A rudder pedal assembly exhibits sufficient ergonomic feel for a pilot, and is relatively small in overall size. The rudder pedal assembly includes a plurality of rails disposed non-parallel to each other within a common plane, and a rudder pedal. The rudder pedal is movably coupled to the plurality of rails and is configured to receive an input force in at least a first direction and a second direction. The rudder pedal is further configured, in response to the input force, to move along a path constrained by the plurality of rails in at least the first direction and the second direction, respectively, and within the common plane.

Aircraft typically include a plurality of flight control surfaces that, when controllably positioned, guide the movement of the aircraft from one destination to another. The number and type of flight control surfaces included in an aircraft may vary, but typically include both primary flight control surfaces and secondary flight control surfaces. The primary flight control surfaces are those that are used to control aircraft movement in the pitch, yaw, and roll axes, and the secondary flight control surfaces are those that are used to influence the lift or drag (or both) of the aircraft. Although some aircraft may include additional control surfaces, the primary flight control surfaces typically include a pair of elevators, a rudder, and a pair of ailerons, and the secondary flight control surfaces typically include a plurality of flaps, slats, and spoilers.
The positions of the aircraft flight control surfaces are typically controlled using a flight control surface actuation system. The flight control surface actuation system, in response to position commands that originate from either the flight crew or an aircraft autopilot, moves the aircraft flight control surfaces to the commanded positions. For example, during flight the pilot positions the primary flight control surfaces via a yoke or control stick and a pair of foot pedals. In particular, the pilot may control the position of the elevators, and thus aircraft pitch, by moving the yoke or control stick in a relatively forward or rearward direction. The pilot may control the positions of the ailerons, and thus aircraft roll, by moving (or rotating) the yoke or control stick in the left or right direction (or in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction). Moreover, the pilot may control the position of the rudder, and thus aircraft yaw, by positioning a pair of right and left rudder pedals using their foot. It is noted that in addition to being used to position the rudder, the rudder pedals may also be used to apply the brakes to the landing gear wheels.
The rudder pedals are configured to articulate during operation, so as to provide an ergonomically correct feel for the pilot. Typically, this ergonomic feel is obtained using relatively long, pivotally mounted lever arms that are coupled to a system of mechanical mechanisms, such as rods and linkages. These mechanical mechanisms are disposed below the cockpit floor, and are used to convert rudder pedal movements into rudder movement commands. Although useful, safe, and robust, present rudder pedal assemblies are typically relatively large in size and complexity. Current aircraft manufacturers desire smaller sized rudder pedal assemblies.
Hence, there is a need for a rudder pedal assembly that exhibits sufficient ergonomic feel for the pilot, and that is relatively small in overall size. The present invention addresses at least these needs.

Rudder pedal assembly including non-parallel slide rails


Object of the present invention is to provide a resin-coated carrier for an electrophotographic developer with reduced carrier weight, carrier beads carry over is prevented, and further, excellent in carrier strength and stable charging property in endurance printing. To achieve the object, the carrier having a coated resin layer on the surface of a porous ferrite core material and the pore volume and the peak pore size of the porous ferrite core material are 55 to 160 mm3/g and 0.2 to 0.7 μm, respectively, and an electrophotographic developer using the resin-coated carrier is adopted.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a resin-coated carrier for an electrophotographic developer used in a two-component electrophotographic developer for use in apparatuses such as copiers and printers, and an electrophotographic developer using the resin-coated carrier.
Description of Related Art
An electrophotographic development method is a method in which development is performed by adhering the toner particles in a developer to the electrostatic latent image formed on a photo conductor, and the developer used in such a method is classified into a two-component developer composed of toner particles and carrier particles and a one-component developer using only toner particles.
As a development method using, among such developers, a two-component developer composed of toner particles and carrier particles, previously a method such as a cascade method has been adopted, but currently a magnetic brush method using a magnet roll predominates.
In a two-component developer, the carrier particles serve as a carrying substance to form a toner image on the photo conductor in such a way that the carrier particles are stirred together with the toner particles in a developer box filled with the developer to impart an intended charge to the toner particles, and further, convey the thus charged toner particles to the surface of the photo conductor to form the toner image on the photo conductor. The carrier particles remaining on a development roll which holds a magnet again return from the development roll into the developer box to be mixed under stirring with the fresh toner particles and to be repeatedly used for a predetermined period of time.
In contrast to a one-component developer, a two-component developer is such that the carrier particles are mixed under stirring with the toner particles, thus charge the toner particles, and further have a function to convey the toner particles, and a two-component developer is excellent in the controllability in designing developers. Accordingly, two-component developers are suitable for full-color development apparatuses required to offer high image quality and for high speed printing apparatuses required to be satisfactory in the reliability and durability in image maintenance.
In two-component developers used in the above-described manner, the image properties such as the image density, fogging, white spots, gradation and resolution are each required to exhibit a predetermined value from the initial stage, and further these properties are required to be invariant and to be stably maintained during the endurance printing. For the purpose of stably maintaining these properties, the properties of the carrier particles contained in the two-component developers are required to be stable.
As the carrier particles which form two-component developers, there have hitherto been used various types of iron powder carriers, ferrite carriers, resin-coated ferrite carriers, magnetic powder-dispersed resin carriers and the like.
Recently, office networking has been promoted, and the age of monofunctional copiers develops into the age of multifunctional copiers; the service system has also shifted from the age of the system such that a contracted service man conducts periodic maintenance inclusive of the replacement of the developer to the age of the maintenance-free system; thus, the market has further enhanced demand for further longer operating life of the developer.
Under such circumstances, for the purpose of reducing the carrier particle weight and extending the developer operating life, there have been proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-40367 and the like a variety of magnetic powder-dispersed carriers in each of which magnetic fine particles are dispersed in a resin.
Such magnetic powder-dispersed carriers can be reduced in true density by decreasing the amounts of the magnetic fine particles and can be reduced in stress caused by stirring, and hence can be prevented from the abrasion and exfoliation of the coating film and accordingly can offer stable image properties over a long period of time.
However, the magnetic powder-dispersed carrier is prepared by agglomerating magnetic fine particles with a binder resin, and hence offers, as the case may be, a problem that the magnetic fine particles are detached due to the stirring stress or the impact in the developing device or a problem that the carrier particles themselves are cracked probably because the magnetic powder-dispersed carriers are inferior in mechanical strength to the iron powder carriers and ferrite carriers having hitherto been used. The detached magnetic fine particles and the cracked carrier particles adhere to the photo conductor to cause image defects as the case may be.
Additionally, the magnetic powder-dispersed carrier uses magnetic fine particles, and accordingly has a drawback that the residual magnetization and the coercive force are high and the fluidity of the developer is degraded. In particular, when a magnetic brush is formed on a magnet roll, the presence of the residual magnetization and the coercive force hardens the ears of the magnetic brush and hence high image quality is hardly obtained. Additionally, even when the magnetic powder-dispersed carrier is separated away from the magnet roll, the magnetic coagulation of the carrier is not unstiffened and the mixing of the carrier with the refilled toner is not rapidly conducted, and hence there occurs a problem that the charge amount rise is aggravated, and image defects such as toner scattering and fogging are caused.
In addition to such a magnetic powder-dispersed carrier, for the purpose of reducing the weight of the carrier particle, there have been proposed hollow carriers in which a vacancy is formed in the interior of the carrier core material particle. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-310104 states that the core particle has at least one vacancy of 20% or more and 60% or less with reference to the cross-sectional area, and the total porosity is 20% or more and 70% or less with reference to the cross-sectional area. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-244572 states that when the outer diameter of the carrier core material is represented by d1 and the outer diameter of the hollow portion present in the interior of the core material is represented by d2, it is preferable for the relation 0.1<d2/d1<0.9 to be satisfied.
In the carriers described in these patent documents, the weight reduction is certainly attained; however, in any of these carriers, the size of one vacancy is extremely large, and hence, as compared to conventional ferrite carriers having no hollow portion, these carriers are still weak in mechanical strength, thus the fracture of the carrier particles occurs due to the stirring stress or the impact in the developing device at the time of endurance printing, and the fractured particles adhere to the photo conductor to offer a cause for the occurrence of image defects. Accordingly, for the extension of the operating life having been recently, particularly demanded, these carriers are absolutely unsatisfactory.
Further, as the substitutes for such magnetic powder-dispersed carriers and hollow carriers, resin-filled carriers obtained by filling a resin in the voids of porous carrier core material have been proposed.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-337579 proposes a resin-filled carrier prepared by filling a resin in a ferrite core material having a porosity of 10 to 60%, and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-57943 proposes a resin-filled carrier having a three-dimensional laminated structure. Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-175666 proposes a resin-filled carrier which has a high dielectric breakdown voltage and has improved fracture strength of the carrier particle, through the specification of the pore volume, the pore size and the pore size distribution property of the porous ferrite core material to be filled with a resin.
In each of the resin-filled carriers described in these patent documents, a resin is filled even in the interior of the porous ferrite particles to form a three-dimensional laminated structure. In particular, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-175666, the pore size distribution property is controlled more accurately, and hence the variation of the resin filling degree is reduced, and further, it is stated that the surface of the filling resin is preferably coated with a resin. Therefore, indeed the weight reduction of the carrier particle is attained, and the carrier strength is improved; however, the carrier particle itself is made to have a high resistance and further made to have a three-dimensional structure composed of the resin and the ferrite, and hence a capacitor-like function works to cause a problem that the charge amount is increased at the time of endurance printing due to the accumulation of the charge, to make it difficult to ensure the image density and to obtain images high in image quality. Accordingly, for the extension of the operating life having been recently demanded, these carriers are far from being satisfactory, in a manner similar to hollow carriers.
On the other hand, achieved weight reduction makes magnetization per a carrier particle lower and as a result, problems such as defective image caused by scattering of a carrier from a magnetic brush to a photo conductor, i.e. easy generation of a carrier beads carry over has been arisen.
Therefore, with respect to the demand for extension of operating life, demanded is a carrier for an electrophotographic developer in which, while achieving the weight reduction, preventing the image defects such as a carrier beads carry over, further the carrier strength is being attained, and additionally the charging property is stabilized at the time of endurance printing.
As described above, there has been demanded a carrier for an electrophotographic developer in which, while the weight reduction is being attained, the defective image such as a carrier beads carry over is prevented and further the carrier strength is high, and additionally the charge amount variation is small at the time of endurance printing.

