The present invention relates to an electronic system for purchasing an item where the system has at least one home station and at least one remote device (56). More particularly, the present invention is directed to a method or means for purchasing the item by entering a code into the remote device (56). The remote device (56) of the present invention is in the form of a pager and/or a radio.

Consumers, on average, make purchases at three retail stores per week and have little time for shopping elsewhere. The various retail stores at which consumers make purchases include outlet stores, shopping centers, hardware stores, grocery stores, drug stores, clothing stores and shoe stores. Consumers often identify items they wish to purchase while going about their daily routines rather than when they are shopping. Thus, when a consumer encounters items which he wishes to purchase, it is often inconvenient and/or impossible to search for, much less purchase, these items. Without the ability to purchase these items at the time the consumer is motivated to make the purchase, these purchases are unlikely. Therefore, it would be advantageous for merchants and advertisers to make a sale at the exact time their product is shown or advertised to the consumer. Consumers, on the other hand, desire to make purchases with minimal effort, time and dollars.
In addition to the disadvantages listed above, Nielsen, consumer groups, advertisers and marketers require a faster and more precise method of obtaining accurate measurements to quantify and qualify purchases and buyer demographics; retailers desire immediate transactions and order fulfillment to reduce inventory and hasten consumer purchasing (check out) processes; and buyers desire having immediate access to information concerning their financial accounts.

Personal intercommunication purchase and fulfillment system


The present invention comprises an improved method of controlling resistivity in a process for consolidating particular materials or combinations of such materials into shaped products of very low porosity. High compaction pressures are applied at temperatures in the range of sintering temperature of the materials being consolidated to achieve essentially complete densification at extremely rapid processing rates. Electrothermal heating of a medium having controlled resistivity is utilized to accomplish these results. Various difficult materials, such as silicon carbide, boron carbide and other very high melting point materials, may be densified by these techniques.

