A method is described for making an emulsion in which a mixture is formed containing a polysiloxane and a primary nonionic surfactant having an HLB value of 10 to 19. There is added to the mixture a first portion of surfactant free water gradually in a series of separate incremental steps. This is followed by the addition to the mixture of a secondary nonionic surfactant having an HLB value of 1.8-15. The mixture is stirred until the particle size of the polysiloxane in the mixture is in the range of 1-100 microns. A second portion of water is added to the mixture in an amount sufficient to provide a total content of water in the product of 25-65 percent by weight.

The invention relates to a silicone emulsion and to a method of making the silicone emulsion. A process is described in which a particular sequence of manipulative steps has been found to produce certain emulsion compositions possessing a particle size of silicone in the emulsion in the range of one to one hundred microns, in contrast to processes in which the particle size of the silicone in the emulsion has been limited to less than about 0.35 microns.
A process for making polysiloxane emulsions is described in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/844067 filed Mar. 2, 1992, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/534827 filed Jun. 7, 1990 and now abandoned. The parent application has been published as European Patent Application Publication Number 0 463 431 A2 on Jan. 2, 1992. Each of the three applications are assigned to the same assignee as the present invention.
In the process according to the copending prior application, a silicone oil-in-water emulsion is formed mechanically by forming initially a thick phase emulsion by combining and shearing the silicone, a nonionic surfactant having an HLB value of 10-19, and water. To the thick phase emulsion there is subsequently added another nonionic surfactant but one having an HLB value of 1.8-15.0, together with optional anionic and cationic surfactants. The mixture is sheared to reduce the particle size of the silicone oil in the emulsion to less than 0.35 microns (350 nanometers), and water is added to provide a content of silicone in the emulsion of 1-60 percent by weight.
While such techniques have been found to be effective, the application of these silicone emulsions in personal care applications is limited due to the small particle size of the silicone in the emulsion. According to the present invention, a similar technique has been discovered but which possesses the advantage of producing emulsions better suited for use in products for the personal care market. Thus, emulsions resulting from the process according to the present invention have a particle size of silicone oil in the emulsion of 1-100 microns in contrast to the emulsions described in the copending application which possess a particle size of less than 0.35 microns.
The basis for making an emulsion is to stabilize the silicone oil in water in which the silicone is insoluble. The oil particles are stabilized by adding surfactants to the system. The choice and amount of surfactants used becomes critical in determining the type of emulsion formed (oil-in-water vs. water-in-oil), the particle size, its uniformity and stability.
The particle size of an emulsion has an effect on the end use. For many applications, emulsions need not be destabilized in order to be effective. For hair care applications, especially for use as conditioners, either in conditioning shampoos or as conditioners in a rinse, the effectiveness of the emulsion depends on the amount of silicone that is deposited on to the hair. The higher the particle size, the faster the destabilization or breaking of the emulsion, thus increasing the deposition of the silicone on the hair.
Blends of a very high viscosity silicone polymer gum, with a low viscosity silicone fluid (5 to 1000 cs) have the advantage over other polymers in giving good conditioning effects. This is due to the fact that by mixing silicone gums with a fluid, the gum can be uniformly spread on the surface in a monolayer, giving good feel and softness to the surface of the substrate (hair). Incorporation of such high viscosity silicones into a shampoo is very difficult and cumbersome. By making an emulsion of the silicone gum/fluid blend, many of the difficulties associated with mixing into a shampoo can be avoided. The emulsion can be simply added to the shampoo and mixed by simple stirring.

Method of manufacturing silicone emulsions


A light guide plate receives light emitted from the light source, and emits the light from a light emitting surface. A prism sheet reflects light at a predetermined angle among the light emitted from the light emitting surface, allows the reflected light to enter the light guide plate, and transmits light at another angle. A polarization control element is provided between a 1/4 wavelength plate and a reflection-type liquid crystal display element so as to be parallel to the light emitting surface. The polarization control element splits the light emitted from the 1/4 wavelength plate into first polarized light allowed to transmit as illumination light that enters the reflection-type liquid crystal display element and second polarized light reflected so as to enter the light guide plate, and reflects the light modulated and emitted by the reflection-type liquid crystal display element toward an imaging lens.

The present disclosure relates to a display device using a reflection-type liquid crystal display element.
In recent years, a digital single-lens reflex camera, on which an electronic viewfinder using a liquid crystal display device is mounted, has been on sale. In the Micro Four Thirds System standard employed in the digital single-lens reflex camera, a conventional optical viewfinder cannot be used, and an electronic viewfinder is used. In Japanese Patent No. 3539904 (Patent Literature 1), a reflection-type liquid crystal display device to be used as the electronic viewfinder is described.


An image forming apparatus includes: a main casing; a cartridge; a belt unit; and a fixing unit. The cartridge includes a photosensitive drum. The main casing includes a first side plate and a second side plate, interposing the fixing unit therebetween. The belt unit includes: an endless belt; a first pivot shaft supported at the first side plate; a first arm; a second pivot shaft supported at the second side plate; and a second arm. The belt unit is movable between an internal position where the belt contacts the photosensitive drum and an external position where the belt separates from the photosensitive drum. The first arm is positioned outward of the first side plate and connects the first pivot shaft to the belt unit. The second arm is positioned outward of the second side plate and connects the second pivot shaft to the belt unit.

There is conventionally known an intermediate transfer type image forming apparatus as an electrophotographic type image forming apparatus. The intermediate transfer type image forming apparatus includes a process cartridge provided with a photosensitive drum, and a transfer belt in contact with the photosensitive drum. A toner image formed on the photosensitive drum is transferred onto the transfer belt, and then the toner image is transferred onto a sheet from the transfer belt.
One such image forming apparatus includes a process cartridge provided with a photosensitive drum and a developing unit, an intermediate transfer belt positioned above the process cartridge, a secondary transfer roller in contact with the intermediate transfer belt, and a fixing unit positioned upward of the secondary transfer roller.
In this image forming apparatus, the intermediate transfer belt is pivotally movable together with a top cover of a main casing of the image forming apparatus.

Image forming apparatus provided with belt unit pivotally movably supported at main casing


The present invention is related to the application of terpolymers based on alkyl acrylates as defoamers of gasified crude oils, with densities between 10 and 40° API. The evaluation of terpolymers based on alkyl acrylates at conditions similar to those of gas-liquid separators has shown that the terpolymers are efficient as inhibitors of the foam formation in heavy and super-heavy crude oil, abating the foam between 15 and 50% faster than in non-dosed crude oil (blank). Even some acrylic terpolymers exhibited a greater efficiency as defoamers than that of commercial silicon-based polymers, which promoting the defoaming only 20-25% faster than the blank collapse. The employ of silicones as defoamers presents serious problems as the formation of deposits and the deactivation of catalysts in the refining processes. This situation has provoked that refineries in Mexico and a worldwide ban the application of this kind of inorganic polymers, and new silicon-free defoaming agents are required. Therefore, the new silicon free defoamers object of this invention represent an advantageous option to replace the silicon based defoamers employed nowadays by the petroleum industry.

