A fluid control valve includes a body portion provided at a circulation flow passage that circulates fluid between an internal combustion engine and a heat exchanger, an inflow passage, an outflow passage, a valve element, a valve seat including a contact portion relative to the valve element, the contact portion being provided to face a downstream side of a circulating direction of the fluid, a solenoid causing the valve element to make contact with the valve seat in a state where the solenoid is supplied with an electric power, and a spring mechanism holding the valve element to be balanced at a position at which the valve element is away from the valve seat by a predetermined distance in a case where the solenoid is inhibited from being supplied with the electric power and the fluid is inhibited from flowing.

A known fluid control valve includes a body portion provided at a circulation flow passage circulating fluid between an internal combustion engine and a heat exchanger, an inflow passage causing the fluid to flow into the body portion, an outflow passage causing the fluid to flow out of the body portion, a valve element adjusting a flow rate of the fluid, a valve seat including a contact portion relative to the valve element, the contact portion facing a downstream side of a circulating direction of the fluid, and a solenoid causing the valve element to make contact with the valve seat in a state where the solenoid is supplied with an electric power.
In a cooling apparatus cooling the internal combustion engine, i.e., an automotive engine, for example, the aforementioned fluid control valve is provided at the circulation flow passage circulating cooling water serving as fluid between the internal combustion engine and the heat exchanger so as to control a flow rate of the cooling water that is heated at the internal combustion engine to the heat exchanger, for example, to a heater core. JP2012-97835A, which will be hereinafter referred to as Reference 1, discloses a fluid control valve including a spring that biases a valve element to make contact with a valve seat so that a valve-closed state in which the valve element is in contact with the valve seat may be held in a state where a solenoid is not powered.
According to the known fluid control valve such as disclosed in Reference 1, for example, in a case where the solenoid is not powered, the valve-closed state is maintained until a fluid pressure at the inflow passage increases to a value that overcomes a biasing force of the spring. Therefore, while the fluid pressure at the inflow passage is increasing to the value that overcomes the biasing force of the spring, the fluid is inhibited from circulating. As a result, a flow rate range in which the flow rate of fluid is controllable may decrease. In addition, because a pressure-receiving area of the valve element that receives the fluid pressure at the inflow passage rapidly increases in association with a separation of the valve element from the valve seat, a gap or a clearance between the valve element and the valve seat increases rapidly, which may lead to an unstable flow rate control at a time of a low flow rate of fluid. Further, in a case where a metal touch occurs in the contact of the valve element relative to the valve seat, rust may be generated due to electrochemical reaction, for example. In such case, the valve element and the valve seat may adhere to each other, which inhibits timely controlling the flow rate based on the increase of the fluid pressure or which deteriorates a shut-off function of the valve element because of rust that adheres to the valve element and/or the valve seat.
A need thus exists for a fluid control valve which is not susceptible to the drawback mentioned above.


A medical device-includes a scaffold crimped to a catheter having an expansion balloon. The scaffold is crimped to the balloon by a process that includes one or more balloon pressurization steps. The balloon pressurization steps are selected to enhance scaffold retention to the balloon while retaining, at least partially, the original balloon folds as the balloon is pressurized and de-pressurized within a crimper head. By at least partially retaining the original balloon folds, a uniformity of scaffold expansion by the balloon is improved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to drug-eluting medical devices; more particularly, this invention relates to processes for crimping a polymeric scaffold to a delivery balloon.
2. Background of the Invention
The art recognizes a variety of factors that affect a polymeric scaffold's ability to retain its structural integrity when subjected to external loadings, such as crimping and balloon expansion forces. These interactions are complex and the mechanisms of action not fully understood. According to the art, characteristics differentiating a polymeric, bio-absorbable scaffolding of the type expanded to a deployed state by plastic deformation from a similarly functioning metal stent are many and significant. Indeed, several of the accepted analytic or empirical methods/models used to predict the behavior of metallic stents tend to be unreliable, if not inappropriate, as methods/models for reliably and consistently predicting the highly non-linear behavior of a polymeric load-bearing portion of a balloon-expandable scaffold (hereinafter "scaffold"). The models are not generally capable of providing an acceptable degree of certainty required for purposes of implanting the scaffold within a body, or predicting/anticipating the empirical data.
Moreover, it is recognized that the state of the art in medical device-related balloon fabrication, e.g., non-compliant balloons for scaffold deployment and/or angioplasty, provide only limited information about how a polymeric material might behave when used to support a lumen within a living being via plastic deformation of a network of rings interconnected by struts. In short, methods devised to improve mechanical features of an inflated, thin-walled balloon structure, most analogous to mechanical properties of a pre-loaded membrane when the balloon is inflated and supporting a lumen, simply provides little, if any insight into the behavior of a deployed scaffold. One difference, for example, is the propensity for fracture or cracks to develop in a scaffold. The art recognizes the mechanical problem as too different to provide helpful insights, therefore, despite a shared similarity in class of material. At best, the balloon fabrication art provides only general guidance for one seeking to improve characteristics of a scaffold.
Polymer material considered for use as a scaffold, e.g. PLLA or PLGA, may be described, through comparison with a metallic material used to form a scaffold, in some of the following ways. A suitable polymer has a low strength to weight ratio, which means more material is needed to provide an equivalent mechanical property to that of a metal. Therefore, struts must be made thicker and wider to have the strength needed. The scaffolding also tends to be brittle or have limited fracture toughness. The anisotropic and rate-dependant inelastic properties (i.e., strength/stiffness of the material varies depending upon the rate at which the material is deformed) inherent in the material only compound this complexity in working with a polymer, particularly, bio-absorbable polymer such as PLLA or PLGA.
Processing steps performed on, design changes made to a metal stent that have not typically raised concerns for, or require careful attention to unanticipated changes in the average mechanical properties of the material, therefore, may not also apply to a scaffold due to the non-linear and sometimes unpredictable nature of the mechanical properties of the polymer under a similar loading condition. It is sometimes the case that one needs to undertake extensive validation before it even becomes possible to predict more generally whether a particular condition is due to one factor or another—e.g., was a defect the result of one or more steps of a fabrication process, or one or more steps in a process that takes place after scaffold fabrication, e.g., crimping. As a consequence, a change to a fabrication process, post-fabrication process or even relatively minor changes to a scaffold pattern design must, generally speaking, be investigated more thoroughly than if a metallic material were used instead of the polymer. It follows, therefore, that when choosing among different scaffold designs for improvement thereof, there are far less inferences, theories, or systematic methods of discovery available, as a tool for steering one clear of unproductive paths, and towards more productive paths for improvement, than when making changes in a metal stent.
It is recognized, therefore, that, whereas inferences previously accepted in the art for stent validation or feasibility when an isotropic and ductile metallic material was used, such inferences would be inappropriate for a scaffold. A change in a scaffold pattern may effect, not only the stiffness or lumen coverage of the scaffold in its deployed state supporting a lumen, but also the propensity for fractures to develop when the scaffold is crimped or being deployed. This means that, in comparison to a metallic stent, there is generally no assumption that can be made as to whether a changed scaffold pattern may not produce an adverse outcome, or require a significant change in a processing step (e.g., tube forming, laser cutting, crimping, etc.). Simply put, the highly favorable, inherent properties of a metal (generally invariant stress/strain properties with respect to the rate of deformation or the direction of loading, and the material's ductile nature), which simplify the stent fabrication process, allow for inferences to be more easily drawn between a changed stent pattern and/or a processing step and the ability for the stent to be reliably manufactured with the new pattern and without defects when implanted within a living being.
A change in the pattern of the struts and rings of a scaffold that is plastically deformed, both when crimped to, and when later deployed by a balloon, unfortunately, is not as easy to predict as a metal stent. Indeed, it is recognized that unexpected problems may arise in scaffold fabrication steps as a result of a changed pattern that would not have necessitated any changes if the pattern was instead formed from a metal tube. In contrast to changes in a metallic stent pattern, a change in a scaffold pattern may necessitate other modifications in fabrication steps or post-fabrication processing, such as crimping and sterilization.
Scaffolds used to treat coronary vessels experience, for the most part, a primarily radial loading. However, scaffolds intended for peripheral vessels experience a quite different loading, to such an extent that the traditional measure of a stent's fitness for use, i.e., its radial strength/stiffness, is not an accurate measure of whether the scaffold will have sufficient strength to support the peripheral vessel. This is because a peripheral scaffold is placed in a significantly different environment from a coronary scaffold. The vessel size is larger. And there is much more movement of the vessel, especially when located close to an appendage. As such, a scaffold intended for a peripheral vessel will need to be able to sustain more complex loading, including a combination of axial, bending, torsional and radial loading. See e.g. Bosiers, M. and Schwartz, L., Development of Bioresorbable Scaffolds for the Superficial Femoral Artery, SFA: CONTEMPORARY ENDOVASCULAR MANAGEMENT ('Interventions in the SFA" section). These and related challenges facing peripherally implanted stents and scaffolds are also discussed in U.S. application Ser. No. 13/015,474.
One challenge, in particular, facing a peripheral scaffold is crimping to a balloon and expansion of the scaffold when the balloon is inflated. Problems arise where, on the one hand, the scaffold cannot be crimped to the desired size without introducing structural failure, i.e., fracture, or excessive cracking, either in the crimped state or when expanded from the crimped state by a balloon. On the other hand, a scaffold can be crimped and deployed, yet deploys with non-uniformity in its deployed state. In these cases the scaffold is susceptible to acute or fatigue failure as the irregularly-deployed rings and/or cells, loaded beyond their design limits as a consequence of the non-uniform deployment, have a reduced acute or fatigue life within the vessel.
A film-headed crimper has been used to crimp polymer scaffolds to balloons. Referring to FIG. 8A, there is shown a perspective view of a crimping assembly 20 that includes three rolls 123, 124, 125 used to position a clean sheet of non-stick material between the crimping blades and a metal stent prior to crimping. For example, upper roll 125 holds the sheet secured to a backing sheet. The sheet is drawn from the backing sheet by a rotating mechanism (not shown) within the crimper head 20. A second sheet is dispensed from the mid roll 124. After crimping, the first and second (used) sheets are collected by the lower roll 123. As an alternative to rollers dispensing a non-stick sheet, each metal stent may be covered in a thin, compliant protective sheath before crimping.
FIG. 8B illustrates the positioning the first sheet 125a and second sheet 124a relative to the wedges 22 and a metal stent 100 within the aperture of the crimping assembly 20. As illustrated each of the two sheets are passed between two blades 22 on opposite sides of the stent 100 and a tension T1 and T2 applied to gather up excess sheet material as the iris of the crimping assembly is reduced in size via the converging blades 22.
The dispensed sheets of non-stick material (or protective sheath) are used to avoid buildup of coating material on the crimper blades for stents coated with a therapeutic agent. The sheets 125a, 124a are replaced by a new sheet after each crimping sequence. By advancing a clean sheet after each crimp, accumulation of contaminating coating material from previously crimped stents is avoided. By using replaceable sheets, stents having different drug coatings can be crimped using the same crimping assembly without risk of contamination or buildup of coating material from prior stent crimping.
In light of the foregoing problems, there is a need to improve the uniformity of deployment for a peripherally-implanted scaffold, while maintaining an appropriate balance among a desired retention force and minimal crossing profile for delivery to a target site. And there is a continuing need to address structural integrity of a peripherally-implanted scaffold after repeated axial, bending and radial loading characteristic of a peripheral vessel.

