A lighting and color scheme for instruments to allow an apparent color change of indicia and background between daylight viewing and night-time viewing when an instrument light is turned on. White indicia on a red background is conspicuous in daytime, but can be transformed to green indicia on black background when the instrument is illuminated with a green LED for night-time viewing.

For optimum visibility strong contrast is employed between the lettering or indicia and background on a magnetic compass. Using white indicia on black is a common combination as is typical with automotive dials, or the reverse with black indicia on a white background. In dark environments such instruments are illuminated with white light from either an incandescent bulb or a light emitting diode (LED). Using colour has also been found to be effective in producing even better contrast. A combination of red and white is common and employed with important road signs such as stop signs with white lettering on a red background and also important safety labels (such as fire-hose cabinets). However where levels of illumination are low the physiology of the eye makes other colour combinations easier to read. For example it has been found that green and black offers a highly visible combination in dark environments.
It is desirable to have instruments that can offer different colour combinations depending on whether it is night or day. Hitherto this has not been achieved with for example coloured indicia illuminated with white light or black and white indicia illuminated with coloured light.

Changeable compass colours for improved viewing


An adaptive control method that provides the ability to address control uncertainties in both the sign and magnitude of the control power of the system to ensure stability and command tracking. The adaptive control system also functions correctly and remains internally stable in spite of control limits. The control system has the following elements: (i) a filter that smoothes the command to the plant and modifies the command when a control limit is reached, (ii) an element that receives command error input and constructs a nonlinear function of the accumulated error, (iii) an element that converts the nonlinear function of the accumulated error into a control signal to be added to the output of a baseline control system, and (iv) an element that computes the difference between the actuator command and the maximum achievable output.

This invention generally relates to automatic methods for ensuring stability of a control system for which the direction and magnitude of the response to a command input is unknown or uncertain.
As used herein, the term "control system" means a device or set of devices that manage, command, direct or regulate the behavior of other devices, equipment or systems (hereinafter "plant"). Although the embodiment disclosed herein has particular application to control of the rotation of a spacecraft about an axis, the control method disclosed and claimed herein has application to plant other than spacecraft, such as electric motors or servomechanisms.
Adaptive control offers excellent robustness to errors in control actuator magnitude and misalignment. These errors can stem from a host of sources such as mischaracterization of the control actuators, misalignment during assembly, and failures or degradation in the hardware. Additionally, there have been developments on using adaptive control to provide robustness to errors in the sign on the control actuator.
While not common, there have been several space missions that have encountered such an error, which can be caused by incorrect mounting of the hardware or miswiring during assembly. Correcting for this error requires substantial ground intervention since the typical attitude control law will destabilize the closed loop system under a sign error.
In particular, there have been instances where a reaction wheel of a spacecraft has been miswired during assembly, causing the reaction wheel to respond in the opposite direction to the commanded direction. One solution to this problem is to perform detailed ground testing to verify correct installation of control actuators, such as reaction wheels, as well as to characterize their effectiveness. However, ground testing does not always detect a reversed actuator.
Another solution is to perform on-orbit testing by sending open-loop commands to the spacecraft to either verify the expected response and/or perform system identification using the response. On-orbit open-loop testing and identification requires ground interaction which is cost and schedule intensive. In one known instance, reaction wheel miswiring on a spacecraft required substantial ground intervention to correct.
Without ground intervention, a reversed reaction wheel will result in system instability and potential loss of the spacecraft. Therefore it would be advantageous to provide an autonomous feedback control system to adapt to such error, thereby safeguarding against a potentially catastrophic loss.
Thus, there is a need for an adaptive control method that provides the ability to address control uncertainties in both the sign and magnitude of the control power of the system to ensure stability and command tracking. The adaptive control system must also function correctly and remain internally stable in spite of control limits, e.g., maximum reaction wheel torque.

Adaptive control method that compensates for sign error in actuator response


Disclosed is a method of economically exploiting deep set porphyry ore bodies of the type containing metal values such as sulfidic copper nickel or uranium minerals and minerals capable of absorbing copper, uranium and nickel ions. The method involves establishing communication with the ore body through access and recovery wells and passing fluids sequentially therethrough. If necessary, thief zones of as low as 25 to 50 md in igneous rock of 1 to 5 md are prevented from distorting flow, by the injection of a polymeric solution of macromolecules with molecular weights of the order of 5 million along the entire wellbore, the higher permeability zones initially accepting the majority of the flow and being impaired at a much faster rate than the less permeable zones.. In a first stage, the permeability of the leaching interval is stimulated as an ammoniated solution of sodium, potassium, or ammonium nitrate or chloride contacts calcium containing minerals to promote ion exchange, resulting in clay contraction or calcium carbonate dissolution. In a second stage, the leaching interval is primed as calcium ion is displaced with an aqueous solution of ammonium salt, a calcium sulfate scale inhibitor, and oxygen gas. In a third stage, a two-phase lixiviant comprising entrained oxygen containing bubbles and an ammoniacal leach liquor having a pH less than 10.5 and less than 1.0 mole/liter ammonia is passed through the leaching interval to solubilize copper, nickel, uranium and other metal values.

This invention relates to a method of exploiting deep set, porphyry ore bodies by in situ mining techniques.
Large deep-lying deposits of copper and nickel in the form of low grade prophyry ores are known to be located throughout various regions of the globe. A porphyry deposit is one in which the copper, nickel or uranium bearing minerals occur in disseminated grains or in veinlets through a large volume of rock such as shist, silicated limestone, or volcanic rock. Acid igneous intrusive rocks are usually in close association. The deposits are typically large tonnage but low grade and have an average copper, nickel and uranium concentration of less than about a 1% total. Minerals found in these deposits are usually sulfides, of these, chalcopyrite is the most common. There are also deep-seated deposits which contain discrete blebs containing copper, copper sulfide, or copper-nickel sulfide in association with ion sulfide. In many ores of this type, significant quantities of zeolites, layered silicates, and clay such as the type known as montmorillonite are present. These minerals are present as deposits located in or about the natural microscopic fracture openings of the rock.
In the method of in-situ mining disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,116,488 to Hsueh et al, an access well is drilled to communicate with the ore body and several recovery wells are provided, spaced apart from the access well. The leaching interval, i.e., the volume of rock through which leaching fluids flow between the access and recovery wells, is then subjected to fluids such as oxygen which oxidize the copper and nickel sulfides or chalcopyrite to sulfates. Thereafter, or in some cases simultaneously, an aqueous ammoniacal leach liquor is injected into the access well which, in passing through the leaching interval and contacting the metal sulfates, leaches the metal values as nickel and copper-ammonia complex ions. The leaching fluids may be injected in the form of a two-phase lixiviant, i.e., oxygen bubbles dispersed in an ammoniacal leach liquor, or may be passed sequentially through the leaching interval. One advantage of this technique is that the rock need not be fractured by explosive methods prior to leaching. Instead, the fluids used are forced through the natural fracture openings present in the rock, which typically range in the diameter between about 30 and 300 microns.
For the most efficient use of the lixiviant, it should pass rather uniformly through the leaching interval, so that its potency is not squandered on a few highly permeable passages. Igneous rock does have permeability variations, however, that cause non-uniform flow of the lixiviant through the leaching interval.
An igneous rock deposit having a permeability of 1 to 5 md may be economically mined by the in-situ method, but in such a deposit rock zones having a permeability of 25 to 50 md represent thief zones-zones of relatively high permeability that accept inordinately high amounts of lixiviant to the detriment of the over-all efficient use of the lixiviant in the process.
One technique that has been used in the petroleum industry to smooth flow involves impairing thief zones with solid particles, so that they cannot accept lixiviant so readily. However, utilizing solid particles small enough to fit into the pores of rock having a permeability of 25 to 50 md is not practical.
Furthermore, when the wellbore injection interval is several thousand feet, it can be very time-consuming and expensive to use a preliminary liquid solution to separately treat short intervals of variable permeability.
During such in situ mining efforts, the presence of clays, zeolites, and layered silicates in or about the fracture openings present problems which heretofore significantly diminished the economic feasibility of this type of process. Such minerals absorb copper and nickel as well as other ions such as uranium ions by ion exchange and are capable of taking up as much as 1.5 milliequivalents of copper per gram of ion exchanger. In practice, this uptake of metal represents perhaps as much as 25% of the total metal leached, and thus leads to significantly reduced metal recoveries. It has been discovered that the copper, nickel and uranium ions are sorbed by an in situ ion exchange process wherein calcium or other ions naturally present in the mineral are exchanged for copper, nickel or uranium ions or ammonia complexed ions such as Cu(NH.sub.3).sub.4.sup.++ or Cu(NH.sub.3).sub.3 OH.sup.+. The presence of the clays, e.g., montmorillonite clays, such as Fuller's earth and bentonite, and other absorptive minerals thus cause the uptake of significant quantities of solubilized metal values which would otherwise be recoverable.
In addition to this complication, the presence of these minerals seriously inhibits the rate at which leach liquors may be pumped through a leaching interval during in-situ mining. Also, calcium and other ions are introduced into the lixiviant thereby complicating copper, nickel and uranium recovery at the surface plant. Obviously, whether such deposits can be economically exploited hinges on whether methods can be devised which maximize metal yield, minimize reagent costs, and overcome the problems set forth above.