Crude oil is extracted along with natural gas, which provokes the formation of foam of great physicochemical complexity. These foams cause operational problems along of extraction and transport process of crude oil such as: low productivity of wells, transport pumps cavitation (Fallin et al., 1971), deposit formation, liquid drag into gas streams, gas and water drag into streams of crude oil and reduction in separators capacity (Wylde et al., 2008). The formation of foam in the crude oil streams could cause a flooding of separation equipment and containers, as well as reduction of the operational capacity. Studies carried out by Poindexter et al. have shown that oil foams become more stable by increasing the following parameters:
1) Density of crude oil.
2) Viscosity of crude oil.
3) Resins and asphaltenes amount in crude oil (Poindexter et al., 1, 2002).
4) Asphaltene dispersion grade in crude oil (Poindexter et al., 2, 2002).
Obviously, all these physicochemical parameters are increased by decreasing the API gravity and becoming more heavy the crude oil. This explains because the problems of foaming are particularly critical in case of heavy and super-heavy crude oils.
The serious drawbacks associated to the formation of foams in the crude oil have been controlled by the use of chemical compounds of surfactant type, with an amphiphilic molecular structure, knowing as antifoaming agents. To be dissolved in crude oil, the antifoaming agents inhibit the formation of foams or, if these are already present in the system, cause them collapse. It has been observed that a good antifoaming agent should be very little soluble in crude oil, not cause sudden gradients in the gas/crude oil interfacial tension, must be resistant to temperature changes and the degradation caused by other chemical agents, as well as the attacks of oxidation reactions (Prud'homme R. et al., 1996).
Inhibition of the formation of foams in crude oils is a multifactorial problems of great complexity. The literature on the subject reports that an antifoaming agents needs to penetrate the gas/oil interface and disperse over the surface of crude oil (Blute et al, 1994). Also it has pointed out that the presence of heteroatoms, as the oxygen atom, favors the accommodation of surfactants agents at the interface of crude oil system (Ruiz-Morales and Mullins, 2015). The presence of heteroatoms could be seen in the products commercially employed as antifoams for crude oils, such as silicones and fluorosilicones, phosphate esters, fatty acid metallic surfactants, amides, polyglycols, glycol esters, polyethers, fatty acid esters and alcohols (Prud'homme et al., 1996). Among these stand out the siloxanes due to their high antifoaming capacity, which are dossed in concentrations around 10 ppm or even less. However, it has been shown that the massive use of silicon-based defoamers causes very serious problems, such as the poisoning of catalyst in the hydrodesulphurisation process, as well as the formation of deposits in ducts and installations.
The technical literature shows that silicone (dimethyl polysiloxane) has been used since 1940s to inhibit the formation of foam. In U.S. Pat. No. 2,702,793 is reported the application of a mixture of dimethylsilicone and amyltriethoxysilane to inhibit the foam formation in stream crude oils. Similarly, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,862,885 is described the use of a monovinilalkoxysilane as defoamer in crude oil. In the other hand, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,005,044 is disclosed the use of a dimethylpolysiloxane liquid as antifoaming agent in a solution of emulsifying agent.
With the purpose of improving the performance of polysiloxanes as defoamers, chemical modifications have been carried out to these polymers. A chemical modification is to obtain copolymers such as linear copolymer of fluoro-alkyl polysiloxane, as is marked in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,329,528, with a composition from 20 to 70 mol % of fluorosilicone, displaying a great performance at high temperatures (in the range from 25 to 370° C.) and good solubility in crude oil. This copolymer is employed in the crude oil reserves as a method to inhibit or suppress the foaming formation, adding at least 1 ppm of this defoamer agent (Evans, 1982).
International Patent WO 97/38067 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,001,140A is described the usage of copolymers, which have a base structure constituted by polysiloxane and over which is drafted an organic group, mainly a polymer with MDxD′yD″zM formula, where M is O0.5Si(CH3)3, D is a OSi(CH3)2, D′ is OSi(CH3)R and D″ is OSi(CH3)R′. Simultaneously, R is a polyhydric organic group C6-C28, whereas R′ is a phenol derivative or an aliphatic long-chain group.
Cassani F. et al. has reported studies at laboratory and field level about the evaluation of six commercial silicon-based antifoaming agents in crude oils of medium density (21 a 27° API), likewise the optimal dosages to curb the foam generated in separation equipment. Optimal dosages in a range between 0.01 and 1 ppm were found at laboratory level for these silicon-based antifoaming agents (formulation containing between 2 and 4% of silicon in kerosene as solvent) in medium crude oil of 26.3° API. These dosages were also verified a field level.
Due to operational drawbacks relating to silicon-based products, for some time new alternatives without silicon compounds have been sought, to evaluate them as defoamer agents in crude oil. Such defoamer agents called "silicon-free" are organic compounds consisting essentially of sulphates and phosphates (Hart, 1992), vegetal (Hart, 1994) and animal oils (Hart, 1995), polyisobutylene compounds (Hart, 1995 and Hart, 1998), polypropylene oxide/polyethylene oxide block copolymers (Hart, 1998) and mixtures of the previous ones.
Vegetal oils such as jojoba oil (Simmoridsia chinensis) and animal oils such as mink oil (Neovison vison) have been employed to control foam at high temperatures (150 to 500° C.) in hydrocarbon fluids during distillation and/or delayed coking processes of crude oil, as it is pointed out in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,296,132A and 5,389,299A, respectively. Effective dosages as antifoaming agents in the patents cited were in the range between 10 and 1000 ppm (Hart, 1994 and 1995) and because of the low viscosity of these products, they may be added in pure form or in solution. It must be stressed the high cost of using these compounds as agents for the conditioning of petroleum.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,472,637A and 5,800,738A describe the usage of high molar mass polyisobutylene (between 2000 and 2 000 000 Daltons) and low molar mass (320 Daltons) as defoamers in crude oil and/or derivatives of it.
Alkoxylated alkylphenolformaldehyde compounds with block copolymers of propylene oxide/ethylene oxide have also been made, with molar mass between 2000 and 6000 Daltons, to control the foam in hydrocarbon hydrocracking separation systems, in doses ranging from 15 to 1500 ppm, as stated in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,750,052A.
Some methods in drilling or well treatments have been developed to halt the formation or the breaking down of foam, where the treated fluid is a liquid which is added a defoamer agent. According to the antifoaming agent composition this may be useful in well conditioning (drilling fluids, foundation fluids, etc.). This addition prevents foaming and air drag during stirring, mixing or pumping of those fluids. The composition of these antifoaming agents comprises a carboxylic acid amide, a propylene glycol, and a fatty alcohol (C12-15) ethoxylated and propoxylated (Chatterji, 2007, 2009, 2011).
Rezende D. A., et al. have gauged the performances of commercial block copolymer poly (ethylene oxide)-poly (propylene oxide) and polysiloxanes grafted polyethers defoamer agents, in two crude oil samples with similar SARA compositions (saturated, aromatics, resins and asphaltenes analysis), as well as its density and viscosity (Danielle, 2011). Polysiloxanes grafted with polyethers groups showed the best performance as foam inhibitors in the crude oils.
Wylde J. has studied the formation of foam in crude oil from northern Alberta, Canada, with densities from 10 to 12° API. However, using the assessment method for foam formation described in his study (modification from standard ASTM D892-13 method) and due to the high viscosity of super-heavy crude oil selected to be evaluated (12° API), it was not feasible to create relevant foam levels to perform the evaluations of the antifoaming agents in study. To resolve this difficulty, a considerable amount of n-heptane was added to super-heavy crude oil, in order to create an artificial light crude oil with lower viscosity and to thus measure the foam inhibitory efficiency of the antifoaming agents. Certainly, the addition of n-heptane provokes asphaltenes loss in the crude oil. The defoamer agents studied were all silicon-free chemicals: compounds based on sulfates and phosphates, ethoxylated esters, polyethylene-glycol esters, ethoxylated alcohols (11 commercial chemicals obtained from market). In these field estimate mixtures of sulfonated salts and ethoxylated fatty alcohol adducts with ethylene oxide and propylene oxide showed to be effective as defoamers. One serious limitation of this study is that the mentioned chemicals are only effective as defoamers in deasphalted crude oil and not in real heavy crude oils.
Performance of various polyethers as antifoaming agents in heavy crude oil has recently described (Cortés, 2015), such as homopolymers and copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide. However, the foam suppressing capacity of these products is revealed to be low when are applied in gasified heavy crude oils.
In the case of polyacrylates or acrylic compounds, there are several references reporting their application to condition petroleum and its derivatives. However, their usage as defoamer agents has been focused on various types of oils derived from petroleum and not specifically on the control of foams of crude oil. The assessment of antifoaming acrylics in lubricating oils for internal combustion engines, lubricating oil pumps, hydraulic oils, etc. has been reported. The lubricants mentioned may be natural or synthetic (U.S. Pat. No. 3,166,508). Antifoaming acrylics are added to lubricating oils in dosages ranging from 10 to 50 ppm, although they show an adequate performance in some types of oils. It should be noted that U.S. Pat. No. 3,166,508 does not mention the usage of polyacrylates as antifoam agents of any crude oil conditioning process. Indeed, because the presence of high concentrations of resins and asphaltenes in crude oil, which does not occur in any lubricating oil, it is not possible to infer an antifoaming potential of acrylics applied in heavy or super-heavy crude oils. Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 3,166,508 does not report the enormous influence of the molecular mass adjustment of polyacrylates on their performance as antifoaming agents in specific samples of crude oil. Similarly, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,766,513A is disclosed the usage of combination of fluorosilicone-based antifoaming agent with one defoamer based on polyacrylate, which is effective to diminish the foam in lubricant oils at low and high temperatures. However, by themselves, neither fluorosilicone nor acrylic are efficient in reducing foam of lubricating oils at same assessment conditions. On the other hand, it has been reported that copolymers and terpolymers based on acrylic (mainly of monomers as alkyl methacrylates, where the alkyl radical contains a fluoroaliphatic group of 3 to 20 carbon atoms) have shown to inhibit the foaming in hydrocarbon lubricant oils, but not in crude oils. These copolymers and terpolymers based on acrylates are divulged in U.S. Pat. No. 7,700,527B2 and EP 102903061, respectively.
Among other applications of the polyacrylates as agents for crude oil conditioning, different of the foam formation inhibition, it could be mentioned their use as pour point depressor in paraffinic crude oils (in U.S. Pat. No. 3,951,929). Polyacrylates also have shown high performance as viscosity reducers in heavy crude oils, such as described in U.S. Patent 20110067295A1 (Castro, 2011). This viscosity-reducing capacity may partly explain the decrease in the stability of the thin lamellae separating the bubbles that make up the oil foam.
In 2013, searching an alternative to the use of silicon antifoaming agents for crude oils, a group of IMP researchers developed a series of acrylic homopolymers, which proved to be more efficient than the silicones as inhibitors and suppressing the formation of foam in heavy and super-heavy crude oils (MX/a/2013/014352). Acrylic structure, equipped with numerous oxygen atoms, is in accordance with the criteria designated by Ruiz Morales and Mullins, which refers to their ability to displace the asphaltenes in petroleum interfaces (Ruiz-Morales and Mullins, 2015). The use of polyacrylates not only allows to control the foams of crude oils, but also allows avoiding the formation of silicon compound deposits in ducts and installations, as well as preventing the deactivation of catalysts by silicones in processes of refining. These acrylic homopolymers could be combined together to obtain formulations with better antifoam properties than those of individual polyacrylate. It is also important to highlight the low cost of acrylics over silicon and other silicon-free defoamer products.
Later on, in 2013 was disclosed the development of new antifoams agents totally silicon-free based on acrylic copolymers (patent MX/E/2015/009234). Polyacrylates were synthesized by combining pairs of different acrylic monomers within a same polymeric chain. Acrylic copolymers synthesized by semicontinous emulsion polymerization were assessed in gasified heavy and super-heavy crude oils, exhibiting not only a higher antifoaming activity than the silicones and the commercial silicon-free antifoaming agents, but even the acrylic homopolymers of the patent application MX/a/2013/014352 (Cevada, 2015).
A new alternative for the control of foams in crude oils is the use of terpolymers based on acrylic, which is the subject of the present invention. These compounds consist of macromolecular chains composed of random sequences of three different acrylic structural units. Because the monomers have different reactivity, their addition to a chain in a homogenous way is not always ensured, polymers with long sequences of the same monomer could be obtained, which results in possible efficiency losses as antifoams. It is also possible that two of the monomers have a poor tendency to react with each other. To avoid these problems, it has been used synthesis procedures in semi-continuous reactor (Castro, 2011). The device used for the preparation of these new antifoaming agents consists of a main reactor, which is fed from an addition tank to a speed lower than the polymerization speed in the reactor. This way of addition prevents that the monomers are accumulated over the synthesis time, forcing them to incorporate instantaneously into the polymer chains. The continuity of the feed during the reaction allows ensuring that all polymeric chains maintain a constant composition of the three added acrylic monomers. New terpolymers based on alkylacrylates that are presented in this invention, have shown to be efficient as foam inhibitors in heavy and super-heavy crude oils with densities between 10 and 40° API, constituting an innovation based on the synthesis process protected by the patent application MX/a/2013/014352. It is important to remember that this polymerization process, based on semi-continuous emulsion polymerization techniques, hast the great advantage of using water as a dispersion medium instead of organic solvents, which are expensive and harmful to the environment. Additionally, antifoaming capacity of acrylic terpolymers has been evaluated in gasified crude oil (oil containing the natural gases that have dissolved in the oil during millions of years in the deposit), under conditions close to the real operational conditions of the gas/liquid separators employed in the oil industry. Thus, it has been rigorously demonstrated that acrylic terpolymers possess a marked efficiency as suppressors and inhibitor of foam, superior even in many cases to the polysiloxanes used to condition petroleum streams. Terpolymers based on acrylates additionally have the advantage of not generate inorganic deposits or deactivating the catalysts in the refining process.
Antifoaming agents based on acrylic terpolymers constitute a new option for inhibiting and suppressing foam in heavy and super-heavy crude oils, which are a suitable replacement for antifoaming agents based on silicone, and providing a solution to the problems facing by the industries of production, transport and refining of petroleum.

