An edible, hardenable coating composition is disclosed containing microcrystalline cellulose, a film forming amount of propylene glycol alginate, and a strengthening polymer, optionally in combination with at least one of a plasticizer, a surfactant, or a filler. The coating composition of the present invention may be applied to pharmaceutical and veterinary solid dosage forms, confectionery, seeds, animal feed, fertilizers, pesticide tablets, and foods and provides an elegant prompt release coating which does not retard the release of active ingredients from the coated substrate.

This invention relates to edible, hardenable coating compositions comprising microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), a film forming amount of propylene glycol alginate (PGA) and a strengthening polymer, optionally containing a plasticizer, a surface active agent, a filler, a coloring agent or a combination of such optional ingredients. The coatings of the present invention can be applied to pharmaceutical, including neutraceutical, and veterinary solid dosage forms, such solid substrates such as seeds, animal feed, fertilizers, pesticide tablets and granules, and also to confectionery and foods. They are readily dispersed in aqueous media, and, when applied as a coating, provide high lustre coatings, which do not retard or extend release of active ingredient from a coated substrate.
It is a common practice to coat pharmaceutical and veterinary tablets to obtain several advantages. Among these are to improve the surface characteristics of tablets to make them easier to swallow, to reduce the absorption of water or moisture which can potentially degrade the active ingredient or promote some other undesirable change in the tablet structure, and simply to make a more elegant appearing tablet.
Another very important function of a pharmaceutical or veterinary tablet coating is to improve the integrity of the tablet itself. Uncoated tablets are often subject to being abraded or chipped, causing a loss of active ingredient in the process. More dramatically, they may break into two or more pieces. One measure of a useful coating is its ability to prevent any of these physical degradations of tablet structure. The effectiveness of a coating material to prevent abrading, chipping, or breakage of the tablet is determined by friability testing.
Confectionery and foods may be coated with a formulation to preserve the confection or food from deteriorating by contact with the oxygen and the moisture in the atmosphere. Coatings also can provide improved appearance and desirable organoleptic properties to the food as well as preventing loss of flavor.
Seeds may be coated to preserve the viability of the seeds by protecting against moisture. They may also be coated as a means for increasing particle size to facilitate mechanical planting. A dye can be included in the coating formulation to identify the seeds as to quality, type, or some other designation. Frequently, a pesticide, e.g., a fungicide, is incorporated into the coating formulation to protect both the seed itself and the seedling that results from germination of the seed. In all cases, this coating must not decrease the viability of the seeds or interfere with germination when the seeds are planted in the soil.
Animal feed may be coated to improve its flowability, appearance and its resistance to powdering or dusting. In such applications, the coating may be formulated to include vitamins, hormones, antibiotics, or the like, to benefit the livestock which will consume the feed.
Fertilizers, in either granular or tableted forms, may be coated to retain the integrity of the form and, especially, to protect the fertilizer from moisture which can cause agglomeration during storage, which could make rapid, even application to the soil difficult or inconvenient.
Coating of tableted pesticide formulations serves to maintain the integrity of the tablets or granules until they are placed in water where they rapidly disintegrate, forming a solution or slurry to be applied to the soil or plants. A second, and equally important, function of the coatings on tablets containing pesticides is to prevent human contact with the pesticide, thereby increasing safety for those handling and applying the pesticide.
In the preparation of a coating formulation to be sprayed, the film-former is usually dissolved or dispersed in a solvent, for example, water, along with the other ingredients of the formulation. In aqueous systems, since many polymers require significant time to become fully hydrated, the coating formulation must frequently be prepared in advance of the time it is to be applied to the tablets. A common procedure is to prepare these coating formulations the day preceding the coating operation in order to assure adequate hydration of the polymers used in them.
A particular disadvantage of coatings based primarily on hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) is that the coating may harden over time and therefore increase tablet disintegration times. An increase in disintegration time delays the bioavailability of the active ingredient at least in proportion to the increase in disintegration time. Many other agents commonly used in coating compositions are also known to delay release of pharmaceutical agents, such as enteric coatings which use polymeric film forming materials which are insoluble in water, or gastric fluid, some of these being specifically selected to by-pass both the stomach and small intestine and provide colonic release.
The coatings of this invention meet U.S. Pharmacopeia standards for rapid or immediate dissolution (U.S.P. monograph 23) of active ingredients from tablets or other solid dosage forms coated with them. They provide prompt release or dissolution consistent with the release rates which is normally obtained with the uncoated tablets or other substrates. Thus, they do not adversely impact or retard release of active ingredients from a substrate coated with them. Further, the coatings of this invention are readily dispersed and rapidly hydrated in aqueous media for application to a coating substrate, and provide elegant coatings which have all the benefits of coatings now in commercial use without the drawbacks that are common to them.
It has been found that these and other advantages may be achieved in accordance with the present invention by a coating composition which comprises a unique combination of materials specifically adapted for prompt release when placed in aqueous media or ingested. The coating composition of the present invention comprises microcrystalline cellulose, a film forming amount of propylene glycol alginate and a strengthening polymer, and may additionally contain a plasticizer, a surface active agent, a filler, a coloring agent or combination of these additional ingredients. More specifically, the present invention provides a prompt release, edible, hardenable coating composition, as well as dry coatings and aqueous dispersions thereof and solid dosage forms coated therewith.
For purposes of this application, the term xe2x80x9cediblexe2x80x9d is intended to mean food grade materials which are approved by regulatory authorities for use in pharmaceutical or food applications. The term xe2x80x9chardenable,xe2x80x9d used to describe the coating compositions of this invention, is intended to include only those coating compositions that are capable of being dried from an aqueous solution or dispersion thereof into a solid coating which resists abrasive forces, i.e. a hardened coating, as distinguished from those xe2x80x9cenrobingxe2x80x9d coatings on confections which set up into a soft coating that can be handled and packaged but which do not resist abrasive forces significantly. The terms xe2x80x9cimmediate,xe2x80x9d xe2x80x9crapid,xe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cprompt,xe2x80x9d as applied to dissolution rates or times for the coating compositions of this invention or tablets coated with the compositions of this invention, mean that the coatings of this invention meet U.S. Pharmacopeia standards (U.S.P. monograph 23) for rapid or immediate dissolution of active ingredients from tablets or other solid dosage forms coated with them. Thus, they provide prompt release or dissolution consistent with the release rates which is normally obtained with the uncoated tablets or other substrate. They do not, when placed in water or ingested, adversely impact or retard release or dissolution of tablets or other dosage forms coated with them. Coatings made in accordance with the present invention are substantially or completely disintegrated and/or dissolved within less than 10 minutes after being ingested or placed in aqueous media. These definitions are intended to apply throughout this application unless a contrary meaning is clearly indicated.
The microcrystalline cellulose, simply blended with propylene glycol alginate, provides important film characteristics required to provide an elegant coating which is particularly useful in, for example, coating pharmaceutical and veterinary tablets, caplets, granules, and spheres which contain active ingredients which require release promptly after being placed in aqueous media or ingested.
Microcrystalline cellulose is a purified, partially depolymerized cellulose that is generally produced by treating a source of cellulose, preferably alpha cellulose in the form of a pulp from fibrous plants, with a mineral acid, preferably hydrochloric acid. The acid selectively attacks the less ordered regions of the cellulose polymer chain, thereby exposing and freeing the crystallite sites, forming the crystallite aggregates which constitute microcrystalline cellulose. These are then separated from the reaction mixture and washed to remove degraded by-products. The resulting wet mass, generally containing 40 to 60 percent moisture, is referred to in the art by several names, including hydrolyzed cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose wetcake, or simply wetcake. This microcrystalline cellulose wetcake may be used as such or may be further modified, for example, by attrition and/or drying, and utilized in accordance with the present invention.
Microcrystalline cellulose may also be produced for use in the present invention using a steam explosion treatment. In this process, wood chips or other cellulosic materials are placed in a chamber into which super-heated steam is introduced. After being maintained for a period of about 1-5 minutes, the exit valve is opened rapidly, releasing the contents explosively and yielding microcrystalline cellulose. No additional acid need be introduced into the reaction mixture, since it is believed that the acidic materials in the wood chips and the elevated temperature and pressure hydrolyze the cellulose and degrade it. In addition to the specific forms of microcrystalline cellulose, the present invention also contemplates the use of other cellulose derivatives, including microreticulated cellulose, also known as microreticulated microcrystalline cellulose, and powdered cellulose such as a commercial material sold as xe2x80x9cSolka Floc(copyright).xe2x80x9d
As discussed in greater detail below, the microcrystalline cellulose preferred for use in the present invention is microcrystalline cellulose which has an average particle size below about 100 microns, preferably microcrystalline cellulose which has been attrited or has an average particle size in the range of 1 to 50 microns, preferably 1 to 30 microns.
The microcrystalline cellulose and propylene glycol alginate may be blended in any suitable manner, such as dry blending. Dry blended microcrystalline cellulose, for example, Avicel(copyright) PH-105, average particle size 20 microns, and propylene glycol alginate have been found to provide coating compositions that are at least equal to, and in most cases, superior to coating compositions currently available commercially.
Propylene glycol alginate by itself is known to be a film forming hydrocolloid when an aqueous dispersion thereof is spread on a surface and allowed to dry. However, the film is considered to be too weak to provide a satisfactory coating. But, when a film forming amount thereof is blended with microcrystalline cellulose having, for example, a particle size below 100 microns, preferably in the range of about 1-50 microns, more preferably, about 1-30 microns and a strengthening polymer in accordance with the present invention, elegant, high performance coating formulations are provided.
For purposes of this invention, a film forming amount of propylene glycol alginate may be in the range of about 10% to about 50%, more specifically about 12% to about 50%, by dry weight of the coating composition. The propylene glycol alginate employed in the present invention may vary widely in viscosity. A typical high viscosity propylene glycol alginate is such that a 2% aqueous solution thereof has a viscosity in the range of 700 to 1800 mPa.s at 25xc2x0 C., and is commercially available as Protonal(copyright) ester SD-LB, Pronova/FMC Corporation. A typical low viscosity propylene glycol alginate is such that a 2% aqueous solution thereof has a viscosity in the range of 20 -30 mPa.s at 25xc2x0 C., and is commercially available as Profoam(copyright), Pronova/FMC Corporation.
High viscosity propylene glycol alginate is generally employed in a lower amount than that employed for low viscosity material, typically in the range of 10% to about 20% by dry weight of the coating composition, as illustrated in examples 1-6 below. Use of substantially higher amounts of high viscosity propylene glycol alginate may result in coating solutions which are too viscous, tend to plug coating equipment, and may not flow sufficiently to form a satisfactory coating. Low viscosity propylene glycol alginate conversely is generally used in a higher amount, typically in the range of 20% to 50% by dry weight of the coating composition, as illustrated in examples 7 through 30.
Propylene glycol alginate may be used in combination with other film forming materials, for example, carrageenan and cellulosic polymers such as HPMC and hydroxypropylcellulose.
Carrageenan, preferably iota carrageenan, may suitably be employed as a multifunctional component in combination with propylene glycol alginate at a concentration in the range of about 3% to about 20% of the dry weight of the coating composition. When carrageenan is employed in the composition at a concentration in the range of about 3% to about 8%, it is believed to serve primarily to improve the gloss of the resulting coating, that is, as a gloss enhancer. When used for this purpose the weight ratio of propylene glycol alginate to carrageenan is suitably in the range of about 2:1 to about 10:1.
