A variable pulse width generator comprised of apparatus for receiving a clock signal, apparatus for terminating an output pulse from a leading edge of the clock signal, and apparatus for initiating another output pulse following the terminated output pulse from the leading edge of the clock signal and after a first delay, whereby successive output pulses are initiated and terminated that are related to the leading edge of the clock signal, and thus are related to the frequency but not the pulse Width of the clock signal.

Synchronous DRAMs require a column access pulse which is internally timed in order to connect the DRAM sense amplifiers to a databus of the DRAM. Typically a simple pulse generator with an internal delay which defines the pulse width has been used for this purpose.
To operate a DRAM at very fast speeds, such as at 100 MHz, pulses generated by the pulse generator must be extremely short. Some DRAM chips are manufactured which do not meet the required speed specification, but can operate satisfactorily at slower speeds, such as at 80 MHz. In the past, such chips would be rejected since they could not operate from the very short pulses resulting from the clock generator, thus reducing yield.


A method and a device determines an air mass flow flowing through a ram air channel having disposed therein a feed device adapted in a first operating state of the ram air channel to feed air through the ram air channel and further adapted in a second operating state of the ram air channel to be set in rotation by an air mass flow flowing through the ram air channel. The method includes the step of detecting an actual operational characteristic of the feed device that is characteristic of the air mass flow flowing through the ram air channel in the second operating state of the ram air channel as well as the step of determining the air mass flow flowing through the ram air channel on the basis of the detected actual operational characteristic of the feed device.

Currently in commercial aircraft so-called air-assisted air conditioning systems are conventionally used to air-condition the aircraft cabin. An aircraft air conditioning system is used to cool the aircraft cabin, which would otherwise become overheated as a result of heat loads, such as for example insolation, the body heat of passengers and waste heat from equipment on board the aircraft. The aircraft air conditioning system moreover feeds sufficient fresh air into the aircraft cabin to ensure that there is a prescribed minimum oxygen content in the aircraft cabin.
Air-assisted aircraft air conditioning systems generally comprise an air conditioning unit, which is supplied with compressed process air from the engines of the aircraft or from a separate compressor. Before being supplied to the air conditioning unit the process air is pre-cooled in a preliminary heat exchanger by transferring heat to cooling air that has likewise been provided by the engines of the aircraft or a separate compressor. The cooling capacity of the preliminary heat exchanger is controlled by a corresponding control of the cooling air mass flow through the preliminary heat exchanger. In the air conditioning unit the process air, as it flows through a heat exchanger unit, is cooled by transferring heat to ambient air flowing through a ram air channel. The ambient air mass flow through the ram air channel and consequently the cooling capacity of the heat exchanger unit of the air conditioning unit are controlled by opening and/or closing corresponding ram air channel flaps.
The structure of an air conditioning unit 100 described for example in DE 10 2010 054 448 may be seen in FIG. 1. The air conditioning unit 100 comprises a process-air feed line 102, through which hot process air generated by a process air source configured in the form of an aircraft engine or a separate compressor is fed at a high pressure to the air conditioning unit 100. In order to control the process air flow through the process-air feed line 102 a control valve 104 is disposed in the process-air feed line 102. The air flowing through the process-air feed line 102 is conveyed through a first heat exchanger 106, during which it is cooled down to ca. 40° C. to 100° C., and then fed to a compressor 108. In the compressor 108 the process air is compressed and at the same time heated. In order to avoid damage to the compressor 108 and/or to components of the air conditioning unit 100 disposed downstream of the compressor 108, the heating of the air as it flows through the compressor 108 has to be limited to temperatures of ca. 220° C. and 260° C. The cooling of the process air, which is to be fed to the compressor 108, by means of the first heat exchanger 106 therefore enables a greater compression of the process air in the compressor 108 and hence the realization of a higher cooling capacity of the air conditioning unit 100.
From the compressor 108 the compressed process air is fed through a line 110 to a second heat exchanger 112, is cooled as it flows through the second heat exchanger 112 and then conveyed through a line 114 to a turbine 124. If desired, the process air prior to feeding into the turbine 124 may be conveyed for further cooling additionally through at least one further heat exchanger disposed upstream of the turbine 124. In the turbine 124 the air is expanded and at the same time cooled down anew. The compressor 108 is disposed with the turbine 124 on a common shaft 125 and is driven by means of the turbine 124.
The first and the second heat exchanger 106, 112 are disposed in a ram air channel 128, through which cold ambient air flows while the aircraft is flying. When the air-craft is operating on the ground, on the other hand, a feed device 130 configured in the form of a blower is used to convey ambient air for cooling the first and second heat exchanger 106, 112 through the ram air channel 128. While the aircraft is flying, the feed device 130 simultaneously continuously rotates when during flying of the aircraft the turbine 124 drives the compressor 108 and hence also sets in rotation the feed device 130 disposed with the compressor/turbine arrangement on a common shaft 125, in which case however the feed device 130 does not feed an ambient air mass flow through the ram air channel 128.
Both during flying and during ground operation of the aircraft the ambient air flow through the ram air channel 128 is controlled by a corresponding positioning of flaps 136, 138 that are disposed in an inlet region and an outlet region of the ram air channel 128. The feed device 130 is disposed with the compressor 108 and the turbine 124 on a common shaft 125, so that the turbine 124 drives not only the compressor 108 but also the feed device 130. A revolutions counter 140 is used to acquire the rotational speed of the shaft 125. An assembly group comprising the turbine 124, the compressor 108 and the feed device 130 is conventionally referred to as an air cycle machine (ACM), wherein the ACM, if need be, may comprise a plurality of turbines, a plurality of compressors and/or a plurality of feed devices.
Further known from the background art is an air conditioning unit 100, which is shown in FIG. 2 and in which the feed device 130 configured in the form of a blower does not interact with the shaft 125 of the compressor/turbine arrangement, i.e. is not disposed jointly with the compressor 108 and the turbine 124 on the shaft 125. In the air conditioning unit 100 represented in FIG. 2 the ACM therefore comprises merely the compressor/turbine arrangement, not however the feed device 130, which is driven via a shaft 142 by a separate motor 144 configured for example in the form of an electric motor. The revolutions counter 140 then determines the rotational speed of the shaft 142 that drives the feed device 130.
During operation of the air conditioning units of prior art operating situations may arise, in which an actual mass flow of the ambient air flowing through the ram air channel and used to cool the heat exchangers disposed in the ram air channel deviates from a set value, i.e. is too high or too low. The reason for such a deviation of the actual mass flow of the ambient air flowing through the ram air channel from a set value may be for example damage of the ram air channel, gaps between individual ram air channel components or leakages in the ram air channel caused by special ram air channel flaps, which are used to prevent excess pressures or excessively high air mass flows in the ram air channel. A deviation of the actual mass flow of the ambient air flowing through the ram air channel from a set value may moreover be caused by mechanical or electrical faults in the operation of the ram air channel flaps or by blockages inside the ram air channel.
A deviation of the actual mass flow of the ambient air flowing through the ram air channel from a set value may be detected in known air conditioning units by pressure measurements by means of corresponding pressure sensors disposed in the ram air channel or indirectly by means of sensors that are not disposed directly in the ram air channel, and may be evaluated by means of a corresponding software logic integrated for example into the control software of the air conditioning system. These methods are however not only comparatively complex but also occasionally inaccurate, with the result that problems associated with a deviation of the actual mass flow of the ambient air flowing the ram air channel from a set value may be identified either not at all or only by corresponding maintenance activity. A routine check of the ambient air mass flow flowing through a ram air channel of an aircraft in the course of regular maintenance intervals is however undesirable on the grounds of cost.
The underlying object of the invention is to provide an easy-to-implement method of determining an air mass flow flowing through a ram air channel, which is in particular integrated into an aircraft air conditioning system. A further underlying object of the invention is to indicate a device suitable for implementing such a method.

