A drive line assembly includes a cylindrically shaped driveshaft tube and a tube yoke, one end of the driveshaft tube fitting over the tube yoke in an interference fit sufficient to transfer torque between the driveshaft tube and the tube yoke, the tube yoke comprising a tube seat at one end for mating in a torque transferring relationship with the end of the driveshaft. The other end of the driveshaft tube yoke has a lug structure for transferring torque to other rotatable elements through a universal joint. The tube yoke has a diameter reducing portion intermediate the tube seat and the lug structure so that the lug structure is smaller in diameter than the drive shaft tube and the tube seat to facilitate the introduction of tooling to the lug structure during assembly operations of the universal joint.

This invention relates in general to drive line assemblies suitable for transferring power in a vehicle, and in particular to an improved drive line apparatus for transferring torque from a rotating tubular driveshaft to a universal joint assembly.
Metallic torque transmitting shafts and similar components are widely used for many different applications. In particular, metal torque transmitting shafts are frequently used in vehicular drive trains including axle shafts, yoke shafts and the like. In use, these shafts can be subjected to relatively large torque loads imposed on them by the vehicle engine to move the vehicle. It is desirable for these torque-bearing members to be as strong as possible while still being light weight. Typically, driveshaft members are hollow to provide the maximum strength for the weight involved. It is known that driveshafts must be rotated at speeds below their critical speed to avoid resonance which leads to self destruction. The critical speed for any given driveshaft is a function of the density, modulus and geometry of the material in the driveshaft. Generally, the smaller the driveshaft diameter, the lower the critical speed of the driveshaft. Therefore it is desirable for the driveshaft to be at least as large in diameter as a specified minimum size for a particular driveshaft length and composition of material.
Vehicle driveshafts usually are adapted with universal joint assemblies for connection to other rotating drive line elements. The universal joints help accommodate differences in angular alignment between two rotating elements, such as a transmission output shaft and a driveshaft tube. Universal joints further enable a small amount of relative movement between the driveshaft and an adjacent rotating part, such as a transmission output shaft or an axle assembly input shaft. In a typical vehicle driveline assembly the driveshaft tube is connected at each of its ends to a tube yoke which connects to a universal joint assembly. The universal joint assembly usually consists of a journal cross and four bearing assemblies. Typically assembly involves securing the universal joint into place with a bearing strap and a plurality of lug bolts. An important requirement for the assembly of the driveline apparatus is gaining access to various driveline elements for the insertion of tools necessary to complete the assembly. In particular it is important to be able to reach the lug bolts during the assembly of the universal joint. Power tooling is used, and the tooling must be accurately aligned to obtain the proper torque on the lug bolts.
Past attempts to lower the weight of vehicle driveshafts have resulted in replacing traditional two-piece steel driveshafts with lighter weight one-piece aluminum alloy driveshafts. This reduces the driveshaft weight, but, because it is longer, requires a larger diameter driveshaft for the same critical speed. The critical speed of the driveshaft can be increased by coveting the driveshaft with a high modulus coating, such as a resin matrix reinforced with graphite fibers, but this increases the manufacturing cost. It would be advantageous if there could be developed a driveline assembly which would enable the substitution of lighter weight aluminum alloys for the traditional steel tubes, and yet not require the use of expensive reinforcing coatings. Any solution to the problem would have to include the requisite access for the tooling needed to assemble the universal joints at the ends of the driveline tube.

Drive line assembly with reducing tube yoke


A cam shaft support device for an engine includes a cam carrier. A plurality of bearings are integrally formed with the cam carrier so as to rotatively support two cam shafts installed on a cylinder head. Each of the bearings are provided with a slit on a lower portion thereof so as to reduce the sliding resistance between the bearings and the cam shafts.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cam shaft support apparatus for an engine, and more particularly, to a cam shaft supporting structure for a DOHC engine including a pair of cam shafts for opening or closing suction valves and exhaust valves for each of a number of cylinders.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a DOHC, i.e. double overhead cam shaft, type engine for use in an automobile, one cam shaft for suction valves and another cam shaft for exhaust valves are provided on a cylinder head and are interlocked by a rotation force transmission means. By inputting an engine rotation force to either one of the pair of cam shafts, these shafts are rotated in synchronization with each other so as to open and close respective suction valves and exhaust valves by means of swing crank arms.
This type of DOHC engine, wherein a cam shaft for suction valves and a cam shaft for exhaust valves are arranged in parallel on a cylinder head, is generally known, for example, in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. Sho 61-171801.
For example, as shown in FIG. 13, in a swing arm cam shaft support structure of a conventional DOHC engine of the typing having two suction valves and two exhaust valves as viewed in the longitudinal direction (in FIG. 13, in the right & left direction) of the cylinder head 201, a suction valve side bearing 202 is arranged between two HLA bosses 203 for suction valves, namely between two suction valve guides 204. By this bearing 202 and a cap (not shown) tightened by bolts onto the upper surface of the bearing 202, the suction valve side cam shaft (not shown) is rotatively supported. Similarly, an exhaust valve side bearing 205 is arranged between two HLA boss portion 206 for exhaust valves, namely, between two exhaust valve guides 207.
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 14, in a direct type of support structure of a conventional two suction valve and two exhaust valve type of engine, viewed in the longitudinal direction (in FIG. 14, right and left direction) of the cylinder head 208, a suction valve side bearing 209 is arranged between two HLA boss portions 210 for suction valves, and an exhaust valve side bearing 211 is arranged between two HLA boss portions 212 for exhaust valves.
In the above-described conventional cam shaft support structure, in order to reduce the sliding resistance between the cam shaft and the bearing portion, the thickness in the axial direction of the bearing is generally reduced at the lower portion thereof.
In the conventional bearing portion, however, since oil supplied to the bearing portion reaches only part of the sliding surface of the bearing and a sufficient oil film is not formed, there is a problem in that the sliding resistance is not reduced so very much. Also, since the thickness in the axial direction of the bearing is reduced, there is a problem in that the P V value becomes high at a high rotation of the cam shaft, and the bearing reliability is reduced.
In addition, since the lubrication performance of oil is greatly reduce at an engine start operation under an extremely cold temperatures, it is necessary to set the clearance between the cam shaft and the bearing at a large value in consideration of this matter. For this reason, there is a problem in that the cam shaft support rigidity is reduced at an high speed rotation, and an abnormal behavior of the valve driving system takes place.
Furthermore, when a bending load is applied to the cam shaft, the cam shaft undergoes a bending deformation such that the cam shaft is projected radially approximately at a central portion of the bearing, and this projecting portion thereof causes a strong contact with the central portion of the bearing, namely so-called uneven contact. There is such a problem in that on the portion where an even contact takes place, there may take place bearing gall.
Although a counter measure of in achieving reduction of the sliding resistance by increasing the oil amount supplied to the bearing is conceivable against these problems, this will result in a problem in that the oil supply system becomes bulky, leading to a bulky size of the engine.

Cam shaft support apparatus for an engine

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


An apparatus for use as an intermediate transfer member or fusing member in an image forming device includes a cylindrical member having a thickness that is insufficient to support it in use and which is secured between two round end plates to form a cylindrical structure which is unsupported between the endplates. A liquid is incorporated within the cylindrical structure and a heater is also located within the cylindrical structure so as to heat the liquid to produce a vapor wherein the vapor is of a sufficient pressure to support the cylindrical member during use.

