A portable muscle stimulator with removal data storage card is disclosed in which the removable data storage card is secured within the power muscle stimulator on specially designed rail guides which prevent the removable data storage card from being inserted to the power muscle stimulator incorrectly and which ensure that the power muscle stimulator is secured in a removable fashion within the power muscle stimulator. The portable muscle stimulator include a multitude of safety features which are designed to prevent injury to the user while at the same time to ensure that the portable power muscle stimulator is easy to use.

The present invention relates generally to portable muscle stimulators for unsupervised personal use. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of and system for providing a portable muscle stimulator with a mechanism which provides usage monitoring capability.
With the increasing application of high technology to medical applications, there has been a trend in recent years to providing as much care as possible as well as sophisticated medical treatment outside of hospitals. That trend has resulted in an increase in the amount of surgery as well as other types of medical treatment, such as rehabilitation services, being performed outside of hospitals in, for example, ambulatory surgery centers or rehabilitation centers, respectively.
In order to provide an even more cost effective outcome, technology is being applied to obtain the desired medical outcome with medical equipment that can be utilized in the patient's home. In addition to the cost advantages obtained over providing similar treatment in an outpatient setting, the use of such devices by patients in their homes is also more convenient for the patients, since they do not need to travel to an outpatient center for treatment, and they can initiate their own unsupervised treatment at their convenience.
However, several issues which were not concerns when the treatment services were provided to patients in an outpatient or hospital setting, quickly become concerns when patients supervise their own treatment in their own living areas. First, the device which the patients operate to effectuate their prescribed treatment must be easy to use and must be made as safe to use as possible. Second, it would be desirable to be able to monitor and therefore document the use of the device by the patient, in order to assure that the protocol desired for the patient is being utilized. By obtaining such usage data, the physician/health care providers who have developed and/or prescribed the protocol for use by the patient can be satisfied that the patient is indeed performing the desired protocol and the patient's progress can be measured. In addition, the underwriter of the cost of the treatment can be assured that the patient is actually following the protocol. Such monitoring is important in connection with all of the Class II devices, as they are defined in the Food and Drug Administration's Manual, "Classification Names for Medical Devices and In Vitro Diagnostic Products," such as a powered muscle stimulator as defined in 21 C.F.R. 890.5850. Such Class II devices are regulated and require a prescription by a doctor but do not require a high degree of supervision. Thus, such devices are used personally by the patient for whom they are prescribed without any supervision at the time of use.

Portable muscle stimulator with pulse width control

International Rehabilitative Science, Inc.


A loading basket (6) for a washing machine (1) comprises a rear wall (8), a front wall (9) opposite the rear wall (8) and a side wall (7) defining an inner space (10) of the basket, as well as one or more dragging blades (12) arranged on the side wall (7) and projecting to the inside of the basket. The side wall (7) comprises a drilling with a plurality of small through holes (13), which are arranged at the vertex of respective domes (14) projecting to the outside of the basket (6), as well as a plurality of rounded projections (18) in the shape of a spherical dome without through holes and projecting to the inside (10) of the basket (6).

With particular reference to the known washing machines, the perforated basket, which is intended to accommodate the laundry to be washed, is pivotally arranged within a tank containing the lye. Due to the rotational movement of the basket, the laundry is agitated and caused to spin in the lye, and the lye is carried upwards by the rotating basket, from where it falls on the laundry which results to be completely immersed and soaked, such that the impurities are transferred to the washing and rinsing lye.
The basket usually consists of a rear wall by means of which the basket is secured within the washing machine, a front wall defining a loading opening through which it is possible to gain access to the interior of the basket and a side wall being generally cylindrical and perforated to allow the lye exchange between the tank and the interior of the basket. The side wall is usually formed from a steel sheet with two opposite longitudinal edges and two opposite transversal edges, which is folded about a longitudinal axis of the basket to form this cylinder and the transversal edges of which are connected to each other to keep the cylindrical shape, whereas the longitudinal edges are connected to respective outer edges of the rear and front walls to form the basket.
To increase the washing and drying performance on the laundry contained within the basket, attempts are made to operate baskets in washing machines with increasing rotation speeds and increasingly abrupt reversals of the direction of rotation. These operating conditions of modern washing machines and dryers entail high centrifugal forces, which cause a part of the laundry to slip along the side wall of the basket without being agitated, and to be held within the recesses formed between the side wall of the basket and the dragging blades that radially project from this side wall towards the inside of the basket.
This "stagnant" accumulation of laundry along the outer wall of the basket, besides reducing the washing effectiveness on this part of the laundry, also obstructs the lye-exchange perforations between the washing tank and the basket.
The object of the present invention is thus to provide a basket for washing machines, washer-dryers and dryers having such characteristics as to cause a remixing of the laundry layer being formed along the side wall of the basket due to the centrifugal force, while allowing an improved exchange of liquid between the washing tank and the basket.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Basket for washing machine, washer-dryer, and the like


A carrousel (2) has a plurality of spaced apart holders (50) mounted on its outer periphery. Each holder receives a plant unit (90) including a plant with foliage (92) and a root/soil mass (94) received in a container (96). As the carrousel (2) turns, a cam (70) carried by each holder (50) engages a ramp (78) to cause the holder (50) to grip the container (96). The holder (50) then conveys the plant unit (90) through first and second cutting stations (4, 18) at which top and side portions of the foliage (92), respectively, are trimmed. The trimming is accomplished by flail cutters (6, 20, 21). At the side cutting station (18), the plant unit (90) moves between a pair of cutters (20, 21), and a rubber tire (84) rotates the holder (50) and plant unit (90) to provide cutting all the way around the plant unit (90). After exiting the second station (18), the holder (50) releases its grip on the plant unit (90).

The apparatus of the present invention is intended primarily for use in carrying out a method of growing perennials invented by the present applicant. This method is the subject of U.S. Pat. No. 5,331,908, issued Jul. 26, 1994. The method involves starting a plant in a container and then placing the plant still in the container in a field for further growth. During the ensuing dormant season, the plant is harvested by undercutting feeder roots extending downwardly out of the container and removing the plant and container from the field. After harvesting, the plant foliage is preferably trimmed for transportation or storage. The apparatus of the present invention has been developed by the applicant to automate the trimming procedure.


A frame for an all terrain vehicle (ATV). The frame includes a bottom frame portion which has one or more bottom plates. Each of these plates is a sheet metal stamping with precision located mounting holes stamped into it for mounting vehicle components. The plates are secured to a pair of elongated reinforcing members oriented generally horizontally and generally parallel to one another along the length of the bottom frame portion. The bottom plates are of a length and width sufficient to shield a substantial portion of an engine and/or transmission mounted to the frame. The frame also includes a top frame portion and several structural support members supporting the top frame portion with respect to the bottom frame portion. Preferably at least some of the structural support members supporting the top frame portion with respect to the bottom frame portion are sheet metal stampings. In one preferred embodiment, one of the structural support members is a portion of the ATV's transmission.

All terrain vehicles (ATV's) are a particular genre of utility/recreational vehicle that have become quite popular in recent years. Like a snowmobile, motorcycle or personal watercraft, the ATV is relatively narrow in construction, typically having a single seat straddled by a single rider. Unlike any of these other recreational vehicles, however, the ATV has four wheels. This difference introduces some interesting engineering challenges. Like a two-wheeled motorcycle, the frame needs to be relatively narrow, since it is intended to be straddled by the rider. Unlike a motorcycle, however, the ATV has four (and sometimes six) wheels--i.e., a pair of front wheels and at least a pair of rear wheels, each member of a pair being spaced laterally from one another so that the resultant vehicle is up to four feet wide. Because the ATV is designed for off-road conditions, which can be rugged at times, the frame of the vehicle must be strong enough to withstand significant torsional stresses resulting when one of the wheels encountering uneven terrain. Such torsional stresses are generally not felt by motorcycles, since they only have one front and one rear wheel. Moreover, most other types of four-wheeled vehicles (such as golf carts, cars, etc.) can be built with fairly wide frames more easily able to handle these torsional stresses, because there is no requirement that the frames of such vehicles be sufficiently narrow to permit the rider to straddle the frame.
Typically the frame of an ATV is made from a structural metal and the various vehicle systems and components are mounted to it, including an engine, a transmission, axles and associated hubs and wheels, suspensions for the wheels, a seat, steering and electrical and mechanical control mechanisms, etc. The vehicle's structural metal frame typically is constructed from several lengths of metal tubing (square, rectangular or round), each piece of which has been bent to a particular shape and cut to a precise length so that, when assembled, the frame provides a unitary skeletal structure to which the various vehicle systems and components may be mounted.
To provide points of attachment on the frame for mounting the various vehicle systems and components, brackets usually are welded to the tubular frame, the brackets having mounting holes in locations corresponding to the desired mounting positions for the various components. Due to the need for structural integrity and proper mounting of the various vehicle components to be mounted on the frame, it is not unusual for the complete frame skeleton to have over 100 parts. That is, fabrication of the frame itself (excluding all of the vehicle systems and components mounted to the frame) can require the assembly of well over 100 separate tubes and brackets.
Proper spatial alignment of many of the vehicle components must be attained to assure that the completed vehicle has the proper fit and finish. Also, certain of the vehicle components must be accurately spaced with respect to one another to provide proper alignment and operation of those components. To achieve this proper spacing and alignment, the scores of tubes and brackets must be assembled with great precision. For example, the relative mounting positions of the engine and the transmission are important for proper drive train performance. Similarly, proper geometry must be attained between the transmission and the suspension of the drive wheels. To provide the proper spatial relationships for all these mounting points, each frame for each vehicle must be constructed with a high level of accuracy and consistency--the structural tubes must consistently be cut to the proper length, bent to the proper shape, and welded together in the proper spatial configuration. The dozens of brackets secured to the structural tubes must be consistently welded to precisely the proper location and at the proper orientation to ensure that the components mounted to these brackets will have the proper spacing and orientation. Most of the welding and other assembly of the frame and brackets are done manually, making the construction and quality control of the entire frame labor intensive.


