A non-consumable electrode for plasma-arc welding in an atmosphere of carbon dioxide or carbon-dioxide-based mixtures, includes a holder of copper or copper alloys and an active insert of hafnium embedded in the holder, with a hafnium oxycarbide layer disposed on the surface of the insert, the latter also including a graphite layer applied over the hafnium oxycarbide layer. A method of manufacturing the non-consumable electrode includes the steps of joining the holder of copper or copper alloys to the active insert of hafnium, connecting the holder to the negative pole of the power supply, placing the non-consumable electrode in an atmosphere of carbon dioxide, connecting an additional electrode to the positive pole of the power supply with an electric arc struck between the electrodes, forming a hafnium oxycarbide layer on the surface of the active insert at an electric arc current of up to 0.2 I, and subsequently forming a graphite layer over the previously formed hafnium oxycarbide layer as the current is increased from 0.2 I to I at a rate not exceeding 40 amperes per second, where I is the operating current of the non-consumable electrode.

In order that plasma-arc welding of steels in carbon-dioxide environment or in the atmosphere of carbon-dioxide-based mixtures could compete with other widely known methods of welding, such as consumable electrode submerged-arc welding or consumable electrode carbon-dioxide-shielded arc welding, or consumable electrode carbon-dioxide-based mixture shielded arc welding, the non-consumable electrodes for plasma-arc welding in the atmosphere of carbon-dioxide or carbon-dioxide-based mixtures are required to provide an operating life sufficient for commercial use, with electric arc currents in excess of 400 A.
For example, when welding low carbon and low alloy steels without edge preparation, in order to obtain speeds of plasma-arc welding in carbon-dioxide or carbon-dioxide-based mixture atmospheres equal to or exceeding the welding speeds when using known methods, the non-consumable electrodes for plasma-arc welding are required to provide an operating life suitable for commercial use, with electric arc currents ranging from 400 to 1000 A.
Known in the art is a non-consumable electrode for plasma arc treatment in an atmosphere of chemically reactive plasma-generating gases including carbon dioxide, comprising a liquid-cooled metal holder made of copper and an insert of zirconium, metallurgically bonded thereto (cf. U.S. Pat. No. 3,198,932).
As this non-consumable electrode operates in a carbon-dioxide atmosphere, the reactive insert of zirconium chemically reacts with active components of plasma-generating gas, i.e. carbon and oxygen. Over the entire surface of the insert a film is formed consisting of zirconium-carbon and zirconium-oxygen compounds, which will be referred to below as zirconium oxycarbide layer. The film of zirconium oxycarbide exhibits a high thermal stability and improved emission properties as compared to metallic zirconium. The above non-consumable electrode has found application in apparatus for plasma-arc cutting and welding of metals with electric arc currents of up to 300 A.
In plasma-arc-carbon-dioxide-shielded arc treatment with electric arc currents exceeding 300 A, the operating life of such an electrode, however, is not suitable for commercial use. This actually prevents its being employed for plasma-arc welding of low carbon and low alloy steels more than 6 mm thick in an atmosphere of carbon-dioxide or carbon-dioxide-based mixtures.
Also known in the prior art is a non-consumable electrode for plasma-arc treatment of metals in chemically reactive plasma-generating atmospheres containing oxygen, nitrogen and/or carbon.
This non-consumable electrode comprises a holder of copper or copper alloys and an insert of hafnium (cf. U.S. Pat. No. 3,592,649).
As this non-consumable electrode is operated in a carbon-dioxide atmosphere, the insert of hafnium chemically reacts with active components of the plasma-generating gas, i.e. carbon and oxygen. Over the entire operating surface of the active insert a layer of the hafnium oxycarbide is formed which exhibits a higher thermal stability and improved emission properties than the zirconium oxycarbide layer.
The operating life of such a non-consumable electrode enables it to be employed for plasma-arc treatment in a carbon-dioxide atmosphere with electric arc currents of up to 400 A. It is higher than the operating life of electrodes having an active insert of zirconium.
For higher electric current applications, e.g. for electric arc currents in excess of 400 A, however, also becomes impractical on account of an increased rate of electrode erosion.
Thus, the non-consumable electrode with an active insert of hafnium cannot be used for plasma-arc welding of low carbon and low alloy steels having a thickness exceeding 6 mm in an atmosphere of carbon-dioxide or carbon-dioxide-based mixtures.
Another prior art cathode for electric arc processes in chemically reactive atmospheres includes a copper holder and an active insert composed essentially of hafnium and alloying additions of various metals and/or their oxides.
This cathode exhibits a lower rate of erosion as compared with the electrode having an active insert of pure hafnium only when the electric arc is operated in an intermittent cycle mode. For all operational modes, however, the operational life of such a cathode enables it to be used in plasma-arc treatment in a carbon-dioxide atmosphere with electric arc currents not exceeding 400 A.
Thus, the cathode with an active insert of hafnium with alloying additions cannot be employed for plasma arc welding of low carbon and low alloy steels over 6 mm thick in an atmosphere of carbon dioxide or carbon-dioxide-based mixtures.
The abovementioned electrode disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,198,932 is produced by placing a chemically pretreated active insert of zirconium into the copper holder, simultaneously heating holder-and-insert combination to provide a metallurgical bond between the active insert and the copper holder.
The remainder of electrodes described above are manufactured by mechanically placing the active insert into the copper holder using such methods as cold stamping or other similar methods.
In all the electrodes described above the film of oxycarbide of the corresponding material of an active insert is obtained as an electric arc burns in a carbon-dioxide atmosphere.

Non-consumable electrode for plasma-arc welding


A water pump for an internal combustion engine includes a body, a driving shaft held rotatably in the body, an impeller fixed on the driving shaft, a volute chamber formed in the body and including a deflecting portion adapted for introducing a coolant to an outlet port, a chamber formed in the body on a back side of the impeller and including an inner circumferential portion and an outer circumferential portion, and at least two ribs disposed so as to connect the inner circumferential portion and the outer circumferential portion of the chamber, one of the ribs disposed adjacent to the deflecting portion of the volute chamber, whereby inibiting foreign matters contained in the coolant from being left in a space formed between the inner circumferential portion and the outer cicumferential portion of the chamber. When foreign matters are contained in the coolant and when the foreign matters intrude into the chamber, the foreign matters collide with the ribs. The ribs immediately evacuate the foreign matters back to either the volute chamber or the outlet port by way of an outlet passage. Thus, the foreign matters are not kept to circulate in the chamber, and accordingly the erosion of the body can be inhibited from happening.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a water pump for an internal combustion engine. More particularly, the present invention relates to erosion and water leakage prevention for a water pump for an internal combustion engine.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A lot of water pumps for an internal combustion engine have been proposed so far. For instance, a water pump is disclosed in Japanese Examined Utility Model Publication (KOUKOKU) No. 28319/1989, and will be hereinafter described with reference to FIG. 6. The water pump 60 includes a pump body 61, a pump cover 62, a volute chamber 63 formed in the pump body 61 and the pump cover 62, a driving shaft 65 held rotatably in the pump body 61 by way of a bearing 64, and a mechanical seal 66 disposed on the driving shaft 65 between the volute chamber 63 and the bearing 64. The pump body 61 and the pump cover 62 are separate and divided component parts, and are usually formed of an aluminum material.
Further, a pulley 67 is fixed on an end of the driving shaft 65 so as to input a driving force to the driving shaft 65. Furthermore, an impeller 68 is fixed on the opposite end of the driving shaft 65. Moreover, a chamber 69 is formed in an annular shape in the pump body 61 on a back side of the impeller 68 so as to inhibit the pump body 61 from being failingly cast.
There are foreign matters (for instance, casting sands or the like having been left in the cylinder block of an engine) contained in a coolant. The foreign matters flow together with the coolant in a coolant circuit (not shown) into which the above-described conventional water pump 60 is disposed. When the foreign matters intrude into the chamber 69, the foreign matters are kept circulating in the chamber 69 together with the coolant flowing therein. As a result, the foreign matters gradually erode the wall surface of the pump body 61 away. Finally, there might be a fear for communicating the inside of the pump body 61 with the outside, and accordingly the coolant in the volute chamber 63 might leak to the outside.

Water pump for internal combustion engine


Methods, systems, and device for affixing a ground cover to the ground are provided in accordance with various embodiments. For example, some embodiments include a system that may include a ground cover and one or more stakes coupled with the ground cover. In some embodiments, the one or more stakes are coupled with the ground cover utilizing one or more tethers. The one or more tethers may include one or more elastic materials. In some embodiments, the one or more elastic materials include one or more flat elastic bands. In some embodiments, the one or more elastic materials include one or more round elastic chords. Some embodiments of the system include one or more storage components coupled with the ground cover; each of the one or more storage components may be configured to stow one of the one or more stakes.

A variety of blankets or ground covers may generally be directed towards leisure and recreational uses. These products may come in several fabrics and sizes, but the uses are generally similar. Uses may include, but are not limited to, lying down, picnicking, and/or keeping oneself and possessions dry and free of dirt or other particulate ground matter while enjoying the outdoors. Some of these ground covers may pack into carrying pouches for convenience. In some cases, these ground covers may be made of light-weight materials.
There may be a need for other tools and techniques for ensuring that these ground covers may remain in place despite wind or other disturbing forces.

