Fine particulate silica gel having the following characteristics (1) to (3):

The present invention relates to fine particulate silica gel, and fine particulate silica gel internally containing microparticles of a metal compound such as a metal oxide in the particles.
Fine particulate silica gel, such as fine spherical silica gel is employed in various uses, such as a separating material for liquid chromatography, a filler for cosmetics, a filler for resins, a carrier for catalysts and a spacer.
Further, fine particulate silica gel, such as fine spherical silica gel, internally containing microparticles of a metal compound in the particles (hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9cfine particulate silica gel internally containing microparticles of a metal compoundxe2x80x9d) is employed for e.g. an ultraviolet ray shielding agent, a photooxidation catalyst and an antibacterial agent.
Fine particles of silica gel are porous particles, wherein the pore structure measured by a nitrogen adsorption method has a pore volume of from 0.2 to 2 ml/g and a specific surface area of from 150 to 900 m2/g, and one having an oil absorption of at least 100 ml/100 g is preferably employed in various uses such as materials for cosmetics.
However, silica gel usually has a nature to highly absorb moisture in air, because of its porosity.
When silica gel having moisture highly absorbed is to be used as a blending material for a cosmetic, a phenomenon such that the oil absorption of e.g. a solvent decreases, occurs, which is problematic. On the other hand, if silica gel having moisture highly absorbed, is incorporated in a resin composition, followed by injection molding or extrusion molding, there will be a problem that the moisture adsorbed by silica gel particles will be desorbed, and the resin is likely to undergo foaming due to the generated steam.
Therefore, in a case where fine particles of silica gel are to be used for such a purpose, it is usually necessary to hermetically package them or accommodate them in a sealed container, so that they will not adsorb moisture in air during the storage. Further, when fine particles of silica gel are stored for a long period of time, adsorption of moisture to some extent is unavoidable, and at the time of use, it will be necessary o carry out burdensome treatment such as heating them at a temperature of at least 150xc2x0 C. to desorb the moisture.
On the other hand, in a specific use such as use as a filler for cosmetics or a filler for resin films, it is often required that the mechanical strength of fine particles of silica gel be small. Namely, fine particles of silica gel are preferably readily disintegratable in order to reduce the porosity among particles in the final blend composition containing the fine particles of silica gel.
However, with respect to fine particles of silica gel, it has been very difficult to satisfy both demands for low hygroscopicity and low mechanical strength of the silica gel particles.
On the other hand, with respect to fine particulate silica gel internally containing microparticles of a metal compound, one having an oil absorption of at least 100 ml/100 g, is used as a filler for e.g. resin films or cosmetic materials. Here, basically the same problems as described above with respect to the particulate silica gel, exist.
Namely, also with respect to the fine particulate silica gel internally containing the metal compound, silica usually has a nature to highly absorb moisture in air, and when the particulate silica gel internally containing the metal compound, which has highly absorbed moisture, is used as a blending material for a cosmetic, phenomenon such that the oil absorption of e.g. a solvent will decrease, occurs, which is problematic.
Likewise, also in a case where the particulate silica gel internally containing the metal compound, which has highly absorbed moisture, is blended to a resin composition, followed by injection molding or extrusion molding, there will be a problem that the adsorbed moisture is likely to be desorbed, and the resin is likely to undergo foaming due to the generated steam.
Therefore, in a case where fine particles of such particulate silica gel internally containing a metal compound, are to be used for such a purpose, it will be necessary to hermetically package them or accommodate them in a sealed container to likewise shut out moisture in air. Further, in a case of storage for a long period of time, adsorption of moisture to some extent is unavoidable, and at the time of use, it will be necessary to carry out burdensome treatment such as heating them at a temperature of at least 150xc2x0 C. to desorb the moisture.
Further, in a specific use such as use as a filler for cosmetics or a filler for resin films, it is often preferred that fine particles of silica gel are readily disintegratable, and the mechanical strength of particles is required to be small. Also with particulate silica gel internally containing microparticles of a metal compound, it has been also very difficult to satisfy both demands for low hygroscopicity and low mechanical strength.
It is an object of the present invention to provide fine particulate silica gel and fine particulate silica gel internally containing microparticles of a metal compound, having a low hygroscopicity, whereby the above-mentioned problems accompanied by adsorption of moisture in air, have been substantially solved, while maintaining an oil absorption of at least 100 ml/100 g which is a usual level of oil absorption.
A further object of the present invention is to provide fine particulate silica gel and fine particulate silica gel internally containing microparticles of a metal compound, which are readily disintegratable and have small mechanical strength, while maintaining the above properties.
The present invention has been made to solve the above problems.
Firstly, the present invention provides fine particulate silica gel having the following characteristics (1) to (3):
(1) average particle size: from 1 to 200 xcexcm;
(2) oil absorption in accordance with JIS K5101: from 100 to 300 ml/100 g; and
(3) hygroscopicity represented by moisture adsorption under a relative humidity of 90% at 25xc2x0 C. in accordance with JIS Z0701: not more than 20 wt %.
Namely, the fine particulate silica gel of the present invention has a feature that the hygroscopicity is low without lowering the oil absorption.
Secondly, the fine particulate silica gel has a particle shape which is preferably a fine spherical particle shape. Namely, a preferred particle shape is a fine spherical particle shape.
Thirdly, in the fine spherical particles of the second aspect, the average value of mechanical strengths of particles having particle sizes of from 2 to 10 xcexcm, is from 0.1 to 1.0 kgf/mm2. Namely, the fine spherical particles having an average particle size of from 5 to 10 xcexcm have a feature that their mechanical strength is lower than that of conventional particles.
Fourthly, the present invention provides fine particulate silica gel internally containing microparticles of a metal compound and having the following characteristics (1) to (4):
(1) average particle size: from 1 to 200 xcexcm;
(2) proportion to SiO2 of the microparticles of a metal compound in the particles: from 5 to 80 wt %;
(3) oil absorption in accordance with JIS K5101: from 100 to 300 ml/100 g; and
(4) hygroscopicity represented by moisture adsorption under a relative humidity of 90% at 25xc2x0 C. in accordance with JIS Z0701: not more than 20 wt %.
Thus, the fine particulate silica gel internally containing microparticles of a metal compound according to the present invention, has a feature that the hygroscopicity is low without lowering the oil absorption.
Fifthly, in the fine particulate silica gel of the fourth aspect, the shape of particles internally containing the microparticles of a metal compound is a fine spherical particle shape. Namely, also in the case of the fine particulate silica gel internally containing microparticles of a metal compound, the preferred particle shape is a fine spherical particle shape.
Sixthly, in the fine particulate silica gel according to the fifth aspect, the average value of mechanical strengths of particles having particle sizes of from 2 to 10 xcexcm is preferably from 0.1 to 1.0 kgf/mm2. Namely, also in the case of the fine particulate silica gel internally containing the microparticles of a metal compound, particles having particle sizes of from 2 to 10 xcexcm preferably have a feature that their mechanical strength is lower than that of conventional particles.
The oil absorption in accordance with JIS K5101 is measured specifically as follows.
5 g of a sample is placed in the center of a sufficiently large flat glass plate, and each time, 4 or 5 drops of boiled linseed oil are gradually dropped from a burette onto the center of the sample. Each time, the entirety is sufficiently kneaded with a pallet knife. The dropping and kneading procedure is repeated until the sample becomes a hard putty like lump. Then, kneading is carried out after every drop, and the point when one more drop creates a sample capable of being wound around the pallet knife in a spiral, is taken as an end point. However, where it can not be wound spirally, the point just before it quickly becomes soft with one more drop of boiled linseed oil is taken as the end point. Here, the operation time to reach the end point is controlled to be from 7 to 15 minutes.
The volume of boiled linseed oil dropped until the end point is reached, is divided by a unit mass of the sample, and the value thereby obtained is multiplied 100 times to obtain the oil absorption (ml/g).
The hygroscopicity in accordance with JIS Z0701 is measured specifically as follows.
A sample is heated at a temperature of from 170 to 190xc2x0 C. for about 2 hours. Then, 0.3 to 0.5 g of the sample is taken into a flat weighing bottle and is spread in a thickness as uniform as possible, whereupon a cover is placed immediately, followed by cooling to room temperature in a desiccator. In this state, the weight of the sample in the weighing bottle is weighed. Then, the sample is stored with the cover of the weighing bottle removed, in a glass container which contains a sulfuric acid solution having a concentration of 18.5 mass % (specific gravity: 1.125) in order to maintain the relative humidity at 90%. During the storage, the temperature is maintained at 25xc2x12.5xc2x0 C. 48 Hours later, the sample is taken out, and after putting a cover on the weighing bottle immediately, the sample is weighed. The hygroscopicity is obtained by the following formula.
Hygroscopicity(%)=( (W1xe2x88x92W0)/W0)xc3x97100
where
W0: Initial mass of the sample
W1: Mass of the sample after 48 hours.
Now, the present invention will be described in. detail with reference to the preferred embodiments.
The fine particulate silica gel and the fine particulate silica gel internally containing microparticles of a metal compound, of the present invention (hereinafter referred to simply as xe2x80x9cfine particulate silica gel or the likexe2x80x9d when both silica gels are meant) have an average particle size of from 1 to 200 xcexcm and an oil absorption of from 100 to 300 ml/100 g, as measured in accordance with JIS K5101, and its hygroscopicity and the mechanical strength are specified as follows.
{circle around (1)} Firstly, with respect to the hygroscopicity of the fine particulate silica gel or the like, the hygroscopicity represented by the moisture adsorption (equilibrium moisture adsorption) under a relative humidity of 90% at 25xc2x0 C. in accordance with JIS Z0701, is very low at a level of not more than 20 wt %, preferably from 4 to 10 wt %.
If the hygroscopicity exceeds 20 wt %, the above-mentioned problem resulting from moisture adsorption, will be distinct and will be problematic. On the other hand, if the hygroscopicity is less than 4 wt %, the oil absorption tends to be less than 100 ml/100 g, thus leading to a problem.
With conventional fine particulate silica gels, it is common that the average particle size is from 1 to 200 xcexcm, and the oil absorption in accordance with JIS K5101 is from 100 to 300 ml/100 g, and particularly the hygroscopicity under a relative humidity of 90% at 25xc2x0 C. in accordance with JIS Z0701 is from 30 to 80 wt % in the case of fine particulate silica gel, or from 35 to 60 wt % in the case of particulate silica gel internally containing microparticles of a metal compound. Thus, in each case, the hygroscopicity is very high. Whereas, the fine particulate silica gel or the like of the present invention has a remarkable feature that the hygroscopicity is not more than 20 wt %.
Further, the specific surface area of the fine particulate silica gel or the like of the present invention is preferably from 30 to 200 m2/g, more preferably from 40 to 180 m2/g.
{circle around (2)} On the other hand, with respect to the mechanical strength of the fine particulate silica gel or the like, the following formula by Hiramatsu et al (Hiramatsu et al, Japan Mining Industry Association, 81, 10, 24(1965)) is, for example, known as a general formula for the mechanical strength in the case of spherical particles:
St=2.8P/(xcfx80d2)
where St is the mechanical strength (kgf/mm2) of particles at the time of breakage, as obtained as a measured value, P is a compression load (kgf), and d is a particle diameter (mm).
As is evident from the formula, the mechanical strength of fine particles is inversely proportional to the square of the particle size, and the smaller the particle size, the larger the particle strength.
In the present invention, the mechanical strength of fine particles is measured by e.g. a fine compression tester (MCTM-500 Model), manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation by means of this formula. Namely, a load is exerted to a particle having a particle size of d increasingly at a constant rate, and the load when the sample particle breaks as observed by an abrupt increase of the change, is taken as the mechanical strength. In this manner, measurements are carried out with respect to particle sizes of d1, d2, . . . , dn, respectively, and an average value is obtained. Here, an average value of 30 particles is taken. Here, the particle sizes are values measured by an optical microscope.
With the fine particulate silica gel or the like of the present invention, the average value of mechanical strengths of 30 particles having particle sizes of from 2 to 10 xcexcm measured as described above, is very low at a level of from 0.1 to 1.0 kgf/mm2.
