A method and device for loading a catalyst into a chamber. The catalyst loading is well suited for production of hydrogen producing microreactors. The catalyst is coated onto a strip which is mountable within the chamber.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to the chemical arts generally to a method and device for loading a catalyst into chambers, more particularly to loading a catalyst into chambers associated with a small reactor which may be a microreactor. One microreactor which this method and device is suitable for is a microreactor for generating hydrogen gas by decomposing or reforming a hydrocarbon fuel.
2. Background of the Invention
The growing popularity of portable electronic devices has produced an increased demand for compact and correspondingly portable electrical power sources to energize these devices. Developments in robotics and other emerging technology applications are further increasing the demand for small, independent power sources.
At present, storage or rechargeable batteries are typically used to provide independent electrical power sources for portable devices. However, the amount of energy that can be stored in storage or rechargeable batteries is insufficient to meet the need of certain applications.
Fuel cells have potential as a replacement for some batteries. Because they can operate on very energy-dense fuels, fuel cell-based power supplies offer high energy-to-weight ratios compared with batteries. Fuel cells are of particular interest to the military, where significant efforts are being made to reduce the weight of power supplies that soldiers must carry to support high-tech, field-portable equipment. There is also considerable potential for utilizing fuel cell-based power supplies for commercial applications, particularly for portable applications, where small size and low weight are desirable.
A common fuel cell is a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). PEMFC's are constructed of an anode and a cathode separated by a polymer electrolyte membrane. The polymer electrolyte membrane is also known in the industry as a proton exchange membrane Functionally, fuel cells generate electricity by stripping an electron off hydrogen and allowing the charged proton H+ to pass through the proton exchange membrane while the electron e-travels around the proton exchange membrane thereby producing a voltage.
The charged hydrogen proton then reacts with atmospheric oxygen to produce water. In some applications, generally smaller PEMFC under about 2 KW, the PEMFC can function as an "air-breather" (see generally U.S. Pat. No. 6,117,577 issued to Wilson). In an air-breather oxygen can typically be obtained from the ambient atmosphere, only a source of hydrogen must be provided to operate the fuel cell.
Hydrogen supplied to such a fuel cell can be provided in a gaseous form from a tank of hydrogen, or it can be generated by reformation. However, providing compressed hydrogen is not always a viable option, because of the substantial volume that even a highly compressed gas occupies. Liquid hydrogen, which occupies less volume, is a cryogenic liquid, and a significant amount of energy is required to achieve the extremely low temperatures required to liquefy gaseous hydrogen.
The hydrogen supply can also be generated by a steam reforming method or a partial oxidation method, using as feedstock hydrocarbons such as LPG, naphtha, gasoline, kerosene, alcohol, coal or natural gas composed principally of methane or non-hydrocarbons such as ammonia.
Catalysts are commonly used to facilitate reformation of hydrocarbons within a reactor. Catalysts are also often used to facilitate the combustion in a combustion chamber of a microreactor to supply thermal energy for the reformation process.
Incorporation of catalysts into a microreactors is commonly done by either packing the catalyst particles or pellets into a chamber, into cut channels in a chamber, or catalyst coating the walls of cut channels in a chamber. Metal foams, screens, mesh and wires are also commonly used as a support substrate for catalysts. However, one limitation of metal foam supported catalyst is the tortuous flow pattern created and the pressure drops and resistance associated therewith. Also, the incorporation of a catalyst coated metal foam substrate necessitates intimate contact between the foam and the reactor body to provide good heat transfer.
Another feature beneficial to a microreactor is a structure wherein flow channels are provided in the reactor to facilitate the flow of gases over the catalyst while minimizing pressure drop, and facilitating heat transfer.
Flow channels can be machined with CNC or EDM milling. However, both have limitations with the aspect ratios (length/height) that can be achieved. EDM is also an expensive technique not well-suited for mass production.
Therefore, it is a desideratum to provide a method and device for catalyst loading into a chamber such as a reactor, it is also a desideratum to provide a method and device for catalyst incorporation into a chamber, which provides for flow channels without expensive CNC or EDM milling.

Catalyst incorporation in a microreactor


Packaging and delivery systems and methods for lighting devices such as streetlights. One embodiment of the invention includes a lighting device packaging and delivery system for a partially or completely preassembled and pre-wired luminaire and pole. The packaging and methods allow the unit to be shipped and installed with very little or no assembly required. The unit, or multi-pack of units, may be packaged with all of the required components, such as the photo control and lamp, already installed.

Outdoor lighting devices, such as streetlights, are commonly used to aid automobile and pedestrian safety at night and in unfriendly weather conditions. A streetlight is typically a raised lamp near the edge of a street that is turned on or lighted at a certain time each night. Streetlights may also have light-sensitive photocells that turn them on and off automatically, for example, on at dusk or in bad weather and off at sunrise. Streetlights typically include, or attach to, a pole or other structure to raise them above the ground. Such poles can have lengths exceeding 20 feet. In many cases, the light or lights at the top of a streetlight pole are connected to an electricity source through electrical wiring that runs down through the pole.
Lighting devices often require a significant amount of assembly, installation, and setup after delivery. Assembling and electrically connecting components can be time-consuming and may require the assistance of an expert, technician, or electrician. The need for electrical expertise and assembly is even more common and burdensome for larger lighting devices, such as streetlights, which are usually shipped in a partially unassembled manner because of their size or shape. When the pole, lamps, and other components of a streetlight are shipped or delivered in unassembled form, a significant amount of time and effort may be required to properly assemble and electrically connect the various components. In some cases, this work must be done at the top of a pole high above ground level, requiring additional equipment such as ladders and high-reach trucks.
The components of large lighting devices such as streetlights are commonly ordered separately from one another. Past ordering methods have involved having a purchaser place individual purchase orders for each of a lamp, a control, a luminaire, a pole, and wiring. The separate ordering of the lighting device's components typically requires additional effort in order to coordinate shipment schedules such that the materials will arrive at the same time. Additionally, there is a risk that one or more of the components will not arrive at its scheduled delivery time, delaying the installation of the lighting device.


Media content may include one or more advertisements for a product or a company, and such an advertisement may display a visual object (e.g., a logo) of an advertiser. An advertisement impact machine accesses media content, where the media content includes a frame within which the visual object is depicted. The advertisement impact machine accesses a viewer count that represents a number of viewers of the media content. The advertisement impact machine determines a duration during which the visual object is presented within the media content. The advertisement impact machine determines an impact factor based on the duration and on the viewer count. The impact factor may then be provided by the advertisement impact machine as a numerical score indicating a degree of effectiveness of an advertisement that includes the visual object within the media content.

Commercials broadcast over a network may be sold on a per-second basis. For example, a machine may automatically monitor video content and count the appearance of every company logo within the video content. Moreover, such a machine may also measure the duration that an advertiser's logo is visible within the video content. Accordingly, an advertiser may be charged a fee for each second that the advertiser's logo appears in the video content (e.g., to a content consumer, such as a viewer of the video content).


Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments enable valid links or nodes between pieces of material handling equipment to be identified based on a physical model of a material handling system in a facility. A model of a material handling system in a facility may indicate data associated with pieces of material handling equipment. Rules for each piece of material handling equipment may be applied to the data and used to identify infeed and/or discharge edges of the pieces of material handling equipment. Valid links between the pieces of material handling equipment may be identified based at least in part on the infeed and/or discharge edges.

Currently, material handling systems, such as material handling systems within distribution centers, are designed, modeled, and installed in a manual process. A designer selects the various material handling equipment, such as conveyors, rollers, etc., with which to move material within the distribution center, builds a design model of the selected material handling equipment indicating a type and location of material handling equipment in the distribution center and provides the model to installers who order, assemble, and install the selected material handling equipment in the distribution center according to the model. The model may be created using, for example, computer aided design ("CAD") software to create a two dimensional or three dimensional design model file. The current process for designing, modeling, and installing material handling systems relies heavily on the designer's ability to indicate the location and type of the material handling equipment correctly. Errors during the design phase in the placement of the material handling equipment and/or the type of material handling equipment in a model may result in numerous problems, such as material not flowing as intended in the installed material handling system, expensive in-field modifications to material handling equipment needing to be made during installation, ordering of the wrong material handling equipment, etc. Additionally, even if a design model is error free, design models do not indicate how material will actually move through a material handling system and do not identify the links (or nodes) between the material handling equipment in the material handling system.


A system includes a first unitary measurement strip configured to be secured about a rotational component at a first axial location. The first unitary measurement strip includes a first set of one or more windows, each window of the first set of one or more windows is configured to correspond to a first respective tangential location of the rotational component at the first axial location, and each window of the first set of one or more windows is configured to be detectable via a first sensor.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to systems and methods for monitoring rotation of components in rotary equipment.
Rotary equipment, such as turbomachinery, has one or more rotating components, such as a shaft, a rotor, an impeller, compressor blades, turbine blades, or wheels. The operational parameters of the rotating components may be described by one or parameters, such as rotational speed and torque. Unfortunately, complex machinery such as gas turbine engines may complicate the use of monitoring equipment due to the size, complexity, and precision of rotating components. Therefore, it may be desirable to improve the monitoring of rotating components while reducing the cost, size, load, stress, and overall impact of the monitoring equipment on the rotating components.

