Described herein are casting and molding methods useful for making microstructured objects. By including a plurality of microfeatures on the surface of an object, other characteristics may be imparted to the object, such as increased hydrophobicity. Some of the casting and molding methods described herein further allow for manufacture of objects having both microfeatures and macro features, for example microfeatures on or within macro features or selected macro feature regions.

This invention is in the field of casting/molding methods. This invention relates generally to methods of making molded or cast microstructured objects.
Casting and molding methods have long been utilized for producing and replicating objects. In general, the negative of an object is produced in a casting or molding process; that is, recessed features are replicated as raised features and vice versa. As such, at least two steps are generally required for replication of an object or features via casting or molding. First, a mold or form of an object is created around or on the master object, creating a negative of the master. For a casting method, the mold or form is filled with an end product material, creating a negative of the mold or form, which results in an end product generally resembling the master. In a molding method, the mold or form is stamped onto the end product material and the features of the master are replicated into the end product. Alternatively, the negative of the desired end product can be fabricated directly and used in a casting, molding or stamping process.
Only recently, however, have casting and molding methods been applied to microstructured objects. A limited number of U.S. patents and patent application Publications disclose cast or molded microstructured objects. For example, U.S. Patent Application Publication US 2006/0162896 discloses methods for forming microstructured metallic surfaces via single use wax molds. U.S. Pat. No. 5,735,985 discloses a method for high pressure compression molding of ceramic micro scale articles, for example a micro molded integrated ceramic light reflector. U.S. Pat. No. 7,237,337 discloses a heat dissipating apparatus having a microstructured capillary layer formed by injection molding or printing. U.S. Pat. No. 7,410,606 discloses casting methods for microstructured objects utilizing a mold fabricated from multiple thin layers stacked to form the desired micro mold.

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS


A propeller blade arrangement comprising a propeller blade attached to and rotatable with a hub, via a retention bearing, the blade being rotatable about a center line of the blade, the retention bearing configured to tilt the blade such that its center line is tilted with respect to the hub.

A propeller has a number of blades mounted around a hub. The hub and the blades set rotate around a hub axis. In addition, the individual blades are mounted to the hub by a retention bearing that allows the blade itself to rotate about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the hub axis. This enables the pitch of the blades to vary to adapt to different flight conditions and output power requirements.
The propeller is caused to rotate at different speeds and either in a forward or reverse mode of operation depending on the flight conditions. During climb, greater power and forward thrust are required. During the cruise phase, forward thrust moves the aircraft forward. During landing, the propeller is operated in reverse thrust mode to slow the aircraft down.
The engine torque applied to the blades via the propeller hub causes them to rotate and generate thrust, Airstream circulating around the different blade airfoil stations creates lift and drag forces at each station. The sum of the lift and drag forces generated along the blade generates shear loads and a high bending moment at the root of the blade where the retention bearing is located. The retention bearing has to be designed to have sufficient size and strength to withstand such bending forces. Modern propeller blades are designed to be as light as possible, whilst retaining strength. Composite materials allow blades to be manufactured that are strong and light, but the retaining bearings still need to be designed to withstand the bending forces that may act on the root of the blade as well as, to a lower degree, the G and shear forces. This provides a limitation on how much the size and weight of the overall propeller assembly can be reduced.
One way of reducing the effect of aero-forces on the blade is to balance them out by generating an opposing centrifugal bending moment—a restoring bending moment—from the G-forces generated by rotation of the propeller. Creating a restoring bending moment in the same plane but in essentially an opposite direction to the aero-bending moment means that these, when added together, will result in a reduced bending moment acting on the blade.
The way this centrifugal restoring bending moment is obtained is by designing the stacking of the blade—i.e. the structure of its airfoil sections—so that the centre of gravity of the blade is offset relative to its centreline and thus its axis of pitch change rotation. The direction and magnitude of the offset, CG offset, relative to the centreline is selected to optimize the restoring moment for given operating conditions. The restoring bending movement varies with rate of rotation, weight of the blade and CG offset.
The restoring bending moment is generally equal to:GLOAD×CG offsetwhere:
      G    LOAD    =      W    ×                  (                  RPM          ×          π          ×                      2                          6                            0                                      )            2        ×    R  where W is the weight of the blade, RPM is the rotation rate of the blade and R is the radial distance between the centre of gravity of the blade and the centreline (axis of rotation) of the propeller.
Typically, the blade will be designed with a centre of gravity to generate an optimal restoring moment—i.e. a centrifugal bending moment—in magnitude and opposite to the aero-bending moment for initial climb conditions. These are the conditions when power and airstream forces are usually at a maximum. The stacking will offset the centre of gravity in such conditions such that the total bending moment is very significantly reduced.
Whilst this works well in the operating conditions for which the blade is stacked to minimise the total bending moment, the design can be detrimental for that blade in other flight conditions.
In particular, when a propeller operates in a reverse thrust mode, e.g. during landing, the pitch angle of the blades is different and the aero-forces are acting on the other side of the blade, and the offset centre of gravity causes a different centrifugal bending moment. The total bending moment, from adding the aero-bending moment and the centrifugal bending moment will, in reverse thrust operation, no longer be minimised—rather, it may actually be increased by a factor, due to the moments acting essentially in the same direction and the restoring bending moment thus having an additive rather than a subtractive effect on the aero-bending moment.
There is a need to provide a propeller design which can optimise restoring moment in different operating conditions.


A semiconductor structure includes a fin upon a semiconductor substrate. A clean epitaxial growth surface is provided by forming a buffer layer upon fin sidewalls and an upper surface of the fin. The buffer layer may be epitaxially grown. Diamond shaped epitaxy is grown from the buffer layer sidewalls. In some implementations, the diamond shaped epitaxy may be subsequently merged with surrounding dielectric. A dopant concentration of the surrounding dielectric may be higher than a dopant concentration of the diamond shaped epitaxy.

Current pre-epitaxy processing of epitaxial seed fin surfaces may results in fin damage. Particularly, long pre-epitaxy processing with high boron dopant gas may lead to subsequent nodule formation upon fin surfaces. For instance, pure boron may be deposited around the damaged fin which may lead to epitaxial growth delay and device shorting due to excessive boron dopant near the channel.

Diamond shaped source drain epitaxy with underlying buffer layer


An acoustic accessory is provided having a loudspeaker and a circuit board disposed therein. An acoustic suspension system is formed within the acoustic accessory by board retention rings disposed within the upper and lower housings of the accessory. The board suspension rings clench the printed circuit board, which includes at least one aperture. Rubber gaskets are coupled to the board retention rings to form an airtight seal. The air mass above the printed circuit board joins with the air mass below the printed circuit board to form a unitary reactance against which the loudspeaker works. The size and number of apertures may be varied in accordance with the acoustic application. Board retention posts optionally seat within notches in the printed circuit board to prevent the printed circuit board from moving laterally. Electrical connections may be made through the printed circuit board into the acoustic chamber, thereby not compromising the airtight seal.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to loudspeaker accessories for portable electronic devices, and more particularly to speakerphone accessories for cellular telephones having improved low frequency response.
2. Background Art
One of the biggest problems that loudspeaker designers face is generating satisfactory low end, or bass, response. Specifically, the challenge is generating louder bass volumes (higher sound pressure level or "SPL") with smaller speakers without additional electronic amplification. Due to the low frequencies and long wavelengths of bass sounds, designers must pay special attention to the overall physical design of the loudspeaker housing, in addition to the selection of the loudspeaker itself. While one may generate treble easily by connecting a high frequency loudspeaker to a power amplifier, generating bass sounds is not so simple. One must consider not only the loudspeaker itself, but also the size, shape and construction of a low-frequency cabinet when designing for a proper bass response. To complicate matters further, the designer must take care to ensure volume levels are consistent across the audio spectrum (i.e, a "flat" response) so that resonances at higher frequencies do not cause "tinny" sounds.
If one simply connects a loudspeaker to an amplifier and tries to generate bass sounds by "pumping up the volume", several problems occur. First, turning the power of the amplifier up causes the loudspeaker cone to move further in and out, thereby straining the suspension material that ties the loudspeaker frame to the loudspeaker cone. Loudspeakers reproduce sound most accurately when the loudspeaker cone moves little relative to the frame. When the displacement of the cone becomes great relative to the frame, distortions appear in the reproduced sound.
Second, if the loudspeaker is just sitting in free space with no housing about it, the sound waves generated by the back of the cone may cancel those being produced by the front of the cone, thereby reducing the overall output. For example, many prior art low frequency speaker systems comprise a simple low frequency loudspeaker, or "woofer", with no enclosure, as in television and radio sets and some public address systems. The problem with these systems is that there is no way to prevent the radiation from the back of the speaker from canceling the radiation from the front. Thus, these systems require very large cone displacements at low frequencies.
One prior art approach for reducing back radiation is to place the loudspeaker driver in a closed box to form what is often called an "acoustic suspension system." In an acoustic suspension system, air trapped inside the closed box provides a reactance against which the loudspeaker cone works. The reactance limits the cone displacement and also prevents the radiation from the back of the loudspeaker from canceling that from the front. Any air leaks in the box will compromise the bass response, in that they both reduce the reactance and allow "cancellation sound" to escape from the box. A large volume within the closed box not only increases the SPL if the bass response, but additionally reduces resonances that may cause tinny sounds. As is known in the art, for any given design, a larger volume results in a lower Helmholtz resonant frequency, improving both bass SPL and overall frequency response provided the box is sealed in an airtight fashion.
The problem with prior art closed box solutions is that while they lend themselves well to large loudspeaker cabinets made from materials like wood, they are difficult to apply to small loudspeaker devices, like speakerphone accessories for cellular phones. Speakerphone accessories are generally small, and are made from materials like plastic that do not form airtight seals very well. Additionally, these accessories often include other circuitry, like charging circuitry for example, that must be coupled to the host electronic device by wires. Running wires through the walls of the accessory causes leaks, thereby compromising acoustic reproduction, especially the bass response.
There is thus a need for a speakerphone accessory with an improved low frequency response.