When the mechanical strength is within this range of from 0.1 to 1.0 kgf/mm2, no breakage of fine particles substantially takes place during transportation of the powder or during usual powder operation such as simple mixing, and at the same time, it is a preferred range such that the required easily disintegratable characteristics can be sufficiently satisfied when the fine particles are used as a filler for cosmetics or as a filler for resin films.
When the mechanical strength is less than 0.1 kgf/mm2, the strength tends to be so low that the fine particles are likely to be broken during transportation of the powder or during usual powder operation such as simple mixing. On the other hand, if it exceeds 1.0 kgf/mm2, the strength tends to be so high that it becomes difficult to satisfy the readily disintegratable characteristics required when the fine particles are to be used as a filler for cosmetics or as a filler for resin films.
The fine particulate silica gel or the like of the present invention is very much characterized also by this mechanical strength, since the mechanical strength (the average value of 30 particles) of particles having a particle sizes of from 2 to 10 xcexcm of each of various types of conventional commercial products of fine particulate silica gels having oil absorptions of from 100 to 300 ml/100 g, is from 3.0 to 10.0 kgf/mm2, and the mechanical strength (the average value of 30 particles) of particles having particle sizes of from 2 to 10 xcexcm of each of various types of conventional commercial products of particulate silica gels internally containing metal oxides, is from 1.2 to 3.0 kgf/mm2.
With respect to the fine particulate silica gel internally containing microparticles of a metal compound of the present invention, the proportion to SiO2 of the microparticles of a metal compound in the particles, is from 5 to 80 wt %.
If the content of the metal compound is less than 5 wt %, effects of the metal compound such as an ultraviolet ray-shielding effect, a photooxidation catalytic effect and an antibacterial effect, tend to be hardly obtainable. On the other hand, if it exceeds 80 wt %, it tends to be difficult for silica gel to sufficiently internally contain the particles of the metal compound, and the microparticles of the metal compound are likely to be in direct contact with the resin to be blended or with the matrix component of e.g. a cosmetic and thereby to modify or decompose it.
The microparticles of a metal compound to be used, are preferably very fine particles, particularly preferably those so-called ultrafine particles.
The primary particle size (the particle diameter) of the microparticles of a metal compound in the present invention is from 0.002 to 0.5 xcexcm, preferably from 0.01 to 0.5 xcexcm, more preferably from 0.01 to 0.3 xcexcm.
Useful as the metal compound is, for example, microparticles of a metal oxide, such as titanium oxide, titanium peroxide, zinc oxide, cerium oxide, ferrous oxide, ferric oxide, zirconium oxide, chromium oxide, aluminum oxide, magnesium oxide, silver oxide, cuprous oxide, cupric oxide, cobaltous oxide, tricobalt tetroxide, cobaltic oxide, nickelous oxide, nickelic oxide, thorium oxide, tungsten oxide, molybdenum oxide, manganese dioxide, manganese trioxide, uranium oxide, germanium oxide, stannous oxide, stannic oxide, lead monoxide, trilead tetroxide, lead dioxide, antimony trioxide, antimony pentoxide or bismuth trioxide.
Further, other than metal oxides, microparticles of a sulfide such as cadmium sulfide, zinc sulfide, antimony sulfide, lead sulfide or nickel sulfide; microparticles of a sulfate such as strontium sulfate or barium sulfate; microparticles of a phosphate such as copper pyrophosphate; microparticles of a carbide such as tantalum carbide, zirconium carbide, tungsten carbide, vanadium carbide, titanium carbide or silicon carbide; or microparticles of a halide such as calcium fluoride, may also be employed. Further, depending upon a particular case, microparticles of a metal such as gold, silver, platinum, copper or aluminum, or of an alloy thereof, may also be employed.
Among the above-mentioned metal compounds, as a metal compound capable of imparting an ultraviolet ray-shielding function, it is preferred to use, for example, titanium oxide, zinc oxide, cerium oxide, iron oxide or zirconium oxide. As a metal compound capable of imparting a photooxidation catalytic function, it is preferred to use titanium oxide. The processes for producing the fine particulate silica gel and the fine particulate silica gel internally containing microparticles of a metal compound, according to the present invention, are not particularly limited, but the following processes proposed by the present inventors are preferred.
(1) For the production of the fine particulate silica gel, it is preferred to employ a process for producing fine particulate silica gel comprising:
{circle around (1)} A hydrogelation step of reacting an alkali metal silicate with a mineral acid to obtain a silica hydrogel wherein the ratio of the weight of metal to the weight of SiO2 is from 1.5 to 5.0;
{circle around (2)} A hydrothermal pulverization step of subjecting the obtained silica hydrogel to hydrothermal treatment in a slurry state having a SiO2 concentration of from 5.0 to 15.0 wt % with stirring to obtain a pulverized silica hydrogel slurry having an average particle size of at most 100 xcexcm; and
{circle around (3)} A drying step of drying the pulverized hydrogel slurry.
(2) For the production of the fine particulate silica gel internally containing microparticles of a metal compound, it is preferred to employ a process comprising:
{circle around (1)} A hydrogelation step of reacting an alkali metal silicate with a mineral acid to obtain a silica hydrogel wherein the ratio of the weight of water to the weight of SiO2 is from 1.5 to 5.0;
{circle around (2)} A step of preparing a pulverized silica hydrogel slurry comprising a hydrothermal pulverization step of subjecting the obtained silica hydrogel to hydrothermal treatment in a slurry state having a SiO2 concentration of from 5.0 to 15.0 wt % with stirring to obtain a pulverized silica hydrogel slurry having an average particle size of at most 100 xcexcm;
{circle around (3)} A mixed slurrying step of introducing microparticles of a metal compound into the pulverized silica hydrogel slurry to obtain a mixed slurry of microparticles of silica hydrogel and microparticles of a metal compound; and
{circle around (4)} A drying step of drying the mixed slurry.
Now, the above-mentioned processes will be described in detail.
Hydrogelation Step
An aqueous solution of an alkali metal silicate such as sodium silicate and an aqueous mineral acid solution are introduced from separate inlets into a container equipped with a discharge outlet and instantaneously uniformly mixed to form a silica sol having a SiO2 concentration of at least 130 g/l and a pH of from 7 to 9, which is immediately discharged from the above-mentioned discharge outlet into a gas medium such as air and gelled in air while it is flying to draw a parabola. At the falling site, an aging tank containing water is placed, and gelled particles are permitted to fall in the aging tank and aged for from a few minutes to a few tens minutes.
A suitable acid is added thereto to lower the pH thereby to terminate the aging. The obtained silica hydrogel is spherical particles having an average particle diameter of a few mm. This silica hydrogel contains an alkali metal salt such as Na2SO4 formed by the reaction. Accordingly, it is preferred to sufficiently remove it by washing with water in accordance with a conventional method.
This silica hydrogel may be roughly pulverized, for example, by a roll crusher, whereby a pulverized product of silica hydrogel having an average particle size of from 0.1 to 5 mm can easily be obtained. This particle size is within a preferred range for carrying out e.g. a stirring operation efficiently in the subsequent hydrothermal pulverization step.
As another method for obtaining the silica hydrogel, a method may be mentioned wherein an aqueous alkali metal silicate solution and an aqueous mineral acid solution are uniformly mixed in a short period of time in a reactor to form a silica sol, and then the solution is gelled in a separate tray.
Here, the ratio of the weight of water to the weight of SiO2 in the silica hydrogel, is preferably from 1.5 to 5.0.
If the ratio of the weight of water to the weight of Sio2 is less than 1.5, the effect for pulverizing to reduce the average particle size of the silica hydrogel in the subsequent hydrothermal treatment step, tends to be small. On the other hand, if the ratio of the weight of water to the weight of SiO2 exceeds 5.0, the mechanical strength of the silica hydrogel tends to be extremely weak, and the subsequent handling tends to be difficult, such being undesirable.
Hydrothermal Pulverization Treatment Step
Then, a hydrothermal pulverization step is carried out wherein the silica hydrogel thus obtained, is subjected to hydrothermal treatment in a slurry state having a SiO2 concentration of from 5.0 to 15.0 wt % with stirring to obtain a pulverized silica hydrogel slurry having an average particle size of at most 100 xcexcm. As an apparatus for hydrothermal treatment, it is common to employ an autoclave which is a high pressure apparatus equipped with stirring vanes. If the average particle size is from 0.1 to 5 mm, the silica hydrogel can easily be pulverized to an average particle size of not more than 100 xcexcm, more preferably not more than 20 xcexcm and at least 1 xcexcm.
The temperature range for the hydrothermal treatment is usually from 130 to 230xc2x0 C., preferably from 150 to 230xc2x0 C. If the temperature is lower than 130xc2x0 C., the effect for pulverizing the particle size of silica hydrogel by the hydrothermal treatment tends to be poor, and if it exceeds 230xc2x0 C., the effect for accelerating pulverization of the particles of silica hydrogel by the hydrothermal treatment corresponding to the increase of the temperature level, tends to be small, such being technically and economically disadvantageous.
The time for the hydrothermal pulverization treatment varies depending upon the hydrothermal treatment temperature, but it is usually from 0.2 to 24 hours. If the hydrothermal treatment time is less than 0.2 hour, no adequate effect for reducing the particle size by the hydrothermal treatment can be obtained, and if the hydrothermal treatment time exceeds 24 hours, recoagulation of particles tends to occur.
Wet Pulverization Treatment
When it is desired to obtain smaller particles of a level where the desired average particle size of fine spherical silica gel obtainable by drying the silica hydrogel slurry is at most 100 xcexcm, preferably at most 10 xcexcm, it is preferred to further pulverize the silica hydrogel slurry pulverized by the hydrothermal pulverization treatment to an average particle size of at most 20 xcexcm, by mechanical wet pulverization, to a level 5 of from 1 to 3 xcexcm. By such pulverization treatment, fine spherical silica gel obtainable by e.g. spray drying will be more spherical, and the particle surface will be smoother . As a wet system pulverizer to be used here, a beads mill which is a wet system medium stirring mill employing beads having a particle size of at most 1 mm, or a wet system medium stirring pulverizer or a wet system ball mill employing balls having a particle size of a few mm, may be employed.
Drying Step
A drying apparatus to obtain monodispersed fine silica gel particles by drying the silica hydrogel slurry thus obtained, is preferably of a type wherein particles or liquid droplet will be dispersed in hot air without forming a fixed layer in order to prevent coagulation of the particles to one another, and, for example, a spray dryer, a medium fluidized bed dryer or a flash dryer is suitable.
Especially when it is intended to obtain fine spherical silica gel, a spray dryer is suitable as the drying apparatus.
Step of Preparing a Mixed Slurry by Introducing Microparticles of a Metal Compound
Also in a case where microparticles of a metal compound are internally contained, the operation is basically the same as described above, except that a step of introducing and mixing microparticles of a metal compound at a suitable point of time, is carried out.
In a specific embodiment, in the silica hydrogel slurry pulverized by the hydrothermal pulverization step or in the silica hydrogel slurry further pulverized by wet pulverization as the case requires, microparticles of a metal compound such as titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, cerium oxide, iron oxide or zirconium oxide having an average particle size of from 0.002 to 0.5 xcexcm, are added and introduced in an amount of from 5 to 80 wt % based on the weight of SiO2 and thoroughly dispersed, as mentioned above, to obtain a mixed slurry comprising fine particles of silica hydrogel and fine particles of a metal compound. This dispersion is preferably carried out in the autoclave for the hydrothermal pulverization treatment or the wet system pulverizer, as mentioned above.
The mixed slurry thus obtained is subjected to e.g. spray drying in the same manner as in the case of obtaining fine particulate silica gel, to obtain fine particulate silica gel internally containing microparticles of a metal compound.
As mentioned above, the microparticles of a metal compound internally contained in the silica gel have particle sizes which are far smaller than the particle sizes of silica gel particles, and at least one, usually a few, preferably many microparticles of a metal compound are contained as dispersed in one silica gel particle. For the purpose of the present invention, xe2x80x9cinternally containedxe2x80x9d means that microparticles of a metal compound are contained in such a state in the silica gel particles.
It is considered that in the process of drying silica gel particles having many pores, only the liquid phase of the slurry filling the pores will be evaporated for drying, whereby non-volatile microparticles of a metal compound will remain as supported in the pores in the interior of the silica gel. This is considered to be the mode in which the microparticles of a metal compound are internally contained in the silica gel particles in the present invention.

