A droplet discharge head includes a substrate, an electromechanical transducer, a first terminal electrode, a second terminal electrode, and a holding substrate. The holding substrate covers the electromechanical transducer. The holding substrate has a first opening to expose at least a part of the first terminal electrode and a second opening to expose at least a part of the second terminal electrode. The first and second openings are arranged in an area in which an amount of charges supplied by a discharge electrode becomes a threshold amount or more when, by corona or glow discharge generated by the discharge electrode arranged to face a surface of the holding substrate having the first and second openings, charges are supplied to the first and second terminal electrodes through the first and second openings to generate an electric field between first and second drive electrodes to perform polarization processing on the electromechanical transducer.

1. Technical Field
Embodiments of this disclosure relate to a droplet discharge head to discharge droplets, an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a fax machine, and a copier including the droplet discharge head, a polarization processing method of an electromechanical transducer, and a method of manufacturing the droplet discharge head.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, an inkjet recording apparatus including a droplet discharge head to discharge, for example, droplets of ink (hereinafter, referred to as ink droplets) is known as a printer, a fax machine, a copier, a plotter, or an image forming apparatus obtained by combining functions of these devices. In the inkjet recording apparatus, ink droplets are adhered to a sheet medium by a droplet discharge head while the medium is conveyed and an image is formed.
As the droplet discharge head, a configuration that includes nozzles to discharge droplets of a liquid such as the ink, a liquid chamber (also referred to as a pressure chamber, a pressurization chamber, and a discharge chamber) that communicates with the nozzles and stores the liquid, and a piezoelectric element functioning as an electromechanical transducer that pressurizes the liquid in the liquid chamber is known. In the droplet discharge head, if a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element, vibration is generated to deform a diaphragm forming a part of a wall of the liquid chamber, the liquid in the liquid chamber is pressurized by the deformation of the diaphragm, and the droplets can be discharged from the nozzles. As the droplet discharge head, a droplet discharge head using a piezoelectric actuator of a flexure vibration mode of the piezoelectric element is put into practical use.
A piezoelectric element used for the piezoelectric actuator of the flexure vibration mode includes a first drive electrode, a piezoelectric layer, and a second drive electrode. The diaphragm and the piezoelectric element are formed as a laminate on a substrate forming the liquid chamber and an insulating film, wiring lines to electrically connect the first and second drive electrodes to the outside, and a terminal electrode are formed on the piezoelectric element. In addition, a holding substrate covering the piezoelectric element not to disturb displacement is bonded to a surface of the substrate provided with the piezoelectric element.
In crystal of the piezoelectric layer configuring the piezoelectric element, a polarization direction becomes random in a state immediately after the piezoelectric element is manufactured, as illustrated in FIG. 19A. Then, the voltage application is repeated, so that the crystal of the piezoelectric layer becomes an aggregation of domains in which polarization directions are aligned, as illustrated in FIG. 19B. The polarization direction of the crystal of the piezoelectric layer is preferably aligned when the droplet discharge head starts to be used, to stabilize a polarization characteristic of the piezoelectric element and a characteristic of the droplet discharge head using the piezoelectric element. Methods are proposed of executing polarization processing to align the polarization direction of the piezoelectric element before the droplet discharge head starts to be used.

Droplet discharge head, image forming apparatus, polarization processing method of electromechanical transducer, and method of manufacturing droplet discharge head


A locking mechanism (10) that provides for locking a table leg (12) in an extended position and a folded position. The locking mechanism is mounted to the underside of a table (14) and is comprised of a bar (90) that is pivotally mounted between right and left flanges (20, 22) of the locking mechanism. The bar has a channel (112) that provides for laterally adjusting the table leg to compensate for uneven floor contours. A first locking member (136) is controlled by an overcenter lever (126) to seat a locking rod (138) in a locking channel (102) provided on one side of the bar, opposite the lever. This provides for locking the bar and the table leg in the extended, use position. Releasing the lever enables the lever to move out of the overcenter position so that the locking rod moves out of the locking channel and the bar is able to pivot into the folded position. A second locking member (150) then engages an enlarged portion (106) of the bar and serves to block the bar in the folded position. A handle (88) portion of the second locking member provides for releasing the second locking member from the bar so that the bar can be pivoted back into the extended position. A second embodiment of the locking mechanism (200) has a length that is sufficient to provide for mounting a pair of spaced apart table leg cylinders (216, 218) comprising a table leg (224).

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a locking mechanism for a table leg. In particular, the present invention relates to a mechanism for locking a table leg in an extended, use position, and in a folded position when it is desired to store the table or otherwise not use the table. The locking mechanism is secured to the underside of the table and preferably, there are at least two locking mechanisms per table, one located adjacent each end of the table.
The locking mechanism is comprised of a bar, which supports a table leg. The bar is pivotally mounted between extension portions of mating right and left flanges on a pivot bar axis, off center from the longitudinal axis of the bar. The flanges form a mounting bracket and serve to secure the mechanism to the table. To lock the bar in the extended, use position, a locking rod portion of a first locking member, which is connected to a lever, is seated in a locking channel formed on one side of the bar, spaced from the bar pivot axis and opposite a lever pivot axis. Releasing the locking rod from the channel, by moving the lever to a release position, enables the bar and table leg to pivot into the folded position. The lever serves to lock the bar in the extended position when the axis around which the connection between the first locking member and the lever rotate is moved to a position overcenter a plane connecting through the axis of the locking rod and the lever pivot axis. The locking rod is also adjustably connected to the lever so that the tension of the rod seated in the locking channel can be regulated. This ensures that the rod will always apply a sufficient force against the bar to lock the bar in the extended position.
When the lever is released, the lever moves past the overcenter position which enables the rod to move out of the locking channel. This permits the bar to pivot into the folded position. In the folded position, a second locking member engages an extension portion of the bar to block the bar from moving back into the extended position. A handle portion is used to move the second locking member away from the bar extension so that the bar is again able to be moved back into the extended position. The bar is also provided with a guideway that permits the table leg to be laterally adjusted along the length of the bar for positioning the table leg away from floor obstacles such as floor registers, electrical outlets, uneven carpeting and the like. This helps to keep the table level.
(2) Prior Art
The prior art has described various locking mechanisms that enable a table leg to be unlocked from a folded position and then moved into and locked in an extended, use position. One of these is my U.S. Pat. No 4,838,181 which describes a table leg coupling assembly that is comprised of a pivotally mounted bar having first and second recess, offset 90.degree. from each other. A spring biased lever has a locking dog that seats in the recesses to lock the bar in either the extended or the folded position, corresponding to the first and second recesses. However, this locking mechanism is not provided with an adjusting means for regulating the tension of the locking dog in the bar recesses. As the spring controlling the locking dog loses some of its resiliency, the locking dog may have a tendency to release from the recesses. In the use position, this could cause the table to collapse, resulting in property damage as well as personal injury. It should be noted that the pivotable bar in this patent is also provided with an elongate guideway that enables the table leg to be positioned laterally along the length of the bar. This serves to position the table leg away from floor obstacles and uneven floor contours to help ensure that the table remains level while in the use position.
Another locking mechanism for a table leg is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,528,377 to DeSaussure. This patent describes a table leg that is locked in the extended position by the nose of a latching member which snaps into a slot provided in the table leg. U.S. Pat. No. 3,554,141 to Burr shows a table leg that is locked in the extended position by a cross bar that seats in a J-shaped groove portion of a plate connected to the table leg. U.S. Pat. No. 3,845,728 to Piretti describes a folding table leg having a releasable locking device comprising a lever arm having a hook portion that engages a similarly shaped end plate at the upper end of the table leg. U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,415 to Ramey describes a locking device where a rod blocks an extending tab portion of a plate forming a portion of a bracket that supports the table leg. U.S. Pat. No. 4,561,622 to Heinzel is less related to the present invention and describes a locking mechanism having a lever that cams against opposed cam surfaces on a locking cam plate to hold the table leg in the folded and the extended positions.
What is not shown by the prior art but is needed is a locking mechanism for a table leg that uses an overcenter locking lever connected to a locking member to lock the table leg in the extended position. That way, the locking mechanism is prevented from releasing out of the locked position unless the lever is manually moved out of the overcenter, locked position. The locking mechanism of the present invention fulfills this need and is comprised of a locking rod that seats in a locking channel of a pivotable bar to lock the bar in the extended, use position. The pivotable bar supports the table leg. The locking rod is connected to a lever that is moved to an overcenter position to lock the locking mechanism and is moved to a release position to release the locking rod from the locking channel. This enables the bar to pivot into the folded position. The locking rod is also adjustably connected to the lever so that the locking tension of the rod seated in the locking channel can be regulated. Thus, as the components forming the locking mechanism wear through use, the locking tension between the locking rod and the bar can be maintained at a sufficient force to ensure that when the pivotable bar is locked in the extended position, the locking mechanism is able to withstand a significant amount of loading and lateral forces without releasing from the extended position. Also, forming the pivotable bar with a guideway enables the table leg to be moved laterally along the length of the bar. This provides for moving the table leg away from floor obstructions and ensures that the table can be supported in a level position.

