A dry end of a paper making machine has a plurality of dryer groups each in turn comprised of a plurality of heatable dryer cylinders which alternate with reversal rolls. A respective support belt meanders past each dryer cylinder and the succeeding reversal roll in each dryer group. The web to be dried is supported on the side of each support belt to contact the heatable dryer cylinders. The reversal roll that precedes the first dryer cylinder in each succeeding group serves as a web removal roll which is wrapped by the second support belt of the succeeding dryer group. The first support belt of the preceding dryer group has the web on the side of the first belt which is toward the removal roll. The first support belt contacts the second support belt on the removal roll over a smaller part of the circumference of the removal roll than the second support belt. The removal roll transfers the web from the first support belt to the second support belt at the removal roll. There is an unsupported length of the first support belt from the last reversal roll of the first dryer group to the removal roll in the second dryer group that is of a length that the time of travel of a point on the first support belt between those two rolls is at least 0.05 seconds and preferably between 0.06 and 0.12 seconds. That zone is free of suction devices. The first support belt and possibly the second or preferably porous dryer wires. A boundary air layer deflection device opposite the removal roll deflects the boundary layer of air through the first support belt to help deflect the web off the first support belt onto the second support belt at the removal roll.

The present invention relates to a dry end of a paper making machine. The dry end consists of a plurality of dryer groups. Each comprises at least one and typically a plurality of dryer cylinders. The dryer cylinders in each group alternate with belt reversal rolls. A respective support belt for a web passes through each dryer group and meanders alternately to partially wrap each dryer cylinder and the following reversal roll. The invention is particularly concerned with the arrangement of reversal rolls at the transfer regions between adjacent dryer groups where the web is transferred from the support belt of a preceding dryer group to the support belt of a succeeding group. Features of such a dry end are known from Federal Republic of Germany Utility Model 90 01 209.7, which corresponds to U.S. application Ser. No. 07/467,788, filed Jan. 19, 1990. The dry end dries a fiber web, for instance, a web of paper, particularly in a paper making machine, which is designed for a very high operating speed. The highest operating speed can be about 1500 m/min, or even more. In order to achieve this, the support belts for the web are preferably porous dryer wires and the reversing rolls are preferably suction guide rolls which hold the web against the outside of the support belt as it passes around the reversing rolls.
In the above mentioned Utility Model, the web is transferred from a first dryer group comprised of a first group of dryer cylinders to a second dryer group comprised of a second group of dryer cylinders. A first suction guide roll of the second dryer group serves as a removal roll. The first support belt of the first dryer group travels around a final suction guide roll and then travels tangentially to the circumference of the removal roll, around which the second support belt of the second dryer group also travels. In front or upstream of the removal roll in the direction of travel, the first and second support belts form a so called angle of convergence, which may amount to between about 2.degree. and 30.degree.. This configuration is more favorable than another known arrangements also using a removal roll in which the two support belts travel a distance parallel to each other in front of the removal roll, where the web is located between the two support belts. With this parallel guidance, there is the danger that the web, which is still moist, may be subjected to injurious stressing, particularly if the two belts travel at a certain speed differential.
According to the above mentioned Utility Model, the support belt of the second dryer group comes into contact over a small portion of the circumference of the removal roll with the support belt of the first dryer group. This means that the support belt of the first dryer group wraps around the circumference of the removal roll over a small angular sector. In addition, it is proposed that this angle of wrap be variable during the operation of the machine. In this way, it is possible to transfer the web with a high degree of safety, i.e. without a substantial danger of it tearing, from the first support belt of the one dryer group to the second support belt of the next dryer group. This is true even for very high operating speeds, because impermissible stressing of the web can be avoided. If necessary, the angle of wrap may even be zero.

Dryer group web transfer region for paper making machine


A heat resistant polymer composition, an alignment layer formed using the same, and an LCD having the alignment layer are provided. The heat resistant polymer composition includes 10-25% by weight of a polyimide resin or polyamic acid, 0.1-1% by weight of an adhesive agent, and balance of a solvent. The adhesive agent improves thermal stability. Thus, the LCD having the alignment layer formed using the same can accomplish a desirable pre-tilt angle of liquid crystals and desirable alignment properties of liquid crystal molecules.

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display (LCD) a heat resistant polymer composition and an alignment layer using the heat resistant polymer composition.
In general, a liquid crystal molecule has an intermediate property of a liquid and a solid, the fluidity of a liquid and the optical property of a solid, and can be changed in its optical anisotropy with an electric field or heat. A liquid crystal display (LCD) utilizes such properties and is typically used as a flat-panel display.
FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a general LCD, in which transparent electrodes 3 and 3' composed of indium tin oxide (ITO) are respectively formed on upper and lower glass substrates 2 and 2'. Insulating layers 4 and 4' and alignment layers 5 and 5' for aligning liquid crystals are sequentially formed on the transparent electrodes 3 and 3'. Spacers 6 are disposed between the alignment layers 5 and 5' with a cell gap. A liquid crystal material is injected into the cell gap to form a liquid crystal layer 7. Polarizing plates 1 and 1' for polarizing incident and transmittant light are provided on the exterior of substrates 2 and 2'.
FIG. 2 shows a directional relationship between liquid crystal molecules and an alignment surface (substrate), in which a pre-tilt angle refers to the angle formed by the substrate surface and a liquid crystal director. An alignment layer must be formed by employing an appropriate alignment material or using an appropriate alignment method so that the pre-tilt angle of the liquid crystal can be adjusted to within a proper range, which is essential in improving the display performance of the LCD.
To form an alignment layer, a rubbing treatment has been generally used, that is, a polymer resin film such as a polyimide film is formed on a substrate where an electrode is formed and then the film is rubbed with a piece of cloth.
According to the rubbing treatment, an alignment layer composition including a polyimide resin is coated on the where an electrode layer formed and is then thermally treated at 200.degree..about.250.degree. C. for about 1 hour and subjected to rubbing to form an alignment layer. To form a liquid crystal layer, a spacer is then coated on the substrate where the alignment layer is formed and the upper and lower substrates are sealed with a predetermined cell gap. Thereafter, a liquid crystal composition is injected into the cell gap and is thermally treated again at about 100.degree. C. However, the alignment layer may be damaged by the heat treatment which disadvantageously changes the pre-tilt angle or alignment degree, resulting in deterioration of LCD performance.

Heat resistant polymer composition, alignment layer formed using the same and liquid cyrstal display having the alignment layer


Provided is a steel sheet for an oil sand slurry pipe having excellent abrasion resistance, corrosion resistance, and low-temperature toughness including 0.2 wt % to 0.35 wt % of carbon (C), 0.1 wt % to 0.5 wt % of silicon (Si), 0.5 wt % to 1.8 wt % of manganese (Mn), 0.1 wt % to 0.6 wt % of nickel (Ni), 0.005 wt % to 0.05 wt % of niobium (Nb), 0.005 wt % to 0.02 wt % of titanium (Ti), 0.03 wt % or less of phosphorous (P), 0.03 wt % or less of sulfur (S), 0.05 wt % or less (excluding 0 wt %) of aluminum (Al), 0.01 wt % or less (excluding 0 wt %) of nitrogen (N), and iron (Fe) as well as other unavoidable impurities as a remainder.