In situ exploitation of deep set porphyry ores


In the fabrication of semiconductor integrated circuits which include recessed oxide isolation regions (29), formation of the undesired "bird's head" and "bird's beak" is avoided by reducing the rate of oxide growth from the sidewalls of isotropically etched recesses (22) while oxide is being grown from the bottoms of the recess regions. A silicon nitride mask (24) formed selectively on each of the sidewalls which has previously been coated with a thin silicon dioxide layer (23) reduces the rate of oxide growth therefrom, so that the oxidized recess regions have substantially planar surfaces after termination of the oxide growth.

Semiconductor integrated circuit apparatus in current technology are often fabricated by forming recesses at the major surface of a semiconductive silicon body and then filling the recesses with silicon dioxide by selective oxidation, typically using silicon nitride films as masks; thereby, recessed oxide isolation zones or regions are created for the purpose of electrically isolating different circuit portions. In the ordinary thermal oxide growth processes for filling recesses with oxide, however, undesirable structures are produced at the edge of the recess, recognized in the prior art as the "bird's beak" and "bird's head" or crest. This problem is described, for example, in "Topology of Silicon Structures with Recessed SiO.sub.2 " by E. Bassous, H. N. Yu and V. Maniscalco, J. Electrochem. Soc., Nov. 1976, Vol. 123, No. 11, pages 1729-1737, and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,002,511 to Magdo et al.
More specifically, the above-cited reference of Magdo et al purposes a technique for reducing the "bird's beak" aspect of the problem by increasing the extent of the silicon nitride mask so that it contacts and covers a portion of the exposed silicon. However, because of the isotropic growth of the oxide from all surfaces of the recess, a protuberance or "bird's head" still forms in the peripheral surface of the recessed oxide isolation zone. Moreover, a "bird's beak" still may form to some extent, particularly where another oxide layer is present next to the silicon. Thus the integrated circuit device lacks the desired planarity; accordingly, the subsequent formation of overlayers of dielectric and conductive materials is rendered difficult and generally unsatisfactory.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,958,040, issued to Webb on May 18, 1976, a technique for reducing the "bird-head" problem is disclosed in which the growth of silicon dioxide from the sidewalls of the recesses is inhibited by a masking layer of silicon nitride on these sidewalls, in order to enable the fabrication of a more smooth topology on the top surface of the resulting recess oxide. However, such a technique does not in practice result in a sufficiently smooth topology for satisfactory further device processing.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a method of fabricating semiconductor integrated circuits having recessed oxide isolation zones which are substantially planar and are free of any substantial surface proturberances.

Fabrication of semiconductor devices having planar recessed oxide isolation region

Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated


The present invention discloses a connector and an LED light bar. The connector includes: an input module and an output module, wherein the input module and the output module being electrically connected; the input module comprising at least two input interfaces, the input interface being for connecting to an external power supply, the output module being for electrical connection to all LEDs in at least two external areas. As such, the present invention realizes the use of a connector to control LEDs in a plurality of areas to increase the utilization of the connector and simplify the LED light bar structure. In the mean time, the improvement of the connector utilization results in the reduction in the number of connectors used so as to reduce the cost of LED light bar.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of light-emitting diode (LED) light source techniques, and in particular to a connector and LED light bar.
2. The Related Arts
Due to the advantages of low power consumption, high luminance and long life span, LED light bar is widely applied to many fields, such as, furniture, car, advertisement, lighting, boats and home decoration. As LED technique develops and the demands on LED increase, LED light bar also becomes more complex.
In known technique, LED light bar usually comprises LED, single-jack connector and circuit board. The LED and the single-jack connector are disposed on the circuit board. LED is connected through the single-jack connector to the external power supply to obtain electricity for lighting. However, because of the limitation of the single-jack connector, a connector can only provide limited number of LED for connecting to external power supply. In a more complex LED light bar, more connectors will be required to supply the power, resulting in higher cost of light bar as well as inconvenience of LED light bar control.

Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.


A robot may include (1) a body having a pivot member, (2) a mobility subsystem, coupled to the body of the robot, that provides omnidirectional displacement of the robot along a plane, (3) a robotic arm, coupled to the body of the robot, for manipulating an object, and (4) a linking extension. The linking extension may include (1) a proximal end that is rotatably coupled to the pivot member of the body of the robot, and (2) a distal end that is dimensioned to rotatably couple to a coupling member of an assistant robot such that the linking extension links the robot and the assistant robot. The robot may also include a control subsystem, communicatively coupled to the mobility subsystem, that coordinates displacement of the robot by the mobility subsystem with displacement of the assistant robot. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

Advances in robotics technology have resulted in the increasing use of robots in a variety of situations to carry out a multitude of activities. Various types of robots are commonly used in industry to improve productivity and reduce costs. Robots may also improve the health and safety of individuals by performing tasks in harsh or dangerous environments. Robots are also frequently used to perform many repetitive tasks that may be undesirable or for which there may be little room for error. While many processes are well-suited for automation using robots, is has proven difficult and costly to design and build robots that are able to lift and move certain objects, particularly large or heavy objects.

Robots linkable to perform tasks in coordinated teams


A compact, low-cost apparatus for measuring the refractive index of an eye utilizes a chopper which forms and scans two orthogonal fringes. In a light-receiving unit, at least three light-receiving elements are arranged not to be aligned in a line. With these light-receiving elements, time differences when the fringes pass light-receiving elements in each of two pairs are measured. A control & arithmetic unit calculates the spherical power, the cylindrical power, and the cylindrical axis degree by performing predetermined calculations using the measurement data. The apparatus requires no image rotator, and hence, a compact, low-cost apparatus can be realized. Also, the measurement time can be shortened.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus used in an eye-refractometer device or an automatic lens meter and, more particularly, to an apparatus for measuring the refracting power of an optical system.
2. Related Background Art
As a method of objectively measuring the refracting power of an eye, a skiascopy is known as per, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,353,625. A conventional apparatus adopting the skiascopy has a schematic structure shown in FIG. 11. The apparatus includes a projection system constituted by a light source 901, a lens 902 for collimating a light beam emitted from the light source 901, a chopper 903 for chopping the collimated light beam using a slit, and an image rotator 904 for rotating an image. An observation system is constituted by the image rotator 904 for rotating and returning light coming back from an eye to be examined (in other words, an image projected onto the fundus of the eye to be examined), and a lens 905 as a measurement optical system. A diaphragm 906 and a light-receiving unit 907 are arranged after the lens 905. The diaphragm 906 is arranged at a position conjugate with the fundus of the eye having reference refracting power, and plays a role to guide the shadow of a phase according to the refractive index of the eye to the light-receiving unit 907. The light-receiving unit 907 comprises two light-receiving elements 907u and 907d (FIGS. 12-14) which are vertically arranged to be separated by a predetermined interval.
The principle of measuring the refractive index by the conventional skiascopy will be described below with reference to FIGS. 12 to 14.
A fringe pattern is projected onto the fundus of an eye E to be examined by the above-mentioned projection system. The fringe pattern is moved in a predetermined direction at a predetermined speed.
When the refractive index of the eye E to be examined is normal, a fringe pattern portion formed at the same position Ea of the fringe pattern on the fundus of the eye is formed on the light-receiving elements 907u and 907d (see FIG. 12). Therefore, the light-receiving elements 907u and 907d are set in the same dark or bright state all the time. More specifically, when the light-receiving element 907u is set in a bright state, the light-receiving element 907d is also set in a bright state, and vice versa. In this state, an image formed on the light-receiving unit 907 simply repetitively flickers in correspondence with the dark and bright portions of fringes passing the position Ea (in this case, the fringe pattern is formed on the light-receiving unit 907, and never moves).
However, when the eye E to be examined suffers from myopia or hyperopia, an image corresponding to a position Eb is formed on the light-receiving element 907u, and an image corresponding to a position Ec is formed on the light-receiving element 907d. Therefore, the dark or bright states of the light-receiving elements 907u and 907d do not always coincide with each other (see FIGS. 13 and 14). Furthermore, when the fringe pattern formed on the fundus of the eye is moved (e.g., downward), the fringe pattern formed on the light-receiving unit 907 also moves in the same direction (in this case, downward; see FIG. 13) in the case of the myopia. Conversely, in the case of the hyperopia, the fringe pattern moves in the opposite direction (in this case, upward; see FIG. 14). The moving speed of the fringe pattern formed on the light-receiving unit 907 corresponds to the degree of myopia or hyperopia. Therefore, the refractive index of the eye can be measured by measuring the time after a certain fringe passes through the light-receiving element 907u until it reaches the light-receiving element 907d (see FIG. 15). The basic principle of the skiascopy has been described.
Upon measurement of the refracting power of an eye, however, not only the hyperopia or myopia but also astigmatism must be taken into consideration. More specifically, since the refracting power of an eye has directivity, the directivity must be taken into consideration to achieve precise measurement. For example, when an eye to be examined suffers from astigmatism, a fringe pattern formed on the fundus of the eye is rotated before it reaches the light-receiving portions, and crosses a portion between the light-receiving elements 907u and 907d in an oblique state, as shown in FIG. 16. Therefore, in order to obtain information about astigmatism, angles corresponding to maximum and minimum times between the light-receiving elements must be detected. For this purpose, the conventional apparatus detects the angles corresponding to the maximum and minimum times by rotating the image using the image rotator 904.
However, in the conventional apparatus, in order to obtain data associated with the refractive index (i.e., a diopter (a reciprocal number of a focal length) defined as a function of the spherical power, the cylindrical power, and the cylindrical axis degree as two-dimensional quantities), the image rotator as a means for converting scalar data into vector data must be rotated through at least half a revolution during measurement.
However, the image rotator 904 normally comprises a large prism asymmetrical about the rotational axis, and a mirror, and has a very poor balance. Therefore, to rotate the image rotator in each measurement imposes a considerable load on the structure of the apparatus. Also, it is difficult to increase the rotational speed, and this makes it difficult to reduce measurement time. In the manufacture, it is very difficult to adjust, e.g., the rotational axis of the image rotator 904. Such limitations on the structure and the manufacture increase the cost of the apparatus. In this manner, the image rotator impairs measurement precision, makes the manufacture difficult, and increases cost..
For this reason, various conventional systems without using any image rotator have been proposed. For example, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,526,451, light beams are incident on a chopper in two orthogonal directions, and are time-divisionally extracted using these beams as horizontal and vertical scanning beams. However, in this system, the chopper must be manufactured with very high precision. In order to achieve such high precision, the chopper must be manufactured by grinding a metal, thus posing a problem of cost. In this system, two light sources must be used. However, since the light sources individually have different light amount distributions and characteristics, the variations of the light sources adversely influence the measurement values, thus disturbing high-precision measurement. For these reasons, this system is not adopted in a practical use in place of the image rotator system.
Recently, a requirement for instantaneously measuring the refracting power of an eye in, e.g., a refracting power correction operation, an intraocular lens operation, and the-like has become more common. In order to meet such a requirement, the apparatus main body must be rendered highly compact to improve mobility. However, as described above, it is difficult for the conventional apparatus to achieve a compact structure.