Locking mechanism for folding table legs


Heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) systems and heat exchangers are provided which include dissimilar tube spacing configurations. The heat exchangers include multiple sets of multichannel tubes in fluid communication with each other. One set of multichannel tubes contains a plurality of tubes spaced apart at one spacing while the another set of multichannel tubes contains a plurality of tubes spaced apart at a different spacing. The different spacing between the multichannel tubes allows each set of tubes to be configured to the properties of the refrigerant flowing within the tubes.

The invention relates generally to multichannel heat exchangers with dissimilar tube spacing.
Heat exchangers are used in heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) systems. Multichannel heat exchangers generally include multichannel tubes for flowing refrigerant through the heat exchanger. Each multichannel tube may contain several individual flow channels. Fins are positioned between the tubes to facilitate heat transfer between refrigerant contained within the tube flow channels and external air passing over the tubes. Multichannel heat exchangers may be used in small tonnage systems, such as residential systems, or in large tonnage systems, such as industrial chiller systems.
In general, heat exchangers transfer heat by circulating a refrigerant through a cycle of evaporation and condensation. In many systems, the refrigerant changes phases while flowing through heat exchangers in which evaporation and condensation occur. For example, the refrigerant may enter an evaporator heat exchanger as a liquid and exit as a vapor. In another example the refrigerant may enter a condenser heat exchanger as a vapor and exit as a liquid. These phase changes result in both liquid and vapor refrigerant flowing through the heat exchanger flow channels. In particular, one portion of the heat exchanger may contain vapor refrigerant undergoing de-superheating while another portion of the heat exchanger contains a liquid undergoing subcooling.
The phase of the refrigerant may impact the efficiency of the heat exchanger because different phases of refrigerant possess different heat transfer properties. For example, vapor phase refrigerant may pass through the flow channels at a higher velocity than liquid phase refrigerant, resulting in less heat transfer occurring for the tubes containing the vapor phase refrigerant. In another example, employing a heat exchanger functioning as a condenser, the vapor refrigerant may need to give off both latent and sensible heat to become a liquid refrigerant while the liquid refrigerant may need to give off only sensible heat to undergo subcooling.

Multichannel heat exchanger with dissimilar tube spacing


A non-isolated buck converter with input and output current steering. The input current steering is connected across the input switching transistor and steers input current to the output when the switch is turned off, thereby preventing the input current from pulsating between on and off states. The output current steering is connected across the low-pass output filter and further steers the steered input current back to the input dc voltage source. This prevents the steered input current from adding to the normal output current and thereby producing a pulsating output current. The ratio of the output dc voltage to the input dc voltage is proportional to the switching duty cycle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to DC-to-DC voltage converters, and in particular, to buck converters, and more particularly, to non-isolated buck converters.
2. Description of the Related Art
Voltage converters which convert one DC voltage to another are increasingly used due to their greater voltage conversion efficiency as compared to linear converters. Such converters are typically used to convert unregulated or regulated DC voltage to a different, and sometimes variable, regulated DC voltage at the output. Such converters are widely used in switch-mode DC power supplies and in DC motor drive applications. One common DC--DC converter topology is a buck converter which converts an input DC voltage to a lower output DC voltage and is sometimes called a step-down converter.
Referring to FIG. 1, a common buck converter topology includes an input filter capacitor Cin, a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) Msw, a diode Dfw, an output inductor Lo and an output capacitor Co, all interconnected substantially as shown. The input DC voltage Vdc is filtered by the input capacitor Cin and provides an input DC current Iin. This input current Iin is periodically switched by the switching transistor Msw in accordance with a switching control signal Vc. The alternating on and off states of the switching transistor Msw define a duty cycle D and in accordance therewith provide a switched current Isw. When the switch Msw is turned on, the freewheeling diode Dfw is reverse-biased and, therefore, turned off; and the switched current Isw flows through the output filter inductor Lo as an output current Io which charges the output filter capacitor Co and powers the load Rload. As is well known in the art, the ratio of the output voltage Vo to the input voltage Vdc is equal to the duty cycle D (0<D<1).
When the switch Msw is turned off, the switched current Isw is zero. However, the output current Io through the inductor Lo cannot instantaneously decrease to zero. Therefore, the inductor current Io continues to flow through the loop formed with the load Rload and freewheeling diode Dfw as a diode current Id. The output capacitor Co provides additional charge to maintain the output voltage Vo across the load Rload.
Referring to FIG. 2, a significant problem with this type of buck converter is that of a pulsating input current Iin. The input current Iin fIows during the on state of the switch Msw, but is zero during the off state. This pulsating input current Iin requires that the input capacitor Cin be large so as to handle the ripple current. Additionally, a filter is needed for reducing the electromagnetic interference (EMI) generated by the many high-magnitude signal components at the harmonic frequencies ("harmonics") of the pulsed input current Iin.
The output current Io, due to the low-pass nature of the output filter formed by the output inductor Lo and capacitor Co, is not a pulsating current. However, due to the linear ramping nature of the output current Io waveform (substantially triangular in shape), the output current Io still contains a substantial number of harmonics which can cause interference within the system (load Rload) which is being powered with this output voltage Vo.
One technique which has been used in a variety of ways to address the problems of pulsating currents and high harmonic contents is that of ripple steering. The basic principle behind ripple steering is that the input and output ripple currents are steered in such a way as to reduce or substantially eliminate pulsations in the currents, as well as filtering out much of the harmonic contents of such currents. Examples of ripple steering can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,038,263 and 5,786,990 (the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference).
However, whereas the buck converter topology of FIG. 1 is that of a non-isolated circuit where some form of DC connection exists (at least periodically) between the input and output terminals, the applications involving conventional ripple steering techniques have been in isolated circuit topologies where there is permanent DC isolation between the input and output terminals (e.g., via an isolation transformer). Accordingly, it wouId be desirable to have some forms of ripple steering for non-isolated buck converter topologies.

Non-isolated buck converter with input current steering


The present disclosure provides STING modulators/agonists, and methods of synthesis and methods for using for the prophylaxis or treatment of cancer and other STING-related diseases. The present disclosure relates to a compound represented by the Formula (I): wherein each symbol is as defined in the description, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

STING is a transmembrane receptor localized to the ER that recognizes and binds cyclic dinucleotides. The natural ligands recognized by STING include bacteria/protozoa-derived cyclic dinucleotides (CDNs), 2′,3′-cGAMP synthesized by the upstream cGAS (cyclic GMP-AMP synthase), and the like. See Trends in Immunology 35, 88-93 (2014). It is reported that the natural ligand 2′,3′-cGAMP is decomposed by ENPP1 (ecto-nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase), a pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase, and that the other CDNs are decomposed by other phosphodiesterases. See Nat Chem Biol 10, 1043-1048 (2014); Cell Res 25, 539-550 (2015); and Biochemistry 55, 837-849 (2016). STING activation by these natural ligands induces the phosphorylation of TBK1 (TANK binding kinase 1) and IRF3 (Interferon regulatory factor 3), leading to the activation of the NFkB and type-I-interferon (IFN) response, respectively. See Trends in Immunology 35, 88-93 (2014).
The effects of STING on cancer cell growth control were demonstrated in a test using genetically modified mice. It was reported that STING-deficient and IRF3-deficient mice show uncontrolled tumor growth, compared to wild-type mice. See Immunity 41, 830-842 (2014). In addition, it was also reported that cancer cell growth in a tumor-allografted mouse was suppressed by radiation therapy, but in mice genetically deficient for STING and IFNAR1 (interferon (alpha and beta) receptor 1, receptor of I-type IFN produced by the downstream signal), the effect by the radiation therapy was reduced. See Immunity 41, 843-852 (2014). Taking the above mentioned evidence together, STING is considered to play a critical role in suppressing cancer cell growth. Therefore, STING agonists can be used as an anticancer agent. See e.g. WO 2015/074145, WO 2015/077354, WO 2015/185565, WO 2016/096174, WO 2016/096577, WO 2016/120305, WO 2016/145102, WO 2017/027645, WO 2017/027646, WO 2017/075477, WO 2017/093933, WO 2017/106740, WO 2017/123657, WO 2017/123669, and WO 2017/161349. In addition, the activation of STING can potentiate the immune effect of traditional vaccines, due to STING's ability to activate both innate and adaptive immunity. See Ther Adv Vaccines 1, 131-143 (2013). As such, STING agonists can also be used as an adjuvant for various vaccines.

Sting modulator compounds, and methods of making and using


An electrical connector adapted for connection an Integrated Circuit (IC) chip to a printed circuit board (PCB) includes an insulating housing having a plurality of passageways, a plurality of contacts received in the passageways and a frame moveable assembled on the housing to allow the IC chip to be inserted therein. The frame includes a first and second side walls parallel to each other and a third side wall connecting with ends of the first and second side walls without a sidewall opposite the third wall, thereby a hatch is defined opposite to the third wall.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrical connector adapted for an Integrated Circuit (IC) chip, especially to a test socket for an IC chip.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventional test socket usually includes a base portion having a contact array of columns and rows therein, a movable member set in the base portion, a rectangular frame used to drive the movable member to shift. The rectangular frame comprises four side walls to form a rectangular cavity. The rectangular frame is sized to just receive a predetermined sized IC chip. In use actually, the contact array of the socket is designed to be more than a corresponding array of electrical member of the IC chip, which is convenience to test different chips with different electrical member array. The IC chips sometimes will touch the side wall of the frame if the IC chip, when inserted into the frame, closes up to said sidewall, which will result in damage of the IC chip.
Therefore, an electrical connector with an improved frame is desired to overcome the disadvantages of the related arts.