Method and device for determining an air mass flow flowing through a ram air channel


A picture plant assembly for providing an ornamental and attractive method of displaying photographs. The picture plant assembly includes a holder assembly including a base container having an open top and a bottom wall; and also includes a plurality of stems being removably disposed in the base container; and further includes a plurality of picture frames being removably attached to the stems and being adapted to support pictures.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a plant-like picture arrangement and more particularly pertains to a new picture plant assembly for providing an ornamental and attractive method of displaying photographs.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of a plant-like picture arrangement is known in the prior art. More specifically, a plant-like picture arrangement heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,246,374; U.S. Pat. No. 3,245,175; U.S. Pat. No. 4,375,288; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 273,312; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 368,233; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 198,040; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,870,856.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new picture plant assembly. The inventive device includes a holder assembly including a base container having an open top and a bottom wall; and also includes a plurality of stems being removably disposed in the base container; and further includes a plurality of picture frames being removably attached to the stems and being adapted to support pictures.
In these respects, the picture plant assembly according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing an ornamental and attractive method of displaying photographs.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of plant-like picture arrangement now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new picture plant assembly construction wherein the same can be utilized for providing an ornamental and attractive method of displaying photographs.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new picture plant assembly which has many of the advantages of the plant-like picture arrangement mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new picture plant assembly which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art plant-like picture arrangement, either alone or in any combination thereof.
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a holder assembly including a base container having an open top and a bottom wall; and also includes a plurality of stems being removably disposed in the base container; and further includes a plurality of picture frames being removably attached to the stems and being adapted to support pictures.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new picture plant assembly which has many of the advantages of the plant-like picture arrangement mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new picture plant assembly which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art plant-like picture arrangement, either alone or in any combination thereof.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new picture plant assembly which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new picture plant assembly which is of a durable and reliable construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new picture plant assembly which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such picture plant assembly economically available to the buying public.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new picture plant assembly which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new picture plant assembly for providing an ornamental and attractive method of displaying photographs.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new picture plant assembly which includes a holder assembly including a base container having an open top and a bottom wall; and also includes a plurality of stems being removably disposed in the base container; and further includes a plurality of picture frames being removably attached to the stems and being adapted to support pictures.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new picture plant assembly that is easy and convenient to use and set up and to interchange the pictures as desired by the user.
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new picture plant assembly that allows the user to set up the pictures with a very sturdy and reliable base.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.


A system and process for upgrading a whole crude oil feed in an integrated ebullated-bed and hydrotreater is provided in which the whole crude oil is flashed into a flashed straight run distillates fraction and an atmospheric residue fraction. The atmospheric residue fraction is hydroprocessed in an ebullated-bed reaction zone, while the flashed straight run distillates fraction and the products fraction produced from the ebullated-bed reaction zone are hydrotreated in a fixed-bed reaction zone. The unconverted residue fraction from the ebullated-bed reaction zone is processed in a coker unit to produce high quality petroleum green coke.

Crude oil is conventionally processed by distillation followed by various cracking, solvent treatment and hydroconversion processes to produce a desired slate of fuels, lubricating oil products, chemicals, chemical feedstocks and the like. An example of a conventional refinery process includes distillation of crude oil in an atmospheric distillation to recover gas oil, naphtha, gaseous products, and an atmospheric residuum. Streams recovered from crude distillation at the boiling point of fuels have customarily been used directly as fuels. Generally, the atmospheric residuum is further fractionated in a vacuum distillation unit to produce a vacuum gas oil and a vacuum residuum. The vacuum gas oil is commonly cracked to provide more valuable light transportation fuel products in a fluid catalytic cracking unit or by hydrocracking. The vacuum residuum can be further treated for conversion to more valuable products. For example, vacuum residuum upgrading processes can include one or more of residuum hydrotreating, residuum fluid catalytic cracking, coking, and solvent deasphalting.
There are generally three common reactor types used in the refining industry: fixed-bed, ebullated-bed, and moving-bed. The decision to use a particular type of reactor is based on a number of criteria including the type of feedstock, desired conversion percentage, flexibility, run length and product quality, among others. In a refinery, the down-time for replacement or renewal of catalyst must be as short as possible. Further, the economics of the process will generally depend upon the versatility of the system to handle feed streams containing varying amounts of contaminants such as sulfur, nitrogen, metals and/or organometallic compounds, such as those found in vacuum gas oil, deasphalted oil, and residues.
In a fixed-bed reactor, catalyst particles are stationary and do not move with respect to a fixed reference frame. Fixed-bed technologies have considerable problems in treating particularly heavy charges containing relatively high quantity of heteroatoms, metals and asphaltenes, as these contaminants cause the rapid deactivation of the catalyst and plugging of the reactor. In conventional fixed-bed reactors, the hydroprocessing catalysts are replaced regularly in order to maintain the desired level of catalyst activity and throughput. Multiple fixed-bed reactors connected in series can be used to achieve a relatively high conversion of heavy feedstocks boiling above a cut point in the range of about 300-400° C., but such designs require high capital investment and, for certain feedstocks, commercially impractical, for instance, catalysts replacement every 3-4 months.
The ebullated-bed reactor was developed to overcome plugging problems commonly associated with fixed-bed reactors during processing of relatively heavy feedstocks and as the conversion requirements increases, for instance, for vacuum residue. In general, an ebullated-bed reactor includes concurrently flowing streams of liquids or slurries of liquids, solids and gas, through a vertically-oriented cylindrical vessel containing catalyst. The catalyst is placed in motion in the liquid and has a gross volume dispersed through the liquid medium that is greater than the volume of the mass when stationary. In an ebullated-bed reactor, the catalyst is in an expanded bed, thereby countering plugging problems associated with fixed-bed reactors. The fluidized nature of the catalyst in an ebullated-bed reactor also allows for on-line catalyst replacement of a small portion of the bed. This results in a high net bed activity which does not vary with time. Early ebullated-bed processes and systems are described by Johanson in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,987,465 and 3,197,288, both of which are incorporated by reference herein.
Moving-bed reactors combine certain advantages of fixed-bed operations and the relatively easy catalyst replacement of ebullated-bed technology. Operating conditions are generally more severe than those typically used in fixed-bed reactor, that is, the pressure can exceed 200 Kg/cm2, and the temperature can be in the range of from 400° C.-430° C. During catalyst replacement, catalyst movement is slow compared to the linear velocity of the feed. Catalyst addition and withdrawal are performed, for instance, via a sluice system at the top and bottom of the reactor. The advantage of the moving-bed reactor is that the top layer of the moving-bed consists of fresh catalyst, and contaminants deposited on the top of the bed move downward with the catalyst and are released during catalyst withdrawal at the bottom. The tolerance to metals and other contaminants is therefore much greater than in a fixed-bed reactor. With this capability, the moving-bed reactor has advantages for hydroprocessing of very heavy feeds, especially when several reactors are combined in series.
Companies that develop ebullated-bed technology include: Chevron Lummus Global, Axens, Headwaters, Institut Francais du Petrole (IFP) Energies Nouvelles, Hydrocarbon Research Institute (HRI), City Services, Texaco, Hydrocarbon Technologies Inc. (HTI). The commercial names for the ebullated-bed technologies include: H-Oil, T-Star, and LC-Fining.
One major technical challenge posed when hydrotreating heavy oil fractions or whole crude oil is the effect of small concentrations of contaminants, such as, for example, organic nickel and vanadium compounds and poly-nuclear aromatic compounds. These organometallic compounds and others have been proven to reduce the activity or useful life of hydrotreating catalysts. The presence of such metal contaminants and poly-nuclear aromatics result in reduced process performance, increased capital costs and/or increased operating costs of refinery processing units. The metals in the residual fraction of the crude oil deposits on the hydroprocessing catalyst and results in catalyst deactivation. The poly-nuclear aromatic compounds are coke precursors and at high temperatures form coke, which also causes catalyst deactivation.
Heavier fractions from the atmospheric and vacuum distillation units can contain asphaltenes. Asphaltenes are solid in nature and comprise polynuclear aromatics, smaller aromatics and resin molecules. The chemical structures of asphaltenes are complex and include polynuclear hydrocarbons having molecular weights up to 20,000 joined by alkyl chains. Asphaltenes also include nitrogen, sulfur, oxygen and metals such as nickel and vanadium. They are present in crude oils and heavy fractions in varying quantities. Asphaltenes exist in small quantities in light crude oils, or not at all in all condensates or lighter fractions. However, they are present in relatively large quantities in heavy crude oils and petroleum fractions. Asphaltenes have been defined as the component of a heavy crude oil fraction that is precipitated by addition of a low-boiling paraffin solvent, or paraffin naphtha, such as normal pentane, and is soluble in carbon disulfide and benzene. In certain methods their concentrations are defined as the amount of asphaltenes precipitated by addition of an n-paraffin solvent to the feedstock, for instance, as prescribed in the Institute of Petroleum Method IP-143. The heavy fraction can contain asphaltenes when it is derived from carbonaceous sources such as petroleum, coal or oil shale. There is a close relationship between asphaltenes, resins and high molecular weight polycyclic hydrocarbons. Asphaltenes are hypothesized to be formed by the oxidation of natural resins. The hydrogenation of asphaltic compounds containing resins and asphaltenes produces heavy hydrocarbon oils, that is, resins and asphaltenes are hydrogenated into polycyclic aromatic or hydroaromatic hydrocarbons. They differ from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by the presence of oxygen and sulfur in varied amounts.
Upon heating above about 300-400° C., asphaltenes generally do not melt but rather decompose, forming carbon and volatile products. They react with sulfuric acid to form sulfonic acids, as might be expected on the basis of the polyaromatic structure of these components. Flocs and aggregates of asphaltenes will result from the addition of non-polar solvents, for instance, paraffinic solvents, to crude oil and other heavy hydrocarbon oil feedstocks.
Conventional methods are limited in their efficacy for processing of whole crude oil feeds. For example, fixed-bed reactors require shut-down for catalyst unloading and replacement. This reduces the on stream factor and as a result increases the processing costs of the hydroprocessing units.
It is therefore desirable to provide an improved system and a process for efficient treatment of a whole crude oil to upgrade its quality.

