The sealed connection system between a tuyere of a shaft furnace, such as a steelmaking blast furnace, and an air blast pipe, in which a tip of the blast pipe is pressed towards a rear end of the tuyere, being centered thereon while still retaining freedom of pivoting movement relative thereto, including an added annular blast pipe seat, placed between the tip of the blast pipe and tuyere and immobile relative to the tuyere, the blast pipe tip resting against a rear face of the seat and an immobile gasket being placed between the seat and the tuyere such that the seat rests in sealed manner against a rear face of the tuyere, and a sleeve arranged around the contact zone between the blast pipe tip and the seat, is connected in sealed manner to the seat and to the blast pipe.

Preheated air is conventionally injected into a shaft furnace by means of an assembly, known as the tuyere stock, which provides a connection between the hot air bustle pipe and a tuyere, installed in the furnace wall, which opens into the furnace shaft. Typically, as shown in FIG. 1, the tuyere stock 10 is made up of a number of separate elements each comprising an external metal sheath and an internal refractory lining.
The tuyere stock 10 comprises                a downpipe 11 extending obliquely downwards from a hot air bustle pipe 1,        an elbow 12        a blast pipe 3, having a substantially horizontal axis, attached rigidly to the elbow, the front end of the blast pipe being held in contact with the rear end of the tuyere 4.
The copper tuyere 4, cooled by internal water circulation, is fitted in a tuyere holder, or tuyere cooler, 42 attached to the metal wall 21 of the blast furnace and extending through the internal refractory lining 22 of this wall.
The blast pipe 3 comprises an external wall 31 of steel, internally lined with a refractory material 32. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the external wall extends towards the front end, or tip, 33 of the blast pipe to form spherically shaped wall resting swivellably against a frustoconical wall 41 formed on the rear end of the tuyere 4.
The tuyere stock is supported on the external metal wall 21 of the furnace by articulated tie rods, such as the upper tie rod 23 and lateral tie rods 24, the latter holding the blast pipe against the tuyere. These tie rods provide the tuyere stock assembly with a certain freedom of movement in order to absorb the thermal deformations, both of the furnace wall and of the various elements of the tuyere stock, which inevitably arise from fluctuations in temperature.
In order to provide a seal between the various elements despite the above-mentioned deformations, it is known to use bellows compensating systems 13 which make it possible to absorb relative motion, whether involving axial displacement or pivoting, at the connection between two elements, while still maintaining a seal, the tie rods providing a mechanical connection between the elements joined by the bellows compensators. Such compensator systems are described for example in EP 0 453 739, and are typically used to provide a seal between the bustle pipe and tuyere stock and may also be used between the air downpipe and the elbow to which blast pipe is attached.
Such compensator systems are all the more useful for providing the tuyere stock a certain ability to deform given that it is furthermore necessary to provide the best possible seal at the joint between the tip of the blast pipe and the tuyere, just where such systems cannot be used in particular due to the configuration in the environment of the joint, located in the thickness of the refractory wall of the furnace. This joint is thus provided simply by the tip of the blast pipe resting in centered manner against the rear end of the tuyere solely under the action of the forces arising from the weight of the tuyere stock and the tension exerted by the articulated tie rods 24 connecting the tuyere stock to the external metal wall of the furnace. In order to permit thermal deformation which might bring about an angular offset between the blast pipe and the tuyere, the blast pipe tip has a convex spherical surface in contact with a corresponding frustoconical or convex surface formed on the rear end of the tuyere. The spherical surface of the tip of the blast pipe is formed by the end of the external steel wall of the blast pipe. The tuyere is conventionally made of copper.
This arrangement, forming a ball joint connection between the blast pipe and tuyere, makes it possible to ensure centering of the blast pipe on the tuyere simply by the former resting against the latter and the metal-on-metal contact between the steel of the blast pipe and the copper of the tuyere makes it possible, during relative angular displacement thereof, to maintain a substantially linear contact between them and therefore a certain level of seal between blast pipe and tuyere.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,545,736 also discloses a system wherein an annular space is provided between a tubular metal jacket and the refractory part of the blast pipe. The jacket comprises a first end placed against the tuyere and capable of pivoting thereagainst, and is pressed against the tuyere by the elbow of the tuyere stock which itself rests in sealed manner against the second end of the jacket. The object of this arrangement is to limit the temperature difference between the outside and inside of the refractory part of the blast pipe by allowing hot gases to get into the annular space via an axial spacing maintained between the elbow of the tuyere stock and the blast pipe. In this system too, a certain degree of sealing may be obtained between the first end of the jacket and the tuyere when they undergo relative angular displacement.
However, just as when the refractory blast pipe is pressed directly against the tuyere, it is not possible for a perfect seal to be provided. Consequently, limited leaks of blast air are currently accepted insofar as said hot blast air is only oxygen-enriched air. However, when implementing more recent flue gas recirculation techniques, this gas is reinjected with the hot blast air. This flue gas is in fact very hazardous and even minimal levels of such leaks consequently cannot be permitted. Even in conventional blast furnaces, there is nowadays a desire to reduce hot blast air leaks for reasons of better safety.

System of leaktight connection between a tuyere and a hot blast inlet nozzle for a shaft furnace, and steel-making blast furnace comprising such a system


The invention relates to a thrust chamber device comprising a thrust chamber with a thrust space having a first portion, a second portion adjacent thereto, and a third portion adjacent to the second portion, the thrust space being delimited in all three portions by an outer nozzle wall having an outer thrust space surface, which outer thrust space surface tapers in the first and second portion toward the third portion, widens in the third portion away from the second portion, and has a narrowest point at the transition from the second portion to the third portion, the first portion being delimited by an inner nozzle wall with an inner thrust space surface, which tapers toward the second portion, an annular combustion chamber being formed between the inner thrust space surface and the outer thrust space surface and extending over the first portion.

Thrust chamber devices of the kind described in the introduction are used for example in engines in order to generate a thrust, for example in order to drive a flying object such as a rocket, in particular by combustion of propellant components. A propellant component may be a fuel, in particular. For example, liquid hydrogen (LH2) may be used as fuel, and liquid oxygen (LOX), which takes on the role of the oxidiser, may be used as further propellant component.
A problem in current high-power rocket drives is constituted in particular by the high pressure losses that occur by the cooling of the outer nozzle wall. In this regard, regenerative cooling systems, film cooling systems and transpiration cooling systems are known in particular.
Film cooling may be used in particular for thermal protection inside the thrust space, either wholly or also only in addition to regenerative wall cooling of conventional thrust chambers, which are made of metallic materials. However, this form of cooling leads to losses of the usable enthalpy of combustion, which in turn reduce the engine efficiency.
With a transpiration-cooled outer nozzle wall, a similar level of efficiency as compared to that achieved with high-power gas generator engines can be reached, however such a transpiration cooling, similarly to film cooling, leads to excessive mass flows of unburned propellant. Furthermore, due to the nature of the system, transpiration cooling is not suitable for the expander cycle, in which turbines for conveying propellant are driven by a propellant component heated in the cooling system of the engine.
In order to increase the efficiency of a thrust chamber with transpiration cooling, only a system in which a small portion of hot gas is branched off from the thrust chamber in order to drive turbines of the turbopumps used for conveying propellant in what is known as the "tap-off cycle" therefore would be used, if at all.
Thus, a problem in all described methods is either a significant pressure loss or an excessive loss of enthalpy of combustion with unreacted propellant.

Thrust chamber device and method for operating a thrust chamber device

Deutsches Zentrum fuer Luft- undRaumfahrt e.V.


A mobile terminal apparatus according to this invention comprises an acceleration sensor 14 that detects applied acceleration; a storing unit 12 that stores an acceleration condition set in advance for the detected acceleration and stores an alarm condition set in advance for the stored information; and control unit 11 and sound generating unit 16 that alarm about stored information in accordance with an alarming method set in advance so as to correspond to the alarm condition, when the detected acceleration satisfies the stored acceleration condition and the stored information satisfies the stored alarm condition.

A user generally carries the above-described mobile terminal apparatus in his or her bag or jacket pocket. The user does not view a display screen or the like of the mobile terminal apparatus all the time. Accordingly, when a time limit or the like defined by schedule information or the like stored in the mobile terminal apparatus approaches, it is convenient for the user to simply recognize the time limit or the like without taking out the mobile terminal apparatus from the bag or the like.
The conventional technologies suggested to meet such a demand are disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 below. Patent Document 1 below discloses a technology of changing a period of an alarm sound or a melody in accordance with the degree of importance of a set schedule and alarming the arrival of a preset schedule time when the preset schedule time comes. Patent Document 2 below discloses a technology of changing a method of alarming call reception of a mobile telephone based on information indicating a preset state of the mobile telephone and day information.