The present invention is related to the field of printers and copiers and more particularly to printers or copiers that utilize fusers, intermediate transfer members and/or elements that function as both fusers and intermediate transfer members.
Printers and copiers are well known. Modern copiers that utilize powder or liquid toners comprising toner particles to form visible images generally form a latent electrostatic image on an image forming surface (such as a photoreceptor), develop the image utilizing a toner (such as the aforementioned powder or liquid toners) to form a developed image and transfer the developed image to a final substrate. The transfer may be direct, i.e., the image is transferred directly to the final substrate from the image forming surface, or indirect, i.e., the image is transferred to the final substrate via one or more intermediate transfer members.
In general, the image on the final substrate must be fused and fixed to the substrate. This step is achieved in most copiers and printers by heating the toner image on the substrate. In some copiers and printers the fusing and fixing of the image is performed simultaneously with the transfer of the image to the substrate. This is achieved by utilizing a heated intermediate transfer member to perform the transfer and by pressing the intermediate transfer member against the final substrate. This combination of heat and pressure softens the toner particles and fixes them to the substrate.
These processes and fixers, intermediate transfer members other components and liquid toners suitable for carrying them out and printers utilizing these structures and processes are described in detail in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,945,387; 5,047,808; 5,028,964; 5,089,856; 5,157,238; 5,286,948; 5,335,054; 5,497,222; 5,554,476; and 5,636,349; and PCT patent publications WO 96/17277, WO 97/07433 and PCT patent applications PCT/IL98/00235 and PCT/IL98/00553, the disclosures of all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Particular reference is made to U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,047,808; 5,554,476 and 5,636,349 which describe a number of attributes of preferred intermediate transfer members suitable for liquid toner imaging.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,047,808 describes an intermediate transfer member comprised of a rigid core and an overlying intermediate transfer blanket. As described in the patent, a preferred intermediate transfer member provides a first transfer of images from an image bearing surface to the intermediate transfer member and a second transfer of the images from the intermediate transfer member to the final substrate. While both first and second transfers are performed under pressure, second transfer (which includes fixing and fusing of the image to the substrate) is performed under much higher pressure than first transfer. The patent teaches that the deformation per unit pressure during first transfer should be much lower than during second transfer. In other words, the intermediate transfer member should be xe2x80x9charderxe2x80x9d for second transfer.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,054 provides a particularly advantageous method of achieving this desired characteristic of the intermediate transfer member. This patent describes an intermediate transfer member having two types of layers which contribute to this effect. In particular, the preferred intermediate transfer member as described in this patent has a soft, thin conforming layer, preferably formed of a soft polymer, and a sponge layer underlying the soft conforming layer. These layers provide conformance of the intermediate transfer member with the surface of the image bearing surface at low pressure and relatively low deformation and the desired stiffness of the intermediate transfer member under higher pressure conditions. Advantageously, a plurality of sponge and/or conforming layers are used to provide greater control over the compressibility profile of the member at first and second transfer.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,636,349 describes another desirable characteristic of intermediate transfer members. As described in this patent, the intermediate transfer member should be heated to a temperature at which the image on it adheres to the substrate. While the member is still pressing against the substrate the member is cooled sufficiently such that the cohesion of the image increases to such an extent that the image cohesion forces are greater than those causing adhesion to the member. When these conditions are met, the image is transferred in its entirety from the intermediate transfer member to the final substrate without leaving any appreciable toner residue on the intermediate transfer member.
It can be appreciated that this combination of requirements (and other requirements which have not been mentioned above) places very tight limitations on intermediate transfer members. While intermediate transfer members as described in the prior art can meet these requirements, the transfer parameters must be tightly controlled and the operating window available for these processes is limited. In state of the art systems the required transfer temperatures are provided by heating the drum on which the blanket is mounted, such that the image transfer surface is heated to a required temperature of 90 to 110 degrees Celsius. Higher or lower temperatures are also useful, depending on the polymers used in the toner particles, the carrier liquid used and the speed of the printing process. Since the blanket needs a sponge layer to provide some of the compressibility requirements of the member, and since sponges generally have high thermal impedance, the back of the blanket is much hotter than its transfer surface, often as much as 60-70 degrees hotter.
This results in severe requirements on the materials used in the blanket, which must not only meet the stringent operating requirements mentioned above, but must also do so under high temperature, often much higher than the temperatures required for the actual transfer process. Furthermore, it has been found that the sponge layer is susceptible to damage from paper misfeeds or jams. When a number of sheets are fed together or jams occur, the sponge is sometimes compressed past its recovery point.
Furthermore, it has been found that intermediate transfer members exhibit short term memory effects under certain conditions. These effects manifest themselves in slightly different transfer characteristics for areas which carried an image on a previous transfer from areas which did not (background areas). It is believed that the memory effect is caused by variations in surface temperature on the transfer surface and/or by uneven absorption of carrier liquid from the liquid toner by a surface transfer layer of the transfer member. PCT patent publication WO/96/13760 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,592,269 provide at least partial solutions to these problems, at the cost of some additional system and/or toner complexity.
Reference is also made to U.S. Pat. No. 5,286,948, which describes a fusing apparatus and method utilizing a thin membrane as a flusing element. The membrane is mounted on two end elements to form a cylindrical drum of which the membrane forms the cylindrical surface. This element, which is generally too thin to support itself, especially during transfer, is supported by gas pressure within the drum and/or by mechanically applied pressure on the end elements to tension the membrane. It should be noted that the gas pressure itself also provides pressure on the end elements to tension the membrane.
It should be understood that while the above background art inventions have been discussed with respect to liquid toner electrophoretic imaging machines, many of the principles described and some of the structure is applicable to powder toner machines and to offset printers utilizing non-electrified inks.
It is an object of some preferred embodiments of the invention to provide an intermediate transfer member or fuser of improved design and performance.
Preferably, the intermediate transfer member or fuser comprises a thin membrane, as an image transfer and/or flusing element, that is mounted on two end elements to form a cylindrical drum, of which the membrane forms the cylindrical surface. The membrane, which may be too thin to support itself, especially during transfer, is supported by gas pressure within the drum and optionally by mechanically applied pressure on the end elements to tension the membrane. A gas pressure of about two to three atmospheres has been found to be suitable for supporting the membrane. Preferably, a relatively simple intermediate transfer blanket is mounted on the outside of the cylindrical surface.
As indicated in the above background of the invention, the prior art method of providing the compression characteristics is to include in the blanket at least one sponge layer, one conforming layer, one conducting layer and means for electrically connecting to the conductive layer, all of which make the blanket relatively complicated to manufacture and relatively expensive. Such a blanket is expensive to manufacture, has a low heat conductivity and is susceptible to damage from paper missfeeds. It has been found that, fortuitously, when a pressure supported membrane is used as a support for the blanket it is not necessary to provide a sponge layer beneath the conforming layer to achieve the required compression characteristic. It has been found that the deformation of the membrane under external pressure has characteristics sufficiently similar to that of the prior art sponge layer that, with optional changes in the conforming layer, no (or at most a very thin) sponge layer is required.
Under these conditions, with the sponge layer removed, a thinner, much less expensive blanket may be used. This blanket has a much lower thermal resistance and thus, the drum itself need not be heated to as high a temperature as required in the prior art. In particular, it has been found that a temperature differential as low as 20 or 30 degrees Celsius may be sufficient. This lower temperature requirement allows for use of lower temperature materials for adhesives and other components of the blanket and for higher reliability of the blanket as a whole.
In one aspect of some preferred embodiments of the invention, an image transfer member is provided whose temperature is stabilized. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the image transfer member comprises a drum and the temperature is stabilized by incorporating a relatively small quantity of liquid within the drum, preferably in contact with a portion of the inside surface of the cylindrical thin membrane.
The inclusion of the liquid in the drum has a number of positive effects on the operation of the intermediate transfer member. One important unexpected result is a greatly improved stability of the characteristics of the intermediate transfer member.
As indicated above, a membrane drum of the prior art could be used as an intermediate transfer member. One of the advantages of such an intermediate transfer member is its low heat capacity which allows for short warm-up time. However, when an intermediate transfer blanket is mounted on such a drum, some of the problems of such blankets are exacerbated. In particular, use of a low thermal capacity drum makes it more difficult to measure and control the temperate of the drum. In addition, the temperature varies over surface portions of the drum as a function of the angular and axial position of portion, often to an unacceptable degree.
An important limitation of such an intermediate transfer member is that it has a relatively high short term memory. It is believed that local variations in the surface temperature are naturally induced by evaporation of carrier liquid associated with the image. It is believed that areas having toner particles, and associated liquid, cool preferentially between first and second transfer due to the evaporation of carrier liquid associated with the toner particles. While the non-toner areas are also covered with a thin layer of carrier liquid, the evaporation of this thin layer does not reduce the temperature as much as does the evaporation of a greater amount of carrier liquid from the toner covered areas. While it is possible to reduce this effect by increasing the temperature of the drum, this is not an optimal solution for the problem, inter alia because too high a drum temperature may interfere with first transfer or even damage the photoreceptor.
Whatever the source of the short term memory, the inclusion of a liquid, such as water or oil, in the drum appears to sharply reduce the effect. In practice, the liquid forms a xe2x80x9cpoolxe2x80x9d at the lowest portion of the drum. When, during rotation, the drum surface passes through this pool, the temperature of the surface is xe2x80x9cresetxe2x80x9d to the temperature of the liquid. Furthermore, it is believed that the liquid forms a thin coating of liquid on the inner surface of the membrane. This coating provides a greater heat capacity to the drum, even outside the region of the pool of liquid and reduces the deleterious effect of evaporation of carrier liquid. Generally, only small amounts of liquid are required, of the order of 5% of the volume of the interior of the drum, although lesser or greater amounts may be advantageously used. This small amount of liquid does not change the warm-up time of the drum to an unacceptable degree.
An additional requirement for membrane type drums is the provision of pressure within the drum to support the drum. This was provided, in the prior art reference described above, by sealing the interior of the drum and providing an inlet valve through which the interior was pressurized by a gas. However, while such a system did operate as required, inevitable leakage required monitoring and periodic re-pressurization.
In an especially preferred embodiment of the invention, the liquid in the drum is water. Use of water as the liquid provides an automatic pressure and temperature stabilization feature to the drum. It has been found that, fortuitously, at 120-130 degrees Celsius, the vapor pressure of water is about two to three atmospheres. Thus, if the water (and thus the membrane) is heated to this temperature, a temperature which provides a suitable surface temperature for the transfer surface of the intermediate transfer blanket, the internal pressure is also in an optimum range for image transfer. It should be understood that for powder toner systems a higher temperature and pressure are required, such that use of water for the filling is believed to be suitable for powder toner systems as well. Furthermore, the temperature and pressure desired may vary depending on the speed of the printing process and the polymer and carrier liquid used in the toner.
It should also be noted that when materials are dissolved in the water, the vapor pressure is reduced. Thus, where a higher temperature is desired for a particular pressure, a suitable amount of material is added to the water to reduce the pressure. Alternatively or additionally a mixture of liquids may be used to control the viscosity of the liquid and/or the vapor pressure.
In preferred embodiment of the invention, the drum contains air at at least one atmosphere. This filling with air is desirable to avoid collapse of the drum when it is cooled. Preferably a one way valve is provided such that the pressure in the drum never falls below the outside pressure.
There is thus provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, intermediate transfer member apparatus for transferring visible images from a first surface to a second surface or a fuser for fusing an image on a surface, comprising:
a cylindrical member secured between two round end plates to form a cylindrical structure; and
a liquid incorporated within the cylindrical structure.
Preferably, the member includes a heater which heats the liquid. Preferably, the heater heats the liquid and the cylindrical member to a temperature between about 110 degrees Celsius and about 140 degrees Celsius, more preferably, between about 115 degrees Celsius and about 135 degrees Celsius and most preferably, between about 120 degrees Celsius and about 130 degrees Celsius.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the heater is a radiant heater situated in the interior of the cylindrical structure. Alternatively, the heater is a conduction heater placed in a pool of the liquid in the cylindrical structure.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cylindrical member forms a seal at the end plates and wherein said cylindrical surface is supported by gas pressure internal to the cylindrical structure. Preferably, the gas pressure is equal to between about 2 and about 3 atmospheres. Preferably, the gas pressure comprises vapor pressure of the liquid.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the liquid comprises water.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the apparatus includes a one way valve which allows gas to pass from the exterior of the cylindrical structure to the interior thereof.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the liquid comprises an oil.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the liquid comprises a mixture of different liquids. Alternatively or additionally the liquid has a vapor pressure affecting material dissolved in it.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the apparatus includes a transfer surface on an external cylindrical surface of the cylindrical structure. Preferably, the transfer surface is comprised in a transfer blanket attached to the cylindrical member. Preferably, the transfer blanket comprises at least one solid elastomer layer. Preferably, the transfer blanket does not include any sponge material.
Preferably, the transfer blanket includes an exterior transfer surface and when the transfer surface is heated from within the cylindrical structure to a temperature of 100 degrees Celsius, the cylindrical member is at a temperature no more than 30 degrees Celsius and more preferably no more than 20 degrees Celsius higher than that of the transfer surface.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cylindrical member is a membrane having a thickness of between 50 and 250 micrometers, more preferably between 100 and 200 micrometers and more preferably, 125 micrometers or greater.
Preferably, the cylindrical member is comprised of nickel.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the interior of the cylindrical structure is hollow and wherein the liquid fills less than the entire hollow, preferably less than half the hollow, more preferably less than 25% or 10% of the hollow. In a preferred embodiment of the invention only about 5% of the hollow is filled with the liquid.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the liquid contacts an interior surface of the cylindrical member. Preferably, as the member rotates, the liquid is carried along the interior surface as a film.
There is further provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, printing apparatus comprising:
an image forming surface on which a visible image is formed; and
an intermediate transfer member, according to the invention, which receives the image from the image forming surface and transfers it to another surface.
Preferably, the visible image is a toner image. The toner image is preferably either a liquid or powder toner image.


