The present invention relates to a unique blend of elastomeric and thermoplastic monovinylidene aromatic-conjugated diene block copolymers, which form transparent elastomeric products.

Elastomeric articles produced from thermoplastic elastomers such as block copolymers are well known. Thermoplastic elastomers, such as copolymers having blocks of monovinylidene aromatic monomer and conjugated diene monomer are often blended with other thermoplastic polymers, for example, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene, or ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers, to improve processing. These thermoplastic polymers tend to reduce the viscosity of the elastomers and provide improved processability by reducing the elastic nature of the composition, as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,329,309; 4,173,612; 4,305,990; 4,977,014; and 6,410,129 B2, the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Typically, the elastomeric block copolymer is compounded with a thermoplastic polymer and fed to an extruder to produce film, fiber or netting materials. However, this process is expensive due to the amount of scrap material generated, and the potential of low quality or non-homogeneity of the product. Further, it is also known in the art that blends of elastomeric block copolymer and thermoplastic polymers can be directly fed to converting extruders to produce useful articles. However, this process requires feeding systems to accommodate multiple components, and the potential for low quality or non-homogeneity of the converted article remains. An additional disadvantage of the compositions discussed above includes the production of "opaque" or "hazy" products (that is, low transparency) due to significant differences in the refractive indices of the polymers.
Therefore, what is needed is a "transparent" block copolymer or blend composition that can be converted into a useful "transparent" elastomeric article. Further, what is needed is a blended product of an elastomeric block copolymer and a thermoplastic block copolymer that can be produced in the same polymerization process, blended while in solution and produced as a single pellet product, eliminating the need for compounding or direct feed of multiple components to an extruder.

Block copolymer composition and transparent elastomeric articles produced therefrom


To provide a display technique for presenting to a user a visual effect of an image obtained when printed onto a lenticular sheet in a state that more closely conforms to the actual circumstances, a print apparatus is provided with: an image creating means for creating a multi-viewpoint image formed by arranging side by side in sequential order image strips each created from a plurality of mutually different original images; a printing means for printing the multi-viewpoint image by forming side by side print dots made of a recording material on a lenticular sheet having a lenticular lens; and an image displaying means for displaying a simulation image simulating the multi-viewpoint image seen via the lenticular lens; the image displaying means displaying a simulation image visually reflective of cross-talk arising due to overlapping of the print dots at a boundary between the mutually adjacent image strips.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a technique for creating a multi-viewpoint image from a plurality of original images and printing same onto a lenticular sheet.
2. Background Technology
One practically applied technique for stereoscopically representing an image makes use of binocular disparity. For example, with a lenticular image, image strips are cut from each of a plurality of original images that have been captured from mutually different points of view and are arranged side by side in sequential order depending on the arrangement of the point of view to create a composite image with parallax; by presenting this composite image via a lenticular lens, a parallax is created between the respective images that reach the left and right eyes, such that the subject appears to be three-dimensional. Also, with a lenticular image composited from a plurality of original images of entirely different content, it is possible to bring about a visual effect where the content of the image that appears varies depending on the viewing direction.
When such a lenticular image is being created, it is desirable to ascertain beforehand what visual effect will be obtained by printing, because lenticular sheets are costly and also because, depending on the quality of the original images, in some cases a proper visual effect can not be obtained. In view whereof, in, for example, a technique described in Patent Document 1, stripes of images created from original images to be composited are composited so as to be alternately arranged side by side and are displayed as a two-dimensional image, thereby making it possible for a user to recognize the final stereoscopic image.    Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2004-129186 (for example, FIG. 7) (Patent Document 1) is an example of the related art.

Print apparatus and image display method


A drive train for a four wheel drive vehicle including an engine and a clutch directing power through a high/low transmission to a six speed transmission located adjacent to and parallel with the engine in an expanded engine sump case. A constant velocity joint is driven from one end of the transmission output shaft for driving a rear differential associated with an independent rear suspension. From the other end of the transmission output shaft, a fluid coupling is employed to selectively engage a front differential. The front differential drives gear wheels to engage back to back constant velocity joints which are located lower than the differential rotational axis to advantage the suspension configuration.

The field of the present invention is mechanisms for delivering power from an engine to propel a vehicle.
A wide variety of drive train configurations have been employed since the inception of motorized vehicles. Multiaxled drives have been used as well. Of late, drive trains capable of driving through all four wheels have attracted greater interest. This interest extends from off-road vehicles to race cars.
A conventional drive train for four-wheel drive vehicles includes an engine longitudinally mounted in the vehicle with a clutch/transmission assembly extending rearwardly from the engine. A short drive shaft is coupled between this assembly and a transfer case. The transfer case is typically mounted to the underside of the vehicle where it impacts on overall ground clearance. Such devices typically include a high/low transmission and a gear train for distributing power to the rear wheels on a constant basis and power to the front wheels on a selected basis. Differentials are then positioned front and rear to receive the power and distribute it to the wheels. Such systems lack versatility because of component length, required location of the transfer case, and the number of required components.
Advances in drive train components have made possible more usable four-wheel drive systems. The changing of operating modes on the fly in providing four-wheel drive automatically on demand are now becoming more universally available.
The drive components such as the high/low transmission gearing tend to be subjected to high torque loads because of location in the drive train. A lack of versatility of component height and ground clearance also exists because of necessary engine placement, component intrusion into the interior space of the vehicle, and efficient drive line considerations.


A security device for holding cylindrical items of merchandise includes a cylindrical housing having a pivotably mounted lid moveable between open and closed positions. The lid includes an outer shell pivotally attached to the housing and an inner slide member mounted within the outer shell and rotatable between locked and unlocked positions to prevent unauthorized removal of the cylindrical item. An EAS tag is contained in the lid together with a spring biased locking finger activated by a magnetic field for movement of the slide member to an unlocked position.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates to anti-shoplifting devices, and more particularly to an anti-shoplifting device for cylindrical merchandise such as products contained in a cylindrical container. The invention provides a security device that holds an electronic article surveillance tag (EAS tag) trapped within a lid of the security device which holds the container. The security device contains a magnetic actuated lock which, when in locked position prevents pivotal opening of a lid preventing removal of the protected merchandise contained therein.
2. Background Information
Shoplifting from retail establishments has become an increasing problem in recent times. In response to the shoplifting problems, many different types of anti-shoplifting devices have been developed for protecting different types of merchandise. Many of these devices includes tags that are attached to the items of merchandise in a manner where they cannot be easily removed from the merchandise and which will sound an alarm when removed from the store. It is preferred that these EAS tags are hidden within the item such that a shoplifter cannot remove the tag without breaking a portion of the merchandise or the container in which they installed. Many of these security devices are used to protect recorded media such as CDs, DVDs, VHS, cassettes, etc. which are stored within rectangular parallelopiped boxes, many of which contain either a mechanical locking device unlocked by a mechanical key or a magnetically operated locking device, or a combination thereof. Some examples of the magnetically operated locking devices are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,422,387, 6,666,330, 6,676,175, and 6,755,055.
Recently, one type of merchandise which has come a target of shoplifters are cylindrical containers used for containing baby formula which is relatively expensive compared to many food products. These cans of baby formula are difficult to protect and to prevent theft since if tags are applied thereto, they are exposed and can be removed or defeated by some means by the intended shoplifter. Also, due to the shape of the container (cylindrical), it is difficult to use in existing security devices, which are generally parallelopiped-shaped without excessively increasing the storage space required for the protected container.
Therefore, the need exists for an improved security device which can be used to protect cylindrical items of merchandise, such as cans of baby formula or other types of products packaged in cylindrical containers, which provides both a mechanical lock preventing unauthorized removal of the merchandise from the security container, as well as, containing an electronic device to actuate an alarm if removed from the store without first removing the purchased container from the security device.

Security device for cylindrical merchandise


Methods and apparatus for training and utilizing an artificial neural network (ANN) are provided. A computing device can receive training documents including text. The computing device can parse the training documents to determine training data items. Each training data item can include a training label related to text within the training documents and location information indicating a location of text related to the training label. An ANN can be trained to recognize text using the training data items and training input that includes the training documents. After training the ANN, a request to predict text in application documents that differ from the training documents can be received. The application documents can include second text. A prediction of the second text can be determined by applying the trained ANN to the application documents. After determining the prediction of the second text, information related to the second text can be provided.