Resin-coated carrier for electrophotographic developer and electrophotographic developer using the resin-coated carrier


A method of producing a fiber preform, including forming a weaved preform fabric with a connection zone and multiple layers extending therefrom, each layer having an edge attached to the connection zone with a remainder of the layers extending freely from each other and from the connection zone, the attached edges being parallel and adjacent one another, each of the layers having a weaved structure including warp yarns extending at least substantially parallel to the attached edges and weft yarns extending at least substantially perpendicularly to the warp yarns, deforming at least one of the layers along a direction at least substantially parallel to the warp yarns until the weft yarns thereof have a corresponding desired orientation with respect to the warp yarns, and attaching the layers together away from the attached edges. A method of forming a weaved preform fabric for a fiber preform is also discussed.

Tridimensional fiber preforms are used to produce composite structural elements, for use for example in aircraft, infrastructure, industrial components, etc. Such preforms are typically manufactured through weaving of orthogonal warp and weft yarns, with more complex shapes being sometimes obtained through folding of the fabric after weaving. However such preforms may have limited mechanical properties.
Other preforms are manufactured by weaving the weft yarns at different angles from the warp yarns, but the weaving machines required to obtain such weaving patterns are usually complex and/or have limitations as to the weft yarn orientations that can be achieved.

Method of manufacturing weaved preform with oriented weft yarns


There is disclosed a flexible biopsy forceps device for extracting tissue samples from a patient. The forceps device includes a long flexible sheath having a cable extending therethrough, a jaw assembly connected at one end of the cable and a handle assembly attached at the other end of the cable. The handle assembly includes a spool slidably mounted on a shaft connected to the cable and sheath in such a way that movement of the spool handle results in movement of the cable with respect to the sheath to open and close the jaws. A spool insert is provided which has two portions which fit together locking the end portion of the cable therebetween. The spool insert slides into an axial passageway in the spool and interlocks with the spool in such a way that it is irreversibly locked therewith. The jaw assembly includes a trocar which is locked with the jaw assembly using a tongue-in-groove assembly.

The ability to easily remove tissue samples (diseased or otherwise) from the interior of a patient's body, along for example the gastrointestinal tract for external ex-situ analysis is a very important part of many medical diagnostic procedures. Known devices for performing this operation include flexible biopsy forceps which are used in conjunction with an endoscope which is inserted by a doctor into the digestive tract of the patient. The biopsy forceps device comprises a long flexible sheath having a cable extending therethrough and includes a pair of pivotally connected jaws attached at one end of the cable and a handle assembly attached at the other end thereof. The handle assembly includes a spool slidably mounted on a shaft connected to the cable in such a way that movement of the spool handle results in opening and closing of the jaws. The endoscope is introduced into the patient's body and then the biopsy forceps device is inserted into the elongate channel of the endoscope and the latter is inserted into the body. The handle assembly of the forceps device is then manipulated by the operator to grip, cut and remove the desired tissue sample.
Known handle assemblies generally include a finger actuated slide or spool slidably mounted on a shaft which is rigidly connected to a thumb ring. Certain types of these handle assemblies include plugs which fit inside the spool and are secured therein by means of set screws and the like. The cable is connected to the plug and the sheath attached to the shaft so that movement of the spool and hence the plug results in movement of the cable with respect to the sheath causing the jaws to open and close. A drawback to this type of arrangement is that the set screws are prone to becoming loose and being lost which can be a great inconvenience and a potential danger during use since the jaws cannot then be properly utilized.
Another type of known handle assembly employs a spool insert which is externally threaded and the spool is internally threaded to receive the plug. The handle assemblies in these devices must be constantly checked to ensure they have not come loose. Another type of spool insert includes a pair of arms connected at a midpoint and the ends of the arms are sized and are deformable so that the insert is received in the spool in such a way so that the end portions of the arms extend beyond the ends of the spool when assembled. Such a device is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Utility Model Application No. 58-160010. A drawback to this type of arrangement is that the ends of the arms are prone to being broken thereby rendering the device inoperative. In addition, the arms must be strong enough to withstand stresses related to the opening and closing of the jaws while at the same time being flexible enough to deform during assembly.
Many types of flexible biopsy forceps include a trocar having a sharp point disposed between the jaws. The trocar aids in positioning and fixing the jaws with respect to the tissue to aid in removal of the tissue sample. For example, the trocar is first embedded in the tissue sample with the jaws open thereby anchoring the device so that it does not become dislodged or move around as the jaws are manipulated. In some types of trocar/jaw combinations the trocar is attached to the jaw assembly by means of a pin extending into a hole in part of the trocar and soft soldered to a housing. A drawback to this type of arrangement is that the pin can become loose during ultrasonic cleaning. Some assemblies use a trocar with an integral small tab folded outwards and inserted into a hole in the housing. A drawback to this type of arrangement is that the tab can protrude from the housing thereby presenting a sharp edge which is prone to damage the interior of the endoscope. Also, the tab can break off easily due to its small size resulting in possible loss of the trocar.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a flexible biopsy forceps device which provides a handle assembly wherein the finger actuated spool and associated spool insert are securely locked together and not prone to falling apart. In addition, it is desirable to provide a jaw assembly with a trocar affixed to the assembly in such a way that it is not prone to falling apart.


A chip packaging overflow proof device includes a chip disposed on a substrate; a circuit connected to the chip being provided to each of both sides of the substrate; both of the substrate and the chip being placed in a packaging base; a socket being each provided on both sides of the packaging base to receive insertion by a lid; a first cable-terminating hole being provided between the socket and the lid to permit the circuit to penetrate through; one or a plurality of retaining wall being disposed on the packaging base at where closer to the socket; a second cable-terminating hole being provided on the retaining hole; an overflow space being defined between the retaining wall and the socket; the overflow space being disposed at a level lower than that of the second cable-terminating hole; and the overflow space accepts any squeeze-out from a chip packaging colloid.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a chip packaging overflow proof device, and more particularly to a package base including an overflow space to contain squeeze-out.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
The conventional manufacturing process for semiconductor package with lead frame as a chip carrier, e.g., Quad Flat Package (QFP) or Quad Flat Non-Leaded (QFN) involves having the lead frame provided with a chip base and multiple guide pins to be adhered with a semiconductor chip; the lead frame is then electrically connected to a solder pad and multiple corresponding connection pins with multiple golden plated wires, and finally a packaging colloid is provided to encapsulate the chip and those golden plated wires to form a semiconductor package. Meanwhile, on surface of the chip base may be exposed out of the packaging colloid for the chip base to facilitate dissipating the heat built up on the chip.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings for a process of packaging multiple chips, each chip 11 is disposed on a same substrate 12 and the substrate 12 is related to a circuit board with both sides disposed with circuits 13. The substrate 12 and multiple chips 11 are placed in a packaging base 14. Both sides of the packaging base 14 are respectively provided with a socket 15 to receive insertion by a lid 16. A cable-terminating hole 17 is disposed at where between the socket 15 and the lid 16 for the circuit to penetrate through. A packaging colloid 18 is filled above the substrate to protect those chips 11 while each chip 11 is activated when the circuit 13 is conducted.
The cable-terminating hole 17 is contained in a first slot 171 with its opening facing upward and disposed at the bottom of each of both sides of the socket 15 and in a second slot 172 with its opening facing downward and disposed on the bottom of each of both sides of the lid 16. Once each lid 16 is inserted into the socket 15, both of the first and the second slots define the substantially circular cable-terminating hole 17 to allow the circuit to penetrate through. Upon filling the packaging colloid 18, squeeze-out occurs on the external side of the packaging base 14 when the colloid 18 is vulnerable to flow out of the cable-terminating hole 17 due to excessively filling amount of colloid 18 or excessively higher viscosity of the colloid 18 as illustrate din FIG. 2. In case of squeeze-out, not only the appearance is compromised and extra process cost is incurred from ridding of the squeeze-out, but also the binding strength between the colloid and the packaging base may be affected.