Formulation of terpolymers based on alkyl acrylates employed as antifoaming of gasified heavy and super-heavy crude oils


A gas/liquid mixture passes through a duct in which a filter device is interposed, the filter device being disposed such that its outlet duct is essentially vertical. The outlet duct opens out into a collecting enclosure placed above the filter device. A side outlet duct from the enclosure is disposed below the level of the liquid collected in the enclosure, a top portion collecting the gas given off above the level. The top portion communicates with the inlet of a jet which reinjects the gas into the outlet flow so as to form a homogeneous gas/liquid stream. The invention may be used, in particular, in the lubrication circuit of a vacuum pump having vanes and oil seals.

Such apparatus may be used, in particular, in the lubrication circuit of a vacuum pump having vanes and oil seals, in which circuit the lubricating oil is mixed with air so as to obtain a more elastic fluid avoiding knocking during the compression stages of the pump, and thereby reducing the operating noise thereof.
Such lubrication circuits are often equipped with a chemical or mechanical filter device through which the lubrication mixture passes via neutralizing and filter components. During the passage of the mixture, the speed of the stream is reduced, thereby giving rise to at least partial degassing of the oil. In currently-used filter devices, a pocket of air under pressure forms above the oil level, which pocket firstly reduces the effectiveness of the filter by making a portion of the filter component inactive, and secondly produces a heterogeneous stream of air and oil. The volume of the air pocket increases until the pocket reaches the level of the side outlet orifice through which the stream flows out. By then expanding inside the outlet duct, the air fills the outlet duct and creates a flow of air which alternates with the flow of oil. This causes the vacuum pump to operate irregularly, and produces noise.
An object of the invention is to remedy these drawbacks, and to provide apparatus producing a homogeneous flow of gas/liquid mixture at a regular flow-rate.

Apparatus for re-homogenizing a gas/liquid mixture


A position location system, apparatus, and method are disclosed. A wireless device includes a satellite positioning system (SPS) receiver and position location processor. The SPS receiver detects the availability of positioning signals and the position location processor determines an initial position of the wireless device based upon the positioning signals. A controller generates power saving events when the positioning signals are detected as being available. The controller determines the timing and duration of the power saving events. During a power saving event, the SPS receiver is deactivated and/or processing of the positioning signals is suspended to reduce power consumption of the wireless device. The initial position is updated based upon relative positioning information from one or more sensors during the power saving event. The controller activates the SPS receiver and resumes processing of the positioning signals following the power saving event.

In many applications it is advantageous to have the ability to determine a position of a wireless device. Position location capabilities may be helpful for navigation, tracking, or in the event of an emergency.
Advances in the performance of portable electronics, particularly advances in the performance of processors, have added to the demand for using-position location with a variety of wireless devices.
However, position location functions can consume substantial amounts of power and, in some cases, can significantly reduce the amount of time that a wireless device can be operated on battery power. This is because the same battery typically supplies-power for positioning functions as well as for other functions such as voice and data communications.
Since the position of a wireless device can change over time, it must be updated in order to remain accurate. For example, position may change rapidly when traveling in a car or riding a motorcycle. Infrequent updates may lead to large positioning errors. This can be especially detrimental for navigation or for position location in the event of an emergency.
Therefore, it is desirable to have a position location system, method, and apparatus that can reduce the power consumed for position location functions while maintaining a level of positioning accuracy.

GPS power savings using low power sensors


Electro-magnetic filter apparatus and method of operating to separate and remove oily magnetic solids from wastewaters. The filter apparatus includes a filter assembly having an electro-magnetic coil that encircles a canister. The canister has an interior space defined by a wall surface and a first perforated baffle spaced apart from a second perforated baffle. The interior space contains a ferromagnetic matrix comprising split ring lock washers. The feed side end portion of the canister communicates with the wastewater source that contains the oily magnetic solids, a wash-water supply, a pressurized air supply and a disposal stream. The discharge side end portion of the canister communicates with a recycling stream, the disposal stream and the wash-water supply. A feed side valve arrangement selectively introduces the wastewater into the feed side end portion of the canister during filtering operations, and selectively injects a pressurized air/wash-water mixture from the wash-water and pressurized air supply into the feed side end portion of the matrix canister during up-flow backwashing operations. The ferromagnetic matrix is fluidized by the pressurized air/wash-water mixture the during the up-flow backwashing. A discharge side valve arrangement selectively discharges clean effluent through the recycling stream during filtering or introduces water, from the wash-water supply, into the discharge end portion of the matrix canister during down-flow backwashing.

This invention is directed to apparatus and a method for removing oil-coated mill scale from wastewaters, and more particularly, it is directed to magnetically removing oil-bearing suspended solids from recirculating cooling waters in a Hot Strip Mill (HSM).
Large quantities of water are used at Hot Strip Mill operations. For example water is used as a coolant to control the temperature of the work rolls. Controlling roll temperature improves both service life and product quality. If allowed to go uncontrolled, excessive roll temperatures tend to reduce surface hardness in the work rolls and produce increased roll surface wear. Increased bearing failures also occur because of excessive roll temperatures. As roll temperature increases, the work roll expands along its longitudinal axis and exerts lateral forces against the bearing mechanisms. The increased lateral forces cause the bearings to wear prematurely.
Overheated work rolls also reduce product quality. As pointed out above, excessive roll temperatures causes dimensional instability as the work rolls expand under the higher temperatures. In addition to expanding longitudinally, overheated rolls also expand diametrically and thereby reduce the gap between the opposed work rolls. The increased roll diameter, or reduced roll gap, produces a finished product that is thinner than the desired thickness or gauge.
Water is also used in high pressure jet sprays located within the HSM. The high pressure jet sprays blast scale from the surface of the raw, unfinished product prior to its rolling. The jet sprays clean the hot steel surface to remove any scale buildup to prevent scale from becoming imbedded within the product surface during the rolling operation. The jet blasted mill scale and water fall into a flume or sluice, located beneath the mill stands, where they are mixed with other mill wastewaters and sediments such as thick lubricating oils, chips and debris. The wastewaters carry the accumulated oily mixture of mill scale and solids to a collection point where the wastewater is filtered for recycling back into the HSM cooling water stream.
Hot Strip Mill sediments comprise a thick oily mixture of iron oxides, ferrous chips and lubricants. Such oil-bearing solids are very difficult to filter from the collected wastewaters because they clog all known filter matrices In an attempt to develop effective filtration of HSM wastewaters, pilot tests were conducted at a 68 inch wide Hot Strip Mill using an "ERIEZ"2500 gauss high intensity magnetic filter. It appeared reasonable that magnetic filtration would be suitable for removing ferrous mill scale from the wastewaters. However, the pilot scale tests proved disappointing. A portion of the wastewater short circuited the Eriez filter matrix and produced much lower removal efficiencies than expected. In addition, the thick oily mill scale mixture adhered to the filter matrix causing it to clog. This further reduced the removal rate by causing an even greater flow of wastewater to short circuit the matrix.
Various known backwashing procedures were tried in an attempt to purge the oily solids from the clogged filter matrix. The backwashing attempts proved to be ineffective because the thick oily solids clung fast to the matrix and could not be flushed out during backwashing. Eventually, the matrix became so clogged with oily solids that the filter had to be taken off line.
Such ineffective filtration practice can force oily mill scale and solids back into the HSM cooling water stream along with the recycled wastewater. As heretofore disclosed, these oily solids will cause premature wear and damage to the mill, and they will adversely affect product quality if they are rolled into the surface of the product.