A calcining tool material, comprising a flame-spray zirconia coating layer made of unstabilized zirconia and stabilized or partially-stabilized zirconia in admixture, formed on the surface of an alumina-silica-based substrate having an Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 content of not less than 65% by weight.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a calcining tool material for use in the calcining of powder metallurgical products or functional ceramics.
2. Description of the Related Art
It has heretofore been a common practice that a calcining tool material for use in the calcining of powder metallurgical products or functional ceramics is coated with a dense film having a low reactivity in order to inhibit the reaction of components in the calcining tool material with the material to be calcined or the absorption of components contained in the material to be calcined by the calcining tool material that would causes the deterioration of the material to be calcined. As the material to be used in such a film there has been widely used zirconia having a low reactivity. As the substrate for calcining tool material there has been widely used an alumina-silica-based material taking into account the cost and durability.
Examples of method for forming a coating layer as mentioned above on the surface of such a calcining tool material include a method which comprises forming a substrate, optionally calcining the substrate, casting or spraying a slurried coating material onto the surface of the substrate, and then calcining the coated material, a method which comprises fixing a coating material to the same substrate as mentioned above with an adhesive, and a method which comprises forming a coating layer on a substrate by a flame spraying method while being baked.
Particularly desirable among these methods is the flame spraying method because it can form a dense coating layer. When used repeatedly, even the calcining tool material having a coating layer formed thereon by the flame spraying method can be subject to peeling of the coating layer that causes the substrate to be exposed, disabling desired calcining.
The peeling of the dense coating layer formed on the surface of a calcining tool material by flame-spraying method is mainly attributed to the difference in thermal expansion coefficient between the substrate and the flame spray coating layer or the residual expansion of the coating layer caused by the destabilization of the coating layer due to the incorporation of stabilized or partially-stabilized zirconia. Various countermeasures have heretofore been worked out against the peeling of the coating layer attributed to the difference in thermal expansion coefficient the substrate of the calcining tool material and the coating layer formed thereon. However, no significant countermeasures have been worked out against the peeling of the coating layer attributed to the residual expansion of zirconia caused by the destabilization of zirconia.
JP-B-3-77652 (The term "JP-B" as used herein means an "examined Japanese patent publication") proposes that stabilized zirconia having CaO content of from 4 to 31% by weight be flame-sprayed onto the surface of an alumina-silica-based substrate with Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 content in the substrate and the content of a stabilizer in zirconia controlled such that the thermal expansion coefficient of zirconia almost coincides with that of the alumina-silica-based substrate. However, an alumina-silica-based substrate has CaO content of about from 4 to 5% by weight at largest from the standpoint of thermal expansion coefficient and reactivity with the material to be calcined. Thus, the content of CaO in the stabilized zirconia can be hardly raised any more. Further, if a calcining tool material coated with a flame spray coating layer of stabilized zirconia having such a single composition is used many times, the coating layer is often peeled mainly due to the residual expansion of zirconia part.
JP-B-4-586, which is another prior art, proposes that stabilized zirconia having CaO content of from 4 to 15% by weight be flame-sprayed onto an alumina-based substrate in such a manner that CaO content decreases from the surface of the alumina-based substrate toward the surface of the coating layer. In some detail, the coating layer has higher CaO content toward the substrate to have a thermal expansion coefficient as high as that of the substrate. On the contrary, the coating layer has lower CaO content toward its surface to have a lower thermal expansion coefficient. According to this proposal, flame spraying is effected batchwise in a plurality of layers, adding to cost. Further, these layers each form a flame spray coating layer of a single stabilized zirconia. Therefore, such a calcining tool material is disadvantageous in that when used many times, the coating layer is peeled mainly due to the residual expansion of zirconia part.
JP-B-4-21330 proposes that a flame spray coating layer of alumina be provided interposed between an alumina-based substrate and a flame spray coating layer of zirconia to reduce the difference in thermal expansion coefficient between the substrate and the zirconia layer. In some detail, the thermal expansion coefficient at 1,000.degree. C. decreases in the order of stabilized zirconia, partially-stabilized zirconia, alumina and alumina-based substrate. Thus, an attempt was made to reduce the difference in thermal expansion coefficient between the substrate and the alumina layer by providing an alumina layer interposed between the substrate and the flame spray coating layer of zirconia. However, thisproposal, too, requires two or more kinds of flame spraying steps, adding to cost. This proposal is also disadvantageous in that the coating layer, if it is made of stabilized zirconia or partially-stabilized zirconia, is peeled due to the residual expansion similarly to JP-B-4-586.
JP-A-5-178673 (The term "JP-A" as used herein means an "unexamined published Japanese patent application") proposes that the same flame spray coating layer of alumina as in JP-B-4-21330 be provided interposed between an alumina-silica-based substrate and a flame spray coating layer of unstabilized zirconia. However, this proposal, too, adds to cost. This proposal is also disadvantageous in that the coating layer, if it is made of unstabilized zirconia alone, is liable to remarkable weakening of structure attributed to abnormal expansion and shrinkage due to transformation characteristic of unstabilized zirconia caused by repeated heat history during use. Thus, the calcining tool material thus proposed is soon worn to tatters.

Calcining tool material and method of fabricating thereof


A pair of holding members are provided for removably holding female and/or male connectors in plurality therein. A cover is removably attached to the second holding member on the wire fitting side, the cover (8) being provided with a hold-down portion. Respective one ends of the connectors held in one of the holding members are urged toward the other holding member by means of the hold-down portion. The one holding member (6) has a pin formed thereon for lockingly engage a cam groove. A lever formed with the cam groove is rotatably provided on the other holding member. The lever is rotated while the pin is in engagement with the cam groove, whereby plural pairs of connectors held in position within respective holding members are coupled together in one operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a combination connector assembly having plural pairs of female and male connectors arranged for engagement together, and more particularly to a connector assembly of a type such that a plurality of female connectors each individually formed as a single element, as held in position in one holding member, can be accurately brought in engagement with male connectors, which can be advantageously applied for use in an automotive wiring harness or, in particular, in an electronic unit.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Recently, as electronic components increasingly develops in automobile technology, the number of wiring harness circuits tends to increase and accordingly the number of connectors used in wiring harnesses is steadily increasing. However, the greater the number of wiring harnesses attached to one connector increases, the greater the coupling load develops when male and female connectors are engaged together, resulting in some operational troubles. Another problem is that coupled connectors are likely become half-engaged, which results in a trouble such that electronic components connected through wiring harnesses become inoperative.
As may be appreciated from the above, whereas provision of a large number of terminal receiving chambers in one connector for coupling a large number of wiring harnesses is likely to result in various troubles, decrement in the coupling capacity of one connector necessitates male-female engagement of a large number of connectors which operation is very troublesome. Further, in the latter case, it is necessary to provide a holding mechanism for each connector. This involves considerable complexity in the arrangement of connector setting and greater space therefor, which poses a serious problem especially where connectors are to be set in an electronic unit which requires highly dense and collective arrangement of components.
These problems may be solved by arranging in such a manner that a plurality of connectors, each consisting of a single element having a reduced degree of coupling number, as being held in one holding member, can be brought into engagement in one operation with a plurality of connectors which are similarly held in one holding member.
Through this arrangement it is possible to decrease the number of operations involved and also to solve the problem of greater space requirement.
Such arrangement as mentioned above has already been proposed as disclosed in, for example, the Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 3-20880.
In the conventional connector assembly proposed in the above publication, a plurality of first connectors are held in a plurality of connector holding portions recessed in a first connector cover while second connectors are similarly held in a plurality of connector holding portions recessed in a second connector cover, where the plural pairs of first and second connectors are fixed together in their mating condition by tightening a clamping bolt which extends through a bolt hole bored in the first connector cover to a bolt guide portions formed in the second connector cover.
However, the above described connector has disadvantages that the adoption of a bolt clamping system involves various fastening parts, such as bolts, washers, and push nuts, which results in increased number of parts and, in turn, increased cost of fabrication. Moreover, since the fastening parts are separated from the connectors, parts management is required with respect to those parts. Further, because of the fact that the fastening parts are composed of metallic parts, the weight of the connector assembly is increased.
Another problem is that the arrangement involves considerable clamping load because connector covers each holding a plurality of connectors are fastened together. This requires a special clamping device, such as an impact device, which involves a considerable complexity in operation.
A further problem is that when clamping is effected by means of such an impact device, considerable impact is applied on the connectors, and more particularly where the connectors come into engagement with a unit component carrying a computer or the like, the impact is transmitted to the unit component with the result that the soldered portions and/or elements of the unit component may be unfavorably affected.
Furthermore, in the conventional connector assembly referred to above, each connector has a very large number of poles, which fact often leads to erroneous terminal setting at the time of assembly of a wiring harness.