Integrated ground-affixing systems, devices, and methods for ground covers


A pressure difference detector for detecting a pressure difference between atmospheric pressure and a fuel system vapor pressure to be measured, includes a pressure dampening member 17a for dampening the flow of atmospheric air between an introducing inlet 11a and a reference pressure chamber 12 to limit the air flow rate to a value smaller than a leakage flow rate between the chamber and a fuel system vapor pressure introducing inlet 11b due to a leaking 0 ring seal. This prevents an erroneous judgment that the fuel system is leaking.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pressure difference detector for inspecting air tightness of a closed container in a pipe line system for an automobile engine, a method for judging an abnormality of the pressure detector, and a fuel/vapor emission preventing apparatus employing the detector.
(2) Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a construction of a conventional fuel/vapor emission preventing apparatus. In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a fuel tank, 2 is a canister for absorbing fuel vapor generated from fuel in the fuel tank 1, and 3 is a communication tube connected between the fuel tank 1 and the canister 2. Reference numeral 4 is a purging pipe connected between the canister 2 and an intake pipe 6 communicated with an engine, 7 is an air valve for opening canister 2 to atmospheric air, 8 is a pressure difference detector having one end for introducing a pressure in the fuel tank 1 and another end open to atmospheric air, and 9 is a cap for sealing the fuel tank 1.
Next, an operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 will be described. In the fuel tank 1, fuel and air are contained. The air part in the fuel tank 1 is communicated with atmospheric air through the canister 2 and through a check valve (not shown) mounted on the cap 9 so that, when the pressure in the fuel tank 1 is lowered, atmospheric air is introduced into the fuel tank 1, and when the pressure is increased, the air in the fuel tank is discharged to the atmosphere. Thus, the pressure in the fuel tank 1 is controlled to protect the fuel tank 1 against an excessive pressure.
Since the fuel generally includes a volatile component, however, the air in the fuel tank 1 includes fuel-vapor gas. Therefore, if the air including the fuel-vapor gas is discharged directly to the atmosphere, it causes contamination. To prevent the contamination of the air, conventionally, when the pressure in the fuel tank 1 is increased, the intake valve 5 is opened to introduce the air containing the fuel-vapor gas into the engine through the communication tube 3, the canister 2, the intake valve 5, and the intake pipe 6.
If, however, the air tightness of the fuel-vapor gas emission preventing apparatus is deteriorated due to the fact that, for example, the cap 9 is not completely closed, or some part of the fuel-vapor gas emission preventing apparatus is damaged, a large amount of fuel-vapor gas is leaked into the atmosphere. To ascertain the air tightness of this apparatus, while a vehicle is being driven, the output signal of the pressure difference detector 8 is monitored under the following pressure detectable conditions, i.e., while the engine is made to be in a high power outputting state and while the intake valve 5 is opened, the air valve 7 is closed to make the inside of the emission preventing apparatus including the fuel tank 1 and the canister 2 at a negative pressure, and then the intake valve 5 is closed to make the apparatus a closed chamber. In general, the pressure difference monitor 8 outputs a signal proportional to the change of the pressure. Therefore, under the condition that the fuel vapor gas emission preventing apparatus is closed, if a rapid change of the pressure is generated, the output of the pressure difference detector 8 is also largely changed. By detecting this large change of the output, leakage of the fuel vapor is detected and the preventing apparatus is judged to be malfunctioning. FIG. 2A shows the output signal of the pressure difference detector 8 when the fuel-vapor gas emission preventing apparatus is under a normal operation without leakage. As can be seen from the figure, the negative pressure is constant in this case. FIG. 2B shows an example of the output signal of the pressure difference detector 8 when there is a leakage in the fuel-vapor gas emission preventing apparatus so that it is abnormal. As can be seen from the figure, the negative pressure changes along with time to converge with the atmospheric pressure.
In the above-described conventional apparatus, there is a problem as follows. That is, when the air tightness between a reference pressure introducing side for introducing the atmospheric air and a measuring pressure introducing side for introducing the internal pressure of the fuel tank 1 becomes insufficient, if the atmospheric air leaks from the reference pressure introducing side to the measuring pressure introducing side, the output signal of the pressure difference detector 8 representing the negative pressure changes along with time as shown in FIG. 2C, even when the fuel-vapor gas emission preventing apparatus itself is quite normal so that there is no leakage in the fuel-vapor gas emission preventing apparatus except for the pressure difference detector 8. If the change of the output signal of the pressure difference detector 8 due to the leakage in the fuel vapor gas emission preventing apparatus shown in FIG. 2B is very similar to the change of the output signal of the pressure difference detector 8 due to the leakage in the pressure difference detector 8 shown in FIG. 2C, a problem arises in that, from the state shown in FIG. 2B and from the state shown in FIG. 2C, it is impossible to judge whether the malfunction resides in the fuel-vapor gas emission preventing apparatus or in the pressure difference detector 8.

Pressure difference detector, a method for judging an abnormality of the detector, and a fuel vapor emission preventing employing the detector


A cord for reinforcing tires having a core of at least one p-aramid filament that has a modulus greater than about 6.5 N/dTex and a sheath of steel strands that are helically wound around the p-aramid filament. The steel strands consist of either a single steel wire or multiple steel wires twisted together.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of hybrid cords for reinforcement of tires, in particular hybrid cords comprising steel and p-aramid filaments.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known to make hybrid cords for reinforcing tires comprising steel strands wound with p-aramid strands, both with a steel core and a p-aramid core.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,551,498 describes hybrid cords having a core of two p-aramid strands twisted together and an outer layer or sheath of six steel strands or filaments surrounding the core. Also described are hybrid cords consisting of a core consisting of three steel strands and a layer consisting of four p-aramid strands surrounding the core.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,176,705 describe wire reinforcement cords for tires. The cords consist of a p-aramid core, and steel strands comprised of steel filaments twisted together are disposed about the core.
It is known that steel wires have a lower breaking extension than filaments of aromatic polyamide (aramid). As a consequence, prior art composite reinforcing cords can be exposed only to loads at which the cord's extension does not exceed the breaking extension of the steel wire strands. If this limit load is exceeded, the steel wires rupture and the entire load is taken up by the aramid core which in turn immediately exceeds its own breaking elongation and ruptures as well. In other words, known composite cords break when the extension corresponds to the breaking extension of its steel wire component, in spite of the fact that the latter is distinctly below the breaking elongation of the polyamide core.
Such premature breakage of the steel wires is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,680, which discloses a tire including a hybrid cord consisting of a core of multiple p-aramid filaments surrounded by steel filaments that are wound around the core. The proposed solution is to use almost rectangular cross-section wires, which have a higher elongation at break than corresponding regular round cross-section wires. Hybrid cords using rectangular cross-section wires, are also described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,343.
A need remains for hybrid cords which make full use of the p-aramid component.