The present invention concerns a method of treating sepsis comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of anti-CD14 antibody molecules. A therapeutic composition comprising anti-CD14 antibody molecules in a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient is also contemplated.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to methods and compositions for preventing or treating sepsis. More particularly, the present invention relates to molecules that bind the CD14 monocyte differentiation antigen or LPS-LBP complexes, thereby inhibiting the binding of LPS-LBP complexes by CD14-expressing cells.
2. Background
Sepsis is a morbid condition induced by a toxin, the introduction or accumulation of which is most commonly caused by infection or trauma. The initial symptoms of sepsis typically include chills, profuse sweat, irregularly remittent fever, prostration and the like, followed by persistent fever, hypotension leading to shock, neutropenia, leukopenia, disseminated intravascular coagulation, adult respiratory distress syndrome and multiple organ failure.
Sepsis-inducing toxins have been found associated with pathogenic bacteria, viruses, plants and venoms. Among the well described bacterial toxins are the endotoxins or lipopolysaccharides(LPS) of the gram-negative bacteria. These molecules are glycolipids that are ubiquitous in the outer membrane of all gram-negative bacteria. While chemical structure of most of the LPS molecule is complex and diverse, a common feature is the lipid A region of LPS [Rietschel, E. Th. et al., in Handbook of Endotoxins, 1:187-214 eds. R. A. Proctor and E. Th. Rietschel, Elsevier, Amsterdam (1984)]; recognition of lipid A in biologic systems initiates many, if not all, of the pathophysiologic changes of sepsis. Because lipid A structure is highly conserved among all types of gram-negative organisms, common pathophysiologic changes characterize gram-negative sepsis.
Current concepts support the contention that the primary response of the host to LPS (including man) involves the recognition of LPS by cells of the monocyte/macrophage lineage, followed by the rapid elaboration of a variety of cell products including the general group known as cytokines. Other cell types believed to participate in sepsis and in particular in the response to LPS are polymorphonuclear leukocytes and endothelial cells; each of these cell types are also capable of responding to LPS with the elaboration of potent inflammatory substances.
LPS is believed to be a primary cause of death in humans during gram-negative sepsis, particularly when the symptoms include adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). van Deventer et al., Lancet, 1:605 (1988); Ziegler et al., J. Infect. Dis., 136:19-28 (1987). For instance, one particular cytokine, tumor necrosis factor alpha/cachectin (TNF), has recently been reported to be a primary mediator of septic shock. Beutler et al., N. Eng. J. Med., 316:379 (1987). Intravenous injection of LPS endotoxin from bacteria into experimental animals and man produces a rapid, transient release of TNF. Beutler et. al., J. Immunol., 135:3972(1985). Mathison et al., J. Clin. Invest. 81:1925 (1988). Evidence that TNF is a critical mediator of septic shock comes primarily from experiments in which pretreatment of animals with anti-TNF antibodies reduces lethality. Beutler et al., Science, 229:869, (1985). Mathison et al., J. Clin. Invest. 81: 1925 (1988). These reports suggest that interruption of the secretion of TNF caused by LPS or other factors would ameliorate the often lethal symptoms of sepsis.
[0006] Upon introduction of LPS into the blood, it may bind to a protein termed lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP). LBP is a 60 kD glycoprotein present at concentrations of less than 100 ng/ml in the serum of healthy animals and man. During the acute phase, LBP is synthesized by hepatocytes, and reaches concentrations of 30-50 ug/ml in serum. LBP can be purified from acute phase human and rabbit serum. Tobias, et al., J. Exp. Med., 164:777-793 (1986). LBP recognizes the lipid A region of LPS and forms high affinity, 1:1 stoichiometric complexes with both rough and smooth form LPS. Tobias, et al., J. Biol. Chem., 264:10867-10871 (1989). LBP bears N-terminal sequence homology with the LPS-binding protein known as bactericidal permeability-increasing factor, (BPI). Tobias, et al., J. Biol. Chem., 263:13479-13481, (1988) BPI is stored in the specific granules of PMN [Weiss, et al., Blood, 69:652-659, (1987)] and kills gram negative bacteria by binding LPS and disrupting the permeability barrier. Weiss, et al., J. Immunol., 132:3109-3115, (1984). In contrast to BPI, LBP is not directly cytotoxic for gram-negative bacteria [Tobias, et al., J. Biol. Chem., 263:13479-13481, (1988)] and its precise biological function has been obscure.
By way of further background, the cells of the monocyte/macrophage lineage perform diverse immune function including the phagocytosis of microorganisms, the uptake of antigenic material and its presentation in a form which is stimulatory to helper T cells. They are probably also involved in the immune surveillance against tumors and they secrete some complement components and cytokines. Surface membrane antigens play a critical role in regulating these activities. Several monocyte/macrophage surface antigens have been identified and their molecular weight has been determined. One such antigen, CD14, is a 55-kD glycoprotein expressed by monocytes, macrophages, and activated granulocytes. It is recognized by a number of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) including MO2, MY4, 3C10 and LEUM3. Although no biological function has yet been ascribed to CD14, its restricted expression on mature cells suggests an important effector function. The nucleotide sequence of the gene encoding the monocyte cell surface differentiation antigen CD14 has been determined and the amino acid residue sequence of CD14 has been deduced therefrom. (Ferrero et al., Nucleic Acids Research Vol. 16:4173 (1988)
The present invention was born out of the discovery that a primary regulator of cytokine production and release is the CD14 receptor, particularly in cells of the monocyte/macrophage lineage. Inasmuch as cytokines secretion plays an important role in producing the symptoms of sepsis, the present invention contemplates methods and agents for inhibiting the secretion of cytokines, particularly TNF.
Therefore, in one embodiment, the present invention contemplates administering, preferably intravenously, to a pateint at risk for or suffering the symptoms of sepis a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-CD14 antibody, an anti-LBP antibody, an LBP peptide analog or a subcombination or combination thereof. The method can be practiced alone or in combination with the substantially simultaneous administration of other therapeutic modalities known to prevent or ameliorate the symptoms of sepsis, including treatment with one or more of an antiboiotic, steroids, anti-TNF antibody, TNF antagonist and the like.
Further contemplated by the present invention are therapeutic compositions, typically in unit dose form, useful for preventing or ameliorating the symptoms of sepsis. The compositions comprise a pharmaceutically acceptible carrier containing one or more of an anti-CD14 antibody, an anti-LBP antibody, and LBP peptide analog that acts as an LBP antagonist, as an active ingredient. In preferred embodiments, a therapeutic composition of this invention further contains, as active ingredients an agent known to prevent or ameliorate the symptoms of sepsis, such as an antibiotic, steroid, anti-TNF antibody, a TNF antagonist, soluble CD14 and the like, either alone, in sub-combination or combination.

Methods and compositions for ameliorating the symptoms of sepsis


There is provided a novel pest control agent (pesticide), particulally insecticide or miticide. A substituted isoxazoline compound or a substituted enone oxime compound represented by Formula (1) or (2), and apest control agent containing them:

Conventionally, with respect to substituted isoxazoline compounds, for example, a 5-haloalkyl-5-substituted aryl-3-substituted aryl-4,5-dihydroisoxazole compound is known to exhibit pest control activity, particularly insecticidal and miticidal activity (see Patent Documents 1 to 5). However, nothing is disclosed with respect to a 4-substituted-5-haloalkyl-5-substituted aryl-3-substituted aryl-4,5-dihydroisoxazole compound according to the present invention. In addition, with respect to a 3,5-bis substituted phenyl-4-substituted-5-substituted-4,5-dihydroisoxazole derivative, known is the synthesis of 5-alkoxycarbonyl-3,5-bis substituted phenyl-4-(substituted phenyl)-4,5-dihydroisoxazole derivative (for example, see Non-patent Document 1), 4-substituted alkylidene-3-substituted phenyl-5,5-bis phenyl-4,5-dihydroisoxazole derivative (for example, see Non-patent Document 2), and the like. However, nothing is disclosed with respect to a 4-substituted-5-haloalkyl-5-substituted aryl-3-substituted aryl-4,5-dihydroisoxazole compound according to the present invention.    [Patent Document 1]
International Publication No. WO 2005/085216 pamphlet    [Patent Document 2]
International Publication No. WO 2007/026965 pamphlet    [Patent Document 3]
International Publication No. WO 2007/105814 pamphlet    [Patent Document 4]
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JP-A-2007-016017    [Patent Document 5]
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JP-A-2007-106756    [Non-patent Document 1]
Heterocycles, vol. 71, p. 289 (2007)    [Non-patent Document 2]
Chemisch Berichte, vol. 119, p. 563 (1986)

Substituted isoxazoline or enone oxime compound, and pest control agent

Abstract: wherein A1, A2, A3 and A4 are C or N, G1 is a benzene ring, etc., G2 is 1-trazolyl, etc., X and Y are halogen atom, etc., R3 is haloalkyl, etc., R3a is halogen atom, etc., R3b and R3c are H, etc., is haloalkyl, etc., m is 0-5, n is 0-4.