Systems and methods for monitoring rotary equipment


A pump having a housing with a torus and a stripper region. The stripper region has a housing groove formed on the surface of the stripper region. The housing groove has a surface forming a length, width and depth of the groove. The pump also has a cover connectable to the housing. The cover extends over the housing groove formed on the surface of the stripper region. An impeller has a plurality of vanes that extend radially outward from an impeller frame, wherein the impeller is rotatably positioned between the housing. The cover and the plurality of vanes are positioned in operable relation to said housing groove.

When an engine goes through a cold start condition a secondary air flow fan can be used to inject air into the engine's exhaust system. The reason the air is injected into the exhaust system is so that oxygen is present in the exhaust system and causes excess hydrocarbons to be combusted. This also helps the catalytic converter to perform efficiently or achieve optimal temperature in a shorter amount of time.
An impeller fan can be used to create the air movement in the secondary air flow system. One phenomena that can occur with secondary air flow systems is what is referred to as "dead head" condition. A dead head condition is when the air flow or output channel from the impeller becomes blocked. In other words, due to impeller design the pump will reach dead head at relatively high pressures and prevent the downstream valve from closing.
Furthermore, as the pressure increases the electrical current drawn by the motor increases. This is an undesirable condition because it is a drag on the vehicle electrical system. Therefore, it is desirable to develop an impeller that would reduce the pressure at the dead head condition, and thus reduce the amount of current drawn by the impeller.


A system, method and computer program product for storing configuration data for use in configuring a device while a program utilizing the configuration data is undergoing a revision at the device. The method includes a first step of providing a data structure indicating a manner in which configuration data is to be stored, and storing the data structure and current configuration data according to the data structure. Then, a revised software program in the device may identify the data structure and access a particular configuration data, along with its format; and, apply a conversion function that translates the stored current configuration data to a format compatible for use by the revised software. This is accomplished in a manner such that no configuration data is corrupted. The data structure includes data self describing the stored current configuration data, such that a conversion function can easily access the self describing information and render the stored configuration data platform independent.

Security systems offer a degree of security for residential sites and for office, business, or industrial applications. Typically, a security device monitoring or controlling a zone is provided as part of a security system. For example, an alarm may be set, which is triggered upon the occurrence of various threat or alarm conditions. At a larger installation, such as in a business, industrial or office setting, more than one zone and security device may be provided at various locations of the site. The security devices are typically connected (via hardwired or wireless connections) to a security control panel, which is essentially a control board or control module for security for the site. Also, a remote central monitoring station may be connected, and this central station may be notified when fault, a threat condition, or some other type of security breach, a fire condition, or other type of emergency condition or the like is detected.
As known, the control module or device coordinates the functioning of the units or modules implementing the security and may comprise an integrated circuit, such as a chip to execute software modules for the functioning of a keypad, for example. Control modules may be configured as hardware, software, firmware, or some combination of the foregoing. In several hardwired systems, it is advantageous that the control panel communicates with a peripheral device (e.g., a security or sensor device) over wired or wireless bus systems, such as RS485, or a device that can be plugged directly onto the control panel and governed by a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI). As known, the SPI protocol enables synchronous serial communication of a host processor (control panel) and peripherals.
Currently, there is a need to store configuration data from a panel to a remote site or device, as well as being able to restore a configuration to a panel. This is typically done when upgrading the software on the panel, which had been typically performed by replacing the memory chip that held the control program. The configuration data is stored, the memory chip changed, then the configuration information restored. In one prior art embodiment, depicted in FIG. 1A, configuration information can be retrieved from a panel 12 and stored using a PC (personal computer) application 15. Basically, the PC knows about the differences in data between different versions of the alarm panel software and can send any stored configuration information to the panel in the specific format.
One problem with this method is that if the format of the data changes between software versions, the software on the RS232 module may have to be updated as well as the software on the PC. The configuration file would also have to be modified to allow the upgraded software to understand it. Occasionally, some of the required configuration data format changes are not carried out—thus leading to incompatibility between the panel and the RS232 module 18 when used as a temporary storage device for panel configuration data as shown in FIG. 1B. Currently, in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1B, the RS232 module knows the structure of the data and can mimic the PC and retrieve and store the configuration information. That is, the RS232 module can be told about the differences in data between different versions of the alarm panel software and can send any stored configuration information to the panel in the specific format.
However, it is the case that when the panel data is reloaded from the RS232 module, not all the configuration data is restorable.
In the next generation security control panels, the type of memory device that stored the program and configuration are changed to the extent that the chip is no longer replaceable. Consequently, a new way has to be devised in order to upgrade the program implemented at the panel.
It would be desirable therefore, to provide an efficient system and method for saving and restoring panel configuration data when making new panel software updates.

Adaptive data dictionary language, extendable for a security system


According to one embodiment, a maintenance device includes a first interface, a second interface, and a processor. The first interface is configured to acquire setting information read by a reading unit configured to read the setting information from the information processing device. The communication unit is configured to acquire statistical information concerning the setting information from an external device via a network. The processor is configured to compare the setting information to the statistical information and evaluate the setting information based on a comparison result.

In the related art, in the maintenance of image forming apparatuses, when an abnormality occurs in an image forming apparatus, the situation is conveyed to a serviceman via a telephone call from a user. Moreover, a serviceman visits an installation location and checks the situation.
Furthermore, recently, in order to further improve service characteristics, a method is adopted in which, when detecting an abnormality, the apparatus in an on-line state (a state of being connected to a communication line such as the internet) automatically transmits apparatus information and error information to a service center using the communication line. Furthermore, at the same time, by referring to apparatus information such as a machine type, a machine number, an occurrence time, an apparatus situation, an error message and using such information, service characteristics can be improved.
However, in a current market, a considerable number of apparatuses in off-line states (a state of not being connected to a communication line such as the internet) still exist. Furthermore, even if the apparatus is connected to a communication line such as the internet, from a security problem, there are many apparatuses that do not provide the apparatus information (for convenience, an apparatus of such a state is referred to as a "apparatus in an off-line state" hereinafter).
In an apparatus in an off-line state, there are methods of storing the data of the apparatus information of an image forming apparatus in a PC owned by a serviceman temporarily, taking the serviceman's PC back to the service station and performing analysis of the data using the server, or switching the PC to an on-line state after storing the data, connecting the PC to the server and performing analysis at once.
In the maintenance of the image forming apparatuses of the related art, a serviceman is able to alter the settings of the apparatus from the state at the time of factory shipment according to the use frequency and the application of the apparatus. The settings of the apparatus are, for example, setting items concerning the behavior of the image forming apparatus such as adjustment of a scan position, paper margin adjustment, and motor speed adjustment. At this time, in some cases, an item is erroneously set to an unintentional value or an uncommon value. Since any value is reflected as setting, the value itself cannot be referred to as an error, and it is difficult for the person in question to notice.
However, depending on the combination of the setting values, by continuing in such a state, the apparatus may potentially cause an error as a result. In order to prevent such a situation in advance, it is effective to show a user how uncommon the setting values of the apparatus are. In the system of the related art, malfunction of an image forming apparatus can be diagnosed, but it is hard to detect whether or not the setting values deviate from common settings. It is difficult to detect whether or not the setting values of various information processing devices deviate from the general setting without being limited to the image forming apparatus mentioned above.

Maintenance device for use with an image forming apparatus


A first and second electronic devices are connected by two data lines arranged in a wired-AND configuration so that each device can signal the other device by forcing one of the two-wires into a "low" condition. An inventive method uses serial transfer of a predetermined numbers of bits in a digital word delimited by start and stop bits which are, in turn, defined by their relation to a clock signal on one of the data lines. The start and stop bits are chosen to be in a particular state during the "active" portion of the clock signal. Thus, the need for clocked gates or multivibrators is eliminated. In the preferred embodiment, the method and apparatus are used in a digital multimeter to intercouple a microprocessor and an electronic measuring circuit so that the microprocessor can control the measuring circuit and receive measured values from the circuit.