Mobile terminal apparatus, program and recording medium with program recorded


An activated porous phosphorus/vanadium oxide catalyst adapted for the catalytic oxidation of a hydrocarbon to produce a carboxylic acid anhydride. The catalyst comprises shaped bodies having a B.E.T. surface area of at least about 15 m.sup.2 /g, an average vanadium oxidation state of between about 4.0 and about 4.5, a total pore volume of at least about 0.15 cc/g, a normalized apparent shaped body density of between about 1.25 and about 2.0 g/cc, and a crush strength of at least about 4 pounds. At least about 5% of the pore volume of the catalyst is constituted of pores having a diameter of at least about 0.8 microns, and at least about 4% of the pore volume is constituted of pores having a diameter of at least about 10 microns. The catalyst is prepared by mixing a particulate phosphorus/vanadium oxide precursor with a pore modification agent to produce a modified catalyst precursor composition, forming the modified precursor composition into a predetermined shape, and removing the pore modification agent substantially at a temperature below 300.degree. C.

This invention relates to phosphorus/vanadium oxide catalysts useful in a process for the oxidation of hydrocarbons to dicarboxylic acid anhydrides, and more particularly to a high surface area catalyst of improved microstructure which provides high yields in such a process. The invention is also directed to a method for the preparation of the catalyst.
Numerous catalysts containing vanadium, phosphorus and oxygen (sometimes referred to as mixed oxides of vanadium and phosphorus), substantially in the form of vanadyl pyrophosphate, optionally containing a promoter component, are disclosed in the prior art as being useful for the conversion of various hydrocarbon feed stocks to maleic anhydride. In general, such catalysts wherein the valence of the vanadium is less than +5, usually between about +3.8 and about +4.8, are considered particularly well suited for the production of maleic anhydride from hydrocarbons having at least four carbon atoms in a straight chain (or cyclic structure). Typically, such catalysts also contain promoter elements or components which are considered to be present in the catalyst as oxides. Common organic feed stocks include non-aromatic hydrocarbons such as n-butane, 1- and 2-butenes, 1,3-butadiene, or mixtures thereof.
Generally, such catalysts are prepared by contacting vanadium-containing compounds, phosphorus-containing compounds, and promoter component-containing compounds (when a promoter element is desired) under conditions sufficient to reduce pentavalent vanadium to the tetravalent state and form the desired catalyst precursor comprising vanadyl hydrogen phosphate, optionally containing a promoter component. The catalyst precursor is thereafter recovered, typically in particulate form, and subjected to a variety of further conventional processing techniques to produce the active catalyst. An essential step in such further processing is calcination. Prior to calcination, the catalyst is typically formed into a shaped body such as tablet or pellet by compression in a die. A lubricant is ordinarily incorporated in the precursor composition to facilitate the tableting or pelletizing process.
In its final form, the catalyst comprises a mass of porous tablets or pellets which are charged in bulk to provide the catalyst bed of a fixed bed reactor. Typically, the catalyst is charged to a tubular reactor comprising the tubes of a shell and tube heat exchanger. Hydrocarbon and oxygen are fed to the tubes, and a heat transfer fluid, such as molten salt, is circulated through the shell to remove the exothermic heat of the oxidation reaction. The porous nature of the catalyst contributes substantially to the active surface area at which the catalytic reaction takes place. However, for the internal surfaces of the catalyst body (tablets or pellets) to be utilized effectively, the feed gases, hydrocarbon and oxygen, must diffuse through the pores to reach the internal surfaces, and the reaction products must diffuse away from those surfaces and out of the catalyst body.
It is known in the art that resistance to internal diffusion in the catalyst bodies can become a rate limiting factor in the reaction. The diffusion paths can be shortened (and catalyst body external surface increased) by using relatively small catalyst granules. However, in this case better mass transfer is purchased at a sacrifice in pressure drop through the fixed bed. Thus, a need has existed in the art for a phosphorus/vanadium oxide catalyst having a microstructure such that internal diffusion resistance is minimized and productivity is enhanced at constant granule size and pressure drop.
Zazhigalov, et al, "Effect of the Pore Structure and Granule Shape of V-P-O Catalyst on the Selectivity of Oxidation of n-Butane," Zhurnal Prikladnoi Kimii, Vol. 61, No. 1, pp. 101-105 (January, 1988) reports that the activity of V-P-O catalysts in the oxidation of n-butane increases with an increase in the total pore volume and macropore volume. Zazhigalov et al further describe the use of polyethylene oxide as a pore forming additive in the preparation of V-P-O catalyst to produce granules having a greater proportion of macropores. The pore builder is apparently incorporated in the catalyst precursor formulation, and later removed from the catalyst by burning it out in the calcination step. This process produces a catalyst having a proportion of macropores significantly greater than was realized without the pore builder. However, despite the previously recognized advantage of macropores, test reactor experiments show that the addition of polyethylene oxide resulted in a decrease in the efficiency of the catalyst. Zazhigalov et al. explains these results by assuming that, after burn-up of the polymer, a dense film of coke remains on the surface of the catalyst and deactivates the active centers of the catalyst. They confirmed that hypothesis by the detection of CO.sub.2 that was liberated when the catalyst was heated (873.degree. K.) in an air current.
Mount et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,092,269 is directed to a phosphorus/vanadium oxygen catalyst prepared by reaction of phosphoric acid, phosphorus acid and vanadium pentoxide in an aqueous medium to produce a catalyst precursor, which is converted to an active catalyst by calcination. The catalyst produced contains predominantly pentavalent vanadium, generally having an average vanadium oxidation state of about +4.6 or more. The B.E.T. surface area of the Mount catalyst is about 8 m.sup.2 /g or less, and the pore volume of the catalyst from pores having diameters between about 0.8 microns and about 10 microns is greater than 0.02 cc/g. Preferably, the volume constituted of pores having diameters between 1 and 5 microns is at least about 0.03 cc/g. However, Mount states that catalysts having a pore volume from pores having diameters larger than about 10 microns have virtually no effect on the yield of maleic anhydride using such catalysts. Catalysts having Mount's desired fraction of 0.8 to 10 micron macropores are prepared by adding a pore modification agent to the precursor at any stage prior to calcination. Calcination of the precursor containing the pore modification agent is conducted at a temperature between about 300.degree. and 600.degree. C. A lengthy list of pore modification agents is disclosed, including adipic acid, citric acid, oxalic acid, stearic acid, polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylic acid, cellulosic materials, monosaccharides, polysaccharides, hydrogenated vegetable oils, waxes, and gelatin. Cellulosic materials and hydrogenated vegetable oils are preferred, and methylcellulose especially preferred. The Mount et al. reference states that the yield of maleic anhydride using a phosphorus/vanadium oxide catalyst is significantly improved by controlling the pore size distribution of the finished catalyst in the ranges discussed above. In the working examples of Mount et al., the pore modification agent is removed by calcining at 380.degree. to 500.degree. C.
Bither U.S. Pat. No. 4,699,985 describes the preparation of a maleic anhydride catalyst in which a precursor catalyst is blended with 3 to 5% by weight of an organic pore modifying agent, and with fumed silica in an amount of 0.05 to 0.20% by weight. Upon firing of the blend, the organic pore modifying agent and the fumed silica generate a catalyst microstructure which is said to lead to enhanced production of maleic anhydride. Pore builders disclosed as suitable include organic acids, polymeric materials, cellulosic materials, monosaccharides and polysaccharides, hydrogenated vegetable oils and waxes. A preferred pore builder is Sterotex hydrogenated cottonseed oil. The pore modifying agent also serves as a lubricant in preparing shaped catalyst particles. According to the disclosure, the precursor blend is fired in a controlled manner to generate and activate the catalyst species. Precursor catalyst pellets are heated in a low flow of air at 375.degree. to 400.degree. C. for 1 to 6 hours, and thereafter in a more rapid flow of 1 to 1.5% n-butane in air at 450 .degree. to 490.degree. C. for an additional 16-24 hours. In a preferred method, the shaped catalyst precursor blend is initially fired in a continuous zoned belt furnace in an air atmosphere. The temperature varies from ambient at the furnace ends to 390.degree. to 395.degree. C. at the center of the heated zone. Air diffuses through baffles at the ends of the furnace to replace combustion products diffusing out through vertical vents located in the heated zone of the furnace.
Methods have been developed in the art for the preparation of high surface area catalysts by reaction of vanadium pentoxide and a phosphorus compound in an organic medium. The surface area of these catalysts is generally in the range of 15 m.sup.2 /g or greater as determined by the method of Brunauer, Emmett and Teller, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 60, 309 (1938). Surface area as determined by this method is generally referred to in the art as "B.E.T." surface area. Methods for producing high surface area catalysts are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,632,916; 4,632,915; 4,567,158; 4,333,853; 4,315,864; 4,328,162; 4,251,390; 4,187,235; and 3,864,280.
Copending and coassigned application Ser. No. 07/722,070, filed Jun. 27, 1991, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,137,860 describes a process for the transformation of a catalyst precursor represented by the formula: EQU VO(M).sub.m HPO.sub.4 .multidot.aH.sub.2 O.multidot.b(P.sub.2/c O).multidot.n(organics)
into an active catalyst represented by the formula: EQU (VO).sub.2 (M).sub.m P.sub.2 O.sub.7 .multidot.b(P.sub.2/c O)
where M is at least one promoter element selected from the group consisting of elements from Groups IA, IB, IIA, IIB, IIIA, IIIB, IVA, IVB, VA, VB, VIA, VIB, and VIIIA of the periodic table, and mixtures thereof, m is a number from zero (0) to about 0.2, a is a number of at least about 0.5, b is a number taken to provide a P/V atom ratio of from about 1.0 to about 1.3, c is a number representing the oxidation number of phosphorus and has a value of 5, and n is a number taken to represent the weight % of intercalated organic components in the precursor. In transforming the precursor to the active catalyst, the precursor is heated in an atmosphere of air, steam, inert gas, and mixtures thereof to a temperature not greater than about 300.degree. C. The catalyst precursor is maintained at such temperature under an atmosphere containing molecular oxygen, steam, and optionally an inert gas, the atmosphere being represented by the formula (O).sub.x (H.sub.2 O).sub.y (IG).sub.z where IG is an inert gas and x, y, and z represent mol percentages of the O.sub.2, H.sub.2 O, and IG components, respectively, in the molecular oxygen/steam-containing atmosphere, x having a value greater than zero (0) mol percent, y having a value greater than zero (0) mol % but less than 100 mol %, and z having a value representing the balance of the molecular oxygen/steam-containing atmosphere. The temperature is increased at a programmed rate of from about 2.degree. C./min. to about 12.degree. C./min. to a value effective to eliminate the water of hydration from the catalyst precursor. The temperature is then adjusted to a value greater than 350.degree. C., but less than 550.degree. C. and the adjusted temperature is maintained in the molecular oxygen/steam-containing atmosphere for a time effective to provide a vanadium oxidation state of from about +4.0 to about +4.5. The adjusted temperature is maintained thereafter in a non-oxidizing, steam-containing atmosphere for a time effective to complete the catalyst precursor-to-active catalyst transformation to yield the active catalyst.