Methods for uniform crimping and deployment of a polymer scaffold


A waterproof electric plug is provided with a housing including two forward prongs, an open rear end, a closed groove on the rear end, and a closed trough on the rear end wherein length of the trough is greater than that of the groove; a transformer in the housing and electrically connected to the prongs; a cap including a closed projection on a forward end, and a closed protrusion on the forward end wherein length of the protrusion is greater than that of the projection; an electrical socket disposed through the cap and electrically connected to the transformer; and adhesive disposed in the groove. The projection is complimentarily disposed in the groove to press the adhesive for forming a first waterproof structure. The protrusion is complimentarily disposed in the trough to form a second waterproof structure.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to electric plugs and more particularly to an improved waterproof electric plug having a transformer.
2. Description of Related Art
Alternating-current (AC) power is required to transform into direct current (DC) power prior to supplying to small electric or electronic products such as mobile phones, lamps, Christmas lamp strings, etc. For example, plugs of Christmas lamp strings are required to be waterproof because in often times they are used outsides. Rain, water, and moisture may enter plugs that are not waterproof when the plugs are used outsides. This can cause short circuit to the plugs.
However, many types of waterproof electric plugs having a transformer for Christmas lamp strings have complicated components and poor quality. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional electric plug comprises a housing 10, two prongs 102 on a front surface of the housing 10, a closed groove 103 on a rear end, and two opposite slots 104 on a rectangular flange at the rear end of the housing 10; a cap 13 including a closed protrusion 131 on an edge facing the housing 10 and two opposite projections 132, a closed waterproof strip 12 made of elastomeric material complimentarily disposed in the trough 131, and a transformer 11 disposed in an internal space 101 of the housing 10. In an assembled state of the electric plug the projections 132 are inserted through the slots 104 by snapping, and the protrusion 131 is disposed in the trough 131 to urge against the strip 12.
However, the strip 12 may suffer elastic fatigue as time evolves. Thus, such configured plugs may be not waterproof as desired. Further, portions of the projections 132 are exposed and it is visually unaesthetic.
Thus, the need for improvement still exists.

Waterproof electric plug with transformer


A process for making ultra-fine particles of a high performance polymer in a yield greater than 90%, which includes dissolving the high performance polymer in an organic solvent capable of dissolving the polymer to form a solution; emulsifying the solution by combining the solution with water and a surfactant to form an emulsion; transferring the emulsion into a receiving water containing a surfactant to remove the organic solvent and form a slurry; and recovering particles of less than 75 microns in diameter in a yield greater than 90%.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to a process for making ultra-fine particles of a high performance polymer; and more specifically to a process for making ultra-fine spherical particles of a high performance polymer in a yield greater than 90%.
2. Description of the Related Art
High performance polymers such as polyetherimide can be made into ultra-fine powders (i.e. having a diameter of less than or equal to 75-microns) by emulsifying the polymer in an organic solvent, and further removing the organic solvent from the emulsion through distillation. Information relevant to such methods can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,528,611. However, particles made by such an emulsion distillation process can result in a poor yield of ultra-fine particles. In particular, the yield of ultra-fine particles can be less than 90%. Therefore, there is a need for an optimized process for a higher yield for commercial feasibility.

Optimized emulsion drying process for making micronized polyetherimide polymers


The invention relates to a measuring device, comprising an optical sensory array for determining changes in the position of a drum which is mounted in a washing machine at least so as to be pivotable about a swiveling axis. The sensory array is provided with at least one light sensor, at least one modifiable light passage, and at least one light source. The light sensor is directed to portions of light which are emitted by the light source, are dependent upon changes in the light passage, and impinge the light sensor.

The centroid or the centroid axis of a washing machine drum is displaced from the rotational axis (out of the rotational center in an ideal initial position) by nonuniform distribution of the laundry and is therefore spaced apart from the rotational axis. The rotation of the centroid with the spacing from the rotational center causes centrifugal forces on the drum which have to be supported by the bearing arrangement on the washing machine. The greater the centroid axis deviates from the initial position, the greater what is known as the unbalance. This unbalance leads to undesired movements of the washing drum which is usually suspended elastically. The drum can swing out so far from the ideal rotational axis that contact occurs between the washing machine and the drum. Moreover, the rotational axis of the drum cannot coincide with the main axis of inertia of the drum as a result of the nonuniform distribution of the laundry in the drum, that is to say the rotational axis is tilted at the centroid. Dynamic unbalances of this type cause bending moments on the bearing journals during operation of the washing machine, by way of which bearing journals the drum is mounted rotatably in the washing machine, and result in undesired oscillations or in unnecessary bearing stresses.
The high bearing forces and oscillations which result from the unbalances can lead to premature wear of the bearing arrangements.
The movement and flooding of the is not sufficient in an overfilled washing drum. The cleaning action is insufficient. On the other hand, a washing drum which is not filled sufficiently leads to unnecessary energy and water consumption. In modern washing machines, the filling ratio, that is to say the amount of dry laundry in relation to the drum volume, is a characteristic variable for calculating washing processes which are optimized in terms of consumption and results. The amount is determined in the washing machine by means of a device using the dry weight. Subsequently, the operating criteria are fixed automatically as a function of the filling ratio which is calculated therefrom.
Positional changes are therefore to be understood as all changes of the position of the centroid or the centroid axis of the drum, and therefore also at least of one bearing for the drum, with respect to the initial position of the rotational axis in the case of nonstressed and nonrotating drums. Unbalances as a result of nonuniform material distribution on the drum itself are therefore also considered.
DE 31 17 106 A1 describes a measuring device of the generic type, by way of which the oscillation amplitudes which result from harmful oscillations and therefore the positional change of the drum with respect to the rotational axis are measured. The optical sensory array of the measuring device is arranged between the drum and one tub of the washing machine and outputs a signal after a limiting value is exceeded of the closeness of the drum and the tub. The signal causes a change and regulation of the rotational speed of the drum, with the target of reducing the unbalances. The measuring device is not suitable for detecting positional changes of the drum by means of the weight of the drum or for continuous measuring operations.

Measuring device comprising an optical sensory array, and method using said measuring device


A disposable sanitary gauge tee with no dead zone for use in pressure measurement of fluid in disposable tubing including a body having a main fluid passageway in fluid connection with a proximal end of a pressure fluid passageway, the main fluid passageway including a fluid port and a second fluid port, wherein a hose barb is operatively attached to the body at the fluid port and the second fluid port, wherein the disposable tubing can be removably attached to the hose barbs, and the pressure fluid passageway including a distal end for removable attachment of a sanitary pressure gauge and a biocompatible gauge protector for isolation of the fluid from the sanitary pressure gauge. No dead zone is achieved within the gauge tee as the proximal end of the pressure fluid passageway is substantially the same diameter as the distal end of the pressure fluid passageway, therein providing a total transfer of fluid within the pressure fluid passageway during fluid flow. A method of measuring pressure of fluid within disposable tubing using the disposable sanitary gauge tee and a method of measuring pressure of fluid in a closed system are further included.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to the field of tubing and filtration devices and more specifically towards gauges.
2. Background Art
Currently, various devices exist for measuring pressure within disposable tubing because it can be very beneficial to obtain and monitor relevant flow characteristics of fluids passing through the tubing. While methods for obtaining such information have existed for a long time, no reliable low cost systems have been developed for disposable use.
One prior art device for measuring pressure within tubing utilizes disposable pressure sensors with a luer lock fitting, as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,576,181. However, this device can only be used with low flow rates and small tubing sizes. Further, the device requires a computer or electronic interface for the pressure readout. In general, disposable pressure sensors that are provided pre-sterilized have limitations in that they cannot be calibrated before their use. This is a key drawback to use in the biopharmaceutical industry because calibration prior to the use of pressure gauges is required during Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) production.
Another prior art device is a ¾ inch mini sanitary (stainless steel) gauge tee with hose barb adapters. Although this device can measure pressure within tubing, it is in constant contact with the stainless steel gauge. As a result, contamination of the gauge tee can occur. Furthermore, considerable hold-up volume results (5-50 mL).
Especially when operating in a sterile environment with biologics or pharmaceuticals, minimal hold-up volume is preferred. Hold-up is an amount of fluid in a system that remains stagnant, generally caused by a branch or tee in a line for a valve, gauge, or measuring line. If allowed to remain in place, such hold-up fluid can dilute the end product being produced on a line with a gauge.
Anderson Instrument Co., Inc. describes a zero dead-leg instrument fitting that can be installed on lines as small as ½ inch. The fitting is a tee and can be connected to a gauge or transmitter. The fitting is made of stainless steel, thus the liquid flow is still in contact to stainless steel. The fitting is intended for multiple uses.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,049 to Cooper, et al., discloses an apparatus for measuring fluid pressure in a tube of a catheter. The tube can include threads for receiving a gauge. The tube is made of a biocompatible, nonpyrogenic and sterilizable material. A sealing diaphragm is provided between the fluid path and the pressure-sensitive diaphragm, preferably made of polyethylene, polyurethane, polyvinylchloride, or the like. Thus, the diaphragm sends a read-out to a gauge pointer and there is no contact of the fluid with metal. However, such a device could not be used readily in a biopharmaceutical process, as the gauge must be calibrated before and after use. Meeting GMP processing standards is required for processing biopharmaceuticals, and calibrating a gauge after use will jeopardize the batch processed if the calibration fails.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,117,086 to Shulze discloses a physiological pressure transducer coupled to a catheter through a disposable dome containing a shaped, compliant isolation media, which is in intimate contact with the reusable transducer diaphragm. The disposable dome is in the shape of a tee. The isolation media preferably forms inside of all sharp corners around the outer diameter of the diaphragm where it contacts the disposable dome, thus providing an extremely smooth and essentially straight fluid path without the entrapment of bubbles. Again, this device requires a gauge that must be calibrated before and after use, and thus could not be used in biopharmaceutical processes.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,978,636 to Motush, et al., discloses a portable device for measuring refrigerant pressure, including a hose with a first end connected to an actuator on a pressurized container and a second end connectable to a service port of an automobile air conditioner. A T-connector with a check valve and pressure gauge is disposed in the hose. In the preferred embodiment, at least one barb of the T-connector is rotatable and is a separate piece from the body of the T-connector. This enables the T-connector to rotate with respect to the hose so that the pressure gauge will always be viewable by the user. The T-connector is preferably made of die-cast zinc, thus there is metal contact of the fluid. The device interfaces with a threaded pressure gauge and allows fluid to pass up into the body of the gauge. Such a device could not be used in biopharmaceutical processes because the fluid is in contact with the gauge itself, allowing for contamination.
Accordingly, there is a need for a device that can accurately measure pressure of liquids in disposable tubing during various processes. Additionally, there is a need for a disposable device that allows for biopharmaceutical processing and eliminates batch cross contamination or expensive cleaning validation. Further, there is a need for a device that can be sterilized and allows for aseptic pressure monitoring of a process. There is a need for a device that reduces the amount of hold-up volume. Finally, there is a need for a device that provides measurement without product contact to the environment or the stainless steel gauge diaphragm.


