A magnetic head (slider) which requires no lapping is described. The head is fabricated with an air bearing surface that is parallel to the wafer surface. The saw cuts used to separate the individual sliders from the rest of the wafer are perpendicular to the air-bearing surface and do not pass through any critical features. The read and write components are formed from thin films disposed parallel to the air bearing surface and can be side-by-side or tandem in relation to the recording track. The stripe height of the read sensor is controlled by the deposition process rather than by lapping. Various embodiments of the read head include contiguous junction biasing, external hard magnet biasing, and in-stack biasing. In one embodiment a permeable field collector is included below the sensor layer structure. An aperture shield surrounding the sensor at the ABS is included in one embodiment.

In a typical prior art magnetic disk recording system a slider containing magnetic transducers for reading and writing magnetic transitions is supported by a suspension as it flies above the disk that is being rotated by a spindle motor.
The disk includes a plurality of thin films and at least one ferromagnetic thin film in which the recording (write) head records the magnetic transitions in which information is encoded. The magnetic domains in the media on can be written longitudinally or perpendicularly. The read and write head portions of the slider are built-up in layers using thin film processing techniques. Typically the read head is formed first, but the write head can also be fabricated first. The conventional write head is inductive and the read sensor is magnetoresistive.
In a disk drive using perpendicular recording the recording head is designed to direct magnetic flux through the recording layer in a direction which is perpendicular to the plane of the disk. Typically the disk for perpendicular recording has a hard magnetic recording layer and a magnetically soft underlayer. During recording operations using a single-pole type head, magnetic flux is directed from the main pole of the recording head perpendicularly through the hard magnetic recording layer, then into the plane of the soft underlayer and back to the return pole in the recording head. The shape and size of the main pole piece and associated shields are the primary factors in determining the track width.
In US published application 2003/0151850 by Nakamura, et al., a single pole head is described which has the main pole down-track. The main pole is composed of at least two portions where the width of the first portion continuously increases from the up-track side to the down-track side in the direction of the moving medium and the width of the second portion is the same as the width of the first portion's down-track edge in the direction of the moving medium and is constant from the up-track side to the down-track side in the medium moving direction. This is said to prevent the recording magnetic field strength from decreasing at the track edge and increases the effective track width while suppressing side-writing, thereby, realizing a magnetic recording disk apparatus with a high track density.
In U.S. patent RE 33,949 to Mallary, et al. a single pole head for perpendicular recording is described which includes what is called a "downstream shield" (down-track) that is connected to the write pole at the back and separated from the write pole by a small gap at the ABS. The ABS face of the shield is designed to be many times as large as the face of the write pole section so that the flux return section acts as a magnetic shield. The density of the flux from the write pole tip is sufficient to effect a vertical recording while the density of the flux passing into the downstream magnetic shield is low so a previously recorded pattern is not reversed or weakened.
In the typical process of fabricating thin film magnetic transducers, a large number of transducers are formed simultaneously on a wafer. After the basic structures are formed the wafer may be sawed into rows or individual transducers. Although sawing has been the typical method for separating the wafers into individual sliders, recently reactive ion etching (RIE) or deep reactive ion etching (DRIE) with a fluorine containing plasma have been used. The surfaces of the sliders perpendicular to the surface of the wafer that are exposed when the wafers are cut eventually form the air bearing surface (ABS) of the slider. The uncertainty of the saw plane leaves unacceptable variations in the magnetic stripe height which would lead to unacceptable variations in magnetic performance if not corrected. Lapping is the process used in the prior art to achieve stripe height control in the nanometer range. For perpendicular recording heads with a trailing shield, the thickness of the trailing shield is also determined by the endpoint of the lapping process.
After lapping, features typically called "rails" are formed on the ABS of magnetic transducer. The rails have traditionally been used to determine the aerodynamics of the slider and serve as the contact area should the transducer come in contact with the media either while rotating or when stationary.

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.


A system for identifying spoofed navigation signals includes a multi-element antenna configured to receive a plurality of navigation signals. The system also includes at least one processor configured to determine an angle of arrival for each of the navigation signals and analyze the angles of arrival for the navigation signals to determine whether one or more of the navigation signals are spoofed. To analyze the angles of arrival for the navigation signals, the at least one processor may be configured to (i) determine whether two or more of the navigation signals were received at substantially the same angle of arrival (which may be based on a difference of less than 5° between the angles of arrival) and/or (ii) compare the angles of arrival for the navigation signals to at least one expected angle of arrival (which may be based on information about expected or actual positions of multiple satellites).

A global navigation satellite system (GNSS) uses satellites to support geo-spatial positioning. A GNSS receiver typically receives signals from multiple GNSS satellites and uses known positions of the GNSS satellites to calculate a position of the receiver. One example of a GNSS system is the Global Positioning System (GPS), which uses a constellation of satellites that continuously transmit their current positions and their current times as held by atomic clocks on-board the satellites. A GPS receiver monitors the signals from multiple GPS satellites and uses the positions and times transmitted by the satellites to determine its position. Typically, a minimum of four signals from four GPS satellites need to be received in order to calculate the position of a GPS receiver in three-dimensional space and to correct for deviation of the receiver's internal clock from the satellites' clocks.
Global navigation satellite systems such as GPS are widely used in various civilian and military applications. This makes global navigation satellite systems a regular target for attack by adversaries or other illicit actors hoping to disrupt economic, military, or other activities. One mode of attack is to "spoof" GNSS satellite signals, such as by transmitting fake GNSS signals with incorrect position or time information, in order to disrupt a receiver's ability to determine its position accurately.
GNSS signals are typically very weak at ground-level, often around −125 dBm down to −150 dBm or even lower. This makes it particularly easy for attackers or other illicit actors to broadcast spoofed GNSS signals at higher signal strengths over large areas that drown out genuine GNSS signals at receivers. Existing anti-spoofing systems often rely on a comparison of a received signal strength of a GNSS signal with an expected signal strength. If the received signal strength is significantly stronger than expected for a GNSS signal, the received signal is unlikely to be a genuine GNSS signal. However, in a targeted attack or when a genuine GNSS signal is particularly weak, it may not be necessary for a spoofed GNSS signal to be significantly stronger than expected to be effective.

Global navigation satellite system (GNSS) anti-spoofing techniques


The printing method includes the following steps of: preparing a printing apparatus that includes an element that is driven in order to form a dot, a first drive signal generation section that generates drive signals for driving the element, and a second drive signal generation section that generates drive signals for driving the element; at a certain timing, forming a dot of a predetermined size by generating a first drive signal with the first drive signal generation section and by generating a second drive signal that is different from the first drive signal with the second drive signal generation section; and at a separate timing, forming a dot of the predetermined size by generating the first drive signal with the second drive signal generation section. With this printing method, the first drive signal generation section and the second drive signal generation section can be made to generate an equal amount of heat.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to printing methods, printing systems, and storage media having programs recorded thereon.
2. Description of the Related Art
Printing apparatuses in which a plurality of drive signals are selectively applied to a single piezo element have been proposed as printing apparatuses for printing an image on a medium. For example, a printing apparatus in which a plurality of types of drive pulses that cause ink to be ejected at different amounts are divided between two drive signals and these drive pulses are selectively applied to the piezo elements, has been proposed (for example, see JP 2000-52570A). Also having been proposed is a printing apparatus in which the drive pulses that are used when forming the largest size dot are included in one of the drive signals to increase the ejection frequency of the ink when forming the largest size dot (for example, see JP 2003-246086A). Both of these printing apparatuses are provided with a plurality of drive signal generation sections for generating the drive signals.
When a printing apparatus is provided with a plurality of drive signal generation sections and each drive signal generation section generates a different drive signal, there is a possibility that heat will be generated predominantly in one of the drive signal generation sections.
Further, in a printing apparatus provided with a plurality of drive signal generation sections, there is a possibility that discrepancies among the properties of the drive signal generation sections will lead to variation in the amount of ink that is ejected, even though the drive signal generation sections are generating the same drive signal. As a result, the print image will appear coarse.

Printing method, printing system, and storage medium having program recorded thereon


A test system for testing a plurality of devices under test is disclosed. The test system includes a tester and a plurality of processors. The tester is used for providing a plurality of control signals and determining a plurality of test results for the devices under test according to a plurality of measurement results. Each processor coupled to the tester is used for generating a plurality of test signals according to the plurality of control signals. The plurality of devices under test respectively generates the plurality of test results according to the plurality of test signals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a test system, and in particular relates to a test system capable of simultaneously testing several devices under test.
2. Description of the Prior Art
To ensure the quality of each electronic device for sales, a test is performed to determine whether the electronic device, such as an integrated circuit, a wafer or a chip, meets qualification standards.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of testing a single device. Here, the device is a chip. A tester 10 sends a control command via a general purpose interface bus (GPIB) 12 to control a measuring instrument 14, and measures a chip under test 16 via the measuring instrument 14. The test result TR generated by the chip under test 16 is sent to the tester 10 for data analysis, and finally the tester 10 determines if the chip under test 16 passes the test. With this method, the tester 10 can only test a single chip under test 16 at a time, hindering mass production efficiency.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of testing several devices. Here, the devices are chips. A tester 20 sends a control command via a GPIB 22 to control measuring instruments 241-243, and switches relays 261-263 via the measuring instruments 241-243 to measure the corresponding chips tinder test 281-283, and then the test results TR1-TR3 of the chips under test 281-283 are sent to the tester 20 for data analysis. However, since the command address of the tester 20 supports only one measuring instrument at a time, it is necessary to use the relays 261-263 to control the measuring process, thus hindering the time it takes to test several chips under test 281-283 in one working period due to the chip testing serial structure.
For the chip testing methods mentioned above, much time is required when testing a multitude of chips under test. Thus, a novel test system which raises chip testing efficiency for testing several chips simultaneously, without drastically increasing costs is desired.