Phosphorous/vanadium oxide catalyst and process of preparation thereof


An electrical discharge machine includes first and second coaxial electrodes and corresponding carriages. A liquid dielectric is channeled between the electrodes and a workpiece which are suitably electrically powered for machining a duplex hole in the workpiece.

The present invention relates generally to electrical discharge machining (EDM), and, more specifically, to EDM drilling.
Electrical discharge machining is a process in which a cathodic electrode is positioned atop an electrically conducting workpiece, and a liquid dielectric is channeled therebetween. Electrical current passes between the electrode and workpiece and locally erodes the workpiece for machining thereof. In a typical application, the electrode may be used for drilling a hole of any desired shape in the workpiece.
For example, many gas turbine engine components include small holes therein through which cooling air is channeled during operation. The holes are small in diameter and typically range from 10–80 mils (0.2–2.0 mm), and require a slightly smaller diameter EDM electrode.
The narrow electrodes are consumed during machining, and are therefore initially relatively long in length which typically ranges from about 12–16 inches (30–41 cm) for obtaining a useful life during drilling.
Furthermore, the electrodes are typically tubular for channeling the liquid dielectric therethrough during operation. Accordingly, the hollow, slender electrodes are relatively flexible in bending along their longitudinal axes. Such flexibility is typically not desirable since it adversely affects the accuracy and repeatability of EDM drilling.
More specifically, the electrode tip must be accurately maintained at a small clearance gap of about 1 mil (0.025 mm) with the workpiece to effect suitable electrical discharge machining without experiencing an undesirable electrical short circuit therewith.
Accordingly, the electrode tip is typically mounted through a lower guide that accurately maintains a side clearance around the electrode as it drills through the workpiece. And, the opposite or top end of the electrode is held in a conventional electrode holder which is effective for translating the electrode downwardly toward the workpiece during operation, and for maintaining the small clearance gap vertically therebetween.
In this way, the lower tip guide and the upper electrode holder accurately support both ends of the electrode for maintaining the desired gap both laterally around the electrode tip and vertically between the tip and the workpiece during the EDM operation.
However, the electrodes have a maximum length at the beginning of the drilling operation, with corresponding maximum flexibility, and are consumed during drilling which decreases their length and flexibility correspondingly.
Electrode flexibility becomes one problem due to the substantially high pressure of the dielectric channeled therethrough. Dielectric pressures up to about 50 atmospheres are conventional and produce a jet of dielectric discharge from the electrode tip against the workpiece as a hole is drilled.
The electrode correspondingly experiences a reaction force which acts in compression therethrough. Since the electrode is a slender rod or column, it is subject to compressive buckling loads which can cause lateral deflection of the electrode that correspondingly shortens its effective length and withdraws the electrode tip slightly away from the workpiece, and affects EDM performance.
Although tubular electrodes are nevertheless efficient in forming cylindrical holes in turbine components, improved turbine cooling can be obtained with more complex hole configurations. For example, turbine nozzle vanes and rotor blades have thin walled airfoils typically including a multitude of film cooling holes extending therethrough.
The airfoils have elaborate internal cooling circuits for cooling the inside thereof during operation in the hot combustion flowpath, with the spent internal cooling air being discharged through the film cooling holes to form thin layers of air on the external surface of the airfoil for providing thermal insulation against the hot combustion gases. Since the film cooling air is discharged under pressure, small jets of air are developed and adversely affect the formation of a continuous external air film.
A significant improvement in film cooling design includes a diffusion hole typically having a cylindrical inlet and a diverging outlet that diffuses the jet of cooling air and correspondingly reduces the discharge velocity thereof. Diffusion film cooling holes improve the performance of the external thermally insulating air film.
However, diffusion holes have complex configurations and cannot be formed by the simple tubular EDM electrode commonly used for cylindrical film cooling holes. Instead, a specifically configured EDM electrode is required for machining the complex diffusion hole, but EDM wear of the electrode becomes more of a problem. As the complex electrode wears it is not conveniently repairable, and must be replaced in whole.
A typical form of the diffusion electrode is a comb having a row of identical fingers configured for simultaneously forming the small inlet and diverging outlet of each diffusion whole.
The EDM comb electrodes may be economically manufactured in a stamping process, but nevertheless the combs wear during operation and must be replaced in whole. Furthermore, the comb requires parallel fingers which in turn requires identical orientation of the resulting film cooling holes.
However, modern gas turbine engine design may include a multitude of film cooling holes having different configurations around the external surface of the airfoils between the leading and trailing edges thereof, and it may be desirable to vary the configuration of the holes along both the radial or longitudinal span of the airfoils and axially along the chords.
Conventional EDM electrodes and apparatus therefor lack the versatility to economically drill or machine a multitude of film cooling holes having different orientations and different diffusion configurations.
Accordingly, it is desired to provide an improved EDM apparatus and process for drilling complex diffusion film cooling holes in workpieces such as turbine airfoils.