An aqueous solution includes HCl present in an amount exceeding 37% by weight. The solution further includes a fixing agent that is urea and/or a urea derivative. The fixing agent is present in the solution in a molar ratio of between 0.25 and 2.0 of fixing agent to HCl, inclusive.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
The technical field generally, but not exclusively, relates to high concentration of hydrochloric acid (HCl) solutions and uses thereof. Previously known HCl solutions can be made at atmospheric pressure up to about 37% HCl by weight. Attempting to put more HCl into the solution results in the HCl leaving the solution as HCl gas. Additionally, even more modest concentrations of HCl (e.g. 15% or 28%) evolve highly irritating fumes and are difficult to handle.

Aqueous solution and method for use thereof


In another embodiment, a connector assembly comprises a first side collector, comprising a first panel engagement region comprising a first receiving area that has a size to attach onto an edge of a first panel; and a second side collector, comprising a second panel engagement region comprising a second receiving area that has a size to attach onto an edge of a second panel. The first side collector and second side collector can be configured to directly mate with each other to hold to panels together.

The present disclosure generally relates to connectors and collectors for connecting panels.
In the construction of naturally lit structures, such as greenhouses, pool enclosures, solar roof collectors, stadiums and sunrooms, glass panel roofs have been employed to allow natural light to shine therein. The glass panels themselves can be mounted in frame-like enclosures that are capable of providing a watertight seal around the glass panel and provide a means for securing the panel to a structure. These frame-like enclosures also provide for modular glass roofing systems that can be assembled together to form the roof.
Glass panel roofing systems generally provide good light transmission and versatility. However, the initial and subsequent costs associated with these systems limits their application and overall market acceptance. The initial expenses associated with glass panel roofing systems comprise the cost of the glass panels themselves as well as the cost of the structure, or structural reinforcements, that are employed to support the high weight of the glass. After these initial expenses, operating costs associated with the inherently poor insulating ability of the glass panels can result in higher heating expenses for the owner. Yet further, glass panels are susceptible to damage caused by impact or shifts in the support structure (e.g., settling), which can result in high maintenance costs. This is especially concerning for horticultural applications wherein profit margins for greenhouses can be substantially impacted due to these expenditures.
As a result, multiwall polymeric panels (e.g., polycarbonate) have been produced that exhibit improved impact resistance, ductility, insulative properties, and comprise less weight than comparatively sized glass panels. As a result, these characteristics reduce operational and maintenance expenses. Polymeric panels can also be formed as solid panels. Solid panels are solid plastic between their front and rear faces, and are useful where high impact resistance (e.g., bulletproofing), high clarity, and/or the ability to thermoform the panel is desired. Multiwall panels have voids between their front and rear faces, e.g., the panel may be extruded as a honeycomb with an array of passages extending along the extruded length of the panel. Multiwall panels are useful where a high insulation value, lightweight, and easy installation, are desired.
For ease of design and assembly, multiwall panels can be produced in modular systems. The modular systems comprise multiwall panels with integral panel connectors, wherein the panel connector assemblies are employed to join the panels together and/or secure the panels to a structure on which they are employed. Standard panels can also be used, which are formed continuously and uniformly, i.e., they are extruded slabs and are cut to size and installed in the same manner as glass. These standard panels require a frame or the like to hold them in place.
Modular panels are advantageous for their extreme ease of installation, but are disadvantageous owing to their limited versatility in that modular panels cannot be cut to a desired size if such cutting involves loss of a connecting edge, because the modular panel will no longer be readily connectable to other panels at the cut edge. As a result, if a panel with an unusual or non-standard width is desired, a new extrusion die must be commissioned, at great expense, so as to be able to extrude panels of the desired width, and having the desired connecting edges. Further, modular panels are naturally limited to use with modular panels having complementary attachment structure (i.e., a tongue-and-groove panel will connect to other tongue-and-groove panels having the same tongue/groove configuration, but will not connect to standing seam panels).
Thus, greater flexibility in the size of the modular panels, without the requirement for expensive equipment and retooling, and the ability to connect to a variety of panels is desired.

Connector assemblies for connecting panels


By equipping a header wherein hollow pipes are welded to a rectangular plate used to mount the header with spaced apart extensions of the welds joining the pipes to the plate located on opposite sides of the bolt holes formed in the plate to mount it on an engine, wherein all the welds are ground flat so that the flattened surfaces of the extensions and the welded ends of the pipes lie in a common plane, it is thereafter possible to connect (bolt) the header to the engine's cylinder head employing bolts without the necessity of gaskets.

In the general construction of automobile engines, manifolds are connected to the engine's cylinder head with bolts. Usually gaskets are placed between these manifolds and the head so that leakage will not occur when the manifolds are secured to the head with the bolts and the engine operated.
Traditionally there are two manifolds, one being an intake manifold which includes porting for the flow of air and fuel to the combustion chambers of the engine. The other manifold is the exhaust manifold through which the hot combustion products are vented from the engine. In the more conventional engines the exhaust gases are ported from the cylinders through cylinder heads to the exhaust manifold. Often the exhaust manifolds are constructed of cast iron with multiple ports along one side or face which mate or connect to the outlets in the head along with an internal channel therein communicating with all the ports and a common exhaust outlet. Thus the exhaust gases from the engine pass into the individual ports of the exhaust manifold, and then via the channel in the manifold to the outlet to which an exhaust pipe is connected leading to a muffler and thence to a tail pipe. This invention relates to headers which replace such exhaust manifolds.
Exhaust headers are purchased by car enthusiasts to replace the conventional exhaust manifolds for internal combustion engines, for a number of reasons, not the least of which is to reduce the back pressures thereby increasing horse power output and efficiency of the engine. Typically such headers include multiple pipes one of which pipes connect to one of the outlets on the engine's cylinder head with their opposite ends joined in a plenum chamber formed between the distal ends or opposite ends of the pipes and the exhaust outlet that connects to the exhaust pipe.
Various manufacturers make custom headers, but not the car manufacturers; thus, these non-stock products are not uniform and often gaskets must be special ordered when such headers are mounted on engines for which they are designed. As the headers are light weight, that is much lighter than the cast headers, gaskets are usually necessary due to the mechanical distortion caused by the bolt tensions, thermal distortion and dynamic distortion from the effects of both acting together.
One of the objects of the current invention is the provision of custom headers which overcomes the need for gaskets between the cylinder head and the header.
Another object of the invention is the provision of a custom header which is less prone to leakage after it is installed.

Gasket-less header for internal combustion engines


A process is disclosed that relates to the removal of impurities, specifically benzoic acid, from a mother liquor produced in the synthesis of carboxylic acid, typically terephthalic acid.

