In a preferred embodiment, a quick connect adaptor has a first coupling that attaches to the bung of a plastic blow molded drum by way of pivotal retainer members and a second coupling that connects to a conventional dispense head. The bung has internal or external threads and may have a radially extending circumferential lip or other retainer member engagement structure. The first coupling provides a secure attachment that is quickly accomplished by manual operation. In a preferred embodiment, the pivotal retaining members pivot into and out of a retention position with the radially and circumferential extending lip. The retaining members are mechanically linked with a circular manual handle member to operate the pivoting of said plurality of retaining members. The pivotal members are preferably biased toward the retention position. These couplings will generally utilize O-rings for sealing.

This invention relates to bulk containers and equipment for receiving, transportation and dispensing of fluids. More particularly, the invention relates to systems for efficiently transferring highly corrosive fluids with respect to said drums.
Steel and plastic drums are utilized in many industries for transporting and storing various liquids which may be utilized as fuels, lubricants, ingredients, process fluids, or the like. In the majority of applications where fluids are transported and stored in drums, slight spills, although not desireable, are usually not hazardous to personnel nor of great concern.
In certain industries, for example, the semiconductor processing industry, extremely caustic and ultrapure chemicals such as hydrofluoric, sulfuric, and hydrochloric acids are commonplace and are transported and stored in such drums. Total and absolute containment during storage, transport, and handling are essential for protection of personnel and the environment. These chemicals require handling with materials that are chemically inert, that do not degrade from contact, and do not contaminate the chemicals. Chemically inert materials such as fluoropolymers, for example, PFA(perfluoroalkoxy) and PTFE(polytetrafluoroethylene) have been found to be suitable for contact with these ultra pure, highly corrosive, and toxic chemicals. Even when drums with such hazardous and caustic liquids are on-site and ready for use, great care must be taken in accessing the liquids so as not to expose personnel or the environment to such chemicals. Couplings used in making fluid connections must provide an extremely high level of containment integrity. Moreover, it is desireable to minimize the time and thus potential exposure that personnel have to these materials.
Plastic drums utilized in the semiconductor processing industry typically have standardized openings on the top of the drums. These openings comprise a pair of ports or bungholes, each having a fitting with a neck extending upward from the top wall of the drum approximately 1 to 1xc2xd inches. The ports may have internal or external threads. Several closures or bungs may be utilized with these standardized ports including standard bung closures which are threadably attached to the neck and utilize O-rings for sealing.
Access to the liquids in the plastic drums is typically accomplished by port bung connectors known as dispense heads that attach to drum inserts such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,699,298, issued to Grant et al., and assigned to FSI International Corporation and as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,108,015, issued to Rauworth, and assigned to Fluorware, Inc. Also, see the dispense heads and closures as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,045,000 and 6,079,547. These four patents are hereby incorporated herein by reference. The bung connectors illustrated in these patents may have drum inserts with down hole tubes extending to the inside bottom of the drums for withdrawing the liquid in the drum and for providing a means for sensing the level of the liquid in the drum. An additional tube or port in the insert may be utilized for supplying air or other gas to replace the liquid as it is withdrawn or to allow escape of gas/air when the drum is filled. Although such dispense heads can and are used for filling the drums, such heads are not ideal for such use in that they take some time to attach to the drum bung. Where rapid filling of drums is needed such as at a chemical distribution facility, a coupling that attaches quicker and easier is desirable.
In a preferred embodiment, a quick connect adaptor has a first coupling that attaches to the bung of a plastic blow molded drum by way of pivotal retainer members and a second coupling that connects to a conventional dispense head. The bung has internal or external threads and may have a radially extending circumferential lip or other retainer member engagement structure. The first coupling provides a secure attachment that is quickly accomplished by manual operation. In a preferred embodiment, the pivotal retaining members pivot into and out of a retention position with the radially and circumferential extending lip. The retaining members are mechanically linked with a circular manual handle member to operate the pivoting of said plurality of retaining members. The pivotal members are preferably biased toward the retention position. These couplings will generally utilize O-rings for sealing.
A feature and advantage of the invention is that the coupling of the fluid flow lines may be accomplished with minimal manual motion, such as a xe2x85x9 of a turn of the handle, as opposed to several rotations of a conventional coupling.
A further feature and advantage is that drums may be filled in much less time than when utilizing conventional couplings.
A further feature and advantage is that the adaptor is relatively small, has a minimal number of components, and, other than O-rings, only one component is wetted by the fluids being handled.