Apparatus for measuring the refractive power of an optical system


A rod bracket is provided and includes a bracket base, wherein the bracket base defines a plurality of bracket mounting cavities and includes a base front, a base rear, a base top and a base bottom, a bracket arm having a bracket arm length and a curtain rod cradle securely associated with the bracket base via the bracket arm, wherein the plurality of bracket mounting cavities communicate the base front with the base rear and are configured at an angle of between about 30° and 60° relative to a horizontal plane, and wherein the bracket base defines a first bracket base rear opening, and wherein the ratio between the bracket arm length and the distance between the first bracket base rear opening and the base bottom is about 1:1.

Current curtain rod brackets that are mounted to walls and window casings typically require mounting hardware and preparation of the mounting area before mounting. This usually involves pre-drilling the wall surface and installing screw anchors to provide enough support to support the curtain rod brackets, the curtain rod and the curtains that are associated with the curtain rods. This can be a time consuming and messy process. And in some cases, for the person who is not adept at or who is not used to installing this type of hardware, can damage the wall and/or window casing. One way that has been attempted to overcome this problem is to develop curtain rod brackets that can be installed simply by associating the curtain rod brackets to the wall or window casing via friction and thus, curtain rod bracket that do not require tools to install. Unfortunately however, there are situations where these "tool less" curtain rod brackets cannot be used and thus, must be installed by anchoring the curtain rod bracket to the wall using tools.


A compound of the formula (I) ##STR1## in which R.sub.1 is e.g. phosphate,. R.sub.2 is e.g. phosphate or OH, and PA1 R.sub.4 is e.g. ##STR2## are suitable Calcium antagonists and useful e.g. for the treatment of cardio-vascular diseases.

1. Field of the Invention.
The subject of this invention is a novel group of inositol-phosphat derivatives and their use as calcium-antagonistic compounds for different pharmacological uses such as for the treatment of cardio-vascular diseases.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is now generally accepted that hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol(4.5)bisphosphate (PIP2) by receptor- and G-protein mediated activation of PIP2-specific phospholipase C (PIP2-PLC) results in the formation of two different second messengers in the cytoplasm of cells: d-myo inositol(1.4.5)trisphosphate (IP3) and diacylglycerol. IP3 can bind to an appropriate receptor on intracellular organelles causing release of Calcium. Two metabolic pathways terminate this receptor-mediated Calcium release: a) the action of an IP3-3-kinase, phosphorylating the 3-position leading to Inositol (126.96.36.199) tetrakisphosphate (IP4) and b) the action of an IP3-5-phosphatase leading to Inositol(1.4)bisphosphate. Since the cell is expending energy in form of ATP to generate IP4, IP4 is considered to be a putative second messenger, possibly regulating further steps in the Calcium-Metabolism of cells (M. J. Berridge, (1987) Ann. Rev. Biochem. 56, 159-193; and M. J. Berridge and R. F. Irvine, (1989) Nature 341, 197-205). The importance of IP3 as a Calcium mobilizing intracellular second messenger has lead to the synthesis of IP3 and derivatives thereof.
Preparation of Phosphorothioates acting as long-lived agonists have been described (A. M. Cooke et al., (1987) J. Chem. Soc. Chem. Commun. 1525-1526; and J. Strupish et al., (1988) Biochem. J. 253, 901-905). However, there have been no reports in IP3-analogues acting as IP3-receptor- and therefore intracellular Calcium-antagonists. In addition, analogues of IP4 acting as long lived agonists or antagonists, are not available yet.
It is an object of this invention, to describe the synthesis of specific IP3-, IP4- and PIP/PIP2-Analogues modified at the 5-Position. A further surprising aspect of this invention is to describe antagonists of the IP3-receptor, acting as intracellular Calcium-antagonists. These substances Can generally be used as highly active pharmacological compounds, especially they can be used as antithrombotic agents and in a variety of other cardiovascular diseases.

Inositol phosphate analogues as calcium-antagonistic substances


A fuel cell system and method in which fuel exhaust gas from the anode compartment of a fuel cell is communicated by the anode compartment directly to the cathode compartment of the fuel cell, thereby causing burning of the fuel exhaust gas and oxidant gas delivered to the cathode compartment to generate CO.sub.2.

This invention relates to fuel cells and, in particular, to fuel cells having carbonate as the electrolyte.
In carbonate fuel cells of conventional design, carbonaceous fuel is provided to the fuel cell anode compartment for the required anode reaction. At the cathode compartment, oxidant or air and carbon dioxide are supplied for the cathode reaction.
The carbon dioxide supplied to the cathode compartment is typically generated from the anode exhaust which includes steam, carbon dioxide carbon monoxide and hydrogen. Conventionally, this exhaust is coupled to a burner where the hydrogen and carbon monoxide is combusted with the air to generate carbon dioxide. The resultant carbon dioxide and other components of the combusted products are then coupled to the inlet manifold of the cathode compartment.
This technique of generating and recirculating carbon dioxide to the cathode compartment of the fuel cell results in an efficient fuel cell power plant. However, there is a significant cost associated with the external burner and with the high temperature stainless steel piping required to recycle the resultant combusted gases. This has prompted researchers to consider proposals which increase the efficiency of the process and/or reduce the piping required.
One proposal involves increasing the burner efficiency by utilizing a catalytic burner. A second proposal also utilizes a catalytic burner, but contemplates placing the burner within the cathode inlet manifold. While these proposals offer certain improvements, the first proposal still requires that expensive piping be used for the combusted gases. The second proposal, while reducing the piping, does so at the expense of increasing the complexity of the cathode inlet manifold.
It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a carbonate fuel cell and method with improved generation and delivery of carbon dioxide gases to the cathode compartment of the fuel cell.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a carbonate fuel cell and method in which carbon dioxide from the anode exhaust gas is generated and supplied to the cathode compartment of the fuel cell without a burner external of the fuel cell and without external piping.

Carbonate fuel cell with direct recycle of anode exhaust to cathode


The playfield is supported on a moving pivot that allows the playfield to move linearly away from the back box as it rotates away from the cabinet such that the playfield can pivot through an angle greater than 90.degree.. The moving pivot includes a pivot pin fixed to the wall of the cabinet which slidably engages a rail fixed to the underside of the playfield. The rail terminates in a locking mechanism that engages the pivot pin when the playfield is moved linearly to thereby fix the playfield to the pivot pin such that the playfield is capable only of pivoting motion.

The invention relates generally, to pinball games and, more particularly, to an improved cabinet for such games.
Pinball games consist generally of an inclined playfield that supports a rolling ball and a plurality of play features such as targets, bumpers, ramps and the like. Player controlled flippers are also mounted on the playfield to control the movement of the ball. At the end of the cabinet opposite the flippers is the back box that includes the score display, lighted artwork and other game information. The playfield is supported in a game cabinet and is covered by a plate of glass. Inside of the game cabinet are the mechanical and electrical components that control the operation of the game, many of which are secured directly to the underside of the playfield.
Because pinball games contain relatively complex mechanical and electrical components and are subject to severe use, the machines require periodic maintenance. In order to access the electrical and mechanical components, the playfield glass is first removed and the playfield is then pivoted relative to the cabinet about a horizontal axis. In existing machines this axis is fixed near the end of the playfield closest to the back box. Because of spacial constraints, however, the existing configuration can only be rotated approximately 45.degree. degrees. As a result, access to the rear of the cabinet and playfield is limited, making repair and maintenance work more difficult. Moreover, it is necessary to use a separate prop to hold the playfield in the open position. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,580. Finally, the height to which the play features can extend above the playfield is limited by the fact that the playfield pivots so closely adjacent to the back box such that tall play features may strike the back box causing damage to the back box and the play feature.
Thus, an improved pinball game cabinet construction that facilitates access to the interior of the cabinet is desired.