The present invention is directed to a method of controlling resistivity in associated methods of consolidating particulate metals, ceramic materials, or combinations of such materials into shaped products of very low porosity. More specifically, this invention provides controlled resistivity in connection with a means to apply high compaction pressures at temperatures in the range of sintering temperature of the materials being consolidated to achieve essentially complete densification at extremely rapid processing rates as compared with prior art technologies. Moreover, because this invention employs a method of electrothermal heating generally referred to as "charge-resistor" heating, the temperatures that can be obtained by the process of this invention are well above the requirements for even the most refractory and heretofore difficult materials to densify a wide variety of metallic and ceramic materials, such as silicon carbide, boron carbide and other very high melting point materials.
Processes for making dense metallic and/or ceramic articles from their powders are well established in industrial practice of the prior art. It is possible, for example, by the method known as "hot pressing," to place the powder between two cylindrical pistons contained within a cylindrical chamber having only a slightly greater diameter than the pistons, and by application of heat and pressure directly to the powder, the powder can be formed into a highly dense cylindrical billet. Because the method applies an external pressure directly to the material at or near its sintering temperature, hot pressing will yield consolidated product of higher density than if the powder material is densified by pressureless sintering. Hot pressing is a relatively simple prior art method to achieve essentially complete densification and is widely used to make many articles in present commercial use. However, because high temperatures are needed to consolidate high melting point metal alloy powders and the recently developed high performance ceramic materials, the dies and plungers used for hot pressing must be made of a material capable of withstanding the required temperature. Graphite is the most practical material and is commonly used in commercial hot pressing of ceramics. To avoid oxidation of graphite tooling, the hot processing apparatus must be enclosed within a controlled atmosphere chamber, and shielded therein by inert gases. Often, a vacuum is also pulled on the chamber containing the hot pressing apparatus to allow for the removal of reactive gases that may evolve during heating of the material.
A major disadvantage of this method of consolidation is that the cycle time for hot pressing increases with temperature, making the process slow at very high temperature. It is a further disadvantage that in order to utilize effectively the space available in a hot pressing furnace, it is necessary to assemble a series of parts into a "stack". This procedure can be intricate and not readily adapted to automated production.
Even more disadvantageous from the standpoint of commercial production of high performance structural ceramics is that it is impossible to use simple uniaxial hot pressing to make parts of complex shape. For example, turbine rotors that have intricate curved shapes and substantial variation in the thickness cannot be hot pressed.
To make an article of complex shape, the processing that is generally used has involved "performing" the powder into a partially densified article having the desired shape of the finished part, then further consolidating the pre-form in a second step. Methods commonly used to make the pre-form include die pressing, slip casting, injection molding and extrusion. Pre-forms can then be further consolidated by one or a combination of operations that include cold isostatic pressing, hot pressing, hot isostatic pressing (HIPing), cold and hot forging, hot extrusion and pressureless sintering.
Hot isostatic pressing or HIPing involves sealing a pre-form in an evacuated flexible container and inserting the cladded part into a heating chamber and heating to the sintering temperature. The container can be a thin metal sheath that can be welded, evacuated and sealed. If the metal cladding material is properly selected, it will deform to the shape of the preform and transmit pressure uniformly and isostatically to the part being consolidated. Pressure is applied by compression of the gas in the surrounding chamber. For ceramic components that require very high temperatures to achieve consolidation, for example silicon carbide parts, a metal sheath may be impractical and means to encapsulate the part in a glass composition have been developed.
Hot isostatic pressing does provide a means to consolidate metal and ceramic preforms into dense articles of complex shape, and there is a growing use of HIPing in commercial production of powdered metal parts and ceramic components. However, the major use of HIP has been to densify cast metals and to consolidate powder metal parts. HIP technology can be applied to ceramic materials including the high temperature non-oxide ceramics, such as silicon carbide; but the costs are very high. Temperatures in excess of 2000.degree. C. are needed at pressures of 30,000 psi or higher. As in hot pressing, HIPing entails long cycle times. Because the cost of high pressure equipment and systems are higher than for hot pressing, HIPing is more expensive. There has therefore been increasing interest in other methods that would allow production of ceramic components of complex shape at lower cost.
Yet further, one method receiving extensive study by ceramicists is pressureless sintering. Pressureless sintering involves making preforms of the part from ultra-fine, sinter-active ceramic powder, for example by injection molding or cold isostatic pressing, then heating the pre-form to a temperature approaching the melting point of the material(s) to be sintered, causing a shrinkage and consolidation to the desired final size and shape. Pressureless sintering not only can consolidate complex and intricately shaped parts, but it offers the obvious advantage of adaptation to continuous and easily automated production with inherently lower cost of mass production.
Despite already noted advantages of the pressureless sintering method, technical factors may limit the ability to utilize this process to make certain high performance structural ceramic components from certain powdered ceramic materials. This is particularly true in the case of the high melting temperature non-oxide ceramic materials such as the nitrides, carbides, and borides. For example, to achieve a near theoretical density part by pressureless sintering of silicon carbide powders, it is mandatory to use a silicon carbide powder that is all substantially below 1-2 micron particle size, and meeting close chemical specifications with regard to contained oxygen, carbon and trace elements.
Deviation from these specifications will lead to failure to obtain an essentially pore-free and homogeneous flaw-free structure absolutely necessary to obtain the high strength characteristics required in aircraft or automotive engine turbine rotors. Thus, the prosecution of suitably qualified powders meeting the rigorous demands for pressureless sintering involves intricate and careful control that results in relatively high cost starting raw material powders. Furthermore, even with the most careful control during production of powders, pressureless sintering at high temperature requires a finite time during which the preformed powder compact must remain at the sintering temperature to allow for full shrinkage and densification. Inherent with the sintering process is the tendency for growth of the grains causing departure from the idealized ultra-fine, equi-axed microstructure that offers the highest material strength. Powders that undergo crystal phase transformation at or near the sintering temperature are particularly susceptible to grain growth and a resulting decrease in strength properties. This effect is made more pronounced with increased residence time at the sintering temperature.
It can be noted that very high temperatures are needed to sinter materials that are candidates for high performance engine components. As stated, silicon carbide requires temperatures above 2000.degree. C. to achieve a high degree of densification by pressureless sintering. Although it would be highly desirable from the standpoint of minimizing grain growth to rapidly heat a preform to the sintering temperature and limit the time at temperature to no longer than several minutes, and, possibly to residence times of no more than several seconds, there are a number of practical limitations to doing this by a pressureless sintering process. First, sintering furnaces of conventional design are simply not suited to a quick entry or withdrawal of the material being sintered. More important, however, is the fact that gases are likely to evolve from the preform during heat-up due to a combination of desorption, decomposition and chemical reaction. Too rapid a heat-up rate and associated gas evacuation rate can cause mechanical stresses that would fracture the part. And thirdly, too rapid a heating and/or cooling could also cause fracture due to differential expansion or contraction, referred to as "thermal shock". The limits of temperature raise rate and cooling rate during pressureless sintering are different for different materials and are dictated by the specific material being processed and the size and shape of the part.
However, it should be noted in regard to the limits of temperature rise rate and the speed of the sintering cycle that substantially higher cycle rates are possible when the material is being subjected to pressure, for example as in hot pressing. Pressure minimizes cracking due to gas evolution and, if maintained during the densification cycle, it allows a substantially closer approach to achieving theoretical density than by pressureless sintering.
Thus, the present state of the art can be summarized, as follows: the pressureless sintering method for the manufacture of advanced materials by consolidation from powders, and particularly for making high performance ceramics, represents the most attractive method from the standpoint of high volume-low cost production. However, the mechanical properties obtained in pressureless sintered materials are generally not as good as in materials made by application of pressure during sintering, as is the case for hot pressed and/or HIPed products. But these latter methods are either unsuited for making parts of complex shape, and/or are very slow, and/or are unable to be easily or fully automated; thus, they are very expensive.
It is therefore one material object of the present invention to overcome many of the difficulties of the prior art methods, and more particularly to provide a controlled and controllable means for extremely rapid sintering under pressure to achieve consolidated parts of low porosity and having a flaw-free and ultra-fine grain structure.
It is a further object of the present invention to be able to accomplish these basic objectives even with materials that require temperatures well above 2100.degree. C.
It is still further the purpose of the present invention to accomplish the above objectives within seconds using temperature rise rates in excess of 50.degree. C./sec.
Moreover, it is the purpose of this invention to consolidate preformed materials of complex shape under compaction pressures approaching isostatic compaction conditions. It is still further the purpose of this invention to accomplish these objectives using relatively inexpensive apparatus that is simple in construction and operation and that can be readily adapted to automated, controlled, and continuous high volume production.
It is recognized that some of the above objectives of the present invention have been addressed, in certain asects by previous workers. In that regard, descriptions of processes intended as improvements in manufacture of parts by consolidation of powders have been described in the technical literature and in previously issued patents. Examples are the patents issued to Lichti and Hofstatter (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,539,175 and 4,640,711). These workers have demonstrated that simple tooling similar to that used in hot pressing can in fact be used to consolidate articles of complex shape by first surrounding the article by a spherically shaped particulate medium which has sufficient resiliency to be deformed under high compaction pressures without excessive breakage and thereby transmit the compaction pressure in a nearly isostatic manner to the part being consolidated. The Lichti-Hofstatter patents (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,539,175 and 4,640,711) note the advantages provided by using Superior Graphite Co. spherical graphitic carbon product (9400 Series) as the preferred pressure transmitting particulate medium.
Although the consolidation methods of Lichti and Hofstatter theoretically may offer significant advantages in consolidation of pre-formed articles, it has in actual practice been found quite difficult to apply and to control the described procedure for materials requiring very high temperatures for consolidation--for example, for materials that must be heated to above 1500.degree. C. (2732.degree. F.) to achieve densification. U.S. Pat. No. 4,539,175 to Lichti et. al. notes that the consolidation process takes place after the heated preform is placed in a bed of previously heated carbonaceous particles (Col. 4, lines 35 et seq.). It is further stated that although the graphite particles can be heated inductively to 4000.degree. F. (2204.degree. C.), oxidation is significant above 800.degree. F. Hence, it follows that the operation step at temperatures approaching 4000.degree. F. (2204.degree. C.) would become extremely difficult. U.S. Pat. No. 4,539,175 specifically notes that heating to the necessary temperature is done before compaction.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,640,711 describes again the consolidation process thereof and notes the use of a non-graphitic spherical carbon and mixtures of graphite and non-graphitic spherical carbon and mixtures of sperical carbon and/or spherical graphitic carbon and ceramic particles as the pressure transmitting medium. U.S. Pat. No. 4,640,711 is again specific in noting that the preform and the bed of particles are to be at elevated temperature before pressurization. Thus, the patented processes of the Lichti and Hofstatter patents require that both the particulate medium and the pre-form be preheated independently and then individually transported to the compaction apparatus in sequence to allow the pre-form to be immersed within the medium prior to compaction. Such transfer of materials after heating becomes extremely difficult at temperatures needed to consolidate non-oxide ceramics, such as silicon carbide (1990.degree.-2150.degree. C.), and apparatus to accomplish the transfer is complex, expensive and wasteful of energy.
It is further recognized that a process has been reported by Eliezer and co-workers at the University of Texas referred to as High-Energy, High-Rate Consolidation, which utilizes a very high energy electrical discharge, not through a bed, but rather directly to the pre-form while applying compaction pressure to the preform. In this process, electrical energy is transmitted directly through the material being consolidated, and thus can be used only to consolidate those materials having sufficient electrical conductivity. By using a suitably electrically conductive particulate medium, the present invention is not so restricted, and material with no electrical conductivity can be consolidated by the process hereof. Yet further, since the process described by Eliezer et al. is conducted in a manner similar to hot pressing, it is no more suited than hot pressing for making components of complex shape.
In view of the Lichti-Hofstatter and Eliezer et al. processes, it is still another objective of the present invention to utilize the principle of consolidation by compacting a free flowing solid particulate medium as a near isostatic pressure transmitter, but to accomplish heating and compaction essentially simultaneously by a rapid, convenient and energy efficient means. It is a further object of the present invention to include embodiments utilizing a bed material which is not confined to the narrowly specific bed material of the prior art.
It is also an object of the present invention to control the resistivity of the bed material for use in the electroconsolidation process of the present invention according to the following principles.
The important purpose of developing a means to control the specific resistance of the medium relates to optimizing conditions for any particular application hereof. The system hereof in electrical terms in certain embodiments is inherently a relatively low resistance system. That is, for a given power application (i.e., 10 Kw, 100 Kw, etc.) the applied voltage will be low and the current high. The reason for this phenomenon is that it is desired to have the materials of construction, specifically the top and bottom plungers (parts 52 and 16 hereof) which carry the electrical current, made of a very low resistance material (such as, for example, graphite, copper, etc.), to avoid resistive heating of the apparatus and the resulting loss of temperature control and extraneous power losses. Thus, the main electrical resistance of the system will be that of the pressing medium.
One preferred pressing medium is a graphitic carbon, such as Superior Graphite Special Graphitic Carbon 9400 Grade, produced by Superior Graphite Co., Chicago, Ill. This material has the desired excellent flow characteristics and elastic modules (resiliency) and inert character to work as a pseudo-isostatic pressure transmitting medium. However, being a graphitized carbon, its resistivity is relatively low (0.03-0.05 ohm-cm). Low system resistance has the disadvantage of requiring relatively high current to develop the needed electrothermal conversion of electrical energy into heat by means of electrical resistive heating. The apparatus must therefore be designed with the ability to operate with high current flow that requires connecting cables of high current rating, or possibly the use of water cooling. This adds significantly to the cost of the apparatus. It is readily calculated from established electrical system relationships the amount of current that must be passed through the medium to achieve the electrothermal conversion energy release necessary to raise the preform temperature to the sintering temperature within a desired time cycle. For example, to achieve an energy release of 50 Kw with a system offering only 2.0.times.10.sup.-3 ohms resistance, it will be necessary to pass 5,000 amps through the apparatus. By increasing the system resistance to 8.0.times.10.sup.-3 ohms, the required current can be reduced to 2,500 amps with a corresponding reduction made in the current rating of the auxiliary process equipment, bus bars and connecting cables. Therefore, in general, it is desired to have a pressing medium having a relatively high specific resistance.
Actually, the resistivity of a packed bed of a particulate material is not directly measurable as in the case of a solid material that can be cut into a specific shape and is at the full or theoretical density of the particular material. Resistivity of a packed bed of particles is strongly dependent on the applied pressure. Thus, the reported resistivity of a particular medium is defined by the method of measurement and more specifically to the applied pressure and to the size distribution of that material as both conditions affect the degree of packing of the material.
Various methods for measuring the electrical resistivity of particulate carbon materials are known in the prior art. It can also be noted in the prior art that the specific resistance of particulate carbons is very dependent on the pressure applied to bed of the carbon. See "Electrical Properties of Carbons--Resistance of Powder Materials, Carbon, Vol. 24 pp. 337-41 (1986). Thus, to some degree in the electroconsolidation processes hereof the system resistance may be influenced by the pressure being applied. However, to achieve the highest degree of densification, it may be desireable to apply the highest possible pressure, and therefore the use of pressure as a means to increase the system resistance may not in reality constitute a viable method for that purpose. It is therefore, necessary to increase the specific resistance of the particulate medium material, according to the practices and principles of the present invention.
The specific resistivity of packed materials has been determined to be dependent on the degree of particle-to-particle contact, which determines the actual inter-particle area of contact, and thus the resistance of the contact. Thus, the application of pressure on the packed bed serves mainly to increase the area of inter-particle contact by compressing particles against each other. This is especially true of softer more elastic materials such as graphitic carbons.
It is further recognized also that surface hardness is also an important factor in the electrical resistance of particle-to-particle contact in a packed bed of particles, just as it is in the contact resistance between bulk solid materials. For example, the contact resistance between solid graphite and highly conductive solid copper is almost twice as much as between solid graphite and graphite, even though the resistivity of graphite is more than 1,000 times that of copper. This results because graphite is a relatively soft material that is much more readily deformed under pressure, and thus effectuates a more highly effective area of contact. Moreover, the cleanliness of the surface and any film(s) on the surface also may significantly affect contact resistance.
Based upon the forgoing, it is therefore a further aspect of the present invention that the contact resistance, and therefore the resistivity of, a packed bed of graphitic carbon particles can be increased by introducing film-forming materials that tend to coat the surface of the particles. More specifically, as set forth in the present invention, if films can be formed on the surface of the graphitic carbon particles that were harder than graphite, the electrical resistivity of packed beds of this product is thereby rendered substantially greater than that of the initial bed of graphitic carbon particles. Furthermore, materials which react with the graphitic carbon surfaces to form hard compounds stable at high temperature have special advantages for use in the electroconsolidation process of the present invention, particularly for consolidation processes requiring high temperatures. Thus, the class of film forming compounds of the present invention comprises hard, high temperature stable compounds such has carbides, borides, nitrides and related chemical complexes such as carbo-nitrides, etc., the use and composition of which are described in greater detail hereinbelow.