A CRT protective circuit capable of eliminating spots during a mode conversion operation includes a microprocessor for generating a mute signal according to externally-provided horizontal and vertical sync signals, and a high voltage generating section for generating a high voltage according to an operation of a flyback transformer. A first switching section is switched according to the mute signal for supplying the high voltage of the high voltage generating section to a grid terminal, and a high voltage dropping section divides the output voltage of the high voltage generating section according to the switching status of the first switching section and supplies the dividing voltage to the grid terminal to control brightness of the spots. A second switching section is switched according to the mute signal for supplying an externally-supplied power supply, and a charging section charges/discharges an output voltage of the second switching section and supplies the backward potential of the discharging voltage to the grid terminal to eliminate the spots. Thus, the spots are eliminated during the mode converting operation to protect the CRT.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a monitor, and more particularly to a CRT protective circuit for eliminating spots in accordance with a mute signal during the power off or mode converting operation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Once a power switch of a general monitor is on, a cathode of an electron gun is heated and electron beam is emitted from the heated cathode. Then, the emitted electron beam collides into a phosphor layer to produce a spot.
This spot is deflected right to left in accordance with a deflection signal to form a raster, and brightness of the spot is changed to constitute a picture.
In more detail, the quantity of electron radiated from a cathode is controlled in accordance with the quantity of current flowing through a flyback transformer, and the brightness of the spot is determined in accordance with the quantity of the controlled electron. Also, the greater negative voltage supplied to a grid terminal is, the smaller quantity of electron is emitted from the cathode to make the picture dark.
Meantime, when the power switch of the monitor is off or mode is converted, a muting operation is performed at the initial time. This muting operation is for supplying a voltage which is lower than a voltage for normally operating respective circuits, e.g., a horizontal deflection circuit, a vertical deflection circuit, a video processor and a heater. A mute signal for executing the muting operation is generated from a microprocessor in accordance with an input of horizontal and vertical sync signals.
In other words, from the microprocessor, a mute signal of a low potential level, e.g., of about zero volt, is produced during the normal operation of respective circuits, and a mute signal of a high potential level, e.g., of about 5 volts, is provided for a predetermined time period in case of the power off or mode conversion state. This mute signal of high potential level lowers a voltage of the grid terminal. Therefore, the quantity of electron emitted from the cathode to the phosphor layer is decreased to make the spot be dimmed, thereby darkening the picture.
The monitor is generally furnished with a CRT protective circuit for protecting the CRT from the spot produced during the on/off operation of the power switch and mode converting operation, and such a CRT protective circuit includes a spot killer circuit and a muting circuit.
The conventional CRT protective circuit is constructed as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
In FIG. 1, a reference numeral 10 denotes a high voltage generating section for generating a high voltage resulting from the operation of a flyback transformer FBT and supplying the generated high voltage to a grid terminal G1 of a CRT. A reference numeral 20 denotes a microprocessor which provides a mute signal OUT1 for controlling the brightness of the spot in accordance with externally-provided horizontal and vertical sync signals Hs and Vs and a suspend signal OUT2 for eliminating the spot.
A reference numeral 30 denotes a mute signal processing section for controlling the brightness of the spot by controlling the magnitude of an input voltage of grid terminal G1 in accordance with mute signal OUT1; and 40 is a spot killer section for eliminating the spot by controlling the input voltage of grid terminal G1 in accordance with suspend signal OUT2.
The construction of the CRT protective circuit will be described more specifically with reference to FIG. 2 hereinbelow. High-voltage generating section 10 includes a diode 11 for biasing an output voltage of flyback transformer FBT and a capacitor 12 for flattening an output voltage of diode 11.
When being described in more detail, the mute signal processing section 30 is formed as follows. An emitter side of a transistor 32 which is switched in accordance with mute signal OUT1 supplied via a resistor 31 is connected with a resistor 33 for controlling the quantity of output current of transistor 31. The other side of resistor 33 is connected to an input terminal of power supply Vcc1, of about 5 volts. A collector side of transistor 32 is connected to a base side of a transistor 34 which is switched in view of the switching status of transistor 32, and a diode 35 for hindering the input voltage supply of grid terminal G1 toward an emitter of transistor 34 is connected between the emitter side of transistor 34 and grid terminal G1. A collector side of transistor 34 is connected to an output side of capacitor 12 of high voltage generating section 10. Between the collector side of transistor 34 and grid terminal G1, resistors 36 and 37 are connected in parallel for dividing an output voltage of capacitor 12 of high voltage generating section 10 in accordance with the switching status of transistor 34, and then supplying the divided voltage to grid terminal G1.
On the other hand, in describing the construction of spot killer section 40 in more detail, a collector side of a transistor 42 which is switched in accordance with suspend signal OUT2 supplied via a resistor 41 is connected with a resistor 43 which controls output current of transistor 42. The other side of resistor 43 is connected with an input terminal of a power supply Vcc2 of about 24 volts.
The collector side of transistor 42 is also connected with a base side of a transistor 44 which is switched in accordance with the switching status of transistor 42, and a collector side of transistor 44 is connected with a base side of a transistor 45 which is switched in accordance with the switching status of transistor 44. A resistor 46 for controlling output current of transistors 44 and 45 is connected between an emitter side of transistor 44 and collector side of transistor 44, and one side of resistor 46 is connected with an input terminal of a power supply Vcc3 of about 200 volts. An emitter side of transistor 45 is connected with a capacitor 47 which charges/discharges power supply Vcc3 in accordance with the switching status of transistor 45, and an output side of capacitor 47 is connected with an anode of a diode 48 which prevents the supply of an output voltage of capacitor 47 to a ground. An output side of capacitor 47 is connected with a resistor 49 which biases the output voltage of capacitor 47 to supply it to grid terminal G1. An emitter side of transistor 42, the other side of resistor 46 and a cathode of diode 48 are grounded.
The above enumerated conventional CRT protective circuit is operated and effected as below.
The high voltage of flyback transformer FBT is supplied diode 11 of high voltage generating section 10 to be subjected to shaping and the shaped high voltage is supplied to capacitor 12 which then flattens the shaped high voltage. Here, the flattened high voltage is approximately -80 volts.
When the monitor is in a normal mode, microprocessor 20 provides mute signal OUT1 of low level which is in turn supplied to transistor 32 via resistor 31. Transistor 32 is then switched under the turn-on state to provide a switching signal of high level.
The switching signal of high level is supplied to transistor 33 which becomes switched in the turn-off state. Accordingly, the output voltage of capacitor 12 is supplied to resistors 36 and 37 to be divided in resistors 36 and 37, and the divided voltages are supplied to grid terminal G1. At this time, the divided voltage is approximately -60 volts.
However, mute signal OUT1 goes to the high level when the power switch is turned off or mode is converted, and mute signal OUT1 of high level is supplied to transistor 32 via resistor 31. Transistor 32 then is switched in the turn-off state to provide the switching signal of low level.
The switching signal of low potential level is supplied to transistor 33 which thus is switched in the turn-on state. Accordingly, the output voltage of capacitor 12 is supplied to grid terminal G1 via transistor 34 and diode 35, and the supply voltage of grid terminal G1 is approximately -80 volts, which is almost the same as the output voltage of capacitor 12.
Briefly, while the power switch is turned off or mode is converted, the high voltage of grid terminal G1 is lowered from -60 volts to -80 volts according to mute signal OUT1 of microprocessor 20, thereby darkening the picture.
Especially, when the power switch is turned off and the heated cathode of the CRT is not thoroughly cooled down, an electrostatic capacitance is left between an inner conductive layer and an outer conductive layer of the CRT. Then, the electron emitted from the cathode due to the remaining electrostatic capacitance continuously collides into the phosphor layer to create the spots.
However, since the deflection circuit is not operated, the electrons emitted onto the phosphor layer are forcibly moved toward the central portion of the phosphor layer continuously to severely damage the central portion of the phosphor layer. Due to this fact, spot killer circuit 40 is additionally connected to the CRT since the muting operation cannot decrease the damage upon the phosphor layer. Spot killer circuit 40 functions for lowering the high voltage of grid terminal G1, and the spot becomes dimmed by the lowered high voltage.
More specifically, when the monitor is of the normal mode, microprocessor 20 provides suspend signal OUT2 of high level. Then, suspend signal OUT2 of high level is supplied to transistor 42 via resistor 41, transistor 42 is switched in the turn-on state, and power supply Vcc2 is supplied to the emitter side of transistor 42 via resistor 43. Consequently, transistor 42 provides the switching signal of low level.
The switching signal of low level is supplied to transistor 44 which is in turn switched in the turn-off state to provide the switching signal of high level. The switching signal of high level is supplied to transistor 45 which is then switched in the turn-on state. Accordingly, power supply Vcc3 is supplied to capacitor 47 via transistor 45, and capacitor 47 charges power supply Vcc3.
Once the power switch is switched in the turn-off state, suspend signal OUT2 is transited to the low level, and suspend signal OUT2 of low level is supplied to transistor 42 via resistor 41. Also, transistor 42 is switched in the turn-off state, and power supply Vcc2 is supplied to the base side of transistor 44 via resistor 43. As the result, transistor 42 provides the switching signal of high level.
The switching signal of high level is supplied to transistor 44 which is thus switched in the turn-on state to provide the switching signal of low level. The switching signal of low level is supplied to transistor 45 which is then switched in the turn-off state. By doing so, power supply Vcc3 becomes grounded via resistor 46. Here, the charging voltage of capacitor 47 is supplied to diode 48 to be inverted to have the backward potential, and the inverted charging voltage of capacitor 47 is supplied to grid terminal G1 via resistor 49. Hence, the potential of grid terminal G1 is lowered with the spot dimming.
That is, in the normal mode, microprocessor 20 provides mute signal OUT1 of low level and suspend signal OUT2 of high level. Also, when the power switch is switched in the turn-off state, microprocessor 20 provides mute signal OUT1 of high level and suspend signal OUT2 of low level. By these operation, the potential of grid terminal G1 is lowered to thoroughly weaken the spot.
However, during the mode converting operation, since microprocessor 20 provides mute signal OUT1 of high level and suspend signal OUT2 of high level, the potential of grid terminal G1 becomes -80 volts. Because of the potential of grid terminal G1, the spot cannot be thoroughly weakened.


The air guiding device for a motor vehicle, having a fixed part intended to be fixed to the motor vehicle, and at least one moveable part mounted on the fixed part, the moveable part being rotatably moveable relative to the fixed part between a rest position and an extended position, the moveable part comprising a first air guiding surface and a second air guiding surface, approximately opposite to the first air guiding surface, the first air guiding surface guiding the airflow when the moveable part is in the rest position. The second air guiding surface guides the airflow when the moveable part is in the extended position.

Document U.S. Pat. No. 6,520,564 for example describes such an air guiding device. Such an air guiding device is for example a spoiler mounted on the motor vehicle intended to guide the flow of air around the guiding device in order to improve the aerodynamic performance of the motor vehicle.
However, such an air guiding arrangement is complex and requires many parts (ball joints, etc.), which makes the system cumbersome and expensive.

Air guiding device for a motor vehicle, comprising a fixed part and a moveable part


The present invention can be used to hold one's screw driving bits directly on the tool so a specific bit can easily be found and employed as needed. Each holder may be produced from a heavy duty plastic or rubber. There may be approximately 8-10 openings for assorted bits, which allow 16-20 different bits to be inserted. The bits may stick out the top and bottom of the holder so a user may see exactly what type each is.

The invention is particularly applicable to electric power tools and accessories and will be described with particular reference thereto. However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention has broader applications and may also be adapted for use in other applications.
When utilizing an electric drill, one may easily reach for an undesired screw driving bit when not closely looking. This may cause the individual to stop what they are doing to retrieve the correct bit. This can be time consuming and aggravating especially if one must descend a ladder to obtain the needed bit. Keeping multiple bits in one's pocket may also create problems. Bits may easily fall from the pocket and become lost or a user may still have to take time to look through each bit for a specific one.


The present disclosure in some embodiments provides a method for controlling a magnetic levitation object, including steps of: receiving, by a magnetic levitation seat, angular offset information from the magnetic levitation object; determining, by the magnetic levitation seat, an offset angle of a center of gravity of the magnetic levitation object relative to a central magnetic point of the magnetic levitation seat in accordance with the angular offset information; and adjusting, by the magnetic levitation seat, a magnetic force from a corresponding region of the magnetic levitation seat in accordance with the offset angle.

Along with the development of the magnetic levitation technology, currently more and more magnetic levitation products have arisen, e.g., magnetic levitation sound equipment, magnetic levitation toys or magnetic levitation decorations. Each magnetic levitation product may include a magnetic levitation object and a magnetic levitation seat for the magnetic levitation object. Correspondingly, the magnetic levitation object is levitated above the magnetic levitation seat under the effect of a magnetic force. However, in actual use, during the levitation, the magnetic levitation object may be affected by gravity and the magnetic force, so the stability of the magnetic levitation object may be adversely affected.

Method for controlling magnetic levitation object , magnetic levitation seat for magnetic levitation object and magnetic levitation object


Methods directed to the synthesis and peroxide-modification of nanosized monosodium titanate are described. Methods include combination of reactants at a low concentration to a solution including a nonionic surfactant. The nanosized monosodium titanate can exhibit high selectivity for sorbing various metallic ions.