A material handling system incorporates one or more arcuate conveying surfaces defined by rollers with a large conveyor radius. The rollers may be tapered rollers, and may be live rollers.

The present disclosure relates generally to material handling systems, and is more particularly directed to a material handling system and subsystems thereof having one or more conveyor sections in which an arcuate conveying surface is defined by rollers. The innovation will be disclosed in connection with, but not necessarily limited to, arcuate conveying surfaces defined by rollers and which have a large conveyor radius.
Reference will now be made in detail to one or more embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.


An asynchronous sensing differential logic circuit using a charge-recycling technique includes a control block carrying out a logical operation on a request signal from a preceding stage and a request signal for a succeeding stage, and outputting a first or second input enable signal and a first or second clock signal, a functional block carrying out an operation on an input data according to the first or second input enable signals and the first or second clock signals from the control block, and outputting a first or second output enable signal and an output data, and a latch block triggered by an acknowledge signal from the succeeding stage, and outputting a request signal for the succeeding stage and a final output data by carrying out an operation on the first or second output enable signals and the output data from the functional block.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to asynchronous or synchronous circuit, and in particular to an asynchronous sensing differential logic (ASDL) circuit employing a charge-recycling technique.
2. Background of the Related Art
In general, in designing a semiconductor circuit, an asynchronous design technique has advantages in that a clock skew is not generated and a clock signal distribution overhead is not incurred because a global clock signal is not employed, power consumption may be reduced because a signal transition is generated only when there is an event, and latency is decreased because the processing time is determined not by a worst-case delay but by an average delay.
In order to embody an asynchronous system, a smooth communication is required between local function blocks. Here, a 2-phase handshaking protocol or 4-phase handshaking protocol is mainly used. Especially, the 4-phase handshaking protocol is easily embodied in a circuit, and thus is popularly used.
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a conventional asynchronous pipeline configuration including a functional block 102 performing each logic operation, a completion detector 103 communicating operation completion of the functional block 102, a control block 101 controlling handshaking of the functional block 102, and a latch block 104 outputting data according to the operation of the functional block 102.
A differential cascode voltage switch (DCVS) logic can easily carry out a completion detection from a preceding stage, are mainly utilized as the functional block 102. A circuit diagram thereof is illustrated in FIG. 2.
FIG. 2 is a schematic circuit diagram illustrating a differential cascode voltage switch (DCVS) logic circuit. As shown therein, a clock signal CK is applied to gates of two PMOS transistors PM1, PM2 to the sources of which is applied a power supply voltage Vdd. The clock signal CK is applied to the gate of an NMOS transistor NM1 having its source grounded. The drains of the PMOS transistors PM1, PM2 are commonly connected to the drain of the NMOS transistor NM1 through a cascode logic 102-1 that is turned on/off pursuant to input data. The output drain terminals of the PMOS transistors PM1, PM2 and the cascode logic 102-1 are each respectively connected to the input terminals of two inverters X1, X2. The inverters X1, X2 output respective output signals OUT, OUT.
On the other hand, a Muller C-element is often employed as a handshaking circuit in the asynchronous system because of its delay-insensitive property. When two input values are the same, an output value is identical to the input value. In case the two input values are different, an operation of holding a preceding value is carried out.
The control block 101 in the configuration of FIG. 1 is embodied mainly with the Muller C-element for handshaking control.
In addition, the latch block 104 may use a traditional flow-latch type or Muller C-element. However, the flow-latch does not have the delay-insensitive property, and thus the Muller C-element is mostly employed.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, in the latch block 104, an acknowledge signal Ack from the succeeding stage is commonly applied to a gate of a PMOS transistor PM22 to the source of which is applied the power supply voltage Vdd, and to the gate of an NMOS transistor NM22 having its source grounded, and the input signal (Din, namely OUT or OUT) is commonly applied to the gate of a PMOS transistor PM21 having its source connected to the drain of the PMOS transistor PM22, and to a gate of an NMOS transistor NM21 with its source connected to the drain of the NMOS transistor NM22. The latch block 104 includes two circuits with a latch 104-1 consisting of two inverters X4, X5 connected in reverse parallel to latch a signal outputted from a node of the PMOS transistor PM21 and the NMOS transistor NM21, and to output the latched signal DATAOUT.
In general, the completion detector 103 in the configuration in FIG. 1 includes a NAND gate or NOR gate to carry out a logic operation on the two output signals OUT, OUT from the functional block 102 and to generate the operation completion signal.
The operation of the conventional asynchronous system will now be described.
When an acknowledge signal ACKOUT from the succeeding stage is low, if a request signal REQIN from the preceding stage is low, the clock signal CK outputted from the control block 101 becomes high, the functional block 102 provides the output value OUT, OUT, and the completion detector 103 performing a logic operation on the output value OUT, OUT generates a high output value.
In the case that the output value from the completion detector 103 is high, the output value is transmitted as the request signal REQOUT for the succeeding stage, and as the acknowledge signal ACKIN for the preceding stage.
Then, when the request signal REQIN from the preceding stage is high, the output signal from the control block 101 maintains its preceding output state. When the acknowledge signal ACKOUT from the succeeding stage is high, the clock signal CK outputted from the control block 101 becomes low.
Accordingly, the output signal from the completion detector 103 is generated low, thus rendering low the values of the acknowledge signal ACKIN transmitted to the preceding stage and the request signal REQOUT transmitted to the succeeding stage.
That is, the logic operation of the functional block 102 is carried out by repeating the above-described process.
If functional block 102 is implemented by FIG. 2, when the clock signal CK is low, the PMOS transistors PM1, PM2 are turned on, and thus the internal output terminal, namely the input terminals of the inverters X1, X2 are charged at a high level. The inverters X1, X2 receiving the high signals from the internal output terminals respectively discharge the external output terminals OUT, OUT to a low level.
Thereafter, when the clock signal is changed from low to high, the NMOS transistor NM1 is turned on, and thus the cascode logic 102-1 is put into an operational state.
Here, the cascode logic 102-1 discharges the internal output terminal, namely one of the input terminals of the inverters X1, X2 to a low level according to the input value DATAIN. Here, it is presumed for example that the input terminal of the inverter X1 is discharged.
As a result, the output terminal OUT of the inverter X1 whose input terminal is discharged to a low level becomes high, and the output terminal OUT of the inverter X2 whose input terminal is charged to a high level is maintained at a low level.
Then, when the clock signal CK is changed from high to low, the data operation is carried out by repeating the above-described process.
When outputted from the functional block 102 constituted as illustrated in FIG. 2, the data OUT, OUT are transmitted into the succeeding stage through the latch block 104 including the two circuits consisting of the plurality of transistors PM21, PM22, NM21, NM22 and the latch 104-1 as depicted in FIG. 3.
The operation will now be explained by exemplifying the output data signal OUT from the function block 102. When the acknowledge signal ACKOUT from the succeeding stage is at a low level, if the output data signal OUT from the functional block 102 is at a low level, only the PMOS transistors PM21, PM22 are turned on, the power supply voltage is applied to the latch 104-1, and thus the latch 104-1 outputs the low level data signal DATAOUT. When the acknowledge signal ACKOUT is at a high level, only the NMOS transistors NM21, NM22 are turned on, and thus the input terminal of the latch 104-1 is grounded. As a result, the latch 104-1 outputs the high level data signal DATAOUT.
When the acknowledge signal ACKOUT is at a low level, if the output data signed OUT from the functional block 102 is at a high level, or when the acknowledge signal ACKOUT is at a high level, if the output data signal OUT from the functional block 102 is at a low level, the latch 104-1 maintains a preceding output level until the two input signal levels become identical.
The conventional technique guarantees the low power consumption and high-speed operation in theory. Actually, there is a disadvantage in that performance is not remarkably improved, as compared with a synchronous system, due to a control circuit overhead required for the handshaking protocol and excessive power consumption of the DCVS logic used as the functional block.

Asynchronous sensing differential logic (ASDL) circuit

Hyundai Electronics Industries Co., Ltd.


A sun shade is disclosed which is readily convertible from a ground supported shade to a chair-back supported shade for use while sunbathing. The sun shade includes a U-shaped support member having the bottom portion of the U as a rearward support for the shade and the legs of the U being forwardly positioned. A pair of upright support members are each pivotally mounted on each of the legs of the U-shaped member, proximate to the bottom portion of the U. A canopy is pivotally mounted between the upright support members on the upper end thereof, for shielding sunlight from the region between the legs of the U-shaped member. When the shade is employed in its ground supported embodiment, a pair of anchor spikes are pivotally mounted, one on each of the legs of the U-shaped member, as a forward ground support for the shade, the spikes being driven into the ground for anchorage. The bottom portion of the U for the U-shaped member serves as the rearward ground support for the shade. When the shade is employed in its chair-back support embodiment, a pair of clamps are used to clamp each of the legs of the U-shaped member to the frame of the back of a chair so that the canopy shades the back of the chair. A special clamping mechanism is employed to lock the pivotal mounting of the canopy to the upright support members, thereby making the canopy manually adjustable to follow the position of the sun.