According to at least some embodiments of the present invention: (i) a user's non-stationary exertion is detected; (ii) a virtual terrain is provided; and (iii) the detected non-stationary exertion is normalized for the virtual terrain. This is different than any stationary exercise machines that may normalize exertion for a virtual terrain because non-stationary exertion is used. This allows the user to exercise in a non-stationary way, such as by running cross-country. Non-stationary exercise is an advantage of at least some embodiments of the present invention because users often prefer non-stationary exercise to stationary exercise. At least some embodiments of the present invention make it possible to use mapping onto virtual terrains possible even in the non-stationary context. It is further noted that the present invention uses a virtual terrain (see DEFINITIONS section), rather than a virtual course (see DEFINITIONS section) without virtualized terrain factors (see DEFINITIONS section). By virtualizing terrain factors into a virtual terrain, at least some embodiments of the present invention provide a more realistic, realistically competitive and/or pleasing exercise experience for the user(s). By using both non-stationary exertion detection and a virtual terrain, in a single system in combination, exercise can be made more fun, competitive, pleasant and/or less unpleasant.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for processing data relating to a user's athletic performance and more particularly to systems and methods for processing that data in conjunction with data relating to virtual terrain.
2. Description of the Related Art
Stationary exercise equipment (see DEFINITIONS section), such as stationary bicycles and treadmills, are conventional. It is conventional to use a virtual course (see DEFINITIONS section) in connection with stationary exercise equipment. More specifically, the user makes virtual progress through the virtual course corresponding to her athletic exertion on the stationary exercise equipment. In most, if not all, of these stationary exercise equipment systems, the exercise equipments settings (for example, resistance or incline) are determined based on terrain factors of the virtual course. The virtual course might be represented simply by a numerical "distance" readout, such as on a numerical display panel mounted to the stationary bicycle. Alternatively, the virtual course might be represented by a 2d or 3d graphic display.
Some examples of stationary exercise equipment systems are disclosed in: (i) U.S. Pat. No. 6,450,922 ("Henderson"); (ii) US patent application 2008/0015089 ("Hurwitz"); (iii) U.S. Pat. No. 7,166,064 ("Watterson"); (iv) 2003/0214530 ("Wang"); and (v) US patent application 2005/0075213 ("Arick"). One drawback of stationary exercise equipment based systems is that the exercise experience is stationary (see DEFINITION of "stationary exercise equipment"). Stationary exercise equipment tends to be much less engaging, competitive and/or enjoyable than non-stationary exercise (see DEFINITIONS section).
In some of these publications listed in the previous paragraph, such as Watterson, the system includes a communications network that allows multiple users to progress on the same virtual course, and to, in some sense compete with and/or pace each other. However, it is noted that this competition or pacing is limited because of the control that the virtual course exerts over the exercise equipment settings of each user's exercise equipment. On the one hand, external control of the settings of the exercise equipment, based on parameters of the virtual course, may make: (i) the experiences of separate user's more similar to each other; and/or (ii) any competition between different users more "fair." On the other hand, this external control of the exercise equipment limits each user's freedom in operating her own exercise equipment, and may therefore make the exercise less pleasant compared to exercise equipment based exercise where the user is in total control of her exercise equipment.
In other conventional exercise systems, athletic exertion exerted by the user during non-stationary exercise is measured. Generally, athletic exertion exerted during non-stationary exercise is not measured by monitoring of exercise equipment, but rather by monitoring the user's body itself. For example, motion detectors, such as accelerometers, may be worn on the body or on clothing in order to directly detect body motion and indirectly detect a degree of athletic exertion. In this document: (i) non-stationary athletic exertion detection based, at least in part, on any monitoring of the user's body (for example, GPS location of a user's body) will be referred to as body-based exertion detection; and (ii) non-stationary athletic exertion detection based, at least in part, upon detection of motion (for example, position, velocity and/or acceleration) of a part of the user's body will be referred to as body-motion-based exertion detection.
Some publications that may disclose body-based exertion detection and/or body-motion-based exertion detection include: (i) U.S. Pat. No. 6,148,280 ("Kramer"); (ii) US patent application 2002/0024450 ("Townsend"); (iii) US patent application 2005/0037844 ("Shum"); (iv) US patent application 2006/0064037 ("Shalon"); and (v) US patent application 2006/0262120 ("Rosenberg").
US patent application 2007/0287596 ("Case") discloses an athletic performance monitoring system that includes body-based exertion detection and, more specifically, body-motion-based exertion detection. Case discloses the use of a virtual course, stating: "The illustrated display 600 shows two virtual athletes 606 and 610 on the same (or approximately the same) course or route. The second virtual athlete 610 may represent the same individual and correspond to data associated with two different performances on the same (or similarly located) route. As another alternative, the second virtual athlete 610 may represent a different individual from the first virtual athlete 606, and the two displayed events may represent the two athlete's head-to-head competition in a single event or their individual efforts on the same course staggered or otherwise at different times. A second indicator display region 612 also may be provided to display instantaneous values of various measured time, distance, physical, and/or physiological parameters associated with the second virtual athlete 610's athletic performance at locations along the route. Of course, the data for the two athletic performances may be obtained from any source(s) without departing from the invention. Additionally, users may independently animate the action from each virtual athlete 606 and 610 (e.g., by separately activating "play" buttons 604 and 614 in the illustrated example or taking other appropriate action), or the virtual athletes 606 and 610 may be activated simultaneously and virtually 'race' one another (e.g., by activating the 'play all' button 616 in the illustrated example, or taking other appropriate action)."
Case goes on to disclose: "[A]fter running (or otherwise covering) any route with a GPS monitor in an athletic performance monitoring system and method according to examples of this invention (or otherwise obtaining data relating to the route, e.g., from different data sources, different sensors, etc.), an athlete, trainer, or coach may use that data in conjunction with a computer (or other processing device) to automatically generate their own virtual version of the route and/or use this data to develop an adjusted race plan for the route. For example, after providing the necessary route data for the system and method (e.g., by running or otherwise moving over the course with the GPS monitor system and/or other portions of an athletic performance monitoring system according to the invention), the tracking points may be downloaded to a computer. Then, upon supplying a target completion time for the same route, the software would provide route adjusted split times for each mile and/or other segment distances, optionally taking into account the elevational changes over the route, prevailing wind directions, wind speed, and/or other factors that may influence the difficulty of one portion of the course versus another. Such systems and methods also could calculate target split times to reach specific course landmarks, like aid stations, the halfway point, the bridge, and so forth. Optionally, such systems and methods may be operated shortly before the race begins, to enable incorporation of the local conditions at the time of the race (e.g., wind speed, direction, etc.). Any desired algorithm may be used to determine appropriate split times from a target overall time without departing from the invention." (Note: in the foregoing excerpts of Case, all reference numerals refer to the Case patent document.)
Case is focused on recording data of specific performances of individuals and then allowing people to compare performances via their data. However, Case discloses that users whose performances are being compared must be "on the same (or approximately the same) course or route." For this reason, Case cannot be considered to receive a user's athletic exertion as an input and normalize this input for virtual terrain (see DEFINITIONS of "virtual terrain" and "normalize athletic exertion for virtual terrain"). More specifically, the Case system does not provide a virtual environment that allows for performances to be normalized regardless of the degree of similarity in the real world courses or real world routes of respective performances (whether at different times and/or by different individual users). The Case system requires the real world terrain that respective users actually travel through during their non-stationary exercise to be at least "approximately the same." This is a serious drawback of the Case system.
In the above-quoted portion of Case, it is disclosed that projected splits are adjusted by inputting assumptions about effects of elevation, wind, etc. However, this disclosure of the use of terrain factors in the Case system still does not normalize an actual performance, based on real athletic exertion, for virtual terrain. Rather, the terrain factors are merely used to calculate a virtual pacing performance. Case does not disclose that actual athletic exertion (of a single user or multiple users) can be used as a basis for pacing, competition or any other reason, unless, as discussed above, the performances are made on the same or similar course. Again, this is because Case does not normalize athletic exertion for virtual terrain.
To put some of the foregoing ideas in other words, the Case system merely simulates the real world with a virtual course. This is good because by limiting the virtual course to something that reflects the real world, a user's athletic exertion does not need to be normalized in order to compare performances made at different times or in different (similar terrain) places. On the other hand, the Case system does not allow: (i) a performance to be evocatively mapped onto a place significantly different from where a user is; and/or (ii) meaningful competition between non-stationary users travelling over significantly different terrain.
Other systems of possible interest (which may or may not be prior art) include the following: (i) US patent application 2008/0086318 ("Gilley"); (ii) US patent application 2003/0227453 ("Beier"); (iii) U.S. Pat. No. 7,278,966 ("Hjelt"); (iv) U.S. Pat. No. 6,672,991 ("O'Malley"); (v) U.S. Pat. No. 6,497,638 ("Shea"); and (vi) MAP MY RIDE website (note: MAP MY RIDE may be subject to trademark rights in some jurisdictions) at www.mapmyride.com/tdf/ (published as of Jun. 23, 2009).
Description Of the Related Art Section Disclaimer: To the extent that specific publications are discussed above in this Description of the Related Art Section, these discussions should not be taken as an admission that the discussed publications (for example, published patents) are prior art for patent law purposes. For example, some or all of the discussed publications may not be sufficiently early in time, may not reflect subject matter developed early enough in time and/or may not be sufficiently enabling so as to amount to prior art for patent law purposes. To the extent that specific publications are discussed above in this Description of the Related Art Section, they are all hereby incorporated by reference into this document in their respective entirety(ies).


Provided is a solar cell module comprising a back sheet including a reflective film including a deposited reflective layer including metal and having 2 or higher optical density (OD), and an UV blocking layer positioned below the reflective film and having 5% or lower transmittance of light at 380 nm wavelength.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a back sheet, a method of manufacturing the same, a solar cell module using the same and a method of manufacturing the solar cell module.
(b) Description of the Related Art
Recently, necessity of clean alternative energy is growing due to depletion of fossil fuels and global warming by carbon dioxide. Therefore, various alternative energy sources such as wind power, bio-gas, hydrogen fuel cell, nuclear power, solar heat, geothermal heat, and so on are being developed. A solar cell using solar energy is one of the alternative energy sources.
Generally, a solar cell module includes a substrate made of glass or glass-like material, a solar cell, an encapsulation, and a protective sheet for a back surface (back sheet).
Since one solar cell cannot output sufficient power, a plurality of solar cells are disposed in series or parallel on the substrate and are electrically connected to each other so as to form one solar cell module. In addition, the back sheet is bonded to the encapsulation for attaching the solar cells at a back surface of the solar cell module and protects the solar cell module against physical impact from external environment or water and contaminant.
Generally, sunlight projected into the solar cell module is reflected at the back sheet between one solar cell and another solar cell and is totally reflected toward the substrate so as to be transmitted to the solar cell. Therefore, back sheet is required to have high reflectivity in order to increase power capacitance of the solar cell module under predetermined dimensions.
A conventional back sheet is made of milky white material in order to increase reflectivity of the back sheet used in the solar cell module. In addition, content of titanium dioxide may be adjusted or a light diffusion layer or a light reflection layer is formed on a surface of the back sheet in order to increase reflectivity.
However, increase of content of titanium dioxide in the back sheet is limited due to physical properties. In addition, if the light diffusion layer or the light reflection layer is formed, durability of the back sheet may be deteriorated or manufacturing cost may increase.
It is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2006-319250 that a back sheet for a solar cell includes a light diffusion layer having a fine convex portion or a fine recess portion and a metal deposit layer having reflectivity and gas barrier. However, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2006-319250 has problems of high manufacturing cost and requiring high-technology in order to form the light diffusion layer having the fine convex portion or the fine recess portion.
In a case that the solar cell module is located in a desert area where there are a lot of sunlight, a lot of power can be produced.
However, cycle-life of the solar cell module is short and cost for maintaining and replacing the solar cell module is high in the desert area because much ultraviolet rays are irradiated, midday temperature is very high, temperature difference between day and night is very large, and sandblast damages the solar cell module. Therefore, cost performance of the solar cell module is very low.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Back sheet, method of manufacturing the same, solar cell module using the same and method of manufacturing solar cell