Systems and methods for optimizing battery life in wireless multi-hop communication systems are provided. Some methods include a child node transmitting a data packet to a parent node in a wireless system, wherein the data packet includes a parent node identifier, data information, and a length of the data information, and wherein the data packet omits inclusion of a child node identifier. Some methods include a parent node receiving a data packet from a child node in a wireless system, wherein the data packet includes a parent node identifier, data information, and a length of the data information, and wherein the data packet omits inclusion of a child node identifier.

Many fire, security, and other monitoring systems employ battery operated radio frequency (RF) transceivers to form a wireless mesh network. However, such systems must minimize the amount of data transmitted via the wireless mesh network in order to maximize battery life of the transceivers.
In known systems, a message that originates at a first receiver in a wireless mesh network may be repeated at other transceivers, and some transceivers may insert additional information into a received data packet before transmitting the data packet and the inserted additional information. Furthermore, in known systems, a source node or transceiver inserts its unique identifier (ID) so that the source and path taken for each piece of information in a data packet is readily accessible at a destination node.
However, it is desirable to conserve additional battery power in the transceivers and nodes. Therefore, there is a continuing, ongoing need for improved systems and methods for optimizing battery life in wireless multi-hop communication systems.

System and method for optimizing battery life in wireless multi-hop communication systems


A method is provided for spinning a multifilament thread from a thermoplastic material, including the steps of extruding the melted material through a spinneret with a plurality of spinneret holes into a filament bundle with a plurality of filaments, winding the filaments as thread after solidifying, and cooling the filament bundle beneath the spinneret, whereby in a first cooling zone the gaseous cooling medium is directed in such a way that it flows through the filament bundle transversely, the cooling medium leaving the filament bundle practically completely on the side opposite the inflow side, and in a second cooling zone beneath the first cooling zone, the filament bundle being cooled further essentially through self-suction of the gaseous cooling medium surrounding the filament bundle.

The present invention relates to a method for spinning a multifilament thread from a thermoplastic material comprising the steps of extruding the melted material through a spinneret with a plurality of spinneret holes to form a filament bundle comprising a plurality of filaments, winding the filaments as thread after solidifying, and cooling the filament bundle beneath the spinneret.
The present invention also relates to polyester filament yarns and cords which contain polyester filament yarns.
A method of this type is known from EP-A-1 079 008. The movement of freshly extruded filaments is supported during the spinning procedure by a stream of air. Cooling thus takes place essentially through a stream of cooling agent flowing parallel to the thread. Good results are generally achieved with this type of cooling, especially with high drawing-off speeds.
A two-step cooling method for spinning a multifilament thread from a thermoplastic material is disclosed in JP 11061550. In the first cooling zone, the air flow is directed in such a way that it reaches the filaments from one side or circumferentially, and in a second zone compressed air is blown into the upper section of the cooling zone so that there is a downward flow of air parallel to the filaments. The purpose of this is to produce filaments with physical properties that are as uniform as possible.
The cooling behavior of thermoplastic polymers is certainly complicated and dependent upon a series of parameters. Especially during the cooling process, differences in the double refraction might be created over the filament cross-section, since the filament skin cools faster than the inside of the filament, i.e., the filament core. This cooling process also leads to differences in the crystallization behavior of the filaments. The cooling thus determines the crystallization of the polymers in the filament to a large degree, which is noticeable in the later usage of the filaments, for example in drawing. It is desirable for a series of applications that a high degree of cooling is achieved as soon as possible after the extrusion, in order to encourage rapid crystallization.
The cooling processes of the prior art do not fulfill, or incompletely fulfill, these requirements.


Biologically active molecules are produced from their biologically inactive precursors by mutation of their native cleavage site to a site which is capable of being cleaved by a protease, and cleavage of the mutated molecule to yield a biologically active molecule.

Caspases are a family of cysteine proteases that cleave their target protein following an Asp residue. Of the eleven published known caspases, caspase-1, and probably caspases-4, -5, and -11 seem primarily involved in the processing of proinflammatory cytokines, whereas others play crucial roles in the initiation and execution of apoptosis or programmed cell death. Caspases share several common features among them that they are synthesized as catalytically inactive zymogens that are generally activated by cleavage after specific internal Asp residues present in interdomain linkers and the ability to cleave their substrates after Asp residues. As a result certain mature active caspases, in particular those that are derived from the long prodomain caspases can process and activate their own and other inactive caspase zymogens. On the basis of primary structure, proapoptotic caspases can be divided into two classes, class I including caspase-2, -8, -9, and -10 that contain a long amino-terminal prodomain, and class II such as caspase-3, -6, and -7 with a short or absent prodomain. In vitro cleavage experiments suggest that class II caspases require activated class I caspases for their proteolytic processing (12).
Another classification of caspases is by the specificity of the cleave site (13). Here Group 1 caspases have the consensus sequence WEHD (SEQ ID NO: 15) (caspases-1, -4, and -5), Group II caspases the consensus sequence DExD (caspases-2, -3 and -7), and Group III caspases the consensus sequence (IVL)ExD (caspases-6, -8 and -9). The caspase-8 optimal site is LETD (SEQ ID NO: 16) (14).
Interleukin 18 (IL-18), initially described as an interferon-γ. (IFN-γ)-inducing factor is a recently characterized cytokine that shares structural features with the IL-1 family of proteins (1–4). IL-18 was initially purified and subsequently cloned from the liver of mice treated with heat-inactivated Propionbacterium acnes (P. acnes) followed by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (2,5). Cloning of human IL-18 has also been recently described (3).
Like IL-12, IL-18 is produced by activated macrophages such as liver Kupffer cells and other resident macrophages (3). IL-18 is an early inducer of the Th1 response, co-stimulating the production of IFN-γ, as well as TNF-γ, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and IL-2 (6). In addition, it potentiates anti-CD3-induced T-cell proliferation and increases natural killer cell cytotoxicity by augmenting the expression of Fas Ligand (6,7).
Unlike most other cytokines, which exhibit a four-helix bundle structure, IL-18 and IL-1β have an all β-pleated sheet structure (7). Similarly to IL-1β, IL-18 is synthesized as a biologically inactive precursor (proIL-18), lacking a signal peptide (3). The IL-1β and IL-18 precursors are cleaved by caspase 1 (IL-1β-converting enzyme, or ICE), that cleaves after an aspartic acid residue in the P1 position. The resulting mature cytokines are readily released from the cell (8,9). Studies with caspase-1-deficient mice demonstrated the important role of mature IL-18 as an inducer of IFN-γ and Th1 responses. Injection of such mice with P. acnes and LPS resulted in low levels of circulating IFN-γ compared with wild-type mice (8,9). Injection of IL-18 restored the LPS-induced IFN-γ level in the caspase-1-deficient mice (9), further supporting the concept that caspase-1 is involved in the production of active IL-18. Other caspases and particularly those cleaving intracellular proteins associated with apoptosis were at least 100-fold less active than caspase-1 (9). Similar studies with IL-18-deficient mice revealed its role in NK cell activity and cytokine induction (10).
Recombinant IL-1β and mouse IL-18 expressed in E. coli may be refolded to produce a fully active cytokine. Attempts to express the mature form of human IL-18 in E. coli or other hosts did not provide a fully active cytokine. Because of its potential therapeutic uses, e.g. in malignancies, or in any condition in which induction of interferon-γ production is wanted, it is desired to establish an efficient expression system for the production of mature biologically active human IL-18.

Preparation of biologically active molecules


A clutch control system for the automatic control of a motor vehicle clutch which connects an engine with a gearbox under the control of a driver operated gear ratio selector lever. The control system controls both initial clutch take-up on starting of the vehicle, clutch re-engagement following each ratio change, clutch disengagement on movement of the gear selector lever to change the operative ratio of the gearbox, and clutch disengagement on the coming to rest of the vehicle. The clutch control system also warns the driver if he attempts to drive away in a designated non take-up gear or in any gear in a predetermined abusive manner and may be arranged to promote rapid engagement or disengagement of the clutch in certain abusive conditions to reduce energy generation in the clutch.