A multiple bit screwdriver comprising a plurality of tool bits, an elongate member defining an axial passage adapted to receive said bits therein positioned tip to end so that the foremost bit operably extends from the passage and is rotatable with the elongate member, first and second retainers connected to the elongate member near each end of the passage and extending radially inward into the passage to engage frictionally the foremost and last bits to prevent said bits from falling out of either end, and a motion restricting member within the passage having an expandable engagement portion that cooperates with at least one tool bit to permit the movement of bits within the passage in one direction only. The engagement portion is expandable in response a tool bit being pushed therethrough in one direction, but resists expanding when a tool bit is being pushed in the opposite direction.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a multiple bit screwdriver, and more particularly, to a pocket screwdriver having multiple interchangeable tool bits received and retained removably in a tubular handle body.
2. Description of the Related Prior Art
Since a variety of screwdriver bit types are required for different purposes, various modular screwdrivers have been suggested. An example of the conventional modular screwdriver generally includes a handle and tool bits with various head types or tips. In use, a desired tool bit is selected and secured to one end of the handle, and the remaining tool bits are received in a casing. Carrying of the handle and the casing with multiple tool bits received therein for outdoor use in relatively inconvenient to the user.
An example of a multiple bit screwdriver is U.S. Pat. No. 4,827,812 granted on May 9, 1989 to Markovetz, describing a screwdriver using a hollow shaft with first and second ends. The first end has an interior cavity adapted to engage a shank of a screwdriver tip. A magnet is attached to the interior of the hollow shaft for holding the screwdriver tip inserted in the first end. The magnet divides the hollow shaft in a storage compartment and tool-receiving compartment. A torque cap is used. It consists of three segments: a first segment is sized for insertion into the torque cap-receiving hole; a second segment extends from the first segment and is sized for insertion into the storage compartment; and a third segment extends also from the first segment, oppositely to the second segment. The first and second segments are fitted with detent balls. The above pocket screwdriver presents several shortcomings. First, it has a limited capacity for storage, due to the space taken by first and second segments. Secondly, the magnet prevents the use of this screwdriver near computers or other magnet sensitive devices.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,450,775 granted on Sep. 19, 1995 to Kozak for a "Multiple function driving tool" describes a tool having first and second ends with the first end having an opening for receiving a screwdriver tip, while the second end has an opening for receiving a tube which is releasably retained, in relation to the handle, by a collet. The handle has opposed side openings extending from the second end to a point near the collet. The tube is mounted for a limited axial sliding movement relative to the handle, from a position where one of its ends is retained by the collet, to a position where it is no longer retained by the collet. Thus, one can position the tube in alignment with the side opening in the handle. The tube is also mounted for pivoting movement when it is in alignment with the side opening, to a generally transversally extending position. The tube is of a length sufficient to always project outwardly of the handle, when the tube is generally in actually aligned relation to the handle. Kozak's structure has several shortcomings. First, the pivoting of the whole tube in the handle and its limited axial sliding movement relative to the handle complicates the tool configuration. Second, due to this complicated structure the components do not easily cooperate.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,842,394, granted on Dec. 1, 1988 to Hwang for a "Multiple bit screwdriver" discloses a tubular handle body with a first end position, and opposite second end position and an axial bore formed through the first and second end positions. A plurality of tool tips are inserted into the axial bore via the first end position, and are removable from the axial bore via the second end position. Each of the tool tips has a bit portion and a connecting sleeve on one end of the bit portion. The connecting sleeve has an axial blind hole formed therein to allow extension of the bit portion of an adjacent tool bit therein. First and second spring units are respectively provided on the first and second end portions, where they extend radially inward into the axial bore. The first spring unit engages frictionally and resiliently the connecting sleeve of a first one of the tool tips, that is located in the first end portion of the handle body, so as to prevent the tool tips from falling out of the first end portion. The second spring unit engages frictionally and resiliently the connecting sleeve of the second one of the tool tips that has the bit portion extending out of the second end portion. The second spring prevents the tool bits from falling out of the second portion. An important shortcoming of this screwdriver is its reliance on special, non-standardized, bits which are not common in the field of interchangeable screwdriver bits.


A ski pole with automatic retractable mechanism for securing ski equipment and preventing theft. The retractor mechanism has a ratchet mechanism in which a gear is fixed to a rotatable spool on which is wound a security line and a pawl which is positioned to engage the gear and to provide a step-wise rotation of the spool. This serves to unwind the security line from the spool. The security line is rewound onto the spool by a spring which extends downward into the hollow interior of the ski pole shaft.

The present invention is directed generally to securing a pair of skis and poles from theft by an automatically retractable security line stored within the handle of a ski pole.
In the normal course of a day's skiing it is common for a skier to leave his ski equipment unattended temporarily while he enters a ski lodge or buildings to purchase a lift ticket, eat lunch, or rest. At such times, ski equipment may be placed on a rack or leaned against a tree. Often, this equipment may be stolen or accidentally removed if it is left in such positions unsecured. A means to protect such theft or ski removal is, therefore, desirable.
Coin operated lockers and racks are available for skiers to secure their ski equipment. Such devices, however, can be inconvenient and costly.
Various portable locking devices are available which may be carried by a skier. However, due to the weight or inconvenience of carrying such devices, most skiers would prefer a more simplistic device or solution.
Few security systems provide a streamlined cost effective and efficient means for locking and temporarily storing ones ski equipment. In addition, none of the prior art discloses such a security system which utilizes an automatic retractor mechanism to store a security line interior to a ski pole grip housing.
It is therefore an outstanding object of the present invention to provide a ski pole which utilizes an automatic retractor mechanism to store a security line interior to a ski pole grip housing.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a cost effective and convenient security system which will prevent theft and not require a skier to carry any additional or cumbersome parts.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a ski pole retractor mechanism which will allow for step wise advancement of a security line when it is pulled from the interior of the ski pole grip housing.
With these and other objects in view, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention resides in the combination of parts set forth in the specification and covered by the claims appended hereto.


A method for establishing a spoofing service for a high-level file transfer protocol from a modem. A modem spoofing initiation protocol (MSIP) word containing modem limitations is appended to the initial negotiation frame sent by the host to the receiver. If the receiving modem detects the MSIP word at the end of the negotiation frame, it compares its own limits with the received limits, takes the lower limit as the agreement, then appends the agreement word to the frame sent to acknowledge the negotiation frame. If the sending modem detects the agreement word, both modems use the agreed limits to examine the maximum block size and window size in the negotiation frame of the high-level file transfer protocol. If the block size and window size are within the agreed values, the spoofing service begins.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains generally to data communications devices, and more particularly to a method for establishing a spoofing service for a high-level file transfer protocol from a modem.
2. Background of the Invention
The need to transfer information over voice-grade telephone lines via modems has prompted the development of various high-level file transfer protocols such as UUCP, Kermit, and XMODEM. High-level protocols are necessary because they provide a way to accurately send data across noisy lines without data loss or corruption. Most protocols divide the data to be sent into fixed length portions called packets or frames and calculate a cyclical redundancy check (CRC) for each frame to provide a way to detect transmission errors. For stop-and-wait and sliding-window protocols the sender transmits a given number of frames and then waits for an acknowledgement from the receiver that all frames were received intact and transmission may continue. The acknowledgement provides a way for the sender to stay in synchronization with the receiver and retransmit lost or corrupted frames if needed.
Over time, modems have evolved from simple modulators/demodulators transmitting at 300 baud to intelligent data processors capable of significantly higher data transfer rates through sophisticated data compression and line modulation methods. Because of these increased processing capabilities, modern modems can now provide an error correcting data link at the modem level by using such data transfer protocols as Microcom Networking Protocol (MNP) and LAP-M. The ability for modems to provide an error correcting data link provides error-free communication for transmissions where no high-level protocols are in use.
However, the use of stop-and-wait protocols at the host level introduces significant delays into the data transfer process. Even with sliding-window protocols, if the round trip transit time between the sender and receiver is relatively long and the data frame size is relatively small, a significant portion of the overall data transfer time may be spent with the sender blocked waiting for acknowledgements. This problem is compounded by the use of error correcting data transfer protocols at the modem level. Since the receiving modem waits until its data frame is full before calculating the CRC and sending it to the receiving host, an additional delay is introduced between the time data is sent by the sending host and the time the receiving host sends the acknowledgement.
One solution to this problem is for the sending modem to automatically provide the acknowledgement to the host when the host expects it even though the receiver has not actually received the data yet. The receiving modem in turn suppresses any acknowledgements sent by the receiver as the acknowledgements have already been provided by the sending modem. This spoofing service allows the sending host to continuously transmit data and eliminates the round trip transit time delay of the acknowledgements from the receiving host.
In order to establish a spoofing service the sending modem must work in coordination with the receiving modem. Existing spoofing services depend on coordinating the sending and receiving modems through underlying modem data transfer protocols that support spoofing. However, if both modems do not support the same data transfer protocol, or support a protocol that does not provide for spoofing, they will not be able to provide a spoofing service to the host.
Therefore, there is a need to provide a method for a spoofing service that does not depend on the underlying modem data transfer protocol.

Method and apparatus for establishing protocol spoofing from a modem


A hermetic electric compressor including sealed container and coil spring provided for elastically supporting electric compression element housed in sealed container. A consideration has been made to avoid the coincidence in the resonance frequency between coil spring mounted with electric compression element and mechanical vibration caused by electric compression element, or a cavity formed in space. By so doing, creation of a resonation with coil spring is suppressed, and noises and vibrations with the hermetic electric compressors are reduced.