Electrical connector having an improved frame


Methods and apparatus for drilling with a top drive system are provided. In one aspect, a top drive system includes a top drive, top drive adapter, and a tubular positioning apparatus. In another aspect, the top drive adapter is pivotably connected to the top drive for pivoting the top drive adapter toward the casing string with respect to the top drive. In another aspect, the system includes a telescopic link system connected to a lower portion of the top drive adapter to move the casing string into engagement with the top drive adapter. In another aspect, the top drive adapter includes a housing operatively connected to the top drive and a plurality of retaining members disposed in the housing for gripping the tubular. In another aspect, the tubular positioning apparatus includes a gripping member for engaging a tubular and a conveying member for positioning the gripping member. A spinner may be provided to rotate the tubular.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for handling tubulars. Particularly, the invention relates to apparatus and methods for positioning, connecting, and rotating tubulars for wellbore operations. More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus and methods for tubular handling operations for drilling with casing using a top drive system.
2. Description of the Related Art
In well completion operations, a wellbore is formed to access hydrocarbon-bearing formations by the use of drilling. Drilling is accomplished by utilizing a drill bit that is mounted on the end of a drill support member, commonly known as a drill string. To drill within the wellbore to a predetermined depth, the drill string is often rotated by a top drive or rotary table on a surface platform or rig, or by a downhole motor mounted towards the lower end of the drill string. After drilling to a predetermined depth, the drill string and drill bit are removed and a section of casing is lowered into the wellbore. An annular area is thus formed between the string of casing and the formation. The casing string is temporarily hung from the surface of the well. A cementing operation is then conducted in order to fill the annular area with cement. Using apparatus known in the art, the casing string is cemented into the wellbore by circulating cement into the annular area defined between the outer wall of the casing and the borehole. The combination of cement and casing strengthens the wellbore and facilitates the isolation of certain areas of the formation behind the casing for the production of hydrocarbons.
It is common to employ more than one string of casing in a wellbore. In this respect, one conventional method to complete a well includes drilling to a first designated depth with a drill bit on a drill string. Then, the drill string is removed and a first string of casing is run into the wellbore and set in the drilled out portion of the wellbore. Cement is circulated into the annulus behind the casing string and allowed to cure. Next, the well is drilled to a second designated depth, and a second string of casing, or liner, is run into the drilled out portion of the wellbore. The second string is set at a depth such that the upper portion of the second string of casing overlaps the lower portion of the first string of casing. The second string is then fixed, or "hung" off of the existing casing by the use of slips, which utilize slip members and cones to wedgingly fix the second string of casing in the wellbore. The second casing string is then cemented. This process is typically repeated with additional casing strings until the well has been drilled to a desired depth. Therefore, two run-ins into the wellbore are required per casing string to set the casing into the wellbore. In this manner, wells are typically formed with two or more strings of casing of an ever-decreasing diameter.
As more casing strings are set in the wellbore, the casing strings become progressively smaller in diameter in order to fit within the previous casing string. In a drilling operation, the drill bit for drilling to the next predetermined depth must thus become progressively smaller as the diameter of each casing string decreases in order to fit within the previous casing string. Therefore, multiple drill bits of different sizes are ordinarily necessary for drilling in well completion operations.
Another method of performing well completion operations involves drilling with casing, as opposed to the first method of drilling and then setting the casing. In this method, the casing string is run into the wellbore along with a drill bit for drilling the subsequent, smaller diameter hole located in the interior of the existing casing string. The drill bit is operated by rotation of the drill string from the surface of the wellbore. Once the borehole is formed, the attached casing string may be cemented in the borehole. The drill bit is either removed or destroyed by the drilling of a subsequent borehole. The subsequent borehole may be drilled by a second working string comprising a second drill bit disposed at the end of a second casing that is of sufficient size to line the wall of the borehole formed. The second drill bit should be smaller than the first drill bit so that it fits within the existing casing string. In this respect, this method requires at least one run-in into the wellbore per casing string that is set into the wellbore.
It is known in the industry to use top drive systems to rotate a drill string to form a borehole. Top drive systems are equipped with a motor to provide torque for rotating the drilling string. The quill of the top drive is typically threadedly connected to an upper end of the drill pipe in order to transmit torque to the drill pipe. Top drives may also be used in a drilling with casing operation to rotate the casing.
In order to drill with casing, most existing top drives require a crossover adapter to connect to the casing. This is because the quill of the top drive is not sized to connect with the threads of the casing. The crossover adapter is design to alleviate this problem. Typically, one end of the crossover adapter is designed to connect with the quill, while the other end is designed to connect with the casing.
However, the process of connecting and disconnecting a casing is time consuming. For example, each time a new casing is added, the casing string must be disconnected from the crossover adapter. Thereafter, the crossover adapter must be threaded into the new casing before the casing string may be run. Furthermore, this process also increases the likelihood of damage to the threads, thereby increasing the potential for downtime.
More recently, top drive adapters have been developed to facilitate the casing handling operations and to impart torque from the top drive to the casing. Generally, top drive adapters are equipped with gripping members to grippingly engage the casing string to transmit torque applied from the top drive to the casing. Top drive adapters may include an external gripping device such as a torque head or an internal gripping device such as a spear.
It is typically necessary to raise or lower the top drive during drilling. For example, the top drive is lowered during drilling in order to urge the drill bit into the formation to extend the wellbore. As the wellbore is extended, additional casings must be added to the casing string. The top drive is released from the casing string and raised to a desired height, thereby allowing the make up of the additional casing to the casing string.
Generally, top drives are disposed on rails so that it is movable axially relative to the well center. While the top drive adapter may rotate relative to the top drive, it is axially fixed relative to the top drive and thus must remain within the same plane as the top drive and well center. Because movement of the torque head and top drive are restricted, a single joint elevator attached to cable bails is typically used to move additional casings from the rack to well center.
Generally, when the casing is transported from the rack to well center, a rig hand is employed to manipulate the cable bails and angle the elevator from its resting position below the top drive adapter to the rack. The elevator is closed around one end of the casing to retain control of the casing. The top drive is then raised to pull the elevator and the attached casing to well center.
Once the elevator lifts the casing from the rack, the casing is placed in alignment with the casing string held in the wellbore. Typically, this task is also performed by a rig hand. Because the free end of the casing is unsupported, this task generally presents a hazard to the personnel on the rig floor as they try to maneuver the casing above the wellbore.
A pipe handling arm has recently been developed to manipulate a first tubular into alignment with a second tubular, thereby eliminating the need of a rig hand to align the tubulars. The pipe handling arm is disclosed in International Application No. PCT/GB98/02582, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Aligning Tubulars" and published on Mar. 11, 1999, which application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. The pipe handling arm includes a positioning head mounted on a telescopic arm which can hydraulically extend, retract, and pivot to position the first tubular into alignment with the second tubular.
When drilling with typical drill pipe, a threaded drill pipe connection is usually made up by utilizing a spinner and a power tong. Generally, spinners are designed to provide low torque while rotating the casing at a high rate. On the other hand, power tongs are designed to provide high torque with a low turn rate, such as a half turn only. While the spinner provides a faster make up rate, it fails to provide enough torque to form a fluid tight connection. Whereas the power tong may provide enough torque, it fails to make up the connection in an efficient manner because the power tong must grip the casing several times to tighten the connection. Therefore, the spinner and the power tong are typically used in combination to make up a connection.
To make up the connection, the spinner and the power tong are moved from a location on the rig floor to a position near the well center to rotate the casing into engagement with the casing string. Thereafter, the spinner is actuated to perform the initial make up of the connection. Then, the power tong is actuated to finalize the connection. Because operating time for a rig is very expensive, some as much as $500,000 per day, there is enormous pressure to reduce the time they are used in the formation of the wellbore.
There is a need, therefore, for methods and apparatus to reduce the time it takes to connect or disconnect tubulars. There is also a need for an apparatus for aligning tubulars for connection therewith and partly make up the connection while the power tong is moved into position. There is a further need for apparatus and methods to facilitate the movement of a tubular to and from the well center.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and apparatus for drilling with casing