Digital multimeters are devices that perform several different metering functions. For example, a typical digital multimeter has three operating modes wherein it alternately functions as either an ammeter, an ohmmeter or a voltmeter. FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art digital multimeter 2. Digital multimeter 2 includes a pair of terminals 4 that are utilized to couple to a device or circuit across which a meter reading is to be taken. Rotary switch 8 enables digital multimeter 2 to alternatively select one of its various functions. The function of digital multimeter 2 is selected by positioning the movable portion 10 (with the arrow) of rotary switch 8 within an angular zone for the selected function. Within each function angular zone, rotary switch 8 is further subdivided into a plurality of ranges 12. Each range 12 corresponds to an expected input to the meter within a given function. For example, one range within the volt function could correspond to 0-100 volts. This range could be used if the expected input fell between 0 and 100 volts, a second range could correspond to an expected result of 0-1000 volts, etc. In general, a range is selected where the expected input is in the middle of the range since the sensitivity of the meter circuit decreases on the input ranges with higher maximum values.
The pair of terminals 4 and rotary switch 8 are each coupled to an application specific integrated circuit 6 (hereafter ASIC). ASIC 6 contains circuitry that receives the signals input from the pair of terminals 4 and converts them into output signals in a digital format that is readable by microprocessor 14; the manner in which the signals are converted is dependent upon the function and range selected by rotary switch 8. ASIC 6 provides the output signals to microprocessor 14 which converts them into display signals readable by display 16. The display signals are provided from microprocessor 14 to display 16 which displays the multimeter reading for the device or circuit coupled to the pair of terminals 4.
In the prior art digital multimeter 2, the connection between ASIC 6 and microprocessor 14 is unidirectional in that data is passed only from ASIC 6 to microprocessor 14. As a result, the interface between these two devices is fairly simple. However, digital multimeter 2 suffers from a disadvantage in that rotary switch 8 must be utilized to select the desired function and range and rotary switches are complicated and expensive to manufacture. In addition, such switches contain electromechanical contacts which are subject to corrosion and contamination by dirt.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a digital multimeter having means for enabling the desired function and range to be input into a microprocessor and thereby eliminate the need for a rotary switch.
When the function and range are input into a microprocessor, the interface between the microprocessor and the ASIC becomes bidirectional because information must be passed in each direction therebetween. Accordingly, it is a further object of the present invention to provide a simple bidirectional bus for coupling the microprocessor to the ASIC. It is a further object of the invention to provide a bidirectional bus having general applicability such that it can be utilized in other applications to couple various other devices.
Several techniques are known for implementing bidirectional buses between two or more devices. These techniques generally utilize one or more dedicated data bits, a clock signal for synchronizing the operation of the devices in communicating across the bus and one or more control lines for determining which device has control of the data bus. However, it is desirable to limit the number of wires needed to implement the bidirectional bus. Accordingly, it is a further object of the present invention to implement the bidirectional data bus using a minimum number of wires.
Other prior art methods exist for transferring information between two devices over a two wire bus. One of these methods is called the Inter-Integrated Circuit (IIC ) method and was developed by Signetics, Inc. for use in local area networks (LANs). The IIC information transfer method utilizes a data line and a clock line. Data is serially transferred over the data line between the two devices under control of clock information on the clock line. The data is transferred in multi-bit messages which are delineated by "start" and "stop" bits. The start and stop bits are identified by data transitions which occur during the "active" portion of a clock cycle. The IIC method also uses addresses to identify a particular device to which a message is to be sent so that the method is suitable for use in multi-device systems such as LANs. Special contention rules are used to prevent simultaneous use of the bus by two devices.
Although the IIC method is suitable for use in a LAN environment, it is often too complicated for use in arrangements where there are only two devices, as in electronic multimeter circuits. In addition, the necessity of detecting data transitions in order to identify the start and stop bits, requires clocked gates or one-shot multivibrators. These latter devices are complicated and therefore consume a large area on an integrated circuit chip. Therefore, it is another object of the present invention to provide a method for bidirectional data transfer over two wires in which clocked gates or multivibrators are not necessary.
Further, as will be discussed in detail below, it is also necessary for the bidirectional bus to be designed in such a manner that each device can positively signal the other device regardless of the state that the other device is in. Such a capability is necessary in a power-on startup condition and in certain busy conditions. Prior art signalling methods did not have such capability. Accordingly, it is still a further object of the invention to provide a two-wire bidirectional information transfer system which allows one device to positively signal the other device.

Method for transferring data between devices by generating a strobe pulse and clamping a clock line


An eyeglass assembly 10 is disclosed as including a frame 2 with two brackets 21 each with a recess for receiving part of a respective piece of optical lens 1, and a screw 22 releasably engaged with the bracket 21, each bracket 21 including two protrusions 211, 212 which, when the piece of optical lens 1 is received by the bracket 21, abut a first major surface 4 of the piece of optical lens 1, and when the piece of lens 1 is received by the bracket 21, the screw 22 is adapted to abut an opposite second major surface 6 of the piece of optical lens 1 to thereby releasably engage the piece of optical lens 1 with the bracket 21.

Eyeglasses have been available for a long period of time, for assisting people with eye-sight challenges, and also as sunglasses for filtering out at least part of the sunlight in particular during sunny days. However, such prior art eyeglasses usually include a spectacle frame which fixedly secure two pieces of lenses by wholly encircling the lenses. Such a structure significantly increases the weight of the eyeglasses, and thus when a user wears such a pair of eyeglasses, the weight acts on the nose pads of the eyeglasses, and in turn the nose of the user, causing discomfort to the user. There have been recently provided various types of rimless eyeglasses, in which the weight of the eyeglasses is reduced. However, in such rimless eyeglasses, a small hole has to be provided through each lens, e.g. by drilling, and a corresponding hole is provided on the frame. A screw is then screwed through both the hole in the lens and that of the frame to engage the lens to the frame. Such a structure adds to the production process and thus the resultant cost. In addition, as a hole has to be drilled through the lens, and as the process is usually carried out on the spot, such puts a high demand on the skill of the operators. Furthermore, lenses are prone to damage during drilling, and some small fractures may develop around the holes, thus compromising the appearance and structural integrity of the piece of lens.
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide an eyeglass assembly and a pair of eyeglasses including such an eyeglass assembly in which the aforesaid shortcomings are mitigated or at least to provide a useful alternative to the trade and public.


A mulching device for attachment to a lawnmower includes a cutting assembly separate from the mower blades, wherein the grass clippings are finely cut and then dispersed onto the ground surface. In one embodiment, the cutting assembly includes an auger that compresses the grass clippings prior to cutting them. The mulching device may also include a separation chamber for separating the grass clippings from the forced air exiting the mower deck, so that the grass clippings may be cut in an environment separate from the forced air. In another embodiment, the mulching device includes a dispersion assembly for spreading the cut grass clippings onto a ground surface. The dispersion assembly may include a chute extending from the forced air outlet to a position adjacent the cutting assembly, wherein the forced air exiting the separation chamber is directed onto the cut grass clippings to disperse the cut grass clippings onto the ground surface.

The present invention relates to lawnmowers, and more particularly to a mulching device that can be attached to a lawnmower for cutting (i.e., "mulching") the grass clippings in a manner that they can be deposited onto the ground surface.
As is generally known, lawnmowers include a mower deck that houses one or more rotating blades for cutting grass. The loose pieces of grass that have been cut by the lawnmower blades are often referred to as grass clippings.
Difficulties often arise with the disposal of grass clippings. Depositing or blowing grass clippings directly onto the ground surface can be unsightly, especially when the grass clippings are wet or particularly long, because they may clump and/or rest on top of the grass. As a result, commercial and residential lawn mowers alike generally use one of two recognized methods for disposing of grass clippings, which include: (1) collecting the grass clippings in one or more bags or other containers, or (2) re-cutting or "mulching" the grass clippings into smaller pieces that can be deposited onto the ground surface in a manner that is less visible than directly dropping the grass clippings.
Unfortunately, both of these known methods can be problematic. Collecting the grass clippings is generally done with a bagging attachment that includes a chute connected between the mower deck and one or more containers. The bagging attachment utilizes the forced air produced by the spinning mower blades, and/or an additional blower, to blow the grass clippings through the chute and into the one or more containers. Even when these bagging attachments work correctly, they are troublesome in that they require additional time for the operator to interrupt the mowing process and empty the containers, and they require a separate location for dumping the collected clippings. And in many cases, these bagging attachments fail due to the clippings clogging in the mower deck, chute or containers.
Mulching can also be problematic. Most mulching mowers re-cut the grass clippings within the mower deck by containing the grass clippings within the mower deck and using a combination of special blades and forced air to cut and re-cut the grass clippings within the mower deck. The re-cut (i.e., "mulched") grass clippings eventually drop onto the ground surface in a smaller, and thus less unsightly, form. Unfortunately, these mulching arrangements generally only work under ideal conditions where the grass is dry and not too long. Wet grass, or particularly long grass, often clogs within the mower deck, is not re-cut as desired, and falls onto the ground surface in unwanted clumps.