Carrageenan may also be used at a level above about 9%, for example, at a concentration in the range of about 9% to about 20%, more specifically in the range of 10% to about 15%. At these levels it is believed to serve not only to improve gloss of the coating, but also to contribute film forming properties and to contribute to the strength and integrity of the resulting film coating. Depending on the weight ratio of propylene glycol alginate to carrageenan, carrageenan may be viewed to function as a co-film-former or as a supplemental or secondary film-former in the coating compositions. Such a weight ratio of propylene glycol alginate to carrageenan may be in the range of 2:1 to about 0.8:1. For example, when the weight ratio of propylene glycol alginate to carrageenan is in the range of about 1.5:1 to about 2:1, propylene glycol alginate may be considered to be the primary film-former and carrageenan the secondary film-former, as illustrated in examples 18 through 21 and 25 through 30. When approximately equal amounts of propylene glycol alginate and carrageenan are employed, that is, when the propylene glycol alginate to carrageenan weight ratio is, for example, in the range of about 1:08 to about 1:1.2, each of them may be considered to contribute relatively equal film forming properties to the resulting film coating, thus are considered to be co-film-formers as illustrated by examples 18 and 20-24.
The weight ratio of microcrystalline cellulose to propylene glycol alginate in the compositions of this invention may vary depending on the application, but generally range from about 90:10 to about 20:80, more specifically from about 80:20 to about 20:80. A particular advantage for the dry, physical blends is that the ratio can be easily changed by simple blending techniques rather than manufacturing different ratios of a coprocessed material. Thus, the dry, physical blends provide great flexibility for specific applications having different requirements.
A dry, physical blend of microcrystalline cellulose and a film forming amount of propylene glycol alginate, a strengthening polymer, preferably, hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC), are present in the coating formulation of this invention, advantageously in combination with other optional ingredients such as a plasticizer, a surfactant, a filler or a coloring agent, other conventional excipients or combinations thereof. Other strengthening polymers which can provide the same benefit and may be used instead of HEC include HPMC, hydroxypropylcellulose, ethylcellulose, methylcellulose and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), however care must be exercised in the use of such alternative materials to avoid retarding release of active ingredients and/or bioavailability.
The preferred amount of strengthening polymer is less than the total amount of microcrystalline cellulose and propylene glycol alginate present in the composition. Depending on the desired hardness of the coating, the strengthening polymer may be employed in the composition at a level of about 0.5% to about 30%, advantageously about 5% to 30% to provide strength and improved appearance to the coating. This strength can be demonstrated by casting films of coating formulations on a flat, non-adherent surface, cutting strips of uniform width from the casting, and subjecting the strips to tensile testing on, for example, an Instron Tensile Tester. The results of these tests show a very significant increase in tensile strength and decreased brittleness of the film when HEC or another strengthening polymer is included in the formulation. Strengthening polymers suitable for use in this invention, which will not retard release from tablets or other solid dosage forms, are those polymers having a viscosity equal to or less than 20 mPa.s in a 2% aqueous solution at 20xc2x0 C. When a strengthening polymer is employed in the composition in absence of a plasticizer, it is generally employed at about 15% to about 30% by dry weight coating composition, and HEC is preferably employed at about 20% to about 25% by dry weight of the formulation.
In addition to the foregoing ingredients, the compositions of this invention may also contain at least one of a plasticizer, a surfactant, a filler, a coloring agent or a combination of these additional components of the composition. Thus, a conventional plasticizer may also be included in the coating composition. Suitable plasticizers include polyethylene glycol, triacetin, dibutyl sebacate, propylene glycol, sorbitol, glycerin, and triethyl citrate. Of these, triacetin is preferred. These plasticizers may be employed in the coating compositions of the invention at about 18% to about 36% by dry weight of the coating composition, advantageously about 20% to about 30% by dry weight of the coating composition.
Fillers suitable for use in the compositions of the invention include, for example, calcium carbonate, dicalcium phosphate and carbohydrates, such as starch, maltodextrin, lactose, mannitol and other sugars or croscarmellose sodium. Of these, mannitol or maltodextrin is a preferred filler. Surfactants which are either anionic or nonionic may be used beneficially in the edible, hardenable coating compositions of the present invention. Useful surfactants may be, for example, sodium lauryl sulfate, hydroxylated soy lecithin, polysorbates, and block copolymers of propylene oxide and ethylene oxide. Coloring agents and opacifiers which may be used in these coatings or added to a suspension thereof include aluminum lakes, insoluble pigments, water soluble dyes, titanium dioxide, and talc. Stearic acid or a salt or ester thereof, may be included at a level of about 1% to about 5% by dry weight of the compositions to increase gloss of the coating, particularly when a plasticizer is not employed in the composition.
A coating formulation of this invention may be sold as a dry powder formulation or as a ready-to-use dispersion in water. For aqueous dispersions it is preferred that these be prepared under aseptic conditions. Heating the water to an elevated temperature, for example, 85xc2x0 C., prior to preparation of the dispersion has shown that bacteria, mold, and yeast growth are prevented for at least 48 hours on agar pour plates. Therefore, if the containers for the dispersion are properly sanitized and then kept closed after being filled until the dispersion is used, there is little likelihood of bacteria, mold, or yeast growing in the dispersion. Alternatively, if a formulation is to be sold as an aqueous dispersion to be stored for a period of time, a preservative may be added. A combination of methyl and/or propyl paraben has been found to be useful in this regard.
On a dry weight percentage basis the composition of this invention comprises from about 15% to about 50% of microcrystalline cellulose, about 10% to about 50% by weight of propylene glycol alginate, and about 5% to about 25% of strengthening polymer. If a plasticizer is employed, it is advantageously used at about 20% to about 30% by weight of the composition. The composition of the invention may also include an inert filler at about 2% to about 28% by weight. Optionally, about 1% to about 30% by weight of the formulation may comprise edible coloring agents and opacificiers such as talc or titanium dioxide, including from 1% to about 8% of coloring component such as a food dye or pigment, preferably about 1% to about 3%. Other optional ingredients may include a surfactant at about 0.5% to about 10%, advantageously 0.5 to about 7%, preferably 1.25% to 3% when a filler such as mannitol is present. When no filler is employed higher amounts of surfactants such as lecithin may be employed at a level of about 3% to about 20%. Preservatives, such as methyl paraben at 0.75% to 1.50% and/or propyl paraben at 0.075% to 0.15% may also be present in the formulation.
The low level of fillers present in these coating formulations, particularly when the opacifier is titanium dioxide, enables the formulator to utilize relatively small amounts of coloring agent. Since coloring agents are quite costly, this provides a significant cost reduction from those formulation requiring from 6% to about 16% to effectively color prior art coating formulations.
The viscosity of the hydrated formulation can be important. It ideally should be low enough to be pumped to a spray unit continuously and then sprayed evenly in a useful pattern onto the substrate being coated. A useful concentration of the dry ingredients in water on a weight percentage basis, therefore, may be about 6% to about 15%, advantageously 6.5% to 11%, preferably about 8% to about 11%. To assure uniformity of the coating composition, it may be preferable to maintain agitation of the aqueous dispersion during the entire period of its being sprayed onto the pharmaceutical or veterinary solid dosage forms, confectionery, seeds, animal feed, fertilizer, pesticide tablets, or food.
The preferred edible, hardenable, prompt release coating formulations of this invention may generally be prepared and used according to a simple procedure. A dry blend of microcrystalline cellulose and propylene glycol alginate, and a strengthening polymer, such as hydroxyethylcellulose, and optionally at least one additional ingredient, such as polyethylene glycol or other acceptable plasticizer, optionally together with a solid filler such as maltodextrin, lactose, mannitol or the like, preservatives, and/or surfactants are blended to form dry coating composition. Addition of edible coloring agents, for example, a water soluble dye or a pigment, may precede the hydration step required to prepare the final coating formulation. This dry mixture is then added slowly to the vortex of stirred, purified water. Stirring of this mixture is continued for a sufficient period to allow all of the components to be fully hydrated. If a colored coating material is required a water soluble dye or a pigment may also be added, preferably as a dispersion or solution, to the hydrated coating composition. Optionally surfactants, and/or plasticizers may also be added at this stage of the process.
In the formulations of microcrystalline cellulose and propylene glycol alginate, a simple propeller mixer provides adequate agitation for rapid hydration. The period of hydration may be as short as 0.5 hours. It may, and preferably should, be longer, but more than 3 hours is not believed to be necessary. Hydration can take place at room temperature or at elevated temperatures as high as 65.5xc2x0 C. (150xc2x0 F.), preferably at a temperature about 48.9xc2x0 C. (120xc2x0 F.). The time required for full hydration and the viscosity of the dispersion are both considerably reduced when the dispersion is prepared at an elevated temperature, but coating dispersions prepared at ambient temperature only require an increase in hydration time and a slight reduction in solids content to perform completely satisfactorily. As previously stated, these formulations may be prepared on the day preceding the coating operation, if that is more convenient; however, a period of mixing will be required to overcome the thixotropic behavior of a formulation which sets up during overnight storage. Unlike coating formulations based primarily on hydroxyalkyl ethers of cellulose, for example, HPMC, constant stirring of the microcrystalline and propylene glycol alginate-based formulations of this invention does not need to be continued throughout the coating procedure, but mixing may continue, if preferred.
Any commercial spray coater may be used to apply the coating. Examples of useful coaters are Vector High Coaters manufactured by Vector Corporation and Accela-Cota manufactured by Thomas Engineering. Equipment variables which one skilled in the art can manipulate to provide an elegant coating based on dry blends of microcrystalline cellulose and propylene glycol alginate, include inlet temperature, outlet temperature, air flow, speed of rotation of the coating pan, and the rate at which the coating formulation is pumped to the coater. It is important that the inlet and outlet temperatures be controlled so that they are high enough to efficiently dry the coating to prevent the tumbling action of the already-coated tablets from damaging the newly-applied coating before more coating is applied to the same tablets.
Hydroxyethylcellulose binds water more effectively than propylene glycol alginate does. Thus, the presence of the major amount propylene glycol alginate in the formulations of this invention has a significant effect on the speed of drying of the edible coatings. Drying times are reduced considerably because of the presence of the propylene glycol alginate which dilutes the negative effect of HEC on drying time. Thus, in the case of low melting active pharmaceutical agents, for example, ibuprofen, the outlet temperature can be reduced and still provide short enough drying time to be commercially useful.
Hydroxyethylcellulose is particularly susceptible to clogging spray nozzles at high temperatures. An additional benefit provided by the formulations of this invention is the avoidance of clogging of the spray nozzles with dispersions being sprayed at high temperatures.
The level of coating applied to pharmaceutical or veterinary dosage forms is preferably between about 0.5% to about 4% by weight of the uncoated dosage form, more preferably about 2% to about 3.5%, by weight of the uncoated dosage form. This level of coating will provide an elegant, serviceable coating to a wide variety of dosage forms. To apply a heavier coating to tablets would not be economical, and it might adversely affect disintegration of the tablets or other properties. Too light a coating would not provide optimal properties normally expected from a coating, for example, improved friability or adequate taste masking.
For confections the coating level should be about 5% to about 10% by weight of the uncoated confection. Seed coatings should be in the range of about 3% to about 6% by weight of the uncoated seeds. Fertilizers and pesticide tablets and granules benefit from coating of 1% to about 3%, by weight of the uncoated granules or tablets.
From the following examples is has been shown that the coatings of the present invention may be applied successfully to tablets having a wide variety of active ingredients incorporated therein. For example, it has been reported that multivitamin tablets are difficult to coat because of the lipophilic surface properties of the vitamins. Similarly, ibuprofen is a challenging active ingredient to coat. Tablets comprising both of these difficult-to-coat active ingredients have been coated readily with the instant invention, providing elegant tablets. Additionally, the coatings have been applied to tablets which have been debossed with letters or a logo without bridging which would hide, or even obliterate, the debossed design.
An additional utility of the coating formulations of this invention is as a replacement for sugar coating of tablets. A sugar coating is applied primarily to increase the weight and/or size of the tablet, but this is an old art which presents numerous problems. It is, therefore, desirable to replace the traditional sugar coating with a more easily applied coating. This coating procedure has the additional advantage that no topcoat is required to be applied as it is done with a sugar coating.
Storage of coated tablets under ambient temperature and humidity and 40xc2x0 C. and 75% relative humidity for one to three months has demonstrated that no significant degradation has occurred. These tablets have disintegrated within the same length of time as the same batch of newly coated tablets did, and in each case provided dissolution rates and times substantially equal to those of the uncoated tablets used as a substrate for coating. This is an additional unexpected benefit of the coatings based on propylene glycol alginate and microcrystalline cellulose, and it differs from the known drawbacks of coating formulations in which HPMC is the primary or only film-former.
All components of the formulation are typically pharmaceutically acceptable, edible food grade materials.