A kit that includes an absorbent product adapted for mucosal membrane hemostasis, and instructions using the absorbent product is disclosed. The absorbent product can include a liquid permeable pouch, and at least one sheet of absorbent material within the liquid permeable pouch. The instructions can include rolling and/or folding the absorbent product, placing the rolled and/or folded absorbent product proximate the site of the bleeding, and applying pressure to the absorbent product. The instructions can also include inserting the absorbent product into a mucous membrane, such as a nostril or the vaginal canal. Methods of utilizing the absorbent product and the kit are also disclosed.

Individuals experience bleeding of the mucous membranes from time-to-time. The cause of these bleeding incidents can range from surgical procedures, to bloody noses, to tooth eruption and exfoliation generally experienced by children, to menstruation, as well as, accidents. While medical professionals and consumers frequently use gauze to treat such situations, gauze does not retain blood and other bodily fluids well. In addition, both professionals and consumers have difficulty visualizing and localizing regular gauze to the area in need of hemostasis.

Hemostatic absorbent product for mucosal membranes, kit containing the same, and method of using the same


A device for water dechlorination that includes a housing containing a water-soluble dechlorination media, one or more fluid transfer media that passes through the housing that allows the transfer of water and water-soluble dechlorination media between the inside of the housing and the outside of the housing, and a mechanism for directing water to flow through the one or more fluid transfer media. The chlorine in the water is removed or neutralized by the water-soluble dechlorination media released through the one or more fluid transfer media.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates generally to filters for treating water. More specifically, this invention relates to a water filter that neutralizes harmful substances, such as chlorine and chloramines which is absorbed by the human body during contact or consumption.
2. Description of Related Art
As discussed in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,300,224, which issued Apr. 8, 1994 to Frederick A. Farley, chlorine is a very effective disinfectant and has been used in municipal water for nearly 100 years. The growing concerns about chlorine in water are the chlorination by products, "chlorinated hydrocarbons," known as trihalomethanes ("THM"). Most THM's are formed in tap water when chlorine reacts with naturally occurring substances. Risks for certain types of cancer are now being correlated to the use of chlorinated water. Studies are now beginning to show that humans can consume large amounts of chlorine in the shower. These effects of chlorine may result from either ingestion or absorption through the skin. There is also evidence that shows that chlorine can destroy protein in our body and cause adverse effects on skin and hair. The presence of chlorine in water may also contribute to the formation of chloramines in water, which can cause taste and odor problems. Since chlorine is required by public health regulations to be present in all public tap water supplies, it is up to the individual to remove it at the point-of-use in the home.
Activated carbon filtration ("AC") is effective in reducing certain organic chemicals and chlorine in cold water. Chlorine is attracted to and held (absorbed) onto the surface of the carbon particles. U.S. Pat. No. 4,107,046 discloses a filter cartridge for an internally by-passable water purifier apparatus. The apparatus includes valve means for directing water through the filter cartridge, which contains granulated carbon mixed with a silver zeolite, and may be sandwiched between fibrous sheets of material, such as felt, before it exits the apparatus. U.S. Pat. No. 4,172,796 discloses a water faucet having water purification or filtering means, made from activated carbon, or carbon with oligodynamic silver, formed therein. U.S. Pat. No. 4,504,389 discloses a water faucet having a separate housing containing a removable cartridge or filter element made from various stages of polyethylene and activated carbon particles therein. However, high water flow rate and high water temperature limits carbon's water filtration efficiency. The efficiency of absorption is quickly nullified when the water becomes warm. The lifetime of an activated carbon filter is very short. An activated carbon filter gets clogged very quickly by the dirt it is meant to stop. As soon as that happens, it immediately starts to release previously adsorbed contaminants back into the water stream.
Another type of filter media called KDF is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,642,192 and 5,122,274, which is an "electronegative cell potential type" chlorine filter media. The preferred media to filter out chlorine disclosed in these patents is comprised of a mixture of copper and zinc.
Two types of shower filters devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,152,464 and 5,300,224. The devices disclosed in these patents are compact filter assemblies containing a filtering media, such as copper and zinc, to filter out unwanted chlorine in water passing through the filters. However, copper and zinc media does not remove chloramines and, because its efficiency depends on water temperature, it does not work well in cold water. There are several other limitations using KDF as a de-chlorinating agent. KDF filters are also affected by water pressure. When the water pressure is not high enough, water simply cannot pass through the KDF powders. Another major problem of KDF filters is that the lifetime of the filter depends on the quality of the water passing through it. When the quality of the water is bad, the dirt a KDF filter removes from the water quickly covers the surface of the KDF that in turn makes the filter ineffective very quickly.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,914,043 and 6,056,875 disclose a method of filtering water utilizing separate beds of non-soluble ceramic-type calcium sulfite beads, made from a ceramic binder and calcium sulfite, and a copper-zinc media. Sulfur-based compounds, such as calcium sulfite or sodium sulfite (or sulfate), although are effective dechlorinating agents, can be toxic to both humans and animals. The addition of excess sulfite and sulfate chemicals to our water has always been a concern. There remains the need in the art for a safer and more environmentally conscious filter that provides the most efficient filtering of unwanted chlorine from water while at the same time meeting the more stringent health and safety regulations of local communities and governmental agencies such as the EPA.
Vitamin (ascorbic acid or sodium ascorbate) reacts rapidly and stoichiometrically with active chlorine and has limited interactions with disinfection byproducts. It fully neutralizes both chlorine and chloramines. There are several powerful arguments for using Vitamin instead of KDF, activated carbon, or sulfur-based compounds as dechlorination agents. Vitamin utilizes ascorbic acid chemistry for dechlorination. It is made with an essential vitamin for humans and many animals, which are known to boost the immune system, and improves the skin and hair condition of humans. It is also the safest and least toxic of dechlorination agents.


A device includes a relative temperature detector configured to determine a temperature difference between a device temperature sensed near a switch device and an ambient temperature sensed outside the switch device. The relative temperature detector is configured to generate a relative temperature output signal based on comparing the temperature difference to a relative temperature threshold. A power detector is configured to generate a power level signal based on comparing an indication of switch power of the switch device to a power threshold. The power level signal specifies whether the indication of switch power is above or below the power threshold. A thermal capacity control is configured to disable the switch device based on the power level signal specifying that the indication of switch power is above the power threshold and based on the relative temperature output signal indicating the temperature difference is above the relative temperature threshold.

During power delivery to a load, a power transistor, such as a power Field Effect Transistors (FET), develops a thermal gradient across the FET while dissipating power. To facilitate FET reliability over lifetime and operation within a defined safe operating area (SOA), it is desirable to maintain the peak temperature (Tpk) on a given FET to be less than a specified maximum junction temperature value referred to as Tj_max. It may not always be possible to place a thermal sensor for detecting Tj_max near the actual point where the FET substrate reaches Tj_max. In such cases, there may be a difference between Tpk and sensed temperature of the switch (TSW) across the substrate. The difference between Tpk and TSW is a function of ambient temperature (TA), power dissipation levels and other factors. A temperature-based thermal protection circuit can be used to detect the actual point of peak temperature for a given FET; however, the given FET under protection may still be under-utilized from a power capability perspective.

Thermal capacity control for relative temperature-based thermal shutdown


This invention relates to compounds of Formulas I, II, and III, and their use as inhibitors of phosphatidylcholine transfer protein (PC-TP). The invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treatment of disorders related to the inhibition of PC-TP using the compounds of Formulas I, II, and III. Such disorders include obesity and disorders associated with obesity.

Obesity has become an epidemic in the U.S. and other developed countries. As many as one-third of all Americans over 30 years of age are obese, based on the body mass index (BMI) criteria, and as many as one in three adults in the United States are attempting to loose weight. Each year, 30 billion dollars is spent on the treatment of obesity. Yet, despite this, less is known about the causes of obesity than is known about the causes of most other medical conditions. Accordingly, there is a need to develop new compounds for treatment of obesity and disorders associated with obesity. This invention addresses this need and others.