A lamination-type resistance element includes a laminated sinter having internal electrodes of a first group and internal electrodes of a second group, the first internal electrode group including a plurality of internal electrodes facing each other through a ceramic resistance layer and defining a resistance unit at the portion where the plurality of internal electrodes face each other. A first end of the resistance unit is connected to a first external electrode and the second end is connected to a second external electrode. The second internal electrode group includes a plurality of pairs of internal electrodes in which the inner ends face each other through a gap on the same plane inside the laminated sinter, and a plurality of pairs of gaps in the plurality of internal electrodes are arranged at the same location when seen from one end of the lamination direction of the laminated sinter. Thereby, fine adjustment of a resistance value can be performed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lamination-type resistance element and more particularly to a lamination-type resistance element in which internal electrodes are disposed inside a laminated sinter so as to enable fine adjustment of a resistance value.
2. Description of the Related Art
To date, resistance elements such as PTC thermistors and NTC thermistors have been used for temperature compensation and temperature detection. Among such resistance elements, there is a lamination-type resistance element that can be mounted on a printed circuit board, etc. Hereinafter, examples of related lamination-type resistance elements are described.
FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a first related example wherein the resistance element is an NTC thermistor.
In a lamination-type thermistor 1 shown in FIG. 7, first internal electrodes 4a and 4b and second internal electrodes 5a and 5b are provided inside a laminated sinter 3 in which a plurality of thermistor layers 2 are integrally sintered. External electrodes 7 and 8 are provided on the outer surface and more specifically on both end portions of the laminated sinter 3.
One end portion of the first internal electrode 4a and one end portion of the second internal electrode 5a face each other on the same planar surface with a gap 6a therebetween. The other end portion of the first internal electrode 4a is electrically connected to the external electrode 7 and the other end portion of the second internal electrode 4b is electrically connected to the external electrode 8.
Furthermore, one end portion of the first internal electrode 4b and one end portion of the second internal electrode 5b face each other on the same planar surface with a gap 6b therebetween. The other end portion of the first internal electrode 4b is electrically connected to the external electrode 7 and the other end portion of the second internal electrode 5b is electrically connected to the external electrode 8.
The gaps 6a and the gaps 6b are alternately disposed along the lamination direction of the plurality of thermistor layers 2 inside the laminated sinter 3. Furthermore, the gaps 6a and the gaps 6b are arranged at different locations in the direction that is substantially perpendicular to the lamination direction of the laminated sinter 3.
FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a second related example and, in the same way as in FIG. 7, the resistance element is an NTC thermistor.
In a lamination-type NTC thermistor 11 shown in FIG. 8, first internal electrodes 14a and second internal electrodes 14b are provided inside a laminated sinter 13 in which a plurality of thermistor layers 12 are integrally sintered. Furthermore, internal electrodes 16 are arranged so as to face the first internal electrodes 14a and second internal electrodes 14b through a thermistor layer 12. External electrodes 17 and 18 are provided on the outer surface of the laminated sinter 12 and more specifically on both end portions.
One end portion of the first internal electrode 14a and one end portion of the second internal electrode 14b are arranged so as to face each other on the same plane with a gap 15 therebetween. The other end portion of the first internal electrode 14a is electrically connected to the external electrode 17 and the other end portion of the second internal electrode 14b is electrically connected to the external electrode 18.
The internal electrode 16 is a no-connection-type internal electrode, both end portions of which are not extended out to the outer surface of the laminated sinter 13 and which are not connected to the external electrodes 17 and 18.
The resistance value of the first related lamination-type resistance element is determined by the size of the gap 6a between the first internal electrode 4a and the second internal electrode 5a, the size of the gap 6b between the first internal electrode 4b and the second internal electrode 5b, and the overlapping area between the first internal electrode 4a and the second internal electrode 5b and the space therebetween.
Furthermore, the resistance value of the second related lamination-type resistance element is determined by the size of the gap 15 between the first internal electrode 14a and the second internal electrode 14b, the overlapping area between the first internal electrode 14a and the no-connection-type internal electrode 16 and the space therebetween, and the overlapping area between the second internal electrode 14b and the no-connection-type internal electrode 16 and the space therebetween.
In Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-124008, a third related lamination-type resistance element is disclosed. In a resistance element disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-124008, inside a negative characteristic thermistor element, first and second internal electrodes are disposed so as to lie on top of one another with a thermistor element layer therebetween, the internal electrode is extended out to one end of the negative characteristic thermistor element, and the other internal electrode is extended out to the other end. Then, the first and second external electrodes are arranged at both ends of the thermistor element. Furthermore, a resistor layer made of a resistive material that is different from the material defining the thermistor element is laminated on the thermistor element. Then, a pair of internal electrodes, one end of each facing one end of the other with a gap therebetween on the same plane, are provided inside of the resistor layer. One of the internal electrodes is electrically connected to the first external electrode and the other is electrically connected to the second external electrode.
Here, the resistance value can be set by adjustment of not only material characteristics and the shape of the above-described resistor layer, but also the pattern of a pair of electrodes inside the resonator layer, and thus, the freedom of setting the resistance value can be increased.
Furthermore, in Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Registration Application Publication No. 6-34201, an NTC thermistor as a lamination-type resistance element according to a fourth example is disclosed. That is, an NTC thermistor in which a plurality of pairs of internal electrodes, the inner end of one of the pair facing the inner end of the other with a gap therebetween on the same plane, are provided inside a lamination-type resistor. Here, in each pair of internal electrodes, one internal electrode is electrically connected to a first external electrode provided on one end surface of the resistor and the other internal electrode is electrically connected to a second external electrode provided on the other end surface of the resistor. Then, when seen from a direction perpendicular to the upper surface of the resistor, in each of the plurality of pairs, the one internal electrode and the other internal electrode are disposed so as not to lie on top of one another. In this NTC thermistor, since the resistance value is determined by the size of a gap between a pair of internal electrodes disposed on the same plane, it is possible to reduce variations of the resistance value.
When the resistance value is adjusted in the first and second lamination-type resistance elements, the number of laminations of each internal electrode is increased or reduced. However, in the case of adjustment of the resistance value, in the first related example, since the number of internal electrodes 4a, 4b, 5a, and 5b facing each other through a thermistor layer 2 is increased or reduced, the range of change of the resistance value is wide and fine adjustment of the resistance value is difficult. In the second related example, the number of units made of internal electrodes 14a and 14b and internal electrodes 16 facing each other through a thermistor 12 is increased or decreased. Accordingly, the range of change of the resistance value is also wide and fine adjustment of the resistance value is difficult.
On the other hand, in the lamination-type resistance element of the third related example, since the resistor layer is made using a material different from a negative characteristic thermistor element, the manufacturing process becomes complicated and, as a matter of course, the cost increases. Furthermore, since the thickness of the resistor layer is required to be sufficiently smaller than the thickness of the thermistor element, the design of the resistor and the internal electrodes are naturally restricted. Therefore, reduction in the resistance and fine adjustment of the resistance value are difficult.
Furthermore, in an NTC thermistor described in the above-described Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Registration Application Publication No. 6-34201, reduction in the resistance is limited although variations of the resistance value can be reduced. When the size of the gap is reduced for each pair of internal electrodes disposed with a gap therebetween on the same plane, it is possible to decrease the resistance value. However, when the gap is reduced, since a short circuit becomes likely to occur, reduction in the resistance is limited.


Methods for chemical mechanical planarization of patterned wafers are provided herein. In some embodiments, methods of processing a substrate having a first surface and a plurality of recesses disposed within the first surface may include: depositing a first material into the plurality of recesses to predominantly fill the plurality of recesses with the first material; depositing a second material different from the first material into the plurality of recesses and atop the substrate to fill the plurality of recesses and to form a layer atop the first surface; and planarizing the second material using a first slurry in a chemical mechanical polishing tool until the first surface is reached. In some embodiments, a second slurry, different than the first slurry, is used to planarize the substrate to a first level.

In the fabrication of non-planar transistors, silicon germanium alloys, especially germanium, may be deposited in trenches between shallow isolation features typically fabricated from a dielectric film such as undoped silicon oxide. The inventors have observed that, germanium films erode more readily than silicon films when employing conventional chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) techniques. As a result, film removal and uniformity control can be more difficult when using CMP techniques for germanium films than for silicon films. The same behavior may occur for films of germanium tin alloys and certain III-V alloys.
Accordingly, the present invention provides improved methods for chemical mechanical planarization of patterned wafers.


Provided is a fluorescent X-ray analysis apparatus, including: a collecting portion configured to drop a liquid droplet onto a substrate having an object to be measured on a surface thereof and move the dropped liquid droplet on the surface of the substrate to collect the object to be measured into the liquid droplet; a drying portion configured to dry the liquid droplet so that the object to be measured is held onto the surface of the substrate; an analysis portion configured to irradiate the object to be measured with an X-ray and perform quantitative analysis of an element contained in the object to be measured based on a fluorescent X-ray output from the object to be measured; a beam sensor configured to emit a laser having a band shape for detecting an amount of the liquid droplet separated from the collecting portion before the liquid droplet is dried after the object to be measured is collected; and a calculating portion configured to calculate a correction coefficient for correcting the amount of the liquid droplet or a quantitative analysis value of the object to be measured based on a detection result of the beam sensor.

There has been known a fluorescent X-ray analysis apparatus configured to irradiate a sample to be measured with an X-ray and detect an element contained in the sample based on an output fluorescent X-ray. For example, as a method of detecting a contaminated substance adhering to a semiconductor substrate, an analysis method using the fluorescent X-ray analysis apparatus is used. In order to perform fluorescent X-ray analysis, a certain mass or more of a sample to be measured is required. When the amount of the contaminated substance adhering to the substrate is extremely small, the contaminated substance cannot be detected by the fluorescent X-ray analysis in some cases. In view of the foregoing, there has been known a vapor phase decomposition (VPD) method enabling analysis by collecting the contaminated substance into one place with a liquid droplet.
For example, in Patent Literature 1, there is disclosed a sample collecting device for fluorescent X-ray analysis configured to drop a solution onto a substrate having an object to be measured on a surface thereof and move the solution on the surface of the substrate while holding the solution with a holder to collect the object to be measured. It is also disclosed that, after the object to be measured is collected, it is automatically confirmed whether or not the solution containing the object to be measured has been dried.