Method for control of resistivity in electroconsolidation of a preformed particulate workpiece


In an air conditioning apparatus for a vehicle, when a bi-level mode or a foot/defroster mode is set, a stop position of a second mode selecting door is shifted relative to a stop position of a first mode selecting door so that a pressure loss in a second air passage corresponds to a pressure loss in a first air passage. Therefore, in each air outlet mode, a ratio between an amount of air blown from the first air passage toward a driver's seat side in a passenger compartment and an amount of air blown from the second air passage toward a front passenger's seat side next to the driver's seat in the passenger compartment can be set at a predetermined value. Thus, air-conditioning feeling for a driver or a passenger in the passenger compartment can be improved while reducing production cost of the air conditioning apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an air conditioning apparatus for a vehicle, which can respectively independently adjust temperature of air blown toward a driver's seat side and air blown toward a passenger's seat side next to the driver's seat, or can be respectively independently adjust a temperature of air blown toward a front seat side and air blown toward a rear seat side in a passenger compartment.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, in an air conditioning apparatus where a temperature of air blown toward a front seat side and a temperature of air blown toward a rear seat side in a passenger compartment are respectively independently controlled, a ratio between an amount of air blown toward the front seat side and an amount of air blown toward the rear seat side of the passenger compartment (hereinafter, the ratio is referred to as "air amount ratio") is set to a predetermined value in each air outlet mode such as a face mode, a bi-level mode, a foot mode, a foot/defroster mode and a defroster mode.
However, when the air amount ratio is set at a predetermined value in each of the face mode, the foot mode or the defroster mode, the air amount ratio in the bi-level mode and the face/defroster mode cannot be adjusted if air outlet doors are placed at the same positions and a pressure loss (i.e., air flow resistance) in an air passage for the front seat side is different from that in an air passage for the rear seat side. Alternatively, when the air amount ratio is set at a predetermined value in the bi-level mode or foot/defroster mode, the air amount ratio in the face mode, the foot mode or the defroster mode cannot be adjusted.
To overcome such a problem, an air conditioning apparatus for a vehicle is described in JP-U-4-83811. In the conventional air conditioning apparatus, air outlet ducts having front face and front foot outlets for blowing conditioned air toward the front seat side are connected to an air conditioning case, and air outlet ducts having rear face and rear foot outlets for blowing conditioned air toward the rear seat side are connected to the air conditioning case. When the bi-level mode is set at the front seat side in the passenger compartment, each of two kinds of plate-like doors is set at an intermediate position to open both the front face air outlet and the front foot air outlet. On the other hand, when the bi-level mode is set at the rear seat side in the passenger compartment, one kind of an air outlet door is set at an intermediate position to open both the rear face air outlet and the rear foot air outlet. In the conventional air conditioning apparatus, the plate-like air outlet doors have different shapes in the front seat side and the rear seat side, resulting in an increased production cost.


There is provided a nurser liner having a pair of removable textured tabs for mounting the nurser liner to the rim of a nurser container. The tabs have a textured surface formed by piercing and embossing with forming tools. Each tab has a plurality of pierced holes that go through the tab to form an improved surface for gripping and handling. Each tab also has a plurality of embossed areas that supplement the pierced holes to improve gripping and handling while minimizing wear to the forming tools. In addition, the tabs may have a three segment pattern such that a smooth, non-textured center portion is located between textured portions on either side of the center portion. Accordingly, the combination of pierced and embossed areas provides the gripping advantages of pierced tabs while minimizing the amount of wear caused to the forming tools.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to liners for nurser bottles. More particularly, the present invention relates to tabs located at an open end of a flexible liner, particularly disposable liners, that are designed to facilitate opening the mouth of the liner and mounting of the liner onto a rigid nurser bottle or holder. Furthermore, the particular textured tabs have a tactile feel that improve gripping during opening and mounting of the liner.
Disposable liners for containing liquids have been used with rigid holders to provide a clean, sanitary container for each use instead of reusable bottles which require regular washing and sometimes give questionable results regarding cleanliness. Typically, a liner is mounted onto a holder by gripping the upper edge of the liner, drawing the edge over an open rim of the holder, and folding the edge downward over the outer surface of the holder. The liner is then filled with a desired liquid, and a cover, such as a nursing nipple, may be attached to the holder to close the mouth of the liner.
In order to maintain cleanliness, tabs may be located at the mouth of the liner to provide finger grasp positions. The tabs theoretically permit one to firmly grasp the liner to facilitate opening of the mouth of the liner. The tabs also permit one to draw the liner over the rim of the holder, without one's hands contacting the inside of the liner. The tabs may even be adapted to separate from the liner by the use of perforations once the liner has been mounted on the holder.
It is now appreciated that gripping each tab may be difficult if there is no texturing on the surface of each tab. Moreover, the texturing itself and its placement on the tab's surface will affect the gripability of each tab.
II. Description of the Prior Art
Disposable nurser liners having a graspable flange at the mouth of the liner are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,204,855 to I. D. Boynton, which issued on Sep. 7, 1965 titled Flexible Container and U.S. Pat. No. 3,790,017 to W. E. Fitzpatrick, et al., which issued on Feb. 5, 1974 titled Nursing Unit, each provide a nurser liner having a pair of hand-graspable tabs at the mouth of the liner to facilitate assembly of the liner in a rigid nurser holder. Each tab has large, smooth surfaces that may be easily grasped between one's thumb and fingers. Thus, the tabs facilitate opening the mouth of the liner and drawing it over the open rim of the holder.
Other examples of nurser products having flexible flanges to facilitate handling and use of the products are provided in U.S. Pat. No. 2,460,329 to A. M. Allen, et al., which issued on Feb. 1, 1949 titled Nursing Unit; U.S. Pat. No. 2,624,485 to F. E. Boston, which issued on Jan. 6, 1953 titled Nurser; U.S. Pat. No. 2,859,891 to G. V. Carkin, which issued on Nov. 11, 1958 titled Nursing Bottle; U.S. Pat. No. 2,881,935 to W. P. Garred, which issued on Apr. 14, 1959 titled Infant's Nursing Bottle Assembly; U.S. Pat. No. 2,939,598 to T. J. Donleavy, which issued on Jun. 7, 1960 titled Dispensing Container; U.S. Pat. No. 3,395,822 to T. J. Donleavy, which issued on Aug. 6, 1968 titled Nursing Device; U.S. Pat. No. 3,645,414 to A. C. Barr, which issued on Feb. 29, 1972 titled Nursing Unit With Improved Plastic Liner; U.S. Pat. No. 3,762,542 to G. S. Grimes, which issued on Oct. 2, 1973 titled Infant Feeding Means; U.S. Pat. No. 3,871,542 to I. M. Hammer, which issued Mar. 18, 1975 titled Disposable Nursing Container; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,711,359 to L. A. White, et al., which issued Dec. 8, 1987 titled Container Such as a Nursing Container, Having Protection Compartment For Dispensing Member.
One problem with the nurser liners of the above patents is that the surfaces of the tabs are smooth and, thus, a firm grasp of the tabs is difficult to attain. In particular, one must hold each tab between his or her thumb and fingers with significant pressure. Accordingly, one or both tabs may slip out from between one's thumb and fingers so that assembly of such nurser liners in a rigid holder is difficult.
In addition to nurser liners, there are also other flexible containers or bags having handles or tabs to facilitate handling and use. Several of these non-nurser products have embossed surfaces to facilitate opening and handling of the product. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,197,113 to T. E. Piazze, which issued Apr. 16, 1940 titled Bag Assemblage, provides a bag for packaging merchandise having two walls and a textured zone, located at an upper portion of each wall, that is indented, corrugated, embossed or roughened in order to facilitate the opening or spreading of the upper portions. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 3,224,574 to A. L. McConnell, et al., which issued on Dec. 21, 1965 titled Embossed Plastic Bag, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,411,698 to W. G. Reynolds, which issued Nov. 19, 1968 titled Bag-Like Container Means, each provide embossing the walls of a bag for food products to facilitate the grasping and separating of the bag's walls.
Other examples of non-nurser products having handles or tabs to facilitate handling and use of such products are provided in U.S. Pat. No. 3,148,799 to A. H. Meroney, which issued Sep. 15, 1964 titled Disposable Adjustable Receptacle Liner For Wet Refuse; U.S. Pat. No. 3,166,220 to S. W. Rabb, et al., which issued on Jan. 19, 1965 titled Dispensing Holder and Receptacle; U.S. Pat. No. 3,170,619 to J. P. Repko, which issued on Feb. 23, 1965 titled Tear Strip Packaging; U.S. Pat. No. 3,393,861 to W. J. Clayton, et al., which issued Jul. 23, 1968 titled Embossed Thermoplastic Bags; U.S. Pat. No. 3,441,198 to A. E. Ericson, which issued Apr. 29, 1969 titled Flexible Bag For Packaging Food Items; U.S. Pat. No. 3,534,901 to J. P. Repko, et al., which issued on Oct. 20, 1970 titled Bag Construction; U.S. Pat. No. 3,550,839 to W. J. Clayton, which issued Dec. 29, 1970 titled Doubled Walled Plastic Bag; U.S. Pat. No. 3,873,735 to M. L. Chalin et al., which issued on Mar. 25, 1975 titled Food Package For Heating and Venting; U.S. Pat. No. 4,509,570 to J. Eby, et al., which issued Apr. 9, 1985 titled Elastic Top Bag; U.S. Pat. No. 4,524,457 to F. J. Marino, which issued on Jun. 18, 1985 titled Cargo Bag With Reinforced Triangular Lifting Panels; U.S. Pat. No. 4,747,701 to S. Perkins, which issued May 31, 1988 titled Plastic Liner Bag With Elastic Top and Method of Making; U.S. Pat. No. 4,549,657 to A. M. Martin, which issued on Oct. 29, 1985 titled Easily Opened and Reclosable Bag and Apparatus For Making Same; U.S. Pat. No. 4,759,639 to R. B. DeMatteis, which issued on Jul. 26, 1988 titled Thermoplastic Bag; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,769,126 to R. M. Roen, et al., which issued Sep. 6, 1988 titled Bottom Gusset Bag Pad Arrangement For Liquid Containers.
Since these containers and bags are not nurser liners, they are not suited for mounting on nurser bottles. Although several of these containers and bags have embossed surfaces, such embossed surfaces do not provide adequate gripping surfaces for nurser liners. In particular, the above patents do not describe or suggest gripable tabs that permit one to draw them over an open rim of a rigid holder and fold them downward over the outer surface of the holder. This operation of assembling the nurser liner in a rigid holder requires a significantly tight grip to prevent the tabs from slipping out of one's hands and to facilitate assembly in the holder.
A disposable nurser liner having a gripable embossed tabs at the mouth of the liner is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,385,251 to S. B. Dunn, which issued on Jan. 31, 1995, titled Disposable Bottle Bags For Use With Infant Nursing System. This patent provides a nurser liner having integrally embossed surfaces adjacent to the mouth of the liner to facilitate the separation of adjacent surfaces at the liner's mouth. This patent also provides another embodiment having a half-circular finger hole in the middle of each tab and a further embodiment having a combination of the embossed surfaces and the half-circular finger hole. However, these embossed tabs have poor gripping surfaces. Also, the half-circular finger hole significantly reduces the surface area of the tabs and, thus, provide less surface area for one to grip. Further, the nurser product distributed by the assignee of U.S. Pat. No. 5,385,251, namely Munchkin Bottling Inc. of Van Nuys, Calif., has the combination of the embossed surfaces and the half-circular finger hole. Therefore, it appears that the embossed surfaces require the finger holes to provide an adequate grip. Also, the combination of these two features obviously makes manufacturing more time consuming and, therefore, costly.
Another problem with the nurser liner of the above patent is that embossing the tabs and/or the addition of finger holes hinders one's capability to open the mouth of the liner. For example, the liner's mouth may be opened by gripping the middle portion of each tab between one's finger and thumb and sliding them past one another. This process distorts the mouth of the liner and separates the tabs so that each tab may be gripped by each hand of a person. By embossing the tabs, the friction between the adjacent surfaces of each tab increases so that it is more difficult to slide the tabs past one another. Also, the creation of finger holes in the tabs reduces available surface area and, particularly, the most convenient surface of the tabs to grip, i.e., the middle portion. Thus, a finger hole further hinders opening of the liner mouth.
A gripable surface that provides a sufficient grip to prevent the tabs from slipping out of one's hands and to facilitate assembly in the holder is provided in co-pending parent application Ser. No. 08/317,244 cited above, which application is owned by the assignee of the present invention. Specifically, each tab of the nurser liner has a plurality of ruptured areas formed by completely piercing through the tab all of the time. By piercing, the completely pierced through or ruptured areas form a tactile surface to facilitate gripping of each tab. Also, each tab has the pierced through surface on the same side so that the mating surfaces of the pair of tabs have different features to facilitate separation. Accordingly, the pierced tabs of the above co-pending parent application provide a tactile surface that is better and easier to grip than embossed surfaces or finger holes. Moreover, it is easier to separate the adjacent tab surfaces.
However, it has been determined that the piercing tools used to pierce through the tabs one hundred percent of the time become dull relatively quickly. Thus, the manufacturing cost of the nurser liners having one hundred percent piercing increases due to the cost of replacing worn or dull piercing tools. In particular, the replacement cost includes the actual cost of the tools, the labor cost of replacing the tools, and the production time lost until replacement. Therefore, the present invention provides a nurser liner having the gripping advantages of pierced tabs, as described in the above co-pending parent application, while extending the service life of the piercing tools.