Integrated ebullated-bed hydroprocessing, fixed bed hydroprocessing and coking process for whole crude oil conversion into hydrotreated distillates and petroleum green coke


On board charger for electric vehicles having an AC input and a DC power output and comprising a housing that contains a power electronic circuit, a control electronic circuit, capacitors, inverters, at least one transformer, input inductor and output inductor inside to allow the conversion of input AC power into output DC power, the base of the housing incorporating a cooling circuit, such that the at least one transformer, the at least one input inductor and the at least one output inductor are arranged in a compartment delimited by several side walls and the base of the housing of the on board charger and at least one internal wall, the compartment being at least partially filled with potting which at least partially covers the at least one transformer, the at least one input inductor and the at least one output inductor, these three elements constituting one magnetic block.

The present invention relates to an On Board Charger (OBC), belonging to the type of chargers for electric vehicle batteries that convert AC power into DC power to recharge them.
On Board chargers are power converters that usually comprise several blocks and stages:                Input: includes the power conversion from AC input to DC intermediate capacitor tank and may need some inductors.        Capacitor tank: is used for filtering and for intermediate energy storage.        Inverter: is a power electronic block that uses the energy stored in the capacitor tank and converts it into AC power, delivered to a transformer.        Transformer: is a magnetic part, used for the isolation and for the adaptation of voltages/currents, between the Input side and the Output side.        Output: includes the power conversion from the transformer AC output, into a DC power output, delivered to the battery to be charged. For this power conversion some inductors are necessary in order to filter to output current.        Power PCB: electronic circuit used for the regulation of the power conversion in all the stages. Includes the power regulation implementation and the sensors for voltages and currents.        Control PCB: electronic circuit that controls the functions of the On Board Charger. This Control PCB communicates with the Power PCB in order to set the values of the desired charging parameters. The control PCB also receives information about the real values from the power PCB. The Control PCB is also linked to the vehicle for communication.
The magnetic parts (input inductors, transformer, output inductors) are usually installed inside an On Board charger in three separate magnetic blocks. Each of these blocks is usually composed of one or two elements made of copper wire winding around a ferrite core, lodged inside an aluminium housing and covered by potting to fix parts inside the housing, and act as a dielectric barrier. Each of these blocks is assembled inside the OBC housing (which is also made of aluminium) by means of screws.
This arrangement of the magnetic parts of the OBC has several disadvantages from the point of view of fixation and takes much space. The mechanical fixation by means of screws makes the OBC more sensitive to damages due to vibrations and shocks, which are transmitted to the base of the housing of the OBC.


A multiprocessor control system which has at least one main storage unit, a plurality of main storage control units, a plurality of processing units, and a control bus. Each processing unit is connected to the main storage unit through one of the main storage control units. When each processing unit transmits a request for access to at least one main storage unit, the processing units transmit the request to the main storage control units to which each processing unit is connected, and simultaneously, to all of the other main storage control units, through the control bus. All of the main storage control units process the request from the processing unit, synchronously, and execute a busy check control or the like. Data transmitted between each processing unit and an arbitrary one of the main storage units is transmitted only through the main storage control unit to which the processing unit is connected. By using this system, if units needing a high throughput are applied, the system can be controlled in a comparatively simple manner.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multiprocessor control system wherein a request for access to a main storage unit is always transmitted among all main storage control units. The access request control for a main storage unit is operated synchronously for each of the main storage control units.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is an increasing need for computers having more functions and higher speeds. For example, even in a vector processing unit, which calculates matrices, a multiprocessor system is usually used, and when a plurality of vector processing units or the like are operated simultaneously with a common main storage unit, the system must have a sufficient throughput. In a multiprocessor system, usually a plurality of main storage units and a plurality of information processing units, i.e., processing elements, are connected to the main storage control units, and a plurality of information processing units have access to a plurality of main storage units.
When a system having one main storage control unit is expanded to become a multiprocessor system having a plurality of main storage control units, one main storage control unit controls only predetermined main storage units and the other main storage control units control all of the other main storage units except for the above predetermined main storage units.
When a processing unit requires access to a main storage unit, first the processing unit transmits a request to a main storage control unit to which the processing unit is connected, through a bus, and then the main storage control unit receiving the request determines whether the request is for a main storage unit which it controls, or for the other main storage control units which it does not control. If the main storage unit is one which is controlled by the main storage control unit, the main storage control unit accesses that main storage unit. But, if the main storage unit is controlled by another main storage control unit, the main storage control unit transmits the request to the other main storage control unit, and the other main storage control unit carries out the access processing.
Predetermined main storage units are connected to a main storage control unit, and thus each main storage control unit independently has access to main storage units which it controls (hereinafter, local units). When access to main storage units not controlled by the main storage control (hereinafter, remote units) is required, another main storage control unit connected to the main storage units carries out the access processing.
The above-mentioned system can be used in many cases if a processing unit processes one piece of data per one instruction, as in a general computer. But, if a processing unit processes many pieces of data per one instruction, as in a vector processing unit, is applied to the system, a request priority acquisition state becomes unbalanced, since the system must maintain the order of data within that one instruction. Accordingly, a main storage control unit must be provided with a table for managing a state of another main storage control unit, and a problem arises in that a delayed control of the signals becomes difficult.
In a general purpose computer, for example, an address allocation for a main storage unit is executed in a 4k byte group using a page interleave. In a vector processing unit, however, a high throughput of 4.times.8 bytes during each cycle is required, and thus an 8 bytes interleave is applied. In addition, since 4 elements of data are processed during each cycle, a simultaneous data transmission and reception from the main storage unit becomes necessary. In this case, during a data fetch, the vector processing unit must fetch 4.times.8 bytes of data in parallel to a vector register therein from main storage units. Therefore, a reduction of the difference in the data transmission time becomes necessary. Further, priority acquisition signals must be transmitted between the main storage control units, and remote priority acquisition information must be controlled by providing tables or the like. Accordingly, control becomes extremely complicated and the performance level is lowered.
The present invention is intended to solve the above problems.
Note: As a publication relating to this invention, please refer to U.S. Pat. No. 4,718,006.


The present invention provides anionic polymerization initiators, comprising lithium amino magnesiate complexes, resulting in diene polymer and copolymer elastomers. The invention initiators have stable living ends at high polymerization temperatures and produce polymers containing a high level of tertiary amine functionality. Such polymers exhibit an increased efficiency in coupling termination reactions, and elastomers and products prepared from such polymers exhibit reduced hysteresis properties. Methods are also provided for preparing the initiators, the polymers and the elastomers.