Method for magnetically filtering wastewaters containing oil-coated mill scale


An implant for implantation into bone tissue having an exterior surface includes an elongated body and at least one thread. The elongated body has a distal end portion for being submerged in the bone tissue, a proximal end portion for being located near the exterior surface of the bone tissue, a central axis, and an outer surface. When viewed in cross-section, the elongated body has a non-circular cross-section. The non-circular cross-section includes a plurality of lobes and a plurality of dwells. Each of the plurality of dwells is disposed between adjacent ones of the plurality of lobes. The thread extends radially outward with respect to the central axis from the outer surface of the elongated body between the distal end portion and the proximal end portion. As the implant is screwed into the bone tissue, only the lobes on the elongated body engage the bone tissue. Because no contact exists between the dwells and the bone tissue, the amount of torque required to insert the implant is reduced.

Screw-type dental implants are widely used and have been known for a number of years. They are made in two general types. The first type is a self-tapping implant, in that it can be threaded into a pre-drilled bore in a jawbone without pre-tapping the bore. The second type is a non-self-tapping implant that requires pre-tapping of the bore. In either type, the implant has a generally cylindrical main body which bears one or more external screw threads on its outer surface. These external thread(s) engage corresponding internal thread(s) cut into the wall of the bore to provide initial stabilization of the implant in the bore.
A problem commonly encountered is the friction between the implant and the bone walls defining the bore. The friction is proportional to the penetration depth of the implant into the bone, the diameter of the bore, and the hardness of the bone at the site of the bore. The torque that must be applied to insert the implant into the bore is proportional to the friction. High torque puts strains on the implant, on the tools used to place the implant in the bore, and on the bone. Furthermore, in cases where high torque is required to insert the implant, there is a greater risk of damage to the implant, the tools, and the bone. Consequently, there is a continuing need to design a screw-type dental implant which minimizes the torque needed to install it into living jawbone.

Reduced friction screw-type dental implant


An insulator member includes a set of passages (2) (4) which, without intercrossing, extend through the main body (1a) of the insulator member. The set of passages (2) (4) includes an insulating passage (2) structurally arranged to be engaged by filiform elements (10) and an elongated anchor passage (4) structurally arranged to be engaged by the hook portion (21) of the stretcher device (20). Since the passages (2) (4) do not intercross, the separating portion (1d) prevents the stretched filiform elements from being subject to compression upon stretching of the stretching device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to the field of construction structures, such as fences, wiring or any other containing electrified filiform elements and susceptible to stretching, as well as to the field of insulators particularly characterized for their use with such construction structures.
More particularly, the present invention relates to an insulator member for electrified filiform elements having a main body that is reduced in size, that possesses an elongated passage for engagement with a stretching hook and which prevents the intercrossing of the insulating and anchor passages within the insulator member.
2. Prior Art
At the present time, several insulator members are known which are comprised of various insulating materials, and are used to engage the electrified filiform elements with stretcher devices that allow their fixation and stretching.
For example, the U.S. Design Patent 5,356,165 discloses a structure wherein there is an elongated cross-shaped opening component surrounded by thin walls. Due to this weakened configuration, this structure gives way and is distorted when subject to stretching. In addition, its traction end adjacent to the opening is not shaped to be engaged by a hook stretcher. Also, the disclosed structure does not have insulating fences to protect the electrified filiform conductor.
The document U.S. Pat. No. 4,061,873 shows a complex insulator that operates in a different manner and which structure is very fragile.
The insulator members disclosed by documents AR-P040101190, U.S. Pat. No. 7,406,752 and AR-P050100600, by the same inventors of the present invention, are of small sized insulator members that may be engaged with the hook type openings of a stretcher device. However, these insulator members have intercrossed or overlapping passages that subject the intermediate part of its structure to compression.
In general, most of the known insulators have intercrossed or overlapping passages, which cause a separation to form during compression efforts. This results in extremely dangerous conditions when dealing with electrified conductors because as environmental conditions deteriorate, the insulating structure, especially when composed of plastic materials, tends to break and cause short circuits or electric conduction in parts that should be insulated.
Also known are insulator members that are provided with throats for the electrified conductors, however, most of these structures have their passages intercrossed, work at compression and are very bulky.


In an embodiment, a respiratory shield is disclosed. The respiratory shield is sized to be coupled with a respiratory device having a nasal air intake member so as to be positioned along an oral airflow axis.

For a multitude of respiratory ailments, such as, but not limited to, snoring and sleep apnea, the utilization of various ventilation techniques may be implemented for the transmission of oxygen and/or other gases from the nostrils to a patient's upper airway so as to aid with inhalation and exhalation. Continuous positive air pressure (CPAP), or a variation thereof, is an example of such a regimen.


An in-vehicle power supply apparatus that provides power supply from a secondary battery installed in a vehicle to at least one in-vehicle device, includes a voltage compensating unit that suppresses and compensates for a decrease in a power supply voltage supplied to the at least one in-vehicle device in a case where a voltage supplied to the at least one in-vehicle devices has become less than or equal to a first predetermined value, and an uninterruptible power supply unit that supplies electric power of another secondary battery different from the secondary battery to at least a part of the at least one in-vehicle device in a case where a voltage supplied to the at least one in-vehicle device has become less than or equal to a second predetermined value that is smaller than the first predetermined value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an in-vehicle power supply apparatus.
2. Background of the Invention
In-vehicle devices, which are electric loads installed in a vehicle such as an automobile, are generally supplied with electric power from a secondary battery, such as a lead-acid battery, or from an alternator. There are some in-vehicle devices, such as a steering motor, in which power consumption changes in accordance with, for example, a running condition of the vehicle. In such in-vehicle devices, a voltage of the secondary battery may fluctuate due to the running condition of the vehicle and an operation of the in-vehicle device may become unstable.
Accordingly, in the related art, for example, a technique is proposed in which an electric power, which is outputted from the secondary battery, is supplied to an in-vehicle device via a booster circuit device, and a target voltage of the boosting operation is adjusted in accordance with a state of the vehicle (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication Nos. 2010-115010 and 2009-248748).
In the related art, there is a problem that, when a voltage of a secondary battery largely decreases and becomes lower than the lowest operating voltage of the booster circuit device, the boosting control becomes impossible and the voltage cannot be maintained within a normal range. In such a case, particularly, there is a problem that, an appropriate voltage is not supplied even for an in-vehicle device necessary for ensuring safety and thus making it difficult to ensure safety.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an in-vehicle power supply apparatus that can supply an appropriate voltage to an in-vehicle device even in a case where there is a voltage fluctuation in the secondary battery.


A system and method for delivering cost-reduced, low latency, wider variety video-on-demand for digitized motion pictures. Leader files stored in disk array are accessible quickly for viewing in response to the user's selection, thereby providing low latency time from the initial request to the viewing of the leader. The remainder of the digitized movie files are stored in a robotic tape library archive system having greater access time than disk array storage but at significantly reduced storage cost. During the viewing of the leader from the rapidly accessible disk array, the remainder of a selection is accessed at a slower rate on tape and transferred to disk for viewing seamlessly at conclusion of the leader. The hybrid rapidly accessible disk storage of leader and cost effective bulk storage on tape of the remainder of selections provides both low latency and significant storage cost reduction, thereby increasing the number of video selections which may be offered.