Phosphatidylcholine transfer protein inhibitors


A sexless coupling for coupling a fire hose to the externally threaded neck of a fire hydrant. The coupling comprises an internally threaded collar portion for threading onto the neck of the fire hydrant, the internally threaded collar portion having a flapper valve and an externally threaded portion. The coupling further comprises an external ring having an internal thread for threading the external ring onto the externally threaded portion of the collar. The external ring carries hooked lugs for forming a male connection and arcuate grooves for forming a female connection with a complementary coupling of a fire hose. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a flat neoprene rubber seal is disposed between facing surfaces on the internally threaded collar and external ring. In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, an annular ring of sealing material is disposed in a groove in the external ring and seals against the collar portion adjacent to the threads when the collar and external ring are assembled.

Generally, fire hoses from a fire truck are connected to a hydrant by a unfastenting a cap from the mouth of the fire hydrant and fastening the hose thereto, or if a cap or cover is not positioned on the fire hydrant, merely fastening the end of the hose to the hydrant. Thereafter, the hose is tightly secured to the fire hydrant so as to withstand the high water pressure flowing through the connection between the fire hydrant and fire hose.
It is important that the connection between the fire hose and fire hydrant be made quickly and efficiently in that the amount of water which can be directed on a fire during the first two to five minutes after fire-fighting equipment reaches the scene of a fire is major factor with respect to how quickly the fire can be brought under control. Quick response helps limit fire damage even before the fire is extinguished. With most prior art methods of connecting fire hoses to a fire hydrant, the first tow to five minutes after such equipment arrives at the scene of the fire are spent attempting to connect the hose with the hydrant which results in delays that frequently result in several thousand dollars of additional fire damage.
In a attempt to minimize the delay, many fire companies use a quick-coupling apparatus such as that set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 3,638,907, wherein a female member attached to the hose is thrust over a male member on the neck of the fire hydrant and quickly clamped in place. While this apparatus is effective and saves considerable time, it is heavy and relatively expensive.
Many fire companies are now utilize in their fire engines another type of coupling known as the "Storz Connector," which is a rotating coupling utilizing lugs that interlock with grooves. Storz Connector are known as a sexless couplings because each connector include both male and female coupling elements.
Very high water pressures now may be applied to fire hydrants and it is necessary that couplings operate at pressures as high as 400 psi. Water escaping from couplings under high pressure can injure fire fighting personnel because the water can form as discrete high speed steams. Due to their relatively complex structure, Storz Connectors provide pathways for leaks. In order to meet current standards, there is a need to configure Storz Connectors so as to minimize the likelihood of leaks at high water pressures.

Sexless coupling for fire hydrant-fire hose connection


This invention relates to organometallic precursor compounds represented by the formula i-PrN═Ta(NR1R2)3 wherein R1 and R2 are the same or different and are alkyl having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, provided that (i) when R1 is ethyl, then R2 is other than ethyl and (ii) when R2 is ethyl, then R1 is other than ethyl, and a method for producing a film, coating or powder from the organometallic precursor compounds.

Chemical vapor deposition methods are employed to form films of material on substrates such as wafers or other surfaces during the manufacture or processing of semiconductors. In chemical vapor deposition, a chemical vapor deposition precursor, also known as a chemical vapor deposition chemical compound, is decomposed thermally, chemically, photochemically or by plasma activation, to form a thin film having a desired composition. For instance, a vapor phase chemical vapor deposition precursor can be contacted with a substrate that is heated to a temperature higher than the decomposition temperature of the precursor, to form a metal-containing film on the substrate. Preferably, chemical vapor deposition precursors are volatile, heat decomposable and capable of producing uniform films under chemical vapor deposition conditions.
The semiconductor industry is currently considering the use of thin films of various metals for a variety of applications. Many organometallic complexes have been evaluated as potential precursors for the formation of these thin films. A need exists in the industry for developing new compounds and for exploring their potential as chemical vapor deposition precursors for film depositions.
Tantalum nitride (TaN) materials are being considered for a number of applications in the electronics industry for next generation devices, including copper diffusion barrier and electrodes. The industry movement from physical vapor deposition to chemical vapor deposition and atomic layer deposition processes due to the increased demand for higher uniformity and conformality in thin films has lead to a demand for suitable precursors for future semiconductor materials.
TaN film between copper interconnect and dielectrics act a barrier which prevents copper diffuses into dielectrics. Currently the TaN barrier is deposited using physical vapor deposition (PVD) technology. However, for the future generation microelectronics, where the feature size will shrink to below 65 mn, the PVD technology may not be able to deposit ultra thin conformal film to meet the challenges. Atomic layer deposition (ALD) technology is superior to PVD technology in depositing thin film. However, the challenges for ALD technology is availability of suitable precursors. ALD deposition process involves a sequence of steps. The steps include 1) adsorption of precursors on the surface of substrate; 2) purging off the precursor molecules in gas phase; 3) introducing reactants to react with precursor on the substrate surface; and 4) purging off excess reactant.
For ALD processes, the precursor should meet stringent requirements. First, the ALD precursors should be able to form a monolayer on the substrate surface either through physisorption or chemisorption under the deposition conditions. Second, the adsorbed precursor should be stable enough to prevent premature decomposition on the surface to result in high impurity. Third, the adsorbed molecule should be reactive enough to interact with reactants to leave a pure phase of the desirable material on the surface at relatively low temperature.
Prior art TaN ALD precursors have one or more of following disadvantages: 1) solid state, 2) low vapor pressure, 3) wrong phase of the deposited material, and 4) high carbon incorporation in the film. Ta(NMe2)5 (PDMAT) is one of the prior art candidates but it is a solid. This precursor has also a tendency to form Ta3N5 instead of desired TaN. Ta3N5 is a insulator and a undesirable phase. Another prior art TaN precursor is t-BuN═Ta(NEt2)3 (TBTDET), which has low vapor pressure and often results in high carbon impurity in the film.
There are three types of prior art TaN precursors, namely TaCl5, Ta(NR2)5, R—N═Ta(NR2)3. TaCl5 is most inexpensive among the TaN precursors. However, TaCl5 is a solid and Cl incorporation in film is a serious problem. The chlorine is corrosive and will cause microelectronics device to malfunction. PDMAT does not have chloride in the composition therefore it does not have Cl incorporation problem. However, PDMAT is also a solid and has a tendency to form Ta3N5, which is dielectrics and is undesirable phase for barrier application. The third type of the TaN precursors is R—N═Ta(NR2)3 and the representative example is TBTDET. TBTDET is a volatile liquid and more favorable to form TaN phase. However, TBTDET have relatively low vapor pressure and the film deposited from TBTDET often has high carbon impurity.
In developing methods for forming thin films by chemical vapor deposition methods, a need continues to exist for chemical vapor deposition precursors that preferably are liquid at room temperature, have relatively high vapor pressure and can form uniform films. Therefore, a need continues to exist for developing new compounds and for exploring their potential as chemical vapor deposition precursors for film depositions. It would therefore be desirable in the art to provide a chemical vapor deposition precursor that is a liquid at room temperature, has a high vapor pressure and can form uniform films.


The present invention relates to a continuous, catalytic process for preparing a vinyl ester of the formula R—C(O)O—CH═CH2 by reaction of a carboxylic acid of the formula R—C(O)OH with a transvinylating reagent of the formula R1—C(O)O—CH═CH2, wherein the reaction is effected at a temperature of 90 to 160° C. and at a pressure of 0.5 to 15 MPa without withdrawal of a reactant in the presence of a transition metal catalyst containing at least one transition metal from the group of ruthenium, osmium, rhodium, iridium, palladium and platinum, and then the resulting reaction mixture is separated into its constituents.