A self-aligning product delivery system including a vapor plate assembly and a ball joint assembly is provided. The vapor plate assembly has a vapor plate base portion with a vapor plate passage and a seating plate portion. The seating plate portion has a generally spherical segment shaped seating face defining an opening to the vapor plate passage. The ball joint assembly includes a ball joint base portion with a ball joint passage and an engaging portion. The engaging portion includes a generally spherical segment shaped joining surface. The spherical segment shaped joining surface of the engaging portion of the ball joint assembly is configured and arranged to rotationally mate with the spherical segment shaped seating face defining the opening of the vapor plate assembly to create a seal between the vapor plate assembly and the ball joint assembly.

A sealed filling connection and proper ventilation for displaced vapors and dusts is required when filling tanks such as rail tank cars, vehicle tanks, stationary tanks and the like with product such as, but not limited to, flammable or combustible liquids or material, valuable dusts, powders and the like. When filling a tank from the top, a boom, such as a hydraulic boom, is commonly used to position the filling hose and connector in an opening in the tank. Problems can occur when the boom does not properly align the connector causing the seal to not properly seat. For example, this misalignment can cause an escape of damaging or valuable vapors, dusts or powders into the atmosphere as well as the spillage of product being pumped into the tank. Therefore, a significant amount of time and effort may be needed to ensure the connection is properly aligned.
For the reasons stated above and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for an effective and efficient connection and venting system that self aligns.


A method of operating an internal combustion engine. The method includes disabling at least one piston cylinder of the engine. While said at least one piston cylinder is disabled, turbulence is selectively varied in an air intake pathway of an enabled piston cylinder, so as to vary charge motion within the enabled piston cylinder. The selective variation of turbulence is effected at a location in the air intake pathway between a throttle of the engine and an intake valve of the enabled cylinder.

By disabling some of the cylinders on an engine when the desired torque is relatively low (e.g., at idle or other situations), an engine can be operated at a higher manifold pressure to supply needed airflow to the operating cylinders. For example, the engine may be operated with a wider throttle while cylinders are disabled. This can reduce engine pumping losses and make the engine more efficient.
However, when an engine is run on less than all of its cylinders, the frequency of torque pulsations and the magnitude of those pulsations may be increased relative to operating the engine with all cylinders enabled. The low frequency and high magnitude torque pulsations can result in transmission of more vibration to vehicle occupants. Vehicle occupants may thus be more likely to perceive an undesirable amount of noise, vibration, harshness (NVH) during operating modes when cylinders are disabled.
In one approach, the above issue may be addressed by a method of operating an internal combustion engine, comprising:
disabling a first piston cylinder of the engine;
positioning a turbulence member in a first position while the first piston cylinder is disabled, the turbulence member being movably disposed in an air intake pathway between a throttle of the engine and an intake valve of an enabled piston cylinder; and
positioning the turbulence member in a second position while the first piston cylinder is disabled, where moving the turbulence member from the first position to the second position causes turbulence to vary in the air intake pathway.
In this way, it is possible to adjust combustion characteristics to at least partially compensate for potentially increased noise and/or vibration during partial cylinder operation, such as during lower torque and/or lower speed conditions.

