An anti-blocking composition including about 75% to about 99% weight percent a metal salt of stearate and about 1% to about 25% weight percent stearic acid is provided. In addition, an anti-blocking composition including about 90% to about 99.5% a metal salt of stearate and about 0.5% to about 10% fiber is provided. The anti-blocking compositions may be formed into blocks and applied to a web of paper to reduce adherent properties of the paper. Further, a method of improving the handling properties of paper cut from a web is provided. The method includes the steps of coating a surface of a web of paper with an effective amount of a coating composition of the present disclosure, and cutting the web into sheets of paper.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to printing systems and more particularly to a system that enables high-speed printing on a roll of paper.
2. Description of the Background of the Invention
Application of coatings and/or films to paper to impart beneficial attributes, such as improved gloss, greater electrographic recording resolution, increased printing density, and the like is known.
In some instances, heat-sensitive paper for thermally noting information in automatic recording apparatuses is prepared by applying onto a paper base a coating containing zinc stearate and ethyl cellulose. The recording is accelerated by forming the coating from 70-75 weight % zinc stearate and 25-30 weight % ethyl cellulose. The ethyl cellulose is dissolved in ethyl alcohol and zinc stearate is admixed. The resulting emulsion is applied onto the paper-base and dried. The weight of the coating is 3-4.5 g/m2.
In other instances, a heat sensitive record material, such as paper, that does not pick-off onto hot type surfaces is coated with a colorless chromogenic material. Additional coating ingredients include a bisphenol distributed in a polyvinyl alcohol, a filler, a non-tacky wax, and a lubricant, such as zinc stearate. Other water insoluble stearates of calcium, iron, cobalt, nickel, aluminum, manganese, lead, and the like may be incorporated, as well.
In yet further instances, water-vaporproof paper for use as wrappers and the like is prepared by applying a coating composition that is a plasticized resin-ethyl cellulose wax compound. The coating mixture includes coumarone indene resin, ethyl cellulose, rosin and polyisobutene plasticizers, paraffin wax, and zinc stearate.
In further instances, in a method for making coated paper a coating composition is applied to a paper web forming a filter cake thereon. Excess composition forming the filter cake is removed by passing the paper web over a flexible wiper resulting in a smooth coating on the paper. The wiped paper is then passed over driers to dry the coating.
In yet further instances, an image forming apparatus employs a developer that includes a first lubricant preferably a metallic soap of zinc stearate. The image forming apparatus further includes a second lubricant that is applied to a surface of a photoreceptor by means of a cleaning brush. The second lubricant is preferably the same as the first.
The advent of in-line printing systems, which include, for example, printing, cutting, stacking, and inserting stations has placed new demands on paper attributes for obtaining and maintaining efficient operation. Paper conditioning stations in in-line printing systems help to ensure efficient operation of in-line printing systems.

Formulations for high speed print processing


A method of making a cast concrete stepping stone whose exposed upper surface has the appearance of two or more grouted attractive natural stepping stones. A liquid release agent is applied to the mold which is then placed on a vibrator table and filled with wet concrete. The mold is vibrated for about 30 seconds and the surface of the concrete troweled smooth. Dry body color is sprinkled over the concrete surface and troweled to completely cover the concrete. A dry release agent containing powdered color having a darker shade than the body color is sprinkled over the dry body color covering the concrete. The desired pattern is then pressed into the surface of the concrete and after a six hour drying time, the cast stepping stone is removed from the mold. Excess body color and release agent are washed away and the washed surfaces totally dried. Finally a clear concrete sealer is applied to the exposed upper surface of the concrete stepping stone.

The high cost of attractive natural stone, marble, ceramic tile and genuine brick in recent years has turned designers, builders and home owners to the use of relatively inexpensive cast concrete products to replace products made essentially of genuine natural stone, marble, tile or brick.
However, unless the exposed surfaces of the cast concrete product faithfully replicate the shape and color of the original natural product, the cast concrete product would not be acceptable to the trade despite its price advantage.
This has led to numerous suggestions for forming and/or treating the exposed surface of the cast concrete product in an attempt to replicate the shape and color of the original natural product. Accordingly, the prior art is replete with suggestions for making the exposed surfaces of a cast concrete product look like an arrangement of bricks or stones or marble or ceramic tiles. See, for example, Lowe U.S. Pat. No. 5,372,676 and the earlier patents named and discussed in Lowe '676.

Method of making a concrete stepping stone whose upper surface replicates grouted stones


An external environment recognizing device for vehicle includes an image acquiring unit configured to acquire image obtained by picking up image of an area ahead of an own vehicle, a light-source extracting unit configured to extract light source from the acquired image, an own-vehicle-speed acquiring unit configured to acquire own vehicle speed, an oncoming-vehicle-presence-possible-region estimating unit configured to estimate oncoming vehicle presence possible region on the basis of own vehicle speed, and an oncoming-vehicle detecting unit configured to detect an oncoming vehicle on the basis of the oncoming vehicle presence possible region and the light source. The oncoming-vehicle-presence-possible-region estimating unit estimates oncoming vehicle presence possible region on the basis of the own vehicle speed, a minimum curvature radius of traveling road corresponding to a speed limit determined in advance, and traffic information indicating whether driving on the traveling road is driving on the right side or the left side.

Since a driver of an automobile has a narrow view at night, a risk of traffic accident occurrence is high and, when a traffic accident occurs, a death rate is high. Therefore, the development of a light distribution control system is underway. The light distribution control system divides an irradiation range of headlights of an own vehicle into a plurality of small regions and adjusts the intensity and the height of beams in the respective regions to thereby prevent drivers of other vehicles from being dazzled while increasing visibility for the driver at night. As a method of detecting a preceding vehicle and an oncoming vehicle at night, for example, there is a method of extracting, using, for example, a vehicle-mounted camera, headlights of the oncoming vehicle and taillights of the preceding vehicle out of points of white light and points of red light reflected in an image.
However, light sources such as streetlights and reflected lights of reflectors are present on a road besides lights of other vehicles. All the light sources are reflected in a camera image as points of light. Therefore, it is necessary to identify light sources of the other vehicles and light sources other than the light sources of the other vehicles out of the light sources. In particular, the reflected lights of the reflectors present on the road tend to be misrecognized as headlights of oncoming vehicles.
In order to prevent the reflected lights of the reflectors from being misrecognized as headlights of oncoming vehicles, for example, PTL 1 describes a method of recognizing a white line and determining that light on the recognized white line is not a headlight of an oncoming vehicle.
PTL 2 describes a method of changing a signal processing range of a radar according to road information acquired from a navigation system.

External environment recognizing device for vehicle and light distribution control system using the same


This invention is an email system that replaces every URL, attachment and image in the email message with a short URL, where the original URL, attachment or image is publicly accessible through the short URL. The system further includes the short URL in the public profile associated with the email address of the sender and also publishes the most popular short URLs in the system.

URL Redirection:
URL redirection, also called URL forwarding is a technique on the World Wide Web for making a web page available under many URLs. There are several ways to redirect a URL including (a) Showing a page with a link and asking the user to manually click on it (b) HTTP redirect (c) javascript redirect (d) using .htaccess files (e) using HTTP Meta and Refresh tags and (e) Frame redirect where one frame shows the redirected page
URL Shortening:
URL shortening is a technique on the World Wide Web where a provider makes a web page, typically owned by another entity, available under a short URL in the provider's domain, in addition to the original address. tinyurl.com is one of the companies that offers this service. For example, the
page http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=TinyURL&diff=2836210 22&oldid=283308287 points to http://tinyurl.com/mmw6lb.
The provider controls the domain of the rewritten URL and hence has the ability to track and maintain access to the original web page through the rewritten URL.
SMTP Proxy:
An SMTP proxy is an email system that receives emails from the user and sends it to another email system. When SMTP proxies are placed on the outgoing network, they typically are used to intercept all SMTP connections to make sure that unauthorized e-mail, spam, e-mail worms, etc. are not sent from the network.
Web Email:
Web email systems such as Google or Yahoo are used by millions of people worldwide. These systems create private URLs for attachments and images in the emails. They make sure that these private URLs are accessible only to the people who sent and received the message, and not accessible to others. These systems show those private links outside the email message body when the message is displayed on the browser. When an email is sent to another system, they embed the attachment in the message in an encoded form as specified in the MIME specifications RFC 2045 and RFC 2822.
Social Bookmarking:
A social bookmarking system allows users to save links to web pages that they want to remember and/or share. These bookmarks are usually public, and can be saved privately, shared only with specified people or groups, shared only inside certain networks, or another combination of public and private domains. These bookmarks can also be emailed to others. Digg, Delicious, Reddit, Google Bookmarks and Yahoo Bookmarks are some of the popular social bookmarking sites.


In one aspect, the invention is directed to a multifocal ophthalmic lens having a first region having first focal properties, and a second region having second focal properties and including a progressive region. The second region may further include, for example, a portion that is a reading region. The second region has two side edges and there are first and second transition regions between the first region and the side edges of the second region. The transition regions each have a width that is less than a selected width. This gives the lens designer more freedom to provide a wider second region without extending into lower left and lower right regions of the lens.

Multi-focal lenses are well known. The lenses typically include upper regions designed to improve long-distance vision, and lower regions designed to improve intermediate and short distance vision. Such lenses typically have a significant amount of distortion associated with them, particularly in regions of the lens that can cause visual difficulties for the wearer. Additionally, such lenses typically have relatively small reading regions, rendering them difficult to use for reading.
It would be advantageous to provide a lens that at least somewhat addresses one or more of these problems.
Furthermore, it would be advantageous to be able to provide a lens that has at least somewhat less distortion but that is also tailored to permit the wearer to perform a particular task.