The twentieth century has witnessed a dramatic reduction in the working hours for the laboring classes with shorter work days and longer vacations providing an increasing amount of leisure time. With this development has come the increased popularity of sunbathing at private or public swimming pools and on ocean beaches. Although moderate exposure of the body to solar radiation is healthful and has been found to increase the production of vitamin D in the skin, excessive exposure to solar radiation has been found to contribute to unhealthful skin conditions such as premature aging of the skin and a higher incidence of melanoma or skin cancer. Thus it becomes important to be able to control the amount of solar radiation incident on one's skin while relaxing on the beach during one's leasure time. Conventional, umbrella-type parasols have been employed as a means to shade the body during a beach outing, however these devices have proven to be cumbersome and inconvenient to adjust as the sun progresses across the sky during the course of the day. Smaller sized, ground supported shades having adjustable canopies have been employed in the prior art but have proven to be inflexible since the user may, during one portion of the day, desire to lie upon the beach sand, while during another portion of the day would prefer to sit in a beach chair. The prior art ground supported canopies are not adaptable to use on a beach chair and either a separate parasol must be employed to provide shade or the bather must use the chair without shade.


A focus condition detecting device comprises an image forming optical system for forming a light image of an object on a fixed focal plane, an element for separating a pair of light beams from the light beam from the object, a first and a second photoelectric converting element array disposed in the pair of light beams, a first function generator for generating a first function output and a second function output, a first multiplier for putting out the sum of an output resulting from multiplying the first photoelectrical output of the first photoelectric converting element array by the first function output and an output of the second photoelectric converting element array by the second function output, a first integrator for integrating the output of the first multiplier, a second function generator for generating an output equivalent to an output resulting from differentiating one of the first photoelectrical output and the first function output, a second multiplier for multiplying the other of the first photoelectrical output and the first function output by the output of the second function generator, a second integrator for integrating the output of the second multiplier, and a divider for dividing the output of the first integrator by the output of the second integrator.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a focus condition detecting device in an image forming optical system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The focus condition detecting device in the conventional image forming optical system has consumed much electric power because the photoelectric device or the image forming optical system is driven in the direction of the optic axis and has generated vibration and noise while encountering difficulties in making the device compact. To overcome these disadvantages, focus condition detecting devices in which a light image is moved on the light-receiving surface of a photoelectric device in accordance with the image forming position of the image forming optical system so that the focus condition is detected by the detection of this movement have been proposed in Japanese Open patent application Publication No. 15432/1976.
The technique disclosed in the aforementioned Publication will hereinafter be described by reference to FIG. 7 of the accompanying drawings.
In an image forming optical system comprising an image forming lens 1 and a fixed focal plane 30, small mirrors 32a and 32b functioning as a pair of light beam separating elements are disposed at positions spaced apart from the optic axis 31 just behind the lens 1. A photoelectric converting element array 7a comprising a number of photoelectric converting elements N.sub.1, N.sub.2, N.sub.3, . . . , N.sub.n each having a small light-receiving surface such as a photoconductor and a photoelectric converting element array 7b comprising similar photoelectric converting elements N'.sub.1, N'.sub.2, N'.sub.3, . . . , N'.sub.n are disposed at two positions of the reflecting optical system formed by the mirrors 32a, 32b which are conjugate with the fixed focal plane 30.
The light rays from an object 33 on the optic axis 31 form a light image 33' focused on the fixed focal plane 30. At this time, identical images are formed on the positionally corresponding elements N.sub.1 .multidot.N.sub.1 ', N.sub.2 .multidot.N.sub.2 ', . . . , N.sub.n .multidot.N.sub.n ' of the pair of photoelectric converting element arrays. For example, the light from the end 33a of the object 33 is imaged on the elements N.sub.3 and N'.sub.3, respectively, of the two element arrays. An object 34 indicated by a dash line lies at a position on the optic axis which is spaced further apart from the lens 1 than the object 33 and the light image 34' thereof is the front focus imaged at a location nearer to the image forming lens 1 than the fixed focal plane 30, namely, at a location before the fixed focal plane 30. At this time, the light image formed in an out-of-focus condition on the upper element array 7a is displaced leftwardly (toward N.sub.1) from the light image 33' during the in-focus condition. The light image formed in an out-of-focus condition on the lower element array 7b is displaced leftwardly (toward N.sub.n ') from the light image 33'.
In FIG. 7, for the sake of simplicity, only the light ray from a portion 34b of the object 34 which is on the optic axis 31 is indicated by dash line.
Although not shown, in the case of the rear focus imaged at a location further from the image-forming lens 1, conversely to the case of the front focus, the light image on the upper element array 7a is displaced rightwardly (toward N.sub.n) from the light image 33', the light image on the lower element array 7b is displaced rightwardly (toward N.sub.1 ') from the light image 33'. That is, during the out-of-focus condition, the light images on the pair of element arrays are positionally deviated from each other.
According to this technique, the out-of-focus and the in-focus condition can be discriminated from each other by applying a circuit for comparing and discriminating the mutually corresponding elements (for example, N.sub.1 versus N'.sub.1, N.sub.2 versus N.sub.2 ') of the pair of photoelectric converting element arrays.
However, said Publication does not disclose means for discriminating the front focus formed forwardly of the photoelectric converting element arrays and the rear focus formed rearwardly of the photoelectric converting element arrays.


A method and appertaining system determine and output parameters associated with an ear canal according to a particular taxonomy. The output can then be input to various other systems associated with hearing aid design. An intelligent computational approach is utilized that models the physiology of the human ear canal as reconcilable with a conic or quadric section. The canal segment of the impression is sliced, and various parameters are determined according to each slice. Then, these parameters are analyzed in order to create a basic classification of the canal morphology.

The present invention is directed to a system and an appertaining method for determining and outputting parameters associated with an ear canal according to a particular taxonomy. The output can then be input to various other systems associated with hearing aid design. More specifically, the present invention utilizes an intelligent computational approach that models the physiology of the human ear canal as reconcilable with a conic or quadric section. Furthermore the output parameters establish a fundamental basis for designing automated 3D design software for hearing instrument design and manufacturing. In the absence of structured classification protocols for human ear canals, algorithms designed to automate design of hearing instruments are usually not robust and are unstable.
This instability is directly related to the inability to develop one system of algorithms for multiple ear canals shapes and complexity associated with any given human population sample. The present invention provides a method and process that allows human ear canals to be classified based on measurement of geometric variability along extracted molds of hearing aid impression. The methods advanced herein further ensure an automated classification of all human ear canal shapes can be implemented.
Hearing aid design involves the creation of hearing aid shells that are shaped to match the wearers ear for purposes of comfort and performance. An important part of the shell design relates to the ear canal and the aspects of the shell that relate to it.
Computer modeling of the ear, based on impressions taken from the wearer's ear, and the corresponding shell design based on these impressions is becoming a standard mechanism in the production of hearing aids.

System and method for the analysis of basic ear canal taxonomy


A method for neutralizing in situ pore water associated with a subsurface waste material body, the pore water having a pH of less than 2, the method includes the steps of adding a non-carbonate alkali to the pore water to produce a pH-modified acidic pore water having a pH between about 4 and about 5; and adding a carbonate alkali to the pH-modified pore water in an amount sufficient to raise the pore water pH to between about 6 and about 8.

Heavy metal-contaminated waste materials, such as those found in disposed industrial wastes, contaminated soil, and the like, are often contaminated with strong acids (e.g., H2SO4) having pH values of approximately 1.0 or less in associated pore water. This subsurface acidic pore water can be neutralized in situ by direct injection of an alkali. Neutralization controls mobility of heavy metals in the waste materials via ground water flow through the waste.
Typical in situ neutralization methods involve injecting an acid neutralizing agent comprising carbonates, such as Na2CO3, NaHCO3, CaCO3, MgCO3, and the like, in the form of an alkaline solution or slurry. Such processes liberate large quantities of CO2, thereby increasing down hole back pressure and requiring higher injection pressures. The liberated CO2 finds preferential pathways to release a pent up excess subsurface pressure causing "daylighting" of the injected material.
To avoid daylighting issues associated with carbonate alkali injection, non-carbonate alkaline agents such as NaOH, Ca(OH)2, and the like can be injected to neutralize the acidic pore water. However, injection of substantial quantities of strong alkaline agents can be problematic in that the pore water turns rapidly from strongly acidic to strongly alkaline. This is particularly undesired because a high pH increases solubility of emphoteric heavy metals and therefore increases the potential mobility of such metals. Alternative approaches to neutralizing subsurface acidic pore water in situ are desired.

Situ neutralization of subsurface acidic pore water


The invention includes a process for the production of semiconductor devices comprising the steps of depositing a metal layer on a semiconductor substrate, depositing a hardmask layer on said metal layer, depositing a photoresist on said hardmask layer, patterning said photoresist, thereby exposing and patterning portions of said hardmask layer, etching said exposed portions of said hardmask layer with a hardmask etchant, thereby exposing and patterning portions of said metal layer, removing, or not, said photoresist, and etching said exposed portions of said metal layer with a metal etchant and semiconductor devices made by said process.

As the width of the metal lines in silicon and other semiconductor devices shrink to 0.30 micron and lower, the thickness of photoresist (PR) required to pattern the metal lines present as conductors needs to decrease substantially to enhance the resolution. Typically, photoresist is applied directly on top of a metal layer to be etched. However, simply decreasing the thickness of photoresist results in insufficient photoresist being present to obtain a correctly shaped metal line following metal etching. While systems of photoresist of at least 1 micron in thickness, and silicon nitride hardmask of about 300 nm in thickness are know, they are not thin enough and do not have the etch selectivity to support 0.2 micron design rule integrated circuit production.