Terephthalic acid is commercially produced by oxidation of paraxylene in the presence of a catalyst, such as, for example, Co, Mn, Br and a solvent. Terephthalic acid used in the production of polyester fibers, films, and resins must be further treated to remove impurities formed as a result of the oxidation of paraxylene.
Terephthalic acid (TPA) is an intermediate in the production of polyesters for plastics and fiber applications. Commercial processes for the manufacture of TPA are often based on the heavy-metal catalyzed oxidation of p-xylene, generally with a bromide promoter in an acetic acid solvent. Due to the limited solubility of TPA in acetic acid under practical oxidation conditions, a slurry of TPA crystals is usually formed in the oxidation reactor. Typically, the TPA oxidizer slurry is withdrawn from the reactor, and TPA solids are separated from the oxidizer mother liquor using conventional solid-liquid separation techniques. The oxidizer mother liquor, which contains most of the catalyst and promoter used in the process, is recycled to the oxidation reactor. Aside from the catalyst and promoter, the oxidizer mother liquor stream also contains dissolved TPA and many by-products and impurities. These by-products and impurities arise partially from minor impurities present in the p-xylene feed stream. Other impurities arise due to the incomplete oxidation of p-xylene resulting in partially oxidized products. Still other by-products result from competing side reactions formed as a result of the oxidation of p-xylene to terephthalic acid.
The TPA solids undergo a solid-liquid separation wherein fresh solvent is utilitized to displace a major portion of the liquid component of the oxidizer mother liquor. After drying, the TPA solids are contaminated with impurities that were present in the oxidizer mother liquor since these impurities may be incorporated into the TPA solids. Impurities are also present due to occlusions in the TPA crystal structure and due to incomplete removal of the oxidizer mother liquor by the fresh solvent wash.
Many of the impurities in the oxidizer mother liquor stream that are recycled are relatively inert to further oxidation. Such impurities include, for example, isophthalic acid, phthalic acid and trimellitic acid. Impurities, which may undergo further oxidation are also present, such as, for example, 4-carboxybenzaldehyde, p-toluic acid and p-tolualdehyde. Oxidation inert impurities tend to accumulate in the oxidizer mother liquor upon recycle. The concentration of these inert impurities will increase in the oxidizer mother liquor until an equilibria is reached whereby the rate of removal of each impurity via the TPA product balances with the rate of formation and the rate of addition to the oxidation process. The normal level of impurities in commercial crude TPA makes it unsuitable for direct use in most polymer applications.
Conventionally, crude TPA has been purified either by conversion of a dimethyl ester or by dissolution in water with subsequent hydrogenation over standard hydrogenation catalysts. More recently, secondary oxidative treatments have been used to produce polymer-grade TPA. It is desirable to minimize the concentration of impurities in the mother liquor and thereby facilitate subsequent purification of TPA. In some cases, it is not possible to produce a purified, polymer-grade TPA unless some means for removing impurities from the oxidizer mother liquor stream are utilized.
One technique for impurity removal from a recycle stream commonly used in the chemical processing industry is to draw out or "purge" some portion of the recycle stream. Typically, the purge stream is simply disposed of or, if economically justified, subjected to various treatments to remove undesired impurities while recovering valuable components. One example of this process is U.S. Pat. No. 4,939,297 herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to the extent it does contradict statements herein. The amount of purge required for control of impurities is process-dependent; however, a purge amount equal to 10-40 wt % of the total oxidizer mother liquor stream is usually sufficient to produce TPA adequate as feedstock for commercial polymer manufacture. In the production of TPA, the percentage of the oxidizer mother liquor stream purge necessary to maintain acceptable impurity concentrations, coupled with the economic value of the metal catalyst and solvent components in the oxidizer purge stream, make simple disposal of the oxidizer purge stream economically unattractive. Thus, there is a need for a process that recovers essentially all of the valuable metal catalysts and acetic acid contained in the oxidizer purge stream while removing a major portion of the impurities present in the oxidizer purge stream. The metal catalyst can be recovered in an active form suitable for reuse by direct recycling to the p-xylene oxidation step.
One benefit of this invention is the energy and capital cost savings compared with the extraction based purge process previously described.
Another benefit of this invention is its efficacy compared with extraction purge processes regarding the usefulness of the solvent stream(s) recycled to the TPA process. The primary motivation in a liquid extraction process is based upon the assumption that introducing any aromatic impurities into a p-xylene oxidation process for producing terephthalic acid has a detrimental effect on the terephthalic acid powder quality (e.g. yellow color). Hence, it was assumed that a broad spectrum removal of aromatic impurities, such as provided by liquid extraction, was necessary to achieve appropriate terephthalic acid powder quality.
In one embodiment of this invention, however, employs a relatively simple process that separates benzoic acid from an aqueous solvent. The efficiency of the process toward benzoic acid is high since benzoic acid is more volatile (a higher vapor pressure) than most identified aromatic impurities in the production of a carboxylic acid, typically terephthalic acid. These aromatic impurities include, but are not limited to, trimellitic acid, isophthalic acid, stilbenes, and anthraquinones. Therefore, it is rather surprising that removal of a benzoic acid in favor of the other known impurities, that are inherently colored, would be sufficient to produce a carboxylic acid, typically terephthalic acid of good quality.

Process for removal of benzoic acid from an oxidizer purge stream


The invention provides a method and apparatus for micro array fabrication exclusive from the impact of a gas. A housing with a gas free chamber provides for improved micro array fabrication with a lower defect rate. The invention provides a housing that excludes a gas such as ozone to prevent interaction with probe construction or attachment. A method of fabricating a micro array in an ozone free environment is also disclosed.

Various arrays of polynucleotides (such as RNA and DNA) are known and used in genetic testing, screening and diagnostics. Arrays are defined by the regions of different biopolymers or nucleotides arranged in a predetermined configuration on a substrate. Most importantly, the arrays when exposed to a population of analytes will exhibit a pattern indicative of the presence of the various components separated spatially. Array binding patterns of polynucleotides and/or peptides can be detected by using a variety of suitable target labels. Once bound to the array, these target labels can then be quantified and observed and the overall pattern on the array determined.
A number of methods have been designed for manufacturing micro arrays. DNA micro arrays are particularly useful for analyzing large sets of genes through "gene expression profiling". Using various techniques, arrays can be used to effectively analyze genomes and portions of genomes. Probe arrays have been produced by a variety of means. However, two major methods exist for fabricating arrays used in expression profiling. The first technique uses chemical methods to synthesize polynucleotide probes in situ on array surfaces. This technique uses addressable adaptations of phosphoramidite chemistry. In the second method, polynucleotide probes synthesized enzymatically or chemically can be deposited and attached to a surface through covalent or non-covalent means. The enzymatic method is particularly effective in fabricating arrays with larger probes of 100-1000 nucleotides.
A number of steps are used in the fabrication of the micro arrays designed in the in situ process. The first step in the in situ process is to deposit a polymeric layer on top of a glass substrate or similar type material. Once the polymeric layer has been deposited phosphoramidite chemistry is used to build the oligonucleotides on the micro arrays in a step-wise fashion. This is accomplished by adding one monomer at a time until the final polynucleotide is constructed. The steps of construction using these methodologies are well known in the art and generally include a coupling step followed by a series of capping, oxidation and deblocking steps. The final constructed oligonucleotide can then be employed for binding targets of known or unknown sequences.
Other methods are known in the art that can also be used for fabricating micro arrays. For instance, oligonucleotides or oligonucleotide fragments have been deposited directly on polymer surfaces. After the deposition process the deposited oligonucleotides are then subjected to a drying step and final curing step. The curing step includes the application of heat, UV light or other similar physical or chemical methods to cross-link the polynucleotides to the surface. Processes have also been designed in which cDNA is used in place of polynucleotides and their fragments.
The above methods have been employed for constructing micro arrays in various sizes and designs. However, in the fabrication process a number of problems have arisen. Problems are largely due to incorrect fabrication of oligonucleotides, ineffective chemistries, missing or extra nucleotide bases added and degradation of the oligonucleotides on the surface of the micro array(s). As a result, being able to scale up the fabrication process becomes quite difficult. In addition, a number of the micro arrays need to be discarded due to these existing defects. It, therefore, would be desirable to be able to quickly, efficiently and cost effectively fabricate micro arrays that have a lower number of defects or defective designs. These and other problems with the prior art processes and designs are obviated by the present invention. The references cited in this application infra and supra, are hereby incorporated in this application by reference. However, cited references or art are not admitted to be prior art to this application.

Method and apparatus for microarray fabrication


A fan variable area nozzle (FVAN) includes a flap assembly which varies a fan nozzle exit area through a cam drive ring. The flap assembly generally includes a multiple of flaps, flap linkages and an actuator system. The actuator system rotationally translates the cam drive ring relative an engine centerline axis which results in a follower of the flap linkage following a cam surface to pivot each flap such that the flap assembly dilates about the circumferential hinge line. Rotation of the cam drive ring adjusts dilation of the entire fan nozzle exit area in a symmetrical manner. Another cam drive ring includes a multiple of movable cams which engages the follower of the flap linkage of each flap such that pivotable movement of a particular number of the multiple of movable cams about a respective cam pivot results in vectoring of the FVAN.

The present invention relates to a gas turbine engine, and more particularly to a turbofan engine having an axial and rotationally moveable drive ring to provide symmetrical and asymmetrical control of the fan nozzle exit area and the direction of the engine thrust vector.
Conventional gas turbine engines generally include a fan section and a core engine with the fan section having a larger diameter than that of the core engine. The fan section and the core engine are disposed about a longitudinal axis and are enclosed within an engine nacelle assembly.
Combustion gases are discharged from the core engine through a core exhaust nozzle while an annular fan flow, disposed radially outward of the primary airflow path, is discharged through an annular fan exhaust nozzle defined between an outer fan nacelle and an inner core nacelle. A majority of thrust is produced by the pressurized fan air discharged through the fan exhaust nozzle, the remaining thrust being provided from the combustion gases discharged through the core exhaust nozzle.
The fan nozzles of conventional gas turbine engines have a fixed geometry. The fixed geometry fan nozzles are a compromise suitable for take-off and landing conditions as well as for cruise conditions. Some gas turbine engines have implemented fan variable area nozzles. The fan variable area nozzles provide a smaller fan exit nozzle area during cruise conditions and a larger fan exit nozzle area during take-off and landing conditions. Existing fan variable area nozzles typically utilize relatively complex mechanisms that increase overall engine weight to the extent that the increased fuel efficiency therefrom may be negated.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an effective, lightweight fan variable area nozzle with thrust vectoring capability for a gas turbine engine.

Fan variable area nozzle for a gas turbine engine fan nacelle with cam drive ring actuation system


According to a method for controlling the air volume in a closed pneumatic spring system of a vehicle, an air-powered pump supplies at least two pneumatic springs and/or a compressed air reservoir with a specific air volume as needed such that the air pressure prevailing in the respective pneumatic spring and/or the compressed air reservoir is at a level which causes a vehicle body resting on the pneumatic spring to be positioned at a desired distance from the roadway or the vehicle axle. In order to obtain largely constant control velocities at different load conditions of the vehicle while using a smaller compressed air reservoir than in previously known systems, the pneumatic spring pressure (P) is measured in at least two of the pneumatic springs, the distance (HN, NN, TN) of the vehicle body to the roadway or the vehicle axle is determined, the axle load (AL) of at least one vehicle axle is determined from the pneumatic spring pressure (P) and the distance (HN, NN, TN) of the vehicle body to the roadway or the vehicle axle, a target system air volume (PV_SOLL) is determined in accordance with the respective axle load (AL), and the actual system air volume is adjusted to said target system air volume by actuating the air-powered pump or a relief valve.