Printing devices have increased in number and geographic footprint throughout the world and have become increasingly connected to networks. The networks can include many printing devices. Some or all of the printing devices can have different features, functions, and capabilities. For example, some printing devices print in color, while others do not. As another example, some printing devices are equipped with duplexing hardware that allows printing on both sides of a sheet of paper, while other printing devices can only print on one side of a sheet of paper.
Some printing devices have optical character recognition (OCR) functionality. Optical character recognition involves converting typed or printed text into machine-encoded text, often from a scanned document or a photo of a document. It is a commonly used tool for electronic data entry in numerous applications. Traditional optical character recognition includes techniques such as pattern matching, image correlation, glyph decomposition, and feature detection. Extensive human engineering can be utilized to isolate input glyphs in text, and to design glyph features.

Optical character recognition training data generation for neural networks by parsing page description language jobs


Radio frequency (RF) generators are disclosed. A RF generator may include an analog signal generator configured to generate a pulsed analog signal responsive to a digital pulsed waveform defined by one or more commands. The RF generator may also include a modulator configured to generate a pulsed radio frequency (RF) signal by modulating an RF carrier using the pulsed analog signal as a modulating signal. Further, the RF generator may include an amplification stage configured to amplify the pulsed RF signal output by the modulator. RF generation systems and methods of generating a pulsed RF signal also disclosed.

In a plasma semiconductor manufacturing processes, a radio frequency (RF) generator is used in capacitively or inductively coupled plasma generation as an RF excitation source as part of the plasma semiconductor manufacturing process. A pulsed RF signal is typically used in a plasma semiconductor manufacturing process to control etch and/or deposition profiles. Typically, performing pulsed RF in a plasma semiconductor manufacturing processes involves feeding pulses created by an external pulsed signal generator via an external connector (Pulse_In) to the RF generator. The signal generator is typically a stand-alone piece of equipment, and it has limited waveform options. Another standard pulsing technique may include on/off, single step RF pulsing that is created internal to the RF the generator.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Radio frequency generators, and related systems, methods, and devices


The roller screen arrangement includes a plurality of roller systems and a motor for driving the rollers of the roller system. Each roller system includes a drive shaft drivable by the motor driver and a roller associated with the drive shaft. One end of the drive shaft is disposed adjacent to one end of the roller and insert means are inserted into a hollow core of the roller at the one end of the roller. A threaded opening extends through the insert means and centrally thereof. A central screw is mounted in the hollow core of the drive shaft such that a threaded portion of the central screw extends outwardly of the drive shaft at the one end of the drive shaft, the threads of the central screw mating with the threads of the threaded opening and the central screw being rotatable relative to the drive shaft when mounted in the hollow core of the drive shaft. To connect the roller to its associated drive shaft for rotation therewith, the central screw of the drive shaft is screwed into the threaded opening of the insert of its associated roller.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a novel roller system for use in a roller screen arrangement. The invention also relates to a roller for use in the roller system.
2. Description of Prior Art
Roller screen arrangements are known in the art as illustrated in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,651,622, Norman, Dec. 6, 1927, U.S. Pat. No. 4,311,242, Hnatko, Jan. 19, 1982 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,316,543, Leonhardt, Feb. 23, 1982.
The '622 patent relates to a roller screen for sifting coal and coke. In accordance with the '622 patent, wear sleeves 35 (see FIG. 2) are provided for the rollers.
A bearing cartridge, shown in FIG. 5, constitutes the invention of the '242 patent. As seen in FIG. 1, doors 19 are provided to permit access to the bearing cartridges.
The '543 patent relates to a roller conveyor for transporting green pellets. The spacing between rollers of the conveyor is varied to provide sieving clearance spaces 7 between some rollers and cleaning clearance spaces 6 between other rollers as illustrated in FIG. 1.
As also seen in the selected references, as well as in other roller screen arrangements known in the art, the arrangements comprise a plurality of parallel rollers, the spaces between the rollers determining the size of materials which will be sieved by the arrangement. All of the rollers are rotated so that the material is both sieved and conveyed by the roller screen arrangement.
The arrangement typically comprises side members (10 in the '242 patent and 3 in the '543 patent) which also function as drive chain cases. The rollers are connected to drive shafts which extend out of the side members, and the rollers rotate with the drive shafts. The drive shafts in turn are driven by a drive means.
Typically, the rollers are connected to the drive shafts by providing inserts, such as 32 in the '242 patent, at the ends of the rollers. The rollers are connected to the drive shafts by screws around a circumference of the insert.
Thus, in prior art devices, in order to install or remove a roller, it is necessary to access the holding screws by operating between the side members and the ends of the rollers. The first step would be to remove the skirting such as illustrated at 34 in the '242 patent.
This area is typically very dirty and difficult to manipulate in. The area between the insert and its adjacent end of the roller first has to be cleaned of all baked-on contaminants which have found their way in there, and the screws can then be accessed. After the screws are removed, it is still necessary to pry the roller off the shaft, using various hand tools.

Roller system for use in a roller screen


A method and apparatus for intelligently determining which traffic streams to offload efficiently. A metric value is associated with a Security Association (SA) for each network traffic stream coupled to an electronic system. The metric is used to determine which of multiple methods to perform cryptography operations should be used to handle which streams. The metric is modified based on network traffic, and increased when the SA is cached. The metric of all SAs is periodically decreased. In one embodiment, a network interface driver determines which SAs should be cached on a network interface card and handled using Inline Receive, and which SAs should not be cached and handled using Secondary Use. Cached SAs are replaced by non-cached SAs only if the metric value of a non-cached SA is greater than the metric value of a cached SA by at least a predetermined amount representing the cost of cache replacement.

IP Security (IPsec) standard, IP Security Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) Request for Comments (RFC) 2401, published November 1998, is one method of protecting both the confidentiality and integrity of data transferred on a network. Because IPsec provides a way to encrypt and decrypt data below the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)/User Datagram Protocol (UDP) layer, the protection is transparent to applications that transfer data. Thus, a system may utilize IPsec without requiring changes at the application level. However, the algorithms used for cryptography (crypto) operations (e.g., encryption, decryption, authentication) on the data for IPsec require many processor cycles to execute. The processor cycles spent on crypto operations decrease the cycles available to applications and other parts of the protocol stack. This in turn decreases throughput in the system.
One solution to this problem is to offload the crypto operations to an external piece of hardware, such as a Network Interface Card (NIC). One way to offload the crypto operations is by encrypting data immediately before transmitting a packet and decrypting data directly from the wire before the packet is transferred via Direct Memory Access (DMA) to host memory. A Security Association (SA) is a data structure of cryptography information that contains all of the information necessary to perform crypto operations on a packet. The device that interfaces the system to the network, for example a NIC, detects which SA is needed to process the packet and performs crypto operations on the packet directly from the wire. The process for performing crypto operations on ingress data before it is transferred to host memory is called "Inline Receive."
Another solution is to offload using the "Secondary Use" model. This model uses an out-of-band acceleration method to decrypt receive packets. In this scenario, all received packets are DMA transferred to host memory. The network interface driver then parses each received packet to match it with its corresponding Security Association (SA). Assuming that the crypto accelerator is on the NIC, the driver then instructs the NIC to transfer the packet across the bus, perform the crypto operation on the packet, and then transfer the packet back to host memory. Secondary Use results in inefficient use of the available bandwidth on the system bus because the packet is transferred across the bus three times. Secondary Use also creates additional latency, which can degrade the throughput of protocols sensitive to the round trip time of packets (e.g., TCP). Furthermore, performing the extra transfers across the bus often requires the use of an additional interrupt, causing the system to do more work, and increasing CPU utilization.
The network interface driver must determine which traffic streams will be handled using Inline Receive, and which traffic streams will be handled using either Secondary Use or software processing. A traditional approach is to add SAs to the Inline Receive cache on a first come, first served basis. Under the traditional approach, packets associated with SAs in the cache will be handled using Inline Receive. Once there are no available entries in the cache, packets for non-cached SAs must be handled using either Secondary Use or software processing.
From a performance perspective (both processor utilization and throughput), Inline Receive is a more efficient solution than Secondary Use. On the other hand, Inline Receive is expensive to implement in hardware because the SAs necessary for the crypto operations must be stored in an SA cache on the NIC. Because of this, the number of connections that can use Inline Receive is often limited. Because it is common for the number of open connections to exceed the size of the Inline Receive cache, the other connections must use the Secondary Use model in order to offload secure traffic.

Intelligently determining which traffic streams to offload efficiently


An attaching and detaching device includes a cartridge holding unit configured to hold an ink cartridge by insertion of the ink cartridge by a first predetermined stroke and a power transmitting and converting mechanism configured to convert turning of a lever arm into motion of a second predetermined stroke required for mounting the ink cartridge while held by the cartridge holding unit. The cartridge holding unit includes an integrated engagement member configured to engage with a surface of the ink cartridge, the surface being parallel to a mounting direction. When engaging with the ink cartridge, the engagement member lies in a central portion in a width direction with respect to the mounting direction at the surface.