Deep sub-micron metal etch with in-situ hard mask etch


A method and system for remote operator interface with a self-service transaction terminal, such as an ATM makes use of a set of web based applications for operator functions to enable the remote operator to access the operator functions over a standard browser from a remote operator interface client PC. Each ATM with which the remote operator interface is used has a set of web based applications that supports the operator functions. The operator accesses the ATM from the client PC by bringing up the browser and entering a URL to point to a specific ATM. The remote operator interface supports a plurality of supervisory type functions and enables the user to administer a plurality of ATMs for which it is configured to allow the particular functions to be performed. Communication via the remote operator interface is secure over a private network or virtual private network (VPN) over the Internet. The remote operator must be authenticated to gain access, and the operator's entitlements may limit access.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of self-service financial transaction terminals, such as automatic teller machines (ATMs), and more particularly to a method and system for remote operator interface with a self-service financial terminal, such as an ATM.
2. Background of the Invention
ATMs include computer applications or software running on computer hardware within the ATM which, for example, interfaces with a host computer and other remote computers connected to the ATM over a network. On ATM systems that a financial institution, such as a bank, develops and that are used in branches or other locations, there are a set of functions that are used by supervisors and operators in the branch. These operator and supervisor functions are outside of the customer applications and need to be performed on a routine basis to maintain the service to administer those ATMs.
Currently, a way that the financial institution addresses that problem is to have a text based terminal that is connected over a serial line to the ATM platform developed by the financial institution. However, for a global ATM system, as the financial institution moves into a more off-the-shelf type of environment, for example, where hardware is purchased from different ATM vendors, that solution does not work for all vendor platforms. Further, the text based terminals are not a viable solution, because the technology is out of date and the cost of those terminals is also relatively high. Therefore, there is a need for an alternative to support the use of the operator functions for maintaining and servicing the ATMs, which is also a platform independent solution.

Method and system for remote operator interface with a self-service financial transactions terminal


The network server stores the order information and the customer information received from the order entry channel in a database with identification information of the retailer system that has mediated the order, extracts, in response to a request from the retailer system, at least one of the order information, the customer information corresponding to the identification information of the retailer system having made the request, and information obtained based on at least one of the order information and the customer information from the database, and provides to the retailer system. The network order system includes the network server for receiving and managing at least the order information.

The present invention relates to a network order system used to place an order for a photograph print and the like using a communication network such as the Internet, and to a network server constituting the network order system.
As a result of prevalence of a communication network such as the Internet, selling of products, delivery of information for sales promotion, and the like on the Internet have become popular at present.
As a business style using the Internet, there is a business style that provides various services by a certain shop or company uniquely opening a web site (e.g., homepage) which serves as an online shop (window for the shop), and uniquely managing customer information of the web site. In addition, there is also a business style in which operation of a site, management of customer information, and the like are entrusted to a site operator, and a single web site is shared by a plurality of shops.
For example, JP 2004-133874 A discloses a site operation system in which each shop member can send advertisement information input from a cellular phone or the like to customer members of his/her own shop through mails. This system is realized by the plurality of shops (shop members) sharing a web site opened by the site operator and registering information on each shop in a database of the web site, as well as registering information of a customer (customer member), such as a mail address, of each shop in advance and using a mail server of the web site, to thereby send the advertisement information.
As described above, because the site operation and the management of customer information are entrusted to the site operator, each shop does not need to have its own appliances such as a server. Further, customer information of each shop can be registered and managed without any task load of the site operation, and advertisement information can be delivered to own customers.
On the other hand, services on photograph prints using image data and the like obtained by photographing with a digital camera are also provided on the Internet. A plurality of print service providers acquire images photographed with a digital camera by a customer and printing order information using the communication network such as the Internet, and creates a photograph print by reproducing the image according to the order information. After that, the print for which an order has been placed is provided to the customer through delivery service or by sending the print to a designated shop. Thus, a so-called network print service is provided.
Incidentally, in Europe, a number of retailer shop-scale print service providers of a so-called mini lab shop (hereinafter, referred to as "lab") for creating prints is small, and many of the prints are created in large-scale labs (so-called big lab) having high productivity.
Further, in Europe, there exist brokers for mediating between a customer and a lab, called retailers, in most cases.
The retailer entrusts retailer shops such as cosmetic shops and drugstores with installment of a reception window for print orders, and a customer orders a print to the retailer through the reception window. The lab is generally affiliated with a plurality of retailers and creates a print upon reception of a print order of a customer from any of the retailers. Provision of the print created in the lab to the customer is also carried out via the retailer in most cases.
In other words, in the print order/creation/reception system, the lab exists as a background without the customer being aware of its existence. The customer only confronts the retailer to order a print and receive the finished print.
Even in Europe having the business style described above as a mainstream, as a result of prevalence of digital cameras and communication networks, provision of a print order receiving service (network print service described above) using the communication network is being studied. In addition, system development of software among affiliated labs and retailers is being advanced and network print services are starting to be established in countries of Europe.
In the above-mentioned system in which orders made to the plurality of retailers are processed in the large-scale lab and the like, the lab needs to aggregate pieces of order information from all the retailers and information on customers having placed orders for creation of prints in order to create the prints according to the orders and provide the created prints.
Further, as for the retailer, there is conventionally a retailer that uniquely manages customers who have used the own shop, and a retailer that does not perform any particular management. Thus, it is assumed that there will be various demands for customer management for each of the retailers even after shifting to the network print service.
However, a system that can satisfy a request of the lab and various requests of the retailers in managing customer information and order information has not yet been achieved.
For example, as described with reference to JP 2004-133874 A, there is known a method of managing customer information of a plurality of shops in a single web site. However, with the conventional technique of JP 2004-133874 A, the single web site is merely shared by the plurality of shops independent in terms of business, and customer information of each shop is merely held separately in a region of each shop secured in the database of the web site. Therefore, the conventional technique cannot be applied to the style in which orders made to the plurality of retailers are aggregated to be processed.


A machine engine enclosure arrangement that has sound reducing elements allows for the overall sound rating of the machine to be decreased. The engine enclosure includes a housing that has a housing length and a housing width. The housing defines a housing axis that extends along the housing length and the housing axis defines a vertical reference plane. The vertical reference plane is perpendicular to a ground surface on which machine is resting. The engine enclosure further includes a radiator fan that is configured to provide air flow across the radiator. The radiator fan has a diameter greater than the housing width and defines a fan plane perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the radiator fan. The radiator fan is positioned between the side walls of the housing so that the fan plane is at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to the vertical reference plane.

Directional drilling machines and methods for making underground holes are known. A directional drilling machine is generally configured to drive into the ground a series of drill rods joined end-to-end to form a drill string. At the end of the drill string is a rotating drilling tool. Various techniques and configurations can be used to provide rotational and thrust power to the drill string. Often an internal combustion engine is mounted to the boring machine and is used to provide such power.
In order to meet certain safety specifications, the internal combustion engine on the drilling machine must operate within a certain loudness range. Loudness is the subjective human response to sound. Loudness depends primarily on sound pressure but is also influenced by frequency. In order to measure loudness, a weighted scale is often used, which is referred to as an A-weighted scale (i.e., dB(A)). The A-weighted sound level measurement is thought to provide a rating of industrial noise that indicates the injurious effects such noise has on human hearing and has been adopted by OSHA in its noise standards (OTM/Driscoll). Therefore, there is an advantage to having the internal combustion engine and its components operate at lower frequencies (i.e. a lower dB(A) rating) which are safer for the human ear.
The use of a radiator and radiator fan with internal combustion engines is common. The faster the speed the radiator fan is operating at, the more sound the fan produces and the louder the overall machine to which the fan is attached. However, in order to operate effectively, a certain amount of airflow created by the radiator fan is required to move across the radiator to ensure proper cooling of the fluids within the radiator. Without proper cooling, the internal combustion engine risks overheating, potentially leading to failure or malfunction. Diameter of the fan, speed of the fan, and individual fan blade pitch affect the amount of airflow moved by the fan. The larger the diameter of the fan, the lower the speed the fan may operate at to move the required amount of air. However, space within engine compartments is a premium, so increasing the size of the fan is not a straightforward solution as proximity of the fan to the radiator is important to effective operation of the radiator. In addition, larger fans require more power to be operated, thereby decreasing the efficiency of the overall system.
Therefore, improvements in sound reduction with respect to internal combustion engines and their components on directional drilling machines are needed.

Engine cooling system having a low speed cooling package fan


For assessing the position and quality of joins a combined image of a join including a light line image and a grey value image is taken in the same sensor, but in two different regions of the sensor. The grey value image is evaluated to detect the quality of the join. This allows both the position and the quality of the join to be detected in a simple way.

The invention concerns a method for detecting a join location of workpieces wherein by means of a light line intersection method lines of light are photographed for capturing the three dimensional course of the join location and further a grey value image of the join location is taken, and wherein the grey value image is evaluated for assessing the quality of the join, with the lines of light for the light line intersection method and grey value image being photographed by one sensor, especially a CMOS sensor. The invention further concerns uses of this method as well as an apparatus for recognition of join locations.