A tray forming apparatus and method are provided which advantageously increase the quality and production speed of tray type containers. The apparatus takes a precut paperboard blank through loading, forming, glueing, and compressing phases of operation to form a tray, which phases include conveying blanks from a stacked position to forming the blanks in a partially folded position, gluing using only a single pair of glueing heads for minor panels of the blank, and compressing the folded blank for securing the folds in a structural position sufficient for relying on the strength of the paperboard during the stacking of loaded trays. The tray forming apparatus includes suction cup styled conveyors for moving the blank from a stored position to a position for folding, a platen that contacts a bottom panel of the blank and moves the blank through fold guiding arms for positioning the blank in a partially folded position between guide rails for movement downstream to additional folding arms that hold major panels and minor panels in a position for adding adhesive to the major panels just prior to compression of the partially folded blank into its fully folded position. By applying adhesive just prior to compression of the panels, and by securing the panels in a structurally sound position, the adhesive is effective in securing the blank into its fully formed tray and to forming the tray with folds that provide the structural support necessary to support stacking fully loaded trays without depending on the adhesive for such stacking.

Paperboard trays useful for stacking and forming into a grocery store have become more and more popular and, as a result, the product industry and, in particular, citrus packing houses have had an increased demand for providing packaged fruit within paperboard trays such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,418,863 to Kimbrell, Sr. Typically, and as addressed in the Kimbrell '863 patent, there is a need for reinforcing corners of the tray to support the stacking of such trays in shipping and displaying of product. As is recognized in the art, such trays are typically formed from a single generally rectangular shaped panel blank which has been suitably cut, scored and perforated to be folded into a completed tray for subsequent filling of product and shipping. The demand in the industry is such that the costs and extensive time associated with manually forming such trays are prohibitive. As a result, paperboard tray forming machines such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,460,349 to Charron have come into wide use for automatically forming a paperboard tray from a flat production blank. As has been typical in the art, and described in the Charron '349 patent, by way of example, the paperboard tray forming machine passes the blank through various multiple folding stages where adhesive is applied to appropriate portions of the blank at selected stations for securing the formed blank into the finished tray. As one would expect in a tray having multiple folds, such a machine for duplicating the manual effort of the human hand can become complicated. As a result, it has become important to simplify both construction of the tray and the tray forming apparatus to improve on both the cost for each and the time required to form trays.
Especially in the citrus industry, by way of example, packing plants are often responsible for the harvesting of the product, sorting and grading the product, preparing the product for shipping by washing and waxing, and packing the product into such trays for shipment. Because of the various industry demands on these packing plants, such as the need for more timely deliveries, for lower and more control of labor costs, for more control over the sorting and grading, preparing, packing, shipping, storing, and providing a container for appropriate displaying, demands arise at various stages of these processes.
The present invention is directed to the needs arising in the supply speed and forming of tray type containers used for the packing, shipping, storing, and displaying of the product. Conventionally, tray type containers are formed of a paperboard or cardboard material such as earlier described, which is relatively inexpensive, lightweight, and in many cases recyclable. These tray type containers are shaped in size for particular purposes. Such purposes include the storing in a stacked arrangement for carrying and shipping on pallets and delivery to the retail store or displayed in the shipping container. As a result, it is important that the container remain as attractive as when it was first formed. As one might imagine, the delicate preparation and handling of such containers becomes costly and very time consuming. As a result, it becomes important to provide a container that is structurally sound and can meet the demands placed on it from the time it is filled with product at the packing house to the time it is displayed for viewing by the consumer. In addition, there is demand of forming such trays as quickly as possible to meet both the demand for the trays in shipping product as well as the efficiency required for reducing overall production and shipping costs.


A method for preparing an unsaturated compound mainly comprising monoolefins, or a mixture of .alpha., .beta.-unsaturated nitriles and monoolefins comprises coming a mixed gas which comprises paraffins and oxygen, or paraffins, oxygen and ammonia in contact with a catalyst which comprises (1) an oxide of phosphorus and (2) at least one oxide selected from the group consisting of indium oxide and tin oxide or comprises, in addition to the foregoing catalytic components, (3) at least one oxide selected from the group consisting of vanadium oxide, tungsten oxide and molybdenum oxide. The method makes it possible to prepare monoolefins, or a mixture of .alpha., .beta.-unsaturated nitriles and monoolefins in high yield and high selectivity from cheap starting materials, parafins.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for preparing unsaturated compounds from paraffinic compounds and more specifically to a method for preparing unsaturated compounds mainly comprising monoolefins by an oxidative dehydrogenation of paraffins in the presence of a specific catalyst or a method for preparing unsaturated compounds mainly comprising .alpha., .beta.-unsaturated nitriles and monoolefins by ammoxidation of paraffins in the presence of a specific catalyst
(2) Description of the Prior Art
There has been known an oxidative dehydrogenation reaction of hydrocarbons as a method for preparing unsaturated compounds having a carbon-carbon double bond and there have been known two approaches to such an oxidative dehydrogenation reaction of hydrocarbons. The first approach comprises oxidatively dehydrogenating monoolefins to give diolefins. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 3,274,283 discloses a method for preparing butadienes by oxidative dehydrogenation of butenes in the presence of a catalyst obtained by impregnating tin oxide with phosphoric acid to thus form phosphoric acid-supporting tin oxide. Subsequently, there have been proposed some methods for preparing diolefins in which a catalyst comprising an oxide of tin and phosphorus.
The second approach comprises oxidatively dehydrogenating paraffins to give olefins. For instance, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,502,739; 3,801,671 and 3,927,138 disclose methods in which Group VIII metals are used as catalysts for preparing diolefins. In addition, a method for preparing monoolefins is disclosed in E.P. No. 0,189,282 (1986). The European Patent comprises oxidatively dehydrogenating ethane, propane or isobutane in the presence of a catalyst comprising an oxide of tin and phosphorus to form ethylene, propylene or isobutene respectively, the oxidative dehydrogenation being performed at a reaction temperature ranging from 200 to 700.degree. C. and a reaction pressure ranging from 1 to 50 bar. However, only the embodiment of the preparation of ethylene from ethane is clearly disclosed in Examples of the specification of the European Patent and the reaction temperature of 550.degree. C. is simply disclosed. High selectivity is achieved only when the reaction is performed at a high pressure. It is commonly believed that a complete oxidation reaction is predominant if the reaction is performed at ordinary pressure as described in J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun., 1986, p. 1058.
J. Catal., 1978, 52, p. 116 discloses an oxidative dehydrogenation reaction of ethane with an Mo-V catalyst and reports that the ethylene selectivity is 100% at an ethane conversion of 10% and the ethylene selectivity is 83% at an ethane conversion of 25%. Moreover, it reports that if propane is used as a starting material, the products comprise only acetic acid, acetaldehyde, CO and CO.sub.2 and any propylene is not produced.
As has been described above, setting aside the preparation of ethylene, there has not yet been proposed any catalytic system having high selectivity in the production of an olefin such as propylene or isobutene through an oxidative dehydrogenation reaction of an olefin.
Recently, Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication (hereinafter referred to as "J.P. KOKAI") No. Sho 63-295546 which relates to an ammoxidation reaction of propane discloses an example in which a V-Sb-W/Al system as a catalyst is used and the patent reports that the propylene selectivity of 52.8% was attained at a propane conversion of 18.3%. However, the selectivity is still unsatisfied.
In addition, many attempts have been directed to the production of acrylonitrile by ammoxidation of propane noticing the difference in price between propane and propylene. However, a high reaction temperature in the order of 500.degree. C. is required in these methods and the addition of a halogen or sulfur compound is also required for improving the activity and selectivity of catalysts used, which in turn requires the use of devices and materials of high quality. As has been explained above, there has not yet been proposed any industrially acceptable method for preparing acrylonitrile from propane as a starting material irrespective of the difference in price between propane and propylene. The same may be said of the ammoxidation of butanes.