Examples of such systems are described in the Applicants earlier patents Nos. 0038113, 0043660, 0059035 and 0101220 and European Application No. 0566595.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved form of clutch control system of the kind specified in which abusive use of the system by the operator is mitigated.
Thus according to the present invention there is provided a clutch control system of the kind specified in which the operator is warned, for example by sounding a buzzer and/or flashing a warning light, if he attempts to drive away in a designated non take-up gear or in any gear in a predetermined abusive manner.
Typically in a vehicle with a five speed gearbox an attempt to drive away in a non take-up gear is designated as an attempt to drive away in third, fourth or fifth with a vehicle speed below a predetermined level (e.g. 4 kph).
Typically an attempt to drive away in an abusive manner is defined as an attempted clutch take-up in second gear with a high engine speed (e.g. over 3500 rpm) and a low vehicle speed (e.g. below 4 kph).
Take up is also defined as abusive if it is estimated that more than a first predetermined level of energy (e.g. 40 kJ) remains dissipated in the clutch.
The control system may also be arranged to estimate the energy dissipated in the clutch in each individual clutch take-up and to warn of abuse if the energy dissipated in any individual take-up exceeds a second predetermined level (eg. 30 kJ).
The level of energy dissipated in the clutch is estimated by:
determining the clutch slip speed from the difference between engine speed and clutch driven plate speed; PA1 estimating the instantaneous torque capacity of the clutch from the position of the clutch actuator using a look-up table; PA1 determining the instantaneous power being dissipated in the clutch from the product of the slip speed and torque capacity; PA1 integrating the instantaneous power dissipated over the time period under consideration (e.g. the individual take-up or since keying on of the system) to estimate the total energy generated and PA1 subtracting periodically from this integration total an amount of energy representative of the natural cooling of the clutch to arrive at a current final total level of energy dissipated within the clutch during the time period under consideration.
In a clutch control system of the kind specified in which the level of clutch engagement is controlled by an electronic control unit in response to an engine speed error signal derived from a comparison of current engine speed and a reference speed signal generated by the control unit, said error signal being compared with a current clutch position signal to produce a clutch actuation signal, an additional control on clutch abuse is provided if an attempt is made to move away in a non take-up gear by not allowing the reference signal to increase above a predetermined level (e.g. 1100 rpm), or reducing the reference signal, as the throttle is opened. This containment of the reference signal may be extended to take-up in second gear, if desired. By not increasing the reference signal this ensures a more rapid clutch engagement thus reducing energy generation in the clutch.
In an alternative configuration the system may be configured to rapidly disengage the clutch to prevent the dissipation of excessive energy in the clutch. This rapid disengagment may be achieved by rapidly raising the value of the reference signal.

Automatic control system for a motor vehicle clutch


The present invention provides hydroxypyridinone and hydroxypyrimidone chelating agents. Also provides are Gd(III) complexes of these agents, which are useful as contrast enhancing agents for magnetic resonance imaging. The invention also provides methods of preparing the compounds of the invention, as well as methods of using the compounds in magnetic resonance imaging applications.

It was first shown in 1972 that by superimposing linear field gradients to the static magnetic field of a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiment it is possible to obtain three-dimensional images of an object (Lauterbur, P. C., Nature 1973, 190). The new technique became known as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI has developed impressively, becoming one of the most powerful tools "to look inside matter" (Aime, S. B. et al., E. Acc. Chem. Res. 1999, 32, 941). As X-ray imaging did in the beginning of the 20th century, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has revolutionized modern diagnostic medicine (Caravan, P. E. et al., Chem. Rev. 1999, 99, 2293). Whereas conventional X-rays show skeletal structure, MRI enables the acquisition of high resolution, three-dimensional images of the distribution of water in vivo. This powerful diagnostic tool is invaluable in the detection of a wide variety of physiological abnormalities including tumors, lesions, and thromboses. Additionally, recent advances in dynamic MRI open up the exciting possibility of real-time imaging of biochemical activity ("A New Generation of In Vivo Diagnostics," MetaProbe, 2000).
The medical utility of MRI is enhanced through the administration of contrast agents prior to the scan, which alters the relaxation times of protons in the vicinity of the agent, increasing the degree of contrast between healthy and diseased tissue. The use of contrast agents is increasingly popular in medical protocols, with some 30-35% of MRI scans now acquired with the aid of a contrast agent (Caravan, P. E. et al., Chem. Rev. 1999, 99, 2293; Aime, S. B. et al., E. Acc. Chem. Res. 1999, 32, 941). Consequently, contrast agents now represent a very large market, with sales of over $250 million in 2000 ("RC-211, Contrast Agents for Medical Imaging," Business Communications Company, Inc., 1999).
Several new contrast agents are currently under development, which are designed to be more site-specific, facilitating, for example, detailed images of cardiovascular features (Lauffer, R. B., Magn. Reson. Med. 1991, 22, 339). Additionally, recent reports have demonstrated that contrast agents can detect the presence of enzymes and metal cations (Moats, R. A. F. et al., Angew Chem., Int. Ed. Engl 1997, 36, 726; Li, W. F. et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1999, 121, 1413).
At present, clinically accepted contrast agents are based upon a gadolinium complex of a poly(aminocarboxylate) ligand, e.g., the gadolinium chelates of DTPA, DOTA, DO3A and DTPA-BMA (FIG. 1). The agents are extracellular agents that distribute non-specifically throughout the plasma and interstitial space of the body. A typical use of such agents is in the detection of tumors in the brain.
The image enhancing capability of available agents is far lower than the optimal values predicted by theory (Aime, S. B. et al., Coord. Chem. Rev., 321: 185-6 (1999)). The relatively low image enhancing properties of current contrast agents requires injection of gram quantities in order to obtain satisfactory contrast in the resulting image. With such large doses required for reasonable image enhancement, present contrast agents are limited to targeting sites where they can be expected to accumulate in high concentrations. To accomplish greater resolution with lower dose and to enable a variety of target-selective imaging (such as hepatobiliary features), there is a need for contrast agents of increased image enhancement capacity and corresponding enhanced water proton relaxivity. Moreover, a useful complex must be highly water soluble, resistant to in vivo dissociation of the metal ion from the chelate and of acceptably low toxicity. A promising new class metal-binding ligands are based upon the heterocyclic pyridinone and pyrimidinone nuclei.
Distinct in both structure and properties from poly(aminocarboxylate) chelate-based MRI contrast agents is a class of compounds that include one or more hydroxypyridinone or hydroxypyrimidinone subunit. Both homopodal and heteropodal chelating agents incorporating a hydroxypyridinone or hydroxypyrimidinone moiety are known in the art. Although many of the reported compounds exhibit the desirable water exchange kinetics and complex stability characteristic of this class of compounds, the reported water solubilities of the Gd(III) complexes are generally insufficient to allow the complexes to be considered as candidate MRI contrast enhancing agents.
For example, Xu et al. (J. Am. Chem. Soc., 117: 7245-7246 (1995) reported the synthesis and characterization of Gd(III) TREN-Me-3,2-HOPO (tris((3-hydroxy-1-methyl-2-oxo-1,2-didehydropyridine-4-carboxamido)ethyl)amine)). The solubility of the disclosed complex in water is only about 0.1 mM, making it less than ideal as a MRI contrast enhancing pharmaceutical.
Furthermore, Cohen et al. (Inorg. Chem., 39: 5747-5746 (2000)) prepared a series of mixed ligand systems that are based on the TREN-Me-3,2-HOPO platform. The ligands include two HOPO chelators and a non-HOPO chelator. The ligands set forth in Cohen et al. incorporate salicylamide, 2-hydroxyisophthalamide, 2,3-dihydroxyterephthalamide and bis(acetate) as the non-HOPO chelators. The Gd(III) complexes of the ligands according to the disclosed motif were of moderate water solubility (approx. 1-3 mM).
Hajela et al. (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 122: 11228-11229 (2000)) prepared a homopodal Me-3,2-HOPO chelate based on a functionalized TREN backbone. The functionalized TREN backbone was a homochiral tris(2-hydroxymethyl)-TREN-Me-3,2-HOPO. The Gd(III) complex of the ligand has a water solubility of approximately 15 mM.
HOPO ligands in which the endocyclic nitrogen of the pyridinone moiety is functionalized are known. For example, the ligand TREN-MOE-3,2-HOPO (tris(3-hydroxy-1-methoxyethyl)-2-oxo-1,2-didehydropyridine-4-carboxamido)ethyl)amine) and its Gd(III) complex was prepared and characterized by Johnson et al. (Inorg. Chem. 39: 2652-2660 (2000)). The complex was reported to have a water solubility of about 1 mM.
In addition to those references discussed above, U.S. Pat. No. 5,049,280 discloses homopodal chelating agents based on the 2,3-dihydroxyterephthalamide moiety. The '280 patent does not disclose or suggest combining the disclosed moiety with a HOPO or HOPY subunit to form a heteropodal chelating agent. U.S. Pat. No. 4,698,431 discloses chelating agents having 1-hydroxy-2-pyridinone subunits. The complexes are disclosed to exhibit a high affinity for iron ions and actinides such as Pu(IV). Neither the '280 nor the '431 patent suggest the use of the novel chelates to complex Gd(III).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,892,029 and 5,624,901 set forth a class of homo- and heteropodal chelate systems having at least one 3,2-HOPO subunit within their structure. Neither the '029 nor the '901 patent suggest that the disclosed ligands are of use in forming a highly water soluble Gd(III) chelate.
Other related art includes U.S. Pat. No. 4,666,927, which discloses a number of chelating agents having 1,2-HOPO, 3,2-HOPO, or 3,4-HOPO moieties incorporated within their structures that are linked through a number of possible combinations of linking groups, including —CONH— groups. However, U.S. Pat. No. 4,666,927 teaches against a HOPO moiety having a substitution ortho to the hydroxy or oxo group of the HOPO ring. U.S. Pat. No. 6,221,476 discloses polyhydroxypridinone ligands that are attached to a membrane support. The compositions are useful for removing metal ions from solutions. Zbinden (U.S. Pat. No. 5,688,815) sets forth a class of 3-hydroxypyridin-4-ones, which are effective chelators of iron and useful to treat iron overload. Neither the '927 nor the '476 teach one of skill in the art how to prepare a highly water soluble Gd(III) chelate that is of use as a contrast enhancing pharmaceutical.
As discussed above, Gd(III) chelates of hydroxypyrimidinone and hydroxypyridinone ligands have a number of properties that make them superior MRI contrast agents relative to the widely used Gd(III)-poly(aminocarboxylate) agents. The development of the new contrast media based on the pyrimidinone and pyridinone ring systems has, however, been hampered by the inadequate water solubility of such agents. A new generation of Gd(III) complexes based upon the heterocyclic ring systems would represent a significant advance in the field of MRI contrast enhancement. Quite surprisingly, the present invention provides such complexes.