Among steels being used in the oil sands industry, since the abrasion of the steel of a pipe being used in the transportation of an oil sand slurry in particular occurs due to sand particles having a diameter ranging from 200 μm to 300 μm and its replacement life span is about 1 year, a lot of cost and time are required for the purchase and replacement of steel piping.
Methods of mining oil sands may be broadly classified as an open-pit mining method and an in-situ recovery method, in which the application of a slurry pipe system is essential for the post-processing of oil sand ore in the open-pit mining method. Crushed oil sand ore that has been mixed with water may have the form of a slurry, may include about 35% of sand and about 500 ppm of salt, and may be transported at a speed ranging from 3.5 m/sec to 5.5 m/sec. During the transportation of the slurry, since sand particles may erode steel by moving along a lower end portion of an inner side of a pipe, pipe have been used in a manner in which they are rotated about 3 times a year in order to increase the effective service life of the steel from which they are made.
Also, corrosion due to salt as well as abrasion due to the moving sand may occur in the slurry pipe, and it is problematic that corrosion products formed by the result of the corrosion do not reduce a corrosion rate of the material, but are immediately removed by the moving sand. In particular, the erosion of the material may occur much faster in an environment in which corrosion and abrasion occur simultaneously, such as an operating environment of the oil sand slurry pipe, than an environment in which corrosion and abrasion occur separately.
There is a case in which a carbide coating treatment or a surface heat treatment is performed on the inside of the pipe in order to extend the lifespan of the pipe by delaying such erosion. However, since costs for such reprocessing process exceed replacement costs of the material, there is a need to develop a material having excellent resistance to the erosion caused by the slurry without the need for reprocessing.
In general, it is known that abrasion resistance of a material increases with an increase in hardness. However, since a pipe material must have strength and ductility suitable for pipe production in terms of characteristics thereof, it may be impossible to use high-hardness martensite for increasing the hardness of the material. Steels for an oil sand slurry pipe currently being used are American Petroleum Institute (API) grade line pipe steels, wherein thermo-mechanical control process (TMCP) ferritic steels are used, in which, in order to increase abrasion resistance of the material, strength is increased to a level able to allow a pipe to be commercially produced. Hereinafter, techniques currently being used for pipe steels having excellent abrasion resistance will be described.
First, Korean Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 1987-0010217 discloses a method of securing abrasion resistance by installing a ceramic plate in a steel pipe, and Korean Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-0046429 discloses a method of manufacturing an abrasion resistant pipe by forming a hardfacing weld layer on an inner surface of the pipe using tungsten carbide or high-chromium powder.
However, both patents disclose techniques in which a surface of a typical pipe is reprocessed by using a high hardness material in order to secure abrasion resistance, wherein high costs are incurred due to the fact that reprocessing and long-term abrasion resistance may not be assured, because the reprocessed layer may be detached due to external impacts or defects therein.
Next, Korean Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-0066189 discloses a method of securing abrasion resistance and impact toughness by performing a carburization treatment on a surface of low carbon steel. However, a pipe surface hardened by the carburization treatment may not only have limitations in a welding zone, but rapid abrasion of a matrix structure may also occur after the abrasion of the surface hardened layer.
Also, Korean Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2007-0017409 discloses a method of manufacturing steels having high mechanical strength and abrasion resistance, and the steels provided by the above patent have compositions including 0.30 wt %≦carbon (C)≦1.42 wt %; 0.05 wt %≦silicon (Si)≦1.5 wt %; manganese (Mn)≦1.95 wt %; nickel (Ni)≦2.9 wt %; 1.1 wt %≦chromium (Cr)≦7.9 wt %; 0.61 wt %≦molybdenum (Mo)≦4.4 wt %; selectively vanadium (V)≦1.45 wt %, niobium (Nb)≦1.45 wt %, tantalum (Ta)≦1.45 wt %, and V+Nb/2+Ta/4≦1.45 wt %; less than 0.1 wt % of boron, 0.19 wt % of (sulfur (S)+selenium (Se)/2+tellurium (Te)/4), 0.01 wt % of calcium, 0.5 wt % of a rare earth metal, 1 wt % of aluminum, and 1 wt % of copper; and iron as well as other unavoidable impurities as a remainder.
However, since the steels of the above invention contain carbon in an amount equal to or greater than that included in a medium carbon steel and large amounts of Ni, Cr, Mo, Nb, or V are used as alloying elements, manufacturing costs may not only be significantly increased, but mechanical strength may also be high. Therefore, the steels may not be suitable for a pipe material.
As another related art invention, Korean Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-0041284 provides a method of manufacturing tool steels by spray forming, in which a method of increasing toughness by refining a size of carbide using Mo is disclosed. However, since manufacturing costs and strength may be high similar to the steel of Korean Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2007-0017409, there may be limitations in using the steels as pipe materials.
Furthermore, Korean Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-0059177 provides a method of manufacturing a steel having excellent abrasion resistance able to used for an oil pipe of a crude oil storage tank and piping in a ship's hull, wherein the steel according to the above patent is provided in such a manner that calcium (Ca)—Si in the form of a wire is added to a molten steel having a composition including 0.03 wt % to 0.1 wt % of C, 0.1 wt % to 0.3 wt % of Si, 0.05 wt % to 1.2 wt % of Mn, 0.05 wt % or less of phosphorous (P), 0.035 wt % or less of S, 0.03 wt % or less of aluminum (Al), 0.8 wt % to 1.1 wt % of Cr, 0.1 wt % to 0.3 wt % of copper (Cu), 0.1 wt % to 0.3 wt % of Ni, and iron (Fe) as well as other unavoidable impurities as a remainder, a degassing treatment is performed to control a Ca content to be in a range of 0.001 wt % to 0.004 wt %, and the steel is reheated to a temperature ranging from 1000° C. to 1200° C. and then hot-rolled at a temperature above Ar3.
The above invention improves abrasion resistance and corrosion resistance by improving density of a rust layer using Cr, Cu, Ni, and Ca. However, it may be impossible to secure abrasion resistance and corrosion resistance by using the rust layer in a severely abrasive environment such as that of an oil sand slurry pipe.
Therefore, demand for a steel sheet for an oil sand slurry pipe having good economic factors and production efficiency as well as excellent abrasion resistance and corrosion resistance, even in a severely abrasive and corrosive environment, such as an operating environment of an oil sand slurry pipe, has rapidly increased.

Steel sheet for an oil sand slurry pipe having excellent abrasion resistance, corrosion resistance, and low-temperature toughness and method for manufacturing same


The invention provides an optical signal transmitter low in noise and in distortion and provides an optical signal transmission system using this optical signal transmitter.

Conventionally, an optical signal transmitter and an optical signal transmission system employing a method for subjecting video signals, which have undergone frequency-division multiplexing, to frequency modulation as a single unit (this method will be hereinafter referred to as an "FM batch conversion method") are known as an optical signal transmitter and an optical signal transmission system used for optical transmission of multichannel video signals that have undergone frequency-division multiplexing and that have undergone amplitude modulation or quadrature amplitude modulation.
An optical signal transmitter and an optical signal transmission system that employ this FM batch conversion method are disclosed in Non-patent Document 1.
FIG. 1 shows a structure of a conventional optical signal transmitter and a conventional optical signal transmission system that employ the FM batch conversion method. FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C show signal forms at point "A," point "B," and point "C" of FIG. 1, respectively. The optical signal transmission system of FIG. 1 is comprises an optical signal transmitter 80 including an FM batch conversion circuit 81, a light source 82, and an optical amplification circuit 83, an optical transmission path 85, an optical signal receiver 90 including a photoelectric conversion circuit 91 and an FM demodulation circuit 92, a set-top box 93, and a television receiver 94. Signal spectra at point "A," point "B," and point "C" of FIG. 1 are shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C, respectively. The same applies to point "A," point "B," and point "C" of each figure shown below.
In the optical signal transmitter 80 of FIG. 1, frequency-multiplexed video signals shown in FIG. 2A are converted into one wideband frequency-modulated signal shown in FIG. 2B by the FM batch conversion circuit 81. The frequency-modulated signal is subjected to intensity modulation by the light source 82, and is further subjected to optical amplification by the optical amplification circuit 83, and is transmitted to the optical transmission path 85. In the optical signal receiver 90, the frequency-modulated signal that has undergone intensity modulation is photoelectrically converted by the photoelectric conversion circuit 91, and is returned to an electric signal. This electric signal, which is a wideband frequency-modulated signal, is subjected to frequency demodulation by the FM demodulation circuit 92, and the frequency-multiplexed video signals are demodulated as shown in FIG. 2C. The demodulated video signals pass through the set-top box 93, and reach the television receiver 94, whereby a desired video channel is selected.
FIG. 3 shows the structure of an FM batch conversion circuit that is applicable to the FM batch conversion method (see Patent Document 1, Non-patent Document 2, Non-patent Document 3, for example). The FM batch conversion circuit shown in FIG. 3 uses an optical frequency modulation portion and an optical frequency local oscillation portion. The FM batch conversion circuit 81 comprises the optical frequency modulation portion 71, the optical frequency local oscillation portion 72, an optical multiplexer 73, and a photodiode 74.
When frequency modulation is performed with a frequency fs by use of a carrier light source having an optical frequency fo in the optical frequency modulation portion 71 of the FM batch conversion circuit 81, an optical frequency Ffmld of an optical signal in the output of the optical frequency modulation portion 71 is expressed as in the following equation:Ffmld=fo+δf·sin(2π·fs·t)  (1)where δf is a frequency deviation. A DFB-LD (Distributed Feed-Back Laser Diode) is used as the carrier light source of the optical frequency modulation portion 71.
In the optical frequency local oscillation portion 72, oscillation is performed by use of an oscillation light source having an optical frequency f1. An optical signal transmitted from the local oscillation portion 72 and an optical signal transmitted from the optical frequency modulation portion 71 are multiplexed by the optical multiplexer 73. The DFB-LD is used as the oscillation light source of the optical frequency local oscillation portion 72. The two optical signals multiplexed by the optical multiplexer 73 are detected by the photodiode 74 that is an optical heterodyne detector. The frequency f of the electric signal detected thereby is expressed as follows:f=fo−f1+δf·sin(2π·fs·t)  (2)Herein, if the optical frequency of the carrier light source of the optical frequency modulation portion 71 and the optical frequency of the oscillation light source of the optical frequency local oscillation portion 72 are caused to come close to each other, it is possible to obtain an electric signal whose frequency is modulated to have an intermediate frequency fi=fo−f1 of several GHz and have a frequency deviation δf as shown in FIG. 2B.
Generally, the modulation by an input electric current allows the DFB-LD to have an optical frequency varied in the range of several GHz in accordance with the input electric current, and hence a value of several GHz can be obtained as the frequency deviation δf. For example, a multichannel AM video signal or QAM video signal that have undergone frequency multiplication so as to have a frequency range of about 90 MHz to about 750 MHz can be converted by the FM batch conversion circuit into a frequency-modulated signal having a frequency band of about 6 GHz in which the intermediate frequency fi=fo−f1 becomes equal to about 3 GHz as shown in FIG. 2B.
FIG. 4 shows the structure of an FM demodulation circuit applicable to the optical signal receiver 90. The FM demodulation circuit 92 shown in FIG. 4 is an FM demodulation circuit by delay-line detection, and comprises a limiter amplifier 76, a delay line 77, an AND gate 78, and a low-pass filter 79.
In the FM demodulation circuit 92, a frequency-modulated optical signal that has been input is shaped into a square wave by the limiter amplifier 76. The output of the limiter amplifier 76 is branched into two output parts, one of which is input to an input terminal of the AND gate 78 and the other of which undergoes a polarity reversal, is then delayed by time t by means of the delay line 77, and is input to an input terminal of the AND gate 78. The output of the AND gate 78 is smoothed by the low-pass filter 79, and is turned into frequency-demodulated output (see Non-patent Document 1, for example).
A double-tuned frequency discriminator having a resonance circuit, a Foster-Seeley frequency discriminator, and a ratio detection type FM demodulator can be mentioned as a circuit form of the FM demodulation circuit, in addition to the FM demodulation circuit by delay-line detection described here.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 2700622;
Non-patent Document 1: international standard, ITU-T J. 185, "Transmission equipment for transferring multi-channel television signals over optical access networks by FM conversion;"
Non-patent Document 2: Shibata et al. "Optical image distribution system using an FM batch conversion method," Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers, Technical Journal B, Vol. J83-B, No. 7, July, 2000, pp. 948-959;
Non-patent Document 3: Suzuki et al. "Pulsed FM batch conversion modulation analog optical CATV distribution method" Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers, Autumn Conference, B-603, 1991.