"Video-on-demand" (VOD) viewing is a method for allowing consumers to select and view an arbitrary video file such as a motion picture at any time from a large number of choices supplied by a service provider. One of the many factors critical to the success of such a VOD consumer service is "latency", e.g., the time which passes from the moment the customers make the initial title selection to when the video is actually available for viewing. Generally it has been found that nominally a delay on the order of 60 seconds from time of selection to actual commencement of display of the image is acceptable. Yet another critical factor in the success of such services is whether the service provider can offer a large quantity and variety of choices in content to their customers.
In accordance with present day techniques, on-demand display of motion picture data has generally been effected by storage of the associated digitized video files on magnetic disks. The storage requirements for such an approach however, can become enormous. A typical full length motion picture may average perhaps 110 minutes of video data. Assuming a representative conventional and well-known video compression format such as MPEG2 at a nominal data rate of 3 megabits per second, even a single motion picture will require approximately 2 gigabytes of disk storage. Thus, it is readily apparent that storage of large numbers of motion picture data files on disk may not be cost effective but nevertheless necessary in order to satisfy the first mentioned consumer criteria of a low latency access time on the order of seconds. Unfortunately then, one of the major cost components of a commercially acceptable VOD server is simply the disk storage required to store the aforementioned MPEG2 or other data files for all of the selections that the service provider wishes to offer.
Illustrated schematically in FIG. 1A is one simplified approach to VOD systems. In this system, a plurality of disk storage devices 24 are provided having stored thereupon the desired content which, in the case under consideration, is a variety of desired full-length digitized motion pictures. In response to a user selection of a particular desired title, the file is read off the disk storage 24 into an appropriate video server 2, which then delivers the image of the film on the display 3 to the end user. This system successfully addresses the aforementioned latency problem inasmuch as the disk storage has a relatively fast access time, e.g., it is sufficiently responsive to the user's selection so as to mount and begin displaying the desired selection after perhaps one or two seconds after receipt of the user's choice. However, as pointed out, disk storage, although having the advantage of fast access time, unfortunately also suffers from the concomitant attribute of being quite expensive relative to other known mass storage devices. Thus such systems have enjoyed little success.
In recognition of this fact, illustrated in FIG. 1B is yet another schematic of an alternative VOD system which addresses the drawbacks of the system of FIG. 1A. Essentially the technique employed as illustrated in FIG. 1B for reducing the cost of on-line disk storage of the video data is to simply use a less expensive storage media such as magnetic tape storage 4. Thus, a plurality of magnetic tape carrousels may be provided, having associated therewith a corresponding plurality of video titles stored on such magnetic tape. In response to user input specifying a desired title to be viewed, the carousel operates to mount the particular tape containing the desired video image file on an appropriate tape drive 5. The tape drive then reads the tape and generates a video data stream viewable at the appropriate display device 3.
A characteristic of such magnetic tape storage and associated carrousels and players is that they are substantially less expensive than the disk storage and drive approach shown in FIG. 1A. However, as should be readily apparent given the nature of tape drives, using such a tape media to store the video data increases the undesirable latency between the user selection and the availability of the motion picture for viewing. such delay is not always an acceptable alternative, particularly in a commercial setting. This increased latency in the magnetic tape approach is due to the time required for an automated tape library to load the tape from the carousel, to locate the beginning of the video data file, and to move the data from tape to disk 1 if playback will not be directly from the tape drive 5.
On the latter point, in addition to the possibility of moving the entire data file from tape 4 to disk 1 prior to viewing (if the tape data rate exceeds that of the viewing data rate), such prior systems alternatively provided for viewing the video data directly from the tape storage. In either event, however, the aforementioned latency problem was nevertheless still present, as well as the need for providing dedicated tape drive units for the duration of the viewing time for each viewer.
Thus, in summary, the problem of providing demand video viewing from digitized motion picture has been solved by 3 basic approaches. First, all such data in some systems has been stored entirely on magnetic disk, giving rise to prohibitive cost constraints. Secondly, still other systems have at least saved some cost in magnetic disk by providing selected and less frequently requested movie selections on tape. However, this requires the viewer to wait for video data to be restored from tape before viewing, thereby contributing to the undesirable latency problem previously described. Finally, still other systems have provided for cost savings by storing movie data on tape and further providing for viewing of the movie data directly from such tape. This proposed solution has also been proven to not be cost effective inasmuch as it requires a tape drive to be available for each end user or viewer.

System and method for on-demand video serving from magnetic tape using disk leader files

International Business Machines Corporation


A disk storage system uses a disk on which servo data used for head positioning control is recorded as a storage medium. On the disk, servo burst data constructed by first to eighth burst patterns (A to H) having a recording width which is the same as a track width are recorded in a plurality of servo sectors provided in each track. The first and second burst patterns (A, B) are arranged in the opposite positions in the radial direction with the track center set as a reference (boundary position). The third and fourth burst patterns (C, D) are arranged in the opposite positions in the radial direction with the boundary between the adjacent tracks set as a reference. The fifth and sixth burst patterns (E, F) are arranged in the opposite positions in the radial direction with a preset position X1 in the range of the track set as a reference. The seventh and eighth burst patterns (G, H) are arranged in the opposite positions in the radial direction with a preset position X2 in the range of the track set as a reference.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a disk storage system applied to a hard disk drive, for example, and using a disk on which servo burst data for controlling the positioning of a head for recording and reproducing data is recorded as a data recording medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a disk storage system such as a hard disk drive (HDD) is used as a device which uses a disk as a data recording medium, records data on the disk by use of a head and reproduces data from the disk.
In a small HDD, a sector servo type head positioning control apparatus for controlling the positioning of the head on a target track (target cylinder) on the disk according to servo information previously recorded on the disk is provided. The head positioning control mainly includes the seeking operation for moving the head to a target track and the track following control operation (which is a positioning operation in a narrow sense) for positioning the head in a range of the target track or at the center thereof.
In the sector servo system, servo information previously recorded on servo sectors arranged at preset intervals on each of the concentric tracks on the disk is used. Each track has a preset number of data sectors arranged between the servo sectors and user data is recorded in the data sector. The servo information mainly includes cylinder data (track address code) used for the seeking operation and servo burst data relating to this invention.
The servo burst data is constructed by a plurality of burst patterns for deriving a positional error (position data) of the head in a range of the target head or in a range to the adjacent track after the head is moved to a position near the target track by the seeking operation. The CPU of the head positioning control apparatus converts the amplitude of a position signal waveform obtained when the head reads the burst pattern into digital data and effects the processing operation for deriving the positional error by using the digital data.
As shown in FIG. 7A, the servo burst data is constructed by first to fourth burst patterns A, B, C, D recorded in part of the servo sector. Among them, the first and second burst patterns A and B adjacent to each other make a pair of patterns having different phases and are used as a set of first phase. Further, the third and fourth burst patterns C and D adjacent to each other make a pair of patterns having different phases and are used as a set of second phase.
The recording width of each of the burst patterns A, B, C, D is the same as one track width. As shown in FIG. 7A, the burst patterns A and B are alternately arranged in the radial direction of the disk with the center TC of the track (N) set as a boundary. The burst patterns C and D are alternately arranged with the boundary between the adjacent tracks set as a reference.
In the head positioning control, the seeking operation is effected by use of cylinder data read out by the head and the head is moved to a specified target track. In this case, it is supposed that an MR head which is a read head 20 to be described later has been moved to a target track N as shown in FIG. 7A. In the head positioning control, the seeking operation is changed over to the track following control operation. By the track following control operation, the read head 20 is positioned at the center TC of the target track N.
In the track following control operation, the read head 20 reads out position signals from the burst patterns A, B, C, D. The head positioning control apparatus samples and holds the amplitude values of the burst patterns A, B, C, D, converts the amplitude values into digital data by use of an A/D converter, and then outputs the digital data to the CPU. The CPU effects the arithmetic operation "(A-B)/(A+B)" by using the amplitude values A and B corresponding to the first and second burst patterns A and B to derive a positional error of the read head 20. Likewise, the CPU effects the arithmetic operation "(C-D)/(C+D)" by using the amplitude values C and D corresponding to the third and fourth burst patterns C and D to derive a positional error of the read head 20.
In this case, the results of the arithmetic operations for positional errors by the CPU can be expressed as shown in FIGS. 7B and 7C. That is, when the read head 20 is positioned on the center TC of the track N as shown in FIG. 7A, the positional error is "0". If the read head 20 is set in position shifted in a direction towards the burst pattern A, the amount of positional error changes towards "+1" as shown in FIG. 7B. On the other hand, if the read head 20 is set in position shifted in a direction towards the burst pattern B, the amount of positional error changes towards "-1" as shown in FIG. 7B. If the read head 20 is positioned in the range of the burst pattern A or B, the amount of positional error is fixedly set at "+1" or "-1", respectively. Therefore, if the read head 20 is deviated from the track center TC and is set closer to the boundary with the adjacent track (N+1 or N-1), an area (non-sensible area) NS in which the positional error of the read head 20 cannot be detected occurs. Therefore, the CPU derives the positional error of the read head 20 with the boundary between the adjacent tracks set as a reference by using the amplitude values C and D corresponding to the third and fourth burst patterns C and D.
Thus, in the conventional head positioning control apparatus, a method using the linear sections LS of the positional error characteristics based on the two-phase burst patterns A, B and C, D as shown in FIGS. 7B, 7C to detect the positional error of the head 20 in the entire track range is used.
Recently, in the HDD, a reproduction/recording separation type head using an MR (magnetroresistive) head as a read head has received much attention in order to realize the high-density recording. As shown in FIG. 8, a reproduction/recording separation type head 2 has a composite head structure in which an MR head used as the read head 20 and a write head 21 using an induction type thin-film head are mounted on a slider. In other words, the reproduction/recording separation type head 2 has a structure in which two gaps including a read gap of the MR head and a write gap of the induction type head are formed on one slider.
In the reproduction/recording separation type head 2, the head width of the write head 21 is substantially equal to the track width and the head width of the read head 20 is approximately equal to half the track width. At the time of data reading operation, the CPU positions the read head 20 at the center TC of the track based on servo burst data read out by the read head 20 as described before. On the other hand, at the time of data writing operation, the CPU positions the write head 21 at the center TC of the track, that is, in the range of the track. At this time, the positioning control for the write head 21 is effected based on servo burst data read out by the read head 20. In the reproduction/recording separation type head 2, the centers of the gaps of the read head 20 and write head 21 are deviated from each other for the structural reason. Therefore, at the time of data writing operation, the read head 20 reads out burst data not in the track center TC but in position (off-track position) slightly deviated from the track center TC as shown in FIG. 8. As a result, at the time of data writing operation, the read head 20 cannot correctly read out the burst patterns A to D in some cases, and in this case, it becomes impossible to precisely position the write head 21 at the center TC of a target track.
Further, the head width of the read head 20 is smaller than the track width as described before. Therefore, at the time of data reading operation, the influence of fringe noise occurring in the boundary area between the adjacent tracks can be avoided. However, if the head width is relatively small, the range of the linear section LS for detecting the positional error in the positional error characteristic becomes relatively narrow and the non-sensible area NS in which the positional error cannot be detected is enlarged to a range indicated by broken lines. If the non-sensible area NS is large, a range in which the position of the head lying in the track range cannot be detected becomes large. Therefore, it takes a long time for the settling operation for precisely positioning and holding the head 20 at the track center TC in the head positioning control and the positioning precision is lowered.