There have been several models of hermetic electric compressors designed for low-vibration and low-noise application. (As for an example, refer to the patent document 1, Japanese Patent No. 2609713.)
A conventional hermetic electric compressor taught in the above document is described referring to drawings.
FIG. 12 shows the conventional hermetic electric compressor, sectioned vertically, which is referred to in the patent document 1. Referring to FIG. 12, sealed container 1 houses electric compression element 2 and coil spring 3; there is cavity 4 as well in the container. Coil spring 3 is engaged at both ends by snubber 5 protruding from electric compression element 2 side and sealed container 1 side; namely, electric compression element 2 is elastically supported by coil spring 3.
The hermetic electric compressor has been designed to compress the R134a refrigerant, a typical HFC system refrigerant, whose ozone layer destruction factor is zero.
FIG. 13 is noise characteristic chart of the conventional hermetic electric compressor, disclosed in the patent document 1; the lateral axis representing the ⅓ octave frequency, the longitudinal axis the noise level. FIG. 14 details the noise characteristic shown in FIG. 13; where, the lateral axis representing the frequency, the longitudinal axis the noise level.
FIG. 15 shows resonance frequency characteristic of mechanical vibration generated by electric compression element 2 of the conventional hermetic electric compressor; the lateral axis representing the frequency, the longitudinal axis representing level of the acceleration.
The natural resonance frequency due to mechanical vibration generated by electric compression element 2 has been measured by running without load a hermetic electric compressor with the power supply frequency varied, and plotting the acceleration level measured on electric compression element 2, on the frequency axis. The resonance frequency due to mechanical vibration caused by electric compression element 2 is defined as a range of frequencies where the measured acceleration level (vibration level) reach the highest, including the foot areas of the peak in the higher and the lower frequency regions.
FIG. 16 shows resonance frequency characteristic of coil spring 3, in the state where electric compression element 2 is put on coil spring 3; the lateral axis representing the frequency, the longitudinal axis representing the acceleration level. Also shown in the chart is a cavity resonance frequency formed in cavity 4, with R134a used as the refrigerant.
The natural resonance frequency of coil spring 3 has been measured by running without load a hermetic electric compressor with the power supply frequency varied, and plotting the acceleration level measured on the surface of sealed container 1, on the frequency axis. The resonance frequency of coil spring 3 is defined as the range of frequencies where the measured acceleration level (vibration level) reaches the highest, including the foot areas of the peak in the higher and the lower frequency regions.
Now in the following, operation of the above-configured hermetic electric compressor is described.
When power supply is turned ON, electric compression element 2 starts its operation of compressing refrigerant gas. Due to changes of loads and other factors during the compression operation, electric compression element 2 generates mechanical vibrations which contain various frequencies. The mechanical vibration should cause big noises and vibrations if it is conveyed direct to sealed container 1. However, since the elasticity of coil spring 3 absorbs vibration, the vibration which should have been conveyed to sealed container 1 is attenuated. Thus the noises and vibrations are reduced with the hermetic electric compressors.
In the above-described configuration, however, although the mechanical vibrations generated by electric compression element 2 can be absorbed by the elasticity of coil spring 3, the noises and vibrations increase when resonance frequency of the mechanical vibration and that of coil spring 3 coincide, vibration of coil spring 3 is enhanced and resonates at the resonance frequency; the enhanced vibration is propagated to sealed container 1 causing noise and vibration of that frequency. Thus the hermetic electric compressors have had the noise and vibration problem.
Now, a practical example is described. Referring to FIG. 15 and FIG. 16, peak of resonance frequency of the mechanical vibration generated by electric compression element 2 resides at the neighborhood of 540 Hz, which approximately coincides with the peak of resonance frequency of coil spring 3 mounted with electric compression element 2. Since resonance frequency of the mechanical vibration and that of coil spring 3 are in coincidence, the hermetic electric compressor exhibits a noise peak at 540 Hz, as shown in FIG. 14.
On top of the above noise, another noise is generated by the following operation.
Namely, in the conventional hermetic electric compressors, cavity resonance frequency formed in cavity 4 within sealed container 1 resides somewhere at the peak, inclusive of its foot areas, of resonance frequency of coil spring 3 mounted with electric compression element 2.
Referring to FIG. 16, peak of the resonance frequency of coil spring 3 mounted with electric compression element 2 resides at the vicinity of 550 Hz. Also the cavity resonance frequency formed in cavity 4 approximately coincides with the frequency. Furthermore, the hermetic electric compressor has its noise peak in the neighborhood of 550 Hz, as shown in FIG. 14.
The reason for the above is as follows. The mechanical vibration generated by electric compression element 2 vibrates coil spring 3 via upper snubber 5. This creates beating and rubbing between coil spring 3 and the upper and lower snubbers 5. The beating and rubbing is applied on coil spring 3 as vibration energy. Then, coil spring 3 resonates at the inherent resonance frequency of coil spring 3 mounted with electric compression element 2. As the result, noise is generated at the frequency, and the noise vibrates a cavity formed in cavity 4 of sealed container at the resonance frequency. Thus the noise with hermetic electric compressors is enhanced.
Furthermore, if cavity resonance frequency formed in cavity 4 of sealed container 1 coincides with the peak, including the foot areas, of resonance frequency of mechanical vibration generated by electric compression element 2 and resonance frequency of coil spring 3, resonation of coil spring 3 created by the mechanical vibration provides a vibrating effects on cavity 4. Thus the noise due to resonation of the cavity is further increased with the conventional hermetic electric compressors.

Hermetic electric compressor and refrigeration unit including non-resonating support structure for the compressor


A computing device is provided comprising a processor, a first display device having a first capacitive touch sensor, a second display device having a second capacitive touch sensor, and a hinge positioned between and coupled to each of the first display device and the second display device, the first display device and second display device being rotatable about the hinge and separated by a hinge angle. The processor is configured to detect the hinge angle at a first point in time, determine that the hinge angle at the first point in time is outside a first predetermined range, and upon at least determining that the hinge angle is outside the first predetermined range, perform run-time calibration of at least a plurality of rows of the capacitive touch sensor of the first display device and of the capacitive touch sensor of the second display device.

Hinged computing devices with two touch sensitive displays coupled by a hinge have recently been developed. The displays can be operated in a variety of poses with the hinge adjusted to different hinge angles. For example, the hinged computing device can be folded to low hinge angles below 90 degrees, laid flat at hinge angles around 180 degrees, propped in a tent shape on a table hinge angles around 270 degrees, or fully opened with the displays oriented in opposite directions at 360 degrees. Operational challenges related to the touch sensors in some of these orientations are explained below.


The disclosure is directed to projectors, optical compensation methods and liquid crystal devices. In one example, a liquid crystal panel has a liquid crystal layer pinched between a pair of substrates. A pair of polarizing plates is disposed with the liquid crystal panel in between the polarizing plates. A first phase difference plate is disposed between the pair of polarizing plates for compensating for a phase difference of the liquid crystal panel. A second phase difference plate is disposed between the pair of polarizing plates for compensating for a phase difference of the pair of polarizing plates. In certain embodiments, the first phase difference plate may have an optically anisotropic layer having a negative refractive index anisotropy and an optical axis oriented in a thickness direction of the first phase difference plate. This abstract is intended only to aid those searching patents, and is not intended to be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims in any manner.

The disclosure relates to a projector, an optical compensation method therefor, and a liquid crystal device.
Recently, liquid crystal projectors (projection-type display devices) have been in practical use as display devices for large screen displays. A light valve structure has been proposed for such projectors that has a liquid crystal device driven in a VA (Vertical Alignment) mode in which liquid crystal molecules having a negative dielectric anisotropy are vertically aligned with respect to a substrate thereof and the liquid crystal molecules are aligned horizontally by application of voltage. In addition, in order to improve the contrast level of this kind of liquid crystal projector, technology in which a phase difference plate is disposed to be tilted with respect to the liquid crystal light valve has been proposed (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2006-11298).
By using the above-described technology, the contrast level of the liquid crystal projector can be improved as compared with where the phase difference plate is not tilted. However, when the structure disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2006-11298 is used for a liquid crystal projector, it can be difficult to obtain a sufficient contrast level due, at least in part, to the combination of the polarizing plate and the refraction element.
For example, a TAC (triacetyl cellulose) film may be used as a protection film for the polarizing plate, and this protection film has a phase difference. However, it is difficult to compensate for this using the phase difference plate.
Furthermore, when a refraction element such as a micro lens array is provided in the liquid crystal projector, a phase difference of light is generated depending on a position in which the light passes through a micro lens, and diffusion of the light further occurs. In such a case, even when a tilt angle is set to a pre-tilt of the liquid crystal, light that cannot be compensated for is included, and accordingly, the contrast level of the liquid crystal projector decreases.

Projector, optical compensation method therefor, and liquid crystal device


An apparatus and method for forming continuous webs of paperboard material into multiple box blanks having dual-faced printing. The apparatus comprises a printer for repetitively applying indicia to a first continuous web of paperboard material at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal axis thereof as the first continuous web moves through the printer, the printer including a motor-driven printing cylinder having a circumferential printing surface, and an impression cylinder; at least a first sensor operative to detect reference marks pre-printed on a second continuous web of paperboard material at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal axis thereof; at least one encoder operative to generate signals corresponding to the rotational speed of the impression cylinder; and a computer controller: (1) connected to the at least first sensor to receive information corresponding to the position of the reference marks pre-printed on the second web; (2) connected to the at least one encoder to receive signals corresponding to the rotational speed of the impression cylinder; and (3) connected to the printing cylinder motor and operative to match the rotational speed of the printing cylinder to the rotational speed of the impression cylinder as established by the at least one encoder, and further operative to selectively adjust the rotational speed of the printing cylinder in order to bring the printing applied by each revolution of the printing cylinder into the area defined between adjacent reference marks on the second continuous web as detected by the at least first sensor.