Method and device for assessing joins of workpieces


A process for the preparation of squaraine compounds which comprises reacting an aromatic amine or mixtures of such amines with squaric acid or squaric acid derivatives in the presence of an aliphatic alcohol and a trialkylorthoformate.

This invention is generally directed to processes for preparing squaraine compounds; and more specifically the present invention is directed to processes that enable obtaining squaraine compounds of the same composition. In one embodiment of the present invention there are provided processes for the preparation of squaraine compounds wherein undesirable water is removed from the reaction by the addition of drying components such as trialkylorthoformates permitting processes that are readily scalable, and which in some instances enable products in high yields. Also, with the processes of the present invention short reaction times are possible, and complex vacuum distillation steps as utilized in the prior art are avoided. The squaraine compositions prepared in accordance with the process of the present invention are useful for incorporation into layered photoresponsive imaging devices, which are sensitive to light in the wavelength region of from about 400 to about 1,000 nanometers. Therefore, the resulting devices are responsive to visible light, and infrared illumination orginating from laser printing apparatuses wherein, for example, gallium arsenide diode lasers are selected. Therefore, the specific photoresponsive devices envisioned can, for example, contain situated between a photogenerating laye, and a hole transporting layer, or situated between a photogenerating layer and a supporting substrate, a photoconductive composition comprised of the squaraines prepared in accordance with the process of the present invention.
Numerous different xerographic photoconductive members with squaraines, and processes for the preparation thereof are known. Thus, for example, there is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,415,639, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference, the use of known squaraine compositions, such as hydroxy squaraines, as a photoconductive layer in an infrared sensitive photoresponsive device. More specifically, there is described in this patent an improved photoresponsive device containing a substrate, a hole blocking layer, an optional adhesive interfacial layer, an inorganic photogenerating layer, a photoconductive composition capable of enhancing or reducing the intrinsic properties of the photogenerating layer, which photoconductive composition is selected from various squaraine compositions, including hydroxy squaraine compositions, and a hole transport layer.
Other U.S. Pat. Nos. disclosing photoconductive devices with squaraines are 4,471,041; 4,486,520; 4,508,803; 4,507,480; 4,624,904; 4,524,218; 4,524,220; 4,521,621; 4,523,035; 4,390,610; 4,353,971; 4,391,880; 4,524,219; 4,525,592; 4,559,286; 4,585,895; 4,585,884; 4,607,124; 4,606,986; 4,621,038; 4,628,018; 4,552,822; 3,617,270; 3,824,099; 4,150,987; 4,175,956; 4,353,971; 4,390,610; 4,391,888; 4,500,621; 4,123,270; and 4,481,270. Although processes for the preparation of squaraines are illustrated in the aforementioned patents, there are no teachings therein where water is removed by the utilization of drying components, rather these prior art processes employ, for example, the use of azeotropic agents and distillation steps; and wherein the yield of scale up product is substantially lower in some instances than the yields obtained with certain process embodiments of the present invention.
More specifically, processes for preparing squaraine compositions are well known and generally involve the reaction of squaric acid, an alkyl ester of squaric acid, a dialkyl ester of squaric acid, or an aryl substituted squaric acid derivative with an aromatic amine. Thus, for example, squaraine compounds can be prepared by the reaction at a temperature of from about 50.degree. C. to about 130.degree. C. of an aromatic amine and squaric acid in a molar ratio of from about 1.5:1 to 4:1 in the presence of a mixture of an aliphatic alcohol and an optional azeotropic cosolvent. About 200 milliliters of alcohol per 0.1 mole of squaric acid are used, while from about 40 milliliters to about 4,000 milliliters of azeotropic material are selected. Illustrative examples of amine reactants include N,N-dialkylanilines, while examples of aliphatic alcohols selected are primary alcohols, especially 1-butanol and 1-heptanol. Azeotropic materials include aliphatic and aromatic compositions inclusive of benzene and toluene. Also, it is known that the stoichiometry of the reaction of squaric acid with aromatic amines produces 2 mole equivalents of water, while the reaction of an alkyl squarate with aromatic amines produces one mole equivalent of water; and the reaction of 3-(4'-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)-4-hydroxycyclobutene-1,2-dione with aromatic amines generates one mole equivalent of water.
Moreover, it is known that water present in the reaction mixture should be removed quickly and completely. In some situations, as little as 0.05 percent of water in the reaction mixture can lower the yield appreciably. Thus, there is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,500,621 a process for obtaining squaraine compounds by the reaction of squaric acid with N,N-dimethyl-m-toluidine in 1-pentanol solvent, without water removal, and wherein the yield decreased from 56 percent at 0.05 mole scale to 43 percent at 0.5 mole scale. Water removal methods employed in the prior art include: (1) a Dean Stark trap for azeotropic distillation; (2) distillation to a Soxhlet containing molecular sieves or other drying agent, and the return of dried solvent to the reaction mixture; (3) a gentle nitrogen purge of a refluxing reaction; and (4) combinations thereof incorporating fractionation and/or vacuum distillation.
Also, there is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,523,035 a process for obtaining squaraine compounds by the reaction of squaric acid with various aromatic amines in the presence of a 1-heptanol solvent at reduced pressure with water removal by a Dean Stark trap. When this process is applied to bis(4-(N-methyl-N-(p-chlorobenzyl)amino)phenyl)squaraine, the reaction yield decreases from 75 percent at a 2 liter to 52 percent at a 20 liter scale. While it is not intended to be limited by theory, extrapolation of these medium scale results indicates larger scale forecast yields of about 20 percent at a 1,000 liter scale of reaction. In addition, when preparing squaraine compounds wherein toluene and 1-butanol mixed solvent systems are selected, and there are utilized molecular sieves, there results a decrease of yield upon scale up of, for example, from about 56 percent at 200 milliliters scale to 40 percent at a 1 liter scale. Similarly, the selection of a toluene and 1-octanol mixed solvent with molecular sieves and a Soxhlet apparatus at atmospheric pressure provide squaraines with a yield decrease of from 42 percent at 200 milliliters scale to 18 percent at a 5 liter scale. In contrast, with certain embodiments of the present invention, reference for example working Examples IV and V, there results squaraines of high yields which are independent of scale, that is the yield is 80 percent at 200 milliliters scale and 82 percent at a 20 liter scale.
Additionally, there is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,524,219, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference, a process for the preparation of squaraine compositions which comprises reacting an alkyl squarate with an aniline in the presence of an optional acid catalyst. Water formed during the reaction was removed by a Dean Stark trap or nitrogen gas flow. While it is not intended to be limited by theory, it is believed that substantially the same or similar intermediates, namely squaric acid, alkyl squarate, and dialkyl squarate, are involved in this process as in similar processes starting from squaric acid with the result that water removal is necessary to obtain good yields.
Furthermore, there is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,525,592, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference, a squaraine process wherein there is reacted a dialkyl squarate and a N,N-dialkylaniline in the presence of an acid catalyst, at a temperature of from about 60.degree. C. to about 160.degree. C., and in the presence of water saturated aliphatic alcohol solvents, such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol and the like. Furthermore, it is known that this process requires the initial presence of water in a water saturated alcohol solvent, although this and subsequent water formed during the reaction is removed by a nitrogen gas flow.
Moreover, there is also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,524,220, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference, a process for the preparation of squaraine compositions which comprises the reaction of squaric acid with an aromatic aniline in the presence of an aliphatic amine, and wherein a Dean Stark trap was employed for water removal.
Also, there are illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,559,286 and 4,607,124, the disclosures of which are totally incorporated herein by reference, processes for obtaining mixed squaraine compositions by the reaction of squaric acid with two aromatic anilines, specifically 3-fluoro-N,N-dimethylaniline and 3-methyl-N,N-dimethylaniline in the presence of 1-heptanol solvent, wherein water is removed, for example, by the combined influence of a partial vacuum reflux to a Dean Stark trap at 40 Torr, reference Table 1. More specifically, with the process of the U.S. Pat. No. '286 the yield decreases, for example, from 45 percent to 25 percent upon an 80 fold scale-up to 8 mole scale. Also, the composition of the squaraine product varies substantially as a consequence of the difference in reactivity of the two amines. In particular, the fluorine content of the squaraine composition decreases from 1.46 to 0.76 percent. In contrast, with the process of the present invention as illustrated in Example IX there results a 50 percent yield of product, which product composition was independent of scale.
Additionally, there is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,606,986 a process for obtaining mixed squaraine compositions by the reaction of squaric acid with N,N-dimethylaniline and 3-methyl-N,N-dimethylaniline wherein the yield decreases, for example, from 82 percent with a 500 milliliter reaction to 70 percent with a 12 liter reaction.
Furthermore, there is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,585,895, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference, a process for the preparation of mixed squaraine compositions which comprises reacting a dialkyl squarate, a dialkylaniline and a dialkylhaloaniline in the presence of an aliphatic alcohol and an optional acid catalyst. In this process, there is selected water in a water saturated alcohol solvent, which water is subsequently removed.
Additionally there is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,624,904 a process for obtaining unsymmetrical squaraines by, for example, the reaction of 3-(4'-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)-4-hydroxycyclobutene-1,2-dione with various ring substituted N,N-dimethylanilines in 1-heptanol solvent at 40 Torr with a Dean Stark trap.
Although the above processes for preparing squaraine compositions are suitable for their intended purposes, there continues to be a need for other processes wherein photoconductive squaraine compositions can be prepared. Additionally, and more specifically there remains a need for simple, economical processes for preparing squaraine compositions with stable properties, which squaraines can be incorporated into photoconductive devices. Moreover, there remains a need for processes that enable in some instances the preparation of squaraine products in high yields. In addition, there remains a need for processes that will enable the preparation of squaraine photogenerating pigments wherein complex distillation steps, and especially vacuum processes, are avoided for water removal. There is also a need for the preparation of squaraine compounds wherein the formed water subsequent to treatment can remain in the reaction mixture. Additionally, there is a need for commercial processes for the preparation of squaraine compounds in yields of greater than 80 percent. Also, there is a need for large scale commercial processes with short reaction times, with high throughput (grams of squaraine per liter of reactor), and wherein inexpensive alcohol solvents and cosolvents can be selected. Further, there is a need for processes wherein there is selected low mole ratios of amine to squaric acid reactants, which processes enable lower energy requirements as refluxing conditions are avoided. Moreover, there is a need for processes wherein symmetrical squaraines, mixed squaraines, unsymmetrical squaraines, and other similar squaraines as illustrated in the appropriate aforementioned patents are prepared, and wherein water is removed therefrom by the addition of a trialkylorthoformate. There is also a need for processes enabling the preparation of squaraine compounds wherein the rate of the chemical generation of water is substantially equivalent to the rate at which the water is chemically removed by the addition of a trialkylorthoformate. With respect to the aforementioned process, the water removing trialkylorthoformate does not react adversely with the starting reaction component such as a squaric acid or aromatic amine; can be readily separated from the resulting product; reacts preferentially with water in the presence of excess amounts of alcohol; is inexpensive and readily available; and does not adversely effect the xerographic properties of the squaraine product generated.