Fine particulate silica gel and fine particulate silica gel internally containing microparticles of a metal compound


An enhanced interactive television broadcast is disclosed wherein an audio/video broadcast is viewed on a first display system, and an “enhancement” to the broadcast is simultaneously viewed or experienced on a second, separate display system. The “enhancement” is synchronized to the broadcast, and delivered to a user as a code fragments, such as a JavaScript message. URLs are not required. Portions or elements of a web page are reduced to single code fragments, rendered client-side upon receipt. The invention implements Network Time Protocol (NTP) to synchronize the client's application clock to global time. Messages, or JavaScript code fragments, are time-stamped and evaluated based on the client's application clock.

Television has long been enjoyed in our society as a means for delivering information for the enhancement of knowledge as well as for delivering content with entertainment value. In all of its uses, however, television has remained a one-way experience for the viewer, wherein viewers do not have the opportunity or ability to interact with the content of a television broadcast. In fact, television has in many cases been criticized for simply "feeding" broadcast material to viewers without requiring any thought, participation, or feedback from the viewers. For these reasons, television is often regarded as having a deleterious effect on the development of children's communication skills and thought processes.
Television Journalist Edward R. Murrow said in TV Guide, December, 1958, "This instrument can teach, it can illuminate; yes, and it can even inspire. But it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it to those ends. Otherwise it is merely light and wires in a box." Indeed, nearly half a century later, utilizing television for educational purposes continues to be an area to which much attention is focused. Many of today's television programs are geared toward educational purposes, schools use televisions as educational tools, and classes can even be taught television networks. Yet even with the all the effort to utilize television as an educational tool, television remains a one-way experience for a viewer, continuing to charm "couch potatoes" the world over. The criticism remains that television dulls the mind through its inability to provide an interactive environment for viewers.
While television remains devoid of interactive experiences, the potential of interaction between multiple persons has been greatly heightened in recent years due to the popularity of the Internet. The Internet provides a powerful network for exchanging content, messages, and user inputs, enabling various users to achieve a level of interaction that was previously unknown. However, this interaction is typically limited to individual instances, making large broadcast interactive experiences impossible. The camaraderie generated by post-broadcast discussions amongst viewers who witnessed the same show simply is not available to computer users who engage in unique interactive sessions not experienced by the number of users typically reached by a television broadcast. Furthermore, this interaction has been constrained to the realm of computers, and there remains a lack in the technology for providing systems which allow or support viewer interaction and participation in television programming.
Many recent prior art television based systems have attempted to address the need for interactivity between television and its viewers. U.S. Pat. No. 4,926,255 by Von Kohorn discloses a system wherein users can individually answer questions related to a television broadcast, and receive information as to the accuracy of their answers. However, Von Kohorn does not provide the ability for users to interact with one another during a television broadcast such as by competing against each other and receiving relative scores. Conversely, the prior art system of U.S. Pat. No. 5,343,239 by Lappington, et al., teaches a system that has the capability to store a plurality of audience scores at a central location. However, Lappington requires each user to manually deliver his individual result to the central location, and further fails to disclose a method for comparing the plurality of results for purposes of ranking or scoring the users relative to one another. Thus, no direct interaction is available. U.S. Pat. No. 5,013,038, by Luxenberg, et al., does disclose a system that enables remote users to compete relative to one another. However, this system requires individual users to telephone a central system for entering their respective results, and provides relative scoring for only a small, statistically selected group of users.
Thus, none of these prior art systems enables remote users to interact with or to compete with each other relative to a television program, to receive relative scoring for the entire group of remote users, or to receive relative scoring for any customized user-selected subgroup of users. Furthermore, none of these systems specifically provides for the integration of Web content with traditional television broadcasting.
More recently, television-integrated Web access has become known in the art. However, these later systems generally continue to fail to provide interactive capabilities for the user to communicate with the content of the television program. These systems operate by controlling a user's web browser to automatically retrieve web pages during the time of a television broadcast. However, these systems only deliver website addresses (URLs) to a user and do not allow for the involvement of the user in the broadcast content. They merely provide supplemental content to be read, viewed, or heard during a television broadcast. Consequently, there is not currently a means for a television viewer to enjoy an interactive experience with the content and timeline of a television broadcast or with other viewers.