A column decoder in a semiconductor memory device in which address setting cannot be performed but only a serial access can be performed. The column decoder is constructed by: a redundant fuse for generating a redundant fuse signal; a column decoding circuit for decoding a column address; a column decoding switching circuit for switching an output destination of a decoding result of the column decoding circuit by the redundant fuse signal; and a column driver for driving an output signal of the column decoding switching circuit and generating it to normal column lines and a redundant column line. The column decoding circuit continuously makes the redundant column line operative after the operation of the normal column lines.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a decoder in a semiconductor memory device such as FIFO (First-In First-Out) memory or serial register in which addresses cannot be accessed at random and only a serial access can be executed and memory cells of a dynamic type are used and, more particularly, to a testing circuit of redundant memory cells.
2. Description of Related Art
Hitherto, as a redundancy circuit to rescue a defective memory cell in a semiconductor memory device, for example, a redundancy circuit is disclosed in Japanese Patent Kokai No. 6-203590 (patent document 1).
In the patent document 1, in a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device of an electrically batch erasing type such as random access flash memory (for example, EPROM which can be erased by ultraviolet rays and is electrically writable), a technique regarding a word line redundancy circuit on the row side has been disclosed.
In a semiconductor memory device using a dynamic type memory cell using a storing function by storage of charges due to a capacitance of a gate of an MOS transistor and a high input resistance, methods of rescuing a defective memory cell by preparing a redundant memory cell have widely been put into practical use. Particularly, as one of the methods of rescuing the defective memory cell in the column direction, what is called a shift type redundancy circuit in which memory cells after the defective memory cell are sequentially shifted is used. An example of a construction of a semiconductor memory device having the shift type redundancy circuit is shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 1 is a constructional diagram showing an outline of the conventional semiconductor memory device.
The semiconductor memory device has the shift type redundancy circuit, is a memory such as an FIFO memory in which an address cannot be set and only a serial access can be performed, and has a memory cell array 1 for storing data. The memory cell array 1 has: a plurality of word lines WL of the row direction; a plurality of pairs of bit lines BL and opposite-phase bit lines BLb which perpendicularly cross the plurality of word lines WL; and a plurality of pairs of transfer data lines DL and opposite-phase transfer data lines DLb which are arranged in parallel with the pairs of bit lines BL and BLb and electrically connected. Dynamic type memory cells 2 are connected to crossing points of each word line WL and the bit lines BL and BLb, respectively, and arranged in a matrix shape. Each of the dynamic type memory cells 2 is a memory cell of one-transistor type constructed by: a capacitor 2a for accumulating charges connected to a power line; and an n-channel type MOS transistor (hereinafter, abbreviated to "NMOS") 2b for transferring the charges connected between the capacitor 2a and the bit line BL or BLb. A gate of the NMOS 2b is connected to the word line WL and its drain is connected to the bit line BL or BLb.
A plurality of word lines WL are connected to a row decoder section 3 for decoding row addresses and selectively activated by outputs of the row decoder section 3. A sense amplifying section 4-1 is connected to one end side of the plurality of pairs of bit lines BL and BLb and a sense amplifying section 4-2 is also connected to the other end side of the pairs of bit lines BL and BLb. The sense amplifying section 4-1 has a plurality of sense amplifiers 5A connected between the bit lines BL and BLb. Similarly, the sense amplifying section 4-2 has a plurality of sense amplifiers 5B connected between the bit lines BL and BLb. Each of the sense amplifiers 5A and 5B is a circuit for amplifying an electric potential difference between the bit lines BL and BLb upon reading the data.
A read register section 6-1 is connected to one end side of the plurality of pairs of transfer data lines DL and DLb connected to the pairs of bit lines BL and BLb. A write register section 6-2 is connected to the other end side of the pairs of transfer data lines DL and DLb. The read register section 6-1 has a plurality of read registers 7A connected between the transfer data lines DL and DLb. Each read register 7A is a circuit for receiving read data read out from the pair of bit lines BL and BLb through the pair of transfer data lines DL and DLb and temporarily holding it. Each write register 7B is a circuit for temporarily holding write data into the memory cell 2 and sending the holding write data to the bit lines BL and BLb through the transfer data lines DL and DLb.
A pair of read data lines RDL are connected to one end side of each pair of transfer data lines DL and DLb through each pair of NMOSs 8A-1 and 8A-2 for transferring the data. A common gate of each pair of NMOSs 8A-1 and 8A-2 is connected to a column decoder section 9-1 for reading through a column line CL. The column decoder section 9-1 decodes a column address for reading, controls ON/OFF of the plurality of pairs of NMOSs 8A-1 and 8A-2, and connects one end side of the pair of transfer data lines DL and DLb and the read data lines RDL. The column decoder section 9-1 is constructed by a plurality of decoders 10A. A pair of write data lines WDL are connected to the other end side of each pair of transfer data lines DL and DLb through each pair of NMOSs 8B-1 and 8B-2 for transferring the data. A common gate of each pair of NMOSs 8B-1 and 8B-2 is connected to a column decoder section 9-2 for writing through the column line CL. The column decoder section 9-2 decodes a column address for writing, controls ON/OFF of the plurality of pairs of NMOSs 8B-1 and 8B-2, and connects the other end side of the pair of transfer data lines DL and DLb and the write data lines WDL. The column decoder section 9-2 is constructed by a plurality of decoders 10B. Each of the decoders 10A and 10B is constructed by the same circuit although their column addresses which are inputted are different.
In the memory cell array 1 shown in FIG. 1, for example, a plurality of groups of memory cell 2 connected to the plurality of bit lines BL and BLb in the upper portion construct a normal cell section (ordinary cell section) 11 and a plurality of groups of memory cell 2s connected to the bit lines BL and BLb in the lowest portion construct a redundant cell section 12. As for the redundant cell section 12, to rescue the defective memory cell 2 in the normal cell section 11, when the defective memory cell 2 becomes a target for reading or writing (accessing) the data, the redundant cell section 12, the redundant memory cell 2s is accessed in place of the defective memory cell 2.
In the semiconductor memory device in FIG. 1, when data DA is written into the memory cell 2 connected to a certain word line WL and a certain bit line BL, the supplied row address AX and column address AY are decoded by the row decoder section 3 and the column decoder section 9-2 for writing. The word line WL is activated to the "H" level and, at the same time, the NMOSs 8B-1 and 8B-2 in the column address AY are turned on. The write data DA inputted to the write data lines WDL is transferred to the transfer data lines DL and DLb connected thereto through the NMOSs 8B-1 and 8B-2 in the ON state and held in the register 7B connected thereto. The data DA held in the register 7B is sent through the transfer data lines DL and DLb to the bit lines BL and BLb connected thereto and stored into the capacitor 2a through the NMOS 2b in the memory cell 2 in the ON state by the word line WL at the "H" level.
For example, if there previously is a defect in the memory cell 2 and the defective memory cell 2 has been replaced by the redundant memory cell 2s, when the row address AX and the column address AY are supplied, they are decoded by the row decoder section 3 and the column decoder section 9-2 for writing, the redundant memory cell 2s is selected in place of the defective memory cell 2, and the data DA is written into the redundant memory cell 2s.
In the case of reading out the data DA stored in the memory cell 2, the supplied row address AX is decoded by the row decoder section 3, the word line WL is activated to the "H" level, and each NMOS 2b in the plurality of memory cells 2 connected thereto are turned on. When each NMOS 2b in the plurality of memory cells 2 is turned on, the data DA stored in each capacitor 2a is read out to each pair of bit lines BL and BLb, amplified by each sense amplifier 5A connected thereto, and thereafter, held in each register 7A. The supplied column address AY for reading is decoded by the column decoder section 9-1 for reading and only the NMOSs 8A-1 and 8A-2 in the column address AY are turned on. The data held in the register 7A is read out to the read data lines RDLs through the transfer data lines DL and DLb and the NMOSs 8A-1 and 8A-2 in the ON state.
For example, if there previously is a defect in the memory cell 2 and the defective memory cell 2 has been replaced by the redundant memory cell 2s, the data DA which is stored in the defective memory cell 2 is stored in the redundant memory cell 2s in place of the defective memory cell 2. When the row address AX and the column address AY are supplied in order to read out the data, therefore, they are decoded by the row decoder section 3 and the column decoder section 9-1 for reading, the redundant memory cell 2s is selected in place of the defective memory cell 2, and the data DA is read out from the redundant memory cell 2s.
In this type of semiconductor memory device, as a method of improving a rescue ratio of the defective memory cell 2, a redundant cell test to discriminate whether or not the defective memory cell 2s exists among a plurality of redundant memory cell 2s is often executed at the time of a probing test upon manufacturing. If the defective memory cell 2s exists among the redundant memory cells 2s, a program is made so as not to use the defective memory cell 2s.
To execute the redundant cell test, the operating mode is set into a mode in which the redundant memory cell 2s is certainly selected by a test terminal (not shown) or the like and its address is designated, so that the presence or absence of a defect of the redundant memory cell 2s can be discriminated.


A steering column assembly includes a shroud; a steering shaft, which is supported by the shroud; a support bracket, a clamp, and a clamp mechanism. The support bracket is configured to be secured to a fixed part of the vehicle and includes two arms that depend from a base portion to embrace the shroud. The clamp pin extends through an opening in each of the arms of the support bracket and in a slot in the shroud. The clamp mechanism is movable between an unclamped position in which the shroud can move relative to the support bracket and a clamped position in which the shroud is fixed relative to the support bracket.