Previously, boxes formed of paperboard material were made by severing the multi-layered material into individual boards and subsequently printing, cutting, and scoring in multiple stages of operations to form individual, two-dimensional box blanks. These limitations were addressed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,545,780, assigned to the assignee of the instant application, which patent discloses an apparatus and method of making cartons wherein the separate printing, cutting, and scoring stages are combined into a single, continuous operation. Despite this advancement in the art, however, it remains the case that printing both sides of box blanks in non-random fashion in the continuous operation of U.S. Pat. No. 4,545,780 is problematical.
Presently, the printing step is addressed to a single face of the box blanks only; customarily, the surface of the web of material constituting the outside of the finished box blank. This conventional printing operation comprises threading a first web of paperboard material through one or more printing decks for the application of desired indicia thereon in one or more colors, all as explained more fully in U.S. Pat. No. 4,545,780, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
While the inventors hereof have previously developed means for printing indicia on both faces of the box blank, these means have been of limited utility because it has heretofore not been possible, to their knowledge, to align the separate box blanks defined on each of the separate webs of paperboard material before they are joined together to define the unitary web from which the individual box blanks are cut, in consequence of which fact the resulting box blanks are characterized by properly aligned indicia on one surface thereof, and randomly oriented indicia on the opposite surface thereof.
It would therefore be desirable to have an apparatus and method for the continuous formation of paperboard box blanks wherein the printed indicia provided on the separate webs of paperboard material are aligned, or registered, before these separate webs are joined together to form the unitary web from which the box blanks are cut.

Apparatus and method for providing registered printing on separate continuous webs of paperboard material for forming into multiple box blanks


A semiconductor device may include an insulating layer provided in one body on a substrate, a first gate electrode and a second gate electrode disposed on the insulating layer, the first and second gate electrodes extending in a first direction parallel to a top surface of the substrate, a first channel structure penetrating the first gate electrode and the insulating layer so as to be connected to the substrate, a second channel structure penetrating the second gate electrode and the insulating layer so as to be connected to the substrate, and a contact penetrating the insulating layer between the first gate electrode and the second gate electrode. The contact may be connected to a common source region formed in the substrate, and the common source region may have a first conductivity type. Further, the first gate electrode and the second gate electrode may be spaced apart from each other in a second direction at the same level from the substrate, wherein the second direction intersects the first direction and is parallel to the top surface of the substrate.

The present disclosure relates to semiconductor devices and, more particularly, to three-dimensional (3D) semiconductor memory devices including three-dimensionally arranged memory cells.
Semiconductor devices have been highly integrated to provide high performance and low costs. The integration density of semiconductor devices may directly affect the costs of the semiconductor devices, so highly integrated semiconductor devices have been demanded. An integration density of a conventional two-dimensional (2D) or planar memory device may be mainly determined by an area which a unit memory cell occupies. Therefore, the integration density of the conventional 2D memory device may be greatly affected by a technique of forming fine patterns. However, since extremely high-priced apparatuses are needed to form fine patterns, the integration density of 2D memory devices continues to increase but is still limited.
Three-dimensional (3D) semiconductor devices including three-dimensionally arranged memory cells have been developed to overcome the above limitations. However, production of 3D semiconductor memory devices may be expensive as compared with 2D semiconductor memory devices and may cause concerns regarding providing reliable device characteristics.

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


The present invention is directed to therapeutic methods using IL-6 antagonists such as anti-IL-6 antibodies and fragments thereof having binding specificity for IL-6 to prevent or treat anemia (e.g., anemia associated with chemotherapy) including persons on a treatment regimen with a drug or chemotherapy and/or radiation for cancer (e.g., head and neck cancer) that is associated with increased risk of anemia.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6)
Interleukin-6 ("IL-6") is a multifunctional cytokine involved in numerous biological processes such as the regulation of the acute inflammatory response, the modulation of specific immune responses including B- and T-cell differentiation, bone metabolism, thrombopoiesis, epidermal proliferation, menses, neuronal cell differentiation, neuroprotection, aging, cancer, and the inflammatory reaction occurring in Alzheimer's disease. See Papassotiropoulos, et al. (2001) Neurobiology of Aging 22: 863-871.
IL-6 is a member of a family of cytokines that promote cellular responses through a receptor complex consisting of at least one subunit of the signal-transducing glycoprotein gp130 and the IL-6 receptor ("IL-6R") (also known as gp80). The IL-6R may also be present in a soluble form ("sIL-6R"). IL-6 binds to IL-6R, which then dimerizes the signal-transducing receptor gp130. See Jones (2005) Immunology 175: 3463-3468.
IL-6 is a pleiotropic pro-inflammatory cytokine, which regulates the acute phase response and the transition from the innate to the adaptive immune response. IL-6 increases hepatic synthesis of proteins that are involved in the 'acute phase response' leading to symptoms such as fever, chills, and fatigue. It stimulates B cell differentiation and secretion of antibodies and prevents apoptosis of activated B cells. IL-6 activates and induces proliferation of T cells and in the presence of IL-2, induces differentiation of mature and immature CD8 T cells into cytotoxic T cells. IL-6 is also involved in the differentiation of Th17 cells and IL-17 production and inhibits regulatory T cells (Treg) differentiation. IL-6 also activates osteoclasts, synoviocytes, neutrophils, and other hematopoietic cells. Park, et al. (2007) Bulletin of the NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases 65 (suppl 1): S4-10; Guerne, et al. (1989) J Clin Invest. 83(2): 585-92; Houssiau, et al. (1988) Arthritis Rheum. 31(6): 784-8; Nishimotor, et al. (2006) Nat Clin Pract Rheumatol. 2(11): 619-26; Kishimoto (1989) Blood 74(1): 1-10; and Van Snick (1990) Annu Rev Immunol. 8: 253-78.
In humans, the gene encoding IL-6 is organized in five exons and four introns, and maps to the short arm of chromosome 7 at 7p21. Translation of IL-6 RNA and post-translational processing result in the formation of a 21 to 28 kDa protein with 184 amino acids in its mature form. See Papassotiropoulos, et al. (2001) Neurobiology of Aging 22:863-871.
The function of IL-6 is not restricted to the immune response as it acts in hematopoiesis, thrombopoiesis, osteoclast formation, elicitation of hepatic acute phase response resulting in the elevation of C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid A (SAA) protein. It is known to be a growth factor for epidermal keratinocytes, renal mesangial cells, myeloma and plasmacytoma cells. Grossman, et al. (1989) Prot Natl Acad Sci. 86(16): 6367-6371; Horii, et al. (1989) J Immunol. 143(12): 3949-3955; and Kawano, et al. (1988) Nature 332: 83-85. IL-6 is produced by a wide range of cell types including monocytes/macrophages, fibroblasts, epidermal keratinocytes, vascular endothelial cells, renal messangial cells, glial cells, condrocytes, T and B-cells and some tumor cells. Akira, et al. (1990) FASEB J. 4(11): 2860-2867. Except for tumor cells that constitutively produce IL-6, normal cells do not express IL-6 unless appropriately stimulated.
Elevated IL-6 levels have been observed in many types of cancer, including breast cancer, leukemia, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, lymphoma, lung cancer, renal cell carcinoma, colorectal cancer, and multiple myeloma. See, e.g., Chopra, et al. (2004) MJAFI 60:45-49; Songur, et al. (2004) Tumori 90:196-200; Blay, et al. (1992) Cancer Research 52: 3317-3322; Nikiteas, et al. (2005) World J. Gasterenterol. 11:1639-1643; reviewed in Heikkila, et al. (2008) Eur J Cancer 44:937-945. Clinical studies (reviewed in Trikha, et al. (2003) Clinical Cancer Research 9: 4653-4665) have shown some improvement in patient outcomes due to administration of various anti-IL-6 antibodies, particularly in those cancers in which IL-6 plays a direct role promoting cancer cell proliferation or survival.
As noted above, IL-6 stimulates the hepatic acute phase response, resulting in increased production of CRP and elevated serum CRP levels. For this reason, C-reactive protein (CRP) has been reported to comprise a surrogate marker of IL-6 activity. Thus, elevated IL-6 activity can be detected through measurement of serum CRP. Conversely, effective suppression of IL-6 activity, e.g., through administration of a neutralizing anti-IL-6 antibody, can be detected by the resulting decrease in serum CRP levels.
IL-6 is believed to play a role in the development of a multitude of diseases and disorders, including but not limited to fatigue, cachexia, autoimmune diseases, diseases of the skeletal system, cancer, heart disease, obesity, diabetes, asthma, Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis. See, e.g., WO 2011/066374, WO 2011/066371, WO 2011/066378, and WO 2011/066369.
A recent clinical trial demonstrated that administration of rosuvastatin to apparently healthy individuals having elevated CRP (greater than 2.0 mg/l) reduced their CRP levels by 37% and greatly decreased the incidence of myocardial infarction, stroke, arterial revascularization, hospitalization for unstable angina, or death from cardiovascular causes. Ridker et al., N Engl J Med. 2008 Nov. 9 [Epub ahead of print].
In addition to its direct role in pathogenesis of some cancers and other diseases, chronically elevated IL-6 levels appear to adversely affect patient well-being and quality of life. For example, elevated IL-6 levels have been reported to be associated with cachexia and fever, and reduced serum albumin. Gauldie, et al. (1987) PNAS 84: 7251-7253; Heinric, et al. (1990) Biochem J. 265(3): 621-636; Zamir, et al. (1993) Metabolism 42: 204-208; Zamir, et al. (1992) Arch Surg 127: 170-174. Inhibition of IL-6 by a neutralizing antibody has been reported to ameliorate fever and cachexia in cancer patients, though improvement in these patients' serum albumin level has not been reported. Emille, et al. (1994) Blood 84: 2472-2479; Blay, et al. (1992) Cancer Research 52: 3317-3322; Bataille, et al. (1995) Blood 86: 685-691.
Anemia
Anemia is a condition where a decrease in the number of red blood cells (RBCs) or hemoglobin results in a diminished ability of the blood to carry oxygen. A cardinal sign of anemia is a serum hemoglobin level less than about 14.0 g/dL for men and less than 12.0 g/dL for women (or less than about 11.0 g/L hemaglobin for both men and women). See Auerbach, et al. (2004) Journal of Clinical Oncology 22(7): 1301-1307. Symptoms of anemia generally include fatigue, lack of energy, lightheadedness or dizziness, especially when sitting up rapidly, or standing, shortness of breath, headaches, a pale appearance, rapid heart rate or palpitations, and chest pain. Anemia may be experienced in patients with cancer (e.g., cancer-related anemia), as well as patients undergoing chemotherapy (e.g., chemotherapy-related anemia), radiotherapy (e.g., intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT)), or drug therapy (e.g., drug-induced immune hemolytic anemia (DIIHA)). Garratty (2009) Hematology 1: 73-79; Hinkel, et al. (2010) Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network 8(7): S-38-S-55;
Anemia is common in cancer where about 30% of newly-diagnosed untreated cancer patients exhibit anemia and 75% of cancer patients suffering from anemia at some time during the illness. Over 62% of cancer patients experience anemia during treatment and 38% suffer from anemia during follow-up. Cancer-related anemia has been linked to IL-6 expression in mouse models inoculated with IL-6 producing tumor cells. This cancer-related anemia was successfully prevented by blocking the IL-6 receptor by administration of an anti-IL-6 receptor antibody. Mori, et al. (2009) Biomedical Research 30(1): 47-51; Groopman & Itri (1999) Journal of National Cancer Institute 91(19): 1616-1634; and Prabhash, et al. (2011) Indian J Cancer 48: 1-10.
Anemia a major side effects of chemotherapy. Common symptoms of anemia include fatigue, lack of energy, dizziness, headaches, diminished sex drive, rapid heartbeat, inability to concentrate, paleness, and shortness of breath. Seventy-eight percent of chemotherapy patients experience fatigue. "Chemotherapy-Related Anemia Guide." Patient Advocate Foundation Website (2011). In response to chemotherapy the patient experiences an inflammatory response including the production of IL-6 which acts on the liver to produce hepcidin which, in turn, inhibits ferroportin, macrophage iron release, and intestinal iron absorption. Thus, IL-6 production, via hepcidin, causes to a drop in iron level and leads to anemia. Inflammatory cytokines also appear to affect other important elements of iron metabolism, including decreasing ferroportin expression, and probably directly blunting erythropoiesis by decreasing the ability of the bone marrow to respond to erythropoietin. Nemeth, et al. (2004) J Clinical Invest. 113(9): 1251-3 and Andrews (2004) The Journal of Clinical Investigation 113(9: 1251-1253; See also Atkins, et al. (1995) Blood 86(4): 1288-1291.
Treatment of anemia includes blood transfusion, iron supplements (e.g., oral or intravenous), and medications that stimulate the formation of red blood cells (e.g., Epoetin alfa (Epogen®, Procrit®) and Darbepoetin alfa (Aranesp®). See Groopman & Itri (1999) Journal of the National Cancer Institute 91(19): 1616-1634. However, many patients with anemia, including chemotherapy-associated anemia do not response well to blood transfusion, iron supplements, or erthyropoietin therapy. See, e.g., Auerbach, et al. (2004) Journal of Clinical Oncology 22(7): 1301-1307 and Smith, et al. (2008) Journal of Clinical Oncology 26(7): 1040-1050. Therefore, a need exists for an improved therapeutics for anemia including chemotherapy-associated anemia. The invention described herein provides compositions IL-6 antagonists, including anti-IL-6 antibodies and antibody fragments thereof, and methods of use which may be used for the prevention and treatment of anemia, including anemia associated with chemotherapy, anemia associated with radiotherapy, and drug-induced immune hemolytic anemia (DIIHA).