The invention relates to a method for air quantity control in a closed pneumatic spring system in a vehicle, in which method a compressed air pump supplies at least two pneumatic springs and/or a compressed air store on demand with an air quantity of such a magnitude that a high air pressure prevails in the respective pneumatic spring and/or in the compressed air store such that a vehicle body which is supported on the pneumatic spring is at a desired distance from the underlying surface or from the vehicle axle.
It is generally known that pneumatic springs in motor vehicles can be utilized to adjust the height of the vehicle body relative to the underlying surface and to maintain a selected distance to the underlying surface under different vehicle loading. For this purpose, pneumatic springs of said type are arranged at least one vehicle axle, between the latter and the body, and are connected to a compressed air source via compressed air lines. The respective pneumatic springs are adjusted on the basis of suitable items of sensor information which are processed by an open-loop and closed-loop control unit to form adjustment signals for valves arranged in the compressed air lines.
It is known from EP 0 779 167 B1 with regard to a level controlling device that the air quantity in the pneumatic spring bellows determines the height of the vehicle body above the vehicle axle, so that said distance can be changed by adjusting said air quantity. Since the pressure, volume and temperature of a gas are linked to one another in a known way by the gas laws, a change in the air quantity in a pneumatic spring bellows for a constant volume of the bellows results in a change in the air pressure in said bellows, which effects a change in level. In the level controlling device known from said document, it is provided inter alia that the air pressure measured in the pneumatic spring bellows for a constant vehicle level can be utilized as a measure of the loading of the vehicle, the mean value of the measured pressure values of the pneumatic springs of a vehicle axle preferably being utilized.
Level control systems of said type are to some extent designed as closed systems in which a compressed air store can be pressurized with a nominal air pressure by means of a compressed air pump. In closed compressed air systems of said type, the pneumatic springs are conventionally supplied with compressed air from the compressed air reservoir of the compressed air store. The compressed air pump fills the compressed air store in a discontinuous fashion whenever the system air quantity falls below a minimum limit value.
Overall, a closed compressed air system of said type contains a certain system air quantity which is to be considered constant during uninterrupted operation. Changes in the system air quantity are to be attributed, for example, to leaks in the system and/or to temperature changes. If the system air quantity falls below a predetermined nominal value, this can generally also be identified as a pressure loss as a result of which the compressed air pump is activated until the nominal value of the system air quantity is again enclosed in the compressed air system.
In order that the described controlling process is not triggered in the event of every small deviation from the nominal value of the system air quantity, controlling processes of said type provide an air quantity tolerance band whose upper and lower limit values, like the nominal value of the system air quantity according to the prior art, are predetermined constant variables for all level controlling and vehicle loading states.
Against this background, a method for controlling the pressure in the compressed air store in a closed level control system is known from DE 101 22 567 C1. The level control system there has a compressor and a compressed air store which can be filled with air from the atmosphere and can be discharged to the atmosphere. At least one pneumatic spring is additionally provided which is connected to the compressed air store via the compressor in such a way that compressed air can be conveyed from the pneumatic spring into the compressed air store and vice versa.
According to said document, a method for controlling the store pressure of the compressed air store should be used in the described level control system, said method ensuring that the store pressure is in a certain range and that the compressed air store is not unnecessarily filled with compressed air from the atmosphere or discharged to the atmosphere.
In a certain state of the motor vehicle, the store pressure should preferably be in a certain range in order to ensure fast lifting and lowering of the vehicle body. In this context, it is provided that the store pressure of the compressed air store is controlled indirectly by means of the determination of the air quantity in the level control system. Here, the compressed air store is filled with air from the atmosphere when the air quantity is below a limit, and is discharged to the atmosphere when the air quantity is above an upper limit. Said control is carried out in such a way that the actual air quantity in the system after filling or discharging is in a working range between the upper and lower limits.
According to said document, it is preferably also provided that the air quantity is always kept in a certain working range and, as a result, the store pressure is also in a certain pressure range in the certain state of the vehicle. Here, the working range for the air quantity is preferably selected such that, in a certain normal state of the vehicle, the store pressure is in a range in which both fast lifting and fast lowering of the vehicle body is possible.
Although a controlling method of said type is functional, it has proven to be disadvantageous that, for all level and loading states, comparatively large differences can be detected in the required controlling times for different level and loading states, in particular as a result of the constant nominal air quantity value and as a result of the fixed air quantity tolerance band. In addition, there is a trade-off in the control of the extreme states "controlled lowering at empty load" and "controlled lifting at full load". Finally, controlling processes which operate in such a way require a comparatively large compressed air store, which has an adverse effect on the production costs of a generic level control system.
Against this background, the invention is based on the problem of proposing a method for the open-loop and closed-loop control of a level control system, with which method constant controlling speeds are possible in all vehicle loading states. Said method should additionally be suitable for allowing the smallest possible pressure store to be used.

Method for load-dependent air quality control in a pneumatic spring system


A vehicle cargo sidewall structure includes a vertical inboard wall panel, a vertical outboard wall panel, door panel and a storage bin. The inboard wall panel includes an access opening. The outboard wall panel extends along side the inboard wall panel to define a side wall structure with a concealed storage space located between the inboard and outboard wall panels. The storage space is accessible via the access opening. The door panel moves between a closed position overlaying the access opening concealing the storage space and an opened position exposing the storage space. The storage bin is coupled to the door panel for movement therewith such that with the door panel in the closed position the storage bin is disposed within the storage space and with the door panel in the opened position the storage bin at least partially extends out of the storage space.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle cargo sidewall structure. More specifically, the present invention relates to a sidewall structure of a pickup truck with a concealed storage compartment within the side wall structure.
2. Background Information
For many years, vehicles such as pickup trucks have been provided with add-on tool boxes or storage boxes that are installed in the cargo bed area of the pickup truck. Such storage boxes typically include locking latches and therefore provide some security for expensive tools and/or equipment stored within such storage boxes. However, a problem with such add-on storage boxes is that they reduce the overall capacity of the cargo bed area of the pickup truck.
In view of the above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that there exists a need for an improved storage box or storage compartment in the cargo bed area of a pickup truck that does not reduce the overall capacity of the cargo bed area. This invention addresses this need in the art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.

Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.


A two-sided illumination device including a printed wiring board, a first light source and first translucent member connected to a first side of the wiring board, and a second light source and second translucent member connected to a second side of the wiring board. The first translucent member is configured to transfer light from the first light source to a surface of the first translucent member, while the second translucent member is configured to transfer light from the second light source to a surface of the second translucent member. The illumination device is used for illuminating a user input region of an apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an electronic device and, more particularly, to illumination for an electronic device.
2. Brief Description of Prior Developments
As the features in mobile devices become more sophisticated, there is also need for user interfaces that can handle the increasing amounts of information that is needed with different applications. With traditional mechanical keypads/boards, one way to achieve this is to have different markings on the keys for different applications. This can be achieved by having different illuminations which reveal different keys.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0247944 ("Semiconductor Light Emitting Device with Flexible Substrate") describes attachment of multiple light emitting diodes (LEDs) to opposite sides of a flexible substrate (such as a flex printed wiring board (PWB), for example). However, as consumers demand increased functionality from electronic devices, there is a continuing need to provide improved devices having increased user input capabilities while maintaining robust and reliable product configurations.
Accordingly, there is a desire to provide an improved illumination configuration for an electronic device.


A medication dispensing apparatus having a manually operable plunger axially shiftable relative to the apparatus housing. The plunger is pullable relative to the housing in a proximal direction to cock the apparatus, and when the plunger is then manually pushed back toward the housing, a piston within a medicine container of the apparatus is shifted to force medication from a needle assembly at the distal end of the apparatus. The medication dispensing apparatus also includes a priming mechanism which is operated by rotating an externally accessible driver portion to prime the apparatus for use, which priming can be performed whether or not the apparatus is in a cocked state.