It is known to provide a collapsible steering column assembly comprising a steering shaft that is supported within a steering column shroud. To prevent significant injury to the driver in the event of a crash the steering column should be able to collapse as an axial load is applied through the steering wheel, for instance in a front impact where an unrestrained driver is thrown Onto the steering wheel.
A typical collapsible steering column assembly comprises a telescopic shroud, having an outer shroud portion and an inner shroud portion, an end of the inner shroud portion extending into the outer shroud portion. The outer shroud portion may be located closer to the steering wheel, or further from the steering wheel than the inner shroud portion. A telescopic steering shaft, also having an upper and lower shaft part, is supported inside the shroud through one or more bearing assemblies. The steering wheel is fixed to the upper shaft portion. In some cases, the shroud will not include two portions and instead the shroud will simply move relative to the bracket.
The part of the shroud closest to the wheel must be able to move, or collapse, during a crash so as to allow the steering wheel to move forwards relative to the vehicle body but be prevented from moving during normal use. There is also a need to fix the shroud relative to the vehicle body to define the rake position of the steering wheel. This is typically achieved by a clamp mechanism that secures the shroud to a support bracket that is in turn fixed to the vehicle body, perhaps to a cross beam provided behind the dashboard of the vehicle. The clamp mechanism may be adjustable to permit reach adjustment, or rake adjustment, or both, of the steering wheel. In the event of a crash the shroud must be able to move, and this is achieved if it is able to break free of the clamp mechanism, or for the support bracket to be able to break free of the vehicle body, to allow the steering column assembly to collapse telescopically.
A lever may be provided on an end of the a clamp bolt that forms a part of the clamp mechanism that the driver can push or pull to rotate the clamp bolt and thereby operate the clamp mechanism.
Steering column assemblies are known which include a clamp mechanism that relies solely on friction when locked to prevent unwanted movement of the column assembly. The clamp mechanism can be unlocked and locked by movement of a locking lever or, sometimes, electrically using a motor or perhaps hydraulically or pneumatically. These columns can typically resist radial and/or axial forces of 600 N applied at the steering wheel before slipping.
However, it is increasingly a requirement from car manufacturers that there should be no substantial movement of the steering column assembly when forces of up to 5000 N are applied. The objective is to prevent unwanted movements of the steering wheel in a crash so that the deployment of the air bag is ideally controlled.
Known positive locking assemblies, which include toothed blocks that fit within corresponding toothed rails, provide locking at set positions due to the engagement of the teeth of the block and rail. This form of positive locking can be used in both reach and rake directions. However, the downside of a tooth-based positive locking assembly is that unless the teeth are perfectly aligned, tooth-on-tooth impacts can occur during damping. If excessive force is applied by the driver to the clamp lever to force it to complete its travel, permanent damage can occur to the tips of the teeth. At the very least, such a tooth-on-tooth occurrence will require the driver to consciously re-release the lever, find a slightly different wheel position and then re-engage the lever. Unless special means are provided to overcome this problem, then it is likely to occur during 10% to 20% of all adjustment operations. This is undesirable.


An edible bean seed designated as <11258> or Vibrant, a sample of the edible bean deposited under accession no. PI 673082 is disclosed. Methods of using the edible bean seed designated as <11258> or Vibrant for breeding new varieties of bean seed are also disclosed, as well as seeds of the edible bean seed designated as <11258> or Vibrant.

In the United States, there is increasing concern over the consumption of high sugar and high fat foods by the population. An alarming increase in obesity among the citizens in the United States exists since many people in the United States are overweight due to a lack of exercise and poor eating habits.
Beans and peas are listed under both the Vegetables, and the Meats and Beans categories of the Dietary Guidelines Pyramid, thus, emphasizing the healthy nature of legumes in the diet. In addition to the emphasis on lower fat and lower sugar diets, beneficial effects of legumes are becoming apparent. Legumes are packed with fiber and protein, as well as being a good source of numerous vitamins and minerals. Legumes also have a low glycemic index and may help play a role in maintaining normal blood sugar levels; increasing digestive health; and even possibly improving heart health. Yet, legumes are an underutilized food in the United States diet.
One type of edible bean that is sold and consumed is the pinto bean. During storage, the seed coat of pinto beans may darken which may be viewed by consumers as a product flaw. Thus, needs exist for varieties of pinto beans that either do not darken or take longer to darken such that they are consumed before the seed coat darkens.


An image sensor includes a pixel array and a plurality of pairs of column lines. The pixel array includes a plurality of unit pixel areas arranged in a plurality of rows and columns. Each of the unit pixel areas includes a readout circuit connected to a corresponding pair of column lines, and first and second photo-electric conversion devices sharing the readout circuit. Each of the unit pixel areas is configured to output a first pixel signal corresponding to a photoelectron generated by the first photo-electric conversion device through the first column line, and to output a second pixel signal corresponding to a photoelectron generated by the second photo-electric conversion device through the second column line.

1. Technical Field
Example embodiments relate generally to image sensors, and more particularly image sensors including a plurality of unit pixel arrays where two pixels share one readout circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a complementary-metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor is a device used in a smart phone or a digital still camera to capture an image and the CMOS image sensor is required to be manufactured in a small size according to the tendency of portable devices manufactured in a small size with a slim structure.
As image sensors have tended toward the miniaturization, a size of a unit pixel area is reduced so that the fill-factor (a ratio of a photodiode area to a unit pixel area) is also reduced.
For this reason, recently, a shared pixel structure allowing two photodiodes to share one readout circuit has been adopted to reduce an area of switch transistors per a unit pixel.
In the shared pixel structure, the minimization for a 1H period is necessary for a high frame rate, but there is limitation in the minimization due to the restriction of pixel charge transmission and A/D conversion time. In order to overcome the above limitation, a 2RSR (2 Row Simultaneously Read) scheme is employed to simultaneously read 2 rows for the 1H period.
However, when the 2RSR scheme is used, if photodiodes having mutually different colors share one column line through one readout circuit, mismatch may occur between colors.

Unit pixels configured to output different pixel signals through different lines and image sensors including the same


The present invention relates to a method of preparing hexaalkyl distannanes by converting bis-[trialkyltin]oxide with a stabilized solution of sodium borohydride in alcohol, preferably methanol, in the presence of an inert solvent.

Hexaalkyl distannanes, especially hexabutyl distannanes, are valuable and extraordinarily versatile reagents for organic synthesis. As catalysts, the hexaalkyl distannanes are attracting increasing interest in a number of different technical processes.
Detailed information can be obtained from several reviews, including: W. P. Neumann, Die Organische Chemie des Zinns, Stuttgart, Ferdinand Enke Verlag, 1967; R. C. Poller, The Chemistry of Organotin Compounds, Logos Press Ltd., 1970; M. Pereyre, J. P. Quintard, and A. Rahm, Tin in Organic Synthesis, London, Butterworth, 1987; I. Omar, Organotin Chemistry, Amsterdam, Elsevier, 1989; and P. G. Harrison, Chemistry of Tin, Glasgow, Blackie.
Various methods of preparing distannanes have been described in the prior art. However, these prior art methods are oftentimes very complicated to run, have low yields, or require such costly starting materials such as trialkyltin hydrides, which makes them unattractive for industrial applications. Thus, continued research is ongoing to develop a simple and more cost-effective method of preparing distannanes, a few of these methods are described hereinbelow.
The preparation of compounds which contain tin-to-tin bonds is described in numerous publications such as: Houben Weyl,Methoden der Organischen Chemie, Vol. 13,6 401-16; A. G. Davies and P. J. Smith, Comprehensive Organometallic Chemistry, Pergamon Press, 591; A. K. Sawyer, Organotin Compounds, Vol. 3, New York, Marcel Dekker, Inc., 1972, 823-79; and W. P. Neumann, Die Organische Chemie des Zinns, Stuttgart, Ferdinand Enke Verlag, 1967.
The condensation of trialkyltin hydrides with trialkyltin amines and alkoxides or with bis-[trialkyltin] oxides produces satisfactory yields of hexaalkyl distannanes. However, this reaction requires expensive starting materials and is difficult to handle due to the high reactivity of the starting compounds. This condensation reaction is described in W. P. Neumann & B. Schneider, Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. Engl., 3, 751 (1964) and W. P. Neumann & J. Pedain, Tetrahedron Lett., Int. (1964), 2461.
W. P. Neumann, Angew. Chem. 73, 541 (1961) discloses a method of producing high yields of hexaalkyl distannanes from trialkyltin hydrides by catalytically removing the hydrogen therefrom.
Chemical Abstract Nos. 98:89536 y and 101:111072 y describe the synthesis of distannanes from the corresponding hydrides in the presence of a palladium complex. Yields of 71 to 89% are obtained from this process. More specifically, the trialkyltin hydrides are produced in-situ by reducing the trialkyltin or triaryltin chlorides with lithium aluminum hydride.
B. Jousseaume, et al., J. Organomet. Chem , 294 (3), C41-45, discloses a process for converting bis-[trialkyltin] oxide with formic acid. However, this method produces hexaalkyl distannane which are contaminated with poly-tin compounds.
German Application No. 1 955 241 discloses a method of preparing hexaalkyl distannanes from trialkyltin formiates by thermolysis. The product obtained by this method is extensively contaminated with various decomposition side products.
Chemical Abstract No. 95:123026 g (Japanese A 56 058 981) describes a method for preparing distannanes through the complicated electrolysis of trialkyltin and triaryltin formiates.
The conversion of trialkyltin lithium or sodium with trialkyltin halides into distannanes is described by G. Wittig, et al. in Liebigs Ann. Chem., 571, 167 (1961).
U.S. Pat. No. 3,699,138 describes the preparation of distannanes from trialkyltin halides with molten sodium.
B. Jousseaume, E. Chanson, Mr. Pereyre, Organometallics, 5 (b), 1271-724 discloses a method of reducing bis-[trialkyltin]oxide with titanium, potassium, sodium, or magnesium which subsequently results in yields of about 60 to 82% of hexaalkyl distannanes.
Chemical Abstract No. 72:90593 j provides a method of converting tributyltin chloride with magnesium in tetrahydrofuran which results in yields of about 70% of hexabutyl distannanes.
Hexaalkyl distannanes can also be prepared by a Wurtz reaction from trialkyltin halides and metallic sodium in liquid ammonia or ether. This reaction is described, for example, in R. K. Ingham, S. D. Rosenberg, and H. Gilmann, Chem. Rev., 60, 459 (1960) and G. Gruttner, Chem. Ber., 1917, 50, 1808.
BE A 672 867 disclosed the conversion of sodium in tetrabutyltin with tributyltin chloride followed by a complicated process which yields 93% of hexabutyl distannane.
Despite the current state of the art, none of the references disclosed hereinabove describes the current method of preparing hexaalkyl distannanes.