The subject invention relates to anionic polymerization resulting in diene polymer and copolymer elastomers. More particularly, the invention relates to lithium amino magnesiate initiators which are stable at high polymerization temperatures and produce polymers containing a high level of tertiary amine functionality, and elastomers exhibiting reduced hysteresis properties.
When conducting polymerization on a commercial basis, it is desirable to increase the efficiency of polymerization reactions by increasing the number of monomers which can be incorporated into the polymer chain in a given time period. This may be accomplished by utilizing high temperatures during polymerization. When employing anionic polymerization initiators, such a system requires that the initiators be stable at high temperatures and capable of producing chain-end functionalized polymers, having a narrow molecular weight distribution, which can be compounded to produce elastomers exhibiting reduced hysteresis properties. Such elastomers, when compounded to form articles, such as tires, power belts and the like, will show an increase in rebound, a decrease in rolling resistance and have less heat build-up when mechanical stresses are applied.
Previous attempts at preparing reduced hysteresis compounds have included high temperature mixing of the filler-rubber mixtures in the presence of selectively-reactive promoters to promote compounding material reinforcement, surface oxidation of the compounding materials, and chemical modifications to the terminal end of polymers using tetramethyldiamino-benzophenone (Michler's ketone), tin coupling agents and the like, and surface grafting thereon. All of these approaches have focused upon increased interaction between the elastomer and the compounding materials.
It has also been recognized that carbon black, employed as a reinforcing filler in rubber compounds, should be well dispersed throughout the rubber in order to improve various physical properties. This dispersion can be achieved, for instance, by end capping polydienes by reacting a metal terminated polydiene with a capping agent, such as a halogenated nitrile, a heterocyclic aromatic nitrogen-containing compound or an alkyl benzoate. Additionally, it is known in the art that both ends of the polydiene chains can be capped with polar groups by utilizing functionalized anionic initiators, such as lithium amides.
The present invention provides novel initiators for anionic polymerization, to form elastomers with functional groups derived from said initiators. The functional groups are incorporated at the polymer chain ends, providing improved dispersability of carbon black throughout the elastomeric composition during compounding. As will be described herein below, the functional groups are cyclic amine substituents of the initiators which comprise lithium amino magnesiate complexes. In the polymer, the cyclic amine substituent is incorporated at one end of the polymer chain and the magnesium atom is complexed to the lithium atom and the magnesium-lithium complex is carried at the other ("living") end of the polymer chain prior to quenching.
Lithium amino initiators containing functionalizing agents, such as substituted aldimines, ketimines and secondary amines, are known in the art to produce low hysteresis rubbers. It is also known in the art that magnesium dihydrocarbyl compounds, while not by themselves effective polymerization initiators for diene and styrene polymerization, can participate in polymerization when complexed either with an alkyl lithium initiator or with the propagating polymer-lithium molecules. Magnesium dihydrocarbyl compounds have been utilized, in combination with alkali metal compounds, such as lithium, sodium and potassium alkyl sulfides, amines, amides and acetylides, to produce anionic type initiators.
However, when lithium amide initiators are used at high polymerization temperatures it is difficult to maintain the "living" ends or the polymer-lithium bonds needed for efficient polymerization and termination reactions. With known initiators it has been found that the lithium constituent will often be involved in metalation reactions or combine with an available alpha-hydrogen atom, resulting in lithium hydride, especially at elevated temperatures, thereby destroying the initiator and causing additional harmful side reactions. Hence, high temperature polymerizations have proven to be difficult to maintain and difficult to terminate efficiently.
A need exists, therefore, for an improved polymerization initiator which, when employed in an anionic polymerization, will result in polymers with chain ends having functional groups derived from the initiator. Further, a need exists for such an initiator that will perform effectively at high polymerization temperatures resulting in narrow molecular weight distribution polymers and the retention of "living" ends.

Lithium amino magnesiate polymerization initiators and elastomers having reduced hysteresis


Security gate apparatus for securing building openings in the nature of window and door openings are disclosed; and comprise a security gate including gate-carried locking means which, while of particularly sturdy construction and effective to render it extremely difficult if not impossible as a practical matter to open the security gate from without the building opening, are nonetheless virtually foolproof in operation, and which are very readily and conveniently openable from within the building, even by those of somewhat limited mental and/or physical capacities, in readily apparent manner to thereby insure virtually immediate exit from the building through the building opening for the building occupants in emergency situations. Fixed security means are operatively associated with the security gate, and are of readily and conveniently adjustable extent; to thereby enable the ready adjustment in situ of the size of the security gate apparatus, and provide for significant versatility of application of the security gate apparatus with regard to the range of sizes of the building openings which may be effectively secured thereby.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to new and improved security gate apparatus for securing building openings in the nature of window and door openings against forced entry from without the building; and, more particularly, to such apparatus as provide for virtually immediate emergency exit from within the building through the thusly secured building opening without sacrifice in the security of the latter.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Although a wide variety of security gate apparatus for securing building openings against forced entry from without the building while nonetheless providing for emergency exit through the building opening from within the building are, of course, known in the prior art, no such prior art apparatus are known which accomplish these functions with the significant combination of safety regarding ease of virtually immediate emergency exit for the building occupants, a very high degree of security against forced entry from without the building, simplicity of design, construction and operation, economy of design and construction, and versatility of application, as is provided by the security gate apparatus of our invention.
More specifically, although the security gate disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,358,910 to Keating, et al provides for a good measure of security, it is clear that the same is by no means virtually immediately openable from within for emergency exit and is, in any event, of somewhat cumbersome and complex construction.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,924,862 to Pellicore discloses a security gate which is somewhat deficient regarding security in that the same is disposed to the outside of the building opening which it protects, and is by no means that readily openable from within the building as to provide for virtually immediate emergency exit. In addition, this security gate, in particular the gate locking means, are clearly of overly complex design, construction, and manner of operation.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,087,750 to Kelly discloses a security gate which is clearly deficient in terms of security in that the same is of obviously somewhat flimsy design and construction and is disposed to the outside of the building opening which it protects. In addition, the locking means for this security gate are of particularly complex design, construction and manner of operation, and the reliability thereof under harsh operational conditions is clearly suspect.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,921,334 to Black, Sr., 4,000,590 to Kordewick, 4,019,281 to Weiler, 4,055,360 to Russi, 4,057,935 to Rohrberg, et al, 4,208,837 to Black, Sr., et al, 4,111,472 to Smith, et al, 3,396,489 to Cirone, and 4,274,228 to Kondracki, respectively, each disclose security gate apparatus, and/or locking means therefor which, although generally related in overall function to the security gate apparatus of our invention are, in each instance, clearly remote therefrom in terms of design, construction, and manner of operation.


Apparatus built-in backup power supply system has a “peak cut” function for sharing a part of the load current at the time of a peak load using a secondary battery. For this purpose, a two-way DC—DC converter 5 and the secondary battery 4 are installed on the DC output side of the AC-DC converter 3, and that portion of the load current that exceeds a predetermined peak cut level is discharged from the secondary battery 4 during peak loading. When the load is less than the predetermined cut level, the secondary battery 4 is charged from the AC-DC converter 3 via the two-way DC—DC converter 5. A suitable peak cut level is determined according to the state of charge of the secondary battery and load pattern, and is changed dynamically.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a backup power supply arranged in an apparatus.
2. Prior Art
Conventionally, in an apparatus operating under connection to a commercial AC power supply and in a computer suffering damage such as data loss if the commercial AC power supply fails, an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is installed externally and a countermeasure for service interruption is taken. The UPS externally installed generally uses a fixed inverter power supply system. The fixed inverter power supply system UPS is free of the power supply switching operation at the time of service interruption and high in stability of the power supply. However, there are many series stages of converters through which the current passes during the period from the commercial AC power supply to the load, so that the power conversion efficiency is made lower and realization of power conservation is difficult.
On the other hand, a backup power supply that a secondary battery and a charge-discharge circuit for it are internally loaded and an external UPS is not required is proposed. As an example thereof, "UPS built-in power supply" in Japanese application patent laid-open publication No. Hei 09-322433 may be cited. The constitution of a conventional backup power supply is shown in FIG. 10. A commercial power supply 1 is connected to an AC-DC converter 3 and a charge circuit 8 installed in an information processor 2 and a secondary battery 4 and the input side of a DC—DC converter 7 are connected to the output side of the charge circuit 8. Further, the output side of the DC—DC converter 7 and the output side of the AC-DC converter 3 are connected to each other and connected to a load 6. Further, a balance control circuit 9 is connected between the AC-DC converter 3 and the DC—DC converter 7.
The operation of this circuit is shown in FIG. 11. (a) shows the stationary state and the commercial AC power supply 1 supplies 90% of the power necessary to the load via the AC-DC converter 3. Further, the charge circuit 8 supplies the residual 10% of power to the load via the DC—DC converter 7. Furthermore, the secondary battery 4 is charged via the charge circuit 8. On the other hand, (b) shows the operation during service interruption, and since the commercial power supply 1 fails, the charge circuit 8 and the AC-DC converter cannot operate, though the secondary battery 4 supplies all 100% of power necessary to the load via the DC—DC converter 7.
The aforementioned conventional backup power supply requires three converters such as the AC-DC converter, DC—DC converter, and charge circuit, so that problems arise that the price is high and the volume of the power unit is large.
Further, in this power supply system, the charge circuit operates always in the stationary state and a fixed voltage is applied to the secondary battery. However, when a secondary battery of high energy density such as a Ni-MH secondary battery or a Li ion secondary battery is used, to prevent overcharge, it is necessary to stop the charge circuit when the battery enters the full charge state. However, when the charge circuit is stopped by the aforementioned operation method, a problem arises that the DC—DC converter cannot supply 10% of power. On the other hand, separately from this, a problem of the power supply capacity for load changes is imposed. This problem is that for example, in a load such as a hard disk device, a current 2 or 3 times of the normal load current flows at start and seek time. The rated capacity of the AC-DC converter is designed in accordance with the peak load time, so that the capacity of the AC-DC converter is increased and problems of high cost and difficulty in reduction of the capacity of power unit are imposed.


An explosive-containing casing is provided with a cap to which a nipple is secured. The nipple supports a rigid rod which extends the length of the casing and which in turn supports a detonation train for the explosives within the casing. An electrical connector arrangement is joined to the nipple to permit a conductive path to be established to a detonator which forms part of the detonation train. The nipple is secured to the cap in a manner which prevents the entry of water or other undesirable substances into the casing.