Engine control with variable control valve


A theft detecting device has a position data-obtaining and communication arrangements which are energized after it is determined that “the automobile is stolen and is now in a stationary state” based on the signals from a state detecting means and time counter means. The communication arrangement transmits a theft notice data inclusive of the obtained position data to the owner and the like that are remote from the automobile or the like which has been stolen. After the data have been transmitted, the power source of the position data-obtaining means is again turned off to conserve battery power.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method and device for detecting the theft of a vehicle, that functions when a vehicle such as an automotive vehicle or the like type of mobile member/device, is stolen and is transported in a state where the main driving power is at rest (viz., the engine/motor is not running) and for detecting when the transportation of the stolen vehicle terminates.
2. Description of the Related Art
There have heretofore been proposed a variety of locks and alarm devices for detecting the theft of moving bodies such as automotive vehicles. However, in the event that these devices are deactivated when the vehicle is stolen, it is impossible to subsequently locate the vehicle after it has been driven or transported to another location.
In recent years, however, it has been made possible, as shown in FIG. 1, to specify the position of a mobile/moving body (hereinafter vehicle) by utilizing a GPS (global positioning system) as a position data-obtaining arrangement/means 14, along with a theft detector device which also utilizes the GPS.
To specify the location of the vehicle utilizing the GPS, however, it is essential that the vehicle 1 itself, includes the position data-obtaining means 14 that is capable of obtaining the necessary data related to the location of the vehicle from position data-offering means 50 (such as GPS satellite) and that the position data-obtaining means 14 is in operation. To operate the position data-obtaining means 14, a large amount of electrical power is necessary and, hence, it is a prerequisite that the main driving power 3 of the vehicle is usually in operation (the engine is running). However, the vehicle that is being stolen does not necessarily have its engine running, that is to say, does not have the main driving power 3 in operation, and is often transported with its main driving power at rest, by using a transporter such as a truck, a tow truck, a car carrier or the like.
In order to operate the position data-obtaining means in a state where the main driving power of the vehicle is at rest, there is no alternative but to directly supply electric power to the position data-obtaining means from a battery 4 of the vehicle. Therefore, if the position data-obtaining means 14 is maintained in operation at all times even when the main driving power 3 of the vehicle 1 is at rest, electric power continues to be consumed at all times even while the vehicle is parked for extended periods of time thus inducing the problem of completely discharging the battery 4.
FIG. 2 shows an arrangement for solving this problem. There has been proposed a device for detecting the theft as taught in, for example, Japanese Patent No. 2665478. Namely, in case an abnormal condition such as the theft of the vehicle is detected in a state where the vehicle 1 is parking for extended periods of time with the main driving power 3 at rest, the electric power is supplied from a battery 4 to a unit (e.g., navigation ECU) that corresponds to position data-obtaining means 14 to obtain the data related to the position of the vehicle, and the obtained data of position is transmitted from communication means 15 to the owner of the vehicle or to a security company (hereinafter referred to as owner or the like) via a data intermediation unit 30. Namely, according to the above prior art, the electric power is not constantly supplied to the position data-obtaining means 14 in a state where the main driving power 3 of the vehicle 1 is at rest but, instead, the electric power is supplied only at selected times when abnormal condition such as the theft or the like is detected by the theft detector arrangement, to suppress-attenuate the discharge of the battery 4.
According to the prior art (1) shown in FIG. 1, however, the electric power is supplied to the position data-obtaining means 14 at all times, even in a state where the main driving power is at rest. Even according to the prior art (2) shown in FIG. 2, the electric power is maintained supplied to the position data-obtaining means 14 after the abnormal condition is detected arousing a problem in that the electric power of the battery 4 continues to be drained and the battery is quickly discharged. If this known position data-obtaining means 14 is used, the battery 4 tends to be discharged in several hours on average after it has started operating, whereby the position data-obtaining means 14 no longer continues to function, making it impossible to obtain or transmit the data related to the position of the vehicle 1 that is stolen/stolen.
What is important in case the vehicle 1 is stolen is that the position of the vehicle 1 is reliably transmitted to the owner and the like, so that the owner and the like may recover the vehicle. At present where systematic thefts are rampant, several days or longer are, in many cases, required before the vehicle can be located after the occurrence of the theft. Therefore, it is a problem if the battery 4 becomes discharged in a number of hours following the theft and the position data-obtaining means no longer works. Further, in order to discover the vehicle 1 that is stolen, it is important to know the position where the vehicle has finally stopped moving after having been transported rather than to be informed of the constantly changing position of during the transport.

Device for detecting the theft/theft of a vehicle and method of detecting the theft


A handle for a handheld terminal includes a first interface module, a first key module, a first power supply module, and a base handle module. The handle couples with the handheld terminal. The handle makes a wireless connection with the handheld terminal the first interface module or a wired connection with the handheld terminal via the first interface module. The first key module includes one or more user operation command keys. The first power supply module supplies power for the handle. The handle is operable with one hand.

Field
The present disclosure relates to a handle, in particular to a handle for mobile phone or other handheld terminals that can be used in taking photographs and creating videos.
Description of the Related Art
Handheld terminals, such as mobile phones, are becoming ever more widely used. With the advances in science and technology, the quality of camera technology in handheld terminals taking photos and creating video has improved.
As mobile phone photos or videos have become easier and convenient for timely viewing, transfer and sharing, users of handheld terminals are inspired to take more photos or videos with their handheld terminals. For many people, the frequency of mobile phone shooting has exceeded that of photos taken using a conventional camera. However, a typical mobile phone camera may have features that are not optimized for photography. For example, many handheld terminals are characterized by inconvenient operation, such as poor gripping, and by poor shooting effects. Also, with some handheld terminals, it may be difficult to take photos or videos with one hand.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A variable-pitch marine propeller system has a propeller unit for mounting on a drive shaft, and a power unit including a stationary annular hydraulic cylinder for operating the propeller unit, a hydraulic remote control unit being fluid-coupled to the power unit. An annular piston of the hydraulic cylinder is coupled to a ring-shaped actuator yoke by a roller thrust bearing, the actuator yoke axially displacing a mating yoke of the propeller unit with which the actuator yoke is allowed to rotate. The piston operates in a sealed environment for the exclusion of water from the separately sealed surfaces of the cylinder itself. In one configuration, the propeller unit is replaceable without disturbing the sealed environment of the annular piston. The control unit includes a hydraulic control cylinder that is operated by a rotatably mounted barrel that engages a threaded piston rod. Alternatively, the control cylinder is actuated by a lever having biasing springs and an adjustable brake.

The present invention relates to propeller propulsion devices, and more particularly to variable pitch propeller devices for marine craft such as inboard and outboard pleasure boats, yachts and fishing boats.
Variable pitch aircraft propellers are well known, implementations including hydraulic actuators being disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,425,261 to Murphy et al., 2,554,611 to Biermann, and 4,362,467 to the present inventor. The '467 patent, which is incorporated herein by this reference, discloses a mounting flange for mounting to the propeller shaft flange of an engine, a hub for pivotally supporting a plurality of blades on respective radial axes, and a stationary annular hydraulic cylinder and piston between the mounting flange and the hub, the piston being connected by a yoke and transverse pin to a longitudinal rack member that engages respective pinions of the blades to rotate same through a wide angle of approximately 90.degree..
Typical marine propeller installations include a rearwardly extending propeller shaft on which is mounted a one-piece propeller having an annular hub portion, the shaft extending through the hub and threadingly engaging a retainer nut. The hub is secured against rotation relative to the shaft such as by splined engagement or by one or more keys or shear pins.
The aircraft propeller implementation of the '467 patent, while having certain advantages including the stationary annular hydraulic cylinder, is unsuitable for use in typical marine applications for a number of reasons. For example:
1. The shaft interferes with placement and movement of the yoke pin and the rack member;
2. The rear of the hub, including a biasing spring mechanism therein, interferes with access to the nut whereby the hub would be secured to the shaft;
3. The hub and blades would be difficult to remove for servicing and/or replacement in case of damage by underwater hazards; and
4. The device would be subject to water damage in that hub is unsealed, and the piston seals would have to operate in a wet environment.
Thus there is a need for a variable pitch marine propeller that is effective for providing a wide angular range, that is compatible with existing fixed-pitch installations, that is easy to service, repair, and replace, and is resistant to water damage.


According to the inventive method, call back information is transmitted to a telephone network via an internet terminal using a click-to-dial service. In order to verify the information, the telephone network extracts internet terminal specific information from the access server via the internet. After comparing the call number information which is contained in the call back information and in the internet terminal specific information, the return call is initiated or suppressed. Return calls to subscribers who do not want to be called are thus suppressed.