A capacitor includes at least two pairs of opposing electrode layers and an intermediate dielectric layer. The intermediate dielectric layer includes a ceramic material that contains at least two different components existing in separate phases. The at least two different components have a perovskite structure that contains silver in A-positions and niobium and tantalum in B-positions. A composition of a first component and a composition of a second component are such that temperature coefficients of respective permittivities TkεA and TkεB have different signs within a temperature range.

The publication by M. Valant and D. Suvorov, "Microwave Ceramics with Permittivity over 400," The 9th International Meeting on Ferroelectricity, Seoul, South Korea, 1997, Abstract Book, P-05-TH-067 discloses multilayer capacitors whose dielectric layers comprise a ceramic material based on a niobium-based perovskite-like solid solution having the general formula A(B1−xNbx)O3. It was found that ceramics of this type are characterized by a high relative permittivity ε>400. Furthermore, at low frequencies between 100 kHz and 1 MHz, these ceramic materials have dielectric properties that make them suitable for use in multilayer capacitors.
A ceramic material is known from the publication by A. Kania, "Ag(Nb1−xTax)O3Solid Solutions—Dielectric Properties and Phase Transitions," Phase Transitions, 1983, Volume 3, pp. 131–140, produced from silver, niobium and tantalum, referred to here as ANT, which exists in the form of a solid solution of the two materials AgNbO3 and AgTaO3. The ceramic described in this publication comprises the composition Ag(Nb1−xTax)O3, referred to here as ANTx, wherein x can vary from 0 to 0.7. Depending on the composition, at a temperature of approximately 300 K, the ceramic has an ε of between 800 and 400.
From the publication by Matjaz Valant and Danilo Suvorov, "New High Permittivity Ag(Nb1−xTax)O3 Microwave Ceramics: Part 2, Dielectric Characteristics," J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 82 (1), pp. 88–93 (1999), it is known that disk-shaped ceramic bodies made of ANTx with an x parameter between 0.46 and 0.54, exhibit a strong relative change in the relative permittivity ε in the temperature range between −20° C. and 120° C. It was demonstrated in particular that the relative change of ε with varying temperature describes a curve that reaches a maximum between 20° C. and 70° C., and assumes values between −0.07 and 0.01.
It is further known from publication WO 98/03446 that by adding lithium, wolfram, manganese or bismuth to ANT, in the case of individual temperatures, the temperature coefficient of the relative permittivity TKε can be reduced to very small values as low as ±−70 ppm/K.
Although the known ANT materials have a high ε, they have the disadvantage of having relatively high TKε values in the temperature range between −20° C. and 80° C. that is of interest for applications. At the same time, a high temperature coefficient of relative permittivity εresults in a high temperature coefficient of the capacitor's capacitance.

Capacitor having a dielectric ceramic layer


A clip for supporting a muntin grid, a muntin grid, and a method of assembly is disclosed herein. The clip includes coupled together lateral and longitudinal members, each supporting bosses, and first and second arms respectively. The clip for coupling to the first and second muntin bars via first and second notches in the respective muntin bars. The muntin bars are formed by pre-notching and then roll forming, wherein the bosses support the first and second muntin bars when the clip is coupling the first muntin bar to the second muntin bar.

Windows constructed from multiple glass panes utilize decorative bars typically described as "muntins" or "muntin bars" to secure the edges of the individual glass panes within the window sash. In many windows, muntins formed distinctive grid patterns that are associated with architectural styles of buildings containing the windows.
Modern windows formed by insulating glass units utilize single glass lites separated by an insulating air space. Where a particular architectural "look" is desired, a grid of muntin bars is fixed on the window or even in the air space between the glass lites to simulate a multipane window. Typical muntin bars for insulating glass units are formed from decoratively coated interfitted metal tubes. The grids are anchored to the insulating glass unit periphery.
Muntin bar stock is produced by roll forming decoratively coated sheet material such as aluminum or steel, in a known manner. Various sizes of the sheet material are used to form different size muntin bar stock. The roll forming machine has a series of rolls configured to form sheet material into elongated tubular muntin bar stock. A window manufacturer purchases the muntin bar stock size(s) needed to produce insulating glass units, cuts the stock into lengths that are notched and assembled into grids for incorporation into the insulating glass units.
The cut-to-length muntin bars 2, 4 are then fed to a notching device to form notches 6, 8 that will be located at the muntin bar intersections. (see FIGS. 1-2). These muntin bars are cut after roll forming because a seam 10 formed from the roll forming is a point of "flare", where pre-notching to a depth 2A, 4A that is visually attractive (e.g., less than 50% of the overall thickness 2B, 4B of the muntin bar) would cause undesirable deformities.
The seam 10 is typically centrally located along a sidewall (i.e., not on a front or back wall that would comprise the simulated multipane window because the seam would be more visible on the front or back wall to someone looking in or out the window). To prevent undesirable shadowing 6A, 6B, 8A, 8B (see dashed lines in FIGS. 1-2) from a 50% or more notch depth, the depth 2A, 4A of each notch on each muntin bar 2, 4 has be individually assessed, and when needed for ascetics, manually altered. Further, an area 10a between the notch 6 and the seam 10 is fragile, and prone to breaking, as an average thickness (see dimension 28 is approximately three-sixteenths ( 3/16″) of one inch. Although some machinery may be specialized to notch the bars for forming grids, the muntin bars must typically be manually handled to produce correctly sized muntin bars with properly located notches.
Muntin bars are typically coupled together by clips. A known clip typically has a first muntin bar engagement leg extending from one end of the body and a second muntin bar engagement leg extends from an opposite end of the body. The muntin bar engagement legs extend along a longitudinal axis of the clip and the one or more abutments extend from the body transverse to the axis. The joiner has opposite body sides that define substantially parallel major surfaces and opposite edges that are substantially parallel and extend substantially parallel to the axis. Different embodiments are disclosed in which the abutments extend from body sides or body edges.
Further discussion relating to developments in window clips and cross joiner clips are discussed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,628,582; 5,313,761; 5,678,377; 6,244,012; 6,651,304; 6,883,278; 8,001,742 and 8,015,763. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,628,582; 5,313,761; 6,678,377; 6,244,012; 6,651,304; 6,883,278; 8,001,742 and 8,015,763 are assigned to the assignee of the present application and all of the aforementioned patents are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.

Muntin assembly and method of manufacture


A vehicle includes an engine, a transmission having a friction clutch and a binary clutch assembly, and a controller. The controller executes a method to detect the requested shift of the transmission to neutral, and when a set of conditions are satisfied during the requested shift, to automatically decrease a pressure command to the friction clutch such that torque capacity of the friction clutch decreases from a full torque capacity and begins to slip. The controller holds the binary clutch assembly at a calibrated pressure while the friction clutch slips, disengages the binary clutch assembly only when the binary clutch assembly is released and not loaded, and increases the pressure command to the friction clutch to restore full torque capacity to the friction clutch and complete the requested shift to neutral.

An automatic transmission includes a shift controller and one or more gear sets. Rotatable input and output members of the transmission are selectively coupled to establish a desired speed ratio, with coupling achieved via hydraulic engagement of one or more friction clutches. Some friction clutches may connect an element of a gear set to a stationary member and thereby operate as a braking clutch, while other friction clutches connect one rotating member to another and thus act as rotating clutches. The clutch apply state of a conventional friction clutch ranges anywhere from fully-applied to fully-released.
In some transmissions, a binary clutch assembly is used in lieu of one of the friction clutches. A binary clutch assembly, such as a dog clutch or a selectable one-way clutch having a freewheeling element, relies on interference rather than friction material to hold torque. Binary clutch assemblies can be used alone or in conjunction with friction clutches to attain certain gear states, e.g., first gear. Unlike conventional friction clutches, a binary clutch assembly has just two possible clutch states: fully-applied and fully-released. When fully applied, the binary clutch assembly cannot rotate in either rotational direction. When released, the binary clutch assembly is able to rotate freely in either/both directions depending on the design.

Binary clutch disengagement control in a neutral shift


A tip assembly for a liquefaction surgical handpiece having a break-away or frangible tip protector. The tip protector protects the delicate tip from damage during handling and shipment, but is easily removed prior to use.

This invention relates generally to the field of cataract surgery and more particularly to a tip assembly for use on a liquefaction handpiece.
The human eye in its simplest terms functions to provide vision by transmitting light through a clear outer portion called the cornea, and focusing the image by way of the lens onto the retina. The quality of the focused image depends on many factors including the size and shape of the eye, and the transparency of the cornea and lens.
When age or disease causes the lens to become less transparent, vision deteriorates because of the diminished light which can be transmitted to the retina. This deficiency in the lens of the eye is medically known as a cataract. An accepted treatment for this condition is surgical removal of the lens and replacement of the lens function by an artificial intraocular lens (IOL).
In the United States, the majority of cataractous lenses are removed by a surgical technique called phacoemulsification. During this procedure, a thin phacoemulsification cutting tip is inserted into the diseased lens and vibrated ultrasonically. The vibrating cutting tip liquefies or emulsifies the lens so that the lens may be aspirated out of the eye. The diseased lens, once removed, is replaced by an artificial lens.
Recently, a new cataract removal technique has been developed that involves the injection of hot (approximately 45° C. to 105° C.) water or saline to liquefy or gellate the hard lens nucleus, thereby making it possible to aspirate the liquefied lens from the eye. Aspiration is conducted with the injection of the heated solution and the introduction of a relatively cool irrigating solution, thereby quickly cooling and removing the heated solution. This technique is more fully described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,616,120 (Andrew, et al.), the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Handpiece and tips suitable for practicing this technique are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,989,212, 5,997,499, 6,080,128, 6,110,162, 6,179,805 and 6,206,848 (Sussman, et al.), the entire contents of which being incorporated herein by reference. These patents do not disclose any details on how to protect the tip from damage.
Therefore, a need continues to exist for an assembly for protecting a handpiece tip.