Sample collecting device, sample collecting method, and fluorescent x-ray analysis apparatus using the same


A process for the manufacture of a useful product from carbonaceous feedstock of fluctuating compositional characteristics, comprising the steps of: continuously providing the carbonaceous feedstock of fluctuating compositional characteristics to a gasification zone; gasifying the carbonaceous feedstock in the gasification zone to obtain raw synthesis gas; recovering at least part of the raw synthesis gas from the gasification zone and supplying at least part of the recovered raw synthesis gas to a partial oxidation zone; equilibrating the H2:CO ratio of the raw synthesis gas in the partial oxidation zone to obtain equilibrated synthesis gas; recovering at least part of the equilibrated synthesis gas from the partial oxidation zone and treating the gas to remove impurities and generate a fine synthesis gas; and converting the optionally adjusted fine synthesis gas into the useful product in a further chemical reaction requiring a usage ratio.

It is widely known in the art to manufacture useful products such as synthetic fuels from waste materials and/or biomass. We may refer to such manufacturing methods as WTL (Waste-to-Liquids) and BTL (Biomass-to-Liquids) processes.
Typical WTL and BTL processes involve the gasification by steam reforming of waste or biomass feedstock to produce a raw synthesis gas which may then be treated and purified in various ways before entering a chemical reaction train to generate a useful product.
In the case of the useful product being a synthetic fuel, the chemical reaction train will typically comprise a Fischer-Tropsch (FT) reactor. The FT process is widely used to generate fuels from carbon monoxide and hydrogen and can be represented by the equation:(2n+1)H2+nCO→CnH2n+2+nH2O
The so-called usage ratio is an indication of the required stoichiometry in the chemical reaction train. For an FT process the usage ratio approximates ideally to 2 when n is a large number in the above equation. For example when n=100 the ratio is 2.01. It will be appreciated that in a complex reaction network, side reactions may occur in which case the overall usage ratio and the primary reaction stoichiometry may not be synonymous and further both of these can be different from the ratio of reactants made available for the reaction. For example, in the case of FT the usage ratio in reality is typically in the range of 2.04 to 2.14, while the H2:CO ratio in the feed can vary significantly.
To date, there appears to have been little consideration given as to how the feed H2:CO ratio may be controlled below the usage ratio to increase efficiency and reduce complexity in an otherwise satisfactory WTL or BTL process.
WTL and BTL processes are very well known in the art and certain processes have been considered for the production of fuel from sources such as municipal and biomass waste.
For example, WO2017011025A1 and WO2017039741 A1 concern systems for producing high biogenic carbon concentration Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) liquids derived from municipal solid wastes (MSW), and a high biogenic content fuel derived from renewable organic feedstock sources.
EP2350233A1 relates to a method for producing liquid hydrocarbonaceous product from solid biomass, the method comprising gasifying solid biomass to produce raw synthesis gas, conditioning the raw synthesis gas to obtain purified synthesis gas and subjecting the purified gas to a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis.
WO2018026388 describes converting one or more carbon-containing feedstocks into hydrocarbons.
US20190118157A1 relates to a synthesis gas production method in which the ratio of product gas components (both H2:CO and CO:CO2) is controlled and adjusted by substoichiometric (partial) oxidation and subsequent oxidation of a raw synthesis gas. The disclosure suggests to combine product gas from a partial oxidation unit and from a gasifier and to react the combined stream with an oxygen-containing gas to generate a lower component ratio than either the of the product gases from the partial oxidation unit or the gasifier.
EP3381997A1 and EP2694432A2 appear primarily concerned with the CO:CO2 ratio in synthesis gas production and mention H2:CO ratio only in passing.
EP2694624B1 is similarly preoccupied with the CO:CO2 ratio.
The significance of the H2:CO ratio is recognised in EP2530136A1 which discloses that a gasifier operated at 700 to 950° C. conventionally produces a H2:CO ratio of about 0.5 to 1.4 depending on feedstock. This document teaches recovering from the Fischer-Tropsch reactor an off-gas comprising hydrocarbons, separately producing hydrogen from those gaseous hydrocarbons and feeding at least a part of the thus-produced hydrogen into the clean synthesis gas in order to increase the hydrogen-to-carbon monoxide ratio of said clean synthesis gas.
Much consideration of H2:CO ratios is also provided in EP2865732A, which focuses on mixing raw synthesis gas from a biomass gasifier and a hydrogen-rich gas to yield a mixed gas, wherein a volume ratio of the hydrogen-rich gas to the raw synthesis gas is between 0.7 and 2.1 and then generating from that raw synthesis gas a fine synthesis gas having a H2:CO volume ratio of between 1.8 and 3.0.
Fischer-Tropsch is by no means the only synthesis to benefit from consideration of component gas ratios. For example, EP1934311 A1 discusses usage ratios in terms of "stoichiometric number" (SN) and teaches the adjustment of SN to a suitable value for use in methanol synthesis.
It is also known, for example from Taherzadeh, Mohammad & Chandolias, Konstantinos & Richards, Tobias. (2018). Combined Gasification-Fermentation Process in Waste Biorefinery. 10.1016/B978-0-444-63992-9.00005-7 that different feedstocks on gasification generate synthesis gas of different composition, including as regards the H2:CO ratio.
US2015/0299589 describes a method of processing synthesis gas to improve the quality of the synthesis gas by using a water gas shift reaction to increase the molar ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide (H2:CO).
WO2008/017741 describes a method of producing liquid hydrocarbons from a heavy charge such as biomass, coal, lignite, or heavy petroleum residue comprising partial oxidation of the heavy charge, producing a synthetic gas SG1, with H2/CO ratio of <1, steam reforming a light charge comprising hydrocarbons having at most four carbon atoms, to produce a synthetic gas SG2 with H2/CO ratio>3, a Fischer-Tropsch conversion of a synthetic gas SG into liquid hydrocarbons, mixture of at least one part of SG1 and at least one part of SG2, in proportions such that SG has a H2/CO ratio of between 1.2 and 2.5.
US2009/0012188 describes a process of producing liquid hydrocarbons from a feedstock that comprises at least one elementary feedstock from the group of biomass, coal, lignite, petroleum residues, methane, and natural gas, comprising at least one stage a) for gasification of the feedstock by partial oxidation and/or steam reforming to produce a synthesis gas SG; a stage b) for separating CO2 from SG and a portion of the effluent of the subsequent stage c); the mixing of a portion of the CO2 that is separated with a gas of an H2/CO ratio of more than 3; a stage c) for partial conversion with hydrogen, thermal or thermocatalytic, of the CO2 that is present in said first mixture according to the reaction: CO2+H2→CO+H2O in a specific reaction zone that is separated from said gasification zone or zones; a stage d) for Fisher-Tropsch synthesis on a synthesis gas that comprises at least a portion of SG and at least a portion of the CO that is produced by the conversion of CO2 into hydrogen.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,110,359 describes a continuous process for simultaneously producing a stream of cleaned purified synthesis gas having a mole ratio H2:CO in the range of 2 to 12 and a separate stream of CO-rich gas.
WO2008/010994 describes a method for controlling a synthesis gas composition obtained from a steam methane reformer (SMR) that obtains its feedstock as product gas directly from a steam hydro-gasification reactor (SHR).
It would appear that none of these documents provides a satisfactory means for controlling the H2:CO ratio in the feed to be below the usage ratio to increase efficiency and reduce complexity in an otherwise satisfactory WTL or BTL process. In particular, none contain any satisfactory teaching as to how to handle compositionally fluctuating feedstocks.
The object of the present invention is to provide an improved process for manufacturing a useful product such as synthetic fuel from waste materials and/or biomass, in which the H2:CO ratio in the feed is controlled to be below the usage ratio to increase efficiency and reduce complexity in comparison with conventional such processes.

Method for producing a saleable product from synthesis gas derived from and/or comprising waste material and/or biomass


A drum type washing machine includes a rotary drum having an approximately horizontal or slanted rotational axis; an outer tub for accommodating the rotary drum therein; a driving motor for rotating the rotary drum; a detergent case for accommodating detergent therein; a first water supply unit for supplying water into the outer tub via the detergent case; a second water supply unit for supplying water into the rotary drum through a front opening thereof; and a controller for controlling operations of the driving motor and the first and the second water supply unit to execute a washing process during which water is supplied first up to a first water level, and the rotary drum is rotated at a first rotational speed for a time period, and then water is supplied up to a second water level, the first water level being lower than the second water level.

Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a conventional drum type washing machine.
As shown therein, housing 26 of the drum type washing machine includes outer tub 27 supported on a suspension structure, and rotary drum 29 provided with multiple drum perforations 28 on its cylindrical surface is rotably disposed in outer tub 27. Rotary drum 29 is driven to rotate by driving motor 30. Further, by opening door 31 provided at the front portion of housing 26, loading and unloading of laundry into and from rotary drum 29 can be performed through front openings 27a and 29a of outer tub 27 and rotary drum 29, respectively.
If the drum type washing machine starts to operate after laundry being loaded into rotary drum 29 through opening door 31 and detergent being added thereinto, water is supplied into outer tub 27, and the water supplied in outer tub 27 is also introduced into rotary drum 29 through drum perforations 28. Then, if rotary drum 29 is rotated at a predetermined rotational speed by driving motor 30, the laundry accommodated in rotary drum 29 is lifted up by agitation blades 32 provided on the inner cylindrical surface of rotary drum 29 in the rotational direction of rotary drum 29 and then dropped down upon reaching an appropriate height. Therefore, the laundry is subject to pounding motions to be washed.
Upon the completion of such washing process, soiled water is drained and fresh water is supplied to perform a rinsing process. When the rinsing process is finished, a water-extracting process during which rotary drum 29 is rotated at a high rotational speed is executed. These processes are automatically performed in accordance with a predetermined control sequence.
In addition to the above-described general configuration of drum type washing machine, in order to improve the cleaning efficiency, there is proposed a drum type washing machine capable of drawing water supplied into the outer tub into the rotary drum sufficiently and allowing laundry to be fully soaked in the water, to thereby improve cleaning efficiency (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-open Application No. H9-215893, pp. 3 to 5, FIG. 1).
The conventional drum type washing machine, however, has problems in that the washing process is performed without the detergent being fully dissolved in water and without the laundry being sufficiently soaked in the water, thus failing to obtain a sufficient effect of pounding motions. As a consequence, there gives a problem of poor cleaning efficiency or consumption of a considerable amount of time prior to obtaining a desired degree of cleaning efficiency.