System and method for enhanced broadcasting and interactive


Various embodiments of the present invention relate to a reference voltage generator circuit. Specifically, the circuit may for example comprise: a mirror constant current source having a first branch and a second branch, wherein a first current on the first branch is proportional to a second current on the second branch; wherein the first branch has a first resistive element, and the second branch has two second resistive elements connected in series; and a power supply terminal located between said two second resistive elements on the second branch. A high-precision reference voltage relative to the voltage source can be provided at the power supply terminal by using the circuit provided by various embodiments of the present invention.

As semiconductor technologies develop swiftly, various integrated circuits (IC) are universally applied in industrial production and people's daily life. However in an IC (particularly, a high voltage IC), a high-accuracy reference voltage relative to a voltage source often needs to be generated. Currently, a conventional reference voltage generator circuits in the industry implements generation of the high-accuracy reference voltage via in-series resistors. However, it is very difficult to generate the high-accuracy reference voltage since a current in the circuit and a value of the resistor vary at different process corners and temperatures.

Reference voltage generator circuits and integrated circuits having the same reference voltage generator circuits

iWatt Integrated Circuits Technology (Tianjin) Limited


Organic light emitting devices (OLEDs) are provided. An exemplary OLED includes a substrate, a first electrode, a second electrode, and an organic layer between the first and second electrodes having a hole injection layer and an emissive layer. The emissive layer includes red, green and blue emissive layers. The organic layer further includes an auxiliary layer selected from a first auxiliary layer between the hole injection layer and the red emissive layer for adjusting the resonance cycle of red light, a second auxiliary layer between the hole injection layer and the green emissive layer for adjusting the resonance cycle of green light, and combinations thereof. The material of the auxiliary layer is different from the material of the hole injection layer. The organic light emitting device has low turn-on voltage, high current density, high luminance, high current efficiency, high power, long life-time, and excellent color purity.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to organic light emitting devices. More particularly, the invention is directed to an organic light emitting device including an auxiliary layer for adjusting the resonance cycle of red and/or green light.
2. Description of the Related Art
Organic light emitting devices (OLEDs) are self-emitting, have wide viewing angles, excellent contrast, quick response time, good operating voltages, and can realize multicolor images. Accordingly, much research has been conducted on the use of OLEDs in many commercial applications.
In general, OLEDs have anode/emissive layer/cathode structures. However, various other structures, such as anode/hole transport layer/emissive layer/cathode structures, anode/hole transport layer/emissive layer/electron injection layer/cathode structures, or the like, can be obtained by forming a hole injection layer, hole transport layer, and electron injection layer between the anode and emissive layer, or between the emissive layer and cathode.


A pneumatic driven two-axis motion platform is structurally simple for using two bag-shaped telescopic modules spaced apart and fixed to a foundation base being laid on the ground, and a movable table having a pivotal shaft used for making a pivotal connection with a two-way orthogonal rotator, after completely assembled, the movable table is mounted on the two bag-shaped telescopic modules by such arrangement that the two bag-shaped telescopic modules are symmetrical against the pivotal shaft of the movable table, and the two-way orthogonal rotator is arranged together with the two bag-shaped telescopic modules as an isosceles triangle arrangement; by such structural arrangement, said two-axis motion platform is endowed with two dimensions of rotational freedom when pneumatic inflating or deflating one or both of the two bag-shaped telescopic modules.

1. Field of the Present Invention
The present invention relates to a pneumatic motion platform, and more particularly to a pneumatic driven two-axis motion platform which uses as few as two sets of bag-shaped telescopic modules.
2. Description of Related Art
Traditional two-axis dynamic simulation devices, such as 3D dynamic simulation devices for use in simulation of aviation or car racing, usually either adopt hydraulic technology or use one or more driving motors to hydraulically or mechanically drive the two-axis dynamic simulation device to be moved in one-axis motion or in two-axis motion along two axes at the same time.
However, the two-axis dynamic simulation devices using hydraulic technology have disadvantages regarding bulky volume, numerous parts required, difficult for assembling works, and inconvenient for frequent maintenance.
On the other hand, the two-axis dynamic simulation devices using one or more driving motors are difficult for assembling works due to too many components. Hence, for purpose of saving costs and improving efficiency in maintenance, the pneumatic technology has been introduced into two-axis dynamic simulation devices.
With reference to FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, there are two alternatives regarding pneumatic motion platforms, one prior known pneumatic driven gasbag-type motion platform 10 has shown in FIG. 1, and alternatively, another prior known pneumatic driven gasbag-type motion platform 20 has shown in FIG. 2. Both respectively have to use four sets of bag-shaped telescopic modules 13 (or 23), and each set of bag-shaped telescopic module 13 (or 23) is become expandable as well as contractible when driven through pneumatic operation.
In operation, the bag-shaped telescopic modules 13 (or 23) is allowed to be expandable when driven by compressed gases for air inflation, or, allowed to be contractible when expelled gases out from the gas bag module 13 (or 23) for air deflation, but otherwise, is permanently kept in a stationary shape when stopped for air inflation or air deflation.
The pneumatic driven gasbag-type motion platform 10 as depicted in FIG. 1 comprises a foundation base 11, a movable frame 12, and four sets of bag-shaped telescopic modules 13 via such a way each being respectively located at one of four corners between the foundation base 11 and the movable frame 12. Such an arrangement, however, may cause a hindrance or obstruction in doing two-axis dynamic motion among the four bag-shaped telescopic modules 13.
On the contrary, only when the two bag-shaped telescopic modules 13 arranged as being adjacent each other are inflated or deflated simultaneously, the movable frame 12 of the pneumatic driven gasbag-type motion platform 10 will be therefore driven to perform one-axis rotation that has one dimensional freedom either in the X-axis direction or in the Y-axis direction as shown in FIG. 1. Nevertheless, the pneumatic driven gasbag-type motion platform 10 is impossible to generate a two-axis rotation that has two dimensions of freedom about X-axis or/and Y-axis directions, thus inevitably to cause the application scope of the pneumatic driven gasbag-type motion platform 10 being limited.
To solve the above-mentioned problem regarding impediment and interference among the four sets of bag-shaped telescopic modules 13 as shown in FIG. 1, another pneumatic driven gasbag-type motion platform 20 is invented as shown in FIG. 2 to comprise a foundation base 21, a movable frame 22 and four sets of bag-shaped telescopic modules 23 via such a way each being arranged as an orthogonal arrangement when installed between the foundation base 21 and the movable frame 22.
Such an arrangement allows one or more sets of the four sets of bag-shaped telescopic modules 23 of the gasbag-type motion platform 20 to be controlled individually or together without any impediment or interference happened on any sets of the gas bag modules 23. As a result, the movable frame 22 of the pneumatic driven gasbag-type motion platform 20 is enabled to perform not only one-axis rotation that has one dimension of freedom about either X-axis or Y-axis direction as shown in FIG. 2, but also two-axis rotation that has two dimensions of freedom about X-axis or/and Y-axis directions.
However, in consideration of both cost-benefit and maintenance-benefit, the pneumatic driven gasbag-type motion platform 20 of FIG. 2 due to indispensably using four sets of bag-shaped telescopic modules 23 has unavoidable defects in high manufacturing cost and high maintenance fee.

Pneumatic driven two-axis motion platform


Design of lattice structures for additive manufacturing The present embodiments relate to additive manufacturing, such as three-dimensional printing. By way of introduction, the present embodiments described below include methods and systems for designing, modeling and manufacturing lattice structures. Lattice cells are modeled as parametrized representative unit cell (RUC) models providing a virtual material characterization for a lattice structure. The parametrized RUC models include phase functions for the virtual material characterization and identification of corresponding normalized material curves fit with polynomial functions for each lattice cell structure. Parametrized lattice models with underlying normalized lattice material curves provide design and simulation of true lattice material behavior for use in topology optimization. The topology optimization utilizes the normalized material curves in a penalization process and by defining lattice zones based on the printability of cells of given densities. The lattice structures are sized for geometrical accuracy and finite-element analysis may be performed with corrected beam diameters.

In many engineering applications, such as aerospace engineering, high demands are put on obtaining lightweight designs while still providing high structural performance. One solution is the utilization of foams to reduce weight. However, given the manufacturing aspects of foams, it is often difficult to manufacture structural components with varying mechanical properties that meet the structural requirements of the designs. For example, typical foam structures have a homogenous density distribution leading to a homogeneous foam material. In many cases, it may be desirable to have a varying density leading to local enforcement of certain zones within structural components.
Lattice structures are an alternative to foams that also meet the weight reduction requirements. Lattice structures are porous materials produced by repeating a unit cell throughout the structure. Varying the density and size of the unit cell structures produce desired local and global mechanical properties. Lattice structures are often produced by additive manufacturing, such as three-dimensional printing. Additive manufacturing is a process of producing a three-dimensional object, such as a structural component, by depositing or forming a successive series of layers to form the structural component, typically under computer control. Current computer aided engineering (CAE) technology for designing, modeling and manufacturing lattice structures is unable to efficiently and accurately design lattice structures.

Lattice structures for additive manufacturing


An image display apparatus makes the emission angle range of emitted light bilaterally symmetrical, at low cost, irrespective of the material refractive index of a prism composing a liquid crystal prism. The image display apparatus includes an image display panel , a backlight device located on a back surface side of the image display panel, a liquid crystal prism element located between the image display panel and the backlight device, an offset optical element located between the image display panel and the backlight device and configured to deflect light incident thereon, a position detection section configured to detect a viewing position of a viewer, and a control section configured to control a voltage applied to a liquid crystal prism element, in accordance with the viewing position detected by the position detection section.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to an image display apparatus for displaying an image, such as a liquid crystal display.
2. Description of the Related Art
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2010-529485 discloses an automatic stereoscopic display that causes images to be stereoscopically viewed by alternately providing light of an image for right eye and light of an image for left eye to the eyes of multiple observers, respectively. In the apparatus disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2010-529485, a refraction state of light is changed by deflection means so as to follow the eye position movement of the observers. The deflection means is composed of droplet control (electrowetting) cells containing two types of immiscible liquids. When a voltage is applied to the electrowetting cells, the interface between the liquids is changed, whereby a prism function is realized by the electrowetting cells.