Optical signal transmitter and optical signal transmission system

Abstract: The optical signal transmitter includes a plurality of frequency modulation means for distributing an electric signal into a plurality of electric signals and applying frequency modulation to the distributed electric signals to output and a multiplexing mean for multiplexing a plurality of signals output from the plurality of frequency modulation means and outputting a multiplexed signal. The plurality of frequency modulation means are set to be substantially equal to each other in frequency deviation and in intermediate frequency and to be substantially identical to each other in the phase of each output.

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation


A control portion performs gyro control at control intervals of .DELTA.t, by using -.omega.G, which is obtained by inverting the polarity of an angular rate .omega.G outputted from an angular rate sensor portion. On the other hand, a receiving level is detected at constant control intervals of .DELTA.T (=M.DELTA.t: M is an integer). The rotation of an antenna portion is controlled by using .omega.s, if the receiving level has increased, or by using -.omega.s, if the receiving level has decreased, i.e. by step track control. By accumulating the control amount .+-..omega.s for a predetermined long time period of N.DELTA.T, accumulation of an error contained in each angular rate .omega.G is obtained. The accumulated value is then divided by N to calculate an error .DELTA..omega.G contained in .omega.G. This error .DELTA..omega.G is used to compensate the actual error, so that the gyro control can be made more accurate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tracking antenna system mounted on a mobile for tracking a radio source, and more particularly to a tracking antenna system which tracks a target on the basis of both strength of received radio wave and a turning angular rate of the mobile.
2. Description of the Related Art
A tracking antenna system for tracking a radio source, e.g. a satellite by using both step track control, in which tracking is carried out based on the receiving signal level while changing the beam direction of the antenna by a predetermined amount, and gyro control, in which the turning angular rate of the mobile is used to track the target, has been known. Hereinafter, a control operation based on an output from a gyro which detects a turning angular rate of a mobile will be referred to as "gyro control"; whereas a control operation using the detected receiving signal level while changing the beam direction of the antenna by a predetermined amount will be referred to as "step track control". In such a tracking antenna system, a control operation using both receiving level signal and angular rate signal is performed when the satellite can be seen, whereas a control operation using only the angular rate signal is performed when a radio wave from the satellite is blocked by buildings, tunnels and so on.
However, the tracking antenna system of the above-mentioned type raises, for example, the following problem: if only the gyro control is performed for a certain time period while a radio wave is blocked, the beam direction of the antenna gradually deviates from the satellite direction, due to effects of an error contained in a gyro output, and the antenna eventually loses the satellite. As a result, it takes a long time to search the direction of the satellite when the satellite comes into sight again.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication 5-142321 discloses an approach for overcoming such a problem of an error contained in a gyro output as described above. In this approach, a triangular wave which increases or decreases in synchronization with a binary signal (a control amount for antenna rotation with a positive or negative constant step) generated in the step track control, is superposed on a gyro output. The signal on which a triangular wave is superposed is then used to increase or decrease the rotation angular rate of the antenna. The above approach utilizes the fact that, since the length of the positive period of the binary signal is different from the length of the negative period of the binary signal when a gyro output contains an error, the average value of the triangular wave gradually changes and eventually converges on an error in the gyro output. It is thus possible to correct the gyro output. Further, when the radio wave is blocked, binary signals are generated alternately at a constant cycle to maintain the previous correction state. The gyro output is corrected as described above, so that the tracking of the satellite can be appropriately performed.
In the foregoing prior art, however, the antenna continues to move around the axis running in the satellite direction, even after the average value of the triangular wave coincides with the gyro output error. As a result, if the antenna system is used in a place where the peak value of a receiving level is low, the receiving level lowers when the azimuth of the antenna beam deviates from the satellite direction, which generates noise in a TV screen display.


A thread section of a weft thread is held precisely ready for a receiving rapier in a feed rapier on a rapier loom despite the effects of retarding forces. Deflections of the thread section by the head of a receiving gripper are compensated for, whereby the feed rapier is provided with a thread clamp on the side facing the feed device for the weft thread, which releases on tension forces occurring in the thread section and permits a deflection of the thread section.

1. Field
The invention relates to a transfer gripper for a rapier weaving loom having yarn clamps for keeping in readiness a piece or length of a weft yarn to be taken over by a receiving gripper and extending between yarn clamps.
2. Related Art
In modern rapier weaving looms, the transfer grippers, located on a rapier band or rapier rod, are moved at very high speeds. They must be braked down from this high speed when they reach the transfer point where a receiving gripper takes over the weft yarn. Because of its inertia, it can happen that the weft yarn moves onward, so that the piece of yarn to be taken over by the receiving gripper moves away from its specified position. It can then happen that the receiving gripper will not grasp the weft yarn, causing a weft fault. The risk that the piece of yarn to be taken over will come loose can also occur, especially with heavy weft yarns, even if a properly functioning yarn brake is provided on the insertion side, since the forces of inertia stretch the weft yarn elastically downstream of the yarn brake.
A piece of yarn to be taken over by a receiving gripper is prevented from coming loose if this piece is held between two yarn clamps (British patent specification GB 14 87 897). In this kind of construction, two identical yarn clamps are provided, which are loaded by the same spring element. The piece of yarn located between the two yarn clamps and meant to be taken over by the receiving gripper will not move out of range of the specified position even upon braking down from high speeds. The receiving gripper has a hooklike head with which it must reach behind the piece of yarn that is held between the two yarn clamps. In the process, the hooklike head deflects the piece of yarn, which then moves backward behind the hook when the hooklike head is moved past that piece of yarn. This deflection, if the weft yarns are not very elastic and/or have only relatively low strength, can cause the piece of yarn to become damaged or destroyed, so that the piece cannot be grasped then, and a weft fault occurs.

Transfer gripper for a rapier weaving loom


A method and a corresponding circuit protect a power MOSFET from overload when switching the MOSFET off. The current through the MOSFET is compared to a reference signal depending on the time since switching the MOSFET on.

It is known that transistors can be employed as switches in electrical circuits, wherein the transistor may either be conducting or non-conducting. A transistor, for example, power MOSFETs, thus can be employed as a switch for coupling an electrical load to an electrical energy source.
Upon switching the transistor to its conducting state the electrical load is coupled to the energy source and a current will flow through the transistor to the load. Similarly when switching a transistor off, i.e., switching the transistor from its conducting to its non-conducting state, the electrical load, in particular when comprising an inductor, may discharge its stored energy causing a power peak in the transistor upon switching off. In conventional circuits a transistor simply may be designed to stand the current, i.e., the dimensions of the transistor are chosen such that under normal operating conditions the current will not overload the transistor.
For higher currents a plurality of transistors can be switched in parallel, such that each of the plurality of transistors carries only a part of the total current. Although the current in this case is distributed across the plurality of parallel transistors each of the plurality of transistors is designed for carrying only a portion of the total current. The problem of overload thus remains for each transistor.
However operating conditions may deviate from normal operations, for which the transistor has been designed, and a higher current may flow through a transistor. For example in case of a short on the load side of the transistor an unusual high current may flow causing a current density in the transistor exceeding the allowed range.
A current causing a current density exceeding the allowed range may destroy the transistor by heating the semiconductor structure, such that the transistor is locked in its conducting state and cannot be switched off by applying an appropriate gate voltage. In this case the transistor is destroyed.
Hence a transistor operated as a power switch should be protected from overload operating conditions. In conventional circuits transistors are protected by either increasing the resistance in the circuit, for example, by controlling the gate voltage to increase the resistance of the transistor and thus limiting the current, or by switching the transistor off, in case a sensed current exceeds a predefined maximum.
In conventional circuits the current limit for switching a transistor off is defined to be static for a particular load. Hence there is a need for an improved method and circuit providing a more flexible protection of a transistor.

