of waste fuel (bark) supplied to the boilers for predetermined time intervals over the total time period.


Described herein are technologies for concentrating rare-earth elements from a heavy fraction of grit in gangue produced in kaolin mining. In some examples, grit is separated as a non-clay fraction of gangue produced in a kaolin mining operation. The grit is separated into a heavy mineral grit sub-fraction and a light mineral grit sub-fraction. Rare-earth elements, particularly heavy rare-earth elements, are thereafter extracted from the heavy mineral grit sub-fraction using various extraction technologies.

With the explosive growth of various technologies, rare-earth elements are increasingly vital to sustain that growth. A rare-earth element (REE), as defined by IUPAC, is one of a set of seventeen chemical elements in the periodic table, specifically the fifteen lanthanides, as well as scandium and yttrium. Rare-earth elements are cerium (Ce), dysprosium (Dy), erbium (Er), europium (Eu), gadolinium (Gd), holmium (Ho), lanthanum (La), lutetium (Lu), neodymium (Nd), praseodymium (Pr), promethium (Pm), samarium (Sm), scandium (Sc), terbium (Tb), thulium (Tm), ytterbium (Yb) and yttrium (Y). Heavy rare-earth metals are defined as the high atomic number lanthanide rare-earth metals: dysprosium (Dy), erbium (Er), gadolinium (Gd), holmium (Ho), lutetium (Lu), terbium (Tb), thulium (Tm), and ytterbium (Yb).
Rare-earth elements are used to build items such as batteries, permanent magnets, and displays. Rare-earth elements can also be used in various processes such as refining crude oil. An estimated distribution of rare-earth elements by end use is as follows, in decreasing order: catalysts, 60%; metallurgical applications and alloys, 10%; ceramics and glass, 10%; glass polishing, 10%; and other, 10%.
Due to the costs of extracting REEs, and the geographic distribution of known geologic deposits being mined for the rare-earth elements, a large percentage of REEs are provided in one particular region of the world. The estimated value of rare-earth compounds and metals imported by the United States in 2015 was $150 million, a decrease from $191 million imported in 2014. Finding sources of REEs and determining methods of concentrating or extracting those REEs are highly desirable.
It is with respect to these and other considerations that the various configurations described below are presented.

Extracting rare-earth elements from a gangue heavy fraction

Georgia State University Research Foundation


A method of combatting mycoplasma infections by treatment with copper complexes of certain phenanthroline, isoquinoline and quinazoline derivatives. A number of the complexes and ligand compounds are novel, therapeutically useful substances. Processes for their preparation are described.

Mycoplasmas are a group of microorganisms characterized by their small size and lack of a cell wall. A mycoplasma cell is bounded by a membrane, the chemical composition of which is similar to that of mammalian cells. Because of the difference between mycoplasmas and bacteria, antibacterial agents are not necessarily also effective against mycoplasmas. As the role of mycoplasmas in the aetiology of human, animal and plant diseases is more and more recognized, the fact that the number of chemotherapeutics active against these organisms is very limited makes the search for effective compounds worthwhile.


Movable conveyor slats (10, 10′) have side parts (14, 14′, 16, 16′) which rest on top parts (94) of bearings (92). The bearings (92) have a generally U-shaped cross section and they fit on wings (72, 74) which extend outwardly and upwardly from the sides of a fixed conveyor slat (12). The movable slats (10, 10′) have a web (22, 24) and lower flange portions (26, 28) which with the side parts (14, 16) form laterally outwardly opening channels. The wings (72, 74) and the bearings (92) are received within the channel spaces.

U.S. Pat. No. Re35,022, granted Aug. 22, 1995, to Raymond Keith Foster, and entitled Reduced Size Drive-Frame Assembly For A Reciprocating Slat Conveyor, discloses a reciprocating slat conveyor in which the conveyor slats are connected to transverse drive beams which are in turn connected to linear hydraulic motors. The linear hydraulic motors move the drive beams and the drive beams move the conveyor slats that are connected to them.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,350,054, granted Sep. 27, 1994, to Raymond Keith Foster, and entitled Ball Block For Mounting Linear Motor, discloses a reciprocating slat conveyor in which the transverse drive beams are physically separated from the linear hydraulic motors. The linear hydraulic motors are connected to selected conveyor slats that are directly driven by the linear hydraulic motors. The driven conveyor slats are connected to the remaining conveyor slats by the transverse drive beams.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,409,009, granted Jun. 25, 2002, to Raymond Keith Foster, and entitled Conveyor Slat And Connection Method, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,575,293, granted Jun. 10, 2003, to Raymond Keith Foster, each discloses apparatus for connecting conveyor slats to transverse drive beams.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,044,870, granted Sep. 3, 1999, to Raymond Keith Foster, and entitled Method For Collecting And Compacting Garbage And Then Loading It Into A Road Vehicle, discloses a reciprocating slat conveyor composed of laterally spaced apart moving conveying slats and laterally spaced apart fixed conveyor slats that are located between the movable conveyor slats.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/330,614, filed Jan. 12, 2006, by Raymond Keith Foster, and entitled Reciprocating Slat Conveyor With Bearing Planks On Fixed Slats Between Moving Slats relates to bearing members carried by the fixed slats on which the moving conveyor slats are supported for longitudinal movement.
The present invention provides an improvement on the conveyor that is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,044,870. The improvement includes the use of some technology disclosed in the above-identified U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,350,054; 6,409,009; 6,575,293; Re35,022 and/or in pending U.S. application Ser. No. 11/330,614. The contents of U.S. Pat. No. 5,044,870 are incorporated herein by this specific reference.

Reciprocating slat conveyor with moving slats between fixed slats