A windshield mounting apparatus comprising pairs of clamp assemblies adjustably connected to elongated supports pivotally clamped to a handlebar. Each clamp assembly comprises a U-shaped clamp including an intermediate portion with a passage for receiving an elongated support and spaced end portions having inner and outer surfaces with a passageway extending therethrough. Clamp end portion inner surfaces define a closeable slot therebetween and each clamp outer surface includes a recessed pocket communicating with the respective end portion passageway. Each clamp assembly also comprises windshield support elements including an elongated insert having a central passageway and an insert end portion disposed in the respective pocket and a compressible windshield supporting element having a passageway and a windshield engaging portion. An elongated connecting element extends through the aligned passageways and includes one end portion engaged with the windshield supporting element and an opposite end portion engaging a connecting means disposed in non-rotatable bearing relationship with the pocket in the respective clamp other end portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention, primarily relates to support assemblies for adjustably mounting a windshield on motorcycles, snowmobiles and like vehicles.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In this modern and increasingly mobile society, many families and individuals own various types of vehicles such as bicycles, mopeds, motorcycles, snowmobiles and the like. Although different windshield mounting assemblies have been proposed for use on the aforementioned vehicles, there has generally not been a windshield mounting assembly which is universally adaptable for different types of rideable vehicles and also relatively inexpensive, easily adjustable and provides the associated windshield with the degree of support and stability desired and anticipated.
For example, although sturdy windshield mounting assemblies have generally been provided for heavier vehicles such as motorcycles and snowmobiles, such assemblies have tended to be relatively heavy, bulky expensive and generally non-interchangeable. Additionally, such assemblies have a rather prohibitive application to smaller, lighter vehicles such as bicycles and mopeds wherein not only the maneuverability and operation but also the balance thereof may be adversely affected. Conversely, windshield mounting assemblies commonly applied to bicycles and mopeds are normally lightweight, relatively inexpensive, of simple construction and are not generally designed to withstand severe loading forces commonly associated with high speed vehicles such as motorcycles and snowmobiles which are often driven over irregular and bumpy terrain.
In addition to the design criteria associated with various forces, such as vibrational forces generated when a vehicle intermittently encounters roadway irregularities, a windshield and its accompanying mounting assembly are normally designed so that the windshield will withstand stress concentrations resulting from not only the manner in which the windshield is mounted but also material imperfections and discontinuities such as holes and notches formed therein. For example, when a windshield is deflected by the onrushing air, a complex pattern of stresses are developed therein and it follows that when improperly supported at one or more mounting locations, stress concentrations formed thereabout may result in localized failure of the windshield. Such localized failure is particularly common adjacent windshield mounting holes which generally form weakened zones in the windshield element. As a result, fastening means extending through windshield mounting holes and connected to the adjacent mounting assembly usually include rubber sleeves or cushions to reduce the impact or bearing force transmitted between the mounting assembly and the windshield region adjacent the mounting holes. Although increasing the number of mounting holes will generally distribute the applied loads and thus lessen the effective stresses adjacent individual mounting holes, it has often been difficult to adequately adapt a mounting assembly and its respective plurality of fastening means to windshields of diverse shapes and generally non-planar curved configurations.
Further, it would also be preferable to provide a sturdy, lightweight windshield mounting assembly comprising a selectively adjustable mounting support and a multi-positionable windshield fastening element attached thereto such that windshields of different shapes and sizes can be adequately supported from a vehicle handlebar. Reductions in the cost of a windshield mounting assembly are also important so that such assembly may be economically competitive and affordable to the users of such motorcycles, mopeds and other rideable vehicles.
Windshield mounting assemblies which include windshield fastening means for securing a windshield to a vehicle handlebar are generally disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. Re. 23,039, 1,532,008, 2,675,266, 3,801,152 and 3,904,238. The windshield mounting assembly constructed according to the present invention is designed to overcome problems encountered with some of the prior art, such as the non-adaptability for different windshield configurations and the relatively difficult adjustment of the windshield for vertical and horizontal displacements.


A polymeric composition includes a polyamide; an unmodified polypropylene or unmodified polyethylene; optionally a carboxylic acid or maleic anhydride-grafted ethylene-propylene-diene elastomer; and a carboxylic acid or maleic anhydride-grafted polyethylene or polypropylene.

Polyamide resins such as polyamide 6.6 and polyamide 6 are very strong resins well suited for molding of various articles; however, such resins are sensitive to moisture. To reduce moisture pick-up, polyolefins such as polypropylene or polyethylene are added to the polyamide. However, due to the polar nature of polyamides and the non-polar nature of polyolefins, blending of such resins leads to compatibility problems.
Physical melt blending of a polyamide and a polyolefin does not result in acceptable end-use properties due to insufficient compatibility. This results in severe delamination particularly in injection molded articles, and moisture absorption is actually increased compared to the pure polyamide.
It is known that in order to improve the compatibility of polyamides and polyolefins, the addition of a modified polyolefin that is able to interact with the end-groups of the polyamide is necessary. The modification of polyolefins is obtained by, for example, reacting it with an unsaturated carboxylic acid, such as fumaric acid for example, or the anhydride thereof, such as maleic anhydride, as described, for example, in European Patent Application 370,736. Various compositions of grafted polyolefin compatibilized blends of polyamide and polyolefins are known and the patent disclosure in this area is plentiful.
In order to enhance compatibility between a polyamide and a polyolefin such as polypropylene or polyethylene, it has been suggested to either add the modified polyolefin to a blend of polyamide and unmodified polyolefin or to blend only modified polyolefin with the polyamide.
The general disadvantage of thus compatibilized blends is their relatively low overall toughness. Pat. No ES 8,305,395 to Du Pont describes a combination of a polyamide and a maleic acid or anhydride grafted polyethylene which may generally cover the use of a grafted polyolefin as compatibilizer for polyamide/polyolefin blends.
For improving impact strength of polyamide/polyolefin blends, it has been suggested to use both a modified polyolefin such as polypropylene for example and a modified elastomer or to use only a modified elastomer. While the use of only a modified elastomer does improve impact properties somewhat, it usually yields resins with anisotropic properties due to insufficient homogeneity and a laminar type morphology. The use of higher concentrations of modified elastomer can improve morphology somewhat, but at the expense of a significant reduction in flexural modulus. As to the use of both, i.e. modified polyolefin and modified elastomer, it has been proposed to either simultaneously modify polyamide, unmodified polypropylene and elastomer (Japanese patent HEI 1(1989)-103662), to simultaneously modify polypropylene and elastomer (EP 194-705-A and EP 235-876-A, for example) or to separately modify polypropylene and elastomer (Jap. 60053-550-A).
However, while the compatibilization and toughness of polyamide and polyolefin can be improved effectively by the use of such modified polyolefins and modified elastomers, `macroscopic morphology` in injection molded articles of those kinds of blends is still insufficient, which is even more so in blends which are richer in polyamide than in polyolefin. The term `macroscopic morphology` refers to the perceived integrity and appearance of injection molded parts throughout the cross section of an injection molded article, opposed to `microscopic morphology` which is usually determined by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Experience has shown that, while compatibilized blends of polyamide and polyolefin can exhibit very good `microscopic morphology`, with the polyolefin phase finely dispersed within a continuous polyamide phase, and with a very high surface gloss, the `macroscopic morphology` of the same blend can be very poor, as manifested by delamination of the complete surface layer of molded articles. This kind of delamination appears to be more severe for parts with a large surface area and a radial flow pattern; however, delamination of the surface layer with such poorly compatibilized blends can also be seen in the sprue and runner system of smaller parts. The chemical composition of the blend in the delaminated skin and the remaining core section is typically shown to be identical when analyzed by Infrared Spectroscopy, Differential Scanning Calorimetry and Scanning Electron Microscopy.
Polyamide/polyolefin blends as claimed in EP 235-876-A, for example, when applied to blends which are rich in polyamide, do not yield blends with a good `macroscopic morphology`, since it is recommended there that the polyamide needs to be more highly viscous than the unmodified and the modified polyolefin. Experience has further shown that neither improved gloss nor reduced discoloration are at all conclusive evidence for improved compatibility. Many polyamide/polyolefin blends have been made with excellent gloss and color, yet the `macroscopic morphology` as described above was still insufficient. The problem is not so much the appearance of the visible outer surface rather than the adhesion of the often very homogeneous outer surface layer to the core material. To applicant's knowledge this issue has not been addressed in the prior art to polyamide/polyolefin blends claimed in this invention.
It has now been found that, in order to eliminate the tendency for delamination of the outer surface layer of injection molded articles in polyamide/polyolefin blends, the polyamide must be the continuous phase. This can be achieved by keeping the melt viscosity of the polyamide sufficiently low relative to the viscosity of the unmodified polyolefin and preferably the modified compatibilizers as well. Only then will the polyamide form the continuous phase throughout the whole cross section of injection molded articles, as long as sufficient shear mixing is provided during extrusion and subsequent injection molding.


An apparatus for fuel level display systems comprises a fuel level sender providing a fuel level signal, a short period filter for filtering the fuel level signal through a short time constant filter, a long period filter for filtering the fuel level signal through a long time constant filter, a signal selector for selecting the long period filter output if the fuel level is above a trip point and for selecting the short period filter if the fuel level is below the trip point, and a display device for displaying a level of fuel in the tank in response to the selected signal.