A method of manufacturing a fibre-composite article is described, wherein a layer of fibre material is applied from a layup head to a mould along a layup path. The angle at which the fibre material is dispensed from the layup head is rotated relative to the angle of orientation of the layup path, to minimise the effects of gravity on the alignment of the fibre layer in the mould. The fibre-composite article is preferably a section of a blade for a wind turbine.

The manufacture of fibre-composite articles generally involves the layup of fibre-composite material in a shaped mould, the fibre-composite material normally applied as strips of a continuous layer. A resin can then be applied to the fibre-composite material in the mould which is subsequently cured to solidify the fibre-composite material into the moulded article. The moulded article can be then removed from the mould for additional processing or machining, with the mould prepared for the layup and curing of the next article in the mould.
Traditionally, the layup material is manually applied to the surface of the mould. However, as some fibre-composite articles are of considerable length, for example modern wind turbine blades can be in excess of 40 metres in length, such manual layup results in a considerable cycle time for the manufacture of a single article.
In an effort to reduce the manufacturing time for such articles, fibre-composite material can be dispensed from an automated layup head, which is arranged to apply such material from a roll provided at or on the layup head, the material applied along a linear application plane. The layup head can be moved relative to the mould, to dispense the material along any desired mould portion.
However, while the use of such a layup head can result in faster layup times, the automation of the layup sometimes results in misalignments of fibre-composite material in the mould, in particular when the mould comprises an inclined or sloped mould surface. In such a case, the dispensing of the material from a linear application plane to a curved surface can result in slippage of the fibre-composite material due to the effects of gravity on the material, causing the material to lie off the desired layup path in the mould. The correction of this misalignment can require manual inspection and rectification of the layup material position, thereby introducing additional time and effort to the manufacturing process. In addition, the application of material in a near-vertical alignment can result in a layup head being near a kinematic singularity, meaning that the flexibility or adaptability of the layup head is restricted.
In some systems, tackifier can be applied to the fibre-composite material and/or clamps can be applied to the edges of the material after layup to prevent movement or slippage after layup. However, such systems do not completely eliminate the slippage problem, and/or introduce additional steps to the manufacturing process.
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved system and method for the manufacture of a fibre-composite article which seeks to reduce these problems.

System and method for the manufacture of an article


A method for processing a still image and a broadcast receiving apparatus thereof is provided. The method for processing a still image includes transmitting to an external apparatus a still image selected by a user using a GUI window to select a desired still image from among still images of a stored broadcast. Accordingly, the user can conveniently use the home network service.

1. Field of the Invention
Apparatuses and methods consistent with the present invention relate to receiving a broadcast and, more particularly, to receiving a broadcast which may be provided to a user and in which communication may be wirelessly performed with peripheral wireless devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
The recent development of wireless communication and networking technologies has led to the appearance of wireless networks, and wireless communication between wireless devices in the wireless network enables users to utilize various and convenient services.
Display apparatuses, such as televisions (TVs), may display large amounts of information and various graphical user interfaces (GUIs) to users through wide screens, and accordingly TVs serve as leaders in home networks. Therefore, users may control and access the entire home network through TVs.
In order to easily use home network services, there is a need for a method for more conveniently using home network services through TVs.

Method for processing still image and broadcast receiving apparatus thereof


A cable clamp has first and second metal plate members, each with two fixed portions, front and rear plate portions, and a clamp portion. The fixed portions are separated from each other in a first direction perpendicular to a front-rear direction. The front plate portion couples the fixed portions to each other. The rear plate portion is rearward of and apart from the front plate portion and couples the fixed portions to each other. The clamp portion is on the front or rear plate portions or both. When clamped, in a second direction perpendicular to the front-rear and first directions, the first member fixed portions are fixed to the second member fixed portions, respectively, the cable, in the second direction, is between the first and second member front plate portions and between the first and second member rear plate portions, and the clamp portion is pressed against the cable.

This invention relates to a cable clamp, particularly to a cable clamp used in a charging connector.
Patent Document 1 discloses an example of a charging connector.
As shown in FIG. 18, a charging connector 90 disclosed in Patent Document 1 is attached to an end of an electrical wire (a cable) 100. The charging connector 90 is provided with a housing 92 and a metal clip (a cable cramp) 94 which holds the electrical wire 100. The metal clip 94 is consists of a pair of half bodies 94H and 94H.
As understood from FIG. 19, the half body 94H is made of a metal plate. The half body 94H has a bottom wall 940, a right-side wall 942, a left-side wall 944, a front wall 946 and a rear wall 948. The right-side wall 942, the left-side wall 944, the front wall 946 and the rear wall 948 extend from four edges of the bottom wall 940 in the same direction, respectively.
As shown in FIG. 19, the right-side wall 942 is provided with an engagement piece 950, and the left-side wall 944 is provided with an engagement hole 952. The front wall 946 and the rear wall 948 are provided with curved portions 960 and 962, respectively.
As understood from FIGS. 18 and 19, the half bodies 94H of the pair are combined with each other and hold the electrical wire 100. Then, the curved portions 960 and 962 of one of the half bodies 94H and the curved portions 960 and 962 of the other of the half bodies 94H are pressed against the electrical wire 100 and clamp the electrical wire 100. Meanwhile, the engagement piece 950 of one of the half bodies 94H fits in the engagement hole 952 of the other of the half bodies 94H, and the engagement piece 950 of the other of the half bodies 94H fits in the engagement hole 952 of the one of the half bodies 94H. In this way, the half bodies 94H and 94H are fixed to each other and hold the electrical wire 100.
[Patent Document 1] JP 2012-195214 A
In the charging connector 90 disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the metal clip 94 holds the electrical wire 100, the front wall 946 and the rear wall 948 of each of the half bodies 94H are pressed against the electrical wire 100. On that occasion, if at least one of the front walls 946 and the rear walls 948 is deformed in a front-rear direction, there is a possibility that the metal clip 94 cannot be accommodated in the housing 92.

Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Limited


In order to reduce production cost, an output buffer for an electronic device includes a first logic unit, a second logic unit, a first transistor, a second transistor and a control unit. The first logic unit and the second unit are both coupled to an input terminal and conductions of the first logic unit and the second unit are controlled by an input signal from the input terminal. The control unit is coupled to the first logic unit, the second logic unit, the first transistor and the second transistor, for controlling the first transistor and the second transistor to conduct at different times for implementing the non-overlapping function.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an output buffer of an electronic device, and more particularly, to an output buffer for reducing production cost of the electronic device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Output buffers are widely used in electronic devices to separate a signal input terminal and a signal output terminal, for decreasing influences from the load and enhancing driving capability. Please refer to FIG. 1, which is a schematic diagram of an output buffer 10 according to the prior art. The output buffer 10 comprises an input terminal 100, an OR gate 102, an AND gate 104, delay cells 106, 108, a p-type metal-oxide-semiconductor (PMOS) transistor 110, an n-type metal-oxide-semiconductor (NMOS) transistor 112 and an output terminal 114. The OR gate 102 is utilized for performing an OR operation on an input signal SI from the input terminal 100 and a gate control signal VN from the delay cell 108, for outputting an operation result to the delay cell 106. The delay cell 106 delays the output of the operation result, for generating a gate control signal VP. Similarly, the AND gate 104 is utilized for performing an AND operation on the input signal SI and the gate control signal VP from the delay cell 106, for outputting an operation result to the delay cell 108. The delay cell 108 delays the output of the operation result, for generating the gate control signal VN. The gate control signal VP and VN controls the conduction of the PMOS transistor 110 and the NMOS transistor 112 for generating an output signal SO. The output terminal 114 outputs the output signal SO to the load.
Please refer to FIG. 2, which is a timing diagram of the input signal SI, the output signal SO, the gate control signal VP and VN. As shown in FIG. 2, by using the OR gate 102 and the delay cell 106, the PMOS transistor 110 first conducts according to the gate control signal VP at a time point T2, then by using the AND gate and the delay cell 108, the NMOS transistor 112 conducts according to the gate control signal VN at a time point T3. In other words, the PMOS transistor 110 and the NMOS transistor 112 conduct and turn off at different times so as to implement the non-overlapping output function. A lot of components are required to implement the OR gate 102, the AND gate 104, the delay cells 106 and 108, however. As a result, production cost of the output buffer 10 cannot be reduced.


Methods and systems for electrical distribution submetering are provided. The electrical distribution submetering system includes a modular load sensing assembly including a plurality of load sensors. The load sensing assembly further includes a first cable having a first cable termination connector, an interface board including a plurality of electrical terminations, at least some of the terminations electrically coupled to a second cable having a second cable termination connector coupled to at least one conductor of the second cable, the second cable termination connector being complementary to the first cable termination connector such that the first cable termination connector and the second cable termination connector are configured to be electrically coupled. The submetering system also includes a modular sub metering electronics communicatively coupled to the interface board, the modular sub metering electronics configured to determine a branch circuit load in the electrical distribution system using the detected electrical load.

This invention relates generally to electric distribution panels, and more particularly to methods and systems for submetering power delivered from electric distribution panels.
At least some government entities, such as states are permitting and in some cases requiring the deregulation of wholesale electricity distribution. In such areas, electricity distribution to an individual customer was limited to a regulated utility entity. With new regulations in effect, a landlord, such as an apartment building owner may now purchase bulk power for the apartment building and resell the power to the individual apartment dwellers. Heretofore, the metering of power distributed to individual apartment was performed by individual demand meters owned by the regulated utility and corresponding to each apartment. A new metering scheme, to take advantage of the deregulated environment, may allow for only one utility electric demand meter per apartment building, however, load to each individual apartment must still be determined for proper billing purposes.