Titanium dioxide and alkali metal titanates find widespread use in a variety of applications such as pigments in paint and skin care products and as photocatalysts in energy conversion and utilization. Sodium titanates can also serve as cation exchangers and have been shown to be effective materials to remove a range of cations over a wide range of pH conditions. Given the inorganic framework, sodium titanates (e.g., monosodium titanate) can withstand high radiation doses and, thus, are attractive ion exchangers to remove 90Sr and alpha-emitting radionuclides (e.g., 238,239Pu, 237Np, 235,238U) from high-activity nuclear waste solutions. Conversion of the sodium titanates to a peroxo-titanate form has been shown to increase the rate of strontium and plutonium removal, presumably by increasing the surface area and porosity.
In addition to ion exchange and photocatalytic applications, micron-sized sodium titanates and sodium peroxotitanates have been shown to serve as a therapeutic metal delivery platform. In this application, the sodium ions of monosodium titanate are exchanged for therapeutic metal ions such as Au(III), Au(I), and Pt(II). In vitro tests with the noble metal-exchanged titanates indicate suppression of the growth of cancer and bacterial cells by an unknown mechanism.
Historically, sodium titanates have been produced as fine powders, with particle sizes ranging from a few to several hundred microns using both sol-gel and hydrothermal synthetic techniques. More recently, synthetic methods have been reported that produced nanosized titanium dioxide, metal-doped titanium oxides and multi-metal titanates. Examples include sodium titanium oxide nanotubes and nanowires formed by reaction of titanium dioxide in excess sodium hydroxide at elevated temperature and pressure, sodium titanate nanofibers formed by reaction of peroxotitanic acid with excess sodium hydroxide at elevated temperature and pressure, and sodium and cesium titanate nanofibers formed by delamination of acid-exchanged micron-sized titanates. In addition, there have been studies reporting the addition of surfactants in sol-gel syntheses to control particle size growth resulting in the production of nano-size titanium dioxide, metal-doped titanium dioxides and multi-metal titanium oxides.
Typically, the kinetics of ion exchange are controlled by film diffusion or intraparticle diffusion, which are largely controlled by the particle size of the ion exchanger. As a therapeutic metal delivery platform, the particle size of the titanate material would be expected to significantly affect the nature of the interaction between the metal-exchanged titanate and the cancer and bacterial cells. Thus, what are needed in the art are methods for the synthesis of nanosized sodium titanates and sodium peroxotitanates and the nanosized products that can be formed according to such methods. Such nanosized sodium titanates could be utilized to enhance ion exchange kinetics and effective capacity in metal ion separation, enhance photochemical properties, as well as to facilitate metal delivery and cellular uptake from the titanate delivery platform.


A restriction plate (21) is provided on a lower surface of a near side of an upper plate of a chassis base (101). Both disk (D1) and disk (D2), while keeping in contact with a contact guide portion P1 of the restriction plate (21), are inserted. A stopper portion (P2) is formed at a farther side position than the contact guide portion (P1). A peripheral surface of a transfer roller (5) is placed in a moving direction of the disks (D1), (D2) proceeding while contacting upper surfaces of disk guides (2R), (2L) of a disk loading slit (20), and the contact guide portion (P1). Further, the stopper portion (P2) exists at a position corresponding to a direction of a tangent line which passes through the contact guide portion (P1), out of the tangent lines of the aforementioned peripheral surface, at positions other than the moving direction of the disks (D1), (D2).

Conventionally, portable-type disk players and vehicle-mounted type disk players have been proposed. In recent years, there have been proposed disk players capable of reproducing both an 8-cm disk and a 12-cm disk (see JP-A 2001-143352). Further, there have been proposed disk players capable of reproducing a DVD, as well as a CD.
In such the disk players, there is a need for a mechanism to prevent foreign substances such as a telephone card, and others, from being inserted into a player main body.
Further, in such the disk players, during ejecting, an operation for raising a clamper for clamping the disk is performed, and in a case that the clamper is positioned by abutting a tip-end side (a portion raised most highly) of the clamper against a chassis upper plate, the clamper, if a force of the abutment is large, may be caused to be bent.
Further, in such the disk players, it is desired that a transition to an ejecting state is made after an optical pickup can be surely placed at an information recording area on an innermost area of the disk. Further, specifically, in reproducing the DVD, it is required that the optical pickup be made to be moved accurately in parallel with a disk surface.
Further, in such the disk players, the optical pickup, while fixed in other states, is movable when a disk is reproduced. Incidentally, a driving power of a motor is switched between for moving the optical pickup and for clamping the disk. It is required that a timing of switching the driving power from for clamping the disk to for moving the optical pickup occur concurrently with a timing of releasing a state that the optical pickup is fixed and it is desired to be formed of a simple mechanism.
Further, in such the disk players, in consideration of use at locations where impacts or vibrations can occur, particularly in cases of the vehicle-mounted type disk players, it is required to bring these disk players into an elastically-supported state in order to prevent impacts, etc., from being transferred to the reproducing portion. Further, when a disk is being transferred into the disk player, it is required to prevent the disk from abutting against a transfer roller due to the impacts, etc. The mechanism is required to include a small number of components and be simple, in order to make the disk player compact and save a cost.


An automated indoor pistol range target carrier has an overhead power rail along which a target-supporting, -lighting and -rotating carriage travels toward and away from the firing line. The carriage supports, rotates, repositions and lights the target and is controlled by and feeds back information as to the target's position to a central controller. Portions of the power rail are electrically insulated one from the other and function as bus bars to carry d.c. current used to operate motors and circuits in the trolley without using electrical cables. Electrical pickups in the form of wheeled trolleys wipe the bus bars to supply power to motors and lights to operate the various target carrier systems. All system components are located within the carriage which may easily be removed from the rail for service without requiring the disconnection of any power cords or cables.

Automated target systems are in widespread use, particularly in facilities such as indoor, small-arms target shooting and training facilities. A common form of such system includes a track mounted above the shooting area and extending from the firing line at one end to a distance down range at the other end. A carriage supported by the overhead track and movable therealong supports a target assembly which can include such additional accessories as a target-holding frame rotatable between front, edge and rear positions, and auxiliary lighting systems to light the target. Because the carriage is movable along the track, a shooter may have the carriage travel to the firing line for the purpose of mounting a new target or examining a target that has been fired upon and have the carriage return the target to its proper shooting position without requiring an attendant to enter the range to perform these functions. For training or competition purposes, the carriage may be moved in a preselected manner to position the target at various distances from the firing line while the target is unlit and held in the on-edge ("edge") position (that is, rotated until it is perpendicular to the firing line and cannot be seen) then halt the target, rotate it to either a "friend" or "foe" target side, illuminate the target for a specified time during which the shooter must decide whether or not to fire, then turn off the light, turn the target to the edge position, and move it to another position along the rail, forcing the shooter to expect the target to show up at random distances and exhibit random "friend" (no-shoot) or "foe" (shoot) targets.
Automated systems such as that described above are shown and described in various issued U.S. patents. U.S. Pat. No. 4,889,346 (Destry) teaches and describes an automated target range system having a carriage mounted to an overhead track and having apparatus installed upon and operating from the carriage to carry out some of the features described above. U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,847 (Cartee et al) teaches and describes a target retrieval system using a power driven cable to move the target from the target position to the retrieved position.
A reading of the Destry reference clearly identifies some of the drawbacks and problems encountered when a target system uses conventional power cables to power the individual system components. First and foremost is damage to the system that occurs when various system components are impacted by bullets, bullet fragments or shell casings. Where power is carried to various components by electrical cables, damage may occur when the cables now struck and become fully or partially severed. Where expedients such as exposed solid bars are used instead of cables, Destry identifies problems that may occur when bullet fragments lodge against such bars and create short circuits. More handguns now being used are magazine-loaded and eject spent cartridges rather than retain them in the weapon for later removal. Certain of these pistols eject the casings upward, and it is not uncommon at ranges or training facilities to have such casings land on the overhead rail and cause a short circuit or a mechanical "jam" as the carriage moves along the track.
Another problem with conventionally wired or cabled range systems is the routine on-site maintenance that must be performed to keep the cables in good working condition. Where a problem occurs that the range operator cannot repair, outside service personnel must often be called in.
All of these shortcomings result in uneconomical and inconvenient operation requiring substantial maintenance and down time to correct problems. Of course, when such problems occur, the entire range must be shut down for safety purposes in order to afford repair and maintenance personnel the opportunity to put the damaged units back into operating condition.


A medical device and method for predicting life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias (LTCA) by gathering electrocardiographic data such as intervals between heart beats (RR-series) or other signal, mathematically decomposing or compressing the signal into several elements or components that contain the most significant information and tracking the changes in the several elements. The signal may be divided into time windows, and the signals decomposed into a plurality of coefficients or components such as Karhunen Loeve Transformation (KLT) coefficients that are predictive of the occurrence of LTCA. The electrocardiographic data may be generated real-time, on-line, or be prerecorded data.