Hydroxypyridonate and hydroxypyrimidinone chelating agents

The Regents of the University of California


A thermocouple mounting assembly is provided. A plurality of retainers includes portions that are interengageable, some portions carried by a body and some portions carried by a thermocouple assembly to effect releasable mounting of a thermocouple assembly to a body. The retainers are constructed and shaped to provide for their formation by a molding process such as die-casting or investment casting, eliminating or substantially eliminating the need for machining of the retainer components. Preferably, there is an audible sound, e.g., click, present to signify when the retainers are interengaged.

Thermocouple mounting devices are well known in the industry. One common type of mounting device is a bayonet mount. This type of mounting device utilizes a cap with one or more L-shaped slots. The cap is mounted to the thermocouple. The cap is received over an end of a shank, which has at least one radially outwardly extending pin that is received within the L-shaped slot. The shank is generally mounted to an object that is to monitor temperature. Spring tension is applied to maintain that the cap and the shank are interlocked. A second type of connection is a screw in device, that is simply a threaded shank which includes the thermocouple extend therethrough. The shank is threadably received in a threaded receptacle or well. Wrench flats may be provided at one end of the shank for use of a wrench to position the thermocouple in connection with a contact surface found in the receptacle.
A third type of thermocouple mounting device can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,010,327 which issued to Katchka on Jan. 4, 2000, that shows a push-in snap securement device that has radially projecting fingers interengageable with a shoulder inside a receptacle. A spring is provided to maintain contact between a portion of the thermocouple and an electrical contact. In this case, the thermocouple sensor end is at the opposite end of the electrical contact end of the thermocouple assembly.
While generally effective, such known thermocouple mounts have significant drawbacks. They require a combination of various parts which increase costs and necessitates additional labor to make an assembly or to effect mounting of the thermocouple. Thermocouple mounts also, at times, requires a certain level of dimensional precision in order to ensure proper operation which can also increase costs, both for the product itself and the additional labor to effect proper assembly and testing to ensure proper operation.
When used with fuel control units, for example, the female receptacle is complex and expensive to manufacture as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,010,327. Fuel control units are used to control the flow of fuel to burners, e.g., those found in gas water heaters and furnaces. Usually, such receptacles are made of relatively soft material and are easily damaged by cross threading, a tightening tool, dropping, and the like. While the push in-type thermocouple coupling device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,010,327 is effective, it is relatively expensive and difficult to affect a repair of the thermocouple system. Screw in-type thermocouple mounts may also be damaged on the wrench flats during installation and are at times difficult to loosen which may also damage the shank particularly when the shank is made of a soft material. However, screw in-type shanks reduce the probability of accidental dislodgement of the thermocouple mounts from its desired monitoring position. When the thermocouple mounts extend out of the bottom of the unit when installed, repair is difficult because of the upside down orientation. Machining of a thermocouple retainer such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,010,327 is complex and expensive.
There is a need for a reliable thermocouple mounting device that is less complex to manufacture and utilize. The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above.

Quick connect thermocouple mounting device and associated method of use


A surgical instrument for performing treatment to a treatment target portion includes a cylindrical elongated member; a treatment part, and a connection part. The connection part includes a first turning axis part provided to the elongated member, a second turning axis part provided to the treatment part, a first rolling guide part that is provided to the elongated member and includes a circular-arc-shaped part coaxial with the first turning axis part, a second rolling guide part that is provided to the treatment part and includes a rolling guide part including a circular-arc-shaped part coaxial with the second turning axis part, the rolling guide part rollingly contacting the first rolling guide part, and an engaging part that brings the treatment part and the elongated member into an engaging state. The connection part is detachable between the first turning axis part and the second turning axis part.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a surgical instrument and a medical manipulator.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventionally known medical manipulator is a master-slave type medical manipulator including a master manipulator operated by an operator and a slave manipulator that operates on the basis of signals sent from the master manipulator. A surgical instrument has a treatment part for treating a treatment target portion by remote-control operation, and is attached to the medical manipulator.
For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2001-277157 discloses a medical manipulator that enables a plurality of treatment parts appropriate for treatment to be switchingly attached to the arm of one slave manipulator.

Surgical instrument and medical manipulator


A golf club head having weighted alignment members separated by a window to permit the golfer to visually observe a target beneath the head whereby the ball striking face of the head may be aligned with the golf ball preparatory for striking and ball travel along an intended path to a receiving cup. The alignment members may be solid metal blocks or solid metal rods and, in addition to assisting the golfer in alignment and sighting of the golf club head, serves a counterweight to balance the club as it is swung by the golfer during a stroke.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of golf, and more particularly to a golf club head which is weighted and which includes means for aligning the face of the club with a target.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
In the past, it has been the conventional practice to visually align the face of a golf club head with a target such as the back of a golf ball intended to be driven into a receiving cup. In the aligning procedure, the golfer generally attempts to maintain the face of the golf club head perpendicular to the direction or path over which the ball is intended to travel to the target. Sometimes, an ancillary or intermediate target is employed, such as a blade of grass or a spot on the green directly in front of the ball. In some instances, the blade of grass or the spot on the green is focused upon by the golfer located directly behind the ball.
Attempts have been made to assist the golfer in aiming the travel of the golf ball by providing holes or other alignment means within the golf club head so that the line of sight can be focused upon by the golfer with accuracy. However, the employment of sight openings is not permitted by the golfing association and therefore, the provision of such openings is not a practical solution. Also, by providing mechanical or optical sighting devices, the weight of the golf club head is rendered uneven and out of balance causing the club head to twist during the golfer's stroke.
Therefore, a long-standing need has existed to provide a novel means for assisting the focus of a golfer on the direction of travel of the golf ball as it is struck by a golf club head. Also, the means must be carried on the club head so as to provide proper balance during the golfer's stroke in order to eliminate or reduce twist of the head. Weight and balance are of import in order to maintain the striking face of the club head perpendicular to the direction of ball travel.


A network controller receives encrypted data packets in the form of interleaved streams of cells, and stores the received cells in a buffer until the end of each packet is received, at which time the complete packet is decrypted, error checked, and then transmitted to a host computer. The network controller's buffer includes a data storage array in which data packets are stored as linked lists, and a packet directory having a entry for each data packet stored in the buffer. Each directory entry contains a pointer to the first and last location in the buffer where a corresponding data packet is stored, as well as status information for the data packet. When free space in the network controller's buffer falls below a specified threshold, the network controller transmits selected partial packets to the host computer without decrypting or error checking, and also stores in its packet directory entry for each transmitted partial packet a "partial transfer" status flag. Additional portions of the partial packets may be sent to the host computer with an indication of the packet to which they belong. Upon receiving the end of a data packet that was partially transferred to the host computer, the remainder of the data packet in the packet buffer is transmitted to the host computer, without decrypting or error checking the partial data packet. The host computer then transmits the complete packet through a loopback path in the network controller for decrypting and error checking.

Referring to FIG. 1, in some computer networks each data packet 100 transmitted over the network is fragmented into smaller cells 110 (herein called data cells) for transmission over the network. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, the data cells of different packets (e.g., packets simultaneously arriving at a particular host computer 120 (Host D) from different nodes 122, 124, 126 in the network) may be interleaved on the same network cable 128.
An example of such a network is any Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) network. As shown in FIG. 1, in ATM networks, packets are transmitted in the form of data cells 110, each of which is 53 bytes long, including a five-byte header 130 and a 48-byte data portion 132. Each data cell's header 130 includes a "virtual circuit identifier" 134, discussed below, and a END flag 136 that is set only for the last cell of each data packet. For the purposes of this document, it can be assumed that there is no particular relationship between cell boundaries and either (A) the boundary between the "packet header" 138 and "packet body" 140, or (B) the boundary between the encrypted and unencrypted portions of the data packet 100.
For security reasons, data packets are usually encrypted using a public or private key encryption methodology. Furthermore, to ensure data integrity, a CRC error detection code is included in each packet, usually at the end of the packet, for detecting corrupted packets as well as for detecting packets that may have been tampered with in an attempt to break the system's security provisions. Therefore each packet received by the network controller must be decrypted and error checked by a CRC (cyclic redundancy check) circuit before it can be used by the host computer. However, it should be noted that the present invention is also applicable to networks carrying unencrypted data packets.
In ATM networks there is usually an upper bound on the size of any one packet, such as 4K (4096) bytes, or perhaps 10,000 bytes. However, a very large number of packets can be interleaved at any one network controller (receiver).
The problem presented by interleaved, fragmented packets is how to make a network controller (i.e., the interface between a workstation or other host computer and the network cables) that can decrypt and CRC check these packets. Data packets are usually decrypted and CRC checked as a whole because it would be expensive to provide the support circuitry needed to multiplex commercially available CRC circuits so as to process interleaved packet portions. Assuming that a packet must be processed as a whole, the network controller will need to buffer all incoming packets, and then decrypt and CRC check each packet after the end of the packet is received. However, since there is virtually no upper bound on packet interleaving, the amount of buffer space needed in the network controller to handle incoming packets is virtually limitless.
One potential method of avoiding the need for unlimited buffer space in the network controller is to discard one or more incomplete data packets when the network controller buffer overflows. While discarding packets, by itself, is probably tolerable in most computer systems if it happens infrequently, it is much less tolerable when the host computer is unable to pick which packets to discard. Since some packets are more important for correct functioning of the system than others, an uninformed selection of which packets to discard by the network controller may cause disruption of the computer network.