One aspect is an electrical augmentation system for a gas turbine engine. The electrical augmentation system includes an electric motor operably coupled to a shaft of the gas turbine engine, and an energy storage device operable to provide a temporary increased current source to the electric motor. The electrical augmentation system includes a control system having a torque demand anticipation circuit operable to determine an anticipated torque increase condition for the gas turbine engine. Based on the anticipated torque increase condition, the torque demand anticipation circuit commands a temporary torque increase by the electric motor using the energy storage device.

Embodiments of the invention generally relate to a control system of a gas turbine engine, and more particularly, to a system for electrical augmentation of a gas turbine engine.
A gas turbine engine typically includes at least one spool having a turbine and a gas generator compressor mounted thereto, a source of heat positioned between the turbine and the compressor, a shaft and a free turbine mounted to the shaft, and a control system for transferring power between the spool and the shaft. For transient loads, gas generator acceleration may be needed to create an increased mass flow for a higher output. A relatively high percentage of total required gas turbine engine surge margin is typically needed to accommodate engine transients, particularly accelerations. This requirement can limit compressor efficiency and therefore overall engine efficiency, because, in general, increased surge margin requires lower compressor loading which results in lower compressor efficiency.
Therefore, a need exists for gas generator augmentation to support increased gas turbine engine compressor efficiency.

Electrical augmentation of a gas turbine engine


A shipping unit which includes a rectangular pallet that supports a plurality of open-top trays which are individually filled with the products being shipped. The vertical, superimposed stack of filled trays is suitably united to the pallet by strapping, shrinkwrap, or the like. Each tray is formed from an integral corrugated fiberboard blank having a flat bottom and four upstanding peripheral walls which are interlocked with one another at each corner. The walls each have depending tabs that extend below the tray bottom and lie outward of and frictionally engage the product which fills the next lower tray.

Fiberboard, particularly corrugated fiberboard, provides an economical material for fabricating shipping containers for a wide variety of products. When relatively small items have been shipped in large bulk packs, they have often employed relatively deep corrugated containers wherein there was difficulty in placing and removing the lower layers. Smaller corrugated containers which totally enclose the product have been used to ship cans in loose pack form, for example, 24 cans of beer or soda; however, such containers require a fairly large amount of fiberboard relative to the product being transported. When products are utilized in subgroups, for example, a six-pack united by a wrapper or plastic connector, shallow trays of rectangular configuration are sometimes employed wherein the upstanding walls are interconnected by glued flaps. However, such shallow-tray arrangements have a tendency to slide when stacked one atop another and do not have the amount of stability desired even if interconnected by strapping or the like. Also, when using individual trays instead of a single bulk container, any desired total number of products may be unitized, as dictated by order size, desired stack height, carrier size, etc.


An apparatus for the infrared heating and warming of post-anesthetic surgical patients is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of infrared heat lamps controlled by plural patient temperature sensors in a closed-loop control system for providing safe, controlled warming of a patient following anesthesia and surgery. Signals from the temperature sensors are averaged and compared against an average temperature setpoint to provide control signals for the heat lamp control network. Low and high temperature alarms are provided for patient safety.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to devices for the warming of post-anesthetic surgery patients to reduce or stop their shivering during initial post-operative recovery when the patients are still under the influence of the anesthesia administered prior to and during the operation.
It has been noted by hospital personnel that one frequent side effect of anesthesia in surgical patients is an uncontrollable shivering by these patients as the effects of the anesthesia are wearing off, and the patient's body attempts to warm itself back to a normal temperature to counteract the reduction of body temperature which was caused by the anesthesia during the operation. 2. Description of the Prior Art
Early attempts to warm such patients to reduce or stop their shivering included wrapping them in blankets, but this method did more harm than good for patients with sore and tender surgical sites.
What was needed was a warming method which did not involve direct contact with the patient, one which could provide the patient with warmth without causing discomfort at the same time.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,089,033 to Fujisawa and 3,789,853 to Reinhard disclose prior art systems for the use of infrared heat energy for the warming and treating of living tissue. Both of these patents express concern for the control of their heating systems to prevent injury to the patient, and offer rather primitive solutions to the problem.
It is an object of this invention to provide an infrared heating system for post-anesthetic patients with a fail-safe control system to preclude possible patient injury.
It is another object of this invention to provide a closed-loop temperature control system to maintain patient temperature within a preselected temperature range.
It is yet another object of this invention to include a plurality of temperature sensors to measure patient temperature, such that the failure of one sensor will not cause failure of the entire heating system.
These and other objects of this invention will be better understood by reference to the detailed description of the preferred embodiment as set forth below.

Infrared heating system for surgical patients


A computer system includes a printed circuit board manufactured in accordance with simulated trace impedances and topologies. The printed circuit board includes trace impedances characterizing at least three dimensions of a multi-dimensional space of the printed circuit board. The printed circuit board design includes trace impedances and topologies obtained with the use of a quasi-Monte Carlo simulation methodology.