Method and apparatus for heat positioning control in disk storage system


Apparatuses and systems for emulating electrical characteristics of a material having a known dielectric constant or property are disclosed for standardizing and calibrating of electromagnetic devices. The emulator apparatus can include an electrically non-conductive layer having a dielectric constant less than the material dielectric constant and an electrically conductive layer adjacent the non-conductive layer. Artificial dielectrics for emulating the dielectric constant of a material are also disclosed including a substrate matrix having a dielectric constant less than the material dielectric constant and an additive combined with the substrate, the additive having a dielectric constant higher than the material dielectric constant. Artificial dielectrics may simulate the frequency response of a material relating to a specific property.

Pavement materials, such as soil, sand, aggregate, asphalt, and cement, typically require quality control testing during the construction process for physical attributes such as density, modulus, cement content, and moisture. The moisture and density relationship is an important property that is monitored during road construction and rehabilitation. In order to provide durable roads, the soil base layer and all hot mixed asphalt layers above it are compacted to density values that are specified in the engineering design. Destructive tests and nondestructive tests are used throughout the industry for quality control of these materials.
In laboratory tests, cylindrical samples are prepared, typically with a gyratory compactor, and various material properties are studied to determine the best mix design for a pavement. In field destructive tests, cylindrical samples are cored from test strips, newly constructed roads, or existing roads. The material properties of these samples are then used to evaluate whether the test strip or the new pavement meets the design criteria and whether the existing road is in good operating condition or in need of repairs.
Currently, several methods are used for measuring the density of cylindrical asphaltic samples including dimensional analysis, the water displacement method, and the paraffin-coated or para-film-covered method. In each case, the bulk density of a sample is derived by, as in the definition, dividing the dry sample mass by the estimated sample volume. All methods require a balance with a sensitivity of 0.1 gram to measure the mass of the sample.
In the dimensional analysis method, sample volume is determined from radius and thickness (height) measurements of the sample. Here, many readings of radius and thickness of the sample are made either manually using a vernier caliper or automatically using a laser system. The average values of radius and thickness are then used to calculate the sample volume. Other methods use the Archimedes Principle related to water displacement for determining the sample volume. These methods require a large container filled with clean water wherein the water temperature is monitored and controlled at a specific temperature, e.g. at 25 degrees Celsius. The sample is kept immersed in water for approximately 4 minutes during the test and the weight of the sample, while suspended in water, is recorded. In the "paraffin-coated" method, after determining the dry weight of the sample, a thin coating of paraffin is applied to cover the entire surface area of the sample. Then, the sample is weighed again in air. Finally, the sample is weighed while immersed in water. More details can be found in standards ASTM D 2726 for the water displacement method and ASTM D 1188 for the paraffin-coated method.
In the field, at present, the moisture content and density of materials are typically determined using two non-destructive test methods. One method uses radioactive materials or nuclear gauges and is commonly known as the "nuclear method". The other method uses the electrical response of the material without radioactive materials, using electromagnetic devices, and is commonly known as a "non-nuclear" method or the "electromagnetic method".
Nuclear radiation gauges, such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,781,453 and 3,544,793 have been widely used for measuring the density of soil and asphaltic materials and have been in use in the road construction industry since the 1950's. Such gauges employ a nuclear radiation source, typically a mono-energetic source, which directs gamma radiation into the test material, and a radiation detector, typically a Geiger Mueller tube, located adjacent to the surface of the test material for detecting radiation scattered back to the surface. The gamma radiation interacts with matter in the test material, either by losing energy and changing direction (Compton interactions) or by terminating (photoelectric interactions). Consequently, the gamma radiation detected by the radiation detector has a continuous energy spectrum. From this detector reading, the density of the material can be determined.
These gauges are designed to operate both in a "backscatter" mode and in a direct transmission mode. The radiation source is vertically moveable from a backscatter position where it resides within the gauge housing (e.g., the nuclear gauge rests on the surface of the pavement or soil) to a series of direct transmission positions where it is inserted into small holes or bores in the test material (e.g., the nuclear source is inserted beneath the soil surface, as in a borehole). The gamma radiation received by the radiation detector is related to the density of the test medium by an expression of the following form:CR=A exp(−BD)−C where:
CR=count ratio (the accumulated photon count normalized to a reference standard photon count for purposes of eliminating long term effects of source decay and electronic drift);
D=density of test specimen; and
A, B, and C are constants.
Nuclear gauges, however, require a high degree of training and radiological management for the operators of these gauges. Therefore, knowing of the desire to obtain accurate field measurement gauges without the use of nuclear gauges, research began in the late 1980s into electromagnetic devices for measuring the density and moisture content of road construction materials such as asphalt, soils and aggregates. These electromagnetic devices have different principles behind moisture and density measurements than their nuclear counterparts.
For moisture measurements in the field, the nuclear device method incorporates neutron moderation, which results in a measurement of the number density of the Hydrogen atoms present in the material. For non-nuclear devices, the moisture measurement is based on the electronic dipole moment per unit volume of the material under test. Most asphalt has a permittivity of less than about 8 and is not terribly dispersive with frequency. Typically, dry soil has an electrical permittivity of about 4, water about 80, and air about 1. In general, soil can have permittivities that range from a dry value of about 4 to a saturated value above 40. In soils, this parameter is frequency dependent. As the percent water increases in sand, soil, aggregate, etc., the dielectric constant increases as well. Therefore, the moisture content can be easily found by measuring the electrical properties of the material. A much more complicated process is required for simultaneous measurement of moisture and density values.
For density measurements in the field, the nuclear device method uses gamma ray scattering properties of the materials. At energies below 1 MeV, the amount of scattering in a material is directly proportional to the number density of electrons. Since the number density of electrons is related to the material density, by measuring the scattering, the material density is found. The electromagnetic device method uses permittivity changes resulting from the decrease in the air void content of an asphalt mix as it is compacted. Therefore, asphalt density can be estimated by measuring the permittivity of the mix.
Asphalt is a heterogeneous mixture of aggregate, binder, and air. Soil is much more complex and is a mixture of aggregate minerals, air, and water. Air has a dielectric constant ∈r of 1.0, whereas dry aggregate and binder dielectric constant ∈r is about 4.0. Water has a dielectric constant ∈r of near 80 depending on the temperature and purity of the water. The dielectric constant or permittivity is represented by a complex number where the real part represents the energy stored and the imaginary part represents the energy loss in the material. For asphalt, as compaction increases and the density increases, the air voids decrease and the dielectric constant increases. As such, asphalt is mostly moisture free and usually has a simple frequency response. For soil, increasing compaction efforts also increases the dielectric constant. However, soil is a complex heterogeneous mixture of air, water, and solid minerals that has a very complex frequency response that complicates the response. As a result, for soil, measurements of the real and imaginary parts of the permittivity are required to separate the moisture from the density effects. Hence, the frequency response of these materials is also of major interest.
For a given soil, the maximum compaction is achieved at specific moisture content. In the laboratory, the density-moisture content relationship for a soil is determined using the industry standard "Modified Proctor Method", otherwise known as ASTM D 1557 or the "Standard Proctor Method" known as ASTM 698.
For asphalt, in the laboratory there are three methods of designing/analyzing asphalt mixes: (1) The Marshall method; (2) the Hveem method; and (3) the Superpave method. All three methods produce cylindrical asphalt cores for analysis. One of the most important factors is the material density, which is a primary property in the selection of the best mix design. The material density of cylindrical asphalt specimens is determined using dimensional analysis (mass over volume) or variations of water displacement methods as specified in ASTM standards D 1188 and D 2726.
A particular asphalt mix will contain unique aggregate types, textures, binder, and also contain air voids. For instance, the aggregate may be one of limestone or granite, and have proportions of size and texture from passing the 200 sieve to 25 mm. As a result, the base dielectric constant of a high air void mix may be 4 for one mix and 7 for another. Furthermore, the dielectric constant will only change a small percent as the air void content is decreased by compaction. For example, low to high density may range from 4.0 to 4.7 in the real part of the permittivity.
FIG. 1 illustrates different mixing series and how they encompass different "base" dielectric constants for each mix. In FIG. 1, each line represents the entire dielectric range from low to high density of that species or mix. Furthermore, although there are different intercepts for each mix, the slopes are not much different. The mixes shown in FIG. 1 include both granite and limestone aggregates.
As discussed above, the industry has recently become interested in electromagnetic devices for quality testing of pavement materials. Examples of such electromagnetic devices include Model M2701B manufactured by Troxler Electronic Laboratories, Inc., the assignee of the present subject matter, and Model PQI 301 manufactured by TransTech Systems, Inc. Both of these gauges use a single frequency (continuous) source which can be modulated, wherein the M2701B operates at about 50 MHz and the PQI 301 operates at a much lower range frequency. These devices are planar in that they are placed on top of the surface to be measured and fringe a field of energy into the material of interest. Typically, a high frequency electrical signal is passed through the capacitive-sensor placed on the testing material. The signal characteristics measured by electrical signal detection circuitry are then compared with those obtained by placing the sensor on known materials. A correlation to the material density is then used to estimate the density.
Other electromagnetic devices include the TDR as sold by Durham Geo Slope Indicator; ground penetrating radar or GPR; resistive devices such as that marketed by Humbolt and described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0095154; swept or stepped frequency devices such as that manufactured by Greer and described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,388,453; and microwave systems including systems described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,316,946 and 5,952,561 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0150278. Electromagnetic devices that operate in the "backscatter" as well as "transmission" mode are also envisioned with bandwidths of several GHz, such as the device described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0150278.
Moisture sensors can be stand-alone versions as well as dual density/moisture probes. Two examples of the stand-alone moisture probes are capacitance monitors for soil moisture as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,260,666 and 4,929,885; each of which is assigned to the assignee of the present subject matter, Troxler Electronic Laboratories, Inc. Another class of electromagnetic moisture probes is manufactured by Hydronix.
Because of variations in manufacturing tolerances, sensing probes of the same design will not necessarily sense exactly the same values. Consequently, each sensing probe must be individually calibrated at the manufacturing factory and as a practical matter the probe should be periodically checked (or recalibrated) to assure that the calibration has been maintained.
For nuclear gauges, calibration is typically conducted using three large and heavy blocks of material of different densities. Typically, these blocks are aluminum (160 lbs/ft3 or PCF), magnesium (110 lbs/ft3), and a mix of aluminum and magnesium (135 lbs/ft3). Other prior art in nuclear calibration devices include shielded capacitance standards as manufactured by Troxler Electronic Laboratories, Inc. and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,924,173.
Electromagnetic gauges are typically factory calibrated using three large slabs or calibration standards (e.g., of a size 2 foot by 1 foot by 6 inches thick) of varying dielectric constants. Three reference data points are obtained and a least squares fit is applied to the data points for the straight-line equation. It is noted, for example, that the three calibration standards typically span the entire dielectric range shown in FIG. 1. In other words, an offset is usually necessary, but the slopes are going to be close to the expected field value.
Since the electromagnetic density gauges as known in the art are also operated on hot materials in the field, it is possible for the electrical properties of the sensor to change with use and time. Also, any changes in the components in the electrical circuitry of the gauge can lead to drifts in the detected electrical signals. Although the gauges have been designed to minimize these problems, the net effect can be significant to the user. As such, the electromagnetic gauges should periodically be recalibrated in the laboratory.
Electromagnetic gauges are typically recalibrated in the laboratory using bulk homogeneous materials of known electrical properties such as plastic, NYLON, PVC, PLEXIGLAS, and glass, to name a few. These materials are typically in the form of slabs with dimensions 12 inches by 12 inches by 6 inches wherein the weight of the standard can approach 130 pounds or more. Standards can also be calibrated using cylindrical specimens, much like the cores drilled in the field or made in the lab. In any case, the gauge is placed on each material and the signal characteristics are recorded. Using a mathematical model that relates the signal characteristics to the assigned density value, the calibration coefficients are then determined. The systematic errors determined can be corrected in the laboratory using the calibration standards. The measurements taken on the standards will show the changes and if the changes are small enough, adjustment to the calibration coefficients can be made. Hence, confirmation readings obtained on the standards will indicate if recalibration or a simple offset will be necessary. It is additionally known that many regulatory agencies now require that electromagnetic gauges have a reference standard for obtainment of these confirmation readings.
The response of electromagnetic gauges is related to the electrical properties of the material being tested. Therefore, calibration of the devices must typically be performed in the field at regular periodic intervals for determining the density and moisture content of materials. This calibration is typically correlated to known standards. For example, with density gauges, FIGS. 2A and 2B show the comparison of gauge readings of factory-calibrated gauges to true density values for various asphalt mixes (FIG. 2A relates to limestone mixes and FIG. 2B relates to granite mixes). Conversion of the direct reading to the absolute density reading can be performed using cores extracted from the pavement or nondestructively by comparing and correcting using a nuclear method.
For instance, the calibration equation for the M2701B device can be selected for different mix types as found empirically in the field. For example, the operator can do simple offsets or a full-blown slope-intercept calibration to arrive at the calibration equation. This is sometimes achieved using a "test" strip wherein cores are removed from the test strip with different compaction efforts. Other times, a good compaction effort is made and a core is removed and gauge read. The gauge is then offset with one core. Here, for example, the operator would obtain a reading using the M2701B device, remove a core sample, and test it for density properties in the laboratory. Another well-known method is to obtain simultaneous readings using both a nuclear gauge and the electromagnetic device. The nuclear results are used to obtain the calibration in the electromagnetic device. The calibration in the gauge for a simple mix is therefore a simple "y=mx+b" equation or even a "y=a+b*exp(−c*x)" relationship as is currently being explored. A single core or an average of multiple cores can be used for a simple offset. If a good spread of densities is obtainable, then both slope and intercept can be calculated using standard methods.
It is known that electromagnetic devices must also be referenced (calibration confirmed) in the field preferably daily to account for any daily variances encountered. In order to provide this capability in the field, for example, the Model M2701B comes with a "portable" standardization block as shown with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. As shown in FIG. 3, this standard block S is typically made out three (3) slabs of glass G, each typically having dimensions of 6 inches wide by 6 inches long by 0.5 inches thick, wherein the slabs of glass G are glued together. Typically, a thin layer of FR4 glass epoxy laminate L is overlaid on top of the glass slabs to provide protection to the glass. The standard block S is typically installed with top and bottom layers of foam F in a carrying case C for the gauge device D (see FIG. 4 showing laminate L overlaid on standard block S).
There are several limitations of this prior art standardization block S including: (1) fragility—because of the nature of glass it is possible to damage the block during transport of the gauge, thus leading to erroneous readings; (2) manufacturability—several steps that involve gluing using extremely hot glue are required including one operation gluing the standard to shock absorbing thick foam material, another operation gluing foam to the bottom of the case, and another operation gluing a thin FR4 sheet on the top surface of the glass; (3) cost—the type of special glass used for the standard is expensive; (4) weight—the glass-stack standard alone is about 5 lbs.; (5) size—the standard is only slightly bigger than the gauge sensor head; (6) volume—the glass and foam occupy a large space in the case; (7) stability—due to the weight and cumbersome size of the standard, the glue can loosen over time thereby providing erroneous readings; and (8) accuracy—due to the finite thickness of glass (1.5 inches), the gauge reading shows a small dependence on the type material on which the standard is placed.
Thus, there remains a long-felt need for apparatuses and systems of density gauge emulation for the standardization of electromagnetic gauges in the field using easy to manufacture, low cost, durable materials with improved stability during transportation.