The invention is concerned with an explosive device utilized to fracture earth strata adjacent a borehole to thereby increase the permeability of the earth in order to improve the flow rate of oil or gas being recovered from the earth.
The invention is particularly directed to an earth fracturing apparatus of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,160,412 which was granted to William H. Snyder, Ralph E. Williams and John Wisotski on July 10, 1979. The device therein disclosed comprises an elongated cylindrical casing having a centrally located charge and additional charges positioned at opposite ends of the casing. The central charge is detonated to cut through the casing whereby the explosive forces act on the surrounding strata of the earth. Either simultaneously with the central charge detonation or after a slight delay, the end charges simultaneously are detonated to reinforce the explosive forces of the central charge.
In order to achieve proper detonation of the several charges, it is necessary that the integrity of the charges and their detonation train be maintained. The present invention provides means for accomplishing this objective by positively supporting the detonation train within the casing and preventing the entry of water or foreign substances into the casing.


An electrical connector comprising an electrical contact; and a housing. The housing comprises a first member and a second member. The first member comprises a contact receiving channel. The second member is over-molded onto the first member. The electrical contact is located in the channel and retained on the housing by a capture of the contact between the first and second members. The first member and the contact extend past a first end of the capture of the contact between the first and second members.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electrical connectors and, more particularly, to a connector with an over-molded housing member.
2. Brief Description of Earlier Developments
U.S. Pat. No. 3,945,708 discloses an electrical connector with a premold and a molded cover. U.S. Pat. No. 4,865,562 discloses molding a strip onto contacts. Berg Electronics sells a right angle receptacle electrical connector known as the VHDCI. The housing of the connector is a multi-piece housing which must be carefully assembled with the electrical contacts to prevent damage to the contacts and, must still form a rigid holding of the contacts between housing pieces. A need exists for manufacturing a right angle receptacle connector that is easier and less expensive to manufacture. For connectors having contact ends at relatively small spacings or pitch, such as 0.4 mm or less, precision or tolerances must be very precise. Because of this, over-molding of housing components was not used. This is because contact ends could be disturbed by over-molding thereby preventing proper connection to other components. For example, the contact ends could be misaligned because of over-molding such that they are not easily inserted into an array of holes in a printed circuit board. As another example, the opposing contact ends on opposite sides of rows could be positioned too close to each other, thereby blocking an insertion path into a receiving area between the rows and possibly causing stubbing, or could be positioned too far away from each other, thereby preventing proper wiping, normal force or connection with a mating connector. It would be desirable to use over-molding of a housing component if these problems could be overcome.

Electrical connector with over-molded housing member and method of over-molding


Provided is an arrangement that enables deployment of international prompts in a voice messaging system based on a server configured for dynamically generating a selected concatenated prompt, from stored prompt fragments, in a selected language.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an arrangement for providing international prompts in automated voice response systems such as unified communications systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
The evolution of the public switched telephone network has resulted in a variety of voice applications and services that can be provided to individual subscribers and business subscribers. Such services include voice messaging systems that enable landline or wireless subscribers to record, playback, and forward voice mail messages. One such example includes unified communications systems that provide messaging services for users by providing an integrated platform for the storage and retrieval of different types of messages, such as voicemail, e-mail, fax, etc.
One particularly desirable feature for automated voice response systems would be the ability to develop and deliver new voice prompts in new languages. A voice prompt is pre-recorded speech that is played back to a user as part of an audible user interface of an application. It is usually recorded by an actor or voice model in a professional studio based on a pre-authored script. The voice prompts are then digitized and stored in electronic format before they are used by an interactive voice response application.
Most voice prompts are stored as whole sentences, referred to as whole sentence prompts, that contain no context sensitive information. These whole sentence prompts have the advantage that the prompt sounds more professional and the voice model can more easily record a professional version of the prompt if it is a whole sentence. Whole sentence prompts also are easier to manage, as the text script of the prompt often reveals its usage in the audio user interface (UI).
In addition, whole sentence prompts do not use context sensitive aspects (e.g., variables) because use of such context sensitive aspects may be unclear and their meaning ambiguous; for example, "Do you want to delete it?" may be ambiguous, whereas "Do you want to delete the message?" is more readily understood and does not assume context sensitive definition of the direct object "it". Hence, whole sentence prompts without context sensitive information can almost always be directly translated into any another language as a complete sentence with no context sensitive information.
Whole sentence prompts, however, cannot be used to convey variables or context sensitive information, such as date, time, or number of messages. Hence, concatenated prompts (also referred to as sentence fragments, phrases, simple phrases, compound phrases, tabular prompts, variable prompts, etc.) are needed to convey information having variables or context information. Examples of concatenated prompts include "You have five new messages," as well as "Good Morning," which might need to be chosen from a group of possible phrases depending on the time of day.
Unfortunately, concatenated prompts cause difficulties in generating a complete sentence, especially when attempting to develop multiple language systems for international deployment. For example, different languages have different agreement rules (gender, tense, plurality, etc. ex: one message, two messages). In addition, some words are pronounced differently if they appear next to other words (precede a word beginning with a vowel, etc. ex: a fax, an address). Homonyms are different in different languages, affecting re-use of prompt segments. Context also is very important to translating a prompt, hence the translator needs to see all the possible sentences a prompt will be used in.
Translation typically requires printing of a script of the translated prompt for review, and for use by the voice model to speak aloud in the studio. The script must be written in the character set of the language, as transliteration into European character sets is not useful. Often an expensive combination of computer, operating system, and word processing software is the only way of reasonably producing such documents in character sets such as Arabic, Japanese, etc.
In view of these issues, a linguist typically is needed to develop the script (and possibly test the end result) for the proposed prompts. Moreover, a word (or phrase's) meaning also is very important to prompt script writing, hence the linguist needs to understand the concepts being discussed in the prompts (e.g., often a linguist doesn't know what a distribution list is, etc.).
Generic systems, such as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,724,406 to Juster, are configured for providing generic scripting for a messaging application; however, these generic systems are advantageous only if nearly all of the prompts of the messaging system are concatenated prompts. Moreover, these generic systems still require a programmer to carefully coordinate with a linguist for each new language.
Another proposed concept suggests use of data structures (e.g., tables) to select prescribed components for a concatenated prompt in a corresponding selected language. For example, FIGS. 1A through 1D are diagrams illustrating data structures 10 for respective prescribed concatenated prompts having multiple components 12 selected for prescribed languages 14. In particular, the components 12 are divided from the prescribed concatenated prompt according to grammatical constructs for the corresponding language 14. For example, the prescribed concatenated prompt represented in the table 10a ("You have # messages") according to the English language 14a differs from the grammatical structure ("In your mailbox # message you have") according to the Japanese language 14b, and the grammatical structure ("You have message # message") according to the Thai language 14c. If a component 12 (e.g., 12b in the English language 14a) is to be skipped for a certain language, a skip character ("−") is used to designate that the unit should be skipped.
The tables 10 may also be used to describe genders, or other language components used to modify a noun. For example, Latin languages tend to have to genders, German and Arabic have three genders, while Russian may have six different "genders" that modify a noun, and that may vary depending on sentence position. In particular, FIGS. 1B, 1C, and 1D illustrate variations in representing time expressions: tables 10b, 10c, and 10d illustrate the expression "at 12:15 AM" in AM/PM format, 24-hour format, and "quarter to" format, respectively.
Unfortunately, the above data structures 10 provide only a conceptual description of organizing prompts, and do not provide sufficient information for implementation and deployment of a commercially viable messaging system. For example, implementation concerns include the manner in which the tables are stored and accessed, selection of entries within each column, and storage of the data structures in the accompanying audio prompts. In particular, the above data structures need to be implemented in an efficient manner that ensures that redundant data is minimized, and that CPU resources are efficiently utilized.

Arrangement for providing international prompts in a unified messaging system


The present invention is to provide a chip type electronic part without the risk of generating a tombstone at the time of soldering on a circuit substrate. External electrodes are formed at both end parts of an electronic part element, with the external electrodes comprising electrodes at the base layer formed as a thin film and solders at the outermost layer, with the solders at the outermost layer containing Sn and Pb as the main component and 0.1 to 0.4% by weight of Ag.