The disclosures herein relate generally to computer systems and more particularly to printed circuit boards for computer systems manufactured with a quasi-Monte Carlo simulation technique for multi-dimensional spaces.
Simulation of multi-dimensional systems is becoming more necessary because of narrower constraints in modern designs. For example, determination of a printed-circuit board's trace impedance usually requires 3 or more dimensions (or parameters), trace width, dielectric height, dielectric constant, trace height, etc. Additional dimensions, such as solder mask thickness and permittivity constant, previously ignored because of their minimal effect in the days of wide constraints, now need to be considered. Each of these dimensions has manufacturing tolerances that affect the error of the impedance.
Simulation methods to determine the range of error on the final solution are needed to answer questions of which parameters are important to monitor or specify, and those parameters that are not. Undue lengthy simulation times pose problems in a manufacturing environment. As the number of dimensions increases, the number of simulation combinations grow geometrically, and can reach astronomical limits if high resolution is required. Accordingly, a need exists to efficiently determine this information within a reasonable simulation time.
In addition, signal integrity simulation may involve complex wiring topologies with multiple trace segments. For example, the combinations of ten (10) trace segments each with ten (10) possible lengths amounts to ten (10) billion possible topologies. It is unwise to methodically simulate every possible combination.
One prior method used is the grid method, briefly mentioned above. With the grid method, each dimension is defined to have a minimum and a maximum value, in addition to having a fixed number of evenly-spaced values in between. If there are ten dimensions that need to be resolved each into 10 points, then the simulation space is 10^10, or 10 billion simulations. Not withstanding the extreme number of combinations, there are areas between the grid points that will never be simulated, which may miss some non-linear anomaly (such as resonance phenomena). FIG. 1 illustrates a graphical view of 5000 grid method points on a 1×1 grid.
A common stochastic method is the classic Monte Carlo technique, where a value for each dimension is randomly picked for each simulation. The Monte Carlo technique allows a smaller sample of values than the grid method, and can be set to obtain off-grid values. However, because of 'random clumping' (see FIG. 2), some areas will be redundantly sampled, while others may be ignored due to voids. The Monte Carlo method's error decreases inversely proportional to the square root of the number of samples, and doubling the sampling rate decreases the error by approximately 30%. FIG. 2 illustrates a 2D plot of 5000 Monte Carlo points on a 1×1 grid. Using the Monte Carlo method, undesirable clumping and voiding occur within the grid.
In addition to the Monte Carlo method, there exists a quasi-Monte Carlo method. The quasi-Monte Carlo method is a relatively new method (ca. 1992) that generates a hard-coded point-cloud that substantially evenly covers the dimensional space. The quasi-Monte Carlo method error drops at almost the rate of 1/N for multiple dimensions, wherein doubling the samples halves the error. This is very important in limiting the computations for medium to large dimensions.
A problem with quasi-Monte Carlo method, however, is that a sequence of generated numbers from one base cannot be indexed into the dimensional space without producing very non-random correlations. One accepted technique is to use multiple bases to generate separate quasi-Monte Carlo sequences for each dimension. Base numbers of 2, 3, and 5 are most often used for 3-dimensional work. The problem is that as the base gets larger, the point cloud becomes more sparse.
Accordingly, a need exists for a simulation method to determine a range of error to identify which parameters are important to monitor within a reasonable simulation time.

Computer system and printed circuit board manufactured in accordance with a quasi-Monte Carlo simulation technique for multi-dimensional spaces


A golf club with a quick release head comprising a shaft which has an upper handle end a lower hosel end formed in a tubular configuration. The hosel end has a bore centrally formed therein. Screw threads formed within the bore extend from the hosel end of the shaft inwardly a predetermined distance. A head at the lower head end has an upwardly extending hosel at the hosel end and a bore formed within the hosel end. The interior diameter of the bore of the hosel is essentially the same as the internal bore in the shaft and the exterior diameter of the hosel is essentially the same as the exterior diameter of the shaft at the hosel end. The hosel has a diametric aperture which extends therethrough. A coupling rod has a threaded upper end with screw threads matable with the screw threads in the bore of the shaft and a lower end formed with a diametric aperture extends therethrough in alignment with the diametric aperture in the hosel. A quick release pin is positionable through the apertures of the hosel and rod to secure a preselected head in operative association with the rod and shaft.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to golf clubs with quick release heads and more particularly pertains to readily changing the head on a golf club shaft.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of golf clubs with changeable heads is known in the prior art. More specifically, golf clubs with changeable heads heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of changing the heads on golf clubs are known to consist basically of familiar, expected, and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which has been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
By way of example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,893,680 to Franchi discloses a golf club with interchangeable heads.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,506,888 to Nardozzi discloses a golf putter with interchangeable shafts and heads.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,943,059 to Morell discloses a golf club having removable head.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,948,132 to Wharton discloses a golf club.
Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,039,098 to Pelz discloses a golf club having an aligning and quick connect-disconnect coupling between the golf club shaft and club head.
In this respect, the golf clubs with quick release heads according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of readily changing the head on a golf club shaft.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for new and improved golf clubs with quick release heads which can be used for readily changing the head on a golf club shaft. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


A beverage dispenser has a diluent manifold that dispensing a first diluent, a second diluent, or a mixed diluent to a beverage dispensing valve that receives and dispense the first diluent, the second diluent, or the mixed diluent with a concentrate from a concentrate source. The diluent manifold has a first inlet configured to receive the first diluent, a second inlet configured to receive the second diluent and an outlet that dispenses the first diluent, the second diluent, or a mixed diluent comprising the first diluent and the second diluent. A flow control spool is included that selectively permits the first diluent, the second diluent, or both the first diluent and the second diluent to convey through the diluent manifold such that the first diluent, the second diluent, or the mixed diluent dispenses from the outlet.

The following U.S. Patents are incorporated herein by reference in entirety.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,981,615 discloses a modular diluent changeover manifold for beverage dispensers that provides quick and convenient changeover of supply of two different beverage liquid diluents to post-mix beverage dispensing valves. The diluent changeover manifold is mounted within a beverage dispenser behind a beverage valve mounting panel. The modular changeover manifold and valve assembly, when assembled, consists of a pair of diluent tubes and a plurality of changeover valves. Each changeover valve has an outlet fluidly connected to an associated one of the beverage dispensing valves and each tube supplies a different diluent, such as plain water and carbonated water, to one of two inlets to each changeover valve. The changeover valves are individually manually manipulatable to deliver to their associated beverage valves either the diluent from the first tube or the diluent from the second tube
U.S. Pat. No. 6,935,532 discloses a system for delivering a selected one of two diluents to beverage dispensing valves via a manifold having a plurality of pairs of first and second diluent outlet orifices. One diluent is delivered to all of the first outlet orifices and the other diluent is delivered to all of the second outlet orifices. Hoses coupled at one end to diluent inlets to associated ones of the dispensing valves each have a connector at their opposite end which is adapted to be selectively and releasably connected with either the first or second orifice of an associated pair of orifices in accordance with whichever diluent is to be delivered by the hose to its associated dispensing valve. Stop plugs are releasably inserted into and close the non-selected orifices to prevent escape of diluent from those orifices. A retainer releasably retains the connectors and stop plugs in the orifices.

Diluent manifold for beverage dispensers


Useful for example, for the hydrocracking of hydrocarbons is a catalyst comprising a matrix, at least one Y zeolite which is dealuminated and has a lattice parameter in the range 2.424 nm to 2.455 nm, a global SiO.sub.2 /Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 mole ratio is more than 8, the quantity of alkaline-earth metal cations or alkali metal cations and/or rare earth metal cations is such that the atomic ratio (n.times.M.sup.n+)/Al is less than 0.8, the specific surface area, determined using the BET method, is more than 400 m.sup.2 /g, and the water adsorption capacity is more than 6% by weight for P/P.sub.0 =0.2 at 25.degree. C., said catalyst also comprising silicon deposited on the catalyst.

Hydrocracking is gaining in importance in refining as the need to convert heavy fractions into lighter fractions which can be upgraded as fuels increases. This results from the increasing demand for fuels. Such upgrading involves a relatively large reduction in the molecular weight of the heavy constituents which can, for example, be achieved through cracking reactions.
The catalytic hydrocracking process uses catalysts containing a hydrogenating, desulphurising and denitrogenating function provided by the active phase based on transition metals, and an acidic function, generally provided by the amorphous matrix or a zeolite, or a mixture thereof. A good hydrocracking catalyst will be constituted by a properly adjusted hydrogenating function and acidic function. Hydrocracking is used to treat feeds such as vacuum gas oils, and atmospheric or vacuum residues, which may or may not be deasphalted. Hydrocracking can produce highly purified lighter cuts, i.e., with a low sulphur, nitrogen and metals content.
Increasing the activity and selectivity of hydrocracking catalysts is thus important. One means consists of acidifying the matrix without poisoning the activity of either the transition-metal based hydrogenating phase or the cracking activity of the zeolite-based acidic phase.

