A method of cleaning a lubrication system of a machine includes removing existing lubricant and circulating a cleaning fluid through the lubrication system. After the cleaning fluid has been removed, a neutralising fluid is circulated through the lubrication system, whereby the neutralising fluid combines or reacts with the cleaning fluid to produce a fluid that does not adversely affect the lubricating qualities of fresh lubricating fluid. An apparatus (1) for carrying out the method includes first (3) and second (15) reservoirs to receive the cleaning fluid and neutralising fluid respectively, one or more connectors to connect the apparatus to the machine, one or more pumps adapted to circulate cleaning fluid and neutralising fluid and a controller to control the transfer of the cleaning fluid and neutralising fluid from the reservoirs to the machine.

Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.
It is well known that the use of lubrication fluids such as oils and similar substances to lubricate engines can result in the accumulation of impurities, abrasion contaminants and other unwanted by-products. An example of this is the build-up which accumulates in motor vehicle engines over time. These substances are often produced when the lubricating fluid is heated when the engine is running. These unwanted by-products include varnish, carbon deposits, mineral and acid deposits, all of which can accumulate on the internal metal surfaces of an engine. As noted above, these deposits build up as a result of heating the oil and of blow-by from the combustion processes. The extent of this build up of unwanted deposits is determined generally by the condition of the engine and the operating regime. However, contaminant build up and wear from friction is known to occur, to some extent, in all engines.
A further source of wear in an engine resides in the build up of what are known as "wear metals" in the internal volumes of the engine. Wear metals are produced by friction between moving parts of the engine. This produces a suspension of fine metal particles which are suspended in the lubricating fluid. These can accumulate where there is insufficient or low through-flow of the lubricating fluid. The presence of wear metals not only damages the engine but also adversely affects the friction reducing properties of the lubricating fluids. It can therefore contribute significantly to excess wear of metal-to-metal interfaces in the engine.
Simply changing the oil does not generally totally overcome such problems as wear metals are known to cling to or build up in the film of residual oil which is found on the most internal surfaces of the engine. When a fresh or clean batch of oil is poured into the engine, the oil film mixes with the fresh oil thus distributing the wear metal particles into the fresh oil batch. Changing the oil is also at least partly ineffective in removing varnish, carbon build ups or mineral or acid deposits.
A further contaminant found in engines is "sludge". Sludge is produced as a result of the breakdown of lubricating oil, when combined with water, acid vapour, and exhaust gas blow-by under conditions of extreme heat and pressure. Such conditions can result from short engine run times, cool engine operating temperatures, overheating or long storage periods. Sludge clings to the internal surfaces of the engine and is not easily removed by "normal" oil changing.
It is known to use flushing solutions with either petrol or diesel engines to remove the above mentioned unwanted deposits, see the patent specifications published as U.S. Pat. No. 4,174,231 and international publication number WO95/17979.
Existing cleaning systems have little in the way of quality control to ensure that the correct fluids are used for correct amount of time and that the engine is operated correctly during cleaning.
Therefore, the user may inadvertently use the incorrect fluids, use them for too long or too short a period or under the wrong operating conditions, reducing the effectiveness of the cleaning cycle and/or potentially damaging the engine.
A problem with existing cleaning systems is that invariably a proportion of the cleaning fluid is retained within the engine. This contaminates the new oil introduced after cleaning, reducing the quality of the oil.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for removing waste products or undesirable build-ups from lubrication systems in engines which overcomes or at least alleviates problems in engine cleaning systems at present or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.
Further objects of the present invention may become apparent from the following description.

Method and apparatus for cleaning machines


The invention relates to tunicamycin analogues which are compounds according to Formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, (I) Wherein [Base] and R1 to R9 are as defined herein. The tunicamycin analogues are useful in the prevention or treatment of bacterial infection, in particular of tuberculosis.

Antibiotics with broad activity yet unique modes of action are desirable for tackling pathogenic infections. However, the current range of effective antibiotics is shrinking as pathogens acquire immunity towards commonly prescribed antibiotics. There is therefore a need to provide new antibiotics with broad activity against pathogens.
Tunicamycin is a widely known and naturally occurring nucleoside antibiotic that has been demonstrated to exhibit antibacterial activity. The antibacterial properties of tunicamycin derive from the transfer of a bacterially unique sugar-1-phosphoryl unit onto a bacteria specific lipid, catalysed by the transmembrane enzyme MraY translocase. MraY catalyses the formation of the key peptidoglycan precursor undecaprenyl-pyrophosphoryl-N-acetylmuramoyl pentapeptide, a key peptidoglycan precursor. MraY exists in both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. However, there are currently no clinically approved antibiotics which target MraY.
Although tunicamycin is a potent, naturally-occurring nucleoside antibiotic, it is also highly toxic towards eukaryotic cells. For this reason, the clinical use of tunicamycin in the treatment of or prophylaxis against bacterial infection is not feasible. The toxicity of tunicamycin arises from its ability to inhibit both N-glycosylation and N-acylation of eukaryotic proteins. For instance, it is believed that specific binding to the active site of UDP-GlcNAc:dolichyl phosphate GlcNAc-1-phosphate transferase (GTP) blocks production of the lipid-linked precursor dolichyl-pyrophosphory-N-acetyl-glucosamine (Dol-PP-GlcNAc) and terminates asparagine-linked glycoprotein synthesis at the first committed step. This property has, however, made tunicamycin a valuable biochemical tool in glycobiology to study post-translational modification of eukaryotic proteins.
Tunicamycin as a natural product is a mixture of homologous secondary metabolites (see structure below), produced by several Streptomyces species, and belongs to the same family of nucleoside secondary metabolites as streptovirudin and corynetoxin. The components within the naturally occurring tunicamycin mixture differ in the length of the lipid chains on the tunicamine core, but the separation of these homologues is a difficult and tedious process. Early studies revealed that factors including the length of the lipid chain on the tunicamine core, the degree of saturation and the particular isomer all interplayed in determining the bioactivity of the relevant homologue in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. As different homologues cannot be easily isolated, almost all studies in the literature use tunicamycin as a mixture.
Natural Tunicamycin:


Transducer housing for mounting in a port in an engine combustion chamber has a metal diaphragm exposed to the combustion gasses. The pressure of the combustion gasses is transferred through an aluminum coupling disc which deflects a simply supported beam member. The beam member is formed of refractory material having epitaxially grown crystalline piezoresistors formed on one surface of the beam member and connected in a bridge circuit and is secured to a ceramic mounting disc. The aluminum coupling disc has a relatively high coefficient of thermal expansion which maintains a preload on the beam member for improved accuracy in spite of the low thermal expansion of the ceramic mounting disc. In an alternate embodiment, an expansion ring made of a material having a relatively high coefficient of thermal expansion is used to support a mounting disc on which the beam member is supported. The high expansion rate of the expansion ring maintains a preload between the beam member and a cup diaphragm by compensating for the relatively low expansion of the ceramic mounting disc.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to transducers for sensing the instantaneous pressure in an engine combustion chamber and, more specifically, the present invention relates to transducers for sensing the instantaneous pressure in an engine combustion chamber where an aluminum coupling disc is disposed between a diaphragm and a sensing element to improve performance. In an alternate embodiment, an aluminum expansion ring is adapted to support the sensor element within the transducer body.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Combustion chamber pressure transducers have found particular application in reciprocating internal combustion engines for detecting the pressure history occurring within the combustion chamber especially for detection of combustion anomalies such as detonation or knock, misfire or pre-ignition. Pressure transducers of this type are typically mounted through an aperture in the combustion chamber such as a threaded hole in the engine cylinder head and are employed to produce an electrical signal indicative of real time combustion pressures which is provided to an engine control comparator for use in controlling various engine parameters such as ignition timing, especially for controlling retarding of the ignition spark timing to prevent knocking. Various types of knock sensors which rely on sensing the high frequency vibration of the engine cylinder block have become a critical element in the management of spark ignition timing in internal combustion engines for optimizing efficiency, power and emission.
Heretofore, laboratory knock sensors or transducers for internal combustion engine usage have employed a metal diaphragm exposed to the combustion chamber gasses which moved an intermediate member to provide a force against a sensing element to generate an electrical signal indicative of the combustion pressure on the pressure responsive diaphragm. The prior art required a comparatively long intermediate member to prevent the extreme thermal environment from damaging the sensing element. This resulted in a transducer which did not have the necessary rapid response time to properly track the combustion event due to detonation or knocking and, thus, the transducer was not suitable for providing an electrical signal to the engine control computer for control of ignition timing. The vibration sensing technology used in prior art systems cannot accurately measure the combustion pressure events that occur in an engine combustion chamber and specifically are subject to drift due to thermal transients.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,559,280 the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, discloses a transducer housing for mounting in a port in a combustion chamber having a metal diaphragm exposed to the combustion gasses. The pressure of the combustion gasses deflects the diaphragm which locally deflects a simply supported beam member. The beam member is formed of refractory material having epitaxially grown crystalline piezoresistors formed on one surface of the beam and connected in a bridge circuit. Noble metal foil leads connect to the piezoresistors to form the bridge and provide attachment pads. The pads are noble metal welded to other noble metal foil pads provided on a ceramic substrate to form a sensor subassembly for mounting adjacent the diaphragm to form a transducer.
It would be desirable to provide a cylinder combustion pressure transducer that exhibits an increased thermal stability for improved sensing accuracy over a wide range of engine operating conditions. The extremely high temperatures of the combustion event introduce extreme temperature gradients and high heat loads to the face and internal parts of the transducer. The high temperature adversely affects the preload applied on the diaphragm and other internal parts on the sensing element resulting in unreliable performance especially during thermal transients.
The present invention provides a means to improve the thermal stability of a combustion pressure transducer by utilizing a coupling disc having a relatively high rate of thermal expansion relative to the other components in the transducer which is disposed between the sensor diaphragm and the sensing element. The sensing element is mounted on a mounting disc which is supported in a transducer body using a support ring. Thus, during thermal transients especially with increasing temperature, the coupling disc expands faster than the other components to maintain the preload on the sensing element. In an alternate embodiment, an aluminum expansion ring replaces the steel support ring and a prior art cup diaphragm is used to load the sensing element. The expansion ring functions to maintain the preload between the cup diaphragm and the sensing element by expanding and forcing the sensing element upward toward the cup diaphragm under increasing thermal loads.
One provision of the present invention is to provide a combustion pressure transducer having improved thermal operating characteristics.
Another provision of the present invention is to provide a transducer having a diaphragm acting upon,a coupling element having a high coefficient of thermal expansion which in turn acts upon a force sensing element to provide an accurate electrical signal responsive to combustion chamber pressures.
Another provision of the present invention is to provide a simply supported beam having piezoresistors formed thereon for localized deflection by a diaphragm exposed to combustion chamber pressures operating through a coupling element having a high coefficient of thermal expansion to rapidly generate an electrical signal indicative of changes in combustion chamber pressure.
Another provision of the present invention is to provide a combustion pressure transducer having improved thermal characteristics where an aluminum coupling element is used to transfer the deflection of a diaphragm which is exposed to combustion pressures to a piezoresistive sensing element.
Still another provision of the present invention is to provide an expansion ring having a relatively high rate of thermal expansion secured in the body of a combustion pressure transducer to provide support to a sensing element which contacts a diaphragm which is exposed to combustion pressures.

Engine cylinder pressure sensor with thermal compensation element


This invention relates to a device for measuring currents used in a converter (1) powered by a DC power source and equipped with six switches (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6) associated with diodes (D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, D6) and controlled by a control circuit (2) and a microcontroller (3), and equipped with current sensors (Su, Sv, Sw) each located between the switch and the diode associated with a lower channel, and secondly the return conductor to the DC power source supplying "direct" signals (Isu, Isv, Isw) in phase with the currents (Ia, Ib, Ic) output from the converter, characterized by the fact that it includes means (A46, A62) of calculating an "indirect" replacement signal (Iai) equal to the sum of two "direct" signals (-Isu and -Isw) and a second "indirect" replacement signal (Ici) equal to the sum of the two "direct" signals (-Isu and -Isw) and means (Cu, Cw) for switching either a "direct" signal (Isu or Isw) or an "indirect" replacement signal (Iai or Ici) so as to send to the microcontroller (3) two signals reconstructed from the two phase currents (Ia* and Ic*), each composed of either the "direct" signal (Isu or Isw) or, during the PWM steps in which the lower branch transistor is not controlled, the "indirect" replacement signal (Iai, Ici).

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a device for measuring currents in a converter fitted with switches controlled by a control circuit and powered by a DC power source.
2. Discussion of Background
A frequency converter is used to control a motor at a variable frequency and voltage, from the AC network. This type of frequency converter consists of a DC power source (rectifier stage) that, after filtering, powers a voltage converter. The converter includes "switches" (for example IGBT transistors) that are controlled by a control circuit with a microcontroller using a technique called pulse width modulation (or PWM) outputting a sequence of fixed amplitude width modulated pulses to the motor. Transistor closing instants are fixed by the intersections of a sinusoidal reference wave representing the output voltage from a phase and a triangular modulation wave.
In a frequency converter, it is necessary to measure the current in the phases in order to regulate the speed and to provide protection against overcurrents and short circuits. There are several methods of measuring the current. A first method is to place Hall effect sensors or shunts with insulating amplifiers directly on the phases. A second method consists of placing a single shunt on the return conductor to the DC power source and "reconstructing" output currents in the phases. A third method consists of placing three shunts on the lower arms of the converter and "reconstructing" the output currents in the phases, making use of the voltage measurements at the terminals of the three shunts.
Known measurement methods using three shunts in the lower branches are not fully satisfactory, particularly at high speed and in defluxed mode.

Device for measuring currents in a converter


A vehicle is provided having at least a front wheel, a rear wheel, an electrical machine which is configured for driving the rear and/or the front wheel, and multiple electrical storage devices which are accommodated in a storage housing. The storage housing forms a load-bearing component of a frame and/or a body of the vehicle.

The present invention relates to a vehicle having at least one front wheel, at least one rear wheel, and electric drive and an electrical storage unit having a housing which is a load-bearing component of the frame and/or body of the vehicle.
At present, vehicle manufacturers are increasingly focusing on vehicles having a hybrid drive or a purely electric drive. Such vehicles require a relatively heavy battery. The battery can be arranged, by way of example, in the undercarriage, in an intermediate vehicle floor, or in a "trunk" of the vehicle. Due to the high weight of the battery, the body and/or the frame of the vehicle must be accordingly given a rigid construction in the region thereof where the battery is housed.
The problem addressed by the invention is that of creating a vehicle wherein the electrical energy storage is integrated as well as possible into the body and/or into the frame of the vehicle.
The invention proceeds from an electrical storage which can consist of multiple storage devices. The term "storage device" particularly includes battery cells, capacitors, or other devices which are suitable and intended for the storage of electrical energy. The individual storage devices can be connected in parallel or in series. Multiple storage devices can be connected to each other to form a storage module. The electrical energy storage can have multiple storage modules connected to each other.
The storage devices are accommodated in a "storage housing." According to the invention, the storage housing is designed to be stable in such a manner that it can function as a load-bearing structural component of a body and/or a frame of a vehicle.
The term "storage housing" means a housing in which the storage devices of the electrical energy storage are accommodated. In contrast to conventional vehicle concepts, wherein the electrical energy storage is housed in a "compartment" of the vehicle body, the storage housing of the electrical energy storage according to the invention forms a load-bearing component of the vehicle body and/or the vehicle frame. The storage housing according to the invention is therefore an essential component of the vehicle body and/or the vehicle frame. If one would imagine dispensing with the storage housing, it would no longer be possible to have a "functional vehicle body" and/or a "functional vehicle frame." Accordingly, an exchange of the electrical energy storage and/or the storage housing would only be possible by destroying the vehicle body and/or the vehicle frame.
Therefore, the invention is primarily characterized in that the storage housing is used directly as a "load-bearing structural component," and is not merely inserted into a compartment of the frame or body, or installed thereon, as is the case in conventional vehicle concepts. As such, it is possible to save constructed space and weight, while having a small number of individual components.
The invention is particularly suited for use in two-wheel vehicles and/or motorcycles or motor scooters. However, the invention can also be used for three-wheel vehicles (so-called "tikes"), or four- or more-wheeled vehicles (e.g. passenger cars). The vehicle can be exclusively driven by an electrical machine (an electric motor), meaning that it is a purely electric vehicle (with no combustion engine).
According to the invention, all electrical energy storage devices in which electrical energy, the same being used to generate vehicle propulsion, are accommodated in the single storage housing (which is the only one configured in the vehicle). The storage housing is an independent component, wherein the connected frame or body components are "installed" on the same.
The storage housing according to the invention is preferably water-tight. This has the advantage that the configuration prevents water from the surroundings from penetrating into the individual storage devices.
An electronic controller which controls and/or regulates the charging and discharging of the electrical storage formed by the individual electrical storage devices (the battery management system) can likewise be housed in, or outside of, the storage housing.
The storage housing can be arranged, by way of example, between a front axle and/or a front wheel and a rear axle and/or a rear wheel of the vehicle. The front wheel and/or the rear wheel can be arranged in a manner allowing turning.
Because the storage housing forms a load-bearing component of the frame and/or the body of the vehicle, it supports forces and side loads resulting from the mass of the vehicle.
According to one implementation of the invention, the vehicle has a front frame-, body-, and/or chassis segment which is connected to the storage housing. A front wheel suspension which carries the front wheel, by way of example, can be arranged on the front frame- or body segment.
According to one implementation of the invention, the front frame-, body- and/or chassis segment has a steering wheel recess. The steering wheel recess can be formed by a steering head tube, for example, wherein a front wheel fork or a front wheel bearing is mounted on the steering head tube in a manner allowing turning. The steering head tube can be connected symmetrically to the storage housing, for example via four support tubes.
The storage housing can substantially have the shape of a cuboid which extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. In the case of a two-wheel vehicle (e.g. a scooter), the storage housing can be designed in such a manner that its length, measured in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, is larger than its width measured in the vehicle transverse direction. The larger the cross-section of the cuboid storage housing, the larger is its flexural and torsional strength. The higher it is possible to construct the storage housing (measured in the vertical direction of the vehicle), the larger is its flexural strength. Compared to conventional body or frame constructions, it is possible to achieve very high strength by means of such a "box-like storage housing." This has a very positive effect on the driving characteristics of the vehicle.
The storage housing can be made of metal, for example of aluminum or an aluminum alloy. It surrounds all storage devices and protects the same from damage, which is particularly important in the event of an accident and/or a collision.
According to one implementation of the invention, a rear wheel suspension which carries the rear wheel is connected to the storage housing. The rear wheel suspension can be connected to the storage housing in a hinged manner. It can be designed, by way of example, as a rear swinging fork which is connected to the storage housing (or to a flange attached thereto) via an articulated joint. The rear wheel suspension can be spring-supported on the storage housing via a spring strut. A damper device can be integrated into the spring strut or can be additionally configured.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of one or more preferred embodiments when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Vehicle comprising a housing of an electric energy store, said housing being designed as a supporting structural component