Internet services are currently widely used in which it is possible to use the Internet to initiate a return call, which is normally not at the expense of the customer. Examples of these Internet services include click-to-dial applications, wake-up calls activated via the Internet, and conferences activated via the Internet.
When a request is made for a telephone return call, the call number of one's own connection must be stated. Return calls which are activated incorrectly by stating incorrect information face unnecessary loads, in a manner similar to misuse, on the switching and transmission resources in the communications networks and with the service provider. As a result, terminals and their users are called back who do not wish to be called back. Furthermore, in the case of services where the customer bears the costs, for example for an R call, the service provider will incur additional costs for incorrectly routed calls. In addition, attention must be paid to legal protection and to the reliability of the callback information in order, for example, to avoid repeated undesired return calls.
One precaution against such misuse is to restrict the risk of false details by previous registration or subscription of the subscribers. However, this solution does not allow immediate use of the service by any given Internet users and would therefore prevent customers from using the service. For example, click-to-dial services, which provide for immediate use by any given customers, would be impossible.

Method for verifying telephone call back information for return calls which are initiated via the internet


The disclosed invention provides a portable information terminal making it possible to easily transmit a plurality of kinds of information. The portable information terminal allows its user to select information categories to transmit from items stored as personal and/or schedule information in its memory. The selected categories are associated with one of data class of business use, private use, and the like. When the user selects the name and instructs the terminal to transmit, the terminal reads the information belonging to selected categories of the data class from the memory and transmits them, according to the specified transmission distance or destinations.

The present invention relates to portable information terminals capable of transmitting and receiving information, such as personal digital assistants (PDA) and cellular phones, and an information transmitting method.
Such a PDA with a business card exchange function is known that transmits user-entered business card information stored on it to another person's portable information terminal, using infrared frequencies. In addition, such a cellular phone is known that can transmit personal information about someone else or the phone user, or a schedule stored in the telephone directory of the phone to another cellular phone.
JP-A-137774/2000 disclosed an IC card characterized in that the information categories to transmit can alter according to the distance from the transmitting terminal to the receiving terminal device as the transmitter approaches the receiver.
When transmitting personal information to another person's terminal, using the above-described portable information terminals, it is desirable to alter the information specifics to transmit, according to the situation such as business or private contacts or how close the caller is to the called person or party.
However, the above-described PDA and cellular phone simply transmits the personal information stored in its memory to another terminal and does not allow for alteration of information categories according to the destination. Thus, if the user inputted not only office and home telephone numbers and e-mail addresses but also his or her birthday and blood type to the terminal, the terminal transmits all these information stored in its memory to the specified destination when it connects to another terminal, whoever the recipient is. The above-described portable information terminals do not allow the user to easily alter the information specifics to be transmitted, according to the situation or the destination and a problem was posed that they have limitations in usability.
The IC card described in JP-A-137774/2000 has two memories and the memory to access changes, according to the distance from the transmitter to the receiver, thereby changing the information specifics to transmit. Thus, by applying this method to a portable information terminal and storing different kinds of information into different memories of the terminal, the information specifics to transmit can be altered by the distance of transmission. However, a problem of this method is that the number of memories must be increased as the number of kinds of information to transmit increases.

Portable information terminal and information transmitting method


Methods, systems, and program products for analyzing cyber-attacks on computing systems of a business are disclosed. The methods may include detecting each of the plurality of cyber-attacks. The plurality of cyber-attacks may target information systems stored on at least one information technology (IT) component of an infrastructure of the computing system of the business. The methods may also include determining cyber-attack data relating to the plurality of cyber-attacks, identifying a business impact on the business for each of the plurality of cyber-attacks. The identified business impact on the business for the plurality of cyber-attacks may be based on predetermined business impact data and the determined cyber-attack data. Additionally, the method may include prioritizing the plurality of cyber-attacks attempted on the computing system based on the identified business impact on the business for each of the plurality of cyber-attacks.

The evaluation of computer-based system security has become a very relevant subject, especially for those who use computer systems to support critical business missions or to store confidential information. However, with the increased reliance on computer-based systems by businesses, computer-based system security continues to be crucial in protecting business operations; especially as computer-based systems become more complex, interconnected, pervasive, and are frequently threatened by many types of attacks (e.g., cyber-attacks). These attacks are unavoidable, as the root causes for them are tied up to human aspects that cannot be removed (e.g., intention to cause harm, intention to steal information, etc.), and the losses that attacks can cause to their targets, when successful, can be very significant and/or detrimental to businesses.
While security measures, systems, and/or programs exist, the conventional systems operate with very linear processes that do not take into account other information and/or data when processing these attacks. For example, an intrusion detection system (IDS) is one of the solutions deployed to monitor the network or systems for malicious activity or policy violations. Once the IDS detects an activity or violation it usually reports to an administrator or to a central log using a security information and event management (STEM) system. The SIEM system collects outputs from multiple sources, and uses alarm filtering techniques to distinguish malicious activity from false alarms. In general, IDS and/or SIEM systems identify detected attack on high levels of the computer-based systems (e.g., infrastructure or component level). Additionally in conventional security systems, the attacks and associated risks can only be identified based on predefined framework. These predefined frameworks are specific to the high level detect or analysis of the computer-based system and do not consider additional information (e.g., external or supplemental information independent of the computer-based system under attack) when detecting attacks. Finally, conventional security systems may only detect and/or analyze attacks on computer-based systems one at a time. As such, a computer-based system under multiple, simultaneous attacks may be more vulnerable and/or negatively impacted by the attacks because of detection limitations or capabilities (e.g., single attack detection) of conventional security systems for computer-based systems.

Methods, systems, and program product for analyzing cyber-attacks based on identified business impacts on businesses

International Business Machines Corporation


A caller identification displaying method in a key-phone system includes the steps of generating a ring signal if there is a ring received from an office line, and receiving and registering a caller identification during a pause period of the ring signal, requesting a password if a caller identification key is input, and displaying the registered caller identification information if the input password corresponds to a registered password. Therefore, after receiving and storing a caller identification for an abandoned call for the pause period of a ring signal, when an office line caller gives up a call after a ring is received from an office line, if a subscriber presses a caller identification key for verifying the caller's abandoned number, the caller identification for the abandoned call is displayed. Therefore, it is possible to recognize a telephone number of the caller who abandons his or her call. In addition, the recognized telephone number can be automatically dialed only by pressing the dial key without manually dialing digits of the caller identification.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to telephone keyphone circuits and processes generally, and more particularly, to circuits and processes for displaying a caller identification for an abandoned call in an exchange system, as well as to circuits and processes for displaying a caller identification on a display device in case when a caller from an office line hangs up the call since there is no response after receiving and storing the caller identification when a ring is received in a key-phone system.
2. Background Art
Generally, a key phone system includes a plurality of telephone stations and a central key service unit (KSU) which interconnects the telephones with each other and to a selected one of a plurality of central office lines. The KSU provides control functions for the key-phone system and establishes communication paths between telephone stations. Each telephone station is provided with a hold button and a plurality of sets of central office lamps and buttons, each set corresponding on a one-to-one basis to the central office lines. The central office lamps allow the subscriber or user to visualize the status of each individual central office line. A central office lamp turns off while the central office line is idle, turns on while the central office line is in use, flashes slowly while the central office line is being held, and flashes rapidly while an incoming call is being received over the central office line. The central office buttons are available for selecting and seizing any of the central office lines. The KSU detects an operation of the central office buttons which may occur at any telephone set so as to connect the telephone station to the selected central office line. Examples of such a key telephone system are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,570,035 for Programmable Key Telephone System issued to Pinede et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,682,353 for Key Telephone System issued to Inoue et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,513,256 for Key Telephone System issued to Komuro.
Depending upon its sophistication and complexity, a key phone system can provide a wide variety of system features. One notable feature is to display a message from a caller or a name of the caller when the subscriber is absent to response to the call as disclosed, for example, in Japanese Laid-Open No. 2-186894 for Key Telephone System issued to Hiyama, and Japanese Laid-Open No. 2-127846 for Key Telephone System issued to Okamoto. Caller identification information which is commonly available for conventional telephone system may also be adapted for key phone systems when the user is subscribed to the caller identification service. In a typical telephone system, the caller identification information is added to the ring signal at a telephone exchange system as a service. Thereafter, the telephone number of the caller is displayed on a telephone set of the subscriber after the telephone number information is decoded to the telephone number of the caller. As a result, the subscriber can identify the caller before the subscriber picks up a handset of the telephone system to answer the call. Exemplary telephone systems with caller identification are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,365,145 for Alphanumeric Caller Identification Telephone issued to Lim, U.S. Pat. No. 5,398,279 for Telephone Apparatus With Calling Line Identification issued to Frain, U.S. Pat. No. 5,446,785 for Telephone Terminal Equipment In Which Telephone Numbers Of Callers Are Displayed issued to Hirai, U.S. Pat. No. 5,452,346 for Telephone Apparatus With Caller Identification issued to Miyamoto, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,467,385 for Calling Number Display And Recording System issued to Reuben et al.
When the key phone system is subscribed to the caller identification service, however, the caller identification information is typically displayed on a display unit of a key phone terminal only while a ring is received in the key phone system. The caller identification information is not displayed on the display unit of the key phone terminal after the caller abandons his or her call for any reasons including when there is no answer from the subscriber. If the caller abandons or hangs up the call, as I have observed, the key phone system including a KSU and a plurality of extension line subscriber terminals is not equipped to allow the subscriber to verify the identity of the caller who quickly abandons his or her call primarily because of the complexity and difficulty of coordinating communications between the KSU and the extension line subscriber terminals.