Anti-IL-6 antibodies for the treatment of anemia


A drain pan with an opening or openings through which air flows to a coil and a coil which, in one embodiment, has a cover plate so air flowing through a drain pan flows between vanes of a coil rather than out from an opening at an end of the coil; such a pan in combination with such a coil; and a system with such a coil-pan combination which uses a single pan for multiple orientations of the coil-pan combination in both horizontal flow, up-flow, and down-flow systems.

1. Field Of The Invention
This invention is related to air conditioning systems and apparatuses, e.g. for heating or cooling air; in one aspect to such apparatuses with a coil in a plenum box; and in another aspect to an M-configured coil and drain pan for it; and in certain aspects to drain pans through which air flows to a coil.
2. Description of Related Art
By Jan. 1, 1992 U.S. federal regulations will require that certain air conditioning units have a seasonal energy efficiency ratio of at least 10.0. A variety of efforts have been made to develop systems which can satisfy this standard.
It is known in the art of air conditioning coil design that the efficiency of an air conditioning system can be increased by increasing the face area of a coil and by decreasing the number of tubing rows, thus decreasing the static pressure necessary to flow air through the coil. Prior art efforts at expanding the face area of a coil have resulted in a larger coil as far as overall length and width are concerned.
Coils are installed in housings, many of which are sized to meet common industry requirements. Also, in many buildings, the space allotted for installation of a housing with a coil therein is space in a closet or interior area which is limited by walls and ceilings. Consequently, enlarged coils (coils made larger to expand face area to increase system efficiency) either do not fit in the space typically made available for a coil; or the space itself must be increased to accommodate the larger coil. enlarging the space is often complicated, requiring the removal of existing walls or ceiling, re-routing of electrical and other conduits, and alteration of existing system housings and enclosures.
Limitations on the manner in which coils can be oriented limits the ways in which existing housings, enclosures, and spaces can be altered to accommodate an enlarged coil. Coil orientation is also limited by available drain pan design.
In various prior art air conditioning systems the blower of a furnace is used to propel air through a transition member connected to the furnace, through a coil, and into a plenum box. Through various openings in the plenum box air exits into conduits which carry it to various locations.
These prior art systems are relatively complex since they require a transition member and also the various connections between the transition member and the coil housing and between the coil housing and the plenum box. These systems are inefficient since the air moves from the coil in one direction, hits the interior of the plenum box, changes direction, and then exits, often after multiple encounters with the plenum's interior. The dimensions of the transition member and the dimensions of the connecting members often depend on the size of the coil that is used; so that even if several locations have an identical blower, different transition members, etc. may be required.
In accordance with 37 C.F.R. .sctn.1.56, the following are disclosed:
"Ruud Electric Furnaces," Ruud Air Conditioning Division, 1988.
"Cased Horizontal Furnace Coils Model 519E," Payne Air Conditioning, April, 1990.
"Ruud Indoor Coils," Ruud Air Conditioning Division, 1989.
"Cased Horizontal Furnace Coils," Payne Air Conditioning, 1990.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,022,523 discloses an air conditioning apparatus with a blower in an enclosure and a U-shaped duct with a discharge opening. Both heat exchange elements and cooling coils are disposed in the U-shaped duct.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,372,870 discloses an air treating assembly which includes a condensing unit, exhaust and air intake assembly, a filter, a blower assembly, a heater, a cooling coil and a mixing damper assembly.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,405,758 discloses an air mixing apparatus for controlling air flow in a duct, having blowers that blow air through a heating unit and through a cooling unit.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,411,569 discloses a combined heating-cooling unit.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,464,487 discloses an air handling unit with a housing enclosing blowers, a heating element, and a cooling element.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,540,526 discloses a rooftop air conditioning unit having a blower and evaporator-coil through which air is blown and then flows out from a housing outlet.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,625,022 discloses an air conditioning unit with a blower and coils. Conditioned air is exhausted into a chamber from which air-conveying conduits extend
U.S. Pat. No. 4,657,178 discloses an air mixing box for transferring conditioned air.
Certain prior art pan-coil combinations require two separate pans if the pan-coil is to be useful in a plurality of distinct orientations; e.g., one pan receives condensate when the pan-coil is used in a horizontal air flow mode, but then to use that same coil in an air upflow or downward flow mode, a second pan is needed.
There has long been a need for a coil of expanded face area for an air conditioning system which is useful in existing housings, enclosures, and available installation space. There has long been a need for such a coil which is not limited to a single orientation. There has long been a need for a drain pan for such a coil.
There has long been a need for an efficient air conditioning apparatus which utilizes the blower of a gas or electric furnace. There has long been a need for such an apparatus which is simple, easily made, easily installed, and easily accessed. There has long been a need for such an apparatus which efficiently moves cooled air (or heated air) from a plenum box. There has long been a need for such an apparatus that can efficiently accommodate different size, shape, and type coils.