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft


An elongated rod fabricated of polymeric material for use in reinforcing an underground passage includes an integral structure of a shaft portion, washer element and torque receiving end portion. The shaft portion is fabricated of a preselected polymeric material as required to meet the strength requirements of the rod in reinforcing the rock formation surrounding the passage. For use in reinforcing the side walls of a passage, the rod is fabricated of plastic material recycled, for example, from plastic beverage containers. The integral construction eliminates the need to thread the end of the rod to receive a nut. The washer element seats against a bearing block compressed against the side wall. When used with a resin system, the rod is anchored in the bore hole to maintain the bearing block compressed against the side wall to support the surrounding rock strata.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a rod fabricated of non-metallic material for use in supporting the rock formation surrounding an underground passage and, more particularly, to a reinforcing rod fabricated of polymeric material including at one end portion an integral washer element and retainer for receiving torque to rotate the rod when inserted in a bore hole in the rock formation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In underground operations, such as mining or excavating, one approach to reinforcing the unsupported rock formation is the use of elongated reinforcing rods or bolt members anchored in holes drilled into the rock formation. The bolt member is secured in the bore hole by either engagement of an expansion shell on the end of the bolt with the rock formation or adhesively bonding the bolt by a thermosetting resin injected into the drill hole so that upon curing the bolt member is united with the rock formation. A combination of a mechanical expansion shell and resin bonding is also used in support systems.
A roof plate is retained on the bolt by an enlarged head formed on the bolt or by a nut that is advanced onto the threaded end of the bolt. When an expansion shell is used, the bolt is tensioned with the affect of compressing the rock strata to reinforce the rock strata. When adhesive is used to bond the bolt in the bore hole the resin components are mixed by rotation of the bolt in the bore hole. The mixed resin penetrates into the rock formation to adhesively unite fissures in the rock formation and to firmly hold the bolt in position in the bore hole once the resin cures.
Examples of metallic roof bolts using a combination expansion shell and resin to reinforce a rock formation are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,419,805; 4,413,930; 4,518,292; and 4,516,885. These devices can utilize a metallic roof bolt or reinforcing rod having an enlarged head end forged on the end of the rod that extends from the bore hole. The enlarged head end bears against a metallic roof plate when the bolt is anchored and tensioned to transmit compressive forces to the overlying rock structure. In the alternative, the end portion of the roof bolt is threaded to accommodate a nut. The bearing plate is positioned on the end of the bolt, and then the nut is advanced on the threaded end to hold the bearing plate on the end of the bolt and compressed against the rock structure.
It is also known to reinforce underground rock formations with rods or bolts fabricated of non-metallic material, such as plastic. U.S. Pat. No. 4,369,003 discloses a rock anchor formed of a tubular tensioning element fabricated of glass fiber reinforced synesthetic resin. The tensioning element is anchored within the bore hole by a jacket that is spread by a conical wedge, also fabricated of glass fiber reinforced synthetic resin. The opposite end of the tensioning element which extends from the bore hole includes an externally threaded jacket that is wedged in place on the end of the tensioning element. A metallic anchor plate is positioned on the threaded portion of the tensioning jacket. A clamp nut is threadedly advanced on the end of the jacket to compress the plate against the rock formation. One disadvantage of this type of anchor assembly is the complexity provided by a number of components which must be inventoried and provided for assembly of each anchor. A particular disadvantage is the necessity to thread the end of the plastic anchor to receive a nut without stripping the threads.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,369,003 also discloses that rather than use a fiber glass reinforced spreading jacket, an externally threaded metal spreading jacket may be more efficient to receive a nut to securely retain the anchor plate on the end of the bolt.
It is also known to fabricate high strength non-metallic anchor bolts from materials, such as glass fiber reinforced synesthetic resin. High strength "plastic bolts" are also externally threaded to receive a plastic nut. In many reinforcing applications it is not necessary that the bolt possess the high strength qualities provided by glass fiber reinforced synesthetic resin. Where lesser strength requirements permit polymeric materials having a strength of about 15-25% of glass fiber reinforced bolts can be used.
While it has been suggested by the prior art devices to provide reinforcing roof bolts and rods fabricated of nonmetallic material for use in anchoring rock formations and underground excavations, the known non-metallic rods are expensive to fabricate due to their composition and the number of component parts required. Therefore, there is need in supporting underground rock formations for a non-metallic reinforcing rod or bolt that is economically fabricated and efficiently installed for the particular strength requirements in supporting the rock formation.

Non-metallic reinforcing rod and method of use in supporting a rock formation


A corrected data generator for an image taking device includes a training plate having a reference pattern. A memory stores predetermined image information corresponding to the reference pattern on the training plate. A photoelectric section converts a light signal into a corresponding electric signal. Corrective information is generated in response to an electric signal of the reference pattern which is outputted from the photoelectric section, and in response to the image information stored in the memory. An electric signal of an object which is outputted from the photoelectric section is corrected in response to the corrective information.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a corrected data generator for an image taking device such as an image scanner.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An image taking device such as an image scanner or a video camera includes an optical system and a photoelectric section. An image of an object is formed on the photoelectric section via the optical system. The image on the photoelectric section is converted into a corresponding electric signal by the photoelectric section. Generally, the optical system has aberrations of various types. Accordingly, the image on the photoelectric section is distorted by the aberrations of the optical system.
Japanese published unexamined patent application 1-94776 discloses a video camera having a photoelectric section composed of a two-dimensional array of pixel-corresponding segments. In Japanese application 1-94776, the area of a pixel-corresponding segment increases as the position of the segment moves from the center toward an edge of the photoelectric section. This design compensates for a distortion of an image on the photoelectric section which is caused by a certain aberration of an optical system.
Japanese published unexamined patent application 1-119178 discloses an image sensor having a two-dimensional array of photosensitive elements. In Japanese application 1-119178, the pitch between photosensitive elements varies as a region containing the photosensitive elements moves from the center toward an edge of the photosensitive element array. This design compensates for a distortion of an image on the photosensitive element array which is caused by a distortion of an optical system.

Corrected data generator for image taking device

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


Extraction devices for extracting chronically implanted devices such as leadless cardiac pacemakers (LCP). In some cases, the extraction devices may be configured to cut or tear through at least some of the tissue ingrowth around and/or over the chronically implanted device such that a retrieval feature on the chronically implanted device may be grasped for removal of the chronically implanted device.