Zeolite Y catalyst containing silicon useful for hydrocracking


An apparatus for displaying information received from a communication apparatus including a key information producing unit configured to produce key information used to authenticate the communication apparatus; a key information distributing unit configured to distribute the key information; an authentication information receiving unit configured to receive authentication information; an authenticating unit configured to authenticate the communication apparatus by verifying whether or not the authentication information was formed based upon the key information; and a display information receiving unit configured to receive display information from the authenticated communication apparatus, wherein the authenticated communication apparatus has a distribution range during reception of the key information such that the outputted key information can be acquired.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an information display apparatus, an information display method, and an information display system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Portable communication devices, such as notebook PCs (personal computers) and PDAs (personal digital assistants) have recently become popular. Very recently, generally speaking, participants of conferences or other events (hereafter conferences) bring their own portable communication devices into the conference. Presentations are facilitated by operating these portable communication devices.
For example, a presenter at a conference usually stores materials for his presentation in his own communication apparatus as electronic data. During the presentation, the electronic data stored in the presenter's communication apparatus is outputted by way of an information output apparatus, such as a projector, a television, a monitor, a speaker, or the like.
Generally speaking, the communication apparatus of the speaker is conventionally connected to the information output apparatus via a cable, such as, for example, a serial cable or a video cable.
Very recently, since wireless communication devices have become more popular, the communication apparatus of the presenter may be wirelessly connected to the information output apparatus. Using a wireless connection, cumbersome cables are no longer required, and the communication apparatus may be positioned at a variety of locations.
However, there is a risk when using wireless connections that a third party having ill will may intentionally disturb the progress of the presentation by connecting his own communication apparatus to the information output apparatus. Additionally, a third party may acquire data transmitted/received between the communication apparatus of the presenter and the information output apparatus in an unfair manner. When the presenter's communication apparatus is connected to the information output device by a cable, this risk is not present.
To solve this security problem, an encryption idea may be conceived. That is, the data transmitted/received between the communication apparatus of the presenter and the information output apparatus may be encrypted. For instance, an encryption key may be distributed to authorized participants for a conference.
In a location where a conference is held, a presenter having an encryption key can encrypt data via a communication apparatus and transmit the encrypted data to an information output apparatus, which can decode the encrypted data to output the decoded data. Also, other participants having the encryption key may decode the data transmitted by the presenter using their own communication devices, so that these participants may view or hear the content of the presentation.
However, since the encryption keys are previously distributed, it is possible that the encryption keys might be given to an unauthorized person. Also, if an authorized participant forgets the encryption key, this person cannot make the presentation, cannot view the content of the presentation, or cannot hear the presentation. Thus, it is evident that distributing encryption keys in advance has disadvantages.
Patent Publication No. 2002-218420 (Kokai) describes a potential solution for when a third party having good will mistakenly transmits data and interferes with a presentation made by another person. For example, a method may be conceived in which a participant inputs discrimination information for an information output apparatus from which image information is desired. This communication apparatus transmits both the entered discrimination information and image information desired from an information output apparatus to the information output apparatus from which the image information is sought to be outputted. This information output apparatus outputs the received image information only when the received discrimination information coincides with the user's own discrimination information.
This method prevents against accidental interference by a third party. However, since the discrimination information is directly transmitted without being protected by encryption, it is possible that the discrimination information might be stolen by unauthorized third parties. As a consequence, this method cannot prevent access by malicious third parties.
On the other hand, participants in a conference are often acquainted with each other. Even when someone who is not acquainted with the other participants is present, the identity of the participant may be confirmed by employing an authentication tool, such as digital authentication or an identification card. In such a case, a suspicious character located in an assembly hall of a conference may be identified, and may be expelled from the assembly hall.

System and apparatus for information display


Disclosed is a silencer system configured to allow for thermal growth thereof while attenuating noise created by expansion of high-pressure fluid flowing therethrough. The silencer system comprises a tubular inner sleeve, a tubular flexible bellows, a tubular vent stack and a muffler disc. The inner sleeve has a sleeve inlet and a sleeve outlet. The inner sleeve is concentrically disposed in spaced relation within the bellows which is concentrically disposed in spaced relation within the vent stack. The bellows is configured to allow for axial and lateral movement of the inner sleeve relative to the vent stack when fluid passes through the silencer system to minimize excessive deflective forces and bending moments on the silencer system. The muffler disc is oriented relative to the sleeve outlet such that the high-pressure fluid impinges the muffler disc prior to creating shockwaves which may otherwise result in the production of high noise levels.

The present invention relates generally to relief valves and, more particularly, to a uniquely configured silencer system which is specifically adapted to accommodate thermal expansion displacements that may occur in piping systems through which high-pressure fluid is vented. The silencer system is configured to facilitate a reduction in unwanted noise created by the flow of the fluid by eliminating noise-generating sources created by the flow.
Vent silencers have been employed in various industries to muffle high velocity air or gas, including steam, which is flowing or venting to the atmosphere. For example, vent silencers are often used in conjunction with pressure relief valves or safety valves of the type utilized in high-pressure, high temperature steam service for relieving over-pressure from steam generating equipment. In this regard, it is not uncommon for the discharge from such high capacity safety valves to achieve sonic or near sonic velocity in the vent stack leading to the atmosphere such that the vent stack transmits the noise created at the safety valve as well as the noise generated as a result of the discharge of the flow to the atmosphere.
Various federal regulations have been created which stringently regulate the noise level that may be generated by such discharging safety valves. As a result, there has been developed in the prior art various types of silencer systems which are adapted to muffle a sonic gas, steam, or air stream. In the prior art, silencer systems are often used in an approach known as the "path treatment" of noise. In the path treatment approach, noise-generation is allowed to take place, with the noise-absorbing elements of the silencer systems being operative only to absorb the noise that has already physically been generated.
An alternative approach to noise reduction is known as "source treatment". The source treatment approach relies on reducing the strength of the source of noise by various means including the control or reduction of fluid velocity. Source treatment applications may include wire meshes, metal foam, or equivalents that are placed into the flow path of the gas, steam or air jet in such a way that noise-generating mechanisms are weakened to a point wherein a high degree of noise reduction is achieved.
Prior art silencer systems have incorporated the path treatment approach for achieving noise reduction utilizing noise-absorbing elements to absorb noise that has been generated. One such prior art silencer system utilized for safety valves includes a vent stack that is connected to a drip pan. The vent stack is typically connected to the drip pan in a manner wherein an air gap separates the vent stack from the drip pan. The air gap is usually located near the safety valve which is usually positioned at a level that is easily accessible to plant personnel.
The drip pan provides a measure of corrosion protection for upstream components by collecting condensation as well as accumulations of melted snow and rain that may enter the vent stack. The drip pan also allows for a limited amount of relative movement between the vent stack and the drip pan due to thermal expansion. Thermal expansion of the silencer system occurs due to the flow of the high-pressure, high temperature fluid through the silencer system. Such thermal expansion creates excessive bending moments and deflective forces at an inlet to the silencer system. The drip pan silencer system is configured to absorb thermal growth motions in order minimize excessive stresses such that the useful life of the silencer system may be extended.
Unfortunately, drip pan silencer systems include inherent safety risks to plant personnel due to steam "blowback" through the air gap during conditions of high flow through the vent stack wherein excessive back pressure in the vent stack may cause high-temperature steam to escape through the air gap. Furthermore, the air gap may expose nearby plant personnel and expensive equipment to the risk of harm from excessive noise escaping through the air gap.
The present invention addresses these deficiencies by providing a silencer system which falls within the source treatment category and which may additionally be configured to include elements falling into the path treatment category. Additionally, the silencer system of the present invention is configured such that the risk of harm to personnel and equipment from high-temperature steam and excessive noise is minimized. Furthermore, the reduction in noise effected by the silencer system of the present invention may eliminate the need for costly vent stack insulation as well permit the use of smaller, more economical silencer system piping. Finally, the silencer system of the present invention may eliminate noise-generating sources created by fluid flowing from the relief valve such that the need for additional downstream silencing equipment may be reduced with a resulting savings in direct costs of the silencing equipment as well as the associated indirect costs of installing the equipment.