Method for preparing unsaturated compounds


A cooling system of an outboard motor provides back and forth flow of water from one side of an exhaust passage to the opposite side in order to avoid the creation of stagnant pools of water within which minerals and debris can collect. This result is accomplished by causing the cooling water to flow back and forth from one side of the exhaust passage to the other so that all portions of the water passages are forced to conduct water through them at a relatively high velocity. A water reservoir is formed between an exhaust conduit and an oil reservoir in order to reduce the operating temperature of the oil within the reservoir.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally related to a cooling system for an outboard motor and, more particularly, to a cooling system that causes cooling water to flow through a reservoir that is in thermal communication with an oil sump and which surrounds a portion of an exhaust conduit.
2. Description of the Related Art
Those skilled in the art of cooling systems of marine propulsion devices and, more particularly, the relationship between the cooling system and both the exhaust and lubricating systems are familiar with many different processes and apparatus for causing cooling water to flow in thermal communication with both the exhaust passage of the outboard motor and the oil reservoir.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,498,875, which issued to Watanabe on Feb. 12, 1985, describes an outboard motor. Water-cooled, four-cycle internal combustion engines are used for outboard motors. In each embodiment described in this patent, an arrangement is provided that offers a compact nature and which uses the coolant delivered to the engine for cooling the oil in the oil pan. In addition, an arrangement is provided whereby the exhaust pipe may pass through the oil pan and yet avoid significant heat transfer from the exhaust system to the lubricating system.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,545,332, which issued to Suzuki et al. on Oct. 8, 1985, describes a water-cooled, four-cycle internal combustion engine for an outboard motor. The engine includes an exhaust arrangement wherein the exhaust gases are returned from the cylinder head to the cylinder block in proximity to a cooling jacket for cooling the exhaust gases before delivery into the lower unit. In addition, the cooling jacket and method of casting the cylinder head provides an opening in which a sacrificial anode may be placed to protect the engine from corrosion, particularly when operated in salt water.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,037,340, which issued to Shibata on Aug. 6, 1991, describes a lubricating device for a four-stroke outboard motor. An external oil reservoir is positioned externally of an engine. The reservoir is contained directly in the power head and in another embodiment, the reservoir is contained externally of the outboard motor. The use of such external positioning of the lubricant reservoirs from the driveshaft housing permits the use of a large expansion chamber for the exhaust system in the driveshaft housing.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,809, which issued to Shibata on Dec. 17, 1991, describes a lubricating device for a four-stroke outboard motor. A dry sump lubrication system includes a scavenge pump for drawing lubricant drained from the engine lubricating system through an inlet port and returns it to a dry sump reservoir through an outlet port and a pressure pump that draws lubricant from the dry sump lubricant reservoir through an inlet port and delivers it to the engine lubricating system through an outlet port. At least one of the ports of each of the pumps is positioned above the normal lubricant level in the lubricant reservoir when it is filled with the normal volume of lubricant so as to insure that lubricant will not drain back into the engine when the pump system is not operating.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,232,387, which issued to Sumigawa on Aug. 3, 1993, describes an exhaust device for a four-cycle outboard motor. Coolant is drawn from the body of water within which the watercraft is operated for circulation through the engine cooling system. Subsequently, the coolant is brought into proximity with an exhaust pipe extending downwardly from the engine within an encasing member. After passing downwardly along the exhaust pipe the coolant is finally directed towards an exhaust gas expansion chamber and a cooling water jacket provided around the expansion chamber. In order to prevent any of the cooling water from splashing back up against an oil reservoir, also located within the casing, a cover is provided across the tops of the expansion chamber and its accompanying cooling water jacket.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,462,464, which issued to Ming on Oct. 31, 1995, describes an outboard motor with an oil sump cooling arrangement. A driveshaft housing includes outer sidewalls extending in spaced relation to each other, a forwardly located wall extending between the outer side walls, a rearwardly located wall spaced rearwardly from the forwardly located wall and extending between the outer side walls, and a bottom wall extending between the outer side walls and between the forwardly and rearwardly located walls.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,487,688, which issued to Sumigawa on Jan. 30, 1996, describes an outboard motor having an oil tank that is contained within the driveshaft housing and which is surrounded at least in part by a water cooling jacket for maintaining the oil at an acceptable temperature. The oil tank is formed with a cavity through which an exhaust pipe passes and the area between the exhaust pipe and the oil tank forms, in at least some embodiments, an expansion chamber for silencing the exhaust gases.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,733,157, which issued to Okuzawa et al. on Mar. 31, 1998, describes a four-cycle outboard motor. The exhaust system includes an expansion chamber that is formed in the driveshaft housing of the outboard motor below an oil tank for the engine which is positioned therein. A water chamber is formed around the expansion chamber and the lower portion of the oil tank for cooling them. An above-the-water exhaust gas discharge is provided that communicates with the area above the water jacket.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,803,036, which issued to Takahashi et al. on Sep. 8, 1998, describes an engine for an outboard motor. An upper unit contains an internal combustion engine and a lower unit contains an exhaust guide. The engine has a vertically oriented crankshaft having an end extending from the bottom end of the engine. A flywheel is positioned on the crankshaft at the bottom end of the engine within a recess defined by the exhaust guide. A starter motor is positioned at the bottom end of the engine and is positioned at least partially within the exhaust guide, the motor having a gear for engaging the flywheel to start the engine.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,937,801, which issued to Davis on Aug. 17, 1999, discloses an oil temperature moderator for an internal combustion engine. A cooling system is provided for an outboard motor or other marine propulsion system which causes cooling water to flow in intimate thermal communication with the oil pan of the engine by providing a controlled volume of cooling water at the downstream portion of the water path. As cooling water flows from the outlet of the internal combustion engine, it is caused to pass in thermal communication with the oil pan. Certain embodiments also provide a pressure activated valve which restricts the flow from the outlet of the internal combustion engine to the space near the oil pan. One embodiment of the cooling system also provides a dam within the space adjacent to the outer surface of the oil pan to divide that space into first and second portions. The dam further slows the flow of water as it passes in thermal communication with the oil pan.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,367,442, which issued to Takayanagi on Apr. 9, 2002, describes a four-cycle outboard motor that has a simple construction and a compact design. The outboard motor has a crankshaft disposed substantially vertically within the engine, wherein the rotation of the crankshaft is transmitted to a valve camshaft via a looped member disposed at the bottom of the engine, comprises an oil pump disposed at a position other than the shaft center position of the crankshaft or the camshafts at the bottom of the engine, wherein either this oil sump or a tension adjustor of the looped member is disposed to the inside of the looped member in plan view while the other is disposed outside the looped member in plan view.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,655,341, which issued to Westerbeke on Dec. 2, 2003, describes an oil sump for vertically shafted engines. The sump has a housing with an upper face for sealing against a block of the engine. The sump housing defines an internal volume for containing a quantity of oil received from the engine through an oil drain opening in the upper face of the sump and defines an exhaust inlet for receiving a flow of exhaust from the engine and directing the flow of exhaust toward an exhaust outlet along an exhaust passage defined within the housing. The housing also defines a water inlet for receiving a flow of cooling water into a water passage within the housing about the exhaust passage. The sump also includes means for securely mounting the engine within a boat hull. In some marine applications, seawater or freshwater coolant is discharged into the exhaust gas stream at an attached exhaust elbow.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,699,086, which issued to Belter et al. on Mar. 2, 2004, discloses a coolant management system for a marine propulsion device. The system provides a cavity within a driveshaft housing into which an oil reservoir is disposed. A water pump draws water from a body of water and causes it to flow through various coolant passages of the marine propulsion device. After passing through these coolant passages, the water is directed through a series of containments and compartments so that the level of water within the driveshaft housing varies in depth as a function of the operating speed of the internal combustion engine. This variance in depth causes a varying degree of cooling of the oil within the oil reservoir or sump.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,913,498, which issued to Sheth on Jul. 5, 2005, discloses a marine propulsion system with a polymer composite oil sump structure. A marine propulsion system is made with an oil sump that is a polymer material that is nonanodic and nonmetallic. As a result, the possibility of a galvanic circuit being created within the structure of a driveshaft housing is significantly reduced or eliminated. The result is the enhanced operation of the marine propulsion system without corrosion and the resulting destruction of the internal components within the driveshaft housing.
The patents described above are hereby expressly incorporated by reference in the description of the present invention.
It would be significantly beneficial if a cooling system for an outboard motor could assure that the water flowing through its passages is caused to flow without having stagnant regions where particulates and minerals can precipitate from the cooling water and become attached to the internal surfaces of those passages. In addition, it would be significantly beneficial if the idle relief exhaust passage could be provided without having to form holes radially through the walls of an internally supported exhaust conduit.