Cardiac pacemakers such as leadless cardiac pacemakers are used to sense and pace hearts that are susceptible to a variety of incorrect heart rhythms, including but not limited to bradycardia, which is a slow heart rate, and tachycardia, which is a high heart rate. In some cases, there may be a desire to remove a previously implanted leadless cardiac pacemaker. Since these devices are designed for long life, in many cases substantial tissue growth (e.g. endothelialization) around and even over the leadless cardiac pacemaker may occur, particularly with chronically (long-term) implanted devices. Tissue growth can complicate removal of the implanted device. Accordingly, there is a desire to provide extraction devices that are directed at extracting chronically implanted devices such as but not limited to leadless cardiac pacemakers.

Extraction devices configued to extract chronically implanted medical devices


Methods, apparatuses and systems are disclosed for preserving, verifying, and correcting data in DRAM device during a power-saving mode. In the power-saving mode, memory cells in the DRAM device may be refreshed using a self-refresh operation. This self-refresh operation may allow bit errors to occur in the DRAM device. However, by employing error correction coding (ECC), embodiments of the present invention may detect and correct these potential errors that may occur in the power-saving mode. Furthermore, a partial ECC check cycle is employed to check and correct a sub-set of the memory cells during a periodic self-refresh process that occurs during the power-saving mode.

Modern computers and other digital systems rely on semiconductor memory devices to store data and instructions for processing by a central processing unit (CPU). Most of these systems have a system memory, which usually includes Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) devices. The memory storage cost per bit for DRAM devices is relatively low because a DRAM memory cell needs relatively few circuit components to store a data bit as compared with other types of memory cells, such as Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) devices or Flash memory devices. Thus, a high capacity system memory can be implemented using DRAM devices for a relatively low cost.
Although DRAM devices have the advantage of providing relatively low-cost data storage, they generally consume more power. In fact, DRAM devices used in a digital system, such as a computer, can consume a significant percentage of the total power consumed by the system. The power consumed by computers and other digital systems can be a critical factor in their utility in certain applications. For example, the power consumed by portable personal computers greatly affects the length of time they can be used without the need to recharge batteries powering such computers. Power consumption can also be important even where memory devices are not powered by batteries because it may be necessary to limit the heat generated by the memory devices.
Furthermore, as is well-known in the art, DRAM memory cells must be periodically refreshed to retain data stored in the DRAM device by restoring the charge on each bit. This refresh operation tends to consume power at a substantial rate. Refresh is typically performed by activating each row of memory cells in an array, which essentially reads data bits from the memory cells in each row and then internally writes those same data bits back to the same cells in the row. This refresh is generally performed at a rate needed to keep charge stored in the memory cells from leaking excessively between refreshes. Since refresh involves accessing data bits in a large number of memory cells at a rapid rate, refresh tends to be a particularly power-hungry operation. Thus many attempts to reduce power consumption in DRAM devices have focused on reducing the rate at which power is consumed during refresh.
The amount of power consumed by refresh also depends on which of several refresh modes is active. A self-refresh mode is normally active during periods when data are not being read from or written to the DRAM device. Since many electronic devices, such as notebook computers, are often inactive for substantial periods of time, the amount of power consumed during self-refresh can be an important factor in determining how long the electronic device can be used after a battery charge. While power is also consumed at a significant rate during other refresh modes when the DRAM device is active, the DRAM device is consuming power at a significant rate anyway while the data stored therein are being accessed. Therefore, if the power consumption during self-refresh can be reduced, the rate of power consumption dedicated to refresh operations can be significantly reduced.
Furthermore, DRAM devices have been proposed with prolonged low power modes (often referred to as sleep modes) for maintaining the data in the DRAM when the DRAM is not being externally accessed for a relatively long period of time. During the sleep modes, the DRAM may return to an intermediate power level to perform the required periodic refresh cycles.
Another method for reducing power consumption in DRAMs is to modify the refresh period as a function of temperature. The rate at which charge leaks from a DRAM memory cell increases with temperature. The refresh rate must be sufficiently high to ensure that no data is lost at the highest temperature in the specified range of operating temperatures of the DRAM device. Yet, DRAM devices normally operate at temperatures that are substantially lower than their maximum operating temperature. Therefore, DRAM devices are generally refreshed at a rate that is higher than the rate actually needed to prevent data from being lost, and, in doing so, unnecessarily consume power. To address this problem, some commercially available DRAM devices allow the user to program a mode register to select a lower maximum operating temperature. The DRAM device then adjusts the refresh rate to correspond to the maximum operating temperature selected by the user. Although adjusting the refresh rate to correspond to a lower maximum operating temperature does reduce the rate of power consumed during refresh, it nevertheless still allows power to be consumed at a significant rate. If the refresh rate was reduced beyond a safe limit, at least some of the memory cells might not be refreshed before that data stored therein was lost. Data subsequently read from the DRAM device would then contain erroneous data bits.

Method, system, and apparatus for distributed decoding during prolonged refresh


A method for treating a medical patient prior to or during heart trauma, e.g., myocardial infarction, angina and ischemia. An effective dosage of pyruvate is introduced into the patient to increase the patient's cardiac output and stroke volume, to decrease the patient's heart rate and to reduce the oxygen demand of the patient's heart. The dosage may be introduced intravenously into the patient or orally as a component of the patient's diet. The oral feeding method is especially useful for surgical patients prior to surgical procedures which are likely to encourage cardiac trauma and useful for patients exhibiting symptoms of chronic congestive heart failure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention provides a method (a) for treating a medical patient to prepare the patient for surgical procedures involving the heart, lungs, veins, arteries or other vital organs, which procedures are accompanied by cardiac trauma, i.e., ischemia, and (b) for treating a medical patient experiencing cardiac trauma. The invention provides for introducing an effective dosage of pyruvate into the patient's bloodstream prior to and/or during the cardiac trauma.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Pyruvate and mixtures of pyruvate with dihydroxyacetone have been described for a number of beneficial results:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,158,057 describes oral administration of pyruvate and dihydroxyacetone to prevent excessive accumulation of fatty deposits in a mammal liver due to ethanol ingestion.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,351,835 describes oral administration of pyruvate and dihydroxyacetone to reduce an expected weight gain from a given diet or to induce a weight loss in a mammal. The patent also describes oral administration of pyruvate and dihydroxyacetone to athletes prior to strenuous athletic events to increase endurance and/or performance.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,415,575 describes oral administration of pyruvate and dihydroxyacetone to increase the body protein concentration in a mammal.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,937 describes oral administration of pyruvate to a mammal to induce a weight loss or reduce an expected weight gain from a given diet.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,645,764 describes oral administration to a living being of pyruvate and dihydroxyacetone to induce a weight loss or to reduce an expected weight gain from a given diet and for inhibiting body fat while increasing body protein concentration.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,812,478 describes oral administration of dihydroxyacetone to an animal to induce a weight loss or to reduce an expected weight gain from a given diet.
These described results of oral administration of pyruvate and pyruvate with dihydroxyacetone are of great interest for medical patients who ingest ethanol; medical patients having fatty liver deposits or tendencies toward fatty liver deposits; medical patients who are obese or have a tendency toward obesity; normal subjects desiring to lose body weight or to retard body weight increase; normal patients, particularly athletes, who desire to increase endurance; and medical patients having diabetic tendencies.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,874,790 describes the use of pyruvate as a treatment for patients having diabetic tendencies.
The use of pyruvate to treat ischemia and to increase inotropism in hearts has been described:
K. E. SOMMERS et al, PYRUVATE IMPROVES POSTISCHEMIC MIOCARDIAL FUNCTION AND ATP RECOVERY: A 31P NMR SPECTROSCOPY STUDY, SURGICAL FORUM VOL XLI, 1990, pages 241-3; PA0 R. M. MENTZER, JR. et al, EFFECT OF PYRUVATE ON REGIONAL VENTRICULAR FUNCTION IN NORMAL AND STUNNED MYOCARDIUM, ANN. SURG. May 1989, pages 629-634; PA0 ROLF BUNGER et al, PYRUVATE-ENHANCED PHOSPHORYLATION POTENTIAL AND INOTROPISM IN NORMOXIC AND POSTISCHEMIC ISOLATED WORKING HEART, EUR. J. BIOCHEM, Feb. 1989, pages 221-233.
It is an object of this invention to increase the cardiac output of a human in need thereof without concurrently increasing the cardiac oxygen demand of the human.

Method for treating a medical patient for cardiac trauma


A medical device may include an extravascular system, a vascular access device attached to the system, and at least one access port attached to the device capable of displacing stagnant fluid within the extravascular system. A method for eliminating stagnant fluid within an extravascular system may include providing an extravascular system, providing a vascular access device having an access port, attaching the device to the system via the access port, accessing the access port with a separate vascular access device, and displacing stagnant fluid within the extravascular system.