Apparatuses and systems for density gauge calibration and reference emulation


A method and apparatus for extracting particles from containers. The method comprises the steps of conducting high pressure air from a source thereof and into the containers to loosen the particles from the containers, and connecting the containers to a low pressure source to withdraw air and loose particles from containers. The apparatus comprises a source of pressurized air, and a high pressure line connected to that source to conduct the pressurized air to the containers to loosen the particles from the containers. The apparatus further comprises a low pressure source, and a low pressure line to connect the containers to the low pressure source to withdraw air and the particles from the containers. Preferably, in both the method and apparatus, the containers are moved beneath one or more caps that are used to generally close the tops of the containers, and each cap is connect to both the high and low pressure sources. With this preferred arrangement, high pressure air is conducted through the cap and into the containers to loosen particles therein, and the containers are connected to the low pressure source by connecting the cap to that source to withdraw air and particles from the containers via the cap.

This invention generally relates to methods and apparatus for extracting particles from containers; and more specifically, to such methods and apparatus that are particularly well suited for extracting particles from breakable food containers.
Various food materials are sold in breakable containers such as glass jars; and occasionally such a container may break while the container is initially being filled with the food material, or while the container is being handled. Such breakage is undesirable not only because the broken containers must be replaced but also because fragments or particles of the broken containers may fall or otherwise enter other containers; and when this happens, those fragments or particles of must be removed from those other containers.
Numerous procedures are well known that very effectively remove or extract the broken particles from the other containers; and for example, this may be done by inverting and then washing those other containers before they are filled with product. These particle extraction procedures, although highly effective, have a disadvantage in that the procedures themselves may case additional containers to break.

Method and apparatus for extracting particles from containers


The present disclosure discloses a data information processing method. A storage space corresponding to an organization is disposed in a data storage system. A data processing request type, the storage partition in which a project sending a data processing request is located, and the storage partition of the target data information corresponding to the data processing request are acquired when the data processing request is received. Subsequently, a processing strategy matching the storage partitions and the type is acquired. Finally, the target data information is processed according to the processing strategy and the data processing request. Thus, the isolation and rights control of different data in the same storage space can be achieved, and the security and mobility of data can be ensured.