An ink jet printer is described below as one example of an ink jet recording apparatus or a liquid ejecting apparatus. For mounting an ink cartridge on an ink jet printer, a relatively great pressing force is required. In this case, for ink cartridges, one for each color, a pressing force of the order of 4.9 N to 6.9 N is sufficient, but for a single-package ink cartridge, which is an integrated ink cartridge for a plurality of colors, for example, for a six-color ink cartridge, seven needles are provided and thus a significantly great pressing force of 34.3 N to 48.3 N is required. Such a great pressing force is barely possible in the case of vertical mounting of an ink cartridge. Unfortunately, if the ink cartridge is required to be horizontally slid to be mounted, the ink jet printer would be strained, so such mounting is practically impossible.
Patent Document 1 describes an ink-cartridge attaching and detaching device that can obtain a great pressing force by leverage. That is, turning of a lever for attaching and detaching an ink cartridge is transmitted to a link plate, thus allowing a link lever to be unlocked and the ink cartridge to be mounted on a holder. Unfortunately, however, this device has been developed specifically for the mounting of ink cartridges, one for each color, so the device does not have a great force adaptable to a single-package ink cartridge, which is an integrated cartridge for a plurality of colors. In addition, the provision of a lever for attaching and detaching an ink cartridge and a link plate for each of ink cartridges leads to an increase in the number of parts and thus results in an increase in the cost of parts.
During and after being mounted, an ink cartridge receives from a channel member connected thereto a force for restoring the ink cartridge. As a result, unless the ink cartridge is mounted by a pressing force greater than that force and the state is maintained, a gap is generated between both, a contact on each of the ink cartridge and the channel member is misaligned, and the remaining amount of ink cannot be detected. Variations in tolerances of dimensions of parts also cause the misalignment of the contacts. Unfortunately, Patent Document 1 does not disclose an arrangement for ensuring such a great pressing force and an intimate contact state.
Additionally, as a flat-shape ink cartridge, as illustrated in FIG. 29, an attaching and detaching device 500 for mounting an ink cartridge 508 by latching both left and right sides of the ink cartridge 508 is known. Specifically, first, when the ink cartridge 508 is inserted in a direction indicated the arrow, latch projections 555a of a pair of left and right cartridge holding units 555 are moved toward the ink-cartridge side and engage with a pair of left and right depressions 508a of the ink cartridge 508. Then, an operation of turning a lever arm (not shown) presses the ink cartridge 508 by a predetermined stroke. In association therewith, ink supply needles 502 on a channel section 501 are pressed into needle insertion openings 508b of the ink cartridge 508, and mounting of the ink cartridge 508 is completed.
However, in order to smoothly insert the ink cartridge 508, an ink-cartridge insertion opening 556 needs to have a dimension that is slightly greater than the width of the ink cartridge 508. Therefore, unfortunately, the ink cartridge 508 may be mounted in a so-called one-side latch state, in which, because the ink cartridge 508 is obliquely inserted, only one of the depressions 508a and only one of the latch projections 555a are engaged with each other. In other words, incorrect mounting caused by incorrect insertion may happen. As a result, the ink supply needles 502 may incorrectly pierce the ink cartridge 508, and thus ink may leak out from these points.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-157094

Apparatus for attaching and detaching ink cartridge, recorder comprising the same and liquid spraying apparatus comprising the same


A device is provided having a cathode capable of catalytically reducing oxygen, an anode capable of catalytically oxidizing hydrogen, and an electrolyte in contact with both the anode and cathode. The cathode and/or anode contain transition-metal phosphates with the formula M1—M2PxOy. zH2O, where M1 is a platinum group metal and M2 is a transition metal.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to fuel cells and catalysts used therein
2. Description of the Prior Art
State-of-the-art proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) contain high loadings of platinum (Pt), making the fuel cells costly and subject to fluctuations in the market availability of the noble metal. By using little or no Pt in fuel cell electrodes, the cost of the fuel cells and imports of noble metals can be drastically reduced.
Researchers recognized years ago that the Pt content of PEMFC electrodes could be reduced by making by dispersing nanoscale Pt particles on a porous, electronically conductive media (Vulcan carbon) and adding a proton conducting media (a perfluorosulfonic ionomer, Nafion®) (Raistrick, U.S. Pat. No. 4,876,115). When surrounded by Vulcan carbon and Nafion, the Pt serves more effectively as an electrocatalyst for hydrogen oxidation and oxygen reduction because there are ample transport paths for protons and electrons. Whereas the catalytic activity of the Pt is critical, the electrode reactions are mediated by the rate of the transport of the gases, protons, electrons, and water to and from the Pt surfaces.
The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at a fuel cell cathode is given in Equation (1) and the hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) at the anode is in Equation (2).O2+4H++4e−→2H2O  (1)H2→2H++2e−  (2)
For the reactions to proceed unencumbered, the catalyst site must have a supply of oxygen or hydrogen, protons, and electrons, and must be able to transport away water. The reaction above becomes limited when the transport of any of these four species is slow.
Hydrous phosphate and oxides have innate activity and their microporous or open-framework structures enhance proton conduction (see Colomban, Ed., "Proton conductors: solid, membranes and gels—materials and devices," Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (1992)). Hydrous iron phosphates are known as corrosion barriers, paint additives and friction coatings; anhydrous phosphate-based catalysts can be used for direct conversion of methane into oxygenates and oxidative dehydrogenation (see Otsuka et al., Appl. Catal. A, 222, 145-161 (2001)); and lithiated FePO4 is being tested as a positive electrode in Li-ion batteries (see Padhi et al., J. Electrochem. Soc., 144, 1188-1194 (1997)).

Hydrous phosphate catalysts with low platinum

United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


Apparatus for drilling and lining a wellbore is described herein. A method of drilling and lining a wellbore is also described herein. A liner hanger is provided, secured in use on a liner. The liner hanger is operable selectively to be set and unset. The liner hanger is adapted to support the liner within an existing casing when set and to release the liner from the casing when unset. A liner hanger setting tool is provided, secured in use on a drill string. The liner hanger setting tool is actuatable selectively to set and unset the liner hanger. The liner hanger setting tool is operable selectively to be activated and deactivated. The liner hanger setting tool is adapted to attach to the liner and/or liner hanger when activated, to support the liner, and to release from the liner and/or liner hanger when deactivated. The method comprises the following steps: (a) setting the liner hanger by actuating the liner hanger setting tool; (b) deactivating the liner hanger setting tool; (c) extending the borehole using the drill string; (d) returning the drill string to its position at the setting step or the deactivating step; (e) activating the liner hanger setting tool; (f) unsetting the liner hanger by actuating the liner hanger setting tool; and (g) lowering the liner down the extended borehole on the drill string.

A typical procedure for extending and completing or lining a wellbore is as follows. In this procedure it is assumed that an existing casing is already installed in the wellbore, with a tubular member being provided for hanging off the existing casing once the wellbore has been extended. The tubular member may be a completion screen or slotted liner, or any other such member, but for the sake of simplicity the tubular member will be referred to here as a liner. The casing may be a surface casing.
A drill bit on a drill string is used to drill a hole section so as to extend the wellbore to reach a target depth. The drill string is then pulled back to the previous casing shoe. A short trip is then typically performed to determine the hole condition before the completion string can be run in. The drill string is then pulled completely out of the hole, and the liner is then run into the hole on a completion string. When the completion string has reached the bottom of the hole (or a desired depth), the liner is hung off the existing casing.
However, the present applicant has appreciated the following issues with the above-described procedure.
Such a procedure is time consuming. A tripping out operation is required to pull out the drill string, with the liner then being assembled and a tripping in operation performed to run the liner into the borehole. This procedure can typically take two to five days.
Such a procedure also brings with it certain operational risks. The tripping out and tripping in can subject the formation to hydraulic forces, with the risk of formation instability occurring, and problem such as collapse or caving within the hole. If the hole condition is determined to be inadequate, for example in the case of instability resulting in collapse or caving, it may become necessary for the liner to be set before the target depth has been reached; the liner may become stuck and not be landed at the desired depth. The mechanical properties of a typical liner mean that it has insufficient strength to be rotated or tensioned to remove the hole collapses or caving materials during installation.
In addition, because of the length of time required for the tripping out and tripping in operations, the hole can be left open for some time; this leads to an increased risk of further formation instability, thereby increasing the risk of collapse or caving.
The present applicant has appreciated the desirability of addressing these issues.