Vinyl esters of higher carboxylic acids are of certain economic significance as comonomers. They can be used to modify the properties of polymers, for example polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, polystyrene or polyacrylic esters. For example, the hydrolysis resistance of emulsion paints can be increased. For the production of adhesives too, vinyl esters of higher carboxylic acids are used. For these fields of use, vinyl esters based on 2-ethylhexanoic acid, isononanoic acid, lauric acid or the Versatic Acids 911, 10 and 1519 from Shell have been found to be of industrial significance. These higher carboxylic acids are obtainable, for example, by oxidation of aldehydes which have been prepared by the oxo reaction, or by the Koch synthesis from the olefin, carbon monoxide and water. In the case of vinyl esters based on 2-ethylhexanoic acid, lauric acid or isononanoic acid, if the isononanoic acid consists predominantly of 3,5,5-trimethylhexanoic acid, the compounds are homogeneous, whereas, in the case of vinyl esters of the Versatic Acids 911, mixtures of highly branched carboxylic acids having 9 to 11 carbon atoms are bound within the vinyl ester, and, in the case of vinyl esters of the Versatic Acids 1519, mixtures of highly branched carboxylic acids having 15 to 19 carbon atoms. In the case of vinyl esters of Versatic Acid 10, highly branched decanoic acids of differing structure, such as neodecanoic acids, are derivatized. 3,5,5-Trimethylhexanoic acid is prepared on the in scale by hydroformylation of diisobutylene and subsequent oxidation or the corresponding aldehyde (Ullmanns Encyklopädie der technischen Chemie, 4th edition, 1983, Verlag Chemie, Volume 9, pages 143-145; Volume 23, pages 608-607).
It is known that vinyl esters of carboxylic acids earn be prepared by reaction of acetylene with carboxylic acids (G. Hübner, Fette, Seifen, Anstrichmittel 68, 290 (1966) Ullmanns Encyklopädie der technischen Chemie, 4th edition, 1983; Verlag Chemie, Volume 23, pages 606-607). This procedure is adopted in EP 1 057 525 A2, according to which gaseous acetylene is reacted with the carboxylic acid to be vinylated in the presence of a catalyst in a tubular reactor. In the known multiphase process, the carboxylic acid comprising the catalyst, for example a zinc salt, in dissolved form constitutes the continuous phase in which gaseous acetylene is present as a dispersed phase. The tubular reactor is operated at a load factor of greater than 0.8. The use of acetylene as a raw material on the industrial scale, however, requires a high level of apparatus and safety complexity, and acetylene is additionally generally available only locally.
It is likewise known that the vinyl esters of carboxylic acids can be prepared by what is called the transvinylation reaction with a vinyl ester of another carboxylic acid;
where R and R1 may each be an aliphatic or aromatic radical. In order to control the equilibrium reaction in the direction of the products, a high excess of the transvinylating reagent R1—C(O)O—CH═CH2 is frequently used. The carboxylic acid R1—C(O)OH formed should also be of sufficient volatility to be withdrawn rapidly from the equilibrium and hence to generate an elevated conversion. Since the reaction mixture is generally worked up by distillation, the choice of transvinylating reagent R1—C(O)O—CH═CH2 is frequently guided by the boiling points of the other reaction participants (Ullmanns Encyklopädie der technischen Chemie, 4th edition, 1983, Verlag Chemie, Volume 23, pages 606-607). For the preparation of vinyl esters of higher carboxylic acids, vinyl acetate in particular and vinyl propionate to a certain extent are suitable as transvinylating reagents. Vinyl acetate, being a chemical produced on the industrial scale, is available inexpensively. Vinyl acetate and the acetic acid formed therefrom have comparatively low boiling points and can be separated by distillation from the desired vinyl ester of the higher carboxylic acid.
There are numerous hints in the literature regarding the transvinylation reaction of carboxylic acids with vinyl acetate as the vinylating reagent. Adelman, Journal of Organic Chemistry, 1949, 14, pages 1057-1077 studies the transvinylation of higher carboxylic acids, such as stearic acid, lauric acid or 3,5,5-trimethylhexanoic acid, with vinyl acetate in the presence of mercury salts as a catalyst. U.S. Pat. No. 2,245,131 discusses the reaction of benzoic acid or crotonic acid with vinyl acetate in the presence of mercury acetate. The reaction mixture is at first kept under reflux. Subsequently, the reaction temperature is increased and the acetic acid formed is removed. The vinyl benzoate formed is then purified in a further fractional distillation. U.S. Pat. No. 2,299,862 discloses the preparation of vinyl 2-ethylhexanoate proceeding from 2-ethylhexanoic acid and vinyl acetate in the presence of mercury acetate and sulphuric acid. The resulting crude mixture is first neutralized with sodium acetate and then distilled. Vinyl 2-ethylhexanoate is obtained with a yield of 73%. According to DE 1222493 B, the catalyst used for the transvinylation with vinyl acetate are mercury salts of a sulphonic acid cation exchange resin.
Disadvantages of the transvinylation processes with mercury catalysts are the toxicity and volatility thereof, and the unwanted formation of ethylidene diesters. The activation, typically with sulphuric acid, and the need to deactivate the catalyst prior to the distillation of the reaction mixture by neutralization also mean additional process steps.
These disadvantages can be avoided by the use of palladium catalysts, in the case of which the modification of the palladium complexes with aromatic nitrogen ligands, for example with 2,2′-bipyridyl or 1,10-phenanthroline, has been found to be advantageous. According to U.S. Pat. No. 5,214,172, the activity of palladium catalysts modified in this way is increased by the addition of strong acids. U.S. Pat. No. 5,741,925 discusses the transvinylation of naphthenic acids in the presence of palladium complexes modified with 2,2′-bipyridyl or 1,10-phenanthroline. In accordance with the known procedure, naphthenic acids, preferably cyclic C10-C20 carboxylic acids, are converted to the corresponding vinyl esters with vinyl acetate as the transvinylating reagent under reflux. The catalyst is stable during the distillation and can be reused in several runs. The process disclosed according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,621 relates to the transvinylation of carboxylic acids, for example of lauric acid or benzoic acid, with a (2,2′-bipyridyl)palladium(II) diacetate complex formed in situ under reflux. Prior to the distillation of the crude product, the catalyst is precipitated with oxalic acid or hydrochloric acid and filtered off.
The use of a combined catalyst system composed of a palladium salt and a redox agent for transvinylation of carboxylic acids is also known. EP 0 376 075 A2 recommends a redox-active catalyst system composed of palladium chloride, copper(II) bromide and lithium acetate. By way of example, the batchwise transvinylation of lauric acid with vinyl acetate close to the boiling point of vinyl acetate is described. The desired vinyl ester is obtained in pure form in a subsequent distillation. A further configuration of a redox-active catalyst system is disclosed in JP 2002-322125 A. This involves heating the reaction mixture composed of carboxylic acid and vinyl acetate, and also palladium acetate and lithium acetate, to 65° C.
Likewise mentioned in the prior art is the use of ruthenium catalysts for the transvinylation reaction. According to Murray, Catalysis Today 1992, 13, pages 93-102, higher carboxylic acids such as 2-ethylhexanoic acid, benzoic acid, neodecanoic acid, neononanoic acid or adipic acid can be converted to the corresponding vinyl esters with vinyl acetate in the presence of metallic ruthenium or ruthenium compounds such as ruthenium chloride, ruthenium oxide or ruthenium carbonyls such as Ru3(CO)12. This reaction is conducted batchwise under carbon monoxide or nitrogen at a pressure of about 2 bar and a temperature of typically 130 to 150° C. A corresponding process is likewise known from EP 0 351 603 A2 and EP 0 506 070 A2. It is pointed out that ruthenium catalysts are more thermally stable than palladium catalysts, which are deactivated at elevated temperatures with deposition of metallic palladium. However, in the case of the known ruthenium-catalysed processes, only moderate yields are reported.
The majority of the transvinylation reaction processes described in the prior art are conducted batchwise, usually under reflux and occasionally under pressure in a closed reaction vessel.
A continuously operated transvinylation process is known from EP 0 497 340 A2. By means of a continuously operated reactive distillation, by continuous removal of the most volatile reaction component, the equilibrium of the transvinylation reaction R—C(O)OH+R1—C(O)O—CH═CH2→R1—C(O)OH+R—C(O)O—CH═CH2 is shifted in the direction of the products. The transvinylating reagent R1—C(O)O—CH═CH2 is chosen such that the corresponding acid R1—C(O)OH is volatile and is removed from the equilibrium. The process according to EP 0 497 340 A2 uses preferably vinyl acetate as the transvinylating reagent, and the acetic acid formed is removed from the reaction zone together with unreacted vinyl acetate. Subsequently, the vinyl acetate separated from the acetic acid in a separate step is returned back to the reaction zone. The known process works with ruthenium catalysts, for example with [Ru(CO)2OAc]n, and describes the transvinylation of adipic acid, neodecanoic acid and 2-ethylhexanoic acid. In order, however, to suppress the unwanted formation of acid anhydrides, it is run only up to a partial conversion of the desired vinyl ester.
WO 2011/139360 A1 and WO 2011/139361A1 disclose a continuous and semicontinuous transvinylation process for carboxylic acids with vinyl acetate, using palladium complexes containing aromatic nitrogen ligands such as 2,2′-bipyridyl and 1,10-phenanthroline. The continuous process is operated in a bubble column with attached packed column, downstream of which may additionally be connected a rectification column and a stripping column. Vinyl acetate is introduced into the bubble column while, at the same time, a mixture of the carboxylic acid and vinyl acetate containing the catalyst in dissolved form is introduced into the attached packed column. Carboxylic acid and catalyst flow into the bubble column, while vinyl acetate is conducted through the bubble column and through the attached packed column in countercurrent. Vinyl acetate and acetic acid formed are removed and separated in a downstream rectification column and stripping column.
WO92/09554 A1 discloses a process for preparing vinyl esters in the presence of ruthenium catalysts, wherein the reaction mixture obtained is worked up using an azeotroping agent. The process can be performed continuously, semi-continuously, batchwise or semi-batchwise.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,425,277 discloses a continuous process for preparing vinyl esters. The reaction is effected in the presence of a supported palladium catalyst with an added cocatalyst composed of an alkali metal compound and a copper(II) compound.
EP 0 054 158 A1 likewise relates to a continuous process for preparing vinyl esters. The reaction is effected in the presence of a supported catalyst based on palladium(II) salts having activated carbon as a support material with a particular analytical SiO2 content.
A disadvantage of the continuous processes described in the prior art is that the transvinylating reagent vinyl acetate is not utilized efficiently for preparation of the vinyl ester because it vaporizes after a very short residence time due to the reaction conditions selected and is no longer available to the transvinylation reaction as a result. Moreover, the known continuously operated transvinylation processes are complex in terms of apparatus and have to be designed with high capital costs, since a series of columns have to be connected downstream of the reaction vessel, these working as additional reaction columns. The known processes therefore allow only moderate space-time yields of the desired vinyl ester.
There is therefore a need for a continuously operated process for transvinylation of carboxylic acids which is easy to perform having a low level of apparatus complexity and enables a high space-time yield, i.e. a high product output per unit reaction volume and time, of the desired vinyl ester. The desired vinyl ester is likewise to be obtained with a high selectivity.


A tire pressure measuring module for a vehicle tire includes a receiving space in which are disposed a pressure sensor, a control circuit coupled to the pressure sensor and a transmitter for wireless transmission of data from the control circuit to a vehicle side receiver. The receiving space is designed to be attached to the vehicle tire. The control circuit has programmable storage devices and a programming interface for writing on the storage device is designed with contact areas. The contact areas are galvanically contacted by contact pins of an associated programming device. The contact areas are covered by an elastic insulating layer which is designed so that it can be perforated by the contact pins.