The present disclosure relates to the elimination of stagnant flow in extravascular systems used to provide infusion or other therapy to patients. Infusion therapy is one of the most common health care procedures. Hospitalized and home care patients receive fluids, pharmaceuticals, and blood products via a vascular access device inserted into the vascular system. Infusion therapy may be used to treat an infection, provide anesthesia or analgesia, provide nutritional support, treat cancerous growths, maintain blood pressure and heart rhythm, or many other clinically significant uses.
Infusion therapy is facilitated by vascular access devices located outside the vascular system of a patient. An extravascular system includes least one vascular access device and/or other medical device that may access a patient's peripheral or central vasculature, either directly or indirectly. Vascular access devices include closed access devices, such as the BD Q-SYTE™ closed Luer access device of Becton, Dickinson and Company; syringes; split access devices; catheters; and intravenous (IV) fluid chambers. An extravascular system may access a patient's vascular system for a short term (days), a moderate term (weeks), or a long term (months to years), and may be used for continuous infusion therapy or for intermittent therapy.
Complications associated with infusion therapy include significant morbidity and even mortality. Such complications may be caused by regions of stagnant flow within the vascular access device or nearby areas of the extravascular system. These are regions in which the flow of fluid is limited or non-existent due to the conformation of the extravascular system or the fluid dynamics within that area of the extravascular system. Air bubbles or infused medications may become trapped within these regions of stagnant flow as a result of the limited or non-existent fluid flow. When a different medication is infused into the extravascular system, or the extravascular system is exposed to physical trauma, the extravascular system's fluid flow may become altered, releasing trapped air bubbles or residual medications back into the active fluid path of the extravascular system. This release of air bubbles and residual medication into the active fluid path extravascular system may result in significant complications.
Released air bubbles may block fluid flow through the extravascular system and prevent its proper functioning. More seriously, released air bubbles may enter the vascular system of the patient and block blood flow, causing tissue damage and even stroke. In addition, residual medications may interact with presently infused medications to cause precipitates within the extravascular system and prevent its proper functioning. Furthermore, residual medications may enter the vascular system of the patient and cause unintended and/or undesired effects.
Therefore, a need exists for systems and methods that eliminate, prevent, or limit regions of stagnant flow within vascular access devices and extravascular systems.

Vascular access device stagnant fluid displacement


An objective lens to converge a light flux having a working reference wavelength λ0 (380 nm≦λ0≦450 nm) under a working reference temperature T0 onto an optical information recording medium equipped with a protective substrate having a thickness of 0.6 mm with almost no aberration. The diffractive structural section of the objective lens has a first compensating function to compensate a change amount δSA1 of the third-order spherical aberration component of wavefront aberration caused by a fluctuation of a working wavelength, a second compensating function to compensate a deviation δWD of a converged-light spot in an optical axis direction caused by a fluctuation of a working wavelength, and a third compensating function to compensate a change amount δSA2 of the third-order spherical aberration component of wavefront aberration caused by a change of a refractive index of the lens body.

The present invention relates to an optical pickup device for conducting recording and/or reproducing for an optical information recording medium and to an objective lens used in the optical pickup device.
In an optical system of an optical pickup device wherein DVD (digital versatile disk) representing an optical disk (optical information recording medium) is used as a medium, there is used a laser having a wavelength of about 650 nm (for example, see Patent Document 1).
In recent years, there has been advanced development of HD-DVD (high density DVD) representing an optical disk that is similar to DVD in terms of a size and is greater than DVD in terms of capacity. In the optical system of the optical pickup device employing this HD-DVD as a medium, a diameter of the light-converging spot is made small by using a violet laser with a short wavelength (380–450 nm approximately), for the purpose of achieving high density of recording signals or of reproducing high density recording signals.
(Patent Document)
                1. TOKKAIHEI No. 11-337818        2. TOKKAIHEI No. 6-242373

Objective lens and optical pickup device


The electric power supply unit is provided with: a DC-DC converter in which a electric current is supplied through a backup line; the other DC-DC converter in which a electric current is supplied through an accessory line; and a voltage controlling circuit. The voltage controlling circuit controls the DC-DC converters so as to keep their output voltage at the same value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention belongs to the technical field of electric power supply units and electric power supply controlling methods utilizing a plurality of electric power supply lines.
2. Related Background Art
In an audio amplifier for automobile use, it is known that a voltage of an in-vehicle battery is boosted with a DC-DC converter to increase an audio output as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei-9-291843.
However, there is a case where a current-carrying capacity of a standard electrical wiring in a vehicle, which is 10 amperes for example, is not enough for an audio amplifier utilizing a DC-DC converter. In this case, it is necessary to use a dedicated wiring 120 having a large current-carrying capacity, such as 20 amperes, as described in FIG. 1. The audio amplifier described in FIG. 1 has a power amplifier unit 110 connected to an in-vehicle battery 1 through a connector 102. The power amplifier unit 110 is provided with: a pair of power amplifiers 111A and 11B; a DC-DC converter circuit 112 supplying a power supply voltage to the power amplifiers 111A and 111B; and an on-off detecting circuit 116 for controlling operations of the power amplifiers 111A and 111B by detecting on-off status of an accessory switch 6. Therefore, it is necessary to install the dedicated wiring 120 for passing a current from the battery 1, in a vehicle, and to use a fuse and a connector capable of being used for a current having a large capacity. Thus, complicated work and special components are needed.

Electric power supply unit and electric power supply controlling method


A power semiconductor module includes: at least one semiconductor substrate having a dielectric insulation layer and a first metallization layer attached to the dielectric insulation layer; at least one semiconductor body arranged on the first metallization layer; at least one end stop element arranged either on the semiconductor substrate or on one of the at least one semiconductor body and extending from the semiconductor substrate or the respective semiconductor body in a vertical direction that is perpendicular to a top surface of the semiconductor substrate; and a housing at least partly enclosing the semiconductor substrate, the housing including sidewalls and a cover. The housing further includes at least one press-on pin extending from the cover of the housing towards one of the at least one end stop element, and exerting a pressure on the respective end stop element.

Power semiconductor modules often include a semiconductor substrate arranged in a housing. A semiconductor arrangement including a plurality of controllable semiconductor elements (e.g., two IGBTs in a half-bridge configuration) may be arranged on the substrate. The substrate usually comprises a substrate layer (e.g., a ceramic layer), a first metallization layer deposited on a first side of the substrate layer and a second metallization layer deposited on a second side of the substrate layer. The controllable semiconductor elements are mounted, for example, on the first metallization layer. The second metallization layer may be attached to a heat sink or to a ground surface of the housing. The controllable semiconductor devices are usually mounted to the semiconductor substrate by soldering or sintering techniques.
A cover of the housing is often used to exert a force on the substrate such that the substrate is pressed on the heat sink or on the ground surface of the housing, respectively. In this way, a thermal resistance between the substrate and the heat sink or ground surface may be achieved. However, assembling such semiconductor module arrangements is often cumbersome and there is a risk that the stability of the housing is degraded during the assembly process which may decrease the overall lifetime of the semiconductor module arrangement.
There is a need for a semiconductor module arrangement that provides a good thermal resistance between the substrate and the heat sink or ground surface of the housing, that is easy to assemble, and that has an increased lifetime.

Power semiconductor module and a method for producing a power semiconductor module


A method for monitoring die placement includes receiving measurements of an alignment of a semiconductor die mounted in a package by a die packaging tool. The measurements include center offset metrics associated with displacement of a center of the die. A plurality of corner offset metrics is determined based on the center offset metrics and dimensions of the die. A maximum one of the corner offset metrics is selected as a die placement metric. An out of tolerance condition with the die packaging tool is identified based on the die placement metric.