A machine for improving air conditioning condenser with multiply capacities with a dual compressor, a dual coil free of fins, and a bottom free of plate.

This invention relates generally to the field of air conditioning and more specifically to a machine for improving air conditioning condenser with multiply capacities. Under ordinary conditioning conventional air conditioners are over built that is to say that they are oversized for what they really need to be One of the drawbacks is that they are using aluminum fined coils on condensing units. Fins deteriorate very rabidly on coastal areas. repairing cost equal the price of new unit. When using single compressors on conventional residential applications, and in order to have proper cooling effect, you have to select one of the five available systems. Condensing units are made with small tubes with fins. Condensers with matching air handling units cover a certain cooling load only. Each cooling load have to have a certain capacity. Residential application requires 5–6 different capacity air conditioners. To manufacture 5–6 different size units is very costly. Also wholesalers have huge inventory. Contractors spend lot of time ordering, picking up and warehousing large quantities.

Machine for improving air conditioning condenser with multiply capacities


A method of simplifying automated testing within an integrated development environment (IDE) for a user having a visual impairment is disclosed. An access mechanism is provided for selecting automated testing scripts from within the IDE by responding to audio communications describing one or more access commands. An execution mechanism is provided to the user for executing one or more of the selected automated testing scripts. A result mechanism is provided to the user, the result mechanism including a summary of a result of the executing of the one or more selected testing scripts, the summary based on an analysis of console output of the IDE, the analysis including performing feature extraction and natural language processing on the console output to generate a natural language description of the result. An action mechanism is provided to perform an additional action that is selected based on the type of the result.

With the advancements in the world of technology reaching greater heights, the developments in accessibility features for the visually impaired workforce have grown manifold. General accessibility resources and tools, such as navigational assistance modules, text-to-speech applications, virtual audio displays, etc., have been in the works. The scope for research is wide, ranging from research on the perspective of users of frequency-lowering hearing aids and electric acoustic stimulation cochlear implants, to letter-based head-movement-driven communication through Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), to eye-reading technologies, such as the Tobii Dynavox Eyemax System, which allows people with disabilities to participate in communication through their eyes, to screen-reading assistants such as Job Access with Speech ("JAWS®").
With the world of technology moving forward by the minute, there is also a lot of enhancement in how technology is being used in the field of automation. In fact, various studies predict that a majority of today's process-oriented jobs may be automated within the next decade. As the field of automation grows, impaired workers are at risk of being left further behind. Not only is there a growing need for better accessibility tools, but there is also a growing need for workers who are capable of doing work in the automation field.
Currently, there is no coalescence around how those in the visually-impaired workforce can be uplifted with the use of assistive technology and accessibility tools to improve their ability to provide automation services.

Use and advancements of assistive technology in automation for the visually-impaired workforce


A water distribution system for use with an evaporative cooling pad having a top and first and second sides includes a water distribution pipe which has at least one water discharge outlet in its periphery. The pipe is mounted above the top of the pad and a water distribution unit extends along the top of the pad intermediate its first and second sides. The water discharge opening in the pipe is located to direct water against a deflector plate integrally formed in the deflector unit and having a predetermined configuration to direct water from the pipe onto the top of the pad. In addition, the pipe is mounted to rotate relative to the deflector plate in order to selectively expose the openings in a position facing away from the plate for cleaning.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to water distribution systems, and more particularly to water distributions systems for use with evaporative cooling pads.
Evaporative cooling is a well known technique in which water is passed in a cross or counter current relationship to air over an evaporative cooling medium. Such cooling mediums include, for example, cross corrugated evaporative cooling media formed of a variety of materials and sold by the Munters Corporation of Fort Myers, Fla.
The most common water distribution system used in evaporative cooling systems is a pipe with spray nozzles directing water upwardly into a cover of a general dome or semi-cylindrical shape. The cover or dome deflects the water downwardly into top of the cooling pad. One problem which arises with such evaporative cooling systems is that the spray holes or nozzles in the water distribution pipe are not visible because they are covered by the semi-cylindrical dome and thus are not easily accessible for cleaning. When the holes or spray nozzles become clogged, it is necessary to disassemble such systems in order to access the holes for cleaning.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a water distribution system which permits easy cleaning of the water distribution holes or nozzles in a water distribution pipe.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an easy cleaning water distribution system which is relatively simple in construction and economical to manufacture.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a water distribution system is provided for use with evaporative cooling pads which have a top and first and second sides. The distribution system includes a water distribution pipe having a plurality of water discharge outlets in its periphery and means for mounting the pipe above the top of the pad. A water deflector extends along the top of the pad intermediate the first and second sides and includes a deflector plate. The openings in the pipe are located to direct water against the deflector plate, which has a predetermined configuration to direct water from the pipe onto the top of the pad. The pipe is mounted to permit it to move relative to the deflector plate to expose the discharge openings for cleaning. In one embodiment the pipe is mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis over a limited range of motion and in another embodiment the pipe is mounted to pivot away from the deflector plate and the top of the evaporative cooling pad to expose the openings.
The water deflector may be mounted to sit on the top of the evaporative cooling pad or spaced slightly from it by an overhead support. Its deflector plate may be a flat inclined member or an arcuate member adjacent to the pipe.
The above, and other objects, features, and advantages of this invention, will be apparent in the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Integrated water distribution/cooling pad system


A spin-torque probe microscope and methods of using the same are described. The spin-torque probe microscope includes a cantilever probe body, a magnetic tip disposed at a distal end of the cantilever probe body, an electrically conductive sample disposed proximate to the magnetic tip, an electrical circuit providing a spin-polarized electron current to the electrically conductive sample, and a vibration detection element configured to sense vibration frequency of the cantilever probe body. The spin-polarized electron current is sufficient to alter a local electron spin or magnetic moment within the electrically conductive sample and be sensed by the magnetic tip.