Network packet receiver with buffer logic for reassembling interleaved data packets


A structure for attaching a fabric sheet to a vehicle body, wherein the fabric sheet may be prevented from being twisted together with the rotation of a threaded fastener such as a bolt during fixation of the fabric sheet to the vehicle body by the threaded fastener. A spacer which is generally cylindrical is fitted in a hole of a tab. The spacer comprises a cylindrical portion into which a bolt is inserted, and a pair of flanges radially overhanging from both axial ends of the cylindrical portion, respectively. The flanges, have an outer diameter which is sufficiently large in comparison to the inner diameter of the hole. The cylindrical portion is inserted into the hole. The head a of the bolt never touches the tab so that the tab is never twists together with the bolt when the bolt is screwed into the bolt hole.

The present invention relates to a structure for attaching a fabric sheet to a vehicle body. In particular, the fabric sheet may be an airbag for protection of a vehicle occupant's head in a vehicle such as an automobile.
PCT Publication No. WO96/26087 discloses an exemplary airbag for protection of an occupant's head. The airbag includes two sheets which are sewn together to form cells between the sheets. Gas is supplied into the cells from a gas generator, whereby the airbag is inflated on the side of the occupant's head. Though the airbag is disposed along the top edge of a door opening of the vehicle, WO96/26087 fails to disclose any information about attaching the airbag to a vehicle body.
One possible way for fastening the upper edge portion of the airbag to the vehicle body is screwing threaded fasteners such as bolts into bolt holes formed in the vehicle body through holes formed in the upper edge portion of the airbag with washers, if necessary. In this case, since the heads of the bolts or the washers are directly in contact with the airbag, the airbag may twist together with the rotation washers or bolts when they are rotated, thus shifting the position and attitude of the airbag from the attitude required by design.

Structure for attaching a fabric sheet to a vehicle body


An ink flow control mechanism is provided to prevent ink leakage or excessive ink discharge of a writing instrument particularly utilizing a capillary stick for delivering ink from an ink reservoir to a writing tip. A porous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane, which is permeable to moisture vapor and air molecules while performing hydrostatic resistance, is used to wrap a first portion of the capillary stick to prevent ink leakage to allow air to enter the ink reservoir to balance pressure drops. A foam is further used to wrap a second portion of the capillary stick. The ink flow rate can be adjusted by a selection of foams with different porosity density. The foam is in addition capable of absorbing an extra amount of ink flowing into the capillary stick to prevent leakage.

The present invention relates to writing instruments, and more specifically, to an improved ink flow control mechanism for use in combination with writing instruments utilizing capillary actions to discharge inks.
A U.S. Pat. No. 4,588,319 to Robert H. Niemeyer is particularly directed to a marking instrument capable of precisely controlling the flow rate of marking fluid from a marking fluid reservoir to a marking tip.
In addition, a U.S. Pat. No. 3,308,501 to Marsh describes a marking pen capable of providing a constant, uninterrupted flow of ink to the writing end of a wick and the rate of flow of ink to the writing end of the wick can be selectively controlled and varied as desired.
Other means capable of providing ink flow control functions include the provision of a series of spaced fins for absorbing excess ink. The spaced fins, however, require precision tools to manufacture and therefore manufacturing costs are very high.


In a conveying apparatus for conveying works between a first lower die and a second lower die in a press machine, a distal end portion of a multi-joint robot is connected to a linear shaft body, and the linear shaft body carries a linearly reciprocating body movable in the directions of the length of the linear shaft body. The linearly reciprocating body is connected to a first detachable holding device that holds a first work. The linear shaft body is connected to a second detachable holding device that holds a second work. The first work is transferred by motion of the linear shaft body and the motion of the linearly reciprocating body carrying the first holding device, and the second work is transferred by motion of the linear shaft body alone. The holding of the first work and the holding of second work are started approximately at the same timing, but the releasing of the first work and the releasing of the second work are performed at different timings in accordance with the positions at which their conveyances are completed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a complex-type article conveying apparatus that serves an effective measure for efficiently automatizing conveyance between steps of, for example, a press processing that includes several steps, wherein a work is taken out of a press machine in a preceding step, and moved to and set in a press machine in the next step.
2. Description of the Related Art
A thin steel sheet-pressed form having a three-dimensional free-form surface, such as one used as an exterior sheet member of a motor vehicle, is shaped from a flat sheet material through several processing steps, such as drawing, exterior shape punching, bending, piercing and the like.
During such a press process, it is necessary to perform an operation of taking a work out of a small clearance between an upper die and a lower die of each step and conveying the work to and setting it into a small clearance between an upper die and a lower die of the next step (hereinafter, this operation will be referred to as "inter-step conveyance").
Various mechanisms have recently been developed for automatizing the inter-step conveyance for the purpose of improvements in productivity, quality and safety and the like.
The construction of a conventional technology developed for such a purpose (disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. Hei 4-42390) will be described below with reference to FIGS. 13, 14, 15 and 16.
Referring to FIG. 13, a six-axis multi-joint automatic motion mechanism 101 is designed so that shafts 103-108 are automatically driven in their respective rotating directions, and stopped and controlled in rotational angle in accordance with pre-instructed amounts and timings.
As shown in FIG. 15, a linear shaft body 102 is provided with a linear reciprocating body 110 that moves along the linear shaft body 102. The linear reciprocating body 110 is driven, stopped and position-controlled over substantially the entire length of the linear shaft body 102. A work holding device 111 is guided by the linear reciprocating body 110 to move back and forth along the linear shaft body 102.
As shown in FIG. 16, the work holding device 111 holds a work by suction due to negative pressure air. The work holding device 111 is detachably engaged with a base 119 by hooking a hook portion 127 formed on one end of the work holding device 111 onto the corresponding end of the base 119, and engaging the opposite end of the work holding device 111 with the corresponding end of the base 119 using a lock mechanism 121 formed of a spring 122, a slide block 123, an unlocking piece 124 and a guide groove 125. Both the base 119 and the holding device 111 have ends of negative pressure air channels communicating with suction cups 128 of the holding device 111. The channel ends of the base 119 and the holding device 111, facing each other, are sealed from external air by deflection of a seal packing 129 disposed on the base 119.
The operation of this conventional technology will be described below.
Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, to take out a work, a forward half portion of the linear shaft body 102 (a left-side half portion in FIG. 13) is inserted into a clearance between an upper die 117 and a lower die 118 of a press machine 115 of a preceding step to move a forward end thereof to a position over the work 109 placed on the lower die 118.
The linear shaft body 102 is subsequently moved downward by operations of the rotating shafts 103-108, until the holding device 111 contacts the work 109, so that the holding device 111 holds the work 109.
The linear shaft body 102 is raised to a position M over the lower die 118 in such a manner that both the work 109 and the linear shaft body 102 do not interfere with the upper die 117 nor the lower die 118, thereby completing the takeout operation.
Then, to move the taken-out work 109 to a position immediately over a lower die 132 of a press machine of the next step, a rear end portion of the linear shaft body 102 (a right-side end portion in FIG. 13) is moved linearly from the takeout completed position to a position N over the lower die 132.
During this movement, the holding device 111, assuming a position near a forward end portion of the linear shaft body 102 at the time of completion of the takeout operation, moves to a rear end portion of the linear shaft body 102, through guidance by the linearly reciprocating body 110 moving in accordance with pre-instructed motion, while holding the work 109.
Then, the rotating shafts 103-108 are operated to lower the linear shaft body 102, and the holding device 111, having moved to the rear end portion of the linear shaft body 102, opens to allow the work 109 to fall onto the lower die 132.
After the work 109 is set in, the apparatus returns to the previous position by reversely following the loci of movements up to the setting of the work 109, thereby completing the inter-step conveying operation.
There is a case where during the inter-step conveyance, two works are discharged from a single press machine and transferred to different positions (that is, a work at a first position in the press machine is transferred to a second position outside the press machine, and the other work at a third position in the press machine is transferred to a fourth position outside the press machine).
In such a case, the inter-step conveying apparatus needs to perform the takeout-transfer action twice since the inter-step conveying apparatus is able to hold only one work at a time. Therefore, the conventional art has a problem of a long operating time of the inter-step conveying apparatus.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to reduce the operating time of an inter-step conveying apparatus in a case where two works are discharged from a single press machine and transferred to different positions.
Furthermore, there is another case where press dies for two steps are disposed in a single press machine with a work-conveying in-die transfer apparatus provided between the dies, in order to reduce the number of press machines.
The in-die transfer apparatus moves a work from a location X in the press machine to a location Y in the same press machine. Thereby, it becomes possible to perform two pressing steps in a press machine by pressing a work at the location X in the press machine, moving the work to the location Y in the same press machine, and pressing the work at the Y location.
However, such in-die transfer apparatuses are provided as dedicated apparatuses in individual press machines, or an in-die transfer apparatus is dedicated to the press dies for two steps disposed in a single press machine, thereby producing a problem of increased costs of dedicated equipment.
Accordingly, it is another object of the present invention to enable a press machine to perform two pressing steps without an increase in dedicated equipment for press machines or press dies.
It is still another object of the present invention to enhance the general versatility of a conveying apparatus by facilitating replacement of individual holding devices.
It is a further object of the present invention to make it possible to set one work to a desired position while holding and conveying another work.