In vehicle fuel measurement and display systems, the measurement and display of fuel level to the vehicle operator may be affected by vehicle motion. The varying accelerations exerted on a vehicle fuel tank may, for example, cause wave motion of the fuel in the fuel tank. This wave motion may cause the fuel sensor to output a varying signal having an effect that may then be transferred to the display as a fluctuating needle. To compensate for the effects of variations in the signal output by the fuel sensor, it is known to filter the output signal before it is used to drive a display, thereby removing variations from the signal and providing a stable display of the fuel level to the vehicle operator.
Various types of signal processing systems have been developed for various types of processing of fuel level sensor data in attempts to provide more accurate and more aesthetically pleasing fuel level displays. Further improvements are still sought to adapt the fuel measurement and display systems to the characteristics of the vehicle to provide optimum accuracy in the fuel level display system in an ergonomic manner.


A process chamber for making composite structures using CVI/CVD is provided. The process chamber has a plurality of compartments. Each compartment has its own equipment such as, for example, a substrate support structure, a gas inlet, a gas outlet, a cooling element and a heating element, and control system for independently controlling the process conditions for treating a substrate contained within.

Chemical vapor infiltration and chemical vapor deposition (CVI/CVD) are well-known processes for forming composite materials. In particular, CVI/CVD is a useful process for fabricating structural composites such as brake disks, combustors and turbine components.
In general, the term "chemical vapor infiltration" (CVI) implies deposition of a matrix within the pores of a substrate, and "chemical vapor deposition" (CVD) implies deposition of a surface coating on a substrate. However, as used herein, the term CVI/CVD is intended to refer generally to infiltration and deposition of a matrix on and within a substrate.
CVI/CVD generally includes passing a gas (e.g., methane, propane, etc.) comprising a reactant component (e.g., carbon) around and through a substrate. The reactant component deposits on and within the pores of the substrate to form a composite structure. When the substrate and reactant component both comprise carbon, for example, a carbon/carbon composite material is formed.
In some conventional CVI/CVD processes, several substrates are stacked within a process chamber (i.e., a furnace) in order to increase the number composite structures produced per batch. During treatment, the process conditions (i.e., temperature, pressure and flow rate of the gas) within the chamber are controlled and/or varied to create the desired thermal and pressure gradients and to facilitate the deposition of the matrix within the substrate.
However, there are several disadvantages associated with such conventional systems and methods for performing CVI/CVD. For example, using conventional CVI/CVD processes, the temperature and pressure gradients are likely to vary at different locations within the process chamber causing the rate and amount of deposition of the matrix to vary from substrate to substrate, dependent upon the location of the substrate within the process chamber.
Moreover, the exhaust systems of such conventional CVI/CVD process systems tend to be less efficient and require more power to operate, often resulting in the undesirable formation of soot on the substrates as well as build-up of carbon residue within the process chamber, typically requiring shut down of the system for cleaning and maintenance.
As such, improved systems and methods for performing CVI/CVD that increase uniformity of the composite structures and efficacy of the CVI/CVD process are desired.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System having a cooling element for densifying a substrate


Baits useful against diabroticine mature and immature beetles contain (a) an insecticide and (b) a feeding stimulant containing corn germ.

Diabroticine beetles are a significant problem during the growth of, inter alia, corn (field, pop, seed, and sweet), beans, Cucurbitaceae (including cucumbers, melons, squash, and pumpkins), peanuts, peas, potatoes, and sweet potatoes. Corn is conveniently used to describe the effects of diabroticine beetles. These pests are the direct or indirect (i.e., as a vector for bacteria and inoculation of melons and squash) cause of millions of dollars of crop and garden damage annually. Damage by these beetles has continued despite over 30 years of attempts at control.
Diabroticine beetles encompass multivoltine and univoltine species. Multivoltine species (e.g., the southern corn rootworm) can produce up to 3 generations a year. Univoltine species (e.g., northern and western corn rootworm) have a life cycle that starts with eggs laid 4-24 inches below the soil surface in the Fall. In early Spring and over the course of several weeks, the larvae (a form of immature beetle) hatch and begin to feed on nearby roots thereby destroying the root's anchoring abilities and the microhairs responsible for mineral, nutrients, and water assimilation. If the plant roots have not been so damaged that the plants falls over, the yield from the affected plants is reduced due to impaired nutrition.
After feeding, the diabroticine larvae pupate and emerge from the ground as adult beetles. Univoltine beetles emerge at some time during mid July through August (depending on local climate). Male diabroticine beetles emerge about 1 week before the females (week 1) which, in turn, emerge at about the same time as corn silks emerge. Because the fresh silks emit a number of volatile agents which are attractive to both the male and female beetles, the 7-10 days of silking represents a period of high-feeding activity for the beetles. The beetles immediately begin to migrate up the stalk toward the leaves, ears, and silks. This compulsion is quite strong since there is evidence that the beetles will not move down the corn stalk in response to attractants. Throughout this period, the beetles feed and mate.
The key to control of the diabroticine beetles is to disrupt the life cycle by affecting the immature and/or adult beetles. One method known in the art as "banding" refers to the practice of trying to control the larvae by applying a contact insecticide in or along a furrow containing planted seeds. The theory behind banding is that larvae will enter the treated area when searching for room and die due to contact with the insecticide.
Unfortunately, microbial attack impairs the efficacy of insecticides in the soil well before all the larvae have had time to hatch and enter the treated band. Concerns for groundwater contamination, the impact on nontarget organisms (e.g., bird kill), and the hazards of human exposure to the toxic insecticides all restrict the use of soil insecticides that might be capable of surviving in the soil through the larval feeding stage.
The effectiveness of banding is also limited by the plants themselves. Plant roots often extend well beyond the treated band leaving the roots vulnerable to attack.
It has been proposed to use the tissue of dried gourds from the Cucurbitale order in combination with 0.01-10% by weight (wt. %) of an insecticide to make a lethal bait for the control of diabroticine beetles. Due to genetic evolution, corn rootworm larvae have evolved to compulsively feed on cucurbitacins.
From Canadian Patent No. 1,195,922, the bitter tasting cucurbitacins in the gourd tissue acts as a compulsive feeding stimulant for diabroticine beetles but does not harm beneficial insects. By coating the gourd tissues with an insecticide, it was intended that the beetles would compulsively consume a lethal quantity of insecticide.
Unfortunately, it is difficult and expensive to grow cucurbitale order crops with high cucurbitacin concentrations. Hybrid species must be located or selected to provide even a marginal level of cucurbitacins.
Also proposed in Lush U.S. Pat. No. 4,992,275 is the use of 3-6 mm pellets containing an active insecticide and whole, dried, ground, raw sweet corn. The bait is taught as useful for controlling corn rootworm larvae as well as cutworms, wireworms, billbugs, seed corn maggots, grabs, lesser corn stalk borer, seed corn beetle, flea beetles, European and Southwestern corn borer, fire ants and other ant species, onion maggots, sweet potato weevils, and root maggots, among other types of chewing insects that feed on a variety of plants. Although it is broadly disclosed that "binders for holding the bait particles together" (column 2, lines 3-4) may be used, other passages teach that natural sweet corn is sufficiently high in oil and sugar that added oils and sugars are unnecessary (column 7, lines 20-27). In addition, rain or winds is taught to remove the bait from the treated zone necessitating retreatment (column 4, lines 33-36).
It would be desirable to have a bait formulation that used safe, inexpensive ingredients with a high level of efficacy against immature and mature diabroticine even when applied through conventional spraying equipment in aqueous solution as well as when applied as a dry granular bait.


Pre-ceramic monomer formulations for creating self-propagating polymer waveguides, and a system and method of using the same, is disclosed. The formulation includes a plurality of unsaturated molecules, wherein the unsaturated molecules contain a significant amount of non-carbon atoms, a molecule having structure of R′—X1-H (e.g., X1=O, S, N), and a photoinitiator. R′ can also have non-carbon atoms. The system includes a light source, a reservoir having a monomer formulation and a patterning apparatus configured to guide a light beam from the light source into the pre-ceramic monomer formulation to form at least one self-propagating polymer waveguide and can be directly converted to interconnected three-dimensional ceramics.