Since the advent of scanning tunneling microscopy there are a number of techniques such as atomic force microscopy, magnetic force microscopy, and scanning piezo-response microscopy that have emerged for sensitive surface characterization of samples. Magnetic resonance force microscopy is a scanned probe instrument which combines the three-dimensional imaging capabilities of magnetic-resonance imaging with the high sensitivity and resolution of atomic-force microscopy. Magnetic resonance force microscopy enables nondestructive, chemical-specific, high resolution microscopic studies and imaging of subsurface properties of a range of materials.
Magnetic resonance force microscopy incorporates the principles of scanning tunneling microscopy and magnetic resonance-type detections such as electron spin resonance and nuclear magnetic resonance. Magnetic resonance force microscopy is used to detect unpaired electron spins in semiconductor samples known as E′ centers and magnetic moments in magnetic samples.
The basic elements of magnetic resonance force microscopy include a mass-loaded cantilever with an attached magnetic tip to sense the force from electron spins or magnetic moments of the sample. An alternating current oscillating microwave magnetic field, in combination with the magnetic field from the magnetic tip, sets up a "resonance slice" in the sample, where the condition of the electron spin resonance is satisfied. The slice is a bowl-shaped surface that extends roughly 250 nm below the magnetic tip and into the sample.
The cantilever with the magnetic tip vibrates in the plane parallel to the sample surface. The frequency of the vibration is picked up by a laser beam shined on the cantilever and through an interferometer. The vibration of the cantilever tip causes the resonant slice to swing back and forth in the sample. When the resonant slice swings through the location of an electron spin, the spin will be cyclically inverted, resulting in a small cantilever frequency shift.
Current magnetic resonance force microscopy utilizes an oscillating microwave magnetic field to excite electron spin resonance. A microwave field of at least 5 Oe oscillating at 3 Ghz is usually required to drive electron spin resonance into the Ghz regime. This set-up is bulky and measurements are usually limited to very low temperatures.


The invention provides non-naturally occurring microbial organisms having a toluene, benzene, p-toluate, terephthalate, (2-hydroxy-3-methyl-4-oxobutoxy)phosphonate, (2-hydroxy-4-oxobutoxy)phosphonate, benzoate, styrene, 2,4-pentadienoate, 3-butene-1ol or 1,3-butadiene pathway. The invention additionally provides methods of using such organisms to produce toluene, benzene, p-toluate, terephthalate, (2-hydroxy-3-methyl-4-oxobutoxy)phosphonate, (2-hydroxy-4-oxobutoxy)phosphonate, benzoate, styrene, 2,4-pentadienoate, 3-butene-1ol or 1,3-butadiene.

The present invention relates generally to biosynthetic processes, and more specifically to organisms having toluene, benzene, p-toluate, terephthalate, (2-hydroxy-3-methyl-4-oxobutoxy)phosphonate, (2-hydroxy-4-oxobutoxy)phosphonate, benzoate, styrene, 2,4-pentadienoate, 3-butene-1ol or 1,3-butadiene biosynthetic capability.
Toluene is a common solvent that has replaced benzene due to benzene's greater carcinogenicity and is an industrial feedstock and used in the manufacture of trinitrotoluene ("TNT"), polyurethane foam, benzaldehyde and benzoic acid. Toluene is a byproduct in the manufacture of gasoline and exists in small concentrations in crude oil.
Benzene is often used as an intermediate to make other chemicals. Its most widely-produced derivatives include styrene, which is used to make polymers and plastics, phenol for resins and adhesives, via cumene, and cyclohexane, which is used in the manufacture of Nylon. Benzene is also used to make some types of rubbers, lubricants, dyes, detergents, drugs, explosives, napalm and pesticides. Benzene production in the petroleum industry is made by various energy intensive processes including, catalytic reforming, toluene hydrodealkylation, toluene disproportionation, and steam cracking.
Styrene is the precursor to polystyrene and numerous copolymers. Styrene based products include, acrylonitrile 1,3-butadiene styrene (ABS), styrene-1,3-butadiene (SBR) rubber, styrene-1,3-butadiene latex, SIS (styrene-isoprene-styrene), S-EB-S (styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene), styrene-divinylbenzene (S-DVB), and unsaturated polyesters. These materials are used in rubber, plastic, insulation, fiberglass, pipes, automobile and boat parts, food containers, and carpet backing.
Styrene is most commonly produced by the catalytic dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene. Ethylbenzene is mixed in the gas phase with 10-15 times its volume in high-temperature steam, and passed over a solid catalyst bed. Most ethylbenzene dehydrogenation catalysts are based on iron(III) oxide, promoted by several percent potassium oxide or potassium carbonate. Steam serves several roles in this reaction. It is the source of heat for powering the endothermic reaction, and it removes coke that tends to form on the iron oxide catalyst through the water gas shift reaction. The potassium promoter enhances this decoking reaction. The steam also dilutes the reactant and products, shifting the position of chemical equilibrium towards products. A typical styrene plant consists of two or three reactors in series, which operate under vacuum to enhance the conversion and selectivity. Typical per-pass conversions are ca. 65% for two reactors and 70-75% for three reactors.
Over 25 billion pounds of 1,3-butadiene (or just butadiene or BD) are produced annually and is applied in the manufacture of polymers such as synthetic rubbers and ABS resins, and chemicals such as hexamethylenediamine and 1,4-butanediol. 1,3-butadiene is typically produced as a by-product of the steam cracking process for conversion of petroleum feedstocks such as naphtha, liquefied petroleum gas, ethane or natural gas to ethylene and other olefins. The ability to manufacture 1,3-butadiene from alternative and/or renewable feedstocks would represent a major advance in the quest for more sustainable chemical production processes
One possible way to produce 1,3-butadiene renewably involves fermentation of sugars or other feedstocks to produce diols, such as 1,4-butanediol or 1,3-butanediol, which are separated, purified, and then dehydrated to 1,3-butadiene in a second step involving metal-based catalysis. Direct fermentative production of 1,3-butadiene from renewable feedstocks would obviate the need for dehydration steps and 1,3-butadiene gas (bp −4.4° C.) would be continuously emitted from the fermenter and readily condensed and collected. Developing a fermentative production process would eliminate the need for fossil-based 1,3-butadiene and would allow substantial savings in cost, energy, and harmful waste and emissions relative to petrochemically-derived 1,3-butadiene.
2,4-Pentadienoate is a useful substituted butadiene derivative in its own right and a valuable intermediate en route to other substituted 1,3-butadiene derivatives, including, for example, 1-carbamoyl-1,3-butadienes which are accessible via Curtius rearrangement. The resultant N-protected-1,3-butadiene derivatives can be used in Diels alder reactions for the preparation of substituted anilines. 2,4-Pentadienoate can be used in the preparation of various polymers and co-polymers.
Terephthalate (also known as terephthalic acid and PTA) is the immediate precursor of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), used to make clothing, resins, plastic bottles and even as a poultry feed additive. Nearly all PTA is produced from para-xylene by oxidation in air in a process known as the Mid Century Process. This oxidation is conducted at high temperature in an acetic acid solvent with a catalyst composed of cobalt and/or manganese salts. Para-xylene is derived from petrochemical sources and is formed by high severity catalytic reforming of naphtha. Xylene is also obtained from the pyrolysis gasoline stream in a naphtha steam cracker and by toluene disproportion.
Cost-effective methods for generating renewable PTA have not yet been developed to date. PTA, toluene and other aromatic precursors are naturally degraded by some bacteria. However, these degradation pathways typically involve monooxygenases that operate irreversibly in the degradative direction. Hence, biosynthetic pathways for PTA are severely limited by the properties of known enzymes to date.
A promising precursor for PTA is p-toluate, also known as p-methylbenzoate. P-Toluate is an intermediate in some industrial processes for the oxidation of p-xylene to PTA. It is also an intermediate for polymer stabilizers, pesticides, light sensitive compounds, animal feed supplements and other organic chemicals. Only slightly soluble in aqueous solution, p-toluate is a solid at physiological temperatures, with a melting point of 275° C. Microbiol catalysts for synthesizing this compound from sugar feedstocks have not been described to date.
Thus, there exists a need for alternative methods for effectively producing commercial quantities of compounds such as styrene, 2,4-pentadienoate, 1,3-butadiene, p-toluate, terephthalate, benzene and toluene. The present invention satisfies this need and provides related advantages as well.