A system to provide foot protection against anti-personnel land mines is designed for use by mine clearance personnel and includes a raised frame having a central foot support location thereon which ensures a spacing of the wearer's foot above the ground surface of from 10 to 30 cm. The ground-engaging parts of the frame are spaced forwardly and rearwardly of the foot location and the frame includes on its underside blast protection material, the combined results of these measures being to greatly attenuate the blast and fragmentation effects of an exploding mine on the foot of the user. Moreover, the underside of the structure, including legs, is aerodynamically shaped to deflect the blast wave loading and fragments generated by the mine detonation.

a) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a new or improved system to provide foot protection against anti-personnel land mines. The invention is particularly intended for use by military specialists involved in mine clearance operations, although it is likewise suitable for use by other military and civilian personnel.
b) Description of the Prior Art
For many decades the laying of mine fields has been used by various military organizations both official and irregular to deny access or to inhibit movement of enemy personnel in selected locations. The mines are buried or otherwise camouflaged and are designed to explode when actuated by the presence of enemy personnel, being triggered by various means such as trip wires, pressure sensors, etc. Larger mines are deployed for the purpose of destroying or disabling trucks and tracked armoured vehicles, but these mines are in some respects of lesser concern since they are not likely to be triggered by an individual's stepping on them.
Well organized official national armies when deploying a mine field make a practice of preparing a map indicating the location of each mine that is laid, both for the safety of their own personnel, and also with a view to removing the mines after a conflict situation has been resolved. However other military organizations and especially guerillas too often do not prepare proper maps of the location of mines that have been deployed and make no effort whatever to retrieve previously laid mines. Such abandoned mines therefore remain in place constituting for many years a hazard to the lives of wild animals, livestock, and people residing in the vicinity. Every year thousands of people are accidentally killed or maimed by such abandoned anti-personnel mines, and furthermore the presence of mines denies people access to or utilization of large tracts of land.
The clearance of mine fields is extremely dangerous work and is dealt with by specially trained military personnel who are skilled in de-activation and removal or safe detonation of mines. However no level of skill can guarantee against accidental detonation of an antipersonnel mine which has not been detected or which is of a design that is unfamiliar to the mine disposal operative, and accordingly it is necessary to equip the operative with as much protective clothing as is possible without excessively restricting his freedom of movement. Thus it is usual to protect mine clearance operatives by providing clothing and padding which will absorb the blast forces and projectiles created by anti-personnel mines. Such equipment includes protective helmets and foot wear.
Experience has shown that the feet of operatives working on mine clearance are particularly vulnerable to injury, and various proposals have been brought forth to reduce such injuries. Examples of prior proposals for protective footwear are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,720,714 Krohn et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,318,024 Fujinaka et al and U.S. Pat. No. 3,516,181 Jordan.
None of the prior proposals for protective footwear has been entirely satisfactory. Some proposals are too weighty and unwieldy while others do not provide a sufficient spacing of the feet of the operative above the ground in which a mine may be embedded, and still others do not provide sufficient stability for support of the operator. None of the prior protective footwear can avoid the possibility that the operative may tread on and thus detonate a mine located immediately underneath his foot.