An antimicrobial composition is formed from about 5 to about 25 wt % of an antimicrobial formulation and about 75 to about 95 wt % of a silicone resin. The antimicrobial formulation is formed from about 60 to about 95 wt % of an antimicrobial material, about 1 to about 30 wt % calcium chelator, about 0.001 to about 0.25 wt % pigment, and about 0.5 to about 3.5 wt % lubricant. The silicone resin may be a dispersion of about 40 to about 60 w/v % of an RTV silicone resin in a solvent, a liquid silicone resin, or a solid silicone resin. An antimicrobial coating may be formed on the surface of an article by applying an antimicrobial composition to the article and permitting the solvent to evaporate. It may also be formed by making a mixture of about 5 to about 12 wt % of an antimicrobial formulation and about 88 to about 95 wt % of a liquid or solid silicone resin and molding, overmolding, or extruding the article from the compounded mixture.

This invention relates to an antimicrobial formulation that can be used with silicone and silicon resins to coat products that have silicone surfaces or are 100% silicone, such as medical devices. It can also be directly incorporated into medical devices and products used for non-medical applications. In particular, it relates to antimicrobial formulations that can be blended with a room temperature vulcanizing (RTV) silicone resin (for coating applications) or compounded with liquid silicone rubber (LSR) materials (for extruding or overmolding applications). The antimicrobial formulations comprise an antimicrobial material, a calcium chelator, a pigment, and a lubricant.
Silicone is a soft, highly flexible and non-toxic material extensively used for several types of medical devices, including catheters, stents, Foley catheters used for incontinence, other urological catheters, gastrostomy tubes, feeding tubes, and certain consumer products. Silicone, like other materials, is susceptible to bacterial adherence, which leads to the formation of biofilms and the encrustation of calcium deposits when used in contact with body fluids such as urine, blood, bile, etc. The presence of bacteria on medical articles can result in infections and the spreading of diseases.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Antimicrobial composition for medical articles


A sensor support arm, adapted for use with a breathing mask such that the arm is extendable underneath a sealing surface of a breathing mask is disclosed. The arm is adaptable at one end for fixing on to equipment worn by a user, having a sensor disposed at an opposing end positionable in the interior of a breathing mask. The arm has lead connections necessary for the sensor extending along the arm. The arm has a greater width than thickness and comprises a flexible material such that it is flexible about both longitudinal and transverse axes. The arm is provided with a substantially planar side. A breathing mask having a freely self-supporting sensor arm is also disclosed.

The use of breathing masks is prevalent in many different fields, both military and civilian, such as in aeronautics, rescue services, diving, in different types of industrial environments where hazardous products are used, etc. Despite the use of a breathing mask, there are still requirements on two-way communication, for which reason the person wearing the breathing mask must be able, via communication equipment, to communicate with someone in the ambient surroundings.
Often, breathing masks are combined with other types of equipment, for example, personal (safety) equipment, such as hearing protectors, safety helmets or the like. In such cases, it is normal that the safety equipment is provided with a microphone boom which is located in the region of the user's mouth and can thereby receive sound signals. However, such a solution cannot, as a rule, be used together with a breathing mask, since the microphone will be located on the outside of the breathing mask, where the possibility to receive sound is impaired. The relationship will be the same if the personal equipment consists of a headset.
It is previously known in the art to position a microphone interiorly in a breathing mask. See, for example DE 1 083 662 (B). This document shows a full mask, which, in the material of the mask, has leads embedded which, on the inside of the mask, may be connected via a terminal to a microphone positioned inside the mask. On the outside of the mask, there is a corresponding terminal, to which may be connected a suitable lead to some form of communication equipment.
A breathing mask of this type can not be used easily in combination with any other type of safety equipment, where a microphone is already integrated.
Further, there is naturally a certain risk of leakage in the passages which are required for it to be possible to lead out the electric signals of the microphone to the outside of the breathing mask and there be connected to communication equipment.
DE 10 2007 006 732 A1 discloses a breathing mask in which a microphone is disposed. According to this publication, there are no through-passages for electric leads, but the microphone signals are transmitted in wireless mode via radio to a receiver on the outside of the breathing mask.
EP 1 484 087 A1 shows a breathing mask where a conductor or conduit runs from the inside of the breathing mask to the outside of the mask. The conductor or conduit is provided on the outside of the breathing mask with an accommodation space in which a microphone may sealingly be slid into position, the microphone being disposed on a microphone boom which in its turn is mounted on some form of safety equipment. Naturally, there are also leakage risks in this case. Further, the possibility of freely combining a breathing mask with optional personal (safety) equipment is extremely limited.
It is therefore desirable to provide an arm for supporting a sensor that may be secured on to personal (safety) equipment such as a headset, strapping, hearing protector, safety helmet etc., such that it can be used alone or in combination with a breathing mask without risk of leakage.
The present invention aims to address the above problem by providing a sensor support arm, adapted for use with a breathing mask such that the arm is extendable underneath a sealing surface of a breathing mask and adaptable at one end for fixing on to equipment worn by a user, having a sensor disposed at an opposing end positionable in the interior of a breathing mask, and having lead connections necessary for the sensor extending along the arm, the arm having a greater width than thickness and comprising a flexible material such that it is flexible about both longitudinal and transverse axes, wherein the arm is provided with a substantially planar side.
By providing a sensor support arm that has a greater width than thickness, that is at least flexible about both longitudinal and transverse axes, and has a substantially planar side that can seal against the sealing surface of the mask, the arm can be used alone or in combination with a breathing mask without risk of leakage. Furthermore the lead connections necessary for the sensor extend along the arm such that they do not contribute to the risk of mask leakage.
Preferably, an arm where the substantially planar side of the arm is turned to face towards the sealing surface. Preferably, an arm that includes an arched side and more preferably, where the arched side has tapering edge portions.
Preferably, an arm that is strip shaped and/or where the width is greater than fives times its thickness. An arm that includes a flexible material that is yieldable and elastic. An arm where the sensor comprises a microphone and/or where the end adaptable for fixing to the equipment is arranged to allow pivotal adjustment of the arm.
Preferably, an arm that is provided with coating that realises adhesion and/or an arm that is freely self-supporting.
The present invention aims to provide a breathing mask having sealing surfaces formed to seal around the nose and mouth of a wearer, comprising a freely self-supporting sensor support arm that extends under a sealing surface of the breathing mask and is adaptable, at one end, for fixing on to equipment worn by a user and has a sensor disposed at an opposing end positionable in the interior of the breathing mask, with lead connections necessary for the sensor extending along the arm, the arm having a greater width than thickness and comprising a flexible material such that is flexible about both longitudinal and transverse axes, wherein the arm is provided with a substantially planar side.
Preferably. a breathing mask where the arm includes an arched side and more preferably, where the arched side has tapering edge portions.
Preferably, a breathing mask where, in use, the substantially planar side of the arm is turned to face towards a sealing surface of the mask. A breathing mask where the arm includes a flexible material that is yieldable and elastic and/or where the end of the arm adaptable for fixing to the equipment is arranged to allow pivotal adjustment of the arm.
Preferably, a breathing mask where the arm is provided with coating that realises adhesion.


This invention relates to the synthesis from PET (virgin, recycled, post consumer, or precursor raw materials) of novel water dispersible or water emulsifiable polyester resins having improved hydrophobicity or non-polar characteristics. These characteristics give the applied film of these dispersions or emulsions much improved water repellency while at the same time retaining their redispersible or reemulsifiable properties. Such resins can be used for many applications in the paper, textile, coatings, paint, construction, and other industries.