In pre-ceramic monomer formulations for the fabrication of polymer waveguides and three-dimensional interconnected structures, monomer formulations enable polymer waveguide formation and direct conversion to interconnected three-dimensional ceramics.
Currently, polymer cellular materials that are mass produced are created through various foaming processes, which all yield random (not ordered) 3D microstructures. An ordered three-dimensional (3D) microstructure is an ordered 3D structure at the micrometer or nanometer scale. Techniques do exist to create polymer materials with ordered 3D microstructures, such as stereolithography techniques; however, these techniques rely on a bottom-up, layer-by-layer approach which prohibits scalability.
A stereolithography technique provides a method to build a 3D microstructure in a layer-by-layer process. This process usually involves a platform (e.g., substrate) that is lowered into a photo-monomer bath in discrete steps. At each layer, a laser is used to scan over the area of the photo-monomer that is to be cured (i.e., polymerized) for that particular layer. Once the layer is cured, the platform is lowered by a specific amount (i.e., determined by the processing parameters and desired feature/surface resolution), and the process is repeated until the complete 3D structure is created. One example of such a stereolithography technique is disclosed in Hull et al., APPARATUS FOR PRODUCTION OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL OBJECTS BY STEREOLITHOGRAPHY, U.S. Pat. No. 4,575,330, Mar. 11, 1986, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Modifications to the above described stereolithography technique have been developed to improve the resolution by using laser optics and special resin formulations, as well as modifications to decrease the fabrication time of the 3D structure by using a dynamic pattern generator to cure an entire layer at once. One example of such a modification is disclosed in Bertsch et al., "Microstereolithography: A Review," Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings, Vol. 758, 2003, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. A fairly recent advancement to the standard stereolithography technique includes a two-photon polymerization process as disclosed in Sun et al., "Two-Photon Polymerization And 3D Lithographic Microfabrication," APS, Vol. 170, 2004, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. However, this advance process still relies on a complicated and time consuming layer-by-layer approach.
3D ordered polymer cellular structures have also been created using optical interference pattern techniques, also called holographic lithography; however, structures made using these techniques have an ordered structure at the nanometer scale and the structures are limited to the possible interference patterns, as described in Campbell et al., "Fabrication Of Photonic Crystals For The Visible Spectrum By Holographic Lithography," NATURE, Vol. 404, Mar. 2, 2000, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Previous works have also been done on creating polymer optical waveguides. A polymer optical waveguide can be formed in certain photopolymers that undergo a refractive index change during the polymerization process. When a monomer that is photo-sensitive is exposed to light (e.g., UV light) under the right conditions, the initial area of polymerization, such as a small circular area, will "trap" the light and guide it to the tip of the polymerized region due to the index of refraction change, further advancing that polymerized region. If the polymer is sufficiently transparent to the wavelength of light used to initiate polymerization, this process will continue, leading to the formation of a waveguide structure, or fiber, with approximately the same cross-sectional dimensions along its entire length. This phenomenon has been suggested for applications such as fiber optic interconnects. The existing techniques to create polymer optical waveguides have only allowed one or a few waveguides to be formed, and these techniques have not been used to create a self-supporting three-dimensional structure by patterning polymer optical waveguides.
Recently, there has been interest in using inorganic polymer materials, such as pre-ceramic polymers to form ceramic micro-truss structures. Advantages of ceramic micro-truss materials includes high temperature stability and attractive strength to weight ratios. The importance of these high temperature ceramic micro-truss structures makes these structures amenable to a wide variety of applications, such as the automotive and aerospace industries. These ceramic micro-truss materials could be used for lightweight, high temperature structural applications or for other applications that can utilize the unique porosity, such as thermal ground planes.
Typically, these pre-ceramic polymers generally contain silicon (Si) in the molecular backbone and can be converted to a ceramic material. There are a wide variety of known pre-ceramic polymers. Examples include Starfire RD-633, Starfire SMP-10, Starfire SOC-A35, Clariant/KiON Ceraset 20 (polysilazanes), polycarbosilanes, silicone resins, polysilanes, polyvinylborazine, polyborazylene, borasine-modified hydridopolysilazanes and decaborane based polymers. These pre-ceramic polymers have been used to form specific polymer-based structures that can be subsequently heat treated (pyrolyzed/sintered) to create near net shape ceramic structures.
Other ceramic micro-truss structures have been made using the original polymer micro-truss structure (or a carbon/graphite micro-truss structure that originates from the original micro-truss structure) as a template. Typically, these techniques rely on gas-phase or dip coating processes to create a ceramic micro-truss structure.
Therefore, while these aforementioned ceramic structures can be useful, they are often disadvantageously time consuming to make, using pyrolysis, sintering, gas-phase or dip coating processes, which can often require additional steps. Also, ceramic structures, such as foams, are not ordered microstructures and can suffer from random interconnections in their forms, thereby reducing the strength of the materials.
Thus, there exists a need for creating lower cost ceramic micro-truss structures with pre-ceramic monomer and polymers, which allow direct conversion to a ceramic micro-truss without the need of any additive materials. Further, it would be advantageous to provide monomer and polymer formulations that would enable polymer waveguide formation and direct conversion to these interconnected three-dimensional ceramics. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide pre-ceramic monomer and polymer formulations that can be used to create polymer waveguides and interconnected three-dimensional ceramic structures that are lightweight, highly durable, hard materials, and can withstand a high temperature oxidizing environment.

Pre-ceramic monomer formulations for making preceramic polymer waveguides


Apparatus and methodologies for cleaning a subterranean wellbore are provided. More specifically, a cleaning assembly and method of use is provided, the assembly being sealingly positioned within the wellbore and comprising a pump and a fluid control port for directing pressurized fluids downhole to clean the wellbore.

Various downhole well configurations, including vertical, directional, or horizontal, are used in oil and gas production from subterranean formations. With reference to FIG. 1, horizontal wells W typically comprise a relatively vertical section V (which may be vertical or off-vertical) and a relatively lateral section L (which may or may not be horizontal) that are connected by a curved 'build' section, often referred to as the 'heel' H. In almost all cases, the lateral section L is the productive target of the well W and will be configured to allow the inflow of fluids (oil/water/gas) from the reservoir into the wellbore.
Unfortunately, due to the configuration of horizontal wells, debris D can accumulate along the horizontal or deviated section of the well, clogging the annulus and impacting bottomhole pressure. Such debris, which can include residual drilling mud and/or cuttings, frac sand from post-frac stimulation treatments, produced formations sand, etc., can also damage downhole equipment. Over time, the built-up debris can significantly obstruct the wellbore, reducing production and requiring that the wellbore debris be removed or "cleaned" therefrom.
Various wellbore cleanout systems and methods have been developed for removing sand and other wellbore debris from horizontal wells. Mechanical tools for miling and scraping, hydraulic tools for getting and flow back, and chemical systems used to dissolve the debris or increasing fluid carrying capacities are known. To date, however, such systems have difficulty accessing debris forming beds underneath or uphole of the equipment, particularly with the development of longer horizontal sections (e.g. deeper wells). Such systems also have difficulty generating and maintaining sufficient fluid velocities to lift and carry the sand and debris along the wellbore and up to the surface, necessitating the use of large, complicated equipment, or the isolation of smaller section of bore to be cleaned.
Further, many systems often underperform due to lost circulation or poor circulation velocities, potentially causing fluid losses into the reservoir and significantly increasing operation costs. Systems can also be limited to the constraints of the reservoir, particularly where transport velocities and pick-up of the debris is restricted to the rate at which the reservoir can supply fluid to the wellbore. The resulting inflow rate is often insufficient to flush the sand, impairing the overall cleaning performance.
There is a need for a wellbore cleanout system that overcomes the above-noted problems.


A cooktop has its body disposed within a rectangular shaped opening in a counter top. The body has upper front and rear flanges larger than the opening in the counter top to rest on the counter top. The cooktop has two slidably mounted clamping brackets on its bottom surface with one at its front edge and the other at its rear edge. Each clamping bracket is releasably held in a retracted position within the periphery of the bottom surface of the cooktop during insertion of the cooktop into the opening. Each clamping bracket has two elongated slots through which two screws extend into two holes in the bottom surface of the cooktop. After the cooktop is inserted within the opening in the counter top, the two screws for each clamping bracket are loosened, and each clamping bracket is moved to an extended position with its maximum being the length of the elongated slots. Each clamping bracket has a nut to receive a long screw. Each long screw is rotated through the nut on the clamping bracket until it engages the bottom surface of the counter top to prevent movement of the cooktop. More than one of the cooktops may be disposed adjacent each other in the opening.