Method and circuit for protecting a MOSFET


A bicycle may tow a trailer for the purposes of carrying a heavy or large object across great distances. A motor may be mounted to the trailer which drives a rear wheel of the bicycle. To this end, a transmission is added to the rear hub of the bicycle which is mechanically coupled to the output shaft of the motor. When the trailer is detached or not used in conjunction with the bicycle, the rider does not have to carry the weight of the motor. Also, this setup provides a stable configuration since the bicycle is pulling the trailer.

The present invention relates to a motorized bicycle with a trailer.
Bicycles are utilized for various purposes. One purpose is to transport objects from point A to point B. To this end, bicyclists may place the object in a backpack or other hands-free bag/pouch that attaches to the bicycle to transport the object from point A to point B. The bicyclist may not use his/her hands since the rider uses his/her hands to hold the handlebars and stabilize the bicycle.
When the object is too heavy or too large for a backpack or other bicycle mounted pouch, a trailer may be attached to the bicycle. The trailer may be towed behind the bicycle and allows the bicyclist to transport heavy and large objects that otherwise would not be transportable by bicycle.
When the weight of the object is too heavy, transportation of the object from point A to point B becomes more difficult especially as the terrain becomes steep or the distances become large. In this circumstance, motorized bicycles have been utilized to assist the bicyclist in powering the bicycle and trailer. Unfortunately, the addition of a motor creates other problems such as additional weight on the bicycle when the trailer is not in use or jack knifing when the motor is mounted to the trailer to drive the wheels of the trailer.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved system.

Bicycle rear wheel propelled by trailer mounted power supply and drive train


A cylindrical bit including a drill head with a centering tip, two circumferential cutters, two main cutting edges extending approximately radialy, and two chip channels associated with main cutting edges. The chip channels are open toward a circumferential surface and toward a rear of the cylindrical bit. To improve chip removal, each chip channel bottom surface is rounded in a curved fashion and blends continuously with the respective chip surfaces of the corresponding main cutting edges and with chip channel side walls opposite the respective chip surfaces.

One-piece cylindrical bits of the above-mentioned type, used primarily to machine wood or plastic, have been known for decades in various embodiments, and are, for example, shown "Drilling and Milling Tools," 1990, FAMAG-Werkzeugfabrik Friedr. Aug. Muehlhoff, Remscheid.
Depending upon the length of the circumferential cutters, a distinction is made between Forstner bits and knothole cutters, which have especially long circumferential cutters, and so-called multispur machine bits in which the circumferential cutters, generally termed precutters, each extend over only about one-tenth to one-twelfth of the circumference of the drill bit. Spaces and channels to carry away the chips that are produced must be provided for both the main cutters and for the circumferential cutters. Proposed cylindrical bits have proven to be very good in service, but chip removal poses problems when deeper holes must be made with the holes being impossible to make in one work step, but only with intermediate removal of the bit from the hole, since known one-piece cylindrical bits have relatively polygonal spaces machined in the drilling head, in which chips can accumulate.
In, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,090,807, a cylindrical bit made in several parts is provided with a central piece threadably inserted into an end of the shank, into which piece a centering tip is in turn threadably inserted in turn. On the sloping lateral surfaces of the centering tip, two plates bearing the main cutters are welded, with each plate having, at its rear, an approximately semicircular radially projecting segment welded in place, on which precutters are formed. The radially projecting segments are fashioned as relatively flat disks and provided with radial corner recesses delimited in each case by the plate of the other main cutter to form a chip removal opening. The bottom of the chip removal opening, located radially inward, is rounded in an arcuate shape. The flat design of the segments does reduce problems associated with chip removal, but this is accomplished at the expense of the stability of the cylindrical bit. The main cutters and precutters project roughly at right angels beyond the ends of the segments and, in turn, form polygonal chambers in which chips can accumulate. Moreover, this multipart cylindrical bit is very expensive the manufacture.
In, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,945,753, another cylindrical bit is threadably assembled from five parts, in which beam-shaped main cutters are provided, on whose radially external corners small axially projecting precutters are milled. Both the main cutters and the precutters project only slightly beyond a slightly roof-shaped end of the drilling head, so that very narrow spaces are produced in which chips can readily accumulate. This known drill is not suitable for drilling deep holes in one work step and is also very expensive to manufacture.

Famag-Werkzeugfabrik Friedr. Aug. Muhylhoff


A water meter has a meter register having an encoder having electromagnetic wave emitters, e.g., infrared emitters to measure water flow and direction of water flow through the meter. The encoder has two of three spaced emitters directing infrared rays at predetermined time intervals toward a rotating detector wheel having a reflective surface portion and a non-reflective surface portion facing the emitters and an infrared sensor. The reflective surface portion of the detecting wheel reflects the infrared rays incident thereon toward the sensor. A microprocessor connected to the sensor acts on signals from the sensor to determine material flow. The meter register transmits the signal to a distant receiver. The microprocessor of a meter register has an algorithm to prevent the meter register from sending signals until after the meter register or a water meter having a meter register is installed and water moved through the meter.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a meter register having an encoder, e.g., a light or infrared encoder, for measuring material flow, e.g., flow volume, and flow direction of water, and an algorithm to selectively block signal transmission by the meter register, e.g., prevent or block signal transmission, during transport of the meter register and permit or unblock transmission after the meter register is installed, e.g., in a home, and a predetermined amount of water flow has been sensed by the meter register.
2. Description of Related Art
One technique to determine utility consumption is to visually read the utility meters. The meters, such as water meters, include an odometer that identifies the consumption of the water consumed. The odometer is read periodically and the difference between the present and the prior reading determines the amount of utility water used. This procedure of individually and visually reading water meters is time consuming, labor intensive, and expensive. To overcome this drawback, remote reading systems were developed.
One such system is described in PCT Publication No. WO 02/073735 (hereinafter also referred to as "WO 02/073735") to Winter and titled "Meter Register." The meter register disclosed in WO 02/073735 is a sealed meter register and includes a magnetic follower coupled to a gear. The gear includes a magnet that co-acts with one or more reed switch sensors. The reed switch sensors are coupled to a circuit board which determines the volume that flows through the meter by counting the number of pulses created by the magnet co-acting with the reed switches. Then, the register circuitry creates a signal that causes a radio wave to be transmitted or emitted by the meter register and picked up by a transmitter external of the meter register.
Although the meter register of WO 02/073735 is acceptable, there are limitations. More particularly, the use of reed switches and magnets on a wheel are rather expensive and, due to their mechanical nature, can fail in the field. As can be appreciated by those skilled in the art, it would be advantageous to provide a meter register that does not have these limitations.
Another limitation of the meter register of WO 02/073735 is that, after calibration of the meter register, it continues to transmit a radio signal. Presently, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) of the United States limits the ability of the registers to transmit their signal prior to installation. Specifically, under the FCC rules, the register is not permitted to transmit radio signals until the meter is installed for operation. In a sealed meter environment, this is very difficult since the meter register cannot be easily modified once constructed and sealed.
As can be appreciated by those skilled in the art, it would be advantageous to provide a sealed meter register that only transmits signals after it has been installed.

Meter register having an encoder for measuring material flow and an algorithm to selectively block signal transmission


When a car suffers a collision, a shock is applied to the body of an electrical connection box in the car. Due to the shock, an external force is applied horizontally to the peripheral wall of the body and the cover, thus crushing inverted V-shaped grooves formed on the bottom surface of the body and reducing the complementary angle .theta. between the two inclined surfaces of each inverted V-shaped groove. The external force applied horizontally to the peripheral wall of the body and the cover is also absorbed by the release of the cover from the body. The release of the cover from the body is accelerated by a force not absorbed by the deformation of the inverted V-shaped grooves but applied to the body vertically upwardly. Consequently, the effect of the external force applied to the electrical connection box is reduced. As a result of the absorption of the shock, a small degree of force is applied to a junction box or component in the box. Risk of damage to the junction box is reduced and disconnection of wiring from the junction box is unlikely.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to an electrical connection box in general, and more particularly to an electrical connection box suitable for accommodating various kinds of electrical devices used in electrical circuits installed in the body of a car, e.g. in the engine room.
2. Description of Related Art
There have been proposed various types of electrical connection boxes accommodating a junction box in which electric wires branched from a wire harness for use in an electric circuit installed on a car body are connected. Such an electric connection box comprises a cover and a body accommodating the junction box. An example of such a prior art electrical connection box is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,954,102.
When a large mechanical shock is applied to the electrical connection box in the event of a collision of the car, the junction box is protected by the body and cover of the electrical connection box mounted in the engine room of the car body so that the junction box is deformed or damaged to a reduced degree by the shock.
There is, however, a demand for the development of an electrical connection box which allows the junction box to have a smallest possible degree of damage in the event of collision of the car, thus seeking to ensure the continued function of the junction box.