The present invention relates generally to manufacturing and, more particularly, to the use of a derived metric for monitoring die placement.
Semiconductor die are normally formed in large quantities on wafers of semiconductor material, for example, silicon. After die are singulated from the wafers, they may be individually packaged in plastic or ceramic packages, for example. A lead frame may support the die for wire bonding and packaging and provide the lead system for the completed package. In general, electrical circuitry formed on the die is coupled to bond pads on the die to facilitate interconnection of the electrical circuitry with the outside world. During the wire bonding and packaging process, each bond pad is electrically connected by way of wire leads to the lead frame. The electrical connection includes a wire bond formed on the bond pad, a wire lead and a wire bond formed on the lead frame. An encapsulating material protects and insulates the die, and the die is mounted in a package having external pins for interconnecting the electrical circuitry on the die, via the wire bonds, to the outside world.
A packaging tool places the die on the package for attachment thereto. The package typically includes reference marks, commonly referred to as fiducial marks, for use by the packaging tool. Following the placement of the die, a placement measurement tool determines, on a sampling basis, the accuracy of the placement by measuring the rectangular offsets between the actual center of the mounted die and expected center point (i.e., with perfect alignment) and an angular offset resulting from rotation of the die with respect to the package. The placement measurement tool thus outputs an x-offset, h, a y-offset, k, and an angular offset, θ, as illustrated in FIG. 1, where the actual die 100 is illustrated using solid lines, and the ideal die placement 110 is illustrated using phantom lines. The degree of misalignment is exaggerated for illustrative purposes.
The results reported by the placement measurement tool are typically trended using statistical process control (SPC) techniques, such as control charts. Each type of device manufactured in a facility may have a different size. Hence, the actual displacement of the corners of the device, where misalignment between the bond pads and the lead frame is most likely to cause packaging faults, is not readily apparent given the center and rotation measurements. A typical fabrication facility processes devices of differing types on multiple fabrication lines. Due to the large number of product sizes, different packaging tools, and different placement measurement tools, the amount of die placement data generated is extremely large. Given the volume of the data and the differing size characteristics of the packaged die, it is sometimes difficult for facility operators or automatic management systems to identify performance problems with a particular placement tool by trending the offset data.
This section of this document is intended to introduce various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present invention described and/or claimed below. This section provides background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present invention. It should be understood that the statements in this section of this document are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art. The present invention is directed to overcoming, or at least reducing the effects of, one or more of the problems set forth above.

Derived metric for monitoring die placement


A graphical user interface device includes an operation procedure information database, a display element information database, an operation determination section, a display element selection section, and an integrated procedure and display-element screen preparation section. Procedure information and a display item to be operated by an operator are registered in the operation procedure information database. The procedure information is text information forming an operation manual. The operation determination section determines a current operation step based on information given from an actual plant. The integrated procedure and display-element screen preparation section prepares a layout of an operation screen allowing the procedure information and the display item of the current operation step to be simultaneously displayed on a single screen of the input/output equipment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a graphical user interface device for use in a monitor control system for a monitor control of a plant.
2. Description of the Background Art
For a monitor control of a large-scale plant, in general, information of sensors installed in equipments of the plant is collectively monitored by a central monitor-control panel.
In recent years, software implementation of the central monitor-control panel is promoted, and a display of a plant measurement value and a control of equipments in the central monitor-control panel are implemented by a graphical user interface, instead of a hardware indicator and a hardware switch which have been conventionally used. This can downsize a monitor control system and reduce an operation load imposed on an operator.
Normally, a monitor control service system in a monitor control system has at least one control operation worker and at least one operation supervisor. Each of the control operation worker and the operation supervisor is provided with a special plant monitor control input/output device. In performing a monitor control service, the operation supervisor and the control operation worker use their own input/output devices, and instructions, confirmations, and reports among them are made orally during the operation. In particular, in performing a periodic inspection of the plant and an operation concerning an accident, not only the instructions, the confirmations, and the reports are made orally, but also procedures described in a plant operation manual are checked and the operation is performed in accordance with the manual.
In a large-scale plant, ensuring the safety is a strong demand, and thus, as a general rule, an operator does not solely perform an operation but a plurality of operators perform the operation while confirming the contents of the operation with one another.
In the large-scale plant, the number of items for the monitor control is large, which increases the number of pages of a monitor control screen and the amount of information per page. Accordingly, in a case where an operator actually performs a periodic inspection of the plant, and the like, the operator has to operate an input/output device and the like while searching the plant operation manual describing a lot of display items for a display item necessary for a current operation. Thus, in a case of performing the periodic inspection and the like, a high cognitive load is imposed on the operator.
In a technique proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1994-27287, display items to be operated for the operation of a plant in an abnormal state or in a case of an accident are preliminarily recorded in a database, and an image displaying the display item to be displayed by a system is automatically prepared based on data given from the plant. This device enables an operator to easily perform a current operation.
In order that the operator can properly perform operations in the operation of the large-scale plant mentioned above, it is desirable that the operator correctly understand both of the purpose and a method of the operation described in the plant operation manual. In the device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1994-27287, although the display item to be operated is displayed, the purpose of the operation is not displayed, and the signification of information of an observed data index value is not displayed. Therefore, in any case, a problem rises that the operator has to perform the operation while separately checking the plant operation manual in order to understand them.


A forging steel has a dissolved Mg concentration within the range of 0.04-5 ppm by mass and a dissolved Al concentration within the range of 50-500 ppm.

The large-size crankshaft used as the power transmission member in a marine driving source requires superior fatigue characteristics that can hardly cause fatigue breakdown even under a very severe use environment.
As a method of improving fatigue characteristics of the crankshaft, Non-patent Document 1 describes that improvement in fatigue characteristics was tried by improving fatigue characteristics with free command of processing technology. To be more concrete, the Non-patent Document 1 indicates that the RR (Roedere Ruget) method was adopted to achieve a remarkable betterment in fatigue strength as compared with a crankshaft manufactured by free forging and also that cold roll processing was applied for improvement of fatigue strength.
Non-patent Document 2 examines about possibility of improving fatigue characteristics of low-alloy steel. To be more precise, the Non-patent Document 2 mentions that (1) the inclusions in the steel are apt to become a starting point of fatigue breakdown and such inclination is likely to become more apparent as steel is developed to have higher strength; (2) the larger the size of the inclusion is, the lower the fatigue strength is likely to be; and (3) any steel material containing elongated inclusions has a tendency of easily showing anisotropy in fatigue strength.
However, the above reports do not go as far as to disclose concrete means about how to realize spheronization in morphology of inclusions and make it smaller. It is neither made clear what kinds and sizes of inclusions are to be controlled. Therefore, further studies seem to be required to realize morphology control of inclusions useful for enhancement of fatigue characteristics.
Incidentally, various methods have so far been suggested in regard to the method of morphology control for the inclusions. For example, in Patent Document 1, some suggestion is made about a method in which both sulfide and oxide are reduced in amount and inclusions are controlled in morphology as a means of producing structural low-alloy steel having excellent features in point of lamellar tear resistivity and hydrogen induced cracking resistivity. In more details, the suggestion includes that in order to suppress generation of Mn sulfide which is harmful to the lamellar tear resistivity and hydrogen induced cracking resistivity, it is effective to reduce the amount of sulfur and oxygen content while adding Ca and Mg content at the same time.
In Patent Document 2, it is described that addition of Mg and Ca works effectively to suppress growth of MnS which is apt to elongate during hot rolling and also growth of inclusions of Al2O3 and its relatives which tend to form into clusters, and further to carry out morphology control of the inclusions such as particle size refinement.
Patent Document 3 and Patent Document 4 show that by the extreme size refinement of the oxide type inclusions, it is possible to increase surface fatigue strength and gear bending fatigue strength in relation to gear material. To be more precise, these documents suggest that MgO and MgO.Al2O3, which are less coalesced, should be created as the oxide type inclusions. It is also made clear that replacing a part of sulfide MnS with (Mn.Mg)S can help suppress elongating tendency of the inclusions and reduce anisotropy of mechanical strength.
Patent Document 5 discloses that as sulfide, MnS, CaS, MgS, (Ca,Mn)S, and (Ca,Mg,Mn)S were made to exist for the purpose of obtaining machine structural steel with superior machinability. The Patent Document 5 clarifies that if the morphology of sulfide can be controlled by having REM, Ca and Mg contained, it becomes possible to suppress anisotropy of mechanical property and also to enhance the machinability to a level higher than that of S-contained free cutting steel.
However, the morphology control technology for the above inclusions are not targeting at forged parts used under such severe environmental conditions as the power transmission member in the marine driving source is subjected to. Therefore, it is now required to study and establish an original inclusion control method targeted at forging steel used for manufacturing of forged parts provided with much upgraded fatigue characteristics.    [Non-patent Document 1] "Progress and Improvement of Crankshaft," Journal of the Marine Engineering Society of Japan, October 1973, Vol. 8, No. 10, pp. 54-59    [Non-patent Document 2] "Research on Fatigue Strength Characteristics of High-strength Crankshaft Materials," Journal of the Marine Engineering Society of Japan, 2001, Vol. 36, No. 6, pp. 385-390    [Patent Document 1] Japanese Examined Patent Application Publication No. 58-35255 (JP-B-58-35255)    [Patent Document 2] Japanese Examined Patent Application Publication No. 57-59295 (JP-B-57-59295)    [Patent Document 3] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 07-188853 (JP-A-07-188853)    [Patent Document 4] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 07-238342 (JP-A-07-238342)    [Patent Document 5] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-87179 (JP-A-2000-87179)

Forging steel and its manufacturing method, and forged parts


A process for preparing an ether-capped poly(oxyalkylated) alcohol surfactant having the formula