Method and apparatus for drilling and lining a wellbore


A process for producing a fuser member coating including a) adding and reacting a fluoroelastomer, a crosslinking agent, a polar solvent, and a fluorine-containing polysiloxane additive to form a coating solution, and b) providing the coating solution on the fuser member to form a fuser member coating, wherein the fluorine-containing polysiloxane additive has pendant fluorinated groups.

Herein are disclosed fuser members useful in electrostatographic reproducing apparatuses, including digital, image on image, and contact electrostatic printing apparatuses. The present fuser members can be used as fuser members, pressure members, transfuse or transfix members, and the like. In an embodiment, the fuser members comprise an outer layer comprising a fluoroelastomer. In embodiments, the outer layer of the fuser member is prepared by addition of a polydimethylsiloxane additive in a process for coating a fuser member.
In a typical electrostatographic reproducing apparatus, a light image of an original to be copied is recorded in the form of an electrostatic latent image upon a photosensitive member, and the latent image is subsequently rendered visible by the application of electroscopic thermoplastic resin particles and pigment particles, or toner. The visible toner image is then in a loose powdered form and can be easily disturbed or destroyed. The toner image is usually fixed or fused upon a support, which may be the photosensitive member itself, or other support sheet such as plain paper.
The use of thermal energy for fixing toner images onto a support member is well known. To fuse electroscopic toner material onto a support surface permanently by heat, it is usually necessary to elevate the temperature of the toner material to a point at which the constituents of the toner material coalesce and become tacky. This heating causes the toner to flow to some extent into the fibers or pores of the support member. Thereafter, as the toner material cools, solidification of the toner material causes the toner material to be firmly bonded to the support.
Typically, the thermoplastic resin particles are fused to the substrate by heating to a temperature of between about 90 to about 200° C. or higher depending upon the softening range of the particular resin used in the toner. It may be undesirable; however, to increase the temperature of the substrate substantially higher than about 250° C. because of the tendency of the substrate to discolor or convert into fire at such elevated temperatures, particularly when the substrate is paper.
Several approaches to thermal fusing of electroscopic toner images have been described. These methods include providing the application of heat and pressure substantially concurrently by various means, a roll pair maintained in pressure contact, a belt member in pressure contact with a roll, a belt member in pressure contact with a heater, and the like. Heat may be applied by, heating one or both of the rolls, plate members, or belt members. The fusing of the toner particles takes place when the proper combinations of heat, pressure and contact time are provided. The balancing of these parameters to bring about the fusing of the toner particles is well known in the art, and can be adjusted to suit particular machines or process conditions.
During operation of a fusing system in which heat is applied to cause thermal fusing of the toner particles onto a support, both the toner image and the support are passed through a nip formed between the roll pair, or plate or belt members. The concurrent transfer of heat and the application of pressure in the nip affect the fusing of the toner image onto the support. It is important in the fusing process that no offset of the toner particles from the support to the fuser member takes place during normal operations. Toner particles offset onto the fuser member may subsequently transfer to other parts of the machine or onto the support in subsequent copying cycles, thus increasing the background or interfering with the material being copied there. The referred to "hot offset" occurs when the temperature of the toner is increased to a point where the toner particles liquefy and a splitting of the molten toner takes place during the fusing operation with a portion remaining on the fuser member. The hot offset temperature or degradation of the hot offset temperature is a measure of the release property of the fuser roll, and accordingly it is desired to provide a fusing surface, which has a low surface energy to provide the necessary release. To ensure and maintain good release properties of the fuser roll, it has become customary to apply release agents to the fuser roll during the fusing operation. Typically, these materials are applied as thin films of, for example, nonfunctional silicone oils or mercapto- or amino-functional silicone oils, to prevent toner offset.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,515,884 to Field et al. discloses a fuser member having a silicone elastomer-fusing surface, which is coated with a toner release agent, which includes an unblended polydimethyl siloxane.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,197,989 B1 to Furukawa et al. discloses a fluorine-containing organic silicone compound represented by a formula.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,736,250 teaches a crosslinked polysiloxane and fluoroelastomer layer.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,716,747 to Uneme et al. discloses a fluororesin coated fixing device with a coating of a fluorine containing silicone oil.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,698,320 to Ebisu et al. discloses a fixing device coated with a fluororesin, and having a fluorosilicone polymer release agent.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,603 to Yamazaki et al. discloses a fixing method using a silicone oil coated on the surface of a heat member.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,636,012 to Uneme et al. discloses a fixing device having a fluororesin layer surface, and using a fluorine-containing silicone oil as a repellant oil.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,627,000 to Yamazaki et al. discloses a fixing method having a silicone oil coated on the surface of the heat member, wherein the silicone oil is a fluorine-containing silicone oil and has a specific formula.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,624,780 to Nishimori et al. discloses a fixing member having a fluorine-containing silicone oil coated thereon, wherein the silicone oil has a specific formula.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,239 to Furukawa et al. discloses a stainproofing oil for heat fixing, wherein the fluorine-containing oil has a specific formula.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,463,009 to Okada et al. discloses a fluorine-modified silicone compound having a specific formula, wherein the compound can be used for oil-repellency in cosmetics.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,968,766 to Kendziorski discloses a fluorosilicone polymer for coating compositions for longer life.
Known processes for providing surfaces of fuser members include dipping the substrate into a bath of coating solution or spraying the periphery of the substrate with the coating material. Another process for providing surfaces of fuser members involves dripping material spirally over a horizontally rotating cylinder. Generally, in this flow coating method, the coating is applied to the substrate by rotating the substrate in a horizontal position about a longitudinal axis and applying the coating from an applicator to the substrate in a spiral pattern in a controlled amount so that substantially all the coating that exits the applicator adheres to the substrate. For specific details of an embodiment of the flow coating method, attention is directed to U.S. Pat. No. 5,945,223, entitled "Flow Coating Solution and Fuser Member Layers Prepared Therewith" and to U.S. Pat. No. 6,408,753 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,521,330, entitled "Flow Coating Process for Manufacture of Polymeric Printer and Belt Components," and to U.S. Pat. No. 6,479,158, entitled "Fuser Member with an Amino Silane Adhesive Layer and Preparation Thereof," the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. For specific details of an embodiment of fuser roll top coat compositions, attention is directed to U.S. Pat. No. 5,332,641, entitled "Fuser Member with an Amino Silane Adhesive Layer," the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
However, not all coatings are compatible with the flow coating method. Specifically, only materials that can be completely dissolved in a solvent can be flow coated. Further, it is desirable that the material have the ability to stay dissolved during the entire flow coating process which may take up to approximately 8 hours or longer, and must stay dissolved during the manufacturing period which may be up to several days. Good results are not obtained with materials which tend to coagulate or crystallize within the time period required for flow coating, which may be on the order of about 8 hours and for production manufacturing, may be on the order of a few days, for example, from about 1 to about 4 days. It is desirable to use a material capable of being flow coated for an increased amount of time to enable flow coating in a manufacturing and production environment. It is very costly to periodically shut down a manufacturing line and change the solution delivery system. If the coating does not have the desired properties, the assembly line may need to be shut down often, for example, every hour or every few hours in order to clean the delivery line of coagulated or crystallized material. Therefore, it is desirable to use a material that has good flow coating properties in order to allow for manufacturing to continue for a long period of time, for example several days, without incurring the above problems in the procedure.
It is also desirable that the coating be slow drying to avoid trapping solvent in the under layers which tends to cause bubbles and solvent "pops." Bubbles result from trapped air in the coating which results in non-uniformity of coating and or surface defects. Solvent "pops" are defined as trapped air or solvent voids that rupture resulting in crater-like structures causing non-uniform coated areas or surface defects. In either case, these defects can act as initiation sites for adhesion failures.
Moreover, useful materials for the flow coating process must possess the ability to flow in a manner that allows for the entire roll to be coated. Therefore, it is desirable that the material possess a desired viscosity which allows it to flow over the entire surface of the member being coated. Along with these properties, it is desirable that the material-to be coated possess a balance between viscosity and percent solids. Similarly, it is desirable that the coating material have the ability to completely dissolve in a solvent in order to prevent precipitation of the material that can lead to non-uniform flow coating, and imperfections in the final flow coated surface.
The balance between viscosity and percent solids is desired to enable sufficient build rates, which impact throughput and work in process. Build rates are defined as the thickness of a material that can be coated per unit time. The thickness of the material should allow for a balance between maintaining thickness uniformity and avoiding solvent "pops" and air bubbles. Throughput in the process is the number of units that are processed per unit time. Work in process is the number of units currently in any one of the process stages from beginning to end. The objective is to maximize the build rate and reduce the throughput time and work in process.
Many materials are known to be useful for outer coatings of a fuser member, such as for example, silicone rubbers, fluoropolymers and fluoroelastomers, which possess some of the above qualities necessary for flow coating. However, problems may result once the fluoroelastomer is dissolved in a solvent and crosslinking or curing agents are added. For example, the curative or crosslinking agents tend to precipitate within minutes after addition to the solvent solutions. The precipitate causes numerous problems such as clogging the filters and pumps used in the flow coating process. Further, the entire fuser member cannot be coated due to early precipitation of the curing and/or crosslinking agent. In addition, early precipitation may lead to non-uniform flow coating and imperfections in the final flow coated surface. A flow coating solution that minimizes these deficiencies is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,945,223.
Fuser member layers produced by the flow coating process sometimes exhibit additional defects that may occur particularly when the coatings are very thin, for example less than 50 micrometers in thickness. These defects include "snowflake agglomerates," due to agglomeration of particles such as barium sulfate added to certain fluoroelastomers to prevent the fluoroelastomer pellets from sticking together, and "fisheyes," which are typically 1 to 5 millimeter regions either devoid of a fluoroelastomer layer, or with a very thin fluoroelastomer layer. Such defects in the fuser member layer can cause undesirable image defects on the printed copy, such as toner spots, toner picking (i.e., removal of toner leaving white spots), non-uniform gloss, hot offset, and poor image permanence. There exists a need for a flow coating solution that forms a fuser member layer surface that is smooth and free or substantially free of such defects.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,571,371 discloses silicone used as a leveling agent in photoreceptor transport layers.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,750,204, 5,753,307, 5,700,568 and 5,695,878 to Badesha, et al. teach formulations for fluoroelastomer fuser outer member surfaces using an amino silane as a crosslinking agent.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,823 to Chen, et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,729,813 and 6,159,588 to Eddy, et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 6,395,444 to Riehle, et al. disclose fluoroelastomer fuser outer layer compositions for high thermal conductivity.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,547,759 to Chen, et al., discloses formulations for fluoroelastomer coatings for fuser members.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,207,243, 6,114,041 and 5,935,712 to Tan, et al., disclose fuser member fluoroelastomer formulations with surface-treated thermally conductive fillers.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,696,158 to Chen, et al. discloses a fluorocarbon thermoplastic coating for fuser members.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,218,014 to Pickering, et al. discloses fluorocarbon fuser members with silicon carbide filler.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,514,650 to Schlueter, Jr. et al. teaches a thin perfluoropolymer outer coating for fuser members.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,721,529 to Chen, et al. discloses a fluoroelastomer coating composition for release agent donor members.
Currently, an acrylate copolymer with pendant glycol and perfluorooctane sulfonate groups has shown success in reducing snowflake agglomerates and fisheyes when used as a surfactant/leveling agent additive in fluoroelastomer coating solutions. However, this copolymer has been shown to demonstrate environmental persistence problems and can no longer be used. Use of other similar materials has resulted in the formation of fisheyes and/or snowflake agglomerates. Therefore, it is desired to provide a fluoroelastomer fuser member layer that reduces or eliminates surface defects, including fisheyes and snowflake agglomerates, and that performs well as a fuser member, and does not degrade other properties or desired features of the fuser member layer.