Anti-personnel mine foot protection systems


A combustion chamber 10 for a gas turbine that operates in a highly diluted mode of combustion has a substantially toroidal plenum 30. At least one combustion fluid injector is located at the periphery of the plenum. The shape of the plenum and the disposition of the combustion fuel injectors are such that a vortex flow 2 is established in the combustion chamber in use. Gasses are entrained in the vortex which provides high enough levels of flue gas re-circulation to allow for the onset of highly diluted combustion.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a combustion chamber for a gas turbine and a method of operating a combustion chamber for a gas turbine.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
Gas turbines operate on the basis of fossil fuel combustion. Fossil fuel combustion processes are these days governed by two major requirements which are in contrast with one another. On the one hand, a combustion process should achieve the highest possible efficiency (so as to save fuel and reduce CO2 emissions); on the other hand, the process should minimise pollutant omissions (for example NOx).
One of the most common ways to improve the efficiency of a combustion process is to use high temperature combustion air preheating. This approach causes combustion to take place at relatively high flame temperatures and eventually the energy of the high temperature combustion gases is transferred to the combustion air using a recuperative or regenerative heat exchanger. One drawback of high preheated air temperatures is that the flame experiences increased peak temperatures, with a disastrous effect upon the thermal-NOx formation path.
Research has been carried out on the combustion of hydrocarbons using diluted reacting mixtures that are kept at a temperature above the self-ignition threshold via the re-circulation of flue gas. The use of the flue gas dilutes the reacting mixture and can be used to provide the energy to allow for self-ignition.
Flue gas re-circulation increases the contents of inerts in a mixture. Early research into the flammability limits for combustion of hydrocarbons and air [Zabetakis, 1965] showed that it is possible to obtain flammable mixtures for re-circulation rates of up to 50%. More recent research aimed at providing reliable operating conditions for practical systems has shown that re-circulation rates of up to 30% can be used as a NOx-reducing technique [Wilkes and Gerhold, 1980]. The flue gas re-circulation rate R is defined as the ratio of the flow rate of the re-circulated flue gas and the flow rate of the fresh mixture fed into the combustion chamber:
  R  =                    G        IR            +              G        ER                    F      +      Ox
where:
GIR=Flue gas re-circulated inside the combustion chamber;
GER=Flue gas re-circulated outside the combustion chamber;
F=Fuel; and
Ox=fresh oxidant (usually air).
It has however recently been found that it is possible to stabilise a flame at a much higher flue gas re-circulation rate than previously thought. This can produce a mode of combustion that produces a non-visible, non-audible flame. Such a flame is associated with even temperature and concentration profiles, and no hot spots.
This alternate combustion mode, termed for the purposes of this document as "highly diluted combustion", arises as a result of the very high level of dilution of the reacting mixture. The high level of dilution prevents the formation of localised temperature peaks and thus lowers NOx formation. To achieve an operating set-up that exploits the self-ignition of the flammable diluted mixture, it is necessary to provide a mixture temperature that is above the autoignition threshold. Such a condition will result in a very low temperature difference between the initial and adiabatic flame temperatures, as compared to conventional non-diluted visible flames.
            T      ad        =                            T          in                -                                            Δ                                                                                H                R                                                    c              p                                ·                      Y            Fuel                              =                        -                                    Δ                                                                                H                R                                                    c              p                                      ·                  1                      R            +            1                          ·                  F                      F            +            Ox                                          Δ                                      T        =                            T          ad                -                  T          in                    ∝              1                  R          +          1
where:
Tad=adiabatic temperature (K);
Tin=initial temperature of the reacting mixture (K);
ΔHR=heat of the reaction (kJ/kg);
cp=specific heat of reacting mixture;
YFuel=molar fraction of burned fuel;
R=re-circulation rate;
F=fuel molar rate; and
Ox=oxidant molar rate.
The above two equations indicate that the difference between the adiabatic temperature (Tad) and the initial temperature (Tin) of the mixture decreases as R increases. The re-circulation rate R acts on the value of the initial temperature (Tin), as this is the result of an energy balance between the re-circulated flue gas and the fresh oxidant stream fed into the combustion chamber. However, the value of R does not affect the value of the adiabatic temperature (Tad), as shown from further elaboration of the above equations in conjunction with standard equations of adiabatic combustion:
            T      ad        =                  T        oxi            -                                    Δ                                                                          H                                c            p                          ·                  φ                                (            ϕ            )                                    where              :                  φ                    (        ϕ        )              =                  ϕ        ·                              (                                          Y                Fuel                                            Y                oxi                                      )                    stoich                    +      1
Toxi=oxidant inlet temperature;
φ=equivalence ratio; and
Yoxi=oxidant mole fraction.
The equivalence ratio parameter (φ) is frequently encountered in the standard literature of combustion, and is simply defined as:
  Φ  =      1    λ
The relative air to fuel ratio, λ, is defined as:
  λ  =                    (                                                                %                                                                          fuel                                %                                                                          air                          )            stoichiometric                      (                                                                %                                                                          fuel                                %                                                                          air                          )            actual
where:
% fuel and % air are the molar percentage (or molar fraction) of fuel and air respectively derived by:
            %                                      fuel        =                  F        Fuel                              F          Air                +                  F          Fuel                                %                                      air        =                  F        Air                              F          Air                +                  F          Fuel
and where:
FAir and FFuel are the molar flow rates of air and fuel respectively.
Excess air is defined as: e(%)=(λ−1)*100.
Combustion is usually characterised by the stoichiometry of the reacting mixture.
λ<1(φ>1): fuel rich mixtures—rich stoichiometry
λ=φ=1: stoichiometric conditions
λ>1(φ<1): fuel lean conditions—lean stoichiometry
Conventional gas turbine systems typically operate under lean premixed combustion conditions and employ combustion chambers of the annular, can, can-annular or silos type. Such combustion systems typically rely on a swirl-stabilized flame, in which a small re-circulation zone is formed at the exit of the burners via aerodynamic means. This allows ignition and burnout in a very compact combustor zones, which results in very short residence times (of the order of a few milliseconds) and therefore permits the use of very compact combustion chambers.
Such a system is typically operated with a very lean flame (λ≧2) at around 20 bar, with the oxidant (usually air) preheated to 720 K by compression, and with a flame temperature of around 1750 K. Typical systems have ignition delay times of the order 3 to 5 ms, with residence times of the order of 20-30 ms. Targeted emission levels are: UHC and CO below 10 ppm, and single digit NOx ppm (normalised at 15% O2). These example conditions refer to a gas turbine operating in a full engine load operation mode, and it is necessary to respect the above constraints.
However, such systems are associated with a number of drawbacks. One problem is the generation of self-induced pressure pulsations, which can have dramatic consequences on the mechanical integrity of the combustion system. This problem arises from the small re-circulation zones formed at the exit of each burner. These are not stable and can lead to pressure fluctuations with the combustion chamber termed pulsations.
This tendency for the pressure to fluctuate means that it is necessary to run such systems within constrained operating conditions. Another problem still is the high risk of flashback into the burner, which is an intrinsic characteristic of lean premix systems.
As an alternative to operating with conventional lean premix swirl-stabilized flames, gas turbines could be run in a highly diluted mode, relying on the non-stabilized auto-ignition concept. In highly diluted combustion, a flame ignites spontaneously when enough energy has been released and transferred to the reactants. Thermal energy is then transferred to the reactants as they mix with the re-circulated flue gas. The amount of hot flue gas that needs to be mixed with reactants in order to establish auto-ignition and burnout depends on the rating of the combustion process, and depends on the load for gas turbine systems. The higher the rating (and therefore the process temperatures), the lower the amount of gas dilution needed for auto-ignition and vice versa.
Implementing a highly diluted combustion mode in a gas turbine would allow the flame temperature to be maintained at the desired operating value with a much lower difference between the adiabatic and initial temperatures (ΔT). This would help solve the problem of suppressing high temperature spots, and could bring benefits in terms of emissions levels and combustion efficiency by providing a uniform temperature field.
In order to implement highly diluted combustion is a gas turbine, the system has to operate within the temperature and pressure ranges associated with gas turbines, as well as their characteristic timescales. Gas turbine systems are typically run with the combustion oxidant preheated to 400-500° C. by the compression process. Therefore, no separate recuperators or regenerators are necessary.
However, heat exchangers or alternative heat sources can still be used to further heat the combustion oxidant. As a result of their very lean stoichiometry, gas turbine systems could employ highly diluted combustion with partially premixed or fully premixed flames. Tests performed at atmospheric pressure under operating conditions typical of gas turbine systems have shown that a flue gas re-circulation rate higher than 100% is enough to establish highly diluted combustion, due to the very lean stoichiometry of the system (λ≧2).
In conventionally shaped gas turbine combustion chambers, highly diluted combustion can be established by means of high velocity jets, whose momentum will entrain re-circulated flue gas according to the free jet momentum law.
Chemical kinetics calculations carried out under operating conditions typical of a gas turbine combustion systems have revealed information on a number of gas turbine parameters when operating under highly diluted combustion. It has been found that high flue gas re-circulation rates cause auto-ignition delay times rates that are within the ranges typically required by gas turbine systems (see FIG. 1).
The calculations also have shown that burnout times are not affected by the dilution degree of the mixture. This is because adiabatic or quasi-adiabatic flue gas re-circulation allows for a high enough flame temperature (see FIG. 2).
A beneficial effect of flue gas re-circulation on the NOx formation path has been found. This effect is more pronounced at high pressure, where combustion carried out with a strong flue gas re-circulation rate shows better low-NOx potential than conventional lean premix combustion (see FIG. 3).
It has been further found that flue gas re-circulation rate increases as the load decreases, thus allowing hot gas entrainment at lower operating load and allowing for auto-ignition at lower engine operating regimes (see FIG. 4). FIG. 4 shows the flue gas re-circulation rate calculated via the jet momentum conservation law, whereby:
            M      .                      M        .            0        =                    u        0            u        =                            ρ                      ρ            0                          ·                  A                      A            0
For circular jets:
for: x/d0<8
                    K        V                          (        %        )              =                  [                              0.083            *                          x                              d                0                                              +                      0.0128            *                                          (                                  x                                      d                    0                                                  )                            2                                      ]            ·              ρ                  ρ          0                                for                    :                          x        /                  d          0                      >    8                      K        V                          (        %        )              =          0.32      *              x                  d          0                    *                        ρ                      ρ            0
Where:
M=total mass flow rate;
M0=mass flow rate at nozzle exit;
u=mean axial velocity component;
u0=mean axial velocity component at nozzle exit;
ρ=gas density;
ρ0=gas density at nozzle exit;
A=jet cross area;
A0=nozzle area;
x=axial distance from nozzle exit; and
d0=nozzle diameter.
If the flow has a swirling component then the rate of entrainment and the rate of velocity decay are increased. The enhanced entrainment capability of a swirling jet has been defined as:
      K    V    =            (                        0.32          ·                      x                          d              0                                      +                  K          ·          S                    )        ·                  ρ                  ρ          0
where:
S=the swirl number;
K=is an empirical constant.
In a conventional gas turbine combustion process, characterized by a swirl stabilised lean premix combustion mode, the overall process time can be defined as:τtot=τtr+τig+τBO
where:
τtr=the transport time, which in this case is the time necessary to convey the mixture to the stabilization zone;
τig=the ignition delay time;
τBO=the burnout time.
In a highly diluted combustion mode, the characteristic timescales can be defined as:τtot=τtr+τmix+τig+τBO
where:
τtr=the transport time, which in this case is the time necessary to entrain the hot flue gas;
τmix=the mixing time necessary to mix the oxidant diluted with hot flue gas and the fuel.
In a conventional lean premix system the mixing time is not considered in the equation, as the mixture is considered already perfectly premixed at the exit of the burner. However, as highly diluted combustion is established in conventionally shaped combustion chambers using high velocity jets, such systems are characterized by a longer overall process times as the convective and mixing times are significant. The reactants are entrained (τtr) and mixed with the hot gases (τmix) as the jet develops. When enough hot gas is entrained and mixed to reach the auto-ignition threshold, ignition will occur (τig) and then eventually burnout (τBO).
As a result, highly diluted combustion is associated with the drawback of a longer overall time for the process than for a conventional lean premix system. This results in the need for longer combustion chambers, which is undesirable in gas turbine systems as a result of the augmented mechanical stresses to the shaft.
Another drawback of using conventional gas turbine combustion chambers for highly diluted combustion concerns the mixing process. A very good degree of mixing between air, fuel and the hot gas is a primary requirement for process performance in terms of emissions and thermal failure control.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a conventionally shaped combustion chamber 200 being used in a highly diluted combustion mode. High velocity jets 250 inject compressed oxidant and fuel into the chamber and flue gas is re-circulated entirely inside the combustion chamber 200. In such an arrangement, the rate of flue gas re-circulation increases with jet velocity (or momentum). However, higher jet velocities are also associated with higher pressure drops. Aerodynamic studies have shown that for a typical gas turbine system the maximum re-circulation rate that can be achieved with simple high velocity jets while respecting the pressure drop constraints varies from 100% to 200%.
In a typical gas turbine system, the maximum pressure drop allowed for the burner module is 3% of the total operating pressure. The use of single free jets could provide re-circulation rates higher than 200%, whilst keeping the pressure drop of the burner/injector module below the 3% limit. However, gas turbines typically operate with very high air to fuel ratios (i.e. very lean mixtures) and severe space constraints, and thus cannot use a burner based on single free jets. The design of high velocity jet injectors is limited by the inherent space constraints associated with gas turbines and the pressure drop limit. In is therefore unavoidable that each jet will interfere with the adjacent jets and the nominal entrapment capability of each single jet will be depleted.
Alternatively, all or part of the flue gas can be re-circulated outside the combustion chamber 200. This can avoid the problem of longer characteristic times, as the re-circulated flue gas could be premixed with the reactants before they enter the combustion chamber. However, such a configuration can result in undesirably high pressure losses which result in a lower process efficiency. Moreover the temperature of the flue gas will be lower due to heat loss during re-circulation outside the combustion chamber. This narrows the operation flexibility of the system and further lengthens the ignition delay and the burnout times.
Therefore on the basis of the above it can be difficult to provide a high enough flue gas re-circulation rate to allow for the onset of highly diluted combustion in a conventionally shaped combustion chamber.