An electric motor-driven vehicle has a large wind turbine mounted at the rear of the vehicle that rotates about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the vehicle body. A long venturi tube extends along the upper portion of the vehicle above the passenger cab and directs air flow from the front of the vehicle and impinges it upon an upper portion of the turbine blades. A pair of elongated lower screw-type turbines are contained in separate lower venturi effect tubes extending along the lower side of the vehicle below the passenger cab. Air from the lower venturi effect tubes is impinged upon the large turbine in a direction and at a location to increase the force generated from the upper venturi tube. The turbines drive one or more electric power generators coupled to storage batteries for recharging the batteries.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,444,946 to Waterbury discloses an electric motor-driven automobile in which the batteries which drive the electric motor are charged by a combination of solar cells obtaining energy from sunlight and an alternator or generator driven by a turbine. A venturi tube, through which air is drawn during vehicle travel, impinges air under pressure upon the turbine to rotate the turbine, which causes the alternator or generator to spin and thereby produce electrical energy supplied to the batteries. As Waterbury stated in the '946 patent, "[i]n recent years there has been considerable experimentation with an electric car. Electric cars, per se, have been known for years. These include small battery-operated vehicles such as golf carts, which need to be plugged in to a power source over night, in order to charge the battery so that they can be employed. Attempts to apply this principle to larger cars requiring greater power sources have not been successful since it has not been found possible to apply a great enough power source in order to charge the battery necessary to supply the electric power for the running of the automobile without greatly inconveniencing the driver from a time standpoint. Thus, while the concept of employing electric power is known in the operation of automobiles, such electric power has not been successfully utilized in the operation of standard size automobiles because of the lack of a method, or means, to charge the batteries necessary to supply the electric power for the running of automobiles."
More than 25 years later, these words still ring true, even though Waterbury's patent has merit, and even though, in the intervening time period, there have been improvements in electric power generation for electric motor-driven vehicles using on-board recharging systems for the storage batteries. The present invention provides an improved battery-charging system using an on-board turbine, together with means for enhancing the power generated by the turbine to greatly increase the battery-charging capability of the vehicle. Improvements in battery technology and in materials used in the mechanical system components for driving the turbine and in the turbine itself can only further improve battery-charging capabilities based on the principles of the present invention.