Process for coating fluoroelastomer fuser member using fluorine-containing additive


A dust and debris disposal system is adapted to be mounted in an opening formed in a floor, and is used in conjunction with a dust a debris gathering device such as a broom or a mop. A housing is fixed to a flat upper surface of the floor and includes an inclined debris ramp, a raised support shell joined to the debris ramp and a downwardly depending neck extending through the opening in the floor. The debris ramp is defined by a ramp inlet formed by a peripheral edge of the housing, a ramp rim located inwardly from the ramp inlet and provided with a pair of ends, and a pair of spaced ramp curbs. Each of the curbs extends inwardly and upwardly at an inclined angle with respect to the ramp inlet and intersects with one end of the ramp rim. The support shell is formed with a sweep ridge extending opposite the ramp rim and at an elevation above the ramp rim. The ramp rim, the sweep ridge and the housing define a dust and debris orifice in communication with the tubular neck. A tubular debris shaft is connected to the neck, and a receptacle is attached to the debris shaft. With this construction, dust and debris gathered from the floor through the use of a broom or mop is swept to the ramp inlet up the debris ramp, guided by the ramp curbs and deposited over the ramp rim into the dust and debris orifice from which the dust and debris will fall by gravity through the neck and the debris shaft to the receptacle. Dust and debris remaining attached to the broom or mop is dislodged therefrom for release into the dust and debris orifice by engaging the broom or mop against the sweep ridge and/or dust loosening ribs extending forwardly and perpendicularly of the sweep ridge.

Floor clean-up is a periodic necessity in most settings with increased frequency required in commercial and residential areas. The task of floor clean-up is generally divided into two phases: debris retrieval and debris removal. Debris retrieval typically consists of using a broom or dust mop to collect debris from throughout a work site, then positioning the gathered debris at an easily accessible location. Debris removal generally requires obtaining a dust pan or equivalent device, bending over to sweep the debris into the dust pan with the broom or mop, lifting the filled dust pan and transporting same to the open top of the wastebasket or the like, and tipping the dust pan to allow the debris to drop into the wastebasket. Debris removal is often the most tedious and tiresome of the two phases and can reduce the frequency of task completion. This often renders the work site unclean, and can leave the impression of unprofessionalism in commercial settings, such as in salons with hair clippings remaining on the floor from previous clients. Aspects of debris removal which often prove inconvenient include searching for dust pans, bending one's body and positioning dust pans to retrieve debris, lifting the debris and transporting the debris to trash receptacles without spilling the debris and returning the dust pans to storage locations. Sometimes dust and debris remaining attached to the broom or mop must be shaken off creating further problems in contaminating the surrounding environment. One, or a combination of these inconveniences can and often does reduce frequency of floor clean-up.
Traditionally, floor clean-up has relied upon brooms for debris retrieval and dustpans for debris removal. Although various advances have been attempted in broom and dust pan style and design, the process of floor clean-up has remained generally unchanged. The task of cleaning up has become abbreviated in completing only the debris retrieval phase, leaving debris gathered in corners or pathways of a room. For cosmetic and sanitary reasons, floor clean-up should always be completed at regular intervals depending on the type of environment present. There remains a need for a system designed to eliminate the inconveniences as noted above, as well as to allow for a more efficient and effective cleaning than has been done in the traditional manner.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a dust and debris disposal system which obviates the need for obtaining a dust pan or the like and reduces the potential of creating an environmental hazard encountered when shaking out a broom or a mop. It is also desirable to provide a dust and debris disposal system by which accumulated dust and debris is controlled and maintained relative to a closed receptacle thereby eliminating the need to transport and rid debris in traditional waste receptacles. Use of such a closed receptacle is desired for preventing spills and minimizing introduction of foreign particulates into the work site air.

Floor-mounted, dust and debris disposal system


A greening roll includes water-temperature-light controlling part, root growing part, water/root regulating part and seed-stacking part which is located in the water-temperature-light controlling part. The water-temperature-light controlling part is located on the top surface of the greening roll, the water/root regulating part is located on the lower surface of the greening roll, the root growing part is located in the cavity composed by the water-temperature-light controlling part and the water/root regulating part, and the seed-stacking part is located in the cavity of the water-temperature-light controlling part. The water-temperature-light controlling part further includes top-located irradiation reflecting part, temperature-water regulating part, light-preventing part and seed-stacking cavity. The present invention is suitable for the engineering protection and greening of engineering slopes, spoil and slag yards, embankments and the like, the water and soil conservation and greening of sandy lands, abandoned lands, borrow pits, slurry pond, mining fields, industrial and mining abandoned lands and the like, and the engineering thermal insulation and greening of building roofs and the like.