Complex-type article conveying apparatus


Graphic images that overlay a transmitted video signal are provided in the form of bitmaps that allow any character or font size to be displayed. A color-look-up-table (CLUT) at a receiver is defined that maps “m” inputs to a combination of color and luminance values for display. One or more map tables are provided that allow pixel colors to be encoded using fewer than “m” bits, the map tables providing an “m” bit output for accessing the CLUT. The provider of the graphic images can also specify a required minimum number of CLUT colors for rendering the images; if this minimum is greater than “m”, the image is not rendered. The use of map tables provides compatibility between a variety of encoding techniques and a variety of rendering devices, without requiring different CLUTs to be transmitted for each different color encoding format.

A prior art method of transmitting graphic images is generally known by the name "teletext". The World System Teletext standard has been adopted in many countries for the simultaneous transmission of textual and graphic information with a conventional analog television signal. The teletext system is particularly used for the transmission of subtitles associated with a television program.
Meanwhile, the MPEG2 (ISO/IEC 13818) digital television standard will be applied worldwide for the broadcast of digital television programs to the end-user by satellite, cable, terrestrial networks, and by packaged media such as tape or disc. A multitude of integrated circuits for MPEG2 decompression and demultiplexing are on the market and will be applied in receiver decoders for the purpose of receiving and decoding of broadcast television programs or decoding of packaged (multi-)media.
The MPEG2 compression and multiplexing technology will provide the end-user a very large choice in programs (typically in the order of hundreds), which will require an easy-to-use "man-machine interface". It is expected that the end-user will associate "digital" with high quality. High quality must therefore be manifest in all aspects of the service that will be provided. Typical of satellite broadcast is the large footprint of its reception area, which usually encompasses multiple language areas. Many of the television programs to be broadcast will therefore also be targeted at multiple language areas, which requires multi-language subtitling capabilities. The attractiveness and readability of subtitles will have a major impact on the end-user's willingness to watch a television program in a language spoken other than his or her own.
The prior art teletext system is very limited in quality and performance. It is a character-based transmission system, in which coded data is transmitted to define which characters are to be displayed. The appearance of the subtitles (in terms of character font, spacing, graphic capabilities, colours) is fixed in hardware. Further, the present teletext system is not able to support complex character sets such as used in the People's Republic of China and Japan. The character-based system would require very expensive and complex character generators in case of supporting multiple character sets, or in case of a single but very complex character set. The prior art teletext system thus provides only a basic solution for multi-language subtitling.