Several patents have been written relating to the synthesis of water soluble, dispersible, or emulsifiable polyester resins. For example, Altenberg, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,604,410, has proposed making etherified aromatic polyols by digesting scrap polyalkylene terephthalate with a low molecular weight polyhydroxy compound, containing 3-8 hydroxyl groups. A resulting intermediate is alkoxylated with 1-4 moles of ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide. The final product is useful in making polyurethane and polyisocyanurate foams.
Sperenza et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,485,196 have recited reacting recycled polyethylene terephthalate scrap with an alkylene oxide, such as propylene oxide. The product can be used in making rigid foams.
Other methods of reacting scrap polyalkylene terephthalate with glycols or polyols are proposed by Svoboda et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,048,104; and Altenberg et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,701,477. In applicant's previous invention (U.S. Pat. No. 4,977,191 to Salsman) there is disclosed a water-soluble or water-dispersible polyester resin suitable for textile sizing applications. The polyester resin comprises a reaction product of 20-50% by weight of waste terephthalate polymer, 10-40% by weight of at least one glycol and 5-25% by weight of at least one oxyalkylated polyol. Preferred compositions also comprise 20-50% by weight of isophthalic acid. A further water-soluble or water-dispersible resin comprises a reaction product of 20-50% by weight of waste terephthalate polymer, 10-50% by weight of at least one glycol and 20-50% by weight of isophthalic acid.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,252,615 to Rao et al teaches coating compositions derived from alcoholysis of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Most preferably, the PET is recycled or reclaimed from plastic articles.
Dale et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 4,104,222, have proposed making a dispersion of linear polyester resins by mixing linear polyester resin with a higher alcohol/ethylene oxide addition-type surface-active agent, melting the mixture and dispersing the resulting melt in an aqueous alkali solution. The products are used as coating and impregnating agents.
References proposing the use of copolymers containing terephthalic units and units derived from alkylene and polyoxyalkylene glycols for fiber or fabric treatment include Hayes (U.S. Pat. No. 3,939,230), Nicol et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 3,962,152), Wada et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,027,346), Nicol (U.S. Pat. No. 4,125,370) and Bauer (U.S. Pat. No. 4,370,143).
Marshall et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 3,814,627, have proposed applying an ester, based on polyethylene glycol, to polyester yarn.
In our other U.S. Pat. No. 5,281,630 (Salsman), we disclose sulfonated water-soluble or water-dispersible polyester resin compositions made by treating a polyester glycolysis product with an alpha, beta-ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid and then with a sulfite.
The following U.S. patents describe polyester resins containing fatty acid moieties: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,080,316; 4,179,420; 4,181,638; 4,413,116; 4,497,933; 4,517,334; 4,540,751; 4,555,564; 4,686,275; 5,075,417 and 5,530,059. None of the above patents disclose the resins of the present invention which have excellent hydrophobic and high contact angles when a drop of water is applied to surfaces coated with such resins.
The resins described in the above prior art have found applications in textiles, coatings, and adhesive. All of these resins however have a fairly polar nature which limits their use to adhesion promoters or coating applications where water resistance is not a major factor or where the water resistance is being supplied by other additives. No mention of water repellent properties has been associated with these polyester resins.
In some instances larger amounts of oils are fatty acids are used to supply cross-linking and thermosetting properties to the polyester resins. This chemistry has been labeled "alkyd" chemistry. During the drying phase cross-linking occurs between chains, and the applied coating becomes insoluble.
To this date the inventor has no knowledge of prior polyester art where the water dispersible or emulsifiable polyester resins of said art has incorporated enough non-polar groups to supply hydrophobic character or properties to the substrate on which these dispersions are applied and/or at the same time retain water redispersibility.
The main problem with most non-polar materials that have reactive condensation sites is that these materials have only one reactive site. (For example stearic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, behenic acid, etc. These are most likely isolated from naturally occurring triglycerides such as vegetable and animal fats and oils.) This means that in the polyester condensation reaction they become chain terminators and the amounts that can be used are severely limited because the greater the amount the less the molecular weight of the resin. In alkyd chemistry advantage is taken from the unsaturation in oils and cross linking reactions can be used. However reaction through unsaturation does not exposed sufficient areas of the oil modified chain to provide hydrophobic and water repellent properties to the coatings produced from this chemistry.
The resins described in this invention have overcome the problem of chain termination by using a highly modified polyester backbone. In this way polyester resins can be made containing 30 percent or more of monofunctional monomers, such as stearic acid, to provide a much improved non-polar nature. Then, using reactions cited in our previous patents, these resins can be made into water dispersions or emulsions. Because of the large amount of hydrophobic or non-polar functionality these resins cannot be considered water soluble as some previous sulfonated resins have been. When these dispersions or emulsions are applied to most substrates and dried, orientation of the hydrophobic areas of the chain occurs and the surface of the substrate becomes water repellent, with the degree of water repellency corresponding to the thickness and concentration of the initial coating. This water repellency is obvious from the high contact angle of a drop of distilled water placed on the substrate. This high contact angle is not evident in previous water dispersible resins.
The prior art is silent regarding the new water dispersible and polyester resins of the present invention which are derived from polyethylene terephthalate and which exhibits high water repellency as evidenced by high contact angles.

Water dispersible/redispersible hydrophobic polyester resins and their application in coatings


Disclosed are a clamping-type dust suction tube of a vacuum cleaner and a hand-held vacuum cleaner. The clamping-type dust suction tube includes a tube body and a conductive assembly arranged within the tube body, the tube body includes a plurality of sub-tubes connected in a butt joint manner to form a whole tube, joints arranged at joint portions of every two sub-tubes, and locking mechanisms arranged on the joints and used for locking every two sub-tubes with respect to each other, wherein the length of each sub-tube is less than or equal to a length, a width or a height of other components of the vacuum cleaner. The whole clamping-type dust suction tube is convenient for assembly and carry, reduces the volume of the package, and in addition, it is simple in structure, convenient to implement, and low in cost.

As is well known, a hand-held vacuum cleaner basically comprises a main vacuum cleaner body, a dust suction head (ground brush), and a dust suction tube connecting the dust suction head and the main vacuum cleaner body, wherein the dust suction tube is further provided with a conductive assembly therein, and under the control of the main vacuum cleaner body, the electric power is directed to the dust suction head through the conductive assembly, so that the dust suction head starts to work.
However, the current dust suction tube is a whole section, and the size and the length of the tube is larger than the lengths or widths of the main vacuum cleaner body and the dust suction head, so it is very inconvenient from the perspective of carrying, and so it is difficult to be favored by consumers; at the same time, it brings great inconvenience to the package for sale.

Clamping-type dust suction tube of vacuum cleaner, and hand-held vacuum cleaner

Suzhou Aijian Electric Appliance Co., Ltd.


A chamfering device for a spring-making machine includes a body portion adapted to be mounted on a slide of a spring making machine and moved in unison with the slide, a motor seat fixedly mounted on an upper end of the body portion, and a motor having an output axle on which is arranged a tool holder provided with at least a cutting tool for cutting a spring wire extending into the tool holder from the spring making machine, whereby the chamfering device can be moved to align with the center of the spring making machine so as to cut a chamfer on an end of the spring wire.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is related to a chamfering device for spring-making machines.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The conventional spring making machine generally includes a panel on which are radially arranged a plurality of slides for mounting tools for bending a spring wire into various kinds of springs. However, the spring formed by such a machine has sharp ends which will often do injury to the user. Further, the spring wire for electronic couplings has a rectangular cross section which makes it very difficult for an operator to fit the spring into the hole of the electronic element thereby causing much inconvenience in assembly.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a chamfering device for spring-making machines which can obviate and mitigate the above-mentioned drawbacks.

Chamfering device for spring-making machines


A method is provided for fabricating aluminum alloy sputtering targets having fine precipitates of a second phase material in small, randomly oriented and uniform grains. The method provided includes the steps of homogenizing the aluminum alloy billet at a temperature above the solidus temperature, deforming the billet, recrystallizing the billet at a temperature below the solidus temperature, and cryogenically deforming the billet. This minimizes second-phase precipitate size and prevents the formation of cubic structures, thereby generating fine uniform grain sizes having random orientation.