Venturi effect charging system for automobile batteries


A steam turbine blade made of Ti-base alloy comprising an xcex1+xcex2 type phase in which a difference of a tensile strength is small between a blade portion and a dovetail portion, a tensile strength at a room temperature of the dovetail portion is equal to or more than 100 kg/mm2 and a suitable toughness is commonly provided together with a strength, as a steam turbine blade having a length of 43 inch or more, a method of manufacturing the same, a steam turbine power generating plant and a low pressure steam turbine. In the steam turbine blade having a blade portion and a plurality of fork type dovetails, wherein the blade is made of Ti-base alloy structured such that a length of the blade portion is equal to or more than 52 inches with respect to a rotational speed 3000 rpm of the blade or equal to or more than 43 inches with respect to the rotational speed 3600 rpm, and a tensile strength at a room temperature of the dovetail is equal to or more than 100 kg/mm2, preferably equal to or more than 110 kg/mm2 and equal to or more than 96 % of the tensile strength at the room temperature of the blade portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a steam turbine blade made of Ti-base alloy, a method of manufacturing the same, a steam turbine power generating plant using the same and a low pressure steam turbine.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, in a low pressure final stage of a steam turbine, there have been developed 12Cr steel for a blade having 33.5 inch length, Ti-6Al-4V for a blade having 40 inch length, and high strength 12Cr steel for a blade having 43 inch length which is the longest in the world as a machine corresponding to 50 Hz, however, a demand for improving an efficiency and compactifying the plant in accordance that the final blade stage is made long is increased more and more, so that it is required to further lengthen the blade. In order to achieve the requirement, a titanium alloy having a light weight and a high strength is indispensable in place of Ti-6Al-4V which has been practically used.
A titanium alloy in class of tensile strength 95 kg/mm2 can sufficiently correspond to an increase of a centrifugal force caused by the blade having the increased length till the blade having 40 inch, however, in the blade having a length equal to or more than 45 inch, a titanium alloy in class of tensile strength 110 kg/mm2 is required. As the titanium alloy having a tensile strength equal to or more than 110 kg/mm2, there is a xcex2 type titanium alloy having an age hardening property, however, since the xcex2 type titanium alloy has a disadvantage, that is, a toughness is low, there is a problem in manufacturing a whole of the blade by this alloy. On the contrary, in an xcex1+xcex2 type titanium alloy having a high toughness, a cooling speed for a solid solution treatment largely affects the strength in accordance that a dovetail of the blade becomes thick, so that the strength which can be obtained in a small steel lump can not be frequently realized in a large-sized product. Accordingly, it has been hard to securely obtain a titanium alloy in class of 110 kg/mm2.
Further, in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 1-202389, there is described that a solid solution treatment is executed at a temperature equal to or less than 10 to 60xc2x0 C. corresponding to a point of xcex2 transformation with respect to a condition for a heat treatment of Ti-6Al-6V-2Sn corresponding to an xcex1+xcex2 type high strength Ti alloy, that is, at 867 to 917xc2x0 C. and an age treatment is thereafter executed at 500 to 650xc2x0 C., however, in accordance with this treatment, there has been a problem that the strength can be obtained in a thin blade profile portion, but the strength can not be secured in a thick dovetail portion in which a cooling speed is low.
Further, in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 7-150316, there is described a turbine blade made of Ti-base alloy containing 3 to 5% of Al, 2.1 to 3.7% of V, 0.85 to 3.15% of Mo and 0.85 to 3.15% of Fe as a material for the turbine blade, however, there is not indicated an age treatment.
An object of the present invention is to provide a steam turbine blade made of Ti-base alloy comprising an xcex1+xcex2 type phase in which a difference of a tensile strength is small between a blade portion and a dovetail portion, a tensile strength at a room temperature of the dovetail portion is equal to or more than 100 kg/mm2 and a suitable toughness is commonly provided together with a strength, as a steam turbine blade having a length of 43 inch or more, a method of manufacturing the same, a steam turbine power generating plant and a low pressure steam turbine.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a steam turbine blade having a blade portion and a plurality of fork type or inverted Christmas tree type dovetails, wherein the blade is made of Ti-base alloy structured such that a length of the blade portion is equal to or more than 52 inches with respect to a rotational speed 3000 rpm of the blade or equal to or more than 43 inches with respect to the rotational speed 3600 rpm, and a tensile strength at a room temperature of the dovetail is equal to or more than 100 kg/mm2, preferably equal to or more than 110 kg/mm2 and equal to or more than 96% of the tensile strength at the room temperature of the blade portion.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a steam turbine blade, wherein the steam turbine blade is made of Ti-base alloy containing Al 4 to 8 weight %, V 4 to 8 weight % and Sn 1 to 4 weight %, a tensile strength of the dovetail at a room temperature is equal to or more than 100 kg/mm2, preferably equal to or more than 110 kg/mm2, a V notch impact value (y) at a room temperature is equal to or more than a value (kgxe2x88x92m) calculated by a formula (xe2x88x920.0213x+4.025), or the blade portion is structured such that a tensile strength (x) thereof at a room temperature is equal to or more than 105 kg/mm2, the V notch impact value (y) at a room temperature is equal to or more than a value (kgxe2x88x92m) calculated by a formula (xe2x88x920.0196x+3.93) and the tensile strength of the dovetail at a room temperature is equal to or more than 96% of the tensile strength of the blade portion at a room temperature.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a steam turbine blade, where in the blade is made of Ti-base alloy structured such that a length of the blade portion is equal to or more than 52 inches with respect to a rotational speed 3000 rpm of the blade or equal to or more than 43 inches with respect to the rotational speed 3600 rpm and Al 4 to 8 weight %, V 4 to 8 weight % and Sn 1 to 4 weight % are contained, the blade portion is structured such that a tensile strength (x) at room temperature is equal to or more than 105 kg/mm2 and V notch impact value (y) at a room temperature is equal to or more than a value (kg-m) calculated by a formula (xe2x88x920.0196x+3.93), or the dovetail is structured such that a tensile strength (x) at a room temperature is equal to or more than 100 kg/mm2 and a V notch impact value (y) at a room temperature is equal to or more than a value (kgxe2x88x92m) calculated by a formula (xe2x88x920.0213x+4.025).
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a steam turbine blade made of Ti-base alloy, wherein a solid solution treatment and an age treatment is performed so as to cool by water after heating in a range connecting four points shown by reference symbols A (605xc2x0 C. and 855xc2x0 C.), B (590xc2x0 C. and 790xc2x0 C.), C (410xc2x0 C. and 790xc2x0 C.) and D (410xc2x0 C. and 855xc2x0 C.) expressed by (an age temperature and a solid solution treatment temperature) shown in FIG. 1 of this application, wherein the area expressed by (the age temperature and the solid solution treatment temperature) is structured such that a solid solution treatment and an age treatment is performed so as to cool by water after heating in a range connecting four points shown by reference symbols E (525xc2x0 C. and 855xc2x0 C.,), F (510xc2x0 C. and 790xc2x0 C.), G (410xc2x0 C. and 790xc2x0 C.) and H (410xc2x0 C. and 855xc2x0 C.) shown in FIG. 2 of this application, wherein the dovetail portion is roughly processed to a state close to a final shape prior to a final heat treatment and next a solid solution treatment and an age treatment is performed so as to cool by water after heating in a range connecting four points shown by reference symbols J (685xc2x0 C. and 855xc2x0 C.), K (585xc2x0 C. and 790xc2x0 C.), L (410xc2x0 C. and 790xc2x0 C.) and M (410xc2x0 C. and 855xc2x0 C.) expressed by (an age temperature and a solid solution treatment temperature) shown in FIG. 3 of this application, and wherein the dovetail portion is roughly processed to a state close to a final shape prior to a final heat treatment and next a solid solution treatment and an age treatment is performed so as to cool by water after heating in a range connecting four points shown by reference symbols N (575xc2x0 C. and 855xc2x0 C.), O (560xc2x0 C. and 790xc2x0 C.), P (410xc2x0 C. and 790xc2x0 C.) and Q (410xc2x0 C. and 855xc2x0 C.) expressed by (an age temperature and a solid solution treatment temperature) shown in FIG. 4 of this application.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a steam turbine power generating plant comprising a high pressure turbine, an intermediate pressure turbine and a low pressure turbine, wherein a rotor blade at a final stage of the low pressure turbine has a blade portion and a plurality of fork-like dovetails and is constituted by the steam turbine blade mentioned above.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a low pressure steam turbine comprising a rotor shaft, a rotor blade provided on the rotor shaft, a stator blade guiding an inlet of a steam to the rotor blade and an internal casing holding the stator blade, wherein the rotor blade is structured in a dual current such that six stages of the rotor blades are provided in each of right and left portions of the steam turbine in a symmetrical manner and a first stage is provided in a center portion of the rotor shaft, and a rotor blade at the final stage is constituted by the steam turbine blade mentioned above.
The Ti-base alloy is heated to a temperature area having an xcex1+xcex2 phase and held at the temperature area after a hot forging and thereafter is forcibly cooled (solid solution treated), whereby an xcex1 phase and xcex1xe2x80x2 martensite two phase structure is refined and homogenized, so that a high ductility and a high toughness can be obtained. Further, due to the successive aging treatment, the xcex1xe2x80x2 martensite is decomposed to the xcex1+xcex2 two phase so as to form a duplex state comprising a pro-eutectoid xcex1 grain and an old xcex2 grain from which the xcex1 phase is precipitated due to the aging (aging hardening), whereby a high tensile strength and a high fatigue strength can be obtained.
The temperature for the solid solution treatment is properly selected in a range between 800 and 900xc2x0 C. corresponding to a temperature equal to or less than a xcex2 transformation point (about 927xc2x0 C.) particularly in the case of Ti-6%Al-6%V-2%Sn among the Ti-base alloy containing 4 to 8% of Al, 4 to 8% of V and 1 to 4% of Sn. In particular, the temperature of 790 to 855xc2x0 C. is more preferable by combination. At the temperature equal to or more than the xcex2 transformation point, a reduction of the ductility and the toughness is caused due to a roughness of a crystal grain and a reduction of an amount of the pro-eutectoid xcex1 grain. Further, when the temperature for the solid solution treatment is set too low, the amount of the pro-eutectoid xcex1 grain is increased as well as the hot forging structure is left, so that a proper strength can not be obtained.
The subsequent temperature for the aging treatment is properly selected in a range between 500 and 600xc2x0 C. The higher the temperature for the aging treatment is, the more the tensile strength is reduced, so that the ductility and the toughness are improved. In particular, a special combination at the temperature between 410 and 685xc2x0 C. is preferable by a combination with the temperature for the solid solution treatment.
The reasons of the preferable range for the components of the Ti-base alloy used in the present invention are as follows.
Al: This is a representative xcex1 stabilizing element and is an indispensable additional element for the (xcex1+xcex2) type Ti-base alloy. It is hard to become the (xcex1+xcex2) type alloy when an amount of Al is less than 4%, and it is hard to obtain a sufficient strength for a material. On the contrary, when an amount of Al is over 10%, Ti3Al corresponding to an intermetallic compound is generated and a toughness is significantly reduced, so that it is not preferable. In particular, an amount of Al is preferably set to 4 to 8%.
V: This is an important additional element for reducing the xcex2 transformation point as well as stabilizing the xcex2 phase. This has an effect of restricting a rapid generation and increase of the xcex1 phase after an annealing or the solid solution treatment so as to finely precipitate the xcex1 phase. In the case that a contained amount of V is less than 4%, it is not possible to sufficiently reduce the xcex2 transformation point and the effect of stabilizing the xcex2 phase is reduced, so that it is impossible to obtain the effect of restricting the generation of the xcex1 phase during the annealing or after the solid solution treatment. On the contrary, when a contained amount of V is over 10%, the stability of the xcex2 phase becomes too large and it is hard to obtain a preferable two phase (xcex1+xcex2) structure, so that it is insufficient in view of a strength. In particular, the contained amount of V is preferably set to 4 to 8%.
Sn: This has an effect of stabilizing the xcex2 phase and simultaneously restricting a grain growth. Accordingly, as well as Al, in addition that this is important for restricting a rapid generation and increased of the xcex1 phase after the annealing or after the solid solution treatment so as to finely precipitate the xcex1 phase, this has an effect of refining the whole of the structure, so that this is an additional component occupying an important position for strengthening. When the contained mount of Sn is less than 1%, a crystal grain is enlarged during the annealing or after the solid solution treatment and it is hard to obtain the desired effect mentioned above. On the contrary, when the contained amount of Sn is over 5%, the xcex2 phase is stabilized too much and it is hard to obtain the preferable two phase structure, so that an improvement of a higher strength can not be desired. In particular, the contained amount of Sn is preferably set to 1 to 4%.
The Ti-base alloy mentioned above is employed for the final stage rotor blade in the low pressure turbine at a blade length of 43 inches or more with respect to 3600 rpm and 52 inches or more with respect to 3000 rpm, in particular, an alloy comprising 5 to 7% of Al, 5 to 7% of V, 1 to 3% of Sn, 0.2 to 1.5% of Fe, 0.20% or less of O, 0.3 to 1.5% of Cu and the remainder of Ti, and it is preferable to apply the same heat treatment as mentioned above.
The conditions mentioned above can be applied to the following inventions.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a steam turbine power generating plant mentioned above, wherein the high pressure turbine and the intermediate pressure turbine or the high and intermediate pressure turbine are structured such that a temperature of an inlet for a steam to the first stage rotor blade is in a range of 538 to 660xc2x0 C. (preferably, 593 to 620xc2x0 C., 620 to 630xc2x0 C. and 630 to 640xc2x0 C.), the low pressure turbine is structured such that a temperature of an inlet for a steam to the first stage rotor blade is in a range of 350 to 400xc2x0 C., and a rotor shaft exposed to the steam inlet temperature of the high pressure turbine and the intermediate pressure turbine or the high and intermediate pressure turbine or a whole of the rotor shaft, a rotor blade, a stator blade and an internal casing is constituted by a high strength martensite steel containing 8 to 13 weight % of Cr, or the first stage, or the second stage or the third stage of the rotor blade among them is constituted by a Ni-base alloy.
It is preferable that the high pressure turbine, the intermediate pressure turbine or the high and intermediate pressure turbine in accordance with the present invention has a rotor blade provided in the rotor shaft, a stator blade guiding an inlet of a steam to the rotor blade and an internal casing holding the stator blade, a temperature of the steam flowing into the first stage of the rotor blade is 538 to 660xc2x0 C. and a pressure thereof is 250 kgf/cm2 or more (preferably, 246 to 316 kgf/cm2) or 170 to 200 kgf/cm2, the rotor shaft or the rotor shaft, the rotor blade and at least first stage of the stator blade is constituted by a high strength martensite steel having a whole tempered martensite structure containing 8.5 to 13 weight % (preferably, 10.5 to 11.5 weight %) of Cr corresponding to 10 kgf/mm2 of 105 time creep breaking strength or more (preferably, 17 kgf/mm2 or more) at a temperature in correspondence to each of the steam temperatures (preferably, 566xc2x0 C., 593xc2x0 C., 610xc2x0 C., 625xc2x0 C., 640xc2x0 C., 650xc2x0 C. and 660xc2x0 C.), or the first stage or the second stage or the third stage of the rotor lade among them is constituted by the Ni-base alloy, and the internal casing is constituted by a martensite casting steel containing 8 to 9.5 weight % of Cr having 10 kgf/mm2 of 105 time creep breaking strength or more (preferably, 10.5 kgf/mm2 or more) at a temperature in correspondence to each of the steam temperatures, thereby heating the steam flowing out from the high pressure steam turbine, the intermediate pressure steam turbine or the high pressure side turbine so as to heat to a level equal to or more the high pressure side inlet temperature and feed to the intermediate pressure side turbine, whereby the high and intermediate pressure integral type steam turbine can be obtained.
In the high pressure turbine and the intermediate pressure turbine or the high and intermediate pressure integral type steam turbine, the rotor shaft of the first stage of at least one of the rotor blade and the stator blade is preferably constituted by a high strength martensite steel containing in weight 0.05 to 0.20% of C, 0.6% or less, preferably 0.15% of Si, 1.5% or less, preferably 0.05 to 1.5% of Mn, 8.5 to 13%, preferably 9.5 to 13% of Cr, 0.05 to 1.0% of Ni, 0.05 to 0.5%, preferably 0.05 to 0.35% of V, 0.01 to 0.20% of at least one of Nb and Ta, 0.01 to 0.1%, preferably 0.01 to 0.06% of N, 1.5% or less, preferably 0.05 to 1.5% of Mo, 0.1 to 4.0%, preferably 1.0 to 4.0% of W, 10% or less, preferably 0.5 to 10% of Co, 0.03% or less, preferably 0.0005 to 0.03% of B and 78% or more of Fe, and it is preferable to correspond to the steam temperature of 593 to 660xc2x0 C., or it is preferable to be constituted by a high strength martensite steel containing 0.1 to 0.25% of C, 0.6% or less of Si, 1.5% or less of Mn, 8.5 to 13% of Cr, 0.05 to 1.0% of Ni, 0.05 to 0.5% of V, 0.10 to 0.65% of W, 0.01 to 0.20% of at least one of Nb and Ta, 0.1% or less of Al, 1.5% or less of Mo, 0.025 to 0.1% of N and 80% or more of Fe, and it is preferable to correspond to a temperature less than 600 to 620xc2x0 C. Said internal casing is preferably constituted by a high strength martensite steel containing in weight 0.06 to 0.16% of C, 0.5% or less of Si, 1% or less of Mn, 0.2 to 1.0% of Ni, 8 to 12% of Cr, 0.05 to 0.35% of V, 0.01 to 0.15% of at least one of Nb and Ta, 0.01 to 0.8% of N, 1% or less of Mo, 1 to 4% of W, 0.0005 to 0.003% of B and 85% or more of Fe.
In the steam turbine power generating plant in accordance with the present invention, the high pressure steam turbine is structured such that the rotor blade is provided at seven stages or more, preferably, at nine to twelve stages, and the first stage is constructed in a dual current, the intermediate pressure steam turbine is structured such that the rotor blade is provided at six or more stages in a symmetrical manner in each of the right and left lines, and the first stage is provided in a center portion of the rotor shaft so as to form a dual current construction, the high and intermediate pressure integral type steam turbine is structured such that the high pressure side rotor blade is provided at six stages or more, preferably seven stages or more and more preferably eight stages or more and the intermediate pressure side rotor blade is provided at five stages or more, preferably six stages or more, and the low pressure steam turbine is structured such that the rotor blade is provided at five stages or more, preferably six stages or more and more preferably eight to ten stages in a symmetrical manner in each of the right and left lines and the first stage is provided in a center portion of the rotor shaft so as to form a dual current construction.
The low pressure turbine in accordance with the present invention is structured such that the steam inlet temperature to the first stage rotor blade is preferably set to 350 to 400xc2x0 C., and the rotor shaft thereof is preferably constituted by Ni-Cr-Mo-V low alloy steel which is structured such that a distance (L) between centers of bearings is 6500 mm or more (preferably, 6600 to 7500 mm), a minimum diameter (D) at a portion in which the stator blade is provided is 750 to 1300 mm (preferably, 760 to 900 mm), and a value (L/D) is 5 to 10, preferably 7 to 10 (more preferably, 8.0 to 9.0) and 3.25 to 4.25 weight % of Ni is contained.
The low pressure steam turbine in accordance with the present invention is preferably structured by any one of the following items or a combination thereof. A length of the blade portion is 80 to 1300 mm from an upstream side of the steam current to a downstream side, a diameter of the mounting portion of the rotor blade in the rotor shaft is greater than a diameter of the portion corresponding to the stator blade, a width in an axial direction of the mounting portion in the downstream side is increased preferably at three or more stages (more preferably, four to seven stages) step by step in comparison with the upstream side and a rate with respect to the length of the blade portion is 0.2 to 0.8 (preferably, 0.3 to 0.55) and is made smaller from the upstream side to the downstream side. Said length of the blade portion in each of the adjacent stages is made greater in the downstream side in comparison with the upstream side, and the ratio thereof is in a range of 1.2 to 1.8 (preferably, 1.4 to 1.6) and the ratio is gradually made greater in the downstream side. The width in an axial direction of the portion corresponding to the stator blade portion in the rotor shaft is made preferably three stages or more (more preferably, four to seven stages) greater in the downstream side in comparison with the upstream side, a rate with respect to the length of the downstream side blade portion in the rotor blade is in a range of 0.2 to 1.4 (preferably, 0.25 to 1.25, in particular, 0.5 to 0.9) and the rate is made smaller to the downstream side step by step.
Hereinafter, the other constituting material of the low pressure turbine will be described below.
(1) The low pressure steam turbine rotor shaft is preferably constituted by a low alloy steel having a fully temper bainite structure containing in weight 0.2 to 0.35% of C, 0.1% or less of Si, 0.2% or less of Mn, 3.25 to 4.25% of Cr, 0.1 to 0.6% of Mo, and 0.05 to 0.25% of V, and is preferably manufactured in accordance with the same manufacturing method as that of the high pressure and intermediate pressure rotor shaft mentioned above. In particular, it is preferable to manufacture in a super cleaning manner which uses a raw material having an impurity such as P, S, As, Sb, Sn and the like which is made as low as possible in addition to 0.01 to 0.5% of Si and 0.05 to 0.2% of Mn, whereby a total amount of the impurity in the employed raw material is reduced to a level of 0.025 or less. 0.010% or less of P and S, 0.005% or less of Sn and As and 0.001% of Sb are preferable.
(2) The other stages than the final stage of the low pressure turbine plate and the nozzle are preferably constituted by a fully temper martensite steel containing 0.05 to 0.2% of C, 0.1 to 0.5% of Si, 0.2 to 1.0% of Mn, 10 to 13% of Cr, 0.04 to 0.2% of Mo.
(3) The internal and external casings for the low pressure turbine are both constituted by a carbon casting steel containing 0.2 to 0.3% of C, 0.3 to 0.7% of Si and 1% or less of Mn.
(4) A main steam stopper valve casing and a steam adjusting valve casing are constituted by a fully temper martensite steel containing 0.1 to 0.2% of C, 0.1 to 0.4% of Si, 0.2 to 1.0% of Mn, 8.5 to 10.5% of Cr, 0.3 to 1.0% of Mo, 1.0 to 3.0% of W, 0.1 to 0.3% of V, 0.03 to 0.1% of Nb, 0.03 to 0.08% of N and 0.0005 to 0.003% of B.