Modified friction pad and friction-pad receptale assembly for a brake/clutch module permitting greater ease inserting pad into and withdrawing it from the brake/clutch module. The pad is held into the receptacle by clips at the distal end of the receptacle rather than the proximal end. That configuration, in conjunction with finger-grip depressions near the proximal end of the pad, allow the pad to be removed with one hand. Additionally, the friction pad assembly protects the torque-resistor pad guides from wear by interposing the spring steel of the retaining clips between the pad assembly and these guides.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a module adaptable to performing either a brake or clutch function. More particularly the present invention relates to the friction pad assembly of such a module and to the receptacle for holding this pad assembly wherein the receptacle and pad assembly are configured so as to permit the latter to be easily inserted into and removed from the latter. Yet more particularly, the present invention relates to such a pad assembly and receptacle mutually configured so that the pad assembly can be removed/replaced from the receptacle by hand during short down-time periods, without the need to remove any other module components. The present invention relates further to such pad assembly and receptacle wherein the latter is protected against abrasion by the former.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
The invention described and claimed below provides a continuing improvement in the ease with which the friction pads of various brake and clutch systems can be replaced. It relates to pad-containing modules of a type that can be used, depending on the configuration of the surrounding machinery, to perform either as a brake or as a clutch. These modules are described in a number of earlier patents, including several that are assigned to the assignee of the present invention. For economy of space and time, the pad of the present invention will be described entirely in terms of its being used in a braking module, though it is to be understood that everything that is said about the present invention applies to its use in a clutch module as well. Within the field of braking, the present discussion will for convenience be even more specific, again with no intention of narrowing the understood application of the present invention.
In particular, the pad and pad receptacle of the present invention will be described in the context of their use in web-tension maintenance in those manufacturing procedures in which a series of product modifications is carried out on a continuous webbing of flexible material (xe2x80x9cwebxe2x80x9d) as the web is conveyed along a production line. One example is the production of newsprint. Another is the imprinting of certain types of cloth. In all such operations, it is essential that the tension in the web be maintained above a certain threshold but not so high that it ruptures or otherwise damages the material making up the web. In one configuration, this tension is maintained by placing an adjustable drag on a shaft about which the flexible product is rolled and from which it feeds into the web. This drag can be imposed in a number of ways, but most commonly it involves pressing a brake pad (alternately referred to as a xe2x80x9cbrake shoexe2x80x9d) against a rotor coupled to the shaft; the rotor takes the form of a planar friction plate. By varying the force with which the pad is pressed against the friction plate it is possible to vary the drag and hence to vary (or maintain constant) the tension in the web coming off the shaft. In practice, there will be a number of such pads and the pad pressure on the rotor is effected through the use of an array of pneumatic- or hydraulic-activated brake modules mounted in a fixed diskxe2x80x94a statorxe2x80x94commonly referred to as a xe2x80x9cspider.xe2x80x9d It can be seen also that a clutch can be installed that works in a similarxe2x80x94though, in a sense, opposite,xe2x80x94fashion. That is, the pads will press against the rotor to prevent it from rotating until the web tension rises to a level exceeding the static friction force between the pads and the friction plate, at which point the friction plate will slip and the shaft will continue to rotate until the web tension once falls below sliding-friction force exerted on the friction disk by the pads.
It is advantageous to be able to change the above-described friction pads quickly and easily where they are used in production lines, where time is usually of the essence. For example, it is usually desirable to minimize the production-line down-time associated with removing and/or replacing the pads. A number of patents address the problem of quick pad replacement in brake/clutch modules. Such patents include Baynes et al. (xe2x80x9cDisc Brake with Pocketed Quick Change Shoe Assembly,xe2x80x9d U.S. Pat. No. 3,388,775; 1968), Klaue (xe2x80x9cSpreading Disc Brake with Removable Shoes,xe2x80x9d U.S. Pat. No. 3,885,650; 1975), Montalvo (xe2x80x9cMounting of Cylinders in Friction Brakes and Clutches,xe2x80x9d U.S. Pat. No. 3,964,583; 1976), Yoshida et al. (xe2x80x9cFriction Pad for Disc Brake,xe2x80x9d U.S. Pat. No. 5,890,566; 1999), Demetriou et al. (xe2x80x9cAir Disc Brake,xe2x80x9d U.S. Pat. No. 5,671,827; 1997), Le Deit et al. (xe2x80x9cAssembly Comprising a Friction Pad . . . ,xe2x80x9d U.S. Pat. No. 5,662,191; 1997), Chuang et al. (xe2x80x9cFriction Pad For A Disk Brake,xe2x80x9d U.S. Pat. No. 5,617,935).
Most closely related to the specific nature of the present invention are Montalvo et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,178,235; 1993) [hereinafter Montalvo I] and Montalvo et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,868,233; 1999) [hereinafter Montalvo II, which is further referenced in application Ser. No. 09/542,639 seeking reissue of Montalvo II]. Both of the last-named patents are assigned to the assignee of the present invention; they describe the particular nature of the modules to which the present invention is directed. They are to be understood to be incorporated into the present discussion.
The spider in which the brake modules are to be mounted is in general a metallic disc thick enough to give it rigidity against the torsional forces exerted on it during the braking process. Distributed around the circumference of the spider, generally equally spaced, are holes, each adapted to receive one of the brake modules. The spider is affixed to a base that is itself floor-mounted. The friction disc (the rotor) is affixed to the roll. Typically, the spider is interposed between the roll and the friction disc. In such a configuration, a shaft coupled to the roll rests on a bushing in the center of the spider, with a portion of the shaft extending to the outboard side of the spider. It is to the outboard end of the shaft that the friction disc is rigidly affixed. The friction disc plane is parallel to that of the spider and both are substantially vertical. Because the brake modules are around the full 360 degrees of the spider, some means must be used to prevent the pad assemblies from falling out of the modules due to gravitational forces.
In addition to gravitational forces, the pad assemblies are exposed to the much greater force resulting from the braking action itself. When the pads are pressed against the rotating friction disc the resulting frictional force tends to carry the pad around with the friction disc. To resist this torsional force xe2x80x9ctorque resistorsxe2x80x9d are placed adjacent to the pad assemblies. In the earlier designs described in the prior art such as Montalvo I, these torque resistors were referred to as xe2x80x9ctorque posts,xe2x80x9d since they were circular in cross-section; the pad assembly had semi-circular openings on its perimeter, one on the distal extremity and a matching one on the proximal extremity, through which torque posts passed when the pad assembly was installed in the module. (As used throughout this discussion, xe2x80x9cdistalxe2x80x9d refers to the direction toward the center of the spider and xe2x80x9cproximalxe2x80x9d refers to the direction away from the center, that is toward the perimeter of the spider. Similarly, with respect to a component, the end of the component intended to be closer to the spider center is the distal end of that component and conversely with respect to its proximal end.) These torque posts prevented the pads from rotating under the torque transmitted to them from the friction plane. They also prevented the pads from moving out radially from the axis of the spider. However, this arrangement required a removal of the proximal post before one could withdraw a pad assembly. Once that post was removed, the pad assembly could be slid along the line between the erstwhile positions of the two torque postsxe2x80x94a line substantially parallel to one of the radii of the spiderxe2x80x94and hence removed from the module. Similarly, the new pad assembly would be slid in along that same line until it fit snugly against the distal torque post, at which point the outer torque post (the proximal post) would be re-installed so as to bind the pad assembly in place. Although simpler than yet earlier designs, this design required considerable time and in general the use of tools to change pads.
As can be seen, the torque posts of Montalvo I also prevented the pad assemblies from falling out under gravity. An additional important role for the torque posts is to guide the installed pad assembly as the pad is pushed forward so as to come into contact with the friction disc.
Subsequent developments, in particular Montalvo II, replaced the posts at the two ends of the pad assembly with torque resistors positioned alongside of the installed pad assembly, where they could continue to hold the assemblies against the forces applied by the friction disc and also to serve as guides at the pad was urged forward toward the friction disc. These new torque resisters were sometimes characterized as xe2x80x9ctorque legsxe2x80x9d rather than posts. They were not circular, but rather elongated in the distal-proximal direction of the brake module, in such a way as to form, in connection with the base from which they protruded, a receptacle into which the pad assembly could be inserted. Although these torque legs resisted torsional forces, they could not prevent the pad assemblies from falling out under gravity. To address that need, Montalvo II taught retainer clips affixed to the outside of the torque legs and extending proximally from those torque legs in such a way that they closed over the proximal ends of a pad assembly once the assembly was in place. These clips were of such a nature that once they had snapped in place, it was necessary to spread them apart in order to extract the pad assembly, and to hold them apart while a new pad assembly was being installed. This at the least required two hands, or some kind of tool arrangement, to change pads.
Another potential problem with the torque resistors of the prior art, whether torque legs or posts, is that they can be eroded by the recurrent forces exerted against them when the pad for which they serve as retainers and guides is pressing against the rotating friction disk. This effect is exacerbated since the object in contact with the torque resistorsxe2x80x94the pad assemblyxe2x80x94includes a hard backing plate to which the pad is affixed. Because of the role it plays, that backing plate is typically made of hard steel. On the other hand, in terms of ease of manufacture and weight considerations, the torque resistors are preferably of a light-weight, easily machined metal such as aluminum. The steel backing plate brought into contact with the torque resistor tends to wear the latter away, requiring a re-furbishing of the brake module during which the torque resistors are replaced. Further, this occurs long before other parts of the modules have to be refurbished.
A final problem with some of the prior art brake modules is the possibility of inserting the friction pad assembly upside down. This can have serious consequences, since this inadvertent inversion results in the hard backing plate rather the friction pad itself being pressed against the rotor during braking. The deleterious consequences range from damaging the surface of the friction disc to the generation of flying fragments, that is, shrapnel.
What is needed therefore is a brake/clutch module that allows for easy one-handed withdrawal and insertion of the associated friction pad assembly. What is further needed is such a module and associated friction pad assembly that do not lead to a reduction in the mean time between repairs below what it is for present brake/clutch modules. What is yet further needed is such a module and associated friction pad assembly so configured that it is not possible to insert the pad assembly upside down. What is desirable is that such a friction pad assembly can be used with much of the installed base of present brake/clutch modules.
An object of the present invention is to provide a brake/clutch module that allows for easier withdrawal and insertion of the associated friction pad assembly than has hitherto been possible. More particularly it is an object of the present invention is to allow for such withdrawal and insertion that can be accomplished by one hand without the need of any tools or removal of parts from the module other than the pad assembly itself. A further object of the present invention is that the modifications it introduces will not adversely affect the mean time between repairs compared with that associated with the modules the invention seeks to replace. A yet further object of the present invention is that it renders impossible the error of inserting the friction pad assembly upside down in the module. It is also an object of the present invention that the new friction pad assembly can be used with some of the already-installed base of modules.
The objects set out above are achieved by a small change in shape of the friction pad assembly and an inversion of the retainer clips from that of Montalvo II. In particular, the retainer clips are deployed so that they grip the pad assembly not at the proximal end but rather at the distal end. Furthermore, the gripping takes place in the device of the present invention in such a way that it is easily overcome by the operator pulling proximally on the pad assembly. In some embodiments of the present invention, the pad is equipped with finger indentations on the sides of the pad near the proximal end, so as to further assist the operator in pulling out the pad assembly. By these changes, it becomes possible for operator to pull the pad assembly out from its receptacle so quickly that there is minimal exposure to high temperatures and hence the procedure can be done (and the pad replaced in the module) in the midst of operation, without waiting for the pad to cool down.
In order to protect the torque legs, which resist the torque imposed by the friction disc and also serve to guide the pad as it is advanced toward the friction disc, the retainer clips of the present invention are further re-configured from the cited earlier design. In the module of the present invention, the retainer clips are caused to run along that side of the torque leg that would otherwise be immediately adjacent to the pad assembly. In other words, they run along the inside of the legs rather than along the outside as was the case with Montalvo II. The spring steel needed to give the retainer clips the strength and resiliency demanded for their releaseably gripping of the pad assembly is much stronger and wear-resistant than the light-weight material (generally aluminum) used for the torque legs and much of the rest of the receptacle. Thus, the clips serve a second purpose, protecting the torque legs against the wear they would otherwise receive from the pad assembly being forced against them by the torsional forces exerted by the friction disc.
The object of making it impossible to insert the pad assembly upside down is achieved in the present invention by a keying addition governing the joinder of the pad assembly and its receptacle. In one embodiment, this involves the addition (a) of a post in the module in a location asymmetric to the module""s center line and (b) a matching concavity in the pad assembly.
As stated previously, for definitiveness, the present invention will discussed in terms of its use with brake modules employed in regulating web tension. However, it can be seen that the present invention has an application wherever a brake or clutch module is used in a context where it is beneficial to be able to quickly and easily change the friction pad. (It is noted, for example, that some of the prior art cited relates to brake assemblies used with automobile and truck brakes.)
The apparatus of the present invention shares with some of the prior art the use of a torque collar which forms the base for torque legs and together with those torque legs forms the receptacle for the friction pad assembly of the present invention. The torque collar, being open in the center, allows a piston to pass through it and against the backing plate of the pad assemblyxe2x80x94the outer reaches of which are resting on the torque collar,xe2x80x94so as to urge the pad assembly forward, bringing the friction pad against the friction disc. There are a variety of mechanical displacement means by which the piston is moved forward so as to force the pad(s) against the disc to be braked. Typically this is done by inflating air bladders behind the pistons. Other devices, including but not limited to hydraulic cylinders and linear motors, may in the alternative be. used to perform this function.
Just as with Montalvo II, retainer clips are used in the device of the present invention to secure the friction pad assembly within the module. In contrast with the prior art, however, these clips are inverted in the sense that the pad-gripping portions of the clips are located at the distal rather than the proximal end of the apparatus. Furthermore, the manner in which the retainer clips of the present invention grips the pad assembly permits smooth withdrawal of the pad assembly with a relatively small force being required to overcome the retainer grip. This contrasts with the cited prior art wherein the retainer clips wrapped around the proximal end of the pad assembly when the latter was in place and had to be separately dealt with (spread apart) as part of the withdrawal and insertion processes. Each retainer clip of the present invention then can be pictured as divided into a portion that is affixed to one of the torque legs (the fixed portion) and a portion that extends distally from the torque leg releaseably snaps onto one side of the pad assembly (the gripping portion). The latter portion of the retainer clip has a shape conforming to an indentation in the side surface of the pad assembly near its proximal end. The rest of each retainer clip is deployed so as to be between a torque leg and the pad assembly when the latter is in place. In some embodiments of the present invention, that portion of the retainer clip wraps completely around the torque leg.
There further developments and refinements to the present invention that will occur to those skilled in the art. These include, but are not limited to, shaping the pad assembly so that it has xe2x80x9cshouldersxe2x80x9d that halt the proximal advance of the assembly once the retainer clips have snapped into place. When there is an indexing post near the proximal end of the pad assembly, as is the case in the Preferred Embodiment, the assembly-halting function of these shoulders is redundant to that of the indexing post. Other features that may be incorporated into the pad assembly of the present invention include shaping the assembly in ways that, while they play no function in the present invention, allow the pad to be used in some of the brake modules of the prior art.

Brake/clutch module with simplified friction pad substitution