Method of displaying caller identification for abandoned call in key-phone system


A package-conveying apparatus, which is useful with a wrapping-machine of a type capable of wrapping a package with stretch film from a roll moving in an annular path, comprises an elongate table with two front ledges, a pair of endless belts for conveying a package toward the ledges, and a pair of package pushers. Each pusher includes a leg with a pivotable foot, a double-acting piston-cylinder mechanism for driving the leg frontwardly and backwardly, and a double-acting piston-cylinder mechanism for pivoting the foot upwardly into an operative position and downwardly into an inoperative position. In the operative position, the foot can engage a package to enable the leg when driven frontwardly to push the package from the endless belts onto and from the ledges. In the inoperative position, the foot clears a package on the endless belts when the leg is driven backwardly.

In a wrapping machine of the type noted above, a roll of stretch film is driven around a ring structure defining an annular path so that stretch film from the roll is wrapped around a package. If the package is a relatively short package, such as a carton not substantially longer than the wrapping machine, it is known to wrap the package while the package is resting on a support, such as a bed of rollers within the ring structure. If the package is a relatively long package, such as one or more pieces of lumber, pipe, or tubing or a roll of textile or carpeting, it is known to wrap the package in a spiral pattern as the package is being conveyed through the wrapping machine, as by an input conveyor, a bed of rollers within the wrapping machine, and an output conveyor.
As exemplified by Model MSB Mima.TM. Stretch Bundlers, wrapping machines of the type noted above are available commercially from ITW Mima (a unit of Illinois Tool Works Inc.) of Boca Raton, Fla. Machines of related interest are disclosed in prior patents including Brown et al. U.S. Pat. No. 2,864,303, Lancaster et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,110,957, Lancaster et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,178,734, Lancaster et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,317,322, Bergling et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,563,857, and Kovacs U.S. Pat. No. 5,027,581.
There has been a need, to which this invention is addressed, for a package-conveying apparatus useful with a packaging machine of the type noted above and capable of conveying a relatively short package, such as a carton not substantially longer than the wrapping machine, into the wrapping machine before the package is wrapped and from the wrapping machine after the package has been wrapped.

Package-conveying apparatus comprising endless member conveyor and pushers


A station for a network apparatus, which includes interconnected by a communication link, includes a network connection; a self assessment module operable to determine a current status of the station including a measure of the stations available resources; a trust list that includes a station identifier for each other station which is designated as trusted to perform tasks for the station; and a broadcast unit operable to transmit service requests to the network. The service requests are directed to each other station in the trust list and request each other station to perform a task. The station also includes an answer unit operable to receive service requests from the network and transmit an acceptance or refusal message in response to the service request. The acceptance or refusal is decided based on the current status of the station as determined by the self assessment module.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a computer network comprising a plurality of interconnected stations, more especially to the distribution of tasks between stations of a network in order to improve performance of the stations as viewed as a whole.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a computer network, each station, node or terminal will have its own tasks to perform. It is also the case that, in use, there will wide fluctuations in usage across the stations. Because of this, various schemes have been developed to increase the performance of a station by utilising spare capacity in other stations of the network that may otherwise lie idle. The present invention relates to one such scheme.


A corner reinforcement gusset with a radial or other shaped cutout at an internal corner of the gusset. The cutout can alleviate the stresses at that corner and reduce failure. The gusset can therefore better reinforce an enclosure or other object to maintain the structural stability of the object better than prior art gussets.

Cabinets and other enclosures are common structures for enclosing contents for selective retrieval. Cabinets often include drawers or swinging doors that allow a user to access the cabinet interior when needed and keep the contents enclosed when the contents are not needed. For example, a roll cab is a common cabinet used for enclosing tools, fasteners, and other hardware. Roll cabs often include wheels or other functionality that allow the cabinet to be moved by the user.
Roll cabs and other enclosures are often shaped as a cube or rectangular prism, and therefore include corners where different faces of the enclosure meet. These corners become a concentrated point for stress on the enclosure. For example, a stress applied to one face of the enclosure will be applied to another face of the enclosure where the two faces meet. The corner can therefore include three different faces meeting at the same point, providing a point of concentrated stress based on the movement or torque applied to any of the three faces.
Reinforcement gussets are known and used to reinforce enclosure corners. These gussets are typically L-shaped and are attached to a horizontal and vertical edge of the enclosure to reinforce the corner. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, existing reinforcement gussets 600 include a first portion 605 and a second portion 610 connected by a central portion 615. The gusset 600 includes an outer corner 620 and an inner corner 625. While reinforcing an enclosure, prior art gussets 600 were shown to fail most often at the inner corner 625.


A method of coupling organic and inorganic cosmetic materials is disclosed. Spherical shaped powders have beneficial characteristics as applied to cosmetics. These characteristics include uniform reflectivity, improved dispersion and superior viscosity characteristics in the final product. Coupling inorganic pigments to organic microspheres provides the benefits associated with the microspheres and allows a greater loading of inorganics into a cosmetic without sacrificing the benefits of the microspheres.

Since prehistoric times, when body paint was first being applied, separation of Pigments and other components in paints and dyes has led to inconsistent colors and non-uniform applications of make-up. Separation and settling is a well-known phenomenon in liquid systems that results in diminished shelf-life, non-uniform colors and ineffectual application of make-up. Separation can also take place in Powder mixtures with the less dense material tending to concentrate in the upper volume of the mixture.

Method of coupling cosmetic materials and cosmetics containing coupled materials


It is disclosed a method of applying a coating (12) with a controlled laser metal forming process. A light source with a specific power and a signal capturing apparatus is moved over an article (1) to form locally a melt pool (7) on the surface (5) of the article (1) to which a coating powder (8) is injected. An optical signal (13) is captured from the melt pool (7), and the monitored optical signal (13) is used for the determination of the temperature and temperature fluctuations of the melt pool (7). Furthermore, a control system (16) is used to adjust at least one process parameter such as the power of the light source to obtain desired melt pool properties. Subsequently the melt pool (7) solidifies. The high degree of control over the microstructure provides an efficient tool for generating laser metal formed hard coatings (12) with optimised wear properties.

In the last years laser metal forming (LMF) has been introduced in industrial manufacturing. Laser metal forming is a process where a high power laser locally melts a focussed stream of metal powder or a metal wire onto a substrate. In this way material can be added to the underlying part. The method is suitable for controlled material build-up and the laser generated parts are characterised by a dense microstructure which is usually free of pores.
Laser metal forming has been recently used for commercial manufacturing of superalloy components due to its attractive potential for repair of locally damaged or worn parts. Indeed, it is possible to selectively add material at desired locations and to re-establish the full functionality of a component. It is clear that laser repair technology is particularly attractive for the refurbishment of expensive parts that are affected by local damage or local mechanical wear. Turbine or compressor components such as blades and vanes are typical examples.
During laser metal forming substrate material is locally molten and powder (or wire) is injected into the melt pool with a suitable powder (or wire) feeder mechanism. After a certain interaction time (which is determined by the laser spot size and the relative movement between laser and substrate) the molten material resolidifies leading to material build-up on the substrate.
So far, several patents have been issued for the laser metal forming process. The basic principle is described in EP-A1-0 558 870, DE-C1-199 49 972, DE-C1-198 53 733, U.S. Pat. No. 5,873,960, U.S. Pat. No. 5,622,638 or U.S. Pat. No. 4,323,756.
The application of epitaxial material build-up for protective coatings is covered by U.S. Pat. No. 6,277,500, applications for generation or refurbishment of single crystal components are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,024,792, EP-A1-0 740 977, WO95/35396 or U.S. Pat. No. 5,914,059. Except U.S. Pat. No. 6,024,792 none of these patents mentions the significance of temperature information from the melt pool in order to obtain a desired microstructure. U.S. Pat. No. 6,024,792 states that the laser power has to be set in a way to obtain adequate values for temperature gradient G and solidification velocity Vs, in order to obtain epitaxial growth on the substrate, however does not suggest a method for automatic laser power control in order to obtain a specific microstructure which results in optimum hardness or wear properties or for avoiding melt pool convections.
Another patent application, WO95/06540 suggests the use of a pyrometer for interactive laser welding of super alloy articles measuring the substrate pre-heating temperature.
The collection of optical signals from the melt pool is also depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 6,122,564. In this patent, an optical monitoring system is connected to a feed-back controller in order to adjust the material deposition rate depending on the indicated height of previously deposited material.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,311,099 an apparatus for regulating laser welding parameters is suggested that uses optical signals from the interaction zone. In this patent the optical signal is generated by near infrared radiation originating from the weld pool. The radiation is detected by a CCD camera and processed in order to obtain information about the physical dimensions of the melt pool.
Previous inventions have not combined the laser metal forming process with this high degree of process control. Some superficially similar patents such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,212,900, U.S. Pat. No. 4,750,947, U.S. Pat. No. 4,015,100 do not utilise the same LMF process, and therefore suffer the disadvantages of necessitating a two step coating-melting process or of not incorporating the addition of coating material as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,659,479.
Those patents such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,644,127, U.S. Pat. No. 4,981,716, U.S. Pat. No. 5,208,431 or U.S. Pat. No. 5,889,254 utilising the powder and laser beam combination do not aim to monitor the melt condition during the process and are therefore unable to attain a comparable degree of process control. U.S. Pat. No. 5,449,536 explaining the laser deposition of a powder-based hard coating does not attempt to melt the workpiece, and instead relies on the agglomeration of heated powder particles to create a coating layer. Some previous work has used a similar coaxial laser/pyrometer signal arrangement (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,486,667). However the application in this case relates to laser cutting and machining and, moreover, the pyrometer is monitoring the plasma plume rather than the melt pool; in the present invention, which utilises solely a conduction heating regime, there is no plasma plume. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,985,056), a continuous feedback system is used to monitor "a measured parameter" and to control the laser beam power. However if used in this case, a pyrometer signal measured only the bulk workpiece temperature, rather than the melt pool, and spectroscopic measurements of process light were not used to monitor the melt pool temperature.