Methods and systems for measuring system loads and sub-metering electric power distribution


The exhaust gases of a two-bank internal-combustion engine are guided, by way of exhaust gas collectors, to a central expansion chamber of a housing. From there, they flow through main catalysts arranged on opposite ends of the housing, before they are guided into the open air by way of end mufflers.. This exhaust system provides a space-saving arrangement of all components required for an optimal emission control, and low exhaust gas back pressure, and meets all acoustic requirements.

The invention relates to an exhaust system of a multi-cylinder internal-combustion engine, the exhaust gases of which are guided by means of a collector approximately centrically to a housing which has catalysts at opposite ends, all exhaust gas being lead out to the open air downstream of the catalysts.
In the German Patent Document DE- 2 452 675, an exhaust system is disclosed in which the exhaust gases flow by way of a collector into an interior housing surrounded by an exterior housing. In this case, the exhaust gases first reach an afterburning chamber in a central manner and are guided from there as separate flows through two catalysts arranged on opposite ends of the interior housing into the exterior housing, in which the exhaust gas flows are mixed again and reach the open air by way of a common exhaust.
From the German Patent Document DE- 21 17 771, an exhaust system is known in which pipe sections, which extend from one cylinder bank respectively of the internal-combustion engine into a muffler, have a perforated construction inside this muffler. The German Patent Document DE-39 30 380 shows an exhaust system of a multi-cylinder internal-combustion engine in which starting catalysts are connected into the exhaust pipes which are connected directly to the cylinder head, which starting catalysts have a central duct, which can be closed by a flap, and a ring duct which surrounds it and contains the catalyst material.
The invention is based on the object of providing an exhaust system for an internal-combustion engine which, while its arrangement is space-saving, has a low exhaust back pressure and achieves an optimal exhaust emission control.
This object is achieved by means of an arrangement of the above-noted type wherein the collector is provided with an end piece which projects into an expansion chamber which is centrally arranged in the housing.
The low exhaust back pressure is achieved by the central arrangement of the expansion chamber and the complete symmetrical acting upon the catalysts which follows.
The discharge of the exhaust gases flowing through the catalysts by way of separate exhausts also provides a symmetrical low exhaust back pressure. Furthermore, the central position of the expansion chamber permits a space-saving arrangement of this chamber and of the adjacent catalysts in a common housing. The exhaust gases can be guided to the catalytic emission control system by way of short pipes and lines. Thus, the catalysts rapidly reach their temperature required for an optimal emission control.
The flowing of the exhaust gases into the expansion chamber arranged centrally in the housing and the dividing into two separate exhaust gas flows that takes place there, which exhaust gas flows act directly, without any reduction of the cross-section, upon the main catalysts by way of large-surface perforated metal sheets, permits a fast parallel flowing through the main catalyst monoliths and the subsequent discharging of the purified exhaust gases by way of one separate exhaust respectively.
The low exhaust back pressure promotes a good power development of the internal-combustion engine while the fuel consumption is reduced at the same time. The arrangement of the housing transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the internal-combustion engine permits a symmetrical arrangement of the lines and offers a large space for the housing of the main catalysts. A large catalyst volume is the prerequisite for a long working life of the catalyst.
A damper volume surrounding the catalysts acts in a damping manner together with the expansion chamber arranged in front of the main catalysts which, on the one hand, results in acoustic advantages and, on the other hand, reduces pressure peaks in the exhaust gas flow which otherwise may result in damage to the catalysts or to the whole housing. The large volume of the exhaust system has a damping effect on pressure fluctuations.
According to the working volume of the internal-combustion engine and according to acoustic requirements, all exhaust pipes together may be guided in an exhaust collector into the expansion chamber or a separate collector may be assigned to one cylinder bank respectively.
For acoustic and fluidic reasons as well as because of the component strength, it was found to be advantageous to close the end pieces of the collector in the expansion chamber at the end and to let the exhaust gases flow out by way of openings on their lateral surface.
In order to meet also the strictest emission control regulations, starting catalysts may be inserted in the exhaust collector or collectors whose small monolith mass, because of the arrangement close to the combustion chamber, reaches its working temperature particularly fast.
These starting catalysts may have, for example, as switchable catalysts, ring-shaped monoliths which surround an at first closed central duct. After the working temperature of the main catalysts has been reached, the central duct is opened up so that the exhaust gas will no longer flow through the monoliths. For a particularly fast-acting emission control, a separate starting catalyst, which is inserted in the respective exhaust pipe, may be assigned to each individual cylinder of the internal-combustion engine.
In an advantageous development of the invention, the housing may be constructed in a double-walled manner as a heat exchanger and may be provided with connection pieces. By way of these connection pieces, the fresh air to be heated is supplied which is heated by the energy contained in the exhaust gases and is then, by way of additional connection pieces, supplied, for example, to the interior of a vehicle equipped with such an exhaust system.
For the control of the fuel-air mixture of the internal-combustion engine and for the monitoring of the operatability of the catalysts, several lambda probes are arranged in the exhaust system. The control of the mixture, in this case, is carried out by, in each case, one or two first lambda probes arranged upstream of the catalysts, while second or third probes arranged downstream of catalysts are used for the catalyst monitoring.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Exhaust system of an internal-combustion engine


A fluid level measuring device, also referred to as a dipstick, for measuring the fluid level in a fluid reservoir or tank, such as an oil pan or transmission reservoir in an internal combustion engine. The fluid level measuring device includes a stationary tube onto which lugs can be directly attached. The dipstick assembly includes a fluid level indicator measuring blade attached to an elongated shaft that is molded into a plastic handle assembly. The plastic handle assembly includes a bayonet type locking mechanism for locking the handle to the stationary tube assembly. A compressible seal forms a pressurized seal between the stationary tube assembly and the handle.

It is known to use a fluid measuring device for indicating the fluid level in a selected fluid holding compartments of internal combustion engines, transmissions, and other machinery requiring fluids for lubrication and cooling. Typically, the fluid measuring device is a dipstick for checking the level of fluid such as engine or transmission oil, or hydraulic fluid within one of the many fluid holding compartments in the engine, transmission, or other machine. The dipstick is normally an elongated indicator that is slidably located within a conduit or pipe attached to the engine, transmission, gear box, reservoir or machine in which a fluid level indication is desired. When the dipstick is fully inserted into the conduit, one end is immersed into the fluid. When an actual reading of the fluid level is desired, the other end of the dipstick is pulled from the conduit thereby removing the entire dipstick from the conduit to allow the user to read the fluid level from the one end. The dipstick is then reinserted into the fluid compartment once the fluid level has been checked.
Traditional fluid level indicator systems typically consist of a two piece system with a holding tube and a dipstick. Examples of conventional dipstick systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,371,418; 5,485,681 and 5,829,153; the disclosure of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference. The holding tubes are generally fabricated from metal tubing and require various forming operations including bending, flaring, and machining, followed by the attachment of a dipstick receptacle. In addition, the dipstick is fabricated from multiple components including a handle, washer, cap, rubber stopper, shaft assembly, and a marked spring steel shaft mechanically joined to a spring steel blade. The actual assembly of these various components involves multiple assembly operations requiring costly, time-consuming, and labor intensive manufacturing steps. Therefore, a simpler design requiring fewer parts and connections as well as less forming is desirable.
Engines, transmissions, and machinery designs have become relatively smaller, more compact, and of less weight than traditional engines, transmissions, and machinery. Therefore, fluid level indicator systems must be smaller, more compact, and lighter weight. Moreover, the fluid access routes or paths through which the fluid level indicator system accesses the fluid storage compartments are becoming more complex (more twists and turns as well as longer runs), smaller, and more compact.
There is a need in this art for a fluid level indicator that extends a defined distance into the fluid reservoir in order to provide an accurate reading (i.e., measurement of the amount of liquid within the reservoir). Variations in the length of a shaft associated with a fluid level indicator blade can cause overextension or under-extension of the blade into the reservoir thereby providing an inaccurate reading on the blade.

Fluid level measuring device having at least one compressible member


An electronic ballast control apparatus and method for fluorescent lamps includes applying a heating current through the filaments of the lamp, and delaying the application of arc current through the filaments and the gas for a predetermined time. This allows the filaments to heat up to a level capable of sustaining thermionic emission, thereby eliminating sputtering damage upon the application of the arc current.