Sputtering refers to a process which involves the coating of a semiconductor wafer or other substrate mounted within a processing chamber, which wafer is biased electrically with respect to a spatially opposed target made with the material to be sputtered. An inert gas is introduced into the chamber at low temperature and an electric field is applied to ionize the gas. Ions from the gas bombard the target and dislodge atoms from the target which are subsequently deposited onto the wafer or other substrate.
Prior methods of fabricating aluminum alloy sputtering targets included the steps of billet homogenization, target formation and final recrystalization. The billet homogenization was typically done at temperatures lower than the solidus temperature in order to inhibit grain growth.
One method of controlling cyrstallographic orientation is disclosed by Pouliquen, U.S. Pat. No. 5,087,297, herein incorporated by reference. Pouliquen discloses slow forging a heated billet to produce a preferred <110> grain orientation. The method of Pouliquen heats a 4 inch by 7 inch billet having a grain size of 1 mm to a temperature of 572.degree. F. The heated billet is then slowly forged from a thickness of 7 inches to a thickness of 11/2 inches. The billet is then machined to final dimensions to result in a sputtering target having a 1 mm grain size oriented in the <110>direction, as determined by x-ray diffraction. The method of Pouliquen deforms the billet at a rate of 0.5 inches-4 inches/minute at a temperature of 550.degree. F. to 900.degree. F.
Another manufacturing method is disclosed by Fukuyo, U.S. Pat. No. 5,456,815, herein incorporated by reference. Fukuyo provides for hot working of an Al-3.0 wt. % Cu at 520.degree. C., followed by warm-working at 275.degree. C. in a working ratio of between 1.8 and 2.0, followed by heat treating at a temperature between 420.degree. C. and 470.degree. C. for 1 hour.
The solution treatment raises the temperature of the billet higher than the solidus temperature of the alloy to disburse the second phase precipitates, such as Cu, into the Al matrix. Previously, such solution treatment resulted in significant grain growth caused by the loss of the pinning effect of the precipitates on grain front boundary movement. In order to refine the grains of the solution treated billet, the billets are deformed at room temperature or at temperatures up to 500.degree. C. Typically, the deformation of low alloy aluminum materials results in a cubic structure resulting in a grain orientation with a high percentage of (220) or (200) grain orientation.
The prior processes provide either (200) or (220) oriented structure and/or large second phase precipitates of up to 10 microns. Targets having a strong (200) or (220) orientation generate films having poor uniformity. Poor conductivity of the large second phase precipitates generate localized arcing during sputtering, resulting in a high particle density or in large particles deposited on the wafers.
In order to improve the efficiency of integrated circuit manufacture, lower cost of manufacturing and improve productivity and yield, it is desired to improve the deposited film uniformity and increase the deposition rate. It is known that film uniformity and sputter deposition rate are related to the crystallographic orientation of the sputtering target which affects the distribution of material ejected from the target. It is also known that the sputtering of atoms from the target occurs preferentially along the close packed directions the target material and that a near random grain orientation provides better uniformity of the sputtered films.

Method for fabricating randomly oriented aluminum alloy sputting targets with fine grains and fine precipitates


An electric motor control system includes a motor control circuit for generating a motor control signal and a braking mechanism for adjusting the motor control signal to augment motor losses when the motor control circuit is in a braking mode. The braking mechanism includes a difference component for receiving a first signal containing motor reference speed information, for receiving a second signal containing actual speed information, and for generating a third signal containing information indicating a difference between the reference speed and the actual speed. An integrating component integrates the third signal and generates a fourth signal representing the integrated third signal. The fourth signal may augment a voltage control signal in a voltage-based control circuit or may augment a flux-producing component of a current control signal in a current-based control circuit. The electric motor control circuit may include multiple braking mechanisms for use in different modes of operation.

Electric motors commonly include a stationary component called a stator and a rotating component called a rotor. The rotor rotates within (or around) the stator when the motor is energized with a driving waveform. Induction motors, sometimes referred to as asynchronous motors, are a type of electric motor wherein power is supplied to the rotor by means of electromagnetic induction rather than by means of direct electrical connections to the rotor.
As with synchronous motors, the driving waveform supplied to an induction motor's stator creates a magnetic field that rotates in time with the AC oscillations of the driving waveform. The induction motor's rotor rotates at a slower speed than the stator field. This difference in rotational speed, also referred to as "slip," "slip frequency," or "slip speed," results in a changing magnetic flux in the rotor windings that induces currents in the rotor windings. The induced currents in turn generate magnetic fields in the rotor windings that oppose the rotating magnetic field created by the stator, thereby inducing rotational movement in the rotor. The rotor accelerates until the magnitude of induced rotor current and rotor torque balances the applied load. Since rotation at synchronous speed would result in no induced rotor current, an induction motor always operates at less than synchronous speed during normal forward operation.
Rotation of an induction motor may be stopped by simply removing the driving waveform from the motor and allowing the motor to coast to a standstill over time due to the inertia of the rotor and anything coupled to the rotor. Alternatively, rotation of an induction motor may be stopped more quickly using a braking method involving adjusting the frequency of the driving waveform to be less than the rotor frequency, wherein the rotating magnetic field created by the stator induces rotational pressure on the rotor that opposes the rotor's movement and actively reduces motor speed. Using this braking method, the inertia of the rotor and applied load induces voltage in the stator that may energize external motor components, such as a DC bus supplying power to the motor.
In many motor applications, it is desirable to stop rotation of the rotor as soon as the driving waveform is removed from the motor. For example, in washing machine applications, it is desirable to stop rotation of the washing machine motor after a high speed spin cycle so that the washing machine may be unloaded or switched to a slower speed wash or rinse cycle. Unfortunately, the braking method mentioned above suffers from limitations that may render it ineffective to quickly stop heavy loads. The braking pressure created by the driving waveform, for example, is limited by the electric power available to energize the stator. The braking pressure is further limited by the capacity of the motor and other components to handle the voltage induced by the rotor during the braking process.
Accordingly, various alternative techniques have been developed for braking electric motors. One such technique uses brake pads, pulleys, and/or other friction braking systems. Unfortunately, friction brakes add cost and complexity to a motor and are therefore not desirable for low cost applications such as washing machines. Friction brakes also eventually wear out with use and require repair or replacement.
Thus, many motor applications employ alternative electric braking systems rather than friction brakes. One type of electric braking system involves DC injection braking in which a direct current (DC) voltage is applied to a motor's stator windings to brake the rotor. The DC voltage creates a stationary magnetic field which applies a static torque to the rotor. This slows and eventually halts rotation of the rotor. As long as the DC voltage remains on the stator windings, the rotor is held in position and resists rotation. DC injection braking is relatively simple, cost-effective, and maintenance free and is therefore a popular choice of braking for many motor applications; however, it has not been used effectively in some applications as described below.
It is also often desirable to determine when a motor's rotor has stopped rotating so the rotor can be driven in the opposite direction, at a different speed, etcetera. This can be accomplished with a motor shaft sensor such as a Hall effect sensor, but such sensors increase the cost and complexity of motors and are therefore not desirable for many lower cost applications such as washing machine motors.
Thus, sensorless techniques for determining motor speed have been developed. One type of sensorless speed detection employs various algorithms for estimating when a rotor stops based on measured electrical parameters. However, the measured electrical parameters, and thus the results of the algorithms, are less accurate when the motor is being braked with the above-described DC injection braking techniques. Thus, DC injection braking techniques generally require a motor shaft sensor.
The above section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.


A database controller controls a database for storing graph data encoded as triples, each triple having a subject, a predicate, and an object, and each stored within a data item among a set of data items ordered according to the triple stored within. Each data item is stored on a storage node from among a plurality of storage nodes distributed in a network. The database controller includes a storage request receiver configured to receive a request to store a triple in the database, and a data item generation module configured to generate two or more data items each having a different version of the triple.

The present invention is in the field of data storage. In particular, the embodiments of the present invention relate to the storage of triples describing graph data within a distributed storage environment.
Relational databases store data in rows and columns. The rows and columns compose tables that need to be defined before storing the data. The definition of the tables and the relationship between data contained on these tables is called a schema. A relational database uses a fixed schema. Graph databases represent a significant extension over relational databases by storing data in the form of nodes and arcs, where a node represents an entity or instance, and an arc represents a relationship of some type between any two nodes. In an undirected graph, an arc from node A to node B is considered to be the same as an arc from node B to node A. In a directed graph, the two directions are treated as distinct arcs.
Graph databases are used in a wide variety of different applications that can be generally categorized into two major types. The first type consists of complex knowledge-based systems that have large collections of class descriptions (referred to as "knowledge-based applications"), such as intelligent decision support and self learning. The second type includes applications that involve performing graph searches over transactional data (referred to as "transactional data applications"), such as social data and business intelligence. Many applications may represent both types. However, most applications can be characterized primarily as either knowledge-based or transactional data applications. Graph databases can be used to maintain large "semantic networks" that can store large amounts of structured and unstructured data in various fields. A semantic network is used as a form of knowledge representation and is a directed graph consisting of nodes that represent concepts, and arcs that represent semantic relationships between the concepts.
There are several types of graph representations. Graph data may be stored in memory as multidimensional arrays, or as symbols linked to other symbols. Another form of graph representation is the use of "tuples," which are finite sequences or ordered lists of objects, each of a specified type. A tuple containing n objects is known as an "n-tuple," where n can be any non-negative integer greater than zero. A tuple of length 2 (a 2-tuple) is commonly called a pair, a 3-tuple is called a triple, a four-tuple is called a quadruple, and so on.
The Resource Description Framework (RDF) is a general method for conceptual description or modeling of information that is a standard for semantic networks. The amount of RDF data that is available nowadays is growing and it is already impossible to store it in a single server. In order to be able to store and search large amounts of data, the data must be maintained in multiple servers. Adding, deleting and querying data must be done in a coordinated way, using algorithms and data structures specially tailored for distributed systems. It is desirable to store graph data in a way which enables computationally efficient querying, maintenance, and manipulation of the data.
As with all computing hardware, there is always some risk that a storage node (such a server) on which data is stored will fail. Thus, it is known in the art to provide "redundant" storage nodes storing copies of data in case of failure of a storage node. However, providing such a redundant storage node can be costly in terms of infrastructure provision, maintenance, and running costs. As reliability of storage nodes increases, the provision of redundant storage nodes purely to enable data recovery in case of failure of another node is of decreasing value in terms of costs per utilisation.