Cardiac arrhythmias involve abnormal electrical conduction or automatic changes in heart rhythm. Arrhythmias may vary in severity from those that are mild and require no treatment to those that are catastrophic and life threatening.
Most cardiac rhythm monitoring is performed to prevent death due to life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias (LTCA). However, current technology provides little more than detection and recognition of LTCA after it has started. This leaves very little time to protect the individual from death; the rhythm must be terminated within minutes or permanent neurologic damage or death will occur.
Only one method is in common use to predict an impending LTCA, namely, the frequency and complexity of premature ventricular complexes (PVCs). Our research, and that of others, suggests this method is unreliable. In the majority of patients the changes in frequency or complexity of PVCs do not correspond to the periods that precede initiation of LTCA. This failure probably accounts for its lack of commercial development.
Our results and those of other investigators demonstrate that the changes in RR-series can be a more accurate predictor of imminent LTCA than PVCs. However, the complexity and variability of RR-changes in different patients and even in the same patient during different periods of monitoring obscured application of this method for prediction of LTCA. Previous studies were focused on the detection of a single type of changes in the RR-series and did not allow to identify both linear and nonlinear changes. This diminished the accuracy of analysis, and made the results applicable to a small proportion of patients.
Frequency components of the RR-series contain physiologically important information about the activity of autonomic nervous system which, in turn, plays a major role in the initiation of LTCA. However, the nonstationary character of the signal affects the accuracy of spectral techniques. To overcome this problem, analysis based on Fast Fourier transform (FFT) or autoregressive modeling is usually performed over short and relatively stationary parts of the signal. Another approach uses the wavelet transform to decompose the signal into predefined frequency elements. However, neither method allows reliable identification of the nonstationary frequency elements that exhibit changes before LTCA. The analysis of short time windows requires stationarity of each portion of the signal, whereas the RR-series exhibits pronounced changes preceding LTCA. The wavelet transform decomposes the signal into constant frequency ranges, while individual RR-signals have highly variable frequency content.
Methods in general use include simple heart rate detection and frequency and, in some cases, repetitiveness of premature ventricular complexes (PVCs). The heart rate detector is set at high and low thresholds by the operator, and an alarm sounds if these are exceeded. The more sophisticated instruments also alarm when target thresholds for PVC frequency are exceeded. These are simple, primitive, inaccurate and ineffective. There is no method for predicting LTCA, only detection once they are in progress. Moreover, specificity for detection of significant arrhythmias is poor.
The linear changes before LTCA in the majority of patients (80-90%) are not different from those during the arrhythmia-free periods. Because these changes are not specifically associated with LTCA, in the majority of patients they cannot be used for the short-term prediction of arrhythmias. Conventional heart rate variability analysis in the frequency domain has revealed a complex pattern of changes but fails to identify specific changes that might predict LTCA as well. Moreover, the standard time (mean and standard deviation) and frequency (power spectrum) domain representations of a signal do not reveal the nonlinear changes that precede LTCA.
In animals and a small group of patients nonlinear methods based on different measures of complexity and deterministic chaos reveal low-dimensional excursions in the heart beat dynamics several hours before LTCA. Using point correlation dimension it was shown that the dynamics of heart rate over 12-24 hours before LTCA (ventricular fibrillation) exhibited low dimensional excursions in patients with ventricular fibrillation compared to the patients with similar clinical characteristics but without LTCA or to normal subjects. Enhanced nonlinear beat-to-beat alterations were observed 1 hour before the onset of LTCA in Poincare plots.
However, those methods do not allow extraction of the pattern, the onset, individual characteristics and the time course of changes. RR-changes are highly variable in different subjects and even in the same subject over different periods of time.
There is a need for a system for on-line, real-time electrocardiographic evaluation of patients that provides improved ability to assess the likelihood of an occurrence of LTCA. Reliable prediction of a potentially fatal event requires risk estimation to adjust treatment strategy.

System for prediction of life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias

University of Pittsburgh of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education


A damper assembly (100) is configured to dampen motion between a first component and a second component. The damper assembly (100) includes a housing (102) having at least one housing rotation-limiting protuberance (126). A rotor (104) is rotatably coupled to the housing (102). The rotor (104) includes at least one rotor rotation-limiting protuberance (160). The housing rotation-limiting protuberance(s) (126) and the rotor rotation-limiting protuberance(s) (160) cooperate to limit a range of rotation of the rotor (104) relative to the housing (102).

Various compartments are configured to be selectively opened and closed. For example, a glove box or compartment within a vehicle is configured to be opened so that one or more items may be stored therein, and then closed to securely retain the item(s). A typical glove box includes a main housing and a cover (such as a door, panel, lid, or the like) that is moveably secured to the main housing between an open position and a closed position. For example, the cover may be pivotally secured to the main housing. The cover includes a securing member, such as a latch, that cooperates with a complementary structure of the main housing to ensure that the cover is secured in the closed position.
Dampers are used to dampen motion of a component, such as within an interior cabin of a vehicle. For example, dampers are configured to control opening motion between a glove box housing and a cover. Dampers are used with respect to various components, such as covers, bins, flaps, assist grip handles, and/or the like within an interior cabin of a vehicle.
WO 2011/150095, entitled "Damper," discloses a damper for dampening the movement of a component. U.S. Pat. No. 6,922,869, entitled "Damper Apparatus," discloses a damper apparatus for damping movement between first and second elements.
Known bin assemblies that include dampers and springs may be difficult to operate due to the force exerted by the spring. Further, once installed, the spring may exert undesired twisting forces into the assembly.


When a light-shielding sheet enters guide rails, engagement belts of the light-shielding sheet engage with the guide rails. A roll-screen device includes a winding roller, a light-shielding sheet, guide rails, and guide sections. The light-shielding sheet includes a sheet body, and engagement belts provided along side edges at both sides of the sheet body in a vehicle width direction. The sheet body and the engagement belts are rolled up on the winding roller such that the sheet body and the engagement belts overlap each other. Each guide rail includes engagement wall section which is located at a vehicle widthwise inner side of the engagement belt and engages with the engagement belt to prevent the light-shielding sheet from falling out of the guide rail. The guide section includes a guide piece configured to put a distance between the engagement belt and the sheet body before the light-shielding sheet enters the guide rail.

Patent Document 1 discloses a roll-screen device configured to shield a window section of a roof panel from light. The roll-screen device includes a light-shielding sheet and a pair of guide rails configured to guide the light-shielding sheet. An engagement belt to be engaged with the guide rail is formed at part of the light-shielding sheet guided by the guide rail. Each engagement belt is formed in such a manner that the light-shielding sheet is folded back at a side edge thereof. The light-shielding sheet can be rolled up on a winding roller. A guide section configured to guide the light-shielding sheet drawn from the winding roller to the guide rail is provided at a rear end of the guide rail.


An electronic device employing an efficient network protocol stack. The protocol stack comprises a network-level protocol layer configured to provide a transmission service for transferring data to and from a computer network, and a device-level protocol layer configured to send and receive information specific to an interface of the electronic device over the network via the transmission service of the network-level protocol layer. Alternately, each of the network-level protocol layer and the device-level protocol layer may be employed individually with other network protocol layers to construct a functioning network protocol stack.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of network-connected electronic devices, and more specifically to network-connected electronic devices employing low-level communication protocols.
2. Background of the Invention
The use of networks, including local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WAN), the Internet, intranets, and myriad other interconnection configurations for electronic devices, has increased greatly over the last several years, due at least in part to the new uses for which such networks may be employed.
For example, a recent innovation involving the use of a network is the ability to connect remote devices, such as computer peripheral devices, to a host computer via a network in a manner transparent to the user. Such a configuration is described in detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/974,082 to Han-Gyoo Kim, entitled "Disk System Adapted to Be Directly Attached to Network," which published as Patent Application Publication No. 2002/0069245 and which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Host computers may encompass a wide range of devices, including general purpose computers, personal audio/video players, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and many more. The peripheral devices, such as hard disk drives, compact disc (CD) drives, digital video (or versatile) disc (DVD) drives, and similar devices, are commonly located within the same physical enclosure as the associated host computer. However, by instead using a network to connect the peripheral devices with the computer, several advantages are realized. For example, the host computer system can be physically smaller and lighter, as the attached computer peripherals are no longer located within the computer enclosure. Also, power requirements of the peripherals do not need to be satisfied by the power supply of the host computer system. Further, any heat or noise generated by the peripheral device is remote from the location of the user, making for a more enjoyable user experience. Also, multiple computers may access the same network peripheral device without any computer required to act as a host or server. Additionally, access to greatly increased peripheral device capacity, such as data storage, is possible via network connection than with peripheral devices directly attached to a computer system, especially when a portable host system is involved. These and many other potential advantages from connecting remote computer peripherals to host systems through a network have been identified.
Several ways of connecting remote peripheral devices to host computer systems via a network have been devised, such as server/client architectures and Storage Area Networks (SANs). However, many of these connection schemes require significant processing overhead in terms of additional hardware and multiple network-based communication protocols in order to utilize the network. This often results in extended latency and/or decreased throughput of data transfer between the host system and the remote device. Additionally, in the case of SANs, a separate file server in addition to the remote storage device is required, typically increasing the cost of the configuration.
Accordingly, a need exists in the art for an improved communications protocol allowing efficient attachment of a remote device to a computer system by a network.

Low-level communication layers and device employing same


Provided herein are compositions and methods for treating or preventing a skin disease or skin condition on the skin of a subject by administering a topical flunisolide composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of flunisolide and a solubilizing agent that solubilizes the flunisolide.

Topical corticosteroids are useful for their anti-inflammatory, anti-pruritic, and vasoconstrictive actions. Flunisolide is the common name for the anti-inflammatory glucocorticosteroid, 6α-fluoro-11β, 21-dihydroxy-16α,17α-(isopropylidenedioxy)pregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione, which has the following chemical structure:

Flunisolide has demonstrated marked anti-inflammatory activity in classical test systems. It is a corticosteroid that is several hundred times more potent than cortisol in animal anti-inflammatory assays, and several hundred times more potent than dexamethasone in anti-inflammatory effects as determined by the McKenzie skin blanching test. Corticosteroids have been shown to have a wide range of anti-inflammatory effects, inhibiting both inflammatory cells and release of inflammatory mediators. It is presumed that these anti-inflammatory actions play an important role in the efficacy of flunisolide in controlling symptoms and improving lung function in asthma.
The synthesis and anti-inflammatory use of flunisolide is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,126,375, which is hereby incorporated by reference. U.S. Pat. No. 4,933,168, which is incorporated by reference, discloses a hemihydrate form of flunisolide and an aerosol composition containing the hemihydrate form of flunisolide for use in the treatment of respiratory diseases such as bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis, and other diseases that are responsive to treatment by suitable steroids.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,427,670, which is incorporated by reference, relates to a skin preparation containing flunisolide, phosphatide, and at least one of butylhydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylhydroxytoluene (BHT) to impart stability to the preparation for a prolonged period. EP Patent No. 0173478, which is incorporated by reference, discloses a topical composition for skin treatment containing an anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid, such as flunisolide, in combination with an essential fatty acid (EFA) of the n-6 or n-3 series or equivalent polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Skin diseases such as psoriasis, acne, dermatitis, eczema and lichen are frequently accompanied by inflammation, which can be mediated by a number of inflammatory cytokines secreted by inflammatory cells such as lymphocytes, macrophages, and by a number of locally or regionally acting substances, such as histamine, bradykinin, serotonin, prostaglandins, thromboxanes, leukotrienes, and platelet-activating factors. Topical corticosteroid-containing skin preparations have been used widely to treat such skin diseases.
However, there remains a need in the art for more effective and stable pharmaceutical compositions for treating skin diseases and conditions, such as psoriasis, dermatitis, acne, eczemas, wounds, burns, smoking/nicotine-induced damage, sun-induced damage and premature aging, as well as other conditions causing damage to the tissues through inflammation. The present invention fulfills this and other needs.