A method and apparatus for preventing unauthorized descrambling of cable programming includes selective relocation of the service data channel within the vertical blanking interval thereby preventing unauthorized descrambling of programming by conventional descramblers.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to cable television descrambling systems. More particularly, the invention relates to a cable television system which relocates the service data channel to prevent unauthorized descrambling of premium and pay-per-view programs by unauthorized subscribers.
2. Description of Related Art
Scrambling and descrambling systems are widely used by CATV system operators to control subscriber access to premium and pay-per-view channels. Signals having video and audio content on certain channels are scrambled prior to transmission from the headend of the CATV system operator and are subsequently descrambled at the home of authorized subscribers. A device, commonly referred to as a descrambler or a settop terminal, is installed in a subscriber's home to restore the scrambled signals if the subscriber is authorized to receive the channel.
Many CATV settop terminals utilize a service data channel and a control data channel to determine whether a settop terminal is authorized to descramble a selected channel. A first authorization code is transmitted over the control data channel, which is dedicated to data transmission and is not associated with any broadcast channels. The control data channel originates at the headend of the CATV system and provides information specific to the CATV system such as data for the video programming guide, settop terminal addressable data and other control information such as the set of codes for the services which the settop terminal is authorized to receive.
The settop terminal separately receives a second authorization code which is transmitted over the service data channel for detection by the settop terminal. This authorized code is inserted by the CATV operator on line 18 of the vertical blanking interval (VBI), which is part of each frame of a video signal transmitted over a broadcast channel. The settop terminal compares the second authorization code sent over the service data channel with the first authorization code detected on the control data channel. If these two codes are identical, the settop terminal is authorized to begin descrambling the received signal.
The integrity of current systems using the aforementioned authorization scheme has been subverted. Illegal or "pirate" settop boxes may be configured to authorize descrambling of a channel regardless of the authorization code received on line 18 on the VBI. Additionally, if the control data channel is compromised, the settop terminal will authorize any code detected on line 18, thereby permitting illegal viewing of a program.
It would be desirable to have a system which prevents access to authorization codes and prohibits unauthorized descrambling of signals having video and audio program content.

Dynamic relocation of the service data channel


An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for improving a taste derived from Rubus suavissimus S. Lee (Rosaceae) while maintaining the effect of extracts of Rubus suavissimus S. Lee (Rosaceae) to enhance the proliferative capability or viability in culturing of lactic acid bacteria. Provided is a lactic acid bacteria culture product which is obtained by culturing a lactic acid bacterium in a culture medium, wherein the culture medium contains an essence of Rubus suavissimus S. Lee (Rosaceae), wherein the essence of Rubus suavissimus S. Lee (Rosaceae) is a concentrate obtained through an electrodialysis of a mixture obtained by adding an inorganic salt to an extract of Rubus suavissimus S. Lee (Rosaceae).