Database controller, method, and system for storing encoded triples


A method of adjusting a document configuration includes the steps of generating a set of document configuration constraints that define an acceptable range of change in the look and feel of a document, the configuration of which is to be adjusted. The method includes modifying the document configuration while satisfying the set of document configuration constraints to minimize the change in the look and feel of the document.

A document's presentation, ie. its look and feel, is represented by a combination of its layout, formatting and content. For the sake of brevity, the layout, formatting and content of a document shall be referred to in this specification, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, as the "document configuration".
A document's layout refers to the geometric arrangement of blocks comprising the document, sizes of the blocks, their aspect ratios and the distances between them. A block is a zone in which text appears or which contains an image. A block is referred to as a copy-hole or a placeholder.
A document's formatting refers to the choice of text font types, font styles, font sizes and font colors, or the like of text to be placed in those blocks.
A document's content refers to fixed data present in a template from which the document is generated as well as variable data merged with the template to produce a custom document.
In custom publishing, many situations arise where one may want to automatically adjust the layout either of a template used for generating the document or the instance custom document itself. Examples of such situations include:    1. to correct layout errors resulting from changes in the properties of the variable data. For example:            a. a template block could be too small or too big for an image; or the image and the block may have different aspect ratios; or        b. a block for a text box may be too small for the amount of text in the variable data;            2. to reuse a template for a different purpose. For example, one may want to reuse a template that produces a postcard to produce a poster, or to reuse a template that produces a document of 4 pages to produce a document of 6 pages;    3. to adjust the style of a document/template to better match the style requirements of a specific tradeshow or that of a specific dealer.
In all of these cases and others, a graphic artist typically creates a template with an optimized layout. The layout is optimized for variable data with specific properties (certain amount of text, images with certain sizes and aspect ratios, etc.) and specific style requirements. If the customer wanted to reuse the template for data with different properties, or wanted to reuse it for a different purpose, he or she, typically, would be forced to go back to the graphic artist for a new template, costing a significant amount of time and money. It is extremely cost and time efficient if the template or the produced custom document could be automatically adjusted either to correct layout errors or for reuse purposes.
The kinds of documents/templates that predominantly show configuration adjustment problems are so called "layout driven" document/templates. Layout driven documents are characterized by a rigid layout of blocks with fixed sizes and positions. Any content must fit its allocated block. Examples of layout driven templates include real estate and other advertisements and flyers, product catalogs, newspapers and magazines. Layout driven templates can be contrasted with "content driven" or flow based templates that are characterized by content flowing from page to page without a rigid block layout structure. Examples of content driven documents are technical reports, research papers, product data sheets, brochures, etc. Most documents have both layout driven as well as content driven properties. This invention is mainly applicable to templates/documents that are predominantly layout driven. While adjusting a document, it is necessary to minimize the change in its look and feel as much as possible or at least keep it in an acceptable range. While doing layout adjustment, it is necessary to preserve the look and feel of the original layout as much as possible. This is because the graphic artist produces the original layout by considering various factors such as aesthetics, branding and style requirements and optimizes the template to cater for these factors. Venturing too far away from the original look and feel can lead to templates or documents that are aesthetically unpleasant and/or nonconforming to the branding or style requirements.

Method of, and system for, adjusting a document configuration

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A device for manufacturing a preform of glass material for optical fibres. A chemical deposition chamber, at least one burner mobile along a direction Z and adapted to deposit a chemical substance on at least an elongated element positioned along an axis Z-Z, at least one suction element mobile along the direction Z for collecting exhaust chemical substances, a collector tube associated with the at least one suction element and adapted to discharge the exhaust chemical substances outside the chemical deposition chamber through an exhaust opening formed on a wall of the chamber, and a coupling device between the collector tube and the wall at the exhaust opening, allowing sliding of the collector along the direction Z and along a direction X towards/away from the axis z-z.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for manufacturing a preform of glass material for optical fibres. More specifically, the invention relates to a device for manufacturing one or more preforms of glass material for optical fibres through a chemical deposition process.
2. Description of the Related Art
As known, the methods for manufacturing optical fibre basically comprise a first process of manufacturing a preform from glass and a successive process of drawing the optical fibre from the preform.
The most common processes of manufacturing preforms comprise one or more chemical deposition steps, through one or more burners, of suitable chemical substances on a cylindrical support; the chemical deposition substances typically comprise silicon and germanium, which are deposited in the form of oxides (SiO2 e GeO2).
The processes of manufacturing preforms through chemical deposition known in the art comprise processes of the VAD (Vapor Axial Deposition) type and processes of the OVD (Outside Vapor Deposition) type.
Typically, in VAD type processes the cylindrical support is held in a vertical position by a gripping member which operates on an upper end of the cylindrical support; the cylindrical support is made to turn upon itself so as to expose its entire surface to one or more burners which are housed near to the lower end of the support and in such a position as to emit a flow of reactants along a direction which is inclined at a predetermined angle, typically lying between 30° and 50°, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the support. The support is then moved upwards so as to allow substantially axial growth of the preform.
In processes of the OVD type, on the other hand, the cylindrical support is held in a horizontal or vertical position by a pair of gripping members which operate on the opposite ends of the support; the support is made to turn upon itself so as to expose its entire surface to one or more burners mounted on a side of the support and in such a position as to emit the flow of reactants along a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the support. The burner, in particular, is mounted on a support structure equipped with a motorised driving member which allows the repeated movement of the burner parallel to the cylindrical support, so as to allow a substantially radial growth of the preform along all the sections of the support.
A typical process of the OVD type comprises the following steps. In a first step a substantially cylindrical glass preform, called "core preform", is manufactured through deposition of the chemical substances on the cylindrical support: such a preform is named in such a way since it will create the core and a more internal portion of the optical fibre's cladding.
In a second step, the cylindrical support is taken out of the core preform, freeing up a central hole in the preform.
In a third step, the core preform undergoes a process of desiccation and compacting in a furnace, during which suitable gases (comprising, for example, Cl2) are made to flow inside the central hole in order to eliminate the hydroxide ions (—OH) and the atoms of water present in the preform, thus obtaining a vitrified core preform which exhibits a central hole having a smaller diameter than that of the initial preform.
In a fourth step, after having created the vacuum inside the hole, the vitrified core preform is placed in a vertical furnace in which the melting of a lower end of the preform itself is carried out. Such a melting causes the walls of the hole to collapse due to the vacuum created inside of it; the glass material cools down to form an elongated cylindrical element of a predetermined diameter, which is pulled downwards by a suitable traction device. Such an elongated cylindrical element is then cooled down further and cut transversally at many equidistant points so as to form a plurality of elongated elements, also known as "core rods", typically having a length greater than 1 m and a diameter of between 10 and 20 mm.
In a fifth step, each core rod is used as a substrate for a further chemical deposition process (known as "overcladding") similar to that of the first step discussed earlier. In particular, on each core rod and through at least one burner, a plurality of chemical substances are deposited (amongst which, typically, there is silicon oxide) which will then constitute the outer portion of the optical fibre's cladding. At the end of the process a low-density final preform is obtained, from which the optical fibre will then be drawn. Before the drawing, the low-density final preform is desiccated and consolidated with the same procedures seen in the third step. In this way a vitrified final preform which is ready for the drawing process is obtained.
Various devices for manufacturing a glass (core or final) preform for optical fibres through processes of the OVD type are known. Such devices typically comprise a chemical deposition chamber inside which are housed the gripping members of the cylindrical support constituting the chemical deposition substrate for the formation of the preform, a burner which is mobile parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical support, and a suction hood positioned on the opposite side to the burner with respect to the cylindrical support and adapted to collect and remove the particulate and the exhaust chemical substances produced inside the chamber during the chemical deposition.
The chemical substances sucked up by the hoods are then discharged from the chamber through a suitable exhaust pipe and sent to a scrubber.
JP 2000-313625 discloses a device for manufacturing a preform for optical fibres, comprising a plurality of adjacent burners which are mobile parallel to the longitudinal axis of a support for forming a preform, which support rotates upon itself. A suction hood is provided on the opposite side to said plurality of burners with respect to the cylindrical support; said hood also moves parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical support and in synchrony with said plurality of burners. The hood is associated with a tube for discharging exhaust substances from the chemical deposition chamber through the interposition of a bellows fitting, which allows the hood to be able to move with respect to the tube along the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the support. Since the fitting is arranged inside the chemical deposition chamber, it must be realised in a material which, besides having high resistance to mechanical stress (caused by the displacement of the hood), is resistant to high temperatures and acid corrosion which occurs during the chemical deposition.
JP 2001-019463 relates to a technique for manufacturing a porous base material for optical fibers, wherein glass particulates are blown from an oxygen-hydrogen flame burner to an axially rotating rod and are deposited thereon in a reaction vessel, and a moving stage mounted with the burner is moved back and forth between two turning points. An exhaust port is arranged on the side opposite to the burner with respect to the rotating rod and moved in parallel to the burner, to discharge exhaust gases containing unreacted components to the outside of the vessel. The seal between the burner and the reaction container is carried out with a heat-resistant curtain that can be rolled round so that the burner can move. The seal between the exhaust port and the reaction containers is carried out in the same way.
The Applicant has considered the problem of allowing the discharge of the exhaust gases from the chemical deposition chamber equipped with mobile suction elements, looking for solutions which are different from those highlighted above with reference to the state of the art and has identified a simple and at the same time functional solution which provides for the realisation of a coupling of the sliding type between exhaust collector and wall of the chemical deposition chamber.