Method of using a combustion chamber for a gas turbine


An apparatus and a method of cooling a piston by passing a stream of lubricating oil against the underside of the piston and more specifically by providing an enclosed reservoir space between the engine cylinder wall and the side wall of the piston formed by a depression in the piston and providing a passageway in the piston aimed to direct oil to a desired location on the undersurface of the piston.

It is generally known to cool a piston by directing a flow of lubricating oil against the underside of the piston crown. More specifically, the prior art typically provides a nozzle or the like in the crankcase area below the piston. The nozzle is aimed so as to direct a flow of oil upward and against the underside of the piston crown. A problem with this arrangement is that the oil flow or stream passing from the nozzle to the piston passes through a very turbulent space due to the rotation of the crankshaft including its balancing weights and the movement of the connecting rods and attached piston. Consequently, the stream of oil is only marginally effective to cool the piston when the piston is near its bottom dead position or closest to the crankshaft. At other piston locations, the oil stream is easily deflected by the aforesaid turbulence.
The subject application provides apparatus for cooling a piston utilizing a reservoir forming pocket between the piston and cylinder wall to which oil is discharged from an aperture in the cylinder wall while the piston moves toward and away from its bottom dead position. Pressurized oil is pumped into the pocket reservoir and the oil is then discharged therefrom through a passageway in the piston which is aimed at the undersurface of the piston crown.
Also, a new method of piston cooling is disclosed including: forming a reservoir space between the side wall of the piston and the engine's cylinder wall; introducing oil into the reservoir space during a portion of the piston movement; providing a passageway in the piston extending from the reservoir space and aimed to direct a stream of oil against the undersurface of the piston.
Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will become more apparent as the following description proceeds, especially when considered with the accompanying drawings and claims.

Piston cooling by oil flow from a pocket reservoir and passageway formed in the piston


A shaft structure with adjustable and self-regulating stiffness is provided for golf clubs, fishing rods, and the like. The shaft structure employs in a presently preferred form a hollow tube in which a piston and a longitudinally spaced platen, each longitudinally slidable, are incorporated. The piston and platen are separated from one another by a spring biasing member. The platen is position controlled longitudinally by a longitudinally extending jackscrew that is rotatable and threadably associated with that platen, but that is longitudinally fixed relative to the tube. The chamber defined on one side of the piston contains a fluid which can be a gas or a liquid, and the platen assumes a position along the shaft which to corresponds to a location where forces on each side of the piston are equalized. Rotating the jack screw causes the platen to move longitudinally, the direction depending upon the direction of jackscrew rotation. This movement causes the piston to relocate to a position where the respective pressures on each side thereof remain equalized.

Golf shafts are typically manufactured with a predetermined stiffness or flex. The term "stiffness" refers to a shaft's flex characteristics. A golfer can choose among golf shafts of different stiffnesses produced by various manufacturers. However, one manufacturer's "regular" flex could be another manufacturer's "stiff" flex, and vice versa.
It is well known that the stiffness or flex of a golf shaft plays a fundamental role in the behavioral characteristics of a golf club. The stiffness of a golf club shaft and the so-called kick point affect, for example, the launch angle or trajectory of the ball and the distance of ball travel. A shaft can have a high kick point (maximum bend closer to the grip), or a low kick point (maximum bend closer to the club head) or a kick point at a location there between Prevailing weather conditions can also affect the optimum stiffness for a club shaft. For example, on a windy day, a golfer might choose to use a club head associated with a shaft that has a low or a high stiffness in order to better control the trajectory of the ball. Or an older golfer may desire to use a golf club with a more flexible shaft than a stiff shaft with the goal of having the ball travel farther.
Various proposals to provide a variable stiffness for a golf club shaft (or even a fishing pole) have previously been made that involve using a hollow shaft charged with a gas or liquid fluid that can be pressurized. Increasing the fluid pressure in the shaft increases the shaft stiffness. Such pressurizable shafts are illustrated, for example, by Menzies U.S. Pat. No. 1,831,255, Sears U.S. Pat. No. 2,432,450, Busch U.S. Pat. No. 3,037,775, Burrough U.S. Pat. No. 4,800,668 (a fishing rod), Simmons U.S. Pat. No. 5,316,300, Koch et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,540,625, and Painter U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,693.
So far as is known, these fluid charged, variable stiffness, hollow shaft structures of the prior art suffer from the problem that a change in the external environmental temperature inherently causes a significant change in the internal shaft pressure and thus in the shaft stiffness. The change in shaft thickness occurs because temperature changes cause pressure changes in the shaft fluid. Changes in shaft stiffness can dramatically affect the performance characteristics of a golf club. In view of a shaft stiffness change caused by an external temperature change, the performance characteristics of the shaft will change. Outside environmental temperature changes can occur relatively rapidly not only from day to day, but even during a single round of golf. A golfer's expectation that the fluid charged shaft of one of his golf clubs maintains a constant flex characteristic is no longer true after a change in the temperature.
In order for a golf club whose stiffness is regulated by a fluid in its hollow shaft to be practical, the shaft needs to have a stiffness that not only is adjustable but also is able to maintain a chosen stiffness automatically in response to changes in exterior environmental temperature. The present invention overcomes the inability of prior art fluid-filled shafts to maintain a chosen stiffness environmental temperature changes. A shaft is provided which is stiffness adjustable and automatically maintains a selected stiffness regardless of exterior temperature changes.

Shaft structure with adjustable and self-regulated stiffness


A unique treatment for pigments is provided. This treatment, which uses certain organo-phosphoric acids and/or their salts, imparts improved physical and chemical qualities including lacing resistance, improved dispersion and decreased chemical reactivity when these treated pigments are incorporated into polymeric matrices.

The present invention relates to novel pigments, and in particular, pigments that have been treated with certain organo-phosphoric acid compounds and/or their salts.
The incorporation of pigments into polymer matrices has been performed for many years, and over the years, pigments have been and continue to be incorporated into polymer matrices for many reasons. For example, pigments may be used as fillers. They may also be used to impart better physical and chemical attributes to polymer matrices, including improved thermal stability, especially lacing resistance in extruded polymer film applications, and decreased chemical activity. In order to obtain different benefits, pigments may be treated in different ways, including by adding surface treatments.
Commonly used pigments include titanium dioxide, kaolin and calcium carbonate. Commonly known surface treatments that have been applied to pigments include silanes, alkylphosphonic acids and phosphorylated polyenes.
The precise attributes that one wants in a treated pigment will depend in part on the application in which it will be used. Often one wants to provide a hydrophobic pigment that is stable, easy to prepare, cost effective, can be dispersed to a high degree in polymers, and does not react in the presence of other additives such as lithopone. However, despite the numerous known surface treatments, for various reasons, including cost and desired properties, no known surface treatments are ideal for all applications. Thus, there is always a need to develop new and better treatments for pigments.
One under-explored option for treating pigments is the use of organo-phosphoric acids, including the esters of phosphoric acids and their corresponding salts. These compounds have been suggested as useful when mixed in relatively large amounts with pigments and to form suspensions in, for example, aqueous coatings applications. However, such a use produces a unique product that may be used only in a limited application. Thus, the teachings for the use of relatively large amounts of esters of phosphoric acids in aqueous coatings applications do not suggest the treatment of pigments with low levels of the organo-phosphoric acids of this invention or that the pigments treated with the low levels of the organo-phosphoric acids of this invention would have utility in plastics.
The present invention provides economical and easily prepared novel pigments that possess resistance to lacing when incorporated into polymeric articles (such as films), do not produce objectionable side reactions when mixed with common plastics additives such as lithopone, which contains zinc sulfide, and are stable such that they possess low levels of extractable organics. Further, durable plastics products that incorporate the treated pigments of the present invention are likely to resist yellowing when phenolic-type antioxidants are used.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Pigments treated with organo-phosphoric acids and their salts