Topical compositions of flunisolide and methods of treatment


A plurality of notches or holes is formed on a motor housing or compressor casing. This permits assembling of the auxiliary crankshaft to the auxiliary crank bearing even after the motor housing and the compressor casing are fastened together. Hence, the assembly can be performed in sequential steps.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a scroll type fluid machine.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional scroll compressor integrating a compressor and a motor is known from Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-257337 (Patent Document 1). The Patent Document 1 discloses a structure which includes a compressor body including a fixed scroll and an orbiting scroll, and a motor section for rotatably driving the orbiting scroll and in which a motor output shaft is connected to a driving shaft of the orbiting scroll via a shaft coupling and a cooling fan.
In the scroll compressor of the Patent Document 1 which integrates the compressor and the motor, the motor output shaft and the driving shaft of the orbiting scroll are separated. Therefore, in an assembly process for the scroll compressor integrating the compressor and the motor, the compressor body and the motor section are discretely assembled and then, are fastened together using the shaft coupling and the like. On the other hand, in a case where the motor output shaft is directly used as the driving shaft of the orbiting scroll, the method in which the compressor body and the motor section are discretely assembled and then are fastened together, as disclosed in the Patent Document 1, involves a problem of increased assembly costs because the assembly process is divided. Further, the compressor body must be disassembled from the motor section to overhaul the compressor body or to replace components of the compressor body. This results in lowered maintenability.
In the scroll compressor, the orbiting scroll is provided with an auxiliary crank for preventing the autorotation thereof. To fasten the auxiliary crank to a bearing of a compressor casing, the auxiliary crank need be fastened to the compressor casing by handling a tool from a motor fastening side. Therefore, the fastening between the auxiliary crankshaft and a holding bearing cannot be made after the motor section is fastened to the compressor body. This necessitates the steps of: separating the compressor body from the motor section; fastening the auxiliary crank, as a component of the compressor body, to the compressor casing; and then fastening the compressor body and the motor section together. This results in the problems of increased assembly costs and lowered maintenability as mentioned above.
In this connection, the present invention seeks to provide a compressor-motor integrated scroll compressor that takes assembly costs and maintenability into consideration.

Scroll type fluid machine with notches on a motor housing

Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.


An optical communication system includes a plurality of nodes coupled by an optical fiber. The optical fiber comprises a gain medium and is operable to transmit optical signals in a plurality of channels. An optical pump is coupled to the optical fiber, and is operable to generate and transmit an optical pump signal co-propagating with the optical signals. The optical pump signal comprises a specified walk-off with respect to the optical signals and is operable to Raman amplify the signals in the optical fiber while maintaining an eye penalty below 0.5 decibels.

Telecommunications systems, cable television systems and data communication networks use optical networks to rapidly convey large amounts of information between remote points. In an optical network, information is conveyed in the form of optical signals through optical fibers. Optical fibers are thin strands of glass capable of transmitting the signals over long distances with very low loss.
Optical networks often employ wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) or dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) to increase transmission capacity. In WDM and DWDM networks, a number of optical channels are carried in each fiber at disparate wavelengths. Network capacity is increased as a multiple of the number of wavelengths, or channels, in each fiber.
The maximum distance that a signal can be transmitted in a WDM or other optical network without amplification is limited by absorption, scattering and other loss associated with the optical fiber. To transmit signals over long distances, optical networks typically include a number of discrete amplifiers spaced along each fiber route. The discrete amplifiers boost received signals to compensate for transmission losses in the fiber.
Signals may also be boosted in the fiber using Raman effect amplification. In the Raman effect, optical signals traveling in the fiber are amplified by the presence of a lower wavelength pump light traveling in the same fiber. The pump light may travel forward with the signal or backwards in reverse of the signal. Forward pumping amplification, however, suffers from bit pattern dependent pump depletion, resulting in cross talk between channels in WDM systems.

Method and system for forward pumping Raman amplification in an optical network


A drug eluting angioplasty balloon (1, 101) suitable to adopt a deployed configuration and a collapsed configuration, the balloon having an outer wall (10) disposed around a core (11) defining an axis (X). The balloon (1, 101) comprising in the collapsed configuration a plurality of folds (12, 12′, 112) that are laid in a tangential direction about the core (11) and form a plurality of cavities (13a, 13b, 113) loaded with a drug (14), the cavities (13a, 13b, 113) are comprised between the folds (12, 12′, 112), wherein the folds (12, 12′, 112) originates from distinct longitudinal lines (25, 25′, 125, 125′) along the outer wall (10), are arranged in pairs and are circumferentially wrapped about the core (11) in such a way that a fold of one pair overlaps an adjacent fold of another pair and are wrapped in opposite directions.

Balloon catheters for the angioplasty treatment of stenosis within the human body circulatory system have been known for a long time. These catheters comprise a balloon at the distal end thereof. The balloon catheter is inserted within the blood vessels with the balloon in a deflated configuration and is brought proximate to the site of stenosis. At this point, the balloon is inflated for a relatively short time span to obtain the dilation of the vessel and concomitantly a mechanical treatment of the stenosis, which is suitable to restore the section of the blood vessel. However, this mechanical action may cause in some patients, at the site of intervention, a cell hyperproliferation known as restenosis, which may again lead to an obstruction of the blood vessel and to severe consequences to the patient.
It has been recently noted that the outcome of a conventional mechanical angioplasty intervention results to be dramatically improved when a drug suitable to prevent restenosis is used in association therewith. Suitable drugs for this kind of treatment are antiproliferative drugs. These drugs can be, for example: rapamycin, epothilone and mainly paclitaxel.
Attempts have already been made to coat the angioplasty balloon with a gelatinous layer consisting of a mixture of a suitable solvent and paclitaxel. Patent applications WO 2004/028610, WO 2004/028582, and WO 2002/076509 to Ulrich Speck describe the positioning of a lipophilic drug, such as paclitaxel, on the outer portion of an angioplasty balloon.
This known method, however, is not without defects.
In fact, in order to reach the site of stenosis, the balloon catheter is required to travel along a relatively long pathway within the healthy blood vessels, while being exposed to the blood stream. Along this pathway, the drug, even if lipophilic, is very likely to be partially removed from the balloon due to friction against the vessel walls or to the flushing and rinsing effect of the blood flow.
This at least partial removal of drug from the balloon determines some undesirable consequences. Firstly, the administration of the drug to the stenosis area is lower than expected and a priori unknown. Secondly, an amount of the drug is dispersed in unintended districts of the body, with consequent undesirable secondary effects due to the intrinsic toxicity of the antiproliferative drug that is used.
Moreover, it has been observed that after the drug has been carried close to the stenosis, it can immediately be lost after the normal blood flow has been restored.
An angioplasty balloon catheter that comprises a chamber between the folds filled with a drug is known. It has been observed however that, when immersed into a blood environment, this type of balloon may partially lose an amount of drug before reaching the final destination, as the folds tend to open or the plasma tends to reach the cavity under the folds by capillarity.

Drug eluting balloon for the treatment of stenosis and method of manufacturing the balloon