The invention is to provide a flat panel image forming apparatus capable of suppressing a fluctuation in an incident position of an electron beam resulting from a front-rear temperature difference generated in a panel, thereby capable of high-quality display not affected by such temperature difference. An image forming apparatus comprises a face plate and a rear plate supported by a spacer, wherein a heat resistance division ratio in a heat conduction, path from the face plate to the rear plate is suppressed to 0.5 or less, to reduce an electrical resistance distribution on the spacer surface which results from a temperature distribution in a direction of height of the spacer thereby suppressing a fluctuation in the incident position of the electron beam from an electron emitting device to an anode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as an image display apparatus of flat panel type, utilizing an electron emitting device.
2. Related Background Art
In the image display apparatus including a cathode ray tube, a larger image size is requested, and a thinner structure and a lighter weight in such larger image size of the apparatus are becoming important issues. As an image display apparatus capable of realizing such thinner and lighter structure, the present applicant proposes an image display apparatus of flat panel type, utilizing a surface conduction electron emitting device. Such image display apparatus is formed as a vacuum container by seal bonding a rear plate, provided with plural electron emitting devices, and a face plate, provided with a light emitting member (for example phosphor) capable of emitting light by an electron beam irradiation and an anode electrode, across a frame member. In such image display apparatus, in order to prevent a deformation or a destruction of the plates by a pressure difference between the interior of the vacuum container constituting the display panel and the exterior, a pressure-resistant member, called a spacer, is positioned between the plates. Such spacer usually has a shape of a rectangular thin plate, of which end portions are positioned in contact with the both plates in such a manner that the surface of the spacer becomes parallel to a normal line to the plates.
In driving a display panel, a temperature fluctuation may be generated within the panel. Factors for such temperature fluctuation may be (1) an image source to be displayed, (2) an environment of use, and (3) a deficient heat conductance within a panel casing. More detailed causes of such fluctuation include generation and absorption of Joule's heat in an electron source, matrix wirings, a drive circuit etc., a heat generation by the phosphor, a temperature difference between the ambient temperature and various parts of the panel, and a radiant heat exchange for example by sunlight. Since these parameters are not constant in time and in space, the temperature distribution in the panel is generated not only along the planar direction thereof but also on an external surface of the face plate and the rear plate. Such temperature distribution, through dependent on an environment of use and an image to be displayed, causes a temperature difference of 5 to 20° C., typically about 10° C.
In case the temperature is higher in the face plate than in the rear plate in the vicinity of a spacer, an incident position of the electron beam is shifted in a direction attracted by the spacer. On the other hand, in case the temperature is lower in the face plate than in the rear plate, the position of the electron beam changes in a direction farther away from the spacer. A variation in the incident position of the electron beam, though dependent on a pixel pitch, amounts to −0.1 to 0.1 pixel pitch, in case of a pixel pitch of 0.6 mm and a temperature difference of 10° C., thereby significantly deteriorating the display quality.
For suppressing a fluctuation in the incident position of the electron beam in the vicinity of the spacer, resulting from such temperature difference between the front and rear sides of the panel, a technology is disclosed in a patent reference 1, which describes suppression of the fluctuation in the electron beam position resulting from the temperature difference between the front and rear sides of the panel, by selecting a thermal conductivity of the spacer member, a temperature dependence of a resistance thereof, a ratio of a cross section of the spacer and an area of display, and a height of the spacer within desired ranges.
Patent Reference 1: U.S. Pat. No. 5,990,614
A spacer of a high performance has to meet following requirements:    a strength and a shape capable of withstanding the atmospheric pressure;    a uniform potential distribution for designing a static potential standard;    an antistatic structure for designing a dynamic potential standard; and    a resistance designing for suppressing an electric power consumption.
It is extremely difficult to meet all these requirements with a single material. For this reason, there have been employed various methods such as forming surface irregularities, covering an insulating substrate with a high resistance film, or patterning films different in a secondary electron emission coefficient. It is also required to solve the problems such as "chemical stability", "suppression of degassing", "cost" and "ease of handling in manufacture". It is therefore desired to support required design parameters, as far as possible, by parts other than the spacer.

Image forming apparatus capable of suppressing a fluctuation in an incident position of an electron beam


A turboshaft engine in which the stator comprises an outer casing surrounding a ring formed by a number of ring elements each having an apertured rib which spaces the element from the casing, the ribs dividing the space between the casing and the ring into separate compartments, and each rib having a sealing element disposed alongside it to cover the apertures and seal one compartment from the next. The casing and the ring are fixed together by virtue of bolts which have their axes inclined to the radial direction so that tightening the bolts causes the casing to press radially on the sealing elements at the same time as pressing them axially against the respective ribs.

1. Field of the invention
The invention relates to a turboshaft engine having a stator equipped with means for preventing the longitudinal or axial flow of gas around the guide vane stages of the stator.
2. Summary of the prior art
The stator of many turboshaft engines comprises a double envelope formed by an outer casing and a ring which is surrounded by the casing and which is constituted by a plurality of interconnected elements to which the vanes of the guide stages are secured. The ring elements are screwed to the casing and are provided with radially-extending circumferential ribs which engage the casing to maintain the spacing between the ring and the casing. However, as these ribs are the cause of a substantial outward heat loss by virtue of their good thermal conductivity, they are provided with apertures so that they only touch the casing at circumferentially spaced positions. The drawback with this arrangement is that the volume between the ring and the outer casing becomes continuous, with the result that it becomes impossible to achieve fine adjustment of the clearance between the rotor blades and each ring element by blowing heating or cooling gas at different temperatures or rates into different sections of the volume between the casing and the ring in order to vary the thermal expansion of each ring element independently. Only an overall setting is possible, and this fails by far to provide the same degree of precision in reducing clearances to a minimum, so that the output of the engine is affected. Re-establishment of a seal at each rib is therefore desirable in order to prevent the axial flow of gas between the casing and the ring elements through the apertures of the ribs. Several solutions have been proposed in French Patents Nos. 2468738, 2482661 and 2575221, and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,314,793, but are generally fairly complicated. The aim of the invention is to provide a particularly simple solution to this problem.

Turbomachine stator having a double skin casing including means for preventing gas flow longitudinally therethrough


An organic electroluminescence display includes a transparent glass substrate, an ITO anode layer, a positive hole transition layer, an RGB luminescence layer, an electron transition layer and a metallic cathode layer. Highly pressurized N2 gas is sealed in the interior of the display. To absorb and retain the moisture in the sealed gas, a hygroscopic member is disposed between a sealing member and the cathode layer. The hygroscopic member includes a nonwoven fabric including a fiber layer made of fibers bonding to each other and a hygroscopic agent adhering to one surface of the fiber layer and an air-permeable sheet covering the nonwoven fabric as a whole.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a nonwoven fabric, a hygroscopic member, a method and an apparatus for producing a nonwoven fabric and an organic electroluminescence display with a nonwoven fabric serving as a hygroscopic member for absorbing moisture.
2. Description of the Related Art
Now, an organic electroluminescence display used as a display of various electronic equipments has been promptly developed, and already put into practice in a certain field, such as a display for a cellular phone. Such a organic electroluminescence display of such a kind is formed by laminating a plurality of layers such as an electrode layer (anode and cathode), an electron transition layer, a positive hole transition layer and a luminescence layer on a substrate, each of these layers being made of polymeric or monomeric organic compounds. On the other hand, it has been known that the organic electroluminescence display is easily deteriorated by moisture. That is, in the organic electroluminescence display, the luminescence layer and the electrode layer are separated from each other by the existence of moisture or the molecular structure of the luminescence layer changes due to moisture to result in a display defect called a dark spot.
Accordingly, when the organic electroluminescence display is produced, it is usual that the organic compound layers are formed on the substrate while not being exposed to the atmosphere, and an assembly of the formed layers is sealed within a sealing member made of metal, resin or glass. As described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2000-195661, a drying agent is disposed in the interior of the sealing member.
To provide the drying agent in the interior of the sealing member, however, it is necessary to attach the drying agent at a predetermined position in the interior of the sealing member after it has been put in a package or mixed with the organic compound. Accordingly, a process for producing the organic electroluminescence display becomes considerably complex accompanied with the provision of the drying agent. Also, when the drying agent is disposed within the sealing member, it may be necessary to form a mounting section for the drying agent in the sealing member, which disturbs the compactness (thinning) of the organic electroluminescence display. The present invention is directed to overcome one or more of the problems as set forth above.