Method for controlling the microstructure of a laser metal formed hard layer


Method for maintenance of high-voltage switchgear/fuses in an installation, which method is performed while the switchgear/installation is under operation/voltage. It is further provided a device for carrying out the method, which device includes screening plates 20A-C, which screening plates are provided with maneuvring means 22 and 25, fastening means 23 and 24 for fastening of the screening plates to the switchgear cell/installation and means for disconnecting the switch 27, 28A-B.

Electrical network/installations include high-voltage switchgears, as an example in network stations, i.e. distributing stations which, usually by step-down transformation, supplies distribution nets with low voltage or which opposite transforms the voltage up. High-voltage is usually supplied to these network stations, which accordingly is transformed down to the correct voltage which is distributed out to the users, i.e. households and companies. All such installations include equipment which needs maintenance. Examples of such equipment are diverter switch and disconnecting switch which are used to connect/disconnect the different distribution loops that a transformer is connected to. Today, different solutions for cleaning such installations exist, e.g. with respect to dust etc. in a network station.
It is related great danger for personnel working in connection with such installations. It is thus related stringent demands to work in connection with high-voltage installations, and these demands are, among other factors, governed by "Regulations of safety during work in and operation of high-voltage installations, Section 33" in the "Law for supervision of electrical installations and electrical equipment, with instructions and guidance", which regards for Norway.
In relation to work under voltage it is required that you use, among other things, insulated tools and some examples of such tools are shown in DE10356887, which describes a tool set of equipment for work under voltage.
Today, however no solutions exists which are related to maintenance of high-voltage switchgears in an installation, while the switchgear/installation is under operation, i.e. under voltage. This is something that is wanted; since maintenance of this kind requires that the parts of the installation are disconnected, as for example a network station, before maintenance is performed. This is something that causes unnecessary costs for power companies, since the adjacent parts of the installation (network stations) must be reconnected to supply the network loop which is connected to the current part of the installation, which is to be maintained with voltage. This results in increased labour costs and in some cases, also loss of incomes if the current distribution loop not can be supplied with energy via other parts of the installation (network stations).

Method and device for maintenance of high-voltage switchgear with voltage


According to the present invention, there is provided a method of monitoring a fluid in a fluid carrying conduit comprising the steps of: monitoring a fluid characteristic at a first point and second point along the conduit substantially continuously; determining first and second quantities, being related to a differential with respect to time of the value of the fluid characteristic at the first and second points respectively; combining the first and second quantities to produce a two dimensional intensity function of time and a position variable and analyzing the magnitude of the intensity function to derive information relating to the fluid. The intensity function may represent a substantially continuous probability function, wherein its absolute value is related to the probability of a leak or theft having occurred in the conduit. Furthermore, a method of determining the presence and location of leaks in, or thefts from, the conduit by determining whether or not the magnitude of the intensity function satisfies pre-determined criteria is disclosed. A method of determining the speed of pressure waves propagating through a fluid flowing in a fluid carrying conduit by analyzing the two dimensional intensity function is also disclosed. An apparatus suitable for performing all of the above mentioned methods is also claimed.

It is often necessary to convey fluids such as water and oil over large distances and, as such, these fluids often flow under pressure through a dedicated system of pipes. Such pipes are susceptible to leaks and it is vital that such leaks are identified and located as soon as possible to avoid excessive fluid loss and further damage to the pipe. However, typically, at least part of these systems is inaccessible being situated, for example, under ground. Therefore there is a need for a method of monitoring the fluid flow in such pipes which will allow for easy determination, and accurate location, of leaks.
When a leak occurs in a conduit carrying fluid under pressure, there will be a pressure loss at the point of the leak and a pressure wave will propagate from that point in both directions along the pipe. One known method of determining the time of arrival of a pressure wave front propagating through a fluid in a conduit is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,455. The disclosed method involves monitoring the absolute value of the fluid pressure in the conduit at two points. Typically, in the case of steady conditions and no leaks, owing to turbulence in the fluid the pressure measured will not be a constant but will fluctuate about an average value. Once the pressure wave front from a leak reaches the points at which the pressure is being monitored the measured pressure will decrease, although the raw data will continue to be noisy. The method according to the prior art uses a least squares fit in order to determine the point at which the average value of the pressure starts to fall. In principle, by comparing the time at which this occurs at the two points on the conduit, if the speed of propagation of the pressure waves in the fluid is known then, assuming that the source of the measured pressure wave was a leak, the position of said leak can be determined using time of flight information.
However, this method suffers from a number of problems when used to determine the presence and location of leaks. The above mentioned prior art method involves the measurement of a pressure wave front and it must be assumed that the source of said pressure wave was a leak or theft from the pipe. That is to say that other sources of pressure waves, for example, external vibration or banging of the pipe or transient waves from the packing of the pipe, may give rise to false alarms. Furthermore, the method involves the output of discrete events which correspond to wave front arrival at the point at which pressure is monitored.
Another known method uses flow meters to monitor the rate of flow of fluid at set points on the conduit. However, the output of such monitors must be integrated over a suitable time period in order to detect a flow discrepancy. As such, there is necessarily a time delay between the leak occurring and a positive determination that is has occurred.
It is an object of the present invention to at least partially overcome or alleviate the above problems.


Provided are mechanisms and methods for managing a risk of access to an on-demand service as a condition of permitting access to the on-demand service. These mechanisms and methods for providing such management can enable embodiments to help prohibit an unauthorized user from accessing an account of an authorized user when the authorized user inadvertently loses login information. The ability of embodiments to provide such management may lead to an improved security feature for accessing on-demand services.

The subject matter discussed in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its mention in the background section. Similarly, a problem mentioned in the background section or associated with the subject matter of the background section should not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter in the background section merely represents different approaches, which in and of themselves may also be inventions.
In conventional database systems, users access their data resources in one logical database. A user of such a conventional system typically retrieves data from and stores data on the system using the user's own systems. A user system might remotely access one of a plurality of server systems that might in turn access the database system. Data retrieval from the system might include the issuance of a query from the user system to the database system. The database system might process the request for information received in the query and send to the user system information relevant to the request.
There is often a desire to provide security to the aforementioned database systems. To date, however, these systems have been vulnerable to attacks such as phishing and other techniques used to access an account of a user. For example, such systems may become vulnerable when login information of a user is obtained using a phishing site or a keystroke logger. As a result, the user account and organizations associated with the account are vulnerable to attack.


The present invention provides methods and devices for obtaining percutaneous access, maintaining hemostasis, and providing closure of openings in tissues of the body. In particular, the present invention provides methods and devices for maintaining hemostasis and providing closure surgical incisions of the left ventricular apex of the heart.

Historically, human heart valves have been replaced using open heart surgery involving the heart/lung machine and excision of the native aortic valve and suture placement of the new valve prosthesis. New technology has been developed to enable valve replacement "percutaneously," or through a "transapical" procedure, using a device with a valve inside a stent placed within the patient's native aortic valve. Percutaneous valve procedures pertain to making small incisions in the skin to allow direct access to peripheral vessels or body channels to insert catheters. Transapical valve procedures pertain to making a small incision in or near the apex of a heart to allow valve access. Transapical procedures present an advance in cardiac care as they provide faster patient recovery, shorter procedure time, and larger addressable patient population without the need for sternotomy or cardiopulmonary bypass. These procedures still require hemostasis and pacing during the procedure and generally utilize sutures for closure. The distinction between percutaneous valve procedures and minimally invasive procedures is also highlighted in a recent position statement of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS), and the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI; Vassiliades Jr. T A, Block P C, Cohn L H, Adams D H, Borer J S, Feldman T, Holmes D R, Laskey W K, Lytle B W, Mack M F, Williams D O. The clinical development of percutaneous heart valve technology: a position statement by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS), and the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI). J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2005; 129:970-6). Because minimally invasive approaches require smaller incisions, they generally allow for faster patient recovery with less pain and bodily trauma. This, in turn, reduces the medical costs and the overall disruption to the life of the patient. The use of minimally invasive approaches, however, introduces new complexities to surgery. An inherent difficulty in the minimally invasive percutaneous approach is the limited space that is available within the vasculature. Unlike open heart surgery, percutaneous heart surgery offers a surgical field that is only as large as the diameter of the blood vessel used for access. Consequently, the introduction of tools and prosthetic devices becomes a great deal more complicated as compared to open-chest surgeries. The device must be dimensioned and configured to permit it to be introduced into the vasculature, maneuvered therethrough, and positioned at a desired location. This may involve passage through significant convolutions, at some distance from the initial point of introduction, before placement can be made at the intended site. The existing technology is still in an early phase of development, as is the procedure for placement of these devices. One route of access, through the femoral arteries, is limited because of vascular disease involving these vessels and the size of the devices to be placed is largely relative to the small diameter vessels. Transapical placement, through the apex of the left ventricle, has been the preferred approach in many patients because there are less vascular complications, but there are problems such as bleeding from the left ventricular apex requiring difficult suture closure, and a thoracotomy incision that can be painful and lead to difficult recovery and prolonged hospital stay for the patient. What is needed are improved devices and methods for carrying out minimally invasive procedures.