This application corresponds to Japanese Patent Application No. 10-147351, filed on May 28, 1998, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a chip type electronic part to be mounted on a circuit substrate, more specifically to a chip type electronic part characterized in a solder to be used in an external electrode of the electronic part.
2. Description of the Related Art
A mounting step for soldering a chip type electronic part onto a circuit substrate is conducted as follows. That is, so-called reflow soldering is conducted by placing a chip type electronic part having an external electrode comprising a solder at the outermost layer on a cream solder applied on a circuit pattern of a circuit substrate, heating the chip type electronic part and the circuit substrate in a reflow furnace in this state so as to melt the solder of the external electrode and the cream solder of the circuit substrate, and cooling off for jointing the chip type electronic part with the circuit substrate.
However, in the above-mentioned jointing method, a chip standing failure called tombstone can be generated. The causes for generating such a chip standing failure include the followings.
(1) Change in the set temperature of the reflow furnace.
(2) Unevenness in the solderability caused by dirt of the external electrode of the chip type electronic part.
(3) Difference of the melting rates of the solders used in the external electrode and the circuit substrate of the chip type electronic part according to the composition difference of each solder.
An object of the present invention is to provide a chip type electronic part without the risk of generating a tombstone at the time of being mounted onto a circuit substrate.
A chip type electronic part according to the present invention comprises an electronic part element provided with external electrodes at both end parts thereof. The external electrodes comprise an electrode at the base layer formed as a thin film, and a solder at the outermost layer. The solder at the outermost layer contains Sn and Pb as the main component and 0.1 to 0.4% by weight of Ag.
In the chip type electronic part according to the present invention, the solid phase point of the above-mentioned solder at the outermost layer is lower by up to xe2x88x922xc2x0 C. than, the same as, or higher than the solid phase point of a cream solder to be used in a circuit substrate for mounting.
Accordingly, a chip type electronic part without the risk of generating a tombstone at the time of mounting the chip type electronic part on a circuit substrate can be obtained.


A battery connecter includes a plurality of terminals. Each of the terminals includes a resisting portion, a supporting portion, and a contacting portion. The resisting portion includes a first portion and a second portion bent from the first portion. The supporting portion extends from the first portion and resists the second portion. The contacting portion is bent and extends from the supporting portion. The invention also discloses a portable electronic device using the battery connecter.

1. Technical Field
The disclosure relates to battery connecters used in portable electronic devices.
2. Description of Related Art
Nowadays, portable electronic device such as mobile phones, laptops and personal digital assistants (PDAs) are widely used. The portable electronic device includes a battery providing power thereto. Thus, a battery connecter is necessary to be used in the portable electronic device for connecting the portable electronic device to the battery.
A typical battery connecter includes an insulative housing and a plurality of terminals respectively mounted in the insulative housing. The terminals partially extend from the insulative housing and connect the portable electronic device to the battery. However, each of the terminals is made by a metal strip bent and is respectively assembled in the insulative housing. Such structure of the terminals has poor strength and may easily be damaged.
Therefore, there is a room for improvement within the art.

Battery connector and portable electronic device using same

Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Co., Ltd.


An article of furniture, viz., a chair, for institutional use such as in hospital waiting areas, school dormitories, military homes and the like. The chair includes two arms, a front member disposed between the arms, a seat back, a seat deck and a seat cushion. The arms are secured to the front member by screws that threadingly engage apertures therein. The seat back includes protrusions that are captured by a bracket disposed on each chair arm. Screws extend through apertures in both sides of the seat back and into threaded apertures in both arms, thereby fixing the seat back to the arms. The seat deck rests on a ledge in the seat back, secures to a flange on the front member by a screw and supports the seat cushion. The chair is upholstered with fabric having hook and loop strips around the perimeter that corresponds to hook and loop strips on each chair piece.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an article of furniture for institutional use such as in hospitals, school dormitories, and government housing where such furniture may be placed in waiting areas, public lounges, patient rooms or military homes.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hospital waiting rooms and public lounges, for example must provide seating to accommodate the many people who occupy such areas. Often, such seating areas are furnished with chairs that are not necessarily as strong comfortable or durable as desired. Undesirably, if a chair is damaged the chair must be sent to a facility to be repaired or replaced completely.
Furniture in military housing is typically supplied by the government so that servicemen and women do not have the burden of frequently moving their furniture from place to place, as it is not uncommon for a military family to move as often as every three to four months. Due to the number of people using the furniture provided by the government in such housing, the furniture is used and sometimes worn, thereby creating an environment for military families which is perceived as substandard, or even unwelcome.
A more comfortable, durable and repairable article of furniture for use in institutional markets is desired.
The present invention provides an article of furniture, viz. a chair, for institutional use such as in hospital waiting rooms, school dormitories, military housing and the like. The chair has six parts which are easy to assemble and upholster, the upholstery material being attached to each part by hook and loop complimentary fasteners. The chairs are durable, comfortable, repairable in the field and reconditioned to a xe2x80x9clike-newxe2x80x9d appearance by simply changing the upholstery.
The chair of the present invention includes two arms, a front member disposed between the arms, a seat back and a seat deck which supports a seat cushion. The arms are fixed to the front member by bolts while a pair of brackets, one on each arm, receives the back of the chair. The seat deck is supported by and secured to the front member and the seat back. The chair is upholstered with material that is secured to each part by hook and loop, thus making the chair easy to reupholster and the fabric easy to clean.
In one form thereof, a chair is provided, including a front member, including a top surface, and a pair of first apertures adapted to receive fasteners; a pair of arm members, each of the arm members including a first flange having a pair of second apertures adapted to receive the fasteners, a U-shaped bracket secured thereto, and a plate having a third aperture therein adapted to receive a fastener; a seat back member, including first and second sides, each having a protrusion extending therefrom: the protrusion received within the U-shaped brackets, and a fourth aperture adapted to receive a fastener, and a lower edge having the ledge extending thereacross; a seat back, including first and second U-shaped members connected to a lower edge thereof, the first and second U-shaped members defining flange portions at first and second ends of the seat back, the flange portions abutting the ledge of the seat back member and the top surface of the front member; a seat cushion; a plurality of removable upholstery covers, the upholstery covers selectively disposed on the front member, the arm members, the seat back member, and the seat cushion; and a plurality of fasteners extending respectively through the first and second apertures to connect the front portion with the arm members, and through the third and fourth apertures to connect the arm members and the seat back portion.
The advantages of the present invention include lower costs because the chair includes an economy of parts and ease of assembly, which in turn provide lower cost to customers. The chair is lightweight, strong and durable and provides comfortable seating in high-use areas. The chair is reconditioned to a xe2x80x9clike-newxe2x80x9d appearance by removing worn fabric and upholstering the chair with new pieces of fabric, attaching the fabric thereto by hook and loop, thereby creating a welcome and aesthetically pleasing environment.


A self-regulating valve device adapted for use with respiratory equipment of a type which produces a pressurized flow of breathing gas. The valve device affords automatic access to the ambient atmosphere in the event of respiratory equipment malfunction and includes a primary inlet, a secondary inlet and an outlet. The primary inlet is adapted for connection to a ported exhalation valve which, in turn, is connected to one end of an elongated flexible tube, the opposite end of which is connected to a gas flow generator. The outlet, in turn, is connected to the inlet of an oral, nasal or oral/nasal respiratory mask respectively adapted to cover the patient's mouth, nose or mouth and nose. The valve device further comprises a pressure-responsive valve element for regulating gas flow into the inlet of the respiratory mask. In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the valve device may be used in conjunction with a tracheotomy tube or an endotracheal tube or similar patient interface means.