While bringing mankind abundant material wealth, the development of the world also leads to the global ecological environment deterioration and causes a series of ecological problems, for example, the serious damage to vegetation such as forests and grasslands, water and soil loss, soil desertification aggravation, etc., which pose a grave threat to human survival and development. With the developing concept of the ecological environment and the increasing sustainable development requirements, the ecological management with plants as a main component has become an important technical approach to control the water and soil loss domestically and overseas. However, the restoration of ecosystems, such as exposed geotechnical surface and desertification or stony desertification land, is limited by the soilless or poor soil conditions, so that vegetation conditions need to be artificially provided. The main characteristic of the present vegetation restoration products is to combine plant seeds with functional carriers, so as to form roll products easy to plant artificially; the advantages lie in that the construction speed is fast and not limited by soil conditions. Whereas both the domestic and foreign relevant products have the common shortcomings such as single herb species added, low composite strength, poor structural stability, etc.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,226,255 discloses a vegetation blanket, the upper and lower parts of which are made of naturally degradable non-woven fibers. The middle layer that links the non-woven fiber layer is an apertured plastic mesh with high strength and two-way stability. The vegetation blanket includes seeds and may also include fertilizer and/or water absorbing material. This vegetation blanket can be laid on bare hillsides and reduce the soil erosion caused by runoffs.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,421,123 discloses a vegetation blanket that has a netty system and can prevent the loss of plant material. The vegetation blanket consists of soil improvement material, fertilizer, organic material and seeds, and forms a whole by bonding the upper and lower ribbons. The hole-like mesh can meet the requirements of plants germination and growth.
U.S. Patent no. 20090178334 discloses a vegetation blanket. The upper layer is made of fiber mesh with open grids to achieve a water penetration effect. The fibers extend to the grids so as to make seeds adhere to the fibers and stay in the grids. The lower layer is easy to absorb water and is composed of absorbent paper towel or spinning. The two layers of the vegetation blanket are both degradable materials.
Chinese patent CN201048485 slope greening vegetation blanket discloses a vegetation blanket. Evenly laid dry plant substrate is located between the upper layer mesh and the lower layer mesh made of jute or plastic. An integral blanket roll is formed by connecting upper and lower layers using stitch-bonding thread. There is also a layer of non-woven fabrics or degradable paper seed embryo between the lower layer mesh and the dry plant substrate, with evenly laid plant seeds adhered to the seed embryo.
At present, both the domestic and foreign ecological vegetation blankets have a certain role in water and soil conservation, with the advantages of simple manufacturing process, low maintenance, low cost, etc. However, there are also some deficiencies:
Firstly, with a small amount of substrate added, they can not be directly applied to vegetation restoration or greening of soilless interfaces. When they're used for vegetation restoration of rock slopes, slag fields, sandy lands, roofs, etc., the engineering surfaces must be covered with soil or artificial substrate before laying the vegetation restoration materials, therefore the construction cost is high.
Secondly, the solution to the control of water and temperature is simply covering with fiber, or filling with great amount of water retaining agent with seeds directly sprinkled into the water retaining agent. This will cause poor vegetation growth and can not achieve a good function of temperature and water control. Vegetation degradations tend to appear in case of extreme weather conditions, which will increase the engineering maintenance cost.
Thirdly, due to the above-described drawbacks, there are certain requirements for the environmental conditions of the vegetation blanket application, thus the application is limited to a small scope.


A system and method of calibrating a laser tracker is provided. The system includes a support system for quickly and easily moving an artifact to a desired position and orientation and for holding the artifact in the position and orientation. An adjustable alignment mirror is coupled to a first end of the artifact so that the more accurate ranging system of the laser tracker can be isolated to determine a reference length of the artifact. Additional measurements are then taken to exercise one or more error source within the tracker. The support system includes a positioner and a support beam for positioning and supporting the artifact. The artifact is coupled to the support beam using kinematic clamps that are designed to reduce or eliminate errors associated with over-constraining the artifact.

A large number of industries require precise and accurate measuring for a number of applications such as production, manufacturing, and process control. In many such applications, measurement errors on the order of even one ten-thousandth of an inch can be critical. Often, especially when measuring the dimensions of large objects or a long distance between two objects, special equipment and/or instruments are used to achieve the necessary precision and accuracy for a particular application. Instruments such as laser trackers are particularly well suited for such applications because laser trackers are capable of providing extreme precision and accuracy, even when measuring the dimensions of large objects.
As is the case with calibration (or verifying proper calibration) of virtually any measuring instrument, checking calibration of a laser tracker is typically accomplished by measuring an object (such as a length reference artifact) of a standard, known length and confirming that the instrument measures the appropriate length. In particular, such artifacts are used to verify whether a laser tracker instrument is yielding trustworthy results (i.e. demonstrating that it is properly calibrated) or used during a measurement job to establish whether anything has gone wrong during the course of the job. For example, a user of the instrument will measure the artifact at the beginning, middle, and end of a job. If the user obtains the same length measurement each time, the user will have a degree of comfort that the tracker has maintained a proper adjustment and/or position during the measurement.
An acceptable method used to verify the proper calibration of a laser tracker is a length measurement system test. A length measurement system test involves several steps. First, two or more measuring points are located and oriented relative to a laser tracker. The measuring points are displaced a known distance from each other; the known distance being a reference length. Next, the laser tracker measures the distance between each measuring point; the measured distance being a measured length. Finally, the measured length is compared with the reference length so as to evaluate the performance of the laser tracker. Because a laser tracker may perform differently depending on the position and orientation of measuring points relative to the laser tracker, the above steps are repeated with the measuring points at various locations and orientations to exercise the various error sources within the tracker.
Prior to performing a length measurement system test, the reference length must be established. One method of establishing a reference length is described in Section D-3 of ASME B89.4.19-2006. Using this method, the measuring points are aligned with the laser tracker so that the distance between the measuring points may be measured with the more accurate ranging system of the tracker (such as an interferometer or Absolute Distance Meter system). Another method of establishing a reference length is to use a calibrated artifact.
A calibrated artifact includes a measuring point on or near each end of the artifact. Traditionally, artifacts were calibrated at a specific temperature range and nominal thermal expansion corrections are provided to establish the reference length between the measuring points. More recently, several length reference systems have been developed that include structural arrangements that are designed to counteract length increases caused by thermal expansion. For example, U.S. application Ser. No. 13/431,188, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,479,406, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a length reference bar system and method that compensates for thermal expansion and is capable of being calibrated using the method described in Section D-3 of ASME B89.4.19-2006. Other length reference systems disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,505,495, 6,836,323, and 7,188,428, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference, have also been designed to counteract length increases caused by thermal expansion. Still other length reference systems are fabricated from materials having low coefficients of thermal expansion, such as carbon composite and/or high-grade invar, to further reduce the artifact's sensitivity to temperature gradients.
When using an artifact to perform a length measurement system test, the artifact is positioned and oriented so as to move the measuring points to various locations and orientations relative to the laser tracker. For example, the artifact may be oriented vertically for a first test, horizontally for a second test, and diagonally for a third test. In each orientation, the measuring points may be positioned symmetrically or asymmetrically relative to the laser tracker.
Precise and accurate movement of an artifact to a specific position and orientation is time consuming and difficult. Consequently, positioning repeatability is also time consuming and difficult. Once in position, maintaining the position and orientation of the artifact can be difficult. A fixture may solve some of these problems, but a fixture also creates additional uncertainty with the accuracy of the reference length.
To ensure that a length measurement system test is as accurate as possible, the reference length must be as close as possible to the actual distance between the measuring points at the time the measured length is obtained. Unfortunately, several factors, such as "fixturing effects," create uncertainty as to the accuracy of a reference length "Fixturing effects" may include, but are not limited to, gravity effects, loading effects, and mounting constraint effects. "Fixturing effects" may be influenced by factors such as the straightness and/or stiffness of an artifact, the type, quantity, and/or location of mounting fixtures, the location of targets relative to the mounting fixtures, potential vibration, and/or the accuracy of an alignment. Additionally, uncertainty of the artifact temperature and uncertainty of the coefficient of thermal expansion of the artifact material create uncertainty with the thermal expansion correction values (if used).
Fixturing effects may vary with temperature and/or with the orientation of the artifact. Accordingly, fixturing effects may be difficult to detect and/or to predict. For instance, an artifact at room temperature and situated in a vertical orientation may experience negligible fixturing effects while an artifact at twenty degrees above room temperature and situated in a horizontal orientation may experience various fixturing effects such as thermal expansion restraint and/or cantilever bending. Thermal expansion restraint creates additional uncertainty with the thermal expansion correction values. Cantilever bending creates additional uncertainty with the calibrated length of the artifact at various orientations.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a reference length system and method that quickly moves measuring points into precise and accurate locations and orientations relative to a laser tracker, thereby allowing for positioning repeatability, that maintains an accurate reference length, that is easy to manufacture, and that is simple to use. Furthermore, it is desirable to provide a system and method for quickly and easily determining a reliable reference length between measuring points.

Laser tracker calibration system and methods


Control of operation of an internal combustion engine is responsive to an estimate of catalyst deterioration in an engine exhaust gas catalytic treatment device, including ignition timing control, intake air control, and supplemental catalyst heating control. The deterioration estimate is responsive to a catalyst temperature estimate which may be corrected in accord with the estimated deterioration.