A method, system and computer readable medium that generates a dialog model for use in automated dialog is disclosed. The method may include collecting a plurality of task-oriented dialog interactions between users and human agents for a given domain, identifying one or more task in each dialog interaction, identifying one or more subtasks in each identified task and associating relations between the subtasks, identifying a dialog act and a set of predicate-argument relations for each subtask, generating one or more clauses from the set of predicate-argument relations, storing the tasks, subtasks, dialog acts predicate-argument relations, and clauses from each dialog interaction as a dialog interaction set, generating a dialog management model using the stored dialog interaction sets.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a feature for use in automated dialog systems and more specifically, to a method and system that copies human interactions through learning and discovery.
2. Introduction
Approaches to sentence-level processing tasks such as parsing, language modeling, named-entity detection and machine translation have become increasingly data-driven and empirical, with the availability of large amounts of data. The benefits of such a trend have been that the models for these tasks can be trained to capture the distributions of the phenomena in the data. These trainable models are more robust as compared to the previously popular hand-crafted approaches.
This trend has yet to significantly impact the approaches to dialog management in dialog systems. Dialog management (both plan-based and call-flow based) have traditionally been hand-crafted and suffer the consequences of being unnatural and brittle. With the ability to record and store human-human conversations (such as in call-centers), it is anticipated that data-driven methods will influence approaches to dialog management in the near future.

Copying human interactions through learning and discovery


A small-diameter metallic conduit bending machine includes a stationary frame which is shaped so as to substantially conform to a finished metallic conduit. A bending member is provided movably toward the stationary frame from thereoutside to bend a metallic conduit. To prevent the bending member from interfering with the metallic conduit which is moving as the result of the bending process of a preceding stage, an actuator is provided to remove the bending member from the moving area of the metallic conduit. That is, the binding member is made movable toward the stationary frame and retractable from the moving area of the metallic conduit.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a machine for bending a small-diameter metallic conduit at several points and more particularly, to a small-diameter metallic conduit bending machine adapted to shape a metallic conduit whose individual bend portions differ in the bend direction three-dimensionally from one another, not lying on the same plane, such as the fuel pipeline or brake pipeline of a car.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A conventional bending machine of the foregoing type includes a required number of bending units disposed correspondingly to a plurality of bend portions, each unit being configured as shown in FIG. 12 so that with respect to each bending process, a receiving roll 21 is moved by a cylinder 22 to come into contact with a metallic conduit 23, and then a bending roll 24 is moved by a cylinder 25 to bend the metallic conduit 23. In the drawing, 26 and 27 are mounts, 28 and 29 are stays, and 30 is a basement.
According to the foregoing conventional bending machine, however, since the bending process is carried out by moving the receiving roll 21 and the bending roll 24 by means of the respective cylinders 22 and 25, one bending process needs two actions; thus, the processing time is long. Since the bending process is completed when the piston rods of both cylinders 22 and 25 are in an extended state, upon supply of a pressurized fluid into the cylinder (generally, an air cylinder) at the time of bending, the bending moment imposed on the piston rod increases, and flexure resulting from the reaction caused at the time of bending appears in the stays 28 and 29 and mounts 26 and 27 for supporting the cylinders 22 and 25; as a result, a minute discrepancy (called "breathing" by those skilled in the art) appears between the receiving roll 21 and the bending roll 24, thereby resulting in variations in products. To eliminate such a discrepancy, it is necessary to make the stays 28 and 29 and the mounts 26 and 27 thick and rigid; consequently, the machine becomes large in size and heavy (but, in spite of such provisions, some discrepancy cannot be eliminated). Further, since the whole machine is designed and composed while giving consideration to the position, orientation, etc. of each of the cylinders 22 and 25, receiving roll 21 and bending roll 24, a long time is needed for manufacture, such as assembly and adjustment; as a result, the machine cannot be put in service in time where the start of mass production is settled. In addition, since the number of parts and of moving portions is large, the manufacturing cost is very high and the durability is inferior.
Especially, where one bending mechanism and a subsequent bending mechanism are to be disposed close to each other, the two mechanisms cannot be disposed or must be mounted using a complicated mechanism because they would interfere with each other even partly. Further, when the metallic conduit is brandished during bending, it under movement tends to interfere with the bending member.


A suspension unit is disclosed having a hanger having a front face with an aperture and a control arm having a front face with an aperture. The control arm is pivotally attached to and depends from the hanger such that the front face of the hanger and the front face of the control arm are opposed one another with the aperture on the front face of the hanger being aligned with the aperture on the front face of the control arm. A jounce spring and a rebound spring are coaxially mounted to a shaft. The shaft is mounted through the apertures and springs. The rebound spring is positioned between the front faces of the hanger and the control arm and the jounce spring is positioned horizontally to one side of both the hanger and the control arm with the shaft in a horizontal orientation.

Leaf spring suspensions have been developed long time ago and used extensively in many off-road applications but very little changes ever been made to them. In many cases a leaf spring was used primarily as a connecting member (to carry weight of a machine) more so than as a device to isolate and dampen vibration of those machines. A leaf spring alone has little capability to isolate vibration and cushion the ride especially if loads are heavy and terrains are rough. This is mainly due to the fact that a leaf spring member is often subject to forces and bending moments that are imposed in different directions during operation of the vehicle but the design of a simple one-element member simply does not allow flexibility required for proper functioning of a suspension to overcome these simultaneous loads and at the same time to respond and react to them differently and independently. That is why a typical leaf spring used in an off-road application is and has to be very rigid. Consequently the ride quality of the vehicle that uses such springs is more often rough, especially in the empty condition. There is no energy absorbing medium to dampen shocks and reduce natural frequency of vibration of the sprung mass. The spring rate of steel leaf springs is linear and therefore the vibration frequency of the sprung mass significantly changes from empty to loaded conditions.
Springs are a limited life component. They deform (bend or twist) permanently and eventually fail due to fatigue caused by overloading or repeated loading and other unpredictable conditions that may occur. A leaf spring is a homogeneous single-element entity. Once it is cracked, bent, twisted, or broken, the entire leaf needs to be replaced. When that happens it is also very likely that other springs which work with it need to be replaced as well simply because once one spring bends, fails, or is out of service, the others need to carry the additional load and will most likely be impacted by the overload caused by the failure of the first spring. It is also due to the fact that there is no adjustments that can be made to the others to bring them to the same height/orientation of the new spring. The downtime costs plus the cost to service and replace springs could be very expensive.


An outdoor privacy wall that includes at least one self supporting panel mounted on multiple, spaced apart footings disposed in the ground. The panel features a rectangular shape and has opposing faces bounded by parallel upper and lower edges and a pair of parallel side edges connecting the upper and lower edges. At least one of the opposing faces includes a recessed region. A thick peripheral portion surrounds the recessed region and longitudinal reinforcing elements extend longitudinally through the thick peripheral region. A vertically oriented mold assembly is used to manufacture the panels.