Shock resistant electrical connection box


A power supply device includes a first power-supply unit to input external power and to output first power supplying a predetermined constant voltage to a load, a second power-supply unit to accumulate charge and to output second power to the load in parallel with the first power being supplied from the first power-supply unit, and a controller to output a control signal to prevent the second power-supply unit from supplying power in case of a current increase due to a dynamic load change, and to cause the first power-supply unit to supply power for the dynamic current increase. The first power-supply unit supplies power having a current value smaller than a predetermined maximum current of the first power-supply unit. The second power-supply unit supplies power for a shortfall current exceeding the predetermined maximum current of the first power-supply unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power supply device, and more particularly to a power supply device capable of supplying a large amount of power necessary for an entire system operation.
2. Discussion of the Background
In recent years, copiers, printers, facsimile machines, and machines combining these devices employing an electrophotographic process have become multifunctional, resulting in a more complicated structure and a higher maximum power consumption. There has been a tendency to increase the power supplied to a fixing heater in such an image forming apparatus to reduce the waiting time for an operator of the image forming apparatus due to factors in the image forming apparatus, such as the rising time of a fixing unit or a temporary interruption in a printing or copying process in the case of a reduction in the fixing temperature.
At the same time, the power that can be supplied from a normal power line is limited. This poses a large obstacle to the design of such devices. Measures have been taken not to exceed the maximum amount of power that can be supplied from the power line. In a background power supply device and an image forming apparatus, the power supply device estimates the power consumption, and, when the estimated power consumption exceeds the maximum amount of power that can be supplied from a main power source, the power from the main power source and the power from an auxiliary power source are alternately supplied to a certain load using a switching circuit.
In another background image forming apparatus, a constant voltage source circuit is used as an auxiliary power source, and its output voltage is set higher than that of a main power source. A diode for stopping the backflow to the main power source is placed on a power feeding line for feeding power from the main power source to a load. A switch or another diode is placed between the diode and the load on the power feeding line. The output voltage of the auxiliary power source is applied to the power feeding line. As long as the output voltage of the auxiliary power source is higher than that of the main power source, power is supplied only from the auxiliary power source to the load.
According to these known techniques, a power output circuit of a capacitor, that is, a power feeding circuit for feeding power to a load, is structured as a constant voltage source. When the output of an AC-to-DC power source (main power source), which is a constant voltage source, and the output of an auxiliary power source, which is also a constant voltage source, are alternately supplied to the load using a switching circuit, there is a voltage change, at the time of switching from one power source to the other, due to the difference in output voltage of the two constant voltage sources. For example, this causes an unstable operation of a motor supplying power, and the motor may stop or rotate unsteadily. Such unsteady rotation of the motor may cause a defect in an image formed by the image forming apparatus. In the case of a color image forming apparatus, a color shift may occur.
In another background power supply device, a first power source (main power source) is a constant voltage source, and a second power source (auxiliary power source) is a constant current source. The output of the first power source and the output of the second power source are connected in parallel, and the power from the first power source and the power from the second power source are simultaneously supplied to a load. Since there is no switching from the one power source to the other, voltage changes due to the alternate feeding are suppressed.
In these power supply devices, a load current combining the currents supplied from the first and second power sources to a 24V load or the current supplied from the first power source to the 24V load is measured, and the output current of the second power source is controlled according to the measured current and the maximum current data (MCD) specified for the first power source. The second power source is required to have high responsiveness to supply a stable supply voltage to the DC load.
The load power varies depending on whether the load is turned "on" or "off" or the switching of the load value. In other words, the load power varies according to the usage of the load. This variation is, however, a long-period (low-frequency) variation and is static. For example, when one of the above-described power supply devices are used as the power source for an electrophotographic copier, the load power in a standby state waiting for a copy instruction is different from the load power in an operating state in which a printing process is performed by driving a power system in response to the copy instruction.
Even in the operating state, document scanner driving, photosensitive member driving, charger driving, sheet feeding, and developer driving are overlappingly performed one after another, resulting in increases and decreases in the load power. These increases and decreases in the load power are steady load changes involved in sequence control operations and are long-period (low-frequency), static changes. A load current including such a load change is referred to as a static load current in this specification.
In contrast, an inrush current appears in the load current when the load is switched from "off" to "on". A current induced by the reactance of a circuit appears when the load is switched from "on" to "off". An inrush current or a current induced by switching the load value appears in the load current. These currents are temporary, short-period (high-frequency) changes and are dynamic. These changes are referred to as dynamic load changes in this specification.
In case of such a dynamic load change, the second power source having high responsiveness responds to the dynamic load change and outputs current generating a high-frequency oscillation, inducing hunting. This may generate an excessive peak current or cause an unstable operation of the second power source.

Power supply device capable of supplying large amount of power necessary for entire system operation


In a method of manufacturing articles (8) in hardenable metal materials, a shaped workpiece (5.1, 5.2) with closed cross-section is hardened. The hardened workpiece (5.1, 5.2) is separated into at least two parts, where each part constitutes one shaped open cross-section. The invention also concerns a manufacturing process and a production line for the manufacture of articles (8) in hardenable metal materials.

1. Technical Field
The present invention concerns a method of manufacturing articles in hardenable metal material. The invention also concerns a manufacturing process and a production line.
2. Description of the Background Art
At present, many structural articles are products manufactured in the form of or based on components, details and/or blanks that are manufactured in material that can be processed and shaped in different ways and thereafter hardened by heating and subsequent quenching. The materials used are mainly iron and steel alloy or other metals. If the article after shaping has an open cross-section, then the hardening process comprising heating and quenching will exert great strain on the article. Stress often arises in the material and gives rise to deformations that are difficult to reduce. At present, the hardened article with open cross-section must often be straightened or reshaped in other suitable ways in order to be utilized. If the tolerances on shape are narrow, this will result in many hardened articles being discarded as seconds or being destroyed.
If the heating takes place in an arrangement containing an inductor and the articles have an open cross-section then the heat distribution within the articles will not be optimum. In turn, this will result in an uneven hardenature distribution in each article, which leads to additional risks of material strain arising.

Production process and production line for manufacturing articles from hardenable metal materials


A disposable lid for a cup has an annular clamp which is adapted to be seated on the rim of the cup and to grip the interior and exterior walls of the lip of the cup so as to firmly fix the lid to the cup and a frustoconical spout which extends upwardly from the rim to a liquid discharge port at the apex of the spout, the spout having a truncation in the shape of a horizontal plane tangent to the bottom wall of a horizontal cylinder and a base of inside diameter equal to the top inside diameter of the clamp so as to permit an unobstructed, non-turbulent flow of liquid from the cup to the discharge port. Preferably, the clamp has a circular rim with inner and outer edges and a bottom face adapted to be seated on a rim of the cup and an inner inverted frustoconical serrated lip extending downwardly from the inner edge and an outer frustoconical nodulous lip extending downwardly from the outer edge which cooperate to grip the lip of the cup therebetween.

This invention relates generally to disposable containers and more particularly concerns disposable lids for cups.
There are many variations of disposable lids for cups for hot and cold beverages. Many are designed for use with a straw and do not permit drinking directly through an opening in the lid. All of them, whether used with or without a straw, are attached to a cup by an outer rim that clamps around the outside wall of the lip of the cup. Some, in order to provide additional rigidity to the lid, have a slightly depressed inner portion which fits within the rim of the cup and, in some cases, may abut the upper portion of the cup on its inner wall. However, the lip of the cup is not clamped between the outer rim and the inner depression. This becomes all too apparent when, as the cup is slightly squeezed during use, the lid pops off. Moreover, those lids having the depression above described generally extend horizontally from the bottom of the depression toward the center of the cup so as to obstruct or cause turbulence in the flow of liquid from the cup across the depression. As for lids designed for drinking directly through a discharge port in the lid, the upper portion is substantially flat or at best at a modest angle approximating ten degrees so that the user's nose strikes the top of the lid as the contents are consumed. A significant rearward tilting of the head is required if the contents of the cup are to be fully consumed. Anyone who has attempted this feat while driving a motor vehicle can attest to the difficulties experienced in observing the highway as the last drop of coffee is drained from the container.
Considering the above scenarios, obstructed or turbulent flow, inadvertent disengagement of the lid from the cup and excessive tilting of the head in emptying the cup contents are major contributors to inconvenience, frustration and spills in the use of cups with disposable lids. These problems are especially exacerbated for young children learning to drink from a cup. For convenience and for sanitary reasons, the use of disposable training cups and lids for children is highly desirable, but no disposable lids suitable for such purpose are available.
It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a disposable lid for a cup which firmly grips the inside and outside walls of the lip of the cup. Another object of this invention is to provide a disposable lid for a cup which seats firmly on the rim of the cup. A further object of this invention is to provide a disposable lid for a cup which permits unobstructed flow of liquid from the cup to the discharge port. Yet another object of this invention is to provide a disposable lid for a cup which permits non-turbulent flow of liquid from the cup to the discharge port. It is also an object of this invention to provide a disposable lid for a cup which facilitates unobstructed and non-turbulent flow of liquid to its discharge port from all directions. Still another object of this invention is to provide a disposable lid for a cup which is contoured for comfortable insertion into the mouth of the user. An additional object of this invention is to provide a disposable lid for a cup which is contoured for comfortable use by young children.