The invention relates to the field of tire pressure control devices (TPMS: Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems). Tire pressure monitoring systems are known in the prior art that measure pressure data in the region of the tire valve, and transmit said data wirelessly to an evaluation device inside the vehicle. By way of example, DE 101 50 760 A1 describes a tire pressure control system of this type, which also has a tire rotation rate sensor. Systems of this type are so-called direct measurement systems; they determine the tire pressure by means of a measuring module integrated in the tire valve. A wireless communication device is likewise integrated in this assembly, and transmits the tire pressure data, along with further data, if applicable, such as temperature, to a receiver installed in the vehicle. A tire pressure measuring module of this type can be mounted in the wheel rim in the proximity of the valve, or can be incorporated structurally in the valve. The further processing of the pressure data occurs in the vehicle, and a display of the tire pressure, or a warning, results therefrom when an air pressure is below a threshold level.
There are systems of this type for various vehicle manufacturers, and also for various manufacturers of TPMS systems of this type. The tire sets, on the other hand, are offered in the market by other manufacturers, and must be combined with the wheel rims to form a reliably functioning component of the corresponding vehicle. The requirements regarding the communication protocol frequently differ between the tire pressure measuring module, thus the wireless communication unit in the wheel, and the communication unit in the vehicle, which receives the measurement value. Depending on the manufacturer, or type of vehicle, there may be different communication requirements regarding the data sequence or the data format. EP2423008A1 describes a programmable system in accordance with the preamble of this application, which allows for the adaptation of the tire pressure measuring module to different requirements. Reference is made expressly and in full to this application for a complete understanding of the present application.
The object of the invention is to create a universal device for detecting the pressure of vehicle tires, which can be easily and reliably programmed for various applications in different TPMS systems.

Sensor device for sensing and wireless transmission of tire pressure having a programmable interface


Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a display apparatus and an electromagnetic actuator, the display apparatus includes a display structure, a sound-emitting substrate, at least one electromagnetic actuator and a stabilizer; where one side of the sound-emitting substrate is attached to the display structure, and the electromagnetic actuator is fixedly attached to the other side of the sound-emitting substrate through the stabilizer; the electromagnetic actuator includes a bracket and a plurality of flexible support feet extending away from the bracket. The electromagnetic actuator is fixedly arranged on the sound-emitting substrate through the stabilizer, and the bracket receives the electromagnetic actuator, the plurality of flexible support feet can keep the electromagnetic actuator stable during the vibration process of the electromagnetic actuator, which helps avoid position shift of the electromagnetic actuator under long-time working.

With the continuous development of electronic technology and the continuous growth in customer demands, electronic device is developing towards large size, thin thickness and light weight. An electronic device, such as mobile phone, tablet computer, television, or the like, needs to equip with loudspeakers and other sound-emitting apparatus inside, meanwhile ensuring the device keep light and thin. Due to the limitation of the internal space of the electronic device, an installation space left for the loudspeakers is small, so that the loudspeakers installed in the electronic device usually only meets the ordinary play function, and cannot achieve more sound effects such as subwoofer and so on, in other words, resulting in poor play performance.

Display apparatus and electromagnetic actuator


A method for secretory production of a heterologous protein is provided by developing a novel technique for improving ability of a coryneform bacterium to produce a heterologous protein by secretory production. By utilizing a coryneform bacterium having an ability to produce a heterologous protein by secretory production which has been modified so that the activity of a penicillin-binding protein is reduced and in which the activity of a cell surface layer protein has been reduced as an expression host, a heterologous protein is produced by secretory production.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a coryneform bacterium that is able to efficiently produce a heterologous protein by secretion, and a method for secretory production of a heterologous protein.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
To date, secretory production of heterologous proteins by microorganisms has been reported in Bacillus bacterium (Microbiol. rev., 57, 109-137 (1993)), methanol-assimilating yeast, Pichia pastoris (Biotechnol., 11, 905-910 (1993)), filamentous fungi of the genus Aspergillus (Biotechnol., 6, 1419-1422 (1988) and Biotechnol., 9, 976-981 (1991)), and so forth.
Secretory production of heterologous proteins by coryneform bacteria has also been reported, specifically secretion of a nuclease and a lipase by Corynebacterium glutamicum (henceforth also abbreviated as C. glutamicum) (U.S. Pat. No. 4,965,197 and J. Bacteriol., 174, 1854-1861 (1992)), secretion of a protease such as subtilisin (Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 61, 1610-1613 (1995)), secretion of a protein using signal peptides of cell surface layer proteins PS1 and PS2 (also referred to as CspB) of coryneform bacteria (Japanese Patent Laid-open (Kohyo) No. 6-502548), secretion of a fibronectin-binding protein using the signal peptide of PS2 (CspB) (Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 63, 4392-4400 (1997)), secretion of protransglutaminase using signal peptides of cell surface layer proteins PS2 (CspB) and SlpA (also referred to as CspA) of coryneform bacteria (Japanese Patent No. 4320769), secretion of a protein using a variant type secretion system (Japanese Patent Laid-open (Kokai) No. 11-169182), secretion of a protransglutaminase by a variant strain (Japanese Patent No. 4362651), secretion of a protein using a Tat-dependent signal peptide (Japanese Patent No. 4730302), and so forth.
Various proteins have been suggested as proteins which could be produced by secretory production; however, in coryneform bacteria, there are no reports of secretory production of any multimeric protein, such as, for example, antibody-related molecules.
Penicillin-binding protein (PBP) is a generic term which describes proteins that bind with β-lactam type antibiotics, and as a result, inhibit binding with β-lactam type antibiotics. PBPs are generally membrane-binding proteins, and they are considered essential for cell wall synthesis of eubacteria. PBPs are classified as high molecular weight PBPs (HMW-PBPs) or low molecular weight PBPs (LMW-PBPs), according to their molecular weights. HMW-PBPs are further classified as class A high molecular weight PBPs (class A HMW-PBPs), which have both a transpeptidase activity domain for crosslinking peptidoglycan moieties, and a transglycosylase activity domain for forming a polysaccharide chain from disaccharides, and class B high molecular weight PBPs (class B HMW-PBPs) which have only a transpeptidase activity domain.
The findings about PBPs of C. glutamicum are detailed in Mol. Microbiol., 66, 643-57 (2007), Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 94, 99-109 (2008), Mol. Microbiol., 9, 97-109 (1993), and J. Biotechnol., 112, 177-193 (2004). In C. glutamicum, at least nine PBP homologues have been found so far. Five of them are HMW-PBPs including two class A HMW-PBPs (PBP1a, PBP1b), and three class B HMW-PBPs (FtsI, PBP2a, PBP2b). It is known that the class A HMW-PBPs of C. glutamicum are responsible for cell extension, and the class B HMW-PBPs are responsible for formation of peptidoglycan of septal walls at the time of cell division.
Cell surface layer proteins are proteins constituting the cell surface layers (S-layers) of bacteria and archaea. As the cell surface layer proteins of coryneform bacteria, PS1 and PS2 (CspB) of C. glutamicum (Mol. Microbiol., 9, 97-109 (1993)), SlpA (CspA) of C. stationis (Japanese Patent Laid-open (Kohyo) No. 6-502548), and so forth are known. Regarding PS2 (CspB), for example, amino acid sequences of CspB homologues of 28 strains of C. glutamicum have been reported (J. Biotechnol., 112, 177-193 (2004)). As described above, signal peptides of cell surface layer proteins of coryneform bacteria are utilized in secretory productions of proteins (Japanese Patent Laid-open (Kohyo) No. 6-502548; Japanese Patent No. 4320769, and so forth).
However, the relationship between the decrease in the activity of a penicillin-binding protein and/or the decrease in the activity of a cell surface layer protein, and the secretory production of a heterologous protein has not been previously reported.

Method for secretory production of protein


An apparatus for continuous vacuum forming of a hot plasticized material such as vinyl onto a moving flat forming surface defined between a first and second roller member which are continuously rotatable with a flexibly resilient belt and a woven flexible support belt extending therearound. The upper belt is of a flexibly rubber material and the lower belt is of an open woven metallic material to allow air to be drawn therethrough. These belts pass through a flat forming station positioned between two rollers against which vacuum forming is performed. A flexibly resilient pattern form is defined on the flexibly resilient belt including a plurality of vacuum apertures therein such that as the pattern form passes through the flat forming station a vacuum is applied through the woven support belt and to the apertures defined in the form to draw down the hot plasticized material onto the pattern form for continuous vacuum forming. The flexibility of the belts facilitates the vacuum forming operation and provides a flat surface against which the vacuum forming can be performed.