The number of times a fluorescent lamp is turned on is known to limit the lamp's operating life. This is due to damage to the lamp electrodes which occurs during the start interval with known forms of electrical and electronic ballast used to start conventional lamps. Existing ballasts will typically start a fluorescent lamp between 10,000 and 100,000 times before the lamp becomes effectively inoperable.
A conventional rapid start fluorescent lamp is turned on by applying low voltage (typically about 3.5V) across each of the two filaments or electrodes in the fluorescent lamp tube, while simultaneously applying about 300-400V between the two electrodes. Each electrode acts alternately as an anode and as a cathode. Initially, essentially no current flows through the lamp and the 300-400V applied between the electrodes is manifested as a voltage drop between the electrodes and the gas which surrounds them. Once the electrodes are heated to a sufficient temperature, thermionic emission of electrons from the electrodes begins. The thermionic emission into the gas enclosed by the fluorescent lamp tube allows current to flow between the electrodes thereby ionizing the gas within the tube. As thermionic emission continues, current through the gas increases. When each electrode is warmed up to its operating temperature and the thermionic emission has reached a sufficiently high level, the potential difference between the gas and the electrode drops to a much lower number, in the range of 3 to 4 volts. Electronic ballast is typically provided between the power supply source and the electrode to limit the increase in current in the circuit as the gas becomes increasingly ionized. In its crudest form, such ballast may constitute a simple resistor. In such case, as thermionic emission increases the current flow through the fluorescent tube between the electrodes, the current through the resistor also increases thereby increasing the voltage drop across the resistor. This operation stabilizes when most of the voltage drop from the power supply is applied across the resistor and a relatively small voltage drop is presented between the electrodes. Usually the resistor is replaced with an inductive reactor ballast having substantially the same overall effect.
Inui et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,215,292 discloses a circuit for operating a discharge lamp. The apparatus provides a reduced arc current during a pre-heating period. The Inui et al. device reduces but does not eliminate wear on discharge lamps. Kachmarik et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,483,125 and Chermin et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,253,043 provides other ballast circuits which provide a reduced arc voltage during a pre-heating interval. The pre-heating interval in each case is determined by a PTC resistor. Significant voltages can be applied between the electrodes of the Kachmarik et al. and Chermin et al. lamps even during the pre-heating interval. This is especially true if the lamps are switched off and on again while the PTC resistor is hot.
Rudolph, U.S. Pat. No. 5,583,399 shows a ballast for a fluorescent lamp in which arc voltage is reduced until after the filaments in a connected lamp become hot. The filaments are then disconnected. Disconnecting the filaments allows a resonant circuit to produce high voltage to fire the lamp. The Rudolph design does not provide continuous heater current. Lau, U.S. Pat. No. 5,444,333, shows another ballast circuit in which the heater current is off during normal operation.
Hoeksma, U.S. Pat. No. 4,988,920 discloses a power circuit for a lamp in which arc current is supplied by the secondary winding of a transformer. The arc current is disconnected until after filaments in a connected lamp are warmed up. The Hoeksma circuit appears to be primarily intended for use in devices such as photocopiers and the like. Hoeksma does not include a timer for delaying the application of arc current for a predetermined time period.
Nilssen, U.S. Pat. No. 4,949,015 shows a bridge inverter ballast which has first and second pairs of switching transistors connected to self-oscillate. When the second pair of transistors self-oscillate they generate voltage to power the main arc current in a lamp. Self oscillation of the first pair of transistors powers thermionic cathodes in a lamp. Self oscillation of the second pair of transistors is delayed until the cathodes have heated up. While the cathodes are heating up and the second set of switching transistors is not self-oscillating significant transient potentials may be applied between the lamp cathodes. Such potentials will be caused by resonances, reflections and standing waves excited by the fast square waves which are omnipresent in this design.
Damage to the electrodes occurs when they are acting as cathodes at the early stage of warm up of the electrodes when high voltage is applied to the circuit. At that stage, there is a high potential difference between each electrode and the gas surrounding it. Although the initial application of high voltage to the electrodes is brief (usually in the order of 0.2 seconds), it nonetheless causes the field emission of electrons from the electrode creating a localized plasma. Any positive ions that may be present in the area when the electrode is acting as a cathode are accelerated by the voltage drop and crash violently into the electrode thus causing damage known as sputtering damage.
In a prior art approach used in association with line voltage power sources and know as "preheat" lamps, a switch is placed in the series connection between the two electrodes and an inductor is placed in series connection between the power source and one of the electrodes. The switch is manually depressed for a period of time before being released. During the depressed or closed period, the current flows through the electrodes thereby heating them up. When the switch is released, the collapse of the magnetic field in the inductor induces a very high voltage between the two electrodes ionizing the gas in the lamp and initiating the arc discharge that characterizes normal operation. A current is then established through the gas, following which the voltage across the inductor falls to reasonable levels. A disadvantage of this approach is arcing which occurs across the switch. In such a system, sputtering damage occurs due to the high voltage drop between the electrodes which occurs during the noisy, arcing period of the closing of the manual switch, during which time the electrodes are still cold.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a fluorescent lamp start up control circuit which minimizes sputtering damage to the electrodes and thereby increases the number of turn ons to which the lamp may be subjected.

Fluorescent lamp electronic ballast control circuit

North Vancouver, British Columbia V7J 1T1


In a method of lubrication between two sliding members at least one of which is made of a ceramic material, the improvement according to the present invention is characterized in that soot as produced by burning a hydrocarbon fuel is supplied between the two sliding members.

The present invention relates to a method of lubrication between two sliding members at least one of which is made of a ceramic material and an apparatus for improving a lubrication between two sliding members at least one of which is made of a ceramic material.
Oils have conventionally been used in performing lubrication between two sliding members as in an automotive engine. A proposal has recently been made to use ceramic parts in the engine with a view to meeting various needs such as smaller cooling loss, lighter weight and better endurance under hostile operating conditions. Ceramic parts have such high heat resistance that they used not be cooled, thereby making it possible to reduce cooling loss.
On the other hand, ceramic parts become as hot as 300.degree. C. and higher if they are not cooled. Obviously, currently used oils are not suitable for lubricating such hot members. Solid lubricants could be used in place of oils but they have the disadvantage of high cost and maintenance of solid lubricant film.
For example, when bearings such as a ball-and-roller bearing and a slide (plain) bearing are to be used in a hot atmosphere, oils or greases cannot be used as lubricants. Under the circumstances, solid lubricants are conventionally used as a component of the bearing such as a retainer or coatings of solid lubricants are applied to the sliding part of that bearing component. However, these conventional bearings lubricated by the methods described above have had the following problems. First, in the case of using a solid lubricant as a bearing component, the latter may break during use since the solid lubricant is generally a low-strength and brittle material, thus reducing the strength of the bearing component. In the second case of applying a coating of solid lubricant, the coated solid film may spall off from the substrate, leading to deterioration in the lubricating characteristics of the film. As a further problem which is common to both cases, the solid lubricant cannot be replenished even if it is exhausted.

Method of lubrication between two sliding members


A method for fabricating a read head sensor for a magnetic disk drive is presented. The method includes providing a layered wafer stack to be shaped, where the layered wafer stack includes a free layer, a barrier layer and a pinned layer. A single- or multi-layered photoresist mask is formed upon the layered wafer stack to be shaped. A material removal source is provided and used to perform a partial depth material removal within a partial depth material removal range which extends from the free layer to within the pinned layer to a partial depth material removal endpoint. In various embodiments, this depth endpoint lies at or within the barrier layer or within but not through the pinned layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to magnetic heads for reading data written to storage media, and more particularly to magnetic read heads for disk drives.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A computer disk drive stores and retrieves data by positioning a magnetic read/write head over a rotating magnetic data storage disk. The head, or heads, which are typically arranged in stacks, read from or write data to concentric data tracks defined on surface of the disks which are also typically arranged in stacks. The heads are included in structures called "sliders" onto which the read/write sensors of the magnetic head are fabricated. The slider flies above the surface of the disks on a thin cushion of air, and the surface of the slider which faces the disks is called an Air Bearing Surface (ABS).
The goal in recent years is to increase the amount of data that can be stored on each hard disk. If data tracks can be made narrower, more tracks will fit on a disk surface, and more data can be stored on a given disk. The width of the tracks depends on the width of the read/write head used, and in recent years, track widths have decreased as the size of read/write heads has become progressively smaller. This decrease in track width has allowed for dramatic increases in the recording density and data storage of disks.
Some recent read heads use a tunnel junction sensor, also known as a "tunnel valve", abbreviated "TV", for reading the magnetic field signals from the rotating magnetic data storage disk. The sensor typically includes a nonmagnetic tunneling barrier layer sandwiched between a ferromagnetic pinned layer and a ferromagnetic free layer. The pinned layer in turn is fabricated on an antiferromagnetic (AFM) pinning layer which fixes the magnetic moment of the pinned layer at an angle of 90 degrees to the air bearing surface (ABS). The magnetic moment of the free layer is free to rotate upwardly and downwardly with respect to the ABS from a quiescent or zero bias point position in response to positive and negative magnetic field signals from the rotating magnetic disk. The tunnel junction sensor layers are typically sandwiched between ferromagnetic first and second magnetic shield layers. These first and second shield layers also serve as first and second electrical lead layers, and are connected to the tunnel junction sensor for conducting a tunneling current through it. The tunneling current is preferably configured to conduct Current Perpendicular to the Planes (CPP) of the film layers of the sensor, as opposed to a sensor where a sense Current In the Planes (CIP) or parallel to film layers of the spin valve sensor. The CPP configuration is attracting more attention lately, as it can be made to be more sensitive than the CIP configuration, and thus is more useful in higher densities of tracks and data. The sensitivity of the tunnel junction sensor is quantified as magnetoresistive coefficient dr/R where dr is the change in resistance of the tunnel junction sensor from minimum resistance to maximum resistance and R is the resistance of the tunnel junction sensor at minimum resistance.
The track width and the stripe height refer to the width of the read head sensor stack and the length dimension perpendicular to the ABS. Both of these dimensions are very important to the operating characteristics of the read head and are very tightly controlled during fabrication. The trackwidth and stripe height of magnetic tunnel junctions and CPP-GMR read sensors are defined usually by ion milling. This ion milling creates redeposited material on the side of the barrier layer, which can cause unwanted barrier layer shorting.
FIG. 5 (prior art) shows a wafer stack 52 of thin film layers which is being shaped into a CPP read head sensor in a front plan view as seen from the Air Bearing Surface (ABS). The stack 52 includes a first magnetic shield 54. A first seed layer 58 is deposited upon the first magnetic shield 54. Further layers are formed in the order of an antiferromagnetic layer 60, a pinned layer 62, a barrier layer 64, a free magnetic layer 66, and a cap layer 68. It can be seen that a bridge of unwanted redeposited material 70 has been formed across the barrier layer 64, thus creating a "short" between the pinned layer 62 and the free magnetic layer 66, which can severely affect the operation of the sensor.
A shallow angle ion milling step can be conducted to remove this redeposited material. However, excessive ion milling of the sensor edge causes sensor damage, thus reducing output signal amplitude. The amount of redeposited material is higher in the case of the sharp junction profiles created when a non-undercut mask layer is used for ion milling.
Thus there is a need for a method of fabrication which eliminates creation of bridges of unwanted redeposited material which causes shorting across the barrier layer when ion milling is used to shape sensor material stacks.