When a built-in cooktop is disposed within an opening in a counter top, it is necessary to insure that the cooktop sits flat on an upper support surface of the counter top and is not movable relative thereto. After the opening is formed in the counter top and the cooktop is inserted into the opening, the installer must then secure the cooktop to the counter top to prevent movement of the cooktop relative to the counter top.
One previous arrangement for securing a cooktop to a counter top has been to form slots in the lower portion of the cooktop's outer wall during manufacture. After the cooktop is disposed within the opening in the counter top, an L-shaped clip is positioned within each of the slots. Each of the clips has one leg inside of the cooktop's outer wall and extending upwardly from the inner end of its other leg, which extends horizontally and has a threaded hole extending therethrough. A screw is driven through the threaded hole in the horizontal leg of the clip until it engages a bottom surface of the counter top.
Installation is awkward because the installer must hold the L-shaped clip with one hand through grasping the horizontal leg while driving the screw with the other. In cramped conditions, this can be impossible.
Another prior arrangement for securing a cooktop to a counter top in which the cooktop is disposed within an opening in the counter top has been to emboss the bottom wall of the cooktop so that the embossed portion of the bottom wall of the cooktop is at an angle to the remainder of the bottom wall of the cooktop and to the outer side wall of the cooktop. A nut is welded to the interior of the embossed portion of the bottom wall so that the nut is at an angle to the bottom and side walls of the cooktop. Then, an opening has been formed in the outer side wall of the cooktop so that a screw extends through the nut, which is welded to the embossed portion of the bottom wall, and the opening in the outer side wall of the cooktop at an angle to the outer side wall of the cooktop to engage a surface of the counter top. This is a complicated arrangement and increases tooling costs. The screw also is at an angle to the surface of the counter top that it engages.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,701,171 to Fritzsche discloses a work surface clamping means for drop-in cooking equipment. The aforesaid Fritzsche patent has the disadvantage of increasing the manufacturing costs of the drop-in cooking equipment through requiring an outwardly projecting flange to be welded to the bottom wall of the drop-in cooking equipment along all sides of the drop-in cooking equipment. The outwardly projecting flanges, which are welded to the bottom wall of the drop-in cooking equipment, extend beyond the outer wall of the drop-in cooking equipment so as to require a larger opening in the work surface; this enlarged opening allows much more play between the outer wall of the drop-in cooking equipment and the work surface so that the possibility exists for motion of the drop-in cooking equipment relative to the work surface.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,354,474 to Cairns et al has an arrangement for securing a plumbing fixture to a support having an opening through which the plumbing fixture extends. The plumbing fixture of the aforesaid Cairns et al patent has a plurality of clamping devices mounted on the bottom surface of its upper rim. Each of the clamping devices includes a pair of parallel vertical members connected at their upper ends by a top member, which is secured to the upper rim of the plumbing fixture. The two parallel vertical members also are connected by a horizontal bottom member at the bottom of the shorter of the two parallel vertical members. A clamp plate is pivotally mounted on the connecting bottom member for pivotal movement through 90.degree. with the parallel vertical member, which extends beneath the horizontal bottom member, having a slot therein to stop pivoting of the clamp plate at 90.degree.. The clamp plate support a screw for engaging a bottom surface of the support having the opening in which the plumbing fixture is disposed.
While the clamping arrangement of the aforesaid Cairns et al patent has the clamping devices inside of the periphery of the upper rim when inserting the plumbing fixture within the opening in the support, the upper rim is substantially larger than the fixture to provide room for the clamping devices so as to require an opening substantially larger than the plumbing fixture's outer wall. Because of the pivotal arrangement of the clamp plate, there is no further requirement for enlarging the opening beyond that required for the clamping devices. However, this arrangement for the clamping devices requires a substantially larger opening in the support. Additionally, because of the relatively large opening, there can be play of the plumbing fixture whereby there can be pivoting of the plumbing fixture from its desired position because of the pivotal arrangement of the clamp plate on the horizontal bottom member of the clamping device.
The present invention overcomes the problem of the opening in the support for the cooktop having to be substantially larger than the outer walls of the cooktop. The present invention also eliminates the problem of the cooktop pivoting with respect to its clamping means, as can occur in the aforesaid Cairns et al patent, through utilizing slidably mounted means to support engaging means for engaging a bottom surface of the counter top.
The present invention satisfactorily solves the foregoing problems through providing slidably mounted retaining means on opposite sides of the bottom surface of the cooktop. Each of the two retaining means is retained within the periphery of the bottom surface of the cooktop during insertion of the cooktop into the opening in the counter top. Each of the retaining means is slidably movable from its retracted position a selected distance, up to a maximum, beyond the periphery of the cooktop. Each of the retaining means has threaded support means to receive a threaded member for engagement with the bottom surface of the counter top.
There is no relative pivotal motion between the retaining means and the cooktop or the threaded member. Thus, if the opening in the counter top is too large, there is no play of the cooktop relative to the counter top. There also is no need to have the opening enlarged for any clamping structure extending beyond the periphery of the portion of the cooktop inserted within the opening in the counter top.
It is necessary for the clamping device to be adjacent each of the edges of the cooking equipment in the aforesaid Fritzsche patent and the plumbing fixture in the aforesaid Cairns et al patent. This arrangement prevents positioning two units adjacent each other in the same opening. By mounting the retaining means adjacent the front and rear edges of the bottom wall of the cooktop, the present invention can have more than one of the cooktops placed adjacent each other in a single opening in the counter top. Thus, there is no need for spacing between the cooktops, and this arrangement permits a plurality of the cooktops to be disposed adjacent each other when desired.

Arrangement for securing a drop-in device to a fixed support


A lossless arbitration scheme combines IEEE 802.3 compliant Medium Access Controllers (MACs) with a centralized arbiter and out of band access control signaling to achieve a spatially confined LAN that looks to attached devices like an IEEE 802.3 LAN, but has no bandwidth loss due to collisions, no excessive collisions and greater short term access fairness than standard Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection (CSMA/CD) LANs. Two such spatially confined LANs are combined with an IEEE 802.3 compatible full-duplex point to point link to provide communication between two spatially confined groups of devices without bridges and buffering even when the separation of the groups is not spatially confined.

This invention relates to a network architecture that provides improved aggregation of multiple network devices and a lossless arbitration scheme for Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Detect (CSMA/CD) based Local Area Network (LAN) protocols that has increased bandwidth along with predictable network access.
A device wanting to transmit on a CSMA/CD LAN, such as Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.3, first listens to the medium. If the medium is idle, the device begins transmitting immediately. If the medium is not idle, the device waits until the medium becomes idle and remains idle for a defined period of time before beginning transmission. If two or more devices begin transmitting at about the same time, their transmissions collide. The collision is detected and all colliding devices terminate their transmission and wait a random period of time (back off) before attempting to transmit again. Devices attempt repeatedly to transmit each packet until they are either successful or they collide a specified number of times in which case they discard the packet.
The range of times from which the back off time is randomly selected increases after each collision. For example, after a first collision, a device waits either zero or one slot times (an interval of time defined in the 802.3 protocol). After a second collision, the device waits anywhere between zero to three slot times, and so on, up to 1023 slot times.
The protocol has several disadvantages. Bandwidth is wasted each time transmissions collide. Transmission is unreliable as packets that experience an excessive number of collisions ale discarded. Access to the medium can also be quite unfair over short periods of time. Short term access unfairness is the result of the back off algorithm. When the demand for use of the LAN is high and two or more devices collide, the first of the colliding devices to successfully transmit on the medium has an advantage over the other devices in the collision group as the range of times from which the back off time is randomly selected is reset to the minimum each time a device successfully transmits on the medium.
The physical extent of a CSMA/CD LAN is limited by the minimum transmission duration to send a packet. Collisions result in shorter than normal duration transmissions which are called transmission fragments. Transmission fragments are recognized and rejected based on their short duration. The physical extent of a CSMA/CD LAN is limited by the requirement that the propagation delay between any two devices attached to the LAN must be somewhat less than half of the minimum transmission time for a packet.
Connecting devices whose electrical separation is greater than that allowed by a CSMA/CD LAN requires switching and buffering. Such devices are connected to different LANs and the LANs are interconnected with switches which provide the necessary buffering. The switch and packet buffering is complex and expensive to implement.
Accordingly, a need remains for a network architecture and arbitration scheme for CSMA/CD LAN protocols that does not waste bandwidth, is more reliable, provides predictable access and allows devices with greater physical separation to be connected to the same LAN.

Lossless arbitration scheme and network architecture for collision based network protocols


A folded insulated ribbon conductor having a pair of joined twice folded conductors. The folded insulated ribbon conductor has an outer layer of a thin flexible length of insulative material. A thin flexible conductive ribbon is adhered to one side of the insulator. A first one hundred eighty degree fold is formed along one edge where the conductor and the insulator are folded toward the center of the length. A second one hundred eighty degree fold is formed along the other edge of the conductor. Conductive jacks may be connected to this conductor by unfolding the first fold and inserting a jack through the ribbon and the conductor near the first fold and then refolding the first fold to provide two points of contact for the jack. The pair of folded conductors may be joined by insulative disks which also support the conductive jacks.

The field of the invention is electrical conductors and the invention relates more particularly to ribbon style of flexible conductors of the general type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,934,956 naming the applicant as the inventor and most widely used for low voltage lighting strips.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,934,956 a single width of an insulative tape is laminated to a pair of parallel thin ribbon conductors. Next, a non-conductive ply is laminated to the exposed side of the ribbon conductors. This results in a continuous strip of two flat electrical conductors on a common carrier, the total surface of which is completely insulted, resulting in a flat ribbon equivalent of "zip cord." To each conductor a jack is connected by punching the ribbon and suitably bonding the jack to said ribbon, providing electrical continuity for bi-pin lamps and similar components. This process is complicated by the fact that to achieve a positive electrical connection, the insulating matter has to be penetrated or removed while maintaining the integrity of the conductor. Swaging was determined to be the only suitable method of fixing the jacks to the conductors. Therefore, in order to permit swaging, a through hole is required on the bottom of the jack, creating a real and serious problem. This problem occurs when leads of lamps or other components are inserted in jacks. These leads have pointed ends which are quite sharp and often extend through the hole in the bottom of the jack. This condition creates the possibility of the tip of the pin being able to penetrate the insulation of the opposing conductor since said conductor is often positioned in alignment with the hole in the bottom of the jack causing a short circuit. Further, reliability of the system has been improved by orders of magnitude in the implementation of a new and superior system. Thus, an improved product and process is needed.