Device for manufacturing a preform for optical fibres through chemical deposition


The present invention is directed to a method for preparing a glass device comprising the steps of: —preparing a mixture comprising: —at least two glass components, —a solvent, —at least one binder system, —optionally at least one defoamer, —blending the mixture to form a blend mixture, —grinding the blend mixture to form a grinded mixture, —casting the grinded mixture to form a layer, and —drying the layer to form a dried layer of a glass device.

Phosphor in glass converter plates have been produced using Spark Plasma Sintering, wire sawing, polishing/lapping and dicing. Phosphor in glass converter plates may also be produced using a traditional thermal sintering process followed by wire sawing, polishing/lapping and dicing. Attempts to produce items via a traditional tape cast, punch and sinter process have failed due to loss of shape and dimensions.
U.S. Publication No. 2004/0145308 discloses a light source having a luminescence conversion body. The luminescence conversion body is a polycrystalline ceramic body which is united with a solution of a dopant.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,420,664 discloses a light emitting device having a light emitting composite material including a glassy material and a plurality of phosphor particles suspended within the glassy material.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,147,019 discloses a glass composition incorporated into a castable dielectric composition for the fabrication of multilayer circuits.
Zhang et al, Laser Photonics Re. 2014, 8(1), 158-164 discloses a phosphor-in-glass color converter.

Two component glass body for tape casting phosphor in glass LED converters

Abstract: The present invention is further directed to a glass device, a wavelength converter and a light emitting device comprising the glass device and/or the wavelength converter.


A braille teaching tool that audibly pronounces each braille character as it is touched by the student is comprised of a touch pad having a rectangular matrix of touch sensitive areas each connected to a processor with memory for identifying each sensitive area of each sheet of braille placed on the touch pad. The processor is coupled to a speech synthesizer for pronouncing the braille character.

Many people are blind, either from birth or resulting from an accident or illness, and are unable to read in the conventional manner. They are able to verbally communicate and can listen to recordings of great books, but they are unable to communicate in writing except by the use of braille, a system in which each character is comprised of a pattern of raised dots which are sensed by touch of the finger. The braille characters, the alphabet, numbers and punctuation, are formed by a maximum of six raised dots in two columns and three rows embossed on a sheet of paper and arranged in a rectangular cell.
Learning to read braille is difficult for many people. A blind person may learn to distinguish each character on the page, but applying any meaning to it is sometimes difficult. Visual readers can learn quickly to recognize words and grasp the meaning of a sentence at a glance, but a braille student must retain everything by memory until words and sentences are comprehended. A braille student normally requires many hours of assistance from a sighted reader to learn to translate braille characters into the spoken equivalent. That is the function of the present invention--to translate braille characters into the spoken words.
Briefly described, the invention is for a system that includes a touch pad that supports a sheet of braille characters which are to be sensed by the pressure on them. The braille sheet is identified by a bar code which is read by a code reader on the pressure pad and the braille sheet identification is applied to a program memory which provides a map location of the braille sheet and identifies each braille character as its position is touched. The microprocessor then activates a speech synthesizer which audibly pronounces the braille character.


An apparatus is disclosed for generating electromagnetic waves such as terahertz waves. The apparatus may comprise a finger structure having a plurality of conductive lines, wherein at least two of the plurality of conductive lines is separated by photosensitive material, a plurality of detectors, and a capacitor having a plurality of conductive lines separated by a dielectric material. Light from a laser incident on the photosensitive material causes free carriers in the photosensitive material to move to a conduction band and be accelerated by a voltage across the conductive lines of the finger structure applied by the capacitor to produce the terahertz waves.

Terahertz waves are generally electromagnetic waves with a frequency range of 100 GHz to 10 THz (1 THz: 1012 Hz). Terahertz waves are generally generated by an antenna structure resonating at terahertz frequencies which causes electromagnetic waves to be emitted at the terahertz frequencies. The resonance is typically produced optically or electrically. In some cases, the terahertz waves form a terahertz pulse.
A common application for use of terahertz waves is to detect properties of matter in a non-destructive, non-opening, and non-contact manner. The terahertz waves are directed toward a sample such as a solid, liquid, or gas material. Certain frequency waves of the terahertz waves may be transmitted through the sample and others absorbed. The transmitted and/or absorbed waves of the terahertz waves though the sample is indicative of the molecular composition of the sample.


A scroll compressor has lubricant flow which passes lubricant over a portion of a compressor pump set which will be at an elevated temperature under certain adverse conditions. If the adverse conditions are occurring, then this lubricant will reach an elevated temperature. This lubricant is returned over a motor protector such that it can cause the motor protector to trip and stop further operation of the scroll compressor. The flow of lubricant can be selective, and only occur when a predetermined temperature is reached by a sensing unit, or can be ongoing.

This invention relates to a system which optimizes the flow of a lubricant over portions of a scroll compressor which become hot during reverse rotation or loss of charge, and then passing the heated lubricant onto a motor protector.
Scroll compressors are becoming widely utilized in refrigerant compression applications. In a scroll compressor a first scroll member has a base and a generally spiral wrap extending from the base. The wrap of the first scroll member interfits with the wrap from a second scroll member. The second scroll member is caused to orbit relative to the first, and refrigerant is entrapped between the scroll wraps. As the second scroll member orbits the size of the compression chambers which entrap the refrigerant are reduced, and the refrigerant is compressed.
There are certain design challenges with a scroll compressor. As an example, while the scroll compressor efficiently compresses refrigerant when rotated in a proper forward direction, there are undesirable side effects if the scroll compressor is driven to rotate in a reverse direction. Moreover, if the level of refrigerant or charge level, being passed through the compressor is lower than expected, there may also be undesirable side effects. Among the many undesirable side effects is an increased heat level at the scroll compressor members.
One safety feature incorporated into most sealed compressors is the use of a motor protector associated with the electric motor for driving the compressor. The same is true in a scroll compressor, wherein a motor protector is typically associated with the stator for the electric motor. The motor protector operates to stop rotation of the motor in the event there is an electrical anomaly, or if the motor protector senses an unusually high temperature. However, the problems mentioned above with regard to reverse rotation and loss of charge typically cause heat to increase at the compressor pump set, or the scrolls, which is relatively far from the motor. Thus, it may take an undue length of time for the additional heat being generated in the compressor pump set to pass to the motor protector.
In the disclosed embodiment of this invention, lubricant is caused to flow over a portion of the compressor pump set and be heated, at least when there are adverse conditions in the compressor pump set. This heated lubricant is then passed to a motor protector. This will cause the motor protector to trip the motor and stop further rotation.
In preferred embodiments, the heated portion of the compressor over which the lubricant is passed is the non-orbiting scroll. Alternatively, in some embodiments the heated lubricant can pass over the orbiting scroll.
In one general type of disclosed embodiment, the flow of lubricant back to the motor protector is selective, and will only occur if a particularly high temperature is reached. At other times, the lubricant is directed to a normal return path.
These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following which is a brief description.

Oil utilized as motor protector trip for scroll compressor


A window member in a curved display device includes a window body having a flat portion and a curved portion. A first radius of curvature of an inner surface of the curved portion may be different from a second radius of curvature of an outer surface of the curved portion.

1. Field
Example embodiments relate to display devices. More particularly, example embodiments relate to curved display devices including window members.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Unlike display devices including a glass substrate, flexible and/or curved display devices including flexible materials such as plastic substrates or plastic films have been recently developed.

Window member in a curved display device, method of manufacturing a window member of a curved display device, and curved display device having the same


An accessory mount device is provided for quickly securing an accessory, such as a vehicle recovery tool configured as a recovery board, to a vehicle and for quick subsequent release and removal of the tool from the mounting device. The device includes a support frame for mounting the device on a vehicle. The device includes a clamp for selectively engaging the recovery tool to secure the tool to the device. The mount device includes an actuator operably coupled to the clamp to actuate the clamp between an open position and a closed position. A tool support stanchion, as a portion of the support frame, is provided to support a portion of the vehicle recovery tool at a location apart from the clamp. The tool mount device may include a locking mechanism to retain the actuator in the closed position, particularly while driving the vehicle in rough conditions.