A field emission device (6), in accordance with a preferred embodiment, includes a cathode electrode (61), a gate electrode (64), a separator (62), and a number of emissive units (63) composed of an emissive material. The separator includes an insulating portion (621) and a number of conductive portions (622). The insulating portion of the separator is configured between the cathode electrode and the gate electrode for insulating the cathode electrode from the gate electrode. The emissive units are configured on the separator at positions proximate to two sides of the gate electrode. The emissive units are in connection with the cathode electrode via the conductive portions respectively. The emissive units are distributed on the separator adjacent to two sides of the gate electrode, which promotes an ability of emitting electrons from the emissive material and the emitted electrons to be guided by the gate electrode toward a smaller spot they bombard.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a field emission device for emitting electrons from an emissive material and, more particularly, to a field emission device having an improved electron emission performance, which can be used for high-resolution field emission display.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Field emission displays (FEDs) are new, rapidly developing flat panel display technologies. Compared to conventional technologies, e.g., cathode-ray tube (CRT) and liquid crystal display (LCD) technologies, FEDs are superior in having a wider viewing angle, low energy consumption, a smaller size, and a higher quality display. In particular, carbon nanotube-based FEDs (CNTFEDs) have attracted much attention in recent years.
Carbon nanotube-based FEDs employ carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as electron emitters. Carbon nanotubes are very small tube-shaped structures essentially composed of a graphite material. Carbon nanotubes produced by arc discharge between graphite rods were first discovered and reported in an article by Sumio Iijima, entitled "Helical Microtubules of Graphitic Carbon" (Nature, Vol. 354, Nov. 7, 1991, pp. 56-58). Carbon nanotubes can have an extremely high electrical conductivity, very small diameters (much less than 100 nanometers), large aspect ratios (i.e. length/diameter ratios) (potentially greater than 1000), and a tip-surface area near the theoretical limit (the smaller the tip-surface area, the more concentrated the electric field, and the greater the field enhancement factor). Thus, carbon nanotubes can transmit an extremely high electrical current and have a very low turn-on electric field (approximately 2 volts/micron) for emitting electrons. In summary, carbon nanotubes are one of the most favorable candidates for electrons emitters in electron emission devices and can play an important role in field emission display applications.
Generally, FEDs can be roughly classified into diode type structures and triode type structures. Diode type structures have only two electrodes, a cathode electrode and an anode electrode. Diode type structures can be used in characters display, but are unsatisfactory for applications requiring high-resolution displays, such as picture and graph display, because of their relatively non-uniform electron emissions and difficulty in controlling their electron emission. Triode type structures were developed from diode type structures by adding a gate electrode for controlling electron emission. Triode type structures can emit electrons at relatively lower voltages.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a conventional triode type field emission device 4, which includes a cathode electrode 40, an anode electrode 45 spaced from the cathode electrode 40 and a gate electrode 43 disposed between the cathode and the anode electrodes 40, 45. A barrier 44 is disposed between the cathode electrode 40 and the anode electrode 45 thereby separating the two electrodes 40, 45. Generally, an insulating layer 42 is deposited on the cathode electrode 40 for supporting the gate electrode 43, i.e., the gate electrode 43 is formed on a top surface of the insulating layer 42. The insulating layer 42 defines a cylindrical hole (not labeled) therein for exposing the cathode electrode 40. An emissive material 41, such as carbon nanotube, is disposed in the cylindrical hole on the exposed cathode electrode 40. Furthermore, a phosphor material 46 is formed on a surface of the anode electrode 45 facing to the cathode electrode 40. In the illustrated structure, the phosphor material 46 represents a picture element for displaying. A picture element means a minimum unit of an image displayed by the FED (i.e., a pixel). In a typical color FED, the color picture is obtained by a display system using three optical primary colors, i.e., R (red), G (green), and B (blue).
In use, different voltages are applied to the cathode electrode 40, the anode electrode 45 and the gate electrode 43. Electrons 410 are emitted from the emissive material 41, and then travel through the cylindrical hole, finally reach to the anode electrode 45 and the phosphor material 46. Therefore, the phosphor material 46 is activated and a visible light is produced.
The above field emission device, however, has a low resolution. Because electrons extracted from the emissive material 41 are diverged away from a central axis of the phosphor material 46 when they travel to the anode electrode 45, thus, a spot that electrons bombard on the phosphor material 46 is enlarged. In addition, some of the diverged electrons are diverged at a large angle and bombard on a neighboring picture element (not shown), therefore an error display is occurred. Furthermore, a high voltage for extracting electrons from the emissive material is needed because of a large distance between the emissive material and the gate electrode.
Therefore, what is needed is a field emission device having a high resolution, lower voltage for emitting electrons, and a high emission efficiency.

Field emission device and field emission display employing the same


A tractor trailer having an adjustable wheel assembly, the trailer comprising at least two laterally spaced frame members. A plurality of openings are located in the frame members, with each opening having a flange section structured to receive a wheel assembly locking-pin. The flange section increases the load-bearing area of each frame member opening.

The field of the present invention relates to trailers used for overland transport of goods. More particularly, the present invention relates to adjustable wheelbase trailers.
Commercial tractors and other types of trucks transport freight or goods using trailers such as flatbeds, platform trailers, enclosed vans, container transport chassis or other suitable types of trailers. Many of these transport vehicles have adjustable wheel assemblies that allow the operator to change the trailer or vehicle wheelbase. The wheelbase must be adjusted for a variety of reasons including decreasing the turning radius and improving weight distribution to meet Federal axle-weight requirements.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a tractor trailer used 10 includes a front support strut assembly 20 and an adjustable wheel assembly or xe2x80x9cbogiexe2x80x9d 25 joined by at least two frame rails 15. The front support 20 and rails 15 form a main trailer or chassis structure to which the bogie 25, is slidably attached. The bogie 25 comprises at least one, and usually two axles with four wheels rotatably mounted to each axle. When the operator wants to change the trailer 10 wheelbase, the operator changes the location of the bogie 25 relative to the main trailer structure.
The bogie 25 has bogie lock pins 35 receivable into bogie lock pin holes 30, which extend through the rails 15. Accordingly, when the bogie lock pins 35 are inserted and locked into the boogie lock pin holes 30, the bogie 25 is securely positioned and held.
The bogie 25 location is usually moved by locking the wheels, retracting the bogie lock pins 35 from the bogie lock pin holes 30 and using the tractor to slide the trailer frame rails 15 on the bogie rails 60. Once the bogie 25 has been positioned in the desired location, the bogie lock pins 35 are re-inserted into the bogie lock pin holes 30. Typically, at least two bogie lock pins 35 are used, one for each rail 15.
Referring to FIGS. 2-4, a bolster strip 45 is welded around the bogie lock pin holes 30 to reinforce the frame rail 15 and bogie lock pin holes 30 against the loads imparted through the bogie lock pins 35 and into the frame rail 15 by the bogie 25. When inserted into the bogie lock pin holes 30, the bogie lock pins 35 only engage a thin ring of frame rail 15 material that comprises the perimeter of the bogie lock pin hole 30. Substantially all of the loads encountered by the bogie 25 are transferred to the trailer 10 through this thin ring of frame rail 15 material.
The bolster strip 45 is generally welded to the outside of the frame rail 15 with the frame rail aperture 31 having a larger diameter than the bogie lock pin hole 30. This creates a bolster lip 50, illustrated in FIGS. 3-4. As a result, when the bogie 25 is repositioned to change the trailer wheelbase, the bogie lock pin 35 oftentimes contacts the bolster lip 50 and fails to properly engage the bogie lock pin hole 30. When the bogie lock pin 35 fails to properly engage the bogie lock pin hole 30, an extremely unsafe situation is created because the bogie 25 is no longer positively attached to the frame rails 15.
In addition, moisture accumulates between the bolster strip 45 and the frame rail 15, causing corrosion around the bogie lock pin holes 30 and decreasing the structural strength and integrity of the frame rails 15 and the bolster strip 45. Also, because substantially all the bogie 25 loads are carried by the thin ring of bolster strip 45 material, the bogie lock pin hole 30 perimeters become oval, which introduces play or slack in the bogie 25, increasing the possibility of disengagement of the bogie 25 from the trailer 10. Also, corroded frame rails 15 can fail when the trailer 10 is loaded with cargo, and this failure can occur while the trailer 10 is operating in highway traffic, possibly resulting in a serious accident.
Therefore, there exists a need for an adjustable wheelbase trailer that can withstand the loads imparted by a bogie, without deformation of the bogie lock pin holes, and can also consistently ensure positive engagement of the bogie to the trailer.
In order to overcome the deficiencies with known, conventional bogie location systems, an adjustable wheelbase trailer is provided. Briefly, the present invention solves the problem of a bogie lock pin failing to properly engage a bogie lock pin hole. In addition, the present invention solves the problem of bolster strip corrosion and the subsequent structural deformation of the bolster strip, bogie lock pin holes and the underlying frame rail.
An adjustable wheelbase trailer constructed according to the present invention provides a way to consistently engage the bogie lock pins into the bogie lock pin holes. Moreover, the present invention removes the bolster strip thereby eliminating corrosion of the trailer frame rails and bogie lock pin hole perimeters, and in such manner trailer life is increased and manufacturing costs are reduced.
Broadly, the present invention provides a method to remove the bolster strip while maintaining sufficient bogie lock pin hole strength to prevent deformation. In addition, the invention improves engagement of the bogie lock pins in the bogie lock pin holes.
More specifically, one embodiment of the invention forms a flanged bogie lock pin hole in a trailer frame member by punching an hole in the trailer frame member, deforming a perimeter area of the hole, and extruding the deformed perimeter area so that the perimeter of the extruded hole is larger than the punched hole. The extruded material thus forms a flange which the bogie lock pin engages.
Another embodiment of the invention comprises a trailer having an adjustable wheel assembly, the trailer comprising at least two laterally spaced frame members. A plurality of openings are located in the frame members, with each opening having a flange section structured to receive an adjustable wheel assembly bogie lock pin.

Adjustable wheelbase trailer including reinforced structural apertures


A brake device is disposed at a child carrier including a frame and at least one wheel unit that includes a hub and a plurality of spokes radiating from the hub. The brake device includes a base unit, an operable unit, a brake unit, and a positioning unit. The base unit is connected to the frame and is formed with a first guiding groove and a through hole. The operable unit is pivotally connected to the base unit and includes at least one side wall formed with a positioning hole and a second guiding groove. The brake unit is disposed slidably in the first and second guiding grooves. The positioning unit is disposed in the through hole and includes a positioning component and an elastic member elastically abutting against the positioning component.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a brake device, more particularly to brake device for a child carrier.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a child carrier (e.g., a stroller) includes a wheel provided with a conventional brake device in the form of a brake pedal. A user steps on the brake pedal to make a brake stick move into and be disposed between adjacent two of spokes of a hub of the wheel so as to lock the wheel of the child carrier and stop the child carrier. However, when the user steps on the brake pedal, the brake stick may not be completely moved into engagement with the spokes. If the user releases the brake pedal while the wheel of the child carrier is not completely locked, a baby on the child carrier may potentially be under danger.