Valve devices are commonly employed components and perform a variety of functions in myriad respirator apparatus and related breathing assistance equipment. Some, for example, merely turn on and off the gas flow from a supply of pressurized breathing gas. Others include multiposition valves which may provide an individual with access to more than one gas supply or access to a single gas supply by more than one person. Examples of valves used in respiratory apparatus may be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,238,943, 4,304,229, 4,841,953 and 5,133,347.
More specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 3,238,943 discloses a breathing system which includes a first face mask and a breathing selector in which the selector has two valve seats to permit passage of air to either the first face mask or to the first face mask and a second face mask, in order to permit breathable air to be accessed by more than one party from the same air supply.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,304,229 discloses an underwater breathing device including a two-way selection valve which permits a diver to selectively employ either an air supply tank or a snorkel for outside air.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,841,953 discloses an auxiliary air supply system for a breathing apparatus in which an auxiliary source of air is selectively accessed by the user and provided to a face piece independent of the normal air supply. The auxiliary air may be provided to the user if the standard breathing apparatus malfunctions.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,347 teaches a mouthpiece valve for respiratory equipment which includes a valve disk operable to close the respiratory gas flow connection to the equipment when the equipment is not in use. The mouthpiece valve may be subsequently unlocked by a single hand motion of the user when the breathing equipment is to be used.
While the valve devices suggested by these systems are effective for their intended purposes, they would be of limited practical use in situations where the user of the breathing equipment were unconscious, e.g., a sleeping patient undergoing assisted ventilation treatment for sleep apnea syndrome or an unconscious patient undergoing assisted breathing through a tracheotomy tube or an endotracheal tube. Indeed, for the aforementioned valve devices to be properly operated, they require the selective acts of a conscious individual. Manifestly, a sleeping or otherwise unconscious person is incapable of such acts.
When experiencing assisted ventilation treatment, a sleep apnea sufferer typically breathes through an oral, nasal or oral/nasal respiratory mask which respectively covers the wearer's mouth, nose or mouth and nose. The mask inlet opening is connected to one end of an elongated flexible tube, the opposite end of which is connected to a gas flow generator means (e.g., a blower, or the like) for providing a flow of pressurized air. However, none of the presently known breathing assistance systems used for sleep apnea treatment are believed to be equipped with air source bypass systems. Thus, should the air source malfunction or the pressurized air supply be otherwise cut off, the unconscious patient may not have ready access to the ambient atmosphere.
In this regard, much of the time spent wearing a breathing mask during sleep apnea treatment is while the user is asleep. Consequently, even if manually operated valves providing access to the ambient atmosphere in the event of air source failure were available, they would be of no practical use to an unconscious patient. The sole avenue of relief for the patient is to awaken, remove the mask and breathe through his mouth and/or nose.
Non-rebreathing valves (NRVs) constitute another class of known valves designed for particular use with respiratory equipment. Such valves are usually connected proximate to a breathing mask inlet opening and include a respiratory gas inlet, a respiratory gas outlet and a user's expiratory gas exhaust passageway open to the atmosphere. The purpose of such valves is to permit the flow of pressurized respiratory gas to the user upon user inhalation and to prevent the flow of respiratory gas and permit exhaust of the user's expiratory gases upon exhalation. A typical NRV construction includes an inlet surrounded in the interior of the valve housing by a bellows-like, resilient diaphragm which supports an annular valve seat member which is biased by the diaphragm to seat against an internal shoulder of the valve housing. The valve seat member is provided with a central aperture over which is positioned a flapper valve element biased to cover the aperture. The bias of the valve element is minimal. Consequently, the valve element may become displaced from the aperture under the mild flow of pressurized respiratory gas and/or a user's inhalation force whereby the respiratory gas may pass to the user's airway. Upon exhalation, the force of the expiratory gases closes the flapper valve element thereby sealing the aperture while simultaneously displacing the annular valve seat from the housing shoulder against the bias of the diaphragm such that the expiratory gases may escape through the exhaust passageway. This operation is repeated for each of the user's respiratory cycles and functions quite well so long as the pressurized gas source is operational and supplying a flow of respiratory gas.
However, should the supply of respiratory gas be cut off (e.g., the Was conduit becomes kinked), the user would evacuate any breathing gas remaining upstream of the NRV within a few inhalations. Upon total evacuation, gas flow through the aperture would cease and the diaphragm would bias the annular valve seat against the internal valve housing shoulder. At this point in time, the NRV would for practical purposes cease to function. That is, it would be operable only to exhaust the user's expiratory gases. In other words, although the user's exhalation immediately following total evacuation of the breathing gas supply upstream of the NRV would raise the annular valve seat from the housing shoulder against the bias of the diaphragm and thereby enable the expiratory gas to be discharged through the exhaust passageway, that exhalation would necessarily be followed by an inhalation whose force (in combination with the diaphragm bias) would cause the annular valve seat to engage the valve housing shoulder, whereby the user would be cut off from breathing gas of any kind, i.e., either from the pressurized gas source or the ambient atmosphere. At this point, the user would have to remove the mask in order to breathe. In the case of a sleeping user, such as a patient undergoing sleep apnea treatment, the patient would therefore be awakened upon failure of the respiratory gas supply, thereby defeating the central purpose of the treatment, namely, uninterrupted, therapeutic and restful sleep.
The reader will readily appreciate that the detrimental impact upon the patient's sleep patterns (which are intrinsically hindered by the episodic upper airway obstructions associated with sleep apnea) is thus compounded by the additional disturbances attendant to air source malfunctions. More particularly, those afflicted with sleep apnea experience sleep fragmentation and intermittent, complete or nearly complete cessation of ventilation during sleep with potentially severe degrees of oxyhemoglobin unsaturation. These symptoms may be translated clinically into debilitating daytime sleepiness, cardiac dysrhythmias, pulmonary-artery hypertension, congestive heart failure and cognitive dysfunction. Other consequences of sleep apnea include right ventricular dysfunction with cor pulmonale, carbon dioxide retention during wakefulness as well as during sleep, and continuous reduced arterial oxygen tension. In extreme cases, hypersomnolent sleep apnea patients may be at an elevated mortality risk from these factors as well as from accidents while driving and/or operating potentially dangerous equipment. Hence, by eliminating air source obstruction/malfunction problems, sleep apnea treatment may proceed with efficacy, thereby minimizing the damaging effects experienced by sleep apnea sufferers.
Another drawback to known sleep apnea treatment systems is that some patients find the direct facial impingement of the incoming breathing gas flow (as well as other effects of the treatment) to be so uncomfortable and/or distracting that they cannot tolerate the therapy. As a result, compliance with the treatment by comparatively sensitive patients is somewhat less than the general patient population, whereby those patients are effectively precluded from the therapeutic benefits of the treatment.
An advantage exists, therefore, for a safety valve device adapted for use with respiratory equipment of a type which provides a pressurized flow of breathing gas, which valve device would be self-regulating and pressure-responsive so as to provide access to the ambient atmosphere in the event of malfunction of the respiratory equipment.
A further advantage exists for a diffuser element adapted for positioning in the inlet of the breathing mask which enhances the user's comfort during sleep apnea treatment by diffusing or dispersing the flow of breathing gas as it enters the respiratory mask.

Automatic safety valve for respiratory equipment which is counter-balanced and self-adjusting


A circular outer fence or barrier is secured to the ground. A circular inner fence or barrier is secured to the ground concentrically within the outer fence to form an annular pathway between the inner and outer fences. A central shaft is located within the inner fence which extends upward. A plurality of spokes are secured to the upper end of the shaft at angularly spaced apart positions. A movable barrier having a plurality of flexible straps are secured to each spoke at a position to hang down between the inner and outer fences such that a space is formed between adjacent movable barriers sufficient to receive an animal. A mechanism is provided for rotating the shaft and hence the spokes and movable barriers. Exposed electrical leads are coupled to the straps on the opposite sides of the movable barriers. An electrical source is provided to apply current to the electrical leads as the movable barriers are rotated to encourage the animals to walk, trot, or cantor between the movable barriers.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an animal exercising apparatus having an annular pathway for exercising animals such as horses.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are known compact animal exercising apparatus which require horses to move in a circle for exercise purpose. These devices comprise a vertical rotatable shaft having angular spaced apart spokes connecting thereto. A rope is connected to the end of each spoke and to a horse for forcing the horse to move as the shaft and spokes are rotated.
Other animal exercising apparatus are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,349,751 and 4,766,848; U.K. Patent Application No. 2249012A; German Patent No. DE2852-777A1 and Soviet Union Patent No. SU1551-300-A.


A rolled pole housing for an electric motor includes a sealed enclosure formed by a frame body, a flange and an end cap. Therefore, the rolled pole housing may be used in both sealed and unsealed applications.

Electrical motors, such as actuator motors used in automotive applications, typically include a metal pole housing configured to receive magnets and an armature to form the electric motor. These metal pole housings are used to maintain a magnetic circuit of the electric motor in a closed field or loop manner. Therefore, the motor operates by having the armature turn inside the pole housing when a voltage is supplied to the motor. When an electric motor is energized, the armature rotates because wires on the armature are arranged relative to the magnetic field so that torque is developed about an axis of rotation of the armature. The armature includes a shaft having a first end portion which extends into a nose of the pole housing. The armature shaft also includes a second end portion which extends into a gear box. In order to support the rotating armature, first and second bushings are typically used on the first and second end portions, respectively, of the armature shaft.
Metal pole housings are produced using a variety of different manufacturing processes. For example, the pole housings may be formed by a deep drawn stamping process, a rolling process, an extrusion process, or other forming process. The cost of an electric motor changes significantly depending upon the type of manufacturing process used for the metal pole housings.
Typically, a deep drawn stamping process is used to manufacture metal motor pole housings for applications where water sealing is required. Deep drawn metal stamping processes are specialized and sophisticated. Therefore, few suppliers are able to meet an established stringent engineering requirement. As a result, product design and tooling costs are high for such deep drawn metal stamping designs. In addition, the material used in the deep drawn stamping processes is much more expensive than the material used in a rolled metal process.
Rolled metal pole housings are often used for electric motors where water sealing is not a requirement. Since the rolling or forming process is a relatively simple process, design and tooling costs are much less than those associated with the deep drawn stamping processes. Rolled pole housings advantageously have an outer wall with a uniform thickness. Rolled pole housings may also be made in varying lengths without a change in tooling which would be required in the deep drawn stamping process. However, conventional pole housings made using the rolling process are not water tight. Therefore, such conventional rolled pole housings are used for unsealed applications.
The present invention also provides an improved rolled pole housing which meets water sealing requirements. The present invention provides significant costs advantages, especially compared to deep drawn metal stamping processes.
According to an illustrated embodiment of the present invention, a pole housing for an electric motor comprises a frame body formed from a sheet of material. The frame body has a first end, a second end, and at least one seam. The seam is sealed along its length. The pole housing also includes a flange formed from a sheet of material, the flange having an opening formed therein. An entire periphery of the first end of the frame body is sealed to the flange. The pole housing further includes an end cap formed from a sheet of material. The end cap has a nose configured to receive an end of an armature shaft therein. The end cap is coupled to the second end of the frame body and sealed thereto to provide a sealed enclosure.
In an illustrated embodiment, the frame body is formed from a single sheet of material having first and second tabs extending from the first end. The first and second tabs are configured to enter first and second notches, respectively, formed in the flange to hold the frame body in position relative to the flange.
According to an illustrated embodiment of the present invention, a method of making a pole housing for an electric motor comprises forming a frame body from a sheet of material, forming a flange from a sheet of material, and forming an end cap from a sheet of material. The frame body has a first end, a second end and at least one seam. The flange has an opening therein, and the end cap includes a nose configured to receive an end of an armature shaft of an electric motor therein. The illustrated method also includes placing the flange adjacent the first end of the frame body, placing the end cap adjacent the second end of the frame body, sealing the at least one seam of the frame body, sealing the flange to the first end of the frame body, and sealing the end cap to the second end of the frame body to form a sealed enclosure.
In one illustrated embodiment, the sealing steps are performed using a laser welding process. Also in one illustrated embodiment, the steps of placing the flange adjacent the first end of the frame body and placing the end cap adjacent the second end of the frame body occur prior to the sealing steps.
In an illustrated embodiment, the end cap and the flange are formed from a single blank of material. Illustratively, the nose of the end cap is formed from the single blank of material leaving a large, flat flange attached. The flange of the pole housing is then cut from the large, flat flange attached to the end cap.
Additional features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.