The present invention relates to an industrial process for preparing low-foaming nonionic surfactants and more particularly to a process for preparing ether-capped poly(oxyalkylated) alcohol surfactants which have superior spotting and filming benefits in dishwashing and hard surface cleaning applications, as well as suds suppression in detergent compositions.
Ether-capped poly(oxyalkylated) alcohols can be prepared using various catalysts, such as Lewis acids. However, for industrial production, metallic catalysts, such as stannic chloride is preferred. In addition to being an excellent catalyst for the reaction of a glycidyl ether with ethoxylated alcohol, metallic catalysts are economical and readily available in commercial bulk quantities. They also offer safety and ease of handling advantages on an industrial scale versus alternative catalysts. One important disadvantage for metallic catalysts is that the soluble metallic residue component of the catalyst, such as tin residues when is the catalyst SnCl4, resulting from there use as reaction catalyst, generally cannot be tolerated above about 100 ppm in many cleaning formulations and applications and these residues are difficult and expensive to remove from ether-capped poly(oxyalkylated) alcohol compositions. Successful laboratory approaches to removal of residual metallic catalyst component, such as the use of a silica gel plug and eluting with a 5% methanol in dichloromethane solution leads to complexity and high cost on an industrial production scale. Due to the surfactant properties of the ether-capped poly(oxyalkylated) alcohol, water washing for metallic catalyst component removal leads to emulsification problems leading to complex organicxe2x80x94aqueous separations.
Problems can also arise in the formation of color impurities, caused by the reaction of color forming bodies, in the end product. These color forming impurities or bodies result in a finished product which is undesirable to consumers and consequently unusable because of its appearance. Thus, the synthesis of ether-capped poly(oxyalkylated) alcohol surfactants is not straightforward and can be surprisingly problematic.
Accordingly, the need remains for a simple, inexpensive yet effective process for the production of ether-capped poly(oxyalkylated) alcohol surfactants which does not result in colored impurities in the final product.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,272,394, issued Jun. 9, 1981, 5,294,365, issued Mar. 15, 1994, 4,248,729, issued Feb. 3, 1981; 4,284,532, issued Aug. 18, 1981; 4,627,927, issued Dec. 9, 1986; 4,790,856, issued Dec. 13, 1988; 4,804,492, issued Feb. 14, 1989; 4,770,815, issued Sep. 13, 1989; 5,035,814, issued Jul. 30, 1991; 5,047,165, issued Sep. 10, 1991; 5,419,853, issued May 30, 1995; 5,294,365, issued Mar. 15, 1994; GB Application No. 2,144,763, published Mar. 13, 1985; GB Application No. 2,154,599, published Sep. 9, 1985; WO Application No. 9,296,150, published Apr. 16, 1992; WO 94/22800, published Oct. 13, 1994, WO 93/04153, published Mar. 4, 1993, WO 97/22651, published Jun. 26, 1997, EP Application No. 342,177, published Nov. 15, 1989 and xe2x80x9cGlyceryl Bisether Sulfates. 1: Improved Synthesisxe2x80x9d Brian D. Condon; Journal Of the American Chemical Society, Vol. 71, no. 7 (July 1994).
A process for production of ether-capped poly(oxyalkylated) alcohol surfactants which does not result in colored impurities in the final product has been discovered that is simple and economical to practice on an industrial scale. It has been discovered that the use of a basic catalysts, such as Lewis bases, and then following the reaction with a bleaching step can be used to produce poly(oxyalkylated) alcohol surfactants which does not result in colored impurities while avoiding oil and water phase emulsification during work-up and product isolation. This method avoids organic solvents, costly process aids, process complexity and removes the need to remove any metallic catalyst component residues, typically associated with the use of Lewis acid catalysts. This bleaching can be carried out as either a batch or continuous process. Furthermore, the bleached product can be removed in a single or multiple extraction steps.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a process for preparing an ether-capped poly(oxyalkylated) alcohol surfactant is provided. The surfactant has the formula:
R1O[CH2CH(R3)O]xCH2CH(OH)CH2OR2
wherein R1 and R2 are linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon radicals having from about 1 to about 30 carbon atoms; R3 is H, or a linear aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having from about 1 to about 4 carbon atoms; x is an integer having an average value from 1 to about 30, wherein when x is 2 or greater, R3 may be the same or different, independently H, or C1 to C4 in any given molecule, further wherein when x is 15 or greater and R3 is H and methyl, at least four of R3 are methyl, further wherein when x is 15 or greater and R3 includes H and from 1 to 3 methyl groups, then at least one R3 is ethyl, propyl or butyl, further wherein R2 can optionally be alkoxylated, wherein said alkoxy is selected from ethoxy, propoxy, butyloxy and mixtures thereof. The process comprises the steps of:
(a) providing a glycidyl ether having the formula:
xe2x80x83wherein R2 is defined as above;
(b) providing an ethoxylated alcohol having the formula:
xe2x80x83wherein R1, R3 and x are defined as above; and
(c) reacting the glycidyl ether with the ethoxylated alcohol to form the surfactant in the presence of a basic catalyst;
(d) optionally, said surfactant is sparged with an inert gas, preferably N2, Ar and mixtures thereof, optionally under vacuum, preferably a vacuum in the range of 5 to 500 mmHg; and
(e) the product of step (d) is bleached with an about 0.05% to about 5.0%, preferably about 0.1% to about 1.0%, by weight solution of a bleach at a temperature from about 25xc2x0 C. to about 95xc2x0 C.
R1 and R2 are preferably a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having from about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms and x is an integer having an average value of from about 6 to about 15.
The step of reacting the glycidyl ether with the ethoxylated alcohol is preferably conducted at a temperature of from about 95xc2x0 C. to about 140xc2x0 C. with 110xc2x0 C. to 130xc2x0 C. even more preferred when alkali metal alkoxylates are employed.
The step of providing the glycidyl ether may further comprises the step of reacting a linear aliphatic or aromatic alcohol having the formula R2OH and an epoxide having the formula:
wherein R2 is defined as above and X is a leaving group. This reaction may also be conducted in the presence of a catalyst as defined above. The catalyst is typically employed at levels about 0.1 mol % to about 2.0 mol % and the reaction is preferably conducted in the absence of a solvent at temperatures of from about 40xc2x0 C. to about 90xc2x0 C.
As already noted, the surfactants have advantages, including superior spotting and filming reduction benefits as well as excellent greasy soil removal, good dishcare, suds suppression and good overall cleaning.
Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide a process for producing a low-foaming nonionic surfactant having superior spotting and filming reduction benefits as well as excellent greasy soil removal, good dishcare, suds suppression and good overall cleaning. It is a further aspect of the present invention to provide a process for producing an ether-capped poly(oxyalkylated) alcohol surfactant. It is a further aspect of the present invention to provide a low-foaming nonionic surfactant produced by the process of the present invention. These and other aspects, features and advantages will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims.
In the description of the invention various embodiments and/or individual features are disclosed. As will be apparent for the skilled practitioner all combinations of such embodiments and features are possible and can result in preferred executions of the invention.
All parts, percentages and ratios used herein are expressed as percent weight unless otherwise specified. All documents cited are, in relevant part, incorporated herein by reference.
Once again, the present invention is directed toward a process for producing a low-foaming nonionic surfactant for use in detergent compositions.
The novel surfactants of the present invention comprise ether-capped poly(oxyalkylated) alcohols having the formula:
R1O[CH2CH(R3)O]x[CH2]kCH(OH)[CH2]jOR2
wherein R1 and R2 are linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon radicals having from about 1 to about 30 carbon atoms; R3 is H, or a linear aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having from about 1 to about 4 carbon atoms; x is an integer having an average value from 1 to about 30, wherein when x is 2 or greater R3 may be the same or different and k and j are integers having an average value of from about 1 to about 12, and more preferably 1 to about 5, further wherein when x is 15 or greater and R3 is H and methyl, at least four of R3 are methyl, further wherein when x is 15 or greater and R3 includes H and from 1 to 3 methyl groups, the n at least one R3 is ethyl, propyl or butyl, further wherein R2 can optionally be alkoxylated, wherein said alkoxy is selected from ethoxy, propoxy, butyloxy and mixtures thereof.
R1 and R2 are preferably linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon radicals having from about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms with about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms being most preferred. Additionally, R2 may be selected from hydrocarbon radicals which are ethoxylated, propoxylated and/or butoxylated. H or a linear aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having from about 1 to about 2 carbon atoms is most preferred for R3. Preferably, x is an integer having an average value of from about 1 to about 20, more preferably from about 6 to about 15.
As described above, when, in the preferred embodiments, and x is greater than 2, R3 may be the same or different. That is, R3 may vary between any of the alkyleneoxy units as described above. For instance, if x is 3, R3may be selected to form ethyleneoxy (EO) or propyleneoxy (PO) and may vary in order of (EO)(PO)(EO), (EO)(EO)(PO); (EO)(EO)(EO); (PO)(EO)(PO); (PO)(PO)(EO) and (PO)(PO)(PO). Of course, the integer three is chosen for example only and the variation may be much larger with a higher integer value for x and include, for example, multiple (EO) units and a much small number of (PO) units. However, when x is 15 or greater and R3 is H and methyl, at least four of R3 are methyl, further wherein when x is 15 or greater and R3 includes H and from 1 to 3 methyl groups, then at least one R3 is ethyl, propyl or butyl.
Particularly preferred surfactants as described above include those that have a low cloud point of less than about 20xc2x0 C. These low cloud point surfactants may then be employed in conjunction with a high cloud point surfactant as described in detail below for superior grease cleaning benefits.
Most preferred according to the present invention are those surfactants wherein k is 1 and j is 1 so that the surfactants have the formula:
R1O[CH2CH(R3)O]xCH2CH(OH)CH2OR2
where R1, R2 and R3 are defined as above and x is an integer with an average value of from about 1 to about 30, preferably from about 1 to about 20, and even more preferably from about 6 to about 18. Most preferred are surfactants wherein R1 and R2 range from about 9 to about 15, R3 is H forming ethyleneoxy and x ranges from about 6 to about 15.
Basically, the alcohol surfactants of the present invention comprise three general components, namely a linear or branched alcohol, an alkylene oxide and an alkyl ether end cap. The alkyl ether end cap and the alcohol serve as a hydrophobic, oil-soluble portion of the molecule while the alkylene oxide group forms the hydrophilic, water-soluble portion of the molecule.
It has been surprisingly discovered in accordance with the present invention that significant improvements in spotting and filming characteristics and, when used in conjunction with high cloud point surfactants, in the removal of greasy soils relative to conventional surfactants, are provided via the ether-capped poly(oxyalkylene) alcohol surfactants of the present invention.
It has been surprisingly discovered that the ether-capped poly(oxyalkylene) alcohol surfactants of the present invention in addition to delivering superior cleaning benefits also provide good suds control. This suds control can be clearly seen in the presence of high sudsing surfactants, such as amine oxides, or in the presence of high sudsing soils, such as proteinaceous or egg soils.
Generally speaking, the ether-capped poly(oxyalkylene) alcohol surfactants of the present invention may be produced by reacting an aliphatic alcohol with an epoxide to form an ether which is then reacted with a base to form a second epoxide. The second epoxide is then reacted with an alkoxylated alcohol to form the ether-capped poly(oxyalkylene) alcohol surfactants of the present invention. The product of the process is a purified mixture of ether-capped poly(oxyalkylene) alcohol surfactants.
The process comprises the first step of providing a glycidyl ether having the formula:
where R2 is defined as above. Various glycidyl ethers are available from a number of commercial sources including the Aldrich Chemical Company. Alternatively, the glycidyl ether may be formed from the reaction of a linear or branched, aliphatic or aromatic alcohol of the formula R2OH where R2 is defined as above and an epoxide of the formula:
where X is a suitable leaving group. While a number of leaving groups may be employed in the present invention, X is preferably selected from the group consisting of halides including chloride, bromide, and iodide, tosylate, mesylate and brosylate, with chloride and bromide being even more preferred with chloride being the most preferred (e.g. epichlorohydrin).
The linear or branched alcohol and the epoxide are preferably reacted at ratios ranging from about 0.5 equivalents alcohol to 2.5 equivalents epoxide with 0.95 equivalents alcohol to 1.05 equivalents epoxide more typical. The catalyst is a basic catalyst. The term xe2x80x9cbasic catalystxe2x80x9d, includes within its definition catalysts which are basic. This definition includes both salts, such as KOH, KOtBU, NaOEt, etc., covalent compounds, and elements, such as metallic sodium.
Suitable catalysts include, but are not limited to, alkali metal alkoxylates, such as KOtBu, NaOEt, KOEt, NaOMe and mixtures thereof; NaOH, KOH, CaO, Na and mixtures thereof, more preferably alkali metal alkoxylates. The basic catalyst is preferably a Lewis base. Suitable Lewis base catalysts include, but are not limited to, KOH, NaOCH3, NaOC2H5, KOtBu, NaOH and mixtures thereof. The Lewis base catalysts are preferably employed at amounts of about 0.1 mol % to about 2.0 mol % with about 0.2 mol % to about 1.0 mol % being more typical. The alkali metal alkoxylate catalysts are preferably employed at amounts of about 2.0 mol % to about 20.0 mol % with about 5.0 mol % to about 15.0 mol % being more typical.
While the reaction may be conducted in the presence of a suitable solvent such as benzene, toluene, dichloromethane, tetrahydrofuran, diethylether, methyl tert-butylether or the like, the reaction is preferably conducted neat or in the absence of solvent. When the basic catalyst is an alkali metal hydroxide, it is preferred to include some trace water(typically deionised water), typically less than about 5%, more preferably about 0.2% to about 3%, even more preferably about 0.2% to about 2%, by weight of the reaction mixture. While not wishing to be limited by theory, it is believed that the water aids in the mobility of the hydroxide ions and hence increases the speed of the reaction.
Lastly, the reaction is conducted at temperatures preferably ranging from about 40xc2x0 C. to about 90xc2x0 C., more preferably from about 50xc2x0 C. to about 80xc2x0 C.
The surfactant may be optionally either sparged with an inert gas, preferably, nitrogen, argon or mixtures thereof or placed under a vacuum, to remove any volatile impurities which were formed during the reaction. It is further preferred that the sparging is performed under a vacuum, preferably a vacuum in the range of 5 to 500 mmHg. It is further preferred that the sparging is performed for at least 30 minutes, more preferably at least 90 minutes. It is further preferred that the sparging is performed at a temperature of about 50xc2x0 C. to about 100xc2x0 C., more preferably at a temperature of 60xc2x0 C. to about 70xc2x0 C.
The bleaching step of the present invention may use a bleach or oxidizing agents such as, an oxygen bleach, more preferably hydrogen peroxide, or sodium hypochlorite. It is preferred that any bleach be used at from about 0.05% to about 5.0%, more preferably from about 0.1 to about 1.0 wt % at a temperature from 25xc2x0 C. to 95xc2x0 C. to bleach the resulting reaction product.
To form the surfactant, an ethoxylated alcohol having the formula:
wherein R1 and x are defined as before in an amount of from about 0.80 to about 2.0 equivalents is combined with the basic catalyst and heated to a temperature ranging from about 50xc2x0 C. to about 95xc2x0 C. and more preferably from about 90xc2x0 C. to about 140xc2x0 C. and more preferably from about 110xc2x0 C. to about 130xc2x0 C. when an alkali metal alkoxylate catalyst is employed. The glycidyl ether is then added to the mixture and reacted for from about 0.5 hours to about 30 hours, more preferably from about 1 hour to about 24 hours.
A further surprising advantage of the present invention is that the use of a basic catalyst avoids the formation of oxygenated impurities which are typically associated with any ethoxylation processes, such as ethanol, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, etc. This eliminates any steps necessary to eliminate the removal of these products.
A representative synthetic route is demonstrated via the following diagram and examples.