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


An electronic circuit simulating the behavior of an inductance between a respective input node and a reference potential. The electronic circuit comprises a compensation network electrically connected between ground and a source potential and an inverting amplification stage electrically connected to the output of the compensation network. The inverting amplification stage comprises a transistor having a control terminal connected to the input of the inverting amplification stage, a first bias terminal operatively connected to the output of the inverting amplification stage, and a second bias terminal operatively connected to ground. The inverting amplification stage further comprises a feedback capacitance interposed between the first bias terminal and the control terminal of the transistor, and a feedback inductance interposed between the second bias terminal of the transistor and ground.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an active inductor, i.e., an electronic circuit simulating the behaviour of an inductance by using only suitably biased active components, capacitors and resistors.
2. Description of the Related Art
An active inductor is, as such, an inherently noisy circuit, which therefore would not be suitable to process signals with very low power, since the signal/noise ratio would be excessively degraded by the processing itself.
A first type of prior art active inductors consists of impedance simulators using operational amplifiers (OPAMPs), transconductance amplifiers (OTAs), or current conveyors (CCs) as active components. This type of active inductors has maximum operating frequencies of a few MHz, and it is especially used in low and very low frequency applications.
In order to obviate this limitation in frequency, a second type of active inductors of a known type has been developed, in which such active inductors are mostly implemented in CMOS technology. This type of active inductors is characterized by higher operating frequencies (up to some GHz), but it is often characterized by a high parasitic series resistance that, in order to reduce losses, is controlled by circuits referred to as NICs (Negative Impedance Circuits). Such circuits implement methods that make the inductance variable by changing the gain of the active elements composing the inductor by varying the biasing conditions thereof. This class of active inductors is characterized by low losses, by virtue of the use of NIC circuits; however, the methods that are used to implement the inductance variability cause a high distortion already at very low powers. Therefore, such active inductors cannot be used in processing signals having the powers generally used in radio-frequency transmissions, thus they are suitable only to process signals with a power in a very narrow range.
In order to obviate this drawback, a third type of active inductors has been developed, which is composed of active inductors having an inductance with fixed value, which use phase compensation networks in order to reduce series resistance. This type of active inductors, combined with the use of transistors (for example, of the BJT type) as active elements, is potentially capable to process high signal powers with low distortion. However, as it is known, in a tunable filter consisting of inductances and capacitances, the variation in the center frequency, while keeping a given Q factor (Quality factor), requires varying at the same time both the inductances and the capacities composing the filter. This is not possible with the inductors of such third class, since they are devices characterized by a preset inductance.
Furthermore, it is noticed that each of the types of active inductors of the described prior art has also a rather high noise figure.

Low-noise electronic circuit simulating the behavior of an inductance


Nanowire array structures based on periodic or aperiodic nanowires are provided in various configurations for sensing and interacting with light and substances to provide various functions such as sensors for detecting DNAs and others and solar cells for converting light into electricity.

Nanowires are high aspect-ratio objects which typically have widths in the sub-micron range.
Nanowire structures have been subject to investigation for a number of applications including solar energy collection, super hydrophobic surfaces, microelectronic components such as transistors and capacitive storage elements, sensor applications.
Various methods have been proposed for fabrication of nanowire structures including lithographic methods to define areas for etching and/or direct growth from solid, liquid or gas phase chemical sources.
Nanowires have high surface to volume ratio and have shown greatly enhanced response to different energy fluxes like electromagnetic waves, heat, acoustic, and fluids.
High aspect ratio nanowires with sharp tips can be advantageously used for generating high electric field emission. High aspect ratio nanowires can be fabricated by using growth control for realizing crystalline nanowires with minimal surface defects.

Nanowire array structures for sensing, solar cell and other applications


The properties of a fungal lipolytic enzyme can be altered by substituting amino acid residues corresponding to certain specified amino acid residues in the T. lanuginosus lipase. The altered property may be, e.g., an increased thermostability, an altered pH dependence, or an altered substrate specificity.

It is known to use fungal lipolytic enzymes, e.g. the lipase from Thermomyces lanuginosus (synonym Humicola lanuginosa), for various industrial purposes, such as addition to detergents and in baking.
WO 92/05249, WO 9219726, WO 97/07202 and WO 0032758 disclose variants of the T. lanuginosus (H. lanuginosa) lipase having altered properties.


An electron pump organized along the lines of a laser device has an interior chamber with a quartz crystal axially disposed around a metallic rod. The rod and crystal are surrounded by flash lamps, which stimulate the electrons therein to produce an electron flow. A heat exchanger surrounds the interior chamber. An outer chamber surrounding the heat exchanger has wire windings therein to produce an electric field to direct the electron flow. Carbon brushes convert the electron flow into electric current.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electron pumps. More particularly, the present invention concerns a device to produce an electric flow from electrons freed from a quartz crystal.
II. Prior Art
The emission of electrons, particularly as a beam of radiation, is known by the term "light amplification by simulated emission of radiation," commonly referred to as a "laser." The related "microwave amplification by simulated emission of radiation" is commonly referred to as a "maser." Briefly, such devices achieve the desired end by pumping, excitation, and emission processes occurring at fast speeds. Electrons are raised from a close orbit to an outer orbit by pumping or radiation. This results in an excess of electrons in the outer orbit. Under excitement, some of these excess electrons flow to a middle orbit. From the middle orbit, the electrons fill in the openings created by the radiation. In falling into the closest orbit, there is an emission of radiation. This emission is the beam noted with these devices.
This general principle has been embodied in several applications and improvements. One device is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,222,073, issued Jun. 22, 1993 to Epstein et al. and entitled "ROD LASERS." Epstein et al. teach a neodymium glass rod being excited by flash lamps. The radiation emission therefrom produces the laser beam. Flowing fluid is used in coiled tubes around the rod to keep the temperatures below the threshold for stress fractures to occur. Temperature monitoring prevents continued operation beyond the means to regulate the temperature.
Other devices are legion, giving various advances and innovations from water cooled laser systems in U.S. Pat. No. 4,715,039 to heat webs used in U.S. Pat. No. 4,649,547. What is lacking in the art is means to use the excitation cycle of the laser and maser devices to produce an electrically usable current for industrial or other use. It is to this end that the present invention is directed.


The present invention provides a test circuit for a semiconductor integrated circuit that can be used for testing plural of logic blocks each having plural input-output terminals. This test circuit is provided with scanning flip-flop (SFF) circuits whose output terminals are connected to the input terminals of the logic blocks. The SFF circuits hold test data which is sequentially supplied, supply the test data to the logic blocks and receive logic operation data generated from the logic blocks. The logic operation data may be sequentially supplied from the SFF circuits, on the basis of which performances of the logic blocks are examined.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a test circuit, and in particular, relates to a test circuit for a semiconductor integrated circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a conventional test circuit for a semiconductor integrated circuit disclosed by Japanese Kokai Tokkyo Kohou H10-267994 (D1) which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 6,073,260. This test circuit is to test logic blocks 1, 3, 5 and comprises scanning flip-flop (SFF) circuits 10-1 and 10-2 and a selector 6. A scanning input data SIN, which is a data for testing the logic blocks 10-1 and 10-2, is supplied from a scanning data input terminal 10. A clock signal CLK is supplied from a clock signal input terminal 11 to clock terminals of the SFF circuits 10-1 and 10-2. A mode designation signal MOD is supplied from a mode designation signal input terminal 12 to mode selection terminals SE of the SFF circuits 10-1 and 10-2. Scanning output data, which are logic signals generated from the logic blocks 1, 3, and 5, are output from a scanning output terminal 13. This test circuit sequentially inputs the scanning input data SIN which are data for testing the logic blocks 10-1 and 10-2 from the scanning data input terminal 10 and sequentially outputs scanning output data SOUT which are resultant logic signals generated from logic blocks 1, 3, and 5 in response to the scanning input data SIN. It is possible to examine operations of the logic blocks 1, 3, and 5, for example, by comparing the scanning output data SOUT with expected data.
As shown in FIG. 1, the scanning input terminal 10 is connected to a scanning input terminal SI of the SFF circuit 10-1 through a scanning path 1S and an input terminal IN of the logic block 1. An output terminal OUT of the logic block 1 is connected to an input terminal D of the SFF circuit 10-1. An output terminal of the SFF circuit 10-1 is connected to a scanning input terminal SI of the SFF circuit 10-2 through a scanning path 3S and to an input terminal IN of the logic block 3. An output terminal OUT of the logic block 3 is connected to an input terminal D of the SFF circuit 10-2. An output terminal Q of the SFF circuit 10-2 is connected to the selector (SEL) 6 through a scanning path 5S and an input terminal IN of the logic block 5. An output terminal OUT of the logic block 5 is connected to the SEL 6. An output terminal of the SEL 6 corresponds to the scanning output terminal 13. The clock signal input terminal 11 is connected to clock terminals of the SFF circuits 10-1 and 10-2. The mode designation signal input terminal 12 is connected to mode selection terminals SE of the SFF circuits 10-1 and 10-2 and the selector SEL circuit 6.
The D1 further discloses the SFF circuit which is provided with a first FF circuit, a selector circuit, and a second FF circuit. The first FF holds a data at a timing of an inversed clock signal. The selector circuit inputs a data from either the logic block or the first FF circuit and outputs the data. The second FF holds the data supplied from the selector circuit at a timing of the clock signal CLK.
However, there are some problems in the conventional test circuit for a semiconductor integrated circuit of FIG. 1. One of the problems is that the conventional test circuit is only applicable to a simple logic block having only one input-output terminal for testing. As stated above, the typical logic block mounted on the semiconductor integrated circuit is provided with plural input-output terminals, and thus performs plural logic operations. There is a possibility that the conventional test circuit is inadequate for testing such a complex logic block that has plural input-output terminals and performs plural logic operations at the same time. Therefore, there is a problem of reliability of the conventional test circuit.