Method of partial depth material removal for fabrication of CPP read sensor

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.


The present invention relates to open- and fine-celled rigid polyurethane foams which contain not only urethane groups (PUR) but also isocyanurate groups (PIR) and carbodiimide groups (CD) and to the use thereof in vacuum insulation panels.

Rigid PUR/PIR foams have long been known. Thermal insulation is a substantial area of application. The use of vacuum insulation panels (VIP) containing rigid PUR/PIR foams for insulation is increasing in importance. Foam quality has a decisive influence on the insulation properties of foams used for vacuum insulation: on the one hand a very small cell size and very homogeneous cell sizes are advantageous and on the other hand a high proportion of open cells is advantageous to allow the foam to be readily evacuated.
The production of open-celled rigid PUR/PIR foams is known in principle. Certain cell-opening substances are generally added to the reaction mixture to bring about an opening of the cells during the foaming process.
Thus U.S. Pat. No. 5,350,777 describes the use of alkaline earth metal salts of long-chain fatty acids as cell openers.
EP-A 498 628 A discloses the production of rigid open-celled foams by way of a thermally activatable blowing agent. This process has the disadvantage that the foam cells are opened merely where a minimum temperature is exceeded in the course of the foam process and the obtained foams therefore do not exhibit a uniformly high open-cell content over the entire foam-filled volume.
DE-A 43 03 809 describes a process for producing rigid foams having an elevated open-cell content where the cell-opening effect of a liquid polyolefin addition is utilized. This process has the disadvantage of a narrow scope of application and also that inexact metering of the polyolefin addition rapidly leads to cell coarsening.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,250,579 and 5,312,846 disclose the cell-opening effect of substances having a surface tension of less than 23 mJ/m2. However, these substances have the disadvantage that they contain organically bonded halogen.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,889,067 describes a process for producing an open-celled rigid polyurethane foam which comprises the production of the rigid polyurethane foam from polyol with a liquid blowing agent selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons, hydrofluoroalkanes, perfluoroalkanes, mixtures of these blowing agents with one another or with water by addition of a monohydric fatty alcohol which has a good solubility in the hydrocarbons and serves as a cell opener and of a foam stabilizer which forms a very small cell in the presence of an isocyanate trimer catalyst and an organic isocyanate. The resulting open-celled rigid polyurethane foam has a cell size of less than about 95 μm and is suitable for example for use as a core material in a vacuum insulation panel.
EP 905 159 A and EP 905 158 A disclose processes for producing open-celled rigid polyurethane foams which preferably employ water in combination with hydrocarbons or hydrofluorocarbons as a blowing agent. The polyol formulations are said to contain 0.1-80% by weight of polyester alcohols which are preferably reaction products of ricinoleic acid and/or castor oil and/or tall oil fatty acid with polyfunctional alcohols. These components are said to act as emulsifiers for non-halogenated blowing agents. In the examples the claimed polyols are used to produce both open-celled and closed-celled foams, wherein the open-cell content is dependent on the presence of additives known as cell openers. While the cells of the obtained foams are described as fine-celled, according to the legend "very fine-celled" is to be understood as meaning a cell size range of 180-250 μm. In addition, nothing is said about the homogeneity of the cell size distribution.
EP 2 072 548 A describes a process for producing open-celled rigid PUR/PIR foams having an isocyanate index in the range between 150-400 by reaction of polyisocyanates with polyols having a functionality in the range from 2.5 to 5.5 and a hydroxyl number in the range of 200-400 mg KOH/g in the presence of a blowing agent mixture of water and at least one physical blowing agent. However, the open-cell content of the foams in the examples is obtained primarily with high proportions of cell-opening substances.
In the production of rigid PUR/PIR foams a polyol component also containing a blowing agent is reacted with an isocyanate. The reaction of isocyanate with water forms carbon dioxide, which also acts as a blowing agent. It is also known to add CO2 to the polyol component or to the reaction mixture as a blowing agent.
An effect on fine-cell content and open-cell content was also found for the use of supercritical CO2 in combination with certain process steps and components.
The abrupt decompression of CO2-containing reaction mixtures is described in WO 2001/98389 A1. This patent application relates to a process for producing slabstock polyurethane foam, wherein a carbon dioxide-containing polyurethane reactive mixture is suddenly decompressed from a pressure above the equilibrium solution pressure of the carbon dioxide to standard pressure. The liquid polyurethane reactive mixture is foamed by the liberation of dissolved carbon dioxide and the foamed mixture is applied to a substrate and subsequently cured to afford slabstock foam. The carbon dioxide is initially fully dissolved in the reactive mixture or at least one of the components polyol and isocyanate at a pressure substantially above the equilibrium solution pressure. Subsequently the pressure is reduced to a pressure close to the equilibrium solution pressure, wherein the pressure is temporarily reduced below the equilibrium solution pressure to liberate small amounts of the carbon dioxide by forming a bubble microdispersion, the components are optionally mixed and the sudden pressure reduction to standard pressure is performed before the liberated carbon dioxide fully redissolves. However, no information about nanocellular foams or supercritical conditions for the blowing agent may be found here.
WO 2011/054868 A and WO 2011/054873 A disclose production processes for fine-celled urethane group-containing foams using CO2 as a supercritical blowing agent. The production of a microemulsion from the polyol phase and supercritical CO2 is decisive for the success of the process in both cases. Said microemulsion is to be established through the use of suitable surfactant components. However, there is no indication of how this process is used to produce foams having predominantly open cells.
WO 2015/109488 A likewise describes a production process for urethane group-containing foams using CO2 as a supercritical blowing agent. The production process is a multistage process, wherein the polyol component must initially be saturated with CO2 under supercritical conditions before the reaction mixture is subsequently subjected to pressures of at least 100 bar. The produced foams are said to have small cell sizes and a high porosity. However, foams having a high open-cell content are found only when using propylene oxide-based polyethers and when using two very specific cell-opening surfactants in a particular ratio. The process provides foams having densities >>100 kg/m3. The total duration for the multistage process (saturation, reaction, curing) in the reactor is >>1 h during which time supercritical conditions must be maintained.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,234,960 describes a process for producing polymeric foams which employs special isocyanate-reactive compositions containing compounds having imino or enamino groups in amounts of >25% and phospholene oxide catalysts for carbodiimide production. The process described in this document affords foams having a density of 390 kg/m3. It is an object of the invention to promote the formation of carbodiimide moieties.

Open-cell rigid polyurethane foam and the use thereof

Covestro Intellectual Property GmbH & Co. KG


A method of persisting SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) variable values associated with SNMP object IDs for an SNMP managed network element across network element reloads comprises implementing a generic persist operation at the network element; and defining, in conjunction with the generic persist operation, at least one object ID for which a value is to be persisted.

The approaches described in this section could be pursued, but are not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated herein, the approaches described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
A known network management approach comprises simple network management protocol (SNMP) which allows exchange of management information between network devices. SNMP is described, for example, in "A Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)" which is available at the time of writing on the file "rfc1157.html" and subsequent Requests for Comments (RFC) in the directory "rfc" of the domain "ietf.org" of the World Wide Web. SNMP is well understood by the skilled reader and so is described only in summary here with reference to FIG. 1 which is a block diagram showing a network using SNMP. A network management system (NMS) 100 comprises a network computer device on which is resident a management application 102 which communicates via a network 104 with one or more managed network elements 106 for example a router, switch, host or other managed network device. In particular, the management application 102 receives operational, status, statistical and other information from and relating to the network element 106, which information is obtained by an SNMP agent 108 on the network element 106 which stores the information as a management information base (MIB) 110.
MIBs are well understood by the skilled reader and described, for example, in "Management Information Base for Network Management of TCP/IP-based-internet: MIB-II" which is available at the time of writing on the file "rfc1213.txt" in the directory "rfc" of the domain "ietf.org" of the World Wide Web. In particular the information is ordered by treating it as objects each having an object identifier (OID) stored in a hierarchy 112. The OIDs are represented in a tree structure, each point on the tree either terminating at a branch 114 or at a leaf node 116 pointing to a variable value 118 for the object. The OID is expressed in the form .x.y.z . . . signifying the route to the respective node from the root of the tree. The information objects can take any appropriate form for example configuration information, interface information, event information, alarm information and so forth and may take either a scalar or a table value.
The MIB is populated according to a scheme or process managed by the SNMP agent 108. However when the network element 106 reloads, for example upon a reboot, some values must be obtained again and reloaded into the MIB. As a result, extra coding and complexity are required by the network management system.
An example of this arises in the case of the information object type "if Index" value assigned to identify an interface. The MIB in this case is "The Interfaces Group MIB" which is available at the time of writing on the file "rfc2863.txt" in the directory "rfc" of the domain "ietf.org" of the World Wide Web. This specifies:
ifIndex OBJECT-TYPESYNTAX InterfaceIndexMAX-ACCESS read-onlySTATUS currentDESCRIPTION                "A unique value, greater than zero, for each interface. It is recommended that values are assigned contiguously starting from 1. The value for each interface sub-layer must remain constant at least from one re-initialization of the entity's network management system to the next re-initialization."
::= { ifEntry 1 }
In view of the possibility of re-initialisation of ifIndex, an ifIndex persistence feature has been implemented as described in "Configuring SNMP ifIndex Persistence" which is available at the time of writing on the file "ifIndex.htm" in the directory "univercd/cc/td/doc/product/lan/cat6000/122sx/swcg" of the domain "cisco.com" of the World Wide Web. In particular a command is entered, for example on the command line interface (CLI) of type:    router (config)# snmp-server ifIndex persist. Accordingly, known solutions only provide SNMP MIB variable persistence for specific features requiring individual and potentially specifically tailored command input per-feature.