Devices and methods for percutaneous access, hemostasis, and closure


Disclosed is a light sensitive planographic printing plate material comprising a hydrophilic support and provided thereon, a light sensitve layer containing (A) an infrared absorbing dye, (B) a radical generating agent, and (C) a radically polymerizable compound, the light sensitve layer being an outermost layer, wherein the radical generating agent is selected from the group consisting of a sulfonium salt, a iodonium salt and a diazonium salt, and the radically polymerizable compound is a radically polymerizable oxirane compound having an oxirane ring in the molecule.

In recent years, as a printing plate for off-set printing, a large number of CTP systems have been developed and put into practical use, which imagewise exposes directly to a planographic printing plate material employing laser light based on digital image data to record an image on the material. As the CTP systems, there are a silver salt system, a radical polymerization system and a thermal system, which differ in characteristics. With development of a solid laser or semiconductor laser with high output power which emits near infrared light, CTP systems recording with near infrared light, so-called thermal CTP systems has been developed and widely applied.
A planographic printing plate material (printing plate material for CTP) used in the thermal CTP is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,340,699 which comprises an image recording layer containing an infrared absorbing agent, an acid generating agent, a resol resin, and a novolak resin. In this printing plate material for CTP, imagewise exposure produces an acid is imagewise produced at exposed portions due to interaction of the infrared absorbing agent and the acid generating agent, and heat treatment which follows cross-links the resol resin by action of the acid. When the resulting material is developed with an alkali developer, the unexposed portions having higher alkali solubility are removed with an alkali developer, while the exposed portions (cross-linked portions) lose alkali solubility and imagewise remain to form an image. This system requires heat treatment which heats at 140 to 200° C. for 50 to 120 seconds for accelerating the cross-linking reaction at exposed portions, and has problems in energy consumption and processing time.
Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication No. 2001-175006 discloses a process comprising the step of (a) imagewise exposing to infrared laser a negative-working image formation material comprising an image recording layer containing an infrared absorbing dye, a radical generating agent, a radically polymerizable compound, and a binder polymer, and (b) then heating the resulting material at 60 to 120° C. for 1 to 20 seconds, wherein heating treatment is carried out after exposure. This process, although it conducts heat treatment at relatively low temperature for relatively short time, improves printing durability. However, the heat treatment is required, and a printing plate material obtained by the process does not provide satisfactory printing durability.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 2002-537419 discloses a planographic printing plate material comprising an image recording layer containing a specific polycarboxylic acid. This planographic printing plate material provides high sensitivity without lowering storage stability, but still requires heat treatment at 90° C. for about 60 seconds.
Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication Nos. 2002-278057 and 2003-5363 disclose a printing plate material comprising a specific cyanine dye as an infrared absorbing agent, in which polymerization efficiency is increased and printing durability is increased without heating. This material provides a certain effect but needs to be improved in printing durability.
A printing plate material comprising a specific onium salt as a radical generating agent is disclosed (see for example, Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication Nos. 2002-341519 and 2003-76010) in which polymerization efficiency is increased and printing durability is increased without heating. This material also provides a certain effect but needs to be improved in printing durability.

Light sensitive planographic printing plate material


A fluid pressure sensor (10) has a generally polyhedron configured capacitive transducer (18) electrically connected to a flexible circuit using interference fit U-shaped edge connectors (20). The flexible circuit (16) is received in an electronics chamber formed in a top end of a base member (12) with the corners of the transducer disposed on the face surface (12f) of the top. A cover (24) is formed with a circular fluid pressure opening (24a) through which a sealing gasket (22) extends, the gasket having tabs (22a) received in a seat (24c) formed in the bottom surface of the top wall (24b) of the cover. A transducer receiving seat (24d) is also formed in the bottom surface of the cover for placement of transducer (18). The cover is formed with opposing legs (24h) which interfit with notches (12d) in the base and a third leg (24n) slidingly received in a slot formed in the base through which conductive tails (16h) of the flexible circuit (16) extend for electrical engagement with a hexport (26) slidingly received over the cover and top portion of the base member.

This invention relates generally to pressure sensors and more particularly to apparatus for housing pressure responsive, variable, parallel plate capacitive transducers having, in plan view, a rectangular configuration and associated conditioning electronics.
Sensors comprising pressure responsive, variable, parallel plate capacitive transducers having a generally circular disc shaped configuration are well known. An example of such sensors is shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,716,492, assigned to the assignee of the present invention. In that patent a capacitive transducer is shown having a thin, generally cylindrical ceramic diaphragm mounted in closely spaced, sealed, overlying relation to a generally cylindrical ceramic base with metal layers on respective facing surfaces of the diaphragm and base to serve as capacitor plates arranged in predetermined closely spaced relation to each other to form a capacitor. Transducer terminals connected to the capacitor plates are arranged at an opposite surface of the transducer base and a signal conditioning electrical circuit, connected to the transducer terminals, is mounted on the transducer. A cup-shaped connector body of electrical insulating material is fitted over the electrical circuit and is secured to the transducer by a port fitting which has a port for exposing the transducer diaphragm to an applied fluid pressure. The diaphragm is movable in response to variations in fluid pressure applied to the diaphragm to vary the capacitance of the capacitor in accordance with the changes in applied pressure and the electrical circuit provides an electrical output signal corresponding to the applied pressure.
In copending U.S. Pat. No. 5,880,371, rectangular (in plan view) pressure sensing capacitive transducer elements are disclosed and claimed. The present invention relates to apparatus for housing such rectangular transducer elements.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a suitable package for housing a generally rectangular, in plan view, fluid pressure sensing capacitive transducer. Yet another object is the provision of a housing for receiving rectangular-shaped (in plan view) transducer elements which has essentially the same outer shape and dimensions as housings used for receiving cylindrical fluid pressure sensing capacitive transducers already in the market place so that the packages can be interchanged in a common application. Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a package having a cylindrical port fitting for interfacing with a fluid pressure source whose pressure is to be monitored having a rectangular-shaped (in plan view) sensing element mounted therein in which a circular sealing element is reliably received between the port fitting and the sensing element. Yet another object of the invention is the provision of connector means for electrically interconnecting a generally thin, rectangular (in plan view) sensing element to an electrical circuit mounted in the package and for providing a suitable interconnection between a ground conductor of the electrical circuit and the port fitting.
Briefly, in accordance with the invention, a base assembly has a first base member formed of electrically insulating material mounting a plurality of elongated terminal members in spaced apart, parallel relationship with an end of the terminal members received in an electronics chamber formed at one end of the first base member. A flexible circuit bent generally in a U-shaped configuration with one lobe portion overlying a second lobe portion is received in the chamber for attachment of terminal pads of the circuit on one, the first, lobe portion with the terminal members. A ground portion extends from the flexible circuit out of the chamber through a slot formed in the first base member. A pressure sensing capacitive transducer element has a rectangular configuration in plan view and is composed of a substrate having a diaphragm thereon with the contact pads on an outer surface along an edge of the element. The transducer element is butted up against an upstanding lip extending from the outer end of the other, the second, lobe portion of the flexible circuit. Generally U-shaped edge connectors are received over the edge of the transducer element and outer end of the second lobe portion to electrically join the contact pads and electrical circuitry of the flexible circuit.
A cover, or second base member, is receivable over the top of the base member and is formed with a wall having a circular fluid pressure receiving opening and with a first sealing gasket seat and a second sensing element seat coaxially formed in the wall with the circular opening. A generally circular, annular sealing gasket is received in the circular opening of the cover and is provided with outwardly extending tabs received on the first gasket seat and the sensing element is received in the second sensing element seat. The cover is provided with opposing leg members having an outer lip which are received in slots formed in the first base member and snap into transversely extending openings or notches to attach the cover to the first base member with the corner portions of the rectangular transducer element received on the end face of the first base member. A port fitting of suitable material, such as aluminum, is then received over the cover and is clamped to a circumferential flange of the first base member and with the ground portion of the flexible circuit pressed against the port fitting.