Sealed rolled pole housing for an electric motor


This disclosure relates amide-sulfamide compounds disclosed herein and uses related to CXCR4 inhibition. In certain embodiments, the compounds have formula I, salts, derivatives, and prodrugs thereof wherein, A is a bridging aryl or heterocyclyl and R1 and R2 are further disclosed herein. In certain embodiments, the disclosure contemplates pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds disclosed herein. In certain embodiments, the disclosure relates to methods of treating or preventing CXCR4 related diseases or conditions by administering an effective amount of a compound disclosed herein to a subject in need thereof.

C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4), also known as fusing or cluster of differentiation 184 (CD184), is a seven transmembrane G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) belonging to the Class I GPCR or rhodopsin-like GPCR family. Stromal-derived-factor-1 (SDF-1) or C-X-C chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12) is the major ligand of CXCR4 and the interaction recognition between CXCL12 and CXCR4 recruits cells to the organ sites with high levels of CXCL12 expression. The CXCL12/CXCR4 axis has been shown to be involved in a number of pathological conditions, including cancer and inflammation. CXCR4 plays a role as a homing receptor to the lymph nodes, lung, liver, and bone. Homing, the mechanism that allows foreign tissue-origin cells to reside and proliferate, is believed to be the rate-limiting step of the multi-step metastatic process. CXCR4 is overexpressed in many human cancer types, such as breast, leukemia, lung, and prostate cancers.
Inflammation is inextricably associated with primary tumor progression and contributes to metastatic outgrowth in distant organs. The COX pathway has long been used as the major target for anti-inflammatory drugs. Both traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and selective COX-2 inhibitors exhibit their anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting COX-2. Nevertheless, the prolonged use of traditional anti-inflammatory drugs is associated with potential serious side effects such as kidney failure, ulcers and prolonged bleeding after an injury or surgery. Furthermore, rofecoxib and valdecoxib were withdrawn from the market due to an increased risk of cardiovascular complications.
Accumulating evidence suggests the involvement of CXCR4-CXCL12 interaction in various inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune diseases, ischemic injuries, inflammatory bowel disease, and pneumonia. Based on these findings, development of inhibitors blocking CXCR4 presents a new avenue for complementary therapeutic strategy in inflammatory diseases as well as cancer.
AMD3100 is a CXCR4 inhibitor approved by FDA for stem cell mobilization. Although it benefits patients with certain diseases, long term treatment can introduce lung and liver fibrosis. Hence there is a need to develop improved CXCR4 inhibitors.
Mooring et al. report pyridine derivatives as potential antagonists of chemokine receptor type 4, Heterocyclic communications, 2014, 20(3): 149-153. Zhu et al. report dipyrimidine amines as chemokine receptor type 4 antagonists. J. Med. Chem., 53 (2010), pp. 8556-8568. See also Zhan et al., J. Med. Chem., 50 (2007), pp. 5655-5664, U.S. Pat. No. 8,008,312 and 8,114,884.
Liang et al. report a small molecule modulator of CXCR4. PLoS One 2012, 7 (4), e34038.
Bai et al. report symmetrical bis-tertiary amines as CXCR4 inhibitors. Eur J Med Chem 2016, 118, 340-350.
Mishra et al. report characterization of CXCR4 receptor agonists and antagonists. Sci. Rep., 2016, 6, 30155
References cited herein are not an admission of prior art.

Amide-sulfamide derivatives, compositions, and uses related to CXCR4 inhibition


A signature booklet maker (SBM) finishing apparatus for an image producing device includes a modified fold blade having a plurality of contacting teeth spaced part by a predetermined distance. The contacting teeth further include a predetermined contact surface width and a predetermined thickness. The grind direction of the teeth is specified to reduce inside sheet drag during folding. The spaced teeth are adapted drive the stitched signature set in a folding unit without contacting the stitches, thereby eliminating fold skew and inside sheet marking. Moreover, the fold blade has a predetermined hardness to ensure that the blade is not damaged during folding. The SBM further includes a trim waste elimination device and knife guard to prevent booklet trimmings from migrating throughout the trimmer unit. The knife guard eliminates the safety hazard caused by the blade in the resting position and guides air from an air blower to force booklet trimmings into a waste chute. A discontinuity bracket on the blade reduces the surface area for trimmings to become adhered to the blade by static electricity. The apparatus provides for a substantial increase in the quality of the output and in the aesthetic appearance of the booklet.

The present invention is directed to a finishing apparatus for an image producing device, and more particularly, to a signature booklet maker (SBM) having a modified fold blade and a trim waste elimination device.
A "signature" is a duplex printed copy sheet having two page images on each side. The signature sheet can be folded in half to form a booklet or a plurality of signatures can be aligned, stitched together, and folded in half to form a multi-sheet booklet. A description of signature printing is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 4,727,402 to Smith, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The SBM can be constructed, for example, from variants of three existing finishing modules such as the AGR/Automatic Stitcher, the PA/Automatic Folder, and the TR/Automatic Trimmer, manufactured by C. P. Bourg for off-line use. All modules require mechanical modification to support front edge registration vs. center registration and wiring modification to share basic signals with the printer. The printer exports sheet arrival times and end-of-set signals to the SBM equipment. The first module receives and aligns the copy sheets in a set (which set forms a single booklet) so that all sheets in the set are aligned with one another. The first module aligns each sheet by stopping the forward movement of the sheet (e.g., with a gate or sheet stop), and then laterally tapping each sheet against another sheet stop. Once all sheets in the set are received and aligned, the first module stitches or binds all the sheets in the set to each other at a central location (between each page image on each sheet). The stitching step can comprise, for example, stapling. Thus, the first module is referred to as a "saddle stitcher."
The stitched copy set is then forwarded to a second module which folds the stitched copy set in half about the stitch axis. Thus, the second module is referred to as a "folder."
The folded copy set is then forwarded to a third module where the edges of the sheets opposite from the fold are trimmed. Thus, the third module is referred to as a "trimmer." Trimming is necessary, particularly in large sets or booklets, because the edges of the sheets opposite from the fold become uneven after folding.
A problem arises in the folding module in that the direct contact of the fold blade and the stitches often cause the occurrence of fold skew (i.e., the stitches fall on either side of the fold blade) and inside sheet marking. These problems have a significant effect on the final appearance of the booklet. Moreover, as a result of fold skew, when the booklet is transferred to the trimming module, the pages are then trimmed in an uneven manner.
Another problem arises in that static electricity on the sheet output can cause major problems in the machine performance throughout the signature booklet maker. Namely, the booklet trimmings adhere to the sheet affecting the final output and causing paper jams. Still further, it is difficult to keep booklet trimmings from migrating throughout the trimming module. The migration of trimmings causes false shutdowns at jam switches and trim waste on the exit conveyer and inside booklets.
Yet another problem with the existing signature booklet maker arrangement arises in that the upper knife assembly of the trimming module is exposed and can be a significant safety hazard for the operator.

Signature booklet maker with a modified fold blade and a trim waste elimination device