Microorganisms and methods for the biosynthesis of aromatics, 2,4-pentadienoate and 1,3-butadiene


A receiver for an InfiniBand network contains a buffer and a control memory. A set of pointers for receive queues in the buffer is maintained in the control memory. Two independent queues exist for incoming messages from a given source, one for writes and the other for reads. The receiver controls the various queue pointers to generate appropriate acknowledgments and negative acknowledgment messages, and to transfer data as required to and from the host over an internal bus. Preferably, the receiver delays acknowledging certain write requests if requests are pending on the read queue. Preferably, the control memory and the major control functions of the receiver are implemented in hardware on a ASIC chip.

In the latter half of the twentieth century, there began a phenomenon known as the information revolution. While the information revolution is a historical development broader in scope than any one event or machine, no single device has come to represent the information revolution more than the digital electronic computer. The development of computer systems has surely been a revolution. Each year, computer systems grow faster, store more data, and provide more applications to their users.
A modern computer system is an enormously complex machine, usually having many sub-parts or subsystems, each of which may be concurrently performing different functions in a cooperative, although partially autonomous, manner. Typically, the system comprises one or more central processing units (CPUs) which form the heart of the system, and which execute instructions contained in computer programs. Instructions and other data required by the programs executed by the CPUs are stored in memory, which often contains many heterogenous components and is hierarchical in design, containing a base memory or main memory and various caches at one or more levels. At another level, data is also stored in mass storage devices such as rotating disk drives, tape drives, and the like, from which it may be retrieved and loaded into memory. The system also includes hardware necessary to communicate with the outside world, such as input/output controllers; I/O devices attached thereto such as keyboards, monitors, printers, and so forth; and external communication devices for communicating with other digital systems.
Various communications architectures or protocols are available to support communicating data among various components of a computer system. High-speed wide parallel buses are typically used to transmit data between memory and the CPUs. One or more separate I/O buses, such as a well-known Peripheral Component Interface (PCI) bus, may be used to communicate with storage and other peripheral devices and adapters. Other types of I/O network connections may be used for peripheral or other devices which are somewhat more remote. In order to keep pace with the ever increasing needs of data transfer and number and variety of peripheral or remote devices, new and improved communications architectures have been introduced.
One new type of I/O network is known and referred to as the InfiniBand network. InfiniBand is a packet-switched, narrow parallel network connection with zero or more routers, operating at a high data rate. InfiniBand has a greater physical range than a conventional PCI bus, and thus may be used to reach peripheral devices located more remotely (i.e., outside a cabinet in which the computer system is housed). A host channel adapter (HCA) couples the processor to a subnet, and target channel adapters (TCAs) couple the peripherals to the subnet. The subnet typically includes at least one switch, and links that connect the HCA and the TCAs to the switches (although it is possible to have a subnet containing only a link, and no switches). For example, a simple InfiniBand network may have one switch, to which the HCA and the TCAs connect through links. Topologies that are more complex are also possible.
InfiniBand networks can interconnect with local or wide area communication networks. For instance, an Ethernet network adapter can be installed that enables communication over an Ethernet network, which is a common type of communication network. The network adapter has its own TCA for coupling to the InfiniBand network. The InfiniBand specification provides a raw datagram mode of communication to bridge packets received from an Ethernet network for transmission over an InfiniBand network, and vice-versa. Similarly, InfiniBand networks may include routers or adapters to connect to the Internet.
InfiniBand networks provide for communication between TCAs and HCAs in a variety of different manners. In the InfiniBand network, data flows between end nodes on logical connections known as Queue Pairs (QPs) across a switched point-to-point fabric. A typical InfiniBand network may support multiple concurrent queue pair logical connections from a single physical network adapter, enabling a single device to communicate with multiple devices coupled to the network. Like other types of networks, InfiniBand networks have a physical layer, a link layer, a network layer, a transport layer, and upper-level protocols. As in other types of packet-switching networks, in InfiniBand networks particular transactions are divided into messages, which themselves are divided into packets for delivery over an InfiniBand network. When received by the intended recipient, the packets are reordered into the constituent messages of a given transaction. InfiniBand networks provide for queues and channels at which the packets are received and sent.
In order to support a range of different transport services, InfiniBand networks allow connections classified as reliable or unreliable, datagrams classified as reliable or unreliable, and raw packet support. In unreliable connections and datagrams, acknowledgments are not generated, and packet ordering is not guaranteed.
Reliable InfiniBand connections and datagrams have greater restrictions imposed on the message protocol. Packets are sent having sequence numbers in a sequential order. When receiving data on a reliable connection or datagram, the receiver should acknowledge packets received. The receiver should also detect any missing packets and report the error back to the sender, as well as detect and respond to duplicate packets. When missing packets are detected, the receiver continues to process and acknowledge packets received up to the missing packet.
Implementation of the various requirements of an InfiniBand receiver typically requires significant complexity in design. A need exists for a simple and effective receiver mechanism for receiving data on an InfiniBand or similar network, particularly on a reliable connection or datagram of an InfiniBand network, which implements the various requirements of the network in a straightforward manner. More specifically, a purely hardware implementation which can easily accommodate the high transmission rates of InfiniBand data is desirable.

Method and apparatus for implementing receive queue for packet-based communications

International Business Machines Corporation


A cooling cover apparatus including a top sheet, a bottom sheet secured to the top sheet, a plurality of tubular members positioned between the top sheet and the bottom sheet, a flexible hose interconnected to the plurality of tubular members, and a cooling air generator connected to the flexible hose so as to pass cooling air through the flexible hose and into the plurality of tubular members. A diverter is connected to the flexible hose so as to cause cooling air to selectively enter at least one of the plurality of tubular members. Each of the plurality of tubular members has opening formed therein so as to cause cooling air to pass downwardly through said bottom sheet.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to temperature controlled blankets and temperature controlled bedding assemblies. More particularly, the present invention relates to blankets and covers whereby cooling air can be passed by a cooling air generator into the interior of the blanket so as to provide a cooling effect to a person resting below the blanket.
2. Description of Related Art
Several bedding devices have been developed previously for providing heat to a person lying in a bed. Electric blankets containing electric heating elements have been used for many years to warm the occupant of a bed. However, in certain circumstances, the occupant of the bed may desire to have a xe2x80x9ccoolingxe2x80x9d effect rather that the heating effect of an electric blanket. The need for a cooling effect can be quite prominent in areas of the country having relatively high ambient temperatures. If a cooling blanket could be provided, then the air conditioning requirements could be reduced. As a result, the expense associated with air conditioning the bedroom could also be reduced.
Unfortunately, it is very difficult to configure a proper xe2x80x9ccoolingxe2x80x9d blanket in contrast to the relative ease with which an electric blanket can be formed. When a cooling blanket is needed, an external apparatus is required so as to create the xe2x80x9ccoolingxe2x80x9d effect. Such an external apparatus can have a high noise level and can be relatively inexpensive. As such, a need has developed in order to provide a cooling blanket which is energy efficient and economical.
In the past, various patents have issued relating to such cooling blanket apparatus. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,660,388, issued on Apr. 28, 1987, to G. J. Greene, Jr., describes a cooling cover having an air inflatable pad which can be positioned within a pocket of a coverlet. The pad is formed of air impermeable material having plenum chambers at opposite ends thereof. A plurality of individual longitudinally extending passages extend between the plenum chambers. Openings or air orifices of a non-uniform pattern in the lower rounded surfaces of the inflatable pad direct cooling air in a plurality of small air jets onto the body of a user of the cooling cover. A source of cool air is connected to the inlet for a plenum chamber to deliver cool air to the pad. U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,304, issued on Dec. 5, 1989 to W. Elkins, describes a bedding system that has a provision for heating or cooling. A sealed three-ply heat transfer and insulating device covers the mattress, below the contour sheet or other covering which comes into contact with the person""s body. A wicking contour sheet, capable of absorbing any condensation on the surface of the three-ply device, can also be utilized. A flow of coolant liquid at a regulated temperature close to human skin temperature can be channeled between the lower two plies of the three-ply material. Above these two plies, i.e. between the middle ply and the upper ply, is a sealed envelope containing slightly pressurized air. U.S. Pat. No. 5,989,285, issued on Nov. 23, 1999 to DeVilbiss et al. describes a temperature controllable blanket suitable for heating or cooling a patient. Counterflow or co-flow heat exchanging principles between the temperature controlled liquid and the temperature controlled gas achieves temperature uniformity across different sections of the blanket and the bedding system. Drapes in the temperature controlled bedding system provide a gas envelope around a person using the bedding system. The air portion of the bedding system is provided for use with a patient bed which supplies the fluid portion of the overall bedding system.
The difficulty with these prior art systems is the relatively large expense associated therewith. Each of these systems utilizes relatively complex configurations of components so as to achieve the xe2x80x9ccoolingxe2x80x9d effect. Additionally, and furthermore, certain of these systems use a cooling liquid. Such a cooling liquid can have the potential for leakage. Additionally, complicated xe2x80x9cenvelopexe2x80x9d or supporting structures are required so as to carry out the requisite cooling effect.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a cooling cover apparatus which is simple to use and relatively inexpensive.
It is an another object of the present invention to provide a cooling cover apparatus which requires a minimal number of components.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cooling cover apparatus which has a texture and feel closely resembling a conventional cover of a bed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cooling cover apparatus which distributes cooling air toward the upper torso of the person in the bed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cooling cover apparatus which minimizes the noise level within the bedroom.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the attached specification and appended claims.
The present invention is a cooling cover apparatus comprising a top sheet, a bottom sheet secured to the top sheet, a plurality of tubular members positioned between the top and bottom sheets, a flexible hose interconnected to the plurality of tubular members, and a cooling air generator connected the flexible hose so as to pass cooling air through the flexible hose and into the plurality of tubular members. Each of the plurality of tubular members has openings formed therein so as to direct a cooling air flow toward the bottom sheet. A diverter is connected to the flexible hose so as to cause cooling air to selectively enter at least one of the plurality of tubular members.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the plurality of tubular members comprises a foam insert having a plurality of holes formed therein, and a non-porous cover affixed to the foam insert. The flexible hose is connected to an end of the foam insert and the non-porous cover. The plurality of holes are formed only in the half of the foam insert opposite the flexible hose. The plurality of tubular members comprises two tubular members in spaced parallel relationship. The top sheet and the bottom sheet are affixed to each other between the two tubular members.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of tubular members comprises a first set of tubes and a second set of tubes. Each of the tubes of the first set is in spaced parallel relationship to each other. The flexible hose has a first portion connected to a first manifold communicating with the first set of tubes. Each tube of the second set of tubes is arranged in spaced parallel relationship. The flexible hose has a second portion connected to a second manifold communicating with the second set of tubes. Each tube of the first and second sets has a plurality of holes formed therealong. A diverter is connected to the flexible hose and to the first and second portions for selectively passing cooling air to at least one of the first and second sets of tubes.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of tubular members comprises a first set of cloth tubes formed between the top and bottom sheets and a second set of cloth tubes formed between the top and bottom sheets. Each cloth tube of the first and second sets opens to a respective manifold. The flexible hose has first and second portions respectively connected to the manifolds of the first and second sets of cloth tubes. The cloth tubes are formed by threadedly securing the top sheet to the bottom sheet so as to define the first and second sets of cloth tubes therebetween. A diverter is connected to the flexible hose and to the first and second portions thereof. The diverter serves to selectively pass cooling air into at least one of the first and second sets of cloth tubes.
In still another embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of tubular members comprises a first set of ducts positioned and a second set of ducts positioned between the top and bottom sheets. Each duct of the first set of ducts has an end opening to a first distribution area. The flexible hose has a first portion communicating with the first distribution area. Each duct of the second set of ducts opens to a second distribution area. The flexible hose has a second portion communicating with the second distribution area. Each duct of the first and second sets includes at least one cloth strip extending generally transversely between the top and bottom sheets so as to define the duct as a space between the top and bottom sheet. Each duct of the first and second sets opens at an end opposite the respective distribution areas. A diverter is connected to the flexible hose and to the first and second portions thereof. The diverter selectively passes cooling air into at least one of the first and seconds sets of ducts.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cooling air generator is a rolling piston compressor. Also, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the top sheet and the bottom sheet are secured together so as to define a first overhang area on one side thereof and a second overhang area on an opposite side thereof. The plurality of tubular members are positioned entirely between these overhang areas.