Catalytic treatment devices, known as catalytic converters, for treating internal combustion engine exhaust gasses, are known to deteriorate with use. Specifically, the efficiency with which the catalyst of catalytic treatment devices convert such engine exhaust gasses as carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, and hydrocarbons decreases over the life of the treatment device and the light-off time of the device increases. Light-off time is the time required for a catalytic converter to reach a prescribed efficiency following a coldstart of the engine. Catalytic converter deterioration can result in increased automotive vehicle emissions. The increase in emissions can however, be mitigated to some extent by compromising other vehicle control strategies. Current vehicle control strategies are designed using a near worst case catalyst deterioration model, so that even near worst case catalyst deterioration, such as caused by worst case driving conditions, the treated engine emissions will still meet aggressive emissions control constraints. Worst case driving conditions are uncommon. As a result, many of the compromises made under worst case catalyst deterioration models are unnecessary to meet even highly ambitious emissions control constraints, such as for the vast majority of vehicles not exposed to the worst case driving conditions. Engine performance and fuel economy may be unnecessarily compromised using the current catalyst deterioration model.
It would therefore be desirable to avoid constraining automotive engine controls to the worst case catalyst deterioration model. It would be desirable to meet aggressive emissions control standards with minimum sacrifice to engine fuel economy and performance.

Adaptive engine control responsive to catalyst deterioration estimation


Embodiments of showerheads are provided herein. In some embodiments, a showerhead for use in a process chamber includes a gas distribution plate having an upper surface and a lower surface; a plurality of channels extending through the gas distribution plate substantially perpendicular to the lower surface; a plurality of first gas delivery holes extending from the upper surface to the lower surface between adjacent channels of the plurality of channels to deliver a first process gas through the gas distribution plate; and a plurality of second gas delivery holes extending from the plurality of channels to the lower surface to deliver a second process gas therethrough without mixing with the first process gas.

Substrate processing equipment generally includes process chambers configured to perform certain processes on a substrate, for example, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), atomic layer deposition (ALD), etching, or the like. Process chambers may use showerheads to dispense process gases over substrates when performing certain processes. Often, multiple process gases are dispensed through the showerheads. However, the inventors have observed that conventional showerheads are not adequate for dispensing multiple process gases through showerheads for certain high temperature applications.
Accordingly, the inventors have provided embodiments of improved showerheads as disclosed herein.

High temperature dual chamber showerhead


The invention comprises an engine system that is selectively operative in an auto-ignition combustion mode. A control module monitors engine operating states and control engine operation. A control subsystem controls engine operation based upon the monitored engine operating states. The control subsystem operates the engine in the auto-ignition combustion mode, and determines an effective temperature of the cylinder structure of the internal combustion engine based upon the engine operating conditions. An engine operating point is determined. A feed-forward control scheme is executed based upon the effective temperature of the cylinder structure and the engine operating point. The effective temperature of the cylinder structure is determined by monitoring engine power for an elapsed period of time.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
Internal combustion engines, especially automotive internal combustion engines, generally fall into one of two categories, spark ignition engines and compression ignition engines. Traditional spark ignition engines, such as gasoline engines, typically function by introducing a fuel/air mixture into the combustion cylinders, which is then compressed in the compression stroke and ignited by a spark plug. Traditional compression ignition engines, such as diesel engines, typically function by introducing or injecting pressurized fuel into a combustion cylinder near top dead center (TDC) of the compression stroke, which ignites upon injection. Combustion for both traditional gasoline engines and diesel engines involves premixed or diffusion flames that are controlled by fluid mechanics. Each type of engine has advantages and disadvantages. In general, gasoline engines produce fewer emissions but are less efficient, while, in general, diesel engines are more efficient but produce more emissions.
More recently, other types of combustion methodologies have been introduced for internal combustion engines. One of these combustion concepts is known in the art as the homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI). The HCCI combustion mode comprises a distributed, flameless, auto-ignition combustion process that is controlled by oxidation chemistry, rather than by fluid mechanics. In a typical engine operating in HCCI combustion mode, the cylinder charge is nearly homogeneous in composition, temperature, and residual level at intake valve closing time. The typical engine operating in the HCCI combustion mode can further operate using stratified charge fuel injection to control and modify the combustion process, including using stratified charge combustion to trigger the HCCI combustion. Because auto-ignition is a distributed kinetically-controlled combustion process, the engine operates at a very dilute fuel/air mixture (i.e., lean of a fuel/air stoichiometric point) and has a relatively low peak combustion temperature, thus forming extremely low NOx emissions. The fuel/air mixture for auto-ignition is relatively homogeneous, as compared to the stratified fuel/air combustion mixtures used in diesel engines, and, therefore, the rich zones that form smoke and particulate emissions in diesel engines are substantially eliminated. Because of this very dilute fuel/air mixture, an engine operating in the auto-ignition combustion mode can operate unthrottled to achieve diesel-like fuel economy. The HCCI engine can operate at stoichiometry with substantial amounts of EGR to achieve effective combustion.
At medium engine speeds and loads, a combination of valve profile and timing (e.g., exhaust recompression and exhaust re-breathing) and fueling strategy has been found to be effective in providing adequate thermal energy to the cylinder charge so that auto-ignition during the compression stroke leads to stable combustion with low noise. One of the main issues in effectively operating an engine in the auto-ignition combustion mode has been to control the combustion process properly so that robust and stable combustion resulting in low emissions, optimal heat release rate, and low noise can be achieved over a range of operating conditions. The benefits of auto-ignition combustion have been known for many years. The primary barrier to product implementation, however, has been the inability to control the auto-ignition combustion process, i.e., combustion phasing and rate of combustion. Late phasing or very slow combustion will result in partial burns and even possibly misfires. Too early phasing or too rapid combustion will lead to knock.
There is no direct control of start of combustion for an engine operating in the auto-ignition mode, as the chemical kinetics of the cylinder charge determine the start and course of the combustion. Chemical kinetics are sensitive to temperature and, as such, the controlled auto-ignition combustion process is sensitive to temperature. An important variable affecting the combustion initiation and progress is the effective temperature of the cylinder structure, i.e., temperature of cylinder walls, head, valve, and piston crown.
The effective temperature of the cylinder structure during transient engine operation may vary from that attained after sustained steady-state operation at the particular speed and load. When the engine transitions from a high speed/load operating point to a lower speed/load operating point, the temperatures are typically higher than a steady-state temperature for the operating point for a period of time, due to thermal lag and heat capacity of the cylinder structure. Likewise, when the engine transitions from a low speed/load operating level to a higher speed/load operating point, the temperatures are typically lower than a steady-state temperature for the operating point. When temperatures of the cylinder structure are different than the steady state temperature for the operating point, the engine control needs to be adjusted from steady-state control settings to maintain consistent auto-ignition combustion. Several engine control parameters, including, e.g., EGR, fuel pressure, and cam phasing, lag the steady state values for the control system.
Therefore, an engine control system which adapts control of the engine based upon thermal lag and heat capacity of the cylinder structure is desirable.

Method and apparatus for engine control during auto-ignition combustion


A video field-production control system is adapted for use with video cameras supplied by various manufacturers, including cameras that utilize cable-oriented remote-control units associated with electronic news gatherings (ENG). An industry standard mounting frame holds a central control unit with interface modules dedicated to each camera to be used by the system, as well as a power supply, master synchronization generator and production switcher, all common to each installed interface module. In addition to providing customized connecters and cables to the attached equipment, each module provides for cable compensation and gain adjustment of composite and component video signals from the camera to the switcher plus phase adjustment of the master sync signal to the camera through an adapter further capable of providing the voltages necessary to power the camera.

In the business of video electronic field production (EFP), it is not uncommon to use a variety of video cameras and related equipment from various manufacturers at a remote site. Typically one or more operators use remote controls from a central production console to facilitate the management of the various camera shots.
Although camera manufacturers generally offer remote control units for their own equipment, integration of these controls is difficult because of the differences in their physical and electrical configurations. For example, the various cameras may require different power supply voltages to operate. Additionally, the more economical remote units supplied by the camera manufacturers, in particular, the ENG-type or electronic news gathering camera controllers are unsuitable for such remote production applications because they do not provide for long length cable compensation. Typically, the cables between the camera and its supplied remote are limited to a distance of 100 feet or less. Moreover, these ENG-type controllers do not have the requisite provisions for sync-phase and color-phase adjustments demanded by multi-camera configurations.
At the same time, more sophisticated Universal camera controllers are available which can coordinate video equipment during field production, including the direct control of cameras without the need for their supplied remote units, but the size and cost of these more complex units are often prohibitive to the small and medium video production house. As such, there remains a need for a "universal" type of camera-control unit, that fills the gap between incompatible remotes supplied by camera manufacturers and the more expensive and sophisticated general purpose field production units. Such a controller would be fully compatible with the remote control units supplied by the camera manufacturers, yet overcome the obstacles relating to overall cooperation, synchronization, cable-length compensation and packaging.