Process for preparing ether-capped poly(oxyalkylated) alcohol surfactants

Abstract: wherein R1 and R2 are linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon radicals having from 1 to about 30 carbon atoms; R3 is H, or a linear aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms; x is an integer having an average value from 1 to about 30, wherein when x is about 2 or greater R3 may be the same or different; further wherein when x is about 15 or greater and R3 is H and methyl, at least four of R3 are methyl, further wherein when x is about 15 or greater and R3 includes H and from 1 to 3 methyl groups, then at least one R3 is ethyl, propyl or butyl, further wherein R2 can optionally be alkoxylated, wherein said alkoxy is selected from ethoxy, propoxy, butoxy and mixtures thereof; said process comprising the steps of:

Abstract: (b) providing a glycidyl ether having the formula:

Abstract: (c) providing an ethoxylated alcohol having the formula:

Abstract: (f) reacting said glycidyl ether with said ethoxylated alcohol to form said surfactant in the presence of a basic catalyst;

Abstract: (g) said surfactant is sparged with an inert gas, preferably N2, Ar and mixtures thereof, optionally under vacuum, preferably a vacuum in the range of 5 to 500 mmHg; and

Abstract: said surfactant is bleached with an about 0.05% to about 5.0%, preferably about 0.1% to about 1.0%, by weight solution of a bleach at a temperature from about 25xc2x0 C. to about 95xc2x0 C.