A combined stud finder and tape measure device includes a housing having any traditional stud finder circuitry integrally disposed therein along with a tape measure having a tape strip wound on a spindle. The tape measure is oriented so that the width of the tape strip lies parallel to the surface being scanned for studs or other obstacles. This orientation accommodates a wide viewing angle of the scale markings on the tape strip, making it easier to use the stud finder and the tape measure at the same time. Additionally, the tape measure can be re-oriented over at least 180 degrees so that the tape strip can be directed to either side of or from the bottom of the combined stud finder and tape measure device. Detents may be located at, for example, 90 degree intervals to provide a manner of locking the tape measure at predetermined angles with respect to the housing.

As is known, stud finders are used to locate a stud or other obstacle behind drywall or other surface finish that prevents visual determination of the location of the obstacle. The stud finder is often used to locate a hidden stud for the purpose of using the stud as a support or mounting point for various objects, for example, pictures, shelves, hanging plants, bicycle holders, etc.
Once a stud is found, a builder, homeowner or handyman may often need to locate a point of interest a certain distance from the stud. For example, the point of interest may be another stud or a point located a certain distance from the stud, such as a picture location or a height from a floor, a ceiling, etc. This locating action can often involve marking the wall with the stud location, putting the stud finder down and then using a tape measure to locate the point of interest. Unfortunately, this process involves numerous steps, is time consuming, and is prone to inaccuracy.
Stud finders having built-in tape measures are known. However, one such combined device limits the routing of the tape strip of the tape measure to one direction, that is, in line with the length of the stud finder, which is not useful in many applications. Additionally, the combined device orients the tape strip perpendicular to the wall or the surface being scanned, so that the scale markings on the tape strip can only be read from one side of the stud finder, which makes the tape measure hard to use. Similarly, a combination stud finder and tape measure disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,700,489 includes a fixed-orientation tape measure mounted perpendicularly to the stud finder.

Combined stud finder and tape measure device


This invention improves seismic resistance of structures by transition from stiff to non destructible flexible state at a threshold earthquake level higher than prior art maximum design earthquake level of stiff structures. Functional characteristics of the category of auto-reversing stiff-to-flexible seismic structures comprise: a limited six degree of freedom motion; a laterally-stable limited rising-twist-sway ascent; a self-centering diagonal-untwist auto-descent; a multidirectional flexibility; and a multi-phase split-force-impact seismic protection. Seismic construction technologies of the category of structures comprise: base split-force-impact technology; cluster split-force-impact technology; tuned segment split-force-impact technology; and tuned spine split-force-impact technology. The auto-reversing stiff-to-flexible seismic joints of the structures are low-cost, simple and easy to manufacture, and especially suitable for mass industrial application.

This invention pertains to the field of structural engineering. More specifically, the invention pertains to the field of seismic engineering.
Prior art's two main types of structures, stiff monolithic and flexible segmented, are at the two opposite ends of the seismic performance spectrum. Stiff monolithic structures are operational only until the design earthquake level is reached, and then brake. Flexible segmented structures have higher design earthquake level, however, their low stiffness, causing an earlier transition from stiff to flexible state, reduces their operational level far below the operational level of stiff structures.
Prior art building code mostly prescribes stiff monolithic structures, designed to withstand reaction forces in an earthquake by strength as a single solid body. The main problem with the code approach is that the stiff structures resist the full reaction forces at once, which significantly reduces achievable design earthquake level.
Without compromising on stiffness of the structures, negative effects of earthquakes in the stiff structures can be mitigated to some extent by using various prior art methods, such as base isolation and tuned-mass damping.
Prior art research attempts to develop flexible segmented structures designed to reduce reaction forces by letting segments to move relative to each other, proportionally to magnitude of each earthquake. The main problem with the research approach is that stiffness of the flexible segmented structures is far too low to be accepted by the code, which keeps research experiments from influencing the code.
The U.S. Pat. No. 5,502,932 discloses a prior art stiff to flexible segmented high-rise structure with sliding type of joints between a base, a lower, and an upper rigid parts of the structure. Deficiencies of this prior art are as follows. This approach is effective only for horizontal seismic forces. In order to return the parts of the structure back into place, the additional elastic device must be as strong as the earthquake to overcome again the friction of the plates caused by the heavy weight of the structure.
The U.S. Pat. No. 4,106,301 discloses a prior art stiff to flexible segmented low-rise structure with stiff and flexible supports between a base and an upper rigid structure. Deficiencies of this prior art are as follows. This approach again is effective only for horizontal seismic forces. In an earthquake, the stiff supports are failing by buckling and only the flexible supports remain in use. After each earthquake, a new set of stiff supports must replace the failed stiff supports in order to restore the stiffness of the structure.
The U.S. Pat. No. 8,381,463 discloses an implementation of the prior art base isolation technology. Deficiencies of this prior art are as follows. Seismic wave energy is absorbed by friction of granular or liquid material placed in a cavity and no means of returning to the original place of the structure are provided. The granular or the liquid material must be refilled after each shake, which may not be possible in a series of consecutive shakes.
Deficiencies in the prior art design and construction of earthquake-resistant structures can be summarized in a two-fold problem statement as follows:
Unsatisfactory seismic performance of prior art structures, despite excessive cost of prior art design and construction.

Stiff-to-flexible rising-twist-sway split-force-impact structures


Variations of the Nelder-Mead direct search method are employed to find read channel parameter settings in a discrete field having three or more dimensions. The three or more dimensions correspond to read channel parameters, at least some of which are highly correlated. The steps of the Nelder-Mead method are executed according to a methodology to arrive at substantially optimal parameter settings for a read channel, even where a discrete function defining parameter outcomes is noisy. In some embodiments, dimensional collapse, considered inefficient in a two-dimensional field, is allowed in order to reach an optimal solution in a greater-than-two-dimensional field.

Data storage device read channels have many parameters that require optimization. Interleaved one-dimensional sweeps and, to a lesser extent, limited two-dimensional sweeps are currently used to optimize read channels but an exhaustive sweep of parameters which are strongly correlated would be prohibitive. Better read channel optimization could be achieved if more parameters could be considered during optimization. Furthermore, noisy functions defining parameter values can produce sub-optimal results during a sweep.
Consequently, it would be advantageous if an apparatus existed that is suitable for multi-dimensional optimization of read channel parameters by non-linear search.

Multi-dimensional optimization of read channel

Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.