Culturing of lactic acid bacteria has been conducted in various manners, and is most often carried out by using animal milk as a culture medium for production of lactic acid bacteria formulations or production of fermented milk, lactic acid bacteria beverages, cheese and the like. However, since, in general, nutritional requirements of lactic acid bacteria vary among species, some lactic acid bacteria may not sufficiently grow in a culture medium consisting only of animal milk. Further, even when bacterial strains exhibiting a relatively higher proliferation activity are used in such a culture medium consisting only of animal milk, it is required to carry out culturing of the bacteria for several days in order to obtain fermented products having a sufficient acid level in producing fermented milk, lactic acid bacteria beverages and the like.
However, since culturing of lactic acid bacteria over a long period of time causes a reduction in the viable cell count, such a culturing technique is not always considered as a favorable culturing method for production of lactic acid bacteria beverages, fermented milk and the like for which various physiological effects are expected and for which viable cell counts are considered important.
Furthermore, for production of various beverages or foods in which flavors of fermented products obtained by culturing lactic acid bacteria are considered critical, bacterial strains used therein cannot be selected only from a viewpoint of their proliferative capacities. Consequently, there are cases where lactic acid bacteria providing fermented products having good tastes are selected and used, even if their proliferative capacities are inferior.
Therefore, in culturing of lactic acid bacteria, it is an ordinary technique that various growth-promoting substances are preliminary added to culture media in order to improve the culturing efficiencies, and such a technique has been well-known. In general, as examples of those which have been considered effective as growth-promoting substances, chlorella extracts, iron salts, vitamins, protein digests containing amino acids or peptides, yeast extracts, and the like can be mentioned.
The present Applicant has also reported that an extract of Rubus suavissimus S. Lee (Rosaceae) or the like are added to culture media in order to enhance the proliferative capabilities or survivability in culturing of lactic acid bacteria Patent Document 1.
However, in products such as fermented milk in which an extract of Rubus suavissimus S. Lee (Rosaceae) has been added, while the proliferative capability or survivability of lactic acid bacteria could be enhanced, the products had bitterness which is derived from the Rubus suavissimus S. Lee (Rosaceae), and therefore, had a problem in their tastes.

Lactobacillus culture and method for producing same


A 4-methoxymethyl-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorobenzyl 2,2-dimethyl-3-(2-cyano-3-hydrocarbyloxy-3-oxo-1-propenyl) cyclopropanecarboxylate given by the formula (1):

As acid parts of natural pyrethroid compounds, two acids, one whose substituent at 3-position on the cyclopropane ring is the 2-methyl-1-propenyl and another whose substituent is 2-methyl-3-methoxy-3-oxo-1-propenyl, are known. The synthetic pyrethroid compounds, wherein the methyl at 2-position on the 2-methyl-3-methoxy-3-oxo-1-propenyl is replaced with a halogen atom, are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,939,172, GB patent publication 2,268,740 and the like. However the pests controlling activity of these compounds is sometimes shortly, then it is desired to develop the compounds having enough activity for controlling pests.

Cyclopropanecarboxylic acid esters and pest controllers containing the same

Abstract: wherein G represents C1–C4 alkyl or C3–C4 alkenyl, has excellent pests controlling effect.


A manufacturing apparatus of an OLED display includes: a mounter to which a substrate that includes a display area coated with a liquid layer including a thermally curable material and a non-display area neighboring the display area is mounted; a separator disposed on the substrate while contacting the non-display area of the substrate, and a separation space that separates the liquid layer and the substrate; and a heater configured to apply heat to the liquid layer.

1. Field
The described technology relates generally to a manufacturing apparatus of an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display and a method for manufacturing the OLED display. More particularly, the described technology relates generally to a manufacturing apparatus of an OLED display of which a circuit board and an encapsulation substrate are sealed to each other using a sealant, and a method for manufacturing the OLED display.
2. Description of the Related Technology
A display device is a device displaying images. Recently, a display device including an organic light emitting diode has received more attention.
Since the OLED display has a self-emission characteristic and does not require a separate light source, unlike a liquid crystal display device, a thickness and a weight of the entire display device may be reduced. Further, the OLED display has high-definition characteristics such as low power consumption, high luminance, and a high response speed.
In general, an OLED display includes a circuit board where an organic light emitting element is formed, an encapsulation substrate disposed on the circuit board, a sealant sealing the circuit board and the encapsulation substrate, and a capping layer filling a space between the circuit board and the encapsulation substrate.
In manufacturing a conventional OLED display, a capping layer is formed by forming a liquid layer including a thermally curable material on an encapsulation substrate, sealing a circuit board to the encapsulation substrate, and then curing the liquid layer using heat, or formed by curing the liquid layer formed on the encapsulation substrate using heat before sealing the encapsulation substrate to the circuit board.
However, when the capping layer is formed by curing the liquid layer using heat after sealing the circuit board to the encapsulation substrate, an organic light emitting element formed in the circuit board is deteriorated due to the heat.
When the capping layer is formed by curing the liquid layer formed on the encapsulation substrate using heat before sealing the encapsulation substrate to the circuit board, gas generated from the liquid layer due to the heat is unexpectedly deposited to the encapsulation substrate, thereby causing a portion of the encapsulation substrate where the sealant is formed to be contaminated.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the described technology and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Apparatus for manufacturing organic light emitting diode display and method for manufacturing organic light emitting diode display


A counter-top appliance has a food container with internal fins extending inward from the outer wall at an angle offset from radial. The food container is coupled to a motor for rotation in either of two directions. One direction of rotation produces a scooping, elevating and subsequent discharge of liquid and fluent materials such as might be useful for washing or breading, while the second direction of rotation presents a surface adapted for massaging meat during marinating. The food container is preferably sealed through vacuum, and has a simple geometry which greatly facilitates thorough cleaning of the container. Meats, produce, pasta, and other diverse foods are processed using the counter-top appliance, and a method for processing one or a sequential set of foods is disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains generally to food processes and apparatus, and more specifically to a versatile counter-top tumbler apparatus and an associated tumbling process. The food tumbler and tumbling process are useful to selectively marinate meat, toss salads, cleanse food, bread foods, and for other similar purposes.
2. Description of the Related Art
The processing of food has always been a labor intensive task. Nevertheless, the need to safely prepare food is of vital importance, and has historically dictated the difference between entire civilizations rising or falling. Associated with the need for safe food preparation is the desire to enable a person to readily prepare more palatable and diverse meals with a minimum of expertise or training. As a result of the importance of food preparation, and the significant impact on health or labor even relatively small improvements will have, there has been much effort devoted through the ages on this task and a great many inventions pertaining thereto.
In the area of food safety, many techniques have been researched and developed which are provided to improve the safety of the food supply. Exemplary among these are the various inspections performed by the various governmental agricultural agencies, such as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) designed to ensure proper handling and processing of food prior to human consumption. Proper education and training is directly associated with the resulting safety and quality of a food. While these efforts have lead to an exceptionally safe food supply in the United States with regard to pathogens, which by many is considered to be among the best ever available, there continue to be significant instances where persons are inadvertently sickened, occasionally resulting in death. Owing to the reasonable limits on manpower for food inspection and inspection of food growers, handlers and preparers, it is impossible to provide inspection and verification of all food which enters into the marketplace for consumption. Only a fraction of a percent of food grown or imported is inspected, and costs for various analytical techniques restrict the extent of these inspections. Consequently, it is desirable to have a means for easily cleansing the food prior to final preparation and consumption which will improve the safety of the food, in the event the food has not been inspected and does, in fact, contain undesired pathogens, pesticides, herbicides or other contaminants.
Safety of food extends beyond the presence of foreign contaminants, and also includes the contents of the food when prepared a particular way. One popular method of cooking meat is grilling or barbecue cooking over a flame. This cooking method has been linked to increased risks of breast, stomach and colorectal cancer, owing to the formation of heterocyclic amines (HCAs) during the cooking process. However, marinating meat before grilling has been shown to reduce the amount of HCAs formed during grilling, in some cases by as much as 92 to 99 percent. Consequently, one preferred method for improving not only the taste of flame-grilled meats but also the safety thereof is to marinate the meat prior to grilling.
Safety of prepared food is only one concern. As aforementioned, preparation time, effort and training required of the food preparer are all also very important. In other words, the need for extensive human effort and expertise during food preparation may also be prohibitive, and thus deter otherwise desired preparation. While cleansing is certainly one such step requiring preparation time, effort and training, there are many other steps in food preparation that have historically been similarly labor intensive. Exemplary is the mixing of ingredients for tossed salad, cole slaw, pasta salad and the like. These foods have traditionally been prepared entirely by hand, owing to the fragile nature of the foods and the importance of even distribution of ingredients. Preparation of such ingredients in advance is difficult or impossible, owing to the inevitable separation of ingredients that occurs over time. Breading is another step that has been manually performed for smaller quantities of foods, with machinery available only for larger food establishments and food preparation businesses. When foods are breaded substantially in advance of cooking, such as when done on a commercial basis, the food must be frozen to maintain the quality of the breading through the handling and distribution of the food. Marinating meats is another area similar to breading, where machinery has only been available for larger commercial establishments. Examples of these marinating machines are found in U.S. Pat. No. 7,766 to Starkweather; U.S. Pat. No. 3,928,634 to Gasbarro; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,586 to Reed. The existing equipment has not been adequate for household use, owing to a large number of issues such as safety, cost of the complex equipment, and the lack of desire by a homeowner or apartment dweller to dedicate space for a single or limited function machine.
While safety, preparation time and effort, and complexity are all important factors from a utilitarian perspective, the variety of foods and the tastes, textures, appearances and aromas of those foods also serves as a measure of the quality and desirability of the food preparation. Consequently, more foods that are easily prepared and consumed, and greater varieties of pleasing flavors, tastes and aromas imparted to those foods, are desired.
Various machines and devices have been proposed in the prior art that attempt to address one or several of these important factors associated with food preparation. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,081,070 to Welsch and U.S. Pat. No. 3,439,901 to McCulloch each illustrate salad mixers that are designed to tumble a salad without the squashing or bruising that is typical with hand preparation. While each of these products are novel in their design and construction, they are limited in application to lettuce and other types of salads, and both are prone to leakage and failure. Other inventions have contemplated tumbling for other food products, such as the tumble churn illustrated by Clegg in U.S. Pat. No. 2,597,291, the contents which are incorporated herein by reference with regard to the teachings of a tumbler base and drive system. While the Clegg base and motor drive system offers much benefit over other prior art techniques, the Clegg container is designed to contain milk or cream, and act as a butter chum or other tumbling, agitating or mixing container. Unfortunately, the Clegg screw cap and depending vanes are relatively limited in application, since they are neither sturdy nor designed to prevent liquids from passing between them and the outer wall. In fact, the vanes will likely, with repeated usage, be deflected away form the edge of the container wall at one end or the other. Consequently, very little if any liquid may be actually carried upon the vanes, a limitation that is very consequential as will be better understood herein below. In addition, the screw-on cap is difficult to manipulate when a chef or cook's hands are either wet or oily, conditions which are commonplace within a food preparation area. Finally, the tapered neck on the Clegg container complicates access within the container, both for food insertion and removal, and also for cleaning of the container after food preparation using the container is completed. In fact, owing to the inherent limitations, the Clegg container is limited in application to materials that are generally fluid in nature and which are also relatively homogenous. This is a common limitation of the prior art. Clearly, there is much to be desired in this vital area of food preparation that has net been adequately addressed by the prior art.