Method and apparatus for persisting SNMP variable values


A system and a method of providing PUR/PIR foam using flammable blowing agent. The flammable blowing agent is introduced to PUR/PIR manufacturing equipment via an independent feed-line. This enables a flammable blowing agent storage vessel to be located off site from the foam manufacturing equipment. The independent flammable blowing agent feed-line couples the off-site flammable blowing agent storage vessel with the foam production system. The preferred flammable blowing agent is pentane.

Polyurethane and polyisocyanurate (PUR/PIR) foams are well known in the art and are conventionally made utilizing a blowing agent. It is known to use hydrocarbons as a blowing agent in the manufacture of such foam. However, the highly flammable nature of some blowing agents, such as pentanes makes it unattractive for commercial use due to the extra precautions needed to assure plant safety. It would be desirable to develop processes for the utilization of flammable blowing agents in the commercial production manufacture of PUR/PIR foams.

Flammable blowing agent control and blend systems for PUR/PIR foam


A camper extension includes a rigid frame pivotally mountable, by a pivotable coupling, for example a hinge, onto a camper, so as to be pivotable about a horizontal axis generally bisecting a rear face of the camper, and pivotable between a stowed position inverted over the camper and a deployed position upright and adjacent the rear face, wherein the rigid frame includes floor members defining a floor, generally vertical members defining sides, and roof members outlining a roof opening, the floor members, vertical members and roof members defining an interior cavity sized to receive the camper therein when the frame is pivoted into the stowed position.

Campers which are mountable into the beds of pickup trucks so as to provide the amenities of home in remote locations continue to be very popular. In use, it has been an accepted drawback that the interior volume of the camper is somewhat restricted as increasing the size of the camper will quickly exceed the weight restrictions for the vehicle, will increase wind resistance thereby degrading performance of the pickup truck during travel, and, if the camper is merely made longer, exceeds the length of the pickup truck box and acceptable overhang.
Applicant is, however, aware of an attempt to overcome such limitations in the prior art, in particular, U.S. Pat. No. 4,109,954 which issued Aug. 29, 1978 to Wall for an expandable camper apparatus. Wall discloses an expandable camper apparatus for use with a pickup truck, where the apparatus includes a false floor for the pickup truck bed so as to form storage space therebeneath in which is stored a hinged, foldable floor member for a tent. In use, the floor member is removed from the pickup truck bed, unfolded, and becomes the floor of a large tent constructed adjacent to the rear of the pickup truck. An obvious drawback is that, because of the false floor, the camper is elevated in the pickup truck bed, thereby decreasing the stability of the camper. Further, once the floor is deployed, no provision is made for a supporting structure for the tent, so that any supporting structure required by the tent has to be stowed elsewhere, as for example, within the camper.
Applicant is also aware of the following United States patents which relate generally to camper conversions for vehicles, none of which teach nor suggest the deployable frame structure and method of the present invention: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,065,166; 4,133,571; 4,223,939; 4,279,440; 4,544,195; 4,858,986; and 4,930,837.


A scene is illuminated with modulated illumination light that reflects from surfaces in the scene as modulated reflection light. Each of a plurality of pixels of a depth camera receive the modulated reflection light and observe a phase difference between the modulated illumination light and the modulated reflection light. For each of the plurality of pixels, an edginess of that pixel is recognized, and the phase difference of that pixel is smoothed as a function of the edginess of that pixel.

Depth cameras are used to generate depth images that include a plurality of pixels. Each pixel includes information useable to assess a distance from the camera to the surface imaged by that pixel. This distance may be referred to as the depth of the surface. However, the pixel information may be noisy or include defects that ultimately result in less accurate depth assessments.


Radar data vectors of a desired number of pixels in length are scan converted, at a desired angular rate. A complete 360 degree radar data scan is maintained in memory. A raster image of a desired number of pixels in size and of arbitrary position and angular orientation with respect to the radar scan in memory is outputted. The resolution of the raster output image is varied to adjust its update rate. A high resolution, motion stabilizing radar display is provided and a multiresolution capability is available to eliminate image artifacts attributed to raster image update rate.

This invention relates generally to converting radar scan data vectors to a video display and, more particularly, to apparatus of the type described for use with a high resolution, motion stabilizing radar display having multiresolution display raster output capabilities for eliminating artifacts attributed to raster image update.
Current requirements for scan converters of the type contemplated include converting radar data vectors up to 960 pixels in length at an angular rate of 90 degrees per second. A complete 360 degree radar scan must be maintained in memory. Further, the apparatus must output approximately a 1024.times.1024 raster image of arbitrary position and angular orientation with respect to the radar scan maintained in memory, whereby motion stabilization is made possible.
Due to bandwidth limitations of vector address generators used in apparatus of the type described a raster image frame update rate is approximately 15 Hz, which is relatively slow. This produces undesirable scan artifacts during a first sweep, or when the scan data changes significantly from the previous sweep.
The present invention overcomes this disadvantage by incorporating multiresolution output features into the disclosed apparatus. More specifically, the resolution of the output image is reduced by one-half in both the horizontal and vertical directions. This reduced resolution mode of the invention increases the effective raster image frame update rate by almost four times, thereby eliminating all scan artifacts occurring from the aforenoted relatively slow raster image frame update rate.
It will be understood that the reduced resolution mode of the invention is intended to be used during any radar scan where previous raster image frame data is erased, or is significantly different than current data. Subsequent correlated scans are then displayed in full (high) resolution. The reduced resolution mode can also be used in any other case where current raster image frame data has significantly changed in orientation, position or content from the previous data.


Vanadium complex having general formula (I)