The present invention provides a motor vehicle traction control system for providing on-demand four-wheel drive under certain tractive and operational conditions. The present invention is operable for disabling the on-demand four-wheel drive feature upon the vehicle operator subsequently shifting into the four-wheel drive mode.

The present invention relates generally to a motor vehicle traction control system and, more particularly, to a part-time transfer case incorporating tractive control means for providing "on-demand" four-wheel drive operation during low traction road conditions.
In general, power transfer mechanisms are used in association with both manual and automatic transmissions for selectively directing power to the wheels of a motor vehicle. One type of conventional power transfer mechanism typically used in four-wheel drive applications is a full-time transfer case which continuously transfers engine power (i.e. torque) to both the front and rear axles. It is common for such full-time transfer cases to provide means for selectively interlocking each of the driven axles for preventing any slippage with respect to each other. It is also common to provide an interaxle center differential assembly for permitting modified torque division and speed variations between the axles so as to prevent potentially damaging torque build-up in the drivetrain. Generally, the torque delivered to the front and rear axles is proportionally divided via the interaxle differential assembly installed within the full-time transfer case.
Another type of power transfer mechanism is a part-time transfer case adapted to normally operate in a two-wheel drive mode and which requires the vehicle operator to intentionally and deliberately shift into a four-wheel drive mode. Still another type of power transfer mechanism is an "on-demand" four-wheel drive apparatus, such as a viscous transmission unit, operable for automatically transferring power to the non-driven axle when traction is lost at the drive axle.
With the advent of increased consumer popularity in four-wheel drive passenger cars and sport/utility vehicles, full-time and part-time transfer cases as well as "on-demand" transmission devices are being utilized in a plethora of vehicular driveline applications. One example of a full-time power transfer system is disclosed in SAE Technical Paper No. 892538 entitled "Electronic Transfer Case For 1990 Aerostar Electronic Four-Wheel Drive" by John Richardson and Wes Dick. The full-time transfer case disclosed is incorporated into an all-wheel drive vehicle that is primarily intended for road use as a family car and not as an off-road recreational or sport utility vehicle. This full-time transfer case employs a clutch assembly applied across the center interaxle differential assembly for modifying the torque split in relation to the available traction at each axle. More particularly, the full-time transfer case is a single-speed power transfer apparatus which does not provide a two-wheel drive mode, a low gear four-wheel drive mode nor means for positively over-riding (i.e. locking out) the interaxle differential assembly.
As will be appreciated, a motor vehicle equipped with a part-time transfer case offers the vehicle operator the option of selectively shifting between a two-wheel drive mode during normal road conditions and a four-wheel drive mode best suited for operation under adverse road conditions. However, most conventional part-time transfer cases of the type used in off-road, sport and utility vehicles do not provide an "on-demand" four-wheel drive feature which can be effectively "over-ridden" upon the vehicle operator selectively shifting the transfer case into the four-wheel drive mode to permit off-road and/or recreational use.

Part-time transfer case with traction control


A reflex-type screen for reflecting obliquely projected light from a projector to a front of the screen. The screen includes a light absorbing base material and a plurality of inclined planes disposed on the base material. The planes are arranged such that projected light do not enter non-projector side inclined planes, and the projector side and non-projector side planes alternate to form a saw-tooth shaped arrangement. A light reflecting white resin layer is disposed on the projector side planes to reflect light from the projector to the front of the screen. A transparent light diffusing layer including binding agent and diffusing agent is formed to cover the white resin layer and the base material, including all inclined planes. The non-projector side inclined planes absorbs incident light and the diffusing layer diffuses light reflected by the white resin layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a reflex-type screen. More particularly, the invention relates to the reflex-type screen for reflecting light, which is projected obliquely from a projector, to a front of the reflex-type screen.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 1, there is a demand to display an image to a viewer who is located in front of a screen by projecting an image light obliquely to a reflex-type screen at a short distance from the reflex-type screen. When a generally-used white mat screen is applied to such a usage mentioned above, almost of the image light projected from a short focal length projector 21 is reflected to an exterior of the viewer's location, so that it is impossible to provide a uniform and bright image toward the viewer who is in front of the reflex-type screen 22.
As a reflex-type screen to overcome the above drawbacks, hologram type reflex-type screens are disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-347297 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-241888 and each of these hologram type reflex-type screens uses a hologram element at the reflecting surface to diffuse and diffract the projected image light toward the viewer.
However, the hologram element used in the reflex-type screen holographic screen includes chromatic dispersion. Therefore, when an image light having a particular wavelength range (e.g., the image light from a projector) is projected, the color shift around the screen can occur because of the chromatic dispersion of the hologram element.
Moreover, the hologram element is manufactured by a so-called light exposure method, and in this case, hologram information is recorded on a photosensitive resin by an exposure process. As long as the exposure method is used, it is difficult to increase the screen size because of a restriction on a manufacturing method. In addition, in order to obtain different view angle properties between the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, a multiple light exposure is needed, which makes the manufacturing process more complex.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks. More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a reflex-type screen, which has both a high contrast property and a fine view angle property, of which luminance distribution is uniform, and which is easily manufactured as a big size screen.


The first film of the present invention is a film produced by solidifying a polybenzazole precursor that has been oriented in a given direction by the application of a magnetic or electric field. The second film of the present invention is a film produced by solidifying a polybenzazole that has been oriented in a given direction by the application of a magnetic or electric field. The first and second films have a strong anisotropy.

The present invention relates to a film formed of a polybenzazole precursor or a polybenzazole.
A polybenzazole film formed of a polybenzazole has high strength and high modulus of elasticity; moreover, it has excellent heat resistance and flame retardance. Therefore, a large number of improved polybenzazole films, including those disclosed in the patent documents described below, have been proposed with the object of using them for novel applications, such as magnetic tapes, insulating films for electronic components, and liquid crystal alignment layers.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 4-202257 discloses a polybenzazole film with improved homogeneity, which is made up of a composition containing a polybenzazole and a specific polymer. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 11-171993 discloses a polybenzazole film with improved smoothness, which has a specified surface roughness. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2000-273214 discloses a polybenzazole film with improved mechanical properties, which has a specified elongation and a specified Young's modulus. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2001-11311 discloses a polybenzazole film with improved light resistance, which contains a polybenzazole and a specific anthraquinone compound. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 63-74612 discloses a polybenzazole film with improved tear strength, which is produce by a specific production method. Japanese National Phase Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 6-503521 discloses a mechanically oriented polybenzazole film.
In recent years, there have been demands that polybenzazole films, particularly those used for semiconductor package materials and electronic devices, have not only high strength, high modulus of elasticity, and high heat resistance, but also anisotropies such as optical anisotropy, magnetic anisotropy, mechanical anisotropy, thermal anisotropy, and electrical anisotropy. However, none of the polybenzazole films disclosed in the above patent documents has strong anisotropies.

Polybenzazole precursor film, polybenzazole film and method of producing the same


The present invention provides an explosive device for use with a warhead comprising a rupturable core having a spherical interior chamber which is filled with a volume of a flammable gas. A frequency generator resonates the gas at a high frequency to fully resonate the gas to produce a new and more powerful type of explosion. Means for securing the frequency generator to the core are also provided, as well as a detonator having a high-temperature metal as a conductive material and means for inserting the conductive material into the core.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to an explosive device. More particularly, the present invention pertains to an explosive device for use with a warhead. Even more particularly, the present invention pertains to an explosive device for use with a warhead fueled by a gas.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various types of warheads exist in the prior art which have been used for many years. For example, warheads using explosive chemicals, such as gunpowder, have been in common use for hundreds of years. Other more recent warheads have been devised which involve the dispersion of chemical or biological particles upon impact with a target. In addition, nuclear warheads have been functional since World War II. However, the uses of chemical, biological, or nuclear warheads have drawn severe criticism from the public as a result of the harm to bystanders that occur.
Therefore, there remains a need for a new reliable replacement warhead, or RRW, which is highly effective at delivering a controlled payload to a target, and which results in minimal harm to non-targeted bystanders. In addition, it is desired that such an RRW could be scalable for use in a wide range of applications, ranging from a hand-held weapon to an intercontinental ballistic missile.
The present invention, as is detailed herein below, seeks to provide a new RRW by providing an explosive device for use with a warhead fueled by a gas. The present invention provides a new type of explosive device which is non-radioactive and non-contaminatory. Unlike nuclear weapons, the present invention does not cause electromagnetic fallout or electromagnetic communication disturbances. Rather, the present invention provides an explosive device which can be used in a humane manner so as to not harm bystanders because it provides a very fast, controlled, and complete burn over a precisely defined radius of destruction.


In examples, a microcatheter includes an enhanced inner liner that has a low coefficient of friction and improved toughness, which facilitates delivery of expandable vascular reconstruction devices. The microcatheter may include a stretched polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) liner, which may be stretched longitudinally and not circumferentially or radially over at least a portion of a length of the microcatheter. The stretched PTFE inner liner may result in the reduction of a delivery friction and improved toughness and resistance to scraping.