The gearbox comprises a case, a rod mounted on the case, a pair of sliding shift forks mounted on the rod, and travel-limit elements arranged on the rod for defining travel-limit positions for the shift forks. The travel-limit elements comprise a pair of bushes which are separate from the rod and have each a first axially outer larger-diameter portion and a second axially inner smaller-diameter portion so as to define at least one axial abutment surface for the shift fork adjacent thereto.

The present invention relates to a discrete-ratio gearbox for motor vehicle.
In conventional discrete-ratio gearboxes for motor vehicles, the shift travel limits of the various gear ratios are defined by the gear shift mechanisms themselves and therefore axial movements of the abutment surfaces defining the shift travel limits for the respective gear ratios, which are due to imperfect flatness and perpendicularity of the abutment surfaces and to the taking-up of axial play during the reversal of the axial thrust between drive and release because of the helical teeth of the gear wheels that define the gear trains associated with the various gear ratios, are transmitted to the respective sliding engagement sleeves, then to the respective shift forks and finally to the gear-change lever, thereby causing this latter to vibrate.

Discrete-ratio gearbox for motor vehicle


An apparatus for removing shingles and nails from a roof has a hollow handle portion and a replaceable blade portion attached to the handle portion. The blade portion has a front edge, a plurality of first teeth tapered downwardly away from the front edge for removing shingles and nails from the roof on a forward stroke, a rear edge, and a plurality of second teeth turned upwardly away from the rear edge for removing nails from the roof on a backward stroke. The blade portion also has a flat central plate extending between the front edge and the rear edge, a landing section slightly elevated above the flat central plate, and a step for connecting the flat central plate to the slightly elevated landing section. A plurality of slots is cut into an underside of the landing section and extended rearwardly from the front edge for relieving stress on nails pulled by the first teeth from the roof. A mound is positioned near to the rear edge and has a shoulder for receiving a bead of encircling melted metal. The mound also has a protruding stem with either a bore therethrough for receiving a spring pin or at least one side dimple for receiving melted metal so that there are multiple points of attachment for the replaceable blade portion to the hollow handle portion. The plurality of second teeth aligned along the rear edge may be a plurality of claws separated by tapered gaps.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to hand tools and pushing implements generally, but more particularly to scrapers and shingle removers.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hand tools and pushing implements for scraping and removing shingles from roofs are old and well-known in the home improvement field.
Exemplary shingle removing tools are protected by the following: U.S. Utility Pat. No. 4,086,699 which was issued to Olkkola on May 2, 1978; U.S. Design Pat. No. 265,791 which was issued to Fieni on Aug. 17, 1982; U.S. Utility Pat. No. 4,477,972 which was issued to Testa, Jr., on Oct. 23, 1984; and U.S. Utility Pat. No. 4,809,436 which was issued to Crookston on Mar. 7, 1989.
Although all of the above-mentioned tools function adequately to remove shingles on a forward stroke exerted by a worker, none of them perform any useful work on the backward stroke so that half of the energy expended by the worker is lost in unproductive motion.
Furthermore, not all of the effort exerted by the worker on the forward stroke is totally productive because some of the above-mentioned tools either miss nails or shear off the heads of such nails, instead of removing the nails with the shingles from the roof.
In order to illustrate such an unproductive forward stroke, FIGS. 1-3 show the prior art tool disclosed by Crookston in his U.S. utility patent listed above.
In FIG. 1, the prior art tool 10 of Crookston includes a handle 12 and a blade 14 which is secured to the handle 12 by a mounting bracket 16. This mounting bracket 16 has a tubular section 18 which engages a lower end of the handle 12 and a V-shaped fulcrum portion 20. The mounting bracket 16 also has a front plate 22 which is flat and extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the handle 12. This front plate 22 underlies a rear portion 14A of the blade 14. The blade 14 also has a forward portion 14B on which there is a plurality of teeth 24 spaced laterally along a front edge on the forward portion 14B. The blade 14 is held in place at its rear portion 14A by a fastener, such as a round-headed bolt 26A and a nut 26B, secured to the front plate 22 of the mounting bracket 16.
As the tool 10 is pushed forward along the roof R by the worker gripping the handle 12, the forward portion 14B of the blade 14 is slipped under a shingle S which is moved upwardly in the direction of a first arrow A. Continued movement of the blade 14 forces the shingle S to curve farther upwardly until the teeth 24 reach a nail N.
Referring now to FIG. 2, it can be seen that further forward movement of the tool 10 forces the teeth 24 on the blade 14 to strike a stub T of the nail N at a right angle so that most often a head H of the nail N is sheared completely off and is thrown away from the shingle S in the direction of a second arrow B. Meanwhile, the shingle S continues its upward movement in the direction of the first arrow A while simultaneously sliding over the round-headed bolt 26A in the direction of a third arrow C which is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tubular section 18 of the mounting bracket 16.
Although it may seem innocuous to the uninitiated that the head H of the nail N is sheared off, this condition is not desirable because the leaving of a lot of short stubs T sticking out of the roof R creates many small channels through which water may enter and cause a number of leaks. A top of each stub T eventually makes a hole in any new shingle S placed thereover. The stubs T work their way through the new shingle S as the worker walks on the roof R. If such stubs T do not immediately force themselves through the new shingle S, they will do so later as the owner and other workers walk on the roof R from time to time to clean gutters, to adjust a TV antenna, to sweep leaves, and to do similar work. When the leak develops, the owner calls back the roofer to find the leak. As one can imagine, finding such a leak caused by a slightly protruding stub T is literally as difficult as finding a proverbial "needle in a haystack."
Furthermore, if the head H is not snapped off from the stub T of the nail N as shown in FIG. 2, the prior art tool 10 of Crookston may pinch the nail N as illustrated in FIG. 3. Although the head H may not always be snapped off the nail N, the stub T thereof is usually deformed by the teeth 24 as the blade 14 is pushed along the roof R in an effort to force the shingle S upwardly in the direction of the arrow A.
These deformed nails N in FIG. 3 pose a problem similar to the one posed by the protruding stubs T in FIG. 2 because, when stepped on by a worker walking on the roof R, either holes or at least indentations are made in the new shingle S, the original roof R, and the shoe soles of the worker.
Additionally, if left in the roof R on the forward stroke of the worker, these deformed nails N are not removed on the backward stroke because there is no nail puller disclosed in any of the known prior art devices for removing the shingles S from the roof R.
Thus, it remains a problem in the prior art to remove the shingles S and all nails N from the roof R without leaving any protruding stubs T and deformed nails N that will eventually break through the new shingles S and cause leaks in the roof R.

Apparatus for removing shingles and nails from a roof