This invention relates to a self supporting, pre-cast concrete wall system and, more particularly, to an outdoor privacy wall panel and a process for manufacturing such panels using a vertically arranged mold.
Outside privacy walls and fences are commonly erected to surround gated communities, as well as individual residential and commercial buildings. A wide variety of these wall systems are known. Almost all of them exhibit various disadvantages.
Many exterior, stand alone wall systems employ a pre-cast concrete construction. Some of these systems feature prefabricated slabs or panels that are manufactured in horizontally oriented molds. This method of manufacturing is fairly inefficient. When the completed slab is released and removed from the mold, it typically undergoes significant stress. Large amounts of reinforcing material must be employed so that the finished panel is strong enough to be lifted out of the mold without cracking. Typically, far more material is employed in the panel than is required for its eventual use as a privacy wall. Moreover, horizontal molds take up large amounts of floor space. A factory with a limited size is thereby limited in the number of wall panels that can be produced during a pre-determined period in time. Walls featuring conventional concrete panels also require the use of support posts between the adjoining panels. Considerable time, effort, material and expense are needed to install these support posts.
Cast-in-place concrete has also been used extensively for outdoor walls. However, such structures usually require continuous footings, special reinforcing and foundations that have to be excavated well below the surface of the ground. Installation of such walls requires a number of steps, each of which involves a specialized task that must be performed by a registered contractor or other specialized tradesmen. As a result, these walls are oftentimes prohibitively expensive. Masonry walls have similar requirements and are likewise quite costly to construct.
Wood fences are a significantly less expensive alternative. Such structures usually can be installed by the homeowner or an unskilled laborer. Moreover, wood fences often do not require structural certification. However, these structures use wood structural posts that deteriorate relatively rapidly, particularly when exposed to harsh weather and/or soil conditions. Wood is also susceptible to termite infestation and dry rot. As a result, wood fences must be replaced more often than other privacy wall systems.
Recently, stucco coated stryofoam walls have become popular. These walls utilize spaced apart steel posts that support the stryofoam and stucco panels. Such products are fairly lightweight and flexibly configured. On the other hand, constructing the wall is labor intensive and again requires a number of different skilled tradesmen. Ants and other insects can invade and destroy the stryofoam. Stucco tends to crack and deteriorate in response to temperature changes, settlement and dynamic loads. The steel posts, which are normally 16 to 12 gauge, are apt to oxidize under moist conditions. This diminishes the longevity of the wall and requires fairly frequent replacement.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an independently supported outdoor privacy wall system that is both aesthetically attractive and much easier and less expensive to manufacture and install than existing wall systems.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a wall system featuring strong and durable components that effectively resist cracking, deformation and deterioration during manufacture, shipment and after installation.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an outdoor wall system that can be erected quickly, conveniently and inexpensively with minimal labor.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an outdoor wall system that may be manufactured in a highly efficient manner and which does not require an unduly large manufacturing facility.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an outdoor wall system that requires substantially less material than conventional systems and which substantially reduces the costs and weight of the finished wall without sacrificing strength and durability.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an outdoor wall system that effectively resists wind loads in excess of 140 mph.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an outdoor wall system that has corresponding recesses and finishes on both sides of the wall structure so that modular panels may be manufactured, oriented and installed quickly and efficiently.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a method for quickly, conveniently and selectively applying a variety of surface textures, lettering or other display features to the exterior surface of an outdoor wall panel while the panel is being manufactured.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an outdoor wall system that is comparatively lightweight so that it is relatively convenient to manipulate, transport and install.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an outdoor wall system which utilizes materials, factory space and labor in a highly efficient manner.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an outdoor wall system employing wall panels that may be individually repaired or replaced quickly and conveniently.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a method for manufacturing panels for a wall system that substantially reduces the possibility of air pockets being formed within the wall and which thereby improves the structural integrity and appearance of the wall.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an outdoor wall system that does not require a continuous footing, structural supporting posts, a complex foundation or extensive excavation.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an outdoor wall system featuring self supporting wall panels, which eliminate the need to use separate support posts between adjoining panels and which therefore significantly reduce the time, labor, material and expense required to install the wall.
This invention features an outdoor wall system that includes a panel mounted on a pair of footings disposed in the ground. The panel extends upwardly from the ground and the footings in a generally vertical manner. The panel features a substantially rectangular shape and has opposing faces that are bounded by generally parallel upper and lower edges and a pair of generally parallel side edges interconnecting the upper and lower edges. At least one (and preferably each) of the opposing faces includes a recessed central region. A relatively thick peripheral portion of the panel surrounds the recessed central region. The recessed region includes a generally flat interior surface and a beveled or chamfered section that interconnects the interior surface with the relatively thick portion of the panel. The recessed region has a generally rectangular shape that corresponds to the rectangular shape of the panel. This provides the thick peripheral portion of the panel with four thick peripheral segments. A pair of parallel thick segments are formed respectively along the upper and lower edges of the panel. Similarly, a pair of parallel thick side segments are formed along the respective side edges of the panel. An elongate reinforcing bar is formed longitudinally through each of the thick peripheral segments.
In a preferred embodiment, a recessed region is formed in each of the opposing panel faces. The panel thereby includes a relatively thin portion located between the recessed regions in the opposing faces of the panel. An alternative type of reinforcing material such as a microfiber may be formed within the thin portion of the panel. Preferably, the panel is composed of concrete. Each of the opposing faces may feature a similar finish.
A footing is preferably formed at least beneath each thick side segment along the lower edge of the panel. A connecting element may depend from each thick side segment. That connecting element may be inserted into a complementary opening within a respective footing. An appropriate adhesive is used to secure the connecting element within the footing opening. The connecting element may comprise the lower end of the reinforcing bar that extends through the thick side segment or an appropriate steel dowel.
This invention also features a unique vertical mold apparatus in which the panels of this invention are manufactured. The mold apparatus includes a series or battery of mold components that are juxtaposed side-by-side within a frame. Each mold component includes means defining a generally flat, vertically oriented support member. Each support member carries at least one recess-defining component, which component is releasably attached to a respective side of the support member. A support member is formed at each end of the series of mold components within the frame. Each support member at the end of the series carries a single recess-defining component, which is attached to an interiorly facing surface of the support member. Each of the other intermediate support members may carry a pair of releasable recess-defining components. Each such recess-defining component is attached to a respective side of the support member to which it is releasably mounted or permanently attached. A generally vertical void or space is formed between each adjoining pair of mold components. This void or space receives concrete or other material forming the wall panel. Alternatively, members can be cast without the recess defining component.
The frame encloses the series of mold components and holds those components securely together in a juxtaposed condition so that a plurality of generally parallel, vertically oriented voids are formed. The material forming the wall panels is introduced into the voids and allowed to set or harden. Such material is preferably added through an injection port formed into each void proximate the lower end thereof. As a result, concrete or other material forming the wall is pushed upwardly through the void so that air pockets are eliminated. After the panel sets, the frame is released and the completed panels are raised vertically out of the mold. Significantly less stress is exerted on the panels when they are lifted vertically rather then horizontally.


A vibration-isolating screw is disclosed. The vibration-isolating screw includes a screw head and a screw tail portion. The screw head includes a first screw body, a first magnetic element, a second screw body, a second magnetic element, a third screw body and a third magnetic element. The first magnetic element and the second magnetic element are mounted on the first screw body and the second screw body, respectively. The third screw body is mounted between the first screw body and the second screw body. The third magnetic element comprises a first end and a second end and is mounted on the third screw body. The first end and the first magnetic element are adjacent and mutual repulsion. The second end and the second magnetic element are adjacent and mutual repulsion. The screw tail portion is connected with the second screw body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a screw, and more particularly, to a vibration-isolating screw which can reduce the effect of vibrations.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, there's been widespread adoption of electronic devices such as personal computer or notebook PC. These electronic devices usually come with speakers or other multimedia equipment disposed therein. However, when a speaker is disposed in the notebook PC and is making sound, the vibration of the speaker could be easily transmitted via a main structure to adjacent components to cause other components to resonate, resulting in malfunction or operation error.
Hence, it is common to add an anti-vibration pad to a fixing hole of the speaker to absorb most of the vibrations generated by the speaker during operation, as the speaker is still attached to the main structure in this configuration. Although the anti-vibration pad disposed between the speaker and the main structure can absorb some of the vibrations, it cannot solve the problem caused by vibration completely. Still some of the vibrations are transmitted via the main structure to other components.
Therefore, it is necessary to provide a vibration-isolating screw which can completely isolate a vibrating source and the main structure to solve the vibrating problems seen in the prior art.


A cable bolt comprises a cable with a tubular yielding fixture at one of its ends. The pull-off load of such yielding fixture can be adjusted to a desired value. This is achieved by unwinding one end of the cable and inserting a slug over the kingwire. Then, the peripheral wires are wound again over the kingwire forming a bulge in the cable where the slug is located. The yielding fixture is then slid on the cable and forced over the bulged portion of the cable, while measuring the load required to achieve this operation, which also becomes the pull-off load of the yielding fixture. Finally, any part of the cable protruding from the fixture is cut-off to form the cable bolt with the desired yielding fixture at its end.