A heavy duty pneumatic radial tire comprises a pair of bead portions, a pair of sidewall portions, a tread portion, a radial carcass ply and a belt, in which at least three rubber layers having different hardnesses exist in a zone ranging from the cords in a turnup portion of the carcass ply to an axially outer portion of the bead portion throughout a region of the bead portion corresponding to a line drawn normal to the axially outer portion of the bead portion in a contact area increased portion of the bead portion sandwiched between two contact end positions of an axial outside surface of the bead portion on a flange of a design rim as measured under particular conditions, and the at least three rubber layers are comprised of a coating rubber of the carcass ply and a softest rubber layer and a hardest rubber layer, and the softest rubber layer and hardest rubber layer have particular values of 100% modulus.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to heavy duty pneumatic radial tires for use in heavy duty vehicles such as a truck, bus, industrial vehicle, construction vehicle and so on. More particularly it relates to a heavy duty pneumatic radial tire having an improved bead portion durability without increasing the weight of bead portion.
2. Description of Related Art
Heavy duty pneumatic radial tires used in the above heavy duty vehicles are apt to cause problems in the bead portion, mainly separation failure because a force applied to the bead portion is large during running under loading. To this end, there have been proposed various techniques for improving bead portion durability, mainly resistance to separation failure. Among them, it is well-known that the rigidity of the bead portion is further improved by an additional arrangement of a reinforcing member such as a nylon chafer, wire chafer or the like. Alternatively the rigidity distribution is corrected by the rationalization of carcass line.
These improving means are effective to control not only so-called falling deformation of the bead portion in the tire at a state of inflating under a given air pressure and at a state of loading under a given load but also the shearing deformation in the circumferential direction of the bead portion at positions corresponding to a stepping-in region and kicking-out region of the tread portion, so that they are widely adopted as a technique for contributing to the improvement of bead portion durability.
However, the additional arrangement of the above reinforcing member naturally brings about not only the increase of weight but also rise of cost due to the increase of material cost and number of production steps, so that it is unsuitable in the existing severe price competition for the tire industry Further, the other means not causing a weight increase such as the correction of the carcass line and the like certainly develop a given effect under relatively mild use conditions, but can not be adapted at the existing state of more severe use conditions and hence they are confirmed to insufficiently develop the given bead portion durability.
In a pneumatic radial tire for large-size construction vehicle among the heavy duty tires, it is usual to adopt so-called high turnup structure such that the height of the carcass turnup portion is particularly set to a level largely higher than that of the other kind of tire and sometimes set to a level at about a position corresponding to a maximum width of the tire in order to improve the cut resistance of the sidewall portion. Therefore, any conventional means attempting to improve the separation failure in the turnup portion are difficult to serve as an effectively improving countermeasure. Because a largest strain acts on a position near to a flange height of a rim during the running of the tire under the loading the large-size tire is considerably large in the bending ratio under the loading as compared with that of the other kind of tire.
In the case of the large-size tire, separation failure (problem of bead portion) is caused along a portion of the turnup ply far away from the turnup end existing in a region contacted with the rim flange due to the aforementioned large bending ratio during the running under the loading. That is, even if all of the conventional techniques inclusive of the above improving means are applied to the problems particular to the large-size tire, they are not the conclusive factor for the development of the bead portion durability satisfying commercial demand.

Heavy duty pneumatic radial tires with at least three bead portion rubbers


An apparatus for actuating a control surface includes a first spur gear; a first drive assembly engaged with the first spur gear; a second spur gear; and a second drive assembly engaged with the second spur gear. The apparatus further includes a gear assembly engaged with the first spur gear and the second spur gear and adapted to be coupled with the control surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to an attitudinal control apparatus for an airborne or water borne vehicle and, in particular, an apparatus for actuating a control surface of such vehicles.
2. Description of the Related Art
Airborne or water borne vehicles are often used to deliver a payload to a target location or to carry a payload over a desired area. For example, projectiles may be used in combat situations to deliver a payload, such as an explosive warhead or a kinetic energy penetrator to a target to disable or destroy the target. Surveillance vehicles may carry a payload designed to sense certain conditions surrounding the vehicle, such as objects on the ground or weather activity. Such vehicles typically include a plurality of control surfaces, such as fins, canards, flares, flaps, tabs, etc., that are articulated to control the vehicle's direction and attitude as it moves through an atmosphere or liquid.
In many conventional vehicles, a separate actuation apparatus (e.g., a motor and a power transmission system) is provided for each of the control surfaces. For example, if a projectile includes four fins, four separate motor and power transmission assemblies would be provided. In such vehicles, one or more computers determine the desired attitude components (i.e., pitch, yaw, and roll) of the vehicle depending upon its destination, direction of travel, obstacles in its path, and other factors. The computer or computers then calculate the required orientation of the control surfaces to attain the desired vehicle attitude and command each of the actuation apparatuses separately to orient the control surfaces accordingly.
It is generally desirable, however, for such vehicles to be lighter in weight, rather than heavier, so that their ranges may be extended while using an equivalent amount of propellant. Further, it is generally desirable for the contents of the vehicle other than the payload, e.g., the motors, power transmission assemblies, and the like, to be more compact, so that larger payloads may be used within the body of the projectile. It is also often desirable to decrease the complexity of calculating the required orientation of the control surfaces to attain the desired vehicle orientation and commanding the actuation apparatuses to orient the control surfaces accordingly.
The present invention is directed to overcoming, or at least reducing, the effects of one or more of the problems set forth above.

Apparatus for actuating a control surface


In an automatic dial telephone that is usuable in a motor vehicle, when a voice input is provided during a period in which input of the names of called parties is awaited, a voice pattern of the name of the called party is compared with reference patterns of called parties stored in reference pattern storing device, to determine the degree of the similarity therebetween. The names of the called parties are output to a user in the order of decreasing degree of similarity. Each time the name of a called party is output, a command word for confirmation is a waited from a user for a predetermined time period. When a voice confirmation command is input and is recognized during this waiting period, a telephone number corresponding to the name of the called party is supplied to a channel. Consequently, the command word for confirmation may be input only if the name of the called party outputted is one desired by the user. Sensors continually monitor the driving condition of the motor vehicle in which the telephone is installed. When the operation of the steering wheel or brakes of the motor vehicle exceeds a predetermined threshold or the speed of the motor vehicle is excessive, the sensors generate safety signals that inhibit the operation of the telephone.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to automatic dial telephones, and more particularly, to an automatic dial telephone for automatically dialing numbers by speech recognition or a manual operation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, with the improvement in recognition rate in a voice recognition unit, a telephone capable of automatically dialing numbers in respone to voice command has been put into practice (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Gazette No. 81152/1987).
For example, as a voice recognition processing method in such an automatic dial telephone, a two-step recognition processing method has been generally employed in which the name of a called party is recognized in the first step and a command word such as "CANCEL" or "DIAL" is recognized in the second step.
More specifically, the name of a called party spoken by a user is recognized by speech recognition, and the results of this recognition are displayed by visual or audible means. At this display, the user inputs a command word for confirmation "DIAL" when the result of the recognition of the name of the called party is correct. If this inputted voice is recognized by the telephone as the command word for confirmation, a telephone number of the called party is dialled.
On the other hand, when the result of the recognition of the name of the called party is not correct, the user inputs a command word for cancellation "CANCEL". If this inputted voice is recognized by the telephone as the command word for cancellation, the automatic dial telephone returns to a wait state in which the user must the name of the called party.
The above described voice recognition processing method has the disadvantage in that the user must input the command word for cancellation and repeat the name of called party every time the name of the called party is erroneously recognized, thereby imposing a large burden on the user.
Such errors are liable to occur due to external noise because the name of the called party, and the command words are inputted by voice. This possibility is high, particularly if the automatic dial telephone is being used in a vehicle such as a car.