Intracranial aneurysms and clots can be treated with implantable devices such as flow diversion tubes, embolization devices, aneurysm bridging devices and scaffolding devices and thrombectomy devices. These devices are delivered through a microcatheter which is first delivered into an intracranial artery affected by an aneurysm or clot. Previously, these devices were preloaded onto the tips of microcatheters for introduction into a patient. More recent devices are not preloaded but are instead loaded via a proximal hub of the microcatheter, after the microcatheter has been placed with its distal tip deep in the intracranial vasculature, near the site of the aneurysm or blood clot. Examples of self-expanding devices delivered through microcatheters include neurovascular remodeling devices such as Covidien's Pipeline® embolization device (which is a braided tube placed to span and bypass an aneurysm) and Covidien's Solitaire® thrombectomy device, which is used to retrieve clots from intracranial arteries, and our own aneurysm bridging device which is used as a scaffold to hold embolic material within an aneurysm. These devices are passed through microcatheters in a compressed state, and released from the microcatheter to expand to a much larger diameter. The compressed shape exerts an outward radial force, which causes friction with the inner wall of the microcatheter and makes delivery difficult. As the devices are forced through the microcatheter, they may scrape the inner wall of the microcatheter and shave off small pieces of the lining, which may then be forced from the microcatheter and deposited in the brain. The FDA's MAUDE Adverse Event Report Database includes reports of liner damage, excess friction, and skiving for various catheters used for delivery of expandable devices.


The present disclosure provides methods for forging cylindrical alkali halide melt-grown single-crystal-type ingots into rectangular blocks. The resulting rectangular blocks are devoid of peripheral cracks and fissures, and possess uniform properties and reduced levels of impurities.

The present disclosure relates to alkali halide scintillation crystals, and more particularly to methods by which alkali halide scintillation crystals may be manufactured. In embodiments, the present disclosure relates to hot forging of Nal(TI) scintillation crystals to produce scintillators having a large area, a rectangular shape, and uniform properties.
Manufacturers of alkali halide crystals (including Nal(TI) crystals) have long attempted to enlarge and shape melt-grown crystal ingots by forging them at elevated temperatures. Crystal forging techniques are taught, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,933,970 and 4,171,400. These patents disclose hot forging in which there is a gradual compression of the crystal ingot between two surfaces. If a cylindrical ingot is flattened parallel to its axis, the forging process produces a disk-shaped crystal having a circular cross-section; if the cylindrical ingot is flattened perpendicular to its axis, the forging process produces a parallelepiped-shaped crystal having a rectangular cross-section. One problem with these processes is they may produce forged crystals having cracks and fissures at and adjacent the periphery of the crystal. As a result, the peripheral region of the forged crystal is not useful and must be cut away. This limits the size of the crystals that can be produced using the forging process. It also reduces the yield of the process because only a fraction of the forged crystal is useful with the rest being discarded or recycled.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,792,253, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein, discloses a method of forging a cylindrical ingot of an alkali halide. A melt-grown ingot is flatted parallel both to its axis and to a particular crystallographic plane; the particular plane is determined by the crystal structure of the alkali halide to be forged. Then, the flat is placed on the lower platen of a heated dual-platen press and the ingot is compressed (advantageously, by raising the lower platen) between the platens while in a plastic state. The method produces a forged ingot in which cracks and fissures are absent from the periphery of the ingot.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,224,666, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein, discloses methods for forging cylindrical ingots of an alkali halide. In this case, the melt-grown alkali halide ingot is still heated to plasticity and compressed between the heated platens of a dual-platen press but, before the compression begins, the ingot is placed mid-way between two parallel, planar, and vertically extending barriers. The ingot is positioned so that its axis is vertical and so that the barriers are maintained in a predetermined relationship with the crystal lattice structure of the ingot. Then, the ingot is compressed along its axis to form a block.
The above-processes may avoid problems with cracks and fissures forming at and adjacent the periphery of the crystal.
In some instances, the prior art methods include the application of layers of fiberglass cloth impregnated with boron nitride on the platens to prevent the cloth from sticking to the ingot. One problem with this approach is fibers from the fiberglass cloth may become embedded in the ingot, thereby forming impurities in the resulting crystal and rectangular plates.
It would be desirable to develop methods for forming rectangular scintillators having a large area, rectangular shape, and uniform properties with reduced impurities.

Methods for forming alkali halide ingots into rectangular plates


A cartridge may include a frame; a photosensitive member that is rotatably supported about a rotation axis inside the frame; a discharge induction electrode that is supported inside the frame and detachably attachable to the frame from outside the frame in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the photosensitive member; and a discharge electrode that is supported inside the frame opposite the discharge induction electrode and detachably attachable to the frame from outside the frame in the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the photosensitive member. The discharge electrode may be detachably attachable to the frame independent of the discharge induction electrode when the discharge induction electrode is supported inside the frame.

A known electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a charger, and a transfer roller. The charger charges a surface of the photosensitive drum, the charged surface of the photosensitive drum is irradiated with a laser beam, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum. Toner is applied to the electrostatic latent image, and the electrostatic latent image is developed into a toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum. The toner image on the photosensitive drum is transferred to a recording medium such as a sheet of paper by a transfer roller, the transferred image is fixed by heat onto the recording medium by a fixing device, and thus the image is printed.
In addition, such an image forming apparatus is generally structured to unitize a photosensitive drum, a charger, a transfer roller and other parts into a removable cartridge for easy exchange of consumables.
The charger includes a discharge electrode that generates a corona discharge and a discharge induction electrode. The discharge electrode may be a wire. The discharge induction electrode is spaced from the discharge electrode. The charger is designed to charge the photosensitive drum by the corona discharge from the discharge electrode. The charger thus designed needs exchanging regularly because it deteriorates with use or mainly a discharging performance lowers due to adhesion of silica to the discharge electrode.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 9-68848 discloses a structure that enables only a charger to be removed from a process cartridge.
The discharge electrode of the charger is subjected to application of higher voltage (or discharge bias) and deteriorates rapidly compared with the discharge induction electrode. Conversely, the discharge induction electrode of the charger is less prone to deteriorate and has a longer service life compared with the discharge electrode. However, the structure disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 9-68848 requires exchange of a whole charger. This means that the discharge induction electrode should be exchanged along with the discharge electrode even if it is still available, with the result that the discharge induction electrode is not used effectively.

Cartridge and image forming apparatus with discharge electrode detachably attached to a frame


A multifunction UV or DUV (ultraviolet/deep-ultraviolet) lithography system uses a modified Schwarzschild flat-image projection system to achieve diffraction-limited, distortion-free and double-telecentric imaging over a large image field at high numerical aperture. A back-surface primary mirror enables wide-field imaging without large obscuration loss, and additional lens elements enable diffraction-limited and substantially distortion-free, double-telecentric imaging. The system can perform maskless lithography (either source-modulated or spatially-modulated), mask-projection lithography (either conventional imaging or holographic), mask writing, wafer writing, and patterning of large periodic or aperiodic structures such as microlens arrays and spatial light modulators, with accurate field stitching to cover large areas exceeding the image field size.

This application pertains to ultraviolet (UV) and deep-ultraviolet (DUV) lithography, including mask-projection and maskless lithography, in the context of semiconductor and microsystems manufacture. For the purpose of this disclosure, the acronym "UV" will be used generically to include DUV. Although the focus of the disclosure is on UV lithography, the devices and methods disclosed herein are equally applicable to lithography at visible-light wavelengths, or at any wavelength that can be focused with optical glass lenses such as fused silica (SiO2), calcium fluoride (CaF2), etc.
Background patents and non-patent literature references relevant to this application are listed at the end of the disclosure in the References section.
UV lithography systems operate at wavelengths down to 193 nm and provide wide-field, diffraction-limited imaging at a numerical aperture (NA) of up to 1.35 (with immersion). These systems require very complex projection lenses with more than forty optical surfaces (Ref's. 1, 2). Projection optics for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography (Ref. 3) require only six surfaces (all mirrors), in part because they operate at lower NA (up to 0.55), they only cover a narrow ring field, and the surfaces are all aspheric. (EUV lenses cannot be used because there are no EUV-transmitting optical materials, except in very thin films such as EUV mirror coatings.)
References 4-6 disclose a maskless EUV lithography scanner, illustrated in FIG. 1, which has a projection system consisting of only two mirrors M1 and M2 in a flat-image Schwarzschild configuration (Ref. 7). The scanner images an array of point-focus spots from object plane 101 onto a printing surface 102 at image plane 103 with diffraction-limited resolution, and the spots are modulated as the surface is raster-scanned to expose a digitally synthesized exposure image. Only two projection mirrors are needed because the spot-formation optics (an array of zone-plate microlenses 104 proximate object plane 101) offset and neutralize the projection system's geometric aberrations. (The microlenses exhibit chromatic aberration, which is corrected by the projection optics.) EUV illumination 105 is focused by the microlenses into individual beams diverging from points on the object plane, and the beams are focused by mirrors M1 and M2 onto individual, diffraction-limited image points on image plane 103. (A diffractive M2 mirror is used to correct chromatic aberration.) Any undiffracted, zero-order illumination transmitting through the microlenses is blocked by a zero-order stop 106, which can be supported in the projection beam's obscuration zone by tension wires or spider struts.
The maskless scanner can use a spatial light modulator (MEMS microshutters at the microlens foci) to individually modulate the focus spots. Alternatively, the spots can be collectively modulated by a single modulator at the EUV illumination source so that all spots generate identical exposure patterns in a periodic array matching the spot array's periodicity. These two scan modes are termed "spatially-modulated" and "source-modulated", respectively. (Microlens array layouts and scan patterns for maskless lithography are discussed in Ref. 8, Section 7.)
The two-mirror Schwarzschild projection system can also be used for "holographic" mask-projection lithography, which uses a diffractive photomask displaced some distance from the projection system's object plane. A holographic mask, like the microlenses in a maskless system, can correct projection system aberrations. Also, holographic masks can achieve very high exposure dose levels for sparse patterns, and they would be relatively insensitive to defects because the defects are not in focus at the image plane.
Analogous two-mirror, obscured projections systems for UV operation are known in the prior art, e.g., as disclosed in Ref. 9. These systems are more complex than the Schwarzschild apparatus in FIG. 1 in that they include a multi-element lens group to form an intermediate image before the mirror elements. The projection system of FIG. 1 images the object plane onto the image plane without forming an intermediate image. In the maskless writing mode, the microlenses form intermediate point images at the object plane, and in holographic mask-projection lithography the mask forms an intermediate diffractive image at the object plane, but a microlens array and holographic mask both differ from the multi-element lens group of Ref. 9.