1. Field Of The Invention
The present invention deals with the field of vacuum forming systems. More particularly the present invention deals with the field of devices utilized for vacuum forming of hot plasticized material such as vinyl drawn normally from an extruder and heated.
Heretofore most devices make use of pattern forms rotating on cylindrical drums which require excessive additional instrumentation due to the fact that the forming surface is arcuate rather than flat. The present invention provides a novel means for utilizing a flexibly resilient belt and a metallic woven support belt thereunder with both belts extending between rollers. A flexibly resilient pattern form is positioned on the flexible resilient belt which passes through a flat forming surface which includes all of the advantages and none of the disadvantages of the use of a cylindrical or arcuate forming surface.
2. Description Of The Prior Art
Prior art systems have been disclosed for vacuum forming or for continuous process forming such as U.S. Pat. No. 2,218,338 patented Oct. 15, 1940 to F. W. Manning on a Method and Apparatus For Making Filter Fabric; U.S. Pat. No. 2,855,653 patented Oct. 14, 1958 to E. Kastenbein on an Apparatus For Making Tile Panels; U.S. Pat. No. 3,099,043 patented Jul. 30, 1963 to E. C. Held, Jr. on a Method and Apparatus For Vacuum Forming Hollow Articles; U.S. Pat. No. 3,126,580 patented Mar. 31, 1964 to H. Paschke on an Apparatus For Continuously Deforming Thermoplastic Foils; U.S. Pat. No. 3,872,199 patented Mar. 18, 1975 to Lester V. Ottinger and assigned to Champion International, Corporation, on a Method of Manufacturing A Foamed Urethane Structural Product Having High and Low Density Portions; U.S. Pat. No. 3,895,087 patented Jul. 15, 1975 to L. Ottinger et al on a Method Of Manufacturing A Molded Composite Urethane Foam Structural Panel; U.S. Pat. No. 3,954,923 patented May 4, 1976 to E. Valyi on a Method Of Making Composite Plastic Article; U.S. Pat. No. 3,982,868 patented Sep. 28, 1976 to William R. Rinker and assigned to The B. F. Goodrich Company, on a Continuous MOld Thermo Forming; U.S. Pat. No. 4,009,975 T. Ninomiya et al on a Device For Producing An Obliquely Oriented Film Of Thermoplastic Synthetic Resin; U.S. Pat. No. 4,061,706 patented Dec. 6, 1977 to P. Duffield et al on a Process For The Continuous Melt Thermoforming Of Polymers; U.S. Pat. No. 4,128,369 patented Dec. 5, 1978 to William J. Kemerer et al and assigned to Hazelett Strip-Casting Corporation on a Continuous Apparatus For Forming Products Form Thermoplastic Polymeric Material Having Three-Dimensional Patterns And Surface Textures; U.S. Pat. No. 4,315,885 patented Feb. 16, 1982 to Jerome H. Lemelson on a Continuous Molding Apparatus and Method; U.S. Pat. No. 4,332,847 patented Jun. 1, 1982 to W. Rowland on a Method For Compression Molding Or Retroreflective Sheeting And Sheeting Produced Thereby; U.S. Pat. No. 4,352,771 patented Oct. 5, 1982 to Robert J. Szabo and assigned to Variform Plastics, Inc. on a Method and Apparatus For Creating Random Shadow Patterns in Formed Vinyl Sheet Article; U.S. Pat. No. 4,464,319 patented Aug. 7, 1984 to H. Halter et al on a Method Of And Apparatus For The Coiling Of Flattened Synthetic Resin Foil Tubes; U.S. Pat. No. 4,477,243 patented Oct. 16, 1984 to H. Wallsten on a Thermoforming Apparatus; U.S. Pat. No. 4,487,730 patented Dec. 11, 1984 to A. Larribe on a Process For Draping Layers Of Composite Materials; U.S. Pat. No. 4,495,135 patented Jan. 22, 1985 to L. White on a Method For Forming Container having Re-Entrant Flange; U.S. Pat. No. 4,582,666 patented Apr. 15, 1986 to I. Kenworthy et al on a Method And Apparatus For Making A Patterned Non-Woven Fabric; U.S. Pat. No. 4,634,358 patented Jan. 6, 1987 to H. Dellbrugge on an Apparatus For Flattening And Withdrawing Blown Continuous Plastic Tubular Films; U.S. Pat. No. 4,649,008 patented Mar. 10, 1987 to Thomas O. Johnstone, et al and assigned to Alcan Aluminum Corp. on a Method of Making Interlocking Vinyl Siding; U.S. Pat. No. 4,646,722 patented Apr. 14, 1987 to L. Armstrong on a Method Of Forming A Decorative Panel Of Molded Plastic; U.S. Pat. No. 4,657,625 patented Apr. 14, 1987 to H. Kawakami on an Apparatus For Producing Sheet Having Many Hollow Bodies From Thermoplastic Material; U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,877 patented Oct. 27, 1987 to L. Davis, Jr. on a Method For Molding Concrete Blocks Or Bricks; U.S. Pat. No. 4,776,998 patented Oct. 11, 1988 to P. Davidson et al on a Method For Making Refractory Shaped Articles By Cutting Vertically Hanging Extrudates and U.S. Pat. No. 4,847,034 patented Jul. 11, 1989 to K. Araki et al on a Vacuum Forming Method.
One of the main problems with prior art constructions, particularly such as U.S. Pat. No. 3,099,043, is the formation of seams. With rigid pattern forming members, they must separate while passing over the rollers. These pattern forms then rejoin for molding however a seam is forever present between adjacent sections during the vacuum forming due to the need to separate while passing around the rollers. The flexible pattern forming means of the present invention overcomes these problems in the prior art.

Apparatus for continuous vacuum forming of a hot plasticized material on a moving flat forming surface


A process has been developed for production of taxols A, B, C with high yields from 7-xylosyl-10-deacetyl taxol A (taxol analogue A or, xyloside A), 7-xylosyl-10-deacetyl-taxol B (taxol analogue B or xyloside B), 7-xylosyl-10-deacetyl--taxol C (taxol analogue C or xyloside C), which comprises (i) isolating the taxol analogues A, B, C form the stembark of Taxus wallichiana by an improved process devoiding of solvent partitioning step, (ii) treating the isolated taxol analogues A, B, C with periodates in an acid free polar solvent medium to cleave the diol into dialdehyde at ambient temperature, (iii) reducing the dialdehyde solution with borohydride in a polar solvent--acetic acid medium at 0.degree.-40.degree. C. into an acetal, (iv) acidifying the resultant acetal with a mixture of mineral acid-polar solvent at 0.degree.-40.degree. C. into intermediate product 10-deacetyl taxols A, B, C, (V) reacting 10-deacetyl taxols A or B or C with a silane in presence of a base at 20.degree.-40.degree. C. to protect 2', 7-hydroxyl groups, of 10-deacetyl taxols A, B, C (vi) acetylating the 10-hydroxyl group in situ with an acetylating agent at 10.degree.-40.degree. C., (vii) deprotecting the 2', 7-hydroxyl groups with a mixture of mineral acid-polar solvent at 0.degree.-10.degree. C. (viii) isolating taxols A or B or C by chromatography over silica.

Taxols A and B are also known in the literature as taxol and cephalomannine and taxol C has no other name Mise en evidence nouveaux analogues du taxol extracts de Taxus baccata. V. Senilh, S. Blechert, M. Colin, D. Guenard, F. Picot, P. Potier and P. Varenne, Journal of Natural products 47, 131-137 (1984)!. Out of the three taxols A, B, C, only taxol A (=taxol) is used clinically for the treatments of ovarian and breast cancers. Various types of cancers have been treated with taxol A and the results in the treatments of ovarian and breast cancers are very promising. Taxol A (=taxol) has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States for the treatments of ovarian and breast cancers.
Taxol B (=cephalomannine) has been isolated from the leaves, stems, roots of Taxus wallichiana; It is not clinically used. Antileukemic alkaloids from Taxus wallichiana. R. W. Miller, R. G. Powell, C. R. Smith, Jr., E. Arnold, and J. Clardy, Journal of Organic Chemistry 46, 1469-1474 (1981)!.
Taxol C has been isolated from the roots of Taxus media Taxol analogues from the roots of Taxus media. L. Barboni, P. Garibaldi, E. Torregiani, G. Appendino, B. Gabetta and E. Bombardelli, Phytochemistry 36, 987-990 (1994)!. Taxol C has also been isolated from the cell cultures of Taxus baccata and it showed potent and selective cytotoxicity against cell lines of non-small-cell lung cancer, small cell lung cancer, colon cancer, CNS cancer and ovarian cancer; New bioactive taxoids from cell cultures of Taxus baccata. W. Ma, G. L. Park, G. A. Gomez, M. H. Nieder, T. I. Adams, J. S. Aynsley, O. P. Sahai, R. J. Smith, R. W. Stahlhut, P. J. Hylands, F. Bitsch and C. Shackleton, Journal of Natural Products 57, 116-122 (1994)!.
Taxol A, a highly oxygenated diterpenoid molecule and a potent anticancer drug was first isolated from the stem bark of Taxus brevifolia. Thereafter, it has also been isolated from other Taxus species including Taxus wallichiana. Taxol A, a structurally complicated and chemically labile molecule needed special and careful extraction and separation procedures for its isolation from plant materials. Unfortunately, most of the works are proprietary in nature and have not been published. The American workers have used alcohol to extract taxol from the stem bark of T. brevifolia and isolation of taxol from the alcoholic extract used sequential column chromatography over silica with methanol-chloroform mixture (2: 98) as the eluting solvent to yield a mixture of taxol A (=taxol) and Taxol B (cephalomannine). In one of the prior art process, Taxol A has been separated and isolated from the mixture containing taxol A and Taxol B with a yield of 0.01% either by repeated column chromatography over silica gel or by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). M. C. Wani, H. I. Taylor, M. E. Wall, P. Coggan and A. T. Mc Phail. Plant antitumor agents VI: The isolation and structure of taxol, a novel antileukemic and antitumor agent from Taxus brevifolia. Journal of the American Chemical Society 93, 2325 (1971); and J. H. Cardellina: HPLC separation of taxol and cephalomannine, Journal of liquid chromatography 14, 659 (1991)!.
According to another prior art process, Taxol A has been isolated from the stem bark of Taxus wallichiana with a yield of 0.02%. The isolation process involves extracting the stem bark with methanol, partitioning of the methanolic extract between water and chloroform and isolation of taxol A from the chloroform soluble fraction by column chromatography over silica gel. S. K. Chattopadhyay, V. K. Tripathi, R. S. Thakur, R. P. Sharma and S. P. Jain. Isolation of taxol, 10-deacetyl baccatin III and (-) betuligenol from Taxus baccata 33B, 409 (1994)!.
According to a prior art process, taxol analogues 7-xylosyl-10-deacetyl taxol A and B have been converted into taxol A (=taxol) and taxol B (cephalomannine) by K. V. Rao Process for the preparation of taxol and deacetyl taxol, K. V. Rao, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 851469, 13 Mar. 1992!.
The process for the preparation of taxols A or B involved reacting the analogue 7-xylosyl-10-deacetyl taxol A or B with periodate in methanol. Chloroform and sulphuric acid mixture at 20.degree.-60.degree. C. to give a dialdehyde product which was then treated with phenyl hydrazine in methanol-aqueous acetic acid mixture and heated at 50.degree.-60.degree. C. to degrade the dialdehyde into 10-deacetyl taxol A or B which was then isolated by column chromatography. The resultant 10-deacetyl taxol A or 10-deacetyl taxol B was then converted into taxol A (=taxol) or taxol B by reacting 10-deacetyl taxol A or B with an acetylating agent at 0.degree.-100.degree. C. to block the 2', and 7-hydroxyl groups, then acetylating the 10-hydroxyl group with an acetylating agent at 0.degree.-100.degree. C. followed by deprotecting 2' and 7-hydroxyl groups with a suitable deprotecting agent to taxol A or B.
The process for preparation of the intermediate product 10-deacetyl taxol A or B from 7-xylosyl-10-deacetyl taxol A or B, and conversion of 10-deacetyl taxol A into Taxol A (=taxol) as described by Rao suffers from major disadvantages which include low yield of the intermediate product 10-deacetyl taxol A, or B, eg. 0.5 g 7-xylosyl-10-deacetyl taxols A, or B yields 0.2 g 10-daecetyl taxol A or B; as well as low yield of the final product taxol A (=taxol) from its intermediates 10- deacetyl taxol A; eg. 0.5 g 10-deacetyl taxol A yields 0.3 g taxol A. No experimental procedure and yield are reported by Rao for conversion of the 10-deacetyl taxol B into taxol B (=cephalomannine).
The reasons for low yield of the intermediate products 10-deacetyl taxol A or B may be rationalized due to (i) carrying out the periodate oxidation of the 7-xylosyl-10-deacetyl taxol A or B in presence of mineral acid (although it is mentioned by Rao in his patent application that periodate oxidation can also be carried out under neutral condition in presence of excess sodium bicarbonate, the presence of excess dissolved sodium carbonate may lead to degradation of the side chain from dialdehyde leading to mixture of products) (ii) heating the periodate oxidation product with phenyl hydrazine in methanol-aqueous acetic acid mixture at 50.degree.-60.degree. C. to degrade the periodate oxidation product into 10-deacetyl taxol A or B.
The reasons for low yield of the final product taxol A (=taxol) from the intermediate product as described in Rao's process may be due to selection of improper protecting groups to block 2', 7-hydroxyl groups and non-optimization of reaction conditions such as duration of reaction time and temperature to carryout the protection of the groups.
Moreover, the processes for production of the intermediate product 10-deacetyl taxol C from the analogue 7-xylosyl-10-deacetyl taxol C and conversion of the above said intermediate product 10-deacetyl taxol C into taxol C have not been covered by Rao in his patent application.