Nonwoven fabric, hygroscopic member, method and apparatus for producing nonwoven fabric and organic electroluminescence display


An optical disc playback device of the so-called "carousel" type comprises a disc transport turntable rotatably mounted within the player housing. The underside of the turntable has an annular ridge with notches formed therein, and the housing comprises a photocouple which detects the presence or absence of the notches. The notches are so configured that each disc-holding section of the turntable has a distinct set of notches associated therewith, and each set of notches includes a central position-indicating notch and disc number-indicating notches disposed symmetrically on both sides of the central position-indicating notch.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a play-back device for optical discs of the so-called "carousel" type, in which a plurality of discs are mounted on the turntable of a tray. More particularly, the present invention relates to such a playback device in which any selected one of the plurality of discs may be randomly designated for playing, with a short access time.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIGS. 5-7 show a carousel-type optical disc play-back device according to the prior art. In particular, FIG. 5 shows in perspective the inner workings of such a play-back device, in which the player is generally designated 1, and includes a front control panel 2. A tray 3 is provided which is caused to move in and out of the front panel 2 like a drawer, in response to actuation of a corresponding control button on the front panel 2 of the player 1. The tray 3 holds a plurality of discs 4, which in this example is five discs 4.
The tray 3 comprises a disc transport turntable 5. FIG. 6, which is an axial section through the disc transport and reading mechanisms of the player of FIG. 5, shows that the disc transport turntable 5 is mounted for rotation about a boss 6 which extends from the center of tray 3. The disc transport turntable 5 has a circular series of disc holding sections 7, corresponding in number to the number of discs 4 which may be held by the player, and it will be noted that each holding section 7 is capable of holding a disc of either of two different sizes.
On its underside, the disc transport turntable 5 is provided with an annular rib 8 which forms a rack by which to transmit a driving force for rotating the turntable 5, as well as two concentric annular ribs 9a and 9b disposed radially outwardly of the rib 8, and which are used to determine the angular position of the turntable 5.
As shown in FIG. 7, the position-determining rib 9a has notches 11 corresponding to each disc-holding section 7, to ensure that any selected disc 4 is correctly transferred to the disc rotation turntable 10, from its respective disc-holding section 7. FIGS. 6 and 7 show that a photocoupler 12 is so disposed as to straddle the annular rib 9a, for detecting the occurrence of a notch 11 and emitting a corresponding control signal, thereby to control the driving motor 13 which rotates the disc transport turntable 5 via gear 15 and the rack formed on annular rib 8.
In addition, a notch is formed on the outer annular rib 9b, to enable determination of a standard position of the disc transport turntable 5, using the output from a further photocoupler 14. Since the disc transport turntable 5 is rotated in a specified direction via annular rib 8, and the motor 13 and gear 15 installed on tray 3, an accurate position determination is produced, after rotating the turntable 5 by a predetermined angle, by having the next notch emit a control signal from photocoupler 12. In this manner, turntable 5 is gradually rotated to enable an exchange of discs 4 at the disc rotating turntable 10.
Each of the disc-holding sections 7 of the disc transport turntable 5 is provided with a radially-outwardly opening slot 16. When the tray 3 is stored inside the main body of the player 1, the opening 17 formed in the rear side of tray 3 is aligned with the slot 16 of one of the disc-holding sections 7, such that the disc rotation turntable 10 and optical pickup 18 are also axially aligned with the opening 17 and its aligned slot 16.
When the tray 3 is set at a predetermined position, the motor 19 shown in FIG. 6 is activated, and the output of motor 19 is transmitted through a gear set 20 to cause rotation of a cylindrical lift cam 21. Lift cam 21 is provided with a peripheral spiral groove 22 about its cylindrical outer wall, as well as an annular gear on its top for meshing with the aforementioned gear set 20.
Sub-chassis 23 shown in FIG. 6 carries the optical pickup 18 and disc rotation turntable 10, and is mounted for up and down pivotal movement about pin 25. Upon rotation of the lift cam 21, projection 24 secured to sub-chassis 23 is guided into the spiral groove 22, such that the sub-chassis 23 is guided in its up and down pivotal movement about pin 25. As the sub-chassis 23 is pivoted upwardly, the disc rotation turntable and optical pickup 18 rise and enter into opening 17 of tray 3 and slot 16 of the aligned disc holding section 7. With a further rise of sub-chassis 23, the disc rotation turntable 10 contacts the central hole of disc 4, causing disc 4 to separate from its disc-holding section 7. Subsequently, a disc clamp 27 extending downwardly from chassis 26 clamps disc 4 in such a manner that disc 4 faces turntable 10. At this point, disc turntable 10 commences rotation of disc 4, and data is retrieved from disc 4 by means of the optical pickup 18, in a known manner.
In the prior art disc player described above, after a disc has been placed in the disc transport turntable of the tray, verification of the standard position of the disc transport turntable must be performed before any disc can be played, by rotating the disc transport turntable and using the notches in the annular rib, together with the photocoupler, to establish the standard position. Next, the disc transport turntable must be further rotated such that the disc-holding section holding the selected disc is positioned above the optical reading device, by counting the number of notches in the position-determining annular rib. Only then may the selected disc be clamped on the disc rotation turntable and played.
Thus, the disc transport turntable must be rotated until the standard position is verified, before the selected disc can be transported to the playback components. Therefore, when, for example, the fifth disc in a carousel-type player capable of holding five discs is to be played first, verification of the standard position must first be accomplished by rotating the disc transport turntable to confirm the standard position (ordinarily the position of the holding section for the first disc). Next, the turntable is again rotated to position the selected disc above the disc rotation turntable and optical pickup. Since, in this example, the turntable rotates in a specified direction, a very long access time is required. Moreover, in order to solve this problem and to shorten the access time required in a conventional technique, there is the disadvantage that two sets of detection systems are necessary, one to detect the standard position of the disc transport turntable, and the other to detect the position of the selected disc.

Optical disc play-back device of the carousel type, having a mechanism for reducing access type to any selected disc


There is provided a ventilation structure formed in an automobile door, which is made up of a door inner panel having a hole therethrough. A door hole seal is installed in an interior side of the door inner panel. The door hole seal has a slit or an air hole nearby the hole of the door inner panel, and it covers at least the hole. A door trim is installed on the interior side of the door inner panel sandwiching the door hole seal in combination with the door inner panel. There is/are partially or successively formed a gap or gaps between a periphery of the door trim and the door inner panel. At the time the door is closed, the air in the interior of an automobile is ejected to the exterior of the automobile through the gap or the gaps, the slit or the air hole, and a drain hole which is formed in the door inner panel.

This invention relates to a ventilation structure formed in an automobile door in order to obtain a good closing performance of a door.
Generally, there is provided a ventilation structure in an automobile door in order to improve a closing performance of a door by restraining a pressure which increases in an interior of an automobile when the door is closed.
There has been a type of ventilation structure which comprises a comparatively complicated structure (See, for example, Japanese Patent No. 3214189). There has also been a type which comprises a simple structure in which an air vent having a diameter of smaller than 1 mm is provided in a door stopper rubber, or in which a hole is provided in a part of a body panel near by a door.
However, the type having a complicated structure is susceptible to improvement in productivity since it is costly in production and is difficult in production and installation operations.
Further, the type having a simple structure has a problem in the noise insulation performance. That is, the structure having the air vent for a better closing operation of a door allows the outside noise to invade into an interior of an automobile through the air vent, leading to a deterioration of the noise insulation performance.

Ventilation structure of automobile door


The present invention provides a communications system, a base station, a user equipment, and a signaling transmission method. The system includes: a first base station and a second base station. User data transmission exists between the first base station and a UE; the first base station performs control signaling interaction with the UE by using a first signaling radio bearer; and the second base station performs control signaling interaction with the UE by using an SRB0, an SRB1, or an SRB2, where the first signaling radio bearer is different from the SRB0, the SRB1, and the SRB2. The technical solutions of the present invention can solve a problem of configuring a radio resource of an air interface connection between an enhancement-layer base station and a UE.

During the development of broadband and mobile networks, the 3rd generation partnership Project (3GPP) organization has proposed a Long Term Evolution (LTE) solution for a mobile access network, namely, an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN), and a system architecture evolution (SAE) solution for a mobile core network, namely, an evolved packet core network (Evolved Packet Core, EPC).
A single-layer structure formed only by an evolved NodeB (eNB) is used for the E-UTRAN, so as to simplify a network and reduce a delay. An interface between a user equipment (UE) and an eNB is a Uu interface, which is a radio interface connection. A user plane of the Uu interface is mainly used to transfer an internet protocol (IP) data packet, and mainly implements functions, such as header compression, encryption, scheduling, hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) and automatic repeat-request (ARQ). A signaling plane of the Uu interface is mainly used to transmit a signaling message. Control-plane signaling of the UE, for example, radio resource control (RRC) signaling, is mapped to a signaling radio bearer (SRB) for transmission; and all IP data packets on the user plane are mapped to different data radio bearers (DRB) for transmission. The SRB and the DRB first undergo packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) sublayer and a radio link control (RLC) sublayer processing, and then are reused at a media access control (MAC) sublayer. The DRB and the SRB of the UE use a same MAC entity, that is, a user plane and a control plane of a same UE are anchored on a same eNB.
In a case in which a macro cell and a pico cell overlap, for a UE with high mobility, if the UE is attached to a macro eNB with a large coverage area, factors affecting user experience, such as service interruption and throughput reduction that may be caused by frequent handovers, may be avoided; however, because the UE needs to be connected to a farther macro eNB, consumption of transmit power and an air interface resource needs to be increased. If the UE is attached to a nearer pico eNB, consumption of an air interface resource may be decreased, but the number of handover times and a handover failure rate are increased, which causes service interruption of the UE.
For the foregoing problems, an idea of separating a control plane and a user plane of an air interface is proposed in the prior art: A signaling base station (signalling BS) provides a control-plane connection of a UE, and a data base station (Data BS) provides a data-plane connection of the UE. In a process of implementing separation of a control plane and a user plane of an air interface, a problem that the data base station dynamically configures, according to a change of a radio channel between the UE and the data base station, a radio resource of an air interface connection between the UE and the data base station of the UE needs to be solved.