Video field-production camera control system


The present invention provides a lifeboat disengagement system for supporting and releasing a twin fall lifeboat, the system comprising a single lifeboat release assembly and a pair of hook assemblies for releasable engagement with a corresponding pair of lifting links. The lifeboat disengagement system includes an engaged configuration wherein the lifting links are secured by the hook assemblies, and a disengaged configuration wherein the lifeboat release assembly is employed to release the lifting links from the hook assemblies simultaneously. The lifeboat disengagement system provides positive locking under load including a load over center design such that a load of the lifeboat is in line with a center of hook rotation, thereby preventing the hook from opening inadvertently and eliminating the need for a hydrostatic device.

In heavy industry, military and maritime situations, hooks are provided on a piece of equipment in order to make it more mobile, or to allow for it to be transferred from location to location. In these circumstances, large cranes are utilized, and the chain or cable of the crane is provided with a large loop or ring which is to be engaged with the piece of equipment to be moved. Depending upon the particular use, it may be desirable to have a hook which can be opened either under full load, or without load. One of the common forms of hook available in the industry is a type that, under load, can be opened by use of a long line or chain that actuates a releasing mechanism, and releases the hook when it is under load. The disadvantage of this form is that the hooks are not easy to set or release when not under load. In another form, the action of releasing of the load by placement or by other means automatically releases the hook, and thus terminates the connection between the cable and the device being lifted.
One particular use of this type of equipment is the support of lifeboats aboard ship and on drilling platforms. Lifeboats may comprise enclosed boats that are used on commercial vessels, cruise ships, and off-shore platforms. Twin fall lifeboats are supported by a pair of cables on hoists so that they may be loaded or entered and quickly lowered over the side of a ship or off the side of a platform. Vessels of this type have particular need for a hook locking mechanism which cannot be released under load without substantial inconvenience and the requirement of conscious and deliberate steps to manually release the locking mechanism. This is accomplished by disengaging the coupling to the manual release drive means (e.g., a hand crank for driving the release mechanism) and stowing it in a location separate from the lock release drive mechanism.
Changes in lifeboat launching arrangements have been characterized by slow evolution driven by regulatory change. One change that is particularly relevant was the introduction by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 1986 of a regulatory requirement for on-load release hooks. Prior to this time, after lowering a boat into the water, it was necessary manually to unhook the boat from its falls. As boats and their launching gear became larger and heavier, this task had become fraught with danger as crew tried to complete a simultaneous (fore-and-aft) unhooking process. The requirement for on-load release hooks was introduced to overcome these problems, in the expectation that launching would become significantly safer. In practice, on-load release hooks have brought their own problem, with accidents being reported sufficiently frequently for a clear picture to emerge about the types of failure and range of consequences (in terms of seafarer injuries and fatalities) that typically occur. The well-known nature of the problem is illustrated by the publication of two industry surveys. The first was compiled in 1994 by the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCINF), based on a questionnaire distributed via the International Chamber of Shipping and selected Flag State Administrations. A total of 92 incidents were identified, 41% of which resulted in injury, with 2 incidents leading to fatalities. OCIMF also noted a lack of confidence amongst mariners leading to reluctance to conduct lifeboat drills. Recommendations were addressed to ship owners, manufacturers and authorities (including the IMO), and it is therefore to be assumed that these various organizations were made aware of the survey findings.
Accident reports make it clear that most accidents to date have occurred during routine drills, maintenance and testing. During these activities, it is usually only members of the ship's crew who are at risk should an accident occur. It also appears that few lifeboat accidents in recent times have occurred during use of the lifeboat in earnest in an emergency abandon ship scenario. The occurrence of serious accidents involving lifeboat on-load release hooks, resulting in injury to or death of seafarers, is an ongoing problem in the shipping industry. Such confidential incident reports highlight both the mechanical problems associated with lifeboat launching arrangements and the resulting lack of confidence amongst seafarers about their safety during lifeboat drills. However, it is evident from the various reports of lifeboat accidents that those involving unexpected or unintended release of the suspension hooks are likely to be the most serious accidents, often leading to fatalities. Preventing or minimizing the occurrence of "hook" accidents would therefore make a major contribution to risk reduction.
In many cases, the failure of on-load hooks is not so much of the hook itself, but more a failure of the release mechanism. To understand the significance of this it is necessary to understand how a typical on-load release hook functions. FIG. 1 (Prior Art) illustrates the working parts of a conventional on-load hook design. Many other manufacturers' designs are believed to operate on equivalent or similar principles. The opening part of the hook may rotate about a swivel pin, which is supported by two side plates of the hook (shown by the long solid line which loops around the top of the swivel pin). The weight of the boat is supported by these side plates, which exert a downward force on the swivel pin. The force is opposed by the tension in the falls, transmitted to the opening part of the hook via the suspension ring. The circular cross section of the suspension ring is seen in the bight of the hook, with an upward force arrow labeled "Hook's load". The weight of the boat acting downwards at the center of the swivel pin, together with the load in the falls acting upwards at the center of the suspension ring, creates a couple, or an equal and opposite pair of forces acting parallel to each other. This couple tends to rotate the hook in a counter-clockwise direction to open the hook. However, this tendency to open is prevented by the cam.
With further reference to FIG. 1 (Prior Art), the cam comprises a semi-circular shape, wherein an upper part of this cam prevents the hook rotating in a counter-clockwise direction. The cam can rotate about a center of rotation marked "+" in the figure which also shows the hook's tail force pushing on the cam. There is an equal and opposite reaction force from the cam pushing on the tail of the hook. This reaction force acts in a clockwise direction on the hook, balancing the counter-clockwise tendency created by the weight of the boat. The lowest part of the tail of the hook lies above the cam's center of rotation such that if the cam is rotated clockwise around this center, the cam will no longer be in contact with the tail of the hook. Under the influence of a counter-clockwise couple, the hook will open and fall away. Clockwise rotation of the cam is achieved by means of a downwards pull on the cable causing rotation of the cam crank. The cable is connected to the operating lever located adjacent to the coxswain's position in the boat. Since the tail of the hook lies above the cam's center of rotation, the hook's tail force exerts a turning moment on the cam which tends to rotate the cam in a clockwise direction. If allowed to occur, this rotation results in release of the hook. Only the positioning of the cam crank, as dictated by the cable and operating lever, prevents the hook forcing itself open under the action of the couple generated by the boat's weight and tension in the falls.
The above description of the hook design illustrates that many on-load hook designs are inherently "unstable" because the weight of the boat suspended on the hook tends to produce a hook opening effect, which has to be resisted by the operating mechanism for the hook to stay closed. Thus the operating mechanism (lever, cable and cam crank) serves not only to release the boat when required, but also to maintain the hook closed at all other times. Any deficiency in the operating mechanism impacts directly on the ability of the hook to remain closed and support the boat. Thus, many on-load release hooks currently in use are inherently unsafe.
A well-known problem exists with respect to unstable hooks in twin fall lifeboats. This problem was studied in detail by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), which concluded that many existing on-load release hooks are inherently unsafe and therefore unfit for use with twin fall lifeboats. The study determined that lifeboat accidents occur for a number of reasons, and that most of the more serious accidents (particularly those involving fatalities), occur because of problems with the on-load release hooks. For example, through the premature or unexpected opening of one or both hooks during a routine test or drill, the lifeboat either becomes suspended vertically or drops completely into the water, frequently resulting in injuries and/or fatalities.
Unsafe situations often arise because many on-load hooks have a tendency to open under the effect of the lifeboat's own weight and need to be closed using an operating mechanism. As a result, there is no defense against: (1) defects/faults in the operating mechanism; (2) errors by the operator; or (3) incorrect resetting of the hook after being released. The MCA concluded that unstable hooks are the primary reason for almost all serious accidents involving lifeboats, and that the solution lies in a radical re-design of the hook types involved. In addition, the MCA recommended that all on-load release hooks be designed and constructed to be stable (i.e., self-closing) when supporting the weight of the lifeboat. Moreover, the MCA suggested that unstable designs of on-load release hooks are identified with the intention that they be withdrawn from service on all ships and urgently replaced with stable designs.