A windshield washer pump assembly for jetting a rinsing fluid from a fluid tank onto a windshield to assist windshield wiping operation performed by an automotive windshield wiper. The assembly comprises a washer pump comprising a rotatably supported impeller and a generally cylindrical casing having a fluid inlet, defined in an annular end wall thereof, and a fluid outlet defined in opposition to the fluid inlet. The washer pump is secured to a wall of the fluid tank with the fluid inlet positioned inside the fluid tank. The casing is also formed with a partition wall positioned on one side of the annular end wall to define a pump chamber between the annular end wall and the partition wall for operatively accommodating the impeller. The washer pump assembly also comprises a fluid passage communicating the pump chamber and the fluid outlet for a discharge of the fluid medium under pressure during a rotation of the impeller, a filter member having a perforated region of a diameter greater than the bore size of the fluid inlet positioned exteriorly of the fluid inlet with the perforated region aligned with the fluid inlet, and a filter holder for detachably securing the filter member to the second end of the casing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an automotive windshield washer pump designed to jet a rinsing fluid onto an automotive windshield to assist a windshield wiping operation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The automotive windshield washer system now in use in automotive vehicles generally comprises at least one windshield wiper adapted to be driven by a drive unit to move back and forth across the windshield, a windshield washer pump having an inlet and an outlet, at least one jetting nozzle generally disposed on a bonnet and fluid-connected with the outlet of the washer pump for jetting a rinsing fluid onto the windshield, and a container or tank for accommodating a quantity of the rinsing fluid and fluid-connected with the inlet of the washer pump.
It is well understood that, when foreign matter such as, for example, sand particles, enter the container in admixture with the rinsing fluid being filled in the container, it may be sucked into the washer pump during an operation of the washer pump, thereby damaging an impeller used in the washer pump. Once the impeller is damaged, problems would occur in that the washer pump may operate erroneously and that the jetting nozzle may be clogged. In either case, the rinsing fluid will no longer be jetted satisfactorily onto the windshield.
The Japanese Laid-open Utility Model Publication No. 2-60659, published May 7, 1990, discloses a solution to the foregoing problems. This will now be discussed with reference to FIG. 7.
According to that publication, the windshield washer system comprises a tank having a pump mounting hole 1a defined in a portion of the side wall 1 thereof adjacent the bottom of the tank. A generally tubular grommet 2 having outer and inner open ends 2a and 2b is inserted into the pump mounting hole 1a with the inner open end 2b protruding into the tank. An inlet nipple 3 that communicates with the inlet of the washer pump is fluid-tightly inserted into the grommet 2 through the outer open end 2a thereof. The inlet nipple 3 may be either an integral part of a pump casing forming the washer pump or a member separate therefrom.
The grommet 2 has an inner peripheral surface formed with an annular groove 2c extending circumferentially thereof and positioned adjacent the inner open end 2b thereof, and a filter member 4 is installed inside the grommet 2 with its outermost peripheral edge portion 4a received in the annular groove 2c.
According to the above mentioned publication, use is made of the filter member 4 to avoid any possible entry of the foreign matter from the tank into the washer pump. It has, however, been found that the solution suggested by the above mentioned publication poses the following problems.
(1) Although no foreign particles contained within the tank will substantially pass through the filter member 4, they tend to pile up around an outer peripheral portion of the filter member 4 adjacent the inner peripheral surface of the grommet 2. Once this occurs, the effective cross-sectional area of the filter member 4 which is utilized for the passage of the rinsing fluid therethrough is essentially reduced, hampering a smooth flow of the rinsing fluid from the tank towards the washer pump. In some cases, the effective cross-sectional area of the filter member 4 may be reduced so considerably as to result in an insufficient jetting of the rinsing fluid.
(2) Since the solution suggested by the above mentioned publication is such that, while the bore size of the inlet nipple 3 is defined according to the pumping capacity of the washere pump, the filter member 4 is installed inside the grommet 2 which receives the inlet nipple 3, the inner diameter of the inlet nipple 3 and the diameter of an inner portion 4b of the filter member 4 positioned radially inwardly of the outermost peripheral edge portion 4a are substantially equal to each other. In other words, the effective cross-sectional area of the filter member 4, which is represented by the total surface area of meshes or interstices of the inner portion 4b of the filter member 4 through which the rinsing fluid can flow, becomes smaller than the cross-sectional area of the bore of the inlet nipple 3. Accordingly, the provision of the filter member 4 in the manner described above causes a problem in that a rated flow of the rinsing fluid defined by the bore size of the inlet nipple 3 will not flow towards the washer pump, accompanied by a substantial reduction in pumping capacity of the washer pump. This is turn brings about a reduction in the amount of the rinsing fluid to be jetted onto the windshield.
(3) As a matter of course, a replenishment of a quantity of rinsing fluid is required when the tank is emptied. At the time of replenishment, air is trapped within a space S inside the grommet 2 and delimited between the filter member 4 and the inlet nipple 3. When the rinsing fluid is supplied into the tank through a supply port while the air is trapped within the space S, no rinsing fluid being supplied into the tank will flow towards a pump chamber through the interstices or meshes in the inner portion 4b of the filter member 4 due to a surface tension acting in those interstices or meshes between the rinsing fluid and the air. Therefore, even though the tank has been filled with the rinsing fluid, the air trapped between the filter member 4 and the inlet nipple 3 may hamper a smooth supply of the rinsing fluid towards the pump chamber even though the washer pump is subsequently operated. Specifically, where the washer pump is of a centrifugal type wherein the fluid medium is supplied by the action of a centrifugal force, the presence of the trapped air hampers a smooth supply of the rinsing fluid under pressure towards the nozzle. Under these circumstances, the washer pump tends to run idle without the air being discharged, failing to accomplish a proper jetting of the rinsing fluid.


A system for the collection of visual and related data on marine and other underwater habitats and fauna, in particular and without limitation for benthic habitats over significant spatial scales. The system can include elements such as a digital or video camera to receive visual images, various sensors to sense other related data and waterproof housings to protect various elements of the device. A sensor may for example be a global positioning system. The device can also include elements to control the device and to record, transfer & process the data.

Benthic habitats in marine environments, particularly in coastal areas, are increasingly being subjected to anthropogenic impacts. However, their vast spatial coverage and inaccessibility often make biodiversity assessment difficult for accurate monitoring and management. Although remote sampling systems are currently being used for monitoring by specialist service providers, there are no commercially available systems that allow for convenient and cost effective use by a broader scientific community and which incorporate an adequate level of spatial accuracy, capability to record large volumes of data quantitatively, functionality to 'plug-and-play' a wide range of scientific data sensors and adaptability to a wide range of scientific uses.

OCEAN VISION ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH PTY LTD


A prosthetic foot with an adjustable ankle includes an upper portion coupled to a socket of an amputee. A lower portion is adjustably coupled to the upper portion, and is attached to a foot member with heel and toe sections. A movable coupling is disposed between the upper and lower portions, and includes a displacement member slidably coupled to a displacement track. The movable coupling allows the toe section to pivot downward and the heel section to simultaneously displace forward.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a prosthetic foot with an adjustable ankle. More particularly, the present invention relates to a prosthetic foot that simultaneously pivots downward and displaces forward.
2. Related Art
Many individuals have lost a limb for various reasons including war, accident, or disease. In most instances these individuals are not only able to live relatively normal lives, but physically active lives as well. Oftentimes, these individuals are aided in their everyday lives by a prosthetic limb. The objective of prosthesis is to provide an artificial limb that simulates the function and natural feel of the replaced limb.
With respect to prosthetic feet, the development of a functional and natural artificial foot has been limited only by material and imagination. Many designs have attempted to copy the anatomy of the foot or simulate its actions by replacing the bones and muscle with various mechanical components. Other designs have departed radically from mere anatomical copying or mechanical simulation by replacing the entire foot with an energy storage element such as a spring. As the user steps onto the foot, the user's weight compresses the spring. As the user moves forward, the user's weight comes off the foot and the energy stored in the spring is used to propel the user forward.
Almost all of the past designs have focused on the major aspect of the prosthetic foot—movement of the ankle or foot as it relates to walking or running. Few designs consider the use of the foot with different shoes, such as different heel heights. For example, some shoes, such as sneakers, have a generally level or horizontally flat platform, while other shoes, such as high-heels or boots, have a heel that is relatively elevated with respect to the toe. It will be appreciated that the ankle of a natural foot pivots to accommodate different heels. In a natural foot, the foot and toes rotate to conform to the slope of the terrain. The artificial foot of previous designs usually incorporates a unitary foot that is incapable of such movement at the ankle.
Some artificial feet have a dynamic pivot or hinge at the ankle, or a dynamic ankle joint. See U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,442,554; 5,482,513 and 5,913,902. During use, a foot member often pivots or swings up and down about a pivot or axle.
Some artificial feet have an adjustable ankle with a swivel connection, or a foot that pivots at the ankle. For example, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,800,564 and 6,402,790. Such feet often have a foot member that selectively pivots about a pivot.
Other feet have a foot member that adjusts linearly back and forth. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 6,228,124.
One problem with some of the above configurations is that they have proved unsatisfactory in use with different types of shoes, such as shoes with different heel heights. Another problem with some of the above configurations is that they are complicated or difficult to adjust.

Prosthetic foot with an adjustable ankle and method

Roland J. Christensen, as operating Manager of RJC Development, LC, General Partner of the Roland J. Christensen Family Limited Partnership


An apparatus for cutting a movable sheet of web material onto predetermined lengths including a pair of upper and lower cutoff rolls and a retractable cutoff blade. A slide mechanism is utilized to move in a direction transverse to the movement of the sheet of web material to selectively engage and disengage the cutoff blade.

The cutting of moving strip material has been carried out in a variety of ways. In one relatively primitive method, the moving strip was temporarily stopped at a point just before a shear blade, and the shear blade was operated. Upstream of the shear blade the strip continued to move and formed a loop. Once the shear blade opened, the strip was then allowed to pass forwardly again and the loop was removed. Other systems have involved pairs of upper and lower shears which were mounted on rails and could move forwardly and backwardly along the axis of the sheet material. By accelerating the upper and lower shear dies to the speed of the sheet material, the dies could then be closed, without stopping the sheet material. The dies would then be opened up and stopped and returned to their starting position for the next cut. These systems were effective but the mechanism was complex and expensive. It was also difficult to achieve a precise location for the position of each cut. In addition, cuts of less than a predetermined length could not be achieved at all due to the fact that the shear dies had to move forwardly and backwardly once during each cut.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,445,174 involved rotary blades which essentially chopped the web material at predetermined locations. However, controlling the length of cut on these rotary choppers was difficult, since the length of cut depended on upon the diameter of the chopper drum, and the speed of the web requiring changes in gears.
Clearly there is a need for a rotary cutoff device which is capable of cutting moving web sheet material at predetermined locations, the locations being adjusted and pre-settable, and being operable even at over relatively short distances between cuts, and involving a minimum of complex machinery.