A method for designing business logic being performed on a computer server that includes respectively executing a test engine and a service engine independent of each other, receiving the business logic representing a business service from a modeling terminal, the business service being associated with an event, allowing the modeling terminal to register the business logic to the test engine and to test the business logic, and allowing the modeling terminal to register the business logic to the service engine when the test of the business logic is completed.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to business logic designing technology and more particularly to a method of designing business logic, a server performing the same, and a storage medium generating a business service when the business logic is defined to provide the business service in real time.
Background of the Invention
In general, a factory automation system may apply an Information Technology (IT) to a computer and an industrial robot to automate procedures such as order, design, manufacture, inspection and shipment according to a consistent concept. The IT may include an enterprise resources planning system (ERP), a manufacturing execution system (MES), computer aided design (CAD), and computer aided manufacturing (CAM). The IT may integrally manage through computerizing processes of production, manufacturing, distribution and finance in a company and may automate product production.
Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2010-0101855 (Sep. 20, 2010) discloses an application server development system in real time based on a repository using a diagram. The development system may include a modeling engine and an execution engine to unify many operations (e.g., design and source coding build and distribution) in a consistent view and to improve productivity and quality.
In the development system, the execution engine is distinguished for test and service, however, the development system may not independently manage a business logic for the test and service. Also, the development system may identically construct the business logic for the test and service so that memory may be wasted.
Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2010-0102086 (Sep. 20, 2010) discloses a method for constructing an enterprise customized digital production system using a digital factory being capable of pre-checking unnecessary waste elements. The method may produce and manufacture a virtual product by various scenarios to improve the producing and manufacturing process in an optimum state for product processing and manufacturing.
This method constructs the digital factory through modeling human and material resources so that it takes a lot of time. This is because human and material data is directly measured and collected for modeling the human and material resources. Also, the method has another problem that human and material resources may be updated for updating the digital factory.
Such applications may not independently manage test and service in an execution engine, however, this application may provide a method of designing a business logic for independently managing a test engine and a service engine.

Method of designing business logic, server performing the same and storage medium storing the same


A rotatable toolholder is provided having a stationary coolant feed system for directing a through-center, non-rotating coolant stream to a coolant conducting bore in a rotating cutting tool. The rotatable toolholder comprises a stationary housing, a driven shaft having an output end rotatably mounted in the housing, and a tool coupling rotatably mounted on an opposite side of the housing for holding and rotating the end of a cutting tool. The coolant system of the toolholder includes a nozzle assembly stationarily mounted within the housing and having a nozzle for directing a non-rotating stream of coolant into the coolant conducting bore of the tool, and a stationary conduit for conducting a coolant flow from a source of pressurized coolant to the nozzle assembly while isolating the coolant flow from the rotating components within the housing. A transmission assembly is provided within the housing for transmitting rotary power from the driven shaft to the tool coupling. The use of a stationary nozzle assembly isolates the flow of coolant from centrifugal forces that the rotating components within the housing would otherwise apply to it, while the isolating function of the coolant supply conduit obviates the need for dynamic fluid seals between the housing and the driven shaft and tool coupling that leak and create frictional drag, and also renders unnecessary micro particle filtration of recirculated coolant.

This invention generally relates to toolholders for use with cutting tools, and is specifically concerned with to a rotatable toolholder having a stationary, through-center coolant feed system for providing a non-rotating stream of coolant to a rotating metal cutting tool.
Cutting tools used for such operations as drilling, milling, or reaming metal workpieces frequently require the application of a coolant at the interface between the workpiece and the cutting surfaces of the tool. The use of a coolant advantageously reduces the heat generated by the machining operation by reducing the friction between the tool and the workpiece, and by transferring the generated heat from the cutting interface to the coolant. Such heat reduction is important as the generation of excessive heat prematurely dulls the cutting tool, thus lowering the quality of the cuts produced by the tool, and shortening its useful life span. Excessive heat can also damage the workpiece.
Systems for providing coolant at the interface between such cutting tools and their respective workpieces are known in the prior art. While some of these systems operate by directing a stream of coolant from one side of the cutting action, there is an increasing demand for systems that direct the coolant through the center of the cutting tool directly to the point of contact between the workpiece and the cutting surfaces of the tool. Such through-center coolant systems allow the cutting tool to be rotated at a faster cutting speed while simultaneously achieving a finer and cleaner cut.
Prior art toolholders having such through-center coolant systems generally comprise a toolholder shank having a proximal end that is detachably connectable to the drive shaft of a turning tool, and a distal end that is connected to a tool coupling, which may be a collet-type coupling arrangement capable of firmly grasping the shank end of a cutting tool. A stationary housing envelops the toolholder in the area between the distal end of the toolholder shank and the proximal end of the toolholder coupling. Bearings are provided at the interfaces between the housing and the toolholder so that the toolholder may rotate with respect to the stationary housing. Dynamic fluid seals are also provided at the interfaces between the housing walls, the shank and tool coupling so that the housing can contain pressurized liquid coolant while the toolholder rotates. The proximal end of the toolholder shank includes a diametral bore that communicates with an axial bore present in the tool coupling. Cutting tools used in conjunction with such prior art coolant system include a through-center, coolant conducting bore extending from their shank ends all the way to their cutting ends.
In operation, when pressurized coolant is supplied to the interior of the stationary housing, liquid coolant is forced through the diametral bore of the toolholder shank and then through the axial bore in the tool coupling where it is received by the coolant conducting bore located through the center of the tool itself. The bore in the tool conducts the coolant to the interface between the cutting end of the tool and the workpiece. To conserve the coolant (which is often a mixture of water and ethylene glycol) many prior art systems collect spent coolant and recirculate it back to the source of pressurized coolant. A filtration unit is provided in the recirculation path of the coolant to remove metal chips and particles and other debris formed as a result of the cutting operation.
While such prior art through-center coolant systems have proven to be effective in providing a steady stream of coolant to the exact point of contact between the rotating cutting tool and a metal workpiece, the applicant has noted a number of areas where such systems could be improved in order to increase their overall effectiveness. For example, the dynamic fluid seals that must be incorporated between the rotating surfaces of the toolholder shank and tool coupling and the stationary walls of the housing apply a substantial amount of frictional drag which not only increases the power required to effectively turn the cutting tool, but also generates so much heat that the operation of such a toolholder must be stopped every 10 or 15 minutes in order to allow the toolholder to cool off. Even well-designed fluid seals tend to leak substantial amounts of coolant during the operation of the toolholder, not all of which is reclaimable. Also, the centrifugal forces that the diametral bore in the rotating toolholder applies to the coolant flowing into the housing works against the desired flow of coolant out of the tool which in turn requires the use of higher pump pressures than would not otherwise be necessary to obtain the desired coolant flow rate. These higher pressures necessitate tighter fluid seals, which in turn exacerbates the aforementioned frictional drag problem. Finally, the intimate contact made by the coolant flowing through the housing and the bearing surfaces located within the housing necessitates the removal of all metal particles in the reclaimed coolant larger than 5 microns across in order to protect the toolholder shank bearings from damage. Such particulate removal can only be accomplished by the use of a relatively large and expensive filtration unit that disadvantageously applies a substantial back pressure to the coolant flowing in the recirculation path of the system, which again demands higher pump pressures.
Clearly, what is needed is a through-center cooling system for a rotating toolholder that does not require the use of drag-inducing dynamic seals to maintain coolant within the housing. Ideally, such a system would be leak-free so that substantially all of the coolant used would be reclaimable. Finally, such a system would not apply unwanted centrifugal forces to the coolant as it flows to the cutting tool, and would obviate the need for a large and expensive filtration system.

Rotatable tooholder having a stationary, through-center coolant feed system