Test circuit for semiconductor integrated circuit


A method for evaporating liquid, in which a drum 1 in which there are passages 8 which extend across the thickness of the drum wall 3 is rotated in a trough 5 containing evaporation liquid 6, while a gas is fed from the drum 1 to the passages 8 is provided. As a result of the gas being passed through, the liquid which has been absorbed by the drum 1 evaporates, with the result that heat is extracted from the system of drum 1 and gas passed through. Depending on conditions, the method can be used to cool, for example flows of processed water or to cool air or to desalinate water. A device for carrying out the method and a drum which can be used in the device are also provided.

The invention relates firstly to a method for evaporating liquid, in which a hollow cylindrical drum, which is arranged in a housing and has a drum wall which comprise a liquid-absorbent material, is rotated about its cylinder axis which is arranged substantially horizontally, the drum being immersed in the liquid to be evaporated over part of its circumference, which liquid is situated in a trough which is arranged at the circumference of the drum, while a gas which takes up the evaporated liquid is conveyed in contact with the liquid-absorbent material.
A method of this nature is described in DE-A-2 362 619.
The said publication describes a method of the type indicated above which is carried out in a device which operates in the manner indicated above and in which the drum comprises a liquid-absorbent wick-like material which can be moistened with a liquid, for example water, in order that, when air is passed through the wick material from the inside of the drum outwards, water can evaporate.
A method of this type has the drawback that, when water is taken up in the wick material, the pores become filled with water and the resistance to the flow of air increases rapidly.
Although the above publication states that, after it has been immersed in the water, the wick material is allowed to drip dry, it is nevertheless necessary to reckon with a considerable resistance to the flow of air.
The object of the present invention is to provide a device of the type described above which does not present a drawback of this nature.
To this end, the method according to the invention is characterized in that the liquid-absorbent material delimits a large number of passages which extend across the thickness of the drum wall and the gas is conveyed through these passages.
In the present context, passages is understood as meaning openings with a cross section of considerable size with respect to the liquid-absorbent material included in the drum wall, as will be explained in more detail below.
Advantageously, the passages will extend substantially radially with respect to the axis of the drum; however, this is not imperative, since passages which run in a direction other than the radial direction will also be satisfactory, provided that they are sufficiently large.
With regard to the direction of gas flow inside the passages extending across the thickness of the drum wall, it is, of course, possible to select flow from the inside outwards and from the outside inwards; it is an attractive option for the gas to be supplied inside the drum and to flow through the passages to the space outside the drum.
Where the above text has referred to liquid and gas which takes up evaporated liquid, it will be understood that the method as described offers the possibility of evaporating a wide variety of liquids using an equally wide variety of gases.
However, many applications will involve the evaporation of water, while it is obvious to use air as the gas which takes up evaporated water.
Water and air are generally available in copious quantities, and these two media will be in widespread use in particular for industrial purposes; however, the invention is not limited to these two media. If, instead of water, another liquid is to be evaporated, it will at any rate be necessary to ensure that the liquid-absorbent material is able to absorb this other liquid and that the liquid-absorbent material is inert to the said liquid, i.e. is not chemically affected by this liquid.
In a first embodiment of the method according to the invention, it is used to cool process water which is fed into the trough and air from the environment is conveyed through the passages, and during rotation of the drum at least some of the process water which is absorbed by the water-absorbent material is evaporated, and in this way the temperature of the process water which remains therein and/or of the liquid-absorbent material is reduced, with the result that, during further rotation, the temperature of the process water in the trough is reduced as a result of the cooled remaining absorbed process water and/or the cooled liquid-absorbent material coming into contact with the process water in the trough.
Process water is generated in very considerable quantities in industry and considerable work is involved in suitably cooling such quantities of process water. In many cases, cooling towers are used, in which water drips downwards through a filling packing and air is passed through in countercurrent, in order to cool the process water through evaporation of water.
Cooling processes of this nature require large-scale plant which, furthermore, has the drawback of forming aerosols which are entrained in the gas flow and may reach the environment, which is undesirable for certain environmentally polluting types of process water.
The method according to the invention as described above makes process water cooling of this nature easy and, to do so, uses a plant of small dimensions. In the method according to the invention, the formation of aerosols is to a large extent prevented since there is no contact between a flow of air and water which is already finely dispersed.
The water is absorbed at the surface of the absorption material and will evaporate from this position; consequently, there is little likelihood of aerosols being formed. This embodiment of the method according to the invention will be explained in more detail in the examples.
In another embodiment of the method according to the invention, it is used to cool air, in which method air is withdrawn from the environment and is fed through the passages, and the trough contains evaporation water which is absorbed by the liquid-absorbent material and at least part of which is evaporated during the rotation of the drum, with the result that the temperature of the remaining evaporation water and/or of the liquid-absorbent material is reduced, with the result that the temperature of the air which comes into contact therewith is reduced.
Particularly in houses and buildings, it is important, particularly when the outside temperature is high, for the temperature of the air inside the buildings to be reduced to an acceptable level while, at the same time, providing sufficient ventilation. If the air is simply cooled and dehumidified, the inside climate becomes unpleasant, leading to what is known as sick building syndrome. This is because of the fact that, for economic reasons, the cooled air is reused, with the result that insufficient fresh air is supplied. The cooling efficiency of a good air conditioning installationxe2x80x94the COPxe2x80x94is 5. This means for each kW of electric power supply 5 kW of cooling energy is obtained.
Using the invention, outside air is cooled by the evaporation of water. The COP is in this case 75. The cooling energy is obtained by the evaporation of water. Since in this method the economic reason is virtually eliminated, it is possible to cool sufficient fresh air and to ensure that the inside climate remains cool and pleasant.
As will be explained in more detail below, by using the method according to the invention in which water is evaporated and therefore heat is extracted, it is possible to achieve very substantial cooling of air which is to be fed to a working environment while, at the same time, the humidity levels in the cooled air remain at an acceptable level. In the conventional air conditioning units of the type which have a closed evaporation/cooling system, it is often the case that not only is the air cooled, but also there is a considerable reduction in humidity, with the result that the condition of the air is uncomfortable for people working in this environment.
In another embodiment of the method according to the invention, it is used for desalination of water, in which method air is withdrawn from the environment and is fed through the passages, and the trough contains salt-containing water which is absorbed by the water-absorbent material and at least some of which is evaporated during the rotation of the drum about its cylinder axis, leaving behind salt and/or water which is further enriched with salt, while the water which has been taken up in the air in this way is recovered by condensation in a subsequent step, and heat and salt-containing water are added continuously in amounts corresponding to the amount of water which has been evaporated.
In this method, the absorbent material which is active in the method takes up salt-containing water, some of the water is evaporated, leaving behind salt or water with increased concentrations of salt, and then the water is recovered by condensation from the air flow which has been enriched with water vapour in this way.
In a highly attractive embodiment of the method for desalination of water outlined above, the condensation step which is present is carried out by using a separate cylindrical drum which comprises a water-absorbent material and which is rotated about its cylinder axis which is substantially horizontally oriented and part of the circumference of which is immersed in salt-free water which is situated in a separate trough and is at a temperature which is lower than the temperature of the water to be desalinated, the drum and the trough for the water to be desalinated and the drum and the trough for the salt-free water being accommodated in one chamber, while heat and water are extracted from the trough containing salt-free water continuously in amounts corresponding to the amount of water vapour which is condensed.
By selecting a lower temperature of the salt-free water than the temperature of the salt-containing water, it is possible to ensure that the water vapour pressure on the surface of the liquid-absorbent material on the salt-free water side of the installation is lower than on the salt-containing water side. Consequently, there is a driving force which causes water vapour to condense on the water-absorption material which is included by the drum rotating in a trough containing salt-free water.
In the attractive embodiment outlined above, it is ensured that the salt-free water is constantly at least 5xc2x0 C. lower than the temperature of the water to be desalinated.
By making a drum comprising water-absorbent material rotate through water which is to be desalinated and also making a drum comprising water-absorbent material rotate in a trough containing salt-free water, with both drums and troughs situated in the same chamber and with the water to be desalinated being at a higher temperature than the salt-free water, it is possible, under the conditions indicated, to obtain a simple, inexpensive desalination method which has a very beneficial effect on the cost price of salt-free water.
Where the above text has referred to desalination, a term which assumes the presence of salt, it should be understood that the method may, of course, also be used to obtain pure water from solutions which additionally or exclusively contain dissolved substances other than salt. The method can be used in situations in which the dissolved substance does not have any substantial volatility of its own.
In this context, it is also possible to mention the possibility of obtaining pure water from flows of sewage water; obviously, a process of this type must be surrounded by measures for disinfecting the contaminated water and/or the water obtained.
The word salt, incidentally, is understood as meaning not only NaCl but also the other dissolved minerals which are present in sea water.
The invention also relates to a device for evaporating liquid, at least comprising a housing in which there is a hollow cylindrical drum with a drum wall which comprises a liquid-absorbent material and which can rotate about its cylinder axis, which is substantially horizontally oriented, having a trough for liquid which is to be evaporated arranged at the circumference of the drum and means for conveying, in contact with the liquid-absorbent material, a gas which takes up the evaporated liquid, which is characterized in that the liquid-absorbent material comprises a corrugated liquid-absorbent material, an elongate strip of which, the longitudinal direction of which strip forms an angle with the corrugations of the corrugated liquid-absorbent material, is wound helically so as to form the hollow cylindrical drum, and the drum wall substantially consisting of liquid-absorbent material, the drum comprising passages which extend across the thickness of the drum wall, which are delimited by absorbent material and through which gas can be conveyed.
As indicated above, the passages will expediently extend substantially radially with respect to the axis of the drum: the angle between the longitudinal direction of the strip and the corrugations is then approximately 90xc2x0.
In an attractive embodiment of the device, the corrugated liquid-absorbent material is combined with a flat liquid-absorbent material to form a composite liquid-absorbent material. A material of this nature which is flat on one side, when wound helically to form a hollow cylindrical drum, will not exhibit any problems relating to the corrugations of the strip of material used which lie on top of one another becoming interlocked. Moreover, the presence of the flat liquid-absorbent material increases the active surface area of the drum still further, which is advantageous.
The liquid-absorbent material which is used in the invention may, of course, be any liquid-absorbent material which has a high liquid-absorption capacity at its surface and is expediently of board- or sheet-like nature; it is preferable to use a liquid-absorbent material which comprises a core of plastic material which is coated on two sides with an adhering plastic nonwoven material. By using a material of this nature, an advantageous uptake of liquid is obtained in the nonwoven coatings which adhere to the plastics material core, the liquid, such as for example water, being distributed in a uniform thin layer over the surface of the liquid-absorption material, and overall good wetting of the liquid-absorption material being obtained.
In a highly attractive embodiment, the core of the liquid-absorption material consists of polystyrene, and the plastic of the coating comprises polyester. A liquid-absorption material of this nature exhibits relatively little chemical interaction with a liquid, such as for example water; this means therefore that the water is substantially mechanically anchored. The material is highly advantageous since it has a relatively good chemical resistance, so that a drum fitted with material of this nature can be cleaned using moderate chemical agents.
The invention also relates to a cylindrical drum having a drum wall which comprises a liquid-absorbent material for use in a device as described above according to the invention, which is characterized in that the liquid-absorbent material comprises a corrugated liquid-absorbent material, an elongate strip of which, the longitudinal direction of which strip forms an angle with the corrugations of the corrugated absorbent material, is wound helically so as to form the cylindrical drum, the drum comprising passages which extend across the thickness of the drum wall and are delimited by absorbent material.
As described above, in an advantageous embodiment the corrugated liquid-absorbent material is combined with a flat liquid-absorbent material to form a composite material; the passages which are present in the drum will preferably extend substantially radially with respect to the axis of the cylindrical drum.