The present invention pertains to medication dispensing devices, and, in particular, to a portable medication dispensing device such as an injector pen.
Patients suffering from a number of different diseases frequently must inject themselves with medication. To allow a person to conveniently and accurately self-administer medicine, a variety of devices broadly known as injector pens or injection pens have been developed. Generally, these pens are equipped with a cartridge including a piston and containing a multi-dose quantity of liquid medication. A drive member, extending from within a base of the injector pen and operably connected with typically more rearward mechanisms of the pen that control drive member motion, is movable forward to advance the piston in the cartridge in such a manner to dispense the contained medication from an outlet at the opposite cartridge end, typically through a needle that penetrates a stopper at that opposite end. In disposable pens, after a pen has been utilized to exhaust the supply of medication within the cartridge, the entire pen is discarded by a user, who then begins using a new replacement pen. In reusable pens, after a pen has been utilized to exhaust the supply of medication within the cartridge, the pen is disassembled to allow replacement of the spent cartridge with a fresh cartridge, and then the pen is reassembled for it subsequent use.
For an injector pen to be used optimally, just prior to using the pen to inject oneself with medicine, a user should prime that pen. During priming, the pen is operated to shift the cartridge piston a sufficient distance to force any air from the cartridge and to shift the cadge piston a sufficient distance to force any air from the cartridge and needle and cause medicine to reach the exposed distal or forward tip of the needle, such that the subsequent injecting use of the pen in fact delivers the volume of medicine the pen is arranged to deliver. Some users, however, fail to so prime the pen, resulting in an injecting of less medicine than presumably intended by the user.
One possible explanation for the failure to prime is that the design of most injector pens does not assist the user in conceptually distinguishing a priming step from a dose injecting step. In particular, the priming step typically involves setting the pen to deliver a small dose, operating the pen without injecting the user but otherwise in the same manner as would be performed during user injection, and then repeating these steps if necessary, until priming has been accomplished. Then, during the dose injecting step, the dose is actually set in exactly the same way as in the priming step but typically in a larger quantity, and then the pen is used to inject the medicine into the user.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,961,495 discloses an injection pen in which the priming control mechanism is by outward appearances distinct from the mechanism used to actually set and then inject the selected dose into a user. Dose setting and injection is accomplished with a dose knob at the proximal end of the pen housing. The dose knob is rotatable to set one of a number of dose quantities which are possible to select. Injection of the set dose is accomplished by pulling out the dose knob, and then pushing the knob in after the pen has been manipulated such that its injection needle has penetrated the user's skin. The priming mechanism utilizes a manually operable priming control sleeve that is spaced from the dose knob. The priming control sleeve is connected to the internal drive mechanism of the pen such that the sleeve can be manually rotationally pivoted back and forth as necessary to prime the pen in anticipation of the injection operation. While perhaps functional, this design is not without its shortcomings. For one thing, the adjustability in the setting of the dose to be injected results in a relatively complicated pen design, which may undesirably increase the cost of manufacture and assembly of the pen. The back and forth ratcheting action of the priming control sleeve possibly required to achieve pen priming also may be confusing or not intuitive to some users, who might therefore fail to prime the pen completely. In addition, the dose setting capacity of the pen is a potential source of dosing errors as the user who intends to inject the same quantity of medicine as injected the last time the pen was used may fail to pay proper attention to the dose actually set, which set dose may be different than what was set previously as a result of an inadvertent switching since the prior use.
Thus, it would be desirable to provide an apparatus that overcomes these and other shortcomings of the prior art.

Medication dispensing apparatus configured for rotate to prime and pull/push to inject functionality


A facility for conditioning people for transition between different gravitational environments. The facility comprises a static cylindrical vessel and a revolving cylindrical habitat within the vessel. Within the revolving habitat are supported a number of habitation levels formed or derived from concave-up circular paraboloids, each shaped and sized so as to produce local net acceleration vectors orthogonal to its upper surface. On any one such surface, the local net acceleration magnitudes within a certain band of radii from the axis of revolution of the habitat will approximate that of the native acceleration present in a particular environment, such as Mars or the Earth. Living areas may be constructed on these surfaces, particularly within the target zones. Access to the habitation levels is provided by a central elevator shaft and system. The habitat is supported hydraulically and caused to revolve by hydromechanical swirling applied at its bottom surface. The preferred embodiments are designed for installation either on or below the surface of a planetary body.

This invention relates to an artificial gravity generation system for human habitation in which higher gravities are simulated from within a reduced gravity environment. More particularly, it relates to an artificial gravity system for use in other than zero gravity environments, such as exist on the Moon and on planetary surfaces.
Increasing attention has been given over the history of manned space exploration to the fact that prolonged human exposure to reduced gravity or zero gravity environments results in cumulative physiological degeneration. Results from record-setting stays in orbit by Soviet astronauts have documented effects such as muscle atrophy, bone decalcification and fluid imbalances. The most widely accepted means of treating and preventing such effects is through exposure to artificial gravity.
In the literature of space exploration, including science fiction, various artificial gravity systems are described such as rotating space stations. These systems are designed for use in zero gravity and are therefore not applicable to planetary surfaces. Swinging-arm accelerators for test and conditioning of astronauts are well known, but would be impractical for use in a prolonged conditioning process taking several days, weeks or even months. Such accelerators are of limited capacity and are not designed to accommodate groups of people. Access to and from them requires stopping the rotation of the chamber, and their operation typically requires continual operator attendance and a certain element of physical danger.
Considering a projection of current space technology in the absence of the present invention, astronauts exploring a planetary surface such as Mars or the Moon would have to periodically return to orbit, enter a rotating space station or a rotating transit vehicle to maintain conditioning for Earth gravity, stay several days and finally return to the planetary surface to continue their work. The costs in time and fuel using such a procedure would quickly mount to prohibitive proportions. A need therefore exists for a facility and readily accessible means local to the planetary surface for the treatment of prolonged exposure to reduced gravity.
The invention comprises a static cylindrical containment vessel oriented vertically with respect to its axis of symmetry and a similarly oriented revolving cylindrical habitat within the vessel. Within the revolving inner habitat and attached to its sides, top and bottom are supported a number of habitation levels formed or derived from concave-up circular paraboloids, each shaped and sized in concert with the selected frequency of revolution of the habitat and the ambient vertical acceleration of the service environment so as to produce local net acceleration vectors along their upper/inner surfaces which are orthogonal to these surfaces. A target zone is defined as a band of radii along any one such living surface, taken perpendicularly from the axis of revolution, within which the local net acceleration vectors are within plus or minus ten percent in magnitude of the acceleration magnitude present in one of the target environments the facility is designed to simulate. An astronaut visiting Mars from the Earth for example, would benefit from a target zone in a facility on Mars encompassing plus and minus g/10, where g is the acceleration of gravity at the surface of the Earth. The upper/inner surfaces of the habitation levels may be configured to provide living areas for prolonged residence. Access to, from and between the habitation levels is provided by a central elevator shaft and system. The rotating habitat is supported hydraulically and caused to revolve by hydromechanical swirling applied to baffles on its bottom surface. The entire facility may be installed on the surface or below the surface of a planetary body, or elsewhere as desired for the particular application.
Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a gravity differential conditioning facility for groups of humans, for installation in the reduced gravity environment of a planetary body such as Mars or the Moon.
It is another object of this invention to provide a facility for gravity differential conditioning for those visiting or transitioning from any one gravitational environment to any other, natural or artificial.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide physical therapy patients, athletes or other physical trainees with a facility for enhancing or supplementing their conditioning regime or therapy in a higher gravity environment than might otherwise be available.
A further object of this invention is to serve as a unique and educational amusement apparatus.
The attainment of these and related objects may be achieved through the use of the novel facility described herein. Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the study of the following portion of the specification, the claims and the attached drawings.

Gravity differential conditioning facility and method of use


The invention discloses a method for enhancing stability of communication between a contactless card and a card reader, relating to communication field. In the method, the card reader initiates time-out timing and a receiver, waits for receiving data, when the time-out does not happen and sub-carrier wave is detected, the card reader stops time-out timing, receives data and determines whether there is frame error in the received data frame, if yes, discards the data frame and goes on time-out timing; otherwise, determines whether CRC check and/or parity check of the data frame is correct, if the CRC check and/or the parity check of the data frame are correct, determines whether there is other error in the data frame, if there is other error in the data frame, discards the data frame and goes on time-out timing; if there is not other error in the data frame, shuts down the receiver and sends the received data to a host; or if the CRC check and/or the parity check of the data frame are not correct, determines whether length of the data frame is smaller than preset byte, if length of the data frame is smaller than preset byte, discards the data frame and goes on time-out timing; if length of the data frame is not smaller than preset byte, determines whether the data frame is integrate, if the data frame is integrate, shuts down the receiver; if the data frame is not integrate, discards the data frame and goes on time-out timing.

A contactless card is a new type smart card in combination with RF (radio frequency) technology and IC card technology. Except for functions owned by a contact ID card and a contact IC card, for the contactless card, it does not need a power supply, but acquires power supply by induction from magnetic field of a card reader through its receiving antenna, processes data and feeds back to the card reader. Compared with a contact IC card, the contactless card has advantages of high reliability, simple operation, anti-conflict, more applications adaptability and well encryption performance and therefore it is widely used.
The inventors find at least the following shortcomings in the prior art in process of implementing the invention: the present communication between a contactless card reader and a contactless card is easy to be interrupted by outside RF and thus has weaker stability, and after the two sides receive wrong data frames, exception handling with the mistake will be directly executed, such as error reporting and resending etc., which results in lower success rate when receiving data for more times in interrupted circumstance.

Method for enhancing stability of communication between a contactless card and a card reader


A method and system of irradiating a liquid-carrying container for inspection, including rotating the container, its contents or both around a rotation axis and irradiating the container with an electromagnetic radiation beam, wherein the irradiated cross-section of the container, irradiated by the electromagnetic radiation beam, is less than the cross-section of the container; and, a method and system for inspecting a liquid-carrying container for one or more test parameters of the container, the contents of the container, or both, including rotating the container, the contents or both around a rotation axis, irradiating the container with an electromagnetic radiation beam from a first direction along an irradiation center plane substantially parallel to the rotation axis, capturing a representation of a section of the container from a second direction along a detection center plane substantially parallel to the rotation axis, and processing the representation, wherein the irradiated cross-section of the container, irradiated by the electromagnetic radiation beam, is less than the cross-section of the container.