Cloud computing is becoming increasingly popular in various industries, and the use of various big data scenarios is becoming increasingly widespread. Therefore, platform operators have a growing need to use and exchange data. Data can also be exchanged or transacted between different companies or enterprises. Conventionally, independent units (for example, Independent Software Vendors (ISV), and the like) having full resource management rights are referred to as organizations.
Currently, most data-oriented applications solve problems of data storage and computing. A data escrow service provider has to face a problem of how to provide security guarantees and sound management during data exchanges. In particular, the transaction or transfer of sensitive data in a public data market can involve the secure change of ownership and attribution between different organizations. Therefore, an access to data can be authorized between different Data Providers (DP) or within one DP, and changes to data can be exchanged between different DPs or within one DP.

Data information processing method and data storage system


Hand held wireless reading viewer for bar codes printed with fluorescing inks that are invisible to the human eye. The reading viewer comprises a portable housing with a window transparent to the excitation and emission wavelengths, an LED or laser diode illuminator module having optical filter and diffuser, an image sensor module with a spectral band limited imaging optics, real time LCD video display, microprocessor with an image acquisition circuit, RF communications port, battery and self-destruct intrusion detector.

This invention is concerned with the devices for viewing, scanning and reading information printed in the form of invisible patterns such as two-dimensional and one-dimensional bar codes. The need for this kind of devices has emerged and growing in connection with proliferation of illegally made products and documents. One of the potent ways to counter spread of counterfeit products and forged documents is to authenticate and trace migration of articles by the use of bar codes invisible to an unaided eye. Such invisible bar codes are often printed with the inks containing low concentration of colorless chemical compound fluorescing in the near infrared spectrum. In order to authenticate an article or find out the content of the covert bar code in a warehouse or in a field a portable wireless device is needed that is capable to detect the invisible bar code then acquire its image and decode its content. There are many different hand held bar code readers available for reading visible one-dimensional and two-dimensional bar codes. Reading of a bar code requires simply aiming of the scanner at the bar code pattern. All these readers belong to one of the two general categories: moving beam scanners and scanners based on imaging devices. The moving beam scanners emit a mechanically oscillating laser beam, usually of red color. User points the visible scanning pattern to overlap or cross the visible bar code. An imaging scanner needs the target space be illuminated either with ambient light or an auxiliary on-board light source. Such light source may be visible or near IR. Neither the IR illuminating beam nor ambient light assist in aiming of the scanner at the targeted bar code. Such scanners are always equipped with targeting beams that create bright visible fiducial marks on the targets. The equipment designers add such beams specifically to facilitate aiming of their scanners at the target. When the target bar code pattern is invisible the operator often does not know exact location of the bar code and would have a disturbing task of finding a bar code and precise aiming of the scanner at the invisible indicia. Even the targeting beams that create visible fiducial marks would not help much. The other problem of successfully reading the invisible bar codes is that the invisible fluorescing indicia often emit a very weak signal due to low concentration of invisible ink. The low concentration of ink helps to make the bar code pattern as difficult to detect as possible without proper equipment. A print contrast may weaken due to age or become degraded from exposure to UV light, oxygen and other elements. An invisible bar code may be printed on an uneven surface. In all such cases quality of the invisible fluorescing image produced by the image sensor depends on a relative position of the excitation beam of the scanner and orientation of its receiving beam accepting the fluorescing image. The proposed invention provides solutions to all these challenges.

Hand held wireless reading viewer of invisible bar codes


A rotor for an electrical machine has a rotor body and permanent magnets arranged on the circumference of the rotor body, wherein those areas of the circumference of the rotor body which are covered by the permanent magnets have at least one recess and/or that side of the permanent magnets which faces the circumference of the rotor body has at least one recess. Each recess is configured as a slot which extends in parallel relationship to a circumference-proximal side of the permanent magnets. Removably insertable in the recesses are ferromagnetic bars to allow removal of the permanent magnets.

In electrical machines with permanent excitation and permanent magnets arranged at the air gap, the retaining force of the permanent magnets on the rotor body is of decisive importance for the operational reliability of the machine. Previous fixing solutions are based on mechanical connections or adhesive connections. In doing so, the usually flat permanent magnets or magnet systems (comprising a base plate and permanent magnets fixed thereto) are screwed, clamped or glued to the rotor body, as the magnetic retaining forces alone are not sufficient to retain the permanent magnets reliably on the rotor body under all operating conditions.
Fixing solutions which have been disclosed in the prior art are shown in FIG. 1. In the top diagram in FIG. 1, the permanent magnets 3 are attached to the rotor body 4 by means of shaped plates 10 and cartridge-fired pins/rivets 13. In the middle diagram in FIG. 1, the permanent magnets 3 are pushed into trapezoidal slots made in the rotor body 4 and in this way fixed to the rotor body 4. At the same time, the permanent magnets are additionally fixed by means of cartridge-fired pins/rivets 13 and the element 21.
In the bottom diagram in FIG. 1, the permanent magnets 3 are embedded in a sleeve 12, wherein the sleeve 12 is attached to the rotor body 4 by means of a dovetail joint. Additional pressure is exerted on the dovetail joint by means of a clamp 20 in order to additionally increase the fixing of the permanent magnets.

Permanent magnet rotor for an electrical machine


The present invention is a restraint and method for stretching the plantar fascia. A foot plate in combination with a lifting member serves to elevate the phalanges and to reduce contracture of the MTP joints. Employing a leg support shell, side railings, and straps, the present invention is able to be worn at night unobstrusively but fixedly upon the lower limb. Padding throughout the present invention ensures comfort. The user can vary the angle of dorsiflexion of the phalanges by removing and attaching various lifting members to the foot plate.

Recalcitrant plantar fasciitis is a common and painful condition which includes contractures of the plantar fascia and tightening of the muscles in the foot. It is characterized by chronic foot pain which frustrates both the patient and their treating physicians. The pain is typically at its worst in the morning which many professionals attribute to the fascia contractures and muscle tightening occurring at night while the individual is sleeping.
In addition, excessively pronated or supinated feet are predisposed to plantar fasciitis. Pronation of the subtalar joint everts the calcaneus and pulls the tuberosity away from the distal attachment of the plantar fascia. Excessive pronation increases the tension on the plantar fascia and its proximal attachment throughout the stance phase or gait which leads to local chronic inflammatory response.
The supinated or cavus foot has a high longitudinal arch that is rigid and less able to absorb ground reaction forces. This creates an increased demand on the plantar fascia to dissipate the resulting heightened forces exerted thereon, especially during high impact activities such as running. Plantar fasciitis can occur as unilateral involvement or bilateral involvement, where the condition occurs in one or two feet, respectively.
There are other known treatments including both surgical and nonsurgical means for relieving the symptoms of plantar fasciitis. One surgical procedure, plantar fasciotomy, also known as "open release, " has been reported to have a success rate of about 40-100%. Another surgical procedure called "endoscopic release" has a success rate of approximately 85-90%. Despite the success of these surgical methods, operative intervention is generally more costly and includes a higher risk of complication than nonsurgical treatments for the patient.
Nonsurgical treatments for plantar fasciitis have been less successful. These treatments include physical therapy, foot casting, foot taping, orthotics, heel cups, activity modification, weight loss, and medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications and steroid injections. Occasionally, multiple treatments are prescribed for the patient. Night splints have been used, as well, to treat patients with chronic recalcitrant plantar fasciitis. However, the restraints of the prior art do not provide dorsiflexion of the phalanges at the metatarsalphalangeal (MTP) joints.
Therefore, there still exists a need for a restraint which can be easily attached and removed from a foot, but is held firmly in place when so attached to provide localized adjustable dorsiflexion of the phalanges at the MTP joints.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a rigid shell around the lower limb, ankle and foot.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide various-sized lifting members to promote dorsiflexion of the phalanges at the MTP joints.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a series of straps for easy securing and attachment of a restraint to a foot.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a rigid shell around the lower limb, ankle, and foot which pivots at the ankle for greater comfort.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a rigid shell around the lower limb, ankle, and foot which folds into a compact form for storage and transportation.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of employing variously sized lifting members in combination with a night restraint for rehabilitation of the plantar fascia.
It also an object of the present invention to provide a restraint and method for treatment of recalcitrant plantar fasciitis which is affordable, convenient, and fully effective in accomplishing its goals.
These and other objects of the present invention will become fully apparent from the detailed description following herein.

Restraint and method for the improved treatment of recalcitrant plantar fasciitis


A framework is disclosed for generating user interfaces for application programs, such as web application programs. The framework may provide a first set of database tables to define screens including tables that describe components, screen layout, component configuration, application model assignment, and/or event handling. The framework may further provide a first set of transactions for maintaining the first set of database tables and hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) response means for generating the web pages by accessing the first set of database tables.

User Interface or UI programs enable interaction between users and application programs running on computers. There is a wide variety of user interfaces with different approaches in interaction and design.
Modern business applications are usually web based and typically a web browser is used to display and enable one or more web pages utilizing a user interface.
For business applications, web pages can be seen as the union of business data and user interface layout settings. The business data are retrieved for every application from one or more backend systems. There may be different backend systems for different applications, like Supply Chain Management (SCM), Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Financials (FI), etc. The business data are organized in the web page according to the user interface layout settings.
For web pages with dynamic screen content, a server side scripting language is commonly used. The server side scripting language may include, but is not limited to, Java Server Pages (JSP), Active Server Pages (ASP) and/or Business Server Pages (BSP). However, the straightforward use of a server side scripting language will typically result in a solution that fits only the application it was originally intended for, because there is no standard way of treating the user interface layout and the specialized tags provided by a reusable tag library.

Framework for creating user interfaces for web application programs