Method and device for evaporating a liquid and cylindrical drum for use in the device


The present invention relates to a method for preparing trimethylolpropane (TMP) comprising the steps of: 1) synthesizing trimethylolpropane by using n-butyl aldehyde, an aqueous solution of formaldehyde and an aqueous solution of alkali metal hydroxide through aldol condensation reaction and Cannizzaro reaction; 2) extracting trimethylolpropane from a resultant mixture of the step 1) by contacting the resultant mixture with an alcohol having 6 to 10 carbons; 3) removing alkali metal ion from a resultant extract of the step 2) by contacting the resultant extract with water; and 4) distilling the alkali metal ion-removed extract obtained from the step 3). According to the present invention, a separate formaldehyde recovery process can be omitted, the extraction efficiency of TMP can be maximized with using a relatively small amount of extraction solvent, the separation and recovery processes for extraction solvent can be simplified since a mixture of solvents is not used for TMP extraction, and the yield of TMP can be maximized while the amount of generated waste water can be minimized, thereby producing TMP economically with good efficiency.

Trimethylolpropane (TMP) is a white crystalline material at room temperature, and widely used as starting material in various applications such as alkyd resin, saturated polyester, synthetic lubricant oil, polyurethane resin, plasticizer and the like. Accordingly, there have been continuous researches for economically producing TMP that is an industrially important source material.
TMP is synthesized from n-butyl aldehyde (n-BAL), formaldehyde, and alkali metal hydroxide through aldol condensation reaction and Cannizzaro reaction as represented by the following reaction schemes 1 and 2:
Reaction Scheme 1: Aldol condensation reactionCH3CH2CH2CHO+2HCHO→CH3CH2C(CH2OH)2CHO
Reaction Scheme 2: Cannizzaro reactionCH3CH2C(CH2OH)2CHO+HCHO+NaOH→CH3CH2C(CH2OH)3+HCOONa
U.S. Pat. No. 3,183,274 discloses a process for producing TMP wherein an excess amount of formaldehyde is used to increase the production yield, and a concentration step is incorporated before the extraction step to reduce the amount of extraction solvent. However, the '274 process requires an additional process for recovering formaldehyde remaining after the reaction since formaldehyde is excessively used to increase the production yield. Also, in the '274 process, a large amount of extraction solvent, about 7 times as much as the amount of raw material, is used to increase the TMP extraction efficiency from a mixture resulted from the synthesis reactions. Thus, the '274 process was disadvantageous in that the costs for facilities to recover the solvent are increased, whereby the investment costs and operational costs are increased. Further, in the '274 process, when extracting TMP by using organic solvent from a mixture resulted from the reaction despite using excessive amounts of formaldehyde and water, the resultant organic extract of TMP contains a considerable amount of sodium formate. Thus, this process has a problem that discoloration of TMP may be caused when the organic extract of TMP was distilled under vacuum.
Also, U.S. Pat. No. 3,956,306 discloses a method for separating TMP from a resultant reaction mixture by using two extraction solvents. However, the '306 method requires additional two separation steps for recovering the two extraction solvents used in the extraction step after the extraction is completed. Further, the amount of alkali metals present in the finally purified TMP is too high by about 42 ppm.
Moreover, U.S. Pat. No. 4,594,461 discloses a method for synthesizing TMP by synthesizing dimethylolbutanal as intermediate by using trialkylamine catalyst, and hydrogenating it by using Pb catalyst. However, the '461 method requires high temperature and high pressure, and thus the costs for facilities satisfying the reaction conditions are high. Further, the yield is decreased when amine is used as catalyst over a long period of time, and so periodic change of the catalyst is required to obtain an appropriately stable yield, whereby the cost for such change is additionally needed.
As described above, the conventional methods for producing TMP have used an excessive amount of starting material to increase the reaction yield, or tried to use various extraction solvents or conditions to separate TMP from alkali metal salt generated during the reaction. As a result, a considerable amount of TMP is lost during the extraction step, and the scale of facilities for extraction and recovery cannot but be increased due to the excessive use of extraction solvent, and thus the conventional methods have had limited commercial application. Further, in the conventional methods as described above, the amount of alkali metal remaining in the resultant even after the alkali metal salt-removing step is as considerably high as 40 ppm or more, and the remaining alkali metal may cause decomposition of TMP by high temperature during a subsequent vacuum distillation step for purifying TMP to highly purified product, resulting in discoloration of the final product.


The use of poly(oxyethylene)-poly(oxybutylene) block copolymers in pharmaceutical compositions useful for modifying the surfaces of contact lenses and other medical devices is disclosed. The present invention is based in-part on a discovery that this class of compounds is particularly efficient in wetting hydrophobic surfaces, such as the surfaces of silicone hydrogel contact lenses and other types of ophthalmic lenses. Such compounds are also useful for cleaning purposes. The use of the compounds as surfactants in various types of compositions for treating contact lenses therefore represents a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Hydrogels are water swollen three-dimensional polymeric networks that are used in a variety of biomedical applications including drug delivery agents, prosthetic devices and contact lenses. It is well established that the surface characteristics of hydrogels are determined by the orientation of hydrophobic and hydrophilic moieties of the macromolecules. See, e.g., Ketelson et al., Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, Vol. 40:1-9, 2005.
Because contact lenses are in intimate contact with the corneal surface and the human tear film, which is composed of proteins, lipids, inorganic cations (e.g., calcium) and mucins, the biocompatibility characteristics of the lenses are directly affected by the surface wettability properties of the hydrogel materials, from which the lenses are formed. In particular, evaluating the surface wettability properties of a lens material is important because such properties affect the stability of the tear film. To maintain a stable tear film, a contact lens material must have hydrophilic surface properties. If the contact lens material becomes hydrophobic, the tear film may be disrupted. To determine the wettability of a surface via an aqueous solution, such as human lacrimal fluid, i.e., tears, the contact angle is measured. The spreading of an aqueous fluid on a surface indicates that the surface is hydrophilic, thereby resulting in a low contact angle. The surface is hydrophobic if a drop of aqueous fluid does not spread, thereby resulting in a high contact angle.
A new family of contact lens materials, silicone hydrogels ("SiH"), is gradually replacing traditional hydrogels as the material of choice for extended wear soft contact lenses. Silicone hydrogel materials have significantly higher oxygen permeability than traditional soft lens hydrogels due to the presence of siloxane functional groups. Additionally, the presence of siloxane groups in SiH materials results in a lens surface having hydrophobic properties. An example of a SiH lens is the Acuvue Advance® contact lenses marketed by Johnson & Johnson.
Various techniques, for example, plasma surface treatments and incorporation of molecules within the lens material, have been utilized in order to provide a biocompatible, hydrophilic and wettable lens surface. Although modifying the surface can improve biocompatibility, it has also been reported that some silicone hydrogel materials accumulate lipids over time, and that this build-up may result in a decrease in the wettability of the silicone hydrogel lens material and surface.
The wettability characteristics of the surfaces of contact lenses may also be modified by reducing the amount of hydrophobization on the surfaces. Surfactants have been utilized in prior compositions for treating contact lenses, for example poloxamers and poloxamines, such as the Pluronic® and Tetronic® brands of surfactants, which are poly(oxyethylene)-poly(oxypropylene) ("PEO-PPO") block copolymers, have been used extensively in prior products utilized to treat contact lenses. However, such surfactants do not wet SiH lenses efficiently.
British Patent No. 722,746 (Lundsted) discloses surface active compounds derived from higher α,β alkylene oxides.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,828,345 (Spriggs) discloses hydroxypolyethylene diethers of polyoxybutylene glycols.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,360,451 (Schmolka) discloses amphoteric surfactant gels containing a polyoxybutylene-polyoxyethylene block copolymer.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need for new methods and compositions for modifying silicone hydrogel lens materials to impart improved surface wetting and biocompatibility characteristics during wear. The present invention is directed to satisfying this need.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Use of PEO-PBO block copolymers in ophthalmic compositions


Cleaning compositions functioning in a unique manner are described. These new compositions provide improved cleaning efficacy for all types of surfaces. In addition, in textile laundry applications these compositions provide superior cleaning efficacy for all types and colors of fabrics, as well as extending the range and types of stains and dirt that commonly can be treated by present day commercial laundry compositions.