Several methods and apparatuses for inspecting containers and the contents thereof are known in the art. Particularly in the field of manufacture and distribution of medicaments the tolerances regarding the number of contaminated entities or imperfect containers are zero or at least very low. Hence the requirements regarding, e.g., inspection systems for such manufacture processes are high, and there is often a noticeable dependency between the quality of the inspection system, especially its false rejection rate, i.e. the number of flawless entities falsely rejected, and the profit obtainable from the process.
Regarding inspection of substantially transparent liquids contained in transparent containers, several disclosures of particle detection by measuring the amount of light penetrating the container exist. U.S. Pat. No. 3,598,907 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,777,169 thus disclose illuminating a transparent liquid-filled container from beneath, and filming it from the side while the liquid, and any foreign particles, rotate around its vertical axis. The illumination is, however, not very good in the top end of the container opposite to the illumination source, and especially for contents not fully transparent, e.g. suspensions or more or less opaque liquids, the detection rate is low. U.S. Pat. No. 4,095,904, U.S. Pat. No. 4,136,930 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,472,745, and European patent application no. EP 0 293 510 A2, disclose illuminating a transparent liquid-filled container from a direction opposite to the filming or detection direction, i.e. the container is illuminated from behind, and the measured amount of light penetrating the container is used to determined the existence of any foreign particles in the liquid. This method is, however, not optimal, and especially not for contents not fully transparent, e.g. suspensions or more or less opaque liquids, as the liquid or suspension serve as a light diffuser to the illumination, causing the picture of any particle to be so blurred that it may not be detected.
PCT application WO 92/14142 discloses an inspection apparatus where the liquid-filled container is illuminated from an angle between 90 degrees and 180 degrees relative to the direction of detection, and where the detection is made by means of a vertical line scanner. The liquid and any foreign particles therein, rotate around the container's vertical axis, while the container itself is fixed. This inspection apparatus is capable of detecting particles in transparent and, to some degree, more or less opaque liquids, e.g. suspensions. The illumination method of that application has however proved to be non-optimal due to limited optical dynamic range, as, e.g., a suspension acts as an ideal diffuser to the illumination, thereby causing any particle to be very uniformly illuminated and thereby avoids shadows. A particle is thus only detectable if the difference between its colour, e.g. light grey for glass particles and dark grey for opaque particles, and the colour of the diffuse, medium grey background is sufficiently significant.

Method and system for irradiating and inspecting liquid-carrying containers


A camshaft timing device includes a camshaft 10 and a drive gear 20 rotatably mounted thereon. An interconnecting shifting shaft 30 has spline 31 and 33 that interconnect with respective splines 16 and 41 on the camshaft and a hub of a drive gear 20. Axial movement of the shaft 30 causes the shaft to rotate the camshaft 30 with respect to the drive gear 20 due to the helical nature of the splines 33 and 41. The axial movement of the shaft 30 is caused by a drive sleeve 50 connected to a pinion gear that is driven through a worm gear 63 by an electric motor 67.

For use in powering a vehicle, an internal combustion engine must react to a variety of operating conditions to effectively provide desired performance. A technique to achieve such desired performance involves a system to selectively adjust the timing or phasing of the opening and closing of the engine's valves relative to rotation of the engine's crankshaft. Selective control of the intake valves is particularly effective. Likewise, particularly as concerns diesel engines, selective control of the timing of a fuel injection pump offers distinct advantages.
Known devices include sections of two rotating shafts being machined with splines with at least one of the shafts having helical splines. Another connecting shaft or shifting sleeve engages one rotating shaft with the other rotating shaft and has two sets of splines designed to mesh with the respective rotating shafts. The relative rotation between the rotating shafts and the connecting shaft may take place simultaneously with otherwise high speed rotation of the entire assembly under engine load conditions.
In known systems of the type previously discussed above, the shifting sleeve is typically activated by a large piston which may be coaxially mounted relative to the shifting sleeve. This piston is moved in a first axial direction by a force created by application of pressurized engine oil as directed to one end of the piston by control of a solenoid operated valve. When the force produced by the pressurized oil is absent, a return spring typically biases the piston in a second opposite axial direction. Thus, the aforedescribed known mechanism basically produces a two-position timing or phasing function. This means that the system is not capable of selectively producing a stable, intermediate position between the first and second end positions of the piston. The inability to achieve such a stable intermediate position compromises optimal valve timing of an engine. If the aforedescribed system attempts to achieve an intermediate position, the return spring provided to bias and return the piston to the first position is subjected to cam torque impulse forces which undesirably produce unintended changes in the timing or phasing.
Secondly, undesirable consequences can result from the use of pressurized engine oil as the actuating force for operating the prior variable valve timing systems described above. The rotation of the two shafts, including the camshaft and the piston actuator, tends to act as a centrifuge with respect to the oil and resultantly separate solids in the oil from the remaining liquid portion. These solids can be deposited adjacent the periphery of the actuator piston and accumulate sufficiently to eventually interfere with the smooth reciprocal operation of the actuator piston. Furthermore, seals for containing the oil will wear and then the mechanism likely will develops either internal or external oil leaks. In addition, operation of this type of oil pressure actuated mechanism under cold conditions can be very sluggish due to the high viscosity of the oil.
Ideally, a compact variable timing device or mechanism that selectively provides infinite timing or phasing changes is sought. Such a mechanism would be desirable for timing an engine camshaft with respect to the engine's crankshaft for achieving a true variable valve timing system. The ideal mechanism would also be desirable for timing or phasing an input shaft of an engine distributing type fuel injection pump as is commonly used for diesel or other direct injection type engines, thus providing selectively timed fuel injection. In either application, what is needed is a shaft timing mechanism that can be either retarded or advanced relative to the crankshaft in a precise fashion in response to operating conditions of the engine.

Shaft phase control mechanism with an axially shiftable splined member


A satellite signal reception device can reliably execute a satellite signal reception process. The satellite signal reception device has a reception time setting unit 71 that sets a reception time; a timekeeping unit that keeps internal time; and a scheduled reception control unit 72 that executes a time-based reception process that operates the reception unit when the time kept by the timekeeping unit reaches the reception time. By having a scheduled reception control unit 72, the reception process can be executed when the internal time goes to the reception time set by the reception time setting unit 71. The reception process is therefore executed once a day. The satellite signal reception process can therefore be executed reliably without being affected by how the device is used, the season, weather, or other factors.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a satellite signal receiving device that determines the current position and adjusts the time based on signals received from positioning information satellites such as GPS satellites, and to an electronic device.
2. Related Art
Electronic devices that receive satellite signals from GPS (Global Positioning System) satellites and perform positioning and time adjustment operations are known from the literature. See, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Appl. Pub. JP-A-2008-39565.
When the electronic device is a device, such as a wristwatch, that moves with the user, the electronic device could conceivably move to an environment where satellite signals cannot be received, such as indoors or an underground mall.
If the reception process is executed in such an environment where satellite signals cannot be received, power is wasted. Reducing current consumption and avoiding wasteful reception processes are particularly important in battery-powered electronic devices such as wristwatches to assure sufficient duration time and reduce the battery size.
JP-A-2008-39565 therefore describes providing a solar panel in the electronic device, determining if the electronic device is outdoors by comparing the power output of the solar panel with a threshold value for determining if the electronic device is indoors or outdoors, and performing the reception process if determined to be outdoors.
However, solar panel power output corresponds to the illuminance of the light incident to the solar panel. It was therefore thought that an indoor/outdoor determination could be made by obtaining the power output corresponding to the illuminance when the electronic device is outdoors during the day and the illuminance when indoors, and setting the threshold value to differentiate between these power output levels.
However, even if the electronic device is outdoors, power output may not exceed the threshold value depending on the operating conditions of the electronic device. For example, when the electronic device having the satellite signal receiving device is a wristwatch, power output may not exceed the threshold value even though the electronic device is outdoors if the solar cell is covered by a sleeve, for example. Depending upon the season or the weather, power output may also not exceed the threshold value even though the electronic device is outdoors because direct sunlight is not incident or is weak.
Because the reception process may not be executed for a long time in this situation, the internal time cannot be adjusted based on time information acquired by receiving satellite signals, and the accuracy of the displayed time may drop. Being able to reliably execute the satellite signal reception process is therefore desirable.

Satellite signal receiving device and electronic device


The present invention, in illustrative embodiments, includes methods and devices for reducing power consumption in a thermostat by adjusting pulse levels (duration and/or voltage) that are used to control an HVAC relay in light of variations of ambient conditions or other relay conditions. In some illustrative embodiments, an ambient condition is observed using existing thermostat features, such as, for example, a temperature sensor, and used to adjust pulse parameters.

Consumers of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) control systems, particularly thermostats that may be placed in visible locations, have become more demanding as technology has advanced. Newer systems are expected to be compact, accessible, and low maintenance. Further, ease and cost of installation remains important. These factors have, in part, led to wider use of battery controlled thermostats. With the use of batteries, energy conservation within the thermostat itself has become important. Any step taken to reduce power consumption in a thermostat is an opportunity to improve existing devices.