The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for wine pomace extraction from wine processing tanks in a manner so as to minimize maceration of the wine pomace so as not to taint wine entrained within the pomace. In the present invention, wine pomace is mechanically transported out the processing tank by a conveyor means. Wine pomace is guided into the collecting path of the conveyor means by a mechanical sweeper attached to the conveyor means. In a preferred embodiment, a conveyor with sweeper wing attachments is mounted on a portable cart. The invention is positioned into the processing tank through an entry portal and secured to a tank containing pomace. The conveyor transports pomace to a receiver bin until the majority of pomace is extracted. Sweeper wings are deployed to guide remaining pomace into the collecting path of the conveyor.

The present invention relates to the wine making industry and to the removal of the residue of wine fermentation remaining in a processing tank after the fermented wine is removed. More particularly, to an apparatus and method for the automated removal of the remainder of grape skins, stems and other material, generally referred to as pomace, from the fermentation tank after the completion of fermentation, wherein the method of removal of the wine pomace minimizes the maceration of the pomace so as to permit the extraction of wine product retained in the pomace without imparting undesirable compounds from the pomace to the wine product.
During fermentation of wine, the remains of grape skin and vine material, known as pomace, settles to the bottom of the fermentation tank forming a thick, fibrous sludge. After the fermented wine is drained from the fermentation tank leaving the pomace in the tank, a significant amount of fermented wine is retained within the pomace. The pomace is discarded; however, recovery of the retained fermented wine is economically desirable. Recovering the retained wine from the pomace has long presented the wine industry with difficulties as undesirable compounds are typically released from the pomace and departed to the wine tainting the wine in an undesirable manner when the pomace is mechanically disturbed. Prior to the present invention, mechanical processes to remove the pomace typically macerate the pomace thus releasing the undesirable compounds. The present invention minimizes the mechanical disturbance to the wine pomace therefore also minimizing the release of the undesirable compounds.
Prior to the present invention, many manual and mechanically assisted techniques have been employed to remove pomace from the fermentation tank. The principal mechanically assisted technique for pomace extraction is the use of pressurized fermented wine hosed into the pomace so as to suspend the pomace fragments in the wine thereby permitting the flushing of the mixture of wine and pomace from the tank. The mixture is pumped and filleted to a wine press where the wine is squeezed from the mixture. This flushing and pumping technique sufficiently disturbs the pomace to release unacceptable amounts of undesirable compounds into the wine.
More typically, pomace is removed manually by shoveling. Fermentation tanks are typically cylindrically shaped closed tanks with an entry portal on the side of the tank tangent to the bottom. The bottom of the tank is typically shallowly pitched towards the entry portal so as to assist the drainage. After fermentation, the pomace forms a 3 to 5 foot matting in the bottom of the tank, usually covering the entry portal. Typically, and most commonly, a worker opens the entry portal, exposing wine pomace settled against the entry portal. Using a shovel or similar implement, the worker digs into the impacted pomace until an entry path can be made into the fermentation tank. The worker then enters the fermentation tank through the entry portal. The pomace is removed by shoveling the pomace along with the remaining retained wine through the entry portal and transferring the material into receptacles for subsequent draining and pressing. Gravity draining and light pressing of the fermented wine from the manually removed pomace typically imparts acceptably low levels of undesirable compounds to the fermented wine. This shoveling extraction process is labor intensive, time consuming and raises safety issues for the worker.
As manual removal of pomace requires a worker to enter a closed tank, CO2 asphyxiation during pomace removal is not uncommon in the industry. CO2 is a byproduct of the fermentation process and continues to be generated by fermentation within the pomace.
There has been a need for an apparatus and method to remove the wine retaining pomace that avoids these disadvantages. The present invention fulfills this need, and further provides related advantages.

Wine pomace extraction apparatus and method


A light device includes a light source that irradiates light to the outside; a base part that has a mounting part on which the light source is mounted; a cover part that is formed to cover the light source, and is mounted on a bottom side of the base part; a wireless communication device that carries out wireless communication with a wireless terminal; and a positional information transmitter that transmits positional information of the wireless terminal, wherein the positional information transmitter has a pattern antenna employing an electrode that transmits visible light, and the pattern antenna is provided in the cover part.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light device and a positional information management system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various positional information management systems have been proposed to determine and manage the position of a wireless terminal, or a person or a thing which has a wireless terminal, in such a facility or the like in which it is difficult to accurately carry out positioning using GPS or the like.
In such a positional information management system, a plurality of transmitters for transmitting positional information to the wireless terminals are installed on the ceiling of a room or the like for example. However, for this purpose, new power supply installation work is needed for supplying the power to the transmitters, and thus, the introduction cost may be increased.
International Patent Publication No. 2005/086375 discloses a system in which the position of the wireless terminal is determined as a result of the wireless terminal receiving unique information from a light device and transmitting the unique information to a server. Further, an idea has been studied for placing a wireless communication device for carrying out communication with the wireless terminal, a positional information transmitter, a voltage circuit part and/or the like inside the light device that is a tubular body such as a straight tube fluorescent lamp, for the purpose of simplifying the configuration, laborsaving in the necessary work and/or the like.
However, in the above-mentioned light device, in a case of placing a wireless communication device and a positional information transmitter including antennas inside the tubular body, the wireless communication device and positional information transmitter are to be placed near a metal cap part formed at an end of the tubular body for preventing the light from the light source from being obstructed. In this case, the transmission area of the positional information transmitter when communication is carried out with the wireless terminal may be limited by the metal cap part.

Light device and positional information management system


Needle-free injection devices and drug delivery systems are disclosed. The needle-free injection devices may include a drug delivery system, a power source, an activation system, and a disabling element. The drug delivery system may include a needle-free syringe and a drug storage system. The needle-free syringe may include a plunger slidably disposed within an injection chamber. The injection chamber may include an injection orifice, and the plunger may be configured to expel a volume of fluid from the injection chamber through the injection orifice. The drug storage system may include a storage chamber and an outlet. The drug storage system may be frangibly connected to the needle-free syringe with the outlet proximate to and fluidly connected with the injection orifice. The drug storage system may be configured to inject a fluid from the storage chamber through the outlet, through the injection orifice, and into the injection chamber.

Needle-free injection systems and devices provide an alternative to standard fluid delivery systems, which generally use a needle adapted to penetrate the outer surface of a target. Typically, needle-free injection systems and devices are designed to eject the fluid from a fluid chamber with sufficient pressure to allow the fluid to penetrate the target to the desired degree. For example, common applications for needle-free injection systems and devices include delivering intradermal, subcutaneous and intramuscular injections into or through a recipient's skin. For each of these applications, the fluid must be ejected from the system or device with sufficient pressure to allow the fluid to penetrate the tough exterior dermal layers of the recipient's skin.
Examples of needle-free injection systems and components therefor are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,940,460; 4,941,880; 5,064,413; 5,383,851; 5,399,163; 5,505,697; 5,520,639; 5,746,714; 5,782,802; 5,891,086; 5,893,397; 5,993,412; 6,096,002; 6,132,395; 6,174,304; 6,251,091; 6,264,629; 6,280,410; 6,319,224; 6,383,168; 6,471,669; 6,554,818; 6,572,581; 6,585,685; 6,607,510; 6,620,135; 6,641,554; 6,645,170; 6,648,850; 6,676,630; 6,689,093; 6,752,780; 6,752,781; 6,783,509; 6,935,384; and 6,964,650; U.S. Pat. App. Pub. Nos. 2001/0051793; 2004/0254526; 2006/0089595; 2006/0189927; 2006/02475733; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/539,585, which was filed Oct. 6, 2006, and titled "TRIGGERING MECHANISM FOR NEEDLE-FREE INJECTOR." The disclosures of these and all other publications referenced herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes.

Needle-free injection devices and drug delivery systems therefor