The arrangement of the present invention provides for the automatically controlled varying of the relative rotating position of shafts in an international combustion engine, for example, a camshaft relative to a crankshaft driving it. This will influence the valve timing of an internal-combustion engine. The arrangement has an intermediate timing gear which can be axially moved between two end positions and which engages by way of a helical external and internal toothing with a driving wheel and the camshaft. An annulus, such as a stationary bearing ring, is filled with an electroviscous fluid which, by means of the application of a voltage supplied by an electronic control device, causes an axial force for the adjustment of the intermediate timing gear. An electroviscous locking bearing, which is provided between the camshaft and the intermediate timing gear, holds the intermediate timing gear in any position between the two end positions.

The present invention relates to an arrangement for the automatically controlled varying of the relative rotating position of two shafts in an internal-combustion engine, comprising at least one camshaft which can be rotated relative to a shaft driving it, as a function of parameters of the internal-combustion engine, and a driving wheel which drives the camshaft. The driving wheel carries a first toothing or set of gear teeth and, by way of a coupling member which is axially displaceable at least in two end positions, acts upon a second toothing connected with the camshaft. At least one of the toothings is a helical toothing.
It is known to adapt the valve timing of an internal-combustion engine to its rotational speed in order to be able to operate it optimally in a rotational speed range that is as wide as possible. As a result, the torque, the performance, the exhaust emission, the idling action and the fuel consumption can be improved.
One possibility of changing the valve timing during the operation of the internal-combustion engine comprises rotating the intake canshaft in its position relative to the crankshaft driving it by means of a phase converter. For example, European Patent Document EP 0 335 083 shows a coupling member that is axially shifted and which is coaxially surrounded by the wheel driving the camshaft, as a function of oil pressure. The coupling member carries two toothings of which at least one is helically geared and which interact with one corresponding toothing respectively on the camshaft or in the wheel. Disadvantages of this construction are the high expenditures with respect to components for the leading-in and gradual shut-off of the pressure oil as well as the large size.
The British Patent Document GB-21 89 086 shows a camshaft which is coaxially surrounded by a hollow shaft section which carries a can for the actuating of a charge cycle valve. An annular gap constructed and sealed off between the camshaft and the shaft section is filled with an electroviscous fluid (EVF). By feeding an electric voltage between the camshaft and the insulatedly held shaft section, the viscosity of the EVF is increased to such an extent that a rigid coupling is created so that the shaft section rotates synchronously with the camshaft. When the voltage is disconnected, the electroviscous fluid will liquify, whereby the shaft section is uncoupled from the camshaft. With this arrangement, for example, a charge cycle valve can be connected and disconnected, or the valve overlap can be varied between intake valves and exhaust valves. If the valve overlap is varied between intake valves and exhaust valves, this arrangement achieves the same effect that can be achieved by a change of the relative rotating position between an inlet camshaft and an outlet camshaft.
An object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement of the above-mentioned type which reduces the component expenditures and size and has a simple and low-cost construction.
This and other objects are achieved by the present invention which provides an arrangement for automatically controlled varying of a relative rotating position of two shafts in an internal-corabustion engine, the shafts including a camshaft and a second shaft, the camshaft being rotatable relative to the second shaft as a function of parameters of the internal-combustion engine. The arrangement comprises a driving wheel which drives the camshaft and carries a first toothing. A second toothing is connected with the camshaft, with at least one of the first and second toothings being a helical toothing. A coupling member is provided that is axially displaceable between at least two end positions and is arranged between the driving wheel and the camshaft to act upon the second toothing. A stationary intermediate timing gear bearing ring coaxially surrounds the coupling member at least in sections and bounds an annulus formed between the bearing ring and the coupling member. A fluid is provided in the annulus, this fluid having a viscosity which can be changed by application of voltage. An electronic control device is coupled to apply a first output voltage to the fluid, wherein application of the first output voltage to the fluid creates a braking moment that acts on the intermediate timing gear, the braking moment causing an axial force that displaces the intermediate timing gear towards one of the end positions.
One of the principal advantages achieved by the present invention is that the arrangement can rapidly change the relative rotating position and only requires a small number of components, particularly moving components. It also only requires little installation space. The coupling member which is constructed as an intermediate timing gear is surrounded coaxially at least in sections by a stationary intermediate timing gear bearing ring, in which case an annulus is bounded between the two parts which is filled with an electroviscous fluid. An output voltage, which is supplied to this fluid by an electronic control device, changes the viscosity in such a manner that a braking torque acts upon the intermediate timing gear which, because of the helical toothing, causes an axial force which shifts the intermediate timing gear into the direction of a first end position.
A construction of the first and second toothing as helical toothings, as in certain embodiments, increases the rotating angle of the camshaft with respect to the shaft driving it and blocks an unintentional pushing-back of the intermediate timing gear which is the result of an alternating non-uniform camshaft driving torque.
In certain embodiments of the invention, an axially oscillating relative movement of the intermediate timing gear on the camshaft which is caused by this driving torque is effectively damped by a diaphragm spring which is arranged between the camshaft and the intermediate timing gear and, at the same time, applies the spring force required for a restoring.
So that any rotating position can be adjusted between the two end positions, certain embodiments of the invention provide an electroviscous locking bearing between the camshaft and the intermediate timing gear. The electroviscous locking bearing is supplied with an output voltage also from the electronic control device and causes a radial pressure force which results in an axial locking force which counteracts the spring force and compensates it. The annulus as well as the locking bearing are bounded on both sides by commercially available sealing rings which are fixed in a simple manner in the intermediate timing gear bearing ring and on the camshaft.
In certain embodiments of the invention, in the annulus and on a segment of the camshaft assigned to the locking bearing, electrodes are mounted which are in direct contact with the electroviscous fluid. The electrodes are arranged in an insulated manner, in which case, either an electrically non-conductive intermediate layer is used, or the intermediate timing gear bearing ring or the segment are manufactured of a non-conductive material.
Certain embodiments of the invention provide electrically conductive connections by which the electrodes are connected to a high-voltage module of the control device. In this case, the electrode on the segment of the camshaft is supplied by a connection guided centrically into the camshaft, for example, the screwing together of the diaphragm spring and a connection extending from there radially to the electrode. An actual differential angle of rotation between the camshaft and the crankshaft is detected by way of sensors and is fed to the electronic control device. In this control device, optimal differential angles of rotation are stored in characteristic diagrams as a function of parameters of the internal-combustion engine. In lists which are logically linked with the optimal angles, the output voltages are stored.
The arrangement has a simple construction because it employs components which are required also in known oil-hydraulically or electrically operated phase converters.
The intermediate timing gear bearing ring may be constructed as a separate component or as part of the cylinder head.
The required amount of fluid is low because it must be discharged and renewed continuously.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Arrangement for the automatically controlled varying of the relative rotating position of shafts in an internal-combustion engine


An adjusting means for adjusting two vehicle parts relative to each other, in particular for the longitudinal setting of a vehicle seat is provided. The adjusting means comprising an adjusting gear unit arranged on a first vehicle part and a spindle arranged on a second vehicle part, which extends in longitudinal direction, is in engagement with the adjusting gear unit and along which the adjusting gear unit is movable for adjusting the first vehicle part relative to the second vehicle part. There is provided a reinforcement part which supports the adjusting gear unit with respect to the first vehicle part in the longitudinal direction of the spindle such that due to the reinforcement part with forces introduced in the longitudinal direction from the first vehicle part into the adjusting gear unit the adjusting gear unit is supported with respect to the first vehicle part with a higher rigidity than with forces introduced against the longitudinal direction.

This invention relates to an adjusting means for adjusting two vehicle parts relative to each other, in particular for the longitudinal setting of a vehicle seat.
Such adjusting means forming a spindle gear unit includes an adjusting gear unit arranged on a first vehicle part and a spindle extending in longitudinal direction, which is arranged on a second vehicle part. The adjusting gear unit and the spindle realize a spindle gear unit, in that the spindle is in engagement with the adjusting gear unit and the adjusting gear unit can be moved along the spindle for adjusting the first vehicle part relative to the second vehicle part.
Such adjusting means in particular can be used for the longitudinal setting of a vehicle seat, in that the adjusting gear unit for example is arranged on a first, seat-side guide rail and the spindle is arranged on a second, body-mounted guide rail, wherein the adjusting gear unit for example includes a spindle nut which is driven for the longitudinal setting of the vehicle seat and thereby rolls on the spindle, so as to adjust the first guide rail along the second guide rail.
In an adjusting means known from DE 103 37 475 A1, an adjusting gear unit, which is in engagement with a stationary spindle via a spindle nut, is fixed on a guide rail of a vehicle seat via a holding bracket. The holding bracket forming a U-section encloses the adjusting gear unit and can be attached to the guide rail via fastening points. By shifting the adjusting gear unit along the spindle stationarily arranged on a further guide rail, the vehicle seat then can be set in its longitudinal position.
In such adjusting means, the connection of the vehicle parts to be adjusted is effected via the adjusting gear unit and in particular its engagement with the associated spindle. Correspondingly, the adjusting gear unit and in particular also its connection to the associated (first) vehicle part must be designed such that the same can withstand high loads, for example in a crash, in order to provide a safe, crash-resistant connection of the vehicle parts with each other. On the one hand, the connection of the adjusting gear unit must be formed sufficiently rigid to absorb the forces. On the other hand, too rigid connections in turn, however, also have the disadvantage that for example in a rear-end crash forces are introduced onto a seat occupant in a rigid way and can lead to injuries, for example to a whiplash injury as a result of a sudden rearward displacement.

Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG, Coburg