This invention relates to cable bolts used as ground support in mining and similar operations.
Cable bolt support is progressively gaining a higher proportion of the ground support market in Canada and elsewhere. This is principally due to (1) a cost/length which is comparable to rebar, (2) a 50-75% increase in weight-to-strength ratio compared to rebar, (3) high capacity (25 tonnes) compared to 150 kN for standard rebar and 10 tonnes for a mechanical rock bolt, (4) the versatility of cable bolts due to the fact that relatively long lengths can be coiled for installation from restricted access, and (5) the fact that high bond strength, comparable to rebar, can be developed using modified geometries such as the xe2x80x9cbulgexe2x80x9d cable and the xe2x80x9cGarford bulbxe2x80x9d cable.
The majority of cable bolts are grouted with a Type 10 Portland cement grout which does not attain full strength until 28 days. This has prevented the use of cable bolts as primary support at an advancing face. However, in U.S. coal mines, short lengths of cable are spun in a two-component epoxy-resin grout for primary roadway support. Also, application of epoxy grouted cables has been recently developed for specific hard-rock mining applications, such as ore-pass support. Ground Control Limited of Sudbury Canada is currently marketing a resin grouted cable bolt system called the Strandloc(trademark) bolt. For this system, a threaded fixture is swaged onto the cable to facilitate mixing of the epoxy using a drill. However, tests indicate that this fixture will pull off the cable at 2-3 tonnes, and hence will do little more than hold the screen in place. As a result, to mobilize the full capacity of the cable (25 tonnes) the bolt must be full-column grouted, as opposed to toe-grouted, which becomes expensive for longer lengths.
It is an object of the present invention to obviate the above mentioned disadvantage and to provide a yielding fixture capable of mobilizing substantially full bolt capacity, even with toe-grouted cable bolts.
Another object of the present invention is to produce a yielding fixture attachment to the cable bolt which will have a predetermined pull-off load that may be either constant or variable.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description thereof.
In essence, the present invention concerns a cable bolt having a cable and a yielding fixture at one of its ends, said yielding fixture being tubular and being attached to the cable by providing an insert of a predetermined size within a portion of the cable at a predetermined distance from an end of the cable, thereby forming a bulge in said portion of the cable, and forcing the portion of the cable with the bulge into the tubular yielding fixture so as to achieve a predetermined pull-off load of the yielding fixture. The tubular yielding fixture may be provided with means that will cooperate with a drill or other suitable device to permit spinning of the cable into a grouted hole in the ground which is being supported by said cable. The bulge near the end of the cable can be produced by inserting a suitable element within the structure of the cable by unwinding the end of the cable, placing the element within the structure of the cable and then rewinding the wires of the cable over the element, thereby producing the bulge. The preferred type of element is a slug that can be placed, for example, over the kingwire of the cable with the peripheral wires then being wrapped around the slug, thereby forming the bulge.
According to a preferred embodiment, the present invention involves a cable bolt having a 7-strand cable made of six peripheral wires wound around a middle wire or kingwire and having at one of its ends a tubular yielding fixture attached thereto so as to achieve a predetermined pull-off load. Such tubular yielding fixture may, for example, be a metal tube with a threaded portion at its end and including a nut that can be screwed onto the threaded end of the fixture. In lieu of the threaded portion, the metal tube may be provided at its end with means that would cooperate with a drill or similar device that would be used to rotate the tubular fixture so that the cable attached thereto can be spun when it is inserted into the grouted hole in the rock or ground being supported. Such means at the end of the tube could be a nut welded to the end of the tube or a flattened machined portion that would fit into the head cavity of a drill or otherwise used to spin the cable within the grouted hole. The attachment of the tube to the cable is preferably done in accordance with the present invention by unwrapping the wires at one end of the cable, placing a slug over the kingwire at a predetermined distance from the end of the cable, and then rewrapping the peripheral wires around the slug and the kingwire, thereby forming an enlarged diameter portion or bulge in the cable, and then forcing the end of the cable with the bulge into the tube so as to compress the slug within the bulge and thereby obtain a yielding fixture with a predetermined pull-off load based on the length and thickness of the slug employed. Different sizes, i.e. lengths and thicknesses, of slugs give different pull-off loads that can be measured, for instance with a load cell or similar device used during the insertion of the bulged cable into the tube. Also, such cable bolts can be instrumented with stress measuring rock support devices such as disclosed, for instance, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,929,341, to provide measurement of stress or strain in the ground being supported.
In accordance with the present invention, the method of forming a cable bolt with a tubular yielding fixture attached to an end of a cable, comprises providing an insert of a predetermined size within a portion of the cables at a predetermined distance from the end of the cable, so as to form a bulge in said portion of the cable, and forcing the portion of the cable with the bulge into the tubular fixture so as to achieve a predetermined pull-off load of the yielding fixture.
According to a more specific and preferred embodiment, the method comprises:
(a) spinning-open one end of a 7-strand cable by twisting the peripheral wires in a direction opposite to their inherent helical wrap and unwinding the peripheral wires until a portion of the kingwire is revealed and is followed by a small protuberance formed by the peripheral wires expanding over the kingwire;
(b) placing a slug, e.g. a slug made of mild steel, having a predetermined size and thickness, over the kingwire and sliding it so that it penetrates into the protuberance;
(c) winding the peripheral wires back to their original state with the slug remaining within the protuberance where it becomes enclosed, thereby making the cable diameter to be slightly larger in that portion of the cable, and forming a bulge near the end of the cable;
(d) sliding over the cable a tubular yielding fixture through its sleeve, (e.g. a steel tube with a threaded portion or with a welded nut or the like at its outer end) from the opposite end of the cable, so that the outer end of the fixture (with the threaded portion or the welded nut or the like) is up-front, and moving it until the outer end of the fixture comes into contact with the bulge in the cable where the slug is enclosed, over which it can no longer slide;
(e) forcing the tubular yielding fixture over the bulge in the cable, for example by clamping the fixture and pulling the portion with the bulge into the sleeve of the fixture, while measuring the load required to pull the portion of the cable with the bulge fully into the sleeve, which becomes the pull-off load of the yielding fixture; and, if necessary,
(f) cutting off any part of the cable protruding from the outer end of the yielding fixture.

Cable bolt with a yielding fixture and method of forming the same


A device for cold therapy using cooling mist. Ice baths and cryogenic chamber are previously known solutions for cold therapy, but both suffer from several disadvantages, such as space requirements. The present device for cold therapy includes elements, such as a nozzle, for producing mist from liquid provided for the device, which mist stream is sprayed to a surface area of a treated object in order to cool the treated object, wherein the Sauter mean diameter of the mist is at most 150 μm.

Cold therapy, such as ice bathing and cryogenic chamber therapy, is commonly used, especially in sports, wherein the cold therapy is a training regimen usually following a period of intense exercise. The cold therapy is claimed to prevent injuries and to help the body to recover faster from an intense period of activity. The cold therapy is known to influence blood vessels as tightening them and withdrawing blood to the body's core. After the cold therapy, the circulation of blood is suggested to be stimulated and oxygen and nutrient supply to e.g. inflamed and injured areas is claimed to be improved.
However, ice bathing and cryogenic chamber therapy has to be performed in closely monitored circumstances. Staying too long in an ice bath or in a cryogenic chamber may cause hypothermia or frostbites, or sudden exposure to extreme cold could harm patients with heart problems or asthma and, in a worst case, may even lead to sudden death. In addition, many people experience the ice bath as an unpleasant or even a painful event. By exposing the body to ice water can be an overwhelming accomplishment for some, even knowing the benefits of the treatment.
Moreover, even a small basin of ice bath is a heavy construction and needs a lot of water. Normally the volume of a basin is 200 L or more. If the ice bath is a permanent arrangement, the maintenance of the bath requires regular water changing and using of chemicals for keeping the water clean, which can be expensive and requires trained maintenance personnel. Used chemicals may also cause health or allergy problems or they can irritate bather's eyes and/or airways. In addition, the ice bath needs a cooling system to keep the required temperature, which consumes lot of energy and, thus, increases maintenance expenses.
Typically, the cold in a cryogenic chamber is produced with nitrogen in a form of vapor, which can be a more comfortable experience to a user than ice bathing. However, a cryogenic chamber needs a lot of room for the chamber itself and its equipment, as well as for the surveillance for users in the chamber. Like ice baths, using and maintaining the cryogenic equipment require training and personnel.


Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method and apparatus for multi-input multi-output MIMO communications in a wireless communication network. The method comprises: receiving, from a device, long-term precoding information for the MIMO communication, the long-term precoding information indicating a first group of beams for a first antenna polarization, and a second group of beams for a second antenna polarization (S201); receiving, from the device, short-term precoding information for use in the MIMO communication, the short-term precoding information indicating beams selected respectively from the first group of beams and the second group of beams for different antenna polarizations (S202); constructing a precoding matrix for the MIMO communication according to the long-term precoding information and short-term precoding information (S203); and transmitting data encoded according to the precoding matrix to the device (S204). Embodiments of the present disclosure further provide a method in a receiving side of MIMO, and a corresponding apparatus.

Due to limitations of time and frequency resources, improving resource utilization efficiency is a target which is always pursued in communication technology MIMO technology can simultaneously transmit a plurality of data streams on a same time-frequency resource block by exploiting space domain and thereby effectively boost system throughput.
Two-dimensional (2D) MIMO transmission has been studied and adopted in some wireless communication systems, such as the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long Term Evolution (LTE). As for the 2D-MIMO, traditional antenna arrays are arranged horizontally to form a beam in a horizontal plane. In order to explore potential gain from 3-dimensional (3D) wireless channels, the 3D MIMO has already been discussed in the area of wireless communications, for example, in a 3GPP meeting. For example, 3D MIMO channel modelling has been discussed.
To obtain a 3D MIMO channel, the planar (2D) antenna array is going to be used to obtain the vertical spatial gain. As antenna dimensions and channel dimensions increase, the amount of feedback about channel state information (CSI) also increases. However, resources for measuring the channels and feedback channel capacity for feeding back the CSI are limited, which means that a new feedback structure needs to be proposed, and a new codebook for 3D MIMO needs to be designed, in order to facilitate an effective feedback.
In the latest 3GPP technical report, a 3D MIMO precoder structure has already been determined. The 3D MIMO precoder is divided into a long-term feedback and a short-term feedback. The long-term feedback provides a group of beams, whereas the short-term feedback selects a beam or column from the group of beams of the long-term feedback, and performs a phase adjustment between different antenna polarizations.
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a solution related to the short-term feedback.

Method and apparatus for short-term feedback in multi-input multi-output communications