The present invention provides a glass composition for hermetically sealing to high thermal expansion materials such as aluminum alloys, stainless steels, and copper alloys, which includes between about 10 and about 25 mole percent Na.sub.2 O, between about 10 and about 25 mole percent K.sub.2 O, between about 4 and about 15 mole percent Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, between about 35 and about 50 mole percent P.sub.2 O.sub.5, B.sub.2 O.sub.3 in a concentration not exceeding 10 mole percent, and MXO in a concentration not exceeding 12 mole percent, wherein MXO is a metal oxide selected from the group consisting of PbO, BaO, CaO and MgO or a mixture thereof. This composition is suitable to hermetically seal to components for use in RF-interconnection applications.

This invention relates generally to glass compositions and more particularly to a high-thermal-expansion, high-durability glass with a sufficiently low dielectric constant to be suitable for use in hermetically-sealed, radio-frequency (RF) applications.
Typically, high reliability RF circuits are packaged in hermetically-sealed steel housings to protect the circuits from corrosive environments and humidity. These sealed housings use electrical interconnections that are also hermetic that penetrate the housing, and are needed to transfer electrical signals into and out of the housing. Hermetic RF-feedthrough interconnections are usually incorporated to transfer the high-frequency electrical signals. The RF interconnections generally comprise an electrically-conductive center conductor pin, an outer electrically conductive housing, and an electrically insulating material, such as an insulating glass, hermetically sealed to the center conductor and the outer housing. These interconnections are typically manufactured from weldable stainless steels and high-temperature, silicate-based, insulating glasses that require sealing temperatures above 900.degree. C. The RF interconnections are installed into the hermetically-sealed housings, which are also made of steel. These packages are used in aerospace applications, such as communications satellites, microwave communications equipment, and military communications and radar systems which require a hermetic seal to avoid contamination and corrosion of the RF devices inside. Being made of steel, these packages contribute to the heavy and undesirable weight of the final application assembly.
Aluminum alloy connectors and housings, being of lighter-weight, are preferred but have not been used for these hermetic assemblies because, heretofore, direct, weldable, hermetic, RF connections with suitable electrical and chemical durability properties joined with aluminum bodies could not be made. A hermetically-sealed, aluminum, RF interconnection must employ an insulating material with both suitable chemical properties and suitable electrical properties. In particular, the dielectric constant of the material must be sufficiently low to permit use in RF applications.
Previous RF connections were generally either made with steel bodies or made with aluminum bodies with a transition joint made of steel between the insulating glass and the aluminum body. The transition joint is a seal made between steel or iron-nickel alloy rings and pins where the seal is explosively bonded to an aluminum ring and then welded into the aluminum housing package. The use of transition joints requires additional processing steps compared to the traditional manufacture of hermetic steel RF connections.
Sharp et al., in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,041,019 and 5,109,594, issued on Apr. 20, 1991 and May 5, 1992, respectively, describe a connector that utilizes a transition joint where a layer of steel is laser welded to a layer of aluminum, thus enabling a connector to be made that has substantially an aluminum alloy body. These inventions are hermetically sealed transition joints for use with a microwave package. The inventions are seals between steel or Kovar rings and pins. These seals are then explosively bonded to an aluminum ring, which is then welded into the aluminum package. Electronic signals are allowed to enter and exit the package via pins contained within the feed-throughs and power connectors. The feed-throughs contain a pin of desired metal surrounded by a bead of glass which is surrounded by a layer of cold rolled steel, stainless steel and/or iron-nickel alloy. This layer is laser-welded to a second layer of an aluminum alloy. The pin serves as an electrical connection to communicate with the electronic circuit inside the package. The glass provides electronic isolation between the pin and the package. Manufacture of these connectors with transition joints requires additional processing steps for making the steel-to-aluminum joint compared to connectors where the glass is directly attached to a steel or aluminum package. Moreover, the designed package is a microwave package and is not designed for RF applications, where the impedance must be closely matched along the entire connector length.
The reliability of the feed-through with a transition joint is typically very poor. Besides the difficulty of a good attachment during manufacture, these joints commonly fail upon thermal cycling. There are two recognized reasons. First, poor nickel and/or gold plating of the packages, feed-throughs and power connectors results in excessive leaching of the plated metals during soldering, thereby inhibiting soldering. The second reason is mismatched expansion between the aluminum or aluminum alloy of the package and the feed-throughs and power connectors. The coefficient of thermal expansion of aluminum/aluminum alloys is approximately 22.times.10.sup.-6 in/C/in vs that of cold rolled steel and stainless steel at approximately 12-18.times.10.sup.-6. This mismatch in expansion during thermal cycling creates stresses which causes loss of the hermeticity and expensive rework and repeat of testing. In frequent situations upon multiple recurrence, the package becomes useless and is discarded.
Viret et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,367,125, issued on Nov. 22, 1994, describe an hermetic connector consisting of an aluminum shell, a phosphate-based glass seal and a Cu/Be connecting pin. The connectors described utilize a vitreous or glass material with a required modifying agent for increasing the working temperature range of the glass material. Various embodiments of the invention require pre-oxidation of the aluminum body in a toxic chromic acid bath and Ni-plating and pre-oxidation of the conducting Cu/Be pin. The glass material composition comprises approximately 20 to 50 mole percent of Na.sub.2 O, approximately 5 to 30 mole percent of BaO, approximately 0.5 to 3 mole percent of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and approximately 40 to 60 mole percent of P.sub.2 O.sub.5. The embodiments are designed for electrical applications, rather than RF applications.
Compositions formed from glass and ceramics for sealing to molybdenum are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,957,496, issued to R. J. Eagan on May 18, 1976, and for sealing to stainless steel are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,135,936, issued to C. P. Ballard, Jr., on Jan. 23, 1979. These compositions each require temperatures in excess of 900.degree. C. to form the seal. The high seal-forming temperatures of these compositions preclude their use in practice with aluminum and aluminum-alloys, since the seal-forming temperatures are greater than the melting points of these metals.
Wilder, Jr., in U.S. Pat. No. 4,202,700, issued on May 13, 1980, discloses a glassy composition adaptable for hermetically sealing to aluminum-based alloys. The composition may either be employed as a glass or glass-ceramic and includes from about 10 to about 60 mole percent Li.sub.2 O, Na.sub.2 O, or K.sub.2 O, from about 5 to about 40 mole percent BaO or CaO, from 0.1 to 10 mole percent Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and from 40 to 70 mole percent P.sub.2 O.sub.5. Although this composition has a thermal expansion coefficient which closely matches the thermal expansion coefficient of stainless steel, its aqueous durability or dissolution rate is relatively poor. This characteristic precludes its use in applications which require long operating lifetimes in humid environments.
Some progress has been made in developing a glass that can be hermetically sealed to materials such as aluminum alloys. Brow et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,262,364, issued on Nov. 16, 1993, describe a glass composition for hermetically sealing to high thermal expansion materials such as aluminum alloys, stainless steels, copper, and copper/beryllium alloys. The composition includes between about 10 and about 25 mole percent Na.sub.2 O, between about 10 and about 25 mole percent K.sub.2 O, between about 5 and about 15 mole percent Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, between about 35 and about 50 mole percent P.sub.2 O.sub.5, and between about 5 and about 15 mole percent of one of PbO, BaO, and mixtures thereof. The composition may also include between 0 and about 5 mole percent Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 and between 0 and about 10 mole percent B.sub.2 O.sub.3.
The dielectric constant of the insulator material used to make any coaxial RF interconnection is important since the dielectric constant, .kappa., technically derived from the electrical relative permittivity of the material, controls the electrical characteristic impedance of the interconnection for a given physical geometry.
The electrical Characteristic Impedance (Z.sub.0) of a coaxial geometry RF interconnection is inversely proportional to the dielectric constant and directly proportional to diameter of the interconnection, as given by the relationship,
Z.sub.0 .varies..sqroot..kappa. log.sub.10 (D.sub.l/.sub.o) PA1 where:
______________________________________ Z.sub.0 is the Characteristic Impedance of the geometry; .kappa. is the dielectric constant of the insulator material; D.sub.i is the inner diameter of the outer conductor; d.sub.o is the outer diameter of the inner conductor. ______________________________________
Therefore, given a constant center conductor diameter and desired Characteristics Impedance (e.g., 50 ohms), a higher dielectric constant means that the outer conductor must have a larger diameter and the overall weight of the RF interconnection will increase. Advantageous are therefore glasses that can be sealed to aluminum alloys and that have low dielectric constants.
To make a direct, weldable, hermetic RF interconnection with aluminum bodies, insulating glass compositions are required that can be sealed to the aluminum at temperatures below the melting point of aluminum alloys, that have thermal expansion coefficients that can be matched to the conducting pin material, that can be impedanced-matched to make a suitable RF interconnections and that have high chemical durability, mechanical strength and low gas permeability. The melting point of typical aluminum alloys is about 550.degree. C. compared to that of a conventional silicate glass which has a sealing temperature generally higher than about 1000.degree. C. Glass transition temperatures of less than approximately 450.degree. C. are desired. Furthermore, the thermal expansion coefficient of copper and copper-beryllium alloys preferred for high electrical conductivity pins is generally higher than that of conventional silicate glasses. Thermal expansion coefficients between about 160 and about 210.times.10.sup.-7 /.degree. C. are desired.

High thermal expansion sealing glass for use in radio frequency applications