Communications system, base station, user equipment, and signaling transmission method


A system and method that allows any user to perform a file name match in any Configuration Management (CM) environment. Given any source control tool, the present invention allows a user to access and retrieve previous names used of any file (or batch of files) for any specified version or all versions of a particular file or files.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to version management in source control tools, and more particularly to a file rename matching tool usable in any Configuration Management (CM) environment.
2. Description of Related Art
Configuration management is the detailed recording and updating of information that describes a computer systems and networks, including all hardware and software components. Such information typically includes the versions and updates that have been applied to installed software packages and the locations and network addresses of hardware devices.
Configuration management is also used in software development. Writing computer programs is often a lengthy process involving multiple users who have access to edit the same source code document. One of the most common ways to manage source code developed in a software project is by using a source control tool of a CM environment. A source control tool prevents developers from overwriting each others code and gives the developers the ability to maintain and manage source code files within a given project.
Typical source control methods use a system of checking files in and out, somewhat akin to a library system. If a file is checked out, then no one else should be able to use or edit that file, until it is checked back in. Similarly, if no one has the file checked out, then no one should be able to edit it. Note, however, that anyone may still view the file at any time. This process ensures that no two people will ever edit the file at the same time. Also, by making sure that everyone checks files out properly through the application, no one's changes will ever be overwritten—unless it was on purpose. In a web application setting, one would normally store all files on a central server, though the files can be stored anywhere accessible by users. Each user would then download the file to his or her local computer, edit it, and upload it back to the server. There may also be a person working directly on the server as well. When the user downloads the file, they must check it out as well, and the reverse also applies when they upload the file.
The versioning feature incorporated into source control tools permits numbering of the source files placed into the tool repository, which allows the source files to be tracked upon creation of the files into the source control tool repository and any updates to the files thereafter. When a source code file has been updated or altered, a separate versioned file or the difference between the file and its previous version is created and can be tracked separately from the original source code file.
Though this method is widely used, it suffers from some drawbacks. For example, there is no mechanism in existing source control tools that links the original source file to a version of the file that has been renamed. This leads to an information tracking disconnect, as information about the original source file cannot be retrieved unless both the original and renamed versions of the file are known. Requesting information on the original source code file name does not return the new filename changes, and requests for the new file name do not return the previous (differently named) versions.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a configuration management tool that allows a user to track changes between files, even when different versions of the file have been renamed.

Configuration management file rename utility

International Business Machines Corporation


A virtual environment is displayed from a first virtual perspective by a first pair of virtual reality glasses worn by a first person, the first virtual perspective being predefined according to a detected head position and/or head orientation of the first person. The same virtual environment is displayed from the first virtual perspective by a further pair of virtual reality spectacles worn by a further person. The further pair of virtual reality glasses has a total available display area divided into a first display area which displays the virtual environment from the first virtual perspective and a second display area which displays the virtual environment from a further virtual perspective predefined according to a detected head position and/or head orientation of the further person.

Described herein is a method for operating a virtual reality system and to a virtual reality system.
Virtual reality systems including one or a plurality of pairs of virtual reality glasses for displaying virtual environments and virtual objects arranged therein are already known per se. In this regard, by way of example, German Patent Application No. 10 2014 015 871 A1 describes a pair of virtual reality glasses which can be utilized by a vehicle occupant during a journey in a motor vehicle. In order to prevent the wearer of the pair of virtual reality glasses from becoming nauseous, provision is made for filming the environment of the motor vehicle by using a camera, wherein the filmed motor vehicle environment can be displayed by using the pair of virtual reality glasses put on. In this case, head movements of the wearer of the pair of virtual reality glasses can be detected and taken into account in the display of the contents represented by using the pair of virtual reality glasses.
German Patent Application No. 10 2014 221 608 A1 describes a method for displaying contact analog information in a motor vehicle. In order to prevent a wearer of smartglasses designed for displaying the contact analog information from becoming nauseous, provision is made for interrupting a contact analog display by using the smartglasses while a predefined threshold value is exceeded by the motor vehicle with regard to its movement. By way of example, in the event of relatively rapid cornering, the smartglasses can be controlled in such a way that the display of contact analog information is interrupted during cornering in order to prevent the wearer of the smartglasses from feeling sick.
German Patent Application No. 10 2014 019 579 A1 describes a method for operating a pair of virtual reality glasses in a motor vehicle. By using the pair of virtual reality glasses, firstly a text can be displayed, for example. In order to prevent a wearer of the pair of virtual reality glasses from becoming nauseous during the journey with the motor vehicle, provision is made for detecting data concerning the vehicle movement and for controlling the pair of virtual reality glasses in such a way that, in addition to the text, elements or structures which are animated in accordance with the detected vehicle movement are also displayed by using the pair of virtual reality glasses.
Such pairs of virtual reality glasses can also be used in development and design activities, for example. In this regard, it is possible, by using such pairs of virtual reality glasses, for various people to be able to look at a virtual object that is currently in the development or design stage, for example.

Method for operating a virtual reality system, and virtual reality system


This single-shaft combined cycle plant comprises: a power generator; a gas turbine; a steam turbine that is driven by using waste heat from the gas turbine, and is connected to the power generator by a clutch when the rotational speed syncs with the rotational speed of the gas turbine; a steam turbine over-rotation prevention device; a gas turbine over-rotation prevention device; and a control device. The control device sets the power generator to an unloaded state and, whilst maintaining the rotational speed Ng of the gas turbine so as to be higher than the rotational speed Ns of the steam turbine and lower than the maximum rotational speed Nglim of the gas turbine, increases the rotational speed Ns of the steam turbine to the maximum rotational speed Nslim of the steam turbine (time t2-t4) and tests whether or not the steam turbine over-rotation prevention device operates normally.

In the related art, a technique for a single-shaft combined cycle plant is known. For example, PTL 1 discloses a method for testing whether or not an over-rotation prevention device of a single-shaft combined cycle plant is in a normal operation. In the single-shaft combined cycle plant, an output shaft of a steam turbine is connected to a generator, and an output shaft of a gas turbine is connected to the generator via a coupler (clutch). Then, in a state where the gas turbine and the steam turbine are operated at a test rotation speed which is equal to a normal operation rotation speed, a load connected to the generator is disconnected, and each rotation speed of the gas turbine and the steam turbine is increased, thereby testing whether or not each over-rotation prevention device of the steam turbine and the gas turbine is operated.

Single-shaft combined cycle plant, testing method for single-shaft combined cycle plant, and control device for single-shaft combined cycle plant


A rotary extension rod includes an outer tube, an inner tube received in the outer tube, a rotatable assembly having a knob, a fixing seat and a link, and a positioning ring deposited on the fixing seat. The knob is rotatably deposited at one end of the outer tube. The fixing seat is received in the outer tube and fixed to one end of the inner tube. The link is between the knob and the fixing seat, and has two opposite first radially raised portions. The positioning ring has two opposite second radially raised portions. By rotating the knob, the first radially raised portions are posed to abut against or depart from the second radially raised portions, so that the positioning ring radially deforms to press against or release the outer tube, in turn allowing the length of the extension rod to be adjusted.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to extension rods used with hand tools, and more particularly, to a rotary extension rod.
2. Description of Related Art
For providing various levels of reach and convenient use, many hand tools (such as garden shears) are designed to work with an extension rod so as to be adjustable in length. For example, one prior-art patent owned by the applicant, Taiwan Patent No. M268476, has disclosed an extension rod that uses a knob to control a rotatory member to deflect. When the major-radius portions of the rotatory member press against the inner wall of the positioning ring, the rubber part of the positioning ring abuts against the inner wall of the outer tube and prevents the outer tube from moving with respect to the inner tube, thereby providing positioning effect. When the major-radius portions of rotatory member separate from the inner wall of the positioning ring, the rubber part of the positioning ring leaves from the inner wall of the outer tube, thereby allowing the outer tube to be repositioned as desired.
However, in practical use, the major-radius portions of the rotatory member and the inner wall of the positioning ring hardly contact with each other as expected. As a result, the positioning ring is not effectively opened wide by the rotatory member and the friction to the outer tube is therefore impaired. Consequently, when the outer tube receives a relatively large axial force, the tubes tend to slide and the total length of the inner and outer tubes of the known extension rod is likely to unexpectedly change in use. Hence, the prior art needs to be improved.