Brake device and child carrier provided with the same


An improvement in cast nets includes a first ring to which a throw rope is releasably attached and a second ring that is interconnected to the first ring by a housing that allows the rings to swivel independently with respect to one another. The second ring is releasably attached to a semicircular handle that is attached to an apertured flat disc. Each brail has an uppermost end that extends through an aperture in the disc and which is knotted so that it cannot fall back through the aperture. An annular ring is releasably attached to the flat disc and overlies the knots to prevent axial travel of the brails. The rotational connection between the rings facilitates throwing the net, and the connection of the top end of the brails to the apertured disc inhibits tangling of the brails with one another and facilitates replacement of broken brails.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates, generally, to cast nets. More particularly, it relates to a cast net having a structure that opens easily and that facilitates replacement of broken brails.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Cast nets are small, hand-thrown nets that have a round circumference when properly thrown. A plurality of small weights are secured to the outer periphery of the net, in circumferentially spaced relation to one another. Thus, as the net sinks under the influence of such weights, fish beneath the net are trapped. When the cast net is hauled in, the weights converge toward one another so that the fish cannot escape.
In the most commonly used type of cast net, a first end of an elongate rope is secured around a wrist of the individual throwing the net. The rope is coiled and held in the throwing hand; thus, the rope is rapidly uncoiled when the net is thrown. The second end of the rope is typically secured to the top ring of a two ring swivel member. A large number of draw strings, known in the industry as brails, are looped over the bottom ring of the swivel member, at their respective mid-points, and terminate at the outer periphery of the cast net, i.e., the opposite ends of said brails are secured to the same peripheral edge of the cast net to which the above-mentioned weights are attached. Typically, twine is used to whip the brails together just below the second ring.
There are several problems with the well-known construction just described. The brails are easily tangled around one another in the region between the swivel member and the main body of the net, and when they are tangled they prevent the draw line from fully extending. A greater problem arises, however, when a brail breaks. It requires considerable time and effort to cut off the whipped twine to gain access to the brails, to replace the brail by extending it through the bottom ring of the swivel member and down to the edge of the nets, and to re-whip the twine again around the brails.
Since the brails are looped over a ring as above-described, they may become uneven when hung-up on an oyster bar, a rock, or other obstacle. If a brail is uneven, i.e., if it is no longer looped over the ring at its half-way point, the cast net will not open evenly. Adjusting a brail that has become uneven requires cutting the twine that whips around the brails, adjusting the uneven brail, and again whipping twine about the brails.
What is needed, then, is a new structure for a casting net that facilitates the replacement of broken brails, the adjusting of uneven brails, and which does not rely on twine for whipping brails into a bundle.
However, in view of the art considered as a whole at the time the present invention was made, it was not obvious to those of ordinary skill in this art how such a structure could be made.

Cast net having easily replaceable brails


A pretzel oven with electronic heat control bakes a plurality of pretzel-like bakery products in a continuous baking process. The pretzel oven includes a microprocessor-based control, a solid state relay for reduced maintenance and improved bakery production, an over heat temperature electrical source in the event of fire or other over temperature conditions. A caustic soda heater and thermostat regulate the temperature of a soda bath. A universal joint isolates the main drive motor from side loads and permits a tilting or angling thereof for enhanced lubricating properties. The salt box for salting the bakery products is separately controllable.

This application pertains to the art of baking apparatus and more particularly to portable apparatus for baking pretzel-like bakery products in a continuous process. The invention is specifically applicable to baking pretzels in an oven having a chamber containing a number of processing stations wherein the bakery products are transported to the plurality of stations via a positively driven endless drive chain and will be described with particular reference thereto. Currently, popular automatic baking apparatus include a plurality of baking racks connected to drive chains for processing soft pretzels by first spraying the pretzels with a soda solution, salting the pretzels and then baking and browning the salted pretzels through use of radiant heat rods before the products are removed from the baking racks. It will be appreciated, though, that the present invention has broader applications such as conveyor belt baking operations wherein a plurality of baking stations are linearally traversed by means of a conveyor or the like in a oven-like chamber containing a number of sequentially arranged processing stations.
A fairly popular automatic baking apparatus is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,935,807. That apparatus is illustrated in FIG. 1. According to that teaching, a housing is provided which includes an oven-like chamber therein, the chamber having a pair of power-driven belts which comprise a pair of endless drive chains 14 and 16. Baking racks 12 are pivotally connected to the pair of endless drive chains 14 and 16 in a manner to permit them to freely swing or pivot throughout the processing of the pretzels. The endless drive chains 14 and 16 are driven by a combination of a motor 18 and gearing in a gearbox 40 moving the baking racks at a controlled rate through a series of processing stations. The pair of endless drive chains 14 and 16 are supported on the housing through a plurality of free turning gears 36, 37, 38 and 39 which are mounted on rods supported by a portion of a frame 30 adjacent a side panel 32. These free turning gears include Teflon bearings to minimize gear drag.
Well known shortcomings of the above arrangements include premature failure of the Teflon drive chain bearings due to excessive heat buildup and premature wear on the bearings in the motor 18 due to side-loading on the motor output shaft.
With continued reference to the prior art pretzel oven of FIG. 1, the upper portion thereof includes a salter 22 which includes a closed cylinder 22a with a single longitudinal row of openings 72 located therein, allowing the salt contained within the cylinder 22a to fall out during rotation onto pretzels. Similar to the free turning gears 36, 37, 38 and 39 mentioned above, the rotating salt box of the prior art was supported by two Teflon saddles, which tended to soften at cooking temperatures, therefore deteriorated rapidly and failed in use.
Also, in the upper portion of the oven itself, a plurality of heating elements comprising five longitudinal Cal rods 24 provided sufficient quantity of heat to bake the frozen pretzel products as they progress through the oven supported on the baking racks. In addition to the Cal rods, five transverse infra-red quartz rods 28, in combination with individual reflectors 29, were provided to bake the upper portion of the pretzels and aid in imparting to the upper surface of the pretzels a unique light brown color that adds considerably to the appeal of the pretzels. Unfortunately, the arrangement of Cal rods and quartz rods provided inadequate control over the baking process itself to the extent that the exact cooking temperature of the oven could not be determined or readily controlled during operation. In practice, only a "setting" temperature was available to the operator. Thus, the set point temperature was unreliable and prevented diagnosis of pretzel quality problems. For example, a determination of whether light pretzels were due to failures in heating elements or whether they were due to defects in the pretzels themselves was not determinable. Some of the above problems in the baking process, though primarily attributable to the Cal rods and quartz rods, were also in part due to inadequate or improper insulation of the housing forming the pretzel oven.
In order to control the prior art oven, a mechanical thermostat was typically connected between a source of power and the Cal and quartz rods. This thermostat was usually of the bi-metallic type and thus imparted a substantial desensitizing effect to the temperature control which was due to slow response time, resulting in undercooked pretzels when the oven was fully loaded and dark blistered pretzels on the last rack in a series of a full load.
Maintenance costs of the prior art pretzel oven apparatus were quite high since the quartz rods, used as critical heating elements, were difficult to maintain. In use, the quartz rods have a life expectancy on the order of 2000 hours. Further, the wire leads feeding to the quartz rods were oftentimes unable to withstand the high temperatures which were periodically generated at the top portion of the oven. Both hardware and labor costs detracted from the profitability of operating such a pretzel oven apparatus according to the prior art.
With continued reference to FIG. 1, a common problem experienced in automatic pretzel ovens in the past has been a weakening of the one molar sodium hydroxide solution used for glazing through the spray tube 20 of the spray section at the bottom of the oven as salt from the salter 22 eventually migrated through the oven and into the catch tray 62. More particularly, salt not adhering to the pretzels themselves found no other place to go but into the catch tray 62 to mixedly combine with the sodium hydroxide solution weakening its effectiveness.
More serious shortcomings of the prior art pretzel oven includes a failure to detect fires within the oven itself. Should an oven of this type be left unattended for prolonged periods, a fire could start in the upper portion of the oven and continue undetected endangering both personnel and equipment.
It has, therefore, been deemed desirable to provide a safe, economical and improved continuous process pretzel oven.

Pretzel oven with electronic heat control


A combustion turbine having a compressed air cooling circuit that is connected to a nitrogen source. Compressed air is provided to the cooling circuit upon start-up and gradually switched to nitrogen cooling, as the nitrogen becomes available. Transition from compressed air to nitrogen cooling is supplied to the hottest components first in accordance with a pre-selected control scheme. Upon shutdown of the plant, the process is reversed.