The use of off-road vehicle recovery tools, including traction or recovery boards, to aid in the recovery of stuck or immobilized vehicles has increased in popularity. These recovery boards are placed underneath the wheels of the immobilized vehicle to provide increased traction in order to escape from an immobilized situation. Typically, traction boards are provided and used in even quantities (e.g. 2, 4, 6 etc.) and preferably stored on the exterior of the vehicle to avoid the ingress of sand, mud, dirt or other non-desirable materials into the passenger compartment of the vehicle. In addition to using traction boards for recreational off-road driving, the use of traction boards for off-road racing has become increasingly popular.


This is a device that is provided or used as prosthesis in supporting the penis of a wearer, during intercourse. One embodiment is of a prosthesis is to aid the ability for a fully or partially impotent man to be able to perform sexual intercourse. Another embodiment of the prosthesis is that it will be able to mount on a penis that is partially erect. One embodiment of the prosthesis is of a type having a rigid body that is tubular in shape that the non erect or partially erect penis is mounted onto the penis in order to simulate a physical male erection (11) which is constructed with a slot (12) to mount the prosthesis during sexual intercourse and it holds the bottom of the penis in place and exposed while and during the act of intercourse. This exposes the sensitive area of the penis (which is behind the head of the penis) is exposed and allows for pleasure and orgasm. The cone (10) allows the insertion of the prosthesis into the sex canal of the partner without discomfort. The material (13) is constructed of a rigid penis like tubular construction in order to simulate a physical erection of a male. It is attached to the penis by a special tape that adheres to the prosthesis but does not adhere to the sensitive area of the penis and will not cause painful removal from the skin. Any adhesive tape is acceptable. Other embodiments are described and shown.

For a variety of reasons some men are totally or partially affected by impotence. Impotence is where a man is unable to achieve a penile erection. These causes or factors have been associated with blood flow to the penis and are widely studied and are under continued examination. These causes are due to a wide variety of factors, including both physical (medical) and mental (psychological) reasons. Due to the status of health of men today who suffer from diabetes, high blood pressure and other problems, there is a tendency for men to suffer from impotence. Impotence is the inability for some men to be able to have a natural penile erection. Millions of men suffer from this condition. To help solve this condition men resort to taking pills such as Cialis, or Viagra in order to achieve a physical erection. The problem is that only a many men can not achieve an erection using these drugs or are healthy enough to use these drugs. The vast majority of men cannot afford the large expense associated with purchasing these very expensive pills. There is a need for something simple and cost effective that will fit on a wide variety of different sizes of male penises so they can perform intercourse even while suffering with impotence. Even though a man suffers with impotency, this does not mean that he does not feel sensation in his penis or have the ability to achieve orgasm. Even suffering from impotence, the man can still have the feelings and sensations associated with sexual intercourse.
In many cases the causes associated with impotence may leave the male either partially or fully impotent. The results cause the male to achieve a partial erection but unable to achieve enough stiffness to be able to have intercourse. Sometimes the penis is unable for the vessels to be engorged at all leaving the penis in a limp state continually. During intercourse the sexual partner is left unsatisfied and the male is unable to keep the penis erect or achieve satisfaction. A wide variety of products, have been developed to help assist the impotent male to maintain an erection, both chemical and physical. Some have committed to surgical implants, which when finished can simulate a penis to become erect. Some have external aids that when applied or installed serve to simulate a penis to become erect. In this case we are considering the external type of aid to the impotent man. This relates to the prosthesis that is described herein and applies to the impotent man.


Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a graphical user interface as a means of inputting search parameters to database search engines. In some embodiments, two or three dimensional projections spatially represent relationships between search parameters, located along the periphery of the projections and search hits whose significance are represented by position relative to the center of the projection and comparative distance from each of the search parameters. As the user manipulates the overall shape of the search projection, the weighting of search parameters adjusts, reconfiguring the search. The present disclosure also provides, in some embodiments, an intuitive means of assimilating search parameter weightings based on peer or social network preferences with global search results.

That we are awash in information is an often used, though certainly correct axiom of the early 21st century. The ubiquity of information access portals in everyday life provides the potential for connecting meaning to any experience or data set. Potential meaning is the key tenant here. How information sets are evaluated sorted and searched, remains the ultimate determinant of their actual value to the user.
Information in this modern sense may be considered as a two component entity; the first being the actual data it embodies, the second being its accessibility, based on identifying tags, anchors, or fields.
The exponential increases in both data production and storage capabilities have matched, not surprisingly, very well since "Moore's Law" tales have circulated through computational communities. Data search technologies, how information is sorted and accessed, however, have experienced a much more varied history. Though the success of market leaders' search algorithms, such as Google's "page-rank," belie their effectiveness, the increasing volume and complexity of modern information structure has led to increased user dissatisfaction and frustration. Three significant points of current search algorithm dissatisfaction are search algorithm dissatisfaction are search output discrepancies, search output bias, and an incongruous match of search interface with brain heuristic functioning.
Search output discrepancies may result from a circumstance referred to as the "local search problem." This problem arises when global data sets containing extrinsic information are not consistently cross checked or "curated" with local data sets containing intrinsic information. For example, a search for vacation destinations may yield inconsistent output if not updated with local information such as prices, business hours and patron ratings.
Search output bias may result primarily from either (1) discontinuities in search parameters weightings between the user and the search algorithm, or (2) misguiding parameter weightings through "search engine optimization" practices. In either case, miscommunication or lack of clear communication between user input and search algorithm programming may skew output away from the user's intentions.
As search engine and social networking leaders battle the concept of truth and validity on the Internet, a potential problem looms for society as a whole. The popularity of social networking sites has made searching within peer preference databases very effective and appealing. A search conducted within a social network database consisting of peers with similar preferences (intrinsic data) is highly likely to produce user preferable results. Such a behavior, however, limits variation by culling preference outliers. As in biology, any system lacking diversity, while successful within its native context, is resistant to change, slow to adapt, and quickly expends its resources.
Finally, search is a process to learn. Psychological studies of our mind's processing methods maintain that we interpret and organize stimuli based on heuristic schemas. These heuristic schemas contain impressions and rules of thumb that are based on our collective experiences. Commonly statistical methodologies are utilized to explain the occurrence of an activity(s), a decision(s), or a behavior(s). A common form of explanation through statistical measurement is through the use of multivariate mathematical modeling. Within the mathematical models it is very common to have 2-4 variables that explain the vast majority of the phenomenon under investigation. When we form opinions or judgments, we commonly utilize a couple of variables that form the heuristic schema that guide our decision making for a given decision topic.
To better match the processing methodology of our brain, an enhanced method and interface of search will enable a quicker, more sensitive, and more exhaustive search process. Currently, search is guided by a serial ("step-by-step") process. Each step produces a list of results based on one dimension or variable guiding the search command interface. In order to match our mind's organized discovery process and experiential store of knowledge, the search interface could allow the simultaneous expression of multi-dimensional discovery or reasoning. The search process could be expressed as a coordinate within an area that is bound by the multi-dimensional vectors that represent the most important characteristics that involve the topic under investigation. Each vector is a mathematical expression denoting a combination of magnitude and direction. Based on the number of variables that are utilized to characterize the topic under investigation, the area of intersection between the vectors can range from uni-dimensional vector reflection to a multi-dimensional area of expression. We can use a coordinate within the range or area of expression to strengthen or reduce the importance of a variable under investigation. This toggling of coordinate placement allows the search process to maintain a view that simultaneously engages the critical characteristics that govern an intended inquiry.
Through this process the view of search will more closely match the heuristic management of new stimuli. It allows a more graphical representation of the multi-dimensional decision making process. It should speed the search process by maintaining a multi-dimensional view of the critical characteristics that are intended to guide the search. It may also enable a more exhaustive search due to the graphical sensitivity.
There exists an apparent need for an interface between user and search algorithms which would allow the joining of discontinuous data sets, an intuitive means of user awareness and manipulation of search parameter weightings, as well as an effective means of searching across intrinsic and extrinsic data sets.
Finally, the search interface described herein provides an intuitive and fundamentally more accurate means for image search. As today's information schema become increasingly graphically structured, a need arises to be able to search within this graphical landscape. Currently, image search requires a series of translations, such as from user cognition to language representation, from language representation to image meta-tag searching, and from image meta-tag searching to search result structuring. Each one of these translational steps, introduce a degree of error, distancing original intent from search output. From an operational perspective, this disconnect between intent and output introduce an unaddressed need at two levels. One, the user either is not connected with the most accurate solution to their search, or must take additional time to search. Two, information providers, observing user search behavior, will misinterpret the user's behavior intent relationship, and thus, inaccurately serving their client's needs.

Systems and methods for graphical search interface