Traditionally, cleaning compositions, particularly commercial laundry detergents and soaps available in the marketplace, function as substances that physically remove dirt, soil, and stains from the textile surfaces being cleaned. These commercial detergents and soaps are surface active materials containing surfactants and concentrate at the textile surfaces where the dirt resides. The cleaning surfactants are in equilibrium with like surfactants in the wash cleaning liquid. Simply stated, these surfactants physically incorporate (dissolve) the dirt, oil, or stains in their micelles and then transport them away from the textile surfaces and into the bulk of the cleaning liquid.
The popularity of these commercial soaps and detergents in the marketplace is legendary, and their ability to physically clean textiles is adequate for most common soils and dirt; however, these detergents and soaps are less effective in removing oily soils and/or hydrophobic stains.
Traditionally, a commercial method of chemical cleaning or bleaching is used to remove stains. The actual dirt causing the stain is not physically removed from the surface being cleaned. The dirt is bleached, i.e., chemically altered, to a colorless state.
Typical commercial bleaching agents contain hypochlorites. A hypochlorite is a chemically strong oxidizing agent generally preferred to the weaker hydrogen peroxide. Hypochlorite is effective as a stain-removing bleach, but has a major drawback, viz., it indiscriminately bleaches (i.e., discolors) many colored materials, attacking and altering the fabric color. Thus, in cleaning laundry textiles, commercial hypochlorite bleaches can only be used for white clothing. It should also be noted that the aggressive bleaching nature of hypochlorite weakens the fabric of clothing. Thus, after a number of washings, the treated materials are usually less durable.
In U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,602,090, issued to Melikyan et al. on Feb. 11, 1997 for SURFACTANTS BASED AQUEOUS COMPOSITIONS WITH D-LIMONENE AND HYDROGEN PEROXIDE AND METHODS USING THE SAME, and 6,316,399, issued to Arman V. Melikyan on Nov. 13, 2001 for SURFACTANTS BASED AQUEOUS COMPOSITIONS WITH D-LIMONENE AND HYDROGEN PEROXIDE AND METHODS USING THE SAME, compositions are disclosed suggesting the use of the combination of hydrogen peroxide and terpenes. The description relates to a product incorporating hydrogen peroxide and the hydrophobic terpenes in a liquid composition. The function of this liquid composition is not for the laundering of textiles and fabrics.
In addition, the liquid compositions of the Melikyan patents are not formulated for high pH levels exceeding 9.5, which enhance the bleaching effects of the hydrogen peroxide. These patents teach the requirement of low pH levels to make the liquid combination of terpenes and hydrogen peroxide stable in solution.


Methods and systems are provided for diagnostics and subsequent cleaning of an ejector in a fuel vapor purge system of a vehicle with a boosted internal combustion engine. In one example, a method may include, in response to indication of blockage in a fuel vapor purge system, a purge system valve may be actuated to a position enabling routing of contaminants blocking the ejector to an engine intake manifold, thereby cleaning the ejector.

Vehicles may be fitted with evaporative emission control systems such as onboard fuel vapor recovery systems. Such systems capture and reduce release of vaporized hydrocarbons to the atmosphere, for example fuel vapors released from a vehicle gasoline tank during refueling. Specifically, the vaporized hydrocarbons (HCs) are stored in a fuel vapor canister packed with an adsorbent which adsorbs and stores the vapors. At a later time, when the engine is in operation, the evaporative emission control system allows the vapors to be purged into the engine intake manifold for use as fuel. The fuel vapor recovery system may include one more check valves, ejectors, and/or controller actuatable valves for facilitating purge of stored vapors under boosted or non-boosted engine operation.
Various approaches have been developed for detecting undesired evaporative emissions and/or degraded components in such fuel vapor recovery systems. One example approach is shown by Dudar in U.S. Pat. No. 10,138,827. Therein, a plurality of check valves and an ejector are included in a dual path purge system to effectively purge a canister of the evaporative emissions control system storing fuel vapors during natural aspiration (e.g., non-boosted) operation and boosted operation of the engine. Check valve functionality may be selectively diagnosed during operation in the natural aspirated and boosted operations.
However, the inventors herein have recognized potential issues with such systems. As one example, air through the ejector creates a vacuum during boosted operating conditions to facilitate purging of the canister during booster engine operation. However, due to contaminants flowing through the ejectors, the nozzle of the ejector may be blocked thereby hindering generation of vacuum at the ejector. Prolonged operation of the engine with a blocked ejector may delay purging of the canister which may cause an undesired decrease in emissions quality.
In one example, the issues described above may be addressed by a method for an engine of a vehicle, comprising: in response to indication of blockage in a fuel vapor purge system, actuating a purge system valve to a second position to route contaminants from the ejector to an engine intake manifold. In this way, by including a two-way valve in the fuel vapor recovery system, the canister may be purged during both naturally aspirated and boosted engine conditions, and further the ejector may be cleaned using intake manifold vacuum during naturally aspirated operation.
As one example, a multi-path purge system of a fuel vapor recovery system may include a first check valve coupled to a first purge line between a canister purge valve (CPV) and the engine intake manifold, the first check valve opening during naturally aspirated engine operation to purge the canister to the engine intake. The purge system may include a second check valve coupled to a second purge line between the CPV and the engine inlet upstream of a compressor. An ejector may be housed in the second purge line to generate a vacuum in the second purge line during boosted engine operation, the vacuum causing the second check valve to open and allowing purging of the canister to the engine inlet. A two-way valve may be coupled to the fuel vapor recovery system upstream of the ejector. The two-way valve may be actuated to a first position to allow fluidic communication of the engine intake manifold downstream of the compressor and a charge air cooler with the ejector to allow compressed air to flow through the ejector generating vacuum during the boosted engine operation. During boosted engine operation, a diagnostics of the ejector may be carried out by closing a canister purge solenoid (CVS) and opening the CPV and monitoring vacuum build in the fuel vapor system. A clogged ejector may be diagnosed in response to a lower than threshold vacuum build while the EVAP system is indicated to be non-degraded (such as without any leaks). Upon diagnosis of a clogged ejector, during naturally aspirated engine operation, the two-way valve may be actuated to a second position to allow fluidic communication of the engine intake manifold downstream of a throttle with the ejector. The contaminants lodged in the ejector may be sucked to the intake manifold by engine vacuum freeing the clogging. The mitigating cycle for the clogged ejector may be repeated for a number of cycles to clear all contaminants.
In this way, by monitoring vacuum build-up in the fuel vapor system during a boosted engine operation, a clogged ejector may be diagnosed and appropriate mitigating actions may be undertaken. The technical effect of including a two-way valve in the fuel vapor recovery system is that the canister may be purged during both naturally aspirated and boosted engine operations, and cleaning of a contaminated ejector may be carried out using engine vacuum. By opportunistically diagnosing a clogged ejector and then mitigating the clog, purging of the canister may be continued during boosted engine operation. Overall, by ensuring effective purging of the canister during all engine operating conditions, emissions quality may be improved.
It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.

Multi-path purge ejector system in an evaporative emissions control system


A virtual network interface controller (NIC) associated with a virtual machine in a cloud computing network is configured to support one or more network containers that encapsulate networking configuration data and policies that are applicable to a specific discrete computing workload to thereby enable the virtual machine to simultaneously belong to multiple virtual networks using the single NIC. The network containers supported by the NIC can be associated with a single tenant to enable additional flexibility such quickly switching between virtual networks and support pre-provisioning of additional computing resources with associated networking policies for rapid deployment. The network containers can also be respectively associated with different tenants so that the single NIC can support multi-tenant services on the same virtual machine.

A cloud computing environment, also called a "cloud computing network," "distributed computing system," or simply a "cloud," typically provides processing and storage resources on demand from virtual machines over a wide-area network, such as the Internet. The resources provided by the cloud computing network are generally available on demand from shared pools of configurable computing resources such as networks, servers, storage devices, applications, and software services, and the offered resources can typically be rapidly provisioned and released with relatively small management effort from the users. Services from cloud computing networks for compute, networking, and storage give users varied and flexible capabilities to store, communicate, and process their data in third-party datacenters. Users of cloud computing networks are typically referred to as "tenants." In conventional cloud computing, a given virtual machine is associated with a single virtual network. Thus, tenants needing to communicate with different virtual networks need to be supported on different virtual machines. Swapping networks typically involves restarting, rebooting, or creating a new virtual machine which can be time consuming and disruptive to tenant computing operations.

Multi-tenant support on virtual machines in cloud computing networks