This invention pertains generally to gas turbines and more particularly to high temperature gas turbines that employ a cooling medium to maintain the components within the working gas flow path within acceptable temperature limits.
In most industrial combustion turbines, ambient air is drawn into the intake of a compressor, compressed and delivered to a combustion where it is combined with a fuel, ignited and transported through a transition member to a turbine wherein the working gas is expanded to produce mechanical energy. The compressor and turbine rotor are typically coupled to a common shaft so that rotation of the turbine rotor drives the compressor. Similarly, in power plant applications, the turbine rotor is also connected to a generator rotor to drive the generator to produce electricity.
A typical combustion turbine system 10 portion of such a power plant is illustrated in FIG. 1. Generally, the combustion turbine is made up of a compressor section 12, a combustion section 34 and a turbine section 41. The compressor section 12 is made up of a plurality of stationary vanes 14 supported by the outer housing and rotating blades 16 which are mounted on a common shaft 18. Each rotating blade row followed by a stationary vane row constitutes a compressor stage. FIG. 1 shows sixteen compressor stages. The compressor shown is also equipped with an inlet guide vane (IGV) 9, and an outlet guide vane (OGV) 29. The compressor is also arranged to form compressor bleed ports 22, 24 and 26 for bleeding compressed air for cooling high temperature turbine components. Ambient air 13 is introduced through an inlet 11 and successively compressed in each compressor stage, and it flows by all the bleed ports 22, 24 and 26, and the rest of compressor stages 28, and OGV 29 after which the compressed air travels through annular diffuser 30 to compressed air plenum 32 which surrounds the combustion 34 and transition member 36. A portion of the compressed air 13 can be diverted from each of the bleed ports for cooling turbine components as discussed above. A portion of the compressed air, as shown by the arrow, reverses direction in the plenum 32 and travels between the combustion housing 38 and the combustion shell 40 where it is directed to a combustion inlet and combined with fuel introduced through the nozzle inlets 42. The combined fuel and compressed air is burned in the combustion 34 to create a working gas which is directed through the transition member 36 to an inlet 44 to the first stage of the turbine 41. The turbine section 41 is made up of a serial arrangement of stationary vanes 52 and rotating blades 54. The rotating blades are supported by a common rotor system 56 and the vanes and blades are arranged in serial stages 44, 46, 48 and 50, which form the first through fourth stages of the turbine section. The working gas exiting the transition member 36 then expands through the stages 44, 46, 48 and 50 causing rotation of the blades 54 which in turn impart mechanical, rotational power to the rotor system 56. The turbine rotor system 56 is connected to the compressor shaft 18 so that rotation of the turbine rotor system 56 drives the compressor 12. Normally, in power plant applications, the rotor system 56 is coupled to the rotor of a generator to drive the generator to create electricity. The working gas ultimately is exhausted at the exit to the turbine 58 and directed through an exhaust stack to the ambient atmosphere.
It is generally desirable to have the turbine work at the highest efficiency possible. It is also known that the higher the temperature of the working gas, the higher the efficiency of the turbine. However, the upper temperature that the working gas can practically function at is limited by the temperature characteristics of the materials that it interfaces with. In addition, the higher the temperature of the combustion process and working gas, the more pollutants such as NOx that are created. Stringent environmental restrictions require such pollutants to be kept below a minimal level. These competing interests have been addressed by leaning out the combustion mixture to reduce flame temperature while maintaining an overall higher average thermal output and cooling the various components interfacing with the working gas flow path.
A system which has been employed for cooling the various turbine components is illustrated in FIG. 1. The cooling system shown is an open loop cooling system wherein compressed air is introduced into the various components and after traversing a cooling path within a component, is exhausted into the working gas within the turbine, providing power augmentation. To assure that the working gas does not backflow through the cooling system, the pressure of the compressed air has to be greater than that of the working gas at the point at which the cooling air is introduced into the working gas flow path. In this regard, air 60 is bled from the first bleed port 22 of the compressor and introduced at the fourth stage 50 of the turbine to cool the turbine stationery components before being introduced into the working gas flow path around the rotating blades 54 at a point where the working gas is at its lowest pressure among the turbine stages. Similarly, air 62 is bled from a second bleed port 24 of the compressor 12 and introduced at the third stage 48 of the turbine 41; and air 64 is bled from the third bleed port 26 of the compressor 12 and introduced at the second stage 46 of the turbine. The compressed air exiting the compressor outlet 30 is used to cool the combustion shell and liner and the transition member before being introduced into the working gas path within those components. The air 66 exiting the compressor outlet 30 is also used to cool the first stage of the turbine and further diverted, as represented by reference character 68, to cool the internal components of the rotor and the rotating blades 54, before being introduced into the working gas flow path. In this manner, the internal components of the combustion, transition and turbine are able to accommodate higher temperatures for greater overall turbine efficiency. However, diverting compressed air from the compressor for cooling has a negative affect on the efficiency of the operation of the turbine in that there is less air available for combustion and to be introduced at the first stage of the turbine for power conversion from thermal power to mechanical power. Accordingly, it is desirable to find another means of cooling the turbine components interfacing with the working gas flow path that does not require or minimizes the diversion of air from the compressor. Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a system that minimizes the use of compressed air for cooling a turbine""s internal components along the working gas flow path.
The instant invention takes advantage of a nitrogen source in a power plant to supply nitrogen in lieu of compressed air to at least a portion of the cooling circuit in a combustion turbine. In a preferred arrangement, the nitrogen is supplied from an air separation unit that separates oxygen from the nitrogen in the air for use in an integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) plant. Upon startup of the plant, air is initially supplied to the cooling circuit of the combustion turbine until the nitrogen becomes available. In one preferred arrangement, a cooling control system monitors the availability of nitrogen and controls valves within separate legs of the combustion turbine cooling circuit to supply the nitrogen in lieu of the compressed air sequentially, one leg at a time as the nitrogen becomes available. In a preferred scheme, the cooling leg corresponding to the hottest turbine components is supplied nitrogen first along with compressed air until sufficient nitrogen is available to replace the compressed air in that cooling leg completely. The control system next adds nitrogen to the next successive leg corresponding to the next hottest component, one leg at a time until preferably the nitrogen completely supplants the cooling air in the second, third and fourth stage of the turbine stator and the turbine rotor.
In the preferred arrangement, the cooling system controller also monitors the temperatures of the components being cooled and regulates the volume of nitrogen supplied to those components to maintain the temperature in an acceptable range.

Method and apparatus for cooling high temperature components in a gas turbine


A handheld test device includes a keypad having keys associated with tests that can be performed on a subscriber line. The keys are arranged in rows to correspond intuitively with networking layers of the subscriber line and with an order in which to test those layers. Keys of a first row are associated with testing at a physical layer, of a second row with testing at a DSL layer, and of a third row with testing at a service layer. The test device is connected to the subscriber line at a location between CO and CPE, and powered on. In response to being powered on, without technician involvement, the test device automatically detects at least one of CO equipment and CPE on the subscriber line, and trains the test device with the detected equipment.

The advent of high-bandwidth technologies, such as ADSL2+ and VDSL2, which can operate at frequencies up to 30 MHz, has enabled service providers to use their existing copper infrastructure to support new types of services, such as IPTV (Internet Protocol Television). Traditionally, service providers have used POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) or telephony testing techniques to pre-qualify DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) subscribers or to troubleshoot problems on the copper wire. Generally, the basis of such testing techniques is on narrowband resistive or capacitive measurements. These measurements sufficed for basic internet applications, where service providers typically provisioned the subscriber line below the data rate capacity. The new high-bandwidth services, however, made the subscriber line increasingly susceptible to physical loop impairments and wideband noise disturbers. These impairments and disturbers can produce intermittent service or degrade picture quality. To offer advanced services, therefore, requires DSL testing and diagnostics that can ensure the subscriber lines are able to support the needed throughput, performance, and stability.


A pipe joint provided with a joint main body having a male screw portion and a cap nut screwed on the male screw portion of the joint main body. And, the pipe joint has a C-shaped stop ring having an opening on its periphery. The stop ring, having an inner blade to cut a concave groove on a peripheral face of a pipe, is disposed as a peripheral face contacts a tapered inner face of a hole portion of the cap nut. Further, a co-rotation means is provided to rotate the cap nut and the stop ring together.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a pipe joint.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional pipe joint, in which a joint main body is provided with a fastening portion to which an end portion of a pipe is fit and a guide portion to contact an inner peripheral face of the end portion of the pipe, and the end portion of the pipe is fixed and connected by screwing a cap nut, a female screw portion is formed on an inner peripheral face, onto a male screw portion formed on the fastening portion of the joint main body, is known (refer to Japanese provisional publication No. 7-248087). And, a sealing member (an O-ring) is disposed in a peripheral groove portion on a peripheral face of the guide portion of the joint main body and touching the inner peripheral face of the end portion of the pipe.
In this conventional pipe joint, the end portion of the pipe is fastened and fixed to the fastening portion of the joint main body by screwing the cap nut to the joint main body.
However, when strong drawing force works on the pipe in an axis direction, the pipe may be slid between the guide portion and the fastening portion of the joint main body and easily drawn out of the pipe joint.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a pipe joint, in spite of its simple construction, with which the pipe is not drawn out and firmly fixed even if the strong drawing force of the axis direction works.


A sensor-enabled smart device may be recommended to a user. The sensor-enabled smart device may be identified from a registry on a network. The smart device may have the ability to send and receive real-time data over the network. A value of the device, to the user, may be determined based on user analytics. A vendor through which to sell the device may be determined based on market analytics. A sale of the device via the vendor may be recommended to the user.

The present disclosure relates to sensor-enabled items, and more specifically, to providing recommendations for sensor-enabled devices.
The internet of things is generally a network of physical objects, devices, vehicles, buildings, and other items that are embedded with electronics, software, sensors, and network connectivity, which enables these objects to collect and exchange data. These items may be in continuous communication with servers on the cloud.

International Business Machines Corporation