Council of Scientific & Industrial Research


An atomizing nozzle for two substances, which is used for spraying a liquid with the aid of a compressed gas, is provided. The atomizing nozzle includes a mixing chamber, a liquid inlet that extends into the mixing chamber, a compressed gas inlet which extends into the mixing chamber, and an outlet located downstream from the mixing chamber. An annular gap is provided which surrounds the outlet and discharges compressed gas at a high speed. The atomizing nozzle is used for purifying flue gas.

In many process engineering installations, liquids are distributed in a gas. In such cases, it is often of decisive importance that the liquid is sprayed in drops that are as fine as possible. The finer the drops, the greater the specific surface area of the drops. This can give rise to considerable process engineering advantages. For example, the size of a reaction vessel and its production costs depend considerably on the average drop size. However, it is often by no means adequate for the average drop size to be below a certain limit value. Even a few significantly larger drops can lead to considerable operational malfunctions. This is the case in particular whenever the drops do not evaporate quickly enough on account of their size, so that drops or even pasty particles are deposited in downstream components, for example on filter fabrichoses or fan blades, and lead to operational malfunctions due to encrustations or corrosion.
In order to spray liquids finely, either high-pressure one-substance nozzles or medium-pressure two-substance nozzles are used. An advantage of two-substance nozzles is that they have relatively large flow cross sections, so that even liquids containing coarse particles can be sprayed.
The representation of FIG. 1 shows a two-substance nozzle with internal mixing according to the prior art. A basic problem with such nozzles results from the fact that the walls of the mixing chamber 7 are wetted with liquid. The liquid which wets the wall in the mixing chamber 7 is driven to the nozzle mouth as a liquid film 20 by the shearing stress and compressive forces. It is tempting to assume that the walls toward the nozzle mouth are blasted dry because of the high flow velocity of the gas phase, and that only very fine drops are thereby formed from the liquid film. However, theoretical and experimental work by one of the inventors, have shown that liquid films on walls may still exist as stable films without drop formation even when the gas flow that drives the liquid films to the nozzle mouth reaches supersonic speed. And this is indeed also the reason why it is possible to use liquid film cooling in rocket thrust nozzles.
The liquid films 20 that are driven by the gas flow to the nozzle mouth 8 may even migrate around a sharp edge at the nozzle mouth on account of the adhesive forces. They form a bead of water 12 on the outside of the nozzle mouth 8. Outer drops 13, the diameter of which is many times the average diameter of the drops in the jet core or the core jet 21, break away from this bead of water 12. And although these large outer drops only contribute to a small proportion of the mass, they are ultimately determinative for the dimensions of a vessel in which, for example, the temperature of a gas is to be lowered by evaporative cooling from 350° C. to 120° C. without drops entering a downstream fan or downstream fabric filter.
A liquid is introduced into the prior-art nozzle represented in FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrow 1, parallel to a center longitudinal axis 24. The liquid is passed through a lance tube 2, extending concentrically with respect to the center longitudinal axis 24, and enters a mixing chamber 7 at a liquid inlet 10. The lance tube 2 and the mixing chamber 7 are concentrically surrounded by an annular chamber 6, which is formed by means of a further lance tube 4 for the feeding of the compressed gas to the two-substance nozzle. Compressed gas is introduced into this annular chamber 6 according to the arrow 15. A circumferential wall of the mixing chamber 7 that is radial with respect to the center longitudinal axis 24 has a number of compressed gas inlets 5, which are arranged radially with respect to the center longitudinal axis 24. Through these compressed gas inlets 5, compressed gas can enter the mixing chamber 7 at right angles to the liquid jet entering through the liquid inlet 10, so that a liquid/air mixture is formed in the mixing chamber 7. The mixing chamber 7 is adjoined by a frustoconical constriction 3, which forms a convergent outlet portion, which is followed after an extremely narrow cross section 14 in turn by a frustoconical widening 9, which forms a devergent outlet portion. The frustoconical widening 9 ends at the outlet opening or the nozzle mouth 8.


The present invention relates to a cryogenic air separation process that provides high pressure oxygen for an oxy-fired combustion of a fuel (e.g., a carbonaceous fuel). The air separation process can be directly integrated into a closed cycle power production process utilizing a working fluid, such as CO2. Beneficially, the air separation process can eliminate the need for inter-cooling between air compression stages and rather provide for recycling the adiabatic heat of compression into a process step in a further methods wherein an additional heat supply is beneficial.

Atmospheric air is recognized to comprise a number of different gaseous components, primarily nitrogen and oxygen, but also minor amounts of other materials, such as noble gases, methane, water vapor, and carbon dioxide. One or more of the components of atmospheric air can be separated and provided in a purified form through use of an air separation method and system—i.e., an "air separation unit" or "air separation plant". There are various known technologies that are used for the separation process, such as cryogenic distillation of purified air, oxygen ion transport membrane (or other membrane) separation, pressure swing adsorption (PSA), and vacuum pressure swing adsorption (VPSA). Of the various available methods, cryogenic distillation can be particularly advantageous for the separation of air into its constituent parts at high purity. Known cryogenic air separation units achieve the low distillation temperatures required through use of a refrigeration cycle with the cold equipment maintained within an insulated enclosure. The cooling process and the separation of the air components typically requires a large amount of shaft power to drive the air compressors used in the refrigeration and separation cycles. Air separation units also can require initial separation of water vapor, CO2, and other minor components to avoid freezing thereof within the cryogenic equipment.
A typical cryogenic air separation process can include four main features: air compression; air purification; heat interchange between cooling air streams and heating products of air separation; and distillation. In the compression stage, the total feed of atmospheric air is pre-filtered and compressed to a pressure typically from 3.5 to 10 bar (0.35 to 1 MPa). This compression stage imparts heat to the air, and such added heat must be removed (e.g., in a heat exchanger) to lower the compressed air temperature to around ambient temperature. The air is generally compressed in a multi-stage compressor with inter-cooling between stages and an after-cooler using an ambient cooling means, such as cooling water or air. The heat of compression is rejected to the environment. Purification of the compressed air can be achieved by passage through an adsorption process, such as cyclically operating beds of alumina and/or molecular sieve adsorbents. This can be useful to remove any remaining water vapor, CO2, and any other components that would be subject to freezing in the cryogenic equipment, as well as gaseous hydrocarbons. The adsorbents can be regenerated by methods, such as thermal swing or pressure swing using dry nitrogen purge gas at low pressure. Cooling and distillation begins with passage of the air streams through an integrated heat exchanger (e.g., an aluminum plate fin heat exchanger) and cooling against produced oxygen and waste cryogenic product streams. The air is then cool enough to be distilled in a distillation column. The formation of liquid air in the cryogenic equipment typically requires some refrigeration. Such liquid may be formed by Joule Thomson expansion of air across a valve or through an expander. The air is distilled in at least one and often two or three distillation columns, depending on the requirements for products to be provided, product purities, and product delivery pressures. The separated air product components can be warmed against the incoming air in the heat exchangers to provide the product gases at ambient temperature.
The production of oxygen at elevated pressure is accomplished in all current cryogenic air separation systems using the pumped oxygen process. This involves pumping a stream of low pressure liquid oxygen taken from the distillation system to the high pressure required by a downstream oxygen consuming process. The high pressure liquid oxygen is vaporized and heated to ambient temperature by heat exchange with a portion of the air feed stream that has been compressed to a pressure sufficiently high to give a low temperature difference between the oxygen and air streams in the heat exchanger. Generally between about 27% and 40% of the purified total air feed stream is compressed in a second multi-stage air compressor to a pressure which depends on the required oxygen pressure. The air pressure can be about 27 bar (2.7 MPa) for oxygen at a pressure of 10 bar (1.0 MPa), and the air pressure can be about 100 bar (10 MPa) for oxygen at a pressure of about 300 bar (30 MPa).
Air separation units can be stand-alone systems providing bulk products for commerce. Alternately, air separation units can be integrated with other methods and systems where a continuous stream of products separated from the air is required. Specifically, air separation units can be integrated with combustion systems wherein fuel is combusted for power production and a purified O2 stream is required to facilitate combustion. Because of the ever increasing need for power production in a growing world economy, there remains a need in the art for improved air separation methods and systems, particularly methods and systems that can be usefully integrated into power production methods and systems.

Cryogenic air separation method and system