The present invention relates to a catalyst based on Vanadium, its preparation and its use in the (co)polymerization of xcex1-olefins.
More specifically, the present invention relates to a catalyst consisting of a Vanadium complex, a co-catalyst based on Al alkyl and, optionally, a reactivator. In addition, the present invention relates to a process for the (co)polymerization of xcex1-olefins in the presence of said catalyst.
At present catalysts based on Vanadium consist of a Vanadium complex, an Al alkyl and a chlorinated reactivator. The Vanadium complex is the precursor of the active species which is formed by interaction with the Al alkyl. This species initiates the polymerization but is also easily deactivated by the same Al alkyl, producing a reduction in activity. The reactivator has the function of re-establishing the active species guaranteeing a longer life-time of the catalyst and consequently a greater catalytic activity (see G. Natta et al., Makromol. Chem., 81, 161-172 (1965; E. Adisson, J. Pol. Sc., art A: Polymer Chemistry, Vol. 31, pages 831-839, 1993). In order to have catalytic activity, however, at least one of the reagents must be chlorinated (see G. Natta et al., J. Polym. Sc., Vol. 51, 411-427, 1961). In fact systems such as V(acac)3/AlEt2Cl or VC14/Al(C6H13)3 are active in the copolymerization of ethylene with propylene, whereas other systems without chlorine such as V(acac)3/Al (i-Bu)3 and V(acac)3/AlMe3 do not give a polymer, but become active when a chlorinated reactivator such as Cl3CCOOR, CCl4 is added to the system (see E. Adisson et al. J. Pol. Sc., Part A, Polymer Chemistry, Vol. 32, pages 1033-1041, 1994).
The presence of chlorine in the catalytic system is particularly harmful in the case of the production of ethylene-propylene elastomeric copolymers (EPR and EP(D)M) with a process in suspension which does not comprise a purification phase from the catalytic residues and in particular chlorine. This inevitably causes a lower purity of the products and consequently excludes use in particular applicative fields (for example cables). In addition, the presence of inorganic chlorine in the polymer may develop hydrochloric acid during the processing of the polymer making it necessary to use anti-acid additives, with a consequent increase in the running costs.
The request for catalytically active Vanadium catalysts in the presence of the smallest possible quantity of chlorine, with activities comparable to or higher than those of the known art, therefore remains unsatisfied.
A new group of catalysts capable of giving copolymers containing a small quantity of residual chlorine, has now been found. These catalysts are based on Vanadium complexes having halogenated carboxyl groups as ligands.
A first object of the present invention therefore relates to a Vanadium complex having general formula (I)
(RCOO)nVXpLmxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(I)
wherein R is a monofunctional hydrocarbon radical having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms and from 1 to 6 halogen atoms, selected from chlorine and bromine, preferably chlorine; X is chlorine or bromine, preferably chlorine; L is an electron donor; p+n=3, 4 or 5, preferably=3; n is greater than or equal to 1; m is between 0 and 3.
Examples of Rxe2x80x94COO carboxyl groups in formula (I) are selected from:
1) Rxe2x80x94COO=
xe2x80x83wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 the same or different, are selected from H, Cl or Br, alkyls, cycloalkyls, aryls, arylalkyls, alkylaryls or alkyls, cycloalkyls, aryls, arylalkyls, alkylaryls containing chlorine or bromine, with the proviso that at least one of the R1-R5 residues is selected from chlorine or bromine, or an alkyl, cycloalkyl aryl, arylalkyl, alkylaryl group containing chlorine or bromine; q varies from 0 to 10.
Non-limiting examples of these derivatives are represented by:
Cl3COO, CCl3CH2COO, CCl3(CH2)2COO, CHCl2COO, CH3CCl2COO, C6H5CCl2CH2COO, (C6H5)2CClCOO, CH3CH2CCl2COO, C6H5CH2CH2CH2Cxe2x80x94HClCOO, ClC6H4CHClCOO, ClC6H4CH2COO, 2-cyclopropyl-2,2-dichloro-acetic acid.
2) Rxe2x80x94COO=
xe2x80x83wherein:
R1, R2, R3 and R4, the same or different, are selected from H, Cl or Br, alkyls, cycloalkyls, aryls, arylalkyls, alkylaryls, or alkyls, cycloalkyls, aryls, arylalkyls, alkylaryls containing chlorine or bromine, with the proviso that at least one of the R1-R4 residues is chlorine or bromine or an alkyl, cycloalkyl aryl, arylalkyl, alkylaryl group containing chlorine or bromine;
r and s vary independently from 0 to 5, with the restriction that r+s is from 1 to 5.
Non-limiting examples of these derivatives are represented by:
Cl3CC6H4COO, ClCH2C6H4COO, ClCH2C6H2Cl2COO, C6Cl5COO
3) Rxe2x80x94COO=
xe2x80x83wherein:
Z, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, the same or different, are selected from H, Cl, Br, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, alkylaryl, alkyls, cycloalkyls, aryls, arylalkyls, alkylaryls containing chlorine or bromine, with the proviso that at least one of the Z and R1-R6 residues is chlorine or bromine or an alkyl, cycloalkyl aryl, arylalkyl, alkylaryl group containing chlorine or bromine;
t and u independently vary from 0 to 10, preferably from 0 to 2.
Non-limiting examples of these derivatives are represented by:
CCl3CHxe2x95x90CHCOO, CCl3CClxe2x95x90CClCOO, CCl2xe2x95x90CClCCl2COO.
4) Rxe2x80x94COO wherein R is selected from cycloalkyl, polycycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, polycycloalkenyl having from 3 to 20 C atoms, substituted with at least one chlorine or bromine or with hydrocarbyl groups containing at least one chlorine or bromine.
Non-limiting examples of these derivatives are represented by:
2-chloro-cyclohexane carboxylic acid, 2,2-dichlorocyclopropane-carboxylic acid, 2,2-3,3-tetrachlorocyclopropane-carboxylic acid, perchlorocyclohexane carboxylic acid, cyclo hex-2-ene-2-trichloromethyl-carboxylic acid.
As far as L is concerned, i.e. the electron donor, typical examples are alkyl and cycloalkyl ethers, alkyl esters of aromatic and aliphatic carboxylic acids, aliphatic ketones, aliphatic amines, aliphatic alcohols. L is preferably selected from tetrahydrofuran (THF), dimethoxymethane, diethoxyethane.
A second object of the present invention relates to the process for the preparation of the complexes having general formula (I) which comprises:
a) treatment of a Tallium (Tl) salt having the general formula RCOOTl, wherein R has the meaning defined above, with a Vanadium halide, preferably VCl3, in an aliphatic or aromatic, ether or chlorinated, hydrocarbon solvent, alone or in a mixture, preferably THF and dimethoxyethane, at temperatures ranging from 0 to 50xc2x0 C., preferably from 15 to 30xc2x0 C., for a time ranging from 30 minutes to 6 hours, preferably from 1 to 4 hours;
b) separation, preferably filtration, of the Tl halide formed by the reaction;
c) isolation of the Vanadium complex.
In the preferred embodiment, step (c) is carried out by evaporation of the solvent or precipitation of the complex by the addition of a suitable precipitating agent, usually a hydrocarbon solvent, preferably pentane.
Typical but non-limiting examples of these syntheses are provided in the experimental section, which describes, among others, the preparation of V(CCl3COO)3 by reaction between VCl3 and Tl(CCl3COO) in a molar ratio 1/3, V(CH2Clxe2x80x94C6H4xe2x80x94COO)3 by reaction between VCl3 an CH2Clxe2x80x94C6H4xe2x80x94COOTl in a molar ratio 1/3, V(CCl3COO)2Cl by reaction between VCl3 and Tl(CCl3COO) in a molar ratio 1/2, V(CCl3CH2CH2COO)3 by reaction between VCl3 and CCl3CH2CH2COOTl in a ratio 1/3.
A third object of the present invention relates to a catalytic system for the (co)polymerization of xcex1-olefins consisting of:
(a) Vanadium complex having general formula (I),
(b) organo Aluminum derivative having general formula (II) AlRnXm, wherein R is a C1-C20 alkyl group, X is chlorine or bromine, preferably chlorine, and n+m=3, with the exclusion of the compound having n=0,
(c) optionally a reactivator, preferably chlorinated. Among the Vanadium compounds having general formula (I), those wherein RCOO has general formula (Ia)
CCl3xe2x80x94(xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94)nxe2x80x94COOxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(Ia)
xe2x80x83wherein n is an integer between 0 and 2, i.e. trichloroacetate (n=0), trichloropropionate (n=1), trichlorobutyrrate (n=2), have proved to be particularly effective.
Typical examples of compounds having general formula (II) are AlEt2Cl (diethylchloroaluminum), AlMe3 (trimethylaluminum), AlEt3 (triethylaluminum), Al (i-Bu)3 (triisobutylaluminum).
In the preferred embodiment the cocatalyst having general formula (II) has a C1-C20 alkyl group as R, n=3 and m=0. Even more preferably R is an isobutyl group.
The molar ratio between said cocatalyst having general formula (II) and the catalyst having general formula (I) is between 1 and 500, preferably between 3 and 100, more preferably between 20 and 50.
When, in the cocatalyst having general formula (II), m is different from 0, the preferred cocatalyst is diethylchloroaluminum. When, in the cocatalyst having general formula (II), m=0, the preferred cocatalyst is triisobutylaluminum. In the preferred embodiment the molar ratio cocatalyst and catalyst is between 5 and 10.
As far as the reactivator is concerned, this is usually selected from chlorinated organic compounds, for example ethyl trichloroacetate, n-butyl perchlorocrotonate, diethyl dichloromalonate, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform.
The molar ratio between the possible reactivator and vanadium can vary from 0:1 to 100:1, preferably from 1:1 to 40:1, even more preferably between 1:1 and 10:1.
When, in the cocatalyst having general formula (II), m is different from 0, the preferred reactivator is ethyl trichloroacetate and the preferred molar ratio between reactivator and vanadium is between 4:1 and 10:1.
When, in the cocatalyst having general formula (II), m is equal to 0, the preferred reactivator is carbon tetrachloride and the preferred molar ratio between reactivator and vanadium is between 10:1 and 50:1.
In the preferred embodiment the reactivator is not used.
The catalysts of the present invention can be used in (co)polymerization processes of xcex1-olefins in liquid phase (solution or suspension) at low or medium pressure (15-50 ate) and at temperatures ranging from xe2x88x925 to 75xc2x0 C.
In the preferred embodiment the temperature is between 25 and 60xc2x0 C. and the pressure between 6 and 35 ate.
The polymers and copolymers thus obtained have very high average molecular weights. If the molecular weight is to be regulated to a lower value, hydrogen can be used as molecular weight regulator.
The catalyst for the (co)polymerization of xcex1-olefins and terpolymerization with dienes is prepared by contact of the Al alkyl with the V complex dissolved in an aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon solvent and, optionally, with the reactivator. The contact can take place separately without the mixture of olefins to be polymerized for a time ranging from 1 minute to 30 minutes, preferably from 5 to 20 minutes, at a temperature ranging from 0xc2x0 C. to 50xc2x0 C., preferably from 15xc2x0 C. to 40xc2x0 C., or it can take place in the polymerization reactor in the presence of the mixture of monomers. In this case the three reagents can be added separately or as a mixture of two of these. The catalyst is preferably formed xe2x80x9cin situxe2x80x9d by introducing the Al alkyl into the autoclave already containing the solvent (heptane or liquid propylene), the reagent mixture and, optionally, the termonomer and adding the solution of V complex with the possible reactivator in toluene.
The catalysts of the present invention can be used in the polymerization of xcex1-olefins, preferably in the polymerization of ethylene, in the copolymerization of ethylene with propylene and higher xcex1-olefins and in the terpolymerization of ethylene with propylene and dienes to give polymers with a density ranging from 0.96 g/cm3 and 0.86 g/cm3.
The copolymerization of ethylene-propylene to give EPR elastomeric copolymers and the terpolymerization of ethylene-propylene-non-conjugated diene to give EP(D)M rubbers, are particularly preferred.
The diene can be selected from:
alicyclic dienes with a linear chain such as 1,4-hexadiene and 1,6-octadiene;
acyclic dienes with a branched chain such as 5-methyl-1,4-hexadiene, 3,7-dimethyl-1,6-octadiene, 3,7-dimethyl-1,7-octadiene;
alicyclic dienes with a single ring such as 1,4-cyclohexadiene, 1,5-cyclo-octadiene;
dienes having condensed and bridged alicyclic rings such as methyltetrahydroindene, 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene (ENB), 5-propenyl-2-norbornene.
In the preferred embodiment the diene is ENB or 1-methylene-2-vinyl-cyclopentane.
The EPR and EP(D)M elastomeric copolymers which can be obtained with the catalysts of the present invention contain from 20 to 65% in moles of propylene and quantities not exceeding 15% of ENB. The weight average molecular weight of the polymer obtained in the presence of hydrogen varies from 50,000 to 500,000.

Catalysts based on vanadium, their preparation and use in the (CO) polymerization of xcex1-olefins

Abstract: wherein R is a monofunctional hydrocarbon radical having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms and from 1 to 6 halogen atoms, selected from chlorine and bromine, preferably chlorine; X is chlorine or bromine, preferably chlorine; L is an electron donor; p+n=3, 4 or 5, preferably=3; n is greater than or equal to 1; m is between 0 and 3. The preparation of the above complex is also described together with its use in the (co)polymerization of xcex1-olefins.